Hi all!

Thank you so much for your awesome reviews.

RedLion2 ~ Thanks for catching that mistake. I have to tell you, I work two jobs and I don't get home from my full time job most nights until midnight. So most of my writing is done late at night and once I get on a roll, I can't stop. So more often than not, I post chapters at like 2 or 3 in the morning and, even though I read it over and over, mistakes do get through. And that is one more reason we need our reviewers. Thank you for looking out for me ;-)

Enjoy,

Failte

Dana stared at the watch she held in her shaking hand. There was no way. Keith could not be dead. He was still young, so full of life. No.

She turned to look at Allura. The Princess was sitting on the floor, her back against the wall, her knees drawn up and her head down, not making a sound.

"Allura?"

She slowly lifted her head and looked up at Keith's little sister. Keith's sister. She could not let anything happen to her, she owed it to him, to his memory. How was she going to do it without him? She had given so much thought to their future together that she wasn't prepared for a future without him. But she would be damned if she would allow Lotor to get Dana.

Allura pushed herself up and looked around taking in her surroundings. Her lip throbbed and was swollen where the Doom soldier had punched her. Without a word to Dana, she crossed the room and ran her hands over the door, looking for a latch or something.

"What are you doing?" Dana whispered.

"We have to get out of here?"

"What about Keith?"

"What about him?"

Dana's mouth fell open, "He…he said Keith was dead. Don't you care?"

Allura rested her head against to cool metal door, "How can you ask me that? I love him. But if he knew I was sitting here and didn't fight back, didn't try to get you out, he would never forgive me."

"Do…do you think he was telling the truth?" Dana's voice shook and she sounded so young.

"I don't know. I hope not."

A quiet sniffle was the only response Allura received from the young girl. She turned and pulled Dana into a hug. Gathering as much strength as she could, Allura whispered, "I love him so much it hurts. I don't know if you can understand that, Dana, but he is a part of me, he is in me. I think that if Keith really was dead, I would know."

"You think Lotor is lying?"

"It's all I have to go with right now."

Dana nodded, wiped her eyes with her shirtsleeve and slipped the watch into her pocket. "What can I do?"

"I don't think we'll be getting out through the door, feel around the wall, push on stones, see if there are any loose ones." Allura instructed, running her hands over the wall.

Dana started on the opposite end of the room, pushing on the stones. For over an hour they pushed and prodded, frustration growing.

"I think I found something," Allura whispered excitedly. It was a loose stone near the floor. She wiggled and pushed it until stone began to crumble. More stones moved as Dana came over to help her. A small hole in the corner of the floor was reveled.

"What is it?" Dana whispered.

"I don't know," Allura muttered. Her belt with her blaster, communicator, and other things, including a flashlight, had been taken from her. Picking up a small rock, she dropped it, listening for it to hit ground. "It doesn't sound like a far drop."

"Are you serious?"

Allura looked at her, "It's either this or we sit here and wait for Lotor."

"Do…do you think there are rats?"

"None as big as Lotor," Allura took a deep breath. "I'm going in, follow me."

Dana watched as she squeezed through the hole, just barely making it, followed by a quiet thud as she hit the ground.

"It's not far," Allura called in a stage whisper. "The ground is solid."

Closing here eyes and conjuring up the face of her brother, Dana pushed through the hole, falling only about four feet.

It was frighteningly dark. They waited a moment to adjust their vision. The ceiling was low, both women had to bend over to avoid hitting their heads.

Allura groped in the darkness and found Dana's arm. Taking her hand in hers, she whispered, "Stay with me."

"Do you know where you're going?"

"No." The Princess started walking forward, holding Dana's hand in one of hers while using her other hand to run along the wall, trying to judge where they were headed. "We'll try and get outside and then I'll figure something out from there."

