Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in the story. Nor do I
profit from this.
A/N: Remember set before X-Men #60, so Generation X is still around.
Part Nine
Outside of the Massachusetts Academy five students anxiously await the arrival of their new student and the return of their classmate Jubilee, who had been visiting the mansion. Sitting on the steps of the mansion, with the students he had come to love, Sean Cassidy, also, eagerly awaited the arrival of the Blackbird. He knew and explained to the students that this is not the blink that they know. Not the one that rescued us all and may well have saved the world.
"It's a different person entirely." Sean Cassidy said aloud to no one of consequence, however the statement did not fall on deaf ears.
"You told us already, senior Cassidy." Skin said while looking into the night sky for any sign of the 'Bird' in which the X-Men would be arriving in. "It's just.... be nice to see her again."
That's what Mr. Cassidy talkin' about, Ang." Everett said coming down from the top step. "We're not seeing her 'again' she doesn't kno-
"Yeah, yeah yeah." Skin said cutting his friend off. "Don't hurt her feelings by mentioning the 'other' Clarice and all that what not. Kinda hard not to though."
Paige looked at Angelo from her spot in the grass, near the stone steps. "Well how do ya think she's gonna feel." Twisting around and leaning up to get a better view of her teammates. "You heard what the Professor said about her knowin' a different version of us. It's gotta be hard for her too. No sooner did she say that the sound of the approaching jet filled their ears.
*Here she comes* Jonothan's telepathic voice rang out in his classmate's heads as the students started moving toward the landing plane.
Inside the plane Jubilee sprang out of her seat and unboarded the plane before the engine was off. She ecstatically ran toward her elated friend, all except for Monet who does not care to join in childish displays of greetings, and jumped into Ev's chest effectively knocking him to the ground.
"Miss me?" she said before springing off him and joining the others behind Mr. Cassidy.
"Hello Scott." Banshee said firmly shaking his hand. "Long time, eh?"
"Long time indeed Sean." Scott said before going serious. "umm... Ms. Ferguson is a little nervous so I gave her minute with Victor before coming out, that alright?"
"Of course." Sean replied nodding his head. "The lass can ave' as long as she needs."
Part Ten
In side the plane Clarice Ferguson got out of her seat and peered out the Blackbird's tinted window. Looking at the six students conversing amongst each other she drew in a deep breath.
"Can't keep em' waiting forever, pup." Victor said watching the nervous girl, who had become like a daughter to him over the years, pace anxiously across the floor of the Blackbird. "You're gonna be okay, kiddo." He said as the weight of the situation starting eating at his heart too. This will be the first time he let her out from under his wing since he rescued her all those years ago. "Come here kid." Creed said standing up and firmly placing his hands on her shoulders, effectively stopping her in her tracks. Peering into her snow-white eyes he saw how shaken she really was. "Now listen up, pup." He started with a fatherly cadence in his voice. "You've been through far worse than having to face some 'junior X' kids. You got nothing to worry about." He looked at her shaking hands before taking them up. "I said you could call the mansion and I'll come runnin' if you don't like this place, but you'll never no you don't like it here unless you don't get off this plane." He said the last one half-chuckling to ease her nerves. "Now come on. I wanna see if these kids are as scared of me as Jubilee was." He put his armed over her shoulder and, together, they walked out onto the grass.
Jono was the first to notice them walk out of the plane. He tapped Paige (who was talking with Jubilee) on the shoulder and pointed in Blink and Sabretooth's general direction. *Is that her, gel?* He asked Paige who turned to see what Jonothan was looking at.
"Yeah. Yeah it is." Paige said studying the girl who resembled the Blink she knew when she was kidnapped by the Phalanx. " She looks... different." She said turning her head to Angelo.
"Yeah, but Creed don't. He still look as mean as ever." Angelo said looking the big man over before turning to his fellow GenXers "Guess we better go say hi."
Victor Creed walked right over to Sean Cassidy who despite himself stood his ground. "Hey there Irish, how life treatin' ya." Creed said extending his hand.
Banshee hesitated before snapping out of it and reaching for Creed outstretched hand. "Fine... nice to see ye" Now focusing his attention on the girl standing slightly behind Victor's large frame. "How are ye doin', Ms. Ferguson?" Banshee asked now getting a good look at her for the first time. Sean Cassidy's face saddened as he remembered how he couldn't save Blink when she was getting sucked into her own portal. He vowed, then and there, that he would not waste his second chance. Welcome to Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters.
Part Eleven
Clarice Ferguson walked outside into the chilly night air. Sean Cassidy, Emma Frost and Scott Summers were catching up on current events and Mr. Creed was entertaining most of Generation X with his stories about his battles with Apocalypse. During his far fetched version of how he managed to slip away from death's icy grip at the hands of Holocaust, Blink manage to slip out of the room and down the halls of is now her home. She took in the different scent of the place and mused about the semblance of pictures in her life as she looked at the framed photos on the wall. Clarice picked stopped at one the caught her eye and heart.
