*Oh my god I finally finished this!! I swear this took like a month to write and it's only 3k words!*

*Edit: Again, takes place around the season 2 timeline. Season 3? Season 2? I don't know. Also sorry for the shallura, I didn't know Shiro was gay yet.*

(3028 words)

-

"Dinner's ready!!!" Hunk yelled as he walked down the hall from the kitchen to the dining room.

He set the food on the table and Pidge, Lance, and Keith filed in.

"Coran told me that he, Allura, and Shiro will be late to dinner and to just eat without them," Lance said as he sat down. Keith sat next to him. Pidge and Hunk sat across from them.

"For two people who can't stand each other, you two tend to sit together a lot." Pidge chucked, reaching for some food.

Both boys started getting all defensive, trying to validate sitting together despite their immense hatred for each other.

"Calm down, you two." Hunk rolled his eyes, "I made something new today. New ingredients."

They both dropped their bickering and started to eat. It was super good. Soon enough, Hunk sat down to eat as well.

But within a few minutes, they all felt a bit light headed.

"Hunk, what did you put in this?!" Pidge said, raising her glasses a bit to rub her eyes.

"Just some fruit given by the locals from a planet we saved last week." Hunk coughed a bit.

"Well, they sure have a strange sense of taste!" Keith rubbed his head.

"Or a strange sense of humor!" Lance gripped the table, feeling like he might faint. And he did, falling out of his chair.

Keith caught him before he hit the ground, "Holy quiznack!! Lance!!!"

"I-I'll go get Coran.. He'll know what to do.." Pidge stood up but immediately collapsed. Hunk caught her.

Hunk and Keith laid their teammates down on the floor, but they weren't feeling too good themselves.

"Keith, we aren't going to make it to Coran like this.. You were the team leader for a while there, what do you think we should do?" Hunk sat next to Pidge.

Keith bit his lip, feeling Lance's forehead. They were all developing fevers, "There's nothing we can do but try to stay awake.. Hopefully, Coran shows up soon.. Or anyone..."

Hunk nodded, "R-Right.. Okay..."

They fought to keep their consciousness as long as possible, but soon they too fainted next to their teammates.

Meanwhile, Coran, Allura, and Shiro were finally heading down to the dining hall.

"I am surprised by you two.." Coran sighed, "Definitely didn't see this coming. You two are in a romantic relationship.. I approve of you two, of course. I'm just taken by surprise."

Shiro chuckled a bit, "Well, your approval means a lot.. I know you two are like family." He smiled at the princess.

She smiled back, holding his hand, "He's like a second father to me.. Now we just have to tell the news to the other paladins."

"Well, Pidge and Keith sort of already knew I had feelings for you." Shiro chuckled again, "I confided in Keith about it and Pidge figured it out on her own."

"You chose Keith to confide in?" Allura asked.

Shiro nodded, "Well, he was confiding in me about something and we just ended up spilling all our secrets to each other. We both had stuff we needed to get off our chests."

Allura and Coran nodded as they reached the dining room. But all three froze when they saw the younger paladins.

"They're... kids.." Shiro's eyes widened.

Pidge, Hunk, Lance, and Keith had been turned into children. Looking no older than 5 years old.

Pidge was running around in circles, now wearing a cute little dress. Her hair was grown out too. Her glasses had shrunk to fit her face.

Hunk was chasing her, both laughing. He was wearing overalls, his bandana tied around his arm.

Lance was running around too but not with them, he had a blue sheet around him like a cape. He was running around happily until he tripped over his cape and fell. He started crying.

Keith ran over to Lance, to help him. He kissed Lance's head and helped him up. They both had bandages on. Lance's was red and Keith's was blue.

Allura looked at Coran, "What could have caused this?!"

Coran looked confused, "Maybe it was something they ate. They did just eat dinner. You two take care of the children while I get to the bottom of it!" he ran out if the room and towards the kitchen.

Allura sighed and nodded, going to pick up Lance who was still crying, "Don't cry.. Are you hurt?"

