Author's Note: Agh! This was so hard to write. But it's long. Yay!
A Little Complication
Chapter 55: Meet Abigail Jean D'Ancanto-Drake
Bobby wandered absently down the mansion corridors late one evening, a faint smile pulling on his lips as he contemplated how long it had been since he'd done a curfew check. The ice mutant had an early morning danger room session so he had opted to spend the night at the mansion and subsequently volunteered to do the curfew run following his putting Abi to bed. His smile widened slightly as he thought of his little daughter drifting off to sleep. He did miss putting her to bed…
Satisfied that all the students were in their rooms – or at least in someone's room in the case of Jinx – Bobby slipped into his own room. His new room. John's old bedroom. Pulling his cell phone from his pocket he quickly dialled from his contact list.
"Hi..." came the quick reply. Bobby smiled and collapsed down onto his bed.
"Hey, how are you?"
"I'm ok," John replied. "How's things with you?"
"Fine. I've just done the curfew check so I think I'll just turn in myself so I'm ready for this damn danger room session in the morning."
"Oh what an exciting life you lead," John laughed. Bobby sighed wistfully.
"I know," he smiled. "But Tommy and Jinx are in their room, Piotr's nowhere to be found and everyone else is on Marie's side."
There was a brief pause.
"Oh... so… are you still getting a hard time from everyone?" John asked guiltily. Bobby shook his head.
"No… I mean me and Marie are speaking so everyone's being alright but… I don't know. It's just not the same as it used to be."
"I'm sorry Bobby," the fire mutant replied earnestly. Bobby sat up straight again.
"Don't be!" he responded firmly. "It's fine."
"But…"
"John…it's fine," Bobby insisted, his lips curled into a faint smile. "I have you. It makes up for everything else."
"Awww…well aren't you sweet," John mumbled sarcastically but Bobby could tell the fire mutant was smiling.
"So, what have you been up to?" the cryokinetic asked, lying back down on the bed.
"Oh me and Jamie just went to some rally upstate for Mystique."
"A rally?" Bobby frowned concernedly. "Are you ok?"
"It was a rally," John replied, laughing quietly. Bobby rolled his eyes.
"Well you keep complaining about still being sore," the ice mutant reminded him.
"It's not that bad."
"Not that bad?" Bobby arched an eyebrow. "The other night when you stayed over and we tried to have sex you turned the air blue and threw me out the bed."
"Oh…yeah…" John laughed sheepishly. "Ok, so it still hurts sometimes. But it's just 'cause you leant on it funny."
Bobby laughed and shook his head.
"So it's my fault?" a soft smirk pulled on his lips. "I guess I'll just have to be more gentle with you next time."
"Promises, promises," John sighed. Bobby laughed again, giving his own contented sigh.
"So you're ok?"
"I'm fine," John assured him. "We just went to watch. It was actually quite boring."
"Well as long as you're ok," Bobby smiled. "So what you doing now?"
"Just sitting watching a movie," John replied casually. "Jamie's gone out for a while so…"
Bobby nodded.
"The movie any good?"
"No."
The ice mutant laughed.
"You're just fussy about movies."
"Yeah, yeah…" John mumbled. Bobby could just picture him screwing up his nose and waving his hand dismissively. He sighed quietly as he rolled his head and looked at the clock.
"Well I guess I'll let you get back to your crappy movie then," his icy blue eyes lit up hopefully. "I'll maybe see you later this week though?"
"Maybe," came the bland reply but again Bobby saw past the pyrokinetic's casual façade. The ice mutant shook his head.
"Well, maybe I'll see you later then," he smiled softly. "Goodnight John."
"'Night Bobby."
Bobby sighed wistfully, reluctantly lowering the phone and hitting the end call button. For a moment he just lay, contemplating how much he wished he was sleeping at his apartment…and how much he wished he wasn't going to be going to sleep alone…
x-x-x x-x-x x-x-x
John couldn't help but smile as he clambered out the car and made his way towards the main door to Bobby's apartment block. Ringing the buzzer, he leant against the wall, flicking his lighter open and shut casually. A frown took over his face as he waited...and waited...and waited...
"Hello?" Bobby's voice finally drifted through the speaker.
