Chapter 21: Unexpected Visitors.
The crowd was picking up the banners and signs. I was sure that they were going to start the protest all over again. I was, happily, wrong. Hate is difficult to hold onto when you have just had a good time being entertained. Not impossible, merely difficult. Still I was profoundly grateful when the last former protester's vehicle had rounded the corner, and was gone.
Lance and Kitty stayed outside with Storm, as Lance slid the baseball field, and the fence, back into place. I had changed back from She-Rex to just Megan. I was a bit stunned that the crazy, off the wall, idea seemed to work! I squeezed Ray's hand and said "I'll see you after I shower, Ray." My sweet boyfriend gently squeezed my hand "Megan, you are amazing." That's when Ray leaned in, hesitated a moment as our lips were an inch apart..
The Kiss was everything I could hope for! I swear that for a moment I heard romantic violins playing. I guess that I'm a romantic sap, but at least I don't have to admit it to anyone. The sweetness of his kiss, the smell/taste of the peppermint breath mint he had obviously taken, the strong, yet gentle grip of his hands. Dear Goodness! I was totally lost in the moment! As we broke the kiss, we looked at each other. Ray's face held an expression that I had never seen. I can't really describe it, but it was certainly nice. If I had to guess, I would say that Ray's face held a mix of Passion and Love. It was Need and Tenderness. I could only guess what my face showed.
"WHAT'RE YOU DOIN' ?" I swear that I jumped at least six feet into the air! Ray started as well, but recovered faster than I did. As I realized that Wolverine had just busted us, Ray stepped between us, as if protecting me. "Mr. Logan. She's my girl, and I gave her a kiss. If you need to disapprove, do so without yelling at her." I can't believe the macho nonsense that guys do, sometimes. This time, I was glad that my Ray was macho. I had been startled, and Ray was calming me by calmly protecting me, as best as he could. I stood behind Ray, and to his left. We were almost side-by-side, facing Wolverine. To his credit, Wolverine was already calming down. At least he didn't look like was about to attack Ray, this time. Wolverine scowled, but kept his voice down "Yer not supposed to do that, Berserker. Get showered. Get changed. Then yer gonna go see th' Professor. Both of ya, really. Go on."
We both went up the stairs together, and after a moment, we saw that Wolverine had moved on. Ray and I both stopped at the top, and looked at one another. We reached for one another. My heart was fluttering in my breast. Wolverine may have moved out of sight, but he may be waiting to catch us again. I thought it. Ray must have thought it. We did not care. This kiss was wonderful. Our love was being shared in this elemental and timeless way. After a small eternity, we broke apart, and reluctantly parted. I was surprised that we did not see Wolverine, nearby, glaring at us.
After showering, and getting ready, I was dressed in a pair of self-made casual jeans, a self-made blouse, a comfortable forest green number with soft grey trim. My feet were in practical sneakers, and athletic socks. Ray was waiting for me at the top of the stairs. He was wearing jeans, a practical sweatshirt, and his sneakers. I had come out of my room, with a look that I intended to mean 'defiance'. Ray noticed, my expression. He understood it. Even better, Ray matched it and gently reached for my hand. I tried to avoid smiling, but Ray was being wonderful. Rahne and Jubilee were witness to own act of solidarity, and our obvious decision. The girls smiled at us, and even gave us a 'thumbs up', as we walked down the stairs, hand in hand. Openly. Proudly. Resolutely.
Several other students also saw, but had not known of Wolverine's interference. We nodded as we passed, rather like Old World Nobility, I supposed. So, we never wavered. We did not hesitate. And we deliberately walked down the hallway to the Professor's Study, right past Wolverine. As we did, our hands and hearts were intertwined, our feet falling in step with one another, and our noses in the air.
Ray was kind enough to let me in first, then himself. Wolverine could take care of himself. The Professor was behind his desk as expected. Jean was there, as was Scott. Wolverine stalked in behind us. I intentionally did not look at Logan. As Ray started to, I gently tugged on his hand. When he looked at me, I shook my head very slightly 'no'. I was angry, and I let it show, but I kept it under tight control. Ray looked, well, cool. He seemed defiant and unafraid. He also looked supportive of me. Of US! Each time his face turned towards mine, he smiled a bit, and his eyes were shining with love. I had no idea why Scott and Jean were there, but I'd come to trust Scott as a Team Leader, and Jean as a friend. The Professor spoke to us as soon as the door was closed.
"Raymond, Megan. We seem to have a dispute regarding good conduct. I DO applaud your restraint in this matter. Now, please tell me what happened. Then we may discuss if anything more needs to be done." Wolverine simply said "I caught these two giving each other a tonsillectomy, right in the Main Hall, Chuck. So I yelled th' question 'What're you doin'?' Then sent 'em to go shower, separately, change and come here."
