OOOK here is a chapter I longed to write, it's my first attempt to make lose ends meet and give closure to more characters, Charles deserves a funeral and a farewell so here it is...

Enjoy...

Chapter 16 – Redemption

Jean opened her eyes and looked around, the bedroom she shared with her husband was dimly lit, the mansion was silent in the dead of the night. She felt the calmness and reassurance through her bond with Scott, he wasn't in their bed. She stood up, wrapping a robe around her satin nightgown and moved towards the large windows, there, Scott was rocking the little one in a blanket. Scott had his back to her, looking down at the baby in his arms. Through the bond, she could feel his own exhaustion and love, dressed in pajama trousers and a white t-shirt, barefoot before the windows, he was rocking the baby as if his life depended on it, trying to buy time for Jean to sleep.

'Pumpkin, Daddy loves you and Mommy more than anything. And you will grow up to be amazing, beautiful and powerful like your mom, my pride and joy.' Scott was whispering to the little one as he sensed Jean and turned, beaming at her. 'I calmed her on my own,' Scott said proudly as he smiled towards his wife, one arm was holding the five week-old to him, with the other hand he was holding a bottle of breast milk Jean had prepared earlier, feeding the sleepy baby. 'I thought I'd give it a shot so you could sleep.' He added and she smiled at him, the labor had been hard, having a newborn in a school full of mutant kids and a team to take care of was even harder.

'You're natural to it…' Jean whispered with humor as she approached her family and Scott smiled as they both looked at their daughter who was finishing her bottle. Jean brought her long hair on one side, placed a napkin on her free shoulder and Scott gave her the baby. She started rocking her daughter, patting her back until the baby could burp.

'We need a name, everyone has found a nickname for her.' Scott said pointed out softly as the baby burped and he chuckled. It was true, "pumpkin", "spawn", "x-cry", and "the baby" were some of the titles so far. Ororo, Marie and Kitty had suggested their own names as they would be the Godmothers. Jean brought the baby back close to her breasts and telekinetically brought one of the countless pacifiers of the room for the little one.

'I think I like what you suggested earlier,' Scott whispered as the baby's eyes closed, he moved behind his wife, took the napkin away and wrapped his arms around her waist, careful not to press at the healed but tender caesarian, his chin resting on Jean's shoulder as they watched their daughter's peaceful sleep.

'Hope,' Jean repeated her idea. Scott smiled and kissed her earlobe lightly.

'Charles will love it,' he whispered and Jean smiled, the baby looked like "Hope". Fighting for a better world, taking the risks they had taken and being so powerful were some of the reasons Jean and Scott had delayed the arrival of a child for years. Jean's powers themselves had been enough to make them really wonder if they would be able to raise such a powerful being, but Jean had made it, and with their help, they would guide their child to control her powers. Charles always looked for hope; and their child, after all they had been through, was the greatest reward.

'Hope Alexandra,' Jean added the second name as she turned around in his arms with their child between them. Scott looked at her and even if the visor blocked his eyes, Jean knew very well the look of awe and love he had in store for her. 'We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for your brother, if he hadn't brought you here… His memory should be preserved and I'm sure he'd-' her words were interrupted by Scott's lips against hers in a kiss full of love and tenderness.

'…be happy to have a niece,' she added mentally as they broke their kiss and looked down at the baby with smiles on their faces.

'Hope Alexandra Grey-Summers,' Scott announced the full name for the first time, Jean smiled.

'Little Hope,' Jean concluded and Scott smiled as they put their little one in her crib and moved back to their bed, trying to catch some sleep.

Jean's eyes opened and she looked around the bedroom at the boathouse. Scott was standing close to the balcony doors, overlooking the lake, he was dressed in black, ready for the day. He was thinking – and projecting- back at the night they had chosen their daughter's name, the calmness and reassurance shared in their bond that night were now replaced with sorrow and pain. They had eliminated all the threats for her and everyone else, but at a terrible price.

