Hi All,
It's been a while, hasn't it? I came up with Tess's story years ago, but never went through with it. After receiving a message from a reader asking a question that I had planned to answer in Tess's story, I decided to finally put it down on paper (or screen) and came up with this story.
This will be another romance, so if you're looking for an adventure story...sorry. This will all just be fun, fluff, and romance.
Enjoy!
Failte
Declan Whitaker leaned over the railing and looked out over the skyline of Alforia. In the years since his father and the rest of the original Voltron Force had landed on Arus, the planet's capital had grown by leaps and bounds. Over two million people now called it home, there was a thriving economy of stores, restaurants, theaters, a military academy, and a large university. More communities sprang up across the planet, as the population grew from people immigrating from other planets and the growth of Arusian families.
His mother, Queen Allura, was so proud of her planet. It was safe now, the Voltron Force, both the original and new, had seen to that. There had been no serious threat in over five years. The Arusian people felt safe and secure, able to build their lives and their planet.
His father, Commander Keith, still led the Arusian military as they trained and grew, ready to protect Arus and keep it safe. It was his leadership and reputation that kept threats at bay and brought others seeking his advice and support.
Declan was proud of his parents and all they had accomplished. For as long as he could remember, Arus had always seemed safe and beautiful. Even when he and the rest of the Force fought Vinn years before, he knew they would win and he knew Arus would survive. He had read the history of his home planet and heard stories firsthand from his parents and their friends, but it just hadn't seemed real. He couldn't imagine the beautiful landscape before him destroyed and barren. The Force and his mother had saved this planet.
And his parents had done it all while raising six children.
His oldest sister, Cady, was the married mother of two young boys, living in a cottage on the castle grounds with her husband, Tristan, the pilot of Blue Lion. She worked with her mother, helping Allura with the day to day duties of running the planet, sitting in on cabinet meetings, and stepping in for mother when she couldn't attend state affairs.
Declan was still leading the Voltron Force, of which his twin brother was also a part. Gideon flew Yellow Lion and had married his longtime girlfriend, Lynnai, the year before. The newlyweds were living in the castle, but they were getting antsy to find a place of their own. Gideon and his father had come to an agreement that as long as they were in peace times, Gideon and Lynnai could move out, but if the planet were ever in danger again, they would move back to the castle so he could get to Yellow when he needed to.
Keith and Allura had offered to build their son and his wife a home on the castle grounds, as they had with Cady and Tristan, but Gideon had gently turned them down. He and Lynnai want their own home, entirely their own. And Gideon had confided to his brother that if they all had homes on the castle grounds as they each married it would turn into some kind of little town, Whitakerville, he called it. They were a very close family, but it was time for them to find their own way in the world.
The three youngest Whitaker children still lived in the castle. Nick, the youngest, was proving himself to be a very talented athlete. Baseball and football were two more things the original Force had brought to Arus with them and Nick was being touted as the best baseball player on his team.
Charlotte had just finished her senior year in high school. His littlest sister had always loved asking questions, solving puzzles, and reading mysteries. After talking with Paton Landers, Hunk's wife and the chief of police in Alforia, Charlotte had decided she wanted to be a detective some day. In the fall, she was starting her studies in criminal justice.
That just left Tess, the middle girl and the middle child in the Whitaker family. Declan always felt more protective of Tess than his other two sisters. It wasn't that she couldn't take care of herself, after Cady had been kidnapped a few years ago at Christmas and Tess had been taken by a disgruntled former pilot, all the girls were taught basic hand-to-hand and self defense by Hunk. None of them were helpless or silly. But there was something about sweet Tess.
As the smartest of all of them, even skipping the ninth grade and still graduating at the top of her class, she had just graduated from the university with a double major in art history and creative writing. What she was going to do with those degrees was anyone's guess. Tess was a talented writer and artist, but she wasn't sure yet what she wanted to do. She was quiet, but not shy; very sweet with a romantic soul, but a sensible mind.
