A/N: Yet another new story. This one wont be all that long. It came to me in a dream and will be my first pure romance fic...

Charlie.

Padmè awoke the next morning as dawn was breaking. From her bed she could see the lush rain forest and took note of the different wild life that had emerged within the foliage. Birds like she hadn't seen before, all colorful, flew around and rested on branches. Reptiles could also be seed from the window. It truly was beautiful and relaxing. She really couldn't think of a better place to hide. Rising from bed, she shrugged on a robe and slipped her feet into a pair of slippers before leaving the room, following down the hall, trough the house, wondering if anyone else was awake. When she reached the dining room, she noticed the servants setting the table and placing the well prepared breakfast on the table. She took note that the table was only set for three.

Looking up at one of the servants, she asked, "Is Lord Vader not joining us?"

"Lord Vader departed hours ago, Milady," one of the servants informed her.

A part of Padmè was disappointed, a surprisingly large part. He didn't bother saying goodbye let alone inform her that he was leaving. "I see," she said, taking a seat at the table.

"Lord Vader has asked that you make yourself comfortable, Milady, and belays a message that he would return in two weeks time," one of the servants informed her.

Padmè nodded slightly to let her know she had heard her. "He said as much," she acknowledged.

When the servants had finished setting the table, they each bowed before taking their leave, only one remaining to serve through the meal. The girl looked to be around the age of sixteen or seventeen and she had a kind but timid demeanor. "Caf, Milady?" she asked.

Padmè smiled at the girl. "Yes, thank you," she answered. She regarded the girl as she poured the caf into a cup. "What is your name?" she asked.

"My name, Milady?" the girl asked.

"Yes, I would like to know what to call you," Padmè told her.

"It's Adriana, Milady," the girl told her.

"It's a very nice name, may ask it's origin?" Padmè asked.

"Here, Milady. I grew up in a village a hectare south of here," Adriana informed her.

"How long have you worked here?" Padmè asked.

"A year, Milady," she didn't seem too used to anyone showing much interest in her and seemed a little surprised and uncomfortable.

Padmè was about say more when Dormè appeared, closely followed by Aidia who each took their seats at the table. "Did you each have a good nights rest?" she asked.

"It was very restive, Milady," Dormè answered.

Aidia looked a little lost. "I can't sleep without Blinky," she said sadly.

"Blinky?" Padmè asked.

Aidia nodded. "My mommy said that someone special sent him to me after I was born. She told me that he was magical," she said. "He's blue and has an eye missing," she described.

"I'm sure that he'll show up," Padmè assured her, planning to request that Vader have someone retrieve the toy, but unfortunately it would have to wait for two weeks.

*~*~*

Dormè assisted her mistress in unpacking her things. Neither has said a word about the situation, not sure what to say at this point. She looked over at her mistress, knowing her well enough to know that she was preoccupied. "Is everything alright, Milady?" she asked.

"I have to wonder what kind of man would risk going against the emperor to maintain my life without much of an explanation as to why. Brings me her, isn't social, and then doesn't have the decency to inform me that he is leaving," Padmè told her.

"Surely you don't expect anything different? Surely you know what he is," Dormè asked.

Padmè didn't say anything at first, carefully choosing her words. "I'm not so sure," she admitted. "I have so many questions, Dormè, I'm not even sure what to say or think," she confessed.

"You mustn't forget the atrocities he had committed. He committed genocide against the Jedi without a seconds thought, without any remorses. The poor younglings in the Jedi Temple were slaughtered by him! He has spent the past three years terrorizing the people, enforcing this horrible dictatorship, the body count by his hand is just too great. He cannot be trusted," Dormè reminded her.

"I can't help but remember that kind, selfless, and talented little boy that I knew all those years ago. I'm confused, Dormè. I know it may be silly, but what if he's still there?" Padmè told her.

"Milady, I fear that you are not thinking straight, and it worries me," Dormè told her.

"It worries me too," Padmè admitted.

*~*~*

Padmè decided to explore the Villa after she had finished unpacking but her mind kept thinking of that little boy she knew from Tatooine. Even as she passed ornate halls with vivid detail in the villa with Moroccan architecture and ornate art with ornate windows showing the lush rain forest and all it's beauty.

"Are you an angel?"

"What?"

"An angel. I've heard the deep space pilots talk about them. They live on the Moons of Iego I think. They are the most beautiful creatures in the universe. They are good and kind, and so pretty they make even the most hardened spice pirate cry."

"I've never heard of angels."

"You must be one...maybe you just don't know it."

