Do not own Voltron or its plotlines, settings or characters.

Katie Holt stood in front of her mirror with a look of concern etched on her face.

"Are you sure about this?" she called out into the hallway.

"Yes, now get out here or we're coming in to get you!" Lance yelled back from her living room.

She took a deep breath, smoothed the palms of her hands down the stomach of her dress and prayed that she wouldn't make a fool of herself tonight. Hesitantly she entered the living room and stood there as everyone stared.

Looking up from the ground she wrung her hands. "Well?"

"Pidge..."

She frowned slightly at Lances quiet tone. "What? Does it look bad? I knew I shouldn't have listened to you on this. I'll go get changed into my dress uniform-"

"No!" Lance yelled.

Hunk chuckled. "What Lance is trying to say is you look lovely Pidge."

Her shoulders slumped with relief. "Really?"

Lance nodded enthusiastically with a grin. "Pigeon you literally took my breath away, I have never been so proud!" he gushed.

She blushed a little under the scrutiny. "You'll have to thank Romelle for the make up and hair. She worked some kind of magic."

"Well I think she did a great job. You know I can almost forget you're you under all that." She scowled at her brothers comment and crossed her arms.

"Yeah, yeah shut up."

Matt chuckled then gave her a hug. "You look amazing sis."

"Thanks. We should go find Shiro before we're late."

They made their way to the ballroom where the celebrations were just starting. Shiro waved them over excitedly from where he stood next to Curtis.

"Hey guys. Katie you look wonderful."

She smiled shyly under the compliment as Shiro and Curtis both gave her a hug. "Thank you but you'll have to thank Lance, Hunk and Romelle. They did all the real work I just showed up and got dressed."

Shiro laughed. "You don't give yourself enough credit."

She shrugged and turned to greet Coran as he wandered up.

"Hello everyone, so good to see you all. Where's number five?"

Everyone smirked and Pidge chuckled. "I'm right here Coran."

His eyes bugged out in shock. "WHAT?!"

Everyone laughed as Coran inspected Pidge asking her question after question. "How did you do this? Did you get stilts? Is that a wig? Did you use some kind of magic?"

Pidge rolled her eyes and smiled. "Calm down Coran. My hair grew out over the last year. Romelle did my makeup. Lance and Hunk helped pick out my dress. They also helped me buy and learn how to walk in these heels. No magic I'm afraid."

They all laughed and caught up for a bit before heading in different directions to mingle with the rest of the people milling about. Pidge tried to ignore all the stares she was getting. She knew it was different for her to be dressed so feminine but she could do without the uncomfortable feeling she was getting from all of the attention. She kept herself occupied by talking to her friend and fellow garrison employees. If she had to be at this black tie coalition celebration then she would at least try to have fun.

Keith walked into the hall and saw Shiro immediately. Telling his crew to behave themselves he parted ways with them and greeted his brother.

"Hey, wasn't sure you were going to make it."

Keith chuckled and gave Shiro a hug. "Same here but by some miracle we did."

"That's great, everyone will be so happy to see you. We've missed having you around."

Keith rolled his eyes. "I've missed you all as well."

He turned to see Lance and Hunk talking to a woman and couldn't help but frown with confusion. He could only see her back but she almost looked familiar. Long sandy coloured hair ran halfway down her mostly bare back in loose waves. The dress she wore was floor length, black and fit her like a glove. Material only three to four inches wide housed an almost invisible zipper that ran from the nape of her neck to the small of her back. Her skin was pale and looked smooth. There was a familiar way she seemed to stand.

"Shiro, do Pidge and Matt have a cousin?"

Shiro's brow arched. "No, why?" When Keith didn't answer him he followed his little brothers gaze and couldn't help the grin. This was going to be fun. "You mean the girl with Lance and Hunk? I'll introduce you."

Keith rolled his eyes. "Sure. I need to catch up with everyone any way."

Shiro led Keith to the small group. "Hey guys, look who I found."

They all turned and Keith froze, eyes wide. He had a second to catalogue what he could see before he had his arms full of woman. A plunging neckline with modest cleavage. A slim but feminine body. Big honey coloured eyes framed by long thick lashes and perfectly painted red lips. On reflex his hands caught her by the waist to steady them and as he took a deep breath in and inhaled her scent he wrapped his arms around her. So familiar and yet so different at the same time.

Pidge had launched herself at him as soon as she saw him. Forgetting he hadn't seen her in ages. Forgetting she was taller in heels. Forgetting he had never seen her like this.

"We didn't think you'd make it."

"Neither did I but Acxa and Ezor pulled a miracle so here I am."

She pulled back and smiled. "Glad you made it."

He smiled "Me too."

She stepped back realising she had garnered more attention and shyly adjusted her hair. She watched as the guys gave him a hug and greeted him as well. They all stood together and conversed until Lance and Hunk made their excuses and went to mingle. Keith and Pidge continued mingling together until Pidge stiffened beside him.

Keith frowned and turned to her. "You okay?"

"Do you know how to dance?"

Keith's brow arched. "Yes?"

"Perfect, come with me."

