It was one in the afternoon by the time they reached the Collier home.  It was a big, old brick house set back on a big front yard.  Two large maple trees stood in the front and a large, white porch wrapped around the front.  Azalea bushes were blooming with bright red and pink blossoms and the grass was just a little too high. A flashy red sports car sat in the driveway.

            "Nice car.  Who's visiting?"  Lance asked as he pulled in beside it.

            "That's Dad's mid-life crisis car."

            "Dad?"

            "Yup.  Mom said as long as he wasn't running away with some little tramp, he could have any car he wanted."  Leslie commented, dryly.

            They all exited the van, stretching.

            "I take it they're waiting for me to come home to mow the grass."  Lance grumbled as he started across the lawn.

            "Lance!" 

            A slightly plump woman with short, brown hair and wearing an apron threw open the front door and stepped out onto the porch.  A small brown and white dog shot out of the door and raced toward them.  "Lance, I'm so glad you're home!"

            "Hi Ma," Lance hugged his mother.

            Leslie leaned down and scooped up the little dog, who wriggled in her grasp.  "This is Sami, my father's hyperactive, psycho dog."  She told the others.

            Holding him at arm's length, Lance's mother studied him.  "Look at your hair!  Are you trying to be a hippie?  You couldn't get a haircut for your sister's graduation?"  She lowered her voice to a whisper.  "Don't they have barbers on this Arus?"

            "Yes, Ma, they have barbers there.  I've just been a little busy."

            "You can go to your father's barber.  Wait until he sees you!  You're a lieutenant in the Terran Military and you have hair longer than I do!"

            "Ma," Lance put his arm around her shoulders and turned her to the people standing behind him.  "You remember Keith, and this is his wife Allura and their daughter Cady."

            "Of course!  Keith, it's wonderful to see you again.  And Allura, uh, Your Higness?"

            "Please, Mrs. Collier, call me Allura.  There are no formalities here."  Allura told her graciously.
            "Of course, Allura.  Please, call me Molly.  I'm so glad you were able to come for a visit.  And little Cady, Keith, she's beautiful.  It's been about seven years since we've had a baby in the house."

            "Hi, Molly."  Keith returned her hug.  "It's great being here again."

            "I can't believe Sabrina is seven years old."  Lance said fondly, thinking of his young niece.

            "Lorna and Jasper will be here tonight with the girls."  Molly told her son.  "All they've talked about for the past month is how Uncle Lance is coming from outer space."

            Lance grabbed Darcy's hand and dragged her up on the porch, "Ma, this is Darcy Barlow."

            Molly pulled Darcy into a tight hug, "It's wonderful to meet you, dear, Lance has told us so much about you."

            "It's nice to meet you too, Mrs. Collier, uh Molly."  Darcy returned her hug.

            Molly held her at arm's length, just as she had done with Lance.  "You're too thin, Darcy.  We'll have to fatten you up a bit and we'll start tonight."  She turned to her son, still holding Darcy's arm.  "We've been planning this barbeque for weeks.  I've been baking for two days now. You're father is coming home early from work."

            "I think we'd all like to grab a shower, Ma."  Lance told her.

            "Oh, of course I'm sorry.  Come in, all of you."  Molly ushered them all inside.  "There are two bathrooms and plenty of towels.  The cadets from the Garrison brought your luggage earlier.  Lance, you're bags are in your old room.  Keith and Allura, you're in Lorna's old room, it's the second room on the right.  We borrowed a crib from Lorna and set it up in your room.  And Darcy you're in Leslie's old room, that's the second room on the left, across from Keith and Allura.  Please, make yourselves at home.  If you need anything just ask."

            After a quick shower, Darcy returned to her room to dress.  Leslie had moved into an apartment with a friend a couple of years earlier and Molly had converted the room into a guest room.  An old double bed sat in the middle of the small room, with a table on either side.  A dresser was on the wall opposite the bed with a small television set sitting on top of it.  The walls were covered with off-white wallpaper, scattered with faded roses.  The windows were framed with gauzy white drapes, an old needlepoint sampler hung on the wall beside the door, and a pitcher of fresh flowers sat on the dresser beside the television.

            She wandered out into the hall.  The door across the hall was ajar; Allura paced the floor trying to calm a fussy crying Cady.  Pictures of the four Collier children at various ages adorned the walls.  Darcy stopped in front of a picture of Lance's brother, Lawrence.  Lawrence was ten years older than Lance and taught military tactics at the Academy.  He had been one of Darcy's favorite professors.  And now she was standing in the hallway of his childhood home, studying a school picture of him as an awkward teenager, complete with large glasses and acne.

