He was having a nightmare.
Naomi could tell from his expression and from the soft, distressed noises he made that his sleep was being disturbed again; he'd been having them a lot recently, at least once a week, and they were the same every time.
They all ended with her dead.
Sometimes she'd die for no reason and Peter had to watch her drop dead with no way of helping her. Sometimes his dream would replay the real-life nightmare when Apocalypse had killed her, Peter completely powerless to stop him. And sometimes…
Sometimes he would kill her.
He explained that half the time it was an accident; he used his powers without thinking and she'd died from a broken neck or something to that effect. But, the other half… he would purposefully kill her; he would have no control over his own body and he would strangle her or stab her over and over.
Those were the worst ones and, honestly, if Naomi hadn't been with Peter for ten years they would scare her; she knew that Peter could never hurt her, though.
But, Peter still had his fears and for the rest of the day he wouldn't be right; always quiet and wanting to be alone.
Naomi gently ran her fingers through his silver hair, hoping that it wasn't a bad one. At least, not the worst one.
"Peter, wake up."
Peter's eyes opened and he dazedly looked at the woman that lay beside him.
"Another one?" She asked gently, Peter nodding and reaching out to cup her cheek.
"It was different this time." His voice rough from sleep.
"Really?" Naomi asked softly.
"Yeah… Cancer."
Naomi swallowed hard and placed her hand on his; squeezing softly.
"I'm here."
Peter reached and pulled her closer; burying his face in her neck and taking a deep breath. He needed to remind himself of that fact; she was here and she wasn't going anywhere.
After a few minutes of cuddling, Peter pulled back and gave his wife a smile; his eyes letting on he'd been on the verge of crying, but had held it back. Naomi ran her fingers through his hair, knowing that it calmed him, before she spoke softly.
"You've got a doctor's appointment in an hour."
Peter groaned and buried his face in her breasts this time; Naomi smiling indulgently at her husband's antics.
"I just want to stay here with you."
Naomi nuzzled into his hair after his muffled statement.
"I know… Tell ya what; you go to the doctor's appointment and when you get back-" Naomi pulled back and smirked at him "-I'll give you something much better than cuddles."
Peter smiled up at his wife; his smirk just as dirty as hers.
"What would that be, Mommy?"
Naomi gave him a look while Peter smiled innocently.
"You're lucky you have to leave soon."
.
Naomi and Peter had lived in X-Mansion for two months.
They'd gotten to know the students and faculty quite well during their stay, especially the ones that had been in Cairo. In fact, Charles had told them they would start training for the X-Men as soon as fall classes started and Peter's cast was off; the kids having already done a few sparring sessions with each other, which had turned out hilariously because they all assumed that Kurt was too nice to be good at fighting.
Watching Scott get thrown across the danger room had been very satisfying.
Anyway, they became sort of the older siblings of the group; they were chiller than parents, but also had more life experience than their average peer. They worked well together and they got along for the most part.
When the time came, they'd be a good team.
.
"Vhy aren't you at zhe doctor vith Peter?" Kurt asked, Naomi shrugging as the pair headed down the hallway.
"It's just a checkup and Hank was already driving out that way; Peter said it was fine if I stayed back."
Kurt nodded in understanding, before looking down at his feet.
"I zhink zhis Sunday, ve should try a new one," He muttered.
"If that's what you want," Naomi replied easily.
Every Sunday since Cairo, Naomi would take Kurt to church. They'd tried multiple churches in this period of time, but each one had made Kurt feel uncomfortable in some way (usually the patrons, but occasionally the actual sermon) and the blue mutant didn't want to feel like that when he was trying to worship God; he felt bad about making Naomi change churches, but she always seemed completely fine when he asked, so he didn't stop.
Naomi understood Kurt's insecurities, so she never got on him about wanting to switch churches almost every Sunday; if he was uncomfortable there, then she'd be happy to leave.
"We could just watch Televangelists," Naomi teased, Kurt making a face of disgust; he'd seen exactly five minutes of one of those before shutting it off and saying something rather naughty in German.
"Hey!"
