Lance pushed the fruit bowl closer to Allura. "Please eat. He's safe. Blue's with him."

Allura held her head with her elbows on the table. "You didn't see him, Lance. That amount of raw emotion... you don't fix that in a single night."

"Then," he reached for her hand and waited until she held eye contact, "we'll help him until he's better. We're a team. No one suffers alone."

Allura gave a weak smile. "You're right, like usual. I'm starting to get used to this responsible, sensitive side you've grown into."

Lance blushed and smiled into his lap. "Thank you, princess. I-" His eyes shot wide and he looked up to see in her eyes that she'd felt it too. "They're back!"

His chair fell over with the force he pushed away from the table. Allura had barely stood when he grabbed her hand and they sprinted outside. Blue sat on the hill overlooking the manor watching as Keith and Krolia rode up the driveway on his bike. Lance jumped down the stairs three at a time. The others appeared after and followed him down.

The engine ground to a halt. Keith put his bare feet on the ground and walked the bike into the grass. He was barely standing when Lance slammed into him in a crushing embrace. Lance felt Keith wheeze against him, but he didn't shrink away from the affection. Lance pulled Keith's head into his shoulder and whispered, "Welcome home, buddy."

Keith breathed, "I never left. They've been there every day. You've all been there. Blue... she showed me... I can't explain."

Lance gently brushed the bond he shared with Keith. "You don't have to. I can feel everything."

"Keith!" Pidge shouted and ran up to hug them both a second before Hunk joined. Lance moved to allow Allura in. After a minute, a feminine giggle broke them up. Krolia stood with a hip cocked, her arms folded, and a delicate hand to her mouth.

Lance flushed and immediately ripped off his jacket. Krolia raised an eyebrow as he wrapped it around her shoulders, but she held it closed anyway. He knew she only wore her underwear beneath it, but at least he could look at her. She was Keith's mother and a princess. They should never have seen her like this.

Keith half smiled and rubbed his cheek self consciously. "So, uh... guys, meet my mom. Also... my dad was altean. I'm Allura's cousin. And Lotor's cousin. Wait... am I a prince?"

Allura giggled and nodded. "Just, don't let it go to your head," she teased and poked his forehead.

Keith blushed and Lance knocked shoulders with him. "Yeah, or we'll never let you live it down, your highness."

Keith playfully shoved him off. "Yeah, yeah." Then he looked off into the field. Lance followed his gaze as Blue stood with a final touch of warmth directed at all of them and walked toward the docks.

"Whoa," Pidge said. She steadied herself on Hunk. "Is she always like that?"

"Pretty much," Allura, Lance, and Keith answered in unison. They shared a look and all started laughing.

Hunk was pensive. "So... I guess it goes deeper... the bond?"

Keith nodded. "I didn't realize until Pidge went looking for Matt. Pidge, your fear when you thought he was dead... It hit me in the middle of a mission. I was completely incapacitated. Kolivan had to carry me out and I didn't know what had happened until we spoke a few weeks later."

"Speaking of Kolivan," Krolia mentioned.

The leader of the blades stood at the bottom of the front steps by Talias. There was a timid hesitancy about both of them. Keith stood tall and walked over. Closing his eyes, he simply put his forehead against Kolivan's chest. The older galra gasped as his breath caught. Then he held Keith tight to himself with his forehead to Keith's hair. Something unspoken passed between them and Keith leaned more into Kolivan. Krolia smiled and joined them with Keith between her and her lover. She kissed Keith's hair. Kolivan lifted a hand behind her head and put their foreheads together.

Lance choked up as Keith's family mended their relationship. Then he saw Shiro standing halfway down the steps with folded arms. He'd been unusually quiet since the lions had left. Lance'd thought he'd be the first to greet Keith. Movement caught his eye. Lotor stood in the shadow of the garage. No one had seen him since he'd disappeared during the night. He looked torn and injured, though not physically. He propped himself against the building with terrified eyes focused on Keith.

Krolia looked over to her sister and reached out. Talias's jaw quivered and she rushed into her sister's arms. Keith smiled at her and she kissed his forehead. Then he looked around and spotted Lotor. He pushed out of their hold and jogged to him as he retreated further into the shadows.

"Oh dear," Allura murmured. Her voice thick with concern, she whispered, "Lotor... he and Keith..."

