Hi!

Yet the next chapter in my series and it's a holiday story!  I know, it's still early, but I started it and I couldn't wait to post it.  This is pure fluff and fun.  This chapter is mostly Pidge/Becca, but you will see a lot more Lance/Darcy and Keith/Allura.

I'm having fun writing it, so I hope you enjoy reading it.

Enjoy,

Failte

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

Pidge smiled down at the image before him, "So this is when we tell your parents?"

Becca nodded, "Yeah, they decided they wanted to spend Schuyler's first Christmas with her, so they're coming too."

"Well, I guess that's good.  I don't want to feel as though we're sneaking around."

"True.  And I'm sure we'll be able to ditch them a few times."

"Just a few?"  He smiled.

"Well, they are going to be there to see the baby, we can use her to distract them."

"That's pretty sneaky."

Becca smiled, "So you're getting a look at my naughty side."

He raised an eyebrow, "Oh, I think I've seen that already.  As a matter of fact, I think I've seen all your sides."

He cheeks reddened a bit, "I can't believe I'll be there in a week.  I can't wait."

"Neither can I.  The castle is going to be packed."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, besides you and your parents, Lance's parents and Keith's mother are all coming too."  Pidge told her.

"Wow, is that too much?"

"Nah, there is plenty of room and Allura loves having a full castle.  Besides, with grandparents all over the place, I think Keith and Allura and Lance and your sister are looking forward to free babysitting and free time."

"So there will be plenty of distractions."

"Looks that way.  How're finals?"

"Good, good.  How're things there?"

"Boring without you."

She smiled, "One more week."

"One more week," he repeated.

Becca watched as he turned from the screen and spoke to someone behind him before turning back.

"I have to go, Bec, Keith needs to make a call," he told her, reluctantly. 

"Okay, I'll talk to you later, Pidge."

"Good night, Becca."

"Good night, Pidge.  I love you."

He blushed at her comment, knowing Keith was behind him pretending not to listen.  "Me too."

She smiled at his embarrassment, "Good night."

"'Night."  He reached over and pressed the button that disconnected the call.

"How's Becca doing?"  Keith asked.


"She's doing great."

He grinned at Pidge, "You excited about next week?"

"And nervous."

"I would suggest you talk to Lance, see how he handled Mr. Barlow."

Pidge laughed, "Thanks for the advice, Cap."

"Any time, Lieutenant."

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

A week later, Pidge stood nervously beside Lance on the tarmac watching the transport ship descend.  Nerves and excitement made his heart race while the advice Lance had given him ran through his mind.  Be respectful.  Stand up for yourself and Becca.  You know this is right and with her by your side, you'll get through this first hurdle without a problem.  I would, however, suggest that if you decide to get married, wait until after the wedding before you get her pregnant.

"Calm down, man," Lance whispered.  "You look guilty."

Pidge wiped his sweaty palms on his pants and nodded, "Sorry."

Darcy giggled, "He's not that bad."

"Sweetie," Lance wrapped his arm around her waist.  "You're father can be a very, uh…intimidating man."

"He's really just a big softy, you just rubbed him the wrong way," she corrected.

"Yeah, well, he has to like me now."

"He has to?"

"Yup," Lance lifted Schuyler out of her hands.  "I gave him a beautiful granddaughter.  Right, Sky?"

She bounced in his arms and clapped her hands.

"So you're using our daughter to bribe him into accepting you?"

"Uh huh."

Pidge watched the two of them playfully argue, "Um, guys?  I think they're about to unboard."

"Are you saying I had nothing to do with our daughter?" Darcy asked, ignoring Pidge.

"Well, she does look more like me."

Darcy snorted, "Hardly.  Those eyes, the nose…all Barlow."

Lance traced his finger along the baby's face, "But the shape of her face, her hair, and her amazing personality are all Collier."

"You mean she's a self-centered troublemaker?"

"No, she's charming and sweet and intelligent.  Very Collierish."

"The intelligence all comes from the Barlow side."  A deep voice interrupted.

"Dad!"  Darcy grinned and threw her arms around her father.  "Hi!  How was your trip?"

