This story takes place fifteen years in the future from Allies and Adversaries.

Thanks for all the great reviews! Look forward to hearing from youon this one.

The little girl looked pleadingly up at her father. She was about nine years old, and barely came up to his chest. Her dark blonde hair had come loose out of its ponytail and hung in wisps around her face. Her eyes were the same dark chocolate as her father's.

And she knew how to use them.

"Pleeeeeeeeease Daddy!"

He sighed. "Did you ask your mother?" She nodded. "And Zarana's parents?"

She nodded again. "They both said it was up to you. Please Daddy! Please!"

He looked down into those brown eyes and sighed again. "All right. You both can come with me."

She gave a whoop of excitement and ran off down the hall. Suddenly she stopped and rushed back into his arms, hugging him fiercely around the neck. "I love you Daddy!" She whispered, and then she was gone.

Keith Montgomery watched his daughter rush down the hall. She turned a corner out of sight, but he could plainly hear the squealing as Aria told her cousin the good news. He heard them run off and soon the Castle grew quiet once more.

Keith had grown a neat little beard over the past few years. Other than that, and a bit of grey at his temples, he hadn't changed. He still held himself tall and kept his body in top shape with daily workouts, much to the annoyance of the rest of his Team. He sighed to himself. I can't believe she talked me into going…He shook his head, and made his way to the Control Room.

Pidge looked up as he walked in. Although he was still slight, Pidge had grown tall in the fifteen years since he first landed on Arus. His once unruly hair had calmed down and now he wore it short, close to his head. His trademark glasses were perched on his nose. Pidge grinned up at Keith. "The Terrible-Twosome just blasted their way through here. They seemed pretty excited. What's going on?"

Keith sat down on the control panel. "Somehow, they managed to convince me to take them both with me on my trip to Earth. It's going to be a long month." He said ruefully. "I still don't know how she talked me into it."

Pidge laughed. "All she had to do was bat her big brown eyes at you." He fluttered his own hazel eyes at his Commander. "You're such a pushover Keith!"

Keith frowned at his friend. "I'll remember you said that at practice tomorrow morning." Pidge groaned, and turned back to the computer. Keith looked around. "Where's Hunk? I thought he had duty this morning?"

"He does. He and Sereti were up half the night with the baby, so I told him to sleep in. I'm not doing anything until the council meeting later." Pidge told him.

"Coran going to the meeting?"

"Yes. He wants to formally admit me as his proxy."

Keith smiled. Pidge had taken over many of Coran's duties when the elderly advisor decided to semi-retire a few years ago. "Well then, keep up the good work." Keith started towards the door, then paused. "Pidge, if you see Hunk before I do, tell him to take the day off. I'll take his shift."

Pidge looked up in surprise. "But you've been on nights all this week, and you're heading for Earth tomorrow. When are you supposed to get some sleep?" He asked sternly, knowing Keith would work until he fell down.

"I'll go snag a nap while you and Allura are in the meeting. Have Lance spot me for an hour or two."

Pidge frowned. "Are you sure?"

Keith nodded. "Don't worry Mom, a few missed hours of sleep won't kill me."

"Yeah, but you're an old married guy with a kid now." Pidge cracked, grinning.

Keith narrowed his eyes at his friend. "Watch it there Lieutenant. You'll be married too someday." He started towards the door again. "Especially if the rumors I hear are true about you and a certain Annie Harrison." With that, Keith winked and walked out the door, leaving an open-mouthed Pidge watching him go.

Keith chuckled to himself as he walked down the hallway. He marveled at how much his life had changed in the past fifteen years. Here he was, Keith Montgomery, married to the reigning Queen of planet Arus and father to a very precocious nine year old. Lance and Dorma had married and now had two children of their own, Troi who was fourteen and in his third year at the Academy, and Zarana who was ten and Aria's partner in crime. Hunk had married a village girl two years ago, and their son was born a few weeks before. Keith shook his head, and went into his rooms, still smiling.

