Hi all!

Once again, I don't own any of the characters…just having fun with them.

Thank you so much for the reviews!  I love checking my email and finding those review alerts.  And I got my first drunken review!  Thanks, Ahbleza! :-)

This chapter ended up with a fluffier ending that I had planned, but I see this as a transition chapter, leading to something...


Enjoy,
Failte

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"He has to be in here."

Koran heard the Princess' hushed tones before he saw her.  He was seated at a table in the library, searching through books on Arus' history, trying to figure out what would be the best way to start the Captain's lessons.

"Koran?"

He looked up to see the Princess and the Captain standing in front of his table, their fingers loosely entwined.  Allura looked truly happy and relaxed.  She hadn't looked that peaceful since, well, since the King and Queen were alive and Arus was thriving.

"Your Highness."

"We wanted to thank you, Koran."

He raised his eyebrows, "For what?"

"Keith received a letter from the Garrison today, turning down his original request for a transfer.  Part of the reason they decided to keep him here was because of the letter you sent on his behalf."

Koran nodded, "It seemed a shame to break up such a talented team and since your…personal issues have been resolved, I thought it would be best if he stayed."

"Thank you," Keith said graciously.

"It was my pleasure, Captain."

Allura released Keith's hand and sat in the chair next to Koran, "We would like to ask you a huge favor, Koran."

He looked at the young woman and when he saw the expectant smile on her face, he knew he would agree to anything to keep her as happy as she was at this moment.  "Yes?"

Allura looked up at Keith, who gave her a reassuring smile, before looking back at Koran.  "We've been having a problem lately with Nanny."

Koran chuckled but indicated for her to continue.

"Any way, Nanny has taken it upon herself to make sure Keith and I don't, uh, don't do anything inappropriate.  Which is fine, because we aren't…doing anything wrong.  But she is making it impossible for us to have any kind of relationship at all.  I know she means well, but it is really getting to us.  I have tried to ask her to back off a little, but she isn't taking me seriously.  Maybe…well, could, uh, could you talk to her for us, she'll listen to you."

Koran nodded, "I will say something to her, Princess, but I can't make any promises.  She fails to see that you have grown up, you will always be her little girl."

"I, uh, I thought she approved of me," Keith said uneasily, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Oh, she does," Koran assured him.  "She just doesn't approve of you taking advantage of the Princess."

"But I'm not!"

"And she's going to make sure you don't."

"Koran," Allura spoke up.  "We just want some time to get to know each other better.  We want to be able to have a date without her interrupting."

"I'll have a word with her, but I'd like to offer some advice to you, Captain, that might help your situation."

"What is it?"  Keith asked. 

"We are going to start your studies and Nanny is planning to start your training next week.  Prove to her how serious you are about this.  Show her you can be a gentleman and that you want to make Arus your home.  Show her that you aren't trying to take the Princess away from her."

"I will do anything I need to," the Captain vowed.

"Good, you can start with these," Koran pushed a pile of books toward him.  "You already know as much as I do about the Arusian military and its history and I know you have researched a few laws, and how to break them."

"We didn't break any law," Allura mumbled.

"Okay, you know how to get around laws.  These are history books about Arus, its civilization, everything you need to know."

Keith looked down at the three tomes and nodded, picking them up, "No problem, Koran."

"Come on," Allura jumped up and slipped her arm through Keith's.  "I'll help you study."

********************************************************************************

Keith looked down at the elaborate place setting in front of him.  Since he had to undergo Nanny's 'Gentleman Training', it was decided all the other guys had to as well.  They had already been lectured on proper behavior in a formal party setting.  Nanny gathered all the maids and butlers in the castle and set up a fake party.  The guys had to arrive in their dress uniforms and mingle, making small talk and learning how to properly meet and introduce people.

Tonight they were learning the proper way to behave at a formal dinner.

At the moment he was looking down at a plate with a salad bowl sitting on it.  Three forks were on the left beside a folded napkin and a knife and two spoons on the right.  Above the forks was a small plate with a small knife and to the right of that plate was one large stemmed glass and two smaller stemmed glasses.  Two empty settings were placed at either end of the table for Nanny and Allura.

"Are all of these for me?"  Pidge asked picking up two of the glasses.