"Long, but good," he turned and shook hands with Lance.  "Lance, how are you?"

"Fine, Sir." 

"Oh, Schuyler!"  Lucy Barlow cried, dropping her bag and reaching out for her granddaughter.

Lance smiled sheepishly when Schuyler wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his neck, "I guess she's feeling a little shy."

The door behind them opened and Keith walked out, carrying Cady.  "Mr. and Mrs. Barlow, it's so nice seeing you again.  Allura had hoped to be out here to greet you, but she had to see to the babies."

"Babies?"  Lucy asked.

Keith grinned, "Yes, Ma'am.  We have four month old twin boys now, Gideon and Declan."

"Twin boys," the woman shook her head.  "I don't know how she does it, running a planet and raising three children."

"She's an amazing woman," Keith's voice was full of pride.

"Hi there, Cady," Lucy ran her finger down the little girl's arm.


Cady smiled shyly, "Hi."

"Where's, uh, where's Becca?"  Pidge asked, finding his voice.

Howard Barlow looked at the young man, "Um, Lieutenant…"

"Lt. Audric, sir," Pidge extended his hand.

"She should be right behind us," Lucy said.  "She was talking to the co-pilot though, a nice handsome young man."

Lance smiled when he saw Pidge stiffen.

Howard shook his head, "No.  I already lost one daughter to a pilot, not two."

Keith and Lance grinned at each other.

"Becs!"  Darcy ran over to her sister, throwing her arms around her, whispering in her ear, "He's going nuts.  Give us ten minutes and we'll have Mom and Dad distracted with our house plans."

"Do I look okay?"  Becca whispered back, tugging on her blouse.

Darcy laughed quietly, "You look great, but then you could've gotten off that ship with a shaved head and dressed in rags and he would still be drooling at your feet."

"Becca," Lance pulled her into a one-armed hug.  "Great to see you again."

"You too, Lance," she hugged him back and kissed Schuyler's cheek.  "Hi there, Sky.  You've gotten so big!"

Keith moved in next and gave her a quick hug before smoothly passing her on to Pidge.  It was moments like this that Pidge loved his friends the most.  By all of them hugging her, it wouldn't seem so obvious when he hugged her.

Becca felt the flush rise to her cheeks as she faced Pidge.  Very slowly, she stepped closer and let him envelope her into a hug.  She closed her eyes as she rested her cheek on his shoulder, smelling his soap, feeling his body against hers.  A shiver ran through her as she felt him press his lips to her ear.

"I've missed you so much," he whispered.

"Darcy said to give them ten minutes," she whispered back, stepping reluctantly out of the hug.

"Come on, let's get you settled into your rooms," Keith announced.  "The guards will bring your bags up and I'm sure you want to get settled in before dinner."

"That would be lovely," Lucy said graciously.  "Come on, Darcy, I want to get reacquainted with my granddaughter."

Pidge and Becca lagged behind them, hopping they weren't being too obvious.  But her parents were distracted by the baby and Darcy's description of the house they were planning to build, so they didn't even notice that once they entered the castle, Pidge grabbed Becca's hand and pulled her into the Observation Deck.  As soon as the door shut behind them, Pidge had his arms around her and his mouth attacking hers.  Becca's hands were fisted in his hair, holding him in place while she deepened the kiss and pressed against him, trying to get closer.

After a few moments, Pidge raised his head to catch his breath.  "I couldn't wait ten minutes."

Becca chuckled, resting her forehead against his shoulder.  "I didn't think it was possible to miss someone as much as I've missed you.  It took everything in me to keep from jumping on you as soon as I got off the ship."

He ran his hands up and down her back, "I know what you mean.  We have to tell them tonight, I can't sneak around.  I want to be able to spend time with you and I don't want to have to come up with silly excuses every time."

"Let's tell my Mom first," Becca wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned against him.  "I think she can help ease him into the idea of us.  My father has been making comments lately about me concentrating on my studies and not being distracted by boys."

Pidge pulled back and looked down at her, "Are there boys distracting you?"

