Thank you to everyone reading, following, and favoriting this story! You all mean so much to me! I have around 8-ish chapters planned so please bear with me. I hope you enjoy. ^^


Chapter 3. Dance Party

"Do you know what this dinner needs?" Lance asked around the campfire. The team exchanged clueless glances.

"Uh, no?" Hunk said. Lance sighed.

"Music!" Everyone's own idea of what good music is popped into their head. Allura's was traditional Altean, while Coran's was a very different genre. Keith hadn't even actually thought about music in… years. Pidge and Hunk were similar in taste. Shiro would never admit that he kinda really liked pop. This was Shiro's first dinner with the team since his soul was bonded with the clone's body. Everyone had felt that it was time for Shiro to come back to the group since Earth was getting closer.

"Music?" Krolia asked. "That's not a bad idea…" The team stared at Krolia in shock. The usually cool Galra was shocked at their shock. "What?" she asked.

"Nothing," Keith started, "It's just that you don't seem like the type of person who likes… music." Pidge, who was on Keith's right, nudged him with her elbow. He mouthed a 'What?' To which Pidge's eyes just widened as she nodded towards Krolia. Krolia surprised the group again when she let out a small laugh.

"I know music, Keith." She said with a sorrowful smile. "I have some favorites of mine from my childhood. And- and your father was fond of music. He introduced me to a lot of human music." The sound of collective, "Ah's," and, "Oh's," was not Krolia's ideal response.

"I love music!" Krolia tried to recover. "Keith's father even taught me how to dance."

"You can dance?" Shiro asked. No one would tell him, but the sound of his voice brought an extra sense of security back to the group. Lance's guilt had barely eased some since Shiro had been awake again. Shiro tried to tell him that there was nothing to feel guilty for, of course, but that didn't do much to ebb Lance's emotions. Lance was determined to make it up. He just hadn't figured out how yet.

"How do we get music?" Allura chimed in?

"I don't know," Lance admitted. "Pidge can't you rig something?" Pidge didn't even blink.

"Yeah," she answered coolly. "All we gotta do is tune into the surrounding radio waves or transmissions. I'm pretty sure the Lions could do that easily."

"It should be just like tuning into the radio," Hunk added effortlessly.

"It won't be human music, but space is filled with all kinds transmissions," Pidge concluded.

"Then go turn on the radio!" Lance declared, standing up from his seat. Pidge and Hunk shot up, excitedly running towards the Green lion.

"We should maybe-" Romelle was interrupted by a loud rhythmic drumming projecting from the Green Lion, "-clean up?"

"Does anyone know what this is?" Hunk asked, coming out of the lion. When all the answers came back negative, he radioed Pidge, who was still in the lion. "Change the station, P."

"Roger!" Pidge answered. The rhythmic drumming was replaced with a chorus of high pitched screeching. It was abruptly cut off. "Sorry, guys," Pidge announced, "That was not meant for our ears." Coran and Shiro both laughed it off.

The next station wasn't bad; the group just had no idea what kind of emotion the music was supposed to convey.

"I feel like I should punch something?" Keith said.

"Or cry?" Romelle added.

"Next station, Pidge," Hunk said. The next five stations weren't any better. During that time, the group had managed to clean up most of the dinner. Lance was starting to feel embarrassed. Maybe this wasn't the best idea. Just as he was about to call it off, Pidge changed the station.

Clear as day, a human language played through the camp. Pidge ran out of the lion, almost completely overwhelmed.

"Guys!" she yelled as she made it out. "Is this German?!" All the humans in the group collectively lost their minds.

"It is German!" Shiro confirmed.

"How the heck are there songs from Earth?" Keith asked.

"It must be an old transmission," Hunk answered. "We make so much noise on Earth that we've been broadcasting into space for centuries now. This song is probably a hundred years old, at least." The bass was building in the song.

"It's obviously old as heck," Lance answered. The drums started to beat faster. "But I kinda like it." Just hearing a language from Earth lifted his mood. The synth's melody was almost to the chorus. And when the beat dropped, the humans shouted a chorus of "Oh my god," and, "I can't believe this!" Hugs went all around and the dancing started.

To say that the group had bad dancers would be an understatement; they had some terrible dancers. Of the humans, Lance and Hunk were the best dancers, out dancing all the paladins. Pidge and Shiro were good and better than Keith at least. Of the Alteans Romelle was the best, followed by Allura and whatever Coran considered dancing. Krolia was the best out of everyone.

The upbeat music continued for a few songs allowing the entire group letting their guard down. Mostly. The trained officers in the group had one ear listening at all times. They had started as one group, everyone dancing with everyone until the genre took a sharp turn and a slow song began. The group stopped and nothing but awkward glances flitted between them. It was Shiro who broke the silence by asking Krolia to dance. She shyly accepted, which was a new look on her. Keith, despite spending two years with her, was finally seeing the softer, more vulnerable sides to his mother. They joined hands and Krolia placed her hand on Shiro's shoulder as he placed a hand on her waist. They weren't closer than they needed to be. Keith made his way to Allura.

"Would you like to dance?" He asked her softly. Allura's heart skipped a beat as she accepted. The other pairs that formed were Lance with Romelle and Pidge with Hunk.

