The group scattered when they entered the castle proper, after conferring and then agreeing that they would meet in the recreation room near the pilot's quarters after the Captain had checked in with Castle Control. While he was gone, the others would take a little time to run errands of their own.

Lance quickly left to deal with what he termed 'unfinished business'. Allura wanted to ensure that her own secret undertaking was coming along, and the tray (gently tugged out of the grasp of a reluctant 'Splat Boy') gave her an excuse to go in search of Nanny, while the grumbling Pidge set off to put the toboggans away. Hunk, at loose ends now that he had been relieved of his sled, hurried to catch up to his Skipper, to help him check on the planet's security status.

The Captain was relieved that it was the Yellow Lion pilot accompanying him. Given the highs and lows of the sentiments he always felt at this time of year, mixed in with the way he was feeling about Allura, he fully intended to avoid a confrontation with Lance until he sorted out the jumble of emotions cluttering up his well-ordered thought processes. Hunk was far less complicated and demanding company than his right hand man, and fewer complications was what he needed right now.

He had noticed the intensely speculative look the Red Lion pilot had given him after that witnessing that little moment of lunacy with Allura. He had also noticed how from that point on Lance had dropped his customary teasing, and instead kept to wholesome topics of conversation, almost as if he were playing the diplomat or something. Keith gave a resigned sigh; his friend's infamous intuition had kicked in, no question about it. It was truly only a matter of minutes or maybe hours, if he was lucky, before Lance would be giving him the third degree about her.

"Think anything will be going on with Doom?" Hunk asked, breaking into his leader's musings.

"I doubt it, otherwise they would have contacted us by now on the communicator." Keith replied somberly. "It would be nice if things stayed quiet so we could keep some semblance of a holiday season going like we did this afternoon."

The Yellow Lion pilot grinned broadly. "Yeah, the return of 'Splat Boy' was pretty awesome, wasn't it?"

"Yeah, it was," his leader's expression lightened considerably. "The rest of the sliding was fun, too."

His companion hesitated fractionally, before asking, "If you don't mind me askin', Chief, exactly what kept you from, well, uh...well, you know..."

"An abdominal juice expulsion?" Keith dryly finished the question for his teammate.

"Yeah."

"Sheer willpower, fueled by the thought that it's a severe breach of etiquette to heave in front of the Princess."

Hunk snorted a laugh. "I hear ya! I wonder just how a guy would explain that one to good ole Nanbo?"

"I have no idea, but I'm glad I didn't have to find out."

"I bet, although you know the Princess would have been cool with it, even if it might have grossed her out a little. She thinks a lot of you, Keith, and nothing would ever change that." Hunk told his Skipper, in a serious tone. "I don't think you ever have to worry about the way she regards you."

Keith sent a surprised glance toward the big man. "Thanks, but I don't think-"

"I saw you kiss her." Hunk said, matter-of-factly.

A breath hissed out of his leader. "Oh."

They were now directly outside the closed doors of the control center. Keith stopped, but didn't reach for the switch to open them. Instead, he trained his wary gaze on Hunk's rugged features. "Didn't anyone else notice?"

"Nope, I kept the other two facing away from you."

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

"No offense, but I really don't want to talk about it."

"Hey, that's fine with me, Skipper, I just thought you should know." Hunk replied reassuringly, reaching out to pat the Captain's shoulder. "I'll keep my mouth shut, don't worry, although I must say I'm all for you and the Princess gettin' together."

Keith gave his big- hearted friend a brief, but sincere smile. "I really appreciate that. Thanks."

"No problem," Hunk responded, then asked hesitantly, "Um, could I please ask you one thing though? Just for my personal databanks?"

"Well...yeah, I guess, but I reserve the right to refuse to answer the question once I hear it!" His leader replied, with a half smile.

"I just want to know...how was it? Kissing her, I mean." The Yellow Lion pilot's eyes looked almost dreamy for a moment. "After all, it is something the rest of us can only fantasize about. I bet it was really special, huh?"

A sheepish grin split the lips of the Captain. He rubbed the back of his neck in a self-conscious gesture, before reaching up to yank off the ear warmer that was adding to the prickly warmth spreading over his face.

Keith pondered his response for a full minute, as he slowly folded and then stuffed the ear band into a pocket. Oh, what would it hurt to answer; it wasn't like he was talking about his relationship with Allura at all and besides, Hunk had done him a huge favor out there. He finally admitted, "Truth be told, I'm no good at describing things like that, but I can tell you it was similar to.... an enormous rush of adrenaline. Earth shattering. Awesome."