Naomi smiled as Kurt's eyes immediately dropped back down to his feet; Samantha was approaching them.
Over the past two months, Naomi had gotten close to the young woman she'd met all those years ago, but what Naomi found utterly adorable was the way Kurt and Samantha got shyer and shyer around each other as time went on.
"Hey, Sam," Naomi greeted.
"Guten tag," Kurt murmured.
"Hey," Samantha said, quieter this time. "So, we're going to play a game of capture the flag, if you two want to play."
"Full powers?" Naomi asked, Samantha nodding as Naomi's smile grew "Yeah, I want to play. Kurt?"
"I don't know the rules," Kurt whispered, Naomi smiling at him.
"Don't worry, it's easy; c'mon."
They all headed to the garden, and if Naomi fell back slightly, letting the two teenagers walk beside each other, they didn't say anything about it.
.
After Jean's team (Naomi, Samantha, and Ororo) beat Jubilee's team (Kurt, Lorna, and Scott) three to two, the group decided to recuperate after all that running around and take in the sun while it lasted; Naomi checking the time every so often as she began to get a bit worried about her husband.
"I'm just saying that it's not fair to judge the Star Wars movies against Raiders; Raiders is only one while Star Wars is three," Jubilee said, in another debate with Scott about movies.
"I just can't imagine Indiana Jones ever meeting Star Wars brilliance," Scott said, having been a little bit more aggressive after he'd been picked last for teams ("Nothing personal, Scott; your mutation doesn't help us unless we literally want to murder someone.").
"I'm still not sure if I want to pierce them yet," Samantha said, Jean nodding.
"Well, when I get the double piercing, you can come along and watch; see if you want to get it done too."
"It really feels different?" Ororo asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yep," Lorna replied "I can tell the difference after natural lightning and after yours."
Naomi smiled slightly as she listened to their idle chatter; the blonde woman stretching out on the lawn and letting their talk turn into background noises as she just enjoyed the feeling of the sun on her skin. She worried a little about why Peter was taking so long, but she trusted her husband and knew he'd be alright. Finally, after a moment more of enjoying the warm summer day, she flipped over onto her stomach and opened her mouth to say something to Kurt.
Then they were gone.
Naomi gasped in shock as her back hit a mattress; everything swirling for a second before her eyes focused on the man standing at the end of the bed.
"Surprise."
Naomi laughed excitedly as Peter clambered on top of her; the couple kissing heatedly for a moment before breaking apart.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Naomi giggled, running her hand over his right leg, now cast free.
"Didn't know; nobody did. You know how I work," Peter murmured as he allowed a good amount of his weight rest on Naomi; biting at her neck in the hopes of leaving a mark.
"And no physical therapy?" Naomi asked, surprised as she tried to hold back soft gasps.
"Where do you think I've been for the last two hours? It doesn't take that long to get a cast off," Peter said, pinching her side and making her giggle "And it doesn't take long for me to start running again."
"Jeez, Peter; it's not like we haven't had sex since you broke it," Naomi said, smiling as Peter pulled her pants off and ran his hands over thighs.
"Yeah, but we haven't been going at it full force 'cause of the telepaths," Peter countered "But, now that I have you here at home, we can do what we like; I can finally give you what you want."
Naomi frowned as Peter moved back up her body and buried his face in her neck again; not noticing her expression as he kissed her jawline.
"What do you mean 'what I want?'" Naomi asked, Peter stopping his assault on her neck and pulling back to look her in the eye; the silver haired man smirking at her.
"I'm gonna get you pregnant, Baby."
Peter moved to her collarbone and began to play with the hem of her shirt when he felt Naomi pushing him back. Peter allowed her to and sat back on his heels, frowning in confusion as Naomi sat up; not looking excited like he'd expected. Naomi pulled her knees to her chest and bit her lip while Peter tilted his head at her; the mutant trying to figure out why she'd pushed him away.
"What's wrong? I thought you wanted this."
"I do, I do," Naomi reassured as she stared at her feet "It's just…"
"What, Baby?" Peter asked softly, reaching out to cup his wife's cheek.
