Chapter 35

"So, what's he like?" Marie asked over the phone as Wanda was using a Crockpot to cook herself dinner.

"He's… nice," was the only words that came to mind as she checked on her sorta-kinda stir-fry rice.

"That's a thrilling report," her friend said cheekily.

"I don't know him that well, yet," she sighed and moved to sit on her bed, "I mean, we worked on the project together, so I know he's very intelligent, has a brain like a computer or something, he can remember the smallest facts."

"Photographic memory?"

"That's actually so rare it can't really be proven," Wanda frowned, "but I guess close enough."

"Don't talk logic to me," Marie chuckled.

"Anyway, we went to one play, one dinner, and it was nice," she let herself smile, "but it's not a lot to go on, you know. It takes time to really get to know a person."

"I take it you're not a believer in love at first sight," the other girl spoke wryly.

"Yes," Wanda said firmly, "because love at first sight means you literally are judging a person by their looks alone, you have no idea what their personality is, you just see something esthetically pleasing and that's it."

"Says the girl who doesn't admit to reading romance novels," Marie let out a snort and giggle.

"I also love a movie about an assassin, a super human, a man in a can, a Norse deity, a Legolas wannabe, and a guy in severe need of rage counseling," Wanda rolled her eyes, "it's called suspension of disbelief. I don't confuse that with the real world."

Her friend laughed before saying, "Then what about this Victor Vision? Is he… esthetically pleasing?"

Shaking her head, "Yes, he is, in that classic Western European way."

"Yeah, I'm a Southern redneck," Marie said bluntly, "I have no idea what that means."

"Um… think Daniel Craig," was the first actor to come to mind who fit Victor's general profile, "only a little less pompous looking."

"Nice," her friend gave an appreciated noise before asking the million dollar question, "but what about John?"

"What about John?" she smoothly asked, she would make a great lawyer.

"Do I seriously need to explain?" even over the phone she could see her friend's 'really?' smirk.

"John made it very clear that he believes I'm better off without him, that's a decision he made," and one that still brought a surge of anger at the thought of it, "and you told me that being there for John may mean being there not as his girlfriend. I've helped him all I can, he has to figure out the rest on his own or else he'll never trust himself."

"And when he does?" Marie asked quietly.

"Then I wish him nothing but the best," she sighed, "which isn't going to be me. I've done my part, sowed the seeds, but I don't think I was ever meant to reap the crop."

…

"No, he didn't…" Kate laughed, shaking her head.

"He did," John chuckled, "and he hammed it up just the right amount. Skidding across the floor and being all 'It's a snake! Keep it away!'. Honestly, I don't know how the others didn't realize he was faking it. It was all I could do not to give away the game. Nothing like back-firing a prank, it's like a double win."

"I never realized you were such a prankster," she was getting her breath back, grinning at him.

"I've had my moments," John took a drink and cleared his throat, "but I know better than to pull that kind of stuff at work, I want to keep my job."

"Now I knew you were a smart man," she winked and the waiter came by and asked if they wanted dessert.

After Kate kissed him on his birthday, John wasn't sure what to do, or if she would even remember it, she had drank a fair amount. Still, he liked her and there was a chance he could make things work with her, so he gave her a call the next day and in a roundabout way discovered she did indeed remember the kiss and was definitely interested in having dinner with him.

So far, things had been going quite well, they chatted about work, journalism, and other mutually invested topics. Kate was intelligent but also a rather beautiful woman, so all around he was quite lucky to have garnered her attention.

However, she lacked that little spark that Wanda had, that wicked glint to her eye when he made her laugh, the things that made him love her…

Everyone's different though, right? After all, Wanda might just listen to him ramble on for hours about the correct plotting and pacing of a story but he could actually have a back and forth discussion about it with Kate. He just had to give Kate a chance…

John's phone went off to the tune of Metallica's version of the Imperial March.

"Woops," John quickly grabbed his phone and declined the call from Remy, sitting it to silent/vibrate.

He was just about to apologize when the phone started to vibrate, again, Remy calling.

"Who is it?" Kate asked after seeing John frown, declining the second call.

"Remy," he had already told her he was his best friend, though they actually hadn't had a chance to be properly introduced to each other at his birthday party.

"Seems persistent," she said when a text came through.

Opening the text, it read: "Answer your damn phone you fracking hippy Kiwi!"

