Hello!
            I know, I'm sounding like a broken record, but all relative disclaimers apply.

            Enjoy!

*****************

            The picnic turned into an all day party.  By mid afternoon the food had been cleared and the babies had been put down for naps.  There was singing, dancing, and games.  Lance, Hunk, Pidge, Dante, and Caleb had started a huge game of touch football with the kids.  Darcy and Allura sat on a blanket that was spread out under a tree, playing with some of the younger children, while Keith was meeting with Rankin, Paget, and the Garrison officials, discussing the information they had gathered and how they were going to prepare.

            "Your Highness," A young woman, holding a baby to her chest approached.

            Allura smiled up at her, "Yes?"

            "I wanted to thank you for your kindness."

            "I'm just glad we were able to help.  What is your name?"

            "Meadia and this is my son, Brinken."

            "Where are you from?"  Allura asked.  

            "I'm from Yaats.  I met my husband while we were both slaves and were married on Deikun.  He was killed when Doom attacked."  Meadia explained

            "I'm so sorry."  Allura said, sincerely.  "If there is anything I can do, please ask."

            The woman curtsied, "I just wanted to thank you for giving my son this chance to grow up in a peaceful place."


            "Wow," Darcy said after the woman left.  "Growing up on Terra, we are so far removed from anything like this.  I can only imagine what all these people have gone through."


            "It only strengthens our resolve to defeat Lotor."  Allura said as she accepted a weed that a young girl had offered.  "Thank you dear, it's lovely."

            Lance was in formation, with his team around him.  He ran up field and easily caught the pass Hunk threw to him.  As he ran in for a touchdown, he happened to look to his left and see Darcy.

            She was seated beside Allura, with a little tow-headed boy of about three on her lap.  A little girl sat on Allura's lap and about half a dozen other children sat around them.  Darcy was reading from a book of Arusian fairytales that Nanny had brought down for them.

            Lance felt a sudden tightening in his chest and had a vision for Darcy with a little dark haired girl on her lap, one who looked a lot like her.  The thought sent a chill through him and he didn't know if it was excitement or fear.  The next thing he knew he was face down in the dirt with Pidge sitting on his back.

            "First rule of unfair play," Pidge addressed the boys who surrounded him.  "Wait until your opponent is distracted by his girlfriend and then get him."

            Before Pidge knew what was happening, he was on his back with Lance pinning him to the ground with an arm at his throat.

            "Another rule," Lance added.  "When your opponent is getting cocky and not paying attention, strike."

            A few of the younger boys were pointing and giggling as Lance and Pidge wrestled.

            "Hey, hey, I thought this was supposed to be touch football."  Hunk stood over them, hands on his hips.

            Pidge and Lance looked at each other and then turned on Hunk, tackling him to the ground. Before long it had turned into a body pile, all the boys trying to keep Hunk pinned to the ground.

            Darcy looked up and saw Lance lifting up a young boy off the pile and holding him above his head, laughingly proclaiming him the winner.  He lifted the boy onto his shoulders and they ran from Hunk, who had a boy holding onto each leg, keeping him back.

            "You've got it bad."  Allura whispered into her ear.

            "Huh?" Darcy broke her gaze and looked at her friend.

            "I see the way you're looking at him, you really have it bad for Lance."

            Darcy smiled, "He's a great guy."

            "Are you in love with him?"

            "It's a little soon to know that, isn't it?"


            "You know, even though it took us over three years to admit it, I think I was in love with Keith the moment I met him.  When it's the real thing, you know.  You wouldn't be imagining him with your children if it wasn't love."


            Darcy looked at her, shocked, "What are you talking about?"

            "You know what I'm talking about."  Allura said with a smile.

            "Hi there, cutie."  Jesse had come over to the blanket and crouched down beside a little dark haired girl.

            "Hi."  She said shyly.  "You're pretty."

            Jesse flashed her a smile, "So are you."

            Jesse was a very pretty man.  He had thick, wavy blonde hair that reached his shoulders.  His eyes were big and blue, his features sharp and handsome.  He could very easily have become a Hollywood leading man.  It was his good looks and charm that had won Darcy over.  To think a man like that could possibly like her had blinded her to his faults.

            "Your Highness."  He stood and bowed to Allura.  "It is an honor serving with the Voltron Force and the Arusian military.  Your husband has formed a strong army and a talented Force."

            "Thank you, Lieutenant."  Allura said, graciously.

            "I was hoping I could steal away your friend for a moment."

            Allura looked at Darcy questioningly.

            Darcy knew she wouldn't be able to get away from Jesse without speaking to him at least once.  She looked over and saw Lance distracted, so she stood and walked with Jesse, away from the picnic, and Lance, into the garden.

