A/N: Thank you for the reviews! Please enjoy this next chapter.

Edit: Fixed a small part pointed out by a reviewer.

Vader was exhausted. It had been a full week and Padmé had still not woken up. The doctors were monitoring her closely and he spent as much time as he could by her side trying to heal her brain. The spark and fear were there, they were intensifying with each attempt to heal her, but she remained in her coma. It was something out of a nightmare. The baby was doing fine, the doctors didn't do a scan on the baby yet, but Vader could feel the life within her. It was precious, just as precious as his wife. If only she could wake up, dammit. She needed to wake up, she had to. He couldn't go on without her.

The Dark Lord had barely slept over the last week. Maybe an hour a day, sometimes two hours. Every free moment he had was spent by her bedside, willing the Force to have her wake up. But the Force wasn't answering, not yet at least. He had to remain hopeful, as much as he could. Dormé stayed with her while Vader had to attend to his duties, the woman was good to Padmé. She had tried to save her life after all, and Vader was eternally grateful for that.

But he was lost without his wife. It hurt so much, too much for him to bear at times. He chided himself for leaving her, for not being there when Kenobi decided to make his attack. However, something told him that Kenobi had waited until he left and would have continued to wait until Padmé was alone. He felt fortunate that his meeting with Piett hadn't taken so long, it would have devastated him if he hadn't been able to get back in time to stop the insane Jedi.

"Wake up, Angel", he whispered as he held her hand. "Please, just wake up. I'm here waiting for you, and I need you. I can't do this alone, I don't have the strength, not after all you've done for my heart and soul."

Nothing. Not even a sign.

Vader exhaled slowly as he tried to clear his mind. This was taking too much of a tole on him. He gently set her hand back on her stomach and stood. He had a meeting with Piett and Veers to attend to discuss the results of the mission to the Hapes cluster. After walking to the door, he turned and gave her another look before leaving.

Once he meekly walked to his speeder, he flew it to the subterranean military complex underneath the Palace. Setting his speeder down on the pad, he tried to play the part of the sharp Imperial commander, but it was difficult. It was like he lost his pride, his zeal for combat, his leadership. Everything had been stripped away from him, but to be honest, he didn't care about those things. They were meaningless. All he craved, all he needed, was his wife to be awake.

Dragging himself into the debriefing area of the intelligence section of the complex, he opened a door where he saw Admiral Piett and General Veers siting, waiting for his arrival. He quickly glanced at the chrono and saw that he was late, which was a surprise.

"Gentlemen", he said wearily, "I hope you have some good news for me."

"Unfortunately, not very much good news, Milord", Piett said. "We were able to locate the Rebel fleet, but they must've had preset hyperspace coordinates set, as they were able to jump as soon as we entered within range of them."

It was for nothing. The briefing he had went to the night Padmé was nearly killed was for nothing. Feeling a surge of anger, Vader slammed his fists down on the metal briefing table, causing it to dent with both of his fist. It was all for nothing.

"When you bring me actionable intelligence from now on, Admiral, I expect there to be some gods damned results, not a complete waste of an entire fleet's time!", he snarled.

Piett stood up at attention, with a look of fear on his face.

"There could've been scout ships sent as I had suggested to probe them out, determine which area they were specifically in so the fleet could have jumped in on top of them, but no, you had to trust the Hapes to provide the so called actionable intelligence. This is well below standard of a man of your position, I have half the mind to demote you to Captain for this, but I won't merely for the reason that your track record other than this has been exceptional. Am I understood?", Vader demanded.

"Perfectly, Milord", Piett said with a visible tremble.

Vader growled and stood, walking to the other side of the conference room. "Well, what kind of fleet composition are we talking about? Anything that would be of concern?", he asked.

"Milord, the fleet consisted of just under two hundred ships, of which about eighty were capital ships. It was a large fleet, one that would have put up a fight had they decided to stay around", Piett explained. "We detected nearly a thousand fighter craft as well. They're a force that could inflict damage to Imperial targets at a moments notice. Much different than the fleet we destroyed in the Amari system."

Shit, that was a lot of ships. More than a simple squadron of Star Destroyers could take on if they ran into the Rebels, it would require an entire fleet action.

"Bring me actionable intelligence that is verified by our own men the next time, Admiral. I won't be wasting my time again on secondhand information, is that clear?", Vader asked coldly.

"Yes, Milord", Piett replied, less nervous than he was before.

"I'll have my comms active in case anything is needed", Vader said before he walked out. This entire fucking ambush by Kenobi could've been prevented if scout ships had just been sent to the system as he had originally ordered. For there not to be a single ship engagement on a fleet to fleet action such as this was inexcusable, and it nearly cost him everything.

He shuffled to his speeder and rubbed his eyes. He figured that there wasn't much more time he could go without substantial sleep, but he didn't want to. He couldn't, not until Padmé was awake.

After engaging the speeder, he flew it back to the Senate hospital, hoping for good news, but expecting none. This was akin to having your abilities to the Force cut off, it was maddening. It made everything on his body hurt, his soul was on fire and nothing could put it out. It was the darkest point in his life, much darker than when he was tortured relentlessly as a boy.

