Salvation

Author: Fraoch A'Ronaigh

Summary: AU, Semi-Cannon. It's been five years since the birth of Darth Vader. Believing his wife and unborn child were murdered by his own hand, Vader willingly cast aside the last connections of his humanity and, along side the Emperor, he became one of the most feared beings of the Galactic Empire. Will he stay this way, or are forces beyond his control about to change his destiny once again?

Disclaimer: Star Wars belongs to the creative genius of George Lucas.

Rating: M. It may eventually go down to an M rating, so it's best to just rate the whole thing M..

A/N: Heavy spoilers for Episode III. Anakin/Padmè pairing. I've never actually written a fan fiction before, mainly articles about real life situations, so this is new to me. Think of this as Episode III ½ J

Padmè Naberrie Amidala Skywalker was dreaming. She knew she was dreaming because she could feel the presence of her life-mate Anakin surrounding her. After five long years of the noticeable absence of the presence, the young woman nearly cried upon waking and losing it. But it was still there. The presence, the heat, the feeling of being loved. "Ani," she said quietly while reaching out to feel him, for he had to be near her. He had to.

A gloved hand, one she knew so well, grasped her own and squeezed. Padmè broke down into tears. "Ani, it is you," she sobbed out, her voice equally as hoarse as the Queen's. "I knew you would come back to me. I knew it." She turned to her beloved only to let out a gasp of dismay when the helmeted head of Lord Vader look down upon her.

Vader noticeably flinched at her reaction and let go of her hand. "I'm sorry," he stammered out, knowing that his appearance scared her. Filled with conflicting emotions, he said no more while she sat up and her face showed the comprehension of what had happened was returning to her.

"An…Lord Vader," she amended as she began to speak to him. "Despite your efforts to kill me, once again, I have survived. Will you give me the courtesy of allowing me to speak further without trying to murder me?" Her tone cooled while speaking and she felt, rather than saw, Vader flinch again.

He nodded and moved away from Padmè, allowing her to go to her Queen. After assuring herself that Jamillia was alright she turned back to Darth Vader. "As the Queen has explained, my child has been taken captive and we require your help in getting her back."

Noticing the stress she put on Leia being her child, Vader just nodded. "Anything. I'll do anything you need me to."

"I thought you might," she replied stiffly. "Sit down, please, and allow me to explain what has happened." Vader sat on the nearest chair and watched her as she began to tell the story of what had happened to her and her child after he tried to kill her five years ago.

"When Obi-wan brought me back to the ship, I went into labor. He," her voice broke slightly, "He told me that he had left Anakin by a lava pit, knocked out but alive. He was unable to kill him, he said. Giving into the hate, he explained to me, would make him no better than Anakin when he turned." She looked into Vader's eyes as she spoke, knowing she was hurting him and not caring. She wanted him to feel the pain she felt. If it made her no better than the Dark Overlord who controlled forces she could never imagine, so be it.

"I almost died while delivering, that much of the prophecy was true. However, what Anakin failed to see was that he was the reason that I was dying in the prophecy. He, in his rush to save me, caused the prophecy to almost come true." She continued to look at Lord Vader, refusing to equal this creature to the man she still loved. "Obi-wan explained that Palpatine allowed Anakin to see these visions of my death in his dreams, but did not allow him to see the cause or end result."

Vader sat silent as she continued, to overcome with emotion to form a coherent sentence, let alone react to the news she was giving him. He could only fill himself with the sight of her. She was so…cold now. That was his fault of course. Was it too late to find the warmth again? She reacted to him before she saw him. It was still there. Could he be with Padmè again? He brought his attention back to her as she began to speak again.

"After I delivered Leia, Obi-wan brought me to Naboo. Search driods were sent around the galaxy to find him and we had no time to do anything else. I assumed the identity of one of the Queen's handmaidens and raised my daughter on Naboo. Obi-wan went into exile. Because of the Queen's attachment to my child, the remnants of the Trade Federation kidnapped her in the hopes of forcing the Queen to form an alliance with them to over-throw Darth Sidious and you."

She sighed and sat down as she continued, "They have no idea who's child it is that they have. If they did her life would be in even more danger. I can feel her, Vader. She is still alive. I need to find my daughter and you have the resources to do it."

"I will stop at nothing to see my daughter returned," Vader stated when she finished.

Padmè only nodded, expecting nothing less and rested her head on the back of her chair as the emotions of the past week finally caught up to her. Her baby, the love of her life and sole reason for the good that managed to stay in her soul was taken from her. Thinking Vader had finally found them, she went into a emotional panic until the missive was received on who had her. Then being forced to ask Vader for help, only to be near death again at his hands, all the while feeling the warmth that was Anakin was too much for her to handle. She was exhausted. She needed to rest. She needed to find her daughter and be at peace again. She needed Anakin.

Jamillia looked over at her friend and realized she was at her wits end. She needed to be strong for her now and she turned to Lord Vader. "Padmè is exhausted, Lord Vader. I'm taking her to her room to rest." She stood, daring him to deny her and wasn't surprised when he did.

"Padmè can rest here, Queen Jamillia, while I arrange new transport for us," he replied, his tone leaving no room for argument. She nodded as he left the room. She was as tired as Padmè. While she may not be Leia's mother, she loved her with all of her being. This past week had been horrid for her as well.

"Jamillia." Padmè turned slightly in her seat to look at her friend. Her voice showed her utter exhaustion. "It will work out won't it? He'll be able to save Leia, right?"

Jamillia sat next to her friend and pulled her into her arms and held her, as much as give comfort as to gain it. "He will stop at nothing to gain her back, Padmè. I know this just by seeing his reaction."

"I know," came her friend's reply. "But will he give her back to me?"

Having no answer, Jamillia just held her friend and stared at the door Vader had left through.