Disclaimer: Voltron and its characters and locations are property of WEP. I make no claim to them. The story is mine.
Author's Notes:
Paulina Ann, FroofyB, shoopdan, Limetwist, animebookchic, and cubbieBlueMako, thank you so much for reviews. Paulina Ann, FroofyB, shoopdan, Sarmi, and cubbieBlueMako, thank you for follows.
The themes and topics covered in this fic are of a very sensitive nature. That is where the M rating comes from. Please read at your own risk.
I know how frustrating it can be waiting for the next chapter upload, and I don't want to make you wait. As I mentioned before, the story is mostly written. Just trying to write an ending that gives it justice. Muse has been a constant companion the last few days, so hopefully the creative juices keep flowing.
Rated M
Enjoy!
Chapter 3
Allura paced anxiously back and forth across the sunset room. The sunset room was a little used room located at the end of a hallway in the southwest wing of the castle. It was located in a part of the castle where not too many people ventured. Situated near the castle's guest suites, it was a sitting room used to entertain important guests and dignitaries. The room was very comfortable with overstuffed chairs and couches and a gas fireplace. With no visitors of late, Keith and Allura had been using it as their rendezvous location. No one would think to look for the princess and commander there, far away from their own quarters in the eastern wings of the castle.
The time was quickly approaching 10:00. Keith would be there any minute. Allura tried to decide if she should sit or stand. Wringing her hands, she had been going over and over in her head what she was going to say. She heard the familiar sound of the code panel being accessed. Fear settled into the pit of her stomach as she stopped pacing and turned towards the door. He was here. It was now, or never.
The door slid open to reveal Keith. As the door closed, he locked the door quickly behind him. "Hey!" he said a little breathlessly as he turned to face her. "The halls were deserted. No one followed me."
"Good," she replied with a hollow tone. "I have missed you." She walked quickly to him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Pulling her tightly against his chest, Keith lowered his mouth to hers. Their lips moved slowly at first, and then more quickly as they became caught up in their passion. A low moan escaped from the princess. Keith broke the kiss to gaze at her, worry in his obsidian eyes. "How are you feeling?" he asked.
Allura didn't answer. Gazing into his dark eyes, she saw nothing but concern and love. Allura tried to rein in her emotions, but they burst forth like a dam breaking. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she became hysterical. Breathing heavily, she clung to Keith for dear life. She sobbed against his shoulder for several minutes, the feel of his arms around her.
Keith was overwhelmed. He had never seen Allura like this before. She was absolutely inconsolable, her body heaved with racking sobs. He tried to think about what the problem could possibly be. A rock formed in the pit of his stomach as he realized they must have been found out. Did Koran or Nanny confront her? After several minutes, he noticed that her tears were starting to subside a bit. Rubbing her hair lightly, he whispered, "Allura, what is it?"
Dropping her arms, the princess took a step back. "You need to have a seat," she suggested. She waited as Keith took a seat in the middle of the overstuffed couch, his eyes staring at her in confusion. He held out his hand to her, an invitation to sit next to him. She accepted and plopped down onto the cushion.
"Allura, you're freaking me out. You are unusually quiet. Then you say you're not feeling well. I just witnessed you have an utter meltdown. What the hell is going on? Did Koran and Nanny find out?" Keith rambled on as he ran an agitated hand through his hair. His eyes begged her for information.
Fighting the urge to cry again, Allura took a deep, shuddering breath. It was now or never. "The truth is…Keith, I'm pregnant," she declared quietly. She dropped her eyes to her hands, unable to look at him.
"What?" he questioned. "You're what?" He stared at her in shock.
"I'm pregnant," she repeated. "I started feeling ill about two weeks ago. For the past four days, I have been waking up nauseous. It wasn't until I realized I was two weeks late that I even considered the possibility." She hiccupped. "I took four pregnancy tests and they all came back positive."
Keith said nothing. Staring at the fireplace, he sat in a daze for several moments as the information sank in. Pregnant? How can she be pregnant? We have been so careful, he thought. Like a bolt of lightning it hit him. They had been careful since they returned to Arus. But they hadn't been so careful on that morning in Dradin. "Shit," he muttered under his breath, rubbing his face with both hands. Laying his head back against the cushions on the couch, he chuckled to himself wryly as he thought It only takes once.Turning to look at Allura, Keith saw panic and confusion in her eyes. Unshed tears threatened to fall again. "Oh Allura," he cried. "I am sorry. I was just trying to figure out how this happened. We have been so careful." Embracing her, he pulled her close.
Allura pulled back suddenly, anger in her eyes. "Keith, it happened in Dradin," she retorted. "The point is not when it happened, but that it has happened. What the hell are we going to do about it?"
Keith looked at Allura in confusion. "What do you mean 'What are we going to do about it?' We will handle it," he replied, in full-on commander mode.
