Thanks for the reviews and sorry it's been so long since I updated. I got a new job and that took up a lot of my time. Here's the next chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 5

Anakin paced the large space within his room. He was anxiously awaiting his meeting with Jory. He decided to wear humble looking clothes, given the fact that she thinks he's a maintenance man on the ship. He wondered what he would say to her, what they would talk about. He couldn't tell her all about himself. He would have to make up a fake life, but he really didn't want to lie to her. His plan was to get her to fall in love with him and then tell her who he really was. If he fed her a bunch of lies throughout the entire relationship, she would feel betrayed and probably not want him anymore. No, Anakin, would keep his talking to a minimal and let Jory do all the speaking. Girls liked to talk anyway, he figured. She may just think he was a good listener. Plus, girls like mystery and him not saying much may make her think he had a mysterious side to him. Boy, if she only knew how mysterious he really was.

@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@

"How is this one? Or do you like the other one better?" Jory asked C-3PO.

The droid looked at both outfits and said, "I think they both look so beautiful on you. Either one will be fine, Mistress Jory".

"You think?"

"Yes, I do"

Jory looked at the two outfits again and decided on the pink one. She dressed quickly, checked her reflection and left her room. She wandered back down to the machinery room where she met Anakin at earlier in the day and took a deep breath. Jory was excited about seeing Anakin again, but she was also angry with herself. Up until a few hours ago, all she wanted to do was go home and be with her family again. Now, she put off contacting them just so she could meet with Anakin again. She wondered what was wrong with her. She knew she was in danger on this ship, but yet she had consciously decided to stay. She must be going crazy!

@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@

Anakin felt her presence as she entered the hall leading towards the door. He scanned her feelings and felt both excitement and anger. Feeling that this was a strange mixture, he read her thoughts and realized that she had not contacted her family and explained her situation and the reason why she didn't do that was because of him. He gave an inward smile and prepared himself for her to enter the room.

After waiting a few moments, there was a small knock on the door.

Anakin opened the door, smiled at Jory and said, "Hello".

"Hi" came Jory's shy reply.

"Come in" said Anakin as he stood aside and her allowed her to enter.

@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@

Jory entered the machinery room and wasn't sure what to do. There really wasn't any place to sit and she had no idea what to say to him. She walked a few feet into the room, turned to face Anakin and seen that he was staring at her.

"What?" she said.

"What, what?" came Anakin's reply.

"Why are you staring at me?"

"I'm sorry for staring, but your beauty is breath taking and I cannot help but to stare".

Jory blushed and looked away.

"So, what shall we do?" asked Jory.

"Well, you could sit down if you like".

"Where?"

"Just hop up on one of the machines. They won't break".

Jory walked up to a machine and attempted to hoist herself up onto it, but she quickly landed back on the floor, feet slamming into the tile.

"Here let me help you" said Anakin.

Jory felt Anakin's arms wrap around her waist and lifted her easily onto the machine. She felt safe in his arms; protected as if nothing could ever harm her, not even the dreaded Lord Vader.

@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@

Anakin didn't realize the kind of effect having Jory in his arms would do to him. His legs felt like jelly and he had to be extra careful so he wouldn't drop her. He took in her scent and closed his eyes. She felt so good in his arms; so right.

"You alright?" he asked her when he finally placed her gently down on the machine.

"Yes, I'm fine" came her flustered reply.

She seemed just as effected by the encounter as he was. He pulled himself up easily on the machine next to her and waited for her to speak. He didn't want to start a conversation because he was going to try to avoid telling lies. Plus, he was so nervous, he didn't know what to say.

After a moment, she spoke.

"So, how long have you been on this ship?"

"Two years". That wasn't a lie.

"Do you like it?"

"Yes, I do". Also, not a lie.

"How long have you been a mechanic?"

"All my life really. As a child, I would fix things around my house. I really like it and I've always been good at it. It's a good pass time".

"I see".

She grew silent after that. He searched her thoughts and noticed that she had run out of things to ask. He decided to ask her some questions.

"How are you enjoying the ship so far?"

"I hate it".

"Oh? Why is that?"

"Because of that idiot, Lord Vader! I hate being held here like some sort of prisoner! It just makes me sick that someone would just take a person away from their life and force them to start a new life. Don't you think that it's unfair?"

Anakin was hurt by her words. He knew she was unhappy about being here and he knew that Lord Vader wasn't exactly her favorite person, but he didn't realize just how much she hated being here. He had no idea that she felt like a prisoner, although her gave her free reign on the ship.

"Anakin?" asked Jory.

Anakin realized that he hadn't answered her question and looked up abruptly.

"Sorry. I was just thinking" said Anakin.

"About what? Am I boring you already that you're drifting out of the conversation?" she said with a chuckle.

"Oh, no, no. I was just thinking about your situation".

"Well, if you have any suggestions, please feel free to fill me in".

Anakin took a deep breath and said, "Not certain if you know this or not, but Darth Vader truly does love you".

Jory made a face stating that she didn't believe a word of that sentence.

"No, it's true, Jory. He really does".

"If he loves me so much, then why is he keeping me locked up? Why did he have to kidnap me?"

"Because that was the only way. He needed you and bringing you here to be with him was the only way to fill his aching need for you. Besides, he thought bringing you here and making you like a Queen on this ship would make you fall in love with him".

@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@

Jory looked at Anakin with disbelief on her face.

"How do you know all of this?" she asked.

Anakin seemed stumped for a moment, but recovered and said, "Because I overheard Vader talking to one of his friends on the ship about his intentions."

Jory let out a high pitched "ha!" laugh and said, "He has friends?!"

Anakin seemed annoyed so Jory decided to soften a bit.

"I'm sorry, Anakin. Finish what you were saying, please".

"Alright. What I was trying to say was that yes, Darth Vader does love you, and no, you are not leaving this ship anytime soon. So, why don't you just contact your family, tell them the situation and assure them that you're okay. Try to tolerate Darth Vader as much as you can and in the meantime, you can hang out with me. I'll keep you entertained".

Jory smiled and said, "Okay, sounds like a plan".

@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@

Anakin smiled and said, "Good".

They were silent again and Anakin, feeling this was a good angle, decided to try it on for size.

"Say, don't you think it's kind of neat that you get to run the ship?"

"What do you mean?" asked Jory, obviously confused.

"I mean, everyone on this ship knows that Darth Vader loves you and that he would do anything for you…..except let you go free" said Anakin, cutting Jory off before she could protest about Vader doing anything for her.

"You are basically the Queen on the ship and you can have anything that you want. Everyone will cater to your every need and want. Doesn't that make you feel good?"

Jory thought it over for awhile and said, "It would make me feel good if only I had some say about staying here".

This was not the response Anakin wanted. After a moment, Jory smiled and said, "But I like being with you".

Jory reached her hand out and grabbed Anakin's, squeezing it tightly. Anakin gave a smile and said, "I like being with you too".

"Hey, aren't you afraid of Lord Vader? I mean, if he loves me as much as you claim, shouldn't you be worried about him hurting you if you are near me?"

Anakin chuckled and said, "Don't worry. I can take care of myself. I don't fear Darth Vader".

That's it for this chapter. Hope everyone liked it and I hope I get some more reviews. Until next time……