For once the palace was alive!

Music drifted across the throne room, loud enough for the dancers gliding around yet at a volume his guests could murmur amongst themselves and enjoy each other's company, oblivious to the storm rising within their Emperor. Hosted for no legitimate reason, Vader threw this party on a whim, sending a frantic Sabe to plan every detail two days ago. He smiled into his drink, remembering his favourite aide's cursing and swearing that he was ageing her prematurely. For all her complaints, she'd pulled the night off spectacularly. It was a spectacle. A night people would remember for years…

But the Emperor was not in a celebratory mood.

The list of invites was long and full of the usual names, Senators, Moffs, lesser Kings and Queens across the galaxy. The elite of the elite, the people he should want to impress and befriend… but his heart simply wasn't in it. He didn't want to drink or dance or socialise. Not after sending no less than eighteen messages to Naboo's newest councillor since returning to Coruscant one week ago and receiving only silence in return. Vader forced himself to smile at two passing Senators. He hoped he hid his disappointment well.

He had invited Anakin and Padme this evening. He had summoned them… but they hadn't come.

They were still on Naboo where she could hide from him and deny what burned between them. He was out of sight but Vader refused to believe he was truly out of her mind. Anakin had commed this morning with an excuse – Leia had begun to teethe and was suffering through the process, apparently. Perhaps this was true, his niece was at an age where it was likely, however, there were medicines for these things. Didn't Padme's handmaidens know how to care for the child?

He was under no illusions, it was Padme who denied him, not Anakin.

She was avoiding him. Again.

He turned sharply, moving away from the crowd, his blood-red cape swirling behind him as he strode through the throne room toward the balcony. Neither Imperial guard uttered a sound as their Emperor slipped out of his own party. Good. He didn't pay them to have an opinion on his comings and goings, though he sometimes wondered what they did see and how much they knew about the privacies of his life.

He didn't have the energy to think about that this evening. Vader cleared his mind as the cool night air brushed against his face as he stepped outside but it did little to quell the irritation churning within him.

He could sense her emotions whenever they were together. Padme wanted him – he knew that. He felt that. But she was stubborn, clinging to some outdated idea of decency and rightness, of who she thought she should be. She refused to acknowledge what was right in front of her, refused to admit that she still wanted him, needed him. It didn't matter that she was married – and to his brother no less. Vader loved his brother with his whole heart, but this madness she inspired within him overruled everything else. If she was afraid of repercussions, he would protect her!

Vader's hands gripped the stone railing, his mind racing as he stared out at the ever-lively night sky of Coruscant. She thought she could hide from her feelings on Naboo, that it would all just go away if she pretended for long enough, but he could find her whenever he wanted. He could descend on her tranquil world with the might of the Empire, bring her to his side and force her to see the truth if he wanted to.

But that wasn't what he wanted.

He wanted her to come to him willingly. He wanted her to admit what he knew she felt, to stop running from the inevitable.

His frustration built, twisting into something darker as he imagined her on Naboo, surrounded by Anakin and their child, all her familiar comforts and family. The thought of her being away from him, beyond his grasp, made his control falter for just a moment. The darkness within him roared. She should be here, by his side, standing beside him as his Empress. Leia could have been theirs, his true heir. Everything would have been perfect.

Vader closed his eyes and took a breath, feeling the force ripple around him as his anger simmered. He could almost see her before him now, her voice ringing in his mind, soft and defiant, the way it always was when she challenged him. She was the only one who dared to deny him anything – and that both infuriated and enthralled him.

A throat being cleared softly interrupted his thoughts, cutting through the darkness. "Vader? Are you alright?" He opened his eyes, turning to see Sabe standing at the doorway, her blonde hair scooped up in a fashionable, complex updo his mind couldn't begin to understand. Her sparkling silver dress was simple yet befitting the occasion. "What're you doing out here all by yourself instead of enjoying this party you insisted on throwing?"

Vader's gaze turned back to the luminous skyline before him, unwilling to let Sabe see the depth of his frustration. She couldn't know what he was feeling – their friendship had barely survived the last time all this flared up. "I'm fine," he said flatly. "Just tired is all."

Sabe, perceptive as ever, didn't push further even though he sensed her worry. "Of course. I saw you come out here and I just wanted to check you were okay. If you need anything, you know where to find me…" She said quietly before retreating inside.

Vader remained still, his thoughts once again turning to Padme as he heard the door slide shut behind his friend. She was testing him. Pushing him. She had to know how dangerous that was. If she continued to resist, if she continued to hide… Well, he didn't know. But something had to break between them eventually. There was only so much pressure anyone could take before they snapped.

