A/N: Wrote this for the incredibly sweet and lovely YndaAB, who won it from me at a Drink Write Draw Klance event!

Teacher Keith and the Handsome Tio

If you had asked anyone who knew Keith if they thought someday he would be a teacher of small, impressionable children, they would have laughed in your face. Broody, emo Keith? Who hated everyone? Who was the most unfriendly kid they'd ever met?

If you'd have asked them, they'd have laughed.

Because they didn't know Keith.

Keith loved kids, and he knew all of his life he would dedicate himself to teaching them. He had a bad upbringing; it was his teachers who saved him. At least, the good ones. It was teachers who were the good influence he needed to make it through school. Who turned his life around. Who showed they cared. Who made the difference.

He wanted to be that for other kids.

Therefore, to Keith, it wasn't strange that he wanted to teach. Kids were so much easier to deal with than adults were. Kids didn't pre-judge. They didn't look at him and immediately think delinquent, or a damned sinner for his sexual preference. Kids saw a cool teacher, who cared about them, and was funny, smart, and kind.

Adults? Not so much. Keith had few friends. Just Pidge and Shay, fellow teachers at his elementary school. Pidge taught the fifth graders and Shay taught art. Outside of work? There was only his adopted brother, Shiro, and Pidge's brother, Matt. He was starting to get to know Shay's new boyfriend, Hunk. Occasionally the group got together to hang out during the weekend, but mostly Keith's days were full of school, planning lessons, prepping for class, and vegging out in front of his television to indulge in his obsession with all things Marvel and Star Wars.

So, yeah, people thought they knew Keith, but they didn't. It always surprised people when he mentioned he was a teacher, as if his resting bitch face and habit of dressing in dark clothes pegged him as someone who shouldn't be around children. Little did they know that Keith was passionate about his job, loved it, loved his first graders, and wouldn't trade it for the world.

Despite the fact Keith didn't like most adults, he didn't mind dealing with the parents of his students. There were, of course, the occasional asshole – the parent who had unrealistic expectations for their child and put far too much stress on a six year old to succeed. Or the parent who blamed their child's failures or discipline issues on Keith. Or the parent who didn't care or engage or show any interest at all in their child. There was always at least one every year, and he'd been at the school long enough to have to deal with the same parent twice as siblings passed through his class over the years.

It was part of the job, and it would surprise people who thought they knew Keith that he handled it gracefully, patiently, and kindly. Most would expect Keith to punch one of these overbearing parents, but Keith's main concern was the child, so he put a smile on his face and dealt with the parents in a calm manner. Yes, he would admit violence entered his mind many times as he smiled while once again explaining that 'John was sent to the principal's office for pulling Mary's hair for the third time that day'.

For the most part, the parents were cool.

Lisa McClain was one of them. He'd had her son, Sylvio, two years ago and found Lisa to be an amazing and involved mother. He knew she worked at home – something to do with medical transcribing or something – but showed up for every concert, performance, and field trip in which Sylvio was involved. She helped in the classroom often and always volunteered to provide snacks and treats when necessary. Keith also liked her wicked sense of humor and she had an amazing sense of people. She was able to size people up immediately and would regale Keith with her impressions on fellow parents in a funny way that had him laughing more than it was probably proper to.

This year, checking his class list, he was happy to see the name Nadia McClain on the roster. He knew this was Sylvio's younger sister, so he looked forward to having Nadia in his class – he remembered her as a quiet, but sweet, little girl who often accompanied Lisa when Lisa came to help. It would also be a wonderful thing to have Lisa's involvement in class once again.

Everything was the same. Lisa wasn't as involved as she had been when Sylvio was in Keith's class, but it was only because she split her time between Sylvio's third-grade class and Nadia's first-grade class. She still worked from home, but told Keith she usually did her work after the kids went to bed, leaving her free during the day to volunteer at school.

This year's class was full of the usual mix of super-smart kids, average kids, and slower kids. A few troublemakers, but nothing Keith couldn't handle. He liked the kids this year and enjoyed planning lessons that would interest and excite them. They were a fun and funny bunch and the school year plodded on as school years do.

"Hey, Keith! Can I talk to you for a minute?"

The kids were outside for recess, running around the swings and slides, playing kickball, and chasing each other with laughing screeches. It wasn't Keith's day to be playground monitor, so he was taking this chance to catch up on emails. He glanced up to see Lisa standing in the doorway.

"Sure!" he said, nodding at the small student desk in front of his. She gave him a 'look', but somehow folded herself into the seat. It was a hilarious picture to him and he grinned at her. Her 'look' turned into a scowl.

"You think you're funny."

"No," he corrected. "I know I'm funny."

"Touché."

