Keith stood in Castle Control going over the report the guard had just handed him.  It was a great feeling to look down at the typed paper and know that it was safe, there hadn't been an attack in ten months.  He would never let his guard down, who knew what evil lurked out there, but it was nice to know they had the freedom to go about their lives, rebuild the towns and even hold a New Years Ball the next night.

"Looks good, Sergeant," Keith handed the clipboard to the guard on duty.  "Let me know if anything happens, I'll be checking in later."

"Yes, sir," the young man saluted.

Keith returned his salute and turned to head toward the work room.  Pidge and Hunk had been going over the Lions, cleaning them and giving them a tune-up as needed.  It had not escaped his attention that the Green pilot had been quiet and brooding lately and he wanted to get to the bottom of Pidge's behavior.

"Hey, Cap, how're things going?"  Hunk greeted him.

"Good, Hunk, how're the Lions looking?"

"As good as ever," the big man said proudly.  "I think it might do them good, though, if we took them out for a run sometime soon."

"We'll have to do that after the New Year," Keith told him, his eyes scanning the work room where Red was lying.  "Have you seen Pidge?"

Hunk pointed with a wrench, "Red's cockpit."

"Thanks, man."  Keith crossed to the giant Lion and pulled himself up onto its head, crouching by the open hatch.

Pidge was sitting in the pilot's seat, running some routine tests through the on-board computer.

"Hey, Pidge, how's it going?"

Pidge looked up, "Good, Keith.  Red's looking good.  We've already gone over Yellow, Green, and Black.  We'll get to Blue next and be done in another hour."

"Uh huh," Keith nodded.  "How're you doing?"

"I'm fine."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I don't know," the captain shrugged.  "You've seemed a little down lately."

Pidge turned back to the computer.  "I've had a lot on my mind, lately, but I've figured it out.  I'm just not looking forward to Becs leaving."

"I understand."

Pidge let out an angry sigh, "I am so sick of you guys saying that!  You and Hunk think you can sympathize with me, but you can't.  You're married to the woman you love, you share a home with her, I have to be millions of miles away from Becca.  How can you understand?"

"Okay, maybe I don't fully understand how hard it is to be so far away, but I understand you're feelings.  I am more than willing to work with you and help you get time off to visit Terra."

"Yeah, well, maybe visiting just isn't enough."

"What?"  Keith asked, surprised.

"Nothing," Pidge muttered.

"You aren't thinking of leaving, are you?"

"I was," he admitted.  "But I don't think that would work out."

"Pidge, I want you to know you are important to us and we do need you.  This is not something you need to take lightly."

"Don't lecture me, Keith."

"I'm not, Pidge, just know we need you."

"I have to finish my work, Captain," Pidge said shortly.

Keith nodded, "You know if you ever need to talk, you can come to me."

"I know."

Keith paused a moment, watching as Pidge went about his work.  He stood and climbed down the Lion.  Hunk gave him a weak smile as he passed.

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

"Wow, Becca, where did you get that dress?"  Darcy gasped.

Becca twirled around in front of the mirror in Allura's room and grinned.  "I found it in a boutique downtown.  It looks alright?"

"You look great!  Pidge is going to flip out when he sees you."

"Or swallow his tongue," Allura smiled.

The three women had gathered in Allura's room to get ready for the New Year's Ball.  The party had been in the planning stages for well over a month and it was sure to be quite an event.  Friends, Cabinet members, and various members of the community had been invited and, of course, some members of the press.  Sven and Romelle, as well as Bandor, and Rankin and Paget had also been invited.  But, Romelle was eight months pregnant with their second child and not up for the flight and bad weather on both planets made traveling difficult.

"Has Dad seen it?"  Darcy asked.

"No," Becca turned around and looked over her shoulder into the mirror.  "I figure he won't make a scene at the Ball." 

It was an exquisite dress.  A full red skirt that shimmered as she walked, the bodice was beaded with a high neck that clasped behind her neck, but left her arms, shoulders, and back bare.  One of Allura's maids had helped her do her hair up, a few curls falling around her face.