On that day, they were burying their mentor, Charles Xavier would rest in the grounds of his beloved school and everyone had gathered for him. Jean stood up and moved close to her husband in her nightgown, he opened his arms and she moved closer, they hugged each other tightly. They didn't need to say a word, they could feel the pain shared, it was only them and Franklin who knew what had happened within Charles' head. He had made a choice and Jean had allowed him, not having another. Jean still felt the guilt hot and boiling within her heart. Scott, sensing her struggle turned his unshaved for days face and kissed her cheek lovingly.

'He wouldn't let you take him out of the coma,' Scott reassured her for the umpteenth time, Jean sighed and nodded mostly to acknowledge his effort for comfort more than anything. She still couldn't convince herself.

The team had arrived shortly after with the Special Forces -that had also captured the Brotherhood and taken Raven for hospitalization- to find the mentor of the X-Men gone. Jean and Scott had kept the secret of Franklin's destructive future, they hadn't told anyone about Jean's final moments with Charles within his head and his choice to go before it was too late for all of them. The mansion drawn in sorrow as the specifics of the dystopia remained a secret among Franklin and the two Summers.

The nightmares and fear of the children saved from the Transigen Project were maddening, urging Jean to do something about it among the countless things that had to happen after the demise of Charles. The oldest was seven years old, they didn't deserve the anguish, nobody deserved the torture they had been through. Even if hating it, she played God with her powers and wiped out all the memories of the experiments and pain, replacing them with the illusion of being orphans, given to an orphanage and then moved to the Institute because of their mutations, she lured them to believe their scars were made by an accident in the orphanage. It was already hard to accept yourself as a mutant in the world, being the result of genetic experiments and suffering torture was something no five-year-old had to go through. They would be raised at the Institute among the rest, with love and care from the team and the teachers.

After the last child had its mind manipulated Jean had sworn never to do that again, first Hope and then the children, she was done, even if doing it with the best of intentions at heart; Jean hated the fact of the power she had over other human beings. Yet, she found it as the only way to prevent all these children from turning against everyone or themselves because of the agony they had been through. Now, four days after the fight against the Brotherhood and Charles' death, Jean still struggled with what she had done, feeling she had let down Charles in more than one way...

'You did the right thing, Jean.' Scott tried to comfort her and Jean sighed and nodded, her agony shared with him through the bond. 'Come on, love, get dressed please.' He urged softly as she moved towards her black dress on its hanger by the vanity. 'I'll check on Hope,' Scott added and Jean nodded as he moved out of the room, she was still unable to say a word as she gathered away angry tears.

It was a few minutes later that Scott was wiping away the white mustache from his daughter's upper lip as she was done with her glass of milk. Eleven years ago, he was feeding her in his arms with her mother's milk, now she was a young girl drinking from a glass, growing to be the pride and joy Scott knew she'd be. Scott smiled despite of everything as he rested against the island of the newly built kitchen while Hope was perched on one of the stools. Father and daughter remained in comfortable silence, yet Scott knew she had been sad, like everyone else.

'That's my girl,' he encouraged as even without an appetite, Hope had listened to her father and drank her milk. Four days ago, he had seen the future Franklin had come from, the struggle his daughter had been in with her powers. The way she had been doomed from the beginning. Charles was gone and that was a wound that'd take months if not years to heal but Hope was safe, able to face her powers with her brain intact. In the safety of the mansion and the rest of the team, with Jean and himself by their daughter's side, with Franklin joining them after a point. She would have a decent chance. Scott would give up everything, the team, the school, even his life for his child to be safe. Jean had stopped from the team years ago; the team's strongest attack had become the school's greatest defense for Hope and everyone else within it. Jean would trythrough her new position as Secretary for Mutant Affairs, to stop every bane that was to come at them and now Scott was ready to follow as Chief Strategist for the Department of Defense. Through the different positions, they would establish peace for their kind, for Hope and her future.

