Disclaimer: I don't own the X-Men.
Copyright: I own Jarek and Andrea so if you wish to use one of them please ask me.
Author's note: I wrote this in response to someone saying I need to develop Andrea more. I will be writing a couple chapters on her instead of Jarek now. Please let me know what you think by reviewing.
A Sister's Love
Andrea was sitting alone in her room when she awoke. She found that her diary cover was wet from crying and she knew that the tears were for the brother who had left her in order to keep her safe. She loved him for it and she wished that he hadn't left because she knew that she would have been all right even if he had stayed near to her.
Andrea stood up and stretched because she had fallen asleep at her desk and she was cramped from having slept sitting up in a chair with her head on her arms. She then looked around at her clock and saw that it was time for breakfast. She picked up her diary and put it back under her bed as she ran down the stairs to the dining room where everyone would be having breakfast.
When she got to the dining room she saw that most of the people were done eating and the only ones that were there were Kitty, Jubilee, Gambit, Logan, and Rogue. That was no surprise really because they liked to eat after everyone else had or at least they did since Jarek had left. It gave them time to talk about him without everyone else around to hear what was said Logan had told her once.
Andrea sat down next to Kitty and grabbed herself a plate from the middle of the table along with some silverware. She then filled her plate with bacon, eggs, and other foods that were scattered along the table. It was how breakfast was you served yourself if you were late and of course you served yourself if you weren't so it was no real change except that the food was cold.
It had been more than a month now and everyone was getting used to the idea that Jarek wasn't coming back, everyone except for Kitty and Andrea that was. They still hoped and waited for him to return but they knew deep down as well that he wasn't coming back.
"Hey Andrea where you been all morning," Bobby said as he came into the room and slid into a seat next to her.
"In my room sleeping where else would I have been," she said a bit playfully. She wanted to take her mind off her brother and this was the best way she could think of.
"Well I thought that you were all by yourself in your room moping around and then I thought that I was going to have to go to your room and cheer you up," Bobby said with a glint in his eye.
"That won't be necessary I assure you Bobby," Andrea said as she tried to keep from smiling but failing miserably.
"Here now some of are trying to eat here," Logan growled but he had a slight smile on his gruff face as well.
"Oh stop being so old," Rogue purred into Logan's ear.
"Huh that is easy for you to say you know how old you are," Logan sniffed as if hurt by her remark but she smiled and kissed him on the cheek.
"Gambit feel left out," Gambit said from his seat next to Jubilee. He smiled his most charming smile at him and she smiled back.
"You know you should feel left out because you are not like them in which case that means that you are mine," Jubilee said as she leaned over and kissed him.
"Gambit you could keep your hormones in check you know. I mean if you and Jubilee are that bad then whey don't you go eat in your room," Kitty said as she raised an eyebrow at the two of them who were still kissing.
The kiss was broke off abruptly at that and Jubilee's face turned red but Gambit just shrugged. "We thought dat maybe de rest of you need a lesson no," Gambit said.
"It's like watching a couple of horny teenagers," Logan said jovially. "Wait they are a couple of horny teenagers. Quick someone find a fire extinguisher we need to cool them down."
"Oh Logan has found a sense of humor from hanging around with us. Better watch it old man or else you will find yourself saying cool and other such teenager words. Oh yeah and as to your remark I think that you could use a shave I mean the sideburns need to go. They are no longer in style," Jubilee said sarcastically as Logan growled and jumped up from his chair.
"H . . . Hey Logan now just calm down I didn't mean it that way. It's not like I am going to shave you or anything," Jubilee said but her words washed right off Logan who was stalking towards her very slowly.
"H … He . . .Help someone," Jubilee stammered as she stepped back actually wondering if Logan was mad at her.
"Logan she is just a kid and it will be considered murder," Bobby said though he was smiling and so was Andrea. She didn't know it but the little show was for her benefit. She had an idea that it was for her but she wasn't sure and she was enjoying it. She loved her new friends more than ever now that they had done this for her and she was going to do anything in order to help them out if they ever needed it. "No it won't. You see it will be a blessing if there is one less Jubilee in the world. She is too annoying for her own good," Logan growled as he stalked forward just like his namesake the Wolverine.
