Authors Note:

This is a first peek into my head canon! Just for a bit of background, Kai (Keith's father) has been best friends with Sam Holt for their whole lives. Colleen used to baby sit Keith while his father was at work. I did come up with how Keith ended up alone, but you will have to wait to find that out. As for Keith and Pidge's relationship, that has been worked out too. Everything will make sense when I get the story I'm working on out. I just have to finish it first... Nat (Matt's twin) has a story too, but all you need to know now is that she disappeared when they were almost eight.

Please enjoy!

Keith couldn't believe it he wasn't even five yet and he was going to kindergarten. Granted he was going to be next month, but still! Keith clung to Matt's arm as they entered the room. At least he would have his best friend with him. His dad had sent him to a school for the gifted because he knew that they would cater to his level. That way Keith could keep his own pace and take as much or as little time as he needed and of course that was where the Holts were sending Matt and Nat. Because of when his birthday was, Keith would normally have been held back a year, but Kai knew his son was ready.

Upon entering the classroom, the trio was met by their new teacher. "Hello boys, it's nice to see you again," the teacher greeted as Nat ran off to join some other girls playing with dolls.

"Hello," Matt replied as Keith hid behind him. Keith stayed close to Matt as they went to join the other kindergarteners.

"Hi! What's your name?" a bubbly little girl asked Keith. She had thick brown hair and bright emerald green eyes which danced with joy when the boy gave his name shyly. She grinned a great big smile, "I'm Kiara," She replied. "You're going to be my friend!" She cried grabbing Keith's arm and dragging him over to where she had been playing. Keith just stood there dazed as Kiara chatted away as if they had known each other their whole lives. It wasn't very long however until Keith became absorbed into the little girl's elaborate play causing him to forget his shyness and join in as he concocted his own wild adventures within a world that expanded with each new idea. It wasn't long before Matt noticed the absence of his best friend and found his way over and added his own twist to their imaginary tale. All too soon the teacher called the class to attention, and they had to clean up and attend to their studies.

"You're a very bright boy," the teacher told Keith as she looked over what he had done. Keith smiled shyly. The teacher smiled back, "You have a bright future ahead of you, I just know it."

Keith looked up from his play when he heard his name called along with Matt and Natt's. "Auntie!" Keith exclaimed jumping up and running to Colleen when he caught sight of her. Matt and Nat were right behind him in an instant.

"Bye!" Kiara called to her new friends.

"Bye," Keith, Matt, and Nat called back.

"Guess what Auntie?" Keith asked jumping up and down as they left, "I made a new friend!"

Colleen smiled, "That's great Honeyboy."

"Okay, buddy. See you after school," Shiro said ruffling Keith's hair as he dropped him off at his new school.

Keith sighed, he hated being the new kid, "Bye." Once again Keith didn't know anyone and that always made him nervous. Taking a deep breath, he headed inside trying not to think about it. He wasn't about to have a meltdown on the first day, no way. Not that he had any control over it, if he got overwhelmed, he got overwhelmed. However, he could endeavor not to get overwhelmed. But as he walked down the hall, Keith couldn't help thinking about it, especially as everyone stopped to look at him. This is why he hated being the new kid, there was always a lot of staring and he hated being stared at, it made him want to run and hide. Panic began to set in as the voices seemed to rise around him. Too much input. The voices seemed to just keep getting louder and louder. The voices seemed to surround him as he grew more and more overwhelmed. Keith stopped in his tracks and covered his ears. Just as it felt like he was about to be completely enveloped in the voices and he was on the verge of melting down, he heard a familiar voice. Kiara. Keith's hands dropped from his ears and looked around him. The voice all seemed to melt away when he spotted Kiara amongst the crowd grounding him.

"Are you okay?" Kiara asked worriedly as she came up to him.

"I am now, that you're here," Keith replied, and the two embraced. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all.

"Matt's here too," Kiara said as they pulled apart.

Keith's eyes lit up; he hadn't seen his best friend in forever.

"Attention please," the teacher called, "we have a new student today. Will you please tell us your name and something about yourself?" she asked Keith.

Keith froze as all eyes turned towards him. Fear overtook him and he couldn't speak.

Kiara noticed and spoke up, "His name is Keith Kogane, he has selective mutism which is an anxiety disorder that prevents him from speaking in certain situations."

"Is this why you are answering for him?" the teacher inquired.

"Yes, ma'am," Kiara replied, "he would answer you if he could he's not disrespectful. He's always been shy, but this is different." Keith was now very glad he had explained it to Kiara before class, otherwise he would have been labeled as disrespectful again.

"I see," the teacher responded, "we will talk to your guardian and see what we can do to make this more comfortable for you," she told Keith, and saw to it they did. After Shiro had confirmed what Kiara said, Keith was placed in a class of only five including himself. The class consisted of himself, Kiara, Matt, and two other kids. One of them happened to be Jet, Keith's adoptive brother the other was Kiara's best friend Mia.

