Vader paced outside Padme's room. He knew he shouldn't be there. He told her he would stay away, but it had now been an entire day since he had seen her, and that disturbed him. She didn't have to see him, he was waiting for Threepio who he had signaled an hour ago.

"Master, you wanted to see me. I would have been here sooner, but you instructed me to come to you only after Padme was asleep", Threepio said. Vader stepped pacing, and looked at the droid he created as a child. Threepio was his friend, and now Threepio was Padme's. He trusted Threepio in a way that he couldn't trust people. He trusted Threepio to watch over Padme. "Master, are you alright?" Threepio asked, standing like a loyal soldier in front of Vader.

"Yes, Threepio", Vader assured his droid friend. "How is Padme?"

"I tried to get her to eat and drink, but she refused", Threepio informed him.

"Are you sure she's sleeping?"

"Yes, Master, she is asleep, I am sure of it."

"Wait here, Threepio."

"Yes, Master."

Vader strode over to Padme's door, and speedily unlocked it. The door opened and he stepped inside, he heard the door click closed. He stood in front of the bed. Padme was sleeping, but not peacefully. He heard her whimper, and saw a layer of sweat on her beautiful skin. "Padme? Padme?" He said quietly. He waited a moment for an answer, but it was silent. "Padme, get up!" He almost roared.

Padme's eyes flew open, and she quickly sat straight up in bed. It took her a moment to speak, but when she did it was loud. "You promised to leave me alone! Get out!"

"You did not eat or drink today, I will not allow you to harm yourself! Am I making myself clear?"

"I'm not hungry, I'm not thirsty. Leave me alone! Let me sleep!"

"Tell me what you were dreaming."

"What I was dreaming is none of your concern", Padme answered, coldly. Vader walked to the door, and exited her room. Padme huffed, laid back down, and turned on her side, she was now facing a wall. Slowly, she closed her eyes. She was just about to fall asleep when she heard her bedroom door open, and close again. She heard movement, but didn't respond to it. The blanket she was using was pulled from her body, A moment later she moved out of the bed.

"Good, you're up", Vader said with a smirk. "Now you can eat."

"I'm not eating or drinking."

"I will eat and drink with you. We can go for a swim." Padme stared at Vader without uttering a word. Vader's voice was so calm. She turned away from him after several moments, and matched into her refresher. The door closed, and within seconds Vader heard the shower.

Vader was about to call Padme when she emerged from the refresher. Her hair was neatly brushed. She was wearing a fresh light brown dress with a V-neckline. "You're still here", she said, annoyed.

"I'm pleased to see you looking more comfortable", Vader replied in the same calm tone. Padme looked away from him, her eyes scanned her bedroom. In the center of the room, there was now a table and 2 chairs. "Threepio bought the table, and chairs in. He set up the food. Sit with me." Vader walked to the table, and sat down. Padme followed him, and sat down. Vader reached for the pitcher of water on the table, he poured a generous amount of the water into a big cup, and held it out to Padme. "Take the cup, and drink, Padme. I know you're thirsty."

"I'm not." Padme denied.

"We have your favorite foods on this table", Vader responded.

"I'm not hungry."

"You know, Padme, I'm getting tired of your little hunger strikes."

"If my hunger strikes displease you so much then let me go, and you won't have to look at them."

"I promised you I would leave you alone, Padme, and here I am sitting with you. I know that angers you. You left me no choice."

"So if I eat, and I drink, you'll leave me alone."

"If you are not self-destructive, I will give you your time alone. Starving yourself is self-destructive."

Padme took the cup from his hands, and drank the whole thing.
Minutes later, her plate was full, and she was eating. When her plate was half empty, she pushed it away. "I can't eat another bite", she said. "May I go back to sleep now, Master?" She asked, angrily.

Vader placed his fork down on his otherwise empty plate, and answered quietly. "Yes." He watched Padme climb into bed, he covered her with the blanket he had taken from her, and he watched her drift off to sleep.

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"No!" Padme's eyes flew open. She had no idea how long she had been sleeping.

"Are you alright, Miss Padme?" She heard Threepio ask.

"Yes... yes", Padme answered. "What time is it.?"

"You have been asleep all day, Miss Padme. It's almost dinnertime."

"Where's Vader?" Padme asked, softly.

"He is gone", Threepio responded.