The Greatest Gift
A Voltron Christmas Tale
Chapter Eleven
The Dreamtime

Keith was in a place neither here nor there. Everything was black, there was no light.

"So." Al's voice rang out in the void. "What is your choice?"

Keith sputtered. "Choice! You call that a choice?"

"Yes."

"She dies either way. What kind of choice it that!"

"You cannot control if she lives or dies. That is out of your hands. But you can have a say in how she lives her life until she does. In one world she kills herself in order to escape a living hell. In the other she dies defending the world and the man she loves. You cannot control when or how anyone dies. Just like your family. Their deaths were completely out of your hands. You had nothing to do with it, yet you've carried that guilt around with you all these years. You cannot control the fates, no more than you can control how your souls are destined to be together."

"But she's…"

"You do love her, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Do you think she would have wanted you to kill yourself over her?"

"I…"

"How did you feel when she killed herself over you?"

Keith crumpled up into a ball and wept.

"Keith? …Do you want to live? But this time really live, like your parents did? They didn't let their possible future stop them from enjoying what little time they had, from stopping their love. You need to give up your demons and not be afraid of what your future may bring."

"Keith?" A woman's voice called out. "Keith, come back to me. Please? Keith, please forgive me…"

Al's voice chimed in again. "Keith? …Do you want to live?"

It was close to midnight on Christmas Eve and the castle was silent. No parties. No celebrations. Hunk took control watch figuring the distraction of work would do him good. The others were all taking turns staying with Allura. After Hunk saved her on the bridge all were fearful of what else she might do in her current state of mind.

Hunk had cried his eyes dry. He still couldn't believe it. The one man he thought to be the unbreakable backbone of Voltron was gone. He dropped his head down to rest it on the console only then hearing the faint beeping coming from another terminal. "Great my mind's playing tricks on me." He turned to the noise, his eyes boggling as he realized where the sound was coming from, a far off console that Pidge didn't have the heart to turn off. It had been set to scan for Keith's com's homing signal and it now had picked something up. Hunk raced across the room to the screen. Yes, it had picked up Keith's signal but… Hunk's face fell flat. It had homed in to the base of the Lion Monument, a place they searched thoroughly many times over. Hunk envisioned that Keith's body must have washed up beside it. He swallowed down the lump in his throat and keyed his com. "Lance, can you and Sven come up here?" The crack in his voice was unmistakable.

"We'll be right there Hunk." Lance solemnly replied.

Now midnight, two men slowly made their way in silence down the snow covered bridge to the Lion monument dragging a skid behind them. A light snow was falling all around them, the almost full moon casting a surreal glow to the whole scene.

They reached the monument and Sven turned on the handheld scanner to home in on the signal. "Lance, it's coming from over there." Sven pointed to the shoreline beside the monument.

The two men passed under the monument to the shore and they both had to choke back cries as the Black Lion fiercely growled at them when they passed underneath, as if he too knew something was terribly wrong.

They picked their way along the shore, the scanner leading the way. Then, they saw it. What they both hoped yet feared to find. A body lay face down in the snow at the shoreline mostly covered in a light dusting of snow. They reached the body and both stood frozen the reality hitting them hard.

Then, from the mouth of the body a white mist of breath freezing on the cool night air snapped them to their senses. "Keith? Keith?" Sven and Lance dropped to the body's side gently flipping it over. It was Keith and he was alive, but he was strangely dressed and covered from head to toe in blood. "Keith, can you hear me?" Lance called to him as Sven quickly ascertained his injuries.

A faint voice whisperd back. "Lance… not so loud… okay?"

"Are you hurt?"

"Tired...cold…"

Sven shook his head and couldn't help but smile. "I don't get it. His clothes are trashed, all cut up and covered in blood, but underneath he's fine."

"Keith can you move?"

Keith slowly and with huge effort lifted up his hand and softly slapped Sven across his face. "Cargo jock, eh." He chuckled.

"I guess that's a yes." Lance laughed as Sven just continued to shake his head in bewilderment. He pulled Keith's arm over his shoulder and Sven did the same, and they gently lifted Keith to his feet.

"Sven? What day is it?" Keith listlessly asked.

Sven looked at the time. Just a little after midnight. "It's Christmas you fool."

"Christmas?" Keith closed his eyes for a long moment as Lance and Sven exchanged worried looks. Keith's head then flipped up and he looked Sven square in the eyes. "Merry Christmas, Sven."

