Good evening and welcome to Chapter 35 everyone!

I'm so excited to be almost done with this story. It's finally coming together…..I hope. Eeeeiiickk!

Animebookchic: Yay indeed my friend! Finally Allura woke up…well, almost….she still has to "wake up", but we are getting there….let's see what happens to Keith….

KathDMD: I think….ah, hell, just read! LOL!

Justlucky05: I live on cliffhangers. I was once told I was the queen of them. What can I say, it's my specialty. LOL. Now, I don't know what to think at this point with Keith…but…a man is a man….even in fanfiction. Hee hee. Hope you enjoy today's installment.

Smithy: I love, love, love, the name Elliot. I have this thing about even using some boy names on girls, even Elliot. I think it's an awesome name. If I were to have babies, I would name them by boy names. I just love them.

Achangel Wolf: DA DA DA! Get ready…..DA DA DA!

1868: I really, really, really think that you are going to need a brown paper bag because you may hyperventilate. I'm just saying….

BKNBU: No te puedo prometer nada mi amiga. Estas son cosas de la vida….acuerdate que es una novela. LOL!

Okay, I tried, really tried my best with certain sections in this chapter. I hope you like them. And if you don't….oh well…to each their own.

See y'all next week!

Chapter 35

Elika had been at budget meetings almost all morning when her assistant walked in to inform her that Keith had taken off in haste, without informing anyone know where he was going. Thinking it was an attack, she stopped the meeting and contacted castle control for information. When they told her that no attack was occurring, she asked why the prince consort had left. No information was given. All she was told was that the prince consort would notify her as soon as he could. She tried contacting him numerous times through his comm. unit, but he didn't answer. When he finally did, he didn't sound well.

She told him to return to Irmiria. Elika didn't know what made her tell him that, but something about the way he sounded worried her deeply. While she waited for him, she tried to work, but she didn't get too far. Thoughts cluttered her head as she thought what had happened to him and when he would come back.

As she sat in her office wondering, her assistant walked into the room, "He's back, Elika."

"Is he alright?"

"He doesn't look good," he replied. "He looks distraught and sick. I told him that you were in a meeting and suggested he rest in his room. Would you like me to make arrangements for the doctor to see him?"

Shaking her head, Elika replied, "No, he'll send him away. Let's give him some time to clear his head. If he doesn't contact me in about fifteen minutes or so, I'll go and check on him."

Nodding in agreement, her assistant said, "If he contacts us, I'll let you know as well. I'm going work on scheduling the next meeting. Call me if you need anything."

As he walked away, Elika answered, absentmindedly, "Thanks."

XXXXXXXXXX

Lying in bed next to her husband, who slept soundly, Dorma waited patiently for the right opportunity to leave him. It took about twenty minutes before she was able to rise. Quickly freshening up and putting on her suit, Dorma walked over to the witch's area and found her preparing the robeast for deployment.

"Haggar, I need your help," she quickly ordered as she walked in.

"What happened?" the witch asked, noting the tone in the duchess' voice.

"Allura's suggestion was broken. We need to find a way to destroy Kogane in case Allura wasn't able to succeed. We need a backup."

"With the robeast we have, I don't see a reason to worry," Haggar shrugged. "I think everything is going according to plan."

"It's not enough!" Dorma replied with force. She couldn't fail. Something had made her uneasy. Maybe Lotor's words had hit her harder than she thought. "We need to cover all our bases, Haggar. We must succeed at all costs."

Pausing for a moment, the witch suddenly smiled maliciously before answering, "I think I might have something."

XXXXXXXXXX

As soon as he entered the room, Keith went straight to the bathroom to shower. He changed into a pair of jeans and a gray shirt, noticing that even the activity of getting dressed left him out of breath.

Sitting by the edge of the bed, he noticed his communicator flashing and beeping. He picked it up. "Castle control," he whispered to himself. It was the normal line, not the emergency one. He put the communicator down on the nightstand and lay down on the bed. From the window, he noticed the day ending, his room gleamed with the rays of the dying sun. Closing his eyes, Keith anxiously waited for sleep to come.

He was beginning to doze off when he heard the door open. Slowly, he began to rise when he heard a voice, "No, don't. Lie down."

"Elika?" he asked groggily.

She walked up to him, noticing his pale features and labored breathing, "Keith, I think we should call the doctor to check on you…"

"No," he shook his head stubbornly, swallowing hard, "All I need is some rest."

