Meaning of Christmas and all that stuff
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "I want golf clubs. I want diamonds. I want a pony so I can ride it twice, get bored and sell it to make glue!"
***
Chapter 10 -God bless us, everyone
****
Pietro blinked a few moments, taking his his breath and his surroundings before shakily getting to his feet. He was home. He was ALIVE. He gave a manical giggle, running his hands over his face.
"I LIVE!!!!", he whooped, "yeah, go me, go me, go me!!"
He paused and cleared his throat.
"I mean...go Spirits", he said sheepishly, his eyes darting around in case he had another visitation.
Seeing no more deceased mutants, he promptly danced around his bedroom before reaching his window, which he opened, looking down to the street bellow. Celeste was trudging along in the snow, her speckled wings pulled around her to protect her from the cold.
"Hey...", Pietro stumbled on the teenagers name, "...Goth Angel!"
Celeste paused, turning her head to look up at him, arching a studded eyebrow in question.
"Yes....Mr Maximoff?", she said, her voice showing she was more than a little wairy of him.
Pietro squinted down at her, still grinning like a maniac.
"What day is it?"
Celeste blinked before glancing around. Seeing no one within a 16 foot radius, she unfurled her wings and flapped up to hover next to Pietro's window, cocking her head to the side in confusion.
"Come again?"
"What. Day. Is. It. To-day?", Pietro said VERY slowly.
Celeste looked at him as if he'd truely become unhinged.
"Christmas day..Mr Maximoff"
"The spirits did it all in one night!", said Pietro, "of course they did, they can do anything!"
He paused.
"Well...except maybe take out life insurance"
Celeste blinked again.
"Spirits?"
Pietro ignored her question, bouncing on one foot before vanishing into his room, returning with a handfull off bills.
"I want you to get the biggest turkey that you can find, one that can have a spar with Mike Tyson", he said, stuffing the money into his hands, "have it delivered to the Childrens Ward in the hospital, for one Miss Tanya Guthrie and family. Any change left you can have"
Celeste blinked looking at the money.
"Err...okay?", she said, looking at him curiously once more before flapping off.
Pietro grinned watching her go before shaking himself out of his joyous stupour, he had things to do! Once he had changed quickly, he sped outside, heading straight to an old adandoned part of town, where the Gut Bomb used to stand. Just as the Jamie in the present...or would it have been future? had said, Torpid was huddled in a corner, already turning blue. She turned her eyes drowzilly to Pietro, widening as she tried to get to her feet to run off...no such luck.
"Take it easy", said Pietro gently, "i'll get you to hospital"
Torpid's eyes widened more then looked at him quizically. Pietro scooped her up in his arms and sped to the hospital, arriving there faster than any ambulance could ever try to beat. He got into the waiting room and put Torpid gently onto a bench as a nurse bustled over.
"She's really sick, been living rough", he said, "call a Mr Jamie Madrox, he'll be here for her. Charge all costs to me".
Torpid was taken off into the hospital and Pietro let out a breath, before smirking and heading into the Childrens Ward. He strode purpusefully over to the Guthries, who were looking at the huge turkey on Tanya's bed in amazement. Sam looked up in shock as Pietro stodd in front of him, corssing his arms and tapping his foot.
"Guthrie", said Pietro sternly, "you didn't show up for work this morning"
"But...Pietro", stammered Sam, "you....you gave me the day off"
"I did?", said Pietro, "i don't remeber doing any su..."
He was cut off by a growl from Rahne.
"What right de ye have te come barging in the middle of our family on Christmas Day?!!", she snarled, "ye have some nerve, ye pompus, cold- hearted...."
"Easy, Rahne", said Pietro with a smirk, "what did you do, forget your Rabies shot?"
He turned to look at Sam again, coldly.
"I have only one thing to say to you", he said, pausing for emphasis, "...you're hired".
"Pietro, come on, it's just one....", Sam trailed off, "did you just say 'hired'?"
"Sure did", said Pietro with a grin.
