Not Myself
By Princess Alexandria
"You don't have to drive me. The flight is pretty early, I could take a cab." Christy told her mother while they waited for dinner to be done. Christy's kitchen was now more organized than it had ever been, and all spoilable foods were going to a new home with her mother after dinner. In a move that she hoped wasn't wasted she'd bought a gift certificate for Safeway and it now sat on the fridge waiting for some poor Xman that needed a place to stay for a few nights. She'd also collected information on rental cars and other things she'd assume they might need. It felt a bit strange to leave the house ready for other people.
"No." Her mother sounded like she wouldn't budge on this. "It'll be months before I see you again." If then, Christy thought to herself, wishing she could just walk away for good, but not wanting to hurt this woman like that. "So I'm not going to miss the chance to drive you."
Christy knew when to give up. This argument wasn't one she'd win. "So the car people said they'd be by on Friday around three."
"And I'll be here." Her mother had offered to help when Christy found out that they couldn't get her car before she left and that they needed someone to be there to do it.
"Thanks." Christy smiled, feeling a bit awkward about asking for favors from a woman whose daughter she'd killed.
Once dinner was ready they sat down to spaghetti and garlic bread. "Have you heard from Robbie lately?"
"Yeah." Mystique had called to chat after she'd finished the mission she'd been sent on. Christy got the impression that Mystique wished Christy had gone with her, which was kinda nice. "She's doing alright, but she's traveling again."
"What does she do?"
Christy managed to answer with a straight face. "She's a business analyst. She goes to different places and fixes problems." It was a bit out of her mother's range of experience, so that topic died quickly.
After an awkward silence Christy felt she just had to know if she was doing the right thing. "She told me her brother is in a bit of a jam. His wife loved their dog, but he got hit by a car while she was away visiting her mother." She looked up to see some sympathy in her mother's expression. "Her mother was sick and his wife wasn't taking it well. She almost died. When their dog died he panicked. She treated that dog like a kid. He went to the breeder he'd gotten the dog from and actually found another dog that looked just like him. He even had the same temperament."
"She won't fall for that."
"But she did." Christy took a drink of her glass so she didn't look too interested in this story. "He did this months ago and when his wife came home she didn't notice. Now her mother's out of danger and he wants to know if he should tell his wife or just let her continue to believe it's Buddy. Robbie told him to not mention it, that it wouldn't do any good and his wife is happy with the way things are. She'd feel sick to know how Buddy died."
Her mother went quiet and Christy waited. "Well, I guess if she doesn't know it wouldn't hurt to let her think…" The woman trailed off the way she did when she was considering something. "If he really thinks she won't find out, I'd keep lying to her."
"I guess so."
…………
Annie sat on the grass with the sisters and Jessi while Erik and Jon played basketball with some of the other boys. She had her English book in front of her. The summer session was going to start tomorrow and they'd already been given their first text book.
"It's kind of weird how they set up classes." Jessi stared at her schedule. Annie glanced at it, and it looked almost identical to her own.
"Well, there are only twenty five of us that stay over summer break." The sisters explained. "And most of the teachers have already left as well. Ms. Frost and the other teachers that stayed divide up the summer session so that they can vacation as well."
"And that's why we get all day classes in one subject?" Jessi grimaced. "Come on, nothing is interesting for a whole day." Annie stared at the large block of time she'd be in Ms. Frost's class and had to agree. Well at least is she survived the two weeks she'd be free of that woman for the rest of the summer.
"Is Ms. Taylor going to be teaching anything?" Phoebe asked a bit hesitantly. Annie looked up and was surprised at how that seemed to bother Phoebe.
"I heard she was probably going to teach a few days, but she doesn't know what." Annie spoke softly and tried to smile comfortingly. "She's a good teacher, you'll like her."
"So Annie." Annie looked up to see it was Esme talking. "You excited your… teacher… is coming tonight?"
