Sweet Little Lies
Chapter IX: Could We Act Like Adults Please?
By: Michelle
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DISCLAIMER: I don't own the X-men. I just write fanfics for fun.
I will be adding new characters. I will either explain them in the story and/or put a note at the bottom about them.
At this point, Hank McCoy AKA Beast is not blue and furry yet. He is still a normal looking human.
Also, T.J. (Talia Josephine) cannot speak English. I am typing her speech in English until she arrives at the mansion. Then, it will be in German. As she stays at the mansion, she will learn English.
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"Talia, stay here with your Unca Wolvie, Tante Rogue, Herr Remy, and Herr Scott while me and Muti go talk."
"Ok." Talia nodded and watched them leave her. She stared at her new aunts and uncles. She wasn't sure with to make of them. They weren't the same people she met at the circus.
The man her daddy said was her Unca Wolvie was strange. She thought he was hairy like a gorilla. He was shorter than everyone else and was cranky. Perhaps, he needed a nap. She always took naps when she was cranky. Bova made her.
Then, there was her Tante Rogue. She seemed nice and pretty. Her hair looked like a skunk, but she smelled good. She was weird to her. She didn't hug her like everyone else had. Maybe, she didn't like her. She wasn't sure, but she didn't seem to like people to touch her.
Then, there was Herr Remy. He was a giant, even taller than her daddy. He was nice and talked funny, but his eyes were scary. They were red. Her mommy's favorite color. He also liked to pick on her Tante Rogue and make her mad at him.
Herr Scott walked away before she could really see what he was like. He wore funny sunglasses and was tall like Herr Remy. But, Herr Remy showed him the bad finger and that's why he left.
"So, how old you be petite?" Remy asked her.
Talia wasn't sure what to say. He talked funny to her.
"Huh petite." Remy asked again. "You know how old ya be?" When she was silent again, he leaned back and whispered to Rogue. "I be t'inkin' de petite be dumb."
Rogue gave him an annoyed look. "That's mean."
"Nu ah." Remy replied. "It be de truth. Why ya t'ink de petite don't talk den?"
Rogue rolled her eyes. "Maybe she's just afraid of you." She said and turned to Talia. "Hi T.J."
"Hi."
"See." Rogue poked Remy in the chest and returned her attention back to Talia. "How old are you?"
Talia thought for a moment. Tante Rogue talked funny too. She didn't know what to say, so she repeated. "How old are you?"
"Eighteen."
"Eighteen." Talia repeated.
Rogue sat back. "Not one word swamp rat."
"Didn't say a t'ing Chere." Remy replied.
Logan had been watching them the whole time. There was something wrong with Talia, but she was not dumb. Her little mind was taking in everything they were saying and studying them. There was something else. "T.J."
Talia turned and faced her Unca Wolvie. "Ja."
"Wie alt Sie sind?" How old are you? He asked.
Talia's face lit up. She knew what he was saying. "Viereinhalb." Four and a half. She replied and showed him on her fingers: three on one hand and one on the other.
"Wow. Sie sind vier" "Wow. You're four." Logan replied. ""Ich bin alt" I'm old.
"Wie viele." How many?
"Älter als Ihr Vati." Older than your Daddy.
"Vati." Talia was surprised. Her Unca Wolvie was older than her daddy. "Mein Vati arbeitet im Zirkus." My Daddy works in the circus.
"Er macht." He does.
"Ja." Talia nodded. "Mein Vati ist the Inkable Nightcaller."
Logan busted up laughing. He was going to have to pick on Kurt later about that one. "Sie sagen nicht." You don't say.
"Ja, er ist der Stern" Ja, he's the star. Talia replied. "Er springt und klapst. Dann geht er BAMF. Und alle Leute klatschen." He jump and flip. Then, he go BAMF. And all the people clap."
"Really."
"Ja." Talia nodded. ""Vati et, den mich ihn sehe. Und er geht BAMF" Daddy et me see him. And he go BAMF." She jumped up in exclamation. "BAMF! BAMF!"
Logan chuckled. Talia was just too cute for words. She crawled up in his lap and showed him her doll.
"Ya understood dat homme." Remy cocked an eyebrow.
'Yeah." Logan shrugged. "So."
"Since when do you know German?" Rogue asked.
"I don't know. I just know a little." Logan replied and looked at their disbelieving faces. "What? I just do. And so should you Rogue. I know you are one of Elf's top students in his German class, plus you had to have picked up a few things from Mystique."
"Yeah, but you spoke flawless." Rogue pointed out. "Like you had spoken German your whole life."
