Hi all,

Thank you for the great reviews!

RL2, MustangAce, ZiMarquise- As always, thank you for your great support! It means somuch to me!

K- Thank you for your review! I think The Circus Comes To Town is my favorite too. And I have thought about writing more like that, I love writing the kids as young and the Force as young parents. I actually started a story a while ago that circled around Pidge and Becca becoming parents. If the muse strikes, I might write more in that vein.

Squeaky Kittie - Thanks for your review! I know, I have to be more careful with my proofreading...I have a bad habit of doing most of my writing and posting late at night and it's easy to miss some things when you're tired. But I am trying! Feel free to point out any stupid little mistakes I make and I'll fix them ASAP!

Thank you all!

Enjoy,

Failte

"You can't blame Kasen for who his brother is, they are two different people," Allura pointed out.

"But I don't like the idea of Tess being around Mytch," Keith said. "He has proven to be disrespectful toward the royal family."

She sat on the edge of his desk, "She won't be alone with Kasen, Mytch won't be there, and we will meet him before they go out."

Her husband sighed heavily and leaned back in his chair, "You know, we are her parents, we can just tell her she's not allowed to go out with this boy."

"But why, Keith? This boy hasn't done anything wrong and Tess really likes him. The least we can is meet Kasen before we decide whether or not to forbid her to see him."

"Fine, but I reserve the right to not like him at first sight," he grumbled.

Allura smiled and leaned over to kiss his cheek, "You said the same thing about Cady's first date."

"I still think that."

"I guess it's a good thing you like Tristan."

"I never said that."

"Keith."

He took her hands and pulled her onto his lap, "I tolerate him for my daughter's sake, but know that if he ever does anything to hurt or upset her, I will kill him."

"Oh stop it. Tristan adores Cady and she feels the same way about him. You couldn't ask for a better husband and partner for her."

Keith mumbled something into the nape of her neck as he pressed kisses to her skin.

"What was that?" She asked, his hot breath caressing the back of her neck.

"I hate it when you're right," he whispered into her ear.

Allura slid her arms around his neck and kissed him, "I would think you'd be used to it by now."

He continued nuzzling her throat, "You would think so, but you are always amazing me with your brilliance and wit."

She smiled and looked down at him, "Are you coming on to me?"

"Is it working?"

"You would think," Allura teased, "that after twenty one years of marriage, you would have become more smooth with your flirtations."

"I'm smooth," he insisted, wrapping his hand around the back of her neck and bringing her closer. "I am very suave. You can't resist me, Your Highness."

"You're right," she whispered, closing the distance between them, pressing her lips to his. "But I must."

"What?" Keith looked up surprised to see she had jumped from his lap.

"I must resist you for now, darling, I have work to do."

He groaned, "You're a mean tease."

"Always have been, sweetie."

"You will pay for that."

She paused at his door and tossed him a smile over her shoulder, "I'll be looking forward to it, babe."

"There you are, Mom," Cady said running into Allura in the hallway. "I've been looking everywhere for you."

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" Allura asked, slowing down to let her daughter catch up to her.

"I need to go in to town, the florist called and said the roses came in, but they aren't the colors I ordered and they won't be able to get new ones in before the ball. But they said that if we came down I could pick out any flowers I wanted to make up for it."

Allura bit back a smile, "It's all right, Cady, I'm sure that whatever roses they got in will be just fine."

"But they're orange and lavender."

"How did pink and white turn into orange and lavender?"

Cady shrugged, her voice rising in frustration, "I don't know. But I cannot have orange roses at this ball, Mother."

"Okay, okay, calm down. I'll have to tell your father and get some guards to go with us."

"Sky said she would come."

"Okay," Allura checked her watch. "We'll meet in Castle Control in fifteen minutes."

"Thanks, Mom."

"They're just flowers," Tristan sighed as Cady stood in his doorway.

"They are not just flowers," she gasped. "This is our engagement ball, Tristan, there will be people from all over, including photographers!"

He continued to stare at her blankly.

