Scott's Fiction
Love's Journey
Part 7
Nanny's Princess Grows Up

 

Love's Journey is a Voltron Fan Fiction by Scott. This Fiction is rated R18+ due to extreme violence, adult concepts and the odd sexual encounter. The story focuses on the relationships between ALL the Voltron characters but especially on the relationship between Captain Keith and Princess Allura as they struggle with their feelings for one another. The story is VERY soppy in places so if that ISN'T your thing, turn away now.

I don't own Voltron or any of the characters depicted in this story save for the Original characters I introduce. Those characters are mine and please ask me first if you intend on using them at all. Voltron and all other characters are the property of W.E.P. This is an amateur fiction and no profit is being made in anyway from this venture.

I would like to thank SGB for his fantastic collection of Voltron and Golion images, without which many of the pictures in this fiction would not exist. Finally, thanks must go to Moira, who is responsible for not only the AWESOME pictures that feature throughout this book, but for encouraging me to post this fiction too! Thanks again Moira, thanks for all your support and encouragement!

NB. Some screenshots that may feature in the story I have had on HDD for some time and can't remember where I found them! If they are yours please, drop me a line and I will credit you for them! Any way, I hope you enjoy Love's Journey!

Love's Journey
Part 7
Nanny's Princess Grows Up

After Allura came out of the bathroom, Romelle and Nanny talked with her as she dressed. Her usually neatly tied hair was just hanging loose and she was wearing a rather plain looking red dress. The Princess knew that Keith's briefing should be over and all she wanted to do was to be with him.

"Ally, your circlet?" Romelle asked her as she held it up to her.

Allura shook her head, "No Romelle, I'm leaving it off tonight".

"Princess.....! You can't! “Nanny cried as she attempted to intervene.

"I SAID, I don't want to wear it tonight Nanny!!" Allura replied forcefully.

Romelle tried to calm the situation as best she could, "Okay, okay, let's put it down".

Nanny was not impressed! Since Allura had returned from her ordeal she had become VERY independent and in Nanny's eyes, very disrespectful. "Well at least put on a DESCENT dress, that old red thing is so plain!"

"Can't I wear a NORMAL dress for once? I'm just going to see Keith after his briefing, so why should I dress up like I am going to a banquet!" The Princess argued.

"Because you are a Princess and it isn't descent for you to be seen dressed like a commoner!"

"Nanny I am not leaving the castle! Please can't I go a little casual for one night?"

Nanny scratched her head and sighed, "Oh fine if you must! JUST for tonight!"

"All I want is to spend some time alone with Keith! He isn’t going to care if I am a little less formal…he encourages me to let my hair down and I am going to!" Allura answered.

Romelle looked over to her cousin completely shocked that she hadn't heard about Keith. "Umm you picked a rather bad night for that I am afraid Ally, the guys are all going to the Rec. Hall for drinks and Pool to celebrate."

"Oh? Well we can go too!" Allura smiled.

"Nuh uh, it’s a 'GUY' thing, or at least that's what Sven told me, just the guys!" Romelle replied.

Allura lay back on her bed, "Well I wonder Keith didn't mention it earlier? My Poor Captain, he was so rushed he must have forgotten. Oh well Romy, it looks like we have to go and find some fun ourselves!" Allura grinned.

Nanny's ears pricked up as she stacked away some towels in Keith's dresser, "Am I to assume that this is an all night pool game like last time Allura?"

"Probably…We all have so much fun we lose track of time Nanny!" Romelle answered.

"Well if Allura is entertaining any thoughts of heading in that direction she can forget it. She is NOT rolling about up there, drinking and playing pool like a drunken space pirate!"

"Nanny! Why not? I am not a drunken space pirate, I am just going to play a friendly game of pool with my friends!" Allura replied.

"NO! You are not going up there! I know you drank last time! Coran saw you! If they want to drink that is their business, YOU will not be!" Nanny answered firmly.

"I had one glass of wine, ONE glass! I am nineteen years old Nanny for heavens sake! Can’t I enjoy a drink with my friends?”

Nanny was getting very angry, she crossed her arms and waved her finger at her young charge. "Allura! You are NOT going and that is final! Behaving like a common drunken bum all night indeed!"

Allura gasped and stood back with her hands on her hips, "A common……… Does that include YOUR future King as well? Is HE a drunken bum? Did I hear you correctly Nanny?"

"Allura I never said that he was a bum, I said that………"

“You just DID, you said to go up there and play pool with the boys is to behave like a common bum Nanny! How dare you judge my friends like that!” Allura interrupted indignantly.

"YOU are putting words in my mouth young lady and I have just about had enough of this insolent attitude of yours, I really have!” Nanny fumed.

“I have a bad attitude do I? Well at least if I say something wrong I have the courage to admit it!” Allura responded, turning her nose up in the air in disgust.

"Alright! That's IT! I have had enough! Romelle please leave us alone for a few minutes!"

Oh she isn't seriously going to............... Romelle thought as she left the room. Allura was nineteen now not eleven! Romelle pressed her ear against the door and listened.

"Allura it's time you and I discussed bad behaviour!"

"Nanny don't you dare I am ninet...............NANNY!" The Princess protested and struggled as Nanny attempted to throw her across her knee.

"You are going to learn to behave Allura! I have had enough of this disobedient and rebellious attitude!" Nanny fumed.

Allura tried her hardest to pull away, "You have no right! I am a grown woman and Keith told you that you weren't allowed to spank me anymore! You're not……… ALLOWED, let me go this instant!"

"We'll see who's allowed to do what! You need a lesson in respect young Lady!"

Keith was weary after his debriefing and he walked slowly back to his room. As he climbed the last step he saw Romelle with her head against his door and he snuck up behind her, "Boo!"

Romelle jumped, "Keith! Oh you scared me!"

"Is there something interesting going on in my chambers?" The Captain asked with a grin.

"Oh Keith, Nanny is going to spank poor Ally! They had an argument! Ally said she was going to play pool with you guys and……!" Romelle cried.

