Padmé woke up with a jolt. Gasping for air as if she was clinging to life. She grabbed the bed sheets and pulled them up while silent breathy sobs escaped from her throat. She took a deep breath and prayed it was all a dream. That it was all just a terrible nightmare.
She got up, shaken, and went to the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea. She was wearing a dark blue satin nightgown that went down to her swollen ankles. It draped nicely over her baby bump. She grabbed a kettle and filled it with water before placing it onto the stove to heat up.
She sat down at the table while waiting. She had a terrible headache. She felt as though her head would burst from a ghost wrapping around her neck. Slowly, tears ran down her cheeks again. She let her head fall into her hands and wiped her tears.
The sound of the kettle startled her. She got up and walked to the stove. She turned off the heat and took the kettle over to a prepared cup with a teabag waiting for her eagerly.
The heat of the cup was nice on her hands. The warm, hot tea made her insides feel soft.
Her moment of peace however was broke by the sound of a door opening. She jerked around looking towards the door.
"Anakin?" She said in a breathy whisper.
He ran towards her and pulled her into a hug.
"My love, how are you feeling?" He asked. Padmé couldn't tell if her dream was reality or not, as the apartment looked exactly like her normal one and more importantly, Anakin sounded kind. His words treated her like fine china and his touch made Padmé melt into his arms. He was soft.
"I-I am not really sure." She said unsteadily.
Anakin placed his hands onto her stomach and knelt down to kiss it.
"is the baby alright? I was dreadfully worried. It kept me up all night." He said. He searched for her eyes. But when they met Padmé's, she stepped back. There they were. The yellow pools that took over his loving blue eyes. A loud sob arose from inside her. She shrieked.
"it was all real!" She said in shock. "N-no. It can't be. No!" She cried.
"come here my love." Anakin grabbed her hands. Padmé let go. She was so confused. She desperately wanted it to all be fake.
"Anakin, where are we?" She said softly.
He looked down at the ground before squeezing her hands. "You're safe and that's all that matters."
Padmé stepped back. "Anakin, where are we." She said annunciating each word while speaking slowly.
He didn't want to answer. "Mustafar." He said. Padmé brought her hands to her mouth. She walked backwards before tripping and falling onto the bed. Her vision was blurred as tears rushed as if racing down her cheeks and neck. She couldn't speak, only loud cries could be heard from her now. She grabbed her stomach.
"Ani-" she shrieked. "No. No I won't let it be true." She closed her eyes and continued to sob. Anakin sat down on the bed next to her and began to hold her. "It's alright my angel." He said softly while Padmé's tears wet the shoulder of his black cloak. His arms wrapped around her and his hand gently caressed her back. "Padmé you're safe now. Nothing can hurt you." He spoke. But this made Padmé stop everything. Instantly her tears stopped, everything fell still. She pulled out of his grasp. "Nothing except you." She said. "Padmé I don't know what you're talking about. I saved you." He said.
"after you hurt me!" She yelled. She stood up. "Anakin, where is Obi-Wan?" His face contorted. The loving caring husband she knew left as of a switch was flipped. "What did I tell you..." he started quietly. "I don't want to hear about Obi-Wan any longer." He screamed. His face grew red and Padmé's cup of tea was shattered as it flew across the room and slammed into a wall, splattering everywhere. She let out a scream before placing her hands over her mouth once more. But this time, she was afraid. Fear paralyzed every inch of her body.
"you are NEVER allowed to say Obi-that man's name again." He yelled. "Do you understand me?" He shouted at her with such force. She nodded in compliance. Her whole body was in such shock. Every tear felt like yet another dagger right in her heart. All she wanted was to live with Anakin on Naboo. She had hoped to raise their child together, peacefully, leave everything else behind. She had plenty of credits from being a senator and having been queen. They could simply just live. Just be. Never have to worry about anything and just embrace each others love for one another. But that dream was so distant. Almost completely gone.
As if by a miracle, the door opened, "lord Vader, your presence has been requested." Anakin closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Now..." he said. He seemed to be calming down. He put his hand on her cheek and moved his thumb up and down. "Get yourself something to eat, I will be back shortly." He kissed her. She didn't know how to feel. She loved Anakin so much but hated the path he has chosen. His kiss was both a blessing and a curse. And with that he swiftly got up and walked out, his black Jedi robes, that interestingly enough he still wore, swayed with every step. The door shut, and Padmé could hear a lock click.
...
The hours went by slowly in that room. Many of which Padmé spent trying to remember events from the night before. Each memory was painful. She hadn't eaten. She knew she should. She wanted to, but she knew if anything else touched her lips she would vomit. Anakin's Kiss was like poison. It infected her. Every aspect of her was covered in his toxic kiss.
At some point she had drifted to sleep. She had terrible nightmares. Now these she knew weren't true, but the very thought of it made her wince in her sleep.
She was woken by a hand on her arm.
"shhh-shhh it's alright my love. Sleep, you need it." Anakin sat on the bed stroking her arm. Padmé slowly opened her eyes. "Ani?" She groggily whispered.
He was shirtless, wearing only a pair of loose black shorts. He laid next to her admiring her like a piece of art. "You're so beautiful in your sleep." He said. Padmé slowly sat up. Anakin kissed her, putting his hand into her curly brown hair. Padmé kissed him back. Embracing him. His toxic kiss was addicting. She had longed to have another. When they pulled away, she placed a hand onto his chest and cuddled his side burying her head into his strong shoulder. His bare skin was soft. Her head fit perfectly and his muscles were like pillows. All she wanted was to stay like this. His scent like a warm blanket.
"how did you sleep?" He asked lovingly. She looked into his eyes although she was confused. They were the terrible yellow, but she could see specks of blue right outside his pupil.
"Anakin, please." She begged. She felt a single tear escape her eye. "Please Ani. Just let it be. I love you. I love the real you. I miss you, please come back." She squeezed him tightly as she closed her eyes. She could feel his hand stroking her back. "Padmé I am right here." He said. "Soon we will be able to live the way we always wanted to, I just need a little more time." He said as he kissed the top of her head. Padmé couldn't bring herself to open her eyes again and with that she drifted off to sleep in Anakin's arms.