"Hi icicle," the fire mutant replied with a smirk. The buzzer sounded to signal the door was open. John frowned ever-so-slightly at Bobby's lack of communication but quickly shook it off, shoving open the door and entering the spacious hallway. Quickly he made his way towards the stairs, not even bothering to wait for the lift, practically running up the last few stairs. His eyes lit up as he found Bobby standing in his doorway, propping the door open. "Hi."
"Hey…" Bobby smiled, stepping back to let the pyrokinetic in. John's frown returned as he entered the apartment, a little uneased by the ice mutant's demeanour.
"You ok?" he asked concernedly. Bobby laughed quietly, running a hand through his hair as the two made their way through to the lounge.
"I'm fine, it's just…"
"AH!"
John stopped dead in the doorway at the excited squeal, his eyes falling instantly on the little icy blue eyes of the little girl sitting on the floor surrounded by toys.
"…you're early," Bobby finished, walking past John, picking Abi up. The ice mutant took a deep breath as he sorted Abi's dress, turning her to face John. "Abi, this is John. John…" he looked up at the fire mutant with a meek smile. "Meet Abigail Jean D'Ancanto- Drake."
For a moment John just stood and stared into the little blue eyes staring back at him intently. It was Abi who broke the silence first.
"Ah! Ya, da!" she bounced in her father's arms, clapping a hand onto Bobby's chest. Laughing merrily she turned to look at John before looking back at Bobby.
"Yes…this is the famous Johnny daddy's always talking about…" Bobby smiled sheepishly. The fire mutant scowled.
"Don't call me Johnny," he grumbled, a slight frown pulling on his brow. "You never mentioned she'd be here."
Bobby took a deep breath.
"You're early," he pointed out again, glancing at the clock. "Marie's picking her up in about half an hour and you weren't supposed to be here for over an hour."
John too glanced at the clock, giving a slight shrug and a small shake of the head.
"I see…" he muttered before turning towards the kitchen. "I'm just gonna go grab a soda."
Bobby frowned slightly as the fire mutant disappeared but quickly hid it as Abi looked up at him.
"Ya? Bwa boo..."
"It's ok…" he bounced her up and down gently, kissing her forehead softly. Sitting down on the floor with Abi, he let her clamber from his lap as he picked up one of her toys. John returned from the kitchen, crossing the room and flopping down on the furthest away single seat. Abi looked from the toy Bobby held towards her to John.
"Ah!" she cried, reaching out towards John. Bobby forced a smile and took her hands gently.
"No little lady," he stroked her cheek softly. "You just sit here and play with your toys."
Abi screwed up her nose, casting one last look at the brooding mutant sitting across the room. Looking back up at her father she crawled back onto his lap, snuggling up into his chest.
"Bwaa… la, da…" she mumbled quietly. Bobby sighed as he cradled his daughter close, glancing up at the moody looking pyrokinetic sitting nearby.
"Oh, are you tired?" he hoisted Abi up further into his arms, clambering back to his feet, glancing over at John. "So, what have you been up to then?"
"Not much," John shrugged. The ice mutant took another deep breath as he sat down on the sofa with Abi still buried in his chest. Pulling her back gently he waved the stuffed toy he still held at her. With a meek smile she reached out and took a grip of the stuffed rabbit's ears, a little laugh escaping her lips as Bobby bounced the rabbit from side to side. For several minutes the cryokinetic just sat playing with Abi as John sat at the other side of the room playing with his cell phone.
"So…are you staying tonight then?" Bobby asked eventually.
"Not sure yet," John replied quietly. The ice mutant suppressed another sigh as he looked up at the clock, turning his attention back to Abi.
"Will we go and pack your bag so you're all ready for your mommy coming to pick you up?" he asked, bouncing the rabbit lightly on Abi's lap.
"Ah!" Abi grabbed the rabbit and held it tightly to her chest. Quickly the ice mutant clambered to his feet and picked up all the toys on the floor, gathering all the bottles and miscellaneous baby stuff into a ridiculously huge bag, picking up the last toy as the buzzer sounded. Taking a deep breath Bobby crossed the room and pressed the intercom button.
