Synopsis: Vader confronts Padme about her identity. They have a heated argument which ends in reconciliation. Padme realizes that Anakin is ready to turn back to the light, and agrees to reunite with Luke and Leia if he helps overthrow Sidious and restore democracy to the galaxy. The two make their way to Tatooine, where Anakin's old master and child await him.

Vader could barely breathe. The agony in his pulverized shoulder felt so insignificant to everything else that he nearly forgot about it. All he could feel as he ran back to the ship was the overwhelming emotion of the fact his master had lied to him, his wife was alive, and she was sleeping soundly in his ship. Despite the pain Vader quickly hurried back. I need to see her, he thought frantically. Nothing else mattered- just her.

Padme was still sleeping when he returned. It was barely light outside. Vader entered the ship, the hiss of the door stirring Padme from her slumber. She lazily rolled awake to see the Sith Lord standing at the entrance of the ship. Even through his mask she could feel his eyes boring into her. Why is he up? she thought groggily.

"You'll tear your stitches again if-"

"You lied to me," he rasped quietly, barely above a whisper. His voice had not a tint of anger for such accusatory words. He sounded like a broken child ready to cry. His shoulders slumped tiredly. The weight of his grief was at precipice, and Vader eagerly wished she would push it off the edge. I want her to say it. Who she really is. From her own mouth.

"Lied about what?" Padme asked the deep voice of Sabe.

"Don't."

"I don't know what you're talking about," she snapped irritably. Vader flinched. Something's wrong, Padme thought suddenly. An inkling of dread dripped into her mind. The Sith Lord stood across from her, sighing deeply. His voice was shaking, as were his broad shoulders. Is he crying? she wondered.

"Padme… don't," Vader murmured painfully. Chills ran down Padme's spine. He knows, she thought.

"N-no, you're mistaken," she stuttered shakily.

"You called me 'Ani' in your sleep, Padme! The body in that tomb doesn't match Padme's DNA, but yours does. Stop lying to me! Just say it, please" he begged. Even though he already knew that the woman before him was indeed Padme, something in him needed her to say it herself, to put an end to the nightmare he'd endured of living without her.

Padme opened her mouth to speak, to deny it, to say something, but she couldn't. The Sith Lord's eyes burned into her- she didn't need to see his face to know what expression adorned it. Her silence said everything; there was no point in denying it any longer. Padme didn't know how he knew, but he knew. Tears pooled in her eyes and trickled down her face to the floor.

"I'm sorry, Ani," she whispered in her own voice. Vader deflated, all the hate and anger ebbing away. He felt happiness unlike anything he'd felt since before the end of the Clone Wars and the fall of the Jedi. All he wanted was to embrace her again, but something stopped him. Vader wanted to know why- he had to make sense why she hid it from him, even after finding out that he was Anakin.

"Why did you lie to me?" he questioned pleadingly. Padme felt herself trembling with anger at his questions.

"You're blaming me? Why did you tell me you were dead?" she cried angrily at him.

"Because Anakin Skywalker was dead, Padme. I killed that part of myself when I thought you were gone, I had to. I killed him to save you," he choked.

"Was or is dead, Anakin? Is the man behind that mask my husband? Or just one of Sidious's pawns?" she snapped heartbrokenly. Vader paused, not knowing how to respond. He didn't know who he was anymore, or what he would do with the Empire now that Padme and the children were alive.

"I have always been your husband first. Everything I have done for Sidious I did to save you and you alone. Nothing else mattered to me- not the Jedi, not the Republic, not the younglings, not Sidious, not the Empire, none of it. I only wanted to save you, Padme."

"I didn't need saving, Anakin!" she sobbed. "Sidious put that into your head! I was never going to die, Ani. Why can't you see that? Why can't you see that he's been manipulating you from the start? Why do you still choose to serve him? Why?!"

"Why didn't you tell me who you were? Even after you knew who I was? Why won't you tell me where our children are?" he asked, his voice slightly angry as he tried to mask the pain she had inflicted. She knew it was me. She knew our children were alive. She knew where they were and still refused to tell me any of it. Why?

"Will you turn back to the light?" she countered.

