The afternoon was hot, unnecessary clothing had been removed, and Nyota and Khan had happily resigned themselves to the comfort of their bed. Nyota was laying on her stomach in her underwear, PADD held in front of her face as she read information and articles, catching them both up with all the news of the past two years they had missed. Khan listened, offering an opinion or comment now and then, but was far more interested in the soft, kissable, dark skin that lay so elegantly before him. He lazily planted kisses on Nyota's exposed body; starting at the small of her back and trailing them up along her spine, whilst letting his fingers trace patterns on her skin. The sensations were unbelievably relaxing, lulling Nyota as she read contentedly.

The computer beeped out a message alert from across the room. The sound was harsh against the peace, and a rude interruption that quickly shook them both out of their languid states.

Khan groaned, his forehead resting on Nyota's back, he kissed the space between her shoulder blades before heavily lifting his head, his fringe tickling Nyota's skin as he looked over to the computer. Reluctantly, he hauled himself off of the bed and crossed to the machine, Nyota sat up to observe him, putting her PADD aside.

"What is it?" Nyota asked.

Khan opened the message, reading its brief contents.

"I have been summoned to a meeting at the Intelligence Base in fifteen minutes." He told her, "The General and the Admiral want to see me."

He shut off the comm and walked back towards her. Nyota got to her feet suddenly worried.

"What if this is a trap?" She blurted out. Khan wrapped his arms around her waist and she held his shoulders.

They hadn't been apart since Khan had awoken her yesterday. It may be an overreaction, but she was afraid of losing him again. Khan could see her fear reflected in her expression.

"It won't-," He stopped, he could not lie to her, "I do not know for certain what it will be, but it seems unlikely that it will be a trap. They would not gain anything by sabotaging us, and if they are serious about needing my help, they will not want to piss me off." He smiled, resting his forehead against hers. Nyota closed her eyes and sighed.

"Just be careful, okay?"

"Promise."

Planting a soft kiss on her lips, he released her from his embrace and found some clothing to pull on. Nyota followed him as he moved to the front door, brow crinkled and wringing her hands out with worry. Khan stopped in the door frame and turned to her.

"No worrying." He ordered her, kissing away the crinkle on her forehead. "I'll be back before you know it."

She smiled weakly up to him and he swiftly disappeared into the elevator opposite, taking him out of the apartment building.

xxxx

As the time passed by and Nyota waited for Khan to return, she found her mind drifting over every memory and thought that had occupied her before she was put into cryostasis. She thought back on her life, of the events of the war, being with Khan, her career and her family. Curled up on the sofa feeling suddenly cold, she had found a black satin robe to dress in, and made herself a cup of sweet tea.

She thought about her family and the things they must have been told by Starfleet, or the rumours they may have heard about their daughter, their sister, rebelling against the Fleet to be with a criminal. Nyota could only hope her mother received her message all those years ago and was strong enough, loved her enough, to not be swayed by other peoples judgements. She wondered what they might be doing or where they might be now, how their lives would have progressed without her. Nyota wished she could see them again.

The door alert chimed out through the silence, making Nyota jump out of her skin. She set her tea cup down on the little table in front of her and rose to her feet. Khan had been gone for nearly an hour now, but there was no way he would need to knock. She cautiously approached the door.

Entering the unlock code, the panel slid open to reveal Commander Spock.

They stood staring at one and other. Having been entirely lost in her thoughts and not fit for company other than Khan's, Nyota was truly unprepared for this meeting.

Spock could barely believe his eyes. He knew that Khan's intentions had been to get Nyota, but somehow, part of his brain had been convinced he would be stopped, that he would not get within one-hundred metres of the London Vaults without being recognised and taken out.

"I saw Khan a short time ago…" He began quietly, having to carefully align his thoughts. "He entered the base so I came to the conclusion that you would be here alone, if you were even here at all… which you indeed, are."

Nyota sighed heavily. Spock's presence was still bitter to her, she could not look at him without seeing all the trouble he had caused herself and Khan.

"What are you doing here, Spock?" She asked, quietly. He cleared his throat.

"I have come to see you."

"What makes you think that I want to see you?"

