The team arrived in the waiting room to find Allura sitting and Paget pacing. A scream pierced the air. Allura jumped and clenched her hands together.
"Is everything alright?" Keith sat down beside her.
"It's coming." Allura said.
"Are you okay?"
Allura nodded.
"How's Sven holding up?" Lance asked.
"He hasn't left her side," Paget told him.
"I can't believe Sven is about to become a father." Pidge said.
"Yeah, I always imagined Keith being the first one." Hunk muttered.
"Really?" Keith asked. "Why me?"
"You were always the most settled, like you were ready for marriage and a family. I could picture you as a daddy."
"Nah, Sven always had a way with the ladies, more so than Keith." Pidge said.
"Yeah, but he never stayed with one for long. At least not until Romelle came along."
Another scream came from Romelle's room.
Allura clutched Keith's hand, painfully.
"You know," Keith said as he loosened her grip. "I remember my sister asking my mother once if having a baby hurt a lot. And my mother told her it did, but the pain only lasted a short time, while the pleasure lasted for a lifetime."
"Smooth words, Whitaker." Allura muttered. "You won't be the one having your body ripped in half."
"Have you given any thought to names yet?" Darcy asked, trying to take her mind off the screams.
"She just found out she was pregnant." Hunk said.
Allura smiled at Hunk, "I think it's safe to assume that any woman who wants to become a mother already has names picked out. But we did hit a bump in the road, so to speak."
"What do you mean?" Lance asked.
"Well, it's been a tradition in my family to name your children after loved ones, but Keith thinks we should give our children all their own names."
"Yeah," Keith interjected. "I never liked naming kids after people in your family, it puts pressure on them, like they have something to live up to. I want all my kids to have names and personalities all their own."
"But I think we've reached a compromise." Allura added.
"What?" Darcy asked.
"We'll give them middle names after loved ones."
"What have you picked out so far?"
"Well, I read a book once with a character named Charlotte, and I loved that. I really liked the way it looked written down and how old fashioned it sounded."
"That's how I got my name. I was named after the main characters in my mother's favorite book, Darcy Elizabeth." Darcy told her.
"What book?" Keith asked.
"Pride and Prejudice, a very old book by Jane Austen. I was named after Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet."
"You were named after a man?" Lance asked.
"It could've been worse, I could've been Bingley Kitty." She teased.
"Or Wickham Lydia." Pidge added.
Darcy looked at the young man, impressed, "You've read Pride and Prejudice?"
He shrugged, "I read a lot."
"Where did your parents come up with Lance?" Darcy asked him.
"It was the first name listed under L in the boy's section of the baby name book."
"His mother thought it sounded romantic." Keith said. "She never let anyone call his brother Larry because she loved how romantic she thought Lawrence sounds."
Lance shrugged, "She's a romantic at heart."
"So you're leaning towards Charlotte?" Darcy asked.
Allura shrugged, "It's a possibility. We still have plenty of time to think about it. But we will take any suggestions. But not Lance." Allura added when she saw Lance's mouth open.
"Damn you Sven!" Romelle shouted.
"Why do
women always yell at the men?" Pidge asked. "It's
not like he was alone in this."
"She's in a lot of pain and,
probably, drugged. He's the easiest
target. I remember when Chelsea
was born, Lorna yelled at Kevin, told him he'd never
touch her again. Sabrina was born about
eighteen months later." Lance said.
"Don't worry," Allura whispered into Keith's ear. "No matter what I say, you'll be allowed to touch me again."
He smiled
at her, "Thanks, honey, I'll be sure to remind you of that when the time
comes."
There was a sudden silence
followed by the high pitched cries of a newborn baby. Moments later Sven burst out of the door.
"It's a boy! I have a son!" He was exhausted and teary eyed, but elated.
Everyone was on their feet, hugging and crying.
"How's Romelle?" Allura asked him, her arms around his neck.
"She's
exhausted, but happy."
"How's the baby?" Paget asked.
"He's so tiny, three veeks premature. But Dr. Gorma tinks he should be okay. Ve have to tell Bandor."
"Don't worry," Allura assured him. "I'll take care of that."
"Oh my God! I'm a fader!" Sven exclaimed before passing out.
Keith caught him and dragged him to a chair, "Go get a nurse."
Nurse Helene walked out with a small vial in her hand, "He's exhausted." She said as she waved the pungent vial under his nose.
Sven snorted and started awake, "Vhat happened?"
"You fainted." Lance told him.
