I re-wrote this chapter. I wasn't too happy with it. I felt like I had glossed over important parts of the story, but, after two power-cuts last night, by God I was uploading it! I hope this chapter works better now.

Thanks for all the reviews. I really appreciate every one.

I've been dying to get to this chapter, so... here it goes. It's been really hard to write though.

Disclaimer: I don't own the song 'Heaven'. Brian Adams does and I gain no profit from mentioning it here.

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"Remember me?"

Remember her? How could he ever forget his Lexie? He had fallen asleep every night since her death with her face in his mind... her laugh... her smile... her voice. Even in the height of the trouble with the Xindi, it was her face he saw when he closed his eyes. He had fallen asleep every night with the crushing guilt of knowing that it was all his fault that she had died. Her shout of his name echoed over the comm. a million times in his dreams before the shuttle exploded into a blazing fireball. Remember her? He could never forget. It couldn't be though.

Snapping out of his daze, he jack-knifed into a sitting position, and leapt off the bed so he was facing her over the bio bed. Archer and Trip watched in fascination as his colour changed from a deathly pale to beet-red until it finally changed back to normal. Malcolm and Alex stared at each other for a long time until Alex finally broke the silence.

"Malcolm" she began uncertainly.

Malcolm's voice was ice cold and whipped like a lash against her. "It's not possible. It can't be you. My wife died eight years ago when the shuttle she was traveling in from Jupiter Station exploded. I know she died. I was talking to her when she died. I don't know who you are, but you can't be her."

Alex had visibly paled as he spoke, and Archer took a step towards her as if to catch her, but she gripped the edge of the bio-bed, and straightened her voice.

"Malcolm, it is me. What can I do to convince you?"

"Nothing." He began to shout now. "My God. Don't you think I wish you were her? I would give anything I have just to hold her in my arms once more, to tell her how much I love her, and will until the day I die. But wishing won't turn back the clock. I know you're not my wife." He turned to walk away, but Alex ran around the bio-bed and grabbed his arm, turning him to face her. Tears streamed down her face as she spoke, and her voice cracked, but she continued.

"Listen to me, Reed! My name is Alexandria Katherine Stephens Reed. You are my husband. We met when I moved to England when I was sixteen. The first time we kissed was at Christmas after we went to the movies. You proposed during our Graduation Ball, in front of everybody, even though you hate revealing your feelings in public. We got married when we were eighteen, a month before we joined Starfleet." He turned to walk away again, but she renewed her grip on his arm and Malcolm had no choice but to listen.

"Listen to me. It's me. Lexie. The one who used to tease you for your eternal optimism" (the blank look that between Archer and Trip went unnoticed at this point. Optimism? Malcolm Reed?) Malcolm went pale again as she continued... "the girl who knows every ticklish place on your body and used mercilessly when you wouldn't tell me something, the girl who cant boil a saucepan of water and nearly burned down the kitchen when I tried to make you scrambled eggs on your birthday, the girl who... promised... to..." she completely broke down at this point. Malcolm turned and held out his arms, and when she ran into them, he whispered "Lexie" and the tears fell down his cheeks too. "I'm never letting you go again!"

Wordlessly, Archer motioned to Trip and Phlox to leave and the doors swished shut behind them, leaving the couple to their privacy.

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Archer and Trip made their way back to the briefing room where they had left the Starfleet crew of the Hope. They were both a little stunned. Trip was the first to speak.

"Ah can't believe he didn't tell us."

"I know."

"Ah mean, he was married. And his wife died. We're friends, best friends, and he never said a word."

"In fairness Trip, it is obvious that he loves her a lot. He must have been devastated when she died. I mean, it sounded like they were together since they were about sixteen. That had to hurt. Though, thinking about it, that three month absence from duty eight years ago is suddenly making a whole lot more sense."

"Huh?"

"On his record, it is noted that he was absent from duty for three months 'for personal reasons'. Whenever I tried to get him to open up about it, this incredibly sad look came over him, and he would clam up. Whenever I asked him, I got the impression of over-whelming guilt on his part. I think he felt responsible for her death."

"Oh."

They continued on in silence until they reached the briefing room. The room's occupants were standing in a bunch in the centre of the room, talking. When they saw the two officers enter, they quickly formed lines again.

"Relax. I mean it" Jon told them. "I'm sure you're all concerned about what happened."

