Hi all!
Well, I just can't keep the muses quiet. I was working on another story, but that one was proving to be difficult to write, then the idea for this story planted itself firmly in my imagination and would not let go. It came from a couple of suggestions I got during "A Long Awaited Love Story" from T.F. Kit (so this story is all your fault! ;-P ) and I couldn't get the idea out of my mind. So here is my story about the next generation of Voltron pilots, their kids. I know, I know, I am reverting back to my romance with a side of adventure type story, but, well, I enjoy writing these stories.
The other half of my imagination is busy formulating my first Harry Potter fic, so we'll have to see how quickly I get this one posted.
I hope you enjoy this latest addition to my series! It centers around a couple I hinted at in "A Long Awaited Love Story" and it takes place about ten years after that story, while the main characters are no long children, they are just starting to enter adulthood, and face the problems that come with that.
Enjoy!
Failte
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Schuyler studied herself in the mirror. She wished her nose was straighter, but that was her own fault. She had broken it playing football with the guys when she was fourteen. Having stuffed tissues in her nose to stem the flow of blood, she had walked home and almost given her mother a heart attack when she had entered the house. Her father had been quite proud though, congratulating her on her first 'battle scar' as he took her up to the castle so her aunt could set her nose.
Turning to the side, she checked out her profile. The dress was beautiful, a strapless, full length gown of shiny, brown taffeta. However, she felt the fitted bodice only accentuated her small chest and what she thought was the body of a twelve year old boy. The cinched waist and the full skirt did make her waist look small and give her more of a shape than she normally had in her every day clothes. What she wouldn't give for a figure like Cady had.
Her best friend, Her Royal Highness Princess Cadence Arianna Isabelle Whitaker, or Cady as she was known by everyone close to her, was drop-dead gorgeous. With thick, blonde curls, large blue eyes, and a petite figure to die for. They were celebrating her official 'coming out' tonight. A huge ball was being held in honor of her being officially introduced into proper society. It also meant she was allowed to start courting and looking for a possible husband. Sky knew that Uncle Keith was not happy with the thought of his nineteen year old daughter even thinking about marriage, but history showed that most Arusian princesses were already married by the age of nineteen. Cady should have been introduced a year earlier, however Keith had put his foot down and said she was too young. But he had to cave to the pressure of his wife and daughter and their elderly nanny and allow her to be introduced at nineteen. Just because she started dating didn't mean she was going to get married right away.
At eighteen, Sky was terrified at the thought of marriage. Why Cady was even thinking about it confused her. She was so young and had so much going for her, why would she tie herself down? But then Sky and Cady didn't have a lot in common, they were a true study in opposites attracting. No two people had ever been closer, nor had they been so different.
Glancing at the watch on her left wrist, Sky sighed and grabbed her shoes, it was almost time to go. She had promised Cady she would get there early and help her get ready. She grabbed her duffle bag, having also promised her friend she would spend the night so they could talk about what had happened and who was worth going out with.
Jogging down the stairs, her shoes in one hand and her bag in the other, Sky turned and entered the kitchen, groaning and rolling her eyes at the sight that greeted her. "Don't you two ever give it a rest?"
Not that she would ever admit it, but Sky was happy about the fact that her parents, as old as they were, were still so much in love. They were always stealing kisses or holding hands. They would even take off on weekends just to have some time alone. She knew the stories of everything they had been through and when she was younger Sky thought her parents had lived a fairy tale life and it all just served to tighten their bond and make them appreciate each other all that much more.
Lance lifted his head and detached himself from his wife. His heart stopped at the sight of the beautiful young woman, it suddenly struck him at how his daughter had grown. She was no longer his little girl. "When you love someone as much as I love your mother, it's really hard to give it a rest. Besides, I thought you'd be used to it by now."
"Lance," Darcy pushed him away. "Sky you look so beautiful!"
"I feel like an idiot," she sighed. "I hate wearing dresses."
"But you look great," Lance kissed her forehead.
"But I still feel stupid."
"It's just for a few hours," Darcy reminded her. "Then you can go back to your jeans and sneakers."
"Yeah, so stop whining," Lance teased, ruffling her carefully arranged hair.
