Part 9, one year later:

How long can a man live after his heart has been torn from his body? A very long time it seemed for though Scott was sure that the pain he felt inside should kill him, it never did. He still breathed and he still lived. He just wasn't sure if he'll call this torture living. If there was a Hell, Scott had been there. For he had held a star in his arms and he had felt it die.

For Betsy's memory he had kept freeing prisoners but he had gotten careless. Careless because he didn't care anymore. Didn't care if he lived or died. Alex had found out about him helping prisoners escape and to top it all Jean Grey, one of the rebels, had been captured again. When Scott refused to kill her he had been tortured along with her. But Scott had welcomed that pain. It was nice to FINALLY have a place to say you hurt in. To put words to an indescribable agony. Jean had freed him and together they had freed all the prisoners. They had escaped.

" What?" Alex Summers demanded to know as Jesse Bedlam came to him. Couldn't he see he was busy? Busy trying to find that traitor of his brother. Finally, he was the strong and Scott the weak.

" Scarlett has been picked up on charges of treason against Apocalypse. We think she works with the High Human Council. I…thought you'll like to know," Jesse said and left. Alex froze. Scarlett? Prisoner? Here? Oh, dear God, no. He knew it was forbidden for a mutant and human to be together but his feelings had conquered over his head and he had fallen in love with Scarlett, being with her when ever he could. And now she was arrested? How could she have tricked him so? Had it all been a lie? Alex walked swiftly to the holding area where he found Scarlett alone in the room. He walked in.

" Alex! Alex, I'm so glad you are here," Scarlett said and tried to embrace him but Alex side-stepped her. She looked wounded up at him.

" The human resistance? You're been working for the human resistance? After all I've done for you, Scarlett. How could you betray me like this? Bad enough I was risking censure consorting with a human, but with a spy? Tell me why I shouldn't kill you here and now," Alex asked angrily. The hurt of her betrayal lit his anger.

" I'm pregnant," Scarlett said softly and looked at the floor.

" You're lying. This is another one of your tricks," Alex claimed. It couldn't be true….could it?

" Oh, God, Alex. I wish it were," Scarlett said miserably. No child deserved to grow up in Apocalypse's world and certainly not in the slave pens. " I took the singing gig in Heaven to get close to the mutant officials that frequent the club….but believe me, this was never part of the plan," Scarlett tried to explain.

"  This could destroy everything I have gained. Even I couldn't escape Apocalypse's penalty for interspecies breed….," Alex thought out loud, trying to reason with himself. To kill her was the only way. The best way.

" Alex, please. It is YOUR child!" Scarlett plead with him. A child….he wanted a child. Someone he could form in his own image. Someone who would look up to him. Someone who'll understand him, be like him. A boy who'll immortalise him.

" There is no way I can get you out of here," Alex thought out loud, again trying to convince himself.

" Please, Alex. I lied about the Human Resistance, that is true. But I never lied about my love for you. For I do love you, Alex. Please, show me that my faith in you isn't groundless," Scarlett plead. What should he do? He wanted a son and he……he did love Scarlett. Sure, he couldn't tolerate her betrayal but she was beautiful and….he did love her. But if he saved her, if he let her live….he'll lose all. What to do?

" Alex, please. Say something," Scarlett plead with him as his silence lasted. Alex went to her and gathered her in an embrace. She cried tears of relief by his shoulder. " I knew my faith in you wasn't groundless. I knew it," she whispered. As Alex stroked her over the hair a single teardrop fell from his eyes and into her red hair.

" I love you, Scarlett. I'll always love you," he whispered into her hair. She drew back and Alex gently took her under the chin and softly kissed her lips. He tasted salt on his tongue, from her tears or his own, he didn't know.

" I love you too, Alex," Scarlett whispered and Alex drew her into an embrace again. Tears glimmered on his cheeks.

" Forgive me, my love. Forgive me…please," Alex whispered brokenly. Scarlett hid her face by his chest, taking comfort and warmth from a lover and an enemy.

" I do….forgive you, Alex…..For I'll…..always…love you."

" And I'll love you, Scarlett…….Always."

The room went silent as tears fell like cries from Heaven. Seconds slipped away….as did the ties that bind.

TBC