Lance stood at the back of the reception hall, listening to the memorial service. He didn't want to be here. He'd been telling everyone and anyone who would listen for the past two weeks, that Keith wasn't dead. Lance knew it. The collar of his dress uniform was cutting into his throat. He glanced around. Sven caught his eye, and looked away quickly. No one had left Lance alone since he got back. They're afraid I'm going to do something stupid. Fat chance. He'd only seen Allura once. She wouldn't speak to anyone, not even him. She'd locked herself in her room, not even coming out for meals. She wouldn't even let Nanny or Romelle in to see her. She blamed herself for Keith. Lance sighed. It's not her fault. It's mine. Lance fidgeted again. He glanced at his watch. Only five minutes had passed since the last time he checked. He looked around the hall. It was packed full of people. He swore half of Galaxy Garrison was there. Even the Vehicle Voltron Force had shown up out of the blue, the "Explorer" landing in the lake. Commander Hawkins, Jeff, Cliff, and Crick sat up in front with Coran, his father, and the rest of the brass.

Lance sighed and looked at his watch again. I can't stand this. I'm outa here. He carefully made his way, unnoticed, to the door. Once out in the hallway, he loosened the collar of his uniform and took a deep breath. Much better. He looked around. I'd better get out of here before the babysitters show up. He made his way outside to the garden. He sat on a bench, and thought about the last conversation he'd had with Allura out here. It seemed like years ago. Lost in thought, Lance stared out at nothing. A touch on his shoulder made him jump.

"Lance. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." Allura sat down next to him.

Her face was pale, and there were dark circles under her red rimmed blue eyes.

"Princess! I wondered when you'd show up." He tried to smile at her.

She didn't smile back. "I couldn't bear to be at that service."

Lance nodded. "Me neither." They sat quietly together. "At least if you're here, Sven, Jeff and the others will leave me alone for a while. I can't even take a shower without some one coming in to check on me. What do they think I'm going to do anyway?" He muttered angrily.

Allura sighed sadly, "It's all my fault Lance. If I had listened to Keith when he told me to stay here…"

Lance interrupted her. "Stand in line Allura. I knew how hurt he was on that ship. Shadow training or not, I should have been able to stop him." He told her bitterly.

Allura sighed, and a tear trickled down her cheek. Lance looked up at her.

"Allura?" He took her hand in his. "If it makes you feel any better, Keith was happier the past few weeks than I have seen him in a long time. Years in fact."

"Really?"

Lance nodded. "He smiled, even laughed! You made him see that life was worth living again. Made him think about something other than this stupid war." He looked deep into her blue eyes. "Never doubt his love for you Allura."

They sat there in the silence for a few minutes. "Lance? Could you do something for me?" Allura asked hesitantly.

"Sure Princess, anything." He replied.

"I need to clean out Keith's room. Your father might want to take things home with him. Will you help me? I can't do it alone." She asked softly.

Lance closed his eyes and sighed. He looked back at Allura. The pleading in her eyes almost broke his heart. "Sure." He said quietly. "Let's go now, before anyone finds us." They stood, and walked hand in hand to Keith's room. Lance paused, then punched in the security codes. They stepped inside.

Keith's quarters were exactly like him, neat, orderly, and prim, yet comfortable at the same time. Lance shut the door, and walked over to Keith's desk. It was covered in neat piles of paperwork. He sat down and opened a drawer. Inside, looking up at him, was the Captain's patch Keith had torn off his uniform before he left. Lance held it in his fist, and closed his eyes, his body shuddering with emotion.

Allura walked over to see what he held. "Lance? What is it?" He couldn't answer, just handed her the patch. "This is Keith's Captain's badge? How did it get off his uniform?" She asked puzzled.

Lance sighed. "He tore it off, when Dad commanded him to stay here." At Allura's confused expression, he explained the whole story.

She was shocked. "He resigned? But…but the service meant everything to him!"

