Hello and apologizes for the late update. I won't try giving you a million excuses but I will say that I have been very fortunate in receiving a new job that is, in fact, quite time consuming (such is the world of theater) but I love it. This won't be the last chapter, I have one possibly two more in mind but this is will be coming to a close soon.

Thank you all as always for the support and love.

On with the new chapter!

Much love and many thanks

Chapter 14: May It Be

"NOOOOOO!"
The sound of how broken and distraught Khan's voice was broke Aria's heart. She felt the same amount of pain and utter distress but just couldn't bring herself to voice it. All around them the Vengeance was falling apart: sparks were flying in different directions, bits of the controls coming loose, but none of that mattered now.

They were gone; their entire crew.

All was completely and utterly lost.

Her entire body felt numb as she sank to the floor. Her mind was in a complete fog. What had it all been for? She had been reunited with her love and the man who had kept her in a life of hell was finally gone, but none of that compensated for the loss of her crew. They were her family all that was left of her and Khan's people; without them, Aria and her lover were now members of a race on the brink of extinction. Given the present situation, however, they would not hold that title for very long.

With the ship falling to pieces around them, Aria curled in on herself and held the back of her neck for protection. Khan, on the other hand, did not give into their dim fate so easily. He used his remaining strength; no doubt fueled by his mourning of those he lost moments ago, and climbed his way up to a standing position. Out of the corner of her eye, Aria could see the look of cold hate burning in her captain's eyes. This was not a man she recognized; he was broken and undone. Everything he worked for was gone and he had let it happen. For the very first time, Khan was lost.

Very slowly, Aria attempted to stand beside him, but the ship gave a violent shake, pushing her violently back against the control panel. "Aria move!" Khan screamed but it was already too late. A large jagged section of what was once the ceiling came crashing down and sliced Aria's abdomen. She cried out in pain as she wrapped her arms around her middle. There was another shudder instantly and harshly causing the back of Aria's head to collide with the cold metal of the control panel.

Everything seemed to spin and shutter around her; nothing seemed to stay in focus. The world around her seem to slow down to a snails pace as her body slowly started to sink to the ground. As she started to feel nauseous, Aria then felt a cold trickle of blood run down the back of her neck. 'Concussion,' she thought as she sunk to the floor, 'Minor but a concussion, none the less.' She then took notice to how damp her hands felt; fearing the worst, she removed them from her stomach. Her hands were soaked in blood.

Unable to control her actions, Aria closed her eyes and took in a shaky breath. Her body was betraying her and soon she would fall into unconsciousness. Aria knew that she was stronger than this; her body was made to fight off injuries such as these. However, the thought that her crew, those she once called a family, were all gone and Khan was too lost in his grief to ever come back from it, Aria truly felt that there was nothing more to be done. Now, just for this one time, she gave into her injury and let the oncoming darkness take her. She would heal, eventually, but right now she didn't care too. Now, she just wanted to let go.

"No, no, not you." Khan cried out as he quickly made his way to Aria's side, successfully dodging the debris crashing about. He immediately crouched down beside her and scooped her now limp body in his arms. "Don't you leave me as well," he begged, truly begged, as he cradled her in his strong arms, "Please, Aria, my love, my lark! Please don't leave me here alone."

Aria did not respond nor gave any sign that she had heard him.

She was far too still.

The ship jolted again and the damage only seemed to get worse. Khan held Aria's body close to his chest and shielded her from the debris. A deep hatred was burning in his heart; hatred far worse then the one he had felt toward Admiral Marcus. His entire crew was gone and now the person that was left that mattered to him was lying unconscious in his arms. Revenge seemed as if only a small act for him to play against Starfleet after all they had taken, but it was his only option.

Gently laying Aria down under the control panel, Khan climbed his way back up into a standing position. He could see that, amongst the flashing screens, the Vengeance was crash landing toward the planet below. A wicked grin grew across Khan's lips: The planet was Earth.

"Set destination: Starfleet Headquarters!" he screamed at the controls.

"Engines compromised, cannot guarantee destination. Confirm order?" the robotic voice of the intercom asked.

"Confirm." Khan sneered in reply.

The ship groaned and shuddered, signifying that it was breaking the atmosphere. Khan immediately sank back down swooped Aria back into his arms. He held onto her as tight as possible and placed a kiss on the top of her head; "I love you," he just kept whispering into her raven hair, "I love you, Aria."

