A/N: Thank you for the reviews! With that being said, please enjoy this next chapter!
"Let me carry you", Vader said as they approached the staircase.
Padmé smiled at her husband's eagerness to help. "I can do it, Ani, the doctor said I was in good condition", she said. The man had been nothing but doting since she had woken up. Well, he had always been a doting man, but not to this extent.
"I can still carry you", Vader said as he bent her back into his arms and gave her a good heft.
Padmé laughed and wrapped her hands around her husband's neck as he began carrying her up the three flights of stairs. "You know, there's going to be a point and time when I'm so big from the baby that you're not going to be able to carry me", she said. Seriously, her lithe body was about to be destroyed, not that it wouldn't be for a good cause.
"You're forgetting how much I can lift, a mere baby inside of you won't stop me", Vader replied. "I'm the strongest man you know."
"Strongest man?", Padmé asked teasingly.
Vader feigned being hurt, then smirked. "Yes, the strongest man, Angel", he replied.
"It's true", Padmé admitted. Seriously, her husband's muscles were a work of art. Gloriously attractive art. "You'll have to show me just how strong you are later."
"Maybe I will, but the doctor said no strenuous activities for at least another day, so that'll have to wait", Vader replied diligently.
Padmé nearly stuck her lip out in a pout. The sacrifices that she would have to make, one of which was not being able to make delicious love to Vader for at least another day. "But Ani, it's been nearly two weeks", she pleaded.
"I know, Angel, trust me, I know. But we can hold out one more day. We have to think of your health first", he gently admonished.
"My health is fine", she muttered. "You on the other hand are in need for some serious rest. I've never seen your eyes look that tired."
Vader chuckled. "You should've seen me during the expansion campaign in the mid rim when we were fighting the Rebellion a few years ago. I didn't sleep for at least two weeks. Now that was exhaustion, Angel", he boasted. "I didn't eat that much either."
Padmé gave him her best stern look. "That's because you were nineteen or twenty years old, not twenty four. Your body needs more rest now than it previously did", she admonished. "You can't go around acting like you're invincible forever."
Vader growled lightly. "Fine, wife. I'll lay down with you and rest", he said, like it was such a terrible thing. He then looked at her and smiled, and she knew that he was joking.
Once they reached the top of the stairs, Vader set Padmé down and she walked into the fresher, stripping her clothes off and dressing in a modest nightgown, feeling tired all the sudden. Damn, maybe she did need to rest more. She had barely done anything except take a speeder ride home and walk into the penthouse.
When she exited, Vader had already donned a pair of sleep pants and had turned down her side of the bed. She walked up to him and gave him a deep kiss before she laid down, unable to prevent a groan from escaping her lips.
"Are you alright?", Vader asked worriedly.
"Yes, Ani", Padmé replied. "I just didn't realize how tired I was. Maybe it was a good idea for you to have carried me up the stairs." As if he needed his ego inflated anymore than it already was, but she had to give credit where credit was due.
"Do we need to call for a doctor?", Vader inquired. "They said to watch out for excessive fatigue."
"Husband, they said a common symptom will be excessive fatigue, not that there was anything wrong with it", she explained. "Would you come and lay down before you give yourself a heart attack with all of your worrying?" Seriously, the last thing she needed was for him to stress himself to death.
"Alright", Vader said exasperated.
Padmé watched the muscles on his torso and arms flex and move as he walked to her side of the bed. Even small subtle movements made his muscles ripple. Damn, she was going to get horny just looking at him. An entire day without sex wasn't going to be easy.
Vader flipped back the covers and slid into bed, and groaned himself.
"See, I told you that you looked exhausted", Padmé chided.
"Well, you were right", Vader admitted. "I didn't sleep much at all while you were in the hospital. Even after you woke up, I would just sit in the chair watching you sleep. You looked so peaceful, so beautiful. I was just so happy for you to have woken from the coma; it was the most joyful experience I've ever had."
Tears stung Padmé's eyes. That was a declaration of love if she had ever heard one, and it meant a lot to her. She wrapped her arms around him, clinging to him for dear life, like if she let go, he would fade away.
"Are you alright", Vader asked gently.
"I'm just emotional", she replied. "You're the best husband a girl could have ever asked for."
Vader shifted in her arms to face her. He tilted her chin up to have her look into his eyes. "You're the best wife a man could have ever asked for."
