A week later found Lance on late duty in Castle Control.  He and Darcy had spent every free moment they had together, talking, watching movies, going for walks, just being together.  It was a new experience for him, and he was afraid he might be falling in love with her.

            Darcy had told him the night before that she wanted to take things more slowly.  Lance had learned back when he was in the Academy that when you live in such close quarters with others, relationships tend to happen quickly, whether it was friendship or something more.  He felt right with their relationship, but apparently she was afraid they were moving too fast.

            It was nearing midnight.  He would be relieved at one in the morning by a castle guard.  All was quiet so far this evening.  Keith and Paget had talked to Rankin earlier in the day.  The freed slaves had found that Lotor and Haggar had moved their small army and new robeasts to another planet, causing them to think he knew that he was under surveillance.  Keith put everyone under orders to stay on castle grounds until further notice, they were to be prepared for attacks at any moment.

            Sven and Romelle had returned home the day before, much to Romelle's chagrin.  But Sven was able to convince her that it would be safer on Pollux and he didn't want her or the baby to be on Arus if Lotor struck.  And he didn't want to leave the young Pollux military if Lotor were to turn on them. They promised to return soon, Romelle wanting Paget to leave with her, but since it was decided that Rankin and the rest of the freed slaves would come to Arus, she needed to stay. 

            The Voltron Force had spent the past few days preparing some old military barracks to house the visitors.  They would be put up there until the threat had passed and other accommodations could be made.

            Lance ran his hand through his hair and yawned as he did another quick scan of the screens before him.  He went on duty at nine and had hoped Darcy would come and keep him company, but Keith had taken her to his office to talk and Lance hadn't seen her all night.  He was dying to know what Keith said to her and he was worried that she might be in trouble.  But as he thought about it, he couldn't figure out what she could possibly be in trouble for.

            He looked over his shoulder when the door slid open.  His face lit up when he saw who it was.

            "You've read my mind."

            Darcy raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"
            "I was sitting here thinking how bored and lonely I was and how much I was hoping you would stop by for a visit."  He looked at her as she walked toward him.  She wore old grey Academy PT sweats and carried a mug.

            "I guess it's been a quiet night."  She stopped beside his chair and looked over the console.

            "Yeah.  We only have a couple of more quiet nights before Rankin and the others arrive."

            Darcy stiffened and took a sip from the mug.

            "How was your meeting with Keith?"

            She set the mug down on a table beside the chair and turned to face Lance, leaning on the console.  "I have something I want to talk to you about, but I don't know how to broach the subject."

            Lance studied her, she looked tired and drawn.  There was still so much he had to learn about her.  "Are you breaking up with me?"

            She gave him a humorless smile, "No."

            "Then just tell me."  He sat back in the chair, a cold ball of dread settling in his stomach.

            Darcy pulled at a loose string on the hem of her shirt, "On my, uh, my last assignment my commanding officer was Lt. Jesse McCormick."

            Lance nodded slightly.

            "He and I became close."

            "Close?"  Lance asked.

            "We dated."

            "And I take it things ended badly."

            "I caught him with another woman."

            "Do you want me to have him killed?"

            The corners of Darcy's mouth turned up, but she shook her head.

            "I can make it look like an accident."

            This time a full fledged smile appeared, "No, that's not necessary Lance."         

            "He hurt you."

            "Well, trashing his room and throwing everything I could get my hands on at him helped me feel better."

            Lance raised his eyebrows, "Is that how you got the reputation of being difficult and overemotional?"

            "You know about that?"

            "Know about it?  It's the first thing that attracted me to you.  When I read that in your file I thought 'This is the woman for me'."

            "Smartass," Darcy laughed.

            Lance held out his hand to her and when she took it, he pulled her into his lap.  "And that's the first thing that attracted you to me."

            She laid her head on his shoulder, "It doesn't hurt anymore, Lance.  He was the first man I loved, well, thought I loved.  But since I came here and I was accepted into this 'family', it stopped hurting, he wasn't important anymore."

            He wrapped his arms around her, "I'm glad to hear that."

            "There's more."

            "Hm?"

            "Jesse has a new assignment."

            "What?"

            "He's helping with the transport of the freed slaves from Deikun to Arus."

            Lance tightened his arms around her, "Are you okay with that?"

            "That's why Keith called me into his office, he wanted to make sure I would be okay with this.  But like I said, it doesn't hurt anymore."

            "Darc?"

            She sat up and looked at him, "What?"

            "If he so much as looks at you, I will hurt him."

            Darcy grinned at him, "You're better than that.  Besides, I want you to show him what a real man is like."

            He smiled back at her, "You know, I get off in an hour.  Then I can show you what a real man is like."

            "We have a busy day tomorrow.  After practice we have to finish getting the barracks ready.  I think I should turn in for the night."  She untangled herself from him and stood.

            He grabbed her hand before she could get far, "Darcy, I can't promise that I won't ever hurt you, but I can promise that I will never intentionally hurt you. You're… important to me."

            She smiled, touched by his sentiment.  "Thank you."  She leaned down and kissed him.  "Good night."
*********************************************

            "Where's Allura?"  Darcy asked as she joined Keith, Hunk, and Lance at the breakfast table a few days later.

            "She isn't feeling well."  Keith said. 

            "It's not anything serious, is it?"

            "Nah, just an upset stomach.  I think its stress.  We thought we were done with Lotor and now he's back in our lives."