"Now that's just insulting," John frowned, then look at Kate, "I'm sorry, let me just get rid of him."

"Perfect timing," she said as the waiter returned with their desserts.

The phone rang again and John answered it, "Hey, kinda busy here."

"Pumpkins!" Remy shot back.

"Okay, that was non sequitur," John said dryly.

"Rogue left me," Remy bit out, "over a stupid freaking pumpkin!"

"Right," he took a fork to his dessert, "because of a pumpkin, nothing else?"

A grumble came over the line, "There could have been… other… mitigating factors."

John sighed, "Did she take her stuff out of the bathroom?"

"Yes," he sounded pitiful.

Tugging the phone down, John addressed Kate, "I'm sorry, Remy's girlfriend just broke up with him, again."

"Again, huh?" Kate gave a knowing smile, "One of those relationships?"

"Yeah," he gave her a regretful look, "mind if we cut this short, I'll take you home once you're finished but I have damage control to do."

"Who are you talking to?" Remy said in his ear.

"My date," he shot back, "thank you very much."

"You're on a date?" John could literally hear the wheels turning in Remy's head, "With who?"

"We'll talk about it later," he looked back at Kate who smiled at him.

"I know," she laughed, "Bros before Hoes."

"I would never call you a hoe," John assured her.

"I might," Remy piped in.

"Shut up," he told the man.

Kate reached over the small table and snatched the phone out of his hand, the movement trigged some panic in his mind, but it was the kind he had been able to work on with some success recently… still… she stole his phone.

"Remy," she spoke into it, "you are so lucky I'm in a good mood."

She heard a reply and John could only guess at it by Kate's stifled laughter.

"Go brood in a corner for a half hour," she added, "John will call you back then and you can cry into his metaphorical shoulder."

It was only ten minutes to her place, another five to his, so that sounded about right. He waved to the waiter so they could get the check and a to-go box for his cake.

"Uh huh," her eyes flashed at John then she went back to the phone, "goodnight Remy." With that, she ended the call and passed his phone back over to him, "That man sounds like quite the character."

"You have no idea," he shook his head, "I'm sorry, kind of a lousy first date."

"Oh, believe me," she laughed, "I've had worse."

Their food wrapped up, John drove Kate back to her place, a nice little townhouse. Like a gentleman, he walked her to her door to say goodnight.

"Willing to try this again next week?" he asked her as he scratched the back of his neck.

"Definitely," she moved in, her hands on his chest as she gave him a lingering kiss. This time he was ready for it and was able to return as good as he got. When Kate pulled away, she licked her lips, a pleased little look on her face. "Goodnight, John."

"Night, Kate," he watched her go into her apartment, a mix of emotions… most all of them conflicting.

…

"Well, is he still… nice?" Marie told Wanda as they sat around the Howlett's kitchen table.

Wanda sighed, she knew the question had been coming now that it was the Winter Break, Christmas right around the corner. She had been on several dates with Victor in that time, and yes, "He's very smart—"

"You said that already," her friend smirked.

"He's also very sweet and kind," she added, "in his own way."

"His own way?" Marie raised a brow.

"Well," Wanda took a second to choose her words, "John was sweet in that 80s John Cusack kind of way, but Victor, he's a lot more subtle and subdued."

"Wait, wait," Rogue gave a sly grin, "are you dating your version of a Joseph."

"Excuse me?" she frowned.

"Joseph was like the anti-Remy," her friend explained, "and Victor seems to be the anti-John."

Wanda thought it over for a moment, then flatly said, "Pumpkins."

The Southern scowled at her.

They were both saved by Wanda's phone going off. She frowned at the name because why was Lorna calling her? She was in Aspen or something.

"Yes?" she said tersely as she answered.

"Wanda, thank you, I need a favor," her words were rushed, "can you pick me up at the airport when I land in five hours?"

That would be about dinner time, "I thought father was picking you up."

"He was, but, please, pick me up, tell him whatever you have to," there was a strange pleading to her voice, similar to the time her hair turned green due to the pool water, maybe she had done something similar, got a tattoo or nose piercing?

"Fine," she sighed heavily, "but you'll owe me now."

"Good, thank you, thank you," Lorna was now mumbling.

Finally the girl got off the phone and Wanda just shook her head, "Half-siblings."