Hunk lifted the two spoons, "Why we need three forks and two spoons?"

Lance twirled a spoon in one hand while picking up the other, "For this."  He began to beat a rhythm on the table.

Pidge picked up the small knife and tapped on the large glass.  Hunk used two of the forks to join in.  It took Keith a moment, but when Lance started singing "We Will Rock You", he quickly picked up on the beat.

"What is going on?"

The song abruptly ended and was quickly followed by the sound of silverware clattering to the floor.

Nanny stood in the doorway, hands on her hip, glaring at the four young men.  Allura stood beside her, a hand over mouth hiding her smile.

"Pick up that silverware!"  Nanny barked.  "Put it back!  This is not how you behave!  If we had a dignitaries visiting would you be treating the table as a drum?"

"Only if they liked Queen," Lance mumbled.


Keith kicked him under the table.

"Now, we will leave the room and reenter," Nanny continued.  "When a lady enters the room you stand.  Captain, you will hold the chair out for the Princess.  Lieutenant Landers, you will do the same for me.  Once we are seated, you may take your seats."

"Yes, Ma'am."  The four space explorers chimed.

With that, Nanny turned on her heel and marched out the door.  Allura winked at the guys before following the older woman.

"Way to go guys," Keith muttered as the door shut.

The door slid open again and Allura glided in, followed closely by Nanny.  All four men stood as one.  Keith stepped over and pulled Allura's chair out for her, allowing his hand to brush her shoulder as he pushed it in.

The men sat and listened as Nanny explained the difference between a salad fork and a desert fork, the soup spoon and the teaspoon, and the water glass and the wine glass.  Keith watched as Lance furrowed his forehead in concentration.  The Red Lion pilot was an amazing soldier and had a great tactical mind, but was having a hell of a time keeping his forks straight.

The meal was gourmet and served in four courses with Nanny teaching and quizzing them all on the proper etiquette.  Talk was kept light, but serious.  Discussions centered around the weather and the rebuilding of Alforia.

And such the way life was turning for Keith.  He and Allura soon learned that it was not necessary for them to talk to Koran about Nanny, with all the extra work that was piled on the two of them, there was no time for them to spend together anyway.  The Garrison had agreed to send men and supplies to help with the rebuilding and Allura was overseeing all of that.  The entire planet was growing by leaps and bounds.  Keith was busy studying with Koran and his work with the Force.  He and the rest of the Force were also helping with the rebuilding and Doom was still a constant threat.  As the weeks passed, there were numerous attacks and at least three foiled attempts to kidnap the Princess.

Time passed quickly with all the work that was being done and Keith would often feel a passing twinge of shame at the thought that he was not spending enough time with Allura.  It seemed that the only time they were together was when she offered to help him study.  He knew he was trying to cram too much into too little time and fatigue was too often a problem.  He had fallen asleep at the dinner table, in his office, and in the conference room while they were going over tactics.

Allura was worried about him.  More often than not she would walk into his study and find him holding his head up, coffee at his elbow, while he studied information Koran had given him or new orders sent by the Garrison.  She knew this wouldn't last forever, but she felt guilty that most of this was because of her.  Koran had made it quite clear that they were not free to marry until Keith was properly versed on Arus, its history and laws.  But she couldn't help but feel flattered that he was going through all of this for her, for them.

It was over three and a half years since the Voltron Force had landed on Arus and the planet was so much better for it.  Schools, stores, and homes had been built.  While there were still attacks, the people of Arus felt safer and had grown bolder, not always running for cover when there was a fight, but running out to fight back.

Allura knocked on the closed door to Keith's study one afternoon.  He had missed lunch and she carried a tray with a sandwich, hoping to get food into him.

"Come in," he called out tensely.

"Hey, how are you?"  She asked, entering and shutting the door behind her.

He was sitting at his desk, two books open in front of him, his computer on, and a letter from the Garrison in his hand.  "Fine."

"Oh honey," she walked around the desk and took the letter from him, scanning it.  "This can wait, take a break."

Rubbing his eyes, Keith leaned back in his chair and let out a long groan, "It can't wait."

"Yes it can, here, eat something, you're going to work yourself into an early grave."

"The sooner I learn all this, the sooner I am done and we can get married."

