We came down the mountain range, practically locked at the hips. Jean wanted to hold hands, but I wasn't much for public displays of affection. Yao smiled when she spotted us, looking up from a lengthy scroll she was reading.

Mordo stood by her side, and the corners of his lips curled the slightest bit.

"It's good to see you up," he nodded at her. "We were starting to worry."

Yao's eyes searched our bodies carefully before she spoke. "I see you've finally worn him down."

"He came to me himself," Jean declared shamelessly.

"It was a moment of weakness," I said, earning a playful slap from Jean, "but I wish I'd given in sooner."

"You're both unified," she said. "I suppose it's appropriate considering what comes next," she said, folding the scroll. "I take it he's told you?"

Jean nodded. "SHIELD and the mutants are not taking the news well."

"It is to be expected," she said. "I have spoken to Wakanda and informed them of the plans you've set into motion. You'll have T'Chaka's support should you ever need it."

I exhaled slowly. I was concerned for a while there. Wakanda was the one enemy I didn't look forward to fighting if it came down to it.

"How is the trap array going," I asked.

"The modifications to the Array in the Sahara are nearly complete. It should seal the demonic power of all those who enter," she said. "But it has a fixed limit. It can occupy Two, maybe three demons on Domina's level. Any more…and it breaks."

"A little less wiggle room than I'd like," I said, "but I only need a second. Besides," I wrapped my hands around Jean. "I could always tag her if I need the support."

"Happy to help," Jean said in a chipper tone. "Missed a lot while I was out. Ready to get back to work."

"There'll be plenty of fight to go around," Yao said. "Finally, there's something Mordo wishes to discuss with you."

My eyes shifted from Yao to Mordo, who seemed a bit flustered before he began to speak.

"Some others have approached me since I returned from the Antarctician trip about the changes I've undergone. I know we briefly discussed having some sorcerers undergo the process…"

"Oh yeah," I said, "As long as you trust them, and the Ancient one is fine with it."

"I wouldn't have allowed him to bring it up if I wasn't."

Mordo nodded, and we began to go over the candidates. Two of the five he suggested were seasoned sorcerers and warriors I'd never met. The fourth was the brave young sorcerer who lost his legs in our rescue mission in Africa. The final name was predictable but surprising all at the same time.

Kaecilius.

"Seriously, him? I never thought his pride would allow him to ask," Jean said what I was thinking.

"It didn't at first, but he got over himself when he heard of our fight in the North Pole. He could've been there to watch the secondborn fall if he hadn't so thoroughly alienated the both of you. He said, and I quote, 'saving the planet should be bigger than any vendetta, especially one that's partially fulfilled.'"

"Oddly mature of him," I said, "but I would've preferred to hear it from him."

"He's away on a mission," Yao explained. "I have known him for a long time, and he's always been loyal. The death of his family cut deep. I'm certain you both understand how much that pain can warp a person."

Jean and I shared a look. We did, indeed. Losing Charles was no picnic for Jean, and she still hadn't faced her biological parents. When I shared everything with her, I also shared what I knew of them in the stories. In this universe, they'd also abandoned her, let Charles Xavier take her from them, and erase the memory of her loss. Even after his passing, they've not made overtures to find her.

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On the other hand, I lost everything when I was at the height of my career to a bathroom tile. Everything I've done since was to ensure that never happened again.

I have cheated, killed, and lied to protect my soul, and Kaecilius reminded me of the ugly parts of me. It was exactly why I couldn't trust him with that kind of power.

I knew the lengths the alternate version of him went to in the pursuit of truth and power. Our version of Kaecilus was not far off. He would murder anyone who he perceived remotely as a threat, present company included, and was not above backstabbing the very people that empowered him.

"We're sorry," Jean said, and I completed the speech. "I cannot include him in the program. I can't trust him like I trust you."

Mordo nodded somberly. "I had to ask."

Our talk turned granular. We discussed the amended plan. Dr. Hansen was already brewing additional serums, and Yao needed more time to mobilize her people. But starting tomorrow, we plan on gathering all of our prospects and enhanced and start preparing them.

