Epilogue: Guardian Angels

Nobody could quite define what it was, but even when they first arrived back at the mansion, it was obvious that something was different about them. Crusader and Gladiator had changed, there was no doubt about that. What it was that was different, was hard to pin down. They seemed…closer…in some way. Not on an emotional level, but maybe on a subconscious level…almost as if they were sharing minds in some way. They moved, reacted and smiled as one. And there was something else different as well, something in their demeanour. They seemed…distant, perhaps. Aloof. Perhaps even a little sad. Nobody could put their finger on why. Nobody but themselves would ever know exactly what had happened to them in the Horsemen's lair.

"So it's over. The Apocalypse can never be. We're safe."

Annie nodded to her father, "Yes. With the Horsemen gone, I don't see this kind of thing happening again."

"I believe this is yours," said Gary, as he held out something to Oculus.

Neil Rosiçky took the test tube of blue liquid from his son, and regarded it closely for a moment, "Yes, this is the cure. We can start mass production immediately."

"Annie, Gary," said Cyclops. "We can't even begin to thank you for what you've done. In fact the whole world owes you an incalculable debt."

Annie shook her head, "It wasn't just the two of us. It was all of us. Everybody here. Our people – and Pyro's. We can achieve so much more when we are together than when we are apart."

"Will the alliance last?" said Gary.

"I don't know," Cyclops answered. "It depends on Pyro. Where is he, anyway?"

Wolverine spoke up, "I think he went into the woods. That duplicating kid went after him."

* *

He was kneeling on the forest floor with his head bowed when she found him. In front of him was a small cross-shaped gravestone, and this was clearly the object of his attention. Gemini approached cautiously, not wanting to intrude on his private sorrow. Her foot caught on a twig and snapped it. Pyro looked up at the sudden sound, anger crossing his face at the realisation he had been disturbed. When he saw it was Gemini, his features softened and the anger faded.

"I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I didn't mean to – I mean, if you're – maybe I should just go."

He shook his head sadly, "You don't have to."

Reassured that she was not going to get yelled at, Gemini walked around to his side, to see the name on the grave: JACQUELINE CARTIER. It was not a name she recognised, but it was obviously somebody who had meant a lot to Pyro.

"Was she a mutant?" the girl asked.

"Yes."

Slowly Gemini knelt down until she was beside him. Pyro made no complaints, so she moved a little closer.

"What was she like?"

Pyro glanced at her. If the question had come from anybody else, he would retorted angrily and told them to mind their own business. Jacqueline was his love, his memory, and he was not willing to share her with anybody else. But coming from Gemini, the question did not bother him. He knew she wasn't just trying to comfort him with empty shallow statements. The question was merely innocent curiosity.

"She was like you in some ways," he told her. "She didn't have an easy childhood either."

"I – I wish I'd known her."

"I wish you could have known her too. I wish she had never died. I wish – " he sighed. " – I wish a lot of things."

"You loved her?"

"Yes. It was the first time I'd felt that way about anybody. I never thought I would ever fall in love. I thought it was one of those things that only happened to other people. I never thought I could feel anything so special."

She knew he was going to continue, so she didn't interrupt. Pyro went on, "It was like a whole new world had been created, for the two of us to share – a world existing inside our hearts, that nobody else could ever intrude on. We didn't know each other very well, but…oh, we knew there was definitely something bringing us together. I don't know what it was exactly. Maybe it was just the way we understood each other. Nobody's ever understood me the way she did. When she died, I – "

Gemini moved closer still and squeezed his hand, letting him know she was there for him. He finished, "She died literally seconds after we declared our love for each other. To me it felt as if I had cursed her unto death. As if true love isn't meant for me, and anybody I do love will die because of it. Maybe that sounds stupid to you, I don't know…"

He stopped. There were no more words. He had opened his heart in one wild rush, and already he was beginning to regret it. He didn't like showing his feelings, certainly not his deepest heartbreaking sorrows. Shaking his head, he said, "After that I just gave up on love. I haven't felt love for anybody since then, and I know for sure nobody's felt it for me."

"I have," she said.

He looked at her in surprise. The fourteen year old Gemini looked back at him innocently.

"You're my protector," she said. "I've always loved you and I've always looked up to you. I always will."

