TO LOVE A SITH
Chapter Eleven
Vader paced nervously around his room. He didn't know how much more of this he could take. It had been two days and Padme had yet to call for him. What was he supposed to do? Sit around like a naughty child and await punishment? Why did she always have to be so difficult? He was sorry and wanted to make it up to her, but she wasn't even giving him an opportunity to make amends for what he did.
Sometimes, he really wished he could use the Force to make her do what he wanted. But then again, that would defeat the purpose of asking for forgiveness if one had to be forced to forgive.
He sighed, running his hands through his hair. The suspense was really killing him.
"Lord Vader?" asked a timid storm trooper.
"What?" he barked back in annoyance.
"Lady Vader has asked to speak with you."
"Oh, well, thank you."
The storm trooper nodded and quickly exited the room.
Vader took a nervous breath and then headed for his wife's chambers.
Padme paced nervously around her room. Right then, she was sincerely regreting her decision to finally talk to her husband. She didn't even know where to begin with him, especially now that she was almost completely sure of her delicate condition. But she had at least decided not to tell him until she was completely sure. They had more important matters to resolve before they could talk about having a baby.
She jumped at the knock on the door, immediately thrown out of her current thoughts and flown into sudden despair and anxiety. He was here. And she had no way out now because she had called him to her.
Taking a deep breath for strength, she opened the door. She bit her lip anxiously as she allowed her eyes graze Vader's. He looked…well, like himself, but more solemn than she had ever seen him before. He almost looked…nervous and…guilty.
Vader attempted a smile towards her but the smile quickly faded when he recognized intolerance of any charms in her eyes. He swallowed and followed her to the sitting area of her chambers. Once they had sat down, an uncomfortable silence ensued. Finally, Vader broke the silence.
"Are you feeling better?"
Padme looked up, slightly surprised by his concern, and met sincere, soft cerulean eyes.
"I am, thank you."
He nodded and another uncomfortable silence followed. Again, Vader broke the silence.
"I'm sorry."
Padme looked up, surprised and confused at his sudden apology so rapidly.
"What?"
"I'm sorry."
"Oh I see, you think you can just say you're sorry and everything will be fine?"
"Padme, I…"
"No, you listen to me. What you did was…awful and horrible and inhuman and coldhearted and unforgivable! You can't possibly expect me to forgive you just because you apologized!"
Vader grimaced. He had expected this.
"You don't deserve forgiveness," she continued. "You deserve to be loathed and despised and spit on and beaten and…"
Vader swallowed nervously. He knew this wasn't going to be easy.
"Padme, what can I do? I'll do anything you ask, but please, just don't push me away. I just want everything to be alright between us."
Padme froze for a split second. Did he really mean that or was he just saying what she wanted to hear?
"I don't know."
"Then how can I make this better if you won't even give me a chance?"
"You don't deserve to be given a chance. Why should I give you a chance when you've never done that for anyone else in your entire life?"
"Yes I did. I gave you a chance once."
Padme's blood ran cold. Where was he going with this? She wasn't about to be swayed easily. Her convictions were too strong to just back down, especially when he had hurt her so much.
"I don't understand."
"I put everything on the table, Padme. I told you everything that I was going through and that was a huge risk. The chance I took didn't pay off and I didn't think I would ever see you again. After that, I vowed never to allow myself to be so vulnerable again, to never let my guard down. But you, you're different. You take risks and follow your instincts. That's what made you such an effective politician. You follow your gut and…Padme? Are you alright?"
Padme's eyes closed involuntarily as a wave of nausea hit her stomach. Oh no…not now…
She pushed past him and ran straight for the refresher, only stopping to empty the contents of her stomach into the toilet.
When the violent vomiting finally ceased, she slid to the floor, trying to catch her breath again. When she dared to look up, her tired chocolate eyes met his worried cerulean ones. Vader stood in the doorway, his shock and concern evident on his face.
"Padme, I thought you said you were feeling better."
"It comes and goes."
His face crinkled in confusion.
"Have you seen a doctor yet?"
"No, but I…"
"Come on, let's go see one then."
She paused for a moment, almost touched by his gentle sincerity. Either she told him now or he'd have to hear it from the doctor.
"I think I'm pregnant."
Vader's jaw dropped open and his knees threatened to give out underneath him. Oh my gods…
"What…pregnant? Are you…are you sure?"
"It's been going on for the past few days and I missed my cycle."
He nodded in understanding. He took a cautious step towards her.
"Can I…I mean I can tell if you are or not…"
She surprised herself by nodding her consent and he slowly closed the gap between them. He reached out with cautious hands and gently placed one hand on her stomach, the other resting lightly on the small of her back.
Both closed their eyes at the exact same moment. She could feel his presence in her belly, stroking and feeling. It was a surprisingly calm and pleasant sensation and Padme sighed softly.
Suddenly, Vader's eyes shot open and his mouth opened slightly.
"There's two."
"What did you say?"
"There's two, Padme. A boy and a girl."
They gazed at each other for a moment, each one trying to digest the new information. Twins? Vader's face broke out into a wide grin and couldn't stop himself from taking his wife in his arms.
"Padme," he whispered into her hair. "I don't know what to say."
"Neither do I." She replied softly.
He smiled gently and then released her slightly so that he could look in her eyes.
"Thank you."
Padme froze, desperately hoping she had heard him correctly. Then without thought, she rushed back into his arms and pressed her lips firmly against his. His arms closed around her, pulling her to him tightly as their passion and joy lifted them. When their lips finally parted, they looked into each other's smiling faces and he kissed her softly one more time.
"I can't even begin to tell you how happy this makes me."
She smiled, her eyes watering with tears.
"That's good."
"This is wonderful! Two, Padme? I can't believe it…you're happy, right?"
"Of course," she said laughing through her tears. "I'm not crying because I'm sad. This is one of the best moments of my life."
They kissed yet again and Vader reluctantly released her from his arms.
"Padme, I know this is asking a lot, but do you think that maybe we could put our differences aside, at least for now?"
Padme sighed softly. Maybe she could let everything go for now. After all, she was having twins and she shouldn't feel anything but absolute joy.
"I suppose it would be best. Besides, we wouldn't want to endanger our children by constantly raising my stress level, right?"
He smiled at the words 'our children' and nodded in agreement.
"I promise you, Padme, I'm going to make everything up to you. This is the most wonderful news and I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that you're happy and comfortable."
She laughed good-naturedly, and reached up to run her hand through his hair. When he talked to her like that, she could almost forget…
"I don't doubt that for a second."
They shared a light-hearted laugh and then, Vader closed the distance between them and drew her to him once more, enveloping her in his strong arms and his passionate kiss.
