A/N

Ready for some more Heat? I dedicate this to all the fans on the East coast dealing with winter weather. As a native Pennsylvanian, I remember snow storms, snow days, and bad roads. Stay warm, stay safe, and think of me when I have to go to school and you don't!

Paulina Ann: They generated enough heat, but not so much that you had to turn away, right?

lovecastle89: Thank you. I tend to keep my chapters relatively short, although I noticed they have gotten longer over the year I have been writing. Koran suspects. Did you like his backhanded warning to Keith?

keithnallurafan: Thank you! Gotta up the "heat" a little, multiple meaning metaphor intended.

Limetwist: Haha! He so would be on a slaves ship to Doom! I giggled when I saw your review. Lance has his good intentions, and he knows Keith would never take advantage without some prodding.

cubbieBlueMako: There is nothing like snuggling with your Keith in the chilly cold of the morning. Makes it really hard to get out of bed when that alarm goes off at 5 am.

KittyLynne: Thank you very, very much! To me, Keith always seemed the epitome of masculinity. And even though he is so even and controlled, underneath it all, he is just a red-blooded male. Usually it's Nanny who is all uppity. Thought I would explore an uppity Koran. I plan on Nanny having another role before this is all over.

animebookchic: I think Lance would do anything to help get Keith laid. It would make his existence much more pleasant.

Thank you all for reviews and comments! I LOVE the feedback. It's why I continue to write. Please if you are following/ reading, drop me a review. I appreciate feedback, positive and constructive. Just no flames/ bashing. I am not a professional writer. I do this purely for fun and relaxation. It's my escape from my real world. (Oh, and to meet cool people in the fandom.)

Rated T

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: WEP owns Voltron.

Chapter 7

Late that afternoon, one of the generators still ceased to work despite the efforts of Pidge, Hunk, and the castle engineers. Standing in the generator bay with the repair team, Keith grunted in frustration. "What seems to be the problem, Hunk?" he demanded of the Yellow Lion pilot and lead mechanic.

Rolling his eyes before he turned around to face his commander, Hunk sighed in frustration. "We got the generator that controls defense and shields back online fairly easily. The generator that controls the heat and lights won't stay powered on. I have gotten everything put back together and rewired. When I reset the generator, it will glow green. But that only lasts for about 30 seconds, and then it goes black again."

"Well, what do you need to fix it?" Keith barked. The commander was not in a good place. After not having a good night's sleep, suffering from the constant chill in the air, and worrying about Koran, Keith wanted everything back to normal.

Not being able to take any more demands and suffering from little sleep himself, Hunk glared at Keith. "I am doing the best I can, Keith," he growled through gritted teeth. "The whole team is doing the best we can. Pidge thinks we may need to just leave the system alone for a bit. Because the Castle is powered by the same power source as Voltron, it may repair and recharge itself within a couple of days."

"A couple of days? Do you think we can take no heat and light for a couple of more days?" Keith yelled. His patience was gone.

"I don't know, Commander!" Hunk yelled back. "At least weapons and shields work. If that's not good enough for you, Commander, then you stay here and fix it, because I am done! I am going to get some dinner and go to bed! Later, Kogane!"

Taking a deep breath, Keith fought to retain his anger. None of this was Hunk's fault. The Yellow Lion pilot was right. He and Pidge and the rest of the repair team started working at dawn. It was quickly approaching dinner time. Breathing out a resigned sigh, Keith watched his friend as he stalked away. Regret took hold in his gut at the way he had talked to Yellow's pilot. "Hunk," he called. "I am sorry. It's been a long twenty-four hours for all of us. I think you should call it a night. Give the system a chance to rest and maybe it will hold its power in the morning."

Stopping mid-step, Hunk turned to face his commander. The big man was utterly exhausted. Rubbing his eyes, he did his best to stifle a yawn. "I think that's our best course of action for now," he agreed, a note of anger still in his voice. "At least we have weapons and shields. None of us have to patrol like we did last night. We can at least all get a good night's sleep tonight."

Noting that Hunk seemed to need some time, Keith decided not to push him. He fell into step beside him and broached a more neutral topic. "Are you going to sleep in the library again?"

"Hell no!" Hunk exclaimed. "That was the worst night's sleep I have ever had. I have a kink in my neck and my back is killing me. I want my own bed even if there is no heat. I will make due with heavy clothes and blankets. What about you?"

Keith's eyes took on a slightly faraway look as he remembered how he had woken up in the library that morning. Then he remembered the accusatory look that he received from the princess's advisor. He had better stay as far away from the princess as he could. Shaking his head, he crossed his arms. "No, I don't think so. I am going to hunker down in my own quarters tonight, just like you."

Chuckling, Hunk smiled so deeply, his dimples showed.

Confused, Keith glared at his friend. "What's so funny?"

"'It could be fun!' you said," Hunk mocked. "'Like a sleepover.'" Bursting into full blown hysterics, Hunk grabbed at his stomach. After several moments, he finally pulled himself together, wiping the tears from his eyes. "Not so much, huh, Cap?"

