For the first time in a few days, Keith actually felt relaxed when he woke up the next morning. Yesterday, had been good. He never felt so relieved to tell a secret in his whole life. His chat with Thace after he had told the others had been brief. The Galran expressed he was happy for Keith, and then after a couple moments of awkward silence, Keith excused himself claiming he had to help Coran clean the pods.

It was a lie, but Keith wasn't sure how else to leave. He lazily draped an arm over his forehead as he stared up at his bedroom ceiling. So, everyone knows? What do I do now?

He still wasn't certain what he thought of Tha…err…his father and Lance did bring up a good question. Did he want him to return to the rebels? In some ways it would be easier, Keith wouldn't have to see him and feel weird on a daily basis.

Yet, after all those years of wondering who his father was, could Keith just let him go like that? Keith brushed the thoughts aside as he got dressed and headed to the kitchen.

Think later, breakfast first.

Keith suppressed a yawn as he entered and wasn't surprised to see Hunk cooking, while Pidge typed at her laptop with the mice on her shoulders and Lance sat at the table sipping tea.

Hunk looked up and gave a wave as he flipped a pancake. "Morning and good timing, pancakes are almost ready," he said.

"About time," Lance muttered as he slumped over the table. "I'm starving here. Feels like I've been waiting forever."

Pidge snorted as the mice climbed back to the floor. "You only got in here five minutes ago."

"Five minutes can feel like an eternity when you're deprived of food," Lance retorted.

Keith debated where he should sit. He hadn't talked to either of them much since the meeting yesterday. I know Lance and Hunk said they were fine with it, he thought, but they could have just been saying that to spare my feelings.

Lance glanced over and raised an eyebrow. "You going to stand there all day?" he said and pointed to the chair across from him. "Sit down already."

Keith blinked, but gave a quick nod as he sat down and poured himself some tea.

"So, did you do any father-son bonding with Thace, yesterday?" Lance asked as he leaned back in his chair.

Keith ceased his pouring as he tilted his head in confusion. "What? No, why would I do that?"

Lance tucked his hands behind his head. "Um, because he's your dad?" he replied in an obvious tone. "Don't you two have a lot of catching up to do?"

Keith blushed slightly as he folded his arms. "He maybe my dad, but I barely know him."

"And he just learned he's his father like a few days ago," Pidge retorted as she shut the lid of her laptop. "It's not something you can just jump into."

Lance shrugged. "Yeah, but it's not like Keith is going to get to know him any better if they don't spend time together."

Keith narrowed his eyes as he leaned on his hands. "Why are you so concerned?"

Lance shut his eyes in thoughts. "I would love it if I could spend time with my dad," he said as he traced the edge of his cup. "So, if I can't, figured might as well make sure you do."

Keith went silent, and he noted so did Hunk and Pidge. It was no secret that Lance missed his family like crazy, and it suddenly made Keith feel like an idiot. Here he was avoiding his dad, while Lance would give anything to see his.

"You..jealous?" Keith asked, meekly.

Lance looked at him as Hunk gathered up the pancakes. "I am little, not going to lie," he said, "but, it's not your fault…At least for this."

"Sorry," Keith muttered as Hunk divided up the pancakes onto plates.

Lance sighed as he rubbed his eyes. "Dude, you don't have to be sorry," he grumbled. "I'm just making a point that you're not going to get to know Thace any better if you don't talk to the guy."

Keith pouted as he fiddled with his gloves. "You make it sound so easy."

"Lance, leave it be," Hunk said as he set a jar of syrup on the table. "Keith just has to go at his own pace."

Lance looked skeptic, but then tossed his hands up in the air. "Fine, fine," he said as he took a plate. "But I still stand by my statement."

Keith chewed his bottom lip. "Speaking of which," Keith asked as he looked to each of them. "Are you guys really okay?"

Pidge, Hunk and Lance all glanced up with confused expressions. "Okay, with that?" Hunk asked as he placed his plate on the table.

