Sorry for the delay, so many things going on right now.

Enjoy.

Chapter Eleven

Shortly after they all had a chance to see Larmina, they all went back to the room that was set up for them to wait on word from Keith. If Larmina's injuries were bad how worse off were Keith's was the silent question going around. Two hours later an exhausted Dr. Gorma came in as everyone looked at him expectantly.

"You Majesty, He's out of surgery but not out of the danger. He coded once during surgery," he spoke to the group. "The next 24 to 48 hours are crucial right now. If he survives that then he has a better chance of surviving."

Allura brought her hand to her mouth. Lance put a hand on her shoulder as she tried to stifle the cry that was threatening to come out.

"How bad is it Doc," Lance asked.

The doctor sighed and listed off the injuries as they listened. Massive internal injuries and blood loss from the stab wounds and the fall, and the list went on. "But the most concerning is the injury to his brain. During surgery, I remove several bone fragments that were lodged in his brain and repaired some bleeding vessels. Scans are showing damage to his brain. We won't know how bad the damage is until the swelling comes down. We are also monitoring the pressure in his brain as well due to the swelling. Although the treatment of brain injuries has come a long way, with the severe injury he's suffered, it's going to be touch and go. For now, he's in a drug induced coma to allow his body to heal."

"That's why the next two days are crucial right now," Vince spoke.

"Yes, If he hadn't suffered all the other injuries, I wouldn't be worried right now, but his other injuries are compounding the issues with the severe head injuries he sustained along with the massive blood loss"

"So there's the possibility that if he does survive, he will not be 100%," Lance spoke not really wanting to know the answer.

"Yes, that is a very real possibility," replied the doctor. "If he does make it and wakes up, he has a long and I'm stressing a long recovery ahead of him. It will be during his recovery when we will see the full extent of the damage and how bad any deficits will be."

"But you can treat them right," asked Hunk.

"Yes I can, but be aware that due to the severity of the injuries, I will not be able to repair all the damage. You have to remember, the brain is a complicated organ and we're still learning more about it with medical advances and treatments but some things still are a mystery."

Allura sat there listening to what Dr. Gorma was saying, digesting everything and coming to the realization that if Keith survives this he may never fly Black again. But she knew Keith, he doesn't give up. he's a fighter, he would do whatever he could to come back from this. He had to survive this, she wasn't sure what she would do if he didn't and it frightened her. She felt the baby kick and rubbed her stomach. There had been several close calls in the past the scariest one she had witnessed was when Keith had been stabbed by Lotor with a laser sword and he still bore the scar from that event. There were also other scars that he had accumulated not only during his time while they battled both Zarkon and Lotor and the forces of Doom during the war but also during the 5 year search for the Black Lion but Keith wouldn't elaborate on how he got them but she did know through the Den resistance that he had received medical treatment a couple of times for severe injuries. Her daughter kicked again and Allura continued to rub her stomach trying to sooth the baby. It's as if she knew something was wrong and was voicing her concern by kicking and moving around. Keith has to get through this! We need him. When they had learned they were having a girl two months ago, they were elated and it had taken the two of them nearly a month to decide on her name. Only Larmina knew the baby's name. They had decided not to share her name with everyone else for now and just let it be a surprise when she's born. Allura thought back to the day they announced to the people of Arus that they were expecting their daughter.

V

Flashback

Nearly two months ago

Keith, Allura and Larmina had stepped onto the balcony overlooking the bridge where a large gathering of people had gathered to hear an announcement from their queen. The rest of the Voltron Force and Pidge stood behind them letting the three take center stage. Larmina she noticed had surprised everyone by wearing a simple dress along with leggings with low boots as opposed to either blue jeans, sneeakers and a t-shirt or her Voltron uniform. That had shocked everyone. Everyone had been used to her being a tom boy as Keith had put it since she despised anything girly, pink, sparkly or even hinting she was a royal. She stayed true to that with the dress she wore which was just in the shade of blue and had none of the usual embellishments you would find on Allura's dresses. The boots also made a statement as well, Larmina hated wearing heels of any kind the only compromise was when they had a ball or an occasion that required it. The last time anyone remembered Larmina ever wearing heels and a formal dress was at Keith and Allura's wedding anything else, she put her foot down.

The gathered crowd cheered as the royal family appeared. She had already began showing with the pregnancy of her daughter and she had that glow as Lance put it and it shown brightly on this warm beautiful day. It took a few minutes for the gathering to settle down to hear what the queen had to say. The announcement was also being broadcast all over the planet for those who couldn't make it to the Castle of Lions and all over Arus, people had gathered to hear Queen Allura's announcement.

"People of Arus, we have some wonderful news to share. I am with child." With that news it sounded like the whole planet erupted in chears. She waited patiently for the cheering to settle down. "Our daughter will be the next crown princess of Arus and with her upcoming arrival will help bring Arus to a new beginning and a brighter future." The news that the baby was to be a girl sent everyone into another round of cheers. It seemed like ages as the cheering went on and Keith, Allura and Larmina reveled in the excitement of the people as they waved and smiled.

End Flashback

V

As for now, Keith, Allura and Larmina were keeping her name a secret from everyone else and close to home. Of course, they had given Dr. Gorma a sealed document with her name for which it was now under lock and key until the birth. Even Coran and Nanny didn't know. While remembering that day, she had shut out what the others were saying. "Don't worry doc, if he survives this, we'll be there for him," she heard Hunk say.

"Yeah, knowing Keith he won't stay down for long," replied Lance.

She felt her heart swell with pride and love. Without a doubt Allura knew, her best friends would be there for Keith and for her and their baby. But right now, there was the overwhelming lingering fear of what if he doesn't survive. How was she going to go on with their daughter or if he did survive, how will the injuries effect his life. For now she finally decided, they would take things one step at a time. She realized, no one was going to give up on Keith, neither will she. "Tnanks guys, I know you'll all be there for Keith, but he needs to get past the next couple of days."

"We know Allura, Keith's a fighter, we've seen him come out of tough spots before and this won't stop him," Lance spoke the words Hunk and Pidge were thinking. Vince who was relatively new to the team just listened, he'd heard stories from Pidge about Keith surviving some of the toughest battles around and that he never gives up.

"Yeah, before we know it, he'll be up and driving us all crazy with Lion practice and whatever else that needs to be done," spoke Hunk . That earned a chuckle from the group.

"But Keith still needs to get past the next two days," spoke Vince still worried not only for Keith but for Larmina as well.

"Yeah, we know Vince," Pidge spoke. "But knowing Keith as we do, he'll get past this."

"Uh huh right doc," Hunk spoke.

"Yes." Dr. Gorma was well aware of His Majesty's dislike of hanging around Medical any longer than he has too, and he had to agree with the veteran members of the Voltron Force gathered here in this room. "For now, I am allowing you to see Keith one or two at a time for now. Then I advise you all get some rest for the next couple of days will be hard on all of you as we wait to see if he gets past the next 48 hours." They all agreed and repeated the same ritual when they visited Larmina earlier. Then went back to the room they were using in medical to hash out a schedule so that someone would be with Keith and Larmina and gave it to the medical staff. After visiting Keith, Allura not wanting to leave medical, stayed the room that had been set up and laid down on the couch to get some rest crying herself to sleep from the exhaustion and stress from what had occurred that day.