Hello,
Just a little reminder…all relative disclaimers apply.
Thank you all for your reviews. I really do appreciate the time and effort you put into reading and commenting on my work. Thank you!
Enjoy,
Failte
**************************************************
Allura passed Fatina on her way toward the observation deck. She wanted to check on Keith, see how he was doing.
"Your highness," Fatina performed a small curtsey.
"Fatina, how are you?" Allura asked, graciously.
"I'm well, thank you. How are you?"
"As well as can be expected," Allura smiled. "How's Lance doing?"
"To be honest, he seemed rather distracted this morning, but if he keeps his mind on the task at hand, he should be up on his feet before long."
"Yes, well he does have quite a bit on his mind, the wedding, the threat from Doom. But Lance wants to be up and fighting again, as well as able to stand at the alter. So don't you worry, he will work hard and do what you tell him to."
"I'm sure you're right.
How's the Captain?"
Allura sighed and her smile faltered a bit, "I'm on my way to check on him now. We collected as many photos as we could find, hoping that might help him. I also have the movie disk of our wedding, if all else fails, I thought I might bring that out."
"I'm sure he'll be fine before long," Fatina laid her hand reassuringly on Allura's arm.
"Thank you, Fatina."
"Well, I won't hold you up any more." Fatina smiled. "Have a good day, your highness."
"And you Fatina." Allura continued down the hall. She knew how Darcy and Romelle felt about Fatina, but she pushed those thoughts from her mind. Darcy thought Fatina was being too intimate, too close to Lance. But then Allura thought she was overreacting. Lance was crazy about her and would never cheat on her. Fatina was just trying to relax Lance and make this as easy for him as possible.
Romelle just decided she didn't like Fatina. She couldn't explain it, she said she just had a feeling. She claimed it was 'women's intuition'.
Allura sighed and shook her head. Fatina had been nothing but kind and helpful since she had arrived. If she was able to help Lance, then they would just have to get over their unreasonable discomfort for now.
Keith didn't move when Allura entered the room. The albums were stacked on the table beside him, the box of loose photos sat precariously on the arm of his chair, and one album laid open on his lap. He stared, unseeingly, out the window.
"Keith?"
He jumped when she gently set her hand on his shoulder. "Allura."
"Are you okay?"
He nodded.
"Do you want to talk?" She sat in the chair beside him and picked up the album on the top of the pile.
"I don't know where to begin?" He admitted.
She opened the album and smiled. The first photo was a large copy of their engagement picture. "Do you remember this?"
He looked over and studied the picture. "We look happy."
"We were."
Keith raised his gaze to hers, she looked back shyly, hopefully. "What is it?" He asked.
"Our engagement photo."
"There's a copy on my desk." He muttered, he had been in his study, looking around, hoping for sparks of memory.
"Yes. It was taken a week after you proposed. The official announcement needed to be made, we were on the front cover of the Alforia Times and in
newspapers and magazines across the universe." She looked back at the picture and smiled fondly. "We had been posing for almost two hours, the photographer had wanted as many options as possible. This was the biggest shoot of his career, the engagement photo of the future Queen of Arus and her husband-to-be. He was so disappointed when we picked this one."
"Why?" Keith whispered.
"This was the last picture taken, we were both tired and bored and just wanted to leave. Lance showed up," Allura smiled. "He started making kissing noises and teasing us until we laughed. The photographer thought this picture was the least professional one and he wanted to throw away the negative. We agreed that it was the most natural, the one we wanted to represent us."
He looked down at it. He was wearing his dress uniform and Allura wore a pale, blue gown. They stood facing each other, Keith held her hands in his and smiled down at her. Allura looked up at him, her smile wide with laughter. "We were really in love."
"Yes."
He heard the hurt in her voice and looked up at her, "I want to remember, Allura."
"I know you do, honey."
Keith was at a loss for words when a glint of gold caught his eye. Allura's necklace had come out from under her blouse. A thick, gold band hung from a delicate chain, resting beside a small, elaborate gold cross.
"Is that my ring?" He asked.
Allura nodded and reached up to unlatch her necklace.
"I wondered about it."
"You took it off," Allura said as she slipped the band off the chain. "You thought we were playing a trick on you, so you took it off. I, uh, I didn't want to lose it." She held it out for him.
