Disclaimer: see ch 1
Scott lowered himself to his bed, soaking in the comfort of his things after several days in Med Lab. Chris was scheduled to return to space the next day, which Scott was grateful for. He was healed from the initial stab wound, just as Sikorsky had said he would be, and the poison that was no longer in his system just caused moments of exhaustion instead of pain. At least, nothing that he couldn't handle with some Tylenol.
Emma walked into their room in a short nightgown and climbed into bed. Scott felt himself harden immediately and he rolled closer to her, hugging her from behind.
"I'd ask what was in your pocket, but you're only in your boxers." Scott bent his head and began to nibble her earlobe as his hand snaked around her front. "Don't, Scott. You know what Hank said." Scott groaned and flopped on his back on the bed.
"I'm fine, Emma. No pain. No burning. My blood pressure is under control. My brain wasn't affected. I passed every test, Em. And now it's been almost three weeks since we last had sex, and I miss you." Scott moved again and rested his hand on her breast.
"Please… I don't want you to over exert yourself. Just another few days."
"It's a date," Scott said, giving her a sad smile. He rolled back over onto his side and rested his head on his pillow. "I love you."
"I love you, too. Goodnight, Scott." Scott tried not to be irritated, but he couldn't help it. Everyone, especially Emma and Chris, had practically babied him since being stabbed. Not that he blamed them. He would have done the same thing had it been her or one of his children who was hurt. Scott blew out a breath and closed his eyes.
"DADDY!"
"I can help him," Emma offered as she started sitting up.
"Can't have sex, can't check on my kid. Is there anything I can do?!" he snapped angrily. At Emma's flinch, Scott looked away. "I'm sorry, Em. I'm upset, but I know you're just concerned, and I appreciate it. But I feel fine, and Nate's calling for me. I'd like to go see him."
"You have ten minutes before I come check on you." Scott rolled his eyes, but kissed her cheek.
"Thank you." He got out of bed and walked across the suite's living room to Nate's room. He opened the door and saw Nate sitting up with his arms wrapped around his legs and his head on his knees. Nate heard the door open and looked up.
"Daddy. I'm sorry- I can't stop- I see her on the table and-"
"Shh," Scott said, coming to him and hugging him. "I knew I shouldn't have said anything to you." Nate sobbed onto Scott's shoulder.
"I'm sorry!"
"You have nothing to be sorry for," Scott said, hugging Nate tighter. "Absolutely nothing."
"If it wasn't for me, she'd be alive!"
"Nathan. Son, no. No, it's not your fault. If it's anyone's fault, it's mine. Big Nathan came to me before I even had a single date with her and I… I knew the risk. I still went through with it because I was too selfish to have a life without you, and then once I met her, without your sister. You have nothing to apologize for, nor do you need to feel like the blame lies on you-"
"But it is my fault! He wanted me the whole time!"
"Memories were unblocked, hm?"
"Mom wasn't even real?" Nate asked in a whisper. "Is that why Aunt Jean was our…?"
"Your mother was absolutely real," Scott said, almost growling. "She was a living, breathing person with whom I fell in love and created two amazing children."
"She was a clone."
"She was your mother and she deserves more respect than this." Nate sniffed and moved so he was in Scott's lap.
"Was she really pregnant with us, Dad? Or… were we made like her? In a lab?" Scott heard the genuine distress in Nate's question and he wrapped his arms around his son.
"You were very much conceived the old fashioned way," he couldn't help but smile. Nate blushed, but sagged in relief. "You two were born early, though. We had a due date of early August. You came mid June- just a few days after Maddie and I were married, in fact. I almost missed it-"
"You did?"
"I did. Grandpa and I were at lunch and Beast kept calling me and calling me, but my phone never rang. He finally got a hold of Grandpa and we rushed home. Carrie was born not long after, and then you were there, too. You were a big boy," Scott grinned. "Had your mom gone to August, you likely would have needed to be cut out of her with how big you were."
"Even then? Before the virus?" Scott closed his eyes and rested his chin on Nate's head.
"You know I love you and your sister more than anything, right?"
"We know. You tell us all the time."
"When…" Scott groaned and tightened his hold on his son. "He wanted a mutant who was more powerful than the average mutant. He had my family and he knew our bloodline would produce it if paired with the right match… He found Jean. She was what he needed, so he cloned her. I fell for her hard, Nate. She was… God, Nate. Your mom was my everything. Even with the fights and the disagreements, she was my other half. But he got what he wanted. A mutant who went against all odds. One of the most powerful mutants mankind will ever know was made between me and your mom-"
"Carrie?" Scott snorted.
"Nate."
"She was born first. She-"
"He dealt with males more than females." Nate leaned into Scott.
"Will she hate me?"
"Who, your sister?"
"Yeah…"
"She's powerful in her own way, son. She's still the daughter of Madelyne Pryor, a… a clone of one of the most powerful mutants I'd ever met before you. She was taken to space by the Phoenix in case Jean's body burned out. To be considered a host of the Phoenix is… the Shi'ar see it as an incredible honor. Only the most powerful can live long enough to handle that, and the Phoenix handpicked your sister."
"Wow."
"You both showed your powers earlier than most mutants. You were just a few months old. That's when I knew… When I knew I'd lose your mom and you'd end up with the T.O. virus, one way or another. Big Nathan warned me over and over, but I was too damn stubborn. I thought I'd be the one who could change things- the one who could keep my family safe."
"You tried-?"