All six... no seven a strange girl who was completely red was with them. All of them, standing in the snow in heavy jackets and gloves, like the big happy family she never had. She tore her eyes away from the picture and came outside for some fresh air.
She took several steps away from the doorway and turned around to look at the mansion. 'Home' she played with the idea of being happy here before sighing heavily. She glanced up toward the rooftop of the large house and focused on the right corner. In a second a portal was opened in front of her. Her powers allow her to created portals to anywhere in the world she has been. In time and more training she can cover a great distance without feeling fatigued but for now the roof will do just fine.
From her view atop the roof she could see over the abundance of trees that decorated the immediate area. Though it was dark and well late into the night she could just barely see the Blackbird still sitting in the lawn, waiting for the conversing X-folk to wrap it up and return home. When suddenly
"Why are you not inside?" A even toned voice came from above Blink making her nearly loose her balance. "It is almost unbearably cold out here." Monet St. Croix said hovering above her newest teammate.
"Jeez you scared the hell out of me!" Blink said gathering her composure. "I just wanted to get some air. What about you, what are you doin' out here?" Blink asked questioningly.
"I didn't sense you in the room so I came out to find you." Monet said
"Did they send you to come find me?" Clairice said looking away.
"No. I came looking for you on my own accord." M answered honestly. "Actually I couldn't listen to another one of Mr. Creed's fabricated stories."
Both the girls laughed as a little of the awkwardness of the moment passed "So are you coming inside or do you wish to be alone?" Monet asked,
"I'm not going inside but you're welcome to make you self comfortable." Blink said scooting over on the ledge.
Monet floated down onto the roof and sat down next too Blink who was noticeably shivering now. "You look cold, I think maybe you should come in." When she was met with no answer she sighed and looked up at the stars. "We're not as bad as you're probably thinking we are, Ms. Ferguson."
"Call me Blink, and I never said that." Turning towards M "I'm just nervous I don't..." Blink tripped on the words. "...never mind."
Monet sighed. Never one to push the issue when it came to peoples emotions she floated off the ledge and turned to face Blink. "When you feel like coming in talk to Ms. Frost, she'll direct you to your room and show you around. Have a good night." She started to fly away before turning around again. "Blink?"
"Yes." Clarice said from her spot on the ledge.
"Just give us a chance, you may come to find that you like being here." She tried her best to show concern. "This is your home now."
Part Nine
Outside of the Massachusetts Academy five students anxiously await the arrival of their new student and the return of their classmate Jubilee, who had been visiting the mansion. Sitting on the steps of the mansion, with the students he had come to love, Sean Cassidy, also, eagerly awaited the arrival of the Blackbird. He knew and explained to the students that this is not the blink that they know. Not the one that rescued us all and may well have saved the world.
"It's a different person entirely." Sean Cassidy said aloud to no one of consequence, however the statement did not fall on deaf ears.
"You told us already, senior Cassidy." Skin said while looking into the night sky for any sign of the 'Bird' in which the X-Men would be arriving in. "It's just.... be nice to see her again."
That's what Mr. Cassidy talkin' about, Ang." Everett said coming down from the top step. "We're not seeing her 'again' she doesn't kno-
"Yeah, yeah yeah." Skin said cutting his friend off. "Don't hurt her feelings by mentioning the 'other' Clarice and all that what not. Kinda hard not to though."
Paige looked at Angelo from her spot in the grass, near the stone steps. "Well how do ya think she's gonna feel." Twisting around and leaning up to get a better view of her teammates. "You heard what the Professor said about her knowin' a different version of us. It's gotta be hard for her too. No sooner did she say that the sound of the approaching jet filled their ears.
*Here she comes* Jonothan's telepathic voice rang out in his classmate's heads as the students started moving toward the landing plane.
Inside the plane Jubilee sprang out of her seat and unboarded the plane before the engine was off. She ecstatically ran toward her elated friend, all except for Monet who does not care to join in childish displays of greetings, and jumped into Ev's chest effectively knocking him to the ground.
"Miss me?" she said before springing off him and joining the others behind Mr. Cassidy.
"Hello Scott." Banshee said firmly shaking his hand. "Long time, eh?"
"Long time indeed Sean." Scott said before going serious. "umm... Ms. Ferguson is a little nervous so I gave her minute with Victor before coming out, that alright?"
"Of course." Sean replied nodding his head. "The lass can ave' as long as she needs."
Part Ten
In side the plane Clarice Ferguson got out of her seat and peered out the Blackbird's tinted window. Looking at the six students conversing amongst each other she drew in a deep breath.
