Chapter 9: All Alone

Feeling rather triumphant about her parting comment to Vader, Padmé nevertheless felt unending loneliness wash over her being as the door slid shut behind her. Always, Anakin had been there for her- as a slave and padawan, he'd dreamt and longed for her from a distance; as a lover and a husband, he had toiled for three long years to provide a safe galaxy for their offspring and her to live in.

It was then that she realized her protector was gone.

Not wanting to allow anyone the satisfaction of seeing her cry, Padmé blinked away her tears as she stood before the door of her new quarters.

Woeful is the day when a mother realizes that, by giving life, she has condemned her little ones to darkness! Dreams of raising her son and daughter on Naboo had come to naught- they were still a shattered family.

One that was about to become even more broken.

To never be were the basinets and flower-filled nursery- a black chamber devoid of warmth and love awaited her.

Slowly, the cultured woman that Padmé had become over the years broke down inside- before she could stop herself, tears began to roll down her thin cheeks. Resting her head against the metal wall next to the door, she wept for what should have been and what would never be. Her shoulders shook as she desperately needed to feel the comfort of Anakin's arms about her, and it only became worse as she realized that Vader would only laugh at her if she were to rush back to him.

"Mommy?" a shy little voice asked.

Gasping, Padmé quickly looked down to see a specter of an angel standing at her feet. Dressed in an oversized white shirt with a scrap of cloth clutched in her fist was Leia.

"Are you alright?" she asked, her chubby little fists grabbing a hold of Padmé's hand.

"You ought to be in bed," Padmé said slowly though she was not in the slightest upset. When the little girl scowled, she gave her a weak smile and bent down to kiss her forehead.

"Did that mean man make you cry again?" Leia asked angrily, sending a childish glare over at the door across the hall.

Not wanting to answer any more painful questions, Padmé scooped the little girl up into her arms and went inside the quarters.

Standing there and obviously confused about what to do with himself was Jixton. Due to his massive and intimidating presence, he made a rather sharp contrast to his more friendly looking companions.

"She insisted that she would not go to sleep until you returned," he grinned, plopping himself down into a nearby chair. In protest to his weight, the chair creaked. "Even if that meant staying up all night." Reclining back in the chair and propping his leg up on one knee, he studied her. "I have been demoted from intelligence to nursemaid."

"I am sorry," Padmé said hastily as she tucked Leia into bed.

The man shrugged. "I personally think it's a bad idea but he was rather insistent upon the idea…"

"He can be rather bossy."

"Yes," Jixton said with a short laugh. "Among other things…"

"Are you any good with children?" Padmé asked over her shoulder. "With the way he keeps asking for me, I will be lucky if I get to take care of her."

Leia cried out in protest but was soothed by another kiss.

"Ah… well, let's just say my areas of expertise do not include care giving," he said wryly, actually making Padmé smile.

"Are you any good at psychiatry?" Padmé laughed, humored even more as Leia wrinkled her nose in confusion. "Because, by time I am done with him, I am going to need it."

"No," Jixton laughed, rather pleased with himself for having cheered her up, "he is the result of one of my many… attempts."

"I see. Perhaps you should refrain from it then."

Seeing that Leia was nodding off to sleep, Padmé became quiet as she just sat there brushing the little girl's soft curls with her trembling fingers.

Her child.

Their's.

Vader's.

When at last Leia's dark eyelashes stopped fluttering against her chubby cheeks and her breathing slowed down to a even pace, Padmé looked at her companion but found that he was still looking at her with a confused look on his face.
"What?" she asked suspiciously for, although he seemed quite friendly compared to Vader and the other's on board, Padmé never once forgot who he answered to.

"Are you really his wife?" he asked bluntly.

Eyes looking down to the bed, she slowly nodded. "I once was."

"Once?"

"He has become different from the man I married."

"I see," he said, obviously contemplating it over. Finally, he shrugged. "I was just wondering if it was Uncle D being full of hot air again- you know, finding an innocent woman and child on the streets and claiming that he does have a life."

When she sadly bit her lip and looked away, he momentarily seemed ashamed of his hasty comment.

"Well…" he said uneasily, "I just thought that, maybe, he brought you here to make sort of a demonstration…"

Seeing that he was unsure of whether to say anymore, Padmé politely nodded for him to continue.

"We all just thought it was rather odd that, considering his all-powerfulness, that he didn't have any ladies in his life."

"Basically to inflate his ego."

"That's him alright. Shifty and always planning."
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