AN: firebird01 and Cassie trudge out of the dark room, both white as sheets.

Firebird01: Well that was a waste!

Cassie: I know, the goldfish didn't even turn pale!

Firebird01: Let me see that fish.

Cassie holds up the bowl, revealing a dead goldfish.

Firebird01: …Cassie…how long has that fish been dead?

Cassie: …Ummmmmm, I forget.

Firebird01: Okay then, was that fish dead when we first put it in the dark room?

Cassie: Yep!

Firebird01: WE JUST WASTED ALL OF THAT TIME WHEN THE FISH WAS ALREADY DEAD?!

Cassie:…Oh! The fish was supposed to be alive?

Firebird01: ARGH!

Firebird01 storms off angrily, leaving Cassie to contemplate the difference of the experiment's outcome if the fish had been alive.

Chapter 7

"No…no…it's not possible!" Marie whispered as she slowly stood and backed away from Irene.

"Marie, please, let me explain." Irene begged as she stood and walked toward Marie. Marie headed for the door.

"There's no way that I'm related to that monster! She tried to kill me! Twice!" Marie screamed as she turned toward the door. A firm hand on her shoulder stopped her.

"Marie, Raven may seem like a monster to you, but I love her. I hate what she has become, but I deeply love the person that she truly is. She is not a monster Marie, she just allowed her anger to control her. Anger is like a poison Marie, once it gets into you it's hard to stop it before it reaches your heart. Marie, please try to understand that Raven wasn't always like this." Marie stood silent as she listened to Irene, knowing in her heart that every word that she spoke was true.

"So then, if I really am like my father, what if one day Jean is in your position and my child is in my shoes? What if I give in to my anger like she did?" Marie whispered as she turned to look at Irene. Irene smiled at her and placed a comforting hand on her cheek.

"Oh Marie, listen to me. Being the daughter of an infamous mutant like Raven does not affect who you are. You have the ability to be whatever you want to be. To go wherever you want to go. Always remember that you are who you choose to be." Irene said as she pulled Marie into a heartwarming hug.

"But, I'm just like her." Marie said as she buried her face into Irene's shoulder.

"No Marie, you put your love of your family before your anger at the world. Raven let her anger overpower her love, that's what sets you apart from her. Marie, you have a great destiny ahead of you. You're going to change the relationship between humans and mutants for the better. Trust me, you will not turn out like your father." Irene assured.

"Are you sure?" Marie asked as she pulled away to look at Irene's reassuring face.

"Marie, I can see into the future. So I think that I know what I'm talking about." Irene joked, getting a laugh out of Marie. Marie was quiet for a moment, before finally asking Irene her final question.

"Mom, will you-" Irene cut her off.

"Yes Marie, I would be more than happy to attend your wedding." Irene answered with a smile.

"Really? I mean, great! I-um-I mean…"

"Marie, Jean's waiting for you to come home." Irene said. Marie blushed as she inched toward the door.

"Uh, yeah, I should go. I'll come by sometime, or maybe you could come down to the mansion and have dinner with me and Jean."

"I'd like that. For now, you really should get going."

"Yeah, I really should. I'll see you later Mom." Marie said with a smile.

"Goodbye Marie."

Marie left that house feeling like an intense load had been lifted off of her chest.


Back at the mansion…

Marie quietly snuck up the stairs to the bedroom she shared with Jean. Cassie had informed her that Jean had gone upstairs to lay down while she waited for Marie to come back home. Marie steeped into the doorway of her bedroom and crossed her arms as she leaned against the doorframe.

Jean was laying on the bed watching the news, contently sucking and licking a Push Pop. Marie definitely noticed that watching Jean happily suck and lick the hard sucker was really affecting her libido.

Marie's breaths began to come in short pants as she watched Jean licked up and down the sucker. Jean then deep-throated the sucker and proceeded to suck for all she was worth. Marie moaned quietly, alerting Jean to her presence. Jean looked at Marie and smiled.

"Hey sweetie! How did it go?" She asked as she turned the TV off.