Allura wore a sparkling silver gown that brushed the top of her feet and had a neckline that would have earned her a lecture from Nanny a few years earlier.  Her heels were high enough so that her eyes would be level with Keith's nose and she wore the necklace he had given her for Christmas.  Her hair was swept back on the sides with combs and a tiara was carefully placed in her golden head. 

Darcy wore a simple, black dress with a square neckline and cap sleeves, the skirt was full and had tulle underskirt that peeked below the hem.  Her hair was done back in an elaborate twist, giving her a sophisticated look and making her appear older than her twenty three years.

There was a knock on the door.

"Who is it?"  Allura called.

"Isabelle and Cady!"

Allura nodded to a maid who crossed the room and opened the door.

"Mama!"  Cady squealed, running to the vanity where Allura sat.

"Hi, baby," Allura scooped up the little girl and sat her on her lap.

"You girls look beautiful!"  Isabelle clutched her camera in her hands.

"So do you," Allura said over Cady's head.

Her mother-in-law wore an elegant, lilac skirt and jacket.  Keith had gotten his eyes from his mother, but Isabelle had dark red hair peppered with gray.  She was a very handsome woman.

"When do we head down?"  Becca asked, excitedly.

"The guests should start arriving at any moment now," Darcy told her.  "But the Force has to make their entrance followed by Keith and Allura."

"Pitty!"  Cady clapped her hands and giggled when Allura applied lipstick to the little girl's mouth.

"Just wait until Daddy sees you."

"Mo'!"  Cady demanded.

With a smile, Allura applied a little powder to her nose and blusher to her cheeks.

"Ach!  What are you doing?"  Nanny cried from the doorway.

"Playing dress up," Allura told her.

Darcy crossed the room and took Schuyler from Nanny's arms, "Hi there, Sky."

"We came to say goodnight before you headed down," Nanny explained.

Schuyler gripped her mother's locket in her hand and tried to stuff it in her mouth.

"Wow!  Would you look at this group of gorgeous women!"  Lance leaned on the door frame dressed in his tux.

"You like?"  Darcy spun in front of him, earning a shriek of laughter from Schuyler.

"You look incredible," he stepped closer, a gleam in his eyes.

"Oh, Lance," she sighed, brushing his jacket with her hand.  "You're covered in dog hair."

"It'll fall off," he said, taking Schuyler and giving Darcy a quick kiss.

"Daddy!"  Cady slid off Allura's lap and ran to Keith who had just entered the room.

Keith picked her up and held her at arm's length, not wanting to get any makeup on his tuxedo.  "Hi there, Cady Bear, you look so pretty."

"Pitty!"

"Come along, Princess, we need to wash your face," Nanny said.

Keith carefully kissed Cady on the head, "Good night, sweetie."

Allura followed his example giving Cady a kiss on the head, "Good night, baby."

Lance and Darcy took turns kissing Schuyler goodnight before handing her over to Nanny for the night.

Nanny left the room, holding Schuyler on her hip and Cady by the hand muttering under her breath about babies and makeup.  They heard Cady start to cry when she realized what was going on and that started Schuyler.

"Nanny will calm them down," Allura said.

Darcy went back to trying to brush the dog hair off Lance's jacket while Allura fussed with Keith's tie.

"Koran just told me most of the guests have arrived already," Keith announced.  "Paton is here and as soon as she and Hunk and Pidge get here, we'll head down."

"What about my folks?"  Lance asked.

"They're already down there, so are the Barlows.  Apparently, Lucy and Mrs. Barlow couldn't wait."

Hunk and Paton arrived in the doorway.  Hunk was dressed in a tuxedo similar to the one Lance and Keith wore.  Paton stood beside him, she was a lovely woman standing six feet tall in her heels.  Her dress was a pale blue that brought out the blue in her eyes and made her jet black hair stand out. 

"Wow, Paton, you look great!"  Allura rushed over to hug the other women.

"Where's Pidge?"  Lance asked Becca.

She shrugged, "I haven't seen him in a couple of hours."

"Maybe I should go check on him," Hunk said, glancing down the hall.  "Oh, here he comes."

