A/N: Gah! I'm sorry it took me so long to get this up. I thought I'd be able to update once a week, but it's been more than a week I apologize. Obviously this time of year can be busy so just bear with me until January!

Thanks to Amatista, Benedict'sZombieGirl, CLTex, Happy Ever After, katieswar123, KnowKnayme, Myystikal, Poodle warriors, and Sorceress of the Trees (and everyone else I probably missed) for reading my work and then bothering to leave reviews! I love you all!

Chapter 8 – Her Ignorance, His Plan

Khan's first instinct upon waking up in Madelyn's bed was to leave quickly and quietly, to return to work at Section 31 as soon as possible so as not to arouse anyone's suspicions—particularly Marcus'. He had yet to be absent once from his usual stations in the secret underground system known to only a small portion of Starfleet, and he was not about to raise red flags. But he had also not received a single moment of absolute trust from anyone until he had met Madelyn. He wasn't going to throw it away so lightly by disappearing from her side before she'd had a chance to wake up on the morning after she'd given herself to him so completely.

She shifted beside him and promptly burrowed herself between his body and the sheets, like a small animal attempting to keep out the morning chill. Khan slid a leg between hers and pulled the comforter up around her body until his arm rested against her back. She was showing sensitivity to the cold in the room, but the muscles in her back were no longer tense, a sign that she'd relaxed inside the new warmth he'd provided her.

He couldn't stay long. This was the first time he hadn't slept in his own flat, and the cameras there would have already alerted Marcus to that fact by now. Should he be verbally reprimanded for not returning to work on time, Khan could easily use a subtle verbal remark to put Marcus in his place. It was Christmas after all, and though Khan had never been fond of celebrating the holidays of his flawed creators, he understood the need to have a day on which work responsibilities could be temporarily set aside. He could play to the Admiral's human sensibilities, if he needed to.

Dawn light gradually filtered through the room's single window as Khan listened to Madelyn's steady breathing, recalling the previous night with satisfaction. After an hour of practically torturing her with his fingers, he'd finally succumbed to his own desperate need and brought them both hurtling over the edge of their climax together. She'd wanted more, and he'd given it, and three hours later she'd fallen asleep beneath him. It was the first time he'd had sex in almost three hundred years, and it quenched something inside him that only made a different fire begin to rise, one he would use to burn a path through Starfleet once his plans to rescue his crew were carried out.

He couldn't quite place his finger on what he was feeling. He knew he didn't love her, but he was also sure that what he felt for her was more than lust. Being with her had always been about more than lust. He had feelings about her, involving her and the future he had planned for her, and for now those would suffice.

Madelyn was his, in more than one sense, but he suspected her own intentions regarding him were far different. Considering the mess of an unrequited relationship that existed between her and Commander Gallagher, Khan decided she should be grateful that he'd ever decided to step into her life in the first place.

Had Owen not been so demanding and determined to make his feelings for Madelyn known—feelings that she had never desired to return—she might never have felt compelled to seek out Khan's willing confidence.

And Khan was going to milk her desire for all it was worth.

Sex with Madelyn was different. She wasn't as strong as the average Augment female, but she was stronger than the average Human female, and as a result struck a desirable balance as someone Khan could see himself desiring more and more. He could overpower her, and she could resist with some result if she wanted. Last night had proven that, but none of it had come as a surprise, since the blood sample he'd tested weeks ago had proven that she was in fact almost twenty percent Augment. That number even accounted for the dilution of Augment genetic material over the course of an estimated six generations of breeding with Humans. The test had proved to Khan not only Madelyn's true ancestry, but that even at its most basic structure, the superiority and resilience of the Augmented compared to the ordinary Human.

All of this was also why he hoped, through continuing to pursue this physical relationship with her, Madelyn would eventually conceive. Of everything involved in this affair, that was his only real concern.

Madelyn had once briefly mentioned in passing that she wasn't able to have children. She had tried for two years with her deceased husband Mark, but nothing had come of it. Every doctor she had seen had declared she was unable to have children. Her medical records even contained a note about a "genetic deviation" with regards to her supposed inability to conceive. But Khan knew better.

