It was really weird watching AOTC while writing this. It wasn't my plan, but my brothers insisted on seeing it. So here I am, transferring to ROTC, and going over the same scenes I wrote about several weeks ago. Eesh, I keep expecting Laurence to pop up all over the place.

This story is a short transition plot that will lead into the ROTC arc.

...

Laurence paced across the floor. Back and forth and back again, he reckoned he had traversed this stretch at least a thousand times.

"Hah. First time as a father, kid?" a kiffar with long silver hair questioned as he watched Laurence stride across the room once more.

Laurence nodded and ran a hand through his hair again, noting absently that it was about time he gave it another dye job.

The kiffar laughed. "Always the same. I was a nervous reck when my first kid was born. I probably drove all the nurses mad by the time it was over."

"How many kids do you have?" Laurence asked.

"This will be the third," the man responded. "Name's Taligon," he added by means of introduction.

"Laurence," the former Jedi nodded.

Just then the door swished open and Siri popped her head out. "Laurence, Darra says you're making her nervous. Stop pacing and sit down before you wear a hole in the floor."

"Is she okay?" Laurence asked quickly as he rushed over.

Siri held up a hand. "Darra is fine. You on the other hand are making everyone jumpy. Don't make me sedate you just to give us some peace of mind."

"But why is it taking so long?" Laurence practically shouted in exhasperation. "It's been over two hours!"

"You can't rush babies," Siri rolled her eyes and pointed to a chair. "Sit. Now."

Laurence mumbled something about bossy Jedi and sat down. Thirty seconds later he was pacing again.

"It never gets any better," Taligon shrugged. "The only reason I'm not wearing the floor through is because my wife bribed the medics to put glue on my chair. Literally."

Laurence chuckled. "I'd better hope Darra never thinks of the same thing."

Just then the door slid open again. "Congratulations, Taligon," a smiling yellow twi'lek announced. "You have a beautiful baby girl."

"Wonderful!" Taligon cheered. "Can I have another pair of pants now?"

The medic laughed. "Don't worry, we'll get you those right away. I'll be back in a minute."

Taligon rubbed the back of his neck and grinned sheepishly. "This is so embarassing." Looking to Laurence he commented, "This is the third girl. I was kind of hoping for a boy, but I know the little one will be a dear. What do you think your child will be?"

Laurence shrugged as he continued striding back and forth. "Darra won't tell me, and she won't even let me guess." In fact, Darra wouldn't let Laurence anywhere near her if she suspected he had unlatched his force binder. It was downright annoying sometimes. Laurence didn't know why she wanted it to be a surprise anyways. It would certainly be easier to name a baby if you knew what it was going to be.

"You hoping for a boy or girl?" Taligon asked.

Laurence shrugged his shoulders again. "I'm not sure. Either one will be wonderful."

Taligon smiled. "That's the spirit, kid."

Laurence rolled his eyes at the term 'kid.' He'd been stuck with that unofficial nickname since Naboo, and he knew he wasn't about to lose it.

The door swished open again, and this time Siri's face appeared. "Laurence, it's a boy. You can come see him now."

Laurence nodded calmly, turned around, and gave a whoop of joy.

"I'm a father!" he shouted as he leapt in the air.

"You're going to be stuck on the couch for a week if Darra hears you scream like that again," Siri lectured. "Honestly, she just gave birth! Try keeping it down a little."

Laurence grabbed Siri in a quick a hug and dashed down the hall.

"Laurence, that way!" Siri's said in exhasperation as she pointed down one of the corridors.

Laurence grinned sheepishly and ran off in the direction she had indicated. Once again he was hopelessly lost as he searched the room numbers, forcing Siri had to guide him to the right place.

"Darra?" Laurence asked softly as he entered the room.

Darra opened her eyes wearily, her face streaked with sweat but jubilant. "Laurence," she smiled.

Laurence ran to Darra's side and stroked the tangled blond hair out of her face. "I was so worried," he whispered.

"I could tell," Darra replied dryly. "They told me you wore off the floor wax."

Laurence chuckled and kissed Darra gently. "How are you feeling?"

"What kind of question is that?" Darra said sharply. "And they told me this was an easy pregnancy!"