With my new skill, we had even more time to train and prepare.

Come the day after, we would be ready to move on all of our targets—the various cambions and the towers.

After that, we can discuss the Invasion plan. The mutants have suffered enough in Limbo.

But for now, we rested, unwinded, and finally went on our first date. There was no use putting it off.

--

Jean whisked us to Paris with her own form of teleportation. It wasn't unlike what I could do. Where I rode my dimension and came out in pre-selected locations, she rode the Astral realm, the vast mental plane that connected every conscious mind.

"So does that mean there'll be no portals in your future?" I asked. Portals, after all, were a staple in her magical arsenal.

"No shoptalk today," she said. "We're in Paris. The city of Love. I say let's make it a day we'll never forget."

We started from the Eiffel Tower, then toured museums and raided the luxury stores of Paris. Jean wanted to give me a full makeover, questioning my tastes, but that's where I drew my first hard line.

"What fun is being rich if I can't wear what I want? A man needs his boundaries, and this…is one of them."

She took it better than I expected, and we hit the pastry shops next, trying every manner of pastry that caught her eye. We started getting concerned looks from other buyers when we left with bags bursting and sat on top of the highest building and gorged ourselves.

Finally, we ended the day at a fancy restaurant that Jean Mind-controlled us access to. She wore a ravishing black dress, and I wore a white suit that matched my hair color.

We talked as we ate some of the best food I'd ever tasted.

"Six months ago, if you told me I would be in Paris with you for our first date… I'd think you were crazy."

"You would've probably fed me some bullshit line about not seeing it in our future," she said mystically, waving her hands.

I chortled. "I would've sprung for something vaguer and more respectful of your thing with Scott."

Her lips twitched, her smile growing wider. "Of course you would've."

"No, no. I'm serious," I said defensively. "It's no secret that I didn't like the guy, but even if I was into you, I wouldn't cross that line."

"On account of the age difference?"

"Partly. You're technically 20, and I'm 27, but it's a bro code thing. Going hard on him in a fight is one thing; going after his girl is another."

She took a sip from her cup. "So, you'll lie and manipulate government officials and keep secrets from those closest to you, but you won't make a pass on a girl in a relationship?"

I frowned. "You have to know that I did what I did in the beginning out of necessity. I was boxed in on all sides and had no allies. I had to think on my feet."

"I know…" she said. "I'm just getting used to this new side of you. I only have your time in our universe to go off of. She said. I have no idea who you were in your former life?"

"You don't?" I was a bit surprised. "I intended to show you everything."

She shook her head. "There's some barrier keeping me from diving deeper. The Phoenix also refused to elaborate. Apparently, she thinks prying into your boyfriend's past without his permission is a rocky way to start our relationship."

I cracked a grin. "Listen to her. She knows what she's talking about."

She rolled her eyes. "Please don't make her any smugger and condescending than she already is."

"You know what they say about listening to your elders," I shrugged.

"About the same thing they say about picking your girlfriend's side over her mother's."

"Nicely played." My lips twitched in amusement. I suddenly got up from my seat, drawing attention. "You said you wanted to know more about me." I offered her my hand. "Before I made a career out of cracking heads, I used to play the Piano a lot. Thanks to recent enhancements, those memories are just as vivid as yesterday's.

"Play me live music at a restaurant? A bit cliché, don't you think?" She took my hand.

"It's never failed to impress." We sat down on the bench, and I ran my hand over the keys to the Piano, searching my mind for a song I wished I could've set aside time to play—Golden Hour.

I wasn't one for soft, romantic pop ballads, but fuck it, when in France.

My fingers danced across the Piano, and I transmitted the words and the Chorus as I remembered to her mind.

It was a amazing watching her face slowly shift from amusement to pure joy.

I was ushered back to my table with cheers, claps, and observations. People finally recognized me, but not Jean. A few took photos, but before we sat down, Jean teleported us back to her room at Kamar-Taj, startling me a bit.

"You didn't think we'd just go back to eating after that, did you?" she said, giving me a hungry look.

The sex was phenomenal.