"Dad!" She exclaimed, exasperatedly. Running to the mirror in the hallway, Sky tried to fix her hair the best she could.
"I thought she didn't care," Lance whispered to his wife.
"Oh, she cares," Darcy whispered back. "She just can't admit it. And she secretly likes wearing the dress."
"How do you know?"
"Because I know everything. And I used to be the same way."
Lance ran his eyes up and down his wife, taking in the straight black skirt and white blouse with laser cut designs in the collar. Her shoulder length hair was pulled back at the sides with barrettes. He couldn't help but notice the slight graying of her hair, he had even more than she did, or the laugh lines at the corners of her eyes, his were more prominent. She might complain about her aging, but Lance still thought she was the most beautiful, most amazing woman he had ever known. After nineteen years together and eighteen years of marriage, he couldn't imagine life without her.
"Well, I'm glad you got over that," he leaned over and kissed her tenderly. "I like it when you show a little leg."
Smiling and shaking her head, Darcy patted his cheek, "Behave yourself, sweetie."
Lance glanced toward the doorway where he could see Schuyler fussing with her hair, "I thought she hated these parties."
"No, she just says that to complain. It is a party for her best friend and, well," Darcy smiled mischievously. "Her crush will be there."
Lance's eyes widened, "Her crush!"
She clamped a hand over his mouth, "Lance keep your voice down. Sky is eighteen, she is starting her military education next month, she is no longer a child, as hard as that might be for you to comprehend. And think about it, honey, you can be thick sometimes, but you're not stupid."
He furrowed his brow and thought a moment.
"Remember how disappointed she was when he forgot her birthday," Darcy coaxed him. "In eighteen years he had never forgotten to give her something. When he's visiting Arus, the two of them are inseparable.""But…but…no, he's, they're just friends."
"We started out as friends."
Lance narrowed his eyes, "I swear, Darcy, I am going to watch him like a hawk tonight and if he so much as touches her I will rip him limb from limb."
She laughed quietly, "Honey, it's time you let go a little and let Sky have some fun. Besides, he's over twenty years younger than you and, well, he could kick your ass."
"I'd like to see him try."
"Who try what?" Sky asked, reentering the kitchen.
"Uh, your Uncle Keith try and keep the boys off Cady," Lance muttered.
Darcy wrapped her arm around her daughter's bare shoulders, "But I have the feeling it's going to be you we have to beat the boys back with."
Sky scowled, "I don't have time for all those immature annoyances disguised as the male sex of our species."
"That's my girl," Lance puffed out his chest. "If any of them get fresh, you just lay 'em flat and make 'em cry, just like I showed you."
Darcy laughed and squeezed her daughter's shoulders, "Honey, some day the right guy with just the right amount of immaturity is going to walk into your life and turn it upside down, it happened to me, it'll happen to you."
"Not until after I graduate and get some flying in."
"That's what I thought."
"Enough of this," Lance grabbed his keys off the hook by the door. "We have to head up to the castle. And Schuyler, if you want to fly Red, you have to concentrate completely on your studies and your flying. No boys."
She rolled her eyes and slipped her shoes on, "Oh stop it, Dad."
"Yeah Lance," his wife teased. "You're starting to sound like my father."
……………………………………………………………………………………………
"Sky!" Cady cried when her door opened. "I am so glad you're here! You look great! I need your help! Where is my mother!"
Sky stepped into her friend's bedroom, "Hi Cady. What's wrong?"
"What's wrong? Everything is wrong! How am I going to get through tonight?" Cady stood in the middle of her room dressed in her robe, her hands on her hips. Her hair was swept up in an elaborate pile of curls on top of her head with a few tendrils falling around her beautifully made up face.
"You look great," Sky said weakly, hoping to calm her down.
"I can't go to this ball in my robe!"
"Where's your dress?"
"That's my question!"
"You don't know where your dress is?"
"Nanny was pressing it and Mom went to go get it and she hasn't come back yet and I only have an hour and oh!" She threw her hands up in the air. "What am I going to do?"
"You're going to calm down and stop yelling," Sky told her. "You're being silly."
