27.
The Present
Chapter Theme Song: Frameshift- Hans Zimmer (Dark Phoenix Soundtrack)
Nina marched right over to the fallen phoenix. Only this Nina was different - she had short, shoulder-length dark red hair and wore a purple suit and cloak bearing the signature X marking for both the X-Men and X-Force teams. There was a matching purple streak in her hair.
"Mom?" Hope cried as Nina helped her to her feet. "What, how-"
"I tracked you down, followed you. What the hell were you thinking jumping through time like that?! And backwards in time?! And without telling me!"
"Mom-"
"Do you have any idea how worried I have been?! You cannot do that to me, Hope! I cannot lose you too!" She pulled her daughter into a crushing hug.
"I know, and I'm sorry, but it was urgent, I swear. And, speaking of that, it's okay, Mom. I was in good hands, I promise."
Nina was obviously flustered by how lightly her daughter was taking this whole situation, and confused by what was going on. "What are you - LOOK OUT!" Nina dove forward, grabbing her daughter and moving her out of the way as a giant, looming shadow descended upon them, blasting back at the dark energy with her own purple-coloured energy with a yell. Nothing came between Nina Summers and her family, nothing. Not even time and reality themselves.
As mother and daughter recovered, Nina fussing over Hope while Hope assured her she was fine, a shadow emerged from the smoke towards them.
Nina resumed a fighting stance - that was, until she saw the familiar silhouette. This wasn't one of the shadows that was attacking them.
Nina froze, jaw falling open and eyes widening as Nathan appeared before them out of the shadows. "W-w-what? I-I don't understand-" she stammered. She looked as though she might burst into tears.
A tear did trickle down her cheek as he approached. He reached out and tenderly wiped it away while she stared speechless up at him, her lips moving slightly, but making no sound.
"I-impossible..." she finally breathed.
"That just seems to be our whole lives, doesn't it?" he chuckled. "Doing the impossible."
Slowly and almost hesitantly, Nina reached out to touch his arm, as if to make sure he was really there standing before her.
"You're here," she whispered. "You're really here."
"I'm here," he assured her.
"It's been so long... I didn't know what to think when you didn't come back..."
"I'm so sorry, Neen."
"Nate, I thought you were dead. Now I know you're not. Don't apologize."
They stood, still and silent for a moment.
"B-but, I don't understand - how, why are you here?" she asked.
He sighed. "It's a long story."
They continued to stare at each other, gazes locked, despite the chaos surrounding them.
Before they could embrace, however, they were suddenly shot back by a particularly strong blast, from none other than present Nina herself. She was clearly still resisting the future, their future together.
"MOM, DAD!" Hope yelled.
"That's me!" cried Nina, stumbling to her feet while recovering from the blast. "What the hell's happening? What the hell am I doing?"
"That's kinda a long story too," Nathan said. "But basically, the Dark Dimension is taking over, you couldn't close it this time. And it's taken over you." He dove out of the way to avoid another blast.
"What did you do?" she cried.
"Why are you automatically assuming I did something?!"
"Because she - I - seem to be going after you!"
"Okay, I may have said something - that I didn't mean - in the heat of an argument, that upset you, but I don't think that's what this is all about."
"What did you say?"
"No time to explain!"
"Fine, but I won't let this go, you know."
"Oh, I know."
They now stood back-to-back, fighting together, as the team they were.
"Whoa..." Hope couldn't help but admire the way they worked together.
"Nate - DUCK!"
Nathan did as instructed, right as Nina spun around and launched a shard of her purple reality-energy over his head, striking down a shadow, it bursting into small, dark flecks.
Without another thought he kissed her deeply, his wife, here, with him. Both pulled away, breathless and smiling.
That was when she noticed the others surrounding them.
"Erik? Warren? Logan? Oh it's so good to see you all!" She wasted no time in giving them all a hug.
"Seriously?" cried Nathan.
"Come on, you've gotta admit it's nice that she's still friends with all her exes," said Hope.
"Wade, Doms!"
"Shorty!"
"Bestie!"
"X-Force!" Nina did their crossed-armed gesture.
"X-Force!" cheered Wade, mirroring the gesture back to her. "Ha ha, the whole team's back together again!"
Pleased as I am to have you with us, I'm afraid this is not an ideal time for a reunion.
"Charles! I've missed you!" Nina cried.
Hello my dear.
"He's right, bad time for a reunion," Nathan agreed. "You and Hope need to get out of here, now. Go find cover."
Nina wasn't having any of that. "And what about the others? And you? This is literally my fight, Nate-"
"Nina, if something happens to you both again under my watch, I will-"
"Nate, what are you talking about? What happened?"
That's right - of course she and Hope wouldn't know about their death, the dark future he had prevented, at the cost of his own return to their life, his own timeline, the whole reason for him being in this time in the first place. He wasn't about to explain all that now. "Please, please just-"
"Nate, don't worry about me. Who you should be worrying about is that me, younger me. If something happens to my younger self, then it will automatically affect this me. I'll worry about myself, you worry about her - younger me."
He saw her point, of course, the fragility of time.
"Fine, but - LOOK OUT!"
He jumped in front of her and Hope, throwing up his arm and activating the shield - but a moment too late. A particularly large blast from present Nina struck the family of three, sending them all flying back, landing separately.
"Hope!"
"Mom!"
She couldn't see her mom, but heard her shouting. Still shaken and disoriented, Hope shakily got to her feet, searching for any sign of her parents. Scanning the nearby area, she saw a flash of sliver - her dad's metal arm!
"Dad! Dad!" Hope scrambled over and grabbed his hand, crying out moments later.
The arm wasn't attached to his body anymore.
So many Nina's! Yay, the family is finally reunited! :D I've been waiting for this moment forever!
Hopefully it's not all too confusing, it's finally taking shape for me!
Still more surprises to come!
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :)
