I've cried a lot writing this fic, especially the last few chapters for obvious reasons. I know someone of you might not be satisfied with the ending, but I decided at the beginning that it would be bittersweet, the happy one was never an option (see what I did here?!). It's still happy in a way because after all, this is the story of Erik and his children. Anyway, I really, really enjoyed writing this fic. Some chapters were easier, some were harder, but I don't regret the time spent on this story. I'm very grateful to anyone who took their time to write a review, leave a like or follow the story. Thank you very much for sticking here with me till the very end. Enjoy the last bit!

The Epilogue

"This is our home"

6 months after the tragedy

Erik sat at his desk in his office, levitating a fountain pen. He was wearing a perfectly tailored navy blue suit as in a few minutes he was to walk both his daughters down the aisle. If someone had told him a year ago that he would find himself in this place, in these circumstances, at this time, he probably would have laughed at that person. His life had been completely different a year ago and there was no way to go back to that.

There was a hustle and bustle in the corridor, every now and then Erik could hear footsteps and voices of various people, especially kids. When the adults were too busy preparing the ceremony, they took advantage of the freedom and brought destruction with their powers or, worse, teenage ideas. Erik should do something about it as the school principal. He should also do something as the father of the brides. He stretched, put the fountain pen back in its place and stood up.

When he came out into the corridor, instead of his student he stumbled upon Peter, who every now and then tried to put on Billy a new tie brought by Tommy. That is, Erik only guessed it was Tommy, because instead of his grandson he saw a blue streak travelling up and down the stairs under which Peter and Billy were struggling with the ties.

"Oh, here you are," Peter said the second he noticed him. "Lorna was looking for you. Which one is better?"

He stuck out his hand to stop Tommy halfway. The boy handed him the last tie and sat down on the lowest step. Then Peter showed his father two ties, both red and black. Erik might have had problems with his vision because of his age, or these ties were almost identical.

"Does he need a tie, though? Even without it he looks like a handsome young gentleman," Erik stated with a smile, leaning over to ruffle his grandson's hair.

"Wanda says he does." Peter sighed, tying Billy's tie. "I don't know why I'm the one she entrusted with dressing up the boys. If it wasn't for Olivia, I'd probably have to take care of Dawn, too. Do I look like someone who's fit to babysit? Or do any responsible things, if we're already talking about it."

Erik laughed and as soon as his son rose from the floor, he put a hand on Peter's shoulder.

"I've never told you this, but I think you would make a great father. Do you and Olivia ever…"

"Dad, please don't ever finish that sentence. Come on, boys, your grandfather has clearly lost his mind because of the stress. Weddings, right?" He pulled Billy and Tommy with him and added while walking away, "Better go to your daughters. Wanda and Lorna are not the kind of people you tell to wait. For your own good, don't do it."

"I agree with grandpa," Erik could hear Billy say.

"Yeah," Tommy joined. "You would be a funny father, uncle P."

"I'm pretty sure funny is not the word he used but I'll take it."

Erik grinned like a fool and only headed upstairs when they were too far away for him to hear the rest of the conversation. He found his daughters in Lorna's room. Wanda was standing in front of the mirror and Lorna was pinning up her hair. Impressed, he had to lean against the doorframe to keep from falling. They both looked beautiful in snow-white gowns that reached the ground. Lorna wore a more breezy gown with long sleeves and a short veil. Meanwhile, Wanda's gown had a huge number of layers and a veil that stretched behind her like a cape. Among all that white, only the colors of their hair stood out, red and green similar in shade to their powers.

"My beautiful daughters," he delighted aloud as they turned to him and graced him with their smiles. "If you are not 100 percent sure, there is still time to get away. We can take the children... No, it would be easier to just get rid of Marcos and Vision. All it takes is one word from you."

Lorna laughed, grabbing his exposed arm. "I think I'm speaking for both of us when I say that we could not be more sure."

It seemed to him as if it had been only yesterday. As if it had been only yesterday that they had appeared in his life, one fresh out of prison, the other wanting nothing to do with him. Amazing how much had changed since then. He could not watch them grow up, but he could see how in a matter of months they had become the best versions of themselves.

"Well then. Are you ready?"

Wanda took his other arm. "Whenever you are."

He led them out of the room and then they started down the stairs and across the hall to the main door. Chairs were set up in the courtyard, and the grooms stood at an altar made of white flowers. All eyes turned toward them as they walked down the aisle between the seats. At the end of their way Erik kissed Lorna on the forehead, then did the same to Wanda and stepped aside where he took Dawn in his arms and watched the ceremony.

