Author's Note: As promised, this is in Padmé's POV and a lot of character development for Padmé and between Padmé and Vader/Ani happen here. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Fifty Shades of Vader: Ch. 4

Padmé Vader

Five hours later and I'm naked and sweaty and satisfied beyond belief. Ani crawls up next to me, also naked, and pulls me back against him, my back to his front-

His very hard front.

He just spent the last half hour with his face between my thighs and I'm sure Commander Keller, the Noghri and the droids heard us- heard me, moaning, screaming and wailing in ecstasy. Ani's making me feel things I can't even begin to describe.

Who knew that sex could be this great?

Though I think it's also because of how we feel about one another too. Its not just physical between us, its emotional.

Its love.

Ani burrows his face into my hair and wraps his arms around my belly to pull me further back against him. His hard cock rubs against my ass and I shiver. He seems like he's content enough and maybe even ready to get some rest...not sleep, because he doesn't sleep, at least according to him.

But I'm not. I had a good sleep last night, the best sleep I could remember having in a long, long time. Maybe ever. I never felt more safe and secure and loved than I did last night in his strong arms...like right now. And I want to make him feel as good as he made- is making me feel.

I shake out of his hold and he slowly releases me. I turn around and I don't know if he'll let me do this, but I'll try. I press my hand to his chest and push him onto his back, he gives me a questioning look, and I answer it by crawling down the bed and sliding between his long hairy legs.

"Angel," he begins to sits up but I silence him with a kiss on the lips and press a hand back to his chest and urge him back down.

He lies back down under my urging and I slide back down his muscular body and give him a wicked grin before I fist one of my hands around his already extremely hard cock. "Let me make you feel, how you made me feel." I explain and then I'm lying down on my belly between his legs and fisting my hand up and down his throbbing length as I begin to lick and explore his cock.

He may like being in charge but I'm going to take the reins for the moment...and for as long as he'll let me.

I lick the underside of his cock, starting from the base to the tip, tasting the sweaty masculine scent of him and the salty musky taste of pre-cum that I lick from the tip of his crown. He fists the sheets on either side of him and I keep at it. Licking all around his cock from base to tip and tip to base and everywhere in between.

I keep my eyes on him the whole time, too, and I can see why he likes to be the one in charge, the one to dominate. It's empowering and to know that I have this man, the second most powerful man in the whole entire galaxy, writhing and shaking and grunting under me as I lick and fist his cock...I never felt anything like it.

His whole cock is coated in my saliva and my hand fisting him barely covers a third of his cock. It's big, hot and hard in my hand. His balls are pulled up tight and I get an idea...I lick my way from the tip of his cock and slowly lick my way down, swirling my tongue around the sides and peppering his cock with soft exploratory kisses until I reach the base...and then I suck half of his sac into my warm mouth.

His hips jump off the bed in surprise and he curses in that same familiar foreign language that's been bothering me since last night. I'm enjoying myself too much down here though to ask him what language it is. I'll have to try and remember when I'm done.

His sac is heavy and full in my mouth, it's also hairy and I swirl my tongue around his sensitive flesh and gently bite down. He curses and his eyes change into that dark yellowish red. I smile inwardly, knowing I'm doing a good job down here if I'm getting this kind of reaction out of him. I also wonder how much longer I'll have down here before he loses control completely and tries to take it back. I know I'll let him without a fight and I'll enjoy every second of it, too.

I release his sac and suck the other half into my mouth and give it the same loving attention. His reaction doesn't change. I move back to his cock and fist my hand around his length and squeeze it as hard as he demonstrated last night. He growls and I can feel his whole body shaking, all around me.

This only makes me bolder and more confident in what I'm doing and I bring my mouth to his crown and suck him into my mouth. Last night taught me two things: one, he's too big to fit all the way into my mouth and down my throat; two, when he's in my mouth and I try to deepthroat him, I'm supposed to breathe through my nose.

I keep this in mind and put them into practice. I suck as much of him as I can into my mouth and down my throat and work on taking more of him with every new attempt. I gag a few times on my gag reflex and breathe through my nose, I learn to work past my gag reflex and suck nearly seven or so inches of him down my throat.

He's losing more and more control of himself with every suck and swirl of my tongue and he finally loses it and grabs my hair roughly and flips me over onto my back and takes his place above me. His eyes are on fire and I know I'm in for it.

"If you weren't so new at this, Angel, I'd be fucking your mouth so hard right now that you'd be choking on me and tasting me for days..." he growls against my lips, all raw, masculine power on display. "But we'll get there and I know you'll fucking beg me for more. Until then...this will more than satisfy me, tell me to stop or slow down if I'm too rough, because you have no idea what you just unleashed."

