"The course of true love never did run smooth."

Crystal waters flowed around them, insects buzzing, and their laughter shook them, pressed together, chest to chest in the grass.

"And if it's a girl?"

"I hope she has your eyes."

"No way," Padme shook her head. "Who wants brown eyes?"

"I love your eyes," he said softly.

Padme leaned over, close to his face like she would kiss him, and crossed her eyes.

She squished their faces together, her husband rumbled with laughter beneath her, "Okay, okay… maybe she should get my eyes."

Padme fell off to the side and onto her back in the grass, laughing with him.

She peeked over to where he lay sighing, the last bouts of laughter dying out as he stared up at the blue Naboo sky.

Golden curls fell around his face, his brow furrowed slightly against the sun. His blue eyes were usually dark, but today they sparkled in the bright light. Looking over with a smirk, he placed a hand on her lower belly, his smile broadening.

She placed a hand atop of his, and Padme silently hoped their baby would have her husbands heart.

Longing.

Padme had grown familiar with the word over the past few months.

She sat up in her makeshift bed, the dreary morning light dripping in through cracks of her hut.

The slice of mirror she pulled from beneath her pillow was cold.

Her hair was dull, her eyes flat. She hadn't looked at herself in weeks. Couldn't stand to.

It's the only option, my lady.

They'll be safe.

You will see them again, Padme.

She didn't realize she was bleeding until she felt something warm drip into her lap.

The mirror was shattered in the corner a second later, and Padme curled onto her side.

In the silence of the early morning, she let herself fall apart.

Darth Vader stared at the hologram of his wife.

His dead wife. Her belly heavy with their child.

Their child that would never live. Never grow.

And maybe that was for the best.

Vader dressed in his black robes, attaching his saber to his belt.

Palpatine still had not given him an answer. He had questioned Padme's death as much as he dared to push his new Master, and had gotten no where.

He did not sleep. He wasn't sure how he was even awake now.

Closing his eyes resulted in nothing but nightmares.

Fear glinted in her eyes, betrayal. A plead. Padme's body hit the ground, and she lie, unmoving.

Vader blinked rapidly, bringing himself back to the present.

At night, the only light in his chambers was usually the bluish glow of Padme on his hologram.

Which he was sure Palpatine would destroy if he found.

The Emperor did not much mention his late wife, and made it clear that his pain should only be used moving forward, not to ruminate on the past.

But today, Vader allowed himself to be excited. There was a coup of Separatists hiding out on Lothal that he was to exterminate himself.

He was eager to prove his worthiness to his new Master, to show him that he has indeed fully left his past ties behind, and was devoted to his teaching.

He hid the small hologram chip in a loose panel beneath his bed, and left for the mission brief.

"Hey. Hey get up."

Padme shot up, her bed shaking beneath her.

The hunched Rodian male considered her, eyes traveling from her tangled hair to her disheveled shirt and pants. "He's here to see you," the male huffed, walking out.

She must've fallen back asleep at some point, the morning light now poring in strong.

Padme flew out of bed, throwing on a poncho she had discarded.

The sunshine blinded her for a moment, and her hand went to cover her eyes.

The male disappeared into his own hut that lay about 20 ft away, the fabrics hanging over the door falling closed behind him.

She hurried down the narrow dirt path and inside.

The sandy hair and posture of the man sitting in the middle of the room gave her heart a paining, hopeful leap.

"How are they?" She claimed the seat across from him at the small table, leaning over.

"They're doing well. Healthy, and strong." Obi-wan sighed, settling into his chair. He gave her a closed lipped smile. "Although… there is other news." His eyes flashed from her face to her clothes, as if to assess her mental state.

Padme lifted her chin, wishing she had smoothed her hair down before running over here. "Tell me."

"He is coming. Here."

Her head went empty, only the buzz of the insects outside droned on.

"How sure are you?"

Obi-wan glanced at the Rodian leaning against the wall of his own hunt, and the male grunted, exiting. "We got the intel last night. He'll be here by sun fall."