"Anakin Skywalker as he was is dead, Padme. I can't turn back… But together we can raise our children the way we were going to, in the galaxy we want to make. Don't you see that? I am still your husband," he rasped. Padme let out an anguished cry of pain and frustration. She dug her fingers into her hair as though she'd rip it all out.

"I would never, ever tell you where Luke and Leia are as long as you serve that monster. I had a husband. He was a Jedi, the best of all of them. He was kind, and just, and protected the people he loved. He protected democracy. He protected innocent people. My children are Anakin Skywalker's business, not yours. Darth Vader is not my husband," she snapped. Vader flinched.

"I am your husband," he growled. Padme flung herself at him. She let the small share of repressed anger come to the forefront. She smacked his mask hard against her fist, not that Vader felt any of it anyway. He stood stoically as she beat her fists against him, letting all the anger she had out on him. She needed to get the pent up rage out of her or she'd explode. I deserve it, he thought.

"You're not! My husband would never serve the Empire! My husband wouldn't have left me while I was pregnant to destroy the Republic! My husband died, and now I'm stuck with this awful Sith Lord who keeps pretending to be him," she screamed as she hit him. Her hands began to bruise and bloody.

"Stop, Padme… your hands,," he choked, grabbing her fists as she struggled to unleash her rage at him.

"I don't care about my stupid hands! Let me go!" she screamed. Eventually she tired and let herself go limp in his arms, defeated. He hated seeing her like this. They stopped and stared at each other for several tense seconds, Padme panting and bowing her head as she sobbed.

"Do you hate me? After everything I've done?" Vader whispered tentatively. A part of him didn't want to hear the answer, but he had to know. Padme shook her head angrily and tried futilely to wring herself from his grasp.

"No, Ani… I love you. I hate that my husband could be alive again, but you still refuse to turn. Am I not enough for you? Are Luke and Leia not enough for you to turn? You said it yourself if I was alive you wouldn't turn back to the light. " she cried. Tears stung Vader's masked face. He gently let go of her wrists.

"Padme, I didn't mean it like that."

"Oh yeah? How did you mean it then?" she muttered heartbrokenly.

"Padme, I mean I can't. The Empire, Sidious, they mean nothing to me compared to you and the twins- I would give everything to go back and right the wrongs I've committed, to bring back everyone I've killed… I would do anything to turn back now that you're alive, but I can't. I murdered younglings, Padme! I murdered the Jedi! I can't go back now, don't you understand? I can't be forgiven for the things I've done. Force, I want to, but I just can't" he cried. Vader crumpled into the bed, his hands buried in his face as his shoulders heaved with heavy sobs. Vader knew he'd made a mistake by believing in Sidious, he just didn't want to admit it. He knew what he did was reprehensible. He hated Sidious for manipulating him. Most of all he hated himself. I'm evil, he thought angrily. Padme wrapped her arms around him tightly.

"You can, Ani… Please, come back to the light. Nothing is unforgivable," she pleaded softly.

"I can't, you're wrong…"

"You can. Please."

"How, Padme? Tell me… I'd do anything to take it back. You don't know how much suffering I've caused... " he sobbed, wrapping his fingers through her hair as he embraced her tightly. He was like a broken child in her arms, all his hate and anger soothed by her love. Even after everything she forgives me, even if no one else will, he thought bitterly. I don't deserve her.

"You caused it, but you can also end it, Ani. You're the only one who can. If you turn back to the light, we can defeat Sidious. It's not too late to stop more suffering. You can't bring back those that are lost, but you can restore balance in the Force and peace in the galaxy. You're the only one who can defeat him," she murmured.

"I can't," he rasped. Images of Mace Windu falling, slaughtered children, and Padme's unconscious body flashed before his mind. He shook his head violently as if to shake those memories away, but they only tortured him more. His palms sweat and he felt like he couldn't breathe.

"You can, Ani. You can bring an end to this. The Republic can be restored, as can the Jedi. We can be together again, we can be with Luke and Leia… You can make it right. Don't you want that?" she asked painfully. Please, please Ani, she begged to herself. Suddenly Vader let out a violent sob, his arms wrapping tightly around Padme. He buried his head into the crook of her neck, relinquishing the hate inside him. Obi-Wan was right, I am lost, he thought miserably.

