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Amanda examined the clearing around her, and realized that she was at the mansion. The funny thing was that she didn't remember coming here. The last thing she remembered was the hotel, and dealing with Anon and Nightmare. She could see Vision X and the X-Men racing towards them. They all appeared to be crying, and looked as if they had come from a funeral. Amanda turned to Charles who was on the ground beside her. She didn't understand why he looked so happy.
"What's going on? Who died?" she asked, concerned about the situation.
"For a minute we thought it was you all, fearless leader." replied Jamar as he approached and placed her in a bear hug.
The rest of Vision X followed, and then the X-Men. Amanda was touched by the show of love she was receiving, but could not understand what was going on. Charles examined Amanda's expression closely. She appeared to have no idea what was going on. He soon began to wonder if she remembered any of it.
"Keep this up, Amanda, and we'll soon be questioning whether you're a Summer's or not." replied Sammi sheepishly while she ignored the glare from Scott.
"Sammi, what the hell is going on? One minute I'm getting my ass kicked by some fictional monster, and the next I'm back at the mansion." demanded Amanda.
"Don't you remember?" asked Maria.
"Remember what? Why do you guys look like you just came from a funeral? Why do Athena and Hope have wedding bands on? Why are Maggie and Tina here, and why are they being nice to Logan? Who are those kids with Jonas?" she demanded.
"You don't have a clue what happened these last few days, do you? You don't remember the island, the battles... your death?" questioned Jamar.
"I didn't die, though I'm sure Anon would have been pleased if I did. I haven't been to an island in years since my trip to Hawaii."
"Amanda, I think we need to get you to the med-lab. You are suffering from some type of memory loss." stated Hank.
"What?!"
"Amanda, we defeated Sinister. Cara saved Anon. You defeated Nightmare yourself, and in the process lost your life." explained Jonas carefully.
"Charles, is that true?" pleaded Amanda as she turned to him.
"Yes." he replied.
A.C.
Ryan paced the floor as she and everyone else waited on news about Amanda. Amanda had gone pale when Charles had confirmed what had happened. Ryan watched the shock kick in, even though her face remained neutral. Ryan remembered how eerily calm her voice sounded when she asked them to tell her what had happened in detail.
Sammi, Cara, and Charles struggled to tell her the details while trying to reassure her that everything was all right. Victor had been the calmest of them all, and suggested that an examination might be the best course of action. Amanda had left with Hank and Hope, and no one had heard anything since.
"Are ya okay, darlin'?" asked Victor as he approached Ryan.
"I'm just worried about her. She seemed abnormally calm. I hope that this hasn't damaged her in any way." replied Ryan.
"She's a strong frail. She'll make it through. She made it through me, didn't she?"
"Yeah, she kicked your ass."
"I wouldn't go that far." Victor warned as his love laughed.
"Ryan, I wanna..."
"Will you marry me?" interrupted Ryan.
"Hey, I thought I was supposed ta ask!?" teased Victor.
"I'm a modern woman. We don't wait for what we want, we get it."
"You want me?"
"More than anything. I want us to be a family. I want you to help me raise Kat. I want to have another child with you so I can yell at you during delivery. I want to see you scare Our daughter's date..."
"She ain't datin' til she's fifty."
"IS that a yes?"
"Girl, I'd be crazy to say no."
Teb and Skins were in the pool. They had gotten tired waiting for info, and decided to take a break at a place that had so many good memories for them. They were goofing off in the shallow end when Maria joined them.
"How's the water?" she asked.
"Just right, chica." replied Skins as he succeeded in dunking Teb under the water.
"I guess you guys had the same idea." stated Bobby as he, Athena, and the kids joined them.
Athena walked over to Maria and hugged her as she sat with her along the edge of the pool. They were soon joined by the members of the X-Men and Vision X who were not with Amanda. Sammi came over and sat by the girls as she watched her children play with their grandparents. Soon the group were joined by Cara, Jamar, Jonas, Hope, Maggie, Tina, and Leliee.
"It's been some ride, hasn't it?" stated Sammi
"That's the understatement of the year, sis." replied Jamar.
"I wouldn't trade it in for the world." stated Jonas as he turned to watch his children play.
"I have to agree, since I'm getting married." declared Ryan as she was engulfed in hugs and well wishes.
"We were really lucky to all have made it." stated Hope.