He carefully lifted it from her hand and studied it. He quietly read the inscription and raised her gaze to hers, "I'm sorry, I…"
Allura shook her head, feeling tears fill her eyes, "Don't. It's alright. Just know," she stopped when her voice cracked. "Just know, I love you Keith. I love you and so does Cady. We'll figure this out." With that she stood and hurried out of the room before she lost complete control of her emotions.
******************************
Pidge took Renata's hand in his and pulled her to her feet. "Come on, I want to show you the lake. It is so beautiful this time of day, with the sun setting."
It was after dinner and they had been in the rec room with the others, watching the news on the televiewer. Pidge was feeling restless and was growing increasingly frustrated with the awkward silence that hung in the air whenever Keith and Allura were in the same room.
"Oh, this is amazing," she breathed as they approached the water. The sky was a watercolor masterpiece of reds, oranges, blues, and purples, all reflected in the clear glass of the lake.
"I often find myself wandering out here on clear evenings," Pidge admitted, sitting back against the trunk of a tree.
"I forgot such beauty could exist."
"Nata," Pidge used the nickname he had come up with for her. He held out his hand, she took it and allowed him to pull her down beside him. "I'm glad I could share this with you."
Slowly, hesitantly, she laid her head on his shoulder, "So am I."
They sat in silence, watching the sun set, enveloping them in twilight. The melodious chirping of the Arusian crickets filled the air.
"What is it?" Renata asked, hearing him sigh.
"I was just thinking of Keith."
She lifted her head and looked at him, studying his profile in the fading light. "Have the pictures helped him remember anything?"
Pidge shrugged, "He said he had some small memories, but no major breakthroughs. This is so frustrating, Nata, he and Allura were so in love. They were the perfect couple, the best of friends. Now he can barely look at her. I think something happened."
"Why do you say that?" She took his hand, reassuringly.
"When you know someone as well as we all know each other, you notice little things. Subtle changes in behavior. He has been acting more strangely than usual around Allura, it's like he can't look her in the eye. I wonder what he remembered."
"He isn't talking to anyone?"
Pidge shook his head, "No, he's drawn into himself."
"Be patient, with him. When he's ready, he'll remember."
Pidge wrapped an arm around her shoulders and drew her to him, "I hope you're right."
******************************
The next morning, found Allura searching for Keith. The last time she had seen him was during practice. He and Lance would often join her in Castle Control to watch the Lions in action. She had felt a jolt of excitement when Keith had leaned over the console and called out a formation to the Lions. She and Lance glanced at each other hopefully. But Keith had spent the rest of practice quietly watching, he then hurried out of Castle Control before the team returned or she could say anything to him.
He continued to use a wheelchair to get around the castle, his knee still giving me trouble and his chest still pained him. Allura knew she could easily catch up with him, but he wanted to be alone. If Keith wanted to talk, he would have stayed.
She checked the rec room and observation deck, Castle Control, the kitchen, and even their room, but she couldn't find him.
"Renata," she stopped the girl as they passed in the hall. "Have you seen Keith? I've looked everywhere."
"Yes, Ma'am, he's in the nursery."
Allura started. "The nursery? Are you sure?"
"Yes, your highness."
"Oh. Alright then. Thank you, Renata." Allura was at a loss for words.
Smiling softly, Renata bowed her head and continued down the hall. She had promised Pidge she would join him for lunch and she couldn't wait to tell him what had happened.
After practice Keith had gone to the observation deck and then the rec room. He was feeling restless and didn't know what to do with himself. Taking the long way through the corridors, he did his best to avoid contact with other people. In the end, he found his way to the nursery.
It had been moved to a spare room in the north tower. He knew the north tower, it was entirely theirs. His and Allura's bedchamber was here with Cady's room next door. The main nursery had been in the west wing, it had been Allura's nursery when she was young, large and sunny with windows looking out over the woods. But when Cady had been born, Allura couldn't stand the idea of her being in a whole other tower. Nanny insisted on the nursery staying in the west tower and they had come to a compromise. When Nanny was caring for Cady or if any other children were visiting, they used the nursery in the west tower. The rest of the time and nights, Cady stayed in her own room in the north tower. When the west tower was hit in the battle with Doom, the nursery was permanently moved to the north tower.