Lance nodded, pointing to his scraped knee. He kept crying. Shiro came over and took Lance from her, "I'll get him patched up. I'll take one of the others too. We each can take two."

Allura nodded, "You take Pidge and Lance. I'll keep Keith and Hunk." she picked Keith up.

Keith smiled and played with her hair, "Pretty princess. Pretty pretty pretty." he giggled.

She sighed, "Thank you.. Hunk, come here.. Stop running!"

Hunk was still happily chasing Pidge in circles, neither stopping until Shiro picked Pidge up too.

She started kicking her legs, wanting down, "Nooo!! Shiro, no!! I wanna play wif Hunk!!"

"Pidge, stop. Lance is bleeding." Shiro tried to carry them both to get a bandage. Lance was still crying, clinging to Shiro.

Keith tried to get out of Allura's grip, "I want Lance!! Lance crying! Want Lance!!" he screamed.

Hunk started kicking Shiro's leg, "Meanie! Give her back!!"

Allura and Shiro just looked at each other, then Shiro spoke, "So, princess. Were you wanting kids one day?"

Allura rolled her eyes, "If you're trying to be funny, it's not working. Switch me kids. Pidge and Hunk want each other and Keith wants Lance." She took Pidge from Shiro and gave him Keith.

"I think that was very funny." He shrugged, seeing how the children seemed to calm a bit. Keith wasn't screaming anymore, Lance wasn't crying as much because Keith was holding his hand, Pidge was back on the floor with Hunk and the two were playing happily.

"Funny or not, go get that bandage. I'll handle these two." Allura sighed, kneeling next to the kids.

Shiro nodded and went to get the first aid kit from the kitchen. He set the boys down on the counter, "Okay.. Bandage.." he looked at the kids, "Don't move.. Just..stay." he turned to get the first aid kit. He turned back to see Keith was hugging Lance and Lance was sucking his thumb.

"At least you're not fighting.." he cleaned Lance's knee, sighing, "There's a silver lining to everything.." he put the blue bandage on it, "Okay, all better! See, Lance. No more need to cry."

Lance nodded and pulled his knee up. Keith kissed the bandage, "All better!"

"That's right, all better." Shiro sighed and picked them up again, "Now let's go back."

They both started kicking, "No!!"

"Okay, okay!! Calm down!! Why don't you want to go back?!" Shiro stopped walking.

"Pidge is a meanie!!" Lance whined and kept kicking.

Shiro groaned, "Then just don't play with her. Let her and Hunk play and you and Keith play. Okay?"

They both calmed at that idea, Lance started sucking his thumb again. Shiro sighed and walked back to the dining room.

Allura was sat on the floor playing with Pidge and Hunk. They were playing with some rag dolls.

"Where'd the toys come from?" Shiro asked as he set Keith and Lance on the ground again.

Allura sighed, "Coran found them a few weeks ago. He brought them here just a bit ago to help us entertain the children. Because apparently, they're going to be children for a while. There's no way to reverse it, we just have to wait for it to wear off.."

Shiro groaned and sat down, "Okay.. How long does he think it will last?"

Allura shrugged, "Don't know.. They're this way because of a fruit they ate. It affects different species differently. It's like a vitamin to the people who gave to us.. It makes Alteans extremely ill.. And apparently, it makes humans children.. Since they are the first humans affected by this fruit, we have no idea how long it will be in effect."

Shiro nodded with a sigh, watching as Keith and Lance chased each other with toy swords, "Well, at least they ate it instead of you and Coran. I'd rather deal with kids than have you two super sick."

Allura nodded, "Yes, I'm grateful the effects for humans weren't anything too harmful."

Keith came running over to them, "Shiro! Guess what!"

"What is it, buddy?" Shiro smiled at him.

"I'm gonna marry Lance!!" Keith giggled and ran away, towards Lance.

Allura looked shocked, to say the least. Shiro just chuckled, "Good luck with that, kid.."

"What was that about?" Allura raised her eyebrow, now braiding Pidge's hair while Pidge played with her doll.