A shiver goes down my spine at his words, then his lips are on mine and he's true to his word. He's rough, demanding, ruthless. He forces my lips open with his and his tongue surges into my mouth to claim mine. Our teeth clash. The metallic taste of blood trickles back into my mouth.

His powerful thighs are between mine and he's spreading them wide, his cock finds my entrance and in one quick thrust, he splits me in two. I scream in nothing but pain and he only swallows my pain down his mouth. My hands are free this time and I claw my fingers down his back. He hisses into my mouth but doesn't stop me or complain. Neither do I. He pulls out of me and thrusts right back in. It feels like he has his whole arm jammed up inside me but I don't dare stop him.

I welcome the pain.

I welcome the tearing.

I welcome him inside me.

Just like his lips, tongue and teeth, he's rough with every thrust being faster, deeper and packing more of a punch than the one before it. He tears me open wider and wider with every powerful thrust to accommodate his huge cock and I start to feel the tears of pain slide down my cheeks.

He's well over two times bigger than me weight-wise, over a foot taller than me and has more muscle on him than I do in total weight alone.

I'm completely at his mercy and I have no safe word. He said he'll stop if I tell him too, or slow down, and I know he will. All I need to say is one simple word, or ask him to slow down and the pain will cease, or at least not be as bad...

But I don't say anything.

This pain is entirely different from last night. He may have taken my virginity then and tore me open for the first time, but he wasn't as rough as he's being right now. He prepped me then, he didn't prep me now, even when I rode him...

But this is what I asked for. This is what I provoked out of him. The untaming of the beast. I may be small and this pain may be excruciating but I wouldn't have it any other way. I can't explain my feelings but I want this.

I want him. All of him, and everything he has to give me.

I don't say the word and I let him claim me as his. He made me feel unbelievable earlier and I wanted him to feel the same way. And I did. Now I want him to fuck me.

And that's exactly what this is. This isn't sex, this isn't making love- something I know he'll never do, but rough, passionate fucking.

My fingernails continue to scratch a path down his back and I even feel blood on my fingertips and his continuous thrusts nearly knock the breath out of me. The impact of his hips against mine are bone crushing and work their way up to becoming bone shattering. And then he erupts deep inside me with a low grunt that makes my toes curl and rides out his orgasm with his cock pulsing in release inside me, I erupt too and clench his cock as I come down off the high of my orgasm to drain him of everything he has to give me. He collapses on top of me when he's done, leaving us a satisfied, sweaty mess of blood and cum.

That seems to be the pattern between us, if last night was anything to go by.

We stay like this for ten minutes according to the chronometer up on the wall of the quarters we're in on Ani's custom Imperial Lambda-class shuttle, until he pulls his still hard cock out of me and tugs me up the bed with him, where we lay our heads down on the extremely soft and plush pillows and he pulls me back against him.

"That was incredible," he breathes into my ear.

My breath is quick and I pant in agreement. "It was, wasn't it? How'd I do?" I'm not asking to be coy or smug, but rather out of curiosity. I never sucked a man's cock before Ani's last night and that didn't last very long before he went on to spank me.

I feel a thrill of excitement flow through me at the reminder of that spanking session-

He pulls me tighter against him. "Incredible, I never felt anything so amazing." I'm glad we can agree on that. I never felt anything like what he just did to me. Both with his mouth and then with his cock. "I wasn't too rough, was I?" He raises himself up on his elbow to get a better look at me. "I was, wasn't I?"

I can't even lie to him if I wanted too. He's literally in my head. "Well...I don't think I can walk if that's anything to go by." I don't want him to beat himself up over this, when I'm the one who pushed him over the edge..."But I'm fine. Sore...very sore, but I don't want us to stop doing this, just because it hurts."

I mean every word of that. I know that relationships aren't all about physical activities- sex, but sex is a part of every romantic relationship, especially between a husband and wife, like us. I'm just new to this and he isn't exactly a man that could easily break me into this.

I snort to myself. He's exactly the man who could easily break me...in half. I don't want anything to change though. I just wish there was less pain and more pleasure already. But with a man his size, and me being so small...I guess it will take some more time before pleasure wins out.

And I truly can't wait for that.

Ani watches me closely and nods. "Get some rest, I'll heal us both up in time for our arrival on Naboo." He slides back behind me and resumes his tight hold on me. His cock is still hard and I shake my head in amusement. "Something funny?"

I debate whether or not I should mention it, because now- after that, I really am tired and I don't want to be the one being accused of teasing now. "Yeah," I decide on saying, they say that communication is important in a relationship, don't they? I think I remember reading that somewhere. I shrug to myself, "You just fucked me ruthlessly and you're still hard."