"Me being part Galra," Keith replied.

Pidge frowned. "Uh, yeah, I thought we made that clear yesterday."

"I know," Keith said as he rubbed his neck, "but I just want to make sure you weren't trying to hurt my feelings or anything. I just want to make certain you're honest with me."

Lance gave him a hard look as he folded his arms. "Keith, there are a lot of things I could hate about you," he said as he began to count on his fingers, "your mullet, your stubbornness, your hot headedness, your fashion choice, and your severe lack of skin care." He pointed his fingers at him. "You being part Galra is not one of them, got it?"

"Really?" Keith asked.

"Yes, and I'll say it as many times as needed until it goes into that thick skull of yours," Lance replied.

"Yeah, like Lance said," Hunk replied. "You're Keith and that's all we care about." He scratched his neck. "Although, I am still wondering if you're going to turn purple."

Keith tiled his head and looked to Pidge for an explanation. "Purple?"

"Don't ask," Pidge said as she patted Keith's shoulder and the mice climbed down to the floor. "Look, you just have to know we're your friends and you got nothing to worry from us."

Keith gave a small smile. "Thanks," he said. "I know it was dumb to ask again, but I just had to make certain."

Hunk sighed as he marched over. "Right, okay," he stated firmly as wrapped his arms around him. "You need a group hug."

Keith flinched and blush a bit. "No..I'm fine."

"Nope, vetoed," Lance declared as he and Pidge both joined in. "Group hug is totally needed here, no argument."

Keith narrowed his eyes as he tried to turn to him but found it difficult with all the hugging. "Since when do you have the power to veto?"

"Since always," Lance said with a smirk.

Keith raised an eyebrow, but he felt a tug on his pants before he could respond. He glanced down and saw the mice hugging his ankles.

"Aw, look the mice want in on it too," Hunk said with a pleased smile.

Ketih shook his head and gave up as he returned the gesture. "Thanks," he muttered.

"…Did I arrive at a bad time?"

All heads turned to see Thace standing in the doorway, and caused Keith to blush even more.

"My apologies, I did not mean to interrupt," Thace stated as he looked at the teens and looked ready to step back out.

"Naw, it's cool, we're just about done here," Hunk said hastily and reached for a plate to pass over. "You want some breakfast?"

"Yes, but I'll just collect it and eat in my room," Thace said as he caught a glance with Keith. "I won't be in your way."

Keith opened and shut his mouth. He was tempted to suggest Thace eat with them. It seemed silly for him to hide out in his room since everyone knew he was his father.

Although, that could put everyone else on edge, Keith thought. I probably shouldn't. However, he then noticed Lance was staring at him with a thoughtful look.

Uh oh, he's plotting, Keith thought. Better stop him.

Too late. Lance forged ahead and approached Thace. "Why don't you eat with us?" he asked and shrugged. "It's not like we're total strangers."

Thace placed a hand on the doorframe as he froze as he stole a glance to Keith. "If you want me to I will."

Keith opened his mouth and found himself giving a nod. "Yeah..um, that's fine."

Thace rotated his shoulders and took a breath. "Alright, then," he said as he went sit at the table. Silence fell upon the table as everyone began to eat. On a regular day, Keith would have enjoyed it, peace and quiet was such a rare event these days, but instead it was just becoming more agonizing with each passing second.

It was for that reason alone Keith never felt such relief when Allura entered the kitchen. She paused as she saw the scene before her and frowned. "Oh, Thace, um..good morning."

Thace gave a nod, and Keith feared the uncomfortable silence would return, but that was when Hunk jumped in.

"I saved some pancakes for you, Allura," Hunk said as he pointed to the plate where the mice were nibbling.

"Thank you, Hunk," Allura said as she gave an awkward nod to the group and went to sit down. "I'm..glad to see you're also joining us, Thace."

The Galra gave a small nod. "Um..yes, it was..appropriate."

Allura gave a smile and diverted her attention to her breakfast. The dreaded quietness resumed its' grip on the group.

