Paget closed the door behind her as she left Romelle's room.  She still could not believe all that had happened recently.  She had been reunited with her oldest and dearest friend.  The army of former slaves had helped defeat Lotor in battle and she was free. 

            "Paget?"

            She felt the familiar shiver that ran down her spine whenever she heard his voice.  She turned to him.  "Rankin."

            "Come with me."  He held out his hand to her.

            She took his hand and fell into step beside him, "What is it, Rankin?"

            He walked silently as he led her out of the castle and around toward the lake.  When he finally spoke, it was in a low, tired voice.  "So much has happened, Paget.  There are times when I am so overwhelmed by the change.  Everything we have worked for is now in our grasp.  Our freedom, our lives."  He turned and faced her, taking both her hands in his.  "Risin was two years younger than me."

            "I know, Rankin, I know.  He was a good man."
            "Sven asked me something today and I wanted to run it by you."

            "What?"

            "He asked me if I would be interested in becoming an officer with the Polluxian army.  I didn't want to give him an answer until I spoke to you.  You're part of my life, you are my life, and I know that I can't make this decision without your input."

            Paget gave him a small smile, "Rankin, I would love to go to Pollux, it was my home.  Now my home is wherever you are."

            "I want to settle down, Paget.  I want to get married and have a family and I think we can have that on Pollux.  And you would get to be with Romelle again."

            She felt tears gather in her eyes.

            Rankin reached out and gently wiped a tear from her cheek, "What is it?"

            "I don't know what to say."  She whispered.  "Suddenly I have everything.  This just all seems too good to be true."

            "Lotor is still a threat," he said.  "But we are no longer under his thumb.  I don't want to wait anymore.  Will you marry me?"

            She slid her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest, "Of course I will."

            He rested his chin on her head, "Today we start our new lives."

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

            There was a rustling noise.  Darcy grasped her gun and whirled around to her right.  A bright flash of light.  All the breath was forced from her lungs.  A man in a Doom uniform stood over her, he was young and angry.  He raised his gun again, there was another flash and he was gone.  A sudden panic overtook her.  She couldn't breathe.  She couldn't see. 

            A sharp, stabbing pain shot through her chest as she woke, breathing hard.

            "Whoa, calm down, honey.  Calm down."  Lance stroked her cheek. 

            Darcy's eyes darted around, taking in her surroundings.  She closed them again and concentrated on calming her breathing.

            It was two weeks since she had woken.  The wounds were healing, but she was still quite sore.  Her sleep was often interrupted by nightmares, causing her to be even more tired. 

            Lance spent as much time as he could with her.  While she slept, he read.  When she was awake, they talked, played games, and watched the televiewer.  Over the past couple of weeks they had grown closer on a more emotionally intimate level.  When the Garrison had contacted Darcy's family about her injuries, it had been Lance who had spoken to them and assuaged their fears.  When she woke up in pain, gasping for breath, Lance was there to hold her hand and calm her.

            "You're still having nightmares?"  Lance asked as her breathing returned to normal.

            "Not as often."  She whispered.

            "Are you in pain?  Do you want me to get Dr. Gorma?"
            She shook her head, "No, Lance, its okay.  It's not that bad."

            "Are you sure?"

            Darcy nodded and smiled at him, "Have you heard any more about Paget's wedding plans?"

            Lance rolled his eyes, "Of course, it's all Allura and Romelle can talk about."

            "When is it going to be?"

            "They're waiting until after Romelle has the baby. Paget wants to wait until Romelle is strong enough to stand with her.  By then, you should be well enough to go with me."

            Her smile grew, "That would go great.  I cannot wait until I can get out of here."

            He laced his fingers with hers, "It won't be long now.  Dr. Gorma said you're making great progress."

            "I think this is all silly, I can walk.  There is no reason for me to be stuck in bed like this."

            Lance let out a frustrated breath, "Darcy, you were shot in the chest at close range.  Your body needs rest in order to get better.  If you ever want to fly again you need to follow the doctor's orders."

            "Is she complaining again?"  Dr. Gorma asked from the doorway.

