I had been in late at the Academy, putting in a few reports that I probably should have written weeks ago. Three months previous I would have had it done early, but that was then and this was now, things had changed – huge things that changed so dramatically but I loved it. The feelings that I had for Khan had swelled and flourished and grown since I convinced him to move in, at the time the emotions I had for him were still just sparks before the roaring inferno, I barely understood what they were, what they meant. Every time I looked at him now I felt the butterflies in my stomach take flight once again, my heart would skip a beat and I couldn't stop myself from smiling. I had never known feelings like this before.

I walked home quickly, eager to see Khan again. He was so unlike anyone I had ever met before; so set on his revenge that I fear that if I didn't know him I would be afraid of his determination – but I did know him, I knew how caring and gentle he can be, so quiet and collected. I found myself constantly amazed by the two opposite parts of his personality; never once had he ever directed the frightening side at me. Every now and again I would see him lost in thought and the man I knew to be kind and thoughtful would seem fierce and cold, but never would he direct the anger in his heart towards me.

He looked at me with kindness, warmth and concern. Every day when I came in he would ask 'how was your day', smile and listen and we would talk and laugh and we accept each other for what we are. We were not like the rest of the universe, I had Spock and Khan had his crew but neither of us could turn to them. We only could rely on one another, and that was perfect for me.

I unlocked my door, went inside, locked the door again and took off my coat, hanging it on the edge of the radiator before crouching down to untie the laces of my boots. Khan appeared quietly at the living room door, he held two glasses of wine in his hands – it was a bad little habit we had been getting into recently. I placed my boots together in the hall and smiled up at Khan, "Hi," I said accepting the wine he offered me and taking a sip.

I went to pick up my coat to put it away, but Khan stopped me, "I'll get it, Jayda" He took my coat in his free hand then went into my room to put it away, as he went he asked "How was your day?" the same question every night but with genuine interest.

"Good, the lecture went well and I finally got those reports done."

"You don't have anything you need to do tonight then?"

"No, everything I needed to do I got done at the Academy"

"Good, good," Khan walked out of my room drinking some of our wine. We went to the living room and I curled up in the corner of the sofa, sipping wine, Khan sat beside me, twisted to face me.

"Not long after I awoke in this century, I did not know how to feel about my situation. I was hurt and overjoyed at the same time; on one hand I have been subjected to the worst humanity has to offer, then I met the best that universe had for me instead – I met you, and you are perfect. There is something I feel I need to tell you Jay" he was the only person to call me by that nickname.

"What is it?" I couldn't think of anything that Khan could have to tell me that he couldn't say outright. Khan looked me in the eye and took my hand, in my confusion I whispered, "Khan?"

"I love you"

My heart skipped a beat, I opened my mouth to say something, to tell him that I love him too but nothing would come out of my mouth. Khan raised his hand to my face, gently holding my cheek and brushing his thumb across my skin. He lent in slowly and I pressed my forehead to his, he gazed into my eyes as he slid closer. I closed my eyes as Khan softly pressed his lips to mine and it seemed as if there was nothing else in the world, then he pulled away.

"No" I breathed quickly, my eyes snapping open and I sat forward to try to compensate for the closeness I had lost, "I…"

"I thought…" Khan whispered – his eyes sad.

"No," I took his hand "It's just, I never thought you… would feel… anything for me"

He smiled, kindly and happily as relief set in to his expression, "I don't understand why you would think that. You saved me, rescued me, you picked me up and have always stayed by my side. And I could have disappeared but something about you made me stay, but I didn't understand until now – I stayed with you because I love you"

I stared, long and desperate, into his eyes hoping – no, begging, that the right words would come. I ran my hand up his arm; he was so strong, so gentle and still stronger than any man I had ever met before. And mine.

I kissed him, pressed my lips to his and he pressed back. There was no hesitation now, he understood. Khan wrapped his arms around me and I looped mine around his neck, we held each other close just like I had wanted for so long. Time seemed to stop existing as I became more and more absorbed in Khan's touch.

We broke apart, hands still holding on to hands, eyes still locked on eyes. I knew it was okay, I could say it now. I moved in, so we were less than an inch apart, I knelt up, stretching up to whisper in his ear, Khan bent his head and I whispered so that he could just hear me and no more, "I love you Khan"