Keith twitched slightly. He had been hopeful Allura's presence would change the atmosphere, but he cringed as they began to sat in utter silence again.

This is going to drive me crazy, Keith thought. He leaned over to Lance and poked him.

"This was your suggestion," he whispered with a growl. "So, do something."

Lance raised an eyebrow, grasped his chin in thought and then snapped his fingers.

"Sssooo, Thace," Lance said with a curious tone. "Can I ask you a question?"

Thace raised an eyebrow. "I suppose. What is it?"

Lance grinned a bit and Keith cringed slightly. Uh oh, I may have regrets, he thought.

"So, how exactly did you meet Keith's mom?" Lance asked as he pointed his spork at him.

Keith rolled his eyes as shook his head. Really?! "He crashed landed on Earth, I thought we went over this?"

"No, no, I know THAT," Lance said as he turned his attention back to Thace. "But I mean, how EXACTLY did you meet her? Did you crash into her vegetable garden? You saved her from a gang of thugs? You met at a club and you asked her out? How did you two end up dating?"

"Lance, that is a rather personal question," Allura hissed softly.

"What, I'm honestly curious?" Lance retorted. "It's the romantic in me, Princess."

Keith mulled it over in his head, and realized he didn't know either. He chewed his bottom lip softly as he meekly raised a hand.

"Um..actually, you never told me that either," he admitted.

Thace's eyes met with Keith's as he tapped the table with his fingers. "Very well," he began as all eyes in the room were suddenly glued to him.

"It wasn't anything spectacular I assure you," he began. "Amy owned a small house out in the desert and I had the fortune of crash landing in her literal backyard."

"Ooooh, this should be good," Lance whispered, but went quiet as Allura shot him a look.

"I came out to examine the damage to my ship, and I didn't hear her approach me from behind," Thace continued as he tried to only look at Keith.

"So, what?" Hunk said as cut into his pancake. "You turned around and said 'hi'?"

"Not..quite," Thace said as he rotated his shoulders. "That was when she hit me with her shovel…and knocked me out. When I awoke I found myself tied up with Amy holding the shovel to my face, and informed me if I did 'anything funny' I wouldn't live to see sunrise."

Everyone was silent, including Keith who tried to picture the scene in his head.

After a moment, Pidge gave an impressed whistle as she gave a thumbs up. "Go, Keith's mom."

Lance sighed as he leaned against his hand. "Huh, so that's who Keith gets his personality from."

"Hey," Keith said as he shot him a murderous look and then rubbed his eyes. "But is that seriously what happened? I can't see Mom doing that." He tried to picture his smiling mother in his head. "She was always so sweet and gentle."

"To YOU she was sweet and gentle," Thace said as he narrowed his eye, "but I assure you, Amy was not a woman you wanted to pick a fight with."

He gave a sigh as he leaned back in his chair. "You have no idea how long it took to convince her I wasn't going to eat her."

"She sounds like she was very brave," Allura added quickly. "It takes a lot of courage to confront a stranger in your home like that."

"She was a very brave woman," Thace said quietly as he glanced to Keith. "Something that's clearly been passed down to you."

Keith blushed and overtly turned his gaze away to focus on his breakfast.

Pidge gave a small grin as she looked to Thace. "What was Keith like as a baby?"

Keith paused. Uh, oh, he thought, this can't end well for me.

Thace gave a rather nostalgic smile. "He was early, so he was small for his age," he said. "He was also very loud…and a climber. Keith nearly gave his mother and I a heart attack when he tried to climb a bookshelf."

Hunk chuckled. "Okay, yeah that does sound like Keith."

Keith gave a pout as the others nodded in agreement. "How did this conversation turn into me?"

"Because it's fun," Lance said as he held his cup of tea to his lips. "With that said, I'm betting you had a mullet as a baby too."

"What is your problem with my mullet?" Keith asked with a huff.

