9 years later
Vader fell to his knee's and wept. You could not see the tears in his eyes.. the helmet disguised all feeling, which the emperor thought as an advantage.
This was one of the many nights he fell down and cried.
" Padmé! What have I done.. Padmé! " he whispered.
He wouldn't be surprised that over the years, every time he cried.. it would form a mark inside his helmet, as his son Luke discovers.
Vader was too busy crying and focusing on Padmé to notice Palpatine.
" I'm so alone! " he said, still weeping.
Palpatine placed a hand on his shoulder, his presence wasn't very soothing.. in fact Vader didn't seem to like him much at all.
He was too confused to turn against him anyway, he would probably not escape without a fight.. he would be too weak to win.
" The more you dwell on her, the worse you'll feel my apprentice. "
Vader turned to look at Palpatine, he wanted to use all his anger on him.. but he couldn't. He was too weak, something about his master had control over him.
" You don't understand, my master! I can't live without her. Don't you have the power to bring her back? " he asked desperately.
Palpatine stood silent.. trying to look sympathetic, although really he didn't care that much. He only cared about the power he had, he thought no one could ever take it away from the dark side now.
" You said I could save her from dying. You lied! " Vader's voice boomed in anger.
He reached out into the force to choke Palpatine, as he did on Padmé.. but amazingly it took no effect.
Vader gasped and fell back against his bed in shock. Palpatine tried hard not to laugh... he knew his apprentice was weak.
" Calm yourself. ' You ', must understand that she died of her own will.. there was nothing I or you could have done. " Palpatine responded, while pacing up and down Vader's room.
" But you promised. If I joined your side you said I would be able to save Padmé, you could have told me she chose to die before it happened! " he said quickly, still shedding tears.
Palpatine sighed. Darth Vader was still quite young, almost 30.. and he still needed to understand the many ways of the force.
" I didn't know she would die of her own will.. the force doesn't tell everything. " Palpatine lied.
It was true that the force didn't tell everything, but he knew Padmé chose to die. It was obvious that he had to conceal the truth.. he didn't want Vader to turn on him over his dead wife.
Vader sat quietly, his cheeks were still wet and his eyes were swelling up. Palpatine didn't get it, he ' could not ' let go!
An hour past and Vader fell asleep, having another dream about Padmé.. he dreamt about her almost every night.
FLASHBACK
Anakin and Padmé stood alone, their hands were hand cuffed in front of them. The hall of the execution arena in Geonosis was dark and gloomy.
Padmé felt tension rising as the cart they were standing in started to move.
" Don't be afraid! " Anakin finally said, when the cart stopped as the entrance to the arena came in view.
" I'm not afraid to die," she replied. Her soft eyes were looking longingly into Anakin's. He hoped this moment could last forever.
" I've been dying a little bit each day since you came back into my life. "
Anakin flinched, his heart was pounding faster. Did she mean what he hoped she did?
" What are you talking about? " he asked, just to be sure.
She was silent for several seconds, when she finally said it.
" I love you. "
Anakin swore his heart missed a beat when she said that. It was one of the most happiest moments of his life, yet one of the last.. which made it even better.
" You love me? " he asked, overwhelmed.
The look in Padmé's eyes gave him a reassuring look. He was surprised.. he thought she didn't want to love him because it was forbidden, and that their lives would be wrecked.
" I thought we had decided not to fall in love. That we would be forced to live a lie, and that it would destroy our lives. "
" I think our lives are about to be destroyed anyway, " she answered quickly. Her face was moving closer to his, and his to hers.
" I truly.. deeply.. love you, " Padmé whispered as his nose brushed close to hers.
" And before we die, I want you to know. "
As soon as their lips connected, Anakin felt his heart leap out of his chest. This was the best moment of his life.
The kiss was soft and passionate this time. The first time they kissed, Padmé wasn't very comfortable.. and she wasn't giving in to the moment.
Padmé slowly withdrew from the kiss, she opened her eyes and looked at Anakin. He could tell she enjoyed it as much as he did.
END OF FLASHBACK
Darth Vader woke up, his face was all sticky from crying. It was even worse to be wearing a helmet. He felt one tear escaped from his eye and rolled down his cheek.
He could still feel her lips, soft and gentle. He closed his eyes to imagine he could see her, kiss her.
Vader opened his eyes, of course she wasn't there. He tried so hard to let her go, but without her he was weak.
He had to face it, she wasn't coming back!