Ice cream and Innuendos
Snow was still falling outside. That was the best thing about having a resident weather Goddess, one was always guaranteed a white Christmas. The crisp beauty was lost on Hank as he stared blankly at the space between Rogue and Bobby,
"Sorry Hankster but you're going to have to tell her at some point" Bobby Drake said eventually with a shrug, "ice cream?" He offered his spoon, Rogue giggling beside him. Hank stared blankly at the spoon,
"Thank you Robert, I know what a solemn gesture that was for you to make" He said in all seriousness. The Iceman nodded withdrawing the spoon,
"When are you going to tell her?" Rogue asked gently, reaching out to squeeze his hand. Henry P. McCoy PhD took a deep bracing breath, pushing his chair away and re-adjusting his glasses with the same air as a General getting ready for battle,
"I suppose now is a good a time as any" He said,
"Good luck man" Bobby said, "if she chucks you out, there's a spare bed in my room" He offered, the grin finally breaking through,
"You're a nasty man, Bobby Drake" He scowled before turning away, the sound of them laughing behind me,
"Just remember to duck if she throws anything after you!" Rogue called. Hank tried to scowl but didn't quite manage it as the grin broke through. He shook his head as he punched in the buttons to the lower levels, they all knew that Isabelle wasn't likely to throw things at him. It had been nearly two years now since he and Isabelle had…had what exactly? Become involved in a relationship. He wrinkled his nose at the way his mind worked sometimes. He was in love with the woman, plain and simple…well, maybe not simple. She made his heart soar, there was no doubt about it, he wanted to burst into song every time she looked at him. He sighed, closing the door behind himself and leaning against it a moment…how was he going to tell – his ears pricked up at an unusual sound,
"- can't take the person starin' back at me, I'm a hazard to myself" He smiled at the lyrics, padding silently through the lab to the living quarters beyond, pausing at the site of their empty bed, "- so irritating…do' wanna be my friend no more, I wanna be somebody else, yeeah" He pushed the bathroom door, which was already slightly ajar, open all the way. Isabelle was in the bath, surrounded by a mass of foamy white bubbles as she sang along to an ancient radio which was perched precariously between the taps. She held an open book in her hands, half propped up on her knees, eyes skimming the page, singing along to the words she knew, " – L.A told me, you'll be a pop star, all you have to change is everything you are -" He smiled, leaning against the doorframe as he watched her turn the page, even with her hair plastered to her head she was beautiful, of course - hewinced as she invented a new, definitly out of tune, note – the fact that she was also very naked beneath the bubbles helped, " – don't let me get me, I'm my own worst enemy- " He cleared his throat, catching her attention instantly. She cursed creatively and did a very impressive juggling act with the book she was holding, slipping down the bath a little, "Hank! Fpt!" She blew foam from the cover of the book, "I didn't realise you'd be back so…um, hope you don't mind me using your bath, it's bigger than mine" She blushed, kicking the radio until it died,
"Not at all" He smiled, walking over, wondering when she was going to stop worrying about sleeping in his bed and using his bath, "you have a lovely singing voice" He teased lightly. She looked up at him with a raised eyebrow, trying not to smile in return,
"Ha, ha" She said dryly as he knelt down beside her, half sitting on the step as she swam to him,
"What are you reading?" She handed him the book, he squinted at the title without the aid of his glasses, "A Christmas Carol" She shrugged, flicking bubbles at him playfully,
"I'm getting into the Christmas spirit rather than being the grumpy old woman that Bobby accused me of being" She smiled and he reached out to retaliate on the bubble flicking front, "no! Don't put your hand in the water" She said, expression perfectly serious as she warned him off with upraised palms. He paused in the act of reaching out,
"Why not? Are you dangerous in it?"
"Sort of" She pulled a face, "hard to explain, if you want to stay awake for…ooh lets say the next three weeks, go ahead" She sighed heavily, kneeling up in the bath awkwardlythanks to the weight of her pregnancy,his hand on her arm helped immensely, "to be honest I'm trying to extend my vocabulary" she wrinkled her nose as he raised an eyebrow, scanning over the book,
"And you're doing that with classical Victorian literature?" He asked. She snatched the book back, blushing a little,
"I tried reading a dictionary and nearly fell asleep in the bath. Besides, I like Dickens. Turn your back please" She murmured, stretching out for the burgundy towel that hung neatly on the floor,
"What for? Why are you trying to develop your vocabulary – not that I'm not encouraging you because I think it's…superlative" He couldn't help biting his lip a little to keep back a smile as she scowled at him, snatching up the towel,
"Even I know that superlative isa snobs word for lovely. Turn round because I'm getting out of the bath. I want to improve my vocabulary because…well…you're a scientist" She shrugged as if that explained everything,
"So we can make love but I can't watch you get out of the bath?" He asked slowly, letting his voice become dry,
"Out! If you're going to be smart!" She hit him with the towel and he couldn't help laughing, running from the room and taking her book with him. Settling down in his chair he threw his feet up onto the coffee table, crossing his ankles as he settled his glasses on his nose, opening the book to where she had read up too last. He didn't know how long he had been reading until he felt her arms slips around his neck from behind, "one would aspire to formulate biological replication, sweetheart" She murmured in his ear. He grinned, closing the book – careful to mark her last page – hearing the laughter colouring her voice,
"Formulate biological replication?" He asked mildly in reply,
"Hmm" Her hummed reply trailed off into a deep rich laughter, "No? How about 'I desire to coerce my principally exquisite gentleman into becoming fraught with yearning'?" He laughed, pulling her round onto his lap careful to avoid the bump that was their developing child,
"You sound like you have swallowed a thesaurus my darling but I catch the gist of what you're trying to say" He kissed her for a long, tender moment, pulling away when both of them were breathless. She smiled a little at him, her hand joining his on her swollen stomach.
"One's oh so jubilant"