"You bet we are" spoke up one young man. "Lieutenant Tony Ford" He informed the Captain. "Is Alex alright? Is your officer ok?"

A brief smile played over Jon's features as he remembered the look of devotion of their faces when he had left them in sickbay.

"I think they are going to be fine. The Lieutenant in question is Lieutenant Malcolm Reed. He is my Chief Armoury Officer, and your friend's husband. Apparently, they were married young, and he thought she was dead. He is unmarried now, and I have a feeling that they will be working on their relationship as soon as they gain control of themselves."

Trip noticed that the men in the room all had long faces.

"What's up?" he asked them. "Don't you want them to be happy? And before you answer, keep in mind that Malcolm is one of my best friends."

A female Lieutenant answered for them. "Sir, Tracy Weathers Sir. They are just upset that Alex's husband isn't married"

"What!?!"

"Well, most of the men think that Alex is pretty great, and they were hoping that her husband would be married when they met up again, so they could have a shot with her." She seemed to think it was most amusing.

Archer gave them a 'look' before starting to brief them, again, about the Xindi species.

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It was a long time before either Malcolm or Alex stopped crying. They found themselves sitting on the floor of sickbay, arms wrapped around each other.

"Oh my God" Malcolm began. "It really is you" His hands traced the lines of her face, down her nose, and swept across her full lips. They traced down her neck, along her arms to her fingertips. Her skin felt so soft! It was just like he remembered it.

"That's what I've been trying to tell you" Alex laughed through her tears. "What finally convinced you that it was me? My voice?"

"Nope. It was you knowing that I'm ticklish. No one else knows that." They laughed and hugged each other again.

"Um, Malcolm?"

"Yes love?" Her heart leaped at the endearment, but she had to continue.

"Um, I noticed no wedding ring on your finger. Are you...?"

"I'm not married, engaged or seeing anyone." He said that with a completely clear conscience. Though there had been women since her death, they were few and far between, and he never felt even a tenth of what he felt for Lexie.

"Oh, THANK GOD!" she shouted, and kissed him.

The kiss brought Malcolm back fifteen years to their first kiss, and through the thousands that followed, to their last kiss before she got on the shuttle to Jupiter Station for a three week training program. It held the promise of thousands more to come, and when they finally broke apart, they were both breathing heavily.

"Wow" he breathed.

"You can say that again"

"Wow" and then he kissed her again.

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England, 13 years previously.

"Lexie! LEXIE!" Eighteen year old Malcolm shouted as her ran into her house through the back door. In the two years since they had been going out, he'd been practically adopted into the Stephen's family. He had free access to their house, and his own key. Her parents liked him, and the atmosphere was so different to the one in his own home that he found himself at her house more often than not.

Now, he had something important to tell her, and he couldn't find her. "Lexie! Where are you?"

"In here Malcolm" He followed the sound of her voice to the living room, and ran inside, waving a data chip around.

"Lexie, I'm in! I got top marks in the entrance exams. Starfleet accepted me! I'm in!"

"Me too! I just got word!" They jumped hugged and kissed and jumped up and down like five year olds until Alex's parents came running at the noise. They joined in the celebrations with relish. At first, they hadn't liked the idea of Alex joining Starfleet. But, once they realized that she and Malcolm were serious about it, they gave them both their full support.

Eventually they calmed down enough for Alex to ask Malcolm what his parents had said. He blushed hotly and looked at the floor.

"You didn't tell them!" she exclaimed.

"Well, technically..."

"Don't you 'technically' me Malcolm Reed. You have to tell them. I'll go with you."

Malcolm agreed and they left at a more subdued pace to Malcolm's house. They left themselves in the front door, and followed the sound of voices to the kitchen where Malcolm's parents Mary and Stuart were talking. They stood in the doorway out of sight while Stuart, pacing the kitchen floor, went on one of his rants about their relationship, their plans and generally about Malcolm that he frequently indulged in.

"... I mean Starfleet! It will amount to nothing, mark my words! The Navy. I should make the boy join the Navy. That's a real career. None of this Starship nonsense. I mean, the Vulcans won't condone us leaving the system any time in the next fifty years! It'd be a waste of the boy's time."

"Now Stuart," Mary Reed tired to calm him down, "you know Malcolm has always loved the stars, and he doesn't like water."

