"Keith, is that a ring pop on a chain?" Hunk asked while peering at the necklace Keith had over his black muscle t-shirt. Keith looked down and nodded, blushing lightly. Pidge took notice as well, and looked at the ring suspiciously. 

"No, it's too small. And when have you ever seen a ring pop so shiny?" Pidge asked Hunk, lifting the ring slowly. She, Hunk noticed, was giving Keith time to react to her movements. Softly picking up the ring instead of roughly grabbing it like she'd do if he was Lance or Hunk. 

Hunk looked closer and saw that it was an actual ring, jewels the colors of a strawberry ring pop. Black diamonds engulfed the ring band, and a large circle layered with rubies. Keith's blush subsided and he had a small, crooked grin.

"It's nice, but why a ring pop?" Hunk questioned. 

"It's an inside joke... Kinda." He replied. Lance came from behind and grinned. There was a spark in his eyes.

"You can't have an inside joke with yourself, loner."

Keith rolled his eyes at Lance. Blowing his tongue out at the Cuban before returning his attention to Pidge and Hunk. The two were still staring at the ring. Keith fingered the ring nervously and smiled softly.

"It's not really an inside joke, I suppose." He started, rubbing the back of his neck before revealing parts of his past to the paladins present.

"I had a friend, a very close friend... He, uh, he and I played family a lot. We were in the same foster home, and pretended to be grown up. Married and everything."

Keith was smiling and looking down at the ring. The jewels glimmered softly, greatly contrasting his pale skin.

"We even pulled another kid into our game. She was younger than us, and called us mom and dad. It's kinda stupid thinking about it now. I never thought it would end.. but he died. And, um, he used to propose to me with ring pops. Our foster mother knew a jeweler, who owed her a favor," He took a deep breath.

"She had found Liam--.. she found his diary. She read it, and read about us. Our game, our story if you want to be cheesy. Instead of being mad, like so many other foster homes had been, she made a ring for me. A ring to remember him by, then sent me away. Not because they didn't want me, but because I told them it was too painful for me to stay." He finished.

Lance had a somber look.

"Wow dude, that's rough. If you don't mind me asking, what happened to the other kid?"

Keith sniffled and looked at him.

"She and I stayed in contact, she got adopted by the family. I was there at court when it happened, and she and I were in touch up until I went in space." Lance nodded and Pidge was curious. Her brows furred together and her lips placed a delicate frown.

"I saw her every school graduation, and she still called me her real mom. She'd even," Keith wiped a tear from his cheek. "She'd give me mother's day card." Hunk awed and Lance tried not to melt.

"Was her name Elizabeth?" Pidge asked. Keith let out a short gasp. He nodded feverishly. Pidge smiled at him, "We called her Lizzie."

Keith laughed airily and nodded.

"So did we."

Hunk took the opportunity to pat Keith on the shoulder. His gaze was soft, and his smile was sweet. The yellow paladin pulling Keith closer to the group.

"That's.. that's really cool, man."

Keith stared at Pidge.

"How did you know her name?"

"She was my best friend, she kept talking about her mama. I thought it was weird seeing that she called her adopted parents by their names, and was dropped into the foster care system before she could talk. She kept talking about her daddy's death, and how she wanted to be with mama. Even as she got older, which I thought was interesting. Guess I have an answer to that mystery."

Keith chuckled with red cheeks.

"Yeah, you do. I guess... she was talking about me... as for why I'm known as the mom... I, uh, lost a coin toss."