Vader set the speeder down in the hospital parking pad and did something unusual. He bent his head down to the dash and cried. This was too much to take. The love of his life, the one who he was bound to by his very soul, was in a damned coma and there was nothing he could do to free her mind, to wake her up.

How much more time would the doctors want to wait before they considered her to be a lost cause? Would Sidious wait any longer? Vader knew he would wait until time itself was gone, but that depressed him even further. He couldn't let their best years toil away simply because of this, they had so many more things to do together, to accomplish.

Ensuring to keep his sobs low, he continued to cry, letting all of the negative emotions out in a floodgate. After a while, the tears slowed, and the sobs stopped. He lifted his head and leaned back into the seat, staring off in the distance as he sat. What the fuck was he supposed to do? Walk around as if nothing was happening? The rest of the galaxy was, but that didn't matter to him. What he needed was his wife back, and then he needed revenge on the Jedi for allowing one of their knights to go completely insane.

An idea came to his head, one that he was certain that Padmé would agree with. What if he told the press what Padmé had gone through? Surely, as adoring they were together at their wedding, the galaxy would be up in arms with the Jedi and their foolish teachings. Yes, he would make the galaxy aware of Padmé's condition and save her from hell.

There were always reporters at the steps of the Senate. He would go there and make an announcement. Shifting the speeder's engines back on, he headed to the Senate, eager to carry out his plans before he lost his nerves.

Vader landed on the exterior pad to the main entrance and walked up the steps. The reporters noticed him and began to walk towards him.

"Lord Vader, a few questions if you man", a reporter said.

Vader paused, having second thoughts about his plan. No, he was committed. His wife deserved this, she deserved for the galaxy to know what happened to her, that an insane Jedi tried to kill her.

"I have an announcement before any questions", he said, pulling his hood back, causing the reporters to gasp. Of course, the galaxy had already seen him unveiled before, but they were still unused to seeing him without that blasted hood on.

He turned to them, waiting for them all to get their holocameras ready. After he took a deep breath, he calmed himself, realizing he looked like absolute shit from sobbing earlier.

"A week ago, a Jedi broke into my estate, which remains an undisclosed location. I was not there at the time, but only a few minutes away. The Jedi killed several of my Stormtrooper guard before making his way into the estate and the found my wife asleep in our bedchambers. The Jedi then proceeded to try and kill her with the Force. Her handmaiden tried to stop him, but her heroic actions were quickly overpowered. I sensed the disturbance in the Force and came back immediately, where the Jedi was about to deliver a killing blow to my wife."

He paused and the crowd gasped. There was absolute silence, and he could feel terror and sadness amongst many of the reporters.

"I stopped the Jedi from killing her with his lightsaber, and fought him off, where I eventually killed him and delivered his head to our esteemed Emperor." He had to give Sidious some credit or he'd be punished. "My wife was taken to an undisclosed hospital where she was treated with brain trauma. She remains stable, but in a coma. I am devastated as she still has yet to wake up. The Jedi are to blame for this, and once she wakes from her coma, I plan to find them and eradicate them once and for all. But again, I will remain by my wife's side until that she wakes up. She is my everything, and I cannot imagine a life without her." His voice was cracking unintentionally. He left off there, satisfied with the message he delivered.

The reporters were silent for a moment and he could her soft cries from the women and whispers of anger from the men. They were incensed with anger and sadness, and he was certain the galaxy would be as well.

"Milord, I am so sorry about your wife", a reporter stated. "Do the doctor's have any predictions of when she will wake up?"

"No", Vader croaked. He wouldn't be able to do this much longer. This was too difficult to talk about.

"What was the name of this murderous Jedi?", another reporter asked.

"An evil man named Obi-Wan Kenobi. I had fought him at the fleet action at Amari that was reported on several weeks back, but he had escaped. The responsibility partially remains with me, if I had been able to kill him, this wouldn't have happened", Vader said honestly. "I am saddened yet enraged."

"I'm sure, Lord Vader", a reporter said. "Did she sustain any permanent wounds?"

Vader shook his head. "Aside from her brain injury, which has healed, she simply remains in a coma. It is unforeseen if she will sustain any loss of memory or not. I pray to the Force that she will not have any loss of memory as that would be entirely too much for me to bear", he said. "I'm unsure if I'm unable to answer anymore questions. I simply wanted to let the galaxy know that their beloved Lady Vader was nearly killed by a Jedi, by the Rebellion. They are an enemy that deserve to irradicated for their crimes against my wife. My soulmate. My everything."

He was silent for a moment, resisting the urge to break down again in front of the galaxy, but he could tell that the reporters could see him struggle. It was a harrowing experience for him, he was such a private man that delivering such a message went against his every instinct, he just had to let everyone know. Let them be aware that the woman they adored was in dire condition.

"If there are no further questions, I will go back to the undisclosed location and be with my wife. I demand privacy during this time. I command that you give me privacy", he said with somewhat of a growl. He may be an emotional wreck, but he was still a kriiffing Sith Lord. He wouldn't have his commands ignored.

"Of course, Lord Vader", a reporter said sullenly.

"You have our support", another said.

"Please give Lady Vader our condolences and let her know that our thoughts and prayers to the gods and the Force will remain until she wakes up and his healthy", another said.

