I make no claims to Voltron or any WEP characters used within this story.

Enjoy Chapter 4


Two weeks later, the force is on the tarmac as the shuttle from Earth lands. Keith watches as the shuttle door opens and a young man steps out and walks toward them. Keith studies him; he is shorter than Keith with a muscular, wiry build. His hair is red and his eyes green, he is fairly good looking. An easy smile crosses his face as he stops in front of Keith and salutes him, "Private Michael Damien reporting for duty sir."

Keith arches a brow at him, "At ease Michael. We don't stand on ceremony here."

Inside the castle, Allura stands by a window watching as Keith addresses the young man and then turns to introduce the rest of the force. A tear runs down her cheek as she places her hand on her abdomen. She feels arms coming around her and starts, then relaxes when she sees Romelle's reflection in the glass. Romelle lays her chin on Allura's shoulder as she hugs her from behind, "Are you alright?"

Allura sighs and turns sideways away from the window and the view below to turn her face toward Romelle as Romelle steps back. She wipes at her cheeks, "I'm fine. Just…sad." as her gaze once again looks down on the scene below as the men turn and begin walking into the castle.

Romelle smiles at her, "You understand why Keith requested a new pilot though?"

Allura sniffles a bit and nods, "I always knew the day would come when I wouldn't be allowed to fly anymore…"

Romelle reaches out and rubs Allura's arm, "In return you will have a child to love…"

Allura's sad eyes turn toward Romelle as her hand once again drifts to her abdomen. Romelle tries to smile at her, "It isn't like you can't ever fly again Allura. I'm sure after the baby is born Keith would have no problem with you taking Blue out."

Allura nods and turns her face away from Romelle to once again look out the window. Even though no one was out there any longer, Allura's gaze stays on the shuttle. She finally whispers, "But it won't ever be the same…" as tears run down her cheeks.

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Keith escorts Beth down the hall toward the dining room for dinner that night. Beth's eyes are turned toward Keith's profile and she notices the worry lines around his eyes and mouth. She reaches over and touches his cheek, "What's wrong?"

Keith's eyes move to Beth's face and he attempts to smile at her, "I'm fine Beth…just a bit worried." He tightens his grip on her hand and continues down the hall. She sighs, "Keith please do not try to block everything from me. If we are going to marry I want you share your problems with me."

Keith sighs and stops in the hall looking at her, "Beth, between trying to ascertain whether Michael will be able to handle the stress of combat in the lions while trying to be sensitive to Allura's feelings…" he runs his hand through his hair agitated.

Beth touches his cheek reassuringly, "Surely Princess doesn't mind giving up flying for her baby…"

Keith's gaze turns incredulous, "You really don't know Princess Allura very well. She is devastated by the loss of her place on the force. I had to warn Michael to be very careful about what he says to her since he is taking her place."

Beth looks at him confused, "She misses Planet Doom trying to kill her while she was flying Blue lion?"

Keith shakes his head at her, "You're not a pilot Beth, you don't understand…" he takes her hand again and starts walking toward the dining room once more. They enter the room and Keith's gaze moves around taking in everyone's location.

Hunk and Pidge are standing with Michael by the window talking. Sven, Romelle, Christine and Lance are standing near the table having a discussion while Princess Allura sits at the table alone. Keith's gaze stays on Allura briefly, disturbed by the sad look on her face as her gaze rests on Michael.

Keith sighs as Michael steps away from Hunk and Pidge to approach Keith, "Good evening Captain."

Keith sighs, "Michael I have asked you to refrain from using titles…" he then turns to Beth, "This is my fiancée Beth." Keith looks at Beth, "Beth, this is Michael Damien."

Michael turns his gaze to Beth and stops breathing for a moment. Finally remembering himself he smiles, "Hello." and holds his hand out for her to shake.

Beth's smile falters briefly as she looks into Michael's face. She quickly recovers and shakes his hand then pulls away quickly. Keith looks at the two of them a bit oddly then brushes it off and escorts Beth to their places at the table.

