Chapter 64: The Cat and the Soldier pt. 1

-Xavier Institute, October 29th, 1999-

It was late October at the Xavier Institute and all the current residents were excited for several reasons. One: Damian's second birthday was coming up. Two: Halloween was two days away. And three: It was going to be Drake's first Halloween followed by his first birthday being on November 1st.

However, two people in particular had different plans in mind. Johan and Bast were going to be spending the holiday with the soldier's family at their family home in Sleepy Hollow, New York. And the catwoman was thrilled to finally meet her boyfriend's family aside from Katerina.

Right now, Bast was busy talking about the trip with Chelsea while the blonde had her eight month old son in her lap looking at a few pictures of kids costumes.

"Are those… Beer and whiskey themed baby costumes?" The Arabic woman asked as she noted that the pictures were of different brands of alcohol.

"What? They're cute." Chelsea retorted indignantly. "Which do you like the most, Drake?" She asked the baby, who cheekily picked up a picture of a costume made to look like a bottle of Jack Daniels. Bast couldn't help but chuckle.

"Like mother, like son." She mused. "Anyway, I heard that Sleepy Hollow has quite a long history to it." The catwoman stated.

"Yeah, a big part of the Revolutionary War took place in its general area. Been a stomping ground for people whose family's been there since that time and veterans as well." The blonde nodded. "I spent a couple months there when I was still on the run."

"I hear it's also haunted." Bast added. This of course seemed to miraculously cause Gavin to pop out from behind the corner, with Damian on his shoulder.

"Did someone say haunted?" He asked immediately, his horror loving side kicking in.

"I did." The Gazan catwoman nodded. "Word is that a Hessian mercenary from the war got killed near Sleepy Hollow and now he haunts the place." She explained.

"The headless horseman, yeah." The pseudo vampire nodded. "Word is his family never left America after the war and settled in Sleepy Hollow. Maybe you should visit them and ask about him if you're curious?"

"I'll think about it." She shrugged.

"So, what's the little guy gonna be?" Chelsea and Gavin asked at the same time, which caused both babies in the room to giggle before their parents tickled their bellies.

"A bottle of Jack Daniels." The dragoness chuckled. Gavin stared at her for a moment before he chuckled.

"Like mother, like son." He mused, causing Bast to laugh.

"That's exactly what I said!" She exclaimed as she continued to laugh before she collected herself. "And what about Damian? I mean you gotta figure out something better than the blueberry costume you had him in last year." Bast stated as Gavin pulled out a picture of Damian in said costume.

"Oi, that costume was adorable and you know it!" The boy retorted defensively.

"I never said it wasn't." The medic shrugged. Though a few seconds later, she got a message on her phone. "It's Johan, we're supposed to be meeting Katerina and Romano at the airport in fifteen minutes. So I better get moving." She said.

"Go on, then. You and Romano have fun with the Severs." Chelsea said as she made a hand gesture telling her to get moving.

"We will." She replied as she went to go get her stuff.

(Elsewhere)

Katerina and Romano were waiting for their friend and brother before the Latino light manipulator saw the two approaching with their luggage.

"Here they come." He told the eldritch woman, getting her attention as she saw her brother heading their way with Bast in tow.

"Hey, guys. Are we in time for our flight?" Bast asked.

"Yeah." Katerina nodded. "Come on. Let's not keep our family waiting." She beckoned, prompting everyone to follow her.

As they boarded the plane, everyone kept looking at Bast. Ever since the Mutant Equal Rights act was passed, she started letting her tail be out and usually just kept her pointy elf-like ears covered by a keffiyeh head scarf, purely to keep people from bugging her about them.

Johan grabbed his girlfriend's hand and gave it a comforting squeeze to ease her nerves. She looked at him and smiled.

"I thought you said you weren't a fan of that custom." He noted, referring to the scarf she was wearing and the cultural weight behind it.

"I'm not, in fact I hate these stupid things and everything they stand for. But it's better than getting bugged about both my tail and my ears." She sighed.