            "Yeah," Lance said.  "She wants to get out of bed."

            He nodded, "That's just natural.  You're getting better, Darcy, and you're starting to feel stronger, but you still have a lot of healing ahead of you.  I want to make a deal with you."

            "What?"  Darcy asked, her interest piqued.

            "If you promise to stay on bed rest until I clear you, you can move back to your room."

            Her face lit up, "Really?"

            "Yes, but I am going to trust you to rest.  If you want to get better, you have to give your body time to heal.  Do you understand?"

            "Yes, Dr. Gorma."

            "When can she leave?"  Lance asked.

            "I will sign her out tomorrow evening."

            "That's great!"  Darcy exclaimed.

            Dr. Gorma looked at her, "But I expect you to rest, if I catch you up wandering around, I will bring you back here."

            She nodded, "Yes, sir."

            Dr. Gorma smiled at her, "I'll be back later to check on you."

            An idea began to form in Lance's head.  He looked at his watch and stood, "I'm sorry, I have to go.  I told Keith I would meet with him before I went on duty."

            Darcy looked at him strangely, "You don't go on duty for another two hours."

            "I know, he has a lot to go over.  I'll be back as soon as I'm off."  He leaned over and kissed her.  "Get some rest."

            She rolled her eyes, "That's all I can do."

            "Well, I guess you better keep that in mind next time you step in front of a laser." He teased.

            She stuck her tongue out at him.

            Lance winked at her, "We'll put that to use later."

            He made his way to the rec room where he found Hunk, Sven, Keith, and Dante hanging out.

            "Hey Keith, where's Allura?"

            "She's up in Romelle's room.  How's Darcy doing?"

            "Dr. Gorma said she can move back to her room tomorrow."

            "That's great news."  Keith said.

            "Yeah, I'd like to do something special for her, but I need Allura's help."  He told them as he left.

            "Man, he has it bad." Hunk muttered.

            "How're things with Paton?"  Sven asked, slyly.

            Hunk blushed slightly and went back to the magazine he was reading.

            Lance knocked on Romelle's door.

            "Come in."  Allura called out.

            Romelle was sitting up in the bed, pillows piled behind her and Allura was sitting, cross legged, at the foot of the bed, facing Romelle.  They had been discussing Paget and Rankin's upcoming wedding.

            "Hi, Lance!  How's Darcy doing?"  Allura asked.

            "Good," he crossed over and sat on the bed with them.  "I need your guys help."

            "What is it?"  Romelle settled back against the pillows and crossed her hands over her swollen stomach.

            "Dr. Gorma said Darcy can go back to her room tomorrow, I want to do something special for her."

            Allura and Romelle smiled at each other.

            "That is so sweet."  Allura said.

            "What's that?"  Lance pointed to the uneven blue blanket draped over Romelle's stomach.

            "It's a blanket.  Nanny started teaching me how to knit a few months ago when I found out I was pregnant and I finally finished it.  Don't you like it?"  She held it up for him to examine.

            It was uneven and two different shades of blue.  "No, it's very nice.  So you think you're having a boy?"
            "No, I don't know what I'm having.  Just because it's blue doesn't mean only a boy can use it.  It's Sven's favorite color."
            "Yeah Lance," Allura teased.  "Don't be so sexist."

            He rolled his eyes, "Anyway, I was thinking.  Darcy and I have been spending a lot of time together, but we never really had a chance to go on a real date.  So I thought I would set something up in her room."
            "What did you have in mind?"  Allura asked.

            "I was thinking about supper, I can talk to Dr. Gorma and see what she can and can't have, and a movie.  I want to make it romantic.  Flowers and candles, that sort of thing."

            "It sounds like you already know what you want to do.  What do you need us for?" 

            "I only have tonight and tomorrow, I can't do it all by myself."

            "So you want me to cut flowers and make dinner?"  Allura asked.

            "No, well, maybe the flowers, you're better with that than I am. Oh, and candles.  I thought I would try and make the dinner."
            "You're going to have to talk to Nanny about that."

