Author's Update: So sorry - I posted the wrong Chapter 14! Here is the correct one - enjoy!

Author's Note: Yes, we are in Dradin. The Bellagio is real, and I did not do justice to it in my descriptions. If you haven't been, GO, and if you can't get there check out the website. The rest (shop, dress) are a mixture of real and fiction.

Nessielicious – Welcome to the story! Yes, once you start writing you get more ideas!

E.M. Blaine - I am flattered that my writing caused the 'coffee' incident. Don't worry about the boys and Allura, they just need some help!

KathDMD – Thank you for the kind words!

Dradin – Part One

Pidge, Hunk, Daniel, and Vince were all onboard the luxurious transport craft that Mansett had sent for them. It was early in the morning, and even though they had already eaten breakfast at the castle, there was a table set up with hot and cold food. Hunk was busy getting a plateful, along with Daniel and Vince. Pidge was just having coffee; they were all waiting for Larmina.

The pilot came back and introduced himself, and then said "Are you all set, Commander?" to Pidge, who responded "We are just waiting on Lady Larmina." They exchanged words for a couple more minutes, and then the pilot went up front.

Pidge went back to working on his tablet, while Hunk, between mouthfuls of food said "Didn't Larmina know what time we were leaving?" Pidge just "mmm" nodding his head, while Daniel thought to Vince 'maybe she won't come after all!' Vince thought back 'you heard the Princess, she'll be coming and not happy about it, I'm sure!'

Just then Larmina came on aboard, smiled at Pidge and Hunk, ignored Daniel and Vince, and went to sit in the corner. Daniel thought to Vince 'I bet Hunk stops eating to go sit with her! He has it bad!' Vince said 'Dude that is so obvious.' They watched as Hunk put his plate down and went over to sit next to Larmina.

'I wonder what Pidge thinks of his buddy going after his girlfriend?' Daniel thought and Vince said 'I don't like thinking about Pidge and Larmina together, thank you!' Daniel saw how upset Vince was with the whole thing. Daniel had liked Larmina too, but operated on the philosophy that there was always another fish in the sea. He tried to tell Vince that, but knew that he didn't agree.

Instead he thought to Vince 'look, as miserable as you are how do you think Hunk is going to feel when he finds out that she is with Pidge?' Vince had a thought 'are we sure they are going out? I never see them together?' Daniel thought back 'well why else would she tell him about us, and why would he have helped her write that note?' Vince had been feeling hopeful, but Daniel's comment dashed his feelings.

Pidge had seen Hunk go over to sit with Larmina and groaned inwardly. It wasn't because of Hunk monopolizing her attention, he didn't care about that. He knew that he was going to have all of her attention on Dradin, and that she wasn't going to be dressing hot and sexy for Hunk!

Hunk was his best friend, and someone who had always been very good to him. Pidge knew how much he owed Hunk! He remembered how surprised Hunk had been, when he found out about the DJ Prong thing, that Pidge had not told him. Pidge didn't want to think what Hunk's reaction would be about the relationship with Larmina.

Larmina was too happy about the Dradin trip, to be concerned about Hunk. It was hard work not to show it, and she really would like to have gone over and sat with Pidge. They had decided that they wouldn't meet up before the trip, just to be extra careful of Aunt Allura finding out about them. She wanted to cuddle with him, and feel his hands on her body. Larmina tried to pay attention to some story Hunk was telling her, but really was calculating how long until tonight.

When they arrived on Dradin Mansett met them at the hover port. He bowed and kissed Larmina's hand, which made Daniel and Vince chuckle to each other. They also thought it funny how she acted like her Aunt, all royal and formal.

Mansett took them in a hover car over to the hotel, which curved around a large pool of water. As they were driving up jets of water started rising from the pool, and varying heights and widths. The water rose to the height of the building, which was topped with a round cupola that was lit up. As the waters danced they could vaguely hear music playing. Hunk said "Wow, Mansett, you really did this place up right!"

Pidge said "I guess going legit was not that bad?" Mansett gave Pidge a dry look and said "Since I had no choice but to take the advice you and the Princess gave me." In fact, he knew he was lucky he wasn't sitting in a jail cell somewhere. He was a good gambler, and a good gambler always knows when to quit.

He pointed at the top floor of the hotel that had a row of colonnaded windows. "Your Ladyship, up there are the penthouse suites, which offer the best views and a balcony to enjoy the fountain show from. I have given you one of those rooms, which I am sure you will find comfortable." Mansett told her, and Larmina beamed.

Daniel thought to Vince 'where do you think Pidge will be sleeping?' Vince thought back loudly 'I told you I don't want to think about that!' Mansett said to Hunk and Pidge "I've set aside from very nice rooms for you both, also with views of the fountains. The hotel is full, so I was not able to put you on the same floors." He turned to Daniel and Vince "I have a room with a fountain view for you two also, but you need to share."