"I keep telling you, you have nothing to worry about, especially with where we're going. And besides, you know I hate it when you hide those adorable ears of your's." He said with the second part being in a faux sad tone.

"Thanks, babe." She sighed happily as she closed her eyes and laid on his shoulder.

"My pleasure, sweetie." The soldier replied quietly with a smile as he relaxed and closed his eyes.

A few minutes later, a flight attendant brought them some food and something to drink. More specifically a bottle of decent wine and a tray of sashimi. The two took just enough for them and left plenty for everyone else. Johan took a sip of the wine and frowned slightly.

"Hm… Not for me." He decided. It wasn't good, but it wasn't bad, either.

"Same." Bast nodded.

"I could find one that's more to your liking if you wish." The attendant offered, handing them a small menu. The two shared a look before taking it and looking it over. After a moment, and finding nothing that interested them, they shook their heads.

"Nothing on here is to our interest. We'll settle for water." Bast said, getting a nod before the attendant poured them some cups of ice water. "So, what exactly can you tell me about your family?"

"Well, mom and dad are some seriously pro-Mutant rights supporters. They legitimately outright hate discrimination of all forms, and aren't afriand to show it. That's part of the reason I am who I am today." The green streaked man explained.

"And our family has a very long history of military service." Katerina added. "Our grandfather and great grandfather served in both world wars, we had several ancestors who fought in the wars of 1812 and Civil war, and our Dad and uncle Hansel both served in Afghanistan and Iraq." She continued.

"Seriously? It goes back that far? Man, you guys have some long roots." Romano commented with an impressed whistle.

"Yeah, tells us about it. No one quite serves the country like we do." Katerina chuckled.

"It's basically a family tradition." Johan nodded, though he noticed his girlfriend become slightly nervous. "What's wrong?"

"Do your dad and uncle… Have any preconceptions about people from the Middle East, ya know, because of what happened in those wars?" She asked.

"They did for a bit, but after a few years, they managed to get their acts together again. Those preconceptions of theirs are long gone." Katerina replied reassuringly, causing Bast to sigh in relief.

"Okay, I was actually a little scared there for a moment." She breathed.

The flight continued to stretch on for a few more hours with the two couples having casual conversations in between, right until they landed.

(Elsewhere)

Back at the Institute, Laura was currently trying to decide on what costume she'd be wearing. "So what do you think girls? Should I do Sexy Nurse? Or Playboy Bunny Girl?" The girl asked the other girls, showing them the costumes.

"I have no clue, but I think Logan and Chelsea would flip a table if they saw you in either of those…" Kitty trailed off before she deadpanned. "That's what you're going for, isn't it?" She asked blankly.

"I just want to look good." The girl shrugged.

"I'm not sure if either of those are appropriate for a girl of your age, Laura. After all, you're only sixteen." Ororo told her.

"You forget that I'm slightly more mature than other girls my age." The mini Wolverine replied flatly.

"She's got ya there, Storm." Tabitha chimed in.

"Kinda hard to argue with her on that account." Jubilee nodded.

"Still though, why choose these specifically?" Jean asked.

"Back when I was still running from place to place I used to do cosplay escorts from time to time for extra cash. I just like feeling sexy." The girl shrugged.

The rest of the girls looked at her with raised eyebrows before shrugging.

"I say do the Sexy Nurse." Kitty pitched in.

"Nah, do the bunny suit, it's sexy as hell." Tabitha retorted. Laura looked at the two and shrugged, deciding to go with the bunny suit.

Meanwhile with Gavin and Rogue, they were trying to let Damian choose his costume at the local store while Chelsea and Logan did the same for themselves.

"Okay little guy, what do you wanna be this year?" Gavin asked his soon to be two year old son.

Damian looked at the selection before noticing a gargoyle costume and remembering the gargoyle friends he has. Immediately, he pointed at it with a smile. His parents followed his finger and spotted his costume of choice and chuckled in amusement.

"Somehow, that doesn't surprise me." Rogue mused with a grin.

