The man that had just entered the solitary space quite unnoticed by the industrious Princess, was both listening to, and studying her very closely, unable to deny himself the opportunity to observe without being observed. His dark gaze ran lingeringly over her classically beautiful profile and the sparkling circlet that anchored her bound up hair, and then followed the graceful curve of her figure, appreciating every inch of the woman in pink, whose golden silhouette stood out so strikingly against the rich, dark paneling behind her.

After a long moment, his gaze lifted to the window above her. It was covered with frost and a light dusting of snow, a reminder of why he was here in the first place. He felt uneasy about interrupting her, especially when she appeared to be so engrossed in her task, but time was a- wasting and the others would be getting impatient. He needed to let her know he was here, instead of staring at her without her knowledge. Still, something held him back from speaking to her just yet.

Allura, still oblivious to the presence slowly approaching her, set down her pen, picked up the sheet of paper she had been scribbling on for the last few minutes, and carefully checked the list of items she had compiled.

~I had no idea of the wide variety of traditions Planet Earth observes. The diversity is simply astounding! I hope I have selected the ones that have some personal meaning to my friends.~ She thought anxiously.

Turning back to the PC, she scanned the comprehensive site she had accessed for any important information that she might have missed. Nothing stood out until she noticed an odd notation to one side of the page. She clicked on it and a lengthy article appeared before her, accompanied by many illustrations. With a satisfied murmur, she began taking notes. ~Now here's one custom I think the boys might appreciate, I know I will!~ Allura grinned as she finished reading. ~But who can I get to do it? Hmm...~

She picked up her pen and added the word 'who', with a question mark beside her notes.

~That should do it, now all I have to do is give the list to Coran to approve. Some of these items may be hard to locate.~

She closed the cover of her notebook, clipped the pen to it, and was about to log off the Terran- based site when the word 'Mistletoe' caught her eye.

The Princess wrinkled her nose. ~That sounds dreadful, what is it? I have to see what this is about, even if I don't think I'd want to use it.~

She clicked on the link, and a picture of a leafy plant with white berries blinked onto the screen. She read the accompanying text with increasing amusement.

~A parasitic plant, with poisonous berries, used as an excuse for people to kiss, how funny!~ A small giggle escaped her at the notion. Her amusement was soon replaced by a calculating look as she considered the possibilities that this unusual item presented.

"I know that expression, and it spells trouble!" The familiar masculine voice sounded from directly beside her. Allura jumped in surprise, instinctively clutching the notebook to her chest. A small gasp escaped her.

She quickly looked up into smiling brown eyes. Next, her gaze lowered to the well-toned body, which was inexplicably dressed in a bulky cream-colored sweater and ski pants. The matching jacket, black with a red stripe, was draped over his arm, a red ear warmer hung around his neck, and strong-looking hands clutched the matching gloves. She blatantly stared back and forth from the handsome face, to his unusual attire.

~What is Keith doing out of uniform?~ She wondered. ~He looks...different...nice...and well, cute!~ Not that there was a time he didn't. She gasped again. Now where had that little thought come from?

"I'm sorry for startling you, Princess..." the Captain began, then stopped as he spied the picture on the screen behind her. "Hey isn't that…?"

A deep blush made a swift appearance on Allura's smooth cheeks, as she realized she was so enthralled with her visitor, she hadn't backed out of the mistletoe link. She shifted as Keith tried to look around her head, which partially blocked his view of the text. Where was that darn screen saver when one really needed it ? Hadn't two minutes gone by yet?

Keith blinked in astonishment as he was able to spot certain key phrases that confirmed his suspicion. Why was she looking up mistletoe? Judging by her reaction, she was fully aware of the ritual behind it.

"Um...I was just curious as to what it was, that's all. No biggie," she shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant.

Her choice of words triggered a deep suspicion within the pilot of Black Lion. "Has Lance been chatting with you about it, by any chance?" He attempted to keep his tone even, but his eyes gleamed rather fiercely, as they pinned her to her chair.

"Why no," she replied, genuine bewilderment in her voice. "I just happened to find this site on your world's traditions, and it sounded so strange I had to find out more."

Keith relaxed. "So what do you think about it?" He inquired, his expression and tone now completely neutral.

She laughed, a little breathlessly. "I thought it sounded rather gruesome, until I found out what it is used for."

A smile played around the Captain's mouth. "And then what did you think?"

Her blush deepened, but she met his gaze without guile. "I thought it was funny, but very appealing." She paused. "Of course, it would all depend on who it was that you'd be kissing."

