this is not the end.

in my canon there are many possibilities and these are entirely dependent on what the plot needs. there are two main factors at play here, first how old jean is when she dies and secondly how old jean is when comes back.

how old jean is when she dies can range from 19 years old at the earliest to 25 at the latest, the idea in essence is that it's a tragedy that she died young. even if it's a self sacrifice situation. at the end of the day it is a tragedy that could have been avoided by many factors. the main storyline to follow here is the repression that haunts jean. she not only represses her powers (and not to mention charles having a direct hand in this) but she surpresses herself and she dies without ever overcoming that. I am of the belief that if jean had a better handle on her psychic powers she could have perhaps been better suited for the pheonix force but it was in her nature to surpress it and that in the end was what made her not be able to stabilize as a host and eventually go mad with power.

the age in which jean physically comes back is also dependent on what is most necessary for the plot. however both main options are both based on a more horror inspired perspective of her situation.

she comes back looking the same she did when she died and everyone else has grown and physically changed along with their emotional maturity and circumnstances that may have evolved in the span of ten years and she is a copy image a mirror that reflects back to a different time for everyone. most would be incapable of seeing how jean changed.

she comes back aged, ten years have pass and jean does not recognize herself, she does not know who is there staring back at her and she is already struggling with her sense of identity and this would only worsen the situation.

old  thing,  has  been  with  her  in  the  years  before  jean's  death,  had  only  amplified  in  her  years  gone.  many  people  have  given  their  input,  spoke  to  her  bodies  and  mind.  but  jean  asked  her,  she  does  not  push,  she  does  not  choose  for  betsy,  submit  her  to  whatever  form  of  assistance  she  thinks  best.  for  that,  she  has  done  enough.  for  that,  she  has  roused  betsy  into  standing,  slow  like  she  might  spook  her,  avian  upon  a  wire,  jean  upon  their  thread  which  betsy  is  certain  tremors  and  shakes  whensoever  the  winds  of  her  life  rip  through.  they  often  do,  and  she  has  learned  to  weather  it,  go  wherever  upset  wingbeats  have  no  choice  but  to  take  her.  she  is  only  sorry  jean  gets  caught  up  in  it, that she somehow thinks it should fall to her, sorry  that  something in such constant turmoil and flux  is  who  she  is  bound  to. 

indescribable connection aside, it has been betsy who has understood jean, to be made out of parts not entirely your own, to be made and broken over and over again, it is this that leads jean to try in her approach, green eyes trail the movement, slowly betsy rises, eyes unable to look anywhere else, concern frames them but ultimately it is affection in them. there's nothing worse than when concern grows into pity, jean is careful not to lead them there.

she lets her hand be guided, rests it upon her waist. lingers there, as her free hand cups betsy's face. she smiles because she knows where this leads. if jean could whisk away years of torment, of a grief so vast it fills entire bodies, she would, but she can't not in a way that matters, not in a way that works.

the only other solution is perhaps, to bring comfort. tether betsy back down to earth, make sure she doesn't flutter too far. the warmth betsy provides, is in fact not just from her body. it's a different type of comfort, jean chases it.

"if it helps, then." then she leans in, kissing her with a smile, with a promise. concern can wait, grief can wait if only for a moment. the kiss is more now, not just the press of lips. as if kissing betsy could take away any bad feelings. holds her with such gentleness, it is not entirely a selfless act. jean's heart feels warm. it's love.

content warning applies. change any pronouns / wording if necessary.

i don't make decisions anymore.

come down here. we need to talk.

if you understand what it's like to have a daughter, then how can you threaten to kill someone else's?

look, we can settle this.

there's enough room for all of us.

honey, you’re weak.

you take one sip before those meds get in our people, i will beat your ass into the ground. you hear me?

i hereby declare we have spaghetti tuesdays every wednesday.

when you care about people, getting hurt is kind of a part of the package.

it's not a farming hat.

liar.

i still believe there’s a reason.

i know you look at me and you just see another dead girl.

why hurt yourself when you can hurt other people?

seems to me like things are finally starting to fall together.

we all have our jobs to do.

just so you know, i liked you first.

you never let me win anyway.

you don't think it'll hold?

when can i have my gun back?

the only thing you can choose is what you’re risking it for.

i don't want to be afraid of being alive.

i think you made the right call.

sooner or later, you gotta make a move.

at the camp, it just got worse and worse.

i know we all can change.

how many people have you killed? why?

first we have to find some spaghetti.

it was a nice watch.

we'll make it.

come on, let's play.

what do you want me to say?

i was just another monster.

any requests? books? comics? some stale m&ms?

i think we should make some new rules before they get back.

it was all of us.

look at us, digging through drawers.

we don't need to take any chances.

you should have seen him back in the day.

he told me all i had to do was believe, and that's what i'm gonna do.

you either live with them, or you don’t.

we can all live together.

time for you to leave, asshole.

anger makes you stupid. stupid gets you killed.

i mean, what the hell is going on in this cabin?

i'm a pirate.

you didn't wake me up.

best not waste any more time.

so you want to spend the rest of our lives staring into a fire and eating mud snakes? screw that.

how many walkers have you killed?

was there ever a time you weren't the boss of me?

you're the one that likes stale m&ms.

some council meeting, huh?

is this what you want?

he's too loyal to bounce.

you walk outside, you risk your life. you take a drink of water, you risk your life. nowadays you breathe and you risk your life.

i killed two people and you haven't said a word about it.

you're gonna have to learn to live with the love.

we’ve all lost someone.

we've all done the worst kinds of things just to stay alive.

you're a tough son of a bitch.

i don't know how to talk about it.

what we want is what you got. period.

