A NEW Beginning - Book 3

Chapter 2 - Day 1 - Coran - Altea

I was usually up before the morning star rose over Altea, and today was no different. I was thrilled to be on my way to see my children after all this time. I unpacked and packed my bags again, making sure I had the gifts for the little ones.

I had found my first toolkit for Ban, the one I used to carry when following Pop-pop Wimbleton around. It had sadly been left onboard the Castle of Lions, so I had been sure I would never see it again, but New Altea was full of surprises. It was somehow brand new, but there were echos of the old around every corner.

We were often finding things that we could have sworn were not there before. Allura and I had come to the decision it was her parents, Alfor and Melenor, giving us a guiding hand. Or playing tricks on us. We couldn't decide which yet.

We had also found some of Allura's old dolls for Cora, which we made some new clothes for, including Paladin armour, and packed away in a trunk all of their own. And for Hiero, a chest full of books, all the ones Allura and I had held dear as children, including 'Baby's First Book of Alchemy'.

I couldn't wait to spend some time with them all, and Allura had granted me permission to stay until after their birthday. It had been so long since I had spent any quality time with them, and every time I did, they had changed so much it was like getting to know them all over again.

I had always wanted to be a father and thought that the prospect had been long gone. I had only ever had one love, and they had been taken from my grasp long before they had been taken from my life, so when Romelle and Ina came to me with this chance, there was no way I was missing out.

I doted on the cherubs, talking to them every day, sending them gifts all the time, I just wished I could spend more time with them. But their home was Earth, and my place was with Allura.

I called to some of the staff to take my bags to the ship. It was strange having people working below me now, but Allura had insisted.

"We've been through so much, Coran," she assured me, "And you aren't getting any younger. You deserve someone to take care of you for once."

~

I left my quarters and went to find Allura. She was quite often found wandering the gardens at this time of the morning, especially if she was alone. I hated to see her this way. She had gone from being a strong, independent woman, to this person that needed constant company. It was understandable before, when all she had was the Paladins and myself, but now she had this whole planet to look after, and she had never looked more lonely.

She had clung to Lance because he offered her family and a future, but she had treated him so unkindly upon our return, it was no wonder the poor boy had left.

Lotor, on the other hand, had been good for her, they were compatible in many more ways than Lance and Allura had been. They had both been brought up as the children of rulers, so had both had diplomatic upbringings. They both saw, and admitted, the flaws of their parents, and were both trying their best to fix the errors of their predecessors, and ensure the safety of their races.

Further from that, their personalities were similar. They had the same sense of humour, the same level of passion, they understood each other on a level that nobody else could. It had taken Allura a while to trust him again, and they still weren't officially courting, but despite what anyone else said, Lotor made Allura happy.

From an outsider perspective, it was hard to understand, but as someone who has known Allura for a long time, I noticed the way she began to smile more, how she would naturally giggle at Lotor's jokes, or how her eyes would light up whenever she saw him.

Although she wouldn't like to admit it, and no matter how hard she had tried to force it, she never had these things with Lance. She had always been so stiff around Lance, her smiles and laughter always coming a second too late, as if she had to remind herself she was supposed to be happy with him. It was painful to watch, and I knew it was hurting both of them, but it was what Allura thought she needed to be happy. She would eventually learn to love him.