"That's crazy." Logan answered, but even he wasn't so sure about that as well.
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In Xavier's office…
Wanda glanced over to see Ororo take her place next to Kurt. She wondered why she did that. Sure she had Pietro beside her for support, but didn't need any. Or did he?"
Ororo sat to the right of Kurt and grabbed his hand. she squeezed it lightly and that's when Wanda sa it. A ring. A beautiful diamond ring was on her wedding finger. Wanda wanted to hurl.
The ring sparkled and reminded her of what she would never have. It seemed like she would never be happy, but Kurt would be. Out with the Scarlet Witch…In with the Weather Witch. She couldn't help but envy Ororo.
Pietro noticed the way Wanda was fidgeting. He knew she was the ring. How couldn't she. The thing was like a rock. He knew Wanda had to be dying inside.
But hey? What was she to expect. Kurt and she weren't together. They had no plans to get back together. He couldn't see what the big deal was. Kurt obviously moved on and so should she.
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Sabretooth walked into Magneto's office. He felt like his head was about to explode.
"What's wrong?" Magneto looked up from his work.
"My head is killing me."
"I told you to leave Mastermind alone." Magneto fussed.
"It's not that." Sabretooth explained. "The kid is wired."
Magneto gave him a look. "Well what did you expect. She's what? about five. Of course, she's wired."
"No, it's not that." Sabretooth grumbled. "See won't stop singing that Barney song over and over and over and over…"
"You didn't kill her did you?" Magneto asked knowing how little patience Sabretooth had.
"No." Sabretooth replied. "I left her on the couch and deck Mastermind. Then, I came in here."
Magneto sighed. Well at least the kid is alright. "There should be a bottle of Advil in on of the bathrooms."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Sabretooth grumbled. "Now I know why I agreed to dumping Graydon into a boarding school."
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Xavier looked over a few papers Wanda had given him. One was a birth certificate. The other was an agreement Kurt and Wanda signed about custody of Talia. Neither were official documents, but given the circumstances they were pretty good. "Has Talia shown any sign of mutant powers?"
"None that I am aware of." Wanda replied. "Why do you ask?"
"Well, as you know this is a school for gifted youngsters – mutants." Xavier reminded her. "I do like to know what we are in store for."
"Well you don't have to worry." Wanda said sarcastically. "My daughter will not be enrolling in this school."
"That's not your call Wanda." Kurt said. "After all, she is my daughter too and I have a right to make decisions that affects her upbringing."
"Oh please." Wanda rolled her eyes. "The only decisions you have made in the past year is not to see your daughter. So, when you start being a father, then you can make decisions."
"You're an intolerable woman, you know that."
"And you're a washed up circus freak."
"Real mature." Kurt replied. "Let's just resort to calling each other names."
"Whatever suits you best."
"You know this is why we are not together." Kurt said.
"Really." Wanda acted surprised. "And after all this time I thought it was your inability to perform – in bed."
"My performance was fine." Kurt answered back. "It was the fact that you were a crazy bitch."
"I AM NOT CRAZY."
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Everyone could hear the argument between Kurt and Wanda, but no one was expecting the events that came with it.
The lights around the mansion began flickering. The alarms echoes throughout the hallways.
There were only a select few who knew what the Scarlet Witch was capable of: Scott, Ororo, Professor X, Kurt, and Pietro. They didn't panic, but everyone else did.
"What de fucks going on?" Remy jumped up with his cards in hand.
"Logan." Rogue looked towards him as he sniffed the air and listened for an intruder. "Who's here? Se asked expecting him to say Magneto.
"I don't know." He looked around the room seeing a few of the lights explode. "Watch her. I'm going to make sure the mansion is secure."
"Nein." Talia pulled his arms as she got up. Somehow she knew they were confused.
"It's alright Elfkin." Logan assured her. "Sie werden hier mit bleiben Tante Rogue and Herr Remy." You're going to stay here with Tante Rogue and Herr Remy.
'Nein." Talia said again. "Muti wahnsinnig." Mommy mad.
"Muti wahnsinnig." Logan repeated and watched her nod. "Dies ist Ihr Muti." This is your Muti.
Talia nodded again.
Logan thought for a moment as everything started to return back to normal. Talia's parents were both mutants. There was no telling what she would be capable of when her powers surfaced.
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"I AM NOT CRAZY." Wanda hollered. "Don't ever call me crazy Kurt, ever."
"Wanda calm down." Pietro said placing his hand on her shoulder.
"I am not crazy."
"Yeah Wanda." Kurt pointed out the things that were destroyed in the office. "You're not crazy."
