Merry Christmas, all you Green Lantern fans and Trekkies! Now that the venting is finished, it's time for stuff to get real. Also, the Tree Of Wonders is a prominent location in most of my Trek fics, and I figured Sinhal deserved at least one scene at it, since they're the main romantic pairing of this story.

Vuhlkansu Translation:
Ashayam=Beloved

Klingon Translation:
toDSaH=Wimp/Wuss

Chapter Ocho!

The night went on, and Thaal was sadly alone at the Tree of Wonders as he sobbed out, "I love you, Hal! I really do, but I don't wanna cause you anymore pain and suffering! I want to be with you, but now it's too late! I'm so sorry, Hal! I'm so sorry! Please forgive me, Hal! I love you, too!"

Soon, McCoy and the rest of the crew approached Thaal as he sniffed, "What are you doing here?"

"You're still our friend, Sinestro, and we're not just going to leave you behind like this." Uhura replied as she soon came up to the Korugarian and said, "Now we will be honest that we're rather disappointed in you for what you did to Spock, at that point, you really went over the top."

"I know. I admit I've let my emotions run amok at that point." Thaal sadly agreed with a nod.

"But da fact dat yer feel guilty and wannae make proper amends with Hal makes us forgive you." Scotty pointed out with a comforting smile.

The others nodded, smiling and having forgiveness for Sinestro before Ferris then added, "But if you truly love Hal and want to make up for all of this, then you have to go after him. Give him the best you can offer."

"Jordan doesn't want me anymore. It's better that he'd have someone who is perfect rather than someone who was a liar and who'd selfishly hurt him," Thaal sniffed.

"Mr. Sinestro, listen to me. We're not perfect. No one is. Just because you had a flaw with Mr. Jordan doesn't mean you should give up on each other. You work together to make things right. That is the beauty of a relationship. You work together to create a loving and happy relationship, like how Leonard and I do and Miss Ferris and Mr. Scott do too." Carol explained.

"I...I never thought of it that way," Sinestro said, having a new realization going through his head.

"If you truly love Mr. Jordan, then you have to go after him and work together to make things right for you two, no matter what happens," the blonde encouraged the Korugarian.

"I would but...it'd be too late now. Jordan already hates me." Sinestro sadly concluded.

"I'd never hate you, Sin."

The group suddenly turned to see Hal with Kirk, John, Guy and Kilowog. Thaal looked on in surprise before Hal approached him while the others watched on with hope and suspense.

"Hal...I..." Thaal started.

"Sinestro, I will be honest that you really did hurt me back there." Hal started.

"I know, and I am so very sorry for what I did! I could not bear to lose you and I just wanted to protect you from harm but I should have never done that! I truly regret all the pain I had caused you so much because you're the most wonderful being I have ever met in my entire life! You were always there for me all this time! I love you so much, Hal, and I would do anything to make up for what I've done to you because I was such a moron." Thaal sobbed as he began to cry before holding Hal close.

Hal soon wrapped his arms around Thaal, much to his surprise before he said, "And you are the most brilliant person I have ever met. I will admit that I am a little hurt still, but I look back now and everything that had happened before doesn't matter now. As a wise woman once said, you need to let go of the past to have a future."

"You're the best thing that has ever happened to me, Hal, and if you would let me, I want to try and make amends with you." Thaal sniffed.

"We can do this together, Thaal. We can forget about the past involving the two of us and live on what matters to us now." Hal said.

"I am so very sorry, Hal. I am so sorry." Sinestro apologized once more.

Hal, with all of his heart and determination to let go of the hurtful past with Sinestro, looked at the pink alien before he replied with, "I forgive you, Thaal."

"You do?" Thaal sobbed.

"Of course I do. It will take time for us to go on from what happened, but I am more than willing to give us another chance if you would let me as I will let you because no matter what, I will always love you, and that's a promise," Hal replied with all of his heart's desire. After all, they were bound together, through the will of the universe, through fate and through Parallax. Yes, the Fear Entity had linked them together at some point back in the dead universe.

"Oh, Hal! Thank you!" Sinestro sobbed happily as they soon looked at each other for a moment before they leaned closer to one another and at long last, their lips crashed together.