"Looks like it's just you and me," Pidge said to Hunk.

"Yeah, and I'd rather not sit out like Coran." The two looked over to Coran who excused himself by saying he was too tired to go on. Hunk and Pidge held hands and swung their arms in time to the music while turning in a circle. Lance tried to be more of a gentleman with Romelle, even asking if it was okay to place a hand on her waist. She had giggled a yes and placed a hand on his shoulder.

On the other hand, Keith didn't ask Allura if it was okay to touch her. As soon as she accepted, he brought her into him, his left arm wrapping around her waist, his other hand grasping hers. They were chest to chest as Allura's hand held onto his shoulder, holding him close to her. They didn't turn in circles, instead merely swaying to the music. Their eyes stayed locked, each trying to convey their emotions without having to say them. Keith's warmth held Allura in place. While just having Allura in his arms was enough to make Keith want to quit this war and stay by her side. At the same time, they both felt the need to fight, to win, stronger than before.

It was Allura to first break eye contact by resting her head on Keith's shoulder. He really had changed. She held him tighter, closing her eyes. He rested his cheek on the top of her head. So much time had passed between them. Even the two weeks that had passed since their conversation at the foot of the Blue Lion had seemed like an eternity. He's giving me space, she noted to herself.

"Princess?" Keith asked. She could feel the vibrations of his voice in his chest.

"Yes?" she answered, not looking up.

"Are you feeling better?" The concern in his voice was unmasked. He had to know that the healing process had, at least, started. He had to let her know that it was okay to be grieving. She sighed against his shoulder.

"I am feeling better," she whispered. "I'm still hurting but, I won't forget that I can count on my friends… That I can count on you." Keith kissed the top of her head.

The music had stopped a while ago but no one wanted to interrupt the two. It was a long time before either of them realized that the rest had gone to bed. But even when they did, neither of them wanted to let go. It was Keith who relaxed his arm around Allura's waist first. He lingered for a second more before releasing her and taking a step back. Allura looked into his eyes, a mess of emotions. He took her face in his hands, his thumb stroked her cheek, not minding if anyone else saw.

"Allura," he started, "I'm not leaving you anymore." The conviction in his voice was almost enough to bring tears into both of their eyes. "I'm going to stay here, by your side. Lean on me." He dropped his hands to his side, baring his heart out as best he could, as much as he could. The feeling he had for Allura were strong as they were true. He had spent so much time shoving his feelings to the back of his mind, trying to figure out who he is. But, now that he found his history, the emotions that had been buried for so long were desperately trying to climb out. He had to get the timing right. And now, six weeks after losing Lotor and the castle, was not the right time. He knew that, as much as Allura had more healing to go, so did he. This was the best he could do.

Allura returned the gesture by placing her hand on his cheek, running her thumb down the scar that decorated his face. She reached up and kissed his other cheek.

"Thank you, Keith," she replied, before letting him go and walking away to the Blue Lion. Keith's hand touched the spot where she kissed him, the heat of her lips still lingering. He had to make sure never to go back on his promise. He had to make sure he became a man able to stand next to her.

He looked back to the quiet camp where Lance and Pidge were staring at him. He waited for the blush to color his cheeks but, it never came. He realized that he wasn't embarrassed by the affections they had so openly shown. That was until Lance and Pidge smiled with an all too familiar gleam in their eyes.

"Oh, Allura!" Pidged feigned a deep voice. "I love you!"

"And I you, my dear paladin!" Lance replied in an equally horrible high pitched voice. The two were reduced to a fit of giggles.

"Shut up," Keith grumbled, making his way to where they were sitting by the fire.

"Have you always been this in love with the princess?" Pidge asked innocently.

"When did you realize it?" Lance asked as well. Keith didn't answer, the heat in his cheeks finally decided to show up.

"Was it love at first sight?" Pidge asked with a gasp.

"Not at first sight…." Keith mumbled, avoiding their gazes.

"Oh my god," Lance gasped, "He's been in love with her this whole time!"

"That's actually kinda adorable," Pidge added, trying not to make Keith feel any more embarrassed. It didn't help.

"Psh, thanks," Keith said, staring at the fire.

"She loves you, too, you know?" Pidge added. "I think it's good that you're not rushing anything."

"Thanks, Pidge," Keith said more sincerely. Lance let out a dramatic sigh causing the other two to look at him. It was a few moments before Lance looked at them though.

"Good luck, man," Lance finally said. Everyone knew about Lance's crush on the princess but there was no malice, no jealousy, in his voice, nothing but true goodwill and hopefulness for his friend. Keith was taken aback, surprised and grateful.

"Thank you," Keith said back, truly meaning it. Lance nodded at him once before announcing that he was going to sleep in his lion. After good nights were said, Pidge turned to face Keith.

"I hope you know we're all rooting for you two," she said with a smile. "You guys give us hope." She patted his shoulder before rolling out her sleeping bag and crawling in. She was asleep in no time.

Keith stayed up for a few more minutes, thinking about the events that happened. It was quite a bit to process but they weren't bad things. It was actually a really good night. He hoped that meant that good things were in store for them.