Hello Everybody. Ronan brings Kathy to his family and Allura asks him, if she could help him and Acxa with their problems. I wish all of you a lot of fun with this new chapter.

Negotiation

"Honey Loops!"

"Fruit Loops!"

"No, Honey Loops!"

Allura couldn't believe it. She was sitting between Lance and Christina. Both were leaning over the Altean's tablet and were facing each other with most serious faces. And both didn't care, that this behavior kept the woman away from her own breakfast. Lance had mentioned, that Fruit Loops were the best start for a day, but Christina instantly disagreed and had declared, that Honey Loops were the best. The discussion had quickly become hotter and now both sides were almost pressing their noses against each other.

Allura took a helpless look around the great table. Freyda was busy feeding Tjaàl together with Jessy. The Galra was holding the baby on her lap and Jessy was feeding him with porridge. Both seemed to take an extra care to look very busy, but Allura noticed the amused giggles and she was absolutely sure, that Tjaàl's wiggling and healthy appetite wasn't the only reason for it.

Sam and Clarissa didn't took notice of the situation. They were sitting together with Hunk and Pidge. The Paladin must have stood up very early in the morning, because it was a self made breakfast for the two kids. Lance had told her yesterday, that Hunk had invited both kids and Pidge had eavesdropped on it and simply had invited herself, too. Also the porridge for Tjaàl was from Hunk. The big man seemed to have grown bigger, when Freyda had offered him the honor to feed the first spoon for Tjaàl. The fact, that the baby had instantly demanded to get more of it, even before he had finished the first mouthful, had cast a bright smile on Hunk's face. The four were now busy with talking and eating and didn't care about Allura's situation.

Keith and Shiro also weren't a help. They had taken seat with Kroila on another table. Allura had noticed, that a somber mood was resting on Keith and his mother. She hadn't talked with them, since Kroila had arrived, but she was sure, that Acxa's situation was the reason. And due to Shiro's look, she assumed, that mother and son didn't have shared any information with him.

"Fruit Loops! You don't have any clue, if you really think Honey Loops could be better!"

Allura nearly felt of the bank, as Lance slided closer to Christina. The shove, she had received from him by doing so, pushed her against the girl and made both stumble on the bank. But it seems, that Christina didn't care, she only made an angry face, arguing even louder, that the only person, who haven't had a clue would be Lance. The Altean's patience started to run low. She recognized Patrick pensively facing his breakfast with an embarrassed look on his face. But the boy watched at his sister from the corner of his eyes from time to time. His lips formed a begging 'Sorry', as he recognized the slightly annoyed face from the Altean. She gave him a warm smile, only to change to an angry look, as the girl shoved her back, by mimicking Lance's action. That did it. Allura's eyelid started to jerk in anger. She took a deep breath and placed her hands on the shoulders of Lance and Christina and with a forceful push, she separated them the get her free space back. She stood up, while she did so, her arms remained spread, when she was on her feet.

"Enough!"

Both looked with widened eyes of surprise at the really annoyed face of the Altean, who shared looks with the Paladin and the girl. The serious warning in her voice and in her eyes couldn't be missed.

"It is a breakfast and not an intergalactic treaty! Lance prefers Fruit Loops, Christina Honey Loops! Get along with it! And if not mix them, if necessary, but stop squeezing me to death and let me finish my breakfast in peace!"

The whole canteen had felt silence at Allura's outburst. And this fact starts to reach slowly her mind, as she finally recognized all eyes on her. Only the muttering sound of Tjaàl, who demanded more porridge, was to be heard. Allura blinked in surprise of her own outburst. She tugged on her suit to correct its fit and took place again with most dignity and continued her breakfast like nothing had happened. She ignored the suppressed chuckle from Freyda and Jessy, but she still felt the surprised looks from Christina and Lance. Suddenly both leaned over her tablet again, but only to give the other a spoonful of their favorite loops in their bowls. Allura observed them mixing the loops and both tried the combination. And suddenly their faces lightened up. They beamed at Allura and Lance hugged her from aside, placing a thankful kiss on her cheek.

"And that's why she is the diplomat in the team. She always have the best ideas."

Allura blushed, but she smiled warm at him and both hugged each other, while the Altean rested her head on Lance's shoulder.

"Best ideas for what?"

The question made them turn around. Ronan has entered the canteen and was walking with Kathy on his arm over to Jessy and Freyda. He placed the child between Freyda and Jessy, giving the Galra and the baby a kiss and pulling the teenager in a little hug. Also Kathy shared kisses with the three, while Ronan walked around to give the other kids a warm hug and a gentle kiss on the head to greet them.

"For the best start for the day."

Christina's eyes had a warm shine, as she explained Ronan the discussion, she and Lance have had before and Allura's solution. The Altean recognized the warm chuckle of the man and she nodded with a smile at him. To see him smiling was lifting her mood. It gave her hope for the troubled situation, he and Acxa seemed to have. He placed a hand on Christina's shoulder and smiled.

"But none of them are a healthy start in the day."

Christina chuckled and squeezed his hand.

"I know, but this wasn't the point. It was about the best start and not the healthiest."

An almost impish grin was on her face and to Allura's surprise it was mirrored by the man.

"Well in that case, both of you are still wrong." He looked over to Lance, who had raised his eyebrow in surprise. "Choco Shells are the best."

The Altean took a sharp breath. But no new discussion started. Chistina and Lance only looked at each other for some seconds. Then suddenly both stood up with their bowls in hands to get some Choco Shells, too, for the perfect mix, followed by a warm chuckle of the rest of the table.

Ronan shared a warm smile with Freyda. But Allura suddenly recognized a changing in the face of the Galra. Her smile had slightly faded a bit and her yellow orbs had narrowed a bit. Jessy and Kathy didn't have recognized it. The teenager had handed the spoon to Kathy and the little girl was now busy feeding Tjaàl with a warm smile. The man nodded at the Galra and was about to leave the canteen again.

"You don't stay with us for breakfast?"

Allura's question made Jessy look up. Ronan turned to the Altean and his face was serious.

"I had breakfast earlier this day. And I have urgent matters waiting in the quarter."

Allura's face got worried. She had heard Jessy holding her breath. Ronan's eye kept lock with the Altean but his voice became softer.

"Don't worry. The General came to me to talk, like I had demanded. And that's what we'll do now."

Allura's worries didn't vanished.

"Could I do anything to help? I know, this is most private, of cause, but should I come with you?"

The eye of the man widened in surprise. But his look softened. Allura noticed the pensive looks of Freyda and Jessy resting on him. She also noticed Shiro, Keith and Kroila observing the situation. Ronan shook his head, but a thankful smile was on his lips.

"Even you care for the General."

Allura's face showed a total lack of understanding. It made the man almost chuckle again. To her surprise, he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Thank you, but this something between the General and myself." He squeezed her shoulder thankfully. "The fact, that you care, is help enough."

He looked up and felt the eyes of the Paladins, the kids and of Freyda resting on him. His eye became a wet glitter and he looked up to the ceiling, staring a hole in it, while a painful flicker rushed over his face.

"The fact, that all of you cares helps."

He faced her again and removed his hand from her shoulder. He shared a final look with Freyda, who nodded at him before he bowed short before the Altean.

"It doesn't make it easier, but it helps." He hesitated a second but a vivid sparkle lighted up in his eye. "Me and Acxa."

He left the canteen after he had received a worried nod from Allura. The woman looked up and recognized the surprised face of Jessy and the pensive look of the Galra following the man. And suddenly here own eyes widened in surprise. Freyda instantly faced her look and both observed each other for a while until a supportive nod from the Galra made her smile a little. There was hope. For both.