Sky was feeling a little silly, sitting in her desk chair as Cady curled her hair. Her friend had chosen a knee length, full black skirt and a red v-neck sweater. The necklace Erik had given her hung around her neck, resting against her collar bone, and Cady had lent her a pair of silver drop earrings to wear. Then, much to Sky chagrin, Cady had convinced her to let her do her hair and makeup. At the moment, Sky was wearing more eye makeup than she had ever had, but, not that she would ever admit it, she liked the way it looked. Her eyes appeared larger and the gold and green in her brown irises stood out.
"There," Cady stood back and admired her handy work. Sky's dark brown hair fell in soft waves around her face, brushing her shoulders. "Now, what I can't understand is how you can reach the age of eighteen and not own a pair of heels."
"I'm five foot nine, Cady, I don't like wearing heels, I look like an amazon woman."
"But heels make your legs look longer, sexier, guys like it."
Sky stood and walked into the bathroom, "If he is only interested in what my legs look like in heels then I'm not interested in him."
Cady rolled her eyes, "Don't be so naive, Sky. You have to keep him interested with sex appeal, whether you want to admit or not, looks are important."
Sky sprayed a bit of perfume on and walked back into her room, "And he is cute, isn't he?"
"Ugh," the Princess made a face. "He's my cousin."
"You can't tell anyone about this, Cady."
"I know, I know. You already explained all that to me, you can trust me."
"Thanks, Cady, for everything."
"Yes, well, that's why I'm here, Sky, to remind you that you are a girl and its okay to act like one sometimes."
"And here I thought you were here to be a pain in my ass."
"Come on, Sven and Romelle should be here by now and I am starving."
"All right, let's get this show on the road," Sky mumbled.
……………………………………………………………………………….
Erik carried the last box off the ship and followed the twins into the castle. He was surprised at how much stuff his parents had brought, he hadn't even realized he owned this much. But then knowing his mother, she probably went out and bought extra underwear, extra sheets, and anything else she thought he needed. It was going to take him forever to unpack.
"You can unpack after dinner," Gideon said. "I am starving and you know my mother will hold dinner for you."
"No, problem," Erik shrugged. "I'm pretty hungry myself."
Declan stopped in front of the mirror over Erik's dresser and ran his hand through his hair.
"Trying to impress someone?" Erik teased.
"What makes you say that?"
"No reason. Just don't let it get in the way of your work."
"Same goes for you."
Erik stopped in front of the door and turned to face the twins, "Look, guys, you have been making all sorts of innuendos about Sky and me and it has to stop. We are all here to do a job and I don't want you pissing her off."
"Well, we don't want you pissing her off," Gideon crossed his arms over his chest.
"You're not going to hurt her," Declan added, more of a command than a question.
"You guys don't know what you're talking about."
"We're not stupid…"
"Or blind…"
"Or deaf."
"Knock it off, guys, I mean it," Erik whirled around and stormed from the room. It hadn't been his idea to keep this a secret, he was only going along with it because she wanted to. If he had his way, everyone would know and there would be nothing to hide. Not that it could stay a secret for long around here, they were all living in too close quarters.
His family was in the rec room with Keith, Allura, Lance, Darcy, Hunk, Paton, Pidge, Becca, and all the children. They were waiting to be called to the dining room to eat. He walked into the room, followed closely by the twins, and was immediately swallowed by the noise and people. Erik's eyes scanned the room and landed on Sky. She was speaking to her mother, Cady, Aunt Allura, and Aunt Becca. He couldn't remember the last time he had seen her dressed like that. The gown she had worn to Cady's ball had covered her legs.
God, she has beautiful legs, he thought. Long, shapely and smooth. He couldn't help but wonder if they felt as smooth as they looked.
"He just did a double take," Cady whispered into Sky's ear.
Looking over her shoulder, Sky saw Erik openly watching her. His eyes widened a little. She did a once over of him, taking in his jeans and dark blue shirt. He really knows how to fill out a pair of jeans, she thought.
"Sky?"She looked up at her mother, "What?"
"You okay?" Darcy asked, her tongue in cheek. "You seem distracted."
"No, I'm fine."
"How's practice going?"
"Fine."
"And Brina did well today?"
