When Keith stepped out of the meeting room, he quickly ducked to the right to take his hair down. Letting it flutter over his shoulders, he sighed.

Hunk watched with a sad expression, putting on a smile to comfort his friend, "I hope it is going well at least,"

"I think it is," Keith glanced at him, "Or it's going horrible, and I'm just delusional,"

Hunk chuckled then trailed off, eyeing the clock, "Keith, shouldn't you be heading home?" He inquired from the back, cleaning out the glasses with a dish towel.

Strolling over to the island table, Keith casually leaned against it and shook his head, "I can't," he tells the lovable bartender, "This meeting is drawing out. We are just on a break," Not that he enjoyed sharing their meeting at a bar in the first place; it was different simply because it was Hunk's place. He kept it clean, very classy.

"I don't know how you can keep up with those guys," Hunk shakes his head, "I don't understand half of what they are saying,"

"It's not easy," Keith shrugs, grateful when Hunk slides over a small drink to him. Knowing his friend would keep the glass light, especially for tonight, he chugged it down without much thought. Exhaling at the slight burning sensation of the alcohol, he handed the glass back to him.

"How long do you boys have left?"

"Not sure,"

"Lance must be waiting for you," Hunk shifts his gaze a little, like he wants to say something else but is holding back. Keith curses, glancing at the time. That's right; he told Lance he would be home 30 minutes ago.

Saluting Hunk, he steps away to pull out his phone. Quickly dialing his boyfriend's number he barely waited a second before there was an answer.

"Keith?"

"Hey, Babe," he moves to a quiet area, plugging his other ear to hear Lance better.

"You still at Hunk's?" Lance asked.

"The meeting-" Keith was cursing himself, "I'm so sorry Lance. I'm late. I know we agreed to have dinner tonight, but the meeting isn't even close to getting done. I might not be home until late," he kicks his shin, despising his inability to simply make time for the love of his life.

There is a small sigh from the other end, "This is the 5th time,"

Keith's heart aches, "I know," He wanted to say he would make it up to Lance, and they could share dinner a different night, but he had said that four times already. "Lance, honey I-"

There is a small chuckle, "It's okay, Keith,"

"What?" he could hardly believe his ears

"We'll just plan for another night. I know you've been busy and I know this is important to you,"

In fact, it had been Keith's dream for years. Shiro and him were finally going to open their own business, taking on the world together just like they had planned as children. Of course, Lance and Allura were apart of this scheme now, which Keith was thrilled about, but the planning and getting it all up, assuring that nothing went wrong, was drawing out.

He had to cancel every date for the last two months with Lance. The only time he seemed to see him anymore was early in the morning just before he headed out or late at night when Lance had already gone to bed for his own day at work.

They had been dating for over two years now, having met at college. Having crushed on Lance since their freshman year, he still couldn't believe someone as amazing as him loved a hot head like himself.

"I promised I'd be there," Keith sighs heavily. He new Allura and Shiro had been having similar problems with their relationship, but he still managed to make time for her and didn't cancel five dates in a row….

Keith needed to ask what his secret was.

"And you'll just be back a little later than planned," there is a soft undertone to Lance's voice. It's hard for Keith to tell if Lance really means it or is just putting up a brave front. "I'll see you more when your business finally gets going and you don't have to suck up to all these men in suits," Lance assures him.

Touched, feeling as though he just fell in love with Lance a bit more with how understanding he was, he smiles, "I love you,"

Lance giggles, "I love you too. So go knock the socks off those business men. I'll see you when I see you,"

No tomorrow, no tonight, just at some point- because they both knew Keith's promises meant very little at this moment. That fact hurt, but Keith swallows it down.

"Yeah," he agrees. "Again, I'm so sorry, Lance. I hope you weren't planning anything big or had to cancel anything because of this,"

"I actually made dinner, so no it wasn't anything big. Just an evening at home is what I thought we could do. It just leaves more spaghetti for me."
Keith mentally groans in distress. He loved Lance's home made spaghetti- how was he possibly missing this?