Spock sighed, his posture sagging slightly and expression shifted to a subtle plea.

"Please, Nyota. All I ask for is five minutes."

"If he comes back and finds you here." She warned him.

"I am aware of the varying and likely consequences."

He was holding her gaze now, dark eyes searching hers. Nyota exhaled and stepped aside, allowing him to enter the apartment.

"You look different to how I remember," Spock analysed her briefly, "Smaller, slightly underweight, even."

"Well that's what two years without movement or food can do to a human body." Nyota's reply was more venomous than intended, but she did not apologise for her tone.

"I did not fully believe Khan would get away with awakening you."

"Well perhaps you underestimate him."

"Or it may have been an overestimation of Starfleets ability to intervene that fell short." He added, "Either way, it does not mean that I am not pleased with the overall outcome."

Nyota folded her arms across her body and stared at him.

"I am pleased to see you again, Nyota, even if you were awoken through illegal means."

Nyota sighed, "What do you want, Spock?"

He thought a moment, looking over her form with a gaze he had once held only for her, with emotion shown in his face that would be barely noticeable to any other person, but was clear as cut glass to Nyota.

"Spock…" She whispered grudgingly to herself, not wanting to deal with this right now. He stepped a little closer to her.

"I must tell you that your absence has not been easy for me, and that over the past two years I have found it difficult on many occasions to accept what happened after the war."

"Because of you, Spock!" She snapped, "All because of you."

His expression faltered, and she regretted her outburst.

"I'm sor-" She started, but could not apologise, "I didn't mean to snap…"

"You have every right too." Spock was quiet, any enthusiasm for coming to see her now drained. "I just wanted you to know that I am still sorry for what happened, and that I have missed you." He sighed, "Whatever may happen now, I just hope you are safe, and do not have to endure such punishments again."

Nyota chewed her bottom lip, not knowing what to say, not wanting to say anything.

"Okay." She whispered, averting her gaze from his to a spot on the floor.

Spock waited a moment, hoping to get a little more acknowledgement for his display of remorse, but received none. Steeling himself, gave her a terse military nod, and left the apartment.

Nyota exhaled sharply as the door sealed shut, pressing the heels of her hands into her eyes.

xxxx

Another hour passed and anxiety was getting the better of her, on top of the disgruntled feeling that stirred in her stomach from her meeting with Spock, Nyota felt as if she could be sick.

The door flew open and Khan strode in, purposeful, yet holding back anger. His fists were clenched by his sides and brow furrowed, eyes darting around at nothing as he paced, occupied by his own thoughts.

Nyota watched him, relieved he had returned, but under what circumstances she was yet to discover. Both of their moods had been altered in the past few hours, leaving them to face an entirely new climate to deal with.

Khan huffed, coming to a stand still in the middle of the apartment and finally looked up at Nyota. His face was set, lips pressed into a hard line and eyes so deep in everything he had just been told that they could sink ships.

"They have taken my crew." He told her. Nyota felt her heart sink at the words.

"What? How?"

"I do not know, they would not tell me." His eyes fell away from hers, "All they have said is that they are gone."

Nyota had so many questions she wanted to ask, but from studying Khan's disconcerted expression she could see that asking them would be futile, for he looked as perplexed as she felt.

She gestured to the computer. "Can't you find out? Hack the system? They must have recorded it?"

"No." Khan shook his head, still staring into space. "Pointless; they only have one recorded file on the situation of my people and it is stored on the Admiral's personal PADD."

Nyota moved towards him, trying not to think the worst. She held her arms out to him.

"They won't have-"

"They might have." Khan's gaze shot up from the floor, stopping her in her tracks. His eyes were growing wild, tears beginning to pool and lines of anger threatening to overtake his expression.

Nyota sighed and rubbed a hand over her forehead, pushing thoughts of her encounter with Spock to the back of her mind. That would have to be dealt with later.

"Well maybe it's best not to think like that." She continued stepping closer to him again. "What happened, what did they say to you?"

Khan took a breath and turned to her, calmed by her presence. Nyota held his solemn face in her hands, and his own found their way to her satin covered waist.

"Talk to me." She whispered. "Tell me what's going on."