"So what's up, Lisa?" In front of the kids, they used the more formal Mr. Kogane and Mrs. McClain, but they'd known each other long enough to be on first names when the students weren't around.

"I have to stop volunteering on Fridays," she said, heaving a sigh.

Keith wasn't ashamed of the flash of sadness that went through him. "I hate to lose you, but you volunteer so much already, don't feel bad."

"Well, I love it," she explained, spreading her hands. "But Luis has gotten it into his head that he needs my help on Fridays to close out his accounts for the week." Her husband, Luis, was a contractor who operated out of their home. He knew Lisa helped him with the business. "So that means I'll be stuck on the computer for the day."

"Sounds…exciting?" he tried.

She laughed. "Yeah, not really. His mother started a volunteer position on Fridays. The soup kitchen. She was the one to do the accounts, so now I need to, since Mamá can't. Anyway, I won't even be able to pick up the kids from school. So I wanted to let you know that Luis' brother, Lance, will be coming on Fridays to pick up the kids."

The teachers at the school walked the kids out at the end of the day to make sure the kids got on the right buses, or that their parents or guardians were the ones to pick the kids up. It was common for other people than the parents to come get the kids, but the school insisted the teachers know the person picking up the kid, and that they be registered with the school.

"I'll bring Lance with me tomorrow so you can meet him," Lisa continued. "That way you'll know his face."

"I've heard you mention him before. Isn't he in college somewhere out of state?"

"Oh, he graduated last May," she said. "He came back here for grad school and he's living at home. He doesn't have classes or anything on Fridays, so he said he could pick up the kids. They absolutely adore him, so they're happy to spend the afternoon with their Tio Lance. He's even promised to keep them overnight so Luis and I can have a break."

"Wow, that's nice," Keith said. Inside, he thought it was strange for a young man to give up his Fridays to entertain two young kids.

"He adores them just as much," she said with a laugh. "I think he missed them more than any of us when he was at school."

Keith smiled. "Cool. Thanks for letting me know. I look forward to meeting him."

He was, too. Lisa had mentioned this brother-in-law of hers a few times. Sylvio, and now Nadia, talked a lot about this cool uncle who loved and spoiled them so much. Keith thought Lisa had mentioned once that Lance went to the University of Connecticut to study something science-y. Keith couldn't remember exactly. In his mind, he pictured a rather dorky guy – a preconception from the fact that Lance was a science nerd and was very much into the same things the kids were. Cartoons, anime, and Disney.

Which meant, on Friday, Keith was not prepared for the vision that got out of the passenger side of Lisa's car in the front of the school. Tall and lanky with a smile that wouldn't quit. He had the same bright blue eyes Nadia had and the same mischievous twinkle in them Sylvio did. Luis, Lisa's husband, and this Lance's older brother, was a good-looking guy, but it looked like Lance got the best of both parents. It should be illegal for anyone to look this good.

"Tio Lance!" Nadia yelled, dashing away from Keith to run toward the vision. Lance, with a laugh, scooped her up when she reached him, twirling her around in the air. Seeing it sent his heart in Keith's throat, but Lisa simply laughed, apparently used to her brother-in-law tossing her child around.

"Hello, Mr. Kogane," she said gaily.

Keith acknowledged her, but he had shaken himself from his Lance-induced-stupor to do his job. He had to make sure all the kids got to their bus (they did) and the right parents or guardians got the right kids (they did). Lance, in the meantime, kept playing with Nadia, her backpack abandoned on the lawn of the school. He held her hands and spun around, letting her legs fly out and getting her to screech with laughter.

Keith rushed to the first bus in the line as the door closed. He hadn't noticed as he watched Lance that he was still holding Jonathan's lunchbox. Once delivered, he returned to where Lisa watched her daughter play with her uncle.

"So," he said, slightly out of breath. "That's Lance?"

"Mhm," she hummed, giving him a sly side look he tried to ignore. He also tried to school his expression into something close to idle curiosity. He imagined he was probably failing miserably.

"Mister Keith! Mister Keith!" Nadia shouted, noticing her teacher was available to give her attention now. Her feet landed on the ground, but one hand stayed locked in Lance's so she could drag him over to Keith and Lisa. "This is my Tio Lance!"

Keith swallowed, desperately trying to keep a neutral, but friendly expression on his face as he held out his hand. Nadia had a hold on Lance's right hand, so he put his left hand in Keith's for an awkward shake. "Nice to meet you," he said.

"It's nice to meet you," Lance said, squeezing his fingers before dropping them. "Nadia talks about you all the time. It's Mister Keith this and Mister Keith that."

Keith let out a nervous chuckle. "Uh, I hope nothing bad." Really, Keith? Lame.