Vader curtly nodded and proceeded back down the steps to his speeder. He got in and looked to make sure none of the reporters were following him. They weren't. Good, he didn't want to have to kill any of them.

He engaged the engine and flew without regard to any of the traffic laws back to the hospital and parked his speeder. Was that the right thing to do? He asked himself. Would Padmé have really wanted for him to have let the galaxy know? It was too late to ask those questions now. He had done it, and there was no taking it back.

Wiping his eyes, he donned his hood and meekly walked inside of the hospital and went to Padmé's recovery room, completely spent. When he reached the door, he silently prayed to the Force that she would awaken soon. He pushed open the door and stepped inside, closing it behind him.

Vader gazed at his wife. Her beautiful hair was splayed behind her on the pillow. She looked asleep, but in pain. Completely lifeless.

He went to her side while yanking off his gloves. After placing a hand on her forehead, he reached out into her mind and gasped. The spark had increased since he had last seen her. Their bond was stronger, and she was feeling more emotions than fear. She felt concern, she felt determination. She was slowly coming back to consciousness.

There had to be more than he could do. The doctors said that even in a coma, a person could hear talking. "I'm going to try and do whatever I can to help you wake up, Padmé. The baby is safe, we just need you to wake up. You have to wake up. I'm lost without you. Earlier I cried, I sobbed for you. Emotions that I've never expressed since I was a little boy, being tortured by Sidious, except this pain is worse. It's wounding me far greater than Sidious ever could. Please wake up, Angel", he said.

There was a flash through their bond, like she was trying to tell him something, but she couldn't quite formulate the thought. With every amount of strength that he had, he reached out with the Force and tried to heal her again, this time diving as deeply into her subconscious as he could. Looking through every part of her mind, trying to heal everything he could. He could feel himself straining, but he could feel their bond strengthening at the same time.

Suddenly, he felt her presence even clearer. I love you, Ani, he heard through their bond. "Padmé", he choked out, completely surprised to have heard her voice through their bond. "You're doing it, please just focus your mind. I know it's hard, but I'm trying to help you as much as I possibly can. Please try harder."

The baby I safe? He heard again. "Yes, Angel, the baby is safe. It needs you", he said.

I'll keep trying, Ani, but it's hard, she said again. Vader felt his knees grow weak as the power he was using was so intense, too intense. This was beyond anything that he could ever imagine. His wife was communicating with him, so he was trying to hold onto healing her as much as he could.

"I don't know how much longer I can last, Angel", he said. "This is draining me so much. Just know that I love you so much."

I love you too, Ani. She told him. "I know you do, my beautiful wife. Rest now, we'll try again later, I promise", he said.

There wasn't any response, but he felt a new emotions through their bond. They were love and relief. He had done it. Exhausted, he lifted his hand from her head and fell backwards onto the floor, unable to move. This had drawn every once of energy from him. He couldn't move, he couldn't think. He tried to fight it off, tried to sit up, but he couldn't. He closed his eyes and fell asleep hard.

…

"Ani", he heard. It was a voice he knew well. "Ani, wake up." The voice was concerned, terrified almost.

"I'm trying", he mumbled. Barely able to speak.

"Try harder", the voice said. Who was this person? "Try as hard as you can, I'm worried about you."

It was Dormé!

Summoning all the strength he had, he opened his eyes and saw her kneeling over him, her face was ripe with concern.

"I'm awake", he rasped. "Let me try and sit up."

She took his hand and helped pull his massive frame up, her muscles must have been straining given his weight of pure muscle.

Once he was sitting up, he looked up at her. "How long was I out?", he asked.

"I don't know, but it's nearly midnight. The doctors walked in on you and wanted to move you to a hospital bed, but I told them no, that you were merely exhausted", Dormé said with a cracked voice. "You were trying to heal her again, weren't you?"

Vader nodded. "It partially worked. I was able to communicate with her, not much, just a few words. I told her the baby is fine, that I love her. She responded that she loved me too. She's coming back, Dormé. It'll take time, but she's coming back to us", he said.

"Oh, thank the gods", Dormé cried out.

"Yes, indeed", Vader said. "I'm going to try and stand." He grabbed the chair next to Padmé's bed for support and Dormé put his arm over her shoulder and with her help he was able to stand momentarily before collapsing into the chair. "Thank you."

"Sure", she said.

He looked at her and suddenly remembered that she was still recovering from her lightsaber wound. "Are you hurting? I forgot about your shoulder", he said.

"I'm still healing, but I'm fine", she said. "it hurts a bit, but I'll live."

Vader knew that he had to heal her, she had saved Dormé's life by going against Kenobi by herself.

"Let me try and heal you", he rasped. "You saved my wife's life. It's the least that I could do for you, my friend."

Dromé shook her head. "Not now, maybe later. You need to get your strength back, you're too weak", she said. After she stared at him for a moment, she cocked her head at him. "I saw the news over the holonet. Every station is broadcasting your message, every reporter is talking about it. The entire galaxy is hearing about Padmé. There's anger, there's rage. They want her to wake up, but they want blood."

"Good", Vader replied. "They deserved to know the status of their Lady Vader. She's adored by many; she deserves the support."