"Don't be silly, I've never fainted." Sven replied, blushing.
"You just did," Nurse Helene said, checking his pulse.
"I'm just tired."
"You need some rest."
"I vant to be vith Romelle." He protested.
"We can set a bed up in the room with her."
Sven nodded, "Can I see Erik?"
"Of course, Nurse Jewelia is cleaning him up, but he will be in an incubator."
"But he'll be okay?" Allura asked.
"We're keeping him in the hospital for observation, but he should be alright. He's has an amazing set of lungs on him." Nurse Helene said.
"Just like his mother." Rankin muttered.
Keith snorted.
"When can we see him?" Paget asked.
"Tomorrow," Nurse Helene promised. "We want to keep him under observation. Mother and son are doing well, they just need rest. So I suggest you all go about your business. Tomorrow you can see the Princess and her son."
"Tomorrow?" Allura asked.
The nurse turned her eye on the Queen, "Yes, You Highness, tomorrow."
"Come on," Keith took her hand. "They need rest. Romelle will still be here in the morning and we need to call Bandor."
**************************
The next afternoon, Bandor arrived to meet his nephew. Erik Davin Johansson was a scrappy little fellow with a shock pf pale blonde hair, blue eyes, and a powerful set of lungs. Bandor stayed for two weeks, until Erik was settled in to the nursery. Romelle had promised they would be returning to Pollux the next month, after Paget and Rankin's wedding.
Erik was making amazing progress, surprising Dr. Gorma.
"He has his father's spirit and determination." Romelle told the doctor almost three weeks after his birth.
"Erik is a strong boy. He should be ready to go home in a few weeks." Dr. Gorma told her.
A week after she was cleared from bed rest, Darcy was told she could begin working out again. She would hit the gym every day, starting slowly, rebuilding her strength. Before long she was allowed to return to guard duty in Castle Control. Keith gave her short hours in the afternoon so she could go to bed early if she tired. But she was still grounded. Dr. Gorma wanted to make sure she was at 100% lung capacity before he allowed her back in the air.
The wedding was planned for two weeks after Erik was released from the hospital. Nanny needed the time to prepare another picnic for all the freed slaves who had been invited to the post-ceremony meal.
One week before the wedding, Allura and Romelle entered Castle Control to find Darcy monitoring the console.
"Hey, Darcy, when do you get off duty?" Allura asked.
She checked her watch, "Um, in fifteen minutes."
"Do you want to go into town with us?"
"Yeah, that sounds like fun."
"Good, we need to find dresses to wear to the wedding." Romelle sat in one of the chairs, exhausted.
"There is this great boutique," Allura said. "I saw a green dress that would look great on you, Darcy."
"I don't think green is really my color." Darcy said.
"We could always find something in red, I know Lance likes that color." Allura teased.
Darcy rolled her eyes.
"Will you at least come and help me pick out a gown?" Romelle asked.
"Of course
I will." Darcy said. "Are you bringing Erik?"
Romelle
smiled, "Nope, Sven is on 'Daddy Duty' this afternoon."
"He is so cute with the baby," Allura said. "I hope Keith is learning from them."
"Have they learned the finer points of changing a diaper yet?" Darcy asked.
Romelle laughed, "Believe it or not, Sven actually put a diaper on Erik last night and it stayed on!"
"And if worse comes to worse, Nanny will be here." Allura told her.
"Alright, Darcy, I'm here." Dante walked into Castle Control.
She handed him the log she had been filling in, "It's been all clear so far."
"Good, I could use an easy day." He lowered himself into the chair she had just vacated.
"Come on, the store is only open until five." Allura said.
"She's not going anywhere right now," Keith walked into Castle Control, a large envelope in his hand and one of the castle's guards following him.
"What's going on?" Darcy asked.
He held up the envelope, "I just received an intel report we need to discuss. We're having an emergency meeting in the conference room. Dante, Mitchell is here to cover for you."
"Yes, sir." Dante stood and handed Mitchell the log.
"What is it, Keith?" Allura asked.
"Come with us, you should probably hear this too."
"Where's Sven?" Romelle asked.
"He's sitting in on the meeting too, Nanny has Erik."
Dante and the three women followed Keith to the conference room. Rankin, Paget, Sven, Lance, Hunk, Pidge, and Caleb were already seated around the large, rectangular table.
