Chapter Text
Epilogue
June 3rd.
John awoke to several texts from, well, everyone, each message telling him to turn on the television.
He rolled out of bed and kissed Alex on the forehead, pulling on a pair of boxers and going into the living room. They'd moved into their apartment a week ago and had just finished unpacking. He found the remote and flipped on the TV, glancing at the time. It was almost eleven. They'd slept later than normal.
Alex came out into the room, still rubbing sleep from his eyes, and wrapped his arms around John from behind, leaning against him. He'd grown about an inch over the past six months, and joked that someday he'd be taller than John. John doubted that.
He felt lips on the back of his right shoulder. It stung slightly on contact, but John leaned into him. “Just how many scratch marks do I have on my back, again?” he teased.
“I'd say it about matches the number of hickeys on your chest.”
“Staking your claim on me, huh?”
Alex nuzzled his scent gland. John shuddered. “You don't smell enough like me. I need to make sure people know you're all mine.”
John rolled his eyes. They scented every morning. Sometimes, if they woke up early enough, they even did a little more than that. John didn't mind it as much because Alex didn't smell like him at all – John still hadn't bitten him, for numerous reasons. Alex, however, didn't think John ever smelled enough like him, so he took extra steps to ensure that everyone knew that John was his. Hell, he lost his mind every time John stole one of his hoodies.
John didn't know how to feel about any of it – Alex was an Alpha, and he'd always known that, but it was starting to show a lot more now that they were together. And even though Alex would never abuse his power, John still got scared sometimes. Scared that Alex would come to be too much for him. Scared that Alex would come to realize that John wasn't enough. John wasn't a normal Omega. And Alex knew that. Loved it, even, because his Omega was unique.
His Omega. That was the problem.
“What are we doing?” Alex asked, breaking him from his thoughts.
“Watching the news.” John stared at the screen, waiting for the commercials to end. “I've got at least ten people telling me that I need to see what's going on.”
A reporter appeared on the screen. “We're here live in Washington DC, where President Aquitaine has just announced the revocation of the Emergency Breeding Protocol.”
John gasped and leaned back into Alex. His knees felt weak. Alex tightened his grip on John. He was shaking. They both were.
The screen cut to Aquitaine, who was standing at his podium. “I am revoking the Emergency Breeding Protocol, effective immediately. All Omegas in our custody have been released from the breeding facilities.”
It cut to the reporter. “President Aquitaine has also said that he regrets that his decision to enact the Protocol was not received as well as he would have hoped, and that he is revoking it due to a large lack of support from US senators, stating, 'a house divided against itself never stands, and I will not be the cause of this nation's downfall. It was never my intent to hurt or degrade Omegas, and I wish only the best for them as they are released.'”
John turned off the TV and sat down on the couch. Alex took his hands. “Just like that,” John whispered. He was crying. “Just like that, it's over.”
“He wishes them the best,” Alex growled. “What kind of bullshit is that? What about counseling? Or healthcare? What about the pregnant Omegas who don't have anywhere to go?”
“It's over.”
“What about-”
“Alex.” John pulled him into his lap. Buried his face in his shoulder and held onto him like he'd die if either of them let go. “Alex, the Protocol. It's over.”
Alex ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah. It is. But we still have so much work to do.”
“But we're that much closer to victory.” John laughed and pulled Alex into a kiss. “Don't you get it? We need to celebrate.”
“The war's far from over, John.”
John shook his head. “I know. I know it is. But this. This. It's-”
“Everything?”
“No. But it's a strong start.”
“Start? To what?”
John pulled Alex into another kiss before standing. He grabbed his hands and squeezed them. “The end. The beginning.” He laughed a little hysterically. He felt so high at the moment. He'd never come back down. “I'm not making any sense. All I know is that the Protocol is over and we're here now and there's hope for us now. There's hope that we'll finally be- be-”
“Free?” Alex suggested.
John spun and cupped his face in both hands. “Free,” John agreed. “God, you always know just what to say.” He pressed his lips to Alex's and they kissed for several long moments. “We've got so much to do, though, like you said. There's Omegas out there who need care, who need homes, who need jobs. But now there's a chance. There's a chance that we didn't have until now. We have a chance.”
Alex smiled at John and wiped his tears away. “So what now?”
“Now?” John looked into his eyes. He leaned his forehead against his. “Now, my love, we celebrate. Tomorrow, though? Tomorrow, the real work begins.”