Hi all!

Thanks for the great reviews! I love to read what you are all speculating, sometimes I work some of your suggestions in, but only if they go with the flow of the story. Just remember, this story is just getting off the ground, a lot more is planned to happen. It surprised me how quickly this story came to me and how fast it is coming out. I hope you continue to enjoy it!

Thank you!

Enjoy,

Failte

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"How're tings going, son?" Sven asked as he and Erik walked the grounds of the castle.

"Fine, Dad."

"Dis is a lot happening at once."

"Tell me about it."

"And de rest of de team is doing all right?"

Erik kicked a small rock out of his path, "Yeah. I'm a little nervous about being leader, though. We've been friends for so long, I'm worried that they won't always take me seriously."

"Who? Schuyler?"

"No, Sky is the only one I'm not worried about."

Sven nodded wisely, "De twins?"

"Gideon mainly. I think Dec is just so happy to be flying, he doesn't care who's leading. But Gid doesn't seem too happy to be relegated to Yellow."

"As hard as dis may seem, Erik, dis is not about friendships and hurt feelings. Dis is about Arus and de safety of de people here. Gideon can be as angry as he vants, dat isn't going to change anyting. He vill eventually understand dat dis is right."

"I know."

Sven slung an arm around his son's shoulders, "Keit says you're doing a great job."

Erik shrugged, "We're all working hard."

"Your mother and are very proud of you, Erik."

"You aren't disappointed I'm here and not on Pollux?"

"I'd be lying if I said I vasn't a little disappointed, but dis is vhere you are meant to be. De pride outweighs de disappointment, Erik."

"Thanks Dad."

"Now," Sven stuffed his hands in his pocket and smiled softly. "Let's talk about Sky."

"What about her?"

"Are you sure you can work vith her?"

"Of course I can, she's an amazing pilot."

"Erik."

"What?"

Sven looked at his son out of the corner of his eye, "I just hope you're not getting in over your head."

"I'm in love with her, Dad, I think I always have been," he admitted quietly.

"I know, Erik, ve all do. But you've hurt her in de past…"

"That won't happen this time. This time it's forever," Erik insisted.

Sven looked at his son, startled by his admission, "Forever is a long time."

"Not long enough."

Laughing, he threw his arm around his son's shoulders again, "I'm glad you finally saw de light, but be careful, Erik, a lot is going on right now and you can't allow your romantic feelings to get in de vay of your work."

"I know, Dad, and I've already been threatened by three different people if I hurt her."

"I'll assume one of dem vas Lance."

"Yeah, and the twins."

"I tink Sky can take care of herself."

"Yeah, she can."

"So, have you talked to her?"

Erik nodded, "We're, uh, we're kind of seeing each other in secret."

"Why in secret?"

"She's worried about how people will see us. She doesn't want anyone to think I'm playing favorites or that this will get in the way of our training and work."

"I don't tink you guys vill be able to keep it a secret for long, the two of you aren't really subtle."

Erik felt the flush in his face, "What, uh, what do you mean?"

"You guys kept sneaking looks at each other at dinner."

"We were not."

"You didn't even realize you vere doing it! And before dinner, in de rec room, de two of you couldn't keep your eyes off each other."

"She looked amazing tonight."

"Yeah. Just be careful, Erik."

"We will."

…………………………………………………………………………………..

"I thought you were helping Cady get ready for her big date," Declan said as Sky entered the rec room the next night.

"She's in the shower," she explained. "I helped her pick out her dress, I have to return to her room in fifteen minutes and help her finish getting ready."

"When is this guy getting here?" Gideon asked.

"Not for another couple of hours, why?"

"'Cause we hafta check him out before he can date Cady," Nicky explained.

The twins, Nicky, and Erik were in the rec room, gathered around the televiewer playing video games. Practice had gone well, but the impending storm was keeping them all inside for the evening. Brina was with Whitman in Castle Control while everyone else had disappeared within the castle.

Sky sat on the floor between Nicky and Erik, ruffling the little boy's hair, "You going to make sure he's good enough for your big sister?"

He nodded, "Dec said I can kick him if I don't like him."

"I don't think you should kick anybody, Nicky."

"But I hafta protect Cady."

Sky tried to ignore the way Erik had shifted so his leg rested against hers. "Cady can take care of herself."

"Nope, it's the brother's job to protect his sister."

She looked over his head at the twins, "You guys won't rest until you've disrupted Cady's life in every possible way, will you?"

