The Final chapter for part two of my AoA redux. I'm also posting the first
chapter of the final part. Enjoy, and thanks to all who reviewed. For those
'silent' readers, (if there are any), keep reading please!
Disclaimer: I don't own the X-men, and all the characters appearing in this chapter are Marvels. Some characters in the story are my own though.
feedback: Please, at six_nites@hotmail.com
~*~
Epilogue: Ashes in the Wind
Apocalypse felt the connection to one of his horsemen sever. He opened his eyes and gave a resounding cry, "No!"
He smashed his fist onto the chair arm. He didn't know how the Beast had died, but his death was unsettling. His plans would have to be reworked to do without the Beast. He could not afford to lose Horsemen. They were his elite, four of them enough to subjugate a world. The four before had been fearsome indeed, but these four were far beyond his previous horsemen. They were also bound to him. The Beast would not have played his hand, not until he was sure of victory. Whatever happened, he had been forced, somehow to fight. The Beast had been in Avalon. Perhaps he had managed to destroy the place. Then again perhaps he had perished in that very attempt. Whatever happened he knew his horsemen would also feel the death of one of their number. He awaited their contact. He would also need to hold another meeting. Avalon should not have had adequate resources to fight one as powerful as the Beast. At least he knew where Avalon was. If the Beast had not finished what he had set out to do, Apocalypse could finish the job.
x---------------- --------------x
Pain. Hideous pain. Agonizing, hideous pain.
"I can tell you're waking." The voice was soft, and almost purring. He would know the voice anywhere. Candra..
Remy opened his eyes with effort. Destroying those Infinites had to be one of the most stupid things he had ever done. At least the kid was alive. He hoped.
Candra sat in front of him. She smiled at him.
"Ah, I knew it. You can't hide things from me Cajun."
She reached out a hand and stroked his cheek softly, caringly. Care from Candra. Remy shook his head. He must be more out of it than he believed.
"You did a lot of damage. Luckily Apocalypse and the Externals are otherwise occupied.
Otherwise the disappearance of a little over twenty Infinites would not have gone unnoticed." She said it almost conversationally. Almost.
He tried to sit, but was bound hand and foot. An inhibitor circled his neck. She had taken precautions.
"So, wat' exactly happened, Gambit, he would like to know?"
She smiled at him, a small, knowing smile.
"I survived, as did you. The boy escaped and the Externals were destroyed."
He waited, expecting more.
She only looked at him. He stared back, knowing this was some kind of game. He began to inspect her features. By all rights she should be scarred, and badly at that. She hadn't been too far away from the Infinites, though more so than Sinister. The evil scientist was why he waited for more. Her eyes were still slightly slanted, like cats, and their blue gaze was still penetrating, and seductive. Her lips retained the familiar twist upward, however this time they were smiling more than usual. Her cheekbones were still slightly tanned, yet creamy white. Her nose was still slightly curved, with an upward turn at the end that he found cute. Still beautiful, no evidence of physical hurt.
He grew tired of waiting. He had less time to waste than an immortal anyway.
"Wat' 'bout big, white an ugly?"
She laughed delightedly, he found it cute too.
"Oh, I like your sense of humor Remy Lebeau. Sinister." she gazed at him for a long time, then
"Sinister seems to have perished in the explosion. Not very likely, but not impossible either. He wasn't invincible. Either he's perished or he's left. Apocalypse was very angry. He seems to think he left. Of course, I had to let him think that. He had Sinister's entire laboratory searched, for any evidence as to where and why he might have gone. They found nothing of you, of course. Sinister kept that information in his head, as well as the young boys. So thrilling to know that the High Prelates' son is so much like him. Good looking and very, very powerful."