"Just you," she stood on her toes and kissed him.

Pidge smiled, "Well I guess that's okay."  His communicator beeped and he groaned as he unclipped it.  "Audric."

"Hey, Pidge," Darcy whispered.  "My mother is asking where Becca is, she wants to see her room."

Pidge nodded, "We'll be right there."  He snapped the communicator shut.

"Tonight, we'll talk to my mother," she whispered, running her hands up and down his arms.

"Okay," he looked at her and the longing he felt deepened until he was afraid it would completely consume him.  "I love you."

She smiled, "I love you too."

"Come on, I'll show you to your room," he took her hand and led her out of the Observation Deck.

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

After dinner that night, everyone retired to the rec room.  Lucy sat on the couch beside Darcy, cradling her granddaughter.  Lance was showing his father-in-law the blueprints for the house they were going to be building.  Keith sat on the floor with Allura, their sons lying on a blanket in front of them, Cady sat beside them, leaning against her father, letting the low murmur of the adult's voices lull her. 

Becca sat beside her mother, pretending to listen to her cooing at Schuyler.  Pidge sat on the couch opposite her.  Every so often they would catch each other's eye and smile. 

"Now when are you going to start building?"  Howard asked Lance.

"We're waiting a couple of months until after the last snowfall," Lance replied.

"Four bedrooms?"

"Yes, sir.  Plenty of room for whenever you guys want to visit."

"Oh, we'll have to have a housewarming party when it's finished," Lucy added excitedly.

Darcy looked up and watched as Pidge and Becca flirted wordlessly with smiles and winks.  Her heart went out to them, knowing they wanted some time together, but was finding it hard.

"Come on," she tapped Lance on the shoulder.  "It's time for little ones to go to bed."

"It's still early," he protested.

Darcy stood, kicking his foot in the process, "No, it's been a long, busy day.  And besides, I bet Grandma would love to read Schuyler a story before bed."

"Oh, I would love to," Lucy stood, cradling the little girl.

"It is getting late," Allura stood, cradling Gideon to her breast.

"How do you manage all three children?"  Lucy asked.

"Like this," Keith held Declan to his chest and crouched beside Cady.  "Come on, Cady Bear, wanna go for a ride?"

Cady stood, clutching her blanket in one hand, and wrapped her arms around her father's neck, "Up, Daddy."

Keith stood, cradling Declan in one arm and securing Cady, piggy-back style, on his back with the other arm.

"You coming Dad?"  Darcy asked.

"I think too many people in the nursery will make it hard for Schuyler to sleep," he told her, kissing the baby gently on the forehead.  "See you in the morning, sweetie."

Darcy looked apologetically at her sister and Pidge.

Lance smiled, rolled up the floor plans and stood, "If you want to come with me, sir, you can see the plot of land from the Observation Deck.  It's a clear enough night."

"Alright," Howard turned to his youngest daughter.  "You coming, Rebecca?"

"Uh, well, I thought I'd stay up a bit.  Catch up with the guys," she replied weakly.

"Come on, Howard," his wife said.  "Let Becca catch up with her friends."

Hunk walked into the rec room just as Allura and Keith left.

Becca jumped to her feet, "Hi Hunk!  How are you?"

"Good," he smiled to everyone.

"Come on in, tell me about the wedding plans."


Hunk's smile grew a bit more, "Only two more months.  But Paton's mother is starting to take over."

"We were just going to put the baby down," Darcy told him.

"Oh, well, goodnight Sky."  He waved at them.

The little girl waved back.

Moments later, Pidge, Becca, and Hunk were alone in the rec room.

"How was your flight?"  Hunk asked.

"It was, uh, it was nice.  Long."  She muttered.

"Hunk," Pidge said, looking at Becca.  "Were you looking for something?"

"No, I was just…"  He stopped when realization dawned on him.  "I was just heading to the kitchen to find something to eat."

The second the door shut behind him, Becca all but leapt over the coffee table, landing on his lap. 

"That wasn't very nice," she whispered after breaking the kiss.

"What do you mean?"  He whispered back, brushing his lips along her throat.