Gideon shrugged, "We're just looking out for our sister and we don't like this guy."

"You don't even know him."

Declan cleared his throat, "Geoffry Roerbeck, fourth year business student, top three percent of his class, concentrating on accounting. Born and raised in the small town of Angloria, twenty miles north northeast of Alforia. The second son out of a family of four children, an older brother, Craig, a younger brother, Carrey, and a younger sister, Cassie. His father is a widower, his mother died about ten years ago. He seems quiet, but we've decided he's just a boring jerk. He very business minded and we think he's just after her fortune."

"Sounds like you did your homework," Sky said.

"It's important that we know any possible brother-in-law."

"I think she should stick to Princes, like the one from Planet Bricq," Gideon added.

"You guys really need to back off, if you upset Cady, there will be hel-heck to pay."

"From you or her?" Gideon asked.

"Both."

Erik whistled under his breath.

Sky reached over and took the control pad out of Gideon's hands, "You and me, Declan."

"Bring it on."

"What's the plan for tomorrow?" Gideon asked as Sky proceeded to kick his brother's butt.

"We have practice in the morning," Erik explained, leaning back on his hands. "But if all goes well, we'll have most of tomorrow afternoon off."

"Good, I was hoping to spend a little time with Lynnai."

"You'll have to invite her here, we're still under lockdown in the castle."

Gideon scowled.

"Just until the threat passes, Gid."

"I know."

"Dammit, Sky," Declan snapped as she passed him on the screen.

"You said a swear," Nicky whispered.

"You're right, Nicky," Erik reached over and smacked Declan. "Don't swear, Dec." His hand skimmed lightly over Sky's back as he moved back.

She gritted her teeth, trying to ignore what his little touches were doing to her.

"You're doing a lousy job of distracting her, Erik," Declan muttered.

"I didn't know I was supposed to be distracting her."

"Yeah, man, we guys are supposed to look out for each other."

"Yeah!" Nicky agreed loudly. "Guys are supposed ta help each other."

Erik ran his fingers up her spine, feeling her squirm.

"Stop it," Sky hissed, keeping her eyes locked on the screen as Declan's car closed in on her.

His other hand joined in, gently tickling her.

"I mean it, Erik."

"I have to help my brothers-in-arms," he replied as she tried to get away from him.

With a triumphant cry, Sky passed the finish line first and tossed the controller to Gideon. Ten seconds later, Erik was lying on his stomach, his arms twisted behind his back and her knee pressed into the small of his back. "I told you to stop it."

"Sky, don't hurt him," Nicky pleaded.

"I'm not hurting him, Nick," she assured him. "He's actually enjoying this."

"Not really," Erik mumbled into the carpet.

"Where are they!"

Sky looked up as Cady stormed angrily into the rec room. She wore her bathroom and her wet hair hung down her back.

"Where are they?" She yelled again. "Gideon! Declan! I swear, I am going to kill both of you!"

The twins stood quickly and backed away from their fuming sister.

Sky got off Erik and hurried over to her friend, "What happened, Cady?"

"What happened?" She screeched. "Look at my hair! Look what those punks did!"

Upon closer inspection, Sky noticed orange streaks in Cady's long blonde hair. "What is it?"

"It's something they put in my shampoo."

Erik joined Sky, throwing a friendly arm around her shoulders, "How do you know it was them, Cady?"

She whirled on her cousin, anger flashing in her eyes.

He took a step back, "Okay, I guess that was a stupid question. Maybe if you use another shampoo it'll wash out."

"Gee, why didn't I think of that?" Cady asked sarcastically. "It didn't work, Erik! I tried it already. I have a date in less than two hours and I have orange hair!"

Erik looked over his shoulder to see the twins standing behind Nicky, using the boy as a human shield. "What did you put in her shampoo?"

Picking his little brother up and holding him in front of him, Declan moved closer, "It's not permanent."

"What. Is. It." Cady demanded.

Gideon moved behind his brothers, "It should wash out in a couple of weeks."

"A couple of weeks!"

"We don't like Geoffry."

"This isn't up to you!"

"Cady," Erik interrupted gently. "If you explain to Geoffry what happened, I'm sure he'll understand, he has a younger brother."

"We'll pull your hair up so it isn't as noticeable," Sky offered. "I bet Delora can help."

"Yeah, she's good with hair and stuff," Erik added.

"You guys are going to pay for this," Cady glared at her brothers.

"I like your hair," Nicky spoke up. "I like orange."

