Hi there!

I know, I know...poor Keith! Well, he didn't have to be an ass, now did he? LMAO

I love the angst right now, so I think it'll be around for a while...how long, well.....;)

Now let's get back to the story and hope he hasn't slit his wrists! LMAO (Just kidding!)

As always, I don't own Voltron...never did and never will, unless I can blackmail WEP...hmmmm.

I present...

Chapter Ten

Katia makes her way to Allura's room and knocks softly. When she doesn't get an answer, she tries the button on the door and it slides open. As she enters the room, she's horrified at what she sees. Strips and pieces of red cloth are all over the room and she panics a little, hoping that Allura hasn't been taken again. She moves further in the room and spies Allura lying on the bed, curled into a ball…her clothing ripped to shreds.

"Allura, what has happened to you?" she asks as she rushes over to the bed and tries to have her sit up. The distraught woman pulls away from her and curls even tighter. "Allura, talk to me…what's wrong?"

A tear-ravaged face lifts up and looks at her and Katia's heart shatters. She has only seen sorrow like that once before…and she, herself, had it. She takes hold of Allura's shoulders and pulls her into a comforting hug. Allura goes, but is stiff and completely drained until she hears the words, "It'll be okay."

She breaks down again, her shoulders racked with soul-ripping sobs. Katia smoothes her tangled hair and gently removes the tiara before it gets horribly stuck in her hair. She rocks her, telling her over and over that everything will be fine until Allura can't take it anymore. She pushes away and totally shocks Katia. Jumping up out of the bed, she runs to the window and bangs her fist on it…scaring Katia with the force of it. "Allura!"

"He's leaving…didn't he tell you? He's leaving and he won't fight it…he's just going to do it!" she screams and she hits her hand on the glass again. Katia gets up and moves over to try to help her. "Allura, there has to be a reason…"

"He told me he loved me…that he couldn't live without me…that I was his forever…HE LIED!!!!!" More tears fall as she rests her head against the glass. Katia takes a breath and decides to take another approach. Sighing, she begins, "He is a commander with Galaxy Garrison…he was this when he got here and he still is…"

"And what does that have to do with anything?!" Allura shrieks, turning blazing eyes on her friend. The former slave looks at her calmly and continues, "One of the things that you told me on Lotor's ship you love about him is his sense of duty. He has never stood down from his job and excels in what he does. Did you think that his posting was going to be forever? Have you ever considered the possibility that he might leave?" This statement gives Allura pause…she never did think about it, I just assumed that he would never leave me and after what we shared…it never even occurred to me that this could happen. Now she has to...

"Katia, it hurts…it hurts so much that I want to die! He is my life…I can't do this!" she sobs again and throws herself into Katia's arms. "He has everything I am…what can I do without it?" She pulls back and looks at her, "You are the only one that knows about Keith and I. If Nanny or Coran knew…"

Katia smiles, "I wouldn't worry about that, but you don't have to worry about me saying anything. I know what it all means. I know you hurt now, but he must be feeling horrible…"

"No, he doesn't. He acts like he doesn't care…that all of this was just a little pit stop on his road to Admiral!"

Katia sees where Allura is going with this and tries to deter her, "Don't start, Allura…you know that's not true…"

"He wouldn't say anything, Katia…ANYTHING!!!! Don't I deserve more than that?!" Allura walks over to the bed and sits on the edge, staring at the floor. "He said nothing and left me wondering if all this ever meant anything to him."

"Everything, Allura….you must believe that!" Katia tells her quietly and the young monarch shakes her head. "I don't think I can anymore…"

Lifting her head up, she stands and looks at her friend, "I have to put on my best Princess face and pretend that we were nothing but a short interlude." And she moves to the closet to find some new clothes to wear.

"Allura, don't shut down…"

"I can no longer take any more emotional upheaval. If this is how I have to cope, then so be it." As she says this, a single tear falls from her eyes. "No one is to ever know how I feel about him…and he'll never know how much pain he has caused me." Katia sees the steel will of the Princess of Arus coming forth and knows the at least for now, she'll make it. She helps her get dressed into her flight suit and helps pin back her hair. Curious, Katia asks, "Where are you going?"

