The five Lions touched down on the grassy knoll behind the Castle. They all got out of their ships and gathered around Keith.

"Not too bad considering I haven't been here in a while." Keith told them. He turned to Hunk. "Hunk, you were a little slow on that last run."

"C'mon Skipper! I haven't even had breakfast yet?" Hunk wailed.

"All the same, speed it up a little. Lance on the other hand, you were going way too fast. You lost control on that corner."

Lance scowled and rubbed his bruised head. "Tell me something I don't know Cap." He said irritably.

Keith turned to Pidge and the Princess. "Pidge, you need to use the offensive a little more. Don't be afraid to get right in there. You too Allura."They both nodded.

Lance shook his head. "How do you do it? You haven't been near the Lions in months what with your injuries and going to Earth, and you still fly circles around us. Dammit Keith! You make it look easy!" Lance said crossly.

Keith shrugged. "Just lucky I guess."

"Lucky my ass." Lance muttered under his breath.

Keith looked at him sharply, then turned back to the Team. "All right, let's go have breakfast. I have paperwork to do this morning, but I want to see all of you in the gym after lunch. Then later we'll test those remotes of yours Pidge."

Hunk and Pidge groaned and went over to their Lions. They took off and made their way to the Castle. Allura looked at Lance. "Well, are you coming?" She teased.

Lance glared at her and Keith. "I'm not hungry." He stormed off into his Lion and took off in the opposite direction of the Castle.

Allura and Keith looked at each other in surprise. "What was that all about?" Allura asked, puzzled.

Keith shook his head. "I have no idea." He held out his hand. "Come on. Let's go get something to eat." Together they walked towards the Castle, leaving their Lions by the lake shore.

-

Keith was bent over his desk, stuck in the middle of paperwork. This is the only part I hate about being Captain. He sighed and re-read the report in front of him. He didn't look up when the door opened, figuring it was Allura. She was the only one who dared disturb him while he was working.

"And to tink I tought you vould be glad to see me."

Keith looked up, startled. Sven was leaning against the doorframe, a smile on his face. "Sven!" Keith jumped up and gave his friend a hug. "Where's Romelle and my nephew?"

Sven smiled. "Dey are with Allura. Romelle is tired. Hans, he is a good baby, but he does not sleep much."

"Sounds like his father." Keith grinned.

"Vhat is all dis?" Sven asked, indicating the paperwork.

Keith sighed. "This is the part of the job I can't stand."

Sven laughed. "I never tought I would see the day dat Keith Montgomery would hate organization!"

"Ha-ha very funny. Organization I can handle, it's the paperwork I can't stand." Keith sat back in his chair. Sven took a seat on the small couch near the window. "You're here early. I didn't expect you until next week."

Sven shrugged. "Ve needed a vacation. Romelle doesn't get a moments rest. It has been a long time since the Royal Family produced offspring. The whole planet vants to celebrate."

Keith grimaced. "I know what you mean. Allura gets a message almost every day from some village elder, wanting us to come after the wedding so the village can swear fealty to the new Prince-Consort." Keith pretended to gag. "If I knew this would happen, I never would have let her knight me."

Sven laughed. "You look much better dan de last time ve saw you."

"I feel a lot better. Physically anyway." Keith looked up at Sven. "You heard about the trial?"

Sven snorted. "Vhat trial? Dat vas a travesty. Lotor should have been executed."

"I agree with you there." Keith sighed. "I don't like this Sven. GG has pulled the Space Force off Arus. All we have now are the Lions."

Sven looked puzzled. "So? Dat vas all you had before."

Keith shook his head. "It's different this time Sven. There's something going on that's they're not telling us." He paused. "What's even worse is Lance is acting funny."

"Funny ha-ha or funny Lance?"

"Funny Lance. He blew up at practice this morning and took off for no apparent reason. He seemed fine yesterday. I'm hoping he shows up this afternoon so I can try and corner him."

Sven was quiet a moment. "Much as I hate to admit this, Lance is never wrong."

Keith nodded. "I know." They sat quietly for a few minutes, then Keith shook his head and slammed his files shut. Sven looked up in surprise. "Blast this! Let's go see my nephew." Keith got to his feet.

Sven smiled and the two friends left the room and started down the hall to the guest quarters. Sven opened the door, and they stepped inside.

Romelle was sitting on the couch next to Allura and Hunk. Pidge sat on the floor next to Lance, who was holding baby Hans. Lance was making the four month old baby laugh by making funny faces at him.

