"Who is it?" Erik asked as they all assembled in Castle Control.
"A gentleman by the name of," Keith consulted the sheet of paper in his hand. "Klintel Rossbin. You and Brina got his info. He moved here with his wife and two children, a girl and a boy."
Brina turned to Erik, "That was the girl who wanted to speak with you."
Keith glanced at him, "What did she have to say?"
The Black Lion pilot shrugged, "Nothing really. She was kind of flirty, I think she thought I could help them out."
"What did you say?"
"Just that if she was in any danger or if she needed help she could contact the police department in Alforia and they would make sure she received the help she needed."
Keith nodded, "Good answer. I'm going to bring this man in for questioning, we need to know where he stands."
"Do you think he was forced into service, like Montry said he was?" Sky asked.
"Most people who are forced into service don't make it as high into the rankings as he did. According to his record, he was actually one of Vinn's secondary advisors. I sent out a request for more information on him from the Garrison, he might end up in a cell down the hall from Vinn if he has had anything to do with Vinn's attacks."
"What do we do now?" Declan asked.
"As long as this man is on our planet and we don't know the whole story, we are under full alert."
"My family is flying in tomorrow," Erik reminded him.
"I don't foresee any problems," Keith assured him. "But if you are uneasy, please call them and fill your father in on the situation, then they can decide if they still want to come or not."
Erik nodded.
"All right, team, you are dismissed, but stay in the castle and be prepared to come at any time when called."
"Yes, sir," they all saluted.
……………………………………………………………………………….
Cady returned to her room after helping her mother and Nanny finish planning the New Years party. It helped to know that it was a more casual party. If it was to be a formal affair, she would be expected to show up with an escort, but if Tristan couldn't be there, she couldn't think of anyone else she wanted appear with.
She turned on her computer and started unwinding her braid as she waited for it to boot up. Shaking her hair out, she opened her email program, groaning with disappointment when she saw she had missed Tristan.
Dear Cady,
I signed on tonight and was able to wait a half hour, but I guess you were busy. But then it is so close to Christmas, I'm sure you're busy. I had most of the afternoon off, but then so did a lot of other guys, so the number of computers was limited. Just another month and a half and we won't have to depend on an open computer to be able to communicate.
There isn't a lot going on here, mostly a lot of patrolling the area and breaking up fights among the locals.
I wanted to thank you for the great gifts you sent me. It took a while since it had to be forwarded here. I can't believe you made the scarf, it's great and I can really use it here. It drops to below freezing every night. I've hung all the pictures over my bunk and I can tell you that more than one guy has stopped to check you out. I've had to threaten a few who stared too long :-)
I really miss you Cady. I guess the holiday season is really getting to me now and it looks like I won't be able to go home either. I was able to guarantee a phone call on Christmas Eve, so I will call you that afternoon, I am going to try for 4:00 your time. I know you'll be partaking in some great family tradition, but I need to speak with you and see you again.
Well, I'll talk to you later.
I love you,
Tristan
Cady whimpered in sympathy and disappointment as she hit the reply button.
Dear Tristan,
I am so, so sorry I missed you. I was helping my mother and Nanny plan the New Years party. I can honestly say I would rather have spent my time talking to you.
I'm glad you enjoyed your gifts and yes I did really make that scarf. Just make sure you bundle up, I don't want you to come here with a cold.
I'm sorry you can't make it home for Christmas. Is there any chance you can get some more time off?
I really miss you too. I am stuck in the castle, apparently there is a possible threat in the Bittor settlement. I don't know all the facts, but at least Dad is filling me in on some things. I know he is just looking out for me, but I wish he would accept the fact that I am an adult now. At least we're heading in the right direction and he's telling me more.
Sky and Erik had a big fight earlier, I think it's the fifth one they've had since they started going out. I think they do it just so they can make-up. So you can only assume what they'll be doing later. The two of them make me sick sometime with their lovey-dovey crap. But then, when you get here, we'll probably be the same way. Not the fighting, but the rest of it.
I will be eagerly awaiting your phone call on Christmas Eve. I'll be by the phone at 3:30 (probably in the morning) waiting.