The group watched as Ferris and Carol were close to tears of joy before Jaylah happily gasped, "Look! On the tree!"

As the Lanterns continued kissing, fireflies appeared from the tree and started glowing with wonderful lights as Hal and Sinestro parted their lips from each other.

"Look! The fireflies! They are real!" Uhura happily gasped.

"Maybe they're happy for these two." John chuckled.

It was like stars floating down to welcome the two lovers in this beautiful night. Hal drew in a deep breath and began singing.

Hold Me In Your Heart-James Marsden

You don't want to see me anymore,

You can't listen to me laugh out loud,

You don't wanna see me dance,

You can't even take the chance,

That it might reflect on you.

You missed out on the best part of me,

The part that made me who I am today,

Oh, but the best part of me is standing in front of you,

And loves you anyway.

Hold me in your heart 'till you understand,

Hold me in your heart just the way that I am,

With all your faults, I love you.

Don't give up, on me,

I won't give up, on you,

Well, you took my hand, taught me how to be strong,

That's where I picked up, when we went all wrong,

I know that I hurt you, and you hurt me too,

But you mean more to me, I must mean more to you!

Hold me in your heart 'till you understand,

Hold me in your heart just the way that I am,

With all your faults, I love you,

I need you to love me that way too!

Khan watched the whole scenery from afar, and allowed himself a small smile. The fireflies along with the Lanterns' lights made the area a beautiful spectacle, it almost looked like Heaven's light—unfortunately, his own ring was corrupted and would never again produce a light as brilliant as that. "Oh, who am I kidding?" he chuckled. Though he would wish with all his might, he was never meant for Heaven's light, with his heart painted black.

Suddenly, Jaylah noticed him and called out "Khan Noonien! Whaddaya doing over there? Come over and join us, Highball and Thaal Sin just made up!" And so the Dawnbreaker did. Jaylah was the only person to actually show kindness to him ever since he found himself in the 23rd Century; it would be a great disgrace to turn down her offer. As he stepped into the little circle, the alien woman said "Just don't try and hurt anyone, right?"

"I will." replied Khan. "Also...Sinestro, congratulations on finally finding true love."

"Thank you, Dawnbreaker." said the Yellow Lantern. After everything that had occurred, the two had become quite civil with each other.

"So, everyone's on the same side now, right?" asked Hal.

"Oh, I don't think so." Kirk sneered. He then pointed at Sinestro and said "Why should I ever make amends with him? If you do remember what he did to Spock, you'd..."

"Dammit, Jim, it was that hobgoblin who started it." said Bones. "Did you hear what he told him? He said that—"

Suddenly, all their rings pinged and Kirk checked his ring up. "It's from Aya." said the captain. "Thank goodness, Spock's alright."

Everybody headed back to Starfleet Headquarters, and Kirk was more than happy to see his no-longer-crush alive and well. He brought everyone else with him, except Khan and Sinestro, making Hal frown.

"Oh, c'mon, Hal!" Kirk yelled. "Who knows what he'll do next?!"

"But I forgave him." said Hal. "If Thaal isn't going into that room, neither will I. I'm staying with him."

"Okay, fine." said Kirk, and led everyone else into the room. As he entered, he saw his love talking to Aya and Saint Walker. "Spock?" asked Kirk.

"Captain." replied the Vulcan.

"I...I'm glad you're alive. At the assembly hall, you said you cherished me. Did you mean it?" asked Kirk.

"I did." Spock said.

"I...I love you too. Truth be told, I was jealous of Nyota. Jealous that she'd stolen you away. But now, the two of you broke up and Nyota loves another, from what I've heard. So, may I propose:will you be my boyfriend?"

"Of course I will!" said Spock, overjoyed. "So, may I request a meld?"

Kirk smiled. "Yes."

Spock nodded, gratified, and reached for his love's face, matching his fingers with psi points easily.

"My mind to your mind," he said. "My thoughts to your thoughts."

Melding with James T. Kirk was overwhelming in the best possible way; it was burning hot like the deserts of Vulcan, and gentle and sweet like the moonlight of Earth. Waves of powerful feelings washed over him, leaving him dry but not untouched.

