Okay, okay, I know I have a lot of other fanfictions in the works, but I've been working on this for a while (since December) and while I was hoping to get the entire thing posted today, that is probably not going to happen thanks to life. But, the entire thing should be out by the end of the week at the latest. Happy Valentine's day!

"Hey Allura, what's up?" Katie Holt asked one sunny December morning, after answering her cell phone.

"Something big." Allura replied. "First things first. Are you getting ready to do chores or something?"

Katie walked over to one of her windows and glanced outside. "I'm suppose to go out and help dad with the light display. I swear, the display gets bigger and crazier every year."

Allura giggled, sounding nervous in Katie's opinion. "Yeah, he's always trying to one-up Mr. McClain. Speaking of the McClains..."

"Allura?"

"Are you sitting down?"

Katie lowered herself down onto to the edge of her desk. "I am now."

Allura took a deep breath before saying "LanceiscominghomeforChristmas."

Katie laughed as she tried to figure out what her friend was saying. "Allura, I can't understand you. Will you please repeat that?"

"I said, Lance is coming home for Christmas."

That's all it took. Katie felt her grip on her phone loosen, and the device fell to the floor. Lance was coming home for Christmas. She hadn't seen him in two years. Two freaking years! And instead of a letter or a phone call or something, she was finding out from Allura.

"Katie? Katie?! Are you okay?" Allura's voice sounded distant. Too distant. "I'm coming over!"

It wasn't until Katie heard a cluck that she snapped out of her trance and dove for her phone.

"Allura wait!" She cried, groaning when she realized that she was too late.

Lance McClain. She remembered the first time she met him. She was five and he was seven. They had both been playing at the park, and Lance had joined her in making a sand castle. They had become instant best friends. But, when Matt said that it was time to go he recognized Lance and told Katie to never play with the McClain again.

Yeah, she broke that rule.

A knock on her door brought startled the girl, bringing her out of her thoughts.

"Katie?" A voice called through the door, followed by the door opening, and Allura's head poking in. Her hair was dark brown at the top, but quickly got lighter so by the time it reached her shoulder it was pure white. Her wavy hair fell all the way to her waist.

"Hey, 'Lura." Katie greeted, getting up to head over to her friend.

"Why were you on the floor? Are you okay? Quiznack, I knew that I shouldn't have told you over the phone! I should have waited until I got here! It would have only been a few more minutes."

Allura enveloped Katie in a hug, and Katie couldn't help but smile at her friend's concern. Her British accent and word choices always made her outbursts sound a little more interesting, to say the least."

"I-I'm okay, Allura. Really." Katie assured, pulling back and looking up at her friend. "It was just a shock. That's all."

Allura sighed and walked over to the bed, gracefully sitting down. "Are you sure? The last time you saw Lance-"

"I made it clear that we do not speak of that." Katie interrupted, walking back to her desk. "And besides, he and I have shared a few letters and emails from time to time."

Allura arched an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? And when was the last time you sent or received a letter?"

Katie looked away.

"Exactly! He didn't even warn you!"

"Allura, I know that he didn't warn me. But, our friendship thing ended when he left. By the way, how did you find out anyways?"

Allura shrugged, "Keith. Lance called him a few days ago when he was headed up to the mountains. But he couldn't call me until today due to having no signal."

Keith was one of her and Matt's childhood friends. Their dad had been friends with his dad. When Mr. Kogane died, Keith stayed with them for a few months before moving in with his cousin Shiro while he waited for his mom to come home from Afghanistan. Katie had always seen him as an honorary big brother. He was also one of Lance's friends, and Allura's boyfriend.

Katie looked down. "Why didn't he call me?"

Allura looked away sheepishly. "He wanted to tell you in person."

"And you were trying to beat him here."

"I just thought that you should know."

Katie nodded her head slowly. "I... I'll be fine. Just because he will be next door doesn't mean that we have to see each other."

Allura bit her lip. "Are you sure? I'm positive that Uncle Coran and Romelle wouldn't mind you staying with us."

