Vader stormed down the hallway, rubbing his fingers over his face with a groan. His head ached so badly it felt as if someone had shoved his lightsaber between his eyes! Swirls of colour danced before his vision, tainting his sight and threatening to make the pain inside his skull that much worse from the added strain. Anakin had just sent over the plans for the attack on Crait, the budgetary requirements for ships, weapons and food for his men but he couldn't bring himself to open the document quite yet. There was still the rundown of the Senate meeting to go over and Ameeda needed his approval for the proposed reformations on education in core worlds before the day was over.

Force, if he was to play Emperor, he should be the damned Emperor!

He rushed through the grand palace hallway in his leather tunic of black with golden hemming tight over his body and Vader wanted to rip the damn thing off. He wanted to hide in a quiet room and sleep until the old bastard who'd fathered him finally decided to die and get it over with. There was no particular reason for such a foul mood but Vader embraced it regardless.

Suddenly, his body collided with someone, knocking them both backwards with a painful thump. He grunted as the sudden movement caused an extra throb of agony in his head. Fuck, this was terrible. "Oh, I'm sorry!" An all too familiar, feminine voice spoke, shaking Vader out of his thoughts and his bleary eyes finally took in the form of Senator Amidala before him. "Are you alright?" She asked softly.

As always, her gentle voice was a balm to any stress, worry or hurt. Every day he knew her, every moment they spent together, Vader understood a little more his brother's intense desire for this woman. The midday sunlight leaked through the hall, stretching long shadows of the crimson furniture his father had loved so much and lit strands of gold within Padme's dark hair. Force, she truly was a beauty.

Anakin liked to talk about her when they were alone. He would tell Vader over a drink or two about a joke they had shared or how they had spent a day together. He spoke with the brightest smile he had ever seen on his brother's face. Nothing seemed to make Anakin so happy than this woman. Of course, despite Vader's fierce curiosity and best attempts, he never could prize anything ungentlemanly out of his twin's lips, even a year on.

Padme Amidala Naberrie entirely dominated Anakin's thoughts. It was fascinating.

"I'm alright, don't worry," the Emperor to be smiled at her. Already, his headache had faded somewhat. "I apologise, I should have been paying attention to where I was going. I hope I didn't hurt you."

"Not at all," she shook her head. For so long, he had thought nothing of the Senator of Naboo. She had been lumped into the general waste of expense he thought of the Senate as, even after he had met her. Padme did good work, Vader had appreciated that about her but she had never entertained his thoughts beyond mild appreciation. But Anakin saw her, he saw the fire in her spirit, the generosity, the kindness and her breathtaking beauty…

Sometimes, when he lay alone in his bed, sensing Anakin's departure to 500 Republica or Padme's force signature in the palace, he thought that if he hadn't been so blind, if he hadn't locked away his heart after Satine, if he had actually taken what was supposed to be his role within the Senate, Vader might have had a chance with her himself.

Such rueful thoughts were banished to the night where no one would ever know them.

Padme avoided his eye, glancing out of the vast palace windows or down to the hem of her silver gown. She seemed to look anywhere but at Vader and he sensed a growing fear within her and… guilt? Only then did the Prince truly see the reddened swelling around her eyes and the paleness of her face. Had she been crying?

"I spoke to Anakin today," he cleared his throat, breaking the increasingly awkward silence which had fallen over them and at last, she lifted her gaze to meet his. The exquisitely crafted updo she wore twisted her shining hair into two rounded twists on either side of her head where three triangular Nubian crests decorated each temple and her forehead. Matching silver bands wrapped around her arms. The high-collared, black velvet bodice of her gown was whispered luxury. Impeccable elegance. His brother was a lucky man. "He told me you were unwell," Vader hoped he was not touching a nerve with his conversation. Anakin had sounded worried hours ago. "I hope everything is alright?"

The Prince battled down a sigh as he spoke. In just a few hours, Padme and Anakin would be together once more, doing whatever it was they did while alone. Perhaps he would find a way to take her out privately or they would shut themselves away for the night to become lost in one another. Meanwhile, Vader would retire alone to read over reports he cared nothing of but did not trust Ameeda to deal with until he could finally end the day as exhausted as he had begun it.