Pidge tugged at the cuffs of his jacket as he walked down the hall toward Keith and Allura's room.  He was going to tell Becca tonight about his decision.  He had thought about, came up with a hundred reasons to stay and a hundred reasons to go. 

"It's about time," Lance said when he entered the room.

"Yeah, yeah yeah," Pidge muttered, entering the room.  His nerves and irritation disappeared the moment he laid eyes on Becca.  She stood beside the bed, her hands lost in the folds of her skirt and her eyes cast down.  Beautiful, he thought to himself. She's absolutely beautiful.  He felt the urge to touch her, but was afraid at the same time, almost like she was a piece of art in a museum. 

"Breathe, man," Lance said, clapping him on the back.

"Come on," Keith grinned.  "Let's not keep the guests waiting."

"You look amazing," Pidge whispered to Becca as the others filed out.

Her cheeks turned pink, "Thank you.  You look rather handsome yourself."

"Shall we go?"  He offered her his arm.

"My heart is racing," Becca admitted.

"You nervous?"

"A little."

"Why?  It's just a party."

"Allura said we're going to be introduced to the crowd.  I've never been introduced before."

Pidge smiled reassuringly at her as they took their place in line in front of Hunk, "Just smile and they'll all be dazzled by your beauty."

"Lieutenant Pidge Audric and Miss Rebecca Barlow," Koran announced.

"Here we go," Pidge whispered, leading her into the crowded ballroom where they were greeted by light applause.

"That wasn't so bad," Becca said as they sat down at the head table.

Hunk and Paton were introduced and walked to the table, followed by Lance and Darcy.  Lance, being the person he is, bowed deeply to the gathered group and twirled Darcy around once before heading over to the table.

"Always the showoff," Hunk muttered as Lance sat next to them.

"If you're going to make an entrance, make an entrance."  Lance told him.

"No," Darcy said.  "That is how you make an entrance."

"Her Royal Highness, Queen Allura of Arus and her husband, Captain Keith Whitaker."  Koran announced.

The entire assembly stood and applauded.  Allura stood, her hand in the crook of Keith's arm, and smiled graciously to the people before her.  She waved and took the hands offered to her as they made their way across the room and to the table.

"Please, please, sit down," Allura said as she stood behind the head table.  "Thank you all so much for such a wonderful welcome.  We are so glad you were able to join us for this celebration.  As you all know, the ringing in the New Year in such an elaborate fashion is just one more tradition the Voltron Force brought with them from Terra."  She stopped as the applause started again.  "We have been ten months now without an attack of any kind and that is even more reason to celebrate.  Thanks to the wonderful people you see up here with me, as well as Lieutenant Sven Johansson, Lieutenant Dante Addison, and Sergeant Caleb Marshall, we are now safe on our own planet.  Our capital, Alforia, is growing by leaps and bounds and all the neighboring towns are being built up at amazing rates."  She raised her glass of champagne.  "Here's to another year of safety and growth!"

Everyone in the room raised their glasses.

"Please, eat, drink, dance, and enjoy yourselves.  We're here to celebrate, so let's make the most of it!"  Allura brought the glass to her lips, an action followed by the entire crowd.

Dinner was served as a string quartet played gentle music.  The din of conversation rose and mingled with the clink of utensils on plates and glasses being set on the table.

After a large, four course meal, the plates were cleared so that the Force and Allura could mingle with the guests. The press made their way from through the Force, asking questions about what they had been up to in the past months, how safe they thought the planet really was, and what was going on in their personal lives.

It was Becca's first introduction into the spotlight. Pidge wasn't quite the ladies man the Lance, Dante, or Sven had been, so any word on his love life was of particular interest.

"And how long are you going to be on Arus?" The editor of the Society and Entertainment article for Alforia Times, a stout woman wearing a dark purple pants suit, asked Becca.

"I'm just here for the holidays, I'll be heading back to Terra tomorrow afternoon."

"And how long have you and Lt. Audric been involved, if you don't mind me asking."

Becca looked at Pidge who was standing beside her.

"Well, we were friends for about a year before we started dating this past summer," Pidge spoke up.

