t was the next morning.. Padme sat calmly in Vader's yellow speeder as vehicles whizzed past them. She looked over at Vader who was gripping the speeder's wheel, and looking distressed. He had been piloting the speeder slowly for over an hour, and it felt like they hadn't moved. "Are you alright,Vader?" Padme asked, looking at him.

"Yes." He answered, quickly.

"You seem frustrated" Padme, replied, after a long stretch of silence.

"Don't I always seem frustrated to you?" He asked, immediately.

"No", she answered, quietly. "I think you would feel more at ease, if you went faster."

"I do not wish to frighten you."

"You won't as long as you refrain from doing tricks."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, go faster." Padme reassured him Her words were all Vader needed. In less than a second, they were passing every other speeder, and Vader smiled.

Padme closed her eyes, and only opened them when she felt the vehicle stop. "We are here." Vader announced getting out. He opened the passenger side door, and took Padme's hand. When she got out of the speeder, she realized they were near a marketplace. Vader took her arm. They passed a black medal fountain that was shaped like a well, and Vader guided her into the large outdoor market which was behind a black metal gate. Once, inside, Padme inspected her surroundings.

Cobblestones were under her feet. Tables filled with merchandise lined the stones, and merchants yelled for people to buy their goods. "Any item you could think of is here." Vader said, leading her to a table filled with droid parts. He studied them, and picked up a pile of them. "How much?" He asked, the merchant behind the table.

"900 credits." The man answered. Vader let go of Padme's arm. "Stay by me." He told her. He reached into his robe, and took out a stack of credits.

"Wait!" Padme suddenly said. Some of these parts are damaged. My friend here will have to spend hours fixing them."

"What do I care, Milady?" The man grumbled. "That's the price!"

"You want to be fair with us, Sir. We have a lot of connections. and my friend has plenty of use for these things. If you would like him to go elsewhere for his needs,he will."

"850 credits!"

"Let me see the merchandise." Padme said to Vader." Vader held up a few pieces to Padme who inspected them.

Before Padme could finish her inspection , the merchant spoke. "800"

"500" Padme countered.

"Are you out of your mind?"

"No, my lord, there are at least 10 damaged pieces here. Again, 500 credits."

"675." He answered,

"600." She answered him.

"610 and I won't go any lower.

"610, and the next time my friend comes here, he gets 1 free undamaged part."

"Deal." The merchant mumbled.

Vader took out the exact amount of credits, and gave it to the man who quickly snatched it up. Vader took Padme's hand, and the parts, and the 2 of them backed away from the table. "We should get some food." Vader said.

"We should get a basket," Padme said, pulling Vader toward the baskets across the way. She let go of his hand, and grabbed 2 baskets. She kept one, and handed one to Vader. They walked together to a fruit stand. Padme picked up a small red fruit, and placed it in her basket. She was about to pick another fruit when suddenly she ran to the other side of the market. Vader quickly followed her.

He was at her side in seconds. "What's wrong?" He asked, alarmed.

"I... I... I... I smell 5 blossom bread." She answered, running toward the aroma.

Again, Vader followed her, he made it to the merchant before she did. "4 loaves of 5 blossom bread, please." He ordered. The woman who sold only bread and cake. smiled. "Your friend" She said gesturing toward Padme who was now standing by Vader's side, "is from Naboo. For you, 15 credits," She quickly gave the loaves to Padme, and Vader paid.

"Thank-you!" Padme said enthusiastically.

"Your welcome, dear." The older woman answered. "My husband is from Naboo, he is usually here with me. Come back, and see us. If you look next to my table, there are 4 other tables filled with things from Naboo. Enjoy yourself!" Padme smiled at the woman. Both Vader and Padme backed away from the table.

"Thank-you for your help with my parts purchase. You are quite the negotiator."" Vader acknowledged.

"It was nothing." Padme dismissed his compliment. with a wave of her one empty hand. The loaves of bread were now in her basket.

"It was quite entertaining to watch, if I were alone I would have paid full price. Thank-you." Padme nodded. "I would like to buy you something that you pick out." Vader said.

"You don't have to." Padme answered.

"I want to, please let me." Let's go." Vader said, turning, and walking to the next table. Padme followed. She began picking up bottles of perfume, and sniffing. She liked nothing until she found a coral colored bottle. She held it gently for several minutes, she placed it by her nose. She took a deep breath, almost inhaling the scent. "What does it smell like?"

"The rose of Naboo." She whispered, putting it down.

Vader waved over the merchant who earlier had been helping another customer. Vader picked up the coal bottle. "That will be 20 credits." The merchant said, walking over. Without a word, Vader paid.

"Thank-you," Padme said, moments later. "You don't have to buy me anything else. You didn't have to buy me anything."

"You saved me credits. I am not done." He said, leading Padme to the biggest table in the market. "Pick whatever you wish, and don't say you no." Vader watched Padme closely as her eyes fell upon a turquoise dress. Her eyes and body language told him that she loved the dress. "Try it on," he said. Padme humored him. She put her basket down, and put the dress on over her clothing. She was about to turn to show Vader how it looked,when she started to shake. Vader stepped closer to her , and gently grabbed her arm. "What's wrong, Her brown eyes went wide, wider than Vader had ever seen. Her beautiful body was stiff. "What's wrong?" He repeated when she was silent. "What's wrong?" She was frozen in place. He tightened his grip on her arm a little. "Speak. What can I do?" Her terrified breathing echoed in Vader's ears."You're safe with me. What is it?"

She suddenly moved, quickly taking off the dress. It fell to the stone ground. "He... He... He hurt me." She choked out.

"Who hurt you?" Vader said. louder than he wished to. "Who hurt you?" He repeated. softer.

"I want to go home." She said urgently. Padme looked straight ahead, his eyes fell upon a man looking at Padme as if he were seeing a ghost. Then he smiled. Vader turned Padme around to face him. She looked down, and he bent a little trying, and failing to make eye contact. "Did the man with acid green hair, and black eyes hurt you?"

"I want to go home, Vader. Please! I want to go home." Padme sobbed falling into him.

Vader placed his arms around her. and held her. "Shh, he whispered. "We're going home, Padme."

After several long moments, Vader gilded a crying Padme out of the marketplace. She clung to him.