My parents would probably have a heart attack if they heard me talk like this...but I couldn't have said it any better. He did ruthlessly fuck me, I can't think of any way to sugarcoat that, and I have a feeling that Ani likes it when I speak like this.

He smiles, confirming my feeling. "What can I say? I've never felt this way before I met you." His voice is sincere as he kisses my cheek. "Now do as I say and get some sleep, or you'll risk punishment and I don't think you'll like it."

Punishment? Now he has me wondering what he could possibly do to punish me...after tearing me in two. Maybe spank me again?

He must see, or feel my mind at work, because he shakes his head against my hair and sighs. "Go to sleep, Angel or I'll leave you here in bed alone, until you do." Is that his punishment?

I decide not to risk it and feel my eyelids growing heavier by the second. I really am tired and let out a big yawn and mutter, "Goodnight, Ani." I feel my eyelids grow heavier and I fall asleep to him telling me goodnight and kissing my bare shoulder.

I'm awakened later by Ani, feeling as good as new...especially when I see him still naked and looking as handsome as ever. Rippling muscles, honey-tanned skin, chiseled face...is there any part of him that isn't perfect?

I wish I was as gifted. Maybe then, I wouldn't be so vain about my physical-

Ani grips my chin roughly to face him and the look on his face is lethal. "Don't you ever let me hear you say that again." His voice is dangerously low and his lips are curled in a snarl. "Or think it. If you should know anything about me, you should know that I don't lie. And I wasn't lying when I said you were beautiful. I never even saw a woman more beautiful than you in this entire galaxy- and I've been all over this galaxy." My eyes are getting all misty again, he isn't just perfect in looks, he is with his words too.

I'm glad he can read my mind, it also scares me too. I don't want every thought to be heard and analyzed by him. But it will make things easier when there's something on my mind that I can't or don't want to say out loud.

He lets my chin go and smashes his lips down against mine, taking my lips in a punishing kiss. I kiss him back just as hard and even cup one hand on his face and the other in his hair to hold him prisoner against me. He leans down over me, one of his hands holding him up so he doesn't crush me with his weight and the other lands on my side.

Our lips continue to fight for control and he wins- I'll always let him win, as if I'd actually stand a chance in any one of the nine Corellian hells. He groans into my mouth as he pries it open and slides his tongue inside. His tongue slides against my lips, first the top and then the bottom, before exploring my mouth and finally coming to wrap around mine.

I moan into his mouth and he shifts his body, bringing him closer to me and he raises himself just enough to bring him completely above me with his legs between mine. He pulls his tongue out of my mouth and his lips quickly follow. "You don't know how much I'd like to fuck you into this mattress right now." Eloquent, not.

But that's my Ani, perfect with his words...both dirty and clean, alike. And his words have the desired effect and my pussy clenches on its own.

He catches that, whether he somehow managed to notice or he gleaned it from my mind...he knows. "You're an open datacard to me, Angel." His forehead touches mine. "I knew we were destined to be together when I first saw you and I'll know it even fifty years from now when we're old and gray and still madly in love- because I am madly in love with you, Padmé Vader, and that's not something I admit lightly."

Yes. My eyes are even mistier. Fuck this man is killing me. Inside and out. Killing me with his incredibly huge cock that tears me in half and killing me with his words that cut my knees out from under me.

Thank the Force I'm lying in bed and not standing. "I'm madly in love with you too," I admit, my voice quiet and soft and that's also something I wouldn't admit lightly- or admit at all, if I didn't mean it. "If there's something you should know about me, its that I mean what I say and say what I mean."

He smiles against my lips and whispers, "I know." Of course he does, and that only makes me smile too. "I also know that we don't have time for any of this...we'll be exiting hyperspace in ten minutes and we'll be landing in about twenty. I suggest you use that time to take a quick shower to clean the smell of sex and me off of you and then change into something appropriate to reunite with your family." He doesn't need to tell me not to dress in any of the dresses I bought for his eyes alone, or the lingerie I bought when I saw them at the mall and couldn't resist.

I never saw myself as that kind of girl, but I had the freedom to buy whatever I wanted for the first time in my life and I knew that Ani would like to see me in them. He'd probably tear them right off like he did when we stepped foot into these quarters earlier, but at least I'd be able to see that dark hooded look in his eyes and on his face and know that I'd picked well.

I also bought toiletries and other stuff that I needed and didn't have, which was basically everything. Including birth control pills from an Emdee Droid, I'm not ready to be a mother any time soon and I don't know if Ani ever wants to be a father...we'll have to talk about that eventually.