She wasn't barren. Unique in its suppressed Augmentations but also neither purely Human nor Augment, Madelyn's genetic structure was fundamentally incompatible with the Human genome and therefore unable to reproduce. The only reason her forebears had been able to reproduce was because they'd had higher amounts of Augment DNA in their cells. Her mother's genes had been so diluted that her body had been unable to handle the atypical genetic load and as a result, she'd died while giving birth to Madelyn. It was a case that any worthy medical scientist would be pulling their hair out to study, and Khan was the only one aware of it.

As one of the first Augments ever created, Khan knew that his own genetic material was pure enough that he could easily remedy this complication. Conception was a real possibility for Madelyn now, and that was how he wanted it.

He would keep all of this to himself for now. The last thing he needed was for her to bail on him and he didn't have the resources nor the ability to force her to stay with him. And she was intelligent enough to not simply fall for a physical seduction without first getting to know him as a person, which was why he'd resorted to gaining her trust by forming some semblance of a relationship with her of her own free will.

In one sense it was absolutely frustrating, the amount of time it had taken for her to be open to his advances, but now that they had come this far, Khan couldn't help but feel a natural sense of possession.

However, there was still something inside him that nagged at him, something that told him his efforts weren't quite as disingenuous as he'd originally intended them to be. He liked Madelyn, at least in the sense that one enjoyed being in the company of another person. Having her for himself had been the next obvious step, but there was still a distinct line between what he'd revealed to her as John Harrison, and what he intended for her as Khan Noonien Singh. He hoped that in time she would come to accept that this was the way things would be, once she understood the lengths he was prepared to take to protect her. She was his now, and there was nothing he wouldn't do to protect her along with his crew.

Madelyn was already in a better position than the rest of his family, but as a result would have to take the brunt of whatever resulted from his plans. There was still a month or more to go before the timing was right. A month he would make good use of while he was still in London.

Khan slid his hand down her back, briefly running his fingers along her spine, recalling the way it had arched and bowed beneath him. Then he firmly pressed his lips to her forehead, causing her to stir while he dragged his fingers up her spine and between her shoulder blades. He pressed into her muscles, massaging her slightly, finding the sensitive spot he'd discovered last night. Madelyn moaned and grabbed his arm in an attempt to stop him, burying her face in the pillows when the room's light greeted her eyes. He rolled on top of her, pinning her to the bed with his body, his hands sliding down to her waist.

"I can't stay this morning," he murmured, pulling hair from her face and keeping it behind her ear.

"It's Christmas," she mumbled back, muffled by the pillows.

Khan found it amusing when she reached out behind her to grab for him. He snagged her wrists and held them behind her back, then drug his teeth across her neck and shoulder until he reached the same spot between her shoulders blades.

"Don't you dare," she muttered.

He smiled against her skin and merely kissed it before freeing her and sliding away off the bed. He began to collect his clothing off the floor to get dressed, and she rolled over to watch him, holding a sheet around her body.

"You aren't seriously going to work on Christmas." It was more of an accusation than a question.

"My work is too important not to," Khan replied, pulling on his trousers. She didn't respond. He pulled on his shirt, then noticed the disappointment on her face and immediately went over to her. He leaned down over the bed and took her lips in a kiss that he forced himself to break when he felt arousal stirring. "I'll see you tomorrow," he murmured.

Madelyn reached up to comb his hair out of his face. "What if I have plans tomorrow?"

"Change them."

A smirk played with her lips. "I should've told you. I'm going up to Leeds tomorrow to visit Kelly and her family. They invited me and I couldn't say no."

If things had been different, Khan would've insisted he accompany her.

"How long will you be away?" he asked.

"Until next year."

He didn't appreciate her attempt at humor this time. She caught his reaction and smiled again.

"I'm coming back on January 2nd."

Khan kissed her again, then straightened and combed his fingers through his hair. He didn't like her leaving. He reminded himself that he wasn't in a position where he could force her to stay. But that didn't mean he couldn't devise a means of tracking her.

"Fine. I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself."

He left her bedroom to reclaim his coat—which he realized he'd left on the kitchen floor—even as she called for his alias. It had been like a constant stabbing sensation every time she'd called out for John last night, a reminder that he was still at the mercy of Admiral Marcus.

