"Keith, there is no way we can get to Earth." Even Pidge was surprised by how much Keith wanted to do for Lance. "And if there was, we would have been there by now."

"I know," He stared at the computer screen. The text was beginning to blur together after hours of staring at it. They were both tired after spending hours of gathering data and creating algorithms. It was mostly Pidge since she knew computers the way Keith knew knives. "But there has to be a planet that is at least similar enough. I mean we have a whole universe of planets."

"Yeah so searching them all will be a nightmare." Pidge was typing angrily, inputting more data to sift out. Keith knew he was being a little overzealous about Lance's birthday, but after having this idea, he couldn't stop. "Also they could end up being further than Earth!"

"I know it's a long shot, but it's the perfect gift." Keith pleaded with her. "He wants nothing more than to visit Earth. Hunk said this was his first birthday without his family. If can't get to Earth, then this is the next best thing."

"I didn't say I wouldn't help." Pidge sighed. Should I have listened to Hunk when he told me to stop meddling? Maybe, but Keith is asking for help. Finally. And this could be the push they need to get together. "I think we finally have it…our filter!" Pidge smiled triumphantly. "It'll gather up all the planets we can travel to within a few hours and ones that will be along our path of travel, assuming we keep course. Which with our job of saving the universe, we could end up going to another galaxy before his birthday and all this hard work will be ruined. So I made it to adjust with the course!"

"Great, let's hope we can stay on course and not mess it up too much."

"It's also sifting out planets that don't have breathable air. Soon we should be getting some hits and we can look closer at them. Because a lot of these were input my different sources or people, there isn't a standard description or checklist of sorts, and then add all the languages we may have to translate on top of it…anyways, it'll be easier to just look ourselves. I'll have to update this catalog when I have more time." Pidge mumbled, the inconsistency bugging her. Getting back to the task at hand, she continued, "Eventually when we have them narrowed down, you can scout it for yourself. There are plenty of unexplored planets, so if you get some with no data fall through, we'll have to do testing."

"Is there any way we can have it raining?" Keith didn't look directly at her, knowing she might slap him. This was already a difficult task, and he knew she'd be upset by wanting to add more requirements.

"Raining? Like a planet with rain?" She deadpanned.

"I know it seems silly and probably impossible, but is there any chance I would be able to have there be rain on the planet when I take Lance."

"That is one weird request." Pidge eyed him. "I don't know. I wouldn't say it's impossible, but unlikely. I can't promise anything, but let's try." She sighed. "Rain planets would be our best shot, ones that are raining 70% or more of the time."

"Perfect!" Keith smiled. Don't get your hopes up. It's not a guarantee. "Thank you, Pidge. I couldn't do this without you."

"Oh I know." She smirked briefly then turned serious. "You really like him, huh?"

"What?"

"Don't even try to lie to me. I see how you look at him, how you reacted to the kiss. You two have grown closer than you are with Shiro. So what's up? Why not ask him out?"

"He doesn't like me back. Plus dating within the team is a bad idea."

"Then why are you torturing yourself? Why do something like this?"

"I don't know." Keith was staring blankly at the computer screen. To see him smile.

...

"Hey Keith," Shiro walked up to Keith who was still pouring over every planet that came through Pidge's filters. It had been days and they were back to square one after changing course. Lance's birthday was getting closer, which made Keith more anxious. Keith mumbled a hello and didn't remove his gaze from the screen, just jotted down some notes and flipped to the next one. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing important." Keith glanced up. "Do you need something?"

"Just wanted to check in with you. You've been pretty scarce lately." Shiro sat next to him and leaned forward, leaning his arms against his knees, and clasping his hands. It was the pose of 'we need to talk' and 'I'm not your father but I'm about to sound like it' that Keith was too familiar with, especially when he was in the garrison.

