Hanging By A Moment

Hanging By A Moment
Chapter 39: New Beginnings

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While Betsy and Warren were making the night memorable in their own way, the party went on back at Alumni Hall. The festivities continued into the night with the buffet tables being stripped bare by hungry attendees and the dance floor being crowded almost the entire time. It was everything Professor Charles Xavier had hoped for in celebrating the momentous ten year mark of his Academy’s opening, but it was still wasn’t over just yet.

After taking plenty of pictures with old friends, news affiliates, and contributors, the final task of this glorious celebration was at hand…The grand opening of the new main office and the unveiling of the big winner for the lucky artist who’s work would adorn the entrance for generations to come. For many it was a very exciting moment…But for others, it was outright nerve racking.

“Ooh, just ten more minutes Peter!” said Kitty in an excited tone as she, Piotr, and many of the others were now off the dance floor and gathering near the stage in preparation for the big announcement.

“Ugh, don’t remind me…” said Piotr as he adjusted his collar somewhat, trying to steady his breathing as his eyes kept darting back and forth from his watch, “Who would have thought a contest like this would be so nerve racking.”

“Hey, relax big guy!” said Remy as he gave his friend and encouraging slap on the back, “Ya made it dis far, didn’t ya? Shouldn’t be to hard to go just a little bit further and take him de grand prize!”

“Yeah, and it’s quite a prize man,” commented Scott, “Five thousand dollars should keep you well supplied with paint and easels for plenty of time to come.”

“Thanks for your encouragement comrades,” said Piotr with a light hearted smile, “But I have to win that money first before I decide how I’m going to spend it.”

“Well…Any ideas on what yer gonna do with it sugah?” asked Rogue, “Or have ya just been worrying yourself silly with this waitin’ the whole time?”

“Oh no, I have plans for that money…If I win of course,” commented Piotr with a sneaky smile as his glance shifted back towards Kitty.

“Oh…Care to give a girl a little hint?” asked Kitty, growing a bit intrigued by her lover’s sneaky words.

“Like I said, Katya…” replied Piotr as he shook his head, “I have to win first.”

“And we should know for sure any moment now…” said Jean as she watched teacher of the year, Hank McCoy, walk up to the podium in preparation for the announcement.

“Oh boy…” said Piotr, growing nervous once again, “Here goes…”

Everybody continued to give their Russian friend as much encouragement as they could, but it was clear that he wouldn’t be relieved of his tension until after the winner was declared. Kitty held onto this strong, muscular arm tightly as they waited for the formalities to begin, which would finally reveal to them whether or not the ‘inspiration’ they had so ardently put into this piece was enough to make it worthy of triumph.

They were now just minutes away as the noise around them began to die down and everybody’s attention once again was shifted back towards the center stage where Hank McCoy was now ready to cap off this momentous party.

“Attention…Attention,” he said into the microphone as he tapped it a bit with his hand to make sure it was working, “Ah there we go, thank you all for once again. If only some of my classes got this quiet so fast then life would be so much easier…”

This comment earned him a few laughs, but Hank kept things going, thinking he had probably tried enough jokes for the night.

“I know, I should stop trying with the jokes,” he said with a chuckle, “But in light of such an eventful night, we all have reason to be merry, for there is so much more to celebrate other than a simple ten year anniversary. The Xavier Academy has gained such great rank and the accomplishments of every single student and staff member has made this wondrous institution truly a place in a league all it’s own. And of course…All of this wouldn’t be possible without the work of one very special man who put this whole thing together. And with that, I once again give you the man of the hour and of the night…Professor Charles Xavier.”

Another round of applause erupted from the crowd as the Professor was wheeled up onto the stage with the help of his old friend, Eric Lensherr. Behind him, a large, covered canvas was illuminated by the lights…Signaling to the nervous Piotr Rasputin that the decision had already been made…And it was only a matter of seeing whether or not it was his painting behind that shroud.