I love you,
Cady
With a heavy heart, she hit the send button and watched the little window pop-up telling her the letter had been sent. She felt awful. In all the time that she had known Tristan, she had never heard him sound so sad, so anxious. Cady couldn't help the small thrill she felt at the fact that he needed to see her as much as she needed to see him.
………………………………………………………………….
Erik shifted from one foot to the other as he watched the monitors in Castle Control. The ship carrying his family had entered Arusian airspace and had an ETA of five minutes. The last time his parents and sister planned a trip to Arus their ship had been boarded and they had been kidnapped by Vinn. He knew Vinn was behind bars on Terra and that they had had a safe flight the entire way, but he couldn't help but worry.
"How's it going?" Sky asked, appearing at his side, her coat folded over her arm and holding his out to him.
"They should be landing in a couple of moments," he told her, accepting his coat. "I just called Aunt Allura and Uncle Keith. Everyone should be here to greet them in a second."
She slipped her hand into his and squeezed it reassuringly, "They're in Arusian airspace, aren't they? They'll arrive safely. Calm down."
"I know, I just…I can't help it."
They both turned as the door slid open and the sound of laughter and excited voices quickly filled the room. The family wasn't complete until Sven, Romelle, and Delora were with them.
"Where are they?" Keith asked.
"They should be landing any second," Erik said, sliding his arms into his coat.
"Let's go!" Allura called, always excited to see her cousin.
Cady ran into the room, zippering up her jacket as she joined the rest of the crowd heading out to the tarmac. She sidled up to Sky and whispered, "My present from Tristan arrived today."
"And?" Sky whispered back.
"It's a small and flat box, the size of an envelope. And he put a big sticker on it that says 'DO NOT OPEN UNTIL CHRISTMAS'."
Sky smirked, "He really knows you, huh?"
"It's such an odd shape, I'm dying to know what it is."
"Jewelry?"
"I don't think so. I shook it and it didn't sound like jewelry."
"Where is it?"
"Under the tree."
Sky glanced at her best friend as the transport ship descended onto the tarmac, "You aren't going to unwrap it, peek, and then wrap it back up again, are you?"
"Come on, Schuyler, I haven't done that in years."
"You did it last year!"
Cady shrugged, "Okay, I haven't done it in a year."
"I will tell him if you do."
Cady stuck her tongue out at her as the ship touched down.
…………………………………………………………………………………….
"Vhat did he have to say?" Sven asked.
Sven, Romelle, Keith, Allura, Lance, Darcy, Hunk, Paton, Pidge, Rebecca, Erik, Sky, Declan, Gideon, Brina and Cady were seated around the rec room later that evening. A warm fire was crackling and flurries swirled around the castle. Sven and Romelle listened as they were filled in on what was going on on Arus.
"I spoke with Rossbin last night," Keith replied. "He claims he was forced into service by Vinn. He seems like a good man and aside from his advising Vinn, he has had a very clean record. That doesn't mean I trust him, we're keeping a close eye on him and his family."
"While his daughter keeps a close eye on Erik," Gideon teased.
"What do you mean?" Romelle asked.
Erik glared at the other prince, "Nothing, Ma."
"Rossbin's daughter took an interest in Erik," Declan explained. "Took him aside, flirted a bit."
"It didn't mean anything," Erik insisted.
Sven shook his head slowly, "I'm sorry, Sky, but it seems you have discovered de downside of dating a Johansson man. Ve attract de opposite sex like moths to a flame."
Romelle raised an eyebrow, "Oh really?"
"Ja, but vhen ve find de right voman," Sven added, sliding an arm around his wife of twenty-one years. "All other vomen cease to exist."
"We are quite monogamous," Erik whispered to Sky. "We know what's good for us."
"Damn right you do," she whispered back.
"What's your plan?" Romelle asked, trying to get the conversation back on track.
"It's hard to say," Allura said. "They haven't done anything wrong and they have officially registered as seeking refugee status on Arus. There isn't really much we can do except keep an eye on them and make sure they aren't a threat."
"I have men who are frequently checking in on the Bittor settlement," Paton added. "Patrolling the area."
"Has Vinn named any associates?" Sven asked.
Keith shook his head, "Not that we know of."
"Are you sure you are getting all de facts about de case?"