Hopefully, his sleep would be blissfully dreamless. He had been cursed with dreams of Satine lately, as if his mind was seeking out a different torment than fantasising about the women before him. When the Duchess appeared in his sleep, Vader dreamed of a palace full of children. Of kisses in the lush gardens. Of her moonlight skin in the sun.

When morning came and the dreams faded away, the weariness would set in all over again There was no escape for him, not in this life, at least.

"I'm fine," she said quietly, "perfectly healthy."

The misery and guilt she felt swelled within her and Vader narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Was she lying to him? He did not sense any deception in her words, so if the doctor had only delivered good news, what could be troubling her this badly? Perhaps it was just a difficult day at work? Hadn't Anakin mentioned something about that too?

"I'm glad to hear it." Vader made himself smile at her, "Well, if you're feeling up to it, I thought the three of us could share a bottle of wine tonight over dinner? You can help me understand the delicacies of today's Senate session." Unlike Anakin, Vader had not made friends with the clone troopers and Sabe was busy arranging publicity strategies and monitoring for whispers about Anakin and the Senator of Naboo's relationship. She had no time to sit with him and speak to him of nothing for hours and it wouldn't be fair to ask it of her. He would not wish for her to feel forced, after all.

Force, was this truly his life? Scrapping together fragments of a social life with his brother and his lover? How had it come to this?

"Oh!" Padme seemed surprised by his offer, her red eyes widening as she scrambled for the correct words as a response. "We would love to – well, I would love to – but tonight is… We actually – "

They had plans, of course. Vader was unsurprised but slightly startled by the searing disappointment he felt. This was not like him. When had he become so pitiable? "Ah," he felt himself grimace, "yes, of course, you have arranged something for yourselves already. I should have known. Don't worry about it." Anakin and Padme were a couple, they did not need his presence disturbing them when their time together was already so limited. What had he been thinking?

"It's not that, exactly," she sniffled, "It's just… well, we need to have a conversation tonight. An important one."

And there was the fear he sensed storming within her again… What in the name of the force was going on? "I hope there's nothing wrong?" Vader would happily lend a listening ear if she needed someone to vent to before seeing Anakin this evening. He had been told more than once that he was a good listener, mostly by Satine, but the fact remained. "Is there something I can help you with, Padme?"

"There is nothing wrong, exactly," she whimpered, "except that there is and it's going to be a big mess… I don't know what to do, Vader." Tears filled her large eyes as she peered helplessly up into his own. Padme shook her head, lip trembling, "This could destroy everything."

Mind reeling, the Prince grasped her by the elbow and lead the Senator to a cushioned sofa by the window. She looked as though she might collapse at any moment. Force, perhaps he should just comm Anakin to deal with whatever this was? It was likely none of his business anyway. Still, his curiosity got the better of him. "What could destroy everything, Padme? What's happened?"

Once sitting, she heaved a long, miserable sigh. "I suppose you'll need to know about this too to be prepared. I wanted to tell Anakin first but…" Vader watched as she buried her hands in her face wretchedly for a moment. Finally, she lifted her head and set her shoulders as the words readied themselves on her tongue. "Vader, I'm pregnant."

He blinked. Gaped. Choked even.

Pregnant? She was with child – Anakin's child?

Fuck…

Their father was showing no signs extra of decline – who knew how much longer he would hold out? Longer than Padme could hide a pregnancy? Unfortunately, Vader thought so. There would be no hiding this. A royal baby was cause for galaxy-wide celebration, it would be the first new heir to the throne, the birth of the next generation of Skywalkers! And yet, Anakin and Padme were not married. They couldn't have a bastard's birth causing scandal... the last thing they needed was an illegitimate child to handle.

They would have to be married… but with their father still alive, if he married her, Anakin would lose his place in succession. Damn it… Vader's mind spun with ideas which ultimately came to nothing. Unless their father finally died before Padme began to show, it was over, there would be no hiding it.

"He's going to lose everything," Padme whispered, knowing his thoughts as her beautiful face crumpled, "He's going to hate me."

"No…" Vader shook his head half-heartedly though he had no true understanding of what to say. If they did not find a solution, the former part of her statement may very well become the truth. No, he thought, no, we'll find a way! There must be a way! "Anakin could never hate you, not ever."

His brother was going to be a father… the thought still had not truly registered within the Prince's reeling mind. There was going to be a child, Anakin's own child in the galaxy. The thought was so surreal, he could hardly even imagine it. As unpleasant as it was to admit, even to himself, Padme was right. Vader knew his twin as intimately as he knew himself and Anakin was unlikely to be overjoyed at the news.

