Chapter 21

NEWS: I am extending this by one chapter – you'll be getting 24 instead of 23 chapters. Just had a tweak to the plot that made this it tough to squeeze everything into 23 chapters.

-XXX-

I have never been so comfortable in space as when I am headed home for the last time. Khan pilots the shuttle, deciding that using the transporter at such a range is too risky. I am so cheered throughout the flight that Khan exasperatedly orders me to sit silently for the first leg of the flight. It shall take us three days to make it to Terra. Being on-edge, Khan seems to find any noise above necessity dangerous. Therefore, in my jittery and excitable state, I am a nuisance.

"I shall lock you in the crew's quarters," he growls. "And not let you out till we reach atmosphere. Or turn around altogether."

"You would not dare." I lean over the captain's chair, resting my chin on his shoulder. "You swore to me, Khan Noonien Singh, that you would take me back one last time."

He softens by only a fraction. "Yes. On the condition that your remain with us forth hence."

"How much longer?"

"A day and a half. When we arrive it will be just dawn. You shall have two days, Alya. Then, I fear we will be on Earth too long. I do not favor living in such vulnerability for any longer than necessary."

I nod. "That is fair enough. I just wish to see my parents. You will remain above atmosphere, I assume, and will beam me down?"

Turning up to me, he frowns. "No. I shall accompany you. I've already found a place to hide the shuttle."

"What?"

Khan turns the chair, pulling me onto his lap. "You are not going alone. I cannot ensure your safety if I am miles away, nor can I be assured of your wiliness to return."

"But my parents –"

"Will be lucky enough to have the chance to meet their daughter's mate. Not a luxury I would normally granted them, under the circumstances. These are my conditions, Alya."

I am not pleased. But I cannot say I do not understand his reasoning or his wariness.

"I suppose I have no choice."

"You do not," he agrees. Forehead against mine, he closes his eyes. "I risk much to bring you here. Do not make me regret it, priya."

Cupping his brow, I tilt my head to kiss him lightly. "I will endeavor not to."

-XXX-

Somewhere in Virginia, Khan has found us a place to park. A forest, secluded and far enough from my parents' house for safety. Khan has brought one of the motorbikes stolen from the Somalia base. The helmets are heavily tinted, lending us a good measure of anonymity. We wear tightly tailored ridings suits. When Khan emerges wearing his, I nearly stumble at the sight of him.

"You wear that well," I say.

"As do you," he murmurs, crossing to pull me against him, hands spanning out against my waist.

"You're quite in your element, are you not?"

He pulls back. "Come. It's nearly dawn."

"How long should it take to reach the city?"

"Just under an hour. The bike is warming up outside. Let's go."

As we exit the craft, I am handed a helmet. We mount the bike, Khan first, then me. I sit behind Khan, shadowing him. My arms settle around his waist, head resting against his spine. I take a deep breath as he reves up the engine.

About an hour later, we're in my neighborhood. Passing the houses of my childhood, I am struck with memory. Even though I've gone back plenty of times since graduating college, it's never hit me nearly as hard as it is now.

"On the right," I tell him. "The white one. There are purple roses…yeah."

Somehow he hears me over the motorcycle. We pull into the drive of a two-story Victorian.. It takes me a minute to dismount the bike. Khan waits for me, silent. On less-than-stable legs, I dismount, then walk up the path to the door. Behind me, Khan looms. I glance back before knocking. His eyes are almost sad. I bite my lip, then rap on the door.

-XXX-

My parents are very surprised to see us – especially considering that they'd not heard a word from me in over two months. My father answers the door and simply freezes. When my mother comes to investigate, she emits an ear-splitting scream, crushing me to her bosom. I squeak against the front of her kurti.

"Mama, I am fine, I am fine," I assure her.

Still, she weeps. Before we have even passed the threshold, she's already cried a full pint of tears. She realizes once we're settled in the living room that I do not come alone.

"Who is this?" she asks, confused.

"I should say the same," my father says. He's looking at Khan with apprehension. I know that he is not pleased to have such a stranger in the house – my father is not one for surprises.

At the moment, the Augment stands in the threshold between our living room and dining room. He is impassive as ever. I am struck with how tall he is. My parents and childhood home appears quite tiny in comparison to his sheer mass. We all turn to look at him. For a beat, there is silence as my parents take the sight of Khan in.

Hurriedly, I rise from the couch, where I sit next to my mother, standing next to him. I take up his hand, leading him properly into the room. "Khan. This is…Khan."

My father's eyes, behind his glasses, widen. "I recognize you – the trials –"

Mother gasps. "The bomber, the man who crashed –"

"No, no," I say swiftly. "He is not, he is not. Just a name in common, only a name."

"I never forget a face. I saw him on the news reports! They were looking for him last May!" My father takes my arm, tugging me away from the terrorist.

"I promise you, he does not intend anyone harm."