“This is it, Petey!” said Kitty, sounding a bit more excited rather than anxious, “Get ready…We’re about to find out!”

All Piotr could do now was take a deep breath as the applause died down and Professor Xavier leaned into the microphone to send everybody who had been a part of this momentous night one final word of thanks.

“Thank you all…” he said with a truly jubilant expression upon his face, “I mean it, this truly is a great moment for the Academy and all those who are a part of it.”

Finally, as the applause stopped, Professor Xavier took a deep breath as he prepared to send all his grateful guests off with one final speech.

“When I was a child…” he began, “My mother always taught me that knowledge was key for anybody who wanted to see their dreams become reality. And just before she died, she told me that I had a great gift for using knowledge to help others. It was through those words which I had a dream…A vision…A goal to use this gift that I have been blessed with to help the world in whatever way I could. Along the way, I have had plenty of ups and downs…Yet through it all, I never lost sight of my dream.”

Xavier had to pause for a brief moment as he took in the sheer power of the moment, but a simple smile and glance from his good friend Eric, who had been with him every step of the way, helped push him forward.

“The Xavier Academy is the culmination of a dream I once had as a child…” he continued as the rest of the crowd listened attentively to this man’s strong words, “A dream to leave a legacy for the future generations of the world. I know full well that this wondrous place is sure to outlive my existence in this world…But even when that time finally comes, I’d like to think that a part of me will always be here within these walls…Watching over the generations of students come here to live, learn, and grow into the future leaders of our world. And granted, I have seen much of humanity’s dark side in all my years…But through working with the wonderful people here at the Academy, I have also seen the best it has to offer. And for that, I thank you all for being here with me on this wonderful night…I thank you all for making this Academy something that shall truly leave a positive mark upon the world. And from the bottom of my heart…I thank you all for helping an old man see his dream finally come to life.”

A large round of applause erupted from the audience from students and non-students alike as they cheered and hollered words of encouragement and jubilation at the old man’s words. But he was still not done…There was still one last matter to take care of. And for the weary Piotr Rasputin…This was the moment of truth.

“Now, in celebration of this momentous night…” continued Professor Xavier as the spotlight sifted to the still covered painting behind him, “We are also here to commemorate the grand opening of a new main office for which this Academy shall be run for many years to come. It has taken five years of planning and work to bring this centerpiece of campus life into being and through the blood, sweat, and tears of such toil, I believe it will truly leave it’s mark on the students of the future…As well as the present. And adorning the main entrance of this monument to a dream shall be a piece of art that I for one believe to be a true majesty of imagination…”

As he heard this, Piotr actually began to sweat a little as Xavier wheeled himself back in preparation to undo the veil. Now, all eyes and cameras were on the canvas and winner of the contest was finally about to be announced.

“We held a major contest among top artists from all over the state,” said the Professor as the excitement among Piotr and his friends reached a fevered pitch, “There were over 500 entries…500 that we had to narrow down to three for this momentous night. And after careful consideration from both myself and a league of judges from the art world at large…We managed to select one piece that I feel will leave a genuine mark on all those who see it. And with that…I’m proud to announce the winner of the Main Hall art contest…The winner who will have their piece immortalized in the very hall for which generations of future students shall pass through along with a hefty five thousand dollar prize…One of our very own students…Piotr Rasputin!”

And then, in one fluid motion, Professor Charles Xavier pulled the rope on the veil, uncovering the winning painting that had been so carefully created by Piotr with the help of a beautiful young woman that had come to symbolize everything he wanted to capture in a great work of art…Kitty Pryde.

It was a piece that dazzled everybody. It was part landscape, part portrait. In the foreground, there was a birds eye view of the distinctive layout of the Xavier Academy from above, looming over a pristine night sky. It was done in a way that resembled the care and detail of something on par with Monet, but that wasn’t what truly made it stand out. By far, what captured the imagination of everybody was the image of a beautiful, spirit-like outline of a woman resembling a goddess dominating the sky, smiling down upon the land below her with a look of compassion, care, and love. The image of the woman had been the center of Piotr’s work…And of course, his friends could probably guess where the inspiration of the woman came from.