Everything he saw was bright like his captain's smile, golden like his hair, his skin, undeniable, and absolutely wonderful.

Your mind is unlike any I have ever experienced, Spock told him.

This is amazing, Kirk hummed through the meld. You are amazing, Spock.

Spock shivered with pleasure, gently gliding through his captain's dynamic mind, reveling in the warmth and the comfort of his t'hy'la.

What is that word? Kirk asked. What's a t'hy'la?

Spock told him It's an old Vulcan word, ashayam.

What does it mean?

The closest approximation is friend, brother, and lover, all at once. We were destined to be t'hy'lara.

Finally Spock pulled away, leaving Kirk staring at him with those impossibly blue eyes and that glorious smile.

"T'hy'la ," Kirk said, trying it out on his tongue. "Friend, brother, lover. Right?"

"That is correct, Jim."

Kirk grinned again, eyes shining. "So then, you mean like soulmates?"

"Technically, yes," Spock said. "Approximately, I suppose."

Jim Kirk's smile was brilliant, worth seeing after everything they'd gone through to be here. They embraced tightly.

Spock thought back to all of the misunderstandings, the dislike, the illogical violence, the teasing, and the hurt, and he thought all of it had been worth it for that exact moment, Jim wrapped up safe and sound in his arms, healthy and alive and his. When he thought back on those things, he had to pull Jim closer, satisfying his illogical need to discern Jim's well-being.

"Soulmates," Kirk breathed, reaching up to cup Spock's cheek in his hand. "I've…I've never stuck with just one person for so long, you know. And no one's ever stuck with me except Bones. And Bones isn't…"

"Ashayam," Spock said softly. "I will not leave you. And I will never give you a reason to leave me. We will be together."

"You can guarantee that?"

"Jim. Wherever we may go in this universe, be satisfied in knowing that I will only ever have one t'hy'la. For me, there will only ever be you. It is my fervent desire that you feel the same way."

Kirk smiled at Spock. He was the sun. He was life and light—a guiding star.

"I love you, Spock," he said honestly.

"As I love you, Jim."

Kirk was satisfied, and Spock held him closer. "Will you bond with me, as my alternate self did with yours?" asked the White Lantern.

"Indeedle-dee-doe! So...how soon can we do this? Is it like a human wedding that takes weeks of planning, or do we need people to officiate, or what?" Spock was quiet for a moment, and when Kirk looked up he saw that he was blushing furiously. "You okay?"

"M'm fine." Spock replied. "The bonding...only requires the two participants. There is much ceremony and ritual surrounding it on Vulcan, but but the act itself can be done at any time. And as another request, I ask of everyone present to bear witness. Please?"

"Alright." replied Kirk. "S'chn T'gai Spock, parted from me and never parted. Never and always touching and touched. Now and for all time, I am claimed by thee." he declared.

Spock could feel the pull of Kirk's mind, impatient and wanting as ever, and it made him chuckle. "James Tiberius Kirk, parted from me and never parted. Never and always touching and touched." His voice was quiet, soft, and his face was mere inches from Kirk's. "I claim thee as my bondmate, now and for all time."

"You may now kiss your mate." said Kirk, then pulled Spock close and kissed him fiercely.

"Congratulations, Captain Kirk and Commander Spock." said Saint Walker. "But you have all stood long enough outside; you must get inside now. Come."

Jaylah was on a balcony with only a warm-looking white shawl draped over her, watching the sun slowly rise over the horizon. Silently, it seemed, the wind grazed her form, playing with her long strands of silvery-white hair and making it seem as if they themselves liquidated and became translucent, turning into the strong breeze itself. Khan flew up next to her and sat on the balustrade, and seeing him, Jaylah thought he'd never looked so stunning with his midnight-black hair and dark wings like a seraphim. Softly, she sang for him.

Here again at the top of the world,

Two friends enjoying this beautiful morning,

In my eyes you are beautiful, too,

Sharing the top of the world...

"I'll always have your back." Khan said.

"Yes, we're in this together." Jaylah replied. "You're such a good friend, Khan Noonien."