"Here now Logan I didn't mean that you looked like a bear's partially shaved but, on second thought though you do kind of look like that," Jubilee said as everyone busted out laughing.
Logan growled and launched himself across the interveneing space between him and Jubilee. He crashed into her and sat on her stomach and popped his claws and waved them in front of her face. "Guess what kid I think you would look good bald don't you," Logan said with a smile on his face.
Jubilee paled and started to squirm. "No Logan that is cruel and unusual punishment for a joke," Jubilee pleaded as she continued to squirm.
"Sit still or I might miss and get an ear then you would look real funny," Logan said as he leaned forward with his claws in front of him.
Just then Storm walked into the room and demanded in her teacher voice, "What is the meaning of this children." Her gaze encompassed even Logan and the look that she gave them made them all feel just like she had said. They all felt like guilty little children.
Logan smiled and said, "Hey now Storm you are younger than I am so if I am a child then that means that you are one as well. So if that is the case that makes me your older sibling and so you should look up to me with big puppydog eyes I think darlin."
"I would if you acted your age Logan but you act like a teenager when you should be setting a better example for our young students," Storm explained as if to a very young student.
"I can't act my age darlin cause I don't know how old I really am," Logan said as his eyes clouded over and he walked from the room.
"I . . . I am sorry Logan," Storm said as he walked by but he didn't even turn to look at her. None of the others present said anything but Jubilee stood up from the floor and felt her hair to make sure it was all still there.
Rouge looked at Jubilee and grinned, "Saved by the teacher again it seems."
Jubilee stuck her tongue out at Rouge who returned the gesture with equal gusto. Andrea shook her head and said, "You two could be sisters the way you act towards one another."
"I don't think so because I am much more of a lady than Rogue will ever be," Jubilee said though she had a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"Who was the one who stuck their tongue out first huh Jubilee," Rogue demanded but she was smiling too. They liked the compliment even if that wasn't what it was supposed to be. They truly did act like sisters though Andrea thought and she wished that she had a sister. She felt a sadness grip her then at that thought because who could have known what could have happened between Jarek and Kitty. Maybe one day she would have had a sister and it would have been great but then Jarek had left and thought that he had done what was best for everyone by doing so.
Kitty stood up and said, "Well I suppose I should get to writing my paper since I know Mrs. Grey will be unhappy if I don't have it done by next class. I would think that the both of you would want to quit your sibling squabbling and come with me so that you could finish your work as well." Kitty was smiling by the last bit because she was just like another sister to the other two. They went everywhere together but they did include Andrea which made her feel like a part of the family if a new one though.
They all left with Gambit trailing because he was just like a puppy at times Andrea had noticed. He hated to be left out of anything that included his girlfriend where he could be around her and distract her which is what he was good at. He was a trouble maker and yet he was well liked because his trouble was never to bad it was just fun.
Bobby stood up and said, "I have to be going as well see you later okay Andrea."
"Yeah I will see you later Bobby," Andrea said as he leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. He turned and left the room then too and she was by herself except for Storm who was there.
Storm walked towards her and sat down next to her. "You still miss him don't you. You aren't the only one that misses him but I can understand why you miss as much as you do," Storm said gently.
"I do miss him still more than I thought I could miss him since I hadn't had him as a brother for the longest time. Now though I miss his protectiveness and his love even though he would have denied loving anything or anyone. I miss him a lot Storm I miss him as a family member that I never had," Andrea said quietly.
"The pain will lessen over time Andrea and maybe he will come back as well. He was always one to do things that were unexpected. One time he went to meet mystique even though he was sure it was a trap. He didn't care because she was his friend and he would protect her as well as his family. He is a truly rare person Andrea and so are you," Storm said gently as she patted Andrea on the shoulder.
At that time Jean walked into the room with professor Xavier and Jean said after clearing her throat, "Andrea you have some visitors that might help to cheer you up."
"Who?," Andrea asked as she turned to look at Jean and the professor.
"Andrea your parents are here to see you and your brother. We haven't told them about your brother yet though. We felt that it was your place to tell them so that the blow wouldn't be quite so heavy," Xavier said gently.
"All right I guess I should go see them where are they at professor," Andrea asked.