"Yeah, it doesn't surprise me, either." Gavin nodded with his own grin, kissing his girlfriend and son on the cheek as they got the costume.

Chelsea and Logan were looking for costumes of their own while Drake played with his favorite stuffed dragon while in his stroller.

"Hmmm… Hey Logan." The Dragoness said to her 'husband' as she took a costume off the hangers. "Since I lost all that baby weight, how about I dress up as Red Sonja…" She said as she held up a silver scale bikini with a matching wig. "And you dress up as Conan?" She added in a suggestive tone. Logan looked between her and the costume before he smirked.

"If you wanna do that, then I better find a Conan costume." He replied with a chuckle. Though he couldn't help but start mentally picturing her in the costume after all the trick or treating was said and done.

Drake meanwhile just yawned and snuggled with his dragon, Oolong, and fell asleep. His parents both smiled as they got their costumes and proceeded to the checkout.

(Elsewhere)

-Sleepy Hollow, New York-

The two couples were now in a cab as it drove them to the Sever family home, passing a century's old sign that read: "Welcome to Historic Sleepy Hollow Settled in 1640". After arriving, Johan paid the cab driver the appropriate amount before they grabbed their things and started walking to their residence for their stay. As they did, Bast and Romano took in the sights.

"Wow… Feels like I'm actually in the 1600s." The Latino light bender commented as they walked.

"Cobblestone roads, gas street lamps, a covered bridge… There's even buildings from that era still around, including a tavern." The catwoman nodded as she slowly took off her head scarf.

"Yep. Families like ours call this place home." Katerina said with a smile as she took a deep breath and exhaled. "And we love it." She added, still smiling.

"Damn right we do." Johan nodded with a grin. After a few minutes of walking, they came to a 1600s styled two story home with a sign saying 'Sever family home' on it.

"And here it is, the same home our family has lived in since 1742… Minus the past few times it's been rebuilt in that time." Katerina said proudly before adding the last part awkwardly.

"What happened to it the last few times? Fires get set to it?" Romano asked with a raised eyebrow.

"And cannon fire, and looting during the Whiskey Rebellion, floods, you name it." Johan nodded with a sigh. Shaking those thoughts away, he knocked on the door by using an old horse head shaped knocking ring. After a moment, footsteps were heard on the other side before a woman with caucasian skin, forest green eyes and black hair dressed in a plain green shirt, blue jeans and wearing a black jacket answered.

"Who's- JOHAN!" The woman started before realizing who it was and hugged him tightly. The green streaked man chuckled and hugged her back.

"Hi, mom." He said as he released the hug. Katerina immediately took his place eagerly.

"Miss me, mom?" She asked with a happy grin.

"You two haven't been home in over a year, of course I've missed you. Where have you been all this time? Has Fury really been keeping you that busy?" The woman asked.

"Yep. Being in charge of ensuring that the Mutant Equal Rights act is enforced kinda keeps a person away from home." The elder Sever sibling shrugged.

"Yes, I suppose so." The Sever matriarch sighed before noticing Bast and Romano. "Oh my, who are you two?" She asked.

"Romano Sanchez." Romano introduced himself.

"Fatima Qadir, but please, call me Bast." Bast introduced herself.

"Romano's my boyfriend." Katerina explained.

"And Bast is my girlfriend." Johan added.

"I'm Alice Sever, the mother of these two military prodigies." The now named Alice introduced herself while holding her grinning kids close.

"It's nice to meet you." Bast told her.

"Yeah. Same here." Romano nodded.

"Alright, come on in, you four and get settled in. Anton should be back soon." Alice beckoned. When they entered, the two guests noticed a few 1700 era decorations here and there.

"Wow. You guys have a really deep appreciation for the 1700s, don't you?" The catwoman noted.

"Oh yes. We have a lot of relics from back then." Alice nodded. "Come on, I'll show you to the guest rooms." She said, prompting Bast and Romano to follow her. The Sever siblings, meanwhile, went to their own rooms.

"Of course you're welcome to stay in my room if you want to do that, Bast." Johan told her.