"I see," Keith murmured, arching one eyebrow. The gesture inexplicably unnerved the Princess who blurted,

"Have you ever been caught under the mistletoe, Keith?"

"I don't know if I should be giving out that sort of information," he replied seriously, but his mischief-filled eyes gave him away.

"Who was the lucky girl?" Allura asked pertly, feeling a prickling of something she refused to think of as jealousy.

His lips twitched, and she stared at his mouth in fascination. Funny that she hadn't noticed how full and sensual it was before.

"Connie."

"What?" The Princess blinked in confusion.

"Connie, my older sister's best friend, caught me under the mistletoe at one of our family Christmas gatherings. I think I was all of fourteen, and not into girls yet. It was a really sloppy kiss, too-I think perhaps she had one too many glasses of port."

Allura grinned. "Perhaps this is one custom that is vastly overrated. It sounds like your experience with it was disappointing."

He shrugged, and then gave her his shy smile. "It didn't put me off the custom, but even if I had wanted to, I haven't had the opportunity to repeat it. The Academy banned mistletoe on the grounds that it might lead to sexual harassment lawsuits."

"Oh." She grimaced. "But I get the impression from reading this that anyone standing under it was fully aware of the implications. How could they object afterwards?"

"Well, I guess in the past, people would secretly tack some up and the person didn't know it was there. It made for some unpleasant encounters."

"That's too bad." Allura responded, thoughtfully. "I know I wouldn't mind being surprised, but again, it does depend on the person doing the surprising."

"Exactly," Keith nodded.

An awkward silence fell.

"Did you want me for something?" The Princess inquired, lifting her golden brows.

Keith felt a small jolt sizzle through him at the innocent query. He also felt the blood rushing to his cheeks and to the area due south of his abdomen. What was going on here? He simply had to get himself under control; all the talk about kissing and stuff must be getting to him. Yeah, sure, that was it. He looked down into the deep blue orbs calmly gazing at him and forced an offhand tone.

"The guys were wondering if you'd like to go on an outing. We were feeling a little restless and we thought the fresh air might do us some good."

"What kind of outing?" Allura asked, trying to sound just as offhand as he, although her heart was pounding in excitement.

"Just for a walk around the Castle grounds, maybe some sledding..."

"Sledding? Really?" All pretense of calm was dropped as the Princess shot to her feet. "I haven't done that since Father was alive, and I know just the place. Give me fifteen minutes and I'll join you!"

"All right, let's meet right here, then." Keith addressed her retreating back with a grin.

"The outer corridor, in fifteen minutes!" Her voice drifted back to him as she disappeared into the hallway.

He chuckled at her obvious enthusiasm, and reached over to push in her vacated chair. As he did so, his eyes fell upon the glowing computer screen, which Allura had forgotten to shut down.

He scanned the entry on mistletoe, and as he read it, the seeds of an idea began to germinate in his mind. He tried to suppress it, but the more he did so, the more it grew.

Seating himself in the chair, he typed in an address. It popped up with gratifying speed and the Captain filled out the requisite information with practiced ease. When he was done typing, he immediately hit the send button before he could change his mind.

He then logged off the PC and to wait for the Princess at their agreed-upon meeting spot in the hallway.

Thirteen and a half minutes later, Allura was headed back to the library, after having seen to delivering her requests to Coran. Then, having a little time to spare, she quickly stopped by her quarters to change and grab some suitable outerwear for her unexpected outing. The down parka she now wore was her favorite; a deep purple in color and the faux fur that surrounded the hood was a soft gray. Beneath the hood, her eyes sparkled with happy anticipation of the outing with her friends. Fleecy mittens covered her hands; likewise, her study boots were fleece lined and the leggings she wore beneath were of a thinsulate material. No one would recognize the Princess of Arus, in such attire, and that was exactly why she had chosen it.

Keith straightened from the wall that had been holding him up as he spotted his companion-to-be thumping down the hallway in heavy white snow boots. He felt his lips part in a wide smile and his stomach drop a little at the fetching picture she made. She looked so blessedly... common, but also incredibly gorgeous.

He automatically lifted his jacket and shrugged into it as she approached, needing something to do to hide his nervousness.

"Well I am ready to go, and in case you were wondering, I do have Coran's blessing to be with you." The Princess said cheerily, coming to a halt right in front of her escort. In fact, both she and her Advisor agreed that things couldn't have worked out better, because all of the men would be out of the castle and out of earshot while Coran worked his diplomatic magic for their benefit. "He says he trusts that you'll take good care of me," she added, knowing full well her smile was just a wee bit flirtatious.