But not now...now, I have to get cleaned up and dressed, just as Ani said. He nods in agreement, having clearly read my mind and kisses me again before rolling off of me and the bed. He starts to dress in that black dress uniform and cape and it doesn't escape my notice that he doesn't put on any underwear underneath his pants.

He catches me looking and smiles. "I'll be in the cockpit, don't take forever in there." I'm about to retort that I don't take forever in the shower and refresher, when he grabs his shirt and cape and walks out the door so fast that he makes me have to swallow my retort down with a sigh.

Good thing I know he can read my mind, so he probably did hear my retort, and that makes me feel a little better. Because he may be the Supreme Commander out there and the dominant in our bedroom- wherever that may be, but I'm still his wife and you better believe that I won't just be a trophy wife.

I have a mind of my own and I'm not afraid to use it. I may kneel at a snap of his fingers and listen to his every dirty command, but that doesn't make me any less independent and it doesn't make me weak. I've felt that way long enough and Ani is already bringing the old me back, along with a new and improved version.

One that has a husband that is loving and caring and attentive to my needs. Needs that I didn't even know I had. But he did and he satisfied them all beyond anything I ever could've imagined. I owe that man everything and I'll make it my life's mission to show him just how much I love and care about him too.

I know he already knows that, but I know my parents and family won't. I'll have to make it clear to them that if they want to be a part of my life, that they'll have to accept him as my husband. It probably won't be easy, but they owe it to him for saving me, to at least try.

What I'm going to say and how I'm going to say all of this spins around in my mind as I go about taking a quick shower, washing the smell of sex and Ani off my skin and drying off when I'm done. I brush my teeth, brush my hair so that it's down and straight and apply some deodorant. I'm still naked when I step back out to our quarters and go through my bags to find something appropriate to wear.

I find a light blue dress that I liked and bought when I was shopping and make sure to wear matching lace bra and panties underneath that I bought to go along with it. I dig out a pair of heels that I also bought at the mall that matches my dress and I'm all ready to go...with two minutes to spare. I check myself over before nodding to myself and leaving the quarters to find Ani in the cockpit.

He must sense me coming. "Hey there, beautiful. Right on time," he spins around and takes me in hungrily, like he hadn't seen me in weeks instead of minutes. "Take a seat and buckle up, we're about to enter the atmosphere." I do as he commands, feeling his eyes on me the whole time.

Commander Keller pretends not to notice and busies himself with air traffic control when they come over the air.

"You're nervous." Ani says, its not a question. Then he spins back around to fly us safely through the atmosphere.

I sigh and wonder when it came down to this- me being nervous of seeing my own family. My mom, my dad, my sister. Darred and the girls too. The girls. Shit. They have to be so much bigger now. When I last saw them they were still little and cute as a button, but now they're two years older and who knows if they'll even remember me...

"Padmé," Ani draws me out of my mind. "You're their aunt, of course they'll remember you. How can they not? You're amazing. I'm sure they missed you as much as the rest of your family...maybe even more."

This man. It's times like this that I'm glad he can easily read my mind. "I hope your right," I sigh. I really do, because it will tear me up if they don't remember me. I'm sure Sola talked with them though, even if I only spoke to her last night. I can't imagine she would keep this between just her and our parents. She had to have told Darred, at the very least and I'm sure they told the girls together.

The shuttle shakes a little with turbulence but it quickly fades away and my breath whooshes out of me seeing Theed begin to come into visual range in the forward viewport. It looks exactly how I remember it. "It's beautiful." Ani says.

"The most beautiful city and planet in the galaxy, if you ask me." I could live here happily for the rest of my life, but my home is with Ani now.

Wherever he goes, my heart and home is with him.

It doesn't take long before we're landing and with a slight thud we're touching down in the Theed Spaceport. "Commander, bring Padmé to her family's house and I'll meet you there when I'm done seeing to a few things." Ani says, unbuckling himself from the crashwebbing and standing to his feet.

Commander Keller does the same. "Yes, my Lord." He nods and makes his way to the rear compartment to gather our belongings, leaving us alone in the cockpit.

Ani wraps his arms around me and brings me in for a big warm hug. He kisses my hair. "I have to handle some business first, then I'll come find you." He kisses my hair again and inhales my scent, greedily.

I wrap my arms around his waist and squeeze. "I'll miss you," its true. I've only known him for maybe a day now, I'm not sure about the time difference between here and Imperial Center, but I know that's how I feel.

He's my savior.

My husband.

My everything.

He kisses my hair again and wraps me up tighter in his arms. "I know, and I'll miss you too. But you need this time with your family and me showing up with you...no, it's for the best. Reunite with them, tell them what happened and then...and then, tell them about me, or wait for me to get there until you tell them. I'll leave that up to you. I trust your judgement. You know your family better than I do."

