A week passed and they all fell into a routine. Sven and Romelle had decided to stay so that Sven could help as long as he was needed, until Keith was back on his feet. Rankin and Paget returned to Pollux, taking Rainger with them, so Rankin could oversee the Polluxian military in Sven's absence. Renata stayed on Arus, she told Rankin that she felt she needed to repay the Force and she felt the best way she could do that would be to stay and help for now. She would go with Sven and Romelle when they returned home.
Practice was held every morning. Keith and Lance were each given a wheelchair and allowed to leave the hospital wing, as long as they did not overexert themselves.
Lance was in better spirits. His physical therapist was due to arrive and he knew he would be back on his feet before long. The pain wasn't as bad, it was now tolerable and could be dealt with smaller doses of less potent pain killers. With the freedom the wheelchair allowed him, he sat in on meetings and watched practice.
Keith had his good days and his bad days. The fever was gone, but he was still confused most of the time. Dr. Gorma had called Kadmus back when the fever broke and Keith was still having problems with his memory. He told them to give it time, Keith needed to work through this. When Allura heard that she wanted to scream. They had given him time and what had it gotten them? On his good days he recognized Allura, on his bad days he didn't even know where he was.
Lance had moved back into his room, but Keith stayed in the hospital. He wasn't comfortable enough to move back into the room he shared with Allura. She appeared to take it all in stride, but it was becoming more and more difficult for her.
Darcy had just signed off from guard duty and was heading to the kitchen in search of lunch when her communicator beeped.
"Yeah, Barlow."
"Darcy? Where are you?" Allura asked.
"I'm on my way to the kitchen."
"Just thought you would like to know we received word from Lance's physical therapist. She's expected to be here in an hour."
"Alright, thanks. I'll be there."
"I couldn't get a hold of Lance, so you may want to hunt him down."
"Will do, Allura." Darcy snapped her communicator shut.
After throwing together a quick sandwich, she left the kitchen in search of Lance. She couldn't figure out why he didn't answer his communicator. He wasn't in the hospital, the rec room, or the observation deck. She was heading to his room when she heard the noise. Stopping at an intersection of the hallways, she listened carefully, trying to place the whirring noise and the sound of feet slapping against the floor.
"Outta the way!"
Darcy jumped back just in time as Keith whizzed by in his wheelchair being pushed by Pidge with Lance close behind, pushed by Hunk.
"What are you doing?" She called after them.
"I'm beating Lance!" Keith called back.
"Ha! You wish!" She heard Lance say as they turned the corner.
Darcy started after them when she heard a scream, followed by Nanny yelling. She took off down the hall and found the two men halted, Lance had crashed into Keith. Both Pidge and Hunk sat on the floor. Pidge held a hand to his head while Hunk rubbed his left arm. On the floor before them was Nanny, sitting on her rump gesturing wildly with her hands.
"You are grown men and you race around like children! You could hurt yourselves and others! What were you thinking? This is a castle where there are people and children, what if you had hit one of the babies?"
Trying to hide her smile, Darcy offered Nanny a hand and helped her to her feet.
"When Dr. Gorma hears of this, he will put you both back into the hospital and take your wheelchairs away!" Nanny declared, rubbing her sore bottom.
"Oh, come on Nanny," Lance pleaded. "We were just having a little fun. Keith and I are going crazy with cabin fever."
Muttering under her breath, Nanny moved down the hall.
Darcy stood, her hands on her hips, and looked down at Lance. "Smart move, Lieutenant."
"He challenged me to a race, how could I refuse?"
"By saying no. What if you guys hurt yourselves? Need I remind you, you are both still under doctor's care."
"You're not even married yet and she's nagging." Pidge muttered.
Darcy held up her left hand, "The right to nag comes with the ring."
"I didn't know that," Lance said, holding out his hand. "I want the ring back."
She held her hand up over her head, "Then get up and get it."
"Oh, harsh," Hunk smiled.
"Fatina is on her way," Darcy said. "She should be here any minute and we need to be out on the tarmac to meet her."
"Fatina," Keith repeated. "She sounds hot."