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After dinner, Keith escorts Beth to the room that is hers until their marriage and bids her goodnight then finds his way back to the rec room where Sven and Romelle are waiting for him. Keith sits tiredly down on one of the couches and rubs his weary face with one hand.

Romelle sighs as she watches him. Poor Keith…he really is stuck in the middle of this mess even if he didn't create it. Romelle attempts to smile at him as he finally faces them with a sigh, "How is Princess dealing with Michael's presence?"

Romelle looks at Sven for a moment, who nods to her, then turns to Keith, "Not well. She is very sad. I don't know if you noticed but she didn't eat much for dinner."

Keith grimaces as he runs a hand through his hair agitated, "I noticed, nor did she speak much either."

Romelle sits forward and grabs one of his hands, "Keith you need to keep her active on the force."

Keith looks at Romelle confused, "Romelle, you know she can't fly…"

Romelle shakes her head at him, "I'm not talking about flying the lions Keith. I'm talking about keeping her on the team as an active member. Have her attend the team meetings, take part in the decisions and whatever else a member of the force does that doesn't include flying. She feels like she is being left behind and no longer part of the team and she is devastated by it."

Keith looks astounded at Romelle then shakes his head, "I must be getting old and losing my mind. I never even gave it a thought to ask her to be at the shuttle this morning when we greeted Michael. She must have seen that as proof that she was no longer part of the team."

Romelle smiles sadly at him as Sven clears his throat gaining Keith's attention, "You weren't the only idiot there Keith. I didn't think of it either until Romelle told me about Allura standing by a window watching and crying."

Keith shakes his head, "I'll rectify that tomorrow Romelle…I promise."

Romelle smiles as a mischievous thought comes to her, "Good luck having a pregnant, moody princess on the team."

Sven starts laughing as Keith raises an eyebrow at her, "If you are trying to cheer me up you are failing miserably… " causing Romelle to start laughing as well.

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As the months go by, Keith tries to keep Allura feeling like part of the force by requesting her presence at their meetings and evaluating Michael's progress with her and Sven. Keith studies Allura as Sven discusses some of the quirks of the Blue lion with her. At eight months pregnant Allura's stomach has protruded out quite a bit. He continues to study her; the pregnancy seems to agree with her and if possible has made her more beautiful. Her sapphire eyes dance and her cheeks have a rosy hue to them as her hand rubs her stomach while she laughs at Sven's comments about Blue seeming to have a female attitude. Sven shakes his head at her, "I swear Allura you turned Blue female. She wasn't half as quirky when I originally flew her as she is now."

Allura smiles, her eyes dancing with laughter, "You just have to learn how to talk to her."

Sven laughs out loud, "No I don't! It's Michael that needs to tame that particular lion now…"

Allura shakes her head at him and tries to rise. Keith stands and helps her to her feet, "Something wrong?"

Allura smiles at him, "The problem with being pregnant is the frequent need to use the restroom. I'll be right back."

Keith laughs at her as she walks out of the room. He sits back down and faces Sven who sighs, "At least she is finally smiling again."

Keith smiles slightly, "Probably helps that Coran has been forbidden by Dr. Gorma to harangue her about the baby's father. He was stressing her out big time."

Sven shakes his head, "God help her if he ever does find out who the father is."

Keith snorts as he crosses his arms, "More like God help the father."

Sven smiles, "Well the only clue we may ever get is the baby itself when it's born. If it looks like the father maybe we will be able to figure it out."

Keith smiles but before he can comment further Allura returns to the room. Just as she is about to return to her seat she cries out and puts her hand to her side and starts to fall forward. Keith jumps up quickly and grabs her, "Princess! What's wrong?"

Allura closes her eyes and draws in ragged breaths as Keith picks her up and lays her down on the couch. Sven and Keith stand over her as tears run out of her eyes. Keith sits down beside her and grabs her cheek, "Princess!"

Allura opens her eyes and looks at Keith, "Baby…kick…"

Keith's eyebrows go up, his face full of concern, "The baby kicked you?"

Allura nods and gasps out, "Lungs…" then cries out and grabs her stomach again. Sven swears in the background as Keith starts rubbing Allura's stomach and speaks calmly to it, "Hey in there…quit being so hard on your poor mother."

