TO LOVE A SITH

Chapter Five

Vader and Padme silently walked the streets that would lead them to her family's home, each buried deep in their own thoughts. Padme worried that her family's reaction to her recent marriage would be devastating as Vader realized that he hadn't experienced family in years, and now, Padme's family was his family as well. However, their thoughts were interrupted by two very excited children.

"Aunt Padme!" Ryoo and Pooja almost toppled Padme over as they tried to jump in her waiting arms.

"My favorite nephew and my favorite niece! I've missed you so much!"

Pooja laughed into her aunt's soft hair.

"You're silly, Aunt Padme. I'm your only niece."

"Yeah, and I'm your only nephew."

Padme clasped her hand to her forehead in feigned surprise.

"You're right. You're both so smart and I'm so forgetful."

The three shared a laugh and finally, Ryoo and Pooja noticed an uncomfortable Vader standing a few inches away from Padme.

"Who is that, Aunt Padme?"

She pushed herself up to stand next to her husband and sighed.

"Ryoo, Pooja, this is your new uncle. His name is Lord Vader."

Pooja's jaw dropped open in shock, but Ryoo just looked at his new uncle with curiosity.

"I thought you looked familiar. Do you want me to call you Uncle Vader or Uncle Lord Vader?" He asked innocently.

Vader smiled in spite of himself and leaned over to Ryoo.

"You can just call me Uncle."

"Ok, Uncle."

With that, Ryoo took his uncle's hand and led him into the house with Padme and Pooja close behind.

"Mom, Dad?"

Jobal Naberrie came running out of the kitchen.

"Oh my gods! Padme! My darling daughter! We thought you were dead! The holo-news kept saying that every politician on Corusant was dead!"

"Mom, mom, calm down. I'm fine. I'm in one piece, ok?"

Jobal took a deep breath and then gathered her daughter in her arms as Ruwee walked in.

"Padme! Thank gods you're alright!"

He too ran over and embraced his daughter.

After the reunion's immediate joy subsided, Padme's parents noticed the tall, dark man still in the doorway.

"Padme, is that who I think it is?"

"Dad, before you say anything…"

"Padme, this is Lord Vader! What is he doing here with you…"

Padme sighed briefly and she motioned for Vader to join her side.

"Lord Vader is my husband, as of three days ago."

Her parents froze in shock, with their mouths hanging open, refusing to believe the news their beloved daughter had given them.

"You can't be serious." Ruwee gasped.

"I can't believe you, Padme!" Her mother yelled.

"Mom, Dad, let me explain…"

"If I may," Vader cut in. "I found Padme at a rebel transport three days ago. As you well now, any rebel found is an enemy of the Empire, and Padme was going to be killed. I stepped in on her behalf and the only way to secure her safety was for us to marry."

Vader's words hung in the air and the tension in the room grew even thicker.

Ruwee's eyes narrowed in consideration of what his new son-in-law had just uttered.

"Are you trying to tell me that you rescued my daughter? A vocal enemy of the Empire? Why would you do that for her…?"

"Dad, please…this is supposed to be a happy occasion…even if you're not pleased with my current situation, at least I'm still alive. Let's just eat, ok?"

Ruwee opened his mouth to speak again then shut it almost immediately. There was no used fighting it, they were already married. But he wouldn't rest until he found his answer.

After a quiet, uneventful dinner, Sola, Jobal, and Padme started on cleaning up. Vader and Ruwee still sat at the table and Ruwee carefully watched Vader's eyes shift awkwardly from his daughter and back to himself.

"Lord Vader?"

Vader pulled his eyes away from his wife and settled on Ruwee. He nodded to him, politely waiting for Ruwee to speak again.

"Would you care to join me outside? There are several issues I'd like to speak to you about."

"Certainly."

The men announced their departure, leaving the women alone.

Jobal watched them leave, grateful for the chance to talk to Padme alone.

"Alright, Padme. I want you to be completely honest with me. What happened? How did you let this happen?"

Padme exhaled, knowing this conversation was bound to happen and her mother and sister watched her expectantly.

"Mom, he already told you. I would be dead right now if it weren't for him."

"So I've heard, but that's not the whole story now is it? Padme Naberrie, you tell me everything, now!"

"You forget, Mom. She's Padme Naberrie Vader now."

Both Padme and Jobal winced at Sola's icy reminder.

"First of all, I'm absolutely fine. I'm being taken care of and treated well. You don't have anything to worry about."

"Yes we do, Padme. That horrible monster forced you into marriage. Don't even try to tell me that he hasn't forced himself on you, because I won't believe it."

"But, Mom, he hasn't. The only time that ever happened was on our wedding night and I was a willing participant."

"I can't believe I'm hearing this. Do you realize what you're saying?"

"I do realize what I'm saying and Anakin is…"

"Wait, what? You just called Vader Anakin."

Padme swallowed nervously, knowing that she was going to be cornered into admitted something she could barely admit to herself.

"Lord Vader used to be Anakin Skywalker."

"Yes, I know that Padme. But why did you call him Anakin?"

"I knew him before he…turned evil. He was in love with him and I…I rejected him. I couldn't let him give up his life for me, despite…well, I guess that doesn't matter now does it? He's a Sith and evil and…"

"Padme, did you love Anakin?"

Padme paused uneasily, unsure if she was ready to talk about this. She took a shaky breath.

"Yes I did."

The room fell silent as the words poured out of Padme.

"I don't think I've ever stopped."

"Oh dear."

Again, the room fell silent. Each woman digesting what had just occurred.

"I'm just so confused. Sometimes, he's so gentle and careful with me. I almost think that he's Anakin, and then he'll just turn cold and unfeeling. My husband has the face of the man that I love, yet I don't know who he is. I don't know if I'm in love with Vader or Anakin."

Jobal and Sola were silent. Both women wished there was a way to help her, but there wasn't. Padme was fighting a losing battle.

All three women went back to cleaning up, each one keeping a close eye on the two figures outside.