A/N: Please enjoy this chapter. It'll wrap up some loose ends and set up an additional plot lines.
White lights and pain were the first things that registered in Vader's mind. What in the fuck had happened? He vaguely remembered getting shot then slashed on his right bicep. Oh, right. Fucking Kenobi had slashed his chest. He tried to sit up but felt stabs of pain in his pectorals and abdomen. Sith that was a long wound.
"Ani!"
"Padmé!", he rasped. "Are you okay?" She had to be, she wouldn't be harmed to greatly if she was here with him. He felt his lover rest her hand on his forehead and her face came into his vision. She looked like she had been crying. Shit, why had he allowed Kenobi to lead him into a textbook of an ambush?
"I'm fine, Ani. You've been hurt badly; you need to stay still. We're on our way back to Coruscant and you've already had two surgeries", she said, obviously trying to keep her voice from shaking. Damn that Jedi for all of this.
"I'll be fine", he croaked. "You'll see." With that, he began to feel faint. Knowing that his time was limited, he blocked out everything, all sights, sounds, and sensations. He focused solely on the Force, the very essence that had sustained him for years. Knowing that this would take a tremendous amount of energy, he placed himself into a trance, and began to heal himself in the only way he knew how to. Pease understands, Padmé, were his final thoughts.
…
"Doctor!", Padmé shouted as Vader's heart rate began to drop. No, he had just woken up and had been talking, he can't be dying now.
The doctor ran in. "What happened?", he asked tersely.
"He was talking, he just said everything was going to be fine and then he just started slipping away", she cried. It was unbearable, she had nearly lost him on that forsaken planet, just to be losing him all over again.
The doctor rapidly checked his vital signs and read the monitors looking for any sign as to why his heartrate and oxygen levels had fallen. After a minute, he looked at Padmé. "From what little I know about Lord Vader; it appears that he's put himself in some form of trance. His pulse and oxygen levels have decreased, but they're stable. I'll have him closely monitored, but the appropriate thing to do at the moment is to simply wait. We're another day and a half away from Coruscant, so there's time for him to do whatever he needs to do before we intervene any longer."
Padmé shook with relief. The damned man was trying to heal himself, that's what he had meant when he said everything would be fine.
"Try and get some rest, Senator", the doctor suggested as he placed a hand on her arm.
She mutely nodded and collapsed back into the chair that she'd been sitting on before Vader had woken up. This was too much, all too much.
Obi-Wan was the cause of all of this. Had he not captured her and attempted to twist her mind, then none of this would have happened. She would've been on Coruscant with her family right now and Vader wouldn't have been grievously wounded. If Vader did pull through, she would fully support him tracking the damned Jedi down to slaughter him like an animal, in fact, she craved for that to happen. Not just for herself, but for the good of everyone that psychotic man might come across.
Padmé rested her head back on the wall and tried to think of what she would tell her parents when they arrived back on Coruscant. Dormé had given her the cliff notes, that her father wasn't pleased and had even said that she would be safer with the Jedi than Vader. What a crock of shit. Vader had never tried to fuck her mind the way Kenobi had; he had never forced himself into her most intimate memories just to use them against her. All he had ever done was loved her and heal her mind from the obscene number of medications that she once took.
There would have to be a long discussion about how this was her life, and that the family would either need to accept the relationship for what it was, or stay the hell out of the way. She was happy, that's all that mattered. Hell, Vader wasn't the evil monster that most of the galaxy believed he was. Was he without fault? No, but he had been tortured and manipulated into being evil, just to have had his soul saved when he rescued his mother from slavery. No monster would have done that, no monster would have done any of the good things that he had done since they met.
But parents were parents, and her father was a man of principle. She had been one of those persons of principal and it got her no where in the galaxy. She was walked over, stepped on, humiliated, and manipulated. She was done with that life, and the killing of Rush had sealed her fate into someone who would resist to her very last breath if that meant having more of a control over her destiny.
