You all LOOOOVED my Romy fluff, I am please to hear!!! w00t!! AAAahhhhh for all the romy shippers. Anyhoosle, this is the second to last chapter. Only one more left… and it's a doozy. Stick around, it will be great! Thank you so much for all of your wonderful reviews!! They make me so happy, and I love each and every one of you.
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"So… uh… How are you?" Kitty announced her presence from the doorway of Peter's room. He was surprised to see her as he looked up from his furious sketching while lying on his bed.
"Alright… I supposed." He answered timidly as he sat up, signaling her to come in. "How are you, Katya?" She sighed as she sat next to him on the bed.
"The same, I guess." She replied. "I mean… I would've… I would've killed him." She gasped at herself.
"Me too, Katya, in an instant." He tried to comfort her. She looked up at him and let out another sigh. Then she looked to the open sketch book he'd set on the bed. She knew the moment she laid eyes on it who it was a portrait of, even though she'd never seen the face before.
"No, I mean, if he hadn't done what he did at the exact second he did, he would be dead… because of me." She tried to explain.
"But he is dead, and not because of you." Peter continued.
"Because of Remy. And he didn't even mean to." She shot down his valiant efforts. "The irony…" She trailed off. Peter had nothing to say in response. "He's going to have to live with that for the rest of his life."
"I will not lose sleep." Peter mumbled simply.
"What? One of your best friends violently murdered someone and you don't care?" Kitty was disgusted.
"No, that's not what I meant." He tried to defend himself. "Remy is indeed my friend and I will be here for him if he ever needs me… and I know that God sees the truth in all of this. But you said it yourself, Katya, if anyone deserved to die, it was that monster. And while I would never condone merciless violence, this… this was an accident. It was fate. It happened and it cannot be changed." Kitty looked down at the drawing and put it in her lap. His logic was irrefutable.
"Does it ever make you feel like it isn't worth it?" She finally said, throwing him back. He had to think for a moment on how he would respond.
"Sometimes." Peter answered. "But I cannot let it deter me. You must think of all the good we are trying to do."
"See! That's just it: 'The good we are trying to do'. It doesn't really seem like we're accomplishing anything. Since the beginning, the brotherhood has hated us, then… y'know… you guys, the Acolytes, then rest of the world, the Nasty boys, Marauders and Infinites, and now this evil… evil… thing… that can't be killed, and the fate of the world is thrust entirely on our shoulders while the universe was trying to destroy itself for kicks! Things just seem to be getting worse." Peter listened to what she said, and grew disappointed.
"So you are saying there will never be peace? That mutants cannot coexist with anyone else? That Magneto is righ--"
"No! No!" She cut him off. "Not at all! I wholeheartedly believe in the professor's dream, I do. But it was never my dream. I came here to stop phasing through my bed in my sleep and stop falling through my chair in class. I never signed on to be a superhero. I mean, look at what's happened to me! It's almost turned me into a murderer! And then, back home, my parents are splitting up and my whole world is falling apart right around me, and there's nothing I can do about it because I'm too busy saving six billion people who all hate me! It's just… it's tearing me apart." Peter threw his massive arm over her shoulders as she began to cry. "Sometimes I just… I just want to be normal. I mean… why? Why me?"
"Because if not you… then who?" Peter whispered to her. Her tears slowed down as she absorbed his words. "Just think of this: Of the enemies you've mentioned, the brotherhood, the Acolytes, even Magneto himself, have fought along side you. The Phoenix fought along side you, and left. The Infinites… they have gone. You have defeated them… with your gift. You worry about the death of one man who had hurt so many… so many people you personally know and love, yet you question the value of six billion innocent, uninformed lives? Katya, you are a savior… Why not you?" She finally looked back up at him as he wiped her tears from her cheeks for her.
"I guess… I guess I never thought of it like that." She said. "God… I feel so selfish."
"After all that has happened, you deserve to feel a bit selfish." Peter reassured her. She forced out a smile but she didn't really feel any better. "What did Lance say when you told him how you felt?" His question caught her by surprise.
"Oh… uh… Lance… well, uh, I haven't really told him." She mumbled.
"Is that not something you should tell your boyfriend?" He asked her.
"No, it's not that… it's just… well, he's been so busy with the prof. getting things set up in Australia that I just didn't wanna… y'know, distract him, I guess." Kitty replied evasively.