It was quite as Naomi tried to figure out how to say it before she just took a deep breath and spoke hurriedly.
"If we do this, you have to promise you won't leave me."
By all rights, Peter should've been offended by that, but they were Peter and Naomi; they both had enough Daddy Issues to rival a strip club on a Friday night. He understood why she was scared.
Naomi had gotten over most of her problems, but it wasn't surprising she was scared of getting ditched when she got pregnant; it's what Erik and Wade did.
Wade, as much as she loved him, left her in a family that abused her and didn't admit to be being her father until after she'd figured it out herself; that kind of thing fucks with a person's head.
And while Erik didn't have much of an impact on her, it didn't help that her husband's father ditched his wife and kids too.
Peter understood why she was scared and he just wanted to make her feel safe; he didn't want her to ever doubt his devotion to her.
Peter tilted Naomi's chin up and studied her with a soft expression.
"I will always want you, Naomi, and I won't ever leave you."
Naomi smiled slightly as she studied Peter; her eyes still containing some worry.
"I know, I'm sorry."
"Sh, sh," Peter said, moving to sit beside her and wrapping an arm around her shoulders "Don't apologize; I get it."
Naomi looked down at her hands for a second before looking over.
"Do you think I'll be a good mother?"
"I think you'll be the greatest mom that ever has and ever will exist on this planet," Peter replied promptly, Naomi giggling.
"You're such an idiot," she muttered, Peter laughing along with her "Well, I think you will be the greatest dad that ever has and ever will exist on this planet."
"Even though I'm an idiot?" Peter asked, Naomi laughing again.
"Even though you're an idiot."
Naomi and Peter smiled at each other for a moment before Naomi leaned over and kissed him gently; the speedster melting into the kiss and pressing against her. Naomi pulled back and gave him a sultry look.
"I seem to recall me saying that I'd give you something better than cuddles," she said, Peter grinning before he moved and she was suddenly flat on her back with Peter above her.
"Damn straight."
.
Naomi gasped as Peter rolled off of her; the silver haired man not having any trouble with breathing.
"It's been awhile since you've really gone for it like that," Naomi said through huffs, Peter smirking as he propped himself up on his elbow to look at her.
"Well, you know, between you being extremely sick and my leg being broken, it wasn't easy for me to just give it to you like that."
"I missed it," Naomi said, sending Peter a cheeky smile as she began to sit up; Peter pushing her back down against the bed "Hey!"
"You're lucky I'm not making you do a handstand right now," Peter said, Naomi rolling her eyes before a thought occurred to her and she sent him a smile.
"You know… I probably won't get pregnant from just one… I think we're going to have to keep trying…"
Peter smiled before moving so he was over her again.
"We better make sure it takes, then."
.
"Water?" Naomi asked as she tried to even out her breathing, Peter nodding and heading into the kitchen before returning with a glass for her.
Once she'd finished it and her breathing was level, she was able to focus on other things, like actually thinking.
"Peter, the kids at Xavier's are probably worried; I did just disappear," Naomi pointed out, Peter sighing dramatically.
"I was hoping for at least three more rounds before we went back."
"Hear me out; we go back and make sure everyone knows we're fine, and then we can come back here and go for as many times as you like," Naomi said as she gave him a seductive look.
"Naomi, I might actually kill you if we went for as many rounds as I liked," Peter replied, Naomi laughing.
"Did you forget? You can't kill me; no matter how many times or how hard," Naomi replied, letting the blanket she was under lower to show a good amount of her breasts.
"Don't tempt me, Ami; I'll break your pelvis."
Naomi smirked.
"Sounds like fun."
.
"If they start trying to make conversation, I'm just going to drag you out of here," Peter said, Naomi laughing.
"I'll keep that in mind," she said, her smile dimming slightly as she looked around the garden "Where is everybody?"
"Don't know," Peter said, shrugging "Inside, I guess."
As soon as they entered the mansion, they were confronted by Lorna; the green haired teen looking very, very affected.
"Thank god," she said, taking their hands and pulling them along.
"What's going on?" Naomi asked, both of the adults concerned; what could've gotten Lorna into such a state?