And of course, Padme… she would lose her Senatorial seat regardless of what became of Anakin. Should they not marry and the child be born illegitimate, Vader could not foresee King Thule allowing her to remain in office. She would be dismissed though the public would hear of it as a resignation to save her some dignity. If they did marry, the outcome would likely be the same. Either way, if he did create a plan to get them through this, both Anakin and Padme stood to lose everything. After all, she did not seem the type to simply make the problem go away, not in his eyes at least.

While Vader lacked the ability to comfort the woman beside him, Padme's small cries cut him to his heart. Every choked breath and whimper wounded him just as painfully as her. He wished he knew what to say…

"Hey, hey, look at me," he tried rubbing a soothing hand up and down the Senator's back and winced as she gazed at him, face terribly blotched now. Every inch of her trembled like a leaf in a cruel wind. It wasn't his place to be here or to comfort her but he could hardly leave her alone at a time like this. "None of this will be easy, exactly…" It was as close to the truth as he could bear to admit to her, "but it can be worked out one way or another. Anakin is… just give him some time. He'll come around." Closed off to the galaxy as his brother was, Vader knew him, he knew Anakin's passions, hopes and fears as if they were his own. He worshipped the very ground Padme stepped on. She was his everything. Force, he may even surprise them both and be delighted!

Thick tears wet the length of Padme's cheeks and Vader could not resist wiping them away softly. The distress pouring out of her force signature was powerful enough that he half feared Anakin would sense it from the military base and come searching for her. "I'm sorry," she shook her head with a sniffle, "it isn't fair to pile all of this onto you. I'm sure that you have enough worries of your own."

That he did, but she didn't need it confirmed. "Think of it this way," finally, his mind spun a sparkling web of hope for Padme to cling to. Something positive she might need to talk Anakin down. "Once the Rebellion has been dealt with and the entire Galaxy knows the true strength of the Empire, the Skywalker line will be secure. A child is a wonderful symbol of the future of our House and stability of succession." Until Vader fathered a child of his own, regardless of Anakin's position, if he married Padme, their child would be his heir. An interesting thought, he mused, Padme's child being his heir. "This, despite the troubles, is a happy moment, Padme," Vader smiled, "I will make sure the galaxy will celebrate this child for all its life."

Wiping her own eyes now, Padme gave a weak nod. "I suppose that's a good way to look at things, isn't it? Is Anakin here? I want to tell him as soon as possible."

"No," he shook his head, "he hasn't returned yet, I'm afraid. I could have a message sent if you would like?"

"That isn't necessary, but thank you." She stood up, smoothing down her silver skirts and Vader followed suit. "We have dinner plans anyway, I was just hoping to see him a little sooner. I only hope he takes the news as kindly as you have, Vader. Thank you." The small, frightened smile her lips gave made the Prince ache. He imagined what it might be like, to be upset upon learning the woman he loved was carrying his child inside her. He pictured Padme looking at him with the adoration that shone in her eyes whenever she looked at his brother for a moment. Vader liked to believe the news would make him happy albeit certainly quite terrified.

What must it feel like, Anakin, to have those eyes looking at you every night?

Envy quaked inside of him.

If his brother was upset, then he was a force damned fool for it.

"Try not to worry too much," he touched her shoulder gently, "I promise we'll work something out together, all three of us."

Padme nodded and came forward so quickly that the movement caught the Prince entirely off guard. Her arms came around his neck and her lips laid a sweet, fleeting kiss on his cheek. At once his every nerve came alive with shock and desire so potent, it rendered him breathless. "You're a good man, Vader." She smiled, "thank you."

He watched the Senator disappear around the corner and felt himself slump though fire coursed through his every vein. They had never shared any physical contact before now and Vader had been woefully unprepared. It was fortunate Padme was not force sensitive or else she would have sensed his growing desire become near overwhelming. And at such a chaste touch too!

Force, what was wrong with him?

Storming back to his wing of the palace and throwing open the bedroom doors, the Prince was pleasantly surprised to find Miri already awaiting him in the parlour, apparently finished her shift already. She smiled at Vader as he entered, stretched out all too comfortably on his settee as she attempted to appear tempting. A beautiful woman to any man's eyes, he had been attracted to Miri the very moment he had first laid eyes upon her as she helped serve dinner to him, Anakin and Ameeda one evening as they discussed Senate matters.