"A'hm...confused", said Sam, "a'h already work for you...how can a'h be hired again?"
"You're hired as my new buisness partner", said Pietro.
"Bui...buisness partner?", squeaked Sam.
"With a pay rise included, of course!", said Pietro, flinging an arm over Sams shoulder, "You're a people person, Guthrie. Well, i need a people person, someone who can get these things to people who need them, make them feel they are with a safe and trustworthy company. All for a lovely price of zero, of course".
"Ye..givin' them away fer free?", said Rahne, cocking ehr ehad to the side in puzzlement.
"Yep", said Pietro, "i want you to start right away, Guthrie...well, right after your trip, that is"
Sam looked even more confused.
"Trip?"
Pietro handed him a pile of plane tickets.
"To Muir Isle", said Pietro, "want you're little girl here to get better right? Can't expect you to give 110% when you're worrying about your sick daughter, can i?"
Sam gawped at the tickets.
"Err...thank you, Pietro", he said, still dumbfounded, "wait...you ARE Pietro Maximoff, aren't you?"
"The one and the same!", said Pietro, pattiing Sam on the back before looking at his watch, "okay, gotta speed on, so much to do in one day! Oh...expect your deliverly to be here in a few minutes"
"Delivery?", said Rahne and Sam in unison.
Their question was answered moments later, when Fred arrived, dressed in his Santa suit with a bagfull of gifts for them all. Pietro, meanwhile had zipped over to Bobby and Jubilee's home, with a brand new SCS. They were pretty shocked by that alone, then only to have him throw a load of money at them, claiming it was to compensate for all the time spent without one. The last nail in the head was when he told them they were the first recivers of the free SCS provided by the Maximoff-Guthrie Mutant Protection Company. He left them in their shock, heading to the Mutant Shelter leaving Warren with 'A donation with a good many back-payments in it' and a brand new entertainment system for the children. As he left the Mutant Shelter, he ran right into Kitty, who frowned at him.
"STelaing money from the Shelter now?", she sneered.
"Not at all", said Pietro, before sighing, "Kitty, i'd like to say....i'm sorry...about Lance, about not attending his funeral...everything. But, id' like to tell you i won't rest until his killers are brought to justice".
Kitty blinked at him in suprise, cocking her head to the side.
"Oh....okay", she said, "you're not...sick are you?"
"Far from it!!", laughed Pietro, giving her a hug, "i'll see you later, Kitty, i have to visit my family".
Leaving Kitty doubfounded, her raced off to Pyro and Wanda's house, knocking on the door. Wanda answered it, her jaw dropping as she saw her brother standing outside.
"Pie?"
"Hey, Sis", said Pietro, smiling, "i..i was hoping i could join you guys for Christmas Dinner?"
Wanda stared at him for a minute, before brightening.
"Yes...of course!", she squeaked, moving aside to let him in, "come in"
Pietro smiled stepping in and giving his sister a hug.
"Hi, Lump", he said to her stomach.
"Who is it ho.....", Pyro trailed off as he walked out of the kitchen, stopping dead as he saw Pietro, "well, Bloody Hell".
"Hi, Bro", said Pietro, speeding over to him and flinging an arm across his shoulder, "once the football seasons' back on, you and me, Madison Square Garden, right?"
Pyro glanced nervously at his wife, who shrugged confused as he was.
"Er.....okay", replied Pyro with a nerous laugh.
"Good", said Pietro with a nod, clapping his hands together, "right, now how about that good smelling grub, huh?"
After he'd spent Christmas Dinner (and a good deal of time afterwards) with his family, Pietro left the house with a smile on his face. He'd loved it..he didn't know why he'd avoided it for so long. And he was pretty sure no one, not even Toad, could have matched Pyro's feelings for Wanda...he was a keeper.
"Hello, Pietro".
Pietro glanced up to see Rogue smiling at him.
"Oh...Rogue", he said, clearing his throat, "hi..i was just..err...walking"
"You were caught", said Rogue with a light chuckle, "Danielle saw you in the Shelter, giving all the stuff away, and Jason saw you at the hospital. They agreed all ya needed was a three-legged-puppy and you'd look like a hero".