"Keith," she rubbed his shoulders.  "We have plenty of time.  I worry about you."

"I'm fine."

She slid her arms around his neck and laid her cheek on the top of his head, "What can I do to help?"

He rubbed his hand over her arm, "You're doing it right now."

"It just seems like we're always working," she whispered.

"It's not forever."

"It just seems like it."

With a sigh Keith turned his chair and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her onto his lap, "Are you hoping I'll ask you on a date?"

"I wouldn't mind going into town and checking out the progress."

He tightened his arms around her waist and laid his head on her shoulder, "I meet with Koran in two days, we can go after that.

"What are you studying now?"

"I have to be able to name the last fifty monarchs, list the ten laws added during King Aden's rule and the effects the 'Laws of Adair' have had on Arus."

"I don't even know all that," she admitted, kissing the top of his head.

"I just have a lot more to prove."

"Not to me."

"If only it was just you and me."

"Let's pretend it is."  She took his face in her hands and forced him to look at her, "Let's pretend it's just you and me, lets forget everything outside this room."

He kissed her gently and laid his head on her chest, feeling the gentle rise and fall as she breathed, listening to the quickening beat of her heart as she ran her hands through his hair soothingly.  "I love you," he murmured.

"I love you too, sweetie," she kissed the top of his head. 

His head grew heavy on her and his arms fell limply around her.  Allura smiled when she realized he had dozed off.  "Keith?"

"Hm?"

"Come on, you can't be comfortable," she stood and held her hands out to him.

"What?"

"Come on, take a break."  She led him over to a couch that was set up on the wall beside the desk.  Allura had the couch brought in when it became obvious that he was spending a lot more time in his study, she wanted him to have a place to lay down when he needed it.

Allura sat on the couch and smiled as Keith settled himself down with his head on her lap.

"Ten minutes," he mumbled.

Allura reached over and picked a book up off the corner of his desk.  She flipped through it as Keith began to snore softly.

**************************************************************

It was nearly an hour later when Keith's communicator woke him.  He sat up quickly, unclipping it from his belt, "Whitaker."

"Hey, Cap, just wanted to let you know that a delivery has just been dropped off for you," Lance said cheerfully.

Keith looked at his watch, his eyes widened, "I'll be right there, Lance, thanks."  He snapped the communicator shut and turned to Allura, "I thought I had said ten minutes."

She shrugged, "You needed rest."

"But I don't have time to…"

"Yes you do," Allura interrupted.

He stood and stretched, "Thank you for the break, Allura."

She stood and rose on her toes, giving him a quick kiss, "Any time."

"I have to get moving."

"Don't skip dinner tonight."

"I won't," he promised.

Allura watched him as he left his study and jogged down the hall to Castle Control.

"What's going on?"  Keith asked Lance.

Lance held out a small package, "This was delivered for you, Cap."

He took the box and stared at it a moment before realization dawned on him.  "Oh, wow, I didn't think it would be ready so soon."

"What is it?"

Keith looked around the nearly deserted room, "Can you keep a secret?"

"Of course."

Grabbing Lance's arm, he pulled his friend over to a more secluded corner of the room.  Keith sliced through the tape on the box with his pocket knife and dug into the packing material, pulling out a small jewelry box.

The Red Lion pilot's eyes widened, "Is that what I think it is?"

Keith grinned and pulled it open.  Nestled in the velvet insert was a ring of gold with a heart shaped solitaire diamond.  It was simply, elegantly beautiful.  "What do you think?"

"Wow," Lance breathed.  "I can't believe you're really going to propose."

"Yeah, I think she's waited long enough.  It's becoming harder to come up with excuses."

"When are you going to do it?"

Keith shrugged, "Not sure, when the moment's right, I guess."

"Captain!"

Keith jumped and snapped the box shut, hiding it behind his back as he turned, "Yes, Koran, what is it?"

"What are you hiding?"

"Uh, nothing, what do you need?"

"Have you seen the Princess?  There is a call coming in from Pollux."

"I believe she's in her study, she should have her communicator on her."

Koran nodded and left to find the Princess.

"Pollux?  I hope everything's alright."  Keith shoved the ring box in his pocket and tossed the packaging in the trash.

"There's only one way to find out," Lance said, sauntering over to the main videophone.

