Keith Akira came to Arus just when Allura felt her lowest. The only thing that kept her from killing herself was Cimmie and the small one inside her. It would be easy to hate the life inside her, but she couldn't. It was innocent. Allura made a vow to protect the little one inside her from the evil of the father, no matter how difficult it would be. She hated Jarius, but the little one she would love, for aside from Cimmie, there was no one else to love.....
He was heart-sick and heart sore. He felt like the whole world was upon his shoulders. Keith Akira, age 36, had gone through hell since his wife Kate had died, and everyone, from the Commander of the Garrison to the lowliest cadet knew it. He was on leave, not willingly but under orders from Admiral-Gen Jacob Cameron, his father-in-law. His mother-in-law, Amand'aa, had volunteered to watch his son Lance while he was away. They had both been concerned for him ever since Kate had died of Cray's Disease. They had gone on, he had not. No, he had not. His heart was frozen. He was a robot...Keith had his ship on auto-pilot. He idly scratched his beard and thought for about the millionth time he should shave it off. A lot of the women at the Academy seemed to like it on him. Many thought that his beard combined with his salt-and-pepper hair made him look rugged. Of course, ever since Kate died, many of the female instructors and many of the cadets flirted with him, hoping he would ask them out, but he never did. He did find some of them attractive, but his heart just wasn't into forming any relationships with any woman. So why was he going to Arus? He didn't know. Maybe it was because he felt that she would understand, having gone through the same thing. Maybe it was because she had always been his friend. Whatever the reason, that's where he was headed...
One of her Royal Guards had announced him when he arrived. Keith was well-remembered on Arus and he was welcomed with open arms. When Allura had seen him, her eyes lit up and she ran to him and gave him a big hug. Keith had forgotten how she showed emotion so. He accepted her hug then noticed her face. It looked like she had beaten in the near past! His eyes narrowed. What had happened? Allura looked a little nervous as if she knew what he was thinking. Smiling slightly, She rubbed his face. She said, "Scratchy! When did you grow this?" Keith was about to say, "After Kate died-" when Allura looked down at the ground and said, "I-I'm sorry about Kate, Keith..." He said quietly, "And I'm sorry about-" She cut him off and said, "I know....how's Lancie..?" Keith looked at her and said, "He's ok..at his grandma and grandpa's-he loves it there..gets to run and raise hell..." Allura smiled and said jokingly, .."just like his old man.." Keith said, "Hey! I'm not that old!" She said, "I know.." Keith looked closely at her again. Something was wrong, he could tell. He could always tell. He said gently, "Allura, something is wrong..please tell me, you know you can tell me."
Allura looked at Keith, her old commander, her friend and perhaps her first love. He looked the same, still fit and trim, athletic. The only thing that had changed was his face and hair. His dark hair was threaded with gray strands, which made him look rather dashing, but the beard-well, she just didn't like the beard. His face looked tired, not like the boyish Keith she knew in their Voltron days. She knew Kate's death had been just as hard on him as Lotor's was on her. She was afraid to tell him about Jarius, about what he had done to her. She was afraid he would blame her. She felt that Jarius' rape of her was her fault. She should have fought more, but he had beaten her so badly and he had taken such pleasure in brutalizing her., she had only felt pain by the time he finished with her. Even now, he caused her pain in the child she was carrying. It caused her pain and she hated it. She couldn't tell him. She couldn't. Maybe years from now. Maybe a million years from now....Maybe never.
Keith noticed the large ring upon her hand and said, "I heard you may be getting married again..." She ducked her head as if she were ashamed of the fact. She said, "Yes." Keith knew that whatever was wrong, it had to do with her marriage. He knew who she was marrying-it was all over the quadrant. Jarius S'aaul Tianus- a former commander of Zarkon's who had lately conquered some planets out in the Amon sector. He wanted to ask her why when Allura said, "So, how long are you here for, Keith? I mean, you can stay until-until he comes back..." She knew Jarius would not take kindly to Keith Akira being here. He would probably kill Keith on sight. Keith said, "Well, since I haven't been here awhile, I would like to visit for awhile if that's ok.." She smiled that smile he loved to see so long ago and said, "Then it's a deal..I'll have Beatrice show you to your quarters so you can get cleaned up. and we'll have dinner and talk old times, ok?" Keith actually smiled and said, "Its a deal..Princess..." Allura laughed and said, "No one's called me that in years, Keith..I kinda miss it..." He said, "That's why I said it!" They laughed together at that one...but he could see pain behind her eyes......