Padmé was about to disagree, when suddenly she felt his lips crash down on hers. Locking them into a breathtaking kiss. One that would normally send them into a blinding passion, but they both heeded Vader's previous words and just clung to one another while they continued to kiss. Once they finally broke for air, Padmé stared into his beautiful azure eyes.
"I owe everything to you. You became my first true love, you took away my depression, swept me off my feet on more than one occasion, married me, gave me a child, and you've saved my life more than once. I wouldn't be who I am today without you", Padmé said. She meant every word of it, he was her protector, her friend, her life.
Vader looked baffled but her confession, not knowing what to say. Instead, he just wrapped his arms around her and gently squeezed. Padmé felt her eyes get teary again, but this time let the tears release onto his chest as he held her.
"It's alright", he murmured into her hair. "We're together again. Now close your eyes and get some rest, Angel. I'll be here the entire time."
She felt herself grow very tired and drifted off into the land of dreams.
…
Qui-Gon had finally been approved to make a transmission to the Jedi Council on Yavin Four. He mainly needed to speak with Yoda, he would know how to handle this most delicate situation. Dialing the frequency for the Council by memory, he stepped onto the holoprojector and awaited for the connection. A young padawan appeared before him.
"Master Jinn, how can we be of assistance?", the padawan asked.
"I need to speak to Master Yoda about a very important matter", Qui-Gon said.
"I believe that Master Yoda is meditating in his chambers, would there be someone else who could help you?", the padawan inquired.
No, he really needed to speak with Yoda. Out of the rest of the Council, Yoda was the one he trusted the most.
"Padawan, I need to speak with Master Yoda. I will wait while you run and inform him that I am making the transmission. It would behoove you to do it quickly incase this transmission is intercepted", Qui-Gon said.
The Padawan bowed. "Very well, Master Jinn."
Qui-Gon must have waited over fifteen minutes before Master Yoda finally stepped into view. He was either getting frailer or the padawan had difficulties getting him rousted from his meditation. Possibly both.
"Qui-Gon, good to see you, it is. In need of assistance, I assume you are", Yoda said in his broken basic.
"Master Yoda, I presume that you heard about Obi-Wan Kenobi's foolish attack on Darth Vader", Qui-Gon said.
Yoda frowned. "Unfortunate, it was. Placed us all in grave danger, it has", he said. "This danger, is this what you wish to speak of?"
"Partly", Qui-Gon replied. "Our plan to unseat the Emperor from his throne may be tarnished by my former apprentices fall to the darkness, but there is another way. One that I have been considering for some time now, but you may not like it."
Yoda chuckled. "Listen, I will. Go on, explain."
Here goes everything. "Master Yoda, I don't know if you've felt it, but I believe that there is a significant conflict between the darkness and the light in Darth Vader. I have felt it on numerous occasions, in fact, that conflict caused him to spare Obi-Wan and I during the fleet action at the Amari system", Qui-Gon said. "If his conflict could be harnessed, at least temporarily, he would be an exceptional asset in defeating the Emperor in combat. I understand that he is responsible for large portion of the eradication of the Rebellion's first wave along with many, Jedi, but there is good in him. More good than I believe anyone knows of, aside from his new wife."
Yoda frowned deeply and his ears twitched, which wasn't a good sign. "Qui-Gon, a conflict have I felt from Vader, however careful we must be a blood he has called for. Understandable it is since Obi-Wan's attempt to murder his wife, but caution we must have", Yoda said gravely. "Deliberate with the Council, I must. Time, I need."
"But Master, we don't have much time. I believe that soon if not already, Vader's wife will become with child. The Emperor will undoubtedly want the child to be trained in the ways of the dark side, even if Vader attempts to prevent it", Qui-Gon said. "Vader is strong, one of the most powerful beings that I've ever encountered, as is his inner conflict. But I don't believe he is strong enough to face the Emperor alone and live. The consequences of losing Vader and a child being born without his protection would be disastrous to the galaxy."
"Patience, you must have. Deliberate, we will", Yoda said. "Speak soon."
The transmission was cut and Qui-Gon hung his head low in frustration. Yoda understood the conflict within Vader, but he didn't know who he really was. That knowledge might help the Council in making their decision, however Qui-Gon had sworn to Vader that he would not disclose his true identity to the Council. For this to work, he understood what he would have to do, and it would be incredibly risky and somewhat foolish.
First, the fleet needed to jump to hyperspace. Qui-Gon lifted his comms. "Bridge, this is Qui-Gon. I have completed my transmission. It is all clear to jump the fleet to hyperspace", he said.
