"This is where you live?", Padmé asked, growing queasy. The fortress was huge, towering over a lake of lava. She did her best to ignore all the hated memories that boiled up here. The ship lowered slowly, engaging to land.
"No. I don't live anywhere. Most time I used to spent on the first flagship though." Padmé frowned. "And this is where Ahsoka and Obi Wan are?", she asked. Anakin nodded. "They won't be found here.", he explained. Padmé nodded.
"Does the Emperor know of your restored limbs?" Anakin shook his head. "He still thinks I am a cyborg. That's why I kept the mask up to this point." Padmé frowned.
"I'm afraid I don't understand. You're so much stronger fully human, isn't that all he cares about?" Anakin shrugged. "He told me it was impossible to heal me. If he knew that I know that he lied to me, everything would get a lot more complicated."
Padmé sighed. "Why do you keep pretending to be his henchman, Anakin? Just leave him behind." Anakin frowned. "What?" Padmé looked up to him, surprised. "Did you never even consider it? You could just leave."
Anakin sighed. "I was depending on him until only recently. I haven't yet thought about my new freedom. We'll figure things out, Padmé. But carefully, the Emperor is dangerous." Padmé's mouth twitched.
She knew Anakin to be reckless and impulsive. She wondered how Sidious had managed to change that. Finally, the ship docked onto the huge landing platform. Nuha and Thral showed up once again.
"This is where you brought us?", Thral asked hotly. Anakin nodded slowly. "I offered to drop you off anywhere else and you declined." Thral crossed his arms in front of his chest. Padmé didn't know if she liked him.
He was only on guard, protecting Nuha. But yet it was exhausting. Padmé gave Nuha a reassuring smile. "We'll be safe here.", she said quietly. Nuha had stopped shaking ever since Anakin had hidden his signature of her.
But it was obvious that she was uncomfortable in his presence anyway. The ramp deployed slowly, revealing a view on the landscapes of mustafar. Padmé reached for Anakin's hand, squeezing it.
"We'll be off this bloody planet as soon as possible, I promise.", he murmured. Padmé held onto the fact that Anakin's memories were just as unpleasant as hers. She had feared he would think of what happened two years ago differently.
She had expected him to think of it as the days of his enlightenment, not his downfall. She was relieved to know that that wasn't the case. She kept clamping to his hand while they walked towards the huge gate.
Everything would be fine. Anakin was alive and he wasn't the one she had seen on mustafar. He was the Anakin she loved, her husband. At least mostly. He had returned after two years of constant torment.
Soon he would have defeated Vader within him, and the Emperor would lose his henchman along with his power. Finally democracy would return, everything would be put back in place. Finally Padmé had real hope.
Nuha and Thral stayed close behind them. Padmé knew how scared both of them were, but it didn't matter. She knew that Anakin wouldn't hurt Nuha. He hadn't even killed Obi Wan, and he would have had personal reasons.
They reached the doors to the fortress after crossing a long bridge that Padmé would have liked to have some railing. Obi Wan's face appeared behind. He came forward and hugged Padmé tightly. "I'm glad you're okay.", he said.
"You are master Kenobi, aren't you?", Nuha asked from behind. Obi Wan's glance fell onto her. "Yes, I am.", he answered. "You two must be the friends of Padmé.", he added. Both nodded.
He gave them a reassuring smile, apparently knowing what they were fearing. He twirled around entering the fortress once again. Padmé followed him, his attitude making her even more optimistic. What she saw inside, was too much.
She exhaled in shock and gripped Anakin's hand tighter. "Mommy!", Leia called and began waddling towards her. "Daddy!", she added before both of the twins had reached their parents.
Padmé fell onto her knees enclosing both of her children in her arms while her tears began rolling. Anakin put a hand on her back gently, while the twins were greeting him with equal enthusiasm.
Padmé couldn't help but laugh while her face was hot and red from crying. "I thought I would never see them again.", she whispered. "I thought the Emperor was doing horrible things to them." Anakin shook his head with a slight smile.
"He isn't as smart as he thinks he is. Don't worry Padmé they were with us the whole time. Nothing happened to them." Padmé stared at both her children and her husband, left speechless.
They were a family, like Anakin and she had imagined when she was pregnant. Her heart was opening at the sight of Anakin laughing and smiling as the kids were practically jumping onto him. They were so happy to see him.
Padmé was spotting Ahsoka who was standing a few meters away, equally grinning while watching Anakin. "Ahsoka!", Padmé greeted her as the two friend fell into a deep embrace.
