The Stars Between -- (VLD)

He was totally going to lose this bet.

Lance gulped as he searched through the database, noting the many words from various languages that Lance would have to find a Spanish counterpart to. He was already finding that some words in Ploteryin needed a whole sentence to translate literally, and was beginning to notice the many flaws of the Spanish language. Putting an accent on a word could make give it an entirely different meaning, and if he stuffed up it could lead to some interesting translations. Some words didn't even have counterparts, so Lance would have to find the closest meaning.

But Lance was determined.

If it meant he could start speaking Spanish again, then he would do it. Anything to feel a little closer to home.

That didn't mean it wouldn't be difficult, though.

Lance rubbed a hand down his face, heaving a sigh. He had never realised just how much went into a language – both in writing and speaking.

Lance entered the 'new language' command, searching through the databases existing languages for somewhere to start.

He smiled as he came across Ploteryin again. It was as good a place to start as any, he supposed.

Lance smiled as he entered "agua" into the system, matching it with the corresponding Ploteryin word, committing it to memory as he went.

He was determined to learn as much of Nea's language as possible. If he could learn English in six months, why not Ploteryin?
He stayed until the late hours of the night, slowly adding his heart language into the database.


Lance waited impatiently outside of Kelaan's door, wishing profusely that she would hurry and wake up. Lance didn't doubt that he had a lot to learn, and he wanted to start immediately.

He wanted to be able to help more next time. And to do that, he needed to be trained.
Just as Lance was about to knock on Kelaan's door (and hopefully wake her himself) it was flung open. Kelaan pushed past him, running to the bathroom that Lance himself had vomited in yesterday. The sounds he had made yesterday were repeating themselves from Kelaan, and Lance frowned.

Was Kelaan sick? Or pregnant? Did unicorn aliens get the same pregnancy side effects as humans? Did unicorn aliens even get pregnant?

Lance pushed down the tirade of questions to go grab a cloth from the med bay, passing by a sleeping Vi and Nea as he went.

Lance knocked on the door, entering when the muffled "come in" sounded from within.

"Ah, Paladin Lance. Thank you." Kelaan said weakly, using the rag to first wipe the sweat from her brow, and then to wipe the dregs of vomit from her mouth. She made a mildly disgusted face, before tossing the cloth into the sink.

"Um- are you okay?" Lance asked hesitantly, rubbing his neck as he watched Kelaan compose herself.

"Nothing to worry about, Paladin Lance." She assured him, hauling herself up from the bathroom floor. "Now I believe you came here for some training?"

"Oh! Uh, it can wait until later." Lance said hastily, surprised at the way Kelaan seemed to be ignoring her apparent illness.

"I insist. I am well enough to teach you." Kelaan said, marching from the room. Lance trailed behind her, confusion etched into his features.

"A-are- are you sure? What even was that? Are you okay?"

Kelaan's stern features softened as she turned to look at him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"It is nothing for you to worry about right now Paladin. In the future you will know, but for now, I am perfectly capable of teaching."

Lance nodded his head slowly, still unsure if he believed Kelaan or not. He followed her back into the med bay, where Kelaan handed him a clipboard pen and began to examine Vi. She got to work, explaining what she was doing as she went and allowing Lance to write down the results, periodically stopping so he would be able to keep up.

He was determined to get this, determined to make this work.

Lance paid rapt attention, focusing all his energy into Kelaan and the patients that came in throughout the day - Nyma (still complaining about a sore neck, though that didn't save Lance from her teasing), Liliterthith for allergy medication and a few others he didn't recognise from other parts of the ship.
Kelaan congratulated him, marvelling in the way the injured seem to relax in his presence, being comforted by his cheery personality and light-heartedness. Lance revelled in this praise, the words of encouragement only making him more determined.

He would get this.

Looking to Kelaan, he frowned as she rubbed her stomach.

He had to. For Kelaan, and everybody else.


Lance stood outside another closed door, once again impatiently waiting for it to open. This time, the door lead to the guest rooms, where Therra was currently being held. Olly had assured him that she was receiving good care, and that the only thing that really made her room a prison was that she wasn't allowed out without an escort.

But Lance was still worried.

Olly had seemed to understand, giving him a quick pat on the elbow - the highest point she could reach easily, before walking inside, reaching for Roy's hand as she did so.
The door slid shut behind them, leaving Lance in the silence.

Once again, he was alone, waiting.
Mik had fallen asleep several minutes ago, cradled comfortably in his arms. Her head rested on his shoulder, tail curled around his wrist, and every so often she would let out a quiet purr as she slept.

Muxis had informed him that all Galra cubs tended to sleep more than they were awake, and that this would only occur for a few months before the child reached their first maturity – something Matt had decided matched up to reaching five or six years of age in a human.

Apparently, they needed all the energy they could get.

Which also explained Mik's appetite.

The door swung open, Roy stepping out first with a tired-looking Olly cradled in her arms.
Again, it was none of his damn business.
Olly groaned in what sounded like annoyance, and Roy pulled her a little closer.

"Rinnai's free to do whatever, but she'll need to see Kelaan for a check-up." Roy said over her shoulder as she marched down the hall and through a door Lance hadn't noticed before. It had stars drawn all over it, and Lance assumed it was their bedroom.

He wondered why they slept down here and not in the upper levels with everyone else.
Again, none of his damn business.

The door slid open again, and Therra stepped out, glancing around nervously for danger.

"Mik!" she cried, catching sight of her baby sister in Lance's arms. She held out her free arm and Lance immediately handed her over, watching as Therra set the child on her hip.
The slight jostling woke Mik up, and she rubbed at her eyes, staring around.

"Ther—Rinnai!" Mik squeaked, throwing her arms around her older sister's neck. Her tail did much the same around Therra's free arm, tip flicking to and fro.

Lance smiled. The scene filled him with hope – perhaps that would be him one day.
Reunited with Voltron.