"Hunk." 

"Oh, well, your father and Lance are on the Observation Deck and I don't think we could get to my room without your mother noticing, since it's across the hall from Lance and Darcy's room," his hands roamed over her back.  "Trust me, he doesn't mind."

"Mmm," she moaned as he fisted his hand in her hair, pulling her head back and exposing her throat.

"We didn't get to talk to your mother."

Becca sighed and ran her hands through his hair, "We're going in to town tomorrow.  I'll get her aside and talk to her then."

"I'll go with you."

She smiled down at him, "You don't have to."

"Rebecca," he framed her face his hands and forced her to look at him.  "I want to.  I want to be with you, even if we have to do it with a group of people, I want to spend as much time as I can with you."

"I love you," she whispered as her lips brushed over his.

A growl came from deep within him as he deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue between her lips.

Becca jumped back with a gasp when the doors slid open. 

They heard her mother before they saw her.  "I'll be right there, Darcy, I just want to grab my bag.  Stop being so silly."

Pidge dumped her on the couch beside him and tried to straighten his shirt while she ran a hand through her hair.

"Ma," Darcy pleaded, following her into the room with Schuyler on her hip.  "Really, you could've waited, I want to get Sky down."

"I want my camera," Lucy stopped when she saw Becca and Pidge sitting on the couch, both looking a bit flushed.  "Are you alright, Becca?"

"Uh, yeah, Ma, I'm, uh, I'm fine."  Becca muttered.

Lucy crossed the room slowly and picked up the bag she had left beside the couch, "You're looking a little flushed, dear."


That comment made Becca turn even redder.


Darcy shrugged helplessly.


"So, uh, Pidge is it?"  Lucy looked at him.

He looked up at her, trying hard not to blush, "Yes, Ma'am." 

"That's an unusual name."

"It's actually a nickname.  I was a rather small kid, I can't really remember when they started calling me that, but by the time I entered the Academy everyone, including the professors were calling me Pidge."  He explained.

"What's you're real name?"

Becca grinned and looked away.  She knew he hated his name, it had taken a lot of pleading, tickling and other forms of torture for her to get it out of him.

Pidge mumbled something under his breath.

Lucy stepped closer, "I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that."

Pidge sighed, "Pader."

"Peter?"

"No, uh, Pader. P-A-D-E-R.  It was my grandfather's name."

"Pader Audric."

"Yes, Ma'am, but to be honest, I prefer to be called Pidge."

"Mm hm," Lucy crossed her arms over her chest.  "And you're a pilot?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"He in charge of the computer systems, Ma," Darcy interjected.  "He has an amazing ability with computers and electronics."

"The computer systems?  Wasn't there a problem with the computer systems this past summer?  When Becca got shot."

Pidge's expression changed and his eyes darkened.

"Mother," Becca said warningly.

"Come on, Mom," Darcy took her arm.  "I'm putting Schuyler down now and if you want to help you will come now."

Lucy nodded, "Alright.  I'll see you in the morning, Becca, don't stay up too late."

"Good night, Mother."  Becca stood and followed her to the door.  "How do I lock this?"  She asked Pidge when the door closed.

"5-3-1-7."   He said hollowly.

She punched in the code and listened for the soft click before turning back to the couch, "Don't take it to heart, Pidge, she didn't mean it."

"I know."

She straddled his legs and lowered herself onto his lap, lacing her fingers together behind his neck, "It wasn't your fault.  I don't blame you and no one else does.  How sure are we that no one will walk in now?"

He looked up at her, his eyebrows raised, "Well, the panel out in the hall will say it's locked, so they should know better than to barge in."

"Have I shown you this?"  She asked mischievously as she began unbuttoning her blouse.

"Rebecca," Pidge hissed, blushing.  "You're mother was just in here."

She ignored him and unbuttoned her shirt halfway down, pulling her left arm out of its sleeve, "I wanted to show you my really cool scar."  She pointed to the wide, pink mark on her upper arm.

Pidge felt his heart sink.  She was scarred and he couldn't help but feel responsible.  He raised a shaky hand and ran his finger over it.

