Author's Note: Thank you for all the kind reviews! I am very excited that the story is being well received! Welcome to FroofyB!

Sparring Partners

It had been two weeks since Larmina had taken over Blue Lion, and things had been going well. Keith had understood Allura's decision right away, but Lance had not. However, after flying with Larmina he had come around completely. He saw that she was not a bothersome teenager, but a very good pilot who pulled her own weight.

It was after dinner, and everyone was in the rec room, watching one of the newsfeeds from earth. Keith was doing reports for Garrison HQ, while Hunk and the cadets were beta testing the latest module for Pidge's computer game. All of a sudden everyone gave the newsfeed their total attention as a formal picture of Larmina appeared on the screen.

'This is ENTERNTAIMENT TONIGHT the galaxy's most complete entertainment news source! We have a hot scoop about STEREOLATIC, the hottest music group! It has been confirmed that they have been booked for an exclusive engagement on planet Arus! It seems that Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Allura of Arus has prevailed on Stereolatic to provide the musical entertainment for the gala party celebrating the 18th birthday of her niece, Lady Larmina of Arus. Stereolatic has not played a public gig since the Great Galaxy Musical Festival several months ago, which coincidently took place on Arus. The party promises to biggest event this season. Lady Larmina is the daughter of the late Prince Andrei of Arus and Princess Zoya of Falcos. As you can see from these pictures Her Ladyship has inherited her Mother's beauty. To all you bachelors out there, I think this means open season on Her Ladyship!'

All eyes turned to look at Larmina as Daniel announced "Wow, your Mom was hot!" Larmina herself was shocked at what she had just heard, and wanted out of the room. She stood up saying "Excuse me; I have things to do." Pidge had seen the look in her eyes, and knew that she wasn't happy. He hoped it was not because of Stereolatic doing her party.

"Daniel, for future reference most girls don't want to hear that their dead mother is 'hot'!" Lance told him, while Allura gave him a cold glare. Daniel thought to Vince 'well, she is hot! I see where Larmina gets her looks from!' Vince thought back 'dude, did you see how the princess looked at you?'

Allura said "I wish they would not have said all those things about Larmina and her parents. Please turn that program off." She had not had the chance to talk to her niece about the party, and now realized that it had been a mistake not to. Allura was all set to go after her, but Keith said "I would let her be; she is probably upset about seeing her parent's pictures on the newsfeed."

Hunk said to Pidge "Stereolatic, huh? This is going to be some party!" Pidge smiled, trying to go along with Hunk's good mood. He still wondered what had made Larmina look so shocked. Daniel said "Hunk is right; this is going to be a great party!" Vince agreed, while thinking 'so Larmina will be 18 in a couple weeks!' Daniel thought back 'that means she is of age and fair game!' Vince was always amazed at how insensitive Daniel could be; he thought 'honestly, she is a girl, not a bird!' All he heard was Daniel's laughter.

Larmina woke up early the next morning, and headed down to the gym to get a good workout in. She had not slept well, being upset about the party that was sprung on her. After doing some warm up laps around the gym, she started her kickboxing drills.

Pidge was up early also, and decided to work out. He had been surprised when Allura had told him that she had set the party up without asking Larmina about it. Pidge was hoping that was what had Larmina looking so shocked. As he entered the gym he saw that she was in there, and he stood off to the side of the door, looking at her without her being able to see him.

She had on tight fitting black pants that stopped above her knee, and a tight fitting top in a multicolored print. He wasn't sure if it was a top or a sports bra, but either way he enjoyed the view it gave him. Pidge had spent the last two weeks, when he was around her, trying to think about work and not about her body or glorious hair. It had been a losing situation.

He walked into the gym, hoping that maybe they would have the chance to talk about the party. Pidge said good morning to her, and watched while she gave the punching bag several strong kicks. He was always impressed with how flexible she was, and how high she could get her legs. That set his mind off in another direction before he could stop it.

"Good morning Pidge!" Larmina said, as she landed a roundhouse kick perfectly. She was glad to see him, but wished her stomach would not do that thing it did when he was around. She saw that he had a pair of sweat pants on, and an old Academy t-shirt, which was tight on him. Larmina could see that in spite of his wiry build he was well muscled.