"Now, now, don't argue," Allura said as he raised her hand. "Keith you shouldn't be embarrassed. We all have those kinds of stories as infants." She gave a small smile. "I know Coran has some good ones about me."

Keith nodded reluctantly. That's true. At least Allura is trying.

"Yeah, but I'm still betting Keith had a mullet," Lance retorted.

"We won't know for certain unless Thace here has baby photos," Pidge said.

Thace shrugged. "I have a few," he stated flatly.

Everyone froze and ever so slowly the group's eyes widened in sheer glee as Keith's became filled with dread. Even Allura looked delighted.

"YOU DO?!" they all exclaimed.

Thace jumped a bit at the reaction. "Um..yes," he said as he tapped his spork against the table. "Amy made certain I took some with me before I left."

"What photos?" Keith asked as he almost ready to leap out of the chair. "You never mentioned you had photos?!"

"You didn't ask," Thace said, "and they're nothing that would be shameful I assure you."

Keith raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Oh? Like what?"

Thace paused to count on his fingers. "There's a family portrait, one of you hugging your old teddy bear Patches-"

"Keith had a teddy bear named Patches?!" Pidge exclaimed with a huge smile.

"Oh, man, that is too adorable!" Hunk exclaimed as he clapped his hands.

"Yes, he slept with it every night in his crib," Thace said as he sounded baffled at the reaction. "I also have a photo Amy took of Keith trying to eat out of the cat bowl."

Keith moaned as he buried his face into his hand as the room roared into laughter. "Kill me, kill me now," he grumbled.

Thace blinked in confusion. "What? I was told it's a common thing for children to do."

Lance rose from his chair, marched over and held his hands out in a pleading manner in front of Thace. "Dude, if you could let me see those photos, you'll be my hero for life!"

"Don't you dare!" Keith cried as he jumped up.

"Keith, there's nothing wrong with the rest of us seeing these," Allura said as she folded her hands into her lap. "It would be a nice way for all of you to bond."

He shot her a dark look. "You just want to see them too, don't you?"

"They sound very sweet!" Allura said as she smiled brightly.

"Hey, if it helps, you can always demand Lance show the baby pictures he has on his phone," Hunk offered.

Keith shut his mouth and looked to Lance. "You have baby pictures of yourself?"

Lance rolled his eyes. "I have a large family. It's required to have photos of everything and everyone!"

Pidge raised a hand. "I have some of me on my laptop."

"Then it's settled!" Lance declared as patted Keith's shoulder. "We'll show you our baby photos and we get to see yours in exchange."

"NOTHING IS SETTLED BECAUSE I HAVEN'T AGREED TO ANYTHING!" Keith argued.

Thace looked back and forth feeling very confused, and then looked to Hunk. "Don't I get a say in this?"

"Not likely," Hunk said with a shrug.

Keith groaned as he buried his face into his hands, and it was that exact moment Shiro entered the room. The room went quiet as Shiro spied Thace at the table and staggered slightly.

"Oh, uh, morning," Shiro said with a small wave. "I…didn't expect to see you here."

Thace gave a small nod, but before he could say anything Pidge stood up and grabbed Shiro by his arms.

"Shiro! Help us out! We're trying to convince Keith to let Thace show us his baby photos!" Pidge cried. "

Shiro blinked and tilted his head. "Oookay, not what I expected to hear first thing in the morning."

"That's not the half of it," Lance cries as he pointed to Keith. "You got to hear how Keith's parents got together! It explains so much about Keith!"

"Lance you're exaggerating things," Allura said with a sigh.

Keith's face turned bright red as he buried his face into his hands. "I'm regretting ever leaving my room."

Before Shiro could answer, Coran's voice echoed from the intercom. "Princess, I don't wish to alarm you, but I strongly suggest you bring Shiro and Thace to the command deck."

Keith forgot his agony and glanced to Shiro. "What's that about?"

"I don't know," Shiro said as Allura and Thace got to their feet. "We better go see what Coran needs. You guys finish breakfast and we'll call you when we need you."

