AN-Ah, sorry I haven't updated this story in a while, I've been busy with my other fict instead and have been spending the last few weeks solely on it. Sorry for that.

Here's the next chapter! As mentioned before, this chapter is kind of a flashback to where Shmi and Padme are chatting. I feel that the last chapter didn't do justice towards explaining things, but I also didn't want the chapter to be too long.

Enjoy!

"…why do you have so much hope for the damned?"

Sadness clouded the young queen's eyes. "Please do not call yourself that. I know there is good in you."

"Not all things are redeemable. Some things were meant to be damned since the beginning."

"Anakin…"

"Do not call me that," sighed the boy, too tired to yell at the girl. She was such a confusing creature.

Vader opened the door and ushered her in, then turned to leave.

"Wait!" she reached out to grab his hand.

Startled, he turned to face her.

"Shmi and I, we talked about you."

"I know that," replied Vader impatiently.

"There was some things she wished to convey to you, would you like to hear them?"

Again the sith lord was caught off guard at this strange girl. He sat down immediately. His master would call it weak, but anything that involved his mother was considered important to him.

"What did she say?" he asked.

Misunderstandings

(Flashback of Padme and Shmi)

"So tell me," the older woman looked curiously at Padme, "what does Palpatine mentor you on?"

Padme's eyes widened, as she cast a quick glance at the guard before composing herself. "Well," she began, "Palpatine has been mentoring me on the ways of the senate." It wasn't a lie, per say.

"Oh, you want to be a senator?"

"Something like that," the young girl responded vaguely

Humming in thought, Shmi replied, "that's good, to have such high ambitions and aspirations. I'm sure you will make a wonderful diplomat, Padme."

"Thank you…."

The two sat in a comfortable silence as Padme tried desperately to word out the question that she had been wanting to ask for a while now.

"Shmi…."

"Yes, dear?"

"If it's not asking too much…..could I ask why you hold Palpatine in such high regards?"

A fond smile engulfed the older woman's face. "That man has granted my wish that I thought would never come true."

"A wish?"

Shmi nodded, "A dream for a better future for my Ani. And I didn't think it was possible until I met that man."

Padme could only stare at the docile woman in incredulity. Palpatine? Giving Vader a better future? That was the most absurd thing she had ever heard in her life!

Again, Padme wanted to question further, but didn't want to seem intrusive. Luckily, Shmi continued on.

"Ani and I….we were not living in the best circumstances before. We lived on Tatooine, a rough course planet. But it was home. And the only home than Ani knew. I wished for so much more for him…but I could never give him the life he deserved."

"Shmi, you don't have to go on if you don't wan-"

"No it's fine, in a way it's almost therapeutic." she smiled fondly in a reminiscent way.

"….." As much as Padme wanted to know more, she didn't want Shmi to delve up any unwanted memories, whatever they were.

"You see, Ani and I, we were…..We…were slaves."

The young girl gasped in shock. Slaves! But wasn't such a thing abolished in the republic?

And voiced it out.

"Tatooine is in the outer rims, my dear. The law does follow that far away."

"I'm-I'm sorry… I didn't know..."

"It's alright, our master before, Watto…he wasn't that bad. Compared to the other slave owners, he was fair. We were treated rather decently. But now it's over, because it's in the past," a beaming smile encompassed her face.

In the past….Padme's eyes widened in horror. All the things she has said to Vader….that he was a slave to Sidious…..He knew.

Vader knew he was still a slave. The surroundings, commands, and peers around were different….but in essence, Vader was a prisoner….and she had rubbed it in his face without mercy.

If only she knew…

But she did now…..

If it were ever a time to feel regret, it was now for Padme.

How could she apologize to him? To say she didn't know?

She didn't know the answer to that, but she could try.

"Ani," Shmi continued to speak, "he really is a brilliant boy. So bright and intelligent. Before meeting Palpatine, I was always so worried that he wouldn't get the chance to show his true potential. That he would always be stuck in that dust ball. But now….I don't have to worry anymore. Because of Palpatine, I'm sure my Ani will have a bright and noble future ahead of him," Shmi beamed.

Bright and noble….Oh Shmi thought Padme sadly. If only she knew what Vader was really doing…..

The young girl could only remain silent as the older woman continued to praise the horrid man.

But it was understandable. To Shmi's eyes, he saved them. Offered them a much better and brighter future than they ever could have if they continued to live in Tatooine.

But still…to keep deceiving this kind pure woman….it felt wrong, but Padme couldn't help but go along with the ruse. If Shmi ever found out the truth…..it would crush her.

"But enough of our sad story," interrupted Shmi, "tell me, what do you really think of Anakin? I know he's a little hard to get to know. He can be awfully shy, yet sometimes, endearingly infuriating." She chuckled, "well, he is still a growing boy. He's bound to get into the rebellious phase sooner or later."

I don't think you can call what he does to be rebellious….. Thought Padme.

But what did she really think of him? To be honest, Vader was nothing Padme expected him to be when they had first met. For one, Vader being a child completely caught her off guard!