Keith swallowed convulsively, after realizing that his throat was suddenly dry. Friendly blue eyes were now blinking up at him, and her lips were parted in a shy smile, invoking in him the wild urge to pull her into his arms and cover her lush pink mouth with his. Instead, he pulled up the zipper of his jacket with a violent snap of his wrist. The ear warmer was put into place next, and then he pulled his gloves up over his hands, partly in preparation for the cold, partly to deter him from touching the woman in front of him. Then he realized, as he saw her gaze turn questioning, that he hadn't responded to her statement and silently berated himself for acting like an ill-mannered fool.

"Good, that saves me having to call him. The guys are waiting at the front gate, so shall we depart?" He quirked an eyebrow at her, while returning her smile, not only with his mouth, but also with intensely expressive eyes.

"Yes, of course." Allura felt her face heating up at the impact that those eyes had upon her pulse. What was happening to her? She was around Keith all the time in practice, and in meetings and she never felt the way she was feeling now. Up until a few minutes ago she had considered him a very dear friend, but now...maybe it was the clothes, maybe it was because they had discussed kissing. Whatever the reason, she now felt a strange kind of excitement just being next to him.

It was a sort of awareness, an awareness of him as a man, not a Commander.

Allura almost gasped as the realization hit her. She was very attracted to her commanding officer, as a very handsome, very virile man.

She immediately tore her gaze away from him, so he wouldn't see the embarrassing truth revealed in her eyes. She never had been very good at disguising her emotions, but she had to try. Keith definitely didn't need a complication like her in his life, he had enough difficulties to deal with, thank you very much.

Keith frowned in puzzlement at the sudden constraint he could feel emitting from the Princess. Was she wishing she had declined his invitation? He knew he really hadn't done much to make her feel...wanted. Except to ask her, (rather ungraciously, he had to admit) in the first place. Was he that out of practice with girls? Apparently so, as she was now refusing to look directly at him.

"So you've got some sliding experience, huh? How did that come about?" He asked her, trying to put her at ease, as they turned their steps toward the stairway that would take them to the front gate.

He breathed a sigh of relief as the question seemed to hurdle the awkwardness simmering between them. 'Women always like it when you show a personal interest in their childhood memories', Lance had told him once. He sent a silent 'thank you' to his female savvy friend as he saw his companion relax.

"I first went sliding during our annual festival that celebrates the return of the cold season," Allura replied, smiling nostalgically. "I was hooked from the very first death defying plunge down 'Castle Hill'." She laughed out loud.

Keith grinned. "Now this is something I've got to hear!"

As she told him about her adventures, Allura found to her relief, that she was able to chat and laugh with Keith quite naturally as they strolled down the hall and took the main corridor to the castle entrance. It helped that he seemed genuinely interested in hearing about the Arusian Winter Festival and Day of Peace that was usually celebrated on December 30th, unless there was a lack of snow or a raid from Planet Doom.

"Sounds almost like our Terran Winter Solstice and Christmas celebrations," he remarked wistfully, and the Princess hid a smile as she inquired about his holidays, although she knew quite a bit from her research.

Keith related many of the customs she had already read about. However, it was so much more authentic and personal to hear his explanation of his world's customs. So engrossed was she in his monologue, that when they walked out into the brisk winter air, it was a complete shock to her system, and she shivered violently. They spotted and headed for the three colorfully garbed figures standing in the tree- lined front gardens.

Hunk was the first to see them coming. He yelled to her, "All right, Princess! Are you ready to rrrrrrrrumble?" Grinning broadly, he indicated the toboggans he had managed to unearth from Castle storage. "The big hill awaits you, milady!"

"You bet I am!" she called back. "Bring it on, I'll have you guys screaming for mercy in no time!"

"I don't think so," Lance yelled back. "Remember, we're big, tough Space Explorers!" His eyes fell on the diminutive Pidge. "Well, tough, anyway." He amended.

Pidge made a face and pelted the smirking Red Lion pilot with a snowball. This started an exchange of volleys, and soon the snowballs were flying fast and furiously between the three pilots, who looked more like overgrown boys at play, at this moment.

Allura smiled in delight, feeling utter happiness warm her from the inside out. Now this was more like it; the true personalities of the friends she had gotten to know and love had returned with a flourish. As she and her escort walked along, hopefully soon to join in the battle, she looked up at Keith and saw her pleasure reflected in the amused grin he wore.

Then she saw the grin suddenly turn to a frown of consternation, as he glared at something, or someone in the distance. "Don't even think about it, you creep, or you'll live to regret it!" She heard him mutter under his breath.

