Well, here it is, the final chapter.  I actually wrote this entire story while I was snowed during the "Blizzard of '03" up here in the north east.  Once I get a story idea in my head, I can't stop until it is all down on paper.  I wanted to thank you all for the support you showed me, I was a little nervous about posting, but you have made this experience a joy.  I hope you enjoy this chapter and that the ending lives up to your expectations.

Sincerely,

Failte

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            Allura and Romelle approached the hospital wing.  They found Dr. Gorma standing at his desk, talking to his nurse.

            "Your Highness, if you are looking for the Captain I sent him back to his room to rest."

            "How is he?"  Allura asked.

            "He'll be fine," Dr. Gorma assured her.  "Most of his wounds are superficial, a few bruises and cuts. He has a sprained wrist, but other than that he is just exhausted.  I ordered him on bed rest for a few days."
            "I'm glad to hear that."  Allura whispered.

            Romelle gave her a gentle nudge.

            "I need to talk to you, Doctor."

            Dr. Gorma took in her pale, tear stained face and crossed to an examining room, "Of course, Princess, right this way."

            She followed him in, sat down on the examining table and waited for him to close the door.  "I'd like you to do a pregnancy test."

            "Excuse me?"

            "Romelle told me there is a new blood test that will tell you as soon as two days after…well, can you perform this test?"  Allura blushed.

            "Yes, Your Highness, but wouldn't you like to…"

            "Please," she interrupted.  "No questions.  Just do the test."

            He nodded and went to get the nurse and the supplies he needed. When he returned Allura had rolled up her sleeve. 

            She stared at a framed portrait of the Arusian landscape hanging on the wall so that she didn't feel the needle slide into her skin.

            "This will take about twenty minutes or so.  You can leave and I can call you with the results."

            "I'll wait here."  Allura wasn't sure what she would say if she ran into Keith just now.

            "As you wish, Your Highness." 

            As soon as Dr. Gorma left the room, there was a hesitant knock on the door before Romelle came in.

            "How're you holding up?"

            "I'm alright."

            Romelle sat on a stool beside the examining table.  "Keith is out in the waiting room, would you like to see him?"

            Allura looked up, alarmed.  "How did he know I was here?"

            "He didn't.   He came by to ask Dr. Gorma a question about his wrist when he saw me."

            "Did you tell him why I was here?"

            "No, that's not my place.  But if you don't talk to him soon I think he'll tear this door down to get in here.  He's pacing like a caged animal."
            Allura bowed her head, "How do I tell him why I'm here."

            "You tell him the truth and accept his help to get through this."  Romelle responded.  "He loves you."

            Allura nodded.

            "I'll be right outside if you need anything."  Romelle stood and crossed to the door.

            Allura nodded again.  Not looking up when she heard the door open or Keith muttering his gratitude to Romelle.  Then the door closed and she knew he stood there.

            "Allura?"

            The sound of his voice sent a shiver down her spine.

            "Allura, look at me."

            She turned her head and looked.  He had showered and changed into jeans and an old Academy sweatshirt.  An elastic bandage was wrapped around his left wrist.  His face was shaved and she could see the black eye and large bruise that spread up over his left temple.  There was a cut, about three inches long, stretching from his right ear across his cheek.  It didn't look too deep.  His hair was damp and brushed back from his face.  His eyes were tired and filled with worry.

            A wave of comfort and relief washed over her as she stared into his eyes.  This was Keith.  Her Keith.  She knew it and felt it. 

            "What's wrong Allura?  Why are you here?"

            She took a deep, shuddering breath.  "He, uh, he did…he was telling the truth."

            Keith's hands clenched and unclenched, but he kept his cool.

            "Are you okay?"

            She gave him a half-hearted smile, "As well as can be expected under the circumstances."

            In two strides he was standing in front of her.  He raised his hands as if he was going to touch her, then stopped and lowered them.  Anger darkened his face.

            Allura blushed, "I'm sorry.  I thought he was you."

            Keith paced the room, "There is nothing for you to apologize for.  I'm not angry with you.  I want to go down there and rip his head off.  I want kill him in the most slow, painful way imaginable."

