Welcome to Chapter 10. Enjoy.

I make no claims to Voltron, it's characters or any other pieces of WEP property.

Lance sits beside Cat's bed in MedTech back on Arus. She has had machines keeping her body running for the last week. Lance wipes the tears away from his eyes as he remembers the doctor telling him that with the extent of her injuries she was lucky not to have died immediately, as it was she had flatlined twice while on the operating table.

Lance shudders at the memories and reaches out and takes her hand in his again. How did one woman become so important to me in such a short time? Lance sighs as he begins talking to Cat. He tells her about his day, things going on around the castle and the wedding plans for Keith and Allura. "Come on sweetheart and wake up. You are supposed to be my date for the wedding." He leans forward and kisses her hand then sits back flabbergasted as he hears Cat's groan.

He stands up and leans over the bed, "Caitlin?"

Cat groans quietly again as she slowly opens her eyes and then closes them again. Lance grips her hand as he reaches over and presses the button for the doctor. Dr. Gorma enters the room within moments and walks up to the bed looking at Lance. Lance moves his gaze from Cat's face to Dr. Gorma, "She is waking up. She opened her eyes once so far."

Both men look down as Cat groans again and finally opens her eyes. Her gaze moves from Dr. Gorma to Lance's face as she blinks trying to focus. She finally manages to whisper, "Lance…" Lance smiles down at her as Dr. Gorma begins checking the machines. He finally looks at Lance, "Out Lieutenant…I need to run tests."

Lance grimaces before turning back to Cat, "I'll be back…" he leans down and kisses her forehead before leaving the room.

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Lance steps out into the waiting room to find Keith waiting for him, "How's Cat?"

Lance smiles a bit, "Waking up finally. Dr. Gorma threw me out so he could run some tests."

Keith sighs in relief as he sits down in one of the chairs, "Well that's good news at least. Allura will be relieved to hear Cat will be alright."

Lance grimaces, "She isn't out of the woods just yet." He looks back at Keith, "So what are you doing down here?"

Keith raises an eyebrow at him, "Looking for you of course."

Lance sits down in a chair across from him, "Well you found me so what's up?"

Keith sits forward in his chair, "I just got off a video call with Lotor."

Lance's eyes grow wide as his jaw drops, "You phoned Lotor?"

Keith smiles evilly, "The man has his purposes… When I informed him of Queen Merla being behind the contract on Allura's life…well let's just say he didn't take it too well. Before threatening to kill me before the wedding he promised there would be no more such contracts."

Lance laughs low in his throat, "Figures he would get a threat in there."

Keith smiles at Lance, "Yeah…Since Allura talked Coran into moving up the wedding date, I'm not overly worried about it, with the wedding less than a week away. He doesn't have time to hire an assassin."

Lance glares at Keith, "That isn't even remotely funny."

Keith rolls his eyes, "Yeah I know." His gaze rests back on Lance, "So what are you going to do about Cat?"

Lance raises an eyebrow, "What about Cat?"

Keith gives Lance a dirty look, "Her job is over with here Lance. Once she is well she can either stay or leave. Are you going to ask her to stay?"

Lance sits back in his chair and tries for a relaxed look, "It's her decision to go or stay… Why would I have anything to do with it?"

Keith shakes his head and then stands up, "Don't be so stubborn Lance that you lose your chance at happiness." He eyes his best friend for a moment then turns around and leaves the room.

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Two days later Lance enters Cat's room in MedTech to find her sitting upright in the bed. He stops close to the bed and raises an eyebrow at her, "Did Dr. Gorma give the ok for you to be sitting upright?"

Cat smiles at him, "I feel fine Lance."

Lance continues to stare at her then reaches forward and caresses her cheek before moving his hand down and touching her side. Cat hisses in pain, "You bastard."

Lance arches a brow as he steps out of her reach and crosses his arms, "That I may be, but until you are well I would appreciate it if you would follow the doctor's damned orders."

Cat continues to glare as the door opens and Dr. Gorma enters stopping and looking a bit surprised at Cat, "I didn't give permission for you to sit upright Ms. Williams." He walks toward the bed and takes the controls from her lowering it again before staring into her furious emerald eyes, "You can glare at me all you like but until you are well you will do as I say."

Those emerald eyes move from the doctor to Lance as he chuckles when the door opens and Allura steps through it. She smiles at Cat as she approaches the bed, "Cat, how are you feeling?"

Cat shifts her gaze from Lance to Allura and smiles, "I'll be fine Allura. How are your nerves? The wedding is what? Four days away?"

Allura's smile wavers a bit and Cat laughs then quickly stops grabbing at her side. Allura rushes forward, "Caitlin, are you alright?"

Cat manages a painful smile, "Yes…just remind me not to try to laugh for a few more days."