Lance pulled her into his side. "Give them time. You saw how in love they are."

"But cousins..."

Lance frowned. "It's not ideal, but wouldn't it be a strong political move?"

"So you are as clever as I was led to believe," Krolia said beside them. Lance jumped and she giggled. "You really need to work on your stealth and observation skills, child."

"Or, just maybe, you ninjas could stop sneaking up on me for once."

Krolia reached out and ruffled his hair. "That's no fun, sharp-shooter." Lance blushed. Her smirk saddened a bit. "But Keith's heritage has as many negative connotations as positive ones. Talias's reasons for hiding what she found in his blood are still valid. I... I was disgraced by Zarkon when I failed to return with Azurine. I only left because..."

Talias pulled Krolia to herself. "Hush, sister. He is here now. Your son is with us. But... I will never forgive myself for mistreating you during such a difficult time. Even... even though Alphonse..." Talias wiped her eyes. "I couldn't see beyond his betrayal... through my grief after losing our brother."

Krolia held her sister's face in both hands and put their foreheads together. "He knew, Talias. He'd never wanted to pilot the lion or fight in the war. We never meant to hurt you."

Keith returned then. He looked on the verge of tears. Lance put an arm around his shoulders and suggested, "You should get cleaned up and rest."

Keith leaned into him, closed his eyes, and nodded. Lance raised an eyebrow. Since when was he so cuddly and agreeable? Keith answered, "Alright, Lance, but I said I'd teach you how to use the flitch bow so... be ready to learn after I've had a meal and a nap."

"I'll hold you to it, samurai."

Keith chuckled weakly and plodded up the stairs shaking his head. Shiro stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. He nodded, then walked away. Lance shared a concerned look with Allura. Something was definitely up with him. Krolia went to Keith where he hesitated and they went inside together.

Keith dressed in the clothes the servants had retrieved from his room and tiptoed through the suite. Silently, he approached Krolia where she slept in her bed. He kissed her cheek before lifting the covers where they'd slipped. She smiled as she dreamed. Keith sighed again. He'd found his mother.

On silent feet, he padded out and shut the door. He walked through the kitchen and snagged a light snack. Pidge sat on the counter with a bowl of something resembling frosting she ate by the spoonful and Hunk was assisting Talias with some kind of tart she was making for dessert after tonight's meal. Keith asked, "Hey guys, do you know where Lance is?"

Pidge licked the back of her overly large spoon. "He and Kolivan went to the training room."

"Kolivan? Really?"

Hunk nodded where he placed berries with the tactical precision of disarming a bomb. "Yeah, they've got some weird mentor/student thing going on."

"Hmm," Keith mused aloud and opened his mouth so Pidge could feed him a spoonful from her bowl. He crooned, "mmm," and kissed Talias on the cheek. "That's really good."

"I do not make anything but good food, naughty child. Now go. Supper will be served in four hours."

Keith nodded through another spoonful and jogged through the house. Their guests greeted him respectfully and he wondered if they'd been told of his parentage as he nodded in acknowledgement. Outside the training room, he could hear grunting and the clash of swords. His curiosity piqued, Keith paused just inside the doorway to watch.

They both wielded swords. Kolivan was using his luxite blade, but Lance had taken an ancient altean broadsword from the weapon rack. Krolia had said it was less of a weapon and more of an antiquated relic that had managed to hold up by completely miraculous circumstances. Yet, despite how rare such a broadsword was, Lance wielded it fairly confident of his skill.

Kolivan would press forward and Lance would dodge or block. Kolivan would advise and correct. Keith noticed Lance's stance wasn't exactly perfect, and Kolivan commented on as much. Still, he was impressed. But that didn't stop him from asking, "When did you start fighting with a sword?"

Lance screamed and nearly dropped the broadsword. Kolivan took advantage and tripped Lance up. Kolivan completed the takedown laughing then let Lance up with an offered hand. Lance was bright red in embarrassment and complained, "What is with you freaking ninjas and your supernatural stealth! What have you guys got against a simple hello?!"

Keith raised an eyebrow and leaned into the door frame. "You looked directly at me like, three times."

"Yeah, well, clearly, I didn't see you," Lance stammered.

Kolivan chuckled and pulled Lance in for a one armed hug. "Still, you've come a long way with your training, Lance. With your natural talent, it won't be long before you will hold your own against Keith."

"Hey!" Keith protested.