Smirking, Keith felt relieved to see that it appeared the Yellow Lion pilot forgave his earlier outburst. "Not so much, Hunk," he agreed, laughing at himself along with his big friend. Now the wake up, he thought, that was a different story.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

The informal dining room of the Castle of Lions glowed with the light from dozens of candles. Several wall sconces held large, torch-like candles and smaller tapered candles sat strategically on the large table that occupied the center of the room. Overall, the candles provided what could only be described as a romantic glow, but the group of forlorn diners situated around the table felt anything but a romantic mood. The group struggled to swallow down a meal of cold ham and cheese sandwiches as they shivered in their fleece pants and winter parkas. No one said a word, and only the small sounds of eating could be heard from the rather melancholy group.

Keith asked Hunk to inform the princess and her guardians about the generator situation. Koran took the news with a huge whoop of joy; he was relieved to have shields and the weapons systems back. They could do without heat and light as long as the Castle was protected and could defend itself. The governess, on the other hand, cursed under her breath at the news. The generator that powered the heat and lights also powered the huge industrial kitchen where she prepared meals. With no power, she could not make use of the numerous stoves and microwaves and other culinary machinery. As a result, she had no choice but to prepare a cold meal for dinner. A meal, she had stated vehemently, that was not fit for the princess. Allura and Nanny had spent the better part of the day making cold sandwiches for the Force and the rest of the occupants of the dark, chilled castle.

Allura too was relieved that the Castle defenses were back online. She could care less about the cold food or discomfort of the temperature knowing that they would be inside safe tonight. I feel better knowing that he will be inside safe tonight, she corrected herself. Glancing over to her right at Keith, she felt a small smile slide onto her lips at the picture he presented. The commander sat shivering as he mindlessly nibbled on his sandwich, bundled up against the frigid temperature, oblivious to the princess's intense perusal.

Keith wore a black skull cap on his head, pulled down tightly over his ears. The long raven hair at the nape of his neck lay splayed around the collar of his black parka. The zipper of his parka was pulled clear up to his chin, not a glimpse of his thermal undershirt showing. On his legs, her commander donned a pair of thick flannel pajama bottoms, made extra bulky by the thermals he wore underneath. On his feet thick wool socks and his red bedroom slippers fought the chill in the room. He looked like he was ready to build a snowman. She could imagine a little dark-haired, dark-eyed boy bundled up against the cold as he toddled through the snow. The small smile blossomed into a dreamy, wistful one as she let her imagination drift away from her in the silent dining room.

The princess's intense scrutiny of the commander did not go unnoticed by everyone in the room. Following the young monarch's gaze, her advisor sat unsurprised that Allura's eyes lay transfixed on the tall, handsome form of the commander. "Princess? Princess!" Koran called out trying to get his charge's attention, but she sat in her reverie, a dreamy expression on her face. Clearing his throat, Koran managed to get Keith's attention. He looked up with a start.

Jumping out of his cold haze, Keith snapped his eyes to meet Koran's annoyed gaze. The advisor motioned for him to get the princess's attention. Glancing over at Allura, Keith was taken aback by her intense stare and the wistful expression on her radiant face as she gazed dreamily at him. Bundled up in a light blue parka, the fur-lined hood pulled over her golden hair, she looked like a fairy-tale snow princess. The ice-blue of the jacket picked up the lighter tones in her eyes and they seemed to sparkle like jewels. Her normally creamy complexion was flushed from the cold, and the tip of her nose was tinged pink. He couldn't help but smile to himself at the adorable picture she made. A second clearing of the throat broke him from his reverie, and he held up a gloved hand in front of Allura's face. "Princess? Are you alright?"

Shaking her head of her dream-filled thoughts, Allura blinked with a start. She had just been caught blatantly staring at Keith. "Yes, yes," she replied somewhat breathlessly. "I am fine. What's wrong, Commander?" A small, secret smile played on her lips as she addressed Keith.

"Nothing," he growled insistently. "But Koran has been trying to get your attention. You're off in la-la land." His dark eyes gleamed with the same warning from this morning. Be careful, his eyes seemed to scream. He suspects something is going on.

Snapping her eyes to her advisor, she couldn't help but cringe a little at the look of disapproval in his eyes. "I am sorry, Koran. I think my brain must be frozen," she joked, trying to break the ice. She giggled softly behind her gloved hand.

He didn't find her response funny and continued to look at her intently. "Princess," he tried again, a very serious tone to his voice. "I don't think it's necessary for you to sleep in the library again. I can't help but agree with Nanny, that it is somewhat…. improper." Looking at her pointedly before quickly glancing at Keith, he waited for her protest. She just looked back at him, her wide-eyed gaze full of wonder and innocence. When he didn't get a protest, he continued, "Will you be ok in your own room? We could get a fire going in your private fireplace."

