Allura and Lance walked into the Carnival, hands linked.

"I'm glad Acxa and Keith volunteered to watch Athea for us. It appears she has taken a liking to Kuro." Allura said with a chuckle.

Lance smiled and nodded, paying for their entry tickets. "We haven't had time for just the two of us in a long time." Lance said with a kind smile.

Allura nodded.

They entered, then began aimlessly walking around, glancing at the attractions.

Allura sighed. "I have been getting the feeling that Athea doesn't really enjoy playing with the other Altean children."

Lance nodded in agreement. "Well... we can worry about that later. Let's go have a little fun." Lance guided Allura along, the sky still a light blue, the air warm and welcoming, smelling like fried food, sugar and hot butter.

Allura looked around in wonder as Lance guided her along. She gazed up at the high Ferris Wheel, with glowing lights in every color, food stands gave welcoming glows, games covered top to bottom with prizes big and small.

Lance stopped at a small booth, slipping in a few bills, and held a pouch under the machine, and collected the stream of tokens, and tying the pouch closed.

"Where to first?" Lance asked brightly, a smile unable to leave his face.

Allura laughed.

"I don't know. I've never been to Carnival before."

Lance's smile spread wider. "I see a lot of stuff. Dart throwing, Fill-A-Balloon, Test your strength, Roller Coaster, Ring Toss, Ski-Ball, Ooh! A Shooting Range!" Lance replied excitedly.

Allura looked around, as Lance continued listing, seeing a large white machine. "What about that one?" Allura asked, pointing toward it, linking her arm with Lance's.

Lance looked over, seeing it being a Claw Machine. "Yea, sure! We can try."

Lance and Allura walked over to the game, and stepped up to the controls.

Pulling out the small pouch, he rummaged around, pulling out three tokens, and inserted them into the machine.

Lance smirked cracking his knuckles. "What prize would the pretty lady like?"

Allura smiled and pressed her finger  against the glass. "The adorable Red Lion!" Allura replied pointing, finding the plush extremely adorable.

Lance grin grew wider, as he took hold of the Joy-Stick, and swerved around, just above the plush. He gently lowered the claw, and latching onto it, and carrying it over to the drop zone. Just before it went in, It fell not more than a few inches out of the claws grip.

"Aw Come on!" Lance shouted, stuffing his hands in his back pockets, he walked over to Allura mumbling, "This game is rigged."

Allura walked over, setting her hand on the Joy-Stick, and turned smiling at Lance.

"Let me try."

Lance chuckled before digging in his pocket for the coin pouch, and retrieving the right amount, and inserting them into the machine.

Allura moved the claw, and dropped it to the Red lion, picking it up and dropping it into the drop zone, smiling.

She bent down and picked up the Red plush.

Allura turned to Lance.

"What were you saying?"

Lance mumbled, "Beginners Luck."

Allura walked up closer to him, hugging the toy.

"You know Lance, my plan couldn't have worked if you hadn't moved it."

Lance looked at her wide eyed.

"Really?"

Allura smiled and nodded.

Lance went and hugged her, lifting her in the air.

"Aww, Thanks." Lance said smiling.

He set her on the ground, her hands on his chest.

"Now. Let's go destroy all the other games." Allura said smiling.

Lance nodded, and they both went, Allura's arm linked with Lance's. 

"Shooting Range!" Lance shouted excitedly.

Allura smiled as they went over.

Lance inserted the amount of tokens, and they picked up the fake guns.

"Ready?" Allura asked.

Lance chuckled, glancing at her.

"I was born ready."

They began shooting with incredible speed, the people behind them watching in awe, and soon there were no more targets left to shoot.

"Alright!" Lance cheered before bending down to retrevie his string of tickets.

"Ok, you win." Allura said smiling, collecting her tickets.

Lance draped his arm around Allura's shoulder, Allura wrapping her arm around his side, and they began walking away.

"Now what?" Lance asked.

Allura smiled and shot her finger in it's direction. "Ferris Wheel!"

Lance looked over, seeing a large sign at the bottom. He turned back to Allura, "Let's wait until it's darker." Lance suggested.

Allura gave him a confused look. "Why?"