"Can do," Lance said with a salute. "And Thace I'm holding you to seeing those baby pictures."

"I make no promises," Thace commented as he left with Allura and Shiro.

Once they were gone, Keith slumped in his chair. "I believe..that was the longest breakfast of my entire life."

"Aw, come on, it wasn't that bad," Pidge said as she patted his arm. "But I could get you a cat bowl to eat out of if it would make you feel better."

Keith shot a glare as Lance and Hunk chuckled. This was going to be a long morning.

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Shiro kept his focus ahead as he followed Allura to the command deck. He tried not to glance at Thace walking next to him. He had to keep this professional. Regardless of how he felt about him being Keith's dad, his personal opinions had to be cast aside for now.

"What's the issue, Coran?" Shiro asked as they entered.

Coran typed on the control panel without turning his head. "We have a small transport ship heading towards us," he said as an image appeared on the screen. "And, if I'm not mistaken, I thought it looked like one of the ships the rebels used to escape."

Shiro's eyes widened and glanced to Thace who was frowning thoughtfully.

"It does look like one of the new ones we fixed up," he commented.

"Have they made contact, Coran?" Allura asked as she brought up the map hologram.

"Not yet, Princess," Coran said, "I was about to, but I thought it be best if you all were present."

Shiro gave a nod as he stepped up with his arms crossed. "Go ahead and contact them."

"Will do!" Coran replied as he typed on the control panel. "Communications are opened…now!"

At first there was nothing, but then the static cleared. "Hello? Hello?" a gruff and familiar voice called out. "Dang it! I thought I fixed this thing!"

"Ford!" Thace called out, "is that you?"

"Thace! Is that..wait, hold on! Almost got it!" Pounding could be heard on the other end and suddenly the old Galran appeared on the screen. "Ha! There we go! Just got to show this thing who's boss."

Thace gave a small smile. "It's good to see you, but I have to admit I never expected to be this soon."

Ford gave a sigh. "Me neither, but after talking with the other rebel cells, Leah wished to get contact with you and the paladins." He rubbed his neck. "Frankly, there are some issues we have to discuss."

Shiro's face hardened. "What do you mean? Did the empire find you?"

Ford shook his head. "No, no, Lad, nothing like that, but better if we got aboard your castle there to talk."

Allura gave a nod as she looked to Coran. "Lower the defense so they can enter Coran, and I'll go tell the other paladins to greet them."

"Understood, Princess," Coran said as he typed. "Alright, you should be able to fly in with no problems."

"We'll see you shortly, Ford," Thace said with a nod.

Ford gave a silent wave back before turning off communications. Allura instantly spun on her heels to leave. "Shiro, I'll go gather the others, and we'll meet you at the hangar."

"Alright," Shiro said, as he looked to Thace with his hands on his hips. "Do you have any idea what 'issues' Ford meant?"

Thace shook his head. "Since I haven't been in contact with them, I have no idea." He cleared his throat. "But..I imagine they will be needing me to return."

Shiro's neck felt stiff as he kept his mouth shut. If the rebels were here to pick up Thace, then that would mean he was leaving a lot sooner than expected. Shiro wanted to feel relief at that, but his thoughts wandered to Keith uncertain of how he would respond to this bit of news.

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Keith couldn't deny he felt his nerves rattle a bit as they got to the hangar and walked to the transport ship. Ford was here already? Was he here to take Thace back with him?

Keith winced at the thought which surprised him. They all knew Thace would return to the rebels, but he never imagined it would be so soon. Why did it bother him?

Because you barely got anytime to spend with your dad, said an annoying thought from the back of his mind.

Keith froze and resisted the urge to blush. Did that mean he didn't want Thace to go?

"Keith, you okay?" Shiro asked as he touched his shoulder

The boy took a deep breath. "Yeah, yeah, just stuff on my mind."

He shot a sideway glance at Thace and as usual his face was unreadable.

If he's all eager to go back, I'm going to be real angry, Keith thought grimly.