Annie sighed. She was, but a glance over at a slightly nervous looking Phoebe made her a bit ashamed of it. Christy had heard she'd started dating and Annie had felt a bit let down that Christy wasn't upset, then she felt like a jerk for feeling like that. It wasn't like she was doing it to make Christy jealous, but it would have been nice to… Annie didn't know. "It'll be nice to have her here." She answered.
"Yes, I wonder if she'll give demonstrations in the fall." Esme's grin was wicked. "That sure would liven up sex ed. I already asked Ms. Frost when we could try and sign up for that class."
"Yes, well I'm sure they'll let us know." Sophie interrupted the conversation and Annie gave her a grateful look. She really didn't want to think about taking that particular class from Christy. Unfortunately if Christy didn't get that job she probably wouldn't be staying, and if she did she'd be the only one teaching that class.
The front door to the main building opened and Annie could tell from where she sat who it was. The blonde in all white made her way to her car. Annie tore her eyes away and glared at the grass, pulling some up and ripping it apart. Ms. Frost was getting Christy and it just seemed like that woman was stealing all the other woman's time. Annie and the others should have been the ones to go, but that idea had been shot down rather firmly by Mr. Summers.
"I heard her on the phone making reservations at Jacques for tonight." Celene whispered. "That's only the finest French restaurant in Manhattan." The envy in her voice grated on Annie's nerves. So Ms. Frost could throw money at a woman, so what. It wasn't like she had a heart to give.
The tentative touch on her hand made Annie look up, into concerned blue eyes. Phoebe looked down shyly and pulled away for a moment. "I'm sorry that I can't…"
Annie's eyes widened for a moment. "No, no. I wouldn't want to go to someplace too fancy. I wouldn't know how to act." They were speaking more quietly, and thankfully the others realized it was a private conversation. "I doubt I'd like French food anyhow. I'm more a burgers and fries gal."
"I'll remember that." Phoebe smiled, "For Friday." Friday and there second date. The sisters had just gotten back yesterday and they hadn't discussed it since. For a nervous few hours Annie wondered if Phoebe had changed her mind. Annie smiled softly at Phoebe, glad that wasn't the case.
The sudden motion out of the corner of her eye had Annie turn to see Sophie standing up rather quickly. The girl was moving a bit too quickly for it to be casual. "Bathroom." Was all she said before moving to the path and the dorms.
Annie didn't like the way Sophie couldn't look at her when she said that. Her eyebrows drew together, puzzled. Did she do something to make Sophie mad at her?
…………
Sophie held her mental shields up as strongly as she could, knowing that one of the sisters that had tried to reach her was Phoebe, and she didn't want Phoebe to know how horrible it felt to watch Annie smile at Phoebe like that and not Sophie. Sophie remembered a time or two when Annie had given that soft smile to her.
It was bad enough that all Phoebe could talk about during their vacation had been Annie. Sophie wasn't ready to watch them. She really should have thought of that when she'd lied and told Phoebe it wouldn't bother her. Nightmare images of Annie ignoring her and kissing Phoebe haunted Sophie's dreams.
And how would she ever get time just Annie and her now? Even if she just wanted her friend, she'd be forced to spend that time watching Phoebe stare lovingly into Annie's eyes. What about when they got older. What if Annie and Phoebe were together for years, and they moved the healer into the girl's home? The Stepford's had already agreed to always stay together, that they could have a large house with five rooms and their lovers would live with them. How could Sophie pretend that it didn't kill her to know Annie was just a few doors away sleeping with her sister?
No, no… it was too soon to worry about this, Sophie forced her breathing to become something a bit more normal. More likely this would last a few weeks and Annie and Phoebe would break up. Annie would be gentle about it and there wouldn't be a problem with Sophie asking her out then.
Sophie ran a tense hand through her hair and sighed. She'd made a horrible mistake and no matter how long that relationship lasted, it was going to haunt her for a long time to come.