Remy stared at her, shell shocked. She had kept information about him from her master? Why? Sinister was dead? He had killed him? Funnily, the information did nothing to him. He only felt some regret for a brilliant man gone to waste. Nothing he had dreamed of all these years. He was surprised at that. His all consuming desire for revenge had dictated everything in his life, until Rogue and then Roulette. Other responsibilities, other passions. Both finished now. Roulette was firmly entrenched with the X-men now, and Rogue had left him for Erik. Still, nothing about life seemed different. Something that had consumed him for so long should have had some impact. He wondered, slightly fearfully, why it didn't. Then suddenly his shock compounded. Nate Grey was Cyclops's son? How was that possible, how did someone probably not much older than him have time to have a kid only a little over a decade younger? Did he. no, the kid was in a tank.
Probably Sinister had used Cyclops's DNA. Who else's though?
"Nate Grey is Cyclops's son? How.? Who else's DNA was in it?"
Candra laughed delightedly again, a musical sound, so different from her usual mocking laughter.
"Nate GREY? His name is Nate Grey? Oh Sinister, you do have a sense of pride, as well as humor. Don't you see Remy; he named the kid half after himself, half after the woman who his mother is."
Half after himself, half after his mother? What did she mean. oh, Nate from Nathaniel. Then Grey was the mothers name. Grey. "Good God, Jean?!?!?"
The last came out as an exclamation.
"Yes, Jean Grey, quite fitting, given how those two ended up. Sinister felt that their DNA match would create the most powerful offspring that is possible. Of course, Apocalypse and the others don't know this. Only my fellow Externals know of his existence, and only I know who his progenitors are."
The last was said coolly, and Remy remembered why he was here, and how he got here. In the line of his questions, he had forgotten.
She still had a small smiled on his face. He tried to look deeper into her eyes, but found nothing. Or rather, he could do nothing. He could feel the flow of her emotions, but couldn't affect them in any way. What had she done?
"Don't try to use your little tricks Cajun. They are fairly useless. Not against me. Not when I know why you could in the first place."
What did she mean?
"Think about it Cajun. It wasn't that stupid drivel Sinister said about affecting it in a secondary manner, that waves off you traveled to those in your vicinity. It was something else entirely with me. No secondary form of telepathy or empathy can affect me. It was something deeper that made it possible, something born of fire and passion, of hope and affection, and of awe and mystery."
She stroked his cheek one last time, tracing his lips with a nail, then she turned and left.
She stood and walked to the door of the small room. A room in her apartments most likely, the familiar smell of her rooms was there.
"Think on what I say Cajun."
She left with a last smile.
Remy sat in the darkness wondering what she meant. Something born of Fire and passion, of hope and affection and of Awe and mystery? What the hell was that? He pondered it, then suddenly it hit him, and the shock of knowing drowned out everything else. Sinister was probably dead, likely at his own hand. Wiped away. Nate was Cyclops and Jean's son. Swept aside. Candra protecting him from her allies and master. Answered and washed away like everything else in the face of the truth he knew.
Candra loved him. One of his mortal enemies loved him. He closed his eyes.
"Remy, why couldn't ye have been born ugly and shy. At least dat way ye wouldn't make ev'ry second woman fall for you. Stupid fuck."
x----------------------- ---x
The man stood shivering. This was where he was supposed to come. Only a few hours ago his mysterious benefactor had approached him to warn him that the young charge he was supposed to take on had escaped and would need to find him and take him under his wing. He opened his cloak's hood slightly. It was dark ahead, and nothing seemed to move. He knew better. A young boy was coming towards him, drawn by warmth in the bitter cold. The rest of his camp stood a way off to the west. The others had been surprised when he had told them he was going. The newest member of their group, Theresa had jumped in worry. Lately she had taken to mothering the whole group, and even Sauron seemed to appreciate her. That was strange; he was usually irritated with him as well. However the jubilant and bright young redhead had wormed her way into even his reptilian heart.
He heard pounding feet and focused his mechanical eye into the vast expanse of nothing that was before him. A young boy walked his way, shivering and not really knowing where he went. He was drawn to his fire. He stood and rubbed his massive hands together. He thought back.
^ "Forge." The voice was imperious and cold. Forge knew it and he despised himself for the almost eager manner in which he turned to his benefactor.
"Yes Master?"