Vader was her destiny.
"Love, are you alright?"
Padmé looked up in surprise. "Not really, Dormé, but I wasn't the one that was shot. How are you, love?"
"I'm fine, the wound is closing, and it wasn't nearly as bad as when I was shot on Coruscant. How's Ani doing?", she asked, her voice ripe with concern.
Padmé wiped her eyes. "He woke up for less than a minute and it appears he put himself into some sort of trance, possibly to heal himself. I hope that's what he's doing because his injuries were far too severe for him to carry on for very long if he's to heal the traditional way."
The handmaiden nodded. "I remember when he healed me. I was merely sore and weak for a few days afterwards, so I imagine that if that's what he's doing, he'll be down for the count for at least a week, maybe longer. Then maybe he can go hunt that kriffing Jedi down and kill him", she spat.
Ah, so the little tart was as angry at the Jedi as she. "Did something happen while I was gone between the two of you? You seem even more protective of him than usual."
Dormé shook her head. "All we did was talk, and he seemed ready to give his life to protect you and I, but I told him that I would make certain he got home as well. If I hadn't been shot, he wouldn't have been distracted and Kenobi wouldn't have landed that lucky blow to his chest. It's really my responsibility", she said as she bit her lip.
Oh no, Dormé was placing the sole responsibility on herself. "Dormé, what happened wasn't your fault. It was that gods damned Jedi. Once Ani is back to his usual self, which probably won't be long, he'll stop at nothing to find him and kill him. Then, we'll actually have some peace. You have to trust me on this, my friend. It will be alright", she said as she took Dormé's hand.
Dormé squeezed Padmé's hand and then gasped. Padmé's eyes shot back to Vader and noticed a blue light emitting from his injuries. The magnificent bastard was healing himself! She carefully pried the bandage over his bicep loose and could literally see the flesh knitting back together before her eyes. It was incredible, just like what she had seen when Vader had healed Dormé after she had been shot, except he was doing it to himself. What a powerful man he must be to be able to perform self healing.
Dormé bent down and kissed Padmé on the forehead. "I'll let you keep an eye on him. Let me know when he's awake, I want to see him up and about after what happened", She said.
Padmé merely nodded as she continued to watch the healing process in amazement, unsure what to do or say. Obviously, he would be in his trance until he thought that he was healed up enough to wake up, she merely had to wait for that to happen.
…
After a half a day, Padmé saw Vader's eyes finally open, and she immediately hot to his side. "Ani, can you hear me, darling?", she asked. This was the moment of truth, was he really alright? Did his self healing work?
"Yes, Padmé, I can", he croaked. "Would there be any water around by any chance? My throat is fucking parched."
"Of course, let me get some!", Padmé said as she turned on her heel and raced outside of the surgical area to the waiting room. She quickly filled a small cup full of water and headed back inside, gently raising Vader's bed so he could take a few sips.
"Thanks", he said, his voice sounding a lot better than how it did.
Padmé felt like crying again. Vader was acting like his normal self, just exhausted. "Are you in any pain?", she asked as she rubbed his forearm, wanting to provide comfort in any way that she could. He was hers; his pain was hers.
He shook his head. "No, I think I managed to heal most of everything, I may just be a little sore. There's only one way to find out though."
Before Padmé could stop him, he reached across his chest and ripped the long diagonal bandage off, exposing pink flesh. Pink, but solid flesh that is. "By the Force", she whispered. "You did it, Ani." She was shocked, the terrible wound she had seen on Dantooine had been healed. It was remarkable, a testimony to his strength in the Force, the light of the Force.
He looked up at her and smirked. "Did you doubt me for a moment?", he asked with just a touch of cockiness in his voice, which earned him a gentle slap on the shoulder.
"Given that I thought you were dying after you were injured, yes, I did doubt you for a moment", she scolded. She ran her hand through his hair. "But I'm very glad that you're alright." She bent down and gently kissed his lips, causing him to slip his now healed arm around her waist, pulling her closer.