Dormé placed a hand on his arm. "I was surprised that you did that. It was good of you; she does deserve to have everyone's support. I saw how much of an emotional wreck you were. It was terrible, Ani. I know you're hurting badly."

Vader nodded. "I am. This hurts more than anything I've ever experienced", he said.

"Will the Emperor be displeased with your actions?", she asked.

Dammit, he hadn't thought of that. "He probably will be, but I don't care if I get tortured, Dormé. All I care about is my wife", he stated. "Damn the consequences."

That made her frown. "You can't help her if you're tortured to the point where you're nearly dying as well", she chided. "Please be careful about the decisions you make. I can't afford to have both of your lives in jeopardy."

Vader nodded again. "I'll try my best, I promise", he said. "I just had to tell them. They needed to know."

Dormé looked at him with sadness. She delicately picked up Padmé's hand and placed it into his.

"You just stay with her, be comforting with her. I'll be in my room, and I'll come check on the both of you in a little while", she said.

"Alright, Dormé", Vader said as he gazed at his wife.

…

Qui-Gon was in shock. He was in the ship's cantina, watching the holonet while he was sipping a drink. They were replaying the footage of Vader informing the galaxy of what Obi-Wan did over and over. He had felt a disturbance in the Force and now knew that his apprentice was dead. He felt sadness that it had to end that way, he felt like he failed Obi-Wan, but the Jedi Knight's actions were what got him killed. He had walked perilously close to the dark side and had lost.

It wasn't surprising that Vader had killed him, he would be nearly unstoppable when set into a full rage. He knew Padmé from their days on Naboo, and how she had blamed the Jedi after losing Vader as a boy. She was enraged at them, cursing their very existence. He couldn't blame her. Now, she was fighting for her life because of the evil actions of his apprentice. He imagined that Vader had a lot to do with saving her life, and it was a sign that he was still able to touch the light, even after being enraged. He was the Chosen One.

"Oh, I'm so sorry that fucking Lady Vader is in a coma", a soldier said with a laugh.

"No shit, whatever will we do", another said with sarcasm.

Qui-Gon winced at the words. They didn't understand that the majority of the galaxy would be against them now. Recruiting from planets and defectors would be very difficult now. Their numbers would grow more slowly now that they were seen as the true enemy. These soldiers didn't know any better.

"I wonder if he's fucking her while she lays there unconscious", a soldier said crudely.

"She might cum even while she's in a fucking coma", a female soldier said. "I probably would with the fucking Sith Lord's good looks."

The entire cantina roared with laughter, causing Qui-Gon to shake his head. They were without concern for a life, and that was heart breaking. All lives were precious, every single one.

"What's the matter, Qui-Gon, can't take a few jokes?", a soldier sneered.

Qui-Gon slowly turned to the soldier and stared at him. "You have no idea what this means for the Rebellion do you?", he asked. "There will be a call by a considerable portion of the galaxy to hunt us and the remainder of the Jedi down. It will be like we're the true enemy now. The galaxy became enamored with Padmé Amidala once she wed Darth Vader. This is an unfortunate thing."

The soldier was silent for a moment. "I bet the opposite. I bet that they'll be emboldened due to Vader being such a bitch, crying over his wife. He's lost credibility that he's deadly", he said.

"Vader is deadlier than you think. It must have taken a considerable amount of rage to defeat Obi-Wan in time to stop him from killing Vader's wife. You have no clue about his powers. They surpass mine", Qui-Gon said.

"Ah, fuck it, don't waste your time talking to this Jedi", the same female soldier sneered. "They just get us fucked anyway."

The other soldier turned away from Qui-Gon and went back to his group and continued to drink. Qui-Gon turned around and continued to watch the holonet. He would need to consult with the Jedi Council on the next steps. Whatever goodwill he had earned with Vader during the battle of Amari would likely have been lost. It would be nearly impossible to enlist his help in defeating the Emperor. There went their last chance at overthrowing the tyrant.

…

Vader stalked into the Sidious' thrown room after being summoned. He knew what this was about and had mentally prepared himself to be tortured. It was almost a guarantee. He stopped at his usual ten paces from Sidious and kneeled.

"What is thy bidding my master?", he asked.

"Rise, Lord Vader", Sidious commanded.

Vader stood and braced himself. Whatever punishment Sidious would inflect upon him, he was ready for it.

"I saw your pathetic speech on the holonet, Lord Vader. Have you grown so soft that you were willing to show your emotional state to the galaxy?", Sidious sneered.

"Master, my intent was to enrage the galaxy against the Jedi and the Rebellion, and it appears that it has worked. It will be much easier to obtain information on their whereabouts now that people are incensed at them. They deserved to know the status of Lady Vader, just as they would deserve to know if I was struck down in battle. This was the proper course of action", Vader said defiantly.

Sidious was silent for a moment, probably contemplating what his next move would be. Vader continued to brace himself for his punishment.

"As I've said, your wife's condition is probably still punishment enough, so I won't cause you misery, not yet at least. If this doesn't work, you can be assured that I will make you suffer, worse than I did when you were a mere boy, do you understand, Lord Vader", Sidious spat.

"I will take whatever punishment you choose to inflict, master. Of that I swear", Vader said. At this point he didn't give a damn. His heart was in pieces and he still felt like he deserved additional punishment for allowing his wife to be severely injured and nearly killed by Kenobi.