"We are getting whatever the Garrison deems it necessary for us to hear. When Tristan was on Terra, he would fill us in on any info that slipped through the cracks."
"Speaking of Tristan," Romelle turned to Cady. "I was so sorry to hear he would not be joining us."
The young princess sighed, "So was I."
"Will he be going home for Christmas?"
"No, he's stuck on Lenol through the new year."
"That's a shame."
"But you are going through vith de regular holiday celebrations?" Sven asked Keith.
He nodded, "We have the Force and the rest of the military under full alert, so unless something happens, we are going to continue on as we have in years pass."
"Well, I hope you'll excuse me," Brina said with a yawn. "But I am exhausted and we do have practice early tomorrow."
"Of course, dear," Allura nodded. "Have a good night."
The other Force members took her hint and followed suit leaving the original Force and Cady. With Christmas Eve being the next day, Cady knew she wouldn't be able to get a wink of sleep knowing she was going to speak to Tristan. Her eyes strayed to the presents beneath the tree and to the small one wrapped in pale green paper with a large 'DO NOT OPEN UNTIL CHRISTMAS' sticker on top. Her fingers itched to tear it open, but she couldn't do that to him. It was their first Christmas together, well, not really together, but she would practice patience. That small box was driving her crazy.
"Cady."
She looked up as her mother addressed her, "I'm sorry, what?"
"I asked you what you had planned tomorrow."
"Tristan is going to call me around 4:00 and I promised Sky I would run an errand with her before dinner tomorrow."
Keith frowned, "I don't want the two of you leaving the castle alone."
"Oh, come on, Dad, Sky will act as my guard."
"At least take a car."
"Please do," Allura added. "It's supposed to be bitter cold."
"Fine," Cady huffed.
"So how are you feeling, Becca?" Romelle asked, changing the subject.
"Oh I'm fine," she replied. "But I can guarantee this will be the last one. I don't know how you had six children, Allura."
"You're a stronger woman than I," Paton agreed.
"I was a labor of love, literally," the Queen told them.
Cady rolled her eyes and stood, "I think I will turn in as well. Goodnight, everyone."
They all bade her goodnight and Cady left the warmth of the rec room. She knew sleep wasn't about to come, but she also knew the adults all wanted to talk about the old days and she had tired of those stories years ago. The heat had been turned up in her room and she quickly traded her jeans and sweater for a nightgown and climbed into bed. Taking out the romance novel Aunt Becca had sneaked her, Cady curled up in bed and lost herself in formulaic story of boy meets girl, boy and girl fight and break up, then boy and girl make up in some grand manner after one's life was threatened. If nothing else, it relaxed her enough to finally doze off around one in the morning.
……………………………………………………………………………………..
Christmas Eve dawned bright and cold. The winter sun bounced blindingly off the pink tinged snow. Roughly four inches had fallen over night bring the total on the ground to nearly seven inches. The younger children loved it, but Cady was worried that she and Sky might not be able to go out later that day. Sky had broken down and bought Erik the new Playstation, but she also had a secret plan that needed to be carried out that night. Cady didn't pretend to understand it, but Sky insisted.
The princess dressed warmly in jeans, a pale pink turtleneck and a matching pink sweater of the softest angora. Cady took great care in doing her hair and make up, wanting to look her absolute best when Tristan saw her on the videophone. She had asked her father the evening before and he had promised to vacate his office so she could use it to speak to her boyfriend in private.
After making herself presentable, she checked her watch and noticed with disappointment that it was only nine, she had seven hours to wait until he called. This was going to be the longest day of her life.
"Cady!" Sky called as she knocked on the door. "Are you up?"
"Yes, I'm up. Come in!"
"Wow," Sky looked at her friend with surprise when she entered. "You look great."
"Thanks. I wanted to look nice for Tristan. What's up?"
"Nothing much, practice went well so your father gave us the rest of today and tomorrow off. As long as nothing happens, we are free."
"Great. You can keep me entertained until he calls."
"Oh don't be so dramatic, Cady."
"Imagine you haven't spoken to Erik, face-to-face, in two weeks."
"Okay, point taken."
"And I am counting on you to keep me from opening his present early."
"I'm proud of you for waiting this long," Sky teased.