When she pulled back, he looked at her with a hard expression. "I was so worried about you. What did that sick Jedi do to you?", he asked in a deadly voice.
Padmé stiffened at the memory. "We don't have to get into that now, Ani. You need to focus on getting some rest", she said as she looked away. It was too painful for her to remember. She felt hatred for Obi-Wan, hatred that surpassed the hatred that she had felt before.
Vader reached up to cup her chin, turning her head back towards his. "No, I need to know what he did to you, Padmé. That's non negotiable at this point. Did he torture your mind?", he asked forcefully.
She bit her lip and looked up at the ceiling. "He did, twice. The first time he was adamant that he was doing it to save me. The second time, he did it because he was angered that I leant a hand in the killing of Mon Mothma. It was terrible, Ani, the worst pain that I had ever experienced", she whispered. She felt like crying but didn't want to worry the healing Sith Lord too much.
Vader's lips turned into a scowl which made Padmé wince. She knew that look, he was becoming enraged and no amount of trying to convince him otherwise would take away his anger. Hell, if he tried to take her anger away, it would have the same lackluster effect.
"When I find him, Padmé, and I will, I'm going to hurt him terribly before I kill him. I hope that you're alright with that", he said with conviction.
"I am, he tried to fuck us both. There wasn't any goodness in his actions, just a desire to hurt you. Why would he go to such lengths that he would want to hurt you?"
"Because he's insane. He's driven with rage that the Order has all but been defeated. If he wanted redemption, then he should have asked for it, not abduct you and try and kill me", Vader replied. "But enough of that. I'm getting out of this gods damned hospital bed and back to our quarters"
"Wait, why not wait for the doctor to give you a once over?" she recommended.
"Because all the doctor will be interested in is running tests and reminding me how I nearly died", Vader said harshly. "I'm not in the mood to be poked and prodded any longer, I'm a…"
"I know, you're a kriffing Sith Lord", Padmé said as she rolled her eyes. "You were almost a dead kriffing Sith Lord. "Taking some time to rest while we're still in hyperspace is warranted."
"I know, but I can do that in my personal quarters. I'll come for a checkup later, Padmé", he said, his irritation growing.
"Fine", she said as she folded her arms. "But there will be rest, none of the aggressive lovemaking that we normally partake in, is that understood?" Her position was firm, and no amount of flirting from him would change that.
Vader smirked at her. "What about gentle lovemaking?" His voice was full of mirth, and it nearly shook Padmé to her core. Why did he always have this damned effect on her?
"Well see", she said as she bent down to give him a peck on the lips.
With that, Vader began tearing the monitors off of him, and stood up, slightly shaking from the sudden movement. Damn he was exhausted. Even after he healed Dormé he hadn't looked like this.
Padmé handed him his clothing and he quickly donned his attire, regaining the mantel of the Sith Lord he was. After he clipped his lightsaber to his belt, he stood at his full height, proud of his appearance.
"Milord, I hope I'm not intruding."
Padmé groaned, knowing that this meant Vader would be distracted.
"Report Captain Piett", Vader commanded. His voice sounding a little weak, but still full of aggression.
"Milord, before the Jedi and the Rebels that escaped, we were able to launch a tracking device on their freighter. It's a new technology that was developed that should remain untraceable given the frequency it uses. It can't determine the direction of hyperspace that it was traveling in, but it will be able to report on its final destination which will likely be the Rebel fleet.", Piett said eagerly.
Padmé bit her lip. That would be able to provide Vader with his satisfaction, but he needed to regain his strength first. She silently prayed that he wouldn't immediately jump into battle, he needed to rest.
"Very good, Captain. Very good indeed. We'll head back to Coruscant and assemble a strike team to take on the Rebel fleet. If your tracking device is as good as you say, we should be able to track them even if they move again", Vader replied, smacking his fist into his palm as if he were crushing the Rebels. Damn he was excited, but Padmé was grateful that he would have at least a few days to regain his strength.
