as a major thank you for all reads, this is the last chapter of apocalypse and I hoped you guys liked the new and improved version of this book as I feel like there is more to Natalie's story than previously written. thank you all so much. ♡

•••

bonus chapter • 23
↠ ↠ ↠

"you make the pain go away,"

•••

Natalie woke up to an empty bed, again. Everyday she wishes pain will get easier, the pain of Alex gone. But she is proven wrong, again & again.

She sat up and sighed, and reluctantly stood up and went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror, red eyes, bags under her eyes and messy un-washed hair. She picked up her toothbrush and continued to brush her teeth. She looked at the shower, thinking to herself if she has enough energy to wash her hair. She looked down at her shirt.

"Alex's favourite pj's."

She took them off and hopped in the shower. The warm water running through her hair and she tried to wash her hair.

•••

"It's been 41 years, Alex. How do you think they'll react? My daughter is probably a grandmother for all I know, and Chester? I – I just can't" She put her head in her hands.

"That's my point, Nat. You have a family, which, technically I am related too now." Alex rubbed her back. "Look, after all of this, I'll take you there, I'll be there for you." She looked up at him.

•••

"Nat!" A familiar voice calls out, she turned the shower off and leant out the shower.

"Yeah?" She called out.

"It's Peter! Can we talk?"

"Uhh, sure, gimme a second to get changed." She called out and stepped out the shower and dried herself with a towel. She brushed her hair and put it in a plait. She put on a white flowy, off the shoulders blouse and black shorts. She sprayed on some perfume and walked out to her bedroom and see Peter in his silver jacket and he's sitting on her bed.

"Hey," She smiled at him.

He quickly stands up. "Wowza," he smirks.

Natalie smiled, "What's up, Pete?"

"Want to go for a walk?" He asks.

"A walk? Are you sure you're okay?" She jokes.

"Ha ha, very funny," he crosses his arms.

"Sure, Pete" Natalie put on white flats and they walk out of her room.

•••

They walked outside and looked around and see all the kids running around or sitting and talking to each other. Natalie ran her hands on a bush and felt the energy tingle the tips of her fingers.

"So, where are we going, Pete?" Natalie asks.

"It's a surprise," he smiles.

He took Natalie by the hand and they turn a corner and there it is. The little cemetery of the Xavier Garden. Natalie stops and sighs.

"Why here, Peter?" She asks. He turns around and looks at her.

"Look, I dont know what you're going through and I find it hard to try and talk to people or even comfort them. But I am really good at listening, and I thought maybe you can help me understand." Peter sighed.

Natalie looked at him and walked over and gave him a hug. "Sit down with me." Natalie walked over to Alex's grave and they sat on the grass. She placed her hand just in front of the grave and her other on the grass next to her. She closed her eyes and started to feel the energy flow through her and out through the tips of her fingers. She opened her eyes and there lied a few small flowers covering the front of his grave.

"You amaze me, every time" Peter smiled. Natalie took a breath and lied down on the grass and Peter did as well. She felt the light cool breeze against her skin and She looked at the clouds.

Peter looked at Natalie, admiring her beauty, her purity and her innocence. How could a person so beautiful, be in so much pain?

"How long has it been?" Peter looked at her.

"Since Alex?" Natalie looked back. He nodded. "Maybe 6 months, I don't know, it still feels like it was yesterday," Natalie closed her eyes.

"I'm really sorry, Nat, I know you're hurting," Peter held her hand. Natalie lied there looking up at the sky, thinking about everything.

"Did you have a family before the Xmen?" Peter looked at Natalie, after a short while, she looked at him and sighed.

"Yeah, I did. I had a husband, and two kids." Natalie closed her eyes at the thought.

"What happened to them?" Peter asked softly.

"I lost my son, in - an - an accident." She stuttered. "My husband and daughter are still alive to my knowledge. I haven't seen them since that accident."

"The accident, as in the Greendale Park Mystery?" Peter sat up leaning on his elbows.

"Yes"

"That was you?"

Natalie looked at him, with a saddened look, "yes".

Peter took a breath and looked at the sky. "Did Alex know?"

"Yes, he always asked about my family, in fact, he made a -" Natalie paused, remembering his promise.

"What is it?"

"He - he made a promise to me that he was going to take me to see them, after all the bullshit that was going on." Natalie softly smiled then sat up.

"Are you going to keep it?"

"Keep what?"

Peter sat up, "his promise, are you going to see them?"

"Peter, I don't think I can, I haven't seen my family for 41 years. Considering what just happened and they might've seen me on TV -" Natalie felt tears escape her eyes.

"That shouldn't stop you. Look, I can take you, that's not a problem. Let me do this for you -"

"Pete -"

"I couldn't save him." Peter held her hand. "I couldn't save, Alex. Let me do this, please."

