Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Voltron characters. This is a "for fun only" story.

Setting & Rating: Takes place sometime during the Go Lion original series. Rating of Teen but hardly even that as it's very mild.

Chapter 5: The Set-Up

Keith had problems concentrating during his Lion patrol as his thoughts were constantly going either back in time to the kiss or to earlier in the evening when Allura confronted him. She had seemed so angry in the library. His hands moved across the controls to alter the port stabilizer as his thoughts moved to what she was going to say. Keith believed that she was going to rake him across the coals for his avoidance of her and the tension that he had brought to the team. The tension was there. It was at every meeting now, every debriefing, every meal that he attended with her. He turned his eyes back towards the viewscreen to see the Castle of Lions and the pedestal of Black Lion. She was right, they did need to talk. Hopefully, she would listen to a second apology and be willing to let it go and what would be harder, he would have to let go of the feelings that had come to the surface so passionately during that kiss. The emotions that had come out of his heart with that kiss would be harder to let go of, or lock back up, but she had said that it was 'no big deal.' He was the one that had made an issue of it and now that he thought about it, the way he had been acting was more like a child pouting, or sulking, than a Galaxy Garrison Commander.

As he exited from Black Lion into Castle Control, he found the Princess waiting for him as she had promised with her arms still crossed. He walked up to stop an arm's length in front of her and looked her coolly in the eye as he stood straight and tall with his military bearing, still managing to look more relaxed than he had in weeks. Seeing his relaxed manner, Allura reevaluated what she would say. Perhaps Keith was more receptive now to hearing her out. Plan B would now be in effect.

"Thank you Commander for speaking with me. I don't want to argue and I really don't want to talk this late at night when we both have put in a full day of work."

A perplexed look came across Keith's face as he said, "But you said wanted to talk tonight."

"I did, and we have. I was afraid if I set up something for tomorrow, you'd find a way around it, royal order or not." Allura gave a soft smile as she said it to make sure that he knew that she wasn't angry. "I'd like for just the two of us to have dinner and talk."

"The team will find it odd that we're eating together without them. I don't want them to think…." He stopped there, as he didn't want to say anything else that would make assumptions about their relationship.

A tinkling giggle escaped her lips. "Oh, Keith, it's okay. I've already spoken to the team. Don't worry," she said as she noticed the fear in his eyes that the team would think they were having a date, "I didn't tell them that we would be eating together. I just asked about their plans for Thursday night." She laughed again as she watched him try to figure it out.

Keith frowned a little as he tried to work out this new twist that the Princess had thrown at him. Plans. The team would have other plans. Plans for dinner two nights from now. Oh! She was planning for the two of them to eat together. On Valentine's Day. His eyes grew wider, but all he said was, "Whatever you think is best Princess." He had been avoiding her long enough, and he didn't want her turn all 'royal' on him and make it royal command.

Keeping her eyes steady on him, she replied, "Thank you Commander. Now, if we can try to show a little more civility towards eat other tomorrow at breakfast, that will be pleasant for everyone." Keith merely nodded. Allura turned to walk out of the room breathing a huge sigh of relief. That conversation had gone much better than she could have hoped. A mischievous smile that hadn't been seen since that awful day reappeared on the Princess' face. As she exited the room with a spring in her step, she thought, "It's late, I'll have to update Lance tomorrow when Keith is on patrol again."

Keith couldn't help but watch the sway of her hips as she left the room. They were going to have dinner alone on Valentine's Day. Perhaps this would be the best self-imposed punishment he could give himself. Dinner alone with the woman he loved, but couldn't have, and who thought that a passionate kiss from him was no big deal. Yep, that was a punishment that even Nanny would approve of.