"Fine," she sighed angrily. "You are such a man! I'll just go with Sky and my mother."

"Okay."

"Jerk."

Chuckling, Tristan stood and crossed to her, "I'll go if you want me to."

She crossed her arms over her chest and scowled at him, "No, I don't want you to go."

"Okay."

"Aren't you going to beg and try to fix the fact that you've angered me?"

"Nope."

She raised an eyebrow in question.

He flashed his most charming smile, "Beautiful, you've already agreed to marry me, I know that this will not make you break up with me."

"Conceited jerk."

Tristan threw his head back and laughed, "I love you, so much, Cady."

"Nope, not enough."

"My beautiful, beautiful Princess," he whispered, pulling her into his arms. "I will gladly go anywhere with you. But I'm waiting for a call from Erik."

All anger and irritation she felt quickly evaporated and she clutched his upper arms, "You're going to talk to Erik? I'm dying to know what he's doing, he is going to make up with Sky, isn't he?"

"He's certainly going to try."

"You have to tell me everything you guys talk about."

"We'll see."

"Tristan."

"Hey, I don't expect you to tell me everything you and Sky discuss in private."

"Okay," she agreed reluctantly. "I just…"

"You just what?"

"I just want them back together, to have what we have, to be happy again."

He smiled and kissed her gently, "I love you."

"Love you too."

"Be careful, stay close to your mother and Sky."

"I will."

"Don't wander off, make sure your communicator is with you at all times."

"I will."

"Come see me as soon as you get back so I know you're back."

"I will."

"On second thought, maybe I will go with you and call Erik when we get back."

"No," Cady shook her head. "We'll be fine, we're just going to the florists. Sky and Brina are going and two guards are driving us. We'll be fine. Talk to Erik and teach him how to be charming and sweet enough to win Sky back."

"I will."

She smiled and kissed his cheek, "I'll see you in a little while."

"There you are."

Cady looked over her shoulder and saw Declan standing in the doorway, a scowl on his face. "What's your problem?"

"Brina wanted to go into town too and somehow I got dragged into it."

"Somehow?" Tristan teased.

"Okay, I was told I was going," he corrected himself. "How'd you get out of it?"

"I'm expecting a call. Look after my woman for me, would ya?"

Declan rolled his eyes, "Let's just get this over with, okay?"

Cady kissed Tristan quickly, "I'll see you soon."

"Have fun."

"You too," she called over her shoulder as she joined her brother in the hall. "Come on, Dec, if we get a move on, maybe we'll have time to hit the shoe store."

"Oh goody."

"What crawled up your butt?" Cady asked cheerfully.

"I just have better things to do than escort you girls downtown."

"This is the best thing you could be doing right now," Brina said as she walked out of her room. "Stop being a jerk."

"I can think of a few other things I'd rather be doing," he said suggestively.

Cady made a gagging sound.

"But the fact is that I just walked in on my sister making out with her boyfriend, so my mood has been shattered," he sneered.

Brina laughed and took his hand, "I'm sure you'll be in the mood again soon enough."

"Please stop," Cady pleaded. "I don't want to even think about that."

"There you are," Allura said when the three of them entered Castle Control where she stood with Keith, Tess, and Sky. "I was about ready to leave without you."

"Tess, are you coming too?" Cady asked.

"Yeah, if we have time, Mom said we could swing by the boutique and I can look for something to wear," she said shyly.

Declan groaned.

"All right," Allura clapped her hands. "Let's go."

"Are you guys armed?" Keith asked the three Force members.

"Yes, sir."

"And you have your communicators?"

"Yes, sir."

"Cady?"

She tapped the communicator attached to her waistband, "Yup."

"Allura?"

The Queen clicked her heels together and saluted, "Yes, sir."

He sent her an unconvincing glare, "Okay, stay together, all of you. Tess, no wandering off."

She rolled her eyes, "I'm not a child, Dad."

Keith smiled despite himself, "Sorry, kiddo, but you are and you're my child, so stick close to the others."

"Yes, sir," she mumbled.