"Indeed? Nanny up to her old tricks again! Well don’t worry, she won't spank Ally I told her she wasn't allowed to and she agreed that she wouldn’t! You must have gotten your lines crossed". Keith answered calmly as he opened his door.

His calm smile disappeared as he saw Nanny sitting on a chair with her back to him, a hairbrush held high above her head about to crash down on his struggling Princesses rump.

Poor Allura had finally been overpowered and she closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable sting that would signal the beginning of her punishment. "What the HELL do you think you are doing?" Keith yelled as he caught Nanny's wrist midway down.

Allura wrestled free and ran behind him as he glared at Nanny, "I asked you a question Nanny! What the Hell did you think you were doing?"

Nanny was lost for words and she stuttered in shock, "I.........Captain Keith...I........you had no right to.............uhh.........."

"I had EVERY right! I told you she wasn't to be spanked anymore! I trusted you! What you wait until my back is turned and then you blatantly ignore my wishes? Fine Nanny, you are hereby barred from being anywhere near Allura unless I am there to supervise!" Keith responded.

Nanny gasped, "KEITH! You’re just angry you can't mean.......You have no authority over........."

“I mean every bit of it! I am not in the habit of giving orders I don't mean, now get out!" He snarled through gritted teeth.

Nanny tried to explain herself, "Keith let me explain…… I was just doing my job, I am her governess and I have the right to discipline her! You have NO right to interfere!"

"I am not interested in what you CONSIDER to be your job description! I will not allow ANYBODY and I mean ANYBODY to hurt my Ally! Hasn't she been through enough without being beaten by those who CLAIM to love her? She is a GROWN woman and entitled to her own opinions now please leave!"

"Are you trying to say that because I discipline her I don't love her?" Nanny cried in horror.

"You can't love her to much if every time she stands up for herself you go and do THAT! Now you have my permission to leave Nanny and don't let the door HIT you on your way out!" Keith yelled.

Nanny turned to her young charge, "You aren't going to let HIM talk to me like that are you Allura?"

Allura nodded her head, "It's Captain Keith to you Nanny, not HIM and the Captain may speak as he sees fit! You had no right to try that on me, I am not a child! Keith trusted you and so did I, you let us BOTH down, now please, just go!"

Nanny stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her. "Ally I will see you later! I'm really tired, I need sleep!" Romelle whispered as she patted her on the bottom and walked to the door.

"Oh okay, sleep well Romy! Keith? Where did you go my love?" Allura replied as her eyes scanned the room in search of him.

Keith was washing his face in his bathroom, he was still fuming over Nanny's disobedience and he was in a rather foul mood. I can't believe she just did that! Lately she has gotten too big for her boots! Governess indeed! Allura is nineteen for God's sake, she's a young woman not an errant ten year old! He thought as he leaned both his hands against the porcelain basin.

The Princess approached the situation carefully, not wanting Keith to yell at HER, she had seen him in these moods before and could well remember the times she had found herself on the receiving end of Keith in a bad mood. She tentatively walked over to him and gently put her arm around his waist, "My Lion Knight in shining armor!"

"I can't believe her sometimes Ally! Who does she think she is?" Keith replied still fuming.

Allura had learned how to calm her Captain down, she knew that her touch had that effect on him and so she gently stroked his hair and rested her head against his chest, "Calm down my love".

Keith looked down to meet a sparkling pair of blue eyes and a proud smile, "I love you Keith".

He placed a gentle kiss on top of her head and whispered, "And I you, my dear Ally".

Sensing he had calmed down somewhat, Allura tried to explain about Nanny, despite all that had happened the young Princess loved her Nanny dearly, she was the closest thing to a parent that she had. "Nanny means well Keith, she really does, but you were right to take her to task, she had no business disobeying you and she SHOULD have known better!"

"Yeah well, jeez! How old does she think you are? Ten?" He replied shaking his head in disgust.

"That's Nanny, she's a harsh disciplinarian!" Allura replied with a frown.

The Voltron Commander nodded, "Well if she thinks she's going to carry on like that towards OUR children she had better think again!"

"Our Children? You mean..................Well of course you do, yes my love, she won't be spanking our children that I promise you!"

"You seemed surprised, Ally…… Don't you want to have children?" Keith asked trying to be open minded and hide the fact that one of his dreams was to be a Father someday.

Allura knew him too well and she sensed the disappointment in his question, "Oh Keith, you have the wrong idea, I guess I didn't handle that very well! Having children with you would be such an honour my love and I would love nothing more! Maybe after we have been married a little while we can certainly do something about making you a Father but not yet was all I meant!"

There was a knock at the door interrupting their discussion and they both sighed in frustration, Ough! Can't they just leave us in peace! Allura sighed as an angry frown came to her face. Keith walked to the door and as he opened it Lance, Sven, Romelle, Hunk and Pidge stood facing him, "Are we intruding Keith?” Lance asked.

Keith shook his head and ushered them inside. "No, not at all, come in guys!"

"Is Allura okay? Romelle told us what happened!" Hunk asked as Keith closed the door.

"She's okay……… ALLY! WE HAVE VISITORS!" Keith called looking towards the bathroom.

Allura looked surprised to see them all as she walked out, "Oh everybody is here! Hello everybody!" She grinned.

"We have a rather important announcement to make don't we guys?" Lance replied as he cleared his throat and stood in front of them both.

Allura put her arm around her Captain, "Oooh an announcement, this sounds interesting Keith!"

"Hmm suspicious is more the word I would use! What are you up to Lance?" His Commander asked.

"Well the guys and me have decided that you and Keith need some time alone Princess, just the two of you! So here's how it is going to be, Keith this evening you will take Ally by horse to the 'Alamo' and the pair of you will stay there alone for a week! The Princess has never been up there, she'll love it! You can be alone together that way, with no pressures, no disturbances and no NANNY!" Lance replied with his usual boyish grin.

Keith rubbed his forehead, "What about......Lance no, I can't! I thank you for the idea but I have so much paperwork to do it isn't funny! Then there's Lotor, what if he attacked while we were away up there? We would never be able to ride back in time! If there was a way I could then I would take her though, believe me!"

