Lance got out of his car and headed up to Keith's apartment with the box of his stuff in his arms. Once outside, he knocked on the door and waited for Keith to open the door.
However, he wasn't expecting a woman on the other side of the door, a baby in her arms drinking milk from a bottle.
"Can I help you?" The woman asked with a smile.
"I must have the wrong apartment, is this 319?" Lance asked glancing around.
"Yes it is love," the woman answered with a nod.
"Does someone named Keith Kogane still live here?"
"Sorry honey, I don't think so," the woman said shaking her head. "I just moved in a week ago with my husband Derek."
"I see, sorry to bother you then," Lance said with a smile before turning and walking back to his car. The woman stared at him in sympathy for a few moments more before closing the door and going about her day.
'If he's not here, then maybe he's at Shiro's place' Lance thought as he put the box back into his car and pulling out of the apartment complex parking lot and driving towards Shiro's house.
Shiro was in the middle of making lunch when a knock at the door came and echoed throughout the house. Adam was at the kitchen table working on some accounting forms for the cafe when the knock at the house gathered his attention to the door. He turned back to Shiro who had paused cooking their grilled cheeses on the stove.
"I'll get it," Adam said with a smile putting his pen down and heading towards the front door. Shiro nodded and finished cooking the grilled cheeses before placing them on plates and then stirring the vegetable soup until it was heated.
Meanwhile, Adam unlocked the front door and opened it, his smile fading a little when he saw that it was Lance on the other side of the door. In his arms, he held a cardboard box.
"Lance," Adam said forcing himself not to slam the door in the boy's face and locking it behind him. "What can I do for you?"
"Is Keith here?" Lance asked, he could feel Adam's glare on him as much as the older man wouldn't show it up front.
"What's it to you?" Adam asked, his hands gripping the knob of the door, Adam considered Keith his family and beyond angry when Keith told him and Shiro what happened between the two. Adam considered Keith the little brother he never had and found himself quickly fond of the teen when they met for the first time, as much as Keith gave him the cold shoulder for a while for taking his brother "away". However, that changed after they grew closer and eventually Keith considered Adam another brother.
"I had some of his stuff here and thought he would want it back," Lance said juggling the box in his arms to prove his point. "Is he here?"
"He's gone," Shiro said walking behind Adam and folding his arms in front of his chest, giving Lance a cold glare.
"I went to his apartment but the woman there told me he moved out, I just figured he would be here," Lance said avoiding Shiro's steel glare.
"He moved a week ago," Adam said trying to lighten the tension. Adam was upset at Lance to, however, he wanted to try and prevent Shiro from doing something terrible. He was also not trying to give Lance any clues as to where Keith was living, he knew Keith wouldn't be happy with him if he did.
"I uh, I see," Lance said with a sigh. "Then, the next time you see him, can you give this to him?" Lance asked to which Adam took the box from his arms.
"I will," Adam said handing the box over to Shiro. The couple sharing a silent eye conversation before Shiro walked away with the box. However, not before giving Lance another harsh glare as he did so.
"I should go," Lance said slowly backing up and heading back to his car.
"Lance," Adam called out making Lance freeze in his place. Adam opened the closet door and pulled out the box of Lance's stuff that Keith left here to be given back to Lance and handed it to the boy. "Congratulations on your engagement," Adam said dryly before shutting the door and locking it.
"Yeah," Lance said softly, eyeing the plain silver ring on his finger. It was a gift from his fiancée's father, an early engagement gift to symbolize the coming marriage. It was publicly announced as well since the two companies were famous and the news of his engagement speared quickly. With a sigh, Lance placed the box of his stuff in his car and headed back home, his heart heavy.
As soon as Keith got back home with his mother and Kolivan, he headed upstairs to his room and closed the door behind him. His mother went to knock on his door but was stopped by Kolivan who shook his head softly.
"We should let him be, it was a lot to take in for him," Kolivan said motioning for Krolia to follow him.
"You're right," Krolia said with a sigh. "How about lunch?" Krolia asked heading towards the kitchen to start up some lunch.