Trying not to glance at Keith, Allura nodded. "I think that will be fine. What about the rest of you?" she asked, looking around the table at the rest of her teammates. "Will you guys stay in the library again?"

"Hell no!" bellowed Hunk. "My back can't take another night on that chair. I need my own bed."

Pidge pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "I think I would rather try and hunker down in the rec room. It's got a fireplace and is bound to be more comfortable than the library, but yet warmer than my room."

Shaking his head, Lance smirked. "I have my own personal ways of generating heat, so don't any of you worry about little ol' Lance. " Lifting his head, he shot a cocky glance at his commander. "I will be just fine."

Flushing slightly at Lance's innuendo as Nanny balked at his inappropriateness, Allura turned to Keith. An electric charge traveled between them as their eyes met. The room grew silent as everyone suddenly seemed aware of the electricity flowing between the princess and the commander.

Keith dragged his eyes away from those fathomless baby-blue eyes. Glancing at Koran, who sat with his arms crossed across his robe-clad chest, he shook his head fiercely at the princess. "I will be fine in my room," he stated shortly. He raised his eyes back to Koran's and held the advisor's eyes evenly as he clenched his teeth in resignation.

Seeing that his message had been communicated loud and clear, Koran cleared his throat again. "Yes, well, very good then. Since all of you fought a battle yesterday and worked tirelessly around here today, I insist that all of you head to bed early. We will need to get started on the second generator early in the morning. I will take the night watch so I can monitor things going on inside and outside the castle." Standing to leave, he pushed in his chair and headed to the door. "I believe the security cameras are operational," he said pointedly just before he headed out the door to Control. I better go and make sure the security camera outside the princess's room is working, he thought to himself.

Nanny excused herself a few minutes later, heading to the kitchen to try and clean up from dinner with no lights and no hot water. Only the members of the Voltron Force remained, shivering in their chairs with their teeth chattering.

"Is it me," Hunk asked, "or is it even colder in here than it was five minutes ago?" The big man hugged his arms around his barrel chest.

Rubbing his hands together, Pidge nodded his head as he tried to burrow deeper into his green down jacket. "I think Hunk is right," he agreed. "It seems colder."

"Are you taking about the actual temperature, or Mr. Frigid who just left to watch Control?" Lance quipped, pointing toward the door that Koran just exited through. "What's up his derriere this evening?"

Keith interrupted any further conversation. Watching the princess worriedly, he noticed she was shivering almost uncontrollably. "I think we all better get settled in for the night. Pidge, get a fire going in the rec room. Hunk, make sure there is a supply of wood. Lance…." His voice trailed off.

"Want me to escort the princess to her quarters?" he asked hopefully. "Make sure she will be warm enough tonight?"

Keith almost agreed, but the look Allura flashed him stopped him. She wanted him to escort her. She wanted him to make sure she was alright for the night. She wanted him to keep her warm….. His whole body flushed as warmth rushed through his body, originating in his groin. Biting back a groan, he shook his head. "That's ok. I will escort the princess. I know you have your own needs to attend to." Keith couldn't help but snort out his last sentence.

"That's right, I do!" Lance replied saucily. "And Veronica is going to help warm up my fingers, my toes, and all my other parts that need attention." He threw up a high five at Keith, but the commander ignored him and shot him a dirty look. Under his breath he whispered to Keith out of the side of his mouth, "It probably wouldn't hurt for you to get some of your parts warmed up as well." Lifting his eyebrows up at his commander, Lance flinched slightly when he noticed Keith's fist clench.

Fighting to not smack Lance upside the head, Keith chose to ignore him instead. He spoke to the entire team. "Let's call it a night team. We need to be ready in the morning to continue with the repairs on that generator. Princess, shall we?" Proffering his arm, he flashed a handsome smile as she stood and shuffled over to him. Heading to the door, he led her with a hand on the small of her back.

"S…S…Sure, l….l….let's go," Allura stammered in response. "Oh my gosh, I am f….f…freezing."

"I am sure the commander can assist with that," Lance called before the door swished closed. Whether the comment was heard or not, the Red Lion pilot would never know. Neither Keith nor Allura paused or even turned around as they exited the room. Smiling to himself, Lance excused himself to his remaining teammates and followed the tortured couple out the door. Let them figure things out for themselves tonight. He had his own rendezvous to get to.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

In Castle Control, Koran cursed uncharacteristically under his breath. He had been mistaken. Because shields and weapons were operational, long range scanners worked as they scanned the skies above Arus and the countryside that surrounded the Castle of Lions. The security system on the inside of the Castle still ceased to work, which meant security cameras in common areas inside were still inoperable. Damn it, Koran thought. I have no way of monitoring Keith or Allura's quarters. Scratching his mustache, he sighed. Maybe he had been mistaken at what he suspected that morning and what he thought he witnessed in their exchange at dinner. Hopefully, my warning will be enough. That and Keith's overblown sense of duty should be enough to prevent their seeming relationship from going any further. Koran let out a long, low breath. At least, the advisor hoped so.