Without knocking, he opened the door and steered his chair in. Romelle and Sven had taken Erik outside, Nanny was downstairs overseeing lunch, so that left Renata watching over Cady.
Keith entered quietly, startling the girl. She sat in the rocking chair, singing softly to Cady. For her part, Cady had just drifted into a fitful sleep. Babies could always sense when there was tension in the air and as of late, Cady had been fussier than usual.
Renata jumped with surprise, causing Cady to wake with a start. First came the whimpers followed by the full out wails.
"I didn't mean to startle you," Keith said, weakly.
Renata stood and paced the floor, gently patting Cady's back. "It's alright, sir, she'll calm down."
He watched them move from window to door and back again. Wordlessly, he steered his way over to the rocking chair. Renata watched as he carefully rose and stiffly moved into the rocking chair.
Keith held out his hands, "Let me have her."
Renata hesitated.
"She's my daughter," he said sharply.
Cady cried and wriggled as Renata handed her over to him. She stepped back and watched as he tenderly cradled her and began to softly rock. He spoke in low, soothing tones. Within moments the little girl's cries turned to whimpers and her whimpers to yawns. Her eyes grew heavy as she gripped Keith's finger and fell into the first restful slumber she had had in days.
Renata busied herself, straightening up the room. She felt as though she was intruding on a personal moment, but was afraid of what would happen if she left.
"It's alright, Renata," Keith said softly. "I just want to rock her."
"If you need me…"
"I have my communicator if I need anything."
"Yes, sir." She bowed her head and left him rocking his sleeping daughter in the late morning sun.
And that is how Allura found them when she opened the nursery door. His head was bent, watching Cady's tiny pink mouth move soundlessly and her delicate hand loosened around his forefinger. He was so intent on watching his daughter, that he never heard his wife enter the room.
Allura was afraid to move or speak for fear of interrupting this moment. It was as though they went back a month in time and everything was right with them.
"She's so beautiful," Keith whispered, breaking the silence.
"Yes, she is." Allura crossed and knelt down beside him.
"Just like her mother."
She lifted her gaze to his.
He reached out and cupped her cheek. Allura closed her eyes and tilted her head into his hand.
"I woke up at 4:30 this morning," he said quietly. "I woke up and reached for you, but you weren't there."
She opened her eyes and looked up at him. Tears filled her eyes and she found it difficult to speak.
"Seven months ago today at 4:30 in the morning you went into labor."
Allura nodded.
"It was bitter cold out. You had a hell of a time waking me up. It was two days past your due date and you had had false labor three days earlier."
"Keith…" Her voice was raw as she tried to speak around the lump in her throat.
"I remember when Cady was born. I remember you almost broke my hand. She was born at 1:30 in the afternoon. You were amazing." He whispered.
"I'm afraid to believe this," she told him. "You've remembered things before only to forget them the next hour, the next day."
"This was all so clear. Allura," he raised his head again to look at her. "When I reached for you this morning and you weren't there, I felt empty."
"What are you saying, Keith?"
"I would like to move back into our room."
"Are you sure?" She was almost afraid to hope.
He nodded, "Yes, I am. I know that I love you and I think that moving back in will help me to better remember the life we had together."
Allura smiled, "I've missed you so much."
Keith reached up and stroked her cheek, "I've felt that something was missing and now I know it was you. I want to get back what we had."
*****************************************************
"You're turn, Darc." Hunk entered the rec room.
Darcy looked up from the book she was reading. "Why don't you go, Pidge?"
"I went first." He told her.
"I'll go," Dante stood and stretched. "I want to get it out of the way so I can have the afternoon off."
"What's your problem?" Lance whispered to Darcy.
"Nothing," she replied.
"Why don't you just get it over with?"
"I, uh, I thought I would do it while you were in your afternoon session with Fatina." She turned back to her book.
Lance looked at her strangely. It was time for their annual physical with Dr. Gorma. Keith and Lance had been excused, of course, but the others all had to go. "Darc…"
"I just don't like going to the doctor." She said sharply out of the corner of her mouth.
He rolled his eyes. "I know that. I think Dr. Gorma released you early after you were shot because he was sick of your whining."
Darcy stuck her tongue out at him.
"Very mature."
She snorted, "You're one to talk."
"Ready to go, Lance?" Fatina entered the room.
