Chapter 1: Five Years Later

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Author's Note: This is a canon compliant fic set post season-8, obviously there are spoilers. I wasn't too pleased with the ending of Voltron: Legendary Defender especially concerning my two favorite characters, Lance and Allura. But in my mind, things didn't stay that way. I've thought of so many different ways for exactly how things change, for the better. For some reason, my silly brain thought this ridiculous idea is the one I should flesh out so here we are. Intergalactic god-like beings named Bob that host game shows and all. I haven't written a story in years, pardon the rust. Hope you enjoy!
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It has been nearly five years since Allura's sacrifice. Five years without her.

Lance has good days and bad days. Some days he feels so lucky to have known her, spreading her message of compassion with others. He feels her in everything, he's genuinely happy. Other days losing her hits him like a ton of bricks and he just wants to hide away from the world, find wherever she is and join her. Those days used to crush him. The first year was particularly hard.

Now, when those days come he finds solace in the skies. The Garrison gave him a small aircraft so that he can travel from there to his family's farm easily. Lance however, doesn't just use the craft for necessary trips. His family often sees him flying at any given time, performing ridiculous and probably risky tricks over the fields of juniberries. Colleen Holt helped him get them to grow on earth after Allura's departure. This evening he finds himself landing the aircraft and slowly rolling it into the barn.

Dinner is ready. The aroma hits his nostrils and he realizes he has been out flying most of the day and skipped lunch. A smile appears on his face as he takes in his family around the table. The room is so warm and inviting.

"Hey, Lance. You leave out early tomorrow right?" His brother, Marco, asks.

"Yep, bright and early. It will be nice to see everyone together again." Lance smiles. He has seen all of them in the past year at different points, but the whole team has only all been together at the same time at Shiro's wedding. With their busy lives it's hard to get everyone in the same spot.

"It's…. it's been five years. How are you holding up?" Veronica asks the question hesitantly. She's come in for a visit with them.

"I'm okay, I think. It's still hard. I still miss her so much." His hand reaches up to touch under his eye where he knows there is an Altean mark. "But I'm okay, really. I have you guys and the other paladins are only a call away."

"I'm glad you're okay." Veronica doesn't want the conversation to linger there too long. Her brother is strong, but he's also broken down to her before. "You know. You've been at the Garrison a lot this past year. Shiro and Curtis said they talked to you about being a flight instructor. Still can't believe they both decided to stay grounded and teach there, for now at least."

"It's kind of funny. Imagine me of all people teaching cadets how to do the simulators." Lance chuckles, but his expression turns wistful. "But I am giving it some thought."

"You should really consider it. You're a great pilot." Veronica adds.

"I know." He shoots her a finger gun and she groans.

"And so humble."

"Lance I think it would be good for you. Not that we don't appreciate the help here. You could stay here when classes aren't in session." Lance's Mom adds to the conversation. She understands after spending years away from his family and all the insanity that his life had been during that time he needed something simpler for a while. It is obvious he's enjoyed being there with them. But she's also noticed how he's grown more and more restless. This past year he's spent more time flying above the ground than working it.

"I've been trying to figure out what to do next for a while. Just not sure what exactly that is."

The next morning he leaves out from the Garrison through a wormhole to Altea. By that evening all of the former paladins and Coran are sitting around a table near Allura's statue. The food was prepared by Hunk, so of course the meal is genuinely one of the best in the universe. Generally the conversation is lighthearted, everyone catching up on each other lives. Talk of Allura leaves all of them misty eyed at times.

"We've been trying to get Lance to consider being a flight instructor at the Garrison. He's been visiting a lot more frequently lately." Shiro knows exactly what he's doing by bringing it up here. He's not any more convinced that Lance is still enjoying the quiet life than the other paladins are.

"Yeah?" Keith looks at Lance mischievously. "Well, the cadets could sure learn a lot from all of your experiences with crashing."

Lance flicks the food from his spork at Keith, who dodges it. "Oh shut it, ponytail. You are supposed to be this high ranking member of the Blade, but you can't even figure out how to cut your own hair!"

They glare at each other only to have the entire table burst into laughter with them.

"Some things never change." Pidge manages between chuckles.

"I'm messing with you. You should consider it, you're a great pilot." Keith states.

"Anyone chosen by the Red Lion would have to be." Adds Coran. Lance smiles at this.