Keith smiles as he feels a thump of a baby's kick against his hand. His eyes drift toward Allura's, "That is quite some kick that child has."

Allura smiles weakly, "You're telling…me…"

Keith laughs softly and continues to rub her stomach while speaking to it. Sven moves across from them and sits back down watching as the color slowly returns to Allura's face. A few minutes later Keith looks back into her eyes, "Everything calm in there again?"

Allura sighs and slowly sits up as Keith moves away from her, "Yes. Thanks Keith, apparently baby likes the sound of your voice." She turns to Sven as he asks, "So how many times have you been kicked like that?"

Allura grimaces as her hand covers her stomach, "That was the first and hopefully last time."

Sven smiles at her, "I would say that is an understatement."

Allura starts to rise again and Keith stands helping her, concern etched across his features, "Is something else wrong?"

Allura shakes her head at him, "I'm fine Keith…I just feel like I need to go lie down for a while though."

Keith studies her still slightly pale face, "Need someone to walk you to your room?"

Allura attempts a smile at him, "No, I'm fine. Thanks for the offer though." as she turns away from him and walks out of the room.

Allura slowly walks down the hallway pausing as she nears an open door and hears voices. She looks inside to see Beth standing up on a pedestal as a maid pins up the hem for her wedding dress. Christine is sitting on the bed watching and the girls are laughing as they talk about the wedding plans. Christine sighs, "Keith is going to be astonished when he sees you walking down the aisle to him in that dress."

Beth smiles, "I can't wait to see his face." She turns toward Christine, "What did you see when you walked toward Lance?"

Christine smiles, "I didn't walk to him. We walked up the aisle together. But the look in his eyes throughout the entire ceremony was something I can't even begin to describe. You will know what I mean during your wedding…"

Allura doesn't wait to hear Beth's reply and walks down the hallway a bit faster trying to prevent herself from crying until she reaches her room.

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A month later, Keith sighs as he wanders into the garden. Tired of working on reports he had decided to take advantage of the wonderful spring weather and spend a bit of time outside. He looks up as he enters and notices Princess Allura sitting on a bench, her hand rubbing her protruding stomach, as she stares at the lovely spring flowers in front of her lost in thought. Keith studies her disturbed by the sad look on her face.

Keith approaches her, "Princess, are you alright?"

Allura starts and looks up at him, "I'm fine Keith." then looks back down at the flowers again.

Keith sighs as he sits beside her, "Does the father even know you're pregnant?"

Allura refuses to look at him and whispers, "I don't want to talk about it."

Keith covers the hand that's resting on her stomach with his, "I'm only trying to be your friend Princess. This isn't something you should be going through alone."

Allura's eyes move from the flowers to his hand before she looks back at him studying him. Keith smiles at her, "I'm here if you want to talk Princess."

Allura nods then turns away from him again. Keith sighs standing up and starts to walk away stopping when he hears her gasp. He turns back quickly, "What's wrong?"

Allura's eyes are closed and she's biting her lip, her face white with pain. Keith quickly walks back to her, "Are you in labor?"

Allura doesn't answer but reaches up with her hand which Keith takes then instantly regrets when she squeezes his hand from the pain. Keith pulls his communicator off his belt with his free hand, "Castle Control come in."

Coran's voice comes across, "Castle control."

Keith grimaces as Allura squeezes his hand again, "Coran, I'm with Princess Allura in the garden and she just went into labor."

Coran's voice is a bit nervous, "Keith, get her to her room. I'm sending Dr. Gorma there. Control out."

Keith places his communicator back on his belt and helps Allura stand. He tries to pull his hand from her which she just grips even tighter as another pain hits, "Princess, you need to let go of my hand so I can carry you."

Allura finally releases his hand and starts to sink to the ground from the pain. Keith scoops her up into his arms, holds her close and walks quickly back into the castle.

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Coran continues to pace the hallway outside of Allura's bedchamber. He heard the sound of the newborn crying an hour ago and knows the birth is completed but is still waiting for Nanny to come tell him he can enter the room. Romelle stands in the hallway against a far wall also waiting. Nanny and Dr. Gorma refused to let her stay with Allura during the delivery.