"Kurt." Ororo tried to calm him.
"That's enough all of you." Xavier fussed especially at Kurt who knew better.
"I'm so sorry Professor." Pietro apologized on behalf of a cooling down Wanda. "I don't want to cause any problems." He turned and glared at his twin. "It won't happen again. Will it Wanda?"
"No." Wanda gave him a look. Pietro was always the one to keep her in check, but sometimes she just wanted to smack him.
"It's alright Pietro. I know there was no harm intended." Xavier replied. "However, the matter of Talia is. She is a 3rd generation mutant."
"3rd generation?" Kurt raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"
"Well Kurt, both you and Wanda are mutants." Xavier said although they were fully aware of that. "And so are your parents."
"Magneto doesn't know about T.J." Wanda said. "I never told him and I'd like to keep it that way. But, Margali was not a mutant."
"Margali was just my foster mother." Kurt reminded her. "My biological mother is Mystique."
"The blue bitch." Wanda replied. However, the more she thought about it the more it made sense. Kurt and Mystique's appearances were uncanny. "Well, I guess the apple doesn't fall that far from the tree."
"Don't even go there Wanda." Kurt replied. "You have no room to talk with Magneto being your…"
"Ahem."
"Sorry Professor."
"Sorry."
"As I was saying." Xavier continued. "Talia is a 3rd generation mutant. She can manifest any or your powers, her grandparents, and even some of her own."
"But she's too young to have her powers."
"True." Professor Xavier agreed. "But she is a signature mutant and there is no telling what Magneto or Mystique will do once they find out about her."
Kurt slumped in his chair. Talia was not something he wanted Mystique to find out about. She didn't see to care about him, so why would his daughter mean anything to her. But, even he knew, Talia could become a perfect member of the Brotherhood just as well as being and X-men.
Wanda played with a curl. She had no plans to tell Magneto about his granddaughter. She didn't want her to become a prisoner of the Brotherhood like she had. Besides, after what happened with her twin sons, he probably wouldn't believe her anyways.
Xavier knew the fear each of them faces. "I didn't mean to frighten either of you." He knew eventually Magneto and Mystique were going to find out about Talia, but that was something Kurt and Wanda were going to have to deal with when that day comes. "But despite your anger towards each other, you have to let go and worry about your daughter."
"we know." Kurt replied for the two of them. "perhaps we could act a little more like adults."
"I'll try to be much calmer." Wanda agreed.
"Good." Xavier smiled. "How long do you plan for Talia to stay here."
"About a week." Wanda said calmly. "I'll pick her up next Tuesday afternoon. By then, I should have a new caretaker for her."
"That's fine." Xavier answered. "Spring Breaks starts up next week. As for tomorrow and Friday, I will arrange for someone to watch over her while Kurt is teaching his classes. Is that alright with you Kurt?"
"That's fine." Kurt nodded. Scott should have fun with this.
"Now then. How about we talk about Talia's learning skills."
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"Alright petite." Remy said. "How many fingers am I holding up/"
"Vier." Four Talia replied.
"Na ah petite." Remy said. "In English, like Logan teach ya."
Talia bit down on her lip and swung her legs back and forth. "Four."
"That's right."
Talia giggled. She liked this game.
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"Talia seems to be a very bright young lady." Xavier said. "Especially for her age."
"Yes, well she's like a parrot." Wanda said. 'Bova worked mostly with her. I've been trying to teach her some English, but she only knows a few phrases. I haven't had too much time to teach her more. Plus, after a while, she gets fidgety."
"Understandable for a four year old." Xavier nodded. "But it's good for her to start at such a young age. Perhaps, during this week, we can help teach her some if that's alright with you Wanda." He asked not wanting to offend her.
'That would be nice." Wanda replied shocking Kurt. "As long as it doesn't interfere with your work here."
'it won't." Xavier replied. "Why don't you take a look out the door/"
They all got up and opened the door to see the scene in front of them.
"Alright petite." Remy said. "How many dis time?"
"Seven."
"Yeah petite." Remy smiled.
Talia jumped up and down. Then, she saw her parents and ran over to them. "I count Muti. In Engwish."
"Really."
"Ja. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten." Talia exclaimed then had to tell her dad. "Vati, I count. In Engwish."
"You show me."
"One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten."
"Very good." Kurt smiled.
Talia's face lit up. Both her Muti and Vati were proud of her. "I count more." She rushed back over and jumped on Logan's lap ready for Remy to show her again.
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Graydon flipped through his private folders. He was more than just a senator. He was a leader…a leader guiding his followers into a world were mutants didn't belong.
