Title: Winter Wishes

A fresh layer of snow covered the Arusian landscape. Everything seemed to sparkle from the rays of the fading sun. Keith smiled as he admired the landscape while walking through the forest near the castle. It was so rare that he could escape the responsibilities of command to take time to be with himself. These rare moments of solitude and reflection Keith treasured greatly.

Keith stopped walking and watched two small black squirrels scampering across the surface of the snow chasing each other. The squirrels squired all over the place until finally one had a sudden burst of speed and plowed the other into a pile of snow. Keith chuckled softly as the buried squirrel burst out and took after his 'attacker'. The captain was about to start walking again when something slammed into his back sending him head first into a larger pile of snow.

Keith pushed himself out of the snow, shaking his head trying to get it out of his hair. Laughter came from behind him, followed by a familiar voice. "You were suppose to duck!"

Keith stood up slowly brushing the snow off himself. "Maybe… though now you are a dead duck." Keith said, scooping a handful of snow off the branch of an evergreen. Quickly forming a well-made snowball, he threw it Lance, hitting his target on the shoulder.

The force knocked Lance back a few steps. "Not bad." Lance laughed. "Not bad at all. I wasn't sure you even knew how to make a snowball!"

"Why wouldn't I?" Keith asked with a grin. "My grandfather owned a cabin in the mountains and we went there every winter."

"Too bad he didn't teach you how to duck!" Lance yelled, beaming Keith in the chest with another snowball.

Keith recovered quickly and threw another snowball at Lance. "Not bad aim for a fly boy."

Lance ducked behind a tree, narrowly missing being beamed in the head. "Well you need to work on yours!" Smirking he made another snowball but this time he threw it at the branches over Keith's head. Piles of snow came down on top of Keith.

"That's it. No more Mr. Nice Guy." Keith dodged through the trees, quickly grabbing Lance and tackling him into a snowdrift. Lance didn’t even have a chance to think about an escape.

Lance grunted as he crashed into a snowdrift, Keith on top of him. Laughing, he wiped the snow out of his face. "Not bad. However, you are not suppose to follow me in!" He quickly grabbed some snow and dropped it on top of Keith's head before trying to squirm out from under him.

Keith grinned and shook his head, sending snow flying in all directions. "Thing is I don't mind the snow." He said, successfully keeping Lance pinned to the ground.

"Crap!" Lance groaned. Again he tried to sit up, but was pushed down. "So...you going to keep me pinned all night? Or are you going to let me up?"

"I think I'll opt for option A." Keith laughed. "What's the matter, don't you like the snow?"

"I love the snow! I can't play in it with you on top of me!" Lance grinned. 'That and I could get too used to this!'

"And what do you want to play?" Keith asked. "We could build a snowman. I haven't done that in so many years and this the perfect snowman snow." Keith said, laughter sparkled in his black eyes.

"Sounds like fun." Lance laughed. "But I can't do it laying down!"

"I guess that means I have to let you up." Keith said, though he waited a long moment before he actually moved to let Lance up. "Happy now?"

"Yeah." Lance shook his head, trying to get rid of the snow. 'Not really. Kinda liked that. Get your mind out of the gutter boy!'

"Good. So let's build that snowman... and hope Sven or Hunk don't come along and destroy it."

Lance laughed as he followed Keith. "Depends on where we put it. Hunk would probably destroy it. Sven on the other hand would make it look like a demon or something."

"Or something." Keith said in agreement. After a moment of walking he stopped at place not too far from one of Arus’ many ponds. "This looks like a good place."

"Great. Well, let's get started." Lance said as he dropped to his knees to start making a growing ball.

********

After about a half hour of work everything but the head was completed and the two balls of the body were stacked on each other.

"All he needs now is a head and finishing touches. Though since we have no magical hat he can't come to life like Frosty… and I don't think Haggar would be amused if we asked her to bring Frosty to life." Keith grinned.

"I seriously doubt that, Skipper." Lance laughed as he worked on the head. "And we probably wouldn't want her to do that anyway. How would we destroy a snow robeast?"

"With a giant flame thrower." Keith laughed. He moved to find things they could use to give their snowman a face.

A moment later Keith snuck up behind Lance and held a piece of mistletoe over his head. 'A perfect excuse to kiss him.' Keith thought to himself before kissing Lance on the cheek. At Lance's shocked expression he showed Lance the piece of mistletoe. "Mistletoe. When someone's under it you have to kiss them."

