AN:

Travis Brown – Well Obi-Wan is already mentioned in this chapter so you'll kinda know what he's been up to, and then... you'll see :D

Rise and Fall

I always said that I was gonna make it. Now it's plain for everyone to see
But this game I'm in don't take no prisoners, just casualties
I know that everything is gonna change, even the friends I knew before, they go
But this dream is the life I've been searching for

Started believing that I was the greatest – my life was never gonna be the same
'Cause with the power came a different status. That's when things change
Now I'm too concerned with all the things I own. I'm beginning to lose my integrity

Padme woke up to find the coldness of his metal hand around her contrasting with the warmth from the blanket. She must've fallen into the deepest slumber after they made love because she couldn't for the life of her remember him placing a blanket over them. She already missed the oblivion, the bliss of last night as she looked over at him. The morning after is when the body's fire is put out by the mind's flood of thoughts. She didn't even know what to call him – Anakin? Vader? She knew she saw Anakin last night but who was he now? Will the same face show up when he wakes up. Will he remember the promise his body made to hers – one last time – would he finally let her go?

It was all so much easier last night when she was led by desire, familiarity, and comfort, and could remain oblivious to the consequences – they seemed like a world away.

She got up, pulling down her creased nightgown that had ridden up around her waist.

His eyes flickered open, watching her. Her curly hair still wild and tousled as she tried to tame it behind her ears.

"Where you going?" His groggy voice called for her softly. "Come here."

"I want to get back before they wake up." Padme muttered, barely looking at him.

"They'll be fine." He reassured with his arms outstretched for her. She ignored the invitation, her eyes roaming about the floor, looking for shoes or slippers – only to remember she wasn't wearing any when she came in here.

"Stay." He sat up on the reclined chair that still laid flat. She wondered how they managed to fall asleep on it last night. Looking at it now, it didn't look large enough for two people.

Taking her hand he pulled her towards him.

She stood in between his legs reluctantly. Unable to look into those deep blue eyes that said so much.

"Padme, last night was..."

"Yeah..." She agreed. Her discreet, wispy tone matched his. They didn't have an adjective to describe what they both felt so viscerally, they'd need at least a dozen to start. Tumultuous, beautiful, heightened, crazy, passionate, dysfunctional, sweet, tainted, loving, painful... to name a few.

"Look I know what I said... but," His strong arms encircled her slender waist, his neck didn't have to crane far back to meet her at eye level – even though he was sitting and she was standing. "I want my wife back." His inclination to remain tightly woven to her sparked – reborn, the closer he got to her, physically, spiritually.

She glanced down at the floor as he held onto her. So much for the rationale behind his request last night: just this once... she thought, realizing they were both foolish in their desires. Both wanting their cake and eating it too.

"It was a nice night." She reasoned diffidently, demurely, shrugging her shoulders. "Let's just. . .leave it at that."

She watched his expression change before her eyes. A sudden storm over his features, rancorous stares, exhibiting such acrimony, instability in a sea of confusion.

"Oh." He let go of her, mumbling to himself. "You don't want to be with me."

His eyes flashed darkly. She stepped back instinctively for self-preservation, watching him fetch the pair of loose-fitting trousers that were in the open cabinet next to his chair.

She heard a loud thump when his hand landed on the handle bars of the reclined chair, as he pulled himself up. He took slow, determined, intimidating strides towards her, backing her into a corner. "So why'd you come here last night then? Pity?!" He barked. His voice laced with venom.

Her eyes took on a wider shape. Her heart catches, still shocked by his ability to twist, steal, and drown all innocence. Her face was awash with disappointment. But that was his thing, obsessively corrupting anything pure about himself.

At the flip of a switch, he's gone dark, cold. Only he could turn in the blink of an eye.

"Huh?!" His palm slammed against the wall beside her head, making her jump. And he hated himself for it. After a taste, a touch of her, despite his immense power, he was reduced to a beggar for her, trying to hold her light and her love captive – here with him – as he was yet to fully tap into his own. He felt it last night though, his potential, his humanity, but the thought of her disappearing left him insecure again. He moved a great leap forward only to fall a few steps back. He wasn't selfless enough (light enough) to let go.

She shook her head, unrelenting in her determination to not give way to threats or outbursts. Too many dead-end roads.

"Okay you want me to come out and say it?" Her glowering eyes landed on his. "I don't believe a word that comes out of your mouth. But last night I had a chance to be with the guy who promised me that he'd leave the Jedi order and our life would finally start. I wanted to spend a night with him. But as soon as we wake up, he's gone. And you're feeling sorry for yourself?!" She scorned. "There are no victims in this room! We made our choices..."

