Lance stood outside his house for half an hour before it was 11 and he headed down the road to Keith's. He knocked twice before Krolia answered.

"Oh hey Lance!" She said smiling.

"Hi." He said smiling back.

"Sorry. Keith isn't up yet- he didn't forget i'm sure he is just pretty tired. I didn't want to wake him up. Come in?" she asked holding the door open a little wider.

Lance nodded and entered the house. He remembered coming here when he was first back from New York. The awkward confrontation with Keith and the vague invitation to go to Tokyo.

"Hungry?" Krolia asked pulling something out of the oven.

Lance shook his head. "No I just ate." He said politely. He didn't know what to say so he just fiddled with his shirt hem.

Krolia sat down across from him at the table, her hot cup of black coffee sitting bodly between her soft hands.

"You know Lance. You don't have to act so awkward around me."

Lance didn't say anything. "I thought we were pals." Krolia playfully punched his arm. Lance couldn't hide his smile as he looked up at her. She had a fake frown stretching down her face until she saw his smile.

She grinned. "So why are you here?" She asked sipping her coffee.

"Uh. Cause I want to be..?" He tried.

"Yeah okay. You want to be here all the time. I know it. Why did you actually decide to show up?"

Lance sighed. Why was she so good at reading people? Or was it just him?

"I-" It wasn't weird that he was spilling the beans on his plan to tell Keith his feelings to Keith's mom. Right?

"I was um. Well." He scratched his neck before running his hands through his hair. "Well.."

Krolia waited patiently. "I was actually kinda.." He laughed. "It's funny. I waited all this time.."

"How are you planning on telling him?" Krolia asked turning her cup around in her palms.

Lance blinked at her. "Oh well. I was just going to tell him.."

"Why are you lying?" She stood up. "If you can't tell me how are you ever going to tell him?" She asked pointing up the stairs to where Keith was asleep.

Lance looked at his feet. "Ahem." Krolia brought his attentions to her. "Practice on me. Think of it like a rough draft."

Lance groaned standing up. "I hate essays."

Krolia chuckled. "You're funny. But I'm serious Lance. Come on."

Lance shuffled over to her and sighed. "Keith, I um-" his breath hitched and he coughed. "I mean I was kinda wondering- well no actually I was thinking we could- but then again-"

"Okay no no no." Krolia said holding up her hand for him to stop. She looked him in the eye. "That was horrible. So let's not do that.." She went back to coffee and took a long sip giving Lance time to sit down and wait for her new ideas.

Every creak in the house made him flinch. "How long until Keith will most likely wake up?" Lance asked.

"Oh don't worry about that- if he wanted to he could sleep all day. Give it a few hours give or take."

Lance nodded. It didn't reassure him though. He wasn't anywhere closer to his goal. He had come here with his mind set on just explaining to Keith how he had felt this whole time- the ups and downs- his thought process every step of the way and apologize. He mostly wanted to apologize.

Then he arrived and he started to panic, and changed his mind two or three times. And now he was confused. And panicking again.

"Okay so here's what you're going to do." Krolia said looking up at him. "You're going to be yourself. Apologize, be lively, be extra be loud. Be you." She grinned. "Trust me on that. Just be yourself."

Lance nodded. He could do that. If all else failed he knew for sure that was what he would resort too. "Okay. But- If I mess it up so bad that he walks off.." Lance remembered Tokyo vividly in his mind. "What do I do then?"

"If there's anyone my son won't walk away from- no matter how hurt or broken he feels- if there's anyone..it's you Lance."

Lance could feel himself blushing but it didn't change how guilty he felt. No matter how hurt or broken.. It was Lance's fault- this whole thing he had left Keith hurt and broken. He hadn't looked back.

"Look. I know I can't be much help- I don't know how either of you feel or what you've gone through or why you made the decisions you made. I can't judge. All I can do is tell you what I see." Krolia's voice was light. Lance could barely hear her.

"What I see? I see my son. I see my son who is lonely and distant and then I see you. You..you didn't change him but you brought the best out of him. Thank you for that."

Lance nodded.

