Allura's face flushed. Was this proposal for real?! Was she only dreaming? She wanted to pinch her own flesh to find out for sure. She bent down to Keith's kneeling form, a hand touching his cheek as a gentle smile developed upon her lips. Keith gulped and held his breath, trying to suppress the nervous energy running rampant within him.

There were a million things her heart wanted to say, but none formed into words. All she could muster that sounded halfway worthy couldn't match her heart's reply.
"If there's a way, and there always is...know that my heart, my body, my soul...are yours now and forever." she softly spoke and reached for him, locking into a tight embrace.

Realizing their vulnerability, Keith broke the embrace gently, despite his desire not to. He stared into her eyes a while longer, then finally slipped the mask back into place. Allura couldn't believe how easily he could do that. His life had just changed and yet, he could still pull off impassiveness. It was for the better at present so she said nothing.

"Is your lion ready to fly, princess?"

"I think so, Keith."

"You think?" he teased.

She glanced at the readouts on her scanner.
"Okay, have it your way. I KNOW Blue lion is flightworthy." she said while stifling a giggle and smacking the scanner into Keith's chest. She then lept into her lion, leaving Keith standing dumbfounded, scanner loose in his grasp, on the ground below.

Allura broke out in laughter within her lion's cockpit. Once again, his expression was that of a little boy only this time he looked as if he just got yelled at for something he didn't do.
"Well, Romeo...are you just going to stand there or do you want me to just leave you in my dust?" she taunted over the lion's external comm.

Slowly Keith broke out of his stupor.
"Ladies first. Besides, you'll need a head start to even have a chance at besting me!" he yelled back as he dashed for his lion.

"Last one back helps Nanny clear the dinnertable!" Allura challenged as Keith's lion roared awake.

"But Allura, she'll never allow you to do that anyhow!"

"Hmmm...then I guess I already won!" she giggled in reply.

"That's low princess, really low." Keith muttered as his lion sped off in pursuit of hers.
{"Did I just get myself in way over my head with this young lady or am I just some lovestruck idiot who doesn't know any better?!"} he pondered to himself as the realization of what he had asked her and she accepted, sank in.

Keith, of course, let the princess win the little 'race' back to the castle. As the both reentered the control room from their respective towers, Keith heard the cracking of knuckles. He turned to face the sound only to have a fist meet his jaw once again. He reeled backward, but didn't fall nor did he try to counter the hit with one of his own.
"Aww, crap Lance! Get a life will ya!" Keith yelled while rubbing his jaw.

A stunned Allura ran over to Keith's side and thrust Lance one viscious stare.
"I demand an explanation, Lance!" Allura yelled.

"Merely trying to defend you from that wretch beside you, your Highness." Lance calmly and seriously replied.

"You silly goof! Why would I need to be protected from my...uh...m-my fiance?!"

That hit was a punch harder than Lance could ever throw.
"Your WHAT? Uh, HUH? Say that again?!" was all he could muster while glancing between the two for an explanation.

A wide grin formed on Keith's face.

"Nah...no way...you didn't...you wouldn't...you couldn't...did you?" Lance sputtered as he began to wish he was sitting down.

Both Keith and Allura nodded.

"An...and YOU...ac...accepted?!" he asked Allura who simply added another nod and grin.

Lance still couldn't believe it. "Uhhh...prove it." he asked with a smirk. He knew Keith. If it wasn't real, Keith would not overstep his formal, business-like bounds with the princess.

Keith and Allura exchanged looks, locked together in an embrace, joining in a passionate kiss, so deep and long that Lance was debating whether or not he should get them an oxygen mask and snorkel.

Lance snickerd. He DEFINITELY believed it now. No way would Keith have dared THAT with the angellic princess if it weren't.
"Okay, okay, you two! I believe you!" he said while thrusting his hands in his pockets and smirking.

At the same moment as the two were kissing, Alexis and Kaitlin had also entered. The two lady pilots hooted and whistled in traditional "pilot" fashion before retreiving the documents and readouts they had entered for. As they were preparing to depart, Keith stepped in their way.

"You're leaving?! No good-bye, nothing...just leaving?!" Keith asked.

His sister looked to the ground. "We must go. A new unit will arrive shortly if still deemed necessary. GG figures the Voltron Force, YOUR team is sufficient even in covert missions. We're needed more desperately elsewhere. You were once one of us Elites, Keith, surely you understand."

