Aleksander is woken up by the morning sun, the rays feeling warm and kind on his face.

He blinks, looking at his surroundings. His brain feels fuzzy and confusion reigns supreme as he realizes he's alive.

He shouldn't be.

But then, maybe Alina is alive.

He has been stuck on Monday, the 24th of October for what it feels like an eternity.

It's been a while since Aleksander hoped to ever see the light shine on another day.

He didn't think he would get to live another day.

When he used the cut he did it knowing it would be the end of his life, but at least that would mean the beginning of Ulla's life.

He would die, but his death would put an ending to his grandfather's mistake.

Tuesday, October the 25th should not exist for him.

But it does.

"Sasha? You're squeezing me!" Ulla complains, but Aleksander doesn't let her go.

For her it's been less than 24 hours, but for him…for him it's been so long he really thought he wouldn't ever get to see his little sister again.

To get to hug her, feel her soft hair and hear her voice.

She doesn't know what he's been through and Aleksander doesn't plan on ever disclosing it with her.

"I just love you, okay? I love you," he says, cupping her cheeks and looking into her eyes. The fact that he gets to tell her that once again means everything to him.

"I love you too, even if you act all crazy big brother," she giggles and he hugs her again. Unwilling to let go.

Aleksander sees their worry, silent but suffocating all the same.

Ever since Ivan and Fedyor broke the news of the war ending, since they realized he wouldn't disclose how he got the scars, how he found them, what he did to set himself free of the Tsar's men, they have been more and more anxious.

Especially after he announces they have to look for Alina.

He can't explain, he can't verbalize it, he can't share it with his family, but he needs to know if she's okay.

Aleksander needs to know if Alina is alive.

The war might have ended, Fedyor said, but that doesn't mean you can live outside the shadows.

Your power is still rare, Aleksander, Ivan seconded, people might still fear you because of your ties to Ilya.

Only Ulla happily followed him.

His younger sister takes his hand and smiles at him, following him without question.

To think he had made peace with never seeing her again, unbelievable.

The base is a sight for sore eyes. While not particularly welcoming it is a place he never thought he would see ever again.

Fedyor and Ivan would follow Aleksander through hell, but they refuse to go inside. He understands so he enters with his sister, not knowing what to expect.

The first time he showed up there he was weak and scared, he had said goodbye to the people he loved and was ready for death.

He is not that man anymore.

"I want to introduce you to some friends," Aleksander says to Ulla. She smiles at him, eager and welcoming.

She's going to like the Crows.

The Crows found him before he was able to find them, hugging him tightly and inviting him and Ulla to the barracks to celebrate.

Just like he thought, everyone adores his sister. The Crows introduced themselves, a fond smile on their faces as Ulla peppered them with all the questions she could think of.

"I can understand," Kaz says, eyes on the trio in front of them. "Why were you so keen on surviving."

Aleksander nods but doesn't reply. Out of all of them, Kaz is the one who understands a sibling bond the best.

"We are so happy to see you are alive," Inej says with a smile. "After we woke up and we didn't see you…" She doesn't finish the thought, instead she shakes her head. "It's good to see you, Aleksander."

"The Sergeant is going to be happy as well," Nina comments. She thinks she's subtle but Aleksander can detect the teasing in her tone. He tries to hide the blush on his cheeks.

"You should go," Matthias says and Aleksander nods.

He's right. He should go and look for her.

The Crows offer to take care of Ulla while he goes to find Alina, so he hugs his little sister, promising to come back for her. She doesn't seem bothered by him leaving, especially after Matthias lets her climb his back.

He smiles at the image before leaving them and going to the place where the tether takes him. All these weeks he has been terrified of calling her through it, afraid of realizing she didn't make it, that he refused to even consider tapping into their connection.

But now that he knows she's alive, he pulls on it, waiting for her answer. When the answer doesn't come he tries not to be scared.