"He's afraid you mean!! Stupid fear! Well, at least I can console myself with the possibility that he mightn't get accepted. The results are out in the next few days." He sat down heavily on a nearby chair.

"I almost had him, Mary. When he told me his plans to join Starfleet, I almost changed his mind. He was going to cave in, I know it. Then that tramp from Ireland came along with her plans..." he got no further before he was interrupted my Malcolm's enraged shout of

"DON'T YOU EVER CALL HER THAT"

Malcolm had stood in the shadows and listened to his father's cutting remarks with the tightening of his jaw the only sign that what his father was saying affected him. But, when he started on his girlfriend, his control snapped. Alex stood in shock as Malcolm stormed into the kitchen.

"Don't you ever call her that? Ever. I love her, and I will forever" Stuart Reed sneered at this comment, but Malcolm ignored it. He threw down the data chip on the table.

"My acceptance letter from Starfleet" he informed them. "Alex has one too. We start in a few months." With that, he turned around, grabbed her hand and pulled a shocked Alex out the door, leaving behind them two brooding Reed's.

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Two weeks later was the ball to celebrate their graduation from school. Alex wore a long black gown, simply cut with a split up one leg. She thought that Malcolm had never looked so handsome in his tuxedo, but she was aware of a sense of brooding surrounding him. He hadn't spoken to his father since the day they got their letters of acceptance two weeks ago.

Little did she know that something else was on his mind. Malcolm was going to ask Alex to marry him. In his pocket, he had the diamond and sapphire ring that his Grandma Reed had left him in her will on the condition that he 'give it to the girl he wants to spend the rest of his life with.' Malcolm knew he had found the girl already. Alex.

His breath caught in his throat as he saw her walking down the stairs in front of him. She was so beautiful! He felt a huge grin break over his face as he escorted her inside the hotel where the ball was being held. She was the prettiest girl there.

They danced almost every dance, though Alex had to drag Malcolm up on the floor for the fast ones. When Alex wasn't looking, he slipped away to make an arrangement with the D.J., and led her out to the dance floor. Her favourite song, an old Brian Adams song, 'Heaven' came on. Alex looked up in surprise and delight, and snuggled into his arms.

"Baby, you're all that I want,

When I'm lying here in your arms,

I'm finding it hard to believe we're in heaven.

And love is all that I need,

And I've found there in your heart,

It isn't too hard to see, we're in heaven."

He waited until the last bars of the song had ended, before tipping up her chin, and looking into her eyes.

"Marry me?" he asked. For a moment, she too surprised to move.

"What?" she whispered.

Stepping away from her, he got down on one knee, in front of everybody (the entire room had stopped what they were doing to watch) and asked in a loud voice

"Alexandria Katherine Stephens. Will you do me the honour of being my wife?"

"Yes!!" Alex shouted.

Malcolm stood up and threw his arms around her, and kissed her. The room erupted in applause, but they were oblivious to all but each other. Malcolm took out the ring and slipped it on her finger. A perfect fit.

It felt like fate.

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"My parents are going to have a heart attack" she informed him as they walked into her house the next day. They had spent the night in a hotel, celebrating (A/N What? Do I have to draw you a diagram?) and were now on the way to break the news to their parents. "But in a good way... I hope." Malcolm massaged her shoulders.

"Relax." he told her. "We're both adults. We're both eighteen. We don't need their permission."

She nodded. They had discussed it over breakfast, and decided to tell their parents together, so they collected Alex's bemused parents and made the short walk to Malcolm's house. Inside, both sets of parents sat down on the couch, while Alex and Malcolm stood in front of them.

"We have something to tell you" Alex began. "Malcolm and I are getting married."

Silence followed their announcement, until both mothers shouted in unison

"Oh my God. You're pregnant!!"

Alex's father jumped up and advanced on Malcolm, threatening to kill him, while Stuart sat back and smirked at the predicament Malcolm found himself in. 'Try getting into Starfleet with a knocked-up girlfriend in tow' he thought to himself.

"No!" Malcolm had to shout to be heard over the sobbing mothers and her enraged father. "No, Alex is not pregnant. Someday, hopefully, but not now." But no-one heeded him. Her father still advanced on him until Alex intervened and stepped in between them.

"Listen to him Daddy! I'm not pregnant."

"You're not pregnant?"

"No!"

"Then why are you getting married so young. Marriage is forever in this family young lady. I won't condone at a divorce."