Lance laughed. "We've got to get him inside." The two men supporting their captain between them headed back towards the monument.

Keith looked at Lance and smiled. "Merry Christmas, Lance." Keith started to chuckle.

"Oh boy, he has lost it." Sven laughed. The three reached the monument where they were greeted by an ear-shattering roar from the Black.

Keith shot up to his unsteady feet reaching an arm into the air and yelled at the top of his lungs. "Merry Christmas, Black Lion!" He then collapsed into Sven and Lance, dizzily laughing.

Lance and Sven helped Keith into the skid laying him down onto it and quickly make their way to the castle. "Lance to Control."

"Go ahead Lance." Was Hunk's somber reply.

"You ain't gonna believe this Hunk, but…"

"Merry Christmas Arus!" Keith bellowed out in his half conscious state.

"Was that?"

"Yep!"

"Woo hoo!" Hunk yelled. Suddenly all the sirens in the castle went off, blaring into the night as Hunk hit the alarm.

"Merry Christmas, Castle of Lions!" Keith bellowed out with all he had and then fell back onto the skid, eyes closing, sleep overtaking his body again.

Lance laughed to Sven. "Whatever he's on… I want some too."

Around one in the morning Keith lay unconscious in a hospital bed dressed in a hospital gown, the physical and mental fatigue had drained him completely. The team stood arm in arm around his bed with Romelle, Nanny, Coran and all the space mice. Allura still under the effects of her heavy sedation lay sleeping in the next bed over.

Dr Gorma was busily checking and rechecking Keith's vitals, he stood up shaking his head. "I don't know what he has been through. His body is reacting as if he has suffered a severe trauma yet physically there is nothing wrong with him except for the broken wrist, mild concussion and contusions he had before he disappeared."

Sven shrugged. "What about the blood?"

"That's the strangest thing. Half of it was his. Enough blood loss to have killed him."

"And the other half?" Coran asked.

The doctor glanced over to the sleeping form lying in the next bed. "It's the Princess's."

"What!" They all collectively exclaimed.

"I can't explain it. But it is an exact match. All we can do is wait until he wakes up to hear what happened. Now, why don't you all go and get some rest. I know you haven't been sleeping well. Please, I'll call you if there is any change."

Romelle stepped forward. "Would you mind if I stayed a while with them?"

"No, not at all as long as you are quiet." The doctor looked at Sven's pleading face. "Yes, you can stay too. But that's all. Now the rest of you, go." They began to head for the door but froze for Nanny was standing in the doorway.

"Is he going to be alright?" She asked, eyes dropped to the floor.

No one wanted to look at her. The doctor taking lead finally spoke. "He is exhausted and I believe he has quiet a story to tell, but aside from that he is fine. I expect him to make a full recovery."

"Oh…may I see him?"

Everyone exchanged worried glances. Coran then signaled to the group to leave. They all slowly filed out avoiding looking at Nanny as they passed. Coran paused, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Take as long as you need. I'll be waiting outside with Sven and Romelle."

Nanny stood in the quiet room for the longest time. Afraid to look at him, instead she walked up to Allura's bedside running her hand along her leg. "He's home now Allura. You can rest now. I just wanted to see you before I left. I'm sorry for all the pain I caused you. I… I'm sorry for everything…" She dropped her head to kiss Allura's cheek.

She then turned around to face the man lying in the other bed. Slowly she crossed to him, her eyes landing on his wrapped wrist, the one she broke days ago. She pulled up a stool and sat next to him and delicately cradled his broken wrist in her hand, placing her other hand atop it. She closed her eyes, focusing everything into his injury. When she opened her eyes they were full of tears.

She reached up to his face, still cradling his hand with her other. Tenderly she brushed his hair back off his face, keeping her hand on his head. "I need to ask you a favor Captain." She tried to smile through her tears, her lip quivering. "Will you look after her for me? Please? I know now you are the friend she needs, not me. I only bring her suffering and pain." She stroked his cheek. "Please watch over my baby. I realize now that is what you have been doing all along, I'm sorry for not realizing it earlier. I hope someday you will be able to forgive me for the suffering I brought you."