"As if anyone can say anything bad about you," Lisa teased.

Keith blushed, especially as Lance's gaze was intense. "She's a sweet girl."

"Tio Lance," Nadia said, tugging on his hand and looking up at him with a smile, "no crees que el Señor Keith es muy guapo?"

Keith wished he knew more Spanish.

Lance laughed and Keith thought it had a waver of nervousness to it. "Si, pelotita, per no quiero que el sepa." As he said it, he reached his free hand up to rub at the back of his neck.

"Deberías decirle," Lisa said, her grin wicked, and Lance glared at her. A strange look on his otherwise sunshine demeanor.

"Callate," Lance muttered.

"Anyway, Mr. Kogane," Lisa said, with emphasis and a look at her daughter. "I just wanted you to meet Lance so you know his face for when he picks up Nadia next week."

"I appreciate it. I'll know not to call the police. At least for that."

"Oh, ha ha," Lance said, his features returning to their pleasant and happy norm.

"Tio Lance, can we watch Frozen when we get to Abuela's?" Nadia begged.

With eyes lighting up, Lance said, "Of course, pelotita! Are you going to be Elsa or Anna today?"

The little girl pursed her lips in thought. "Anna," she decided. "But you have to sing Hans' part with me, and Elsa's song."

"I'll do my best," he promised.

"I'm glad they'll be at Abuela's house and not mine," Lisa declared. "Alright, let's get you there. It will take time to get the wig on Tio Lance."

stopped working as he watched the three head to Lisa's car, returning the grinning wave from Nadia and the flippant one from Lance.

The following week dragged by for Keith. He tried to tell himself it wasn't because he was looking forward to Friday. He certainly wasn't. He wasn't about to admit it.

It didn't help that Nadia cornered him one afternoon at recess to demand if he thought her Tio Lance was a handsome tio. He made it a rule with himself that he would never lie to the children, but he had no idea how to answer her. He gave a non-committal answer along the lines of he didn't notice to which she responded that next time he should open his eyes.

Oh, Keith's eyes were plenty open that day.

So, if Keith took a little more care dressing on Friday, it totally wasn't because it was Lance's day to pick up Sylvio and Nadia. Totally wasn't. It just felt like a good day to wear his best button down. The lavender one he knew made his dark blue eyes look purple. Unfortunately, he helped Shay with art day and, of course, it was finger painting. And, of course, he had dabs of various colors on his nice jeans and his nice shirt. At least it was washable paint.

He hoped. Shay assured him it was.

He sighed, looking down at the wreck of his clothes. But, with Madison telling him he looked like a pretty rainbow, the smile returned to his face and he shrugged off the mess as part of the job. It wasn't the first time and he knew it wouldn't be the last.

The constant glances at the clock made him irritated with himself. He really needed to stop. End of day would get here. Except, about a half hour before the end of day it seemed to get darker in the room. He glanced toward the window and frowned. Dark clouds obscured the sun and it looked ready to rain. He hoped it would hold off until the kids left. He hated walking them out on rainy days.

Five minutes before the bell, the heavens opened up to a heavy rainfall and Keith sighed. Covered in paint and soon to be soaking wet. Why would he have brought his umbrella today? Because it would have made sense.

The bell rang and he accompanied the kids out to the hall and their lockers. He made sure backpacks and lunch bags and coats were all in order. The kids, obviously smarter than him, mostly had umbrellas. A few didn't, but he was sure they didn't care.

"Alright, everyone," he called. "Let's get in line and head outside."

The kids lined up, for the first time not making much of a fuss, and he led them to the front door. To his surprise, Lance was there, looking out the window part of the door to the outside, frowning at the rain. He held an umbrella by its strap, letting it swing idly as he waited. 'What a thoughtful guy,' Keith mused. 'Coming inside to pick up Nadia so she doesn't get soaked.'

In truth, Lance wasn't the only one to wait inside for children who hadn't brought their umbrellas, but for Lance to think of it for someone who wasn't his own child melted Keith's heart. Keith allowed those kids whose parents were inside waiting to go with them, and he'd have to make sure the others got to their cars and the buses. He sighed when he reached the door.

"Tio Lance!"

"Pelotita!"

"You didn't have to come in! I have my umbrella!"

"I know! I came inside in case Mr. Keith didn't have one." Lance glanced over at Keith with a little grin.

Keith blinked a few times. That. That was unexpected. Not that Lance was thoughtful and kind. He came from a family full of kind people, and while it wasn't always an indicator, Keith had not met any McClain that he didn't immediately like. But, why would Lance think of him? "Thanks," he said slowly, distracted by a young boy pulling on his hand. "Yes, Michael?"

