Hi all!
Here is the next installment of my series. As usual, I couldn't wait to get this story posted. I can't guarantee that I will be able to post as quickly as I have in the past, but I will do my best.
This story is rated PG-13, but there is a really good chance there will be one or two R rated chapters. Don't worry, I will give you plenty of notice!
Enjoy,
Failte
"Schuyler!" Cady gasped as she rushed into her best friend's room. "What are you doing?"
Sky rolled the small rubber ball across the floor and watched her five month old puppy run and pounce on it, "Playing with Figment."
"I can see that."
"Then why did you ask?"
The Arusian Princess sighed heavily and placed her hands on her hips, "We're leaving at six tomorrow morning."
"I know."
"You mean you're all packed?"
"No."
"Why not?"
Sky rolled her eyes and stood, holding her squirming dog in her hand, "I promise to be ready, Cady, calm down."
"What if his family hates me?" Cady asked quietly.
Sky shrugged as she set Figment into her crate and watched the puppy attack her water bowl with a vengeance, "Screw 'em. They'll be living several thousand miles away."
"You are of no help, Sky. You have no idea how nerve wracking this is, Aunt Romelle and Uncle Sven love you, you never had to worry about impressing anyone."
"Yeah, you're point being?"
Cady fell back across her friend's bed, twisting her hands nervously. The time had finally come for them to cash in their Christmas present from Tristan. The next morning she and Tristan and Erik and Sky were going to fly to Terra for a month. They would do some sightseeing and visit their families. But it was the fact that Cady was going to be meeting Tristan's family and friends that made this trip so important, and terrifying.
"They are going to love you," Sky assured her as she sat on the bed beside her.
"I am really excited and nervous, I haven't been able to eat all day."
"Well, I guess that'll cut down on your flight sickness tomorrow."
"What if his family hates me and when he sees that I don't fit in with them, he dumps me?"
"That won't happen and you know it. Tristan is crazy about you. If anything, you are going to blow his family away."
Cady sat up, "Can I ask you a personal question?"
"I could say no, but you'll ask any way."
"You and Erik were going out, what? A couple of months before you, uh, you slept together, right?"
"Yeah," Sky replied slowly.
"How, uh, how did you know it was the right time?" She asked nervously. "I mean, I know you did it for him for his birthday, but was it because you couldn't come up with a good present for him? Did you, uh, did you want to do it as badly as he did? I mean did you enjoy it? Oh man, I don't know what I'm trying to say. This is so embarrassing. You don't have to answer if you don't want to."
Sky waited until her red faced friend finished her ramblings, "Cady, are you trying to decide if you're ready to take the next step with Tristan?"
The Princess nodded sheepishly.
"Is he trying to pressure you into something you're not ready for? Because if he is…"
"No, no, Tristan would never do that. He is such a good man." Cady lowered her voice. "After the New Years party he escorted me back to my room and, well, we started to make out, but I couldn't go all the way. So he held me until I fell asleep but when I woke up the next morning he was gone."
"What happened? Did he seem angry or upset?"
"Not at all. He was so sweet about it all, he told me he would wait until I was ready."
"Then what's the problem?" Sky asked.
"I, uh, I think that, maybe, I might just be…sort of ready," Cady whispered.
"You sure?"
She glared at her friend, "You're hilarious, Sky."
"Cady, I can't tell you to sleep with Tristan, I can't tell you when the right time would be. That is up to you and him. Don't rush into anything because you think he wants it or it would make him happy. Make this decision together when you know its right."
"How will I know?"
"You will, don't worry," Sky said. "I didn't sleep with Erik because it was his birthday, I did it because I love him and we were ready. I knew I was ready and, well, he was ready from the moment I agreed to go out with him, he was just waiting for me to make the first move."
"So you're saying I should make the first move?"
"If you're ready, then you and Tristan should talk about it."
"Did you, um, did you want to do it as…as much as Erik did?" Cady asked shyly.
"Wow, you are getting personal. Yeah, I did. I was so in love with him and I wanted to get closer to him, to be with him. I think I can honestly say I wanted it as badly as he did."
"It hurts, doesn't it?"
"Yeah, it can, the first time. But if you're careful and take it slowly, it isn't too bad. The best part is that the more you do it, the better it feels."
