A.N.: Hey guys! Sorry this is late, I've been struggling with the transition to university so haven't have time to post this! This is it- the epilogue, the final chapter, the end of the 'Love Like Fools' era.

SOB.

I had a blast with this story as it was very different to anything I had done, so I hope you enjoyed and let me know what you think- you'll be getting another notification after this about another chapter, but it's the playlist of songs that got me through this story, in no particular order! So sorry to disappoint. :')

So thank you to all the Kiotr, Icecat, Bobby/Rogue shippers, the fans of the characters and of course Logan who popped up every now and again, those who agree- Professor Xavier is a jerk! (According to Kitty, not me) and everyone who favourited, followed, reviewed and read this story!

Enjoy!

What if we ruin it all, and we love like fools?
And all we have we lose?
I don't want you to go but I want you so
So tell me what
Tell me what
Tell me what we choose.

-'Love Like Fools', Lauren Aquilina.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN-EPILOGUE

X.x.X

Spring arrives quicker than expected at the mansion, bringing new beginnings with it.

Occasionally it's hard, living two lives, but most of the time the future that never happened is little more than dreams that cause you to wake up crying or screaming, and when the nightmares take you, Peter is there to bring you back.

What had started out as a joke about sunglasses and a necklace with a familiar sense of comfort developed into memories of where your first date was (A little sushi place in a nearby city, Peter's idea-he ate his wasabi thinking it was guacamole. That part he said he'd rather you'd forgotten), fights you had and battles you'd won, and you're no longer tormented by a lack of memories that tie you to this future.

Charles had offered to help you forget- to block any memories of the other future. It was a tempting offer and you had considered it, but ultimately you said no. You could handle this, and you were meant to have memories from both futures for a reason- and nothing good ever comes out of meddling with the mind.

You had went to pick your parents up in the X-Jet to take them to the mansion for a weekend. You hadn't seen them in so long, and being an X-Men member came with perks- not having to fly commercial.

You're taking your parents up the steps to the mansion and are through the door with them when you notice there's a bigger crowd of people at the mansion than usual. Figuring it is just the a lot of parents came to visit this weekend, you shrug it off and stow away your parents bags and The Professor- having sensed the new arrivals- wheels into the foyer to greet them. "Mr and Mrs Pryde, how lovely to see you again. It's been too long."

Your mum smiles and says earnestly, "Yes it has, but Katherine has just been so busy teaching and trying to find her feet, we felt it was best not to intrude."

You catch the Professor's eye and can't help but think- they don't know the half of it.

Loud, familiar footsteps tread down the stairs quickly and you can't help but grin as Peter joins the group, greeting your parents warmly, earning a hug from your mother and a clap on the back from your father. He finally gets to you, an arm settling round your waist as he gives you a sweet kiss and says "Hi."

"Hi," you reply, and Charles offers to take to your parents to get some refreshments.

As they leave, you strain your neck to look at Peter. "Refreshments? Why is it so busy? Am I missing something?"

"It's a party," a voice calls from the doorway of the sitting room and you turn quickly to spot Jones.

"Jones?" you spring towards him, tugging him down into a hug. "What are you doing here? I thought college didn't finish for another few weeks?"

After prising you off him, he shrugs nonchalantly. "It doesn't, but I figured a weekend wouldn't hurt. Plus, like I said- there's a party."

You furrow your brow, confused. "A party? That's why everyone is here?" Jones nods, and you hit him on the shoulder. "Why didn't you tell me, why didn't anyone tell me? What's the party for anyway?"

Jones shifts on his feet, grinning. "It's an engagement party."

You feel your eyes widen. "An engagement party? Who is engaged?" You shift your gaze back to Peter, who is standing a distance behind you. "Is it Bobby and Rogue?" you ask him, and he shakes his head.

"Already engaged," he replies, and you incline your head.

"Shoot, you're right. I always forget that. Is it Hank and Mys-I mean Raven?" you correct yourself, turning your full attention back to Jones.

"Nah," he replies, "Hank still hasn't fully settled her down yet. I guess they aren't ready."

You furrow your brow in confusion, shaking your head. "Well then I don't know. Who is the engagement party for?" you ask your friend, who slips his gaze to behind you, where you hear a cough.

You freeze, your eyes widening. Jones winks at you before slipping away. Slowly you turn to look at Peter, your eyes going down to find him on one knee in front of you, holding a ring out towards you.

"Katherine Pryde," he starts, "you are the most stubborn, indecisive and infuriating person I've ever met. You never make your side of the bed and you pack a surprisingly hard punch for someone your size. You're irritable and bossy and frankly I feel like I can't talk to you before you have a cup of coffee in the morning," he grins, pulling you towards him, "and I am deeply, deeply in love with you. You make me a better person, you make me loosen up, and you make me enjoy life. And I want to enjoy life with you every day for the rest of our lives as husband and wife."

"You're a presumptuous bastard, you know that, right?" you quip teary eyed and he nods at that.

"Yeah, this party might have been a little forward of me, but I was working that one out. Roughly, all together in all the time I've been in love with you, you've already kept me waiting about twenty years, roughly," he says, "and that's a long time for a man to wait. I've been walking around with this ring in my pocket for over half a year, waiting for the right time to ask," he states, shrugging. "Well there's no time like the present."

Your shaking hand covers your mouth and you're speechless for the first time in a long time.

"So," he concludes diplomatically, "Katya. Question 25," he levels his eyes with yours, his hand outstretched, his face earnest. "Will you marry me?"

You nod quickly, a grin stretching your face as you find your words. "Yes. Yes! I'll marry you!" you exclaim, laughing. The ring fits perfectly on your finger and Peter stands, sweeping you into his arms, dipping you and kissing you, smiling against your lips. As you stand upright and nuzzle into his chest, he calls out "you can come out now, she said yes!" and you're flooded with students and X-Men and family and friends alike. Everyone was here for you and Peter after all.

A few hours later as the party was in full swing, Peter pulls you aside, down a corridor and to the kitchen. He stops you at the door. "Kitty, there's someone you should meet," he states, sweeping open the door to reveal a girl with black and pink hair in a long, intricate braid that makes your heart stop. "Katya, meet Clarice Ferguson."

Your heart in your mouth, you swallow hard, tears threatening to burn your eyes. "Welcome, Clarice," you say with a massive smile, your heart so full you feel it could burst. "It's very nice to meet you."

"Hi," Blink says apologetically, "I'm so sorry I arrived in the middle of this party, I didn't mean to intrude. It's just I was told to arrive quickly, and, well- I can arrive pretty sharp."

You shake your head quickly. "No, no, no. Not a problem at all. This is your home now. I look forward to getting to know you," you reply with a smile, giving Peter's hand a squeeze, trying to convey all the 'thank you's' and the 'I love you's' you can't currently say. Peter strokes your hand with his thumb, and hold up a glass. "To the new future," he toasts, and you reply in kind.

"To the new future," you echo, thinking it looks very bright indeed.

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