Allura looked up as they came into the room, and sent Keith a dazzling smile. Sven elbowed him in the ribs, and grinning sat on the couch next to his wife. Romelle turned to Keith.

"Hello Keith! It's good to see you!" She held her arms out for a hug. Keith complied then sat on the floor next to Lance.

"Let's see this little guy." Lance handed him the baby. Keith looked down on Hans. He looked exactly like Romelle, except for his thick dark hair. Hans giggled up at Keith, then turned back to Lance. "Looks like you've made a friend." Keith handed the baby back to Lance.

Lance took him eagerly, again making faces at him. Keith looked around at his "family" and smiled in contentment. He felt Allura place her hand lightly on his shoulder. Turning, he looked up at her, winking. She smiled back and squeezed his shoulder. Keith looked back at Lance and the baby. Lance caught his gaze and frowned slightly. Lance handed Hans back to Sven and got up and left the room.

"What's wrong with Lance?" Pidge asked.

"Never saw him so grumpy around a kid before." Hunk added.

Keith shook his head. "Me neither, but I'm going to find out." He got to his feet and started towards the door. "See you all later." He took off down the corridor, following Lance. He saw his quarry head into the gym. Keith paused for a moment, outside the door. Glancing in the window, Keith saw Lance had stripped off his jacket, and was warming up with one of the fencing swords. Keith stepped into the room.

"Mind telling me what that was all about?" Lance didn't look up. Keith marched over to him and pulled Lance around to face him. "I asked you a question Lieutenant."

Lance snarled and threw Keith a sword. "Defend yourself Captain."

Keith pulled his sword up in an en garde position. Lance saluted back, then rushed at Keith. Keith easily stepped aside, and smacked the flat of his sword across Lance's backside. "Point." He called out.

Lance whirled around and attacked again, this time forcing Keith to back pedal in order to avoid a hit. Keith decided he'd had enough. The next time Lance rushed him, Keith deftly un-sworded him, and with a leg sweep, knocked Lance to the floor. Before he could recover, Keith grabbed Lance by the shirt collar, and slammed him up against the wall. "Just what the hell is your problem Harrison? You've been acting like an ass all morning." Keith said angrily.

Lance glared at him for a moment, then went limp. Keith held him a moment more, then let go. Keith swore he saw tears in Lance's eyes. "Talk to me Lance."

Lance shuddered, and ran a hand through his hair. "It's Lotor." He said quietly.

"Lotor?"

Lance nodded. He paced across the room, finally walking back to Keith. "I've been having nightmares for almost a month now. The same thing every night. All with Lotor and the Princess. Until last night."

Keith sat down on the bleachers. "What happened last night?"

Lance sat next to him. "Last night was awful. I saw Lotor come in during your wedding. He grabbed Allura and shot her. He then turned to you and killed you too." Lance shuddered again. "It was so damned real." He sighed. "I'm sorry I've been acting like such a jerk."

"For you it's normal."

Lance scowled. "I guess I hoped, maybe I could piss you off enough that you would cancel the wedding or something."

"Yeah, that almost worked." Keith said sarcastically.

Lance stared at his feet. "OK, so it wasn't such a great idea! Like I said, I'm sorry." He got up and paced the room. "Hell, Keith, I hate this! I hate knowing what's going to happen and that there's nothing I can do about it."

Keith sighed. "Lance, you have a gift. Like it or not, it's part of you."

"Then dammit I wish it wasn't!" Lance looked up at Keith, his green eyes flashing with emotion. "You have no idea what it's like to live with something like this."

Keith walked over to him. "No, I don't. But whether you think this is a blessing or a curse, it is who you are."

Lance looked stricken. "I know. It's just….This one was so real!" He closed his eyes for a moment, then looked up at his friend. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let myself get so carried away."

Keith put his arm around Lance's shoulder. "Forget it. But talk to some one next time. Don't hold this all in. All you do is let it eat you up inside. Don't ever be afraid to come to me Lance. I'm your best friend. Hell, we're practically brothers! I'll always be there to listen." He grinned at Lance. "Even if it is just a nightmare." Keith joked. Lance shrugged, but still wouldn't look at Keith. Keith shook Lance's shoulders. "Seriously Lance! We are friends. I would still be your friend even if we hadn't grown up together. Friends listen to each other. Even when it's something they don't really understand. Tell me when something's bothering you next time. The problem might not go away, but you'll feel a hell of alot better." Lance still wouldn't meet Keith's eyes. "I mean it Lance."

Lance finally looked up at Keith and grinned. "Look who's talking."

Keith slapped Lance in the back of the head. "Wise ass. Now, get changed and we'll have a real match."