Cady's mouth opened and closed a couple of times before she whirled around and stormed from the room.

"Way to go," Sky muttered at the twins before following her friend.

"Seriously," Erik muttered. "What were you thinking?"

"Just looking out for our sister," Declan replied. "Didn't you ever do anything like that to Lora?"

"No."

Gideon rolled his eyes, "Is it difficult being so perfect, Erik?"

Erik narrowed his eyes, "Do you have a problem, Gideon?"

"Knock it off," Declan whispered to his brother.

"No, if there's a problem, let's get it all out in the open," Erik said.

"You're not even Arusian!" Gideon exploded. "You haven't spent your life here, around the Lions and the castles. It isn't your place to lead!"

"You think it's yours?"

"Yes! No! If anyone should be leading, it should be Declan."

"I don't want to lead," Declan interrupted.

"I didn't ask for this," Erik replied, ignoring Declan. "I was chosen by Black. I didn't ask for it. But this is where I am supposed to be and I will do the best I can. Just because I'm not Arusian doesn't mean this battle means any less to me. We are in this together, Gideon, we have to work as a team and I will do my best to lead. But I need your cooperation. And need I remind you, your father was not Arusian when he was commanding the Voltron Force?"

Gideon narrowed his eyes, "Are you comparing yourself to my father?"

"I didn't mean that."

"You are no where near the commander my father was," the younger man glared at him a moment before pushing past and leaving the room.

An uncomfortable silence hung in the room. Erik felt helpless and angry. What had just happened?"

"Don't, uh, don't worry about him," Declan said quietly. "He got a lot going on. He is suddenly a Voltron pilot, his education was interrupted, and his girlfriend is making him feel guilty about not spending more time with her. But he knows how important this is."

"I'm not trying to take anyone's birthright away from them."

"I know, he knows, that."

Erik nodded, "I don't know what to say to him."

"He'll get over it. You can count on him when it matters."

"Yeah," he rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh, I have some work I have to do. I'll see you guys at dinner."

Declan looked down at his little brother, "Want to play a game, Nick?"

The little boy nodded, still confused by what he had just seen.

Declan took his hand and walked him back over to the video game system. He felt bad for Erik, knowing that Gideon was putting him in a tough spot, but he had to stand with his brother. But if he was going to fight Erik, it was going to affect all of them and the team.

"Come on, Dec, I wanna race you."

"All right, little man, but I get to be the blue car."

………………………………………………………

"Erik?"

He turned around to see Brina coming up the hallway behind him, "Hey Brina, how did your training go?"

"Fine. Whitman is a great teacher, but I have a feeling the monitoring is going to be the most boring part of our job."

"Let's hope it is boring, otherwise we have trouble."

"True," she laughed softly. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

"I don't know, you just look like you lost your best friend or something."

"Nah, I just have a lot on my mind."

"Do you know what they have planned for us on Monday?"

He shook his head, "They won't tell me anything, either. But I have noticed that Uncle Lance seems to laugh every time Uncle Keith mentions it. That worries me."

"Where are the others?"

"Sky is helping Cady get ready for a date, Declan is entertaining his little brother, and I have no idea where Gideon is."

"Well, I was thinking that tonight, after dinner, the five of us could get together and, I don't know, watch a movie or something. I'd like to get to know you all a little better."

"Yeah, sure, that sounds like a good idea."

…………………………………………………………….

"So this was Brina's idea?" Sky asked, her arms crossed over her chest.

"Yes and I think it's a great idea."

She glared at Erik. The two of them were in her room where he had come to find her after dinner so they could join the others in the rec room.

"What?" He asked.

"Nothing."

Erik rubbed his hands over his face, "Do you know that one of the many reasons I like you is because you never played those silly girl mind games."

"She's flirting with you."

He lifted his head and looked at her, "What?"

"Brina is flirting with you."

"No she's not."

Sky threw her hands up in the air, "You cannot be that dense, Erik."

"I hadn't noticed," he took a step closer to her. "And so what if she is? I'm not flirting back and nothing will come of it."

"It's not that simple, Erik."

He took another step and reached out to take her hands, "It wasn't my idea to keep this a secret."

"This is just too much, Erik."

"Don't say that. We haven't really even had a chance."

She looked up at him. He was watching her intensely with his beautiful, dark blue eyes. Why does this have to be so hard?

"Sky," Erik whispered, bringing his hand up to cup her cheek. "It would be easier if we could just be together and not have to hide it. Everyone knows any way."