Emma watched Christy staring at the baggage claim with a smile. Christy hadn't noticed her yet and Emma was content to just watch the methodical and planned way that Christy positioned herself around the carousel so that she'd get her bags as soon as possible. A backpack was already slung over Christy's shoulder.
Emma walked up behind the woman and spoke softly. "How was the flight?" The quick turn and grin Christy gave her made Emma feel warm, welcome, and loved. All of which weren't common feelings for her.
"Long." Christy glanced around, but Emma ignored the crowd and leaned in to give Christy a soft kiss.
"Well, I'll see if I can make up for that. I made reservations for dinner." Emma smiled. "I hope you have something somewhat fancy to wear."
"One or two things." Christy smirked at her. Emma was prepared to go buy something if Christy didn't have something appropriate imprinted. "I had time to kill around a mall last month, so I expanded my wardrobe." Christy leaned in teasingly. "But if you want me to wear heels you'll have to let me lean on you or I'll fall over." Emma made a mental note to add walking with heels to the things that Christy needed to learn.
…………
Scott sighed heavily as he stared down at the class schedule again. What could he give Christy to test her ability? He didn't want to be accused of not being fair and he knew that accusation would be tossed at him rather quickly from several angles if he didn't figure this one out. Unfortunately, what they'd planned to cover seemed to skip over her areas of expertise. They had the computer lab down for the summer so that it could be updated. Only three student use computers were left up for those students without computers in their rooms.
The Sexual Education class she wanted was in review and there was no way it was going to get through that quickly with some of the radical suggestions she'd given. She wasn't being at all realistic with some of those topics, and Christy was going to have a tough time justifying them in the review. Scott knew for a fact that parents would have problems with some of the topics she wanted to cover. She really should have thought of how the curriculum would be accepted. He'd give her the gay sexuality, after Jean's impassioned defense of it when he'd complained while reading the proposal in bed he'd been forced to re-evaluate his position. Logan would probably back that up, Jean obviously would, as would Emma. The Professor was one vote he wasn't so sure of, and Henry, well, they'd see. With a class like this consensus was probably the best way to go, since they'd all be forced to defend it. If she abused this class he'd be the first one to confront her about it though. These were kids she was teaching, not a class of prostitutes.
"So why aren't you at dinner?" The soft voice of his wife filled the room. Scott looked up to see her leaning against his office doorway.
"I'm working on the class assignments for the teachers."
"Still?"
"Well without computers I'm not sure what to have her teach." The her didn't need clarification, his irritation made it clear who he was talking about. "We can't let her go with her lesson plans."
"She has a Bachelor's in Psychology with a focus on sexuality." Jean spoke with a bit of a deeper voice. "Did you even check her resume? She could teach something for Psychology, computers, Sexuality or Gender issues…"
"I wasn't sure that was her credentials and not the woman whose life she…" He stopped talking as he realized how stupid that sounded given the way both women probably had the same education. "Psychology huh?" He gave Jean an embarrassed smile in thanks for her solving this problem. If that were true she'd be a better fit at least academically than he'd thought. They already had a computer teacher and Scott had just assumed that this Sexual Education class was Emma's big effort to make Christy somewhat useful around here. It wasn't like that class was something everyone would be taking so it limited Christy's work load. Now if they had to hire her, Scott could at least shuffle Psychology away from Jean and let the redhead teach one of the other topics she was qualified for.
All of this depended on Christy passing the interview and test, which he wasn't so sure she'd be able to do, but he liked to have plans for everything. If Emma weren't in charge of Christy's Psych eval he'd say that would be where Christy's application would run into a problem, but Emma had already typed up her impressions and passed her. Scott had fought for that to be a part of the process since Christy had never been an Xmen, but Emma's cool and controlled manipulations took that responsibility from Jean or the Professor, although Scott wondered how lenient the other two telepaths would have been as well. Hopefully Christy didn't implode during the first crisis that came their way and start shooting.
Could he put it in her contract that she couldn't own a gun?
He put Christy's name next to two days of the Psychology section. She could work with Jean to figure out what exactly she'd get to cover.
