There were a lot of tears. More than the paladins were ok with. Between Victoria and her mother they didn't feel like they needed to cry, even though Hunk did shed a few in relief. the younger kids, behind their parents back, asked for details letting them know that they already knew more than everyone had thought.

"Can i see him?" Layla asked.

"He's healing right now," Allura said, "and he doesn't like the healing pods that much, so i'm sure he would prefer it if you didn't see him just yet."

That and you could still see a lot of the damage his face had taken through the barrier. Lance would hate them forever if they let his mother see him like that.

"Such a vain child," she said happily, "so long as you are positive that he is just fine."

"Absolutely," Shiro said nodding, "he'll be good as new."

"Mom, i'm starved," Vik whined, "if you don't cook something i will."

"And you!" She rounded on Vik who was still wearing Lances armor, "you go to your room this instant and i don't want to see your face till i bring you something to eat young lady. Dr. Rand will be here in an hour to make sure you haven't ruined your immune system even more!"

Vik complained loudly, and her mother had to give her a shove to get her to start moving towards the stairs.

"You had your adventure, now its time to face reality," Layla sighed, "i know you're hurting more than you're letting on, so scoot."

"I'll help you up the stairs," Marco said grabbing her arm.

"Thanks bud," Vik rubbed his head and they headed up the stairs, "could you stay with me till dinner is ready?"

"I have homework, but i'll do it in your room," he said, "then you can help me with math."

"Yuck, i hate math, Pidge or hunk would be better."

"Want me to stay with you or not?"

"Right, sorry, sorry.."

"Now Mrs. Layla," Hunk said, "You go ahead and take a seat and let me do the cooking tonight."

After a moment of shock, she laughed in his face.

"Not on your life my child," she said patting his cheek, "You all found my boy and I can make you something to eat. If you really want to, then you can help tomorrow night. But tonight is my pleasure."

()

Three weeks.

In that time the garrison was able to cover any oddities that the public had witnessed and a special isolated prison was set up for the Galra. The two surviving gang members were also put into isolated cells to keep what they knew quiet.

when Rand finally let Victoria off mandatory bed rest, she moved into the Castle. Allura mentioned to her how rude this was, but Vik just stuck her tongue out and did as she pleased. She found Lances old room and the box that was in it.

It was full of odd bits and ends. there was a rock from every planet they'd landed on for Marco and a toy of some kind for Milo. There was a dress that looked like it would fit Mary and what looked like a necklace for mom. There was a long knife that no doubt was going to be given to dad who collected odd knives.

But that was all that was in the box. Vik couldn't find anything that Lance would give her. Not that she needed anything, but it sucked that she could label what he'd give everyone else and that was it.

Still, she put the box to one side and didn't tell the family about it. This was something Lance would give them and she didn't have the right to take that away from him.

She walked, even though she wanted to run, down to were the pods were and sat by him. He was already looking a ton better. She took pictures and sent them to her mom so she could see that Lance was alright.

So during the day she stayed with Lance and at night she said good night and slept in his room. Pidge and Hunk would keep her company on most days, but the garrison was demanding their presence and a complete explanation of their time in space.

Occasionally the seven of them would hang out in the pod room and play a game of cards or recount more personal stories about their adventures to Vik.

"Oh man," Hunk said stumbling in one of those few times all of them were there, "Iverson and Schmit were there today!"

"What needed 'clarifying' this time?" Pidge asked with sympathy. True to Lances predictions, Hunk was not doing well under pressure.

"It was all about the balmera and how that worked."

"I could have gone with you," Allura said, "Or Coran. We are more than willing to help."

"You can help by not advertising that you're here," Shiro said, "give the countries of this world time to adjust to the idea slowly and i promise when it comes time for you two to make a grand appearance, the world will not explode."

"…the world will explode if-"

"its an expression," Pidge said, "but then again, it could be literal if the right countries get pissed off enough."

"To Diplomacy," Vik said raising an imaginary glass, "may we be able to get crap done without it."

"Diplomacy is a wonderful-"

"Allura," Pidge patted the princess on the arm, "its another expression. Anyway, Hunk, you didn't tell Schmit all about your girlfriend, did you? I can only imagine how that conversation went."

"for the last time, Pidge, Shey is NOT my girlfriend. She's just a nice person. and no, i did not tell them ALL about Shey. I told them what they needed to know and left it at that…i think. Ok, i may have rambled a bit about the robeast and the balmera itself because they were so awesome, but that's about it."

"oh," Pidge shrugged, "I was just thinking it probably would have got you out of there faster if you HAD just rambled on about Shey. Then they would have thought that you had nothing left to tell."

"…that is deceptively brilliant," Hunk said, "I'll have to keep that in mind for next time."

That's when the pod opened with a hiss and Vik was on her feet in a split second.

"Lancelot!"

He fell into her open arms and she held him in a bear hug. The team also gathering around for a hug.

"Sh…sh…"

Vik pulled back a little and Lance frowned at her.

She frowned back.

He grinned.

She grinned.

"Shshsh?"

Vik felt a lump in her throat and nodded, "Ye-yeah, Lancelot, its me. You ok?"

