Author's Note: Just wanted to make sure everyone knew this is an AU. I think I'm probably going to just write a bunch and hold off on posting for awhile so that everyone can catch up on chapters and reveiwing.

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.

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Hours seemed to pass as Padmé sat alone at the door, just waiting for Anakin to come for her. She wanted him to scoop her up in his arms and hold her tight - and everything to be okay. But that would never happen; she knew that much. If he would lie about something little like apologizing, what would stop him from lying about his feelings?

Standing up, she walked into "her bedroom"; his guest bedroom. The walk in closet was empty except for her robe and the dress she wore to dinner the night before. She changed into her navy blue, empire waisted robe out of the black, silk nightgown. Slipping her navy dress slippers on, Padmé walked out in to the living room. There he sat, obviously annoyed and impatient. Turning to her, he stood up and faced her direction.

"Where are you going?" the Dark Lord demanded, a look so angry, so evil.

"Home," she replied, trying to be strong once again; not letting fear get in the way of what she knew she had to do.

"This is your home now, Padmé!"

"No! It's not! It's not," her screams turning into whispers as he approached her. Cupping her face in his hands, he kissed her, taking her breath away - literally. The silence was painful and unbearable, but for once it wasn't Padmé who had to break that silence.

"You can't leave me."

Padmé scrunched up her face, wondering what exactly that meant. "Why can't I?"

Sighing, it was almost as if he didn't want to say it. "I need you. Here, with me," he whispered while looking down.

"What's wrong, Anakin? You can tell me," she whispered back, deeply concerned. Holding his face in her hands, she looked into those crystal blue eyes of his; full of sadness, anger, and fear. "Tell me," she muttered right before softly kissing him and holding him in her arms.

"I try, I do! So very hard, but," Vader, though at the moment seemingly back to sweet Anakin, replied in a frustrated tone.

"But what?"

"His pull; his grip on me is unbearable. I can't break free, Padmé. I can't do it alone!"

Padmé looked deep into his eyes, something suspicious worrying her. Something that wasn't right. Moments passed as she just stared at him, concerned and yet. .some indescribable feeling of falsehood coming from his lips either deceiving her or letting on to something.

"You're lying to me," she flat out replied, that weird sixth sense feeling cluing her in to the situation. "I can't believe you."

"I'm not lyin--"

"Yes, yes you are. Don't you dare lie to me again, Anakin Skywalker!"

"And what if I do? Huh? What are you going to do to me? You have no power over me whatsoever. I believe you are the one in subjection to me, Padmé Amidala Naberrie," he snapped back, pushing her against the wall. The pain of impact ran down her spine, stinging and aching. Cringing, she tried to push against him only to be pinned even further. "Don't ever call me Anakin Skywalker again. He is dead!" Darth Vader yelled, so much anger and hate emitting from his body.

"You can be sure I will not; you are nothing like him now," Padmé gritted her teeth to try and help the pain cease. "Vader, please let me go, please!" she cried out, as he smiled; pleased that she now knew who he really was - or who he had convinced himself he was. Releasing her from his grip, he still had her trapped with his hands resting on the wall, his arms encircling her. "Sola. .she had twins. . .I must go and see her," she muttered in between deep breaths.

"You may spend two days on Naboo," he answered after moments of silence - something she had grown accustom to. "But then you must return here."

"Thank you," Padmé replied softly, relieved that even though she had not fully escaped his clutches, she would have a chance to see her niece and nephew for the first time.

"That way you can also bring your belongings here."

"Why would I need to do that?" she asked, playing dumb to hear what he would say. Annoyed, he turned and looked at her in disbelief.

"After we marry you won't be returning to Naboo often," the Dark Lord responded, almost surprised that she didn't already know that. Her eyes widening, he found out that she, in fact, did not know what he had planned.

"Marry you? I will not be marrying you, you've got to be kidding me," Padmé was almost laughing at him. "You aren't serious, are you?" When he nodded, she burst out into hysterical laughter. "You are insane!"

"You're just in denial, Padmé. You know you love me, and love is weak. You will give in soon enough."

"And you live in a dream world, where anything you ask for you can demand. Come back to reality," she stated, almost whispering her last sentence as she reminded herself of that conversation at the Lake Retreat. Come back to it, Anakin. Come back.

A slight smile came to his face as he reminisced, that smile quickly turning to that expressionless look that always adorned his face anymore. Glancing over at her, he avoided eye contact. "I'll take you to Naboo now."