She dragged him on to the dance floor where a soft classical melody was being played. Keith pulled her close and positioned their hands before guiding them into a soft sway.

"So, you wanna tell me why we're on the dance floor?"

She blushed. "My mum has a camera."

Keith frowned slightly. "And?"

She rolled her eyes and moved both hands behind his neck ignoring the heat in her cheeks as his found her waist. "And I'm not ready for there to be photo evidence. Of me. Like this."

His hands slowly smoothed up and down her sides, trying to ease the tension from her body. "And this would be bad?"

"Very bad."

He nodded like he understood as he gazed over her shoulder and caught sight of her mother watching them with, was that admiration? Pride? Why did the woman look so happy?

He refocused on the womans daughter in front of him. She had closed her eyes leant her head on his shoulder to hide. His arms caged her in more bringing them closer as she relaxed in his hold. They danced in silence for a few minutes, swaying to the music. Keith noticed Colleen had seemed to disappear after taking what he assumed she thought were secret photos of them dancing. We willed himself not to roll his eyes. When the song slowed to an end Keith looked down at his dance partner.

"You ready to go back to the masses yet?"

Her eyes were foggy when they met his. "Do we have to?"

Keith chuckled. "What do you have in mind instead?"

She grinned softly. "I was thinking we escape." Keith's brow arched. She gave him a dead pan look. "It took Lance, Hunk and Romelle all day to get me to look like this. I'm exhausted and sick of people."

Keith chuckled. "How very tiresome for you."

She nodded. "It really was." She looked at him. "Besides, you look like you could use a little down time."

He looked at her sheepishly. "You could be right."

"Come on, we can sneak out the side door."

Keith rolled his eyes but followed her when she started walking away. They made it to the door way before they were ambushed. Colleen had found them just in time by the looks of it as she had her trusty camera in hand.

Pidge blanched and took a step back, right into Keith. "No."

Colleen smiled sweetly. "Yes."

Pidge glared. "I am not getting a family photo."

Colleen smirked. "You don't get to leave this room without me getting a photo of you."

"Watch me."

"Try it and I'll make sure everyone sees you sneaking off with Keith, out the side door."

Pidge growled and Keith blushed. "Pidge?"

"I'm thinking."

"One picture Katie, Keith can even stand there with you."

"One condition."

"State your terms."

"We don't have to come back and you give us a three hour head start before you tell the others."

Colleen thought for a moment. "Deal."

Keith let out the breath he had been holding. "You two are scary."

Pidge punched him in the arm. "Shut up and say cheese."

He rolled his eyes and resisted rubbing his arm as he looked down at her. As soon as the shutter clicked Pidge grabbed his arm and dragged him out of the room. When they were gone Colleen watched the empty space where her daughter had been as Matt approached her.

"So, it worked?"

His mother smiled. "That should do it. Everyone else knows?"

"To leave them alone? Yeah. As soon as she asked Lance for help with what to wear for tonight he and Hunk made sure everyone knew what to do."

"Good."

Keith followed Pidge down the hallway to the stairs that lead to the rooms everyone had prepared for them once the festivities died down. She picked up the hem of her dress and slowly made her way up the stairs while he kept a hand steady on her back to keep her from falling backwards should she lose her balance.

Keith wondered silently where they were going until they reached the top and she turned towards the balcony doors at the end of the hall. Opening them she stepped outside into the moonlight and turned back to him. "I thought this might be more your speed."

He smiled softly and joined her. She stepped back leaning against the railing as he stepped into her space. Looking up at him she searched his eyes for a reason why he might have chosen to step so close.

"You look beautiful tonight."

Her eyes widened, cheeks instantly burning. "What?" she whispered.

"I just realised I hadn't told you how nice you look tonight."

"Oh. Thank you." She smiled shyly. "You know, you clean up quite nice yourself."

"Just nice?"

She raised her hand and placed a hand on the lapel of his suit jacket, smoothing it down and shook her head eyes focused where her hand rested. "Not just nice, handsome."

Music filled the air as the doors downstairs were opened to let the night air into the ballroom. Keith reached up and took hold of the hand she had placed on his chest. "Dance with me?"

Her eyes lifted to his and she felt herself nodding and smiling. He pulled her close for the second time that night and they started to move. Keith rocked them in time with the music twirling her when the melody called for it. She giggled softly as she was spun and brought back into his arms. He wrapped his arms around her as the music slowed and they swayed. She dropped her head to his shoulder and wrapped her arms around the back of his neck.

From below their friends watched from the shadows with bated breath.

Slowly ever so slowly they stopped swaying. Pidge raised her head and Keith fell into the depths of her soft brown eyes. Without realising they both started leaning in, eyes slipping closed. Softly and hesitantly their lips met. Her fingers stretched up into his hair as he angled his head to deepen the kiss. After a moment the kiss ended and they pulled back just far enough to look into each others eyes.

"Do you know how much I missed you?" he murmured against her lips.

She smiled. "I missed you too."

Below them Matt, Hunk and Lance silently celebrated with a dance and high fives. Shiro and Curtis stood together watching their friends with equally pleased smiles. And somewhere inside Colleen Holt sighed with happiness at a photo of her daughter looking at a man with love.