Ivory woke the next morning with a pounding headache unlike anything she'd ever experienced before. She blinked a few times to gather her bearings, her eyes landing on an unfamiliar nightstand and chair in the corner of the room. She realized she wasn't in her own room the same time she registered a warmth pressing into her back and arms wrapped around her waist.
"Good morning." Alex's deep voice rumbled behind her.
Ivory groaned dropping her head back onto the pillow. "Morning." She glanced over her shoulder to see him looking amused, she groaned again, "What happened last night?"
"You got into Erik's whiskey." Alex explained tightening his grip slightly.
"What did I do?"
"Before or after you stuck your tongue down my throat?"
"No." she whimpered trying to burrow under the sheets, "I'm an idiot."
"No you're not." He insisted rubbing her hip. "You were hurting. Besides, you're adorable when you're drunk."
"I can't believe I tried to jump you."
"It's okay, I'm flattered." She could hear the smirk in his voice and was about to roll over to give him her best glare through her headache. But her body had other plans.
"Alex," she mumbled through a thickening throat tugging at his arms around her waist, "Let go."
"What?" he asked all traces of playfulness gone from his voice.
"Let me go." She snapped and thankfully he did, and she was immediately off of the bed nearly flying across the room to the bathroom. She got there just in time to fall in front of the toilet and expel her stomachs contents. Alex was by her side a second later smoothing back her hair and rubbing her back on soothing circles. She groaned again and couldn't decide what was worse, the hangover or the embarrassment of her actions from the night before. When she pulled her head from the bowl she spared a glance at Alex she saw him looking equal parts concerned and amused, "Don't judge me." She muttered.
He grinned leaving her side to fill up a glass of water from the tap. "I'm not." He told her handing her the glass, she swished some of the water around in her mouth before spitting it out and flushing the toilet.
"Don't." She groaned leaning back against the tub.
"Don't what?"
"Look at me like that."
"Why not?"
"I still want you to find a attractive sometimes." She explained pathetically, "You won't do that if I let you see me like this."
He smiled softly and squatted down in front of her, "Don't worry doll, I don't think there's anything you could do that I won't find attractive." Then he leaned in and kiss her on her forehead, "Get cleaned up." He said patting his thighs before standing, "I'll go make you some coffee."
"Three sugars." She told him on his way out.
"I know what to do." He called back over his shoulder.
Ivory smiled and watched his back muscles shift and his broad shoulders branching out of his tank top. She sighed and dragged herself to her feet so head across the hall and to her own room. Slowly, nearly limping back across the hall she vowed silently to herself that she would never, ever, as long as she lived get drunk again.
After an extremely unenjoyable shower, Ivory was half slumped at the kitchen table, glaring unhappily at her plate of scrambled eggs and toast, while her boys around her practically inhaled their food. At least the coffee was delicious, Alex really did know what do it. Unfortunately Sean was working hard to bring back her headache from earlier in the morning.
"Man you should've woke me up." The redhead exclaimed, "I would've totally gotten trashed with you."
"I didn't even mean to get that drunk." She muttered.
"Happens to the best of us. Right buddy?" he asked happily patting Alex on the back, who just glared at him.
"I'm going back to bed before I puke on you." She said getting ready to stand.
"Wait," Sean stopped her and she sank back down into her seat, "So I was thinking."
"Hope you didn't hurt yourself." Alex teased before she could.
Sean smiled and shook his head, "Only a little. Anyway I had an idea I wanted to run by you guys," everyone was intrigued, "How about we put some ramps around the mansion? You know so when the professor gets back he'll be able to get around easier." Everyone paused in their eating and movements to stare at Sean in shock, "What?"
"Sean," Hank began slowly, "That's a great idea."
"I have those sometimes." Sean boasted.
"And maybe we could fix up one of the rooms downstairs for him. I doubt he'll be able to maneuver up those steps." Ivory said suddenly giddy at the thought of helping the professor any way that they could.
"And then once he gets back we could talk about installing an elevator. So he could get to the higher levels of the mansion easier." Hank suggested.
"Any idea when he'll be coming back?" Alex asked curiously sensing where his friend's minds had gone and figured a timeline was in order.
"The next few weeks in I'm guessing."
"Well we should get to work."
The boys started at the main entrance constructing a ramp up the side of the steps under Hank's patient instruction and supervision. Ivy wasn't much help in that department so she just provided silent support and admired Alex's muscles as he carried heavy things to and from the mansion.
She did however borrow one of Charles' many cars to travel to and from, getting groceries and other things to prepare for his big welcome home party. She was currently in the kitchen packing away the groceries she'd purchased when Alex found her. Be didn't say a word only started to help her put things into the pantry.
"Hey, are you busy tonight?" he asked casually leaning a shoulder onto the fridge.
"Not unless Hank has found another part of the mansion to destroy." She teased, "Why?"