Her heart quickened. "What's the plan?"

"We cannot move you," Obi-wan sighed. "The Empire has preemptively blocked off any off-world travel. I arrived at dusk yesterday and made the trek here through the night…" He trailed off.

Padme watched her old friend, but he did not continue. He had nothing else to say.

He would sense her presence here.

There was no escaping.

The galaxy spread out before Vader, vast and endless. He stood with his hands behind his back.

He sensed the powerful presence before he heard his steps: The Emperor stopped just beside him, also gazing out the massive glass.

Vader bowed low, holding, before the order to rise.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

"Indeed, Master."

"Ours to rule and command."

Peace, justice, security. The words settled into Vader, comforting him. He would do what he had to do to maintain control, maintain peace. The dark side seemed to thread through his thoughts, inky, reaching.

"I've sensed this cache of Separatists for quite a while now, their intentions are clear. They must be destroyed, or we risk the loss of everything we've built."

"Of course, Master. I would be honored to carry out this duty."

"Troops will be deployed as well, about 500. I expect they will be more than enough to handle the civilians. In fact, you'd probably bore of dealing only with the Separatists and might like to extend your efforts… to the sympathizers? Best to be thorough."

"I will seek out any who defy the Empire."

The Emperor said nothing, still standing with his hands clasped. They fell into a short silence, then, "I must say….as of late, I've sensed some…. hesitation in you, Vader. You must not let this weakness take a foothold."

Vader swallowed. "My loyalties lie with you and the Empire."

"And what of Padme Amidala? The dead senator?" He asked it flippantly, as if speaking of the weather. They had not spoken of her sense Mustafar, when Vader had narrowly avoided his old masters traitorous plan to kill him on the lava planet.

Vader reigned in his thoughts at the sudden question. "She… is of no consequence. I do not still grasp at those memories."

The Emperor breathed in deeply, then smiled, serpentine. "Curious. I heard a cleaning droid mention a rusty old hologram chip…. in your sleeping chambers."

"I'm not sure what they refer to."

"Do not lie to me, boy."

"I have no such device."

Too far. He pushed back too hard, allowed too much to show.

The Emperor's face, underneath his heavy hood, twisted in disgust. "This childish dream you cling to only weakens your power, do you not realize? You must embrace the future, allow the dark side to flow as it wishes … unless you have run low on the raw energy to utilize?"

Vader clenched his jaw, feeling the icy water of the bacta tank submerging him, the unrelenting metal tools digging, prying, ripping- "No, Master."

The Emperor did not smile. "Perhaps you're due for a visit."

Vader said nothing, even as memories of the chamber stirred nausea in his gut. But it was necessary, a crucial component of his training. The Dark Side worked best through pain - and while his chest never did stop aching for a moment, the Emperor did not believe he endured enough physical pain in his life to harness, to meet his full potential.

Mandatory daily visits had recently dwindled down to weekly, as he grew in power and Sith knowledge. The memories becoming ample enough to pull from.

But memory tends to fade with time.

"Now, I think, is a good time. Right before you need to be at your strongest….for Lothal, of course."

Vader said nothing.

"You must earn the respect you demand, Vader." The Emperor explained sadly.

Vader bowed his head.

"I've readied the droids for you, my apprentice. Remember your teachings." His Master smiled, turning to again gaze into the sparkling galaxy.

Vader took his leave, heading to the chamber.

Thinking of the rusty hologram chip below his bed.

"I will meet him head on - distract him from whatever it is they're coming here for."

"No," Obi-wan said decisively. "No, he will not let you go once he has you. It's too risky."

"I will not allow him to take me. It won't come to that."

"You do not realize his power, Padme. Or his derision."

"I think we've hid out long enough." Padme had long since rose from her seat, now pacing the hut.

