A/N: Okay, same deal as Children of the Moon. It just came to me last night. Unfortunately (or not) this, unlike Children of the Moon, will remain forever and for always a one-shot. Reviews (and flames, I suppose) accepted. John/Amara angst ahead.
Separation
Tap. Tap.
A curious head peered out the window.
"John?" she asked, moving to open the window the whole way. "What are you doing here? I thought you said you couldn't come until Wednesday?"
He climbed in the window silently, allowing himself a kiss before he pulled her to him and told her the bad news.
"Sheila…Amara, I'm leaving."
"Magneto's sending you on another job? But you just got back!"
"It's-it's not a job love."
"But-" sleepy eyes looked up at him, clouded with confusion. "Then why are you going?"
"He's moving the base."
She stared up at him, mouth slightly open but not working. She didn't ask him where they were moving the base. It was the one thing that had remained written in stone throughout their relationship. They didn't talk about their teams. Not ever.
John let go of her and walked to the window, staring outside. Amara watched his reflection, unable to decipher anything. His face was a mask of tight, constricting pain.
"John…" she whispered, sadness evident in her voice. There was nothing to signify he'd heard her, not even the twitching of an eye.
"John?" she walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. He turned suddenly, kissing her before crushing her to him as if she would disappear in an instant if he didn't hold on to her. Amara didn't protest, still recovering from the kiss, so full of despair, need and regret that it made her want to cry.
"Stay here with me." She begged him.
"I can't." he replied, voice husky.
"Magneto can't hurt you here!" she said, trying to reassure him.
"It's not that. I just can't." he told her.
"The others will accept you! I know they will!" she said, desperately trying to change his mind.
"They're my family 'Mara! Maybe not Buckets and Psychokitty, but Remy and Piotr are! I can't just leave them!"
"But you can leave me?" she demanded, voice cracking. "I get it. I'm not good enough to be family."
"Don't you dare go all princessy on me! You have no right!"
"I have every right!" she shot back, trying to get him to release her. John just tightened his grip.
"John! Let me go!" he swooped down and kissed her fiercely enough to bruise her lips.
"Do you think I'd do that to someone in my family?" he demanded from her. "Of course not! Because you're not family! You're- you're my heart 'Mara."
"John, I-I forbid you to leave." She whispered, voice breaking.
He laughed. "Love, could you leave your family, the X-Men, just because I asked you to?" he asked her gently.
"I…I don't know." She replied. "No. No, I couldn't."
"And I can't leave them 'Mara. You have my heart, but right now they have my loyalty." He kissed her hand gently. "I'll miss you, my fire goddess." With that, he slipped back out the window.
Amara stood at the window and watched him leave the mansion grounds, staring after him long after he'd disappeared into the distance.
Fin.