"Thanks." Lance smiled, blushing bright red. Then he shyly leaned forward and kissed Keith's cheek. "It's our custom to return it."

"Never heard of that one." Keith blushed. "But thank you."

"My pleasure." Lance knew he was turning even redder, so he quickly glanced down at the head he had been working on. "Want to help me put this on our creation?"

"Yeah… sure." Keith said helping Lance place the head on the top of snowman.

"There we go." Lance grinned as he stepped back. "Looks good. Though the poor guy is blind, deaf, and has no sense of smell or taste!"

Keith stuck the piece of mistletoe on the top of the snowman's head. "Well he has hair now."

Lance laughed. "Fungus for hair. Poor guy. And I really don't want to kiss this guy!"

"Poor Frosty." Keith laughed. He pulled two smooth stones out his pocket and stuck them on for eyes. "He can see now."

"Yup! Though I can't help but wonder...what is it like having stones for eyes?" Lance chuckled. "So...what else do ya got?"

"A little pinecone." Keith said pulling a pinecone that was only three inches long out. He stuck it on the snowman. "Perfect little nose."

"So now he can see and hear. And has an itchy scalp." Lance grinned. "Now all he needs is a mouth. What else do you have in that magic pocket of yours?"

"Maybe we'd be better off if he didn't have a mouth. One less person to talk back would be nice." Keith laughed.

Lance snorted, sticking out his tongue. "Not my fault that I'm opinionated. Though he still needs some arms." He quickly grabbed some broken branches and put them into the snowman. "How is that?"

Keith rolled his eyes, "Opinionated is one word for you." Keith said. "Nice flimsy arms. He really needs to work out, fat with small arms is not a nice body."

"Just set him up with Hunk. He'll get old Frosty into shape." Lance grinned before grabbing some more snow and beaming Keith in the chest. "So, I'm a little impulsive. Keeps life from getting boring!"

"Okay so now you are opinionated and impulsive… have you even considered seeking professional help?"

"Yup. They kicked me out! Lost cause." Lance laughed. "At least I can duck!"

"Yeah you definitely are that." Keith said. 'Lost cause to ever try to get at least…or does that make me a lost cause for being stupid enough…either way it's a lost cause.'

Lance frowned slightly before walking up and tapping Keith on the head. "Hello? Is anyone there?"

"Hmm... did you say something?"

"Are you okay? You spaced out on me for a moment." Lance's frown deepened as he placed his palm on Keith's forehead. "Are you feeling sick? Maybe you have been out here too long."

"I'm fine. I was just thinking… what else our snowman might need." Keith said, giving Lance a reassuring smile. Even though he found Lance's concern touching he wasn't about to tell Lance what he'd really been thinking.

"If you say so. I don't feel a fever." Lance moved his hand to feel Keith's cheek, keeping it there a little longer than necessary before removing it. He glanced back at the snowman. "I'm not sure. Maybe a name?"

"We can always just stick with Frosty." Keith said, looking at the snowman and trying hard to avoid looking at Lance.

Lance grinned, wrapping his arm around Keith's shoulders and giving him a brief hug. "Sounds good to me. The name is probably patented, but I seriously doubt they will come to Arus to press charges."

Keith blinked at the unexpected hug. "Um… maybe we should go inside…get some umm…hot chocolate." He said. 'Oh that sounded real intelligent! He's going to think you've lost it.'

"That sounds good. As long as Allura doesn't make it." Lance chuckled as he shook his head. "I never knew someone could mess up making hot chocolate using the powdered envelopes. But somehow Ally did it! It tasted like crude oil!"

Keith nodded. "So let's go." He quickly took off running for the castle without waiting to see if Lance was coming.

"Hey! No fair!" Lance laughed, going into a sprint. He would have caught up with Keith too if he had seen the log hidden in the snow. But he didn't and the next thing Lance knew he was flying head first into some deep snow. He managed to at least sit up, spitting out snow. "Well that was real graceful!"

Keith heard Lance fall and turned to look. "You okay?"

"Sure. Just testing gravity. And if anyone wants to know, it works just fine!" Lance laughed as he stood up and dusted himself off with his left hand. 'Must have twisted my right wrist slightly. Kinda tender.' Lance grinned as he walked up to Keith. "Let's get that hot chocolate. I could really use some now! That snow was kinda cold going down."

"You sure that you're okay?" Keith asked concernedly as they headed back towards the castle.

