Disclaimer 2.0: Don't own X-Men or the character of Paige Mathews
"What…" Jack stuttered "mom, are you…"
"I'm serious, Jack, like I said I've given this a lot of thought and Rafael needs a mother" June said "and his needs call for the kind of knowledge I have"
"You know he's going to think this is all pity induced"
"Then I'll have to explain to him that he's already like family to me and this is just making it all official. June explained "Jack is something wrong?"
"No, it's just… I'm worried how this will work"
"Don't worry, we're family, nothing is changing between us" June hugged her son with a smile "now let's eat before it gets cold"
Raf sighed, luckily nothing had changed between him, Jack, Miko and the Autobots. Jo had proved a nice addition to the team her memory was quickly becoming of benefit to all parties involved and something new for Ratchet to ponder in quiet times.
She had also proven herself very safety oriented doing her best to keep Miko in line. For all the good her attempts did, Miko was going to do what she wanted to no matter what anyone else had to say on the matter. Miko had also taken up the habit of calling her Joey through her protests and the fact that practically everyone else called her Jo or by Raf's nickname for her, Jojo.
"Miko why do you keep calling Jo by a name you know she doesn't like?" Bulkhead asked as they drove to base
"Because it's fun" Miko replied
"For you maybe, but I know she doesn't like it so much." Bulkhead replied "what if she came up with some nickname for you and insisted on using it despite you asking her several times not to. How would you feel?"
"Frustrated… upset" Miko sighed
"She did say if you wanted to use a nickname you could call her Jojo, Raf already calls her that most of the time and even Jack has started using that name on occasion."
"I… I think I can do that' Miko smiled slightly "Raf has probably been calling her Jojo since he was tiny, she did say he was only three when they met" Miko laughed
"They have known each other for a while haven't they… given the difference between their ages then and now I'd say almost nine years"(A/n: when I wrote this I forgot I said 03 in an earlier chapter so that would push the year to 2013 and I don't do stories set in the future... unless they are Power Rangers SPD which is set in 2025)
"Yep" Miko said "That sounds right'
In Westchester New York the students of the Xavier Institute were just finishing a day of classes.
"Yessenia" a blonde teen ran up to the walking brunette
"What's going on Kathy?" Yessenia asked looking to their headmaster's daughter in confusion
"Dad needs to speak with you and your powers are making it difficult for him to contact you directly… again"
"Okay" Yessenia sighed and turned to go to Professor Xavier's office
Yessenia personally thought she would never forget how she got to where she was now
Flashback
"Yessenia Esquivel get back down here this instant" her foster mother Lola Henderson ordered, but Yessenia was in no mood to be ordered around.
"Why?" Yessenia retorted "I need to get ready for morning mass"
"Your social worker is here"
"My ride will be here in twenty minutes and the rule is I am allowed church unless I am meeting an adoptive family, and I don't see that happening"
"What is going on here?" Nancy Almagure, Yessenia's social worker asked]
"She won't let me go to church because you're here" Yessenia said
"I thought the agreement was we don't deprive these children of family or faith" Nancy said to Lola
"Ha, that is hilarious, if you're so big on family where is by brother?"
"¿Qué hermano, mi hija? (1)"
"¿Rafael, dónde está Rafael? (2)"
"No sé, mi hija (3)"
"No sabes, no sabes, si usted no sabe dónde esta me hermano, ¿quién sabe? (4)"
"Cálmate, Yessenita (5)"
"Nunca me llaman Yessenita…! (6)"
Suddenly Nancy and Lola realized that all the metal objects were pulling and warping towards Yessenia. Then she began to float defying every known law of gravity and the women began to get scared. Just as things got bad there was a knock at the door. Lola opened the door to see a man in a wheelchair and two females that looked to be in their late teens on the other side
"Mrs. Henderson we are hear about…" the man cut off as he noticed what was happening "I have no time to explain, just let me through we can help her"
"What is this?"
"Mrs. Henderson I will explain once the situation is resolved" Charles said, he noticed that even his wheelchair was being pulled by the girl's power which honestly didn't surprise him at all
He gave the two girls orders and the one with dark hair and white bangs pulled off her glove ready for action should she need to do her thing, whatever that was.
