Voltron belongs to WEP, I just borrow him once in a while.

-

And so Allura was crowned Queen. Keith was relieved that he was named nothing more than Royal Consort. He had a secret dread that Coran was going to try and force him into a Title. During the ceremony, Hazar surprised everyone by presenting Lance, Hunk, Kim, Cliff, and the Admiral with commendations on behalf of the Druhle Empire. Keith was awarded the highest medal given to Druhle soldiers, for his help in freeing the slaves on Trasana, and for saving Hazar's life. The ceremony then moved into the main ballroom for the reception.

Allura and Keith mingled with everyone for a while. A sudden movement caught Keith's attention, and he leaned over and whispered in Allura's ear. "Be back soon." He kissed her on the cheek and headed outside.

The balcony was deserted except for a dark shadow at the far end. Keith walked over and stood near Lance. "Some party huh?"

"Kinda stuffy." Lance replied.

"It'll loosen up once the older folks leave." Lance only nodded in response. Keith glanced around. Spying a beer bottle next to Lance, he picked it up and took a swig. Spluttering, he put the bottle back on the railing. "How on earth can you drink that stuff? Tastes like mud!" Keith exclaimed.

Lance shot his friend a baleful look. "Better than that pansy-ass stuff you drink." He replied nodding at Keith's champagne glass.

Keith drew himself up loftily. "Pardon me if I have more refined tastes."

Lance looked back out over the Castle grounds. "Like I said, pansy-ass."

"This from the guy who drinks tea." Keith laughed. Lance didn't answer. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you've been avoiding me." Keith said. Lance flinched, but didn't reply. Ah-ha, hit a nerve there. They stood quietly for a few minutes. Finally Keith spoke up. "So, why have you been avoiding me?"

Lance shrugged. "I haven't been avoiding you. I mean, you're married now, things were bound to change."

"Lance." Keith said blandly. "Try again."

Lance took a long pull from his beer. "I really don't think this is the time or place for this conversation." Lance started to walk towards the door but Keith blocked his path.

"You're not getting away that easy. What's the problem Lance?"

Lance walked to the end of the balcony, far enough out of earshot that no one inside could hear their dialogue. "You could have come to me, but instead…I mean you have Allura and your real family now, guess you don't need me anymore." He said, barely concealing the hurt in his voice.

"What are you talking about? Of course I need you. You're my best friend for Christ's sake!" Keith said incredulously.

"Well, you've got a new best friend now. Why don't you go find Dorma and talk to her." Lance started to push past Keith.

Enough, I've had it. Keith grabbed Lance by the lapels, and hauled him up against the wall. Before Lance could react, Keith pinned him across the chest. "What the hell is that supposed to mean!" Keith growled.

"You two are so close, you tell me!" Lance snapped back. He pushed Keith's arms away and faced the gardens again, but not before Keith noticed the glitter of tears in Lance's green eyes.

The anger drained from Keith. "Lance." He said quietly. Lance didn't move, his body rigid with tension. "C'mon, look at me."

Lance finally looked up at his friend. "Dammit Keith, I was your best friend." He said in a choked voice.

"And you still are!"

"Then why the hell couldn't you talk to me about Lotor? After all we've been through, why couldn't you trust me!" Lance said angrily.

"Don't you think I wanted to? Lance, it's not that simple!"

"Oh no, but you could talk to Dorma! It was easy enough to talk to her!"

Keith sighed and leaned forward on the balcony railing. "Did she tell you about the bond we have?"

"Yeah. And I'm supposed to believe that?" Lance replied sarcastically.

Keith nodded. "Is that too much to ask?" Lance grew still. The silence lingered for a few minutes before Keith spoke up again. "I wanted to talk to you, but I didn't know how. I killed him Lance. I hunted Lotor down and killed him. I'm no better than he was." Keith said quietly.

"That's not true and you know it." Lance protested, coming to stand next to Keith.

Keith faced his friend. "Yes it is. I can't deny it Lance, I wanted the bastard dead. I wanted him to suffer like he made Allura suffer. Like he made all of us suffer."

"We all did Keith. I would have done the same in your place." Lance told him.

Keith looked his friend in square in the eyes. "Would you have Lance? Can you honestly say you would have stood there and shot Lotor, then stood over him and watched until he died?"

Lance looked away, and paced the length of the balcony again. "I…don't know."

"If you don't know, then how can I ask you to understand what I did?" Keith said plaintively. "How can I ask you to forgive me when I can't forgive myself." Lance grew still again. "I'm supposed to be better than that Lance. I was trained better." Keith said.

Lance shook his head. "You're only human Keith. No one could have put up with as much bullshit as Lotor put us through. Any sane person would have snapped a long time ago."

"That's pretty much the same thing Dorma said." He held his hand up before Lance could say anything. "She's my friend Lance, nothing more. She loves you. Stop acting like a jealous fool."