Lance smiled. "Fireworks! It's gonna be cool from all the way up there."

Allura smiled and nodded. "Then... how about Ring Toss?"

Lance smirked, "Your on."

Allura and Lance walked around, completing games one, by one, the sky gradually becoming darker, until hunger got the best of them.

"Hey, I'm getting kinda hungry, do you want to get some food?" Lance asked.

Allura nodded, and they made their way over. Allura walked up and sat on a bar stool at a counter. "Wait here." Lance instructed, then disappeared on the crowd.

Allura waited, resting a hand on her face, she looked around, admiring the decoration of the shop, and the games surrounding it. She tapped her fingers on the counter, her eyes never focusing on one thing for more than a minute.

Allura jumped at the sudden vibration at her side, and reached into her small bag to retrieve her phone. Pulling it out, she saw it was a message from Acxa.

Allura opened it, and smiled. It was a picture of Athea and Kuro, and they had fallen asleep on one another. Athea's head was on his shoulder, and Kuro's cheek was laying on Athea's head.

"Precious..." Allura thought.

Allura turned her head at the figure walking toward her, seeing it was Lance, carrying two, foam take-out boxes, and a milkshake in the other hand.

He walked over and sat down. "Miss me?" He teased.

Allura turned and showed him the picture. Lance smiled, "It feels like yesterday that I was holding her as a small bundle in my arms."

Allura smiled, and watched as Lance began to open the boxes.  Inside was a steaming hot Funnel cake, topped with whipped cream and carmel, and a box of chili cheese fries.

Allura felt herself almost drool. The smell alone made her swoon.

"Here." Lance said, taking a piece of the funnel cake and handing it to her, as well as breaking off a piece for himself.

She slowly placed the piece in her mouth, as did Lance, and they both sighed as it melted in their mouths.

Allura quickly broke off another piece, taking a bit of whipped cream as well, and eating it, smiling at the sweetness.

Lance handed her the milkshake. "Try this."

She took it, and slowly sucked some of the rich, creamy milkshake from the cup.

Lance took it, taking a sip as well, then handed Allura a black plastic fork, with one for himself.

They both stabbed the fries, eating the fork full, and smiling.

"Lance, Earth food is absolutly delicious!"

Lance smiled, taking another fork full of fries. "Well, I'm glad you like it."

Allura broke off another piece of the Funnel cake, as they began to converse.

Soon enough, they finished their remaining food, they stood, throwing away their trash, and continued searching for new exciting games.

As they went, the sky became black, but that didn't diminish the welcoming glow of the Carnival.

Lance and Allura had just finished a game, when Lance checked the time on his phone.

"Allura! Let's go!" Lance shouted smiling. Allura understood, and jogged to catch up with him.

He took her hand guiding her along, and they waited in line for the Ferris Wheel. Once they payed their fee, they climbed aboard, clicking in the bar securely.

Ready? Lance asked with a smile. Allura nodded, hugging Lance's arm.

The Ferris Wheel slowly began rising, giving them a perfect view of everything. Soon it stopped leaving them near the top.

"Look!" Lance shouted, pointing at the sudden bursts of Red, Blue and Yellow.

Allura leaned forward, staring in awe at the explosions of color. Lance glanced at her, smiling softly.

They watched quietly, each captivated by the show, Lance stealing glances of Allura.

Allura caught him looking.

"What?" She asked Lance smiling.

"Never forget how much I love you Allura." Lance said quietly.

Allura smiled glancing at him. "You are my family Lance. You and Athea. And I couldn't have asked for a more amazing one."

Lance smiled, and softly kissed Allura, the two gently melting into it, Allura running her fingers through Lance soft hair.

They broke away, Allura leaning on Lance, hugging his side, Lance resting his head on hers, his arm draped around her shoulder.

He squeezed her softly. "I guess I don't  need to follow you across the universe. I have you right here in my arms..."

Allura chuckled softly, sliding closer to him, the two gazing up the colorful sky.

"Thank you Sharpshooter..."

HUGE SHOUTOUT TO alluraherself for commenting/suggesting this chapter idea, so thank you thank you! Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Stay great my Paladins! 😁