The door finally opens and a worried looking Nanny gestures Coran and Romelle into the room. Coran walks in to see Allura sitting up in the bed holding her baby as Dr. Gorma finishes putting away his medical kit.

Coran approaches the bed and looks down on the newborn and then looks at Allura enraged. He sits on the bed and looks into her face, "Is the Commander the father of your child?"

Allura looks in his eyes then away to the child snuggled in her arms. She says nothing as she watches the baby knowing she is the female version of her father. Nanny approaches and reaches down taking the baby from her, as Allura protests Coran grabs her arm, "Allura, you will answer me. Is Keith the father of that baby?"

Romelle finally looks at the baby in Nanny's arms and looks back up shocked; looking from Allura to Coran. Coran lets her go disgusted when she won't answer. He walks over to Nanny, taking the baby and leaving the room, ignoring Allura's shriek as he does so.

Romelle walks quickly over to the bed grabbing Allura who was attempting to get up and holds her down onto the bed. She looks at Dr. Gorma and Nanny, "Leave us now."

Once they leave the room Romelle looks into the tear stained face of her cousin, "Allura, talk to me…when did you sleep with Keith?"

Allura raises her misery filled eyes to Romelle as the tears continue to fall and begins speaking.

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Coran holds the newborn close to him as he walks to the rec room where everyone else is waiting. He opens the door and walks into the room as everyone looks up at him. Ignoring the questions being thrown at him he walks up to Keith and hands him the baby as a bewildered look crosses his face.

Keith takes the child and looks down as shocking recognition hits him then raises his eyes back to Coran's furious gaze, "Something you want to tell me about Commander?"

Keith sinks back into his chair still holding the newborn as Coran stands over Keith. As a minute goes by Beth looks from Keith to Coran confused then finally looks down on the newborn Princess of Arus before her gaze goes back to Keith horrified, "You slept with Princess Allura?"

Her accusatory tone finally gets through the fog of his brain and Keith looks up at her confused and equally horrified, "No…"

Coran snorts, "I think the proof is in your arms Commander."

Keith says nothing and looks down in shock at the baby in his arms as Coran reaches down and takes her from him before commenting again, "A DNA test will tell us quickly enough." He turns and walks out of the room.

Keith looks up at Beth who has tears in her eyes, "Beth I swear…" she slaps him and runs out of the room. Christine quickly leaves Lance's side and follows her.

Several minutes go by in astonished silence as the men in the room look to each other before Lance gets out of his chair and approaches Keith who still looks stunned, "Keith, if you didn't sleep with Allura how the hell does that baby look just like you?"

The question seems to wake Keith up and his face turns red as fury fills him, "I don't know but I'm going to find out." As he quickly gets out of his chair and leaves the room.

Sven looks at Lance, "We better follow him, this could get ugly." Lance nods and they both leave the room.

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Romelle looks at Allura astounded as she finishes speaking. Even though Allura had just explained it Romelle can't help exclaiming, "Allura, how could you do this?"

She falls back on her pillows crying as the door opens and Keith walks into the room. He quickly approaches the bed, fury radiating from him as he yells at her, "What the hell did you do Allura?"

Allura closes her eyes and looks away as Keith grabs her by the arms and hauls her up out of the bed, physically holding her up and yelling in her face, "Answer me God Dammit!"

Romelle yells his name, and runs around the bed grabbing at Keith's arms as Lance and Sven run into the room.

Allura cries out, "You're hurting me!"

Lance and Sven run up to Keith, grabbing his arms forcing him to let go of Allura as she falls back onto the bed crying while Romelle sits next to her wrapping her arms around her as if to protect her from Keith before looking back at the men. Lance and Sven are bodily pushing Keith back as he continues to yell at Allura, "What did you do?" When she doesn't answer he finally pulls away from them and runs out of the room Lance following.

Sven looks at the closing door then at the bed as Romelle holds a weeping Allura. He approaches the bed as Romelle looks back, "Is she alright?"

Romelle looks back down and lifts the short sleeve of Allura's nightgown to check one of her arms before looking back at Sven, "She may have bruises where he held her but she is fine."