            He spoke with a quiet calmness that frightened her.  "Keith, please, this isn't helping anything."

            "I'm sorry, Allura, I just…he took advantage of you."  Keith stopped pacing and looked at her.  "I failed you."
            "No. No, don't say that.  You have never, you could never fail me.  You were outmanned and outgunned.  None of this was your fault.  You were so worried about protecting me, we never thought about protecting you.  You never should have gone alone."  Allura said, passionately.

            Keith stared at her, his anger fading.  "I love you, Allura."

            A tear slid down her cheek, "You may not after you find out why I'm here."

            "What is it?"

            Keith stepped closer, longing to put his arms around her, but afraid she might shy away from his touch.

            As hard as she tried, Allura could not keep the tears from falling.  "What if I'm pregnant?"

            She watched as all the color drained from his face.  He turned, walked to the opposite side of the room, raised his fist, and punched a hole in the wall.

            Dr. Gorma threw open the door, "What is going on here?"

            "It's alright, Doctor, please."  Allura dismissed him.

            Keith stood, staring at the hole in the wall for two full minutes, not saying a word.  He took deep breaths, trying to calm his intense anger.

            "Keith?"  Allura whispered when she could take the silence no longer.

            He turned to face her.

            She had to know, "Keith where does this leave us?"

            "I love you.  If you are pregnant we will deal with it, but I still love you."

            "But you can't touch me."

            "What?"

            "Not once since you entered this room have you touched me.  You haven't hugged me and when you almost did touch me you dropped your hands like you were afraid I would burn you."  Allura's voice shook.

            Keith crossed to the table and threw his arms around her, pulling her to him as tightly as he could.  "I've wanted to touch you from the second I entered Castle Control.  I wanted to hold you and not let go.  But I was afraid it would remind you of him, I don't ever want you to fear me."

            Allura raised her arms up around him, pulled him closer, and buried her face into his shoulder.  She breathed in his scent, reveling in the fact that he was there, he was holding her and he did still love her.

            "I thought you'd never want to touch me after Lotor did."  She whispered, wetting his shirt with her tears.

            Keith pulled back and took her face in his hands, "Allura, know this: I love you, I will always love you.  Lotor took advantage of you and will pay for what he did."

            "I wanted my first time to be special, with you."  Allura blushed as he studied her.

            "Our first time will be special.  What happened with Lotor doesn't count.  As far as we're concerned, our first time will be your first time."

            Allura slid over and patted the spot next to her on the examination table.  Keith jumped up beside her.  She reached out and took his right hand, his knuckles were scrapped and bleeding where had put his fist through the wall.

            "You're bleeding."

            He shrugged, "It's nothing, don't worry about it."

            She hopped off the table, "No, I will worry.  I need to do something to get my mind off the waiting."  In the cabinet on the wall she found gauze, bandages and rubbing alcohol.

            Keith sat silently while she took his hand, gently cleaned and bandaged it.  These ministrations were unnecessary, but he knew how much she needed to do something, and it felt good to have her small hands touching him. 

            "Allura, come here."  He held out his hand to her after she returned the alcohol to the cabinet.

            She sat on the table again beside him, gently cradling his hand in both of hers.  Hesitantly, she put her head on his shoulder.

            "I don't know what I ever did to deserve you."  She whispered.

            "Don't say that, Allura.  You are the greatest thing that has ever happened to me."

            "I don't want to have Lotor's baby." Allura's voice shook with her admission.

            "Then you won't."

            "You're okay with that?"

            "This is your decision and I will support you in whatever you decide to do."

             "Thank you."

            They were interrupted by a knock on the door and Dr. Gorma entered.

            "I have your results your highness."

            Allura sat upright, clutching Keith's hand.  "And?"
            Dr. Gorma looked at her then Keith and then back to her.

            "It's alright, Doctor, he can hear this."
            "The test came back negative, Your Highness.  You are not pregnant."
            Allura let out a sob of relief as Keith threw his arms around her, hugging her to him.

            Dr. Gorma quietly slipped out of the room.