Upon seeing his magnificent piece up there on stage for all to see…The Russian born artist literally froze in a state of shock as cameras flashed and cheering erupted all throughout the room, the loudest of which came from the woman he loved.

“Oh my God…” gasped Piotr, feeling truly at a lost for words as Kitty was literally jumping up and down for joy.

“You did it, Peter! You did it! You won!” she exclaimed as she placed dozens of kisses upon his face as a smile wider than anything she had ever seen adorned his face.

“Vay to go, big guy!” exclaimed Kurt as he and the others gave the flabbergasted Russian artist a big pat on the bat as his mind continued to attempt to process what was happening.

Then, as the spotlight from above came over him and everybody, Professor Xavier included, shifted their focus to the young man who had turned a moment of inspiration into a masterpiece…It finally dawned upon Piotr Rasputin…He had won. After so much toil and effort…He had won. And all he could do in response was smile widely as he took the women he loved in his arms and proceeded to kiss her passionately in front of everybody.

The young man’s actions brought a wide range of cheers from his friends, who urged him on even after he broke the kiss and walked upon the stage to shake the Professor’s hand and accept the five thousand dollars that came along with first prize. Yet the money was only arbitrary in Piotr’s mind…For as he looked back at his proudest creation, it came upon him that this was something that would adorn the main hall for generations to come. And no matter how long he lived…The impact of his work would be felt by all those who took in it’s splendor. And in many ways, that was more than any artist ever could have asked for.

“Congratulations my boy…” said Professor Charles Xavier as he proudly shook the young man’s hand as a wave of camera flashes captured the moment that was sure to be lodged in the memory of the humble Russian art student forever.

“Thank you Professor…” said Piotr gratefully, feeling humbled by this truly profound moment, “Thank you so much…”

“No thanks are necessary…” assured the Professor with a kind smile, “Your work is more than enough and I’m honored to have someone like you at my Academy.”

Such words made the young man blush in a way strong enough for everybody to see. And nobody seemed to take it so greatly to heart than Kitty Pryde, who actually had tears in her eyes as she took in the truly profound moment before her. This piece that was going to be seen by many generations of students both present and future was something that they had made together…And it wasn’t just with paint. Together they had created something that went beyond mere images…Together they had created something which exhibited meaning so profound that only they could truly grasp it’s splendor. Through love, sex, and emotion…Piotr had captured a moment in time…A moment which would now be forever immortalized for all to see. And in a ways, that moment would always be with the both of them…And it would always give them something to remember whenever they thought about the connection they shared and love that bound them together so strongly.

“Now go on my boy…I think someone in the audience wants to congratulate you a lot more than me,” said the Professor with a smile as he looked back to see the young women he had kissed earlier cheering with more joy than anybody else present.

With a smile on his face and a truly magnificent triumph of art behind him, Piotr Rasputin gave the Professor one last gesture of thanks as he returned to the audience to meet up with the woman who made this whole thing possible. And as soon as he got close enough, she jumped him again and captured his lips in a deep kiss.

“Oh, God I’m so proud of you!” she said upon breaking the kiss and remaining securely in Piotr’s powerful, yet loving arms.

“We all are, Peter…” said Jean as everybody took turns congratulating their friend.

“Thank you everybody…I can’t tell you how much your support means to me,” said the tall Russian with a grateful expression on his face.

“Hey, think nothing of it man,” said Scott, “You’re the only one who could ever create something like that. And I can tell it’s going to look awesome hanging in the main hall for years to come.”

“Well to be fair…I didn’t paint it without help,” said Piotr with a smile as he looked back down at his girlfriend with a loving smile that made her blush profusely.