The walked for quite awhile, Allura figured it had been nearly twenty minutes. Dana was quiet, aside from the occasional sniffle or whimper as she tried not to cry out loud. There was no sign of light or an end to this tunnel, but it did get higher until they were both able to stand upright. She stopped and leaned against the wall. Help me, Keith, she silently pleaded. I don't know what to do or where to go, help me. I am so tired and I don't know if I can get us out of here.

"Allura?"

"I, uh, I just needed to stop a second, let's keep going."

They moved on for another five minutes when Allura came to a quick stop, Dana slamming into her from behind.

"Allura, what…"

"Sh," Allura warned, tilting her head to listen better. She was sure she had heard footsteps. With her heart pounding, she forced Dana behind her. They were not going down without a fight.

A flashlight beam cut through the darkness as quiet footfalls approached.

Dana shivered behind her, clutching her hand tightly.

Allura pulled herself up to her full height of 5'5" and tried to look more confident than she felt. The beam stopped at her feet and slowly swept up.

"Your highness?"

Allura shielded her eyes from the light, "Who is it?"

"It's me, your highness, Private Fforden. Come with me, please, I'll get you out."

"But how…"

"I'll explain as we go, please come." He grabbed her arm and turned the light to return from the way he had come. "Is Miss Whitaker with you?"

"Yes, she's here."

"Good. Follow me now."

"Why are you here?" She whispered.

"Lieutenant Collier asked me to come with them to search for you since I used to be a slave here I know the castle and most of the hidden passages," he told her, pulling a communicator from his belt. "Lt. Collier? I found them in the underground tunnel, we're heading out."

"Great, how are they?" Lance's voice echoed loudly off the walls.

"They seem to be in good shape."

"We'll meet you at the Lions."

Fforden shut the communicator and hurried forward, pulling on Allura's hand. They had been close to the exit, only having to go about another two hundred yards. The Private dropped her hand to push aside the branches of a bush that blocked the doorway.

"The Lions are about half a mile that way," he said. "Can you run?"

Allura nodded and the two women jogged after him, off the castle grounds and into the woods. They broke through a clearing to see Red, Yellow, and Green Lions sitting at attention. Allura scanned the area feeling her knees weaken. Where was Black? Where was Keith? If he was alive, he would be here.

"No," she whispered.

Dana fell to her hands and knees, exhausted and gasping for breath.

"Allura," Lance ran over to her. "Dana! Are you guys alright? Come on, let's get home before Lotor notices you're missing."

Hunk bent down and scooped Dana up into his arms. The girl was physically and emotionally exhausted. Tears ran down her face and her body was limp in his arms as he carried her to Yellow. Fforden raced to get a ride back with Pidge while Lance stopped to help Allura.

"Come on, Allura, let's go."

She didn't hear him. Her legs gave out beneath her and she fell, gasping for breath. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't see, she couldn't hear. No. No. He can't be dead. He's here somewhere.

Lance waved to the others to let them know he had it under control and they could leave. "Come on," he repeated gently. "We'll get you home and you can rest. You're exhausted."

"Keith," she whispered, passing out in the grass.

Lance swore under his breath. He could hear the sound of soldiers running through the woods. They had discovered the girls gone by now, they had to get out of here. Bending down, he carefully lifted Allura, carrying her to Red. It took some awkward maneuvering, but he was able to get her settled in and Red fired up by the time the Doom soldiers had broken into the clearing, firing their blasters harmlessly at the giant Lion.

A loud beeping was filling the cabin as Lance took off. "What is it?" He demanded, opening the lines of communication.

"You alright, Lance?" Hunk asked.

"Yeah, Allura passed out, I had to carry her to Red."

"Dana's out of it too, I guess they had a pretty rough time there."

"Let's just get them home. I'll call ahead and have Dr. Gorma on standby."

"Sounds good."

"See back on Arus, Hunk."

"Aye, Lance."

Lance closed the connection and set the Lion on auto pilot. At top speed it would take them nearly an hour to get back to Arus.