Long, lustrous curls of a chocolatey brown hue cascaded freely along her slim back, bright green eyes, plush lips, curvaceous and so utterly feminine, Vader had been unable to resist when he found a moment alone with her and now it had been going on for months. He knew nothing about her beyond her name, profession and exactly how to make her climax. Nothing else was needed.

Without a word, the Prince turned away from the woman and produced the very bottle of wine he had hoped to share with Anakin and Padme this evening. This was better than nothing, at least. It was a distraction if nothing else. Carrying two glasses and setting them on the low table, he fell heavily upon the sofa beside her and got to pouring the vibrant red liquid.

"You seem stressed," Miri ran her work-roughened hands over his shoulders and Vader let his eyes fall shut, bringing his glass to his lips. "Hard day so far?" Drinking deeply, he enjoyed the richness of the wine before answering. She always attempted to conversate, to ask him questions as if to begin to know him. He sensed a quickening of the woman's heart as he looked at her, the fluttering of excited anticipation and bit back a groan. She was falling. Imagining a great forbidden romance in which he would pledge himself to her and make her his Empress.

Fool.

Well, so long as she didn't make any trouble, he would keep her around, for the moment at least. There was disturbance enough to face in the coming days, the very last thing he needed was a lover causing a stir in the media. Not bothering to answer her question, kind as it was, Vader abandoned his now empty glass and began undoing the fastening of Miri's dress. The black palace uniform fell away, revealing her creamy, pert little breasts to the Prince's hungry eyes.

His lips sealed to her skin, lavishing her with attention as he made his way lower and lower to play with her nipple. Miri moaned his name repetitively, irritatingly so, and clasped his head to her, writhing. No matter how she deluded herself, their sex was not sensual nor romantic. Vader did not make love to her. It was sweaty, filthy fucking that sated both of them, nothing more.

Somewhere in the blur of removing clothes and her sweet, sweet mouth on him, they found their way to his bed and Vader watched Miri sink down on his aching cock with a choked gasp. Her breasts bounced with every descent and her curled tresses danced with the movement enticingly. He watched her closely, filling his palms with her breasts. If she closed her eyes and threw back her head just right… yes…

In the dim lighting, without a clear view of Miri's face, it was no longer her above him, riding his hard cock so passionately it made him throb within her. Vader closed his eyes for a moment and when he reopened them, Padme gasped his name, circling her hips expertly. "Oh! Oh, Vader… " she moaned, leaning forward to kiss him.

His length swelled impossibly harder.

They rode each other furiously, moving around and switching positions. Mila – Padme – screamed his name as her orgasm tore through her petite body and Vader kept going, thrusting harder, faster, ignoring the strain of it as he held her tight and fed her every hard inch of him, tugging her backwards to meet him for every brutal slam of his hips against her own. It didn't matter it was the love of his brother's life he was taking, claiming for himself, nothing mattered but every broken gasp that tumbled past her parted lips.

Withdrawing, Vader spilled himself over her back, groaning with the pleasure of it. He panted, throwing back his head as intense wave after wave of ecstasy poured out of him. After a few moments, it faded and he collapsed beside Padme on the sweat-dampened sheets with a breathless laugh. That had been amazing! It hadn't felt that good in years. Rubbing a hand over his face, he turned to her with a grin which faltered as he found Mila, not Padme, by his side, glaring hatefully.

Damn, he thought, what have I done now?

"Who is Padme?" She demanded, "You said her name – who is she?"

Well, fuck.

"That doesn't matter," he slipped out of bed and withdrew a pair of deep blue sleep trousers from the dresser and slipped them on. "Feel free to use the refresher and clean yourself up but don't be here when I get back."

Harsh, but necessary, the Prince winced at his own actions as he hurried out of the bedroom, ignoring Mila's unsettled cry of his name. His mind raced through thoughts faster than he could possibly understand them. He had imagined himself sleeping with his brother's lover! Why? Yes, he desired her but on a purely physical level! There was nothing more to it, there wasn't! There could never be anything more to it.

