Feeling betrayed by the only person that mattered to me, I returned to Palpatine. I felt that he was the only person that cared about me. He told me that I was making the right decision, that this was my destiny, that this path would fulfil me. I gave myself totally to him, but Padmé and the child she was carrying always danced around in the back of my mind, shielded by a mind block. Even though I wouldn't admit it to myself or anyone else, I still loved them.

Palpatine had told me that in order to fully become his apprentice, he and I needed to make some changes, which included a new name. He said that "Anakin Skywalker" didn't invoke fear into people at the mere mention of the name. He suggested a few names, such as Darth Pross, Darth Malus, and Darth Vader. We both agreed that Darth Vader fit me the best. He also equipped me with new wardrobe which was all black, from the boots to the Sith cape to the gloves. The hardest thing for me to do was to allow Palpatine to shave off my Padawan braid and ponytail. Even though I held many grudges against the Jedi, the braid still had some significance to me. The emotions that I had fought against as a Jedi were the ones I now embraced: fear, hatred, and anger.

I demonstrated how devoted I was to my new Master by doing every task that he sent me to do. I invoked fear everywhere I went, with the cold gleam in my eye, the way I carried myself, and the authority with which I commanded those under me. It seemed that they scurried away to hide as I marched down the hall. I commanded and they obliged swiftly, saying, "Yes, Lord Vader", "As you wish, Lord Vader." I basked in the glory of the fear I sent through those pathetic underlings. The power utterly corrupted me, bringing me gradually closer and closer to full conversion to the Dark Side.

About four months after donning the new attire and new name, Palpatine called me into his office to assign me to another task. After greeting me, Palpatine related my mission to me.

"As you know, Senator Amidala has returned to Naboo, supposedly to have a break from the chaos of Coruscant. However, you and I both know that she has left to hide her progressing pregnancy and to have her child. You are to travel to Naboo and bring her back to Coruscant. The child she is carrying could be a great threat to us, if he were to become a Jedi. There is no doubt that he will have tremendous Force-potential, so he would be recognized shortly after birth and taken to study under the Jedi. However, he would be a great ally if he could be brought to the Dark Side. I am taking no chances on the child becoming a Jedi. If possible, convince the Senator to return without injuring her. If she will not come of her own accord, use any means necessary, as long as she and the child stay alive."

I nodded in comprehension and stood to prepare for the journey.

***

The following morning, I rose early and boarded my personal starship. A small part in the back of my mind rejoiced at the thought of seeing Padmé again.

When the ship touched down in the Theed hangar, I prepared myself, running over in my mind what I was planning to say. At the palace, I encountered little resistance. Again, Sabé confronted me, but she knew better to argue with me, obviously intimidated by the change in my demeanor and aura. I was led up to Padmé's main meeting room, expecting to find her sitting behind her desk, hands folded, like I had found her that night so long ago.

My expectations were correct.

However, whereas she had been flat tummied and dressed casually before, now she wore formal senatorial dress, which partially, but not completely, concealed her pregnancy. Once the door behind me had slid closed and I saw that we were alone in the large, open room, I started to stride casually toward the desk. I glanced around at the decor: the vaulted ceiling, the pointed arches, the grand columns, the large window behind her that showcased a meadow and waterfall. A bit tawdry for my taste, I thought to myself.

"Jedi Skywalker, what brings you to Naboo?"

I ignored the reference to my former self and put my hands on the desk, leaning forward slightly, letting my eyes glitter and my cape fall in (what I hoped to be) an attractive manner around my form. I focused on her thoughts and feelings, which she tried to hide.

Breathe, she was thinking. It's just Ani. Padmé, control yourself. You are a senator; you cannot cry. You can't cry, Padmé. These thoughts were laced with pain, sadness, and a fierce determination to hold her tears inside.

I donned the half-smile she always loved. "You missed me, didn't you?"

She straightened even more in her high-backed seat. "I do not see what that has to with anything, Skywalker."

"That isn't my name," I said, casually diverting my eyes to my black-gloved hand, with which I gently traced a line toward Padmé's folded hands.

"What?" she asked, giving me a quizzical look.

I looked up at her and stopped moving my hand. "I said, that isn't my name."

As if covering up her slight embarrassment, she asked testily, "Well, what is your name then?"

"Vader. Darth Vader."

She tried to control the look of shock on her face, but her thoughts betrayed her.

