BlackRoseApocalyps: Thanks for the tip, I'll do that in this chapter right now.
CHAPTER 7: SHADOW & MARY
The next day Vincent went to the phone. He waited to make sure it wasn't too early, he had to make sure of any time difference at all but after nine he needed to know if Shadow was all right, so he would get to the source.
Luckily they had left their number in case of emergency and also so little C could keep in touch with them also. He dialed in the number and waited. "Yeah who is this?" Came a female voice.
"I'm looking for Marianne or Michael. Tell them it's Vincent and-"
"No way! So there is a version of you in this world." Came the voice.
Vince pinched the bridge of his nose. This was getting old real fast. "So I've been told...many times." He groaned.
"Well I'm Sarah by the way, I'll just get them." He stood there waiting for a few minutes and was wondering what was going on when a familiar voice came on the line.
"Vince is anything wrong? How are C and the others?" Marianne said.
Vince smiled at her attitude. She really did fit the 'mom' label she had. They're all fine don't worry. It's just that there's this guy here called Shadow and I was-"
But he was cut off yet again. "Tall guy, dark hair, kind of annoying?" She asked.
"Yeah that's him." He said.
"My condolences." He said to him over the line he would have laughed but she sounded too serious. They talked a bit after that, nothing mainly just catching up on what was going on and when he saw C walk down stairs he gave her a chance to talk to her 'mother'.
He stayed and watched since the phone was on the wall and she was too short to hang up, plus the last time she used it she had forgotten to hang up, for over an hour before someone noticed the tone and hanged it up.
Meanwhile downstairs Mary had gone to see if Shadow was feeling up to some breakfast and found him in a chair sleeping with several empty beer bottles around him. He shook her head at the sight. She walked up to him and kicked him hard in the shin.
"YEOW!" He screamed and clutched his shin. He looked at a Mary then. "WHAT?"
"First off you left a mess, secondly you should know better to leave beer around with kids in this house and thirdly you seemed to have drank the last of Vince's favorite brand." She told him.
Shadow froze at that last part. "You're kidding." He said flatly, and then saw the look on her face. "Aw crap."
She couldn't help but smile. "Well we better clean this up, then you can get some breakfast." Together they put away all the empties and Shadow found he could actually stand without getting dizzy.
They went upstairs where everyone else was already finishing eating. Vince looked at Shadow. "Well I called our mutual friends and she vouched for you, well she said you were an irritating jerk but you were a good guy besides that."
Shadow snorted. "That sounds like Marianne alright."
"You know I wonder if we should take C with us to their wedding?" Mary asked Vincent.
"Wait what wedding?" Shadow asked looking at the two of them with concern.
"Did you know?" Vince asked him. "Michael and Marianne are engaged."
He just stood there quiet for a moment then it was like something had bust. "WHAT? THOSE TWO ARE, AND THEY DIDN'T TELL ME? I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE'S GOING TO SETTLE FOR THAT GUY!"
"Shadow calm down." Liz said sternly as the children sat wide-eyed. He took a breath and sat down, muttering to himself about how Marianne deserves better then him.
"What you got a thing for her or something?" Benny asked eventually.
Shadow glared at the young man. "No I don't have a 'thing' for her, I think of her like she's my little sister for crying out loud!" He said to him and just went to eating in silence. He was pretty much pissed off for the entire day after that, and was in a dark mood too.
Shadow had to stay for observation for at least a few days Liz had told them just in case. She didn't like it but as the medical expert of the group she couldn't in good conscious let him go off until she was sure there were no after effects.
So Shadow had to stay, he tried to help out around the place. Lisa didn't seem to mind him at all for some reason but the twins kept their distance from him. He also didn't give up his pursuit of Mary, who even though the only thing she returned was either a slightly slap or glare was actually enjoying all the attention.
On the third day she was going down the stairs with some boxes. They were clearing out some old stuff out of the attic since they used that for storage, which wasn't much room since the attic was pretty small.
She was going down the stairs when she tripped and started to fall. Then she suddenly found that she had stopped. She felt herself in a pair of strong arms and for a moment thought it was Vincent. She brushed her hair from her eyes and found it was Shadow.
"You alright?" He said in good humor, but she could see the actually concern in his eyes. Which she had to admit were very nice looking. She shook the thought from her mind.