A shy, tow-headed boy glanced at Lance and moved closer to Keith, gripping his hand tightly. "I forgot my umbrella," he lisped out, turning his head to hide his face from his remaining classmates.

"You can share mine!" Nadia piped up. "It's got My Little Pony on it, so I hope you don't mind."

"I-I don't mind. I like ponies."

"Sweet!" the little girl said. "They are awesome!"

Keith glanced at Lance. "Michael rides the bus, so…" He then looked at the remaining three kids. "They all do. I need to walk them out."

Lance's grin widened into an easy smile. "Well, then, we can walk out with you," he suggested, holding out the umbrella to Keith. After Keith took it, Lance squatted down eye level to the other kids. "Who has their umbrella today?"

"Michael is gonna share mine," Nadia declared.

"I know Pelotita. That's very nice of you to share. Anyone else?"

Two of the other kids, a boy and a girl, had umbrellas and the boy offered to share with the third boy. Silvio, who had arrived at the doors with his class, said he'd share with the girl, who was almost as tall as him. "Excellent!" Lance said, clapping his hands. "Now, let's get ready to attack the rain!" he added gaily. "And catch the bus! We can't let it get away from us!"

The kids giggled and moved to the door. Nadia and Michael walked close together, Nadia clutching the closed and colorful umbrella in her hand. Lance stood and followed, Keith trailing behind. "Thanks again. I wasn't looking forward to going outside without one," he said.

"Mr. Keith needs to remember his umbrella, huh?" Lance directed to the kids. "Or he needs to learn to run between the raindrops!"

The kids laughed, screeching their amusement at the thought of their teacher trying to dodge raindrops. "He can't do that, Tio Lance!" Nadia insisted. "He's too big!"

"Yes, he is. He'll have to be really fast to miss them!"

"I can be very fast," Keith told them.

The rain was still pouring and Keith flinched a little as they stood in the sheltered alcove for the door. Seemingly in sync, everyone popped open their umbrellas for the short walk to the buses waiting patiently at the curb.

A voice murmured in Keith's ear. "Unfortunately, I only have the one umbrella, so we'll have to share." He turned his head to see Lance's face close to his. He hoped his hair hid the blush he felt crawl up his face.

"Uh, yeah. That's fine," he said a little shakily. Then, to cover up his awkwardness, he said loudly, "Alright everyone. Let's march!"

The small group trooped out into the rain, most of them safe from the wetness. The umbrellas didn't quite keep the rain off their legs, especially since the kids raced ahead, jumping into puddles and splashing as much as possible, yelling and shouting at each other. Keith held the umbrella over his and Lance's head, his pulse racing at the warm body so close to his.

The whole process took no more than five minutes, but Keith felt like everything was in slow motion. The laughter of the kids, the constant soothing rhythm of the rain, Lance's smile and little hum of a song Keith couldn't identify – it all gave Keith a nice and shivery feeling he wanted to stretch out forever.

He got the kids on the bus, gave a little wave to the driver, Sandy, and turned to look at Lance. He lifted his already raised hand a little more, indicating the umbrella. "Uh, thanks for this. It was really nice of you."

"No problemo, Mr. Keith!"

"I wasn't looking forward to getting soaked so much."

"Well, happy to be your Knight in Shining Armor," Lance said. They stepped back so as not to be splashed as the bus pulled away. "So," Lance drawled. "Are you leaving now or do you have to do teacher stuff?"

Why was Lance asking? His mouth was suddenly dry despite the rain and the humidity. "Uh, teacher stuff," he said, trying not to let his regret ooze out into his tone.

"Oh, well," Lance said, nodding his head to the school doors. "The least we can do is walk you back and keep you…" he glanced down at Keith's soaked jeans, "…mostly dry."

The weekend, full of small projects around his house, moved slowly. As did the week. Keith was wrangled into planning the holiday concert. Which, of course, meant late nights for rehearsals, trying to coordinate five grades into something resembling an organized performance, and deciding on theme, costumes, and decorations. Even though it was two months away, planning had to start early.

Pidge, Shay, and a few of the other teachers helped him and, together, he thought they came up with a good non-denominational holiday show that should please most of the parents. He knew it wouldn't. Some would complain their child wasn't included or their child didn't have a big enough part. It was a load of frustration, but Keith rolled with it.

He told himself it wasn't because they often had parents volunteer to help on these little school productions. He told himself it wasn't because he had the thought of asking Lance if he wanted to help. He told himself it totally wasn't because of that.