Lance rolled his eyes. "I'm fine! Just being my usual graceful self. I'm just cold. Need some warming."

"As long as you're sure that's all you need." Keith said. 'I know how I'd warm you up if I could…don't even go there Keith.'

**********

Before too long, both Keith and Lance were sitting at the kitchen table waiting for the water to boil for some instant hot chocolate. Lance sighed as he watched the kettle. "I wish that thing would hurry up."

"Don't you know that a watched pot never boils." Keith laughed.

"Pppttthhh!" Lance stuck out his tongue. "So I'm just testing that theory. Working so far!" He jumped in his seat when the whistle started blowing. "See! You ruined the experiment. Now I will never know..."

"No I didn't because it boiled once you stopped watching." Keith grinned.

"Just get the cups ready, Oh Brilliant One!" Lance snorted, getting up to get the kettle. He winced slightly when he picked it up with his right hand. 'Oops! Forgot.' He quickly placed it back down and switched hands. 'Hope he didn't see that. He's got enough to worry about without adding how to fight off Doom when one of the pilots has a sprained wrist...'

Keith set the mugs down on the counter beside Lance. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Fine. The kettle was just a little hot." Lance grinned. "So, are the cups ready? Or was tearing envelopes and pouring powder into cups too difficult for you?"

"If you're so fine let me see your wrist." Keith said.

'Busted!' Lance sighed. "Um...which one?"

"The right one." Keith said.

'How does he do that?' Defeated, Lance held out his wrist. "It's okay. I just twisted it a little bit. It's nothing."

Keith gently felt Lance's slightly swollen wrist. "It feels like it might be sprained, probably should wrap it just in case. I'll finish making the hot chocolates then we can get the first aid kit and tend to your wrist."

"Okay." Lance smiled at his captain's concern. Despite what some people say, Keith was not cold or distant. He was completely opposite. He just rarely showed it. "So, do you think you can handle stirring the hot chocolate?"

"I think I can manage. After all I'm not the one with a sprained wrist." Keith replied. He mixed the hot chocolate and dropped a couple marshmallows on the top of each one.

"It doesn't take two hands to stir hot chocolate." Lance snorted. Keith just tilted his head toward the table while he stirred. Sighing, Lance gave up and sat down. Keith had already fallen into mother hen mode.

After bringing over the hot chocolate, Keith pulled out the first-aid kit and set it down on the table. He pulled chair over close to Lance's and gently pulled Lance's wrist over. "How sore is it? Truthfully."

Lance winced when Keith slowly moved it. "As long as you don't do that, it's just fine!"

"Well if you weren't such a klutz, it wouldn't be sore at all." Keith said jokingly. He pulled out a tension bandage and wrapped it carefully around the sore wrist. "If it's really sore, I can get you an ice-pac for it."

'Whoever said Keith was cold needs to have their head examined! He is such a warm and compassionate guy!' Lance couldn't help but smile warmly as Keith gently wrapped his wrist. "Thanks. It's only sore when I move it, so I guess I'm not suppose to move it."

"Well then don't move it." Keith laughed. "My mother always said a kiss and bowl of chicken noodle soup helps to cure anything that ails you…" Keith kissed the top of the bandage. "So now all you need is the soup."

Lance was already filling warm; he didn't need chicken soup for that! His cheeks turning a nice shade of pink, he nodded. "That's what my mom said too. I have never been able to prove anything she ever said wrong yet!"

"Just sit here and enjoy your hot chocolate. I'll make the soup." Keith said. He packed away the first aid kit then went to tend to the soup.

Five minutes later he stepped pack to the table carrying a tray with two bowls of soup, spoons, and crackers. Keith set the tray down on the table and set Lance's bowl of soup in front of him before sitting down with his own.

"Um..." Lance stirred his soup nervously. "You didn't take cooking lessons from Sven by any chance?"

"Not a chance. My mom taught me how to cook." Keith replied.

Lance let out a huge sigh of relief. "Just checking. Didn't want to end up in the hospital for a week like Pidge did after eating some of Sven's delicious home cooking!"

"That's Pidge's fault for being dumb enough to eat anything Sven made… though there were those brownies…ummm never mind." Keith said.

"What? Tell!" Lance laughed before eating a spoonful. He smacked his lips in delight. "Hey! This is great!"

"It was a long time ago… and Sven accidentally made 'special' brownies... only thing he ever made that tasted good."