"Indeed." Khan chuckled. "Your friend...Now that we're cool, can I share with you a secret? 300 years ago, when I had my own kingdom, I had this idea. What if somebody wanted to invite all their friends over to watch TV but their apartment's too small. So I was like, what if there was a couch, but like, a bunk bed. Introducing the double-decker couch! So everyone could watch TV together and get along!" As he spoke, he made a construct double-decker couch.

Jaylah laughed. "That is literally the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Maybe you were overthrown because of that!" She then took a deep breath, and said "James T. and Highball are off to someplace called Oa to make more green rings while Ferry's taking Nyota to meet more like them. They told me themselves, and Highball also said that if Thaal Sin could get that many recruits in about the span of a week, then why couldn't he?" said Jaylah, making Khan laugh. She then produced a fine silver chain from which hung an elaborate pendant. "This belonged to my father. I want you to take it." she said, and fastened it around Khan's neck.

"What is this?" Khan inquired.

"It's the symbol of the space trader guild me and my family was a part of. Receiving this means you're family now." Jaylah replied.

Suddenly, they heard a ruckus down below. "What's going on?" asked Khan.

"Let's find out for ourselves!" said Jaylah, and asked. "You flying me down there?"

"With pleasure." said Khan, and picked Jaylah up bridal style. The two flew down and saw Guy arguing with Shenara.

"I know what it means, knucklehead." Guy growled at Shenara. "I'm not stupid."

"Could have fooled me, toDSaH." the Klingon glared.

"Look who's talking, I wasn't the one who challenged Cupcake to a duel." Guy said. "Cupcake" was the nickname given to one of the Enterprise's security officers, in his cadet years, he had gotten into a fistfight with Kirk and it was no secret that he had a massive crush on Uhura.

"Yeah, and you're the one who's drinking buddies with him!" Shenara retaliated.

"Ya got a problem with that?" Guy growled, his ring letting out tiny sparks. Before he could do anything, Jaylah stepped up and asked "Whoa, whoa, whoa, Guy! What happened?"

Guy, with a visible frown on his face, pointed at the fuming Klingon and said "She challenged Cupcake to a life-and-death duel!"

And Shenara wouldn't back down. "That "Cupcake" insulted me and my honor first!"

A yellow blush crept onto Jaylah's cheeks as she looked at the Yellow Lantern. Truly, the Klingon was a fine specimen—warm brown skin, blood red eyes, black hair and defined forehead ridges. She was the most beautiful thing Jaylah ever saw. Was this what Spocky and James T. saw in each other, and what Khan Noonien saw in his Vengeance?

"Jaylah?"

"Jaylah?"

"JAYLAH!"

Khan's voice snapped her out of her reverie. "What the hell?" said the Augment. "You were completely lost!"

"I...I'm sorry." said Jaylah.

Shenara, meanwhile, was also blushing hard—now she looked more purple in the face than brown. The Starfleet cadet that had come with the Dawnbreaker, she was simply so stunning. Snow-white skin, black markings adorning them, yellow eyes and silky hair bundled up in a loose ponytail. The glorious sight made her forget all about her argument with Guy Gardner, or the beef she had with "Cupcake".

Oh.

No.

There is no way...she swore...not after M'Lara.

She can't be, right?

She was so lost in her thoughts, she couldn't feel Sinestro show up next to her and drag her away with a construct.

LATER...

Everybody was on Oa, meeting the new green recruits. They were the first steps in creating order for the universe and one of them was an actual planet. "Fascinating." said Spock as he floated up to meet him.

Greetings, Lantern Spock. I am Mogo. said the planet in a friendly voice.

"Hey, Mogo." said Hal as he came up next to Spock. "Glad to see ya again."

I do not understand, said Mogo. Do I know you?

"Trust me, we go way back." Hal smiled.

"Please pardon him, Mr. Mogo." said Spock. "He came here from another reality and in that one, you were his friend."

Some time later, a Guardian named Paalko was sizing Khan up. "You expect us to believe that a threat is on the horizon and the Red Death is our only salvation?"

Once again, Jaylah stood up for the Augment. "Not the Red Death, the Dawnbreaker! Also, we have proof. Just ask him!" She then pointed at an adjacent Indigo Lantern. He was none other than First Onagan'matod—the indigos had reformed him. Unfortunately, Indigo-1 had claimed that he couldn't live any longer, since once a Jem'Hadar reached adulthood, he needed a constant supply of a drug called ketracel-white, which provided all the necessary nutrients, in order to survive. Without this drug, he became increasingly violent and right now, the indigo ring was the only thing calming the Jem'Hadar Lantern down.

