time eternal.

twelve.

. chapter twelve

"You should never have met me," Charles' voice echoed in August's mind, as she was still trapped amongst the cement and iron bars. "I have only ever brought you pain and suffering, and for that I am deeply sorry."

"None of this was your fault, Charles," August assured him, allowing struggling because of the pain below her abdomen. A rusted iron bar wedged her against the ground and a cement pillar.

"Go back," Charles said, his voice shaking as it bounced around in his lover's mind.

"What?"

"Go back," Charles repeated. "Go back in time, save yourself from me. Make sure we never meet."

August would never consider doing such a thing. Even if she wanted to escape this fight, her fate is inevitable. She would never escape her own tragedy, and she would never see what the future would become.

"I love you, Charlie," August whispered.

In the distance, she could hear the fighting die down. It was silent; no more war and no more death. There was only peace.

Slowly, she felt the iron bar lift from her waist, and she looked up to find Hank and Charles. Hank helped her up, but August's waist was badly bruised, so she resumed her position on the grass.

"Where is Logan?" August asked, not finding the bulky man anywhere.

"Gone," Hank replied, hanging his head. August chuckled softly, knowing that Logan was okay, because he always was and will be.

"It's over," Charles told August, who was laying and staring up at the clear blue sky. Peaceful at last.

"Yes, it is," August mumbled, afraid of what was to happen next. She was so scared, but she remained calm.

"Hank," August called out, glancing over to the lanky man. Hank stepped closer. "Remember back in the garden, when you first showed me your mutation?"

"Yeah, of course," Hank said, not sure why she was bringing it up right now. Shouldn't they be getting home?

"I still think you're amazing," August smiled, looking up at Hank with admiration. Hank stood still, his hands in his pockets, but smiled back softly nonetheless.

"Charles," August turned her attention to her lover, who sat sadly in his wheelchair. He made no movements, but August knew that he was listening. "Do you remember when my father took me away to bring my mother back?"

"How could I forget?" Charles retorted, recalling how his heart broke as he watched her vanish right in front of him.

"I saved a life that was not supposed to be saved," August choked out, her calm facade fading quickly to be replaced with tears. "I am now to pay my consequences."

Charles thought for what felt like a long while, but really it was only seconds before he realized what August was saying.

"No, there must be a way to fix everything," Charles protested, stuttering and crying.

"It's too late, Charlie," August said, holding back the sobs. She felt her legs begin to tingle. It was starting.

"Why now? Why here? Why you?" Charles questioned, struggling to push his chair closer to her. Hank ran off, in search of some type of help to save August, although he had a feeling it was no use.

The bottom half of August's body was beginning to fade away. She watched as Charles let out a curse and a choked sob.

"You build that school, Professor," August demanded. "You save those children, and you teach them what it's like to love and accept others. You teach them how to love themselves."

"I can't do it without you," Charles said, shaking his head.

"Do it for me," August told him.

Charles examined her rapidly fading body. "God, I wanted to marry you."

"I would've said yes."

"I love you."

Charles didn't receive a response.

August was gone.