"That sounds amazing right now,"

Lance purposively takes bite, drawing out a delighted humming noise, "You are missing out. My cooking skills know no bounds in the world of spaghetti~"

"I am," he agrees. There is a long pause that turned into a moment too long, "Lance?"

There was no reply at first.

"Lance, baby? You still there?"

"I uh- Yeah."

"You okay?"

"I'm fine," he tells him. "You do what you have to do, sweet heart. I love you,"

Keith can already see the men beginning to enter the room. In any other case, he would have stayed to ask what was on Lance's mind, but he could see Shiro waving for him to come back. He thought that if he could finish this meeting soon, he could surprise Lance and be home within the next hour or so. "Yeah, I gotta go. You sure you are okay? You aren't mad?"

"It wasn't a big deal, Keith. Just some dinner. I'll put the leftovers in the fridge and we can try to have lunch together or something," Lance assures him with a bubbly voice. Keith, like a fool, believed him.

With a kissing sound, he said goodbye and hung up.

He should have kept talking to him.

He should have gone home to be with him.

He should have thought it was strange how Lance was quiet for so long.

"It wasn't a big deal, Keith. Just some dinner. I'll put the leftovers in the fridge and we can try to have lunch together or something," Lance assures him.

There is a pause on the other end of the line before Keith mumbles a goodbye to him and makes a kiss noise. Not much of a goodbye, but Lance couldn't really complain at this point.

Listening to the to silence of his phone, Lance slowly lowered his palm back to his lap. Sinking into his chair, he sighs, looking over the set up he had spent hours making.

Candle lit dinner surrounded by roses and quiet music.

He had hand made the dinner, gotten Keith's favorite wine- hell, he even dressed up all nice to surprise Keith when he got home.

He lied when he said it wasn't a big deal to him. Reaching into a pocket, Lance pulled out a small box. Popping it open he stared at the ring inside.

They say third time's the charm, but they just bombed their fifth attempt. Was the universe just against him getting Keith to himself long enough to propose? Was it so hard?

He had even gotten Hunk involved in this, asking for him to help pick out the ring with him 2 months ago. Since coming into possession of it, there had been nothing but problems in them meeting up.

Keith was just too busy. When Lance did manage to see him, he was so tired- he couldn't bare to take more of Keith's sleep away.

Lance knew this is what Keith wanted, and he did his best to be supportive and understanding. The first month was easy and the second one got a little tricky. They were rounding month three here soon, and Lance was feeling a little… neglected?

He shouldn't be.

Keith still loved him.

He just had to be patient.

Sighing, knowing he should get all of this cleaned up, he blew out the candles. He didn't want Keith to come home to see all of this and feel guilty- especially after telling him it was all right.

Quickly brushing the petals into a little pile to sweep up later, he went to grab the broom. Navigating their quiet home, located out in the suburbs of the city, Lance purposively clicked on some depressing music to listen to.

Of course, the first thing to come on was Celine Dion's All by myself.

He dramatically sang along to the tune, hoping that accepting his loneliness would make some of the pain go away. It wasn't really working.

Turning the music off, Lance paused at the sound of creaking down the hall. Recalling noise from earlier during his call with Keith, he turned on the hallway light and peered down it. Thinking it was their cats, he clicked his teeth to get them to come forward.

"Blue, Red," he says, "Come give me some sugar in my time of need," he whines at them. Not the most elaborate names, but Lance thought it fit them. Rounding the corner, he peered into his living room to find nothing. He stepped in to squint under the couch and around them, knowing their cats like to lollygag around the premises. "Blue? Red?" he inquired. Locating Blue below the chair in the corner of the room, he smiled at her. "Hey beautiful," he was shocked when she hissed at him. "That isn't nice," he scolded, "What did I do?"

A moment later she shot out, scrambling past his knees. Feeling a chill creep up his spine he turns to follow her. She ran past the window, which had been lifted, opened to the world outside. Not recalling leaving the window open, he closed and relocked it.

Officially freaked, always hating being home alone, he quickly scurried back to the kitchen to finish cleaning up. He had just managed to grab the plates when the creaking noise returned.

When he turned, he screamed.

DUN DUN DUNNNNN

I'm going to try my best with this mystery story, so hopefully you all like it! :D