Title: Fighting for Her

Chapter: 15

Summary: Palpatine took Vader when he was five and trained him to be his apprentice. Years later, Vader killed his Master, becoming Emperor. Vader soon meets a certain Senator that he sets his eyes on. Padmé Amidala is kind, beautiful and uninterested in the Sith Lord, but what Vader wants, he'll get.

Important Notes: N/A

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars or the characters.

Padmé slept so peacefully in his arms.

She was a perfect fit, right between the crook of arm and his shoulder, which she rested her head on, so close to him that her intoxicating flowery scent fired through his nose. Anakin had missed everything about her in the past three weeks, and being able to hold her, to smell her, strangely, was the absolute best thing in the world. And she's all mine, He thought obsessively as he traced his fingers through her chestnut locks. God, he wanted her. But now wasn't the time. Padmé needed to get better.

Anger bubbled in his veins. Oh, when he found the person who was doing this, they would suffer. He would make sure of it. His Angel shouldn't ever have to feel unsafe in her own home, and now, he was never leaving her again. If Anakin went somewhere, Padmé sure as hell was coming with him.

Anakin had talked the doctor. Padmé was going to be discharged in three days time, but she would need to get much needed rest and should be consistently catered to. He smiled softly. He would have no problem being Padmé's little servent until she was fully healed and well. Fuck, he didn't mind being her servent until the end of time as long as she was happy. All that mattered was that she was safe and had a good, nurtured pregnancy.

"Ani?" Padmè whispered sleepily, her beautiful brown eyes staring up to look at him.

"Go back to sleep, Angel," Anakin coaxed softly, placing a kiss upon her forehead.

Padmé let out a tired adorable little yawn that made his heart skip a beat as she cuddled closer. "I'm not tired, Ani..." Though it was clear she was.

Anakin smiled softly. Padmé often got this way once she was still groggy with sleep. He loved it. "Rest, Padmé. For me. I love you."

Padmé nodded slowly as she began to doze off. "Goodnight." Was all she whispered as her eyes closed. Anakin raised a slight eyebrow. Padmé always said that she loved him back. Always. Calm yourself. It was just an oversight. She's half asleep, anyways, He thought reassuringly. With a small smile upon his face, Anakin slowly escaped into sleep as well.

Anakin was wrong. Something was up with Padmé.

They had arrived home three days later, and she had been quiet, distant, so unlike her normal self. Padmé spent each day slowly recovering and doing relaxing things. Anakin took care of her as much as possible, but had to complete his own work as well so he hired a nurse, Cordé, to help her with any needs. Well Padmé was kind and open to her, she barely used her assistance.

Not only that, but she barely touched him. Not just sexually, but in general. Whenever he tried to kiss her or embrace her she would move away so quickly that it almost startled him. Anakin knew that just because they were together that didn't mean it gave him an open pass to touch her as he pleased, but he desperately longed for both the feel of Padmé's skin against his and her admiration.

"Hey," Anakin said one night, leaning against their bedroom door. Padmé sat stilly, a holobook in her hand.

"Hi." She whispered softly in return. Cautiously, Anakin sat at the end of the bed, keeping a small distance from her. "Padmé, what's going on? I know something's happening. It's very clear." Anakin replied bitterly.

Padmé said nothing, only shifting uncomfortably. "Nothing."

"Angel-"

"Nothing, Anakin!" Padmé snapped suddenly, her voice rising. "Just drop it, okay?"

Anger seethed through his veins, causing his hands to shake. Why was she acting like this? So...Different? So unlike her normal, kind, affectionate self. Was it him? It had to be. "Is it me, Padmé?" Anakin asked, his voice steady and cold. "Is this about me? Do you not love me anymore?"

Instead of insisting she did like Anakin assumed, his Padmé broke down into tears, her head collapsing into her hands, holobook falling to the floor. She let out loud and barely controlled sobs, much to his surprise. He reached his hand out to touch her, to comfort her, but then pulled back hesitatly, knowing Padmé wouldn't accept it. Anakin sat there, motionless, pain and anguish filling his heart, knowing that nothing he could say or do could help her. "N-No," Padmé said finally, her voice breaking on every word. "I-I do. And that's the problem."

Problem? How was her love for him a problem? "Angel? What do you mean?"

"I love you, Anakin!" Padmé cried suddenly, lifting her face. Tears were slipping and scarring her cheeks. "I love you! I love Anakin! I don't..." Her breath hitched, pausing. "I don't love Darth Vader."

Anakin said nothing, merely glancing at the floor, refusing to look at her. He felt attacked, his pride was wounded. He didn't know what to do or to say to calm her-How could he? Anakin was Darth Vader, he ruled the Empire. There wasn't anything he could tell Padmé that would change that. She couldn't redeem him. It was too late for that. "I don't know what you want me to say." Anakin said flatly, icily.

Padmé jumped up, and soon Anakin held her tightly in his arms, her hands on his shoulders, their eyes locked. Her beautiful chocolate orbs looking at him, pleading. "Don't..." Padmé practically whispered, placing her hands on Anakin's face. "Don't stay on this path, Ani. Please. I know you, you aren't a Sith. You're a person. You're kind, caring...You're my everything." Sadness dripped in her tone.

"What do you mean?" Anakin replied hastily, somewhat snarky. "What are you trying to tell me, Padmé?"

