It's finished!!!! I never thought I'd ever get to say that, but it's true. Thank you for putting up with all the time it took for me to get this done. Fifty parts and 205 pages. Heaven knows how many words. :) And yes, I made Part 49 longer than many of the parts just so I could have an even 50. Shameless, but true. hehe.

I'd like to personally thank Richel, my beta, who helped to make this little smut fantasy of mine into something much better. I can't thank her enough. Her suggestions were fantastic. And her analysis of the story was one of the highpoints of writing this epic. I couldn't have done it without her support and encouragement.

I'd also like to thank Kelahnus. She was there from the beginning, nagging me to write more. Without that I might have stopped long ago. I'm not very good at finishing what I start.

Finally, for all those who gave me feedback on this story, for the readers who wrote to tell me this kind of story wasn't their cup of tea and often made them squirm but still read it anyway, I give you a heartfelt thank you. It's priceless to know someone has read your stories and likes what they read. Priceless to get the kind of wonderful feedback I received. I've saved almost all of the emails sent to me. And I'll always look back at those emails when I'm thinking I can't write another word.

It's been a wild, wonderful ride. I hope everyone who's taken the time to read this story, and had the patience to put up with waiting for another part has enjoyed this story as much as I've enjoyed writing it. Thank you again.

Epilogue
 

I asked him if he t'ought dis collar would hold me. He tried to sound confident, gave a smart answer. It was better dan having me killed. And I'd 'ave to admit he was right 'bout dat. But he was wrong if he t'ought it would hold me.

Forgetting de fact dat I'm a master t'ief, de collar was originally programmed to inhibit my donor's powers. What my former captor wasn't aware of was dat I'm more powerful dan de donor. He didn' know I was a clone. Sinister had experimented wit' de charm power. He boosted my kinetic power too, but he really wanted to see what I could do wit' de empathy. De bastard's immune to emotion so it wouldn't affect him. I don't know what his plans were for me. I was pretty much a slave to his whims until he took de original and had most of his memories imprinted on me. Dat's when I really came alive. You see, a clone's a tabula rasa until he gets experience, or in my case, takes on someone's memories and knowledge. I don' t'ink Sinister was
aware of what an opportunity he was giving me. I say de bastard don' feel, but he's still an arrogant son of a bitch. Probably t'ought he'd still be able to control me. But dat's his mistake. He allowed me more freedom dan de original and it was almost too easy to escape.

I'm a clone. Don' t'ink for a moment I don't accept dat fact. I do. But it galls me. I'm a copy of de original Remy Lebeau. More powerful dan de original. But still a copy. And most people know how wort'less a copy is. Not de sacred first. Not de one dat's valued. Never dat. Just a shadow of de genuine article.

Still, I made my own way. Used my charm to gain power. It took me a while to realize dat my empathy wasn't inhibited completely by dis collar. But once I knew, it wasn't long before I was free.

And dat's where Scott's mistaken. Dis collar won' hold me. And Constantine is in no way immune to my power. He's already started to believe he has control over me, dat he's seducing me. But dat's what I want him to believe. Dat he's in control. Dat first week I wouldn't eat unless he encouraged me to. He's been so kind in his treatment of me. I t'ink dat even if I wasn't able to use my power he'd still be kind to me. He's a good man. But I won't be held captive. I'll use him or anyone I have to to get free.

After all, I have a reason to escape. My days as Patriarch are over now. But Scott and Alex? Dey're still waiting for me. Dey don' know it. Dey'd probably deny it wit' deir last breath. But I know I'll have dem again. It's only a matter of time before Constantine releases dis collar. Den I'll get t'rough de portals to Earth.

Information is de key. It's de power as it's always been. And Constantine gives me plenty of information since he seems to t'ink it's useless to me. Already I know dat dere are two portals still functioning in de city. And one is in my palace. And I know every one of de corridors of dat palace, including de ones no one knows about. Easy enough for a t'ief to get in.

I also know how much wealth I have on Earth. Wealth I acquired before being brought here. I have some hidden wealth here as well. Constantine doesn't know about dat. He and de Councilors dat are allied wit' him have frozen all my funds. De ones dey know about at least. But as I remember Jean Luc saying...or as I remember what Jean Luc said to de original, never show dem your full hand.

It'll be easy enough to escape once dis collar is off. I t'ink tonight I'll make my first move. Let Constantine believe he's seducing me into his bed for de first time. I'll play de dejected prisoner. De one who needs comfort, forgiveness perhaps. He'll offer dat comfort. He'll fall for my charm. Den he'll fall hard for me. I'll make love to him wit' a passion dat will rend his heart. By tomorrow he'll give me whatever I ask for. But I'll play it carefully. Too much too soon could make him suspicious. So I'll ask for somet'ing small. Like a ride in de countryside. A day out of my prison. Little by little he'll give into my requests until he's t'inking it's all his idea to remove dis collar. A month perhaps. Maybe a little longer. Time enough to have him take me into de city on some pretext, only to give me a chance to get hold of my hidden resources. Den I'll lose dis collar and make my escape.

Scott and Alex will be waiting for me at Xavier's. And I'll have my boys wit' me again.