Author's Note: Okay! There are three reasons why this chapter took so long. 1) I'm a slow typist. I know I should get a system and practice. 2) I tend to be self conscious at times and believe what I jot down is garbage and scrap it. 3) The Flu! I was bed ridden for a long time and during that period I couldn't stand to look at the computer. Well it's up now for you all to enjoy. I'll try harder to get more chapters out faster. Thanks for the reviews.
Chapter XI
Pyro's POV:
I'm pregnant.
It was seconds before those two little words crashed into me like a tsunami. I literally felt my heart stop and a cold sweat washed my skin. Tremors radiated across my flesh. Lost in a stream of unparallel thought, I consciously forgot the woman penitently waiting for my response.
"John, John!" Rogue shrieked impatiently, snapping me back into reality.
"Is it mine?"
"Ah—!"
Her broken cry waved a red flag alerting to the classic mistake every male makes when he discovers he's going to be a father. "No! Wait! I didn't mean—"
"Bastard!"
"Marie—"
A strong click trailed by a loud dial tone buzzed in my ear. Our conversation had come to an abrupt end. At first, I thought about calling her back, but decided against it. Marie would be in a pool of tears by now and long away from the phone. She wouldn't want to speak to me anyway. An automated operator spoke cordially. I lowered the phone onto the base and slumped into a nearby chair stunned.
Pregnant?
How was it possible? We were always so careful. Careful. If those bouts of passion that transpired on and off fell into the definition. It was damn near impossible to put on a condom when you had a girlfriend that conjured sweet magic with her lips. I don't believe there's a guy in history who had that kind of will power. The smirk on lips quickly faded as I thought back on my insensitive words.
I asked her if the baby was mine.
I grimaced.
How fuckin' stupid could I be? Of course the baby was mine! I know Marie and she would never give another guy the kind of love she gave me. I knew without a shadow of a doubt her loyalty was true. Not that I was truly deserving of it right at the moment. But a baby? Raising a child, another life, hell I'm still a kid myself. I'm only twenty-one. I can't be responsible for another human being. But it wasn't going to be human. Our child was going to be a mutant. Researchers discovered males were the ones that passed on the mutant gene and with Marie.
Shit!
How could I bring a child into this world? How could I let it face the torment I endured? How could I be so cruel? I rose and started pacing the tiny store. I sought an outlet. I found none. An abortion wasn't my call and never would be. Marie was pro-life and truthfully she did appear to sound excited about the whole affair. I crushed her. I know I did.
Fuck!
I knew I ruined everything. It's what I'm good for. I'm not surprised if she never wanted to see again. Something jerked in me. No! I couldn't let it go that way. I'm a lot of things but there's no damn way I'm leaving my baby out there without a father. I knew what that was like. I knew only too well. I raced upstairs and tugged on my boots. I took an out-dated coat out of Magneto's closet and rummaged the cash register for some pocket change. I had enough for the bus ride back to New York and a bite to eat. I headed out. I didn't wait for the old man nor did I leave a note.
It was late in the afternoon, the next day, when I arrived at the mansion. Kids of various ages were running amok about the great estate. It was easy to blend in, easy to steal into the mansion, but not so easy to find Marie. I snuck up the stairs to our bedroom; she wasn't there. I located her in the library, scanning the shelves for something amusing to read. My heart skipped the second I laid eyes on her. But I was soon astounded by her size. She told me she was pregnant, but the belly on her suggested otherwise.
"Holy Christ!"
She twirled in alarm and dropped the book in her possession. "John!"
She wasn't so much as angry but alarmed to see me. I could tell by her flushed cheeks and glittering brown eyes. I stepped inside the lavish interior my heart thudding with each step. Her eyes grew somber; she dipped her head slightly and placed a hand on her protruding belly.
"Why are you here?"
Her question spoken so softly tore into me. I could hear her anguish on every syllable. "I came as soon as you told me about our baby."
Rogue flashed me a dark look. "Really," she huffed. "Now you want to talk about our baby. As I recalled you don't believe it's our baby."
