Chapter 4

"Be grateful Padme… You were on a list of traitors many of whom were put to death or very least now sit in a cell. It was my favor with the emperor that has saved you."

She could not quite put a finger on how she felt at this moment, maybe because she was feeling everything. She was hurt from the loss of all she worked for since she was thirteen years old. Angry that it was the man she loved more then anything in the galaxy that took it from her and handed it to that tyrant who dare calls himself an emperor. Frustrated that she was powerless to stop it. Even if she could get in contact with people still loyal to the delegation, she had just been cut off from all her political resources.

"Maybe dead is better…I've truly lost…. everything." She spoke aloud although she was talking to herself mostly, not expecting him to care.

He looked at her, but she couldn't read him with that mask on, she assumed he was annoyed or even angry. These seemed to be the only emotions he shared when he was with her, with the exception of the small comfort he gave to her while they slept the night before.

"Don't you ever say that!" She thought she detected panic in his voice. "You still have me." The intensity of the base in his voice through the mask gave her goosebumps every time. She longed for the husky sound of her Ani.

"Do I? I don't know who you are anymore. You have turned on everyone you ever loved, led attacks against them. You and your master have taken everything and seemingly I am only allowed to live to be a concubine to his top servant."

"There was a time you welcomed me into your bed. Have I become that repulsive to you that the thought of having to please me disgust you?!" She heard pain in his voice, as if she wounded him worse than the burns, he suffered on Mustafar.

"Ana…There was a time you wanted me close for more than just physical gratification, Have you fallen so out of love with me that all I am to you is a common whore, or do you just love the power more and have no time to be an actual husband to me? You told me everything would be set right with this choice and everything is so wrong!" She was doing her best to keep her voice low trying not to draw any more attention then they already were.

"I need this power so you would be here to love! I gave up all I knew to keep you safe just to find out you turned on me like the rest of them! Perhaps Obi Wan just kept your bed a lot warmer than I could!" By now everyone in the Senate had begun to watch them causing her to blush even brighter as she tried to control her own anger.

"You are the only man that's ever been invited into my bed….. I told you on our wedding night that I was giving myself to you and only you until I draw my last breath. Those vows meant something to me. If you can't trust me Anakin then why are we doing this, why don't you just let me go?"

Her grabbed her by her jaw and pushed her down an empty corridor, she could hear the angry growl vibrate through him. The memories and fear she felt on Mustafar when he had turned on her returned and she began to shake.

"I am going to tell you this for the last time wife, so listen to me carefully. Anakin Skywalker is dead; he was weak and was incapable of protecting what was his. You are mine and will always be mine. I will let you go over my dead body."

"Anakin was not weak; he was the strongest most loving man I have ever known. You have made it very clear to me you are not him; he would never touch me like this or speak to me this way. He would never make a slave of me."

He held onto her a moment longer just staring down at her, when what she was saying registered to him, he pulled his hands away and stepped back from her. She kept her eyes fixated into the dark orbs of his mask where his were looking back at her. He could feel the fear and despair radiating off her through the Force and it made him sick.

"Commander Bly is with your handmaiden in your office. He will pack up your belongings and bring you home. I will ask him to stay with you until I return." She could hear shame in his voice even through the mask.

"As you wish Milord… Any other commands for me?"

"One…. Please do not fear me…. My love." He reached out and cupped her warm cheek in his gloved hand before turning and leaving her.

She managed to hold it together until he was out of site before letting out the breath she had been holding. She knew he was hurting, and she hated herself for wanting to comfort him. He may believe Anakin was gone but she knew he was in there and after everything she loved him and wanted to save him from himself. Once she was able to stop herself from shaking, she slowly made her way back out into the main hall and down to what used to be her office. She kept her head held high trying to not show how completely lost and mortified she was in this moment.

Bly and Belme were standing at the door when she approached, the young handmaiden wrapped her arms tightly around her and hugged her tight.

"Mistress are you alright… I saw how he grabbed you, are you hurt."

"I'm fine… I promise. I just want to get out of here…"

"Everything is packed up ma'am, Ill get everything loaded now. I can have a couple of my men take you and Belme home, so you don't have to wait."

"I would appreciate that very much Commander, thank you." Her voice was frail and shaky and she hated it. She had never been this type of woman before and she didn't want this to be her life.

As promised within five minutes Bly had two of his brothers, Bam Bam and Dile, there to take her home. The were respectful and kept their distance seeing she was obviously upset. The clones didn't tend to care for many of the Republic Senators during the war. Most didn't even treat them like they were even real men, but every clone did know of Senator Amidala and had the highest respect for her. From her fighting along side them and the Jedi in the battle of Geonosis, the countless time she fought for them to have rights in the senate, to her never being anything but kind and respectful to every clone she encountered.

"Please let us know if you need anything, we will be right outside the door." Bam Bam said as the two women entered the apartment. He and Dile decided they would stay guard outside to give Padme some space.

"Mistress, may I ask you a question?" Belme asked as soon as she was sure they were alone.

"Of course, if Dorme hadn't told you before she left, I always prefer open and honest communication with my handmaidens. You are all family to me."

"When I came to find you, I over heard your argument with Lord Vader….. I've heard you taking about Anakin Skywalker and …. It is no secret to us in your inner circle that you had a love affair with General Skywalker… Did Vader kill him? Is that why you a trapped in this marriage to him?"

Padme looked away out to the terrace and let out a soft sigh.