"Yeah, th-thanks." She said blushing a little. He nodded and helped her with the boxes. They dropped them off and they found it was about lunch time so they went for a break at small restaurant since they were hungry and wanted to get something to eat, instead of driving all the way back to the house.
They ordered some food and at first there was an awkward silence. "So...how did a nice girl like you get mixed up in the Underground?" Shadow asked trying to start up conversation.
She told him about her life at the orphanage and where she met Vince and Benny, about Father Michaels and her life. She told him how when Vince told them he was a mutant and his past. She told him how they were approached by the Underground and how they had been working with them for a few years.
She finished about half-way through their lunch. "So now that you know what about you?"
Shadow told her not as much. He didn't like to go into his past, but he told her the basics. He lived on the streets going from place to place never really fitting in. How he met Marianne and then joined up with the X- Men but left after her apparent 'death'.
"I know she doesn't think much of me, and that she thinks I'm an idiot...well...maybe I am a little. But when I thought she was dead I was devastated. I only joined the X-Men to look out after her. But she doesn't need me anymore, she needs Michael now."
"Is that way you were so pissed?" Mary asked him. "That you felt like you were being replaced?"
"I am replaced." Shadow said glumly. "But she's a grown woman now, she's strong and independent and well...and if you tell anyone this especially her I'll hunt you down...I'm proud of her."
Mary couldn't help but smile at his discomfort in admitting that. "You know...your actually a sweet guy under all that."
"Hey I do have a reputation to keep!" He said to her offended. "It's just a moment of weakness anyway."
"You know. I wonder what else there is to you?" She said grinning.
He just sat there smugly. "Yeah well, I got lots of secrets babe, and I don't give them out to just anybody."
They made their way back to the house. Mary was laughing at something Shadow had seen once while at the mansion, mainly about Kurt, Bobby and a prank on Scott. Vincent noticed them coming in both laughing and seeming to enjoy their time together.
He wasn't going to tell Mary that she shouldn't get to close to him cause he didn't like him much. The last time he did that...well...he didn't like to think about that it was extremely unpleasant. But he didn't like it one bit, even if she was a grown woman and could see who she wanted...but Shadow of all people? Why?
Mary and Shadow over the next few days were actually getting quite close. For some reason all his constant trying for her to agree to go out with him had finally worked. She mainly agreed because she found him fun, even if he was a little reckless and thoughtless. But she had to admit he did try and do the right thing.
Mary was finishing up her hair and make-up in her room. Lisa was there on her bed watching her and grinning. "So what are you two going to do tonight." She asked.
"We're just going to a movie and then a late dinner, nothing special." She replied.
"He's cute are you two going to be a real couple?" She asked the older woman.
She turned around and gave the young girl a stern look. "First off this might just be a one time thing, I mean the guy does have his issues, regardless if he's cute or not."
"Well he does drive Vince kind of nuts, and that's fun to watch." Lisa said to her, remembering how he found all of his favorite beer gone, or when he made a mess of the garage, ripped his favorite shirt while 'borrowing' it.
"Alright take off you." She said to the girl. The date was actually kind of normal. They took Shadow's bike and she had to hang onto him while he rode. She figured this was the reason he insisted on it. The movie was nice and dinner was delicious. They actually found they had a few things in common and had talked a lot during their time.
She had to admit it. He was fun, cute and well he was interesting to say the least. She was actually starting to like this guy. Sure he had his ruff spots, but she was actually learning to like some of them.
When they got home she turned to him. "I had a nice time, it's been awhile since I actually got out and had some fun like tonight."
"So...do I get a goodnight kiss?" Shadow said moving in closely.
"Well...you did behave yourself." She said and kissed him on the mouth. It felt surprisingly good and when she thought of pulling away he wrapped his arms around her bringing her closer and deepening the kiss. She couldn't refuse, it was just too good.
"Awwww." Said several voices. The two of them suddenly broke off and found Lisa, Kate and Jill by the stairs watching them.
"Alright you three off to bed!" She scolded them and the three girls giggled and ran off to their rooms.
"Well that broke the moment." Shadow said to himself disappointed. "So...can we do this again sometime?" He asked her.
She was going to say no, but after that kiss...well that had changed her mind. "Sure." She said and went off to her room. When she got there she placed a hand to her lips. "Wow, that was really good." She said blushing at the memory.
