Disclaimer: see first post
Padme was waiting for him. She walked up to Vader as soon as he entered the room.
"Palpatine has Luke. Luke is not acting how he wants him to. You taught Luke not to give into anger and fear. He wants you dead," Vader said simply.
Padme was relieved, even though her death had just been ordered. They hadn't found out about Leia yet, which meant Bail had more time to get her away. She was also proud that her son had learned what she taught him. She could only hope that she could get Luke to safety soon.
Vader was puzzled. Padme did not react like a woman about to die. She was . . . calm, serene.
Vader suddenly realized that Leia had not come to see him and find out if Luke was back. That was strange.
"Padme, where is Leia?"
Padme's eyes flashed fear for a split second, but then she recovered, "She's around."
"Padme, what aren't you telling me?"
Padme licked her lips. She wasn't going to tell him where Leia was, no matter what he or Palpatine did to her, "Leia is fine. Where is Luke?"
"You will see him soon enough. Come with me," Vader instructed, still wondering about Leia, "Where is Leia, Padme?"
Padme didn't answer. She brushed by him, heading for the door.
"Where is she?" Vader cut her off.
"She is not going to be a part of you and your Master's sadistic plan! You will leave her out of this!" Padme snapped.
"If you don't tell me, Palpatine will get it out of you," Vader warned as they went out the front door.
"You are going to kill me. If you care even the slightest you will do it before he finds out," Padme answered simply.
Vader didn't have a response. What was he supposed to say? He just sat down in the driver's seat of his speeder and took off. "Uncle Bail? What planet is that?" Leia asked.
"Alderaan. Do you like it?"
"It's very pretty," Leia stated.
They landed on Alderaan a few minutes later. Bail took Leia into the palace. She gripped his hand tightly as she looked around in wonder. She had never been anywhere so beautiful. It reminded her of the pictures of Naboo her mother had shown her. Leia touched the necklace her mother had given to her. It was what Padme's parents had given her when she left to serve as Queen. She missed her family already.
"Lelilia, here's your room," Bail showed her a small bedroom attached to his office.
"What will I do all day?" Leia asked.
"One of the servants has a daughter around your age named Winter. You two can play together in here," Bail knelt down to her. He brushed a lock of hair out of her face, "Lelilia, it is very important that no one finds out you are here. If anyone asks, you tell them your name is Lelilia Chu. Your parents died during the Clone Wars and I am a family friend. You don't have any brothers or sisters and used to live on Corellia. Do you know anything about Corellia?"
Leia nodded. Her mother had taught her and Luke about many planets' cultures and land, "How long do I have to stay here?"
Bail smiled sadly, "I don't know." Vader and Padme entered the Emperor's Chamber in two different states. Vader was utterly confused. He didn't know what he wanted to do. He was being pulled in so many different directions. Should he obey his Master? Should he put his family first?
Padme, however, walked in defiantly. She walked up to the Emperor, head held high. Luke broke away from the Emperor's side and hugged his mother.
"Mommy, he asked me to do bad things," Luke whispered in her ear.
"I know, baby, don't worry. I'll get you out of here," Padme whispered. She stood up, moving Luke to her side, holding his hand tightly.
"I know the girl is gone. Were is she?" Palpatine demanded.
"It's none of your concern. They are not your children," Padme told him.
Palpatine cackled, "Vader is mine. His children are mine. His wife is mine."
"You are gravely mistaken," Padme responded.
"I have more pressing matters to deal with than bickering with you over what is mine. Tell me where the girl is."
Padme refused, "Absolutely not. You may have taken my husband away from me, but you will not have my children."
"I have Luke. He will be completely mine, like his father, soon. I will have the girl, too," Palpatine motioned for two of his guards, "Take her away."
Padme pulled Luke closer to her, "I won't tell you."
Palpatine chuckled, "Don't worry, you aren't going to die, yet. I will get the location of the girl and your children will watch your husband slay you."
Luke grabbed Padme's leg, "No, mommy! No! He's lying! Daddy can't kill you!"
Padme leaned down and picked him up, "Luke, calm down. It will be okay, I promise. I love you."