i can make these people feel better and hang on a little bit longer.

was your dad mean?

so you tell me how in the holy hell did you possibly kill this truck?

she'll need a safe place when it comes.

now you put down your weapons, walk through those gates you're one of us.

everybody makes it until they don't.

you can be a farmer, but you can't be just a farmer.

there are some things you don’t come back from.

we're not too far gone.

they're gonna feel pretty stupid when they find out.

if you wanna live, you have to become strong.

you're gonna miss me so bad when i'm gone.

where should we go?

you're a tough son of a bitch.

i'm gonna be honest, i forgot about you.

it's not about what you say.

hey. i know it's been a while.

i'm never going to let anything happen to you, okay?

i don't want it!

why would you want my help?

we care about you.

don't look back.

probably best not think too much about it.

did you have kids?

everything we've been working so hard to keep out, it found its way in.

he made it through the night.

we don’t get to be upset.

i think it was the humane thing to do.

i can save lives, that's reason enough to risk mine.

a sad soul can killer quicker than a germ.

we just went through something terrible.

that's the guy you want to capture.

what i’m picking up is, murder is ok in this place now.

you do a lot for us. for the kids. you sacrifice a lot.

what the hell are you gonna do now, sport?

they're fucking with the wrong people.

we can live here for the rest of our lives.

it was a real treat, sir.

you can’t keep me from it.

he seems stable enough for me to get some air.

i still think there’s a plan.

is there anything you wouldn’t do for the people here?

they wanted to go out together same as they lived.

but i made it and you don't get to treat me like crap just because you're afraid.

i'm sorry. i'm not very good at making boys your age laugh.

your place or my place?

do you think we can make it?

it was stupid. i was so stupid.

i'm just tired of losing people.

that's what my daddy used to say.

did you think it was right?

you have to have numbers. people are the best defense against walkers or people.

i'd be honored to shake your hand.

you fight it. you don't give up. and one day you just change.

you gonna help us figure this out?

i screwed up too many times.

i'm gonna take a group out.

still, it is survival of the fittest.

he's a lying sack of shit.

the whole world is haunted now.

i've been afraid to get my hopes up thinking we can actually stay here.

i have to talk you all in to doing something i know we need to do.

end of the world don't mean shit when you got a tank.

he’s already given me fleas.

i tied the door shut.

they could have gotten hurt.

we get to come back.

see, going it alone, that ain't an option nowadays.

i think it’s my job to try.

smells good.

everybody loves a hero.

look, i fought him before.

i've survived and you don't get it 'cause i'm not like you or them.

you don't have to like what i did, just accept it.

if you don't have hope, what's the point of living?

you can't think forever.

you guys got separated?

you don’t have a choice.

you can lose a lot of soldiers but still win the game.

all this time you've taking off, you earned it.

it could work, you know it could.

whatever else this place needs, i'm here for it.

when i fell on my ass, they should have just left me out there.

she didn't have a mean bone in her body.

the walkers didn't see me anymore.

i knew you were up all night reading comics with a flashlight.

we wouldn't be here without you.

that's what it always comes down to.

man, what happened here?

those douchebags in the vines took themselves out, holding hands, kumbaya-style.

we go in, kill them all!

i could use a vacation.

today, we're talking about knives. how to use them, how to be safe with them, how they could save your life.

wasn't much use without my gun.

"Want to try sneaking into the movie theater?"

"There's this exclusive sky bar on the top floor. I bet if we act confident enough, we could just walk right in. Ready to blend in with the high rollers?"

"You know the 'Staff Only' areas in aquariums always look so intriguing. I've got an idea involving lab coats and clipboards. Interested?"

"There's a secret passage in this art gallery that leads to a hidden exhibit. I overheard the curator talking about it. Shall we go exploring?"

"I've always wanted to see a movie from the theater's projection room. I've got a friend who works here – you get what I mean?"

"So, that exclusive restaurant is fully booked for months, but I may have 'borrowed' a couple of names from the reservation list. Feeling adventurous?"

"The old amusement park's been closed for years, but I know a way in. Imagine having all those rides to ourselves under the moonlight."

"I heard there's an underground speakeasy in this library. Apparently, you need to whisper a password to the librarian. Wanna try our luck?"

"Remember that fancy pool party we weren't invited to? I've got two waiter uniforms and a brilliant plan. You in?"

"There's a secret rooftop garden on top of that skyscraper. I bet we could talk our way past security if we pretend to be lost interns."

"I know this sounds crazy, but I found a hidden door behind the museum. Want to see where it leads after closing time?"

"The local TV station does live broadcasts from that studio. I bet with the right timing, we could sneak onto a set during a commercial break. Ready for your 15 seconds of fame?"

"I discovered a hidden hot spring in the woods just outside town. It's a bit of a hike, but imagine a midnight dip under the stars."

"There's a secret room in the library that's usually locked. I copied the key while volunteering. Want to see what forbidden books they're hiding?"

"Remember that fancy cooking class that was full? Well, I may have found a way for us to observe from the kitchen's back entrance. Hungry for some culinary espionage?"

"I know how to get onto the roof of the tallest building downtown. The view of the sunset from up there is incredible. Shall we?"

"There's a masquerade ball at the governor's mansion tonight. I've got two masks and a wild idea. Care to crash a high-society party?"

"My friend works at the zoo and says we could help feed the penguins after closing time. Interested in a secret animal encounter?"

"I heard this old theater is supposedly haunted. Want to sneak in after hours and do some ghost hunting?"

"There's a secret beach hidden behind those cliffs. The catch? We'll have to climb down a rope ladder to reach it. You up for it?"

"I found an old map of the city's underground tunnels. Fancy a subterranean adventure date?"