And that's what I'm afraid of. My family isn't exactly anti-Empire, but they are anti-Palpatine and my dad used to run the Naboo Refugee Relief Movement. He's seen what the Empire does to some people, some planets...he isn't a fan of Ani's either.

But that was before.

Before he saved me.

Before he became my husband.

Before he became my world, as cliche as that sounds. I never thought I'd be as lovesick as my sister was over Darred, but here I am...not even wanting Ani to leave my side, even when I know he's right and that this is for the best.

And the more that I think about it, the more I realize just how bad of an idea this was. "People change," Ani cuts into my doubts. "I can't say that your family will accept me, but you have to give them a chance. Sometimes people will surprise you."

Ha. Yeah, like he himself did. "I know...and thank you." I lean my head against his wide chest and breathe in his scent. I need some of his strength and confidence right now. "I love you."

He tilts my chin up and lowers his head to mine. We kiss until I can't remember my own name and my knees begin to feel weak. He pulls away. "I love you too, now go ahead with the Commander, the Noghri and the droids, and take this. I'll call you when I'm done and on my way." He hands me a comlink that I've never seen before and keep a tight hold on it. "I'm speed dial number one." Of course he is.

I kiss him again and then he's giving me a push out the cockpit door to go and reunite with my family after a long two years that filled me with nothing but doubt about this day ever happening at all.

Commander Keller and the Noghri, Kohvrekhar and Ghazhak, are waiting for me at the bottom of the boarding ramp when I walk down it. "Are you ready, my Lady?" Commander Keller asks.

I nod seeing the landspeeder loaded and ready to go with R2 and C-3PO sitting in the back seat, the trunk open and full. "Yes and no..." great, now I'm beginning to sound like Ani. I shake my head and smile. Ani. Just thinking about him makes me smile and feel better. "Yes, I'm ready Commander."

He nods and opens my door. I take my seat and he closes it, the Noghri, slap their chests and disappear into thin air. Commander Keller slams the trunk shut, then sits in the pilot's seat and begins our drive without even asking me for directions.

Half an hour later, we arrive.

We turn onto the familiar cobblestone street and everything looks exactly how I remember it. Two years hasn't changed a thing here.

Flowers.

Vines.

Hedges.

The yard...nothing changed. It's as if everything here was in stasis for the last two years. I've changed in more ways than I can count, moreso in the last day alone and yet...yet, everything here went on as if nothing has changed at all.

I don't know whether to be happy about that, or not. I don't know anything right now, other than how apprehensive I feel about seeing my parents and family again. I already know what's going to happen. Ani said to give them a chance, that people change, but...

"My Lady?" Commander Keller opens my door for me and holds out a hand.

I take the offered hand and try to hide my feelings. Commander Keller doesn't let on, but he heard my conversation with Ani about how I felt about this. But he couldn't hear the doubts in my head, not like Ani could, and I already know how this will go.

It'll be sweet at first.

Hugs. Kisses. Crying. Then, they'll all treat me like I'm fragile, they'll ask me what happened. Where I've been. And I'm not ready for that. But I have to tell them. They need to know. They need to understand what happened, because if they don't, they won't find out about how Ani saved me.

I shouldn't need to defend him, Sola surely didn't have to defend Darred, and mom and dad were both set up by their moms. But Ani is Lord Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith and Supreme Commander of Imperial Forces.

He isn't the classmate at university, or the boy next door, or the boy from wherever. He's a man, that's at least a few years older than me and is known infamously throughout the galaxy as being a cold ruthless warrior who kills indiscriminately. I can't believe that's true, Ani isn't that kind of man. He kills, sure, but not for the fun of it and not to be cruel.

He also isn't the man he's portrayed to be, just as Commander Keller told me himself before I met Ani face to face. Mom, dad and Sola don't know that though.

I sigh and shake my head. I have no time to waste and...something smells really really good. Laughter comes from inside and I gain the courage to walk up the steps and knock on the familiar door like a guest, rather than a resident but...am I? I don't know anything anymore.

The door opens and I expect to see my mom, dad or sister but nope...I end up looking down into familiar blue eyes and long blond hair that are brighter and lighter than Ani's. Ryoo. And she's a lot bigger than the three-year-old little girl she was when I last saw her.

Her big bright blue eyes narrow on me and then widen in recognition. "Aunt Padmé!" She throws her arms in the air and I scoop her up and squeeze her as tight as I can to me.

She's a lot heavier than I last remember too. Maybe fifteen or twenty pounds heavier. "Ryoo," I breathe and step inside the house.