"You know man, I get it, I really do. Losing Allura hurt and it hit you harder than any of us. You needed time to heal and time with your family. They are amazing by the way, any time I come to visit I feel like family too." Hunk starts and Lance fidgets with the food on his plate. "But I just, kind of have a hard time seeing you live that life forever. Not trying to tell you what to do or anything. Totally up to you. It's just that the Lance I thought I knew wanted adventure, which I guess yeah we had a few hundred lifetimes worth of adventures but I don't know, I just get the feeling that somewhere inside you've gotta be feeling a little bit…. uh."

"Restless!?" Lance puts his spork down and begins waving his hands while talking. "Of course I'm restless Hunk! I mean, yeah, the simple life was fun for a while and I love helping out my family but… quiznak! I feel like it's time for the next chapter or something. Like things are going to change. I need to do something but I don't know what my next move is."

"Woah, been holding that in for a while?" Pidge can hear the strain in his voice.

"Yeah, I guess I have." Lance pauses. "I've been having the dreams more often too."

"The memory dreams with Allura?" Shiro asks.

"Those are the ones. It's been five years, but instead of happening less often they are happening almost every night now." His voice shakes a little. "I wish I could explain them better. It's like I'm there in the memory. I can't change anything it's like a replay of something that happened when we were both in the same place. I never have memory dreams like that without her in them. It's so weird. But at the same time, I like that they are happening more often. It's kind of like she's there, even though I know it's just a memory when I'm in the dream."

"It's so strange. I still haven't come up with an explanation for them." Pidge rests her chin in her hand. "Maybe we should get the Garrison to do more scans on you when we get back."

"I doubt it will show anything different." Lance sighs leaning back in his chair. "I shouldn't have said anything. I'm sorry I didn't mean to worry you guys. "

"Lance, we're family. It's part of the job description." Shiro states matter-of-factly. "We're here together for a week, maybe we can help you figure out what direction you should go next."

"Thanks Shiro. Being here on Altea actually makes me think more clearly. It's so beautiful here."

"I'm so glad Altea is back. I'm so thankful to be home." Coran says, his eyes watery.

The meal ends in a toast to Allura led by Coran and they all start to head back towards their rooms in the new castle. Lance is so grateful that they do this every year. He lingers a bit under Allura's statue with Coran, watching the others walk away. Keith's hair is still way too long. Pidge is taller now, not tall but she is taller at least. She's happy about that, Lance is sure. Curtis meets up with Shiro their fingers intertwine as they continue walking back together. Hunk is instructing the crew that helped him prepare the meal as they clean up. Some things stay the same, some things change.

While Lance was watching them go, Coran's eyes were fixed on him. Lance notices.

"Coran?"

"Oh, sorry Lance. Just thinking." Coran offered a bittersweet smile.

"About Allura?"

"I miss her. But when you're here it's like a part of her is too. Seeing those markings she left with you and all."

"Ya know, I feel like she's with me. I don't know how to describe it. I'm human. I know that. Pidge has had those docs and scientists run tests on me at the Garrison. Nothing out of the ordinary. I'm not Altean. But I kind of like having Altean marks. Your explanation of them a few years back really makes the most sense to me."

"Like the marks of the chosen, but her chosen. It's my best guess." Coran sighs. What he wants to say to Lance isn't easy. "You both deserved to be happy together. But Lance, If you were gone would you want her to never move on?"

The words sting. Coran means only the best, Lance knows this. But he still feels so connected to Allura and he has this other feeling too. Deep in his gut this feeling he wishes he could shake, because if he never does it would be torture. Unless there actually is something to it. Tears form at the corner of his eyes.

"Coran, sometimes I still think that maybe… never mind."

"Lance?"

"I should get over this… this idea. But I can't. I can't shake the feeling that somehow she might come back to me." Lance let's tears fall. "I mean Shiro came back. Pidge found her family. Keith found his mom. And don't get me wrong I am so… SO happy about all of that! But how can I believe that Allura is gone for good when I've seen things that tell me there's a chance. Even if it's just a small chance? Should I be out there looking? Where would I even look?! I just…"

Coran embraces Lance in a hug. The former paladin cries on the old Altean's shoulder.

"Alright then. I've had those thoughts too." Coran's voice is soft and Lance can tell he's tearing up as well. "You've been so strong. I want to hope what you say is true. I would wish for even one more moment with her. I never had the chance to tell her goodbye. Alfor, he trusted me… But for my peace of mind I am trying to move on. I feel like she would want everyone to live their lives to the fullest."

"I'm thinking about ways to move forward in my life. I really am Coran, the whole flight instructor thing… I'm really thinking about it. I can't live the life I'm living forever. But I can't move on from her. That day is just not here yet. I don't know if it ever will be."

Lance steps back and wipes his eyes with the back of his hand.

"One day at a time." Coran replies softly. "Go get some rest."