Here is the next chapter. I'm sorry I uploaded the wrong one originally. know it is short but the next chapter is going to jump a few months. So it had to end here. I finally figured out how to do the pair thing so with the characters. Thank you cubbie for the help with that and also suggesting that I add Pidge/OC as my other pair. I hope to get some Pidge fans reading as well. Got some major plans…story is going dig into some of the other pilot's pasts as well. Next chapter look for some Daniel, Daigo, Tandy, and of course some K/A fluff. Then…well you're going to have to read.

Chapter 7 VF Evolution

Pidge and Tandy left the gate of the base. They drove about five miles. Then he went off road. Tandy was surprised and yelped. They drove another mile and Pidge stopped and cut the engine. Tandy took in a cleansing breath. The air was nice and crisp. Before she could ask where they were he was talking on his Volt-com. "Pidge to Keith."

"Go ahead Pidge."

"Wade has a son…he is your age and is a Lieutenant in the GA stationed here on Arus. He knows how to make the metal and he has admitted to tinkering with Wade's experiments. But he denies being a part of his exploits. I'm going to have to do some digging on him."

"Vince briefed me. We'll meet at 0800 conference room."

"Acknowledged." Pidge said. Then he tagged Vince. "Vince…its Pidge."

"Go ahead."

"Try to do a deep run on Connor Beils Wade see where he was stationed when. See if we can find a pattern."

"Working on it. Transmit your recording of your interview."

"Transmitting. I'll see you at the briefing."

Pidge then turned to Tandy. "Well we can watch the suns set and the moons rise. I packed a picnic."

Tandy beamed. "Wow! That's…amazing."

Pidge grabbed the cooler off the bike. "Can you lift the seat and pull out the blanket?"

"Sure." She grabbed the blanket and followed Pidge. She caught up as he reached the beach. It was deserted. "How do you know this place?"

"I found it on the map. It doesn't have access except by boat unless you know where you're going. There are no roads to it so it is more obscure."

Tandy nodded. "I haven't been to a beach before."

"You'll like it. The sea has personality. It can be soft and calm or rough and turbulent."

Tandy spread the blanket on the sand where Pidge indicated. He then opened the cooler and pulled out sandwiches, fresh fruit, chocolate cupcakes, and to her delight cold root beer. "You remembered!"

Pidge smiled. "You're mom used to make the best root beer floats."

Tandy nodded. "She did…she used to make a homemade root beer ice cream."

"Didn't she win the summer ice contest with that recipe?"

Tandy smiled sadly. "She did. I cook sometimes…it makes me feel closer to her."

Pidge squeezed her hand. "I'm sure…I wish I'd known. I would have come."

Tandy squeezed his hand. "I know you would have come but I didn't want to intrude." She scooted over closer to him and sat beside him. "Is this okay."

"Absolutely! Get comfortable. It is breathtaking."

It was beautiful out here. This picnic with her favorite foods surprised her. It was sweet and showed a level of thoughtfulness that she had never seen before. The light started to change as the suns began to set over the water. "Pidge it is so beautiful!" She looked over at him. He looked so different then when she last saw him. There was something in his eyes. She took his hand. "You seem happy here."

"I am. I feel like I belong. I don't feel like the awkward boy in the computer lab. I feel appreciated."

"It is nice to know where you belong. I didn't want to leave my mother which is why I never asked her if I could leave. It never crossed my mind…even when Jon was hurting me. I couldn't bear leaving mom alone with him. When I came home and found her dead I…" She sucked in her breath and her eyes burned with tears.

Pidge held her tightly. "It's okay to cry Tandy…she was an amazing woman and she gave birth to an amazing daughter."

"I miss her so much…but she would be so happy to know that I am happy. I wish I could tell her everything I've done over the last few days." The sun's finally set. Tandy saw that the stars were starting to come out. They were beautiful. She hadn't seen stars since she was a little girl before the original Balto blew up. "I can't believe I'm looking at stars again! I didn't even think to look out of my bedroom windows at the castle!"

"Wait until the moons start to rise. That is spectacular." Pidge murmured.

"How long before it starts?"

