Vader's blue eyes flew open at the sound of lapping water. He sat up , and looked beside him. Padme wasn't there. "Padme!" He called, jumping off the couch in his media room. Taking a deep breath, he ran out of the room, and forced himself to focus on the sound. He followed it to the pool in the in the outdoor pool lights were on, and there in the pool, he saw Padme, swimming slowly in a deep red bathing suit. She didn't notice him. "Enjoying your swim?"
"Vader?" She said, jumping, and turning her face to look at him. "I'm sorry if I woke you. I couldn't sleep."
"I didn't mean to startle you."
"You didn't." Padme answered.
"I thought you ran away."
"No." Padme said, letting out a little nervous laugh.
"Does swimming help you sleep?"
"Yes, there's something very freeing about it." She said, softly.
"I'll take your word for it."
"You don't swim?"
"No." He answered.
"Ever?"
The truth was, Vader never had the need to swim, and water made him nervous. "I don't like swimming, it is a waste of time."
"It's fun." Padme said.
"I don't have time for fun." Vader grumbled.
"You don't know how to swim." Padme said with a smile.
"What?"
"You don't know how to swim." Padme repeated. "Are you afraid of water, Vader?"
"No, of course not. I've been in the water before."
"But have you ever swam?"
"I stand in water, I am very tall." He answered.
Padme held back a laugh. "I can teach you. It would make me feel useful." Without a word, Vader turned away from Padme, and slowly went back into the house. Padme waited a few minutes, before climbing out of the pool, she dried herself with the towel she left at the side of the pool. "Where are you going?" Vader asked, suddenly standing in front of her in a pair of black swim trunks.
"I... I thought you were going back to bed." Padme managed to say, surprised that her cheeks were burning,
"I thought you were teaching me how to gave her a confident smirk.
"Tonight?"
"Tonight, why not? Are you tired?"
"No." Padme answered, putting her towel down, and moving slowly back into the pool. Vader's now blue eyes never left her. As soon as she was in the water, she turned self consciously away from him. As he moved into the water, Padme busied herself with laps.
"Are you going to help me?" Vader called, starling at Padme.
"Of course." She said, no longer sounding nervous. She swam to Vader who was standing next to the pool steps in the shallow end. "Give yourself more space, move away from the steps. I am an excellent swimmer, I won't let anything happen to you."` Vader quickly moved away from the steps, and Padme swam closer to him. "Swimming is just moving your arms, and legs together in a way that moves your body though the water, there are many swimming tricks, but I'm not showing you tricks right now. Let's start with something simple. Make sure your feet are not touching the floor of the pool. Get on your stomach."Vader did as instructed, and a moment later, Padme checked his form. It was perfect. "Now move your arms, and kick your legs at the same time."
"Show me." Vader said. Without a word, Padme began to move her arms, and kick her legs, gracefully. After the first lap, Padme took a deep breath, and placed her face in the water. Her second lap carried her back to Vader.
"That was exquisite." Vader said, in awe.
Padme blushed. "If you want to go faster, take a deep breath, and put your face in the water." She said, she watched with a smile, as Darth Vader followed her instructions. "Are you sure you haven't done this before?" Padme asked after an hour. Vader swam back to her, his body now relaxed, and his blue eyes shining with a playful joy. Padme smiled at the man now in front of her. "Having fun?"
"I want to do this again with you, tomorrow after dinner." Vader answered, not understanding what the word fun meant.
"You shouldn't swim right after a big meal." She answered.
"Alright, we shall swim 3 hours after dinner. Vader replied "Is that enough time?" Padme smiled, and nodded her head in a yes motion. She didn't say a word, after a moment, Vader broke the silence. "I am grateful to you for teaching me how to swim."
"I didn't do much. I can't believe you never swam before."
"I swear, Padme, this was the first time I swam."
"Well then, you're a natural. If you weren't interested in swimming, why do you have a pool?"
"Status." Vader replied. "I have a reputation to uphold."
"Thank-you for not killing the people who hurt me."
"Do not thank me for that, Padme." Vader said,quickly.
"I'll go swimming with you tomorrow." Padme said. I'm going to bed." At her words, Vader swam to the pool steps, and lifted himself out of the pool. He stood outside of the pool without moving, He saw Padme swim to the steps, hold on to the railing, and climb out of the pool. When she was standing next to him, he picked up her towel, and wrapped it gently around her shoulders. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. She held the towel close to her, enjoying the warm feeling that suddenly enveloped her. Slowly, she turned to him. "It's been a long time since I had a friend. You're a good person, Vader." She turned, and walked back into the house.