April 22, 1978
"Whatcha doin'?"
Kurt looked up, his eyes wide.
"Dumb question," David said, "You're painting."
Kurt nodded. He had gotten his paints out, even though he wasn't supposed to be doing it on the carpet. David understood though: it was more comfortable that way. Still, Kurt wasn't being very careful. He hadn't even put newspapers down. David knew that he would probably get into trouble for that if anyone found out about it.
They weren't going to find out about it from him though. David stood looking at the picture Kurt was painting. He was using his brushes, but the colors were no less swirled than they had been in the past. David sat down next to him.
"It's nice," he said.
Kurt dropped his paintbrush into a cup of water. The colors of the paint had dyed it a murky brown. He'd certainly used a lot of different colors.
"Tanks," Kurt said.
"I mean it," David said.
Looking sheepish Kurt nodded and began to suck his fingers. David couldn't help but think about when he'd seen Kurt in his mother's arms when Max had been born. David didn't want to think about it. He already knew the answer that his thoughts were taking him to. It was a pointless answer, and he didn't like it.
His brother continued to quietly suck his fingers. David cocked his head.
"Are you done now?" he asked.
"Yes," Kurt said.
"Do you want to read a book?" he asked.
Kurt nodded and got up. As he did so he knocked over the glass of water. David watched, in slow motion, as the brown liquid splattered over the cream carpet. In seconds it took on the dirty brown color, making it look filthy. Kurt put his hands in front of his mouth.
David watched as Kurt started to cry, his quiet sobs wracking his body. David scooched over and put his arms around him.
"Hey," he said, "Don't be a baby: stop crying."
Kurt sniffled.
"Don't worry," David said, "It's going to be alright."
"How?" Kurt said.
David let go of his brother and ran to the kitchen. He came back with paper towels and started blotting the carpet. There must have been more water in the cup than he'd thought, because he began running through paper towels quickly. He was glad that he'd brought a lot of them.
"We'll get it as good as new," he said.
Kurt grabbed a paper towel. Together they continued blotting the carpet, but David could see that not all of the color was coming out. From the look in his eyes Kurt could see that as well. David watched, feeling frustrated, as Kurt began to cry again.
"I'm gonna be in twouble," he said.
"No you're not," David said.
"I yam," Kurt said.
"No, you're not," David said.
He looked around him for inspiration. A throw rug was in front of the door. It was thick and a dark color, and it was perfect. David ran up and pulled it away from the doorstep. He threw it over the brown stain.
"See?" David said, "No stain!"
Kurt looked from the rug to David, and then back to the rug. His eyes seemed to get wider. Without another word he tackled David, his arms around his waist. David fell to the floor. For a moment he just stared at the ceiling. Then he hugged him back.
"Tanks! Tanks!" Kurt said.
"No problem," David said, "And don't tackle me again."
Kurt let go and sat back on his haunches. David looked around him.
"Still," he said, "We can't let anyone know we were here around now. We've got to clean up and stay out of sight for a while."
He stood up, punching the air with his fist.
"To the hideout!" he said.
David looked down.
"Well, after we clean up," he said.
Kurt giggled and, together, they cleaned up his painting supplies. Then, as quietly as they could, they snuck down to the hanger. There was an alcove there that David figured had once been a supply shelf. Now it was covered by a dark sheet and it looked like it was part of the wall.
David had discovered it a few weeks ago and had immediately claimed it for his own. Kurt was the only other one allowed in there. He'd moved a few pillows and sheets in there to make it more comfortable. The sheet could make it musty if he stayed in there too long, but he figured they wouldn't need to hide there for more than half an hour.
He clambered in, feeling clumsy. It felt like, as he got older, his limbs got fatter and more unwieldy. The opposite seemed to be happening to Kurt. He seemed to be getting more agile. He still didn't have complete control over his tail though, so he figured that his brother wasn't perfect.
It made him feel better.
"I know it's dark in here," David said, "But I can't have a light."
"I can see," Kurt said,
"I know," David said, "I'm just saying."
The hanger rattled. He knew that meant that the X-men were coming back. They were the only ones who used the hanger. Kurt's eyes widened and David put his finger to his lips. David moved towards the sheet. He had to make sure that they didn't find them.
He peeked out from behind the sheet. The Blackbird landed and he saw the side door open. The X-men walked out, a few of them looking a little battered. David wasn't too worried: he'd seen them like that before. Most of them left, but he saw Scott and Jean linger for a moment. Jean hesitated, but Scott murmured something and she left.
Once she was gone Scott stayed in the hanger. David watched as Scott patiently stood alone in the hanger, looking at the Blackbird. Alex came out after a little bit, rubbing his forehead. Scott started to open his mouth, but Alex shook his head.
Alex pulled up a chair and sat down in it. Scott stood awkwardly next to him. David continued to stare, even though he already knew that they weren't going to come to his hiding place. He knew it was nosy, but he couldn't help but watch.