"Don't stop licking that sucker." Marie said in a husky voice. Jean raised a confused eyebrow.

"Huh? Why?" Jean asked. Marie stepped inside of the bedroom and shut the door, making sure to lock it.

"Don't. Stop. Licking. That. Sucker." Marie said very seriously, her eyes never leaving Jean's mouth. Jean then suddenly felt the powerful arousal in Marie's mind. The doctor then smirked sexily and brought the sucker back to her lips.

Jean wrapped her lips around the hard candy and slowly sucked on the candy. She then opened her mouth and ran her tongue around the length of the sucker. Marie's breathing quickly became erratic as she watched Jean use her tongue to ravage the sucker. Jean put the sucker away and motioned to Marie to come closer.

"Come here Marie, I want to love you." She whispered sexily as she allowed her eyes to run up and down Marie's body.

Marie smiled warmly at her love and made her way toward the stereo. She inserted a CD and turned to the song that she wanted. Using her TK, she flicked off the lights. The sun streamed in through the curtains, illuminating the two lovers just enough.

I just left Bobby's house:
The service was today.
Got me thinkin' about how fragile life is,
As I drove away.
You know Amy was his only love,
In a moment she was gone, long gone:
It could have been me or you.
Oh, baby, there's no time to lose.

Marie walked over to the bed and crawled on top of Jean. Jean leaned back on the bed and ran her fingers through Marie's hair as they exchanged a sweet kiss. There was no rush, no fiery passion, just tender love.

So I'm gonna bring home a dozen roses,
An' pour us a glass of wine.
An' I'm gonna put on a little music,
An' turn down the lights.
An' I'm gonna wrap my arms around you,
An' rock you all through the night,
An' I'm gonna love you,
Like it's the last day of my life.

Marie ran her hand under Jean's shirt, gently caressing her stomach. Tears pricked at Marie's eyes as her mind drifted back to her uncertainty about whether or not she was destined to turn out like her father.

I drive off when the sun comes up:
I get back when it's gone down.
There's so much I wanna do with you,
But I can't be around.
Whoa, time has been just like a thief,
It's stolen too much from us,
So once it's gone we can't make it up.
So tonight, let's get back in touch.

Jean felt Marie's fear, and placed a reassuring hand on Marie's cheek. Marie looked up into Jean's eyes, and felt the warmth and comfort straight from her lover's heart. She leaned in and kissed Jean again, this time taking the time to probe her mouth with a soft, velvety tongue.

I'm gonna bring home a dozen roses,
An' pour us a glass of wine.
An' I'm gonna put on a little music,
An' turn down the lights.
An' I'm gonna wrap my arms around you,
An' rock you all through the night,
An' I'm gonna love you,
Like it's the last day of my...

"I love you Marie." Jean whispered as she looked into Marie's chocolate eyes. Marie couldn't help but smile. Somehow, even when she had no idea about what was going on, Jean always knew exactly what to say to make Marie feel wonderful.

"I love you too Jean." She whispered back.

Life is a rainbow, it's a spring snow,
It's the mornin' dew.
An' I don't wanna waste another minute,
Without you.

Marie began to drop feather-light kisses on Jean's soft stomach. As they made love, all of the doubts, the insecurities, the fears, simply vanished with the fading music. All that was left in their room was pure, unconditional love. Marie savored the intimacy of the moment, knowing that when she told Jean about her father, she might lose her one true love forever.

So I'm gonna bring home a dozen roses,
An' pour us a glass of wine.
An' I'm gonna put on a little music,
An' turn down the lights.
An' I'm gonna wrap my arms around you,
An' rock you all through the night,
An' I'm gonna love you,
Like it's the last day of my life.

Marie's tears returned when she realized how much this song meant to the moment that they were sharing. If Jean left her then it would not only break her heart, it would destroy her very soul. In a way, she truly was loving Jean like it was the last time. Like it were the last day of her life.

I'm gonna love you,
Like it's the last day of my life.