"Darth" Vader? That's a Sith name. He . . . he . . . I failed him! I drove him to the Dark Side. I pushed him away!

I again started to move my hand toward hers, this time covering them, caressing them.

She looked down and let out a ragged breath, closing her eyes.

It's just Ani, Padmé! He wouldn't hurt you. It's Ani. He loves you. . . . No, it's not. He looks like Ani, but he's not. His voice is too steely, his eyes too cold. Oh, Ani, if only you would drop everything and sweep me into your muscular arms, caress me again, say it was all a cruel prank.

The smile played at my lips again. "You are afraid of me." I pulled her hand up to my mouth and kissed it, smiling at her. Putting our hands back on the desk, I leaned closer and whispered, "Don't be afraid of me."

"Why are you here?" she asked, taking her hand from under mine. "What do you want from me?"

I straightened. "I have come back for you."

The fear in her eyes turned temporarily to joy. I sadistically enjoyed this, knowing I what I was about to say.

"My Master has sent me after you. You are needed in his future plans. You -- and the child," I added, looking at her belly.

She instinctively put her hands over it, as if protecting it from my stare.

I let out a short, loud laugh and turned my eyes back to hers. "You think I want to hurt the child. You think I want to hurt you." I turned serious and stared sharply at her, lowering my voice to a menacing tone. "If I wanted to hurt you, I would have done that already, now wouldn't I have?"

For the first time, she directed her eyes downwards. "I am not going with you."

The look on my face reflected that not many people had had the nerve to refuse me. I leaned forward again and snatched her left hand from her stomach, holding it in a firm and threatening, but not painful, grip. "Padmé, don't make me hurt you. If I must, to force you to oblige, I will. After all, you are my wife." I glanced down at the ring still on her finger.

She gently took her hand out of my grip and straightened in her chair once again. Her eyes reddened and let fall a single tear, but she did not break the eye contact. "I married a man named Anakin Skywalker. However, since you say you are Darth Vader and not Anakin Skywalker, you are not my husband. Now, I ask you, sir, whoever you are, to leave this room, this planet. I will not come with you."

The anger that had been building up inside erupted. I backhanded her across the face, hard enough to draw a trickle of blood from her cheek. Pain exploded on her face and in her eyes as she held her wound, forgetting to withhold the tears falling freely from her eyes.

I expected to be entertained by this, but I felt immediate regret. This isn't you! a voice deep inside me said. You love this woman and you vowed never to bring her pain. You hit her, you fool! What is wrong with you?

I looked down slowly at my hand, seeing a spot of blood on the black leather. Then I brought my eyes painfully up to her crying face. She couldn't look at me; she didn't move except for the heaving sobs. I dropped to my knees in shock of what I had done.

"Oh, gods," I mumbled. "What have I done?"

I quickly stood up and ran around the transparisteel desk, taking her into my arms.

"Oh, Padmé, I am so sorry. There was no excuse for that. I am so terribly sorry!"

At first, she was stiff, not willing to let me hold her, but she eventually eased into my embrace; she had always felt as if she belonged in my arms. She cried into my black tunic for what seemed an eternity, and I just knelt there, holding her, comforting her, kissing her. After a while, I lifted her chin up and gazed deep into her eyes.

This is who you are, Anakin, I thought. This is where you belong. This is who you belong to. Everything else pales in comparison to this woman, this face, this embrace.

She smiled up at me, obviously hearing my thoughts. She allowed me into hers.

I always knew you would come back, Ani. You can deceive yourself all you want, but you will always be my Ani, my precious husband. And I will always love you.

I pulled a hand up and put it on her bleeding cheek. I willed the Force to take this pain from her, take away the blood and the swelling. I had had no training as a Healer, but the bleeding soon subsided; the wound soon left her cheek and no evidence of it remained. I smiled at her shock and held her closer still, being ever mindful of her protruding belly.

"I have a promise to keep, remember?"

At first, she didn't know what I was talking about. As she realized my meaning, her eyes glittered playfully. "But Ani, I'm pregnant."

"I'm up for it if you are."

She smiled broadly as I lifted her into my arms and took her to one of the many guestrooms.

That night, all thought of my mission, Palpatine, and everything that wasn't Padmé left my mind. The rift between us closed, uniting our hearts and souls yet again. I was Anakin again that night, Padmé's loving husband and best friend.

This reconnection made it all the harder the next morning to take her back to Coruscant.