Curious, she turned her head to see to whom he was addressing this dire comment. All she could see was a line of trees-

WHUMP!

A blinding, stinging, ice-cold pain stopped her in her tracks.

"Allura, are you all right?" She dimly heard the anxiety in Keith's voice and tried to turn toward it. A strong hand grabbed her by the crook of her arm as she stumbled, preventing a headlong fall into the snow.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry Princess, I was aiming for Keith..." Lance stepped out from behind one of the massive oaks, and ran up behind Allura, who was now busy trying, with little success, to wipe the remains of a slush ball from her eyes and nose. "Are you all right?"

"Nice going, Lance," Keith said dryly to the embarrassed Lieutenant who was trying to help his victim by feebly brushing at her slush covered hood and shoulders.

"I'll be okay, once I can see," Allura asserted gamely, scrubbing at her eyes. Darn it, her lashes seemed to be sticking together.

"AVENGE THE PRINCESS!" A gravely voice bellowed. Keith grabbed the temporarily blinded Princess and pulled her out of range.

WHAP! WHAP! WHAP! WHAP!

Now Lance was the one covered, head to foot, in slush. Keith hooted at the sight.

"HEY, NO FAIR!" His beleaguered friend yipped, as snow slid down the inside of his jacket. "Lordy, that's sooo cold," he whined, hopping around as he tried to shake out the snow from under his outerwear. "Whoa Nellie, that one went too far," he gasped, grabbing the seat of his pants and pulling them away from his buttocks while shaking them in a little dance to rid himself of the accursed white stuff. The outrageous spectacle made Keith grateful that Allura couldn't see anything, although it made him shake with suppressed mirth.

"What's happening?" Allura asked.

"You don't want to know," Keith informed her.

"Okay," she answered, agreeably, liking how his hands were still resting on her waist.

A few yards away, Hunk and Pidge roared with laughter, and exchanged an enthusiastic high five.

The Red Lion pilot stood indecisively fidgeting, desperately wanting to launch a counteroffensive at his attackers, but not wanting to leave the Princess in such a state.

"Go on, I'll take care of her." Keith told him, and then laughed at the evil smile that spread across his buddy's handsome face.

"VENGEANCE WILL BE MINE!" Lance screamed, as he charged his now fleeing teammates, gleefully leaving his leader to deal with the mess he had created.

Keith looked down at the Princess whose slush-covered mittens were doing little or nothing to banish the coating of ice on her face.

"Here, let me."

At his tone of command, Allura's arms automatically dropped to her sides, and she stood still, face upturned, looking like a small child waiting to have her face scrubbed free of cookie crumbs. Keith smiled at the picture she made, before releasing her to draw off his gloves. He crammed them in his jacket pocket. "Hold still now." He instructed, placing one hand on her left shoulder to steady her, while the other reached for her face.

She felt the warmth of skin against skin, and realized that Keith's bare fingers were wiping off the icy residue. A small fluttering of pleasure began in her belly and moved outward as she submitted to his touch. He brushed the snow from her eyes and cheeks with gentle strokes of his roughened fingertips, and soon, too soon, she could see again. What she saw made her stomach flutter even more, and her knees go weak; his eyes were full of deep emotion, and his beautifully formed mouth was just inches away from hers.

The Captain looked down at the lovely face beneath his moving hand at first with fierce protectiveness, and then with a growing awareness of the intimacy of his gesture. Almost of their own volition, his fingers moved over the smooth, cool skin, savoring its softness. When her lashes finally parted, he found himself looking deeply into her incredible eyes; his heart started to pound in response, and a surge of desire flowed through him, warming him as nothing else could. He watched her lips part slightly, an unconscious invitation to him to do what he wanted to do so badly; kiss the living daylights out of her. His fingers stilled on her cheek, and his other hand came up to join its counterpart, to hold her face between his palms. He made no move to step away, or to draw closer, although that impulse was uppermost in his turbulent thoughts.

Allura watched in dawning wonder, as his eyes grew slumberous, and saw his lips part as if to speak; she waited with bated breath, but soon it was obvious that words were not to be forthcoming. His lazy gaze openly roamed over her dewy lashes, pink nose and cheeks, and settled on her mouth.

Her eyes darkened in response, and her breath caught in her throat. ~He looks like he actually wants to kiss me! Oh please, please let it happen!~ Her eyelashes lowered, this time in anticipation of the exciting unknown.

Her face tilted at an accommodating angle, Allura waited for her first kiss.

To be continued...:)