The pale visage of the man before him smiled.
"No need for master anymore Forge. I have told you, Mister Sinister will suffice."
Forge nodded slowly. The man had said no such thing before. In fact he had told him to call him master. However he also knew what Forge could do, and his worth. Maybe that's why he was being so friendly, well friendly for him.
"The boy has escaped Forge, and I need you to collect him for me before he kills himself. He is presently heading somewhere to the north east of you. Intercept him and take him with you, in a manner that is not violent. Befriend the lad. Teach him about the world, and above all make certain he hates Apocalypse, with deep and bitter hatred. If you can manage that, I will reward you with things beyond your imagination, and all deals between us will be done."
Forge nodded empathically as he listened.
Anything to be free of this man, or whatever he was. He had helped him, but at a cost that had torn at his soul. He hoped this job would be less so. He hoped. ^
Now as he saw the boy come into his line of sight he grimaced then schooled his face into one of slight surprise and pleasure. He knew how he would begin with the boy, and how to go about doing his job. He was good at it.
"Hello there. Come out of the cold man, I don't want you freezing, whoever you are."
A good beginning, slightly suspicious, but friendly.
Sinister could not fault him.
x---------------- ------------x
Avalon burned. Or at least, it had burned. Now, most of the fires had been washed away, and some of it absorbed by a revitalized Shiro. The bodies of Douglas, Galaire and Vazhin had been buried, three funerals to mark the passing of three people, one an innocent, one a hardened mercenary, who had only been trying to look out for himself, and one for someone who had been twisted and whose soul had turned dark due to time, finally freed from her darkness and turned to goodness, whose sacrifice made it possible for them to overcome an impossibly strong enemy.
The funerals had signaled an end to the citizens of Avalon as well. Destiny had agreed to come with the X-men and the humans and mutants in Avalon would be taken to Muir Isle and to the Human High Council. Jean had heard Erik's speech about how they were a team, but also individuals. About how each and every member of the X-men was equally important and how their views would be taken seriously. So much for that. She still felt smoldering anger at them, but now that she was with Scott again, it dulled beside her happiness. The others who had come with her had not shown any animosity outwardly, but Jean knew that Sean still had misgivings about him, and that Kurt and Raven didn't quite trust him completely too. However Victor seemed to have a grudging respect for him, and Logan seemed to alternate between liking him and disliking him. However they got along for the most part, and to Jean that was a blessing.
They were the two most important people in her life, and she wouldn't be complete without either. Though her feelings for Logan were now more of an elder brother. Scott held her heart and soul. Destiny was very encouraging of him, and seemed to like him, as much as she seemed to like anyone except Raven. Shiro and Blink had gone from having strong misgivings about him to outright respect and friendship on Shiro's part and affection on Blink's. She still refused to be called Clarice. She thought it was a weak name.
However Cain and Black Tom had gone a complete one eighty on their feelings toward him. From outright hatred they had gone to camaraderie, only thinly veiled beneath teasing. It was amazing that it took a fight in which they all had to put their efforts into it to win, that had led to them becoming friends. Cain and Black Tom wanted to go with the others in Avalon as did Destiny and Raven. Shiro and Blink however wanted to join the X-men. Scott still seemed against himself joining the X-men. Jean wasn't too sure if she wanted to either. Sean and Kurt wanted too, as did Victor and Logan. However Jean wasn't too sure if she wanted to; or if she truly was the team. Too much had happened. She had lost much of her faith in the team, and things could never be the same. However she knew one thing. She would be wherever Scott was. In a world where death was surely around the corner, it would be foolish not to have as much time together as they could.
She felt Scott's presence before she heard him.
* Hello there. * She sent the message to him in a teasing way. He still wasn't too humorously inclined. It seemed that the Tower had burned away much of his humor, and she was sad for it seemed that he would have had a sure wit.
"Hey Jean." He sat down beside her and leaned back against the tree Jean sat leaning against. She leaned into him and he put his arm around her. Instinctual and comfortable, just like from the start. She sighed.