"Oh." Peter said simply. "When he goes… will you go with him?" The way he asked sounded to Kitty as if he was afraid of the answer. It made her feel loved.
"No." She smiled. Peter smiled back, relieved. "Maybe that's why I'm shutting my self off from Lance. I know it's not gonna last forever." She sighed.
"You should enjoy it while you can." He advised her.
"If I learned anything from being away from home so long, that's definitely it."
"Will your parents be coming in for the uh… Thanksgiving… tomorrow?" She sighed again as she took the sketchbook off her lap and placed it gently back on the bed beside her.
"No. My dad threw his back out yesterday while he was moving out of the house and my mom's gonna stay to take care of him." She started to walk out of the room. "I'm going home right after the holiday though."
"Well, that's good." He said back.
"Who knows, maybe they'll, like, get back together or something?" Kitty replied cynically. Peter just shrugged his shoulders, not sure how to respond appropriately. "Oh, Peter, if you want to talk about… y'know… Illyana, I'm here for you." She said as she stopped in the doorway.
"Thank you, Katya." He answered warmly. She smiled back, then danced out of the room.
* * *
"What are you doing here?" Wanda scoffed bitterly, alerting Pietro and Pyro to Magnus' presence in the entry to her room in the med lab. Pietro faced her cross-legged, sitting toward the foot of her bed, while Pyro sat in a chair beside her. When they both saw him in the doorway, they looked at each other with fear, then they slowly started to get up. They both walked out silently, glaring at Magnus just as coldly as he glared at both of them.
"I've never felt I needed to explain myself to anybody before now." He finally answered her once the other two had left the room. She just scoffed at him impatiently and folded her arms across her chest. "Wanda, I--"
"You never expected I'd get my memories back, did you?" She interrupted him as he went to sit down in the chair Pyro had previously occupied. He was much less intimidating in his button down shirt and slacks instead of his cape and helmet. "Pyro and Pietro told me everything."
"Wanda--"
"I was getting in your way, wasn't I?" She interrupted him again. He was growing impatient, but his face remained stoic as he was determined to explain his side of the story, no matter how long it took.
"That's part of it." She finally let him answer. She was surprised by his response, expecting him to deny everything. "But also, I couldn't stand to see you suffer any longer for what I had done to you." She rolled her eyes, finally hearing the smarmy bullshit she had been waiting for.
"Why did you send me there?" As much as she tried to fight, tried to choke them back, to remain strong and angry, tears still welled up in the back of her eyes.
"I had to protect my children… both of you." He answered with a sigh. She just stared at him coldly, waiting for him to explain. "You don't remember that, do you?" She cocked her head to the side, confirming his suspicions. "Your powers were out of control. When I found you, you'd just come into them. You were ruled by your emotions. And with your potential, you were very dangerous."
"So I just got too difficult to deal with, and you just passed me off on someone else?"
"You really don't remember…" Her father continued, this time more aghast.
"Remember what?" She demanded.
"You were hurting Pietro." He finally answered clearly. Wanda was shocked at this revelation. "He probably doesn't even remember… It got to the point where he wouldn't come out of his room, he was so afraid of angering you." Wanda began to grow disgusted with herself. "After I sent you there, I felt so… so guilty, that I questioned my own qualifications as a parent. I sent Pietro back with the Maximoffs." They both paused, not knowing what to say next. "You always had great potential, Wanda… you still do. You could be one of the most powerful mutants on the planet one day. You're well on your way, now. But first you must learn to control your emotions… your raw power." She unfolded her arms and looked at her hands as she put them in her lap.
"Pyro and I are leaving right after Thanksgiving." She said, trying to change the subject.
"I thought things in Australia weren't going to be ready for a few more weeks." Magnus said, letting on a bit of surprise.
"They won't, we're going early. Pyro hasn't seen his family since he met you." She spat, trying to make him feel guilty the way he'd made her feel.
"It's a shame we won't be working together anymore." He said, not letting her win. She just scoffed at him again. "Despite the fact you will be working to protect the very thing I wish to dispel… I hope you will be happy." He said as he began to get up to leave. She just followed him with her eyes, not moving her head. "You get your humanity from your mother." He said casually over his shoulder from the doorway.
"Wait." She perked up at the comment. "Tell me about my mother." He stopped and allowed himself to smile before he turned back to his daughter.