'Aunt Raven will return soon?' Hope asked, her voice laced with worry and longing for the shape-shifter. After recovering from the cure, Raven had sought refuge to the mansion when Hope was still a toddler and Scott's daughter had no idea about the long history of her grandaunt and the x-family. She considered Raven as Charles' adoptive sister, what she was to be from the beginning. Scott sighed and rubbed his unshaved cheek, thinking quickly of an answer that wouldn't be a lie or the harsh truth.

'She first needs to recover… then we'll see, pumpkin,' Scott tried and Hope sighed and nodded. Hope knew people got injured in missions, she also knew people died.

'It's because of her daughter?' Hope asked and Scott frowned for a moment.

'You're to be a great telepath like your Mom,' he observed affectionately, always knowing how to encourage information out of children like a good teacher. Hope chuckled and shook her head.

'I heard aunt Jubilee,' Hope explained and Scott smiled and nodded.

'Ah…Of course aunt Jubs can't keep a secret, can she?' Scott wondered and Hope grinned, her expression changing as her eyes remained curious, she wanted an answer.

'Yes, aunt Raven has a daughter, Lorna, she needs to be with her for awhile,' Scott tried to remain honest with his own daughter. Hope nodded her head and then lowered it, Scott didn't need telepathy to sense the heavy heart of his girl.

'Grandpa is happier now, right?' Hope askedasScott was putting her glass in the sink and turned to look at her.

'He's not in pain anymore, he had been through a lot in the past weeks.' Scott confirmed and Hope nodded, they hadn't been through the drama Scott had seen in Franklin's memories, Charles had been sick for years there. In their current life, he had fallen sick and he was gone in a matter of a month, it was shocking but not torturing for him and the rest. 'Like your uncle Alex, they're watching over us,' he added with a small smile as he caressed his daughter's long hair, she was in a grey dress for the day. Hope nodded her head in understanding. Both Jean and Scott were realistic about death and doubted notions of angels and the afterlife but Hope was eleven and needed to believe her dead relatives were close by, taking care of her.

Scott felt Jean's thoughts projected as she was getting dressed in black, her least favorite color, the one that matched her mood for the past days. She was searching for an escape from the sorrow and guilt, from what she had been forced to do and what she had been forced to let happen, she was desperate to gather their pieces. The mission had been traumatizing for her, not physically, due to her powers, it was nearly impossible to wound Jean Grey-Summers, but emotionally she was a wreck. Jean had killed Erik, breaking the main rule of the team and her own. Raven was struggling for her life while hospitalized in custody, the final push towards the Brotherhood had been the fight she had with Scott and Jean. But what truly gutted Jean was the appearance of Nathan, the only known, surviving in vitro fertilization child of theirs.

Scott had tried to conceal his own struggle with the fact of a son existing out there, for Jean' sake, Scott had focused on the funeral and Hope. He knew the years matched, the experiment, their son, the child had been made around 1995, three years after the struggle with the Phoenix. When they were still struggling with the aftermath of what had happened, with the nightmares, still struggling to decide if they'd stay with the team. Out there, Essex or whoever took the rights and his collection of samples were achieving into making a child out of Scott and Jean. When they had destroyed the experiments in Alkali Lake, they couldn't possibly expect a six year old was already alive, infected by whatever made his arm metallic, replacing his body partly with a bionic limb. Scott sighed at the thought, almost thirty years away from them, unknown to them, his feelings for the young man varied from fear and defensiveness to curiosity and need. Nathan hadn't been their choice, on the contrary, they had tried to prevent existences like his out of fear of the outcome but he had been created, he had survived and he was out there. Hope wasn't an only child, never had been and in the future, Nathan would find his way at his sister's side. Without a full conversation about it yet and even if it still felt unnatural and violating, Jean and Scott had decided they'd find him one way or the other, hoping he'd side with his parents in the present like he would do with his sister in the future.