I tightened my lips, shame coming over me. "I—I didn't mean—"
"I figured it was you," someone snarled. Immediately, I was swallowed in huge hands and engaging raging black eyes. "I smelled your stink a mile away bub. You got a lot of fuckin' nerve coming back here you sniveling piece of—"
"Let him down Logan I want a chance to speak with him before you do any bodily damage." Peering over the angry man's shoulder, I locked eyes with Ms. Munroe, and a burly man covered in blue fur. A new element to the mansion I wondered?
"Ah, you never let me have any fun," Logan growled as he thrust me a good feet. I collided with the bookshelf, topping several volumes of Encyclopedia to the floor.
"So much for the welcome wagon," I scoffed, straightening the faded blue shirt I wore. "I came here to talk to Marie."
"Right," Rogue said, bitingly. "More like you here for a paternity test?"
"Damnit! No!" I cried.
Logan looked between the two of us. "Wait," he said incredulously. "He doesn't believe he's the father." Marie nodded in response. He released a low guttural howl just as his claws protruded through his skin. "You son-of-a—"
Ororo stepped in front of her lover's advancing tirade. "John," she cried. "How could you think such a thing?"
"I didn't mean it," I shouted. "I wasn't thinking."
"No shit," Logan burned.
I cast him a menacing look and went to Marie. She refused to let me touch her. "I know the baby is mine." I tried to take her arm, she pulled away. "I got scared. I'm sorry," I said softly.
"Scared," she cried, throwing her hands into the air. "How do you think I feel? Doctor McCoy says I could have this baby any minute."
Alarmed, I swung around eyes wide to three adults standing in the doorway. "Is this true?"
"Yes. This so-called cure has done more than trigger Rogue's secondary mutation," Hank said. "It's affecting the cellular growth of the fetus. Its development is quite extraordinary."
"Oh, baby—I—" I wanted to take her in my arms but she gave me the brush off.
"I—I can't look at you right now." She charged out the library easing past Logan and Ororo.
"Marie!"
"Not so fast sparky." Logan blocked my path. "We're not done yet!"
"We need to talk John," said Ororo.
"It's a little late for the birds and bees lecture Ms. Munroe." I said snidely, my lips contorting. Dark shadows streaked across Logan's face. Ororo pressed the palm of her hand into his chest to slow his death march. His desires were evident in his black eyes.
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For the next hour I was confined in the library with three bickering adults. Ms. Munroe took the reigns and in a thousand and one ways declared how appalled she was by my behavior. Rogue's pregnancy had obviously forced her hand, meaning I was allowed to remain in the mansion, yet under constant supervision. If I so much as light a match I would be out on the street. I yearned to tell them that what occurred between me and Bobby was mainly his fault. He hurt Marie. I was ensuring it would never happen again.
What was the use? I was the bad guy. In their eyes I was and always would be Pyro. Magneto's right hand. "Are we done?" I demanded.
"Yes," Ororo replied restless, scrapping her fingers into her grayish white hair. She looked tired as though she'd missed a couple nights sleep. Logan came up behind her and massages his hands deep into his neck muscles. I saw the way the big guy known to me as Doctor McCoy excuse himself and quickly depart. Ms. Munroe's eyes took a sad color to the brilliant pupils. A question brewed in my mind.
What the hell was going on around here?
I didn't care to find out I had far greater troubles. I started down that last mile to our bedroom. Staring at the wood door coldness overwhelmed me. The sensation was discomforting. I lifted my fist and knocked yet received no answer. I knocked again.
Nothing.
As I expected dead silence. Letting out a heavy sigh I turned the knob frightened to see it turned easily. Pushing the door open, I walked into the room. It was warm and inviting, rich with the scent of Marie's favorite perfume. I took a deep breath; allowed the sweet fragrance to fill my lungs. A shiver rippled through my skin. It was like coming home. Looking around everything was neat and in their respective places. I reached out to touch the down quilt, strumming my hand over the smooth fabric. It was going to be so good to sleep in a bed again. And my heart skipped at the thought of Marie stretched intimately by my side. That's if I would be sharing her bed ever again.