"Aunt Padmé!" Pooja yells as she rounds the corner from the family room and she jumps on us. I laugh and bend down to scoop her up too.

Everyone else heard Pooja's loud shout and come out to join us in the doorway. I'm being hugged and kissed from every direction and there isn't a dry eye in the room. The girls are even crying in my arms.

I was expecting this and wouldn't have it any other way. I didn't know if I'd ever be seeing them again and they didn't even know I was alive until our call last night. I can't imagine how hard it must have been for them to hear that I've died...even when I clearly didn't.

My heart squeezes for them. I don't know what I'd do if I lost any of them, or Ani. I'd be a mess, and that's putting it lightly.

The hugs and kisses die down after a few minutes and we're all wiping our tears away and I'm setting down my nieces. Everyone is here. The whole family, even my grandmother, Ryoo Thule, my mom's mom and the namesake of my niece.

I guess everyone knows I'm alive, if they didn't believe it with their own eyes last night...or ears, when my parents and Sola told them, they surely believe it now. Ryoo and Pooja must've heard too, because it clicked pretty quickly for them, and I don't think they'd put the pieces together so quick if they believed I was dead.

I'm just glad they remember me, Ani was right about that. I should've known better than to doubt him, but they were only five and three before I was abducted, now they're seven and five.

"Padmé," Sola still looks like she's looking at a ghost. "I can't believe it's really you." She hugs me again and cries into my shoulder. I pat her on the back and cry into her hair. I hate seeing her like this, she's nine years older than me and was always the big sister I worshipped growing up.

Strong. Tenacious. Independent. She brought me with her everywhere like we were attached at the hip, and in a way, we were. I learned a lot from her and grew up wanting to be like her.

Beloved wife, loving mother. I want that and I wanted it even more when I saw how happy Darred made her and how happy she was as a wife and then a mother. I still remember the day she told me she was pregnant. She was twenty, I was eleven and she told me before she told anyone else, even before Darred.

It meant a lot to me and I couldn't help but be thrilled for her. I knew how much she wanted kids and wanted a girl, in particular. And she got two.

The question nags at me again. Does Ani want kids? I'll live happily with him either way, I love him more than enough to be happy and at his side for the rest of my life with just us...but kids, our kids, it just seems more real...more whole.

We'd be a family.

A real family.

Sola nearly squeezes the life out of me and then draws back to look at me again. "Sola," I say, not really knowing what to say to make her believe that it's really me, other than saying, "it's really me." She just cries again and I do my best to console her.

Darred watches on, a small smile playing on his lips as he watches us. I can't imagine life was easy for him these past couple of years. He took me under his wing when he realized just how much I meant to Sola. He realized that we were sort of a package deal. He loved me like I was his little sister and I loved him like the big brother I never had.

We always got along great. He'd even run off some neighborhood boys who he didn't think were good enough for me. It was endearing. I'm not sure how he'd feel about Ani though. I just know he can try to run him off but he won't succeed, when Ani sets his mind on something, he makes it his.

I'm the same way, and I won't let him run off even if he tries too.

Darred eventually comes to my rescue and pries his wife off of me gently. He shoots me a wink and ruffles my hair and walks Sola into the family room. Mom stands in the hall just feet away and she hugs me next.

"I missed you, dear." She says, squeezing me even tighter than Sola and this brings me back. She always hugs this way. She might not look all that strong but she is. Trust me.

I breathe in her familiar flowery scent and could smell it along with the food she's cooking. "I missed you too, Mom." I sniffle and she lets me go and smiles.

She leads me into the kitchen where dad, grandma and Commander Keller are. Dad's talking to the Commander and he seems to like him, he's even smiling with teary eyes. I can hear the girls in the other room, giggling and running around and I can hear C-3PO's voice along with the beeping and whistling of R2's.

It feels like home.

Same but different.

Different but the same.

I wouldn't have it any other way. But this is the easy part...I'm not sure if I'm ready for the hard part yet.

"Padmé," Mom calls me. "Come help me, dear." I smile and go help her, just like I used too, and this distraction helps me clear my mind. I might not be as good as her in the kitchen, but I'm good.

Maybe I'll show Ani my cooking skills at the Lake House...if we ever get there. I shove down my doubt and just focus on cooking with my mom and sink back into my old, familiar routine.

Before I know it, dinner is served and we're all sitting around the dining room table and passing around the food bowls to stuff our plates. I fill mine up like I haven't eaten in years and I eat like I haven't eaten in years too.

Everyone seems to notice but no one says a thing. They just go and chatter about things as usual, thankfully leaving me out of the conversation, I feel all of their concerned eyes occasionally checking on me though. But this isn't the time or place to be discussing the past couple of years and I won't say anything in front of the girls.

