All disclaimers apply, etc….

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            Allura helped Romelle to the chair beside the bed. 

            "I can't believe it," Romelle's voice shook.  "I can't believe she's alive, after all this time."

            Sven entered the room with Keith.  He took one look at his wife, pale and shaking and in two strides was kneeling in front of her.

            "Vhat is it, Romelle?"

            "It's her Sven, its Paget."         

            "You're sure?"
            She nodded, too overcome to speak.

            Sven stood, "You didn't get much sleep, Romelle.  Now that you know it is her, vhy don't you go lay down.  Ve can come back ven she vakes."

            Romelle shook her head, "I'm fine, Sven.  I want to stay here.  I want to be here when she wakes."

            Dr. Gorma spoke up, "We don't know when that will be, Your Highness.  It would be better for us to call you when she wakes. These chairs aren't exactly the most comfortable.  Go, put your feet up and I will call you the second she wakes."

            Allura handed Romelle her communicator, "Here, take this.  Dr. Gorma can page you directly when she wakes."

            Romelle sighed, she knew when she was defeated.  She held up her hand for Sven to help her out of her chair.

            "Vould you like to go lay down?"  He asked.

            "No," she responded sharply.  "I'd like to go get something to eat."

            "Of course, I'm sorry, Romelle.  Let's go find you something."  Allura said before grabbing Keith and pulling him into the corner.  "Take Sven out of here." She whispered.

            "Why?" Keith looked confused.

            "Trust me.  Take him to the rec room.  I'm going to take Romelle to the kitchen for something to eat."
            Keith looked down at his wife.  She quietly pleaded with him.  "Alright, I'll try."  He turned to Sven, who still held Romelle by the arm.  "Hey Sven, let the ladies have some time to catch up."

            A worry line formed between Sven's eyebrows, "I don't know…"

            "No, that sounds great.  I'd like to talk to Allura.  Go, have fun with your friends."  Romelle gave him a none-to-easy shove towards the door.

            "Vell, if you're sure."

            "I'm sure."  She smiled and kissed his cheek.  "Go, have fun.  I love you."
            "I love you too.  Just page Keit if you need me."

            "I will."

            They watched the men leave before Romelle turned to Allura.  "Thank you."

            Allura smiled, "I just had this feeling."

            "I think if he could he would wrap me in tissue paper and tuck me into bed for the next two and a half months."

            "He's just nervous."  Allura said as they made their way to the kitchen.

            "I know.  And I love him for it.  But there are times when he can go to far.  Did I tell you that he actually carried me out of the doctor's office last week because I mentioned I was tired?"

            Allura laughed, "That's sweet."

            "No, it was rather embarrasing.  If I so much as yawn he won't let me walk anywhere or get myself anything.  I cannot believe that all this is good for his back."

            Allura pushed open the door to the kitchen, "You know, it amazes me when you think of the tough soldiers they are and how sweet and thoughtful they become.  There are times I think Keith and Sven have split personalities. Oh, hi Darcy."

            The new pilot stood in the kitchen making herself lunch.  She jumped to attention when Allura and Romelle entered.

            "Romelle, this is Sergeant Darcy Barlow, one of our new pilots. Darcy, this is my cousin Romelle, Princess of Pollux."

            Darcy crossed to Romelle and held out her hand, "It's an honor meeting you, Your Highness.  I've heard wonderful things about you and your husband from Lance."

            Allura and Romelle exchanged amused glances before Romelle took her hand, "It's a pleasure meeting you, Darcy.  Please call me Romelle."

            "What are you making?"  Allura looked in the bowl Darcy had been stirring.

            "Uh, well, Miss Kilvodori said I should help myself."

            "Who?"  Romelle asked as she awkwardly sat on a stool by the counter.

            Allura looked at her, "Nanny.  We all call her Nanny, Darcy, feel free to also."

            Darcy nodded, "That's egg salad."

            "Egg salad?"  Allura asked.

            "Hard boiled eggs cut up and mixed with mayo and a little mustard.  It's my mother's recipe.  Would you like some?"  Darcy pulled out more bread.  "I made plenty. I was feeling a little homesick and this is something my mother often made."

            "Yes, please.  I'll see what else I can find.  Sit down Romelle, you're a guest.  Wouldn't you rather have a more comfortable chair?"  Allura asked as she crossed to the refrigeration unit.

            Romelle groaned.  "I'm fine, Sven.  If one more person starts fawning over me, I'm going to scream."

            Allura and Darcy put together a quick lunch of sandwiches and fruit salad.  The three women sat around the butcher block table and ate.

            "This is wonderful, Darcy."  Romelle said.  "I've never even heard of it before."

            Darcy smiled, "I sometimes forget that there are so many little things from Terra that you don't have here."

            "So," Allura said.  "You've been talking to Lance, huh?"
            Darcy choked a bit on a bite of sandwich.

            Allura smiled to Romelle. 

