Chapter 2

December 1988

Beth-Marie jumped out of the car and flung her arms around Oliver's neck. "I have missed you so much!"

"Missed you too, Beth." He hugged her quickly and then pulled back. "You picking up Jason and Lex too?"

"Nope, just you today. What's wrong?" she looked at him quizzically.

"Nothing." He lied and picked up the suitcase beside him. "I'm just ready to get out of here and go back to the house."

"You're lying to me." Her eyes filled up with tears and she turned away from him. "I can read you. You are just embarrassed to be seen with me." With quick steps she walked back to the car.

"It's not like that." He followed her and got in without bothering to hand his bags to the chauffer. "The thing is all the guys have been calling you my girlfriend because we talk so much. It is kind of embarrassing 'cause I don't really think of you as a girl."

"If I'm not a girl what am I?" she snapped.

"That's not what I meant." He muttered and looked down at his hands. "You're my best friend, and I don't think of you as being a girl because girls are kind of gross. The guys just all think it is weird for me to talk to a girl so much."

"Why does it matter what they think? Where were they last month when you cried yourself to sleep every night?" she wiped at the hot tears streaming down her cheeks. "I held you every night, and then got in trouble every day for not listening to the adults saying we're too old to sleep together. It shouldn't matter at all what they think."

"I know." He reached and gently took her hand in his. "It is just with me suddenly being an orphan people are looking extra closely at me. I don't want to give them extra materials to use against me."

"Just tell me that I'm more important to you than they are." She begged as she turned to face him. "That is the only thing I care about."

"You are the most important person in my life, I promise." He pulled her into his arms. "They all think we should be adults not kids, you know. That is why we're not allowed to get away with 

anything anymore. Uncle Nick and Uncle Tony both think that losing my parents should have made me an adult."

"I just wish that it could all go back to how it used to be." Beth-Marie sobbed as she held onto him. "Since you left Uncle Nick has been making me run the obstacle course three or four times a day. I don't know how much longer I can take it."

"They won't be doing that anymore. We'll be too busy with Christmas stuff for you to run." He leaned down and breathed in the familiar scent of her hair. Since he had left to go back to school three weeks before, his world had been tossed around like a ball. It would be good to go back home for a while, even if home now meant Xavier's school for mutants. "Is your mum still set on having a proper society Christmas?"

"Unfortunately." She sat up and wiped at her eyes. "I wish that she wouldn't. It's too soon for us. Thanksgiving was too soon, but she had to do it because it was too late to cancel."

"I think it makes her feel better to have something to plan." He cuddled close to her. "She always really loved my mother."

"I don't want all those people trolling around the school this year. I really don't even want to have Christmas. It doesn't seem right without your parents being there."

"We'll just have to deal. I don't want to do it either, but your mom is always so focused on what society is going to want. At least she's not making us deal with the Kilmartin boy this year. He's been nothing but trouble at school. They put him on bathroom detail after the break because he brought his father's playboy to school with him and was passing it around."

"Creep." Beth-Marie shuttered. "I'm really glad Miss Felicia blacklisted all invites from my family. I never want to deal with them again."

"I'll be glad when he graduates out of the school. His room is in the same building as mine, so I have to eat with him every day."

"That would be horrible." She leaned over and opened the mini-fridge in the limo. "How did you do in the archery contest." She pulled out two cans of strawberry soda and handed him one.

"First place. I'll show you the ribbon when I unpack." He popped the top on his drink and took a large gulp before he spoke again. "Do you think your parents are still ok with taking me in for the next six years?"

"They love you." She closed her eyes as she thought about how many recent times she had heard her mother whispering prayers of thanks for the boy's life being spared. "You'll probably have a hard time leaving."

"I don't know. They did ok with sending me back to school after Thanksgiving break."

"They wanted to keep you, but you're not like the students. All of us have powers; you're lucky enough to be normal."

"I still wish that I could just move in with you full time and attend the Institute instead of my boarding school. It would be a lot better."

"Not really." Beth-Marie sighed. "Uncle Nick said that if you were at the school with us he would make you train with me."