Allura smiles at her again and then shifts her gaze briefly to Lance before facing Cat again, "I hope you will be able to make the wedding."

Cat raises her eyebrows, "I don't know Allura, depends on if the wanker here will let me sit upright by then…" Lance breaks out laughing as Allura's confused gaze shifts from Cat to Lance, "Wanker?"

Lance stifles his laugh as Cat glares at him once more. He coughs and gestures to Dr. Gorma who is finishing checking the machines before leaving the room. Allura looks from the doctor to Cat and smiles, "Ahh…I see. I think."

As Dr. Gorma exits the room Keith smiles at him as he enters, then smiles at Cat, "How are you feeling?"

Cat rolls her eyes as Allura laughs, "Don't go there Keith…"

Keith briefly looks confused then shakes his head, brushing it aside, "I actually came in here after Lance." He looks over at him, "I need a favor."

Lance raises an eyebrow at him, "What's up?"

Keith grasps Allura's hand before looking at Lance, "I need you to run into the village and pick up the rings for the ceremony. I'm going to have Nanny running in here any moment trying to drag me back to my coronation lessons…" grimacing as Allura starts laughing. He gives Allura a dirty look then looks back at Lance, "I'm not going to have the time to go get them at the rate things are going."

Lance smiles and then nods at him, "Sure Keith…anything to help out the groom to be."

Keith smiles his thanks then pulls Allura with him out of the room as Allura waves at Cat. Lance wanders closer to the bed, "Well, I guess I had better run then."

Cat just stares at him, still irritated, and he sighs. Lance bends down and kisses her forehead, "Rest. I'll see you later." then turns and leaves the room.

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The day of the wedding Lances enters Cat's bedroom to find her sitting up in the bed, "Why are you here and not in MedTech?"

Cat rises from the bed a little gingerly, "I am fine Lance. I don't need to be in that bloody hospital."

Lance puts his hands on his hips glaring at her, "So why were Dr. Gorma and the nurses frantic that you were no longer in your room? You could have at least let them know you were leaving."

Cat sighs as she sits back down, "Because that wanker wouldn't have let me leave if he had known."

Lance rolls his eyes, "I swear you are a worse patient than Keith and that is saying something."

Cat smiles up at him and then pats the bed next to her. Lance raises an eyebrow at her then saunters forward and sits down. Cat lays her head on his shoulder as Lance wraps an arm around her. She sighs, "I'm fine Lance, just tender in some places yet. I couldn't stand being in there anymore."

Lance kisses the side of her head, "Fine. I won't make you go back." He rubs her back, "Think you can make it sitting through a wedding?"

Cat sighs, "As much as Allura wants me there I don't think so. I do better yet on my back."

Lance chuckles suggestively, "I could help you out with that…"

Cat chuckles as well, then runs her hand along his thigh, moving from his knee toward his groin, "Is that an offer?"

Lance grimaces and then grabs her hand stopping it, "I don't think I dare…Keith is a nervous wreck and Sven is trying to calm him down on his own. It isn't going well."

Cat laughs before inquiring, "How is Allura doing?"

Lance smiles, "Actually she is calmer than Keith is for once." Lance sighs as he rises, "I had better get going. Will you be alright?"

Cat smiles at him, "I told you I am fine. Just keep the doctor the hell away from me."

Lance shakes his head and smiles at her before exiting the room.

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Cat exits her room and walks down to Allura's new bedchambers knocking on the door. The door opens and Romelle smiles at her before motioning her to enter, "I thought it was one of the boys again for a moment. Nanny threatened them if they bothered us again."

Cat laughs as she walks into the room and spots Allura sitting at her dressing table. She turns around and smiles at her, "Cat…I didn't know you were released from MedTech." as she stands, walks to Cat and hugs her.

Cat smiles impishly at her, "I wasn't…I left."

Allura's eyes dance with laughter as she sighs, "Coming to my wedding then?"

Cat shakes her head, "As much as I would love to, I don't think I could handle sitting in those pews that long."

A look of disappointment crosses her face, "That's too bad; I would love to have you there."

Cat pats her arm as Allura brightens, "You could still come to the reception for a while."

Cat shakes her head, "Sorry dear, I have absolutely nothing appropriate to wear. I didn't pack any gowns when I left."

Allura smiles impishly at her, "I've got you covered. I thought that might be the case, so I had one of the castle maids make you a dress." She moves over to her closet and pulls out a gown holding it out to her, "Will this do?"

Cat takes the gown from her, amazement on her face. She looks away from the dress, smiles at Allura and then walks over to a full length mirror holding it up in front of her. Both Allura and Romelle step in behind her and smile at her. Romelle sighs, "You would look beautiful in that."

Caitlin smiles, "Maybe Cinderella will go to the ball after all."

Both Allura and Romelle look at her confused as Allura asks, "Who is Cinderella? I don't recall inviting her."