'Are you two ready?' Jean asked as she moved to the kitchen and Scott smiled at her the same moment Hope beamed at her mother. 'I want to finish some business before the ceremony.' She added as she smiled back at her family, the smile failing to reach her eyes. Scott sighed but nodded his head, she looked exhausted. Saving Hope by losing Charles, almost losing Raven and searching in vain for Nathan. Jean was torn between past, present and since their return from the Finger Lakes, Charles' demise and the alternation in the children's brains, Jean had been using Cerebro in her desperate attempt to find Nathan. Even with his visor distorting the colors of his sight, Scott could see the grey circles under Jean's kind eyes, lack of sleep, overworking with Cerebro, crying herself to sleep, she hadn't looked that fragile in years.

'Yes, love, go and we'll find you there,' he finally encouraged, not wanting to say she was obsessing over this, Jean knew so and Hope was present, she didn't know the news of a possible older brother and that wasn't the time for her to learn about the implications. Jean nodded, in her black clothes, gave a kiss on Hope's cheek, one more on Scott's lips

'Take it easy, please,' Scott whispered against her lips, Jean nodded her head. 'We haven't slept properly in days, you don't get to do this for much longer, baby. Hope needs us,' Scott added and Jean sighed and glanced at their daughter who smiled at her mother once more.

'One more time, if I come out with nothing, we'll figure out a plan on tracking him down. Besides, you, Hank and I will have to leave for DC the soonest, I need to fix everything with the Brotherhood's capture. I'm sure Hank has already informed them of your stepping down from the team… they will be preparing your new position.' Jean sent mentally and Scott nodded, caressing her cheek before he could steal another kiss which she responded to before she could move towards the door. The moment she opened it, she found herself face to face with Bobby Drake who smiled at her and gave her his hand for a final handshake.

'You're leaving,' Scott heard Jean stating and he moved towards the front door. Jean shook Bobby's hand before they could hug each other; they had been teammates for years. 'We'll miss you,' she added, not asking more as the secret in the mansion wasn't a secret anymore, Bobby smiled and nodded.

'I know, I'll miss you too,' he replied as he looked at Scott who was waiting over Jean's shoulder, the team leader and one of the oldest team members shook hands as Jean started moving for the mansion behind them. 'I wanted to say goodbye, it was a privilege being under your command, sir.' Bobby offered and Scott smiled, the younger man had grown to be grown man in his own right. Bobby had taken the decision to leave the same night Scott had decided to retire, both because of personal reasons.

Even if Marie wasn't with Remy's child, her relationship with Bobby had reached an end that both had refused to acknowledge for a very long time. Bobby's old cheating with Kitty had been a rift he and Rogue hadn't been able to overcome even if the flick was stopped and Kitty had moved on in her life with Pietro. Scott knew how hard it was to keep the balance when in such an isolated team like the X-Men, he had lived through the drama when Logan had flirted with Jean, more than two decades ago. Scott always knew that one day, some personal drama would harm the team but he was only glad it took so long.

'It's curious how we both exit the team at the same time, it was a privilege, Robert. The mansion will always be your home, don't forget that,' Scott added and Bobby smiled and nodded.

'Thank you for everything,' Bobby said and the two men smiled at each other. 'Everything changes again,' he observed and Scott smiled and nodded, trying to remain stoic. Bobby re-arranged his backpack and circled his own motorbike's keys in his fingers. 'Time to discover the outside world,' he finally said and Scott patted the man's shoulder.

'Take care, Bobby,' Scott offered and the blond man nodded and moved away, towards the gates of the mansion.

Jean's eyes slowly opened as she took off the helmet of Cerebro and sighed, her search for Nathan had been fruitless. Since the battle, he somehow was able to shut down his mind from being tracked and Jean hated to admit that no matter how powerful she was, he could remain hidden even for years, if he wished so.

She wasn't even sure what she'd do if he found him eventually. What to say, what to explain and bond over. She had learnt about his existence four days ago. She wasn't sure how she and Scott would be able to bring him close to them, close to Hope, what kind of person was he? Beneath the torture and the pain, what kind of man he'd be? All she knew was that Nathan was half hers and half Scott's and she wanted to somehow have him in their life. Even if Nathan wasn't their choice, he was their part. She had seen him in the future, next to Hope, after hers and Scott's death, she wouldn't miss the chance to meet him this time. Jean hoped the two Summers children hadn't bonded only over the lack of their parents. Jean had paid a heavy price for everyone to survive.

