AN: I apologize for this being delayed. I had a rather dramatic flight to the ER after collapsing last week and haven't felt up to doing anything lately. (It should be noted, however, that my awesome husband tore through a baby gate and near-teleported up the stairs to catch me before I toppled head-first down them. Had I been an outside observer, I would wondered what movie I had stumbled into. Nice guys are so under-rated, ladies. Love that man.)

But, enough about my woes-on with the final chapter! There is a lot of dialogue taken directly from the movie and a lot that I've moved about or paraphrased. Be warned. This is just about tying up loose ends and second chances. Just go with it, yeah? Hope you like it!

"I want him terminated," the Admiral snarled, striding away from a bewildered Captain James T. Kirk. "That man is dangerous in the highest sense, Captain. Not only is he responsible for blowing up the Archives, but five seconds earlier and he would have had my head! The Enterprise is hauling those warheads to the deep space station for dismantling and redistribution. My contacts indicate that he is heading toward a moon on the outer realm of the neutral zone. Handle it and the Enterprise is yours again."

Snapping to a salute, Kirk agreed hastily. Drop off some bombs? Check. Stop bad guy? Check. Get his ship? Check and check.

"You can count on me, sir."

"Excellent. Move out. Reports indicate that Harrison's next target was Pike. Thank God his plans were aborted."

Pausing at the door, Kirk fisted his hands in his hat at that news. Filing it away, he strode from the room.

It was only later, when Harrison was screaming 'How many warheads?' at him frantically and then taking out a freaking entire patrol of Klingons that Kirk began to suspect something might be amiss. Throwing on his uniform in the lift and wondering how in the Hell Spock had talked him out of killing the guy that was going to kill Pike, Kirk smirked at how much he'd missed this insanity.

"Okay," he snarled, glaring at the smug bastard sitting like leashed malice in his cell, "let me explain what's happening here. You are a criminal. I was authorized to end you and the only reason why you are still alive is because I am allowing it. So shut your mouth."

Harrison arched a brow where anyone else would have sneered. "Captain, are you going to punch me again? Over and over until your arm weakens? Clearly you want to. So, tell me, why did you allow me to live?"

Narrowing his eyes, Kirk held back his fury as he tried to puzzle out this man's angle. "We all make mistakes," he spat.

"I surrendered to you because, despite your attempt to convince me otherwise, you seem to have a conscience, Mr. Kirk. If you did not, then it would be impossible for me to convince you of the truth. 23174611. Coordinates not far from Earth. If you want to know why I did what I did, go take a look."

Glancing to Spock, Kirk mentally shrugged and took the bait. "Give me one reason why I should listen to you."

Immediately Harrison stood. "I can give you seventy-one. And they're on board your ship, Captain. They have been, all along."

And, if they thought this couldn't get any freakier, Bones pulled a freaking human out of that warhead. And, they found a freaking Death Star. It galled Kirk to once more be forced to go to Harrison for answers.

"Why is there a man in that torpedo?"

Harrison turned to face him stoically. "There are men and women in all those torpedoes, Captain. I put them there."

Running a hand down his face, Kirk tried to bat down his absolute fed-up-with-you fury. "Who the Hell are you?" he finally demanded.

"A remnant of a time long past. I led others to peace in a world at war. My family and friends were condemned as criminals, forced into exile. For centuries we slept, hoping when we awoke things would be different." The prisoner's face tightened. "But, as a result of the destruction of Vulcan, your Starfleet begun to aggressively search distant quadrants of space. My ship was found adrift. I alone was revived."

Kirk crossed his arms. "I looked up John Harrison. Until a year ago, he didn't exist."

Blue eyes were mocking. "'John Harrison' was a fiction created the moment I was awoken by your Admiral Marcus to help him advance his cause; a smokescreen to conceal my true identity. My name is Khan."

Shaking his head, Kirk wondered just what in the Hell he had landed in this time. "Why would a Starfleet admiral ask a three-hundred-year-old frozen man for help?"

Khan's face was impassive and that lent his answer a weight neither Kirk or Spock was comfortable with.

"Because I am better."

Blinking, the captain cleared his throat. "At what?"