Malcolm stepped up next to Alex and put an arm around her waist. "There isn't going to be a divorce. We love each other very much, and we always will. We want to live together when we go to San Francisco, but we want to be married."

It took a lot of convincing before their parents could accept their decision. It took even longer to convince them to help with the wedding. Malcolm's sister was ecstatic for them, and Alex insisted that she be a brides-maid

They were married in a small ceremony in a nearby church, surrounded by their close friends and family. Malcolm would never forget the picture of Alex walking down the aisle on her father's arm. She looked like an angel, all white and light.

They moved to San Francisco two weeks after the wedding and began their term at Starfleet Academy. The longer they were together, the happier they were. When their first anniversary came around, they threw a huge party. They had their share of fights, like all couples, (actually, they were screaming matches as they were both passionate people) but they always made up fairly fast.

They both excelled in the Academy, Alex in the Engineering Corps, and Malcolm training as a tactical officer. They graduated on top of their respective classes, and had their choice of assignments, but always chose to stay within easy distance of each other. They were both promoted to Ensign on the same day.

They thought nothing could ever part them.

Then, two weeks before their fifth anniversary, Alex was given an assignment to work on Jupiter Station for three weeks.

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Enterprise, 2154

Alex reluctantly pulled away from Malcolm.

"Hon, we really better move. I'm sure the Doctor wants his sickbay back sometime this year."

Malcolm sighed "I know" before kissing her neck again. He loved it when she shivered like that. He stood up and pulled her to her feet before his mind wandered again, and they'd not get out of here for the next day or two.

"Let's go get some real privacy"

"Oh, really? Where?"

"My quarters"

"I love your thinking."

He wrapped his arm around her waist, and they left the sickbay, oblivious to the very surprised stares that they received from Malcolm's shipmates. Malcolm Reed with his arms around a strange girl? What was going on?

They came down from their 'high' a little as they walked, and Alex said soberly

"Malcolm. We need to talk."

"I know."

"I'm not the same girl I was years ago."

"I know. Same here. I've changed and not necessarily for the better. I'm the pessimist on the crew now."

"What? Pessimist? You?"

"Well, after I lost you, I didn't see much to smile about.

"Oh, sweetheart." She kissed him lightly.

"We are different people to what we were eight years ago. Our experiences have changed us."

"I agree. But one thing has never changed. I love you Malcolm Reed, and I always will."

"I love you too. More than I ever thought possible"

Alex looked around as they walked.

"This ship is pretty impressive. Warp five. And, you're the Armoury Officer."

"Yes. You know I always liked to blow things up." They both laughed at that.

"And you" Malcolm continued. "You are acting engineer on the Hope."

"I am indeed."

"I'm surprised that you had engine trouble then. You always had a knack for anything mechanical."

Alex stopped short.

I have to tell him what happened. He's going to go nuts, but James has to be stopped. If he hurts someone else, it'll be all my fault.

"Malcolm, we have to find the Captain."

"What? Why?"

"I can't tell you here. Just, trust me. It's very important. I have to speak to him. You too."

Seeing the fervent look in her eye, Malcolm walked to the nearest comm. Unit and activated it.

"Reed to Bridge."

"Sato here, Sir."

"Hoshi, where's the Captain?"

"In his ready room with Commander Jenson"

"Alright, thanks Hoshi."

Knowing it was important, Malcolm quickly led the way to the Captain's ready room.

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Jon and Commander Jenson were deep in discussion about the ramifications of the Xindi weapon when the door chimed. Bidding whoever it was to enter, he was astonished to see Lieutenant and Ensign Reed on the other side. From the look on his face, so was Jenson. They were the last people they'd expected to see.

"I'm sorry to interrupt Captain, but there is something I wish to discuss with you" began Alex.

"Go ahead Ensign Reed" Jon couldn't help smiling when he said that. The smile was wiped from his face when he heard what Alex had to say.

"Sir. I'm the engineer on the Hope. The engine began experiencing brief power surges, but before I could deal with them, James Hawk came into engineering. He'd asked me out a few times, and I always said no. When I said no this time, he attacked me. That's why the engine failed. He distracted me."

"HE WHAT!?!" roared Malcolm. Heads on the bridge whipped around at the enraged shout that echoed through the thin walls. "I'm going to kill him"

Malcolm made to leave, his mind set, ignoring Jon's shout for him to stop. Alex grabbed his arm, and dug her heels into the carpet, and pulled him back.