Shiro shrugged, "Keith actually sorta has a crush on Lance.. I guess as a kid he's way more open about it.."

Hunk giggled, "Lance like Keith too! He tolds me!!"

Allura nodded and looked at Keith and Lance, who were running around, "Well, maybe they'll get along better after this.. Baby steps." she tied off Pidge's braid.

Shiro nodded, watching Keith and Lance again. Keith was giving Lance a piggyback ride now, both giggling cheerfully. As kids, Keith was now the taller one so he could carry Lance easy. Keith ran over with Lance on his back still, "Shiro! Shiro!!" They both shouted.

He smiled at them, "What?"

Lance jumped down and started to tug on Shiro's arm, "Play wif us!! Play!!"

Shiro sighed and nodded, getting up to play with the pair of them, "What do you kiddos want to play?" he smiled at them.

Keith laughed, and put the toy tiara on Lance's head, "Shiro bad and has the princess. Lance is princess. I'm hero and save princess!" he giggled and held up his fake sword.

Shiro laughed and nodded, "Okay, but you gotta be quick," he picked Lance up, "I'm already getting away!!" he started to run off.

Lance giggled happily, "Nooo, mean Mr Shiro got me!!"

Keith chased after them happily, hitting Shiro with the foam sword every chance he got, "I gonna save the princess!!"

Shiro fell to his knees after a few minutes of running around the room, making sure Lance hit the ground safely, "I'm hit! No!"

Keith kept hitting Shiro with the sword before he grabbed Lance's hand, running away with him, "I did it!!" he giggled. He then gave Lance another piggyback ride.

Shiro laughed and walked back over to Allura, "We have to figure out what to do with them tonight. I don't like the idea of leaving them alone while they're like this?"

Allura thought, "You take the boys and I take her? We can have them sleep in our rooms until they're back to normal."

Shiro sighed, "I don't think those two will take well to being separated.." he gestured to Pidge and Hunk who were coloring.

Allura nodded, "Well.. Maybe we can just all stay in my room. I have the biggest. Just tell them it's a sleepover and make places for them to sleep on the floor. We can keep Keith and Lance on one side of the room, and Pidge and Hunk will be on the other. Less fighting that way."

"Sounds like a plan. We should probably get started on that now. It's getting late." he pointed to Keith and Lance who were calming down and just playing patty cake, "They're getting tired."

Allura nodded, "Alright.." she stood up and walked to Pidge and Hunk, "Hey, you two. It's time to put the toys away. We have to start getting ready for bed."

They both whined and Pidge shook her head, "I don't wanna sleep! Not sleepy!"

Allura frowned, "We're not going to bed just yet, we're just getting ready for it. We're all going to have a sleepover in my room, so we have to get the beds ready."

The both smiled again, "Okay!!"

Shiro and Allura managed to wrangle the four children and get them into Allura's bedroom. They made a bed on the floor to left of Allura's bed, that was for Keith and Lance. Then to the right, they made a bed for Pidge and Hunk. Allura and Shiro would be sharing the actual bed.

"Boys, it's time to sleep." Shiro said to Keith and Lance as he tried to tuck them in.

Lance shook his head, "But the castle gets dark at night. I don't like the dark! Dark scary!!" he pouted and whimpered.

Keith hugged him, "I protect you, Lance. I tell monsters to go away. Hey, monsters!! Go away!!!"

Shiro laughed at them, "We won't turn all the lights off, it won't be super dark. I promise. Now lay down."

They both did as told, Keith still hugging Lance. Shiro sighed and stood, seeing Allura had just finished putting Pidge and Hunk to bed.

Both Allura and Shiro got into bed, Allura dimmed the lights after.

"Hopefully this will be over by morning and we can get back to fighting Lotor," Allura whispered.

Shiro nodded, "Yeah, hopefully, he doesn't attack before they turn back."

"Coran has been keeping the castle moving, making sure that we can't be tracked. That's why he wasn't helping with the children." Allura sighed.