            Darcy looked at Keith and realized that he, like most men, was totally clueless.  "Um, I'll be back."  She excused herself and hurried to Keith and Allura's room.

            "Come in."  Allura called out when Darcy knocked.

            "Keith said you weren't feeling well, I thought I would stop by and see how you're doing."

            Allura sat at her vanity, "I'm sure it's nothing, I've just had an upset stomach the past couple of mornings."

            Darcy smiled at her, "Allura."

            "I know.  I am so scared."

            "Are you pregnant?"

            Allura paced the room, "I don't know, I haven't had the nerve to go see Dr. Gorma."

            "Keith doesn't know?"
            "We've been using protection, I know it isn't 100%foolproof, but we didn't want to bring a baby into this world when Lotor is still such a threat."

            Darcy sat on the edge of the bed, "So you're afraid of what Keith will say?"

            "Oh no," Allura sat beside her.  "He wants children as badly as I do.  He'll be thrilled."

            "Do you want me to go see Dr.Gorma with you?"

            "Please."

            Dr. Gorma greeted the Queen at the door, "Your Highness, to what do I owe this pleasure?"

            "Dr. Gorma," Allura lowered her voice.  "Could you please perform a pregnancy test?"

            The doctor's face lit up, "Of course, Your Highness."

            "And please keep it quiet, I want to surprise Keith."

            "I understand.  Follow me and we'll perform the test."

            After Dr. Gorma extracted blood from Allura's arm, Darcy entered the examination room.

            "Are you okay?"  She asked.

            Allura grinned, unable to contain her excitement. "I'm great!  I'm having Keith's baby."

            "You think you are definitely pregnant then?"  Darcy sat in a chair beside the table.

            "I have a feeling."  She placed her hand on her flat stomach.

            "Have you and Keith discussed this?"

            "Oh yes, we want a houseful of kids.  I want a large family, I was an only child and I always wanted brothers and sisters.  When the guys arrived here and we became such good friends, I finally learned what it was like to have brothers.  I want my children to know that feeling."

            Darcy looked at Allura, she was glowing with happiness, her hand rubbing her stomach.  "I am so happy for you."

            Allura sighed, "I can't help but worry about Lotor.  Who knows what he'll do.  We'll have to hold off the official announcement until after this current threat is over."

            "That's probably a good idea."

            "Nanny will be so excited, it has been so long since she had a baby to care for and we'll have to set up a nursery.  When we got married we moved into the north wing of the castle, there are three other bedrooms and a big, sunny room that I always imagined would make a perfect nursery.  There are huge windows that look out over the lake.  When we're done here I'll take you and show you."  Allura jumped off the table, too excited to sit any longer.  "I can't believe I'm pregnant."

            Darcy watched her pace the room.

            "Just think, our baby will be almost the same age as Romelle and Sven's.  Instant playmates! I'm going to be a mom!"  Allura did a little dance.

            Darcy laughed, "I guess you're excited."

            "You have no idea."

            Dr. Gorma knocked on the door.  Allura ran to the examination table and jumped up, crossing her legs demurely, "Come in."

            Dr. Gorma entered, looking grim.

            "No."  Allura whispered.

            "I'm so sorry, Your Highness."

            "But I was so sure."  Allura looked absolutely crestfallen.

            "Keep trying, you're young and in good health, you should have no problem becoming pregnant."  Dr. Gorma patted her hand and excused himself.

            "Allura?"  Darcy stood and walked to her.

            "I guess I just got my hopes up."

            "You will have children, it just wasn't meant to be this time.  It's for the best right now, you said yourself that you wanted to wait until Lotor was no longer a threat."

            "I know, but I was so sure. I felt something."  Allura slid off the table.

            Darcy was at a loss for words, so she hugged her.

            "Thank you, Darcy.  If you'll excuse me, I'm going back to my room."

            Darcy watched her go, her head down.

            "Where's Keith?" Darcy asked Lance who sat at the table, finishing breakfast.

            "He's in Castle Control.  What's up?"

            "I'll tell you later."  She left and found Keith standing at the console with Pidge and Hunk.  "Captain, can I speak with you?"

            Keith turned around, "Of course, Darcy what is it?"

            "Uh, privately, please."

            He looked at her strangely and crossed to the other side of the room, "Is everything alright?"

            "No, Keith, I think Allura needs you right now."

            "What happened?"  He asked.

            "She's in your room.  I think she wants to be the one to tell you."
            Without another word, Keith left and ran straight to their bedchambers.  He found Allura there, curled up on their bed.  "Allura?  What's wrong?"  He sat beside her on the bed.

            She rolled over and looked at him with dry eyed disappointment.  "I just went to see Dr. Gorma.  I thought I was pregnant."

            Keith caressed her cheek with the back of his hand, "Why didn't you come and get me?"

            "I wanted it to be a surprise."

            "Do you want to have a baby now?"

            She sat up, "I thought I didn't, I thought I wanted to wait.  Then I got so excited when I thought I was pregnant.  Keith, I want to have a baby.  Don't you?"

            "Of course I do."  He leaned down and kissed her.  "I want a castle full of them."

            She smiled mischievously, "Do you want to start now?"

            "We're expecting the transport ships from Deikun."

            "They aren't coming for another five hours.  You're good, Honey, but you're not that good."

            He gently pushed her back on the bed, "I'll show you how good I can be."