Hello!
Just another quick reminder since I haven't said this in a while: I do not own Voltron or any of the characters you recognize from the series.  Everyone else is all mine though.
Thank you so much for your reviews, they are appreciated.


Enjoy,

Failte

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

Pidge sat quietly on the ship, watching the takeoff from the window beside him.  Arus fell away behind them.  His head pounded and he knew it was from the unusually large amount of alcohol he had consumed over the past couple of days and the lack of sleep.  He was a smart enough guy to know that all the alcohol didn't help, if anything it just made him feel worse.  But every time he closed his eyes, he saw her in his arms and felt the warm, sticky blood on his hands. 

Just a few days earlier he was as happy as he had ever been.  Renata was a special, beautiful woman.  Someone he truly enjoyed spending time with and teaching her about life outside of the harem.  After all that she had been through, she was still a kind, gentle soul.  Her experiences had made her untrusting of people, she was almost painfully shy.  But when they were alone, she was a whole other person.  She talked about her life with her family before Lotor, she told him how much she enjoyed helping people and taking care of the children.  Over the past couple of weeks, she had relaxed enough that she would joke with him and even play a few jokes on him.  She had a great sense of humor.

Getting up that morning had been one of the most difficult things Pidge has ever had to do.  He wanted to pull the covers over his head and pretend none of this had happened.  But no, he owed it to Renata.  As much as he dreaded arriving on Pollux, seeing her buried, he owed it to her memory to be there. 

And he dreaded seeing Rankin.  Pidge knew her brother blamed him for her death.  He thought Pidge had made her feel obligated to stay and then didn't protect her well enough.  He could handle Rankin, but he couldn't help beating himself up, wondering if Rankin was right.  If only he had explained all the alarms better to her, told her what to do if they went off.  He had told her that when she heard the alarms, she should take cover, stay in her room.  But he knew she had heard the alarms and had waited a good ten minutes after they were shut off before coming to Castle Control to see if there was anything she could do to help.  That's all she wanted to do, help.  Damn Lotor! 

Pidge began to imagine the horrible, painful ways he would make Lotor pay for what he did when he felt a gentle pat on his leg.  Turning his gaze from the window he looked down to see Erik patting his leg, trying to get his attention.

"Pid?"

Pidge reached out and gently stroked the boy's dark blonde hair.  "How ya doin' Erik?"

Erik held up his arms, "Hi."

"Hi."  He picked up the little boy and set him on his knee.

"Sorry about dat," Sven sat in the seat beside him.  "He's feeling restless and dere isn't much to do on dis ship."

Pidge shrugged, "He's alright."

Erik squealed at his father and held up his arms, "Da!"

"Dat's my boy," Sven took him onto his own lap and handed him a board book.  He watched as Erik studied the cover before gnawing on the corner.  "How're you feeling, Pidge?"

"I'm dreading this, Sven."

"I know you are, ve all are."

"I swear, if I ever see Lotor again I am throwing all protocol out the window.  Screw arresting him, he's dead."

Sven set Erik on the floor and gave him a gentle pat on the bottom, "Go find Mommy."  He turned to Pidge, "Ve vill get him.  But you cannot allow de anger to overtake you.  I know you are hurt, but time vill help.  Take the energy you're vasting on anger and put it into finding and defeating Lotor.  But today is about Renata.  Put your anger aside.  Tink of her and de time you had together."

Pidge turned toward the window as he felt a large lump form in his throat.

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

Lance went in search of Darcy.  It was midmorning and she had yet to make an appearance.  Dr. Gorma had sent a message to the medicine woman on Planet Gunnel.  Gunnel was a primitive planet with no electronic means of communication, so a messenger was sent with instructions to not return without a response.

He knocked on her door and entered when there was no response.  Darcy had gone to her room and showered.  She got as far as throwing her robe on before falling asleep across her still made bed.

Lance took the throw off the back of the chair and carefully laid it over her.  He knew she hadn't slept well the night before.   After talking to Pidge, he had returned to his room to find her awake, she was in pain, but it was too soon to take any more medication.

"Wha' iz it?"  She mumbled as she felt the weight of the blanket drop on her.

"Nothing.  Go back to sleep."

Darcy pushed herself up and rubbed her eyes, "What time is it?"

"It's ten."

"Oh no, I was going to see them off, I wanted to say goodbye."

"You're three hours late."  Lance sat beside her on the bed.

"How was Pidge?"

"He seemed a little better.  How're you feeling?"

"I'm okay.  I don't understand why I'm so tired."

"It's alright, give in to it."  Lance leaned back on his elbows.  "Dr. Gorma sent a message to the medicine woman on Gunnel."

"I hope she'll be able to tell me what's wrong."

"I'm sure she will.  Wanna make out?"

Darcy laughed, "Thanks for the offer, but no.  I have to get moving."

"What do you have to do?"

"I'm on duty this afternoon."

"Like hell you are."

Darcy stood and began digging through her closet, "I am."

"You're on medical leave.  You are not to do any work."

"Sitting in Castle Control and monitoring the radars won't wear me out."

"Don't argue with me, Sergeant, I'm you're commanding officer and that is a direct order."

Darcy sighed deeply and fell onto her desk chair, "This sucks, Lance.  What am I supposed to do?"

"Relax.  Take care of yourself and the little one.  Plan the wedding.  Plan the nursery.  I'm sure you'll find something."  Lance rolled over onto his side and watched her look up at the calendar hanging above her desk.

"Oh, Lance," she cried, pointing to the calendar.  "Next Sunday is the triple moon.  Let's get married then!"

Arus was orbited by three moons.  Twice a year all three moons appeared full at the same time, one was a pale yellow, the other a pale green, and the third one a pale lavender.  They shimmered against the dark sky and cast an ethereal glow down on the planet.

He crossed to the desk and looked at the calendar, "Sounds good to me.  We'll have to meet with Nanny to make the plans.  Have you spoken to her about your dress?"

"Uh, no."  Since their meeting in the kitchen the night before, Darcy had no real desire to talk to Nanny.  "I was just going to wear my dress uniform."

Lance smiled down at her.  While she was getting ready to go into town the day before, Darcy complained about the trouble she was having finding jeans that fit right.  "Are you sure it will fit?"

"Of course it will!"  She cried, indignantly. 

He held his hands up in defense, "I'm sure it will.  I just thought you would like a real wedding dress."

"There really isn't enough time."

"Sure there is.  If you meet with Nanny she and Allura's seamstress can have you measured today and can have the dress done by Sunday."

Darcy looked down at her lap, playing with the tie of her robe, "I don't want to be a bother."

"Darcy, it's our wedding, it's not a bother.  Do you want a wedding dress?"

She looked up at him, "I do.  A long white one with a veil and flowers."

"Then you should have one.  You go meet with Nanny and I'll cover your shift.  Just promise me something."

Darcy put her hands on the desk and pushed herself to her feet, "What?"

"If you feel tired or any pain at all, rest.  Don't push yourself."

"I will."

Lance leaned over and brushed his lips over hers, "I love you."

Darcy wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss.  "I am sorry Lance."

"For what?"  He asked, sliding his arms around her waist and pulling her closer while he nuzzled her neck.

"For not trusting you."

Lance pulled back and looked at her, "I thought we were past this."

"I just feel so bad about the things I said and the way I behaved.  I should have known you wouldn't cheat on me."

"Well as long as we're clear on that."

"You aren't mad at me?"

He smiled softly and ran his hand through her hair, "I was more hurt than angry."

His admission only made her feel worse.  "I'm sorry," she muttered, looking down.

"Hey," he cupped her chin in his hand and forced her to look up at him.  "Stop it.  I'm not angry, I'm no longer hurt.  I'm just glad we were able to get past this.  And seeing you fight Fatina was pretty hot."

Darcy felt the heat rise to her face, "That was not one of my finer moments."

"I beg to differ."

She shook her head in disbelief and rested her forehead on his shoulder, "You're unbelievable."

He kissed her temple, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah.  I'll get dressed and then go find Nanny."

"Let me know if there's anything you need me to do."

"I will."

Lance smiled, "I'll find you later."  He gave her one last quick kiss before leaving her to dress.

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

It was early afternoon when the transport ship descended onto Pollux.  Pidge watched from his seat as everyone else stood and stretched, gathered their things and began to head toward the exit.  Keith stopped and looked down at him.

"You ready, Pidge?"  He asked, concerned.     

Pidge nodded and slowly stood.  More than anything else, he dreaded seeing Rankin and he knew he would be on the tarmac to meet them.

Shouldering his bag, Pidge followed Keith to the door and down the ramp.  To his surprise, Rankin was not there.  Paget and Bandor were waiting for them, both looking more than a little worn out.

Hugs and quiet greetings were exchanged.  Pidge stood off to the side, feeling out of place and uncomfortable.

"Come along," Bandor told them.  "We'll set you up in your rooms.  Romelle, Sven, I'm sure you guys want to get home."

Sven and Romelle had moved out of the castle before Erik was born.  They had been invited to stay on, Bandor would have preferred it if they had stayed, but Sven wanted a home of their own for his family.  They were still on castle grounds, Sven was in charge of the Polluxian military and needed to be near the command center.  Their home was a cozy, three bedroom cottage built on an acre of land on the northwest corner of the castle grounds.

Sven whispered something to Romelle.  She smiled up at him and nodded.  Sven crossed to where Pidge was standing off to the side.

"Pidge, ve vere vondering if you vould rather stay vith us."  Sven offered.

Pidge looked up at him, knowing they were offering him an out.  If he stayed with Sven and Romelle, he wouldn't be in the same castle as Rankin.  And he really appreciated the thought.  "Uh, yeah, sure.  That's cool."  He muttered in response.

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

It was a tradition for their people to hold their burials at sundown.  A spot had been selected under a tree in the corner of a small cemetery behind the church.  A few words were said by the minister of the Universal Church of Beliefs before he stepped aside.

Rankin stepped forward and laid a flower resembling a pale yellow lily on top of her casket.  He kissed his fingers and pressed them to the closed lid.  Rainger followed suit, performing the same ritual.  Paget did the same.  The others stood quietly, their heads bowed in quiet respect. 

Keith turned his head and saw Pidge, standing off to the side, his hands folded behind his back, staring intently at the casket, almost as though he was trying to see through the wood.  He knew the young man clutched a rose in his hands behind his back.  A small pink bud he had carefully cut and packed in one of Nanny's plastic containers.  There was obviously some significance, but Keith knew it was too private to ask.

When Paget stepped back and took her place beside Rankin, Pidge slowly stepped forward and placed the rose on top of the casket.  He pressed his hand to the lid and closed his eyes.  Paget felt Rankin stiffen beside her.  She took his hand in hers and squeezed gently.  Pidge moved back from the casket, his eyes glassy.

The minister stood at the head of the casket and raised both arms above his head.  "We offer your child, Renata Raven Lockwood, back to you.  Take her to your bosom and protect her until she can once again be joined by her loved ones."  He brought his hands together over his head and lowered them until they clutched before him at chest level.  "Go with the knowledge that she is in a far better place and her spirit will forever be with all of you."

One by one, Keith, Allura, Sven, Romelle, Hunk, and Bandor hugged or shook hands with Rankin, Rainger, and Paget, expressing their sorrow and offering to help in any way they could.

Pidge stood back and watched as four men lowered the casket into the hole that had been dug.  Allura made a step to go to him, but Keith took her arm and stopped her.

"Let him be," he whispered.

She nodded and followed the others up to the castle.

Pidge continued to watch as they began shoveling the soft, Polluxian dirt onto her casket.  He fought the urge to run forward and stop them.  She could not be dead!  She was too young.  There was so much she still needed to do, to see.  He didn't notice as it grew darker out and he sat under the tree, staring unseeingly at the mound of fresh dirt that covered her grave.  He didn't look up when someone came out and stood beside him, watching him.  Whoever it was sat down and leaned back against the tree.  Pidge was aware someone was there, and judging from the size of him, it had to have been Hunk.

"I wanted to hate you."

Pidge looked up sharply to see Rankin sitting beside him, his face half-lit by the moonlight.  He stared ahead at the grave, his face lined and worn.

"No, I did hate you," he corrected himself.  "She stayed because of you.  You know that, don't you?"

Guilt and loss caused a sharp pain to pierce his chest, but Pidge could not respond.

"Renata," Rankin's voice shook as he spoke her name.  "Renata was the last of our family.  We thought she was lost to us.  I cannot begin to tell you what it meant to us to find her.  But when it was time to leave Arus, she told me she wanted to stay.  I told her…I told her no, she needed to go with us.  But she said you all had saved her and she wanted to repay you all for your kindnesses.  But there was more to it than that."

Pidge looked down at his hands where they twisted in his lap.

"She had feelings for you.  I know that.  And I know you had feelings for her as well.  When Sven called to tell me what had happened, I blamed you.  She had stayed because of you so she was dead because of you."

Unable to keep quiet any longer, Pidge spoke, "Rankin, I know you…"

Rankin held up his hand to silence Pidge.  "I talked to Allura.  She told me about the past month.  How happy, how productive she had been.  You treated her well and she had fun.  I don't know what all went on between you and my sister, but I have enough respect for her to not pry.  Your relationship was something special to her."

"And to me," Pidge whispered.

"Allura told me what Renata's last words were."  Rankin turned finally and looked at Pidge.  "Thank you."

Pidge started with surprise, "What?"

"She was happy with you Pidge.  Up until you guys had rescued her, her life had been hell.  I don't know what all she went through at Lotor and Landor's hands, but I can only imagine how difficult it was.  Her time after leaving them was short, but it was happy.  As far as any of us knew, Arus and the Castle of Lions was the safest place she could be."  He stopped to take a deep breath.  "I'm sorry for blaming you.  I'm sorry for thinking your pain was not as important as ours.  I know you grieve as much for Renata as the rest of us."

Pidge nodded, a lump in his throat.

Rankin turned again and looked at his young sister's grave.  "Our people believe that when a person dies, a part of their spirit is soon reborn.  My grandfather died two days before my mother found out she was carrying me.  It has always been believed that my grandfather lives within me."  He turned to look at Pidge again.  "Paget is with child."

"So, you think…" Pidge trailed off.

"This child will carry part of Renata within them."

Pidge nodded.

Rankin stood and brushed himself off.  "Don't stay out too much longer, it gets cold at night."

Pidge cleared his throat, trying to find his voice, "I won't Rankin.  Thank you."

Rankin nodded curtly and turned back toward the castle.