Love Through the Dark
Chapter 1
She has not been out of her medical bed for over a week, not since Obi Wan and Yoda left with her babies. They were all that was left that Anakin had given her and she had to let them go for their own well-being. They all agreed that Anakin…. Or Vader would sense her and be coming for her soon enough. Anakin was always possessive of her, sometimes to a point where he scared her but she always accepted this being a side effect of everything he went through and lost in his life. There was no doubt in her mind however that Vader, with all the darkness that has taken him will be more intense and her children were safer to never have to be around that. They were to be separated and that was all she knew; she did not want to risk having information that he could take from her in any way.
She would tell him their child died due to the trauma she suffered at his hands; the thought brought the tears back in full force. Never in her wildest nightmares would she think Anakin would ever intentionally harm her, but then as Yoda reminded her many times before they parted, Vader is not Anakin. The look on his face, the accusations of betrayal that came from his mouth. She wondered where he got the notion that her and Obi Wan were anything more then friends. She knew she gave him cause to doubt her with Clovis, but they had worked through that and she thought he learned he could trust her, that she loved only him.
"Senator Amidala, we have word that a clone battalion will be here with in the hour to return you to Coruscant." One of the many Ellayin aides informed her as she was checking Padme's vitals. "The Emperor has requested your release and return himself."
Padme couldn't help but flinch at the mention of Palpatine, the very thought of him send waves of revulsion through her. It was always him, playing everyone like puppets on the string. She spent many hours over the days she had been alone on Polis Massa thinking back, The very first time he manipulated her into helping him have Finis Valorum removed as Chancellor leaving the seat open for him, the whole attack on Naboo was all because of him. The way he convinced Jar Jar to vote him more power in her absence when again he had orchestrated assassination attempts through Nute Gunray. And the final evil, the worse for her, pulling her sweet Ani out of the light and into the darkness he now lived.
As much as she believed there was still good in her husband she did not know how or even if she or anyone could reach it. She wondered if he even cared for her at all anymore, he believed she betrayed him and attacked her maybe bringing her back wasn't to be with him but to have her arrested for her involvement in the delegation of 2000. Many senators removed their names after the final battle of Kashyyyk and anyone who refused have been declared traitors along with the Jedi. At least that is what she understood from the few reports she was able to get over the holo. She wondered if Vader himself would be her executioner.
"We did inform his aides that you were still in need of rest, but we were told you were needed in the coming senate sessions."
The words brought her out of her thoughts as she watched her nurse aide walk out of the room, leaving clothes for her to change into that 3PO had taken from her ship. With a sigh she pushed herself up and out of bed and slowly began to dress. She had no sooner buttoned the last fastener of her dress when four clone troopers entered her room.
"Senator, I'm Commander Bly of the 327th Star Corps. Lord Vader has requested us to be your private security detail, to ensure you and your child's safety on the journey back to Coruscant." He spoke as he removed his helmet so she could see his face.
She looked away holding back fresh tears at the mention of a child, although her children lived, she would never be with them, so she was able to deliver the pain of loosing a baby very convincingly.
"Just me Commander, the ….. child didn't survive from my…. injuries. I lost him." The words came out a whisper and she could instantly see the look of dread on Bly's face.
"I… I am very sorry Ma'am… Lord Vader….. He…"
"I will tell him Commander; you don't have to trouble yourself." Padme said softly as she placed her hand on Blys shoulder reassuringly. She knew that the nerves he was having most likely came from the worry of how Anakin would handle the news.
"Thank you."
With that they turned and led Padme to their ship where Bly showed her to her private quarters. It was a simple room with a bed and private fresher. She noticed a bouquet of Rominara flowers laid neatly on the pillow.
"From Lord Vader." Bly interrupted her thoughts as he noticed her staring at them. "If there is anything else you may need, we will have a trooper stationed outside the whole journey home."
"Am I a prisoner Commander?"
"No Ma'am, you are free to travel anywhere on the ship, however Lord Vader as given strict orders that you are to have armed protection at all times until you have been delivered to him."
She was silent a moment just looking over at Bly acquisitively.
"General Secura… You served under her?"
Bly stared back at her blankly and simply nodded in response.
"I only met her a few times in my many encounters with Jedi, but she always seemed to be one of the best. Do you believe she would have really gone against the Republic?"
"I'm a clone, the empire doesn't care what I believe. I'm loyal to the Empire and I follow my orders."
She could see that the words were empty, and she could read between the lines. She knew that clones would follow their orders weather they were wrong or right, she wouldn't find any allies here. She just smiled weakly and turned her attention back to the flowers laid out for her.
"Ani….. Lord Vader… Did… He say anything else before sending you to get me?"
"Just to keep you safe and to make sure you get the flowers and are comfortable."
"Thank you, Commander, I think I would like to lay down for a while."
Bly nodded and turned leaving her to wallow in her misery alone. She gently let her fingers slide again the soft petals of on of the flowers before collapsing down to the floor and letting herself really cry. She didn't know what any of this meant. It seemed, at least for now, that she wouldn't be arrested for her involvement with the delegation and that Anakin wanted her by his side. Would she be allowed to continue to serve on the senate, would it even matter? How much power would the senate hold in a dictatorship? She had no doubt Palpatine was only keeping the senate around to ensure all the systems stay in line. She assumed any favor she was given would just be a manipulation on Anakin. It wouldn't matter much since Palpatine also knows any Senators that supported her would most likely turn on her when they realized she was married to his guard dog.
How has it come to this, how has her Ani fallen so far so fast. If she were honest the signs had been there since he came back into her life, the moment he lost his mother his true descent began. Was this somehow her fault, for looking past the dark parts of him and only seeing the light? Could she have maybe done something to help pull him back and keep him away from the evils Palpatine pulled him into? Maybe there was a time she could have, but she begged him to run away with her, to just be a family together with their children and he chose power over her. For the first time in their relationship she felt like she took second place in his heart.
"I failed you Ani… I knew you were lost, and I just trusted you would find your way…" She whispered to herself as she took hold of the Japour Snippet hanging from her neck, remembering all the times he begged her to come away with him when he would have leaves from the war. How she would always decline and put her work in the senate over his needs of being loved.
Of the two she had always been the more reserved with their feelings for the other, she had no doubt he believed he loved her more then she could love him. He was so wrong, he was her galaxy, her very heartbeat. Every moment she spent fighting in the senate was to end the war to keep him safe and be able to be with him more. Without the war there would be little need for him to be away from the capital and she could move permanently to her apartment on Coruscant and they could spend almost every night together, until her senate terms were up and then she would go home to Varykino and raise any children they were blessed with.
Those were the dreams of a past the no longer exists and she would have to accept the present and future being laid out before her. Even after Mustafar she still loved Anakin, but he wasn't the same man anymore, could she allow herself to love who he is now? Would he even care or is she just property to him now? These thoughts continued to flood her crowded mind until she unknowingly slipped into a deep sleep still sitting there on the floor. She slept through the entire journey not even waking up when Bly messaged over her commlink that they had arrived. She didn't even wake as the door to her room opened and the intimidating shadow of lord Vader spilled into the room.
"Padme…."