"Everything." There was only seriousness in the reply, a steadfast assurance that he was, in fact superior. "Alexander Marcus needed to respond to an uncivilized threat in a civilized time and for that, he needed a warrior's mind-my mind-to design weapons and warships. He just didn't know the truth of the Eugenics Wars."

Spock raised a brow. "You are suggesting the Admiral violated every regulation he vowed to uphold, simply because he wanted to exploit your intellect?"

Snarling, Khan turned a condescending glare at the Vulcan. "He wanted to exploit what he viewed as my savagery. Intellect alone is useless in a fight, Mr. Spock. You, you can't even break a rule-how can you be expected to break bone?"

Turning away, the man lightly clasped his left wrist, drawing Kirk's attention to what appeared to be a white bracelet. Huh, he thought all metal had been removed from Khan when he'd been put behind the 'field.

"Marcus used me to design weapons. I helped him realize his vision of a militarized Starfleet. He sent you to use those weapons-to fire my torpedoes on an unsuspecting planet and then he purposely crippled your ship in enemy space leading to one inevitable outcome: the Klingons would come searching for whoever was responsible and you would have no chance of escape. Marcus would finally have the war he talked about-the war he always wanted."

Meeting Spock's eyes, Kirk read the message there: they were fucked.

"You blew up a building full of unarmed Starfleet officers. You killed them in cold blood."

Confusion briefly flickered in Khan's eyes. "I blew up Marcus' flat and sabotaged a number of directives in an attempt to get my crew to safety. I care nothing for Starfleet, only the wellbeing of my people. I was discovered after I realized Marcus had separated…separated one of my crew from the rest. I was forced to flee, alone. I had every reason to suspect Marcus killed every single one of the people I hold most dear. Every one, save the person he isolated."

Kirk moved toward the force field and motioned with his chin to Khan's arm, trying to ignore the twinge of compassion the man's speech had stirred. "What's that?" Taking a field disrupter that would make an arm-size hole in the force field, Kirk silently commanded Khan to stick his left arm through. Reluctantly, he complied.

Spock drifted over to see what had drawn Kirk's attention. "Fascinating," he stated. "I've not encountered such a metal."

The captain nodded. "Yeah, what is it?"

Pulling back his arm, Khan clasped the band with his right hand. "Nothing you'll likely encounter again." His eyes, so cold just moments ago, were anguished when he looked at the band. "As I stated, however, Marcus separated one of my crew. If he is blackmailing her, then your Starfleet is in grave peril, Captain. She is as intelligent as I and far, far more vindictive."

"Okay, let's back this up a bit from where we got sidetracked. You seem to have a different story than official reports back home," Kirk pointed out. "Are you saying you didn't blow up the Archive Building?"

"Don't be absurd," Khan scoffed. "Why would I…oh, yes, I see. The Archive Building in London-an esteemed Section 31 building, Captain."

Kirk scowled. "Section 31 is a myth."

"Really?" the Augment drawled clasping his hands behind his back and leaning forward. "What am I, but a myth? What do you truly know about the Eugenics Wars, Mr. Kirk?" A haunted expression flickered in his eyes. "I did what was necessary then to keep my family and my people safe from seven demons straight out of Hell itself. History forgot the heroes of that time and what were the villains but monsters in fairytales told to errant children too fascinated with petri dishes?" Turning away, he stared at the far wall. "I've seen things you can't begin to imagine-trained with a race of beings you would dismiss as the rantings of a madman-and been saved by an angel with Wolves at her side and hope in her pocket. A covert secret cell of a multi-world organization? That's too be expected, Captain."

Stepping back, Kirk motioned to Spock and barked a curt order at the lift as the doors closed. "Why do I get the feeling that guy isn't as insane as he sounds?"

Spock raised a brow. "There was no insanity in him, Captain. What I saw was something very old and very human."

Kirk nodded. "And the chick he was talking about?"

"Someone very important to him-perhaps the most important." The Vulcan met his Captain's gaze seriously. "And that makes him more dangerous than anything else. He knows that we will not kill his crew but he does not know where the missing woman is."

"We're sitting ducks," Kirk spat and cursed.

That was about the time that the situation went down the toilet.

