Author's Note: Just wanted to make sure everyone knew this is an AU. I also changed this to PG-13 just to be safe.

Thanks again to everyone who has been reading and reveiwing, again, please keep up the constructive reviews! I really appreciate them.

daleia - You'll have to wait and see!

tigerlily18 - I don't beta, I feel I need someone to beta me though! Haha. Anyway, MistiWhitesun has helped me greatly, check with her/him. I'm not sure if he/she does beta though.

Disclaimer: The Star Wars Universe was created and is owned by George Lucas, this is just my imagination at work, based on the universe he has created. If this story is similar to another, it's pure coincidence.

Note: Thoughts are in italics.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Stop this," Padmé stood up from the couch, turning toward Vader. "This is enough. I need to know why I am here." He stood up next to her, the two of them standing very close to each other.

"It's not like you can leave, Padmé."

"That-that's not what I asked. Answer me," she insisted, stumbling over her words and once again looking down at her feet. He didn't take his eyes off of her, and she could feel his intense gaze on her.

"You cannot possibly understand," the Dark Lord explained, pacing around the room. Running his fingers through his short hair, he looked distressed.

"It's not like I can leave, Anakin," she began, getting a dirty look from him in response to using his former name. "I can try to understand. I have time," she replied, smiling at him. A sudden wave of sympathy for him came over her. Padmé could see the little boy from Tatooine again, just something about him at that moment. Sitting down, she waited for him to tell her whatever it was that bothered him; whatever it was that she could seemingly not understand.

"People change, Padmé. I have changed. But," he started to say, his words suddenly having an impact on him. It was as if he was morphing from Darth Vader back to
Anakin Skywalker. "But I will always love you." Padmé blushed when he said that, as she wasn't sure if he yet felt that way towards her.

"I love you too," she mumbled under her voice, not making eye contact with him.

"Love is weak!" he exclaimed, turning back into Darth Vader. "I'm not weak, Padmé, you know that. I cannot love. But I still need you here with me."

"You're living a lie then. You are not who you claim."

"I am a Sith! I will always be one. This," he continued, waving his hands around in gestures, "This is who I am. Anakin Skywalker lived a lie. He held his feelings in, his anger and hatred. That is not who I am."

"I don't believe you. This is anyone but the Anakin Skywalker I know, you--"

"Don't ever use that name again," he hissed, interupting her. "I knew you wouldn't understand!"

"You don't even give me a chance! You don't want me to understand! Stop feeling sorry for yourself, Anakin. I want to help you, but you don't even want that!" she snapped back as he moved toward the couch.

"Don't ever talk to me like that again." Kneeling down by the couch, he looked into her eyes. Slapping her cheek, that eerie, angry look of his returned as tears flowed from her big brown eyes. Astonished, surprised, she turned to him and melted in his arms. What am I doing? He just slapped me and I'm hugging him?

"I'm sorry Padmé, I'm sorry," Darth Vader apologized, holding her close to him. He ran his fingers through her curls, as her tears slid down her cheeks and on to his cloak. "I love you, so much," he muttered to her.

"I love you too," Padmé whispered to him, holding him tighter. "There's nothing better in the world for me to do than be with you. We can't deny it any longer."

"I won't lose you again, Padmé."

- - - -

Jobal lay asleep in bed next to her husband Ruwee. Finally home after being at the medical center for so long with Sola, it was nice to get some sleep. The moon cast streaks of light in the bedroom, highlighting a few gray hairs in her straight, chocolate shaded hair. The beeping of her comlink on the nightstand woke her as she jumped out of bed.

"Jobal Naberrie," she answer as she always did. Wondering who would be calling at such an hour, she waited for a response.

"Mom? It's Padmé," Padmé replied on the other end. "I'm sorry I didn't call sooner, I--"

"Padmé! We've been worried!" she exclaimed, waking Ruwee. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes, everything is fine, but I. .I can't make it to Naboo. I'm, uh, busy. How is Sola?"

"She had two beautiful children, premature of course, but she did have a boy and a girl, Sirté and Jarred. She really misses you and wants you here," Jobal replied, also wanting her there.

"I can't wait to see them! I want to be there, too. I'll make it there as soon as possible. Tell everyone I love them, I miss them, and I'm okay. Bye!"

Sad to not be able to talk longer, Jobal set the comlink on her nightstand and slid back under the covers. Turning to Ruwee, she smiled. "She's okay. I knew she was okay all along. I wonder why she cannot come though."

- - - -

Padmé sat in his lap, her arms around him, burying her head in his chest. The warmth and love that came from him was so amazingly wonderful that she could not believe he was still the same evil man he claimed to be. They didn't have to say a word, they just looked into each other's eyes and knew what the other was thinking.

"I'm tired," she whispered, standing up and stretching. Her flowy silk nightgown fit her perfectly and looked so beautiful on her. And it wasn't revealing, which she liked. Standing up next to her, Vader leaned down and kissed her softly, and this time she returned it.

"You can sleep here," he said, pulling her into the simply decorated office which also served as a guest room, though he never had guests. "I'll be across the hall." Smiling she pulled him closer to her.

"I love you," she whispered, kissing him on the cheek. He touched her bruised cheek, apologizing once again for the minor injury. "Goodnight," she smiled, slowly closing the bedroom door as he headed for his room.

"Goodnight Padmé. I'm glad you chose wisely."

I almost forgot - he is going to expect me to join the Empire!