Later on, Shiro had invited Keith to have brunch with him. Allura had once again dressed Keith in an outfit she had picked out. Keith was dressed in a pair of black pants, a grey undershirt, a red shirt with slightly puffed sleeves, and dark brown boots.

Keith smiled as sugar and milk was poured into his bowl. He wasn't quite sure what the meal was entirely, but when he took a bite with his spoon, he found the flavour quite tasty. Keith looked up to Shiro and let out a small gasp of surprise when he saw Shiro gobbling away at his bowl.

Hunk and Colleen winced as Shiro froze and glanced towards Keith who turned his head away as if trying to ignore it. Shiro frowned and wiped his face with a napkin that Pidge nudged his way. Matt pushed the spoon to Shiro who stared at it for a few moments, before taking it in his giant paw and attempting to eat with it.

Keith winced seeing Shiro fail at eating with the spoon. Keith placed his spoon down and picked up his bowl in his hands gently. Shiro smiled and lifted his bowl as well. The pair raised their bowls in a toast and continued to eat the rest of their meal.

After brunch, Shiro and Keith headed outside. Keith had pulled on a dark purple cloak with white fur on the hood and on the edge of the cloak. Shiro had also pulled on a similar cloak, but without the fur. Shiro watched as Keith pulled bread crumbs out of a small brown paper bag and tossed them to the birds.

Keith could see Shiro wanted to try to feed the birds as well, he took some of the bread crumbs and placed some in Shiro's paws.

"There's something sweet

And almost kind

But he was mean, and he was coarse and unrefined

And now he's dear and so unsure

I wonder why I didn't see it there before"

Keith watched with a smile as Shiro bent down and held his paws out for the birds to take some of the crumbs. Though, the birds were too scared and kept flying or hopping away. Keith shook his head with a soft chuckle as Shiro continued to approach the scared birds.

Keith placed the rest of the crumbs into Shiro's paws and shoved the bag into his pant pocket. Keith then grabbed some of the crumbs and spread the crumbs towards the bird, leaving a trail behind that lead to the paws.

Eventually, the bird followed the trail and started eating the crumbs in Shiro's paws. Shiro smiled and Keith returned an equally excited smile as more birds approached.

"He glanced this way

I thought I saw

And when we touched he didn't shudder at my paw"

Keith held out his hand and a red bird landed on his finger. Shiro watched as Keith walked away to place the bird back in the nearby tree.

"No it can't be

I'll just ignore

But then he's never looked at me that way before"

Keith turned back to Shiro with a smile as the other went back to feeding the birds. Keith ducked behind the tree and pulled his hood off, brushing away his bangs from his eyes. He couldn't help but feel a small bit of doubt in him, despite all that Shiro has done to change.

"New and a bit alarming

Who'd have ever thought that this could be?

True that he's no Prince Charming

But there's something in him that I simply didn't see"

Keith turned back and couldn't help but smile and laugh as he saw Shiro was now covered in birds, despite not having any bread crumbs left. Keith bent down and began to build a small snowball, and as Shiro was distracted by the birds flying away, tossed the snowball and hit Shiro in the face.

Keith laughed and Shiro gave him an evil smile before bending down and beginning to make an even bigger snowball than the one Keith made.

"Well, who'd have thought?" Lance asked with a smile as the group watched from the window.

"Well, bless my soul" Colleen said with a smile as Keith tossed another snowball at Shiro causing him to fall down and his giant snowball to fall on himself.

"Well, who'd have known?" Kolivan asked as Shiro chased Keith around the tree.

"Well, who indeed?" Hunk asked with a huge smiled on his face.

"And who'd have guessed they'd come together on their own?" Lance said as Keith tossed another snowball at Shiro.

"It's so peculiar" Hunk and Colleen said in unison. Pidge rolling her eyes and watching as Shiro and Keith decided to head inside to warm up.

"We'll wait and see a few days more

There may be something there that wasn't there before"

Shiro took Keith's cloak and hung it up while Keith grabbed a book and sat in front of the fireplace. Shiro joining him once the cloaks were hung up. The servants watching from the doorway.