"Well there's a drive in movie place, about 20 minutes from here. And I do believe I owe you a date."
"Well seen as we went to war almost a week ago," she closed the pantry door and took a step closer to him. "I'd say you're a little late."
Alex leveled her with one of his signature smirks and quickly leaned down stealing a kiss, "I'll meet you in the foyer at 5."
Ivory had taken Raven's leaving hard, definitely not as hard as she'd taken Erik's, but there were moments where she missed the blonde's bubbly personality. Like right now, when she was deciding what to wear for her date with Alex. Raven did take her shopping like she'd promised, but they hadn't gotten around to actually deciding what she would wear on their first date.
Ivory considered herself a fashionable person, she knew what she liked and stuck to it, so the clothes that she and Raven picked out consisted of her preferred greens and browns, more earthy tones but a sprinkle of color here and there, more than once during their shopping trip Raven had told her that her style was hippie chic, which so was happy to agree with. So after picking out an outfit that she liked Ivory realized that what she really wanted was another girl around to gush to, since she was kind of getting suffocated by all the testosterone in the mansion.
Unfortunately since it wasn't likely she was going to see Raven anytime soon, or really any female friends, she showered and dressed gushing silently to herself. Lacing up her sandals she stood and looked over herself in the mirror though she normally wore earthy tones the black and white paisley shorts and long sleeved white top that Raven picked out really made her multi colored eyes stand out. Satisfied with her appearance and glancing at the clock to see it was now minutes to 5 she grabbed a purse and some cash and headed to the door.
Alex was already waiting at the bottom of the staircase leaning against the banister, he looked up when he heard he approach and smiled, then glanced at his watch.
"Right on time." He told her straightening up.
"I aim to please." She smiled stepping off the last step, he took her hand and twirled her around looking her over.
"You look beautiful."
"Thank you." She said leaning up to peck his lips then look over his own outfit. A plain white shirt, underneath, an open gray flannel underneath his leather jacket, and dark jeans and sneakers finished him off. "You look great too." She said tugging at his jacket, "Really liking the bad boy look."
He grinned, "That's not what I was going for, but thank you." He took her hand and began pulling her towards the door, "C'mon. We're gonna be late."
The date was great, Alex borrowed one of the professor's convertibles, a red one that Ivy had no idea the name of but Alex was excited about it. The movie was simple and the drive in wasn't crowded, it was perfect for them to not focus on the film at all. But rather then making out like most of time couples there on a Saturday night watching a simple drive in movie, they spent it talking and giggling like a couple of children.
By the time the movie ended Alex pulled out a picnic blanket and they were sitting on it in front of the cars bumper. The rest of their popcorn being shared between them and a box of chocolate covered raisins.
"So?" Alex questioned with a smirk, leaning back on hands.
"What?"
"Not bad for a first date right?"
"Not bad at all."
"You think we might want to make this official?" he asked nervously.
"You mean like going steady?"
"If that's what you want?"
"I kind of thought we already were." Ivy said shyly and Alex smiled leaning up to kiss her.
"I've been thinking about everything that's happened these last few months." Ivy hummed to let him know that she was listening, "And I knew when Charles and Erik picked me up from that prison, that everything was going to change."
"You mean for the better right?" she teased.
"Of course."
Ivy smiled, "I know what you mean though, both of us in our own ways were stuck in one place for so long. Then we got out, and things changed. And they're gonna change again you know?"
"I know."
"I always like the idea of growing up, and being in control of my future. Until it actually started happening."
"Hey," he said nudging her, "We still got a lot of future to go."
Ivy smiled then got an idea, scooting to the other side of the blanket and grabbing the box of raisins, "Here, catch."
"Oh I love this game." Alex grinned adjusting himself.
"Ready?"
"Go for it." He said opening his mouth, Ivy smiled at their childish game and tossed the raisin into his mouth, which he caught, perfectly.
"Beautiful." She said with a mock applause.
Alex smiled bowing his head. "Thank you, thank you." He joked before taking the box from her, "Your turn."
Ivy smiled, but missed his sneaky look because she gasped as she was pelted with no less than six raisins. Alex laughed and was already up and running away.
"You didn't catch a single one." He joked over his shoulder.
"You!" Ivy squeaked running after him grabbing the box and tossing raisins at him.
"That was so bad."
She chased him around the empty field until the box of raisins was empty, and she threw the box at him as he turned lunging for her and tipping her over his shoulder. Ivy giggled as he marched them back towards the car and the blanket kneeling and gently depositing her onto it, crawling over top of her and settling his hands and knees on either side of her.
"I think it's official." He whispered mostly to himself as he stared down at her.
"What?" Ivy responded in kind.
"I'm falling in love with you."
"I am too."