"Are you still going to go through with this tonight?"
"As of right now, yeah. But I can't guarantee if I will go through with it once I reach the shop."
"Bwak, bwak," Cady clucked. "You'll chicken out."
Sky stuck her chin out defiantly, "I will not."
"Come on, let's go find something to do before I lose my mind with boredom and excitement."
………………………………………………………………………….
At 4:03, Cady was pacing her father's office with impatience. What if he doesn't call? What if something happened? Oh no! Something happened! What am I going to do? She wrung her hands with worry. Trying to take her mind off it, she scanned the framed pictures on the bookshelves. They showed her parents when they were younger, pictures of the original Force, and dozens of pictures of her and her brothers. She fell back into the chair behind his desk and studied her parent's engagement picture and then the picture taken of the six of them when she sixteen and Nicky was two, the twins were fourteen, Tess was eleven, and Charlotte was five. Cady was glad that she had forced her five siblings into town and gotten an updated photo of the six of them for their parents for Christmas.
The beeping that signaled an incoming call suddenly filled the room and caused Cady to jump in her seat. She swung around and pressed the button to answer it. Relief flooded her when she was greeted by Tristan's visage. All the silly worries she had felt a moment before left and tears filled her eyes.
"Hi, Gorgeous," he grinned at her. "Merry Christmas."
"M-merry Christmas to you too," she replied, wiping her hands over her wet cheeks, smearing her mascara.
Tristan's smile faltered slightly, wishing he could be there to wipe her tears away in person. Even with her smudged make up and red eyes, she was the most beautiful sight he had seen in a long time. "Why are you crying, Cady?"
"It's silly, really. When you didn't call right at 4:00 I started to worry and then my mind started to wander and when I actually saw you, I was so relieved, so happy." Color burned her cheeks as she realized how silly she sounded. "I am just so glad to see you. How are you?"
"I'm a lot better now that I'm talking to you," he replied. "How are the plans for Christmas going?"
"Good. The whole family is here."
"Oh? Your grandmother came out?"
"No, no. She's celebrating with my Aunt Dana and her family. When I said family, I meant the original Force and all the kids. The castle is filled to bursting."
"Did you get my present?"
"Yes I did and I am dying to open it."
"You better not! You are not allowed, under any circumstances, to open that present until tomorrow morning."
"Why?"
"Because I am enjoying watching you suffer."
"Jerk."
"I know. How are things on Arus?"
"So far so good. Dad is worried about one of the men at the Bittor settlement."
"Why?"
"Apparently, this guy, uh, Rosewin or Roslyn, no it's Rossbin, yeah, Rossbin. Anyway, this Rossbin was a high ranking advisor to Vinn."
Tristan sat up straighter and leaned closer to the monitor, "Promise me you'll be careful, Cady. Do whatever your father tells you too."
"Ugh! I am so sick of you all telling me what to do. I know how to behave."
"I'm serious, Cady, you have no idea how dangerous Vinn was. What does your father say about this guy?"
"Dad interviewed him but he didn't get anything that would allow Dad to arrest him or anything. So Rossbin is under surveillance and Aunt Paton said that she is having her men patrol the settlement. I am also not allowed to go anywhere without a guard, not to mention the fact that I am trained in basic hand to hand and self defense. Nothing is going to happen to me."
"Better not. We only have a little over a month now and I would hate to have waited this long only to lose you this soon," he said, half teasing. "Be careful."
Cady studied his image, the thick dark hair that he kept running his hand through to keep it from falling into his eyes. His beautiful gray eyes like none she had ever seen before. "What happened to your chin?"
Tristan reached up and traced the small cut, "Broke up a fight a couple of days ago, one of the guys had a pocketknife."
"Now it's my turn to tell you to be careful."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Don't throw that back into my face."
Cady traced her finger along the bottom of the monitor, "Do…do you guys do anything for Christmas?"
"Yeah, there's a tree set up in the mess and they are having a special turkey dinner for us and we'll have a party."
"Will you have any presents to open?"
"Yeah, my family sent me some stuff which I know are cookies and underwear."
"What a great combination."
"Tell me about it."
"I really miss you, Tristan," she said with a quiver in her voice.