Allura's Uncle Coran had taken her in when she was a young girl. Both of her parents had been in military back in England, and both had died. Coran took Romelle in after her parents and brother died in a plane crash. After that happened, Coran and the girls moved to America, but they still visited England every couple of months. Coran was a bit eccentric, but very nice.

"Allura, really, I'll be okay." The eighteen year old got up and grabbed her friend's hand, pulling her up off the bed. "Now come on. Since you're here, you get to help me put up lights!"

The girls worked for an hour before Allura needed to head home. She once asked Katie to come stay at her house, but Katie politely declined. Katie worked for a while more before heading inside and curling up on the couch in the living room. She watched the fire dance around in the fireplace as memories ran through her mind.

"Daddy, why don't you like the McClains?" Five year old Katie asked after she and Matt got home from the park, the day she had met Lance.

"The McClains are liars, cheats, and thieves!" Her father exclaimed, startling the young girl. "Never trust a McClain, Katie."

It wasn't until Katie was ten that her Father told her the story about how Leo McClain had sabotaged his lights display blueprints, which were for a contest back in highschool. But, by this time Katie was secretly friends with Lance, so she never grew a hatred for the McClain family.

"Knock knock."

Katie turned her head to see Keith walking towards her.

"Hey" She greeted weakly. She didn't know if it was because he reminded her of Matt, or because she was even closer with him then she was with Allura, but the sight of Keith made her want to cry.

"I'm guessing that Allura beat me here?" He asked as he sat down beside her.

Katie nodded, not trusting her voice.

"You're not okay, are you." It was a statement. That was how well he knew her.

"No." She whispered, her voice cracking. "I'm not. I know that it's silly, considering that I haven't seen him in two years, and how we've only sent a couple of letters and emails to each other, but..."

By now tears were streaming down her face. Keith pulled her close as a sob shook her body.

"It's not silly." He soothed. "He was your best friend. More than your best friend, even if you deny it now."

"But why does it still hurt?" She whispered.

"It still hurts because of the way you ended things."

Katie squeezed her eyes shut. She knew that that was the answer, but she didn't want it to be.

"Do you remember when Lance and I asked you to help us hide our friendship?" She asked.

Keith laughed, "How could I not? I thought that you two were out of your minds. Especially when you started inviting me over so you could tell your dad that you, Allura and I were going out to the woods to play."

"Which we did."

"And leave out the fact that Lance and Hunk would be joining us."

Katie giggled. "I didn't know whether it was harder hiding the friendship from dad or Matt."

"Matt." Keith stated seriously. "Definitely Matt."

Katie pulled back and wiped her face. "Thanks, Keith. You're a good honorary big brother."

Keith chucked her cheek and chuckled. "And you're a good honorary little sister." He removed his arms from around her and glanced at his watch. "I need to go. Mom is expecting Kosmo and I to be home for dinner."

Katie playfully pushed him. "Go. I'll be okay."

Keith laughed. "I'm sure you will be. But call me if you want to talk."

"You know I will."

That night as she lay in bed, Katie thought about the day Lance started to walk home with her.

Nine year old Katie stood outside the school, searching the sea of students for a familiar face.. Since Matt now had an after school job, he couldn't walk from the high school to the elementary school and walk home with her. But she really didn't want to take the bus.

"Looking for someone?" Katie turned so she could look at the owner of the voice.

"Hi, Lance." She and Lance would sometimes talk in the morning as they headed to their different classes, but that was about the only time they ever interacted.

"Need someone to walk home with you?"

Katie bit her lip and glanced back out at the sea of students, which was slowly diminishing.

"I don't know, Lance. My dad really doesn't like your family. Neither does Matt."

Lance shook his head. "When we reached our street I'll stop and let you get ahead of me. Then I'll follow at a distance.

Katie looked at his hopeful expression, then at the buses, which were pulling away. "I guess I don't really have a choice.:

"Not really." Lance agreed, a smile forming on his face.