"Yessenia, you need to calm yourself, sweetheart. I know you want to find your brother and I know why. You promised your father that you would protect your brother. I want to help you keep your word to your father" Charles rolled forward into what seemed like the eye of the maelstrom "I just want to help you find Rafael, but you need to calm yourself and focus on my voice before we can go any further"
Slowly things settled and Yessenia fell from her levitation, she touched the ground and then collapsed and Charles rolled up close to her
"Do… do you mean it… will you really help me find… find Rafael" Yessenia asked tears falling down her face
"Yes, sweetheart, I will do everything I can to find your brother"
"Yessenia, even if you find him he won't remember you… he was only three" Nancy said hoping this wouldn't rile Yessenia up again. She noticed that the dark haired girl had returned her glove and realized that the use of her power was considered a last resort.
"I know" Yessenia sighed as she leaned against the man's leg, he had now introduced himself as Charles Xavier and the two females as Jean Grey and explained that the other one only went by the name Rogue.
"I don't really care, I just want to know that he is okay, maybe… maybe get to know how he turned out and get to know him" Yessenia sighed "I know whose fault it is Rafael doesn't know who I am, and I have dealt with the fact that I can't change it, but the last eight years of wondering about him of not being able to keep that promise to Papi is hard for me. The wondering, it's just too much"
"Someday soon Yessenia, you won't have to wonder anymore" Charles said as he placed his hand on the teens head
End Flashback
Yessenia entered Charles's office and closed the door behind her. She wondered what he had to say and hoped for good news
June took a breath and entered the social worker's office. This was the first step towards bringing her second son home.
"Hi, I'm Paige Mathews, are you June Darby"
"Yes, I am"
"Have a seat' Paige said "So you're looking to adopt Rafael, he's a really good kid. I was hoping he would get adopted
"Yes, he is an amazing child" June agreed
"You are a single parent of a sixteen year old son. Your income is more than sufficient to support a second child. You do know of his asthma"
"Yes, I am well aware of Rafael's medical needs and as a nurse I believe I can handle it"
"I didn't mean to assume any different" Paige replied "I just wanted to make sure you were aware of what you were getting into"
The papers were filled with a rush attached to it and approval came back within a couple of months.
"Rafael, ven, mi hijo! (7)" Yelena called up through the house
"¿Qué? (8)" Rafael replied from the landing
Yelena smiled "Come here, I have good news"
"What is it?" Rafael asked as he got to her
"You're being adopted by a local woman"
Yelena watched in amusement as Rafael's grin grew and he ran up the stairs to pack his belongings. He was getting a family it was a dream come true for him.
Rafael started back down the stairs with an eager smile then noticed June and froze in his tracks.
"Ms. Darby, what are you doing here?" Raf asked then it dawned on him "you… you're the one adopting me"
June nodded, she was fully prepared for any reaction that Rafael might throw her way
"You don't want me, you just feel sorry for me!" he roared throwing his suit case and ran back up the stairs towards his room
"Rafael…" Yelena called confused by this sudden outburst by the usually extremely well behaved boy.
She started to go talk to him when June stopped the older woman
"Let me talk to him Yelena, I think I can explain all of this better, besides if I can't deal with him now I won't be able to in the future when things like this come up" June reasoned
Yelena told June which room to Rafael retreated to and June headed that way picking up the boy's suit case as she walked passed it.
"Raf, can I come in?" June asked as she knocked on the door
"I guess" Raf said
June pushed the door open to see him sitting on the bed with his back to the door looking dejected.
"Raf, what you said back there I understand why you would think that, but I love you sweetheart I have for a long time and… when I learned that you were in this situation and needed a family"
"You decided to take pity on me"
"No… Rafael, you never needed pity, what you've needed is love, is a real family. I have seen you like a son for months now and this just means that what I feel in my heart is made public for the world to see and that's how I want it"
"Really…?"
"Yes, Raf, really?"
A smile spread across Raf's face as he began to understand the true reason behind June's choice
"So are we going home?"
"Yes" June smiled "but I think you're going to want to have this"
To Be Continued….
Translations
(1) What brother, my daughter (in this case used like my girl as a term of endearment)
(2) Rafael, where is Rafael?
(3) I don't know, my girl
(4)You don't know, you don't know, if you don't know who does?
(5) Calm yourself, Yessenita (like saying little Yessenia also a term of endearment)
(6) Never call me Yessenita
(7) Come here, my son
(8)What?
A/n: These translations are rather rough and done with a translator program and my own knowledge of the Spanish language and grammar so please excuse if they are awkward or inaccurate in any way. I only know a little conversational Spanish that I picked up in school and at my last job and it has been a while so once again sorry if they are wrong.