Katie McClain was the happiest woman in the universe, and that was simply a fact. She was particularly happy this morning, and as for why, well, she couldn't quite tell anyone yet.
She knew two things, though: her two year anniversary trip had been three weeks ago, and the evidence was stacking up.
She knew she was late. She knew she'd been having nausea in the morning. She knew that she felt positively giddy with excitement. She knew that something felt different inside her.
All Katie needed was a test, and she'd taken that a week ago.
It had been positive.
But she couldn't tell anyone now— they were about to go on a mission, and she knew how ridiculously overprotective everyone was. No, it was best to wait to tell everyone, especially Lance. The second he knew would be the second she was off the team for nine months, and she didn't want that quite yet.
Besides, it was just a peace mission to check up on one of their usual planets. It should be relatively calm— maybe she could find a quiet moment to pull him aside and tell him.
Katie hummed contentedly, her ringed hand subconsciously stroking her stomach as she tinkered with a new code on her laptop.
You have been better than usual lately, my paladin. What causes this?
The paladin grinned up at her lion. "Green, I'm just fine, I promise."
If you are certain, but I would like to scan you. I am worried, my paladin.
Katie was quick to nod, but then froze. "Wait, no, don't scan me—!"
It was too late. A bright yellow light had shined over her, and Green let out a loud roar.
My paladin! You are creating life! You cannot go on mission! It is too dangerous!
"Shh! Quiet down, quiet down!" Katie hissed. "Calm down or Lance will sense your emotions!"
But my paladin, we must tell your mate! He must know the good news!
She groaned and rubbed her temples. "You can't tell him yet, girl."
"Tell me what?"
Katie jumped and twirled around. Her handsome husband was making his way toward her, smiling brightly as always.
She leaned up and kissed Lance on the cheek. "Oh nothing, just girl stuff," she brushed off. "Ready to get going?"
"If you are," he replied easily. "Red's waiting for me in the hangar, but you know me— I always wanna check on my best girl," he said, leaning down to kiss her firmly.
Katie hummed into the kiss, then broke it. "I'll see you out there, okay?"
Lance nodded, turned to leave, but then came back to kiss her forehead. "I love you," he reminded her adoringly. "Do you ever just— quiznak, I don't even know, but I feel so happy lately? Like there's something in the air, I just know it!"
Her heart skipped a beat, but she managed a convincing smile. "I'm always happy with you, silly. But hey, maybe you'll figure out what it is soon!"
"I hope so," he chuckled. "It's been driving me crazy."
Green gave a low purr, and Katie waved a hand behind her back.
Now is not the time to tell him!
Green growled.
Lance opened his mouth to ask about the noise, but their coms crackled to life.
"Everyone in their lions?" Shiro asked.
"In a sec!" Lance called. He gave Katie one last kiss on her cheek, then dashed off to Red's hangar. She nearly fell over with relief. She should've known that Lance would start to suspect something, but she hadn't expected it so quickly.
Katie glared up at her lion. "If you dare tell him—"
What will you do?
Her eyes narrowed. "Green, I swear, if you—"
A yellow light flashed over her body for the second time, and Green's eyes lit up.
Scan sent to Red.
"What?!" Katie cried.
You have thirty ticks before he receives and understands the data.
The green paladin scrambled into her lion's cockpit, all the while saying insults and threats through clenched teeth.
"Everyone ready for launch?" Keith asked over the coms.
"Ready!" Katie replied quickly. The others took their time responding, and she lined her lion up for the quickest takeoff possible. She'd have to be fast so they couldn't stop her.
"Come on, come on," she muttered, anxiously tapping her foot.
My paladin, he will be happy.
Katie stilled. Wait…her lion was right. Why wouldn't Lance be happy? The two had talked about kids before, they just hadn't planned for it to be so soon. But he had always rambled on and on about how excited he would be for a family, so why would that have changed?
Suddenly, an evil idea came into mind. "Green, patch me through to Red."
Her lion gave an amused rumble before she did so.
When the screen came up, Lance was intently looking at something on his monitor. "Hey! Sorry, I was just reading your message, give me a sec."
Katie stopped herself from grinning deviously. "Yeah, take your time."
Keith came onto the coms again. "Lions are go, in five…four…three…two…one—"
"Wait, what?!" Lance shrieked.
Keith's face flashed onto her screen. "Is something wrong, you guys?"
Katie held back her laughter as she watched Lance's eyes scan the information again. "Wait, hold on, wha— how?!" he yelled. "Is this— did we—" his wide blue eyes turned to look at her through the video feed. "Katie, are you pregnant?!"
"Hold up, what?" Keith cut in. "Are you serious?"
"Call the mission off!" Hunk cried. "She can't go out there!"
"What does this mean?" Allura questioned.
Shiro stammered, "W-Wait, Pidge, are you actually—?"
Katie cackled and punched Green into overdrive. "Come on, you guys, we've got a mission to accomplish!"
"STOP HER!" Lance shouted. She was already in hyperdrive.
Needless to say, the moment they arrived on the planet, Lance was all over her crying happy tears.
The End.
Thank you guys for joining me on this journey! And to any artists out there- I'd love to work with someone on getting some fanart of this story out, so message me if you're interested!