A/n: This is mainly just because idk about you but I needed a bit more closure with this. I tried to keep it generally lighthearted just because of the rest of the fic's (mostly) sad mood, so please enjoy.


"Haha, you're going down!"

"Nah, you're so wrong."

"Ooh, look what I found!"

"Gimme that Hunk - "

"Guys, be nice - OH MY GOD IT'S A SWORD! I need it."

"How does this even work - oh I seem to have lost."

"Yeah, so I'll be taking all your loot thank you, Coran."

"Pidge, come on he was mine, I already called dibs."

They're all in Shiro's captain's quarters, the large room being only one perk of being in charge but the one which the team exploits most, taking advantage wholly of the comfy couches, extra space, and most importantly of all, the large screen. Currently, the screen has six wires coming from it, all connected to a video game controller of their own, one in each person's hand.

Much to Pidge's joy, the team have finally agreed to a video game tournament. Word spread and Matt, Coran, Veronica and Romelle were also roped into it, taking turns with the paladins to play.

It's the first time in a while that they've all been together like this, smiles all around even though it's only been a day since Keith woke up in the hospital, and a week since they lost Allura. The loss is still an open wound, but they're all taking it day by day.

Lance has started to spend more time with the team, only just getting used to life without her even though each smile still has a sadness behind it, one that they're all figuring out might be there for a while yet.

Coran finally went to Altea. Before he did, he dropped by Lance's room and they talked and cried together about Allura for a bit. Then Coran asked if Lance wanted to come with him - which he said yes - and they went to the Altean home-planet together, crying a little bit more.

Shiro had a talk with Keith about taking better care of himself, which got a little emotional when Shiro brought up the fact that he couldn't lose someone else. Keith said he couldn't either so they reached a compromise between each other to be better and help each other be better.

To start with, that meant Keith agreeing to actually take it easy in light of his injuries, and he made an effort to try to. Helping Hunk bake a new batch of cookies after the last ones burnt was a good activity to distract himself from missions and also eat something along the way.

Hunk, after baking with Keith, was also pulled away from the kitchen for a break after the cookies were confirmed to not be burnt this time. It apparently hadn't slipped the other's notice how much time he was spending there, and while it was less taxing than say, Keith going out on nonstop missions, the fact was that Hunk had barely taken a break too no matter how good of a cause it was for.

Pidge kept helping her parents where she could, but she had a bit of a breakdown when she was about to ask Allura's help with something before realising there was no one there to ask. Hunk, and Keith had been just wondering around when they'd heard about it and quickly rushed to the lab to comfort the girl.

So they all were still struggling, but that didn't mean they stopped living life to the fullest, trying to get back into a healthy routine. If that took playing some video games with friends, then no one was complaining - except Lance when Keith got his revenge for the fight virtually and proceeded to steal all of Lance's items that had dropped, including some very rare stuff.

But other than that, none of them could say they didn't enjoy just being all in one room, laughing no matter how much it hurt. They didn't admit it, but the loss of one had brought them closer in some twisted sick way. All it really meant though was that they learned to cherish each moment together all the more, hold those memories all the closer.

"Matt, pass the chips please."

"Get 'em yourself, Pidge."

"But… I'm playing right now and you're not."

"Ugggghhhhh fiiinnnneeee. Catch."

"Ahh, watch it Matt. Keep the feuds within the family, no need to involve me and these innocent chips."

"Guys, um, can I get some help with this dragon please?"

"Deal with it yourself Hunk."

"Keith! Be nice."

"What, I'm too busy getting this potion to revive Coran."

"Thank you Number Four, I appreciate it."

"Uhh, I might need that potion too."

"Yeah, that dragon does not play nice. Got any left over for me?"

"Oh. My god. You guys all suck at this," Matt groaned from his seat behind them. " Just give me a turn and I'll beat it for you - oh wait, you're all dead. Come on Keith, I had high hopes for you."

"Hey!"

"Why don't we all take a break huh? Don't need anyone else ending up in the hospital."

"Okay, guys, I already said sorry to him so don't look at me like that."

"Yeah, he might punch you too," Keith smirked.

"How many times do I have to say sorry?"

"Relax. I'm just joking. We already talked about this."

"Ugh, you guys sound like a married couple. So while you do that, can someone give me a controller so I can show you how it's done?"

"No, Matt, we're taking a break didn't you hear?"

"But - you're so bad at it…," he whined.

The bickering continues, until no one can hear each other anymore. Shiro sighs, and speaks his mind since no one is listening anyway.

"All of you literally saved the universe, how are you all so immature? How did I even get here? I was the youngest pilot in the Garrison, I was respected, and now I am surrounded by children!"

"There there, Shiro," Coran says as he pats the ex-paladin's back. "You'll look back on this one day and miss it."

A bittersweet sentiment in a bittersweet moment shared by the two. Until a cookie ruins it by hitting the side of Shiro's face and the whole room freezes.

"Uh oh."


A/n: I very much wanted to keep going, but I thought it'd be best to keep it there or I may never stop. End off on some Space Dad Shiro who was very not prepared to suddenly have lots of 'kids'. Even if one of them died, but I can change that…

Aka I have so many more ideas for Voltron fics, one of which is - if you're interested and please do let me know if you are - a (potentially canon compliant) way of bringing Allura back/ the Altean princess is resurrected and the team truly can be whole again (to some extent…). That's a project for later but thought I might get some interest and anticipation out there beforehand ;)

Anyway, hope you enjoyed this little bonus chapter - thought you might want a little something lighter as full closure - and I hope you enjoyed reading all of the chapters leading up to it too. Thank you for making it as far as you have anyway. Drop a kudos or a comment, I really appreciate every one, but just you reading and going on this journey with me makes me happy too.

Stay safe and see ya soon.

- CrowofArcadiaOaks