He enters the Grisha headquarters with his heart in his throat. At first he didn't want to harbor hope of her being alive but now that he knows she is, he still worries. Why isn't she answering? Why can't he feel her anymore?

Worry is all he feels, all he experiences because sure, she's alive, but maybe she doesn't remember him. Alina said they were two sides of the same coin, so maybe while he kept his memories she lost hers.

Or maybe she simply doesn't want to deal with him. The war is over, she doesn't need him anymore.

It would be fine, he thinks. He would understand if she doesn't want to deal with him. But first, he needs to see her.

He walks towards the deserted rig, where he found her, loop after loop. It's no surprise she's there, in the same yoga pose he always found her. It's also no surprise she turns to look at him.

Her eyes are still sharp, still deadly.

"A…"

"Yes? Who said you could talk to me?" She asks, standing up from the floor and walking towards him.

Alina forgot him. She doesn't know who he is. Everything they went through together died as he killed the Omega.

They won the war, but Aleksander realizes the cost is immense for him.

"I…" He doesn't know what to say, so he shakes his head. "I'm sorry Sergeant. I didn't mean to bother you."

Aleksander turns around, unable to look at her any longer. He can't bear to look into her eyes and realize she doesn't recognize him. It wouldn't matter if she hated him, if all he could see in her eyes is anger, disappointment, hate. It wouldn't matter because she would know who he is and that would be fine.

"So you'll leave, again?" She asks, making him turn around. He's not sure what she's talking about. "Do you have any idea what it was? Waking up here, alone? You weren't here but my memories were. I had to re-live everything we went through and I had no one. I was alone. Why would you do that to me?"

"You remember me?" He asks, still in disbelief. If what she's saying is true then not only does she remember their last loop but also everything that happened. "How is that possible?"

"One of your grandfather's tricks I assume," she answers, rolling her eyes. He can see the unshed tears in them and it breaks his heart to think about what she went through. "It still doesn't matter, you weren't here and I thought you were dead! You know what that did to me? I had to meet you and mourn you at the same time."

The war took so much from her, including him. He can't even bear it.

"I woke up where the Tsar's men found me. I had to find my sister, to see if she was okay…"

"I understand that! But you never used the tether and I drove myself crazy thinking you were dead!" He grabs her hands, putting them close to his chest. Trying his best to console her.

"I'm sorry, Alina," he says, in a soft voice. "I'm sorry it took me weeks to find you but I will always come back to you. I will do everything, including looking for you in a base full of people who would kill me if they knew about my shadows. I would still look for you, no matter the distance, no matter the noise. Nothing matters other than the fact that I want to be with you. I will always, always want to be with you."

She lets herself cry and Aleksander uses one of his hands to wipe her tears, cupping her face when he realizes it's okay to just let her cry.

Alina is finally free of the burden that acosts her. She can cry all she wants. He's there to hold her.

Alina will never have to be alone again. He's there for her, to carry the burden, to help her with whatever she needs.

"What did you do all this time without me?" He asks, once his arms are wrapped around her body and she rests against his chest.

"I waited for you to come back," she answers, looking at him. She uses one of her hands to trace the scars on his face. Her hands have killed many, but they feel soft and warm on his skin. "I held onto hope. I did my best, because if I was alive and the Crows were alive then you had to be alive. I couldn't bear the thought of you being gone."

He rests his forehead against hers, looking into his eyes.

"You won't ever be alone ever again, Alina."

"You say that but there's so much to do, the war is over but we need to rebuild and get rid of the Tsar before he bleeds this country dry, before people turn on Grisha again. I want to see the world, I know I have responsibilities but I need to live my life, Sasha. I never thought I would have a life."

"We will do what we need to do and then what we want to do. Your life is yours Alina and you deserve to enjoy it. I will be happy to be by your side, to help you carry the burden, to accompany you as we swim in the ocean and watch the stars." She smiles when she hears him, pressing a kiss to his scars, making him smile.

"You promise?"

"I promise."

fin.