Okay, so this is my first Sym-Bionic Titan fanfic; I just recently started watching the show and I love it! I had an idea, and so far as I know it hasn't been done yet. I hope for this to be at least a 15 chapter fic, and I promise the next chapter will be longer; I just had to have a kind of intro to start things off.

A few things to keep in mind:

1. This story is set 2 years into the future, post-war. So The characters HAVE aged, and may seem a little ooc because they have grown up. And unlike the show, they would have spent quite a while together. It may just be my opinion on how I think they would interact as older kids, but I'll try my best to stay in character!

2. It's my first SBT story, and I only have just begun watching. If somethings wrong, please let me know (nicely) and I shall fix it. (:

3. I love, love, love reviews. It gives me motivation to post more chapters. (:

4. I do NOT own Sym-Bionic Titan in anyway, the show and its characters belong to Cartoon Network. Only the idea and the story itself belong to me. (:

So without any further ado, Here it is:

"Arranged"- Chapter 1:

Goodbye Earth

2 years.

2 long, hard years. That's approximately how long the war on Galaluna had lasted. Many lives were lost, and hundreds of thousands of soldiers had fought the great fight in honor to protect their planet. Their home towns burned and many of the people lost. In the end, Galalunian forces had posed too great a threat for the Mutradi invaders, and were forced to retreat. The Galalunians had held their own, destroying most of the Mutradi troops allowing only a few to slip through their fingers. It was still a very dark place, but at least the war had finally been put to an end.

After the war had been announced "over", the great King had decided it would be best if the Princess and her protectors remained on Earth for a few extra months until Princess Ilana's safety was 100 percent ensured. With a few Mutradi still loose somewhere, the King would not have her safety be risked. So the trio followed their order's town to a 'T' (much to Ilana's dismay) and waited until they would be allowed back to their home.

But after all their waiting, they knew it would be worth it so long as they were going home. Things had turned out better than anyone could have expected, (though no one would admit it). In truth, the war should have taken a greater toll on their people and their cities. Luckily much was still intact, of course quite a lot was not, but still. Perhaps their mission was not quite over yet.

...

Lance pushed a lose hair from his face as he prepared for their trip. Today was the day; they we're finally heading home. He peeled of his 'earth clothes' in order to redress into his Corporal uniform. In the message the King had sent telling the three about the end of the war, he also addressed Lance and promised him a new commanding rank. A ceremony was to be arranged for his promotion. He was thrilled, really he was. His entire life was fighting and from what the King had stated it sounded as though this was a pretty big deal. But somehow, despite the promoting and of course the return, Lance knew something was wrong.

Not that he would ever admit it to Octus or Ilana, but he was going to miss them. Once they had received word of their return, things began changing. And Lance wasn't so sure he was really ready for it. I mean, when it came down to it, Ilana and Octus were the closest thing to family he had had in a long time. He shook his head, 'this is a good thing' he reminded himself. 'I'm just a soldier.'

First he slid into his pants, then came the shiny black boots. They were hard due to their lack of use. Come to think of it, the last time he wore this, they had just come to Earth. He pulled on his gloves, and finally his bright red jacket. His focused on the bright brass buttons intently, trying to remind himself that this was never about himself, but Ilana- or the Princess. That's what he would have to call her when they got back, right? Would they even talk after all of this? He looked at his feet deep in thought, until his attention was brought to the light knocking on his door.

"Come in." He said absent mindedly. The princess came into the room still in her pajamas, her face worried. He stopped buttoning his shirt, and turned to her. "Ilana, Why aren't you dressed yet? Octus says we're leaving shortly." He reminded her.

She sighed and remained quiet for a moment, convinced no matter how she asked, Lance wouldn't care. She breathed, "I can't decide which one to wear." She added a little 'hmph' sound. Lance rolled his eyes, but smiled at her.

"Ilana, you'll look fine in anything, it doesn't really matter. Now, come on, we have to go soon." Ilana looked at him as though he was stupid.

"It does too matter!" She yelled back. "As princess of Galaluna, I should be dressed as accordingly." She gave him a menacing look. "Now, come help me pick one." Maybe it was because he had gotten accustomed to the young girl, or perhaps deep down, Lance knew that moments like these were running low. The minute they returned, they were no longer 'friends' , but simply a soldier and a princess. But either way, he agreed to help her in her moment of "crisis" as she called it.