"I wouldn't mind it. At least then I'd be free to talk to you all the time."

"Mum says that she wants to pull you out of your school, but Grandfather won't let her unless there is a genuine reason for him to do it.' She rolled her eyes. "I think that they are both crazy. If Mum wants to put you in school here she should be able to just do it. Why else does she sacrifice her 'society' life to teach here?"

"Maybe because she is blacklisted by Felicia Kilmartin?" he laughed slightly. "How hard do you think it would be to get me put into the school?"

"Nothing much more than a disaster." She shrugged her shoulders. "Grandfather doesn't want you to be somewhere you don't belong. I say that he is over reacting."

"It is no big deal, I guess that I just want to stay at home."

"One day maybe you can." She looked off into the distance. "I'm sure that one day everything is going to be different."

Christmas Morning 1988

Beth-Marie rolled over in her bed as she gently pulled away from Oliver. It had been past three before they had fallen asleep but she was already awake at seven thirty. It seemed almost wrong to be happy that morning, but she could not help it. Quietly she crawled out of the bed and made her way to the great room to see if she could sneak a look at her presents.

"Your mother is going to have your hide if she catches you sneaking around like this." Nick Fury stepped out of the shadows and stood between his niece and the hallway she wanted. "I ought to make you go train for a while."

"It is Christmas." She looked up at him, batting her eyelashes. "You can't make me train on the best holiday of the year."

"Where did Oliver sleep last night?" Nick crossed his arms over his chest. "Your room or his by himself?"

For a second Beth-Marie hesitated, not sure of which way would be better to answer her uncle. Sometimes he liked to test her and see if she could convincingly lie, but others he wanted the truth no matter what the possible consequences were. "He stayed with me." She finally answered. "This is his first Christmas without his parents and he didn't want to be alone."

"So if you are such a good thoughtful girl, why are you spoiling your mother's pleasure by sneaking a look at your presents this early?"

"Because I don't want to get too excited when Ollie is around." She looked down at her feet. "I really didn't want Christmas at all this year."

Nick took a breath and then reached for his niece's hand. "Let me show you something." He led her away from the great room, finally taking her to his own room at the mansion. "There is a picture I think you should see. Something that Tony won't tell you."

"What wouldn't Uncle Tony tell me?" she raised an eyebrow. "I even know who the Iron Man really is."

"You know a lot about a lot of people, but you don't know what happened to his father." He pulled out a photo and handed it to her. "Your father, Tony, Clint, Rhodie, Bruce, Race, and I all grew up together the same way you've grown up with Lex, Ollie, Johnny, and Jessica. That is the first Christmas after his father died."

"He seems haunted." Her eyes quickly analyzed the photo. "What happened?"

"Sabotage of a project. When a person has power there are always those who wish them harm."

"How does this relate to Ollie?" she took a sharp breath. "You think that someone killed them. That is why Clint and Rhodie aren't here. You've got them looking into the crash."

"We're protecting him, Elizabeth. We have to protect him from all of this, and we want to protect you too. Be careful about how close you get. Your life has been planned out since you were born, and now it is time to start you down the path."

"He's my best friend."

"I know, and you are going to do something great one day to make this world better for everyone, including him. Now, back to bed. You know no presents till nine."



"Yes, sir." She left the room, still clutching the photograph.

For a moment she wanted to go and sneak a look at her presents, but decided to go back to her room instead. She crawled back into the bed and laid her head on Ollie's chest wanting to be close to him.

Oliver woke up when he felt Beth-Marie get back into the bed. "You sneaking a look?"

"I was caught." She cuddled close. "I don't want to spoil your Christmas, so I'm glad I was caught."

"Which one was it?" he started to play with her hair. "It had to be one of your uncles."

"Nick." She closed her eyes. "I can't wait till we are the adults catching the children sneaking around."

"But then we won't be the ones getting the good presents."

"Mum wants me to be an adult. Why do you think she's teaching me all about sex?" suddenly she pulled away from him and sat up. "This is the last night you can ever sleep here. I'm forgetting how to be innocent."

