Hello all!

            Here is the promised sequel to 'New Arrivals'.  This story takes place about a year after 'New Arrivals' ends.  I will probably write a story that takes place somewhere during that year, but this story has been meandering through the avenues of my imagination and I wanted to get it down.  To better understand this story and its characters, it will help to have read 'New Arrivals.' 

All relative disclaimers apply.  Voltron and the characters from the series are owned by WEP, not me. 

                        Enjoy,

                           Failte

**********************************************************************

            Keith sat behind his desk, working on his report to the Garrison.  The rebuilding of Alforia had taken a lot longer than expected.  Not only had the town needed to be repaired and rebuilt, but also new developments needed to be added in order to house the former Doom slaves who had settled on Arus.  The University was up in working order again, but more work needed to be done to bring it up to current standards.  While they had been immersed in war with Doom, the University had fallen to the wayside and no updates had been made to the computer systems, teaching implements, or programs.

            He was interrupted by a rather enthusiastic knock on his office door.

            "Yeah, come in."

            The door opened and Lance sauntered in.

            "Geez, Cap, you look beat."

            "I'm trying to figure out how to explain to the Garrison why we need their men to stay longer and help us."

            "It was a long winter.  Besides, we're almost done.  We can finish the University without them."
            Keith nodded, "I have Pidge and Caleb over there now uploading new computer programs."

            "You look like you could use a vacation."  Lance observed.

            Keith snorted in response, "I would love one, but I couldn't get away right now."

            "Could you get away next month?"

            He looked up at his second in command, "What are you getting at Lance?"

            Lance held up a piece of paper.  "I just got this in the mail today.  Leslie is finally graduating from the Academy."

            "That's great."

            "Yeah, my parents are hoping we can come home for the graduation."

            "I'd love to, really I would, but I don't see how it's possible."

            "Come on, do you know how long it's been since we've been back to Terra?  Things have been clear here for a year now, no attacks.  We could have your mother meet us, she hasn't even met Cady in person yet.  And my family hasn't met Darcy."

            Cady.  Keith smiled at the thought of her.  His and Allura's six-month-old baby girl.  The center of his universe.   She was a small bundle of energy with his sharp features and her mother's soft coloring. 

            "Come on, Keith," Lance pleaded.  "You know you want to and we could do it.  Alforia is practically finished.  The new school year at the University won't start for another few months, so there will be plenty of time to get it ready by then."

            "Let me think on it, Lance.  Maybe if we shuffle a few things around and work hard we can figure a way to do this."

            Lance grinned, "Great, Keith, thanks.  I'm going to give Sven and Romelle a call, see if they can make it."

            "I didn't say it was definite, Lance."

            "I know you'll figure something out, you're a smart man.  We'll all help out."

            Keith smiled, "Let me get this done and we'll talk about it tonight."

            "Thanks man."  Lance turned to leave and almost walked into Allura who stood in the doorway with Cady.  "Hi Allura, Cady."  He tickled her chin and watched her bounce in her mother's arms and giggle.

            "Hi Lance, what are you guys going to talk about tonight?"

            "My younger sister is finally graduating from the Academy and my parents were hoping we could come for the graduation."

            Allura's face lit up and she turned to her husband, "That sounds like a lot of fun.  Can we do it?"

            "We're going to try," Keith crossed the room and lifted Cady out of Allura's arms, cradling her to his chest.  "I think it's about time Cady met her Grandma in person."

            "When is it?"  She asked.

            "Next month."  Lance replied.

            "Hm, that doesn't give us a lot of time, but I think we can work something out.  How long would we stay?"

            Lance shrugged, "A couple of weeks, maybe?"

            Keith grimaced, "I don't know about that.  We're pretty busy to tie up two weeks with a vacation right now."

            "Yeah, but how often do you get home?"  Lance pointed out.

            "He's right Keith.  Alforia is completed.  We can leave for a couple of weeks and the planet won't fall apart."  Allura spoke up.

            Keith looked down as Cady tugged at a button on his shirt.  She looked up at him with big blue eyes and bounced up and down in his arms.  "Alright, we'll figure out a way to do this."

            "Wonderful!"  Allura clapped her hands and kissed Keith's cheek.

            "I'll call my parents tonight and let them know."  Lance said.  "I'll talk to you guys later, I have to go find Darcy."
            He found her settled in a chair on the observation deck.  She was so engrossed in the book she was reading, she didn't hear him enter.

            "Whatcha reading?"  Lance asked as he flopped down on her lap.

            "Ooof."  She breathed as he dropped his weight on her.  "Get off me you big lug."

            He wrapped his arms around her neck and gave her a loud, smacking kiss.  "What are doing next month?"

            "Next month?  Well, if you don't get off my lap I'll be in the hospital recovering from shattered legs and a broken pelvis."  Darcy teased him.

            Sighing dramatically, Lance stood, took her hands, pulled her to her feet and reversed their positions.  When she was settled on his lap, he took the book from her hand and tossed it on the floor beside the chair.