"I miss you too, babe, it won't be long now."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"Is it jewelry?"
"What?"
"My present, is it jewelry?"
Tristan laughed, "Do you really think I will answer that."
"I had to try."
His picture flickered and she couldn't make out his response.
"I'm losing you, Tristan."
He sighed, "I'm sorry, Cady, I have to go. Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas, hon, I love you."
"Love you too."
The screen flickered again and then went black.
"It's over," Cady whispered, knowing it hadn't been long enough.
…………………………………………………………………………….
"All right, Cady," Sky appeared in her friend's room an hour later. "I was able to convince your father that since I am taking my blaster and we're taking a car into town, we can go alone. But we have to be back by 1730, a minute later and he sends out the Calvary."
The princess rolled her eyes as she zipped her jacket up, "I can't believe you're doing this."
"It won't take long and it will totally freak Erik out."
"And that's what we want to do to our boyfriends for Christmas."
"Speaking of which," Sky said as they made their way down to the garage. "How's Tristan?"
"He's good. Well, he doesn't want to be there, but he's doing well. He has cut on his chin he got breaking up a fight, one of the guy's had a pocketknife. I can't help but wonder what else has happened. Thank you." She smiled sweetly at the guard who held the car door open for her.
"It helped to speak to him, didn't it?"
"Yeah it did, but when I saw him I started to cry and I didn't realize I had raccoon eyes. I looked horrible and I hate to think that's the image he has of me now."
Sky laughed as the car pulled out of the garage and onto the newly plowed road, "Oh stop it, Cady, you know that to him you are the most beautiful woman in the world."
"I know."
"Where do you want to be let out?" The driver called over his shoulder.
"You can let us out at the bakery," Sky told him.
"I thought we were going to Ink," Cady whispered.
"We are," her friend whispered back. "But I don't want him to know that. The last thing in the world that I want is for word to get around the castle that I went in there."
"Good point."
…………………………………………………………………………..
"We have to hurry," Sky said forty five minutes later as they rushed from the store. "I told him to pick us up in front of the bakery right now."
Cady tried to keep up with her friend's pace but found herself stumbling in the shin high snow as she avoided the slick, ice covered sidewalk, "Sky wait! Let's cut behind the bookstore, it's quicker."
Sky looked over and saw the darkness behind the mostly closed stores, "I don't think that's a good idea."
"Come on, I'm cold and it's starting to snow again, it's faster, I know where I'm going."
Sky checked her watch, they still had fifteen minutes before they needed to be back at the castle, but she didn't want to be late and have the driver call the castle and worry everyone. "All right, wait a second, Cady, I'm coming."
The two of them trudged quickly through the untouched snow that gave off enough light by reflecting the moon. Cady felt her legs burn form the combination of exertion and cold. Snowflakes stuck to her hair and cheeks as her breath puffed out in white puffs as the wind caused the snow to drift.
"I hope this was worth it," she hissed at her friend.
"Oh it was," Sky grinned.
The wind picked up and the trees around them shuddered and groaned.
Cadyshivered, "I can't wait to get back to the warmth of the castle."
"Me too. I'm thinking I will go straight to the fireplace and…"
Cady stopped and whirled around as Sky was cut off and there was a muted thump beside her. She gasped loudly when she saw her friend lying on her side, blood seeping through her knit cap and slowly darkening the snow.
Cady to fell to her knees, her heart racing and her hands shaking, "Sky? Sky!" She fumbled under her Sky's jacket trying to find her communicator when a large hand clamped a cloth over her mouth.
Her scream was captured by the cloth as warmth filled her body and consciousness slipped away.
……………………………………………………………………
Sky woke slowly, noticing how cold her body felt but how warm her head was. She tried to sit up but stopped, crying out as pain seared her head. She clasped her hands to her head and pulled them away, sticky and red with blood.
"Cady!" Her voice rose as she tried to look around her, finding herself alone. "Cady!"
She pulled out her communicator and dialed Castle Control with shaky fingers.
"Castle Control," the guard on duty answered.
"Send help," Sky gasped. "In town. Cady is gone and…I'm…I'm hurt."
"Where are you?" He asked.
"Behind the bookstore. P-please help." Her voice trembled as her body shook.