Meanwhile, inside his bedroom, Keith was sitting on his bed with the pregnancy stick in hand. Dr. Amelia had let him take it home and he had shoved it in his coat pocket until he got home. The pink lines staring back at him, as if they were mocking him. Keith glared at the test for a minute more before tossing it on his bedside table before huffing and lying on his back on the bed.
Unconsciously, his hands moved down to his stomach where he could feel the small bulge that had seemed to form without him knowing it. He closed his eyes and started thinking about what to do.
An hour had passed before Keith emerged from his bedroom. He could hear his mother doing dishes in the kitchen and walked in. Krolia turned and a small smile formed on her face.
"How are you doing sweetheart?" Krolia asked to which Keith gave her a small, small smile.
"As well as I can be I guess," Keith said with a sigh. Krolia nodded and dried her hands with the hand towel on the counter beside her. She placed a hand on Keith's shoulder and smile.
"Whatever you decide, I'll be there for you."
"I know," Keith said with a smile.
"I saved some lunch for you, it's in the microwave," Krolia said as she went back to doing the dishes.
"Thanks," Keith said opening to microwave to find a grilled cheese and vegetable soup. Homemade, of course, his mother didn't trust soup from a can. As soon as he sat down at the kitchen table, his phone started ringing from his pocket.
"You might wanna answer that," Krolia said as she placed the plate she was washing into the dishrack. Keith stared at her for a few seconds before pulling his phone out and answering it.
"Hello?"
"Mom told us you went to the doctor today, how did it go? Are you okay?" Shiro asked, worry in his voice.
"I'm fine, it's not anything bad," Keith said with a sigh.
"Okay good, so I'm not planning a funeral."
"You worry too much, I'm fine."
"That's what I told him!" Adam yelled. Judging by the sound of running water, Keith guessed he was doing dishes.
"So what happened?" Shiro asked. Keith paused for a moment before sighing.
"I'm pregnant."
There was silence on the other end, even the water Adam had been running had stopped. His mother stopped what she was doing and turned to Keith, almost like she could tell there was a pause in their conversation. She walked over to the kitchen and sat down on one of the chairs, grabbing Keith's hand in her own.
"Is it Lance's?" Adam asked softly.
"Yeah," Keith said softly.
"I'm taking it Mom told you about grandpa and her great-grandpa?" Shiro asked.
"Yeah," Keith answered giving Krolia a small smile.
"So what's the plan?" Shiro asked, Krolia turned to Keith as she had heard Shiro's question. She wouldn't say it out loud, but she to was wondering what exactly Keith's plan was about the pregnancy.
"I'm keeping it," Keith answered.
"Are you sure?" Shiro asked. Keith chuckled softly as he heard a smack from their end. Judging by it, Adam must have smacked Shiro after his question.
"I'm sure, I've thought it through and I want to keep it," Keith said to which his mother smiled and squeezed his hand.
"Whatever you choose, know that we'll be with you," Adam said which made Keith smile.
"Shiro?"
"I'll always have your back Keith," Shiro said which caused tears to form in Keith's eyes.
"Sorry to cut this short but we have to get back to work, the lunch rush is starting and Shay and Allura just went on their break," Shiro said and Keith could practically see the frown on his face.
"Okay, good luck with that," Keith said with a smile as he wiped his eyes free of salt water.
"Bye," the couple said before hanging up. Keith placed his phone down on the table and let out a soft sigh.
"You okay?" Krolia asked to which Keith nodded.
"Yeah."
'Good, now eat up, you haven't eaten today," Krolia said heading back to finish the last of the dishes.
"Right," Keith said as he started eating.
A week passed since Keith went to the doctor's office and found out he was pregnant. His mother had changed her available times with her shifts so she could help Keith out as much as she could. Kolivan also helped out now and then, particularly for things that Keith felt bad for asking him to go and buy when his cravings hit.
Keith was just getting out of the shower when he heard the front door open and the sound of heels clicking against the wooden floor towards his mother's bedroom. Keith walked into his bedroom and got changed in a pair of loose black pants and a red t-shirt, tossing on a plaid cardigan on his way out.