"Same here, Romano." Katerina nodded. The two paused and looked thoughtful while the matriarch had a look on her face that said 'time to tease my kids!' Said kids instantly noticed it and felt dread well up in their stomachs.

'Oh no…' They thought.

"Oh, so it's at that level for both of you, is it?" The green eyed woman questioned with a teasing smirk. The cyborg and Cthulhu woman instantly started blushing.

"Mom! Cut it out!" They yelled as the front door could be heard to be closing.

"Alice! I'm home!" A voice called.

"Looks like your father's home." Alice smiled as she headed down stairs. The Sever siblings composed themselves before they went to greet their father, Bast and Romano following suit.

When they got downstairs again, they saw a man with dark brown hair with a matching beard, emerald green eyes, and a gruff looking appearance dressed in a heavy winter jacket over a plain black shirt, blue jeans and some military boots standing there.

"Welcome home, Anton, dear." Alice greeted the man, who the rest assumed was her husband.

"Miss us, old man?!" The eldritch daughter of the family called out with a grin, prompting the Sever patriarch to turn and smile upon seeing his kids standing there.

"Ha ha! Welcome back, you two!" The man laughed happily as he hugged his kids. He then turned his attention to the two guests. "These friends of yours?" He asked. The two SHIELD agents then pulled their respective romantic interests close.

"This is Bast, my girlfriend." Johan told his father, who widened his eyes in surprise.

"And this is Romano, my boyfriend." Katerina chirped, further surprising him.

"Well… Shit. Looks like the past year has been good to you two." Anton noted before noticing Bast's cat features and smirked teasingly. "Though with Johan, I'm not surprised considering the cat posters in his room." He commented offhandedly with a grin, causing said cyborg's face to turn beet red and Bast to look at him in surprise.

"DAMMIT, DAD!" He yelled in embarrassment. Though before anything else could be said, he felt something soft and furry brush against his leg. Looking down, the man saw a calico cat with long fur rubbing itself against him. "Cleo! There you are!" He said with a smile as he picked the cat up, and then for six kittens to tumble in behind it.

Bast looked at Cleo and smiled before presenting her hand for her to sniff. The calico mother looked at the hand and sniffed it for a moment before rubbing her head against it, prompting the catwoman to start petting her. Meanwhile, the kittens were all at Katerina's and Romano's feet, meowing cutely for their attention. The two looked at them with smiles before picking them up and giving them all the snuggles.

(Elsewhere)

Outside the Sever house in the dark of night, a fog rolled in and the sound of hooves running across the cobblestone roads could be heard as a figure on a dark horse walked up to the house. He was dressed in a German Hessian uniform and had a two headed battle ax on his hip, as well as a high collared long coat. His horse was as black as coal and had fiery red eyes and a flaming mane. And lastly… The man had no head, and was carrying a jackolantern in his right hand and the reins in his left.

This… Is the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow. He regarded the house for a moment, his jackolantern taking on a thinking face before he turned and his horse reared up on its hind legs and let out a bellow before it and the horseman rode away from the house and into the night, the fog covering any trace of its existence.

Dragon Emperor0: To this day, the story of Sleepy Hollow has got to be one of the most scary AF stories I've ever heard.

ThermalsniperN7: Nothing is more terrifying than seeing a headless Hessian riding on his horse towards you with a flaming pumpkin that's sporting the most evil look possible. *Shivers* That's actually enough to give me chills…

Dragon Emperor0: Yeah… So Damian's gonna be a gargoyle, Drake is gonna be a bottle of Jack Daniels, Chelsea and Logan are gonna be Red Sonja and Conan. And Laura is gonna be a playboy bunny… That's gonna be interesting. Also can we just point out how adorable it is that for his first Halloween Damian was a Blueberry?

ThermalsniperN7: That is easily the cutest thing imaginable. Blue skinned baby dressed as a blueberry… I rest my case.

Dragon Emperor0: Yeah. I wonder what's gonna happen next though? Well, guess we'll have to wait and see. Until then, see you guys next chapter!