Author Note: Ok, fair point about the Beauty and the Beast reference...I didn't actually realise until after I'd posted the chapter that I'de written those exact words...I guess it was due to the fact that I was writting that chapter when my little cousin was watching it and I did my usual trick of writing what I hear instead of what I mean...I'm sorry if you didn't like it, and I'll try not to do it again without warning you all first...
Which is why, for this chapter, I'm going to say this...I don't own Doctor Who either, and have only used one or two lines from one of the episodes...I did the same again, typing what i hear instead of whatI mean, but this time I've noticed, and I'm not going to change it because it actually fits in with the story.
There we go...appart from that, I hope you like this chapter!
Enjoy!
oOo
The next few weeks after went by quietly, mostly because Vader had had to go and oversee construction of the Death Star - a gigantic spacestation as big as a small moon, and with enough firepower to destroy an entire planet.Padme had been left behind in the appartment, so she'd kept herself busy keeping the place tidy, taking messages for Vader and studying at his computer. After all, she may be trapped inside, but she had to keep up to date with events happening in the outside world, on the off chance that some day she'd be let out of the appartment again. She didn't want to get outside, only to find that it had all changed and nothing was how she remembered it.
When Vader did eventually return, Padme was waiting for him as he came through the door, covered in dust and looking thoroughly fed up.
"What happened to you?" she asked as she took his cloak from him and went out onto the balcony to brush away the dust.
"I was on the Death Star," Vader replied as he joined her on the balcony and shook his head violently, sending a shower of dust all over Padme, who coughed and waved it away with her free hand. Then she handed the cloak back and waited for him to continue.
"Everything was going fine until one of the supports gave way and brought an entire floor crashing down on us. And it had to be the floor used for holding all the dust and dirt, didnt it!"
"You have a floor for keeping the dust and dirt in?" Padme repeated, amused.
"What?" he asked when he heard her chuckle.
"Thats ridiculous! Why not just eject it into space?" she replied, laughing.
Vader thought for a moment and realised just how stupid his idea actually was. "I have no idea!" he admitted, laughing aswell.
After that, Padme informed him of everything she'd been doing while he was away, and Vader listened carefully, noting how keen Padme was to actually do something other than clean and serve him the entire time. He caught a glimpse of his mountains of jobs, reeling themselves off on his computer screen and sighed. He'd never get all those completed before the deadline, which was two nights away. Then he was struck with an idea.
He had too much work, and Padme needed something else to do.
"Padme, how would like to do some of my work for me? I've too much to do alone and I'de really appreciate the help. Besides, it would give you even more information on whats happening in the Galaxy."
Padme liked that idea because it meant that she had something to do which took her mind off things, so from then on, Padme took over all of Vader's little jobs, like approving orders, settling debates diplomatically between planets and generally putting all her previous experience as a Queen and Senator to good use. This meant that Vader was free to focus on the bigger issues like the Death Star and the hunt for the remaining Jedi. He knew there were still at least five still hiding somewhere and he was getting annoyed that they kept escaping his clutches. He'd now started searching for them himself because the Jedi had learnt how to convince the clones with mind tricks that they were not who they thought they were.
The clones were so weak minded that they bought any excuses the Jedi spun them, and simply allowed them to walk by. Therefor the Emperor had ordered Vader to see to the Jedi personally. Plus that way, it would sever his last remaining ties to his past life forever, because Vader's old Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, was one of the survivors and by destroying him, Vader would ultimately destroy all ties to the Jedi.
oOo
When Padme assumed that she was alone one day, because Vader had gone to report something to his Master, she used his computer to do name searches to find out just how many of her friends and family were still alive.
The first names she typed in were those of her family. To her immense relief, all were still alive and well, and her father had even become the Queen's Royal Advisor, while Pooja was training to become a Senator.
Once sure that her family were safe, she tried Bail Organa.
'Traitor to the Empire and awaiting execution for treason' the screen read and Padme frowned.
She checked the date the systems had been updated and found that they were quite recent, so Bail was still alive then. But out of the eight that had been captured, only he and Padme were still alive.
Why would the Emperor keep Bail alive? Whats so important about Bail that he kept him alive? She wondered. She'd quiz Vader later, she decided. And then, glancing over her shoulder just to double check that Vader hadn't returned, she typed another name into the box.
It was a name she had often heard whispered in corridors and usually the subject of many rumours. It was the name of one of the greatest Jedi heroes the Galaxy had ever seen.
Anakin Skywalker.
When the picture of the legendary knight came up, Padme gasped and almost fell off her chair. Unable to believe it, she scrolled down to the bottom of the page, where in big red letters, it said 'MISSING, PRESUMED DEAD'.
Darth Vader and Anakin Skywalker were the same person? Impossible, she thought. And then she heard footsteps outside and quickly switched the screen off as Vader walked back through the door with another stack of data pads for her to work through.
She just stood there staring at him, seeing the same man as she'd seen on the computer. Vader seemed oblivious to the fact that she was transfixed, and went about the appartment, collecting files and folders that he'd need for his work.
When he glanced up at last and saw she hadn't moved, he dropped the files on a table and faced her with his hands on his hips.
"What?" he asked curiously as she just continued to stare at him, millions of thoughts running through her mind.
That's why his clothes are so Jedi-like...he hates talking about his past...he covers up his arm with a glove like the rumours said...he has that scar across his eye, same as the rumours...why didn't I realise before...I should have known!
"Hello? Padme? Are you alright?" Vader asked as he walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder, snapping her out of her trance.
