Hello,

All relative disclaimers apply.  I don't own Voltron or any of the characters you recognize from the series.  I'm just having some fun at their expense.

Thank you for your reviews, they are greatly appreciated.

RedLion ~ Thank you for your thoughtful reviews.  You'll just have to wait and see what trouble Fatina brings with her ;-)

Enjoy,

Failte

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

"Rose."  Renata tested the word on her tongue as she gently stroked the velvet petals.

"They're indigenous to Terra.  Keith had these imported for Allura a few years back, as a birthday present."  Pidge told her.

"They're so beautiful.  So may colors."  She whispered, cupping the blossom of a yellow flower.

Pidge broke off a pink bud and used his pocketknife to quickly dispose of the thorns.  Renata blushed when he offered it to her.  Their fingers brushed when she accepted it, lingering a little longer than necessary.

They sat on the bench in the garden.  It was a beautiful, warm day.  Renata was looking and feeling so much better.  The bruises and swelling had cleared, only an old scar above her right eyebrow marked her lovely, young face.  She had begun working with Dr. Gorma, helping him tend to injuries, even assisting Fatina when she allowed it.  Almost effortlessly, she had slipped into the familial atmosphere within the Castle of Lions.  She helped Nanny prepare meals and care for the children.  She played games with the boys and went for walks with Pidge. 

"When, uh, when are you planning on going to Pollux?"  Pidge asked.

Renata twirled the rose between her fingers, watching the blur of pink.  "I don't know.  Rankin is anxious to have me home."

"Keith is feeling better, I think Sven is planning on going home soon."

"But I thought he was still having problems."

Pidge sighed and removed his glasses with one hand and rubbed his eyes with the other.  "He is still missing large chunks of his memory, but he has his strong analytical mind, he's a great leader, that part of his mind is fine.  He can lead us."

"But?"  Renata prompted him.

"But he still isn't comfortable around Allura.  It's like he doesn't remember how he felt about her.  And Cady.  He's fond of her, but he treats her almost like he would his niece, not his daughter."

"It's got to be so hard for Allura."

"Yeah, but she's trying to not let it show."

"She's so strong."  Renata whispered, almost wistfully.

"So are you," Pidge took her hand in both of his. 

She blushed and looked away.

"I, uh, I think we should make the most of the time we have together, before you leave."

"Pidge, I like you, I do, but…"

"But?"

She looked up at him, her face burning.

Pidge leaned over and gently brushed his lips over hers.  He felt her gasp lightly as he brought his hand up to cup the back of her head and deepen the kiss.  Renata pulled back and looked at him, her eyes moist.  She slid her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly to her.

"I want to make the most of that time too."  She whispered.

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

Lance gritted his teeth and clutched the metal handrails.  He was in the gym standing between the waist high parallel bars.  For three days he and Fatina had been working on strengthening his leg muscles and he was getting frustrated.  It just didn't make any sense, why couldn't he walk?  He knew how to, it was just a matter of convincing his body.

"Are you sure you're up to this?"  Darcy stood at the other end of the bars, anxiously watching him.

"This is stupid, I can walk."  He said, sharply.

She bit her tongue and watched as he lifted himself out of the wheelchair and waited a moment to steady himself.  His knees buckled and Darcy stepped forward to help, but he caught himself and took an unsure step forward.  As he made his slow progression, his arms began to shake under his weight.

"Come on, boy, you can do it," Darcy patted her hands on her thighs, like she would if she were calling a dog.

He shot her a dark look, "Keep it up, smartass."

"Or what?  You gonna come and get me?"

"I'm working on it."  He muttered.

She had to fight back the urge to run forward and help him.  Watching him like this was killing her, but he had to do this himself.  Her hands rested lightly on the ends of the handrails as he made his way slowly towards her.  Sweat pored down his forehead and his legs shook.

"If you make it down here, I'll make it worth your while."  Darcy whispered when he stopped halfway.

He looked up and smirked, "Oh?"

Raising an eyebrow, she undid the top button of her blouse.

"Good incentive."  He muttered.

After a couple of more hesitant steps, Darcy undid the second button.

He took a few more steps and looked up at her expectantly.