"Yes, perhaps there's something there that wasn't there before," Kolivan said as he turned to a very confused Matt.

"What?" Matt asked in confusion.

"There may be something there that wasn't there before," Pidge said with a roll of her eyes.

"What's there, mama?" Matt asked Colleen who just smiled at her son.

"I'll tell you when you're older," Colleen replied with a smile as the group walked away.

"But I am older!" Matt said as he followed after his mother.

That evening, Shiro had been tossed into a tub of hot sudsy water and was now currently being scrubbed clean by the coat hanger.

"Tonight is the night!" Lance said with a smile as he climbed onto the stool beside the tub.

"I'm not sure I can do this," Shiro said as the coat hanger dumped a bucket of hot water on him to get the soap away.

"You don't have time to be timid," Lance said as he pointed to the rose with a serious look on his face. "You must be bold, daring."

"Bold. Daring," Shiro said as he shook himself and ended up soaking the floor and blowing out Lance's candles.

"There will be music, romantic candlelight, provided by myself of course," Lance said as he relit his candles and hopped over to the vanity where Shiro was being dried off with a towel. "And when the time is right, you confess your love."

"Yes, I - I con-No, I can't," Shiro said with a sigh and a shake of his head.

"You care for the guy, don't you?" Lance asked as the coat hanger was trimming and grooming Shiro's fur around his face and head.

"More than anything," Shiro said with a soft smile.

"Well then you must tell him," Lance said as the coat hanger finally finished. "Voila. You look so...so."

"Stupid," Shiro said with a glare at his reflection. His fur had been tied up in a way that both him and Lance did not like at all, plus there was one too many bows.

"Not quite the word I was looking for," Lance said with a small forced smile. "Perhaps a little more off the top," Lance suggested as he turned to the coat hanger who began to work once more, just as Kolivan walked in.

"Your guest awaits."

As the door to the right side of the stairs opened, Keith emerged and began to walk down the stairs. Allura had dressed him in a pair of black pants, dark brown boots, a white blouse with long sleeves, and a red blazer coat with gold lining on the edge of the sleeves and gold epaulets on the shoulder. His hair was tied into a low ponytail with a small purple bow.

Shiro stood at the top of the stairs and was almost second-guessing himself. Shiro was dressed in a pair of black pants, a beige blouse, a dark purple vest, and a black coat with silver lining. Lance rolled his eyes and motioned for him to head down to where Keith was waiting. Shiro cleared his throat and headed down, the pair sharing a smile. Shiro bowed and offered a hand to Keith who smiled and grasped his hand.

(Authors' Note:

Word=Colleen

Word=Hunk

Word=Both)

"Tale as old as time

True as it can be"

Colleen, Hunk, Pidge, and Matt all watched from the cart as Keith and Shiro began to descend down the stairs.

"Barely even friends

Then somebody bends

Unexpectedly"

Black barked and ran up, running around Keith and Shiro's legs as the two reached the bottom. Keith and Shiro(and the others) followed after Kolivan to the dining room where dinner would be served.

"Just a little change

Small to say the least"

Lance stood in front of Shiro on the table watching with a smile as Shiro finally got the hang of eating with a spoon.

"Both a little scared

Neither one prepared

Keith and the Beast"

Keith got out of his seat and pulled Shiro out of his chair. Shiro was confused at first, but upon hearing the violin and singing by Hunk and Colleen, got the idea and led Keith to the ballroom. Shiro, not knowing how to dance, allowed Keith to place them in the proper position.

"Ever just the same

Ever a surprise"

Keith slowly started to start to dance, Shiro following along. The group(minus Allura and Romelle) watched with smiles as the did.

"Ever as before

Ever just as sure

As the sun will rise"

Shiro smiled as he started to get the hang of the dance. Keith was surprised at first when Shiro started to take the lead, but smiled and went along with it, knowing it made Shiro happy.