Pietro shrugged modestly.
"Nothing wrong with a good deed on Christmas Day", he said.
"What's happened to you?", asked Rogue, furrowing her brow.
"You wouldn't believe me if i told you", said Pietro.
"Try me", replied Rogue.
And so, Pietro told her everything he'd been through. Every last detail. When he finished, Rogue was quiet for a long time.
"So you were haunted by four of our dead old friends, includin' ma'h brother, who showed you what you were...who you are an' what you'd become?", she said.
"It's the truth", said Pietro softly, "i know it sounds far-fetched, but it really is true. I've changed Rogue, completely....well...except for one thing. The part of me that never stopped loving you. A million Ghosts couldn't change that".
Rogue blinked at him.
"Well..err..yeah", said Pietro, "i'm gonna..go now. But just...think about what i said, please?"
With that, he turned and strated to trudge away, only to have a hand placed on his shoulder. He turned to see Rogue, who put a cloved hand on his lips and kissed her hand, the closest thing she could get to giving anyone a real kiss. She smiled softly when she pulled back.
"Okay, so a'h believe you", she said, "you were never inventive enough to come up with a story like that".
"Hey!", said Pietro with a chuckle, then looked up as snow flakes started to fall down, smugly pointing skyward, "now is that a sign, or is that a sign?"
Rogue rolled her eyes.
"A'h see you're ego wasn't changed either".
"Oh it was just...redirected", said Pietro, then smiled, "look, i have something i have to do real quick. I'll see you in the club in a few?"
Rogue nodded.
"Okay, but don't you go running out on me, Maximoff", she warned with a chuckle, pelting him with a snowball before walking off.
Pietro sighed happily as he watched her go, then zipped off to do his final deed of the day.
***
One more chapter to go folks! And yes, i am aware that Wanda is Jewish and thus wouldn't have Christmas Dinner, lets just say she and Pyro celebrate each others holidays, yes? Do review. Until next time....
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "I want golf clubs. I want diamonds. I want a pony so I can ride it twice, get bored and sell it to make glue!"
***
Chapter 10 -God bless us, everyone
****
Pietro blinked a few moments, taking his his breath and his surroundings before shakily getting to his feet. He was home. He was ALIVE. He gave a manical giggle, running his hands over his face.
"I LIVE!!!!", he whooped, "yeah, go me, go me, go me!!"
He paused and cleared his throat.
"I mean...go Spirits", he said sheepishly, his eyes darting around in case he had another visitation.
Seeing no more deceased mutants, he promptly danced around his bedroom before reaching his window, which he opened, looking down to the street bellow. Celeste was trudging along in the snow, her speckled wings pulled around her to protect her from the cold.
"Hey...", Pietro stumbled on the teenagers name, "...Goth Angel!"
Celeste paused, turning her head to look up at him, arching a studded eyebrow in question.
"Yes....Mr Maximoff?", she said, her voice showing she was more than a little wairy of him.
Pietro squinted down at her, still grinning like a maniac.
"What day is it?"
Celeste blinked before glancing around. Seeing no one within a 16 foot radius, she unfurled her wings and flapped up to hover next to Pietro's window, cocking her head to the side in confusion.
"Come again?"
"What. Day. Is. It. To-day?", Pietro said VERY slowly.
Celeste looked at him as if he'd truely become unhinged.
"Christmas day..Mr Maximoff"
"The spirits did it all in one night!", said Pietro, "of course they did, they can do anything!"
He paused.
"Well...except maybe take out life insurance"
Celeste blinked again.
"Spirits?"
Pietro ignored her question, bouncing on one foot before vanishing into his room, returning with a handfull off bills.
"I want you to get the biggest turkey that you can find, one that can have a spar with Mike Tyson", he said, stuffing the money into his hands, "have it delivered to the Childrens Ward in the hospital, for one Miss Tanya Guthrie and family. Any change left you can have"
Celeste blinked looking at the money.
