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 for some sexual discussion. Pretty tame.

Enjoy!

Chapter 16: Discussion

Allura stalked down the hall toward her room, Keith just a few feet behind her. He didn't say anything. He figured she would talk to him when she was ready. His head was swimming from what she had just revealed. The princess was not a virgin; she had not been for 10 years. She was as human as the next one, as human as he was. He worried at the unnecessary guilt that she had shouldered and the regret that she had endured. His heart wept at the terror she must have felt; something like that should have been remembered fondly. He thought about how she must be feeling now, concerned at how she had left her guardians down, him down. Just like Allura to think about how she had disappointed them, not about how this secret had affected her.

He also thought of the nameless young man who was given a gift of something so precious, only to sacrifice his life for the planet and the princess that he loved. Keith felt no jealousy; just sadness at the senseless tragedy. He sighed as he ran a hand through his hair.

"Allura, Allura!" he called after her as she stomped toward her room. "Wait, can we talk about this?"

She didn't stop. When she arrived outside of her room, she pounded the code onto the key pad and just sighed as she finally entered. She crossed the room and threw herself across the bed, her head cradled in her arms.

"Allura?" Keith inquired. "Can I come in?"

"Yes," came a muffled reply from the bed.

Keith crossed the room and sat down beside Allura. As he watched, her shoulders began to shake as she finally broke down over the enormity of her confession. Years of pent up guilt and regret broke forth as tears rolled down her face. Keith reached for her and pulled her into his arms as sobs racked her body. Keith held her as she cried. After several minutes, Allura's cries quieted and she gave a soft hiccup as she gently pulled away from Keith. He let her go and reached out a hand to smooth her matted hair back from her beautiful face.

"Better?" he asked, giving her a gentle smile.

"I'm sorry," she whispered back to him.

"For what?" Keith asked in surprise. "For crying? Don't be. That was a very emotional thing that you just dealt with."

"No, not for crying," Allura responded. "For not saving myself for you." She looked into his eyes for any signs of disappointment or regret.

Keith looked away from her and stood up, exasperated. "Do you really think I would care about that? Do you know nothing about me?" he inquired, an angry tone creeping into his voice. "Wow! You really don't know me at all!" He stood up and walked over to stand next to the window with a view of the Black Lion sitting on top of the Lion Monument. He stared at the Black Lion, lost in thought. Allura could see the angry set of his shoulders.

Allura walked over to join Keith by the window. She grabbed his arm and turned him to face her. His eyebrows were knit together in a look of annoyance and he crossed his arms across his chest. "Did you not hear what I said? I said that didn't matter to me. The past is the past. I didn't say it for Nanny or Koran. I said it because I meant it!" He looked at her desperately, willing her to see the truth in his words.

It was her turn to wrap her arms around him. She pulled him close as she felt his arms encircle her waist. She laid her head on his shoulder. "I know you do," she said quietly. "I just can't help but feel like I let everyone down. Did you see the looks on Nanny and Koran's faces? Did you hear the disappointment in their voices? You would think I killed somebody." She shuddered at the memory.

"They are old fashioned people holding on to an outdated tradition. They don't know any different. If we were on earth, this wouldn't be an issue. There are few people who wait for marriage anymore," Keith stroked her hair as he held her close. "I know we have never discussed this but you should know that I have been with a woman before. It was my high school girlfriend. We dated for 3 years and were intimate the last year of our relationship. Are you alright with that?" He pushed her just far away from him so he could look into her eyes.

"I kind of figured that, Keith. I couldn't imagine a hot stud like you would be a virgin at 26," Allura giggled as she playfully slapped his behind. "Is that all?"

"Well," Keith confessed, "I had a few other intimate encounters while I was in the academy, but none since I have been here on Arus. I guess subconsciously I haven't had the desire or the need since I met you."

Allura smiled lovingly at Keith. "You're sweet," she smiled and then sighed. "Nanny just made me so mad this morning when she tried to reprimand me for not being in my room. I just thought that if they knew the truth, that there was nothing pure to preserve, that maybe they would leave us alone. I am not sure what is going to happen now."

Keith walked and sat back down on Allura's bed. Allura sat down next to him. "What can happen?" Keith asked. "Allura, there is no one more pure than you! You are pure of heart, compassion, courage. Being a virgin is not the only way one can be pure. Besides, you are twenty-three-years old. You are an adult according to both Terran and Arussian standards. You have the right to make these decisions for yourself. Nanny and Koran don't have any say over what you do and do not do with your body."

"I wish it was that simple," Allura replied. "The expectation is that the monarch be pure until his or her wedding night." A pink blush crept into her face. "Keith, they check the sheets."

Keith's eyes bugged out at her. "You're kidding?" When she nodded, he continued, "Allura, up until yesterday, it was also expected that you would marry a prince." He smiled as a realization hit him. "Hell, Allura, maybe you're the monarch who's going to change all the rules."

Allura's face brightened. "You know Keith, maybe you're right! We are in a new age and maybe it's time to start new traditions and revise some of the old laws." Her smile became radiant. "I am the princess after all and I have the right and the power to do that!" She threw her arms around Keith's neck.

He laughed as her weight pitched him backwards. After a few moments, their laughter quieted. Keith found himself staring into Allura's sapphire eyes. He lay on his back, with his arms behind his head. She lay on her side, her head propped on one hand, the other laying gently on his chest. The space between them narrowed and their lips met. Allura pulled herself on top of Keith to gain better access to his mouth. He groaned as he felt her weight on top of him. She ran her fingers through his silky black hair as she pulled his face to hers. He grabbed the back of her head and deepened the kiss. Love and lust, desire and passion coursed through their bodies as they both felt themselves grasping for control.

It was Allura who pulled away. "Oh Keith," she purred. "What you do to me?"

He gazed up at her desire filled eyes and at her flushed face and swollen lips. "I could say the same, my Princess," he responded.

They lay their quietly for several minutes, a comfortable silence between them. Keith sat up and spoke first, "I want you to know that just because you have revealed your secret doesn't mean that we are just going to jump in bed. Allura, I want to do this right. I want to date you and get to know you better and just fall more in love with you." He gently stroked her cheek with his thumb.

"That's exactly what I want, too!" Allura exclaimed. "I want what you Terrans call 'a normal relationship.' If and when the time comes for us to become intimate," she leaned over to kiss him once again before she continued, "I want the freedom to do that without fear or regret." She gave him a small smile.

"You're going to kill me!" Keith groaned as he lay back once again. Suddenly, he jumped up and headed to the door. "I love you, but I have got to get away from you for a little while. I will see you at dinner. I have some business to attend to in my room."

"What?" Allura inquired.

"I need a cold shower!" he called back as the door swished closed behind him.