A Funeral For Our Butterflies

All These Years

Storm clouds loomed over the city of Altea, blocking out the full moon that shone above it, the rain falling in bucketfuls. There wasn't a soul to be seen in the streets, many inside their homes avoiding the storm that didn't seem like it would stop anytime soon. The time was nine at night, and instead of being on her laptop like the madwoman she was and looking for a potential home, Katie "Pidge" Holt was chasing after her one and a half year old daughter, who was running around the Holt residence butt naked and squealing loudly.

"Zoe! Get back here!" Pidge called out as she ran through the living room, the toddler squealing as she hid behind the couch.

"Mommy no find!" she said, peering out of the corner of her right eye for any signs of her mother. After a moment of silence, she lifted a brow, poking her head out from behind the couch, only to see that the living room was completely empty.

"Mommy?"

"Gotcha!"

Zoe squealed as she was lifted up into the air by Pidge, the woman smiling proudly as she wrapped her daughter up in a towel while Zoe stuck her tongue out childishly.

"Mommy no fair!" Zoe pouted.

Pidge rolled her eyes, a teasing smirk on her face. "If mommy isn't fair then why would she let you watch tv while you eat?"

Zoe frowned. "Hungry."

"Again?" Pidge asked exasperatedly, grimacing. "You just ate before your bath!"

"What do you expect? She is your kid," Keith said from behind her, leaning against the wall with a teasing smirk on his face. "She inherited your large appetite."

Zoe's face brightened up as she spotted him. "Daddy!"

"Hey princess!" Keith said happily, taking the girl from Pidge's arms and cradling her while she proceeded to play with the collar of his jacket.

Pidge arched an unimpressed brow. "You're back early."

Keith shrugged. "My manager let me out early because of the storm. Said that we should go before it got any worse. Why? Did you want me to be home late?"

Pidge snorted. "No, I just thought that maybe they finally got tired of your uh, crap," she said cautiously, eyeing the toddler in her boyfriend's arms, "and that they fired you for it."

"Mhm," Keith said unimpressed. "Listen, if Lance's dad fired me it wouldn't be because of my work, but it would be for doing something wrong to his son."

"Uncle Lance?" Zoe questioned, tilting her head to the side.

"He's not here," Pidge said apologetically.

Zoe frowned. "Aww."

Keith chuckled. "I think she inherited a lot more of your personality than mine."

Pidge shook her head. "Nope. She's always grouchy when anyone ignores her and has that tendency to slap you to grab your attention. That definitely came from you."

Keith grinned. "I don't slap anyone to get their attention."

"Do you really though?" Pidge asked wearily, motioning for Keith to hand Zoe over. "Anyways, welcome home or whatever. I left you some leftover food on the table. My parents won't be back from next door until like, two or something. You know how old people are with bingo," she said, sticking her tongue out in disgust.

Keith chuckled. "Thanks." He handed Zoe over to Pidge, the toddler groaning as she was passed off from her father into her mother's arms. "Oh come on Zoe, you can't walk around butt naked all night. You have to sleep in pajamas like normal little girls do."