Cady blushed a brilliant red, "Sky!"
"What? It's true," Sky smiled as she unclipped her communicator from her belt and flipped it open. "Collier."
"Schuyler," Keith greeted her. "We're having a quick meeting in the conference room about your trip."
"I'll be right there, sir," she snapped it shut.
"What's going on?" Cady asked.
"A meeting about the trip. You coming?"
"Yeah."
"I thought you were packing."
Cady shook her head, "I finished packing the day before yesterday."
"Then why were you bugging me about it?"
"Because I knew you weren't packed."
Sky shut and locked the door behind them as they left, "You really finished packing two days ago?"
"I couldn't wait."
"I'm afraid to see how much you're taking."
"I managed to fit it into two trunks."
"Really?"
"And three suitcases."
"Figures."
They arrived in the conference room to see Keith and Allura standing at the head of the table talking to Tristan and Erik.
"Just like women, always late," Erik quipped.
"Not funny," Sky said warningly.
"Okay, you're all here, have a seat," Keith said, indicating the table.
Trying to make up for his earlier comment, Erik gave Sky a dazzling smile and held a chair out for her. She stuck her nose in the air and sat on the edge of the chair, catching the table edge with her hands as he pushed the chair in a little too hard.
"Jerk."
"Love you, Sunny."
"Children," Keith sighed as he flipped open a folder. "Sit down."
"What's up, Dad?" Cady asked.
"We were able to get the three of you papers, permission to carry a loaded weapon at all times," he slid the papers to Tristan, Sky, and Erik. "Keep these on you at all times, along with your blasters. You are serving as guards to the Princess."
"Yes, sir," the three of them chimed.
"Your communicators and cell phones have all been upgraded so you can reach us from Terra. There will be a five second delay, but I think we can deal with that. The Garrison knows you are all coming and if there are any problems, you are to go to the closest base immediately. They will arrange for your trips home and offer you total protection. I also expect you to check in at least three times a week, if not more. If you wanted to check in every day, I wouldn't mind that either."
"Don't you think you're going a little over board, Dad?" Cady asked.
Keith glanced at her and then turned his attention back to the papers in front of him, "No, young lady, I don't. Your security is of the utmost importance, especially with a new issue that has risen." He slid two envelopes across the tabletop to Sky and Erik. "Allura and I also received these, as well as Sven, Romelle, and Delora."
Sky looked from her envelope to the one Erik held. They appeared identical, both from a Garrison office on Terra. Erik looked at her and offered her a small smile before tearing his open. She did the same, pulling out the sheet of paper.
"Well, what is it?" Cady asked impatiently.
"It says we may have to testify in Vinn's trial," Erik told her.
"It's happening while we're on Terra, isn't it?" Tristan asked.
"It starts our third week there," Sky responded.
"We're thinking that Allura and I will definitely have to testify as well as Sven and Romelle. I think we'll be able to convince them they don't need Delora to testify, your father's going to work on that Erik. As for you two, we won't know if your testimony is necessary just yet, so make sure you are on the east coast when the trial starts. I told them to contact me and I will let you know if they need you." Keith explained.
"You think it'll be dangerous for us to be on Terra during the trial?" Cady asked.
Tristan slid his arm around her shoulders and gave her a gentle squeeze.
"If I thought it was too dangerous, you wouldn't be going," Keith replied simply. "I just hope you now understand why we're taking these precautions. Any questions?"
Erik folded his letter and slipped it back into the envelope, "No sir."
Tristan shook his head and looked at Cady who responded in like.
"Schuyler?" Allura asked quietly. "Are you okay?"
Sky looked up from her letter and nodded, "Uh, yes, Ma'am, I'm fine. No questions."
"Then you're dismissed," Keith stood. "You know how to reach us if you have any questions or problems."
"You okay, Sunny?" Erik whispered as they all filed out of the room.
"Yeah, I'm fine, hon," she smiled at him and tucked the envelope into the back pocket of her jeans. "What are you doing now?"
"I have to finish packing, but I have time. Why?"
"I need to take Figment to my parent's house, wanna take a walk with me?"
"Let me think, do I want to take a walk with you?" He slung his arm around her shoulders. "I guess I could handle that."