"The President is about to give a speech about mutants."
Peter and Naomi exchanged a look before they both started running after Lorna willingly; making it into the TV room just in time. The room was completely packed with every student crammed in to watch the speech; completely full but completely silent.
First was about four minutes of condolences towards those killed and hurt in Cairo followed by ten minutes of promises to get Lehnsherr; the mutants all awkwardly not looking over at the man who was in the back corner of the room. Then there was ten minutes of flowery language; saying that he understood that most Mutants were peaceful and lived among them with only good intentions.
And then they got to the point.
"Of course, there are a few that use these abilities to harm others, as shown by Lehnsherr and the others involved in the horrific genocide in Cairo. And it is for that reason I am calling for the restart of the Sentinel program."
There wasn't a sound in the room; not a squeak, not a shuffle, not even a gasp. But, in that moment, everyone shared the exact same feeling.
Terror.
.
For one of the few times in his life, everything was too fast for Peter.
Everyone moved quickly; all of the mutants dispersing without a word. They all needed to be alone to try to process what had just happened.
Lorna was gone before he could even ask her if she was okay; the young woman muttering something about talking to Ororo.
And then, when he looked over to his other side, Naomi was gone as well. Peter quickly took off and found her in their room; his wife curled up on their bed and not looking him in the eye.
"Hey-."
"We can't have a baby."
Peter sighed slightly and rubbed his face before he appeared beside her on the bed.
"Ami-."
"We can't," Naomi repeated, looking up and allowing Peter to see the horror in her eyes "We can't bring a baby into this world."
"We also can't let fear control us, Naomi," Peter said, his wife frowning and looking down at her hands.
"Shouldn't you be happy about this?" Naomi asked, her voice incredibly bitter.
"What're you talking about?" Peter asked, frowning in confusion.
"Peter, you said 'not yet' for ten years, I can take a hint," Naomi spat "That's why I asked if you'd stay; if you're just driven by guilt, who knows what you'll do when it wears off."
It was quiet for a long moment, Naomi refusing to look up at Peter; who was unnaturally still as he processed what she'd just said.
"Naomi, do you remember when you were seventeen and you thought you were pregnant?" Peter asked, his voice too calm.
"And you got me that home kit that said I was," Naomi offered, her voice raw as Peter nodded.
"You cried all night and then the next morning, the doctor said you weren't pregnant; we just had a faulty test."
"Yes, Peter, I remember this; what's the point?" Naomi asked irritably.
"Well, while you were sobbing into my shoulder that night, I really thought about it; at first I was terrified. Of course I was; I was eighteen. But, then I started to think about it; I thought about what it would be like to have a baby with you, what you would be like as a mother, what our child would be like…"
It was quiet for a moment as Peter tried to figure out how to articulate how he felt.
"Naomi, I have never been more disappointed in my life than when you told me you weren't pregnant."
It was quiet again as Naomi processed what he was saying; the woman squeezing the duvet under her hands as she thought.
"Then why did you have us put it off for so long?" Naomi asked, her voice letting him know she was on the verge of tears.
"You know, Ami, for a guy who moves as fast as me, I always seem to be too late."
Naomi snapped over to look at Peter; her husband noticing the few tears that were slowly working their way down her cheeks.
"You're not, Peter; you're not too late."
Peter reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist to pull her close; the couple cherishing the feeling of the other in their embrace.
"You've never been too late for me, Peter," Naomi murmured into his neck "You've always been right on time."
"What if one day I am?" Peter asked softly, Naomi pulling away to look him in the eye.
"I'll wait. I'll wait a million lifetimes for you."
Peter pulled her into a hungry kiss that made her melt against him; both of them opting to ignore the tears they were shedding.
"Don't let fear keep us from happiness," Peter said once they pulled apart "We'll be able to protect our baby, you know that."
Naomi studied him for a moment before she nodded slightly.
"Okay."
Peter smiled before Naomi leaned in to kiss him again; Peter pulling back before she could.
"Hold on, Baby," he said, lifting her up bridal style,
"Let's go home."