They're too young and innocent to hear what I've been through. I wouldn't want to ruin their childhoods, and I wouldn't want to ruin anyone's appetite, including mine.

I do listen though.

Dad's still working as a teacher, before that he was a part-time professor at Theed University teaching microeconomics.

Mom retired. From the sound of it, I imagine that happened around the time of my disappearance and supposed death...

Sola is more than happy being a housewife and stay at home mom, even though the girls are attending the house of learning now.

Darred is still an architect and is currently working on a project off-word.

And grandma is happily retired, she has been for many years now.

Commander Keller even tells everyone about some of his past and about some of his missions for the Imperial Navy. He even mentions Ani...Lord Vader in some stories, stories that people wouldn't hear on the HoloNet News.

Stories of Ani saving lives and being the hero, I know he is. But I'm not surprised that my family ignores mention of him. I'm surprised they even allowed Commander Keller in, let alone let him sit at the table with us.

But that's who they are. They take care of their guests. Even if their guests are Imperial Commanders.

I know it may sound like my family is sympathetic to the Rebellion, but they're hardly rebels, they're just not fans of the Empire either. My parents grew up with the Emperor...before he was a politician and eventually Emperor. They knew him personally and dad never liked his political views, not then and not now.

Naboo hasn't always been democratic but the people have always valued their freedom here and they see Palpatine as a tyrant. I don't disagree with that. He is a tyrant but they see Ani the same way and he's hardly anything like his Master.

But I don't say anything. I just keep eating my food until it's gone and eat dessert when mom brings it out. I clean up my mess when I'm done and so doesn't everyone else and then we all go into the family room and I know the hard part is nearly here.

It doesn't take a Sith Lord to feel others emotions, to feel their minds at work. I could see it as plain as day, Darred could too which is probably why he asks the girls if they want to go play in the backyard. They run out there with the droids and he nods to me in support and follows behind them.

Commander Keller stands next to me, uncertain. But this is my family, I can handle them. I nod for him to go join Darred, and he does. I take the spot that Sola pats next to her on the sofa and I'm feeling my nerves kick in as I take the seat between her and mom. Dad and grandma are sitting on the sides in their own recliners.

"So," Dad says, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his thighs. "Padmé, I just want to start by saying that I'm so glad you're home where you belong."

But not for long, I want to say but don't. Yet. This was my home...still is my home but I have another home now too.

Ani's my home.

I take a deep breath and can feel the weight of my family, all bearing down on me. Nobody asked me directly where I was or what happened but I could see the questions on all of their faces and just decide to get on with it.

Ani should be here soon enough and I have to tell them all before he arrives. I don't want it to be any more awkward than it has to be. Even if they don't recognize him without the cloak and cowl and yellowish red eyes.

I start my story, starting with when I was walking home from Sola's after I babysat her kids and was snatched up by the stormtroopers. Sola's sniffling already, and I begin to wonder if she's taking this so hard because she blamed herself? It was hardly her fault and I make sure to point that out.

"The stormtroopers would've captured me regardless, if not then, then maybe the next day or the day after that or the day after that." I point out. "They just saw the opportunity then and snatched me off the-"

"Off the street because of me!" Sola exclaims, sobbing. "If I just waited until Darred got home before going to shop...then this-"

"This would've happened regardless, Sola." I cut her off. I won't let her blame herself. Only one person is to blame and its not her- it's Moff Panaka. "It was only a matter of when. This isn't your fault and I don't want you to keep blaming yourself. I'm alive, I'm well and honestly? I've never been happier."

That shuts her up and I get weird looks from everyone. But I ignore their looks and continue my story. I tell them about the twenty long months in captivity, and then tell them that I was sold away to Jabba the Hutt.

"I'll kill him!" Dad swears and I've never seen him this upset. Or hear him threaten the life of anyone before. That's just not who he is. "Selling you away like a piece of furniture?"

I felt the same way when I exploded on Ani before he surprised me. I'm sure Ani was just as upset and would like to exactly what dad- wait, is that what he's doing? Killing the Moff?

Huh. I oddly find myself not caring and that's not normal for me. I used to volunteer for the Refugee Relief Movement back when dad ran it and he always taught us to have compassion for others. But I don't have any compassion for the Moff. He abducted me and sold me away to be used as a slave girl for Jabba the Hutt. For four months I had to wear skimpy clothing and be held on a leash like a domesticated animal by a Hutt.

I swear sometimes I could still smell him. It's only been two and a half weeks though since I was bought by Madam Sandi and then bought and freed by Ani...

