1973

.

"Are you okay?"

Sean Cassidy looked at the young girl sat in the train seat beside him; her eyes had been glued to the window ever since they'd pulled out of the station. When their trip had begun two hours ago, it was still dark and it was impossible to see anything except the shadows, but the sun had come up and the green landscape was now basked in the morning light.

"Trees are so pretty."

Sean swallowed hard; knowing why this girl was so enraptured by the outside world.

"Where we're going, there're lots of trees."

She made a small sound of acknowledgement, Sean frowning slightly at her detachment; he didn't want her to be frightened of him.

"Nobody's going to hurt you."

"That's what they said."

Her response had been blunt without a hint of hesitation; she knew what she was talking about. Sean rubbed his face; he had no idea how to get through to this girl.

She yawned and Sean took a deep breath.

"We're not going to get there for a while; you can try to sleep, if you want," he offered; a poor reassurance.

"Okay," she said, leaning her head against the window before softly speaking under her breath as if she didn't intend for him to hear "I miss my Teddy."

"Your Teddy?" Sean questioned, the young girl looking over and nodding.

"I used to sleep with it, but they took it away."

Sean swallowed down the bitter revulsion that'd wormed its way back up.

"I'm sorry," he said gently, the girl shrugging and not saying anything else while her eyes slowly closed.

"Goodnight," she said suddenly, making the ginger smile.

"Goodnight, Samantha."

.

1983

.

"Sean, you need to make grocery run."

The ginger in question sighed in annoyance.

"I went last time," he pointed out, the silver haired man that'd told him in the first place just rolling his eyes.

"I'm just doing what Naomi told me; here's the list."

Sean groaned as Peter shoved the piece of paper into his hand before he left the room; all Peter and Naomi been doing lately was sending him places or giving him chores and Sean was sick of it. Peter could go and take care of anything Naomi wanted in a second, but nooo, he had to go and do it instead.

Sean grumbled to himself while he got into the car; sure, the store wasn't that far from here and it really wasn't that much of a pain to go, but…

He had the distinct feeling something up.

Lately it had felt like they'd been conspiring to get him out of the house or, at the very least, distract him. From the moment he got up in the morning, there'd be something for him to do; a student would need help with school or they'd be running low on something. And then it'd go on like this all day; he hardly had a moment to himself at this point.

Maybe he was just being paranoid; the whole Sentinel thing had set him on edge. But, with all the interference lately, he'd hardly had any time with Samantha. Sure, they'd had one or two conversations about it, but he really wanted to make sure she was doing okay and the Maximoffs' meddling wasn't helping.

He was occupied by those thoughts while he mindlessly grabbed the things Peter had told him to; his contemplations making everything go faster than usual. When he got back in the car, his eyebrows raised; that'd been really fast, much faster than usual. He double checked the list to make sure he'd gotten everything before he started the drive home.

Maybe tonight he could find some spare time and get Samantha to go to the movies with him; the kid needed to escape from reality for a little while.

He pulled back up to the mansion and, for a moment, he was distracted by the trees; his mind suddenly stuck on the moment all those years ago when Samantha had told him how pretty they were.

So much had changed since then; he'd watched her grow older and become such a compassionate young woman. The only constant for them seemed to be strife.

Then Sean noticed something; something in a tree that was decidedly not green or brown.

.

The beginning had been awkward.

Neither of them had ever been in a relationship; Samantha had kissed a few guys before, of course, but a relationship?

And Kurt hadn't ever really entertained the possibility of being in a relationship; who would want to be with someone who looked like him?

But, they'd managed to find each other and so the relationship had been stumbling and unsure at first; neither of them knew how much physical affection was appropriate right now or even what to say at times.

But, over the (surprisingly short) period of time they'd been together, they'd managed to figure it out for the most part; they would talk like they normally would and, when they alone, some touching could be very nice.

Samantha liked it best when his tail would gently snake around her sides.

What had also helped their relationship along was the fact that Naomi and Peter were doing their damnedest to give them time alone together.

Today, Naomi (who wasn't feeling good) had Peter send Sean out for some groceries they really didn't need and then the silver haired mutant had enticed the other students into a Ms. Pac-Man tournament. Once the others were distracted, the pair headed outside; Samantha showing him her favorite tree and the couple climbing it.

"I used to come up here whenever I wanted to be alone," Samantha said, the duo sitting beside each other on one of the boughs; their legs brushing while their feet dangled over the edge "It always felt like a different world."

"It's very nice," Kurt agreed, his tail swinging slightly.

"I always thought that the view from here to the lake was the most beautiful thing on the planet," she added, Kurt humming.

"It is very pretty, but it isn't zhe most beautiful zhing on zhe planet."

