34.
The Present
Chapter Theme Song: Don't Stop Me Now - Queen
A year after she left, Nina returned to the mansion.
"My dear, you're back! Welcome home!" Charles declared, wheeling through the crowd of excited children who had also come to welcome Ms. Nova back.
She smiled warmly and leaned down to give him a hug. "Hello Charles."
"How are you?"
"Really good, actually," she informed him with a smile.
A smile which he returned. "I'm glad. Welcome home, Nina."
She squeezed his hand. "Thank you."
She joined him in his study where they had tea while they caught up on the last year.
"And, our scheme worked then?" she asked him.
"Oh, wonderfully, yes. You were all perfectly surprised. You all just left, actually. Along with your new baby boy. Three months old."
"Wow, we didn't waste any time then, it would seem. Apparently we were talking about more family." Nina smiled. "What did we name him? Wait, don't tell me, too many spoilers." She chuckled. "Well, I'm glad we're all home now where we belong."
"Yes." Charles paused. "And you're sure you want me to erase it all?"
"Yes. I don't want any previous knowledge there to influence it and maybe cause it not to happen. It's difficult, but I think it's best."
"I understand." He reached out. Then he paused, fingers hovering above her temple. "Nervous?"
"Nervous excited."
He smiled before touching his fingertips to her head. She felt his presence in her mind, and then, nothing.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Fine."
"So Nina, about Nathan..."
She looked at him quizzically. "Who's Nathan?"
Charles poured her some more tea. "Never mind."
Her question would remain unanswered for thirty-five years.
The Future
Thirty-five Years Later
"You guys really don't need to come with me." Nathan still couldn't believe his parents had insisted on joining him, a man of over thirty years old, when he arrived at the mansion, like they were proud parents dropping him off at school for the first time.
"We know." Jean smiled. "But we want to. And we want to see everyone again."
Nathan sighed. "Fine."
"Aw, don't worry, we won't embarrass you, Nate-o!" said Scott, throwing an arm around his son's shoulders.
"You already are."
"Ah, well if it isn't the Summers family." The professor greeted them in the entry hall.
"Hello Professor." Both Jean and Scott gave him a hug.
"Hello Jean and Scott, wonderful to see you again. And this must be Nathan." Xavier turned to him.
"Yeah, that's me." Nathan shook the professor's hand.
"Lovely to have you, I think you will be a wonderful addition to our staff."
"Thanks, hope so."
"Look, it's him!" cried Wade from off to the side where he and Domino stood, eavesdropping.
"Shhh!" Domino nudged him. "Quiet or he'll hear you! Remember, he doesn't know us yet."
"We couldn't resist coming back and visiting," Jean said.
"Well I'm very glad you did. And you've come at a good time," Charles told them. "Nina was away but she should be back at any moment. She'll love to see you." He, Jean, and Scott exchanged a knowing glance.
"Who?" said Nathan.
Having a good time, having a good time!
I'm a shooting star, leaping thorough the sky
Like a tiger, defying the laws of gravity!
I'm a racing car, passing by like Lady Godiva
I'm gonna go, go go,
There's no stopping me!
With the radio blasting and her hair blowing behind her beneath her helmet, Nina drove her motorcycle up the road, turning onto the main drive of the school. There, she parked it and removed her helmet, blowing her now messy hair out of her eyes before striding through the front doors.
"Ms. Nova's back!" screamed one child, summoning a bunch of other students to the entry hall.
"Ms. Nova! Ms. Nova!"
"Hello everyone!"
"We missed you!"
"I missed you too! Did you grow?" she asked one child. "I think you're taller than before I left."
"Ms. Nova! I learned how to summon lightning! Want to see?"
"I would love to see!"
"Always a large welcome party," Charles chuckled.
"Yes, it's sweet. Oh my gosh - Jean, Scott!" Nina cried, noticing her friends standing there with Charles. She hugged them both. "Oh it's so great to see you! We've missed you! How is everything? How's your son?"
"All grown up." Jean nodded to the awkward-looking man standing there with them.
Nina turned to face him, removing her sunglasses as she did so, revealing deep purple, enchanting eyes. Her hair was layers of its natural red and dyed deep purple to match her eyes. "Oh wow, grown up indeed! Hi, I'm Nina. You probably don't remember me."
"Nathan. Afraid not, I would definitely remember you."
She chuckled and held out her hand to shake. He hesitated with his metal arm but she only nodded in encouragement. They shook hands, lingering on holding each other's hand.
"It's happening!" squealed Wade. Doms nudged him again. "This is it!"
"I held you when you were just a baby," Nina told him. "Sorry, that probably sounds super weird, but it's true."
"You like hundreds of years old or something?" he asked.
"Try millennia."
His eyes widened. "Well, you look great."
"For such an old woman? Thank you," she laughed. "Not so bad yourself. So, are you just visiting?"
"They are." Nathan nodded to his parents. "I'm staying on as a trainer."
"Oh that's wonderful! I love working here, it's great! Where were you working before?"
"The future."
"Oh wow - sounds like an interesting story! I would love to hear it - once I've had a shower. I'm really sweaty so I'm going to go wash up and then I'll help Charles get you settled. Nice to meet you, Nathan. See you soon."
"Yeah, you too - Nina." She was still within hearing distance when he breathed, "Wow..."
Smiling, she passed by Wade and Doms on her way out of the hall. She raised her eyebrows. "Well, no one ever told me that Jean and Scott's son was such a hottie."
"You think I should try recruiting him for X-Force?" said Wade.
"Please do."
"Wow, that sure worked out well," Wade remarked as she left. "It's almost like they planned that..."
Did you say the words to the song in Freddie's voice? ;) Even better, did you sing them?!
Haha, Charles, Jean, and Scott doing some major matchmaking through the years ;) I imagine Nina's eyes to look like the Skrull's eyes in 'Captain Marvel'! :)
They've met for real this time, so onto their future together!
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :)