            "Oh, thank God."  Keith said as he hugged her.

            Allura sobbed into his shoulder, relief surging through her.  A huge weight lifted off her chest, she could breath easily again.

            When the tears subsided Allura lifted her head and looked at him, a smile spread across her face.

            "We're going to be alright." He laid his forehead against hers.

            "Yes, we will."  She hopped off the table and took his hands.  "Come with me."

            "Where are we going?"  He asked as they left the hospital wing.

            "Just come with me."

            Allura led him to her room.

            "So that's where that went."  Keith indicated his pillow still lying on her bed.

            "Yes, and Dr. Gorma said you needed rest."

            Keith studied her seriously, "Allura, I don't think this is a good idea."

            She sat on her bed, "No, we're saving that for our wedding night.  But I think you need to lie down and I just want to be with you."
            Keith smiled, "It wouldn't be very gentlemanly of me to refuse a lady."

            He stretched out on the bed.  Allura laid down beside him, her head on his chest.

            "Are you sure you're okay, Allura?"

            "I'm still feeling shaky and I'll feel a lot better once Lotor is in custody and off my planet.  But I will be fine. What, uh, what about you?"

            Keith tightened his hold on her, "I'm still very angry, I want to see him pay for what he did."

            Allura rolled over, propped an elbow on his chest and rested her chin in her fist so she was looking down at him.  "So you still want to marry me?"
            He reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.  "Of course I do."

            "What if Lotor starts telling people what happened?"

            "Like anyone would believe him."

            "So do you think those were scouting ships that came here the other night?"

            "No, I think those were the ships that came after me.  Lotor was not on the ships that attacked me and I think they misunderstood his instructions.  When they realized I wasn't the one in Black, they took off."

            "How long until Garrison officials come and get him?"

            "They should be here within an hour."

            Allura leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on his bruised temple, "I'm so glad you're back."

            "So am I."

            She traced the shallow cut that marked his face, "Did they hurt you badly?"  She whispered, thinking of all Sven and Romelle had been through.

            "I'm fine Allura, don't think about it."

            "I can't help it.  How did you escape?"

            He sighed, knowing she wouldn't rest until all her questions were answered. "They really only wanted me for the hair and blood samples, so once they got those they pretty much left me alone.  I laid in wait for a day and was totally ignored.  I was lucky in that the guards they have are pretty stupid and the one they had watching me at night liked to have a drink. He got a little to cocky, came in and taunted me, thinking it would be cool if he could kick the ass of the Captain of the Voltron Force, I guess he thought he would win brownie points with Lotor.  I let him get a couple of shots in before I took care of him.  I locked him into the room so if anyone looked in, there would be a person in there.  I was able to make my way to the tarmac and hot wire a small transport ship."

            "Hot wire?"

            Keith smiled, "It's a little trick Lance taught me.  You cross a few wires and get the ship to start without a key.  It's a popular, illegal way to steal cars and ships on Terra."

            Allura smiled, "You amaze me."

            "What can I say?  I'm good."

            "Can you show me how to hot wire a ship?"

            "No.  And that is one of the reasons Lance will never be allowed to baby-sit our children.  We'd come home to find them hot wiring all our ships and picking everyone's pockets."

            "That's alright, Hunk has already volunteered to baby-sit."  Allura said as she laid her head back on his chest.

            He ran his hand through her hair, fanning it out on the pillow behind her.  "I love you, Allura."

            "I love you too, Keith."

            "I guess I have to go to the hospital wing tomorrow and repair the wall."

            "No, you're on bed rest for a few days, that's doctor's orders and a royal order.  They can move the portrait on the wall to cover it until Lance can repair it."

            "Lance?"

            "Yeah, well, he made a remark a couple days ago about my flying abilities and I forgot to exact my revenge."  She explained.

            "Okay, then I guess I'll be fixing the damage Lance does after he tries to repair the hole."

            "Go to sleep, Keith."

            He kissed the top of her head and listened while her breathing evened out and she slipped into sleep.  Only after he was sure she was asleep did he give in to the exhaustion he had been fighting.