"Well, that's good.. Now let's try to get some sleep. We might have more babysitting to do tomorrow."

The two went to sleep, sleeping soundly through the night. No one was aware of the children turning back into teenagers in the middle of the night.

Shiro woke up that next morning, looking around to see his team back to their proper ages. "Allura, wake up." he gently shook her shoulder.

"Hm? What?" She sat up and looked around. She sighed in relief to see the sleeping teenagers, "Oh thank the ancients."

Keith was still hugging Lance and Lance was curled up close to him. Pidge had stolen the blanket from Hunk in her sleep but he didn't seem to care, he still slept peacefully.

Keith woke up next, blinking a few times before realizing he was cuddling Lance. He quickly sat up, his face going red.

Shiro laughed softly, "You were protecting him from the monsters."

Keith recalled the events of last night before hiding his face in his hands, "I proposed to him as a four year old, oh my god. Please end me."

Allura walked over to them and sat down, "Keith.. He said yes, even though it was as a four year old. Don't you think you should take that as a sign that he shares your feelings? Maybe you two shouldn't take the engagement seriously, but maybe you should on these feelings you share."

"We were four, he didn't know what he was agreeing to. He hates me." Keith shook his head, still hiding his face.

Shiro laughed again, "He didn't hate you when he told Hunk he's crushing on you, and he wasn't four when he said that either. Though, Hunk was four when he told us Lance had said it."

Keith showed his red face and looked at Shiro with wide eyes, "He really said he's crushing on me??"

Shiro nodded, but before he could answer he saw Lance was starting to wake up.

Lance sat up and rubbed his eyes, then he looked around. He was confused for a moment but then he remembered last night. He put his hands over his face as Keith had done before laying back down, "Oh god.." he paused before he started laughing. He looked at Keith with a smirk, even though he was blushing like crazy, "You want to marry me?"

Keith started blushing again, not knowing how to react, "No! Well, yes.. Maybe! I don't know!"

Lance sat up and laughed more before kissing Keith softly. Then he stood up, "I'm gonna wake Hunk up, I'm hungry."

Keith sat there, his face was matching the color of his lion. He was speechless and confused on how Lance could be so casual about something like that.

Allura pat Keith's head with a smile, "He's unique. And does unique things." she whispered to him as they watched him flop down on top of Hunk.

"Huuuuunk!!!" he whined.

Hunk groaned, "Lance get out of my r- Wait.." he sat up, pushing Lance off. He looked around with wide eyes, "Well, that wasn't a dream.."

Lance shook his head, "No
dreams. Now can you make us some breakfast that won't change our age? Please."

Hunk rolled his eyes, "It's not like I did it on purpose."

"Can someone explain how Pidge slept through Lance yelling?" Keith asked as he tilted his head.

"She grew up with an older brother. Duh." Lance said it as if it was obvious.

Keith nodded, "I guess that makes sense.." he remembered how loud it was at one of his foster homes and how he had to cover his head with a pillow.

Lance got on top of Pidge and started tickling her, "But she can't sleep through this!!"

Pidge woke up and started laughing, "Wha-!! Lance!!!! Stop!!"

He stopped ticking her but stayed sitting on her, "Good morning, Pidge. You are the meanest four year old. Seriously, how did Matt put up with your ass? You're even more evil as a child than you are now!"

She looked confused until she realized last night wasn't a dream, "Oh my god.." she thought about it, "I was a bitch.."

They all laughed, even Shiro. Though he also told her to watch her language.

Soon everyone left the room to go get breakfast. Shiro and Allura told the now teens about their new relationship, all four of them accepting of it even though Pidge and Keith saw it coming a mile away. As they walked, Lance slowed down to walk next to Keith before slowly reaching to hold his hand. He acted so casually about it again, as if he hadn't done it as he carried on his conversation with Hunk. Keith smiled at Lance, holding his hand happily.

"Okay, so no ingredients that haven't been cleared by Coran this time, Hunk." Lance teased.

"Agreed." Hunk nodded, everyone laughing.