"Then what is?" Samantha asked, her arms crossed in a teasing challenge.

"You."

Samantha felt herself heat up as her eyes dropped down to the ground far beneath them; that had been one of the surprising things about their relationship. At times, Kurt could be rather charming. She had no idea where he'd picked it up from, but he could get her flustered.

Once the young woman had collected herself, she leaned over and gently pressed her lips against Kurt's blue ones.

The teenager looked at the girl for a moment before his eyes fluttered shut; he was still surprised when she kissed him without hesitation or any sign of disgust. Kurt gently placed his hand over Samantha's and the kiss evolved into something a bit more intense, but still entirely innocent.

Kurt was so caught up in the feeling of Samantha's soft lips on his that the house could've exploded in that moment and he wouldn't have noticed.

Something much different happened.

Kurt gave a yelp as he felt a sudden pain and his central gravity was thrown off; sending him towards the ground.

BAMF

Kurt appeared on one of the higher branches and bared his teeth at whoever had grabbed his tail; his fierce expression slipping away into one of horror.

"Samantha Juliet Cassidy, get down here now!"

.

1973

.

Sean was actually impressed by the sarcastic look the eight year old was giving him.

"I know, I know; it's temporary."

Samantha gave him one last look before taking the I LOVE NY shirt and matching pajama bottoms; heading off into the train station bathroom. Sean had found a tacky shirt for himself as well; wearing it with his hospital pants while waiting for Samantha to change out of her gown.

Sean sighed as he waited for the young girl to reemerge; part of him was glad no one had questioned them, but another part of him felt concerned by the fact that no one thought there was anything strange with an adult white man and a young black girl in hospital attire traveling together.

Sean found himself perusing the same store while he waited for Samantha to come back out; once she'd come back, the pair would get a taxi and take an hour long drive up to Charles's. Sean couldn't wait to get there; he hadn't gotten more than two hours of sleep a night in at least three months.

The ginger grabbed some candy bars and chips for the trip upstate and was about to check out when his eyes caught on something on one of the shelves.

"Hey."

Sean looked down at the young girl in surprise; he hadn't heard her approach until she had gently said it.

"… Hey," he said, reaching into his pocket "How about you go get some candy from those machines?"

Samantha took the offered quarter with a funny expression.

"Thanks," she muttered before turning to go do as he'd suggested.

Once she was gone, Sean checked out and they regrouped out in front of the souvenir shop.

"Ready to get going?" Sean asked, Samantha looking up at him with large eyes.

She then placed some of the candy she'd gotten into his hand.

"Yeah."

.

1983

.

"This is bullshit."

Peter laughed; the silver haired man easily outmaneuvering the ghosts while Scott gave a huff.

Peter effortlessly beat the high score on the machine while Naomi rounded the corner into the living room; the speedy mutant leaning over with the intention to kiss wife before Naomi held her hand up to stop him.

"Can I talk to you?"

Peter frowned and turned his body towards her; one hand on the joystick and the other in his pocket.

"Oh, stop showing off," Jubilee said with an amused smile.

"You alright?" Peter asked; beating the level and advancing on as Naomi smiled. The young woman knew what was up.

He'd been really worried when she'd told him that she didn't feel good;

"Does Wade get sick?"

"It's not like it was before, right?"

"I'll take you to the hospital if you need me to; say the word."

"I'm fine, Baby," she said with a soothing voice "Just… can I talk to you somewhere where we aren't surrounded by fifteen teenagers?"

"You wanna go home?" Peter offered with soft eyes; managing to eat all four of the ghosts in the quick moments of them being blue.

"Yeah," Naomi said, crossing her arms uncomfortably.

"That's fine," Peter said with a smile "Alright, Kiddos; if anyone beats this score, the machines all yours."

The teenagers perked up as Naomi laughed slightly; Peter taking her in his arms with a smile before he began to run.

Years of being with Peter let Naomi know that when they stopped, that it had been too fast for even him; they were right outside the mansion.

Naomi slid out of Peter's arms and her brows furrowed as she took in the scene; Sean was studying a pair of guilty teenagers with narrowed eyes.

"Oh boy," Naomi murmured before speaking up and getting a bit closer to the group "Sean!"

"Naomi, go away," Sean said, sounding more intense than she'd ever heard him.

"Sean, man, chill out," Peter supplied, his hands shoved in his pockets in his normal relaxed posture.

Sean's head snapped to the couple with his eyes wider before narrowing again upon realization.

"You two knew."

They both sighed while Sean seemed to grow even more angry.

"Sean…" Naomi started.

"And you didn't tell me."

"Kurt, Sam; go inside," Naomi said with a jerk of her head.

"No," Sean said with his hand out to keep the pair from moving past him "I want an explanation from all four of you."

