Hanging By A Moment

Hanging By A Moment
Chapter 32: Hold My Hand

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Jean had never felt so incredibly angry before as she stormed down the hallways of her upper class home towards the room where her parents were still debating about what to do about the issues concerning their youngest daughter. After all the things she had put up with over the years…All the lectures, all the reprimands, and all the fighting…They had finally gone too far. They had ridiculed and scorned the man she loved…They had pushed him away and hurt him in a way he truly didn’t deserve to be hurt. She had put up with their shit for a long time now and they had sunk pretty low in terms of how they dictated her life…But this was just beyond anything they had ever done before. Scott had gone out of his way to show them that he was a decent man who simply wanted their approval of their relationship. And despite all his manners, kindness, and good nature…They still scorned him…They still looked down on him as if he was unworthy to even be in their presence. And for Jean Grey, that was the last straw.

When she finally reached her parents’ room, she kicked the door open in a gesture that nearly gave both her parents a heart attack as they were now confronted with a very angry redhead whom they had pushed beyond her limits. But despite this action, both John and Elaine continued to speak the part of overbearing parents to her, but unlike every other time…That would not be enough to placate a situation like this.

“Jean!” said Elaine in a stern tone as she saw her youngest daughter storm into the room with such fury, “What on Earth are you…”

But Jean wouldn’t even give her mother a chance to begin at this point…Not after what she had done. There would be no lectures and no bullshit this time around. This time…They would face the full, unbridled wrath of the girl they had so failed to control over the years.

“Well I hope you’re fucking happy!” she spat at them, not caring what came out of her mouth at this point, “I hope this is what you fucking wanted!”

“Hey! Watch your language, young lady!” shouted John in response, speaking down upon his daughter with the paternal authority he believed he still wielded over her.

“I’m through watching my fucking language!” she yelled back, not caring what they told her at this point, “No matter how much I try…No matter how much I work to find a little happiness in this fucked up world you force me into…It’s never enough for you! No matter what I do, it’s never enough!”

“Jean, you will lower your voice now, or I’ll…” began Elaine, but her words were lost upon the raging young woman before her, for no threats of any kind could stop her at this point.

“Or you’ll do what?!” shot Jean, not afraid of their threats, “You’ll take away even more of my freedom? You’ll lock me in my room just like you locked me in that hospital in hopes I’ll somehow come out ‘fixed?’”

Such harsh words struck deep for John and Elaine, for they had never seen their daughter like this before. Even through all the years in which they had seen how volatile she could be, they had never seen her so furious before. But this night was just too much for her to tolerate…She had finally reached her breaking point.

“You won’t let me live the life I want to live…You won’t let me believe in the things I want to believe…And now…You won’t even let me love the man I want to love!” she said, her tone becoming more strained as her emotions began to catch up with her and tears began forming in her eyes.

“Jean…” said John, managing a calmer tone, “Honey, we’re you’re parents…All we want for you is…”

“You don’t care about me…You don’t even love me!” said Jean, now on the verge of tears, “All you care about is the family…All you love is the legacy! My happiness doesn’t even cross your minds whenever you try to mold me or fix me! I’m not a daughter to you! I’m just…I’m a nuisance…An inconvenience…A taint on your precious heritage!”

Neither John nor Elaine had the words to respond to that as they watched more tears fill their daughter’s eyes. Her anger was giving way to sorrow as all the pain she felt from being such an outcast in her own family was all coming to ahead. Now she didn’t care what they did or what they said in response…For none of it mattered at this point. All she could think about was how they had complicated her life…Making her struggle and toil through the rigors and expectations of this family no matter how much she hated it.

“Now I finally find real happiness…I finally find the man I want to be with…And you push him away!” she yelled in a mixture of tears and anger, “He left because of you…He left because of how you treated him! You ridiculed him, mocked him, and practically pissed on everything he held dear! You scoffed at his dreams…His goals…His family…His ideas…Everything! And all he wanted from you was a little respect…A little acknowledgement that he can be the man he has to be for me.”

“Jean…Please,” said Elaine, not knowing how to ease her daughter’s mood at this point, “That boy is not right for you…He…”

But Jean wouldn’t hear it. She knew what she felt in her heart and her parents could never touch that…She would not let them.

“Mom…I love him,” she said to her, lowering her tone somewhat under the strain of her emotions, “I love him more than anything. Doesn’t that count at all for you?”

“Of course it counts, Jean…” coaxed John, “But…”

“But what?!” interrupted Jean, “Is it because he’s not rich? Is it because he’s not like us? Is it because his goal in life isn’t to sacrifice anything and everything for money?”

“Jean…This man is not right for you…He’s not…” said Elaine, who didn’t seem to be having too much luck with her words.

“No mom…You’re wrong,” Jean said in response, defending the man she loved even in the face of her mother’s narrow views, “Scott’s the one…He’s the man for me…He’s the one I want to be with. And if you can’t accept that…If you can’t embrace the simple fact that I’ve found happiness with someone whom I love and care for with all my heart…Then that’s your problem.”

A heavy silence fell over them as Jean swallowed the agonizing emotions that had plagued her for so long now. She never thought she would ever have the strength to say this, but now she had finally given in after so much heartache. She was finally through being their screw up…Their black sheep…Their taint. All she wanted now…Was to simply be Jean.

“I’m through with this…You can abandon me now for all I care…You can cut off my money, pull me out of the Academy, and try to condemn me to some other God forsaken place in hopes that it’ll change me into the person you want me to be…But I’m through caring at this point. You don’t want me to be happy…You don’t want me to pursue the goals I want to pursue…And you don’t want me to love the man I love. And if that’s what you want…Then I’m through being a Grey…I’m through being a part of this crappy legacy. If I have to…I’ll go out on my own…I’ll love Scott on my own…I’ll live life on my terms. I’ll find my own place in the world…And I’ll do it without your help. And if that means I’m not your daughter anymore…So be it.”

And with that, Jean Grey turned away from the parents that had tried so hard to nurture her for their proud legacy and walked out the door. John and Elaine Grey were now in a daze as their minds struggled to process what had just happened. Their youngest child…Their little girl that they had brought into the world with such joy and hope…Had just abandoned them. And in the back of their minds…They knew they were responsible…They knew it was because of them.

John Grey found himself sitting upon the bed, burying his face in his hands while his wife began to furiously pace back and forth throughout the room, trying to think of a way to fix this tumultuous situation. Everything was in pieces now…Everything had fallen apart. After the tremendous downward spiral of their relationship, beginning with the accident with Annie and culminating with what had just happened right now…It had all finally reached a breaking point. And even though neither of them wanted to accept it…They knew Jean was right in many ways…And there was no going back.

