Hi All!
Thank you so much for your great reviews, they really mean a lot.

I have to admit that I was never afraid of clowns (but then I've never seen "It" or read the book). To be honest, I'm indifferent to them now, but I liked them as a kid. (Well, there used to be this clown lamp that hung in the room I slept in whenever we visited my grandmother and it always kind of creeped me out. When I broke it with the bunk bed ladder it was a total accident…really…I swear it was) But you will soon see that this is not any ordinary clown and Sky (and Chewy) know that. I can't really comment on some of your reviews because I don't want to give anything away ;-)

Mustang Ace, Red Lion2, T.F. Kit, Craze, d, Queen Merla, C-Town Chica, Anony, and Dee – Thank you so much for your reviews! You guys are awesome!

Ytak – Thanks for your review, it really made my day. The whole reason I started writing fanfiction was to try and strengthen my writing. When I look back on the first couple of stories I've written (particularly "Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder") I actually cringe. The fact that you've notice the changes in my writing and that you think I'm getting better really means a lot. Thank you.

And in response to your comment about Sky's name, Schuyler is pronounced Skyler, its Danish or Dutch, depending on where you look it up. With Lance and Darcy's love of flight, I thought a name relating to the sky would suit them and their daughter and well, I just like that spelling.

Thanks all!

Failte

#####################################################################################################

"Ah!" Pepo swept over to where Keith was standing, looking at the photos. "Aren't those wonderful?"

"Who are these children?" Keith asked, picking up the picture of Schuyler.

"These are children who have visited our circus and had fun. We take their pictures to use in our brochures and posters."

"I'm not so sure if this is legal."

"Don't worry, Commander, we have covered all our bases," Pepo dug around on the table and pulled out another folder. "We have signed slips by all their parents to allow us to use their child's image on our advertisements. We also send copies of whatever we make, the brochure, flyer, or poster, to the family as a keepsake."

Keith looked back down at the photo in his hand. He couldn't imagine Lance or Darcy allowing them to use their daughter's likeness, they wanted Sky to have a normal childhood untouched by the limelight.

"I'm terribly sorry, Commander," Pepo hurried over to his trunk and flipped it open. "But I really must get moving, I cannot keep our audience waiting."

With his back turned, Keith slipped the picture into his pocket, "Pepo, thank you so much for your kindness. My family and I really appreciate the time you have given us. If there is every anything we can do for you, please ask."

"Thank you Commander. Now go, join your family and enjoy the show."

……………………………………………………………………………………

Lance looked over to see Darcy with her head bent over a piece of fabric, sliding a needle in and out of it. At some point during her pregnancy with Sky, she had picked up cross stitching. He had never seen her as the crafty type, but a lot of the time during her difficult pregnancy was spent in bed or relaxing and she needed something to keep her hands and mind busy so she wouldn't go crazy.

He reached across the back of the couch and stroked her neck with his fingertip, smiling as she shivered. They had finally convinced Schuyler that there was no clown outside her window and that she was safe to go to bed. It was quiet, the two of them were alone and he was about to make the most of it.

"Lance," Darcy said in a warning tone as he slid closer to her.

"Come on, we're alone, I want you, you want me," he gently kissed her neck.

She set her needlework on the side table and sighed deeply, tilting her head to give him better access, "Do I have to hose you down?"

He moved closer, practically on top of her, "That sounds so hot."

With a smile, Darcy turned and met his mouth with her own, letting him slowly force her down, beneath him. His hands stroked her sides, bringing them around to unsnap her jeans while she raced her nails up and down his back, feeling his muscles move beneath her fingers. She moaned quietly as his hands slid under her shirt and over her heated skin. Lance's mouth curved into a smile as he skimmed his lips over her jaw and down her throat, loving the fact that he could make her moan like that.

"Mommy?" Sky's voice was low and shaking.

Lance groaned and pressed his face into her throat as he buttoned her jeans.

"Yeah, Sky," Darcy pushed Lance up. "What are you doing up, honey?"

The little girl walked around to the front of the couch, clutching Mr. Bumbles, her eyes tired and red, "Whatcha doin'?"

"Daddy fell asleep and fell over on me," Darcy said, patting the couch and letting the little girl climb up between them. "Why are you out of bed?"

"I heard a noise," she whispered, leaning against Lance.

"It was probably just the televiewer," Lance told her, motioning to the screen where a sitcom was playing.

Sky shook her head, "No, it was outside. I think its da cown."