"Wait, if you were adopted, then why do you live with Lieutenant Shirogane?" Mia asked Keith.

"Cause Mami and Papi died a year later," Keith said glumly.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Mia sympathized.

Kiara hugged Keith's arm, promptly changing the subject, "You going to going to join the music club Teddy?" she asked Keith.

Keith shook his head, "Nah, too many new people."

"Me either," Kiara replied.

"Hey, why don't we form our own club?" Jet suggested, "Just the five of us."

"Great idea," Matt responded.

"Don't forget Kevin," Keith said, "and Katie."

"Whose Kevin?" Mia asked.

"Our younger brother," Jet replied. "Katie is your sister, right?"

"Yeah," Matt replied, "So Keith talked about us did he."

Jet grinned, "just once or twice," he said jokingly, and they all laughed.

"Such childish behavior cannot be tolerated," Iverson boomed as almost fifteen-year-old Keith stood before him in the hall. Keith stared at the floor and tried to hold back his tears. "What kind of kid your age chews the tops of his pencils?! What are you?! Retarred?!"

At that moment Keith felt a familiar presence at his side. Kiara. "He can't help it," Kiara defended her friend.

"This does not concern you, Miss Cortez," Iverson barked.

"My friends are my business," Kiara retorted pointedly leaving out the sir.

"That's sir to you, Miss Cortez," Iverson growled.

Kiara looked him straight in his eyes, "Never," she challenged.

"Maybe you should leave before you get into trouble too," Keith suggested.

"And leave you alone? Never," Kiara responded.

"Kiara…" Keith started to say then stopped as Commander Holt approached.

"What's going on here?" Sam asked.

"What's going on here?!" Iverson barked, "This cadet is about to be punished for inappropriate childish behavior, that's what's going on."

"Is this about the pencils? Because if that's the case you should know that chewing on things is one of the symptoms of SPD, aka Sensory Processing disorder."

"I take it that you are telling me I shouldn't punish him because of this SPD. Does the cadet even have this disorder?" Iverson questioned.

"He has the symptoms," Sam replied knowing very well that Keith didn't have it, but he couldn't think of any other way to explain Keith's behavior without revealing the boy's alien heritage.

"Fine, I will consult Lieutenant Shirogane," Iverson growled then left.

"See you later, kiddo," Sam said ruffling Keith's hair before leaving.

Keith sat down beside Kiara on the Garrison's roof as she watched the sunset. He hadn't expected to find her there but was glad she was. Keith watched the sunset for a couple of minutes then looked at Kiara and was overtaken by her beauty. "Shia kia," Keith whispered in awe.

"It is beautiful, isn't it?" Kiara replied thinking she was talking about the sunset.

"Actually," Keith said, "I was talking about you."

Kiara turned towards him in surprise, "Oh," she said blushing.

"Kiara," Keith began slowly, "I love you more than anything else and I want to be with you forever. I don't want anyone else. I want to marry you someday, not anytime soon of course," Keith rambled, "neither of us is ready for that yet… but still I want to promise myself to you, so I got you this." Keith pulled a box out and opened it.

"Oh, Keith!" Kiara exclaimed and threw her arms around him, "A promise ring, how did you ever afford this?"

Keith smiled, "I've been saving. The ring is to remind you of my promise, the necklace," Keith said removing a locket from the box and hanging it around her neck, "Is to remind you of my love."

Kiara put the promise ring on her left hand and laid her head on Keith's shoulder. "I don't want anyone else either. No matter what happens I will always be yours. I will always wait for you."

"He what?!" Kiara exclaimed.

"I told you, he kicked me out," Keith said sadly.

"What for?" Kiara demanded.

"Disciplinary issues," Keith said glumly.

Kiara frowned, "They are supposed to help their students not kick them out for making mistakes! They should help students overcome their shortcomings not kick them out for them! It's not your fault you grew up the way you did!" Kiara turned to leave.

"Where are you going?" Keith asked.

Kiara turned to look at him, I'm quitting, I don't want to work here anymore," She explained then turned and left.

Kiara stood in front of the cave where the Blue Lion had been hidden. "Yep, he definitely was here," Kiara said to herself. After Keith had suddenly disappeared, Kiara had gone to his shack to try to figure out where he went and that had led her here. Kiara slowly made her way down into the cave and into the cavern that had held the blue lion. "Oh, Keith, where are you?" Kiara asked worriedly. Meanwhile, somewhere out in space, Keith felt a sudden calm and knew Kiara was looking for him.

As Kiara looked around, she felt a sudden wave of reassurance that he was okay. "Come home soon," She whispered into the dark, "I'll be waiting."