Author Note: Hey guys, so sorry for the delay in posting, but my internet's been messing about, which is why I'm gonna keep this note short and sweet. Thanks for so many great reviews, and I'm glad you all still like my story, so enjoy!

Now to see if it will let me save...oh it did, YAY!

oOo

"Lord Vader, I need a word," Sidious said as soon as Anakin had opened the door. It was still the early hours of the morning, and dark outside, but the doorbell had dragged both him and Padme out of bed.

"Of course My Master, come in," Anakin offered sleepily, and Padme was quick to dive into the kitchen, out of the way.

"Would you like a drink?" Anakin offered and Sidious glared at him.

"You're a Sith, Lord Vader. You don't offer people drinks!"

"Sorry Master. I hear Padme offer so often that I sometimes forget it is her job and not mine." To Anakin, it was a feeble excuse, but Sidious seemed to buy it, because he didn't say anymore about it. "What is it that you needed to tell me?"

"You remember Bail Organa, don't you."

"The King and Senator of Alderaan? Yes, I remember him."

"Well he has escaped. And guess who helped him escape?"

"Who?" Anakin asked, surprised.

"Obi-Wan Kenobi." Sidious emphasised every part of Obi-Wan's name, causing Anakin to wince. From her place in the kitchen, Padme pressed as close as she could to the door to listen.

"What...what do you want me to do about it, Master?"

"Absolutely nothing, Lord Vader. I was just going to inform you that I'm sending Commander Cody and his clones to destroy them. I know that recently you've been feeling unsithly thoughts, and I don't trust you not to go after them and warn them, so hear me now Lord Vader. I forbid you from leaving your room until they are dead. I will be watching you Lord Vader. Do not dissapoint me again."

"Yes, My Master," Anakin replied, downheartedly. How could Sidious have lost faith in his own apprentice so soon after Anakin had pleased him with the recent work on the Death Star?

Sidious left hastily, his black cape billowing out behind him, and Anakin slumped down on the sofa as Padme re-appeared.

She didn't know whether to be pleased or alarmed. Obi-Wan and Bail were alive, but Sidious was going to have them killed. They'd have to do something quickly.

"Do you want me to get your things ready?" she asked.

"What? I'm not going anywhere," Anakin replied.

"But, I thought you were going to go and warn Bail and Obi-Wan?"

"You heard my Master. He's forbidden me from leaving until they are dead. I'm not going anywhere in the near future."

"So thats it. They were your friends, and now your just going to give up on them because of one man's greed and hatred!"

"Don't Padme! You don't understand! You don't know the power of the Dark Side. I must obey my Master!" Anakin exclaimed, and then he hung his head in his hands helplessly. He may have given up, but Padme certainly hadn't as she sat down beside him and placed a comforting arm over his strong shoulders.

"Please Anakin, they're my friends...they used to be your's too! We have to help them!" she pleaded, but Anakin shook his head.

"I'm sorry Padme, but I cannot go against my Master."

"But there must be something you can do? Anything?"

Anakin looked into Padme's face and saw her desperation. There was something he could do, but it would pain him to do so. But then he would do anything to make Padme happy.

"Give me your hands," he sighed, pulling a key out of his pocket. Padme held her hands out in confusion and Anakin gently took them one by one, unlocking the manacles with the key and allowing the heavy metal to drop to the floor.

When he'd finished, Padme rubbed her sore wrists and looked at him in surprise. "But...I don't understand," she said as he unlocked the ones on her ankles too.

"Go to them. Help them," Anakin replied, kicking the gold restraints to one side. "You are no longer my prisoner. You are free."

"Oh thank you Ani! Thank you so much!" Padme exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck and completely taking him by surprise. Unsure of what to do, he gingerly returned the hug. Then when she pulled away, he remembered something.

"Here, take this with you. It'll bring you good luck," he said, pulling a hand carved jappor snippet from inside his robes and pulling it off over his head.

"I made it when I was nine and gave it to my mother to remember me by. When she died, I took it in the hope that some day I would find another person worthy enough to give it to."

Padme took the snippet and turned it over in her hands, admiring the detail. Then she put it on and tucked it into her own robes, thanking him again.

"Now go, quickly, before my Master finds out," Anakin said, leading her towards the balcony. "Take my speeder, leave it just outside the entrance and I'll have someone pick it up later. I may be banned from leaving, but you no longer are. Now hurry!"

Padme nodded, said farewell and climbed into the speeder.

As she pulled away, Anakin gave a little wave, which she returned, and then, when she was out of sight he turned to go back into his appartment -a single tear rolling down his cheek.

"Master Vader, is there anything I might do?" Threepio asked but Anakin shook his head.

"No thank you Threepio. Why don't you go and power down for a while," he replied as he wiped the tear with his sleeve. Threepio bowed and obediently went back down to his recharging station as Anakin went back to his own room and slumped onto the bed in despair.