Padme waited patiently outside of the newly appointed chancellor's office. Darth Vader...a man to feared among all men. She had heard over the common chatter that he had once been human, a man with warm blood and a beating heart. She had even been curious enough to try to find some picture of him from those days. She must have searched dozens of holo reports and hundreds more in the archives but had found nothing. Darth Vader's past had seemed non-existence. For all she knew he could be anywhere from seventeen to a hundred. He had no birth certificate, no profile, not even an ID. Nothing. He was just Vader. A machine born ten years ago when he had first appeared and was now chancellor. Padme sat up quickly as the doors to his office had opened and a crowd of delegates came pouring out. Padme waited to be address and entered the room. Once she did Vader was faced toward the window. Taking in the view with his prosthetic eyes she thought. Until Vader had turned to face her and she could see he was struggling with something on the side of his mask. Once he saw her however, he stopped his hands and stood steadily in front of her, waiting for her to speak no doubt.
"Chancellor Vader." Padme addressed him.
"Senator Amidala, How may I help you?"
"Actually chancellor I think we can help each other."
Vader's mask turned slightly in curiosity. "Oh."
Padme took a seat across from him and waited till he had seated himself to continue. "I saw your speech on the holo news yesterday and was curious about something."
"Yes." Vader asked intently.
"Do you really plan to turn the empire back into the republic? .after all that you've done you really think it's just that easy?"
"Milady, I don't believe that any of this will be easy and I certainly don't expect it to be. I just know what I want and what I can do to make it a reality."
"Do you really think people will warm up to you so easily? You've been feared from the galaxy for over ten years. Don't you think you should do something to make them think of you more ...humanly?"
Vader straightened curiously. "What do you have in mind senator?"
Padme swallowed the lump stuck in her throat and continued. "I propose that we get married."
Vader was a little taken back by her motion. He had expected this at all. "May I ask why you think we should get married."
"Of course. As you know the people have always depicted me as a woman of peace among others. I have earned their loyalty and trust over the years and I feel...that it would benefit us equally."
Vader nodded in agreement. "What exactly do you get out of this exchange?"
"A fair say in whatever you are planning for the newly revised republic. I believe it should be turned back into its former glory."
"And you think I don't." Vader asked annoyingly.
"I think... that you don't know what exactly this republic was before you destroyed it. I think...I know that I do and I want to be apart of making the economy as it should be. I haven't worked my whole life to the greatness of the republic and not be involved when its fate is decided.
Vader entered her thought for a moment. Not because he didn't believe her but because he want to see. T o see that maybe somewhere she had felt something for him. It could be pity it could be sadness, hell it could even be hatred. Anything. Once he found what he was looking for he turned to her without saying anything and nodded his agreement.
"When exactly do you propose to be married?"
Padme was shocked that he was actually taking her literally. "I suggest as soon as possible. I have to go back to Naboo tomorrow to clear up some issues but when I come back..." She was cut off.
"We'll get married there."
"What?"
"That is you home planet is it not."
"Yes but..."
"Then it's settled. We will marry on Naboo with all Naboo customs. Although I do realize that this is merely a business transaction I do still want you to have a wedding that is proper for you. Even if it is with me."
Padme was a little confused. The murderous Vader cared for her to keep her heritage on her wedding day. Why would he do that? Did he...care for her? Padme perished the thought this was Darth Vader the ruthless right hand of the emperor. He could never care for anyone but himself.
"Thank you." Padme said before retreating to the door. She was almost half way their when Vader called out her name.
"Padme," Padme turned to face him. "I want you to know that I will be removing my mask at the wedding. I feel it is improper for me not to kiss you at the end of the ceremony. The people might take that the wrong way."
Padme thought for a moment and nodded in agreement." As you wish my lord." with that Padme left and she could have sworn he had whispered something under his breath she could quiet make out. It sounded like a name or maybe a place. Anakin.