            "What do you want, Jesse?"  She asked when they were far enough away.

            "I wanted to know how you were doing.  We haven't talked since you left and it wasn't on the best terms."

            She snorted, "You could say that again.  I'm fine Jesse."

            "I know I hurt you."

            "I'm over it."

            He studied her a moment, "I'd like to believe that's true."

            "Go ahead, believe it."

            Jesse shook his head and took her by the shoulders.  "I saw you with Collier and I wanted to let you know it worked."

            "What worked?"

            "Lance doesn't settle for just one woman.  I remember back at the Academy he was dating a new woman each night.  You're trying to make me jealous.  Darcy, I can only ask for your forgiveness.  I was wrong and I have missed you.  Seeing your little show with Lance only angered me.  I realized I still love you.  When he grabbed you like that I was so jealous all I could think of was tearing him apart."

            Darcy looked at him, feeling a weird combination of disgust and amusement.  "What the hell are you talking about?"

            "I want you back.  I can see about being transferred here and we can be together.  Keith and I are old friends from the Academy, we can work it out."

            Darcy laughed, "Get your hands off me."

            "Darc…"


            She took his hands off her shoulders, "Seriously, Jesse, you have lost your mind.  Don't ever touch me again."

            He stepped closer, taking her arms, "I know you loved me once and you can't turn your emotions off that quickly."

            "And I know that you and Keith were never friends at the Academy.  This has nothing to do with me, you only want something that Lance has.  You're like a child."

***************************

            Lance looked over at the tree and saw only Allura sitting with the children.  He jogged over, "Where's Darcy?"


            Allura looked up at him, "Have a seat Lance."

            He crouched down beside her, "What's going on?"

            "She's a trained soldier, she knows how to handle herself."

            Lance's eyes flashed with anger, "Where are they?"

            Allura gripped his arm, "She's crazy about you, Lance, she isn't going to run off with him.  Trust her."

            "I do trust her, it's McCormick I don't trust."

            "She's not going to see it that way, she needs to handle this herself.  These are her demons she has to fight."     

            Lance looked down at the ground, he clenched and unclenched his fists in frustration.

            "Sit down Lance, take a break.  I'm sure she'll be back in a moment."  Allura patted his arm.

            He slowly lowered himself to the ground beside her


*****************************.

            Darcy stiffened as he tightened his grip on her arms. 

            "I know you don't mean that, Darcy.  I don't know how to tell you how sorry I am.  Don't let one mistake ruin what could be the best thing to ever happen to us."

            "Listen to me Jesse, I don't love you, I don't even like you.  I am a member of the Voltron Force.  I have worked hard and proven myself, without the help of one of my uncles.  I have met a wonderful man I like very much.  I am not going to let you ruin what I have worked so hard for. There is nothing between us, there never should have been.  This is your last warning, get your hands off me, now."  Darcy spoke through clenched teeth.

            Anger flushed Jesse's face, "When you realize what a loser Lance is, when he drops you for the first thing in a short skirt that walks by, don't come crawling back to me."

            Rather than letting go of her, he pushed her back, causing her to land hard, painfully on her backside on the flagstone path.

            She bit her lip to keep from crying out as pain shot up through her tailbone and her eyes watered.

            Jesse turned on his heel and walked stiffly back toward the party.

            Darcy sat for a moment, shaking from anger and disgust.  Shake it off.  She thought to herself.  If you show up like this, Lance will flip out and go after him.  It's over, get up and act like the soldier you are.

            Very slowly, Darcy stood, her backside throbbing with pain.  Asshole!  She thought, vehemently. Oh no, I will not cry.  Even as the tears began to fill her eyes, she tried to deny it.

            Lance watched as Jesse walked angrily back toward the officer's table.  He jumped to his feet.

            Allura stood beside him and grabbed his arm, "Lance, not here, not now."

            "But Darcy was with him, right?"

            She nodded.

            "Then where is she?"


            Allura sighed, "I don't know."

            Lance took off in the direction Jesse had just come from.  He found Darcy in the garden near the tree where he had first kissed her.  She was looking up at the tree, her hands on her lower back, she was taking deep breaths.

            "Darc?"

            She jumped at the sound of his voice and winced in pain.

            "What happened?"  He walked up to her, saw the tears in her eyes.

            "Nothing Lance, I just…"  She hiccupped and the tears she had tried to control began to spill out of her eyes.

            "Son of a bitch," he whispered.  "What happened, Darcy?" 

            She looked up at him, putting up a valiant fight to stop the flow of tears, "Lance, come here, please."

            He stepped closer and whispered, "What happened, babe?"    