"Everything's changing Scott. Apocalypse is making his move, the X-men are divided, Avalon is gone. Too much too fast. I wish we could have had more time together."
He put his chin on her forehead; Jean felt the prickly points of his unshaven stubble and goatee. She squirmed slightly and he replaced his chin with his forehead.
"I'm sorry too Jean, but we have t fight them. That's all there is left for us, to make this a better world. I'm done with my little soul searching Jean." He put a finger under her chin and lifted her face gently. "I know what to do now, what my mission in life is. I'm going to stop Apocalypse, and then I'm going to marry you." Jean's heart glowed a little at his words. She even felt a little put out that he had just made the statement. Well more than a little.
"You're going to marry me? Who said? What makes you think I'll marry you?"
He looked at her in surprise. Then his face grew shuttered. Jean was blocking off her thoughts from him.
"I see," he drew back from her. "I'm sorry; I thought that well... that you. well. I should have realized." He stood up and had begun moving before Jean realized what had happened. He thought she didn't love him! She stood hurriedly and ran up to him and grabbed him from behind.
"Scott, stop!"
With a brusque movement he pulled away and began walking away again. Jean's heart thudded against her chest. She should have known. He had probably never felt love before. He had admitted to feeling desire for a woman and having slept with other women, but he had never felt anything like what he did for her. He also had no idea how to talk to a woman about love.
Expressing emotions was probably not a big part of his life as Sinister's son, and as a Prelate.
She opened her mind to him quickly and poured all of her love into him.
"Scott, please wait. I didn't mean it that way."
He had stopped. She ran up behind him and turned him around slowly. He stood there, looking down at her, his visor hiding his eyes. However it didn't hide his feelings, and hurt and rejection that had been in him were replaced by relief and puzzlement.
"I'm sorry Scott, I do love you, never doubt it, and I will marry you, as soon as is possible. Not after we defeat Apocalypse, but as soon as possible. The only thing stopping me from getting married right now is that it would be crass to get married hours after the funeral of three people we knew, and the fact that there is no priest." She felt opposition from him, and love and tenderness at the same time. He wanted to marry her, but after he dealt with Apocalypse. He couldn't have her with him while he. She cut through his thoughts angrily.
"No Scott, I'll be with you every inch of the way. I can handle myself, and I won't leave you, no again. If you die, I'll die too." She stared at him evenly. He stared back and then she pulled his face down and kissed him. For a week she had wanted this again, for a week she had missed his touch, and now she couldn't hold back. Throughout the week she had felt for Rogue, for what she had suffered in the years of not being able to know touch, and Jean's respect and admiration for the woman had grown in leaps and bounds.
However right now she was drowning in the sensation that was Scott, and she blanked her thoughts to anything that didn't concern him.
x---------------- ------------x
Apocalypse stood in front of his other three horsemen.
"The defeat of the Beast has me worried. Things are not progressing as planned. However we shall have to gather our losses and then strike back at the enemy. A strike so hard they will not recover."
He clenched his fist.
Behind him War spoke up, her cool melody filling the room.
"I can help you in that regard master. I have found it."
Apocalypse turned to her, his eyes wide and his mouth lifting in a twisted parody of a smile.
"Excellently done War. You three are the most powerful remaining mutants on Earth save only for myself and perhaps my son Holocaust. My allies fall too soon, and some enemies show their hand too quickly. Sinister decided this was his time to leave me. However he shall find out exactly why I am called Apocalypse. He has been a thorn in my side too long. However the larger thorn has been the X-men. Show me where Muir Isle is War. I would see their final refuge myself, before we leave to destroy it. Plague and Death, you to shall take part in this venture. We shall overcome the X-men once and for all."
Apocalypse's laughter filled the chambers, followed by his horsemen's laughter.
================================================
Well, this is done. I'm pretty sure some people can probably guess where I'm going with this story. or maybe not. I dunno. Anyway, sorry if the Scott/Jean scene was a but strained or forced, it seems that way to me. It took me about a week trying to write it out. I'm juts leaving it as is. If I get the energy to write something different, or get some inspiration, I will change it, but for now.