But he had said her damn name! Now that was a problem. Mila would have to be dismissed from the staff effective immediately, of course, but he would ensure a glowing recommendation for her next employer and a generous final payment. That seemed only right. Vader all but threw himself into his office and began to pace. This did not have to be a problem unless he made it one. Mila would be gone by morning, there would be no time for gossip to spread and potentially reach his brother's ear. Anakin had enough of his own troubles right now anyway.

Vader, I'm pregnant.

Her voice rang in his ears. The Prince clenched his eyes shut, willing it leave him be but instead he saw himself in bed, saw Padme collapse in his arms after a satisfying round of lovemaking, her belly swollen and rounded with his child. They were happy. They were stable and glad of the child they had conceived together.

You're a damned fool if you throw this away, Anakin, Vader glowered at the wall, a damned fool.

Anakin's second visit to the highest level of 500 Republica was a far more casual affair. He felt no need to sneak his way inside the building as most, if not all, of Padme's staff would have departed by now and the security doors protecting the outside veranda had lifted for the day, allowing the Prince to merely climb out of his cruiser and step inside. He found his beloved in the living room, perched on one of the pale yellow sofas reading on a datapad. When she heard him enter, Padme's head jerked up quickly and he sensed a flair of nervousness.

I must have scared her, he thought with a smile.

She'd had the dining table relocated to rest by the window where long, thin candles had been set up decoratively around a waiting meal, bantha stew by the smell of it, one of his favourite dishes. Pure joy filled him as he made his way into the room. Returning home to his angel and a romantic meal? What more could any man possibly desire at the end of the day?

"You're back," Padme smiled, standing to her feet and coming to meet him halfway. The shimmer of her silver skirt swished at her feet as she moved and Anakin rushed to her, despite their last embrace being mere hours ago, and swept her into his arms with a small spin which had her laughing wildly. "What are you doing? Anakin!" She squealed into his neck until he set her down once more. "You're crazy," her head shook though he saw all too easily the amusement which shone in her eyes.

"Crazy in love," he smiled even as Padme rolled her eyes at him. Still, when he bent at the neck to kiss her, she voiced no complaints. Anakin watched her return to the table and fuss over the placement of the silverware as he shrugged off and hung his coat over the edge of the sofa. Usually, she expressed her affection in smaller touches, a hand on his back as she passed by, gentle kisses, and her fingers playing softly with his hair. Of course, she was vocal about it, perhaps not as frequently as himself, but it was not often she found the time to properly arrange special time together so when it happened, Anakin treasured every moment.

Unable to resist a single moment longer, he came up behind her and pulled her body against his own. Padme giggled as he planted loving kisses on her neck and shoulder, enjoying that sweet, floral scent of hers again.

After a moment, they sat down to eat, and she listened to him discuss his upcoming mission to Crait in great detail, nodding where appropriate. Anakin explained the basic logistics of his plans, the men he trusted to lead small groups of the battalion he had selected to run the rebel scum out of hiding. Padme was quiet throughout, sipping on a cool glass of water rather than the wine he enjoyed, odd, but maybe she was still feeling off?

Once they finished their meal, she slid herself comfortably on his lap on the sofa with a happy little sigh. Anakin offered to set up a holo-vid but Padme had wanted to enjoy the quiet just a little longer. He didn't mind, any time with her was time well spent. "Force, I'm glad to be home after today," he sighed, dragging his fingers up and down her thigh through the cool material of her skirt. Padme's eyes snapped open and she regarded him as if he had suddenly sprouted an extra head beside his own. "What?" He couldn't help but laugh, "what is it?"

"Nothing," she shook her head though a smile so wondrously bright lit up her beautiful face, he felt his own growing to match it. Whatever he had done to cause this, he needed to do it again. Daily. Hourly. "It's just…" a small, exhale of laughter filled the brief pause in her words, "I'm being silly. It was just nice to hear you call this home."

Anakin felt himself blink at her. That simple comment had elicited such joy within her, he could sense the elation his words had created spread within her and his smile somehow grew wider. "What else would I call it?" He asked honestly, "You're here. That makes it my home." Not allowing her sufficient time to craft a response, he caught her lips with his own, kissing her so deeply that she stole the very breath from his lungs. When they parted, he could not resist one further gentle brush of his lips to the corner of her own. "This was wonderful, my love. I appreciate you going to all the effort."

"It was nothing," Padme smiled, trailing her fingertips along his cheek. "I just like making you happy, Anakin," she whispered.