All four of them turned to look at him.
"What? It's not like I'm marr…oh, right." Realization dawned on him.
"This is getting old Keith," Hunk said as he and Pidge reattached the mechanisms in their chairs.
"Yeah, Hunk, I really enjoy missing whole chunks of my life." Keith replied as he started up his chair.
"Are you even trying to remember?" Lance asked.
"What kind of question is that?"
"The fever broke two days ago and you still can't remember anything? Maybe you don't want to remember."
"Of course I want to remember!" Keith snapped. "How would you feel if you woke up to find out you had a wife you barely knew and daughter you didn't remember? And on top of that I'm supposed to be the commander of the Voltron Force and I hardly remember how to fly the Lion. If you think for one second that I am enjoying this, you have another thing coming!"
"We know, Cap," Hunk said. "You're doing the best you can."
They entered Castle Control to find Dante watching the monitors.
"Anything going on?" Lance asked.
"Everything's clear so far." Dante told him.
Keith looked around in wide eyed amazement. He still could not believe the size and quality of the equipment that filled Castle Control.
"We received word that Fatina Gwawl is on her way, ETA fifteen minutes." A guard crossed over and handed a printout to Darcy.
"Thank you," she told him, accepting the paper.
Keith steered his chair over to the main console beside Dante and studied the panel in front of him. "This is amazing," he muttered.
The door slid open and Allura, Sven, and Romelle entered Castle Control. Their chatter stopped when Keith looked up and locked eyes with Allura. A definite awkwardness hung in the air between them. Cady sat on Allura's hip, one tiny fist clasping a lock of Allura's hair, she used her other hand to blow kisses. When she saw Keith, she squealed and tugged on Allura's hair.
"Ow, ow, Cady, that hurts Mommy." Allura carefully extracted the little hand.
Hunk crossed over and held out his hands. Not being a shy child, Cady leaned into his arms and gave him a hug.
Allura walked over to Keith, leaving Cady in the capable hands of Uncle Hunk. "How're you feeling?"
He tore his gaze from the little blonde pixie who was patting Hunk's cheeks to look up at Allura. "I'm alright."
"Good, good." She stood there watching him as his gaze shifted back to Cady. "Do you want to hold her?"
"I don't know," he mumbled.
"She knows you, even if you don't know her." Allura whispered.
Not waiting for his answer, she retrieved her daughter from Hunk and sat her on Keith's lap. Cady looked up at him with her huge blue eyes and bounced in his lap. Unable to stop himself, Keith reached out and stroked her soft, golden curls. He felt a sharp tug in his chest and he knew she belonged to him and him to her.
"Keith?" Allura said quietly, trying to hide the hope in her voice.
"She was named after our mothers," he whispered.
"Yes, her middle names. Arianna after my mother and Isabelle after yours."
He looked up at her and locked his gaze with hers. For a moment they just stared at each other, each not sure what to say to the other.
The console beeped. Allura snapped to attention and quickly crossed to the monitor while Keith cradled Cady to his chest.
"You're entering Arusian airspace. State your name and business please." Allura announced into the microphone.
"Garrison Transport Ship T-6274. Delivering Fatina Gwawl to Arus." A male voice replied.
"You may land on the main tarmac." Allura said, closing the connection.
"Come on," Darcy laid her hand on Lance's shoulder. "I think we should meet her."
Dr. Gorma joined Darcy, Lance, and Allura beside the tarmac as the small Garrison transport ship descended. Darcy stood behind Lance, not realizing how tightly she gripped his shoulders until he reached up and pried her fingers from his shirt.
"Sorry," she whispered, patting his shoulders.
The pilot exited first and stepped aside. Darcy and Allura exchanged a look over Lance's head as Fatina Gwawl walked confidently down the ramp and up to Allura. She curtsied.
"Ms. Gwawl, it's a pleasure meeting you." Allura offered the young woman her hand.
"And you, your highness."
"Ms. Gwawl, this is Dr. Gorma, the royal physician and Lt. Collier's doctor."
Fatina and Dr. Gorma shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.