She shook her head, "You want any more, you come and do it."

"You play a hard game."

"Yeah, but you love this game."

Lance slowly made the last couple of steps and stopped a few inches in front of her, his arms and legs shaking with the effort of standing.

"You did it," she smiled softly.

"Yes I did."

She snaked her arms around his waist and helped steady him, "I'm proud of you."

He kissed her, "Where's my prize?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're a tease."

"Yeah, but you walked."

Leaning heavily on his one hand, he lifted the other and began tugging at the buttons on her blouse.

"No, not here."  She murmured as he kissed her again.

"Help me to my chair and let's get back to my room."

"You have a one track mind."

He pulled back and looked at her, "Your teasing put my mind on that track."

"I love you, Lance."  Darcy said sweetly, batting her eyes.

He brought his arms up around her neck and leaned on her.  She fought to hold him up, but it was a losing battle.

"You're too heavy."

"Come on, you work out, you can support me," he leaned forward.

"You're doing this on purpose," she said as she felt them slide to the floor.

Lance pinned her under him, "I'm here to collect my prize."

"Someone could walk in."

"No, everyone works out in the morning, this place is deserted in the afternoon."  He lowered his mouth to her throat.

"No, Lance…" she was silenced by his mouth.

His hands continued the unbuttoning of her blouse while his mouth cleared every coherent thought from her mind.  He lifted his head and looked down at her, "I love you, Mrs. Collier."

Darcy grinned at the moniker, "Not yet, babe."

"But soon."

"Soon."

He locked his intense gaze on hers, his heart skipped, "So you'll take my name?"

She brought her hands up to run through his hair and bring his face down to hers.  When their mouths broke apart, she smiled, "Of course I will."

"I love you," his voice was low and husky.

"Well isn't this cozy?"

Lance's head whipped up and Darcy groaned.

Fatina stood, hands on her hips, looking down at them.  "Did you hurt yourself?"

Lance pulled Darcy's partially unbuttoned blouse closed and rolled off her.  After quickly doing up her shirt, Darcy sat up while Lance pushed himself up into a sitting position.

"I'm fine," he said.

"What do you want?"  Darcy asked, embarrassed and annoyed.

"I was looking for Lance."

"What is it?"  He asked.

"You really shouldn't be trying to walk alone."

"I was here," Darcy pointed out.

Fatina ignored her.  "You could do more damage than good."

"I'm fine," Lance repeated.  "What did you need me for?"

"I wanted to see how you were doing, you seemed rather distracted this morning."

"I'm great.  As a matter of fact I just walked the length of the bars."

Fatina smirked at Darcy's disheveled appearance, "So that's what it takes to get you to walk, I'll have to keep that in mind."

Darcy's jaw twitched as she clenched her teeth.

"It only works with Darcy," Lance told her.

"How cute."

"If that's all you wanted, we need to get going."  Darcy stood and retrieved Lance's wheelchair.

"Big plans for the day?"  Fatina asked.

"Wedding plans."  Lance hoisted himself into the chair as Darcy held it steady.

Fatina shook her head, "I just don't understand what it is with all of you."

"What do you mean?"  Lance asked.

"You, Captain Whitaker, Sven.  You're all getting married so young.  What's the hurry?  You have your whole lives ahead of you, slow down, have fun."

"Your life doesn't end when you get married."  Darcy said through clenched teeth.

"Yes, well I guess when you get a guy like Lance, you want to make it legal quickly before he can change his mind."

"Or," Lance spoke up before Darcy could respond.  He grabbed her hand and pulled her onto his lap.  "When you get a woman like Darcy, you want to make it legal before she realizes she's too good for you."  He winked at her and gave her a loud, smacking kiss.

Darcy caught Fatina out of the corner of her eye.  The physical therapist looked annoyed and crossed her arms over her chest.  Grinning at Lance, Darcy slid her arms around his neck and leaned in to kiss his jaw. 

As her lips grazed over his jaw and down his throat, Lance looked up at Fatina expectantly, "Uh, if there isn't anything else we would appreciate it if you, uh, if you found someplace else to be."

Fatina narrowed her eyes, "Just be careful, don't overexert yourself."