Since the afternoon when he had walked the parallel bars, Fatina decided to double up his sessions. One in the morning and one in the afternoon.
"Let me know what Dr. Gorma says." Lance told her.
"I'm fine." She said.
"Come on, Lance." Fatina spoke up again.
Lance winked at Darcy as he followed Fatina out of the room.
"I don't like that woman," Romelle sat on the couch beside Darcy.
"It shouldn't be long now, she'll be gone soon."
"So, you gonna tell me the real reason you don't want to see Dr. Gorma?"
Darcy lifted her eyes and met Romelle's steady gaze. "What do you mean?"
Romelle continued to stare at her expectantly.
Darcy sighed and lowered her voice, "I've just had a bit of an upset stomach lately. It's just nerves, what with all that's going on. Lance, the battle with Doom, the wedding plans. It'll pass."
"But you're afraid it might be something more."
"I can't be sick right now, Romelle, we're out of backup pilots."
"And you honestly think it would be better not to know and make yourself even sicker with worry."
"No," Darcy sighed deeply. "I'm going to see him, I just want to put it off a little longer."
*********************************
"Come on, now, Lieutenant, you can do it." Fatina stood alongside Lance as he slowly made his down the length of the parallel bars. He was moving a little easier, he no longer needed to keep stopping as he made his way along the bars.
"Before long you'll be able make your way around with a walker." She told him.
"Great, then I can race all the grandmothers in town."
"After a walker comes a cane and then you're on your own."
Lance stopped at the end of the bars and looked up at her. It had been the fifth time he walked the length. He knew that now he needed practice, but his legs shook and his knees buckled.
She smiled, flirtatiously, "Great. Now you need to turn around and make it back to your chair. Then we can end for today."
"No problem." He gritted his teeth and began the tortuously slow turning process.
"It won't be long before you're dancing with Darcy at your wedding."
Lance couldn't help the smile that split his face, "I'm looking forward to that day."
"She's a very lucky woman."
"I'm a very lucky man."
"I've heard stories about you, Lance."
"Oh yeah?" He puffed.
"Yeah. You used to be quite the ladies man."
"I guess I was just looking for the right woman."
"Too bad I didn't know you back then."
Lance stopped and looked up at her, his arms shaking. "That's an odd thing to say."
"You're a very handsome man, Lance."
"Uh, thanks."
Fatina placed her hands on the bar and leaned closer to him, "Very handsome."
"I, uh, I think you need to step back, Fatina." Lance took a small step away from her.
"You're young and good-looking. There is still so much you need to experience Lance, don't tie yourself down so early." She leaned closer to him.
"You're treading on dangerous ground, Fatina. Don't you have a boyfriend?"
"I never said I had a boyfriend, I just said there was a man I was in love with." She breathed, her voice husky.
"Well, whatever. I'm not about to cheat on Darcy. I'm flattered and all, but I'm in love with Darcy."
She walked around the end of the bars, blocking his way to his chair. "I can make you forget Darcy." She took hold of the zipper on her sweatshirt and slowly started to pull it down.
"Fatina, get out of my way, please." He said through gritted teeth.
She separated her shirt, exposing her flat stomach and ample assets barely supported by a small, lacy bra.
Lance looked in her eyes and his protest died on his lips. Her eyes were a brilliant, beautiful green. The room faded around them and he couldn't look away.
"Completely forget her." Fatina's lips descended upon his.
He lost himself. Her lips were soft and full. The world fell away around them, an electricity made the air around them sizzle. She slid her hands up under his shirt, caressing his back. His legs gave out beneath him and they fell to the floor.
Reality came crashing down hard.
"No!" Lance put his hands on her shoulders and pushed her back. "Leave, Fatina, now."
"Too late," she whispered with a smirk.
"What?"
A movement caught his eye. He lifted his head and saw Darcy standing in the doorway. Disbelief crossed her face, followed by a look of intense pain, and finally anger. Without saying a word, she turned on her heel and left.
"Shit!" Lance grabbed the bar and pulled himself up, spewing forth every curse word that came to mind. "Get out of my way." He moved as quickly as he could to his chair. When he was settled in, he looked up at Fatina. "I want you off this planet before dark."
She didn't respond, but smiled at his back as he left the gym as fast as his chair could carry him.
