-Chapter Twenty-Four-

Kirk met them in the shuttle bay. "You sure you want to go back?" he asked Anthea, one last time, though he already knew the answer.

She looked at Khan, and all the love she had for her husband was bare on her face. "Yes, Kirk. I appreciate the concern, but with Khan is where I need to be."

Khan stood in the doorway of the shuttle, Nolan at his hip, and he smiled at her. It made Kirk a little jealous, seeing how much they clearly loved each other.

"You may not agree with the things he's done," Anthea told the captain softly, "but . . . someday, I hope you are able to find what Khan and I have. He's not just my husband, Kirk, he's my lover, and the father of my children. He's my protector and my confidante, and the best friend I've ever had."

"Yeah," Kirk said, and he smiled wryly. "I had to try, right?"

He looked to Khan and said, "You take care of her this time."

"Do not worry, Captain. I will not let anything in this universe harm her again."

Anthea turned and boarded the shuttle. Kirk and Khan stared at each other for along, silent moment, and then the dark-haired man stepped back, into the shuttle, and hit the door control.

Kirk stood there, in the shuttle bay, and watched as the small vessel left. They had all made their choices, even if he wasn't sure they were the right ones, and the only thing left to do now was to live with them.

Even before the Enterprise's shuttle set down, Kati was running across the clearing towards them. When the ramp lowered and Anthea stepped out, the tribble in her arms, her sister-in-law nearly tackled her, hugging her fiercely.

"You are all right!" Kati effused. "I was so very worried!"

"I'm alright, yes," Anthea said warmly, hugging her friend. "Tired, sore, headachey, but alright."

Khan followed her out of the shuttle, Nolan in his arms. When the toddler saw his aunt, he yelped, "Titi!"

"Nolan!" Kati let go of Anthea and plucked her nephew out of Khan's grasp. She showered the laughing toddler's face with kisses.

A Bird of Prey shot by overhead. Anthea flinched and ducked.

Khan immediately pulled her close. "Don't worry, my dear. It's only Otto. We confiscated one of the Klingon ships."

"Oh." She let out a held breath. "I just . . ."

He kissed her temple. "I know, my love. I know."

She sighed, leaning against him. Anthea looked around their little village, the roots of their new home, which she'd thought at times she'd never see again. "This makes me happy. Even after what Rodriguez did. I feel safe here."

"Good. I do not want you to fear our people."

Otto came jogging over from where he'd landed the Klingon ship, looking very pleased. "We arrive safe, Kaiser, as you may see. We have been on the ground for an hour only. I very much like the ship, but it needs a new paint job."

One corner of Khan's mouth lifted. "We'll find you some paint. What are you going to call it?"

"Hmm." Otto thought for a moment. "I will need to consider this."

Khan clapped him on the shoulder. "Make it a good one. If you will excuse me, I need to get Anthea inside and resting."

Kati followed them into the Reliance, Nolan clinging to her like a barnacle. "What is this furry thing you have?" she asked Anthea.

"Nolan's pet tribble." Anthea set it on the floor of her son's room. It didn't move, just sat there and chirped.

"What is a tribble?"

"I've no bloody idea," Anthea sighed, "but McCoy gave it to Nolan, and he adores it."

Kati set Nolan down, and he immediately picked up the tribble, chattering away in nonsense toddler-speak to his new best friend.

Khan stood in the doorway. "Come, my dear, you need rest."

"Yes," Kati agreed, looking intently at Anthea, taking in the dark smudges under her eyes, the mottled bruising across her face, the scrape on her chin. "You look awful. I think, though, it is better than you were before?"

"Much," Anthea agreed. "And yes, I'd like to sleep in my bed now."

Khan took her hand and let her to their quarters. He helped her change into her sleep clothes, ignoring her protests that she could do it herself, and assisted her into bed.

He kissed her forehead, then her mouth. "I must go see to the supplies Kirk is sending down."

"Mmkay."

Khan drew the blanket over her, and turned the light out as he left.

When Anthea woke, she was tucked into bed, Khan beside her, Nolan snuggled between them. Their son was asleep, but Khan was awake, reading something on his PADD.