Read on!
Disclaimer: I don't own the X-men, and all the characters appearing in this chapter are Marvels. Some characters in the story are my own though.
feedback: Please, at six_nites@hotmail.com
~*~
Epilogue: Ashes in the Wind
Apocalypse felt the connection to one of his horsemen sever. He opened his eyes and gave a resounding cry, "No!"
He smashed his fist onto the chair arm. He didn't know how the Beast had died, but his death was unsettling. His plans would have to be reworked to do without the Beast. He could not afford to lose Horsemen. They were his elite, four of them enough to subjugate a world. The four before had been fearsome indeed, but these four were far beyond his previous horsemen. They were also bound to him. The Beast would not have played his hand, not until he was sure of victory. Whatever happened, he had been forced, somehow to fight. The Beast had been in Avalon. Perhaps he had managed to destroy the place. Then again perhaps he had perished in that very attempt. Whatever happened he knew his horsemen would also feel the death of one of their number. He awaited their contact. He would also need to hold another meeting. Avalon should not have had adequate resources to fight one as powerful as the Beast. At least he knew where Avalon was. If the Beast had not finished what he had set out to do, Apocalypse could finish the job.
x---------------- --------------x
Pain. Hideous pain. Agonizing, hideous pain.
"I can tell you're waking." The voice was soft, and almost purring. He would know the voice anywhere. Candra..
Remy opened his eyes with effort. Destroying those Infinites had to be one of the most stupid things he had ever done. At least the kid was alive. He hoped.
Candra sat in front of him. She smiled at him.
"Ah, I knew it. You can't hide things from me Cajun."
She reached out a hand and stroked his cheek softly, caringly. Care from Candra. Remy shook his head. He must be more out of it than he believed.
"You did a lot of damage. Luckily Apocalypse and the Externals are otherwise occupied.
Otherwise the disappearance of a little over twenty Infinites would not have gone unnoticed." She said it almost conversationally. Almost.
He tried to sit, but was bound hand and foot. An inhibitor circled his neck. She had taken precautions.
"So, wat' exactly happened, Gambit, he would like to know?"
She smiled at him, a small, knowing smile.
"I survived, as did you. The boy escaped and the Externals were destroyed."
He waited, expecting more.
She only looked at him. He stared back, knowing this was some kind of game. He began to inspect her features. By all rights she should be scarred, and badly at that. She hadn't been too far away from the Infinites, though more so than Sinister. The evil scientist was why he waited for more. Her eyes were still slightly slanted, like cats, and their blue gaze was still penetrating, and seductive. Her lips retained the familiar twist upward, however this time they were smiling more than usual. Her cheekbones were still slightly tanned, yet creamy white. Her nose was still slightly curved, with an upward turn at the end that he found cute. Still beautiful, no evidence of physical hurt.
He grew tired of waiting. He had less time to waste than an immortal anyway.
"Wat' 'bout big, white an ugly?"
She laughed delightedly, he found it cute too.
"Oh, I like your sense of humor Remy Lebeau. Sinister." she gazed at him for a long time, then
"Sinister seems to have perished in the explosion. Not very likely, but not impossible either. He wasn't invincible. Either he's perished or he's left. Apocalypse was very angry. He seems to think he left. Of course, I had to let him think that. He had Sinister's entire laboratory searched, for any evidence as to where and why he might have gone. They found nothing of you, of course. Sinister kept that information in his head, as well as the young boys. So thrilling to know that the High Prelates' son is so much like him. Good looking and very, very powerful."
Remy stared at her, shell shocked. She had kept information about him from her master? Why? Sinister was dead? He had killed him? Funnily, the information did nothing to him. He only felt some regret for a brilliant man gone to waste. Nothing he had dreamed of all these years. He was surprised at that. His all consuming desire for revenge had dictated everything in his life, until Rogue and then Roulette. Other responsibilities, other passions. Both finished now. Roulette was firmly entrenched with the X-men now, and Rogue had left him for Erik. Still, nothing about life seemed different. Something that had consumed him for so long should have had some impact. He wondered, slightly fearfully, why it didn't. Then suddenly his shock compounded. Nate Grey was Cyclops's son? How was that possible, how did someone probably not much older than him have time to have a kid only a little over a decade younger? Did he. no, the kid was in a tank.
