AU: Well here is the next chapter and again I thank all of you who read my story. I am going on vacation for 2 weeks and so this may be the last chapter until I get back. While I would love it if Life revolved around my writing unfortuately my writing must revolve around my life and this week will be very busy. I hope this satisfies you for a little while. Love you guys.

Chapter 5

Vader was in a very good mood. He had just returned from a particularly successful mission. He loved it when the planet conceded to his power before he had to destroy the whole thing. If he had to wreak havoc it always caused more problems because it ended up being years before the planet became useful to them again. Fortunately it had only happened to a few of the planets. They were still trying to rebuild and he had to squelch any further uprisings so he had to travel to those planets often.

Today he was meeting with his master and they were going to survey the work being done on the Death Star. First he had to deliver some prisoners to the cellblock. Usually he let this up to the storm troopers but not this time. This time he had a force strong prisoner. He knew the Girl's skills were not honed well but she could easily trick a storm trooper with her feeble skills. His master was quite interested in this prisoner so nothing could go wrong.

He had delivered her to her cell and he was walking through the halls of the Cellblock area when 2 troopers came carrying a body on a stretcher. Brown curly hair had fallen from the top of the stretcher, hair so much like Padme's. Suddenly a flood of pictures swept through his mind. Pictures of Padme standing in Watto's junk shop looking so innocent, the way she looked after their first kiss, the softness of her eyes when she told him for the first time that she loved him, And then the worse one was the face of horror she had given him when she had realized that he had killed all the Jedi. That face was one he could have erased forever, if he had been skilled at erasing things from his mind.

"My lord, Are you alright?"

The troopers voice brought him back to the present. Vader put on his stern face again and in a commanding voice asked the trooper who was under the sheet.

"I do not know, my lord, I was just told by the dr. to take the body to the crematory."

"Well remove the sheet. I wish to see who has died."

The trooper turned and removed the sheet. Vader Felt a wave of shock start from his head and travel all the way down his body. He staggered slightly but regained his composure quickly. He had been Vader for 2 and a half years and he had seen many horrendous things. (Mostly things he had caused) But this was something no amount of training had prepared him for; because on that stretcher was Padme.

He had to get a hold of himself because he needed to meet the emperor soon and he could not be in this state at their meeting. It was definitely wrong to have his troopers see his heart worn out there on his sleeve. He reached into the force and drew a steadying calmness as he breathed in and then back out. His eyes softly looked at his beloved again and then he faced the trooper and waved his hand in front of his face as he said, "You did not see my reaction just now."

"I did not see your reaction just now."

"You will take the body to my chambers."

"I will take the body to your chambers."

"You will tell no one where the body was taken."

"I will tell no one where the body was taken."

"Good work trooper. Go about your work."

The trooper left Vader and headed toward his chamber.

Vader slipped into an empty room and sat down. How could this be? He had seen holovid of Padme's Funeral. Well he knew what to do about that, he was going to review the vid and then see what was true. He took a deep breath and gathered the force around him and he cleared his mind of all thoughts of Padme. He only wanted to think about meeting the emperor and getting through that meeting in one piece. Vader did not want Palpatine to know that he had found Padme. He was not sure but somehow he knew Palpatine had been behind whatever had happened to Padme.

He walked out of the room as vicious Vader again, and greeted Palpatine as always. The meeting went well and Palpatine was pleased with the progress made on the Death Star. Palpatine never indicated that he knew about Vader finding Padme. Vader hoped it was because he had done and excellent job of hiding his emotions. He bid farewell to the Emperor because Palpatine was needed on Courscant.

As soon as the emperor was gone, Vader rushed to his quarters. The troopers had put Padme on his bed. He sat beside her and picked up her hand. He was shocked to find it warm. He slid his hand down to her wrist and felt her light pulse. He had wanted the chance to say goodbye to her but things were different all of the sudden. Now what should he do? Well one thing for sure he did not have to take her to the crematory.

Well he needed to check on something right now. So he went out to the living part of his quarters and sat at the computer. He brought up the file of Padme's funeral and when it came to the part where it showed her face he zoomed in and had it freeze framed. He stared at the picture never understanding why he had not seen that it was Sabe and not Padme before. How could he be fooled into not even recognizing his own wife? He would get answers now. Padme would surely tell him what happened to her once she woke up. He thought about her lying in his bed and he had to go and make sure it was not a dream. So he went to the bedroom and stood staring at her for a while.

He could not believe this. He was staring at the most beautiful person he had ever seen. She was gaunt and sallow but it was still her and he knew he would never let her go now. She had always been loving and understanding of him and he hoped she would be the same now. Well she just had to be he said to himself. He felt the urge to sit beside her and touch her; so he did. As he sat there something happened that had not happened for 2 and a half years; he started to cry. Great I am Vader the most fear man in the galaxy and I am crying like a baby right now. He lay down beside her and that seemed to bring a peace just as it used to for him. He fell asleep with her in his arms.