Memories

Shopping and Talking

Disclaimer: I don't own the X-Men or any of their characters. Tora and Weapon X-ii are my own though.

She was standing in abject terror looking down the stairs. Almost every female superhero was waiting to take her on The Shopping Trip.

"Jean, I thought you said this was going to be a small trip."

"Everyone wanted to help."

She felt like burying her face in her hands. She wasn't even certain she wanted a wedding dress. And she was regretting telling Jean she could plan most of the stuff for her. Ororo would have been a better choice. Tora hadn't a clue about half the stuff that was being planned but Sue Richards had given her a talk about getting married when in a full-time heroing post. Apparently almost every wedding was gatecrashed. Then there had been the honeymoon talk, the kids talk and she was going on to start another talk when Etana rescued her. She felt like she owed Etana her life. At any rate, she'd been the single dash of normalcy in her life. She was taken with Etana's suggestion they just eloped and got married in a registry office but Jean had locked all the papers she would need somewhere and she wasn't going to get married on forged papers. It was all about principles.

She had disappeared when The Shopping Trip had been suggested and Tora was beginning to wish she hadn't. She might need teleporting out. But Etana had been pure gold. She'd even offered her Japanese house to them for the honeymoon. Apparently she had safehouses in every major city and proper homes in the Scottish Highlands (for saving some British monarch's life), Japan's mountains (bought in the 14th century), a Venice townhouse (built on the site of her old home), New York (just a apartment for American operations) and some sort of Eyrie in the Canadian Rockies where she had met Logan. Apparently some people insisted on paying her for helping them and when the interest over the years reached a million she realized she was going to have to do something. She invested in a few companies and donated the rest. She had offered Xavier the houses for the X-Men but he'd refused. She was becoming a fixture. Sometimes it was handy not to have to ask Warren for money. She mainly lived simply, preferring the food she had grown up with and living in pretty much the same way. Therefore money sat in bank accounts for decades, accumulating interest while she forgot about it. So with a cause to give her money to she had finally got round to doing accounts. It was impressive to say the least. Along with the 'antiques' that she had bought new, she was actually richer than Angel. She didn't realize that the earrings she'd been given some time in India and she'd kept clean out of some sense of duty were now unique and worth more than the Blackbird. She'd quite happily sent them anonymously to a museum and laughed over all the articles. Apparently she hated them.

Tora was seriously wondering why she agreed to do this. A black haired woman who looked quite like a lawyer introduced herself as "Jen", a woman dressed in red as "Wanda" and a slight brown-haired woman as 'Jan'. Then she had her arms grasped firmly by 'Carol' and Sue before being dragged outside to the waiting minivan. She had a feeling she wasn't going to get home until very late.

Three hours later when she'd been forced into the favourite dresses of every hero and was then told that none of them suited her and Jan would design her one she finally managed to get a word in edgeways.

"I was actually just thinking about wearing my costume."

Everyone just looked at her in amazement then Kitty, who'd tagged along, started laughing. Jean was trying not to look hurt and 'Ro just looked amazed she'd lasted as long as she had.

"But you have to wear white…"

"It isn't a tradition. In France, white is traditionally the colour of mourning. Mary Queen of Scots caused a shock by wearing white at her wedding."

She'd sunk them. Hopefully they'd just let her go home now so she could curl up with a coffee and a book. No such luck.

"Well then, we'll go onto the dress for going on the honeymoon."

"What? I was just going to wear my usual clothes."

"Tora, I saw all your clothes when I went to do the laundry. I think Logan would appreciate something more…er…"

"Sexy?"

"Thanks Carol."

"Why?"

"First, what's with the jeans and shirts? It looks like you're imitating him."

"They're practical."

"Second, I've seen your underwear. And it's as uninspired as your clothes. It's all white cotton."

"And?"

"So we're going to get some nice outfits for your honeymoon and some underwear to send Logan reeling."

"Please don't do this to me Jean…"

"So, does anybody know any good shops?"

"Please Jean…"

Before she could protest anymore, she was dragged out of the bridal boutique and into the sorts of shops she would normally never set foot in. It took another hour to explain "I don't do skirts, I can't kick people in them." No one believed her when she said she was quite happy dressed as she was. It was when she saw the shop they were planning to go in next that she finally snapped.

"No, please don't make me go in there."

The models in the window all showed skimpy lace underwear. In various garish colours.

"Please no…"

"Come on."

"Help…"

"Right, which ones do you like?"

"Etana, if you can hear me, now would be a good time to rescue me…"

"I think the red…"

"No, the black…"

"Please, someone get me out of here."

"This is nice…"

"Anyone?"

"I think she should buy this…"

"Please let the Brotherhood attack…"

"Logan would flip for this…"

"Or failing that, can I have a stroke…"

"No, they don't do them in her size…"

"Or is you can't do that, can I have a heart attack…"

"I might get some of these. Even if she doesn't…"

"Please just let me die…"

"I think we need to go smaller…"

"Father, please, please, please stop this torture…"

"Tora, you haven't said anything?"

"Please, please, please somebody rescue me…"

"Come on Tora, are you even paying attention?"

"Please someone get me out of here…"

"Tora, are you OK? You have a glazed look…"

Suddenly hands slid under her arms and she felt the now familiar feeling of Etana teleporting.

"I owe you one."

"Sorry I wasn't there earlier. I was busy. And I couldn't find you."

They were in a spacious penthouse apartment with a view of the New York skyline. Etana noticed Tora's impressed look.

"I like to have space to practice."

"Thanks Etana. They were getting overexcited."

"Tell me about it. Coffee?"

"Please."

"I really wouldn't mind if you eloped. You could have any of my other houses. Just as long as you tell me."

"Jean stole my identification. I don't know where she hid it."

"Forge the papers."

"I can't do that. OK I can do that but it's not morally right. And I wouldn't feel like I was married to Logan."

Etana smiled and disappeared into what Tora supposed was the kitchen. She looked around the room decorated simply in a minimalist style. Photos were scattered across the cabinet. Tora wandered over and smiled. Every single one was of Logan. Logan smiling, Logan laughing, a young Logan hugging Etana. Even a photo of her and Logan. It looked just like a display a proud mother would put up.

"I can't think what to get you two. The only thing Logan wants are his memories and I don't think he should have them. I thought about a house but you'll be staying at the Institute."

"You don't have to get us anything…"

"I'm the closest thing you have to the groom's mother, I have to get you something…"

"Etana!"

"Tora, I need to tell you something."

"What?"

"I'm not going to live forever. No one does. That's why everything I own is willed to Logan or any children he may have. Unfortunately, Logan's son was legitimate, even if he has never met him. Unless Logan wills everything to you or any children, the boy will get everything. I'd rather he doesn't get his hands on some of my stuff. I spent too long gathering information for it to fall into the Cloaked One's hands. That's why I'm changing my will so you get everything to share with Logan. Your children will get precedence over Akhiro."

"I'm not even certain if we want children. We touched the subject, but only briefly. And Etana, I'm not certain you should give all this to me."

"Tora, I trust you. With my life. Very few people can say the Fallen Angel would sleep in the same house as them. Understand?"

"But…"

"Tora, trust me. I am very stubborn. More stubborn than you. The sort of old woman stubbornness. So don't try and change my mind."

"Etana?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"Akihiro?"

"Between your times."

"Oh. No one mentioned him."

"Daken."

"Ah… I did terrorize her, didn't I?"

"You could say that."