"LANCE!"

"Honey, i'm home!"

"You rat fink!"

Mary, Marco, and Milo ran over and fought for a hug. It was the reunion he'd wanted and the people he'd wanted for a very long time.

but he couldn't get Voltron out of his head. It sat on his shoulders and in his gut like a weight he couldn't shake. He needed to get back out there. And he needed to make sure Earth knew what was out there. But he REALLY needed to be with the rest of his team.

But if he left too soon…

"After dinner, we have to talk," his mom said, "just you and me."

"Sure," Lance grinned and shook off the rest of his siblings. making his way up the stairs to his room he knocked first. Two, pause, two, pause, three. That was the code.

"LANCELOT!"

"SHALOT!" Lance shouted as he threw open the door. A thin girl got out of her bed and ran over to him.

"You're back!"

"How have you been doing, Vik?"

Lance shared a room with Victoria. Something he'd never told the others…among other things.

"I'm doing better lately," she said, "still have problems when i stress out or forget i can't run as far as i want to."

"Chess club kick you out again?"

"Mutinous dogs," she sighed, "they'll never win another state match without me. but stop trying to divert attention, tell me where you disappeared to!"

Lance lead her back to her bed. Specialized with a railing and moving table like those in the ICU; it even moved up and down. She sat at her place at the head of the bed with a sigh while Lance took his normal place in the middle.

"I'm sorry, Shalot," Lance said, "I can't really tell you."

"Not even ME?"

"Not even you."

"…what can you tell me?"

"Thaaaat, i don't feel quite so useless being called Lancelot anymore," Lance grinned, "I guard and protect a princess in a castle. I fight bad guys and help save entire worlds. I'm quite well known, if i do say so my self."

Victoria laughed, "Should i be worried that my dear Lancelot has fallen for my rival Guinevere?"

"Absolutely not, my Lady! For the truth of the story is that the fair Gwen had never a feeling for the Knight Lancelot," Lance leaned forward and lowered his voice dramatically, "The truth, my lady, is always more than the stories tell."

"Oh~ Tell me that story," she reached over to her night stand and grabbed her stuffed animal, "I'm ready."

"How about we get something to eat first?" Lance asked, "I'm starving. I have no idea how Iverson got so big when all i've ever seen him eat is a granola bar."

()

"….ssshhhh…ttttsshhhhh..sss…tttt…."

"Hello?" Keith sent out the lion signal again.

Nothing.

Sometimes he'd get static, but other than that, nothing.

"I didn't realize how empty this place really is…"

()

"I didn't ever think you could enjoy food more, but i was wrong," Paul mused as he watched Lance practically moan after every bite.

"I may have been just fine, but the food was awful," Lance said through a mouth full, "the only thing that made it in any way palatable was Hunks magic cooking hands."

"Was it like Gruel?"

Lance sighed, "If only. You can add flavor to Gruel. Goo is a different story as well as what ever it is that Cor..ah, this other guy kept trying to feed us. Got to the point that Hunk banned him from the kitchen."

"Why can't you tell us anything?" Milo scowled, "names aren't going to hurt much."

"they can if there's a wanted poster out for that name," Lance said, "we're keeping everything quiet so that we can prepare for the danger without welcoming it into out backyard."

"That makes no sense."

"Mmmm…" Lance tried to think of a way to word it better. But his mind seemed to just block any more thoughts on the matter.

"I get it," milo sighed, "i won't ask anymore."

"Thanks," Lance smiled at him and flicked a pea at him. He flicked on back. This went on until Mrs. Mcclain added two more helpings of peas to their plate.

"Eat," she ordered, and they complied.

()

"once upon a time the handsome and brave Lancelot discovered a frozen princess."

"Ooooo," Victoria nestled down into her covers, "Knowing Lancelots past this is gonna be gooooood."

After dinner their mom had tried to send everyone to bed so she could talk to Lance, but Victoria had insisted on her story before she went to bed.

"He woke her with his fellow heros; you have The King Aurthor our fearless leader and the son of an enemy kingdom, the Red Knight Gawain who, contrary to popular belief, does not get along with Lancelot. Gawain was also known as Kay."

"No…"

"Oh yes. Kay and Gawain are the same person."

"How?"

"In accordance to the code, i can not disclose the secrets of my fellow knights."

"Poop."

"Lamorak was Lancelots best and longest friend. He was the strongest among them, but also the gentlest. Then we had Bedivere who was small, spry, and spunky."

"the history boks do not do Bedivere justice," Victoria yawned.

"No they did not. they also got so much wrong," Lance reached over and tucked her further in, "But you look like you wont stay awake for much more."

"I hate it when the meds start to kick in…"

"Without them you wouldn't sleep very well."

"I like stories…better…."

"Goodnight, Shalott."

()

"She asleep?"

"Yeah," Lance sat at the kitchen table and his mom placed toast and jam in front of him, "I take it the talk is serious."

"It is," she nodded, taking her seat. Toast and jam had been the secret midnight snack before the younger kids were born. Back when they still lived in Cuba.

"Something you don't want the others to know?"

"…Mihijo, your father was released from prison."

Lance swallowed hard along with his initial reaction.

"But he's still in Cuba, mom. We're all the way out here. He's not going to come this far just because."

"Are you calling me stupid?"

"No mama, but i don't think we should worry. He's a drunk and broken man. He'll spend the rest of his free days at the bar, poisoning whatever liver he has left."

She smiled and cupped his face, "I do love your confidence, mihijo. You and Victoria could always put my heart at ease."

"You worry too much," Lance spread the jam and handed the first slice over to her, "You and dad have your anniversary coming up and don't you dare try to hide the fact that you're worried about what dad has planned. I may have issues, but i'm not blind"

Part of the queen treatment Paul gave his wife was a one week getaway on their anniversary. The kids encouraged it, but Lance knew that she'd only gone because her first husband had been behind bars.

"I do not like that the beast is free," she said eating her toast, "I would feel safer leaving you alone if he were still behind bars…or dead."

Lance nodded and ate his toast as well. He also would feel better if the beast were six feet under. But they all knew the day would come when he'd be free. Mom had prayed he'd be shanked in prison, but Lance didn't think there was a rosary bead for such a request.

"So where is dad taking you?"

She smiled despite the situation, "a week in the Rockies. A small cabin on the canyon."

"You love high places," Lance leaned on one fist and gave his mother a knowing smile, "how many hints did you drop?"

"Two," she said without missing a beat, "most wives have to drop hints all year. i'm glad i nabbed him before some other hussy."

"Puh-leez, mama," Lance rolled his eyes, "you shoved every hussy out of the way."

she slapped his arm playfully, "only that once."

They laughed and continued to talk until late.