* * *
"Mmmm… French toast?" Jean moaned as the sweet scent tingled in her nose. Scott set the tray of food on the table next to her bed in the med lab and sat down beside her as she opened her eyes.
"I figured it was about time for you to be waking up." He whispered. "How are you?"
"Well rested." Jean smiled.
"You should be. You slept for about a week." Scott said as he brushed her hair behind her ear.
"She… it… it did things to me that… well, it exerted me physically, mentally and emotionally… in ways I didn't even know that I was capable of." She informed him as he helped her situate the food on her lap. The second she was able, she instantly began scarfing down the French toast. Scott couldn't help but to smile at her.
"You're so… beautiful." He finally said.
"Please, I'm a pig." She retorted with a mouthful of food as she shoved more in. "I don't think I've ever been so hungry in my life."
"I missed you so much." Scott replied. Jean stopped, put down her fork, and swallowed the half chewed food in her mouth.
"I missed you too, Scott. The worst part though, for the longest time… I didn't even know if you were real or if I imagined you." Scott sighed, saddened by what she said. "And then I saw you, and I felt like there was nothing I could do. That's when I truly knew what I was dealing with. The Phoenix was in complete control of me. It was using me. The Hellfire Club manipulated everything about me. I was a prisoner in my own body. I was screaming and fighting with everything I had, but to the Phoenix, it was like I was hardly there at all."
"Wow." Scott gasped. "That sounds… terrible."
"No, Scott, that's just it." He cocked his head to the side, confused. "I never felt so… so… alive. I felt things I'd never felt before. I saw things… did things… I never knew I could. I mean, granted, I couldn't decide what to do and what not to do, but I was there the whole time." Scott was confused, but more interested. "I've been from one side of this universe to the other. I've gone where no man has gone before. I saw stars exploding that we wouldn't have even known existed for millions of years. I saw other races of people, living their lives, not knowing--" Suddenly, she stopped cold. Her face turned white as a ghost.
"What is it, Jean?" Scott asked, fearing for her. "What's wrong?"
"Oh my god, Scott…" She muttered, dropping her jaw. "I killed them…"
"What?"
"The other races… the stars exploding… I did that… I killed them."
"No, Jean… it wasn't you."
"It felt good, Scott, to crush entire solar systems under my power… I didn't try to stop it… billions of lives… and I enjoyed it… I…" Scott threw his arms around her as she started to cry.
"I don't know what to tell you." Scott said. "You can't honestly believe this is your fault."
"I got a thrill from their fear… the excitement of a new experience… entire planets of people… gone… because of me." Jean shot him down.
"I guess I just don't know how you feel. But I promise I'll be here for you, and you can cry right here until you feel better." Scott tried again to comfort her.
"I think that's the best thing you can do." She said as she continued crying on his shoulder. "Hey, Scott?"
"Yeah?"
"I love you." She mumbled into the crook of his neck.
"I love you too." He smiled back. "I missed you so much."
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She tried her hardest to muffle her sobs as she shoved things that were supposed to belong to her in a duffle bag.
"Carol?" It took a moment before Dr. Reyes' voice registered in her mind and she turned around. "You're leaving already?"
"Why should I stay?" Carol asked back as Cecelia took slow, cautious steps toward her, inside the room in the med lab. "I have nothing here. I have nothing at all." She said, going back to shoving things in her bag.
"That's not true--"
"She sucked me dry." Carol interrupted her. "The professor tried, but there was nothing. You know, you called me 'Carol' and I know that's my name, but it still took half a second before I went 'Carol… I'm Carol… she's talking to me'."
"That still doesn't mean you have to leave." Cecelia tried to persuade her.
"Whatever made me special… it's gone. I'm nothing now. I have no reason to stay here." Then Carol caught a glimpse in the window that looked into the next room and saw Rogue in her bed, Remy lying beside her.
"Carol--" Dr. Reyes said. She didn't have anything else to add, but knew whatever was going through her mind as she stole a look in the other room was not a good idea.
"Look at them." Carol continued, keeping her eyes on Rogue. "She woke up and he was waiting for her. She doesn't have a care in the world. And she shouldn't."
"Carol--" The doctor tried again to get a word in edgewise.
"She has everything I could ever want to get my life back. It's all right there, wrapped up inside her. She doesn't even want it. She probably won't ever even think about it."
