Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Consider this long chapter an apology for the erratic updates. And as always, please let me know what you think!

CHAPTER 13

Padme's steps wandered when she left the Senate infirmary. She had felt some part of the connection between Bail and herself snap as she left, her job gone and their friendship damaged. He had been kind of course; Bail was always kind. He was tirelessly good, always doing his best for the people who needed help around him. He had saved her life and possibly her sanity when he had given her asylum on Alderaan all those years ago, and he had never stopped helping her. Even her job had been a gift (but even now she could hear Bail's voice protesting this line of thought, insisting that she was overqualified for the work and an asset to him). Her lip trembled and she ducked into a refresher when she felt her eyes welling up.

Her undirected steps had carried her to the public portions of the Senate building, so she was grateful that the large refresher was empty, despite the bustle of tourists outside. She wiped her eyes and took a few deep breaths. She resolved to go see Anakin.

Sparing only a quick glance at the mirror to make sure she looked presentable, she hurried out of the refresher, walking much more quickly now that she had a destination in mind. She felt a little warmth build in her chest for the first time since the infirmary visit and she actually smiled.

Leaving the maze of public hallways behind, Padme entered one of the enormous lobbies that welcomed tourists from around the galaxy to the Imperial Senate. Imperial Senate - a contradiction of terms if ever there was one, she thought absently as she wove her way through an average-sized crowd made up of Coruscant's usual eclectic mix of races. Darting around a family of Ithorians, a Rodian, a rowdy group human school children, and several Sullustans, she finally reached the staff turbo lift and waited. The lights above the door indicated it was several floors away.

A tour group was getting started off to her right, and smaller groups of tourists were drifting here and there, stopping to read the holographic information plaques that floated in alcoves spread around the lobby. A news holo channel was being projected somewhere in the center of the lobby behind her, playing just loudly enough to be heard over the crowd.

"The vote isn't likely to be held soon..." The news anchors were talking lightly about upcoming Senate proceedings, and Padme tuned it out, focusing instead on the turbo lift's indicator light that was finally on its way back down. A few varied beings who wore badges proclaiming their status as senate aides joined her by the lift.

"These lifts are always so slow..." complained one of them, a Twi'lek, and Padme smiled at them in commiseration.

"Well, it's not often that we get to report on this kind of news," The news anchor actually sounded excited and Padme wondered what could possibly be so interesting. It wasn't as though the news networks were allowed to talk about anything important.

"An Imperial Proclamation has been issued-"

Well that was never a good thing.

"-to announce the engagement of the Lord Darth Vader himself to one Padme Naberrie of Naboo!"

Definitely not a good thing. Padme blinked as the blood rushed in her ears. Turning fractionally, she saw an enormous holo of herself being broadcast alongside a holo of Lord Vader. She barely heard the casual murmuring of the tourist crowds grow to an excited roar. She did see the gazes of the senate aides around her gravitate toward her face, then her ID badge (Padme Naberrie it proclaimed for all to see), then back to her face. A few of them took a step back; all of them looked shocked. The lift finally opened and Padme rushed inside. No one moved to join her. The doors slid shut. She pressed the button for Anakin's level and the turbo lift zoomed upward silently.

Face flaming, Padme stared at nothing. Her reflection stared back from the polished doors.

Darth Vader was watching the flow of speeder traffic through the enormous window-wall of his office suite. One of his intelligence operatives, a young man with a great deal of potential and not a single failed assignment to date, was offering a report on rebel activities on Coruscant. There was nothing definitive, only rumors and hearsay. It was all extremely frustrating, but Vader could barely concentrate on the report anyway - he was far too engaged with trying to remember how it felt to kiss Padme. He focused again on the speeders to ground himself in the present moment.

The Imperial Palace watched him across the distance. Even the midday light failed to soften its sharp and menacing silhouette, and now he stared at the constant parade of speeders to banish it from his mind. A moment passed before he noticed the silence and realized his agent had finished briefing him.

He was at the point of dismissing him when he felt her presence coming. Like a single beam of sunlight escaping a wall of clouds, her presence lit up the room before she arrived, announcing her more effectively than a royal procession. He smiled and activated the door release with a quick nudge of the Force, already moving to meet her.

She stood before the doorway, looking a little startled by a door that opened apparently of its own accord, but spotted him and smiled. "Padme," he greeted her, the warmth of his voice sounding foreign in his ears. She looked beautiful as always, her long brown hair half pinned back, her warm brown eyes (how good it was to see her look not sad) reflecting the happiness that he felt. But something was off - she was upset. He could see it in the lines of her face and the stiff set of her shoulders. He could feel it, could almost see it like fault lines splintered across her Force presence. He frowned. "What is it? What's wrong?"