I heard the weak catch of breath and eased around to see her sitting on the padded ledge by the window. I let my eyes feast on her. She looked radiant beneath the soft winter morning pooling through the windows. The snow capped landscape gave her an angelic glow and the heightened the depth of her brown hair and platinum streaks. A hand was resting protectively on her swollen abdomen. I smiled inwardly always knowing she would make a good mother one day. I gazed upon her face and my heart raced. She'd been crying. Tear stains streaked her pallor cheeks. A lump forged in my throat.
She glanced my direction her hazel eyes rimmed with tears. I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach. She uttered not a sound but returned to gaze out the window again. I raced to her side and dropped on my knees. "Marie," I pleaded. "I'm so sorry baby. It just slipped out...I never...in my heart truly meant what I said. The baby is mine. I know it."
She looked at me then, her thick eyebrows bunching together. Her full mouth quivered. "How," she croaked. "How could think so low of me? Don't you trust me?"
I reached for her hand and she let me take it. I glided my finger between her slender digits, baking it their warmth. "I do."
"Then why?"
A haggard pant rushed out my chest. I dropped my head shaking. "I don't know. It's a guy thing." Her eyes narrowed. My attempt at humor was poor. "I'm scared."
She gripped my hand. "So am I."
"I don't know how to be a father Marie," I swallowed. "I never had one per say. Every father figured I collected either died or let me down. I'm just afraid I'll let our baby down."
Her fingers curled under my chin, inching my face upwards to reach her eyes. She smiled weakly. "You haven't let me down...except for this little maneuver...you've been good to me."
"I won't run out on you again Marie," I said, trailing my fingers up the length of her arm then stroking her cheek. She placed her hand over mine and pressed it to her face.
"You better not," she said. "Or I'll hunt you down and kick your ass. I'm stronger now."
I quirked an eyebrow. "How so?" I asked intrigued by this new development.
She leaned close brushing her lips against mine. "I tell you later."
I deepened the kiss seeking out the warm treasures her mouth provided. I snake an arm about her lithe and full curves, drawing up close to gain better access to her sweet lips. A loud gasp came suddenly and I pulled back afraid I was hurting her or the baby. But she simply grabbed my hand and placed it on her stomach.
"You feel that," she laughed exuberantly. "The baby moved."
"What?" I said dumbfounded.
She maneuvered my hand over the swell of her belly. "Here," she said. "It was like bubbles being released in my stomach." She pressed my fingers to lower right quadrant and waited. "Do you feel it?"
I then felt a small vibe against my hand and let out a breath in wonder. "Yeah," I cried.
"Somebody wants to say hello," she said her eyes shinning.
At the first sign of life my resolve renewed. Come hell or high water I was going stay right by her side. I knew there would be hard times I would want to chuck the whole thing and ditch her. I knew I couldn't. She needed me. The baby needed me.
Our baby needed me.
"Are you hungry?" I blurted out. "Do you need anything? What can I get you?"
"You can help me to the bed," Rogue said stretching out her arms.
"Alright." I stood and drew her up slowly, guiding her ever so gently to the bed. I fluffed several pillows before laying her on the comfy mattress. I dropped to one knee and took off her shoes and started massaging her toes.
"Watch it bub," she giggled her face glowing. "A girl could get use to this."
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Bobby's POV:
At 7:30 am the mansion awoke in a tizzy. Why? John Allerdyce was the reason. He'd returned without forewarning, swaggering into the mansion like he owned the place. I expected resistance especially from Wolverine, but it seemed Ms. Munroe held his leash quite tightly. Their secret was out. We all knew they were having a torrid affair and as always at the mansion gossip spread. To my dismay, there was hardly a scornful glance or a high raised voice. Did everyone take stupid pills and forget he'd abandoned Rogue to God knows where? And where did he go those last few weeks? I didn't care I only wished he had stayed there. I hated how his disappearance affected Rogue, although, she ignored my attempts to open a window of communication.
She was pleased he was safe. To her nothing else mattered.
