Sorry for being absent for so long. But I just couldn't make myself write anymore. I'm not being able to write anything for a long time. Only recently, I got myself to write a couple of things, which were not fanfictions. I've begun a couple of fiction works - romantic, of course.

I'm ending this story here because I don't think I can take it ahead any longer. I think I like what I have done. Though I'd like to change a few things and tie up a few loose ends with Phoenix and Jean's story here, I find myself incapable to do it now. In future, maybe I'd make it better, find someone to beta it and give a few suggestions too.

Thanks to all the people who fanned, reviewed and added me as a favorite! I loved the response though I would have liked the people who fan'ed/favorite'd me to review. Anyway, you can still do it. As I always say - Reviews are love!

I'll be back with a bang as soon as I get a new inspiration. Until then, sayonara!

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Epilogue : My Happy Ending

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I opened my eyes and realized I was not in my room. I was in the Xavier Mansion, as visible from the window in front of me which looked over to the huge garden. But I wasn't in my room.

I got up quickly and looked around. I was in a king sized bed with white sheets and I was dressed in one of Logan's shirts and… these weren't my shorts. What was I doing in– suddenly the realization struck– in Logan's room?

I hadn't seen his room in a long time. After he was gone, I never came back in his room. I couldn't. And yet, the familiarity of seeing it again struck me hard.

I got up and pulled on my shoes, trying to remember the last thing that happened. And suddenly, with only one of my shoes on, I trudged towards the mirror in the bathroom and sighed with relief.

It was definitely me.

I was back in my own body.

I fingered one of the loose brown curls in my hand, tinged with white in front when I heard the door to the room open and when I turned around, Logan was there in front of me.

"Brunettes always have a certain charm," he said, smiling slightly and I looked down to see that I still held the curls in my hand. I let them go and looked up at Logan with my arms dangling at my sides. I folded them across my chest, feeling a little defensive, also because I just couldn't let them dangle at my sides. It just felt awkward.

"Are you okay?" He asked, taking a step towards me.

The bathroom was small and I felt goose–bumps erupting all over my neck and arms.

"Uh, yeah," I answered.

"You're nervous?" he whispered, standing where he was.

"No," I said definitely. "I'm not nervous."

"But I can sense it," he said.

"Okay yes, I'm nervous. Among a lot of things," I told him truthfully.

"What all things?"

"Anger," I responded. "Foremost, actually. And I feel sort of light–headed. But that's okay… really. And I feel really confused."

"Confused?"

"Yes," I said, standing straight. I wanted answers and I wanted them now. "First, what am I doing in your room? And these clothes," – I looked down – "They are yours. How am I wearing… them?"

"That's your first question?" He asked, throwing me a smirk.

"Well, the first set of them at least."

"Mystique changed your clothes, if that makes you feel better. And I brought you here after you lost consciousness… because your room needs cleanin'. And mine… well, I got it done a couple of days ago. And I… I took the liberty of thinkin'…"

"Thinkin' what?" I asked.

His eyes bore into mine before he said, "Thinkin' that we'd share a room."

I blushed heavily at that, looking down. I took support against the sink, feeling even more light–headed by the minute.

"Was I wrong?" He asked, stepping forward.

"No, you're just too bold. Audacious."

"Huh."

He stepped closer so that we were face to face and his hand settled on my waist.

I was still looking down at the floor when I asked my other questions. "How did you suddenly realize that… we'd be sharing a room?"

I felt flustered and overwhelmed but I wasn't letting go so easily. There were a lot of things that he needed to clear for me.

"You kissed me back. At that warehouse."

I looked away and he dropped his hand from my waist.

"Why don't you settle down and let me explain?"

"That would be good," I said, nodding my head. I followed him to the bedroom and we settled on a couch. He was sitting in front of me on the bed.

I started first. Before he could say a thing. I had to tell him a couple of things that Phoenix told me before he blamed himself for it.

"I have to tell you something first," I said, looking at him. "Phoenix said a few things to me back there. She said… she was messing with your mind. Trying to make you think about her. She was the one who hit me. It wasn't you. She controlled you to do what she wanted."

He looked grim but he didn't say a think, looking down at the floor, hands at his sides on the bed.

When he got up and covered the distance in a couple of strides, I didn't know how to respond. He pulled me up and into his arms and then, he was staring into my eyes.

"I was wrong," He said. "I was so wrong about you. And… I thought I could keep away, stay away and let you be happy. But I cannot. I hate to think of you in anybody else arms. But… I had nothin' to give you. I still have nothin'. I don't even have a past. I don't know what I was, what I did back then. Though I do know that it was bad. And I wanted to protect you from it. Keep you away. But I can think of nothin' else when I'm away from you. I worry all the time about your safety. And I trust no one else to keep you safe or happy enough."