Ray looked a bit, well, protective of me.I tried to calm him with a gentle caress on the back of his hand. That seemed to work like magic, because he stopped scowling at Wolverine, and shyly smiled at me, instead. I spoke up "Well, um, Professor, see... *sigh* Please let me start again? Ray and I were, in fact, kissing in the Main Hall. I see no problem with a boyfriend and girlfriend sharing a kiss. Especially in public. After all, it's not like we were hiding anything. No groping, either. Just a wonderful kiss, that somebody, who is not in a romantic relationship with either of us, decided to take exception to." Ray was nodding and added "Yes. I was simply being romantic, and kissing my girlfriend. There was nothing inappropriate, and certainly nothing wrong about it. I don't know why Mr. Logan has such a problem with us kissing. He never gives anyone else the same treatment." At his latest sentance, Ray was looking over at Scott and Jean.
Wolverine snapped "That's different! They're both eighteen, and I've never found them actin' like these two. Cyke and Jean control themselves. You two don't." Ray looked as ticked off as I felt! "HEY!" we both yelled at Wolverine. The Professor stopped everyone with his hands raised, palms outwards in a gesture for peace. The Professor said "Alright. Now I understand the need to keep control, which is why we are here, after all. However, Logan, yelling at them, and acting as if they were causing damage, or harming someone, seems inappropriate. A simple reminder should do the trick. As to the pair of you. I cannot have too many public displays of affection, nor have such displays become too graphic. You two are here to learn control. In order to control your powers you need to learn to control yourselves. Do you understand that I am not going to punish anyone for being in love, nor for the occasional simple kiss? I do need to make sure that such displays do become inappropriate." At this the Professor leaned back a bit, and folded his hands togethers, as he often does. "I have decided to ask Scott and Jean to talk to Ray, and Megan respectively, and as a group, later. Logan, if you see anyone kissing, and not taking it further, please gently remind them to keep it decent. If you find anything such as groping, or undressing one another, THAT is another story, and I would ask that you put a peaceful stop to such things before they get further out of hand. As of now, simple kissing will be allowed, with the provision that this privilege is not abused. A kiss each day, is perfectly reasonable. A kiss every chance you get, is not. I shall make an announcement to this effect, at tonight's supper. That is all." Professor Xavier nodded politely to indicate the end of the meeting.
Scott led Ray to a small conference room. Jean looked at me and asked "Which one would you be more comfortable talking in, my room or yours?" I was glad that Jean had such tact, but then I expected no less. I asked "Could we go to your room, please. I love Rahne, but I don't want to have this 'talk' in front of anyone, please." Jean smiled at me, and we walked towards her room.
We had just walked to Jean's room, and opened the door, when we heard the PA call out with the computerized voice "Warning, New Mutant Signature Detected." Jean and I looked at one another, and she said "I guess that this will have to wait, Megan." I nodded and we jogged to the elevator and got in just in time, as the we just made it inside before the doors closed. Once down into the deepest levels, and then inside the Cerebro Chamber, we saw Professor Xavier put on the Cerebro helmet. I thought it looked a bit Sci-Fi, but then I suppose it was. Cerebro's holographic projectors showed a person, in full body image. There was also a helpful sidebar of information about this person, but I didn't need it. I recognized him immediately. Interestingly, both he, and at least,my Dad were already on route to the Institute.
We met them at the door. Professor Xavier had already opened the gates, from the main controls at Cerebro. Running to greet them, I had no idea what to expect. Dad was pulling up, and we were all waiting. After stopping the family car, Dad gently took my brother, Jake from the car. Jake's body was growing and shrinking constantly. I couldn't make heads or tails of it. Obviously Dad was home on most Sundays, as was Mom and Jake. Mom was there, looking worried, OK, more like scared out of her mind.
Beast arrived with a gurney. Placing Jake on the gurney I asked Dad "What happened?" Mom blurted out "Jake was playing outside, when he just doubled over, holding his tummy. He said he had cramps. I thought it was the eggs we had. Then he began to grow. I mean really grow! Then once he got as big as a truck, he shrank back down. I was relieved, but then he just kept on shrinking! He went down to the size of one of his action figures. You know, the ones with the laser sword-things? That small."