Pidge decided he would build up to the conversation about the party, and said "I'd never seen pictures of your parents before." Larmina stopped kicking and said "I wonder where that horrid program got them from?" Pidge said "Those programs have all kinds of leaches that they use, to get information about famous people!"

"Well I didn't appreciate seeing their pictures like that!" Larmina declared, hitting the bag with a right upper cut. Pidge asked "I am curious about something, why are you 'Lady Larmina' and not 'Princess Larmina'?" She laughed as she did another punch and said "My Father was the second son!" She went on "Only the children of the reigning monarch are given the title prince or princess."

"I didn't realize that Allura had two brothers." Pidge asked, and Larmina said "Crown Prince Eammon was born first, then my Father, followed by my Aunt." He thought about that, and then said "I know about your parents, but what about the Crown Prince?"

Larmina looked at him intently and said "He was married to Princess Xenia, a real bitch according to my Mother!" Pidge smiled and said with a smile "Lady Larmina, such language!" She smiled at him from the other side of the punching bag and said let loose with a string of curse words in three languages. Pidge laughed and said "I'll give you that and !#$%^^&" he proceeded to match hers, and add some in Baltan that were particularly bad.

"I'm impressed, what were those last couple?" Larmina asked, and he told her, adding "I thought you Mother died when you were a baby?" She said "I have her journals, which have all kinds of juicy details in them. However, according to my Mother Xenia had a reason to be a bitch!" Pidge looked at her and she said "My Uncle never got around to, shall we say in polite terms, consummating their marriage!"

He looked shocked and said "Are you serious?" Larmina smiled and said "They were married for almost three years, during which time, according to my Mother's journal, both my Father and Xenia's brother, the King of Parthenia tried to explain the matter to my Uncle." Pidge asked "Was he not into women?"

"Well, he wasn't into men either, if that is what you were wondering!" Larmina told Pidge, and went on "My understanding is that he was very religious and spent lots of hours on his knees praying! He was very high minded." She went back to hitting the punching bag.

"Your Mother wrote all this down?" Pidge was still trying to get his mind around the idea of it all. Larmina said "Yes, she did, because of how her marriage was arranged!" He looked at her and she went on "King Alfor approached her Father, King Hulxan, about a marriage with my Father. However, King Hulxan had heard all about the Crown Prince."

Pidge said "It is rather bad form to leave something like that hanging in the air!" She stopped hitting the bag and said "My Mother's Father insisted on the wedding night before the ceremony, to make sure my Father knew what to do!" By now Pidge was trying not to laugh, but ended up anyway.

Larmina watched him, and then started laughing too. After a bit, Pidge asked "Does Allura know all this?" She shook her head, and said "She doesn't even know I have my Mother's journals. I found them in a box of stuff in what had been my parent's room, before the castle was rebuilt. Thank you for that, by the way, doing the castle!"

Pidge bowed, and then figured he could ask about last night. "When you left last night you seemed shocked at the mention of the party." He saw her shoulders sag, and she said "My Aunt arranged it without asking me!" He thought about that and then said "Stereolatic would never have agreed to play if that fact had been known when they were asked!"

She smiled at him and said "If I had been asked I would have preferred for you to be there, rather than DJ Prong!" She wondered what he would say to that, and watched as he walked over to where she was standing. Her heart started to race, as he looked at her. In truth Pidge couldn't believe what she had just said, and looked at her eyes to confirm it.

"DJ Prong is rather shocked, as he is much more of an attraction than I am!" Pidge told her in a solemn voice. She lowered her eyes slightly, but looked up through her eyelashes as she said "I am not into attractions!" He was still staring at her, and almost reached over to touch her. Instead he took a deep breath and said "Since I won't have any time with you on your birthday, maybe after it we could do something?"

Larmina was sure that her heart had dropped to her knees, while her stomach was full of butterflies. She smiled at him and said "I would like that a lot!" Pidge decided he had made good progress and said to her "Show me how you do that roundhouse kick!"