"That makes no difference! As friends and sister, the least you could do was say good-bye."

"It would've been for the best if we just left. We've created enough turmoil here. Good-bye, I despise that word, Keith. It's happened too much in my life. To say those words to a loved one who is alive is much worse than saying it to one who is without life. Your sister knows that too. All I can say is, I'm sorry...for everything. Be happy, both of you. You deserve each other, are meant for each other--follow destiny." Alexis said as she desperately avoided Keith's eyes.

"Don't get dead you two." Keith commented quietly as they began to depart. "I, --WE, fully intend to see BOTH of you two again."

"We're the best. Don't worry. We've already been to hell and they kicked us out." Kaitlin added as she stole a quick hug from her brother.

"I'M the best. But aside from that, you ARE definitely a Dewar! Fly straight and true lil' sis."

"Will do. You too...and uh...be fruitful okay. The royal lineage here and planet overall need replenishment. Just be sure to do your part. I'll handle our line on Earth."

"Kaitie!" Keith replied with a blush that matched his red flightsuit.

Kaitlin laughed then followed Alexis out. They would leave with the squadron that very night, in complete silence, as true stealths always do.

The next day, everyone in the castle and nearby villages awakened to the sound of the royal trumpets. Princess Allura had called a "Gathering." Gatherings were summons of the masses. Usually these were victory gatherings after a battle with Zarkon or Lotor, but there was no such battle recently. Massive numbers responded despite the early hour, including the entire Voltron Force (yes, even Hunk!), Coran, Nanny, entire villages, and so forth. All of which were extremely curious as to why the princess had called such a meeting and so early.

Allura, already present, stood forward on the balcony overlooking the main entranceway to the Castle of Lions. She watched and waited impatiently for all to gather below. The Voltron Force, Coran, and Nanny entered the balcony behind her, flooding her with questions she chose to simply ignore. Answers were to come in her speech and not before.

Ever astute, Keith stepped forward until he was standing by her side,eyes fixed forward, watching the masses develop below.
"This has something to do with US, doesn't it?" he asked quietly, barely moving his lips and keeping his face and eyes formally forward. From a side glance, he could see a small grin form on her face.

"Why yes, it is. It's a, how would you term it...a strategic tactic of surprise. I need to harness and control some potential troublespots now, BEFORE they even arise."

Unsure of exactly what those problems were, but having a good idea, Keith inwardly beamed with great pride. From what he'd learned about King Alfor, he had a daughter and ruler he could be proud of. Now, Keith only hoped he could live up to the same...both in her eyes, those of her peoples', and even those of her deceased parents.

Keith casually stepped back inline witht he rest of his team, careful not to place himself too close to Coran and Nanny. If Allura said what he thought she would, those two would not take kindly to him for a while. Of all people, it would be they, who will have the most difficult time adjusting.

Allura took a deep breath, glanced back at her comrades, winked at Keith, then faced forward and commenced her speech.
"My faithful citizens of Arus, I have summoned you here today to inform you of a glorious event to come. I have chosen a Royal Consort and upon his consent, he will be made a Knight of Arus for he is not a prince by blood. He was chosen out of love, not title. Upon his knighting, he will thus be capable of entering into the Arusian royal family, legally, traditionally, and justifiably. So, I now ask that he step forward and reveal himself to you all and with you, my citizens as witnesses, will reply to my offer of knighthood."

Keith gulped then felt his mouth going dry. He could feel Lance's eyes trained on him and without even looking, knew he was smirking. He also felt a thousand daggers in the heated stare of Coran and Nanny. The rest of the Voltron Force were too stupified to see Keith's discomfort. He gathered himself, and with professional calmness, stepped forward to once again stand by Allura's side. The crowd cheered their approval, Nanny fainted, Coran remained stern, and the rest of the team sighed in relief and contentment.

"I, Captain Keith Dewar, do accept the offer of knighthood by her Royal Highness, Princess Allura. I promise to uphold justly-all duties and loyalities warranted of me with all my honor, heart, and devotion."

The crowds cheered jubiantly. Keith had made an impression on the Arusian people as a living legend and hero. All around defender of the good and just as well as admirable leader, there was no finer choice in their minds. He was worthy of being their protector and sire of their future ruler. Their young princess had chosen well and as Allura and Keith gazed into each other's eyes, they knew that true love had brought forth two souls from light years apart and merged them into one beautiful destiny.

To be continued in a new fic series, "Arus Dawning"