Allura was still out of it. Her bottom lip was swollen and there was a dark bruise that started at the corner of her mouth and spread across her cheek, a spot of dried blood crusted in the corner of her mouth. He reached under the seat for the first aid kit and pulled out an antiseptic wipe. As carefully as he could, he cleaned up the dried blood and around her mouth. She was lucky her lip wasn't split. With some ice, she would be fine.

"Hm."

"Allura?" Lance gently tapped her uninjured cheek when she moaned. "Can you hear me?"

"Lance?"

Her eyes flitted open, "What happened?"

"You passed out, kiddo. How're you feeling?"

"Tired and sore," she mumbled looking around the cockpit of Red. "Oh no."

"What is it?" He asked gently.

Her eyes widened. "You're actually asking me what's wrong?" Her voice rose shrilly.

"Uh, yeah. Are you in pain or something?"

"In pain?" Allura was suddenly finding it hard to breathe again as the reality of her situation came crashing down on her. "Oh no! Oh no! Oh no! What am I going to do Lance?"

"Calm down, Allura," he rubbed her hands between his, perplexed by her behavior. "We should be back on Arus in a little over half an hour, you'll be fine."

"No," she screamed at him. "I won't be fine! I'll never be fine! Oh, Lance, I don't know what I'll do without him!"

"Without who? What are you talking about?"

"Keith you jackass! How can you be so insensitive!"

He grabbed her shoulders and forced her to look at him, tears streaming down her cheeks as she gasped for breath, "Allura, what are you talking about?"

"L-Lotor said…he said Keith was…dead." The last word came out as a barely audible whisper.

"Oh, God, Allura, no. Keith is not dead. He was knocked out and hit his head pretty hard, but he's not dead. He was just coming out of it as we were leaving to come and get you."

"But…but Lotor had Keith's watch. And…and why isn't he here? H-he always said he would…he would always come for me."

"I don't know how Lotor got his watch, probably pulled it off him during the battle and he wanted to come, but Koran forbade him, forced him to stay. He hit his head pretty hard and has a nasty headache, he wasn't up for flying. But he will be fine."

Allura buried her face in her hands. She was so tired, so confused.

Lance opened the communication lines and called Castle Control. "Koran, where's Keith?"

"I believe he is still resting in the hospital."

Allura looked up, her hands over her mouth, to scared to believe.

"Go get him," Lance commanded.

"He's under doctor's orders to rest."

"I don't care, Koran, go get him now!"

Allura jumped, she had never heard Lance speak so forcefully.

Koran nodded and turned from the monitor. After what seemed like an eternity, but had actually only been about three minutes, Keith appeared in their screen. There was a white bandage on his temple and a large bruise down the side of his face, but he was there, alive. "What's wrong Lance? Is it Allura? Dana?"

Lance slid his gaze to Allura. Her mouth opened and closed wordlessly before a loud gasping sob erupted from deep within her. She hid her face in her hands, too overcome with emotion to speak.

Keith gripped the edge of his monitor, leaning closer as Allura sobbed loudly. "What happened Lance!"

"Lotor had her convinced you were dead. He took your watch and when she saw Black wasn't with us, she believed the worst," Lance explained quietly.

Keith hung his head, his heart breaking for what she must have gone through. Taking a deep breath he looked up, "Allura, honey, look at me."

She raised her eyes to his, but shook her head, unable to speak.

"We're half an hour out, Keith." Lance said, uneasily.

"I'll be waiting."

"And you might want to contact Yellow, if Allura thought you were dead, then Dana probably did too."

"Thanks Lance, I will."

Closing the connection, Lance turned to Allura, "Hey, hey, Allura, calm down. It's alright." He whispered to her soothingly as he ran his hands up and down her arms.

Allura finally got her emotions under control and looked up at him, "I'm sorry, Lance."

"You don't have to apologize."

"I just…I was never so scared before in my life. I should have known Lotor was lying, but…"

"It's alright, Allura. Now calm down. We'll be home soon and you'll be able to see for yourself that he is just fine."

She nodded resting her head back and closing her eyes. "How bad was the damage?"