"Been busy." Keith shut the screens down, knowing this could be a while. Plus he didn't want Shiro asking any questions about his 'research project'. Not to mention, his head was spinning and eyes crossing. How long have I been here?

"Well, after the other night, I wanted to make sure you were okay."

"Which night?" Ever since Pidge and Keith had begun the near impossible task of finding the Earth-like planet, each day had been blurring together.

"The night you kissed Lance." Keith felt like a bucket of cold water was thrown in his face, suddenly awake and head clear.

"Oh. That night. Yeah, I'm fine." Keith avoided his gaze. After the kiss, he didn't know how to act around Lance. Lance had said everything was fine and could go back to normal, but Keith wasn't sure. He wanted it to go away and never think about it since it made being around him so difficult. But he also wanted to go back to that moment of bliss, when the universe disappeared and it was just them.

"Then why are you isolating yourself? Especially from Lance?" Shiro prodded, tilting his head in the concerning older brother way.

"Why do you think?" Everyone had seemed pretty normal after the kiss. Keith kept waiting for them to turn away in disgust when he walked in the door or to make comments about his sexuality. Instead nothing changed. Keith was waiting for the ball to drop, for the worst to happen, but it hadn't. Maybe nothing would happen, or maybe something would, so his anxiety grew.

"Keith, no one thinks differently about you." Shiro tried to encourage. "Lance is worried though. Pidge is doing her best to explain that he didn't do something wrong, but-"

"Lance is worried about me?"

"Of course he is! When was the last time you hung out with him?" Keith was silent. Shiro already knew the answer; he was just trying to prove a point. "I think he misses you…maybe as much as you miss him?"

"Did he tell you this?" Keith squinted at Shiro, telling himself not to get his hopes up. Just because he missing hanging out with you doesn't mean he's into you.

"No, but it's easy to tell. He's been moping this whole time." Keith felt worse. He needed to figure out what he was feeling and what he wanted, but Keith was also afraid to face it. And to face Lance.

"I'll talk to him." Keith slumped into his chair. He wanted to see Lance, but he didn't know how to start.

Shiro stood up, "Good, because otherwise this would be weird."

"What?" Keith asked him, but Shiro didn't answer and just opened the door, letting a nervous Lance inside. Keith jumped up, heart beating out of control. "Lance."

"I'll let you two talk." Shiro slipped out, closing the door.

Lance stood at the entrance silently. His hair was a mess and his shirt wrinkled, very unlike the normal well-kept Lance that Keith knew. Keith made sure the computers were shut off and flipped his note book over. He gestured to the seat next to him and Lance walked over quietly. "Hey."

"Hey." Keith whispered. "Sorry I've been absent."

"It's okay." Lance spoke softly. He noticed how spazzed Keith was. So Shiro lied that he wanted to see me. He couldn't help wonder what Keith was doing cooped up here. Pidge loved it here, but Lance couldn't remember the last time Keith had set foot here. He tried not to stare at the notebook Keith had hid frantically. Am I jealous of Pidge? Of a notebook? Maybe.

"You didn't do anything. I just…" Keith broke into Lance's thoughts, but then trailed off into his own. How do I explain without giving it away?

"Hey, it's okay, Keith." Lance interrupted and moved his seat closer. "You are your own person. You don't have to explain everything to me."

"Yeah, but you didn't do anything. I just am working on something…and it kind of has a deadline."

"Oh. Pidge is helping you?"

"Yeah, she's kind of a wizard at this stuff."

"You bet your ass I am." Pidge spoke up, or rather down, startling the two boys.

"Pidge?" Keith looked around the room. She giggled from the vent.

"Sorry, Shiro wouldn't let me in, so I had to improvise." She poked her head out. "Lance, we love you, but this is top secret. Mind if we can continue?"

"Oh yeah," Lance stood and started walking towards the door. Then he turned to Keith, "Do you…want to hang out tonight? Just us? No dares."

"Yeah, I'd love to." Keith breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe everything will be okay.