She said that she didn't like his games… Well, for now, Vader was going to play along with hers. Let her pretend, let her fill her days with Thule and Naboo's council, eventually she would stop fighting him. She would submit because deep down she knew she belonged with him.

Maybe she belonged with them both.

A bitter smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Would Anakin be so willing to share? He wasn't sure he truly knew the answer. But they were never meant to live the lives of normal men – the usual rules simply didn't apply to them. They were more. As close to one person in two bodies as anyone could ever be, they shared a womb, grew together and survived unendurable trauma together. Nobody else was ever going to understand the bond which flourished in such circumstances.

If he really thought about it, why wouldn't they be drawn to the same woman? Why should either of them be denied?

Maybe Anakin and Padme just weren't ready to accept the inevitability of it all… That was fine, but in the end, he knew she could come to him. He knew he could make Anakin see that this was how things were meant to be. The Emperor shut his eyes for a moment as the night's cool breeze kissed his face. He could see it all so clearly, the three of them together here in the palace, sharing meals just how they used to. Making decisions together. Anakin and Padme helping him rule. They could share her bed however she desired it, together or apart… or in time, both.

Vader felt his blood begin to heat just to imagine it.

He supposed there would need to be appearances. There was only so much he could make the galaxy at large accept. He would still need an Empress, someone by his side to carry at least one heir, someone to be seen in public with, for his people to love while his heart was elsewhere. Padme had made her decision on that matter so he was going to need someone else, another woman to stand by his side.

That might be tricky, but he had the time to make it work. To piece everything together until Padme and Anakin were willing to embrace the way things were supposed to be. He would see to his part of things in the meantime so that when she came to him, nothing was going to get in their way.

Yes, Vader could be a patient man when it came to getting what he wanted.

As the Emperor slipped back inside the throne room, his golden eyes swept across the ocean of guests. There were certainly some he recognised, Queen Breha of Alderaan, for once in attendance, stood proudly beside her husband, the Alderaan Senator. Mon Mothma was right there too and their usual gaggle of Senators, laughing about something or another. A little further in, Vader spotted his new Master Engineer, Galen Erso, his wife and teenage daughter who pouted boredly and clutched at her father's arm. A sweet family, he thought, even if they did look uncomfortable amongst all the Empire's splendour. They were going to have to get used to it, should Erso continue to prove himself to be useful, they were going to rise steadily amongst his ranks.

As he reached out to pluck a gleaming crystal glass from one of the serving droids, Vader's whole chest constricted. He barely had enough time to turn his back on the crowd before a vicious coughing fit clawed its way free of his unwilling throat. What the hell was this? He'd thought he'd finally shaken off this virus! His doctors had prescribed medicines which chased away these symptoms for months until they returned with a vengeance these past few days.

Gasping for breath as subtly as he could, Vader felt his eyes water as the pain in his chest was choking. Every night for three days he'd laid awake, unable to rest as painful coughing and terrible headaches descended upon him. His doctors and med-droids assured him it was merely the stress of ruling, of being run down and exhausted, that he had nothing to worry about. How was he supposed to recover if he couldn't get one full night's sleep?

Mercifully, Sabe was on hand to ensure nobody knew how drained he felt… or looked, quite frankly. She'd smiled tightly this evening, using cosmetics to hide the deep purple shadows hanging beneath his eyes. If people saw how he really looked, it could start whispers. People would think he was weak when all he needed was one damned uninterrupted night of sleep. Maybe he would take the pills they offered tonight… if they could truly send him into blissful unconsciousness, Vader would take enough for his whole army.

As his coughing finally abated, Vader wiped his mouth on the back of his black sleeve. The great weight on his chest lifted and he sucked in a long, desperately needed breath. Force, that had hurt. He needed a drink. Several. As his fingers wrapped around the nearest glass of champagne, he sensed a familiar presence behind him. Force help me, he braced himself.

"Well, well, well, why do I find the Emperor skulking in the shadows of his own rather pointless celebration?" The voice both amused and filled Vader with absolute dread. Painting a smile upon his lips, he turned to find the Duke of Mandalore wearing a bright, genuine smile of his own. The two men embraced fondly, slapping one another on the shoulders though the friendly thumps threatened to throw Vader back into the throes of yet another coughing fit. Somehow, he managed to swallow the rising fire in his throat down.

"I admit, I had thought tonight would be more entertaining," he gave his old friend a wry smile, "Can I take your presence as a sign you're finally ready to guide Mandalore into the strength of the Empire?"

Laughing into the rim of the whisky he held, Obi-Wan shook his head, "I'm afraid to disappoint, old friend, but I'm merely here for the free drinks." The other man sipped heartily and then smiled once more, "Shouldn't you be mingling amongst your guests?"

