So sorry about not updating. Please forgive me! I would have updated faster, but I went to the Adams State cross country camp which lasted for a week, and I had no way of updating the story. I got back yesterday and was able to put the final touches on this chapter.

Thanks to dagirl4ever and zombiegirl04 for favoriting as well as kellerm2001, stars90, Arag, Ani-Obi-Skywalker-Kenobi1985, AndriodSister, DaisyKitten, zombiegirl04, Delphine Pryde and xgrimxreaper4321 for following!

Shoutouts go to IWillNeverStopFangirling, ellak95 and Andriod Sister for reviewing. Your reviews inspired me to write faster.

Enjoy!

Life is a precious gift. Life happens quickly. One moment it's there and in one fleeting moment, it's gone. Life is also wasted. Wasted in small ways, wasted in big ways. Many people, myself included, don't realize how much they've wasted until it's too late. I wasted a great deal of my life fighting with those I loved. Fighting over small things, such as who would get groceries to who could cross the road the fastest.

You see, once you have realized the amount of life you have wasted, you try to make up for it. Most people try to put their life's on fast-forward. Others try to go back in time to change the past while their friends and family look-on as that implodes. I took a different approach.

I tried to change myself, in order to have more time. More time to make up for the time that I wasted. Extra time to help me get more out of my life. Extra time to experience the things that my sister, parents and past-self couldn't. It was beautiful. Naturally, all great things come with a price.

The price I paid was deep. No longer was I allowed to experience life the way I wanted to. My life was taken into the hands of other people and I was tossed around like a doll, forced to comply with anything they ordered of me. My life became as dark and dank as it was when I was a teenager. Nothing was in my control. I couldn't even control some of my emotions. If they wanted to remain emotionless, so be it. I was emotionless.

I lost all sense of hope. I regretted the decision I made to become stronger. To become a "greater being". Without my crew, I was nothing. I hoped that in becoming nothing, nobody would want me anymore. I hoped I would be seen as "defected", and then rejected and placed back into a normal society.

"Rose?"

A form of Khan's sister rose out of the shadows. She glistened in the faint light, casting an eerie glow over Khan.

"Khan." Rose's voice echoed in the space they occupied, a seemingly never-ending stretch of blank emptiness.

Khan raised his eyebrows. He couldn't believe his eyes. Rose, his caring sister, was standing directly in front of him.

Khan reached out his hand, unable to help himself.

Rose smiled, a wide grin spreading across her face. She reached back for Khan's hand.

The feeling was electric. Her hand was warm and comforting. Khan felt like he was being transported back to their childhood, when it seemed like nothing could go wrong. Khan looked down into Rose's face, hoping to see any trace of her former self.

Rose hadn't changed in the slightest. Her face was still the same shape. Her eyes wore the same gentle expression Khan was so used to seeing. Her mouth was etched in the same position; a slight upturn with miniscule dimples.

Khan's eyes moved down, towards her stomach. Her baby bump had disappeared and there was no sign of a ring on her finger.

"Khan..." Rose began, rousing Khan from his thoughts. "What happened to you?"
Khan fought the urge to retort the same back to Rose. What had happened to him?

"I-don't know." Khan let the words fall of his lips slowly.

Rose tightened the grip on his hand.

"You used to be so full of light. So happy. What happened to the bright, bubbly brother I once knew?"

Khan looked into Rose's eyes. They were full of hurt. How could she hurt? She was dead. Everything that had happened since her death wouldn't have done anything to her. The dead can't feel anything.

"I thought you were dead."

Rose's small voice filled the air. "I am dead, Khan. There's no denying that. However, just because I died, doesn't mean I've left you. I've been here all along."

Khan didn't respond. He simply looked at her face, taking in every inch of her.

"I've missed you, Rose."

"I've missed you too. But I can't stay." Rose pulled her hand out of their grasp.

"What do you mean?" Khan asked, backing up as he spoke.

"You have things to do, Khan." Rose replied. "You have places to go. Things to experience. People to meet. People to love. People to hate. I can't pull you away knowing you have so many things left to finish."

Khan shook his head. "I'd rather spend my days with you, then be stuck here."

Rose brushed her hair out of her face. "Are you really stuck here, Khan?"

Khan contemplated for a moment. It was true, he wasn't stuck. He could easily choose to go with Rose. This was his chance. His chance to leave the world behind him and reunite with his parents. Reunite with Rose. See the friends who left him too early. It would be wonderful seeing them again. Knowing that they would be able to hear him talking to them. Sharing memories and reminiscing.

What would happen to my crew? What would they think if I left them? How would they be able to carry on? How would I be able to carry on knowing that they weren't with me? I would never be able to part with them without saying goodbye first. I haven't said my goodbyes.

Kirk. He was still flying through the debris.

Bones. I've connected with Bones. I feel like he understands me in ways that my crew doesn't. Sharing part of my life with him has made him closer. I feel like he's a part of me. What would he think?

I can't carry through with this. I can't do it. They need me. Every single one of them. My crew, Kirk, Spock, Carol, Bones. Rose. She needs me to continue.

"I think, I've made up my mind." Khan told Rose.

Rose uncrossed her arms and pulled Khan into a hug. All of the emotions that were never expressed before her passing were released. Years of grief poured from Khan.

Rose was the first to release. Looking up into Khan's eyes, she made her final statement.

"If you ever need me, I'll be here. Where I've always been."

Khan followed Rose's fingers, where she pointed to his heart. "I'll always be here for you."

Khan took a shaky breath, letting a single tear fall from his eye. Rose grinned once more, placing her hand on Khan's cheek. Khan brought his hand up to meet hers, closing his eyes, knowing it would be their final embrace.

With a shock, Khan's eyes opened, taking in the surrounding debris field.

Once again, terribly sorry about the delay! Please review! I promise I'll update faster, as I've already started the next chapter!