"The car should be ready for you, I'll walk down to the garage with you."

"Have you heard from Erik?" Cady asked Sky as they left.

"Uh, no, not since the day before yesterday," Sky told her friend.

"Oh, the car."

Red's pilot smiled, the last gift Erik had sent her was a model of a silver Mustang, exactly like the one they had rented to drive from Chicago to Boston when they had been on Terra. "Yeah, the car."

"Okay, we're going to the florist first and try to fix this minor fiasco," Allura said when they were all settled in the car. "And then we're going to the boutique and, if there's time, the shoe store."

"Oh come on," Declan sighed. "When I agreed to this, no one had mentioned clothing shopping."

"If you're good, you can pick out some clothes for yourself," Allura told him.

"Thanks, Ma."

It was a busy day in Alforia, the streets were full of traffic, both foot and car. They were lucky enough to find a parking place near the florist and climbed out. Brina went first, followed by Allura with Tess and Cady, Sky walked along side them, and Declan brought up the rear. They were stopped frequently as people congratulated Cady on her engagement. The news had been leaked by the media a few days before, much to the Princess' disappointment. She had really hoped to make the announcement at the ball, now it was all a formality. But she smiled and happily accepted their good wishes, she even held out her hand for the few people bold enough to ask to see her ring.

Allura glanced over her shoulder and did a double take when she saw her son. He was standing, arms crossed, a stern expression on his face as he watched people talk to his sister. At that moment, Declan was the spitting image of his father. She caught his eye and smiled softly at him. He acknowledged her with a nod and a small smile.

When they finally made it to the door of the florists, Declan volunteered to stand outside while Brina and Sky accompanied them inside. He leaned against the wall and, to the untrained eye, he appeared to be bored and practically dozing off. But in reality, he was acutely aware of every person who walked past and entered or left the store.

"Oh, Your Highness," the owner of the flower shop walked quickly and nervously over to Allura and Cady. "I am so, so sorry for the mistake, we will do everything in our power to fix this."

Allura smiled and took his hand in hers, "Please, don't worry, mistakes happen, you have so many beautiful flowers I am sure we won't have any problems finding replacements."

Cady was already scanning the glass fronted refrigeration units with Sky at her side. Brina hung back a bit where she could see all three of the royal women. Allura continued to speak with the store owner while Cady and Sky and Tess wandered the store.

"Oh, this is pretty, Cady, come look!"

She followed her younger sister's voice and joined Tess on the other side of the store. "Oh, Tessy, they are pretty," Cady sighed, gently fingering the long white petals with what appeared to be pale pink stripe painted down the centered. They appeared to be very similar to Stargazer Lilies.

"A lovely choice," the owner declared.

"We could use them as the main flower in the centerpieces," Allura mused. "Can you show us what flowers you have that would compliment these."

The four women spent over half an hour with the florist, planning and designing centerpieces even more elegant than the original ones. Cady felt her spirits raise when she realized that what she had thought was a disaster was nothing more than a minor inconvenience. As a matter of fact, she found that she liked the new flowers even more.

"Wake up, soldier," she teasingly poked Declan in the arm as they left the shop.

He rolled his eyes and stood up straight, "Geez, I never thought you would finish."

"Oh, it wasn't that long. Lighten up, bro," she slung her arm good naturedly around his shoulders.

"Cady." Tess appeared at her side, whispering out of the corner of her mouth.

The Princess left her brother's side and turned to her sister, "What?"

"Now, be subtle, but over there, by the bookstore, the boy in the green shirt."

Cady lifted her gaze and swept it down the street, "The cutie with dark hair?"

"Yeah," Tess hissed excitedly. "That's Kasen."

"Really?" Cady waved Sky over and pointed him out to her.

"Oh, he is cute," Sky agreed.

As though he could sense their eyes on him, Kasen looked up and caught sight of Tess. He grinned and waved at her. She blushed bright red and shyly returned his wave.

Declan narrowed his eyes and watched this interaction. Kasen looked way too much like Mytch. Right on sight, he did not like Kasen Martyn.

