Hi all,

Thank you so much for your thoughts, prayers, and patience. All are greatly appreciated. I am doing much better, heading back to work on Saturday. I hope to be back up to normal with my postings.

Thank you also for your great reviews. This story is coming to an end, I can see it just around the corner. All I will say is don't worry, Captain Klari will get her comeuppance :)

C-Town Chica- As always, thanks for your great reveiw and support.

RedLion2 - Thank you for your review, they always mean so much to me. And as for you wonderful news, congratulations! I am so happy for you and your family. I wish you nothing but luck and good health. We all know your baby is already blessed with a talented and kind mother.

Nova Victoria Jade Satori - Thank you for your kind reviews and wishes. I too wish you luck in your recovery. I remember breaking my leg and how unpleasant that was, my thoughts are with you. What is with us? It sounds like we're falling apart ;)

Mrs. Son - Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful reviews!

To everyone else- Thanks for checking out my story, I am having a blast writing it!

So I thought I would have a little fun with the emails and give Erik and Cady each an email address. But then I remembered that this website doesn't allow that. So I am reposting this chapter and I hope anyone who read it before wasn't confused. But if you're interested, Erik's is FlyBoyJr (at) Polluxnet (dot) net. And Cady's is HRHPCadence (at) Arusnet (dot) net. Just a wacky but of unneeded trivia from my little world :)

Enjoy,

Failte

When word had reached Tristan's parents that he was coming home for two weeks, his mother dabbed at damp eyes with an antique lace handkerchief and his father had nodded stiffly. But that was the reaction he was expecting.

It was two days later before Tristan could sit down and check his email. He had arrived home several hours earlier to find that his parents had planned a dinner party to celebrate his return. Tristan was able to convince his mother that he wanted to lay down before his other family members began to arrive. His clothing had already been put away in the closet and dresser by one of the maids, fresh flowers filled a vase on top of his dresser, and the bed was made up. The room looked much as it had when he left four years earlier.

Tristan did not want to attend this dinner tonight. He loved his family, but at the moment, he had a lot on his mind and just didn't feel like partaking in small talk and dull conversations.

With a tight chest, he turned on the computer atop his childhood desk and waited for it to boot up. He had put off checking his email, half afraid of what Erik's response would be, but at the same time dying to know. After deleting a few junk emails, he skimmed down the addresses until he saw Erik's. Swallowing hard, Tristan clicked on the subject line and read the message that opened.

Tristan,

Well, I have to admit I'm a little disappointed that you aren't making more of an effort to come back to Arus. Six months is not a long time in the grand scheme of things. Why don't you take a break then and come visit? I know that Keith is always looking for good soldiers for the Arusian army. But then I do realize that is a big commitment. At least give some thought to coming for a visit. This isn't fair to you or Cady.

Speaking of Cady, I let her read your last email. I don't know what her reaction really was, but Sky said she was pretty upset. I asked if she wanted me to pass a message on to you, but she didn't have anything to say. I know my cousin pretty well and I would guess that she was hurt, Tristan. I'm not telling you this to make you feel bad, but to let you know that she cares.

Can I ask what brought about the fight? You don't strike me as someone who goes around looking for fights.

I hope you're able to find some relaxation while you're home. You deserve a little R&R, man. Try and get your thoughts together. I like you, Tristan, I think you're a good guy. You are more than welcome to visit here or Pollux any time you're in the neighborhood.


Keep in touch.

I'll talk to you later,

Erik

Tristan sighed and shook his head. He knew Erik wasn't trying to make him feel bad, he was just laying it all out for him, he was being honest. But it did hurt. Tristan would give anything to be with Cady, to spend time with her, to get to know her even better, on a more intimate level. But how could he? He could apply for a job with the Arusian military or as a castle guard, but what if Cady didn't really have feelings for him? Then he would be locked into a very uncomfortable situation.

Who was he kidding? He knew Cady had feelings for him, just as he did for her. He rubbed his hands over his face and sighed. Maybe it would be for the best if he didn't respond to Erik, cut off all ties to him as well. Just make a clean cut from everything and everyone connected to Arus.

Half-heartedly, Tristan skimmed his eyes down the remaining emails, seeing a couple from friends and then one he didn't recognize, but he knew instantly who it was. His heart skipped a beat and he was sorely tempted to skip over it. But he chided himself for being a coward and opened the email.

