Author's Note:

I know that the last chapter seemed pretty identical to the movie, but not all of the story will be completely different from the original film. There will be a lot of new scenes and quite a few twists and surprises, but the main part of the story is based around what happens in AOTC, so not everything will change. Just wanted to clear that up. :)

...

He saw her back arch under the whip, her face grimacing in pain. She made no sound, yet he could hear her screams of agony. He ran towards her, but it was as though he were moving through thick sludge. She opened her mouth in one more silent scream, then her head fell limp. He screamed her name, as though that one thing could bring her back.

"MOM!"

Laurence felt a hand on his shoulder and he flung himself back, hitting his head against the wall. Blinking the grittiness from his eyes, he looked up to see Darra's concerned face.

"Are you alright?" she asked, her voice worried.

Laurence panted a moment, then forced his breathing to calm down. He nodded his head that he was fine, though at the moment he was anything but that. He hadn't meant to fall asleep, but his exhaustion had caught up with him. This was the fifth night in a row he had had the nightmare about his mother's death. Laurence hadn't had time to contact his mother in over two weeks, and suddenly he was anxious for her safety.

Darra sat back and studied him carefully. "Do you often have nightmares?"

Laurence hesitated, then nodded slightly. He had them all the time. Images of Obi-wan, Tru, or Padme would rage through his dreams, taunting him and causing him to wake up in a cold sweat. Sometimes he remembered the horrors of his past; Master Yaddle's death, Darra's near fatal wound, and the deep knifing pain of the disapointment radiating from Obi-wan's gaze. Laurence hadn't dreamed of his mother after he left the temple, though. Not until now.

Darra scrutinized him, her gaze suspicious. Finally she spoke her mind. "You really aren't mute, are you?"

Her eyes lit up with triumph at the brief flash of shock that registered on Laurence's face.

"I heard your scream," Darra said. "How long have you been hiding this?"

Laurence knew the game was up. Once again someone had uncovered his secret, but this time he couldn't bluff his way through like he did with Rabe. You couldn't

Looking around, he noted that Anakin must have left to look after of the queen while Laurence slept. He and Darra were alone.

"It's been three years now," Laurence said in a low voice.

"Why." The question was direct and commanding.

Staring into the flinty gaze of the girl who had once been his dearest friend, Laurence could stand it no longer. Memories flooded his mind, and the dam he had so carefully constructed over the years was swept away in one devestating blow. He was tired of keeping secrets. He had to tell someone, even though it endangered his current identity.

"We need to talk somewhere private," he told Darra.

Darra gave him a suspicious glare, but consented, leading him to one of the rooms away from the hall.

"All right," she crossed her arms and sat down on one of the chairs, giving him her full atttention. "What is this all about?"

Laurence pulled up a chair across from her and took a seat. "Darra, there's something I need to tell you."

Darra raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening."

Laurence hesitated a moment, then removed the string that held his hair back. Removing one particularely long strand, he fingered it and felt a pang in his heart. Despite leaving his position as a Jedi, he had still known he could never leave that life completely behind. Over the years his padawan braid had stayed with him, tucked underneath his tunic. Now it was the only link he had to his past.

Darra gave him a confused look, then stared at the braid. Her eyes widened in recognition. "You're a Jedi!" she explained in a hushed breath.

"Once I was," Laurence shook his head. "I left after the mission to Korriban."

"Korriban?" Darra's expression showed that she was hopelessly lost. Something must have clicked inside her brain though, because suddenly realization dawned on her face. "You can't be..."

Laurence nodded slowly. "It's me, Darra. I'm..." he almost couldn't choke out the words, "...I'm Anakin."

..

If she had been anything but a Jedi, she would have fainted in shock. Darra stared at Laurence, her heart numb. This couldn't be true! Anakin had always been at the temple, even after the final hunt for Omega. Laurence had to be lying, trying to hide his true identity with some falsified story meant to gain her trust.