"And this," Allura laid a hand on Lance's shoulder. "Is your patient, Lt. Lance Collier."
Fatina flashed him an open, friendly smile and offered him her hand, "Lt. Collier, it is a pleasure to meet you."
Lance returned her smile, "Please call me Lance."
"Alright then, Lance, as long as you remember to call me Fatina. I look forward to working with you."
Darcy cleared her throat.
"Oh, Fatina, this is my, uh, my fiancée, Darcy Barlow." Lance said.
Fatina turned her gaze to the woman behind Lance and her smile grew a little cooler. "Darcy."
"Fatina." Darcy took her hand, it felt limp and cold.
"Come, Fatina. We'll get you settled in." Allura announced.
"Of course. I would like to get started as soon as possible, do you have Lance's file?" Fatina asked Dr. Gorma.
As the followed the others back into the castle, Darcy reached over and lightly smacked Lance upside the head.
"Hey, what was that for?" He asked, rubbing his head.
"You know what that was for and stop rubbing your head, that did not hurt."
"Next time use your right hand, that ring hurts."
"Don't give me reason to use it."
Lance smiled up at her, "You're jealous."
"Should I be?"
"Don't play your womanly mind games with me."
All talk stopped as soon as they entered Castle Control. Dante, Pidge, Hunk, and Keith didn't even try to hide their approval of this new woman. At least Sven had the decency to feign disinterest in front of his wife.
Fatina Gwawl was indeed a beautiful woman. She was in her late twenties, tall and slender. Her toned arms and legs were showcased by a short skirt and sleeveless blouse. Her thick, wavy blonde hair was pulled back into a simple ponytail. Brilliant green eyes were the focal point of her perfectly shaped face, a small, slightly upturned nose, and full, unpainted lips completed the picture.
Dante was on his feet, offering Fatina his hand before Allura could even begin the introductions.
"Lt. Dante Addison, at your service, ma'am." He pressed his lips to the back of her hand.
"It's a pleasure." Fatina giggled coyly.
Allura took over, introducing her to the others in the room. Fatina greeted them all kindly, openly flirting.
"Oh, who is this little angel?" Fatina knelt beside Keith, stroking Cady's hair.
"She's, uh…" Keith began.
"She's our daughter, Cady." Allura finished for him.
Cady wrinkled her nose and turned her face into Keith's chest.
"I never saw her do that," Romelle whispered to Darcy.
"Can you blame her?" Darcy muttered.
"You will have a room in the south wing," Allura was telling Fatina.
"I'd like to get to work as soon as I drop my things off."
Allura nodded, "I'll show you to your room and then you can meet with Dr. Gorma."
They all watched as Allura led Fatina out of Castle Control. As soon as the door slid shut the discussion started.
"I half wish I was injured so she could help me." Pidge said.
"Where did Dr. Gorma find her and are there anymore like her?" Hunk asked.
"Lance, I'm going to have to ask you to drag this injury out a bit more, just to give me enough time to work my magic." Dante told him.
"What magic?" Lance scoffed. "If I…"
Sven cleared his throat loudly.
Suddenly remembering Darcy and Romelle were still in the room, Lance caught himself. "If I…had even noticed what she looked like, I was too busy admiring Darcy."
Keith snorted, "You're not even trying anymore, Lance."
"You men should be ashamed of yourselves," Romelle declared, hands on her hips. "Keith you are sitting there with your daughter on your lap, openly ogling another woman." She held up her hand before he could speak. "Don't tell me you don't remember being married, I don't accept that as an excuse. And Hunk, what would Paton say? And Lance, well, I'll let Darcy deal with you."
The three men looked down at their feet, properly embarrassed.
"Is it okay if I ogle her?" Dante asked.
Sven laughed, but quickly covered it with a cough after one glare from his wife.
Shaking her head, Romelle turned and left Castle Control muttering under her breath about the immaturity of men. Hunk, his head still down, shuffled after her.
"I, uh, I guess I better get Cady back to Nanny." Keith mumbled.
Darcy looked down as Lance appeared at her side.
"I love you," he said, pitifully.
She laughed, "You're something else, Collier."