"Yes and I can't just abandon my duties either, I have letters to answer and I have castle duties to see to as well but like Keith said if there was any way that we could just drop everything for a week then believe me we would both gladly do so". Allura added.

Hunk stepped forward, "Keith, me and the other guys will do your paperwork in your absence! In case Lotor attacks, while you are away we will station an emergency speed shuttle up there for you both. It would take you five minutes to get back to the castle at the most! Will that help?"

Keith scratched his chin, "Well........at the risk of offending you all, do you guys even know HOW to fill in the paperwork, I mean there are maintenance schedules and reports, Galaxy Garrison reports, Castle reports for Coran, the list is endless! They all have to be filled in properly or my work load is doubled!"

"Keith, I have done it before remember!" Lance replied.

“Yeah and I’m sure I can figure it out if Lance has any trouble!” Pidge added.

Romelle put her hands on Allura's shoulders, "As for you, I will gladly shoulder your responsibilities for a week Ally! You need this time with Keith, you BOTH need time together!"

"Well thank you my dear cousin! I....I don't know what to say!.....Keith? What do you think?" The Princess asked.

The Voltron Commander relaxed and a smile came to his face, "Well I guess we could.............What did Nanny and Coran say?"

"Who cares, they don't know and they don't have to! They would only start raving on, 'Oh how improper for a person of royal birth to be seen, camping out in the wilderness!' That's all you'd here!" Lance retorted, doing a fantastic impersonation of Coran.

"We can't just......NO you're absolutely right, we CAN! Who cares what they think anyway! Ally, pack some old clothes that you don't mind getting a little dirty! We are going on a holiday!" Keith grinned.

Allura's excitement overwhelmed her and she leapt into his arms, "A holiday! Oh Keith you mean it! I have never been on a holiday before! What do I need? What do I pack? Oh I don't know where to start!"

"Ally, calm down my love, you only need a few sets of 'OLD' clothes, some warm clothes, (as winter is just about on us), a few sets of underwear and some sleepwear. It will just be the two of us so nobody is going to care if you dress plain! I’ll grab our things from the bathroom!" Keith answered as he hugged her tight.

"What is it like up there? Is it really, really cold? Are there............................."

Lance shook his head and interrupted her, "Ally, go get ready will you! It's really nice up there you will love it trust me on that! Romelle loved it didn't you?"

"Oh yes, it is sooo much fun Ally!" Romelle giggled as she remembered spending a week up there with the guys not long after they had defeated planet Doom.

Allura walked over to Keith's cupboard, "Oh I can't wait! I can't wait! Okay, time to pack!"

Keith and Allura hurriedly packed a suitcase together and while Hunk and Pidge carried it down to a waiting shuttle, Lance explained what was going on. "Okay Hunk and Pidge will leave your things inside the cabin for you both! Oh before I forget, Keith, Ally, your Wristcoms, hand em over! No need to be traceable now!"

"Well Allura has hers, mine is still being repaired!" Keith replied as his Princess unbuckled her wristcom and handed it to Lance.

Lance patted his Captain on the shoulder, "Okay Keith, Jasper is all saddled up and ready to go, you have a long ride ahead of you! Take good care of yourself and look after Ally!"

As the small group reached the stables Romelle turned to her cousin, "Okay, you have fun up there and don't get worried about things here, they are all in good hands! You just look after the Captain, he needs some pampering I think!"

"Oh Romy he is GOING to be treated like a King, pardon the expression!" Allura giggled as she walked over to the eager white stallion.

Jasper just wanted to go, there he was all saddled up and the master was dawdling around! Nothing infuriated the horse more and he stamped his front foot impatiently. Finally Keith climbed up and Lance helped Allura up after him. She sat behind him with her arms wrapped around his waist. "Okay have fun you two!" Lance grinned.

"We will Lance, thank you all so much!" Allura replied.

Keith looked to his second in command, "Lance!"

"Yeah boss?"

"Thanks heaps for this! Remember, maintenance paperwork by ten o'clock or they get grumpy!"

"Keith it's in good hands now will you get out of here before Nanny sees you!" Lance ordered.

Keith put his hand over the top of Allura's (that were resting on his lap) and gently squeezed them, "Okay Ally, hang on tight!"

He gently tapped Jasper's shoulder and the horse neighed in delight as he bolted out the stable door and towards the hills.

Nanny and Coran meanwhile were approaching the bedroom to discuss the matter of Nanny's banishment and they were surprised to find that neither the Captain nor the Princess were there. "Where could they be at this hour of the night?" Coran asked.

Nanny shook her head, "I don't know Coran, but we had better find out! IF that girl has gone to town!"

"Nanny look, a note!" Coran replied as he took it down from the door and handed it to her.

Dear Nanny,
I am sorry that I was so hard on you, I just don't agree with seeing ANYBODY hurt Ally, good intentions or not! I got angry and I apologise for my behavior. However I am not apologising for taking Ally away for some well needed time out, she is quite okay and she is safe with me so don't worry! Lance is handling all the tasks I normally take care of as Voltron Commander for the rest of the week until we both return.

Allura and I felt it was best to slip away unannounced, there was no need for another argument! Now you can contact us through Lance if it is extremely urgent, (He will pass on a message). In the case of attack the guys have left us a very fast shuttle and we can respond within a five minute time frame. (Let us hope we don't have to).

Keith.

Nanny,
please don't be angry with me! I need this time with Keith, I need a break for a while. I still love you very much my Nanny and I am sorry we had to go and fight with each other. I think perhaps you need some time too, you need time to cool down and time to realise that your little Princess has grown up now! I know you were a driving force behind Keith and I as a couple and we are forever grateful for all that you have done for us! I am thankful that I had such a kind and loving Nanny to guide me through my life! I know you truly mean well Nanny but it is time for the Princess of Arus to be her own woman!"

Give my love to Coran for me, I will see you in a week or so,

Love Princess Allura
xxxx

"Oh Coran he has taken her away from us!" Nanny gasped.

Coran nodded. "Nanny, maybe Keith is right, maybe we ALL need a break!"