Within a minute, he felt the ship slightly tremble as it shot off to their next destination.
…
Padmé was sleeping peacefully, dreaming of her husband. They were good dreams, dreams of romance and of their expected child which warmed her heart. Her family was everything to her, and that would never change, regardless of what life through at them. She was to bear the child of the only man that she had ever loved.
"Wake up Padmé", a murky voice told her.
"Not now, Ani the baby is making me sleepy", she replied.
"I'm not Vader, Padmé you need to wake up."
It was Obi-Wan.
Padmé bolted upright in bed, her heart pounding as she looked around the room. No one was there, no one she could see at least.
"Padmé what's wrong", Vader asked as he groggily sat up.
She couldn't slow her heartrate, her breathing was shallow and rapid. Terror ran through her as the memory of Kenobi violating her and Vader's most sacred place ran through her mind.
"Padmé", Vader said as he gripped her arm, turning her towards him. "It's alright, he's not here. He's dead, he'll never hurt you again. Take slow and deep breaths to try and relax."
Padmé trembled slightly but nodded, listening to her husband as she breathed in and out at a steady rate, trying her best to calm down. It wasn't easy, there was just so much fear from what had happened to her. Both her and her child had almost been taken from the world by a man who had truly lost his mind, even after she tried to explain, begged him to listen. The memory of the pain that flashed through her body and head was terrible as she knew that she was about to die, just to crumple to the floor into a coma.
"I feel your thoughts, Padmé. I know it's difficult, but try and focus them on something else, anything else but that. It was a horrible thing that he did, but you survived and so did our child. I need you to focus so you can put your mind at ease and relax your body", Vader told her gently.
Hell, he was saying that like it was so easy. She felt like lashing out at him about how she had nearly died, but suddenly remembered that he had nearly died on many occasions. Vader knew what he was talking about.
She looked at him in his azure eyes, taking solace in them. His grip on her arm was firm, yet comforting. He was here to protect her as he always was and she was truly safe at the moment. Padmé closed her eyes and thought of their time on Naboo, how at peace they were together in the fields of flowers doing absolutely nothing before they made love. Their honeymoon, how they would spent hours in the sun, making love numerous times a day, just enjoying one another. Those memories helped calm her breathing and slowed her heartrate considerably.
When she opened her eyes, Vader was still staring at her intensely, but he didn't look as worried as he did a minute ago.
"I'm sorry, Ani", she began. "I just heard his voice like I did that night and it felt too real."
Vader pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. "I know, Angel. I've had similar experiences in my life. They can seem as real as the event that actually took place. It'll take a little time to heal, but you'll get there, I promise."
Padmé choked out a sob into his chest.
"Shush, Padmé", he whispered. "It's alright, there's nothing wrong with being afraid. It's what we do with it that counts."
That made Padmé chuckle a bit. "You're never afraid", she said.
Vader pulled away to look into her eyes again. "Padmé, I'm afraid all the time. I do fear for my life when I head into battle, or when I go to see the thing that I call master. I was afraid the moment I heard the alert that Kenobi was here, and I was terrified while I was waiting for you to wake up", he said. "I know everything there is to know about fear, so it's something that you can always come to me about."
Padmé smiled a bit at him, touched by his admission and felt foolish in believing that he wouldn't be afraid. Of course, he felt fear, it had been a part of his life since he was a mere boy, abducted by Sidious.
"I'm sorry I said that, Ani. Of course, you know what fear is. I just need to learn to control mine", she said.
"I can help you with that, amongst other things, but time will be a big factor in your healing, my love", Vader said as he brought her back to his chest.
He laid them both back down and she wrapped her arm around his stomach.
"Do you think you can try and rest a little more?", Vader asked.
"I do", Padmé admitted, feeling exhausted all over again. "Thank you, Ani."
Vader kissed the top of her head. "You're welcome, Angel", he said.
…
Later when the couple finally arose they made it downstairs. Dormé was in the front living area and jumped up when she saw her friend.
"Padmé!", she exclaimed as she rushed up to give her a gentle hug. "I'm sure you're so glad to be home, I know it was difficult, but I'm here for you as always."
"Thank you, Dormé", Padmé said with a smile. "I know I can always count on you for your support. Especially for jumping in and saving my life when that madman was trying to kill me."
She saw Dormé blink tears from her eyes. "I'd do it again in a heartbeat, love. Never forget that", she said.