John quickly picked up his role as expectant father, running errands here and there, and making late night trips to the kitchen whenever a craving rouse Rogue out of sleep. I plotted ways to rid myself of him. Even thought about icing the stairs so he would slip and break his neck. I was almost tempted. One disadvantage swayed me. Some innocent soul awakening in the middle of the night and making a venture to the kitchen instead of him. Hard to explain the ice on the stairs to Ms. Munroe and with Logan probing me with little inquiries to sudden end of I and Rogue's friendship. I couldn't risk getting busted for foul play.
What was beginning to bug me was John slowly making friends within my circle. Just the other day, Kitty invited him to our ritual pizza and a movie on Saturday night. Seated in the far side of the room, the shadows nicely concealed the bitterness laced across my face, and I watched in rage as John was accepted into our little group. I tensed when Rogue threw her shapely legs onto his lap as she reclined on the sofa and ate a pizza loaded with anchovies. Grinning, John tickled her feet and skimmed his hands up her legs. She giggled and kicked before settling down to allow him access to her swollen ankles. He massaged deeply casting her hungry looks every now and then. The desire in her eyes answered his heated lust.
I dug my fingers into the arms of the sofa, unknowingly frosting the fabric. I let out a growl as John leaned close and kissed her knee. Unable to withstand the scene, I shoved out the chair and stumbled out the room, narrowly trampling Jubilee and stepping into Peter's pizza.
"Hey," he cried. "Watch it!"
"Sorry," I growled bursting out the Rec room. I caught John's devious eyes just as I exited the room. Extreme hate consumed me and I clenched my fist in a tight ball. I couldn't breathe and was desperate for air. A few rights and lefts I was outside pacing the yard. The cold was not a bother. I was after all Iceman. I couldn't understand how things had gotten to this state. When was John suddenly our friend? The guy was a murderer. Raged and ravaged. Destroyed dozens of facilities harvesting the cure and God knows what else. Were people in this mansion so damn naïve? In all the years I've known him he cared about himself and his freakin fire. If he had stayed away Rogue, in her grief, would come to me. I know it.
It was his fault.
A pang of remorse set me down on the granite fountain. The water had long frozen without my assistance. It brought to mind one moment that seemed like a lifetime ago.
"Remember the time we snuck out here?"
"Yeah," I replied just as Kitty stepped out of the darkness and into the gleam of security lights bathing the grounds of the mansion. They had been new additions to the estate. Ever since the invasion the Professor had taken great precautions. He wanted to make sure what transpired those years ago would never happen again.
Kitty walked and stopped right in front of me. Her wholesome eyes were filled with concern. "You okay Bobby?"
"Yeah," I said scratching the back of my head. She didn't look convinced as she took a seat beside me.
"Come on Bobby," she said. "We're pals. We could always talk to one another."
"You sound as if our friendship has up and died."
"It hasn't."
"Really," I grimaced.
She drew back slightly. "What's the problem?"
I rose to my feet and stared down at her. "John is the problem. How could you guys welcome him back like that?"
"Some people are trying to move on Bobby," she said. "People make mistakes. The past is the past."
"He betrayed us Kitty and joined forces with a maniac that tried to kill Rogue."
She glared at me. "I haven't forgotten but bitterness and malice leads to nowhere. John is obviously trying to make amends and he's good to Rogue. Why can't you see that?"
"Because he's not supposed to be with her—I am!"
I saw Kitty's face shatter into a thousand pieces. A gleam of wetness welled underneath her thick long lashes. She nodded so slowly I didn't think I saw her head move. An 'okay' came in a broken whisper. I stormed away not bothering to think about how much I had hurt her and destroyed the hopes she'd built on us having a future. I was too wrapped up in my feelings for Rogue to care about anyone else. I walked a good distance and circled to the far side of mansion. Gazing up to second story I marked Rogue's window. The lights were on and shadows moved on the wall.
She wasn't alone.
He was there with her.
The shadows danced and tailed the beings projecting them. I didn't have to be present to discern what was going on. Tortured, I observed the pair rekindle their passion. The lights dimmed and my heart went cold.
John was making love to her.
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"You're up late," a cocky voice invaded the large kitchen.
Back to the door, I reared slightly, gripping the spoon full of ice cream. "Couldn't sleep," I said, fighting the ache to smash my fist into the smug grin I knew molded John's mouth this instant.