"Coran they have only just had a break together, in the Arzulla ranges!" Nanny protested.

"Nanny that was HARDLY a break! They were in an inhospitable place, wondering if they would ever get home, worried what was going on back here, they were all sick and Keith, Lance and Hunk were injured! Keith will look after her and I think we need to let them have this time together!"

Nanny disagreed, "But where is she? What is she doing? She has a responsibility to this planet and it's people! She can't just go darting off whenever she likes!"

Coran put his hand on her shoulder, "Nanny! In all the nineteen years of her life Princess Allura has never had the opportunity to have a break! We have never allowed her to even consider it! Whenever she even looked like having any fun what so ever we dragged her away for fear the Men would corrupt her. This was wrong of us and she will pay the price for our lack of insight no longer! Keith is a very responsible man and I know he will take extra special care of her! I don't think she could be in better hands right now! Her highness IS a headstrong young woman but she is that, a young woman. She is capable of making her own decisions now and whether we like it or not we have to give her the freedom to do so, without interference! If she feels she needs a break, then she is well within her rights to take one, we MUST stand by her on this!"

Nanny bit her lip and nodded, "I suppose you are right, this is all my fault, I shouldn't have treated her like that!"

"Nanny you did what you thought was right at the time! Allura CAN be infuriating at times, especially when she gets in one of those stubborn moods of hers! However the Captain is her partner and he DID give you an order, you had absolutely no right to disobey him! The note clearly states that he has forgiven you for it! So let’s forget about what happened earlier and move on shall we!" Coran replied supportively.

Nanny nodded but she was very bothered by what had happened and wasn’t likely to forget about it any time soon.

Two hours later as Jasper carried the young couple through the mountain forest, Allura tapped her love on the shoulder, "Keith how do you know where you are going in this dark?"

"Easy, Jasper knows! We ride to the Alamo a lot don't we old fella!" Keith answered as they continued to gallop towards the mountains.

Soon after they entered a mountain meadow and in the moonlight Allura noticed a little log cabin, well hidden amongst the trees next to a mountain stream. "Keith is this it? Is this Alamo?" She asked inquisitively.

"Yep, welcome to the Alamo my Princess!" Keith answered as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"It's beautiful!" She grinned.

Keith gave a chuckle, "Nah it’s only nice, compared to your beauty, it looks like Castle Doom!"

Allura went bright red and stuttered, "Keith!........that was……Umm………I mean…… Thank you".

The Captain dismounted and helped her down after him. He unsaddled Jasper and stabled him in the small barn at the side of the cabin. He gave him a good brushing down and then emptied some of the oats and corn he had brought with him into the horse's trough. Jasper had everything he could want and he greedily began chewing into his meal. "You are such a guts sometimes Jasper!" Keith grinned as he stroked his mane.

"HOH! Oats and Corn! You spoil that horse Keith!" Allura gasped as she saw just what Keith had fed him.

"Speaking of spoiled rotten it's you're turn Ally!" He grinned as he swept her off her feet and carried her inside the cabin.

As they walked inside, he flicked a light switch and as the fluorescent light activated, the Princess noticed that it was a very tidy and well kept little cabin, not what she had expected for a guys camping lodge! She had expected it to be a rather dirty messy sort of place! There were five single beds she could see against one wall, a large fireplace up the end and various photo's of Lance, Keith, Hunk, Sven and Pidge hanging all around on the wall. There was a large photo of Romelle leaning back against Sven and holding a huge fish in her hands with the Voltron force all smiling behind them and it suddenly dawned on Allura just how much FUN she had been denied when the boys would have their little weekend trips away here and she had to stay behind. Nanny had always refused to let her go!

The Alamo was a quaint little log cabin that the team had built the summer before. Allura could remember that summer! It was the loneliest one she had ever had since childhood! They were gone nearly the whole summer building their 'Secret Base' as she called it then. Now she was here and she was impressed! The Alamo featured electricity, a very modern looking little Kitchen and bathroom along with one main master bedroom up stairs and two smaller bedrooms downstairs. It was a solid little cabin and Keith remembered the hours that it had taken to build it! He stopped under a strange looking sign and looked to the Princess in his arms, "Ally there is this Alamo tradition that if ever a young woman visits, she must kiss her love underneath this sign! Romelle had to do it when she came up and so did Nayla!"

"Oh, well I must follow tradition! Tradition is the tool by which we keep order!" She answered in her best Coran impersonation.

Keith let her down and she hung her arms loosely around his neck, passionately kissing him. She didn't just decide for a quick kiss though, instead she decided that it was a good time for so much more and this was hammered home to Keith as she ran her hands over his denim clad backside. She practically threw him to the floor and pounced on him like a Lioness on a gazelle. "Hey Ally! You only had to KISS me!" He laughed.

"Consider this a new tradition! I have been wanting to do this ever since you put those jeans on!" She giggled as she unbuckled his belt.

 

Back at the Castle Nanny had finally found the Voltron Force and was trying to work an answer out of them as to just where Keith and Allura were. "Lance you must know where they are, the letter states that YOU can contact them both, I want to talk with the Princess that's all! I won't force them to come home or anything like that! I just want to talk with them and explain myself better!"

"Nanny they will be home by the end of the week, I wish I could help more but really, I can't, my orders are only to contact them in an emergency and that isn't exactly urgent now is it!" Lance replied.

"Hunk? Pidge? Come on one of you boys must know! Where is this Alamo place?" Nanny persisted.

"We aren't going to tell you so just give it a rest Nanny! Keith and Allura are having some time away together, just leave them both alone!" Pidge replied as he played chess with Allura's mice.

"You could at least let me speak with her, I am sure she has a communicator with her!" Nanny growled as she left the room in a huff.

None of Keith and Allura's friends were about to give them up, in their eyes, they needed some time away from the distractions of their busy lives. The pair of them rarely took time off and their young relationship had been through a lot lately!

