One Last Encounter

AUTHOR: Abigail

SUMMARY: There was only one way that Anakin and Padme could have remained together…Twists the plot line from RotS.

CHAPTER 2: Deepest Urge

RATING: PG-13

DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything that was created by George Lucas (characters).

NOTE: Deep within this story, there are numerous clippings taken form "The Phantom of the Opera", (I finally watched that last night by the way and loved it). I don't own that either, obviously. I've already written the next chapter and I'm going to boost the rating up to 'M' for that chapter, just to be safe. I don't want to make anyone mad. The next chapter will be up very shortly.

The two remained silent for a moment, their sabers still intersecting, until Anakin slowly raise his down to his side, turning it off. Padme followed suit and returned her gaze back to Anakin's. She could see the millions of questions that flashed in his eyes, but only one left his mouth.

"What are you doing here?" he said firmly. Padme threw her head back and began to laugh…softly at first, but soon growing with intensity until she was practically mocking Anakin. His face contorted, unable to comprehend Padme's strange actions. He finally grabbed her by the shoulder, violently shaking her until her laugh died down to a sigh.

"You've always been so impatient, Vader, yet I can see your weakness…" Padme said, her gentle voice seeming so contradictory compared to the words she spoke. Anakin became so angry with her, that he could feel the hate flowing through his veins, ready to explode. What is this nonsense? Why is she here? Who has told her all of these things? Anakin asked her another unexpected question.

"Who has taught you the ways of the Jedi, my wife?" Anakin posed.

"Obi-Wan, of course," she said simply. She twirled the saber inches away from Anakin's face, teasing him with her proud new ability.

Anakin studied Padme more closely. Although she seemed the same woman he left just hours ago, this was not true. He could feel the force around her, that same force that was about himself and the other Jedi. She no longer smelled like the soft scent of lilacs, but of spicy cinnamon, mingling with the sensual overtone of the jasmine flower. Her voice was ever so lilting, much more provocative in tone and word choice. Her hair was loose, and fell in all the right places on her façade. Her eyes stared back into his, with more intensity than they ever have. And the way her robes clung to every…

"I know what you are thinking Vader," she said, as more of a question. She slightly leaned in and up towards his face, waiting for him to say something back. Anakin realized what she was doing. Testing him, teasing him, luring him…He noticed those full lips of hers, puckered towards his. How easy it would be for him to lean in and kiss her right now. But he didn't dare let his guard down. Something wasn't right here, and he knew it.

"I know you don't understand what's happening," she said, once again leaning towards him. "The force has helped me in so many ways that you wouldn't even have dreamed of. I could feel it, when you killed all of those men, Vader. The Jedi, the Padawans, the Separatists. And for some reason…" She paused, taking a breath of air. "I felt like I was next…"

Anakin twitched as he stepped backward, almost loosing his balance. No…Padme was going to die in childbirth. And that's why I am here. To save her from that…I'm going to save her from that…Anakin's hand reach toward her swollen belly, but she pulled back.

"Don't," she rebuked. "I won't let you take my baby too." Anakin's hate grew stronger.

"You know that I would never do that to you Padme. Or the baby! What has Obi-Wan been teaching you?" he yelled, gritting his teeth to keep from killing her right now. His own thoughts betrayed him again, but he didn't care. The force was too strong now. He could practically hear his Master's voice speaking to him.

"I already told you, Darth Vader. The ways of the Jedi are instilled within me now. I'm as strong as you are…" Padme spoke the last words with a certain hint of warning.

"Don't second-guess my strength, Padme! I'm your husband, a man, a Jedi. You know that you would die within seconds after a duel with me," Anakin spat. His conscience began to drift farther and farther away as the dark side began to creep closer and closer towards Anakin's sense of reality.

"The force grows dark, Vader. Be wary of your feelings…" Padme whispered, her words barely reaching his ears.

By now, Anakin's reality had totally fogged over. None of what Padme was telling him made any sense. All he could feel was anger, distrust, confusion, hate, lust, desire, pain, the dark side. He felt like he was on fire, the very realms of his soul aflame. He ran his hands through his hair, gritting his teeth.

"Why are you here, Padme?" he seethed. Padme's face retreated from its hidden position. Her twisted smile had disappeared, and a look of sadness washed over her.

"I've come here in pursuit of my deepest urge, a wish that until now has been silent." As Padme said this she cast her eyes down, pulling the hood over her face. Anakin was startled by this admission and the change in her demeanor. Her words confused him, yet he felt like he knew what she was telling him. Still, he wanted to be sure...

"The force has brought you here, Padme. So that our passions may fuse and merge," Anakin said, grabbing Padme's chin and lifting her face towards his. "In your mind, you've already succumbed to me." Padme's hood fell from her head, her hair spilling out onto her shoulders. Her eyes were closed, but Anakin beckoned them open, the force now controlling both of their minds.

Her eyelids softly fluttered as she raised them, her flashing red eyes searing right through Anakin's own gaze. "I was right…" he whispered. His eyes searched her face crazily, seeking for some reason as to why she would do something like this. "Don't do this Padme, you don't have to…"

"I had to, Vader. I wasn't going to let you fall to the dark side without me by you every evil and menacing step of the way. I've passed the point of no return. There's no going back now."

"There's no use resisting," she continued. "Abandon all thought and let the force descend upon our souls, Vader. Let me help you fulfill your destiny as Darth Vader."

Anakin turned his face away from hers and felt nothing but numbness. His mind, his thoughts, and his body were numb, unable to operate, unable to function. But the force was still present, and he could feel his fate calling him, in the form of Padme. Padme…that beautiful woman that I met on Tatooine. A member of the Senate. A charming yet modest woman who is my wife. The bearer of my child. But Anakin knew she was right. That bridge has been crossed, so why stand there and watch it burn?

He turned back to her face, slowly raking his nails through her scalp, feeling the silkiness of her hair running over his fingers. Her eyes continued to burn through his own as he gave her the answer to this ultimatum.

"What raging fire shall flood the soul? What rich desire unlocks its door? What sweet seduction lies before us?" His hands moved back down her scalp until they reached the base of her neck, where he firmly gripped her shoulders, his nails digging into her soft skin.

Padme's body reacted to this as she responded, "When will the blood begin to race? When will the bloom burst into flame? When will the flames, at last, consume us?"

Anakin's grip on her neck released as he whispered, "I've decided."