Allura padded down the cold floor of the hallway in the infirmary, holding the back flaps of the hospital gown together for modesty's sake.

~Whoever designed these infernal things must have had a very wicked sense of humor!~ The Princess thought in vexation. ~Couldn't they make a different style gown for those that don't have to use a bedpan?~

Her pleas had fallen on deaf ears when her nurse had come in to wake her and ask that she remove her pink jumpsuit. She was required to undergo some tests, so therefore a gown was necessary, the young man had explained. He handed her a nondescript white lump of material with long strings hanging from it, telling her the ties went in the back. He left the room while Allura unfolded and slipped on the garment, grimacing at the way it hung off her slight form.

She had finally found something that made her pink jumpsuit seem the height of fashion.

The actual tests hadn't lasted too long, although it had taken drinking fourteen little paper cups of water before Allura was ready to donate her personal fluids; another indignity no one should have to suffer, she thought ruefully. The blood draw was endless; six vials were removed from her left arm, leaving her to wonder if there was any left.

She had been palpated, poked and prodded, shifted around, x-rayed and hooked up to a heart and oxygen saturation monitor. She had been stared at, barely listened to, and told to hold still. Dr. Gorma had finally taken his leave, with a stern warning for her to rest. That was when Allura decided to break out of her room to visit Hunk, who she knew lay just three doors down. After undergoing such unpleasantness, she deserved to have a little fun, and besides, she wanted to see for herself how her brawny friend was doing.

She arrived at the entrance to the Yellow Lion pilot's room, and peered through the partially open door. She was relieved to see him sitting up, looking just as bored as she felt.

"Hi Hunk," she greeted him warmly, pushing the door open with one shoulder, holding fast to the slipping ends of the accursed gown.

"Hey Princess!" Her friend exclaimed, his face brightening considerably. "What are you doin' creeping around this dump?" He blinked rapidly, trying to focus his vision as he attempted to check Allura for physical signs of her ordeal.

"I came to see you, of course. I knew they'd never let me out of my room, so I pretended to fall asleep, and then I sneaked out when Dr. Gorma left." She gazed in concern at Hunk's dilated pupils. "I understand you are having some problems with your eyes, I am so sorry."

Hunk waved one beefy hand. "Aw, it's nothin'- just a crack on the noggin." He touched the ice pack on his forehead. "The headache is almost gone, that was the worst part. I'll be fine, it'll just take a couple days for my brain to adjust. Nothing new there, huh?" He smirked as she giggled. "How are you doing?"

"Fine, thanks to you and the rest of the team," she replied, gliding to the big armchair next to his bed. It was hard and uncomfortable, but at least it hid her backside.

"I didn't do anything. All I managed to do was to put myself out of commission," Hunk grumbled.

"I disagree. What you did took incredible bravery and loyalty. You flung yourself with no hesitation at a dangerous man to protect your friends. I will never forget that, or any of the wonderful things you have done for Arus- and its children."

A dull flush crept across the tanned face. He never knew what to say at a time like this. Princess was always thanking them for something, it seemed. It was nice to be appreciated, but didn't she see that he got far more out of his duties here, than the people he had been fortunate enough to help?

Strength hadn't won the day; there were many days that it hadn't. He sometimes wondered how useful he really was to the team.

"Hunk, are you all right?" The concerned voice broke into his ponderings.

"Yeah, sorry. Guess I drifted off for a minute."

"If you're tired, I can leave-"

"No! No, please stay. You can distract me from thinking about how hungry I am," he replied, giving her a wink.

"Dinner's not for three more hours," Allura laughingly reminded him.

"I know," he groaned. "Let's change the subject. So what's this I am hearing about you getting a big smooch from the Skipper?"

He grinned as Allura's mouth fell open, then shut with a snap.

"Don't mind me, I just thought it was a pretty cool way to wake up, having someone lay one on you," Hunk hastily added, wishing he'd been a little more tactful in phrasing the question.

"It was pretty cool," Allura admitted shyly. Her eyes were sparkling with the memory, even as she reddened.

"Um, well, does this mean that, uh, you and Keith are sorta together or something?"

"Why do you ask?"

"I, uh, was thinking...well, Pidge and I always thought it would be really, uh... nice if the two of you... paired up."Hunk stammered, not quite meeting his teammate's eyes.

"You did?"

He chanced a glance at her and was relieved to see amusement in her gaze. "Yeah. You guys seem so right for each other. Like in one of those books you read all the time."

The Princess looked thoughtful. "Which ones?"

"Those love stories. The little paperbacks with the paintings of buff people on the cover."

"Oh those! Yes, I see what you mean. Having read a lot of them, I can't say that I see the connection though-"

"Skyler and Agate." Hunk replied firmly.

"What?"

"You know, Skyler and Agate, the gorgeous diplomat and the noble space warrior in 'Stellar Ecstasy'?" Hunk paused, and when he saw Allura began to nod in dawning comprehension, he continued with growing enthusiasm.