His response only angered her more. "We handle it? Keith, this isn't a problem with one of the Lions or a problem with the guard rotation. I'm pregnant. We are going to have a baby!" she fumed. Standing up from the couch, Allura stomped over to stand near the window. She looked out at the clear night sky, a million stars glittering against a sea of black.
Keith watched her profile; she appeared lost in thought. Several moments passed before he stated quietly, "I realize that Allura. I just meant we face this together. I think you misunderstood me." He walked over to join her by the window. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he gently turned her around to face him. "Allura, I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to have a family with you. Ok, maybe this is happening a little out of order, but we will handle it, together." His midnight eyes bore into her sapphire ones. He reached for her again.
Allura's whole countenance deflated. With slouched shoulders, she allowed herself to be taken into Keith's embrace. She leaned her forehead against his. "I love you, too. You realize we will probably need to be married immediately," she pointed out.
"So be it," Keith replied emphatically. He turned her around so they were both facing the expanse of night sky. Snaking his arms around her waist, he rested his hands on her stomach. "I love you, and I love our baby," he whispered into her ear.
Allura lifted her head, shifting slightly so she could gaze up at him. Tears glistened again, but these were happy tears. For the first time that day, she felt a glimmer of excitement about the pregnancy and what it meant. "Thank you, Keith. I love you so much," she murmured. "Our baby. I like the sound of that." She smiled up into Keith's handsome face. "Where do we start?"
Keith thought for a moment. "I think the first thing we need to do is go see Dr. Gorma. We need to make sure you and the baby are ok. Will he keep it confidential? Will he keep this from Nanny and Koran?"
Allura turned in his arms to face him. "He will have to," Allura replied, reaching her up to play absent-mindedly with the hair at the nape of Keith's neck. "Legally, I am a grown woman. According to Alliance laws, my medical care is privy only to me."
"Ok," Keith nodded. "Then contact Dr. Gorma and make an appointment for first thing after Lion Practice tomorrow. I will go with you. We will make up some excuse as to why we are going to MedBay together." His face darkened as he looked at their reflections in the window. "Allura," he continued quietly. "You realize that I will have to ground you for the time being. I can't risk you or the baby."
Allura started to protest and then stopped, realization flashing in her eyes. "I know you're right," she conceded. "I don't like it, but I know it's what's best." She leaned her head against his shoulder. "Maybe we should call it a night. I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be a long day."
Keith placed a gentle kiss on her head. "Ok," he agreed. "But first, call Dr. Gorma. Make the appointment."
"Yes, Commander," Allura retorted sarcastically.
Releasing her, Keith watched as she pulled out the communicator. The doctor agreed to see Allura at 9:00 am tomorrow. The couple decided she would feign a stomach bug as the reason she was missing Lion practice and heading to the doctor. He would join her at the appointment, but arrive after her. Satisfied with their plan for the time being, Keith proffered his arm to Allura. "It's time we got you back to your quarters." Allura accepted graciously and walked with him out of the sunset room.
VVVVVVVVVV
Tossing and turning in his bed later that night, Keith couldn't sleep. He glanced at the clock to see that it was two am. Sleep had eluded him for the past two hours. "Fuck it," he finally mumbled to himself as he climbed out of bed. Throwing on his robe, he decided to head to the rec room.
Grasping a mug of steaming cocoa in his hands, Keith sat down on the rec room couch. The room was empty, the rest of the team having headed to bed hours ago. He needed time to think.Pregnant, he thought to himself. Allura is pregnant. With my baby. I am going to be a father. He shook his head, still in disbelief. His mind was reeling. Seeing how upset Allura had been, Keith had tried really hard to project a calm, cool exterior. But now in the safety of his solitude, his façade dropped. He reacted to the news in shock and instantly went into problem solving mode. Once they saw the doctor and they knew that she and the baby were ok, they would have to tell Koran. He had every intention of going into that meeting ready to propose. They would have to plan for a wedding to take place immediately, so no one would be the wiser. Nothing was more important than preserving the integrity of the Princess of Arus.
He loved Allura, of that there was no doubt. Falling in love with her the moment he saw her, he knew that someday she would be his. He had always hoped he would have a family. There was no one he could ever imagine achieving that dream with than his Allura. Allura is going to have my baby, he thought again. In his mind's eye, he pictured a little raven-haired boy with sapphire blue eyes or a little girl with hair the color of the sun and eyes of chocolate brown. A lick of excitement took hold in his gut as a small smile quirked at the corners of his mouth. This pregnancy might have been unexpected, but it certainly was not unwanted. He knew in his heart, that ultimately, everything would be fine. Finally feeling a little calmer, Keith downed the rest of his cocoa. He yawned heartily, and he felt the pull of sleep for the first time. Glancing at the clock, he sighed as he realized he had to get up in three hours. Getting to his feet drowsily, he headed back to his room.