He grinned up at her, "I'm going to take you dancing next week."
"I'll be happy with a walk through the gardens," she said, running a hand through his hair.
"You're on. Just give
me a week."
"Take all the time you need. We have our whole lives ahead of us."
************************************
The back corner of the gym had been rearranged into a work space for Lance. Fatina and Dr. Gorma had gone over a list of equipment she would need and Allura didn't think twice about clearing the expense.
On the first morning of exercises, Darcy fought the urge to wander into the gym and see how everything was going. She had offered to help, but he had turned her down. Lance was having a hard enough time dealing with this, he didn't need an audience. So after morning practice, she waited impatiently in the rec room, watching Caleb and Hunk play a computer game.
"You wanna try, Darc?" Hunk asked, offering her one of the controllers.
"No, thanks."
"Come on, you need to do something. If you keep chewing your nails like that, you're going to hit bone soon."
Darcy quickly pulled her fingers from her mouth and took the offered controller, "Okay, what do I do?"
They played for nearly an hour when they heard the voices in the hall. Darcy shoved the controller back at Hunk and hurried to the doorway. Lance was steering his wheelchair down the hall, he was dressed in sweats and looked exhilarated. Fatina walked beside him, wearing short, red workout shorts and a fitted white tee shirt, leaving almost nothing to the imagination. They were talking and laughing.
"Oh, hi, Darc," Lance said when he saw her.
"Hi. How'd it go?"
"Great!" Fatina said. "We worked on his leg strength. It will take a little while, but I'll have him back on his feet."
"Uh," Darcy looked from Lance to Fatina and back. "Good, I'm glad to hear that."
Fatina turned to Lance, "I think for your first session that went quite well. I want you to keep up those exercises and I'll meet you back in the gym same time tomorrow."
Lance saluted, "Will do."
Smiling, Fatina stroked Lance's cheek in a gesture that was just too intimate for Darcy's liking. "I'll see you later." She looked up and smiled sweetly at Darcy, "See you around, Darby."
"Darcy." She corrected. But Fatina didn't hear her, she was already on her way toward her room.
"Hey," Lance tugged on Darcy's hand, interrupting the not so nice thoughts she was having of his physical therapist.
"I don't like her." Darcy announced.
Lance grinned up at her, "You're jealous."
"I am not."
"Yes you are."
"She's too touchy-feely."
"She's a physical therapist, that involves physical contact."
"This," Darcy gently stroked his cheek just as Fatina had done moments earlier. "Has nothing to do with physical therapy."
"Honey, you're being silly. She's just friendly. Her work requires her to be in close contact with people, it's important that she can…"
"I know what she needs to be able to do."
Lance took her wrists and pulled until she bent over him, "You're being ridiculous. She does nothing for me. There will never be any reason for you to be jealous. I love you. As soon as I'm back on my feet she'll be gone."
"It's not you I'm worried about."
He rolled his eyes, "Don't be so cliché. Dr. Gorma hired her because she is the best at what she does."
"I know."
"Besides, after what I paid for that ring, do you really think I would take the chance of blowing it with you?"
"So the only reason you're staying with me is so that you don't feel you wasted your money on a ring?" She asked, tongue in cheek.
"Well that, and you give really good back rubs."
"I aim to please."
"What are your plans for today?"
"Unless there's an attack, I don't go on duty until five."
Lance patted his lap, "Wanna go for a ride?"
"Is it safe?"
"Is it safe? I am one of the best pilots in the Garrison and you dare ask if it's safe?" He wrapped an arm around her waist and yanked her down.
She sat on his lap, her legs straddling his. "I have a bad feeling about this."
He started the chair and steered it down the hall, "Just keep your eyes peeled for Nanny, I don't need another lecture."
"Where are we going?"
"The kitchen."
"Why?"
"I'm starving. I thought you could help me get something to eat."
"That's a little presumptuous of you. What if I don't want to help?"
Lance tightened his arm around her waist and whispered in her ear, "I could always ask Fatina to help."
"You're going to pay for that, pretty boy!" She cried as they took a corner a little too fast.