"And he always made you happy I could tell- you two were the brightest pair of kids I've ever seen when you two were together. I saw love. Then, there was obvious tension for awhile like you both realized your feelings at the same time. It was hard to watch you two not say anything and fall apart. It was too delicate to interfere in though." Krolia sighed. "And now you're here. If I'm being honest I don't know what the hell you two were thinking. You shouldn't it shouldn't have been this hard but...once again. I won't judge. I can't judge."

"I know. I was stupid. I pushed away because I was afraid of..pushing him away again. I didn't want to ruin what we had. And to prevent that I ruined it." Lance mumbled.

Krolia laughed. "It's funny. That's exactly what Keith said yesterday."

Lance's head snapped up. He swore something popped but he didn't care. "What do you mean?"

"I meannn that yesterday he came home all soft and stuff and I was like what happened and Shiro nodded towards Keith so I sat him down and he spilled all these mushy emotions about you." Krolia laughed at Lance's blush. "It was so gross."

"So he.."

"Hey you didn't hear it from me." She smiled.

"Thanks." Lance smiled back. "This makes me feel a little more confident." It did. But it also made him more nervous. Showed just how terrible this would be if he messed up. Again.

"You're going to do great! And I can always talk to Keith." That didn't necessarily cheer him up.

"Look Lance...Keith is just as nervous as you. Just as confused as you." Krolia said smiling. "And just as lucky. The fact that both of you are at the same place just emphasizes the fact that you can be there for each other right? So this should be easy- just go for it! Stop thinking about it and do it." Krolia said. 

Lance took a deep breath, he shoved every thought and emotion on this going wrong job the pit of his stomach. "Yeah. Yeah." He said nodding his head and grinning. "I'm going to do this." 

Krolia smiled. "Yes. You. Are." 

"Yeah." He stood up accidentally knocking over his chair, but ignoring the clatter. 

  "I've got this." Lance said grinning.

"Okay. Calm down before you wake him up. If he's cranky then this is going to be a lot more difficult." Krolia reasoned.

"That's true." Lance said sitting down. He was too anxious and resorted to bumping his knees up against the table and popping his knuckles.

"Hello?" It wasn't Keith calling from the front door.

Lance looked over to the door to see James walking in with a box of pizza. "Oh. Am I interrupting something?..." he trailed off as his eye locked with Lance's. He looked away quickly

"Oh James!" Krolia stood up. "I'm sorry I forgot you were coming home for lunch." she glanced at Lance before heading over to her husband.

"Oh." James said looking down at the pizza. He finally looked up again but still didn't look at Lance.

"Why is he here?" It was short and soft, the few words. But it still hurt.

"I'm here to see Keith." Lance said defiantly.

"Are you?" James said thoughtfully. He finally looked at Lance.

"About time." He grinned and walked over to Lance, who was fidgeting under his intense stare.

"Look, I'm really sorry for how I've acted in the past..I was stupid and selfish and I didn't mean to hurt my son like that. I'm sure you were hurt too. My actions set of a chain of reactions I can't undo." He held out his hand. "Can you forgive me Lance?"

Lane blinked. That wasn't at all what he had expected. All those years he spent blaming Keith for not talking to him when it was James stopping Keith from talking to him. All those lonely nights waiting for Keith to reply when he knew deep down that he wouldn't. But if James was truly sorry...Keith had forgiven him.

Lance shook his hand. "Sure." he said.

James smiled. "But please- Keith has been hurt too many times. Make him happy."

Lance nodded smiling. Suddenly there was a creak on the stairs. Keith was up.

"Um.." he said at the sight of James and Lance standing by each other, Krolia standing by quietly. They could all see the panic rise in his eyes and he rushed down the stairs in his black t-shirt and pajama pants.

"I'm sorry I slept in Lance. Um is everything okay??" he asked glancing between Lance and James.

James nodded. "Everything's fine Keith. I was just talking to Lance." he patted Lance on the back before grabbing Krolia's hand and they disappeared into the living room.

"What happened?" Keith immediately asked when his parents left the room. "Are you okay?" he stepped closer. "What did he say?" his voice was hoarse from sleep.

"It's fine. I'm fine. He just...said some things he should've said a long time ago." Lance sighed.