"They are waiting for you in your room. I had extra chairs put in your room for them to sit on. I would have let them wait in a different room but they said that they wanted to see your room and that they would wait in your room for you," Xavier explained to her.
"Well I guess I should get going then and talk to them. Thanks professor for not telling them about Jarek and thanks for coming and telling me they are here," Andrea said as she started for the door.
"It was my pleasure Andrea," Xavier said to her back. He then turned to Storm and Jean and said. "The sadness is weighing her down. It is starting to go away though which is a good sign. I think that we have Jubilee and the others to thank for that," Xavier said.
"I agree with you professor on that point. I came into the room and saw Logan about ready to shave Jubilee bald. Andrea was laughing with the others instead of being so withdrawn. It is good to see that she is starting to get back to her old self," Storm said.
"I am glad as well," Jean said.
* * * * *
"Mom dad how have you been," Andrea said as she walked into her room which wasn't all that far from the dining room. It was enough of a distance though for her to contemplate how she was going to tell her parents that they had once again lost their son. They would take it good she hoped.
"We have been just fine and we have heard good things about your grades and that you have made a few friends," Her mother said.
"Yeah I have made a few friends and they are the best friends I have ever had Mom," Andrea said. Andrea looked down at the ground because she knew that she had to tell her parents that Jarek wasn't there and that they would ask that next. They would ask where her brother was.
"What is the matter Andrea," Her father asked worriedly. "If one of these kids has hurt you then tell us and we will see that you leave this school."
"It is not that dad it is just that I hate what I have to tell you," Andrea said without looking up.
"What is so bad that you are afraid to tell us," Her father said.
"It is that, well, Jarek isn't here," Andrea said as she looked up and tears were pouring from the corners of her eyes.
"What do you mean he is not here. Is he on a trip or something," her mother asked.
"No mother he left the school and me because he said that I would be safer if he wasn't around to draw attention to me. He is gone for good because he was afraid for my safety. I had finally found my brother and then he left in order to keep me safe. The problem is that I would rather have my brother," Andrea cried out as the tears continued to fall. Her mother and father came forward and put their arms around her.
"It is alright daughter everything will be fine. He isn't gone for good if your brother is anything he is not a person who runs away. He will always be near in order to protect you I believe," her mother said.
"How can you say that when he left you and dad all those years ago. How can you take this so easily," Andrea demanded as she wiped her tears away angrily.
"Because he came to us and told us to come and see you so that you would feel better. He told us that he would never let anything happen to you and if that meant leaving then that is what he would do. He also said to tell you that he loved you and that he was sorry that he never knew that you were his sister," her father said gently.
That statement sent new tears coursing down her cheeks and she buried her face in her father's chest. She cried that way for more than five minutes and then she wiped her eyes and looked back at her parents. "I feel better now. I know he loved me and that was one thing that I was worried about. I will still feel bad but the sadness will pass more quickly now I think."
"Okay how about you show us this girl that had roped our son into submission huh," her mother said smiling.
Andrea smiled back with a genuine smile for the first time in a long time besides that morning. "You must mean Kitty. Yes I think that she would like to see you as well let's go talk to her."
Andrea led her parents through the mansion down the hall to where Kitty had her room with Jubilee. Rogue had her own room but she could be found with Kitty and Jubilee most times and she was sure that she would be there now. The room that Kitty shared with Jubilee was rather large but that was because it was being shared and was not a single room like some of the others. Most of the students had to share rooms and so far Andrea was lucky enough not to have to share her room with anyone.
Andrea knocked on Kitty's door and she heard rustling from inside the room and then Kitty's voice say, "Who is it."
"It is me Andrea. I have someone out here that I think you should meet Kitty," Andrea said not wanting to yell out that her parents were there because quite frankly it would be embarrassing to do that. "Oh ok just let me pick things up real quick," Kitty called back and Andrea heard more movement on the inside of the room which she could tell was more than one pair of feet moving in there. She wondered, and hoped that both Jubilee and Rogue would be there.
The door opened and standing there was Kitty with Jubilee at her shoulder and Rogue sitting on the edge of the bed peering through the door to see who was outside the door that they needed to see. "Come on in Andrea," Kitty said as she stepped back and bumped into Jubilee who hadn't moved back.
