I'm so glad that so many people have enjoyed this story. This is the final chapter now - all good things must come to an end! But I've got rather attached to Angela Goldsmith, so she might show up again in another story. As always, nothing is mine - thanks so much for all the support and reviews, they mean the world to me. Enjoy the (slightly open-ended) conclusion.

Angela closed her eyes and listened to the music, a contented smile on her lips.

So you think, you think you can tell

Heaven from hell,

Blue skies from pain….

"See, you're enjoying it" Peter smirked at her, "I told you Pink Floyd were cool"

She laughed softly at him, squeezing the hand she held and moving a little closer.

"Okay, they don't entirely suck"

They were laid out on the bed in Peter's room, sunshine that held the promise of coming Fall streaming in through the window and catching at the gold in Angela's hair, giving a warm glow to Peter's pale skin. With practice, she had found that she could slow him and hold him at a normal pace as long as she kept hold of his hand. She just had to remember to let him speed back up before she let go, and there was no recoil to deal with – though as everything seemed to, it still made him hungry. Under the pretence of further practice, they had retired upstairs for him to educate her in what he considered good music, and to enjoy the ability to lay together with her without his fast-twitch muscles and speeding thoughts making relaxation impossible. One arm around her shoulders, holding tightly to her hand, she rested her head on his shoulder and sighed.

"I wish we could do this without using my powers"

"Me too, it tires you out doesn't it?"

She nodded, her other hand sneaking up under his shirt to rest on his flat stomach and pull him closer still. Briefly opening her eyes to look at the stopwatch beside the bed. She could only hold this for about twenty minutes before she began to get so tired that her control would slip. It was paradise, laying here with him perfectly relaxed, letting the music wash over them both and enjoying the warmth of his body beside hers. The stopwatch stood at 11 minutes now. If only I could slow down time too, she thought regretfully. Maybe if she could, then they could have some kind of a future together. Even Erik had been kinder to her lately, seeing the effect it was having on Peter to have somebody he could feel close to – there was no denying the kid wasn't so erratic now that he didn't feel so lonely.

"How about Static?" he said suddenly, "For your codename"

Angela made a wry face at him, snorted with laughter

"That's stupid"

"No it's not! It totally works – like static electricity. I think Static is a great name"

"Yeah I'm not taking advice from you on that, 'Quicksilver' "

"What's wrong with Quicksilver?" he looked a little petulant "I think it suits me"

"Mmm and it's so original, what with you being quick and silver"

"Exactly" he seemed to think he'd proven a point somehow, gave her a squeeze with the arm curled around her and gently placed a hand over the one resting on his middle "I like Angela, though. That's the best name for you"

"Thanks," she yawned, 13 minutes on the clock, she was getting tired, she'd have to let him speed back up soon, "I got it for my birthday"

He grinned and chuckled at her. He loved her sarcastic sense of humour most out of anything about her, even more than her bravery and her intelligence. It matched up with his snarkiness in just the right way. She was silent for a short time, before she'd quietly said

"We have to stop soon, Peter"

"I know, I know.. just a couple minutes more though?"

"I don't mean stop this, now" she said sadly, "I mean stop altogether. Before one of us gets hurt"

He gazed down at her, and internally she kicked herself. He was giving her those puppy-dog eyes again, and she knew she'd hurt his feelings. Even without his speed Peter was a hot mess sometimes, and this *was* the first time he'd ever been with anybody after all.

"Come on, man" she said softly, "Are you really satisfied with a girl you can only have for twenty minutes at a time?"

"Yes" he answered just as softly. She could swear his eyes looked a little damp, please, please don't, I can't handle making you cry, she thought "Twenty minutes with you is better than an hour with anyone else"

"Long-term though? I don't know what this is doing to you, I could be damaging your brain or something. And don't act all rough and tough, you've got limitations like anybody else"

Fifteen minutes. She pulled back softly, letting him pick up a little speed.

How I wish, how I wish you were here….

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl

Year after year….

"I know…." He swallowed hard around a sudden lump in his throat, "And you're probably right. But can't we just have a little longer? I mean, I'm okay for now – can't we just deal with a problem if it happens?"

She felt the little shudder in his body as he started climbing back up to his usual state of animation. Wished she could let him rest for longer, wished she could stay here and hold him all afternoon. Wished that the peace she could give him would last. She truly did feel something deep for the quirky, jumpy kid who had presented her with a rose that matched her hair the moment he had met her. She'd come to know his sensitivity and his loneliness over the past couple of months and hated to add to the burden of isolation that his gifts brought with them, but equally she couldn't spend her life slowing him down just so that they could even connect. It was almost as exhausting as trying to deal with him when he was up to his ordinary pace.

18 minutes, his heart was thundering rapidly in her ear now, almost back up to speed. She smiled, swiped at a tear that she hadn't been aware she'd shed. Turned to put one knee either side of his legs and take hold of both hands, leaning down and pressing her lips against his with a passion that surprised her. Feeling the last of her ability draining away, she let him go back to normal. To her immense surprise, he didn't twitch or move away, but slid his hands around her waist and pulled her close to him, holding on tight. She could feel his heartbeat, now a buzz like a bees wing against her chest. It must have been an enormous effort for him to lay still like this, and she realised with a shock that it was an effort he was making for her.

"Please stay," he whispered into her hair, "I can try if you can too"

She smiled, combed her fingers through his hair, careful not to zap him as she did so. Painfully aware of a sudden that she was laying fully on top of him, their bodies pressed close together, she could feel his muscles spasming rapidly with the need to move, but he stayed. She nodded, and pressed her lips against his once more, loving their warmth and softness, feeling his hands slide lower to rest in the small of her back, thumbs moving in little circles, pressing her hard against him. Then she pulled away, laughter shaking her body

"What?" he asked, frowning in confusion

"I can feel your belly churning, you know" she giggled, "Come on, let's go eat"

"Later" he told her, though he could tell she was right and he was absolutely ravenous, "Come here"

He pulled her back and kissed her deeply, closing his eyes. Soon he'd have to move, the stillness was killing him, but for now this was exactly where he wanted to be.

A/N : Song is 'Wish You Were Here' by Pink Floyd from the album of the same name. Aren't these two so cute? Let's all go get ourselves a Twinkie now and wish Peter and Angela a happy afternoon together.