"Rest is not going to cure your labored breathing," Elika answered as she sat down next to him, "I'm calling the town doctor."

She began to stand when Keith abruptly took her arm, "No!" Sitting up, he pleaded, "Please…no."

Elika sat back down next to him. Staring at her, despite how he felt, Keith noticed the tender gaze on her face as she looked at him. She cared for him and that was something he longed for and missed. As if reading his thoughts, Elika raised her hand and began to gently stroke his dark hair. Feeling a loss of control, Keith sighed with content at her touch.

"Tell me what happened," the woman asked as she continued the soothing technique.

"Allura miscarried earlier today," he answered softly, his gaze lowered as tears began to run down his cheeks, "It's really all my fault, I've put her through so much."

"What are you talking about?" she whispered trying very hard to restrain the shock she felt upon finding out about the pregnancy. "There's no way you could have caused her miscarriage. It was a sad circumstance that neither of you deserved. You can't blame yourself."

He smiled sadly, "Oh, but I can." Keith paused for a long moment before continuing, "The day I met you…Allura and I were attacked by Drules who entered the planet…undetected." The lack of air began hitting him, but he continued telling her the events that led to his current state, "They captured…Allura and I and…they drugged us…I…I raped her."

Elika was stunned by his confession. No wonder he's been so sad and guilt stricken since that second time we met, she thought. "Keith…you were both drugged. You can't blame yourself for what those…those animals did to you."

"It doesn't matter anymore," he sighed deeply, "Allura…blames me. Because of me…I got her pregnant…we're living in a sham of a marriage…and I drove her away from possibly…the only man she ever loved…Liam."

Elika looked straight at him, even though he kept his gaze down, "She doesn't love you?"

Keith shook his head, "She never has."

Elika, at that moment, couldn't think of anything sadder than what she had just heard. The queen wanted nothing to do with him. She didn't love him. And that's when a thought came to mind. If Allura didn't love him, then…maybe, just maybe, she took a chance…

"Keith?" she whispered.

He looked at her.

"If…if she doesn't love you," she paused, her heart beat faster by the second, "Just know that someone else does." Without holding back, Elika leaned over and kissed him, and to her surprise, Keith kissed her back. He pulled Elika to him, kissing her passionately as her body tingled from the contact. Planting her shaking palms against his chest for a moment, she soon draped them around his neck as he pulled her down onto the bed and settled his body against hers. Elika's lips worked their way to his neck as he breathed harder, enjoying the feel of a woman's touch, so long forgotten.

Keith's hand reached for the buttons of her blouse, his fingers worked to slide them from the holes that held them. Shivers rippled through her as he undid each button. Elika's heart thundered; her skin prickled, her pulse quickened with anticipation. It didn't take too long before he revealed her white laced bra and gently cupped her breast sending quivers of delight through her. She groaned softly as he stroked her with his thumb. Her voice died as he reclaimed her lips, his tongue in her mouth, she breathed in shallow quick gasps.

Elika was in a state of disbelief. Keith Kogane was hers. He had finally accepted her. She focused on feeling every inch of his lips, his tongue dueling with hers. Releasing her mouth, he moved along her neck and gently nibbled the sensitive spot under her ear. Breathlessly, she cried out, "Oh, Keith!"

The sound of her voice stopped him. A soft gasp escaped him, his body stiffened in shock. This was not his wife, this was not Allura! He loved his wife, he had loved her for years and no one could ever replace her or replace what he felt for her. Abruptly, Keith pulled away, "Oh God! I…I can't do this!"

"Why?" she cried out, blinking with bafflement as she sat up.

"Because…I love her," Keith answered, closing his eyes and shaking his head as he sat up, "Elika, I love Allura…I love my wife! I…I shouldn't have…done this."

"But I can make you happy," she cried as tears began to fall down her cheeks, "I love you more than you know."

"But Elika, I…don't," Keith responded, sadness lacing his tone as he used his fingers to carefully wipe the tears away. "This is not fair to you. You deserve someone… who loves you with everything they have in them. I can't offer you that." He paused for a moment before continuing, "I can't be that man. My heart, my soul belongs to Allura. I…need to find a way to make…her happy again."

Elika wiped away the remaining tears from her face as she began buttoning her blouse, "I'm sorry too."