Allura looked up from the couch as he walked in. She had her waist length hair tied up in a no-nonsense bun at the back of her head. "What are you doing still here? I figured you'd be off doing something royal." Keith teased his wife.

"No, just resting a bit." She got to her feet, swaying for a moment as a dizzy spell hit her.

Keith was at her side in an instant. "Sit down!"

She laughed and shook her head to clear it. "I'm fine!"

"Yeah, but I'm not!" Keith looked as pale as she did.

Allura placed her husband's hand on her slightly protruding belly. Keith smiled down at her. "I love you."

"I love you." She walked across the room, gathering her papers from the desk. "Actually, the morning sickness has gone away. I just get a little off kilter if I stand up to quickly." She told him.

"All the same, you should be resting." He walked over and put his arms around her, kissing her deeply. "Hang the council meeting." He murmured into her hair. "Stay here with me."

"Keith, I can't."

"Sure you can, it's your planet." Keith kissed her again. "Stay with me." He said, running his lips along her neck.

Allura closed her eyes and moaned with pleasure. "Later…"

"Nope. I have to work double shifts tonight, and I'm leaving for Earth tomorrow."

Allura pulled back in surprised. "Double shifts? Why?"

"Hunk and Sereti were up all night with little Gil. I told Hunk to get some rest, I'd take his shift." Keith told her.

Allura smiled at her husband. "Who would have thought the great Commander Montgomery would have such a soft spot for babies."

Keith frowned at her. "Hey, watch it. I'll make you take his shift."

Allura winked at him. "You could try, I might faint again…" She fell forward, laughing, into his arms.

Keith kissed her again. "Please Allura. Skip the meeting."

"I wish I could Keith!" She turned back to her desk, and sighed. "It seems like we never get to spend time together anymore."

"I know." He sighed.

She turned to look at him. "You only just got back from Trasana with Hazar, and now you're off again."

"I have to go Allura. We've finally got both sides talking to each other, and the Druhles are opening up trade agreements with Earth. This is just too important for me to not be there." Keith walked over and stood looking out the window at the lake.

Allura joined him, and took her hand in his. "I know it is Keith. I just miss you."

Keith turned to smile down at her. "I miss you too." He pulled her close, and kissed her deeply again. "Skip the meeting." He whispered.

She groaned and hit him lightly on the shoulder. "Beast! You know I can't!"

Keith sighed in resignation. "Well, I guess I'll see you later then. I'm going to have a quick nap before I go back on duty." Disappointed, he turned and went into their bedroom, closing the door behind him.

Allura waited until he was out of sight, then pushed the button on the com-panel. "Pidge? I won't be making it to the council meeting." She smiled in the direction of her bedroom. "Tell them that I'm not feeling well."

Later, Allura lay cradled in Keith's arms, her head resting on his shoulder. "You're right, this is much better than the council meeting."

"Told you." He tightened his grip around her. "I wish you could come with me."

"I do too."

"Tell you what, when I get back, the three of us, you, me and Aria will go off somewhere."

"Where?"

"You choose. Anywhere you want. We could all use a little time together without conferences or meetings."

Allura was silent a moment, then she sat up and grinned. "Some where with snow!"

Keith groaned. "Snow! Allura come on!"

"Why not? Aria and I have never seen snow. Only in the distance when we saw it on those mountains back on Earth."

"Allura, I grew up in Southern California, by the ocean. Where it's nice and warm." Keith grumbled. "Why snow?"

"Because it will be fun! We could learn how to ski."

"Talk to Lance! He's the skier. I stick to beaches where there's no chance of frostbite."

"Only sharks."

"Yeah, but they don't eat much. Allura, please pick some where else." Keith pleaded.

Allura frowned at her husband. "You said I could choose, and I choose snow." She said firmly.

Keith rolled his eyes and sighed. "Fine, snow it is."

Allura smiled and lay back down in his arms. "I knew I could convince you."

"Yeah, you and Aria have me wrapped around your little fingers." Keith sighed. "What the hell am I going to do with two little girls for a month?"