            Smiling, she ran a hand through his hair, "What's going on?"
            "I have great news."

            "Are you going to share it with me?"

            "It'll cost you."

            Darcy slid her arms around his neck and kissed him.

            "Good start."  He murmured when she pulled back.
            Smiling, she lowered her head and kissed his jaw, his neck.

            "How would you like to take a trip to Terra?"  He whispered into her hair.

            She pulled back and looked at him, "Really?  When?"

            Lance leaned back, resting his hands on her hips, "My sister, Leslie, is graduating from the Academy next month and my parents want us all to come home for it.  Keith said we can work something out."

            "So, uh, I get to meet the folks?"

            "Yup.  And you can call your parents, see if they want to meet us.  Keith is going to have his mother come out so she can meet Cady."

            "It's going to be a big family reunion."

            "I guess you could think of it that way.  At least you have some warning, not like when I met your parents."  He muttered.

            Laughing, she laid her head on his shoulder.  At the time, when he answered her bedroom door, half-dressed, and greeted her parents, they had both been horrified.  Now they were able to laugh about it.

            "When are we leaving?"  She asked.

            Lance shrugged, "Keith said we'll figure all that out tonight."

            The alarm on Darcy's watch went off, looking down at it, she sighed.  "I'm on duty in ten minutes."

            "I'll walk you to Castle Control," Lance said.  "I want to call Sven and Romelle, see if they want to come too."

            "How long would we stay?"  She asked as she got to her feet.

            "I'm pushing for two weeks."

            "Does Leslie know what she wants to do now?"

            "She just got her assignment. She's going on an Intel mission to the Vadim Galaxy.  There have been some disturbances reported out there."

            "When does she leave?"

            "The end of September.  So she has a few months before she has to ship out."

            "How old is she now?"

            "She's twenty.  She transferred to the Academy late and didn't want to take accelerated courses, so she was considered a non-trad student.  She's two years older than most of the other people in her graduating class."

            The door to Castle Control slid open as they approached. 

            "Hey, Hunk.  I'm here, you can head out now."  Darcy crossed to the console.

            "Great," the big guy stood and handed the log to her.  "I am starving."

            "Nanny made baked chicken for lunch, I think there is still some left over."

            "Sounds good.  It's been all clear so far today, maybe you should have brought a book."  Hunk winked at her as he left.

            Lance walked to the other end of the room and flipped on the monitor.  It took about five minutes for the connection to be made to Pollux.

            "Lance!  How are you?  Is everything alright?"  Romelle answered.

            "Hi, Romelle.  Everything is great here.  I was hoping to talk to you and Sven."

            "Hold on a sec, I'll get him.  He's outside with Erik, some male-bonding time."

            "How's the little munchkin doing?"

            "Great!  He started feeding himself.  But most of it ends up either on the floor or in his hair."

            "So he is taking after his father."  Lance teased.

            Romelle laughed, "I'll go grab him."

            He watched as Romelle left the room.  A moment later, she returned with Sven, who carried their fifteen month old son, Erik.

            "Lance," Sven greeted him.  "How are you?  Vhat's up?"

            "Hey Sven, things are great here. Leslie is finally graduating next month and my parents want to know if we all want to go to Terra for a visit and celebrate.  I wanted to extend the invitation to you guys."

            Sven and Romelle exchanged looks, "Vhen are you planning to go?"

            "We're going to work all this out tonight.  I just wanted to let you guys know you're invited.  I'll let you know what we decide tonight."

            "Sounds good.  Let us know and ve'll see if ve can make it."

            "I've never been to Terra."  Romelle said, wistfully.

            "Keith and Darcy are going to get in touch with their parents to see if they can meet us.  If you guys can make it, you should see if your family can come, Sven."

            "They haven't seen Erik in almost a year."  Romelle added.

            "Alright, let us know vhat you all decide."  Sven conceded.  "Has Leslie gotten her assignment yet?"

            Lance and Sven continued talking for a few minutes.  Darcy watched the monitors and tracked the movement of a dry goods ship that had just taken off.  Lotor was dead and his half-brother, Landor, was locked up in the maximum security prison on Luna.  For a year now, they had had no attacks or problems.  The Voltron Force helped to rebuild the capital city of Alforia and the surrounding villages.  It was a lot of hard work, but it was very fulfilling.

            She looked up as Lance made his way across the room to her.

            "Looks like Sven and Romelle are going to come too."  Lance told her.

            "Great.  This'll be so much fun."  Darcy said.

            He dropped a kiss on the top of her head, "When do you get off duty?"

            "Seven."

            "Alright, I'll see you then.  Look busy, if Keith catches you sitting her filing your nails, he'll have your head." 

            "Smartass."

            He shrugged, "I can't argue with that."

****************************************

            Darcy pulled her hair back into a ponytail.  When she had first arrived on Arus a little over a year before, her hair was cut in a short bob that skimmed her chin.   Now it was past her shoulders, thick, straight, and the color of mahogany.  She had been planning to get it cut, but just hadn't gotten around to it. 