"I'm worried about Amanda. Did she really make it through?" questioned Teb as she joined them.
"She'll be all right. She just needs to adapt to what has happened. At least she's alive." answered Cara as she reached out to her love.
"Cara's right. She'll be okay. She just doesn't remember the bad stuff. I mean, who wants to remember dying." added Jamar.
"Yeah, but she forgot she's engaged too." noted Sammi.
"WHAT!!" exclaimed the others.
"Oops! I forgot it was a secret." replied Sammi sheepishly.
"It seems we'll be spending the next couple of months attending wedding and baby showers." informed Maggie.
"There are worst fates. I'm glad we all met." stated Maria.
Everyone smiled at the thought when a ball landed in the middle of their huddle, splashing everyone. They all turned to see the X-men smiling. The children were sitting around the pool, laughing.
"Well, I think it's time to see which team is the best, bub." declared Wolverine.
"A water volleyball duel, dad." stated Sammi as Vision X got into position.
"Just think of this as maneuvers training, Sammi," stated Scott.
"You're about to get the smack down on your candy ass." declared Jamar as he got ready.
"Just put up or shut up, shuga." mocked Rogue.
As Vision X and the X-men engaged in the battle, Amanda watched from the window of the med-lab.
Amanda watched her team enjoying themselves in the pool. She could sense their happiness and contentment, and smiled. She had heard everything they said... rather, she had psychically read their minds. She was pleased that she had managed the feat without them knowing, considering the telepathic power of Sammi and Jamar. She could feel the increased power of her team, though she didn't know when the increased power happened. It seemed she was missing quite a bit, particularly the part about an engagement.
/I was going to mention it./ stated Charles telepathically.
(Really? when did you plan to mention it? When I was planning on leaving?/
/Are you leaving?/ questioned Charles.
(What do you think?) replied Amanda.
/I'm never quite sure with you. You have a way of surprising me. One minute you say you love me, the next you're in my enemy's arms./ teased Charles in an attempt to hide his fear.
(Good. I wouldn't want our marriage to get stale.)
/Are you sure? I want you to consider all that.../
(Charles, just shut up and kiss me.)
Charles drew the love of his life in his arms and did just that. Amanda held on tight. Despite her memory loss, she knew she could always count on his love.
(Charles?) she asked.
/What is it, love?/
(When are you going to tell me about Lillandera?)
Dinner that night was a joyful event. Ryan and Amanda announced their engagements, while their guys tried not to laugh at the group's reaction. Scott's reaction was priceless when he choked on his Samuel Adams at the news that his beloved mentor was marrying a younger woman. Jean got him some water while Logan tried hard not to pee his pants.
Sammi smiled at the easiness that these two groups had come together. She laughed as she watched her children learn billiards from their grandfather and great-uncle. The latter two were arguing about strategies, while her husband and brother were making faces behind their backs. Cara and Jamie Madrox ( the rest of the X-family had come for dinner) were arguing about baseball, and challenging each other to a game. They were probably the only two who could have a game with just themselves.
Maria and Teb were talking to Cable, Banshee, and Skins. Skins seemed a little nervous around Cable, but Teb was cool enough to keep the conversation going. Athena and Hope were doing the dishes in the kitchen while Hank and Bobby were arguing over who ate the last Twinkie. Hope and Athena laughed at the conversation.
Leilee was in Remy's arms while they talked to Rogue and Warren. Rogue was teasing Remy about marriage, while Remy just smiled and said it would be soon. Leilee proposed a double ceremony, and Warren blanched, causing the other three to laugh. Tina and Maggie teamed up to play some card game against Charles and Magneto, while Eric stayed by to referee. Despite the volatility of the two groups, they were working well together despite the few arguments.
"It's nice to see." stated Amanda as she approached from behind.
"I was worried we might not get there." stated Sammi lightly.
"About what happened with the kidnapping, I..."
"Don't worry about it. I could say the same to you. We thought we lost you. Charles mentioned something about leadership. I want you to know that I accepted the job because of what happened. I'm willing to give it up."
"Why? The X-Men have two leaders, why can't we? Jamar is going to be teaching. I'm going to be here with Charles, and Leilee and Tina are probably going to stay. We're going to need two leaders."
"I'm so glad I fell through that portal and landed on Hank." Sammi stated.
"I'm glad I crashed my car... whatever happened to my car?" questioned Amanda, while Sammi started laughing.