"Run away with me," She said urgently. "Help me raise our children somewhere else, anywhere else. It'll just be us, I promise. No Empire, no Senate, nobody doubting us. Just our love. Please, Anakin." The desperation in her voice, the begging, it was unlike anything Anakin had ever heard from her. Padmé didn't beg, she was determined, knew what needed to be done and did it. The person in front of him was someone in crisis. He shook his head and grabbed her small hands in his.

"Padmé, what the hell are you saying?" Anakin said, his voice harsher than he wanted it to be. "You think that I, the Emperor of the goddamned galaxy, can just get up and leave? You think it works like that?"

Tears flooded into her brown eyes. "Nobody except me knows your real name. We could pull it off, I promise, Ani. We can go somewhere far away where nobody will recognize us-"

"Angel, stop!" Anakin snapped, holding her shaking body steady. "You don't know what you're saying. You're hysterical. I've never seen you act like this before." He closed his eyes tightly for a moment. "You need rest. All of this isn't good for the babies-"

Padmé then let out a wail so heartbreaking that Anakin practically froze in shock. Sobbing, she began to hit his chest violently, begging to be released from his grip. He only held her tighter, not wanting her to accidentally injure her stomach. "Padmé!"He said urgently, trying to stop her moving. Letting out a sob, she collapsed against his solid chest, her tears softer and yet shattering. He held her, one hand around her back and the other curled in her hair, just letting her cry, letting her show her vivid emotions. Anakin could feel his heart crack with hers.

After what felt like forever, Padmé slowly drifted off to sleep in his arms, her soft little breathing noises like music to Anakin's ears. Sighing, he lifted her up in his right arm gently well using the other to pull back the bedspread, tucking her securely underneath the sheets. Anakin then pressed a long kiss to her temple. "Goodnight, Angel," He whispered in her ear, his voice breaking.

What was going to happen now?

When Anakin found out Padmé's assassination attempts were coming from a mere shapeshifter who went by the name of Zam Wesell, he was completely livid.

Out of all his troops, all his private detectives on this case and they couldn't find a pathetic shapeshifter with a blaster? No, his Empire couldn't be that blind. They, as a whole, were smarter than this. Much smarter than this. There had to be more to it. Anakin's anger was very clear that night when he flew out to his command ship after his argument with Padmé. Well he didn't want to leave her at such a terrible time, especially when her mental health wasn't right, he had to ensure that his angel was safe. Forever.

"Where's the prisoner, Piett?" Anakin wreathed as he got aboard the main deck, his temper slowly bubbling to the surface.

"Cell 2207 on the first floor, My Lord." The Admiral said quickly in reply, sensing his Emperor's anger. Letting his cloak fly behind him, Anakin stormed out of the main deck. His boots clamped against the floor as he made his way to the lower levels, stormtroopers instantly bowing their heads, clearly surprised to see him down there. Anakin didn't bother much with the first floor. There was rarely anything important down there, but of course, the case was different today.

As the door slid open, a short, pale-skinned woman in human form came into view. Fear spiked across her face as she opened her mouth to speak, but soon made desperate gagging noises, the Force slowly stealing her oxygen. Anakin wasn't going to kill her, not yet. He needed information. The bounty hunter let out a cry, attempting to reach for her throat but failed to do so due to her hands being chained at her sides. Moments later, Anakin released her, and she gasped for air. "Why were you trying to murder Padmé Amidala?!" Anakin roared, his violent temper showing. He placed his hand on his lightsaber holster, almost like a threat. "There's no point in lying. I can read your pathetic mind with ease, but, it will be painful."

A sneer grew across Zam's face. "It doesn't matter. Especially not now."

"Tell me!" Anakin yelled, his deep voice cutting and dangerous. The bounty hunter's eyes flashed with terror. "Tell me now, you pathetic, disgusting thing!"

Zam winced. "It doesn't matter!" Her voice hitched, oxygen leaving her lungs once again, the Sith Lord before her holding out his hand suffocating her. Suddenly her chains dropped, and the bounty hunter remained on the floor, gasping for air. Grabbing his lightsaber, he pointed it down towards the weak woman. "Tell me what you know, or I will give you a most horrible death." Anakin growled.

Letting out a cough, Zam looked towards the floor. Right before Anakin drew his blade, she began to speak. "As I've said, it doesn't matter. Her murder attempts will stop. I was ordered yesterday to stop all fire on the senator from Naboo. Amidala is no use to anyone anymore." Bitterness creeped in her voice. "Not after she dropped out of the Senate."

Shock filled Anakin. Dropped out of the Senate? What in the hell was this woman talking about? His Padmé would never do such a thing, she loved what she did, she wouldn't drop out so randomly. Even if she had, she would tell him instantly. "You lie." Anakin hissed, and fear flashed upon her face.

"No!" Zam said clearly, almost annoyed. "No, I don't! Check the holonet. It's everywhere. Your precious little Senator is of no need to anyone anymore. She's just a regular, boring, rich bitch now-"

Those were the last words that Zam Wesell would ever utter, her limp body dropping directly to the floor, her blood spilling out along the cold concrete. The bounty hunter wasn't lying. Anakin felt it. She was telling the truth. Padmé had dropped out of the Senate, and Anakin began to have a faint idea on why. Growling to himself, he fled the ship, leaving Zam's lifeless body there. Anakin needed to reach Padmé before his suspicions were confirmed.

End of Chapter Fifteen.

Uh-oh, y'all. Shit is about to go down! I hope you'll enjoy the last couple episodes of this story, there will be a lot thrown your way. I will update when I can. I'm struggling with motivation and endings take time to plan! Stay safe and thank you for reading.

-shortygirlwriter