"Tale as old as time

Tune as old as song

Bittersweet and strange

Finding you can change

Learning you were wrong"

Lance mentioned to the candles on the chandelier to slowly dim themselves, the room glowing a soft golden orange and the moon shining through the balcony doors.

"Certain as the sun

Rising in the east

Tale as old as time

Song as old as rhyme

Keith and the Beast"

Shiro and Keith slowed their dance to a stop and bowed with smiles on their faces. The balcony doors opened and Shiro led Keith outside as the candles dimmed to darkness.

"Tale as old as time

Song as old as rhyme

Keith and the Beast"

"Off to the cupboard with you now, Matt," Colleen said as Matt yawned. "It's past your bedtime, you as well Pidge," Colleen commented as she saw Pidge try to stifle a yawn. "Good night, loves," Colleen said as she placed a gentle kiss on both of their cheeks and sharing the siblings off to the kitchen.

The night was beautiful, the stars were shining, the moon was bright in the sky, and there was not a cloud in sight. Shiro led Keith onto the balcony and the pair sat down on the stone bench that sat in front of the balcony.

"Keith?" Shiro called out grabbing the boys attention. "Are you happy here with me?" Shiro asked softly.

"Yes," Keith answered with a smile. Though that smile soon faded and Keith stared into the distance with a frown.

"What is it?" Shiro asked in concern.

"If only I could see my uncle again," Keith said as he turned back to Shiro. "If just for a moment. I miss him so much," Shiro sighed softly and his face showed disappointment.

"There is a way," Shiro said with a smile and he led Keith back to his lair.

"This mirror will show you anything, anything you wish to see," Shiro said as he passed the silver mirror to Keith.

"I'd like to see my uncle, please," Keith said hesitantly as he stared back into the mirror. The mirror glowed green and Keith winced at the bright light. Keith stared into the mirror and his eyes widened seeing Coran crawling on the ground, coughing. "Uncle Coran. Oh, no."

"What is it?" Shiro asked seeing Keith's concerned face.

"He's sick, he may be dying. And he's all alone," Shiro turned back to the rose as the mirror image faded. Keith watched as Shiro seemed to be in deep thought.

"Then...then you must go to him," Shiro said, pain in his words.

"What did you say?" Keith asked in surprise.

"I release you. You are no longer my prisoner," Shiro answered, his heart hurting with each word spoken.

"You mean...I'm free?" Keith asked in amazement.

"Yes."

"Oh, thank you," Keith said as he turned to the doorway. "Hold on, uncle. I'm on my way," Keith froze and turned back to Shiro to hand him back the mirror.

"Take it with you, so you'll always have a way to look back, and remember me," Shiro said as he pulled the bow from Keith's hair and ran his paw through it with a pained smile.

"Thank you for understanding how much he needs me," Keith said as he gave Shiro one last smile and headed off to his room to change.

"Well, your highness. I must say everything is going just peachy. I knew you had it in you," Kolivan said as he entered just as Keith was exiting.

"I let him go," Shiro said with a sigh.

"Ha ha ha, yes. Splend-" Kolivan's eyes widened as he realized what Shiro just said. "You what? How could you do that?"

"I had to," Shiro replied.

"Yes, but why?" Kolivan asked in amazement.

"Because I love him."

"He did what?!" Hunk, Colleen, Matt, Pidge, Romelle, Allura, and Lance exclaimed as Kolivan told them.

"Yes, I'm afraid it's true," Kolivan said with a sad sigh.

"He's going away?" Matt asked with a frown.

"But he was so close," Lance said with a sigh.

"After all this time, he's finally learned to love," Colleen said with a frown.

"That's it, then. That should break the spell," Lance said with a smile.

"But it's not enough. He has to love him in return," Hunk said with a shake of his head. With everyone distracted, Matt took this opportunity to step away from the group, a plan in his head.

"And now it's too late," Kolivan said with a frown.

Keith climbed on top of Red and raced away from the castle, beginning his search for his uncle. Red also keeping a lookout.