Lance grinned at Keith, his anger evaporating. "Yeah, that'll be the day when I'm jealous of you Montgomery." He held out his hand. "I'm sorry."

Keith paused a moment, then took Lance's hand and pulled his friend into a hug. "Yeah well, I got the same lecture from Allura. I'm sorry too."

Lance sighed and turned back to face the lake. "I just thought…I guess since you had your real family now, you wouldn't need me anymore." He said quietly.

"Lance…"

Lance shrugged. "I know, it's stupid."

Keith stood next to him. "It's not that stupid." They stood quietly for a few minutes, listening to the sound of the party going on behind them. "They're strangers to me Lance. My family I mean." Keith sighed and paced the length of the balcony. "I care for them of course, I even love them on some level, but they're strangers. You, your mom and dad, even Kim and Annie, you're my family. You know when to push me, and when to leave me alone. How long to let me stew over stuff before you butt in and force me to realize what an ass I'm being." He sighed again. "Lance, don't ever think I don't need you. Sometimes I don't think you realize how much I depend on you. You and now Allura, are both halves of me. You keep me sane when my world is going to hell around me. I don't know what I'd ever do without either of you." He said hoarsely.

Lance gripped Keith's shoulder. "You won't ever have to. I promise." They embraced again. Lance drew back first, and fingered the new medal on Keith's jacket. "Nice. Makes you look almost respectable."

Keith scowled. "Did you know about this?"

Lance shook his head. "Honestly Cap, I had no idea. You deserve it though." He paused a moment. "I notice you're in uniform, and wearing Commander's Clusters."

Keith nodded. "I took the promotion, but not the Dauntless. I figured this way, I'd still be part of G.G. and they wouldn't be able to get away with anymore of the crap they tried to pull over the past few months. What about you?" He asked, taking in Lance's casual attire.

Lance shrugged. "Graham offered me my own command. Captain rank and command of an elite fighter squadron attached to one of the deep space probe ships."

Keith's heart sank. On one hand, he was happy for Lance, but on the other, hated to see him go. "Well then. Congratulations."

"I resigned."

"You what?"

"I said I resigned. I basically told Graham what to do with his promotion. I don't want any part of an organization that uses people so carelessly." Lance said to him.

"You think I'm wrong to stay in?" Keith asked defensively.

Lance shook his head. "No. Like you said, some one needs to be on the inside, and you're just the person to do it. Me, I'm too hotheaded and would end up being court-martialed or something worse."

Keith laughed. "You're right there. So what are you going to do?"

"Stay here. Hopefully you still want me to fly Red."

"Don't be an idiot, of course I do."

Lance sighed in relief. "Other than that…Dammit Keith, I love her. What the hell am I going to do?"

Keith chuckled. "I might as well tell you now. Allura's going to make the announcement soon anyway."

"What announcement?"

"She and Hazar have worked out a preliminary peace treaty. He has agreed to leave an ambassador and other representatives of the Druhle Empire here on Arus. Dorma has agreed to be that ambassador. She's staying here. Most of the refugees we rescued are staying too." Keith told him.

Lance went pale, then his green eyes brightened. "You're kidding?" Keith shook his head. "Wait a minute, who's going with Hazar then?"

"Jeff and Lisa. Cliff has been made Captain of the Vehicle Force. Kim and Conrad are joining him to take Lisa and Jeff's place."

Lance frowned. "I don't like the idea of Kim and Cliff together."

Keith laughed. "How do you think Hazar feels about you and his sister?"

"Yeah, but I'm a highly regarded member of the Voltron Force

"Yeah, that's it." They both broke out laughing. "Lance, thanks. Thanks for just being you and letting me just be me." Keith told him.

"Well, somebody has to keep you in line Cap. Can't have you being an anal bastard all the time." Lance grinned at his friend.

Keith shook his head, and held his glass up to Lance. "To us."

Lance clinked his bottle against the glass. "To us. And the lovely ladies who put up with us."

"You can say that again." They both turned to see Allura and Dorma standing in the doorway. Allura walked over and took Keith's hand. "I'd wondered where you had gone."

Keith wrapped his arms around her. "Not far." He said kissing her softly.

Lance pretended to gag. Dorma smiled and walked over to stand next to him. He winked down at her, then pulled her into his arms. "Love ya babe."

She frowned. "I am not a 'babe'."

"You are from where I'm standing." Lance kissed her again.

Keith and Allura laughed. "Who would have thought I'd live to see the day when Lance Harrison would fall for one woman?" Keith said.

"Miracles never cease Cap. Look at you!" Lance laughed back. They all joined in.

"We'd better get inside." Allura said after a few minutes. "I have a statement to make."

Keith and Allura, Lance and Dorma, hand in hand walked back to the ballroom. Peace was beginning among their peoples and they were making it happen. These young people together with Voltron, Defender of the Universe!

-

Well, that's it...For now!