Keith stood at the head of the table and waited for everyone to take their seats before opening the envelope. "I received this report this morning. It was sent by the intel officers we have following Doom. Lotor and Haggar have returned to Doom with a small, but loyal, group of followers. It appears that Lotor has picked up a new second-in-command." Keith pulled out a picture and handed it to Sven, who sat at his left.
Sven whistled under his breath as he studied the grainy photo. He passed it onto Lance, who studied it and passed it on. The picture made its way around the table and back to Keith.
"Lotor is too young to have a son." Hunk muttered, passing the picture to Pidge.
"As far as we can tell, this boy is about sixteen or seventeen, which would make Lotor about ten when he was born."
Romelle looked at the photo. "They could be brothers, Zarkon had a harem as well."
Keith nodded, "That's what I think too. Whoever it is, he has a frightening resemblance to Lotor."
Allura studied the photo. The young man who looked back was full of anger and hate. His hair was long and white, his skin pale lavender. His features were younger and softer, but there was a definite resemblance. "What does this mean?"
"We aren't sure exactly, but it could mean that they are planning another attack. They're rebuilding their forces."
"What are we going to do about it?" Lance asked.
"I wanted everyone to be aware of this so we can be prepared." Keith said. "We still have men tailing Lotor and I am now getting daily reports. We will stay on top of this." Keith slid the picture back into the envelope. "You're all free to go. Keep your communicators on, I want to be able to contact you if I need to."
Allura stood and turned to Romelle and Darcy, "You guys ready to go?"
"Allura," Keith appeared at her side. "I don't want you going into town alone."
She rolled her eyes, "We'll be fine, Keith."
"I am putting us under high alert."
Allura's mouth fell open, "But the wedding is in one week. We need to go into town. We'll take a car."
"There will be three of us together." Darcy pointed out.
Keith ran his hand through his hair, knowing when he was beat. "Be back before dark."
"We will." Allura promised.
"Make sure you have your communicator on. And Darcy, have your blaster with you."
Darcy nodded, "Yes, Captain."
"If you aren't back by five minutes past sundown, I will send the entire army out after you."
Allura smiled and stood on her toes, "We'll be back soon, don't worry." She gave him a quick kiss.
"I need to stop by my room." Darcy said as they left the conference room.
"And I want to check on Erik." Romelle added.
"Okay, we'll meet out front in ten minutes." Allura said.
Lance appeared at Darcy's side as she walked to her room. "Where you headed?" He asked.
"I'm going into town with Allura and Romelle, we're going dress shopping." She told him as she punched in the code to unlock her door.
"Oh." He followed her into her room.
"What's up?" She asked.
"Well, I was hoping you could help me. I have no idea what to get them for a wedding present."
Darcy smiled at him, "What makes you think I know?"
Lance fell back on her bed, "Girls always know about that kind of thing."
Darcy picked up a pillow and bopped him on the head with it, "Don't be so sexist."
Lance propped himself up on his elbows, "What did you say about sex?"
"Not a thing." She threw the pillow at him and crossed to her dresser.
"Damn. Oh well. Any way, I have to get them something, I just don't know what."
"Well, Keith wants us to be on high alert, so I don't know if we can get into town." Darcy ruffled through her drawers, looking for her wallet.
"I think we can get him to let us go if we go together. What's your schedule tomorrow?"
"I'm on duty from one to three."
"Wanna go at three? I don't go on duty until seven."
Darcy crossed to her closet to find a purse, "If Keith says its okay, then I'm up for it."
"Pump Romelle for some ideas."
She slipped her wallet into a pocketbook, "I'll do what I can. Come on, I have to meet them downstairs." He watched as she pulled a metal box out of her closet. When she had gone on medical leave, Darcy's blaster had been locked into the box and hidden. She removed it now, checked to make sure it was in working order, turned on the safety, and attached it to her belt.
He stood and took her arm, "Be careful."
She smiled up at him, "I will."
"At the first sign of anything unusual, come straight back here. The castle is the safest place to be."
"I know, Lance. Don't worry."
"Do you want me to come with you?"
"No, this is a girly thing. You would be bored silly."
Lance smiled at her, "Pick out something special, we'll have a fashion show."
Darcy smiled back, "Don't get your hopes up. If we have to be on duty, I'll have to wear my dress uniform."
He nuzzled her neck, "Find something small and frilly, we'll have a fashion show anyhow."
"I'll see what I can find."
"Just don't pick anything with a lot of little buttons and ties, I have no patience for that sort of thing."
She laughed, "Go, find something else to do. I'll see you at dinner."