Padme's eyes slid uncertainly to the operative behind him. Vader had already forgotten him. "Leave us," he said without looking away from Padme. "Wait outside." He heard his agent bow and leave. The doors finally closed and they were alone.

"Did you announce our engagement?"

"Did I what?"

"The media knows," she said quietly, looking miserable. Vader felt his anger brewing in the back of his mind. Who would dare? Who could possibly have known-

"The Emperor," he said at last.

"He knows?"

"Yes. I obtained his permission to marry you this morning. Speaking of which..." He stepped closer, rested his natural hand on the side of her face, and pressed his lips gently to hers. She hummed her approval and slipped her arms around his neck. He felt her relax in his arms. He broke the contact reluctantly, resting his forehead against hers. "Hello," he said quietly. Padme laughed at him, her troubled expression gone.

"I'm sorry it was announced like that. Did anyone bother you?"

"No - nothing like that." Her fingers played with the hair at the nape of his neck and he smiled. "It was just unexpected. A few people stared at me when the news broke on the HoloNet."

"A Capitol offense. I'll have them all executed," he said with a grin. Padme smiled fleetingly, and stared at him, her hand teasing at the hair around his face. He caught her hand and kissed it. Her eyes filled with tears and his heart lurched.

"What's wrong?"

She dropped her eyes. "I told Bail."

He could feel the pain drifting from her like waves of poisonous radiation. For a moment, he despised Organa. "He didn't take it well?"

"He was very kind," she defended quietly. "He just doesn't understand. And you two aren't exactly in agreement on... well... anything." He snorted.

"He's afraid that I'm making a mistake," she whispered in a tight voice. "I don't know what he thinks... that you don't love me or you might hurt me-"

He interrupted her with a kiss. His emotions exploded with volcanic intensity, and he grasped at them, tapping into his connection with Padme that had opened the night before. He felt her. Her mind and her essence flooded into his, their connection so much stronger even though so little time had passed. He invited her to feel what he felt for her, to see and touch and know how he loved her. She gasped against his mouth and deepened the kiss.

"He's wrong," Vader said, when he finally pulled away. He was extremely pleased with the slightly dazed look that Padme was wearing.

She pressed one final kiss to his lips, and rested her head on his chest. He hugged her to himself.

"Now that everyone in the entire krething galaxy knows about us," Vader began, feeling distantly irritated, but unable to commit to the feeling when Padme was pressed against him, "I will make sure the media leaves you alone. And you will need a bodyguard."

She jerked her head up. "That won't be necessary-"

"Oh, really, Milady? And how many assassination attempts will it take to convince you that a bodyguard is necessary?"

Her expression was unfazed. "That had nothing to do with me. Bail was the target."

"True." He reached up to push a strand of hair behind her ear. "But now that you've been publicly connected to me, you're at risk."

She sighed in defeat. "Alright." A wicked look crossed her face and Vader was momentarily entranced. "On second thought," she began, "I'm really not sure if you're worth it..." She trailed off, making a great show of considering.

Vader kissed the corner of her mouth. "What a great-" he said softly, turning his attention to the other corner, "-pity."

He turned his attention to her neck and she shivered, finally pulling him into a proper kiss. "I suppose you're worth an assassination attempt or two," she breathed against his lips.

"Don't worry, my Lady. I will defend you." He grinned at her, and pulled her in for a little more convincing.

A few pleasant minutes later, Darth Vader was seated in his uncomfortably stiff office chair, but he thought nothing of the discomfort. In fact, he found it more pleasant than ever, as his fiancée was in his arms, her head tucked under his chin. They had fallen into an easy silence in the warm sun streaming through his transparisteel window-wall, and Vader felt a sleepy contentment that was quite foreign to him. He could have lounged here forever, Padme in his lap, her arms curled around him, in the warmth and quiet... Naturally the fiancée in question chose that very moment to stir and draw back from him.

With a displeased grunt, he sat up and put a staying hand on her arm even as she explained. "I've really got to go now." He noted her reluctance with pleasure. The feeling vanished when she pulled away further and he realized that she was truly leaving.

"Stay," he wheedled quietly, and she looked like she was on the verge of giving in. But she sighed and stood up. Vader felt cold and bereft and didn't like it a bit.