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine," she replied, pulling away and shaking her head a little, as though waking from a dream.
"You sure? You went all funny then," Vader continued. Padme said nothing, but simply turned and looked up at him with her deep brown eyes.
"Who are you?" she asked at last.
"Darth Vader," he replied as if the answer was obvious. "Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yeah I'm fine, and I mean, who are you really? Whats your real name?"
"Vader."
"Vader's not a real name. Surely you have a real name? What about your first name? Last name? Middle names?"
"Why do you want to know?" he asked suspiciously and she reached behind her, turning on the screen again. There was Anakin Skywalker's page, and there, looking proudly back at him was a picture of himself.
"Why are you doing this to me?" he asked weakly, collapsing into a nearby chair, his past suddenly flooding back to him again.
"I just want to know who you are," Padme replied. "Where you're from...what planet you grew up on...If I'm gonna spend the rest of my life with you, I at least deserve to know that much."
"I'm just Darth Vader," he replied.
"What planet are you from?"
"Well it's not as if you'll ever get to visit it - "
"Where are you from?"
"Why does it matter?"
Both were starting to lose their temper now, and this was evident in the change of tone and volume in their voices. C-3PO chose that moment to enter the room then, but he could tell something was up, so he didn't speak as he set the tray of drinks on the table.
"Tell me who you are!" Padme cried at last, frustrated at Vader's stubborness. Vader lost it then and stood up to face her.
"This is who I am, right here, right now, all right? All that counts is here and now, and this is me!" he shouted, and without consciously realising it, began to raise his hand to choke her again. But before he'd even lifted it half way, Padme had stepped closer to him and back-handed him right across his cheek.
He was not expecting the attack and it sent him off balance. In his current, already weakened state, he fell against the table behind him and then slid to the floor.
"Yes, and I'm here too, because you brought me here, so tell me!" Padme replied, matching Vader's anger as she stood over him with her fists clenched, her usually mild brown eyes blazing with fury. Vader slowly got back to his feet and there was silence as the two of them stood glaring at each other in an angry stand off that caused C-3PO to make a hasty exit from the room.
Despite his anger, Anakin couldn't deny how cute Padme looked when she was angry. Stop it! He scolded himself. She's your slave! Besides, what would your Master say! And what about the split lip she's just given you? Why does blood always taste like iron?... Stop it! he angrily scolded again when his thoughts bagan to get sidetracked.
He could taste the blood in his mouth and couldn't believe how powerful Padme's backhand had been. She was only a small woman, but she had certainly hit hard! He had always known she wasn't afraid to argue back, but to strike him like that stunned and dazed him.
Looking for something to distract him from Padme, he glanced back to the screen and sighed, knowing that she should really know. After all, he couldn't keep it a secret from her forever. She'd find out one day.
"Alright. You're right, you deserve to know," he sighed at last, slumping back down in the chair and dabbing at his bleeding lip, which was already beginning to swell.
He was still sulking, but at least he'd calmed down now, which Padme had to admit was a start. She sat down beside him, prepared to listen to whatever he had to say.
"My real name is Anakin Skywalker. I was once a Jedi Knight, but when the Jedi turned traitors, I refused to join them and kept my allegiance firmly with the Emperor. He took me as his apprentice and taught me the power of the Sith, and now I have become more powerful than any Jedi could ever dream of."
"But why? Surely you were happy as a Jedi?"
"Yes, but after my mother died, I made a promise that I would become more powerful than any Jedi and that I would even learn to stop people from dying. I have that power now, but no-one I've met is worthy enough for me to use it on...except you of course."
"Me?" Padme asked, surprised.
"Yes. You've been kind to me and helped me, even when I've treated you so badly. You're my only friend Padme."
"That can't be true. I'm sure you have lots of friends," she replied, although she found that hard to believe.
"No. People only pretend to be my friend because they fear me. Do you fear me?"
"No," she replied honestly."I did when I first met you, but now I'm not afraid anymore."
"Yes, you proved that when you gave me this," he motioned to his split lip and she grinned sheepishly, handing him a handful of tissues from a nearby box.
"Sorry," she muttered, but Vader knew she truly meant it. He had been overcome with anger, and apparently so had she. He would have to be very careful from now on.
"You are either very brave, or very foolish not to fear me," he grinned at last, allowing her to dab at the cut.
"No, I've just got to know you...the real you, I mean..." she replied and the grin slowly vanished.
"This is why I don't like to talk about my past."
"I understand," she replied softly, placing a hand on his arm and feeling the metal and mechanics underneath. She had one last question for him, but she didn't know how well he'd take it.
"Vader...is it ok if I call you Anakin from now on? Vader sounds so harsh and cruel...completely the opposite of how you are with me."
She'd been prepared for the explosion, the shouting, the ranting, the screaming. She hadn't been prepared for Vader's actual answer.
"My mother used to call me Ani aswell...I guess, hearing it from you would help me to remember her. I have one memory of her, which I can feel fading, and yet I don't want to forget it."
Padme was silent as she listened. And then when he turned to her, she smiled and said "Ani."
"You sound just like my mother when you say that."
"So, am I allowed to use your old name?" she asked hesitantly and when he nodded she patted his arm comfortingly. Then she saw that it was gone 11:30pm and she grinned cheekily.
"Ok Ani, time for bed."
"Will you tuck me in and read me a bedtime story?" he replied, just as cheekily and she playfully swatted him across the chest.
"Do it yourself you big baby!"
And so the two of them went to their seperate rooms and left the droids to tidy up the last little pile of data-pads and the tray of untouched drinks.