"You're a funny little boy. How do you know so much?"

Padmè couldn't stop the memories from surfacing as she made her way through the house, and out a door. She remembered well the little boy, of how he was. It was inconceivable in her mind how he could have grown up into the man known as Darth Vader to the galaxy. How did this happen? Why was he the way he is? What could have possibly happened to him that would turn him into what he is now? Surely slavery alone didn't do it for even as a slave he was a sweet selfless boy incapable of such cruelty and death.

"Are you all right?"

"It's very cold."

"You're from a warm planet, Ani. Too warm for my taste. Space is cold."

"You seem sad."

"The Queen is...worried. Her people are suffering...dying. She must convince the Senate to intervene, or...I'm not sure what will happen."

"I'm...I'm not sure what's going to happen to me. I dunno if I'll ever see you again.. ... I made this for you. Sou you'd remember me. I carved it out of a japor snippet... It will bring you good fortune."

"It's beautiful, but I don't need this to remember you. Many things will change when we reach the capital, Ani. My caring for you will always remain."

"I care for you too."

Padmè's hand went to her neck unconsciously to where the japor snippet hung. Her mind was unwilling to wrap around this puzzle as she made her way along a path in the foliage. Eventually the path lead to a covered structure, somewhat unlike the villa itself as though it were an addition with a small attempt to make it match the villa but more of a purpose other than the villa. Opening the door, she found a lit garage with a a few speeders and swoop bikes in it, all designed for speed. Padmè was comforted by that fact, for the fact that at least something didn't change.

"I'm a pilot you know and someday I'm going to fly away from this place."

"You're a pilot?"

"All my life."

Padmè walked around the garage and spotted a partially put together droid on a work bench, parts and tools surrounding it.

"I'm building a droid. You wanna see? Come on! Let me show you Threepio! ... Isn't he great?! He's not finished yet."

"He's wonderful!"

Padmè ran her hand over the partially put together droid as the memories kept coming. Tears formed in her eyes as she remembered that selfless boy and what he had turned into. A small noise started her out of her thoughts and she turned sharply towards an opposite corner. Not seeing anything right away, Padmè went to inspect it, assuring herself that it was just an animal. Coming around a parked speeder, Padmè saw a pile of droid parts on the floor and another partially pieced together droid on the floor as though they had all fallen from the work bench against the wall. Then there was movement within the pile before Aidia made herself known, giggling happily as she picked a few parts up and examining them.

"What are you doing in here?" Padmè asked, kneeling down. "You really shouldn't play in here," she told her.

"Not playing," Aidia told her. "Fixing him," she insisted, indicating the partially pieced together droid and putting a part in the proper place with a tool that she found.

Padmè smiled somewhat. "I'm sure you are," she said and watched as Aidia put more parts on the droid, working at it with the tools that were too big for her small hands. "How do you know you're doing it right?" she asked.

Aidia looked at her, her blue eyes somewhat familiar. "I just do," she said as though she thought the question was stupid and that Padmè was supposed to know the answer.

"I really don't think that you should be in here anyway," Padmè told her. "These droids and tools aren't yours, their owner might be upset that you're in here," she told her, carefully taking the parts and tools from the child's hands and picked her up. She carried her out of the garage with little protest, wondering how Vader really would react if he had found the child in there, hoping that he wouldn't be too volatile.

*~*~*

Padmè found the security hut quite easily, following yet another path. She sought out the head of the Villa's security. Dormè followed her, carrying Aidia in her arms, least the child get into any trouble on her own. As soon as they entered the security hut which included not only a command center but barracks for the security officers in charge of the Villa's security. One man in particular came forward once they entered.

"May I help you?" the man, a rather tall and dark haired man with a beard, asked.

"Are you the head of security here?" Padmè asked.

"I am, my name is Captain Dracorn," the man answered.

Padmè nodded. "Where is the nearest town?" she asked.

"A hectare south from here, Milady," Captain Dracorn answered.

"I would like a speeder readied, I am going into town," Padmè commanded.

"I cannot do that, Milady," Captain Dracorn told her.

"Why ever not?" Padmè demanded.

"It goes against Lord Vader's orders, Milady," Captain Dracorn told her.

"Lord Vader has asked me to collect the essential needs for the child, I cannot do so without going into town," Padmè told him.

"Lord Vader gave me strict orders to not let you leave the Villa, Milady, I will not disobey my mandate," Captain Dracorn told her.

Padmè sighed. She knew better than to put this man's life in danger for disobeying an order. "Very well, you will take my handmaiden to collect the items," she conceded.