"Hi, Tess," Kasen crossed the street and stopped in front of the young Princess. "How're you doing?"

"Hi, Kasen," she smiled demurely, avoiding his gaze. "I'm, uh, I'm fine, how're you?"

"Uh, good."

Sky had the good graces to pretend she wasn't listening, but Cady stood at her sister's side and watched the uncomfortable interaction. "Hi there."

Tess suddenly remembered she wasn't alone. "Oh, uh, Kasen, this is my sister, Cady, her friend, Sky, my brother Declan, my mother, and that's Brina."

The young man's cheeks darkened with a blush as he tried to appear unruffled, "It's a pleasure to meet you all." He bowed stiffly at his waist and offered Allura a nervous smile. "Your Highness."

"Kasen, it's a pleasure to meet you," Allura offered her hand to him. "I've heard so many wonderful things about you."

Tess' face burned even brighter at her mother's words.

Her words seemed to make Kasen even more nervous and he stammered, "Uh, well, it was nice meeting you all, but, uh, I have to go. I'm meeting my brother. I'll, uh, I'll talk to you later, Tess."

"Okay," she smiled. "Bye, Kasen."

"Bye Tess."

"Oh Tessy, he's adorable," Allura gushed when he was out of earshot.

"I can't believe you told him you had heard wonderful things about him," Tess gasped. "That was so embarrassing, Mom."

Allura laughed and threw her arm around her daughter, "Oh, sweetheart, what good is being a mother if I can't embarrass my kids once in a while."

"I don't like him," Declan whispered to Brina as they brought up the rear.

"Oh, stop it, you didn't even talk to him. What is with you today? What has you stressing out?"

He looked around and then back down at her, "I don't like this. I don't think we should've come to town, I have a bad feeling."

She furrowed her brow in confusion, "What do you mean?"

He shrugged, "I don't know, but I don't want to linger anymore than necessary."

"I'm sure everything will be fine, Dec, we won't let anything happen to them."

He sighed as he watched his sisters and mother enter the boutique, "Yeah, but I'll feel better when we're back at the castle."

Twenty minutes later, Declan sat in a chair watching as the four women stood outside the dressing rooms and called out advice to Tess.

"That skirt was just too short, young lady," Allura said. "You know your father won't approve and I didn't like the color. Try on the green dress."

"It makes me look like an old woman!" Tess called back.

"It does not!"

"Try on the yellow one," Cady suggested. "Yellow looks so nice on you."

Declan sighed and checked his watch again. Nightfall would be coming in another hour or so and he had hoped to be home by then. He looked over and saw Tess walk out dressed in a yellow sundress with a fitted bodice and a full skirt that fell to mid-calf. His mother and older sister gushed and declared it to be the perfect dress. Finally, he thought. Now we can get out of here.

"Do we have time to go to the shoe store?" Tess asked hopefully.

Allura glanced at her watch, "Of course, sweetie."

Declan groaned and pushed himself to his feet, "I'm going to go out front for a minute."

Allura waved her hand at him, "Okay, honey, we won't be long now."

He went out front and stood by the front door, watching as people passed him by. A few recognized him and called out greetings to him, he waved or nodded in response. After a few minutes someone appeared at his side, leaning against the wall beside him.

Declan didn't bother to hide his look of disgust, "I have nothing to say to you, Martyn."

Mytch continued to stare straight ahead, "Fine. Then listen. I don't want your sister seeing my brother any more than you want her seeing him. I would suggest you nip these little flirtations in the bud."

Declan straightened and turned to face the other man. "Is that a threat?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Don't you dare threaten me, Martyn, and if I so much as catch you looking at my sister, any of them, I will take you down."

"Well, Your Highness, that sounds like a threat to me," Mytch growled.

"No, it was a promise," Declan vowed.

They both looked up at the sound the bell on the door. The sounds of chattering women preceded his mother, sisters, and teammates as they left the store. Declan glanced back and caught sight of Mytch's back as he disappeared in the crowd of people on the sidewalk.