Khan watched the captain storm over to the controls of his prison.

"Marcus is demanding your presence," he glowered. "I don't know what the Hell is going on here, but if you're telling the truth, I'll help you any way I can to clear your people. Right now, though, I need your help."

When Khan walked onto the Bridge, Marcus smirked at him. "My wayward toy. Outlived his usefulness, as you can see."

Kirk glared. "You wanted to see him. We're taking him back for a real trial, as Starfleet protocol demands. Now release us."

Marcus dismissed him, his attention remaining on Khan. "I believe I have someone you no doubt wish to see, Mr. Singh."

Spock watched as Khan's muscles tightened when the Admiral snapped his fingers to something off-screen. Two large men marched a petite woman over to stand beside the Admiral. She was a beautiful woman in her own right, but it was the aura of power around her that held the room spell-bound. The effect on Khan, however, was immediate. His tension faded and he adopted an almost smug demeanor.

"Hello, Hermione," he greeted.

The woman inclined her head, but said nothing. The Admiral fingered the braid of her long hair, sneering when neither Khan nor Hermione reacted.

"Quite the reputation your little bird has, Khan. Rumor has it she was your right hand during the Wars. She may even be as smart as you on weapons design."

Khan laughed; the sound so cruel and mocking that it sent a chill down Kirk's spine. The blue of his eyes turned to ice and the smell of ozone filled the air as his power coalesced.

"You fool. You should have let her sleep."

Hermione's pink lips pulled tight over white teeth as she snarled an agreement. The screen went blank, but the audio remained, sounding the terrible and horrific death-screams of the Vengeance's crew. It was perhaps more gruesome because they couldn't see what exactly was happening.

"You sick, perverted bastard," a female growled, sending everyone's hair standing on end. "Khan is the nice one. Be glad I don't have the time I wish to make you repent of your sins against him."

"I demand," Marcus began shakily and then erupted into more screams.

"You are in a position to demand nothing. I, on the other hand, am in a position to grant nothing."

"Hermione," Khan drawled finally, "are you playing with your prey?"

The speakers squealed with static a moment before the woman simply appeared on the Bridge with a crack. As soon as her eyes landed on Khan, her façade crumbled and she burst into tears. In two quick strides he was in front of her and sweeping her into his arms. Sobbing, she wrapped herself around him, trembling from head to boot.

"Oh God, oh God," she cried, "I woke up and I thought you were dead."

"I almost had us out until he separated you from the group," Khan told her, holding to her desperately. "They're safe. I kept my promise."

Drawing back, she beamed brilliantly at him and cupped his cheeks. Khan closed his eyes and leaned into her hands.

"I knew you would," she swore.

"Excuse me," Kirk broke in, seeing that the happy reunion had calmed somewhat, "I don't mean to break into what's obviously a several hundred years old reunion, but what the Hell just happened?"

The woman-Hermione-smirked and leaned against Khan. "The USS Vengeance is all yours, Captain."

Uhura swallowed thickly. "And the crew?"

"All trussed up like turkeys," she answered with a wink. "I might have been a bit rough on them. Did you get Marcus' little monologue on record?"

Spock nodded. "Of course." Relieved that she hadn't actually killed the crew-despite being extremely justified-the commander began preparing a team to board the other ship.

Kirk stopped at Khan's side and looked at his hand clasping Hermione's. Matching white bracelets were on their wrists. Meeting the man's eyes, he arched a brow.

"I thought I wasn't likely to see that metal again?" he smirked.

Khan gave him a small smile as Hermione caught onto what they were talking about. "Not see one again…Khan Noonien Singh! Did you even tell him what these are? Who I am?"

Heaving a sigh, he rolled his eyes. "Of course I didn't. I had to maneuver the entire situation from a jail cell, witch. Pleading with them to find my wife was not going to do anything but garner me varying looks of pity!"

Mollified, Hermione offered a polite nod to Kirk. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Captain. I'm Hermione Granger, Khan's wife."

Kirk could only boggle at her, his gaze jumping from the small powerful woman to the intimidating man at her side.

Khan's eyes flashed when he noticed she hadn't offered her hand to the captain. "Where are your gloves?" he demanded.