"I'm going to kill her," Darcy whispered against his ear.

Burying his face in her hair, he murmured, "I love that you're jealous."

When she heard the door to the gym slide closed, Darcy lifted her head and looked at him, "That's not funny."

"I didn't say it was funny.  It's flattering."

Darcy looked at him, incredulous, "You're enjoying this!"

"There is nothing to enjoy, Darcy, nothing is going on."

"She wants you."

"No, she has a boyfriend."

"She told you that?"

Lance smiled at her, "She has told me about him, she's in love with him."

"I don't know…"

"Darcy, do you want me to ask Dr. Gorma to find someone else?"

She looked at him, he was serious.  She knew that if she asked him to, he would get rid of Fatina in a heartbeat and find someone else.  But Dr. Gorma had said Fatina was the best and Lance's recovery was what was important right now.  She did trust him, Lance would never cheat on her.  But there was something about Fatina she did not trust.

"Is she helping?"  Darcy asked finally.

"Yeah, I think she is, but there are other physical therapists out there."

"Well, the most important thing is that you get better."

"We're not sure how long that will be."

"I know," Darcy stood.  "Come on, Nanny wants us to go over flowers."

Lance rolled his eyes, "Couldn't you do this without me?"

"I could, but I don't want to."

"They all look the same to me."  Lance started the wheelchair and followed her toward the door.

Darcy opened the door, "It's your wedding too."

"But I have complete faith in your choices."

"Even if I order a powder blue tux with ruffles for you?"

"You wouldn't dare."

She leaned over his shoulder and whispered, "Try me."

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

Keith sat alone on the observation deck.  On his lap laid an open photo album.  Allura had come up with the idea of gathering all the photos they could find from the Force's time on Arus and let him go through them.  Hunk, Lance, Pidge, and Allura hunted and gathered every photo and album they could find. 

The album on his lap showed pictures from their first few years.  There were pictures from picnics, parties, and just hanging around.  It was hard not to notice how he felt about Allura and her feelings for him.  Lance seemed to enjoy taking pictures of the two of them when they thought no one was watching.  Keith frequently sneaked looks at Allura, openly admiring her.

He had stopped on one photo and stared at it.  Lance had taken it more than a year after they had landed on Arus.  They had all been having a picnic in the garden.  Hunk was sitting on a blanket, finishing off an apple, while Pidge sat beside him, reading aloud from a book.  Allura sat on the bench, listening intently to whatever it was Pidge was reading.  Keith was leaning against a tree, arms folded across his chest, staring at Allura.  He looked happy, relaxed, and utterly in love.  It was so evident on his face.

Keith closed his eyes and leaned his head back as a memory flashed through his mind. 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

They had fought and defeated Zarkon the day before.  Allura had greeted them all in the rec room and announced they were going on a picnic.  Keith tried to argue, it wasn't safe out in the open, but he was shouted down by everyone else.  Nanny had put together a feast in a basket.  They talked, joked, and ate.  They were able to relax a bit and have fun.

There was a slight breeze ruffling the trees.  Pidge pulled a small book out of his pocket, it was a collection of humorous short stories he had found in King Alfor's library.  Allura grinned excitedly.  She remembered that book from her childhood and begged Pidge to read to them.  Keith stood and stretched.  He leaned against the tree and took in the sight before him, his team.  Pride surged through him.  His gaze shifted to Allura, for the first time in ages she looked relaxed and contented.  His heart gave a strange lurch and he longed to reach out and stroke the long, blonde strand that had come loose from her braid and fell in front of her shoulder.  Her brilliant blue eyes shined with laughter.  She was so beautiful, so strong and smart.  If only he was more than a pilot, if only he could offer her what she really deserved.  God, how he loved her.

She looked up and they locked eyes.  He blushed and looked away, afraid she was able to read his thoughts.  A moment later he looked up and saw her still watching him.  It was her turn to look away and blush.  Neither one of them had heard the click of Lance's camera as he took a picture.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

That had been the exact moment he realized how deep his feelings were for her. 

Keith sighed deeply.  His thoughts were so muddled and mixed up.  He knew he should love her.  But his feelings for her felt like they were just memories, he wasn't sure if he really did love her or if he just thought he should love her because that's what everyone expected.  They were married and had a daughter, so he should love her.