A copy of the old photograph he would need was sitting on a table in the apartment's living room, and he quickly hid it away in his coat pocket. With a discarded piece of Terminium from one of Section 31's labs, and a rewired GPS chip, he could construct something both of them would appreciate. He'd come by later and leave it for her as a sort of sentimental gesture, and in turn it would serve his purposes and leave him to more easily focus on his work without worrying about her while she was away.

As he headed for the apartment's door, he heard her footsteps behind him. All she was wearing was a long t-shirt.

"John, I didn't mean it that way. I didn't think it would matter, and I made these plans weeks ago. I had no idea that we'd…"

She trailed off as he forced himself to smile down at her. "I know," he said. "I'll see you when I can." Then he left her there.

This was going to be more difficult than he'd envisioned. Madelyn may have been his now, but apparently she wasn't aware of the fact, or she was toying with him. Either way, the more time that passed between now and their next encounter, the more Khan knew he was going to crave her.

It was Christmas morning and she was alone.

Madelyn tossed her bed sheets in the wash, then showered and got dressed and called Carol. She could hear her friend yawning on the other end of the line.

"It's a bit early, but I could meet you at that quaint place downtown. It's sort of halfway between us."

Madelyn agreed "So your dad isn't spending Christmas with you?" she asked, though not really surprised.

"No, he's at work," said Carol "But then, he's always at work. I've been meaning to go over there at some point. Based on some records I've been looking through, I think there's something going on he doesn't want me to know about, and you know I just can't have that."

Madelyn smiled. "I'll see you in half an hour."

"Right!"

The quaint place downtown Carol had referred to was exactly that. A hole in the wall amidst sleek architecture and soaring office buildings, Madelyn swore they had the best coffee in London and Carol didn't disagree. Dressed cozily in a chunky cardigan and scarf, with thermal leggings and her favorite boots, Madelyn cradled a hot mug of black coffee in her hands to repel the chill that had soaked into her bones during her short walk from the tube. Carol showed up a few minutes later, dressed just as warmly, her face bright and her nose red from the cold. She quickly ordered a hot drink and joined Madelyn in their favorite nook, comprised of two large plush chairs fixed at the perfect angle so they could see each other and the entirety of the shop. Classic holiday music dating back decades played softly over the intercom, and it seemed they weren't the only people set on spending their Christmas morning in a coffee shop.

"This feels so surreal," Madelyn said after taking a long satisfying sip of coffee.

Carol removed her knit cap and adjusted her hair. "Not having family to spend Christmas with?"

Madelyn nodded. "I guess I shouldn't be complaining, since you've only got your dad and he doesn't seem keen on spending time with you."

Carol shrugged. "He hasn't been keen on anything lately except work. To be honest, he's been rather secretive about his work. He used to not be, but something… changed. It's made for very tough holidays over the past few years." She smiled then. "But I'm happy to spend mine with you this year."

Madelyn welcomed the warm, fuzzy feeling that crept through her, and she knew it wasn't just from her coffee. She took another sip, feeling the steaming hot liquid slide down her throat before she spoke again. "So there was a development after I left your party last night."

"I'm really sorry about that, Maddy. I had no idea Owen would act that way."

Madelyn shrugged. "Don't feel bad. It wasn't your fault."

"I know, but I just wish he'd at least warned me he was coming. That way you could've left before he arrived and avoided him altogether."

"Carol, it's ok, really," Madelyn pressed. "A lot happened last night and I just want you to know that everything is ok now."

She watched Carol's face over the top of her coffee mug as the blonde tried to make sense of what she'd said. But she looked clueless.

"What happened last night?"

Madelyn was slightly surprised her friend didn't pick up on anything, so she told her everything that had happened, up until the point at which John appeared in her apartment doorway. "Owen got really angry then and he just left, and honestly I won't even mind if I never see him again."

"He left me a message last night," said Carol after a moment's thought. "It was confusing and he sounded a bit drunk, to be honest. I hope he's having a good Christmas."

Madelyn shrugged and took a long sip of her drink. "Anyway, after he left, John and I…" She paused, then bit her bottom lip to contain a grin and pulled her scarf away from her neck to reveal several marks. Where there had been five there were now only two, and they'd faded drastically overnight, but nonetheless Carol's eyes widened. "We had a good time," Madelyn said quietly, still smiling.

"It sure appears you did," Carol replied, grinning mischievously.

Madelyn matched her expression. "We went four hours."

