"What has got Spirit so excited?"

All the paladins and the Alteans stood in the hangar, watching Spirit howl and leap giddily. His entire coat fluffed out, his tail swishing from side to side as he nuzzled his mate and went back to... Celebrating?

"No idea." Shiro muttered.

Coran studied Spirit's behavior, then snapped his fingers. "I recognize this! He's clearly excited about something, and it's obviously got something to with Faune!"

"We know that," Lance muttered, running his fingers through his hair. "But, why?"

"I conclude that Faune is pregnant!" Coran announced, puffing out his chest.

Everyone, aside from Spirit, was quiet.

Then Pidge whooped and tossed her hands up. "My lion is having a little baby lion!" She cheered, her eyes sparkling. Shiro chuckled and shook his head. Pidge bounced over to Coran, grinning brightly. "How long are Altean lions pregnant, Coran!?"

Coran hummed and tapped his chin. "I'd say about thirty quintents."

Pidge jolted, eyes wide. "Whoa, only thirty days? For an animal that size?"

Allura stepped up. "I assume from this that on Earth, pregnancy has to do with the size of the animal. Well, not such the case for Altean animals. Altean creatures develop rapidly while in the womb, but that growth rate decreases once born."

"Whoa!" Hunk jumped forward to meet Allura's gaze. "Why? Why do they grow so fast while in their mama's bellies?"

Coran pet Cloade as the blue lion lazily rubbed against him. "Simple. Most Altean creatures were battle creatures long ago when Altea was young. So, while in the womb, the child grows quicker so it can be born quicker so it's parents can quickly return to battle, especially for Mejac lions. When expecting, the male will stay by his mate until the cub is born to protect them. He won't leave her side once unless it is absolutely necessary."

Lance pat Hunk's shoulder. "That's kinda cool. And it's really kinda a cute couple thing for him to be by her side until the cub is born."

Keith huffed. "How would you know what cute couple things even are?"

"Hey!"

Shiro sighed. "Don't start now, you two."

Lance and Keith grumbled.

Shiro stepped up to Coran and Allura. "So, what about Voltron?"

Allura sighed. "That will be a difficult task, but for a while we have already been using only four of the five lions because of the damage sustained to the green lion. However, since the green lion is now fully repaired and has a stronger armor, I have faith that Faune will be safer within the lion and Spirit will also fight. However, he probably wouldn't want to fight too far from her."

Shiro nodded, his shoulders relaxing.

Hunk stepped in. "What about repairs and updating to the other lions?"

Coran's eyes searched over the five lions as he twisted his mustache. "Work on the red lion next."

Everyone turned their attention to Coran, including Pelae. Coran grinned and patted Cloade's back. "Looks like we'll be having more than one lion family on this ship."

Cloade stared up at Coran, confused, then averted his gaze to Pelae. His fur rose in excitement and he bounded over to Pelae. He meowed and purred, nuzzling her and licking her cheeks. Pelae's expression was very unimpressed.

Coran then looked up in thought. "Though I have no idea how we'll get Cloade in the blue lion."

~

"He's all over me," Pelae groaned, letting herself collapse beside Faune after managing to escape her mate.

Faune purred and flicked Pelae with her tail. "Of course he is. He's your mate and you're with his cub." She rolled onto her side to lean on her resting mate. "Cloade is the most affectionate and the friendliest of us, so even if you weren't with cub he'd be like this. If you didn't like it, why'd you become his mate?"

Pelae huffed and turned her head away, ears twitching as they flattened against her head. Faune giggled. "Yeah... I guess I shouldn't be complaining about something so ridiculous."

The smaller lion hummed, her tail swaying. "Here he comes," she mused. "Don't be mean."

The red lion raised her head and perked her rounded ears as Cloade approached, head lowered. Pelae's ears flicked and twisted back. "Cloade?"

Cloade stopped a short distance from Pelae. "Sorry." He muttered, tail on the floor and head low. "I know that you need space and I should give you space. I just can't help it."

Pelae blinked, then lowered her head and relaxed, her expression softening. She purred and flicked her tail. "Lay with me."

The blue lion's ears perked, then he immediately brightened up. He bounced on his paws then quickly curled around her. His purr vibrated deeply as he gently nuzzled his mate. Pelae meowed softly, returning his affectionate nuzzling.

Faune purred as she watched, then closed her eyes to rest with Spirit.