"It looks that same." Matthew snorted as he stepped out of the car. "I just remember there being a lot more toys."

Katie rolled her eyes. "Yeah, when we weren't even in double digits. Well, when I wasn't in double digits." Matt chuckled, wrapping an arm around Katie's shoulders. "Come on. Mom's dying to see you again."

"She saw me yesterday, and the day before and the day before and the day before-"

"Yeah, yeah, I got it." Katie groaned, leading him up to the front door. "Shiro's here, too. Mom likes him."

Matthew snickered and nodded. "Oh, I know. Yesterday, she wouldn't shut up about how sweet and how handsome your husband was."

Katie sputtered and shoved Matthew. "We aren't married! We aren't even engaged!"

Matthew laughed, hands up in surrender. "Her words! Not mine!"

Katie whined, entering the house. "Just go say hi to mom." She shooed him off and ran her fingers through her hair. A smile grew on her face as Shiro wrapped her in an embrace.

"Welcome home," he hummed, kissing her forehead. "I have one question." Katie nodded and tilted her head. "Your mom thinks we're married. Do I play along?"

"Oh my-" Katie groaned, dropping her head back. "Really? She talked to Matt about us being married!" Shiro chuckled. "Play along, I guess. She won't remember anyway and she's to happy to see Matt to care if we say we're not."

Shiro nodded, pressing a kiss to her lips. "I suppose. She's been preparing the house for him to come home for three weeks."

"I'm glad they finally let him out." Katie sighed, leaning into Shiro. "He still wakes up not knowing where he is, but now it only lasts a few seconds and he doesn't lash out. I'm going to the pharmacy later to pick up pills prescribed to him and to refill mom's."

"You're not going to hack your way to cheaper prices?" She stuck out her tongue, but shrugged. "Don't tell me you did."

"I didn't. I thought about it, but I didn't." Katie hummed, tugging Shiro along with her to the kitchen. "I wouldn't do that anymore. That's a lie. I would, I just shouldn't."

Shiro chuckled and shook his head. "Geez, Katie." She just grinned at him and then jumped onto her brother and mother in an embrace.

~

Katie sighed as she opened the door. "Lance... What are you doing here?"

Lance grinned, wiggling his brows and raised the wine bottle. "I heard your brother's out of the hospital." Katie raised a suspecting brow.

"Please don't tell me you're planning on hitting on my brother. He's damaged enough as is and you're still working things out with Keith." Katie folded her arms over her chest.

The Latino whined. "Keith isn't letting up! So I figured I might try dating someone else. Keith doesn't seem to want me anymore."

Katie groaned, hitting her palm against her forehead. "You're not going to learn if I just tell you, so you might as well learn the hard way. Get in here."

Lance brightened up and practically bounced in. "Thanks, Pidge! I owe you one!"

"Mm-hm. Take two of my shifts and we're even." Katie closed the door and showed her coworker the way to the dining room. "I don't even think my brother's into guys."

"Worth a shot." Lance shrugged and grinned. "Hey, Shiro! Didn't know you were here!"

Shiro raised a brow. "I didn't know you were coming. Katie, did you invite him?"

Katie snorted and sat beside him. "No. He just showed up on his own."

Matt chuckled and stood, holding his hand out to Lance. "I'm Matthew, Katie's older brother."

"Lance!" Lance eagerly shook Matt's hand. "I work with Pidgeon, and we're practically best friends."

The short woman snorted. "I think I'd be best friends with a wall before I'd be best friends with you."

Lance rolled his eyes and ruffled her hair. "Oh, please. I it wasn't for Allura and I, you and Shiro wouldn't even be together."

Matt laughed. "You and Allura hooked these two up?" Lance nodded and puffed his chest proudly. "Job well done, Lance."

Lance's eyes sparkled and both Katie and Shiro groaned. "Please don't inflate his ego any more."

"Why don't you sit down?" Matt gestured to an empty chair beside himself. "What wine is that? White wine?"

Lance hummed and nodded, sitting down. "Yup."

"Sweet! I haven't had wine in... Katie, how long had it been since I've had wine?"

Katie hummed and tapped her chin. "I don't know. Why are you expecting me to know the last time you had wine? I was probably a minor when you last had wine!"

Their mother giggled and stood. "I'll go get some glasses. Thank you, dear, for the wine." She placed her hand on Lance's forearm before getting up to get the wine glasses.

"Pidgeroo! Check it! I got something right!" Lance jabbed his thumb into his chest with a wide grin. Katie rolled her eyes. "So, Matthew? Tell me about yourself. All I know is that you're apparently the best big brother in the world."

Matt chuckled as Katie buried her face in her hands. "Well, as you know, I'm Katie's big brother. We're several years apart, but we're very close." Shiro offered to pour the wine as Mrs. Holt returned. "You probably also know I was in the military and went missing."

"You don't have to talk about that," Katie muttered, eyes lowering as she folded her hands in her lap.

Matt shook his head. "I won't talk about it. I was just saying I was in the military." He then hummed and looked up. "I like going on walks and teasing Katie."

"You and I both." Lance sniggered, reaching over the table to poke Katie's forehead. She quickly swatted him away.

"I graduated top of my class, as did Katie, I hear." Katie stuck out her tongue, but grinned. "And I've only been in a few relationships. Three or four."

Katie thanked Shiro for pouring her wine with a kiss to his cheek. "I remember when you dated Allura."

Lance's and Shiro's eyes widened, then they both turned to Matt. "You went out with Allura!?" Both shouted.

Matt blinked, then slowly nodded. "Yeah. Just before I left for the military. We met when we were little, our father's having bee great friends, and go closer each time we met. She was my last relationship. Third, I think."

Lance's jaw dropped, then he smirked. "Did you guys do it?"

"Lance!" Shiro narrowed his eyes at his coworker, who only shrugged.

The veteran hummed and tapped his chin. "That, I think, is something to keep between Allura and I."

"What is?"

Everyone paused, then all turned their heads to the visitor in the hallway. She smiled and waved as Matt stood. "It's been a while, Matthew."

"Yeah..." He slowly smiled. "It has been."