But his age had so much to do with her perception of him.

If he were older, say a much older man, the horrible things he did could not be excused.

But because he was a child, he had no control. He is just a puppet being played by a puppeteer with a sick sense of control. He may act like an intimidating older man, but past all that...Padme could catch glimpses of a scared lonely child.

And Sidious….to make a child do those awful things….

What did Padme really think of Vader?

She thought of him as a lost soul who needed a friend.

Vader was not the enemy.

Sidious was.

"I think," Padme began carefully, aware she was being watched, "Anakin and I could be great friends, given the chance."

A large smile spread on the older woman's face, "that's wonderful. I never wanted Ani to be alone, it's good to know he has a friend beside him. Especially when I know my health is declining, I don't know how long I can be by my son's side."

"Don't say that!"

"Don't worry, I'm not being pessimistic, just realistic. We all do not know when we leave this life, but although I've had a rough one, I do not regret it in the slightest."

"Shmi….."

"Padme...I…know this is selfish of me, but I have one request I would like to ask of you."

Surprised, Padme answered immediately, "Of course not, what is it?"

"Anakin can rarely visit me because he is always so busy. And although I've tried to convey this to him, he either refuses to listen or finds an excuse to leave right away. Can you please tell him something that I wish to tell him?"

The former queen nodded.

"Tell him…..please stop trying to live your life for me, live your life for yourself. While I may not be that old, I am still not as young as I once was. I'm happy with the life I've led, for having you. Never think that I regret your birth. You were always a blessing, not a curse…so please, live for yourself. Do not regret the life you have been given…."

Padme could only silently soak up the information she was given. This woman and her son…the hardship they had to go through…..even now….

"…you have my word, I will pass it on."

"Thank you…Now, enough of this depressing talk, let's change topics shall we?"

A soft smile lit Padme's face as she nodded.

She would do what she could to help this family…because just as Shmi had said, we do not know when we will leave this life.

If she did early, at least she would accomplish something first. And that is….

To befriend the dark lord of the sith.

(Present time)

"There was some things she wished to convey to you, would you like to hear them?"

Again the sith lord was caught off guard at this strange girl. He sat down immediately. His master would call it weak, but anything that involved his mother was considered important to him.

"What did she say?" he asked.

Padme was quiet for a few moments. Just when Vader was about to snap in inpatients, she spoke up.

"I asked her, originally why she felt so indebted to the man."

Padme didn't need to elaborate on who that man was, Vader knew all too well.

"She said that he saved the both of you, or at least that's what she believes."

"Keep it that way…..she shouldn't have to burden herself with anymore….."

"I know. At first I thought that I should try to tell her-"at this admission, Vader looked towards her sharply, but then she continued, "But seeing her so happy, I just couldn't." A soft sarcastic laugh escaped the usually composed child queen. "I don't even know why I told you that. It would count as treason, would it not?" She said as she looked at him.

"….."

"She then told me a little of your former lives. It's true when I said that I was sorry out of sympathy, not out of pity. You've had a horrible life…..and apparently continue to do so…..you shouldn't have to."

"Life isn't fair, not matter how much we hope, pray or lament. That is the way of life…you learn that early on or…you will not survive in the harsh world." Looking towards the former queen once more he spoke quietly, "you were lucky to be born the way you were. Not many people have that luxury. You should have stayed in that perfect protected bubble of yours…you would have been safe then."

"True, but I would not have been happy."

"…..happiness is an illusion."

"That's not what your mother thinks."

"What do you know?" he snarled at her.

"I kind of understand what she wanted me to say to you now, but only a little."

Interest peaked, Vader spoke up, and "you mentioned before that my mother had a message to convey. What is it?"

"Shmi said…" Padme thought back at what Shmi had said to her.

"Tell him…..please stop trying to live your life for me, live your life for yourself. While I may not be that old, I am still not as young as I once was. I'm happy with the life I've led, for having you. Never think that I regret your birth. You were always a blessing, not a curse…so please, live for yourself. Do not regret the life you have been given…."

"She said to not regret or feel guilty for being born. That your birth was always a blessing, never a curse, so please stop thinking that. Shmi has been happy with the life she has led with you….so please…live for yourself, not for anyone else…..not for her."

"…I can't."

"Va-"no she thought. He was not the monster everyone thought he was, "Anakin, I do believe what she said…..be happy for once in your life. Don't live for your master, for Sidious…..or even your mother…live for you-"

Whipping so fast, Vader slammed Padme to the wall, squeezing her throat. Not enough to choke, but enough to send a message. "Shut up! You don't know what you speak of!"

But she wasn't afraid. And she told him so.

"You should be. You seem far too comfortable around a sith. I think we need to remedy that." He said as his other hand hovered threateningly over, promising a painful punishment.

But still she did nothing. She would not cower. Especially not from the one who was cowering in the façade of intimidation.

"Go ahead. But know this…I am not your enemy."

"Then what are you?" He sneered.

"…..If you wish….a friend."

AN-Padme has thrown an olive branch! What will Vader do?

Stay tune for next time!