"It's good to see you again, senator. It's awful what happened to you." Padmé shrugged. "It is over now." Both of them returned to grinning at Anakin for a moment. "You have amazing children.", Ahsoka smiled.
"I know.", Padmé answered. "They are in fact Anakin's.", she added with a smirk. "It shows.", Ahsoka said. Padmé shook her head in disbelief.
"It is like everything that has been eating away on me for the past two years, simply disappeared within a day."
It took a while until the twins were finally asleep. They had been so excited about their mother's return that they kept crawling out of their beds to be caressed by her once again. Nuha and Thral had been taken to a room by Ahsoka.
She would stay with them for now, so she could explain them everything about the situation. They didn't understand anything that was happening, only that they were in Vader's fortress, but weren't supposed to freak out about it.
Nuha seemed to be a lot more reasonable than Thral. He kept trying to protect her which merely resulted in ridiculing himself. Nuha was scared, but in a healthy manor. Obi Wan had withdrawn into a secluded wing.
He had said that he would watch orbital travel and make sure that no one would come close to the fortress. Padmé yawned. "This was a tiring day.", she mumbled, and went for the room they would sleep in.
Vader had asked her if she wanted to sleep separated from him but she had only shaken her head as if it was a ridiculous thing to ask. "I want you to stay right by me.", she had said. Vader had been overwhelmed.
Vader followed her slowly. "I had no idea that the kids were here.", Padmé said when they were inside. "I thought they would be in the Emperor's palace or something." Vader frowned. "How were they taken from you?"
Padmé played with her fingers nervously. "Stormtroopers came, took them violently and left me behind. How did they end up with you?"
"The Emperor never even saw them, Padmé. He had them brought to me, thinking I was broken enough to...you know. I didn't know of their existence until I saw them. I was looking for you ever since." Padmé smiled.
"I am so relieved. I thought he would do to them what he has done to you two years ago. I couldn't have endured that." The words left Vader numb. "I'm sorry." Padmé's smile returned. "I know you are. And it's wonderful."
Vader looked down. "I still don't understand why you would ever forgive me." Padmé chuckled a little. "I already have. Now can you forgive yourself?" The question hit Vader unexpectedly.
He realized that he had been asking himself the same unconsciously, but hadn't come to a conclusion. "I don't think so. I've done so much...", he said quietly. Padmé came towards him slowly.
"Please stop torturing yourself, Anakin. It's how all of this started. You felt responsible for what happened to your mother, it made you go crazy." Vader raised his brow.
"Well, this time I am responsible. It was me personally, who killed the younglings and jedi. It's different. And what happened to my mother was not the reason for my turn to the dark side." Padmé sighed.
"You mean the dreams you had about me?" Vader nodded. "In the chancellor's office, I had to choose between Mace Windu and Palpatine. Both of them screamed at me, urging me to choose them."
Padmé frowned. "So what did they tell you?" Vader sat down on the bed. "Mace Windu told me that Palpatine was too dangerous to survive and that I should help him to execute him." Padmé sat down next to him and took his hand in hers.
"And Palpatine told you to give in to the dark side?" Vader shook his head. "He said helping him was the only way to save you." Padmé squeezed his hand.
"Now I know, that it wasn't true, but I thought I had to choose between your life and death, not myself being jedi or sith. It seemed to be an obvious choice. I didn't care what your life would cost me." Padmé sighed.
"I didn't die in childbirth. I was very close to death, they said it was because of emotional reasons.", Padmé remained silent for a few moments.
"When I was brought to Polis Massa, they said my state was critical. The trauma would have costed me my unborn children, so they initiated birth artificially. It... wasn't pleasant. I lost consciousness for a few days."
She looked deep into Vader's eyes. "They said it was a miracle that I ever woke up. You see, people faint when they see awful things, because the mind can't stand staying awake. It was the same principle." Vader opened his mouth.
"Padmé, I..." She interrupted him. "I couldn't stand living with you gone. I thought you were dead, it broke me." "I can relate.", Vader whispered. "I felt so guilty and ashamed. I hate myself for what happened."
Padmé's frown deepened as she reached out for his face. She framed it with her hands gently. "Don't talk like this. Stand by what you have done. Stand by that it was wrong. But also remember that it is over now."
Ahsoka guided Thral and Nuha through the stretched hallways. "I admit, the fortress isn't very cozy, but it is safe.", she began to break through the icy silence. "Are you a jedi?", Nuha asked. Ahsoka shrugged with a smile.
"Not officially. I was Anakin Skywalker's padawan for three years, then... well... not anymore." Nuha nodded her eyes filled with interest and a little concern. "Because he turned?" Ahsoka shook her head.
