This is it, that's all folks…I'd just like to thank all those that have followed this story, and even more thanks to those that wrote reviews: Alice Williams, OhBeClever, Sheheazade's Fable, PowerinPink, angel2u, Reincarnated Poet, Trulzxoxo.

Thank you very much :D


"Let it go!" Charles shouted and I took it that Erik was inside and without warning I had to let it go, sending us into a spiral. I flicked open my eyes just as Erik pounced in Charles, pinning him to the ground like a high powered magnet as we crashed to the ground with the sound of screeching metal. Screaming out with the others, I squeezed my eyes shut again as we started rolling on land until settling to a stop upside down. Letting out a shaky breath, I slowly opened my eyes, looking right across at Raven when there was a groan at the back of the jet. Flipping my head to look back I saw both Charles and Erik getting up before I focused in on Alex.

"You ok?" He asked softly.

"Peachy," I strained a smile to which he did the same as Erik helped us out of our seats with Charles moving forward to help Hank and Moira.

"Good job, Polaris," Erik smiled to me as he and Alex pulled me up.

"Thanks," I groaned, as I straightened out.

"I read the teleporters mind," Charles prompted as we all moved around to look out the windows at the wreaked submarine, across the beach from us with Angel, Azazel, and the other man, Riptide, standing in front. "Shaw's drawing all of the power out of his sub. He's turning himself into some kind of nuclear bomb.

"We've got no time, the Geiger counter's going out of control," Moira shouted.

"All right Moira, this is what we're going to do," Charles ordered. "Get on the radio and send both fleet's out immediately."

"I'm going in," Erik announced.

"Beast, Havok, Polaris, back him up," Charles ordered and got nods back from all of us. "Erik, I can guide you through once you're in. But I need you to shut down whatever it is that's blocking me. Then we just hope to god it's not too late for me to stop him."

"Got it," He nodded and turned towards the massive opening in the back where the jet had ripped apart.

Moving around behind him I heard Charles shout, 'good luck,' as we exited. Stepping out into the open, we lined up just as Angel took off for the air and Riptide whipped up two whirlwinds in his hand. Quickly Alex fired up and shot a beam rights across at them making Riptide fly back but Azazel poofed out. Taking off at a run with Erik I heard both Beast and Alex start to fight but couldn't concentrate on then as Riptide got back up and started another whirlwind. Leaping up in the air, I quickly hovered there as I held out a hand to the man and before the whirlwind move out of his hand and wrapped a force field around him. Squeezing my hand into a half formed fist it closed in around him as Erik peeled back a side of the submarine and climbed it. Grabbing the peeled back part I quickly pushed him up against it and twirled my finger, wrapping him up in it, like a burrito. Dropping the force field, I pulled off the wrapped up part with a small groan thank to the adrenaline pouring through my body, and let it drop to the ground as he produced a satisfying groan. Smiling at my small victory, I took off over the beach and towards the water, where Angel had flow to.

I saw her flittering around one of the ships, firing off her weird spitballs, leading me to believe that's where Azazel had taken Alex and Hank. Then suddenly Sean flew out of the water, sending out a wave of sound towards her, and sending her reeling. Instantly she set her sights on him, as I moved to help Alex and Hank who no doubt were still dealing with Azazel. It was then that I saw Alex being escorted across the deck at gun point, without his circular concentrator. Shaking my head, I held out my hand and grabbed the guns, jerking them all out of their grasp and making most fly into the water as Alex took off at a run. Pivoting around on the magnetic wave I reached out my hand just as he leapt off and grabbed onto his arm.

"You are so lucky to have a girlfriend like me," I smirked and took off higher flipping around in hopes of finding either Sean or Hank. He let out a laugh, as I flipped around and I couldn't help by smile while he started shouting out in happiness, but it stopped at I saw Angel right behind Sean. She fired a spitball and with amazing accuracy it went right through his wing. Pushing faster, I held out my hand, grabbing onto the metal of her belt and yanked my arm. Surprising even myself she tumbled back a good thirty feet as I rushed up to Sean. Working to balance himself out, he let out another scream to elevate himself with his wing smoked away.