"I need to get out of here. I think I'll take Blue out. Tell Nanny that I'll be back later and not to worry." She runs out the room and heads toward Castle Control. Katia sits on the bed and stares after her. She can understand how Allura feels now…I felt the same when I watched my husband die. I had to withdraw into myself, so I never really understood what Lotor had done tome. It was probably why he left me alone and went to Alira after a time. She sighs as she stands and leaves out, heading somewhere…

Allura hurries down the corridor to the control room and freezes in her tracks. Coming toward her is her beloved protector, but her protector no more. She takes a deep breath and continues to the control room…determined not to make a scene…

Keith's mind is racing…still trying to convince himself that he is doing the right thing for his love. He closes his eyes momentarily and when he opens them, she is there…almost as if he conjured her up. She's flushed, but still looks beautiful. They both stand as if in a trance, then she makes the first move. She moves toward him and he doesn't know if he should be happy or beg forgiveness. He need not worry…because she walks right past him without another glance. Something tugs at him to say something, "Allura…"

She pauses, "You have said quite enough of nothing, Commander…don't try to say anything now." Allura turns briefly and he sees the deep chasm of pain within her and his heart shatters again. He wants to so desperately let her know the truth, but he has to keep the act. So, he clears his throat and tries to apologize once more, "I'm sorry…"

"For what? Doing your job? Being the typical Garrison pilot?"

"What?"

She starts to seethe, knowing that she has to hurt him…even if it will leave damage past repair. "Yes, I have heard that pilots have a great reputation with the ladies. Was this what this was…between you and Lance, since you two have always had some type of competition going on? Was I the prize or the challenge?" Keith takes a step back, never has he seen her like this…and it's beginning to scare him. He tries again, "I just didn't want you…I just wanted you to be okay with this."

Allura doesn't let up…everything that she has bottled up is slowly flowing free. "Okay? Yes, you said that before. But, you still haven't answered me…so I guess I can take that as what I want, huh? I was the contest…I get it. A tempting challenge from what I understand, so what do you win…what goes to the winner of the "See who can fuck the Princess first" contest?!"

A sharp stab of excruciating pain hits him in his chest and he flinches noticeably. She smiles dangerously, "I hope you enjoy your stay on Pollux…maybe I can see what the runner-up gets for not winning? Maybe it was the whole idea…break me in then pass me off!" She can feel her burning anger flame into an uncontrollable inferno…knowing that every word that is leaving her lips is a lie…I know his heart, felt it beat in rhythm with mine and still has a connection with it. But, he's leaving and with no explanation as to why or even if he'll come back. And he has yet to try to tell me different…

Keith feels himself about to implode…to hear those scathing words coming from her slashes what's left of his heart. I never wanted to her to feel used…I just wanted her to be able to let go until I can get everything sorted out. He knows that she can't know about the vision and what it told him because it will put her in the very danger that he wants to prevent.

But, it's like she hates him now…and he can't handle that. Not when he still loves her so…

He feels the block slip a little bit, the assault of both his and her emotions too much for him to handle. He has to leave…get away from her before she knows everything, but how can he leave her feeling like this? How can he let her think that all of this was a joke? I don't want her to think that it wasn't real…but he can't give her that hope yet, can't reassure her and it's killing him. He hardens his gaze , lashing back so he can protect his thoughts, "I hope you enjoy yourself, Princess…I'm quite sure that Lance won't mind leftovers…"

For a moment, she could feel him…feel his turmoil, but he still isn't saying anything and the block returns. This is enough to stun her into silence, so she lashes out in the only other way she can. Drawing on the training he has given her and the only avenue she hasn't used, she launches one last attack.

**You…BASTARD!!!!**

The thought hurls at him and the blast opens a tidal wave of emotions that he can't handle. He stumbles backward and as he is trying to get his bearings, she slaps him again…so hard that her hand is stinging. She moves away and heads to the control room and her refuge in Blue. Keith leans up against the wall, holding a hand to his stinging cheek and trying to clear his head from her blast. He knows he deserves it, but the dreaded feeling of hopelessness washes over him. What if I did too much damage to have her forgive me? What if she never wants me again?

All the prices he may have to pay just to save her life…his life and feelings are of no consequence…

He turns back down the hall, wanting desperately to get away from here…to feel as if he is doing the right thing rather than feeling as if he is the biggest asshole this side of the galaxy.