I make no claims to Voltron or any other WEP characters.

Enjoy Chapter 3

Mertz

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A week later Allura tosses her head in her sleep, "No…Keith…don't leave me…" She continues to toss her head as Cat sits down on the bed beside her, "Wake up Allura…it's just a dream…" She shakes her until Allura finally sits upright in the bed as she pulls away from Cat, her hands outstretched in front of her, "KEITH!"

Coming out of the dream Allura looks around the room before seeing Cat sitting beside her and breaks into tears. Cat wraps her arms around her, "It's alright love…"

Cat holds her while she sobs, stroking her hair and making calming sounds. Soon Allura cries herself back to sleep and Cat sighs as she shifts Allura back onto her pillows and pulls the covers over her once more. She moves back to her chair near the bed and sighs as she continues her watch.

An hour later Nanny enters the room and whispers to Cat, "Any dreams?"

Cat grimaces, "About an hour ago… I slipped some sleep tonic in her water before she went to bed so I am hoping she will stay out until morning now."

Nanny nods and takes Cat's seat next to the bed, "My poor baby…" Cat pats Nanny's shoulder and leaves the room.

She walks down the hall to her and Lance's room. She walks in the door, quietly removes her clothes and tries to slip into bed only to have Lance wrap his arms around her, "Did she have another nightmare?"

Cat sighs, "I should know by now that you will never sleep through me trying to get into bed."

Lance sighs as he kisses her neck, "Did she?"

Cat turns over in his arms so she is lying on his chest, the window in their room allowing in enough light for Cat to see his eyes, "Yes… They only seem to be getting worse too." She kisses Lance's chest before she continues, "I don't know how much longer she is going to last at this rate. She won't eat unless Romelle or I force her or sleep unless I slip her a mickey and that is becoming more difficult all the time."

Lance stiffens and tightens his hold on her, "What can I do to help?"

Cat studies his eyes, "Find Keith…"

Lance lets out a deep sigh of disgust, "I'm trying Cat… Sven's spies on Doom haven't heard anything about a prisoner of Keith's description and let's face it…if Lotor had him he would have called to gloat or offer to exchange Keith for Allura by now." He sits up in the bed away from her, "We have no idea who took him or where he is…even Sven is beginning to lose hope Cat and he is the eternal optimist of this group."

Cat sits up in front of Lance and touches his cheek as a tear slides down it. He looks at Cat, "I'm afraid Keith is lost to us Cat…I've lost my best friend…" and tears continue to slide down his cheeks as his body starts to shake with emotion.

Cat wraps her arms around him, pulling him against her, "Oh love… Please don't give up yet." Lance holds tight to her as he cries out his grief. When he quiets Cat pulls back and caresses his cheek before she leans into him and kisses him.

Lance deepens the kiss as he pushes her down onto the bed and slides between her legs. Cat shifts to make herself more comfortable as Lance pushes into her and begins to move. She clings to him as he moves faster and faster before groaning out his release against her throat.

He lays there not moving as Cat strokes his back and whispers into his ear, "I love you Lance…"

Lance makes a choking sound near her ear and finally raises his head, "I'm sorry…"

Cat reaches up to stroke his face once more, "You have nothing to be sorry about love…" She leans up and tenderly kisses him. Lance sighs against her mouth before turning over and pulling her along with him.

Cat lays along Lance's body, resting her head on his chest and listening to his heartbeat. She sighs, "The wedding is only a couple of weeks away…" She raises her head to gaze into Lance's face once more, "Do you want to postpone it?"

Lance closes his eyes as his voice cracks, "Please Cat…don't make me decide that now…"

Cat reaches up and holds his cheek as she gazes into his eyes when he opens them, "When you are ready love…even if you decide the day of to wait…I will understand."

Lance holds her gaze and nods at her, then tightens his hold on her as he lays his head back against the pillows and closes his eyes. Cat studies his profile for a moment than lays her head back down onto his chest and closes her eyes as sleep claims her.

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Allura turns over in bed and blurrily looks at the clock. She notices the late hour but can't find it within herself to care as she pushes her face back into her pillow. She hears her name being said but doesn't move until she feels a hand rubbing her arm, "Allura…"

She looks up to see Romelle's face before her, "Morning… I have breakfast for you."

Allura shakes her head at her and closes her eyes again. Romelle sighs, "You need to eat Allura, you've already lost too much weight."

When she doesn't move Romelle tries another card, "Keith wouldn't want you like this Allura…he would want you to eat and be well."

Allura opens her eyes and tears flow from them. Romelle wipes them away with her fingers, "Please Allura…just a little."

Allura nods slightly and sits up in bed. Romelle places the tray in front of her and Allura takes a piece of toast off the plate and eats it slowly. Romelle watches her as she eats the toast then pushes the rest of the tray away from her. Romelle sighs once more and takes the glass of juice off the tray, "Please…drink this."