They spent the next half hour sparring with the punching bag, and then Pidge asked her to show him the fight move she had used in battling the tree. Larmina proceeded to do the maneuver on Pidge, taking it to where she had done in the tree.

"Now, it is actually a variation of a classic move, and by doing this." Larmina already had Pidge twisted around and she moved and raised her arm at the same time. Before he realized what was happening he was on the ground and she was sitting on top of him. "This is what happens." She finished up with a laugh.

Pidge looked up at her, noticing how hard she was breathing. He knew that she was strong, but had not realized just how strong until now. He was aware of her sitting on his chest, and he had a perfect view of her chest. He said to her "Remind me not to meet you in any dark alleys!" Larmina looked down at him, and suddenly became aware of the position she was in.

She had already been breathing hard after excursion of flipping him, but now, as she straddled him she felt her heartbeat race. She felt how tight his muscles were, under her legs. Larmina was also feeling an odd ache down in her core, and as he moved his body slightly she felt it flare up.

Pidge had noticed earlier that she had her hair pulled back low in a single braid, which was now hanging over her shoulder. He managed to get one of his hands free and reached up to touch it, admiring the different shades of red. Watching him play with her braid totally distracted her, and Pidge got a smile on his face.

"I know that move, and the problem is that unless you keep your attention totally focused on your opponent, you can end up." Pidge shifted his body and before Larmina knew it she was on her back, with Pidge on top of her. "Just like this." He finished.

His hands were holding her arms in place, while his weight had her pinned to the mat. She tried to move but only succeeded in opening her legs enough for him to settle further into her groin. By now the ache in her core was intense, and feeling him between her legs was not helping. Larmina couldn't believe the power in his arms, and knew that she would not be able to get the better of him.

Larmina managed to say "I think you distracted me on purpose!" She looked up at him, and noticed how intense his eyes were. The green flecks glowed like emeralds against the soft brown; she was glad that he was not wearing his glasses. "Whether it was on purpose or not, it worked!" Pidge said to her, as he looked at her.

She was aware of increasing pressure in her groin, and her eyes opened wide as she realized it was Pidge's erection. He was aware of what was happening, and her reaction to it, and was all set to kiss her. However, his sensitive hearing let him know someone was walking down the hall. He raised himself up and extended his hand to Larmina.

She took it, still trying to get a handle on the feelings that were racing through her body. After she stood up she gave him questioning look. He smiled at her, and tilted his head toward the hallway. Larmina watched as Pidge walked over to a set of weights, just as Hunk came into the room.

"Hello all! I'm glad I have others to work out with this morning!" Hunk said in a cheerful voice. Larmina looked at him, her brain still not functioning all the way. She managed to say "Actually, I'm done Hunk. I'm going to go take a shower and get cleaned up." Pidge was thinking that he could use a cold shower, and that Hunk's timing always stunk!

After she left, Hunk walked over to where Pidge was lifting some weights, and after some casual conversation Hunk asked "Did Larmina say anything about last night?" Pidge thought carefully how to answer that, and went with "It was what Allura had said, the party was a surprise to her, that's all."

Hunk was glad to hear that, and said now "Do you think I would be able to get a dance with Larmina?" Pidge groaned inwardly, as he looked at his friend. He realized that Hunk liked Larmina too, and wanted more than friendship. Pidge didn't want Larmina to come between them, but knew it could very well happen.

"Why wouldn't you be able to dance with her?" Pidge asked in a neutral voice, waiting to see Hunk's reaction. Hunk looked at him and said "Well I know that Daniel likes her a lot, and he is more her age." Pidge almost laughed out loud, at the thought of Hunk being worried about Daniel! He said to him "That is not going to happen!"

Hunk looked at him and said "You really don't think so?" Pidge almost felt bad for Hunk, who didn't see the real competition. He said now "Daniel has been rather obnoxious lately, ever since Larmina took over Blue Lion." Hunk thought about that, and said "Well, until he passes that physics exam he can't fly anyway!" Pidge was glad to change the subject and spent the rest of the workout giving Hunk a hard time about his teaching methods.