"Tell me about it," Marie replied dryly.

…

The Summers' family took a skiing trip to Aspen for the first part of the winter break. Jean had accompanied Scott as his girlfriend and Lorna had talked their father into letting her go as she was now dating Alex. Seeing as the Summers were fairly respectable people and Lorna would be sharing a room with Jean, father reluctantly agreed.

Wanda stood at the exit with Jean's older sister Sara who was there to pick up her sibling as well. There was the general niceties but they really had nothing in common so spent the twenty minutes in silence as they waited for the group to get through security and luggage handling.

Finally, the parents came into view first, their sons traveling behind with their girlfriends. There was a moment where everyone said their goodbyes, a few kisses exchanged, rather boring romance story fodder.

"Thanks for picking me up," Lorna said as they made it back to their father's car. Wanda had to borrow it because while she had her license, she had no interest in maintaining a car at this time, not when she lived on campus and there was adequate public transportation.

"Yeah, sure," she used the fob to get the luxury vehicle running and the heat turned on, it had snowed a few days before and the snow was still lingering.

The car was nice and toasty when they got in after shoving Lorna's bags in the trunk, but before she could put the car in drive, Lorna spoke up, "I screwed up."

"How so?" she tried not to sigh too much. It was obvious she didn't get anything in a normally visible spot, they could always hide a tattoo from their father if needs be.

"I…" she started and then took a second, "I slept with Alex."

Wanda let herself process the statement, making sure she understood, "Slept with as in had sex with?"

Lorna nodded, her temporary green locks bobbing on her head.

"Ah," she considered the implications, both Lorna and Alex were sixteen so even if it was consensual there was no statutory rape, "it was consensual, right? He didn't force you or give you any of that 'you love me, you'll sleep with me' crap did he?"

"No, no," she went a little wide eyed, "totally consensual!"

Her sister seemed to believe it was, but that didn't mean it actually was, "What happened?"

"Well," Lorna chewed her lip, "Scott and Jean had gone out to dinner, the Summers were down in the lodge's canteen talking to some business people, it was just me and Alex in his room watching television. We were kissing, making out, and…" she blushed, "I dunno, I mean, it went a little fast, one piece of clothing came off, then another…"

"Not giving you a chance to stop does not equal consent," her hands gripped tightly on the wheel, if that Summers boy violated her sister, even if she was an annoying sister, there would be hell to pay.

"He totally gave me a chance to stop!" Lorna assured her. "We were naked and he was all 'you sure?' and I didn't feel pressured or nothing, I mean, I thought about saying no, but I… I… I thought it was romantic and it would be a special time and place to do it."

Wanda sighed, it was just like Lorna to mix a fantasy in with the reality of the situation.

"It was kinda horrible," Lorna admitted and Wanda glanced over at her, "I mean, he tried to be gentle and stuff, but, it was awkward, messy, and it burned, and even though the pain went away it wasn't nearly as pleasurable as I thought it would be."

"It gets better with experience," or so she had been told, "but now that you're back home you better put a curtail on this. If father finds out, he will ground you for life. If Alex can't understand that then he's not worth staying with."

"Oh, yeah, we already decided to wait for the encore," she gave a nervous laugh and something nagged at Wanda because of it.

"You used protection, right?" she asked bluntly and when Lorna faltered, "You had sex without a condom?"

"Where were we going to get one?" she argued and then the look on her face was her realizing how that sounded.

"Not all STDs you get from only having sex," Wanda couldn't believe her sister had been that reckless, never mind the fact she almost had as well, "Miss Munroe does a whole week on STDs in her Health class."

"I know, I know," Lorna put her head in her hands.

"We'll set an appointment with your doctor," she sighed, what's done was done, "have her run the tests to make sure you're okay. I'll take you and hopefully dad won't find out if we do this right but you have to promise me to never have sex again without a condom," she thought about it for a second, "until you're married at least."

"Agreed, and thank you," her sister didn't look relieved, "but there is also one other problem… you see… I… I kinda forgot to pack my birth control pills."

When that statement was comprehended, Wanda closed her eyes and tried not to scream, sexual idiocy did run in her family after all. "When did you sleep with him?"

"Last night," Lorna admitted, which meant her birth control was more than likely out of her system as it was a twelve day trip.