"Oww Kitty watch where you are going will ya," Jubilee said rubbing her forehead where the back of Kitty's head had hit her.
"Well you should have moved Jubes. I don't have eyes in the back of my head you know," Kitty said as she moved away from Jubilee and sat down on one of the three chairs in the room.
Andrea looked at her friends and smiled at them as she gestured to her parents. "Jubilee, Rogue, Kitty these are my parents. They are here to visit and wanted to meet my friends. Mom, dad these are my friends. The one with the white streak in her hair is Rogue, Jubilee is the one rubbing her head if you hadn't guessed yet, and that means that the last one is Kitty Pryde."
"Pleased to meet ya," Jubilee said still rubbing her head. She glared at Kitty who deemed not to notice the glare and smiled at Andrea's parents.
"It is nice to meet you," Kitty said.
"Yeah glad to meet you," Rogue echoed her friends as she smiled at them. She was the only one who wasn't too stunned to do anything. She stood up and said, "Here you can sit here I will sit in one of the chairs."
"Thank you so much young lady," Andrea's mom said.
As they sat down Andrea's father looked the girls over with a quick practiced eye. He had done it before with his daughters other friends and felt himself a good judge of a person. He felt that these girls were indeed very good friends for his daughter and he smiled at them as he said, "It is nice to meet the friends of my daughter."
"Yeah it is nice to meet all of you. I didn't know that you were all so pretty though. The boys must be about banging down your door to be the ones to date you," Andrea's mother said smiling.
"Well they don't because we all have boyfriends. That is all of us but Kitty now but let's not talk about that," Jubilee said quickly when she saw her friends mood change at the mention of her not having a boyfriend.
"Why not? I can see why our son was taken with you Kitty. You are kind and beautiful. It seems that your kindness though is what drew him to you at least that is all I can guess at," Andrea's father said.
Kitty blushed a deep shade of red at that but she smiled and said. "I think that it was more of my persistance than anything else."
"That may be but if you find a boy you like and he doesn't seem to notice you then that is what you have to do in order to get him to notice you," Andrea's mother said.
"Yeah well I still don't know why Jarek had to leave though. He was my brother and he meant something to at least some of the people here. I don't know if he cared that he hurt some of us," Andrea argued again about her brother. She alternated between missing him and being mad at him. Mostly though it was missing him that won out it was only when she was with Kitty that she really got mad at Jarek for leaving.
"I think he knows that he hurt some of you but he felt that it was best if he left in order to keep you all safe. There are not many people with the strength of will to do that no matter what a person says. He is rare that is for sure," Andrea's father said in a gruff voice.
"I'll agree with you there honey. Our boy always did have a great strength of will that was what got him in so much trouble all the time," her mother said.
"Hey wait a minute here. You said that you all had a boyfriend except for Kitty right. Then that means you have a new boyfriend Andrea and you didn't tell us," Her father said evenly as he crossed his arms.
"I guess in the excitement it slipped my mind huh," Andrea said a bit nervously. She really had forgot to mention it but that wasn't going to save her not with her friends there.
"Busted!" Jubilee cried out like someone who had just seen a person who snatched cookies out of the jar being caught.
"You didn't tell your parents about Bobby. Well Andrea I am shocked at you. That is something that needs to be shared," Rogue said trying to be civil but her grin ruined it.
"Hey it isn't my fault," Andrea said guiltily as her parents just looked at her. Finally they smiled and her father broke the silence by saying, "Well who is the lucky boy."
Andrea smiled a bit easier then as she felt more at home in this territory. She smiled at her parents and said, "His name is Bobby and as you know he is a mutant like me and the others here at the school. His power is the ability to control ice it seems to me and he is quite good at it. He is short just a head taller than Rogue and has brown hair and an easy smile."
"Well it seems he is quite the kid. We will have to meet him again sometime but not now. We want to talk to the three of you some more before we head back home," Andrea's father said and they proceeded to talk about Jarek more than anything else though Bobby and the other boyfriends got brought up more than once. The talk about Jarek was meant to make them feel less sad and it did help Kitty and Andrea who were taking his leaving harder than any of the others. They really missed him but Andrea's parents helped to ease that pain considerably.