“Oh John…” said Elaine, holding her head in a fit of frustration and sorrow, “What are we going to do? What CAN we do?”

John Grey didn’t say a word, for he was still reeling from what had just happened. He began to finally look at and analyze the way he had acted around Scott and what he saw gave him a truly sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach.

“This cannot stand…” said Elaine, who continued pacing restlessly, “She can’t just abandon us…She can’t just throw her name away. If word gets out…What’s it going to do to the family? What’s it going to do to the legacy?”

John had heard enough as his frustration finally came to ahead.

“Elaine…Did you not listen to ANYTHING Jean just told us?!” he exclaimed as he looked up at his wife with a great sense of annoyance over her way of handling this.

“Of course I listened, John!” shot Elaine in response, “Do you think that…”

“I think she’s made it clear to us that it doesn’t matter what we think!” he shot in response, cutting her off before she could finish, “Elaine…Even after everything she just said to us…Are you still that concerned about the legacy? Is the name really that much important to you than our own daughter?”

Elaine looked back at her husband with a great deal of shock and bewilderment, not believing that he was even considering what she thought he was.

“John…How can you…” but once again, Elaine wasn’t able to get her words out…For John Grey knew it was too late for words.

“She was right Elaine…We failed,” he said, once gain resting his head on his hands, “We failed as parents. We pushed her away…We didn’t accept her…We didn’t love her in the way parents should…”

“John, how can you say we didn’t love her? Of course we love her…She’s our daughter,” reasoned Elaine.

“We loved he name…Not the girl,” he said, now feeling his emotions start to take hold, “She was right, Elaine…She was right and you know it! We failed her! There’s nothing we can do now!”

“NO!” yelled Elaine in response, not willing to back down that easily, “I won’t accept that! There’s still time! We can get her out of that school and send her somewhere else closer so we can…”

“Oh come on Elaine…Do you really think that will change anything?” said John in response, shocked at his wife’s naivety, “If we even attempt that, she’ll just run off with that boy and we’ll never see her again! Do you really want that?”

“Of course I don’t, but that’s why we have to act fast! Otherwise she’ll just throw her life away doing…”

“Doing what?!?” shot John as he got up from his seat on the bed, now looking outright enraged at the way his wife was handling this, “Living life on her own terms? Being the person she is at heart? Loving a man she truly loves? And actually being happy without having to deal with us?”

“John…” began Elaine, feeling at a loss for words at this point as she found herself silenced by the tone of her husband.

“She’s a daughter, Elaine…Not a name,” said John, lowering his voice, “We can’t turn her into the woman we want. She’s proven to us time and time again that it’s just not possible. Jean is her own person whether we like it or not…I finally see that now. And I’m through making things worse…”

Having said that, John made his way over to the walk in closet and changed his shirt. Elaine didn’t know what on Earth he was doing. She just couldn’t believe he was taking Jean’s side with this. After everything they’ve done…After everything they worked for to continue the family legacy…He was actually yielding to what their renegade daughter felt. She knew there was some truth in the words she used to blast them, but they were just words to her…She thought they could work around them and get Jean to see that they truly had her best interests in mind.

But John saw things differently…He knew that they couldn’t make her happy this way…He knew that’s not what she wanted. What she wanted now was her freedom…Her freedom to be who she truly was, to pursue the things she wanted to pursue, and to love the man she wanted to love. They could not change her…They could not mold her. It had taken him years to finally see that and he wouldn’t allow this kind of turmoil to continue any longer.

“John…John what are you doing?” asked Elaine as she watched him change his attire.

“What does it look like I’m doing?” he told her as he grabbed his coat, “I’m going out to get our daughter back…”

“What?! What do you…” she began, but John would not hear it as he grabbed his car keys off the dresser and prepared to head out.

“Elaine…Face it,” said John as he turned back to his wife once more, “We can’t keep doing what we’ve always done if it’s never yielded us anything. And like it or not…Jean is still our little girl…She’s just grown into her own woman right before our very eyes and we haven’t been there for her in the way we should have.”

“But we have been there for her John!” exclaimed Elaine, “We only want…”

“What’s best for her…Yeah, I know. That’s always our excuse,” said John, cutting her off once again, “Sugarcoat it all you want…It’s still just an excuse and you know it. Well I’m through making excuses…I’m through lying to myself and to Jean. Now…I’m going out there and getting our daughter back before she leaves us behind and we never see her again. You can either keep lying to yourself that we were just or you can just accept that maybe we don’t know what’s best for our daughter…And maybe it’s finally time we leave that decision up to her.”

With those final words, John exited the room, leaving his wife standing there in a daze as she was left to think about what had just happened. John knew that it may take some time for her to see what he had come to realize so clearly now, but at the moment, all he could think about was Jean and getting her back before it was too late.

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Scott Summers lay in a silent daze as he rested upon a soft motel bed in a place just outside the affluent neighborhood that had so earnestly rejected him. He didn’t know how he was going to get back to Bayville, but anything was better than staying with the Greys. He was lucky that he had managed to bum a ride from a couple of guys passing through the neighborhood to this cheap little motel just outside of the main town Jean had shown him, but he still had a long ways to go before he got back to Bayville. He planned to call a cab or something that could maybe take him to the nearest bus station, but for now…He just needed some rest. However, try as he might, he just couldn’t sleep after what had just happened.

His eyes were wide open as he simply stared at the ceiling, the fateful visit that had gone so wrong playing over in his head again and again. After all the hope and optimism he had felt for this visit, it had all come crashing down when he was finally presented with the true reality of Jean’s family. He couldn’t believe he had been so naïve. Jean had told him time and time again that they were shallow, narrow minded rich folk who didn’t like anything that even remotely deviated from their precious status quo…But he still didn’t listen.

Scott had held onto the belief that if he just showed her family how much he loved her and how far he was willing to go to make her happy, then they would accept that. Now that he thought about it, such an idea seemed outright crazy, for he could never hope to measure up to the standards of those people. They spoke down to him, they ridiculed him, and they scoffed at the mere notion of him even being good enough to kiss the dirt they walked on. To them he was just a poor orphaned piece of street trash that wanted to run in and out of burning buildings for a living. There was no depth…No intrigue…Not even the slightest hint of caring for anything he held dear.

He couldn’t believe that a woman like Jean had been raised by people like that. In many ways, it was a testament to Jean’s tenacity and strength to be herself, but it still didn’t change the fact that her family hated him and would never support them being together. He wanted to be able to love her with the approval and blessing of her family, but he knew he wouldn’t get that no matter how much she meant to him or how much he loved her.