"I should go pack up my desk," she explained heavily, the first trace of sadness creeping back into her face. Vader stood, the desire to remove that expression burning hot in his chest. He kissed her gently and watched some of the lines of her face smooth as he pulled away. Padme smiled at him, the sadness still visible deep in her eyes, but she seemed less burdened. Success.

"Then I'll come with you," he stated, sweeping toward the door.

"I'm not sure-"

"Padme," he reproached. "If you object, I'll know that you are ashamed of your future husband." She was fighting a grin now, and he forged ahead. "As you said earlier, the entire galaxy knows about us now. I'm afraid you cannot avoid being seen with me..."

Padme grinned and sighed dramatically. "Alright. I suppose you're right. I might as well get used to taking you out in public... the staring, the pointing..." She shook her head mournfully, the twitch of her lips giving her away. She moved to stand beside him at the door and he reached for the release; Padme slipped her arm through his. "It will be just like being escorted out by a wild nexu," she said pleasantly. His mouth fell open and he turned to answer her stinging remark, but the doors had opened and his intelligence agent was still waiting by the door, abruptly coming to attention. Vader had forgotten about him. Padme, if her smug smile was any indication, had not. He snapped his mouth shut, tried to convey with his eyes and their tremulous Force connection that he would most certainly get her for this later, and curtly dismissed the agent.

The operative betrayed no emotion on his face, but his confusion about being made to wait so long and curiosity about Lord Vader and the girl on his arm were screaming through the Force like emergency klaxons. He saluted and disappeared down a side corridor. Vader felt Padme shake with silent laughter by his side.

She was laughing at him and he didn't feel in the least angry or insulted. On the contrary, he felt the beginnings of a very stupid smile - but he managed to cover it with a dignified cough. "Shall we go, my Lady?"

"Certainly, my Lord."

And they marched away down the corridor that would lead them to the office suite of Alderaan.

They arrived at the ruined door without incident; most of the stretch of hallways between Vader's office and Organa's had been cordoned off for cleanup and investigation and were almost empty of traffic. A few droids buzzed past, pulling hovercarts piled with rubble or bearing trays of tools, but they did not acknowledge the pair. When they arrived at the doorway - or, rather, the jagged hole in the wall - gone were the smoking rubble, the slashed door, and the sparking tangle of wires. The powerful scent of cleaning solutions wafted into the hallway, and Padme wrinkled her nose.

They stepped inside, and Padme stared at the bald patches where large stretches of carpeting had been cut away and removed. Burns or blood had ruined those areas, no doubt... she shivered and felt a little sick. Vader pulled her closer and gave her a searching look. "I'm alright," she assured him - and herself.

She stepped through the room, resisting the echoes of last night's terrors that tugged at her mind, and opened each drawer of her desk in turn, pulling out the few personal items she had stored there and arranging her piles of unfinished work on the desktop for whoever would take on her duties. She felt suddenly guilty.

"I should have told Bail that I could stay on for a while - until he finds a replacement," she said quietly, reproaching herself. I can't expect him to manage-"

"Yes, you can," Vader interrupted, halting in his aimless walk around the room. "You were subjected to unforgivable danger and you cannot remain. It's perfectly sensible."

"But he needs me-"

"You need to stay alive," insisted Vader. "You won't be of much use to Organa or anyone else if you're killed by assassins." He drifted behind Bail's desk, still scuffed and burned from the previous night's misadventures. "I need you," he added quietly.

Padme stared at him. She felt a rush of both tenderness and irritation that mingled confusingly in her chest and she sighed. "I suppose you have a point," she conceded unwillingly, feeling like a coward and a lovesick fool.

She plunged her hands into the last drawer and her fingers lighted on an old holo projector. Small, flat, and round, the metal was tarnished and dusty; it had languished in that drawer for many years. She pressed the power switch and a holo of her parents bloomed from the device. They smiled and waved. Her mother blew a kiss.

And suddenly Padme remembered what it was like to be safe when someone else was not, to suffer silent agony when they died and you were left alone forever...

...But she was not alone. She thumbed the power switch again and turned from those she had loved to the one she loved now. "Alright," she said quietly. "I will leave immediately."

Vader turned and smiled gratefully at her, his face and hair caught in the sunshine, blazing with the same warmth that she could somehow feel emanating from him. Drawn like a moth to that flame, she walked around her desk to move nearer to his light-

"Padme?"

A voice startled her from her goal, and she jumped a little, turning to face the hole where the door had once been. Palo stood in the opening, gazing at her in relief. "Padme, you're alright!"

