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He gave you the illusion of choice.
Anakin– Darth Vader chose to let you go. He knew he had the upper hand, he’s playing with you. Vader wants you to come willingly to him, narrowing each possible success of escape with the power vested in him as the Emperor’s apprentice.
“I’m not letting you do this!” Obi-Wan bristles, robes unkempt and sunken eyes pleading. “This is what he wants! We’re playing his game! Can’t you see it?”
Slumping your shoulders, you welcome Obi-Wan’s arms around you. “You know I must adhere to his bidding, Obi-Wan. If I don’t do this…” Your eyes drift to Leia bantering with the faux Jedi. Pulling away from the comfort of his arms, you continue, “You must promise me, Obi-Wan. Look after them.”
“They need you too, Y/N!” He clutches at you desperately, lowering his voice to a whisper, “They need their mother.”
You push him away, returning to pack your bags.
“Sweetheart, please.” Obi-Wan tries again, knowing his efforts are in vain. Once you’ve made up your mind, you went through with it. There’s no stopping now. Certainly not when your children, Obi-Wan, and the rest of the group are in jeopardy.
You almost burst into a fit of giggles at the surprise marring Leia’s features once your lips meet his sad, sad eyes. He crashes into you, wrapping his selfish arms around your waist. You melt in his embrace, soothing his anguish through the force and pulling at your bond to remind him that you will always be with him no matter the Parsec separating you both. He pulls away reluctantly, knowing you’d want to tell your goodbyes to Leia.
Obi-Wan nudges you to the little girl’s direction, a fond look on his face as you approach the young Princess to lift her in a tight hug. She squeaks in surprise, but a moment later her small arms encircle your neck.
“You’ll be okay,” She tells you, patting your back. “I swear on my Father’s honor that I will rescue you.”
Giggling, you choke back a sob, cradling her head in your arms. “I am unsure if I am deserving of such a fleet, my Lady,” tickling her belly, you poke at her nose, “Please take care of yourself, Princess Leia. May the force be with you always.”
“I promise.” Leia nods.
“No more running around, alright?” You chide, setting her down to tuck yourself against Obi-Wan. “Don’t cause too much trouble while I’m gone–”
“Duly noted.”
“– and please don’t aggravate Obi-Wan.”
Leia huffs, stubbornly jutting her bottom lip and crossing her arms. The duo accompanies you in silence towards the sealed doors after you’ve said your goodbyes to Tala and Roken. The latter vehemently refuses to allow you to surrender yourself to Vader’s forces. After a heated exchange, he relents, wishing your safety.
“Will I ever see you again?” Leia asks, tugging on your robes.
Obi-Wan sends you a pained glance, gripping your joined hands together. Pressing a chaste kiss to his cheek, he loosens the tight grasp.
“I will always be with you, Princess.”
Her eyes shine in recognition. You smile. She’s always been such a smart girl. Just like her father. The doors screech loudly, drowning your sorrow. Darth Vader’s personal Imperial Shuttle gleams ominously as Stormtroopers marches down from the ramp.
You’re unable to look back, boarding the Imperial Shuttle without any semblance of emotion, fearing Vader’s troops would catch your weakness and report back to him. With your belongings thoroughly checked, the shuttle ascends to the skies until Leia and Obi-Wan are all but dots.
And then you feel it. Vader’s force signature. It is slimy, submerging you in a thick onyx goo. A stormtrooper hauls you back in your seat once the strong influence of his darkness passes through you until the pain is just an infinitesimal pinch.
The shuttle lands on The Devastator. Stormtroopers flank you, unaware of your lightsaber pressed against the skin of your breast. Obi-Wan’s quiet huff echoes in your ears. Do what you must, dear one. The ramp folds down to make a bridge.
You flinch at the sound of Vader’s breathing. He stands in front, hands clasped behind his back–
(Scooping the last serving of the soup, you turn around almost dropping the bowl on the floor at the sight of your husband, leaning against the Kitchen’s doorway, hands clasped behind his back and shamelessly checking you out.
“Anakin, you scared me!”
He laughs, crossing the distance swiftly with his long legs, bending on his knees to kiss the swell of your stomach. “They didn’t cause much trouble, did they?” Anakin frowns, greeting you with a passionate kiss.
“Welcome home, Ani.”)
– his all-black ensemble towering over you. More machine than man. And despite the mask obstructing his face, you can feel his force signature humming in satisfaction, and the haughty smirk on his lips, “Senator.” His voice is unfeeling and mechanical, everything Anakin is not.
But you won’t give him the satisfaction of crumbling down. If it meant that your children will be safe from this monster– a shell of the man you once loved then it will be alright. “I’m here, Vader. Just as you requested,” Lifting your chin up and ignoring the Grand Inquisitor’s seething rage, you push through their entourage as if you owned the place.
Vader is quick to follow on your heels, eyes trained on your back. The footsteps dissipate as you traverse through his large Star Destroyer, no doubt having been dismissed by Vader.
“What do you want from me?”
“Follow me. You are going the wrong way.”
The journey is spent in silence. You do not wish to converse with him and you’re sure Vader doesn’t want to have ears listening on your conversation as well. The door hisses open, revealing what you assume to be his quarters.
Vader lifts a hand and your lightsaber, attracted by the Force, flies into his gloved hand.
“Hey!” You spring forward, “Give that back!”
His mechanic breath hitches quietly.
“You have no right to take that away from me!” You have no right to take Anakin away from me!
Curling a fist, Anakin’s lightsaber crumples underneath the pressure of the Force. It is but a heap of deformed metal once Vader is done with it. Anakin is no longer– no more. Peering up from your wet eyelashes, you sneer, channeling years of grief, anger and hate into your palms, making him crash against the black dome built in the middle of the room.
Darth Vader recovers in a blink, towering over you.
“You will learn to love me just as you have loved Anakin Skywalker.” He breathes, a promise dressed in the trappings of a threat.