"It's only legal if you sign your official name, sir," the young clerk prompted shyly as he motioned toward the pen.

"The longer you wait, the longer it's going to take for you to accomplish your mission," said Padmé.

Vader wanted to snap the clerk's neck. He had denied the request to sign several times already, and no one was supposed to question his judgment. The only thing stopping him from acting on his rage was what the paper signified.

"You know more than anyone that I can't write my name on this piece of paper, Padmé," Vader said through his teeth. "All official records are processed immediately through the Empire's extensive virtual library with technology that is designed to identify and alert the Emperor whenever something suspicious comes up. He'll know exactly where I am and that's a death sentence for you."

"Then take me with you!" Padmé pleaded. "I know you're concerned for my safety, but if anything happens to you, I want to be by your side."

"Nothing is going to happen to me," Vader responded confidently. "You're going to stay here, and I'm going to kill that kriffing old man and it'll all be over."

"If you want to marry me, just sign the paper!" yelled Padmé. "He knows you're alive so you've already lost the element of surprise."

Vader grumbled, knowing that she was right and not wanting to admit it. He turned his eyes to the clerk and embraced the Force to bend the weak man to his will.

"If I sign this paper, you will not process it until the end of the day," Vader commanded.

"If you sign this paper, I will not process it until the end of the day," the clerk repeated robotically.

Vader leaned over to sign the marriage certificate and grimaced.

"That's your legal name?" Padmé asked.

"Yes, Darth Vader is and has been my legal name since I was fifteen," he answered. "Sidious made sure that there was no official trace of Anakin Skywalker anywhere in the galaxy. You won't even find my missing child posters in the library."

Vader slammed the pen down and passed the paper back to the clerk, who gasped and fell to his knees.

"Lord Vader, my apologies for any sort of delay you have experienced today!" the clerk exclaimed. "I will personally lead you to our officiant and get you anything you require."

"I require nothing except your confidentiality," Vader snapped. "Now get back to your job – we'll find our own way."


Padmé strategically led Vader down corridors and hallways where she knew there would be no Empire troops patrolling. As a former top ranking government official, she had memorized all the back entrances and tunnels she would use to sneak in and out before resigning her post at the beginning of the Empire's reign. Some aspects of the architecture had changed since the attack and fall of the palace of Theed, but many of the city's buildings remained almost untainted by the Empire's corruption.

"I asked Obi-Wan to speak with an old family friend who will meet us at Varykino to perform the ceremony," Padmé explained as she led them back to where Vader had parked the speeder. "It will be less public and risky than using a government officiant."

"Good, I prefer not to utilize anything government-related of any sort," Vader grunted as they boarded and sped off toward Varykino.

Padmé watched him as he navigated the skies. She could tell that he was scared, and despite his scars, he looked like the little boy she once knew. It broke her heart knowing that he would have to depart immediately following their ceremony, especially given her recent physical development…

She had debated internally all day whether or not to tell him. It wasn't just his reaction that she was afraid of – it was the fear of distracting him from his upcoming battle. As much as she didn't want him to go, she knew that purging the universe of the Emperor's corruption was the only way to provide a better future for themselves and their child, who would undoubtedly be incredibly powerful and gifted with the Force.

I am pregnant with Darth Vader's child.

Padmé continued to do the math over and over again in her head for the rest of the ride trying to make sense of the situation or come up with some other explanation. But deep down, she knew the truth and had to accept it for what it was. She just hoped that Vader would accept it too.


"Brother Agolerga, it's good to see you!" Padmé exclaimed as she allowed the man into the lakeside mansion. "Thank you for agreeing to do this for us."

Vader watched the elderly Brother enter the home and was surprised when he immediately approached him instead of lingering as far away as possible, which was the normal reaction to seeing Vader with or without his mask.

"It's lovely to meet you," the man said, outstretching his hand. "I am Brother Maxiron Agolerga."

Vader shook the man's hand and raised an eyebrow. "You do know who I am, correct?"

"Of course I do, my Lord," Maxiron responded. "Master Kenobi filled me in on your situation. Though we may disagree morally and politically, Naboo and its people care deeply for our former queen. Miss Amidala was one of our wisest and strongest leaders, and I trust any decision that she makes."

Padmé smiled and excused herself. Vader told her that she did not need to change her clothing, but she had insisted on wearing something special.

Vader waited for his betrothed on the mansion's luxurious balcony with R2 as the sole witness to the ceremony. It was Padmé's decision to bid farewell to her family as if they were immediately leaving the planet instead of flying a few miles to get married. It would be safer for them to not witness this union.

Vader turned his head to the left and gazed in awe as the angel he was about to marry strode toward him. He gazed at her up and down longingly, admiring every piece of lace on the ivory gown. He suddenly felt self-conscious and wish he had allowed Padmé to stop at one of the shops in town and buy him new garments that fit well.

"I always knew if I got married, it would be here," Padmé explained when she took her place in front of him. "I didn't know who or when, but I had this made years ago and stored upstairs just in case."

"It's beautiful," said Vader, "and so are you."

Padmé blushed and Vader felt himself grow warm. He barely comprehended what the Brother was saying and yearned to be alone with her on that balcony. He would slowly untie each lace on the back of her gown and trace his fingers down her spine. Then he would breathe deeply on the back of her neck as she stripped down to her undergarments…

"And do you, Lord Vader, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do," Vader replied. He felt a sudden wave of energy Light Side of the Force, but in that moment he didn't care. "Absolutely, I do."


"And do you, Padmé Amidala, former Queen of Naboo, take Lord Vader to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

That was certainly a question she never thought she would hear, and this was definitely not the man she pictured marrying in this dress. But this was the man she loved and the only one she desired. She stared into his twinkling blue eyes that lusted for her, and she lusted back. It gave her a sense of pride knowing that before they met and fell in love, those eyes had been yellow for so long. Vader may not think that he had changed at all, but she knew that he was a different man.

"I do," Padmé responded.

His lips crashed into hers and R2 squealed excitedly in the background. She thanked Brother Agolerga as Vader carried her into the house and up the staircase.

"So how do you feel, Mrs. Vader?" he asked.

"That's Mrs. Naberrie Amidala Vader to you," Padmé snapped back with a smirk. "Just because we're married, I'm not abandoning my family and my titles."

She saw Vader roll his eyes as he kicked the bedroom door open. He immediately started untying her dress with surprising speed for someone with a metal hand. She moaned as he breathed gently on the back of her neck and whispered to her.

"We only have a couple hours left together," said Vader. "I will return to you, but before I leave, I want to show you one last time just how much I love you."

"I love you too!" Padmé exclaimed as she gave into her desires and pushed the thought of him leaving to the back of her mind. All that mattered right now was that they were married. He was hers, and she was his entirely.


Surprise! And you thought this story was abandoned…well, good news! I've finally had the motivation to finish the last couple chapters. For the few of you that are still active and following this, I didn't want to leave you without an ending. I will post the remainder of the story shortly. Thank you to all the readers who have been around for the past 3.5 years, and to anyone new that is just discovering this story. Lots of love! ~ Lyanna