"Shouldn't you?" Vader raised an eyebrow, "Mandalore is always in need of support if it wishes to remain independent and stave off this Death Watch I've been hearing about." The growing movement to remove Satine from leadership was mounting support as more and more people wished to return to the old, less peaceful ways of the system. He had heard his Duchess' own sister had taken leadership! He'd never liked Bo-Katan Kyrze in their handful of meetings. Vader couldn't understand how one sibling could turn against another in such a way… He imagined fighting Anakin, standing on opposite sides of a battlefield to his brother… unthinkable!

"Mandalorians are as stubborn as they are strong," the Duke sighed, looking into the crowd, "But all will settle in time, have faith."

Biting his tongue, Vader held back his desired response. Burying their heads in the sand would not strengthen Satine and Obi-Wan's leadership over the torn system, only further weaken their rule, but that wasn't for him to say. Instead, the Emperor cleared his throat and thought of lighter subjects. "Is Satine here with you tonight?" He asked, despite knowing the answer all too well. He had sensed the Duchess' arrival over an hour ago and spent every moment since ignoring the familiarity of her. Things were just easier this way…

"She is," Obi-wan smiled proudly, "We brought the children with us – though they're tucked away safely in our suite back at the hotel. Satine thought it might make for something of a small family getaway if they came along. Our youngest will be turning three soon… makes a man feel old watching his children grow."

Force, the child Satine carried that night in the Hedsard estate was almost three? It seemed so recent and like hundreds of years ago at once. Shaking his head, Vader forced himself to smile once more as he squeezed the other man's shoulder. "The force has blessed you, Obi-Wan."

"Indeed," he nodded as that all too familiar force signature drew near, shifting intimately against his own as the sweet, citrusy fragrance of her set Vader's senses aflame even after so many years apart. The marble-skinned Duchess appeared beside her husband draped in her favoured shades of emerald green.

"Your Majesty," Satine greeted him with a bright, warm smile, her voice as musical as ever. "At last, I see you as Emperor after all these years." Something was swirling in her eyes – something gentle, intimate, and undeniably familiar that tugged at Vader's heart, even with her husband standing right beside her. The words she spoke carried more than what was said aloud. "I'm very proud of you, Vader... and I hope it's everything you ever dreamed it would be."

The unspoken weight of her words cut deeper than he expected. Years ago, they had been bound by something unspoken, something he had been too afraid to act on. His destiny had pulled him away from her and the life they might have had together. He had chosen his throne, even as part of him had longed for her. And now years later here they stood, Emperor and Duchess - rulers of their separate domains, as if the past had never happened.

But it had and that wound, no matter how deeply buried, had never truly healed.

"Thank you, Duchess," Vader brought her pale hand to his lips, "My calling is everything and more… though lacking in certain aspects." He could not help the slow, knowing smirk which grew upon his lips. The playful spark which lit up within her own eyes promised his sly message was understood. Satine's mouth quirked upwards and though she was quicker to glance away, she was unable to hide the flush which settled across her snowy skin.

Something bitter sparked within Obi-Wan's force signature, snapping Vader's gaze from the Duchess to her husband who glanced between them with narrowing eyes. He did wonder from time to time whether Satine had ever told Kenobi the wedding they shared was supposed to be Vader's? How would the old man take the news? He supposed that was no business of his after all this time. "It was wonderful to see you both," he stepped backwards, "Please enjoy yourselves tonight. Excuse me."

Time to socialise with his other guests.

"Alright soldier, listen up," Anakin paced before Leia who sat happily in her bouncer chair, the springy movement a playful distraction from the pain in her little mouth now her medicine had finally begun to work its long-awaited magic. A teething child truly was hell. "Here's the plan. Mommy's going to feed you dinner, then you're going to have a bath and not scream about it – understand?" He clasped his hands behind his back as if he were speaking to a line-up of his troopers awaiting commands for battle. Leia was not so willing to follow orders as his men but maybe tonight that iron-clad will of hers might ease just a little. His daughter was as hard-headed as her mother – force help him when she learned how to talk. "Then you're going to bed, little one, and you're going to stay in bed… right? No crying or shouting because mommy and I are going to have some grown-up time tonight." He paused before his daughter who squealed and smiled at him for the first time in days, opening and closing her little fists. "Am I understood?"

Leia's response came as an excited little scream, a sound she had just recently discovered and loved to make. Her bright, excited eyes gleamed as she began clapping her small hands together, evidently excited for this little deal of theirs. What a relief it was to sense his little girl without the pain she'd been suffering. In his naivety about children, Anakin hadn't realised just how painful it was when their teeth decided to come in. He had been woefully unprepared for this stage of parenting while, as usual, Padme knew exactly what was required. He and Leia would be lost without her.