"I'm being silly? You aren't the one who is about to be introduced to hundreds of people and try to find a husband."
"You don't have to find a husband tonight, calm down and have fun."
Cady sat on her vanity chair, "I am so nervous, Sky. What if I can't find someone? What if no man will ever want me? What if I make a total fool out of myself?"
"That won't happen, Cady, you are beautiful and smart and kind and sweet. You will have your pick of men."
"Easy for you to say."
Sky started with surprise, "What?"
"You already have a guy, a great guy, you don't have to worry about this."
Heat rushed to Sky's face, "What, uh, what are you talking about?"
Cady smiled, knowing she had hit a nerve, "I'm talking about Erik."
"Stop that, Cady! There is nothing between Erik and me, we're just friends."
"Okay, sure, whatever."
"Cady…" Sky was cut off when the door opened and Queen Allura swept in holding a gown on a hanger.
"All right, honey, I have your gown, everything will be just fine. Oh, hi Sky."
"Hi Aunt Allura."
"You look lovely, dear."
"Thank you, so do you."
Allura carefully laid the pink and gold gown across the bed. "Thank you. Now, it's time to get you ready, Cady. Where is your tiara?"
Cady whirled around and looked at her vanity and then her dresser. "I don't know! It was just here!"
"Okay, calm down," Allura ruffled through the bottles and knick knacks on top of the vanity. "It's here somewhere."
Sky was on her hands and knees looking under the bed when her mother walked in."Schuyler Grace! What are you doing? Get up! You could at least pretend to be a lady when you're wearing a dress."
Sky stood and turned to face her mother and her aunt, "Cady lost her tiara, we're trying to find it. Hi Aunt Becca, Tori."
"Sky, you look great," Becca crossed and hugged her niece, holding her daughter's hand.
Sky crouched down in front of her five year old cousin, "You look beautiful, Victoria."
"Thank you, Sky, you too. This is my first ball and Daddy said that there are gonna be boys who are gonna wanna dance with me."
"There will be lots of boys who want to dance with you."
She shook her head, red curls bouncing, "No, I don't wanna and Luke said he would protect me."
Sky smiled and nodded, "That's what big brothers are for."
Over the past twenty years the Castle of Lions had been overrun with children. Keith and Allura alone had six of their own. Cady was the oldest, followed by the seventeen year old twins, Declan and Gideon, then came Tess, who was now thirteen, nine year old Charlotte, and little Nicholas who had just turned six. Pidge and Becca were still living in the wing once occupied by the Voltron Force since Becca had officially taken over as royal physician when Dr. Gorma had retired five years earlier. And they had two children of their own, nine year old Luke and five year old Victoria. Then there was Hunk and Paton's children, nine year old Casey, seven year old Mykel, and four year old Natalia who were always visiting.
The stream of people continued to enter Cady's room, adding to the noise and confusion. Paton with Natalia walked in with Nanny followed by Keith and Lance, Luke, Tess, Nick, Delora and Romelle. When Charlotte danced in wearing Cady's tiara, Allura looked to her husband for support.
"All right!" Keith's voice boomed above the hubbub and caught everyone's attention. "If you are not Cady, Allura, or me, then get out!"
Cady grabbed Sky's arm. "You stay too," she whispered as everyone else filed out.
Sky nodded.
"All right, sweetheart," Allura lifted the gown. "Let's get you dressed. We can't have you arriving late to your party."
Cady looked at her mother and nodded toward her father.
"Keith, dear, would you please go make sure the twins are setting fire to anything."
He looked at his wife, "They're fine."
"Go, Keith."
"But…"
"Daddy, please," Cady pleaded.
He looked crestfallen, but he nodded and left the room.
Allura smiled softly, "He's having a hard time accepting the fact that you're no longer his little girl."
"He has two more little girls," Cady pointed out.
"But you were his first."
Cady nodded, blinking rapidly as she stepped into her gown and turned so her mother could do up the tiny pearl buttons. Allura stepped back and watched as her eldest daughter twirled in front of her mirror. "You look so beautiful, Cady."
"Thank you, Mom."
"Here, let's get your tiara on and we'll head down."
Cady flashed her friend a weak smile as her mother used hairpins to secure her tiara.
