Author's note: Thank you to Rasha007, NotMarge, partygirl98, Nicole R85, and ZabuzasGirl for the reviews! Poor Hank, right? Marceline thought he dropped the ball on that one. Personally, I didn't get proposed to with a ring either. My husband and I are still going strong, almost five years later.

I need some opinions, dear readers. I was planning on ending this story with Hank and Zoey's wedding (spoiler alert- oh, who are we kidding, we all know it's coming!), but I had an idea that would continue this for a bit longer. It would get a little dark/ suspenseful, but I promise it'll come out sunny on the other side. Who would be interested in reading that? Any takers?

Important Considerations

"I can't believe you made this sauce from scratch," Zoey announced, looking slightly dejected. "I'm jealous."

We were in her apartment and eating the lasagna I'd made after our visit to the cafe. Having taken Billy's advice about Zoey's cooking to heart, I'd volunteered to make dinner this evening.

I'm not giving up on her. I'm just... giving in to the inevitable.

Besides, it was nice to eat a meal not accompanied by the smell of something burning.

"I officially vote that you do the cooking from now on."

I couldn't help grinning as I took a sip of Coke. "Billy actually suggested that. He called you a health hazard in the kitchen," I noted with amusement. "He also said not to tell you that."

Zoey's expression became stormy. "Why does no one tell me these things?" she grouched, crossing her arms in disgust. "Now I'm mad at both of them."

"'Both of them?'" I asked curiously.

"I didn't appreciate Marceline smacking you for proposing without a ring."

I chuckled, trying to indicate that I wasn't really offended. Considering how upset she was with me when I first walked into the cafe, I felt like Marceline had let me off easy.

"Livie yelled at me for that, too. She told me the boy is supposed to get down on one knee and pull out a ring and ask the girl to marry him," I explained wryly. "I asked her to help me pick out a ring for you."

Zoey's cheeks turned pink. "You don't have to do that," she assured me. "And your proposal was perfect, Hank. Honest and sincere, just like you. It was much more romantic than if you'd planned it out or something."

My ears started to burn, and I had to look away from bashfulness. At least Zoey appreciated my uncharacteristic act of impulsiveness. Every one else seemed to think I did it "wrong" somehow. But really, wasn't her opinion the one that mattered?

As if echoing my thoughts, Zoey muttered, "everyone else can take their 'supposed to' and shove it. Maybe we should elope just to spite them all."

I blinked, allowing my bewilderment to register in my expression. "Is that something you really want? To elope?"

She shrugged, focusing on her plate and not meeting my eyes. It immediately raised my suspicions.

I'd envisioned Zoey wanting a fairy tale wedding that involved her family and our friends. A princess dress, a large reception, the works. But now she claimed otherwise, and I had a feeling I knew why. It certainly didn't involve a passing irritation with her niece and godparents.

With a heavy sigh I stood and went around to Zoey's side of the table. She eyed me with evident confusion as I knelt by her side.

"Hank?"

"You asked me to stop hiding from you, and I did," I told her seriously, taking her hands in mine. "Now I'm asking you to do the same and stop hiding when you're upset about something. You don't have to be strong for me, Zoey."

She frowned.

"If you truly want to elope, I'll take you down to the courthouse and we'll get married tomorrow. But I have a feeling this is about your dad not being here to walk you down the aisle. Isn't it?"

Zoey's face fell, and that's when I knew I was correct. And I hated that it was something I couldn't fix and make better for her.

The only thing I could think to do was to sit down, right on the kitchen floor, and pull Zoey into my lap. She came willingly enough, and we were immediately surrounded by curious felines who wanted to know why the humans were on their level.

"You can talk to me," I encouraged, after I shooed away our audience.

She tucked her face up against my neck. Her eyelashes tickled my skin, but I held myself still.

"I want him here," Zoey mumbled. "I want them both here for this, which is stupid, because I don't even remember Maman. But my dad-"

Her breath caught, but when she spoke again her voice was steady.

"And then I think about Billy and Marceline, and I know I shouldn't feel that way, because I know that they're here for me no matter what."