Allura laughed. "You're the one who said yes."

"I know…"

Allura looked up at him. "Are you going to shave?" She asked tickling his chin.

"No, it might get me a little more respect. Marshall Graham wants me to teach a martial arts class at the Academy. I know he's going to volunteer me for a lecture on tactics too."

"Poor baby." Allura teased.

Keith tweaked her nose. "Just for that, you can take my night shift."

"I would if you'd let me." Allura got up and pulled a robe around her shoulders. "Just because I'm pregnant, doesn't mean I can't do my job. I'm hardly even showing yet!" She said irritably.

Keith walked over and tilted her head up to look at him. "I just want you to be safe. And I haven't grounded you, just taken you off routine patrols."

She sighed. "I feel useless."

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, you can take a shift or two while I'm gone. I already talked to Lance, and he'll fly with you." He pulled her close.

She sighed again. "It will be a long month without you and Aria. Are you staying at your parents?"

"Between there and Headquarters. The girls will stay with Mom and Dad or with the Harrison's. They'll probably come home spoiled rotten."

"That's what grandparents are for." She smiled up at him. "You have to get to work in an hour. Let's not waste time talking." She took his hand and led him to their bed. "I can think of a much more pleasant way to spend the time."

Lance faced the two little girls standing before him. "Now, I expect you to obey the rules and listen to everything your Uncle Keith tells you, is that understood?" He asked sternly.

Zarana nodded. "Sa Palda." She had the blue skin and violet eyes of her mother, and the sandy brown hair of her father.

"We'll be good Uncle Lance." Aria piped in.

Lance grinned at them both and hugged them tightly. "Good. Now go finish packing. You're leaving early tomorrow. Go." He said swatting Zarana lightly on the bottom as she and her cousin raced out of the room.

They nearly collided with Keith. "Whoa! Easy there!"

"Sorry Daddy!"

"Sorry Vahloo Keith!" They ran off without a backward glance.

Keith shook his head and grinned, then walked over to Lance. Lance had let his hair grow long in the past few years, and wore it in a ponytail. He propped his feet up on the computer console and lit a thin cigar. "Hey Cap. What's up?"

Keith sat down next to him. "Not much." He motioned to Lance, who handed him the cigar. Keith took a puff and handed it back. "Thanks. It's going to be a long three day flight with those two. At least I'll have a co-pilot with me for adult company. Sure you don't want to come along?" He pleaded.

Lance laughed and shook his head. "No way Keith! I'm staying here where it's nice and peaceful. Besides, with both kids gone, Dorma and I have a few plans of our own." He wiggled his eyebrows, grinning.

"Just keep an eye on Allura for me. She's just waiting for me to get out of sight so she can take Blue out for a joyride."

Lance took another puff from his cigar. "Aww Keith, she's just bored. She'll be fine. It's not as if she's never had a kid before."

Keith sighed. "I know."

"If it makes you feel any better, I won't let her fly unless one of us is with her." Lance grew quiet a minute. "Keith?...Never mind."

Keith looked over at him sharply. "What?"

Lance shrugged. "Just a feeling. Be careful will you?"

Keith felt a chill run through him. "Want me to leave the kids?"

"No…it's probably nothing."

"Lance my friend, with you it's never nothing." Keith took another hit off Lance's cigar and tried to change the subject. "Damn. I wish Allura would let me smoke these things."

Lance laughed. "The mighty Keith Montgomery, afraid of his wife!"

"Shut up Lance." Keith hauled Lance to his feet, and pulled him into a hug. "Take care of things for me while I'm gone. I'd like to come back and find the planet still in one piece."

Lance smiled. He knew what Keith was really trying to say. "I will buddy. Take care of you and the Terrible-Twosome." With a jaunty wave, Lance left the room.

Keith took his place behind the computer console and pondered Lance's remarks. It's been a long time since he had feelings like that. Dammit, he's never been wrong before. Let's hope this time he is…