"And do you find it difficult keeping up a relationship when you're so far apart?"

"We're finding ways to deal with it," Pidge said.

"I'll be moving here when I finish with school so I can do my residency with Dr. Gorma," Becca told her.

"Oh," the woman's smile grew. "That sounds rather serious, do we hear wedding bells in the future?"

"At some point," Pidge said.

"So you're officially off the market?" She asked him.

"Yes he is," Becca answered quickly.

Pidge slipped his hand into hers and squeezed it gently.

"There will be some disappointed girls on Arus."

"Oh, I don't think so," he muttered.

"Oh yes, you are considered the 'Intelligent Girl's Romeo'." The reporter made a note on her pad. "There have been quite a few girls vying for your attention."

Becca grinned at him and winked. He shook his head in response, blushing slightly.

"Well, I thank you both for your time, I really must try and get a word in with Lt. Landers and Capt. Lacko, I must hear all about their upcoming wedding."

"The Intelligent Girl's Romeo?" Becca whispered as soon as they were left alone.

"Stop it," he hissed.

"No, I think that's great."

"I'm not anybody's Romeo."

"You're mine."

He shook his head, "You're insane."

"Nope," Becca leaned over and kissed his cheek. "I'm in love."

"Come on," he pulled on her hand. "Let's get a drink."

The drink table was set up by the door, laden with a punch bowl and manned by a bartender to make mixed drinks. They were able to see the dance floor from there. The quartet was playing, but there weren't many couples dancing, as it was still early and everyone seemed more interested in talking.

"So I guess its definite then," Becca said quietly when he handed her a cup of punch.

"What is?" He asked.

"You're not coming back to Terra."

He shook his head, "I just can't right now. I wanted to talk to you about it tonight, but I was waiting for a good time."

Becca bit her lip and looked down at the red liquid in her cup. She had repeatedly told him it was up to him to make this decision and that the most important thing was his happiness and she fully understood and respected his responsibilities to Arus. But deep down she had hoped he would decide to go to Terra. She had fantasies of having him nearby and them having a normal relationship, going out Friday nights, cuddling in front of the TV on snowy Sunday afternoons.

Pidge reached out and laid a hand on her bare arm, he waited until she looked up at him before he spoke. "This is the most difficult decision I've ever had to make, Becs, I've been see-sawing back and forth.  I-I'm sorry."

"Don't be," she flashed him an unconvincing smile. "I know how important your job is and you can't just leave. We'll be seeing so much of each other, we won't have a chance to miss each other."

Pidge pulled her to him, ignoring everyone else in the room, and hugged her tightly. Becca laid her head on his shoulder, enjoying the feel of the slightly scratchy fabric of his jacket sleeves on her back and the warmth of his body against hers.

I will not cry, she told herself. This is a big night, we're at a big party, I will not cry.

"We can sneak out, if you want," he whispered.

She pulled back and looked up at him, "Are you kidding? I'm a guest at a party held by the Queen of Arus, if you think I'm sneaking out early, you're nuts." She looked at her watch, it was just after 10:00. "Come on, let's mingle."

Lance had somehow managed to drag Darcy out on the dance floor, most likely he was just trying to avoid the press. Hunk and Paton had been cornered by the reporter who had just interviewed Pidge and Becca, while Allura and Keith were deep in conversation with the Secretary of Agriculture and his wife.

"Oh, Becca, isn't this wonderful?" Lucy appeared at her side. "And you look so beautiful."

"You look great, Mom," Becca said, taking in her mother's blue dress. "Where's Dad?"

"He went to get us drinks. I had no idea how glamorous life was for you all," she said to Pidge.

"Well, it wasn't always like this, Ma'am," he told her. "This is all new to us as well. There was a time when we didn't have enough security to hold parties like this and we had to be constantly watching for Doom."

"I've met royalty from other planets and Cabinet members, I even had my picture taken for the newspaper," Lucy whispered excitedly.

"Rebecca Anne, where is the rest of that dress?" Howard asked as he handed Lucy a drink.

Becca twirled around and looked over both shoulders, "Hmm, looks like I left it in my room."

