Quick little thing I wrote last year for May 4th! May the 4th be with you!
Anything Star Wars belongs to Disney, Lucasfilm, and whoever else owns Star Wars at the moment I literally have no idea atm since it keeps changing. The point is, I don't own it, but a major company certainly does.
The newly-christened Vader had obeyed all of his Master's commands to the letter. The Jedi and younglings at the Temple on Coruscant had all been killed, with the assistance of Skywalker's 501st troops. The Separatist leaders were all dead, their bodies crumpled and lifeless behind him. And Padme and their child were safe on Coruscant.
Skywalker pushed will she think when she learns?he whispered.
Vader ruthlessly shoved him away. Padme loved him. He was doing this forher. She would understand, she always did. She understood after the Tuskens, she would understand now. There was no way she could turn against him.
A familiar presence reached out to him through the Force. Frowning, Vader acknowledged it. His eyes ! What was she doing here?
Hurrying along the protected catwalks, Vader followed his wife's life-force to an open spot of land. Her silver Nabooian cruiser landed beside his rougher X-wing. The ramp extended with a hiss of smoke, and Padme came hurrying down.
Vader clutched her in his arms, inhaling the sweet smell of her Naboo perfume. He reached one hand down, pressing lightly against her stomach, and smiled as the baby responded with a kick. "I saw your ship," he murmured.
"Oh, Anakin!" Padme held him tighter. "I was so scared, I didn't know what to do. Obi-Wan came to see me."
Vader pulled away, startled by this information. "Obi-Wan's alive?" Perhaps he shouldn't be too surprised. Skywalker's former Master had a knack for surviving the impossible. Bitterness rose up in Vader's chest as he remembered the Rako Hardeen trick...
"He told me terrible things," Padme said.
Vader frowned. "What things?"
"He said you turned to the Dark Side ... you killed younglings-" Padme's voice cracked as she finished.
Vader gritted his teeth, eyes flashing. Hecouldn'tallow Obi-Wan to trick his wife! She would see his side, shehadto! "He's trying to turn you against me."
"He cares about us," Padme told him.
Vader snarled. "Us?!"
"He knows about us," Padme said. "He wants to help."
Vader shook his head, furious. "Obi-Wan isn't strong enough to help you."
"Ani," Padme said softly, reaching up to stroke his cheek, "I just want your love."
"That can't save you," Vader retorted, clutching his wife's hand desperately. "Only my powers can."
"At what cost?" Vader stared at her, disbelieving. Didn't she understand?
"I won't lose you like I lost my mother!" His voice was the roar of a wounded animal.
Padme didn't flinch. She had never been afraid of him. "Come with me," she pleaded, gripping his hands in hers. "Leave everything else and help me raise our child!"
Vader shook his head. "I have an even better future planned for us." He grinned, knowing that she would love this news. "I can overthrow the Chancellor. We can rule the galaxy, make things how we want them!"
But Padme was shaking her own head. "Obi-Wan was right," she whispered. "You've changed."
Vader scowled. "Enough about Obi-Wan," he ordered. Skywalker's Master really did ruin everything good for both of them, didn't he? "The Jedi turned against me. Don'tyouturn against me too!" Hecouldn't lose didn't she understand that?
"I don't know you anymore," Padme breathed. "You're breaking my heart." Vader frowned. He had never wanted that. But he didn't know how else he could convince her. "You're going down a path I can't follow! Please, Anakin..." She brought him closer, kissing his lips. "I love you."
Vader softened, opening his mouth to reply. Something moved in the corner of his vision. Looking up, he was furious to see Obi-Wan standing on the ramp of Padme's betrayed me!"Liar!" Vader spat at his wife. No, she was no longer his wife. She couldn't be. She was under Obi-Wan's thrall now.
Padme looked around. Shock crossed her face. Vader knew it to be fake. "No," she breathed.
"You've betrayed me!" Vader snarled. "You brought him here to kill me!"