 A small box of loose photos sat on the table beside him.  He picked it up and shuffled through them.  They were more recent pictures, ones that Allura hadn't had time to organize and put into albums.

Keith pulled out one that caught his attention.  Allura was obviously near the end of her pregnancy, she looked ready to tip over.  They were standing in the rose garden.  Allura was leaning back against him.  She was beautiful, absolutely glowing, with a huge smile on her face.  He was standing behind her, his arms wrapped around her with his hands spread across her swollen stomach.  His smile was even bigger and prouder.

If it had been any other couple in the universe, he would have remarked about the fact that they seemed so much in love.  But it seemed so unreal.  He was looking at his own face, it radiated excitement, pride, and love.  Why couldn't he feel that now? 

Keith whipped his head around when he heard the soft footfalls of a woman entering the room.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to interrupt."

Keith stuffed the pictures back in the box and shut the album on his lap.  "That's alright, what do you need?"

Fatina stood beside his chair and looked down at the box of photos sitting on the arm of his chair.  She idly pulled out a handful and flipped through the pictures of the young family.  "You look so happy."

He glanced at the picture in her hand.  It was taken right after Cady had been born.  Allura was reclining back in the hospital bed, a tired smile flitted across her pale face.  Keith was perched on the edge of her bed, gingerly cradling the tiny baby in his hands, grinning like a mad man.

"Do you remember this?"  Fatina asked gently.

"Not really.  My memory is like Swiss cheese, full of holes.  I want to remember."

She laid a gentle hand on his shoulder, "I'm sure you will."

"How can I forget my own daughter?  My own wedding?"

"Maybe you don't want to remember."

Keith looked up at her sharply, "What do you mean?  Of course I do."

Fatina held out a photo for him to see.  It was Keith sitting in one of the large overstuffed chairs on the observation deck.  Allura sat on his lap, her head on his shoulder, her eyes half closed, cradling a sleeping Cady to her chest.  "Do you love her?"

Keith hesitated.  "I think so."

"You think so?  It's a simple question, either you do or you don't."

"I don't know."  He admitted.  "I feel like I should love her."

"You should love her?  That's not love, that's obligation, guilt."

That was a direct hit to his heart.  Keith was afraid that was what he felt and that was unfair to Allura and Cady, and himself.

"Where's your ring?"

Keith jolted and looked up at her, suddenly aware of how close she was to him.  "Huh?"

"Your wedding ring.  Where is it?"  Fatina sat on the arm of the chair and leaned over him.

He held up his left hand, he had wondered that himself.  There was a faint tan line on the third finger, but no ring.  If they were married, where was it?  Why had it been taken off?  He had assumed that it had been taken in battle or lost when he was injured.  He stiffened when he felt her warm, moist breath on his neck.

"Real love cannot stem from obligation and guilt," she breathed.

His eyes moved on their own as they lowered to her mouth. 

It all happened in slow motion.  Keith didn't remember leaning forward, accepting her mouth as her lips pressed against his.  Her hands slid into his hair, holding him in place while she deepened the kiss.  His hands came up to her shoulders, at first he meant to push her away, but he hesitated.  It felt good. 

Guilt tore through him with razor sharp accuracy.  Taking her tightly by the shoulders, Keith pushed her away.  She looked down at him through half-closed eyes, her lips parted.  He watched as she slowly licked her lips.

"I'm not going to say I'm sorry that happened," she whispered.

"I am."  He admitted.

Fatina pulled back and looked at him, smugly, "You didn't seem too sorry while it was happening."

"Please leave."

She stood, "You felt something, Captain.  I'll leave, but you can't deny you felt something."  She turned and left.

Keith took a shuttering breath and looked at the picture on his lap.  Allura sat in the rocking chair in their bedroom.  Her hair was down and created a curtain as her head was tilted forward.  She cradled Cady in her arms, one finger in suspended animation as she stroked the petal soft cheek of the sleeping baby.

Keith had taken that picture.  He didn't remember doing it, he just knew he had.

"I want to love you."  He whispered.