Pidge glanced at his watch. "About a half hour."

Tandy kissed his cheek. "Thank you for this…it was so sweet."

"You're welcome. I love being with you."

Tandy bit her lip. But she was going to be honest. "I love being with you too."

"I hear trepidation?"

"It's not you…it's me. You deserve so much better."

Pidge didn't like this self-doubt that her step father had planted in her. He simply sat her in his lap and looked into her eyes. "I don't want anyone else. I want you."

Tandy bit her lip. "I don't see how. Pidge I want to be with you…I do…It's what I dreamed about. You deserve to be happy."

Pidge smiled. "You make me happy. What is that phrase you like to use? Live a little."

Tandy sucked in her breath. It was hard to argue with her own words. God she really wanted to kiss him. She really wanted to and he made the decision for them. Their lips met and time simply stood still. Tandy was surprised. She felt warm all over and her heart soared with happiness. It was bliss. She deepened the kiss their tongues danced. She gripped the back of his head with one hand and her other arm was around his neck. How did he learn to kiss like this? Doesn't matter he is kissing me! Her body trembled as did his. They both broke apart breathless. Tandy smiled. "That was …WOW!"

Pidge grinned. "Wow is one word to describe it." He stood up and pointed. "Look."

Tandy stood up and saw just at the horizon the first glimpse of a moon peaking over the water. "It is beautiful." Tandy remembered when her mother pulled out videos of her and her father. One of those videos had them on a dock dancing under the stars with the moon as there only light. It had struck Tandy because it was such a simple but very tender moment. Her mother cried every time she saw that video. She turned to Pidge he was gazing at the moon which was about halfway up now. She whispered. "Dance with me."

Pidge smiled at her and pulled her into his arms. They began to sway to the music of the waves crashing to the shore line and the chirping crickets. Pidge watched her. She sighed deeply and buried her head in his neck. She looked so beautiful in the moonlight. This moment just felt right. Everything at this moment felt right. He looked at her and saw that she was looking at him. "What are you thinking?"

Tandy's eyes filled with tears. "That you make me happy too." She leaned into him and their mouths met again. This kiss was just as intense as the last and was filled with even more promise. She broke the kiss and rested her forehead against his. "Pidge…just be patient with me. I'm still working through…"

Pidge kissed her softly. "I know…and we will work through it together."

Tandy looked over and saw one moon was fully risen and she could see the second. It really was pretty. "Pidge thanks for this…all of this. You've given me some peace tonight…that's something that I haven't felt in years."

"I'm glad."

Pidge's Volt-com beeped. Pidge pulled away from Tandy and answered. "Pidge here."

Keith appeared on hollo. "Where are you?"

"Ah. On a beach…I wasn't on duty commander."

"I know that. But I just got a call from Command and they want to you to return to the GA base immediately."

Pidge frowned. "I'll bet they do. Keith the only one I talked to was Wade he was frazzled when we left and Tandy detected miniscule amounts of haggarium. He probably wants to keep me from reporting back to you."

"Stay alert stay hidden. I'm sending Larmina to get you."

"Acknowledged."

Tandy looked around. "Where do you want to go back to the treeline?"

Pidge shook his head. "Push your button it will chameleon you."

Tandy did as instructed and was pleasantly surprised. She reached for him. She could barely see him. Wow this was cool! Pidge pulled her towards the cliffs he left their picnic where it was. He wanted to go get his motorcycle but couldn't risk it. The climbed the cliff and Tandy whispered. "Pidge who's after us?"

"Lt. Wade."

"Ah."

There was a movement to their left. Pidge could see flashlights. "We found the motorbike. Looks like they've been here. Maybe they are in the water. Nothing like a little water polo if you get my meaning."

At any other time Tandy would have found that funny. But since they were being hunted she didn't. The men searched the picnic and found the drinks. "Root beer…some fruit still cold. They can't be far."

Tandy snuggled close to Pidge. She saw on her visor some instructions. Tap Volt-com twice to mute it. Tandy did as she was told. The men continued their search. "TANDY! DARELL?"