Beast was listening, as well as checking my brother's vital signs. Jake's constant changes in size, made this difficult. "Jake? Can you hear me?" I asked. Jake moaned and it was not the fake moan that he uses to try to get sympathy. This was real pain. I wanted to take my little brother's hand, for the first time in years, to comfort him. Normally I would try to grab his hand, to keep him from escaping my wrath. Jake moaned again, and Mom and I shared a look of concern. Dad was in 'work mode' and was giving a report on the event. Jake suddenly let out a yell, and GREW! "Holy $#!* ! Dad cried out. I can't blame him, after all he was only saying exactly what we were ALL thinking! Jake had grown to about thirty feet long, and proportionally he was catching up, until Jake was Jake again, just thirty feet tall-if he were standing. Then I noticed it and cried out "Hey! No fair, Jake's clothes change with him, but not mine!" Amara snarked out "It's a good thing! I don't think anybody here wants to see him naked!" Jake slowly began shrinking again. As soon as he could fit in the doors, Beast told Kurt "Port him directly to the Med Lab." Kurt put his two fingered hand on Jake's shoulder and in a *bamf* of sulphurous smoke, they were gone.
We sat in the living Room and the Professor was keeping Mom and Dad calm. Both Mom and Dad were sitting together on the long couch. Storm was kind enough to sit beside Mom and help comfort her, even as Dad is holding her other hand. The Professor looks at me and says "I understand your concerns, Megan, but you must allow Doctor McCoy to treat your brother, without interference. He will be alright." To my parents, the Professor continues "I have telepathic word from Doctor McCoy. He says that Jake is unable to control his power right now, however, he will stabilize and recover. Jake simply needs to rest, and then learn to control his power." Mom looks less fearful than I would have expected. Dad was more nervous than I had ever seen him, but he was taking it a lot better than most parents, I think. I had heard all about the kids cruelly thrown out of their homes and families, by those who they once trusted to love them. Not Mom or Dad. Loyalty and Love are cornerstones for this family. Dad's side of the family includes a niece who has come out of the closet, and will soon be married to her wife. Dad has never treated her with any less love than before. Mom is a little bit uncomfortable, but then Mom is so pretty, she's probably afraid that my Cousin Cathy is 'interested' in her. Silly Mom. Cathy is in a committed relationship, and would never cheat on her intended,
With thoughts like these going through my mind, I'd missed what was said for a few seconds. Then Mom and Dad were looking expectantly "What? Sorry I was thinking about the rest of the family." Mom smiled while Dad was still talking to Professor Xavier. Mom gently repeated the question "Baby, that's fine. I guess I should get ready to tell your Aunts, Uncles and, well, everyone. Still, that's my job. What I wanted to know was how is your relationship with Raymond going?" I gave her, and Storm who was right there, a 'Reader's Digest' version, including how the talk with Jean had been interrupted by the emergency with Jake "No problem, Mom. Jean and I can talk whenever. I wonder how Cousin Cathy will react? Will she dance, or sing one of her Social Protest Songs?"
Storm looked a little lost at that last one, so I grinned and said to Storm "Cousin Cathy is a lifelong lesbian, and she has all kinds of songs to glorify the underdogs of the world. She made songs that celebrate just about every Minority I've ever heard of, so I'm willing to bet, that since mutants were outed, that Cathy has either made such songs or knows someone who has. If this were the nineteen sixties, she'd be right there marching for Equal Rights, even if she had to do it alone!"
My mom nodded and said "Yes. Cathy O'Connelley is a very special young woman. I'm embarrassed to admit, that when she first came out, I was a bit...weirded out. I had no idea how to react, to her coming out, nor to her. I was kind of a mess that way. Now, she and I have been sharing E-Mail to plan her wedding to Anna." Storm nodded to this and I just gently leaned into Mom's side, as I was seated between Mom and Dad. I noticed that the Professor and Dad had been listening to our part of the conversation. Mom just kept on talking to Storm about our family.
Professor Xavier was talking to Dad "I had no idea that you have such a diverse family. How has the young lady's coming out affected the family?" Dad grinned and said "Hasn't really affect us at all. I suspected it for years, ever since Cathy wanted keep playing sports with the boys, without showing any signs of trying to date any of them. Cathy always hated dresses. Pink. The usual girly things that you'd expect a thirteen year old girl to be into, she loathed bothering with. She talked, dressed, and acted like a boy. Always had, as soon as she was allowed to dress herself. Now she is 'Unity and Inclusion Coordinator' at the Rainbow Coalition, in the Taunton, Massachusetts Chapter. It's a volunteer position, but she takes a lot of pride in doing a top notch job. If she can bring that kind of focus to her college studies, she'll be all set!" Dad sounded proud of Cathy, but then, he always was. I liked Cathy. I always considered her to be very brave.
We were discussing family in general with the Professor, and Storm when Rahne came in. Professor Xavier looked at Rahne, with a smile "Yes, Rahne? What can we do for you?" Rahne looked a bit shy, but quietly announced "Ach, Doctor McCoy said t' tell ye tha' young Jake is doing fine, and is only lightly sedated. He can have visitors, if ye wish." We adjourned the informal meeting to visit my brother.