TO LOVE A SITH
Chapter Nineteen
Padme yawned and stretched her arms behind her head. It had been two very long days and the doctor had finally told her that she could get out of bed. Small amounts at a time, but it was a step in the right direction. She gazed at her sleeping angels and smiled softly. She slowly eased herself out of bed and walked over to their cribs. She placed a tender kiss on each of their foreheads.
Her thoughts clouded with the last conversation she had had with her husband. It had been a day and she still hadn't seen him. He had said he would come back to check on her, but he hadn't. A part of her was sincerely regretting the suggestion she had made. What if he relayed that to the Emperor? Where would that leave her and her children? She shook her head, trying to rid her mind of all negative thoughts. She knew him and she knew that he wouldn't tell the Emperor. He would never put her in danger. He would be breaking his promise if he did.
"Milady? We've just landed on Corusant. Lord Vader has instructed me to help you bring the children inside."
She could only nod her response, overcome with shock that he wasn't even going to help them off the ship. He was really that angry by what she had said and that scared her to death. He was unpredictable with these types of situations. It was very likely that he would tell his Master what she had suggested to him. And then that would be the end for her. She would never get to see her children grow and they would be surrendered to the Emperor. She shook her head…no, that wasn't going to happen. She had to stay positive and hope for the best. Hope that her husband would finally come to his senses and wake up from the coma he had been in for almost three years.
Vader paced back and forth around his chambers. His thoughts immediately drifted to his family and he wished he could take back his impulsive decision to not accompany Padme off the ship. He had wanted to be there for her. He had wanted to carry his children off the ship and into their new home. But he couldn't bring himself to face her. The dilemma he was now faced with was greater than any he had ever encountered in his entire life. Stay or go? Relent or flee? It should have been any easy decision, but his mind and his heart were pulling him in two different directions. One was telling him he must obey his mandate at all costs. The other told him he needed to do what was best for his family. Yet, both of those choices held severe consequences and he couldn't decide which one was less damaging for his family.
Sighing dejectedly, he exited his chambers and headed for Padme's. He was going to put a stop to all this once and for all.
Padme had finally settled in and had managed to put the twins to sleep. She had just seated herself comfortably on the sofa when a knock came from the door,
She reluctantly got up and walked towards the door, muttering curses to herself. She flung open the door to reveal a very somber Vader.
"Hello, Padme."
"Hello."
"How are they?"
"Funny you should ask that. You didn't really seem to care yesterday."
He grimaced at her comment, feeling the severity of her truth pierce his already guilt-ridden heart.
"I'm sorry about that. I just thought that we needed some time alone to think."
"Well you can't do that anymore, not since three days ago at least."
"I know and again, I'm sorry for the way I've acted. But I came here because I wanted to end this. I want to just forget any of this ever happened. Let's just forget everything, the kidnapping, our last conversation. It never happened."
Her face broke out into a beautiful grin and she rushed into his arms. "Thank you."
He kissed her hair and pulled her even closer to him.
"Can I see them?"
"They're sleeping. It really would not be wise to wake them either."
He chuckled and nodded in agreement. Rubbing the back of his neck, he said, "I've missed them, though. It's hard to explain, but I'm finding myself distracted from everything else. All I can think about is them. If I'm going to be a good father…" He trailed off, contemplating the seriousness of his last statement. He had made his choice, he had to obey his Master. But was it the right one?
Padme watched him carefully, desperately trying to read the expression on his face. He wasn't going to let them have peace and happiness she wanted but at least he wasn't going to tell the Emperor what she had planned. He held their futures in the palm of his hand and now, it felt like he was surrendering them. She could see pain now in his expression and she could almost see the internal conflict in his eyes. What was he just saying? He was wondering if he was going to be a good father…she was sure that he could be. There was just the issue of training their children as Siths.
Vader walked quickly over to his children's cribs and easily picked each child up. Padme walked towards them and rested her head on her husband's shoulder, her eyes closing slightly.
"The Emperor wishes to see Luke immediately."
Padme nodded and fought desperately to hold back the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. Vader noticed this and nervously bit his lower lip as his gaze shifted involuntarily from his wife to his son. A strange feeling, more like a sinking feeling, slowly crept down his spine and he almost cringed at it.
There was no use to argue. Their fates were sealed.
"Very good, Lord Vader. Very good."
Vader nodded and bowed once again to his Master, pride shining in his eyes. The Emperor handed Luke back to his father, who gave him to a storm trooper. Vader watched the storm trooper leave the room, then turned his eyes back to his Master.
"I've heard an interesting tale, Lord Vader. A little bee told me you had the chance to get rid of Kenobi, yet you didn't. I've also been told that your precious wife was conspiring with him against us."
Vader swallowed nervously and tried to think of an answer.
"I'm waiting Lord Vader."
"Yes, Master. The reason Kenobi got away was because the storm troopers couldn't catch him. My wife had just gone into labor so I immediately put her on the transport. My main priority was to protect the heir, Master."
The Emperor nodded in satisfaction with his apprentice's answer. But something was still troubling him…
"And what will you do with your wife?"
Vader's breath caught in his throat. He had been praying this wouldn't happen.
"What do you mean, Master?"
"Your wife conspired against me. She tried to keep my heir from me. That is completely unacceptable. You assured me that she was loyal, but apparently, you were gravely mistaken. As far as I am concerned, she has served her purpose. And now that she is a threat, you must get rid of her."
Vader's face remained calm and expressionless. Yet inside, he was screaming. No, no, no. He couldn't do that. He couldn't.
"Lord Vader, you will obey me."
Vader nodded, knowing that if he didn't carry out his orders, it would prove him to be disloyal to his Master. But Padme…he couldn't kill her. She was a part of him. She was his wife.
The Emperor made a swift motion with his hand and the doors to the throne room opened, revealing a very frightened Padme. The storm trooper prodded her to move towards her husband and before she knew it, she was standing in front of the Emperor.
"Now, Lord Vader."
Vader sighed to gather his strength and despite the screams in his head, he ignited his lightsaber.
