"This is bogus," Lance grumbled as he pored over the mountain of Garrison paperwork in front of him.

"That goes double for me," Pidge agreed, scratching his head as he studied a list of diplomatic terms used in the Denubian galaxy. "I'm just a kid, why do I have to bother learning these? It's not like I'll ever represent the Princess. Give me a computer manual any day over this stuff."

"Cheer up little buddy. In a while we can take a break and sneak down to the kitchen," Hunk said heartily, plowing through a copy of Arusian Guide to Deportment and Diplomacy-the Beginners Edition.

"I think Nanny isn't happy unless she can make someone's life hell on Arus. Since the Princess and El Capitan aren't here, we're the schmuks she gets to torment." Lance gruffed. "Although Keith probably gets into this stuff big time. He likes all the bull that goes with his job."

"Wonder how he and Princess are getting along? I can't imagine being stuck out in the boonies can be very fun." Hunk rested his hand on his cheek, giving up all pretense of studying.

Lance smirked. "Even the boonies would be more than tolerable if Allura was with you,"

Pidge scowled. "Lance, knock it off. Keith doesn't think that way, he's there to protect her."

Lance's smirk grew more pronounced, and Pidge had a sinking feeling he couldn't explain. "Are you saying that Keith has feelings for the Princess?" he questioned the Red Lion pilot, not really wanting to hear the answer.

"Come on, he's just doing his job, trust you to blow it way out of proportion, Hartwell. Besides, I though you were in-" Hunk clapped his hand over his mouth as Lance's smirk turned to a glare.

"Watch it big guy. I spend a lot of time with the Princess but we're friends, and that is as far as it will ever go." ~As long as Keith loves her, that is,~ he thought, wistfully.

"Sorry Lance, I didn't mean anything by it, honest. So do you really think Keith likes her?" the pilot of Yellow Lion asked, seriously.

"We all like her Hunk. I am very sure it goes much more deeply with our Fearless Leader." Lance replied softly. "Pidge, what's wrong? You look upset."

"Ahem..., be a little careful in what you say, buddy," Hunk interjected, raising his eyebrows and inclining his head meaningfully toward the glum-looking youth. "You know he has a thing for...Princess."

Pidge sighed. "I just wish she'd give me a chance- and would wait a few years for me to grow up. Is that too much to ask?" Pidge looked so mournfully at his two friends that they instantly pitied him. First love was always a bittersweet experience for any male, and Pidge was no exception.

Silence descended upon the room as the three friends reflected on the situation. From the moment, they had met Allura, they all had had a secret desire to be the chosen one, but somehow they all knew, immediately, it wouldn't ever happen. At least now, it seemed that Keith, their good friend and a terrific guy, had a fighting chance to win the Princess' heart.

However, that thought brought them little comfort, since each of them desired to find a first-rate woman like the Princess to soothe their flagging spirits. So far, no other prospects had emerged.

A cloud of melancholy descended thickly around them.

Lance suddenly threw down his paperwork. "This can wait. It's time for some strawberry cheesecake. Let's go, guys, move it!" He barked out the order.

"All right!" Pidge and Hunk leaped to their feet, and followed Lance out the door and down the hall to the kitchen at breakneck pace. Minutes later they were gorging themselves on extra large helpings of strawberry cheesecake right out of the pan, disdaining any type of eating utensil. Pidge fed crumbs to Cheesy and the other space mice that were always near the pantry. The mice squeaked their approval at his generosity, their little red eyes rolling in ecstasy.

Lance groaned, leaning against the nearest counter. "This stuff should be illegal. Much more and I won't fit into my uniform!" He saw a chunk of cheesecake still stuck to his finger and promptly stuck the finger in his mouth.

"I could alter it for you, no problem. If I can fix the Princess' nightgown, I could certainly..." Hunk babbled, intoxicated on the rich creamy delights of his favorite dessert. Too late, he realized that he had given away his unorthodox hobby.

"Whaaat'sss this?" Lance's eyebrows shot up to his hairline, and a grin split his face.

"Hunk, do you mean you..." Pidge began incredulously.

"Oh jeez, please go easy guys, I can't help it, I was raised in the trade. My folks ran a tailoring service. They needed help..."

