Chapter 23

Bly was the first one up every morning, its been this was since the day they fled Naboo and landed on Tatooine. Sleep didn't come easy for the former Commander, nightmares of the war or of Emperor Vader finding them tormented him. He would spend his days in constant paranoia only finding peace in the moments he was making love to his Belme. Her body was his sanctuary and he was grateful to have her. He felt pity for Rex who suffered the same in silence with nothing to give his mind moments of relief.

"Its not time to get up." Belme moaned unhappily feeling Bly pulling away from her arms to get up.

"The sun is rising… Got to get stuff done before it gets to damn hot." Bly kissed her softly smiling.

"Leia hasn't even busted in here yet to wake us; you must be mistaken Commander."

Bly laughed pulling Belme back into his arms." She will be any minute, just you wait."

His slow kiss was indeed interrupted moments later as the sounds of little footsteps could be heard racing down the way and the sounds of the usual morning bickering.

"3..2..1" Bly whispered sarcastically as the door opened and in rushed both twins.

"Uncle Bly…. What are you doing still in bed?" Leia asked quizzically as she climbed in and sat at the foot of the bed.

"Must be getting old… Getting hard to wake up on time." Bly winked and patted Leia on her head before turning to Luke. "You want come out and help your old uncle work on the evaporator?"

Luke nodded excitedly. "Can I hold your tools for you?"

"You think you can, they are pretty heavy."

"I can, I swear I can. I'm strong like daddy was, right aunt Belme?" Luke asked joining his sister on the bed.

Belme smiled weakly with a sigh," You also look just like him." Memories of Vader always made her feel uneasy. Everyday Luke began to look more and more like him.

"What about me?" Leia pouted.

"You my dear are the exact image of your mother at your age." Belme answered feeling more uncomfortable always fearing talking to much of Padme with the twins may one day realize the Empress is their mother.

"Uncle Ben said mommy was a queen and the most beautiful woman in the galaxy," Luke said, "No way She looked like Leia."

Leia stuck her tongue out at her brother and lunged at him. As the twins began to wrestle Bly jumped out of bed and headed into the fresher leaving Belme to break it up.

By the time he was showered and dressed for the day Belme had already gone to prepare breakfast with Leia leaving Luke waiting.

"Uncle Bly…. Is our Mommy dead like out Daddy?"

"I… uh… what makes you asked that?"

"Ben told us our daddy was killed by the Emperor… but he never really tells us about Mommy… cept that she was very brave and so beautiful daddy instantly loved her."

Bly was quiet a moment trying to figure out the best way to go about this question. "I was once head of your mother's security and she was indeed very beautiful and brave. I didn't have much time to get to know her, but I know she loved you and your sister more than anything."

"She loved daddy too…. Right?"

Back on Coruscant

Padme sat at the windowsill looking out into the horizon, as always, her thoughts were of her children. She always wondered what they were doing.

"Leave us." Vader boomed as he entered the room, dismissing the clones that had been standing on guard. Once alone he removed his robes and came to stand behind her, close enough she could feel the heat of his body but not actually touching her. "Does the view please you?"

"Its beautiful…. You almost forget how busy Coruscant is from here."

"You're beautiful… I have thought about you every night … Fantasized about you coming to my bed…."

"Have you really gone all this time without anything all these years?" Padme knew how high Anakin's sex drive had always been extreme.

"We have talked about this so many times, all those times you began getting insecure during the war that I might have side lovers being away so long. Sex is NOTHING if it isn't with you. I can go the rest of my life without it what I can't live without is being permitted to worship your body and to have the pleasures it holds for me." He spoke softly as he began undoing her dress slowly. "I need to hear you say yes… I won't take you by force Padme…. I want you willing."

Padme slowly turned to face him; her eyes glossed over with the same desire he drew from her since the reconnected before the war.

"Tell me yes." Vader leaned down his lips so close to touching hers.

"No."

Vader took a step back and looked at her confusion written all over his face.

"Or more like not right now…. You can't be absent from the events on Empire Day."

He growled with annoyance and slumped down on the sofa looking over at her with a pout on his face that she had to bite her lip to keep from giggling.

"If I am the Emperor, I should be able to do as I please."

"Great power breeds great responsibility…. You said you wanted me to help you…"

"Right now, the help I want from you isn't political …." He let out another exacerbated growl running his hands through his hair. "I haven't touched my wife in almost five years…. And you still withhold from me."

Padme put her hand over her mouth trying to hide her smile from him. This moment bringing her back to all the times he would sneak into her office in the senate and try to have his way with her only for her to have to refuse him due to some meeting.

"See! You are torturing me and liking it!"

"An… Milord… I am just reminded of a happy memory…. I promise you that when the day is done, I will fulfill all my obligations as your wife…."

"You will give me anything I want? No objections?"

Padme sighed and nodded softly; her smile still plastered onto her face.

"Say it. Say out loud that you consent to me taking you the moment this night it over."

"I consent…."

Back on Tatooine

Ahsoka sits at the grave of Shmi Skywalker thinking of what could have been. What is Sabe had been able to fulfill Padme's plan to free Shmi and bring her to Naboo? Maybe the darkness would have been held more at bay and Anakin would still be…. Anakin.

"Out here again?" Belme spoke softly as she came to sit beside her.

"With the younglings this is the only place one can get some peace." Ahsoka joked smiling over at Belme.

"True… so much energy…. I see so much of Padme in Leia… except for that temper."

Ahsoka laughed softly. "She gets that from Anakin…. Luke was blessed with Padme's calmer nature for sure." Ahsoka sighed sadly. "They should be here with us…. Raising their children and…. Fighting the evil not becoming it.

"I can't imagine how Padme has suffered. Vader never brings her out to any of his public appearances, I fear she may be …."

"She is alive…. He has become a monster, but he would never… He wouldn't kill her."

Belme looked over at Ahsoka and just nodded, she wished she could be as confident in Vader having any humanity left as Ahsoka seemed to be.

"Obi Wan and I have finally come to an agreement. We are going to begin teaching the twins in the ways of the force, how to control their abilities. He wants to have them fully trained as Jedi but with all the hunters roaming the galaxy, I don't think that's smart. We will wait until they are old enough to decide for themselves if they wish to complete the training."

"Wouldn't having more Jedi be a smarted decision?"

"Maybe… I just don't want to risk…"

"They have their mothers' strength and her will, they won't choose the path their father did." Belme stated matter of factly before rising back to her feet and heading back inside leaving Ahsoka once again to her thoughts.

Authors Note: So sorry for delays in an update I started this chapter seven different times before taking the parts I liked from all seven and compiling. I am hoping to get back to every other day updates soon. Please continue to comment the encouragement and seeing people are enjoying the story really help motivate me.