…………
"Emma," Christy whispered to her date when they stepped into the restaurant and she saw the place. She didn't want to embarrass Emma, but she'd never been in a place this nice before.
"This isn't a test." Emma rested her hand on Christy's elbow. "I just love the food and wanted to share it with you." Christy nodded, but the dressed up waiters and diners made it clear that she should have considered the class difference between Emma and herself before and perhaps talked about it. The restaurant itself was elegant. Christy took a deep breath and pushed her insecurities aside. It wasn't like she was raised on the streets; she just lived there a long time. She'd adjust.
Christy followed the waiter to the table and felt a little out of place when he held the seat for her, but sat down like she'd seen on tv a few times. He then moved around the table to assist Emma.
After wine was ordered and their water filled he left them alone to decide on the meal. "Do you trust me?" Emma gave Christy a mischievous smile that screamed trusting her was a bad idea at the moment. Emma's eyes fell to the menu and Christy smirked at her. Clearly Emma was used to people who hadn't eaten barbequed rat among other things.
"Go ahead and order anything you think is best." Christy had learned to control that gag reflex years ago. She didn't know how adventurous the French were, but Emma wouldn't go overboard. When the waiter came to the table Emma ordered in French for both of them, and French wasn't a language which Christy knew so she still had no clue what they'd be eating.
Snails were delivered to the table shortly afterwards as an appetizer. It was interesting to see how they were supposed to be prepared. It was an improvement to eating slugs. They talked about the school, Christy's new apartment, plans for the meeting to review the new class proposal, while they waited for dinner. When the plates arrived Christy realized that Emma had been just teasing her, because the escargot was the strangest item the blonde had ordered.
…………
"Why don't you just tell her that you want her and let her decide?" Esme's voice startled Sophie, who'd found a quiet corner in the library to read rather than be around any of her sisters now. "There is no way Annie would pick Phoebe over you. Phoebe's such a little mouse." Sophie glared at Esme, tired of how Esme always said that about their shy sister. Esme moved to sit down beside her. "No really, just tell her what you want. I can't believe you just gave up like that when you could have won."
Esme's voice held a note of scorn, but Sophie was surprised to see some concern there as well. "I can't. I already told Phoebe it was okay, and Phoebe's so happy."
"While you're so miserable. You can't just give away women like this Sophie, and do you really think Phoebe's ready for dating? Not likely. She may only be an hour younger than me, but she's gotta be two years younger emotionally."
"She's just sensitive, that doesn't make her a baby." Sophie fidgeted in her chair. She loved all her sisters but Phoebe was the easiest to love, and Esme the hardest. "You're just trying to cause trouble aren't you? Phoebe would be devastated and you know it." Sophie glared at Esme, her voice getting harder as she built up her mental shields again.
"If you're going to be stupid about this, maybe I should just tell her this is killing you."
Sophie scanned the area and when she was sure they were alone her voice dropped to a harsh whisper. A mental conversation between the two of them would draw attention from their other sisters. "You do and I'll mention where Quentin got his drugs." Esme's eyes widened and Sophie leaned a little closer. "I figured it out. The times I noticed you taking a walk in the woods alone. The way you got so angry when Phoebe started to look through your chest for a book."
"What are you going to do?" Esme's face was red with anger.
"Nothing, since I haven't seen anymore drugs and that one inhaler in your chest hasn't moved since I came back from almost being killed." Sophie hoped that her sister had stopped dealing or using when her customer almost killed her sister, the evidence supported that. "But you leave Phoebe alone and I better not find any more drugs around the dorm or I might change my mind."
"Fuck you." Esme spun around on her heels and started for the door. "I was only trying to help you."
"By selling the drugs that started the attack or by picking on Phoebe?" Sophie called out after her. "Both seem really helpful to me, thank you so very much!" Sophie had planned to not bring this up, but there was no way she'd let Esme break Phoebe's heart.