They were miles and miles away from any village or city, Padme a guest of the old Rodian friend of Obi wan's, who inhabited this desolate area. Covered with lumbering trees, no where for a ship to land safely, it could only be visited on foot, or a very slender, very expensive speeder.

She hadn't seen another person in months, and the Rodian wasn't much of a talker. Aside from Obi-wan's rare visits that were few and far between.

Her heart clenched in pain - she had not seen her babies in six months. Obi wan hadn't wanted to risk sending anything over transmission. Which she understood, she really did.

She did not know if Luke's blonde hair had curled, or the exact shade that became of Leia's eyes. She only knew they were safe, hidden.

Wherever they were.

"Padme, sit."

"No. I'm tired of doing absolutely nothing." She stopped and met his stare. "And I am not afraid of him."

Obi-wan pursed his lips. "You should be."

The cold, unrelenting metal at his back held him still. As did the cuffs around his wrist and ankles. One even clamped around his throat.

Yes, he could rip it all to shreds, tear through it all with the force and walk away. He had done it before.

But he needed this. His Master was right. He could feel his power dwindling, sparking out, draining with every weak thought and emotion he let through.

"Lord Vader, we are landing in Lothal soon." A droid had came in, announcing his piece.

Vader force crushed him without moving a finger, releasing a smidge of that pain that had been building since he arrived hours ago. The small satisfaction thrummed in his chest.

The droid to his left, a bloody drill in it's hand, spoke next.

"The Emperor has suggested a few more exercises before the bacta tank, Lord Vader."

He heaved a sigh, the cuts and burns on his chest screaming in pain. He drank it in, the sweet elixir it was, and tucked it greedily into the force. "Go on, then."

The droid put the drill to his side, between his ribs, and split him open.

Vader's screams drowned out the grating of his bones, drowned out the thoughts in his own head, the dull pain in his chest, until nothing remained but great pain.

And great power.

"He will be in pursuit of you. In pursuit of us both. He knows I live, and seeing me will only…. anger him." Obi-wan's eyes were haunted as he spoke, looking into the distance. "But he will sense us, there is no doubt about it, the proximity is unavoidable. Yoda and I…" He looked back at Padme. "With the help of Qui-gon, we have shielded you thus far. And the children. But we have felt him searching."

Padme didn't know what to say, so she just listened.

"It appeared he'd given up months ago, the searches became less frequent, his prodding through the force less…aggressive."

So he believed her dead? After Mustafar? He had completely lost hope? She could return to Luke and Leia, could perhaps risk a visit, if he truly believed -

"Until last night."

She stilled. "What?"

"From what I could tell, it might've happened in a dream, but Padme…he still searches. He seeks you out, as he seeks me."

Her breathing came fast.

"Me, to kill." He looked away, down at the dirt. "You to… obtain."

Padme kept her composure, coasting over every rising thought. "If he will sense us regardless, we must plan on an encounter."

"This planet was once rumored to be Separatist sympathizers. That's the only reason I can think for their visit. There is no way Vader knows we're here."

"Dont call him that," Padme snapped.

Obi wan's eyes softened to her before he replied. "The man you knew Padme… This is not the boy you fell in love with. This is not the father of your children. Heis not Anakin."

"I know, I know just… don't call him that." Padme wrung her hands together.

Obi-wan regarded her a moment more before pulling out a map from his bag, laying it on the table. Padme sat again, leaning over.

He pointed to a spot beside a mountain - "Here. This is where their base was rumored to be….I doubt anything is left but civilians. But, if its what the Empire believes, it will be under their control very soon."

"And do we leave them with no defenses?"

"I've alerted who I could… they are aware of the attack but simply not prepared. It's a town of farmers, not soldiers. Now, we might be able to move further-"

"We can help them fight."

Obiwan grunted in frustration like she had never heard before. "Are you not listening? He will kill me and he will take you. We cannot offer further assistance."

Padme spoke in the voice she had used in the council chamber a million times before, solid and low. "Then you stay behind. But I'm going. If my presence can even buy them more time, I am willing to give it."

