Hey everyone I'm back with the second chapter!

In my brainstorming for this story I've decided Id like to explore an idea that is presented to us in Rogue One, about how everything isn't black and white...the rebels are good but sometimes the rebellion must do bad things for the greater good. and vice versa, some in the empire aren't evil but they believe the empire is the only way. What Padme will do in the name of revenge will hopefully link in with this, just as I now hesitate to show Vader as irredeemable (since ya know...we already know he isn't haha)

Anyway on with the story!

"You're going to be our informant on the inside, you have more chance of finding out what the Empire is doing then either of us" Mon Mothma was, as always, direct and too the point.

"Its not like being a senator means much in this Empire, It wouldnt surprise us if Palpatine ends the charade that the senate still has any purpose for existing soon" Bail added.

"You think Vader wont be suspicious when I suddenly start taking an interest, after years of fighting with him about it" Padme was dubious to put it mildly, she wanted to help bring down the Empire without a doubt...but she didnt think being a spy was the best way for her to contribute.

"You underestimate how much a man in love is willing to overlook, and even more how much they will convince themselves of something if they want too. Vader does love you, in his own twisted way." This was an unusually ruthless statement from the kind, laid back Alderaanian.

"You dont know Vader" She snarked.

"Or maybe we just dont see him with the betrayed eyes that you do" Mon had her there, Padme knew when she had been bested. She was letting her personal bias about him control her judgement, reality was that Vader often claimed that their family was everything to him, which was why he so often forced them to all have family meals together in the first place, and also why he often screamed at her during their arguments that he 'did all of this for her and the children'. If anyone could get information from him, it was her.

And so, came the moment that Padme's greatest performance was about to begin, the moment she would 'reconcile' with Vader.

They had a nice enforced family dinner, both Luke and Leia excitedly telling her that they were learning to shield their presences from other force users, While Vader nodded like an approving teacher. Padme smiled genuinely at them and even engaged their father in conversation about their progress which she never usually did, and judging by the momentary shocked look that graced his face he hadnt failed to notice that fact either.

"Kids could you go entertain yourselves in your room for awhile? Id like some time alone with your father." She asked them politely. Luke and Leia exchanged looks that suggested they thought the shouting was about to start and quickly excused themselves, Vader look equally perplexed which would have been funny to her if she wasnt about to metaphorically crawl for the man she once loved but now despised.

"Shall we make ourselves comfortable in the living room?" he simply nodded and they walked into the other room. He sat and looked at her expectantly, She poured them both a glass of wine imported from Naboo and handed it to him. She sat closer to him than she had in a long time and breathed in deeply.

"Ive been doing alot of thinking recently, when we married years ago this...well this wasnt how I expected our future to be, I-"

"Padme. Not this again, I did this fo-"

"Please dont say that you did this for us right now." She took a moment to compose herself, before she said to hell with it all and said the words she had REALLY wanted to say for a long time.

"I know you did. This is not what I wanted for our future...but its what we have got, and Ive spent a long time living in resentment over something that cant go back and be changed. The Republic and the Jedi are gone and our old lives are gone...But maybe our relationship doesnt have to be. What Im trying to say An...Anakin is that Im going to try harder from now on"

They were both silent for several moments before he grasped one of her hands in both of his.

"Padme, Do you mean it?" The look of hope on his face almost reminded her of the young man she had fallen in love with, and for just a moment the guilt of how easily these lies had dripped from her tongue threatened to overwhelm her. But this wasnt the man she fell in love with, the yellow of his eyes was proof of that. The sign of all the darkness he had caused, the next lie came much easier.

"Yes." He smiled so wide at that.

"I still love you Padme" He looked at her expectantly after the declaration, but that was one lie she just couldnt bring herself to tell.

"I know you do, Its been a long time since Ive allowed myself to acknowledge it. I think I need to start integrating myself into outside life more, The kids are attending the Imperial Academy and your the second most important person in the entire Empire..." He nodded thoughtfully at her words for a few moments, Padme relaxed slightly, he was buying it.

"Why dont you join me at the Officers gathering thats coming up? you can see and hear for yourself how we are shaping the galaxy? The Republic could never have achieved the things we are". How far you've fallen Anakin, to think THIS is better than liberty, than democracy.
She smiled tightly at him and he squeezed her hand.

Coruscant - Imperial Throne Room:

Emperor Palpatine sensed a disturbance in the force, and for the first time since before the fall of the Republic, he felt that the balance had shifted out of his favour. But what could cause such a shift? There were no real threats to his reign left, whatever Jedi still lived where broken and scattered, any would be insurrections would soon be dealt with by his ultimate weapon, and he had the most powerful force wielder he had ever encountered and his almost as powerful offspring within his grasp...Unless his apprentice was the cause.

The Sith Lord reached out in the force and honed in on the unmistakeable presence that was Vader, he was...happy. Unusually happy. An emotion his apprentice had not displayed this strongly in some time, especially since his children were not currently with him. Palpatine gritted his teeth. He had not been able to twist the children under his will like he had hoped, Vader had expressly forbid it. Vader's love of his children was a thorn in Palpatine's side. The dark side told him that if he forced Vader to turn over the twins, his apprentice would turn against him. So where Luke and Leia were concerned the Emperor bided his time, something he was monumentally good at.

However he must make a move to find out what had caused this current shift in the younger mans emotions, he would not let anything slip through and ruin his plans now. He reached out and flicked a switch at his desk.

"Bring Lord Vader to me immediately."