The truth was, with their inheritance, the Whitaker children could all lie around the castle and watch TV all day. But their parents had instilled strong work ethics in their children along with a desire to help people and make a difference. As the current sixth person in line for the throne, Tess knew she had no real chance of ever ruling and she had no interest in flying or working in the military. She could happily spend the rest of her life at the university, collecting degrees, but she wanted more. In the morning, Tess was leaving to fly to Terra and spend the summer with her Aunt Dana. She hoped to find some direction in her life while there.
Declan inhaled deeply and lifted his head up to the pink and orange streaked sunset. The breeze was refreshing, but warm, marking the end of spring as summer moved in. Truth be told, Declan was feeling the same way. He was ready for more in his life. He worked hard, staying in shape, both physically and mentally, ready to defend his home. But there was nothing to defend against at the moment.
A couple of years go, the Force started training in flying the planes of the Air Brigade. Keith wanted them to be able to fly any ship that was on the planet. They had all taken to it quickly and Sky had even decided to look in to teaching flying, she was working toward her teaching certificate.
Sky and Erik were also still living in the castle. Sky was flying and Erik was helping with Air Brigade training. They were blissfully, sickeningly happy. Eventually, they would move out on their own too, but they hadn't decided yet if it would be on Arus or Pollux.
Declan was so lost in thought, he didn't realize he was not alone until a familiar pair of arms slid around his waist.
"Hey, handsome, looking for a good time?" Brina's breathy whisper caressed his ear as she rested her chin on his shoulder.
He smiled. "With you? Always."
After a whirlwind romance, Declan and Brina had endured a painful break-up brought on by his inability to deal with the pressures of leading the Force. But they were able to work through their problems and they reunited at Erik and Sky's wedding. The second time around, they had taken it more slowly and were closer and more in love than they had ever been before. She was his girlfriend, his partner, his best friend.
"What's on your mind?"
Declan turned and slipped his arms around her. "Not much."
"Thinking about Tess?"
"Yeah."
"Do you think you have a need to be concerned?" She asked, tilting her head back to look up at him.
Magic surrounds the Arusian royal family. Declan and Gideon discovered at a young age that they both had special powers. Gideon was an empath, he was deeply in tune to the emotions of those closest to him and he had the ability to soothe people and make them feel better. Declan had a special form of second sight, it tended to be hazy and bit vague, but he could usually tell when something was going to happen to those closest to him and, more often than not, it was not something good.
When Keith and Allura learned this about their sons, they decided to seek out the advice of an old family friend, and wizard, Kadmus. It was decided that when they turned 10, he would work with the twins to sharpen their skills. Unfortunately, Kadmus died before they could start. Wizards were very hard to find and it was even more difficult to find one you could trust. Keith searched for a few years, but they couldn't find one they felt comfortable enough to train their children and, as time went on, it just fell to the wayside.
The family had learned over the years to trust Declan when he said he had a bad feeling that something was going to happen. Ever since Tess announced her plans to travel to Terra for the summer, he had been feeling uneasy.
"Dec?"
He looked down at his girlfriend and smiled. "I'm sure she'll be fine. I just feel…uneasy, not like she's in any serious danger, but something…something just doesn't feel right."
"Did you talk to her about this?"
He shrugged. "She thinks I'm being too overprotective."
"You are."
"I know."
"Lynnai told me she and Gideon have an appointment to see a house on Friday."
"Oh yeah? Which one?"
"The two story, four bedroom one on 4th Avenue. She wanted to know if we wanted to go with them to see it."
"Sure."
Brina rose on her toes and kissed him gently. "She'll only be gone for three months and your father has taken every precaution."
"I know."
"Come on." Brina stepped out of his embrace and took his hand. "I'll let you buy me a drink."
Tess stuffed one more shirt into the duffle bag and tugged the zipper closed. She finally felt ready. This trip to Terra came from the need to travel she had started feeling just after the holidays. As her graduation drew near, the need to get out and explore had become almost unbearable. The overly protective bubble her parents had built around her and her siblings was starting to suffocate her. So, Tess sent her Aunt Dana an email asking if her open invitation to come visit any time was still open. Dana and her husband Harry lived in a small town in Pennsylvania. Their son, Doug, had recently moved to Missouri for a new job and their daughter, Tracy, was spending the summer studying overseas. Dana was dreading the empty nest and gladly welcomed Tess to visit.