What could he say to her after that? Force, what he would give to have a ring to offer her right now and the freedom to do so. It was the perfect moment, romantic, intimate, he couldn't have done it any better if he tried. Anakin tried not to brood and spoil this moment so he kissed her lips again, losing himself in their sweet plushness instead. Slowly, he felt desire awaken within him, pooling low in his belly as their kiss deepened. He pulled away to breathe kisses to her jaw but Padme chased his lips, cupping his face so that he could not escape her again.

She kept things slow and deliberate, savouring each moment as if it might be the last kiss they ever shared. "Mmm," she sighed when they were forced to part to breathe, "I love kissing you. I could do it forever…"

Her little murmur was a fan to the small flame growing in his blood. What man wouldn't enjoy such praise from his love? Her words fed his male pride, puffing the Prince's chest proudly as he captured her mouth yet again. Force, was there a luckier man in any corner of the galaxy? He couldn't possibly imagine how it could be possible. Life rarely handed Anakin anything good and yet here was an angel in his arms. Fate did not give to the Skywalkers, it only took. It took his mother before he and Vader had a chance to know her. Took any possibility of a happy, normal father and was attempting to take him away too.

Force, he couldn't bear to imagine that fate might take Padme from him too.

Wait.

"Hey," Anakin reluctantly freed himself from her lips, lifting a hand to take her chin between his thumb and forefinger. "Did you see a medic today?" Please tell me yes, he thought desperately, tell me everything is alright. He watched her closely and felt himself begin to tremble as all the happiness drained from her force signature. Force, there was something wrong with her! Padme couldn't meet his eye, staring downward instead where she wrung out her fingers nervously.

"I… I did, yes," she muttered.

"And?" Anakin did not mean to sound harsh with her, but he barked out the word regardless, hating how she flinched. He just needed to know what it was and how bad. They could treat it, they would find a way! He would have the very best doctors and medical droids from all over the galaxy to heal her. She was going to be fine, she had to be fine. "I'm sorry," his breathing grew ragged, "I didn't mean to snap. Just tell me the truth, Angel. Whatever it is, I'll help you, I promise. I'll find a way to make you better."

This, at least, seemed to make her smile and Padme gathered the strength to meet his eye at last. "No, no, I'm fine, Anakin, I promise." The turbulence of stress and worry poured out of her in unsteady waves to a near-overwhelming extent. He could scarcely muster the strength to breathe through it let alone experience it as vividly as she was. It was no wonder she was quiet – how could she hear her own thoughts? "It's just…" and then her face crumbled with a quiet sob, "please don't hate me…"

"Hate you?" Anakin frowned, stroking his trembling hand up and down her back softly. How could she ever believe that was possible? What in the name of the force could be so terrible that she was weeping from fear of him turning on her? "I would never hate you, Padme, never. I love you!" He kissed her wet cheek, wincing at the salt of her tears, "You are in my very soul. My heart belongs to you and always will." Between every kiss, he whispered such loving affirmations so that she could never forget her place in his life, how much he loved her and so desperately needed her. How could she ever believe that might change?

Looking him deeply in the eye, Padme seemed to shudder all over. Her behaviour began to frighten Anakin, if she was this remarkably afraid then something truly terrible had to be wrong. Something she seemed deeply reluctant to share with him. At last, she sniffled and nodded to herself. "Ani, I'm pregnant."

From nowhere, a cold, sweeping numbness spread through every inch of the Prince's body, freezing his every limb solid and unmovable. His mind became incapable of any coherent thought as true silence rang in his head. There was simply… nothing. Anakin felt Padme's increasingly frightened stare boring into him, awaiting his response, any response or sign that he had heard her at all but he could not will himself to move or his gaze to meet hers. He was not confident he was even breathing. She touched his face, his shoulders and squeezed his hand, frantically searching his eyes for any reaction but he was stone before her. Blank.

"Anakin…?" She whimpered, "I'm sorry, I know this isn't what we planned… I – the med-droid who ran my blood tests brought in one of the midwifery droids to examine me. It said I was around twelve weeks along," she rambled and produced a small, flat holo-disk from behind the backing sofa cushion, flicking its switch so that a clouded image projected into the air above her palm. "It's still so small but that's it, Ani. That's our baby… I – I think it must have been around the time we returned from our little getaway to Alderaan, do you remember? I was due my monthly shot that day but there was so much to catch up on and I had meetings, but I was sure that I scheduled the time to visit the pharmacy, Iwas sure of it!" And then she looked at him again as her face began to crumple once more, "except, now that I really think about it, I think I must have forgotten. I'm so sorry, Ani, I am."

