Author's Note: This story is a series of unrelated one-shots. The only thing they have in common is the theme. Basically, it stems from the fact that I feel like after an X-Man dies, everybody mourns for, like, a day and then they forget about it. Or expect them to come back from the dead a la Phoenix. But what about those that don't? I decided some of the characters needed to make peace.

Disclaimer: I own… what is own anyway? It's something created by "the man" to keep us down! How can anyone own anything? So, yeah, I don't own the X-Men… but that's because I don't buy into "the man's" system. Yeah. I'm going with that.

This story is dedicated to Beaubier both for beta-ing it and making me catch her Warren-addiction. Actually, damn you for that second one. :p

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Tattoos of memories
And dead skin on trial.
For what it's worth,
it was worth all the while.
It's something unpredictable
But in the end there's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
 – Good Riddance, Green Day

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"There has never been anybody else like you. And you always knew that, didn't you? I often wondered… just how did I get this fabulous woman to fall for me. Sure, I had other women in the past. Hell, some of them were celebrities, and all of them were beautiful. But you… you had this spirit. This presence. For some reason, you cracked through my thick skull. There was always the physical attraction, true. And, really, who could blame me? You were always something spectacular.

"And, unfortunately, you knew it too. Had a bit of an attitude on you, you did. But, I always did liked a girl with spunk. Some may have called it bitchiness… and sometimes it was, but you were… you. You didn't make any apologies for it either. I respected that. And beneath the bitchiness and the attitude, there was a beautiful spirit. One that had seen too many hardships. Though, I suppose that's true for all of us in the spandex club. Imagine how bored we'd be if we actually led the lives we'd once sought out for ourselves?

"But I'm getting off topic. After all, I'm here to talk about you. To you. To make my peace. Or perhaps for peace of mind. I'm not really sure. I guess I just wanted to be sure you knew the truth. The truth is… I loved you. I still love you. I always will. When I fell, I fell hard. And I swear to you, it was the real thing. At least, I thought it was. The time we shared together, it was some of the most special in my entire life. Like I said before, I had women before you… but you were it, babe. The one. I knew it with all my heart. All my soul. My entire being.

"I'll bet you're wondering why I did it then, huh? Why I took that love and threw it away. In all honesty, even I'm not certain. It was just… a feeling. For all the love I felt, I couldn't help but wonder. Did you feel the same? I suppose you could say I was insecure. Actually, I'm pretty sure I had a right to be, I wasn't the most normal looking guy after all. Funny how that's all changed now… Back to the point. Even with the depth of my feelings, and trust me darling, they were deep, I felt us growing a part. Do you know how badly I wanted to reverse time– go back to when everything seemed perfect? Too bad those days couldn't last.

"I know you didn't think I saw it. Or maybe you thought I was imaging it. I'm not really sure. Sure, flirting was your way. But it was one thing when it was in jest or between friends. But there you were, practically falling into another man's arms. And, in my defense, it killed me inside. So I put on my old act. The cool, uncaring one. But it wasn't enough. I couldn't stand to be so close and watch another man steal you away. It just hurt too much.

"That's why I did it. That's why I broke it off. And, I'm sure in your heart of hearts, you knew it was the truth. I always remembered hearing that, 'if you love something, let it go.' So that's what I did, love. I let you go. I wanted you to be happy and I knew I wasn't enough. Not anymore, anyway. As much as it kills my ego to admit that… I know it's the truth.

"I guess… I always assumed that you'd come back. That someday we'd be able to reconcile. Maybe after watching Scott and Jean so many times… or Rogue and Gambit… I took it for granted. I assumed you'd go off on your adventure, then return. To me. Maybe it was just wishful thinking, but I truly believed it. There hasn't been a day that's gone by where I didn't wonder if it might have gone that way, had you returned. But, see… that's the thing. You didn't. You never returned. You left me for real. With nothing but sadness.

"I suppose that I should get to the bottom line. I'm a businessman after all, that's what I do. Find the bottom line. And the bottom line is… I don't regret any of it. Any of the pain, sorrow… nothing. It was all worth it, just to share the time we did. The time we shared, it was the most special in my entire life. I think I'll be spending the rest of my time on Earth trying to gain that feeling again. The pure bliss that you brought me. So, darling, I hope you had the time of your life, because I know I did. I love you."

Rising from his kneeling position, Warren Kenneth Worthington III placed the bouquet of violets, her favorite color, on the grave stone in front of him. His finger passed over the engraving. Here lies Elisabeth Braddock. May she rest in peace. Simple and elegant. Just like Betsy. Her parting words still haunted him. "I'm alive, Warren. That's a start." If only… if only that were still true. It would be enough. But it wasn't. Wiping away the few stray tears that fell from his shining blue eyes, Warren stood at his full height. "Good-bye Betsy," he whispered as he turned to head back into the mansion. Back to his life. Without her. He held his head high, but inside, his heart was breaking all over again.

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