The others couldn’t help but laugh a bit at Kitty’s reaction, but she didn’t seem to care. She was just so damn happy that nothing in the world could have stopped her from smiling so widely. The man she loved had succeeded in accomplishing something truly great and here she was securely in his loving arms celebrating the moment. What they had put into that work of art that had won the contest had been a single moment captured in time…And ironically, it simply led to another moment the likes of which was every bit as profound.

“So what are you going to do with all that prize money, Peter?” asked Wanda as the applause gradually waned.

“Yeah, 5,000 dollars is a lot o’ money, homme,” added Remy.

“Well…” said the Russian born artist with a mysterious grin, hinting that he already had an idea of what he was going to do, “First of all…I’m going to get my rent paid.”

“Can’t go wrong with that, sugah!” said Rogue as everybody let out a round of laughter.

“And then…” he said as he once again turned to look his lovely girlfriend in her beautiful, blue eyes, “I’m going to use the rest of that money to take Katya on a little summer vacation to Russia…”

Upon hearing that, Kitty’s face lit up like the forth of July as she was once again overcome with surprise and everybody watched on with unbridled amazement as they saw how their upbeat friend reacted.

“Oh my God…Petey, Are you serious?” she exclaimed, looking as though she would explode in a fury of excitement.

“But of course, my love…” he affirmed with a wide smile, “I promised you one day that I would take you to see my home…So consider this to be my little way of staying true to my word.”

That alone was enough to send young Kitty Pryde into a joyous squeal of delight as she cheered in euphoria at her boyfriend’s gesture. It was enough to make some of the others laugh while simultaneously making Piotr blush…But a smile never left his face as he held on strong to the woman who had given him so much inspiration both in terms of his work and in terms of his heart.

“Oh thank you! Thank you, Peter!” she chirped as she planted kiss after kiss upon the cheek of her tall, handsome lover, “I love you! I love you so much! You’re the sweetest guy on the face of the planet! I swear, it’ll be the best trip ever!”

“As long as you’re a part of it…I don’t see how it couldn’t be,” smiled Piotr as the two lovers met in one last passionate kiss amidst the cheers of their friends, who urged them onward to capture the moment and forever treasure it in their memory as something to hang onto…And something to believe in.

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Naturally, the night had reached it’s zenith with Piotr’s triumph and he and Kitty soon left the party to ‘celebrate’ this wondrous event in their own special way. To them, the night had held great meaning to them in terms of growth, for it signified the end of one thing and the beginning of another. Yet they were not the only ones to experience a profound meaning through the course of the night.

For Rogue, Remy, Kurt, Wanda, Pietro, and his girlfriend Crystal, they spent the rest of the evening hanging out with their parents and made plans to stay in touch over the summer. For Eric and Raven, it was truly a joyous time for them as they watched proudly at how much their children had grown. It was one of those moments when they began to feel their age catch up with them, for it showed just how much time had gone by and how much their lives had changed. It was truly an emotional feeling seeing their kids like this…So grown up and so ready to start another step in the journey of life. And as parents, there was no greater reward than seeing the smiles on their faces as they celebrated this momentous event with their kids and the people who were sure to be big parts of their lives for many years to come.

For Rogue and Remy, this year had signified the evolution of something truly beautiful. From the games they played to the moments they shared, they would always remember this time as the time in which they found something with each other that they couldn’t find with anybody else. They were both rebels in their own right…Lovers of a world full of excitement and thrills. And together, they not only found a powerful connection that made life that much more worth living…They found hope for the future…One in which they looked forward to continuing their own special games to their heart’s content..

For Kurt and Wanda, this had been a year of great change. It took only an instant for them to take a chance and explore something that they had no idea would lead to something so amazing and profound. They had known each other for so long and they had been such good friends beforehand…Yet they only needed to take one chance to see just how deep their friendship could go. And much to their surprise and joy…It went deeper than anything they ever could have imagined. From simple flirtation to head over heals in love, their lives together had found new meaning with each other. They had their own connection…Their own unique feelings for each other that had manifested in a way they never could have imagined. And if this year had shown them one thing…It was that when something amazing comes along…It’s a shame to squander such wonder and majesty. And even though it was unclear if they would ever fully understand it…Kurt Wagner and Wanda Maximoff looked forward to cherishing it for many years to come.