There was no telling what kind of action they would take to prevent them from being together, but no matter what they did, he was determined to be with this woman no matter what they thought. He just wished he didn’t have to work around so much hardship. He loved Jean and Jean loved him back…Why wasn’t that enough for them? Why couldn’t they see that? The Greys were just from a different world…A world where love is just a word and not a feeling…A word they used without ever truly understanding its real meaning. And for Scott Summers, he couldn’t be a part of that world where the feelings he felt for Jean were simply scoffed at as being a mere farce. Such things meant so much more to him…Such things had come to mean so much to him. And he never wanted to forget that no matter how difficult people like Jean’s family made it for him.

Nevertheless, Scott couldn’t help but feel at a loss for what he had failed to accomplish with Jean’s family. He couldn’t gain their approval…He couldn’t even gain their acceptance. It was a harsh lesson in the game of life…One that hurt him on a level he hadn’t been hurt before. He didn’t know how this was going to affect him…But as with many of the challenges in his already complicated life, he was determined to work through them…He just wished it wasn’t so hard.

‘Why me?’ he mused with a sigh, ‘I finally find the woman of my dreams…I finally find the one…And then what happens? Her parents hate me. Just because I’m not rich, greedy, or superficial…They hate me and think I’m not worthy of even breathing their fucking air. God…Why does shit like this have to happen? Why does it have to be so God damn hard? Why? I just want to be with the woman I love…Is that really so much to ask?’

Scott Summers wished he had some answers…But his questions were met only with silence. He had dealt with a lot of tragedy in life…The death of his parents, child abuse in a foster home, living on the streets, and even nearly dying in a war. But in each case, things turned around for the better. He was eventually adopted by a family he had come to love as his own, he had survived combat and left an enduring legacy for the spirit of his family, and he had found a goal in life worth pursuing. But even after overcoming all that hardship and finding so much happiness and hope in return…Life just kept throwing so much heartache at him that he didn’t know how much more he could take.

After this week was over, he would definitely discuss with Jean how they were going to work around her family…If they even let her come back, that is. But he knew Jean…He knew they couldn’t stop her from being who she was. If there was one thing he took out of this whole visit, it was just how much Jean valued her freedom and just how far she was willing to go to safeguard it. But still…He knew it wouldn’t stop her parents from trying. And from what he found out about them, there was no telling the kind of lengths they were willing to go to in order to keep her from living the life she had come to love so much.

Scott didn’t know how long he had been lying on the motel bed wide awake after the events of this disastrous night kept playing over and over again in his head. He just couldn’t stop contemplating what Jean’s parents were going to do in order to him and Jean from being together. They made it abundantly clear that they hated him and didn’t want him in their world, but just how far were they willing to go in order to keep them from loving each other? How much were they willing to sacrifice just so their precious name wasn’t tainted by some outsider?

Scott was tired of thinking about it so much and eventually felt himself begin to drift off into a world of dreams. Perhaps sleep would provide the numbness for him that he so sorely sought during this conflicted time. He just wanted to stop thinking about everything that had transpired on this disastrous night. Besides, there would be plenty of time to contemplate in the morning on the long road back to Bayville.

Then suddenly, just as he was about to finally nod off, a frantic knock came at his door…One that startled him up out of his bed, almost triggering the soldier instinct in him that he had so ardently trained to ascertain as a marine. Then, there was more knocking…This time, even more frantic as Scott let out a frustrated grunt and rolled off the bed.

“Ugh…Who could be knocking on motel doors at this time of night?” he grumbled, hoping it wasn’t the manager saying his emergency credit card had been declined or something.

He rubbed his somewhat stiff neck, still half asleep as he peaked through the peep-hole to see who it was…And once he caught a glimpse of the presence on the other side, he was quickly brought out of his drowsy state into one of full alertness.

“Jean?!” he said as he quickly unlocked the door and opened it to see the beautiful redhead standing before him.

“Hey soldier boy…” she said with a half smile, “You almost look surprised.”

“I…Uh,” stammered Scott, feeling somewhat sheepish at the situation that he was now facing, “I am surprised. How did you find me?”

“Oh come on, Scott…Don’t be so dense,” said Jean, rolling her eyes, “We’ve been together for over six months. And if I don’t know you well enough to track you down when you run off, then that wouldn’t make me a very good girlfriend now, would it?”

Scott couldn’t help but laugh at her words as managed to smile back at the woman that had turned his life upside down so much. He practically felt like kicking himself for doubting Jean’s uncanny knack for surprising him time and time again.

“You never cease to amaze me…” he said as Jean entered the darkened motel room and he eagerly took her into his arms, planting a deep, passionate kiss upon her lips.

Even despite the grim situation that had presented itself to them, they still found so much comfort in a mere embrace. Scott could tell by the way Jean sank into his arms that she had been desperate for the calm and serenity that they could only find with each other no matter how crazy the outside world seemed to get for them. But still…There were so many questions that lingered…So many issues that pervaded as a result of this fateful night.

“I had a feeling you’d go to the nearest place that didn’t seem like another playground for the upper class…” she said after breaking the kiss and snaking her arms around his neck, “And I knew this little oasis in the midst of this bullshit world was the closest place for a little peace, so it was only a matter of getting the guy at the front desk to tell me where your room was.”

“And just how did you manage to do that?” he said with a grin, once again finding himself in awe at just how far this woman was willing to go to be who she was.

“Didn’t take much…Just had to lean over the desk and give him a nice view of my boobs and he was putty in my hand,” she said in an almost playful tone, which helped her to momentarily forget the circumstances of the current situation.

“Now that’s the Jean I fell in love with,” said Scott with another laugh as he led her over to the bed.

A brief silence then fell over the young couple as they sat upon the bed, feeling both comforted and conflicted about the position they currently found themselves in. Jean had once again run away from her family’s grasp and she refused to ever be held back by them again. For too long now, she had been too willing to work around their overbearing nature and never willing enough to break free from it. Now she had finally found the strength to leave the world that had so ardently rejected her behind…And it was all thanks to the young man currently at her side after having shown her a world she never thought could exist.

Scott didn’t know what to make of this moment…But he found himself not thinking too deeply into it, for it was one he wanted to relish rather than analyze. One of the many things Jean had taught him throughout the course of their relationship was how to simply embrace certain things that came along in life and this moment was no exception. Even after the disastrous visit that still hung so strongly in both their minds, there just seemed to be so much more worth cherishing now that they had each other in this one moment. But still…There were many things going through his mind…And there were still so many questions that remained unanswered.