"There's no clown outside, pun'kin," Darcy ran her hand over Sky's hair. "They're all the way in town, asleep in their tents."

"Schuyler, you need to go back to bed and go to sleep," Lance tried to sound stern as his daughter hooked her arm around his and hugged him to her. "There are no clowns…" He broke off when Chewy lifted his head and barked.

Sky turned her face into Lance's arm.

Chewy jumped to his feet and ran to the front door, growling.

Darcy looked at Lance when they heard the definite sound of footsteps on their porch.

"Sky, stay here with Mommy," Lance pried her off his arm. "I'm going to see what's going on."

"No, Daddy, don't go."

"Come here, sweetie," Darcy gathered her onto her lap. "Its okay, Daddy'll take care of it."

Lance crept out to the front hall and was in the process of taking out his weapon when there was a knock at the door. He heard Sky scream and Darcy comforting her.

"Who is it?"

"It's me, Lance, I need to talk to you."

Putting his blaster away, Lance opened the door to see Keith standing on the other side, "What's up, man? What are you doing here so late?"

"I found something at the circus I wanted to show you," he stopped when he heard Sky crying. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, come with me," Lance led him to the living room. "Look, Sky, its Uncle Keith. There's no clown."

Sky peeked over her mother's shoulder and let out a breath of relief when Keith waved at her.

"Hi, Keith," Darcy called over her shoulder. "What's going on?"

"I need to talk to you and Lance, alone."

Darcy whistled for Chewy and patted the couch. With the dog curled up beside Sky, his head on the little girl's lap, Darcy changed the channel so the televiewer was on the cartoon station. "Stay here, Sky," Darcy commanded. "We'll be right back."

She joined Lance and Keith in the hallway.

"What is it?" Lance asked.

"I told you that Allura and I were taking the kids to the circus tonight."

Lance and Darcy both nodded.

"We got a behind the scenes tour and at the end I followed the manager, Pepo, into his tent, telling him that I wanted to see how a circus is run. There were piles of paper everywhere and on top of his table I found this," Keith reached into his pocket and pulled out the picture of Sky. "He had a folder full of children's pictures. He said they used them in advertising, like posters, to show how much fun kids had at the circus, and he said that he has signed permission forms from the parents, allowing them to use their children's likeness. But I couldn't believe you would really allow them to use Sky."

Lance snatched the picture from his hand and stared at it. Red hot fury burned inside him at this blatant invasion of their privacy and the targeting of their daughter. "No, we never gave our permission," he growled.

Darcy laid a hand on his arm, "Lance…"

"I'm going down there now and beat some answers out of this asshole."

"No, you aren't," Keith said. "I already have Pidge online researching the Muskerry Brothers and Pepo. If they so much as sneezed while setting up a tent, he will find it. Tomorrow, Hunk and Paton are going to the circus to see what they can find. We're going to handle this legally, Lance, and we will find out what's going on."

Lance slowly raised his eyes from the photograph of his little girl and glared at Keith. "You have until the end of this week and then I take matters into my own hands."

Keith nodded, "Fair enough. But I would suggest you guys lay low until this passes."

"I'm going take off this week and stay with Sky," Darcy said.

"I got you covered."

"But I'll be up at the castle every day," Lance said. "I want to know what is going on."

"That's fine. If there is anything you guys need, just let me know, we'll take care of it."

"Thank you, Keith," Darcy led him to the door. "We really appreciate your help."

Keith looked over his shoulder at Lance who was still glaring at the picture and formulating a plan in his head. "Don't let him do anything stupid," Keith whispered to Darcy.

"I'll do what I can."

"That's all I can ask. Good night, Darcy."

"Good night, Keith, be careful out there."

"Good night, Lance," Keith called from the doorway.

Lance grunted.

"'Night Uncle Keith!" Sky called from the living room.

"Good night, Sky!" He called back with a smile before nodding to Darcy and leaving.

After shutting and locking the doors, Darcy turned just in time to see her husband disappearing into the office. She checked the living room and saw Sky curled up on the couch, her head on Chewy's back, her eyes glued to the old cartoon on the televiewer. Darcy didn't bother knocking on the office door. "What are you doing, Lance?"

"What do you think I'm doing?" He mumbled, opening and slamming drawers.

"Don't do anything irrational, Keith is handling this."

He whipped his head up and looked at her, his eyes flashing with anger, "We have to find out what is going on, Darcy. Why do they have a picture of our daughter? When did they take it? Who took it? Something is going on and I am going to find out what it is."