"What?"

"After the battle. They were able to get into the castle, did we figure out how? How much damage was done to the castle?"

"Don't worry about that right now, Allura."

"Give me something to think about, Lance. Fill me in."

He sighed, "We don't really know yet, Allura, they're working on it. We were more worried about getting you and Dana back."

"Any causalties."

"Yes."

"Any fatal?"

"Yeah."

"What about Keith's family?"

"They're all fine. Pidge heard the gunfire and got them and Nanny to a safe place with a few guards."

She nodded, suddenly very tired. It had all just been too much. The next thing she knew, Lance was gently shaking her shoulder.

"Allura, wake up, we're home."

She looked around, realizing the Lion was no longer moving. Her entire body felt as though it weighed a ton, she was so tired, the adrenaline had worn off and she was completely wiped out. Keith. His name popped into her head and she pulled at the belts holding her down, her hands shaking convulsively.

"Calm down," Lance soothed, undoing the belts for her. "Take it easy, you've had a hell of a day."

Standing on unsteady legs, she pushed past Lance, not caring how rude she was being. She could not get to Castle Control fast enough to see him, to feel him, to know it had all been a horrible nightmare.

There he was. Hunk and Pidge had beat them back by about five minutes. Keith was hugging Dana, lifting her off her feet and twirling her around. Setting her down, he grinned at her and said something. Dana smiled back and reached into her pocket, holding his watch out to him. He thanked her and snapped it on his wrist. She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek before allowing Isabelle to drag her off to see Dr. Gorma. He looked so good, standing there in a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, his hair sticking up in all directions. Allura knew he had been running his hands through his hair out of frustration.

Lance entered Castle Control, bumping into Allura who was frozen to her spot, watching Keith welcome his sister back.

Keith chose that moment to look up and see her standing in front of Red's entry tube, Lance behind her. Her face was bruised and she looked exhausted, but more than anything she looked disbelieving. He ran over to her and pulled her into a tight hug. Allura wrapped her arms around him, clutching so tightly that her nails were biting into his skin. She gasped and started crying again.

"It's alright, baby," he whispered into her hair. "It's alright. I am so, so sorry this happened."

Lance quietly slipped away, moving to the main console where Koran was standing, looking as though he had aged ten years. The mess from the battle had been cleaned up, but there were plenty of repairs that needed to be done.

Allura pulled back to look at him, bringing her hands up to frame his face, "You really are here. Oh, Keith, I was never so scared in my life. I…I was so afraid that I lost you."

He brought his hand up to cover hers and turned to kiss her palm, "I'm alright, you're home and you're safe. I am just so sorry he put you through that."

She leaned forward to rest her forehead on his shoulder, "Don't ever leave me."

"I won't, Angel, I promise. Come on, I want Dr. Gorma to check you out."

She shook her head, "I'm just tired."

Keith cupped her chin and forced her to look at him, "You look pretty beat up."

"It's nothing, really, just a bruise. What about you?" She asked, gently touching his bandage.

"I just have one hell of a headache, a slight concussion, but I'll be fine."

"You should be in bed," Allura gasped.

"Not while you were gone. Come on, baby, let's get you cleaned up and then I want you to rest."

She nodded, too exhausted to argue. A huge weight had lifted off her shoulders and she was able to breathe better now. She wrapped her arm around his waist while he wound his arm around her shoulders.

"I'm going to get her to bed," Keith told Koran. "Let me know if you need me for anything."

"Go, Captain, rest." Koran dismissed him. After seeing their interaction, the older man knew that Keith was more worried about Allura getting better than taking advantage of her.

Allura let out a sigh as they walked down the hall, "I feel like such a fool."

"Why?"

"I made such a fool out of myself, overreacting…"

"Allura," Keith interrupted. "You did not make a fool of yourself, no one thinks that. I would have reacted the same way if it had been reversed."

"You wouldn't cry."

