The distraction of planning a wedding turns out to be an excellent morale booster. For a tiny slice in time, they stop thinking about the battles, the fight with Zarkon, the nervous peace with Lotor and the Empire still lurking on the other side of space.

It's a few hours later and they're seated around the table on Hunk's insistence for a celebratory dinner. Keith thinks it's really just an excuse for Hunk to show off his absurdly good skills in the kitchen but it seems to make everyone really happy so he just goes with it. It's almost a little jarring to see this team of people smiling and joking so much. After the last few months (or was it years? Hard to keep track the way they wormhole around so much in space), they had done what they could to hold onto their humour, but it was always a touch strained , the laughter a little forced, the jokes too ridiculous.

But tonight is different and Keith can't help his buoyed mood as the wedding planning goes into overdrive - even if he is feeling vaguely panicked at the thought of the fuss being made about them. Coran even made noises about a galaxy wide broadcast but Shiro was quick to nip that in the bud.

Thank god.

Shiro's hand finds his and squeezes it under the table. He leans his head close and Shiro's lips curve apologetically. His voice is low and a little husky and it sends a tendril of warmth right down to Keith's toes. "I guess misjudged how excited everyone would be by this. I hope you're okay with all this attention."

Keith squeezes back, tracing Shiro's mouth with his eyes and thinking about how well they fit against his own. His heart thumps blissfully in his chest. The sensation is almost foreign to him it's been so long since he's felt it.

"It's okay," he responds. "I guess we're all due for a bit of R & R."

Shiro smiles softly and they turn back to the conversation around the table. Keith is content to let it flow around them. Shiro's thumb absently rubs the back of his hand as they listen to the plan unfolding. It feels a little strange to him, the way that the entire team has closed ranks around Shiro and himself, sharing in their promise to each other. For so long it was just Keith, then there was Shiro but now there is so much more. It makes him almost antsy, not sure if he should embrace it and open himself up, or pushing it away so he doesn't know what he might one day lose and can't mourn.

But then they all look at Keith with such love and affection that he feels himself glowing with an inner warmth. Was this what it was like to be part of a family? To be so accepted? He looks up at Shiro, watching as Shiro smiles and chuckles at Lance and Coran arguing over the best location for a honeymoon before Coran finally pauses and rubs his chin thoughtfully. "What IS a honeymoon anyway?" The others all groan and Allura is smiling so wide it's literally lighting up the room.

And Keith can feel it. He can feel it so deep inside of him he realises he never wants to let this go. Shiro, this little family they've fallen into together. Voltron. The lions… The glow suddenly amplifies and everyone pauses in surprise and looks at each other. It swirls around them, over them, through them then bobs away, a faint echo of purring in their ears. Even Coran's eyes are wide like saucers.

"Did you feel that?" he says in wonder. The space mice scamper across the table and straight to Allura's shoulder with happy little chirps. "I felt that. Did you feel that?"

They all nod and Hunk sniffs and dramatically wipes a tear from his eye. "Even the lions are ready for a party."

There's laughter around the table and the room is warm. They're all smiling, and Keith's eyes suddenly prick behind his lids. He has to suck in a deep breath and turn his face away before he embarrasses himself completely - it's nearly too much. The bubble of emotion inside him wants to erupt and he almost feels like he's drowning. He doesn't know how to process it. It feels all like a dream and there's a heartbeat where he actually wonders if maybe he made it to the barrier and this is just his own private version of heaven. Which it is.

He finally grips Shiro's hand tight enough that Shiro glances down at him, his gaze softening as he pulls Keith hard against him. Keith buries his face in Shiro's shoulder and his breath hitches. A few moments pass where he tries to gather himself then he feels a tap on his shoulder. Keith eventually looks up and Pidge is sitting in the chair beside him, leaning in with her trademark grin. Her big amber eyes are sparkling.

"Guess you're not the loner anymore, huh?"

Keith tries to answer but his voice is too thick, his eyes too blurry even as he tries to blink the moisture away. He's spared having to keep trying by Pidge throwing herself against him. She hugs him and Shiro together and it tells him more than anything else could ever say.

It's been a few hours since dinner and aside from Keith and Shiro (who have disappeared off somewhere Pidge really doesn't want to think too hard about) everyone is a little bit too hyped up to sleep. The chance to focus on something other than their epic battle for the universe is too good to resist and now that they settle on a date of in two quintants time, there is so much to do in not much time.

The space mice scurry over Pidge, all vying for the best position for pats and sneaky treats as Pidge perches on the edge of Allura's bed. Pidge tries not to notice how the sheets feel smoother and the mattress feels softer (Allura IS a princess after all) or how Allura's is the only room that seems to have carpet. Pidge is probably a bit jealous about that the most of all. She's always fumbling for her green lion slippers in the dark and losing them. Her feet on the cold metal floors of her quarters in the middle of the night is the worst.

She scratches the biggest space mouse under the chin as she watches Allura rummage around in her wardrobe. She's still tired from the battle at Naxzela but sleep just isn't something that she's interested in right now. It's not so inviting when every time she closes her eyes she can see explosions and feel the heavy g forces pushing on her chest. Besides, she wants to be awake when her brother arrives, which thanks to a damaged shuttle, means he's still limping his way through space to them.

She slips another treat to the mice as Allura's door slides open and Coran slides dramatically across the room. His eyes are luminous with excitement.