Probably Sinister had used Cyclops's DNA. Who else's though?
"Nate Grey is Cyclops's son? How.? Who else's DNA was in it?"
Candra laughed delightedly again, a musical sound, so different from her usual mocking laughter.
"Nate GREY? His name is Nate Grey? Oh Sinister, you do have a sense of pride, as well as humor. Don't you see Remy; he named the kid half after himself, half after the woman who his mother is."
Half after himself, half after his mother? What did she mean. oh, Nate from Nathaniel. Then Grey was the mothers name. Grey. "Good God, Jean?!?!?"
The last came out as an exclamation.
"Yes, Jean Grey, quite fitting, given how those two ended up. Sinister felt that their DNA match would create the most powerful offspring that is possible. Of course, Apocalypse and the others don't know this. Only my fellow Externals know of his existence, and only I know who his progenitors are."
The last was said coolly, and Remy remembered why he was here, and how he got here. In the line of his questions, he had forgotten.
She still had a small smiled on his face. He tried to look deeper into her eyes, but found nothing. Or rather, he could do nothing. He could feel the flow of her emotions, but couldn't affect them in any way. What had she done?
"Don't try to use your little tricks Cajun. They are fairly useless. Not against me. Not when I know why you could in the first place."
What did she mean?
"Think about it Cajun. It wasn't that stupid drivel Sinister said about affecting it in a secondary manner, that waves off you traveled to those in your vicinity. It was something else entirely with me. No secondary form of telepathy or empathy can affect me. It was something deeper that made it possible, something born of fire and passion, of hope and affection, and of awe and mystery."
She stroked his cheek one last time, tracing his lips with a nail, then she turned and left.
She stood and walked to the door of the small room. A room in her apartments most likely, the familiar smell of her rooms was there.
"Think on what I say Cajun."
She left with a last smile.
Remy sat in the darkness wondering what she meant. Something born of Fire and passion, of hope and affection and of Awe and mystery? What the hell was that? He pondered it, then suddenly it hit him, and the shock of knowing drowned out everything else. Sinister was probably dead, likely at his own hand. Wiped away. Nate was Cyclops and Jean's son. Swept aside. Candra protecting him from her allies and master. Answered and washed away like everything else in the face of the truth he knew.
Candra loved him. One of his mortal enemies loved him. He closed his eyes.
"Remy, why couldn't ye have been born ugly and shy. At least dat way ye wouldn't make ev'ry second woman fall for you. Stupid fuck."
x----------------------- ---x
The man stood shivering. This was where he was supposed to come. Only a few hours ago his mysterious benefactor had approached him to warn him that the young charge he was supposed to take on had escaped and would need to find him and take him under his wing. He opened his cloak's hood slightly. It was dark ahead, and nothing seemed to move. He knew better. A young boy was coming towards him, drawn by warmth in the bitter cold. The rest of his camp stood a way off to the west. The others had been surprised when he had told them he was going. The newest member of their group, Theresa had jumped in worry. Lately she had taken to mothering the whole group, and even Sauron seemed to appreciate her. That was strange; he was usually irritated with him as well. However the jubilant and bright young redhead had wormed her way into even his reptilian heart.
He heard pounding feet and focused his mechanical eye into the vast expanse of nothing that was before him. A young boy walked his way, shivering and not really knowing where he went. He was drawn to his fire. He stood and rubbed his massive hands together. He thought back.
^ "Forge." The voice was imperious and cold. Forge knew it and he despised himself for the almost eager manner in which he turned to his benefactor.
"Yes Master?"
The pale visage of the man before him smiled.
"No need for master anymore Forge. I have told you, Mister Sinister will suffice."
