Suspend reality for a moment, and pretend that there was only a six-month gap where everybody stayed on Galstir together, that Erik and Charles are staying together on Galstir for some time longer to fix the planet's governmental system and help the natives industrialize, that Raven and Hank have decided that they're going to go back to Earth for Raven to have her baby, and that Alex and Sean decide they'll take a vacation and go with them. Before they leave Galstir, Raven approaches Charles to get her brother's advice one last time. Your cooperation in the matter is appreciated.

"What if my child is like me?"

The whisper was for her brother alone, and Charles knew that only the moment of departure could have forced Raven to reveal how great and sincere that fear was.

Charles bent down so that Raven's face was level with his own. Alone of Charles' family, Raven had inherited his mother's physiology.

"Raven Darkholme," Charles said quietly, so that nobody but Erik could hear, and he was tactful enough to pretend to be waving to Hank, who was already on the shuttle, "you were blessed with wonderful genes. They were our mother's and she was one of the most beautiful women I ever knew".

"But just say-"

"-then the McCoy family will have gained a beautiful child, won't it? But if it matters to you, you will be able to check with your doctors. I have been developing something for this purpose for some time."

"Really?"

"I thought you might want it, one day."

He had never told her what he was working on for all those years, and he saw the wonder in Raven's face as he said it. But now the doors were slamming all along the side of the shuttle, and the blurred outlines of loved ones were swarming forward for final kisses, last-minute reminders. Raven jumped into the ship and Hank closed the door behind them. Sean and Alex were looking out of the porthole nearest them. A great number of faces, both on the shuttle and off, seemed to be turned towards Charles.

"Why are they all staring?" demanded Sean, who had run back to the doors, as he and Alex craned around to look at the other passengers.

"Don't let it worry you," said Erik. "It's me. I'm extremely famous."

Raven, Hank, Sean, and Alex all laughed. The doors closed as the shuttle prepared for takeoff, and Charles and Erik ran beside it, watching the aliens' happy faces, already ablaze with excitement. Charles kept smiling and waving, even though it was like a little bereavement, watching his family glide away from him…

The last engine flickered to life in the warm air. The shuttle lifted into the sky and was soon a tiny glimmer of light in the sky. Charles' hand was still raised in farewell.

"They'll be all right," murmured Erik.

As Charles looked at him, he lowered his hand absentmindedly and touched the scar that Shaw's ray gun had left on his hip.

"I know they will."

The scar had not pained Charles for six months. All was well.