Dear Tristan,

I was glad to hear you arrived safely on Zettle and that you appear to be doing well. As I know you have heard, I am doing much better, as a matter of fact I was released from the hospital today and have moved back into my room. Aunt Becca said I should be completely back to normal within a couple of months, but I think she's just being overly cautious and I'll be up and around long before then.

I read the email you sent Erik, I don't know if you consider that an invasion of your privacy, but Erik did give it to me. I think he had hoped that it would show me how I shouldn't get my hopes up for a reunion with you. I have come to the conclusion that I have nothing to lose Tristan, so I am just going to be honest with you. When I first read your email I was hurt. I was hurt that you didn't care enough to try harder and hurt that you obviously think so little of me. Do you really think I would forget about you so quickly? I can honestly tell you that six months from now I will feel the same as I did the first time I saw you: intrigued, curious, and attracted. Yes, I was attracted to you the first time I saw you. Your beautiful eyes, you sweet, rare smile with the dimple, and your kind face. Then I got to know you and I fell for you. I know most people, yourself included, will shrug that off as the romantic fancy of a young Princess, that you can't fall in love with someone after only knowing them a month, but I really do believe that happened, at least for me. I had thought, or rather I had hoped, that you had felt something for me as well. No, I didn't think you were in love with me, you hardly know me, but I had hoped you felt enough of something so that we could explore a relationship.

I am beginning to think you are hiding behind the Garrison as an excuse. Is it because you are not interested in me or is it because you're afraid? If it is because you are not interested I can deal with that. I just wish you had been more straightforward so I wouldn't have wasted so much time thinking we could have had a chance. If it is the latter, then you are more of a coward than I could ever imagine.

Six months is not that long, I could wait for you, I would wait for you because I think we have something together. But if you disagree, then so be it. I will move on. But if you think like I do, that you felt something, then we can work it out. We can be together. If work is your only worry, there is plenty for you to do here on Arus. My planet is still growing and there is so much to do. But I also know that you're young and you're probably not ready to settle down. I'm sure you enjoy working for the Garrison (with the exception of Captain Klari) and if you want to reup, I would wait. You could visit on leaves and I could even go along on some of the peaceful missions. If it is what we both want, we can make it work.

I guess this letter does seem forward, but what else do I have to lose? As far as I can tell, the worst that could happen is that you email me back and tell me you are not or have ever been interested in a spoiled rotten Princess. Or maybe you won't respond at all. From where I stand, Tristan, not knowing how you really feel is keeping me in a hard position. I need to know one way or the other so I can move on.

I wish you the best of luck.

Sincerely Yours,

Cady

Tristan was finding it hard to breathe as he read her letter. It felt like he had been punched in the stomach. How could he respond to that? What was he supposed to say? What was he supposed to do?

"Tristan, darling." His mother knocked sharply on the door and walked into his room. "How are you feeling? Oh, you do look a little peaked. We'll have to make it an early evening for you. I'm sure no one would mind if you retired after supper, they are all just so eager to see you, it has been so long."

Tristan watched as his mother swept regally into the room dressed in an expensive, champagne colored suit, a silk scarf, and an antique pearl brooch. She was a vision of moneyed elegance. He knew she meant well and she was a good woman, but he wasn't as close to his mother as, say Cady was with her parents. He longed to be able to talk to her about everything on his mind, about Cady. She would be so thrilled with the idea of him being in love with a Princess, but for all the wrong reasons. The ladies at the Country Club would be so impressed, it would be even better than when Dr. and Mrs. Howard Webster's daughter, Marla, married the great-nephew of the Prime Minister of Canada.

"Tristan."

He looked up to see his mother holding up a suit jacket and tie. "I'm sorry, Mother, what did you say?"

She laid the jacket across his bed and sat on the edge, crossing her ankles and folding her neatly manicured hands over her knees, "We are so glad to have you home, darling. I worry so much when you are out there somewhere and I have no idea where you are or when I am going to receive that dreaded visit from Garrison Officials. Have you given any thought to what you are going to do when your tour is over?"

"I, uh, I don't know, Mother."

"It's less than six months away, darling."

"I know."

"It is not too late to go back to school. I know your father has always wanted his only son to join him at his office."

Tristan sighed and rubbed his hands over his face, "Please, Mother, don't do this to me."

She reached over and patted his knee, "You don't have to decide right now, darling, you do have your trust fund. Now that you've gotten this space travel out of your system, take your money, travel, see this planet before you come back here."