"All right," he announced. "Let's head back home."

Allura shook her head, "Not just yet, Declan, we want to run into the shoe store real quick."

"I really think we should go home."

"Nonsense, it's still early."

Brina fell into step beside him as they walked down to the shoe store, "What is it, Dec?"

In a low voice he told her what had just happened with Mytch. They stopped outside the store while the others went inside.

"He wouldn't actually try anything with Tess, would he?" Brina asked.

"We're not going to give him the chance," Declan said, pulling open the door to follow the others inside.

"Really?" Tess asked excitedly. "I can have heels?"

Allura smiled, "Yes, just don't fall and break your ankle."

The young girl took a few practice steps in the shoes, walking awkwardly.

"Whoa, Tess, sexy," Cady teased, walking over to her.

Declan walked up and down the store aisles. There was only three other people in the store, the clerk, a young man stocking shelves, and a woman trying on boots. He followed the familiar voices of his sisters and walked over to see the two of them comparing shoes. "Come on, aren't you done yet?"

"You can't rush shoe shopping," Cady replied.

"Since when do you need a new pair of shoes?"

"You can never have too many."

"Really? I don't see Sky and Brina buying more shoes."

"Because they both wear different sizes, check the next aisle over."

Rolling his eyes, Declan turned and walked to the next aisle. He found Brina sitting on a bench trying on a pair of sandals while Sky was scanning the shelves for a pair of boots in her size. "Way to guard, you guys."

"Oh stop it," Sky sighed. "I don't think we have to worry about a pair of pumps attacking anyone."

"Yeah, well, while you guys were giggling over dresses in the boutique, Mytch came up to me and threatened Tess if she didn't stop seeing Kasen."

Sky turned to look at him, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I'm telling you now. I am still your commander and you will do what I tell you."

Nodding, Sky moved past him, grumbling under her breath about 'Big-headed, immature, morons.' He wasn't sure if she was talking about him or Mytch.

Brina sat on the bench, her boots beside her and her feet in a pair of sparkling, strappy sandals that showed off her pink painted toenails. Declan found himself staring at her feet and wondering when sandals had become sexy. The bell on the door jingled.

"Declan?"

He met her eyes, "What?"

"Knock it off. You're panicking for no reason."

"I'm not panicking. Put your boots back on and get ready to go, it's getting dark out and I'd like to be back at the castle before then."

"Yes, sir."

He moved to return to his sisters but turned back, "Brina."

"What?" She asked sharply, pulling her socks back on.

"Buy the sandals."

"Excuse me?"

"Better yet," he pulled his wallet out of his back pocket and pulled out some cash. "Let me buy them for you, your feet look really sexy in them."

She smiled and wiggled her toes before shoving her feet back in boots, "Why thank you, commander."

He was about to make some flirty remark when he heard Sky's voice.

"What are you doing here?"

Declan and Brina jumped to their feet and hurried over to see what was going on. In the next aisle over, Sky stood in front of Cady and Tess, shielding them from Mytch, her hand resting on the butt of her weapon.

Mytch raised both hands, a condescending smile on his face, "No need for the weapon, Collier, I do believe I am free to shop in here if I want to."

"That may be, but I don't think you wear a woman's size six," Declan said from behind him.

Allura, who had been in the children's department looking for a pair of dress shoes for Nicky, hurried over when she heard the commotion.

"Your Highness," Mytch bowed.

She nodded but didn't speak, drawing herself up to her full height.

"Maybe it would be best if you left," Declan said.

"Yes, maybe it would," Allura added stiffly.

"I was released from the Brigade, I am no longer under your command," Mytch replied lightly.

Brina moved to the side, offering her protection to the Queen while Declan stood face to face with the angry ex-pilot.

"Mytch, come on, let's go," Kasen called, entering the store.

"Just a second, Kase," Mytch called back.

The younger man followed his brother's voice to where he stood, facing down the Voltron Commander. Kasen's face paled and his eyes went instantly to Tess who was peering around from behind Sky. Her eyes widened when she saw him.