            The picture beside Lawrence's made her smile.  It was Lance, about thirteen years of age.  He had a military regulation buzz cut and his big grin showed off his braces.

            "Handsome son of a bitch, wasn't I?"

            Darcy turned to see Lance standing in the doorway behind her.  He stood wearing only a pair of jeans and water dropped from his wet hair, running down his chest.

            "You were a goofy looking kid."  She teased.

            "Nah, I just hadn't grown into my looks then.  I was about sixteen when I turned into the sexy man I am now."

            "I guess it's a good thing I met you at a later age, huh?"

            "Come here," Lance stepped back to allow her into the room.  "I need your opinion."

            "What?"  She stepped into his room and grinned.

            Apparently, Molly didn't want to change the room Lance and Lawrence had shared.  There were two twin beds, one against the wall on each side of the room.  A desk with a computer and printer stood between the beds and two matching dressers were on either side of the door.  Shelves lined the walls, cluttered with books and trophies.  Football themed curtains framed the windows and matching comforters covered the beds.

            "It's like we never left," Lance said, noticing the way she looked around his room.

            "It's sweet."

            "Nah, Ma just hasn't gotten around to this room yet.  Red or blue?"  He held up two shirts.

            "Red."

            "Not blue?"

            "No, it would look like we did it on purpose and there is nothing cheesier than when a couple dresses alike."

            "You look nice," he commented as he slid his arms into the red shirt.

            She wore a simple blue jersey dress.  Her hair was down and the only jewelry she wore were her watch and the locket Lance had given her.  It was a gold oval with the intricate design of a lion rising up on its hind legs, surrounded by flowering vines.

            "Thank you."

            "I like it when you wear your hair down.  You always pull it back."

            "It gets in the way."

            Lance walked over and ran his hand through her hair, feeling it slide through his fingers, "How're you holding up?  I know you didn't get much sleep."

            "I'm fine Lance."

            "Still nervous?"

            Darcy smiled and shook her head.  "No, your mom and your sister are really nice."

            His hand rested on the back of her neck, "They like you."

            "They hardly know me."  She busied herself buttoning up his shirt.

            "You're very likable."  He leaned in, stopping a breath away.

            "You need to behave yourself.  Your mother is downstairs."

            Wrapping his other arm around her waist, Lance pulled her to him.  He slid his hand from her neck into her hair, pulling it back, exposing her neck to him.  She arched her neck in response as he pressed his mouth to her throat.  Darcy slid her hands up his back, clutching his shirt.

            "You should really shut the door all the way and hang a necktie on the doorknob."

            Darcy stiffened, her face burned with embarrassment and she felt Lance smile against her throat.

            Lifting his head, Lance smiled at his brother, "You could've had the decency to knock."

            "How was I supposed to know you'd be in here making out with your girlfriend?"  Lawrence asked.

            Darcy groaned and turned to face him.

            "Darcy."

            "Dr. Collier."

            "Please, call me Lawrence, you're no longer my student."  He stood in the doorway, leaning on the jam.  He wore a pair of tan slacks, a light blue dress shirt, and Lance's cocky grin.  "Mom sent me up here to see if you guys needed anything.  I guess you have everything you need."

            "We have to head out.  We're meeting Darcy's parents at the airport."  Lance told him.

            "I guess you want these."  Lawrence dangled a set of car keys.

            "My baby," Lance breathed.  "How is she?"

            "She was inspected last month.  You owe me $156."
            "Bill me."  Lance snatched the keys out of his hand and turned to Darcy.  "Come on, let's go."

            Molly was down in the kitchen with Leslie, making cookies.  She smacked Lance's hand with a wooden spoon when he tried to steal some dough.

            "We have to go to the airport to pick up Darcy's parents."  He told her.

            "Are you taking the minivan?"

            "Nah, Lawrence brought my Jeep over."

            "Alright, be careful.  Oh, can you stop at the store and pick up some ice.  I'm afraid we're going to run out."

            Lance kissed his mother's cheek and snatched a handful of fresh cookies, "No problem."

            "I'm so glad you're home, honey."  She patted his cheek.

            "Me too, Ma."

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

            It was nearly six o'clock when Darcy and Lance returned with her family.  Their plane arrived late and they had to stop by the hotel so they could check in and drop off their luggage.  Noise and music floated from the backyard.  Apparently, they were the last to arrive. 