"I tried everything. We set alarms to stop him from getting in. We did the necklaces for you and your sister. I added an alarm to your nursery that would… permanently stop a mutant from entering who didn't have the code. We ran extensive background checks on-" Scott sighed. "But unfortunately, some things are impossible to change. My mom had to die. Maddie's mom had to go. Jean had to host the Phoenix. And you…"
"Yeah. I got it, Dad. Doesn't make it suck any less, though."
"No, but selfishly… I'd rather you be here with it than imagine my life without you."
"Even though I'll be more powerful than you?" Scott chuckled.
"I take it as a compliment. You are a Summers, after all. Even if I can't claim the title of strongest mutant, I can claim the title of the father of the strongest mutant. Besides- I'm not that powerful. It's my mind that makes me a leader, not my powers. Never forget that, Nate. Your brain is just as vital as your mutation."
"I'll remember that, Daddy."
"Do you feel better?" Nate nodded into Scott's chest. "Will you be ok to fall asleep alone, or-?"
"Can you stay?"
"For you? Anything." Scott helped Nate get comfortable in bed and covered him up.
"Can you tell me about her?" Nate asked.
"About your mom?" Nate nodded. "What would you like to know?"
"Would she like me?" Scott chuckled and moved so that he was lying next to Nate.
"Your mom loved you before our first date. Within moments of meeting Big Nathan, she was drawn to him. Finding out he was her son… I think she gave me a shot just so she could be your mom." Nate giggled.
"I am pretty awesome."
"When he traveled back to the time he'd come from, she cried. She made me promise that I'd never send you away. I think I've made good on that-"
"Send me away? You sent me away?"
"I did not, but… Alright, kid. Let me tell you the story of Big Nathan. Settle in, because it's quite lengthy. In the timeline that was my original timeline, I didn't meet your mom until I was… a year or so younger than I am now. Jean and I were a couple…"
Scott walked out of Nate's room after confirming his son was asleep. He closed the door behind him and went to their fridge to grab a bottle of water to wet his dry mouth.
"That took longer than I expected," Emma said. Scott jumped and turned, seeing her sitting on the couch.
"He had a few questions and it took a while to explain-"
"I heard," Emma spat.
"You… Are you ok, Em?"
"You still love her?" Scott put the water down and went to her, sitting by her on the couch. He took her hand and wiped a tear from her cheek.
"I've never been dishonest about that," he told her. "She was my wife, Em. My first kiss, the person I lost my virginity to, the mother of my children… But that in no way takes away the love I feel for you. You… you're their mama, Emma. You're my best friend. My partner in all aspects of my life, not just the woman who takes care of our kids. You weren't my first, but… you're my last- if you'll have me." Scott grunted as he felt himself being thrown back on the couch and then felt a mouth on his. He wrapped his arms around Emma and pulled her body to his.
"Bedroom," Emma panted. Scott nodded and sat up with Emma still in his lap, grinding herself against him. He quickly moved his grip to her thighs around his waist and stood, carrying her to their room and shutting the door with his foot. He lowered her to the bed, pleased when he saw nothing on her but the very short gown. He slid his own underwear off and climbed on the bed, again capturing Emma's mouth with his own.
"I have a few weeks to make up for," he whispered in her ear. "And I certainly plan to deliver." Emma could only moan as Scott began to trail his tongue down her neck-
"Cyclops, the Brotherhood has attacked Senator Kelly's headquarters. The X-Men are needed."
"You have got to be fucking kidding me," Scott groaned. Emma sat up and kissed his cheek.
"Take care of it and then we can pick up where we left off."
"I can't believe Beast cleared me for this but not for sex," he grumbled as he got into his uniform.
"No, you were cleared. I was just mad at you for allowing your father to spank Nate." Scott frowned.
"He didn't spank him. He just popped- I don't have time to talk about it right now. But we will be talking about it." Scott switched to his visor and left the room, only to pop his head back in. "I love you."
"I love you, too," Emma smiled. Scott left and Emma heard the door close behind him. She pulled on a fluffy white robe, an 'I saw this and thought of you' gift from Scott two years earlier, and went to check on Carrie and Nate. Both were sleeping soundly. She went back into the kitchenette and poured a small glass of wine before settling down on the couch to wait.
"You feel like company?" Emma turned and saw a pajama-clad Chris standing at the connecting door.
"You're still awake?"
"Scott asked Alex to join him. I won't be sleeping until I see them home safe." Emma slid over and motioned for Chris to join her. "Thank you." He sat and rubbed his eyes.
"I'd be a hypocrite if I told you that you should be sleeping," Emma said conversationally.
"I can't tell you how little sleep I had while actually living here. Three kids, a daughter in law, a future daughter in law, and then my grandkids' stepmother going out… I have probably damaged my heart with all the stress and worry."
"You included me?" Chris looked at Emma, frowning.
"You're family."
"And here I thought you hated me," Emma said, taking a sip of her wine.
"I didn't like how quickly Scott moved on, no. I was worried he'd just get hurt again. But after watching you take care of the kids while he was down with his head injury, I realized something, something you have continued to prove for almost eight years now."
"What?" Chris shrugged.
"You're his Hepzibah."
A/N: I have most of ch 13 written, but I've been working on "Letters" and I have family in town and my 7 month old is teething and my anniversary is Friday, so... It's been a busy week! Plus I had to write my first scene for my screenwriting class this last week and I didn't until today and I felt guilty working on anything else when homework was being put off...