He hurried to her and embraced her. Padme returned the hug lightly, and opened her mouth to point out Anakin's presence, but Palo was babbling on. "I just heard about the attack! No one knew anything, so I got over here right away... Gods, Padme, I was afraid you might be dead..." He looked so relieved that she was alright and Padme felt a little ashamed that she was not as glad to see him. Palo was saying something now about how it had been too long since he had seen her and he repeated again and again his relief that she was okay...

Padme felt Anakin's irritation before she saw it. She glanced at him as Palo went on, his back to Vader, whose face resembled a thunderhead ready to burst. She raised an eyebrow at him and smiled warmly, trying to speak without words. He wasn't looking at her. His eyes looked as though they were burning a hole in the back of Palo's head.

"Palo," she interrupted his stream of words at last, determined to wipe the look off Anakin's face and to communicate finally to Palo that there was no chance of a relationship between them. How to balance it all and come out without singeing any feelings was going to be the tricky part... but she had not trained as a politician and diplomat for nothing. Palo had finally paused at her interruption, and he stood just a little too close and took her hand. "Yes, Padme?"

"I'm quite alright and I'm touched that you were so concerned. You have always been a very good friend to me... In fact, I would love for you to meet someone. My fiancé is here with me today," she raised a hand to indicate the space behind Palo, who had rather suddenly dropped her hand.

"Your fiancé-" he began and trailed off when he turned around.

Padme suppressed a wince at the look of terror on his face. "You remember Lord Vader, Palo?" She tried to speak lightly, as though this was a normal introduction to a normal man. Her efforts were lost on Palo, who had taken a very large step backwards. "L-lord Vader," he stammered. "How nice to see you again." His flat delivery wouldn't have convinced a child.

Anakin smiled a smile that was a passable attempt at politeness, but a much better attempt at malice. Padme was suddenly worried.

"You are the painter, am I right?" he asked with quiet coldness - the tone of someone not at all interested in the answer to their query. Palo swallowed. "Yes, my Lord."

"Perhaps I shall commission you to paint something for our wedding... or for our home. Would you like that, Padme?" he walked towards her until he could drape an arm around her shoulders casually. Padme smiled at him with sickly sweetness and hoped he could see the daggers underneath it. He smiled back just as sweetly and looked back at Palo, who had begun to gape as though witnessing something impossible.

"I would be honored-" he began.

"Good, good," said Vader dismissively. "Now if you'll excuse us, I believe we have some things to accomplish, don't we, dear?" He lingered on the pet name ridiculously.

Palo was already backing towards the exit. "Of course. Good day, my Lord. Padme." He turned, and with a walk that threatened to become a run, he rushed through the opening in the wall.

"Oh for goodness' sake," muttered Padme, and followed him.

"Palo!" she called into the hallway. He stopped reluctantly, studying the doorway behind her for any trace of Lord Vader.

"Yes, Padme?" He relaxed slightly when no black-cloaked figure swooped down upon them.

"Palo, thank you so much for coming to check on me. It means the world to me to have such a good friend."

His face softened. "Of course, Padme."

"I'm sorry about-," she floundered for the right word, "-him," she finished with exasperation. "His people skills are not the best, I'm afraid."

Palo laughed and sounded much more like himself. "You're really going to marry him?"

"Yes," she said simply.

"You love him?" he asked with a trace more reluctance.

"Yes."

Something in his expression broke and disappeared and he looked up with a smile only slightly marred with pain. "Padme, I hope you'll be very happy." She believed him.

They embraced once, he kissed her hand, and left. Padme watched him turn the corner and pass out of sight and wondered why she didn't feel more sad to see him go.

"Anakin."

Her voice preceded her into the room and he detected a hint of frost in it. He wondered if this was the tone he would come to associate with very bad things. Steeling himself, he turned to face her and smiled what he hoped was a charming smile.

She drew near her empty desk where he had taken a seat. "Anakin, that wasn't very... nice," she said quietly. "I wish you had not scared him like that."

"He was holding your hand-"

"And you thought you'd scare him off? Defend your territory?" There was a trace of anger in her tone now, and Vader felt dismay. He did not want to fight with her.

"I didn't want him holding your hand, trying to get your attention, fawning all over you..."

"I told him that I was taken as quickly as I could. Or didn't you notice?"

"Yes," he muttered. It had so irritating to see him so obviously adoring Padme, the girl he loved like he had never loved anyone. The thought that she might notice his regard and realize that there were other, far better men whom she might love if she chose... suddenly he understood himself.