He regarded her with natural suspicion, but the child's eyes held only honesty and her admiration for him. Pyro thought back to the first time he had set eyes on the girl, when he had rescued her from the research laboratory. A tiny, pathetic, shivering little thing, without even the strength to stand on her feet. He remembered her early days on the island, when she had attached herself to him and followed him almost everywhere. He remembered how she would always come to him when she wanted help or when she had hurt herself. He had thought it strange at the time, but perhaps it was just her natural reaction to the one who had rescued her. He had expected her to grow out of it once she hit her teens, but seemingly that was not the case.

Gemini took his hesitation as a sign that he didn't believe her.

"I'm not lying!" she said. "I mean it. Pyro, could – um – could I be your daughter?"

"What?" he responded, surprise putting a harsh edge on his voice.

She interpreted it the wrong way, "Oh, please don't be mad at me! It's just that I – I already feel as if you're my dad. I want you to, well, to feel the same."

He didn't answer right away. He turned to look at the small gravestone once more, remembering again the few blissful moments of love he had shared with Jacqueline before they had been ripped away from him. Eventually he spoke, "I don't think I'll ever love anybody like I loved Jacqueline. I don't think I'll ever fall in love again. I don't think I'll ever have a wife," he moved his hand to gently caress her face, "but that doesn't mean I can't have a daughter."

Gemini's eyes widened with a mixture of surprise and elation, and she put her arms around him, holding him tightly. Pyro reciprocated, slipping his arm around Gemini's small shoulders, feeling the warmth and vitality of the girl who was now his daughter. Inside his heart he found a new mix of feelings – love, protective instincts, paternal affection – feelings he had certainly never had before. Or had he? Had he merely been keeping them bottled up inside because of his refusal to show them, for fear that the curse that had struck Jacqueline might strike somebody else?

"I love you," he heard her sobbing with joy, her head resting against his chest. "I love you so much…"

Then came the word she had been longing to speak for four long years, "…Father."

* *

He was waiting for her when he arrived back at the mansion. Gemini was still lost in her happiness and it took her a moment to realise he was trying to get her attention.

"Hey!" she smiled.

Vertigo wore his trademark lazy grin, "Hey, Gemini. Helios tells me there's a town a few miles down the road. I was wondering if I could take you out for dinner," he turned to Pyro, "with your father's permission, of course."

Her father nodded his consent. Gemini giggled happily, reached up to give Pyro a little kiss on the cheek, then she and Vertigo began to walk down the path that led to the front gates of the estate. Pyro watched them go. Part of him was happy at seeing his daughter enjoying herself, yet part of him was sad for the memories of another girl who had never had the chance to have such joy in her life. Jacqueline was gone, nothing could ever change that…but maybe, just maybe, he could look forward to Gemini's future and make sure he gave her every chance to be as happy as he would have wanted Jacqueline to be. He had thought he would never love again, but perhaps he was wrong. Perhaps he had been given a second chance to love. Perhaps he should leave the past be, and concentrate on the future.

* *

Marina sat at the edge of one the fish-ponds in the gardens, gazing down into the shallow depths of the pool, watching either the fish or her reflection, he couldn't tell which.

"Marina?"

She looked over on hearing her name, and a little smile crossed her face when she saw him, "Gary."

"There's something I have to tell you."

Marina's spirits fell instantly. There was something about the tone of his voice that meant she knew what he was going to say. He was going to say he didn't love her, that he loved that other girl. She looked sadly into the water. She had expected as much. She hadn't realistically allowed herself to believe that Gary might want to spend time with her when he could spend time with somebody else.

"I've decided that I love you, and I want to spend my life with you."

Marina was shocked. Had she heard right?

"If that's what you want, of course," he added.

"Yes. I love you. But – but Gary – what about Cassandra? What are you – what are you going to tell her?"

Even in her moment of delight and triumph, Marina felt sorry for her rival. She knew how badly it would have hurt her if she had been rejected. She didn't want anybody else to feel that way on her account. Already she felt guilty.

"I don't know," Gary sighed. "I made a promise to her and I can't keep it. Maybe she'll understand why. Maybe she'll hate me for it. I wouldn't blame her either way."

Marina stood, they clasped each other and they kissed. He held her close and whispered, "All I know is, I won't regret this decision…"

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A/N: OK that's all. I hope you enjoyed this story as well as the others. I don't think I will be writing any more. Still, if you have any requests let me know.