"Alright," Wanda went to put the car into gear, "we'll stop by a pharmacy that carries the morning after pill and see if it's not too late."

"Morning after pill?" her sister frowned, "That's like having an abortion."

"No," Wanda didn't know where her sister got her crazy ideas sometimes, "it's making sure you don't have to have an abortion later."

Lorna was shaking her head, "I'm not having an abortion."

"Fine, adoption, whatever," Wanda was short with her as she tried to think of where she could go to get the pill, "the point is, it's making sure that you're not pregnant."

"If I'm pregnant, I'm pregnant," the girl was on the verge of tears, "I'm not going to kill my baby."

"It's not even a baby yet," she argued but not wanting to get into biology right now, "and even if you want to say it is, you're sixteen, Lorna, you do not want to be pregnant, all that responsibility, everyone looking down at you in shame."

"There's nothing shameful about being pregnant," Lorna shot back.

"It is when you're pregnant because you're an idiot," it was harsh but she couldn't stop herself, "you knew you were having unprotected sex, even without Miss Munroe's very detailed Health class there is no way a girl in this age couldn't have known what they were doing was incredibly stupid," she was nearly shouting at her sister now, "and what about school, college, a job, how the hell do you expect to support this kid? This isn't some stupid romance novel, your actions have consequences and now you're going to have to deal with them."

"If I'm pregnant then I'm having this kid," her sister screamed back at her, eyes full of tears, "I may be stupid but it's my body and my choice!"

Was she seriously going to do this? "Yes, you are stupid," Wanda muttered.

Crying, Lorna popped the door and ran out of the car into the cold, leaving Wanda to shake her head.

Okay, so she was a little hypocritical. She was going to have sex with John without a condom, but she was definitely on the pill at the time. Sometimes, when she thought back on the night, she like to think she would have stopped before it got as far as sex but she had to be realistic, at the time she had wanted to be closer to John. Perhaps it wasn't exactly the same romantic stupidity that led her sister into the same spot, but it wasn't the brightest idea Wanda had ever had.

That still didn't make what Lorna did any less dumb.

Getting out of the car, Wanda looked around and couldn't see her sister anywhere in the car filled parking lot, but she could hear her. Following the sobbing noise, Wanda walked about ten cars down the line before she found Lorna crying, leaning up against the wheel of some SUV.

Lorna looked so small and helpless… her body wracked with sobs.

A strange sense of guilt came over Wanda, she never really liked her half-sister but, well, she was family and didn't deserve to be in so much pain. Yes, she had made a stupid mistake but Wanda didn't have to throw it back into her face like she did.

"I'm sorry," Wanda spoke softly as she sat down on the ground next to Lorna, "I was mean."

"No, you're right," she said between sobs, "I'm a stupid idiot, I fucked up, but if I'm pregnant then I'll deal with it."

"You're not completely stupid," that did not come out the way Wanda intended, "I mean, you know what you did, where you messed up, and you're taking responsibility for your actions, that's smart."

Lorna just gave her a look.

Sighing, Wanda awkwardly put her arm around Lorna's shoulders, the girl was shivering in the cold, "You know what else, you're brave. You didn't have to tell me, didn't have to tell anyone, and you could have tried to hide everything and only made matters worse. Instead, you did tell me and now we can deal with this. It takes a bit before we can test for pregnancy but we can plan."

Her sister nodded, "I should tell Alex."

"Not yet," Wanda decided, "if we tell him now without knowing for sure it could cause a lot of problems, we don't need him all freaking out on us, he is a Summers boy."

"Hey," that got a little laugh out of Lorna, "Alex is not like his stick in the mud brother."

"If you say so," Wanda said playfully, "just tell him that because of our dad you want to play it cool for a bit as to not tip him off, don't change up anything in your relationship, and once we know for sure, we'll tell Alex in a controlled way, okay?"

"I think I can do that," Lorna nodded.

"Good," Wanda moved to stand, they had been out in the cold too long and the car was still running, "but above all, don't be nervous. You made a decision today, if you're nervous that means you're second guessing yourself. Are you second guessing yourself?"

"No," the girl said surely, wiping away her tears, "if I'm pregnant I'm having the baby and that's final."

"Alright then," they moved back towards the car, "in a few weeks we'll know for sure."

…

"This is where you say you're too young to be a grandfather," Wanda said dryly as she stood next to her father.