"Wow!" Lance grinned evilly. "Was he drunk? And what possessed you to try them? You drunk too?"

"No wasn't drunk but after having a few…" Keith chuckled. "That's all you need to know."

"Party pooper!" Lance laughed, quickly finishing off the soup. "This was great. Thanks! So...what do you want for Christmas?"

"Nothing. Don't worry about getting me anything." Keith said.

"But I want to buddy." Lance frowned. "Come on...there must be something that you want."

'Nothing money can buy.' Keith thought to himself. "Nope. There's nothing."

Lance sighed as he sipped his hot chocolate. "That really doesn't help, Keith. I guess I will just have to guess."

"I guess." Keith replied absently swirling the end of his hot chocolate around the bottom of the mug.

"Hey." Lance placed a hand on Keith's, stopping the swirling. "What's wrong? If you have something else to do, you don't have to stay here and keep me company, you know."

"I know that. And I don't have anything else to do." Keith said. "Absolutely nothing is wrong."

"If you say so..." Lance mumbled as he watched Keith's expression...or lack of expression would be a better word. Then he grinned brightly. "Well, if you got nothing to do today, want to do something with me?"

"Maybe. It depends on what you have in mind." Keith said. "Though with your sore wrist, you shouldn't do much with it."

"I'm open to suggestions." Lance laughed, lightly waving his wrist.

"Seems to me the suggestion was yours so it's up to you to decide what you want to do." Keith said.

"Hmmm...good point. I just forgot about my wrist." Lance laughed. He thought for a moment while glancing out of the window at the stars. "Naw...you wouldn't want to do that."

"How do you know I wouldn't want to do it unless you ask if I want to? Tell me what you have in mind and I'll tell you if I want to do it." Keith said. 'Besides…no matter what it is I'm bound to say yes because I have too much trouble saying no to you.'

"Well..." Lance blushed sheepishly. "It's kinda silly. Besides, it's cold outside."

"Anymore silly then building a snowman?" Keith asked. "I think after that you're entitled to a silly suggestion of your own."

Lance laughed. "You got me there! Okay. I've always wanted to go horseback riding in the snow at night." He quickly turned his attention to his cup. "It silly and not exactly safe, I know. We can do something else..."

"That don't sound like a silly idea. It sounds like a fun idea. It's a clear night and as long as we both dress warmly we shouldn't get too cold." Keith said.

"You want to go with me? Really?" Lance blinked in shock. He broke out in a huge grin when Keith nodded. Lance quickly leaned over and enveloped Keith in a bear hug. "Thanks! Thanks so much!"

"It sounds like fun. Besides someone has to go with you to keep you out of trouble."

"Hey! I'm not that bad!" Lance pouted. "I don't go looking for trouble. It finds me!"

"You are trouble." Keith said.

Lance snorted as he stood up. "Whatever. Personally, I don't see whatever gave you that idea."

"Knowing you gave me that idea." Keith said.

"Well, I think you’re all mixed up." Lance laughed. "Meet you at the stables in ten minutes?"

"Whatever." Keith said. He stood up and started to gather the dishes to put them in the sink.

"Okay." Lance paused at the door before quickly walking up behind Keith and wrapping his arms around Keith's waist, giving him a brief hug. "Thanks buddy. This means a lot to me." Feeling his cheeks turn red again, Lance let go and quickly walked out the kitchen door.

Keith blushed several shades of red. 'It was a hug…a hug and nothing more…' He finished putting straightening up then went to get ready to go for the nighttime horseback ride with Lance. Ten minutes later he was ready and heading towards the stable.

**********

"Heya Skipper!" Lance grinned as Keith walked in. Lance was as excited as a kid at Christmas. He was currently saddling one of the gentler and more easy going mares. Lance laughed as he worked on the straps with one hand on Timber, a white and gray quarter mare. "Figured I better use a nice horse since I’m doing this one handed."

"That's probably a good idea." Keith said walking over to the horse he normally rode, a black Anolusion stallion named Darienger.

It took Lance longer to get his horse ready, but he soon managed. It was interesting to watch him climb up the mare with one hand, but finally he got on. Lance chuckled as he pulled Timber next to Darienger and Keith. "Well, now that I'm finally ready, let's go!"

"Where exactly do you want to ride?" Keith asked as he headed outside. "Or do you just want to ride anywhere?"