"Very good, Milord. I'll see to it that preparations are made once we reach Coruscant", Piett said.
Vader turned to Padmé and gave her a deep kiss, which she couldn't help but moan into. Damn, his excitement was felt even through his kiss. She might not be able to resist him during his convalescence.
"Let's get back to our quarters", Vader said in a low voice.
"Fine, but no sex just yet", Padmé said, causing Vader to groan in frustration.
…
"Ani!", Dormé said as she leapt from the couch as Vader and Padmé strode into his personal deck. "I'm so happy to see you standing." She ran to him and gave him a brief hug and batted a tear from her eye. "I'm so sorry, I was shot and distracted you. Please forgive me, you could've ended that wretched Jedi's existence if it weren't for me."
Vader embraced her again, not wanting her to feel any guilt. "Dormé, you did a fantastic job. That battle just wasn't meant to be. We walked into a cluster fuck that we couldn't avoid. My brashness is what caused my injurie, not you. Don't feel any guilt.", he said as he rubbed her back. It was difficult to see a woman that he called a friend take personal responsibility for his own mistakes. It was an emotion he wasn't used to at all.
Dormé stepped back from the hug and smiled sweetly. "I suppose it's more important that the two of you are back together again. It makes me happy that this didn't end in a complete tragedy."
Yes, indeed. If Vader had lost Padmé, he would have been completely lost. Unable to maintain his hold on the light, never to return to it. It terrified him. Made him realize how precarious their position in the galaxy really was. The Jedi had to be eliminated, then eventually, the Emperor. Only then would they be free.
Padmé put her arm around Vader. "Thank you, Dormé. The three of us are family, and we'll stick together no matter what."
Dormé briefly embraced Padmé for her kind words. Vader was pleased that the tension between the two women was eased. It was good for them to be able to set aside their prior argument and return to their natural status.
"How about a drink to celebrate?", Padmé suggested. "I promise I won't over indulge, my mind is still a little scrambled from my experience anyway."
Vader could use a bit of a drink himself. "That sound like a good idea, let's all sit on the couch for a while and enjoy being reunited with one another." He had a family, and it felt good. He always had his mother since he was a boy and then a teenager but having others to rely on was something special that he couldn't quite appreciate until now. It made him hope that Padmé's parents would be accepting of him once they returned to Coruscant.
They sat down at the couch and Vader poured them all a drink. "To eventually killing that damned Jedi", he toasted. The two other women returned the toast, and they began sipping their drinks.
"So", Padmé began. "How did my parents initially take the news? We haven't had a chance to discuss that yet."
That question caused Vader to groan. "They weren't pleased at first, but once we received the transmission from Kenobi, they admitted they had no other choice but to trust me while we mounted our rescue attempt for you. I'm hopeful that once we return, we'll be able to have a little bit more of a polite chat instead of hostility. They're staying at my estate with Threepio taking care of them, so hopefully they can use the time to decompress from the news."
Padmé nodded. "I figured as much", she said quietly.
"Don't worry, Padmé, they'll come around", Dormé offered, which caused Padmé to perk up.
The trio had their drinks with Vader switching the topic to something lighter, like how he was able to heal himself. The two women sat in awe at the ability of the Sith Lord to do such a thing, it was something that was unknown to them. Not even the Jedi were able to accomplish such feats with the Force and it was spectacular.
Then the discussion turned even lighter with Vader telling jokes about different experiences he'd had fighting Jedi. Joking about how frustrated he would get when they escaped his grasp, just to find out where they were hiding to exact his revenge. It encouraged the women that he would be able to find Kenobi and exact his own revenge against him. The man needed to suffer for the trouble that he caused, and the two women were elated that Vader seemed to know exactly how to do it.
After they were done with their drinks, they retired to their respective quarters.