Laurence grinned and ignored the rebuke. "Where's the baby?" he asked one of the medical droids. It waved a robotic hand towards another droid, who brought a cloth wrapped bundle over.

Laurence stood up slowly and took the bundle from the droid. Sleeping peacefully in his arms was his newborn son. Laurence gazed at the tiny face, enraptured by the new life he held in his hands.

"Well?" Darra asked with a weak smile.

Laurence shook his head, not trusting his voice. "He's perfect," he whispered. Laurence knelt down next to Darra so she could see the baby. "I'm so proud of you, Darra." He grinned sheepishly as he remembered something. "You know, we never thought of a name for him."

Darra gave him an entreating look. "I always liked the name Ferus."

Laurence grimaced. "Ferus! After my old rival? You've got to be joking!"

Darra's gaze shifted to the side. "You two were a lot more alike than you realize, Laurence. Besides," she added, "He was my friend, even if you always hated him."

Laurence sighed and stood up. "While we're at it let's just call him 'Anakin' after 'you-know-who.' What made you decide you liked the name Ferus anyways?"

Darra shrugged. "It's just that he's been such an important part of our past," she replied. "Him, Tru, us. I miss him."

Laurence rolled his eyes. "I don't believe this," he muttered. Looking down, he couldn't resist the disapointment on Darra's face. "Oh, all right," Laurence gave in. "You can call him Ferus." Studying the sleeping child in his arms, he chuckled. "You know, it might just fit. He's already acting like the perfect angel."

Darra smiled softly. "Thank you, Anakin."

Laurence knelt and kissed her again. "Well, if it means so much to you, then Ferus Skywalker it will be."

Darra's smile faded. "Ferus Stalin, you mean."

Laurence sighed, then shook his head. "In name, yes. But at heart he'll always be a Skywalker."

Darra laughed slightly. "Since when did you become a poet?" she teased.

"Since he overstayed his welcome," Siri's voice broke in as she entered. "All right, Flyboy, it's time my padawan got some rest."

Darra rolled her eyes. "I'm not a Jedi, Siri."

"Not another word," Siri ordered. "The nurse will be here in another minute to back my orders. Laurence, go find yourself an apartment or stay in the waiting room for the night. I don't want to see you within twenty feet of this room until morning."

"And stop pacing," Darra moaned as she leaned back on the pillows. "You're making me nervous."

Laurence flushed. "Oh. Sorry about that." As the medical droid began to take Ferus, he pleaded, "Can't I hold him just a little longer?"

"You'll have plenty of time to do that later on," Siri raised her eyebrows. "Trust me, get some sleep while you can. It's going to be a rare treat from now on."

Laurence sighed and relinquished his son to the droid. His son. He was a father!

"Don't!" Siri warned before he could start shouting it to the world again.

Laurence rolled his eyes in response. Turning to Darra, he softly kissed her forehead. "Get some rest. You deserve it."

"If my husband will let me," Darra winked.

Laurence smiled and quietly left the room. Once in the waiting room, he gave another whoop of joy.

"You still screaming about it?" Taligon asked from his chair. Sighing, he muttered, "When are they going to get those pants over here?"

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Watching the sunbeams fade off the Jedi Temple, Laurence smiled at his two-week-old son and reminisced the time he had viewed a similar sunset at age seventeen. In three years he had gone from a temple runaway to a queen's guardian to a proud father. He'd worked for the angel he'd dreamed of for years, lost her to his clone, and had the chance to realize he'd been ignoring someone who meant even more to his heart.

Looking down at little Ferus, Laurence could only thank the force for the day he walked away from the temple. Ferus blinked sleepily at his father, his blue eyes appearing more prominent due to his dark hair. The boy had hardly made a sound since his birth. The medical droids had been concerned for a while, but Laurence was positive it was because Ferus was living up to his namesake. Already he was becoming a annoyingly perfect child.

Gazing towards the temple once more, Laurence considered the future. Even with the force binder, he could sense Ferus's power. Despite his misgivings, Laurence knew it would be better for his son to be trained at the temple. He didn't want to abandon Ferus to the Jedi though. Laurence was the boy's father, and he was going to be the one to raise him. If the Jedi refused to accept these conditions, then Laurence would train Ferus himself.

