Disclaimer: I do not own Voltron or any of its characters.

All errors belong to me alone. ;-D

Sequel to "Saved from the Queen by the Princess." You don't have to read that one first, but events are referenced from the story.

Setting/Rating: Setting is DotU but none of the events took place. I just picture them as 80s DotU and none of the stuff from VF has occurred. Rating is T for kissing and mild violence in later chapters. First few chapters are on the fluffier side...


Chapter One

Two months, that's how long it had been since she had rescued Keith from Queen Merla. Allura had thought that their relationship would change to something more romantic after that incident. All the signs had been there. On the way back to Arus after the rescue, Keith had held her hand on the shuttle and had told her she was the only one for him. Neither of them had said the word love to each other. Well, Merla had told Keith that Allura loved him, but she hadn't said it herself. So neither of them had said love but she had felt it. However, he now was back to closing himself off. She had asked Lance about it but he said that Keith hadn't talked about it.

She stared at the electronic invitation on her computer screen. The information on the screen crowded out her thoughts of Keith. The Premier of Taralono had invited her to come view some new weapon creations. Arus was in great need of better defenses and she knew that Pollux had purchased some large-scale weapons from them and had been satisfied. She drummed her fingers on the desk and ignored the buzz that indicated that she had an incoming call. Finally, she slammed her hand on the com button when it wouldn't stop and growled out an irritated, "What is it?"

"Ummm, are you okay, Princess?"

Allura now used her hand to smack herself in the head. Of course, it would have to be Keith calling. "Yes, Keith, I'm fine." She sighed as her eyes drifted back to the electronic missive on her screen. "I was just trying to work out a plan for a trip to Taralono. What did you need?"

"Taralono? You are planning on going to Taralono? Have you spoken to Coran? Has he approved this?" Questions from Keith rattled off like ion darts firing out of the lions.

Allura's tone became defensive. "Yes, I am thinking of going to Taralono and no, I haven't spoken to Coran. And just so you'll know, I don't need to have his approval to go. I will bring it up with him later today to get his input about the trip. Once we have a plan, I will check with you about a security detail. Perhaps Hunk could go with me." She could visualize Keith's impatience with her.

"I didn't mean… What I meant to say is…" Keith ran his hand through his hair. This wasn't anything like he was expecting when he had called. "Just let me know what you and Coran decide. As for your security detail," and his voice became low and firm, "I plan to be on it. Keith out."

Keith sat back in his office chair and spun to face his window. He had called to see if she had wanted to go horseback riding. He had been acting like a jerk lately. The whole thing with Merla was awkward. Though they had both talked about having feelings for each other, he still had problems believing that she was truly in love with him. A crush maybe. After all, he was the commander of the team that had reanimated the mecha warrior Voltron that had given her people hope. He thought she was just in love with what he had done and represented. After the… situation… with Merla, he had noticed her looking at him more when they were working out. She had literally seen a lot of him when she had rescued him and while he wasn't vain about his looks, he had been told his body was 'hot' by enough women to believe it. Hormones. That was what he thought might be motivating Allura's looks at him. He closed his eyes. He had decided to ask her to go riding in order to be around her in a casual situation where it was just the two of them. Being around her in a situation where they could just be Keith and Allura was what he had wanted. Now she was irritated at him and planning a trip off-planet requesting someone besides himself for security. Shaking his head, he thought, "Women." Time to talk to Lance.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Keith joined Lance in the gym and spotted him as him as he bench pressed some weights. Lance was the only guy around that might have a clue about Allura and what was going on in her mind.

Lance listened patiently. Placing the weights back in the stand, he sat up and grabbed a towel to wipe the sweat from his face. "So, after Allura requested Hunk for security, what did you say?"

"She didn't really request him, she just put his name out there like a suggestion." As Lance raised an eyebrow, Keith quickly continued, "I told her to let me know what she and Coran decided about the trip and as for security, I told her I was going to be on it."

A long low whistle came from Lance's lips. "You two have it bad."

Keith crossed his arms and frowned. "What do you mean?"

"For someone on the outside of the relationship and for someone who actually understands the female gender, it is obvious."

"Enlighten me. Please," said Keith with exasperation.