Now that he saw the effectiveness of the medicine, attending Vader's latest party might have been possible after all. Padme had insisted taking Leia that far wasn't a good idea in her condition. But Anakin felt guilty for the distance his decision to live primarily in Naboo had placed between his brother and himself. Once, it would have been unthinkable to be apart so often but time was a current beneath a steady river, it couldn't be stopped or moved backwards to where it had begun, no matter how he wished it sometimes could. Things had changed for him, he had his own child to think about now. Even if he did miss Vader, like an aching, throbbing wound no bacta could soothe, Anakin had to think of Leia first. She was going to thrive here as her mother had done, knowing peace and the serenity of this planet instead of the imposing palace halls he had once cowered within.

A childhood mainly spent on Coruscant meant high buildings and little greenery. It meant constant security to avoid paparazzi droids or potential threats to his little Princess, it meant they would never fully relax and enjoy this time of innocence the way it was meant to be if they were forever looking over their shoulders. Leia deserved lazy picnics in luscious green meadows, squealing at unimpressed banthas, learning how to swim in the cool, clean lake near their home and the adoring family so close by always eager to visit and spend time with their niece and grandchild. Anakin would give her all of that over a childhood in the palace every time.

At some point in life, he supposed it was natural for brothers to part ways and lose the lingering closeness of childhood, even if normal siblings could not dream of enduring even half the Skywalkers had. Vader had his empire and Anakin his family now. This was how it was always meant to be… but he mourned the time not spent with his twin. He would like Leia to know Vader better, not as a distant and infrequently visiting family member but as a true, loving uncle as Darred was to her.

"Maybe we do need to make some more of an effort, hm?" Anakin carefully stroked Leia's soft dark hair with a sigh. Living in Naboo didn't mean they couldn't ever leave. They could return to visit or work for a few weeks at a time, couldn't they? Such visitation wasn't as easy for the Emperor as it was the Supreme Commander, he hadn't considered it this way before. Leia's answer came as an oblivious giggle as she blew her lips together sweetly, immediately distracting her father from such complex and heavy thoughts as he bent to sweep her up into his arms with an easy smile.

For tonight, nothing in the galaxy mattered more than this.

As the night dragged on, Vader was getting tired. And bored. He'd lost count of how many Senators had approached him to push their favoured legislation beneath unconvincing veils of polite conversation. He'd hoped tonight would be a pleasant distraction from the mess of his personal life, but there was nobody here he could speak freely to, no one he could let loose and enjoy himself with. Sabe had gone home for the night two hours ago and Anakin and Padme never showed up.

He looked around the throne room and grimaced. If all his plans came to fruition, more than half the people before him were going to unemployed. Stripping power from the Senate was going to take time – as tempting as a singular announcement felt, Vader knew he had to handle this carefully. He wanted his people to be distracted and the Senators caught up in their usual bickering as they lost their powers.

The Senate's very existence contradicted his. There couldn't be an all-powerful Emperor and an entire body of beings wielding enough influence to create and alter laws without his permission. Why his father suffered its presence was beyond him, but Vader wasn't going to make the same mistake.

The galaxy was his to rule.

Force, he really was tired. The party was showing signs of beginning to wind down, mercifully, he only had to survive another hour or two before slipping away. Then again, if he was careful, maybe he could sneak out the back door and –

"Ah, your majesty!" A familiar voice crooned from behind him and he couldn't stop the grimace painting his expression as he turned. Unfortunately, Rysi, former King of Hynestia stood before him in robes of fine azure with golden trimmings, a far grander sight than he had been last time their paths crossed. Glimmering jewels winked from their place on the old man's fingers and within the twist of his long beard. Beside him, Arievel stood yet again, dressed in a powdery blue sleeveless dress which bared her milky shoulders to the warmth of the room. The pair were quickly becoming regulars in Vader's court, it seemed. "We are once more honoured by your invitation this wonderful evening," Rysi fell into a deep, overly practised bow.

"Your presence is a gift, as always," Vader forced himself to smile even as his throat began to burn again. He cleared it politely and prayed his voice wouldn't crack. "Lady Arievel, welcome back to my court."

She smiled coyly, glancing sidelong at her father for a moment before her eyes lifted to find Vader's gaze. "Thank you. How is the little Princess Leia? It must be lovely being an uncle."

The child's name brought a smile more genuine across the Emperor's lips. Anakin's child was wilful and gloriously sweet, her joy was bright and new – it was a wonder to be around. It wasn't difficult to see why his brother's whole galaxy had reformed around the infant after being so vehemently against a child of his own. Leia was Anakin's legacy, his progeny and endlessly inspired her father's fierce pride at even the smallest of accomplishments. Her little smile and the brightness in the eyes she shared with her mother were a balm to even Vader's every ache. "My niece thrives," he nodded, "The Empire has its first heir," his smile became sly, "though I fear for us all should Leia come to power."