"Uncle Coran?" Keith called out as he slowed Red to a stop. Red motioned to his left and Keith let out a gasp as he saw his uncle lying in the snow. Keith climbed off and pulled his uncle onto the back of Red.

Once they returned home, Coran had woken up and walked up the stairs as best he could with Keith's help.

"Oh, they're back," Varkon said as he jumped out of the snowbank and ran off to find Lotor.

"Keith?" Coran asked softly as his eyes started to open and his vision cleared up.

"It's alright, Uncle. I'm home," Keith said with a soft smile as he wiped his uncle's forehead with a cool cloth to bring his fever down.

"I thought I'd never see you again," Coran said with a smile as he sat up and drew his nephew into a tight hug.

"I missed you so much," Keith said with a smile as he helped Coran get situated with the pillows.

"But the beast. How did you escape?" Coran asked in curiosity.

"I didn't escape, Uncle," Keith said with a shake of his head. "He let me go."

"That horrible beast?"

"But he's different, now. He's changed somehow."

Keith and Coran turned as they heard rustling from Keith's pack that he brought with him. The pack fell over and out spilled the mirror and Matt.

"Hi!" Matt said as he bounced up to Coran and Keith.

"Oh, a stowaway," Keith said giving Matt a smile.

"Why, hello there, little fella. Didn't think I'd ever see you again," Coran said with a smile as he remembered Matt from the castle.

"Keith, why'd you go away? Don't you like us anymore" Matt asked as he turned to Keith.

"Oh, Matt. Of course I do. It's just that-" Keith was interrupted by the sound of knocking at the front door.

"Who is that?" Matt asked as Keith shrugged his shoulders and headed to the front door.

"May I help you?" Keith asked in confusion as he opened the door to reveal the asylum doctor, Zarkon.

"I've come to collect your uncle," Zarkon said with a blank expression on.

"My uncle?" Keith asked confused.

"Don't worry, we'll take good care of him," Zarkon replied as he stepped aside to reveal the asylum's carriage. A large crowd gathered around it, torches in their hands.

"My uncle's not crazy," Keith said with a harsh glare towards Zarkon.

"He was raving like a lunatic. We all heard him, didn't we!" Varkon exclaimed as he emerged from the crowd. The villagers agreeing with him.

"No, I won't let you," Keith said with a glare as some of Zarkon's assistants stepped out of the wagon.

"Keith?" Coran asked in confusion as he peeked outside.

"Ah, Coran. Tell us again, old man, just how big was the beast?" Varkon asked with a smile, knowing the man couldn't resist.

"Well, he was...that is...enormous. I'd say at least eight, no more like ten feet," Keith shook his head and went to pull his uncle back into the house, he was safer inside than outside at the moment.

"Well, you don't get much crazier than that," Varkon exclaimed was the crowd began to laugh.

"It's true, I tell you!" Coran exclaimed as he stepped away from Keith and towards the crowd.

"Take him away!" Zarkon ordered as he assistants moved in and dragged Coran towards the wagon.

"Let go of me!" Coran exclaimed as he tried to free his arms.

"No, you can't do this!" Keith said as he grabbed and held onto Zarkon's arm. Zarkon rolled his eyes and pulled his arm free, heading over to the wagon.

"Poor Kith. It's a shame about your uncle," Lotor said as he wrapped an arm around Keith's waist.

"You know he's not crazy, Lotor," Keith said with a frown.

"I might be able to clear up this little misunderstanding, if…"

"If what?" Keith asked with a soft annoyance.

"If you marry me."

"What?" Keith asked angrily.

"One little word, Keith. That's all it takes," Lotor said as he pulled Keith closer to him.

"Never!" Keith exclaimed as he pushed Lotor away from him.

"Have it your way," Lotor said as he walked away.

"Let go of me!" Coran yelled as he was tossed into the wagon. Keith quickly ran into the house, an idea popping into his head.

"My uncle's not crazy and I can prove it!" Keith called out as he ran back out, mirror in hand. Lotor and the villagers turning to him in surprise.