"Malcolm, calm down!"

"Calm down? This man attacked my wife! I am going to..."

"Do nothing yet. God, this is why I didn't tell you in the corridor. You'd have gone beaten him to a pulp, and you would have been in trouble, which I don't want. He didn't get far" she assured him. "I didn't spend five years married to you and not learn how to kick some ass if the situation calls for it. I knocked him back after about five seconds."

"Five seconds too long if you ask me" mumbled Malcolm, glowering at her.

"Did you inform Commander Jenson of this?" asked Jon.

"She did sir." Answered Jenson for her. "But I had no jurisdiction to arrest Hawk, so I assigned a tail."

"Well, I do have the jurisdiction to arrest the son of a bitch" stated Jon, rising from his chair. "Malcolm, get two of your security men, and meet me at the airlock. Ensign Reed, you work with Jenson here. I need a complete report. Captain to the Bridge."

"Sato here, Sir"

"How are you coming along with those translations of the files in Barcarni?"

"They are going well sir. I should have the first one done in a few minutes."

"Put that one on hold. I want you to find the files for James Hawk. Translate them as fast as you can."

"Aye sir."

"T'Pol?"

"Here, Captain."

"I need you to find out everything you can about James Hawk. Search every database you can get your hand's on, just find him!"

"Yes sir."

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James paced his quarters on Hope. Would Alex tell Archer? Did my threat strike home? He went over to a small locker in the corner, and pulled out a slim tube. Flicking his wrist, a deadly blade shot out from the tube, making it a very dangerous knife. 'Just in case'. He slipped into a hidden pocket in his pants just as his door chimed.

Opening it, he saw Tony Ford standing on the other side. Behind him stood a tall man bearing the rank of Captain, a shorter, dark-haired Lieutenant and two Ensigns each toting guns.

"Gentlemen?"

The tall man stepped forward. "I am Captain Jonathan Archer. I am authorizing your arrest for the assault on Ensign Alexandria Reed."

James had to think fast. "Assault? She called it assault? Since when is consensual sex assault?"

The dark-haired Lieutenant stiffened. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me. She's been after me for months. Anyway, I finally gave in. Afterward though, she got all guilt ridden, I think she's married, and called it assault. C'mon, I mean we're all men here, we've all been there."

"No we haven't. I feel that I speak for everyone here when I say that we have never been accused of attacking a woman." Archer replied coldly.

James got desperate. "Oh, come on. You're going to take the word of that little slut over..." he got no farther. The dark haired Lieutenant leapt at him, punching him in the nose and knocking James to the ground. He got a few punches into the stomach too before Tony and Jon yanked him off James.

"What the hell was that all about?" James asked, a little dazed. His nose hurt like hell and his back ached where he had fallen on it. The Lieutenant sure packed one mean punch.

"Let me introduce Lieutenant Malcolm Reed" Jon said.

"Reed?" James gulped faintly.

"Yes, Reed. And if you ever, EVER, say anything like that about my wife again, I will kill you with my bare hands, is that understood?" James nodded weakly.

Wife? Oh, shit!! He was in deep trouble.

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Alex sat in Malcolm's quarters, waiting for him like he had asked her to. She looked around his room. It was as neat as a pin. Nothing was out of place. 'Typical Malcolm. He was always so neat when my side of the room looked like a bomb hit it!' She noticed that there were no pictures on the shelves. 'If I know Malcolm...'

She headed over to the small bedside locker, and opened the top drawer. Sure enough, there was a small photo album. It was filled with pictures of them, at their apartment in San Francisco, in the park, at the beach, on their wedding day... Alex's eyes filled with tears of joy as she looked at these, and reverently put the album back in the drawer.

She had finished her report and headed here soon afterwards. She was so tired. She lay down on his bed and stretched out. Just a few minutes rest. She closed her eyes, and began to dream.

Alex awoke sweating from the dream less than ten minutes later. It was a dream filled with pain and anguish, or more accurately, a memory, one she hadn't let herself think about for a long time. She never let herself think about it, it hurt too much. This time, along with the hurt came worry.

If Malcolm finds out, he'll blame me, but I can't handle this alone.

How will he react when he finds out?

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More to come.

You know what to do.