It was. He looked forward to Friday with a dread seeping through him, even as he wrote out the list of songs for the music teacher. Lisa, stopping in to help with his class on Wednesday, teased him mercilessly after he squeaked when she asked him what she thought of his brother-in-law. She detected his interest, much to his dismay, and encouraged him to 'go for it'. Which he did not plan to do. Not only was Lance his student's uncle, he was also completely out of Keith's league. Men that good-looking didn't settle for dorky, elementary school teachers.

Keith wasn't that lucky.

Still, Friday approached slowly, but also way too fast for his liking. It would be foolish to ask Lance for his help with the holiday concert. Wouldn't it? Lance was a young, single (according to Nadia, who had to tell Keith the other day that her Tio Lance was sadly single and needed a boyfriend), gorgeous guy who probably had an active social life along with his classes for grad school. There was no way he would spend his evenings with a bunch of wild children, trying to corral them into neat rows on a stage so they could sing a song about Hanukkah.

At least it was a nice, fall day, late in October. The kids, full of energy after the afternoon inside, ran outside ahead of Keith, waving to him as they paired up with their various parents and guardians, or got on their buses. The vision that was Lance unfolded himself from a beat up looking blue car, waving to get Nadia's attention. She stood by Keith and made no move to go to her uncle.

"Your Tio is here, Nadia," Keith said, gesturing toward Lance.

"I know," she said, sending a grin up at him. "He can come get me."

He stared back down at her. "But, why?"

"So he can say hi to you."

She was devious. As devious as her mother. Now Keith had no excuse not to ask for Lance's help. If Nadia had gone to Lance, Keith would shrug it off as an 'oh well, I didn't get a chance to talk to him' sort of moment. Now, he would talk to him, so there really was no excuse he could make.

"Hey, Mr. Keith," Lance said, bracing for the impact of his niece as she barreled into him as soon as he got close enough.

"Hi, Lance."

"Tio Lance!" Another force in the form of Sylvio struck Lance in the side.

"There's my nephew!" Lance exclaimed. He hugged both kids to him before standing. "Did you both have a good day today?"

They started babbling to him, both of them, in a confused mesh of voices that made Lance laugh. Oh god what his laugh did to Keith's insides. Lance lifted his hands in defense. "Slow down! You sound like a pack of monkeys! You can tell me, one at a time, in the car on the ride home."

"Tio Lance! Tio Lance!" Nadia was pulling eagerly at his hand.

"Si, Pelotita? What is so important?"

"Mr. Keith wants to ask you a favor!"

Lance glanced at Keith, his smile morphing into something…more. "Does he now?"

Keith's insides tumbled around inside him. Shit. Why did Nadia say that? How did she even know? "Uh…" he hummed out, then cleared his throat. "Um, yeah. I'm asking all the kids' parents or, in your case, caretakers, about helping us out during the holiday concert."

"Oh!" Did the smile change character slightly? Keith didn't know. "You're asking everyone?"

"Everyone is welcome to help."

"I see. What sort of help do you need?"

"Mostly someone to help keep the kids on stage and following directions. Unless you want to do something else. Any little bit helps." Keith reached up and rubbed at the back of his neck, cringing inside because he knew it was a tell for frayed nerves. "If you can't, that's totally okay. I know you've probably got a lot of work for school and an actual social life."

"You seem to know a lot about me, Mr. Keith."

"I tell him everything about you, Tio Lance!" Nadia piped up. Sylvio rolled his eyes.

"You do, Pelotita?"

"Yes, I do! I even asked him if he thought you were a good-looking Tio, but he said he didn't look at you. So I told him to open his eyes."

Keith loved children. One of the things he loved was their honesty.

He didn't love it so much in this particular moment. He felt his face heat up in a way it hadn't done since he was a teenager. It was not a nice sensation, especially with Lance's amused eyes fixed on him. Keith's mind frantically thought about burying himself under the cedar shavings on the playground or possibly throwing himself under the bus which was pulling away from the curb. Before he could, Lance spoke.

"Hopefully he opens his eyes Pelotita. Then you can ask him again." Keith wanted to die. That bus was gone by now, but there were others. "To answer your question, Mr. Keith, yes, I can help. I may have classes, but I can spare some time to help make my niece and nephew's holiday concert an amazing success. I was quite the thespian in high school, so performing is in my blood!"

Keith felt a whole new flood of anxiety when Lance said yes. He stammered out a thank you in a way that made him wince. Where was cool and calm Teacher Keith? Apparently, nowhere to be found. He had reverted to a nervous, anxious fifteen-year-old standing in front of his crush.

The anxiety increased when Lance asked for his phone to "put my number in so you can text me when you need me". Keith had his number. Oh, shit, he had his number. He clutched the phone tightly in his hand when Lance handed it back. After Lance texted himself. Lance had his number. Oh, shit.

