Keith flew into the airspace around Altea, it been a while since he'd seen the majesty of the planet. The former black paladin hailed the new Castle.

"Permission to dock." Keith requested. He'd been on a mission with the blade of Marmora the last 8 months and finally have a chance to take some time off.

"You know where to land." A familiar voice said.

Keith smiles himself. "Lance?! How did you get into the control room?"

"Well . . . I just told them that I had to meet the former black paladin." Lance explained. Keith laughed and landed on a plot in Lancers farmland. A few years ago, Lance saved in the spot, just so that Keith would always feel welcome.

Keith grabbed the spaceship and was met with a huge hug from Lance.

"I missed you." Keith said. He was glad to be back. His last mission had really taken out of him.

"Come on! This head inside, everyone is waiting." Lance said enthusiastically running into the house.

Keith sighed. He was hoping for a chilled day after flying for so long across the nebula. He followed Lance and walked into the kitchen to see Pidge and Hunk looking at him.

"Welcome back Keith!"

Keith looked down. "You know you guys . . . You didn't have to."

"Come on man, you know we did." Hunk said putting an arm around him and handing him a drink.

"Thanks guys. It's good to be back." Keith said

Lance's communicator suddenly went off and Lance answered. Shiro appeared on screen, the sound of a screaming baby could be heard in the background.

"I'm running a bit late. Starting without us and we'll join you later." Shiro said.

"Roger that." Lance said. "We'll see you soon Shiro." Lance turned to the group "we should get started, I'm sure Shiro won't be long."

Hunk had prepared a three-course meal inspired by all the places he's been on his travels as a paladin. The starter was an Olkarion delicacy which everyone loved.

Shiro arrived halfway through the main course of Altean stew served with Taujeerian vegetables, he was followed by his husband Curtis, who was carrying their daughter in a moses basket, Namza.

"Sorry we took so long, Namza took ages to get to sleep." Shiro said

Lance stood up and greeted Shiro and Curtis. "It's ok. You can put her on the sofa in the next room."

Hunk did 2 more portions of the stew and vegetables and talk soon turned to Allura Day.

"I can't believe that it will be soon be 8 years since she's been gone." Lance said with such respect.

In the silence that followed the pain and joy they felt that day came back to them. Save the more that day. Since then they may have gone their separate ways since, but they all knew they'd never forget Allura.

"This would be a good one." Keith said. "We are trying to get all of the blade of Marmora to be there."

"Normally something comes up and you guys needed somewhere else." Pidge commented

Keith laughed. "Yeah normally." He said, "but there's been a lot of peace in the universe this last year, so I'm hoping we can all make it."

"You just got back of a mission didn't you Keith?" Shiro asked.

"Yeah we were just at Galra HQ. There's been a bit of an internal struggle recently. But with the blades there the situation got resolved. It was nothing too serious." Keith said

"that's a long way to fly." Curtis said.

Keith nodded. "I wish that it was much closer to Altea."

"Did you get to catch up with your mum while you were there? I know that Shay is desperately missing the Balmera with all the travelling that were doing." Hunk enthusiastically asked.

"We had a good catch up which was nice. She is a good leader, and it makes me happy to see." Keith said. "You and Shay should try and go to Balmera, you never know how long you get with people." Under the table Keith stroked Lance's arm.

"How is Shay at the moment?" Lance asked

"she's doing really well. We recently opened up 5 new restaurants on earth. She is there doing all the final touches. It's just so good sharing foods from different planets with everyone." Hunk's eyes lit up as he talked about Shay and his food empire. "The food you're eating today as part of our new menu."

"It's amazing! I miss your cooking!" Pidge said.

"However bad things were at times when were paladins the food was always good." Shiro reminisced.

The paladins reminisce more about Voltron, the Galra empire and how far they have come as they finished the main meal and had desert.

Shearer and Curtis were the 1st to leave, their daughter woke up and they had to get her home. Pidge was next, they had to return to work to finish a science experiment that started earlier that day. Soon Lance, Hunk and Keith were all alone.

Lance made coffee and the 3 of them sat in the living room.

"How long are you back for Keith?" Hunk asked.

Lance gulped, he wanted to ask Keith that since he got there. He was glad Hunk had asked, but part of him didn't want to know the answer.

Keith paused before answering "I don't know. At least a phoeb, but now I'm getting older and thinking maybe it's time to choose somewhere permanent to live, so maybe it will be more than a month." He has glanced at Lance the last part. "But I said I'm not sure, how long are you around for?"