Forge nodded slowly. The man had said no such thing before. In fact he had told him to call him master. However he also knew what Forge could do, and his worth. Maybe that's why he was being so friendly, well friendly for him.
"The boy has escaped Forge, and I need you to collect him for me before he kills himself. He is presently heading somewhere to the north east of you. Intercept him and take him with you, in a manner that is not violent. Befriend the lad. Teach him about the world, and above all make certain he hates Apocalypse, with deep and bitter hatred. If you can manage that, I will reward you with things beyond your imagination, and all deals between us will be done."
Forge nodded empathically as he listened.
Anything to be free of this man, or whatever he was. He had helped him, but at a cost that had torn at his soul. He hoped this job would be less so. He hoped. ^
Now as he saw the boy come into his line of sight he grimaced then schooled his face into one of slight surprise and pleasure. He knew how he would begin with the boy, and how to go about doing his job. He was good at it.
"Hello there. Come out of the cold man, I don't want you freezing, whoever you are."
A good beginning, slightly suspicious, but friendly.
Sinister could not fault him.
x---------------- ------------x
Avalon burned. Or at least, it had burned. Now, most of the fires had been washed away, and some of it absorbed by a revitalized Shiro. The bodies of Douglas, Galaire and Vazhin had been buried, three funerals to mark the passing of three people, one an innocent, one a hardened mercenary, who had only been trying to look out for himself, and one for someone who had been twisted and whose soul had turned dark due to time, finally freed from her darkness and turned to goodness, whose sacrifice made it possible for them to overcome an impossibly strong enemy.
The funerals had signaled an end to the citizens of Avalon as well. Destiny had agreed to come with the X-men and the humans and mutants in Avalon would be taken to Muir Isle and to the Human High Council. Jean had heard Erik's speech about how they were a team, but also individuals. About how each and every member of the X-men was equally important and how their views would be taken seriously. So much for that. She still felt smoldering anger at them, but now that she was with Scott again, it dulled beside her happiness. The others who had come with her had not shown any animosity outwardly, but Jean knew that Sean still had misgivings about him, and that Kurt and Raven didn't quite trust him completely too. However Victor seemed to have a grudging respect for him, and Logan seemed to alternate between liking him and disliking him. However they got along for the most part, and to Jean that was a blessing.
They were the two most important people in her life, and she wouldn't be complete without either. Though her feelings for Logan were now more of an elder brother. Scott held her heart and soul. Destiny was very encouraging of him, and seemed to like him, as much as she seemed to like anyone except Raven. Shiro and Blink had gone from having strong misgivings about him to outright respect and friendship on Shiro's part and affection on Blink's. She still refused to be called Clarice. She thought it was a weak name.
However Cain and Black Tom had gone a complete one eighty on their feelings toward him. From outright hatred they had gone to camaraderie, only thinly veiled beneath teasing. It was amazing that it took a fight in which they all had to put their efforts into it to win, that had led to them becoming friends. Cain and Black Tom wanted to go with the others in Avalon as did Destiny and Raven. Shiro and Blink however wanted to join the X-men. Scott still seemed against himself joining the X-men. Jean wasn't too sure if she wanted to either. Sean and Kurt wanted too, as did Victor and Logan. However Jean wasn't too sure if she wanted to; or if she truly was the team. Too much had happened. She had lost much of her faith in the team, and things could never be the same. However she knew one thing. She would be wherever Scott was. In a world where death was surely around the corner, it would be foolish not to have as much time together as they could.
She felt Scott's presence before she heard him.
* Hello there. * She sent the message to him in a teasing way. He still wasn't too humorously inclined. It seemed that the Tower had burned away much of his humor, and she was sad for it seemed that he would have had a sure wit.
"Hey Jean." He sat down beside her and leaned back against the tree Jean sat leaning against. She leaned into him and he put his arm around her. Instinctual and comfortable, just like from the start. She sighed.
"Everything's changing Scott. Apocalypse is making his move, the X-men are divided, Avalon is gone. Too much too fast. I wish we could have had more time together."
