Hello Everybody. Acxa and Veronica learn something new about Kathy. I wish all of you a lot of fun with this new chapter.

Step Stones

The warm smile was back on Veronica's lips and also Freyda looked really happy. Kathy had come to them, right after their conversation and had pulled Acxa with her to get her to choose a Popsicle for herself. Now they came back hand in hand, each one with their favored picks. Kathy with a Mini Milk Vanilla and Acxa with a Bum Bum Popsicle. Kathy was already eating and observing the Galra, who was pensively checking the flaming red ice disk. Acxa gave the ice a first careful try, but her eyes widened in pleasant surprise and so she also started to eat it with a delightful smile. Veronica laughed out loud.

"Eww! Acxa, really?"

The Galra watched her with a confused look.

"What?, It's really tasty. And I like the color of it. But most important, it's tasty!"

Veronica chuckled and gave Acxa a little shove. Both started to laugh with each other and Kathy smiled warm. Acxa tried to give her girlfriend a kiss, but she pushed her face away with a giggle.

"Don't think you can kiss me with that taste on your lips."

Acxa smiled mischievous and only doubled her efforts to kiss Veronica, which started to giggle and laugh, while she kept on twisting her head away. Kathy felt in laughing and took a grip at Veronica's legs in order to help Acxa getting her kiss. It was the distraction, the woman needed to place her lips on Veronica's. Her girlfriend kept up her joyful protest, but she returned the kiss of the Galra.

"See what I mean?"

Acxa looked to Freyda. The tall Galra was smiling. Acxa shared looks with Veronica and looked down. Kathy was hugging the legs of both woman and snuggling her head against Acxa. She gave her girlfriend a gentle kiss and both smiled at each other. Then Acxa turned back to Freyda.

"I have an idea, now."

"Does the important part of this idea also want to have a Popsicle?"

Jessy had also walked over to them and smiled at the little group.

"I might have brought you one, Veronica, but I haven't trusted Lance's choice for you. He has had the same 'innocent' look on his face, Chrissy has sometimes, when she up for something."

Freyda rolled her eyes with a knowing smile at Jessy's quote. The teenager pointed at Acxa's ice.

"And it seems, that my instincts haven't fooled me."

Veronica turned back and narrowed her eyes, while facing her brother. He recognized her look and grinned wide and innocent, while shrugging his shoulders. Then he turned back to the kids and avoided the look of his sister. Veronica turned back to Jessy and smiled thankfully.

"Thanks, Jessy. Does Hunk has brought some Calippo?"

The girl nodded, which made Veronica's eyes lightened up.

"If one orange-taste might be left, I would take one."

Jessy smiled and gave her a nod. She turned to Freyda with a questioning look, but the women only shook her head with a thankful smile. Jessy was about to go, when a teary sob mad her freeze on spot. All of them looked down to Kathy in shock. The poor girl was trembling and did her best to fight her tears, but she failed. She started to cry and pressed herself against Acxa and Veronica. Both women were instantly on their knees and Kathy let herself fall against them, crying heavily. Veronica and Acxa shared helpless looks with each other. Also Freyda was shocked. The woman also had no clue, what could have caused Kathy's outburst. But Jessy got pale, suddenly. She stumbled forward and placed a hand on the back of the crying girl.

"Oh Kathy. They didn't want to."

"Kn… Kn… Know that..."

Her voice was muffled, cause the poor girl had buried her head on Acxa's shoulder, still pulling Acxa and Veronica close to her. Both gave Jessy a confused and sad look. The teenager was also about to break out in tears.

"The ice. Her parents have favored the same. Tom, her father loved this orange stuff, no matter which kind of and Hanna, her mother always favored bubble gum ice."

Jessy's face softened for a moment, before her grief painfully kicked in for a second until she got back some control over her feelings.

"Mom and Dad often have teased Tom for his ridiculous taste in their opinion, together with Hanna. You two, the ice, the teasing..."