But her question went unanswered as he looked around at everyone else. His face going completely blank.

Shiro beamed, "Its good that you're ok. How about we get you something to eat-why are you looking at me like that?"

Lance and pulled his sister in between him and the others until he was completely blocked by her.

"Lance you ok?" Pidge asked, "You're not gonna go all shy and gross on us now after everything we've been through together!"

Lance moved ever so slightly to spoke in Viks ear. the team Watched as Vik bit her lip.

"So…" Vik said, "yeah, if my translation is correct…he doesn't recognize any of you."

"WHAT?!" Yelled Allura, Shiro, and Hunk at the same time Pidge and Keith yelled, "BULLSHIT!"

"Translation?" Coran asked.

"Um," She looked back at Lance who was still hiding behind her, "I'll explain things to you guys later. Right now I have to explain things to him."

()

"I am so sick of hospitals," Layla sighed, "i'm beginning to really hate the smell."

she and the others sat in the waiting room like they had before. she was now at the point where her jacket was unraveling itself as she twisted the end of it. Victoria was in the doctors office with Lance, who refused to be separated from her.

"But his body is healthy?" she asked for the hundredth time.

"Yes," Pidge said, it was her turn to answer, "anyone who can escape a nano-second scan is perfectly fine."

They hated to admit it, but this was a very different Lance. He only smiled at victoria and even after she told him they were his friends all he did was stop hiding behind his sister. He only spoke to Vik and his speech consisted of only short, one syllable, unintelligible sounds. Surprisingly, Vik understood everything.

They had tried to scan him and figure out what was wrong, but he refused to hold still and he flipped them off more than once.

"All he said was 'Vv-kch'," Keith had exclaimed, "How does that translate into 'Don't touch me jerk-face'?!"

Vik and Lance had rolled their eyes.

"We speak five different languages," Vik said, "and it helps that we're the same type of person."

"What type is that?"

"The type to easily get annoyed with you," Vik said with a wide grin and Lance chuckled.

"Shiro!"

"We just need to figure out how we can help," Shiro said, "Lance, please let us help?"

"Che," Lance gave him the most disgusted look.

"How about we go talk to a doctor?" Vik asked taking his hand, "Dr Rand is sure to know someone who can tell us why you don't remember your friends."

"Ts, m."

"Yes, Dr Rand is the one that comes to our house all the time."

"Mmm, Mm Sh?"

"Mom knows i'm here," vik answered, "You do remember that mom got remarried do you?"

Lance gave her a long-suffering look.

"Just checking," she shrugged.

"But if we're going to go to the hospital, then we should be going soon," Hunk said, "I can go and get Mrs. Layla."

"I'll call Dr Rand and see who he recommends," Pidge said and added with a mutter, "I should get that guy on speed dial…"

Lance leaned over and spoke to Victoria, which only fueled Keiths assumption that he was faking all of this. The whole thing would be just what he would do to escape having to explain himself to them. And with Victoria and everyone else coddling him, of course it just made it that much easier to fake it!

Keith still tapped his food moodily as they sat in the waiting room while Lance got his psych evaluation. There had to be a way to call him out on his BS. Or would it be better for him to tell them himself? Keith wasn't heartless enough to force Lance into a situation that would hurt him anymore, but GADS THIS WAS ANNOYING!

"I got here as quickly as i could," Paul said arriving in hospital gown and bathrobe. They stared at him, not really expecting him to show up. The psychiatric hospital was across the street from the main hospital, and how he'd been able to dodge the nurses was anyone's guess.

"What in the name of all the saints are you doing up and about!" Layla shot up to her feet, and when he started to answer he couldn't because she was talking over him. He laughed and kissed her cheek, and then helped her to sit back down as he sat next to her. He let her go on until she ran out of things to say.

"Now, dear," he said patting her hands, "I am perfectly fine walking here. I really did walk. The doctors said that walking around will help so long as i'm not running or trying to do acrobatics."

"There it is," Pidge snapped her fingers, "there's Lances sense of humor!"

"Knew we had to run into it some time," Hunk nodded.

Paul chuckled and looked pleased.

()

"He said 'i have no idea who they are, but i remember everything else'," Victoria translated. the psychiatrist, Dr. Grey, sighed.

"I'm not convinced this is what he is actually saying," he said, "will you please let him write down his answer?"

"Why? I can tell you what he's saying much faster and then we can go home," she said, "Lance hasn't been home in a long time. He needs to be home."

"Please let him answer for himself," Grey sighed. Lance laughed and used his pen to scribble on his sisters hand. Looking down at what he wrote, Vic laughed as well.

"May I ask about the joke?"

The twins looked at each other and roared, kicking their legs up as they laughed. the doctor waited patiently. He didn't mind. From the list of injuries and the history that was provided to him by Rand and the childrens parents, he was surprised they could smile at all.

"He-" Vic gasped, "he said 'so much for historical research'!"

"This…is funny?" Grey asked.

"Yup," she chuckled and Lance nodded.

"why?"

"You answer this one Lance," Vic sighed laying down on the couch and putting her legs on his lap. Lance picked up the note pad the doc had given him and wrote down:

"because we said so."