As he exited his bedroom, his mother also came out of her bedroom. She had changed out of her work clothes and into a pair of dark blue jeans, a purple tank top, and a black cardigan.
"You're off work early," Keith said as his mother pulled her hair out of the ponytail it had been in all day.
"It was a slow day today, my manager sent me home," Krolia explained as she headed to the kitchen, Keith following after her.
"Sounds eventful," Keith commented with a smile.
"Very," Krolia joked back before opening the pantry door. "Hungry? Have you eaten yet?"
"Just some crackers this morning," Keith said sitting down on a chair at the table.
"How does soup sound?" Krolia asked digging around for the soup mixture she made last week.
"Soup sounds amazing right now," Keith said as his stomach growled.
"Is that the baby talking or you?"
"Bit of both."
"Oh," Krolia said as she found the soup mixture and went to fill a pot with water. "Before I forget, my co-worker's friend heard that you were looking for a job."
"You told her didn't you?"
"I might have mentioned it," Krolia said with a shrug of her shoulders. "I also may have mentioned that you can sing."
"Why?"
"She runs a bar and has been looking for another bartender and I told her you used to bartend for a few years," Krolia explained turning the stove on and placing the pot on the burner waiting for it to boil. "And slid in the fact that you can sing."
"And you think I should go for it," Keith said reading his mother's thoughts. "But what does me singing have to do with bartending?"
"Well, a few of her workers also sing and perform at the bar and she has been thinking of hiring another person to entertain the crowd," Krolia said turning to Keith, leaning against the counter. "She offered for us to go in tonight and see what it's all about and to meet you as well."
"Well, I guess it couldn't hurt to go," Keith said with a soft shrug of his shoulders.
"Only if you're up to it," Krolia said giving Keith a staredown. "We can always-"
"No, I'm up for it," Keith said with a smile. "I need to get out of the house anyway."
"Alright, I'll let her know."
A few hours later, Keith and his mother were standing outside the club. There was still about an hour until the club opened, but Krolia's co-worker's friend offered to let them in early. It was only a few moments before the black door opened.
"Krolia and Keith?" a girl around Keith's age asked. She had tanned skin, dark blue hair, and green eyes. She was dressed in a pair of black skinny jeans, a black shirt with loose sheer sleeves, black boots, and a silver chain belt around her waist.
"Yes," Krolia said with a nod.
"I figured, come on in, Nat's expecting you," the girl said opening the door wide to let them in before closing it behind them. As they walked into the club, a woman with blonde curly hair walked in from the kitchen.
"Krolia right?" she asked as she looked over at the mother and son duo.
"Yes, you must be Natasha?" Krolia asked with a nod.
"I am, but you can just call me Nat," Natasha said with a twirl and a smile. "Nadia, Ryan needs some help in the back.
"Gotcha," Nadia said with a wink before walking off.
"And you must be Keith," Natasha said turning to Keith who nodded.
"Yeah," Keith said which made Natasha smile.
"Perfect, can I get the two of you a drink?" Natasha said heading to the bar and digging around for glasses.
"I'll take a rum and coke," Krolia said pulling off her jacket and placing it on the bar counter, sitting on the red plush stool, Keith sitting beside her.
"What about you honey?" Natasha asked turning to Keith. "It's on me tonight."
"I, uh, I can't drink," Keith said shaking his head.
"Oh right," Natasha said slapping her forehead softly, the many gold loop bracelets on her wrist jingling as she did. "I forgot Christine told me, you're pregnant," Natasha said before she started mixing Krolia's drink. "Congratulations by the way."
"Thank you," Keith said with a nod. Placing a hand on his stomach unconsciously.
"Can I get you something else? Water? An iced tea? A Shirley Temple?" Natasha asked handing the rum and coke over to Krolia.
"I'll take an iced tea," Keith said to which Natasha smiled.
"Great choice."
An hour later, Natasha had excused herself from the conversation she was having between Krolia and Keith and headed towards the stage.
