Basic Instincts

Chapter 9 – Redemption

2 weeks later…

"I'm glad you decided to keep the school going." Summer smiled as she and Ororo were walking through the garden in the back yard.

"Well, that's your father's dream plus lots of children need this place, they need help in learning to control their powers." Storm smiled back, taking her friend by the arm. "Speaking of which, how does it feel to become a common class 4 mutant?"

The brunette laughed at the last part:

"Strange, actually. All my life I felt all those powers running through my veins and now…part of them just gone…"

"They are not gone. They are just regenerating after you spent so much of the energy holding the Alcatraz still. Hank said…"

"I know." Summer interrupted. "They will redevelop. It may take months or years though…"

"You are not depressed about that, are you?" The other woman asked.

"No! At least I don't think so." She looked at the mansion, covered in flora. "So, how'd Wolverine holding on?"

"He's ok. Rogue helps him get through all the emotional pain. Those two don't understand they where they're heading but I know they gonner be fine."

"Oh, I never got a chance to talk to Anna…"

"She's staying as well as Warren." Ororo answered. "I'll tell even more, he'll be teaching…"

"Oh, you're not thinking of making her his student, are you? Cause I hear those student-teacher relationships are permitted." The younger girl smirked and got a playful kick on the shoulder from Storm.

"And you? What are you planning to do? You know, you can always stay here?" The white-haired woman asked finally.

Summer stopped walking coursing Ro to stop as well. She took in the back view of the Institute and corners of her lips slowly went up:

"I've been thinking of some traveling."

"But you will come back, right?" Hope in Storm's voice clear as glass.

"Sure." The brunette nodded. "Someday…"

As the women made their way inside the other figure went to stand in the balcony for warm sun to caress its face. Logan stood still for a second; remembering and rethinking everything he's done. His senses went dull and he didn't hear someone else appearing behind him until the person was standing next to the feral-man, glancing in front of them, nowhere in particular.

Rogue didn't say anything. She knew he felt her presence and that was enough. For both of them. And even though she could touch, having taken the cure, she wasn't planning to rush things up between them. Logan was a hard man with mysterious horror past but as the sun touched the young woman's face she knew they would be fine. All they needed was just a little time. And now they had all the time in the world…

"We've just arrived to Sydney, Australia. The local time is 3:47 p.m. and the temperature is 31C above zero. We're glade you chose flying with American Airlines. We hope you enjoyed your flight and wait for your next journey. Thank you."

Twenty minuets later Summer with suitcase and a bag went out of the arrival's gate and made her way to a huge glass wall through which the roads to the city could be seen. As her gaze fell on the thousands of cars, streaming through the country roads, she suddenly felt at ease…

Someone's hands covered Summer's eyes unexpectedly and a smile crossed the girl's beautiful features. She took his hands away, turned in his arms and finally hugged him. Him, the one she was willing to be the arms of for so long. Life hasn't been exactly fair to them but everything's well that end well. She felt a pair of strong arms encircle around her waist and held her fragile form even tighter if that was possible.

"I can't believe I have you with me.." He whispered.

Summer was strong, she really was. But even she's had enough on her plate for the last month. The brunette's eyes became glossy as she felt hot tears building in the back of her eyes.

"Me too." She answered, her voice on the edge.

"Hey…" John took her small hands in his bigger ones. "Don't cry. Aren't you happy?"

Summer looked up, tears shining even brighter:

"More then you can imagine."

John bend down to be on her high level and as they lips met it seemed the time froze, wrapping them in the tight embrace of eternity. The kiss, gentle and soft at first, deepened as they both poured all the pain they've been through while waiting for this moment. Moment of their reunion. While neither of them ever said 'I love you' aloud they both felt it. And in their case words weren't necessary. Finally the lovers broke apart for the lack of air.

"Come on." John took her hand in his, entwining their fingers, her things in the other hand. "I'll show you the city."

The girl smiled and, planting a soft kiss on his cheek, a gesture appreciated greatly by him, followed:

"What were you doing this couple weeks, by the way?"

"Oh…" Pyro bit his bottom lip, trying to make an impression that he was deep in thought. "Well, for one, thinking of how am I gonna live with woman so much powerful then me…"

"I imagine we can think something over." She smirked and the couple made their way out of the airport to their new life. Together.