            "It's not what you think, we're working together now.  We're trying to forge some kind of friendship."  Darcy muttered.

            "He's a great guy."  Allura said.

            "A bit of a flirt."
            "More than a bit."  Romelle added.

            The three women laughed.

            "So I'm not the only one?"  Darcy asked.

            "He's very charming.  He knows how to get a smile and a blush out of almost any woman."  Allura said fondly.

            Darcy studied the Queen.  If she didn't know that Allura was happily married, she would think something was going on between her and Lance.  Oh stop it, she thought to herself.  You're starting to sound jealous and there is nothing for you to be jealous of.

            "You think very highly of him."  Darcy tried to sound nonchalant.

            "Oh yes.  Lance is such a good man.  Underneath the flirting and warped sense of humor, he is a kind, intelligent person.  Romelle and I were just talking about how beyond their tough, soldier exterior, the men of the Voltron Force are big softies."  Allura said.

            "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying to sell me on him." 

            "No, Lance can do that all by himself."  Romelle said.

            Allura noticed how uncomfortable Darcy seemed and decided to change the subject.  "How's the nursery coming along, Romelle?"

            "Wonderful.  We painted the walls a pale blue and then painted big fluffy clouds.  It looks great.  I can't wait for you to see it."

            "Do you know what you're having?"  Darcy asked.

            "No, we want to be surprised.  As long as it's healthy we'll be happy."

            "Have you picked out names yet?"
            Romelle nodded, "If it's a boy, Erik Davin, after Sven's brother who was killed in an accident when he was seventeen.  And if it's a girl, Delora Astrid, after my mother and Sven's mother."

            "Delora, that's a lovely name."

            "Romelle's mother and my mother had been friends at one time.  My name is actually a combination of my father's name and Romelle's mother's name."  Allura told her.

            "I thought your families didn't know each other." Darcy said.

            "My father knew about Romelle's father, but he didn't want anything to do with him.  Delora actually grew up on Arus and had been good friends with my mother."  Allura explained.

            "She had been charmed and swept off her feet by my father.  Apparently he had been a good man at one time."  Romelle added.  "She died not long after my brother, Bandor, was born."

            "I'm so sorry to hear that."  Darcy said.

            Romelle gave her a small smile, "It's alright.  I don't remember her too well.  That's one of the reasons I am so excited about finding Paget again.  She is one of the good memories I have from my childhood."

            "So she is Paget?"  Darcy asked.

            Romelle's smile grew even bigger.  "Yes.  And I cannot wait for her to wake up.  I am dying to know what happened and where she has been."

            Allura stood up and began gathering the dishes.  "This calls for a celebration.  I think there is still some cake left from last night."

            "That was wonderful cake.  Miss Kilvodori, I mean, Nanny, is a terrific cook."  Darcy helped her clear the table.

            "Yes she is.  That cake recipe is actually from Keith's mother.  It was always his favorite."  Allura pulled out the tall chocolate layer cake.  In between each layer of moist cake was a thick coating of homemade whipped cream.  It was then entirely covered with chocolate fudge icing.  All in all it is a very big, very rich cake.

            "How does Keith stay in such great shape if he grew up eating things like this?"  Romelle said after her first, blissful taste.

            "Now you know why he works out at least two hours a day."  Allura remarked.

            "And I'm sure you're nightly exercises help too."  Romelle teased.

            Allura laughed while Darcy looked shocked. 

            Romelle smiled at her, "Sorry, Darcy, sometimes these things just slip out."

            "Uh, no, don't apologize.  I guess I'm a little shocked to hear two Queens talking like that."

            "I'm still a Princess," Romelle told her.  "Pollux is a patriarchal society.  My younger brother, Bandor is ruler.  He has been prepped to rule since he was a young child, my father had plans to marry me off to Lotor and have my brother Avoc rule.  After Avoc died, Bandor became the next in line.  I'm just happy being Sven's wife and a mother.  To be honest, I don't want to rule, I just want a normal life."

            Darcy nodded, "I can understand that.  I'm not too sure I'd want to rule a planet."

            Allura cleared her throat, "Hello, Queen in the room.  It's really not that bad"

            Romelle smiled at her cousin, "No it's not, but then you were born to rule.  It's just not what I wanted."

            "Well, it helps to have a really hot Prince Consort to help out."  Allura said.

            "Tell me about it."  Romelle agreed.

            "You know," Darcy spoke up.  "It's nice to have a little girl talk amongst all the men."

            "I know what you mean.  As much as I love Keith and the other guys, I'm so glad there is another girl around my own age here.  Meeting Romelle had been the greatest thing that ever happened to me, she was the first girl my age I could become friends with.  But it's just not the same not having someone on the same planet."  Allura said.

            Darcy smiled, "I think we could have a great friendship."

            Romelle put her hand to the small of her back and tried to sit up straighter.
            "You should've let me get you another chair."  Allura said to her.