Even the once adamant ladies man, Pietro Maximoff, had found meaning with a special someone over the course of the year. Once a man who doubted and scoffed at the notion of love and commitment, he found himself bound to a beautiful blonde haired woman who took his breath away. Her name was Crystal…And to him, she was every bit as beautiful as her name symbolized. Like the others, he had found something with her that he couldn’t find with anybody else. And while he wouldn’t have openly admitted it…It helped him find faith in the power of love…Something that seemed to be a recurring theme for many who had been touched by this splendor.

Love had been a powerful force for so many throughout this fateful year, but nowhere had love had a more powerful impact than for Scott Summers and Jean Grey. At the beginning of the year, neither of them believed in true love. Yet a mere nine months later, not only did they believe in it…They had experienced it in its greatest splendor. It took only one night for everything to change…One moment that would forever impact them, their family, and their friends in a way that neither of them could have every foreseen. And from that moment, they formed a connection unlike anything they had ever experienced before. In many ways, they were still trying to process it…But understanding it was never as important as experiencing it in their minds. And through the memories they had made together…The moments they had shared together…And the happiness they had brought to one another…Scott and Jean had become bound in a way that few people could ever understand. And on this majestic night under the clear sky…The wondrous journey that had taken them so far seemed so incredibly surreal as everything they had found with one another seemed to come together in yet another moment they were determined to hang onto for as long as their hearts desired.

With the party winding down and many of the others making their final leave, Scott and Jean once again found themselves under the pristine night sky in the uninhabited park area behind Alumni Hall. There was still plenty of light and noise coming from the building, but for the two young lovers that had gone through so much in the course of one amazing year, they wanted to have a little peace and quiet together to take in the sheer magnitude of this night and the whole year in general.

They found themselves simply walking along the paved pathways leading around a calm, serene area full of trees and gentle winds. They walked hand in hand with Jean’s arm entwined with that of her lover, simply soaking up the warmth they offered each other in a simple yet infinitely meaningful gesture that showed just how close they had become and how strong they were bound.

“Some night, huh?” commented Scott as both he and Jean walked casually through the quiet, serene night.

“Yeah…Some night,” said Jean in agreement, smiling to herself at everything that had happened and everything that had led up to this moment, “Can you believe it’s really been this long? Has it really been almost a year?”

“I know…I can’t believe it either,” said Scott as he hugged his beautiful lover closer, “So much has happened…But it seems like it all happened so fast. I mean…A year ago, if you told me I’d end up here under the stars with the woman I loved in my arms…I probably would have died of laughter.”

“Yeah…Hell, a year ago I didn’t even believe in love,” said Jean, now seeing some of those old beliefs as being just plain ignorant on her part, “But…I guess things change…And they have a knack for changing just so suddenly.”

“No kidding…” said Scott, who couldn’t help but chuckle somewhat at how far they had come since that fateful moment, “But I guess it’s true what they say about love being a fickle thing.”

“Definitely…” said Jean as she gave Scott’s arm a gentle squeeze, “I guess I was just slow when it came to embracing it.”

“We both were,” conceded Scott, “But we came around eventually. And if I had to do it all over again…I can safely say that I would without hesitation.”

“Amen to that!” said Jean with a grin as they continued to walk together in a comfortable silence under the brilliant shining stars of the warm night.

Neither of them said anything as they continued their trek through the warm spring air of the pristine night. To the both of them, this was the best possible way to spend a night…In the arms of the person they loved. There was just so much to savor…So much to experience together that it seemed almost too much for one lifetime. And for that reason, they sought to relish every moment they could together.