"You two already had feelings for each other before that loin cloth incident with Merla." Lance put up a hand that stopped Keith's response before it could begin. "Don't even try to deny it. I know it, the team knows it, and hell, even Merla knew it. I'm not saying everyone has figured it out since you play your cards so close to the chest, but the princess doesn't, and her feelings for you are easy to see." Lance put down his hand when he saw that Keith wasn't going to try to argue. "Now she knows that you have feelings for her because you told her in the shuttle. She wants to pursue those feelings and all you've been doing is putting her off."

"I still don't see how that has anything to do with what happened today."

Sighing, Lance stated with exasperation, "Of course you don't." He ignored the glare that Keith gave him. "When you questioned her about going to Taralono, she saw it as you questioning her ability to make her own decisions. She didn't see it as you being concerned about her safety. Tell me, was your tone that of a friend that was concerned or a commander drilling a subordinate?" Watching Keith's face turn red he stated, "Don't bother to answer, I can see it in your face. She was mad with you. You jumped to conclusions about the trip without getting details from her. I told you that she planned the majority of your rescue. Don't you think she can plan a simple trip to look at some weapons?"

"I wasn't thinking about that. I was thinking about her security." Running the fingers of both hands through his hair and locking his fingers behind his head, Keith said, "She asked for Hunk because she was upset and because she thinks that I don't trust her decisions."

"Yep. Maybe with some help from me, you can figure women out." Lance glanced around Keith as he heard the gym door open. A chuckle escaped from Lance. "However, I wouldn't worry if I were you. I think a certain princess is having difficulty getting the images of you in that thong out of her head."

Dropping his arms, Keith growled out, "I told you it was a loin cloth, not a thong."

"I'm sorry, am I interrupting something?" Allura's voice came from behind Keith.

As he saw Keith shooting daggers from his eyes, Lance casually replied, "No. No. You're not interrupting anything at all. Keith and I were just talking about the great job you did planning his rescue from Merla. Well, that and the thong she made him wear." Lance saw Keith close his eyes and clench his fists. He would pay for this at some time. But it wouldn't be now.

"Oh no, Lance, Keith is right. It was more of a loin cloth than a thong." At this, both Keith and Lance turned to stare at the furiously blushing princess. Allura started stammering, "What I mean… What I meant… Oooooo. Nevermind."

Keith gently took her arm and led her away from the chuckling lieutenant. "Don't worry about him. He was teasing me earlier too." Keith looked over his shoulder to glare at Lance, who only gave him a mock salute and a wink. Turning back to Allura, Keith began, "Before you say anything, let me apologize for earlier. I didn't mean to question your decisions." He looked at a point on the wall just to the right of her head. "I was just… worried about you."

Allura had been hardening herself since their conversation to put him in his place. But then she walked in the gym and saw him in his workout clothes which brought reminders of how he looked on Merla's ship. It didn't help that she got all flustered when Lance got her to mention that loin cloth. She blushed again. She completely softened just now when Keith admitted that he had been worried about her. "I was really angry at you earlier." Words left her as his concerned deep brown eyes turned to stare into hers. "I… I'm okay now."

A smile formed on Keith's lips. "I'm glad you forgive me." Then in a tone that was inquiring and not demanding, he asked, "Have you spoken to Coran? Have the two of you worked out the trip?"

Pleased at his change in tone, she replied, "Yes we have. We'll be leaving next week if you approve of the plan." Allura's eyes went down to her hands where she was twisting a ring around on her finger. "I have to say that Coran was a little uncertain until I told him that you were going to be part of my security detail. His agreement came quickly after that." She glanced up to meet Keith's eyes. "Thank you for coming with me."

Keith was mesmerized by her eyes and her soft words. Locking his eyes with hers he started to reply when Lance called out, "Hey, why don't you two kiss or something?"

Allura broke eye contact with Keith to glare over his shoulder at Lance.

Keith just closed his eyes and called out. "Lieutenant! Be here tonight at 2200 for martial arts practice with me." He opened his eyes to see Allura smiling at him. Taking her arm again, he said, "How about going for a horseback ride with me?"

Allowing herself to be led from the room, Allura replied, "I'd love to, Keith."

Walking over to the hamper, Lance tossed the towel inside and looked at the door. Smiling as he headed into the showers, he thought, I'm going to pay for it later, but it was worth it.