It took roughly two minutes for the call to be connected.  Allura hurried into the room and stood with the two men, watching the graphics on the screen as it counted down to connection.  She nervously slid her hand into Keith's.  It had been over a week since they had last heard from Doom and she was worried that Lotor had turned on Pollux.

"Allura?"

The picture flickered and then the image of Romelle and Sven came into view.

"Romelle, Sven how are you?  Is everything alright?"  Allura asked hurriedly.

"Alright?"  Romelle asked.  "Everything is great!  We wanted you guys to be the first to know."

"Know what?"  Keith asked.

Sven took Romelle's left hand and held it up for them to see, "Ve're getting married."

Allura gasped and clasped her hands together, "That's wonderful!  Congratulations!"

"Way to go, Sven," Lance grinned.  "Oh, and you too, Romelle."

"Congratulations," Keith added.

"Have you set a date?"  Allura asked.

"It will be a few months," Romelle said.  "We want to wait for the chapel to be rebuilt, I want to marry here.  But I was just so excited, I want to tell you."

"Now de ball's in your court," Sven teased.

"Thanks, Sven, no pressure there," Keith muttered.

Romelle swatted her fiancé's arm, "Stop that, Sven."

"I take it Bandor approves?"  Allura asked.

"Sven has done a great job helping with our military, I don't think Bandor would know what to do without him."

"So you're officially settling on Pollux?"  Keith asked unnecessarily.

Sven nodded, "Ja, my family vasn't too happy to hear dat, but now dat ve are getting married, dey vill probably be more accepting."

"You haven't called them yet?"

"Ve vanted to tell you all first."

"I am so glad you did," Allura said.

"As long as things are clear," Romelle said.  "We were thinking about coming to visit, if it's alright."

"That would be great," Allura assured her.

"Good, because I want you to help me plan the wedding and I know you can't really leave Arus."

"Great!  When can we expect you?"


"We were thinking in about two weeks."

**********************************************************************

The next evening found Keith and Allura in his study.  She had shown up, offering to quiz him so that they could go on their date the next night, but now they were cuddled up on the sofa.  Keith was sitting with a book open on his lap, making notes in a notebook on the arm of couch.  Allura was sitting sideways with her back against Keith's side, his arm around her holding her close to him, while she went over the building proposals some contractors had dropped off earlier.

Allura read the same page and added the same numbers together four times.  She was jealous.  She would never tell Keith that, but she was.  The phone call with Romelle the day before had brought it all to the surface.  She wanted to be engaged too, planning a wedding, picking out a dress, preparing for their future together.  It would come someday.  She and Keith were going to marry, she knew that, but when?  Why did he keep putting it off?  Was he having second thoughts?  Was she asking too much of him? 

"Keith?"

"Hm?"

Allura set the papers down and turned to face him, "I want to ask you a question."

"Okay," he set his pen down and looked up at her, noticing how nervous she seemed.  "What is it?"

She licked her lips and rubbed her hands on her thighs, "Will you marry me?"

Keith stopped himself from automatically assuring her he would.  With a smile, he asked, "Are you proposing to me?"

She nodded.

"No."

Her eyes widened and her cheeks reddened, "No?"

"No."  He reached out and twirled a lock of her hair around his finger.  "You will not steal my thunder on this.  I will propose to you."

"Don't be so old fashioned," she whined.  "I can propose to you."

"Yes you can, but that doesn't mean I'll accept it."

She stuck her lower lip out in a cute pout, "Well, maybe I won't accept when you finally get around to it."

"Allura, you know why I'm waiting.  We have to wait for Koran and Nanny to finish making me over."


"You're fine the way you are."

He smiled and leaned forward so his forehead rested against hers, "But I'm not good enough for you yet."

"That's not true."

"I promise to make it worth the wait, Angel, but you won't be expecting it."

She sighed and turned away, picking up her paperwork, "Fine."

"Damn Sven," Keith muttered.


"I heard that."

He slung his arm around her, "You know I love you, right?"

"Yes."

"And that I want to spend the rest of my life with you?"

"So you say."

Keith laughed, "I wouldn't love you half as much if it wasn't for your spirit."

"Yeah, well, my spirit and I are getting sick of waiting."

"Then you're going to have to leave me alone to study."