            Romelle nodded as she felt her back knotting up, "I really shouldn't sit in chairs without backs on them."

            "No you shouldn't."  A voice whispered into her ear.

            Romelle sighed contentedly as she felt the hard strength of her husband's chest behind her, supporting her back.  She leaned against him and felt his hands reach around to rest on her belly.

            Sven, Keith, and Lance had entered the kitchen.

            "Is this some kind of girl's club or can anyone join?"  Keith asked.

            "Feel free to join us as long as you clean up your mess." Allura told him.

            "I believe that's my cake."  Keith took Allura's fork and proceeded to finish off her piece.

            "Hey," she protested.  "Now you have to get me another piece."

            He shrugged, "If I have to.  You want some Sven?  Lance?"

            "Sure," Lance pulled a stool up next to Darcy.

            "So, vhat vere you talking about?"  Sven asked, still supporting Romelle, but he had moved his hands up to rub the knots out of her shoulders.

            "As long as you keep doing that, I'll tell you."  Romelle purred.

            "So dis is all it takes to get you to talk?"  He asked.

            "Mm hm."  She sighed before sharply sucking in a breath and bringing her hand up to rub gentle circles around her stomach.

            Sven's hands froze on her shoulders, "Vhat is it?"

            Romelle smiled weakly, "Someone just woke up and is feeling rather energetic."  With Sven's help she slid off the stool.  "If you'll excuse me, I need to use the restroom."

            "Sit down Sven, she's fine."  Allura said as he started to follow her.

            "But vhat if…"

            "She still has my communicator, if there's a problem she can contact one of us."

            He slowly lowered himself onto the stool Romelle had just vacated and poked at the cake Keith had set in front of him with a fork.

            Allura turned to Keith and inclined her head toward the door.  He furrowed his brow and looked at her.  With a little more insistence, she nodded her head toward the door.  Keith shook his head slightly.

            Lance sighed deeply, stood up and put his hand on Keith's shoulder, "Come on, man, there's something I want to show you and Darcy."

            Allura waited until Lance dragged them out of the kitchen.  She reached across and took Sven's hand, "She's stronger than her mother."
            Sven looked at her sharply.  It was never easy to admit his fears to anyone, not even his close friends.  Hearing Allura voice his biggest concern shook him.

            "Things are different now," Allura continued.  "Her mother wasn't a strong woman to begin with and Romelle's birth had been a difficult one.  They didn't think she was strong enough to carry another child, Bandor's birth was just too much for her.  My father told me once that there weren't any decent hospitals on Pollux at the time, the planet was already starting to decline.  If she had received proper medical care, she might still be alive today.  But things are different for Romelle.  She's strong and she's receiving some of the best pre-natal care in the universe.

            "Now, I'm not saying you aren't entitled to worry.  As her husband and a new father, you have every right to be nervous.  But she has a clean bill of health, both Romelle and the baby will be fine."

            Sven sat quietly, absorbing what Allura had told him.  "I've seen pictures of Delora.  Dey look almost exactly alike, the same build, both so tiny.  I just don't vant dis to be too much for her body to handle."

            Allura squeezed his hand.  "You and Keith are so much alike.  It's part of who you are to want to protect.  And it's something we both love about you guys, but there is a fine line between protecting and smothering."
            "I'm toeing dat line."  He muttered.      

            She smiled at him, "Sven, you leaped over that line a few months ago.  Help her, care for her, love her.  But don't smother her."

            He looked up and returned her smile.  "Tank you, Allura.  I vill try to keep dat in mind."

            "I know you will."  They both turned when the door slid open and Romelle entered.

            Romelle stifled a yawn as she crossed to Sven and slipped her arm around his waist and leaned against him.

            "You look like you could use some sleep."  Allura commented.

            "I was thinking about checking on Paget first."

            "I'll go vith you."  Sven stood and took her hand.

            When they were out in the hallway Sven stopped and looked down at her.  "Romelle, I vant to apologize if I haf been to overprotective of you lately."

            She studied his face and saw the nerves and shame.  She knew how hard it was for him to apologize, to put his heart on his sleeve.  "It's alright, Sweetie."

            "No, I let an unfounded fear rule my behavior."

            Romelle reached up and cupped his cheek with her hand, "What do you mean?"

            "All I could tink of was your mother.  I'm so afraid dat dis pregnancy might be too much for you."

            Romelle closed her eyes for a moment, gathering her strength and fighting back tears.  She opened them again to see his worried expression.  "That won't happen Sven.  Dr. Indermac said both the baby and I are healthy.  She can foresee no complications."

            He nodded and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a warm embrace.

            Romelle laid her cheek on his shoulder and closed her eyes.  "Promise me something, Sven."

            "Anyting."
            "No matter what happens or what you're afraid of, promise me you'll talk to me about it.  Don't try to keep such things to yourself."

            Sven turned his head and kissed her temple.  "I vill."