Sven nods as he looks at Allura his own anger rising to the surface, "What happened?"

Romelle looks back at Sven noticing his red face, "Sven, let me calm her down and I will come out and speak to you."

Sven gives Allura a disgusted look before he nods and turns to leave the room before stopping as Romelle speaks again, "Can you send Nanny and Dr. Gorma back in please?" He turns back and nods curtly at her again then opens the door and walks out.

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Sometime later, as Romelle leaves Allura's room, in a daze she thinks of the mess Allura is in and all the repercussions it will have. As the door closes behind her she is startled to see Sven standing along a wall his arms crossed as if he has been waiting for her. He looks up at her and raises an eyebrow as she approaches him.

Romelle takes his arm and pulls him along down the hall to their bedroom. As they enter she lets go of Sven's arm and sits on the bed exhausted. Sven sighs as he sits down beside her and pulls her into his arms hugging her.

Romelle looks up into his face, "How's Keith?"

Sven snorts, "Blind stinking drunk." Romelle sits up away from Sven shocked as Sven grimaces, "After leaving Allura's room he went to his to find Beth waiting for him. She threw the engagement ring at him and has left. After that he found a bottle of whiskey and proceeded to drink most of the bottle before Lance and I got it away from him. He's sleeping it off; Lance is sitting with him."

Romelle shakes her head sadly as Sven stares at her, "What happened Romelle? How did Allura end up pregnant with Keith's child and he has no memory of it?"

Romelle closes her eyes briefly before looking back at Sven, "She finally told me after Coran left the room with the baby. She drugged him."

Sven stands up shocked looking down at Romelle, "Drugged him? Why?"

Romelle shakes her head, "I can't tell you the reasons Sven, but she has them."

Sven glares at Romelle, "You know Keith is going to demand them. Once the DNA test confirms that baby as Keith's Coran is going to insist he marry her to legitimize the baby. She has essentially ruined Keith's life."

Romelle closes her eyes as a tear goes down her cheek before looking at him again, "I'm not condoning what she did Sven, and I know what the repercussions are for Keith. But if Keith wants the reasons he is going to have to talk to Allura and she will have to tell him."

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Keith wakes up slowly, groaning at the pounding in his head. He hears someone moving then hears Lance's voice whispering, "Take these and drink the entire glass of water Keith."

Keith opens blurry eyes to see Lance holding aspirin and the water. He sits up slowly and takes the aspirin throwing them in his mouth before downing the water. He holds his head as he lies back down on the pillows. As memory returns he looks at Lance who is watching him concerned, "I didn't dream yesterday did I?"

Lance shakes his head then turns as he hears a knock at the door. Lance walks over to the door and opens it, letting Sven walk into the room. Sven walks over to Keith who rubs his eyes with the fingers of one hand then looks at Sven, "Please tell me those tests came back negative."

Sven closes his eyes briefly, "I wish I could my friend. You are the father of Allura's child." Keith closes his eyes as both anger and misery fill him, "How?"

Sven grimaces, "She drugged you." Keith sits up shocked as Lance sits back down on the chair by Keith's desk looking at them wide eyed as Sven continues, "Before you ask I don't know the reasons why. Allura apparently told Romelle, but Romelle won't tell me. Allura got the drug, an aphrodisiac, from one of the castle maids and slipped it into a drink that she gave you the night it happened. At first it feels like flu, so you went to bed early keeping everyone away from you. Later that night Allura slipped into your room when the drug was in full force and you couldn't resist her."

Keith closes his eyes in horror as the memory comes back to him, "I remember…" He opens his eyes to look at his friends, "I thought it was just a really weird dream at the time brought on by the flu. All I really remember is just some blurred images like you would from a dream so I had dismissed it from my mind."

Lance whispers horrified, "I can't believe she did that!"

Sven shakes his head, "Coran is outside Keith." He studies at his friend sadly, "You know what he is going to demand."

Keith lies back down on the bed, miserable and covers his eyes with his hand as tears slide down into his hair, "It no longer matters… Beth has left me anyway."