His fiery hostility accompanied each struggling breath that cut the air between them, and her eyes began to water as they aimed at his lips, waiting for the lashing of his spitfire tongue to sting her, be mean, vengeful. It was hopeless being hopeful.

"I knew deep down you were never going to settle for an ordinary life." She sighed with acceptance. "But I was in love with you so I wanted to believe it... And even if you did, you'd always be looking over the fence – wanting something more." Despite the very real feeling of mourning that weighed her down, she pulled herself together. "Well, now you got more. So. . .let me go."

His mouth tightly drawn for a moment, actually trying to exercise control, and she could tell it pained him to utter the words he was about to say. "You slept with me for your freedom."

Looking up at him, she did her best to prevent the spilling of the tears that threatened her. "You know the answer to that. You know what it meant to me... Let it be a great way to say goodbye."

She studied his face, watching the way his tightened jaw loosened, waiting for a response. She could tell he wanted to retire the angst, give her that relief.

But, immobilized by their harrowing reality, he wouldn't look her in the eye. "I can't."

She closed her eyes as a tear itched to be released and let herself out the door. He didn't try to stop her. His metal hand remained sealed to the wall and his eyes found the empty spot where she had stood.

I live my life in chains; got my hands in chains. And I can't stick with the cards that I got with a deal like this

Given advice that was clearly wrong. The type that seems to make me feel so right
But some things you may find can take over your life

Burnt all my bridges, now I've run out of places, and there's nowhere left for me to turn
I should have learned from all those times I didn't walk away, when I knew that it was best to go
Is it too late to show you the shape of my heart?

Vader formally greeted Emperor Palpatine once he landed on Mustafar.

"Lord Vader." That adenoidal voice may be jarring but it kept Vader out of his own thoughts.

"Yes, Master."

"It's interesting." Palpatine began, walking into Vader's castle. Vader followed him.

"What is?"

"Obi-Wan was found sneaking around the Inquisitors' Headquarters." Palpatine forwent another step, causing Vader to stop in his tracks while the Emperor ordered the guards that accompanied him to leave them.

The fading sounds of the guards' footsteps gave the two of them some clarity. It gave Vader time to process what he just heard. The news astounded him as much as it infuriated him. Obi-Wan would walk right into the belly of the beast.. to save his family.

And Palpatine could tell that Vader didn't know any of this. "I'm surprised it would slip your mind to mention it."

Palpatine resumed the stroll, a methodical, intentional glide.

"I will have him transferred here." Vader confirmed impassively, as he caught up with him.

"Perhaps you're not up for the task." Palpatine casually pointed out. The Emperor had a way of making his words sound so airily light on the surface with such a heavy, conniving and superior undertone – and they both knew Palpatine noticed his conflict. "You seem. . .distracted."

Vader's stiff upper lip wasn't helping. "I do my duties just fine."

Palpatine's eyes finally locked with Vader's, despite the noticeable height difference. "You know what I like about us, Lord Vader? You can't lie to me and I can't lie to you... Make no mistake, we do – we lie all the time. But we can't."

Palpatine took a seat. "It shows if you respect their abilities, you can work with those you despise."

Was this a threat? Was he reminding Vader of what he was capable of?

Vader watched as the left side of Palpatine's mouth turned upward. The Emperor made no real attempt to hide a smirk.

Effortlessly –and to the casual eye, unbothered– Vader spoke a guttural sound from deep in his throat. "They can't hurt you."

"Quite the opposite." Palpatine corrected. His punitive glare unwavering. "But at least you'll see it coming."

Vader clicked his tongue. It was becoming difficult for him to maintain his dissimulation. A practice he thought had become part of his nature for the better part of the last decade.

The Emperor often admired Vader's inscrutable spirit, it made his Enforcer an even greater threat to their enemies – impossible to defeat. But what really stroked his ego was knowing Vader's weaknesses and how to exploit them. Only he could govern and coerce the heartless, wise, stoic, ruthless force to be reckoned with that is Darth Vader. There's always a bigger fish.

Vader turned to leave, stopped only by the sight of Palpatine's lips twisting into a wry smile. He could feel a battle of wits being waged from six feet away.

The lesser of two evils. At least that's how Vader described himself. It was the silver lining. At least I'm not as bad as him. But who was he really? He has been reduced to a shadow of his old self, hiding behind the hideousness of his reality and, ever since, everyone has had to endure his choices.

So in actuality which was worse? He thought. The man who could debauch your morality, or the man who would debauch his own.

Vader was just about to walk out the room but Palpatine made sure they were on the same page. "How's the training coming along?"

Vader halted without turning back around.