She stood up and kissed him on the forehead. As she straightened up, she fixed his hair, smiling down at him. "Such a handsome boy and the heart of a lion. You do Arus proud, Keith Kogane." She looked up to the ceiling. "Please watch over them Alfor. Keep them safe." She glanced back down to Keith stroking his cheek once more then backed away, only then slowly releasing his hand. She backed her way to the door where she paused turning to Allura and curtseying to her then turned and walked out the door and down the long hallway alone.

Hours later Romelle sat cuddled up with Sven in a large overstuffed chair in the hospital room. Both sat watching their two sleeping friends as the first rays of sun begin to show in the sky. Sven hugged her close. "Merry Christmas, my love."

Romelle smiled back at him "Merry Christmas." She reached up, pulling his lips to hers. From across the room she heard a faint murmur and pulled away from Sven.

"Romelle? What is it?"

"Shhh."

"Where are you, my love…?" The voice called out.

"Allura!" Romelle jumped to her feet rushing to Allura's bedside, Sven right behind her. "Allura, are you awake? Can you hear me?"

"I… love you." Allura muttered.

Sven grinned. "She's still dreaming." He leaned into her ear. "Who do you love, Allura?"

"Sven!" Romelle pushed him. That's not very…" She quickly quieted when Allura mumbled again but frowned when it was all garbled.

Sven smirked at her. "Ha! You want to know too!" He laughed.

"Shut up… and… try again!"

Sven rolled his eyes and gave her a smirk. Leaning in again to Allura's ear… "Who do you love Allura?"

"Hmmm." Allura muttered. "Don't leave me, my love."

Sven stood up straight. "Well that's good enough for me! Only one guy left." He smiled.

Romelle blushed. "Do you really think so?"

"Romelle, the woman's distraught over him. How could you even think otherwise?"

"Well she's just been so quiet about it. She's never told me anything, always denying it when I asked. And what about him? Does he even feel the same way?"

"Are you crazy? The man jumped off a bridge because he thought she was dying! I think that might be a subtle hint at where his heart lies. Look Romelle, Keith has lived a hellish life compared to the rest of us. To survive he had to isolate himself. That's not something you can just snap your fingers and change."

As Sven snapped his fingers to illustrate Allura's eyes suddenly snapped open making them both jump.

"Romelle? Sven… What are you…?"

Romelle grinned at her cousin. "Merry Christmas, Allura."

A smiling Sven added. "Yes Allura, Merry Christmas."

Allura's face fell flat, registering no emotion. "It's Christmas?" She whispered.

"Yes." Sven beamed. "And Santa brought you a present."

"I'm really not in the mood for your jokes Sven." Allura's hand moved to rub her face awake.

"No joke. It's right over there." He pointed to the other bed.

Allura grew annoyed, slowly sitting up. "Listen, I don't want to celebrate…" Her eyes focused on the sleeping body in the other bed. "Keith!" She screamed, scrambling out of her bed and onto his, climbing over him only in her hospital gown. "Keith! Are you there, Keith?" But he did not stir. Allura sat up on his bed. "How? What happened?"

Sven blushed from watching her clamber over Keith. "Well, Allura…"

Romelle shot Sven smirk as she arranged Allura's gown a little more modestly.

Sven continued. "We don't know. Doctor Gorma says he's fine, just exhausted. We're waiting for Keith to wake up to tell us what happend. We found him dressed in a ripped up red and black leather uniform and…"

"Leather?" Allura's eyes wandered over Keith's body.

Romelle leaned in and whispered in Allura's ear. "You should have seen it Ally. I never knew he was hiding all that under…" Sven shot her a look, clamming her up.

Allura blushed as her eyes begin to wander over him again now wondering herself.

Romelle picked up a blanket and draped it around Allura smiling as she whispered in her ear. "You really should have seen it."

Sven grabbed Romelle by the arm and began pulling her to the door. "I think we better go, Romelle. We'll let the others know you're up and feeling better." They reached the door almost running into the doctor. "Sorry Doc." Sven smiled and whispered to Romelle "I can't believe you were ogling Keith!"

Romelle smiled. "Well, maybe you could borrow that getup and then…" Sven laughed and pulled her into his arms with a spin, whisking her away. "Merry Christmas Ally!" Romelle giggled from down the hall.

"Ah, you're up." Doctor Gorma entered the room still grinning and shaking his head at Sven and Romelle's exit. "And how are you feeling, Allura?"

"Doctor, how is Keith?" she pulled the blanket around her tight, not taking her eyes off Keith.

