CrimsonxXxRabbit – Thanks so much for your review (however long ago it was). It really did make me feel a bit better about what I was writing, even if I did end up taking some of it down. I hope you like the ending.

Chapter 17: A New Family

Hey readers. I know it has been a long time since I posted anything. It was a bit of an unexpected hiatus. But, good news, I have just finished school and am now officially a college graduate! I just graduated with a bachelor's degree. So, now that it's summertime, I should be able to get some writing in! Now, I don't know how often I will actually be able to post new content but I will try my best! I hope I still have some readers left after a break that long. There is only this chapter and an epilogue left. After that I will be working on the sequel to Violet Transformation.

Without further ado…


Lance wasn't sure what to think or what to feel. Confused. Scared. Helpless. Most of all… angry. He was running at full speed down the road. With shaking hands, he pulled out his phone and dialed 9-1-1. He explained everything between heavy breaths. His voice was shaky and cracked a few times. He remained on the line, as requested by the dispatcher, until they knew someone was at the Kogane house. As soon as he was able, he hung up and immediately called Shiro. They conference called the others and Lance filled them in.

Halfway down the street he finally stopped running. Realizing he had driven there, he turned and started back to the house. It didn't take long to see the flashing red and blue lights of emergency vehicles. There were at least two police cruisers and an ambulance. As the approached, he saw two officers forcing John up off the ground, already in handcuffs. He looked around and found Keith sitting on the edge of the back of the ambulance. An EMT was tending to him. Keith looked lost… confused… as though he wasn't currently in this reality.

"Keith!" Lance ran towards him but slowed when he saw the boy flinch. "Keith." He spoke softer that time.

Keith looked up slowly. "L-Lance? What's going on?"

"You're free, Keith." Lance smiled softly but sadly. "You're free of that abusive bastard." Though he said it calmly, some venom still leaked into his voice.

"B-but…"

Lance put a finger to Keith's lips. "No. I know what you are gonna say. You are going to try and justify that man's actions with the same bullshit excuses he feeds you." He is still keeping his voice calm and even, with some effort. "Babe. No one should ever have to endure that torture." He sighed and hung his head. "I know you don't believe this now but one day… You'll see."

Keith remained silent and looked away, tears slipping down his cheeks.

Lance stood up and said something quietly to the paramedic. The man pointed to an officer across the yard currently questioning a neighbor. "Thanks," Lance turned to Keith, "hey, I'll be right back." He started off towards the officer.

Keith watched as the officer dismissed the neighbor and turned to find Lance next to him. They exchanged a short conversation, gesturing several times to Keith. The officer seemed to think for a moment before nodding. They shook hands and Lance headed back over.

"Well, good news. Officer Scott said you can come live with me and Mama until we can find you a more permanent home."

Keith looked up at him. He had this innocent, boy-ish look on his face. "You called me babe."

There was silence and Lance could see the EMT smirk just slightly at the confused, lost look on Lance's face. "W-what?"

"Earlier, when you were talking to me. You called me 'babe'." Keith repeated his statement.

"I-I d-did?" Lance could feel his face heating up. He looked away. "W-well, it was j-just… uh…" When he looked back at Keith, he could see the ghost of a smile forming on his face.

"You like me." It was a statement. He wasn't asking if he liked him, he knew.

Lance's stammering continued. "I-I have to w-walk… no um… t-talk to Officer S-Scott. I-I uh…" Lance gave up and just walked off with a face as red as an apple.

The medic smiled. "Well, you are going to be fin as far as your injuries go. Bruising, cuts and scrapes, no permanent damage." He looked at Keith only to find he wasn't even listening. The boy was staring at Lance across the yard, smiling. "You should tell him."

Keith flinched out of his staring and looked at the man tending to him. "Huh?"

"Tell him." He repeated simply.

Now it was Keith's turn to turn red. "Y-yea," he agreed sheepishly. He got up and walked slowly over to Lance who was walking around a bit aimlessly and awkwardly. Keith grabbed his hands.

Lance froze. He turned and saw Keith's soft smile. However, he couldn't even get a word out when Keith lifted up on his toes and kissed him.

(Behind them, Officer Scott handed over $10 to the paramedic.)

When they finally separated, Lance still couldn't say anything, but when he saw Keith's smile grow wider, he finally spoke. "I swear to you, Keith." He took both of Keith's hands in his. "I will protect you and always give you a reason to smile like that." He used his thumbs to wipe stray tears from under Keith's eyes.

Someone started clapping and they both jumped. "Well it's about time you two got together."

They turned to see Hunk, Pidge, and Shiro standing there. Both boys let go and stepped away as though trying to act like nothing was happening.

"G-guys!" Lance's face was back to red. "How long have you all been standing there?"

"Long enough." Pidge smirked and nudged Hunk with her elbow. He chuckled. Shiro stood smiling with arms crossed.

"'Scuse me. I need to ask you some questions." Another officer interrupted, pulling Lance aside.

"Oh, uh, yea. Of course." Lance followed.

As Lance and the officer walked off, the smiles o the others quickly disappeared to be replaced with worry and concern. "So how are you doing, Keith?" Shiro dropped his arms, focusing a soft gaze on Keith.

"Uh, fine, I guess." Keith was looking all around him, as though just taking in the scene taking place.

"It seems like you are still trying to process everything." Hunk's voice was soothing.

"Y-yea, but w-what's gonna happen?" Keith's knees looked like they were going to give out any minute.

Shiro rushed over and braced him before he could fall. "Hey, careful. You don't need to worry."

"Yea, you are going to be okay from here on out." Pidge helped Shiro lead Keith to a nearby car, Lance's car, so he could lean on something.

"Keith, are you alright?" Lance rushed over when he saw something wrong with Keith. He was breathing heavily but otherwise okay.

"He's fine," Hunk began, wanting to keep Lance's concern at bay.

Lance let out a sigh of relief. "Alright, well let's get you out of here. You don't need to be in this wretched place any longer." There was more anger in his voice than he intended.

Keith flinched.

Lance immediately regretted it. "Oh, sorry."

"So where is he going to stay?" Pidge broke the awkward silence.

Lance gestured to Officer Scott behind them. "The officer said he could live with me until a more permanent home is found. As much as my mom would be happy to have him stay there, my family is big and there isn't much room." He gave an apologetic look to Keith.

Shiro looked to be in deep thought for a minute. "I might have a solution." They all looked at Shiro curiously. "Well, the end of the school year is coming soon, and I'll be graduating. I already planned on moving out and getting a place of my own. Keith could move in with me."

The others were silent for a moment before Keith tried to stammer a response. "B-but I w-wo-"

Shiro held up a hand to stop him. "Don't worry about having to pay for bills or groceries and other things. I've got that covered. Plus, the Galaxy Garrison Flight School is also going to be paying for a lot of my living expenses. I'm going to be attending there this fall on a full-ride scholarship.

Keith was staring at Shiro in awe. Keith already looked up to Shiro as a superior officer in ROTC. Now… Shiro has now become his hero and brother. Keith felt more tears falling and buried his face in his hands. "This is so stupid." The others could barely hear his muffled words. "I just can't seem to stop crying."

Lance began rubbing his back, and before he knew it, he was being surrounded in a group hug by all of his friends family. His new family.


Well… I hope it doesn't seem like a rushed ending. :/ This is how I actually planned on ending the story. There is an epilogue coming up soon. Those of you who are following my Violet Transformation fic, that is the next on I will be working on. Anyway, until next chapter,

NyteXade