That day, Katie learned about Lance's family, and she learned about his dream to one day join the Airforce. Also on that day, a routine was born. Every day up until Lance's last day of highschool, Lance walked home with Katie, always stopping a street or two away from their houses so she could go ahead, and then following her. Katie was never sure how their parents hadn't found out, but she was grateful that they never did.

It didn't take long for Katie to fall asleep, dreaming of Lance McClain.

Lance sat down and dropped his head down into his heads. He had been miserable on his flight. Not because of the plane, attendants, or other passengers, but because of his own guilt.

He should have called her or sent her a letter or email. He had done a really good job of only visiting while her family was on vacation. So for him to now be home for Christmas? There wasn't going to be any way to avoid seeing her. Especially considering the way their fathers were during the holiday season. Competition after competition after competition.

"Hey man!"

Lance got up and smiled. "Hunk!"

His friend gathered him in a quick, bone crushing hug. "How was your flight? Why aren't you wearing your uniform? Please tell me that you warned Katie."

Lance slung his duffle bag over his shoulder and answered his friend as they made their way to the exit. "Fine. You know that I don't like wearing my uniform when I don't need to, and… I didn't."

"You-" Hunk squeezed the bridge of his nose and stayed quiet until they exited the airport. "I can't believe that you didn't warn her!"

"I know, I know. I should have. I was going to. But I chickened out and called Keith instead. He probably warned her."

Hunk sighed. "Yeah, I'm sure he did. He's like a big brother to her. But you should have warned her."

"Trust me, the guilt has been bugging me for days. I'll try to find a way to apologize to her."

"You better." Hunk warned as they got into the car.

Lance silently agreed with his friend. Yeah, he better.

"Thanks for bringing me home, Hunk." Lance said as he got out of the car.

"Remember. Talk to Katie tomorrow."

"I will." Lance assured, "See you later."

"Later!"

Lance stood on the sidewalk and watched his friend drive away. He quickly glanced at the house next to his, before grabbing his duffle bag and marching over to the porch.

Just as he was going up the steps, the door to the house swung open.

"Lance!" His mother cried, rushing forward and embracing him. "You're home!"

"Hi, Mama." Lance greeted, hugging the woman tightly.

"Oh, hijo, I have missed you so much."

"I've missed you too, Mama."

His mother pulled away and looked at him sternly. "You have been getting enough to eat, correct? And they've been treating you well? You haven't gotten hurt, have you? You-"

"Maria!" A voice interrupted, "At least let the boy come inside before you start asking him so many questions."

Maria moved away from Lance, revealing the smiling face of his father. "I know I should, Leo. But he's been gone for so long. I just want to make sure that he's been treated well."

"I am, Mama." Lance moved over to his father and gave the older man a hug. "Hi, Papa."

"Lance, I am so glad that you are home for Christmas! Just in time for the Christmas decoration contest!"

Lance inwardly groaned, and was about to tell his father that he didn't want to participate, when his mother stepped in.

"Leo!" She scolded, "Lance just got home, it's late, and he still hasn't gotten through the door. You can talk about the contest in the morning."

"Yes, Maria." Leo sighed.

"Good." Maria put her hand on Lance's back and ushered him into the house. "Are you hungry?" She asked, as they headed upstairs.

"No, Mama. But thank you."

"Lance, I know that you don't like the feud between your father and Mr. Holt. I don't either. But please, help him put up the decorations. He looks forward to it every year."

"He looks forward to it because he hopes that he can defeat Mr. Holt."

Maria turned and placed her hand on Lance's cheek. "But he also looks forward to doing it with you, and your siblings. At least try."

"I will, Mama."

"That's all I ask." Maria walked over to Lance's room door and opened it.

"You still haven't changed this room." Lance laughed, looking around to see his old model airplanes and his American flag painting that hung on the wall."

"Of course not. I haven't changed any room yet. I'll change Marcus and Luis's once Marcus gets married. The same goes for this room, and for Veronica and Rachel's."

Lance chuckled, "Well, I doubt that I will be doing that anytime soon. Night Mama."

"Goodnight Lance." Maria started to close the door, but stopped long enough to say, "Oh, and hijo. I hope you patch things up with the Holt girl."