"Oh Alya." My mother has taken up crying again. "He is the reason you disappeared. Starfleet told us you had been taken, abducted, but we did not know…oh, is this him?"

I tear myself from between the two men, pushing my father so that he is forced to sit beside my mother. "He isn't going to hurt anyone. Please, be calm. I only have a short time –"

"You are not here to stay?" my father demands.

Here I falter. I hesitate for the long moment. Khan nears, standing behind me. A hand goes to my shoulder. The feeling of solidarity is comforting, yet I still dread what I am forced to say. "No. No, Dad, I'm not."

At this both of my parents burst out into tears.

"Alya, no…"

I sink to kneel before them. "Please, do not, do not. I am happy, I am safe."

Mother gestures to Khan. "And he did this? He takes you from us?"

"It matters not. I'm home for the moment, let us enjoy it."

"Why, Alya?"

Both their hands in my hands, I feel tears prick my own eyes. I glance back at Khan. His face is blank, though his gaze is filled with concern. Still, he remains back.

"I have some things to do," I say softly, pressing their hands to my cheek. "Important things. Helping people. Learning and creating a new culture. It's…it's going to be alright."

My mother sniffs, stroking my hair. "Alya…your beautiful hair."

I take this as a good sign. I smile up at her, hoping that my eyes aren't as teary as they were before.

"I needed a change."

She bites her lip. I can tell that she does not wish to stop crying. But, despite her distress, she trying to listen. "Oh, my Alya."

"I love you, Mama," I whisper. "I promise, not matter the distance."

This was not precisely the right thing to say. Her lips tremble again. My father's hands tighten. I squeeze back. There are not enough words….I suppose I forgot how upset they'd be with the knowledge of me not returning. I'd been so focused on my happiness at seeing them, It had utterly slipped my mind. Guilt rushes to my stomach.

An hour of comforting passes. We move to the kitchen, where I fill the kettle to make tea. Both my parents sit across the table from me, again clutching my hands

I explain to them the situation, as vaguely as I can. All the while, Khan broods in the background, lingering in the doorway. He accepts a mug when I silently pass it to him.

"And he," my father says somewhere in the conversation, chin jutting towards the Augment. "What is he in all of this?"

I struggle to find words. When I falter, Khan speaks for himself.

"I brought your daughter to my planet," he says quietly. "She had done me a kindness in the past. I did not forget."

"But that does not explain why you took her from her house and brought her to your planet. Why you kidnapped her!" My mother's voice is shrill.

Khan turns to her, blue eyes unintelligible. "Staying her would keep her under Starfleet's rule until her dying day. I intended to release her from their eyes."

"By keeping her captive?" My father scoffs. "Starfleet would have no cause to watch her, despite her testimony – had you accepted to your sentencing. She was safe –"

I can see the cords of Khan's neck tighten. His temper is rising. "If you thought her to be safe you are a fool," he hisses. "Your Starfleet has had her number since she was sent on the Union two years ago. I was generous in considering her in my plans to leave Terra. Letting her return would be sending her to certain death. "

My parents sit with their teacups aloft, horrified. I stand and cross to Khan, pulling him into the hallway silently.

"Please do not do this," I beg. "I know, I know that they're naïve and they're making you angry. But I only have three days. They're almost calm, and you riling them up is not helping."

He's rather riled up himself. Expression stony, his nostrils are flared. Pressing his back against he wall, the Augment looks down at me with annoyance. "They're foolish."

I cup his cheeks. "They're my parents. They love me. Love makes people foolish."

He snorts.

"Foolish enough that they kidnap those they care about." A smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. It's infectious. Khan allows a slip of a smile.

"I'm asking for three peaceful days. You have to understand that they are upset. Can we try to make it out with no further arguments?"

"It is lucky that we shall be off-planet," he responses dryly. "I could not imagine dealing with in-laws such as these too often."

I step on his toes for that. We return to the kitchen. This time he joins us at the table. I do not allow voices to escalate. After we finish the tea, we return to the living room. Khan keeps his distance again, allowing us to talk quietly until it's dark outside. Then, after dinner, we retire.

It is odd, having Khan in my childhood room. My mother cautiously guides us inside, eyeing the Augment all the while. I know that neither she nor my father are pleased that I will be sharing my quarters, but Khan has given us little choice. I'd agreed to remain within his sight at all times – not that my parents know this.

"I changed the sheets only last month, Alya," she tells me before leaving. "So they will be fresh. Do you need any water?"

"I am fine, Mama. Thank you."

I slip into bed first, while Khan takes a turn of the room, examining my bookshelves, posters, and other relics of childhood. He picks up a hand-carved horse statue my father had brought me back from a business trip when I was twelve. Turning it his hands, he appears far-away. Pulling my legs up to my chin, I watch as he moves slowing through my old bedroom again. Fingers trace the spine of real, solid books. My riding medals are fully analyzed, as well as the poster of my most beloved boy band. At the sight of the boyish faces of the member, Khan sneers. He pauses longest over a photo of me at my high school graduation, my arms around two friends I've long since lost touch with. Finally, he comes back to the bed, coming to stand before me.