"It's a long story. It ends up with me hiding like everyone else who has ever set foot in the temple. Thral sighed dramatically. "I don't understand any of you. You were hiding from Darth Vader, his fortress doesn't seem like the best hiding spot."
Ahsoka forced a smile. "Well, I was hiding on Geonosis, but he found me and came to kill me." Thral snorted. "That explains why you are here now." Ahsoka nodded. "In fact it does. When he saw me, he decided to spare me."
The finally reached the end of the hallway. "This is you. I'll be sleeping right over there if you need anything.", Ahsoka explained. Thral walked past her wordlessly, to open the door she had showed them.
"Thank you.", he added and looked at Nuha, waiting for her to join him. "Could you give us a few minutes?", Nuha asked him softly. "Er, sure. Take your time.", he replied before disappearing in the room. "You were his padawan?", Nuha began.
Ahsoka nodded. "I was fourteen when assigned to him. We spent three years fighting in the clone wars together. He taught me a lot. I thought he died two years ago. But suddenly he showed up to assassinate me." Nuha's face darkened.
"That must've been awful for you." Ahsoka shrugged. "Actually that day was the best since a long time. He decided to spare me, despite the Emperor's orders. I knew Anakin was still in there. I can still feel it now. I wanted to help him."
Nuha nodded. "So that's why you came with him.", she said. "Yes. It was a bit different with Obi Wan. He sneaked onto the executor and got caught by stormtroopers." Nuha raised a brow. "Really? He is a master."
Ahsoka chuckled. "You didn't hear this from me. It really chewed at his dignity. So, when he was caught, Anakin told the Emperor that he killed him just like he killed me. The old fool was naive enough to believe it."
"Isn't it to soon to call him Anakin again?", Nuha asked. Ahsoka shrugged. "Perhaps. He kept repeating that I shouldn't call him master anymore and I'm doing it anyway. I'm not the best person to ask, concerning etiquette."
Ahsoka grinned at Nuha. "I never met my master. I was on the way to him, I just became padawan, when I fled from the order. I didn't want to fight in the war, I was just a little terrified girl. Am I a coward?"
"You were a padawan?!", Ahsoka called out in surprise. She put a hand on Nuha's shoulder. "I don't know. But leaving the order might have saved your life. So, it wasn't such a bad choice." "I'm scared, Ahsoka.", Nuha said. Ahsoka frowned.
"Of Anakin?" "Well of course, but that's not what I mean. I'm scared for Padmé's sake. What if this isn't her husband. I know how much he meant to her. She talked about him every night, in her sleep. If he will turn on her again it will break her."
Ahsoka nodded. "I know it would. But don't worry. He won't." "How can you be so sure? He did it before, and he isn't exactly reformed yet. When he freed us, he choked the head slaver and killed him in a very ugly way." Ahsoka frowned.
"Only one of them?", she asked curiously. Nuha nodded. "He told the others to run. Twice." Ahsoka snorted in disbelief. "I can't imagine he would spare their lives. After all, they were involved in his wife's enslavement." Nuha frowned.
"The way that nautolan died, didn't look very benevolent to me." Ahsoka raised her brows. "Remember, this is Darth Vader's wrath we're talking about. He only took a single life. For him, that's impressive." Nuha sighed. "I guess.", she said quietly.
"Nuha, I can promise you, whatever might happen, Anakin will not turn on Padmé. He thought he harmed her two years ago, it's what the Emperor had told him. The way he talked about it... I can't even imagine such love."
Ahsoka gave Nuha a reassuring smile. "He learned from his mistakes, Nuha." The mirialan sighed. "I hope you're right. I know that Padmé loves him very, very much. I would hate to see something as beautiful as that hurt her."
Ahsoka smiled. "I don't know what will happen. But I know that Anakin is worshipping Padmé. Two years, in which he thought he killed her, made him realize quite a few things. You can rely on that." Nuha smiled back.
"I will. Thank you, Ahsoka. I don't trust him, but I do trust you. You know him better than me." Ahsoka grinned at her. "I'm glad to make you a bit more comfortable. Don't worry too much just yet, alright?" Nuha nodded and glanced to the door.
"I'll better go to bed. Thral's probably wondering what is taking so long." Ahsoka gave Nuha a hug, without words before turning to her own room. She felt like the two of them could be good friends. "Good night.", Nuha said.
"Good night to you too.", Ahsoka replied. She liked Nuha. It was obvious why she was scared of Anakin, and her thoughts on Padmé were those of a loyal friend. Ahsoka entered her own room. She felt like they already were friends.