"That's not true--"
"She shouldn't have to worry about it. It was my fault. The purple haired girl and the professor said so. I shouldn't be here as a reminder. It's not fair. I can't… I can't stay here and not just… not just hate her." As she spoke, she felt ashamed of herself. Cecelia couldn't help but feel sorry for her. "I can't watch her go to school everyday, sit across from her at meals. I can't watch her go on about her life…I…" She paused to sniff and wipe tears from her cheeks. "I can't even look at her without feeling cheated and bitter." She paused again to choke back a wave of sorrow that had balled up in her throat. "It's not fair to either of us. I can't stay."
Carol's words were harsh and depressing, but Cecelia knew they were true. She knew there was no way of persuading Carol, and that it would be better if she did go; if she went to look for whatever she was hoping to find.
"Carol, please stay." Dr. Reyes said, feeling it was her duty to try and convince her, not wanting to give up.
"Umm… I have the number here, and I'll come back, or… or call if I need anything." Carol went on, brushing off Cecelia. "Tell, uh… uh…" Carol couldn't remember the name she was looking for.
"Dr. McC--" Cecelia tried to help when Carol figured it out for herself.
"Hank." Carol said. "Tell Hank I'm sorry… tell the professor… tell him not to contact me." Cecelia nodded at her requests. "Tell them both… I said 'thank you'." With that, Carol blew past Cecelia out the door, trying to get away before she started crying again. Cecelia took a few steps to chase after her, but then she stopped, hoping Carol would find her way.
* * *
"Thought you'd be gone by now." Logan's calm, but brooding, raspy voice slightly startled Mystique as she sat on the edge of the roof watching Bayville bustle before her.
"Obviously I haven't" She retorted as Logan crouched down beside her
"Y'know, they both do this when they just need to get away."
"Who?" She asked without turning her head.
"Who do you think would take after you most?" He replied impatiently. She finally turned her head to glare at him, but went back to her gazing as she sighed.
"They're nothing like me." Mystique said. "They're better than me."
"Well… yeah." Logan said.
"Thanks for the compassion." She rolled her eyes, pulling up a knee under her chin, leaving one leg dangling off the edge.
"No, I mean, I thought that was the point of havin' kids… to leave the world a better place than you found it." Logan clarified. She looked up at him as she considered the validity of his statement.
"But this place isn't any better." She shot him down.
"Not yet… but it will be… because of Rogue and the elf." She just rolled her eyes again. "Look at it this way; they've turned out to be great people despite everything you've done to them. If they can survive havin' you as a mother, they can do anything." She just looked away, growing increasingly angry at hearing the truth. "Who decided to give you kids anyway?" Mystique looked up at him, her eyes glowing a ferocious yellow.
"Kurt's father is a long story… and Rogue… Rogue wouldn't have gotten anywhere near me if it wasn't for Destiny." She rested her chin back atop her knee and there was an awkward silence. "It wasn't supposed to be like this!" Mystique shouted bitterly. Logan could detect the distinct scent of tears in the back of her eyes. "I never even really decided I wanted to be a mother. Why do I feel so bad?"
"Maternal instincts, I guess." Logan said, not sure whether to put a hand on her shoulder, or try to look her in the eye, or whether to do nothing at all. "It's all animalistic."
"Maybe that explains why you're better at parenting my children than I could ever be." He looked up at her, shocked at the revelation, knowing it was a compliment in disguise; but she merely acted as if it was a simple statement she'd thrown over her shoulder.
"Mysti--"
"The Phoenix." She cut him off before he could respond. "She said you would be rewarded."
"Yeah." Logan nodded, taking a second to remember what she was talking about.
"This is it, isn't it?" She lifted her head to look back at him. "These people who all love you so purely despite all the bad things you may have done in your past. This is your reward, isn't it?"
"Yeah… I guess so…" He answered. "But it's not despite all the bad things I've done, it's because I've tried so hard to make something of myself… to do good for other people when I know so little about myself." They both paused. He waited for her to respond, but she said nothing. All he could see that was any indication of what she was thinking or feeling was a single tear rolling down her face. "Y'know, Mystique, you can always stay he--"
"I'm leaving now." She cut him off again, casually wiping the tear from her cheek, hoping he didn't notice. "Tell them… tell them I'm leaving them alone now… forever. I promise."
