To the reviewers:

Northwestern: Thanks! Anakin's a bit of a lost cause in the evil department by this point. Or is he? suspense I think Padmé's still probably good, though.

AJedistuckinthematrix: This quick enough? ;)

Koriaena: I've actually written quite a few fics in this universe, most one-shots but all following a common theme. So… stay tuned!

Hieiko: Thanks! It definitely felt emotional writing it.

Niraha Skywalker: Wow, thank you!

BGTom: Thank you… I really did want to explore the two characters, specifically in a very non-canonical setting.

Too Tangled

Night couldn't have come soon enough.

When they finally retired to their bedchambers, he kissed her the instant the door was closed. His fingers were white-hot, scorching her flesh as they tore off her dress. He traced the line of her lips, then her neck, and then her breast, hands moving wherever his lips were not.

"I feared…" He whispered just before he took her, right there on the carpeted floor next to the door. He didn't need to finish the sentence. For one, she understood his meaning regardless. For another, she was by then in no state for words.

Afterwards, he carried her gently to the bed and held her tightly, not saying a word. His face was buried in her hair so she couldn't see him, but she could tell that he was still in a heightened emotional state by the ragged quality of his breath. Trying to calm him, she kissed one of the old scars on his neck, the one that had passed just centimeters from his jugular, and then whispered against his skin. "I didn't tell you."

"What is it?" He said, instantly alarmed.

She smoothed her hand over his lips and face, doing her best to show him that there was nothing to fear. "Ani… I'm going to have another baby."

He was silent for a long moment, and then clasped – no, clutched – her small frame to him even tighter than before. One hand sought the still-flat plane of her stomach. "Padmé… oh, Padmé, I could have lost you both…"

"You didn't," She assured him, running her fingers through his hair. "I'm all right, and so is the baby. Obi-Wan protected us – the twins, too. Everyone is fine."

"Obi-Wan…" He repeated. She could not see his face in the darkness.

"I thought he was dead." There was a wealth of meaning in those five words of hers. I thought you killed him and Why didn't you tell me otherwise? And most of all, There is still that much good in you?

"I did… defeat him," He said, sounding almost defensive. His voice was very young again. "I simply did not consider him a threat…"

"That's a lie, Anakin," She said, gently but firmly. "He's with the Rebellion, as you knew he would be."

He tensed suddenly in her arms. "He was one of those involved in the plot to ambush your convoy?"

"You know that he was not."

Indeed, he knew as well as she did that Obi-Wan would never condone such a thing. Perhaps he knew even better than Padmé did. "Was he…"

"He was well. There's a lot more gray in his hair than there used to be, but otherwise he hasn't changed in the slightest."

"I didn't ask that," But he had, and he was relieved to hear the answer. "Where was the Rebel base located, Padmé?"

"I will not tell you. Even if I knew, which Obi-Wan took pains to prevent, I couldn't do something like that."

He did not speak for a long moment. "I'm happy, you know. About the child."

"Really?"

"Of course," He found her hand and squeezed it softly. "I've never told you. When you first told me about Luke and Leia I was too worried to be truly happy."

She had suspected this for a long time, but it was good for him to confide in her.

"You see, though, now the situation is completely different. The world is safe – safer," He amended quickly. "The Rebels will not get to you or our children again, Padmé, I promise you. This new little one will have the chance to grow up without fear."

She said nothing, and he continued. "It's better this way. We can raise them as we wish…"

As you wish. As your Sith.

"Thank you, Padmé," He said suddenly, oblivious to her unhappy thoughts, and all her bitterness was swept away in his loving tone. "Thank you so much."

"Anakin, there's no need…"

"I love you."

Even now, after eight long years of marriage, the words were too much for her to bear. "I love you too…"

It was only later, as she was nearly drifting off to sleep, that he spoke again. "One more thing, my love. You will not leave Imperial Center except in my company from now on. Additionally, I've doubled your security detail. Major Lezata will arrive from Korriban tomorrow to serve as your personal bodyguard."

"But Anakin!"

"No buts, Padmé. And that's not all. I am…" He took a deep breath, and then let his voice harden. "Tomorrow the medidroids will implant a tracking device in your body. I don't ever again want to be in a situation of having you gone and not knowing where to find you, is that understood?"

She was speechless for a long moment, her shock and her horror quelling all words. Finally she managed to say the most pressing thing. "That's slaver technology."

Rather to his credit, he gave her an honest answer. "Yes, it is."

"And if I leave the designated range," She almost snarled at him. "Will it blow me up – 'poof'"?

"Padmé!" He sounded horrified, but not guilty, which wasn't promising. "Of course it won't! I would never – how could you think that?"

She did not answer, but disengaged herself from his arms and rolled over in bed so her back was to him. She thought that she had never hated him so much.

"This is solely a measure for your safety, Padmé," He embraced her from behind, stilling her attempts to push him away before they began. "I will not lose you."

She wanted to argue with him, but he had already told her the only thing he would ever say on this topic. No matter what brilliant line of debate she might attempt in an effort to get him to reverse this decision, it would all come back to that one line. I will not lose you.

"He offered to take me away," She said, because it was the only thing left that could hurt him. "He offered to free me from you. And I told him no."

He did stiffen at that. "Padmé, regardless of what you may think, I am not trying to make you a prisoner."

It took a very great effort, legacy of a lifetime in politics, not to scream that he was a liar. "I am your prisoner."

"No, Padmé, I tell you that –"

"I have been since the day you came back into my life. Anakin, why can't you let me go?" And now she was crying. "Why can't I let you go?"

He held her for the rest of the night, and in the morning she accepted the implanted tracking device without protest.