"Okay, but make it fast. I still have to get my things together." He reminded her. She smiled a thank you and the two entered her bedroom. It was in a disheveled mess; clothes were scatter everywhere, and different bags and other objects were lying all around the room. All of her pictures and decorations had been taken down off of the walls, and if it weren't for the colorful mass of clothes, the room would have looked quite bare. This was really happening, their time was finally over. He looked at Ilana, who was babbling on about shoes or something. She looked like she couldn't have been happier.

Lance snapped out of his thoughts as he realized she had asked him a question. "Huh?"

Ilana scoffed, "Were you even listening to a think I said?"

"Of course". He lied.

Her angry look seemed to lighten up, "Okay then, which one do you like best?" She held up two different dressed, one deep pink and the other a bright fuchsia color. To him, both looked very similar, but that wasn't what she wanted to hear.

"The one on the left." He pointed.

"But that one makes me look fat!"

"Okay… then the other one?"

"Ugh, but my shoes don't match that one."

"Ummm." He paused, he was never any good at helping her pick out clothes. Even after these two years, no matter what he told her he was still wrong. He sighed. "What about that one. The one on the floor over there?"

"What? The lavender one?"

"Sure, yeah."

"That's the one I wore when we first landed here, though."

"So? It looks nice." Another fact Lance would never admit, was that after being Ilana's bodyguard for so long, the two had grown close. Very close. But like stated earlier, everything had changed the day they received news about their return. It wasn't like the two ever dated, here they were posing as siblings, so that would never work. And it was not to say Lance or Ilana had gone all 'lovey-dovey' over the other; but at the same time there was something there. And he knew Ilana knew it too. After all of this, he knew he wouldn't just protect her for the King, but because she was an important part of his life.

Was.

"Are you sure?" Ilana seemed uncertain. Lance just nodded. She smiled brightly. "Alright, I'll be out in just a sec." She pushed him outside of her room and closed her door promptly.

Of course it was more than a few seconds. Ilana always claimed "it took time to look her best." She carefully pulled the dress over her head. It fell neatly into place, and she smiled into her mirror. Lance was right, she did look nice. She then brushed her hair and applied little makeup.

"Perfect!" She exclaimed as she turned in a full circle to see how she looked from all vantage points. She couldn't wait to make her father proud, oh how she missed him. She glanced over to her alarm clock to check the time. The numbers read: 11:28. She smiled as she hurried to gather the rest of her things. Before long she had everything neatly squared away.

Nothing could bring her down today; today was the day she had been waiting two years for. She had put up with a troublesome teenaged earthling's life, several Mutradi monsters, and public high school, all for this moment. This is what she had been waiting for.

She really did love the robot and the corporal; they both had been there for her through this entire ordeal. And looking back, they had been her closest friends during this time. Honestly in all of the hype of home, the fact that she probably wouldn't see them again hadn't really crossed her mind. All that mattered to her was her father, and of course returning to her duties as princess.

Once finished, she grabbed her bags and hurried downstairs, looking for Octus as she did so. She set her items down on the living room table to search for her friend. "Octus?" She called out. The robot responded from the other room.

"I am in the kitchen, Ilana. Everything is almost accounted for." Octus replied. The petite princess smiled and glanced up the stairs to make sure Lance was still out of sight. Good, his door was still closed.

Ilana hurried over to the kitchen to see Octus. He was just pulling out something from the oven. Ilana reached for the icing that lay on the other side of the kitchen counter.

"Ilana, you should really wait until the cake has properly cooled before applying the sugar coating." Octus warned her. But, she of course didn't listen as she opened the icing tub.

"But if we wait, we'll be late for our arrival at Galaluna!" She told him.

"We have precisely 24 minutes until we have to leave, Ilana." The robot reminded her.

She gave him a look before hurrying to apply the icing all over the cake. She then tried (miserably) to write the letters "L-A-N-C-E" on the cake, before applying a few candles. "It looks perfect Octus, thank you!" She hugged him. "Lance is gonna love it." She added in a whisper, hoping he wasn't nearby.

The two turned off the lights and hid (well, mostly Ilana, seeing as Octus was too big to really hide behind anything) inside the kitchen, waiting for Lance to come downstairs.

A few minutes later, after Lance had stuffed all of his things into a small bag, he decided he wouldn't need much from his visit; he walked down stairs to see if the other two had finished packing as well. When he didn't see anyone in the living room we walked into the kitchen only to find the lights all turned off. Okay?

"What are you two doing in here?" he called out, knowing they had to be inside the room.

"I believe that was when we were supposed to cheer 'surprise'." Octus spoke from behind the table. Lance rolled his eyes.

"Surprise!" Ilana jumped up from underneath the table as Octus flipped the lights back on. She was smiling brightly as she held out a cake.