A.C.
Wolverine overheard Amanda's comment, and he almost dropped his cue stick. He strangled a laugh inside his throat before it could get out, and he faked a cough. If Amanda ever picked up on the truth about what happened to her car... well, he didn't want to think about it.
Cara was discussing baseball with Jamie, when her empathic senses centered in on the silent waves of laughter emanating from Wolverine.
/Hmmm... I wonder what made Wolverine feel like that?/ she wondered. /Apparently it has something to do with Amanda's car... oh, this has got to be good./ her red eyes twinkled mischievously.
"Yes, what happened to Amanda's car?" she asked.
Rainfall
Suddenly all the X-Men got really quiet. Vision X and Magneto looked at the members' faces. Some were trying hard not to die from laughter, while others had gone pale. Amanda took in the scene carefully. She turned to Charles and saw that he was trying desperately not to start laughing.
"What car are they talking about?" asked Tina, causing Logan to start to turn red from concealed laughter.
"Yeah, what car? " demanded Victor, who was as baffled as the rest.
"My car. The one I was driving when I came here. The one that was a graduation gift from my parents. The car I love. The car that should still be here as some type of loving tribute from the love of my life. The car that might cost someone their life if I don't get an answer." declared Amanda in her best Stone Cold voice as she sent a contrary message to her team psychically.
Cara smiled at Amanda as she, Sammi, and Jamar did as she asked. They sent the information to Amanda who smiled inwardly at the fun she was about to have.
"Hank, Bobby, do you mind if I could talk to you privately?" she asked in a sickly sweet voice.
"Why do you want to talk to us?" questioned Bobby as he grew a little paler.
"Why, Athena told me that you and Hank had discovered a taste in modern art, and I was just wondering if I could see your work?" she replied as she slowly approached them.
"What modern art?" replied Hank as he slowly motioned Bobby towards the door.
"You know that wonderful piece in the garden, darling." stated Hope, playing along, " The piece you showed us this morning."
"You know that it's too dark out there to view it properly, Amanda." explained Bobby as he moved closer to the door.
"That's quite all right. My psychic weapons produce quite a bit of light. You know... my bow, my sword, my arrows..."
"Amanda, now, let's not do anything we might regret." stated Hank who knew the gig was up.
"Oh, believe me... I won't regret anything. I didn't regret the cop car, did I?"
"Amanda, it was just a little fun. We didn't realize it was yours until after..." stated Bobby as he reached behind to open the door.
"Who did you think it belonged to? It just had my name in the registration and insurance papers!"
Charles watched as Amanda approached the two, and tried not to wet his pants. He could tell that she wasn't serious. He turned towards Magneto, and saw the huge grin on his face. He realized that he had also seen through the show. Charles smiled as he realized that he was going to have to get used to his old friend being around. Eric and Amanda were friends, and if he were truthful, so were Eric and himself. Amanda was a calming influence on Eric, and could get him to look at both sides of the issue where he was never able to do with the man.
A sudden shout interrupted his thoughts as he saw Hank and Bobby make a run for it. They hadn't made it far when a loud splash was heard, and what sounded like curses being mumbled. Vision X broke down in tears from laughter, and Amanda had a smug look on her face. Charles smiled at his love as she turned to him.
"Well, what did you think was going to happen? That's what they get for turning my car into a paintball fort."
A few hours later, after Bobby and Hank had dried off, everyone had gone outside to have a bon fire. Amanda had left to inspect her car, only to return a little later with a promise to show Hank and Bobby what a paintball game was really like. Sammi and Jonas sat near the fire with the children, while the others found seats near or close by the fire.
Charles smiled as he enjoyed the sense of family. When he had chosen this path in life, he had always believed it would be a lonely one. He had never dreamed that he would have met these people who he would come to care for so much. The chance of them all finding each other were about a billion to one, yet they had defied all the odds and became a family. For the first time in a long time, Charles Xavier realized how truly blessed he was.
(Amazing what happens when one dreams.) stated Amanda as she settled besides him.
/I had always believed that my ultimate dream was for peace between mutants and humans./
(Isn't it still?)
/No. It still is an important dream; however, I just realized that my ultimate dream was just to belong somewhere. To be a part of something./
Amanda smiled as she leaned over to kiss him, ( We all did, Charles, we all did.)
A.C.