Lance shook his head. "Not everything Princess." Allura walked over to the window, still holding the tattered piece of cloth in her hand. Lance got up and went into Keith's bedroom. The bureau was covered with pictures. There was the one of Keith and his parents. Another at Graduation, with Lance, Sven, Jeff, Cliff, Crick and the rest of the gang. Another of all of them, in their Voltron uniforms, standing in front of the Castle gate. He picked up one more, and laughed out loud.

Allura came in. "What?" She said, puzzled.

He smiled at her. "Here, look at this, I didn't know he had kept this." Lance handed her the picture. It showed Keith, Lance, Sven, Cliff, and Jeff, all laughing. What really made the picture funny was that they all had purple hair. Allura laughed in spite of herself. "Never thought you'd see old stuck up Montgomery with hair like that did you? Those were the days…" Lance sighed.

"Why did you all dye your hair purple?" Allura asked puzzled.

"Let's go sit down and I'll tell the whole story." Lance led her back to the living room. Glancing out the window, he noticed a rather battered Space Force patrol ship landing. They're still patrolling. Life goes on. He sighed and motioned Allura to sit on the couch.

"Let me tell you about our not so pure, not so law-abiding Captain Keith Montgomery." He proceeded to tell Allura about all the trouble they had gotten into while at the Space Academy. Once or twice, Allura's eyes widened in surprise. "And so, that's how the girls got us back. They put the dye in our shampoo. We had that hair for a week before they gave us the stuff to wash it out." Lance finished.

Allura looked skeptical. "You can't tell me you talked Keith into raiding the girls' dorm and stealing all the towels while they were in the showers."

"I didn't have to talk him into it Princess. It was his idea."

"Lance!"

Lance laughed. "Really! Most of the stuff we got in trouble for was all his devising! Keith was the criminal mastermind, the rest of us just put his plans into action." Lance grinned at her. "Didn't think our play-it-by-the-rules Captain had it him?"

Allura looked closely at the picture. "Tell me about everyone."

Lance sat back on the couch. "Let's see, Jeff Dunbar is the Captain of the Vehicle Voltron Force. He had a bad crash on a training flight when we were kids. His head got banged up pretty bad, and for a while, we didn't think he would make it. But other than a slight slur to his voice, he turned out OK. Even managed to graduate second in the class. Great martial arts expert. Cliff Sheffield is the English gent. He and Sven tied for third. Other than Sven and me, Cliff was probably one of Keith's best friends." Lance smiled. "Cliff's probably the only one on the planet who could beat Keith at Judo. Except maybe Jeff."

"Who are the blue skinned people? I mean, they can't be Druhle?"

Lance laughed. "That's Crick Atlantraeta and Cinda Mersulota. They come from the planet Oceiania. It's mostly a water planet. They're healers and telepaths."

"What about the dark, long haired woman. She seems very upset over…." Allura's voice faltered.

"That's Lisa Pollodin. She lost her parents in the same incident as Keith lost his. She and Keith were pretty close. They used to date, but realized they made much better friends. She and Jeff are kinda an item now. My cousin Ginger is on the team too. She's the tiny curly red head. My Dad and her Mom are brother and sister."

Allura smiled. "Is she as much of a hellion as you are?" She teased.

Lance put his hand to his heart as if he had been struck. "Princess! You wound me!" He said dramatically.

"You'll live." She smiled.

"Well, if you must know. Ginger was the brains behind the purple shampoo plot. So yeah, I guess we're a lot alike. I'm the cuter one though!"

Allura was quiet for a few minutes. "Lance? Did Keith date many…I mean were there alot of girls he…"

"There were only two he was serious about. Starina and a very cute Admiral's daughter. Though why she picked Keith, I have no idea."

She looked up at him. "Lance, how serious?"

"Well, you know Keith. Starina was in the class ahead of us. He dated her until she graduated and was sent to a deep space probe ship, and that was the end of that."

"And the Admiral's daughter?"

