A/N: At long last it is complete! Only took me a few years but its done…hopefully people are still interested in it, if not, at least I finished it and that alone means a lot to me.

DISCLAIMER: The only characters I own in this entire story are Bonnie and Tristian. Everyone else belongs to Marvel…and sadly Hugh Jackman doesn't belong to me either. The song lyrics in the beginning chapter are by Within Temptation (great band!)

CHAPTER 68 – Memories and Choice

"All of my memories keep you near

In silent promise, imagine you be here."

Jean sat on the grassy green hill. The wind blew lightly through it, causing the tall grass to sway and dance softly in the breeze. She smiled as it caressed her fair skin and blew her red hair back from her face like fingertips. She could imagine it being Tristian though he had been dead for a few months now. He'd been her best friend, the first person to awaken her from her silent prison and break her free from the bounds she had trapped herself in. They had succeeded in freeing each other both physically and emotionally from the silent torture they had been imprisoned in, each for different reasons. She had loved him, but he was taken from her too soon. From all of them. He had freed them all in different ways in such a short time, had taught John how to use his power, had taught Rogue how to control hers, had saved both Bobby and John from death…and he had given his life for her in the end.

She returned the favor by being there, at the hill in Pennsylvania near the house he had lived in with his true love, Bonnie, to watch the stars like she had promised him with her own true love. In the end, Tristian had succeeded in helping her choose between the two men she loved as well. Though she had loved Tristian and would have been by side til the end, the end had come too soon at Frost's hands. She, along with Emplate, were both dead as well. Now Jean lived on with the others, fulfilling her promise to Tristian so long ago.

"Your ice tea," her love said, handing her the can of Arizona she had brought along in the cooler. The jet was parked safely away and invisible to the naked eye. Not that there were many people around, but it was better safe than sorry.

She took it from him with a warm smile as he sat down besides her with his own can of Coke. He let out a sigh as he settled back, bracing himself on one arm as he glanced at the sky. "It's nice out here…peaceful…no wonder Tristian lived out here…I can't blame him."

She nodded her head in agreement to what he said, unsure of what else to say. Not that she didn't have anything to say to the man she loved…words just weren't necessary anymore. "To be honest," he continued and paused, taking a sip from his Coke. "I miss him sometimes…what he did was…" he shook his head unable to finish his sentence right away. "It was remarkable…noble."

Jean smiled at his memory, rememering how he used to smile at her and how now the man next to her smiled at her in the same way. "He was very noble…and remarkable."

"I didn't like him at first," he continued and brushed a strand of hair from her face. "But he proved himself trustworthy...he protected you and saved us all."

"He brought me back to you," Jean finished with a smile both on her face and in her eyes. He, too, smiled at that and gave her a tender kiss, soft, but meaningful. He broke away with a sigh.

"So this was part of your promise?" he asked, sitting forward and turning his head to look at her.

Jean nodded her head, biting her lower lip. "Yeah…I told him I'd be here if he was."

He glanced at her with interest. "Is he here?"

Jean's eyes moved around slowly though her head stayed still as she continued biting her lip. She waited for a sign, anything as she twirled the ring that dangled from the chain around her neck, Tristian's ring. He had told her he'd be here and she had kept her end of the bargain. But where was he. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end and she heard a whisper go through her, stroke the air around them both. It was only the gentlest of whispers, but distinctly Tristian's voice.

From the corner of her eye she saw Scott frown and look around. He had heard it too, heard Tristian. His senses weren't as tuned as hers but he still heard it, felt the breeze. Above them came a cluster of shooting stars, one after the other and Jean smiled. He was here. Scott's mouth hung open in amazement before shutting into a grin as he shook his head at the spectacle above them. "He never ceases to amaze me, you know?" he told Jean and draped his arm around her.

She leaned into him, resting her head on Scott's shoulder. "I know…I love you, Scott."

He kissed the top of her head and held her close to him, watching the stars with her. "I love you too, Jean. Always."

Jean smiled, truly happy once again with her life and with the man she loved all because of a shadow's light. She knew, somewhere Tristian and Bonnie were also cuddled together, watching the stars as they did, and just as in love and content with life at long last.

THE END