"Anakin wasn't just a love affair; he was my whole heart and soul. My motivation to fight so hard to help end the Clone War conflict was to have him safe and to have more time to be together. He… He is alive but I don't know how to get to him, so all I will say is that my relationship with Vader is just a means to save my love."

Belme smiled softly at her an place her hand reassuringly on Padme's shoulder.

"If ever you need my help I am here for you, You have done so much for the people you served, you probably have no idea how much you have done. You literally saved me from a life of never feeling like I could truly be. I want to help you regain your happiness."

Padme smiled back and embraced Belme in a loving hug. She knew she was lucky to still have people loyal to her in her life. With Captain Typho and Dorme removed from her residence due to expected involvement with a possible rebellion she would think anyone placed to be with her wouldn't take the same risks.

"Speaking of love… Was your alone time with the Commander put to good use? Where you able to get to know him more?" Padme teased with a soft giggle.

"He…. He is so manly….. I don't think I have ever been more attracted to someone in my life. I've been around other clones and never really felt anything but with Bly its…. He is different. I like having him to talk with, I like seeing someone so brave get shy and clumsy, but if he knew my secret…. I think he would run the other way."

"You don't know that for sure… You can't let fear rule you and steal a chance for happiness. You are beautiful, inside and out. He would be a fool to not jump at the chance to have you."

Belme smiled brightly looking down at her hands resting in her lap. "Back on Naboo, everyone knew and I never had any boy openly flirt with me like Bly does. Is it selfish that I just don't want to have to give that up yet?"

"I don't thin its selfish…. But I will tell you from experience, secrets can destroy everything. Just be careful, okay?"

Belme nodded slowly taking in what Padme was telling her. She could hear the pain behind the advice and appreciated her so much for caring. "I'll talk to him, but maybe after my final procedure." She was terrified but knew that Padme's advice was right. "Are you hungry milady? I can…

She stopped midsentence upon seeing a dark figure emerge from the balcony. Padme quickly turned to see him, even without the mask she knew Lord Vader just by his stature. He had his dark hood pulled down so only his chin was visible to them. The scars that lined the left side of his face were the first evidence that the rumors of him burning had been true. Her heart ached thinking of how much pain he must have suffered that night, but he caused his far share as well.

"So many interesting secrets learned today ladies." He said darkly as he prowled like a predator about to make a kill.

"Belme, I would like it if you had Dile run you back to the senate and oversee Bly and the droids with completing the moving of my things."

"Are you sure Milady?" Belme kept her eyes glued to Vader, whose temperament was oozing hostility.

"I'll be fine here." Padme looked over to Belme and gave her a small head nod to leave. Once she was safely out the door she turned her attention back to her husband. His final words to her earlier about not fearing him gave her a sense of confidence. "I didn't expect you so soon, I assumed you were off enforcing the emperor's will."

"I went off to find a bed that would welcome me, since milady has made it clear she wishes me to stay far from hers." His lips curved into a cruel smile and she couldn't help but feel a ping of jealousy and even hurt.

"Perhaps the owner of that bed would also like to free me of the title of Lady Vader. It's not like I took it by choice." She decided to fight his fire with her own and seeing the cocky smirk quickly fade from him gave her a small sense of satisfaction.

"You are MINE! Don't forget that wife! You will not be taken from me."

"I Belong to Anakin Skywalker, if you are not him then I am not yours, milord."

He moved so quickly, closing the distance between them without her even realizing it. He was so close she could feel the heat radiating off him, he always was hot like the Tatooine Suns.

"Don't ever say that again." His voice came out calm but she could here the threat behind his works.

"How can you ask me not to fear you but then act like this? Do you even have control over yourself or has the darkness taken it from you?" She could see a wave of calm was over him, her words pulling him into realizing what he was doing,

"I am being sent away for a few days, I wanted to see you before I left." He reached out slowly cupping her cheek in his still human hand, relieved when she didn't pull away. In fact she pressed her face more into his touch and closed her eyes, the way she used to when he would come home to her after so long, before they would make love for hours to celebrate their reunion. "I missed you."

She opened her eyes and looked up at him, even at this distance she couldn't see his full face and it frustrated her. She hated that he feared that any imperfection in his appearance would bother her, that he thought her to be so vain.

"I want to see you…. I want to see your eyes Ani." She reached her and up slowly, his body tensing when she began to push his hood back but he made no attempt to stop her. The scaring was severe, covering every inch of the whole side of his face. She went to stroke his cheek but hesitated. "Does it hurt…. Still?"

He relaxed slightly, not sensing disgust from her like he expected. "Not as much…" He took her hand in his and pressed it against his face slowly.

"Did…. You really take another lover?" She felt ashamed of herself for asking him but as much as he reminded her she belonged to him he was supposed to belong to her. It was bad enough she had to share him with the evil that was Palpatine.

"My bed will remain cold and empty until you decide to take mercy on me and warm it." He leaned in and kissed her forehead gently. She looked at him again her eyes darkening from a growing desire for him. She pushed up on her tip toes and claimed his mouth is a kiss. It started soft and sweet, but he soon pulled her closer to him and deepened it. Letting his tongue explore her mouth, getting reacquainted after so many weeks. "I have to go, but I will come to you the moment I return." He whispered against her swollen lips before pulling his hood back over his face and running off, leaving her breathless and more confused then ever.

(Question from writer….. Are you all liking the side story of a Bly/OC romance and would you be interested in more of them then the small tidbits in the chapters? The story will always be Anidala focused but Bly is my favorite clone and Belme is based on me lol.