I knew nothing but darkness for what seemed like two minutes. Finally, I woke up... in the infirmary at the school. I was hooked up to so many machines. Around my bed was Bobby, Kitty, John, and Rouge. She came back finally. As I looked closer, I saw how tired they all seemed.
Kitty was the first to notice I was awake. "Look, everyone! She's alive!" Alive? I felt like I had only been sleeping.
"Thank god," said Bobby. He cam over to me, smiling. "You had us worried there, Elizabeth."
"Welcome back to the living," said Rouge.
"What?" I was so amazingly confused and I had the largest headache in the world.
"When you collapsed on Alcatraz, everyone thought you had died saving all of us. It turns out you were just in a coma. But there was the chance that you wouldn't survive. It's been two weeks. And here you are with us," explained Kitty.
"Oh. Ok then." At that point, I saw Rouge's hand. It was sitting on the edge of my bed, like everyone else's. but also like everyone else, it was bare. No glove. "Rouge?"
"Marie."
"You took it?"
"I had to. I couldn't live like that forever."
"In that case, I want a hug from you, Marie." She came over and we hugged. When she pulled away, she had the biggest smile. She was normal, the only thing she's ever wanted.
"Congratulations," I said. "Now why are you all so tired?"
"We've been sitting here since we got back. Other than Kitty, who had classes to go to, we have sat here waiting for you to wake up. We tried to sleep, but none of us could with our best friend's life in danger," said Bobby.
"Well, go get some sleep. I still be here in the morning." They nodded and walked away. All except John, who had been silent and who hadn't moved since I woke up. He had been sitting in a chair over in the corner of the room. Once everyone else left, he got up and came over.
"I found it," he said, holding out his hand. In it was the Shark Zippo I hid on the jet. Something else was different about his hand but I couldn't place it.
"I'm glad." He put in his pocket.
"I was really scared, Lizzy."
"I know."
"I love you, Elizabeth." It was the first time he had ever called me Elizabeth. This was pure seriousness.
"I love you too." It was then I realized that his fire gloves were gone. "Where are the gloves?"
"I got rid of them. I don't need them anymore. I don't plan on doing any fighting anytime soon. All I need is my lighter. And you here with me. Then my life is complete."
"What aren't you saying but are dying to say?" I knew too well.
"Later. When you're out of the hospital wing. I'll go get Hank, let him know you're awake."
"Hey, once you do that, go get some sleep."
"Yes, ma'am," he said with that great smile. I hadn't seen him smile like that in years.
It was one more night and then I was free to do what I wanted. I wanted to be with all my friends like the old days. Kitty and Marie were up for it, but John and Bobby were reluctant until they called truce and became buddies again. It was a great day. All five of us were home again.
That night, John wanted to take me out to dinner. So Marie and Kitty helped me get all dressed up. I wore a red, spaghetti strap dress. The skirt part went down just below my knees. I met John at the door. He was in a tuxedo. It was a traditional black one, with the white shirt and black bow tie. He looked amazing.
He took me to my favorite restaurant, Olive Garden. Not too fancy but fancy enough. That's why I loved it. We talked through appetizers and dinner. But once desert rolled around, John surprised me.
He looked right in my eyes and said, "Lizzy, you're the greatest thing to happen to me. When you were near death, I thought I would die with you... if you had died. I love you more than anything or anyone." He got out of his seat and down on one knee. "Elizabeth, will you marry me?" He brought this amazing ring. I was a single ruby flanked on each side by one diamond. It was so beautiful. I was in tears when I nodded my head to say yes, I would marry him. He smiled, slipped the ring on my finger, and we kissed a deep, passionate kiss. Everyone had been watching and they were now clapping. And I was the happiest person alive right at that moment.