"Well, you and Keith always remind me of them. They're also from two different worlds, one holds high office, the other is a soldier, yet they reverse roles at times, like you guys do. They fight off their attraction for each other, but in the end-" he stopped abruptly. Oh damn, he had done it again, given away another dirty little secret. Would he ever learn to keep his trap shut?

"It sounds like you have been doing a little reading," The Princess said, grinning. "Such details! If I had known you enjoyed that type of literature, I could have arranged to send you some out of my collection."

"Oh please, no! Can you imagine if the guys found out? It's bad enough that they know I sew, but reading romance novels- sheesh, I'd never hear the end of it, never!" Hunk flopped back on the bed, grimacing in mock horror.

Allura burst into giggles. "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me. I'm really glad to find someone else who enjoys them as much as I do. Which authors are your favorites?"

They spent a pleasant half hour discussing the merits of different writers and plots, each interested in finding out the opposite sex's point of view of what was romantic. Allura was surprised and pleased to find she could talk as easily to Hunk as she could to Lance. He was a rather sensitive soul, it seemed.

They discussed the romantic entanglements seriously and unselfconsciously, with Allura admitting shyly that most of her knowledge of relationships came from these books.

"I don't know if that's so good, Princess," he commented, sympathetically.

"Some of the love scenes are so...unrealistic, I know, but I can't help wishing that Keith would-"

"That Keith would, what?"

The Princess whipped her head around to see the muscular form of the Voltron Commander in the doorway. She paled.

"Hey, Chief, how ya doin'?" boomed Hunk, gallantly trying to distract his leader.

"Fine, and I'd say you are looking pretty good too, buddy." Keith replied, smiling briefly at his teammate. The smile disappeared as he turned to face the silent woman sitting next to the bed.

He glared at her sternly. "But you-you should be in your room! I went there as soon as practice was over, but you were missing, Princess. You can imagine my chagrin; as your bodyguard I should really know where you are at all times."

"You may be my bodyguard, but you're not my keeper!" Allura retorted. "The danger is over, Keith, relax."

"It's not over until I say it's over," he shot back. "You're lucky I didn't call security!"

"I don't think I need to consult security when I want to talk to a friend!"

"No, but you should have the courtesy to let them- meaning me- know your whereabouts so we- I don't waste time tearing around the Castle, looking for you!"

They glowered at each other.

"Agate and Skylar...chapter twenty-two," a voice mumbled from the bed.

"Huh?" Keith's eyes swung to his friend, who now sat in an upright position, looking pensive.

"The scene at the galactic conference, remember, Princess?" the Yellow Lion pilot asked her excitedly.

She nodded slowly. "Agate is determined to protect Skylar at all costs, to the point of becoming obsessed. She on the other hand, tries to rebel against common sense. I do see it now, you're right!"

Hunk lay back, looking very pleased with himself.

"What you are you guys babbling about?" Keith asked impatiently. He still had a bone to pick with Allura.

"We were just talking about how art imitates life, sometimes," she responded coolly.

"I see. Must have been an interesting discussion."

"Oh it was, Chief. I got to know a whole new side of Princess," Hunk interjected.

"The same goes for me. Hunk and I usually don't get to talk together that much, I am glad I came here," the Blue Lion pilot stated determinedly.

"I'm sure you are. Unfortunately, you will have to go back to your room now, because there are a few things I need to go over with you before the trip to Althene." Keith told her firmly.

"Can't it wait?"

"No."

"Fine, I'll see you down there." Allura shot to her feet, looking dignified despite her bare legs and shapeless gown. "I really enjoyed our visit, Hunk, I always have fun with you."

"Me too, Princess, I had a great time..." her friend's voice trailed off after a glance at the fuming Captain. "Bye now."

"Goodbye," The Princess nodded primly. She drew herself up to her full height and walked regally to the door, sporting her best bow-down-I-am-the-Princess air.

It was totally spoiled by the bare buttocks hanging out the back of her hospital-issued garment.

Allura had forgotten this detail. Instead, she concentrated on making a dramatic exit, shoulders thrown back, head held high, and round pink moons squishing together as she pulled in her derriere.

Throwing open the door, she prepared to leave, gracefully turning to fling a final remark at her bodyguard.

It was then she noticed the cold draft breezing in from the hallway, caressing the expanse of bared flesh.

Her eyes widened in horror as she glanced from the shocked expression of Hunk to the suppressed mirth in Keith's face.

"Oh!" She wailed.

Gathering together the flaps of her gown and the shreds of her self respect, Allura turned and fled out the door and down the hall.

Keith desperately clamped his lips together, knowing that she'd hear him if he laughed, and would never forgive him for it.

He turned and met the still stunned gaze of his teammate. A long, drawn out silence ensued, before Hunk's solemn tones were heard.

"Well, there's another side of the Princess I've never seen before."

Keith's composure crumbled and he started to laugh.

The loud slamming of a door echoing down the corridor caused both men to break into loud guffaws.

"Might as well give her some more rope to hang me with, it couldn't get any worse." Keith finally gasped out, a hand pressed to his aching abdomen.

"You're in the doghouse, that's for sure," Hunk agreed, still chuckling. "Good luck, you're going to need it."