"I won't", Padmé promised.
"Good, now that we're all together again, I believe Padmé needs something to eat to keep her strength up. Threepio!", he called out.
"Yes, Master Vader!", Threepio said as he shuffled in from the other room.
"Would you kindly make us some lunch. Nothing heavy, just something quick so Padmé can get some food in her stomach", Vader commanded.
"Oh! Of course, Master Vader, I would be delighted to. I have missed cooking for everyone since that dreadful incident occurred. To think I was powered down when all of that occurred, I just –"
"Threepio!", Vader barked.
"Yes, Master Vader?", the droid asked.
"Stop rambling and go make us some lunch", Vader growled.
"Right, of course. I'll have something prepared momentarily", Threepio said as he shuffled off.
The trio stared at the droid as he left the room in absolute wonder at how he could go off on such tangents at times, even when given simple commands.
"How old were you when you programed him?", Dormé asked.
"Nine. A foolish nine year old boy", Vader commented as he shook his head. "I have half the mind to reprogram him if this continues. When the baby does come, the last thing that I'll need is a loud droid interjecting his opinion when I'm trying to sooth a baby to sleep."
Padmé laughed. "Ani, that's something I cannot wait to see, you're going to have to practice your patience to be able to do that", she said. "Babies need soft reassuring voices to go to sleep, not commands."
"My soothing voice works on you", Vader pointed out with a smirk. The cocky bastard.
"Touché, Ani", Padmé grumbled. "Let's all go sit down while we wait for Threepio to cook, I'm feeling a little tired all the sudden again."
Vader steadied her with an arm around her shoulder while they went and sat in the living area. Padmé placed her head against Vader's shoulder and was barely able to fight off the urge to fall asleep again. Damn, this would be a long pregnancy if it was like this all the time.
"Are you alright, Angel?", Vader asked.
"I'm fine, Ani, I'm just a little sleepy. Before you ask, no I don't want to go lay down again, but thank you", she said. She might as well at least thank him for thinking it, it was thoughtful.
"Okay, I was just checking", he replied.
Finally, she thought of something she wanted to ask him. "Ani, I did see that speech you gave to the reporters on the Senate steps while I was still in a coma. Thank you for what you said, but did you really mean that you intended to leave to go fight the Jedi and the Rebellion after I awoke?", she asked, looking up at him.
Vader shifted uncomfortably. "I may have been a little angered in my response. I'm not leaving anywhere right now, but in the near future I may be going on a campaign", he replied.
"Ani", she whined. "Please, I need you here."
"I'll be here", Vader said. "I'm not going anywhere just yet, I do need to make certain that those criminals are held accountable for what they did to you."
"Fine", Padmé said as she stood up.
"Padmé, where are you going?", Dormé asked.
"Back to bed!", Padmé shot back.
Vader went to go after her but Dormé blocked his path. "Ani, pregnant women get very hormonal, just give her a bit to calm down. Then the two of you can talk about it."
"Alright", Vader muttered as he sat back down.
Padmé slammed the door to the bedchambers and stripped out of her dress and threw her nightgown back on. She flipped back the covers and got back in bed, leaning up against the headboard.
"Going off on a campaign while he leaves a pregnant wife at home. What a damned asshole", she said. "He doesn't want revenge for me, he wants revenge for himself. The least he could do is come out and fucking say it. Oh, who am I kidding, that'd be like asking for Sidious to stop being an evil bastard."
She shook her head in frustration and punched Vader's pillow as hard as she could, envisioning his face. Then she felt guilty for becoming so angry and started crying. Dammit, she shouldn't let herself get so emotional, it wasn't healthy for her or the baby. Of course, Vader would have to leave to go on a campaign, he was the damned commander of the military and the only Force adapt in the Empire that did anything, Sidious excluded of course. All the old man did was think of ways to inflict pain on other people. Vader at least had a purpose to his slaughtering, it wasn't like he merely tortured people for mere amusement. At least, not anymore.
Maybe she should go back downstairs and apologize. No, better to give it a little while in case he was angry at her for storming off like that. The last thing she wanted to do was get into a fight with him, especially after all that had happened between them lately. They had both been under so much stress from the wedding, to the pregnancy, then to her near assassination attempt that it was only natural for things to bubble over like they had just done. Hell, who was she kidding, she had been the one to bubble over not him. Fucking hell, she had been a bitch.