"Hi…"
"Hi, just me," Marie's voice drifted back through the set.
"Aye! Ya!" Abi clapped happily at hearing her mother's voice. Bobby laughed quietly.
"Come on in, I'll take her downstairs."
Pressing the button to let Marie through the main door the ice mutant turned and picked up Abi's bag.
"I'll just be a few minutes," he looked up at John. The pyrokinetic just nodded. Abi blinked and pouted.
"Bah. La, da…" she held a hand loosely out in John's direction but quickly lowered it again, turning her eyes up to Bobby. The ice mutant smiled softly and brushed some of her hair behind her ear.
"Come on you. Let's go see your mommy," he glanced up at the fire mutant sitting across the room, managing a meek smile. "I'll be back soon…"
x-x-x x-x-x x-x-x
Bobby bowed his head and ran his hand through his hair tiredly as his students filtered from the classroom for lunch. He looked up again as he heard a cheerful laugh.
"Hiya!" the ice mutant grinned as he found Marie standing in the doorway holding Abi. Standing up quickly he made his way towards the two, taking his daughter into his arms.
"La! Bwa, da, boo…" Abi laughed and buried her head in Bobby's shoulder. The cryokinetic brushed her curly blonde hair down gently, turning to Marie with a soft smile.
"How's she been?"
"Good as gold," Marie returned the smile. "You want me to come and meet you here to get her at the end of lunch?"
"If you can," Bobby nodded.
"Ok," Marie turned her attention to Abi, tickling her stomach lightly. "Now you be a good girl for daddy."
"Bwa, la…" Abi looked back at her mother with wide, innocent eyes. Both Bobby and Marie just laughed.
"Well, I'll see you at the end of lunch then," Marie handed Bobby the stuffed toy she held and turned and made her way down the corridor. Bobby looked down as Abi in turn looked up.
"Will we go outside then? Go for a little walk?"
"Ba, da, la, boo…" Abi babbled away, resting her head against Bobby's chest. Quickly the ice mutant made his way out into the expansive mansion gardens, finding a quiet spot away from the bustle of the students playing.
"Hey Mr Drake," Tommy wandered past, giving the teacher a small wave, pulling back on Jinx's arm as the older mutant tried to carry on walking.
"Ah!" Abi clapped and held her arms out towards Jinx. Bobby and Tommy exchanged an amused look as Abi crawled forward, stopping in front of the young couple, rolling back to sit down and hold her arms up expectantly to Jinx.
"When did Miss Munro die and make you queen bee of the mansion?" the student muttered but never-the-less he scooped down and picked her up, holding her with a confidence and security that surprised both Bobby and Tommy. "Demanding little thing aren't you?"
"Bwa, da, la, bwoo…"Abi babbled in return, grinning at Jinx as she reached up and took a fistful of his hair. Laughing happily she threw herself backwards fearlessly, reaching out to Tommy from her new upside down position. Bobby laughed as Tommy obliged and stepped closer, Abi proceeding to demand cuddles and kisses from both of the couple, pouting as Jinx screwed up his nose. Finally however she got the kiss she was looking for. With a satisfied clap she wriggled about to escape Jinx's hold, the teenager gladly lowering her to the ground. Abi sat for a moment, watching intently as Tommy leant over and whispered in Jinx's ear, the latter just screwing up his face. Abi clapped happily as Tommy ruffled Jinx's hair, the two giving the baby a wave as they wandered off again, each with a hand in the others jean's pocket. Laughing gleefully Abi turned and crawled back to her father.
"Oh she's going to be a heartbreaker when she grows up."
Bobby's eyes widened in horror as he turned to find Piotr standing behind him smiling.
"Don't say that!" Bobby leant over and scooped Abi up into his arms, cradling her close. "She's never going to grow up and she's never gonna like boys and…"
Piotr laughed as Bobby screwed up his face. He sat down next to the ice mutant and leant over to take Abi's hand, earning a smile from the youngster.
"You just have everyone wrapped around this little finger don't you?" he pulled lightly on her hand. Abi laughed and patted the Russian's hand with her spare one. Bobby couldn't help the wry smile that pulled on his lips.