Gorma walked up to the bedside. "As far as I can tell he's fine. He's just exhausted. Whatever happened to him took everything out of him. But everything checks out normal. After some rest he should be good as new. Now, how about you? Are you alright? Any more nightmares?"

Allura dropped her eyes and stared at the floor.

"I see. Well maybe now that our Captain is back you'll be feeling better?" He examined Keith and checked some readings. "I've let most my staff off for the day, but I'll just be down the hall in my office. If you need anything buzz me. Will you keep an eye on him for me?" He regards her as she looks at Keith, seeing her undeniable adoration. "Merry Christmas, Princess." He smiled and turned to leave half closing the door behind him.

Allura bit her lower lip and tentatively reached out a hand to touch Keith's chest. "So many secrets." Her hand rose and fell with his every breath. "I knew you were here Keith. I could feel it." She slowly lowered herself down to him, lips almost touching but she hesitated, biting her lip harder, instead she laid her body down next to him. His body felt so cold next to hers so she draped her blanket over the both of them, snuggling in tight against him trying to warm him, only the thin fabric of their hospital gowns between them. She allowed her hands to tentatively explore him, feeling his toned body. She stopped, suddenly feeling him inhale deeply.

Softly he groaned out. "Don't leave me…" His arms encircled around her body wrapping around her tightly. "Don't leave me..."

She shuddered at the sensation of his touch as his arms held her tight. Feeing so safe she nested into him and whispered into his neck. "Never." She exhaled, melting into his arms soon joining him in sleep.

Allura walked up to the same old dark house. Slowly opening the door she stepped in. Inside the house was all aglow for the season. The tree was twinkling, the fire was burning bright, candles were lit everywhere. But this time she heard a faint sobbing. "Hello?" She called out, but there was no answer. She followed the sound towards the same gory scene. On the sofa lay the bloody bodies of a man and a woman, broken, charred and unrecognizable. In the playpen across the room lay the mangled bodies of two babies. Then she heard the whimpering again and looked down.

Sitting at the base of the tree clutching at his blood-soaked stuffed lion was little Keith. His weak voice cried out looking at the two bodies on the sofa. "Mommy … Daddy … don't leave me." He cradled the lion to his chest and sobbed again rocking back and forth hugging his lion.

The old clock in the hall clicked and started to chime. It rang out into the night … twelve times… Allura quickly looked around the room, eyes locking on an advent calendar on the mantel, every door open but one. The one, the one for Christmas day. "It's Christmas? It's Christmas?" She looked down at the little boy dropping down to him. "Keith, is this what happened? Is this what Christmas is to you?" The boy didn't seem to hear her. He continued to rock.

She reached out a hand and jumped when she could actually touch him. She stroked his hair. "Keith? Keith can you hear me? I'm here. I…" The boy's little hands clamped down tighter on his lion, his little knuckles turning white. He buckled over, now wailing. She reached out and pulled him to her, lifting him to her lap, cradling him in her arms and rocking him back and forth. "It's all right, Keith. You can cry." She held him as close as she could.

The boy eventually formed to her, clutching at her, his tears soaking through her clothes. His muffled voice cried out. "Bring them back. Please bring them back!"

Allura cooed. "I'm sorry, Keith. I can't bring them back." She continued to rock him running her hand soothingly over his hair.

"It's not fair!" He cried. "I don't want 'em to go." He started to fight.

She tried to sooth him. "No Keith, it's not fair." She wiped her own tear soaked face. "It's not."

He pushed away from her. "Why? Why did they have to die?" He looked right at her as he stood up before her his little body shaking with rage.

Allura was taken aback for a moment. There was nothing she could say to answer him, instead she just shook her head.

"It's not fair!" The boy screamed throwing his lion into the tree. His whole body tensing as he leapt at the tree pulling it down with a thundering crash and begin ripping at it, tearing it apart, crying the whole time. "I hate Christmas… I hate Christmas!" He repeated over and over.

Allura just sat back and watched little Keith finish off the tree then move on to destroy every bit of Christmas in the house. Eventually he stood in front of the fire holding two matching glass angel figurines in his hands, his small shoulders shaking. He recoiled back to throw them in the fire then hesitating, he dropped to the floor curling into a small ball, holding one angel in each trembling fist. Allura slowly scooted closer to him, laying a hand on his back. She closed her eyes and wept with him.