He leaned down to kiss her but before their lips could touch a bright light was suddenly shining down on them, and Ivy shifted pushing Alex off of her and to the side shielding her eyes with her other hand as Alex did the same.
"Look you guys got to leave," a bored sounding teenage worker said, lowering the light so he wasn't trying to blind them, "The movie ended over an hour ago, you need to go home. So I can go home."
"Yeah, man. No problem." Alex said nodding and the teen sighed before turning and walking away.
Once he was a distance away they turned to each other and burst out laughing at the turn of events, but did acquiesce the kids request and packed up the car to begin the drive back to the mansion.
A day later Charles was coming home, and the four of them were anxiously and impatiently awaiting his return. So when around midday a yellow taxi finally rolled into the front of the property they were all about ready to burst. Especially to see his reaction to the slight modifications they've made to the mansion.
Hank was the first one down the steps helping Charles out of the cab and into his wheelchair, the professor thanked the scientist as gratefully as he always has as Moira got out of the other side. Charles looked much better than he had when they last saw him. Still pale form sitting in a hospital room, but his cheeks held a rosy flush as he blue eyes lit up as he took in their delighted expressions and emotions and no doubt from being home.
Hank pushed Charles up the ramp, which he noticed right away commenting on it.
"And what's this?" he asked still smiling as he greeted the others at the door.
"It was Sean's idea." Hank pointed out and the redhead puffed out his chest.
Charles laughed reaching out and shaking his hand, "Thank you very much my friend. All of you. This was very considerate of you."
"We wanted you to be comfortable." Ivy told him, as she leaned down to hug him.
"And I appreciate it very much. I've got it from here Hank thank you." He said as they were on levelled ground now. "Why don't you two get the rest of the bags from the car," Charles suggested to Alex and Sean, "Hank would you mind getting Moira settled?"
"Not at all."
"Then I would like to meet all of you in my study." He added and though it sounded like a suggestion he left no room for argument, "Ivy? Walk with me?"
"Sure." Ivy responded even though he was already rolling down the hallway, she shrugged to the boys before following the professor.
"It does feel good to be home." Charles exclaimed as Ivy pushed open the doors to his study and he rolled inside, "Would you mind so terribly?" he asked shyly nodding towards the closed curtains.
"Of course." Ivy said going over to the windows and throwing the curtains open, while Charles continued in a casual tone.
"So, tell me. How have things been around here?"
"Same, only a lot quieter."
"And how are you and Alex?" he questioned carefully wheeling himself around his desk.
"Really great. We've just made it official a few days ago." She told him perching on the edge of his desk next to him.
"That's lovely to hear. You all deserve to be happy, you know that?"
"I know." Charles smiled and took a deep breath seeming to steel himself but Ivy cut him off before he could question her, "You want to know if Erik came here?"
He sighed but nodded, "If he was going to take a chance on anyone it was going to be you. He cared about you a great deal you know that?"
"I know." She repeated, "And he was here, he wanted me to go with him."
"Why didn't you?" Charles asked kindly.
"You know why." She pointed out. "I care about Erik, but," she trailed off and sighed.
"It's alright," Charles said patting her knee, "I understand."
Then there was a knock at the door and Hank was poking his head in, Charles nodded and Ivy stood as the other two boys filed in behind the blue scientist. Alex and Sean took the seats in front of Charles' desk and Hank stood by their side while Ivy went and sat on the arm of Alex's chair.
"You all remember when I told you that I had big plans for us all?" there were nods and sounds of agreement, "I've wanted for a long time to have a safe place for mutants, and I think knows a perfect time to start."
"Start what?" Hank questioned.
"Start gathering students, I want to turn this mansion into a school. Not just any school, a school for the gifted."
"A place for mutants?" Ivy asked for clarity.
"Yes," Charles nodded, "But it won't be easy. Even with Cerebro, I'm going to be depending on you to see to it that the children that need help the most are brought here. You'll have to do for them, what Erik and I did for you." He looked at each of them individually, "What do you say?"
"We were the First Class of a new generation," Ivy mused aloud, "I think it's time that we find the next."
Everyone smiled as Sean joked, "I'm going to be the best teacher." The ginger teased and they all laughed excited for what could be in store for them next. Things were continuing to look up/
Ivana Bocanegra: Wow, that was kind of rude. And before this back and forth derails into something worse. Just stop, if you don't like what's happening don't read. It's quite simple. Thanks for the suggestion.
Im a half-blood: Thank you!
LunaEvanna Longbottom: Fixed it ;)
So sorry for the long delay guys, I somewhat lost steam writing this chapter, I've been on an X-Men binge watch and I've already got the entirety of Days of Future Past written in my head and very impatiently waiting to get there. Unfortunately we've got plot stuff to deal with.
But next chapter will involve road trip, which I'm so excited to write.
Also, do you guys have any face claims for Ivory?
As always let me know what you think and what you'd like to see in the future.