Meanwhile after a nice shower together, Allura and Keith curled up in front of the fireplace, their naked bodies wrapped only in a thick blanket. The fire crackled away and lit up their shadows as the first signs of the cold Arusian winter arrived outside. The first snows were falling and the wind howled past the little shack. Keith nestled his head into Allura's chest, and within minutes of her gently dragging her fingernails down his back he was starting to fall asleep. "Don't fight the urge my love, sleep! Sleep and your Princess will protect you!"

"I am safer in your arms than anywhere else Ally!" Keith whispered as he fell asleep.

She gently stroked his jet black locks, running them through her hands as he slept soundly, snuggled up against her. She managed to continue her silent vigil for two hours before falling asleep herself.

In the castle dining room the next morning, Nayla waited for Lance. She was feeling very nervous as what she had to say was important and she knew Lance wouldn't take it well. Lately things just seemed as if they had moved a little fast and Nayla decided she needed some time to think things through.

"Hey Nayles! What's up?" Lance asked as he sat next to her at the table.

Nayla cleared her throat and looked into his eyes, trying desperately to avoid hurting his feelings. She tried her best to say what she had to say but she lost her composure and made a dreadful mess of it. "Lance I…… I really……… I wanted to go with you dancing tomorrow but……… well, you see I ……… I sort of have my harvest coming up and, well I really should be attending to that and……… things are moving a little fast I just need some space for a while, it’s nothing you have done it’s just me I’m not ready I……........Look I'll see you I..............."

"Nayla? Wha?........hold on a second!" Lance yelled as she ran from the dining room with her head in her hands.

He shook his head in confusion and tried to make sense of what had happened, What the........! Space? I get it, she wants to break it off! THIS is how she chooses to do it? Doesn't even give me any reasons! Tells me the day before she wants to be CLOSER and now she dumps me? Oh what the...........

Nayla sat in the coach fighting tears as she looked out across the countryside, she had completely lost control of the situation and she hadn't said ANYTHING she had wanted to say. All she had succeeded in doing was hurting Lance and she cursed herself for it.

Meanwhile Keith had managed to cook a fairly descent breakfast for Allura and they shared it together on the verandah, looking out over the snowy ground and the shimmering blue lake. As they finished Allura went in to change out of her dressing gown and Keith began to clean up the dishes.

His Princess came out in a faded blue dress and tenderly wrapped her arms around his waist, swaying from side to side as she asked, "Can I help my love?"

"Nah, I'm nearly done Ally, I'll be ready in a few minutes".

She walked around looking at the various photos and shook her head, "Look at all the fun you have had here, I wish I had been here too, instead of stuck at home!"

"You were always welcome and we always invited you but you were never allowed". Keith replied as he finished his dishes.

"Look at this picture, Romelle and Nayla look like they are having so much fun in these pictures!"

"Ah the water fight! That WAS fun! Of course I ended up losing! Lance, Sven and Romelle held me down while Hunk, Pidge and Nayla poured a bucket of water over me!"

The Princess laughed at the thought as she walked over and hugged her Prince, "Well I would have saved you if I was here…… Keith I want to come along from now on! I don't care what Nanny and Coran say!"

Keith nodded, "I promise I'll bring you with us next time!"

"Now then what did you want to do today my love?"

"Well actually, I want to get to know YOU Ally! I want to know the Allura underneath the Princess garments!" Keith replied.

Allura grinned mischievously, "You know THOSE parts of Allura pretty well already!"

"Okay, no that wasn't what I meant. I meant YOU Ally! We know each other very well in the castle environment but we hardly know each other outside of it! I mean, what do you enjoy doing? Do you like to walk in the forest or do you like to relax by a stream and read a book? I know you enjoy picnics and swimming but what else? THAT'S the part of you I want to know! The part of you that is YOU! The part of you that you are to busy to express at home". Keith responded.

"Well hmmm, I like to dance! I love dancing! I love picking flowers in the morning sun! I would love to walk along the edge of the lake at sunset with you and just watch it slowly go down. I like being outside, I like having fun! I like being with you Keith…… I'm fairly easy to please! What about you? What do you do to relax when you come up here normally?"

"Well, I don't mind dancing, and I could handle taking you to pick flowers in the morning sun! As for watching the sun set together I would love nothing more! When I come up here I spend a lot of time fishing and hunting! I listen to music and I even play a little guitar, maybe sing a little too, I sometimes ride jasper up to the top of the ranges and race him back as fast as I can! There's so many things, it depends really! In the summer time I swim in the lake and lie in the sun for hours, I just do anything I can to relax!"

"I don't REALLY like hunting but Fishing! Romelle is always talking about going fishing up here with Sven! It sounds interesting, why don't we go and catch some fish?" Allura asked.

"Well we could but are you sure you want to? You may find it a little boring!" Keith warned her.

"Keith I am with you, how could THAT be boring? Teach me how to catch fish!" She grinned as she grabbed a fishing rod and held it upside down.

"Okay, well for a start you're holding it upside down! Hold it the other way!" He chuckled.

"Oh! Like this?"

Keith nodded as she turned it up the other way. "Yeah that's it! Alright my Princess, let's go catch us a fish or two!"

Allura had never been in such a small boat before and the tiny wooden dinghy that the boys had up there was a rickety old thing that gave her the jitters. "Keith what if it should sink?"

"Ally it isn't going to sink!"

"But it could tip!"

"Ally........you haven't been in a small boat before have you?"

"Well..........no not really"

"Look, it’s perfectly safe, all you have to do is keep it balanced!" Keith grinned as he lifted her in.

Later that afternoon at the Castle Of Lions, Hunk and Pidge went looking for Lance. He was supposed to meet them for a few rounds of pool in the Rec. Room and he hadn't shown up. They found him absolutely rotten drunk, propped up against the bar in the castle's lower section. "Hey Lance! Are you coming or not?" Pidge asked.

"Burrp! Huh, coming? Going? Going coming and coming going!" Lance stuttered as his head landed on the bar.

Hunk and Pidge looked at each other with a disgusted look on their faces and they helped the Red Lion pilot to his room, "Come on Lance I think you have had enough!" Hunk remarked as he put an arm under him.

"W...wheeeeeere are we gOink? Let's goooo see Keeef!" Lance replied in fluent drunkanese.