Tears started to pour out of her eyes. Why the hell was she so damned emotional? Oh right, she was pregnant with a baby, a beautiful baby that would bring joy to their lives. If Vader would live through whatever the hell would come their way next that is. The last thing she wanted was to raise a baby by herself. She would never accept it as a tradeoff, she had to have both her child and her husband by her side, no alternatives.
Hell, she needed to pull it together. Nothing was certain for either of them. He had left her in the middle of the night to attend a briefing with a full contingent of fucking Stormtroopers outside and she had nearly been killed. Her Vader had been through a mental hell while she was in her coma. Their shared experience together over their bond on their blanket on Naboo had told her exactly how agonized he was over the entire situation and it broke her heart thinking about how he must have felt. He came so close to losing her and the baby. She could suck it up if she had to.
Feeling more exhausted than she did earlier, she placed her head on her pillow, curling up and placing a protective hand over her abdomen where the precious life was growing. That's when everything became hazy and she drifted into unconsciousness.
…
"Angel"
Was that Vader? Was he mad at her?
"Angel, wake up, my love. You need to eat something."
It was Vader and he was trying to care for her. The wonderful bastard. She pried her eyes open and looked over her shoulder. Vader was standing there with a tray of food in one hand.
"Glad to see you awake", he said gently.
"Are you mad at me?", she asked poutingly.
"No, Angel, I'm not mad at you. I just know that you need to get something in your stomach or you're going to start feeling ill", he said. "Come on, sit up."
Padmé groaned as she hefted herself up. With the Force, Vader adjusted her pillows behind her so she could comfortably sit against the headboard. He sat the tray on her lap and then went to the other side of the bed to sit next to her.
Threepio had made vegetable soup and it smelled wonderful, plus it would be light on her increasingly sensitive stomach. She delicately picked up a spoon and began to slowly eat her meal. She noticed Vader looking at her and gave him a small smile, feeling badly about their argument earlier.
"Did the extra sleep help?", Vader asked.
"A little bit", she replied after she took another bite of soup.
"Good", Vader said. His tone sounded so damned sincere, it was like they hadn't had an argument at all. Normally when they argued they would make up fairly quickly, but they didn't even get a chance to, he just showed up with a gods damned bowl of soup and a smile, like he was the main character on one of those wonderfully cheesy romance holodramas.
She continued to eat and she noticed that he just sat there, watching her with a pleasant look on his face, which was quite endearing. Maybe even too endearing, but not by much.
"What are you thinking about?", Padmé asked.
"You", he replied simply.
That was her line. He couldn't very well steal her line.
"Me?", she asked. "What about me?"
Vader was silent for the barest of moments. "I'm just thinking about how lucky I am to have you back in my life", he said. "Lucky that the baby survived. Lucky about everything."
"Things won't always be lucky that way, darling", she reminded him.
"I know", he replied.
Of course, he fucking knew. She felt dumb even mentioning that to him, his life was a walking cluster fuck of unluckiness. Get a grip, Padmé.
"Well, what else are you thinking about?", she asked. "Ways to exact your revenge against the Rebellion and the Jedi?"
"Oh, I've already thought about that in precise detail", he replied seriously. "I'd share, but you're eating and I don't want to spoil your appetite."
Damn, he needs to drink a stiff glass of bourbon to unwind on that topic. She could feel the hatred for the two groups amplify from their bond and she knew that he gave no fucks about eradicating both groups into mere atoms. Completely no fucks.
She smiled at him again and shook her head as she continued to eat, already feeling better now that she was getting some actual nourishment into her body. Hell, it made all the difference in the world. First order of business from now on would be to kriffing eat something, especially before discussing something serious with her husband.
After another few moments, she had polished off the bowl and felt content.
"Can I get you more?", he asked.
"No, Ani, but thank you", she replied as she began to rise to put the plate on the table. Vader gripped her wrist and in the wink of the eye, the tray was floating halfway there, just to set down gently a few seconds later. She was going to be absolutely spoiled by this man by the time the baby came out.
"About our argument earlier", she began. "I'm really sorry I stomped off like that."
Vader placed a callused hand behind her neck and began rubbing. "It's alright, Angel. You had just got home, and it really wasn't the best topic to be speaking about", he replied. "I'm not going to be leaving anywhere soon, so don't you worry."
Padmé shook her head. "No, Ani. If you need to go do your job, then don't let me hold you back", she replied. "I'll miss you and worry sick about you, but I understand what you have to do."