            There was a knock on the door.

            "Come in!" She called out.

            The door slid open and Allura walked in with Cady on her hip.

            "Hey, Darc, what are you up to today?"

            "Well, I was going to go over to the University to see if I could help in the library.  Why?"

            "I guess you don't want to go shopping with us then, huh?"

            "You're going shopping?"

            Allura smiled, "Yeah, we need a few things for the trip to Terra."

            They had had a meeting a few nights earlier.  It had been decided that Keith, Allura, Lance, and Darcy were going to go for two weeks.  The only way this would work is if some people stayed on Arus in case of emergency.  Caleb and Dante didn't know Leslie or Lance's family, so they both volunteered to stay.   Hunk didn't want to leave his girlfriend for that long.  He and Paton Lacko, the chief of police in Alforia, had been seeing each other for about a year.  And Pidge wanted to finish up the University.

            They were planning to leave in three weeks.  Romelle and Sven were going to fly in to Arus the night before they left and fly out with them. 

            "I do need a few things."  Darcy admitted.

            Allura watched her friend hem and haw over what to do.  "Duty versus fun, huh?"

            "I did help them yesterday and all the books are shelved.  I didn't actually tell them I was going to come in today, I was just going to see if they needed any help."

            "Who are you trying to convince?"  Allura asked.

            "Alright, I'll go."  Darcy smiled.  "I can't turn down a day out with the girls."

            "Great, we'll meet you downstairs in fifteen minutes."

            "You're on."  Darcy turned to her dresser to dig out her wallet as Allura left.

            "Hi, Lance."

            Darcy looked up when she heard Allura. 

            "Hey there, Cady, what are you and your mom doing today?"  Lance lifted the little girl into his arms.

            "We're kidnapping Darcy and going shopping."  Allura told him.

            He held Cady on his hip, "Aren't you talking yet?"  

            She responded by bouncing in his arms and pulling at his hair that he had let grow a little too long.

            "Lllaaance.  Come on, Cady.  Lllllaaaance.  Say Lance.  Lllllaaaance."

            "Stop trying to corrupt my daughter," Allura took the young Princess back into her arms.

            "She's a smart girl, aren't you Cady?  You can say Lance."

            She giggled in response, grabbed her mother's necklace, and tried to put it in her mouth.

            "We'll meet you downstairs, Darcy."  Allura called over her shoulder as they left.

            Lance wandered into the room, "Where you goin'?"

            "We're, uh, we're going into town, pick up a few things for the trip."

            He studied her.  She was standing with her back to him, checking her wallet.  "Are you okay?"  He asked.

            It hurt her.  Whenever she saw him and his natural ease with children, it hurt a little to know that she couldn't have children.  She had been poisoned by Haggar at the reception when Allura and Keith announced they were expecting Cady.  It didn't change his feelings for her, she knew that.  But his own children were a gift she would never be able to give him.

            "I'm fine, Lance," she smiled at him.  "I'm just trying to think of everything I need to get before we go."

            He looked at her, not fooled by her fake smile, but he knew she would talk when she was ready to.  "What do you need?"

            "Just a few little things.  What are you getting Leslie for a graduation present?"

            Lance smacked his forehead with his palm, "I hadn't thought of that.  Isn't my visit enough of a present?"

            Darcy laughed, "My, aren't you full of yourself."

            "Well, what should I get her?"

            "She's your sister, you would know better than I would."

            He crossed over to her, slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her hard against him.  "You would throw that in my face, wouldn't you?"  He whispered into her ear.

            "If all else fails, ask your mother," she murmured against his throat.

            "I don't want to think about my mother right now."

            She giggled and pulled back, "I have to go meet Allura."

            "Maybe you can find some cute little, Arusy thing we can take her."

            "Arusy?"

            "You know what I mean, something she couldn't get on Terra."

            "I think I'll wait until you're with me, I'm not going to buy a gift for your sister without you."

            "Alright, geez, I thought girls were supposed to know all about buying presents."

            She smacked his shoulder, "Don't be sexist."

            He winked at her, "I can't help it if I'm so hot."

            "Sexist, not sexy."

            He leaned down and kissed her, "I know what you meant."

            "I have to go, Lance."

            "Bring me back a present."
            "Only if you're good."

            "When have you ever known me to be good?"

            Darcy walked over to her closet and dug out a jacket, "What are you doing today?"

            "I'm going out with Keith to check out one of the towns on the west side of the planet.  We'll be back later this evening.  Are you taking your communicator?"

            "Yes, Lance."

            "Your blaster?"

            "I really don't think that's necessary."

            He walked over and put his hands on her shoulders, "It'll make me feel better.  Chances are Allura won't take any guards with her, so that duty falls into your lap."

            "Alright, I'll take it."

            He brushed his lips over hers, "Have fun."  Leaning in, he deepened the kiss, "Be careful."

            "You too," she whispered.

            Taking her hand he walked with her toward the door, "I'll see you when we get back."

            "I'll be eagerly awaiting you."