Lance smiled as he took a deep breath, breathing in the crisp cool night air. "Anywhere is fine with me. As long as it’s away from the castle lights."

"We can head down towards the lake. It should be far enough from the castle to clearly see the stars." Keith said. He glanced up at the stars. "I haven't actually looked at the stars in long time. At least not just for the sake of looking at them like I did when I was a kid."

"They are beautiful." Lance grinned as he stared upward, fully confident in Timber's abilities. She was one of the nicest and most reliable horses in the castle. "I never get tired of them. You can always rely on them to be there for you." He paused and stared at Keith a moment. "Let's get to the lake. I bet they will be spectacular there."

"Nothing is forever. Even stars burnout and die." Keith said quietly to himself as he headed towards the lake.

The night was so clear that Lance still heard him. "That's true Keith. But they are still there for you until your time or theirs is up." Lance whispered softly.

"I guess. Though that has nothing to do with why I haven't looked at the stars in a long time. I guess actually flying through space and battling in space has just… made me see stars as more for navigation then things of beauty."

Lance smiled. "Then maybe it’s about time for you to see things through the eyes of a child again." He pulled Timber to a stop not too far from the lake. A half moon stood high on the horizon, just above the lake. The lake was like a mirror, reflecting the moon's glow and the twinkling stars. The snow itself was sparkling in the moonlight. The night was calm and peaceful, only interrupted by the occasional hoof stepping through the snow. "Tell me...what do you see?"

"What do I see where?" Keith asked. His eyes were fixed on Lance who was bathed in the pale moonlight, the snow giving him an almost shimmering look as though he were an angel sent down to Arus from the heavens.

Completely absorbed by the beauty around him, Lance didn't notice as he stared out over the lake. "What's the first thing that pops in your mind?"

"Beauty." Keith replied, his eyes still on his companion.

"It is beautiful. And I'm really excited that I get to share this with you." Lance grinned as he turned back to Keith. His eyes widened when he noticed Keith looking straight at him. 'What is he looking at me like that for?' Lance glanced around him. "What are you looking at?"

Keith thought about all the ways he could answer Lance's question, of all the things he could claim he was looking at instead of admitting the truth that he had been looking at the pilot. After a long moment he finally answered. "You." He knew he'd been caught so there was no use in denying it.

"Me? Why me?" Lance blinked at Keith. Surely he didn't hear him right. Maybe his ears had gotten too cold...messed up his hearing.

"You don't really want to know the answer so maybe we should talk about something else before things that can never be unsaid are said." Keith replied, diverting his gaze out over the frozen water.

'I guess I did hear him wrong. Well, only one way to find out for sure...' Lance moved Timber closer to Darienger. He smiled slightly as the mare fondly nuzzled the stallion’s neck. "Keith...what's on your mind? Please..."

"I told you, you don't want to know the answer. You wanted to come out here to see the beauty of a starry snowy night… for peace… and I'm not going to take that away from you." Keith said.

"You could never do that to me." Lance chewed his bottom lip nervously. Should he? May as well live up to his reckless reputation. Lance reached out with his wrapped wrist and gently cupped Keith's chin, lifting Keith's eyes to meet his. For brief moment, Lance could do nothing but stare into those black pools. Uncertainty and fear swirled in those depths...Keith who could face a giant robeast and never show any sign of fear...who normally radiated confidence, was scared now. It filled Lance's heart with sadness to see that in his best friend's eyes. All he wanted to do was remove that fear...that uncertainty... and before Lance knew it, he leaned forward and gently brushed his lips against his captain's.

Keith blinked once out of shock before his hands snaked out to gently hold Lance's head. He leaned into the kiss and deepened it, pouring his heart and soul into that one kiss.

Lance's heart soared as he relaxed further and closed his eyes. He parted his lips, allowing Keith's hesitant tongue to slide inside, quickly tasting everything it could find. It was pure heaven and Lance never wanted to come back down!

Keith moaned lightly from around the kiss. He could hardly believe that he was kissing Lance and that Lance was returning the kiss. After a couple moments he broke the kiss allowing them both to catch a much needed breath. "That was… wow."

"Wow is an understatement." Lance panted slightly. He smiled shyly at Keith. "You...didn't mind?"

"No not at all…" Keith smiled. "I have never experienced anything as wonderful as that. It was like touching a piece of heaven…to be able to kiss an angel."