“Jean…” he began, watching as the look on his girlfriend’s face became more distant, “What happened? What about your parents?”

Jean’s expression quickly sank at the mention of the family that had rejected her so much over the years. After so many painful complications, it had finally come to ahead. Everything had fallen apart right before her eyes and now she had broken free and she was out an on her own. She wasn’t Jean…The proud daughter of a Grey. Now…She was just Jean Grey…No more…No less.

“I…I couldn’t take it anymore,” she answered, her voice quickly becoming strained, “After all the shit they put me through…I finally unloaded on them. I…I unloaded on them in a way that I hadn’t been able to up until now…”

Jean then found herself leaning on him for support as that fateful moment when she broke away played over again in her mind. Scott willingly embraced her, but he was still deeply concerned about what just happened and just how great a role he played in it.

“What do you mean, unloaded?” he asked her, curious as to just how bad it had been.

“Unloaded as in…I yelled at them…Screamed at them…And finally broke away from them,” she told him as tears once again formed in her eyes.

“Broke away?” Scott questioned, not knowing what she meant by that.

“Yeah…Broke away,” said Jean, “As in…I’m through being a part of their so called legacy. I’m through being their nuisance…Their taint…Their black sheep. As far as I’m concerned, I have no more family…I have no parents…No sister…No asshole brother in law.”

Scott was shocked that she was going this far. This was her family she was talking about…And she had just broken away from them? She had just practically disavowed to ever having been a part of them? All because of him? He just couldn’t believe it…She had gone this far just for him.

“Jean…Come on, you don’t mean that,” said Scott, shaking his head, not wanting to be the one who tore apart a family, “They’re still your family…You can’t just…”

“But I did, Scott…” she said, cutting him off before he could finish, “I did…And I’m glad I did…Because I’m sick of living in their world…I’m sick of living by their rules.”

Scott could tell that she was on the verge of breaking down and could only hold her tight as she swallowed the lump in her throat as the fateful moment when she broke away played over in her head once again. She had done something she hadn’t thought she’d ever have the strength to do…She had accomplished something she never thought she’d be able to accomplish. And now that she had finally done it, it was just such an emotional moment for her.

“They were going to pull me out of the Academy…” she told him, once again finding her voice, “They were going to take me away, throw me into some boarding school not far from here, and hope I come out fixed. They don’t want me to be happy…They don’t want me to live the life I want to live…To do the things I want to do…Or to even be with the man I want to be with. They want me to be their legacy…Not their daughter.”

She once again had to stop as a result of the tremendous strain in her voice. Scott simply tightened his hold on her, giving her something to grasp and feel even in a state of such turmoil. He knew what it was like to feel so abandoned and alone…Dazed with so much uncertainty. Having lost his family before, he knew all too well how painful it could be…And for that, he knew Jean needed him now more than ever.

“Shh…It’s okay…It’s okay,” he whispered to her softly, “I’m here…”

That helped to calm the distraught young woman down as she looked back up at him with tears still in her eyes. Her family may not have loved her, but at least she was in the arms of someone who truly did and Scott helped remind her of that as he began lovingly stroking the side of her face.

“This is all my fault Jean…” he told her as he wiped away her tears, “I pressured you to take me here. I thought I could make a good impression on your family. I thought that by just showing them how much I loved you and how much I was willing to do in order to make you happy…They would accept me.”

Now that such a notion had been proven so horribly wrong, Scott couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh of remorse. He now knew this whole trip had been a big mistake and he never should have suggested it. He had been so naïve to think that her parents would be impressed with love alone when Jean had made it clear to him that nothing was ever good enough for them…Now here they were…Alone and in a motel room, not sure what was going to happen now.

“I’m so sorry Jean…” he said to her, choking on his own words, “I am really…Truly…Sorry.”

“Scott…None of this is your fault,” said Jean as she let his touch sooth her, “My parents are just…They just can’t see what a great man you are. They can’t see how much I love you or how much you love me. And you shouldn’t apologize for that…Because it’s their problem and I’m finished with them now. All I want…Is to be with you, Scott. All I want…All I need…Is you.”

A powerful silence then fell over them as Scott looked back into the beautiful green eyes that had captured his heart. There was so much love and passion in those tear-stained eyes that no amount of disapproval from her family could have tainted it. And through those eyes, Scott saw everything he needed to see in order to affirm that this was the woman he loved. She was Jean Grey…Not some upper class girl who was born out of place…Just a damn beautiful woman who he had been lucky enough to fall in love with.

With a little love, and some tenderness
We'll walk upon the water
We'll rise above the mist
With a little peace, and some harmony
We'll take the world together
We'll take 'em by the hand

No more words were spoken as their faces slowly drifted closer and their lips met in a passionate kiss. Jean practically threw her arms around her lover and hugged him close, allowing herself to soak up the warmth of his body and all the comfort that came with it. Scott could only kiss back…Relishing the sweet taste as the passion between them quickly escalated as hands began to roam and a deep desire began to arise within them.

“Scott…Please…Make love to me,” she said as she felt his hands trace a path along the sexy curves of her body.

Scott Summers couldn’t help but smile, for even under such circumstances the beautiful redhead’s passion knew no bounds. And as he felt the soft touch of her hands upon his hard muscles, helping to communicate her growing desire, he couldn’t help but be taken by her seemingly endless love.

'Cause I've got a hand for you
'Cause I wanna run with you

“In a place like this…At a time like this?” he told her as he felt her start to kiss along his neck, “You really are…The most amazing…Wonderful woman…In the world.”

As they let their passion drive their actions, their lips met again in a fury of passionate kisses as their hands continued to roam with increasing sensuality. Soon, Jean had removed Scott’s shirt and began assailing his manly muscles with her lips as he worked to remove her shirt as well.

Soon, Scott found himself on his back as Jean’s sexy body loomed over him, touching and caressing her way around his warm skin while he let out soft moans of contentment as the sweet bliss he felt from sharing such a passionate moment with the woman he loved.

“Mmm…” moaned Scott as his hands began to work their way onto the cleavage of Jean’s sexy breasts, “Jean…My beautiful, sexy angel.”

Yes indeed
I saw you standing there
Your hair was down, your eyes were red
No comb had touched your hair
I said get up, and let me see you smile
We'll take a walk together
Walk the road awhile

Sounding drunk with passion, Jean simply smiled back at him with a sexy grin as she closed her eyes and relished the sweet feeling of having her lover’s hands over her breasts. Soon, she wanted to feel him more and the presence of her bra became too much of a burden. Moving herself into a more upright position, Jean reached around her back and undid the clasp of her bra, allowing Scott to completely remove it as her breasts were now completely exposed to him.

