Epilogue

Bobby rolled toward that spot where his other source of warmth should have been . . . and found that it wasn't there.

Slowly, blue eyes blinked open.

Jamie was gone. There was a dent in the pillow where he had been, but no body. Bobby’s gaze flickered upward at the clock. Six thirty. MUCH too early for Jamie to be awake just because.

Bobby frowned, closed his eyes, and tried unsuccessfully to swallow the morning-mouth taste. Maybe Jamie was training.

No. Jamie didn’t train.

Bobby rolled over and glanced in the half-bathroom. No Jamie there, either. But by the door Jamie’s pajamas were slouching over a chair and the closet was thrown open, clothing askew.

Something niggled in the back of Bobby’s mind. Something wrong with the whole thing. He frowned, rubbed his eyes, and sat up.

Taped on the nightstand was a hurriedly scrawled note. His heart suddenly thundering, Bobby picked it up and read it.

“Bobby, had a problem. Love you.”

It wasn’t even signed.

Clutching the scrap of paper, Bobby rolled out of bed and found some pajama bottoms, then stumbled down the stairs. He took the elevator to the lab and hurried out, his dragging flannel pants making a shooshing noise on the tile.

He stumbled into the room and looked around.

It was empty. Not even Hank was in it, yet.

Frowning, Bobby turned and headed back up into the living room. Slowly, he walked toward the kitchen, where the light was already on. Voices drifted out, softly murmuring.

“Are you sure it’s okay?” Bobby heard when he drew close enough.

“It’s okay,” Hank’s voice answered. “Go. Tell Bobby.”

Bobby’s heart thundered into his throat at the words, echoes of learning about Jamie’s Legacy virus crashing through his head. He stepped into the doorway, pale, shaking, looking at Jamie and Hank, standing by the sink, coffee held in Hank’s massive paw.

They both looked up when he entered. “What’s going on?” he said, his voice a croak. “Tell me what?”

Jamie blushed and ducked his head. “Oh. Hi.”

Bobby took two steps into the room, grabbing at a chair for support. “Tell me what?” he said again, louder this time.

Jamie looked at Hank for support, and Hank mumbled something into his mug before making a quick exit.

“Jamie?” Bobby whispered.

“I--“ Jamie licked his lips and smiled hesitantly. “I got you this,” he said, suddenly, darting forward and nearly dropping a package on the table. “They called last night. I picked it up from the Post Office this morning.”

Bobby could suddenly breathe again. He smiled, shaking, and sat down heavily in a chair. “Oh,” he said. “Thanks.”

He made no other movement, and a moment later Jamie walked closer to the table and stood there, uncertain. “It’s just silly,” he said, his gaze dropped. “But, well—“

Bobby picked up the package, smiling at Jamie. “Thank you,” he said again, softly this time.

Jamie met his gaze and smiled, relieved.

Bobby turned to the package, wrapped in brown mailing paper, and started to shred it open. There were little bits of brown all over the table by the time he finally managed it. A box slid out, small and square. Bobby undid the latch and opened it, slowly.

He smiled.

“I know guys don’t wear jewelry, and I definitely didn’t want rings ‘cause we’re not getting married or anything, not now, anyway, but--“

Bobby looked up at Jamie, stopping the flow of words with his grin. “Jamie, I love it.”

Jamie grinned and flopped down in the chair next to Bobby’s. “There’s one for each of us,” he said, pointing out the obvious.

Bobby reached into the little box, picking up the brown leather wristbands. Less than an inch wide, they were engraved with an intricate design. Bobby looked at one for a moment, then slowly turned the band, realizing there were words printed inside the design.

“Anyone can slay a dragon, he told me,” Bobby read softly. “But try waking up every morning and loving the world all over again. That’s what takes a real hero.” He turned it once more and read, “Bobby Drake, hero. I love you.” He picked up the other one, and read the same quote. It ended with “Jamie Madrox, Bobby Drake.”

Bobby looked up, into brown eyes filled with hope. “I love you, too,” he said softly, smiling. He stood, dropping the bracelets, watching Jamie stand in the same moment. He wrapped the younger man up in his arms, burrowing his head into the soft skin and silken hair, and realized with surprise that he was crying. “I thought I would lose you,” he whispered, clutching Jamie tighter.

Jamie sniffed, laughing, and pulled Bobby as close as he could. “Not getting rid of me that easily,” he said, tears soaking Bobby’s shirt. “There’s forty of me to try and kill off first.”

Bobby laughed through his tears, breathing in the warm, living scent of Jamie Madrox. “Good,” he said, trembling. “Because I’d hate to try and manage without you.” He stepped back, smoothing tears and hair out of Jamie’s face, and then kissed him carefully, his big hands cradling Jamie’s head.

“Hey, nice,” someone behind them said.

They broke away slowly, smiling, and Bobby turned to Sam as the other man picked up a wristband and looked at it.

“Jamie had them made,” Bobby said, his hand drifting down his boyfriend’s arm, grabbing hold of his fingers. They closed around his, tightly. “Aren’t they great?”

“Great,” Sam agreed, and picked up Bobby’s wrist, buttoning one snugly around the bones. “Fit well, too,” he said, taking the other one off the table and handing it to Bobby.

Bobby turned, lifting Jamie’s wrist and buckling it on. “Yeah,” he said, smiling. “Fit great.”

“Did someone remember to get more creamer?” Rogue grumbled, entering the room.

“Ah don’t drink creamer in mah coffee,” Sam snorted.

“Ah know. Yor a heathen,” Rogue shot back.

Bobby and Jamie grinned, moving back against the table and letting the other two by, hands still linked as another day started.

Fin

End notes: Many thanks to all the people who have written. I’m ending the series here, mostly because I think it’s a good place to end, and I need to work on other things. I still have some ideas, so occasionally I’ll send out Droplets—random Bobby/Jamie scenes or short stories. But, as a whole, the series is done. All the loose ends are wrapped up. Well, all but one. Maybe I’ll get to that in a Droplet. Most likely, no one will notice it until I point it out. ;)

Many apologies for choppy writing. I knew if I didn’t finish it now, I might never. Some of it hasn’t even been edited by me, and only the beginning got beta-read by Sas!

The quote on the wristbands was written by Brian Andreas, and I saw it on Maelie’s sig line. I’ve just been waiting for the perfect place to use it!

Also, in regard to Bobby’s sex-ass wiggle dance. Um. I was possessed by Mice?

Anyway. *Grins* Love you all. Talk to you soon!

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