So that meant… they had been sleeping together for a month without protection? A month. Well, it was no wonder they were in this position! "Anakin?" Padme murmured his name softly, "Ani, please say something. Please, you're frightening me." Tears welled within her eyes and spilled over to wet her cheeks again.

Force, he couldn't breathe. Why was it so damned hot in here?

Pregnant. She was pregnant. Having a baby, his baby. It didn't make any sense no matter how much logic the Prince applied. The very idea of a squirming lump swaddled in blankets in his arms sent a thrill of disgust racing through Anakin's chest and stomach. He set his jaw, glaring at the wall behind Padme's head for a moment before his gaze flicked to hers. "What are we going to do about it?" He asked quietly.

"Oh," some colour returned to her cheeks, "well, I thought that we could go to Naboo and find a house to – " Horror struck Anakin's every sense at once and his eyes began to widen. Padme noticed and her mouth slackened. She slipped off his lap, covering her mouth with her hand as she stumbled backwards, shaking her head. "You… you weren't asking where I wanted to have the baby, were you?" Her lip began to tremble as tears spilled onto her shining cheeks. "Oh Gods, you thought that… you want me to…"

Anakin could only gape at her as she weakly held back a broken sob, pressing a hand over her stomach as she battled to breathe through the layers of her gown. "You won't even consider not having it?" He whispered.

His voice was flat. Emotionless.

Padme looked at him as if he'd hit her – she flinched. The hand on her stomach shook uncontrollably though it remained in place, as if protecting it – protecting that thing inside of her from him. "How could you…?" She shook her head, "How could you say that to me?! I would never… this is our child, Anakin!"

He gave a slow, shallow nod, utterly numb. For a moment, he could not bring himself to look at her as he battled back a rush of rage so blinding he was not so sure he could control if it got out. "I don't…" Anakin grit his teeth, "Padme, I don't want children. I never have."

"What?" She gasped, "That's not… you… you told me, you said you wanted us to be a family!"

"Us!" He roared, "us, Padme! You and I!" Climbing off of the sofa, Anakin ran his hand over his face tiredly. He couldn't believe this was happening. He should have known something would come between them, it was only a matter of time. There was never anything purely good in his life, everything came with a cost. And now, at last, he knew Padme's. "I wanted us to be a family together. I never told you that I wanted children."

"But… but…" she spluttered, "You knew that I did!"

"Did I?" If he had… force, if he had, Anakin would have never allowed their relationship to progress so far! It would have been irresponsible of him to allow either of them to fall any harder if their desires were so vastly different. The very thought threatened to break his heart but at least it would have meant this disaster would never have come about.

"I…" More tears painted her face, "I told you. I said that I had thought I would have a family of my own by now – we had an entire conversation about it! Was that not enough to convince you?"

He scoffed, that was hardly a conversation on their plans for the future. It had been whispered pillow talk, brief and all too quickly forgotten. "I thought you were telling me you decided to let go of that dream," Anakin said truthfully. He had been so happy to know they were on the same page about a future they could share with one another.

A pained noise slipped out of her lips. The absolute horror which shaped her face rendered Anakin breathless, it wounded him more than he could bear to see such an expression directed at him. "How…" A small, choked sob ripped through her words. "How have we spent a year together and never discussed this? How is that possible?"

They were silent, neither having anything of an answer to offer the other so he merely watched her, praying for a sign she might change her mind and see sense. Unfortunately, he sensed the intense upset Padme felt shifting, melting into deep, fiery anger of her own the longer this went on. Maybe she had thought his reaction would be different? Had she secretly hoped that he might be happy about this? That he wanted a child with her?

He didn't know which of them he pitied more.

"So," Anakin wet his lips and broke the heavy quiet lingering over them, "it's done then? Decision made? You're having it?"

Padme nodded, still clutching her stomach protectively. "Yes, I am."

It was done. Anger, panic and revulsion interbred within him and the Prince did not trust himself to hold anything back if he stayed here any longer. They both needed time to breathe and think. Otherwise… otherwise, he was not sure where this conversation might lead and he did not wish to find out. "I have to go," he muttered, grabbing at the deep blue of his coat and tugging it furiously onto his body.