Pidge smiled and downed the rest of his drink, "Would you like to dance?"

"I would love to," she took his hand. "We'll see you later, Mom and Dad."

Becca shivered when she felt the light touch of his hand on the small of her back.

"Are you cold?"

"No, you just have that effect on me," she whispered as they reached the dance floor.

"So, I still make you weak in the knees?" He teased, taking her right hand in his left and resting his right hand on the small of her back.

"Don't get cocky," she muttered.

The dance floor was starting to fill up. They danced past Lance and Darcy, Allura and Keith, and Lance's parents. With a heavy heart, Becca took it all in. It was going to be difficult to go back to school after all this. She stepped closer and laid her head on his shoulder, breathing in the scent of his soap and feeling him tighten his arm around her.

"Alright, I need a drink," Pidge said, three songs later.

"Lightweight," Becca teased him.

"Hey, you should feel honored, I don't usually dance."

"Well, you're very graceful."

"Yeah, right," he accepted a cup of punch from the bartender and handed it to Becca.

"It's getting close," she said, looking at her watch.

"You know, I never saw the big deal with New Years."

"Really? I think it's exciting. A whole new year with no mistakes made yet, a million possibilities of what may come. I love New Years."

"Such a romantic," he dropped a kiss on her head.

Out of the corner of his eye, Pidge saw the door slide open and close, but he didn't see anyone enter. He looked over, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

"Hey, what do you think is going on over there?" Becca nodded to the door where some people had turned to look at something.

"I don't know," he set his cup on the table. Something told him to check it out. "Come on, let's go see."

The entrance into the ballroom was a huge door that opened to a landing where three steps led to the ballroom floor. Standing in front of the steps was a group of women talking to each other.

"Isn't she adorable?"

"That's the little Princess, isn't it?"

"She looks just like her mother."

"What's a matter, sweetie pie? Don't cry."

Pidge walked around the group and saw Cady standing on the top step in her light blue footed pajamas, clutching her pink blanket, and looking up at the assembled women, absolutely terrified. Her eyes were wide and red, her lower lip trembling uncontrollably.

"Oh, geez," he murmured.

"What is she doing here?" Becca whispered.

"Looks like she sneaked out of her room," Pidge replied, stepping forward. "What are you doing up, Cady?"

The women parted to let him through. At the sight of a familiar face, Cady held her arms up to him and started crying.

"It's okay, Cady Bear, calm down, it's okay," he picked her up. The terrified little girl clung to him, squeezing her eyes shut, and sobbing into his shoulder. Pidge turned to Becca, "Have you seen Allura and Keith?"

"Last I saw they were on the dance floor," she started through the crowd.

Allura and Keith were talking to a Major Kappel, a high ranking Garrison official, and his wife. Allura heard her daughter before she saw her. Shoving her glass into Keith's hand, she made her way over to where Pidge and Becca were standing, scanning the crowd for them.

"Excuse us please," Keith smiled to the Major and followed his wife.

"What is she doing here?" Allura asked.

"I don't know, she just appeared at the door. She's scared." Pidge explained.

Allura laid her hand on Cady's back, causing the girl to tighten her arms around Pidge's neck and howl louder. With her face buried in his shoulder, she couldn't see who was touching her.

"Cady, it's Mommy," Allura leaned over and kissed her head.

Lifting her head to look, Cady reached out to her mother, still crying.

"What's wrong?" Keith asked, approaching them.

"Looks like she wandered away from Nanny," Allura said, rubbing soothing circles on Cady's back.

"I think she came looking for you guys, but when she walked in, she was greeted by a loud group of strangers," Pidge said.

"Poor baby," Allura cooed. "It's okay, baby girl, it's okay. You're safe, stop crying Cady, you're okay." She continued to whisper soothing words and rubbing her back.

"I think we better get her to bed," Keith said.

Allurra nodded.

"If anyone asks," he told Pidge. "Tell them we'll be right back."

"No problem, Cap."

"Thanks for getting her, Pidge," Allura smiled at him over Cady's golden head.