"Sean, listen-," Naomi said, stepping towards the ginger man but being cut off; Sean whirling around to face her.

"Naomi, shut the fuck up!"

Suddenly, Sean was shoved against the tree; Peter grasping a handful of the front of his shirt and giving him the most serious look anyone at the school had ever seen him have.

"Do not talk to my wife that way."

It was tense for a moment; Naomi sending a look at the two teens and gesturing for them to go inside. As Samantha and Kurt passed her, they both sent her shamefaced looks that made her throat tighten.

Once the two kids were inside the house, Naomi refocused on the two men; feeling indignation well up inside her.

"Peter…" She said.

Peter released Sean and gave him one last look before returning to Naomi's side.

"Sean, you need to calm down," Naomi said, the ginger man giving her a dirty look.

"I'd be a lot calmer if I knew that your attack dog wasn't going to gut me."

"I wouldn't gut you; I'd snap your neck," Peter replied.

"Babe, so not helping."

"… Sorry," Peter muttered, Naomi squeezing his shoulder before going back to Sean.

"Why didn't either of you tell me?" Sean asked, obviously still annoyed, but keeping it back.

"Samantha asked me not to," Naomi replied, getting a little more heated now.

"Why?"

"Ask yourself," Naomi countered.

"What're you talking about?"

"Sean, there is a reason she didn't want to tell you," Naomi said, impassioned "I don't know what it is, but she doesn't feel like she can talk to you about this. That's not on her; that's on you."

Sean's mouth opened for a second before he closed it; frowning as he considered what she'd said.

"I don't know why," he admitted.

"I'm sorry; do you want to cause some irreparable damage between the two of you over this?" Naomi snapped.

"Of course not," Sean snapped back.

"Then go ask her!"

.

1973

.

Sean knew Charles would take them in, but he'd had a split second of doubt when he saw the Professor again; the school was gone, what if Charles's compassion was as well?

"Sean, you were one of my first students; Samantha, in a sense, will be too."

"Did you brush your teeth?"

Sean leaned against the doorway of Samantha's new room; the young girl answering his question with a nod.

"Okay; do you want the light on or off?"

"… I don't know if I can fall asleep with the light off anymore."

Sean swallowed hard; the memory of nights spent in bright white rooms returning to him for a moment.

"I know what you mean," Sean replied "Tomorrow I'll go into town and get nightlights."

Samantha nodded and Sean went to leave.

"Oh, almost forgot," Sean said, approaching the side of Samantha's bed "Um, I got this for you back at the station; I know it's not what you had, but I thought you might, I don't know…"

Sean trailed off as Samantha stared at the item in his hands.

"For me?"

"Yeah," Sean said, shuffling awkwardly.

Samantha slowly reached out and took the stuffed Snoopy out of Sean's hands.

"Um, goodnight," Sean said, unsure how to approach this situation.

"… Goodnight, Sean."

.

1983

.

"Shit."

Samantha jumped slightly; looking up from the plushy in her lap and to the man standing in the doorway. She quickly wiped away the few tears that had been working down her cheeks as Sean slowly entered the room.

"I didn't… I didn't mean to make you cry."

"I know," Samantha replied, her voice raw.

It was quiet for a moment; Samantha putting down her Snoopy and patting the bed for Sean to join her.

"… Why didn't you tell me that you and Kurt...?" Sean trailed off; not looking her in the eye.

"… When Ed asked me out, you freaked out at him; I didn't want that to happen to Kurt," Samantha said with a small shrug; her voice still watery.

"Shit." Samantha looked over at Sean; the ginger's face buried in his hands before he looked up at the girl he considered as his younger sister "Sam, I didn't flip because of you dating; I flipped because Edward is an asshole."

Samantha looked at her adopted older brother with a confused expression.

"I heard the way he talked about girls to his friends; I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to feel bad," Sean explained further.

"Y-You don't mind me dating?" Samantha asked, disbelieving.

"Samantha, you're eighteen and I trust you; you just caught me off guard today and… And I was worried there was a worse reason why you didn't want to tell me."

"… And you aren't going to bust Kurt's eardrums?" Samantha asked tentatively.

"I like Kurt. I mean, he's kinda weird, but no relationship in this house could ever survive if it wasn't at least a little weird."

A moment of quiet descended on them as they both processed the truth they'd both spoken.

"Sam, are you happy?" Sean asked finally.

"Yeah…" Samantha said with a small smile "I really like him."

"Then I'm happy," Sean said; wrapping his arm around Samantha's shoulders.

It was quiet for a long moment.

"So, tails, huh?"

Sean's screech from being shoved off the bed shattered a mirror.

.