Suddenly, the Vengeance speed up and a then there was a loud crash. Bits of the ship went flying everywhere and a giant hole had appeared where a decent sized portion of the haul used to be. Screams and shouts of shock could be heard down below under the cackling and hissing of the now loose wires of the ship. Khan had a few scratches but nothing too drastic. Still holding onto his lover, he peered around the edge of the panel to view the damage.

"We can make it through the clearing," he breathed out, "We'll hit the ground and then run. We can get away." He looked down at her still face and gingerly ran his fingers through her short hair, "I'll protect you, my lark," he whispered to her, holding the back of her head, "You'll heal, you must. Please don't give up on me."

Very slowly, far too slowly, Aria's eyes fluttered open about halfway. Khan could tell that she was too concussed to comprehend what was happening around them but he gave out a sigh of relief nonetheless. Memories began to flash through his mind: the first time he laid eyes on her, the first time he saw her fight, the first time he told her he loved her.

"My beautiful Aria," he cooed, stroking her cheek, "what have I done? Everything we've worked for, everything you and I have ever wanted, is now gone. I am so sorry I've failed you, my lark."

Using her little strength, Aria nuzzled her head onto his broad shoulder and wrapped her heavy arms around him; "You have…never…failed…me." She whispered into the side of his neck, "I love…you."

Khan held her close and tight, gently rocking her back and forth; "You will heal, do you understand me? You can't give up, not now." he cried into her hair, "I can't bear living a life without you: not again, not ever."

"Then don't…let me…go," she breathed out before slipping back into a peaceful unconsciousness.

"Never," Khan promised, placing a deep kiss on hers cheek, "I never will." He then adjusted his hold on Aria and slid down a large, flat section of debris so to reach a suitable jumping point. He started down at the mess and chaos below and took in a deep breath. Using all of his stamina, Khan leapt from the remains of the Vengeance with Aria wrapped tightly in his arms.

He landed on the ground without so much as a stumble. The crowds of people made it easy for him to slip through unnoticed, carrying Aria close to his chest. After running quite far from the crash site, Khan pulled off to the side of a building and gently laid Aria down on the cold ground. She would have appeared as if to be merely peacefully sleeping if it weren't for the blood that now caked the front of her shirt and the small streams of it on the back of her neck. Panic filled Khan's mind; he knew that in order to escape he would have to run, but how far would he get with an unconscious woman on his back? Aria needed immediate attention but he could not provide it, not here at least. But where were they to go? What were they to do?
"Khan," Aria breathed out taking her lover immediately out of his thoughts. He knelt down beside her and took her now shaking, out stretched hand into his. "Go," she whispered, opening her eyes only a sliver, "I…I'll only slow…you down."

"I won't leave you," he snapped, "I can't."

"It's…not a…question." She replied, "You have…have to go."

"Aria, we can't be parted. I won't-I can't…" Khan closed his eyes and placed a kiss on Aria's knuckles, "I've lost so much already," he cried, "Please don't let me lose you."

Aria gently stroked her lover's pale cheek and smiled meekly at him. Their eyes met and they both knew that this was never meant to be. They were never meant to get their happy ending or the chance to be reunited with their crew. All was now lost and it seemed that the future they once so desperately wanted to achieve was now only a dream.

"I'm…so glad…you found me." Aria whispered, closing her eyes again. Khan swooped her up into his arms again and placed a soft kiss on her lips. With the little strength she had, Aria returned the gesture to the best of her ability. Time seemed to stand still for the two of them; nothing was going to break them apart. Centuries of sleep and a year of believing that each had been lost had come to this moment; Khan Noonien Singh and his lark, Aria Marrow: together at last but only for one last time.

"I'll always find you." He whispered when they parted, "Always." Khan then carried her further away from the main street to a secluded alley and laid her down in the shadows. "Rest here," he told her stroking her hair, "when you wake up, you'll be healed."

"And…you'll be safe." Aria breathed out, "That's…all that matters."

Khan placed another kiss on her lips and reluctantly pulled himself away from her; "If I can, I will come back for you." He promised, "If I'm not here when you wake…then run. Run as far as you can until you are sure no one will find you. You deserve freedom, my lark. My regret is that I cannot be the one to give it to you. I love you, Aria."

"And I…you, Khan." She managed to reply before slipping off into a peaceful sleep once more.

Khan kissed her forehead then ran his fingers through her short, raven, locks one last time: "No matter what happens," he cooed, cupping the side of her face, "I will always think of you. Please, never forget me."