Once she was alone again Sophie let the tears fall. It seems like her sisters managed to hurt her whether they meant to or not. A bitter thought had her wondering when her other two sisters would do something to break her heart.
…………
Emma took the backpack from the car while Christy got the other bag. "We have a few days before we have to go through curriculum review. Have you ever done that?"
"No." Christy's answer wasn't what Emma had hoped to hear. This was bound to be a tense one. Well, with Christy still not hired, Emma would get the majority of the questions anyhow. She'd submitted it as a joint project. Still, they all knew who was supposed to teach it, and Christy was going to have to be able to defend it as well.
"Then I think we need to practice." She'd play devil's advocate, since she could anticipate the other's concerns. It was hardly something she was prepared to do right now though. "There are three ways to get to your room." Emma took the main stairs for this time. "main stairs, the back stairs, which come closer to both our rooms, and the elevator. The elevator runs down from the teacher's wing so that we can move quickly in case of a mission and runs down to the hangers, medlab, and all the restricted sections of the campus. Once you're officially hired they'll add you to the list of people able to actually operate the elevator."
"Okay." Christy was paying attention, like Emma was her boss and not her lover. Of course Emma's tone might have something to do with it. Emma softened her voice and tried to not treat Christy like any other new employee. She also kept her concerns of how they'd key the elevator to Christy since Christy didn't have fingerprints. It would take a while to put in voice activation or some other system that would work for Christy, especially if they had to argue over how secure it was first.
"The attic has some left over paintings and such if you want to check it out. You're room is rather bare right now." Emma moved towards the door at the end of the hall. "Or we could go shopping." Her smile told Christy which of those options she'd prefer.
"I don't really need much."
"But this isn't about need dear, it's about want." The door wasn't locked so Emma opened it. "Go on in." Christy would see what she meant rather quickly. It was a bit smaller than Emma's rooms, with a bathroom a walk in closet and a large room that housed a bed and night tables on one side and a couch and loveseat on the other. There was an entertainment center with a serviceable TV and stereo, but Emma had upgraded the ones in her own rooms soon after moving in. The walls were white and bare.
Emma would have finished the room herself, but Christy needed to feel like this was her home. It was a more serious emotional connection that she knew her lover needed to a place after just drifting wherever fate sent her for years. Taking over other people's apartments, living in the other Christy's house, Christy never changed the décor to suit her own personality. It would be fun to take her shopping so that she could do that now.
Christy set her bag down and moved to the bed and the gift wrapped box Emma had left on it. Emma smiled at the curious look Christy gave her over her shoulder before picking it up. "Well open it."
"You didn't really need to…"
"You don't even know what I didn't need to do yet." Emma teased as she set the backpack down and moved further into the room.
Christy opened presents with a reverence that Emma didn't feel it deserved, but it showed better breeding than she was ashamed to admit she thought her lover had. Emma watched the bow hit the bed, slowly followed by the paper, leaving a small white box in Christy's hands. The puzzled look on Christy's face made Emma smile when Christy pulled the small piece of plastic out of the box. "It's a prepaid MasterCard. You should have enough to start decorating, or purchasing anything else you think you need in your room." To guess how much Christy would need, and knowing that Christy's tastes weren't nearly as expensive as Emma's, Emma put a fourth of the amount she'd spent on her own remodel on that card.
"Oh Emma." Christy's expression was a little stunned. "This is too much." Christy had flipped it over to see the note telling her what her limit was.
Emma moved forward and pulled Christy into a hug. "No it isn't. I want you to feel at home here. This is your room, not the other Christy's, not some long forgotten family's that fled the state, yours." Emma had gotten this response from other people in the past, and knew what buttons to push to get them to accept. "This is less than the interest my bank account earns in a single day. I'm hardly suffering to give you a few thousand dollars."
"It's five."
"So it is." Emma smirked. "Perhaps you should teach the math classes."