Rysi chuckled too heavily for such a small joke and the sound grated against Vader's nerves. After a moment, Rysi squeezed his daughter's shoulder and Vader sensed a growing nervousness within the old man, something excited and zealous. "Please, Your Majesty, excuse me while I find my way to the refresher. Never grow old like me!" He held up one wrinkled finger in faux warning as he laughed but Vader only nodded, watching the other man flit through the crowd in his getaway.

"So…" Arievel smiled, drawing his attention back to the curve of her exposed shoulder and the ever so slight redness flushing her pale skin. For all her plainness, the once Princess was a beauty, one likely to be swept up by some bored fool here seeking a fresh challenge. "I hear you are in need of an Empress, your grace."

Surprised by her boldness, Vader lifted an eyebrow, unable to choke back his laughter. There weren't many brave enough to simply ask him what was on their mind, especially a question which carried so much… potential. "I think you may be braver than any solider I've ever crossed paths with, my lady," he laughed again and reconsidered, "No, you're ambitious."

As Emperor, he would have preferred to be the first of the Skywalker brothers to have an heir. A child stabilised his rule and promised a future and continuation of his sacred bloodline. True, Leia's existence fulfilled this too but he needed his own heir in the royal nursery. For this, indeed, he needed an Empress by his side. But given his… unique circumstances, he had to make a careful selection.

Unlike Anakin, he did not have the freedom to simply follow his passions and heart wherever they took him. He needed a strong partner, someone quick-witted with an understanding of the politics his position depended on. Someone his people liked. Someone who understood they would never have his heart and learn to live with that.

An Empress without these qualities would be useless outside of providing an heir and Vader wanted more than that. He wanted… He grimaced as Padme's face appeared within his mind's eye, taunting him. Force help him, did she have to haunt him like this?

"Not ambitious…" Arievel shook her head, her blonde hair was braided and pinned in an updo which framed her head. "Just realistic about marriage and my future, Your Majesty."

For someone so young, she seemed very deliberate and severe about her life, Vader noticed. Didn't she wish for mystery and passion like most other people? Even love? Arievel had no grand inheritance to protect or a dynasty to secure, the galaxy was wide and open for her, surely it didn't have to be so neatly tucked together quite yet? "Are you already engaged?" He asked curiously. Perhaps old Rysi had arranged his youngest daughter's future for her already, the choice taken from her before she ever had a chance to consider it? It would certainly make things simpler, he could see the appeal.

"No, of course not," she smiled kindly. Something crept into her force signature then, something calculating and ambitious and Vader let it flow over him, watching Arievel closely. Had he misread her from the beginning? "My sisters married men they believed to be of some form of greatness or another," she continued, "High-ranking members of the banking clan, one sister married a Senator, actually, and the others into comfortably rich families. But I… well, I've always wanted more from my life. More from a husband than simple prosperity."

"And why is that?" Vader edged a step closer as Arievel held his gaze unflinchingly. This was not a woman who was ashamed of her desires or who masked them beneath polite manners and small unspoken hints. Her honesty was refreshing. He revelled within it as she spoke.

"Prosperity can change," she shrugged, "Fortunes can be stripped away or squandered in less than a lifetime. Is it shameful to wish for more of an offering from one's life partner than a bank full of credits? My father had that once and look at our family now. No, whoever I marry must have more," she shook her head.

"Wouldn't you prefer to fall in love and build a life that way?" Vader asked, allowing his eyes to feast upon her clavicle and throat. "Some would say that is the best security you can have in a marriage."

Arievel reached for a passing serving droid and daintily plucked a flute of champagne from its offering tray. The cool crystal touched her lips as she tipped back her neck to sip. Vader felt his breath shallow, his gaze dropping to the swell of her breasts. At last, her pink lips turned upwards as she seemingly found the answer to his question. "What most people perceive as romantic love is merely lust which fades with time. In fifty years, no one desires their spouse nearly the same as they did in the first flushes of love, do they? No, real love is different." She began to fiddle with the small jewelled ring around her middle finger, "And I believe we have some control over who we love."

Vader's eyes widened, betraying his surprise before he could contain himself. Her words were… unexpected. He could sense the sincerity in them, a rare alignment with his own beliefs. It was everything he had once tried to make Padme understand, but her heart had been too fiercely loyal to Anakin, too blinded by sentiment to see the truth in what he offered. If only she possessed Arievel's clarity and sense of purpose… Force, how different the galaxy would be. The thought was tantalizing and bitter… but he believed could still come to be, though in a different manner than he originally anticipated.