"Once your wife regains consciousness, you will redouble your efforts at making a family with her, along with tracking down the fucking Rebellion, am I understood", Sidious growled.

Sidious wouldn't get his fucking hands on his child, Vader swore.

"I will do as commanded, my master", Vader said with a slight bow.

"Good. Now, I believe some dramatic influence is needed. I will have you place the head of Kenobi at the steps of the senate on full display. It will be under guard as it rots. Do you have a problem with that?", Sidious asked.

"His head hasn't already rotted?", Vader asked, surprised.

"I've kept the thing in stasis", Sidious replied. "I've prepared an alter that will be installed once you have his head. Then you will place it for all to see as the price that will be paid for defying the Empire."

That actually wasn't a bad idea. "I understand, master", he said. "Once the head is provided, I will place it for all to see."

"Guards", Sidious called.

A red robed guard stepped from behind Sidious' thrown holding the head of Kenobi. It did look like it was preserved. The guard handed the head to Vader, who held it by the hair.

"The alter should be prepared as we speak. Go now, go place the head of the man who tried to slaughter your wife for all to see", Sidious commanded.

"As you wish", Vader said as he turned and walked out of Sidious' chambers.

He made his way through the maze of the bowels of the Senate to the top. He exited the front door where reporters were crowded. An alter had been prepared with a spike in the middle. Stormtroopers were already stationed around it.

Vader walked up to it and shoved the head down on the spike. "I present to you, the head of the murderous Jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi. His head will rot in public for all to see as a testament to those who dare try and harm my family as well as the Empire", Vader shouted. The reporters gasped and began asking question after question. Vader ignored them and walked around them to the speeder pad. He had to get back to his wife, he needed to check on her.

He flew the short ride to the hospital and stepped out of his speeder, quickly walking to his wife's room. She was still unconscious, but he could immediately tell that their bond had strengthened even more. It felt good, like taking the first breath after being underwater for several minutes. It encouraged him further that progress was being made.

"Padmé, I can feel you getting stronger", Vader said as he sat down next to his wife. "I feel your mind is healing."

I'm trying as hard as I can, but it hurts.

"I know it hurts, but you have to keep trying. You must keep trying. I need you and so does our unborn child", Vader replied, overjoyed that his wife was so easily able to communicate with him through their bond.

I miss you.

"I miss you too, Angel. Rest and continue to gather your strength. We can talk when you're more up to it", Vader replied. His heart felt overjoyed. He sent soothing emotions over their bond, hoping that she would feel them like a warm blanket draped over her.

Feeling like he could finally rest, Vader scooted the chair over closer to his wife and sat down on it. He laid his head down on her bed, next to her arm and fell asleep.

…

Vader was in a place full of flowers and blue skies with white puffy clouds. The smell of lake water filled the air along with the sweet perfume of the delicate wildflowers. Where was he? He walked around, trying to figure it out and suddenly it struck him. This was Naboo.

"Ani, over here", he heard. It was his Angel's voice.

He looked over to where the voice was and saw her sitting amongst the flowers. He jogged over to her and saw that she was sitting on a blanket. The very blanket they had made love on the last time they were on Naboo.

"Padmé, what are we doing here?", he asked as he sat down.

"I'm not sure, but we might as well relax a while", she replied.

Vader took her hand in his and squeezed gently. He didn't know what this was. A dream? A vision?

"Are you alright?", he asked.

"I'm still working on it", she replied with a smile.

She was still working on it? Was this a connection through their bond?

"Do you mean your coma?", he asked. It had to be a communication through their bond. This was too real for it to merely be a dream.

"Yes, Ani", Padmé said with a chuckle. "It's hard, but I long to wake up so I can see you for real, so I can hold you and tell you that everything will be alright. I've felt your pain and suffering and it breaks my heart. You've suffered enough in your life."

"So have you", Vader replied. "My suffering over you is merely because I care for you. I was so frightened when I felt that damned Jedi in our bedchambers."

Padmé nodded, looking concerned. She looked back up to him. "Did you kill him?", she inquired.

"I most certainly did", Vader said. "He's dead and won't be a threat to us ever again." Damn that Jedi, he wished that he could kill him all over again, just to cause him more pain.

"Good", Padmé whispered. "I was so frightened when he woke me up. I thought that I was going to die."

Vader's heart broke. He let go over her hand and placed an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him. "But you didn't, Dormé attacked him and bought me enough time to save you. It was close, but I stopped him", he whispered into her ear. "You will never be tormented by that man again, I promise you this."

"What about the other Jedi?", Padmé asked as she buried her face into his neck.

"The other Jedi will die, it'll just take some time", Vader said. He wished he could meet them in battle this very second, but he wouldn't leave his wife's side until she was completely healed. Better in every way.

"I don't blame you for wanting to kill them, I just hope you're safe when you do. Just as you can't bear the thought of losing me, I can't bear the thought of losing you. You told me that our child needs you, but our child will also need you, Ani", she whispered. "Promise me that you'll be around when it's born."

"I promise", he assured her. "Nothing will stop me from seeing our child born, nothing at all."