Before Padme could spit anymore hurtful lies, Vader raised his hand, preventing the air from reaching her lungs. She began to choke.
Stop!Skywalker shouted in his head. Scoffing at the feeble attempt, Vader pushed him away. Skywalker was far too weak for this business.
"Let her go, Anakin!" Obi-Wan ordered.
Vader sneered. Obi-Wan couldn't order him around the way he had Skywalker! "What have you two been doing together?" he taunted.
Obi-Wan's face hardened. "Let. Her. Go," he snapped.
Vader considered a moment, then relented. He dropped his hand, and Padme fell to the ground, unconscious.
Obi-Wan approached, and Vader felt his fury flare. "You turned her against me!"
"You have done that yourself," Obi-Wan retorted.
Vader glared. HowdareObi-Wan accuse him of such a thing? It was Obi-Wan's lies that had poisoned Padme's mind and convinced her to leave him!
"You won't take her from me," he snarled, throwing off his cloak.
"You have done that yourself," came Obi-Wan's response, as he threw off his own cloak. "You have become the very thing yousworeto destroy!"
Vader gritted his teeth. "Don't make me kill you."
"Anakin, my allegiance is to the Republic, to DEMOCRACY!" Obi-Wan shouted.
Vader shook his head. He should have expected this. Perfect Obi-Wan, the perfect Jedi, perfect ateverything, including ruining his life. "If you're not with me, then you're my enemy."
There was silence for a moment. Vader felt a twisted satisfaction at managing to shock Obi-Wan. However, that didn't keep Obi-Wan silent for long. "Only a Sith deals in absolutes. I will do what I must."
There was the hiss of a lightsaber igniting.
Vader sneered. "You will try."
"I HATE YOU!"
"You were my brother, Anakin. I loved you."
Ani...
Anakin, please...
"Anakin, wake up!"
With a gasp, Anakin shot upright, sweat pouring down his face, breaths coming in heaving gasps.
"Anakin?" a soft, familiar voice spoke.
Anakin turned. "Padme," he breathed. Hesitantly, he reached out with his flesh hand, caressing her nose, her cheeks, her lips, her hair.
"Ani?" Padme inquired. "What-"
Anakin didn't let her finish. Surging forward, he gripped her in a tight hug. Tears streamed down his face. "I'm sorry," he whispered, chest heaving. "Padme, I'm so, sosorry."
Padme chuckled. "You have nothing to apologize for, my love." She drew away slowly, keeping close enough that he could still feel her, but far enough away that they could talk. "Were you dreaming ofhimagain?"
Anakin nodded shakily. "The same dream," he rasped.
Padme caressed his face. "Everyone's fine," she murmured. "Ahsoka, Barriss, and Asajj will be back from their trip tomorrow. Obi-Wan, Rex, and Cody are downstairs with the twins - I think I heard them turn a holo on not too long ago."
Anakin smiled weakly. "Obi-Wan probably sensed that I was up."
Padme nodded lovingly. "Nothing has changed," she whispered. "And Palpatine is long gone." Fury entered her eyes as she remembered the man who had nearly taken her husband away from her. Anakin breathed deeply, centering himself in the Force. It caressed him, whispering assurances as well.
"Echo?" he asked.
Padme snorted. "Last I heard, he and Fives were planning a prank. Don't tell Rex I knew that."
"Like I would." Anakin leaned forward to kiss his wife. "I love you."
"And I, you." Padme slipped out of bed. "Come, why don't we join the boys on the sofa? I think some tea and one of Obi-Wan's 'trashy holos', as you call them, will do you good."
"They'rebad, Padme," Anakin complained. "Why does he have to watch all those murder mysteries?"
"You liked 'Father Brown'," Padme pointed out.
"No, I didn't." Anakin wasnotpouting. No, he wasnot. Padme was lying.
His wife snorted. "I'm sure you didn't." She leaned forward, kissing him once more before gripping his hands and pulling him to his feet. "Come on, Ani. You've fought long enough. Find peace."
Anakin followed her willingly. He always would.