"Mytch, come on, now," Kasen pleaded. "Or I'll tell Dad."

Mytch leaned in to Declan and whispered, "This isn't over."

"No, it isn't," Declan agreed.

Allura laid her hand on Declan's arm and he took a step back.

They all stood at attention until they heard the bell on the door again.

"We're leaving. Now." Declan said through clenched teeth.

"Okay, sweetie," Allura held her hand out to Tess. "Let's pay for the shoes. Sky, why don't you go see if they can move the car down here, then we can leave right from here."

"Yes, Ma'am," Sky nodded and hurried from the store.

Brina rubbed her hand over Declan's back, surprised to feel him tremble, as she walked past to escort the others to the cash register. He took a deep breath to try and calm his anger before joining them.

Sky walked quickly through the people crowding the narrow sidewalks as she made her way toward the car parked in front of the florist. It was growing dark and she looked upward to see clouds moving in signaling a storm. That simple movement had caused enough distraction that she was shocked to feel someone grab her arm. Before she could react, she was pulled into the narrow alleyway between the bakery and the boutique and pinned face first against the wall. The brick scratched her cheek and fear shot through her as someone grabbed the weapon from her belt.

"You need to tell your Queen to mind her own business," a voice hissed in her ear. "Tell her to stop interfering in the lives of people who are just trying to have a little fun."

Sky took a deep breath and used the one arm that wasn't pinned behind her and pushed back from the wall. She whirled around, turning the tables on the man, dropping him to the ground, pressing her knee into his back and twisting his arm painfully. Wrenching her weapon from his hand, she released his arm and pressed the barrel to his neck. "Move and I won't hesitate to shoot," she snarled.

The young man shook but laid still.

Pulling her communicator off her belt, she called the police department in town, figuring they would get there faster than any of the castle guards. And she was right. In a matter of a couple of moments, two police officers arrived to find Sky in the same position, her knee in the small of the man's back, her blaster pressed into his neck. Her hair was disheveled and her cheek was scrapped and bleeding a bit, but otherwise, she was fine.

Declan and Brina escorted his mother and sisters to the car. He was more than a little angry that Sky had not followed his mother's instructions to have the car moved to the shoe store. When they reached the car and Sky was no where to be seen, the anger turned to worry and he unclipped his communicator.

The officers had just pulled the man to his feet and handcuffed his hands behind him when Sky's communicator went off. "Collier."

"Sky, where are you?" Declan demanded.

"I was just about to call you," she said. "There was an incident, I was attacked."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, the police are here and I am going to the station to make a statement."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

She smiled softly, "Uh, no, thanks, Dec, that's not necessary. You could send a car down to the station in about ten or fifteen minutes, it looks like there is going to be a storm and I don't feel much like walking back in it."

"No problem, Sky, I'll take care of it." Declan climbed into the waiting car with the others and told them what Sky had just said.

Cady gasped and clamped her hands over her mouth, "Oh no! Is she okay?"

"She seemed to be."

"Drop me off at the station, I want to wait with her."

Declan shook his head, "No, it's not safe."

"Oh come on, Declan, I'll be at the police station. Nothing will happen."

"No."

"He's right, sweetie," Allura patted her daughter's leg. "I know you want to be with her for support, but we would all feel better if you were safe in the castle."

Cady sat back and crossed her arms over her chest, an angry expression crossed her beautiful face.

Sky told the sergeant on duty everything that had happened and learned that the man who had accosted her was a gang member and he had been high when he was brought in. The statement had only taken ten minutes and rather than a castle car waiting for her, the front door to the station opened and her father walked in.

"Sky, are you okay?"Lance asked walking behind the counter.

"Yeah, I'm fine. What are you doing here?"

"I was up at the castle when Declan came in to ask for car and when he told us why, I told him I'd come down instead." He stopped beside the sergeant's desk and laid his hand on her shoulder. "You just about done?"

The man behind the desk tapped the keys and nodded, "I'm printing her statement now. All I need is for you to read it and sign it, Sky, and then you can go."