"And Sidious?", she asked. "What will we do about him?"

"Sidious won't get our child, I'm not sure how yet, but he won't. Our child will never know the darkness as I do. Our child will only know the light. Never to be raised as a Jedi or a Sith, but as something different, something without ideologies that are damaging, that make a person weak", Vader told his wife. "I'm not sure how I'll go about that either, but I swear that to you."

"Good, all I needed was your word, Ani", Padmé replied. "Your word is everything to me. You've never broken a promise, never disappointed me. You're my heart and my soul."

"And you're mine", Vader replied simply.

The couple just sat for a while, gazing at the flowers, at the sky. Taking in the beauty of the world that they fell deeper in love on, that they were married on. It was a beautiful moment that he didn't want to wake from. It was something that he needed to see, that brought him peace.

"What will we name our child?", Padmé asked.

"I have no idea", Vader chuckled. "I was hoping that you would have a few suggestions."

"Now, now, Ani. Like I said, you have to participate in things as well", Padmé chided. "Be thinking of some names and we'll compare our lists together."

"Very well, my love", Vader agreed.

"I hope I wake up soon", Padmé whispered. "There's much for us to do together, much for us to say to one another."

"I know, Angel. I agree", Vader whispered back.

This was wonderful, yet it also was beginning to feel somewhat torturous. He longed to have her back in reality. In the waking world. He would give anything for her to awaken now, for him to see her smile and have her caress his face. To wrap his arms around her while they slept in their own bed. It was something that he needed, that he craved.

"Don't fret darling, I will do all of those things and more", Padmé said.

"You heard my thoughts, Angel?", Vader asked, surprised.

"Of course, we're bound together and in this state, I can feel you more than I've ever felt you before", she said. "Maybe that's something that we can work towards once I'm awake. I want our thoughts to be one."

Vader was stunned. They were able to occasionally pick up on one another's specific thoughts over their emotions, but never were they clear like Padmé suggested they were.

Padmé lifted her head and kissed him gently. Vader moaned, the feeling of her lips against his was intoxicating. He loved her with a burning passion that even a mere kiss could sooth his soul.

She pulled away and look at him with a sad smile. "You've been asleep for a while, Ani. I think it's time for you to wake up."

"No", Vader replied. "I don't want to leave you." He couldn't leave her; he needed her even if it was only in this state. To hear her voice, her thoughts. It was something that was vastly necessary to him.

"I know, darling. I don't want you to leave either, but you can't stay here forever. Maybe we'll be able to connect like this again, but for now, I need you to wake up. Soon, we'll be able to hold one another in reality", Padmé said as a tear rolled down her cheek.

"I can't leave you", Vader said as he felt tears of his own pour from his eyes. "You're everything to me, even in this state, I crave you."

"Ani, I'll be with you soon", Padmé choked out. "But you need to take care of yourself. I won't have you get sick over me. A wife must take care of her husband, just as you have taken care of me."

Vader crushed her to him, kissing the top of her head several times. He knew she was right; he couldn't just stay in this state forever. It was difficult, but necessary.

"I love you, Anakin Skywalker", she said.

"I love you too, Padmé Skywalker", he replied.

Everything became foggy, and distant. He knew that he was beginning to wake up, being separated from her. His instinct was to fight it, but he chose not to. He would honor his wife's request, no matter how difficult it was. But he swore that he would try and join her again if she wasn't awake soon.

…

Vader lifted his head groggily from his wife's hospital bed. She was still motionless, but the connection they shared through the Force had grown more powerful during their time in their sleep state. He could feel more from her, it was like a light had been turned on and he could see clearer again.

"Thank you for that, Angel", he said as he leaned over and planted a light kiss on her lips. "I needed that and so did you. I can feel you more strongly. Stronger than I've felt you ever since you've been hurt."

I feel you stronger too, and I needed that as well, Ani.

Vader was blown away, it was all real and it made him smile.

Go now, go get some rest. I'll keep trying to wake up.

Vader felt tears rushing to his eyes, but he blinked them away as quickly as he could.

"Alright, Angel. I'll do as you ask", he replied. He bent down and kissed her lips one more time before he stood. After he walked to the door, he looked at her again and smiled. He smiled for the first time in a long time, happy to know that his wife was growing stronger. That she was able to communicate with him in such a way.

He walked out of the room, feeling better, but still overwhelmingly tired. Like he was still weakened from all his attempts to heal her. His aura was spent, he didn't know how to regain any of the energy he had lost.

Walking to Dormé's room, he saw her sleeping in her bed. He wanted to tell her of his experience, but knew that she too was still recovering. Did he have enough energy to heal her? Well, there was only one way to find out. He pulled a chair next to her bed and sat in it. He took off his glove and placed his hand over her wound.

Concentrating with the Force, he probed her injury. He was right, it was still healing from the penetration of the lightsaber. The flesh underneath, including the bones were still trying to knit together. He called on the Force to heal her and soon he felt the internal wounds starting to knit together more rapidly, closing it, repairing the tissue and bones. He continued his efforts for what seemed like an eternity, but at last, he had healed her. He had taken away her injury and made her whole.