It felt like a revelation to find someone who saw the truth as he did. Someone who understood the necessity of the power and control the galaxy required. "There are many who would disagree with such a stance," Vader said, his voice low and contemplative. "My brother included. Most people prefer to think with their hearts, I've noticed."

"Most people are fools who sacrifice everything for something flimsy," Arievel did not meet Vader's eye for a long moment. Setting her shoulders, she shook her head again. "I'm realistic. I always have been – I haven't had any other option than to be. Marriage isn't a union of lovers, it's a transaction even if most people don't wish to admit it. I, for example, was born to be a Princess but my family has no crown to inherit any longer… I have no skills to take into the galaxy and make something of myself with save for the very select training I was given for aristocracy. In that way, I can't make my own money, not in any meaningful way at least…" She sighed heavily, "So that is what I expect from a marriage, financial security, protection and the restoration of my family's reputation and in return, my husband receives my body and my future children. He gains my freedom, loyalty and fidelity. So yes, it is an economic proposition between two people in my eyes and it is not one I will settle within."

Vader was quiet for several moments, considering Arievel's words and the proposition wrapped so obviously within them. It was something to consider, certainly… Of course, he would have to consult Anakin and the royal council for their opinions on the matter, but overall… well, he was positively inclined. Arievel was correct in what she offered him, heirs and an Empress prepared for such a title. It would make his life easier and the sooner he had an heir, the sooner he was secure upon his throne. And it wouldn't hurt to take such a beauty as his bride, would it?

Finally, he reached for own glass with a small smile. He would set up a meeting with the council to begin discussions. Their opinions would be interesting. "I see we understand each other, my lady," he said.

"Indeed," she smiled.

Their glasses clinked together.

By the time it was appropriate for Vader to leave his party, he was only a handful of hours away from his first meeting of the day. What was the old saying? No rest for the wicked… Force, how true that felt right now. Flanked by his usual grouping of Imperial guards, Vader walked to his private wing of the palace and bid the men goodnight as they began the task of guarding his safety until morning.

Only when the doors slid shut behind him, sealing the Emperor into a space of absolute privacy did the coughing fit strike him, quaking his body so roughly that his eyes began to strain. Gasping for air, Vader threw his hand against the wall to steady himself in case his legs gave out. When it subsided, he pulled one ragged breath into his trembling lungs and wiped the back of his hand over his mouth.

A wet splatter of blood decorated his flesh.

Well… That was a problem.

Glaring at the smear on his hand, Vader wiped it against his trousers and moved further into the suite. He'd have the doctors come to him in the morning and ensure they solved this before it got in the way of his life. Stepping through the parlour area toward his bedroom something familiar called to him, caressing his force signature with a gentle and familiar touch. Someone was here. The fact washed away any concern lingering in his mind.

Someone had manoeuvred past his guards and entered his private rooms without his express permission … he didn't know if he should be angry or impressed for a moment. The power of the force meant there was little anyone could do to harm him, but the Emperor readied himself regardless as he came closer and closer to the bedroom.

Wait…

All breath fled his body as realisation sparked within his mind. That force signature… he knew it all too well, he would recognise it anywhere – recognise her anywhere. But why…? Tonight of all nights, after everything that had happened and not happened between them, why was she here? Where was her husband? Vader's legs carried him through the door as quickly as they could. His heart began to thunder inside his chest as question after question flooded his overworked mind.

"Satine?" He all but gasped her name the very moment he stepped inside the room. The ethereal Duchess of Mandalore had perched herself comfortably at the foot of Vader's expansive bed. Unsmiling, she still wore the dazzling emerald green gown from the party despite leaving hours before he had. Her hair, however, was freed of the ornate headdress from before and cascaded down her back. Once, he had loved nothing more than stroking his fingers through her silken strands… "I… Force, what are you doing here? Where's Obi-Wan?"

The Duchess didn't meet his eyes for a long moment, staring at the passing ships soaring through the distance through the windows instead. Finally, she inclined her chin in Vader's direction, though her cool blue eyes were distant. "He was asleep when I left. As were the children."

"Satine," he tasted her name slowly on his tongue, confusion rampant within him. "Why are you here?"

Vader knew what he should do. He should demand that she leave. He should lead her out of the intimacy of his bedroom. They hadn't been alone since that moment in the Hedsard estate three years ago – it wasn't right. She had a husband and children to think of. If people knew about this they would talk, whispers would spread and her position was tumultuous enough right now.

"Vader," Satine spoke his name quietly, "I… I wanted to ask you something. Do you ever think of me from time to time? Have I crossed your mind throughout the years we've been apart?" Blue eyes found golden and their gazes lingered, reminiscing and regretting. They'd been separated for so long… longer than they spent together. They had built entire lives apart from each other. She had a marriage and family. Vader had his throne and Padme and a potential future with the Hynestia Princess should it all come together correctly.

