Chapter 15
Vader opened his eyes to the sun shining through the open terrace doors, the fresh floral scented air of the Naboo lake country was home to him. Next to him his beautiful wife slept peacefully her body pressed against him. a smile sigh of contentment came from her. Memories of a night of nonstop loving making brought a smile to his face as he wrapped his arms around her waist noticing all his scars were gone. He sat up quickly and ran to Padme's vanity to see the face of Anakin Skywalker looking back.
"Are you ok Ani?" He heard his wife's worried voice come from behind.
"I… ah I mean yeah, I'm … Must of …." Before he could even get a coherent sentence out the sounds of giggling and soft little footsteps could be heard coming down the hall.
"The Twins are awake, better put some pants on lover boy before they get to the door." Padme laughed loudly, it was the first time she seemed so at ease and careless since their wedding night.
It was the sound of his infant daughter crying that woke Vader from his dream, the realization that he was dreaming was more devastating then he cared to admit to himself. That was the life we could have had if I only had run away with her when she begged, he thought to himself.
"She must be hungry, I'm sorry we woke you." Padme whispered as she cradled Leia in her arms. "I'll take her on the terrace to feed her so you can get back to sleep."
"No… Please stay, I want to watch." There was a trace of panic in his voice that didn't go unnoticed by her.
"Ok…. Hold her for me when I go make her bottle?" Padme asked as she was already placing Leia in his strong arms. "Make sure you support her head Ani."
His first time actually holding one of his children and he felt terrified. Him the strongest and most dangerous Sith, the newly crowned Emperor of the entire galaxy and holding his little daughter was terrifying to him. He would have laughed if he wasn't afraid it would disturb her as she laid in his arms. Padme was only gone a few moments, but it felt like hours before he saw her returning with the bottle.
"Do you want to feed her?" She asked coming to sit beside him.
"No. I don't want to mess it up. Can I just watch you this time?"
She giggled softly able to see his discomfort. "Ok, I'll show you. I used to watch my nieces all the time before I was elected Queen."
Vader silently sat and just watched his wife and baby, as much as it made him happy, he felt equal amounts of despair, thoughts of his dream returning. "I'm sorry."
She looked over at him and smiled softly. "It's ok, I was scared my first few times. You will get comfortable with it over time.
"Not that… If, If I could do it again. I would have picked our family. I wouldn't have let Anakin die, never would have hurt you…"
"It's not too late Anakin…"
"Anakin is dead, and this is our future. We can't run away from this."
She just turned her attention back to feeding her baby. There was no point in having the same conversation for the hundredth time, she was just to tired for it. "Very well Milord."
"Hey… Don't do that." He said wrapping his arm around her pulling her closer to him. "I'm sorry, I'm not trying to upset you. Just, I need you to just stand by me now."
She just let herself take comfort in him. She decided to just pretend that they were just normal new parent's enjoying a first together. "She can really put it away, like her daddy." She giggled. "Already done with her breakfast."
Vader smiled the pride evident. "I love you Padme, thank you for giving me a family. I promise I will find our son and make us complete. Nothing will ever hurt any of you ever again."
"Even you?" She thought to herself but didn't dare speak aloud.
Back on Naboo
Bly laid there with Belme asleep in his arms. Never had he imagined anyone would care for him as she does. He was just a clone after all, dispensable property with no purpose left. Lord Vader was the only imperial who had yet to replace clones with natural born soldiers and after almost being killed by him Bly wasn't sure where he stood as far as his service to Padme. How would he be able to marry and support his wife and family if he were let go? What kind of life could he provide for her?
Belme came from a wealthier family and she served Padme not out of necessity but out of respect and loyalty. However, he felt as the man he needed to earn money and not have her fund their life together. He wondered to himself if she had really thought about what being with a clone meant. He aged twice the rate she did, she would still be at her prime while he became and old man. He knew she wouldn't be able to bare his children; adoption would be an option, but would she even consider it knowing he wouldn't be around to even see the child finish their education?
His train of thought was interrupted as Dr. Anella entering his room. "I figured you must have woken up when I hadn't received any more calls from your friend there."
"She's a worrier…" He chuckled lightly but stopped himself as the pain was still intense."
"I've put in an order to have a bacta tank delivered here on Lady Vader's approval. She is allowing me to convert this room into a full medical wing. Now that you pulled throw a few hours in there should have you good as new. "
Bly was surprised that Padme would make such elaborate changes to her home, costly ones at that. Then again, he knew he probably shouldn't be, Padme was a truly kind person, though she probably did it more for Belme he was grateful.
"So, you two are mates or just lovers?" Anella asked as she busied herself checking Bly's vitals.
"Well she told me she is in love with me…. and I would lay my life down for her, so I am hoping that means I found my life mate."
"Well from what I'm seeing here you are about fifteen now so given how clones age you are 30 years old. Have you thought about undoing the gene that causes you to age so quickly? She is a young one after all."
"I… I didn't think that was possible."
"Its not widely known, I had been experimenting on ways to do it almost the entirety of the war, I think I figured it out but haven't had many test subjects. If Lord Vader approves and you are willing perhaps, we could give it a try."
Belme began to stir bring Bly's attention to her, he pulled the blanket up over her and once she felt its warmth she stilled again never coming out of her slumber. "If it means having more time to be a lover, and hopefully husband to her I am definitely interested. I don't have much money and I don't want Lady Vader to spend anymore on me then she already has. I want to earn my money now be a charity."
"Well, like I said this is very experimental and could end badly, I would except the data I would get from performing the procedure on you as all the payment I would require."
"You tell me when we do it and I will be there."
Meanwhile across the galaxy deep into the unknow regions
It had been to soon; his apprentice betrayal this early had gone against everything he had foreseen. He thought even if Amidala survived, she would refuse him and go on the run causing the anger and hate in Vader to build. Instead she came to him and against her morals had been standing by his side. He had underestimated her, underestimated the real power love held. This caused him to have to push his plan forward more aggressively and he know saw that was not the correct path.
The cloning for the purposes he needed had not been perfected and mere moments after he successfully transferred his life essence at the break of death, his new body had already begun to show signs of decay. It was far to soon and he needed to be patient and continue the work until finally the perfect clone would be produced. When that time came, Vader's empire would be at and end and he would write the last chapter in the story of Skywalker.