NEXT UP CHAPTER 7: TAKEN
CHAPTER 7: SHADOW & MARY
The next day Vincent went to the phone. He waited to make sure it wasn't too early, he had to make sure of any time difference at all but after nine he needed to know if Shadow was all right, so he would get to the source.
Luckily they had left their number in case of emergency and also so little C could keep in touch with them also. He dialed in the number and waited. "Yeah who is this?" Came a female voice.
"I'm looking for Marianne or Michael. Tell them it's Vincent and-"
"No way! So there is a version of you in this world." Came the voice.
Vince pinched the bridge of his nose. This was getting old real fast. "So I've been told...many times." He groaned.
"Well I'm Sarah by the way, I'll just get them." He stood there waiting for a few minutes and was wondering what was going on when a familiar voice came on the line.
"Vince is anything wrong? How are C and the others?" Marianne said.
Vince smiled at her attitude. She really did fit the 'mom' label she had. They're all fine don't worry. It's just that there's this guy here called Shadow and I was-"
But he was cut off yet again. "Tall guy, dark hair, kind of annoying?" She asked.
"Yeah that's him." He said.
"My condolences." He said to him over the line he would have laughed but she sounded too serious. They talked a bit after that, nothing mainly just catching up on what was going on and when he saw C walk down stairs he gave her a chance to talk to her 'mother'.
He stayed and watched since the phone was on the wall and she was too short to hang up, plus the last time she used it she had forgotten to hang up, for over an hour before someone noticed the tone and hanged it up.
Meanwhile downstairs Mary had gone to see if Shadow was feeling up to some breakfast and found him in a chair sleeping with several empty beer bottles around him. He shook her head at the sight. She walked up to him and kicked him hard in the shin.
"YEOW!" He screamed and clutched his shin. He looked at a Mary then. "WHAT?"
"First off you left a mess, secondly you should know better to leave beer around with kids in this house and thirdly you seemed to have drank the last of Vince's favorite brand." She told him.
Shadow froze at that last part. "You're kidding." He said flatly, and then saw the look on her face. "Aw crap."
She couldn't help but smile. "Well we better clean this up, then you can get some breakfast." Together they put away all the empties and Shadow found he could actually stand without getting dizzy.
They went upstairs where everyone else was already finishing eating. Vince looked at Shadow. "Well I called our mutual friends and she vouched for you, well she said you were an irritating jerk but you were a good guy besides that."
Shadow snorted. "That sounds like Marianne alright."
"You know I wonder if we should take C with us to their wedding?" Mary asked Vincent.
"Wait what wedding?" Shadow asked looking at the two of them with concern.
"Did you know?" Vince asked him. "Michael and Marianne are engaged."
He just stood there quiet for a moment then it was like something had bust. "WHAT? THOSE TWO ARE, AND THEY DIDN'T TELL ME? I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE'S GOING TO SETTLE FOR THAT GUY!"
"Shadow calm down." Liz said sternly as the children sat wide-eyed. He took a breath and sat down, muttering to himself about how Marianne deserves better then him.
"What you got a thing for her or something?" Benny asked eventually.
Shadow glared at the young man. "No I don't have a 'thing' for her, I think of her like she's my little sister for crying out loud!" He said to him and just went to eating in silence. He was pretty much pissed off for the entire day after that, and was in a dark mood too.
Shadow had to stay for observation for at least a few days Liz had told them just in case. She didn't like it but as the medical expert of the group she couldn't in good conscious let him go off until she was sure there were no after effects.
So Shadow had to stay, he tried to help out around the place. Lisa didn't seem to mind him at all for some reason but the twins kept their distance from him. He also didn't give up his pursuit of Mary, who even though the only thing she returned was either a slightly slap or glare was actually enjoying all the attention.
On the third day she was going down the stairs with some boxes. They were clearing out some old stuff out of the attic since they used that for storage, which wasn't much room since the attic was pretty small.
She was going down the stairs when she tripped and started to fall. Then she suddenly found that she had stopped. She felt herself in a pair of strong arms and for a moment thought it was Vincent. She brushed her hair from her eyes and found it was Shadow.
"You alright?" He said in good humor, but she could see the actually concern in his eyes. Which she had to admit were very nice looking. She shook the thought from her mind.