"Scott, please, just don't say anything," Alex said.
"I haven't said anything," he said.
"No, but you're thinking it."
Scott rolled his eyes.
"Is thinking a crime now?" he asked.
"Just stop."
Scott crossed his arms.
"You want me to leave then?" he said.
Alex shook his head again.
"No, not for another few moments," he said, "I'm sorry for snapping at you but...it's just..."
Alex rubbed his temples.
"Why did I think it wouldn't be bad news?" he said, "It's always bad news, always, always bad news."
Alex leaned back further.
"It comes with the territory I guess," he said.
He got to his feet. David could see that he felt tired.
"I don't regret anything," Alex said, "Not a damn thing, understand?"
"I know you don't," Scott said, "You're always so certain. I envy that about you, your certainty."
David widened his eyes. Kurt crawled next to him and peered out as well. He didn't stop him.
"It's not as easy as it looks," Alex said.
"I didn't think it was," Scott said, "I just know that you have it."
Alex grinned and patted his brother on the shoulder.
"You're a good kid Scott," he said.
"Learned from the best," Scott said.
The two of them walked out of the room. David let the sheet drop. Kurt's eyes glowed for a minute, catching the light.
"What was dat?" Kurt asked.
David paused for a minute.
"I don't think it was our business," he said, "It's grown-up stuff."
He shook his head.
"Definitely not for us," he said.
"Oh come on," Lorna laughed, "You need to calm down Max."
Her son wiggled his hands, his green eyes blinking and rolling back and forth. His face was still scrunched up from crying. Lorna felt tired, she was still recovering from what she'd been told was a comparatively difficult labor. She wouldn't be able to go on missions for another two weeks. At the moment though, Max needed to be soothed. He was a fussy baby.
At the same time he seemed so perfect, his face round and innocent, his cheeks chubby. She lifted him up and nuzzled her nose against his.
"It's time for your nap, okay?" Lorna said.
Max yawned and batted at her. She laughed and cradled him in her arms. Lorna hummed to him as she took him to his cradle and, before she knew it, words came to her lips.
"Der Vater hüt't die Schaf," Lorna sang, "Die Mutter schüttelt's Bäumelein, da fällt herab ein Träumelein. Schlaf, Kindlein, schlaf."
She closed her eyes and nuzzled her forehead against his.
"Schlaf, Kindlein, schlaf," Lorna murmured, "Am Himmel ziehn die Schaf. Die Sternlein sind die Lämmerlein, der Mond, der ist das Schäferlein. Schlaf, Kindlein, schlaf."
She opened her eyes. Max yawned and his eyelids began to droop. Lorna smiled in triumph.
"Schlaf, Kindlein, schlaf," Lorna whispered, "So schenk' ich dir ein Schaf. Mit einer goldnen Schelle fein, das soll dein Spielgeselle sein. Schlaf, Kindlein, schlaf."
Lorna laid Max in his cradle as the door opened. Lorna turned around and put her finger to her lips as Alex walked in. He smiled tiredly at her and glanced at Max, his smile widening. She backed quietly out of the nursery and closed the door slightly.
"He's asleep," Lorna said, "Exhausted himself from trying to get my attention."
"I know what that's like," Alex said.
She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck. He tentatively put his hands around her waist.
"How did the mission go?" Lorna asked.
Alex didn't say anything. She felt her heart sink and she closed her eyes.
"You ran into my father, didn't you?" she asked.
"Yes," Alex said.
"And you told him about Max, didn't you?" she said.
Lorna didn't give him a chance to answer.
"Of course you did," she said, "Because that's what you do when you make a promise: you fulfill it."
She opened her eyes. Alex was looking at her with a desolate expression.
"Lorna, I only had a few minutes," he said, "And I tried to explain-"
Lorna put her hand over his mouth.
"I know you did," Lorna said.
She choked back tears. She wasn't going to cry over this. Not anymore. Lorna let her hand slip from his lips.
"What did he say?" she asked.
Alex sighed.
"He didn't say anything," Alex said, "He just...looked at me. And then he turned and walked away."
Lorna took a deep breath.
"I knew this would happen. Not that specifically, but something like it," she said, "He's stubborn."
She shrugged, even though she knew that the gesture was weak and abortive.
"Lorna-" Alex said.
"I just hoped...after Max was born and I really started thinking about it I hoped..." Lorna said.
She swallowed.
"Well, Carly's father didn't approve of her marrying Hank, but he was interested in his grandchild," Lorna said, "It's why he made peace, why they still talk."
Alex gripped her waist tighter.
"Max is perfect," he said, his voice low and reassuring.
"I know," Lorna said.
She reached up and touched his cheek.
"His father isn't bad either," Lorna said.
She smiled.
"And I'm so happy that I have both of you," she said.
Lorna tilted her head up and kissed him. She'd made her choice years ago. As she had once told Alex: there was no point in regretting it now. Not when it had given her so much.