Disclaimer: see ch 1
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE READ CH 23-31 BEFORE THIS ONE
Warning: brief mention of sex
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Twenty four years later
Nate took a deep breath as he looked at his door. He'd returned the night before from time traveling. The last he heard was that his father had wanted nothing to do with his stepmother. Now he was dreading seeing just how much had changed since then…
"Nate! Breakfast is ready!" Nate closed his eyes and opened his door to see-
"Mama!"
"Of course," Emma said, frowning. "Why wouldn't I be here?"
"But you- Dad-" Scott put a plate of food on the table.
"You just got back from traveling, didn't you?"
"Yeah, and this is…"
"Not what you were expecting?" Scott asked, eye raised.
"I thought you hated her when I left!"
"Obviously not. We talked, and she moved in with us shortly after that." Emma hid a chuckle.
"Shortly, darling?"
"Well, I wasn't going to tell him you moved in that night," he grinned. "But I'll tell him more about that night if you'd like-"
"No thanks!" Nate said quickly. He smiled at Emma. "I'm glad you gave him another chance."
"And another and another and another," Scott agreed. He leaned across the food and kissed Emma's lips in a brief, chaste kiss. "And I will always be grateful."
"Yeah, this is enough," Nate said, moving away from the table. "I'm gonna go see Esme."
"You do know she's Emma's cl-"
"Yeah, but she's not Mama. And I've got a shot with her. Don't be a cockblock, Dad." Nate grinned at him as he left the suite. Scott smiled and shook his head, looking at Emma.
"I think it's disturbingly sweet," Emma argued. "And it's not like she's me, or my daughter. None of them are."
"I still can't get over Sinister doing it to you, too. I should've killed him-"
"It's done. The girls hardly even act like me. We never would have known-"
"Still awkward and Nate should know better."
"I'm not linked to him by blood, and Esme's different enough that I see nothing Oedipal about it."
"He's always been able to get what he wants with you."
"Hm. Much like Carrie with you." Scott gave her a sheepish grin.
"It's a good thing we balance each other out then." Emma stood up, wiped her mouth, and kissed Scott's temple.
"Classes start soon, my love. You have several students who would be devastated to not have math."
"Yeah, yeah. Jean can always sub-"
"Math? I would see her more as the science- But that isn't the point."
"Hm. I'd already asked her to step in for me. And Carrie is taking over for you for the day."
"Scott Summers, what have you done?"
"I've fallen hopelessly in love." Emma blushed.
"Be that as it may-"
"I've booked a day away for us. I can't be gone too long with Carrie needing a little extra help, but I wanted you to be pampered today."
"Scott, I can't-" Scott put his hands on Emma's shoulders and gently rubbed as he kissed down her neck.
"It's already been arranged. Massages, shopping, a pedicure for you, dinner out…"
"Mm. No teens sneaking on a spaceship?"
"God I hope not," he chuckled. "Come on. Get your shoes on and grab your purse. We've got to get going." Emma went into their room and Scott sighed a contented sigh.
He started thinking about the path that had led him here, first with meeting his father after ten years. It felt like so long ago, Scott realized. The weight room, the dogtags, the locket… How far he'd come since that day. A husband, a father, a widower… He grabbed Emma's hand as she came out of their room and gently squeezed. There were certainly days he thought he wouldn't make it to see the next, but looking around the room and seeing the pictures of his family, he was forever grateful he had.
Family. The thing Jack Winters said he would never be good enough to have. The thing Sinister did his best to destroy. The thing he never thought he'd truly have after Madelyne.
"Are you alright, Scott?" Emma asked, putting a hand on his cheek.
"Just thinking about how lucky I am, Em. Everything was so lonely… And then the Starjammers entered my life. I know that that led me to you." He kissed her and hugged her to him. "I'd do it all again for you and our kids, Emma. Every last bit."
"Then it's a good thing you won't have to," she winked. "Now I believe you promised me shopping?"
"That I did," he smiled. "After you, my love."
A/N: Thank you for reading the "Enter the Starjammers" series. It seemed appropriate to leave it here, so here is where it ends. So much has changed for me personally through the year of posting this series, most for the good. I feel like I've grown as an author, and that wouldn't have happened without the responses I received for these stories. Thank you for letting me share them.
-newbee25