She stood up and faced him. Her eyes held a look of disappointment, hurt and anger. He couldn't stand it. Another person he had hurt.

Sucking in a deep breath, she said, "Keith, I love you. I've loved you from the moment I saw you. I know it's ridiculous for me to say that─"

"Don't say that. You're not."

"But that's not enough, is it?

He slowly shook his head, "No." Staring into her eyes, he confessed, "I can't deny…my attraction to you. There is a connection and…I wish…I wish it was as strong as the connection…I feel with Allura. I can't love you the way…I love her. You deserve more."

Elika closed her eyes as she cried. She couldn't look at him anymore, the pain was overwhelming. She was glad that the semidarkness of the room hid the flush in her checks.

She knew better. Despite the attraction, something always held him back and now she knew that it was his love for the Queen of Arus. In a way, Elika knew she was a fool for believing Keith would ever give that love up for anyone, even her. The councilwoman held onto a fantasy that only she believed in, but that she had the power to stop. A strong woman like herself knew better.

Sighing hard and wiping her tears away, she composed herself and turned to face him, "So, what now?"

"I should go," Keith said, about to stand up when she stopped him.

"No! You're in no condition to fly," she firmly stated. "Just spend the night. Try to rest and go home tomorrow when you are better."

"Elika, I don't…"

"Nonsense," Elika was adamant, "Keith, I…I can't deny my feelings for you. And even though, we can't be…love means wanting the best for the one you love, even if it isn't with you." She sighed, "What just happened was a mistake. It shouldn't have…I'd like us to forget it ever happened."

"As you wish," he agreed, "Are you sure…it's alright for me to stay tonight?"

"Yes, really, stay. You need the rest," she answered, hoping that her words saved some of her self-respect. Elika looked toward the bathroom and then turned to him, "I need to freshen up."

Keith watched her disappear into the bathroom then listened to the sound of the faucet running. After a minute or two, Elika came back out, "Now, get some rest. You need to go home to your wife and see a doctor. Keith, I'm serious, you need to see a doctor."

"I will. Thanks for your help…Elika," Keith whispered, "Really, thank you."

Smiling sadly, she answered, "You're welcome, Your Highness." With that, she turned and quietly left the room.

XXXXXXXXXX

"Any word from Keith?" Lance asked as he walked in on Pidge, Nate, Hunk and Coran inside Control.

"No," the advisor replied. "Pidge has been trying to contact him for over an hour and he just won't answer. We do know that he's back in Irmiria."

"We picked up Black's beacon," Pidge continued, "I'm sure he probably went back to complete the work. You know Keith, he needs to bury himself in work to forget everything."

"Who can blame him after everything that has happened today?" Nate shrugged, "We're lucky if he'll even pick up the emergency line."

"That he'll pick up," Hunk confirmed, "Keith would never put us or the castle in danger like that."

"He's right," Lance chimed in, "Just let him be. As long as we don't have any unexpected surprises, we need to let him cool off a bit before explaining to him what has been going on for the past couple of months."

"What about Allura?" Pidge asked.

"She's still sleeping. Nanny's keeping an eye on her," Lance answered, "Jill said Allura probably won't be up until later this evening or maybe even tomorrow."

"Do you think she'll be alright?" Coran asked with a grim and worried expression on his features. There had been no peace in the castle for the past three months and the stress had hit the old advisor hard.

Nodding and hoping to make him feel reassured, Lance gave Coran a warm small smile, "Jill says she will be and I believe her."

Nate picked up something else in his friend's tone, but kept the thought to himself. Perhaps it was time to have a talk with Lady-Killer McClain.

"So what now?" Hunk asked.

"How did you two do at repair?" Lance responded, trying to divert the situation to business.

"All lions are at a hundred percent capacity," he answered, "Well, all except Black, which is being charged remotely. It won't reach full capacity until tomorrow morning, if Keith doesn't decide to move it elsewhere tonight."

"Let's just hope he either stays there tonight or comes back to the castle," Lance sighed. "Well, might as well have dinner and maybe get some rest."

"I'll go get Jill," Nate said, standing up.

The rest of the Force began to walk out leaving Coran behind to man the Control Room.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"ETA fifteen minutes," the Drule soldier commanding the bridge stated as he looked at Arus from the viewing screen.

"Good," Lotor nodded, "Is the robeast ready for deployment?"

