Well, here's the next chapter. Sorry for making you guys wait forever. I had intended to update immediately but then I got writer's block…and subsequently forgot that I even had a fanfiction to update. I reread the entire work this morning to reacquaint myself with the story line. Hopefully this chapter makes up for forcing you guys to wait so long for an update.

Chapter 15

The forest was dead silent. Khan crept slowly through the trees and tried to look for any sign that Little Wolf had been there. There was nothing. His blue eyes glowed softly in the darkness as he moved from tree to tree…and then he heard it: a quiet, barely audible sniffle.

"Little Wolf?" He growled quietly as he moved to the left.

A quick dart of motion exploded towards him and small hands clamped around his leg. Khan tensed and slowly moved his hands downwards. He picked the girl up gingerly and hugged her lightly to his chest. Her small arms wrapped tightly around his neck and she buried her head into his shoulder.

"It's alright," he murmured. "It's alright now. Everything is okay. I've got you." He whispered the words quietly into her ears and slowly sat down on the ground and leaned against a tree trunk. "I've got you, Little Wolf. You're okay. You're safe now."

She calmed after a while. Carefully, Khan got back to his feet and made his way back to the enemy camp.

"How is she?" Silver Moon moved towards him frantically and looked at the child. "Is she hurt?"

"No," Khan said softly. "She's just sleeping and the others?"

"Shaken up, but otherwise they're fine," Sharp Quill says before hitting Khan lightly with her cane. Her gives the elderly woman a sharp look. It'd be a shame if she were to suddenly go missing one day on their travels, Khan thought coldly as he watched the frail lady shuffle forward.

She looks at him over her shoulder: "Hey, give us some advance warning next time you two decide to run off. The little one is driving me batty enough without you two taking off as well."

Khan rolls his eyes and looked at Silver Moon. He held Little Wolf closer: "Let's go back to camp, Silver. I've got Little Wolf; you gather the others."

They walked back in silence. Khan quietly laid Little Wolf down and built up the fire as Silver Moon leaned against him.

"Thanks," Silver Moon whispered into Khan's chest as his arms wrapped around her. "I've missed you; even if you are an idiot."

"But you still love me," He purred into her ear and she smiled, curling closer.

"Don't know why," She murmured with a smile. "You're so damn pigheaded."

"Mmm." Khan nodded. "And smart, and brave, and devilishly handsome." His lips curled upward as he placed a light kiss on her forehead.

He lay down, pulling her with him. She rolled over and snuggled into his chest.

"And arrogant," yawn, "and…" She dozed off before finishing her sentence. Khan smiled down at the woman and gently smoothed her hair with a light hand.

"Good night," he whispered into the darkness and he looked over her prone form to gaze at his two slumbering children. He would keep them safe. Nothing would ever hurt them again so long as he was around.

…

"So, that summer, Hawk and I went to the river and we covered ourselves in the mud so the Invaders couldn't see us. We put their tent on fire and then we ran away real fast so they couldn't catch us and…"

Khan quickly tuned Little Wolf out as she tried in vain to regale him with the not-so-horrifying tales of her adventures.

"So," Khan looked at Silver Moon and then Sharp Quill. "Who are 'The People'?"

"They are a species of genetically advanced people," Silver Moon explained. "They heal quicker than humans and are typically more intelligent…better stamina. Their DNA was implemented in the original Augment Project. That's where most of the Augmented abilities came from."

"But our strength?"

"No idea. Probably just dumb luck for the scientist who happened upon it. Some of 'The People' were stolen from their homes, their genetic material stolen from them as they were forced into the project. The rest of us moved locations, became nomadic, to avoid being lab specimens."

"That was why you lived whereas the other woman had died." Khan said softly thinking of the human woman who had died carrying his offspring.

It was why Silver Moon had survived and why Little Wolf was so similar to the Augmented people—'The People' were the basis for the Augment's gene pool. In essence, Little Wolf and Fox were entirely augmented. Their strength would probably come to them in time…well, maybe.

"Right." Silver Moon nodded.

"Oh, don't look so sad about it," Sharp Quill swatted at the woman with her cane. "You have two beautiful, healthy children who think the world of you. Stop moping. It's not your fault those woman died when they did."

"So, what happens now?" Silver Moon asked when Sharp Quill passed them to walk with the children. "When we get to Riverweed…what then?"

"I don't know," Khan answered honestly and he could feel the conflicting emotions clashing in his chest.

He could bring them—all of them—with him and risk them perishing on his mission to liberate the Augments locked within their cryotubes from Marcus and subsequently Starfleet, or leave them all here and risk them dying because he can't protect them in his absence. Either way…it was dangerous. He didn't want to bring harm upon the woman he loved, the surly grandmother, or any of the children…but his options were limited.

"Take us with you," Silver Moon pleaded quietly as Fox and Beaver clumsily made their way towards them and held up their arms so Khan would carry them. "Don't leave me. Not again."

Her eyes shimmered with emotion and Khan swallowed as a wave of guilt rose up. He nodded once.

"Alright." His voice came out choked and quiet. "But it'll be dangerous. People will die." His warning was hard and cold but Silver Moon nodded. "I don't want you—or the children—to see what I can become if—"

"You are not a monster." Her arm grabbed his elbow, forcing him to stop. She leaned up on tip-toes to peck his cheek. Her hand cupped his face. "I never would have fallen in love with you if you were."

Love.

She loved him.

After everything he had done. After all the lives he had ended, all the cities he had crushed under his boot without a second thought…after all his mistakes and flaws…still she cared?

"You truly are magnificent," he smiled warmly.

"I know." She grabbed Beaver from him and smiled, "And don't you forget it." With a light kick at his ankle, she resumed walking. "And our children are pretty awesome as well."

Khan looked at Fox. Little Wolf was wild and impulsive. She charged into everything without considering the consequences and dealt with the problems whenever they arose. Fox was quieter—more watchful. His young eyes examined Khan carefully and Khan held still as the three year old's small hand examined his long, black hair. Fox frowned slightly and his tongue poked the inside of his mouth as he pulled Khan's bangs out of his face and peered into Khan's pale, pale blue eyes with his green ones. Then, a small, barely perceptible smile grew on Fox's face as the child seemed to find what he was looking for. Khan smiled back at him and then moved the boy so that Fox was sitting on Khan's broad shoulders.

"Yes, yes they are, Silver," Khan agreed before catching up to her and slipping her free hand in his, while the other held on to Fox's leg…just in case the boy fell backwards. He really couldn't be too careful.

"Hey, John! Do you want to see what happens when I kick a Sapphire Cobra?" Little Wolf yelled and Khan groaned inwardly. Well, he never claimed that their offspring had an abundance of common sense.

"Don't look at me. She gets that from you," Silver Moon sighed.