Leaning back against the balcony pillar, Laurence wondered if Darra would consider returning to the temple. He knew she missed the Jedi life, even if she didn't admit it to anyone. If Darra was a Jedi, then perhaps the council would be more welcome to the idea of Ferus training at the temple and returning home after his studies. Perhaps they would even let Darra be his master.

Unexpectedly Laurence's comlink beeped, and he muttered in Huttese at the interruption. He was surprised to see that it was the temple frequency.

"Hello?" Laurence's brow furrowed as he shifted Ferus so he could hold him with one hand.

"Laurence?" Mace Windu's voice crackled over the comlink. "The council wishes to speak with you as soon as it is convinient."

"Well, obviously now isn't the best time," Laurence rolled his eyes. "What do you want to see me for?"

"I understand you and Darra have a new son," Mace Windu explained, "But more and more we're finding we do not have enough Jedi to lead the cloned armies. I know of your skills with the force and lightsaber. The council is requesting that you and Darra lend your aid to the war effort."

"Great banthas and tuk'ata," Laurence whispered as he sunk into a chair. "You're asking me to go back - I mean - to go to the temple?"

Inwardly he cursed himself for his mistake. There had always been an advantage to Laurence's silent role as Queen's Guardian; he didn't have to worry about accidently letting something slip.

"Laurence, we need you in this war," Mace Windu insisted. "Your fighting and piloting skills are highly praised by Senator Amidala. They're neccessary now more than ever. This isn't just for the Senator this time, Laurence. The entire galaxy is dependent on who wins this war."

Laurence shook his head. "You've got to be kidding me. I've got a two week old kid here, Darra left the temple a year ago, and you expect us to just get up and join the war?"

"I understand your concern, Laurence. Many families are facing the same problem." Then Windu dropped the killer. "But what will you do if we lose this war, and your son is raised in a war torn galaxy? How will you and Darra deal with things then?"

"You know, for being a Jedi, you're a lot like a politician," Laurence complained. He sighed heavily. "I have to talk to Darra about this. I'll let you know tommorrow."

"We will wait for your decision," Mace Windu replied.

Laurence shook his head and turned off the comlink.

"What was that about?" Darra asked as she entered the room.

Laurence stared outside a moment before answering. "The council wants you to return to the temple. They want our help in the war."

Darra caught the hint. "Our help?"

Laurence nodded. "They want me to lead their armies. They said they needed my experience."

"What about the baby?" Darra pointed out.

"He's powerful in the force," Laurence said softly. "Even with the binder I can tell." Looking up, he met Darra's eyes. "Ferus needs to be trained, Darra. He has too much potential to be ignored."

"Will they take him?" Darra asked.

"I'm not sure why they wouldn't," Laurence answered. "Especially if you're at the temple."

Darra didn't diguise the hope that lit up in her eyes. Then her face fell. "But what about you? Laurence, what will you do if you return there?"

Laurence sighed and leaned back. "I don't know, Darra. I never... I never thought I'd even consider going back."

Deep inside, Laurence desperately wanted to take Mace Windu up on his offer. He longed to be a Jedi again. On the other hand, how could he return after four years of avoiding the temple? Laurence was torn between which way to go.

It seemed that fate had already decided that for him, however. Ferus needed to be trained as a Jedi, and returning would mean that Darra could take her place at Siri's side once more. Laurence knew it was only a matter of time before he joined the war. Already the Senate had requested several times for his aid. If Laurence signed up under the Jedi, there should be no complaints about him seeing to Ferus's upbringing.

"Darra," Laurence finally said as he stared into the twilight. "I think I'm about to get myself into something that's way over my head."

He was going back to the temple.

.. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... ... ...

Review! It appears that an unofficial contest has been started between Rising Phoenix and my newest story for Naruto. Both stories are becoming rather popular, and I enjoy updating each of them. Reviews are really the big thing that will decide which story gets updated fastest. (So far Rising Phoenix is winning in that particular area, but be warned, a lot of people seem to be liking the other story as well.)

There are two more chapters planned for this section, with possibly a bonus chapter for Teff. After that things will transfer to ROTC.