chapter fifteen • 15
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"she healed the tree,"

•••

10 years. 10 years after Erik terrorised the world. Raven became an icon, a saviour, a role model. Natalie, became a symbol of hope, as terrifying her display was, she proved a point.
Charles, Hank and Natalie never saw Logan after that.
Charles started the school up again, Hank and Natalie became teachers. Natalie taught biology.

"Of course. But the cool kind."

In 1975 Alex and Natalie finally got married. One of the happiest days of her life. She met his family, his parents and his younger brother, Scott Summers.
Natalie and Alex haven't planned to have children, she felt like she couldn't have kids again, not after what happen. And Alex was more than okay, and supportive of her decision.

Alex doesn't work at the school, but since they decided that Natalie lived at the school, he'll live somewhere between his parent's home and the school. She sees him maybe a couple a times a month, since he's working all over the shop. It's not a problem fo Natalie because when they do see each other, they always make the most out of it.

•••

Natalie just finished her class and started talking with a student that was hoping to do some extra credit.

"Mrs Summers, are you sure there is nothing that I can do?" Jean asked. She was one of their top students.

"Miss Gray, I told you, you've already done enough," Natalie laughed. "Now, go, I have some work to do," Jean sighed and made her way out the room.

Natalie grabbed her things and placed them in her bag, she picked up a book that one of her students left behind and chuckled and shook her head. Her name was Jubilee, she scribbled little stick figures all of the front cover. Natalie held it in her arm and left the class room. She walked down the halls, smiling as students walked passed. She reached the front entrance and looked in the mirror, fixing her hair, placing Jubilee's book in her bag, but two people behind her caught her attention. Alex and Scott Summers.

She whipped her head around.

"Alex!" Natalie wrapped her arms around his neck as he lifted her up a bit and kissed her. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" She laughed as he let her go.

"It was a surprise," He sighed. Natalie looked over at Scott, he had a bandage wrapped around his head, covering his eyes. As new knowledge, Scott's ability just mutated, laser eyes.

"Hi Scott!" Natalie smiled as she hugged him.

"Hey, Nat," He replied, awkwardly patting her back.

"I heard about your, laser eye thing." Natalie spoke as she broke the hug. "Does it hurt?"

"No, no just hard to always keep my eyes closed," He sighed.

"Alex?" Hank came into view.

"Hank McCoy!" Alex smiled as they briefly hugged.

"It's good to see you again," Hank smiled.

"As you know, this is my brother, Scott," Alex slapped Scott's back.

"Hey Scott, I'm Hank, I'm one of the teachers here," Hank spoke.

"Mmhmm," Scott slightly nodded. Natalie sighed.

"Where's the professor?" Alex asked.

•••

Alex, Hank, Scott and Natalie walked to Charles' class, he slowly turned around in his wheelchair. He looked at the group and closed the book that was in his hand, a smile widened on his face.

"That is going to be your assignment for tomorrow," He spoke aloud, the students started to pack up. "Top marks everyone, class dismissed." The students started to walk off. Natalie smiled at them as they walked past, then looked back at Charles.

"Alex!" Charles smiled, Alex walked over and shook his hand and they hugged. "It's good to see you!"

"Ah, you too!" Alex stood back up and put a hand on Scott's shoulder. "This is my brother, Scott,"

"Hello, Scott." Charles nodded. "Welcome to the School for the Gifted,"

"Yeah, doesn't exactly feel like a gift," Scott scoffed.

"It never does at first," Charles smiled.

•••

They made their way to the backyard of the school, Jean just finished with her archery and smiled at them and walked away. Alex was holding Natalie's hand as well as a hand on Scott's shoulder to steer him in the right direction.

"The first step of understanding one's power, is learning the extent of it. Only then we can begin the process of teaching you to control it. That's if you decide to stay, I can promise you, by the time you're done here you can go back out there and play a productive part in the world." Charles spoke. They stopped at one of the rivers, and faced the target that Jean was using earlier. "Why don't you take your bandages off and see what we're dealing with here." Scott began removing his bandages. "Alex will you line him up to face that target over there, so when you open your eyes, try and hit that,"

Alex let go of Natalie's hand and turned Scott's shoulders and lined him up. Natalie placed her sunnies back on, and stood behind Charles.

"You can open your eyes, Scott, there's nothing to be afraid of, it's quite –"Charles started but was immediately cut off by blinding red laser beaming out of Scott's eyes, causing the group to quickly duck, as Scott quickly tried to find the target but ended up destroying it, then the laser hit the tree and made a spit up through it, before closing his eyes.

Natalie looked at the tree, her heart almost sank. Charles chuckled.

"My grandfather planted that tree when he was 5 years old." Charles started. "I um, used to swing from the branches of it myself." The tree split in half and collapsed. Natalie covered her mouth, she could almost feel the energy leave her body. "I think that was probably my favourite tree." Alex put an arm around her.

"Does that mean I'm expelled?" Scott stuttered.

"Oh on the contrary, you're enrolled," Charles turned around and smiled at him.

"I-I think I can fix that," Natalie walked up to the river.

"Nat, it's okay –"Charles started.

"No, no, I can do it," Natalie knelt down and placed her hands in the water.

"I know how you feel when something like this happens. It's alright," Charles put a hand on her shoulder.

"Just watch," Natalie replied. She watched as the green mist left her hands and she closed her eyes, feeling the energy flow through her body, then emitted it out, causing a small force.

Natalie opened her eyes and watched as the mist made its way up through the cracks of the ground, watching it heal, then she saw the tree slowly be lifted up and the large cracks in between them, form together, healing. Natalie's body gave way, and Alex rushed over to her.

"You okay?" He asked, helping her up.

"Yeah, yeah, just, my energy is drained," She smiled.

"I get more and more amazed by you, Natalie," Charles smiled and grabbed and kissed her hand.

"What just happened?" Scott asked.

"She healed the tree," Hank sighed happily.

Everyone saw a smile sweep across Scott's face.

•••

i love this movie, in spite what others say.