The doors of the Cerebro opened and Jean turned around in her black dress and high heels to find Logan looking at her, a small smile on his lips.

'Hey, how are you?' she asked as he too, was dressed in black for the funeral that would take place. Ororo had taken care of the task to welcome all the people who had been invited or requested to attend the funeral. This was a school and she was its new Headmistress after all. She had also applied for the school to function as an orphanage for mutant children. Storm had asked from the social services to enroll Dawn Diaz, trying to salvage the child from being labeled as the offspring of two prisoners… and Magneto's grandchild in a world forged by humans. Jean from her position as the Secretary, would make things quick and easy for the Institute to be licensed as an orphanage, opening the way to a new era for it.

'Grateful,' Logan replied and Jean looked at him in wonder, he wasn't projecting something and she didn't want to read his mind without permission, she could sense his sorrow for Charles, but there wasn't a soul within the school body that didn't emit pain. 'Thanks for what you did with Laura, she's much calmer now,' he added before Jean could ask and she sighed but smiled at her friend.

'I just…' Jean tried to explain but Logan shook his head and touched her arm.

'Hey, you did the right thing, even if you don't like it, Jeannie.' Logan wasn't trying to comfort her, he was simply explaining, like she had done with him for the Phoenix, a few days prior.' Experience talkin' here… they don't deserve the pain and I am sure you erased their memories much more skillfully than what they did to me in Alkali. Plus, they're kids, Jean, they don't deserve the pain...' Logan's words were soothing, being in the same position as the children, his words somehow helped her more than anyone else's, lifting off some of the guilt.

'Thanks.' Jean only added and Logan smiled and nodded.

'Any luck?' he asked as he pointed his head towards Cerebro, Jean glanced back at it and shook her own head as she sighed.

'Nothing,' she confirmed slowly and Logan nodded his head in understanding. He had been informed about Nathan from the Summers. Even if they hadn't told him and Storm, even through the fight with his own clone, Logan had smelled the young man in those few moments in the forest, he had smelled of a mix of Jean and Scott, plus metal and fire. Logan hoped Jean would find some peace in finding that long lost child.

'You look like Hell, Jeannie…' Logan observed and Jean actually chuckled as she looked at him.

'Thanks, Logan… appreciate it…' She looked dreadful, she knew, Scott was worried but would never tell her such thing, he'd always encourage the need for rest, he'd never point out how awful she currently looked. She had missed her old friendship with Logan, where cruel honesty was the material their friendship was made from.

'Don't judge so easily, Logan, parents tend to lose a lot of sleep over their children,' Jean decided to actually tease him, testing the waters, he frowned and gave a dry chuckle.

'How we all ended up with children…' Logan wondered, only half joking and Jean frowned at him in good interest, she could feel the whisper of his thoughts.

'All?' she asked for confirmation and Logan shrugged and nodded, a tiny smile on his face.

''Ro won't let me alone with a kid… we'll adopt Laura together,' Logan announced and this time Jean smiled wholeheartedly, the first good news in days.

'Oh…Congratulations!' Jean offered,keeping the big smile on her face as Logan shrugged again, this time projecting calmness and confidence. He sniffed the air and his mood changed within seconds as the elevator doors opened and Marie showed up with Remy, holding hands, dressed in black clothes. 'Young and older children…' Jean murmured at her friend as they both watched the couple approaching them, Logan trying to contain a snarl, overprotective and worried.

'Storm said we'd find ya here,' Rogue said and Logan thought she'd meant Jean, being the doctor and all but Rogue addressed him and Remy nodded too.