"Err...okay?", she said, looking at him curiously once more before flapping off.
Pietro grinned watching her go before shaking himself out of his joyous stupour, he had things to do! Once he had changed quickly, he sped outside, heading straight to an old adandoned part of town, where the Gut Bomb used to stand. Just as the Jamie in the present...or would it have been future? had said, Torpid was huddled in a corner, already turning blue. She turned her eyes drowzilly to Pietro, widening as she tried to get to her feet to run off...no such luck.
"Take it easy", said Pietro gently, "i'll get you to hospital"
Torpid's eyes widened more then looked at him quizically. Pietro scooped her up in his arms and sped to the hospital, arriving there faster than any ambulance could ever try to beat. He got into the waiting room and put Torpid gently onto a bench as a nurse bustled over.
"She's really sick, been living rough", he said, "call a Mr Jamie Madrox, he'll be here for her. Charge all costs to me".
Torpid was taken off into the hospital and Pietro let out a breath, before smirking and heading into the Childrens Ward. He strode purpusefully over to the Guthries, who were looking at the huge turkey on Tanya's bed in amazement. Sam looked up in shock as Pietro stodd in front of him, corssing his arms and tapping his foot.
"Guthrie", said Pietro sternly, "you didn't show up for work this morning"
"But...Pietro", stammered Sam, "you....you gave me the day off"
"I did?", said Pietro, "i don't remeber doing any su..."
He was cut off by a growl from Rahne.
"What right de ye have te come barging in the middle of our family on Christmas Day?!!", she snarled, "ye have some nerve, ye pompus, cold- hearted...."
"Easy, Rahne", said Pietro with a smirk, "what did you do, forget your Rabies shot?"
He turned to look at Sam again, coldly.
"I have only one thing to say to you", he said, pausing for emphasis, "...you're hired".
"Pietro, come on, it's just one....", Sam trailed off, "did you just say 'hired'?"
"Sure did", said Pietro with a grin.
"A'hm...confused", said Sam, "a'h already work for you...how can a'h be hired again?"
"You're hired as my new buisness partner", said Pietro.
"Bui...buisness partner?", squeaked Sam.
"With a pay rise included, of course!", said Pietro, flinging an arm over Sams shoulder, "You're a people person, Guthrie. Well, i need a people person, someone who can get these things to people who need them, make them feel they are with a safe and trustworthy company. All for a lovely price of zero, of course".
"Ye..givin' them away fer free?", said Rahne, cocking ehr ehad to the side in puzzlement.
"Yep", said Pietro, "i want you to start right away, Guthrie...well, right after your trip, that is"
Sam looked even more confused.
"Trip?"
Pietro handed him a pile of plane tickets.
"To Muir Isle", said Pietro, "want you're little girl here to get better right? Can't expect you to give 110% when you're worrying about your sick daughter, can i?"
Sam gawped at the tickets.
"Err...thank you, Pietro", he said, still dumbfounded, "wait...you ARE Pietro Maximoff, aren't you?"
"The one and the same!", said Pietro, pattiing Sam on the back before looking at his watch, "okay, gotta speed on, so much to do in one day! Oh...expect your deliverly to be here in a few minutes"
"Delivery?", said Rahne and Sam in unison.
Their question was answered moments later, when Fred arrived, dressed in his Santa suit with a bagfull of gifts for them all. Pietro, meanwhile had zipped over to Bobby and Jubilee's home, with a brand new SCS. They were pretty shocked by that alone, then only to have him throw a load of money at them, claiming it was to compensate for all the time spent without one. The last nail in the head was when he told them they were the first recivers of the free SCS provided by the Maximoff-Guthrie Mutant Protection Company. He left them in their shock, heading to the Mutant Shelter leaving Warren with 'A donation with a good many back-payments in it' and a brand new entertainment system for the children. As he left the Mutant Shelter, he ran right into Kitty, who frowned at him.
"STelaing money from the Shelter now?", she sneered.