"Two movements, after that I'm joining Shay on Earth." Hunk said.

"Let's hang out more while we're here." Lance said

Hunk nodded and yawned. "I should be heading off soon. Where are you staying while you're here Keith?"

Keith pointed to the floor. "Lance said I can stay with him."

Hunk raised his eyebrows and Keith looked at him confused and looked to Lance for an answer. Lance blushed.

"I wanted Keith to feel comfortable." He said as if it were all one word.

Hunk made no further comments as he hugged Keith and Lance goodbye.

As soon as Keith and Lance were left alone, Lance suddenly felt very awkward. "I'll go wash up." He said grabbing their coffee mugs.

"I'll help you! It's only fair." Keith stood up and followed Lance to the kitchen

The pair washed up in silence and then lance showed kith to his room.

"I'm sorry it's only a small bed. If you want, you can switch with me and have my bed." Lance said.

Keith looked at him. "Lance? Are you blushing?"

"No, I'm not!" Lance said quickly and started walking towards his bedroom.

Keith grabbed his hand. "Lance! STOP! What's wrong? Did I do something?"

Lance stopped. He could feel how warm Keith hands were. He sighed and pulled his hand away. He looked at Keith and smiled. "Nothing's wrong, you did nothing. I'm going to sleep, if you need anything let me know . . ."

Lance went into his room and fell onto his bed, he screamed into his pillow. Why couldn't he tell him!

Keith watched as lance went into his room and shrugged and went into his own. He couldn't help feeling like something was wrong with Lance. Oh well, he'd ask him tomorrow.

Keith couldn't sleep, he was exhausted, he'd been flying for days and he still couldn't sleep. He lay awake in his bed and wished he had his own bed, a cabin in a ship wasn't quite the same. he sighed and rolled over. What felt like forever past and finally Keith gave up, he went to go and get a glass of water.

"Couldn't sleep either?" Lance asked as he past him on his way to the kitchen tap.

Keith turned and looked at him. "Yeah, long voyages normally give me insomnia." He said with a shrug. He flopped next to Lance on the sofa "Why couldn't you sleep? I thought you'd be happy with everyone being together again"

Lance ran his hands through his hair. "I am, I just don't want people to leave. Were a family, you know."

Keith nodded. "I know. Things change though Lance, people grow up."

"You haven't." Lance commented

"I want to." Keith muttered

"What? I didn't hear what you said." Lance asked

Keith said and leaned against Lance "I'm tired of seeing the impact of what my people did, I'm tired of fighting to feed people. It's not even like the blade need me anymore, there's other people who can take my place."

"Shut your quiznack Keith!" Lance said. Keith sat up, suddenly very awake. "There are people who need you! I need you" he quietly said the final part.

"Why would you need me?" Keith asked, "I'm not your commanding officer anymore."

"I need you because, because . . . never mind." Lance said

"NO LANCE! Not never mind! Tell me. I want to know what your hiding from me! I care about you!"

"Do you mean that?"

Keith nodded "I always have Lance."

Lance took a deep breath and looked at Keith. "I, I . . . I don't know how to say it . . . I just can't say it yet." Lance began to cry.

Keith took Lance's hand. "You don't need to, I know what you're going to say."

Lance looked up at him and wiped his eyes. Keith was blushing slightly.

"Lance, I feel the same way. I always have, I just could never tell you because I knew how much you liked Allura."

"She saved us all and now she's gone." Lance said. "I'm scared that if I say it . . . that I'll . . . I can't lose you Keith." Lance began crying again.

Keith stood up and hugged him. "You won't lose me, not ever." Keith said.

He pulled away from the hug and wiped Lance's eyes. "Lance, I love you. I always have."

"I I . . . I deeply care about you and want you in my life" Lance sighed. He wanted to tell him, but somehow, he couldn't. he was so scared that if he admitted that he loved Keith then he would lose him.

Keith smiled "Tell me when you're ready to."

Lance nodded. "Thank you Keith, I really appreciate that."

They smiled as they embraced each other, their foreheads touching. Keith yawned and leant his head against Lance's shoulder.

"Keith? Keith?" Lance asked gently nudging Keith, but Keith was asleep. For the first time he'd felt safe enough to fall asleep.

Lance smiled and picked him and carefully carried him upstairs, accidently hitting Keith head against the wall once or twice.