He put his chin on her forehead; Jean felt the prickly points of his unshaven stubble and goatee. She squirmed slightly and he replaced his chin with his forehead.
"I'm sorry too Jean, but we have t fight them. That's all there is left for us, to make this a better world. I'm done with my little soul searching Jean." He put a finger under her chin and lifted her face gently. "I know what to do now, what my mission in life is. I'm going to stop Apocalypse, and then I'm going to marry you." Jean's heart glowed a little at his words. She even felt a little put out that he had just made the statement. Well more than a little.
"You're going to marry me? Who said? What makes you think I'll marry you?"
He looked at her in surprise. Then his face grew shuttered. Jean was blocking off her thoughts from him.
"I see," he drew back from her. "I'm sorry; I thought that well... that you. well. I should have realized." He stood up and had begun moving before Jean realized what had happened. He thought she didn't love him! She stood hurriedly and ran up to him and grabbed him from behind.
"Scott, stop!"
With a brusque movement he pulled away and began walking away again. Jean's heart thudded against her chest. She should have known. He had probably never felt love before. He had admitted to feeling desire for a woman and having slept with other women, but he had never felt anything like what he did for her. He also had no idea how to talk to a woman about love.
Expressing emotions was probably not a big part of his life as Sinister's son, and as a Prelate.
She opened her mind to him quickly and poured all of her love into him.
"Scott, please wait. I didn't mean it that way."
He had stopped. She ran up behind him and turned him around slowly. He stood there, looking down at her, his visor hiding his eyes. However it didn't hide his feelings, and hurt and rejection that had been in him were replaced by relief and puzzlement.
"I'm sorry Scott, I do love you, never doubt it, and I will marry you, as soon as is possible. Not after we defeat Apocalypse, but as soon as possible. The only thing stopping me from getting married right now is that it would be crass to get married hours after the funeral of three people we knew, and the fact that there is no priest." She felt opposition from him, and love and tenderness at the same time. He wanted to marry her, but after he dealt with Apocalypse. He couldn't have her with him while he. She cut through his thoughts angrily.
"No Scott, I'll be with you every inch of the way. I can handle myself, and I won't leave you, no again. If you die, I'll die too." She stared at him evenly. He stared back and then she pulled his face down and kissed him. For a week she had wanted this again, for a week she had missed his touch, and now she couldn't hold back. Throughout the week she had felt for Rogue, for what she had suffered in the years of not being able to know touch, and Jean's respect and admiration for the woman had grown in leaps and bounds.
However right now she was drowning in the sensation that was Scott, and she blanked her thoughts to anything that didn't concern him.
x---------------- ------------x
Apocalypse stood in front of his other three horsemen.
"The defeat of the Beast has me worried. Things are not progressing as planned. However we shall have to gather our losses and then strike back at the enemy. A strike so hard they will not recover."
He clenched his fist.
Behind him War spoke up, her cool melody filling the room.
"I can help you in that regard master. I have found it."
Apocalypse turned to her, his eyes wide and his mouth lifting in a twisted parody of a smile.
"Excellently done War. You three are the most powerful remaining mutants on Earth save only for myself and perhaps my son Holocaust. My allies fall too soon, and some enemies show their hand too quickly. Sinister decided this was his time to leave me. However he shall find out exactly why I am called Apocalypse. He has been a thorn in my side too long. However the larger thorn has been the X-men. Show me where Muir Isle is War. I would see their final refuge myself, before we leave to destroy it. Plague and Death, you to shall take part in this venture. We shall overcome the X-men once and for all."
Apocalypse's laughter filled the chambers, followed by his horsemen's laughter.
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Well, this is done. I'm pretty sure some people can probably guess where I'm going with this story. or maybe not. I dunno. Anyway, sorry if the Scott/Jean scene was a but strained or forced, it seems that way to me. It took me about a week trying to write it out. I'm juts leaving it as is. If I get the energy to write something different, or get some inspiration, I will change it, but for now.
Read on!