Authors not: welcome back!! I'm ready to finish this one and for all lol but don't worry, in the happy ending kinda person so these 2 have a good shot! Now on with it!!!

Chapter 9: Shadows of 4 Night

Charles Xavier sat staring out the window of his study. He'd returned from his own time away the day before only to discover things were not well at home.

It was abnormally quiet, and all the students and teachers seem more guarded than usual.

And more oddly was the unknown location of Scott. And yet he'd been reassured by many even Jean that his worry wasn't warranted. That Scott had left on a training mission as well.

So reluctantly he'd dropped it.

And then the calm had come in from Scott early in the morning before the sun had even rissen. He'd said there had been an accident.

But after locating both Lance and Scott he knew that there had been no accident.

Lance had been hit with one of the very weapons he'd studied while he had been away. And both were suffering the effects of toxic gas from the explosion that had occurred.

It would make sense. Scott being there. Being the hero he was trained to be.

It would make sense if it weren't for the fact that Scott didn't look like Scott. And something told him he was different.

But he would wait for the two to wake and go from there.

(The infirmary)

Lance felt like he was in a fog. And he ached all over. He could hear beeping and muffled voices, but couldn't make out what they were saying.

How had he gotten here. Where was here he wondered.

He let his eyes open. Unwillingly mind you. But he knew where ever he was he had to find Scott.

"Ah mister Alveres. I'm glad to see you finally awake."

Lance wanted to scream out loud. To curse and throw a fit but he didn't.

Even if he was being watched intently right now by the professor he wouldn't give any of them the satisfaction.

"Yeah I'm awake. Don't remember much of how I got here but I'm here so."

"Yes. I see there was an explosion. You were shot sometime during by an anti mutant weapon. Tell me Mr. Alvers, what were you and Scott doing in the park last night, do you remember." Professor Xavier inquired.

Lance sat up carefully wincing at the strong ache in his side. He ignored it mostly. No pain no gain. He looked around the to clean room. Scott was in the bed next to his and at least that was some form of relief.

"Lance. I understand if you feel like you can't speak freely. But I assure you we mean you no harm here. After all it seems you and Scott have been working closely together quite well in my absence. I don't see why we all cant speak freely."

Lance knew every word the professor had spoken was calculated and well thought out. The old man had suspicions he wanted him to confirm.

"You really don't know what is going on here?" Lance ask with a suspicious look. " Wow that's messed up. Look I'm sorry for you but I'm not the one who needs to tell you what's going on. Your gonna have to ask Scott. Because to be honest I'm not telling you shit unless he says it's ok first." Lance managed to get it all out without losing his temper or cool and for that he was happy. He laid back down content to ignore the telepath. No such luck.

"There was once a time when you asked permission from no one. Followed your own orders. And I'm sure there are things that occurred in my absence that I have not been informed of but I'll ask Scott his own set of questions when he wakes. However I must insist you answer mine now as one of my own team was injured while with you."

"It was an accident. Nothing more I don't know who did it. Or why. Ok so I don't know what to tell you." Lance answered back. His own irritation beginning to rise.

"Mister Alveres you are aware of my mutation so you already know that I can sense your lies . Your feelings. I know you feel that you messed up and your regretful. But the matter stands that Scott was injured in your haste as well. I ask that you think very carefully about your next move before moving forward from here."

Lance heard the door open and shut and sighed. He looked over once more at the brunette in the other bed and realized that this hurt far more than any injury he'd sustained. So much more because Scott had been hurt as well.

After a moment Scott began to stir and Lance knew if he was gonna do the right thing it would be right here right now.

(An undetermined amount of time later)

Scott woke with a start. All of the fog in his mind surrounding him at once.

He felt a hand brush his face as his glasses were placed over his eyes and in turned looked into the relieved eyes of Rouge who smiled at him softly.

Then everything came crashing back to him in waves. And his eyes started frantically around the infirmary for Lance. But he was no where in sight. he looked back to Rouge who grimced.

"Ah'm so sorry Scott. I'm tried to stop 'im but he took off. But h hasn't been gone long he might still. . . –"

Scott didn't give her a chance to finish, he was up despite the fog in his brain and sprinting out as fast as he could move to the garage. Ignoring any and everyone he passed along the way.

He got there just as Lance opened the door to his jeep.

"So you were just gonna take off?" Scott asked sharply startling the other who sighed.

"That was the idea yeah." He answered.

"Why?" Scott asked though something told him he already knew the answer.

" Come on Scott. We both knew this was gonna end badly. And look we both could've died last night on my call. This is how it has to be. I have to go back to being invisible and you have to go back to being the little boy scout you always were. This way you won't get hurt." Lance answered though there was no real emotion in his words that Scott could hear and it pissed him off.

"Your such a coward. As soon as it gets tough you tuck tale and run is that what your telling me." He snapped back and Lance at least had the decency to look ashamed.

But unbeknownst to the two the X-Men including Jean were beginning to gather outside listening through the cracked door. Their looks all confused.

