Author's Note: I do not own Voltron or any of its characters, properties, etc. Nor do I own any products, locations (see further), or placements used in this story. I only own the characters and planets I've created, and that's it. Also, I do this only for fun and stress relief purposes and make no money off it.
I appreciate all of my readers, old and new alike, as we embark on the last book in the "Someone Like You" trilogy. If you know the first two books and/or any of my stand-alone fiction, you're awesome; if not, well, you'll catch on quickly, and you can always ask me (or some of my long-time readers) questions. We're here to help. Reviews and feedback are always welcome and encouraged; I do my best work when I'm under scrutiny.
And now, on with the show.
Title Song: "Rest Of My Life" by Ludacris ft. Usher and David Guetta (I am OBSESSED with this song right now)
Conditions on Planet Pollux had improved greatly since the Zarkonian Wars ended. The people were happier, albeit a little perturbed that the reigning royals, King Bandor and Queen Emmaline, hadn't yet produced an heir to the throne. The royal couple had celebrated their first anniversary, and everyone seemed disappointed when Emma downed two glasses of champagne. Romelle included.
Things had gotten substantially better for Princess Romelle and her royal consort, Sven Holgersson. They had been going to therapy twice a week with Dr. Deldosa, and the sessions had made their marriage stronger. Their son Erik had celebrated his second birthday, and it was a much happier occasion than his first birthday, which was laced with anger and tension.
Sven went to the couples' once a week, but he also had an individual session twice a week as well. Romelle, whose emotions had improved greatly, continued her appointments on a once-monthly basis for maintenance, but was otherwise in good shape.
"So, Sargeant Holgersson," Dr. Deldosa began, "I'd like to address something that your wife brought up in your last couples' session. I think you know what I'm about to say."
Sven nodded earnestly. He wasn't surprised. "Yes."
"The royal wedding on Arus is not too far away, and I am under the impression that the prince from Planet Tyvel will be attending, as well as the Space Marshal of the Galaxy Alliance. Romelle expressed concern about both of those guests. She feels as though she has moved beyond her feelings towards the prince, but she is not sure if you've moved beyond your feelings for the Space Marshal."
Sven didn't have a reply at the ready, even though he'd had ample time to think about it. Romelle was right. He hadn't fully worked past his feelings towards Lenora. He didn't even know if it was possible for him to do so.
When Romelle had carried on her affair with Prince Erimar, it was at a low point - possibly the lowest point - of their marriage. Sven could even accept the fact that another man had loved his wife. He wasn't angry at Romelle or Erimar. But Lenora...he had been in love with her since he was sixteen years old. Now he was thirty-three. Those years of yearning for her wouldn't just go away overnight. He wasn't sure if they'd ever disappear completely.
"Well, Sven? How do you feel about your wife's concern?"
The Norwegian cleared his throat. "She has good reason to be worried, Dr. Deldosa. You know that Lenora runs through my blood like this Haggarium infection in me. The Space Marshal isn't someone I can just stop thinking about like that." He snapped his fingers to illustrate his point.
Dr. Deldosa nodded sagely. "I understand, Sven. But we've been working together for a long time now. I must say, while I am disappointed in how slowly you've been progressing, at least I can say there has been progress. You have not reverted."
Sven raised an eyebrow. "Was that your fear? That I would regress?"
Dr. Deldosa did not hesitate or mince words. "Yes."
Sven stood. "You do realize that I have gotten better regarding my marriage, don't you? That I have kept my anger in check and my feelings for Lenora more-or-less under control? That I have treated Romelle the way a husband should treat his wife?"
The therapist stiffened. "Of course. I am merely informing you that you have not lessened in your feelings towards your old fiancée. You continue to place her up on the proverbial pedestal, and there is no way your wife can compete. And that, Sargeant, is not the way a husband treats his wife."
As the Norwegian locked his slate-blue eyes on the therapist, he felt the Haggarium rage flowing through his veins. He hated the fact that Pidge's and Vince's antidote had all but completely worn off. "That is something that cannot be helped. I don't think it can ever be helped. I am going to love that woman - and pay for it, I might add - for the rest of my life. The only thing I can do is focus on my wife and my family."
"There are other things you can do."