However, for Scott…He had other plans to make this night something that they would both treasure for the rest of their lives. And even though he was a former marine who had faced death more than once in his life…It would be quite possibly the most challenging ordeal he had ever taken on. He had gone over this moment at least a million times in his head…He had talked to his parents and sister about it countless times over the phone…Yet he was still nervous as hell and it definitely began to show the more he thought about it.

Such a shift in his demeanor did not go unnoticed by Jean, who could clearly see the gradual change in his overall poise as they continued to make their way further from the hall and into more quiet surroundings. She had come to know Scott well enough to see when something was on his mind…And given how his mood continued to shift, she could tell it was something major.

“Scott…Is something wrong?” asked Jean, finally breaking the silence.

“What? No…Of course not,” said Scott quickly, snapping himself out of his daze, “Why would anything be wrong?”

“Hey, come on Scott…You should know better than that by now,” quipped Jean, not buying it for a second, “You couldn’t lie to me to save your life.”

Scott simply let out a deep sigh as his heart rate jumped and his breathing became more irregular. He found himself checking his pocket for what must have been the fiftieth time that night to make sure the little ‘surprise’ he brought along for this night hadn’t suddenly jumped out on him…Yet once he felt it was still there, he finally felt as though he had the strength to go through with what he had so meticulously planned.

This night had been full of unexpected surprises and profound memories…Yet Scott knew that what he was about to do would truly cap things off in a way beyond measure. He just hoped he didn’t screw up…For what he was about to say was sure to change their lives and their relationship forever.

“You’re right Jean…” he said, taking a few deep breaths as they both stopped and stood upon a small ridge which offered a nice view of the sky and the city, “I can’t lie to you…So I’m not even going to try.”

“Then…What’s wrong?” she asked him, noticing how his expression became quite serious.

Scott once again found himself hesitating before he began, for this was it…This was what he had been planning and rehearsing in his head for weeks on end now. He didn’t know where this would lead or what Jean’s reaction would be…But the time for contemplation was over…For it was now or never.

“Jean…This night…Has given me a lot to think about,” he said as he firmly gripped her hand, holding it as if to keep her from flying away, “It’s made me think about how important you’ve become to me…And how much you matter to me. You said it yourself…Before we met, neither of us believed in true love. But in one single moment…All that changed. I took one look at you…And everything I once believed about love came crashing down. And even though it took time for me to truly come to grips with it…I now know that what we have…What we share…It just goes beyond anything I could ever understand. It’s like…You are my life, Jean…As necessary as the air I breathe. Without you…I could never be as happy or as strong.”

Jean’s heart jumped at Scott’s words. They were so thick with emotion and sincerity that she couldn’t even begin to formulate a response. There was just so much to his heart…So much to the depths of his love that it was almost overwhelming. However, Scott was not finished…Not by a long shot. He had something he had to say to this woman and he was going to say it come hell or high water.

“I guess…What I’m trying to say it…I love you Jean,” he said to her, his voice beginning to falter under the strain, “I love you more than anything. You are the one for me…The one person I can see myself with forever. Whether it’s when we talk, kiss, or make love…I know it every time you cross my mind…Every time I think of the moments we’ve shared. And I just…There’s so much I’ll never be able to tell you…There’s so much I’ll never be able to fully explain to you. But…I was hoping that maybe on this night…I could try.”

Then, what Scott did next nearly caused Jean to collapse right then and there if he hadn’t been holding onto her hand so firmly the whole time. He dropped on one knee and reached into his pocket…Pulling out a beautiful, shining diamond ring that seemed to shimmer in the starlight like a divine treasure. And from this act…Jean knew what Scott was about to do…She knew what he was about to ask her.

“Oh God…” she gasped, feeling short of breath as her heart thumped within her chest as if it was trying to escape, “Scott…”

“Jean Grey…You are the most amazing woman I have ever laid eyes upon,” said Scott, trying to keep his voice from cracking under the strain, “You are the woman I want to be with until the end of time. And I would be honored…As a man and a soldier…If you would be my wife.”

