32.

The Present

Chapter Theme Song: Faithfully - Journey

She was saying goodbye. To it all, to everyone. For the first time in decades, she was leaving the School for the Gifted.

The school had been her home since 1962.

After lingering in her room, taking a last look, she walked one last time down the grand staircase, pausing before the wall of photographs and stopping to look at one in particular. The one from that day in 1962, the original X-Men. Her family, her friends.

Which had only grown to all that it was now. And it was wonderful, and she was so proud of all that it had become. Charles's vision was thriving. All the more difficult to say goodbye to.

When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she was met by a surprise. "Oh - now I'm definitely going to cry..."

Everyone had gathered at the base of the stairs in a grand send-off.

First it was Hank, then Kurt, Colossus, Ellie, Yukio, Russell, and Storm. She gave everyone a hug goodbye.

Then was her winged ex-boyfriend. "Bye Angel, it's good to have you back."

"Bye Nina. And yeah, maybe I'll stick around for a while."

"Bye, Ms. Nova. Thanks for anything."

"Jean, Scott, it would seem as though we become family in the future. You might start calling me 'Nina'."

"Okay, that's going to take some getting used to for sure," said Scott. She hugged them both as well.

"Erik..."

"Goodbye, Darling. I will miss you."

"I'll miss you too." She kissed his cheek.

"Genosha is always open to you - if you ever grow tired of this dusty old house. Or even if you don't."

"I don't think I will ever grow tired of it, but thank you, I will definitely come visit. And you might come visit us here more often. You're always welcome here too."

"Perhaps."

"Bye Doms!"

"Bye Bestie! Good luck out there!"

"Thanks, I'll need it."

"Naw, you won't. You've got this!"

"Thanks."

As soon as she faced Wade, she could tell he wasn't himself. "Wade, are you - crying?"

Instead of answering, he gave a loud sob and dropped down to his knees to hug her around the middle, another one of his jokes about her height. He was definitely crying beneath his mask. "Oh Shorty - I'm really gonna miss you!"

"I'll miss you too. Thank you for everything, and good luck with X-Force. Say goodbye to Vanessa for me, and best wishes for you both and your baby."

"I will, thank you. Don't do anything I wouldn't do while you're gone."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"X-Force will miss you."

She crossed her arms in the X gesture. "X-Force."

He did the same. "X-Force."

Charles was after Wade. For a long moment neither said anything. Oh Charles, her closest friend and first love.

"Goodbye, Charles. Thank you for everything."

"Goodbye, my dear. You'll always have a place here."

"Thank you, I know." She gave him a long, lingering hug and they kissed each other's cheeks.

And finally-

Nathan was the last one.

He gave her a sad smile. "I keep having to say goodbye to you."

"Not forever though."

"That's true. Feels like it, though."

"You've got the fixed device, you'll be home soon," she assured him, just as her future self had. "I know you don't want to give too much away about the future-"

"I think we're already past that."

"True. I know you probably would have mentioned this already but, do I ever figure it out, what I am?"

"Not so far, but that could change. Just don't ever change, okay? You're gonna be fine, trust me."

She nodded. "Okay, Future-boy. Sounds like I'll have lots of time to figure it all out." Before you come along. "I guess I'll see you around, Nathan."

"Yeah, hope so."

"We will."

"Yeah, about that. Listen, there's a future waiting for you, with us. But, like you said, the future's not set. So, if you decide that your future is somewhere else – with someone else-" He forced out the painful words. "-Don't feel obliged to stick with our future just cause you know about it. I want you to be happy."

She smiled. "That's how I know. That's why I'm going to ask Charles to erase my memories of you."

"Oh..." His face fell.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to alarm you. I just mean that I want it to be a surprise, don't want any previous knowledge I have to influence those future events. That being said, can I have a little peek? I saw my side of the memories, I'd like to see yours too. If you'll let me."

"Just a peek."

She reached out and placed her finger tips against his head, tapping into his memories. He reached out and held her hand there against his temple.

Almost instantly, her mind was filled with images.

Many she recognized from when her future self had shown her her own side of these memories, and she was glad to now see them from his side too.

"Wow..." she breathed.

"Yeah?"

"It's... Beautiful." She felt a tear trickle down her cheek.

He smiled. "I'm glad you think so. I think so too. When I look at you I see the woman I love. Doesn't matter where or when. Where ever you and Hope are, that's my home. I wasn't lying when I said you two were the only thing that made it a home. Through this, I've had the pleasure of falling in love with you all over again."

She chuckled, his sweet, genuine words not helping with her teary eyes. "Wow. You really are romantic."

He smiled. "Just you wait."

"Hmm, I'm really curious now. But no more spoilers, Future-boy."

They stood staring and smiling at each other before their moment was broken-

Wade had begun playing the Titanic theme in the background.

"Really?" said Nina.

"Shh, stop, you're ruining this precious moment." He placed a hand over his heart. "Just listen."

"Jesus," sighed Nathan, shaking his head.

Nina just rolled her eyes. "Well, on that note, goodbye."

She paused in the entry hall for a moment on her way passing through before walking out the grand front doors, continuing down the driveway and to the front gates. She paused outside the gates, turning to take one final look at her home. This may be goodbye for now, but not forever.

She gave a teary-eyed smile and whispered, "Thank you."

SO excited for the next chapter - got a big surprise for you all! ;)

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed as always! :)