Disclaimer: Voltron and its characters are owned by WEP. I make no claim to them. Other characters and the story belong to me.

Rated T/ M for some minor cursing and innuendo.

Enjoy!

Chapter 13: Admissions

Sunlight streamed through the picture window. Keith woke up happy, feeling more content than he had in years. He tried to stretch, and found that he couldn't. He reached out and his hand got entangled in a length of golden blond hair. Opening his eyes groggily, he looked down into the sleeping face of the Princess.

"What the hell?" he exclaimed as he sat up. He startled his sleeping beauty out of her deep slumber and accidentally pushed her off the couch as he scrambled to make sense of where he was and why Allura was with him.

"Well, good morning to you too," came Allura's snarky greeting as she looked up at Keith. "I can think of more pleasant ways to wake up." She gave him a look that was a mix of leftover desire and mock agitation.

Keith massaged his neck trying to work out the kinks that had developed from his weird sleeping position. The events of the day before came rushing back as he looked around the office at the evidence that remained from their date. The remains of candles, long ago melted down and burnt out, were strategically placed around the room. The opened bottle of wine and two half-drunk glasses of champagne sat where they had left them on the side table, long forgotten. The ice in the bottle chiller had turned to water. He gazed down at his blue-eyed companion sitting on the floor, and offered her a hand to help her up. She gave him a wry smile as she took his hand.

"Thank you," she said as she sat down next to him. "Good morning, again." She leaned into kiss him.

He smiled back at her and accepted her kiss. As their lips touched, the flame of desire sparked once again. "Good morning, Allura," Keith replied against her mouth. He kissed her a moment more before he pulled away.

"I guess we fell asleep," she noted as she looked around the room and then down at herself. She was still wearing her ice blue gown from dinner last night. She looked at Keith. He was still wearing his jeans, though his shirt had gone AWOL. She got a chill looking at his fine physique and thinking about how close they had come last night. Only his sense of propriety prevented it. She reached out a hand and trailed it across his chest.

"Allura, no," Keith cautioned hoarsely. He looked at the clock. "Shit," he cursed. "Do you see what time it is? It's 7:30. We have lion practice in half an hour." He stood in a half panic. "We're going to be late."

"Keith, relax," Allura giggled. "You are the commander. You can postpone or even cancel it if you want."

"Not if we don't want to raise suspicions," he replied. He looked at Allura. "Koran knows about us. So does Nanny. I am just not sure I am ready to reveal anything to the Force yet. I want you for myself a little longer," he added as he pulled her into an embrace.

"Fair enough," she conceded, "but if I am going to be ready to go to Lion Practice, I better get going. Crud, do you think Nanny realizes I am missing yet?"

"If she doesn't yet, she will soon," Keith replied. He went to the door and let it slide open as he glanced up and down the hall. "The coast is clear. If you hurry, maybe you won't get caught."

Allura hurried out the door and then stopped and came back into the room. She pressed her lips to his and murmured, "I love you," before she was gone again in a whirlwind.

He followed her out the door and watched as she hurried down the hall to her chambers. "I love you, too," he whispered to her retreating figure. He turned on his heel toward his room to begin getting himself ready for Lion Practice.

Lance whistled as he walked down the hall. He was almost outside of Keith's office when he saw the door slide open and caught a flash of ice blue satin step into the hallway. He saw the princess emerge. He flattened himself against the wall so he could watch without being seen. Just as quickly as she emerged, she disappeared inside again. Finally, she stepped back into the hall, followed by a shirtless and barefoot Keith. A lump formed in Lance's throat. Keith stood and watched Allura as she tore down the hall as quickly as if Lotor himself was after her. Keith turned toward Lance and started to walk to his own room.

"What the hell is going on?" Lance asked himself. He thought things were weird yesterday. Something was going on with the commander and Allura. This seemed to confirm his suspicions. Lance was going to find out just what.

Lance stepped out from his hiding place and greeted Keith, suspicion oozing in his voice, "Good morning, Commander. Did you get a good night's sleep? You look like you are well-rested since you slept in and missed breakfast."

Keith stopped abruptly at the accusing tone of Lance's voice. He came face to face with his second-in-command and friend. He couldn't gauge from the look in Lance's eyes how much he had witnessed. He tried to play nonchalant. "Hey Lance," he replied. "I fell asleep in my office and didn't set my alarm. I need to hurry to make it to Lion Practice on time." He tried to continue past Lance.

"Come off it," Lance growled. He grabbed Keith's arm. "I saw the Princess come out of your office. Now what the hell is going on? You two have been acting weird since the Spring Carnival yesterday."

"Damn," Keith cursed under his breath. He ran a hand through his crazy, morning-after-making-out-with-the-woman-of-his dreams hair. "My room, now!" He commanded. He punched the code to his room and Lance followed him inside.

Keith sat down on the bed. Lance just stood staring at him with his arms crossed, an accusatory look on his face. "Well?" was all he said.

"It's a long story," Keith replied. "I am going to give you the short version. Just shut up and listen until I am done. OK?" When Lance nodded, Keith launched into the events of yesterday, from the outing to the garden, to the meeting with Koran, to their date last night. Lance just stood there and gaped at the commander. When he was done, Keith waited for Lance to respond.

"It's about freaking time," Lance mused, with a smile.

"What?" Keith looked at him, confusion all over his face.

"I said, 'It's about freaking time!" Lance repeated. "The three of us could see something between you and Allura forever! We had a bet going on how long it would take before the two of you realized it. I think Hunk may have won the bet. I will have to ask him…"

"Please don't say anything yet," Keith commanded. "This is all so new for Allura and me. We just kind of want time for it to be just us right now. Koran and Nanny know. We actually have their blessing. We just need a few days for it all to settle in."

"So how was last night?" Lance moved his eyebrows up and down suggestively.

Keith threw a pillow at him. He laughed in spite of himself. "It was nothing like that," he growled. "She's a princess and I respect her." He stopped for a minute before he admitted, "It's going to be hard. She's so, so, so…" his voice trailed off.

"Beautiful? Hot? Amazing? I don't envy your situation. It would be hard not wanting to score with that," Lance replied. Keith shot him a warning look.

Lance relented. His face became serious as he said, "In all seriousness, man, I am happy for you. She deserves a good man and you deserve a good girl. I cannot think of two people better suited for each other." He reached out and grabbed Keith's arm and pulled him into one of those weird, one-armed man-hugs.

"Thanks, Lance," Keith smiled at his friend.

"And your secret is safe for now," Lance continued. "But don't wait too long to tell Hunk and Pidge. They will be hurt to be out of the loop." He left Keith to prep for Lion Practice.

Keith looked at the clock. It was now 7:50. He lay back on the bed. For the first time in 4 years, he would be late for his own Lion Practice.