"Are you smiling?" Sola's eyes widen and I can feel my cheeks heat up. "Oh my Force! You are! You're blushing too!"

I ignore her and keep on with my story. How I was Jabba's slave girl and then how a sex trafficker bought me and everyone's mood darkens and I even hear mom and grandma sniffle.

"But none of you have to worry or feel bad for me." I assure them. "While Madam Sandi was breaking me in, I was bought and freed...and I fell in love and got married to the man who freed me."

"What!" Sola shouts. "You're married and didn't invite me?" she punches my arm- hard. Her eyes are red and puffy, tears still slide down her cheeks but she's smiling, too.

"Ow!" I cry and rub my arm. "It just happened. I had no idea I'd fall in love with him at first sight and marry him. He wasn't what I expected and he did save me. But that's not why I married him." And I don't want them thinking it is. "I'm sure you can imagine I wasn't in a very good place these last couple of years. I was forced into slavery and sex slavery, I thought that's what the rest of my life would be like until I was killed or died...but I was saved before anything bad could happen to me."

Or worse, I should say. I'd consider being abducted and held against my will for twenty months, forced into slavery and sex slavery to be pretty bad. But it could've and would've been worse if it wasn't for Ani.

"You can't just stop there!" Sola says at the same time the comlink beeps and vibrates.

Saved by the beep. I squeeze the comlink in my hand and stand to my feet. "I have to take this, I'll be right back." I don't give them time to say otherwise and make my way out towards the kitchen and flip the comlink open and accept the call.

"Ani?" It's only audio, so I can't see him and I don't know his frequency...but I assume it's him.

I'm right. "Its me Angel," I can hear a smile in his voice and an audible sigh. "I'm done with my business and on my way over to your folks house."

A tingle runs through me as his voice washes over me. Low. Deep. Baritone. His voice grounds me. "I told them about you, but...I didn't tell them who you are...yet."

He's silent.

I don't like the silence. "It's not that I'm ashamed or anything, I was just getting to who you are when you called me." I'm quick to add and he surprises me by chuckling. "What?"

"Angel, I wasn't mad or doubting you." He says, wind blows in the background like he's traveling at a fast speed. "I told you that I trust your judgement, and I do. I trust you, Padmé...and if you want to wait until I get there so we could face them together, I'll be happy too." He pauses. "We're a team now, you and me and I can defend and take care of myself. I don't need you to fight my battles for me, I'm a grown ass man and I've been fighting for myself-"

"But you're not by yourself." I interrupt him, his perfect words and sweetness hitting me right in the heart. "Like you said, we're a team now. Your battles are my battles, too."

He's silent for a minute and I don't know if he's going to respond. Then he does. "Did I ever tell you that I love you?" I blush and smile. "Are you blushing? I think you're blushing but I can't quite tell." I nod but he can't see me. "So you are, I can feel you nodding your head. I can feel other things too..." his voice drops lower, more seductive and I have to squirm to not dip my hand down into my damp panties.

He's not even here and he knows me so well. He can feel me nodding my head. Feel how I feel...he's a lot more powerful than I gave him credit for.

What else can he do?

"I'll tell you what else I can do, but I'd rather show you in person." The wind dies down in the background over our connection. "I'm at the front door...and don't worry, I won't show you what you're thinking about until we're all alone."

I shiver and end the transmission. Ani's here. At the front door. My feet move on their own on autopilot, then I'm at the front door and open it. Ani's standing there in the doorway in his black robe and cape like I last saw him. His long blond hair is windswept but still perfect.

Like always.

He steps forward and grabs my hands and squeezes gently. His warm forehead touches mine. "Hi Angel," he whispers against my lips.

My lips are on his in an instant and my arms wind around his neck. He tilts his head and our connection deepens. I know I need to stop this before I do something I'll regret, but then a throat clears from behind me and I jump and turn to find an amused Sola staring right at us.

A/N: If you liked this and haven't already, please follow, favorite and leave a review! The next chapter is currently being written and will be in Vader's POV! We'll see what he was up too before he meets up with Padmé at her folks house and then we'll go on and see how the family reacts when they find out just who he is...

What did you think of the reunion? About Ani's words of reassurance to Padmé? It may seem like Vader is more like Anakin than a true Dark Lord of the Sith but it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility for a Sith to love, and as I've said before, I believe they were always meant to be together, regardless of their backgrounds. We'll also get a peek at Vader being a true Dark Lord of the Sith in the next chapter...and he'll do things we've never seen or heard of Vader being able to do before...other than being able to feel how his wife feels and being able to so easily read her mind...

The next chapter will be posted if not next weekend, then the next. It just depends on how fast I'm able to write out this next chapter.

Please leave a review! Thanks!