Natalie looked at Peter, not realising his regret for Alex, she hugged him. "Okay, okay" Natalie smiled and tears filled her eyes. He hugged her tightly, then pulled away and wiped her tears.

•••

Natalie found Scott, and told him what she was doing with Peter and she offered him to join them, but he told her that she should do this herself. She went to go see Charles, to get a recent address or an indication of where Natalie's family is.

Natalie knocked on Charles' door, "Hey Charlie," She smiled as he turned his chair around.

"Natalie, how nice to see you," He smiled. "What can I do for you?"

"I need a favour," She sat on a chair and he wheeled in front of her.

"Anything, my dear,"

"I want to find my family," She looked at him. Charles sat there for a moment, almost shocked.

"As in - ?" He looked at her and she felt his energy try to enter her mind.

"Charles," Natalie raised an eyebrow.

"Sorry, old habits." He sighed. "Your family? As in the ones you left -"

"I left behind, yeah," Natalie looked down.

"Why? After all this time. Why now?" He leaned back in his chair.

"Alex made a promise to me that he would take me to see my family. And I need to honour it." Natalie stood up and turned around.

"That can't be the reason, Natalie." He looked at her, egging her on.

"It is," She walked to the bookshelf.

"Natalie. I know you, you never leave unfinished business. But this was the one thing, that has been in the back of your mind, I knew this when I first met you. When I trained you." Natalie looked at the floor then back at Charles. "Tell me, Nat, What is the real reason?" He wheeled in front of her and held her hand.

"I - I owe it to them. They went through all the pain and suffering of not knowing. Never understanding. Who knows if they are even alive. And if they're not. They died not ever knowing the truth. I need to do this Charles. I need to face them." Natalie felt her eyes weld with tears.

He kissed her hand. "Let's go," Natalie smiled and they headed out of his office.

•••

Peter, Charles, Hank and Natalie went down to Cerebro, they walked into the silver sphere room. Natalie almost stopped, remembering when she was last in here.

"Alex."

"You okay, Nat?" Peter put his hand on her back. She nodded.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm good." Natalie took a breath.

Charles smiled at her. "What are their names?"

"Chester Andrew White, and Nadia Irene White." Natalie sighed, taking a breath, remember their names. "Nadia is a mutant, that would make it easier."

Charles placed the helmet on his head and Hank flicked some switches. Charles closed his eyes, and instantly the room filled with blue and red lights and then it started spinning. He searched for a good ten seconds before the room slowed down. A red person came into view. A woman.
Natalie looked at her, she was on the phone, they could hear her thoughts.

"I need to refill my medicine before something happens. I don't want another incident. Dr August should be in today. Maybe I should pick up something for Iris."

She was an older lady, maybe in her 60's.
"It's her, it's Nadia." Natalie shakily spoke.

"She's gorgeous, stunning. That's my daughter."

"Do you have an address of where she lives?" Peter asked.

"I'll try," Charles spoke.

A moment went by, and Peter held Natalie's hand. "This is it, Nat." Peter whispered to her.

"Got it," Charles sighed and took the helmet off. "87 Lyon Avenue, Boston."

"Boston? Alright." Peter smiled.

"Are you okay, Natalie?" Hank looked at Natalie.

I nodded. "Yeah, Yeah, this is just - this is happening." Peter put his arm around her.

"We got this, Nat, okay?"

"Have a rest, Natalie, okay? You're gonna need it." Charles smiled.

•••

Natalie was in her room, two days have past and today was the day Peter and Natalie left for Boston. She asked Jean to help her get ready. She left her hair down, and she had Jean do a braid in her hair where her green streak was, Natalie made her some flowers and she placed them through the braid.

"So, where are you going?" She asked as she was placing the last flower in her hair.

"To see my family," Natalie sighed.

"Your family? Like Scott's family?" She asked.

"No, my family before the Xmen, I haven't seen them for 41 years."

"Wait, 41 - how old are you?" She asked worriedly.

Natalie chuckled. "Sweetie, you don't want to know."

She laughed. "So why did you wait this long?"

"I don't know, maybe I thought they might not want to see me considering -" She stopped herself.

"Considering what?"

She sighed, "doesn't matter,"

"Well I hope it works out for you, Nat," Jean gave her a hug. "I gotta head back to class,"

"Thanks, Jean." Natalie smiled and Jean left the room. Natalie stood up and looked in the mirror, wearing a white off the shoulder top, and a long lilac floral skirt. She started putting on her earrings and a knock on the door alerted her. "Come on in!"

The door opened, and Peter walked in and stopped in his tracks. "Wow - you look, wow" he chuckled.

Natalie smiled and turned to face him. "Is this an okay look for 'meeting-your-family-after-41-years'?" Peter chuckled and walked over.

"You look beautiful, Nat. You ready?" He smiled.

Peter was breath taken by her beauty.