"Oh, stop it," she chided him quietly.  "I'm fine and I didn't show you to make you feel guilty, I'm rather proud of it."

"Proud?"

"Yeah, it's really cool looking, it makes me look tough and it impresses the guys."

"What guys?"

Teasingly, she slid her arm back in her blouse, "Well, when I got back to school, some friends and I went swimming and my suit doesn't quite cover the scar."

"You need a bigger suit," he mumbled, buttoning up her blouse for her, leaving the top two undone.

"Some guys saw it and asked me about it, so I told them about how I went to visit my sister who used to fly with the infamous Voltron Force," she leaned forward and nuzzled his neck.  "And I told them I was shot by an insane criminal and that really impressed them."

"Why were you trying to impress them?"  He asked, laying his head back on the couch, closing his eyes.

She kissed her way up to his ear, "But what really impressed them was when I told them I was in love with a really hot intergalactic pilot."

"So you throw around my name to showoff to guys?"

"Yup."

Pidge opened his eyes and looked at her, "What?"

"I'm not showing off or trying to impress any guys.  However, I'm having a lot of fun making the girls jealous.  I tell them about the really hot, smart man I am in love with and they all turn positively green."

"Really?"

"Yup, and when I show them your picture some of them have been reduced to tears of jealousy."

"Oh yeah?" He traced his finger along the hollow of her throat and daringly dipped it down past the open buttons of her blouse.

"Pidge, my mother knows."

"I know," he sighed, bringing his hands down to rest on her hips.  "How do you think she'll take it?"

"Well, I think she's going to want to talk to me before she talks to my father, so I think you're safe tonight."

He smiled weakly.

"You're not afraid of my father are you?"

"No."


"Then what is it," she ran her hand through his hair and brought it down to cup his cheek.

"I don't want to anger him or upset you."

"I'm not going to get upset."

"Well, as long as he doesn't come between us, I can handle anything he throws at me."

"He knows you and we aren't exactly in the same situation Darcy and Lance were in when he met my parents."

Pidge chuckled, remembering how mortified Lance had been when Mr. and Mrs. Barlow had almost walked in on him and Darcy at a most inopportune time.  "That's true."

"Just be yourself and he will see you for the wonderful person you are, Pader."


"Don't call me that," he warned.

"What?"  She asked innocently.  "It's a very…interesting name, Pader."

"Stop it."

"And if I don't?"

He tickled her ribs and held on to her as she struggled against him, "Don't call me that."

"Pader," she gasped between fits of laughter.


He tickled her harder as she fell sideways laughing and he leaned over her as she gasped for breath, "Say 'uncle'."

"Never!"  She squealed getting her hands under his arms and retaliating.

Pidge squirmed above her, "Alright, alright, I'll stop if you stop."

"Okay," she giggled.

He collapsed on top of her.  They laid a moment, their arms wrapped around each other and their legs tangled together, trying to catch their breath.

"God, I've missed you," she whispered.

"I've missed you too."

"We'll talk to my parents tomorrow."

He nodded.

"You know we'll still have to sneak around a bit, my father's going to be watching us like a hawk."

Pidge lifted his head and grinned down at her, "Do you know why you got that bedroom?"

Becca shook her head.  She had thought it was a weird place to put her, at the far end of the hall, four doors down and on the other side of the hall from her parents.

He leaned down and whispered, "It's the only one in that hall with a working door to the hidden passageways."

She giggled, "Does that mean you're going to visit me?"

"Only if you want me to."

"I do."

"Come on," Pidge sat up, pulling her up beside him. "We should go.  I have the early shift and there are a lot more people flying in tomorrow."

Becca sighed dramatically but let him pull her to her feet.

He took her hand and led her from the room, "I think we should take your parents out to lunch tomorrow, to the little café in town.  We'll talk to them then."

"That sounds like a good plan."

"And your father is less likely to make a scene in public."

"True."

They stopped in front of her door.

"Good night, Rebecca."

"Good night…Pader."

He growled when he lowered his head to kiss her good night.