Throwing the duffle bag next to her computer bag and another suitcase, Tess called out, "Come in!" when there was a knock on her door.
The door slid open and Queen Allura swept in. "Are you ready to go, sweetheart?"
Tess nodded. "I think so."
Allura sat on the edge of her daughter's bed and patted the spot beside her, waiting for her daughter to sit beside her. "Good, good. Dinner is going to be ready in about an hour and everyone should be arriving soon."
Tess had tried to convince her mother that she didn't need some big send off party before leaving, but their family, including the members of the original Force and their families, always got together for things like this. She really disliked being the center of attention and didn't want them to make a big deal out of her leaving.
"Cady, Tristan, and the boys should be here any minute. Sammy is going to miss you so much."
Tess smiled at the thought of her nephew. "I'm going to miss him, too. And Jake."
Allura took her daughter's hand in hers and squeezed. "You'll call often, won't you?"
"Of course."
"I hate you being so far away for so long."
"I'll be fine, Mom."
"I know. I just…" Allura trailed off.
"You're letting Declan get to you."
"His feelings are never wrong. And ever since what happened with Mytch Martyn…"
"Mom," Tess interrupted, "remember the time he was convinced Cady was in life-threatening danger and she had just fallen and skinned her knee?"
"Yes, but his visions have become clearer since then."
"I need to do this. I need to get out and…well, I hate saying this, it sounds so cliché, but I need to find myself. I want to explore."
Allura reached up and gently tucked the dark curtain of hair behind Tess' ear. "I know, sweetie. I…just, I wish I could help you. I wish I could help you find what you're looking for."
"I know, Mom, but you can't. This is something I have to do for myself. I'm an adult, I need to get out of this protective bubble you and Dad have put around us and find what I am meant to do."
Allura smiled, her eyes shining. "We are so proud of you, Tessy, your father and I. You have it in you to do so much in your life and all we want is for you to be happy. Go find your happiness, sweetheart."
Tess threw her arms around her mother and hugged her tightly. "I will, Mom, thanks for everything."
"I promise to bring you back something really cool."
"What?"
Tess looked into the big blue eyes of her nephew. "I don't know yet, Sammy, I have to get to Terra and go shopping."
"I wanna truck."
"You already own about 500 trucks."
"I wanna truck, please."
Tess laughed. "Well, since you asked so nicely, I'll bring you a truck."
He nodded, pleased with her answer. "You be back soon?"
"I'll be back before you start preschool, I promise."
"Or you could just not go," Declan said, falling onto the sofa beside his sister and nephew.
Tess rolled her eyes at him. "Lay off, Dec."
Her goodbye dinner had just wrapped up and the rec room was filled with her family and friends talking, laughing, and offering her advice on what to see and where to go while on Terra. Well, except for Declan who was trying to convince her to cancel the trip.
"Hey there, Handsome," Sky said, ruffling Sammy's hair as she sat down on the other side of Tess.
"Aun' Tess is gonna get me a truck," he told her.
"Yeah, because what you need is another truck," Sky teased her godson. "Has Uncle Hunk hit you up about bringing some Hershey's chocolate?"
Tess laughed. "The first time he asked was when I first announced I was going to Terra. He has reminded me once a week since."
"The man loves his peanut butter cups."
"Hey, Tess, what's left in your closet is fair game while you're gone, right?" Charlotte asked, leaning over the back of the couch.
"Touch my clothes and I'll break your fingers," Tess warned her little sister.
Declan snorted. "I want to see that."
Charlotte laughed, "I could kick your ass so easily."
Tess covered Sammy ears. "Hey, Char, watch what you say in front of the munchkin."
"He didn't hear me, did you, Sammy?"
Sammy narrowed his eyes at Charlotte. "You said ass."
Declan, Tess, and Sky burst out laughing.