"Not at all", said Pietro, before sighing, "Kitty, i'd like to say....i'm sorry...about Lance, about not attending his funeral...everything. But, id' like to tell you i won't rest until his killers are brought to justice".
Kitty blinked at him in suprise, cocking her head to the side.
"Oh....okay", she said, "you're not...sick are you?"
"Far from it!!", laughed Pietro, giving her a hug, "i'll see you later, Kitty, i have to visit my family".
Leaving Kitty doubfounded, her raced off to Pyro and Wanda's house, knocking on the door. Wanda answered it, her jaw dropping as she saw her brother standing outside.
"Pie?"
"Hey, Sis", said Pietro, smiling, "i..i was hoping i could join you guys for Christmas Dinner?"
Wanda stared at him for a minute, before brightening.
"Yes...of course!", she squeaked, moving aside to let him in, "come in"
Pietro smiled stepping in and giving his sister a hug.
"Hi, Lump", he said to her stomach.
"Who is it ho.....", Pyro trailed off as he walked out of the kitchen, stopping dead as he saw Pietro, "well, Bloody Hell".
"Hi, Bro", said Pietro, speeding over to him and flinging an arm across his shoulder, "once the football seasons' back on, you and me, Madison Square Garden, right?"
Pyro glanced nervously at his wife, who shrugged confused as he was.
"Er.....okay", replied Pyro with a nerous laugh.
"Good", said Pietro with a nod, clapping his hands together, "right, now how about that good smelling grub, huh?"
After he'd spent Christmas Dinner (and a good deal of time afterwards) with his family, Pietro left the house with a smile on his face. He'd loved it..he didn't know why he'd avoided it for so long. And he was pretty sure no one, not even Toad, could have matched Pyro's feelings for Wanda...he was a keeper.
"Hello, Pietro".
Pietro glanced up to see Rogue smiling at him.
"Oh...Rogue", he said, clearing his throat, "hi..i was just..err...walking"
"You were caught", said Rogue with a light chuckle, "Danielle saw you in the Shelter, giving all the stuff away, and Jason saw you at the hospital. They agreed all ya needed was a three-legged-puppy and you'd look like a hero".
Pietro shrugged modestly.
"Nothing wrong with a good deed on Christmas Day", he said.
"What's happened to you?", asked Rogue, furrowing her brow.
"You wouldn't believe me if i told you", said Pietro.
"Try me", replied Rogue.
And so, Pietro told her everything he'd been through. Every last detail. When he finished, Rogue was quiet for a long time.
"So you were haunted by four of our dead old friends, includin' ma'h brother, who showed you what you were...who you are an' what you'd become?", she said.
"It's the truth", said Pietro softly, "i know it sounds far-fetched, but it really is true. I've changed Rogue, completely....well...except for one thing. The part of me that never stopped loving you. A million Ghosts couldn't change that".
Rogue blinked at him.
"Well..err..yeah", said Pietro, "i'm gonna..go now. But just...think about what i said, please?"
With that, he turned and strated to trudge away, only to have a hand placed on his shoulder. He turned to see Rogue, who put a cloved hand on his lips and kissed her hand, the closest thing she could get to giving anyone a real kiss. She smiled softly when she pulled back.
"Okay, so a'h believe you", she said, "you were never inventive enough to come up with a story like that".
"Hey!", said Pietro with a chuckle, then looked up as snow flakes started to fall down, smugly pointing skyward, "now is that a sign, or is that a sign?"
Rogue rolled her eyes.
"A'h see you're ego wasn't changed either".
"Oh it was just...redirected", said Pietro, then smiled, "look, i have something i have to do real quick. I'll see you in the club in a few?"
Rogue nodded.
"Okay, but don't you go running out on me, Maximoff", she warned with a chuckle, pelting him with a snowball before walking off.
Pietro sighed happily as he watched her go, then zipped off to do his final deed of the day.
***
One more chapter to go folks! And yes, i am aware that Wanda is Jewish and thus wouldn't have Christmas Dinner, lets just say she and Pyro celebrate each others holidays, yes? Do review. Until next time....