She slid her arm around his waist, "Well, I don't want to force you into anything."
"You can force me into anything you want, baby."
"Oh yeah?"
He lowered his voice, "Oh yeah."
Sky punched in the code to open her door, immediately Figment started whining and jumping. "Can you grab the bag over there?" She asked as she opened the crate's door and let the puppy run out.
"Geez, Sunny, what's in here?" Erik asked as he hefted the heavy shopping bag.
"Her food," she replied as she chased the puppy. "Come here Figment, come on girl. Her blanket, some toys, Figment, come here now!"
He watched as she slid onto her stomach and wiggled under the bed after the dog, "Honey, your parents have dog food and she can use some of Greedo's toys."
"Nuh uh," Sky's reply was muffled under the bed. "Greedo doesn't share and she needs her squeaky duck."
Erik continued to watch, amused, as she wiggled back out, "Get her?"
"Barely," Sky stood and pushed her hair out of her eyes with one hand, clutching the puppy to her chest. "She knows something is happening and she's upset."
"She's a dog."
"Dogs can sense when things aren't right," she sat on her bed and tried to wrestle the puppy into her harness. "She knows Mommy and Daddy are leaving her."
He chuckled softly. The first time she had referred to the two of them Figment's 'Mommy and Daddy', he had been surprised and a more than a little touched. "She's going to need a new harness soon."
"I know, she's getting so big," Sky set the puppy on the floor. "Ready?"
"Yup," he took her hand. "It's a lovely night for a stroll."
The sun had just started to set, casting a golden glow over the late winter Arusian landscape as they left the castle. Figment scampered around their feet, stopping to smell a stone or eat a blade of grass.
"Figment, don't eat that," Sky scolded, reaching down to pull a seed pod out of the puppy's mouth.
"Are you okay with the letter we got?" Erik asked.
"What?"
"The letter we got from the Garrison about possibly testifying. You seemed a little…distracted after reading it."
She shrugged, "I guess I was just surprised to see it. I thought we were done with him."
"We will be after this. With everything he did, he'll be put away for a long time."
"What will we have to do? I mean, I've never had to testify before."
"Neither have I. I'm sure they just ask a few questions, you answer them honestly, and that's it."
"Why us?"
"Because we were there when he was captured, I guess."
"Then why weren't Declan, Gideon, and Brina asked to testify too?"
Erik shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe they wanted to speak to the first and second in commands. And we might not even have to testify, they were just letting us know that they might call us up. It won't ruin our trip, and if we have to testify, then we can write it off as a working vacation."
Sky smiled at him, "You can always put a positive spin on every situation, can't you?"
"I like to think I can."
"We'll have to call my grandmother from my parent's house and let her know we have to be back on the east coast a little early."
"No problem. Maybe we can head to Chicago a day or two early to make up for it."
"I just wish your grandparents could stay longer."
He shrugged, "They're getting up there in years, Sunny, the trip from Norway is going to be a lot for them. I'm just glad I get to see them at all."
"Me too, hon," Sky said as they approached her parent's front porch. She scrapped her feet on their doormat and opened the door. "Mom? Dad? You here?"
"Hey, Shorty," Lance greeted his daughter, walking into the foyer from the living room. "Are you dropping off our little granddog?"
"Yup," she bent down to unclip the leash from Figment's harness. "Where's Mom?"
Lance picked up the puppy and removed her harness, kissing her on the head and letting her down to scamper around the house. "She took Greedo for a walk. She's bringing back a pizza for dinner, you guys want to stay?"
Sky hung her coat on a hook by the door and looked at Erik, he shrugged and nodded, letting her know it was up to her. "Sure, Dad."
"Well, come in, come in. How are things going? Are you ready to go in the morning?" Lance asked as he led them into the kitchen.
"Things are fine. I just need to pack when we get back to the castle. You want a soda, Erik?"
"Sure, thanks Sunny," Erik sat at the table with Lance.
"Dad?"
"Grab me a beer, Sky."
"You ready to take over flying Red while we're gone?" Erik asked Lance.
"Are you kidding? I can't wait to get back in there."
"Are you going to be in charge if Uncle Keith and Aunt Allura have to go to Terra to testify?" Sky asked as she brought the drinks over to the table.