The girl didn't had to speak on. Acxa and Veronica instinctively did the same. Both placed a soothing kiss on Kathy's head. It made all taking a surprised gasp. But the crying had stopped instantly. No one dared to make a move and Acxa and Veronica were sharing nervous looks with Freyda and Jessy. The weight of their actions kicked in in this moment and everyone seemed to be unsure, how to go on. Kathy sniffed twice and looked up slowly to them, still with teary eyes. Then she turned her head to face Jessy's and Freyda's worried and surprised faces. The Galra and the teenager shared a quick look. Both had recognized the silent question in the eyes of the little girl. A teary smile came to the lips of the teenager. She also got on her knees and placed a soft kiss on Kathy's forehead.

"It's okay."

She looked back to Freyda for a moment, before she turned back to Kathy with her gentle warm smile.

"For all of us."

Kathy nodded teary, but Acxa and Veronica recognized, that she relaxed a bit. And then their eyes widened in total surprise. Kathy had turned back and had quickly placed little kisses on the cheeks of the women, one for Acxa and one for Veronica. Then she nuzzled her head on Acxa's shoulder. For a while this comforting hug was all Acxa recognized. The warmth and the love which was to be found in this embrace. She didn't want to stop this moment. She never ever had expected it, but now, that she had found it, she simply wanted to let it hold on. Only a little longer. She opened her eyes first, when she felt the cold and sticky molten ice running down her fingers. She smiled at Veronica and wiped away some of her own tears and then carefully some of Veronica's and Kathy's.

"Come on. Let's have a seat and eat the ice together."

They smiled at each other and stood up. Veronica took the lead with Kathy and headed to a bank, but Acxa stopped and turned back to Jessy and Freyda. She blushed a bit but kept focused on both.

"Thank you."

Freyda greeted her back with respect, by placing her right hand on her chest and Acxa returned the gesture, thankfully, but Jessy reacted different. She got closer and hugged her. The Galra let her do so. She felt the girl struggling with herself, but she also felt, that she was thankful, too.

"Make Ronan see, what you have showed Kathy, what she has made you to show Freyda and me. That's the key."

She released the Galra out of her hug and gave her a smile. Acxa nodded at her and followed Veronica and Kathy. Jessy turned around, as she felt Freyda's hand on her shoulder. The teenager leaned her head against the strong shoulder of the Galra and carefully stroke over Tjaàl's head. Both observed the scenery. Sam, Patrick, Christina and Clarissa were joking and laughing with Lance, Pidge and Hunk. Also Acxa, Veronica and Kathy were smiling and laughing together. The child was offering Veronica her ice in order to let her taste a bit of it, encouraged by a warm smiling Acxa beside her. Both women were holding hands.

"They look like Ronan and you."

Jessy felt Freda's hand stroking gently her hair. Her smile was so warm and comforting, while she watched the three on the bank.

"Kathy has mentioned the same."

Jessy got a grip on the Galra's hand and squeezed it supportively.

"She was right." Her smile felt a bit "The General. Acxa. She deserves a chance. They deserve a chance. They deserve the chance to have the same, you and Ronan have."

Freyda turned to her to face the teenager with her yellow orbs. She observed her for a while and her eyes widened in surprise. But then she pulled Jessy in a close embrace.

"I know. And I'm so proud of you, that you also have seen it."

Jessy did best to hold back her tears. Freyda had seen it too. It would help all of them to heal. But it also was scaring her. Just as Freyda. The Galra was worried for her. So worried. But she had seen Ronan sacrificing so much for them. If it would help to heal all of them, she would find a way to accept. And Acxa and Veronica have proven her, that they are worthy to have this chance. And it helped her, to know Freyda at her side to aid her stand. Like she tried to aid her with Ronan. The Galra faced her with a thankful but also worried look.

"My strong girl. Acxa will need this support. More than you know."

Her face darkened as she looked back to Veronica, Acxa and Kathy. The tall woman took a deep breath and pulled Jessy aside. The questioning look of the teenager mad her finally nod in determination.

"I fear Ronan might be her minor problem..."

Also Jessy's face darkened. She had a suspicion and her worries grew, as Freyda started to tell her, what she had found out about Acxa from Veronica.