"Yes Sire," the soldier replied, without looking back.

The doors of the bridge opened and Dorma walked in with her brother, "You should be proud, Lotor. You're about to make history for our people."

The prince did not answer, just looked ahead.

"You're not having second thoughts, are you?" Hazar asked, looking at his sister and then at the prince, after they noticed his silence.

"Of course not, you idiot," he answered with disdain. Lifting his hand, he called out for his wife, "Dorma, my love, come."

She did as asked and walked over to her husband, taking his hand, "We'll rule over Arus soon. You are going to become the savior of our people, Lotor. How does that feel?"

"I would hold off on the victory speech for the moment, Dorma. We should wait until we win," he said as he guided her to a bridge chair.

"I am positive that we will win," she gloated as she sat down.

Lotor looked at her and was about to answer her when his soldier yelled out, "Entering Arus' stratosphere."

"We shouldn't wait any longer. Order Haggar to send the beast."

"It's early…"

"Nonsense!" she shouted, "Lotor, we shouldn't give them an opportunity to think. Attack now!"

Listening to his wife, he sighed, fighting his urge to argue with her against it, "Haggar!"

The witch appeared almost instantly, "Yes, Sire."

"Send out the robeast!"

"You mean, the robeasts, Sire," she answered with a laugh.

Lotor looked at the witch with a studious stare, "What are you saying?"

"You'll soon see," she smiled before disappearing from sight.

Turning over to Dorma, he asked, "What does she mean? What is she talking about, Dorma?"

"Like the witch said," Dorma answered, gloating within her own right. "You will soon see what will bring your victory."

XXXXXXXXXX

The group quietly ate dinner. No one spoke much other than small talk in between bites. As time passed by, they fell in comfortable silence, either entertaining their own thoughts or eating in peace. Comfortable silence didn't last long, however, when they heard the alarms blast all over the castle.

Lance was the first to stand, "Control, now!"

The rest rose from the chairs and quickly followed Lance to Control. Once there, they were greeted by Coran, who was pale, "They released five robeasts."

"At the same time?" Hunk asked, surprised, "No warning?"

"None," the advisor shook his head, "They are attacking randomly in cities close to the castle."

"What else?" Lance asked, looking at the advisor noting a greater concern in his tone, "Coran? What else aren't you telling us?"

He was quiet for a moment, "These robeasts are not…they are not the standard beasts the Drules create."

"What do you mean?" Pidge asked.

"See for yourself," Coran answered as he pulled up the screen. The entire group grew pale, "See what I mean?"

"How…" Jill couldn't finish her thoughts.

"I don't know," Lance responded, "but however they found them, it doesn't matter. We need to stop them."

"We need to contact Keith," Nate said, "We can't possibly fight these things by ourselves."

"Right," Hunk nodded, "Coran…"

"I'm contacting him right now."

XXXXXXXXXX

It had been well over an hour since Elika had left Keith's bedroom. But, she wanted to check on him and see if he had gotten better. She was not happy about how things had turned out. She wanted to hide in her room and stay there until he left, but Keith looked so sick when he had come in earlier, that she had to see if he was alright. Quietly, opening the door, Elika noticed that he was still sleeping deeply, unaware that his comm. unit was beeping continuously. The device, sitting on the nightstand next to him, flashed a red light, which he also was unaware of.

She quickly walked over to him and shook him awake, "Keith, wake up." He stirred lightly and she tried again, "Come on Keith, your comm. unit is…flashing red.

His eyes darted open immediately, "What?" He sat up and looked over at the nightstand, picking up the device almost immediately. "Kogane," he sounded groggy.

"Keith, it's Coran," the voice from the unit sprung out, "We are under attack. Report to the castle immediately."

"I'll be right…there," he answered as he stood up.

"Keith, what's going on?" Elika asked as she watched him move to the bathroom and turn on the faucet.

"I need to…leave now," he replied, coming out a few seconds later, "Drule attack."

She noticed his labored breathing as he zipped up the flight suit, "Keith?"

"I have to…go," Keith answered.

"You are in no condition…"

"Elika, that doesn't matter," he shook his head, trying to control his breathing, "I need…to get to Black, now!"

Resigned, she had no other alternative than to follow him out the door. Elika knew the planet was under attack, she just didn't know if considering his condition, Keith would be any help. Either way, they headed toward the landing bay.