Keith was in the dining room the next morning, when Pidge and Hunk walked in. Spying him, they hurried over. "Skipper!" Hunk called.

Keith smiled. "Hey guys, how's it going?"

"Could be better. Pidge managed to crash the mainframe, and I can't get the thrusters working, but other than that, not bad." Hunk replied.

Keith grimaced. "Want a hand?

"Sure Keith, if you feel up to it anyway. We could use the help." Pidge answered.

"I'll be down as soon as I can." Keith gulped down the rest of his coffee. "I'll see you soon." He got up and walked out the door. As he started down the hallway, he heard some one call out his name. Great, now what…

"Keith, up and at 'em again, I see. How are you feeling?" Admiral Harrison called out to Keith.

Keith forced himself to turn around. "Fine. Sir." He replied crisply.

Harrison narrowed his eyes at Keith's icy tone. "Where are you headed, son?"

"Down to the bay to help with repairs. Sir. If that's permissible. Sir." Keith stood rigid, at attention.

Two can play this game, Montgomery. "As long as you swing by sick-bay first and get the OK from Dr. Gorma." Harrison replied just as formally.

"Already received permission for light duty. Sir." Keith stood rock still, staring Harrison in the eye.

"See to it I get a status report on the repairs, Captain."

"Yes. Sir."

Harrison refused to back down. "As you were Captain." Without another word, Keith saluted and walked off down the hall. The Admiral stood and watched until Keith was out of sight, then he sighed and walked off in the other direction.

Keith forced himself to walk normally. As soon as he was out of sight of the Admiral, he leaned against the wall, and took a deep breath to calm himself. Then he headed down to the repair bay. Hunk, Pidge, and Sven were already working on Red Lion. Keith did a double take when he saw Allura hard at work on the computer panel. "Well, what can I do?" He asked Hunk. Allura's head snapped up at his voice. He carefully avoided looking at her.

Hunk scratched his head. "Can you handle a welding torch any better than you handle a wrench?" He asked with a grin. Keith scowled. Both Pidge and Sven chuckled. Hunk looked thoughtful for a moment. "Hmmmm. Might be best if you help the Princess. Pidge managed to get the mainframe all straightened out, but the weapons, and all the other systems still need to be realigned."

Keith shifted uncomfortably. "Are you sure there's nothing else I can do?" He asked. "Anything?"

Hunk had already turned around. "Nope. With any luck, we'll be done this today." He got back to work.

Keith sighed and walked over to the Princess. He didn't say a word, as he stood next to her. Allura smiled up at him. "Good morning. Do I get a kiss?" She asked mischievously. Keith turned bright red, and glanced around. "I mean, people who are in love often give good morning kisses." She teased.

"Princess, that's not a good idea right now." Keith replied, still embarrassed.

"That's funny, last night I was 'Allura'." She grinned at him.

"That was last night. Let's get to work." He bent down and started on the control panel. She placed her hand on his back, and he jumped as if he'd been shot. "I'd better work over here." He moved quickly to the other side of the table.

Allura smiled to herself. This is going to be fun…

A few hours later, work was almost finished on Red Lion. Hunk, Sven and Pidge had finished the work on the engines and were in the process of welding the body back on. Keith and Allura had finished the computers and were running tests on the systems.

"Weapons systems in the green." Allura said to Keith.

"Try Navigation." He replied.

She toyed with a few switches. "Not yet….." She smiled to herself and reached across Keith to turn a dial. Her body brushed lightly against his. "Excuse me." For the thousandth time, Keith groaned inwardly. It was taking all his concentration to keep his hands off her. She stood back up. "All set now." She smiled at him.

"Allura, this isn't the time or place. You're driving me crazy!" Keith muttered though his clenched teeth.

"Oh, so maybe I shouldn't do…this?" She reached across him again, even closer, and this time walking her fingers across his chest.

"That's it!" Keith glanced around, then grabbed her and pulled her into the nearest store room. A few minutes later, Sven walked by, intending to go in the store room for more parts. As he got closer to the door, he heard female giggling coming from inside. Sven glanced around. Keith and Allura were missing. Putting two and two together, he smiled and walked off without the parts. Shortly after that, Keith peeked out from the room. "All clear." He and the Princess walked back to the computers. "Next time, don't start what you can't finish." He told her grinning.

Allura smiled up at him, her blue eyes glowing. "Who said we're finished?" She brushed her had across his cheek, then turned and left the room. Keith stared after her.

"Computers all up and running?" Said Sven, coming up behind Keith.

Keith jumped. yes, everything is all set here." He stammered. "I'll just let you guys finish this. I'm…going to go see Lance. See ya!" He started to walk away.

Sure you are. "Keith! One more ting." Sven called. Keith turned. "Vipe the lipstick off your face." Sven almost laughed out loud at his friend's expression. Keith turned bright red and he hurried out of the room, hastily wiping his lips.

Keith made his way down to sick bay. He could hear Lance laughing with some one. He entered the room and saw Allura sitting on the edge of Lance's bed, telling him something to make him laugh. Lance looked a lot better. He was sitting up, and had more color in his face. They both glanced up as Keith entered the room. Allura sent him a smile that pierced his heart. You could almost see the electricity flash between their eyes. Lance looked shrewdly at them both. After a moment, Allura turned back to Lance. "I'll be back later." She gave his hand a squeeze. Allura paused as she passed Keith. He looked down at his shoes. She turned and winked at Lance, then planted a kiss on Keith's surprised lips before leaving the room.