"Smart ass." Christy finally smiled. Good. It would have been continuous arguments in their relationship if Christy were the type of woman to not appreciate Emma's wealth. Emma had lovers in the past that thought they could get gifts out of her and lovers that didn't want her to spend more than they could. What she wanted was someone that didn't feel they needed to compete or wanted to take advantage of her. Christy sighed and looked around the room. "I don't even know where to start." Before Emma could suggest anything Christy gave her a questioning glance. "Can I paint?"
Emma just smiled. "It is your room. If you want to do anything short of knocking down walls or putting up walls you can. And if you did want to play with the walls you'd just need to get permission to make sure my room didn't collapse onto yours." Christy was tapping the credit card on her other hand as she looked around, clearly getting into the idea of decorating. "I have to teach tomorrow and then I have meetings tomorrow night and more counseling sessions with the students, but the day after I was able to clear so that I can take you into the city and we can do something about this place."
"If I went to the hardware store early I could probably have this place painted by dinner." Christy was smiling just a little and her words barely more than thinking out loud. Emma felt a bit of the excitement coming of her lover and was glad she did it this way instead of just offering to pay for everything. It seemed to go over better, because she knew Christy would have stopped at paint if she'd done it the other way.
"Let's go see your office." Christy looked a bit surprised that there was more. Emma laughed. "You can hardly expect to see students in your bedroom, I don't care what class you'll teach, it's hardly appropriate." Emma held the door open for Christy. "It isn't officially yours, so you can't decorate yet, but you know it will be. If you see anything while we're out shopping buy it and we'll bring it in once you sign the contract." They took the back stairs down so that Christy would know where to find it. "Now this is a standard teacher's office."
"So I don't get a bar like you?" Christy teased.
"No dear, that's for those of us that have to deal with the headaches of reports and statistics, along with budgeting and parents."
"Fair trade. Keep the parents and reports away from me and I'd be happy in a linen closet."
By the time they'd made it to the teacher's offices Emma could tell Christy was a little lost. "Don't worry you'll eventually learn the layout of this place." Emma pointed to some nearby offices. "That's Robert's office, be wary of toys on the floor if you ever go in there." She teased and got a small smile from Christy. "And this one is still vacant, but Charles is hiring a few new teachers for the Fall." One more door. "I placed an order in for this corner office for you. The office just became available recently and I didn't want to deny you windows on two walls. Sadly the view is of the basketball court on one side, but still it is daylight."
Christy glanced around. "This is more than enough room. You had me thinking I wouldn't get a bookcase in here." The desk and chair were atrocious, so perhaps once they got approval to move in Emma should leave another credit card for Christy. "I could even fit a couch and worktable in here."
"So this will work?" Emma had not been impressed with the size of regular faculty offices herself.
"It'll work just fine."
…………
Sophie watched Ms. Frost and Christy walk past the entrance of the library and sighed. Great, more competition for Annie's time had arrived. Just wonderful. She closed her book and put it back on the shelf, feeling her ability to concentrate had left her. She might as well follow Christy to where she was obviously heading and play and being polite. The woman did, after all, stand up to the Professor for her and Annie. Christy made it so that Sophie wasn't still trapped in the medlab.
"Ms. Frost." She spoke up once she'd gotten close enough to the couple heading towards the dorms. Following silently might have been considered eavesdropping. "Ms. Taylor." She smiled.
Christy's eyes traveled to the blue in her hair. "Hi Sophie. Just call me Christy."
Sophie fell in line. "But you're going to be a teacher here now."
"And my students are going to call me Christy." Sophie smiled a little, betting that Ms. Frost didn't like that idea. It was strange to have a teacher insist on being called by her first name, but Sophie was betting there'd be a lot of strange things going on in that classroom.
"We were just heading towards the movie room." Ms. Frost seemed to gloss over Christy's comment.
"I was going to see if the kids were available for dinner tomorrow." Christy smiled at her. "Wanna come?" Sophie didn't know what to say. It was so casual, like it was the most normal thing in the world to invite Sophie. It felt good for just a moment, until she realized that it would also probably be a dinner with Phoebe and Annie.