She nodded, "Thank you."

Lance took her chin in his hand and tilted her face toward him, "You were scratched up."

"It's nothing."

"All the same, I want you to see Becca when we get back to the castle, have her clean and dress it."

"Yes, sir."

When they returned to the castle, Sky had to fill Keith in on what had happened, then she visited Becca who cleaned and dressed her wound before finally retiring to her room. She wasn't hungry, more tired than anything else. Nicky had taken Figment for a walk and the puppy was eager to play when she arrived. Sitting on the foot of her bed, she played fetch and tug-of-war until Figment stopped to run over to her water bowl in the corner.

Sky fell back against her bed and closed her eyes, suddenly wishing Erik was here. She wanted to crawl in bed and just be held and the feeling was overwhelming. She rolled on her side when Figment jumped up on the bed and greeted her with a face of wet puppy kisses.

Wishing to be alone to wallow in self pity, Sky groaned when there was a knock on her door. "Go away!"

Ignoring her, Cady slid the door open, "If you wanted to be alone you should have locked the door."

"What do you want Cady?"

"I wanted to know how you were doing."

"I'm fine."

"You didn't eat, Mom's worried."

Sky smiled unconvincingly, "I'm fine, really, I'm just not hungry."

"Okay, so Tristan spoke with Erik."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, oh."

Sky hesitated, wanting to ask about it, but not wanting to appear desperate. "Uh, how…how is he?"

"Eager to see you."

Sky groaned and rolled onto her stomach.

Cady laid out on the bed beside her, scratching Figment's stomach. "What is it?"

"I want to see him, I miss him so much," Sky mumbled into her pillow.

"Then tomorrow you guys can fix this and get back together."

"It's not that easy."

"Why not?"

"Because…how do I know he won't do this again? This is the second time he's dumped me."

"You dumped him this time."

"No, I wanted to talk, he was the one who left."

"You gave him back his ring."

"You're not helping me here, Cady."

"What do you want me to say?"

Sky sighed and buried her face in her pillow.

"I think," the Princess continued. "That he realizes what a mistake he made in leaving and he wants to try and fix it. Tristan said that he has changed, something happened over the past month and Erik seems to be doing so much better. He misses you and he loves you."

"I know."

"And you miss him and love him."

"But we aren't going to work it out if he can't talk to me."

"Well, that's why he's coming early tomorrow. He wants to talk to you."

Sky turned her head and faced her friend, "I do miss him. A lot."

"Then fix this."

Sky nodded and pushed herself up into a sitting position, "We'll see what happens."

Cady took the end of the knotted rope that Figment offered her and tugged gently, "I have a good feeling about this."

"I hope so."

They both jumped as the castle alarms went off. Two steps ahead of Cady, Sky ran from her room and quickly joined the others in Castle Control. Keith and Allura waited, nervously, for the team to arrive.

"What is it?" Declan asked.

Keith held a piece of paper in his hand, "Tess is gone."

"What do you mean she's gone?" Gideon demanded.

"Allura went to get her, but she was not in her room, we searched the castle and couldn't find her. I went back to her room and found her computer on, she had been checking her email and I printed this off." He held out the piece of paper in his hand.

Declan took it and they all gathered around to read it.

Tess,

Can you get away for a few minutes? I would like to talk to you. I'm sorry for what my brother did earlier today, I had nothing to do with it. If you can, meet me in town at the café.

Kasen

"Did you all the Martyns?" Declan asked.

Keith nodded, "Kasen claims he didn't write the email, he just got home and hadn't even had a chance to get online. And we called the café, but no one has seen her there either."

"What about Mytch?"

"No one knows where he is. We have Pidge working on it, trying to find out what computer sent that email to her."

"Where do you want us to start?" Declan asked.

"I've contacted Paton," Keith said, rubbing gentle circles on Allura's back, trying to reassure her. "The police are going to the Martyn house to speak with them. I have guards searching the castle, but I'm sure she is gone. I want you guys outside, searching the grounds for any sign of Tess."

"Yes, sir."