"Not right now, I can't." And with that, Sven barged out of Dr. Deldosa's office, despite the fact that their session was not quite over. In the royal consort's mind, it was. He headed back to the royal palace, his eyes flashing with purple.
So many things had happened in the Alliance over the last ten months.
Not only had Christiane Kogane, the Albegas tech sargeant, married Captain Jeff Aki of the Voltron Vehicle Team, but her brother Keith had gotten engaged to Allura, the princess of Arus. Cinda Kirigas had moved in with Ginger Ellington, and their friend Lisa Kaga had moved in with her boyfriend Aidan Dalloway, the Albegas captain. Not that those three girls were home in New York very often - the Explorer would be in the solar system around Earth for eight weeks, then would dock for a mere two weeks. It was driving the Space Marshal crazy.
Then there was Morgan...no, she couldn't get into Morgan Feld Rackens right now. It was too sad.
Lenora Stensson, the Space Marshal of the Galaxy Alliance, sat in her office and continued with the paperwork for her plans. Since returning from her quote-unquote second honeymoon in Paris with her husband, Commander Jonathan James Hawkins of the S.S. Explorer, she'd set her ideas into motion. There was only one Space Academy in the galaxy, but there were many, many planets in the Galaxy Alliance. Her plan was to scout out new locations to open additional Space Academies and therefore relieve some of the pressure off the school in New York. First, she was going to expand to other countries on Earth, and then send out her newly-hired Interplanetary Relations specialist to inspect other planets within the Alliance.
It didn't surprise her that Tokyo, Japan had been the first city on board with the idea. What did surprise her that Oslo, Norway had been the second.
When she'd heard back from the representative from Oslo, she was swept away by a thousand emotions. Pride in herself and the Garrison. Hope for the Alliance. Determination to unite countries and defeat the forces of Doom - namely King Lotor and the former Sky Marshal, Charles Herbert Wade. And, yes, sadness as she recalled that her first love, the man Christiane had said was The One, had been born in Norway. How they had spent a summer travelling the country when they were eighteen years old, and he told her that he was in love with her, and would be for the rest of his life.
She sighed. At least she knew he was still alive.
She'd been by herself for the past two weeks. Not only was the Explorer currently in the atmosphere, but she'd granted her First Officer, Kelly Asimov, a well-deserved vacation. Since it was Kelly's job to hold the Garrison together when the Space Marshal was unavailable, Lenora knew that her second-in-command needed the time off desperately.
Kelly and her boyfriend, Taye Benton - the second-in-command of Albegas - had chosen to disappear to Planet Dradin for two weeks. Lenora had offered them use of her husband's three-bedroom condo in Las Vegas as an alternative, but they'd declined, saying that they wanted to get away from Earth entirely. She couldn't blame them. She understood the need to get as far away from everything as possible.
"Knock knock," she heard a voice call out from the doorway.
Lenora didn't need to look up from the desk to know who was at the door. "Come on in, Kell," she replied, a smile spreading on her face. She'd missed her First Officer. True, they hadn't been the best of friends when they were students at the Academy, but they had lived on the same floor and considered each other family. It was remarkable how close they'd grown since she'd come back to her position as Space Marshal. "I've missed you."
"Me too." Kelly stepped into the office and closed the door behind her. She was glowing. "It's good to see you, Len."
"Mmm-hmm." Lenora finally looked up from the paperwork on her desk and gazed at her second-in-command. Kelly was positively radiant, her tawny skin glowing underneath a waterfall of ash-blond curls. "Wow, Kell. You look gorgeous. Two weeks off have done you good."
Still smiling, Kelly held out her newly-ringed left hand. Lenora took it and studied the piece of jewelry. It was a simple rose-gold ring with a knot tied in the one piece of metal. A love knot, she thought suddenly as the realization of what it meant swept through her.
"Taye and I got married on Dradin."
Lenora jumped to her feet. "Oh my God! Congratulations!" she cried out as she embraced her friend. "That's so exciting! What made you two decide to do it?"