Vader flopped down on the bed, exhausted. "As much as I want to, I don't think I'll be able to put up much of a performance, Padmé", he admitted. It shamed him that he couldn't make passionate love to the love of his life after she had been rescued from torture.
Padmé looked at him slyly. "I have an idea that won't take much energy from you, but should offer some satisfaction", she said with a wink.
That perked Vader up immensely. "Oh? What's your suggestion?"
"Strip off your clothes and you'll see", Padmé said as she began to remove her own clothing.
Vader struggled to get out of his cloak and the clothing underneath but was able to do so once Padmé began to help him. Damn he felt weak.
"What's your idea?", he asked, eager to know what the plan was. He had been such an influence on this woman's sexual appetite, even more so than when they eventually began their courtship of one another.
Padmé didn't say anything, she merely straddled Vader's face and began working his member with her hand to get him fully aroused. Vader took the hint and began attacking her sex with his lips and tongue, causing her to moan. Once she was fully aroused, she took him into her mouth and began to bob her head up and down on him, making him moan with delight. He continued his assault on her and she moaned around his member.
They stayed in the position for several minutes, each taking the time to love one another, relishing the experience. Vader happily sensed that she was coming to her climax and attached her with a renewed vigor. Once she hit her peak, she screamed around him and began bobbing her head up and down more furiously. It was something out of a fever dream and he could barely hold on. He tried to last longer, but he felt himself let go, pulsing into her mouth.
Padmé swallowed his seed whole, even turning towards him to show her mouth was empty. She crawled off him and nuzzled his neck. "Was that good for you, darling?"
Vader was still recovering from his climax and Padmé's wickedly wonderful idea. "It was, Angel. Thank you." Damn, he was a lucky man, there was no doubt about it.
"Good my sweet, I enjoyed it", she said sleepily. They stayed in the position, nude atop the covers, unable to keep their eyes open as they fell asleep.
…
Padmé's hands slightly shook as Vader landed the speeder on the parking pad of his estate. She was about to see her parents for the first time since they learned that the man they had met on Varykino was the one and only Darth Vader. Vader must have sensed her anxiety and grasped her hand. "It'll be okay, Angel", he whispered.
She looked up at him, encouraged by his attitude. "Thank you, Ani. I guess we'd better just get on with it. Whatever happens, I'm still with you, don't you ever forget it either", she whispered.
"I won't", he said before planting a light kiss on her lips.
"Alright you two, let's get inside", Dormé said in a mock irritated tone. Padmé supposed she wanted to get it over with as well, knowing that it would possibly be a little awkward.
They strode into the residence where they found Ruwee and Jobal sitting in the formal living area. Jobal's eyes lit up upon seeing Padmé. "Oh, my precious daughter, I'm so happy to see you safe!", she exclaimed.
Ruwee joined her and wrapped his arms around the both of them. Padmé felt touched that her parents were so glad to see her, even after they had to have a rude awakening that she was with the Sith Lord himself.
Once they pulled away, Padmé took a deep breath. "Mom, Dad, I know you know the truth about Anakin. I think it's time we all sit down to discuss it so we can clear the air", she said in her best diplomatic voice. Her parents nodded their heads and Vader and Dormé silently followed them into the room. Dormé sat off to the side while Vader and Padmé sat on the couch directly facing her parents.
"So, I have to let you know that Anakin bravely saved me from a Jedi who was torturing me. There's not a doubt in my mind that he would've moved mountain to rescue me if he could. He was severely wounded but managed to recover with an art of healing by the Force."
"I know that you have questions and concerns, but that act of heroism and sacrifice for me should show you that he is incredibly committed to me, to my safety, and to my ethics. There's much that you don't know about him given that the media portrays him as a cold blooded murderer, but while some of that is true, there is goodness in him that I can't explain, other than I've witnessed it firsthand. That being said, what are your questions?"
She thought those were damned good opening remarks and hoped that her parents accepted them for what they were, and not be too resistant to them.