Meanwhile, Tantho was trying to figure out why Hal was suddenly alright around Sinestro. "Lantern Jordan, may I inquire what's up with you and Sinestro?" he asked.

"Actually, we love each other." Hal said. "Sure, we have fought in the past, but it's alright now. And, by the way, didn't you hear something about how the unification of willpower and fear will bring peace and light to the universe?" That made Sinestro smile.

"No such thing." said Tantho, confused.

"Back when our home universe was still thriving with life, that was a fact no one denied. A corps was formed in honor of me and my Hal, called the Green Sinestro Scouts. Although it was small in numbers, each and every member was dedicated. And they almost succeeded...until Nekron happened." Sinestro explained.

"No time to waste." the Head Guardian declared. "We should begin the inauguration of James Kirk as proper corps leader now that the Green Lantern Corps is becoming shaped properly."

And so Kirk was brought out to meet the newbies—all of them looked happy and lively. "Corps—I present to you, your leader!" announced the Head Guardian. Before the captain could make one of his famous speeches, a big explosion went off in a nearby area.

"Breakthrough, it's the bad guys!" cried a Jem'Hadar soldier.

"If my guesses are correct, they're here to drain Ion!" said Aya.

"I just hope Nyota and Carol F. are alright..." murmured John. Unfortunately, things didn't look so bright on Zamaron but the Star Sapphires were still holding their own.

Back on Oa, the Green Lanterns and their allies were struggling. "Corps Leader, they're gaining on us!" said a new recruit. "Do something!"

"Um...sorry, guys, I find myself at a bit of a loss." said Kirk, as his construct was getting out of hand and was close to getting sucked into a Jem'Hadar soldier's siphoning device.

Khan looked at the scene unfold before him. If he initiated a blackout right here, there was no guarantee it wouldn't just take down everyone. Suddenly, inspiration struck like a starship in warp. There was no guarantee if the darkness of his ring would corrupt Kirk's ring, but he decided to try it anyway.

And at that moment...his body had just moved on its own.

"Need some help, Captain?" asked the Dawnbreaker. He had reinforced Kirk's construct with his ring, preventing it from getting drained.

"I never thought I'd say this but...thanks." said the Green Leader as he smiled a real smile. Meanwhile, in the struggle, a container full of green rings tumbled off its pedestal, spilling the rings. Immediately, they whizzed away, and one of them found a worthy bearer.

Jaylah of -KRTZKT ERROR KAAK-, you have the willpower to overcome great fear. Welcome to the Green Lantern Corps.

"Woo-hoo! Fellas, look at me!" cried Jaylah as she began fancy flying. Her Green Lantern uniform resembled a futuristic space suit more than anything, sans a helmet.

"Yay-hey! Another flying buddy!" Guy exclaimed.

That was when blaster fire began raining down on the goody-goodies and Khan, then somebody yelled "BATTLE CRUISER!"

"WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!" Guy screamed.

"Thaal, I've always wanted to say this, but if we ever make it out of this alive, let's get married." said Hal.

"With pleasure." replied Sinestro.

And then the battle cruiser launched a buncha torpedoes from her forward torpedo launcher. "Hey," Kirk began, "Thanks for saving my life back there. Even if, you know, eventually it turned out to be pointless."

"Well, for what it's worth, this has been the greatest fifteen minutes of my life." said Jaylah.

Khan smiled at the two. Maybe this would be his last stand after all...

But wait!

A yellow barrier blocked the torpedoes, saving everyone that was within range. Sinestro had once again used Parallax to save the day.

"What the—?" the cruiser's captain sputtered.

"Dawnbreaker, now's your chance." the Korugarian said confidently. "Take that cruiser down and—."

Before he could finish, Khan had already gotten onto the cruiser. "Guess what? Your ship is a baby carriage!" he remarked, and used his constructs to reassemble the battle cruiser into one big baby carriage, leaving the crew vulnerable to the vacuum of space.