"Kurt, calm down," Naomi said, her voice calming but obviously holding back some amusement "Sean isn't going to kill you."

"He saw us-us kissing!" Kurt replied, sounding terrified; his hands on his head "He pulled me out of zhe tree by my tail!"

"He was just surprised." Naomi's soothing words negated slightly by Peter's laughter "He's not going to kill you."

"Here, man," Peter said, appearing beside Kurt and shoving a full stein into his hands; the teenager taking it and chugging down half of it without a thought.

Naomi sent her husband a look; the silver haired man putting his hands up defensively.

"He's German."

"Are you two getting him drunk?"

Kurt choked slightly and whirled around to see Samantha and Sean standing in the doorway to the kitchen; the blue teenager quickly putting the alcohol down on the counter.

"He's German!" Peter repeated, slightly annoyed as no one really listened to him.

Samantha stepped forward and gently kissed Kurt's cheek; the poor boy turning purple and flashing his eyes towards Sean.

"I was going to threaten you about breaking her heart, but…" Sean's eyes flickered over Kurt "I don't think I have anything to worry about."

.

Sean was okay with them being together.

Peter smiled slightly; knowing that Naomi had been scared that this whole situation would turn out the way it had for her. That was one of the only things Peter regretted about their relationship; he wished things had gone differently so Naomi could still have Michael in her life.

Peter looked over at Naomi; expecting her expression to be one of relief, maybe even happiness .But, instead, Peter found that she looked worried. Peter frowned as she bit her bottom lip; what could she be worried about?

"What is it?" He asked lowly, as to not disturb the other three.

"We really need to go home, Peter," Naomi said, her voice soft.

The silver haired man nodded and he gently took her in his arms; the pair suddenly appearing in their living room.

"What's wrong?"

.

"Should ve tell zhe ozhers?"

After the initial conversation with Sean, where the ginger had told him that he didn't mind them dating so long as Kurt didn't flip a switch and start acting like a jerk, the couple had gone to the library; knowing they'd be able to get some time alone in there.

"Later," Samantha said, nestling into the blue teenager's side; the pair sitting on the loveseat next to the window "Let me just enjoy this before dealing with Jubilee."

"She von't be mad, vill she?" Kurt asked, Samantha shaking her head with a smile.

"I think she'll just be a little annoyed I didn't tell her; then she'll want me to tell her every single detail. I would rather cuddle than deal with the Spanish Inquisition right now."

Kurt smiled widely; showing off his sharp teeth and making Samantha smile as well.

"Ja, Liebling; I vould razher cuddle too."

Samantha giggled softly as Kurt put his arm around her shoulders; his tail gently wrapping around her middle while she wrapped her arms around his neck, nearly sitting on his lap now as she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Can I kiss you, Samanzha?"

Samantha laughed; every time.

"Of course, Kurt."

Kurt smiled before leaning in and gently kissing Samantha; the young woman immediately sinking into the kiss while Kurt gently placed one of his hands on her cheek. Even though he knew she wouldn't pull away, he couldn't help the warmth that spread in his chest as she placed her hand over his.

"Whoa-HO!"

The two teens pulled apart quickly; Kurt's tail slithering away from her as they both looked over in surprise at the teenager in the doorway.

"Jubilee! Guess what I caught your best friend doing!" Scott called, never looking away from the two mortified teens; a shit-eating grin beginning to appear.

"What?!" Jubilee said, rounding the corner and taking in the scene before her "Oooh…"

For a second Jubilee was frozen; looking at the two guilty teenagers on opposite sides of the couch.

Then she started to giggle.

"Oh my god." She slapped a hand over her mouth; laughing harder.

"I know," Scott said, laughing as well "Samantha and Kurt kissing."

The two teens flushed and looked anywhere but at another person in the room; Jubilee and Scott laughing harder.

"You know what's the funniest part of this, Scott?" Jubilee asked through her laughter; Samantha closing her eyes in humiliation.

"What?" Scott asked, still laughing.

"It's that Kurt made a move on Samantha before you did on Jean!"

Jubilee burst into a fit of screeching laughter; Scott's glee disappearing abruptly.

"Kurt's better with women than you are!"

Even Samantha gave a soft giggle at that one; Scott pursing his lips.

"Shut up, Jubilee," he muttered before speaking up at the teens on the couch "I came in here to tell you two that the Professor's back."

"Yeah," Jubilee said, still giggling slightly "He brought some people back with him. How long have you two-?"

"People? Who?" Samantha asked, attempting to move the conversation away from her and Kurt.

"Husband and wife, I think; forties," Jubilee said with a shrug "I don't know their names. So, have you two-?"

Scott, did you catch their names?" Samantha asked, the teenager in question nodding.

"Mr. and Mrs. Palmer."