The 'Big Guy' noted with amusement that his friend's coloring now just about matched the red stripe on the ski jacket he still wore, and laughed to himself when the Captain tried to mask his loss of composure by shrugging and then calmly removing his gloves to brush at the unruly hair that was now jutting out at all angles. The offhand air with which Keith performed the gesture might fool a stranger, but it didn't fool him. That kiss had been a humdinger all right, you could see the memory of it still shining in the guy's eyes.

Hunk nodded sagely in response to his leader's admission. "Wow, I figured it might be like that." He half-murmured, privately thinking, ~because that's the way it always is between two people who are wild about each other.~ "I'm real glad for you, buddy." He added, with rough sincerity.

"Thank you, Lieutenant. Shall we proceed?" Keith inclined his head toward the doors. Hunk took the hint.

"After you, El Capitan."

In another wing of the Castle, Allura quickly entered her bedchambers, wanting to rid herself of her outerwear and tidy up a little. No sense putting Nanny's back up about her appearance straight away, especially since she needed to ask a huge favor from her high- strung governess.

She tossed the tray on her bed, slipped out of the parka and boots, and then went to her vanity to touch up her hair. Standing in front of the full- length center mirror, she eyed her ensemble; the long sweater and leggings were just as suitable as the pink jumpsuit, she firmly decided. Her bound up hair was still intact, so she only straightened her circlet. However, as her gaze moved to her face and she saw the purplish discoloration on her left cheek, the wide-eyed Princess gave a start. It really looked worse than it felt, but now she understood why Lance had felt so badly about the whole incident.

~I had better put make up on that or Nanny will never let me out to play with the boys again!~ She thought humorously, reaching for her basket of cosmetics and expertly choosing the proper hued concealers for the task.

Five minutes later, the bruise was all but invisible. The only way anyone would notice if they got close enough to kiss her.

~Ask me that again when we're alone...~

Keith's teasing remarks forcefully returned to haunt her. A warm tide of mixed sensations washed over her as she wondered what in the world had made him say those suggestive things to her. It was an uncommon occurrence for the highly ethical Captain to be so naughty, and it had truly thrown her to find out that he wasn't always the impassive, reserved, deferential person everyone thought him to be.

She then thought about how his mood had shifted so abruptly after she had flirted with Lance. At that point, she was sure he had been jealous of her and the Red Lion pilot. Although that realization had brought her a certain satisfaction at the time, now she felt badly for being so petty as to have played such childish mind games with the two of them.

The Princess turned away from the mirror at the thought, too uncomfortable with what she had done to look herself in the eye. It was bound to adversely affect the team if she reacted to any sort of baiting, so in the future, she would just have to learn be the enigmatic one. Especially if anyone ever found out she and Keith had embraced.

Striding over to the bed, she picked up the tray, and looked at it in speculation. Maybe it shouldn't and wouldn't be returned to its old methods of use. After all, it had carried Splat Boy, King of the Hills, and for that reason it deserved a place of honor.

Allura rang for her chambermaid, gave some precise instructions, and then swore the widely smiling young woman to secrecy. Chuckling, the maid departed to do her mistress' bidding.

Next, she went in search of Nanny, and finally found her in the main kitchen working on a special menu for the next day's celebration. The room was filled with bustling people and the heavenly scents of baked pastries and various other treats. The nearest kitchen staff stopped briefly to curtsy or bow to their monarch as Allura walked by, before continuing with their assigned tasks.

As she approached the counter where Nanny sat, the Princess was vastly relieved to see that her governess appeared to be in a jovial mood. She saw the woman actually laugh, before giving some instructions to the head chef, who smiled and nodded enthusiastically, before returning to his post at the one of the three massive stoves.

"Princess, this is going to be a vonderful, vonderful meal. These Terran dishes sound absolutely delicious, and Jean Paul is so energized, he loves the challenge of making them as authentic as possible!" The older woman enthused.

"I'm glad he approves," the Princess smiled unreservedly at the handsome chef, who rakishly blew her a kiss from his fingertips as he stirred a concoction. "How is Coran doing with finding the other items?"

"He has obtained everything, except the costume you vanted."

Allura's face fell. "Oh no, that's the most important part!"

Nanny patted her arm as she bustled by to hand an ingredients list to a waiting maid. "I am sure we can think of something else to do for them instead, Allura, don't vorry."

The Princess sighed. "I so wanted to have this particular tradition for the boys, because it's so universal an idea. Anyone who wears that costume is representing the patron spirit of the season; the Spirit of Giving. Every nationality on Terra has some custom related to that."

"Oh dear," Nanny murmured. "That sounds like something the boys vould enjoy. Maybe ve can find another vay; surely there is something in this castle that is similar to vhat the spirit wears. Let me look around and see."