Yet if that were true... why would he pick Anakin? What would it profit him? There were plenty of names he could use instead. What reason would he have to impersonate a Jedi?

The pieces began to fall together in Darra's mind and she gasped. Suddenly she knew why Laurence and Anakin had seemed so alike. They could almost be identical twins. They had the same eyes, the same broad shoulders and handsome features, and the same proud manner in which they carried themselves. In fact, the only physical differences between the two was their hair and the scar across Laurence's forehead.

"Anakin?" Darra asked breathlessly.

His eyes shone with relief and some fear as he nodded.

Darra stared at him a minute more, then raised her hand and struck him across the face.

..

Laurence didn't know what he expected Darra to do, but he wasn't prepared for the sharp slap she gave to his cheek.

"Why did you do it!" Darra demanded, her voice uncharacteristically harsh. "How could you just run away like that? Why didn't you tell me or Obi-wan?"

Laurence looked down. "Because I was a coward," he admitted. He spoke slowly, the words evoking a storm of pent up emotions that had been buried for years. "I was afraid of your reactions. I thought the council might force me to stay because I was the Chosen One." He looked into her eyes, his own filling with tears. "But even more than that, I was afraid to face you. I knew Obi-wan would be sorry to see me leave, but I wasn't sure if you would even want to say goodbye to me."

Darra's eyes softened a bit. "Because of Tru?"

Laurence didn't know how she had heard of their arguement, but he nodded in confirmation, biting his lip as the old hurt wheled up inside.

"But I don't understand," Darra's voice was softer now. "What made you you think I would abandon you? Haven't we always been friends?"

Laurence folded his hands under his chin and looked down. "I thought the same about Tru. When he told me..." he broke off, unable to continue. Laurence rubbed a hand over his face to compose himself. "When Tru left everything fell apart. Tru was the closest friend I ever had. If he would turn his back on me, I knew there was a reasonable chance you would follow. I didn't want to face that."

"So you ran away." Darra's tone was gentle but chastising. "Did you really think that would solve all of your problems?"

Laurence smiled crookedly. "In a way, it did. I found myself. For once in my life I wasn't simply the fullfillment to a Jedi prophecy. I wasn't some great and powerful being that no one could understand because I was superior to them. I was Laurence Stalin; a security guard, crime fighter, ship engineer, pilot, and the queen's personal body guard." Laurence looked up at Darra, trying to formulate the words that would make her understand. "I've become the person I was never allowed to act like, Darra. I'm not just a legend or a savior of the galaxy. I'm a crazy kid who flies his speeder too fast, runs into walls, beats up on thugs, and protects the Senator. That's all I've ever wanted to be."

Darra was silent. Several minutes passed as she stared into the distance. Laurence let her be, giving her time to mull things over.

Finally she spoke, her voice slow and thoughtful. "I suppose... I do understand a little. I still wish you had told me first." She looked away, her face downcast. Then she stiffened and swung her gaze to Laurence as a thought came to her mind. "But if you've been gone this whole time, then who..." her voice dropped to a hushed whisper. "Who's been here in your place?"

Laurence shook his head. "I don't know. I never even realized he was there until the Jedi arrived." He looked up at Darra, his gaze pleading. "I can't have anyone else find out about this. I'm not ready for them to know yet. Please...Darra."

Darra shook her head, her conscious warring against her heart. Friendship battling against duty. Finally she sighed. "All right. I promise not to tell anyone - for now." She gave Laurence a sharp glare. "If I have to, I will speak of this to the Jedi."

Laurence nodded. "I understand."

Darra smiled softly then reached out and hugged him tight. "I'm glad you're back... Anakin."

...

Darra watched 'the other' Anakin out of the corner of her eye as she helped Senator Amidala pack. If Laurence was the real Anakin, then where had this one come from? She had never noticed any difference between the two. Who or what had planted this look-alike in the temple?

Meanwhile Padme finished explaining to Jar-Jar that she would be leaving for a time and he would be in charge of her place in the senate.

"I do not like this idea of hiding," Padme spat as she stalked into the room.