Everyone decided that after they got settled, Larmina, Daniel, and Vince would go to the water park, while Hunk and Pidge went with Mansett. He wanted Pidge to look at his computer glitch, while Hunk was to go to one of the warehouses.

Later that day Larmina and Daniel were riding the slides in the water park, and she remembered how much fun they used to have together. They had talked, and Daniel had apologized for all the trouble he had caused. He also apologized for trying to get her to lie for him, as well as the scene on the stairs. Daniel had decided to leave Pidge out of the conversation, just wanting to fix his relationship with Larmina.

She was surprised at his apology, and that he did seem to understand what was wrong with what he had done. Larmina was relieved that he didn't mention Pidge in any of it, because she didn't want to talk about that with Daniel. She could hardly wait for tonight, but didn't want to share it with anyone. However, she had missed Daniel's friendship more than she had thought she would, and was glad they were talking again.

Larmina told him that and then said "I tried to talk to Vince a while ago, but he just blew me off. Since you can read each other's minds, do you know why?" Daniel in fact knew why, but wasn't going to tell Larmina. Instead he said "He is having a hard time with all this. I think it will be good for him to be away from Arus for a while." Larmina couldn't see why anyone wouldn't totally love Arus, but figured that maybe it was an earth thing!

Vince was avoiding Larmina because every time he looked at her, he thought about Pidge with her. When Daniel had made the comment about where Pidge was going to sleep, it was like the knife was turned further in his heart. Not only did his idol hate him, but he had taken the girl of his dreams too. Thinking about them together was his worst nightmare. Looking over at her figure, in the purple top and shorts, he knew he was in no position to talk to Larmina right now.

Pidge and Hunk joined them for dinner, and a place that offered cuisine from the Zenobian system. Larmina was not that interested in the food, partly because of her excitement about tonight and also because she was setting the stage for her exit.

Halfway through the meal she had barely eaten anything, and Daniel gave her a hard time, asking "Can you only eat Arusian food?" Larmina gave him a wan smile and said "No, this is good, but I'm not feeling well." Everyone at the table looked concerned, and Larmina said "You know, I think the water park really wore me out. I want to go back to the hotel and rest."

Hunk was all set to escort her, but Larmina insisted he stay and finish his meal. She wanted a quiet walk back, to get some fresh air. Pidge had watched the whole thing, and had to give her high marks for pulling it off, and keeping Hunk with the group. He needed to make sure tonight was extra special!

When they were done eating they decided to go check out some of the game arcades. Pidge wanted to see how his new game was doing, while Daniel and Vince were glad that they were getting some fun out of this trip. They were on their third arcade when Pidge got a video call from the network operations center, about some alarms going off with the logistical program.

"I had better go check that out. Hunk, why don't you stay here with the cadets. Once I know what the situation is, I'll let you know." Pidge told them with a sigh. Hunk was thrilled to stay in the arcade, and Vince was all set to have a good time too, until Daniel thought to him 'do you think Pidge and Larmina planned this, so they could meet up?' Vince thought to Daniel 'stop doing that! I don't want to think about them!'

Larmina made it back to the hotel quickly, but knew she had time to kill. She decided to walk around the shops at the Bellagio. The ceiling lights intrigued her, being glass flowers in different colors, which echoed the carpet on the floor. She had a good eye for design, and was impressed with how well done the whole hotel was.

She browsed in some of the shops, but didn't see anything that really caught her attention until she got to the end of the promenade. There, the outside decorated in stylish black and white relief work, was a Gavin D boutique. Larmina had seen his offerings in 'Terran Vogue', and knew he was the last word in sexy evening clothes.

The window display was wonderful, and one dress really caught her eye. She had brought something to wear, that had been made for her by the same person who did her birthday party dress. However, it wasn't in the same league as what was in the window.

The dress in the window was black, short, and tight. It was made of silk, but within the silk was a slashing design done in a sheer black fabric. The slashing was asymmetrical across the dress, and very provocative with where it started and stopped. It was sleeveless, with just thin straps holding it up.

The Gavin D boutiques were also known for being one stop shopping. Gavin had stated, in an interview, that he wanted women to only wear the highest quality accessories with his dresses. When she left the shop she had the dress, some bondage type sandals, and underwear that would have given her Aunt heart failure. Larmina knew the evening was going to be wonderful!

Her Aunt was back on Arus, having dinner with Keith and Lance. Allura had figured that Lance would be out for the evening, not having the cadets to oversee. She had invited Keith to have dinner with her upstairs. She knew Keith was upset about the decision that she had made, regarding Vince and Daniel. Up until then things had been good with them.

