A/N: Okay, people, this is the second to last chapter, and the last Kid Kurt chapter (sob). Heads up. I'm working on the prequel, and I'm pretty excited about it. And...yeah, I think that's it.

Disclaimer: I do not own the X-Men. If I did, I'd make the girl who played Kitty in the movie get a decent hair cut. What's her name? Oh yeah, Ellen Page.

Chapter Twenty-Three: Future Love Paradise

Germany, 1992

Where Kurt was sitting, the branches had parted just enough so that he had a perfect view of the stars and the sliver of moon in the sky. Sighing, he settled his back against the rough bark of the tree. It had taken him a bit longer than usual to climb it, but it was completely worth it. At midnight, everything seemed more simple, more beautiful. Even though he had seen it all before, it still amazed him.

Over the past five years, he had fallen totally in love with life. He had a family, friends, and full freedom to do anything and everything...freedom to be alive.

When he had first escaped from Caroline, the whole world was so terrifyingly daunting. He didn't have a moment's peace from feelings of fear or confusion, or a mixture of both. But as he grew up, they became less noticeable, until finally they disappeared altogether, leaving only hollow remnants. It reminded Kurt of a splinter: it hurt while it was in, but even when you removed it, there was still a slight gap where it had once been that still needed to heal by itself.

Sometimes it was hard to imagine that the gap would ever heal. Every now and then, he'd dream himself back to the house, or to Caroline's hard grasp, or even the hold of Raven's void "I love you," and wake up with tears streaming down his face. But when that happened (and it wasn't often now), he had the fusion of the sounds of Amanda's bleary sleep murmurs and Stefan's quiet snores to lull him back to sleep. The combination of sibling love and friendship they gave Kurt had shocked him at first, but he was happy and grateful for it, and he loved them back.

Margali had also surprised him, when she took him in and, for lack of a better word, adopted him. It was never made official, but he was her son, more or less. He had a lot of things, but it was their relationship that made Kurt feel wholly human. Even though she reminded him a bit of a tame dragon, she was always there to take care of him, to guide him, and to love him.

The circus where they worked was incredible, too. As far as anyone outside knew, his demonic appearance was just a costume, and he was free to roam around without cover. Over the years, he had learned how to perform acrobatic feats that left people gasping with wonder. It made him soar, literally and figuratively.

Religion was also extremely important to him. When he was eleven, he had nailed together pieces of metal to form a rosary, which he used often. Prayer, he felt, kept him grounded. Kurt believed that God had been the one to help him get away from Caroline that one night. He had tried a few times to move the same way, but try as he might, he couldn't take himself to that odd place he had once been. Eventually, he gave up and gave thanks that he had gotten away. It was all that really mattered.

Kurt sensed a grin spreading across his face at the recollection of those memories, and he shivered happily. He was wearing a t-shirt, and he rubbed his arms with his hands in an effort to warm himself up. As he moved, he touched the scars swirled across his skin, and his smile immediately dropped.

The marks were all over his body, now. If he had wanted to make another cut, there wouldn't be any room to do it in. He had told that to Margali, and she had smirked victoriously. "Good," she said. She couldn't stand what he was doing to himself, and although he knew that – and although it was extremely painful - he couldn't stop till he was finished.

Moaning quietly, he jabbed gently at the last scar he had given himself about half a year ago. It was on his ankle, next to a small burn he had gotten several years before. He could still feel it bubble as if the match was being reapplied to his skin, if he was angry enough. The scar itself stood for the sin of wrath.

Kurt brought his legs up close to his chest and rested his chin on his knees. At any moment, Margali would figure out that he wasn't in his bed and she'd call for him. It had been a few hours since he had left. He did that quite often, just to allow himself time to think. Climbing trees gave him a reminiscent feeling from some of the happier moments of his childhood. Margali knew that, and it made Kurt feel so unbelievably blessed that she did.

About fifteen minutes later, he realized that she usually called him in by that time, and decided to break with tradition and go back without his mother's screamed command. Kurt clambered down the first few branches, and then performed his favorite tumble back to the ground. He stuck the landing and, from force of habit, held the finishing pose for a second. Then, making his way across the dark grass as best as he could manage without any light, he walked back to his caravan.

Inside, he was surprised to find that Margali was still awake. She had lit and placed the kerosene lamp next to her bed and sat under her covers. She was reading, but Kurt didn't know what. The title was in Spanish, and he only spoke a little of that particular language. He stood in the doorway for a moment, waiting for her to talk. She didn't glance up.

"Hi, Mom," he said finally. She pursed her lips into a silent smile and looked up at him briefly, before going back to her book.

"You need a haircut."

Kurt rolled his eyes.

"I saw that, dear. Do it again and I'll snap the blue right off your face, I promise you." Her words were threatening, but her voice held a tone of amusement. Kurt wasn't remotely worried.

"You never called me in." He walked over to his bed and grabbed his nightclothes off his pillow, beginning, to pull his shirt off. Suddenly, he paused, and put it back on. "Don't look."

Margali snorted. "Why? Since when do you have anything worth hiding?" She lay down and placed her book over her face, though.

Kurt felt his face heat up very quickly. "Mom..." he groaned. She chuckled.

"I know, I know." She muttered something inaudible.

"What did you say?" Kurt finished changing. "I'm done."

Margali sat back up, grinning. "Nothing."

He chose not to pursue it. "You didn't call me in," he repeated, lying down on his stomach underneath his blankets so he could face her.

"I think you're capable of knowing when you need to come in." She marked her place in the book and stood up.

"What are you doing?"

"Tea. Do you want some?"

"No thank you."

"Alright." She walked over to him and kissed the top of his head, running her fingers through his hair. "Go to sleep, my little nightcrawler."

Kurt winced at the sound of his mother's pet name. "Mom..."

"I know." She laughed affectionately. "Nightcrawler's not your name." Again, Margali muttered something he couldn't hear.

"What? What?" he asked, sitting up straight.

"Nothing. Go to sleep, my nightcrawler."

Kurt growled quietly.

"Oh, what are you going to do? I'm your mother, I can call you anything I want."

"Yeah...goodnight, Mom."

"Goodnight."

Kurt's face was still warm from embarrassment, but he felt safe. Truth be told, he didn't really mind being a nightcrawler, so long as he was Margali's.

He fell asleep to the gentle vibrato of the noises and sounds of his family's odd love.

A/N: Yeah...so...that was it, dudes and dudettes. The final Kid Kurt piece...waah. Last chapter is coming up! I know it was short, but too bad, cuz I did that on purpose.

Remember to review! (Because I love you all so much).