            Rather than answering him, she leaned against him, wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his neck.  Her tears stopped, she was never one for crying, fearing that it made her appear weak and too girly.

            Lance wrapped his arms around her, pulled her tightly to him.  After a moment, when he knew she had calmed a bit, he spoke again.  "Are you going to tell me what happened?"

            She shook her head, not lifting it from his shoulder, "Don't worry about it Lance, he won't bother me again."

            "No, he won't.  But he obviously upset you and I want to know what happened."  He took her face in his hands and forced her to look at him.


            "No, Lance.  I want you to leave him alone.  I don't want anymore trouble.  He is connected pretty highly in the Garrison, I don't want you in trouble."

            "I'm not afraid of him. Besides, between my father and my brother, I think my family outranks his."


            "If you care at all about me, you will not go after him.  He is not worth it.  You are the better man, prove it."

            He slid his hands into her hair and kissed her forehead, before resting his forehead on hers.  "For you."

            "Thank you."

            "Do you want to go back to the party?"

            Darcy shook her head, "I'd like to sneak out of it."

            "Alright, stay here.  I'll be back."

            Before he could leave, she grabbed his arm, "Where are you going?"

            Lance smiled at her, "Don't worry, I'm just going to get a dismissal from Keith.  I'll be right back."

            Lance made his way to the officer's table where Keith and Col. Webster were having coffee with Rankin and Paget.  "Excuse me, Captain, can I talk to you for a second?"

            "Of course, Lieutenant."  Keith excused himself and walked to Lance.  "What's up?"


            "Darcy isn't feeling too well, can we be dismissed for the night?"

            Keith looked at him, suspiciously.  "It's still early Lance, I would like you guys to be seen."

            Lance looked up and locked eyes with Jesse who stood beside Col. Webster.  Jesse smirked.

            "Alright Keith, here's the story.  McCormick cornered her in the garden and has her really upset.  I didn't want to tell you because I don't want to turn this into some kind of soap opera.  She is really upset."

            "What happened?"

            "She won't tell me the whole story."

            Keith swore under his breath, "I can have him reprimanded."


            "She doesn't want that.  She just wants him to leave her alone, I promised I wouldn't do anything."

            Keith smiled at him, "If you keep that promise I'll make sure you're promoted to Captain."

            "I'm really worried about her, Keith, she was crying."

            "He made her cry?  Darcy?"

            "Yeah."

            Keith ran his hand through his hair.  "Alright, just don't make a habit of this while the Colonel is here. I'll keep an eye on McCormick."

            Lance grinned at him, "Thanks man."

            "Just make sure your communicator is on."

            "Yes sir."  Lance saluted and turned back toward the garden.

            Jesse approached him before Lance got far.  "Collier."

            "McCormick."

            "I see Darcy still has a thing for superior officers."

            "There is nothing superior about you, McCormick."

            "You know I was her first."  Jesse said with a smirk, feeling satisfied when he saw the muscle twitch in Lance's cheek.

            "And I'll be her last."  Lance said through clenched teeth.

            "I wouldn't count on that, I can't imagine her settling for you after she had me."

            The anger began to drain from Lance and was replaced with amusement.  When he thought about it, he realized just how shallow and ignorant Jesse was.

            "You're a sad little man, McCormick."

            Keith, sensing danger, walked over quickly to make sure nothing happened, "Is there a problem, men?"

            "Not at all, Keith."  Lance said lightly.

            "Just catching up on old times."  Jesse added.

            "I don't want any trouble."  Keith warned.

            "There won't be any."  Lance assured him.

            "Just warning Lance about getting involved with unstable women."

            Lance swore under his breath, "I wish you hadn't said that, now I have to break my promise to Darcy."

            "What?"  Jesse looked at him strangely.

            Lance answered with his fist.  Jesse stumbled back a few steps but stayed on his feet. 

            Col. Webster walked over quickly, "What is going on here?"

            "It's nothing sir, Collier was causing trouble."  Keith spoke up before Jesse or Lance could. "Lt. Collier, you are confined to your quarters for the rest of the night.  That's an order."  He turned so Col. Webster and Jesse couldn't see when he winked at Lance.

            Lance saluted, "Yes, sir."

            Darcy was walking around trying to ignore the pain in her tailbone.

            "Are you limping?"  Lance asked her.

            "I fell, tripped over my own feet."

            "You fell?"

            "Yeah, I was upset, I wasn't watching where I was going and I landed on my backside.  I thought I outgrew my clumsiness."

            Lance walked over and put his hand on her cheek, "Want me to kiss it and make it better?"

            Darcy couldn't help but laugh.

            "We're off duty.  Want to catch a movie?"

            "Sure, but you're in charge of the snacks now."

            He kissed her forehead, "You're on."