"Coming to bed?"

He sinks to the mattress, forcing me to scoot over. I pull out his arm to prop it behind me, settling with my head resting on his shoulder. With a sigh, I close my eyes. Khan's head nudges mine. I smile.

"Thank you," I whisper.

"Hm?"

"I said thank you."

"You've not been nearly as troublesome as I anticipated," he murmurs. "Though your parents…."

With a light laugh, I lean up to kiss his cheek. "I did tell you they would be frantic. But I wish you'd be meeting under different circumstances. I think you might've liked one another at least a little more…."

"Doubtful. But you may continue telling yourself that," he allows. "I will say it has been nice to look into this side of your life."

"I think it's only fair. I've met your family, it was time for you to meet mine."

He sighs. "Bed. Sleep." Khan sinks further into the pillow, folding his arm around me, using his other hand to turn out the light.

-XXX-

The next morning I wake to an empty bed. The barest hint of sunlight is peering through my window. I sit up, blinking. Scanning the room, I find it empty. My hand goes to the wrinkled stretch of sheet beside me, spreading against the cotton. "Did he leave?"

"Khan?" I call out softly as I rise, reaching for my bathrobe. It was silk, red, patterned with pink peonies. My father had brought it back from China when I was fifteen. Wrapping it around me, I slip from the bed, making my way downstairs. Familiar noises are sounding from the kitchen - the sizzling of some breakfast-meat, the clink of china, my mother humming. A low murmur follows. My father, probably reading the news over his PADD. For a moment, I stand back, lingering in the hallway, eyes close so as to absorb the sounds. After tomorrow, I would never hear them again. After several minutes, I walk in.

My father is nowhere to be seen. Instead, Khan sits at the bar, cupping a steaming mug of tea while my mother stands at the stove, manning over several pans. Both appear marginally more relaxed. I stand in the doorway for a moment, a little confused.

"Morning!" my mother says brightly.

Khan rises swiftly to kiss me on the cheek, then he leads me to bar. "Get enough sleep? You tossed and turned most of the night."

"Um, yes, I did, thanks." Surprised, I sit. My mother hands me a mug, topping it off with coffee. She strokes my cheek before turning back to the stove. "How…how are you two?"

"Ah, Khan was just telling me about his colony. It sounds as if he's creating a productive community."

I glance at him, brows rising. "Was he?"

"And he was telling me of how he wooed you," Mother tells me, turning from the stove to look at me with a twinkle in her eye. I choke into my coffee, dripping a few drops onto my chin. "In London."

"You mean while he was masquerading as a John Harrison, being coerced into serving Starfleet's nefarious needs," I say into mug. Khan nudges me. I nudge him back.

"She's always been like this, Mr. Singh." She begins piling plates with food. "Always keen to find a positive, my Alya."

"Khan, please." He smiles, accepting the plate she hands him. He's turned on the John Harrison charm. It's a far cry from the icy Khan he presented last night. "She's a realist. There is no shame in that."

"It's surprising that he's being so talkative. He usually is not one for words. Or, at least, not many words." I pick up my fork, stabbing a strawberry. "But with you, he's a Chatty Cathy."

My mother taps my nose when she approaches to refill my coffee. "Or maybe your mama is simply a good listener, did you think of that, my love?"

"Mmh." I bite into a sausage. "Either way, I am pleased to see that the two of you are getting on. Where is Dad?"

"He went to the embassy. There was an emergency he had to tend to." She turns back to the stove, stirring the eggs. "He'll be home soon. Are the eggs hot enough for you, dear?" she asks Khan.

"Everything is divine," he assures her smoothly.

"You were telling me about your farming efforts? You're trying wheat?"

"And oats," he says. "Corn as well, with some other fruits and vegetables. We might bring some chickens back."

"Ah." I turn to him. "That's a wonderful idea. And maybe some goats?"

He gives me a brief smile. "Whatever you want, my dear, because you'll be the one taking care of them in the storage bay."

I poke him, stealing a piece of toast from the edge of his plate. "Fair enough. But I'll not be the one collecting eggs. You can do that yourself."

"Perhaps we'll leave that to Tarluc," he says, referring to a younger member of the Augments. Stealing back his toast, he looks at me with brows raised. I grin back.

"Stop making eyes, you two!" my mother protests. "You mother is right here, Alya!"

We turn back to our food, smiling into our plates.

-XXX-

There is a certain Psyche/Beauty and the Beast element about the whole "captor-allowing-captive-to-go-home-for-a-time."

Thoughts? This is a less-less-than-happy chapter, sorry, but it's important. I know a lot of people were pulling for a baby – sorry guys!

Anyone see Captain America over the last month? I saw it last night. Fantastic.