"Can't you just see it?" he announces brightly. He spreads his hands and looks up to what Pidge assumes is supposed to be the heavens. "It will be a love story for the ages! The public will lap it up!"

Allura frowns. "Coran, I'm not sure that I'm comfortable with using Shiro and Keith's wedding as a political event. This is about them, about their love for each other against all odds."

"Yes, but princess, but it's also another potential way to strengthen the collation and celebrate us moving forward. Back in your fathers day, we always celebrated weddings with our allies. I'm sure Shiro will be happy to do anything that will strengthen our alliances-"

"It's not Shiro I am concerned about," Allura says dryly. Pidge watches as Allura frowns at the dress in her hands and shoves it to the side before pulling out another one. The slight cloud of dust that puffs up makes the princess sneeze delicately. She wrinkles her nose before she continues. "Keith might have an entirely different opinion on the matter."

"Well, I suppose it can't hurt to ask!" Coran twirls once then bows out of the room with a flourish. He's come and gone in an instant and Pidge hopes there's not going to be another repeat of what happened when Coran tried to let some space worm control his brain.

Pidge sneaks the space mice another treat and Allura turns to her with one hand propped on her hip and an eyebrow raised.

"Don't think I don't know what you're doing."

"Ah…." Pidge has the grace to look slightly guilty before she slips the treats back into her pocket and sighs. The space mice realise no more treats are forthcoming and abandon the green paladin to hurry along the bed and settle themselves into one of Allura's lush pillows. Pidge sags a little.

"Are you all right, Pidge?" Allura asks kindly. "You seem… sad?"

"I'm okay… well, sort of. I mean. Argh, it's so stupid!" Pidge flops back onto Allura's bed dramatically and covers her eyes with her arms.

Allura shoves the dress she was holding back into a draw and approaches Pidge. She sits primly on the bed beside her.

"Why don't you tell me what's bothering you."

There's a pause, then Pidge sits up. "Well," she says. "It's just that… back home, weddings are a time to… you know, get dressed up. Only I didn't bring any dresses with me. I only have these," she gestures to her current clothes, "-and my paladin armour. I suppose I could just wear my paladin armour and that would be fine too because hey, remember the last time we hard a party on the ship? Lance almost died? So form and function and all that would be smart but… It would just be nice to have an option, that's all."

Allura taps her chin. "Hmm, I see. Well, I do have plenty of dresses here in the castle. Granted they are 10, 000 years out of date but I'm sure we can find you something if that's what you want."

Pidge eyes Allura sceptically. "I can't wear your clothes, I'd drown in them!"

"No, silly, we'll alter them. Didn't Coran tell you about his days as an intergalactic fashion pirate? I remember as a child he had a bogwaggle cape that used to sing whenever he came into a room. It was simply delightful!" She pauses for a moment. "Although, now that I think about it, I'm not sure my father thought so."

Pidge looks sideways at Allura. "Yeah, he told me about that. It.. um… Doesn't inspire a lot of confidence."

Allura laughs lightly. "Well, how about we try and if you don't like it, you can always wear your paladin armour?"

Pidge chews her lip in indecision then shrugs. "Sure. Why not?"

There's usually only two places Shiro is guaranteed to find Keith and he heads to the first now that he's finally able to move again after the absolute feast Hunk presented them with. He can already hear the clashing on the other side of the door and Keith's grunts as he trains. He's panting heavily, his bayard in one hand and his Marmora blade in the other as Shiro opens the door. The gladiator powers down.

"Hey," Shiro greets him as he steps through. "Thought I would find you here."

Keith straightens then shakes out his damp hair. He's sweaty from the sparring, his dark shirt damp and plastered to his lean muscles and Shiro finds himself eyeing him appreciatively. It's impressive the way Keith is able to regain his breath so quickly then deactivates his bayard to trot past the still mech and straight to Shiro's side.

"Needed to get away for a bit," he shrugs apologetically.

"And hit things?" Shiro questions, one eyebrow raised.

"Would you prefer me to hit Lance instead?"

Shiro can't help but laugh at that. Keith grins at him then leans up to give Shiro a quick peck to the lips.

God, he loves that. That casual, comfortable show of affection from Keith. No more hiding, no more pretences. It smooths over the cracks in his heart and fills them with something warm instead of the ache that has been there for so long. He closes his eyes and reaches out in anticipation of deepening the kiss but Keith has already pulled away. Shiro is tempted to grab him haul him back but he knows there's time enough for that later.

"It's all happening pretty quickly," Shiro says instead. He watches Keith as he collects his jacket from the floor then comes back to Shiro's orbit from under hooded brows. "Are… are you okay with that?"

Keith looks genuinely confused. "Are you asking me if we're moving too fast? Me? The hothead?" Keith scratches his head and Shiro finds himself chuckling.

"Okay, point taken."

"I'm not holding back anymore," Keith says quietly then, his tone turning serious. He stands in front of Shiro with his head bowed. "We've lost enough time. I don't know what's going to happen in the future but this… now… you and me –"

Keith's voice cracks with emotion. It seems to be doing that a lot lately. Shiro grasps his hand and twines their fingers together but Keith slips out of his reach again.

"Hey, where are you going?" Shiro complains.

"Shower," Keith smirks at him from over his shoulder, the invitation clear in his eyes. "Coming?"

Shiro doesn't need to be told twice.