"Thank you, Nanny, you're the best!" Allura gave the smiling woman an impulsive hug.

"Tut, tut, child, no need to thank me, I haven't done anything yet."

"You will, though, I know you will."

"Yes I vill, because I was going to talk to you about those poor boys and how badly they miss their loved ones; it made my heart ache to hear them go on about it. Then Coran called me in and told me that you had noticed the problem, and he relayed your plan. I must say, he seemed quite excited about doing this for them."

"It's the Spirit of Giving at work." Allura nodded, smiling once again. ~It must be working in Nanny too if she is feeling motherly to men she usually refers to as hooligans!~ She decided to wait to ask for her favor; everything now depended on whether a costume could be found.

"I have to check in with Keith and the others now, so I will talk to you later tonight, Nanny." With a final, grateful squeeze for her governess, she turned to leave. The woman returned the hug before walking her charge to the door.

"Does this 'Giving Spirit' haf a proper name?" Nanny called out suddenly, as Allura went out into the hall.

The Princess turned and grinned back at her. "Why yes...they call him by many names in many languages, but the one I like best is, 'Santa Claus'."

Twenty minutes later in the Pilot's Lounge...

As expected, all had continued to remain quiet in the space around Planet Arus, so the team gathered together once more to enjoy some additional, very precious down time. The Princess arrived last, a happy smile still curving her lips. She looked around at the handsome, sweater and jean clad men and decided she was indeed a lucky woman.

"Hi boys!"

A chorus of masculine voices responded to her greeting as she entered.

Hunk was in the lounge's small kitchen, concocting his special drink. "It'll just be a couple minutes, and then we'll have a toast," he announced to the room.

Pidge, who was standing next to his large friend inhaled appreciatively. "I hafta say, Hunk, you always made the best cocoa in the barracks, hands down. Hope you still remember the recipe."

"Of course I do," his friend snorted. "I may forget my manners, but I never forget a recipe."

Allura giggled. The giddy happiness she felt from knowing what was soon to be done for these wonderful men shone from her lovely eyes.

Okay, spill it, Princess! What's going on? You look like the cat that got the canary," Lance observed from the sectional he was sprawled upon. "Doesn't she, Keith?" He turned smiling blue eyes to his friend, who was sitting opposite him, intently perusing a computer printout.

Keith looked up briefly, his dark eyes seeming to take in everything about the Princess in a glance. "She looks great, as usual," he replied, rather gruffly. In one quick look, he had noticed how very well her clingy red sweater and black leggings suited her and how her captivating smile was in full evidence. "Have a seat." He politely stood up to let her scoot between him and the long low table in front of the sectional.

"Thank you." Allura sidled past him, and sat down, precisely centering herself between the two lounging men. Lance was on her left and immediately noticed her changed appearance.

"Your bruise, it's gone!" He exclaimed, sliding over to take a closer look.

"Sort of- I put on some makeup to hide it," she admitted. "I didn't want Nanny to get upset."

"Oh yes, right," he mumbled, uncomfortably.

"Don't worry, she'll never hear about it from me," she told him in comforting tones.

"Thanks," Lance sighed. "Now I really owe you! My source better come through with that mistletoe, or there's going to be trouble."

Keith folded the printout he held in half. "Don't worry, it'll be here."

"You sound pretty certain, Chief. Hope you know what you're saying." Lance eyed his leader uncertainly. Keith had insisted on emailing Howard himself, saying his rank might help speed up the process. It seemed rather suspicious, but he had let it slide for the moment. His Skipper's closed expression had indicated he expected no arguments.

"It's taken care of, trust me."

"If you say so."

Keith breathed a sigh of relief when Hunk and Pidge brought the steaming mugs out, providing a welcome diversion.

Soon they were all seated around the table, mugs in hand.

"Who's doing the toast?" Allura asked.

"I will," Pidge offered and stood up. He held the large ceramic mug up in front of his face, as he spoke in clear, sure tones.

"For the friendship, fun, and good clean living,
I offer my deepest, humblest thanksgiving.
Through thick and thin, the good and bad,
Here's to the best friends a man could have."

"Hear, hear," his teammates answered, clacking their mugs together.

"This is wonderful, Hunk!" Allura exclaimed, as the rich chocolate taste exploded on her taste buds. It seemed it be mixed with a strong but pleasant mint flavoring. "What's your secret?"

Hunk smiled slyly. "Peppermint schnapps." He replied with a chuckle.

"Peppermint shn-what?"

"Schnapps!"

"So much for good clean living!" Lance chortled, raising his mug and taking a hefty swallow.

To be continued....:)