It was then the ship's ramp went down and Ford poked his head out. He let out a loud grunt as he stretched his arms. "They never make enough room in those things," he grumbled. "I'm going to be feeling that in my joints for vergas now."

Thace offered a smile as stepped forward. "It's good to see you, Ford."

Ford gave a smirk as he shook a finger at him from his cybernetic arm. "I'm just glad to see you alive." He turned to Keith. "Nice job saving his hide, Kid. Knew I could count on you."

Keith gave a nod and gave a shurg. "Well..he has done the same for me."

Ford then raised an eyebrow as he gave the both of them a quizzed expression. "Regarding that, have you two 'talked' about certain things?"

"If you mean does he, and everyone else here, know I'm his father," Thace said with his arms behind his back. "Then, yes, it's been widely discussed at this point."

Ford let out a breath of air he'd been holding in. "Oh, thank the spirits that will make this easier."

Keith turned to Thace hoping to get an explanation, but only had gotten a baffled shrug in return.

Shiro stepped forward as he locked eyes with Ford. "So, Leah just sent you?"

Ford's smile dropped. He gave a deep tired sigh as he ran his cybernetic hand over his beard.

"Ford?" Thace asked sounding concerned.

"Not quite, she sent me and someone else." The old Galran gave him a stern tight frown like he'd been told to go jump off a cliff. "Again, I want it stated for the record that this wasn't MY idea."

Before any of them could ask further, a loud laugh echoed from the ship. "Aw, Ford, come on! You make it sound like I'm a plague!"

Ford growled. "A plague be simpler to contain."

A second Galra male appeared from the ship. He was tall and lean, and if Keith guessed right seemed close to Thace's age. He gave a mischievous grin that Keith had sworn he'd seen on Lance several times when he got an idea that would lead into trouble.

As soon as Thace saw the Galran, to Keith's surprise, his eyes widened and then narrowed like he was dealing with a headache. "What the quiznack are you doing here?" he asked.

The Galran kept his smile and placed his hands on his hips as he walked down the ramp. "Seemed only fair since everyone else got to meet the paladins."

"That's rather an exaggeration," Ford grumbled, but the Galran seemed to ignore it.

"So, I take it you lot are the famous paladins of Voltron," the Galran asked as he looked over the group.

"We are," Allura said with a nod of her head. "And I am Princess Allura, and this is Coran."

The Galran gave a grin. "You're very pretty," he said with a laugh. "I bet you're always making these boys' heads turn."

Allura blushed. "Oh..uh..I don't think so."

"Nonsense, you should be quite proud of your beauty," the Galran continued and grasped his chin. "If I was younger and single-"

"Knock it off," Thace grumbled as he stood next to him with a warning glare.

"What? It's a compliment," he said and looked back to the paladins. "And before we go any further, which one of you is Lance?"

Keith blinked as all eyes turned to Lance. What did this guy want with him?

"Um..that's me," Lance said as he raised a hand and Shiro placed a protective hand on his shoulder. "Why? You got a bone to pick with me or something?"

The Galran scoffed. "No, no, relax," he said as he folded his arms. "I just wanted to see the face of my replacement."

Lance raised a baffled eyebrow. "Replacement?"

The Galran sighed. "My kids, Tral and Xenia, won't stop talking about you!" He tossed his hands in the air. "It's all 'Lance said this!' and 'Lance said that!' now! You know, I use to be their idol?"

Lance blinked and then raised a finger slowly as the whole group put the pieces together. "Hold it..you're Tral and Xenia's dad?"

"Let me explain, before there's any more confusion," Thace jumped in as he tossed the Galran an exasperated scowl. "This is Oberon."

Shiro swallowed hard as he stepped forward. "You're Leah's husband?"

"Indeed I am," Oberon said as he pointed to himself. "Leah didn't want Ford going by himself, so I offered to be his pilot."

Thace raised an eyebrow and Ford. "And you agreed?"