To Allura's suprise, Keith came to dinner sans beard. He looked more like his old self. Keith looked rather bashful about it. Allura smiled at him and said, "Well, this is the Keith I remember.." He said with a boyish smile, "I've been meaning to shave it off for awhile now..." They sat down to dinner at the old table in the dining room that they all used to sit in long ago-the Voltron Force, Sven, Lance, Pidge, Hunk, Keith and herself, with Nanny fussing at all of them. She sighed. Nanny was still around though, although she didn't handle all the duties she used to. She wouldn't let old memories ruin her evening tonight. Tonight she and Keith would relive the happy times they had all shared. They ate and talked of all their adventures, careful not to mention their respective spouses. At one point, late in the evening, she had said laughingly, "Remember when Nanny and Coran caught us all swimming together in the Castle Lake?" Keith had actually laughed and said, "Yeah, and I remember you lost your top!" She blushed remembering that incident. Keith had seen her that day and had never told the other guys about it. She was lucky that no one else had seen. Keith saw her blush and said, "I'm sorry, Allura, I shouldn't have mentioned that.." She waved it aside, "Don't worry, Keith, you didn't offend me...I was just really lucky Nanny and Coran didn't see that happen! They would have locked me in my room forever!" They laughed and then they became silent, for they remembered that after that incident she had been locked in her room and Prince Lotor broke in and nearly snatched her away, not without kissing her first of course.
Keith wondered when her attraction to Lotor began. Perhaps it was long ago when they had first seen each other. At any rate, it didn't matter anymore. He was dead and she was going to marry his cousin.
Keith noticed that she picked at her food during dinner and he asked if she were ok. She looked rather pale too. Allura smiled and said, "Yes, I'm ok, just tired-want to go out in the garden?" He nodded and escorted her out to the old garden by the castle paths. It was a beautiful night and Keith could smell the scent of all the flowers in the garden. The scent reminded him of when he kissed her one night here long ago. They didn't plan to, it had just happened. He remembered how nice it was to hold her in his arms. He had felt so protective of her. And now, it seemed, she needed a protector again. They strolled around the gardens and then sat down on one of stone benches. Keith looked at her eyes and thought he had never seen her so sad. He held her hands. They felt cold, so he massaged them. "Allura" he said gently, "Please tell me what is wrong. You can't keep it to yourself forever. Please..." Allura bit her lip and ducked her head. Keith raised her head gently with his hand, "You have nothing to be ashamed of, Allura..you know that...." Before he could stop himself, he kissed her, a gentle kiss of an old friend and at one time a possible suitor.
Keith's gentle kiss made Allura cry. Keith held her and she sobbed, "Keith, oh god..Keith....I-I'm marrying Jarius Tianus and it isn't because I want to--he-he threatened Arus, he threatened to kill anyone I ever loved...and-and he beat me.." She choked, trying to get the words out. "He-he raped me, Keith.." Keith's blood was boiling. That bastard! Even Lotor at his worst in their Voltron days had not done such a thing! How could anyone hurt her? He wanted to kill him. He gripped Allura tight and she gasped. He let her go, but then she doubled-over in pain. She thought..the baby! Oh no!...Keith was alarmed, "Allura! Allura!..ohdear god.." She gasped in pain, her face drained of all color. She said, "Keith...ah god...it hurts! ....get Dr Gorma...please!" He didn't want to leave her but he knew he had to get help. He ran as quickly as he could and a few minutes later, he and Dr Gorma arrived. .When they got there, Allura was sprawled on the stone floor, bleeding from a hemorrage as she lost the small life inside her......
Keith found out that she had been carrying the child of her rapist. He wanted to kill Jarius with his bare hands, but it was Allura he needed to care and protect now. She was in the medlab recovering. She had a long way to go, for Jarius had done some internal damage to her which made her unable to carry the child. Dr. Gorma had had to do surgery on her to repair the damage. For a long time, it seemed as if Allura would die anyway, but she pulled through, lasping in and out of consciousness. During her recovery, when she was able, she and Keith would talk quietly. Keith had made a decision and it was something he knew would change their lives forever if she accepted. He had asked her to marry him. Of course, she was still worried about Jarius, but Keith had assured her that they would send a Voltron Force back to Arus. He let the Garrison know and they would send him as soon as they could. She no longer wore his ring, for it had been taken off when she had been in the Castle medlab. She looked so fragile, Keith thought. He waited and then with a weak smile, she said yes. She was tired of being alone and she felt that they both needed each other. She was very tired by this time, and Keith kissed her softly and smiled. "You need to rest, Allura, I will see you later...." She smiled and went to sleep.
And so, the weeks went by and Allura's recovery was stll slow. She could get up for short periods of time, but it tired her quickly. She spent most of the time in the suite that she and her husband shared, resting. It was a quiet, resting time for both Keith and Allura. It was also a waiting time-waiting for the Voltron Force to come - Then the world shattered around them in one fateful night.
