Shiro sat on a strategically placed chair, his three year old toddler seated in his lap to keep her out of the way of what could only be referred to as 'Hurricane Lance.'
Said 'hurricane' made another circuit around the room, Izzy giggling as she attempted to catch him, but missed.
"Are you sure we have everything?" Lance finally paused in the middle of the room, counting off a checklist on his fingers.
With patience born of dealing with people over a prolonged period of time, his partner reached out and snagged his shirt. "Lance, relax. We checked our bags multiple times, we have everything."
Lance allowed himself to be tugged over, immediately responding to Izzy's: "Papá! Pick me up!" by doing just that. She squealed as she was thrown onto his shoulder, squirming as he went for her sides.
"I know. But I can't shake the feeling we're forgetting something."
Shiro's expression softened. The last few years had been rough, to say the least. Defeating Zarkon had only been the beginning. Taking on his extremely intelligent and conniving son had been time consuming and grueling.
Taking on Haggar had been infinitely worse. She had given them a run for their money, almost costing them far worse then just their lives.
But after it all, here they were. Alive, if maybe a bit ragged and scarred after the war.
"Then we'll get it when we land." He tugged at Lance's shirt to make certain he had his attention. "Earth has plenty of children's supplies."
Izzy decided she was done being held and altered her struggles. Lance placed her down, watching her make a beeline for their bags. He watched her poke at their things, making certain her favorite toy - a stuffed yalmor - was included.
The Blue Paladin watched her progress, still a little disbelieving. "We're really going home?"
Shiro smiled knowingly. "All we're waiting for is for Allura to get the okay to land."
Lance grinned, focus far off in future plans. "I can see my family again." He turned that grin on his partner, eyes sparkling. "They're going to love both of you. I can't wait for you to meet them." He paused, a slightly hesitant expression crossing his face. "Veronica is going to kill me when she finds out I started my own little pack without telling her first."
Shiro laughed. "I'm sure she'll understand. It has been four years. Things change." His own gaze went a bit far away, as it did sometimes when he thought about how long it had been since he'd left Earth. It was easy to forget sometimes that they had to tack on an extra year for him.
A hand to the side of his face jolted him out of his thoughts. "You have to keep up the hope your obaasan is still alive."
Shiro raised his gaze up to see that look Lance got when he was determined to be optimistic. "And if she's not?" It was a thought that haunted him, some nights. That he had lost her while he was away and that he would be coming home to an empty home.
"'Hope for the best. Plan for the worst', isn't that our motto?" Lance's expression softened. "Emphasis on that first part. She's going to be there when you get back, and then," he swiped Shiro's nose here, "You'll get to introduce her to her granddaughter and invite her to our wedding."
Shiro snorted. "You're way more into this wedding idea then I thought you'd be."
Lance's expression was dead serious. "Veronica will be less likely to kill me if she gets to plan a wedding."
Shiro laughed.
It was at this point that Allura's voice came on over the ship's intercom. "Paladins, we've landed successfully and have been clearance to depart."
Shiro and Lance looked at each other. The latter's grin went from ear to ear, and former appeared excited.
"What are we waiting for?." Lance jumped up, scooping up Izzy as he went. "Let’s go!." He spun Izzy around in his excitement. "We're finally back on Earth, Izzy!"
Izzy squealed, holding her arms out as if she were flying, all the while chanting, "Earth! Earth!"
Shiro shook his head at them before getting up himself. "Yes, yes, we're back on Earth." He ushered them to the door. "And we're going to miss the landing if we daddle."
Lance didn't have to be told twice. Tossing his toddler over his shoulder, to her delight, and grabbing the smallest of their bags, he took off with a shout of, "Last one there has to pick out the silverware!"
“Cheeky brat.” Shiro looked at the two large bags on the floor, eyes narrowing. They weren’t heavy, but there was no way he’d be able to catch up with the light footed Blue Paladin, even if he had a little extra weight from Izzy and the bag.
He sighed. Well, picking out silverware was hardly the most difficult task he’d ever done.
By the time he arrived, everyone else was already there. Lance was tapping his foot, clearly pretending he had been kept waiting for ages. “What kept you so long, old man?”
Shiro rolled his eyes and ignored the familiar nickname. “I’ll keep this short - I know some of you are eager to get going.” This was said with a jokingly pointed look at Lance, who didn’t look guilty in the least. “It’s been a long, hard road to get here, but we are almost home free. The Garrison has some final questions for us, but afterword you’ll be free to go.” He looked at them each in turn, a smile spreading over his face as he looked over this amazing team of his. “You all have been amazing. Now: let’s get out of here!”
More than one voice cheered. Finally, after so many years: they were home!