Obi wan studied her face in silence. "You want to see him, don't you?"

"I- no. I do not. I know what he is. I know what he's done."

Obi-wan was shaking his head. "You're smarter than this, Padme. What of Luke and Leia? Are they to grow up with no mother or father?"

"They have a mother, I… I can't just let him come and kill more innocent people. I will not allow it."

Obiwan's anger was apparent - "We have worked tirelessly these past months to keep you and the children safe, and this is what you want to do?"

Padme pursed her lips, standing, her resolve solidifying. "You do not control me, Obi-wan. I thank you for your help, I truly do. But we've tried it your way, and it's gotten us no where. I'm going. With or without you."

She left the hut, walking into the winding trees.

Vader descended onto Lothal with his troops, his hair still wet from the bacta tank.

It was longer than it had ever been, and he pushed it back, determined to crop it short when he next returned.

There.

The ship banked, landing just on the outskirts of the town.

He exited, and it wasn't long before he drew his saber. Hundreds of troops were already here, trekking toward the town.

This was just what he needed.

Padme arrived to the town just after sun fall.

She was even dirtier than before, although she had tied back her hair, ripping her pants into shorts.

Obi-wan had followed her out of the hut, telling her this was a mistake, and he would not come for her when she inevitably fell into his hands.

And again, like she needed the reminder, yelled that Anakin is gone. And he was not coming back.

She swallowed down the sliver of hope that edged inside her.

She knew that. She knew he was gone.

She was here to save who she could.

And that was it.

The very edge of the village was devoid of any citizens, the usually humming streets now blank.

Padme heard radio feedback and quickly dove behind a wall.

Just further up, storm troopers were crawling everywhere.

She was still a ways out from where the heart of the town lay. How could she get closer?

When Vader wielded his saber, he felt complete.

It wasn't a tool or a weapon, but rather an extension of himself. Of his power, of the force that flowed so viciously through him.

The separatists were dead before they hit the ground, any who mourned or ran were considered sympathizers.

Shot on sight.

His troops were loyal, driven, unrelenting.

But any who escaped fell to him to take care of. And he felt that rush of power like he hadn't in a while, as he sliced with his saber, crushed with the force, and did his duty to protect the Empire.

Padme leaped, her knees scraping on the roof tiles.

She ignored the sting, running and leaping again.

The screams below smothered any noise she made.

She had arrived too late, but she would find him. She would end this.

She paused on the next roof, rubbing at her sore wrist. The speeder she had stolen and driven into town, throwing herself from the seat before impact, caused the perfect distraction.

She had shimmied up the first drain pipe and was now amidst the worst of it.

This wasn't a visit. This was an extermination.

And she was helpless to stop it.

Obi-wan had not come, had not followed her, as he had promised.

She supposed it was for Luke and Leia's sake, and if she survived she would thank him for his sanity.

But she was more than a little unhinged right now, and surprisingly okay with that fact.

Peering over the two story building's edge, the site sunk her into dread.

Stormtroopers marched families from their homes, where they were kicked to the ground, hands behind their heads.

Questions were met with a blaster shot to the head.

Sudden movements were met with a blaster shot to the head.

Wailing tears were met with a blaster shot to the head.

Men. Women. Children.

Padme vomited as silently as she could, then dared to peer below once more.

The stormtroopers a few buildings further up seemed to be guarding a specific building. A government building of some sort.

She leaped again. And then once more until she had a clearer view. Padme peered over the crumbling edge, this building much more damaged than the ones before.

It wasn't the billowing of his black cloak that snagged her attention, or the dulled curls of his golden hair, the rigid set of his broad shoulders, no - it was the young woman who hung in the air before him, clawing at her throat, her face going purple.

Padme swallowed her bile at the memory that rose, at the violence she now witnessed.

She could barely make out the words - "The Empire does not tolerate Separatists, or their sympathizers."

The woman grunted, desperate for a breath, for relief.