Allura looks at the glass then shakes her head, "Cat drugged me again last night, didn't she?"

Romelle rolls her eyes, "There is nothing in the juice Allura, watch." She takes the glass and takes a drink of it then holds it back out for Allura. Allura reluctantly takes the glass from Romelle and begins sipping it.

Allura's eyes follow Romelle as she rises and asks her the same question she has asked Romelle every morning for the last three weeks, "Any news?"

Romelle doesn't look at her as she folds the blanket she was using earlier and gives Allura the same answer she has given her every morning for the last three weeks, "Sorry…no."

Allura looks down and then leans forward to put the glass back on the tray. She rises from the bed and makes her way across the room to the bathroom. Romelle watches her go and wipes a tear away from her cheek.

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Allura sits in her office seemingly engaged in reading the document in front of her. The door to her office opens and Cat carries in a tray for her, "You missed lunch love."

Allura doesn't look up as she replies, "I'm not hungry."

Cat sets the tray down right on top of her papers, which causes Allura to look up with angry eyes, "I don't want it Cat."

Cat stares down at her, "I no longer care Allura." Allura's eyes widen in shock as Cat glares at her with her hands on her hips, "I've tried to be supportive these last few weeks Allura…but I can't do it anymore. You are allowing yourself to waste away to nothing and I will no longer stand by and watch you do it."

She gestures to the tray, "You are going to eat everything on that bloody tray or I am going to stuff it down your throat."

Allura's shock turns to anger, "How dare you!"

Cat's emerald eyes glow as she returns Allura's glare with one of her own, "I love you Allura and I won't watch you slowly die because you feel like you have nothing left to live for with Keith gone."

The anger drains from Allura as her eyes fill with tears. Cat walks around the desk and pulls her into a hug, "You need to continue living Allura and believe that Keith will come back to you. It may not be soon, but you know Keith will find a way."

Allura sobs against Cat as she rubs her back. When she quiets Cat steps back and grips Allura's chin forcing her to look at her, "I will leave you alone for now. When I come back I want to see everything on that tray gone and I don't mean into the garbage can love."

Allura lets out a shaky breath and then nods. Cat smiles at her and then turns and leaves the room. Allura takes the lid off the tray, pulling the bowl of soup next to her and begins eating it.

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Cat enters the office an hour later surprised not see Allura at her desk. She looks around and finds Allura lying on her couch, asleep. She walks over to the couch, pulls the throw off the back and covers Allura with it. She walks back to the desk, is satisfied to see the near empty tray, picks it up and walks out of the room with it.

Allura sighs in her sleep as she sees Keith in front of her. He smiles at her and holds his hand out to her, Allura…you need to find me… He flashes a distance away from her and stands in the middle of a field, Please Allura…I'm waiting for you…but you must come before it is too late…

Allura races into the field, Please Keith, wait! I'm coming! Keith's image flashes a distance away from her and his voice gets quieter in Allura's mind, Hurry my love…before it's too late…

She sits upright on the couch, "KEITH WAIT!"

Allura looks around her office desperately before quickly rising from the couch. She walks across the room and looks out her window as she hugs herself. She puts her forehead against the cool glass as she relives the dream. Unable to handle it any longer she turns around and walks out of her office.

Allura walks down the hall praying she won't run into anyone and walks into castle control. Happy that everyone must be in the team meeting that was planned for this afternoon she hits the button for the launch tunnel then quickly steps off the dais as it rises. She takes the tunnel for Blue and takes off.

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Allura flies across the country, heading for the field she saw in her dream…the same field Keith disappeared from three weeks ago. She is almost there when her comm. unit goes off, "Allura I know you are out in Blue…where the hell do you think you are going?"

Allura flips on the video screen, "I just needed to go Lance…"

Lance glares at her from the screen, "You know you shouldn't be out there alone."

Allura sighs, "I need to be here alone."

Lance arches a brow at her, "Where is here?"

Allura shakes her head at him, "I'll be back soon." and shuts off the comm. unit cutting off Lance's retort.

She lands Blue lion, exits and walks across the field. She closes her eyes, turns her face up to the sun and cries out mentally, I'm here Keith… She opens her eyes to find the field empty and closes them once more as tears start down her face and she slowly sinks to the ground.

She opens her eyes when she hears a ship coming in and is shocked to see Merla's star cutter landing near the field. Allura stands, watching as the door opens and then is amazed when Keith exits the ship and strides across the field toward her, away from Merla's ship. Happiness fills her as she steps forward to meet him only stopping when she notices the knife in his hand. Her voice trembles with anxiety, "Keith?"

Keith smiles a feral smile at her, "Queen Allura?"

Allura's brow furrows as she studies him, "Keith what were you doing with Queen Merla?"