But had he ever thought of her across the years? Vader wanted to laugh. He wanted to shake her for such a foolish question. Satine Kryze had haunted him. Force, how many years had he taken lovers or paid whores who looked like her? If she knew how often he considered how different the galaxy might have been if he stayed…

Emperor and Duchess stared at each other, miserable and alone after so many wasted years.

And yet they both had everything they ever wanted.

How strange life was…

Eventually, her shoulders sagged as if the weight of her choices had grown too difficult to carry. "I think…" Satine shook her head and dropped her gaze to the floor a few inches below her feet where they dangled off the edge of the bed. "I shouldn't have married Obi-Wan."

"Satine – "

"Don't misunderstand me, I have tenderly loved my husband. It's a gentle love Obi-Wan and I share, the sweet sort that lacks… risk. Fire. He has given me stability and has served Mandalore wonderfully, truly, he was the right choice and I know that, but…" A bitter laugh tumbled from her lips as a watery redness began to fill her eyes. Vader could only watch her in stunned silence. Was this a dream of some kind? A delusion he had created from his brooding boredom? "But all this time, gods help me, deep down, I've always known I should have fought for you, Vader."

Force, that hurt to hear. It thrilled him and tore at his heart both at once. The very same thought which plagued him across the years had crept into her thoughts too? It would be easier if he never found this out. Knowing Satine was happy with their choices, content with her doting husband and loving children had been a comfort when the longing grew too great, but now he knew the truth. They were as unhappy as each other.

The knowledge was devastating.

"I…" For once, he didn't know what to say. His mind emptied. Where was this conversation going? Another goodbye? The reassurance that their separate lives were for the best? Vader wasn't sure he had the energy or will to survive it again. "If not for your marriage, your children wouldn't exist. Think of that."

Children, heirs, they were a blessing to Emperor or man just the same. All the choices they had made had crafted the path which allowed the Kyrze-Kenobi children to enter the galaxy – it was the will of the force. There could be no regrets in that.

"My children are my whole heart and my shining light," Satine gave a weak smile, "I love them with everything that I have and I would not the woman I am today without them… but…" the smile died as a singular tear marred the Duchess pale cheek. "Well, to be a mother who loves her children, does that mean I'm forced to resent my own life? To smile and endure as I grow more and more miserable with each passing day? I am forced every moment to fight and defend my rule and hide my true self and I'm exhausted, Vader, I cannot do it any longer."

Slowly, lest he startle her out of her vocal thoughts, Vader crossed the bedroom and eased himself onto the edge of the bed beside her. Their hands rested side by side, less than a breath apart. The closeness brought a spark racing through his body that left him breathless. He said nothing as she swiped away the tear with the back of her other hand, sniffling. "I know you've likely had more than your fair share of women since our time together, I'm not naive, but my bed has only ever been shared by you and Obi-Wan. Every now and then, I find myself thinking about you… about our time together and how happy we were those days in Mandalore. It was as if the galaxy did not exist outside of us."

Part of him wished to deny it, to assure Satine she was the only one he had ever wanted, the only woman he had known, but Vader wasn't foolish enough for such a lie. It would only insult her. There had been other women, other desires… For a moment, he thought of his hands on Padme… kissing her, touching her. He certainly hadn't been thinking about Satine then.

"I've had…" Vader's voice faltered as he glanced downward at their hands. So close. "There has been no one tangible since you." He opted for a softer lie. Still dangerous words. Tempting fate and yet he didn't regret saying them. The air inside the bedroom grew thick and heavy as tension rose into something enticing, something frighteningly fragile. He feared that a mere breath which came too loudly might wake Satine from whatever daze had brought her here.

For so, so long, he had craved nothing but the Mandalorian Duchess despite being the one to sever their ties to one another. Satine Kryze was Vader's first love. He burned for her once and such love was madness. For years, he had his women turn away from him during sex so he could imagine Satine in his bed in their place. In time, all that pain had dulled into a gentle ache he'd learned to live with.

"Vader," Satine inched closer making his breath catch in his throat, "There are countless reasons for us to remain apart from one another… but I don't think I can stand another day of it. Please…"

The reasons were beyond countless. There was no advantage to walking this path again, only danger and scandal, especially when her rule already faced such uncertainty, but Vader didn't care. He couldn't bring himself to care, years of loneliness and rejection had crushed him down… Just because he was waiting for Padme to open her eyes and see what was right in front of her didn't mean he couldn't have something for himself in the meantime.

Vader stole the Duchess' lips with his own, sliding his hand along her cheek and into the cool, icy hair he loved so much. Once, she had been a distraction to his goals, an obstacle he didn't care to find a path around. Now everything was different. Satine moaned into his mouth and it was as if no time had passed. They were young and in love with a whole life ahead of them.