Lance stared at the door in shock, and tried to figure out how his mom learned of his 'friendship' with Katie.

Lance tossed and turned in his bed. He had been laying there for over an hour, but sleep wouldn't come. He glanced over at his window. The branches of the old elm were brushing across the glass. He was going to need to cut them back. There really was no need for them to be so close anymore.

Twelve year old Lance pulled his blanket up to his chin as chills raked through his body. He hated being sick. Absolutely hated it. Especially in the summer.

The open window taunted him. It let in the sweet smell of his Mama's flower garden, and the laughter of some of the neighborhood children as they played. Through it he could see the bright blue sky, Katie's balcony, and a certain strawberry-blonde haired girl climbing the tree outside his window.

Lance did a double take just in time to see Katie jump into his room.

"Katie?! What are you doing? You could have gotten hurt!" He said. At least he didn't have a sore throat.

Katie shrugged and sat down on the floor. "I overheard Veronica say that you were sick, and I wanted to check up on you."

"But through the window? What if you didn't make the jump."

Katie rolled her eyes. "It's less than a foot, Lance. And it's not like I could have gone through the front door.:

"Just be careful when you go back out." Lance sighed. "I don't want to lose my best friend."

Katie smiled. "Don't worry. You're not going to lose me. So, how are you?"

Lance groaned. "Horrible. One minute I'm hot, and one minute I'm cold. Everything hurts, and I can't hold anything down. Oh, and you really shouldn't be here, or else you'll also end up really sick."

"Lance,"

"Katie please. I don't want you to catch this."

"Fine. But I'll be back later with some herbal tea."

"Katie-"

"Bye Lance!"

With that the ten year old lept out of the window, catching the branch and climbingdown the tree.

"She's going to get sick." Lance groaned, pulling his blanket over his head.

He had been right. The next weekend Katie had the flu and, taking a page out of her book, Lance had scaled her balcony so he could check up on her. It became a common thing for them to do during the Spring, Summer and Fall. The fact that they never got caught had amazed Lance. Though, maybe that was how his Mama found out.

"I wonder why Mama never told me that she knew." Lance said.

It made him wonder, who else in his and Katie's families knew?

The slam of a car door jostled Katie out of her slumber.

"Matt's home." She stated, as her eyes started to slip shut. They snapped back open as what she said sunk in, and she shot out of bed. "MATT'S HOME!"

She raced out of her room, and down the stairs. She barely registered what her father was talking to Matt about as she ran past him and her mom and threw her arms around her brother.

"Hey Pidge." Matt laughed, as he picked her up and spun her around.

"I told you to never call me that!" She said once he put her down.

"Too bad. I've been calling you that since you were little, and I will never stop."

Katie stuck her tongue out at him before hugging him again. "I really missed you Matt."

"I missed you to, Katie."

Katie felt another arm wrap around her, and she immediately knew that it was her father.

"I'm just glad that both of you are here. Our last Christmas before Katie leaves for California in April. And this year we are going to crush those McClains!

"Yeah, Dad!" Matt said. While their dad bought Matt's excitement, Katie knew him too well. He sounded fake.

As Matt and her dad let her go, Katie looked over at her mom, who looked deep in thought. She must have noticed that Matt wasn't excited, too. But, why?

"Hey Matt!" She called, as he and their dad headed into the kitchen.

"Yeah sis?"

"Want to go get some ice cream later so we can catch up." She hoped that he got the message, and judging from his eyes, he did.

"Yeah. We'll go after lunch."

"Okay."

As father and son headed into the kitchen, Katie could over hear her dad state that he had two crazy children. But, what did he expect? They were his children.

"Katie?"

The girl turned to her mother, who was wearing a soft expression.

"Yeah, mom?"

Her mother walked over and whispered, "I have a feeling that I know one of the things you want to discuss with Matt. A confession maybe?"

Her mother pulled away, leaving her speechless teenager staring after her as she headed in with her husband and son.

Her mom couldn't know… Could she?