"Don't worry," Anakin said cooly. "I know the Jedi Council has ordered an investigation. It won't take Master Obi-wan long to find this bounty hunter."

"I haven't worked for a year to defeat the military creation act to not be here when its fate is decided." Padme placed another folded dress in her trunk as she spoke.

"Sometimes we must let go of our pride, and do what is requested of us."

Darra was surprised by the sincerity in Anakin's voice. Even three years ago, she realized, she would never have expected him to say that.

Padme too, looked amazed. "Anakin, you've grown up," she complimented.

"Obi-Wan manages not to see it," Anakin said irritably. He walked to the window. "Don't get me wrong; Obi-wan is a great mentor. He's as wise as Master Yoda and powerful as Master Windu." He turned around, his words genuine. "I am grateful to have him as a master." He put down a small globe he had been tossing around with the force. "In some ways... a lot of ways... I'm really ahead of him."

Darra stiffened as a sudden anger crept into Anakin's voice.

"I'm ready for the trials. But he feels that... that I'm too unpredictable. He won't let me move on!"

"That must be frustrating," Padme consoled, though her voice was tense.

"It's worse!" Anakin didn't let her finish. "He's overly critical, he never listens! He - he doesn't understand! It's not fair!"

There was a sharp footfall at the door. Darra turned around to see Laurence standing there, his datapad clenched tightly in his hands.

"What?" Anakin asked tersely as he caught Laurence's burning gaze.

Laurence strode over and grabbed Anakin's arm. "We need to talk," he spelled out to Padme before dragging Anakin out of the room.

Padme stared at the door open-mouthed. "I've never seen Laurence get angry before," she mentioned to Darra in bewilderment.

Darra's brow furrowed as Anakin's shouts echoed across the hallway. "Neither have I."

...

The conversation could have been one-sided for all Anakin knew. Everything he said was practically thrown out the window every time Laurence began scribbling away on his stupid data pad.

"You should start thinking before you open your mouth like that again," Laurence had written furiously.

"It's none of your business!" Anakin spat. "Besides, what right do you have to tell me how I should act? You've never even had to deal with someone like him before!"

Laurence's jaw clenched. "You're wrong in that, Skywalker. And unless you want to make a bunch of really bad mistakes like I did, you'd better listen."

"I don't know why I'm even talking to you in the first place! This conversation was none of your business to start with!"

"You don't even realize what things are like for your master! Have you ever stopped to think about how you appear to others? Face it - you're a spoiled brat who can't stand to see others getting ahead of you. You resent authority because you don't like being told what to do. You rebel against your master and then wonder why he doesn't trust you. You jump headlong into situations without thinking and then ask why the council doesn't consider you mature enough for the trials. You act on your emotions, throw a tantrum if someone doesn't give you the respect you think you deserve, and openly argue with whoever you feel like - no matter how it affects those around you. Now I want you to look at yourself the way others are forced to see you every day, and then you can tell me your master treats you unfairly."

Laurence thrust the datapad at Anakin after he finished writing and stomped out of the room.

Laurence knew exactly what points to bring to "Anakin's" attention because he had seen those very same weaknesses in a young, rash padawan who had run away from the Jedi Temple at age sixteen. It was those weaknesses that would be the imposter's downfall if someone didn't bring it to his attention soon.

As much as he hated his 'other self,' Laurence would not let him make the same mistakes he had done. No one should have to be put through what had happened in his own past, just because everyone was too polite to tell them to their face who they were and what they were becoming.

...

Padme smiled as she waited for the battered transport ship to arrive at its destination. The escape plan they had decided on involved her, Laurence, and the two Jedi padawans dressing in outragiously indignifying peasant clothing. Indeed, they all resembled a ragged group of space gypsies from various sections of the galaxy.

Anakin was wearing brown pants and a brown tunic covered with tiny dark mustard colored designs. He would have managed to look quite dashing in it were it not for the pathetic excuse for a white poncho he had donned.