“Oh Scott…” moaned Jean as she felt his hands rub and tease her breasts, pinching her nipples slightly and massaging them in the special way he knew she loved, “I want you…So much.”

'Cause I've got a hand for you
'Cause I wanna run with you
Hold my Hand
Want you to hold my hand
Hold my Hand
I'll take you to a place where you can be
Hold my Hand
Anything you wanna be because
I wanna love you the best that, the best that I can

As the sensual rubbing of her breasts added to her building desire, Jean began to more thoroughly rub the chiseled muscles of Scott’s upper body…Starting at his chest, working her way down to his well toned abs, and finally reaching the growing bulge in his pants. His want for her was quickly turning into a desperate need as she felt his hands work their way upon her breasts with more fervor and passion, causing her to moan more loudly and diving her to take it to the next step.

Then, as Jean slightly adjusted herself, she began working on Scott’s pants, slowly undoing them and quickly sliding them off and exposing his throbbing erection to her. Her intense desire drove her as the moistening feeling inside her pants began to grow more intense, prompting her to swiftly lower herself to his hard cock and taking it into her mouth.

“Mmm…” moaned Jean as she began licking and sucking his hard member, looking back up at her lover with a deep, sensual look in her eyes.

“Oh God, Jean…” he gasped as he felt her suck him with a near desperate fervor.

She wanted him…She needed him so bad. She had left her family behind and he was all she had left in her mind. But this was all she truly needed…His comfort…His love. Relishing the sweet taste of his hard penis inside her mouth, she took a firm hold of the base of his member as she began bobbing her head up and down with increasing ferocity, gently swirling and tracing her tongue along it’s length. She let her lover’s moans guide her as she felt him run his hands through her long, red hair, helping move her head up and down his dick. She began to taste some of the pre cum that he shot up into her mouth, all of which she swallowed. But as she heard his moans start to get louder and louder, she knew he was getting close and she wanted to save the main dish for when he was inside her.

With one last trace of her tongue along his length, Jean removed his cock from her mouth and leaned back onto the foot of the bed so that she was in position to remove her pants. Scott quickly got up from his position on his back and aided her, capturing her lips in his and quickly trailing downward past her breasts and down her toned stomach. Jean had managed to loosen them, but she quickly found herself holding her body upright with her arms as she allowed her lover to do the rest.

Closing her eyes and focusing on the sweet sensuality of the moment, she felt the warm heat of his skin against hers as he slowly slid her pants down her sexy legs, exposing to him her eager pussy, which was dripping wet from all sensual teasing. Once her pants were off and tossed to the side, she was now completely naked before her sexy lover and watched as he eyed her beautiful body with great desire and love.

See I was wasted, and I was wasting time
'Till I thought about your problems, I thought about your crimes
Then I stood up, and then I screamed aloud
I don't wanna be part of your problems
Don't wanna be part of your crowd, no

“Oh Scott…” she gasped as she felt his hands touch her naked skin, feeling as though they were leaving a trail of burning desire with each motion, “Please…I need you.”

“And you’ll have me…” he told her in a husky tone as he took her in his powerful arms, placing his hands upon her sexy hips and laying her flat out onto the bed, “I promise you…I’ll always be there…No matter how messed up things get…I’ll always be there for you.”

His tender, loving words only seemed to heighten her desire as she let out a soft gasp as she felt his lips kiss her breasts and work their way downward. She needed him so badly…And he could clearly feel it. She was at such a loss now with everything that had happened…And it seemed as though only Scott could make her whole again.

'Cause I've got a hand for you
'Cause I wanna run with you

As his lips moved downward ever closer to her throbbing wetness, her body arched and contorted with more desire as she lay there strewn out with her beautiful hair bathing her in an angelic image that seemed to reflect just what an angel she was. This helped motivate Scott as he lifted her hips up with his powerful hands, drawing her pussy to his face and licking and teasing the wet outer lips. Jean quickly found herself practically shoving her vagina into his face as she spread her legs and allowed him to orally tease her in the way only he could.

“Oh yes! Oh…Oh God, Scott, that’s it…It’s so good!” she moaned as she felt him plunge his tongue into her depths, finding the sensitive spots he knew by heart now.

Jean arched her back as he teased, enticed, and licked her into a state of heightened arousal, preparing her for the inevitable as he heard her frantic moans become more desperate and pleading.

“Scott…No more!” she gasped, unable to go any longer without having her lover inside her, “Now…I need you now!”

“Mmm…Jean,” moaned Scott as he removed his tongue from her depths and traced it back up her sexy body as he hovered over her, “So much…Need you…So much.”

With their intense desire all coming to ahead, Jean eagerly spread her legs wider and captured his body in a tight embrace. His hands were still firmly on her hips as his imposing, muscular body loomed over her, pressing his heavy weight against her and feeling their hot, sweaty skin touch in the sensual passion of the moment.

As he guided his cock towards her pussy, slowly negotiating his way into her warm, wet depths, they both met in a deep, passionate kiss as the feeling of being one finally overtook them and a feeling of absolute ecstasy and bliss overtook them. As she felt his long, hard cock fill her, she tightened her grip with her legs and held his body close to her, letting his weight rub against her naked skin as she slipped her tongue into his mouth and began moving her body with his, slowly working their way into a sweet rhythm of passion and love.

Hold my hand
Want you to hold my hand
Hold my hand
I'll take you to the promised land
Hold my hand
Maybe we can't change the world but
I wanna love you the best that, the best that I can

Slowly and passionately, the young couple began making love as Scott began working his penis in and out of her wet vagina, moaning and gasping as his tongue wrestled with hers. Her body arched and contorted with such delight and ecstasy, moving and touching with such fervent and desire as love, passion, and euphoria flooded her body and mind. He thrust into her and caressed her beautiful, sexy body with so much love and care that it was almost as if he was being graceful with each movement.

Love and passion soon took hold as the frenzied movement of their bodies began to escalate. They soon established a powerful rhythm…One not defined by rigor and fury…But one that was dominated by the sweet balance of ecstasy and feeling. This was the manner in which Scott Summers and Jean Grey made love…This was the manner in which they had both come to relish so much since they had found love together…And even in times of uncertainty, such passion, emotion, and closeness helped them find peace with themselves and each other.