"Stating the obvious is generally frowned upon," the man sighed.

"But you knew this was bound to happen," she couldn't help tease him, "considering the role model you've been."

"I was well married to all my wives before any children came along," he replied back sharply.

It was a fact she couldn't really argue.

"I finally found a pop machine," Lorna came walking down the hall with a coke in her hand, "I really needed a caffeine infusion. Have they put her out yet?"

"Right there," Wanda pointed into the nursery, "in front."

"Aww," the girl pressed her face to the glass, "little Luna, what a pretty name for a pretty baby."

"Pretty, yes," Wanda agreed, it was a lovely name for her niece, but then she frowned, "always knew that woman was from the moon."

"Wanda," her father lightly scolded her.

She nodded her apologies, she hadn't been in the best of moods for awhile now. School was harder than she imagined, though she was passing perfectly well. Victor was sweet and supportive, but all they ever talked about seemed to be school, law, and old movies. Not to mention Wanda was dealing with the drama that was Lorna.

"She looks big and healthy," Lorna said, still nose pressed to the divider, "and that's good right, cause she's like a month pre-mature."

Wanda glanced over at her father who did the same to her, for once both of them on the same page, but neither had the heart to say anything to the oblivious Lorna.

…

"Oh, hey Wanda," Alex said as he came up to the booth at Harry's Hideaway.

"Sit down, Alex," she told him leaving no room for argument.

"Okay," he frowned and did as he was told, "I thought I was meeting Lorna?"

"She asked you to come here," Wanda gave him a smile, "she didn't say she would be here."

It took a second for that to click, "What's this about?"

"It's about Aspen," she told him pointedly.

His eyes widened, "I knew we should have used a condom but I did ask her and she said okay and I swear I'm clean."

She pursed her lips together, "Did you also ask her if she was on birth control?"

"Of course she's on…" the blood literally drained from his face.

"You are an extremely lucky boy, Alex Summers," she had considered making him sweat it out but that was too cruel, "you managed not to get my sister pregnant."

Relief washed over his face, "I am so sorry, I should have thought of that."

"Yes, you should have," she replied wryly. For several weeks she had waited with Lorna, the younger woman getting her period as normal being the first positive sign that she wasn't pregnant. Just in case though, they waited a little longer, took the home tests, so they could be absolutely sure. It may have been overkill but they were going to be damn sure of the situation before went forward with any plans.

Lorna hadn't been nearly as annoying as Wanda thought she would be, being rather adult about the whole situation. There was no mistaking the happiness in her eyes though when she realized she wasn't pregnant. She knew she wasn't ready to be a mother though she would have tried her best.

"Now," Wanda continued once Alex had time to process, "for some reason, Lorna still likes you and wants to continue to date you," he smiled a little in that puppy love kind of way, "but there really isn't anything to stop me from telling both our parents what you two did and you know what would happen then."

There was absolute panic on his face, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I will never, never do it again."

"Do what again?" she asked him sharply.

"Um, ah," this made him falter, of course the kid didn't understand what he was saying.

"Never have sex again?" Wanda replied wryly, "Somehow I doubt that. However, you will never have unprotected sex again, ever, with my sister, or any other woman," she gave him her best scary lawyer face, "is that clear?"

Alex trembled and nodded his head, "Yes, ma'am."

"Good," she then gave him an evil grin as the man who stepped up the booth has perfect timing, "and to make sure, I've invited Remy LeBeau to join us." The Cajun slid into the booth and effectively blocked Alex from leaving. "You remember Remy, and his reputation?"

"Uh, yeah," Alex looked between them, fear in his eyes.

"Well, since you seemed to have forgotten some of your lessons from Health class," Wanda gestured to the older man, "Remy here is going to give you a refresher course on the dangers of unsafe sex."

"I brought pictures," he had his phone out and showed whatever was on the screen to Alex.

"Oh, god," Alex freaked and looked like he was about to throw up.

Wanda grinned, pulling some money out of her purse and laying it on the table, "I'll leave you two to chat, lunch is on me."

Remy nodded at her and Wanda was glad he agreed to this for her. Lorna already went through the wringer, what with being unsure if she was pregnant or not, and Wanda knew Alex needed his own wakeup call. When she explained the story to Remy he was more than happy to help.

That was one major drama in her life taken care of… now if she could just sort out the rest…