"Beth," he took a slow breath, "I don't want to have to sleep away from you. The only place I feel safe is here with you."

"You won't be safe here for much longer." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I don't want to destroy us. There is going to be a time when we need each other to survive, I can't jeopardize that right now."

"You really think you can tell about the future, don't you?" he stared into her eyes.

"I can, at times." She cleared her throat. "Just don't tell anyone. It would mean that I'd be more important to Uncle Nick and his work than I am now."

"So, you and me, how long do we have together?"

"As long as we make the right choices, forever." She smiled.

9:00 am

Oliver looked at the clock and then reached over to gently wake the girl who had fallen asleep beside him. "Hey, time for us to report in to your mum."



"I don't want to." She muttered, not wanting to wake up after having fallen asleep again. "Stay in bed with me."

"Come on, Beth, it's time for Christmas." Even though he was not sure he was ready for the holiday, he was ready to give it a try. "Your mum will kill us if we don't show up on time."

"Fine." She muttered and got out of the bed. "Why do we have to do this any way? I just want to have a quiet Christmas, not this orchestrated mess that Mum puts us through."

"We'll be ok." He picked up his clothes and quickly dressed. "I just hate that we have to wear perfect ironed flannel pajamas just for the pictures."

"I told you it is all stupid." She quickly pulled on her nightgown and adjusted all the trim before quickly brushing out her long brown hair. "I look like a child."

"At least it makes your mum happy." He shrugged. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah, I'm ready." She took his hand and followed him out to the great room where their Christmas presents were set up.

"Merry Christmas, darlings." Jean Summers smiled at the two as they walked in. "Go take your seats so we can get started with your gifts."

"Yes, ma'am." The two chorused and then walked over to their assigned spots.

Beth-Marie was almost stoic as she sat down neatly and slowly let go of Oliver's hand. Her sky blue eyes scanned the room, taking in what was an almost too familiar sight. The entire group she was supposed to grow up with was gathered together. It had become too much of a tradition for her, and she was getting tired of it.

From a corner across from the two, Nick stood watching. The future of his work depended on the children in front of him. His niece had been a gift dropped on his doorstep, and even the young man that she seemed so taken with had promise. One day he would reveal his plans for her.

For the time, life was focused on the traditional Christmas that Jean loved to keep. The red-haired woman had all of the children perfectly lined up as she distributed their presents and then orchestrated the careful process of allowing them to open the gifts.

"Beth-Marie, you will open your gifts first." She neatly sat down in front of her daughter and turned on her video camera. "Let's get started, dear."



"Yes ma'am." Beth-Marie smiled brilliantly into the camera and picked up the first present in her stack. "This one is from Uncle Nick and Uncle Tony." She tore off the wrapping paper and then gently opened the box. "Neat, a whole set of spy stuff!"

"What a lovely gift." Jean said to her brother through tight lips. "I'm sure that she will enjoy spying on everyone around her."

"I told you that she needed to learn some surveillance skills, Tony just happens to agree with me." Nick answered his sister.

"Thank you Uncle Nick and Uncle Tony." Beth-Marie smiled brilliantly at both of her uncles before moving on to the next present. "From Aunt Lillian and Uncle Lionel." She read aloud as she opened a beautifully wrapped gift. "Designer make up and a new dress." She sighed as she held up the cream colored sateen to her face.

"Gorgeous." Jean pronounced as she looked at the full skirted dress that her daughter held up. "You may wear it tonight at dinner along with some tasteful make up."

"You mean it?!" Beth-Marie asked excitedly. "I can finally have pretty clothes for dinner?"

"All your clothes are pretty, Beth-Marie." Lillian smiled at the girl from her seat on one of the sofas. "I just thought that dress would be something a little more grown up for you."

"Thank you very much." Beth-Marie put the dress back into its box and turned to another. "Uncle Bennet, Uncle Race, and Aunt Estelle." She read the card and then opened the large bag that was set before her. "Clothing for school this year." She announced as she pulled out several neatly matching outfits. "This is all very pretty."