Allura was amazed how much she enjoyed being able to talk to Keith without anyone around. She looked forward to their afternoon meetings so much! She had also taken to consulting him about some other matters, and always appreciated his insight. Her plan had been to have dinner, and hopefully get things back to where they had been.

Lance was enjoying dinner upstairs, liking the ambience of this dining room better than where the pilots usually ate. He was also enjoying putting a crimp in Keith's plans to be alone with Allura, at least for a while. He actually had a date later that evening, and since he wasn't going to have to be up at 0500 hours tomorrow, it was going to be an all nighter!

Keith had been glad when he had received Allura's invitation to dinner. Unfortunately, Lance had overheard it and invited himself along. Keith had been hoping to have some time alone with her, and really didn't want Lance there. He had missed the closeness they had shared before.

Allura was also perturbed about something she had overheard, which was making her rethink letting Larmina take the trip. Lance noticed that she wasn't really paying attention to the conversation, and asked her about it.

"Oh, it is just this whole trip to Dradin thing!" Lance snorted and said "Rethinking your decision about letting Daniel and Vince go? I would have kept them home on latrine duty!" Allura gave him a cold look and said "They are basically good boys, and are trying very hard!" She sighed, and then said "No, I don't think I should have let Larmina go."

Keith and Lance both looked at her with puzzlement and Keith said "What is the problem with Larmina going? It is not like she is talking to Daniel or Vince, and isn't that why you wanted her to go?" Allura said "I am having second thoughts because of something I overheard about her and Hunk."

Lance burst out laughing, while Keith also laughed as he said "What did you hear?" Allura explained how she had heard a couple of the maids joking about Hunk having puppy love for Larmina. Lance shook his head and said "They meant that he has a major crush on her, and follows her around like a puppy dog. He spends a lot of time staring at her, and trying to talk to her." Keith sighed and said "Larmina is very patient with him, but trust me there is nothing going on."

"Well I'm glad to hear that. I already had to have a whole talk with her after the DJ Prong thing." Allura said, feeling better. Lance thought back to the party and said "What about DJ Prong?" Allura said "I was really concerned, with how she was encouraging DJ Prong, that Pidge would think she had feelings for him." She paused and then said "I explained to her that she is too young for a relationship and that if Pidge approached her she was to tell him that. Luckily, Pidge is very level headed."

Keith said "I bet DJ Prong has women after him all the time, so he understands." Lance smiled and said "Girls always go for the boys in the band. I was in a band one summer, and let me tell you." He stopped, realizing that it was nothing he could tell Allura. He decided to change the subject before she asked about it.

"You know, she is 18!" Lance told Allura, and went on "Plenty of 18 year old girls have relationships. And hasn't there been some talk that Bandor has asked after her?" Lance knew that would get Allura going.

It got Keith going first though "You don't mean that twerp is interested in Larmina!" Allura got a cold look on her face "He is not a twerp; he is my cousin, and is having a hard time trying to be King with no experience." Keith wasn't having it and said "You would let Larmina marry into that mess? It is a mad house with Romelle and all."

Allura sighed. He was referring to the depression that Romelle had fallen into after Erik had been born. She became convinced that everyone wanted her dead, and had tried to kill both Sven and the baby. She was getting treatment now, but Sven, under the influence of the haggerium infection had taken the baby and fled. Bandor had decided that it was for the best that Erik stay on Arus for now, until he got things sorted out.

"Bandor wants to come see his nephew and meet Larmina. However, she is too young! I don't want her having any kind of relationships for several years. And I have told Coran this!" Allura stated very emphatically. Keith made a mental note to be gone when Bandor showed up. Since being crowned king he had become, in Keith's opinion, very impressed with himself.

Lance was thinking about Larmina in that dress, and how DJ Prong behaved with her at the party. He got a smile on his face and said to Allura "You might think she is too young for a relationship, but I don't think anyone else does!" In fact Lance was all set to make a comment about DJ Prong going to Dradin, but Allura interrupted him before he could.

Allura got a furious look on her face "It is because of Count Fredericks! He actually gave me a lecture that my Mother married at 18, and Larmina's Mother was 18 when she married!" She didn't add that she knew the unsaid thought from Fredericks was 'and when are you getting married?' Allura had spent the last couple of weeks with everyone wondering about why she wasn't married, and would she get married! It was eating at her that Fredericks thought her 18 year old niece was ready for a relationship!

Keith saw that Allura was very upset over what the Count had said, so he changed the subject. "Did you make a decision about the water project? He asked her. Lance saw Allura relax some, so decided to keep his comment to himself. 'Anyway', he thought, 'I don't see Pidge doing anything like that.' He stayed for a little bit longer, than excused himself. Keith and Allura were both glad to see him go.