"Everyone but Johnny, eh?" he tucked some of Abi's hair behind her ears. Abi looked at him for a moment before bursting into a babble of noises neither Bobby nor Piotr could quite make out.
"John not warming to her?" Piotr asked. Bobby sighed quietly.
"Well…I mean I know he's always said he wants nothing to do with her and that's fine but he won't even come round if he knows she's there and the other night when he came round early and Abi was still there he just…" the ice mutant sighed heavily, tickling Abi's stomach lightly. "Oh he just sulked."
Piotr nodded understandingly.
"Maybe he just needs more time?"
Bobby gave another quiet sigh.
"Yeah, maybe…"
"Bah! La, da!" Abi waved her arms at her father before waving them at the stuffed toy that had been dropped to the floor. Bobby smiled and leant over, retrieving the toy and handing it to Abi. Piotr laughed quietly, opening his mouth to comment but he stopped as his cell phone buzzed. Delving into his pocket, he retrieved his phone and opening the message. Two pairs of icy blue eyes turned to regard the Russian thoughtfully as his lips curled into a smile, a quiet laugh escaping his lips as he quickly sent a reply.
"Who was that?" Bobby enquired lightly. Piotr gave a quick blink before waving a hand dismissively.
"Oh, just a mate," he shrugged. "Apparently I'm going out for some drinks tonight. So… what you gonna do about John?"
"I don't know," Bobby smiled dryly. "I mean, I can't make him like her can I? And I always said that Abi wasn't going to be a problem for us so I can't very well turn round and start arguing with him now can I?"
"No I guess not," Piotr agreed. Abi looked up at Bobby with wide eyes.
"Ah la?" a slight frown pulled on her face as she sensed her father's downturn in mood. She reached one of her little hands up towards Bobby's face. "Ba…"
"It's ok, nothing's wrong," Bobby forced a convincing enough smile to satisfy the little girl who quickly returned her attention to her toy. Piotr frowned thoughtfully.
"You should talk to him though."
"What?" Bobby arched an eyebrow dubiously. "You know what John's like – we'll just end up fighting."
"I know what you're both like," Piotr pointed out. "If you don't talk to him about it then it'll just simmer under the surface until you have a huge fight about it."
Bobby gave a conceding sigh.
"I guess you're right. He's coming over tonight – I'll have a word with him," the ice mutant screwed up his nose. "Should be fun…"
x-x-x x-x-x x-x-x
A weary sigh escaped Bobby's lips as he sat and waited for John to arrive, playing over all the possible conversations they could have in his head. If he was going to bring up Abi he would have to do it quickly before he backed out but then he couldn't just jump into it straight away. That would most likely just instantly put John on the defensive.
Bobby smiled as the buzzer sounded for his apartment later that evening, signalling the arrival of John, although a hint of apprehension crept into his eyes. Quickly he stood and pressed the button to let the fire mutant in, making his way to his front door to greet him.
"Hey…" he smiled as John appeared in the hallway.
"Hi…" John grinned in return, quickly slipping into the apartment, dumping a rucksack in the hallway as Bobby shut and locked the door behind him. Bobby turned and looked down at the rucksack.
"You're staying over then?" he smiled. John nodded, closing the gap between them and wrapping his arms around the taller mutant's neck.
"That ok?" he murmured, stretching up so his lips were just millimetres from Bobby's. The ice mutant smiled.
"I guess I can put up with you…" he replied, a soft moan escaping his lips as John pulled him down into a deep but tender kiss. "Mmmmm… what was that for?"
"Do I need a reason?" John feigned innocence but it was not a look that the fire mutant could easily pull off. Bobby just smiled and leant down for another kiss, gasping slightly as he found himself pushed into the hallway wall. His eyebrow arched as John took his hand, placing it gently on his side, slipping it under the fire mutant's top.
"Your bandages are off."
"Yuh, uh…" John smirked, running his own hand up the ice mutant's chest. "And I got through a whole training session with Jamie without swearing at him and Mystique made me attempt yoga for an hour and I didn't swear once so…"
The fire mutant backed away slowly, keeping only a loose hold of one of Bobby's wrists as he walked backwards to the bedroom. Bobby just laughed quietly and obediently followed. Their talk could wait…