Their bodies moved together in a sweet dance of love, sex, and euphoria. It was slow, yet strong…Gentle, yet firm. Sweat quickly consumed them as the heat between them quickly grew and powerful sensations of blissful pleasure and joy flooded their bodies and filled their minds. The lingering shadow of what Jean’s family had done to them and how they had disapproved of their relationship melted away in the profound power of this moment as they drew from each other the strength and courage that kept them balance, strong, and complete.

There was so much love in their frenzied motions as their tongues wrestled and their bodies moved as one, pounding and grinding together in a sweaty clash of skin and touch. Scott’s hands eagerly ran along the sexy curves of her naked body, trailing paths up along the smooth trail of her sexy legs, working their way up her hips and butt, teasing and enticing her as he thrust into her wet domain. Her body tensed and contorted with each powerful thrust, tightening her grip on him with her strong legs and supplementing each one of his movements with frantic sensual movements of her own.

Hold my hand
Want you to hold my hand
Hold my hand
I'll take you to a place where you can be
Hold my hand
Anything you wanna be because
I...

They dragged it out for as long as they could…For this was a moment they wanted to mark for them…Not for this trip or how bad it had turned out…Just for them. Then finally, Jean began letting out louder moans as she kissed her lover with more fervor as she felt herself nearing a powerful orgasm. It was coming on strong and Scott could sense it in her movements and hear it in her moans, so he began to speed up his thrusts, driving her closer and closer as he watched her beautiful, angelic face contort with delight.

“Oh God Scott! Yes! I love it-ugh-And I love you-oh God! Love! So good!” she yelled as she felt her building orgasm reach a near fevered level.

“Jean…So hot…Oh God…So close,” he said as his hands found their way to her large, sexy breasts and gave them a firm squeeze as she tightened her legs around his torso as her pussy began to throb and contract around his hard cock.

Then finally, Jean’s body gave out and a powerful orgasm hit her, sending her into a world of pleasure.

“Oh YEEEESSSSS!”

Her Earth shattering climax got Scott to cum as well, as he let out a deep grunt as he shot his load into her pussy with one last powerful thrust and collapsed atop her, capturing her lips in deep, loving kiss as they both swam in a pool of sweet pleasure.

The sweat of their bodies mixed as their hands roamed while their lips touched. While they needed time to recover from their intense orgasms, their desire still remained strong as their passion continued to drive them. Feeling desperate for more of the pleasure and comfort that only Scott Summers could give her, Jean took the initiative and flipped her lover over so that now she was on top straddling his pelvis. The sight of her beautiful naked body in the night quickly caused Scott to become hard once again and once he was ready, Jean eagerly guided him back into her vagina, letting his long, hard length fill her as the feeling of blissful pleasure and contentment filled her mind as she and the man whom had stolen her heart continued to make love.

“Scott-uh-oh God-More! More! Oh God it’s so good!” she cried as her body arched in delight as she began gyrating her hips with Scott’s dick inside her, riding him to another world of pleasure.

“Jean-ugh-Oh…Oh yeah! So beautiful…So wonderful!” gasped Scott as he began thrusting up into her with each movement of her hips, taking a firm hold her as he helped her establish another strong rhythm, this one more frenzied and powerful than the last.

Jean’s breathing turned to gasp as she began chanting Scott’s name with each thrust into her tight wetness. The sweat now poured off her body, causing her to glow in the dim light, which only served to make her seem all the more like the angel Scott knew she was. The look on her face was one of pure ecstasy and as the strong rhythm of their united bodies continued to send waves of pleasure through each of them, Scott’s hands soon found their way to her face, gently touching and tracing a path down her cheek where so many tears had fallen because of so many complications from her family. Now, tears of joy and euphoria fell where tears of sorrow had once dominated and with each passionate movement, he drove away those feelings of sadness and loss with the love and pleasure that only he could give her.

Jean’s moans were now becoming louder and louder as she rode him with increasing vigor, driving her closer and closer to another climax. It was coming on very strong as she placed her hands atop Scott’s sweaty, well toned chest, practically leaning on him for support as she focused with each sway and gyration of her body towards attaining the pleasure and euphoria that she so sorely desired.

“That’s it Jean…” gasped Scott as listened to her sweet moans of pleasure, “That’s it…Let it all out…It’s okay.”

As he took her hands, she finally began to slow in her movements as she felt her body start to contort in the fury of her intense orgasm. She looked as though she was dancing on him as she threw her head back, closed her eyes, and let out a single prolonged moan of delight.

“OHHHHH SCOTT!”

As her hips stopped gyrating, Scott continued to thrust upwards into her vagina with his hard dick as he felt it clamp down tightly over his cock, giving him the extra push he needed for his release.

“JEAN!” he moaned as he shot another load of his semen deep into her wet pussy as he felt her release her warm juices upon him.

Scott Summers and Jean Grey had faced plenty of challenges in their relationship and this latest one had been by far the most trying. But despite all the complications…Their love still remained strong. They kept making love in a desperate, yet tender show of affection and closeness, letting each other know that they had no intention of ever letting go no matter who wanted to tear them apart.

The soft, warm feel of their naked bodies as they swam in a plethora of pleasure and ecstasy helped reaffirm the love that had come under such fire from Jean’s family. Each blissful sensation was wrought with passion, heart, and love. In feeling so close and so in tuned with her lover, Jean felt more certain than ever that the man before her was truly her soul mate…The man who was worth leaving the nightmare that was her family behind for the hope of a life filled with happiness, excitement, and passion. And having lost so much in his life, Scott never thought in a million years that he would ever find such happiness again…Yet thanks to this beautiful woman…This angel that had captured his heart and soul…He had found the happiness and love that he never thought he would ever get the chance to experience.

With one final gasp and one last climax, Scott Summers and Jean Grey collapsed upon the soft mattress of the motel bed. They were now tired and exhausted both mentally and physically, but a look of ecstasy never left their faces as their naked bodies remained entwined as they continued to exchange soft kisses while they sank into a comforting, restful peace in each other arms.

Hold my hand
Want you to hold my hand
Hold my hand
I'll take you to the promised land
Hold my hand
Maybe we can't change the world but
I wanna love you the best that, best that I can
The best that I can

“Scott…Thank you,” said Jean softly as she felt her tired body relax into a sweet bliss of contentment.

“Anytime Jean…” he said in response, slowly stroking the side of her face.

“You’ve given me so much…” she said, her words thick with emotion as she relished in the soft feel of his warm hands, “You’ve given me more than I ever could have dreamed. And even though my family won’t accept you…You still give me strength…You still give me love.”

“It doesn’t matter what they think, Jean,” said Scott lovingly as he smiled warmly at her, helping to ease the conflicted look on her face, “I still love you…Nothing can change that…Not your family…Not the world you were brought up in…Nothing.”