"Yeah, th-thanks." She said blushing a little. He nodded and helped her with the boxes. They dropped them off and they found it was about lunch time so they went for a break at small restaurant since they were hungry and wanted to get something to eat, instead of driving all the way back to the house.
They ordered some food and at first there was an awkward silence. "So...how did a nice girl like you get mixed up in the Underground?" Shadow asked trying to start up conversation.
She told him about her life at the orphanage and where she met Vince and Benny, about Father Michaels and her life. She told him how when Vince told them he was a mutant and his past. She told him how they were approached by the Underground and how they had been working with them for a few years.
She finished about half-way through their lunch. "So now that you know what about you?"
Shadow told her not as much. He didn't like to go into his past, but he told her the basics. He lived on the streets going from place to place never really fitting in. How he met Marianne and then joined up with the X- Men but left after her apparent 'death'.
"I know she doesn't think much of me, and that she thinks I'm an idiot...well...maybe I am a little. But when I thought she was dead I was devastated. I only joined the X-Men to look out after her. But she doesn't need me anymore, she needs Michael now."
"Is that way you were so pissed?" Mary asked him. "That you felt like you were being replaced?"
"I am replaced." Shadow said glumly. "But she's a grown woman now, she's strong and independent and well...and if you tell anyone this especially her I'll hunt you down...I'm proud of her."
Mary couldn't help but smile at his discomfort in admitting that. "You know...your actually a sweet guy under all that."
"Hey I do have a reputation to keep!" He said to her offended. "It's just a moment of weakness anyway."
"You know. I wonder what else there is to you?" She said grinning.
He just sat there smugly. "Yeah well, I got lots of secrets babe, and I don't give them out to just anybody."
They made their way back to the house. Mary was laughing at something Shadow had seen once while at the mansion, mainly about Kurt, Bobby and a prank on Scott. Vincent noticed them coming in both laughing and seeming to enjoy their time together.
He wasn't going to tell Mary that she shouldn't get to close to him cause he didn't like him much. The last time he did that...well...he didn't like to think about that it was extremely unpleasant. But he didn't like it one bit, even if she was a grown woman and could see who she wanted...but Shadow of all people? Why?
Mary and Shadow over the next few days were actually getting quite close. For some reason all his constant trying for her to agree to go out with him had finally worked. She mainly agreed because she found him fun, even if he was a little reckless and thoughtless. But she had to admit he did try and do the right thing.
Mary was finishing up her hair and make-up in her room. Lisa was there on her bed watching her and grinning. "So what are you two going to do tonight." She asked.
"We're just going to a movie and then a late dinner, nothing special." She replied.
"He's cute are you two going to be a real couple?" She asked the older woman.
She turned around and gave the young girl a stern look. "First off this might just be a one time thing, I mean the guy does have his issues, regardless if he's cute or not."
"Well he does drive Vince kind of nuts, and that's fun to watch." Lisa said to her, remembering how he found all of his favorite beer gone, or when he made a mess of the garage, ripped his favorite shirt while 'borrowing' it.
"Alright take off you." She said to the girl. The date was actually kind of normal. They took Shadow's bike and she had to hang onto him while he rode. She figured this was the reason he insisted on it. The movie was nice and dinner was delicious. They actually found they had a few things in common and had talked a lot during their time.
She had to admit it. He was fun, cute and well he was interesting to say the least. She was actually starting to like this guy. Sure he had his ruff spots, but she was actually learning to like some of them.
When they got home she turned to him. "I had a nice time, it's been awhile since I actually got out and had some fun like tonight."
"So...do I get a goodnight kiss?" Shadow said moving in closely.
"Well...you did behave yourself." She said and kissed him on the mouth. It felt surprisingly good and when she thought of pulling away he wrapped his arms around her bringing her closer and deepening the kiss. She couldn't refuse, it was just too good.
"Awwww." Said several voices. The two of them suddenly broke off and found Lisa, Kate and Jill by the stairs watching them.
"Alright you three off to bed!" She scolded them and the three girls giggled and ran off to their rooms.
"Well that broke the moment." Shadow said to himself disappointed. "So...can we do this again sometime?" He asked her.
She was going to say no, but after that kiss...well that had changed her mind. "Sure." She said and went off to her room. When she got there she placed a hand to her lips. "Wow, that was really good." She said blushing at the memory.
NEXT UP CHAPTER 7: TAKEN
