The Alliance

Keith was not excited about his next assignment. He knew there was a good chance that Lotor would spit in his face, but for the sake of the mission he would go. If the Prince could help them end this war and save Commander Holt, then Keith had no other choice.

That and, despite how much he hated Lotor, it was only right that his enemy learned the fate of his mother from the man who played a part in her death.

Once they arrived at the damaged prison Nanny led them to Lotor's cell. What Keith had expected was an angry greeting; what he got was cold silence. The captive Galra leader sat on a low bed, chin propped up by his clasped hands and a wicked grin on his face. He looked every bit the typical movie villain.

From his vantage point the Captain could see where repairs had been done, meaning Lotor was aware his mother had escaped. He would also be aware that she'd abandoned him yet again.

"I see you survived the full force of my father's anger. However, it appears you did not successfully capture Haggar so you're obviously here to use me as bait," he sneered, not bothering to look up to make eye contact with his visitors.

Nanny knelt to his eye level, forcing herself into his field of vision. "Our mother is dead, Lotor. She won't be coming back for you. I'm…I'm sorry."

Keith could tell his mother was holding back tears. As rough as their relationship had been he knew that she couldn't hate Haggar completely. He squatted beside her, draping his arm across her shoulders. For the first time he felt a pang of empathy for Lotor, imagining he'd never had this close a relationship with his mother.

The Prince chuckled to himself, his head falling back to rest against the wall. "I don't suppose you have any proof of this. Why should I believe anything you say?"

"Because she asked us to tell you that she's sorry. For everything. For her cruelty, her absence, everything. She said she should have listened to you when you begged her to stop."

Lotor tilted his head forward, his eyebrow raised. "When I begged her to stop what?"

"To stop the war, to stop hurting people. To stop hurting Allura."

At these words Lotor jumped to his feet, rushing the cell door. His face was a mix of anger and sadness, his fists clenching the bars tightly. Keith found it was hard to look at him, guilt bubbling up towards the surface. They may be enemies but they were also family.

"I'm sorry," Keith mumbled, trying to sound sincere. "We didn't intend for her to die. The quintessence—"

"Wait, did you use pure quintessence on her?" Lotor asked, his face going pale.

"Lotor, we had to stop her. More people could have died. Allura almost did," Nanny interjected. "Keith almost lost her and the baby."

Hearing that the Princess was in grave danger changed Lotor's demeanor. His shoulders slumped and his knees gave out, dropping him to the floor. Keith wondered if the son of the cruelest man in the universe had a heart after all. Maybe he truly loved Allura.

Keith knelt to face him again, hoping to reach some part of Lotor that was good. Haggar had managed to push that part of herself so far down only pure quintessence could free it. Hopefully Lotor's was closer to the surface.

"She cared for you, didn't she? Maybe her methods were wrong, but at the end of all of this she loved you. Don't let that part of her be forgotten."

Lotor sighed heavily, seemingly torn between the mother he had and the mother he wanted.

"My mother was tainted by my father's lust for power. None of this should have happened. I just wanted to marry Allura and be happy, not rule the universe."

The weight of his confession hung heavy in the air. Keith hesitated to respond although he burned to assert his place at Allura's side. Despite that he wanted to make peace with Lotor if possible, to allow him some of the freedom he was never granted as the son of a tyrant.

"Lotor, if you help us defeat your father we can make a deal with you. I'm not giving you my wife, to be certain; however, I am willing to let you start over."

The three spent the next hour discussing the terms of the agreement, occasionally conferencing Coran and Allura into the talks. Lotor would be allowed to rule one planet of Galra, with only a small military force for protection. Voltron would help to defend them from anyone looking to seek revenge for Zarkon's cruelty. Trade with New Altea would help jump-start the economy; the Olkari would assist with building new industries and retraining soldiers for civilian jobs.

By the time Keith returned to the castle he was physically as well as mentally exhausted. He headed to the bedroom for a short nap, only to find the bed already occupied by his sleeping princess.

Earlier he'd been hesitant to leave her after he just got her back, especially after learning the extent of her injuries. She looked perfectly fine now; her skin undamaged, her breathing normal. The quintessence had even healed some of her old scars from long-past battles.

Keith quietly removed his shirt, sliding gently into the bed behind Allura. The smell and warmth of her was intoxicating, tempting him to press his body as close to hers as he could. He wrapped himself around her, allowing his hand to rest on her protruding belly. This was his favorite thing now, playing with Daniel as the baby squirmed and pushed against Keith's hand.

Lotor's plan had better work, he thought. His son was growing faster than before and likely would be born on the battlefield if nothing changed. After speaking with the Prince directly he knew the toll that could take on a child.

He drifted off trying to imagine a better life for his son, where his biggest worry would be scraped elbows and bruised knees. Where injuries only require a kiss from mom to feel better.