Carol's mouth opened wider than might have been appropriate. "Oh my god!"

"I know."

"Wow, Madelyn. Good for you. I'm really happy you were comfortable enough to take that step."

"So am I. Frankly, I'm surprised we hadn't done it sooner."

Carol snorted and buried her face in her mug for a moment. "So I'm assuming he stayed over afterwards."

Madelyn nodded.

"And you're not with him now… why?"

Madelyn rolled her eyes and made the same face Carol had made when talking about her father. "He's working. Whatever your dad has going on, apparently it's important."

Carol shook her head in disbelief. "Important enough to skip Christmas? What a couple of Scrooges. Listen, you and I are going to make this the best Christmas yet, and we're not even going to think about the men in our lives today."

"Sounds good to me," said Madelyn.

Carol nodded curtly in return.

Madelyn set her coffee mug down on the table between their chairs. "The first thing I'm going to do is buy you a shit ton of presents."

Carol laughed. "Put it like that, I'll do the same for you."

True to their word, the two women spent the rest of Christmas shopping for each other, for themselves, and chatting about everything from their careers to the time they spent in school together.

When the sun set, leaving London a freezing mass of metal and concrete and twinkling lights, and the streets dusted with a fine layer of snow, Madelyn returned home, her arms full of bags and packages. She dropped all of these on the floor when she stepped inside her apartment because her attention was drawn to a small box on the table by the door. It was wrapped in plain brown paper and carried no sign of an attempt to decorate, but there was a handwritten note underneath it.

I regret that I couldn't be with you today.

I'll make it up to you as soon as work allows.

Merry Christmas, Madelyn.

John Harrison

With fingers shaking, she quickly unwrapped the box and opened it. At first all she saw was a minimalistic rectangular pendant on a matching silver chain. She held it up, briefly wondering what sort of man John was that he thought he could woo her with jewelry. And then she noticed that the pendant appeared to be a locket. She flipped it open curiously and suddenly took back the thought that John was like every other man.

Carefully set within the metallic casing was a miniaturized version of the photograph she'd spent a small amount of money attempting to restore, the one of her and her grandfather on his boat; except it was no longer grainy or crackly, but in pristine condition. In fact, the photo looked as though it had just been taken yesterday.

Madelyn felt a smile playing at her lips. For all his stoicism, John Harrison certainly knew how to charm.

The week spent with Kelly in Leeds flew by, and before Madelyn knew it, the spring term was just days away. Luckily, she'd made good use of her ample spare time when Kelly was out with her parents, and all of her lectures and assignments were prepared.

Madelyn was teaching three classes for students in their final undergraduate year, and four classes for first years. The workload would be eased by a T.A. she was supposed to meet the first day of the term, but she was confident that everything would go smoothly. With a promise from the department to promote her in the summer, she couldn't quite believe how quickly her career was escalating, and she couldn't wait to see what her future at the university would have in store for her.

She returned to London with Kelly that Sunday, January 2nd just like she'd promised John. The public trains were bursting to the seams with passengers returning to their jobs after having spent their holidays at home, but for Madelyn, this was returning home.

She helped Kelly with her bags as they made their way out of the station, freezing wind biting through her multiple layers of clothing that she attempted to hold more closely around herself. Waiting for a cab outdoors had been a terrible idea and Kelly ran off to get them hot drinks while they waited.

Adjusting her scarf to fit more snuggly, Madelyn heard a distinctly familiar deep voice that made her heart jump a little. She turned in the voice's direction, and catching sight of his dark hair and tall figure outlined by his typical long coat, she couldn't help but grin.

John made his way through the crowd and pressed in closely when he reached her, his gloved hand sliding around her arm in a gesture that could've only been his version of a public display of affection. Then he pulled her in with his other hand on her back and pressed his mouth to hers, sucking the air from her lungs briefly and practically pulling her off her feet. Madelyn grabbed at his coat to steady herself and laughed softly when he broke the kiss but didn't let her go.

"Maddy, they didn't have the spice you wanted so I—oh."

At Kelly's approach, Madelyn managed to detach herself from John slightly, though his hand remained on her waist when she turned. "Do you mind taking that cab alone?" she asked, offering her roommate a sheepish look.

Kelly's gaze flitted between them, and then she nodded quickly and gathered up her bags as a cab approached. "It's no problem. I'll see you later?"