            Lance flinched, "You think she'll help me?"
            Allura laughed.  It was no secret that Nanny and Lance had clashed a few times.  His mischievous ways didn't always go along with her strict personality.  "If you tell her why you need her help, she'll be more than happy to help you.  She is a romantic at heart."

            "So you'll help me?"
            "Of course, I'll take care of the flowers."  Allura told him.

            "And I'll sit here and be pregnant."  Romelle added.

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

            After practice the next morning, Lance and Allura went in to town.  Allura was in charge of finding candles, so she went straight to 'Arusian Delights', a gift shop that sold a little bit of everything.  Lance wasn't entirely sure what he was looking for.  He wanted to do something special for her, but he didn't know what that would be.  He wanted to be romantic, but he knew that Darcy wasn't into frilly and feminine. 

            Lance found himself outside 'Welcome Home', the housewares store.  Something told him to go in there.  He wandered past the kitchen department and the frame department until he found himself surrounded by linens.  He had been in Darcy's room a few times, but they spent most of their free time in his room.  She said she liked the way his room was lived in and cozy.  Since she had only been on Arus two months before being injured, she hadn't had the chance to really make her room her own.  She kept meaning to call her parents and have them send her some of her things from back home, but she just hadn't had the chance. 

            Allura walked in to the store and found Lance with a cart full of items.  She bent over it and began pawing through his purchases.  A firm pillow with arms so that Darcy could sit up in bed and have her back supported.  There was a framed poster of Renoir's 'Dance in Town', a small brass lamp, a red throw blanket, and a little statue of a frog sitting on a log holding a banjo.

            "What's all this?"  She asked, holding up the frog.

            "I was trying to figure out something to do for Darcy.  She hasn't had a chance to contact her parents about sending her things to her to make her room more homey and since she has to be stuck in there for a while on bed rest, I thought I would get a few things.  The pillow is so she can sit up and have her back supported.  Renoir is her favorite artist and she doesn't have a lamp on her bedside table, I don't her to have to keep getting out of bed to turn on the overhead light.  And a few other things to just add character to the room."  He explained.

            Allura felt a tug at her heart, "Lance, you have got to be the sweetest man I have ever known.  But what is with the frog?"

            Lance looked at her with mock surprise, "That not just any frog, that's Kermit the Frog."

            Allura looked at him blankly.

            "The Muppets?"

            Allura shook her head.

            "It's a Terran thing.  What did you find?"

            She held up her bag, "I found some candles I thought she might like, but you're going to need holders."

            "Off to the candle holder department."  Lance gestured dramatically and pushed the cart.

            They were laden with bags when they returned to the castle.  Allura helped him arrange his findings around the room, it did seem a bit cozier, like someone lived there rather than just bunked there.  She had even allowed him to drag one of the overstuffed chairs from the observation deck into the room.  Now Darcy had a comfortable chair to curl up in.

            "How are you going to do this?"  Allura asked as she handed him the poster to hang.

            "I thought I would hang it beside the door."

            "No, I mean this dinner.  Are you going to throw a tablecloth over the desk?"

            "No, it'll be like breakfast in bed, but with dinner.  She still gets sore if she sits up in a chair too long.   Nanny said she has a tray I can use."

            "Well, you go see what Nanny needs you to do, I am going to go check on Romelle."  Allura said.

            Lance stepped back to see if the poster was hung straight, "Allura, thank you so much for all your help."

            "Don't mention it, Lance, I think this is wonderful.  Darcy is the first girl I met who could actually keep you in line and match your warped sense of humor, I'm so glad you met her."

            He smiled at her, "So am I.  And my sense of humor is not warped, it's just that not everyone gets it."

            Allura rolled her eyes, "Yeah, you keep telling yourself that."

            Lance took a detour to the hospital wing on his way to the kitchen.  He nodded to the nurse on duty and walked into Darcy's room.  She was reclined on a pile of pillows, the televiewer showing an Arusian soap opera.  She looked rather upset.

            "You don't look too happy for someone who's getting sprung tonight."  He commented from the doorway.