"Well, I need to get these two home to start on their homework." He raised his hands to quiet their groans. "I know for a fact you don't have a lot of homework. Especially you, Pelotita," he added, booping Nadia on the nose. "Mr. Keith isn't mean enough to give sweet little girls a lot of weekend homework. If you both finish it, I'll make you a treat! Abuela and Abuelo are going on a date tonight, so it's just us!"

They cheered and Lance gave Keith a cheeky little wave that burned his cheeks again. "I'll be waiting for your text, Mr. Keith," he said, turning and taking Nadia and Sylvio's hands to walk toward his car.

The last thing Keith heard was Nadia saying to Lance with excitement, "Are you and Mr. Keith dating now?"

Keith fled before he could hear Lance's laughing answer.

Keith fidgeted nervously at his desk, moving paper around it in a random way that accomplished nothing. The desktop was, for the most part, neat. There was no need for him to shuffle paper from one side to the other. Yet, here he was. Moving the stack of paper with practice letters on it from the middle to the edge, then back to the middle. His eyes darted constantly from the door to the clock to the desk. The damn big hand on the clock ticked to the next number in an agonizingly slow pace.

The doorknob turned and he froze, his hands squeezing the paper pile he was in the process of moving again, wrinkling the work of his students from that afternoon. The door swung open in slow motion and his heart sped up, only to falter when Pidge walked through. He let out a long breath.

"I thought I saw your light. You're here late."

"It's only five," he said, nodding to the clock on the wall above the door. "And you're still here."

"I was going over the set pieces with Shay. They look pretty good. My kids are doing a great job on them."

"I saw them earlier. They do look really good."

"What are you still doing here? There was nothing scheduled to go over for you tonight."

"Um, I'm meeting one of the volunteers."

He narrowed his eyes as her expression turned impish. "Would that be a certain gorgeous uncle of a certain favorite student with dreamy blue eyes and a sunshine smile with the name of…?"

"Lance!" Keith exclaimed.

Lance stood in the doorway, startled at how loud Keith shouted his name. "Hey, Keith," he said, smiling a little uncertainly, glancing at Pidge.

Pidge turned, her smile so sinister Keith wanted to hide under his desk. "So this is the famous Lance!" she said. Keith, who loved his fellow teacher, currently wanted to strangle her.

Lance laughed easily, however. "I don't know about famous, but I am a Lance," he replied, holding out his hand. "Lance McClain."

"Katie Holt," she said, shaking his hand. "Most people call me Pidge."

"Pidge is the fifth grade teacher," Keith said, standing up and regretting it immediately. By standing, he had to put down the papers and therefore had nothing to hold in his hands.

"Oh, cool! Nice to meet you! I'll probably see you in a couple of years when Sylvio reaches that grade!"

"I look forward to it," Pidge said. "I've heard a lot about you."

If it wouldn't have looked strange to lunge at her, throw his hand over her mouth, and shove her out the door, Keith would have done all of that. Lance might think him crazier than he probably already thought he was.

"All good, I hope," Lance said the expected lame joke.

"Of course," she said, looking back over her shoulder at Keith and giving him a wink. "Well, I'm sure you have a lot to discuss about the concert, so I'll leave you to it. Nice to meet you Lance. Text me later, Keith, if you have time." With a laugh that stabbed through the heart, she sauntered out of the room past a confused looking Lance.

"So, you wanted to talk about the concert?" Keith asked after a few minutes of awkward silence. He only hoped Lance hadn't heard anything Pidge was saying when Keith spotted him in the doorframe lifting a hand to knock on the jam.

"Well…" Lance drew out, shuffling a bit on his feet.

Lance had texted him earlier, asking if Keith could meet after his afternoon class was over and Keith was done with his day. Keith didn't know what to think. Mondays were a long day for Lance. He'd found out that much texting the young man over the weekend. His nerves were shot from waiting for each response, which always came quickly as if Lance were also waiting for Keith's texts. Keith tried not to believe that.

"There's a big kid chair over there," Keith said, gesturing to the side of the room. "Sorry, I should have dragged it over here earlier."

"You mean, I don't get to sit at the kids' desks?" Lance asked, grinning at him.

"If you want…"

Lance laughed, going over to retrieve the chair. As he pushed it across to Keith's desk, he said, "I do kind of want to, but if you haven't noticed, my legs are long. I'm afraid my knees would be up around my ears."

Of course, Keith had noticed how long Lance's legs were. They were very much a part of his nighttime fantasies. He willed his cheeks not to turn red at the thought of Lance in a position with his knees by his ears. Shit.

"Well, I don't want you uncomfortable," Keith muttered.

"I know, because you're exceedingly kind."