Really not wanting to deal with all this right now, Tristan stood and offered his mother a hand, "Thank you, Mother, for your concern. If you will excuse me, please, I would like to dress for dinner."

"Of course," she took his hand and stood. "I am so glad you're home, darling," she patted his cheek and left the room, her heels clicking on the antique hardwood floors.

Using his years of proper, societal upbringing, Tristan pushed aside all thoughts of Cady, Arus, and the Garrison to dress and prepare to see the family he hadn't seen in nearly two years.

………………………………………………………………….

Sky yelped as she felt a familiar pair of arms grab her around the waist from behind.

"Hi there, gorgeous," Erik twirled her around and set her on her feet.

She turned in his arms and was greeted by his grinning face, "Hi yourself, handsome."

Erik had searched the castle after his meeting with Keith and finally found her outside playing soccer with Tori, Luke, Charlotte, Tess, Nicky, the twins, Lynnai, and Brina. "I've been looking everywhere for you."

"Hey!" Gideon yelled across the field. "We're in the middle of a game here! Stop distracting her!"

"I can distract her all I want!" Erik called back before wrapping his arms tightly around her and dipping her low. "I love you, Sunny," he whispered huskily before planting a loud, exaggerated kiss on her lips.

Laughing, she pushed him back, "What has gotten in to you?"

"What has gotten in to me?" He stood and twirled her away. "Where to begin? I am in love with the most beautiful, amazing, sexy woman in the universe. We haven't seen hide nor hair of Vinn or the Bittor Coalition in days. And tonight my family is coming to visit. This is great."

"You are really excited about your family coming, huh?"

"I haven't seen them in a while."

"Look out!" Nicky yelled as he ran toward them, kicking the ball in front of him.

Erik turned and stole the ball from him, passing it to Charlotte who carried it down the field to have it swiped by Declan.

"No fair!" Nicky stood with his hands on his hips and glared at Erik. "You're not even playing!"

"I am now," Erik swept him up and flipped him upside down.

"Stop!" The little boy giggled. "I'm gonna throw up!"

"Then I better aim you toward Declan."

Tess ran by and kicked the ball toward the makeshift goal guarded by Luke. It shot through his hands and the girls cheered as they scored. Erik flipped Nicky up over his shoulder.

"That's two-one," Charlotte shouted.

"It doesn't count since Erik interrupted the game!" Luke called back. "What is this?" Erik asked. "Girls against guys?"

"Yup," Nicky landed on his feet.

"But that's not fair, that's six to four."

"Kind of sad, huh? Takes six of them to take us on." Declan pointed out.

Brina pulled a lock of his ebony hair, "We could still kick your butts if the numbers were reversed."

Declan grabbed her hand and tugged her close, lowering his voice, "You can do whatever you want to my butt anytime you want, honey."

"Oh ew!" Charlotte squealed.

"Why are you going out with him?" Tess asked. "You are so pretty, Brina, you could get anyone, why settle for Declan?"

Brina leaned close to the young girl and whispered, "The real reason? He ordered me. If I turned him down he threatened to have me arrested."

Tess covered her mouth with her hand and giggled.

"I heard that," Declan said menacingly. "That's not funny."

Brina took a step back, "I was kidding."

He reached out and grabbed her hands so she couldn't get away, "You're going to give my little sister a bad impression of me."

"Don't worry, Dec, it can't get any worse," Tess assured him.

"Brat," he teased, pulling Brina close to him. "If you want the truth, Brina quickly caved to my charm and good looks."

Brina turned in his arms and winked at his sisters, "I let him think that, it makes him happy."

"Are we playing or what?" Gideon asked.

"Well, I was hoping to steal my girlfriend and go for a swim. It's going to be too cold to do that before long."

"Yeah," Nicky cheered. "I wanna go swim."

"We're in the middle of a game, Nick," Gideon crouched beside his brother. "If we quit now, the girls win."

The little boy furrowed his brow and thought a moment.

"That's okay, Nicky," Charlotte assured him. "If you want to go swimming we can all go swimming."

"Don't give in," Declan urged.

"We can play soccer later," Nicky said slowly.

"Yeah, let's go swim," Erik swung Nicky up onto his shoulders.

"Yeah!"

"Looks like you guys lost," Brina looked over her shoulder.