Ruwee looked at Vader hard. "I suppose what you're saying is good, Padmé, but he's still Darth Vader. A man you loathed for many years ever since he took control of the Imperial military. I just don't understand your change of heart."
"As I've told you, I met him while I was having a moment of personal weakness. He showed kindness to me and while I didn't know him as Anakin Skywalker then, I knew him as Darth Vader. If Darth Vader could show such tenderness to me, then I figured that he would be able to show additional kindness and be someone that I could trust. And I do trust him, I trust him with my life.", Padmé replied. "That should be a good enough answer to your question."
"But why the lie when you came to Varykino? Why not have this discussion with us then?", Jobal asked.
Vader decided to jump in. "We wanted to present myself as someone that was harmless, so you could see the true side of me, not just the man in black that terrorizes the galaxy. I must admit, there were times at Varykino that I became aggravated, but I never once lost my temper. That alone should speak volumes about my restraint and character."
"When you told me that your intentions with my daughter were to love her and possibly even marry her was the truth?", Ruwee asked pointedly.
Vader breathed deeply. "Yes, they were the truth. I have nothing but affection towards your daughter, and I'm committed to eventually asking for her hand in marriage. It's a topic that we have discussed and are both fine with."
Padmé decided to jump in. "What he's saying I true, father. My intentions with Anakin mirror his own. I'm not one to lie about things like that, but he's the one I love. He risked everything to save me from the Jedi that abducted me, and even sacrificed his own blood for me. If that isn't love, then I don't know what is", she stated. It was the truth, if Vader didn't love her, he wouldn't have engaged in such a risky plan. He would've simply sent in his Stormtroopers to handle it, possibly getting her killed in the process.
"What about his ability to murder people?", Jobal asked. "Doesn't that give you pause at the type of man he is?"
Padmé chuckled. "Mom, the man that I told you about, the one that violated my body and mind, Vader and I murdered him together. He was an evil man that caused us both harm, harm that nearly couldn't be undone. We had to do it in order to be free of him, so in answer to your question, I'm comfortable with what he does. He has a reason whenever he does it, and his reasons are valid." Damn them for asking such a question. She didn't want to bring Rush up, but they had to bait her into doing so.
Both her parents sat back in shock at the news, unable to speak. Their daughter just admitted that she murdered a man, even a tormentor that violated her. Padmé couldn't understand why they were so upset, it wasn't as if she picked some random person to murder, it was calculated.
"Padmé, that's horrible news and we're not sure how to take it", Jobal said as she wiped tears from her eyes. "I'm sorry that you had to go through such an experience, even if you had cause to do it. I always thought that there were laws in the Empire to prevent the need for such a killing."
"Would you rather have I spent weeks in a court telling my side of the story just to have the man be freed on a technicality before a jury?", Padmé asked annoyed. This was turning into a sour conversation very quickly.
Her parents remained motionless, unable to speak for a moment.
"This is something that will take us much time to process", Ruwee said. "We're unsure how to respond, especially given the circumstances behind the killing. I don't know what else to say. We will gather our things and head back to Naboo to reflect on the matter. We're not trying to be harsh to you Padmé, but this isn't something that we can just accept."
Jobal nodded in agreeance with her husband. Padmé felt like bursting into tears.
"I'll respect what you've said, but you're not only being harsh to me, but you're being also harsh to Anakin. The one man that I trust my life with. Go. Take your time to reflect but know that our relationship isn't going anywhere. I don't want to see either of you until you're willing to accept it."
With that, Padmé stomped out of the room, tears pouring from her face. Vader quickly got up to follow her, and Dormé remained in her seat with a look of sadness on her face, unable to express how disappointed she was at how the conversation turned out.
Unfortunately, not every ending could be happy.
A/N: This wraps up the arch with Padmé's parents for now at least. Hopefully in the future they'll change their minds, but for now, they aren't supportive, leaving Padmé without the ones that she thought she could depend on.
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