"I'm sorry ok. But what do you expect me to do? Let you get yourself killed because of me. Because that shit is not gonna work. Last night the only thing I could think of After the shit hit the fan was that I did not see you. How you were gone. That I had lost you! I'm not going through that again Scott. So yeah I'm a coward but at least here you'll be safe." Lance answered a single tear rolling down his cheek. He moved to leave but Scott was quicker slamming the door to the old jeep and placing himself between Lance and his way out.

"Get out of my way Summers!" Lance bit out angrily.

And Scott paused briefly at the use of his last name

"Please don't do this babe. It's gonna be ok. Last night happened and that sucks. But other great things happened last night too. Nothing has to change. Things can go back exactly the way they were. Everything will be fine. You have to believe that." Scott said softly stroking the others cheek. But Lance only shook his head and jerked away.

"No you don't get to do that to me. Just because you screwed me doesn't mean you get pull me back in. It just means we were both too stupid to get out sooner now get out of my way before I do something I'll regret." He snapped.

Scott sighed. Unsure of what the right thing to do was. But he made no attempt to move out of the others way.

Then Lance growled and pulled him into a rough kiss

It was full of pain and sadness and Scott wished he hadn't been the one to cause this much pain for the other

And then the ground seemed to move of it's own Accord and he found himself dragged by the ankle by the very earth it's self away from the jeep.

"Damnit Lance! You don't have to do this!" he shouted but it fell upon deaf ears. Lance climbed into the jeep and took off without another word.

Scott didn't move even after the other was gone and the earth had released him. He wondered how on earth he'd managed to get in so deep.

He wondered when his heart had become so deadly intertwined with the others. When he'd lost control of his life.

He heard foot steps approaching him. And made no effort to move when Jean stood over him.

She was biting her lip looking confused and Scott wondered if she had heard all that transpired.

"Scott. . . " she started and he waited with baited breath for her to continue. "Scott, I've been seeing Logan. For a while. A long while. I didn't know how to tell you, and I know that I can't ask you to forgive me because I don't deserve it. But I needed you to know." She said softly.

"I know. I joined the Brotherhood. And I slept with Lance." Scott said back, but Jean didn't look angry nor did she look surprised.

"I know, I heard. Everyone kinda did." She said back with a slight grimace.

"yeah well then you know that it makes not one bit of damn difference. None of it. I tried everything I could and he still wouldn't stay." Scott stated brokenly and despite the awkwardness of it all Jean sighed before telling the former love of her life the very thing he needed to hear.

"You didn't tell him that you loved him." She said and Scott gave her a surprised look. "I know those three words get thrown around a lot, but maybe those are the ones he needs to hear most. Because I know he loves you too. Otherwise he never would have left. Go after him. Don't take no for an answer." Jean finished firmly.

"The professor is back. He's gonna want answers." Scott said though there was no real concern for the older man there.

" I'll explain it to him, just go."

"my car is still at the Brotherhood house, how the heck am I gonna get there?" He continued.

"leave zat to me." Came the overly happy voice of Kurt from the doorway, Rough stood beside him smiling mischievously and Scott could tell that the others would no doubt understand as well.

He stood allowing the blue teen to loop arms with him and then he disappeared in a puff of smoke.

(With Lance)

Lance walked through the front door of the Brotherhood house being mindful of his injured side. It hurt like hell, but it was nowhere near the pain he felt in his chest at leaving the other behind.

The rest of his team were on the couch and they eyed him curiously but he ignored them, Carefully walking up the stairs to his room content to stay there until his mind and body healed fully.

He open the door and froze, his heart seizing in his chest.

"What the hell are you doing here Scott? How did you even. . This is not. ." He tried but the words wouldn't come.

Scott approached the other slowly and Lance backed away until he was pressed neatly against the wall, very similar to the second kiss they had shared, Scott kissed his with everything he had before pulling away.

"I love you." He said softly and he heard the other give a small gasp, but he pressed on. "I don't care how complicated things get, or how hopeless things might seem, I don't care. I only care about you. I only care about right here right now. And you can try all you want to push me away but I'll just come right back because there is nothing you can say that's gonna make me give you up. Your stuck with me. I'm not going anywhere."

"I love you too."

And that was all Scott need to here, he pulled the other into another kiss.

Things would be difficult for the two, there would be no doubt.

Times would be hard and they would be harder, but they would face it together as a team.

And Scott realized that coming to Lance had never been about getting back at Jean. But finally listening to his own heart and going after the very thing he'd wanted most.

So when things would get difficult he would remember that, and yes things would get bad, they would feel pain and hopelessness, but neither would have to go through it alone ever again.

And perhaps being in the dark had been the best thing that had ever happened to Scott. Because it had inevitably led him to Lance. And with Lance he would stay.

(Authors note) omg I did it guys. Its over and I am satisfied, it was months and months coming but I'm so proud, I told you there'd be happy endings all around. Please leave a review if you'd like more of these two bc I am so down lol thanks for the views and I'll catch you guys in the next one. Beygurl ;)