Declan sighed dramatically, "Don't get used to it, beautiful, I rarely lose."

The gang ran to the castle and split up to go change. The Force was given the day off of guard duty since Sven and Romelle were coming. They were still under high alert and had to stay on castle grounds, but after morning practice, they were free to do as they wanted. Gideon invited Lynnai up for the day and since it was so beautiful out, they had all spent the day outside.

"I'm sure I have a suit you can borrow," Brina told Lynnai.

The young girl was innocently pretty with dark blonde hair and shimmering blue eyes. She was a little taller than Brina and her hair was cut in a short bob. Lynnai and Gideon were the true definition of 'childhood sweethearts.' They had met at the age of four in the park in town, they were holding hands at eight, shared their first kiss at ten, and at thirteen, vowed to get married someday. When they were young, Allura, and Lynnai's mother, Hannai, thought they were cute, when they reached their teens, both mothers grew more concerned and the two young people had chaperones tag along on most dates.

"Thanks, Brin," Lynnai followed the pilot into her room. "I really appreciate that."

"Bikini or one-piece?"

"Uh, one-piece please."

"How long have you and Gideon been together?" Brina asked as the other girl disappeared into the bathroom.

"Forever."

"Forever?"

Lynnai giggled, "We've been friends since we were four."

"How long have you gone out?"

"Oh geez, a few years now. We've been hanging out for so long, it's kind of hard to say when it stopped being friendship and started being something more. I guess that would be when he proposed to me."

"He proposed to you?" Brina asked, shocked.

Lynnai opened the door, dressed in Brina's green one-piece suit, "Not for real. I think we were thirteen when we promised to get married someday."

"That's sweet."

"Yeah, he is. What about you and Declan? How long have you been going out?"

"About a week now."

"He's a really good guy, Brina, I'm so glad he found you."

Brina smiled shyly, "So am I."

"Come on, let's go see if Sky's ready."

The guys had quickly changed and returned outdoors. They were in the lake, splashing Charlotte, Tess, and Tori while terrorizing Nicky. It was Declan who noticed the three women arriving first.

"Whoa."

"Whoa what? Gideon asked.

"Whoa that." Declan nodded toward the gentle slope where Brina, Sky, and Lynnai were approaching them, towels folded over their arms.

All three guys stopped what they were doing and watched, but they each only had eyes for one. Erik openly stared as Sky, dressed in a plain, clean cut black one piece suit. There were no ruffles or designs, but it clung to her body and made her skin appear fairer. Declan ran his gaze up and down Brina's body clad in a lavender bikini and matching wrap skirt. His mouth went dry and he forgot to tread water for a second, almost going under. A smile split Gideon's face as he saw his pretty girlfriend in a green suit he had never seen before that brought out the golden tan of her complexion.

"Hey Dec!" Nicky almost drowned his brother when he tackled him. "Watcha lookin' at?"

"He's looking at his girlfriend," Charlotte said, making kissing noises.

"I can't help it, she's beautiful," Declan replied, picking up his brother and tossing him into the water.

"I think we've made a good impression," Lynnai whispered as they approached the lake.

Brina locked eyes with her boyfriend and tossed her hair over her shoulder, "I'm glad the money wasn't wasted on this suit."

"You might want to rethink that if Declan drowns himself watching you," Sky whispered.

"You going to join us or are you to just stand there and pose?" Erik called out.

Brina and Lynnai toed off their shoes and waded into the water while Sky kicked her sandals off and ran toward the lake, diving in with almost no splash and moving beneath the surface with the ease of a dolphin. Having grown up near the castle lake, both Sky and the Whitaker children had started at a young age and were all now accomplished swimmers.

Erik, Declan, Gideon, and Sky did a cross lake race with Declan coming in first and the other three too close to call. Nicky beat his own record by holding his breath under water for sixty four seconds and then the boys challenged the girls to a splash fight that had them calling a draw after nearly ten minutes. Then Declan convinced Brina to climb on his shoulders and take on Lynnai and Gideon. While the younger kids cheered them on, Sky climbed out of the lake and laid out on her towel, allowing the warmth of the late summer sun to dry her.

She didn't even open her eyes when she felt someone thud down beside her. "I thought you were officiating the game."

Erik laid out on the grass beside her, "I passed that on to Tess."

"Who's winning?"