And with that, he took off leaving Aria alone and asleep once again.

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The sunlight beaming across her face was just enough to wake Aria from her dreamless sleep. Her eyes fluttered open and adjusted rather quickly to her bright surroundings. She lay in a white room that had no windows, on a bed with sheets that only came up to her hips, reveling the large, pale scar that stretched across her abdomen. A few machines were set up to her left, monitoring her vitals. She was able to read enough of it to see that she had recovered fully from both her stomach wound and concussion.

'Blessing of augmentation,' she thought to herself but then her mind quickly turned to a more pressing matter. Where was Khan? She had remembered lying in his arms and him telling her that if she was to wake up without him to run away, but that was in the streets in here. Something had gone wrong, she decided; something happened to him. Aria attempted to reach up and adjust the straps of her sports bra then climb out of bed but came to find that her right wrist was handcuffed to the side of the bed.

"A precaution, Ms. Marrow." Came the sound of an all too familiar Vulcan's voice, "Even in you weakened state, we had to be sure that were not going to try and attack."

Aria turned her gaze to Mr. Spock who was standing beside her bed, dressed in his grey Starfleet attire. Anger grew passionately inside of her as the events that had lead her into this predicament came back to her. She tried to move, but her body still ached too much to bear the slightest movement.

"Murderer," she was able to hiss, but Spock was unphased.

"If you are referring to the 72 torpedoes that once held the members of your crew," he nonchalantly replied, "then you would be wrong in your accusation toward me. Your crew is safe as is your captain."

"Liar," Aria snapped, adjusting herself in an upright position, "You beamed the torpedoes onto the Vengeance then detonated them, killing everyone I once held so dear."

"You are mistaken." Spock went on, "I detonated the torpedoes, yes, but your crew was not inside them."

"You lie to me again. I would not risk doing it a third time." Aria challenged

"He's telling the truth, Rhi. Don't you know Vulcan's can't lie?" Both Aria and Spock turned their attentions to Jim Kirk, who was leaning in the doorway of the room. He was dressed in grey sweat pants and he seemed much thinner. He looked pale and absolutely beaten, but his blue eyes still seemed to sparkle. Aria didn't feel anger toward him, well at least not the same amount as she did for Spock.

"Captain, you should rest," Spock insisted as Kirk hobbled his way over to Aria's bed, "You're full strength has yet to return and I fear…"

"Spock, I'll be alright." Kirk winced as he sat down on the corner of the mattress, "Can you give us a minute? I want to be the one to tell her."

"Tell me what?" Aria snapped, "What have you done with Khan?"

"What makes you assume something has happened to him?" Spock asked

"Don't give me that!" Aria hissed, "I know that you've taken him! Now, where is he?"

"Spock, you should leave." Kirk said in a low tone. His first officer was about to protest but then quickly changed his mind. He looked at Aria one more time then quietly retreated. "Sorry about him," Kirk continued, "He's…you know."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Aria asked coldly, "Why won't you just answer my question?" Kirk looked down at the floor and it was quite between them. She wanted to press the matter more, wanted to find out what had happened to her lover after he escaped. She needed to know he was all right. She had to know.

"You look well," Kirk went on after a few more minutes.

"You don't look so bad yourself," Aria remarked, deciding that she wasn't going to receive her answer anytime soon, "Why are you here?"

"Radiation poisoning," he replied with a smirk, "That's what I get for being a hero, I guess. Actually, I really should be saying thank you to your boyfriend. It was his blood that kept me alive, or rather brought me back to life. Bones and Spock brought him in and, well, I think you can figure out what happened from there. Must nice not have to worry about long-term injuries. Give you and he a few days to mend and then your right as rain."

"I meant what are you doing at my side," Aria tried again, unmoved by his light attempt at humor.

"You shouldn't have had to wake up to Spock staring at you like that," Kirk sighed, running a hand through his hair, "Not after what he did."

"He killed my family," she stated rather matter of factly

"No, he didn't." he said again, "They are in a secret facility not far from here under my protection."

"Prove it."
"Would I lie to you, Rhi?"

Aria bit her lower lip as her strong, icy façade quickly dropped. Kirk looked at her with loving eyes and a sudden pain hit her chest; "Considering all of the lies I had told you," she replied, "I wouldn't be surprised if you had."