"Yeah, practice went real well. Uncle Keith wants us to double up and have morning and evening practice, but I think Erik is going to have us do even more, at least until we're flying tighter."
"Where is Brina?" Becca asked. "I was hoping to meet her."
Sky shrugged, "She said she was planning on joining us tonight."
"Maybe she got lost," Cady muttered.
Sky elbowed her in the side.
"Ahh," Darcy smiled knowingly. "Is there a little cattiness in the new Voltron team?"
"No," her daughter assured her. "Cady is just being a pain."
"Hey," Cady threw her head back. "Show some respect to the next ruler of the planet Arus. I can have you executed."
"No you can't."
"I'm sure I can, I've been threatening the twins with that for years."
"It's an empty threat, Cady."
"Shoot."
Brina walked into the rec room, surprised by the number of people and the amount of noise. Children laughing and running around, the adults laughing and talking. She looked around, hoping to see a familiar face. Scanning the room she saw Erik talking to his father and Keith, his arm around a young blonde girl who had to be his sister.
"Hi there, Brina, glad to see you made it," Declan appeared at her side.
"Oh hi…Declan?""Yup. How're you doing?"
"I'm fine, thank you. This is wonderful, it was so nice of your parents to invite me."
"You're one of the team, Brina, which means you are officially a part of this crew."
She looked around, stepping back as Tori ran past, being chased by Nicky. "Um, is there any chance you can get everyone to wear name tags?"
He laughed, "Don't worry about it, you'll catch on eventually. The little girl who just went by was Victoria, or Tori, Pidge and Becca's daughter and the brat chasing her is my little brother, Nicky. Then there is Tess and Charlotte, my younger sisters, and I'm sure you know Cady. The boy in the glasses is Luke, he's Pidge and Becca's son. Over there is Casey, the big kid, beside him is Mykel, and the little girl clinging to her mother is Natalia, they're Hunk and Paton's kids. And the pretty girl with Erik is his sister, Lora." Declan explained, pointing out all the children.
Brina's mouth hung open, "And you haven't even gotten to the adults yet. There is no way I'll remember them all."
"Don't worry, they all respond to 'Hey You' just as well."
"That's good to know. Where's Gideon?"
"He had a phone call. I think Lynnai is starting to feel left out."
"He is going to be busy now, isn't he?"
"Yeah, but she's a good girl, she understands."
Brina turned to look at the funny, attractive young man next to her, "What about you? No girlfriend?"
"Nah, I'm in between lady friends at the moment. How about you? Is there an incredibly lucky man in your life?"
She shook her head, "I've been concentrating too much on my career, I haven't had much time to pursue a relationship lately. What about the others? Does, uh, does Erik have a girlfriend?"
Declan smirked, "That's a loaded question."
"What do you mean?"
He leaned closer and lowered his voice, "Erik has only ever had eyes for Sky."
"Really?" Brina glanced over at Sky. Tonight she looked nice with her hair done and some makeup on, but Schuyler wasn't a beauty queen. She certainly wasn't ugly, but she was rather plain.
"When they were younger, the two of them were inseparable," Declan continued. "They tried dating a few years ago, but something happened, I don't know what. But Gid and I think they're back together, neither of them will admit it though."
"I would never have put the two of them together," Brina muttered.
"Really? Huh, well, I guess it's because I've grown up with them, but I can't imagine the two of them with anyone else."
"Hi, Brina, how are you doing?" Erik appeared at her side.
She smiled sweetly up at him, "I'm fine, Erik, how're you?"
"Starving," he laid a hand on his stomach. "I hope we can eat soon."
"What is he doing?" Cady whispered to Sky.
"What is who doing?" Sky whispered back.
"Erik."
Sky looked over her shoulder and saw Erik talking to Brina. "It looks like he's talking to Green's pilot."
"She's pretty."
"She is the spitting image of her mother," Allura said, trying to hide the bitterness in her tone.
"Allura," Darcy shook her head.
"I didn't say she was her mother, I just said she looks like her."
Sky tried to ignore the jealousy welling up inside her. He hadn't even come over and said hi to her yet and here he was talking to Brina. No, I will not be the jealous girlfriend, she thought. Girlfriend. I am his girlfriend, aren't I?
"What are you smiling at, Schuyler?" Becca asked.
"Oh, nothing."