Keith sat down when Lance did after throwing his jacket loosely on the back, facing him across his desk. He smiled nervously, his hands moving back to the innocent stack of papers. "You don't know that."

"I do. Nadia assured me. Well, she didn't use the word exceedingly. Lisa did."

"Your family is too nice."

"Funny, that's exactly what they say about you."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Lisa's been talking you up for a couple of years. Ever since Sylvio had you as a teacher."

"Oh."

"I've wanted to meet you ever since then."

Oh.

Oh.

"Especially hearing how awesome of a teacher you are from Sylvio. Even more so when Nadia started gushing about you," Lance added.

Keith's blush was blazing hot now.

Lance continued. "Then Lisa had to tell me all about you. As did Mamá. I swear my family was never so intent on setting someone up with someone as much as they've focused on setting me up with you."

Keith choked, his eyes widening as he stared at Lance. The family was trying to match them up? And Lance? Was Lance going along with it?

"I-I'm. I don't know. I'm sorry," Keith said, knowing his expression looked horrified. "Please. I don't. I never asked them to."

Lance wore a dusting of pink on his cheeks now. "I know, Keith!" he said, laughing. "I did!"

Speech left Keith. He tried to say something, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to think. All he managed was a sound that resembled "blurgh".

"I remember coming home for Christmas, the year Sylvio was in your class. He proudly showed me his class picture. You know the one with all of the kids' pictures on it in little boxes?" Keith nodded. "And there was this adorable mullet-haired guy on the top left row." Keith had to frown slightly, reaching up to touch his longish, not-a-mullet hair.

"Anyway," Lance said, noticing the action and giving him a smile. "They noticed my interest in the cute teacher of my nephew. Plans were hatched. Unfortunately, I was in school, and had no way to meet you. I mean, I guess I could have met you, but it would have been an introduction before I scurried back to Connecticut."

Keith felt like he was in some sort of dream. He slumped back in his chair, barely hearing the creak of the old wood, and his arms now lay limp on his desk. He could not believe what Lance was telling him.

"I really hoped," Lance went on, "you'd still be single when I returned from school. The first thing Nadia informed me of when she saw me the first time after starting school was that you did not have a ring on your finger. Of course, it didn't mean you weren't dating anyone, so that's where Lisa came in."

"She did ask me if I was seeing anyone," Keith replied, his voice faint. He remembered that. One of the first days Lisa spent in the class, helping direct the kids during snack time. Lisa had mentioned it'd been a long time since they'd talked, and asked if there was anyone special in his life. He'd replied just his cat. A little thread of suspicion wove itself into his brain. "Did she really have to help Luis with the accounts?"

"Nope! Well, not exactly. She did it on her own. I think she felt guilty about lying about it. So Mamá found something to volunteer for on Fridays so that Lisa could offer to work on the books for Luis, all because I happened to have no classes that day. Everyone thought this was a good chance for us to meet."

The deviousness of the McClain family astounded him. He was half-terrified and half-impressed. To think they did all that just to get Lance to meet him. Lisa could easily have lied about all of it, but had actually changed their whole routine in order to make it true. "I-I don't know what to say."

"Keith," and Lance's voice turned into something serious, but also anxious. "Look, I know it makes my family sound like a pack of psychos." He spoke over the protest Keith tried to make. "No, I know exactly how this must look. It's insane, but I wanted to tell you, because I didn't want you to feel weird about it or anything. If you ever do like me, I want it to be because we got to know each other, not because my family tried to force it."

"They didn't force it," Keith said. "I mean, making it so I could meet you isn't forcing it."

"They like to make things complicated. Instead of just saying 'Hey, Lance, come and meet Nadia's teacher!', they had to make it into a thing. Even I," he placed his hand against his chest, "felt weird about it."

Keith finally cracked a smile. "That, I don't believe."

Lance let out a little nervous chuckle. "I did," he insisted. "So, I decided to come clean, and if you don't think I'm a psycho myself, maybe we can have a normal conversation over dinner?"

"I don't think you're a psycho. Or your family. I like them a lot. I'm…I guess…flattered they went to all that trouble."

"Well, good! That means you're probably psycho enough to fit right in with us."

"I probably am."

"Perfect. Are you hungry for greasy diner food?"

"Greasy diner food sounds wonderful."

"Yes! Tuck your mullet under a hat and let's go."

"It's not a mullet."

The curtain closed with a soft thwup, softening the applause of the parents in the audience. Keith breathed in a deep, long breath. It was over. Another holiday concert in the books. His head ached, he was dead tired, and he still had to mingle with parents, faculty, and students before finally dragging himself out of the school. He'd come back the next day to help Pidge, Shay, and the rest of the teachers on their committee clean up the debris all over the stage and backstage areas.