Right there, that was how the Emperor was going to get him. And he saw then just how deep his hole was. Palpatine never goes without a plan. And without realizing it, Vader himself dug these graves, ever since he brought his family here.

And you can easily gamble your life away
Second after second, and the day by day
You play the game or you walk away

Now I know I made mistakes
Think I don't care – but you don't realize what this means to me
So let me have just one more chance
I'm not the man I used to be... used to be

Padme dropped back onto the couch as her kids ran up to her. She was surprised they were up this early.

"Come here! Come cuddle with me." She sang, wrapping her arms around them as the twins snuggled up either side of her.

Luke observed his mother, wanting to bring up her mysterious disappearance this morning.

"You were with dad weren't you?" He waited for an answer as his mother lowered her head. "...You said you'd be honest."

"Yeah." She responded sheepishly. "I went to see him."

"Are you getting back together?" Leia asked

Padme met them with a glow, a warm but faded smile. "I know you'd like that." Most kids would. And she didn't want to let them down.

"But. . .no." She breathed out anticipating the backlash. "...Are you disappointed?"

She appreciated the calmness that came from her children as they collected their thoughts and feelings. They seemed to be matching her energy – giving into this comforting couch experience.

"Sometimes I just wonder what it would've been like." Leia ruminated. "What he was like before..."

Padme felt a pinch of regret, realizing how much her children didn't say all these years when she'd cut off any dialogue that piqued their interest. There was such an emotional void they yearned for her to fill with conversation, memories, and connection. She had to talk now. She had to keep her promise. They had a right to know where they came from. She had to get better at this.

She held onto her children even tighter, resting her head on Leia's while her fingers drew circles on Luke's arm.

"Your dad was. . .magic. There's no better word to describe him. He was a ball of energy just like you two, and sometimes I had to slow him down just like you two!" She allowed herself to laugh and... reminisce. "It was a fairytale. Like the ones you read." She turned to Leia.

Padme remembered falling in love so hard and so fast. It was a passion she had only ever dreamed of – never really saw until he came along. She brought a sense of safety and stability to Anakin's life, and he brought her spontaneity, excitement. It was the perfect blend for a marriage.

Even if they didn't understand it all, the twins enjoyed listening to their mother talk about him. They were attuned to her effort. And it was cathartic for her too, to choose to remember Anakin in this way.

"I was his anchor, he was my adventure." Padme reflected. "So... even when it gets hard for me to talk about, just know you were born out of love. True, romantic, sweet, kind love. And I'm so sorry I couldn't make that last forever."

"Maybe you could have." Luke suggested kindly but Padme confidently shook her head.

"Towards the end we fought a lot. He stopped telling me everything... Your father always thought he could fix everything himself. He wouldn't ask for help." Padme's words no longer sounded like she was simply relaying information. She was wholeheartedly letting herself acknowledge it, feel it, accept it, and let it go. "We weren't each other's safe space anymore."

She now held their attentive eyes in hers, watching a curiosity, a melancholy – and a sea of gratitude for her openness – flood their faces. "And then I had you, and that morning when I woke up in the hospital, I knew I had to keep you safe. Nothing will ever take the place of your father, and he'd always be in your lives. But our home wasn't safe, and I wasn't going to put you through that."

Luke and Leia were taking it in – less disappointed and more in a state of limbo.

Padme concluded it all with a sigh and a slight chuckle. "And well I guess it's easier to forgive people when you think they're dead."

Luke sat forward to get a full view of her mother's face. He could tell her words, while intended to make light of the darkness and make a heavy subject easier to digest, were really a way of protecting the tone of their home. "Do you still love him?"

Padme's lips parted as her memories flashed before her eyes. Eventually offering her kids a weakened half-smile. "I always will... Your dad was the love of my life. And that's enough for me. That love now lives on through you... Every time you choose to be happy, you're keeping it alive."

Their expressions brightened and smiles slipped out. And their heartfelt moment was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"That's him!" Leia gasped, quite excitedly.

"Alright, alright. Calm down." Padme teased, getting up.

She made her way to the door. Taking a breath before she faced Vader, she decided to put on a brave face in front of her children, and temporarily disregard their morning that was bereft of hope.

She opened the door and swallowed hard. Staring back at her was...

"Palpatine!"

"Senator Amidala."

Sometimes in life you feel the fight is over
And it seems as though the writing's on the wall
But once your picture becomes tainted
It's what they call the rise and fall

I know that the spades are the swords of a soldier
I know that the clubs are weapons of war
I know that diamonds mean money for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart

Sting - Shape Of My Heart (Mashup)

Craig David - Rise & Fall

Sugababes - Shape