Madelyn raised her eyebrows suggestively and Kelly grinned. They waved at each other as her cab drove away, and then Madelyn felt John tugging at her hand, her luggage somehow in his grasp now.

"Where are we going?" she pressed. He hadn't spoken a word other than to call her name and now he was pulling her along through the crowd without hesitation. "Hey, John, I missed you too, but can we talk?"

He stopped and whirled on her and she had to take a step back in order to avoid crashing into him. His arm circled her waist and tightened and he dropped his mouth to her ear.

"I'm going to fuck you over and over tonight until your throat is dry from screaming my name."

His voice was practically a growl in his chest and it made Madelyn's heart jump even more. She caught his gaze and noticed how his pupils were dilated. He must have wanted to have her again badly ever since Christmas Eve. The idea that a man could desire her that intensely made something carnal stir deep inside her, and she swallowed.

She quickened her steps to keep up with him as he turned again and continued to pull her through the teeming mass of travelers, until they came to a car waiting on the side. John quickly slid her luggage into the back seat and pointed her to the passenger seat before settling into the driver's side. Madelyn watched how intently he acted, how every move he made was precise and alert, holding an acute awareness of his surroundings as well as each action he took. She recalled how he'd held her down in bed the week before and carefully pressed his mouth to every square inch of her body before finally sliding inside her. And then, when he'd been inside her, his every muscle had been seemingly attuned to her response, adjusting when she needed more, or withholding when she thought she couldn't stand anymore. Like a living, breathing, perfect machine…

Before she realized it, they were driving through London, and she was still watching him.

"You asked where we were going."

His voice shook her out of her lusty daze, and she nodded, glancing around at the passing scenery while attempting to dig her mind out of the gutter. Except she knew he would have joined her there in a flash.

"I've acquired a small flat in the same sector of the city as yours. When I want to see you, you will meet me there." He glanced at her, and she raised an eyebrow at his insistence. "When your work allows," he added.

"What's wrong with your flat?" Madelyn peered at him, trying to figure out why he wouldn't want to take her to his own home.

"Too closely associated with my work. I don't want you involved."

The bluntness in his tone made her happy she wasn't.

When they arrived at the new flat, Madelyn decided it was more of a studio. Small with basic furnishings, nothing much else to catch the eye, but she didn't care. They could be alone here, with no one to walk in on them and nothing to stop them.

The moment the door shut behind them, John dropped her luggage on the floor and pulled her in, lips kissing her feverishly, hands pushing her layers away until her scarf and sweaters and tights were scattered across the floor. She pushed his coat off of him, kicking off her shoes before pulling at his shirt, which he ripped over his head accompanied by the sound of tearing fabric.

Encircled in his arms, Madelyn ran her fingers through his hair as his mouth traveled over her chest. When he reached her bra straps, his teeth promptly tore them off and then fell on one of her nipples. She arched towards him as he sucked at it and twisted it, pain and pleasure racing through her alternately. John backed her up against the wall, trapping her against it as his hands slid down to her hips and ripped her panties away. She swallowed at the fierceness in his actions, but these thoughts turned to mush as he pressed his lips to hers again while his hands were busy down below, teasing her and sliding between her folds. She was so turned on already and he knew it too.

She fought to catch her breath as John slowly filled her, stretching her until he was inside to the hilt. She was grateful he had a high tolerance for pain, since her nails were digging into him. She still wasn't used to his size. He pressed himself up against her, hands clamped around her hips, and she lifted a leg around him to help him in, and to steady herself. It wasn't as uncomfortable as the last time, and a moan escaped her lips between kisses.

When he began to thrust, Madelyn reached around him, hands going to his shoulders where she pressed her lips, and then sank her teeth when he increased his rhythm. His mouth hovered over her neck, his hot, panting breaths sinking into her skin with each escalated motion. When she glanced up at him, she could see his eyes through his loose hair, dilated pupils that darkened his blue eyes. As he steadily created friction between them, she could barely focus on his face. Noises came out of her throat with each thrust, and all she could think about was how good he felt inside her, and what else she wanted him to do to her before the night was over.

A/N: According to the Star Trek wiki Memory-Alpha dot org, Terminium is a metallic alloy used in the construction of Federation Mark VI photon torpedo casings.

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