Vader waived her off. "Plans can be put off for a bit. I want to make certain that you're back to one hundred percent and that no other Jedi will be stupid enough to try what Kenobi did for a while. I can't imagine the Council would sanction such an action by any means, but there are some rogues within the ranks, there always have been", he replied. "I will get my revenge, just not yet."
"That sounds like a splendid idea", she said as studied him. He was being so damned genuine with her, and the fact that he was putting off his thirst for revenge to take care of her was touching. She leaned over and gave him a tender kiss on the lips as a sign of thanks.
"I thought you'd say that", he replied.
"What's next for us then?", Padmé asked. "Politically speaking that is. When am I supposed to start my duties as Lady Vader?"
"In one week", Vader said.
"A week? Come now, Ani, I'm going to go stir crazy just sitting here for a week", she replied.
"You won't be sitting here, there's no chance in hell I'm leaving you here by yourself again like that, Stormtroopers or not. No, you'll be accompanying me to the Senate starting in two days. Some meetings you'll attend with me to learn more of what I do, knowledge that you'll need for your new role within the Empire. The rest of the time, you'll be in your new office under heavy guard. I'm having a spare room installed with a cot for you to rest on, especially as the pregnancy progresses. We won't tell anyone that's what it's there for, not yet at least, but it'll be there for you to get some rest when you're feeling tired", Vader said. "There will also be a heavy guard outside of your door along with me in the same vicinity, so you'll be perfectly safe."
That lit up Padmé's spirits. "So, what in the hell am I actually supposed to do?", she asked.
"You'll be advancing the Empire's political agenda and acting as an authority regarding the military within the Senate. You'll keep the other senators in line with the bills they write to ensure they aren't writing in special provisions that'll benefit their planets exclusively. You'll also have a certain latitude in the directing of supply chains, so if you feel that a particular world within the Empire isn't receiving adequate food sources, you'll have the ability to override the Senate and just make the damned decision yourself", Vader replied.
Padmé opened her mouth in shock. All of those things were a tremendous responsibility, and the authority she would have at her fingertips was far greater than she ever had as a senator. If democracy was dead, she might as well have the ability to make good influences within the galaxy instead of signing shit bill after shit bill.
"And the Emperor has signed off on this?", she asked cautiously.
"He has, in fact he suggested much of it, or at least his advisors did", he replied. "I'm sure there will be more that comes with it, but what we have for now at least makes sense given that I command the military."
It did make sense, in fact, it made perfect sense.
"Do I have to meet gods damned Sidious as often as you do?", she asked, dreading the answer.
"Not if I have anything to do with it", Vader replied. "No, you'll write reports, but no one is expecting you to make regular appearances before the man. People that he mainly wants to see have something to do with military actions, meaning me. As much as I despise having to report to him, I do enjoy what I do."
"I think everyone knows that", Padmé said with a chuckle.
Vader smirked in response.
"Now", Padmé began. "I know you said no sex for at least another day, but if I don't have you inside of me today, I'm going to lose my gods damned mind, Anakin. Seriously, you don't want to go there. Pregnant women get hornier than when their not pregnant and with as horny as I've been in the past, you have to understand how horny I am now."
That caused Vader to bark a laugh. "It'll be a price I'll be glad to pay", he said. He looked at her for a moment. "Lay on your side, facing away from me."
"Why?", she asked.
"If you want sex, just do as I say", he said annoyed.
Padmé huffed and shifted her pillows back down and laid down on her side, facing away from her kriffing confusing husband. She could feel Vader scoot close behind her and began running his right hand up and down her right side to her thigh. It felt nice, like he was warming her up. She could do stand a little rougher foreplay, but she figured that was out of the question.
He began kissing her shoulder, giving her small nips in between kisses. Okay, that was something she could work with. He slowly moved his mouth down up her shoulder and to her neck, causing her to gasp. His right hand moved to her chest and began kneading her breasts. She moaned at the sudden change in sensation from his rough hands. The thing material of the nightgown not providing much of a barrier at all.
She turned her head to the right and he lifted his head up to kiss her on the lips. Tenderly at first, but then passionately. As their kisses grew deeper, his right hand subtlety traveled lower and in between her legs where he began to gently rub her. She moaned loudly into his mouth, feeling completely turned on by his teasing motions with his hand.