Padme herself wore a plain brown dress with a yellow headscarf and a funny brown headpiece that originated from who-knew-what-planet.

Darra meanwhile had picked out black high heeled boots, a simple maroon colored dress, and a matching head scarf. The wide skirt of the dress had been shortened to mid-calf length for free movement, just in case an attempt on the senator's life occured.

Watching Laurence's mopey expression, Padme nearly giggled. In the entire time he had been working for her, he had almost never worn anything but black. Now he was stuck in a drab blue tunic and trousers with brown boots and belt. Forced to hide his hair and scar under an equally plain blue hood, he looked a far cry from a queen's guardian.

Laurence's clear blue eyes met her own as he felt her gaze. Without warning Padme found herself blushing. Laurence's eyes were so like Anakin's, she realized. Icy blue yet warm, they expressed every emotion he felt. While Anakin's gaze made her nervous however, Laurence's awoke something inside of her that she couldn't place. Something... what was it?

Without meaning to Padme giggled, her confusion at her emotions and the hilarity of Laurence's indignified look causing the laughter to escape.

Laurence made a disguisted face at her cheeky grin, then rolled his eyes towards Anakin and stuck out his tongue. Padme took the implication to mean that she was supposed to make fun of her Jedi guardian just as easily as she did her bodyguard.

Padme grinned and shook her head as she looked out the window. They had arrived.

"Be safe, Milady," Captain Typho told her as they walked to the door of the battered down transport.

"Thank you, Captain," Padme answered. "Take good care of Dorme. The threat's on you two now."

"He'll be safe with me," Dorme said. She smiled at the captain then looked down, her eyes filling with tears.

Padme's face softened. "You'll be fine," she reassured the handmaiden.

"It's not me, Milady," Dorme was quick to say. "I'm worried about you. What if they find out you've left the capital?"

Padme smiled. "Then my Jedi protectors will have to show how good they are. Besides, I have Laurence. I should be in no danger."

Anakin glared at Laurence, who gave him a smug grin underneath the hood.

"Anakin," Obi-wan pulled his apprentice aside. "Don't do anything without first consulting either myself or the council."

"Yes master," Anakin replied, trying to control his resentment at Obi-wan's tone. His thoughts went back to what Laurence had written. Was that really how others viewed him? He was positive the security guard had made up the entire thing, but a tiny part of his mind told him he should listen anyways.

"I'll get to the bottom of this plot quickly, Milady," Obi-wan told Padme cheefully. "You'll be back here in no time."

"I'll be most grateful for your speed, Master Jedi," Padme said politely.

Feeling agitated as his emotions warred with his conscience, Anakin turned to the door. "It's time to go," he ordered.

"I know," Padme said, irritation lacing her words.

Anakin winced as his conscience twinged again. Perhaps Laurence was right when he spoke of how Anakin affected the others around him.

Anakin wasn't used to considereing himself to be in the wrong. Why couldn't that annoying guard leave him alone? Even when he wasn't talking his words came back to haunt Anakin continually. Anakin glared back at Laurence as the security guard immediately went to Padme's side for protection's sake. All he wanted to do was drop Laurence off on the nearest offworld planet and leave him there - preferably unconscious and unable to get back.

Face it - you're a spoiled brat who can't stand to see others getting ahead of you.

Anakin scowled. When would the voices stop! He needed to be alone for a while. Unfortunately, he was stuck with the queen's guardian for the rest of the mission - even when he was with Padme!

Anakin shook his head in resentment. He couldn't win. His first chance to be alone with his angel, and he had to work with a guy he hated with every fiber of his being.

...

AUGH! My siblings decided to watch Revenge of the Sith today and I joined them for the inspiration. Unfortunately I got too inspired, especially after the Jedi Temple attack. (Bangs head on wall) Must. Write. ROTC. Section!

(Sighs) Unfortunately that will have to wait until the AOTC arc is finished. At least it will keep me writing though. (Cackles evily and rubs hands together at future plans.)

Thanks for all the feedback from my reviewers!