Kolivan laughed and ruffled Keith's hair on the way out. "Go easy on him, kit, and watch his inner leg. He has a tendency to get off balanced."

Keith stuck his tongue out at Kolivan's back and Lance rolled his eyes. "Very mature."

Keith grinned at Lance and they both started giggling. Keith went to the weapon rack and chose a sword. "But seriously, when did you start using a sword?"

Lance fixed his grip on the broadsword. "My bayard did it. Allura says it's a sign of my growth as a paladin."

"Well, you're certainly taller," Keith teased as he tested the balance of his own sword.

Lance shot back, "You are too! And you've bulked up. I bet you could lift three times what you could back at the garrison."

"Wait, how did you know how much I-"

"Anyway," Lance interrupted, "I asked Kolivan to help me. Allura is a great teacher, but she's not a swords master like he is."

"You two seem close. Allura, I mean. Though Kolivan seems fond of you too." Keith walked back and began his warm ups. "Have you two started dating officially?"

"Who, Allura?" Lance scoffed, "She's a friend. A very good friend. There's no way we'd ever date."

"Oh. It's just, you haven't really flirted with anyone since you got here. I figured it was because you were with someone." Keith matched up to Lance and said, "Come at me, brah."

They clashed swords for a couple minutes and Keith offered suggestions. They paused to catch their breath and Lance answered, "It's not that I don't flirt anymore, but I want to be with someone who means something to me, you know? Like you and Lotor."

"Yeah, I don't know. We... we've sort of..." Keith faded out.

Lance reached out a hand to his shoulder. "Dude, he is so in love with you its painful to watch. This thing with your mom being his aunt is just a hiccup."

Keith tipped his head and smiled. It was soft and pure and Lance felt his heart jolt that it was directed at him. Keith returned, "No wonder the others look up to you, Lancey-Lance. You're really turning into leadership material." Then he grabbed Lance's arm and flipped him in a take down. "But you shouldn't forget who your opponent is."

Lance groaned and Keith winked before helping him stand. Keith returned his sword to the rack and grabbed a strange compact bow. Shaking it out, the bottom extended and curved sideways to cradle his forearm. Keith looped a quiver of short arrows over his shoulder and said, "Come on. We've only got three hours before supper and Talias doesn't allow tardiness."

Lance followed as they went outside toward a large barn. Target dummies had been set up along a fence line in a paddock. The animals resembling pegasus roamed free and watched him curiously. They preened their wings and grazed on the strange purple grass. Many galra were out here practicing their skills for the tournament. He asked under his breath, "Is this my competition?"

Keith barely glanced around him. "Hardly. These are the younger lords. No doubt this will be their first tournament. You already have more experience fighting than all of them put together. This is all posturing for the young women watching from the upper garden."

Lance discreetly looked back at the garden by the manor where, sure enough, many galra in flowing dresses watched the paddock behind fans with sneaking glances. He barely suppressed a snort of laughter and Keith smiled wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "Come on. We'll go around the side. My halliaballus has a private pasture out of view of any potential gawkers."

"So these animals are the halliaballus?"

Keith nodded and rubbed the scaled neck of a creature which followed them along its fence line. "They were indigenous to Diabazaal. Everything on Lethua was. I'll ride Qrotip tomorrow during the hunt for the roen stag."

"Wait, you're gonna fly on a magical pegasus? You are such a princess!"

"Prince," Keith corrected. "Maybe we can convince Lotor to play the damsel in distress later."

Lance did snort then and Keith grinned before holding the flitch bow. "Alright. Here we go. First, you need to get a feel for the sensitivity."

Lance practiced for nearly an hour before he even hit his first target. His frustration was growing, but somehow, Keith managed to keep him calm. It was strange how much their relationship had matured in the absence they had in each other's lives. Keith had been right. It was like he'd never left. Then Lance felt a strange sensation and looked up.

The wind kicked up slightly and a cool scent blew over them. The tickle of ozone on the back of his neck drew tears to his eyes as the first raindrops landed on his upturned face. He closed his eyes and spread his arms. "Rain. Keith, it's raining!" He spun around and opened his eyes. "It's actual rain!" He laughed and grabbed Keith's hands spinning them around in the downpour. Keith was laughing as well as the water of the sky soaked them in heavy wet sheets of rain. The halliaballus left their stalls to clean themselves in the rain and their handlers watched their young lord and his friend play in the gathering puddles.