"I am so sorry, Padme… For everything. I was so wrong… I hate Sidious, I hate what he did to me, and I hate myself for buying into everything! I'll do anything, anything to make it right…. Please, Padme, forgive me. Please tell me what I need to do to make it right again, I'll do anything, anything, I just want to be with you, that's all I've ever wanted," he sobbed. Padme gently stroked his backside and placed a kiss on the cheek of his mask.

"I forgive you, Ani. No more hatred. Please turn back to the light," she pleaded. Vader nodded violently.

"I will, Padme, I promise you. I'm so sorry… I love you so, so much," he choked.

"It's alright, Ani. I knew you would turn. I love you too," Padme whispered through her tears. Happiness filled her. She held him for a long time as he cried until there were no more tears left for him to cry. His body trembled and he felt exhausted. Padme kissed the mouthpiece of his mask. She missed his touch, his eyes, everything about him. I need him, she thought.

"I want to kiss you again," she murmured. Padme gently tried to lift his mask when Vader quickly snatched it back down. Padme flinched, her brows furrowing in hurt and confusion.

"Padme, I'm… not the same. You wouldn't recognize me anymore. I don't want to frighten you," he breathed sadly. Anakin worried what she would think of the ruined remains of his face.

"I don't care, Anakin. You don't frighten me. I love you."

"I can't."

"There's nothing that could make me stop loving you. Please…" she begged. Padme needed to feel his lips against hers. She needed to look into the eyes she had missed so much, to run her hands along his skin. She wanted to hear his voice instead of that robotic rasp. Vader eyed her warily as Padme tentatively brought her hands to his mask and began to slide it off. It made a hissing noise followed by Anakin's ragged breathing. His skin was gray and horribly scarred, his hair was gone, his lips were disfigured, and his nose was a melted ruin. None of it mattered. Their eyes met for the first time in months, for the first time since the rise and fall of Darth Vader. The sickly yellow eyes of the Sith were gone. All that remained were the pained, familiar blue eyes of her husband. They were sad, tormented, and filled with tears- they had seen disgusting things- but they were his.

"I'm sorry I look this way," he rasped shamefully. Padme shook her head and smiled.

"Mine isn't much better," she chuckled lightheartedly. Anakin eyed her; even with her purple-green bruised face and her eyes nearly swollen shut, she still looked beautiful to him. She would always look beautiful to him, and Padme felt the same. There's nothing that could make me stop loving you, they both echoed. Anakin's lips crashed down onto Padme, his arms holding her small body against his. Their hands reached over each other's skin desperately touching every inch of each other as their tongues reached every inch of each other's soul.

"I missed you so much," she breathed as Anakin kissed her along her neck. He pulled away, his tear-stained eyes reaching hers pleadingly.

"I missed you more than life itself, Padme. Y-you don't know how much I missed you," he sniffled, kissing her deeply. Padme moaned softly against his mouth. Still, he was tentative, like any moment he'd wake up from this dream and she'd be gone again. His hands were shaking. Padme gently stroked her hand over his, their fingers intertwining.

"Touch me, Ani. I want you to," Padme murmured as she started sliding off his cloak. Anakin kissed her roughly. The couple frantically tore away at each other's clothes, panting hard in between their passionate kisses. Anakin laid her across the small bed, the pain in his shoulder minute in comparison to the pain of yearning for her. He entered her with a moan of relief.

"I love you, Ani," Padme panted as he thrust into her. Their tongues danced wildly, his fingers running through her hair as he made love to her.

"Padme…" Anakin panted, feeling himself getting close to the edge. Her name on his tongue was like honey. He said her name over and over, each time reveling in everything that made her her: her smell, her sounds, her body, her touch, her voice, her love- everything about her was pure ecstasy to him. Padme felt it herself, surrendering every last bit of herself to the edge they both were about to fall over. They moaned into each other, stars clouding their vision, their bodies becoming one again, husband and wife reunited. They laid like that in each other's arms for hours, Padme dozing off in exhaustion under the Naboo sunrise.

xxx

Anakin watched her in awe as she slept, the way a jeweler might look at a rare diamond. To him, she was much more than that. Her naked chest rose and fell gently against him. He lazily twirled her curls in his hands, enjoying every second of her. Eventually she stirred awake. When her eyes met his, both their mouths broke into uncontrollable smiles. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt happiness like this.