Once he broke the kiss he continued to kiss and nip at her neck while he rubbed at her most sensitive area, carefully yet with a purpose. She felt nice and ready for him, but had no clue what he was going to do next.
Suddenly, his right hand withdrew from her and she whimpered at the loss of stimulation until she heard himself pulling his member out. Oh! They were going to do it like they did it at Varykino. That would be enjoyable she supposed. She smiled as he guided himself to the opening of her core and slid in gently. His right arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer to him while he steadily began to thrust in and out of her, building up to a good place.
Padmé bit into her pillow as she moaned, having not had sex in nearly two weeks and feeling extra sensitive. Her hands clung to the sheets of the bed, holding on for dear life as he gently took her in one of the most wonderful ways. It was delicate yet incredibly intimate. His kisses and nips at her neck became harder, more possessed. The bastard was marking her up and loving every second of it, and so was she to be honest.
Once his rhythm was nice and steady, he continued to pump into her while he moved his right hand back to her sensitive area, rubbing her again.
"Oh, fuck", she said through clenched teeth.
"That's the point", Vader muttered in her ear. The cheeky bastard.
"It doesn't matter… it doesn't matter what position. You always know what a girl needs", she managed to get out.
"Because you're always what I need", he replied. That made her eyes roll back into her head.
She was beginning to become lost in the pleasure from his rubs and thrusts, unable to do anything but moan and groan. It was pure bliss, and that's exactly what she needed. It made her feel so close to her husband, so damned intimately close.
The pace of his pumps increased as did his rubs and she let out a short scream, unable to control herself. She knew that she wouldn't be lasting very long, especially since it had been so long that they had made love last. He wasn't disappointing a girl in anyway, not even the slightest. The bastard kept up his merciless torture of her while grunting softly. She knew what his noises meant too and for him to be softly grunting so soon as well, she knew that he wouldn't last long either, which was perfectly fine. They deserved a good test run before they got back into their more strenuous and lengthy lovemaking.
Suddenly, she felt the oddly wonderful tingling sensation begin at her core as it started to spread throughout her body. "Ani", she breathed.
"I know, Angel. Feel free to let it go", he replied.
That was all it took, she spasmed and began to shake as her orgasm roared through her like it was the first time all over again. She screamed and then became useless as her legs still twitched. Vader quit rubbing her and wrapped his arm back around her waist while he increased the speed of his pumps even further, driving himself to the brink. She could hear his breathing grow heavy through the fog of her own peak and knew he was so close. She began emitting sharp cries that matched his every thrust as her core began overstimulated at the ongoing penetration from him as he worked his way to his own peak.
Then it happened, he thrusted himself into her and held in place as he came like a gods damned rancor, growling in her ear. She moaned as he gently slipped out of her and could hear him putting himself away again. She rolled over and clenched his tunic while planting a sensual kiss on his lips.
Once she pulled away, she gazed into his eye with a soft smile on her lips, feeling utterly content.
"Thank you for that", Padmé said lazily.
Vader chuckled again. "I should be thanking you", he replied.
They both laughed and smiled at one another, their fight from earlier completely melting away as their lovemaking had taken them back to a better time, before Kenobi and the entire kriffing mess afterwards.
"You'd better get into your sleep pants before you fall asleep", Padmé said with a yawn.
"You know me too well, wife", Vader replied.
She watched him quickly get up and strip out of his attire, admiring his body as he slipped on his pants. The both of them sliding back under the covers. Padmé burrowed her face into his chest again and they fell asleep.
…
Dormé had gone to check on Padmé and Vader when she didn't hear Vader come back downstairs with the tray. She had arrived at the door just as she heard them climax and grimaced. Damn, she had nearly ruined their reunion back as husband and wife. She quietly tip toed to her own room and closed the door, flopping down on the bed.
A slow smile spread across her face as she realized that she didn't feal much jealousy at all from hearing the two of them together. That meant her feelings for Vader were truly fading, which made her happy. No longer would she look at him and feel a longingness in her heart, one that she couldn't feel. She was merely her friend and she was happy with that. She was happy for the both of them, being back together after the near tragedy.
Did she still have nightmares about what had happened that night? Of course, she did. Her best friend had nearly been killed by an insane man, and she had attacked him, completely willing to give her life if she had to. The fact that if she had been just a few seconds late completely wrecked her. She didn't know if she would've ever been able to forgive herself if that had happened. The thought of it still brought fear to her heart and tears to her eyes.