Tandy gasped and clung to Pidge's hand. That was her step father! She whimpered luckily they were too far away to hear her. Pidge put a supportive arm around her. His mind was racing. What was Tandy's step father doing with GA soldiers? "Tandy! You listen to me…you have no right to be here. Darrel you have no right to keep her from me. I am pressing charges against both of you. Chip and Maggie have already been arrested. Tandy trembled. Pidge typed to Tandy. 'He's lying I just spoke to him this morning. He and Maggie are on Earth.'

Pidge looked up over the cliffs and saw Wade bots. 'Snart!'

Tandy looked up and saw them too. She didn't dare breathe a word. But she wanted too. How the hell was Pidge typing messages? She decided she's better learn what her Volt-Com could do! ASAP. If they got out of this that was going to be her first order of business! He started tapping her arm. Their old code. 'Stay calm! Don't talk. I've called the team.'

Tandy swallowed and was suddenly grabbed from behind. They both screamed. The party on the beach turned. Tandy saw that she was being held by a Wade bot as was Pidge. Pidge recovered first and sent two stars to free them and six stars at the enemies on the beach. Pidge grabbed her hand and they started running. "Head to the water!"

Tandy ran she refused to let go of Pidges hand. They reached the shoreline and dove. Pidge called. "Tandy I have you on my scanner don't worry. Don't come out of chameleon."

"What are you going to do?"

"Still working on that!"

"Have we lost them?" Tandy asked.

That is when they were both swallowed up by a large ship. Tandy screamed but Pidge breathed a sigh of relief. He opened the water tight door. When the water drained out he opened the door to the cockpit. "About time Larmina!"

"What the hell is going on?"

"Get us out of here! Stay under water for god's sake!" Pidge snapped. He deactivated his suit and Tandy's with one push of his jammer. He quickly pulled Tandy into his arms in the co-pilots chair. "We're safe now."

Tandy was shaking all over. "Pidge! Why does he do this to me?" Then she cried in his arms bitterly.

Pidge if he could have gone to the beach and murdered him he would have. But all he could do was hold her and offer her comfort. Larmina said nothing as she watched them. She spoke into her Volt-com. "Commander Blue Lion here. I have Pidge and Tandy we are heading back to the castle."

"Nice job! Pidge are you and Tandy alright?"

Tandy was still sobbing so Pidge answered for them both. "We aren't hurt Keith a little shaken but not hurt."

"Alright…Black out."

Larmina turned and said. "What is going on what that freak?"

Pidge didn't answer her. He kissed Tandy's hair and continued to rock her. "He's a major ass hole and he is determined to get Tandy back."

"Huh. Well major ass hole is going to continue to be disappointed. Did you have a nice picnic until it was interrupted by the way?"

Tandy sniffed and smiled up at Pidge through her tears. "Yeah we did. Would have liked to stay longer."

Larmina giggled. "Bet…"

They landed at the castle and went to the hanger. They climbed out of the Lion and the whole team was waiting except Allura. Keith hurried over to them. "Are you two alright?"

Pidge nodded. "Fine you warned us just in time. How did you get the heads up?"

"I got the orders for you to return to the base and called GA to check. They said they had not received any request for you to return. I smelled a trap and called you. What happened on the beach?"

Tandy said. "These weird robot thingies and oh my evil step dad and was with the GA search party."

Lance's face turned stony. "He just doesn't know when to quit does he?"

Tandy threw up her arms in frustration. "What the hell is he doing with the GA anyway? I mean I know he is a weapons master he could have been sub contracted by the GA to build some weapons for them. But that doesn't explain why he was using GA resources to find me!"

Keith nodded. "We'll have to figure it out. Meanwhile…GA folks we may need to resign our commissions. We can't risk being given new orders that we can't follow."

Hunk said. "I thought the GA was back why are they following another Wade? It doesn't make sense."

Keith nodded. "Whatever the reason. They are targeting us directly…we have to be diligent and work together. We need to unravel this mystery and fast. We have detected activity in the seventh kingdom which is the home of Queen Merla. It is rumored that she has given birth to a daughter who is the rightful heir to the drule empire."

Larmina shuddered. "Lotor procreating…that is just scary."