n spite of the fact that Vader's hands were warm on her shoulders. Padme was cold, and frozen in place. She suddenly shivered. His gaze was so intense, she wanted to look away, but she couldn't. It felt like some magnetic force out of her control was compelling her to look at him..She forced herself to speak. "Please, Please, Vader, don't hurt me. Are you going to hurt me?"

"No, I have been trying to tell you, no, but you don't comprehend it! He spoke each of his next words very slowly. "I will never purposely harm you. If you are ever hurt by my actions, I will do whatever it takes to make it right. I will protect you. No."' He said, shaking his head slowly, in a no motion."No, I am not going to hurt you."

Padme was taken aback by his words. She felt as though she were waking up from a trance, and was meeting the man called Darth Vader for the first time. "You... you said that you don't expect me to love or care for you. What... What do you expect from me?"

"Nothing." Vader said quickly.

"That can't be true." Padme almost whispered.

"It is.."

"What do you want?"

"What I want and what I require are 2 very different things."

"Vader, I'm not playing games with you, I give you my word. What do you want from me?"

"I require nothing from you. You are not capable of giving me anything at this point in time. I do not expect anything. I want... I wish for your honesty." Vader paused for a long moment, just staring at her, and watching her stare back. "I want you to go to bed. You have had quite an ordeal."

"I... I... don't want to."

"You are not required to, but in my opinion, it is best for you at this time." Padme nodded as Vader took his hands off her shoulders. Vader walked to her wardrobe. Moments later he placed a baby blue nightgown on her bed.

He was exiting the room when he heard her voice. "No games, Vader. Will you stay with me? At... At least until I fall asleep." She ran into the refresher with the nightgown. When she returned wearing her nightgown, and carrying her dress, Vader was still stepped up to her, took the dress from her, and hung it in the wardrobe. "Answer one question honestly before you get into bed. You have been through so much, dealt with so much trauma. Before coming here to live with me, had you ever had a panic attack?"

"Is that what I went through tonight?" Was it a panic attack?" Padme asked. Vader slowly shook his head yes.

"No, never." She answered.

Vader silently turned down the covers on the bed. "Get in." He said. Without a word or a fight, Padme slowly got into bed. Vader slowly covered her. Padme was asleep within 5 minutes. "Good night, Padme." He whispered, watching her sleep.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Padme awoke in 8 hours, feeling refreshed. "You need some air. We're going out. Vader said.

Padme's eyes widened in surprise. "Vader? Where are you?" Vader got up from the floor by the front of the bed. "Here." He answered. after watching Padme sleep for an hour without nightmares. Vader got down on the floor in front of her bed, and slept there all night.

"Get up, we're getting out of here. I'll see you in 1 hour. Vader said, leaving the room.

"We're going out?" Padme asked, 45 minutes later.

"Yes." Vader answered, trying not to stare at the gorgeous young woman in front of him. She had chosen to wear a long Olive green dress with an empire waist, and sleeves to the elbows. Her long dark brown hair was twisted unto a high bun, and held together by a black tie.

"Is it safe out there?" Padme whispered.

"I give you my word. You will be safe with me."

Vader led her outside, and to his yellow speeder. "I don't want to go in there." Padme said, nervousness in her voice. "Can we walk?"

"It is safe. I promise you, I will go slower this time." Vader assured her. He opened the passenger side door of the speeder, and helped her in. Within moments he was in the driver's seat, and up in the air. Padme clutched her seat in anticipation. "You are safe." Vader said, keeping the speeder steady as vehicles sped past them, "The last time I rode with you, I needed to get us home quickly. I didn't mean to frighten you." Padme was silent. She kept a hold of her seat until Vader landed an hour later. "Are you alright?"

"Yes", Padme answered, slowly.

Vader exited the yellow speeder, and walked to the passenger side door, he opened the door, and carefully helped her out of the vehicle. "Thank-you." She said when she was out. Vader nodded in response, and took her arm. Padme's eyes widened as she took in her surroundings. She was amazed to find that they were in a park. Couples strode past them, children played, and parents laughed, yelled, and ate from their picnic baskets. Padme smiled.

"Why did you bring me here?"

"I told you, you needed air, and I know I can keep you safe here. I looked into it." Padme took a deep breath, feeling almost free as she did. She wasn't sure how long she and Vader were walking, but she knew she never wanted to stop.

"I haven't been to a park in years," She whispered, and Vader heard every syllable.