'We want'd to ask yo' to be the bebe'sguawdian… and m' best man,' Remy announced with his accent heavy even after all those years in New York, Logan remained silent as he looked between the couple. Jean felt his urge to take out his claws, then his reason trying to kick in, Remy was older than Marie but she was almost forty, a grown woman in her own right, they would become parents. Jean finally elbowed Logan and he snapped out of it and nodded.

'Yeah, sure, whatever,' Logan replied as Rogue too, was watching him with expectant eyes. Remy, Hank, Logan and Scott had developed a good friendship among men and teammates which Logan was trying to regain after his return in their timeline. 'If you hurt 'er, I'll hurt ya,' he couldn't help but add as Remy nodded with a smirk and Rogue glared at him after she rolled her eyes. She then looked at Jean and before she could even ask the redhead nodded with a smile.

'I would love to,' Jean confirmed with a smile to be Rogue's maid of honor as Marie smiled and nodded. Jean could feel the couple's happiness and only then she realized they must had been hiding for months, their feelings ran deep. Rogue always reaching for Remy, he doing the same with her. Rogue and Bobby had been trying in vain, hurting themselves instead of separating their ways, Remy had tried to comfort her from her crumbling relationship and that led to the pregnancy that had been the catalyst for the triangle to be broken. Rogue was instinctive, passionate and sensitive, Remy was there to take all the angry blows with a mind and heart focused at her while Bobby had been tired of keeping her in check, after so many years trying to find balances that had been long lost.

'Storm also said we should be gathering outside.' Rogue added and everyone nodded, their smiles fading as the four teammates moved towards the elevators. They moved to the ground floor and from there, along tens of students dressed in black, exited the mansion and reached for the back garden. The Xavier family tomb was there, where Charles had buried his family, it was time for him to join his parents.

There were dozens of chairs set around the garden, everyone had taken their seats, the four friends reached the front row where Scott sat with Hope, Hank close by, his head bowed, lost in mourning. Storm was next to them, rarely dressed in black, her eyes bloodshot. Scott would give the eulogy, he had been the closest thing Charles had to a son and the rest simply were not as brave to trust their voices over the last goodbye. There were people from all kinds of fields, from the CIA and the FBI up to Moira's son, old students and graduates, people from the academic community, politicians who supported Charles' dream, government officials. Everyone had gathered to pay their respects.

Scott stood up the moment Jean approached, their hands brushing as they moved towards different directions, always minimal in their interactions when around people. Hope's eyes were tearful as Jean leaned close,hugged and kissed the crown of her head. The funeral home had set the tombstone already, across from it, there was a large picture of Charles, surrounded by flowers, no casket and no display, as Charles had wished. In the rare occasion that Charles had persuade them to listen about it, he had asked Scott, Jean, Ororo and Logan for a quick service, the minimum traumatizing experience for the students. It had been a couple of years before, during a casual night of wine before the fireplace when he talked to them about his funeral plans and his final will and testament, informing them about everything, yet keeping Eden a secret. He had planted the first seed of the era after him, that night.

The core team had dismissed him in humor, back then, telling him he'd survive them all but the quartet had kept his words in mind, respecting his wish. Jean tried to shield her mind from the surge of pain and sorrow from everyone, overwhelmed by the emotions of the people around her, she was tired herself after the fight with the Brotherhood and the emotional strain that had followed. She focused on her husband who held no notes, she knew he hadn't brought himself to rehearse anything, so unlike the always prepared Scott Summers.