The next sound was one that Padme knew she would never forget.

The cloaked man let the woman drop, only for the crunching sound of her bones to echo through the space.

The light behind her eyes was extinguished. Blood came from her eyes, her nose, her mouth and ears.

When he stepped over her and toward the building in front of him, Padme allowed herself to turn, sliding down the short wall.

She hardly registered her trembling, the blood in her mouth from where she bit her lip.

He had force crushed the woman to death. Had squeezed her life from her with the force, with his rage, with a simple thought.

Padme felt hollowed out. Numb.

And then she burned with rage.

"Lord Vader, there was a small explosion… we originally thought the woman had died but have not yet located her body. She is… unaccounted for, sir."

The fear in the troopers voice annoyed Vader. He hated these timid exchanges of bad news.

He kept walking, checking room after room for any cowardly Separatists that would rather hide than fight.

One room in particular seemed…. curious. Like it beckoned to him through the force.

He moved toward it, the trooper trailing him.

Padme clutched her knife close to her body, hiding in a shadow of an empty room. It was her only weapon, but it would do.

She would kill him. She would get his guard down and slit his throat.

He was no longer Anakin. That was clear to her now.

The door swung open.

"You are incapable of locating a local, suicidal woman?"

"No, sir. We are searching but-"

"Leave me."

The storm trooper dipped his head, exiting quickly.

A beat of silence passed and then many things happened at once.

Padme's throat constricted, and she was lifted off her feet, flying out of the shadowed corner and against a wall, her knife clattering to the ground.

Just as suddenly, she was dropped.

Vader stood before her, eyes glowing. Yellow.

Padme pushed back against the wall as that gaze fell to her, her vision rattled from the throw, her head aching.

He stared at her a few seconds longer, unbelief smearing through his angry expression.

Vader approached, kneeling down to her. Reaching slowly, he dragged the back of his pointer finger down her dirty cheek, muttering something about a vision.

She said nothing, entranced by his golden gaze, his face twisted in rage and confusion. The face she had kissed and caressed, dreamed about and spoke to of all her fears and worries.

Now, she looked at some evil, soured version of her truest love.

"You're alive?" His eyes flashed to the knife, and he straightened. "You…came here to kill me?" He breathed out a laugh at that. "Why?"

"You're a monster."

Vader just looked at her, considering. "Why do you think that?"

Padme was incredulous, trembling with anger. "You're a murderer, An-." She cut off her sentence short. "You've slaughtered thousands - millions, for all I know."

"Yes…For the good of the Empire."

"The good of the-?" She swallowed, her throat dry, shaking her head. "You cannot be allowed to continue these mass executions, this dictatorship."

"And who's going to stop me?" He force pushed her knife away without a glance, leaning forward to be eye level. "You?"

Padme felt it then. The fear Obi-wan spoke of, it froze her solid.

She couldn't move, not even as they shared breath. As that golden gaze dropped to her lips.

As Vader crushed his mouth against hers.

Padme sat in shock for a few moments, his mouth working against hers.

Bodies falling.

People screaming. Terror.

Her throat tightened painfully, no air coming through-

She shoved at his chest, and he pulled back. Padme shot to her feet, that horrible rage taking hold in her chest.

Vader stood with her, his face curiosity mingled with surprise.

She didn't register the slap till those yellow eyes snapped to her again, and her right palm was stinging with the impact, her sore wrist along with it.

She lifted her right hand again, and he grabbed it midair.

She swung with her left, and he grabbed that one as well, pinning both above her head against the wall behind her in one motion.

Vader tilted his head, both heavy breathing, faces inches from one another. Padme struggled to no avail. "You are my wife, Padme."

"I was married to Anakin Skywalker. I do not know who you are."

He shifted, pinning her wrists with one hand, dropping the other to her face. "Don't worry," calloused fingertips ran down her cheek, reverently, softly. His voice was low but his gaze was almost painful with intensity. "I'll remind you of who I am."