Disclaimer: I do not own x-men first class. If i did...well, there would be a LOT more slash. Just sayin'.

A/N: Thank you all for your wonderful reviews and never ending support. I will miss all your wonderful comments. Thank you so much for reading my story, it's dedicated to you.

It took Chicago seventeen months to fix the crumbled streets back to the way they were. Another sixteen for repairing the walls of damaged buildings. Some mutants were caught and put in jail for their crimes. So were humans. Raven, Hank and Sean had rented out a wide airy penthouse just outside of the bustling city. Their parents had decided to send them money under anonymous addresses. Hank had been getting some work done in the government concerning mutant rights. Raven was saving up to open a clothing line. Sean was learning how to get his voice back. He had begun to go to school. Raven often walked through the streets at night, something Charles once told her never to do. In an alleyway, deserted and crumbling, right by an old candy shop, she'd leave a board and set up a game of chess. She always hoped it would be played with in the morning. So far it hadn't been touched.

Raven didn't like living under the impression of false hope. So she accepted the fact that Erik and Charles had died together over a year ago. Still, she set up the board, and continued to check it every morning on her way to work.

Today, it was sunny. The clouds were full and open, their fluffy open white arms expanding out over a dawn touched sky. Raven strode on slowly, her boots clacking against the cement, and her nails, newly painted, reflected the rising of a fresh awakening sun. She carried a skip to her step, her hair bouncing along with her, her arms warm and uncovered, her old tattoo grimacing up at her. She remembered when she and Charles had run this path, up the winding streets and through deserted walks. How long ago had that been? She faltered, her steps slowing as she approached the alleyway, dappled and still teeming with shadows. But her eyes amber eyes followed a ray of lone sun, illuminating a space close to the resounding chessboard. She walked forward, her purse soon slipping from her grip as she studied the game set. There was a rook placed just so under a queen, the metal pieces had been bent and molded into the shape and delicate article of a rose, her favorite flower.

The game had been completed, two kings left standing on the same side of the board...

…And Raven released a breath she hadn't known she had been holding for thirty three months…

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Fin.