She was so glad that the beast had been slain by Vader, never to invade their lives again. The maniac had been so obsessed with Padmé to the point of insanity. Attempting to tear her mind apart on Dantooine hadn't been enough, he had to try and murder her in the coldest fashion possible, even knowing that she was pregnant. What kind of monster would do that to a woman? She had always been taught that Jedi were righteous and protected the innocent. That man, that Kenobi must have twisted Padmé in his unhinged mind that she was the enemy and it frightened her that there might be more Jedi that would feel the same way.
Then there was her own injury. She was glad that he merely stabbed her instead of slicing her limb or head off, but shit it had hurt unlike anything that she had ever felt before and she had been kriffing shot by Clovis' assassins. That paled in comparison to a lightsaber wound. Vader, the damned Sith Lord with a heart of gold must've healed her while she slept in the hospital because she remembered going to sleep still hurting and waking up with just a bit of soreness. She hadn't been able to thank him for it, but made a mental note to do so. Padmé truly was a lucky woman to have a man like that in her corner, and she was lucky to call him a friend.
Still, she wondered what life would be like for her now that Padmé was pregnant. Of course, she would follow Padmé to hell and back and be around as long as she was wanted or needed, which she hoped would be for a very long time. She had no one else, just her parents back home. Ever since she had been sixteen years old, her life had been in service to Padmé. That was part of a handmaiden's duties, but she wondered if there would ever be anything beyond that. The thought was slightly depressing, but she still had to wonder, she couldn't simply leave it alone.
Maybe time would tell, maybe it wouldn't. But for now, she had a purpose and that would be to continue to be Padmé's handmaiden and best friend. Nothing else mattered at this point.
…
Qui-Gon was deliberating his plan one final time. He knew that if he did this, the fleet would black list him and he wouldn't ever be able to make his way back to it, which troubled him. But the trade of could possibly be worth it, if it didn't get himself killed. No, this was the right course of action. He needed to see it through, he needed to do it for the galaxy's sake. For the Jedi's sake. Hell, for even Vader's sake.
Quickly walking into the hanger, he spotted the freighter that one of the techs had prepared for him, knowing specifically what his intentions were. He strode straight to the ship, looking as inconspicuous as possible, knowing that anyone could approach him and ask him what he was doing on the flight deck at any one time.
Once he was at the ramp of the ship, he walked in and threw his bag of belongings down and slapped the ramp door shut. After walking into the cockpit, he did his preflight and engaged the engines. Crews around him stared in shock as he lifted the freighter off the deck and backed out of the force field protecting the hanger crew from the nothingness of space.
He calmly entered the calculations for a jump to Coruscant, no one would be daft enough to follow him there. His sensors warned that several fighters were launching behind him and he waited for the navicomputer to spit out the appropriate flight plan before he calmly engaged the hyperdrive, seconds before the fighters sent several blaster cannon shots at his engines.
Would his plan work? He didn't know, but he prayed to the Force that it would. This was their best shot at taking down Palpatine. While this mission wasn't entirely blessed by the Council, at least not yet, he still had to take the initiative to know if it was even a possibility given that his former apprentice attempted to murder Vader's wife. It was quite possible that Vader would kill him on sight, not wasting anytime with discussions, but he also knew that it was possible that he could reach him. That he could convince him that this was the safest way for both him and his wife to live safe from the tyrant they served.
Vader was a misunderstood man, and Qui-Gon had realized that for a while now, ever since he figured out that he was truly Anakin Skywalker, the boy the Council thought they had lost. The Chosen One that he always knew him to be. No one else had the same abilities, the raw strength in the Force that he did. One day, his powers could potentially rival that of Master Yoda's if he properly focused them, which would nearly be impossible if he continued to serve the Emperor.
Yes, this was the right thing to do, it was the most ethical thing to do. Even if it was quite possibly one of the most foolish things that he had ever done. He would have to cloak himself carefully with the Force to avoid suspicion once he reached Coruscant, and then there was actually getting close to Vader without alerting the Emperor. That in itself would be difficult, but maybe there were operatives in Imperial intelligence that he could leak information to in order to draw Vader into a surprise meeting. Vader of course would see it as first as an ambush, so he would have to be prepared to defend himself carefully in order to avoid being killed while simultaneously convincing Vader to listen to him. Damn this would be difficult.
A/N: Sorry this chapter was a little shorter than usual, but there will be more content to come in the next chapter. As always, if you liked what you've read, consider dropping a review and following!