"Thank you, but I want to spend that time studying."
"Oh surely you don't think I'll assign so much work tomorrow you can't have dinner." Ms. Frost said, ruining her easy out for the evening.
"I really think Annie and the others might want some time alone with Ms. Taylor." She addressed Ms. Frost and knew better than to refer to a teacher by their first name with Ms. Frost.
"Well, okay." Christy smiled and put her hand on Sophie's shoulder, like Sophie had seen her do with her own kids. "But we really need to do something all together sometime. I don't want you feeling left out." Why should dinner be any exception, she was feeling left out in everything else important. Sophie managed a fake smile right before they entered the dorm building, but she decided to skip going all the way to the movie room with them and turned right to head for her room.
…………
Christy smiled when she saw them in the movie room. Finally she was here. "So I was thinking of dinner tomorrow." She announced and several eyes turned her way, but only four sets stayed on her. "You guys free?"
Emma had moved out into the hall to give her a little privacy to set this up before they left. It wasn't said but Christy assumed they'd make love tonight and that she wouldn't be trying out her bed in her room that night.
"Christy." Jessi was the first one to move and soon all four of her kids were off the couches and around her. "You're finally here."
"I told you I would be." Christy smiled, thinking of her promise months ago when she left them here and not the conversation on the phone about her flight date. "I'm a bit tired, I barely slept last night, but I wanted to take you guys out to eat tomorrow night so we could catch up before they put me to work." The kids might have some adjustments to make at that point, because Christy wasn't going to be as available as she used to be when they lived together.
"Sounds great." Jon smiled and moved up behind Jessi to put his arms around her. Christy's eyebrow raised a little as she saw the progress he'd made in public shows of affection.
She hugged them all and worried at the tension she could feel in Annie's body, but didn't say anything about it. "Okay. I'll be working on my room tomorrow, but if you guys want to come visit feel free. Just whatever you do make sure you're homework is done or I'll never hear the end of it from Emma." She teased the back of her lover with a glance before smiling at her kids.
Emma turned. "Students aren't normally allowed in the faculty wing."
Christy could see her kids didn't like that and honestly neither did she. She gave Emma a look, I won't have them feel like I'm nothing more than a teacher to them now. She sent the thought.
"I just mean that you'll have to accompany them to and from your room or they'll probably end up with a detention from another instructor." Emma spoke softly.
"Oh… okay." Christy looked at her kids. "Call me if you want to visit and I'll come downstairs and show you where I am."
As they made their way back to the main building Christy glanced around in pretend concern before reaching out and taking the blonde's hand. "I missed you." She whispered and smiled at the soft squeeze Emma gave her hand. They made their way to the top floor of the faculty rooms and into Emma's bed for the night.
…………
"You don't have to wake up now." Emma spoke softly as Christy rolled out of bed. "Just because I teach doesn't mean you can't sleep in."
"Thanks." Christy smiled at her before rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. "But I really want to be done painting before dinner."
"What are you going to paint the room?" Emma knew Christy had a plan, but Christy hadn't shared it yet. It would make it easier for Emma to know what types of stores to take them to tomorrow if she knew the color schemes and styles Christy liked.
When Christy's naked body was suddenly covered in jeans and a t-shirt Emma had to smile. It was a rather handy power and it was nice to see Christy was getting some control of it. The Professor might be disappointed that Christy wasn't at the point to copy other people yet, but it wasn't like she hadn't learned something.
"I was thinking of a light blue with a teal trim, but I need to check out the colors." Christy grinned. "Do you think I could get Mystique to come so I can color match her skin? That might make a nice trim." Emma just shook her head, remembered the way those two teased each other. If Emma hadn't been able to read her lover's mind she'd worry about all the flirting.
"Blues?"
