Hello everybody. A new chapter is ready for you. I haven't any clue, how much information about the Galran culture may be found in the archive files of the Atlas, or in general, so I have decied for this one, that there are only a few informations present. Not enough to get a clear picture for Veronica or the rest of the team. I hope this choice is fitting.

Ronan wakes up from his long rest and Veronica and Allura are hoping to get some answers. I wish all of you a lot of fun with this new chapter

Wake Up

He felt a hand gently stroking his head, as he woke up in the quarter. Freyda was sitting on the bed next to him and was studying maps of the sector, while she had buried one of her hands in his blond hair. He observed her with a warm smile.

"How long have I slept?"

Freyda turned her head and gave him a soft kiss.

"Long. But due to your stocked lack of sleep not long enough."

His face got a worried look. He touched his bionic eye and pressed a button on the side of the implant. His remaining eye widened in shock.

"Two days! You have let me sleep for two days!"

Freyda's face kept stoic. She returned to the maps.

"We have all agreed to let you sleep."

Ronan sat up in the bed and sighed. He was angry with himself about his lack of care, but he couldn't change the fact. So he decided to make the best out of it. He had to admit, that he felt refreshed. Still not at his best, but much better. And he felt hungry.

"I'll show you around and I can give you an update."

He nodded at her, still with an grumpy face, but Freyda ignored his mood. She placed the maps aside and hugged Ronan. He returned the hug until Freyda finally stood up. His eyes widened in surprise as he recognized the ring at the golden chain around Freyda's neck. The woman smiled shy at him.

"Jessy had demand answers and I have shown her the ring."

Ronan's hand jerked. He kept staring at the ring.

"She has given me her precious chain to wear the ring. She thought, that it would be the right sign in the right moment for both of us."

He felt her strong and gentle eyes laying on him. He finally recognized, that his breathing was hard, so he closed his eye and focused on his breath to come down again. As he opened it again he saw Freyda right in front of him. She bowed down and kissed him.

"And I thought so, too."

They cared for him and they wanted to show it. He carefully brushed over the chain and the ring, feeling the metal tickling his fingertips, feeling a comforting, healthy warmth inside the metal. The warmth of this beautiful, strong and gentle woman before him. A warmth, she could show him in this new way, with the help of this kind and fearless girl, he had saved months before. A smile came to his lips.

"It's not cold anymore."

A warm smile grew on the Galra's face and Ronan pulled her down to share a deep kiss with her. Both breathed heavy as Ronan finally ended his kiss and Freyda rested her head on Ronan's shoulder, their cheeks pressed together. Both smiled and the Galra pulled him up, gently. Ronan walked over to the cradle and took up Tjaàl. The baby laughed cheerfully and tried to get a grip on his bionic eye. Ronan smiled warm at him and cradled the boy in his arms. Both left the sleeping room. The quarter was quite and this triggered Ronan's worries.

"Where're the kids."

Freyda placed her hand on Ronan's shoulder to sooth his worries.

"Exploring the ship with the Paladins."

Her face got serious as she recognized Ronan's nervous look. The Galra's eyes got a determined glow.

"You may not trust the crew, but you can trust the Paladins. I do, so you will too."

Ronan relaxed with an embarrassed sigh. Freyda was right. But after all this time it wasn't easy to let go. And he could feel, that it must also have cost Freyda a lot to dare this step. But she was two days ahead. And he trusted her. With every inch of his body. She felt his struggle so she bowed down to him and kissed away his worries.

"Come on. Let's have a little dinner."

A real dinner. Ronans worries and anger were nearly vanished after his second turn. He had eaten with no haste. It was far too long ago, that he had enjoyed a meal so much. The fresh vegetables, the spices, the flavors… How much had he missed this. Freyda had talked with him in Galran about her home world and about so many happy and peaceful moments, they had shared before the war had found them again. They have laughed together as Tjaàl had managed to steal some carrots from his plate and even more, as the baby accidentally had grabbed a lemon slice, which was on one salad and instantly had made a strange, funny face, as he had bitten in the lemon. Only to try the sour fruit a second time with the same result. Now they were sitting together in a corner of the canteen of the ship with their heads resting together. The baby was standing on Ronan's upper legs, with Freyda's help and shared cheerful smiles with every crew member, who took a look in their direction.

"He is a real sunshine."

Veronica and Allura came to their table with their dinners. Tjaàl turned to them with a squeaking laughter and beamed at both. Ronan scanned both woman, but Freyda shared a little nod with them.

"May we take a seat here?"

Allura did her best to hide her nervousness. To her relief Ronan offered them the two chairs in front of him with a little gesture of his hand. He earned a thankful smile of both woman and a gentle kiss on his cheek from Freyda. Tjaàl instantly tried to lean over to get something from Allura's plate, which was closest to him.

