Where Our Hearts Yearns to be

Chapter 5

"It has been said that time heals all wounds. I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue, and the pain lessens, but it is never gone." - Rose Kennedy

Char

Redden by the constant volcanic eruption and the bombardment of radiation; Char stood a planet that is covered in ashes with oceans of molten lava. Although life appears to be unlikely in such inhospitable conditions, the ex-confederate core world is now beaming with life on the surface. Billions of zerg are busy gathering from all over the Koprulu sector; the growls of zerglings and the screeches of hydralisk resonate in the air. The swarm is anxious, ready to execute the will of their master.

Amidst the chaos, a lone figure stands at the opening of a volcano, in perfect view of what would best resemble hell in front of her. She appears to be in a state of tranquility, eyes closed and unaffected by the horror that lies before her. Her mind is else where, light years away from Char. Reaching out to a man that stole something from her, something that she gave him long before she was the Queen of Blades, something that no one in the universe would believe she possess, her heart.

A drop of tears escaped her eyes and quickly evaporated due to the extremely high temperature. Kerrigan witnessed Jim's dream. She could feel him constantly reaching out to her, begging and pleading her to connect with him through their psionic link. But she knew it would only hurt him more.

I am everything that you have lost….

I am everything that you never had…

She tried her best to keep her distance from Jim since their last meeting in Mengsk's palace, she tried to be strong, but she couldn't. She needed to know that she still has Jim… she needed to know that she didn't lose him too. Witnessing Jim's dream only brought more pain for her. The life that she will never have, the child that she would have given everything in this world to conceive with Jim, the simple bliss of feeling Jim brush her hair.. It's all a far-fetched dream… She opened her eyes, fist clenched. She looked down at her body and her spirit dropped..

Even if I wanted to… how can Jim ever want to be with "this". Kerrigan thought as she looks at her armored body and the carapace that sticks out of her in odd angle. She let out a sigh and let her mind wander to a time… when it was all possible…

Kerrigan's memories

"Sarah? How about you come get a real drink with me once we get back?"

Those words kept on ringing through her head as Sarah Kerrigan, the deadliest assassin in all of the Koprulu sector, sits nake in the shower of her quarters, letting steaming hot water wash over her.

"Ok Sarah… you can do this… it's only a friendly drink with a colleague, that's all, no big deal.. no sweat!" Sarah thought to herself..

Suddenly a voice interrupted "No it's not and you know it! JIM ASKED YOU OUT! "

"Ohh… it's no big deal… Jim is probably just trying to be friendly… cause you know.. you helped him get back at the people that took his Johnny's life" Sarah countered

"Ahem,… who are you kidding missy? Did you not see the way he was looking at you after the mission? He clearly has feelings for you!" rebutted the voice

"Nahhhh! Jim is just being a pig…" Sarah reasoned

"Ohh please… would you just get out of the shower now before you burnt yourself… it wouldn't look nice when Jim undresses you tonight.. " suggested the voice

"Oh my god.. shut up! I am not that type of a girl…Plus.. I don't even have anything nice to wear tonight… " Sarah thought sadly

"Well then.. get out of the shower… and find something! You don't want to wear your battle suit on your first date now do you? Those things would be tricky for Jim to take off…"the voice teased

"SHUT UP!" Snapped Sarah at the voices in her head as blood began to rush to her face, making her glow a similar shade of red as her hair.

Sarah hopped out of the shower and changed quickly. She flopped onto her bed with her still wet hair, droplets of water dangling by her bands.

Should I go?

"I am late! I am late! I am late!" thought Kerrigan as she speed walked as fast as humanly possible to Sam's place."I knew I shouldn't have tried on all those dresses… and this STUPID SANDAL! Argghh!"

"Please be there, please be there!" hoped Kerrigan as she entered the establishment.

To her joy, Jim was sitting by the bar with his back towards her. Sarah silently approached the slumping man, catching up with her breath. She could feel his excitement, his anxiousness and his nervousness mirroring her own.

When Jim turned around, Sarah could feel an elevated level of happiness radiating from Jim. She knew she caught this normally cocky and arrogant man breathless. The words that came out of his mouth further boosted her confidence in front of this man who had always seem to have the psionic power to make her weak in her knees...

"Sarah? You look….. amazing." Was all that Jim was able to choke out as he observed her beauty.

Sarah Kerrigan stood in front of him, in a simple calf-length skirt and a halter-top that showed off her pale smooth shoulders. Her arms were tone with muscle but not bulky, her legs were long and slender with her small feet in a strappy sandal, her top revealed just a hint of her cleavage, which drove Jim wild with his imagination. Sarah's fiery red hair was loose and framed her face with a butterfly clip to keep some of her hair behind her ears. Jim had always loved the tom boyish ghost that leave trails of death behind her, but the nervous women that stood in front of him simply took his breath away.

"thanks" Sarah said as she gave Jim a sheepish grin that melted his heart. She looked down at her feet to avert his intense gaze."I am not sure if this is the right thing to wear… someone loaned it to me."

Jim slowly reached out with his hand and lifted her chin, the two can feel sparks fly as emerald meets brown. "Perfect darling"

With all the control that Jim had to resist kissing her, he torn his gaze from Sarah and pulled out a chair for her. Sarah shuddered at Jim's hands under her chin and was flattered by his act of chivalry. She could hear his thoughts "Was there anything about her that wasn't perfect?"

Sarah replied without hesitation "Plenty of things" as she exposed him to her little mind reading, ashamed "damn. Sorry about that. Been trying not to.. you know."

Before she could continue, Jim placed a finger on her lips and shushed her. "Honey, as long as you don't call me a pig again, you can read whatever you want. I want to be an open book for you."

Sarah's heart leaped with joy and a feeling that she had never felt before….

Love..

End of memories

A genuine smile crept onto Kerrigan's face, a sight of rarity ever since she became the queen of blades. The smile was cut short when Za'gara, trotted towards her.

"My queen, the swarm has been assembled." Za'gara spoked with a hiss..

"Good, you have done well Za'gara" Kerrigan turned to face her. "Prepare the Leviathan, get Stukov, Dehaka and Abarthur ready for departure."

"What about me my queen?" Za'gara question, irritated that she was excluded.

"You will rebuild the swarm here on Char once we departed" explained Kerrigan. "Should anything happens to me, you will be the leader of the swarm."

"But my Queen.." Za'gara spoked hastily but was cut off by Kerrigan.

"You dare defy me?" Kerrigan's eyes glow

"As you commanded…" Za'gara said as she retreated

Kerrigan stared at the retreating figure of the brood mother, when she had disappeared from sight, she turned and looked into the blazing red sky…

She needs to find out more about this enemy… she needs to learn more of the prophecy… She needs to speak with Zeratul.

Before she seeks Zeratul out in Shakuras... she needs to see him. She knew she shouldn't…she knew meeting him would only hurt him more… but she needs to see him…she needed him to achieve inner peace before she can set out for her quest

Jim…

Author's Disclaimer: I do not own starcraft. This story is just a version of how I wanted the Starcraft universe to be after heart of the swarm. Please don't sue me! And please review and let me know how I am doing! Thanks for Reading.

A/N: I believe that next chapter may have adult themes in it..be aware!