Keith finishes closing the distance between them, "My queen wishes you dead for all that you have done to her, you evil bitch." and pulls up the knife showing it to Allura fully and begins twisting it around, taunting her.

Allura stares at him horrified, "Keith don't you remember me?" She stands in front of Keith as he twirls the knife around in his fingers as he slowly circles her, stepping closer every time, "Keith, please! This isn't you!"

Keith says nothing as he stares at her blankly, switching the knife to his other hand and twirling it. She looks away from the knife to his eyes as the look within them becomes deadly, "Keith think! You must remember who you are! You are the king of Arus and my husband!"

Keith stops in his tracks and looks at her oddly, "King? What kind of idiot do you take me for?"

Allura takes a cautious step closer to him, "My husband Keith… You have a scar that crosses your chest from your left shoulder to your stomach."

He looks at her shocked as she continues, "Roll up your right hand sleeve Keith. You have a tattoo burned into your arm from the time you were held as a slave on Planet Doom."

In disbelief he grabs the sleeve of his shirt and pulls it up to reveal the tattoo, "How did you know…"

Allura steps in front of him and grabs his cheeks staring into his dark eyes, "Because you are my husband Keith and I love you. Don't let Merla do this to you!"

Confusion fills Keith's mind as he stares at the woman he vowed to kill for Merla's love. He pulls away from Allura and grabs his head as he suddenly hears her voice in his mind, Kill her my love… You vowed to kill her for me… Allura watches the pain in his face as he holds his head, "Keith?"

Keith releases his head, Merla's voice like a mantra flowing through his mind and his eyes glaze over as he slowly raises the knife again, "I have to…"

Allura grabs his face and pulls him to her, kissing him on the lips. Keith stiffens his entire body as Allura clings to him, her tongue gently gliding across his lips then entering his mouth. Keith releases the knife, allowing it to fall to the ground, as he closes the mental door to Merla, shutting out her voice as he wraps his arms around Allura and returns her kiss.

Merla watches from across the field as Allura kisses Keith, "Damn her! She has him blocking me." She turns to her Lieutenant, "Send the bots over to finish both of them off!"

Allura releases Keith's lips and caresses his cheek, "I love you Keith." Confusion burns in Keith's eyes and mind as he stares into her sapphire eyes. He shakes his head trying to clear it, "I don't know…" then stops as he looks up and sees the robot soldiers coming across the field toward them. He shoves Allura to the ground and lands on top of her as they raise their weapons and open fire.

Allura screams his name as he quickly pulls her back up when the robots stop firing to move forward and then pulls her along, running for the protection of the trees. Keith looks behind him, still grasping Allura's hand, noticing the robots following them. He finally sees the gun at Allura's waist and grabs it from her and begins firing on the robots.

He knocks out three of them before grabbing Allura's hand and running some more, trying to lose the robots in the woods. Allura follows Keith, trusting his instincts even with the obvious loss of his memory. Keith pushes her down into some bushes and they remain there hiding as the robots go by them. Keith studies Allura's eyes as they wait for the robots to pass them by. I don't understand how she knows me…how could she know about my scar…the tattoo?

He shakes his head to clear it again and looks around to make sure the way is clear before taking her hand and forcing her to run with him again. They clear the woods and Keith runs to the old abandoned looking barn in front of them, closing the door once they are inside of it.

He releases Allura's hand and watches her take a step back from him apprehensively, "Keith what happened to you? You've been missing for the three weeks!"

Keith doesn't answer her as he calms down his breathing. He continues to study her, "How do you know me?"

Allura steps toward him, raising her hand to touch him only to have Keith pull away from her, holding his hands up as if to guard himself from her, "Don't touch me!"

A tear runs down Allura's face as she lowers her hand, studying the man she loves, "Keith, don't you remember us at all? Voltron? Being Commander of the Voltron force? Flying Black lion?"

Keith stares at her dumbfounded, "Flying? I'm no pilot. Voltron is just a myth told to children."

Allura shakes her head sadly at him, "No Keith…it's real…it's all real. You are the pilot of Black lion."

Keith shakes his head stopping when he hears a sound of something flying overhead. He stiffens as he hears the craft land outside then a male voice yelling, "Allura!"

Allura's eyes fly to the door, "It's Lance! He must have followed the tracer sown into my flight suit."

Keith pulls up the gun and opens the door, stepping outside as Allura follows him. He sees a man of his height walking toward him from, as Keith stares open mouthed, a red mechanical lion. The man stops in front of Keith, his own gun raised, then his jaw drops as he stares at him before managing to say, "Keith?"

Keith raises the gun once more pointing it at Lance's chest, "Drop the gun or die."

Lance stares at him flabbergasted, "My God Keith!"

Keith takes aim but before he can fire he feels a pinch at his neck and feels himself losing consciousness.