Oh, they're here for you alright. Ready and willing to beat me with pastry tongs for hurting you.

"I-I think you should feel however you want to feel," I murmured, stroking her hair. "There's nothing wrong with missing your parents."

"Do you miss yours?" Zoey asked, pulling back so she could see my face.

My parents... now that was a Pandora's Box better left unopened. I hadn't even spoken to them in over four years, and I hadn't seen them since I paid a visit to Dundee, Illinois immediately after graduating from Harvard but prior to starting my job at the CIA. That was nine years ago.

Growing up, I'd always done my best to excel academically to please my parents. If only I was "good" enough, I hoped that perhaps they wouldn't view me as such a disappointment. I was quiet and polite- any fights that involved me at school could be more accurately referred to as beatings, because I was a complete pacifist. It wasn't until I changed into Beast that I learned to fight back- though even now I favored diplomacy and appeasement to violence.

I knew my monkey feet were a source of shame for my parents, and maybe even of guilt. My father's accident at the nuclear plant where he worked was doubtless the reason behind my mutation, and sometimes I wondered if that was all he could think of when he looked at me. That this was his fault.

My thirst for my parents' approval was part of what drove me to develop my original serum in the first place. If only I could be normal, they would come to see me as something more than just a mistake. But after my failure in that regard I came to accept that I would never be the son they wanted. My very genetic makeup precluded that.

It used to hurt, being a disappointment to them simply for being born this way. I certainly hadn't asked to be a mutant. But I'd found a new family at Xavier's, and with Zoey. My parents' disapproval no longer had the power to hurt me. Much.

"No," I finally replied. "Though I suppose you could say that I miss the idea of what parents are supposed to be. People who love and support you unconditionally... I haven't truly experienced that. You can't miss something you never had in the first place."

Zoey put her arms around my neck. "Yes, you can," she disagreed softly.

I shrugged. "Family doesn't have to be genetic, and I'm happy with the one I've chosen," I told her seriously. I brushed a lock of hair back from her face. "You, Livie, Billy and Marceline, everyone at Xavier's... that's a better family than I could ever ask for."

"Do you want your parents at the wedding?"

I shook my head. "If they wanted to see me, they could've picked up the phone at any point in the past nine years. I've made my peace with that."

She searched my eyes with hers. I thought for a second that she was going to argue with me, but then she nodded slowly. "Ok."

For a long moment we were silent.

When she spoke again, Zoey sounded rather shy. "I hope we make good parents, if we have kids. I want our children to grow up knowing they're loved no matter what."

"'Children?' More than one?" I teased. I tried to keep my tone light, even though my stomach just did a somersault.

"Yes," Zoey said, blushing furiously. She suddenly looked unsure of herself, reading my reaction. "Someday."

"I'd like that," I agreed, grinning at her. "But first we need to figure out getting married and where we're going to live."

I knew living at Xavier's wasn't an option because of Zoey's cats, so it was really down to me moving into her apartment or finding an entirely new place. I just wanted to know which she would prefer.

"We could live here," she offered. "Unless you want to buy a house. But I own this building, so..."

"You do?"

Zoey nodded. "It's a good little investment. Plus, I thought that it would be better than answering to a landlord, considering how often I set off the smoke alarm," she explained sheepishly. "Oh- stop laughing!"

It took me a moment to stop chuckling, but I did.

"Let's wait on buying a house and live here, then," I finally said. "I already spend most of my time here anyway. Might as well make it official."

Also, just the concept of moving all of your things gives me a headache, my lovely little pack rat.

She giggled and kissed me on the cheek.

"Tell me what kind of wedding you want, Zoey," I urged. "I just want to make your dreams come true."

"You already have," she replied, smiling when my cheeks turned red. "I don't want a big wedding, Hank. Let's just have our friends and family with us. I wish my parents could be here, but... we should be glad for the family we have. The family we've chosen."

I nodded, though my heart still ached for her.

"I love you," Zoey murmured.

"I love you," I replied, kissing her temple.

Always.