*1 year later*

I stood, my palms sweaty wifh nerves, fixing my hair and robes for the meeting with Palpatine.

This could be it. I'd progressed a lot over the past year, and had grown in my physical and mental strength. All of the hard work I'd put in over my time as an apprentice had led to this moment.

I pushed open the doors, my heart pumping fast as I took my seat at the long table, which also seated Palpatine, General Krannus, General Patorr (my Master) and many other Generals.

"So y/l/n," Palpatines snake-like voice spoke,"General Patorr has put forward a case for you to upgrade your rank, and I wish to tell you the final decision."

I sat up even straighter in my chair, my heart beating rapidly inside my chest as I waited in anticipation for the next words to leave his mouth.

"We are gathered here today," He began, rising from his seat,"To grant y/n y/l/n... the title of... Dark Lady Of The Sith."

In that moment, my heart burst, and I struggled immensely to contain the swelling feelings of pride I felt.

I only nodded my head at Palpatine in gratitude, who was looking at me with an unreadable face as always.

As I looked around the table though, something felt off... People were speaking in hushed tones to one another, some sat uncomfortably in their chairs, a frowned look on their faces.

I looked to Gale in confusion, to find him staring at me, a slight smirk on his face. The harsh lighting made his face appear more defined, his Adams apple and sharp jawline contoured perfectly.

It reminded me of him. Of a doomed night on Naboo. Of the night everything would change.

It felt as though a pit in my stomach would swallow me whole every time I thought of him, which was frequent. Every long day, every sleepless night, all I thought of was Anakin Skywalker.

And I hated it.

Then my thoughts clicked back to reality. Back to the moment I was in. I had just been granted the rank of Dark Lady Of The Sith!

But why was everyone acting so off...

"Thank you Emperor, I will serve the Empire and do my duty for as long as I live," I said, hoping to break the awkward silence.

"I'm sorry Emperor, but..." ew, the sadly familiar voice of General Krannus sounded, he never had anything good to say about me,"Isn't she a bit... young?"

"Do you question my judgment, General Krannus?" Palpatine said, a threatening note in his tone.

"N-no of course not, it's just... she's only 20 and it's a big decision," He stuttered,"th-thats all."

If I were him I'd just shut my mouth. Nothing good ever came of speaking against the Emperor, although Krannus had managed to get away with it for years anyway.

"General, this is my decision and that's all I'd like to hear on the matter. Now show some respect to her, I'm sure she could stomp on you like a bug," Palpatine said, glancing at me,"I have high hopes for her."

~~~

The meeting soon ended. It was final, I had achieved my dream. Now the only step left was to climb the ranks, become the most powerful Sith in the galaxy.

The past years, they had put me through invigorating and challenging missions to get where I am now, saying it was to push me to my limits, to prove I am worthy of this rank. Well I suppose all the pain paid off.

Then I felt a familiar hand on my shoulder,"y/n, oh, should I say Dark Lady, would you mind us going for a quick celebration..." Gale said. It was then I noticed the small glass bottles he was showing from his robes.

I smirked,"All right then."

So we made our way to my room, where I turned on the dim lamp on my bedside table and slung myself down on the soft surface.

"I can't believe it Gale, I just can't. I'm finally not an apprentice!" I said, allowing myself now to show some excitement.

A moment of silence passed between us, and I looked up at him from the bed, propping myself up on my elbows to get a better view. He was stood looking at the alcohol in his hands, fiddling with their caps.

He then looked up at me and inhaled sharply, "So that means you won't be calling me Master anymore... unless you want to," He said, winking playfully.

"Stop it!" I said, standing up fast and taking one of the bottles from him, unscrewing the cap as I did.

"Seriously though, I'm proud of you. All the pressure and hard work I've been putting on you seems to have paid off. I knew you had it in you," He said, smiling down at me.

I'd sat back down on the bed again, taking a swig of the drink he'd brought. "Yeah," I replied. The alcohol burnt my throat as it went down, leaving a horrid taste in my mouth after.

More and more went into my system as the night went on. We talked for hours. Sometimes not even talking, just sat next to each other on my bed in silence, thinking. It was one of these moments, although it was interuppted when these words left his mouth..

"Y'know... I used to be super, like super jealous of uh... you and Skywalker. Did you know that?" He slurred out, looking at me,"It was just this constant... tension between you two. I mean seriously, a Jedi, over me?"

Maybe it was just my drunken state but did I hear him right. He saw me in a romantic way? He used to be jealous of me and Skywalker. I felt the pit in my stomach at the mention of his name.

"Wha-," my words trailed off as I stared at him, confused.

His lips began moving but I wasn't listening. It was just muffled noise. I was busy. Busy focusing on this handsome man. I'd never really noticed before but... he looked good. Too good. Maybe it was the dim lighting in my room, or the alcohol taking its effects, but I couldn't stop staring at him in this daydreamy state.

"Gale," I said, moving slightly closer to him. "Gale!" He finally fell silent, and we just stayed staring at each other. A million feelings were racing through me. I hadn't been intimate in a year, maybe it was the lust finally kicking in.

That was when I felt his hand around my waist, pulling me into him. In my mind, a vision flashed. One of a fateful night on Naboo.

Shit, y/n, stop and focus!

"I used to be so, so jealous," He whispered into my neck. It sent tingles down my spine, something I hadn't felt in a while. He pulled me around so I was straddling his thighs.

My vision was fuzzy, as were my thoughts. I couldn't tell whether I wanted to kiss him or kick him out of my room. I chose the kiss, leaning into his face and smashing our lips together, where I straight away let our tongues collide too.

We were breathless, gripping onto each other like our lives depended on it. We both knew the alcohol had some part in this, although we continued, lost in our careless state.

I imagined he was Anakin, I imagined his muscular build was Anakins body. And I wanted him bad.

I just wanted to be touched. I hadn't been in so long. I wanted to know what it felt like again.

I just wanted to feel something.

"Gale,"I said breathlessly into his neck,"Is this a mistake?"

He rolled me onto my back, our bodies tangling in with the sheets,"Probably," He managed to slur out.

I wrapped my legs around his hips and grinded on his hips, earning a groan from him.

BAM.

Another flashback. Another memory of that night on Naboo.

So I kept kissing him, grinding on him. "Fuck, y/n," He slurred out.

I didn't feel anything.

And so I pulled him into another sweaty kiss, our harsh breathing and the scent of alcohol mingling with one another.

It was then that I pushed myself off of him. I ran my hands through my hair, frustrated.

He was still on the bed, a look of confusion on his face.

"Gale, we shouldn't be doing this. I-I don't want to. It wouldn't be fair on you," I said, opening my door for him to leave.

He got up from the bed and left the room fast, his hand rubbing his hair in embarrassment as he walked away.

Shit. I shut the door and collapsed onto my bed.

Why couldn't I feel anything? Ever since... the night with Anakin, I'd felt so... numb.

Ugh!

I rolled onto my side, shutting my eyes. The effects of the alcohol wearing off and being replaced by fatigue.

Let's hope I forget this in the morning.