"No, let's get you to bed!" Pidge replied shaking his head with a grin.

He passed out soon after they lay him on his bed and Pidge and Hunk left wondering what on Arus was wrong with him. "Could be girl troubles?" Hunk remarked.

"Nayla? Nah, I reckon he just decided to have a few drinks and you know, a few became a few more, and they became a few more and there he is! Sober as a judge!" Pidge replied as the pair headed off.

In the boat with Keith, Allura had calmed down somewhat and she was trying very hard to catch a fish. Fishing wasn't easy and she was finding it rather tedious, that was of course until the huge Trague grabbed her bait and took off. "Keith! There's something pulling on this!" she exclaimed as she tried to wind the reel.

"Well go on, wind it in! Keep the rod up in the air! That’s it, pull him in Ally!" Keith responded as he watched her struggling with the fish. Trague's resembled Earth Bass and were the standard table fish on Arus. Keith and Sven had discovered that they were also fantastic sport fish! The monster that had found Allura's bait was the biggest Keith had ever seen. Allura struggled and struggled with it, the mighty fish surging and lunging to the depths each time her reel made some ground.

"Ally, this is YOUR fish and you pull it in, but if you want a hand you let me know okay!"

"Keith I might have to, I can't get it to come up!"

"Just keep doing what you are doing, hang on a second........" Keith answered as he carefully walked up to the front of the boat and tightened the drag system on her fishing reel.

"Now it's coming up! Keith quick! Get the net!" Allura cried as the huge fish tired and splashed around on the surface.

He slipped the net underneath it and lifted it into the boat, "Ally! This is the biggest Trague I have EVER seen! It's even bigger than Romelle's and we thought THAT was big!"

"Really? It's bigger than Romelle's?" Allura grinned feeling very proud of herself.

"Twice as big Ally! Well do you want to keep him or let him go?"

"Well he is pretty, would you be upset if I just wanted to let him go? The poor thing, he just wants to go back in the water and he can't breathe while he is up here!"

"Ally it is YOUR fish, I won't be upset if you let him go, he is so big that he is probably a good thirty years old! Just let me get a photo and you can release him!" Keith answered as he held up the camera.

"Okay hold him up! Smile!" Keith grinned as the camera flashed.

"Okay, back you go!" Allura grinned as she dropped the massive fish over the side.

Over the course of that week they both spent their time getting to know each other properly, from horse riding and walking through the forest hand in hand to watching the sun go down and dancing together in the evenings. It was the most fun Allura could ever remember having and she made a comment to Keith about it being the happiest time in her life.

Lance meanwhile continually frequented the castle bar and searched for answers to his problems in the bottom of Bourbon bottles. He was continually late for briefings and the job of Keith's paper work fell to Hunk, Sven and Pidge. The trio didn't mind that so much but they WERE worried about Lance, something had happened to him and they didn't know what.

Any attempt to find out was either ignored or met with a sarcastic remark that told them nothing. Lance was hurting but he was coming to terms with it his own way, the way he had always done! He would tell himself how she was just another woman and how it meant nothing to him, but this time that line of thought offered no comfort. He knew there was something special about Nayla and in desperation he had tried to contact her several times to talk things out, something he could never have imagined himself doing! Unfortunately Nayla was out on her friend's farm and so the messages went unanswered.

She was going through hell, all she wanted was to take the nearest coach to the castle and see Lance but, she was afraid, she remembered what she had been told, He's a user Nayla! The minute he finds out your in love with him he'll break your heart! Look at us all! We've all been there! Don't make our mistake, get out before you get hurt!

Nayla wasn't about to leave Lance on account of the opinions of a few village girls! However she had decided that a small break to think things over couldn't be a bad thing, especially since she was feeling rushed regarding their relationship. What frustrated her the most was that she had been the chief instigator of the problem and only the day before she told Lance she needed space, she HAD told him she wanted to be even closer! It upset her no end, thinking how poor Lance must be feeling and she only wished she had the strength to say what she had WANTED to say instead of getting all tangled up in her words! She wished she had the courage to go and see him!

On the last night of their holiday together Allura was apologising to Keith for turning his white long sleeved fishing shirt Pink. She had never washed clothes before and her new pink dressing gown had run terribly, ruining most of the other clothes it had been washed with. "Keith I am so sorry! I can't believe this happened!"

Keith shook his head and laughed, "Ally! Its okay! These are old clothes, it isn't important!"

"You must think me a complete fool!" She replied shaking her head at herself.

"Hey is that any worse than burning bacon eggs that morning in the castle? You didn't know how to wash clothes and I didn't know how to cook! I DON'T think you are a fool!"

"Really?"

"Really Ally, now....no more apologies!" Keith replied gently kissing her.

"You know pink DOES suit you Keith!" Allura teased holding his shirt up.

"PINK! Aghhh!" He replied in disgust as he hugged her, gently pressing his groin to hers. All that day he had teased her terribly, he would walk past and give her a gentle slap on the backside and while she was cutting vegetables for the evening meal he leant over her and caressed her neck. By the time she put the knife down and turned around he had disappeared into the next room, grinning to himself.

It was their last night away alone and Allura planned to make him pay, she was so busy thinking about how that she had forgotten the washing and that was how she had made Keith a pink shirt.

He was having a whale of a time, he knew how much he was driving her crazy and he delighted in teasing her every chance he got. He pushed his luck too far however when she was washing up after their meal and was totally surprised when she cornered him against the small pantry in the kitchen. "Woah, hey Ally the dishes they..................."

"I don't care about dishes Keith!" She interrupted throwing the tea towel behind her..

"Uh oh.......well I mean, gee! What has you so excited all of a sudden?" He asked pretending to be innocent.

Allura grabbed his collar and pulled his lips to hers, "I wonder? Hmmm maybe it has something to do with a certain Captain who has tormented me all day long!"

"A Captain....Gah! Where?" Keith asked with a cheeky grin as he slipped past her. On his way towards the stairs he gave her a good whack on the rump.

"Oooh that's it, you are going to get it when I catch you!" The Princess called as she chased him up the stairs.