'Charles Xavier was a fighter,' Scott started. 'Before he could become a teacher, a mentor to us all, Charles knew how to enjoy life and give a fight for it.' Scott added and smiled. 'He also knew how to enjoy a glass of good scotch or rum, of that I assure you for I have tasted from his private collection of liquor.' Scott's voice broke between a smile and a tear that escaped his glasses; people around smiled through the tears at Scott's observation as he took away the tear with the back of his hand and looked at the tombstone by his side. 'He enjoyed life so much because he fought so hard for it,' The leader of the X-Men went on. 'He sacrificed everything for life and co-existence between humans and mutants. He battled his closest friends and fought against his greatest enemies. He stood against everyone who tried to jeopardize his dream, he sacrificed his legs, his personal life and fortune. He embraced every runaway child and headstrong teenager.' Scott continued as he looked around the people who remained silent for his words.'He accepted the pain of each and every one of us in his continued search for hope.' Scott declared and Jean held Hope tighter as she took away the tears from her eyes. Next to her, Storm was sobbing freely by then, Logan holding her as his own eyes were wet, Jean realized he was reliving this all over again as in his original timeline, he had attended Charles' funeral too. By Logan's other side, Hank had hidden his face with his hand, the lonely reminder of the original X-Men, with Raven injured and away, Erik and Charles gone, Hank was left alone, the oldest and most loyal of them all.

'He fought the demons, in and out of his mind, his compassion made him a respected paternal figure, his patience made him an amazing teacher, his love and empathy made him a great human being, his hope for us made us all who we are today.' Scott took a moment before he could continue. 'Through the school and the X-Men, he built the foundation of our co-existence with humans and we are here, ready to take up on his dream to justify his sacrifice.' Scott added and this time he looked at Jean and Storm, it was only Jean who looked back at him as Ororo had leaned on Logan with her eyes full of tears, her face hidden on Logan's neck. Through their bond, Scott could feel Jean letting go of the guilt and fear. She and Scott would work through their positions in DC, Hank would do the same in the United Nations Council. Ororo would take care of the Institute and Kitty of the Orphanage and the new team by Peter's side, Logan would redirect the team, changing its shape and dividing into two forces. Charles was gone and they all needed to fill the void that was created, from all different positions and directions, they would establish his dream.

'Charles Xavier was a fighter,' Scott repeated firmly,'For life, for hope, for all of us, and from now on, with his dream in mind, we stand united and even through pain for the goodbyes that hadn't been said, for the advice we won't be able to rely on anymore, we are here to honor his memory and work in hope of continuing it.' Scott concluded and everyone stood up in respect as Scott took a rose from a pile that waited nearby and set it before the tombstone, paying his respects to the father who sacrificed himself for all his children. Scott had done the same, through his years as the leader of the team, in Franklin's future when he tried to save the remaining kids in Eden… Father to father, he only hoped he'd be able to continue his mentor's vision of the world now that he had the chance.

One by one, with Jean first as she was the closest and Hope by her hand, reached and placed one rose before the large tombstone of her mentor. As Jean stood there with Hope for a moment longer, Jean thanked her mentor for his choices up to the very end. They would survive, the dystopia had been prevented. She moved away with her husband and daughter so the rest could pay their final respects and she looked towards the lake –and their house- as they turned towards the front of the mansion. Franklin was standing close to the tree line opposite the lake, he had kept his distance, offering to watch over the children from the Transigen project who were too young to attend a funeral. He had also wished to keep his distance from Hope.

'Mommy, can I go play with the kids?' Hope asked as she had been happy to learn that children closer to her age had been added in the student body of the school, she wouldn't have to be tailing teenagers for company or to simply stay with the adults.

'Of course, sweetheart,' Jean smiled at her daughter who raised her arms for both her parents, both Jean and Scott lowered and hugged their girl tightly, the small family finding solace in each other.

'I love you very much,' Hope confessed to both of them as the three shared a hug before Hope could break it and run for the bunch of little kids playing a few feet away. Scott and Jean approached Franklin as he moved away from the bunch and approached the couple. He smiled at them with his blue eyes calm for the first time ever since he arrived. His plan to stop Charles had been successful and Franklin had proved with Rice that the means justify the ends.