"Never mind that. You have a nightie of the Princess'? You touched it?" Pidge's eyes widened in awe. "Can I see it? Do you still have it?"

"Well yeah, it's in my quarters, but I don't think I should..." A wad of cheesecake crammed roughly into his mouth by Lance stopped Hunk's imminent refusal.

"If you show us, we promise that we will not reveal your sordid past to anyone else," Lance said evilly, his grin even wider now.

The big man sighed heavily. The consequences of a refusal were too horrid to think about. "That's a promise, right?"

"Oh yes," Pidge and Lance chorused innocently. Hunk pinned them with his most intimidating look. "If I show you and you go back on your promise, I will guarantee..." he clapped a big, beefy hand on one shoulder of each of his teammates, "...that someone will regret it. I may be able to sew, but I can also whup your sorry backsides to a pulp and don't forget it." He made fists, grabbing hold of fabric and leather, and suddenly Pidge and Lance were dangling six inches off the floor. He grinned maniacally at his two teammates, the exertion not even making him breathe hard, giving every appearance of being able to hold them in that position all day.

"OH-KAY, you've made your point," the Red Lion pilot capitulated, no longer grinning.

"We promise already, now put me down!" his little buddy gasped and squirmed.

"Good, I knew you'd be reasonable." Hunk half smiled, and lowered his friends so their feet touched the ground.

"Now can we see?" Pidge asked impatiently.

"All right, but I expect you to be respectful and I won't put up with any crude comments. Princess deserves better. Come on." Hunk turned and left, leaving his teammates to trail along in the shadow of his immense bulk.

"Whoa, he really takes those deportment lessons to heart," Lance remarked to Pidge, who nodded, eyes still wide in reaction to the big guy's passionate speech.

"Are you coming? I don't have all day," Hunk's voice bellowed from the corridor.

"Keep your shorts on, we're on our way," Lance shot back.

"And don't forget to wash your hands!"

Later in Hunk's quarters, the three pilots stood staring in reverence at the gauzy strip of material that was Allura's nightwear. Hunk had done so much more than repair a tear. He had embroidered the yolk of the gown with the likeness of a blue lion. It wasn't the lion ship, but a real lioness lying in repose on a bed of Arusian lilies. The colors and image were so lifelike, it appeared the lioness would rise and walk right off the fabric.

Lance finally spoke. "I'm not one to be poetic, but this is ...astounding! You have immense talent, I give you my compliments, buddy."

Pidge nodded. "I can't believe the hands that worked on those hovercrafts also created this as well."

"Thanks guys. I am proud of it. Do you think she'll like it?" Hunk asked, anxiously.

"Oh yeah," Lance and Pidge nodded.

"Hope so, I wanted to do something for Princess. She's done so much for us as well as for Arus. I wanted to show her how much I care about her..." he said gruffly. Sensing what his comrades were thinking, he added, "It's not like that. She's like a sister to me. She's like family, and I would die for her."

Lance and Pidge were silent, each saying to himself, I would die for her too.

All three men reached out and touched the garment and at that moment, a blue haze enveloped them, wrapping them in a cocoon of peace and well-being. It merged with their bodies, caressing them, then faded away.

"What was that?" Pidge breathed.

"I...don't know. You felt it too?" Lance answered softly, trying to understand what just happened.

"Yeah, it was if Princess was suddenly here..." Hunk said bemusedly.

"Just like my dream the other night," the Green Lion pilot added.

The Red Lion pilot thought of the haze on his pictures, and related the episode to his friends. "Something really weird is happening here and it has to do with Allura. It doesn't seem to be threatening us. Maybe its connected to whatever she's looking for in Althene." He mused.

"In that case, maybe we should let her know what happened here," Pidge suggested. "Although I don't want her to be offended that we were ogling her nightie."

"Let's leave that part out," Hunk agreed.

"But we may have to tell because it might be an important detail, don't forget, the haze came when we all touched a possession of the Princess'." Lance frowned. "Don't worry, I'll break it to her gently."

"That's what I was afraid of," Hunk said under his breath. The three men headed for the control room to patch a message to Althene. They started to run as they heard a furious voice shouting their names, barely escaping the sight of a furious Nanny waving an empty cheesecake pan.