When he woke Allura was turned to face him, a tender smile on her lips. She looked tired despite having just slept, and he imagined it must be hard for her to rest comfortably in her condition. Tempted as he was to suggest she spend time in the healing pods for some relief he knew she'd refuse outright. She was determined to help end this war, too.

Soon it was dinner time and the two made their way to the dining hall. The chairs were full but the room lay silent. Everyone knew what was coming and none of them were ready to discuss the reality they were facing, nor were they relaxed enough to engage in their usual banter. The sound of utensils scraping against plates only served to put everyone further on edge.

Coran's voice cut through the silence as some of the team members began to excuse themselves from the room. "Everyone, we'll be meeting with the Olkari in two varga. Please make your way to the control room by then."

Heads nodded in understanding. Pidge and Lance made their way to the lounge with Hunk and Shay. Romelle walked Allura back to her room to rest. Anton hung back to help Coran clear the dishes. The rest scattered to other parts of the castle.

Shiro approached Keith, resting his hand on his friend's shoulder. "How about hitting the training deck? I don't know about you but I could use the distraction."

Keith agreed, knowing it was best to work out his frustrations before the meeting. Plus, he could discuss plans with Shiro without input from the rest of the team. The conversation with Lotor conveniently left out the new lion and Voltron's upgraded capabilities. He wasn't sure how those would fit into the plans, or even if they would fit.

While waiting for the systems to fully boot up the two men changed into their paladin armor. Mostly to prevent injuries but also because they both worried that they could be called to fly into battle at any moment. Keith stood just outside the door of the dressing area while waiting for Shiro to finish getting ready.

"So," Keith wondered aloud, "what are you planning to do if this mission succeeds? Will you stay on at the castle, or will you go back to Earth?"

"I haven't had a chance to decide." Shiro responded thoughtfully. "It really depends on Romelle's preference."

Keith knew there was something more to this. Shiro didn't have family back on Earth so he wasn't sure why he'd go back unless it was Garrison related. The fact that Romelle was mentioned meant that he'd follow her most likely.

"Does that mean Romelle is okay with you tagging along?" Keith teased.

"Let's hope so, or else me proposing to her will be pointless."

Shiro emerged from the dressing area as he said it, the look on his face half concerned and half serene. As much as Keith would enjoy taking more jabs at his old friend, he decided to offer support instead.

"She'll say yes, don't worry about that," he offered, nodding for emphasis.

The two sparred for roughly an hour, stopping once they'd finished all the levels. Keith quickly changed without bothering to shower, wanting to get back to his wife as soon as possible. He probably didn't smell nice, though, and he was hoping Allura was either asleep or wearing a nose plug. Pregnancy had only enhanced her senses, therefore he felt it wise not to offend any of them.

He was surprised to find Allura sitting in her lounge chair, reading a report on her tablet. She was so distracted she didn't look up when he entered the room, only acknowledging him after he leaned in for a kiss. The look in her eyes concerned him, fogged over with sadness and exhaustion.

They hadn't spoken in length since their return. Keith didn't know what to say, truth be told. His anger at her recklessness had long subsided, overridden by fear and then relief. As the Black Paladin he should chastise her, but his heart wasn't in it.

When he was training at the Garrison nothing distracted him from the mission. With her that had all changed. As hard as he'd tried to separate his feelings for her from the team's objective, he found himself failing more the longer he loved her.

He decided to shelve the speech for another day. "How are you feeling?" he asked, trying to sound less concerned than he was.

Allura furrowed her brow as she looked back to the pad, seemingly unsure how to answer him. "I feel better, just trying to review the plans for the battle—"

Keith pushed the tablet down gently, forcing her to look up at him. "No, how are you feeling? What's going through that head of yours? Something is bothering you and it's not on this screen."

He knew he'd guessed correctly when Allura's eyes began to well with tears. He sat on the edge of the chaise and pulled her into his arms, rubbing circles on her back while rocking her gently. The tune he hummed was one his dad used to sing when Keith was having a tough day.

Chances were that she was as worried as he, afraid this plan might fail like the last one. Zarkon could survive and continue to terrorize the universe. They could lose Shiro again, or Black Lion could finally be taken. Certainly, there would be almost no chance of everyone surviving. Battles of this magnitude brought casualties, no matter what.

Allura could die.

Keith shook his head, trying to rid it of such an obscene thought. The White Lion had saved her once, surely it would do so again. He'd keep her away from the fighting for as long as possible. But could he be with her? Even though he had during the last battle this one would require him to be in the Black Lion.

"Keith?"

"Yes?"

"Can you stop swaying? I think I'm going to be sick if you don't."

He chuckled at this, knowing she was probably half-serious. She leaned back, her hand reaching to brush the hair from his eyes.

"Kiss me again," she asked, smiling tenderly at him.

"As my lady wishes," he responded, leaning in to claim her lips.

There would never be a time in his life that he wouldn't want this. The two of them, desperately clinging to each other, renewing their promise of forever.