Padme set Luke down. Two guards pulled him to Palpatine. He looked at his mother, wiping away tears, "I love you too, Mommy."
Padme allowed the guards to take her away. Before she was gone, she looked at Vader, "I hope you're happy with yourself, Vader. Thank goodness your mother died before she could see this monster you have become."
Luke sat across from Vader at a table while he ate dinner, "Daddy, why did the Emperor say you would kill Mommy? Mommies and Daddies are supposed to love each other, not kill each other."
Vader closed his eyes behind the mask. How could he answer that? He knew he couldn't kill Padme, no matter what the Emperor ordered, "Luke, where is your sister?"
Luke shrugged, "I don't know. She went away."
"You don't know where?"
"No."
"Do you know who she went with?"
"No."
Vader groaned. How was he going to find the girl? He knew that if he found her quickly, Padme was as good as dead. If he took too long, then his Master would torture her. Either way, Padme was in grave danger.
"Daddy, why does the Emperor want me to do bad things?" Luke asked.
Did all children ask this many questions, Vader wondered, or was it just his own? Vader didn't know what to tell the boy. Did he explain the nature of the Dark Side or let his Master handle that?
Luke finished eating. Vader stood up and took the boy's plate, grateful for the chance to get out of the conversation, "Luke, go get ready for bed."
"Now?" he whined.
"Yes, now. It's late," Vader knew that Luke would forget about his questions once the dreaded bedtime came around.
"But I just had dinner!"
"Luke..."
"Fine!" Luke grumbled as he went to his room. Vader shook his head. Padme must have acted like that when she was a child. He had always obeyed his mother.
Suddenly Padme's comment rushed to him. "I hope you're happy with yourself, Vader. Thank goodness your mother died before she could see this monster you have become." Was she right? Was he a monster?
Vader shook it off. Even if he were, he would not turn away from his Master. Vader banished all thoughts of his wife away as he went to check on Luke. Padme was angry. She had been stuck in her cell for at least a week, she guessed. No one had come to see her. Food was slipped in twice a day through a little slot at the bottom of the door. Sometimes she could hear Luke and the Emperor walking by. It sickened her, knowing that the Emperor was twisting her little boy's mind. At least Leia was safe. Padme knew that Bail would keep her little girl as well hidden as possible. She hoped that no one would discover her location. Alderaan was a popular planet with its beautiful landscape and architecture. Padme hoped that Leia wouldn't draw attention to herself, but being the child of a former Queen and Jedi, Padme knew that wouldn't happen.
The cell door opened. Palpatine entered, "Hello, Padme! Have you decided to tell me where to find your daughter?"
"I will never tell you," Padme stated.
Palpatine began to laugh, "Oh but you will."
A mind probe droid entered her cell. Padme barely managed to choke back her nerves. Whatever he did to her, she would not tell.
"Lord Vader," Palpatine called. Vader entered the cell. Padme noticed that his breath quickened at the sight of the droid.
"I want you to watch with me," Palpatine ordered.
"As you wish," Vader said quietly.
Padme glared at her husband, "You are the most wretched being to enter the galaxy, Vader. I hate the man you are and pray that Leia and Luke will never learn how horrible their father truly is!"
Palpatine grinned, "Begin." Leia and Winter were racing through the royal house's private gardens. Bail had told the girls they were permitted to play outside for a couple of hours. Leia was glad to be able to finally step out of the palace. She had been stuck inside for far too long.
"I'm glad you came here, Lelilia," Winter told her when they stopped running by a small pond, "It was so boring here without you."
"I'm glad there is someone for me to play with," Leia responded.
"Where are you parents?" Winter asked.
"They died during the Clone Wars," Leia stated, remembering what Bail had told her.
"Oh! That's really sad. Do you have any brothers or sisters?"
"No," Leia shook her head. Suddenly, her whole body began to hurt. It felt as if fire was sweeping across her body, "MOM!"
Leia collapsed on the grass. Winter ran over to her, "Lelilia, wake up!"
Leia lay unconscious, shaking. Winter ran to the palace to find someone. A guard was standing at the garden gate, "Quick! Get a medic and Senator Organa! Something is wrong with Lelilia!"