TO LOVE A SITH
Chapter Thirteen
Padme's eyes fluttered open from a deep sleep. She smiled when she saw her husband's sleeping face next to hers. She leaned over and softly kissed his lips, then cuddled closer to him. He responded, even in his sleep, and pulled her even closer to him. She closed her eyes again and smiled as her very swollen stomach pressed against his.
It had already been eight months and everything was going exactly as it should. She was healthy, the children were healthy, and her husband was wonderful. Not a day went by when he didn't find some way to make her day. The day before, he had surprised her by showing her their children's nursery. It had already been decorated, equipped with two rocking chairs, two cribs, and diapers and toys galore. It was the best present she had ever received and the best part of all was that he had done it for her.
She had been able to forgive him for what he did to her a long time ago. There was no use in continuing to argue with him over it, and besides, he was changing. Even if the change was slight and only when they were alone, he was still changing and that overjoyed her. Anakin was in there somewhere…
Suddenly, her husband's arms squeezed around her tightly, and he laughed when he felt her stomach pres against him even harder.
"I love that." He whispered in her ear.
"I know you do." She beamed back at him.
He pressed her to him again and locked her in a passionate kiss. In spite of the building passion, she lightly pushed him away.
"Come on, you know we can't do that. Remember what the doctor said?"
"Yeah, I remember." He replied, with a disappointed look on his face.
"But yet, you keep trying!" She laughed.
"Well, you know what they say: if at first you don't succeed…"
She threw the pillow at him and he knocked it away using the Force. Suddenly, another pillow hit Padme in the back of the head.
"Oww! That's not fair, you're cheating!" She laughed.
"Oh, ok. I'll give you a free shot."
Immediately, he was pelted with a pillow. He shot out of bed and took off for the refresher, yelling: "I'm out of here! You're turning hostile!"
She laughed and laid back down in bed. Several minutes later, Vader came out of the refresher and sat next to her on the bed.
"Padme, there's something I have to tell you."
She looked at him expectantly, suddenly worried about what he had to tell her.
"I have to leave tomorrow. There's a rebellion starting on Camarieon, and the Emperor wants me to lead the opposition to stop it."
"What? But the children could be here anytime…you can't leave me now."
Tears began to spill down her cheeks, breaking his heart in two. He gathered her up in his arms and hugged her to him tightly.
"It's ok, it's ok. Everything's going to be fine. Look, Padme…Padme, look at me. If the babies start coming while I'm gone, Sabe will let me know and I'll find a way to get back to you as soon as I can. Do you think I would really miss the birth of my children? Padme, I promise, if anything happens, I'll find a way to come back."
He wiped the tears from her cheeks as she nodded.
"Just promise me that you'll come back in one piece."
He laughed softly and then kissed her.
"I promise. I'll come back in one piece."
He kissed her again and they held each other for what seemed like ages. But before Padme knew it, her husband had to leave and she was alone.
She shifted in bed, uncomfortable with the empty space next to her. She smiled to herself as she felt her children move inside her as her hand rested on top of her stomach. She sighed and turned over on her side. Where was he? What was he doing? Was he thinking about her and the children?
Suddenly, she was grabbed from behind and a hand was clamped around her mouth before she could scream. She felt herself being picked up and then her instincts kicked in and she kicked and bit and struggled with all her might.
"No, Padme. Don't struggle with us! Come on!"
She continued to fight and managed to get out of her captor's arms. She sprinted for the door, screaming for help, but found that the guards outside her door were already dead.
"No! Please! Somebody help me!" She screamed in vain.
She was grabbed from behind again and she spun around to look her captor in the eye and what she saw made her blood run cold.
She was able to utter only one word before she fainted in his arms: "Obi-Wan."