"I admit that this is creepy and I am just as concerned as you are, but you can't just go down there and barge into this…this man's tent and threaten him."

"Like hell I can't!"

"Think about Sky! She's scared enough as it is, it won't help if her father goes off half cocked and beats up half the circus! Let's see what Hunk and Pidge find out. If they do find evidence that there is some kind of threat against Sky, then I will help you tear this man apart."

Lance dropped the extra ammunition round he had found back in the drawer, slamming it shut. "She's just a little girl."

"I know, honey," she wrapped her arms tightly around him.

He turned in her embrace and rested his cheek on top of her head, "What do they want with her?"

"I don't know, but we're going to find out."

A tentative knock on the door had Lance lifting his head, "Come on in, Sky."

"Watcha doin'?"

Darcy turned away from the door, wiping a shaky hand over her cheeks.

"We were just talking," Lance told her, trying to keep his voice light.

Sky shuffled into the room, her mouth stretching wide in a yawn, "You were yellin'."

"No," Lance picked her up and stood her on the desk so they were at eye level together. "We were talking loud. Why are you still awake?"

"I tried to fall asleep but den Chewy had a dream and he kicked me."

"I was thinking," Darcy spoke in a voice a little higher than normal. "That tomorrow, Sky, you and I will stay here all day."

"Why?"

"Well, Chewy needs a bath and you know I need your help with that," she walked over and picked her daughter up off the desk. "And then you can help me vacuum the floor and then we can make cookies. Does that sound like fun?"

Sky nodded and laid her head on her mother's shoulder.

"But you're going to need to get some sleep, little girl."

"Can I sleep with you?"

"I got a better idea," Darcy said brightly. "We'll sleep in the living room. We'll camp out! We can make a tent."

"Yeah! Daddy too?"

"Of course, Daddy too," Darcy made her way toward the door. "You and Daddy get some chairs from the kitchen and I'll get blankets."

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

Lance crept silently out of the house early the next morning while his wife and daughter still slept on the living room floor in their makeshift tent. He hadn't slept much that night and he noticed that Darcy didn't sleep well either, she tossed and turned and mumbled in her sleep. Schuyler, however, slept like a log.

He couldn't wait any longer to see if Pidge found anything online. After leaving a note for Darcy on the kitchen table, Lance sneaked out and hurried up to the castle.

Darcy jolted awake when Sky rolled over in her sleep and smacked her in the face with her hand. Sitting up and stretching, she saw Lance's sleeping bag gone and she knew he had already left for the castle. Schuyler was still asleep, so Darcy got up and padded into the kitchen to put the coffee on when Lance's note caught her eye:

Darc,

I decided to go to the castle early today to see if Keith and Pidge found anything. Do me a favor and just stay in the house today. Make sure all the doors and windows are locked, I don't want you guys taking any chances, you're too important. I checked your blaster, it's charged and ready to go, I put it back in the closet, but the box isn't locked so you can get to it quickly. Just be careful and if you need anything you know how to get a hold of me.

Love you,
Lance

She smiled and shook her head, she loved the way he was always thinking of them and their safety. Lance really was a good man. Glancing at the clock on the stove, she noticed it was later than she had originally thought. Sky was still passed out with Chewy beside her as Darcy started taking down their tent, folding the blankets and moving the chairs back to the kitchen.

The morning was spent getting Sky up and dressed, then the two of them wrestled Chewy into the bathtub and simultaneously gave him a bath and hosed down the bathroom. They vacuumed and dusted the first floor of the house and answered three calls from Lance before sitting down to lunch.

Darcy convinced Sky to lie down on the couch and try to take a nap while she lugged the vacuum upstairs to clean the bedrooms. She tackled hers and Lance's room first, flipping on the stereo and singing along. From there she moved on to Schuyler's room, still humming to the music as she picked up various stuffed animals and placed them on shelves and in a special hammock Lance had strung up in a corner. She turned around and noticed that the way the sun was shining through the window highlighted fingerprints on the glass. Sighing, Darcy went out to the hall closet, pulled out a bottle of window cleaner and a cloth, and returned to her daughter's room.

Upon closer inspection, she realized they were too big to be little girl fingerprints. Rolling her eyes and silently cursing Lance, she sprayed the cleaner on the window and wiped it off. The fingerprints were still there. She sprayed again and wiped harder. Refusing to believe what she was seeing, Darcy sprayed cleaner on the window a third time and rubbed even harder. Fear and disgust rolled in her stomach and made her feel sick. The fingerprints were still there.

They were on the outside of the window.