"Who do you think? It's not a fair fight. You've got two trained soldiers going up against a soldier and his girlfriend. Brina might look small but she's pretty strong. She's knocked Lynnai down twice so far."

"Maybe we should give Dec and Brina a fair fight."

"I'm up for it if you are."

Sky opened her eyes and shielded them from the sun. Erik was stretched out beside her, his hands folded beneath his head, his eyes closed as the warmth from the sun shined down on him. She couldn't help but study his muscular chest and abdomen down to his blue trunks, still damp from the lake, water glistening in the afternoon light.

"Are you checking me out?" He asked, opening one eye.

"Yeah. You're pretty hot."

"You're not so bad yourself, Sunny."

She rolled onto her back again and closed her eyes, "Have you heard from Tristan?"

"No."

"It's been a couple of days."

"He's probably busy back on Terra, give him a chance to settle in."

"Cady's upset."

"I don't know what to say," he sighed. "She's just going to have to accept the fact that he isn't coming back."

"Jerk."

Smiling, Erik reached over and took her hand, "She'll be fine. There are plenty of men out there and she's a great girl, she will move on and find someone else."

"I know. Once we get past all of this with Vinn it'll be easier for her to get back into the swing of the thing. And being laid up isn't helping her either, all she does is lie in bed and think about him."

Erik sat up and dug his communicator out from under the shirt he had tossed aside earlier, "Yeah, Johansson."

"It's getting late, Erik," Allura's answered. "Your father just contacted us to say they're about two hours out so you guys are going to want to head back in and get dressed for dinner."

"Okay, thanks Aunt Allura we'll be up in a minute." He snapped the communicator shut and looked down at his girlfriend. "Did you put sunscreen on?" He asked tracing his fingertip from her knee up her leg.

Sky smacked his hand away before he got too far, "Watch it, Romeo. And yes I did, before we came out."

"Oh. I was hoping to rub some on you."

She sat up and looked at him, "You need help, Erik."

"Oh, come on, I'm a young man with a beautiful woman, I can't help my raging hormones."

"I'm thinking we should have you see a therapist."

"Yeah, probably. That was Allura, my family's two hours out so we need to head in and get ready for dinner."

Sky stood, and fully aware that he was watching her, she stretched her arms above her head and then bent at the waist and stretched her back. "I guess you better call the kids in then."

"Huh?" Erik didn't hear a word she said as she slowly stood upright.

She winked at him, "Come on, you sex hound, let's gather the children and head inside."

He slowly got to his feet, "You're doing that to torture me."

"I'm just having a little fun," she smirked, grabbing his discarded t-shirt and pulling it over her head.

"I need that."

"No you don't."

"Brat."

She blew him a kiss over her shoulder as she jogged down to the water's edge.

"Come on guys!" Erik shouted. "Allura just contacted me, we have to head back up to the castle, my family will be here soon."

……………………………………………………………………….

Tristan fell back onto the couch and grabbed the remote control for the television. He still had ten days left of his leave and they were dragging by. The days were filled with shopping with his mother, playing golf with his father, and the evenings spent meeting up with his friends when they were done with work. Whatever he could do to take his mind off Cady.

After some deep soul searching, Tristan had decided that cutting off his ties to Arus was his best bet. It couldn't be, no matter how much he wanted it or she wanted it, he could not figure out a way to be with her. Instead, he decided to take his mother's advice. After his tour was over, Tristan was going to take a tour of Europe and then figure out what to do. He had enough time and money to find his calling.

So now he was sitting in his father's den on a beautiful afternoon flipping through the hundreds of channels, when something on channel 364 caught his attention. He flipped back and turned up the audio as a picture of Erik, Sven, Romelle, and Delora filled the screen and a man's voice reported.

"…members of the Polloxian royal family, Princess Romelle and her husband, Sven Johansson, along with their daughter Princess Delora. Reports say the three were on there way to visit Princess Romelle's cousin, the ruling monarch of Planet Arus, Queen Allura and her family. Their son, Prince Erik, is currently flying with the Voltron Force on Arus."

The picture dissolved away to the reporter who continued, "If you are just joining us, we have breaking news from Planet Arus, the transport ship carrying three members of the Polloxian royal family has been reportedly hijacked and the family taken hostage. Early reports claim that the Bittor Coalition is behind the attack…"

Without another thought, Tristan jumped to his feet and hurried to his room. He had to call the Garrison, see what was going on, see what he could do to help.