"Can't keep em' waiting forever, pup." Victor said watching the nervous girl, who had become like a daughter to him over the years, pace anxiously across the floor of the Blackbird. "You're gonna be okay, kiddo." He said as the weight of the situation starting eating at his heart too. This will be the first time he let her out from under his wing since he rescued her all those years ago. "Come here kid." Creed said standing up and firmly placing his hands on her shoulders, effectively stopping her in her tracks. Peering into her snow-white eyes he saw how shaken she really was. "Now listen up, pup." He started with a fatherly cadence in his voice. "You've been through far worse than having to face some 'junior X' kids. You got nothing to worry about." He looked at her shaking hands before taking them up. "I said you could call the mansion and I'll come runnin' if you don't like this place, but you'll never no you don't like it here unless you don't get off this plane." He said the last one half-chuckling to ease her nerves. "Now come on. I wanna see if these kids are as scared of me as Jubilee was." He put his armed over her shoulder and, together, they walked out onto the grass.
Jono was the first to notice them walk out of the plane. He tapped Paige (who was talking with Jubilee) on the shoulder and pointed in Blink and Sabretooth's general direction. *Is that her, gel?* He asked Paige who turned to see what Jonothan was looking at.
"Yeah. Yeah it is." Paige said studying the girl who resembled the Blink she knew when she was kidnapped by the Phalanx. " She looks... different." She said turning her head to Angelo.
"Yeah, but Creed don't. He still look as mean as ever." Angelo said looking the big man over before turning to his fellow GenXers "Guess we better go say hi."
Victor Creed walked right over to Sean Cassidy who despite himself stood his ground. "Hey there Irish, how life treatin' ya." Creed said extending his hand.
Banshee hesitated before snapping out of it and reaching for Creed outstretched hand. "Fine... nice to see ye" Now focusing his attention on the girl standing slightly behind Victor's large frame. "How are ye doin', Ms. Ferguson?" Banshee asked now getting a good look at her for the first time. Sean Cassidy's face saddened as he remembered how he couldn't save Blink when she was getting sucked into her own portal. He vowed, then and there, that he would not waste his second chance. Welcome to Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters.
Part Eleven
Clarice Ferguson walked outside into the chilly night air. Sean Cassidy, Emma Frost and Scott Summers were catching up on current events and Mr. Creed was entertaining most of Generation X with his stories about his battles with Apocalypse. During his far fetched version of how he managed to slip away from death's icy grip at the hands of Holocaust, Blink manage to slip out of the room and down the halls of is now her home. She took in the different scent of the place and mused about the semblance of pictures in her life as she looked at the framed photos on the wall. Clarice picked stopped at one the caught her eye and heart.
All six... no seven a strange girl who was completely red was with them. All of them, standing in the snow in heavy jackets and gloves, like the big happy family she never had. She tore her eyes away from the picture and came outside for some fresh air.
She took several steps away from the doorway and turned around to look at the mansion. 'Home' she played with the idea of being happy here before sighing heavily. She glanced up toward the rooftop of the large house and focused on the right corner. In a second a portal was opened in front of her. Her powers allow her to created portals to anywhere in the world she has been. In time and more training she can cover a great distance without feeling fatigued but for now the roof will do just fine.
From her view atop the roof she could see over the abundance of trees that decorated the immediate area. Though it was dark and well late into the night she could just barely see the Blackbird still sitting in the lawn, waiting for the conversing X-folk to wrap it up and return home. When suddenly
"Why are you not inside?" A even toned voice came from above Blink making her nearly loose her balance. "It is almost unbearably cold out here." Monet St. Croix said hovering above her newest teammate.
"Jeez you scared the hell out of me!" Blink said gathering her composure. "I just wanted to get some air. What about you, what are you doin' out here?" Blink asked questioningly.
"I didn't sense you in the room so I came out to find you." Monet said
"Did they send you to come find me?" Clairice said looking away.
"No. I came looking for you on my own accord." M answered honestly. "Actually I couldn't listen to another one of Mr. Creed's fabricated stories."
Both the girls laughed as a little of the awkwardness of the moment passed "So are you coming inside or do you wish to be alone?" Monet asked,
"I'm not going inside but you're welcome to make you self comfortable." Blink said scooting over on the ledge.
Monet floated down onto the roof and sat down next too Blink who was noticeably shivering now. "You look cold, I think maybe you should come in." When she was met with no answer she sighed and looked up at the stars. "We're not as bad as you're probably thinking we are, Ms. Ferguson."
"Call me Blink, and I never said that." Turning towards M "I'm just nervous I don't..." Blink tripped on the words. "...never mind."
Monet sighed. Never one to push the issue when it came to peoples emotions she floated off the ledge and turned to face Blink. "When you feel like coming in talk to Ms. Frost, she'll direct you to your room and show you around. Have a good night." She started to fly away before turning around again. "Blink?"
"Yes." Clarice said from her spot on the ledge.
"Just give us a chance, you may come to find that you like being here." She tried her best to show concern. "This is your home now."