"You okay?" Sky whispered.
"Oh, I'm a little nervous.""You'll do great."
"Yes you will," Allura kissed Cady's cheek. "I never got to partake in this tradition, I am so glad we can have this celebration for you."
"So am I, Mom."
"Well, shall we go find your father?"
"Come on, Sky," Cady held her hand out to her closest friend. "Let's get this show on the road."
Sky slipped into the crowded ballroom and looked around for her parents. There were royalty, dignitaries, and press from all over the universe. Princes of various ages were scattered around the room, eyeing each and checking out the competition. Sky was stopped several times by people who recognized her and she was even able to grab Nick as he ran past her. She saw Sven and Romelle and their daughter Delora, but she had yet to see Erik. Not that she was necessarily looking for him, but if she happened to see him it wouldn't hurt to say hi.
"Sky!"
She turned around and came face to face with the twins, Declan and Gideon Whitaker. "Hi guys, what's up?"
The Whitaker boys were notoriously handsome and mischievous troublemakers. Declan was born to be a pilot and everyone was sure he was destined to fly Black. He stood before her with his hair disheveled, his tie loosened and one of his shoes untied. He didn't really look like it, but he had his father's quick mind and ease with military tactics. Gideon was freshly press with every hair in place, his arms folded behind him. He enjoyed the military, but he wasn't much of a flyer, preferring artillery.
"Not much, just checking out some of the men who could be our future brother-in-law," Declan informed her.
Sky rolled her eyes, "You're not going to do anything stupid, are you?"
Gideon shook his head, "We've never done anything stupid."
She raised an eyebrow and didn't respond.
"Come on, Sky, we wouldn't do anything to ruin Cady's night," Declan flashed her the infamous 'Whitaker smile'.
"Now, Dec, you know I'm immune to your charms."
"Are you immune to mine?" Gideon asked.
"Ever since I saw you guys naked in the lake, your charms have had no effect on me."
"Come on, that was over ten years ago."
"Give it up guys," she slung an arm around both their shoulders. "If you guys do anything to upset Cady or embarrass her, you will have to answer to me, understand?"
"Yes, Sky," they answered in unison.
"Now run along and behave like the proper young gentlemen you are."
……………………………….
Erik watched as Sky talked to the twins, ignoring what he knew were silly, unnecessary feelings of jealousy. She smiled and threw her arms around them. She was so beautiful. Her dark hair swept back in a twist that highlighted the cheek bones she had inherited from her mother, her dark dress made her fair skin seem even milkier and her dark eyes more haunting.
He felt bad about missing her birthday a couple of months earlier. Every year since she was four, he had given her some silly elephant gift. She had developed a fondness for them and so she was now the proud owner of twelve different elephants in different shapes and sizes, stuffed, ceramic, plastic, and even one in silver. But this year he had been so busy and time had passed so quickly. He had asked Cady, nonchalantly of course, if Sky had been upset he couldn't come. And, of course, Cady had read too much into his question and teased him mercilessly until she admitted that Sky was disappointed.
Erik slipped his hand into his pocket and fingered the small box he had hidden there. He was impatient to give it to her, but he found he was having trouble making his legs move forward.
……………………………….
Sky laughed as the twins made their way across the room. Declan had lifted a glass of champagne off a passing tray, but was quickly intercepted by Uncle Hunk. Shaking her head, still smiling, she turned and met a pair of dusky cobalt eyes from across the room.
The smile instantly disappeared as the heat rose to her face. Feeling foolish that she would blush at the sight of him, she lowered her head and rushed to the other side of the room where she had seen her parents standing with Aunt Becca and Uncle Pidge.
Erik saw her quick retreat and felt an overwhelming feeling of guilt that he didn't totally understand. What did he have to feel guilty for? He was going to apologize for missing her birthday, she would understand once he explained.
Pulling his hand from his pocket, he started to make his way toward her when a loud bell sounded. All conversation stopped and the crowd turned to the main doors for Cady's entrance. He sighed deeply. They were going to be there long into the night, he would have plenty of time to talk to Sky. But it was Cady's night and he owed it to her to be attentive.