Blinded By Love

By Serena

A/N: Shorter chapter, but I'm driving myself crazy trying to update other stories. Sorry. :)


I couldn't help it – I was shaking. I rested on my hands and knees, staring sightlessly at the floor. I felt, heard, sensed so many different things all at once – it was so hard to concentrate.

"Ty?" I whispered among the excited murmur of noise. "Ty?" I called louder, trying to keep the panic out of my voice.

No reply.

"Ty!" I cried out, lifting my head just a little bit.

The floor beneath me vibrated suddenly. Footsteps. Strong, powerful, commanding footsteps. Headed right towards me. That mysterious rasping breathing grew closer until it was right above me. The footsteps stopped only feet away. I raised my head up, wishing not for the first time that I could see.

I felt an odd mix of dread, anticipation, and a strange, dark emptiness as I stared at the figure towering over me.

The murmur of voices had fallen to a deathly silence. The rasping, monotonous breathing above grew even louder, vibrating in my ears.

"Who's there?" I whispered.

The crinkle of leathery fabric. The breathing drawing closer. Then, two iron-like hands grasped my shoulders and drew me up. My legs were like jelly, but the mysterious stranger held me as if I were no heavier than a small child. I felt safe and frightened all at once.

"Who are you?" I breathed. Against my better judgment, my hands crept up and gently touched the face of the stranger.

The breathing abruptly became hoarse and uneven.

I touched cold metal and nearly drew back, startled. Smooth, rounded sockets – the eyes? Then, my hands trembling, over the cheeks, then down to the ribbed piece of metal or whatever it was for the mouth, then across to a smooth, rounded skull that flared out at the edges.

A mask, I realized with horror. It was a mask.

Wait.

The rough breathing. Tall. Frightening, almost demonic mask.

No. No, no, no, no.

I felt the blood drain from my face.

Darth Vader. Sith Lord. Right hand of the Emperor.

Murderer.

He's a murderer. He killed Anakin. He's hunting my children.

No. NO.

"No!" I cried, wrenching myself from his grasp. I stumbled back but managed to keep my footing. His hand touched my shoulder again, but I pulled back even further, shaking my head.

"Wait," he urged. It sounded more like a command. His voice was low, deep, resonating, and shook my core. It was so dark, so cold, so grim. And yet… a hint of warmth… a touch of familiarity in that black tone…

No. He killed Anakin. He killed Anakin.

"You monster," I rasped. "You monster!" My chest was heaving. "You killed him! You killed him!" I was screaming now, letting all my turbulent emotions loose. Nothing else mattered now. "You murderer! You… you…"

Everything came crashing down; and faint, I collapsed to the ground. But a pair of strong, thinner, warm arms grabbed me, gently enfolding me in their embrace.

"Anakin," I mumbled blearily.

The man holding me suddenly gasped almost inaudibly. His grip trembled slightly. I felt uncertainty, incredulity, and utter, complete joy. "Mother?" a warm voice whispered.

I froze. Let out a choked breath of disbelief. Reached up and touched a warm, gentle face. His ears. His cheeks. His hair. His eyes. Forgot everything else. Forgot Vader.

This couldn't be happening.

"Your eyes…" I choked back a sob. "What color are your eyes?"

"Blue," he murmured.

Tears escaped my eyes and trickled down my face. My palms lay against his cheeks. "Luke?" I whispered. My lips were trembling.

"Mother…"

"Luke!" I sobbed, and wrapped my arms around his neck, burying my face into his shoulder. "My son!"

"Mom…" His hands tightened on my back, and I felt hot tears seeping into my jacket.

Luke… my baby boy.

Everything was going to be all right, I knew then. It would be.

Unfortunately, I should've known that peace can only last for so long.

"Padme!"

Ty's voice ripped me from my snug egg of warm elation, and I turned in Luke's tight hug towards Ty's voice. "Ty?" I said uncertainly.

"Padme, are you all right?" Fast footsteps ran up to me. Ty's hand touched my back protectively. A little too protectively. "Padme, I – ughhh!" His hand tore away from my back as I heard a sick choking sound.

"Ty? Ty! What's going on?" I demanded. "Luke! What's happening?"

"No!" I heard Luke cry. "No, stop it! Fa—Vader, stop! You're killing him!"

Killing Ty? Why is Vader killing Ty?

The quiet that had been only minutes before had now escalated to loud murmurs.

"No!" I screamed. "Stop it! You're hurting him!" And then, for no reason at all, another set of words burst out of me. "You're hurting me!"

Ty let out a rasping cough, and I heard his body drop to the ground.


TBC...

Yep, that was pretty short. I'm sorry - I'll try to make the next update longer. :)

- Serena