Keith took a running dive and landed on their bed, He swallowed hard when he saw the look on her face, "Ally.....behave! Ally! Listen......maybe you..................!"

"There are NO maybes tonight Keith!" Allura purred as she closed the bedroom door behind her and walked slowly towards him.

Later as they lay in each others arms they thought of how much they had come to know each other on their holiday together. Both had seen sides of the other that they hadn’t seen before and they were closer than they had ever been!

“Keith I don’t want to go home……… I want to stay here forever…… With you!” Allura whispered softly as she twirled his hair in her fingers.

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful…… Just staying here together for ever! Oh well that’s holidays for you….nobody EVER wants to go home after a holiday”. Keith replied.

“I’m not looking forward to it at all, for one reason more than any, we won’t be as close when we get home……… I like being this close to you, no fears, no concerns, I ask a question and you answer me, instead of hiding…… All that’s going to change and……… I don’t want it to!” Allura replied in a sad voice as she looked away.

Keith sat up and replied, “Hey Ally, nothing will change if we don’t let it! It’s up to us, if you want things to remain the way they are then they will, we just have to work at it that’s all! I do tend to hide my feelings a bit but…I’d like to think I have made a few positive steps forward and Ally…… I don’t intend on hiding from you anymore! Come on, let me see that wonderful smile!”

Allura flashed him a gorgeous smile and snuggled up to him, “You have really come forward from the man who was scared to even let his fiance help dress him…… Just, please promise me no more hiding…… Hide from everybody else if we must but no more hiding from each other okay?”

“I promise Ally!” Keith answered as he gently kissed her.

The following morning as the Princess took a last look around the little cabin that had been her home for a week, Keith finished saddling Jasper. Both agreed that they didn't want to leave as they slowly rode home. Jasper certainly wasn't galloping this time, Keith was doing his best to make their return trip last as long as he could. Very little fuss was made when they finally arrived home, Hunk and Pidge were waiting for them, having just returned with their shuttle and suitcase from the Alamo. "How was your holiday Princess?" Pidge asked as he gave her a welcoming hug.

"Oh Pidge I didn't want to leave!" the Princess sighed.

"Yeah, we all feel that way when we are leaving the Alamo!" Hunk chuckled.

Allura flashed a nervous smile to Hunk, "So how are Nanny and Coran? How did they take it?"

"Well they got used to it, Nanny wasn't impressed at first but I think she settled down. She HAS been acting kind a strange lately though!". The Yellow Lion pilot replied.

Keith put his arm around the Princesses waist, "We should let them know we are home Ally!"

"Yes I suppose we have to face them sooner or later". Allura sighed as they slowly walked towards the Control Room.

"Just so you know there is something wrong with Lance too! I'd give him some distance if I was you, we haven't been able to figure out what is going on but he is clearly not himself either!" Hunk added.

"We'll go see him after we let Nanny and Coran know we are home" Keith answered.

Nanny was taking a break for the first time that morning, she had been run off her feet and was enjoying the chance to have a rest at the table with Coran. She had almost totally forgotten about the imminent return of the Captain and the Princess. As Allura walked in she almost didn't recognise her. She was in a pair of faded stonewash jeans, a white tee shirt and riding boots. She wasn't wearing her circlet and her hair was lazily tied back in a pony tail. Keith was looking just as casually dressed as he walked along behind her, with his arms around her waist. "So you are home?" Nanny remarked as she sipped her tea.

"Yes Nanny". Allura grinned as she stood before her.

Instead of the welcome home hug Allura was expecting all she got was a very awkward silence, Nanny was still obviously annoyed and it fell to Coran to welcome the pair home. "Your Highnesses welcome home! I trust your holiday was a good one?"

"Oh Coran it was wonderful we had such a good time!" Allura grinned as she hugged him.

She explained about the fun she had, Coran giving a chuckle when she told him about her record fish catch. Nanny still sat at the table, practically ignoring the pair completely! Keith turned to face her, wondering why she hadn't said anything to Allura, "Nanny are you alright?"

"I'm fine thank you Sir, how are you?" She replied in a distant voice.

"Nanny? What's wrong?" The Princess asked as she stopped her story, she knew by the tone in her Nanny's voice that she was far from fine!

"Oh it’s nothing, look I have to get back to my chores I will talk to you later!" Nanny answered as she slid her chair across the floor and walked out of the room.

Keith turned to the castle diplomat, "Coran?"

"Nanny will come around in time, she hasn't been herself lately". He replied.

"Must be going around, I hear Lance is in that category too!" Keith responded.

Coran shook his head, "I don't know what's going on with him either Keith".

"Well time to go find out!" Keith answered as he cracked his knuckles.

"Keith I am going to go talk with Nanny, I'll see you afterwards" Allura replied as she kissed him and headed off.

 

As Keith knocked on Lance's door he heard the clinking of empty glass bottles as he waited patiently. "Yeah What? Oh Keith, hey, welcome home". Lance replied in a mournful voice as he saw the Voltron Captain standing there.

"Lance? What the heck is going on? You look terrible!" Keith asked.

"Oh nothing much, just another failed relationship, nothin serious! How was your holiday?" Lance replied as he lay back on his bed.

The floor of his room was a mass of empty bourbon bottles and microwave pizza boxes. It was a mess, like its occupant. "Lance, I am sorry to hear it didn't work out with Nayla, but look, you can't go doing this anymore, this ISN'T going to make things any better". Keith remarked holding up an empty bourbon bottle.

"It works for me! I feel better, infact I feel so good, I think I am going to have another!" The drunken Red Lion pilot replied as he took a half empty bottle down from his closet.

Meanwhile Allura had found Nanny, she was folding washing in the huge castle Laundromat. "Nanny, can we talk?"

"What about Your Highness?" Nanny asked in an indifferent voice.

"About THIS!" Allura replied throwing her hands up in the air.

Nanny practically ignored her and looked away as she mumbled, "I don't know what you mean Your Royal Highness! Is my work unsatisfactory?"

"Nanny why are you acting like this? You didn't even welcome us home! I had at least expected that much!"