Kids darted back and forth, yelling at each other and for their parents. His headache strengthened as he fought through the next hour with a smile plastered on his face and a yearning in his heart to get out of it. The holiday concert was a success. Only one or two mishaps – a miscue for the curtain, where a fourth grader closed it mid-song. One of the angels in the second grade mooned the audience. Some little girl from the kindergarten class threw up in the dressing room.

So, typical holiday concert night.

Thankfully, the parents and kids cleared out one by one, the auditorium volume decreasing as the babble disappeared. When the door closed behind the last parent, he and his fellow teachers collectively slumped into the nearest chairs. They definitely weren't paid enough for this.

They sat in silence until they wearily got up, said their good nights, and went to gather their things. Keith was the last out, shutting off the lights, giving a wave to the night janitor, reminding the kind man that they would be back the next day to take care of the mess. All he wanted was to get home to the comforts waiting for him.

He was surprised to see the best of comforts waiting for him at his car. Lance leaned against it, wrapped up snugly in a puffy coat, scarf, and hat…his hands tucked deep in his pockets…as his breath curled up in clouds above him. Keith had been so busy during the concert, he'd had no time for Lance, whose volunteer job was to make sure the correct class got on stage at the correct point of the show. Keith had only caught glimpses of Lance dashing around with one of the school's iPad's, shooing kids and teachers into lineups for their turn on stage.

And, yes, the few flashes of his brilliant smile was enough to throw Keith's whole professional stage directing vibe off.

They hadn't really discussed after the play. Keith figured Lance would want to celebrate the success of it with his niece and nephew despite how late it was. He thrilled inside at the sight of his new boyfriend waiting, though. Their first month and a half was a whirlwind, what with getting ready for the concert (Lance volunteered every second he could spare), Lance's class projects and finals for the end of the semester, and getting ready for the holidays (Keith, of course was invited by the McClain's to participate, because he was family now). They'd hardly had time to 'date' much.

Dating was usually late dinners at the same greasy spoon they first went to followed by many goodbye kisses in the parking lot. Even on weekends, Lance was busy with school and helping with Nadia and Sylvio. Keith was invited to every Sunday meal; savoring the delicious Cuban fare whipped up by Abuela (she insisted he call her that to his blushing mortification). He was immediately accepted and embraced as part of the family, none of them one iota abashed at their parts in the plot to get him and Lance together.

Anyway, how could Keith be mad about it when he looked at Lance's shining eyes next to him at the table?

Or, in this case, seeing Lance's face light up as he approached his car.

"Hey!"

"Hey," Keith responded, a giddy feeling rushing through him.

"You look like you just crawled through a war zone," Lance said, his expression full of sympathy.

"I thought you'd be going home with your family."

"Well," Lance drawled out, but didn't continue.

"Well?"

"I had Mamá leave me here. I thought maybe I'd go home with you." Lance darted his eyes to the side and while Keith couldn't see very well in the dark, he knew Lance was probably blushing. "I mean, if you want. We don't have to do anything. You're tired and…" he trailed off.

Like he was tired now, with that possibility on the table. Or bed. Whatever. While they hadn't been together long, Keith knew their relationship had been rushing along toward this. They hadn't taken the next step yet, but Keith couldn't think of anything he wanted more, except maybe one thing.

"I'm not that tired," he protested, smiling at the way Lance's face lit up again. "I want you to spend the night with me."

Lance made a slight whimper sound. "Keith," he whined.

"Consider it my early Christmas gift from you."

"You dork," Lance accused. "I don't have a bow to wrap myself up with."

"I don't need one."

"I wonder why I love you."

Keith gasped. Those words (the other thing he wanted more) hadn't passed between them yet and he was stunned at the unexpected phrase. "You love me?"

"I wouldn't give it up to someone I didn't," Lance said, trying to sound offended, but his grin negated his tone.

"So, you tell me in the freezing cold in an empty parking lot?"

"If it gets me in your pants…" Lance said. "I'm assuming it's warm in there."

Keith burst out laughing, bending slightly to hide his face in the puffy jacket Lance wore, somewhere near where his shoulder should be. "I love you, too," he mumbled into the synthetic material as Lance's arms somehow snaked around him.

"What was that?"

Keith pulled back slightly, his own cheeks burning from happiness. "I love you, too."

Lance kissed him, shooting a feeling through Keith similar to when they shared their first kiss after their first dinner at the diner, only without the lingering taste of greasy fries. "Why don't you take me home?" Lance asked. "We'll have a hot shower and I'll give you a nice massage. And maybe get up to some other freaky things. Or I can just cuddle you all night. Whatever you want, my little mullet."

"All of the above. And, it's not a mullet."

A/N:

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