An Age a Month

3 years part 2

Keith awoke the next day with Lance snuggled into his side, his arm still protectively around him. He took this opportunity to ponder about the current situation.

'what must Lance have been going through for this to be the solution. was he not happy? why a 3 year old child? why a child at all?'

'how were they going to fix this?'

Keith went to get up when Lance began to stir beside him, his little hands reached out towards Keith. He grabbed at Keith's arm and held it close to him.

"Daddy... daddy stay..." he mumbled sleepily.

Keith froze, Lance just called him daddy. this must be a mistake, he did mistake Allura for his mother when they first met. 'I'll correct him if he does it again' he thought as he carefully picked Lance up settling him on his shoulder.

Making his way to the lounge area he bumped into Hunk.

"Oh hey Keith! how's baby Lance?"

"He's hardly a baby Hunk, he's three."

Hunk folded his arms. "well he still looks like a baby, I knew he was a scrawny kid but this is just ridiculous."

Keith nodded and looked at the child in his arms. He was really small for his age, holding him like this made Keith realise how skinny he is. The trio arrived in the lounge where Coran was already with Allura and Pidge presumably working on what they can do fix the situation. The trio sat on one of the couches as Shiro came in and joined them.

"What did the Queen say Coran?" Shiro asked as he sat next to Hunk.

"She said what had been done was to aid Lance with his emotional well-being, his current state of mind and his past, unfortunately she wouldn't elaborate." Coran replied. "She did say however, that in order to help Lance return to his normal age we need to show a different environment to which he grew up in but that is what we must figure out for ourselves."

"But Lance was in a loving caring family, he said as much all the time, surely being horrible isn't the way to help him." Keith said raising his voice slightly.

"The queen did give us this" Coran held up a small bottle with a whispy light blue substance. "This is some of Lance's memories, the Queen said this should aid us when we need."

"It feels a bit invasive though." Pidge said as she examined the bottle. "Does this mean Lance can't remember what memories are in the bottle?"

"No he can, this is like a projection into the mind, so who ever looks can see what Lance remembers"

"If it's to help Lance then we need to" Shiro said.

Coran nodded. "Okay, so who is going to look?"

The paladins and Allura looked at Coran. "Aren't we all going to see?" Allura asked.

Coran shook his head "Only one can use the bottle, that's what the Queen told me."

"I think Keith should." Hunk said. "even though I am his best friend, Lance feels most comfortable with Keith, it makes sense as he will likely be taking care of Lance the most."

"I don't know how to take care of him! Hunk you should do it!" Keith exclaimed. He had no idea how he was supposed to help.

"I know this is going to be hard for you Keith, but he seems to have taken a shine to you, if it was with anyone else he might freak out." Shiro stated pacing a hand on Keith's shoulder.

"But-!"

A stern look from Shiro, silenced him. "We will help where we can, you not alone in this either Keith."

He nodded and handed a still sleeping Lance to Allura, at least if he wakes up he is with someone he sort of recognised. Keith stepped up to Coran and took the bottle.

"All you have to do is pour it on your forehead and close your eyes." Coran said.

Keith followed his instructions and closed his eyes.

'Daddy, daddy' A little three year old Lance came toddling over to his father, coming in the door.

The older man sighed, hiding the bags under his eyes and the alcohol on his breath.

"Hey Champ!" he slurred, sluggishly picked the boy up and spun him around. Lance squealed in delight, as his mother came into the hall. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed her husband stumbling.

"How was work, honey?" she asked, reaching to take Lance.

Tom's voice slurred, it what was an attempt at telling Rosa what happened.

"Got fired" was forced out and the whole demeanour around Tom changed. Rosa stepped back holding Lance close. Veronica was out at a party and Marco and Louis were at a friend's so, they were alone in the house.

Tom pulled a bottle out of his pocket and chugged the remaining liquid.

"You got fired?" Rosa asked carefully.

"sss'your fault kid, wearing me out, with sssilly antics" Tom slurred pointing at Lance.

"Do not ever talk to your son that way!" Rosa shouted. "HOW DARE YOU!"

"How dare I? HOW DARE I? THAT BRAT LOST ME MY JOB!" Tom smashed the bottle against the wall to make a point, scaring Lance.

"Daddy, stop!" Lance cried trying to hide in his mother's arms.

"STUPID BOY!"

The bottle was thrown, screaming could be heard and blood began to pour down Lance's neck.

Lance now 7, cautiously moved around the house. Moving quietly, only being him and his father in the house. Things had never been the same between the two after what happened. Lance didn't talk much to his father, even though he apologised at the time, he seemed to mean what he said.

Tom was never outright horrible to Lance but alone was a different story. Their relationship was never the same. In the time they were alone Lance was beat and put down for everything he did.

Today was the day, however that changed everything between Lance and his father, and as much as Keith did not want to see what happened next, he could do nothing as he watched, Lance accidentally knock over a glass of water. His father going mad and throwing Lance in his room, following him and shutting the door.

Keith gasped as he found himself back in the lounge of the castle. He could feel his hands shaking, his breathing was very fast and Hunk urged him to sit down. Keith shrugged to breathe as he tried to process what he had just seen.

Lance was awake now and quickly toddled over to Keith. Immediately he was pulled into Keith's arms. Lance looked up at Keith's face.

"Daddy okay?" he whispered.

Keith stared into Lance's innocent blue eyes before pulling him into a hug.

"Yes, yes Daddy's okay, I'll won't him hurt you again, I promise." No one said anything as Keith refused to let go of Lance or elaborate on what he had seen.

No one dared question why Keith had let Lance call him dad either.