Feelings of joy and comfort soon overshadowed feelings of loss and sorrow. All the anguish her parents had caused her seemed to melt away in the arms of this man whom had given so much love to her. It felt so amazing…Being there in the arms of the man she loved, feeling as though this was the man she truly wanted to be with now and forever no matter what narrow minded people like her family said. Now, she felt as though nothing could touch her…Nothing could harm her while she was with this man. He had given her the strength she needed to break away…He had given her the love and happiness that she once never believed she would ever get a chance to feel. And thanks to this powerful moment, she felt she had all she needed now and forever to be who she truly was at heart.

“Let’s just run away, Scott…” she told him, “Let’s get out of this place and never come back. Let’s run off…Be together…Live together…And love together. I don’t care what my parents think or say…They can’t control me now.”

“I don’t think they ever had control of you to begin with, Jean,” said Scott in response as he continued gently stroking the side of her face, “I think you ran away from them a long time ago…They just couldn’t accept it.”

“But they still managed to make my life a living hell…” she said, her words growing more deep and emotional as she snuggled closer to her lover, “They wanted to control me…What I did, who I was friends with, and even how I felt.”

“But they failed Jean…Don’t ever forget it because I know as well as you do…They failed,” he said to her, making certain that she remembered.

“I know…But it sure didn’t stop them from trying,” she said as her tone became more distant as exhaustion soon began to catch up with her, “They didn’t even want me to love the man I loved. And that was the last straw…That was it for me…I’m through with them.”

“Jean…They’re still your family,” he reminded her, “You can’t change that…”

“I know…I know,” she said admitted, “But I can’t take them trying to control me anymore. I just want to be who I am…Live life on my terms and not theirs…And love the people I want to love.”

Scott then fell silent he smiled warmly at her, feeling so amazed that this beautiful woman had such great strength within her. It took a lot to break away from one’s family, but Jean Grey had done it…And no matter what the future held for her and Scott, she knew she was ready for it no matter what it may bring.

“You are…An amazing woman, Jean Grey,” he told her as he saw the tired, yet happy look upon her face.

“And you’re a wonderful man,” she told him in response.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to tell you just how much you mean to me…” he told her, his tone deep with emotion.

“With me, it’s the thought that counts. And yours…Like you…Are beautiful,” she said, meaning every word in the utmost as she relished in the sweet feeling of resting in the arms of the man she loved.

And with those words, they met in one last soft kiss, feeling so tired, yet so content and happy that if the world ended right then and there, it wouldn’t have mattered in the slightest to them. After the kiss broke, Jean seemed too tired to move as Scott gently pulled the warm sheets over their naked bodies and snuggled close to her.

“I love you…” he told her, helping to cap off a profound, yet amazing night.

“I love you too…” she said as she finally slipped into a world of dreams in the arms of her soul mate.

************************************************************************

For a good long while, Scott remained awake in bed with his lover, gently stroking her long, red hair and admiring her beautiful, angelic face. It had been such a tumultuous day that he just couldn’t fall asleep. While the meeting with her family had not gone the way he had hoped to say the least, none of that really mattered to him now as his thoughts continued to drift.

Scott found himself thinking about some of the things she had told him, like running away together from this shallow world and living life on their terms. It was proof enough for him that they were both meant for each other and they were in this for the long haul. Such words made him think a bit about things like marriage and family, which was something he never thought he’d think about…Yet as he looked at the sleeping redhead in his arms, he couldn’t deny that such thoughts hung strong over his mind.

It definitely gave him a lot to think about concerning his future with Jean. He truly couldn’t see himself being with any other woman like this. She was his soul mate…She was the one. Being with her had been nothing short of an adventure, but it was one he had come to cherish so much.

Finally, Scott felt himself start to nod off in the late hour of the night, but just as he was about to slip into a world of dreams…A soft knock suddenly jolted him back to a state of alertness.

“What the…” he wondered as he looked back at the door.

At first he thought it was nothing, but then he heard it again. Letting out an exasperated sigh, Scott slipped out from under the sheets, careful not to wake his sleeping lover. In the darkness, he managed to gather his boxers and jeans and quickly slipped them on as the knocking continued. He wanted to find his shirt as well, but he chose to ignore it as the knocking became more eager.

“Okay, okay…I’m coming,” he said, still tired and hoping this wasn’t some late night prank or joke.

Not even taking the time to look through the peep hole, Scott opened the door in a tired daze…But as soon as he saw who it was, a look of shock quickly fell over him, for it was probably the last person he thought he’d see.

“Mr. Grey?” said Scott, his sleepiness quickly wearing off as he saw the elderly man standing before him.

“Um…Hi,” he said as he made eye contact with the ex-marine he had so ridiculed and looked down on, “Am…Am I interrupting something?”

“Depends on your definition…” said Scott in a somewhat sarcastic tone, not seeming too happy to be standing in front of the man who had at once seemed bent to keep him and Jean from being together.

John Grey just sighed…Knowing this was going to be harder than he thought.

“Well…I guess I deserve that,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck, “But…Look Scott, I searched high and low for the past three hours trying to find you and Jean…I searched every single place I thought you could possibly be. Then I remembered…I remembered just how little I truly knew about my daughter and the world she lives in…And came to probably one of the last places I would have looked otherwise. And here you are…”

Scott still didn’t look too impressed, not that John blamed him, but he wasn’t going to leave until he said his peace. There was just so much at stake here, for this wasn’t something he could buy, repair, or replace…This was his daughter. As much as he hated himself now for what he had done over the years…He figured it wasn’t too late to start anew, even though he knew both Jean and Scott had plenty of reasons not to believe him.

“Please…Just…Hear me out,” said John, almost begging to hold onto whatever shred of a belief he had in him.

“I’m listening…” said Scott, not sounding too hopeful, but deciding to let this man say what he wanted to say none the less.

John Grey took a deep breath, for he didn’t know exactly how he was going to say exactly what he wanted to say. But he was through making things worse…He was through being the problem in his daughter’s life and not the guidance that a parent should be. He knew he had a lot to make up for…But he just needed one chance to change things for the better…One chance for a new beginning.

“I know…That I failed as a parent on so many levels,” began John as Scott listened attentively, “I…I practically threw my own daughter away without a single trace of remorse because I just…I thought I was doing what was best for her. I threw her in an asylum, sent her to every doctor I could find, and tried to pound what I thought was best into her head…But I never made it better…I only made it worse.”

“And you’re only realizing this now?” said Scott somewhat skeptically, still reeling after the things he had heard him and his wife talking about that had caused him to run out on them in the first place.