Opening his eyes, he removed his hand from her and fell back into the chair, even more exhausted than he previously felt, but it was worth it. His friend, the woman who had undoubtedly played a large part in saving Padmé's life was healed. She was still asleep, which was good. She needed to regain her strength.

Vader slowly stood up, testing his legs. He was weak, but still able to walk. He carefully strode to his speeder and sat in the seat. After closing the door, he engaged the engines and carefully drove back to his estate where there was even more of a heavy Stormtrooper guard. The amount that should have been there in the first place, which would have slowed Kenobi down. Damn him for not taking the extra precaution when he should have. Damn him for not protecting what was his.

He landed the speeder and slowly got out. He walked past the troopers who greeted him, but he said nothing in response. Opening the door to the estate he was greeted by Threepio.

"Master Vader, how good it is to see you. How is Mistress Padmé?", the droid asked.

"She's still healing, Threepio", Vader said, not wanting to get into a conversation about it.

"Well, I am certain that soon she will be back here with you. Now, would you like me to prepare you a meal?", Threepio asked.

"No thank you. I'm going to go get some sleep. Maybe later", Vader said as he walked past the droid.

"Very well, Master", Threepio replied.

Vader climbed the steps to the top floor and walked to his room for the first time since Padmé had been nearly killed. He opened the door expecting to find it in complete ruin, but the Stormtroopers had followed his orders. The window had been replaced and everything appeared to be in perfect order. The kriffing bed had even been made.

Kicking off his boots and shucking out of his robes, he planted himself face first, still dressed in his trousers and tunic and fell asleep.

…

There was much need to contact the Jedi Council on Yavin Four. They had to be consulted about the situation and the likelihood that Vader would come at them with vengeance. Qui-Gon would need to obtain permission from Bail Organa to do so, as communications outside of the fleet were strictly forbidden. He walked into Bail's office on the capital ship and saw the man sitting at his desk.

"What can I do for you, Qui-Gon?", Bail asked.

"I need to contact the Jedi Council. I must discuss with them these latest developments of Vader's wife nearly being murdered by Obi-Wan. There will be much turmoil and a call to hunt the Jedi down after his actions, so I must act quickly", Qui-Gon said.

Bail looked up from a report he had been reading. "I've ordered no communications outside of the fleet, this includes any contact with the Jedi Council. The risk of the communication being intercepted is just too great, Qui-Gon. I'm sorry, but my answer is no."

"Just like your answer was no when I wanted to chase my apprentice down so we could have avoided the fiasco of him attempting to murder Vader's wife?", Qui-Gon asked. "That order didn't go over very well, and an order not to contact the Council may have a similar consequence. We need to coordinate with them on these matters, especially given that there are so few of us lest since the younglings we acquired went missing from Concordia."

Bail's face twitched like he had been insulted. It wasn't Qui-Gon's fault that the order not to chase Obi-Wan down had been a mistake. He could have and should have been there to prevent Padmé from nearly being slaughtered. He should have been there to stop his apprentice from committing an act that likely prevented him from becoming one with the Force. It was saddening, his apprentice had so much potential and had things been different, he would have been an excellent Jedi Master, one who could have provided great tutelage to padawans.

"Qui-Gon, I understand you feel that you could have prevented Obi-Wan's actions, but that wasn't a certainty, and neither is contacting the Jedi Council. If the Empire is intercepting communications, their lives would be placed in great jeopardy as well. They don't have the resources to quickly evacuate in case they are discovered by the Empire. Would you really want their blood on your hands?", Bail asked.

Their blood would be on his hands if he didn't contact the Council to discuss the developments. If the Empire relentlessly searched for them, they would be slaughtered, especially if Vader was there. He still sensed the conflict within Vader, but there was a newfound rage against the Jedi for what Obi-Wan did. He had no doubt that Vader would slaughter the Jedi if he could.

"Bail, if I can't coordinate with the Council and discuss what I need to with them, Vader will slaughter them regardless. If that happens, our best chance at defeating the Emperor in combat will be lost forever. He is too powerful to be killed by me alone, I must have the help of the other Jedi", he said. In reality, he also needed the help from Vader, but that would be difficult to obtain especially now.

Bail sat back in his chair as he considered Qui-Gon's request. "I will allow you to make a transmission to them, but only after we determine another system to jump to. That way if the communication is intercepted, we will be long gone before the Empire ever shows up. Is that acceptable?", Bail asked.

"That will be better than nothing", Qui-Gon said. "Thank you for your consideration."

…

Vader woke slowly, trying to get his bearings. Right, he was in his bedchambers after Padmé had told him to get some rest. He looked over at the chrono and swore. He had been asleep for nearly twelve hours. He never slept that long, but he supposed that it was due to his pure exhaustion.

Sitting up, he tugged on his boots, fastening the buckles and called his robe to him, donning it before he went downstairs. It was just after three in the morning and Threepio was likely powered down. He went into the kitchen and pulled out a ration bar from the cupboard and began munching on it, giving his body some much needed nourishment. After he was finished, he threw the wrapper away and walked outside to his speeder. He needed to go check on Padmé, he had to. After engaging the engine, he flew straight to the hospital, again violating every traffic law imaginable, but he didn't care, he was the damned commander of the Imperial military. Damn the laws.