Lance blushed brightly - so brightly that Keith could easily see it. "I'm no angel. Far from it." He tenderly brushed his fingers across Keith's cheek. "You, on the other hand, are."

"I am far from being an angel, even further then you. I've been fighting battles longer then you and have far more blood staining my hands… I’m more a demon then an angel." Keith said.

"You are no demon. Demons are cold and uncaring. You are far from that." Lance whispered as he lightly kissed Keith again. "We both have blood on our hands...yours from the decisions you are forced to make...mine from the consequences of my own actions." He paused as he gazed deeply into the sparkling black eyes. "But you will always be an angel to me. My angel."

Keith smiled. "And you are my angel."

Lance chuckled as he rested his forehead on Keith's. "Glad we cleared that up."

"About what I was thinking before… I was thinking you are the most beautiful thing out here tonight… most beautiful thing any time. Nothing compares to your beauty, the beauty of soul that shines from you like a heavenly light."

"Keith..." Lance pulled back slightly, the moonlight making his tears sparkle as they rolled down his cheeks.

"Oh geez… I'm sorry… I said the wrong thing didn't I?" Keith asked reaching out to wipe Lance's tears away but stopping with his hand hanging in the air. "I'm sorry."

Lance laughed softly. "No you didn't. It was beautiful. No one has ever said anything so...so wonderful to me before."

Keith smiled gently and finishing reaching out to brush away Lance's tears that were turning to ice crystals on his cheek. "I mean every word of it. You are truly beautiful both inside and out… that is why I fell in love with you."

"I love you too." Lance whispered tenderly as he held Keith's hand against his cheek. "When I was talking about the stars, I was referring to you. No matter what, you have always been there for me...no matter how much I piss you off or hurt you. You are my stability in my ever changing winds."

"I will always be there for you, now and forever my heart and soul belong to you." Keith said.

"And you have me." Lance leaned forward, only to stop inches from Keith's face. He chuckled softly as he reached out and caressed Keith's cheek. "So...did I guess right on what you want for Christmas?"

Keith smiled. "Yes, all I want for Christmas is you."

Lance smiled and leaned forward the rest of the way, sealing his gift with a kiss.

Keith slid one hand along the side of Lance's head running his fingers through Lance's hair. After a long moment the kiss broke so they could both catch their breath again. "Now how about what you want for Christmas…"

"Me?" Lance smiled breathlessly. "I've already got it."

"Oh?" Keith questioned, lightly nuzzling Lance's neck the best he could from the perch on the horses.

Lance sighed as he leaned his head against Keith's. "Yup. You."

Keith smiled happily. "Should we find some place else... to play with our gifts, before we fall off the horses and end up with several broken bones?"

"Good idea." Lance jerked back when Timber shook rapidly. "A very good idea."

"Where do you want to go… back to the castle… or … wherever?"

"I don't know." Lance glanced out over the landscape. Its beauty could not compare with the beauty of the man riding beside him. "Some place with a fire would be nice after a ride outside."

"There's a fireplace in the recroom. It wouldn't give us much privacy but it's the only choice." Keith said.

Lance nodded. "We probably couldn't get into one of the studys, could we?"

"Probably could." Keith smiled.

Lance grinned. "Then lets go. I have something even more beautiful to look at now."

"No, there are no mirrors in any of the studys." Keith said.

"I didn't mean that." Lance mumbled as he slowly turned his horse toward the castle falling into step next to Keith's horse. He was positive that Keith could see his red face even in the dark!

Keith chuckled, though not unkindly at Lance's embarrassed utterance. "For you to look at true beauty you would have to be looking in the mirror. The reflection looking back at you is that of an angel straight from the heavens above, the same angel I see each and every time I look at you."

No one has ever said such sweet things to him before and actually meant it! Lance wasn't sure what to say. "Thanks. Though I just see a cocky, smart ass pilot." He smiled at Keith. "Fallen angel might fit better."

"The only place you have fallen is into my life and I am eternally grateful for that." Keith said with a smile.

"And I'm grateful that you are willing to catch me...and not throw me back." Lance said as the castle lights came into view. "My savior."

"Not savior, just very, very lucky." Keith laughed.

"I'm lucky too." Lance grinned as he pulled Timber onto the main road. He laughed as she sped up a bit. "I think Timber is ready to warm up."

Laughing, they quickly returned to the stables. It didn’t take very long settle the horses down. Then, smiling like children about to enjoy Christmas early, they quietly sneak back into the castle, hand in hand.