"What?" She cried, "No! You can't leave! You can't just walk away from this, Anakin, it's happening!" Padme grabbed at his arm tightly, her sharp nails sinking into his flesh through the layers of his clothing with a stinging nip. "We need to discuss this and figure out what we're going to do – Anakin, listen to me!"

"What we're going to do?" He rounded on her fiercely, "Now I have a say in what we're going to do?" A bitter laugh fell out of his mouth. He saw the flinch it caused her. "Fine then! This is what we're going to do. We're getting married. We're having the baby. I'm losing my titles. That's what we're doing, Padme." Every word left the Prince's mouth as a snarl and Padme, though she still clung to him, jerked backwards. "I'll speak to you tomorrow, alright?"

"Stop this!" she pleaded, "This isn't like you. Anakin, please – "

"I said," he harshly shrugged her hands off his body, "I'll speak with you tomorrow." He did not linger to hear her response, storming out of the room as fast as his legs could carry him instead. The door slid shut behind him instantly and Anakin began to walk, taking a few steps to leave her behind in his rage when a long, keening wail filled the air. It gave him pause, the sound making his heart bleed regret to know his beloved was just behind that door crying her eyes out and he was the cause of her pain.

Anakin trembled, releasing a shaking breath he had not known he was holding until now. His own gaze became blurred as burning tears filled his eyes. Padme's cries grew louder and the Prince felt himself turning back, pressing himself against the door as a singular whimper made it beyond his throat. I'm sorry, Angel, he thought, but it was not enough to make him open the door and return to her.

The galaxy seemed to tremble beneath his feet. Anakin felt ill, lost and so utterly confused, he didn't know what to do. Hardening himself, he turned away from the door and stalked through the apartment to the private veranda where his cruiser waited. He hadn't expected to need it tonight. Every part of him hated himself for what he was doing, for leaving her wailing in misery and for what?

He needed to speak to Vader. His brother would know what to say. He could make the galaxy make sense again the way no one else ever could. Still, Padme's mournful howls rang in his ears, lashing the most painful lacerations onto Anakin's heart. When he climbed into his ship, catching sight of his reflection in the glass dome as it slid shut around him, he did not recognise the man looking back at him.

She could not believe how dreadfully things had turned out.

Sitting in a heap of tears and silver skirts, Padme held her face in her hands as she wept uncontrollably. Her body quaked with every powerful sob which wracked through her, stealing her breath as she gasped and panted through it. Anakin was gone. He left her! He said they were getting married and then he'd just left. How long had it been? Minutes? Hours? All the Senator knew was the pain would not release her.

Forcing a shaking breath, she wiped her wet face and tried to calm herself so that her mind might become clear enough to think once more but it was difficult. The grief was a wall she could not climb.

None of this could be good for the baby. The very thought threatened to send her reeling back into the pit of despair all over again.

Gingerly, her trembling hand came to rest upon her flat stomach. Not so deep down, Padme had hoped that she and Vader would be proven wrong. Part of her had believed that Anakin might be happy about this, that he would take her in his arms and tell her how wonderful it was and how much he would love their child. She was an idiot, wasn't she? This child would cost him everything, how had she expected him to welcome the news?

But how could he look her in the eye and expect her to make it go away like that?

It was easy to forget just how different she and Anakin were sometimes. She had lived in a stable, happy home growing up whilst all he and his brother had endured had been torture. Of course, the idea of a child to raise would frighten him off, Padme should have thought about that.

But what did it mean for their relationship that they had spent a year together without honestly communicating what they wanted? They were adults, this wasn't normal! How were they supposed to share a life and build anything meaningful if they couldn't talk to one another? It wasn't healthy and it certainly couldn't last. They couldn't last if this kept on. It would destroy their love and fill it with resentment little by little until there was nothing left to salvage.

Then again, Padme might have set them on that course already.

A gentle knock at the door resounded through the silent room and her head snapped up, heart leaping with hope as it began to slide open. So sure he had come back to her to apologise, she almost said his name as Dorme hesitantly stepped into the room.

"Padme?" Her friend whispered, "Oh, Padme!" She sank to her knees and threw her arms around the Senator's trembling body tightly. "Sabe and I were working late in your office… we overheard some of the shouting. Are you okay? It sounded terrible."

Shaking her head, she burst into tears all over again.