"Hey, you may take my food, but you couldn't simply pick other peoples carrots."

Ronan's warm voice made the child turn to him. Tjaàl hugged the man and started to make begging and muttering sounds. Ronan had to chuckle and Veronica and Allura shared warm and amused smiles with each other. The man sighed and faced the baby.

"Maybe she would share a bite with you, if you ask her kindly."

The child's eyes started to glow and he turned back to Allura. A shy smile was on Tjaàls lips and it seemed to her, that his eyes had suddenly doubled their size. The Altean smiled impish at him and picked a little carrot from her plate and offered it to the little child. His smile grew and with a fast move he took the carrot and started to eat it. The whole table started to chuckle warm, while Tjaàl was eating his earned carrot with a smile.

"Thank you."

Veronica's warm voice made Ronan look up. His questioning look made Veronica a bit nervous.

"You have saved my girlfriend down on the planet. I don't know, what..."

Her face felt and Allura squeezed her hand to help her dealing with her feelings. But also Ronan's face darkened. The air at the table seemed to become heavier.

"Helping her has meant helping us."

His voice was sad and he handed Tjaàl over to Freyda. The man faced Allura with a serious look.

"Freyda has given you a short report, but I think, you also want to have a more detailed one, of what has happened."

The Altean nodded back.

"Yes, as sooner as better. Commander Shiro wanted to talk with you, Acxa and Pidge about the Emerald Canyon and the presence of Haggar's troops on this planet. The witch seems to have doubled her efforts to finish the harvest."

Ronan nodded with a dark face and stood up.

"I'll be ready within an hour with a full report. Where shall I be for the meeting?"

"I'll fetch you up at your quarter, to bring you to the meeting."

Veronica had stepped in the conversation before Allura had a chance to answer and her look showed determination. Ronan recognized this but simply nodded at her. He bowed down, kissed Freyda and Tjaàl and left the table with a nodded goodbye for Allura and Veronica.

Freyda watched him leaving the canteen. Her face was a riddle for Allura, but she dared to try to solve a part of it.

"It's obvious that he and Acxa have a shared past." She felt Freyda's burning yellow eyes facing hers, but she withstood the Galran look. "And I think not a good one."

Freyda stayed quite. She kept focused on the Altean, but didn't answered her question. So Veronica dared to make a further step. She had done some researched during the last days. The files on the ship didn't told her much about the Galran culture or language, but she had found out one thing or another around the message, Freyda had brought to Acxa. And these news had only increased her worries and fears for her girlfriend. But she hadn't pushed her during the last two days. She felt, that Acxa wasn't ready to ask for help, yet, so she would also try to find out more about the reasons for this challenge, Ronan had vocalized.

"Is there any hope, that we can moderate between them?"

Freyda raised an eyebrow and turned to Veronica. Some respect was hidden in her look.

"You have made researches."

Veronica nodded.

"A bit, but we haven't much information about the Galran culture. That's why I ask."

Freyda closed her eyes and Veronica and Allura were sure, that she was checking the options. After a while she opened them again.

"It depends on, if we were able to reach them."

Veronica noticed the worries in Freyda's eyes.

"I hope, that Ronan and the General will tell you the reasons, then you'll understand my fears and my hesitation right now. But it's their business."

Allura stepped in at this point.

"So I'm right. They have a dark past together?"

Freyda stood up.

"Ask them, maybe they'll give you an answer." Her face softened a bit. "I'll try to convince Ronan to tell you about his past. Then you might understand."

She looked up and faced a person behind Veronica and Allura.

"All of you."

Both woman turned around. Acxa was standing behind them with her tablet. She was a little pale again.

"Veronica, Allura."

She nodded at both woman and left the table. She stopped beside Acxa.

"General." She hesitated a moment but then she faced Acxa. "You still don't know, why?"

Acxa shook her head. She noticed, that all people in the whole room started to stare at the Galras. She felt uncomfortable, but Freyda didn't seemed to care the pensive looks. She was holding Tjaàl with one arm while her hand fetched out the golden chain with the deformed ring under her shirt, which was hanging around her neck. She showed Acxa the item. Veronica and Allura couldn't see, what Freyda was showing her, but they heard her hint for Acxa.

"This might help you to understand."

With this words, she left a trembling Acxa behind. It took a moment or two, but suddenly Acxa placed her tablet on the table and left the canteen without a word. She hadn't reached her quarter, as Veronica caught up with her. She turned her simply around and closed her arms around her to embrace her. Acxa's first impulse was to push her away again, but then she simply let her do so. She had noticed the dressings around Veronicas wrists, as she had pulled her in the hug. This time she wouldn't wince back.

"Should we go to our room and talk about it?"

Acxa nodded. She couldn't fight this alone. And she was nearly sure, that she didn't want to.