"Mystique…" He tried to stop her as she stood up.
"No, I need to go… get my life together. I don't wanna cause them anymore pain… just… I promise." With that, she morphed into a raven and flew away.
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Star-of-Chaos – Yay for the new reviewer!! Yay for the romy-lovin' fluff. I'm glad you liked it! Keep those reviews a comin'!
Rogue 151 – I know there's no 'a' in dressing… I was trying to accentuate her southern accent… I should have said that now that I think about it. Oh well. I, myself, am not really a stuffing fan… in fact, I hate it. But it is a really southern thang down here in Tennessee… but I don't eat Turkey though either… frozen pizza at thanksgiving dinner for me! Anyway, rambling about comics is never a problem with me! Planet X was insanely awesome, and Here Comes Tomorrow is really good too… I really recommend it. X-Treme is bugging me though, especially the art… Kordey make me wanna vomit, but I think I said that before. But after the Bogan arc, Marvel's discontinuing X-Treme X-Men and replacing it with a re-vamp of Excalibur and some un-named title. I can't stand the idea of Anna being Rogue's real name, even though they never said it was her real name, it's just an alias she happens to use quite often. I don't think they should ever reveal Rogue's real name. It especially shouldn't be Anna… that' such a cop out taking the name from Anna Paquin, her actor in the movies. Blech. I'm glad they're ending X-Treme, actually. And keep reviewing!!
Roguewanderer – No, huzzah to YOU! I'm glad you enjoyed the Romy fluff!! One more chapter to go, so stick around!!
Vynny – WooHoo!! Fluff lover!! It's okay to be slow. I… am… always… slow… get it?? No? Am I just being retarded? Okay then. I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter, and it's always good when people get touch those they love. *Swoon*. Anypoop, thanks for the review and keep it comin'!!
TMR – I'm so glad it made you happy!! Thank you so much for the wonderful compliment, I know there's no Rogue in this chapter, but I hope you like it just as much. Some Romyness coming in the next chapter… the last chapter… I still don't know about another story, I don't really have any ideas for one, and I've spent so much effort on this one, I think I'm picked clean. Maybe I'll think of something, you never know!!
Ishandahalf – Romy lovers unite!! I'm so happy the fluffy fluff made your day! More romy (not too terribly much though) to come. I hope you like this chapter too!! Keep those reviews a comin' supa fast!
Aimtbj – You gotta appreciate the romy to enjoy the last chapter. I'm glad it isn't sickening you, cuz there are some fics out there that get so sickening with the romy… anyway, I'm glad you like my writing, that makes me so happy!! Stick around, only one, big fat chapter left!
Sickmindedsucker – Yay!! Yet another new reviewer!! (Because you HAVEN'T reviewed before… *tapping my foot with my hands on my hips*… but yeah, better late than never!) By the way, I love your name, it's awesome!! I'm so happy you like my fic!! Did this come fast enough?? I'm sorry if it didn't, but I keep to a pretty strict schedule. All that's left is to Thanksgiving dinner, and oh so much will happen, you just wait and see!! Keep up the reviews!!
Sophie – You put me in your bio!?! I'm so honored!! (No sarcasm, by the way!) I'm glad you enjoyed the romy, it had been quite a while… and I'm sorry I lied, making you think you had to wait an extra week. (I actually didn't lie, it just worked out better, organization wise, to put the romyness first… I think I mentioned that, but I'm too lazy to go check.) Anyway, I'm so happy you like my fic so much!! Keep the awesome reviews a flowin'!!
Julie – You so made my day with that one. Thank you SSSSOOOO much!! The compliments mean so much to me!! I'm so flattered to be numero uno on your favorites!! You liked my romy so much you read it THREE TIMES?? Wow. With all the Romy floating out there, you read mine THREE TIMES!!! Thank you so much!! You always make my day!! Don't stop!! I need it like a drug!! Ugh, and I so wish Gambit was real… oh man… if he was… well, what I would do he was would be reported as abuse, so I'll refrain myself. But just so you know, you're not alone!
Just Because – Thank you so much!! I hope you keep reviewing!! I'm so happy you like my fic so much!!
And the rest of you who still read, but have never reviewed – I'm WAAAAIIIIITTTTING!!! There is only one more chapter after this, so you better let me know how much you love me!!! And just so you know, even if you don't review, I still love you.