Grinning, Sammy looked at each of them. "I gonna kick your ass!"
"Oh my god!" Cady screeched from across the room. "Declan, what are you teaching my son?"
"It wasn't me," Declan said, trying to stop laughing. "It was Charlotte this time."
Cady stormed over and picked up the little prince, swinging him onto her hip. "Seriously? Do you have any idea how hard it is going to be to convince him that's not funny?"
"Your kid, your problem."
She narrowed her eyes at her brother. "None of you are allowed unsupervised visits with any of my children."
"Until you need a babysitter," Charlotte pointed out.
"What's wrong?" Tristan asked, coming over to see what had his wife so upset.
"They're teaching our son to swear," Cady told him.
Tristan shrugged. "What did you expect, letting him around Declan and Gideon?"
"It wasn't me," Declan protested.
"I wasn't even over there," Gideon said from the other couch.
"Your bad influence is felt everywhere," Tristan told his brothers-in-law.
"Daddy!" Sammy held his hands out.
"Sammy!" Tristan mimicked his enthusiasm as he took him into his arms.
"I gonna kick your ass!"
Unable to contain himself, Tristan handed his son back to his wife so he could step away and laugh.
"Unbelievable!" Cady snapped, twirling on her heel she went to find her mother and her one year old son, Jake.
Sammy was curled up on the floor sound asleep and Jake was settled in his grandmother's lap also asleep. It was getting late, Lance and Darcy had already gone home, as had Hunk and his family and Pidge and his family had retired to their wing of the castle.
Tess was surrounded by her immediate family and Sky and Erik. She knew she should go to bed, it was nearing midnight and she had to be on the tarmac at 6 am. But this was going to be the last she saw them all together for three months.
"You have all your paperwork in order?" Keith asked.
Tess nodded. "Yup, all packed in my carry on."
"As soon as you land, I want you to call us on the communicator Pidge gave you, I want to test it ASAP."
"Yes, Dad."
"When you get to your aunt's house, I want you to…"
"Dad, seriously, I'm ready."
Keith nodded. "I know. Just…be careful."
"Here," Erik reached down beside the couch and held out a gift bag. "Sky and I got you something."
Touched, Tess took the gift. "You didn't have to do that. Thanks."
"I saw it and thought of you," Sky said.
Tess reached into the tissue paper and pulled out a black leather bound journal with the words My Summer Adventures and the year embossed on the cover in gold letters. "I love it! This is perfect!"
"Well, I can't let them one-up me when it comes to giving my own sister a gift," Cady said, reaching into her large diaper bag. "Here, from us."
Tess unwrapped the flat package and found a matching sketchbook. "Oh, wow, you guys are awesome. Thanks!"
"Here, this is from Nicky, Gideon, Lynnai, Dec, Brina, and I," Charlotte said, holding out another gift.
"Honestly, I wasn't expecting this," Tess said as she opened her next gift. "You guys are just too much. I…oh, oh wow. You guys! This is incredible!"
Her siblings had all gone to give her a collection of time-of-the-line colored pencils, charcoal pencils, and graphite pencils, all organized in a case that rolled up neatly and was tied with ribbon.
"We're expecting a full report on your trip, complete with illustrations, when you get back," Allura told her.
"And if you don't feel like drawing, use this," Keith added, handing her a box.
"Mom, Dad, you didn't have to get me anything, you've helped me put this trip together," Tess protested, feeling a lump form in her throat.
"If she doesn't want it, I'll take it," Charlotte said, reaching for the present.
Tess smacked her hand away, "Over my dead body."
"Open it," Allura said, excitedly.
Inside the box was a DSLR camera, a case, and a small book that held six new memory cards.
"There should be enough cards in there so you can take about a million pictures," Keith told her.
Tess cleared her throat, trying to find her voice. Her family was so generous, so supportive. Suddenly, this trip, being so far away from them for so long, was not going to be as easy as she had thought it would be.
"Thank you all, so much," her voice cracked. "You, uh, you're making it hard for me to leave you, but I am so excited and I can't wait to come back and share my adventures with you all."