"Welcome everyone!" Natasha said with a smile. The crowd cheered as the lights dimmed and a spotlight was placed on Natasha. "I'm glad you could join me tonight, even though it's on a Monday, who goes out on a Monday night?"
"I do!" someone called from the crowd which made everyone burst into laughter.
"Fair enough," Natasha said with a smile. "We'll be starting the night off with one of my personal favourites, When I Kissed The Teacher," as Natasha got ready on stage, the crowd cheered and waited for it to start. Keith watched as the lights flashed and the music picked up.
"Everybody screamed
When I kissed the teacher
And they must have thought they dreamed
When I kissed the teacher"
Natasha seemed to glow on the stage. The spotlights causing her diamond necklace and earrings to shimmer and shine.
"All my friends at school
They had never seen the teacher blush
She looked like a fool
Nearly petrified
'Cause she was taken by surprise"
"So what do you think?" Nadia asked as she walked to the pair by the bar with a smile on her face, a tray full of glasses in her hands.
"She's a good singer," Keith commented as he watched Natasha walk into the crowd, a microphone in her hand.
"When I kissed the teacher
Couldn't quite believe her eyes
When I kissed the teacher
My whole class went wild
As I held my breath, the world stood still
But then she just smiled (smiled)
I was in the seventh heaven
When I kissed the teacher"
The crowd cheered as Natasha climbed back onto the stage and started a dance routine with the backup singers.
"What a mad day (Ah, ah, ah)
Now I see everything
In a different light
What a mad day
I was up in the air
And she taught me a lesson alright"
"She definitely knows how to keep the ground engaged," Krolia said as she watched Natasha go into the crowd again.
"I was in a trance
When I kissed the teacher
Suddenly I took the chance
When I kissed the teacher
Leaning over me
She was trying to explain the laws of geometry
And I couldn't help it
I just had to kiss the teacher"
"Yeah," Nadia said with a nod. "Nat just naturally attracts people to her."
"Is that why the bar is always so busy?" Krolia teased with a smile.
"Probably," Nadia joked with a chuckle.
"What a mad day
Now I see everything
In a different light
What a mad day
I was up in the air
And she taught me a lesson alright"
The crowd seemed to love her. At least, that's what Keith could gather from the men staring at her with eyes that seemed to wander up and down. She even had some women staring at her, whether it was envy or lust, Keith didn't know.
"What a crazy day
When I kissed the teacher
All my sense had flown away
When I kissed the teacher
My whole class went wild
As I held my breath
The world stood still
But then she just smiled
I was in the seventh heaven
When I kissed the teacher"
Keith smiled softly remembering the time he, Allura, and Shay were singing in his apartment before he left
"(I wanna hug, hug, hug him)
When I kissed the teacher
(I wanna hug, hug him)
When I kissed the teacher
(I wanna hug, hug, hug him)
When I kissed the teacher
(I wanna hug, hug him)
When I kissed the teacher"
As the song ended, the crowd cheered and Natasha took a bow, huffing her hair out of her face.
"Thank you, folks, I'm gonna turn the mic over to Viv here," Natasha said handing the mic over to a girl with dark brown hair and headed back over to the bar as a more tame song started.
"You have a wonderful voice Nat," Krolia said as Natasha leaned her hip against the bar with a smile on her face.
"Thank you, I took lessons as a child growing up," Natasha said downing a shot Nadia handed her. "Now you," Natasha said turning to Keith. "Are who I want to hear sing."
"Now?" Keith asked glancing around at the crowd.
"Oh honey no, we can schedule a day for you to come in when the bar is closed," Natasha said with a smile. "It will just be me, and maybe Viv."
"Okay," Keith said with a nod. He may be comfortable in a crowd of his friends, but a crowd of strangers was a different story.
"I'll have Nadia give your mother my number and we can set something up," Natasha said to which Keith nodded "If you'll excuse me, I need to go check on something in my office."
Song(s) Used:
When I Kissed The Teacher
Sung originally by ABBA, 1976
Covered by Lily James, Alexa Davies, and Jessica Keenan Wynn in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, 2018