He was a founder of the Friends of Humanity. Being a senator was his secret identity. All heroes had a secret identity.
He paused when one thing in particular caught his eyes. He picked it up and stared at it. It was a picture…a picture of a perfect family…a mother, a father, and a son.
"Perfect my ass."
Graydon knew that was a load of bullshit. The only thing perfect about the family was the son. The son was the only normal one…the real one…the human one.
"I'm not like them. I'm normal."
Disgusted, he crumpled the photo in his hand.
"I'm not like them. I'm normal."
He tossed the photo in the trash and closed the folder.
"I'm not like them. I'm normal."
Graydon turned and looked out the window. The photo was still their in the trash. He may have gotten rid of the photo, but he could get rid of the image in his head…the image of his mother, his father, and - their son.
"I'm not like them. I'm normal."
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"Bye Baby." Wanda said kissing and hugging Talia. "Ich werde sein hinter, Sie in einer Woche zu erhalten," "I'll be back to get you in a week.
"Bye." Talia replied. "Miss you Muti."
Ich werde Sie auch verpassen "I'll miss you too Baby." Wanda replied keeping her tears in check. "Sie sind gut für Ihren Vati" You be good for your Daddy."
"Ich bin gut" I be good. Talia smiled.
Wanda looked at Kurt. "If anything happens to her, I swear Kurt I will hunt you down and…"
"Wanda." Pietro stopped his sister before she said anything she would regret.
"Just call me if you need me." Wanda said instead.
"I'm going to take good care of her Wanda." Kurt assured her.
"You better." Wanda said, then she turned to Xavier. "Sorry for the problems early Professor."
"It's alright." Xavier said extending his hand for a shake. "Have a safe trip Wanda, Pietro."
"Thanks Professor." Pietro said shaking his hand. "Well we better get. Reed is waiting for us to check in. See you in a week."
"Bye."
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F.O.H. headquarters
"Creed."
"Creed."
"Creed."
"Creed."
Graydon heard his supporters cheering him as he took the podium for a speech. There was nothing he loved more than being the center of attention.
"Welcome my fellow Friends of Humanity." Graydon said looking around the room. "We are entering a dawn of a new era. Each day more and more mutants are disrupting our way of life. They are trying to take over everything humanity stands for. It's time to make a stand."
Graydon signaled to a screen behind him revealing his plans.
"It's time to fight back…"
"Yeah."
"It's time to take back what's rightfully ours…"
"Yeah."
"It is time for humanity to rule." Graydon raised his hands and his eyes widen. "I give you Humanities Independence Day."
"yeah."
"Creed."
"Creed."
"Creed."
Graydon smiled as he looked over the room. Then, he explained in detail what they were looking at.
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Wanda sighed as she and Pietro started the Avengers jet. Out of the window, could see Talia waving to her. She forced a smile and waved back.
She hated doing this to her. She didn't want to leave her baby. Although she fought continuously with Kurt, she knew he would take good care of her.
I'm not gonna cry.
I can't cry.
I'm strong.
I'm not going to cry.
"Wanda, are you alright?" Pietro asked placing his hand on her shoulder. He knew what it was like to say goodbye to his daughter every time he visited with her. It was hard. He knew Wanda was having the same problems.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Wanda said. "I'm going to see her in a week."
"Yeah, you are." Pietro agreed. "And it's going to fly by fast. You'll see."
"I hope you're right."
"You know I'm right." Pietro replied. "Just relax. Everything is going to be alright. Kurt does know how to take care of her."
"I know. I know." Wanda rolled her eyes. "I said nothing about him being a bad father."
Pietro stared at her and gave her a look that read Yeah Right."
"What?"
"I didn't say a thing."
"You didn't need to." Wanda replied. "And I wasn't that bad."
"I didn't say a thing." He repeated. "Not a thing."
Brrrriiinnnngggg
Pietro turned his attention to his communicator. He looked at the number flashing.
"If that's Reed, tell him to take a chill pill. We are on our way." Wanda said and turned to her twin wondering why he hadn't answered it yet. It just kept ringing. "What?"
"You're not going to believe this."
"What." Wanda raised an eyebrow. On my God. Please tell me T.J. is alright. I just left her five minutes ago. "Who is it? Pietro?"
Really want to know. Pietro looked her dead in the eye. "It's father."
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Another chapter complete. It's time to get this story rolling.
For the German, I used an online translation site. If they are wrong, I'm sorry. I tried my best.
Anyways, I'll see everyone next chapter.
Thanks for all the reviews.
Michelle