"I never got to know them… Ally." Allura trembled, his voice was now that of the Keith she knew. She slowly opened her eyes seeing him now as an adult. He slowly sat up looking at the glass angels in his hands. His voice was racked with tears. "They were only one when they were killed. They never had a chance to live." Allura moved in closer to him. He looked at her with his shimmering eyes. "I miss them, Ally."

Allura completely lost it, reaching out to him wrapping her arms around him and held him tight. He collapsed into her and wailed. Wrapping his own arms around her tight, still clutching the figurines. They rocked to and fro wrapped around one another for the longest time.

Eventually when they pulled apart she reached up to his wet face, stroking his loose hair away. "Keith, remember them. Remember them in happy times, not like this. What was it like the Christmas before this?" He dropped his head to hers, sniffling, slowly settling down. He set the figurines down between them taking her hands in his, then went deep in thought, eventually a slow smile came to his lips. The room shimmered, shifting back into perfect order, a huge pile of presents now under the tree. Allura heard a child's shout from the top of the stairs. "Come on! Hurry!" The pair sat on the floor, hands wrapped in one another's and watched as a little five year old Keith slid down the banister and raced for the tree. "He came! He was here!"

"Who came?" A mans voice called down.

"Daaad…Who do you think?… Santa!"

A man appeared at the top of the stairs. The same man she saw before, he was the image of Keith, just older and with a stubbly chin. In each arm he cradled a sleeping infant. His eyes looked like he hadn't slept in weeks. He made his way down the stairs, sitting down on the sofa where before the bodies had been. He arranged the pillows then scooted down put his feet up on the table in front of him. He moved one of the sleeping babies to the same side as the other so now both were lying side by side in his arm supported by a pile of cushions.

Keith jumped up on the other side of his father, pushing on his chest. "Where's Mommy? Where's Mommy?"

Keith's father smiled putting a hand on the boy's head. "Relax, she's coming down in a minute."

Little Keith climbed over his father's lap to look at the infants. "Mommy's right they do look like angels."

"Yes they do." He laughed. "Well, when they're sleeping they do. You know Keith, this is their very first Christmas. You're going to have to show them what it's all about. Can you do that?"

Little Keith nodded suddenly looking very serious.

"Ah, there my two men are." Keith's mother appeared behind them giving them both a hug. "Merry Christmas Keith." She smiled at her son moving around to sit beside them. Allura was again taken by the woman's beauty, her long raven locks flowing behind her, her eyes the most beautiful shade of green.

Keith's father smiled at his son. "So, what's first?"

Little Keith sat in thought a moment. "The note! Santa's note!" He bolted off the sofa running to the fireplace and running right past the adult Keith and Allura sitting on the floor. They each turned to watch as he pulled down a note tacked to the mantle grinning. "Look! Look!" He ran back.

Keith's mother snuggled into her husband. "What does it say?"

Little Keith held it up and slowly read the note aloud. "Thanks so much for your help last year… Wow! He remembered Dad!" The boy beamed at his father. "Keith, I hope you liked your lion. And Angelica I hope you like your two new little angels as much as I liked giving them to you."

"Why you!" Keith's mother, blushing feverously, shoved Keith's father then buried her face into his shoulder bringing a chuckle out of him, his hand coming up to stroke her head.

Little Keith gave them a strange look then continued. "Thanks for the milk and cookies and the carrot for Rudolph. Merry Christmas, Santa." Little Keith stood there for the longest time just looking at the note.

"Son? Don't you want to open your presents?" His father smiled, pulling his wife in closer.

He looked up as if he had forgotten but then dropped the note on the table and dove for the tree, pulling out a present for everyone. He carried them over to his parents, stopping in front of them for they were lost in a kiss. He waited… and they still kissed. He waited some more… yet they were still kissing. "Hey! Presents!" They pulled apart grinning just in time as he leapt between them handing them the gifts. "This says it's for the twins"

"Well, let's save that till they wake up. Then you can help them open it, alright." Keith's mother ruffed his hair as the boy smiled up at her. They begin opening their gifts.

Allura turned from the scene playing out before her to the Keith still holding her hands and watching her. "So much love." She breathed looking up into his eyes. "I…" Her eyes instantly got lost in his shimmering ones. She tried to speak again. "So… much… love." She tracked his eyes as they glanced down to her lips, the distance between them slowly disappearing. "So much…"