They tore at one another desperately, kissing and gasping and panting as their clothes came away into a heap upon the floor. "Oh, my love…" Satine gasped as Vader kissed the valley between her breasts, noting silently the differences years and childbirth had brought upon her body. She was still as beautiful as he remembered, more woman now than girl, and he ached for her just the same. He lavished worship across every inch of her body, rememorizing every part of her the years had faded from his mind.

"You have more scars than I remember…" She whispered, tracing her delicate fingertips across each one she found, re-learning Vader's body with the very same passion he felt.

When he slid inside of her again, he moaned louder than he had in years. Their joining was peace. It was familiar. The sensation of her hands caressing his back as they moved as one was devastatingly wonderful. Vader could hardly breathe. For the first time in years, since they separated, he remembered what it was like to make love, not simply fuck for pleasure and release. They worked together, delighting in the other's every gasp and moan, desiring nothing more than each other's absolute pleasure.

Inside this room, on these sheets, they were Emperor and Duchess no more, just people. Young people following their hearts and bodies toward wonderous oblivion. After her second climax, Satine climbed Vader's body and rode him, whispering powerful words of love and desire until his own orgasm burst forth within her, shaking him to his very core. For once, he was weightless.

Afterwards, collapsing in a heap together, Vader held her and relished in the slight weight of her lying on his chest. How had he gone so long without this? How could any man live without it? "I always thought that I should fear this happening," Satine whispered, lifting her head to meet his eyes and they were hidden beneath the thick curtain of her hair shielding them from the galaxy and all that awaited them. "Love is… it's powerful. It changes you forever and it takes as much as it gives, especially for a woman, I think. I've been afraid of what loving you will take from me."

Vader blinked and watched her closely. This was a conversation he wished to reflect upon before answering. These words were not for pillow talk between panting, there was a question he sensed she wished to find the answer to and he didn't have it. For Vader, this would take nothing. He risked little. But Satine? With a husband, children and a weakening rule? There was nothing but risk.

But all of that might scare her back to Obi-Wan's bed, so he smiled and kissed her eyelids, stroking his fingers through her hair just like he used to. "Don't worry about anything right now," he murmured, "This is a happy moment."

Satine gave a small, barely noticeable nod and laid her palm over his heart. Determination bled into the Duchess' force signature as she steeled herself for… something. "This has been coming for a long time, Vader, longer than I've been willing to admit to myself even alone in my thoughts. I've decided to leave Obi-Wan." Eyes widening, Vader could only gawk wordlessly at her as she shook her head, a silent warning to keep quiet. "It's not something I've made up my mind about lightly."

"But… your children?" He spluttered, "Mandalore… This decision will have ramifications, Satine, extreme ones."

"I have done nothing but think of Mandalore and my children for years. It is long past time that I do something for myself. Mandalore will settle in time once my sister and her Death Watch are defeated and my children will understand when they're old enough. I know they will."

"And Obi-Wan?" He sat up, carefully shifting her body off of his own so they were equals on the bed, side by side as if they were not naked and mere minutes after lovemaking. "What about him?"

"I don't wish to hurt Obi. I won't enjoy the conversation we must have but it's unavoidable now, I suppose," she sighed. "I did love him but it has never been the same as I love you, Vader."

His friendship with Obi-Wan had years ago shifted into fond acquaintances and both men seemed perfectly comfortable with the change. Vader had loved the older man almost as a brother all those years ago, the very last thing he ever wished was to bring pain upon his family. "He still loves you, Satine, he still wants to help you rule."

"Can't you love me?" She pleaded, "Can't you help me strengthen my position?"

Force help him…

"If you wish to bring Mandalore into the Empire at last – "

"Never!" Satine shook her head, "It's not an option, Vader. I don't wish you to be my Emperor but my partner! Can you do that?" Her hand reached for his, hesitating for just a moment before entwining her fingers with his own and giving a gentle squeeze. "Would you wish to do that even with the trouble it will bring us? Can you love me enough to overcome it all?"

He was never going to love her the way she was asking, the time for that had passed long ago… His heart and affections belonged elsewhere and his future… that was to be decided sooner than later, he sensed. Vader simply couldn't commit to Satine the way Obi-Wan had and if she was decided on Mandalore maintaining independence, there was very little he could do for her. All of this probably meant strife between them and trouble for her… and Vader couldn't make himself care.

If he had to wait for what he desired most of all, the force at least was offering a distraction and he was happy to accept. "Fuck it," he smiled, kissing her so passionately, he felt himself begin to stir again. When they parted, he stroked her cheek and smiled, "Let them do their worst."