"What do you mean?" She whispered, closing her eyes as he traced her bottom lip with his thumb.

"We are meant to be together, Sunny, everyone knows it, so what do you say we stop pretending?" His voice was low and husky as he leaned closer.

"I-I don't want them to think…"

Erik interrupted her by gently capturing her lips with his own. "You worry too much about what other people think, my Sky," he whispered.

"I don't like the way she looks at you."

"What?"

Sky raised her eyes to his, "Brina. She looks at you in a way only I should be looking at you."

He rested his forehead against hers, "Would you like to go see a movie with me?"

"Depends on the movie."

Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her close, "With everything that's going on, Sky, I need you even more."

She hugged him tightly and rested her cheek against his shoulder. It felt so good, he felt so good. "I'm here for you, Erik, as your friend and your, uh, your…girl-girlfriend."

He leaned back and looked down at her, "You kind of stumbled over that."

"It's the first time I ever said it out loud."

"You're my girl, Sunny."

Her heart skipped a beat, "Don't get all mushy on me now."

"Let's go meet up with the others."

Sky entwined her fingers with his, surprising him by continuing to hold his hand as they left her room.

"I don't want you to do anything you're not comfortable with," he told her.

"I don't do anything I'm not comfortable with," she assured him. "We don't have to make an official announcement or anything, but, maybe we don't have to hide."

"Is this because you want to be together or because you want to let Brina know I'm spoken for?"

"Because I want to, but if she continues to flirt with you, I will take her out back and kick her ass."

Erik laughed and kissed the top of her head, "I wouldn't mind seeing that, Sunny."

"Don't get your hopes up. If I have to do it, I won't do it in front of my commander."

"What about in front of your boyfriend?"

A silly smile crossed her lips, "That I'll consider."

"Empire Strikes Back!"

"A New Hope!"

"Is there a problem?" Erik asked as they entered the rec room.

"The boys are trying to pick a movie," Brina explained, her eyes traveling down to their joined hands and then back up to Erik's face.

"Does this mean you guys are finally coming out?" Declan asked, his argument with his brother momentarily forgotten.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Sky said haughtily. "I'm not gay."

"It's about time," Gideon mumbled.

"How long have you been together?" Brina asked.

Erik looked at Sky and shrugged, "It feels like our entire lives."

"Or eight days. Officially." Sky corrected.

Letting go of her hand, Erik walked over to the movie disks the twins had uncovered, "This was Brina's idea and I think it was a good one. We should do more stuff like this, hang out, get to know each other better. What movie are we going to watch?"

"Empire," Declan said.

"A New Hope," Gideon corrected.

"How about something that isn't Star Wars," Brina suggested.

"No chick flicks," Declan declared.

The other two guys agreed.

"How about a silly comedy?" Sky suggested.

After fifteen minutes of arguing and teasing, they chose a silly comedy with a side of romance. There was a definite air of tension between Erik and Gideon, but they were both trying to ignore it. Giving in to what she wanted to do, Sky sat beside Erik and leaned against him, her head on his shoulder. With a smile on his face, Erik wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

…………………………………………………………………………………..

The team spent the next morning in practice. It amazed Keith, Lance, Sven, Pidge, Hunk, and Allura as they all watched from Castle Control. The five Lions flew in formation and the four pilots took to Erik's leadership. They had come together as a team very quickly, almost as fast as the original Voltron Force.

"Are you sure this thing is going to be a good idea tomorrow?" Allura asked her husband.

"I think it's great," Lance spoke up. "It'll force them to really work together as a team."

"And test Erik's leadership skills and how prepared they really are." Keith added.

"It seems more like a fraternity prank to me," she mumbled.

"Trust me, honey, we are preparing them for every possible scenario."

"I trust you. Just remember, the twins are to clean out the stables, scrub the kitchen floor, and wash the cars when they're done here."

"That'll take up all their free time this afternoon."

"Maybe they'll think of that next time they put dye in their sister's shampoo."

"They were just looking out for her."

"Don't you dare defend their behavior, Keith!"

"I'm not defending them, I'm just saying I understand."

"This all comes from the time they spent with Lance growing up…"

"Hey!" Lance interrupted. "Don't blame me for your shoddy parenting."

"Shoddy parenting!"

He shrugged, "All I know is that my kid turned out just fine."

"That's because Sky had Darcy," Hunk whispered to Pidge who snickered in response.

"I heard that," Lance muttered.