"Welcome home Your Majesty!" Nanny replied flatly.

"Oh don't sound so enthusiastic Nanny! Your Majesty? Okay since when have you called me THAT?"

"Oh I didn't mean to offend you Your Royal Highness, I am just a simple maid trying to earn my keep, What title do you prefer?" Nanny asked in an apologetic tone.

"My name is Allura! Nanny! Why are you doing this to me?" The Princess asked with teary eyes.

"Oh Your Highness it would be most improper to call you by such a common title, I am your loyal subject and I MUST adhere to protocol! I am not angry with you, I have no right to be angry with our head of state! Are you displeased with my services Your Highness?"

Allura stopped being upset and became very angry with her Governess, she had just about had enough of this silly nonsense! "Nanny I was hoping that you would have been able to help me with planning for my wedding, just like you were before the incident last week! I came after you in the hope that we could both behave like adults and simply put all this behind us. However it is obvious to me that you want to play silly, childish, little games and I don't have the time. If you TRULY wish to have this sort of relationship with me and cut yourself out of my life then that's fine with me! I can well remember how you were always telling me the importance of being forgiving, take a long hard look at yourself now, what a great example you are setting!"

Nanny's cold shoulder routine fell away and she snapped back. "I beg your.............I don't have to put up with this attitude Allura! I am not the one who needs to grow up! It’s obvious that you couldn't care less what I thought anyway! You treat me like dirt and then you have the nerve to expect me to curtsy and give you a hug in return? You just walked out one afternoon and don't even have the decency to tell me you were going! Yet you expect me to welcome YOU home with open arms! Hmphh! You have HIM now, why don't you go and ask HIM for a welcome home hug, I am sure he will accommodate you!"

"This is about Keith isn't it! Wait..........Don't tell me you're jealous! I spend time a lot of time with Keith now and you’re JEALOUS? Oh I don't believe this! Nanny I love you but you have to realise I have my own life now! I still want you to be a part of it, I still need a mother and you are the closest thing I have to one! This is so stupid, you are upset with me because I have found a partner and he has taken over the role of CARING for me! Keith is wonderful and he gives does everything he can to see to my well being but there are some things only a Mother can provide, like support, if you REALLY care about me you will at least offer me that! I will let you think about it! I'll see you at dinner tonight!" Allura replied, shaking her head in disbelief as she walked out of the room. I don't believe this! Jealous of Keith! How ridiculous! She thought to herself.

 

Keith had done all he could for Lance, clearly his friend was convinced that drinking was the answer and Keith had gotten frustrated with trying to convince him otherwise. He informed the Red Lion pilot that if he wasn't sober when he turned up for duty the next morning that he would be reprimanded severely. He also explained that by his actions he was endangering the lives of everybody on Arus, imagine trying to form Voltron with a drunk Red Lion pilot on the team he had said. After he left Lance put the bottle down and broke down, he had been in many relationships before and he had been hurt before but why did this one hurt him SO much? He kept asking himself that same question over and over as he sat on his bed with his head in his hands.

"Ally? How did it go?" Keith asked as he walked into their room.

His Princess was in the process of replacing the terribly drab curtains in their room with some pretty floral ones and she looked up surprised to see him, "Oh Keith, I wasn't expecting you back so soon! It didn't really go well at all, Nanny is jealous of the time I spend with you! Isn't that silly!"

"Well yeah, I guess she isn't used to you being away from her for so long, she really does need to let you go!" Keith replied.

Allura nodded as she clipped up the rest of the curtain, "Yes she does! She is going to learn, whether she learns the easy way or the hard way is up to her. So what do you think of the curtains?"

"Well, I have always preferred a dark single colour, like navy blue or drab green, these ones are so bright and out there!" Keith replied in a dissatisfied voice.

"Keith you mean you LIKE these old boring things?" Allura asked holding up the old curtains.

"Yeah but I guess if you prefer the new ones we can have them instead, I am willing to compromise!"

Allura hopped down off her chair and held her arms out to him, "Is a hug out of the question?"

"Of course not! Hugs are just one of many services that Keith Incorporated can provide for you Princess!" Keith chuckled as he held her tight.

"Oh and do you have a catalogue with all the other services listed?"

"Well no, since you are the only client I have, I believe in a more direct approach, you can try them all and see which ones you....................." He kissed her passionately, catching her completely off guard before finishing his sales pitch, "Like".

"Stealing kisses! THAT is cheating!" Allura replied as she pouted at him.

"Oh come on! You LOVED it!" Keith replied, seeing right through her act as usual.

"What makes you think......................." Allura tried to ask.

Keith kissed her mid sentence and ran his hands up and down her back, gently squeezing her rump. Allura LOVED it when he did that and she soon forgot all about acting. She responded in kind running her hands through his hair and over his strong shoulders. Finally he came up for breath and flashed her a cheeky grin, "Love you!"

Allura giggled and lept up into his arms, "I love you more!"

"Nuh uh! That isn't possible, since I love you more than anything! How can you love ME more? You either love me just as much or you love me a little bit less!" Keith reasoned.

"Well.................Umm.........Uh huh, because I love you more than anything when I am awake and EVEN when I am asleep!" Allura replied with a victorious smirk on her face.

"Well I...........I........umm.....Aww!" Keith laughed, unable to better her response.

Despite all that was happening around the castle the young couple were determined not to let it bring them down. Keith was trying to figure out just which day was best to hold the wedding ceremony and marry his love on. It was his call by Arusian tradition and he was more than ready, his only concerns were Nanny and Lance. Well why should I wait, maybe a wedding is just what is needed to bring Nanny to her senses. As for Lance, I can't see how waiting is going to help him either way…… Ally has waited long enough! It's time to be what she wants me to be! It's time to be KING! I’ll tell her in the morning! He thought.

"Keith what are you thinking about?" The Princess asked, sensing he was somewhere else.

"Oh just maintenance schedules and work related things I have to do". Keith answered.

"Oh am I interrupting?" Allura asked with a frown.

"Nope, in fact you are helping by staying just where you are!" The Prince grinned.

 

The End Of Part 7.

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