First one couple exchanged vows, then the other. Erik remembered himself and Charles a year and a half ago as they had vowed to never leave each other again. Reflexively, he touched the wedding ring he always wore, and as he watched Lorna kiss Marcos and Wanda glance at Vision, he realized he was ready to say goodbye.

They moved slowly, to the beat of the music, their bodies close together so that there was no longer any space between them, their fingers intertwined with each other, their breaths mingled. The sounds were dim, barely audible. Erik could feel his heart beating, and only his heart, but he ignored that fact. He allowed himself to believe in the illusion. For the last time.

"You must be very happy to see your daughters get married," Charles said, breaking the silence. His other hand lingered on the back of Erik's neck and lightly brushed his skin. "Although knowing you, there's probably some part of you that would like to discreetly move Vision and Marcos as far away from them as possible."

"Oh, I wouldn't do it discreetly." Erik smiled widely, caught in the moment. "I guess every father feels like this on his daughter's wedding day. I walked both of my daughters down the aisle at the same time so I think my attitude is understandable. In fact, it's interesting that fathers are so reluctant to agree to their daughters getting married but encourage their sons do so. I say I shut up once and for all, if only to be better than those pathetic men."

Charles laughed and laid his head on his shoulder, and Erik thought he would miss that. He would miss everything that involved Charles. His smile. His voice. His words, even though he did not always agree with them. His eyes, oh those beautiful blue eyes. His touch. His closeness. How could he live without him?

The mornings were the most difficult. Months went by and still the first thing he did when he woke up was reach across the bed to touch his husband who was sleeping next to him. His fingers would then tighten on the sheets, and Erik would be painfully reminded that it was over. The stolen two years, during which Erik and Charles had tried to make up for lost time, were now gone.

He tried to come to terms with the loss in the wrong way. He needed to be strong to lead the school, and for that, ironically, he needed Charles. So one day he had asked Wanda for something he should never have asked for. Now Erik was swaying to the beat of the music, embracing Charles, who was not his real Charles, and he knew it was the last time. He could not do it again. If he did, he would never come to terms with his death. He would never move on. He would never be a good father, grandfather or teacher if his heart remained in the wrong place and his mind was suspended between the past and the present.

"It's so hard," Erik whispered. "Farewells have always been difficult. Even when we were on different sides, it was always hard for me to say goodbye. I never wanted us to part."

"I'm not real, darling. This is not real. I'm already gone, remember?"

Erik stepped back slightly, just at enough distance to be able to look Charles in the eye. He was standing on his feet and had thick hair on his head, but those were the only things that reminded Erik that all this was not really happening. The other things remained the same: the color of his eyes, every feature of his face, the way his mouth formed into a smile. His voice, his touch, everything was just as he knew it by heart. And yet his Charles rested in a grave in Genosha. His Charles was no longer here. Charles' last words had been "Goodbye, love" and nothing else would ever be said by him again.

"Our love was real. It still is." Erik could feel the tears flowing down his cheeks and Charles' gentle touch as he wiped them. "I don't know if I can do this."

"Of course you can." Charles' voice was as tender as his touch. "It's not like I'll be completely gone. I'll remain here."

Saying the last sentence, Charles put his hand on Erik's chest, where his heart was beating. Erik did not respond, just nodded his head, smiling sadly. He took Charles' face and kissed him on the lips, though their last kiss had been six months ago, in the forest, just before the battle. Erik decided he would remember them both.

"I've always loved you," he whispered, "and I always will."

Erik had broken way too many promises, but this one he knew he could keep. He closed his eyes, feeling Charles slipping from his grasp, disappearing once and for all. When he opened his eyes, he was standing alone in the middle of his bedroom. He wiped away his tears, put on his jacket and went downstairs.

He had expected to find no one in the house, that everyone was outside enjoying themselves at the wedding reception, but it turned out that he was not alone after all. At the bottom of the stairs stood his children; Lorna and Wanda dressed in looser dresses and more comfortable shoes, Peter with disheveled hair and no tie.

As he approached them, each individually hugged him, and then together they moved outside. Peter told some anecdote about a child who destroyed a cake with their powers. Wanda laughed out loud, finally fully happy. Lorna patted her father on the back, looking at him with more love than ever before. Erik smiled at all three of them as he put his hand on his heart, where Charles was to remain forever.

In the company of his children, Erik Lehnsherr eventually found peace.

THE END