Allura stood on her balcony watching as Keith and Lance ran through the falling water and splashed each other. Their laughter floated up to her before she closed the doors with their large windows. She went to her vanity to prepare for dinner when there was a knock at her door. Without turning, she answered, "Come in."

Shiro pushed the door open with a forearm. "Allura, do you have a minute?"

She set her comb down and turned to face him. She'd wondered when he'd come by. She gestured to a chair. "Please, sit."

"I'd rather stand, thank you."

Allura frowned. "You've been upset all day. What's bothering you?"

Shiro shook his head and sighed. "It's just... so hard to explain." He paced and she waited patiently. At last, he leaned on the edge of the bed. "Last night, when you collapsed, that was because of Keith, right? You, Lance, Pidge, and Hunk, you all felt his pain when he realized what he might be? Whose son he was?"

So this was about why he'd hesitated pursuing Keith. "Shiro, if something is wrong, you can tell me. I care about your well being."

"It's a yes or no question, princess."

Allura held her breath. "Yes. We felt Keith's pain. The emotional trauma, Lance had described it as if Keith was dying. The lions, they take the brunt of our physical pain during fights and the rest we all share through our bond. But Keith's pain was emotional. The lions sensed this and I believe that is why Blue took him."

Shiro closed his eyes, a deep furrow growing between his brows. "I... I was afraid of that. Allura, I... I didn't... feel any of that." Allura's mouth parted, but he continued, "It's been gradual, but I think the black lion is pulling away from me. They're becoming more distant and it's like... like it's only doing what it has to in order to complete our goal." Shiro put his hand against his head. Allura stood as he finished, "And you saw Black last night. The way I was... rejected! So, what if... what if I'm no longer meant to pilot the black lion?"

He held himself and started shaking. He tried to hide it, but his sniffles gave him away. Allura crossed to him and put a hand to his cheek. "Shiro, listen to me. You are our black paladin. Our leader." She gently pulled his hand down and met his tear streaked gaze as her own tears silently fell. Allura put her other hand on his chest and rested her head against his shoulder. "You are more than your ability to pilot the lion. Do not doubt your importance to the team, whether your hypothesis is correct or not. Shiro..." He put his arm around her and she held him until his shaking passed and they went down to supper together.

Lotor sat on the edge of the bed. The room was too quiet, but that wasn't something he was capable of fixing. He put his head in his hands. Anxiety and fear left him restless. There was a knock on the door and he looked up. Should he answer? Should he pretend to be asleep?

"Lotor, may I speak to you?" Lotor felt his breath stall in his lungs at Keith's small voice. He went to the door and opened it. Keith stood almost sheepishly rubbing his arm. He looked away and admitted, "You didn't come to supper... so I was worried."

Lotor took in Keith's state, the way he stood as if afraid of what Lotor would think. Lotor wanted to reach out, to pull the pretty boy to his chest and tell him how important he was. His own fear kept him at bay. He finally answered, "I lost my appetite." It wasn't a lie. Keith had asked for time to adjust to their new relationship, but he had convinced himself that what they'd had was gone, never to be had again.

Keith looked up, wide eyes threatening tears. "What are we? Lotor, I need to know, what am I to you? Does blood change anything? On Earth, first cousins would never marry, but it's not like we can have kids and I loved you before we knew and-"

"Beloved, say no more," Lotor breathed. "There is nothing in the entire universe, known or otherwise, that would change the way I've felt for you from the moment I first saw you. Never will you ever have need to doubt the love I hold for you in my heart, Keith."

Keith's throat constricted and he wiped at his eyes. "Thank you, Lotor. I... I had to be sure."

Lotor closed his eyes and held his breath as his emotions washed over him. Then he asked timidly, "Will you come to bed with me?"

Keith paused. "I- I'm going to stay in Krolia's suite for a few nights. Just until we regain the sense of normality we had." He reached out. "But for now..."

Lotor gasped and took Keith's hand in both of his. He slid his hand up the back of Keith's arm and gently held his beloved consort to his chest. He put his forehead to Keith's and inhaled his sweet scent. He whispered, "For now, it is enough, my heart. Take what time you need and I will be waiting for you. Always." Then Keith gently kissed him goodnight and Lotor returned to bed with a heart a thousand times lighter.