"If my boyfriend was flirting with another girl, I wouldn't be smiling," Cady hissed in her ear.
"Shut up, Cady. I trust him."
"I don't care, Erik's being a jerk."
"Cadence, it's rude to whisper," Allura chided.
"Yeah, we want to gossip too," Becca leaned closer. "Do you think there's something between Erik and Brina?"
"No!" Sky said a little too loudly and quickly.
The four women looked at her. Allura had an amused smile on her face, Cady rolled her eyes, Darcy raised her eyebrows in question, and Becca looked suspicious.
"I, uh, I mean, they…they just met," Sky stammered weakly.
Silence slowly descended on the room as Nanny stood in the doorway and clapped her hands. "Dinner is now being served in the dining room," she announced loudly.
Everyone filed out of the rec room in orderly confusion. Erik stepped aside and grabbed Sky's arm as she walked past.
"What are you doing?" She asked.
"You look nice," he replied.
"Thank you. But I'm hungry, will you let me go now, please."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
He held her arm as they stood alone in the now empty room, "Are you mad at me?"
"No."
"Sky."
"I'm hungry, Erik."
"Let's get together after dinner."
"I'm on duty."
"Tomorrow."
"We have practice."
He sighed, "Then tell me what it is, Sky."
"Nothing is wrong, Erik."
"Okay," he pulled her closer. "I meant it when I said you look nice."
"It was Cady's idea."
"You have the sexiest legs I have ever seen," he whispered.
Sky felt her annoyance at him for talking to Brina fade away as heat rose to her face, "Thank you. And I have to admit, you've got a cute butt."
"Oh yeah?" He looked over his shoulder. "Well, these are my 'good butt' jeans. I'll have to wear them more often."
"I wish you would."
Erik kissed her gently, "Come on, Sunny, before they notice us missing."
………………………………………
Everyone noticed, but no one said anything when Erik and Sky walked in after everyone else. They took their seats, separated by Darcy and Lance, but Cady was able to snag the seat next to Sky.
"What did he say?" She whispered to her friend."That's none of your business," Sky whispered back.
"As your best friend, it is totally my business."
"We'll talk later."
"You better believe we will."
"Is everything all right?" Lance asked Erik as the boy sat down.
"Yes, sir, why do you ask?"
"I was just wondering why you felt the need to hold Sky back and speak to her."
"It was nothing, Uncle Lance."
"How is she doing?"
"She's doing a great job," Erik assured him, taking a roll and passing the plate. "But then we all knew she would. I think her connection with Red is stronger than the connection any of us have with our Lions. She is an amazing pilot."
Lance reached for the salt, leaning close to Erik and whispered menacingly, "I don't know what's going on, but I swear that if you hurt my little girl in any way, I will not be held responsible for my actions and I can always make it look like an accident. Understand?"
Too shocked to deny anything, Erik nodded dumbly.
"Glad to know we got that out of the way," Lance sprinkled the salt over his potatoes. "So how is practice going?"
……………………………………………………………………….
"Hi Sky."
Sky turned to see Brina behind her, "Hi, Brina, what's up?"
"Not much. What are you doing?"
"I'm on duty in Castle Control, Whitman is going to work with me so I know what is expected of the guard on duty. But I was going to change into a pair of jeans first."
"I was wondering about that, I didn't know dinner tonight was a dress-up affair."
"It wasn't," Sky told her as she opened her door. "But Cady thought I needed to dress up."
"Any reason?"
"Uh, no, not really."
"Can I ask you a personal question?" Brina asked, leaning against the doorway to Sky's room.
"Sure, but I reserve the right to not answer it if I don't want to."
"Fair enough. Is there something between you and Commander Johansson?"
Sky paused, her hand in her drawer, "Uh, what makes you ask that?"
"I was just curious."
"Erik and I have been friends our entire life, we're close."
"Just friends?"
"You're getting a little too personal, Brina."
Green's pilot smiled kindly, "I'm sorry, Sky, I was just curious. I'm still trying to get to know everyone."
"It is only your first day. And Uncle Keith mentioned something about a strong, team building exercise we're going to be doing on Monday. As time goes on, we'll get to know each other better."
"I'm sure we will. I really hope you and I can be friends."
"So do I, Brina."
"Good luck with guard duty."
"Thanks," Sky watched as the girl left her room.