            She looked up and smiled when he entered, "I thought you were working all day."

            "I do get breaks.  What's wrong?"

            "Well, let's see," She adjusted the blankets around her.  "I was shot and seriously injured, I'm sore all over and I'm stuck in bed for a couple of more weeks."

            He gave her a sly smile, "You know, being stuck in bed isn't always a bad thing."

            She smiled back, "I'm sure you'll help me find a way to stay entertained.  When can I leave?"

            "This evening.  Dr. Gorma said he'll sign you out around five."

            "Will you be off?"

            "Yup. I swapped afternoon duty with Hunk so I could be off tonight."  He noticed an envelope on the table beside her bed.  At first glance, it didn't seem to be anything, but when he looked again he saw the return address.  Lt. J. McCormick, Ste. 2654 Building 5G, Galaxy Garrison NYC Offices, Terra.

            Lance snatched the envelope off the table, "He's writing to you?"

            "Calm down, Lance, he just sent me a card to ask how I was doing."

            "Did you write him back?"

            "No, I was planning on throwing it out and ignoring him.  Give it to me and I'll throw it out."  She said, holding out her hand.

            Lance took the card out of the envelope.  It had flowers on the front with the message 'I Hope This Card Finds You Feeling Better.'
            "Don't Lance, just throw it out."

            Ignoring her, he opened it.

            "Lance, I'm serious."  Her voice rose a little.

            Beneath the preprinted sentiment was Jesse's handwriting:

                         Dear Darcy,

I hope you're feeling better.  I heard through the grapevine that you are making great progress and that you should be up flying before you know it.  That is truly wonderful news.  I hope you are giving some consideration to what we spoke about before I left Arus.  Write me soon with your answer.

                   Love,

                   Jesse

            Lance looked at her, "What is this?"

            "It's nothing Lance, really."

            "He came and spoke to you before he left?"

            "They all came and wished me luck before they left.  Col. Webster, Capt. Epperly, Capt. Hyde, and Jesse."

            Lance crushed the card in his hand, "And what does he hope you're giving consideration to?"

            Darcy suddenly felt angry.  Who did he think he was?  "Seriously, Lance, drop it.  It's nothing.  I am done with Jesse, I am not going to write him back, I am having nothing to do with him."

            "It really pisses me off Darcy when you tell me to drop it.  I don't want him bothering you and if he keeps it up I will report him for harassment."
            Darcy felt a dull pain in her chest.  She was breathing too hard and it hurt.  "Lance," She said through gritted teeth.  "I don't know what I can say to you to make you believe that there is nothing between Jesse and me, not even a friendship.  I can handle him."

            He looked down and saw how her chest was rising and falling with jerky motions.  He took her hand, "Alright, calm down.  Don't upset yourself."

            "I'm not upsetting myself, you're upsetting me.  Why can't you trust me?"

            "I do trust you Darcy," He lowered his voice.  "I just don't trust McCormick.  He is a pathetic little man who likes to use who his uncle as an excuse to act like an ass and get away with it.  I don't want him to hurt you."

            She sighed, ignoring the pain, "Lance, he doesn't have the power over me any more to hurt me."

            "It just frustrates me that you won't tell me everything."

            "I don't see what good that would do, it's all over."

            He sat down in the chair, "I want to help you, but I can't if I don't know what's going on."

            Darcy looked down at their joined hands.  She wasn't used to depending on another person.  "It's really nothing, Lance.  He asked me to consider coming back to Terra and working in the Garrison offices."

            "What?"

            "He said that he could get me a job.  I would be closer to my family and it would be safer."

            "You aren't going to, are you?"  Lance asked.  

            "Of course not.  I want to stay here."

            "Are you sure?"

            She looked at him, "Yes, why do you ask?"

            "I know you were a little homesick when you got here and I know you miss your family."

            "Well, of course I miss my family, don't you miss yours?  And I got over my homesickness a while ago.  I love it here, I love being with you."  She told him, earnestly.

            "And I love having you here.  Get some rest," he stood and placed a kiss on her forehead. "I'll be back to get you at five."