Fear.

He was afraid that he would lose her. Whether to the Emperor's wrath or the advances of a better man, he was afraid she would disappear from his life and leave a hole behind that could never be healed or filled. Padme must have perceived the direction of his thoughts because her expression softened and she took his hand. "What is it?" she asked gently.

"I just don't want to lose you," he said, such blunt honesty feeling strange on his lips. But it was evidently the right thing to say, because Padme drew close and pulled his face downward for a light kiss.

"I love you," she said with such quiet conviction that he would have believed her even if he had not also felt the echo of truth through the strange Force bond that connected them like a delicate thread.

"And I love you," he answered automatically, shocked at the ease and power of the confession. The truth of it burned quietly in his chest, warming him.

"Good," she whispered through a slightly teary smile. "Now help me with these things." And she began to pile the relics of her old life into a tiny box, the better to carry them with.

Bail Organa stood silently in what had once been the doorway to his office. Padme Naberrie, the best assistant he had ever had, was standing beside her desk just as she had every day for many, many years. Dressed in a plain, pale dress, her golden brown hair elegant but simple in a way that complemented both her Nubian heritage and Alderaanian ties, she looked no different than any other day at the office. For a moment he could almost imagine that he was coming in for a boring day of paperwork and bureaucratic hassles. On any other day he would have greeted Padme and been grateful to split some of the work with such a diligent assistant. But there were several obstacles to the illusion that briefly hung before his eyes like a drifting bubble. The burns, scrapes, and general chaos of the office screamed that a violent event had occurred... and Padme looked happier than he could ever remember. And, of course there was Lord Darth Vader standing beside her - her fiancé.

Darth Vader, dressed as always in harsh, black robes and carrying an aura of power that only he and the Emperor himself could boast. Hated by most and feared by all, Vader was the face of the Empire, the living proof that Palpatine's control could not be subverted, for he was the instrument of destruction to those who tried. And imposing man physically, he stood at least a head taller than the diminutive Senate assistant at his side.

Or at least he would have if he had not been stooping down to kiss her.

Bail watched in amazement as he embraced her tenderly, their whispered words much too muffled to hear from his distance. He felt the instinctive need to turn away from so intimate a moment, but he knew that moving away would only draw their attention. He stood silently and waited for a moment to announce himself.

Padme smiled at the man so many hated as though he was the source of the warm sunlight in the ruined room and her expression was mirrored in his. Bail, the trained politician and consummate professional, had to force himself not to gape. Padme moved away, her fingers trailing down Vader's arm, prolonging the contact as long as possible. She returned to a box on her desk and he suddenly realized that she was packing. Vader moved to help her.

Bail coughed lightly.

Padme started violently, but Vader was not distracted from his work and didn't even look up.

"Bail!" said Padme, and he heard the uncertainty in her voice. The coldness of their conversation in the hospital wing shone in her face like slivers of reflected light, and Bail sighed. She wasn't sure how he would react to Vader.

If he was completely honest with himself, he wasn't sure either.

He stepped forward, and Vader finally looked up.

"Lord Vader," Bail greeted him tonelessly. Vader straightened to his full, rather imposing height and the black robes fell around him like an unassailable wall. He nodded minutely.

"Senator Organa."

Padme's face had gone tight and Bail recognized the politician's mask of calm as she slid it into place. He held Vader's gaze.

"Padme is a treasured friend of myself and my family and she has been an invaluable asset to both me and my homeworld for many years. I cannot help but regret her departure, whatever the reason." He adopted the tone of ceremony with the ease of much practice. Vader remained impassive and expressionless; Padme had gone stiff.

Bail sighed and smiled what he hoped was a passable smile despite the sadness in it.

"My Lord, I believe congratulations are in order." And he held out his hand.

Vader and Padme were like ice sculptures suddenly granted the power of movement. The mask melted from her features, and he saw tears of gratitude in her eyes. Vader grasped Bail's hand firmly and shook it.

"My thanks, Senator." He did not smile, but he didn't scowl either, and Padme was smiling enough for the both of them. Bail was momentarily stunned by the happiness in her eyes. For so long, he had wished for Padme to have a life beyond her tragedies... he could not begrudge her this joy. Even if it was with Lord Vader.

Padme turned the smile that Bail had long wished to see toward Lord Vader. Bail was enormously satisfied when even his stony expression seemed to soften in the face of it.

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