"Fine," Allura scooped up her paperwork.  "I'll leave you."

"No," he grabbed her hand and yanked hard, pulling her onto his lap.  "You can quiz me."

"I thought I was a distraction."

"Oh, you are," he whispered wickedly.  "But you're the best kind of distraction."

Allura tilted her head back as he kissed his way up her neck to the spot just below her ear that always sent shivers down her spine.

"I'm sorry about the waiting," he breathed into her ear.  "I don't know about long engagements, and I certainly don't want to worry about Lotor crashing our wedding."

She snaked her arms around his neck, "I know, honey."

"And you know it will only anger him more if it became common knowledge that we were engaged."

Allura groaned and buried her face in his neck, "I don't want to have to let him dictate our lives."

"He isn't, Allura, I just want you to be safe, I don't want to put a big bullseye on you."

She lifted her head and looked at him, "I've had a big bullseye on me my entire life, if anything you have a bullseye on you because of me."

"He doesn't want me."

"No, but he will use you to get to me."

"I'll be fine, Allura."

"So will I."

Keith twirled a lock of hair around his finger.  He couldn't stop touching it.  It was so soft and fragrant, he loved playing with it, burying his face in it.  "If you think about it, we're pretty much engaged now.  We know we're going to get married, we're going to be together the rest of our lives and raise a castle full of children."

She rested her head on his shoulder, her eyes closed, enjoying the feel of his fingers as they combed through her hair, "All you need to do is ask me.  For real."

It wasn't what he wanted to do, it wasn't what he meant to do.  But as Keith sat there, holding her close, he knew this was the moment.  He stopped stroking her hair to reach into his pocket and pulled out the small box.  Bringing it around in front of her he added, "Well, that and a ring."

Allura opened her eyes and gasped.

"I love you, Allura, completely, and I want us to spend the rest of our lives together," he whispered into her hair.  "Marry me and share my life with me."

She tilted her head back to look at him with moist eyes, "Are you serious?"

He chuckled, "Yes, I'm serious."

She sniffed and looked back at the box in his hand, "I have to see the ring before I agree."

Keith laughed as he flipped open the box, "Marry me, Princess.  Complete my life."

Allura brought her hands up and covered her mouth, too overcome to speak.


"Will you?"

She nodded and held her hand out.  Keith slipped the ring out of the box and onto the third finger of her shaking hand.  Wordlessly, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

Keith rubbed her back and smiled as she sniffled and clung to him.  It was official now.

Allura pulled back and looked at him, "You were planning this for tonight?"

He shook his head, "No, I wanted to do something more romantic." 

"This was romantic enough."

Smiling, he stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers, "I surprised you?"

She nodded.

"The real reason I was stalling was because I wanted to get the right ring before I proposed."

Allura held her left hand out in front of her, "Yes, well, I think you got it right."

"Good."  He framed her face and brought her close for a kiss.

"Can I call Pollux now?" She asked when they broke apart.

"I'm thinking we should keep a low profile for a while, just until we know we can handle whatever Lotor throws at us."

"We've dealt with everything he's thrown us so far and I wanna showoff," she whined, laying her hand flat on his chest and studying her ring.

"I think we should keep it within the castle walls, just for now."

"Okay," she kissed him.  "I love you, Keith, so much."  She leaned down to kiss him again.

A loud, sharp knock on the door interrupted them.

"Princess!"

Keith tightened his arms around her, holding her in place as Nanny called to her.

"Princess, are you in there?"

Allura groaned against his lips.

He fisted his hand in her hair, not allowing her to break the kiss.

"Nanny?"

"What is it Koran?"

Allura broke the kiss and grinned down at her fiancé as her advisor came to their rescue.

"I, uh, I need your help."  They heard Koran say to Nanny.

"With what?"  Nanny asked.

"With, um, with what else I need to go over with the Captain."

"Oh, you know that better than I do."

Koran sighed loudly, "Leave them alone, Edina."

"But…"

"You have to get used to the idea that the Princess is a grown woman and she needs time with the Captain."

"But…"

"But nothing."

Whatever else was discussed between the two faded out as Koran led Nanny down the hall, away from Keith's study.

"We are going to name our first born after Koran," Keith mumbled.


"And if it's a girl?"

"Korana."