Pidge stood outside the room their family had been living in for the past few weeks. They bit their lip, taking comfort in the dull pain of their teeth. Their hands were pressed to their thighs, curled into tight fists to ground them. They didn't know why they were so anxious, this was her family but the thought of them and this dinner left them shaking!

"Just be yourself, Pidge. Be honest with them and how you feel. They'll love you either way, just like we do." Shiro's words echoed in their mind. They had to believe him, even if right then they felt like anything that could go wrong was going to happen.

Pidge took a deep breath, letting their shoulders drop.

"In through your nose, out through your mouth." They almost wanted to roll their eyes at Hunk's reminder. It was a distraction, regulating their breathing, and Pidge realized as stupid as it felt it helped. Their legs bounced, heel hitting the ground in a steady, anxiety-fueled rhythm.

It's just dinner...

Dinner with their family in which they might be forced to leave.

What if their mom hated that they decided to stay with their team?

What if they call them Katie the entire time?

... What if they said they couldn't fly a lion anymore? Could they do that?!

Pidge felt sick. Maybe thinking of what the rest of the team said would help?

Lance, Pidge thought. Think of what Lance said. The cold feeling of anxiety started forming in their chest, hands going numb. Pidge put more pressure on her lips, the dull throb of teeth edging to sharp pain.

"If your family decides to be stupid, my Mami will take you in in a heartbeat and I know for a fact that we'd fight for you, Gremlin."

Pidge felt like they could breathe again. No matter how this goes, they won't loose them. That would be stupid... their family were a group of scientists, they wouldn't throw Pidge out of the family just for wanting to stay with their friends. The word family instead of friends was a brief afterthought.

"You said you were wearing those brown shorts... good, there's a knife in the right pocket, closest to your hip. Easy access in case you need to be crazy."

Crazy, what had Keith meant by that? Pidge didn't know, but the thought made them smile. It was Keith's love language, acts of service. A palm went to feel the pants pocket. Warmth spread through them as the fabric was protecting a hard knob, a casing. It felt similar to the feel of Keith's pocket knife he got after a mission.

Pidge bit the bullet and knocked on the door.

"Hey Katie, come on in!" Their father greeted. Their heart plummeted into their chest. Maybe having a dinner without being called Katie was too much to ask for... but it didn't stop the hurt.

"About time!" Matt called from another room.

"Sam, I thought you said she'd have her things? I've spent all day getting the room ready!" Pidge's mother had said. Pidge swallowed the lump in their throat.

They couldn't help but feel like they had fallen into a trap.