Chapter 3: Together
Disclaimer: I don't own the X Men.
"Ma'am, you have a letter." Ororo Munroe, also known as Storm, looked up and smiled at the African man who held out the white envelope.
"Thank you, my friend." He bowed and left the letter on her table.
Her eyebrows knitted together when she saw it was from America, but the only letters she ever got from that country were from her sister, the most recent telling her of her second pregnancy several months ago, but this letter looked much more formal, and as such, was much more worrisome.
She ripped open the letter and slid the crisp, folded paper out.
Dear Ms. Munroe,
I regret to inform you that your sister, Vivian Munroe nee Daniels, passed away two days ago. Her passing was with her second, stillborn, child. Again, I am sorry for your loss.
On another note, her husband and son are still residing in New York City. A funeral has not yet been prepared, and details will most likely come from your brother-in-law, Mr. Thomas Daniels.
Hoping you are well,
Mr. Harold J. Bank
The letter slid from Ororo's grasp and she felt her legs give out from underneath her. The cool earth floor of her hut cushioned her knees as her world went blurry.
Dead, her sister was dead.
She felt sobs start to rack her body and she hid her face in her hands as she cried, the tears falling thick and fast from her eyes to wet the ground.
Outside, dark clouds filled the sky and rain began to pour, drenching everything. No lightning flashed and no thunder shook the air, but water poured down as the weather goddess felt her heart break.
Her husband and son are still residing in New York City…
~Evan! ~
The rain trickled to a stop and the bizarre weather change was put off as their goddess wishing to help their crops grow.
With a determined air and expression, Storm pulled out an old suitcase that held American style clothing. She pulled on a long, purple skirt and a white shirt, tying back her hair with a scarf as she clicked the bag together and strode out of her hut.
She was met by one of the village elders as she headed to one of the few cars they had.
"Highness, might I ask where you are going?" she gave him a curt nod. "I have some family business to attend to; I will be back in some time. Please take care of yourself." She added at the end and the man gave her a kind smile.
"Of course, malady." She gave him a warm, but sad smile and climbed into the jeep, turning on the ignition, she started the extremely long drive to the closest, of what might be called an airport.
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The plane ride was long, and throughout the entire thing, Ororo was fidgeting in her seat. When she finally landed at the JFK airport, she wasted no time getting through customs and securing her bag.
Finding a cab, she had him take her to her sister's home, fear was crawling in her chest like some kind of disease as they pulled up to the brick building and she paid the man before going up the stairs in long, graceful strides and not hesitating to ring the doorbell.
The door opened revealing a very tired and bitter looking man that could have passed for her sister's husband but this man looked like he hadn't slept in days, and the smell of alcohol clung to him like a second skin. "Who're you?" he asked coldly.
"Ororo Munroe, I'm Vivian's sister…I heard what happened."
He glared at her, "Go 'way." He tried to slam the door in her face but she kept it open.
"I'm not leaving just…" the sound of a baby's cry split the air and they both silenced.
"Why won't he shut up?" Thomas grumbled and on hearing that, Ororo pushed past him and climbed the stairs, following the cries to a half-closed door. She pushed it open revealing a blue painted baby's room, a white crib in the corner was where the cries where coming from.
Ororo wasted no time in going over and peaking into the crib.
A small child, looking slightly underfed, laid there screaming himself hoarse.
"Oh, oh, hush now, little one, I'm here, Aunty Ororo's here." She cooed softly and picked up the little bundle in her arms.
When he felt the warmth of her body, he opened his eyes, revealing them to be a warm chocolate that were a perfect reflection of her sister's.
"Hush now, Evan, I'm here, I have you." She laid a kiss on his forehead and he stared up at her.
Her eyebrows knitted together when she saw the state her nephew was in. His diaper hadn't been changed in a while and he looked a little thinner than could be healthy for a baby.
"Alright, let's get you cleaned up."
A few minutes later, Evan was changed, bathed and happily sucking on a bottle as he laid in Ororo's arms. She smiled down at her nephew as she rocked back and forth in the rocking chair that was set up.
When he had finished his meal, she burped him and set back to rocking him to sleep. He sighed and grabbed a tiny fistful of her shirt and clung to her, looking up with trusting eyes.
She smiled, "Hush now, my baby, be still love don't cry. Sleep like your rocked by the stream…"[1] she quietly sang to him.
His big brown eyes closed as he fell asleep, but his fist remained closed over her shirt.
She smiled, but their moment was broken as Thomas made himself known, "What d'ya want?" he growled. She looked up at him, then back at Evan. "Him."
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[1] The lullaby from Dreamwork's 'Prince of Egypt' I just couldn't resist. It's a beautiful song and one of my favourites.