            Wandering around to the back they were greeted by a loud, busy sight.  Lance's father, Col. Felix Collier, stood in front of a large grill wearing an apron that said 'World's Best Grandpa', flipping burgers.  He was a tall, lean man with graying brown hair and glasses.  Four children, all under the age of ten, ran around, chasing Sami.  Lance pointed out his nieces, Chelsea and Sabrina, and Keith's nephews, Adam and Ben.  Sitting at a picnic table were Allura, Keith's sister-in-law Allyson and his sister Dana, Lance's sister Lorna, Keith's mother, with Cady on her knee, and Molly.  Standing by the grill, each with a beer in hand, were Lawrence, Lorna's husband, Jasper, Keith, and Keith's brother, Gerald.  Leslie was standing on the porch with a portable phone held to her ear.  A radio sat on the ground playing the oldies station.

            "Uncle Lance!"  A little red headed pixie ran headlong toward Lance.

            He scooped her up and flipped her upside down.  "Do I know you?"

            "Yeah," she giggled.  "I'm Chelsea."

            "No you're not, you're too big."

            "I growed."
            "You growed?"  He threw her over his shoulder and she ended up piggyback-style on his back.

            "Is she really a Queen?"  Chelsea whispered, pointing to Allura.

            "Yup."

            "Does that mean Keith's a King?"

            "Nope, he's just a dork."

            "Grandma said Cady's a Princess."
            "She is.  That little girl is Her Royal Highness, Princess Cadence Arianna Isabelle Whitaker."

            "That's quite a mouthful."  Darcy's father commented.

            "Isabelle!  That's Grandma's name."

            "That's where she got her name."

            "It's about time, did you get lost?"  Lawrence asked as they approached.

            "I noticed the tires were low and I was almost out of gas.  I thought you were going to take care of my Jeep."  Lance told him.

            "That car spends it's time locked up in my garage.  I should be charging you rent."
            "Come here, you monkey."  Jasper pulled his eldest daughter off her uncle's back.

            "She really is a Queen."  Chelsea told her dad.  "But Uncle Lance said Keith isn't a King, he's a dork."

            Keith looked at Lance and raised an eyebrow.

            Lance shrugged, "How do you explain a Prince Consort to an eight year old?"

            Molly made her way over and the proper introductions were made.  Darcy's parents and her sister Becca were welcomed into the Collier clan with open arms.  Howard Barlow joined Col. Collier at the grill and discussed the right thickness of a precooked burger, while Becca and her mother, Lucy, followed Darcy over to the picnic table for introductions.

            A ton of food was consumed.  Burgers, hotdogs, chicken, pasta salad, potato salad, baked beans, deviled eggs.  And then there was dessert.  But it was the conversation, not the food, that made the night enjoyable.  Everyone was relaxed and joking.  Allura patiently answered all of Chelsea's questions about what it was like to be a queen, glossing over the more boring things like cabinet meetings.  Keith explained to Col. Collier how the Aursian military and their defense worked with the Garrison. When Lance challenged Lawrence to an arm wrestling match to decide whether or not he should pay car rent, Molly felt it was time to clear the table.

            Darcy, Becca, Allura, Allyson, and Leslie helped clear the table as the men set out lawn chairs and Keith's mother and Lorna tended to the children.

            Darcy scanned the backyard as she picked up a bowl and turned to carry it inside.  "Have you seen Lance?"  She asked Allura as they passed.

            "Um, I think I saw him and your father go around front."

            "Really?"

            Allura grinned, "Yup, Lance wanted to talk to your father."

            Darcy blushed, "Don't go jumping to conclusions.  More likely, my father wanted to talk to Lance."

            "What's going on?"  Becca asked.

            "Lance went to talk to your father.  Alone."  Allura said.

            "Really?"  Becca turned to her sister.  "Are you guys that serious?"

            "Stop it, they're just talking."

            Allura and Becca exchanged looks, but kept quiet.

            It was a beautiful night.  The sky was clear and they were far enough outside the city to be able to see the stars.  Lawn chairs had been occupied by the older adults.  With reluctance, Isabelle helped Allura put Cady to bed.  She was more than willing to hold her only granddaughter while she slept, but she agreed that it had been a long day and the little girl needed to rest. 

            A calmness fell as coffee, tea, and beer were consumed and time passed.  As the clock edged toward nine, Jasper and Lorna loaded their girls into their car, followed soon after by Gerald, Allyson, and their boys.  By ten o'clock, the last of the party had moved to the front porch.  Keith and Allura occupied a small, wicker loveseat.  Molly and Felix sat on a porch swing, Keith's mother settled in a wicker rocking chair, Leslie, Dana, and Lawrence sat on the old deacon bench, while Lance and Darcy sat opposite each other on the top step with their backs to the railing, Sami on the step between them.

            "So what are the plans tomorrow?"  Molly asked. 

            "I thought we could go into town, check out some museums."  Lance told her.

            "Pick a day when you can come in and talk to my classes."  Lawrence told him.

            "What?"