"And now we won't have worry about a new wardrobe for her." Jean smiled. "What did your grandfather give you, precious?"

Beth-Marie dug through her stack of presents until she came to the gift from her grandfather. "Books." She announced as she ripped off the paper. "It is something called 'The Chronicles of Narnia' by C.S. Lewis."

"Moral fiber for a child." Charles nodded as the child looked at the books. "I think you'll like it. Maybe you can read it to young Mr. Queen at times."

"Very lovely." Jean gave him a gracious smile. "What do you have from your father and me, dear?"

"Mum, half the stack is from you and Daddy." She rolled her eyes. "I'll get started though." She began to open all the packages signed from her parents. Once she had finished opening all of them she began to list off what she had gotten. "More books, more clothes, needlework 

supplies, sheets, make up, and the all time favorite new journals and ink pens. Thank you both very much."

"You are welcome, dearest." Jean smiled."Now what is your last present?"

"I've got two." Beth-Marie picked up one small box and one larger box. "One is the one labeled as being from the other kids and one is from Ollie."

"Really?" Jean raised an eyebrow. "We'll start with the group present."

"And this year we all get.." she muttered under her breath as she opened the larger box. "It is an Italian leather purse." She gently stroked the bag feeling the soft leather under her fingertips. "Thank you all."

Jean smiled at the child's reaction, she and the other women had agreed that the purses would be good for the girls. "And what did dear Ollie get you then?"

"Hold on." Beth-Marie put the purse down and picked up the small box. When she removed the paper, her eyes lit up to find that the box was velvet, an indication that it was almost certainly jewelry. She slowly lifted the lid and smiled softly when she saw the present inside. "A locket." She opened it up. "One side has a pic of Ollie and me, the other is a pic of Uncle Robert and Aunt Marylin." With gently movements she took the necklace out and held it to Oliver. "Put it on me, please?"

"Sure." He whispered and moved to sit behind her so he could gently fasten the delicate silver chain around her neck. "The crest is the Queen Family crest."

"It is beautiful." Jean whispered as she looked at the two children. "That is what your mother wanted to give her, isn't it?"

"Yes, ma'am." Oliver nodded and returned to his place. "She had it in with the Christmas presents and the guy in charge said that I could give it to Beth-Marie."

"Very good, now why don't you open yours, Ollie?" Jean turned so that the camera was on him.

"Yes, ma'am." His manners did not falter even though he wanted to sneak out with Beth-Marie and rest instead of dealing with the tradition. "From Beth-Marie's uncles in trouble." He picked up one box from his noticeably smaller pile and opened it. "A spy kit just like she got."

"Encouraging trouble." Jean muttered under her breath. "Continue on dear."

"From Uncle Lionel and Aunt Lillian." He read the tag aloud before carefully removing the paper. "A new suit that will go well with Beth-Marie's dress, and a book. The Art of War. I don't think I have to read this one for a while."

"A good read for a boy of your age." Lionel answered. "Lex read it not too long ago."

"Maybe they'll give me extra credit in school for it." He put the gift aside and picked up another box. "Uncle Bennet, Uncle Race, and Aunt Estelle." He opened the gift, and like Beth-Marie found several outfits that would be good for most schools. "This will be good for weekends at the school."

"Son, Jean, Charles and I went in together on our gift." Scott informed the boy when he saw him reaching for the small box. "It is not something that has extreme monetary value, but we think it is what will make you happy."

"Right." Oliver answered, confused. He opened the small box and pulled out a thin book. "The Guide to Xavier's Institute for Gifted Children: Rules and Information for Students." He stared at the book for a few moments before he realized the meaning. "I'm going to be attending school here?"

"We decided it would save us the phone bill." Charles smiled warmly. "Not to mention Beth-Marie will be far less trouble with you here."

"Thank you." He stared at the book. "It was all I wanted."

"We know, precious boy, we know." Jean smiled fondly at the boy. It was as much a gift to her to keep him at home as it was to him.