" You have allowed this dark lord to twist your mind, until now... until now you've become the very thing you swore to destroy."

"Don't lecture me, Obi-Wan! I see through the lies of the Jedi. I do not fear the dark side as you do. I have brought peace, freedom, justice, and security to my new Empire."

"Your new empire?"

"Don't make me kill you."

"Anakin, my allegiance is to the Republic, to democracy!"

"If you're not with me, then you're my enemy."

"Only a Sith deals in absolutes... I will do what I must."

"You will try."

"It was foretold that you would be here. Our long-awaited meeting has come at last."

"I'm glad I gave you something to look forward to."

"We need not be adversaries. The Emperor will show you mercy if you tell me where the remaining Jedi can be found."

"There are no Jedi! You and your Inquisitors have seen to that."

"Perhaps this child will confess what you will not."

"I was beginning to believe I knew who you were behind that mask, but it's impossible.

My master could never be as vile as you."

" Anakin Skywalker was weak. I destroyed him."

"Then I will avenge his death."

"Revenge is not the Jedi way."

"I am no Jedi."

"Search your feelings, Father, you can't do this. I feel the conflict within you. Let go of your hate."

"It is too late for me, Son. The Emperor will show you the true nature of the Force. He is your master now."

"...then my father is truly dead. "

Anakin felt the Force coil around him.

It was simply like it had taken over, like a ship's autopilot.

He didn't know what he was doing, he felt lost in his thoughts.

He was dimly aware he was piloting a landspeeder, and he could see Padmé out of the corner of his eye, as she breathed in and out, heavily and quickly.

She was saying something, directions, most likely.

The voice in his head was louder.

Anakin could hear voices in his head, of past Jedi, some long gone.

Did I make the right decision...? asked Anakin.

The Jedi, or rather, The Force, did not answer him directly.

"Mom, you should've seen it. Leia didn't believe me it 'till she saw it!" a boy, around seven or eight, exclaimed happily.

Padmé smiled at her son, setting a plate down in front of him. "Well, Luke, I think you should eat your lunch before it gets cold. Where's Leia and your Father?"

"Leia's changing in her room, she got dirt on her clothes," Luke replied, his mouth stuffed with food. "I dunno where Dad is." he finished, swallowing a big gulp of Shuura Juice.

Padmé frowned. "I told you two not to play in those clothes. You were going to wear them to Aunt Sola's birthday party tonight."

"I didn't get dirt on mine!"

Padmé sighed. "Well, I'm going to get your father," she handed Luke a napkin. "Tuck this into your shirt. I don't want you getting juice all over your new outfit."

"Napkins are for little kids!" whined Luke.

Padmé gave him a pointed look, and Luke resigned, tucking the napkin into his shirt.

Figuring her husband was on the porch, Padmé decided to look there first.

And that's where she found him. His eyes closed, He was on the floor on a meditation mat.

"Ani? Lunch is on the table."

"Great. Thanks, Angel."

"Meditating again?" Padmé asked.

"...Trying to. I just can't seem to be truly alone in my thoughts. I mean, I'm happy with the four of us, and I'm glad I made the right choice all those years ago. It's just...the twins are always in my head, but they don't realize it." Anakin answered. "It gets a bit distracting sometimes."

Padmé doesn't quite know how to respond, settling for a joke instead. "Well, I'd be happy to trade places with you. I can't help but feel left out sometimes; I don't have the Force."

Anakin smirks. "Trust me...it's not fun hearing them whine whenever they're sent to their rooms."

"Can't you tune them out?"

"I do, sometimes. But usually, I get worried in case something happens."

"Oh, Ani." murmured Padmé, stepping closer.

She hugged him, hearing his heartbeat and just listening. "You know nothing's going to happen to us, right?"

"I know, Angel, I know."

"Ani, I need- I need help getting out of the speeder."

Anakin blinked, warm tears slid down his face. He was crying?

" 'M sorry, Padmé. Here, let me help you."

As Padmé found her footing, she glanced at Anakin.

"Ani, you're...you're crying." she panted in between contractions.

"I...yeah, I know. I'm okay, really." Anakin lied.

Padmé knew that he wasn't, but didn't have the energy to argue.

As they walked in the doors, before they could even get to the droid at the front desk, Padmé began to see dark spots flooding her vision; stopping in her tracks.

She felt lightheaded; faint, nauseous, even. Padmé felt her knees buckle.

And the last thing she heard was Anakin asking her what was wrong.

i kNOW, i KNOW. aNOTHER CLIFFHANGER.

I'm sorry, but since im on corona break ill be updating more soon...

Stay safe with this coronavirus crap, 2020 has been wild yall.