            "I told Lawrence we would go and talk to his classes, answer some questions."  Keith explained.

            Lance snorted, "Thanks for telling me."

            "Consider it rent payment."  Lawrence said.  "I thought it would be a nice, end of the year thing."

            "Come on," Leslie added.  "How often do the Commander and Second-in-Command of the Voltron Force visit?"

            Lance nudged Darcy's foot with his own, "You coming?"

            "I think you can handle it.  Allura and I can find something to do."

            Lawrence reached into his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes.  He offered one to Lance who shook his head.

            "You stopped smoking?"  Molly asked, excitedly.

            Lance nodded, "It was a stipulation."

            "A stipulation?"  His father asked.

            "If this relationship was going to go anywhere, I had to agree to watch the Star Wars movies at least once a year and he had to give up smoking."  Darcy explained.

            "You know, Darcy," Lawrence said.  "You're a smart girl.  What in the world are you doing with Lance?"

            She shrugged, "Pity?"

            Leslie laughed, "I knew it!"

            "She's just too compassionate a person."  Keith said.

            "Huh," Lance snorted.  "You're crazy about me."

            "You're just crazy."  Darcy winked.

            "If memory serves me," Allura told Lance.  "You chased after her."

            "You had to wear her down," Keith added.

            "Did any money change hands?"  Lawrence asked.

            "He doesn't have that kind of money," Leslie pointed out.  "Is it blackmail?"

            "Alright, alright," Molly said.  "Stop picking on Lance."

            "Thank you, Ma."

            "We should be thankful that such a smart, beautiful girl took pity on him."  Molly added.

            Lance stood up, "That's it.  I don't have to stay here and take this."

            Darcy grabbed his hand, "Oh stop it, sit down."
            Sami lifted his head, yawned, and looked at Lance, annoyed.

            "Not until you tell them you're crazy about me."

            "I think you're kinda cute."
            "Close enough," Lance sat down a couple of steps below her and leaned back, resting his head on her lap.

            Allura tried, unsuccessfully, to stifle a yawn.

            "I think it's time we turn in."  Keith announced.

            "Yeah, I have another test to give tomorrow."  Lawrence stood.

            Good byes and good nights were said.  Lance waved to his brother and sister, but didn't move.  Keith borrowed the minivan to take his mother and sister back to their hotel.  Within in five minutes, Lance and Darcy were the only ones left on the porch.

            "Did you have fun?"  Lance asked, his eyes closed.

            Darcy looked down at him, watching the way the moonlight and shadows played across his handsome face, "Yeah, it was great."  She gently traced his jaw with her fingertip.  "You can't be very comfortable."

            "I'm fine."

            Her finger continued its journey across his brow, down his cheek, and over his lips.  "What did you and my father talk about earlier?"

            "Hm?"

            "You and my dad disappeared earlier, I was wondering what was going on."

            A small smile crossed his lips, "He wanted to talk to me about you, how you're doing.  He still doesn't like your career choice."

            "Oh."

            Lance opened his eyes slightly and looked at her through his lashes.  "What?"

            "Nothing."

            "No," he stood, stretched, and took her hands, pulling her to her feet.  She stood on the step above him so she was slightly taller than him.  "What is it?"

            Darcy slid her arms around his neck, "Nothing, I was just wondering what you had talked about is all."

            "Uh huh, you're being nosy.  What did you think we were talking about?"

            "I don't know, I was just wondering."
            Smiling, he stepped up beside her and slipped his arms around her waist, "If you were wondering, he doesn't feel the need to kick my ass anymore."

            "Good."

            "We should turn in, I told your parents we'd meet them at nine."

            She nodded.

            "I'll walk you to your room."

            Darcy kissed him gently, "I'm crazy about you, Lance."

            He grinned at her, "I know."

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

Author's Note:  I wanted to respond to QuikerKookie's review.  First, thank you for your review, I really do appreciate it.  My intention was not to lead you to think Allura isn't in charge of Arus, as the Queen she most certainly is.  But my stories tend to concentrate more on the characters and their relationships as opposed to their day to day lives.  As the Commander of the Voltron Force, I see Keith as the leader of the Arusian military as well as the planet's security and defenses.  His strict military training and analytical mind are what make him who he is and he tends to be single-minded in what he does.  With all that has happened in the past, he is hesitant to leave Arus for long periods of time, not because he doesn't trust his men, but because he prefers to always be on top of everything, like Landor's whereabouts.  While Allura is ruling her planet, I see her as being the type of monarch who wants to get out with her people, shopping and talking with them, showing them that Arus is now a safe place, as well as being a totally hands-on parent; I thought it important to show that aspect of her personality for this story.