Blanching, she dropped her gaze. "They took them from me when I was still disoriented from coming out of stasis."

Blue eyes snapped to the captain. "She needs gloves."

Glancing to where her hands were clasped in front of her, he could see that they were riddled with scars and burns. Before he could agree, Hermione huffed.

"I can get my own, now that I don't have to worry about the skeaze-bucket."

Khan's face tightened. "Hermione, we are on a starship in the middle of outer space. If you short out the ship, my shields will only be able to sustain you for a few minutes."

Wrinkling her nose, she silently let him know what she thought of that. "I wouldn't do it in front of muggles, anyway."

"I have no idea what has been happening since we left Earth," Bones grumbled from the side.

"He is their doctor, Hermione," Khan told her. "Perhaps he should examine you."

Reluctantly, she nodded and turned large, golden eyes on the man. Coughing, Bones jerked his head in agreement.

"Come on, then. We'll check you out while they sort this mess."

"Khan!" Kirk called before he stepped after his wife.

Looking over his shoulder in question, the taller man waited.

"I'm sorry," he gritted out, "about the-uh-repetitive hitting."

A real smile bloomed on his face. "Captain, you ensured that my wife and family were returned to me safe and whole. I believe we'll call it even."

Relieved, Kirk grinned and watched the couple leave. He was startled when the view-screen crackled to life and Spock was hailing him from the Vengeance.

"Captain, though the crew did sustain a few broken bones and minor other injuries, nothing here would support the kind of screams we heard while Khan's crewman was here."

At the name 'Khan' they all began shrieking in unison, startling even Spock. Brows drawing together, the Vulcan turned to the bound prisoners and studied them.

"I believe Doctor McCoy's presence may be necessary."

A vindictive idea hit Kirk then. "What? You need Khan?" Wails and screams. "Or Hermione?" Absolute insanity-inducing terror.

Looking back at the captain, Spock frowned. "I believe you heard me, Captain. Spock out."

Uhura's eyes met his as she shifted. "Is it a good idea to provoke them like that?"

Kirk shot her a disbelieving look. "Uhura, they jacked a man from stasis, held his family hostage so he'd build them a Dreadnought-class warship, woke his wife just to torment him and blackmail her, killed tons of innocent people, sabotaged my ship and tried to kill everyone on board. As far as I'm concerned, pee-inducing trigger words are them getting off easy."

Snorting, she shook her head.

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Much, much later, when Hermione and Khan were surrounded by friends and family once more, she leaned into him. He wrapped an arm around her as they both grinned at Harry freaking out over the stars and Luna perching on his shoulders to examine something no one else could see. Amelia and Kingsley chatted quietly in a corner while the other Latents and people closest to them explored the area.

"You are the strongest man I know," she whispered to him.

Face softening, he dropped his gaze to her, finding her eyes bright with all that she felt for him.

"I missed you so very much."

Cupping her face, he kissed her forehead, her nose and cheeks. "Every hour you were away from me was torture, Hermione. I hadn't truly known fear until you were taken from me."

"We're together now," she murmured, "all of us."

"Yes," he agreed, his lips barely brushing hers as he spoke. "It's a new beginning."

As he finally bent and truly kissed her, a cheer went up in the room. Harry grinned at the action, seeing his friends as they had been before the Eugenics Wars. They'd been a rock of strength for everyone during that horrific time, but he'd been afraid that something in them had been irrevocably broken because of the roles they'd had to play.

"Even in the darkest night, they shone with hope," Luna stated. "It's such an honor to see a Compatibility as strong as theirs. I doubt we'll ever again witness the like."

Harry squeezed her thighs as Neville joined them, beaming and whistling boisterously at the couple.

"Shit, Khan! She still needs to breathe!" Ron hollered good-naturedly.

Reluctantly breaking the kiss, the two leaders turned to grin at their family. They'd really done it. Countless wars and pain had tore at all of their souls. It faded into white noise and then passed into nothing as joy rose up to surround them now. All was finally well and the future was theirs for the taking.

AN: Quick, but it was more of an epilogue than a full on chapter. Nevertheless, I hope it suffices. Thank you all for your support on this rather off-the-beaten-path ship.