After he parked on the pad, he briskly walked into the hospital and into Padmé's room. She was still unconscious, but he could feel her presence through the bond. It had strengthened even more than before. It astonished him that only after twelve hours, she had made even more progress in repairing herself.

Did you rest?

"I did, Padmé. I slept for about twelve hours", Vader replied, joyful that she picked up on his presence so quickly.

Did you eat?

Damn, she wouldn't approve him simply eating a ration bar. "I did, but it was just a ration bar. It was enough, I promise."

Ani, that's not food, it's garbage.

"I know, but I did what I could with what I had. How're you feeling? Any chance of you waking up soon?", he asked hopefully.

Maybe soon, I'm still tired.

"Then rest some more. We can talk later, I'll be sitting right by you", Vader promised.

She didn't respond, the communication must've taken a lot from her. He pulled up the chair closer to her bed again and slipped off his gloves, taking her hand into his, clutching it with both. This is what he needed. He needed to be close to her, to feel her delicate skin.

He stayed in that position for hours, hoping that she would soon wake up, but knowing that it could be days if not more.

More hours past, but he stayed in that position, unwavering. He couldn't leave her side, no matter what. She needed him and he needed her. It was something that he couldn't be without. Then, he had a thought. One that he couldn't believe he didn't think of before. The method that he used to cure her of her mental ailments, could it work to revive her from her coma? Maybe it could, maybe it could continue to repair the damage that had been inflicted upon her.

But what if it didn't work? What if it damaged her even further? He couldn't decide.

More hours past as he continued to debate the possibility of using the method, his mind going over every possibility, every outcome. It seemed possible the more he thought about it. He had to try, he had to try and use the method as his other attempts to bring her back into the world had failed. This was the only one he had left.

He stood and gently took her head in his hands and pressed his forehead against hers. Reaching out to the Force, he recalled the method that he used and said a few words in the old standard language. He felt her mind, felt her subconscious. Gently probing even further, he let his mind pour into hers, easily bypassing the barriers that he put in place. It wasn't harsh like before when he had to break down the barriers that he had formed, the one that Kenobi had formed.

Once he reached her deepest subconscious level, he chanted the words stronger. Filling her mind with his completely. He began to feel weak; he knew that he was straining himself to the point of exhaustion, but he couldn't stop. He had to keep going.

After another few minutes, he couldn't take it anymore. He fell back into the chair, completely spent, as if he was about to pass out again. He felt dizzy and was certain that he was going to pass out. Making sure that he wouldn't slip out of his chair, he felt himself slip into unconsciousness, willing to the Force that what he had tried would work.

…

"Ani"

What was that? Vader thought. He knew he was still asleep. Was this another vision that he was to have with Padmé? The voice certainly sounded like hers.

"Ani", the voice repeated.

It was her, but he couldn't see anything.

"Ani, wake up. Open your eyes, darling", Padmé said.

Open his eyes? Wait, could this mean?

He struggled to open his eyes and couldn't believe what he saw. Padmé was sitting up in her bed, leaning over to look at him.

"Padmé!", he cried out. In a flash, he was out of his chair and he wrapped his arms around his wife, squeezing her gently.

"Ani", Padmé sobbed. "I'm so glad to see you."

"I'm glad to see you too", Vader choked out. His lover, his wife was with him again. He felt more at peace with the galaxy than he ever had before.

"It'll be alright, Ani", she cried. "I'm here now."

She was here, and he was elated that she was with him. He kissed the top of her head several times, completely lost in his love for her. The two of them stayed where they were for what seemed like an eternity, just holding one another and crying. They had almost been lost to one another forever, but now they were reunited, and he was so grateful to the Force for allowing him to heal her mind again. To breath life back into her.

Slowly, he pulled back, but still held onto her.

"Are you alright?", he asked. "Are you in any pain?"

Padmé shook her head. "I'm just feeling a little lightheaded, but that's about it", she replied.

"Good", Vader replied nearly breathless. "Good, let me go get a doctor to check you out. I'll be right back."

He ruefully let go of her and darted out of the room. Down the hall, he found one of her doctors.

"Doctor, my wife is awake, she needs to be examined", he commanded.

The doctor looked up at him sharply. "Yes, Milord, right away", he replied as he quickly walked to Padmé's room, with Vader close behind him.

Padmé was lying back down, but her eyes were open. The doctor performed a series of tests on her, with Padmé groaning through each one. Vader wanted to jump in and cease the examinations so Padmé wouldn't be in any discomfort but stopped himself.

After the doctor was finished, he stepped back. "Milord, Lady Vader is recovering very well. We'll keep her here another few days just to be safe, but she appears to be in good shape. Congratulations to the both of you", the doctor said.

"Thank you, doctor", Vader replied as the doctor stepped out of the room.

Padmé sat up and looked at Vader again with a smile. "I think I can handle a few more days here if that mean I can sleep in our bed with you again", she said.

"I think that can be arranged", Vader said as he walked to her bed and sat down on the edge. He gently took her head in his hands and bent down to capture her lips with his own. It was a sweet kiss, one that filled the both of them with love and relief. The ordeal was finally over. They were together again.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I know there wasn't much action, but I had to have a little drama and show Vader's angst over the situation. If you liked what you've read, consider dropping a review and following the story!