Lance smiled at the gesture. "Happy Birthday!" The duo yelled at the boy. Ilana brought the cake closer to him so he could blow out the now lit candles.

"Thanks guys." He never really celebrated birthdays, well other than the two he had on Earth with Ilana and Octus in the years they were all together. Funny how fast things go by. He blew them out and cut a slice for each of them. Today was his 18th birthday, something that seemed so small compared to everything else that was going on. But today he was finally a man.

To be honest, in all of her excitement, Lance was surprised she'd even remember. But he was glad she did, because this would probably be the last birthday party for a while.

"Sorry we didn't get you any presents, Lance." Ilana said between chews. He just shrugged.

"This is all I need." He assured them. Ilana and Lance shared a brief smile. Like an unspoken secret between only the two.

"Alright you two, it's about time we begin for our journey back home." Octus spoke in his monotone voice. Lance nodded as Ilana got up from the table to dispose of her plate. The three got up and went back to the living room, each to gather their belongings. They all said their goodbye's to their home of two years. Ilana paused.

"Wait." Lance and Octus turned around. "I just want to say thank you both. For everything." She smiled then walked over to where Octus was standing. She reached up to hug him. "You're the best robot/dad/friend I've ever had." She told him as she continued to hold him tight unsure of what else to say.

"Thank you, Ilana." Octus spoke.

She let go and kissed him on his cheek lightly. She then turned to Lance. "And you," She paused, "are the greatest Corporal I've had the pleasure of meeting. Thank you for always protecting me. I owe you my life, Lance." She looked up at him before hugging him briefly. She stretched up on her tip-toes to kiss him on the cheek, as well. She lingered close to his face for a few seconds, forgetting the rest of the world. He looked into her eyes, as if searching for something; something more. He eventually broke the stare, causing Ilana to blush and turn away.

That was his last chance; and he blew it. Two years together and he still was too intimidated to make a move. In some way he tried to reason that it was better this way."She'll be 18 in a few months anyways." He told himself as they walked outside ready to leave for good. "And by then, she'll already have found someone else."

"Goodbye Earth." Octus said the final words as the Titan shot up towards the rift gate.

...

It wasn't long before they reached their home plant: Galaluna.

Today was the day. The day everything would change for the three. Once they arrived, the Kind was standing there to welcome the three heroes. Ilana dropped everything when she saw her father, and rushed to give him a great hug. Overwhelmed by the young girl, he nearly toppled over. He laughed as the young princess hugged him, muttering into his chest.

"Oh how I have missed you father!" She exclaims as she continues to embrace him. He laughs wholeheartedly.

"And how I have missed you my Ilana." He smiled brightly as he finally let her out of his arms. The small blonde stood directly at his side, beaming. He nodded pleasantly to the robot and the teenage boy.

Octus began carrying Ilana's bags as Lance stood with one arm behind his back, and his helmet in the other. Chin held high, he stood next to Octus.

"I do not know how I could ever repay you two." The king thanked them, "Without the two of you, heaven knows if I would ever see my daughter again. So thank you. Octus, your reward is that you will now work in the castle, as one of head security officers."

"Thank you, sir." The robot replied. The king nodded.

"And you, Lance." Lance kneeled for the King, "There is already a ceremony planned for your promotion. You will be given the title, 'Captain'. You're one of Galaluna's youngest commanding Captains, Lance. Your father would be proud." Lance winced slightly at the comment (knowing the King meant well) before turning to stand next to Octus again.

"Thank you, your majesty."

"The two of you will also be receiving medals of Honor tomorrow at the celebration. Once again, I can't thank either of you enough." He smiled warmly.

"For now, you two are welcome to stay within the castle until tomorrow's ceremony." The two nodded before following the King, the princess, and a select few guards. "Come; let us take my princess home again." Ilana smiled brightly up at her father, after two years of waiting to even hear his voice, Ilana was completely enthralled just to be at his side again. This was her true place.

Lance and Octus trailed behind them, both silent among the King. Lance was mostly solemn, after tomorrow tings would be "normal" again. Was it selfish of him to wish otherwise? The realization of losing Ilana- and Octus, too- was something that he had pushed to the back of his mind. But already, even just watching behind her, Ilana would never see him the same again.

He was so close to her, and yet so far. Her happiness was like a stab in his back. 'But this is my place.' he thought bitterly.

...

Woo! Alrighty, let me know what you think?

Note: Ilana's betrothed shall be introduced next chapter; sorry but this chapter is just the intro.

so review, review, review! And I will update soon. (: