"I don't want to look desperate."

"You don't look desperate, Becca, you look cute."

Becca stood in front of the mirror and surveyed herself. She wore a pale green skirt with mauve, blue, and green leaves swirling all over it and a pale green blouse. "What if I'm too dressed up? He just wanted to get together and talk."

Darcy watched her sister from where she lay across the bed. "You look great, Bec, and when you look good, you feel good."

"Wow, that was deep." Becca sat on the edge of the bed.

"I'm actually excited about this," Darcy admitted.

"What?"

"Well, I've known some of your boyfriends in the past and I can honestly say that Pidge is the best one you've had. He's such a great guy. I think you finally found someone worthy of you."

Becca laughed, "Worthy of me? Okay, first of all, he isn't my boyfriend, second of all we're just friends, you make it sound like we're getting married."

"I'm just saying, he's a great guy and you guys would be good together."

"Is this an example of you're so happy and in love that you want everyone to be happy and in love?"

Darcy rolled over onto her stomach, "What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing. I do want what you have, not that I'm in a big hurry, I still have school to finish and all. Do you realize how lucky you are?" Becca sighed and fell back on the bed. "You're done with dating, you have an amazing man and a great life."

"And your lucky days are just around the corner, Becs, don't be so dramatic."

"I had all but given up on men when I met Pidge."

"You met him at a difficult time in his life."

"I know, he told me all about Renata. He thought he was in love with her, but he couldn't be sure since they didn't really have a lot of time to get to know each other."

Darcy nodded slowly, "She was taken very suddenly. Part of his problem is that he blamed himself."

"What?" Becca sat up. "Why would he blame himself?"

"I guess he didn't want to talk about that," Darcy pushed herself up and sat on the edge of the bed. "Pidge was afraid that her death was his fault, it didn't help that Rankin also blamed him. She stayed here because of Pidge and so he thought it was his fault she was dead."

"That's awful! I never knew he felt that way. I knew he cared for her, a lot, and that he was upset, but, I mean, that's awful. Rankin really blamed him?" Becca stood and paced the floor. "What a jerk! It wasn't Pidge's fault! He is such a good person, something like that would just eat away at him. And he didn't want to talk about it, he was carrying all that inside."

"To be fair, Rankin was very upset, he was speaking out of  pain. We have no idea what they had gone through and to lose his sister like that, he wasn't thinking very clearly. Something happened between him and Pidge, though, they somehow worked through it and have somewhat of a friendship now."

Becca looked at her sister, pity etched on her face, "I can't believe he had carried that kind of guilt with him for over a year now."

"They're all like that, Bec, they have a job to do and they won't let their feelings get in the way." Darcy told her.

Becca sank down on the edge of the bed again, "I didn't know. God, I feel so selfish. He has so much going on and all I could think about was that he didn't meet me yesterday."

"You're not selfish. Becca, do you realize everything you did for him? Keith is ready to make you a saint. You were able to bring Pidge out of his depression when no one else could. You've been good for him."

She blushed under her sister's praise, "But I didn't do anything. We just talked."

Darcy stood and stretched, "You did more than you will ever know."

"Where are you going?"

"I didn't think you wanted me along on your date, so I am going to make myself scarce."  Darcy told her, crossing to the door. "Have fun."

"Thanks, Darcy."

"Oh," Darcy turned, her hand on the keypad to unlock the door. "If I can give you one piece of advice, don't let what I told you change you're attitude towards Pidge. Don't pity him or feel sorry for him, he doesn't want that. Most likely, he didn't tell you all of this because he liked the fact that he could talk to you about other things. It wouldn't be a constant reminder of what he was feeling, no matter how misguided his feelings were. Just be yourself, have fun."

Becca smiled weakly and nodded.

Darcy made her way down the hall toward her and Lance's room.  She knew she was lucky and she would happily admit to anyone.  Lance was the greatest thing that had ever happened to her and she loved and appreciated him for who he was and what he did for her.  She walked into their room, the door sliding shut behind her.  Kicking her shoes off as she crossed the room, Darcy noticed the door to Schuyler's nursery wide open.

The first thing she saw were toys.  Everywhere.  As she took in the mess before her, Darcy mentally reminded herself how lucky she was to have him in her life.  She stopped short when she saw, in the middle of all the mess, was Lance, sprawled on his stomach facing Schuyler who was lying on her stomach.  Darcy crept over and kneeled down beside them.

"What are you doing?"  She whispered.

At the sound of her mother's voice, Schuyler lifted her gaze and smiled.

"Thank you," Lance looked up and smiled at her.  "Your interruption allowed me to win the staring contest."

"You were having a staring contest with a five month old baby?"

"We were doing best three out of five," Lance rolled over onto his back.

"You were tied?"

"Hey, she's good."

"Or you just suck."

Lance reached out, grabbed Darcy's arm, pulling her down on him, "That's not very nice."

"I'm sorry," Darcy looked down at him.  "Can I make it up to you?"

He sighed dramatically and threw his head back, "Well, you can try.  But it will take a lot."

Smiling, Darcy lowered her head, gently kissing and nibbling his throat.  She ran her hands up under his shirt, caressing his sides, feeling him shift underneath her.

"Okay, you're forgiven and you're going to want to stop doing that," Lance warned.

"And if I don't?" She breathed into his ear.

"You'll scar the kid."

Darcy lifted her head and looked at their daughter. She still lay on her stomach near them, smiling and wiggling for attention. Her mouth was open and she was making little panting noises.

"I think she's laughing at us," Darcy muttered.

"Well it is pretty disturbing, your parents making out right in front of you." He brought his arms up around her, holding her against him.

"Who's going to clean up this mess?" She asked, laying her head on his chest.

"Schuyler."

Darcy closed her eyes and smiled, "Oh really?"

"Hey, she made the mess, she can clean it up. It's never too early to start teaching her responsibility for her actions."

"And you are just the one to teach her, huh?"

Lance lifted his head and kissed the top of her head, "How's Becca?"

"Nervous."

"Really?"

"Yeah, you'd think she was getting ready for the prom."

He chuckled.

"It's kind of cute, actually."

Lance stroked her back lazily, feeling her relax against him. "I talked to the town commissioner today to see who owns that plot of land."

Darcy lifted her head and looked down at him, "Who is it?"

"It's still part of the castle grounds."

"Really? Have you talked to Allura?"

"Not yet. I know she would give it to us in a heartbeat, but I don't know if she can. This is ancient land, having belonged to the royal family for centuries, I don't think it would be right for her to just chop it off and sell it to us."

Darcy nodded, "That's alright, there are plenty of great plots all over this planet."

"I know, I just really wanted that one."

She smiled down at him, stroking his cheek, knowing he was disappointed. It was a great piece of land. A slight hill, trees all around it and a creek that ran along the back perimeter, when you looked east you saw the Castle of Lions, west was Alforia, and north were the woods. "You don't always get what you want."

He tightened his arms around her, "I do."

Darcy watched as his eyes darkened and he shifted beneath her again, "I thought you didn't want to warp the kid."

"I'll put her to bed and meet you next door."

"Lance, we haven't even had dinner yet."

"I don't know about you, but I'm not hungry…Dammit!" He rolled Darcy off him and jumped to his feet. "Stay here, I'll go see what's going on."

Darcy sat up and gently lifted her daughter off the floor, cradling the baby to her shoulder, trying to calm her frightened cries.

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

Becca tugged at her skirt, smoothing out the imaginary wrinkles. As nervous as she was, she also felt rather silly. This was just Pidge after all, her friend. There was no reason for her to feel this nervous. No, there was plenty of reason for her to feel this nervous. What if he didn't feel the same way? What if she made a total ass out of herself and ruined their friendship?

She jumped when she heard a quiet knock on the door. Taking a deep breath, Becca crossed the room and opened it. Pidge stood on the other side looking down at his shoes. She smiled when she saw him. He looked incredibly handsome, wearing khaki slacks and a green collared shirt.

When the door opened, he looked up and flashed her a smile, "Hi."