"Good point." He chuckled. Their eyes met for a moment and the tension in the room lifted. Nothing was forgiven between them, but Aria felt that they had come to some form of an understanding. Slowly, Kirk moved a hand to rest on top of her's and she did not push him away. "I wish things could have ended differently between us," he said, intertwining his fingers with hers, "You meant a great deal to me, Rhi, and…I'm sorry we couldn't make it work."

"Jim," Aria sighed, leaning back against her pillows, "We never could have worked even if Khan hadn't returned to me. Truth be told, I am sorry for the deception I put you through. My heart was never in it; I gave that to Khan years ago."

"I know," he said, "and he loves you, anyone could see that. He only wanted to guarantee your safety before Spock turned him in."
"So that's where Khan is? HQ?"

"For now, yes. He's being held there while awaiting trail. He was allowed to see you before being escorted to his cell. You were still unconscious, obviously, but I thought you'd like to know that he was here watching over you."

"I appreciate that, Jim, thank you."

"Rhi, I won't sugar coat it for you: he'll be sentenced to death and it will be carried out quickly. He's a murderer and must pay for his crimes."

Tears suddenly began to sting in her eyes. In her heart, Aria knew that this would be the final outcome for Khan but hearing it out loud still hurt. He was going to die and they could never be together. This truly was the end for them.

"If Khan is to be executed," she said, attempting to hold back tears, "then-then so must I." Kirk started to protest but she just shook her head in defiance. "I may not have carried out the same acts he did, but I was by his side for all of It." she continued, in a shaky voice, "I'm his accomplice, thus I should be punished."

"Rhi, to the rest of Starfleet you were lost in the attack in London," Kirk said, squeezing her hand, "Take this as your chance to run and start over; you can have a new life, why won't you take it?"
"Because without Khan, I have nothing." She replied, finally opening her eyes, "I love him, Jim, and I've lost him once before. I can't be parted from him again, even if death waits for us. Let me be with him until our end, please, that's all I ask."

The silence returned between them. Aria waited with baited breath for Kirk to speak, but he would not make eye contact with her. Was he thinking? Was he devising some sort of a plan? It didn't really matter to her; no matter what Kirk was going to say, Aria would find a way to be with Khan once more. After all, they promised to always find each other. Even they weren't meant to be, they would make it so.

"He hasn't been taken to HQ yet," Kirk finally said, still looking at the ground, "Do you feel strong enough to walk?"

Aria's heart nearly fluttered out of her chest; "He's…he's here? How far? Is he alright?"
"They brought him here to do some tests on his blood," Kirk continued to explain as he rose to his feet and began to fiddle with Aria's handcuff. "Now, before you start protesting, Khan forfeited to the tests just as long as he was sure you received some it to quicken your healing process. Just as a precaution though, Bones had to sedate him. That captain of yours sure doesn't pass out easily; Bones had to give him an ungodly amount of sedative just so he'd stay out of it."

"Is Khan alright now?" Aria asked, slowly sitting up.

"He's in a recovery room. Still asleep, last I heard," Kirk replied, finally freeing her, "but I'll take you too him." Without warning, Kirk swooped Aria into his arms and carried her to a wheelchair that was beside the door. Aria could tell that the feat took a lot of him, but for some reason Kirk didn't complain. Just as Kirk took the handles and started to push the chair toward the door, Aria reached back and took one of his hands into hers.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked, "You should be resting."
"Have you ever known me to do as I'm told?" he replied with a smirk. Aria gently smiled back at him then closed her eyes, content with the thought of seeing Khan again. She must have dosed off because when she opened her eyes again, Kirk had lift her out of the chair was carrying her inside of another room.

The room was grey and cold. A single bed was set in the center of the room with Khan's large body laying on top of the sheets, dressed in all black. He was on his side facing the door, and Aria could tell by his still face that he was deep in a peaceful sleep. Carefully, Kirk carried her over to the bed and gently laid her beside her lover.

"I'll just be outside," he whispered, stepping away from the bed.

Aria immediately wrapped her arms around Khan's middle, not caring at all about the pain coming from her still healing abdomen. She shut out everything else as she placed a soft kiss on her lover's cheek. She then nuzzled her head under his chin and closed her eyes.

"Our family is safe, Khan," she whispered, drifting off to sleep, "We were fooled, but that doesn't matter just now. We're together." His body felt warm and right pressed against hers. Very slowly, Aria soon felt her lover's strong arms wrap around her and hold her as close as possible. Both were too weak to properly face one another, but that didn't matter. They were together even if they didn't know for how long.

In this moment, nothing else mattered.