His hand tucked stray hair behind my ear, making me feel goose-bumps all over as his hand caressed my cheeks. "I've longed for this moment. I'll take it slow. We'll date if that's what you want. I'll take you away if you don't want to stay here. We'll roam the world, see things together. We don't have to fear anythin'. And we don't have to pretend. Just say the word."

His closeness made me feel like a teenager first time in love. And damn it if I was going to mess this up.

I smiled at long last. "I think I'm dreaming. It's too good to be true."

He smiled in return. His voice was gruff and his eyes a dark shade. "I won't have it any other way."

His voice softened and he leaned his head on mine. "I'm so sorry about everything. Everythin' that I should have been, but wasn't."

"I know I didn't make it easy for you," I said back.

"No, you didn't. Not when you were with ice-boy, or Remy. I couldn't bear to see them with you."

I smiled. "There was nobody else besides you. Ever. You've been my hero, my love, my existence since I climbed into your truck that first night."

He groaned. "I've missed you," he said back.

"Me too." My answer was immediate.

"Marie, be mine," he whispered in a soft throaty voice which made me shiver slightly.

I nodded my approval and then, his mouth was on mine.

In no time, I had my legs around him, while he supported me against a wall. We were kissing and I didn't feel like I could get enough of him. My hands roamed over his face, tangled in his hair as he pulled me closer, rough and wild.

And I knew I wouldn't have it any other way either.

I had dreamed of this for so long, there were tears in my eyes when he suddenly let go.

"Did I hurt you?" He asked, his voice worried.

"No," I answered. "It's just that… you're finally here. With me."

When another tear traced my cheeks, he kissed it away. "And it's goin' to be like this for forever more."

I could do nothing but bring his mouth on mine again.

"Logan?" I whispered, when we let go of each other to breathe.

"Hmm?" He muttered as he kissed my neck, my jaw.

"I love you."

I stilled seeing his reaction. I had waited for this moment since ages. And now, when it was finally here, I wanted to see his face as he said it.

He let go of my neck and his eyes focused on mine. "Love is a word that doesn't begin to cover what I feel for you. But for what it's worth, I love you too."

And then, he was kissing me again.

When he let me go for air again, I still didn't have enough of him.

He pushed away and I looked at him, amused and shocked as he bent on one knee before me. My mouth dropped open at the sight. No. Wow. Yes, it was happening.

I was going to laugh when he scolded me. "Don't make this difficult than it already is."

I nodded, feeling exhilarated, joyful, ecstatic - everything, nothing. Shit. Logan was doing it. He was actually going to do it.

"Will you marry me?" he asked, bringing out a ring from nowhere. It was a gold band with a big solitaire on top. And this time, he didn't stop the tears that flowed from my eyes. Happy tears. Tears of contentment, satisfaction.

"Yes," I answered as he got up and slipped the ring on my finger. "Yes."

On day Logan and I married, Remy and Mystique did too. It was a cozy affair in the gardens of the Xavier Mansion and everybody was invited. I didn't know how Mystique and Remy did in fact end together, but Logan said it was during the time when I was in coma. They would end up near my bed, hand in hand and go down for a drink after that. Or something.

Leslie was gone, but I knew he wouldn't have liked us to stop for him. He would have wanted us to go on and we all did go on. I would never forget the friendship he offered me in the bleak situation that I was in. He'd remain in our hearts always for the sacrifice he made and the valor and friendship he offered without asking for anything in return.

Marcus and Eve have continued to run Leslie's work smoothly, but as Juno predicted, Marcus and Eve married but they had problems they wouldn't tell each other and chose to solve on their own terms. Juno married a guy named Raghav, an Asian, and lives happily in the mansion. Raghav, though sweet by face has an ability to create illusions of the most terrifying sorts. He can also be pleasing if he wants to, which he usually is around Juno.

There were still a few loose ends when Logan and I left the Xavier Mansion, but we promised to remain in in touch and help whenever it was required. Magneto was unstoppable as ever but we were a team and whenever there was a need, a quick call was all we needed to hop into a jet and get to the place of activity. Logan and I decided that we would return back to mansion, but first, we deserved a much needed rest in each other's company. Something, which no one disagreed with.

We live in a place near a small lake, hidden by view in cover of old oaks and growing grasses. Logan and I have forbidden anyone to know the real way to find it, except Professor of course. We like to keep it cozy and well away from eager eyes.

Logan works at building sites and for the meanwhile, I'm just a housewife who likes to cook dinners for his husband and drops in at the Mansion on Sundays for defense classes with him.

Remy and Mystique chose to stay at Mansion and are respectable teachers there. They still manage to find out time for one another among all the X-Men activity and teaching, something Logan and I would return to one day.

Not now though. We live in a cocoon of our world in a small house. And I know things would never remain the same as they were today, but I did know one thing that would keep us together. Forever, as Logan said.

Our love.