All three of us moved towards the shore, when suddenly I heard the tell-tale insect wings and felt a burning on the side of my thigh. I looked back to see that one of her spit balls had grazed my leg and now the material was on fire. Yelping, out I broke concentration right as we hit the sand sending Alex and I rolling, along with Sean who couldn't land the smoothest either. Quickly, I flipped around batting at the area, while ignoring the pain. Rushing towards me, Alex helped to put out the flames while Sean tore away his ruined wing right as I looked up to see her coming.

Flipping around I quickly held up a shield around Sean and I, as Alex—with a shout—built up and then let loose a well-aimed ring at Angel, slicing off one of her bottom wings. Flipping around out of control she fell to the ground with a shout, though breathing.

Smiling, I looked up at him while Sean let out a laugh when suddenly Hank and Azazel appeared across the beach, Azazel poised to attack with Hank pinned under him. All of us moved to attack when none other than Shaw appeared in the opening to the Jet, or at least that's who it looked to be.

"Stop! Azazel," He tilted his head to the side. Azazel stood up obeying when Hank stood up, grabbed him on the shoulder and then with a roar threw him. He poofed out and then reappeared behind, but Hank was anticipating the attack and quickly flipped around and hit him hard in the chest, making him drop to the ground right at Raven turned back into herself. Putting an arm around my waist Alex helped me limp across the beach with Sean until all four of us joined up in the middle.

We just stood there together as the Angel and Azazel got up, helping up the Riptide—who had weaseled himself halfway out of the metal—up, when a huge hole punched out the top of the side and Shaw appeared, limp with his arms spread out to the side, and Erik behind him, wearing Shaw's helmet.

"Today our fighting stops!" Erik shouted as he levitated Shaw out, flying out himself, and we started walking towards the area slowly. As we got closer I could see a line of blood on Shaw's forehead right as Erik let go and he fell to the ground with a sickening crush in front of the others. Slowly, he descended to the ground, looking around at us. "Take off your blinders, brothers and sisters. The real enemy is out there," he pointed to the ships. "I feel their gun moving in the water; their metal targeting us. Americans, Soviets, Humans." He spat out quietly as both Charles and Moira appeared, walking up to join him by the water. Slowly we followed after with the others as he continued. "A Neanderthal is running scared, my fellow mutants. Go ahead, Charles. Tell me I'm wrong."

As Charles raised his fingers to his temper I looked to the water and probed out trying to sense in and sadly I felt it. I felt the ships running together and if I concentrated more I could feel the guns turning towards us. "He's not," I whispered and felt all, Alex, Sean, Hanks, and Raven's eyes look to me and then to Charles who slowly lowered his fingers, before looking to Moira and nodding. Quickly she took off to the jet, to call off the attack or something. We waited, looking out at the ships when I felt the field shift and automatically let out a gasp as missiles from every ship fired.

All five of us grouped together looked up in disbelief as the missiles tore through the air towards us, far to large for a force field and I felt Alex's arm around my waist, tightened around me. Then amazingly Erik raised his hand and all of them halted; the closest ones just a mere forty feet away. Slowly, he turned his hand and they all flipped around to fly right back at the ships.

"Erik you said it yourself, we're the better men," Charles tried to talk him out of it. "This is the time to prove it. There are thousands of men on those ships!" Charles shouted as the last missile positioned. "Good, honest, innocent men. They're just following orders."

"I've been at the mercy of men just following orders," Erik responded softly and looked over to Charles. "Never again," He declared and then looked back at the missiles; bringing his hand back and then flinging it forward the missiles flew.

"Erik, release them!" Charles ordered as I watched them fly and then with a shout he ran and tackled him to the ground. Quickly, I held up my hand and grabbing as many as I could at this distance, crashed them together, or did whatever to make them explode in the air.

"Stay back!" Erik shouted and suddenly I felt a force on my chest and was flying back about twenty feet onto the ground with Alex, Hank, and Sean. Groaning, I rolled over onto my back and slowly sat up to see Erik standing and the missiles were racing towards the ships again. Pushing back up into my feet I stood with the others and I saw Moira step forward, gun drawn and fire. The bullet skidded off the helmet and he flipped around looking at her, but as she continued to fire he deflected the bullets. Suddenly, Charles—who was just getting up behind him—arched back and let out a cry as he grabbed him back. Gasping, I paused in mid step as he fell to the ground.

