"Are you sure that I can't convince you to stay any longer?"
Allan shook his head, a rueful smile on his face. "I'm afraid not, Nanny. I am needed back on Amaget. Besides," his contrite smile suddenly replaced by a mischievous grin, "I might be wearing-out my welcome."
"Nonsense!" Nanny cried-out, tears forming in her eyes.
"Nanny's right. You've worn-out your welcome ever since we were kids. But, we still took you in." Allura quipped, earning her a mock-hurt expression from him.
Nanny threw her arms around the prince, and sobbed. "You'd better not wait for another four years before visiting us again."
Allan laughed, and gave her a reassuring squeeze before letting her go. "Don't worry, Nanny. I won't."
Allura slowly approached them. Nanny had just risen from her curtsy, and stepped aside, to give room to the two monarchs as they bid their own farewells.
Allan reached-out and took her hand, his gaze intent on the beautiful pair of azure eyes before him. Slowly, he raised it to his lips, and placed a kiss behind it. "I'll come and visit as often as I can."
"You'd better."
After letting go of her hand, he shifted his gaze to the space explorers behind her. Walking by her, he came closer to them. "It was an honor meeting you all," he said, extending his right hand to each one he approached.
"Same here, your majesty." Hunk replied, grasping the hand the prince offered.
"It's too bad you couldn't stay any longer." Pidge said, shaking Allan's hand.
"Yeah. You fly better than the princess." Lance commented, earning him an outraged gasp from the princess and a light-hearted laugh from everyone there.
Allan paused as he stepped in front of the captain. They locked gazes, trying to read the other out; the same way they did the first time they met.
Keith extended his right hand. "Have a safe trip, your highness."
Allan nodded and accepted the captain's hand. "Take good care of her."
Lance, Pidge, and Hunk exchanged curious glances.
Keith smiled. "I will, Allan."
"Don't forget to invite me to the wedding."
"Allan!" Allura shouted.
Allan laughed uproariously as he watched Allura and Keith turn as crimson as the left arm of Voltron.
Allan gradually composed himself as he approached the princess.
"I'm counting on you to keep your promise, Allan."
"When have I ever let you down, Allura?"
Allura stepped closer and gave him a hug, which Allan more than gladly returned.
"I love you, you fervid crybaby."
"I love you, too, you discourteous nincompoop."
Allan reluctantly let her go and stepped back. "You know how to reach me in case you need anything."
Allura nodded, her eyes brimming with tears, as she watched her best friend board his ship.
"Coran." Allan raised his right hand as he bid the Prime Minister farewell from the top of his ship.
"Your majesty." Coran bowed deeply to acknowledge his parting.
Allan closed the lid of his ship, and everyone watched as the ship hovered a few seconds before shooting-out into the Arussian sky.
Everyone stood in silence, each offering a silent prayer of safe journey to the prince, when a sudden yelp from behind them startled them.
"I have my eye on you, young man," warned an enraged Nanny to a stupefied Keith. He was rubbing his arm, which meant that the governess had swatted him.
Lifting her skirts, she strode out of the docking bay.
Coran cleared his throat. "Keith, I would like to speak to you after lunch."
"Yes, Coran." He meekly said, still rubbing his aching arm.
Coran offered him a smile, reassuring Keith that he wasn't going to get into a lot of trouble, before he, too, headed for the doors to exit the docking bay.
"Is there something we should know?" "Why didn't you tell us?" "I knew something was going on between the two of you!" three enthusiastic voices said from behind him.
Keith whirled around and found himself face-to-face with his three comrades.
"Way to go, Keith!" cheered Pidge.
"I knew the princess liked you better." commented Hunk.
"Does this mean we're going to take orders from HER from now on?" inquired Lance.
Allura laughed as she walked towards her friends.
"Nothing changes, Lance. Keith's still giving the orders."
Lance smirked. "You're wrong, princess. Something changes. Keith still gives US the orders. But, from now on, Keith will be taking orders from you."
Keith rolled his eyes when he saw the devilish glint in Allura's eyes. "Don't give her any ideas, Lance," he warned.
Lance pretended not to hear. "Stick with me, princess, and, soon, you'll have him wrapped around your little finger..."
Allura, Hunk, and Pidge chuckled as they watched Keith sprint after Lance.
*-*-*-*-*
Allura wrapped her arms around herself as a cold breeze swept across her.
She was walking in the castle gardens, admiring the starlit sky, and the full Arussian moon, at its last day in that phase.
She stopped and sighed as she reminisced the moment when Keith had finally confessed his love for her. She giggled. It wasn't how she had imagined it, but, she wasn't complaining. What mattered was she knew how he felt, and that she felt the same way.
Allura started when she felt a pair of arms wrap themselves around her slender waist. She looked-up and found Keith smiling down at her.
"This better not be one of my fantasies." She said, her hand reaching-out to caress his cheek.
Keith arched an eyebrow; unaware of what happened a few nights ago.
"Never mind." She laughed, recalling the moment in her head. She relaxed and leaned back; her weight supported by Keith's body.
"Allan should be two to three hours away from Amaget by now." He said, resting his chin on her head.
Allura nodded. "I know." She sighed again. "He just left this morning, and I miss him already."
A comfortable silence swept between them.
"I was hoping that you'd come to my rescue this afternoon."
Allura laughed at him. "I wanted to see how well you'll do. Frankly, I'm surprised to see you alive and in one piece."
Keith joined-in. "It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Coran gave me a lecture on the responsibilities that a Prince Consort will have and Nanny gave me an overview on what I should expect from her etiquette classes."
Allura turned around in his arms, and faced him, placing her hands firmly on his chest.
"I love you, Keith." She said, tipping her head up, touched by the way he allows himself to be tormented by her over-protective guardians.
A tender smile replaced the playful smirk on his lips. "I love you, too, Allura," lowering his head in the process and meeting her waiting lips.
When they drew apart, Allura contentedly placed her head on his chest while Keith rested his head on hers; each thinking about the future they had ahead of them, together.
Keith looked-up at the sky, and recalled the moment when Allan talked to him in the observation deck the other night. The apparent sadness in the prince's eyes was unforgettable. He knew that the love Allan had for Allura was similar to his own. Allan played matchmaker inspite his broken heart --- valuing his role as her best friend; forgetting about his intentions for her happiness. He gently pulled Allura closer to him.
'Thank you, Allan. I promise that I'll love and care for her the same way you would have if her heart had chosen you...'
THE END