"That I can do," Captain Dracorn told her and signaled to them men. "Ready a speeder," he ordered.

Dormè turned to her mistress. "I will try to be quick about it, Milady," she told her.

Padmè handed her a list. "Here, find all that you can on this list," she then handed over a credit disc. "This is the account that was set up for the task. Be safe," she told her.

"I will, Milady," Dormè replied handing Aidia over.

"The speeder is ready, Ma'am," one of the officers said, walking up to them.

Without another word, Dormè followed him to the awaiting speeders where she will be escorted to town.

*~*~*

It was very late when Vader returned to Gallinore and he was sure that everyone would be sleeping by now. He silently entered the villa, making his way through it in the dark, carefully concealing the blue stuffed bantha that he had retrieved from Ingrid's apartment among other things that he was sure that Aidia would be needing. Silently he stopped at a particular door before opening it slowly and silently, hesitating momentarily, seeing the child fitfully sleeping in the middle of the large bed. Ignoring how the sight softened him somewhat, he made his way over, carefully placing the toy on the bed next to her, making sure not to wake her before leaving the room, stuffing down whatever feeling that he was having before going straight to his own room in order to get some rest.

*~*~*

When Padmè arrived in the dining room the next morning, she was surprised to see Vader sitting at the table, already eating, Adriana silently serving him without being acknowledged. Padmè took a seat opposite of Vader. "When did you arrive?" she asked as Adriana poured her a cup of caf. "Thank you, Adriana," she said, looking at the girl briefly.

By now Adriana was used to being acknowledged by her and merely replied with, "Your welcome, Milady."

"I arrived last night," Vader told her after taking a sip of caf.

"You left without saying a word," Padmè pointed out.

"Is that a problem?" Vader asked, not looking at her.

"It would be common courtesy to inform a guest of your departure beforehand," Padmè told him. Vader said nothing in response making Padmè frown, but before she could say anything else, Aidia ran excitedly into the room clutching an old and well worn looking stuffed blue bantha to her, her face radiant.

"Padmè, look! Blinkys here!" she said, running up to Padmè to display the beloved toy. "See! He has a missing eye and he's blue just like I told you!"

Padmè smiled. "He's wonderful," she told the child.

"He's magical just like my mommy said he is," Aidia told her.

Padmè glanced in Vader's direction, having no doubt that he had a hand in bringing the toy here, how he knew of it's importance to the child escaped her, but the fact that he had retrieved it without being asked to was very telling.

Vader didn't say anything at this point, painstakingly trying to ignore the goings on around him, trying to ignore the child's excitement and joy at seeing that particular toy. He effectively maintained his detached demeanor, knowing better than to allow himself to feel anything, but it was increasingly hard to do being in the same room with either of them.

"I wonder how he managed to arrive," Padmè mused to the child as Aidia climbed up on a chair between her and Vader.

Vader didn't know how, but he was sure that the question was aimed at him, but he said nothing, choosing instead to eat what was on his plate.

"My mommy sent him," Aidia told Padmè. "She knew I missed him and sent him."

"Then he must be magical," Padmè said to the child as she began eating and Adriana began serving the child. She looked over at Vader when she spoke next. "And how long will you remain here this time?" she asked.

"I am not sure," Vader answered.

"I see," Padmè replied as Dormè made her entrance.

Aidia looked up at the new arrival. "Dormè look! Blinky came!" she exclaimed happily, brandishing the toy.

Dormè looked at the toy and then at her mistress in askance before noting Vader sitting down in the room. "That must be a blessing indeed, now you must sleep better I am sure," she said at last, taking a seat beside her mistress.

"See, Dormè! He's missing an eye and he's blue!" Aidia said, continuing to brandish the toy.

"Put the toy down and eat!" Vader commanded, having enough talk about the toy.

Aidia looked crestfallen at the tone of voice he used, and put the toy down immediately, putting her attention on her plate.

Padmè narrowed her eyes at Vader. "That was rather harsh," she said disdainfully. "She has been quite despondent without...Blinky, she is merely happy to have him once again," she told him.

Vader didn't say anything, having seen the tears forming in Aidia's eyes and it put a crack in his armor. Without another word, he stood up and left the dining room.

Dormè waited until he was gone before speaking up. "Good riddance," she muttered, not having liked his treatment of the child.

Padmè gave her attention to the child. "Blinky is wonderful, Aidia, it is a blessing for you to have him again," she assured the child who lifted her head to look at her. Padmè reached over to wipe the tears from her eyes. "There there, don't mind him," she said softly. Without another word they each finished their meal.