"Good morning," she chuckled as she smiled toothily up at him. My husband's back, she thought happily. Anakin matched her smile, stroking her cheek gently. He couldn't believe she was alive, right in front of him with her arms wrapped around him. Every time he touches her, Anakin thought she'd vanish again into thin air. He waited for the moment he'd wake up in the dingy Mustafar base, but that moment never came. She truly was here.

"I've dreamt of you every night since I thought I lost you… Every night I saw your face, and every morning I woke up without you by my side. It was a hell I never want to endure again. I never want you anywhere besides by my side. I never want to leave this ship, Padme," he murmured. Padme smiled and kissed him gently on the ruins of his lips.

"We can't stay here, Ani," she murmured. Anakin's smile faltered, but he knew what she was saying was true. If Sidious had sent any assassins after them, they could arrive at any moment- not that they stood any chance against him anyways, but Anakin didn't want to risk it. He knew the Empire's real target was Padme, and that made his blood boil.

"What now?" he asked softly.

"Obi-Wan survived, Ani," she whispered. Anakin felt his stomach turn, but deep down he was relieved.

"I… don't think that's a good idea, Padme," he said nervously. Anakin shuddered at the thought of seeing his master again, after everything he'd done, after their battle on Mustafar… The shame of it all was too great, and he wondered if he could bear to look into Obi-Wan's eyes ever again. I'm sorry, master.

"He would have connections to anyone still fighting for the Republic. More importantly, he's the one watching over Luke," Padme said. This caught Anakin's attention immediately.

"What happened to Leia?" he asked in a panic. Padme stroked his cheek reassuringly.

"With General Organa. Obi-Wan thought it would be safest for all of us to split up after they were born," she said sadly. Anakin sensed the pain in her. "I haven't seen them since right after I gave birth to them… I never thought I'd see either of them again as long as Sidious was in power, and as long as you served him."

"Sidious is dead to me. If I knew what he was planning, I never would have joined him… I should have been there for you when you gave birth, I shouldn't have turned on Obi-Wan, I shouldn't have followed him so blindly… I feel so stupid!" he cried angrily. Padme hugged him tightly and wiped the tears from his eyes.

"Ani, it will get better. I promise."

"I can't look Obi-Wan in the eyes… He was right about me, the Jedi council was right about me. I hate myself, Padme."

"Obi-Wan will always love you, Ani. I'll always love you. He will forgive you, I know it in his heart he will- but you have to ask for it. You know it as well as I do that you need to reconcile with him what's happened."

"I've done terrible things-"

"Yes, you have- but you will ask for Obi-Wan's forgiveness and do everything in your power to restore the Republic and the Jedi. You will defeat Sidious and bring balance back to the galaxy, and then you and I will raise our children together. If you've turned back to the light, then it is your duty to me, to Luke, to Leia, to Obi-Wan, to everyone to atone for what you've done. You will make this right," she said passionately. The conviction in her forced his doubts into submission. She was right, or at least, he hoped she was right.

"I will do everything to make this right," Anakin promised. Padme smiled and kissed him.

"Then let's go," she murmured. Anakin felt a sinking feeling at the thought of seeing Obi-Wan again, but more than that he wanted to be forgiven. He wanted to go anywhere except to Obi-Wan, but he didn't know where else to go. Deep down he knew it was what must come next after turning. Another part of him was beyond thrilled at the prospect of seeing his son for the first time, and hopefully his daughter in the near future. Most of all, he wanted to go back to the life he once had, or some semblance of it. They readied the ship within the hour.

"Where to?" Anakin asked.

"Tatooine," Padme replied. A chill ran down his spine. Back home, Anakin thought ominously. The ship blasted off into space, every parsec filling Anakin with more dread and more anticipation than the last. His son and his former master unknowingly awaited him.