Keith took Allura's arm and led her through the throng of people toward the door. People watched and pointed, wondering what was going on and why the Princess was up. A few people asked and Keith just smiled and promised they would return shortly.

A photographer with a local magazine stepped forward and started snapping pictures. The flashbulbs startled Cady, sending her into new fits of hysterics.

"No pictures," Keith said, turning so he blocked Cady.

"Come on, Captain," the man said. "She's the people's Princess."

Keith turned to the photographer, an intense look of anger on his face, "No, she's a scared little girl and the last thing she needs is your camera going off in her face."

"She's going to have to get used to it," the man smirked.

Keith stepped toward him, his hands fisted, but was stopped by Lance.

"Go, Keith, take care of Cady, I'll take care of this."

Keith glared at the photographer before turning to lead Allura out of the room.

The man looked at Lance, "I have a right to…" he stopped when Lance pulled the camera out of his hands.

"You're with Scoop Magazine, aren't you?" Lance asked, popping open the back of the camera and exposing the film.

"Yes I am and you had no right to do that."

"I had as much right to do that as you did to scare Cady," he handed the man back his camera. "I would suggest you leave now."

"Are you threatening me?"

"Who? Me?" Lance asked, incredulously. "Never. But I do have very little patience for the media, and that is because of people like you. Now, are you going to leave nicely or am I going to have to get you a couple of escorts?" He waved over a guard who had been standing by the entrance.

"You think I won't report to the magazine how I was treated?" The photographer asked angrily. "Let's see what the people have to say when they hear how I was treated."

"I might be worried if your magazine was a reputable publication," Lance retorted.

"Oh, that's it," the man snapped his camera into its case. "The entire planet is going to hear about this."

"Okay," Lance shrugged. "Make sure to add how you scared a two year old little girl, that'll win you a lot of support."

"You just always have to cause trouble, don't you?" Darcy asked as they watched the photographer storm out of the ballroom, escorted by a guard.

"It's so much fun," he winked at her. "Do you want me to come with you?"

"What?"

"You're thinking about Schuyler right now, do you want me to come with you when you check on her?"

"If you want to."

Lance took her hand and looked at Pidge, "We'll be right back."

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

"I was just about to come check on her, why are you here?" Nanny asked Allura and Keith made their way to Cady's room.

"Someone wandered down to the ballroom," Allura explained.

"She was tucked safely into bed last time I checked on her, about half an hour ago. I guess she woke up and went looking for you." Nanny clucked her tongue. "Naughty girl."

"Don't be so hard on her, Nanny, she's tired and she's scared," Allura said. "I'll put her down."

"I can do it, Your Highness, go back to your party."

"No, no, I'll do it," Allura entered Cady's room and turned on the lamp on her dresser. "It won't take long, she's hardly awake now."

Keith followed her into the room, shutting the door behind him, "Is she even awake now?"

Allura looked down at Cady.  Her head was resting on her mother's shoulder, her eyes heavy, and her thumb in her mouth. Allura gently stroked her wet cheek, "You ready to go to bed, sweetie?"

Cady shook her head and whimpered.

Allura settled into the rocking chair beside the window and cuddled Cady to her.  She hummed quietly, feeling the little girl relax against her.  Keith watched them, feeling his heart constrict.  They were so beautiful.  He leaned against the wall and watched as Allura arranged the pink blanket around Cady and smiled at the little girl as her eyes slowly shut.

"What are you thinking?"

Allura's quiet question interrupted Keith's thoughts.

"Just how lucky I am," he admitted.

"Lucky?"

"Yes, lucky.  I have you and Cady and the boys.  We're safe and happy and healthy.  I'm very lucky."

Allura slowly stood and carefully laid Cady in her bed.  She stood and watched, making sure she really was asleep.  Keith came to stand beside her.

"What time is it?"  She asked.

He looked at his watch, "Almost 11:30."

"I guess we have to head back to the party."

"I don't want to."

"Neither do I."

"But we have to."

She sighed, "I know.  But next year, it's just us."

"Just us," he repeated, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her to him.  "I love you, Angel."

"I love you too," she whispered, tilting her head back to accept his kiss.