Immediately Erik turned and ran around to his side, forgetting about the missiles as he reached around and drew out the bullet. "I'm so sorry," He apologized as he rolled him over and we started to rush forward. "I said back off!" He shouted and all of us halted, including Moira who had dropped the gun. "You," He glared to her, "you did this." He rose up a hand and instantly the dog tags around her neck tightened in to choke her.

"Please," Charles spoke as she gasped, digging at the chain with her fingertips. "She didn't do this, Erik. You did." Looking down at his friend, he dropped the hold and cradled his head.

"Us turning on each other," He started.

"Erik…"

"…it's what they want," He continued. "I tried to warn you, Charles. I want you by my side. We're brother, you and I. All of us together; protecting each other. We want the same thing."

"Oh, my friend, I'm sorry, but we do not." Charles replied regrettably.

I bit my lips together, to hide the frown as I watched them just look to each other for a long moment, realizing that they couldn't work together. Looking up at Moira he motioned her forward and she rushed around. "Charles, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Charles," She took Erik's place as he moved away.

"It's alright," he relented with a groan as Erik moved away and looked to the five of us.

"His society won't accept us," He gestured to Charles and Moira. "We form our own. The humans have played their hand! Now we get ready to play ours." He spoke viciously. "Who's with me?" He looked not only to us, but to the other three, before focusing in on Raven and extending a hand to her. "No more hiding," he softened.

Slowly she moved forward, looking down to Charles and then back at Erik before turning to Charles and crouching down beside him. Speaking to quietly for us to hear I could only watch the interaction, that was becoming evident was a goodbye as she brushed back his hair. Reaching over he took her hand and placed a kiss in the back before she leaned in, kissing his forehead and then stood up and took Erik's hand. Walking forward Azazel, Angel and Riptide moved forward, joining their side and hands.

"And Beast!" Mystique called. "Never forget. Mutant and proud." I glanced over to see him look away as Azazel poofed them all out and we took off running towards Charles and Moira.

"Help me, out. Help him up," She called to Hank as he rushed around to Charles other side. Reaching up he tried to get up before letting out a loud shout of pain.

"Wait, don't Charles, don't move, okay," Hank cautioned him with worry as I moved to Moira's other side, crouching down.

"Alright," He settled back. "Actually…" he paused. "I can't," He said fearfully, "I ca-ca-I can't feel my legs. I can't feel my legs," He repeated as if just fully trying to realize it while the rest of us just looked on in shock.

oOo

"In this week of Thanksgiving, there is much for which we can be grateful. As you look back to where we stood, only four weeks ago, the unity of this hemisphere, the support of our allies, and the calm determination of the American people; these qualities may be tested many more times. In this decade…" Stooping down, I flipped off the TV and started out of the room just as arms wrapped around my waist, making me drop my book.

"Alex," I laughed and looked back at him.

He moved around and drew back one hand and pushed back my hair to hook it behind me ear. "Yes?" He smirked and leaned in placing a soft kiss against my lips.

"Aren't you supposed to be studying or something?" I tiled my head to the side.

"I am," He ran his hand down over my neck, over my shoulder and down my side before joining the other on my lower back. "Anatomy."

"Oh, is that what this is? I'm you mannequin?" I dared and maneuvered out of his arms.

"Well, with you there it's my favorite topic," he smiled and stooped down picking up my geology book. "But I think you might be drawing me into this," he held it up. I gave an overly dramatic shocked look to which he rolled his eyes at and started to move away.

"Hey," I pulled him back and wrapped him arms around his neck. "You have to promise me something," I said with a joking edge, though truthfully I was a little worried about it.

"What?" he dared, looping his arms around my back.

"Try not to fall for any of the other girls that might come here when the Academy opens," I gave a faux pout. "I mean you haven't exactly had a wide pool to choose from."

"Trust me," he laughed softly. "I doubt I will ever be able to take my eyes of you."

"You know you really can be sweet when you want to be," I complimented.

"Shush, Polaris," He admonished jokingly and started leaning in. "I don't want the other guys to know."

"Right," I nodded with a grin and leaned up giving him a soft kiss. "Don't worry; it'll be our little secret, Havok."