“Yeah, yeah…I know,” said John with a grudging tone, “A little late for excuses…That I will admit. But…I just…I don’t want to lose my daughter. I don’t want her to go through life looking back at me and her family as being problems that stood in her way…I don’t want her to live on thinking that we don’t care for her…Because we do. It’s just…It’s hard…Trying to get beyond some of the things that have driven our family and our name.”

The strain in the old man’s tone became more apparent as he struggled to get out what he wanted to say…Having never truly spoken from the side of a father and only from the side of a Grey seeking to carry on the family legacy. It made Scott take what this man had to say more seriously…Thinking that maybe he was truly being sincere with this…Maybe he truly meant what he said. There were still plenty of things John wanted to say…But in the end, he knew there was only one truly important matter that he desperately wanted to lay to rest before he lost his little girl forever.

“I guess…What I’m trying to say…To both you and Jean is…I’m sorry,” he finally said, wanting to make it clear that he meant these words in every regard, “I truly am sorry…For not being the man I should have been.”

That pretty much summed it all up for John Grey, who felt somewhat lighter upon getting that off his chest. He didn’t know if Scott would accept it after how he and the family had treated him, but at least he had said what he had so desperately wanted to say. He just wished that he had said it so much sooner.

Scott was nearly flabbergasted by the dramatic change in demeanor from this man who had seemed so cold and shallow from the beginning. But in seeing the strain on this man’s face along with the desperation of his voice as he stood there, begging for forgiveness for something that by all accounts he should have done from the get go…Scott Summers managed to see beyond the hurt he had caused both him and Jean…For when he looked into the eyes of this old man, he knew he meant every word and such a moment like this was most certainly not a moment to be squandered.

“There…” he said, breaking the silence, “I’ve said it. You can slam the door in my face now if you want…I don’t expect either you or Jean to forgive me, but…”

However, Scott didn’t let him finish, for now he had something to say as well.

“Mr. Grey…” he began, “Sir…I love your daughter. I love her more than anything in the world…And I came here into your world seeking your blessing and approval. And even though you and your family made it clear that you thought I wasn’t good enough for her…That doesn’t change how I feel about her.”

John Grey simply nodded, not arguing or scoffing at it like he probably would have under different circumstances, but he continued to listen.

“Jean…Is an amazing woman,” Scott went on to say, “She’s given me so much…And I can never tell you just how much happiness she’s brought into my life. I want to be with her…I want to be a part of her life…And a part of her world. And I promise you…I promise you and your entire family…That I will do everything I can. I will go to the ends of the Earth…Just to make sure she’s happy, safe, and secure no matter what. And…If I could get your blessing…If I could get your approval to be with her and make her happy with whatever life brings us…Then we’ll can call it even.”

John Grey, a man who had made so many wrong decisions with his daughter, couldn’t help but smile at the young man’s words. Jean was right when she said he was different…He saw that now. And when he thought back to just how far this man was willing to go and just how much he endured of their scrutiny…He knew that if ever there was a man who could love and care for his daughter…It was the man standing before him.

“Scott Summers…” he said to him with a deeply grateful tone, “I couldn’t think of a better man to bestow my trust and faith in. Just promise me one thing…Look after my little girl. Love her in the way I should’ve…Be there for her in the way I wasn’t.”

“You have my word, sir…” said Scott with a smile, “As a man…A soldier…And a guy who’s just plain lucky to be blessed with the love of your daughter…I promise you that I’ll always love and protect her.”

Such words finally brought a smile to John Grey’s face as he held out his hand for Scott to shake, which he willingly accepted. And at long last…He finally had what he had come here to get…The blessing and approval of Jean Grey’s family. It would still be a challenge getting around the rest of the complications of the world that Jean Grey had grown up in and rejected…But with this fateful moment, at least they had taken the first step in the long road to recovery.

“Thank you…” said the old man in a truly indebted tone, “And I promise you…If you do your part, then I’ll do mine and work to sooth things over with the rest of the family and change things for the better. You have my word…”

“I appreciate that sir…” said Scott with a smile, glad to see that things could finally change for both Jean and her family after so many years of struggle, “Do you want to tell all this to Jean?”

Not knowing how he was going to face his daughter again after what he did, the look on John Grey’s face quickly fell.

“No…It’s probably better if she hears it from you anyways,” he told him, ready to turn and walk away, leaving Jean and her lover in peace, “I doubt she’ll want to talk to an old, selfish failure. Just look after her and let her know that I’m really, truly…”

Just then, before he could finish, John Grey’s words were interrupted by the sound of a voice that nearly gave him a heart attack…For it was the voice of his little girl, who was now a beautiful young woman…One he was more proud than ever to call his daughter.

“Daddy…” said Jean as she now stood before her father fully clothed and with tears in her eyes.

“Jean…” he gasped, not knowing what to say or do to the little girl he had brought so much hardship on.

But there were no need for words…For Jean had heard everything. And in a gesture that seemed many years overdue…Jean Grey threw her arms around her father and brought him into a strong, loving hug, letting her tears flow freely as she held onto the man who had once made her life so complicated.

“Thank you…” she said to him, choking on her words as she sobbed into his shoulder, “Thank you, Daddy…”

John Grey simply smiled back, feeling so overwhelmed with happiness and relief that he had not lost his little girl. He hugged her tightly, never wanting to push her away again. He had made so many mistakes as a man and a father…But he’d be damned if he was going to keep making them. He knew he was long overdue for this…But as he held his now fully grown daughter in his arms, he knew he was finally ready to begin.

And as John Grey continued to embrace his daughter, ushering in what he knew would be a new beginning…He turned back to the smiling young man standing before him who he was now eternally indebted to. And even though he knew the road to recovery between Jean and the family would be hard…At least he would always be assured that his little girl was in good hands.

************************************************************************

AN: Well, there you go! The biggest challenge to Scott and Jean’s relationship has finally come and gone. It may have been a little rough at times, but they still managed to come out stronger than ever. That song that I mentioned up there by the way was Hootie and the Blowfish’s “Hold My Hand.” They own it, I don’t, so please don’t sue! Now that this is behind them, the future seems bright and plenty of new possibilities lay open to the both of them! This fic has really brought about many challenges and tribulations, but with this latest success, the story is now about to head into the home stretch! The end is in sight folks and it’s been a long, eventful ride the whole way! So what do you think of it all? Have you liked this story and everything I’ve put into it? Please tell me while there’s still more story to tell! Send me your reviews via email at slickboy444@aol.com or post them on the fanfiction website! Thank you all very much for reading and I wish everybody the best!