"Mind telling me what that was all about?" Lance was leaning back with both hands behind his head. "I mean, I'm the one who got shot all to hell, and all I got was a little pat on the hand." He grinned at his best friend's discomfort.

"Shut up Lance." Keith plopped himself down in a chair. "Things are...different between us."

"How different? Did you sleep with her?" Lance smiled slyly.

Keith's head snapped up. "Of course not! You know me better than that.

"Why do you think I asked you?" Lance was still grinning.

"Drop it Lance. How are you feeling?" Keith asked.

Lance knew if he kept on pressing Keith, his friend would totally clam up. He decided to wait and try again later, or even ask the Princess herself. "Much better. Tried to go for a walk today, but got caught by the prison guards." Lance replied nodding towards the nurse.

Keith nodded. "I know the feeling. When are they planning on springing you?"

"Doc says in a couple days if I behave. What we really need are a bunch of cute nurses. Have you seen how slim the pickings are in here!" Lance laughed. After a moment, Keith laughed too.

"Now I know you're going to be fine. Harrison, you never change."

Lance grinned. "So, tell me how Red is?"

"Better than it was. Hunk has been working us all to death trying to get him back together. Just finished and he's as good as new. Try not to do that again will you?"

"I'll do my best Captain." Lance paused. "Keith, what's going on with you and Dad?"

Keith closed his eyes. "What did he say?"

"Nothing. That's the problem. I asked him how you were, and he gave me a very concise report on your health. Then he got up and left the room without another word. What's up?"

Keith sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "We had…words."

"What kind of words?"

"He pulled rank on me Lance. Right in front of the Team and half the Space Force."

Lance's expression grew serious. "Dad pull rank? Why?"

Keith looked up at his friend. "I shouldn't be telling you this." At Lance's look, he sighed and continued. "Right after I got out of sick bay, a group of ships showed up right at the edge of our scanners. No idea what or who they are. We have three days before they are in range, and both Black and Red were in pieces. I started down to help Hunk and Pidge, and the Admiral stopped me. Told me I wasn't going anywhere but bed and if I disobeyed, I'd be grounded indefinitely."

"So then what happened?" Lance asked.

"I told him this was my command and I'd do what I pleased. He informed me he was my commanding officer and forced my hand."

"What did you do?"

"The only thing I could do. I saluted him and left. He tried again today, but I had already gotten the OK from the Doc. He wasn't happy with me." Keith paused. "I'm not so happy with me either. I'm just so tired of him babying me all the time. When I was young, fine, but I'm not thirteen anymore."

"Keith." Lance waited until Keith looked him in the eye. "He's scared. He's already lost his best friend. Do you think he wants to lose his best friend's son?"

Keith's throat grew tight with emotion. "I never thought of it that way." He blinked furiously, then jumped to his feet. "I have to go."

"Keith wait. I didn't mean to upset you." He waited until Keith sat back down. "You know, it's really no different then what you do to the Princess."

Keith scowled. "It's a lot different."

"It is not. Dad loves you and wants to protect you. You love Allura and want to protect her."

Keith narrowed his eyes at Lance. "Who said I loved her?"

Lance laughed. "C'mon Cap! After what I just saw!

lease."

Keith sighed. "That's what I meant before, about things being different between us." He said quietly.

"My God! I was only kidding!" Lance looked shocked. "Did you say something to her? Did she say something to you? Don't leave me hanging like this Montgomery!"

"I told her I loved her the other night. She said loves me too."

Lance was so happy, he didn't notice Keith's tone. "Well, that's great! Imagine, Lady-Killer Montgomery settled down at last." When Keith didn't reply, Lance looked up. He'd never seen such despair on Keith's face. Not since he'd lost his parents. "Keith? What's wrong?"

Keith stood and paced around the room. "She's a princess, Lance. I'm just a space jockey. It can never work. I should never have told her anything." He ran his hand through his hair.

"You son of a …" Keith looked up in surprise. "Keep talking like that and you'll be right. I never thought I'd see the day when Keith Montgomery would turn out to be such a wimp." Lance said coldly.

"Watch your tone Lieutenant." Keith's voice held a warning.

Good, I've made him angry. Lance struggled to his feet and stood toe to toe with Keith. "Watch it yourself Captain. You tell me you love her, but obviously not enough to try and make some kind of life with her. Knock it off Keith. You're smarter than that. She rules the whole planet dammit. I think she can choose her own consort. Get off the pity-pony, and do something about it."

Keith stood rock still, his fists clenched at his sides. Lance, losing the little color he had, stood his ground. Sven walked in.

"Vhat de hell is going on? Lance! Sit down before you fall down. Keith, back off." Sven got between them and Lance sat down. Keith didn't move. "Vant to tell me vhat you two tink you are doing?"

Lance nodded towards Keith. "Seems our Captain here, is out to alienate himself from the world. Maybe we should let him." He said angrily.

Keith's brown eyes were cold. "Get some rest Lieutenant. We need you back on duty." He turned and marched out of the room.

Sven turned to Lance. "I don't know vether to hit you two or lock you both in a room until you figure dis out. I have not broken up a fight with you two since de Academy. Vhat vas dat all about?"

Lance sighed. "He's retreating back into himself. Just like after he lost his parents. WE know how to handle him, but there is more at stake this time."

Sven nodded. "The Princess."

Lance looked surprised. "He told you?"

"No, I caught dem in the store room. And dey vere not looking for parts." Sven sighed. "Vhat can ve do?"

Lance lay back and closed his eyes. "Nothing, Sven. Absolutely nothing."