"I'm not sure, exactly." Kelly shrugged, still grinning. "We were having such a great time on Dradin - once Mansett realized we were part of the Garrison, he fell all over himself trying to accommodate us. He suggested that we go shopping in the new esplanade that had just opened up, so we went. I found this ring and fell in love with it." She twisted the little band on her finger. "Then, once we had the ring, everything just sort of fell into place. He asked me to marry him, and twenty minutes later, we had a marriage license. Mansett was our witness." She laughed. "Not the way I would have imagined my wedding day, but certainly a day to remember."
Lenora smiled, beaming. "I am so happy for you two. Really." She stopped to laugh. "You know what Jon's gonna say about this, right? He's gonna say something about Taye needing to 'man up' and have a wedding."
Kelly laughed. "Yeah, we figured as much. I was thinking maybe cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Get the family together, have a toast at sunset...you know, just a happy little gathering."
"On the terrace."
"Well, if you're offering..."
"Oh, hush. Of course I'm offering, and I know Jon wouldn't have it any other way." Lenora hugged Kelly again. The spectacular terrace jutting off the master bedroom of their triplex on Fifth Avenue had already been the site of Jeff's wedding to Christiane. "I would like to contact him on the Explorer, though. Just to give him a heads-up."
Kelly nodded. "Of course. Give him my thanks, from me and my husband." She grinned. "Wow. Now I have a husband. That is just plain weird."
"Believe me, you'll get used to it." She laughed. "Don't forget, Kell, now this is for the rest of your life."
"For the rest of my life." Kelly mulled the phrase over in her head. "Well, since you put it that way, I guess I should have a party."
"I'm on it." Lenora smiled and picked up the communicator to contact her husband on the Explorer. "Once I'm done with this, I'll call Isabel at Per Se and we can pick out some food. And then, if you don't mind, I'd like to call Morgan and tell her. I can't plan a wedding without her."
Kelly's expression softened. "Yes. I'd like that. And she could use some cheering up."
Lenora nodded, thinking of her oldest friend. "She definitely could."
As the Space Marshal hit the button to contact the Explorer, she pushed her thoughts about Morgan aside. Her friend needed to get past her sadness, and a wedding reception on the terrace would be just the place to start.
The royal tailors were still working on the dress.
According to royal tradition, Allura should have worn her mother's dress. It was the same dress that had been handed down through the generations; the same dress that all of the women in her family had worn since the start of the lion dynasty. The problem with the tradition was that it simply assumed that the queen wasn't the ruler of the land. In the past, the king had been the supreme ruler, and the queen had merely carried the king's children to ensure that the royal lineage continued. The tradition might have continued if Allistaire hadn't been killed on the battlefield.
That would not be the case in this marriage. True, Keith would rule by her side, but she was the member of the royal family, and she would be the supreme monarch. This was a new era for her planet. And as such, she deserved a new wedding gown. Her own wedding gown.
Of course, there were still several traditions that needed to be honored. The gown still had to be a shade of white or ivory, and it still had to have sleeves of some sort. It still had to be tasteful and appropriate for an event as huge as the royal wedding. And it still could only be worn for the royal wedding ceremony, not for the reception. On that note, the reception dress had similar rules, but it was less formal.
Allura wasn't worried.
She had purchased the reception dress during a trip to visit her friends at the Garrison, but the royal seamstress had helped her design the ceremony gown. It was a white ballgown with a full tulle skirt, close-fitted illusion sleeves with scroll detailing that extended to the bodice, and a neckline which fell just below her collarbone. For the ceremony, there would be no headpiece, as the coronation would take place at the same time. It was the one tradition she'd allow. She'd wear that tacky, puffy red crown thing, adorned with the royal crest of the lion dynasty, on the walk back down the aisle with Keith at her side. Then, God willing, she'd never have to wear it again.
Not that any of it mattered in the long run. The only thing that was of any real importance was that she was marrying the love of her life, and she would have him for the rest of her life.
"Aunt Allura? Do you have a moment?"
The princess looked up from her contracts and over at her niece. Larmina - along with her fellow cadets, Vince and Daniel - was an adult now, having turned eighteen years old last month. Her dark strawberry-blond hair, which she normally wore up in a high ponytail, was loose and fell past her shoulders. "For you, Larmina? Always."
"I went for the initial fitting of my maid-of-honor dress this afternoon, and the royal seamstress wanted to know if I'm wearing a different dress for the reception. Am I? And if I am, then are there any royal protocols I need to follow?"