"It's all good though. We're good. How'd you rest?"

Keith watched him closely before smiling. "Fine. I guess too good, I'm really sorry for not being up in time."

"It's fine man." Lance said deciding not to mention he had needed the extra time.

"Um. Well there was a reason I came here.." Lance said softly. "There's something I need to say."

Keith blushed. "Oh okay. Well i have something to say too...let me go get dressed?" he asked before turning and rushing back up the stairs. His heart was beating way too fast as he slipped into his shorts and a t-shirt. He was about to rush back downstairs when his eyes fell on the painting.

It wasn't special. A pale sunset, the ocean was a deep blue and the sky was a dark red, they came together to show a dark purple with silver stars peeking through. It was his favorite thing and he thought it represented their relationship pretty well. The trees on the side formed a somewhat symbol of the place they first met.

Two six year olds who were on the edge of a meltdown because they hadn't wanted to move from their homes. Two six year olds that both needed a friend. Needed each other.

"Alright I'm here." Keith said quietly walking down the stairs with the painting behind his back.

Lance was about to speak before they heard a crash. It came from the living room and with closer inspection they could see a lamp on the ground and James and Krolia hovering over the couch watching them. When they saw they were spotted they sunk a little lower in the cushions but were still watching.

"Um..Can I take you somewhere else..?" Lance asked.

"Of course." Keith said following Lance out of the house. He followed him out of the neighborhood and down the familiar main street. Into a seperate section of the neighborhood...

"Are we going to.." Keith asked but his voice trailed off as they entered the park.

Where they first met.

Lance turned around uncertainly. "I'm sorry- if you want to talk somewhere else.."

Keith held up a hand. "No.It's perfect." he said.

Lance smiled and held out his hand in a gesture to the bench. They both sat down.

"So.." Lance said.

"So.." Keith said.

It was silent. And awkward. "Okay. I just want you to listen Keith. Okay? No judging or emotional sayings or-"

"You don't want me to speak is that right?" Keith laughed.

Lance chuckled. "Yeah pretty much." He sighed and rubbed his hands on his pants. "Okay..so I want to apologize. For misunderstanding and not trying to understand and being caught up in myself and I didn't even try to figure out why you couldn't talk to me when I left. I didn't even care and I'm sorry for that I want to..I don't know but I regret everything. Every moment I lost- every night wondering what you were doing every morning wanting to see your smile..hear your laugh..and I missed all of that. I'm so sorry. I should've been there for you when you were struggling with your dad, should've been there through high school and I just didn't want a part of it. I'm sorry for being so weird in Tokyo, for not trying to even fix this for kissing you and then telling you I didn't want any part, because that was stupid and I was scared and selfish. I'm so so sorry Keith..I get it if you don't..well what I'm trying to say is I want to be with you. For real. Heh I always have and it took me 10 years to realize it." He smiled softly.

Keith knew he was blushing but he smiled. He didn't know what to say. So he pulled out the painting and handed it to Lance. Lance held it in front of his face and there was no emotion on his face for a long time.

His eyes glazed over the painting for a good minute before looking up and grinning. "Did you paint this?" He asked.

Keith blinked. Was he supposed to talk now... "Oh you're funny Keith. You can talk." Lance said still smiling.

"Heh. Well yeah I painted it. That's the gift I told you about." He leaned over to point at the trees. "That's this place. And the red and blue kind of...well.." He blushed realizing what he was implying.

"That's amazing Keith..this is amazing.. Thank you." He smiled. They realized how close they were since Keith had leaned forward. But neither of them backed away.

"I'm sorry too Lance. For everything. I didn't try either. And I don't blame you- we were both hurt and scared. We're too young and stupid for these things. These threads that get knotted when we try to get close, emotions that mix and we can't explain. We shouldn't have to go through that. And I don't think we have to. We can make this easy. And I want to do that. I want to go on that journey with you." Keith said smiling.

"So..I'm forgiven?" Lance asked smirking.

Keith rolled his eyes. "Yes stupid. Now are you going to kiss me or not?" He grinned.

Lance leaned in. "Thought you'd never ask."