A wave of emotion came over Jean like a tidal wave as tears of joy began streaming down her face. She couldn’t believe it…It was like a dream…A fantasy. Yet she knew in her heart that this was no dream…This was every bit as real as the ground they walked upon. Scott Summers…The man who had captured her heart…The man who had given her more than she ever could have dreamed…Had just asked her to marry him…To seal their love and their bond forever.

It was a moment for which no words could possibly describe…A feeling in which no other could match. Nine months ago…She had first laid eyes on the love of her life. Now here he was…Asking her to spend the rest of her life with him. And as she reveled in such splendor…An overwhelming feeling of happiness consumed her, for she could no longer hold back her emotions any more.

“So…How bout it?” asked Scott, growing intently nervous at her loss for words, “Will you marry me?”

“Oh Scott…” she said, a warm smile forming upon her face as tears filled her eyes, “Yes!”

Then, in a show of unabated joy, Jean threw her arms around her lover and pulled him into a strong embrace…Letting forth all her emotions as she cried tears of happiness into his shoulder, exclaiming her answer to him again and again with unbridled jubilation.

“Yes, Scott! Yes! Yes! Yes!” she said to him, giving him kiss after kiss with each passionate word, “Yes…I will marry you.”

Such words brought out powerful emotions in Scott as well, who couldn’t hold back his tears either as a feeling of pure joy consumed him as he embraced his new fiancé in his arms. He couldn’t believe it…After all this time…Here they were…Crying in each other’s arms in a fit of happiness, for now their love was truly bound now and forever. They were going to be married…They were going to be husband and wife. Until the end of their days…Until the end of time.

“Oh God, Jean…” gasped Scott as they finally parted and he slipped the ring upon her finger, symbolizing the beginning of something truly magical, “You’ve just made me the happiest man in the world.”

“Just returning the favor soldier boy…” she said with a smile she felt him gently wipe away her tears, “This a new beginning…A new journey for the both of us, Scott.”

“I know…” said Scott as he lovingly caressed her beautiful face and held her close with so much love and care, “And no matter where the path ahead leads us…No matter what the future has in store for us…I know we’ll be able to overcome it…Together.”

“Together…” she said as she took in the truly incredible feeling of so much joy and happiness, knowing it would be one to remember for the rest of their lives, “I love you, Scott…I love you so much.”

“I love you too, Jean…Always have…Always will. In sickness and in health…Till death do us part,” he told her, his words thick with emotion as they stood under the shining stars, entranced in the sheer majesty of this amazing moment.

Love was truly an amazing force…Exacting such great influence on both those who believed and doubted it. Even for those who never thought they’d find true love…The mysterious power of one of life’s most mysterious emotions still had a way of exacting a profound influence on people. From the endless boundaries of time to the deepest part of the human soul…Love brought forth a level of power and influence the likes of which few other feelings could offer. For some, those feelings were more understood than others and for two very special lovers…Love would always have a unique and special meaning. And with that, Scott Summers and Jean Grey met in a deep passionate kiss…Forever marking this fateful day for which they would treasure forever.

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AN: Well! There you have it! Scott and Jean are now getting married! Man…What a journey! What an adventure! Through trials and tribulations, triumph and failure…They managed to overcome the challenges that stood in their way and develop something so incredible and profound. It was a long hard road up to this point…But they made it! Love prevailed not just for them, but for all the couples who were a part of this story and now sadly, the end is finally near. Just one more chapter to go…One more part before this truly epic story is finally laid to rest. It has been a true joy writing this wonderful tale! My first ever mature fic had become more than I ever could have hoped for and I can’t thank all of you enough for reading it and being a part of it every step of the way! Now there’s only one part left and I hope to make it truly memorable! But before this fic finally ends, I urge each and every one of you to REVIEW! Send your feedback to me directly via email at slickboy444@aol.com or post it on the adultfanfiction website! Only one more chapter to go, so don’t delay folks! The end is finally near! Thank you all very much for reading this truly epic tale and I wish you all the best!