"Hi." Blushing slightly, Becca stepped back and let him into her room. She couldn't help but notice the way his eyes traveled from her face to her feet and then back up again.

"You, uh, you look great, Bec." Pidge felt his tongue grow heavy in his mouth as he tried to form the words. Come on, this is Becca, there is no reason for you to be this nervous, he thought to himself as he entered the room. He could smell her in the room, the light vanilla fragrance she wore and it made him weak in the knees. Quick, come up with something to say before she thinks you're a total idiot. "So, uh, you guys made it into town alright today?"

"Yeah, it was great. It's a beautiful town. Darcy told me how you set up the entire computer system at the University."

He shrugged, "Well, I helped. That school was downright antiquated. But then they haven't had much chance to study for a while."

"It amazes me what all you guys have done for this planet."

"We were just doing our job."

Becca smiled, "Well then you guys are really good at your job."

Nervously, Pidge thrust his hands in his pockets, his right hand bumping into a small box. "Oh, I, uh, I have something for you."

"For me?" Becca couldn't help but feel pleased.

"Yeah, a, uh, a graduation present." Pidge held out the small box.

It was wrapped in gold paper and had a silver bow tied around it. With shaking hands, Becca tugged at the ribbon. "You didn't have to get me anything. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love presents, I'm not too proud to admit that. I probably shouldn't have said that, it makes me sound greedy, I'm not greedy, I just love presents. Giving them, receiving them."

Pidge raised an eyebrow and watched anxiously as she unwrapped the present. She was babbling. He remembered how Lance had said Darcy did that when she was nervous. Was she as nervous as he was? No. Not Becca. He had never known anyone so laidback and confident.

"Oh! Oh, Pidge," Becca looked up at him, her lower lip trembling. "It's beautiful." Nestled on the cotton was a small caduceus intricately carved in silver with gold accents on a delicate silver chain.

"I, uh, I saw it and I thought of you." He mumbled.

"I don't know what to say," she whispered, lifting it out of the box. "I love it. Thank you."

Pidge raised his gaze to hers and felt himself move closer to her, "I'm glad you like it."

Becca fumbled with the clasp, trying unsuccessfully to undo it.

"Here, let me."

She watched as he took the necklace and opened the clasp. He had the long slender fingers of an artist and they moved competently and smoothly. Becca found herself rooted to the spot as he stepped closer. The voice in the back of her head was telling her to turn around so he could fasten it around her neck, but she couldn't move.

Pidge continued to stare directly into her eyes as he moved closer. She didn't move. At a loss as to what else he could possibly do, he brought his hands up around her and tried to fasten the clasp. His fingers fumbled, he couldn't see what he was doing. His hands brushed the back of her neck and his fingers tangled in her hair. He could feel her shaking.

Becca closed her eyes. Her heart raced as he had his arms around her neck. She could feel the heat coming off his body and the slight tremor that passed through him. Every time his fingers brushed the back of her neck as he tried to close the clasp, a chill ran down her spine and her stomach flipped over. All of a sudden she felt the weight of the necklace drop against her breastbone. Opening her eyes, she saw him staring intently at her. The necklace was securely fastened, but he still had his arms on her shoulders and his hands behind her neck.

Pidge didn't know where he suddenly developed his nerve. Maybe it was while he was watching her as he fastened the clasp. Her cheeks turned a dark pink and she closed her eyes, her mouth opening just slightly. Unconsciously, his thumb stroked the back of her neck and he felt the shiver that ran through her. Very slowly, her eyes opened and she looked up at him through her lashes. He had never seen anyone so beautiful.

Her arms moved of their own accord as Becca brought them up around him and they both moved closer. It all seemed to be happening in slow motion. She felt rather than saw him leaning his head down towards hers. His breath was warm against her mouth and Becca leaned closer in anticipation.

They jumped apart. Startled by the sound of the castle alarms.

Becca looked up at him, shock and a little disappointment in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, I have to…I have to go…" Pidge backed toward the door, never taking his eyes off hers.

"I know, it's okay."

She watched as he turned and ran down the corridor.