Lance grinned at her. "Well, that broke up kinda fast. The Admiral walked in and caught Keith with his pants down, if you take my meaning." He wiggled his eyebrows at her.

Allura got up and walked to the window, laughing. Then her smile faltered. She put her face in her hands.

Lance walked over and tilted her head up so he was looking at him. "Allura, there were other girls, the guy's human after all, but he never loved them. He cared for them sure, but he never loved anyone but you." He told her softly.

"Really?"

"Really. Allura, he's loved you since we came here. I never saw him so crazy over someone. He waited and watched you from a distance, glaring at all those Princes who came to seek your hand. I think most of them gave up because they were afraid of him!" He pulled her close. "Never, ever doubt his feelings for you. Keith loved you Allura. He loved you with all his heart."

"I miss him so much." She whispered, her body shaking with sobs.

Lance allowed himself to grieve for the first time since Lotor's ship blew up. He held her tightly, tears streaming down his face. He heard the door open, but didn't look up, knowing it was only Sven or the Admiral looking for him.

"I'm gone for a few days, and already you're stealing my girl."

Lance and Allura looked up in shock. Keith was standing in the doorway, bruised, battered and looking somewhat the worse for wear, but alive.

"I'm dreaming…" Allura whispered. Lance stood stunned, unable to move. Keith took a staggering step forward into the room, and dropped to his knees, groaning.

That was all they needed. As one, they rushed towards Keith, falling to the floor hugging him, laughing and crying at the same time.

Lance wiped the tears off his face. "Jesus Captain. You really scared us this time." He and Allura helped Keith to his feet, and sat him down on the couch.

Keith looked up at Allura. "Is that all the hello I get?"

She flung herself into his arms, sobbing. "I thought you were dead."

Keith forced her back, and looked into her eyes. "I promised you I would never leave you again."

"I love you Keith Montgomery!"

"I love you Allura." He kissed her soundly on the lips.

Lance gagged. "Geez! Enough already." He grinned and hugged them both. "Now, tell us how the hell you got off that thing!"

Keith winced. "First, I think I need to get to sick bay. With what I'm feeling like right now, I almost wish I had died."

Allura got her first good look at him. His face was pale and covered in cuts and bruises, his clothing was torn and burned. There were gashes and dried blood down his chest and face. One arm hung limply by his side. Allura looked concerned. "Let's get Dr. Gorma down here." Lance nodded and headed towards the com-panel.

Keith shook his head gingerly. "No, I don't want a big commotion. I've made it this far, a few more yards won't hurt." He struggled to his feet, gasping. Lance grabbed him around the waist and supported him. Allura opened the door, then took Keith's hand. They started down the deserted hallway. "Where is everyone?" Keith asked.

Lance laughed. "At your Memorial Service Captain! Nanny is going to be pissed to find out you're still alive. She's been planning this for a week!"

"Well, I'll admit I'm glad she'll be disappointed." They walked into sick-bay. A nurse looked up in shock. She called out to Doctor Gorma.

The doctor walked out, not looking up from the chart he was reading. "Yes nurse? What is it?" When she didn't answer, he glanced up, then back at his chart, then back up again. His eyes were round in shock. "Captain!"

"Hey Doc…" Keith said weakly, his legs buckling under him. Doctor Gorma grabbed Keith's other arm, causing Keith to moan in pain. "Not that one…." They laid him on a bed.

Lance stepped back, allowing the nurses and Doctor to examine his friend. Allura wouldn't let go of Keith's hand, afraid she would lose him again. Doctor Gorma gently pried her hand away. "He's not going anywhere. Why don't you go in the other room and let us take a look at him." Allura nodded, and Lance led her out of the room. Lance picked her up in his arms and whirled her around the room.

"Pinch me! I still can't believe it!" He told her, grinning like a maniac.

She laughed, "Only if you pinch me first!" She placed a quick kiss on his cheek.

"I suppose we should let everyone know Keith's alive." Lance said thoughtfully.

Allura nodded and walked over to the com-panel. "Let me!"