Ford sighed. "Oberon is one of our better pilots," he grumbled, "even if he refused to shut his yap the whole trip over here."

"Aw, come on, Ford," Oberon teased. "You know you like me."

"Like a rock to the head," Ford grumbled.

"Forgive me for interrupting" Coran stated coolly. "But what brings you here? Was there trouble for the rebels when they got to their new base?"

"Naw, they're all safe and snug," Ford replied as he crossed his arms. "We're here because Leah and the other resistance cells want to form an official alliance with you."

Allura's covered her mouth with her hand, but quickly gave a small nod. "That is good news, we would-"

"Hold on, Sweetie," Oberon said as he raised his hand. "There are a couple of conditions we got to clear away first, and I suggest we go to a meeting room first."

Keith frowned. Conditions? What kind of conditions?

Allura seemed slightly taken aback, but without missing a beat she began to lead out of the hangar. "Follow me, Coran and I will escort you there."

Oberon nodded, but then reached inside his suit as he looked to Lance. "Before I forget, I was requested by my little princess to give this to you."

Lance tilted his head puzzled as Oberon handed over a rolled up piece of paper. "Uh, thanks," he said as he looked it over. "What is it?"

"You'll see when you open it up," Oberon said with a wink as he followed Allura.

The other paladins and Thace were silent as they watched them leave, and then after a long moment Keith spoke after clearing his throat.

"So..that friend," he said as he looked to Thace. "The one that you didn't want to meet Lance, and got you into the rebellion?" He pointed to where Oberon had gone. "Was that him?"

"Yes," Thace said as he rubbed his eyes. "Yes, it was."

"It's a Galra Lance!" Hunk cried as he pointed. "I'm not the only one thinking that right?!"

"No, you're not," Pidge said in disbelief. "It's an older, more furry Lance. It's like he's multiplying."

"Hey, I'm standing right here!" Lance growled. "And I am nothing like that!"

Keith gave a snort. "Yeah, you're right," he said. "He's way better at the flirting. He actually got Allura to blush."

Lance shot a glare, but Shiro got in between them before it was taken any further. "That's enough, Guys," he said as he turned to Thace. "Do you have any idea what 'conditions' Ford and Oberon were referring to?"

Thace shook his head. "No, but I imagine they were requests in order to keep the existence of the resistance hidden, but I can't say for certain."

Or that you have to go back to them, Keith thought, but kept the comment to himself.

Lance shrugged. "Well, we won't know anything until we get to the meeting."

"Before we do that," Hunk asked he pointed to the paper in Lance's hands. "What is that anyway?"

"Don't know," Lance said as he unrolled it. "Maybe it's a letter, or a map-" He trailed off as he saw the contents and his eyes instantly began to swell with tears.

"Lance?" Keith asked as he looked over his shoulder and then understood.

It was a child's drawing of Lance, riding on top of a large lion, with a sword in hand with a little figure of a Galran child sitting behind him.

"Someone drew you a picture," Keith concluded thoughtfully.

Lance still said nothing as Hunk looked over and frowned at the drawing. "What are those markings at the bottom?" he asked as he pointed to the top of the paper.

Thace glanced over. "Ah, it's Galran for 'Lance the Hero'," he said. "And this looks like Xenia's artwork."

"Aw, Lance has a fan," Pidge teased as she poked the boy's side. "Isn't that nice."

However, Lance still said nothing as he clapped a hand over his mouth to hold back a gasp. Shiro patted his shoulder. "You okay?"

Lance looked to Shiro with tears in his eyes and a smile spread over his face like it was his birthday.

"I'm framing this!" he declared as he hugged the drawing. "I'm hanging it up in my wall!" He gasped and then held it up high for all to see. "No! No! Better, I'm hanging it inside Blue so she can see it too!"

Keith gave a small smile as Lance rambled on to praise the drawing. At least Lance got something good from this, he thought. Keith glanced to Thace and hugged himself. I just hope I can figure out what would makes me happy.