Natalie took a breath. "I really don't know, I mean I haven't been this nervous since Alex left for the War." Natalie's palms were sweating. Peter wrapped his arms around her and tightly hugged her.

"I'll be right there with you" Peter spoke quietly.
Natalie pulled away from the hug.

"lets go," She smiled at him.

•••

They were outside the school and Charles, Hank, Scott and Jean were out there with them. Peter and Nat stood there and she turned around and walked over to Scott.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with us?" Natalie asked him.

"You need this, it's your family." He spoke.

"Technically they are yours too," Natalie smiled.

"It's okay, really," he gave her a hug.

"Alright, I'll see you soon." Natalie rubbed his head, he chuckled. Natalie walked over to Jean. "Thank you for the hair, honey." She gave her a hug.

"It's no problem, hope it all works out for you," she smiled.

Natalie walked to over to Charles and knelt down and held his hands, he kissed them, "I can't thank you enough, for everything you've done for me. You helped me get here, Charlie." Natalie smiled, he softly chuckled.

"Anything for you, Natalie." He smiled, she gave him a hug, and stood up and walked over to Peter.

"Ready?" He looked at her.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Natalie took a breath. He wrapped his arm around her waist and just like that

They were in Boston.

•••

Natalie almost fell over but Peter caught her. "Woah, you okay?" He chuckled.

"Super, dizzy," Natalie smiled at him.

"That's normal, just sit down for a moment." He rested his hand on her shoulder as she sat down on a seat behind her.

"Where are we?" Natalie asked. Peter looked around.

"I think we're in their street, -" he stopped and looked at a house.

"What is it?" Natalie rubbed her face.

"It's their house," He pointed to the one we're across from, Natalie looked up at him.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, 87 Lyon Avenue, right?" He looked at her. She nodded. "That's it,"

Natalie stood up and took a breath. "This is really happening, isn't it?"

Peter looked at her, "do you want me to knock?"

Natalie smiled "if you see me standing and hesitating, go for it." she joked.

"Noted," Peter made a wide smile. Natalie turned around and went to start walking.

"Something didn't feel right. The pain. It's gone?"

Natalie stood there, a pain she had longing in her chest, suddenly stopped. She placed a hand on her heart, and she took a breath. "I don't understand." She spoke to herself.

"Nat?" Peter asked. "You okay?"

Natalie looked at him. "I don't understand." He looked at her with a confused look.

"Understand what?"

"The pain."

"Pain? What pain?"

"That long ache in my heart, in my chest. That pain, the feeling like something was ripped out of my chest, and it wouldn't heal."

"I don't understand what you're trying to say Natalie." Peter furrowed his brow.

"These last couple of days, I didn't realise till now. Being with you," Natalie walked up to Peter. Our faces almost touching. "You make the pain go away," She spoke quietly. His breath shuddered slightly and his lips parted.

Peter wanted nothing more than to place his lips on hers and hold her tight and not let her go. But she wasn't ready, and he knew he had to wait. And she was worth it.

He wrapped his hand around her waist and another around her neck and he pulled her close and held her tightly, Natalie's head resting on his shoulder and he kissed the top of her head. They stood there for a short while before he pulled away.

"You ready, beautiful?" He smiled at her and she smiled at the comment.

"Ready as I'll ever be," She took a breath and started walking, their house was beautiful. A beautiful garden at the front, the white picket fences. A colonial style home.

"Lets do this," She whispered to herself. She walked on the pavement to their house, she reached the stair that goes to their porch, she looked down at her hands, they were shaking.

"Nat!" Peter called out. Natalie glared at him as in saying, 'Quiet!' He apologised silently. Then he gave her a big thumbs up. She smiled and put a finger on my mouth to say quiet. She turned around and walked to the front door and shakily lifted her hand up. She hesitated.

"This was it, if I knock now, and someone answers, this is it. Even if they reject me, at least they have closure -"

A loud knock and sound a wind blowing next to her caused her to nearly have a heart attack, she looked at Peter and he had a wide smile.

"Jesus," I could feel my heart pounding.

"What if I pass out?"

"No don't worry dear, I got it!" A voice called out from the inside.

"Oh shit, oh shit."

The sound of the door unlocking and opening. Natalie took a breath. There stood an older woman. Maybe in her sixties, her hair creamy-white, she wore a white suit pants and a grey blouse. She's holding a plate with crumbs and a a half eaten sandwich. She looked at Natalie, she looked confused.

She's somewhat familiar. Her hazel eyes.

"Hi, can I help you?" She asked as she opened the flu screen door.

The way she dressed.

"Hi," it was all Natalie was able to get out.

Her long brown hair, in a beautiful braid, and her - oh my god - her green streak.

She dropped her plate and it shattered and she covered her mouth.

"It's me, Natalie. Your mother," Natalie smiled.

•••

- I'll see y'all after dark phoenix, much love broskis xo