Lance nodded, "Yeah. So I take it they filled you in on Vinn's trial?"
Sky reached into her back pocket and pulled out her letter, handing it to her father, "It seems that Erik and I might be called in to testify as well."
"We thought this might happen," Lance mumbled as he skimmed over the letter.
"Do you know what we will have to do?"
"If you're called to testify, you'll take the stand and be asked questions by the prosecution and defense lawyers. Just answer honestly and to the best of your recollection, if you can't remember, just say 'I don't recall'. Don't let the lawyers intimidate you, be strong and be honest." He explained.
"I remember it pretty well," she mumbled.
"That's good. That will help put that S.O.B. in prison and keep him there."
"Oh! We have another dog," Darcy said as Figment greeted her and Greedo at the front door. "I'm thinking it's a good thing I got a large pizza."
Lance took the pizza from her and gave her a quick kiss, "We have a couple of visitors."
"So I see," Darcy hung her coat in the closet while Sky unclipped Greedo's leash. "How are you guys doing?"
"Fine," Erik told her, watching as the two dogs tumbled and nipped at each other. "We're learning from your husband how to handle the law."
"Mm hm, I see. Well, I guess it depends on which side of the law you're on."
"I heard that," Lance called from the kitchen.
Cady looked around her room. She had just gone through her two trunks and three suitcases to double check that she had packed everything she needed and had proceeded to unpack and repack it all. At nine o'clock the night before they were due to leave, she was almost certain she was ready.
"Who is it?" She called at the knock on her door.
"It's me," Tristan responded.
"Come on in, sweetie."
The door slid open and he walked in carrying a mug and a small plate with two of Nanny's chocolate chip cookies. "You didn't eat much at dinner, I thought you could use a snack."
Cady felt herself melt a little, "You are such a sweetheart, thank you."
He set the plate and mug on her desk and looked around, "Are you really taking all this?"
"I couldn't narrow it down."
"Cady..."
"I want to be prepared for any possible situation."
"Well, you won't need to do any laundry when we're on Terra," he muttered, walking over to the trunks. "Is this all part of being involved with a Princess?"
"I think its part of being involved with any girl."
"Sky is going to bring this much?"
"Well, any girl but Sky."
Tristan crossed over to her and took her hands, "How are you going to fit all that on the ship?"
"You told me the ship was big."
"I told you it was comfortable enough for four people and the crew to fly to Terra. I hadn't planned for your entire wardrobe."
"Well then you and Erik can sleep in the cockpit."
"As long as you have your priorities set right," he said wryly.
Cady stepped closer to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, "You will always be first, Tristan, right after my clothes."
He chuckled and kissed the top of her head, "Glad to hear that, Cady. At least I know where I stand. You okay?"
"Yeah. Well, I'm a little nervous."
"There's no need to be nervous."
"I know."
"Then why are you nervous?"
"Because I'm meeting all your friends and family. I am going to try and fit in on the one side of your life I know nothing about. What if they don't like me? What if I don't fit in?"
"I think," Tristan said, tilting her head back to look at her. "They're more nervous about meeting you."
"Me? Why?"
"Because they never met a Princess before."
"But I'm just like everyone else."
"No you're not. You're amazing."
She turned away coyly, "Why I do declare, Lieutenant, are you trying to woo me?"
"I like to think I already have, Your Highness."
"You're pretty close."
Tristan dipped his head, "How close?"
"Close."
He brushed his lips over hers, "Now?"
"Closer."
He tightened his arms around her and tangled his hand in her long, soft golden curls. His lips met hers, gently at first but it quickly became more intense, more hungry. Cady gripped his shirt and leaned against him as his hand tightened even more within her hair.
"And now?" Tristan whispered breathlessly as he pulled back.
"I, uh, I think I'm properly wooed now," she replied huskily.
"Good," He gave her another quick kiss and stepped back. "Have a good night."
Cady blinked, surprised, "What?"
"Good night, Cady," Tristan winked at her and opened the door.
"You're a tease," she called after him.
"See you early in the morning."
Cady watched him walk down the hall, leaving her standing in her doorway, a little confused. Well, she thought as she shut her door. Two can play at this game.
