March 4th- 8:00 AM- Grey Skies

The last bites of winter cold nipped at Lance's skin as he walked to the mailbox in the apartment complex. Back up in the apartment Pidge was still asleep. Normally by this time Pidge was awake and working on one project or another, but since they just returned from their trip to Paris she was still jet lagged. So Lance let her sleep.

Finally reaching the mailbox, Lance pulled the key from his pocket and opened it. Inside were several white envelopes, upon further inspection all were addressed to him with the hospital's name printed in simple black and red ink. He furrowed his brow, he thought Pidge had said the expenses were all taken care of. That he didn't need to worry.

Lance entered the apartment and Pidge greeted him from the kitchen. The aroma of coffee filled his senses and a few seconds later Pidge emerged a mug clasped between her hands as she savored the warmth.

"Did you go on a walk?" She asked.

He shook his head, then showed her the envelopes. "I went and got the mail. You were still asleep and I thought I would go get it this time, since you always do." He sighed, setting the envelopes on the counter. "Pidge?"

"Yes?" She asked, her voice a lot quieter from when she greeted him earlier. Setting the mug down she pulled the envelopes towards her flipping through them.

"You said the expenses were taken care of." He gestured to the envelopes in her hands, "Why are we still getting bills? Or better yet, how are we even affording them?"

Pidge cleared her throat as she straightened each of the envelopes and set them to the side. "And they are. I'm the one who's been taking care of your hospital bills."

"But how?" Lance asked, "You have a part time job and the money you do make is split between rent and to put towards your tuition….Pidge, you didn't…"

"It was the only option."

"You've been saving for years," Lance said, feeling guilty. "And you're using it because of me." Lance placed his elbows on the counter dropping his head into his hands. "Were you ever going to tell me?" The weight on his chest felt heavier with every breath.

"No."

The word was like a knife in his chest. Why'd he feel so betrayed? Why was he feeling guilty? He took a shaky breath.

"I didn't tell you because you're already going through so much." She placed a hand on his wrist. At her touch he looked up and saw her eyes brimming with tears. With a couple blinks they were gone as if they never existed in the first place. "School is not nearly as important as you are." Though the tears were gone they could still be heard in her voice. "If it would've given you any chance at all I was more than willing to use my tuition money to pay for treatments and hospital stays."

Would've

He doesn't have a chance now.

Nine goddamn months.

That's all he has.

Time was moving too damn fast.

March 15th- 11:00 AM

"Lance, where are we going?" Pidge asked from the passenger seat. They had left the house immediately after lunch, with Lance giving little to no indication of where they were going.

"You'll see when we get there. Trust me."

He had said the same thing fifteen minutes ago.

Sighing Pidge turned her head to look out the window. Trees and grassy plots of land sped by, and every so often a group of children could be seen running around their shrieks of laughter being carried on the wind. It was a welcome sound when it felt like right now silence was the loudest sound between them. Ever since Lance found out that she was using her hard earned tuition money to pay for his medical bills there seemed to be this distance he created. Whether he was hurt or was trying to prove to her he could handle stuff she couldn't tell. She had apologized until it felt like her throat was raw, but every time it only seemed to bounce off of him.

Later that night she was in the living room with the bills spread before her. There was still plenty that she had saved up to be used but the idea that they were still coming weighed down on her more than anything.

"We're here." Lance said finally placing the car in park.

Pidge looked out the window to a large hill it was steep and reached about midway up the trees. Confused, she climbed from the car and followed Lance up the trail that snaked back and forth up to the summit.

Both were out of breath when they reached the top. Lance had a smile of triumph and his eyes brighter than she had seen them in days.

"Why'd you bring me here?" She asked.

"Back in Cuba, with my family, this is something we did all the time." He gestured to the hill beneath them. "We'd find a hill or mountain when we were stressed, climb to the top and scream as loud as we could. It is a great stress reliever."

"Wait so you brought me here to scream?"

Lance nodded. "I can go first." With that he turned out towards the trees and grassy plains beyond. He tilted his head back. Taking a breath he released a scream. It was a Paine scream at first one that was filled with hur, but it quickly turned to one of strength. When he was done he stepped back offering his spot to Pidge.

She stepped forward and screamed hesitating only a moment before. The emotions she had shutdown came flooding forward all at once. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she continued to scream her voice cracking. When the emotions became too much she fell to her knees, hands clenched tightly to her chest.

Lance was instantly by her side. She turned into his chest, her head just below his chin. His arms tightened around her when she shuddered with an exhausted sob. By the time she was done she felt too exhausted to move, and Lance didn't pressure her to.

"Lance?" She asked sniffling. She tightened her grip on his arm.

"Yes?" He answered. He brushed her hair from her face with his free arm before placing a kiss to her temple.

"Please don't leave me."