'My condolences,' he offered diplomatically as he knew Jean felt his relief and happiness for the outcome of his time travel. Jean couldn't blame him, remembering his dystopia and what he and her daughter had been through. For a moment, he turned and looked at Hope who was squealing in the distance as she was chased by two girls, she was the oldest of the bunch, a natural leader to them all, the rest of the kids looked up to her already, as if she had the charisma to be an example just by existing. A small smile grazed over Franklin's features as he looked at the happy child. 'I know I don't need to tell you this, but please take care of her, and yourselves,' Franklin's tone was almost begging as both Jean and Scott nodded their heads. Jean could feel his intentions now that his guard was down, he was leaving, even if he wasn't sure where to, whatever he was to find in his future, Hope was somewhere out there.

'You too, young man,' Scott suggested and Franklin smiled and nodded. 'Whatever you find back in your time, we hope it's better from what you left from,' Scott added and Franklin this time nodded his head with a wider smile, they had no idea what he'd encounter, like Logan, he'd be thrown to a totally different reality.

'I surely hope so, sir,' Franklin verified and Scott nodded.

'It's Scott for you,' the older man offered, extending his hand for a handshake and an opening, subtly accepting Franklin into the family even if it wasn't formed yet, thanking him for everything the younger man had done for all of them.

'Thank you… Scott,' Franklin tried the name as he gave a firm handshake. Jean smiled as she felt his insecurity, it had been easy for Franklin to call Scott "sir" or even "Cyclops". Indeed, Franklin had been brave to reach for the only daughter of Scott Summers and live to tell the tale. She decided to follow the example of her future self and reached for Franklin, engulfing him in a motherly embrace which he returned easily. Despite her pain for Charles, she felt happiness for the security Franklin's mind slipped the moment she embraced him, the X-Men was their extended family but she was sure she and Scott would be there to support both Hope and Franklin in their life.

'Give it another try with me at the hospital, will you?' Franklin asked and Jean nodded her head. With the turmoil that had unfolded in the past five days, Jean only then realized that Franklin was in a very difficult situation. While everyone had been saved, he had risked everything by watching Charles go sooner than 2025, the year the second stroke woke Franklin from the coma he was in. She could feel his insecurity, his fear, there was a good chance his youngest self might never wake up, that he had saved everyone only to be left alone himself, lost in his brain forever. By traveling back in time, he had secured Hope's future and jeopardized his. Jean would take it up to her to wake young Franklin, she promised him mentally this would be her life mission from now on.

'I promise I will visit your parents the soonest,' Jean offered honestly and felt the young man nodding his thanks while they remained hugged, the fear lingered; of never waking up, of never meeting Hope or any of them, of going to a place where he was still lost. 'I promise I will make it.' She reassured him once more.'Take care, dear, both of you,' Jean finally said as she released him and he smiled and nodded,making a step back, the couple watched him and he took a deep breath before he could start for the tree line again.

Jean and Scott remained silent as Jean followed him mentally and closed her eyes, telepathically shielding the entire place so no one could feel the ripple Franklin's departure would create like when upon arrival, almost a month ago. She prepared the shield, feeling him concentrating on returning, his powers allowing reality to actually bend as he let himself go, after a moment, he was gone.

Jean's powers absorbed the ripple, no one seemed to have noticed a thing except Scott who shared everything through the bond and as she opened her eyes, Jean saw Hope pausing her game with the children for a moment and looking around her. Her face betraying slight confusion and awareness at the same time, only for a moment, her gaze gave the impression she was older, wiser than her age.

Hope turned her eyes towards her parents after that moment and smiled at them brightly, serenity written all over her young face before she could resume her game with the children around her.

ok I hope you liked it, I wanted to show Jean and Scott's small flashback from the time Hope was a baby and how times change with Hope a grown child, I wanted the funeral and Scott giving the eulogy as he was the closest son-figure Charles had (something the movies forgot completely )and I also wanted a scene between Franklin and the Summers for his own closure

I think there will be one more chapter, set years later for the final chapter but let me know if I should actually made it, it's half done in my computer or should I stop here. In case you noticed, I changed the gender of Lorna's child from a boy to a girl as the gifted aired and Lorna gave birth to Dawn so bare with me if you noticed, I'm trying to keep close to canon, thank you for reading, please let me know what you think.

CP09