"Are you kidding? God, Allura, if I thought for one second that I had lost you, I would go mad."

Allura tightened her arm and leaned more heavily against him.

Keith punched in the code to open her door and Allura sighed with relief when they entered. There was a fire crackling in the hearth, the room was warm and inviting.

"Do you need help?" He asked awkwardly.

"No, sweetie, I'm going to take a quick shower and change. Will you be here?"

Keith ran his hand over her cheek, "I want to go check on Dana and get a compress for your cheek, but I will be back before you get out of the shower."

She nodded.

He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, "I love you, Allura."

"I love you too," she hugged him hard.

She glanced at the clock on her bedside table, it was nearly three in the morning, almost twenty four hours since the attack. Allura didn't want to think of how long they had been on Doom, she had been unconscious when they had arrived, but she had wakened at least two hours before Dana had.

She passed the full length mirror on her closet door and stopped. Her hair was matted and limp, her face bruised and pale, her clothes torn and dirty. She couldn't look away fast enough. Tearing off the flightsuit she had been wearing, she shoved it into the trash. The water was hot and burned her sore face, but she didn't care, scrubbing the smell and feel of Doom from her body and her hair.

Stepping from the shower, she brushed her teeth and then her hair, feeling better. A long, warm nightgown hung on the back of the door and she slid it over her head, sitting down on a vanity stool, too worn out to stand any more. It felt so good to be home.

Keith was reclining back on her bed, the blankets pushed aside, his legs stretched out in front of him, crossed at the ankles. One arm was bent behind his head, while he held a cold compress in his other hand and smiled at her. "Dana tells me you were quite a hero."

Allura shook her head, "How is she?"

"She's fine, just exhausted and a little shaken up. Come here," he set the compress down and held his hand out to her.

She took his hand and sat on the edge of the bed, "I'm glad she'll be alright."

He brought her hand to his lips, "And according to her, it's all because of you."

"I had to get us out of there. I couldn't live with myself if anything had happened to your sister."

Keith blinked, she saw the moisture that had gathered there before he blinked it away. "I told Dr. Gorma how you wouldn't go see him," he said gruffly. "He suggested rest and a cold compress."

"Are you going to stay with me?"

He nodded.

"I am so tired."

"Lay down, Angel."

He moved to slide over, but she stopped him. Needing to feel him, to remind herself that he was with her and he was alive. She straddled his waist and leaned down to carefully kiss him before laying her head on his chest.

Keith found great comfort in having her laying on top of him, her legs on either side of his, her uninjured cheek against his chest, one hand on his chest beside her face and the other clutched his shoulder. He carefully laid the compress against her cheek while stroking her hair with his other hand. She grew heavier, limper as she relaxed against him and he felt a shiver run through her. He stopped his caresses long enough to pull the blankets up over them. He had never felt happier, more content than he did at this moment. His eyes slowly closed.

Without warning the door slid open and Nanny swept in with a tray. She stopped short and gaped at the scene before her. Her Princess was in bed with the Captain, wrapped around each other in a very intimate way. The china tinkled as the tray shook in her hands.

Keith opened his eyes and met Nanny's angry gaze. He didn't feel as intimidated as he might have at one time.

"What is going on?" Nanny demanded.

"Shh," Keith whispered. "She has had a really rough time and I am not going to let you upset her and I am not going to disturb her right now."

"This is totally inappropriate," Nanny hissed.

Allura moaned and shifted, her eyelids too heavy to open.

"It's alright, baby," he whispered before looking back at Nanny. "Please leave."

"This is not your place…"

"It is more my place than yours," he said quietly, daringly.

The older woman's face turned dark red.

"We will talk about this later," he continued. "When Allura is feeling better."

Nanny set the tray down and turned to the door.

"Please lock it," Keith added.

"Thank you," Allura breathed when she heard the door shut.

Nanny stood outside the door and after some inner debate, she locked it, feeling her eyes tear up. It wasn't her place anymore to look after her girl and it broke her heart.