"Larmina, whatever you want to do is fine by me."
The cadet made a face. "Yeah, because I like dresses so much."
Allura laughed. "Like I said, whatever you want to do is fine by me. As long as you wear your bridesmaid dress with any shoes other than sneakers for both the wedding and coronation ceremonies, you can do what you like."
Larmina nodded. "Okay, thanks. And since I'm here, one more question - who did you finally end up pairing me with for the reception? I know I'm stuck with Lance during the ceremony, but who'd you put me with for dinner?"
Allura looked back down at her paperwork. "Pidge."
"Oh." Larmina's heart began to pound as she heard the answer. "Thanks, Aunt Allura. I'll get out of your way now." She closed the door behind her as she left, thinking, Oh, Daniel's not gonna like this.
Aidan Dalloway was slowly becoming used to spending his free time at the Rackens household.
When the Explorer was in orbit, it meant that his longtime girlfriend Lisa was gone. It also meant that Jeff, his old friend and his tech sargeant's husband, was gone as well. And since it was better to be with friends and family than alone and sitting in an apartment, Aidan and Christiane often spent time with David and Morgan. And if Taye Benton was available - And not on Dradin with his girl, he thought sarcastically - he'd join in too.
"What do you think, Rackens?" he asked, tumbler of Johnny Walker Black Label in hand, as they looked over the blueprint rolled out on the granite-topped kitchen island. "You think I could actually work with this? I mean, I'm no handyman."
"Hmm. I like how you look at me like I'm the expert." David took a swallow from his own tumbler. The British Albegas pilot wasn't much of a drinker, but he'd taken to the bottle a little more often than usual over the course of the last few weeks. He went with Courvoisier - it had been a personal sympathy gift from his brother-in-law Jon Hawkins.
"Dude. You're the one who redid this entire house. Look at this kitchen. I remember when you guys were engaged and Morgan walked us through the initial tour, and this kitchen was gutted. And now it's the nicest kitchen out of everybody's."
David took another swallow of cognac. "Do you know how I know that all seven hells are frozen over right now, Dalloway? It's because you're talking about kitchens. And remodeling. Even Morgan would say you've grown up."
Rolling his sapphire eyes, Aidan tipped back his blond head and finished the rest of his scotch in one gulp. "Hey now, I'm not that grown up." He paused to refill his glass. "Okay, well, maybe I am a little more grown up than I was, but that's all Lisa's fault. So maybe one hell is frozen over, but not all seven."
At his comment, David laughed. It had been the first time he'd laughed in weeks, and he was so grateful to have something to laugh about. Everything lately had been so depressing. He took another sip of Courvoisier.
They both turned their heads at the sound of someone bounding down the stairs. "Oh my God, guys!" Christiane cried out joyfully as she raced into the kitchen. "Len just called Morgan to tell her that Taye and Kelly got married on Dradin!"
"What?" Aidan cried out. "Benton took the plunge? Oh, seven hells, wait 'til Lisa finds out about this. I'll never hear the end of it."
"As you shouldn't," Christiane teased, wrapping her left arm around Aidan's shoulder. Her diamond ring - the ring he'd bought for Lenora a long time ago - twinkled on her finger. "How long have you two been together? Besides, now you're the only unmarried Albegas crew member."
"Hush up, Kogane...er, Aki...whatever your name is now." He glanced back down at the blueprint on the island. "Besides, I just bought an apartment. I can't afford a diamond for Lisa."
David inhaled quickly, changing the subject before Christiane could grill Aidan further. "How did Morgan take the news?"
Christiane's smile faded slightly. "She's happy. Excited. I think she even smiled. Oh yes, she definitely smiled. Because they're gonna have a small reception on the terrace at Jon's and Len's place. And if anything can pull Morgan out of a funk, it's planning a wedding for her friends."
"Amen to that." Aidan lifted his tumbler. "Here's to draining Hawkins' bank account!"
"You are terrible, Dalloway," David chided.
"Indeed. I think we need to call up Benton and congratulate him." Then, with one more sip of scotch, he rolled up the blueprint and pulled out his phone to call his second-in-command. The remodeling talk would have to wait for now.