"Oh," she said, after a moment. "I almost thought I was imagining being home."

Her husband immediately shut off his PADD and set it aside. He rolled to face her, shifting Nolan out of the way so he could draw her closer. Khan reached to touch her face, following the curve of her cheek with one finger.

"No," he murmured. "You are home and safe."

She sighed, catching his hand in hers. "I knew you'd come for me. I know I've said that before, but . . . it was what kept me going, knowing you were on your way."

"Always," he whispered. "As important to me as our people are, Thea, you and our children are part of me."

He threaded his fingers through her hair. "Tomorrow, I will finish our new home and set up our bed.

"I'd like that," she whispered. "I miss our bed. Nice, big, roomy bed."

He smiled a little, gaze fixing on her lips. "Yes. I would like to spend tomorrow night in it . . . without small children present."

Anthea smirked. "They do tend to get in the way, don't they?"

She hugged Nolan's small body to her, warm and soft and smelling of baby still. He stirred in his sleep, his fist closing on a handful of her nightshirt. He jammed a thumb in his mouth and wiggled to wedge himself between his parents, all without waking.

Khan smoothed his son's hair with a gentle touch, and reached for the bedside light. "Go back to sleep," he said.

Anthea caught his hand in the dark, lacing their fingers together, happy to fall asleep with her little family safe and together.

True to his word, Khan spent the morning cleaning the construction debris out of their cabin, removing the saw dust that still caked the floors, and putting the finishing touches up. While they were gone, someone-probably Kati-had scrubbed the Klingon blood off the stone floor. The cabin wasn't ready for winter yet, but they had some time to prepare, and they weren't sure how cold it would get in the first place.

Anthea wasn't allowed to help. She sat outside, in the shade, with plenty of water, reclining on a blanket. Nolan stuck close to his mother, having been sufficiently frightened by their ordeal to not go wandering off, at least for a while.

Kati sat beside her on the blanket, her adopted son in her lap. She had officially claimed the infant now, and lavished attention on him.

"What are you going to name him?" Anthea asked.

"I do not know yet. I . . . have been wondering if Yves might have any suggestions."

"Are you two . . . together now?"

Kati flushed. "Not yet."

Anthea rolled her eyes. "Kati. Tell him how you feel. Don't waste time. You never know how much time you have."

Her sister-in-law looked contemplative. "True. I will think on this."

Khan came out of the cabin, looking sweaty, hair in his face, his shirt hiked up a little on one side to expose an inch or so of skin. Anthea thought he looked delicious, and could hardly wait 'til he had their bed set up.

"I believe," he said, "that, decor aside, our new home is ready. I'm going to take a lunch break, then finish putting the bed together. I've got Nolan's crib moved into his room."

"Oh, good!" Anthea was very pleased to hear this news.

Nolan toddled up to Khan, holding a hand out, something clutched in his fist. "Dada!"

Khan crouched. "What is it, my boy?"

"He has something he wants to give you," Anthea told her husband. "Probably a rock."

Holding out his own hand, Khan waited for Nolan to unclench his fingers and drop the small object in his hand. It was, indeed, a pebble. Shiny and reddish-orange, it sparkled in the sunlight from crystalline structures inside.

"Thank you," he said to his son. "This is a very nice gift."

Nolan beamed.

Turning to Anthea, Khan asked, "What am I supposed to do with this?"

She shrugged. "Keep it 'til he loses interest and wanders away? That's what I do with most of the things he brings me. He never brings me shiny rocks, though. It's usually bugs."

Her husband chuckled and slipped the pebble into his pocket. Nolan scampered off to his aunt, to check out the baby resting in her arms.

"He is resilient," Khan remarked to his wife.

"He is," she agreed. "He's such a happy little boy."

Khan stood, and pulled Anthea to her feet, wanting to hold her. He didn't care who saw anymore. She was his wife, and he would embrace her in public if he damn well wanted to.

She leaned her head against his chest, taking comfort in the steady thump of his heart under her ear. During her captivity, she'd feared she would never have his arms around her again. Standing here, outside their new home, made her very happy.