He walked soundlessly about the kitchen. I heard cabinets and draws open. I felt the cold rush of air and knew he was digging in the fridge for something to eat.
"She hungry?"
"No," John answered pouring some Trix cereal into a bowl and adding milk. "I am. I need to recharge the battery."
I heard the mockery in his tone. He was baiting me. Frost coated the entire spoon. I dropped the utensil and thundered off the stool and stood hands thick with ice. "I want you gone John," I hissed. "Leave tonight."
He stood there, eating his cereal, looking at me as though I had lost my mind. "Go where," he scoffed. "I belong here."
"You don't belong a goddamn place! I want you gone Allerdyce!"
"I go where Marie goes. I stay where she stays. You don't like it. Tough."
He continued eating his cereal in a slow and meticulous manner savoring every bite. I couldn't stand it and shot a frozen dart at the bowl. It exploded in his hands and drenched his grey shirt. John looked down at the mess then raised gleaming yellow eyes to mine. Fire flickered inside his large pupils. His ruddy skin altered to mimic the unstable surface of sun. "I nearly killed you once Drake," his voice low and menacing. "I don't want to have to send you home to mommy and daddy in a coffin."
"Highly unlikely," I grunted, coaxing my skin to take on the novel skin that chiseled my flesh into ice.
John tipped his head. "That's a nice trick."
"You're not the only one that can change his spots."
"What the hell's going on in here?"
John and I swiftly reverted back to our normal selves. I grabbed the stool and lifted it to stand and jump back on it. Logan came charging in kitchen wearing his normal attire of boxers and not much else. Didn't the guy feel any sense of modesty towards the younger girls lurking the mansion.
His skin was slick with sweat and usual unruly hair was chaotic. Ideas flooded my brain. He burned his eyes into John then turned to me. "I heard a scuffle clear cross the mansion."
"There was no scuffle," John said plainly scrapping the broken pieces of the bowl up and dumping them in the trash. He then mopped the white fluid with a dish towel. "Bobby and I were having a little chat."
"John I warned you—"
"Yeah, yeah," he grounded out. "You keep telling me. I'm the culprit! Well tell him to stay away from Rogue. Unless you want her winding up with another nasty bruise like before."
Logan narrowed his eyes looking from John to me. "What's he talking about?"
John shot at hard glance at me. "Ask him!" He charged out the kitchen leaving me alone to face a riley brute.
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Kitty's POV:
He loved her!
In my heart I was aware of Bobby's feelings but I never fully grasp how deep they ran till he openly admitted the truth. I clenched my eyes shut and combated the tears. Anguish swallowed me into a dark foreboding place. I hardly had to strength to rise and go into the mansion. I just sat there at the place where dreams were kindle by a moonlit skate on a frozen fountain. Now those dreams were gone. I shivered whether from the cold or crushed spirit it was unknown. All I do know is that I had wasted three years of my life.
Three years.
It was such a long time, such a waste.
The cold permeated my thin sweater and hit my body in a tremendous rush. I trembled hard unable to stave off the offending weather as I clamped my arms about my torso. The tears, damn tears, ran freely down my cheeks. I hated them. Hated Bobby. Hated the lost years. I longed to scream but the cries merely vibrated inside my chest. Pants of air fogged the cold as I sniffed and exhaled.
It was a damn waste.
God what was I going to do now? I wanted to recite a prayer I'd learned as a child. A prayer that always had a calming effect on me. Raised in a Jewish home the law and tradition were the way of the Pryde household. Yet in my state the prayer felt hollow and God so far away. I lifted my eyes to the heaven and wondered if this was punishment for falling in love with a gentile. I lowered my head knowing full well God didn't play with hearts in such a manner. I could hear my mother voice inside my head.
Such a waste!
Succumbing to grief, I thrust my face into the palm of my hands and wept. I startled when I felt a blanket being draped about my shoulders. I whirled in my seat to see Peter towering over me. I caught my breath, stunned, and slapped my hands across my face to dry the cold tears.
"Are you alright Katya?"
Mini Note: I need a Beta reader someone to double check the mistakes I make. Anyone up for it?