"Blue is my favorite color. It makes me relax, and I could use that at night." Christy ran her fingers through her hair instead of brushing it and Emma felt a bit of envy as it all fell into place, obviously a less thought of use of Christy's shapeshifting powers. Mystique taught Christy a few useful things.
"Did you want to shower or would you prefer every feral on campus know you had sex last night?" Emma spoke teasingly and watched Christy's blush grow. "There should still be some hot water left."
"Maybe I'll take a quick shower." Christy grimaced. Emma had to laugh.
"Don't worry, I still need to dry my hair. I won't go to breakfast without you."
…………
Jean was seated at the table with Scott when she suddenly smiled as she glanced over Scott's shoulder. "I should tell her that she'll be working with me." She told Scott and did her best to not frown at his slight grunt of acknowledgment and clear irritation. He wasn't even trying to be polite to the new teacher and Jean was a bit embarrassed by it. Well, she'd just have to be friendly enough for both of them. "Hey Christy." She called out as Christy walked past them to get a plate. "Glad to see you made it okay."
Jean could see the woman glance at Scott, and the obvious tension in her before Christy took a step towards their table. Jean kept her smile friendly. "Yeah, aside from a little turbulence over Chicago all was good."
Emma softly touched Christy's elbow and Christy nodded, it was clearly a telepathic question. Jean once again felt for Christy and barely stopped from shaking her head as she got nothing. That shield was a thing of wonder. Emma moved to the table with the food and Christy stayed.
"You'll be working with me for your test run. Maybe we should go out to lunch and talk about it later today." It was Emma's turn at teaching so Jean had the day off and Scott was going to be busy with a class of his own. The students didn't all test into the same level English class.
"Excuse me ladies." Scott stood up. "I have to get to class." Jean watched him walk away for a moment, knowing that his class didn't start until Emma's did, so he had time to talk. He would have prepared everything last night.
"Well, I'm borrowing a car and going to the hardware store after breakfast." Christy seemed to be trying to figure out if she could fit Jean in today. It was a bit surprising that Christy already had a busy schedule. "I need to get my room painted today."
"Perfect. I could help you and we can talk while we work."
Christy smiled at her. "Okay. If you want to work I'm not going to stop you." When Emma came back to the table with two plates Jean stood up. "I'll meet you in a half hour by the garage." There were a few things she needed to do before they left.
Jean stopped at the door and turned back to watch the new couple at the table. The soft look Christy gave Emma made her smile. It helped that Emma had a lover, because Jean had been a bit concerned with the way Scott had been treating the White Queen. When she came right out and asked if he was having an affair he was insulted, but really… what else would she think? He hadn't been all that affectionate with her lately. At least now Emma was off the market. He said he hadn't, but now he couldn't if he decided he wanted to.
And what did that say about her marriage that Jean was counting on Christy to keep her husband faithful? Jean turned and finished walking out the room, not liking the direction her thoughts had taken her.
…………
"So you'll be taking Jean with you shopping?" Emma's voice was deceptively calm, but Christy knew her lover didn't care for that.
Christy sighed while Emma took a bit of her breakfast and thought about her response. It wasn't like Christy could avoid someone at such a small school if she wanted to, and Jean wouldn't be someone Christy wanted to avoid. Yes it was awkward, both because the redhead was married to the biggest dickhead on campus and because of the affair, but Christy liked Jean. "She offered to help. I'll just make sure not to let her pick anything out." Christy gave Emma a small smile. "I think her tastes are a bit different than mine." Christy barely remembered seeing Jean's rooms in the comics, but she'd bet they weren't the more modern style she, and apparently Emma, liked.
"I still want to take you out tomorrow."
"Oh, I'm just buying things like paint and wood." Christy wasn't going to do her main shopping without Emma, not when it was so obvious that Emma wanted to be a part of it, although Christy did wish she could get away with buying more at the hardware store. It wasn't as expensive as the places she'd assume Emma would take her. "They have tools here right? Do you think I could get access to the shop class?" Scott's class. Christy didn't like her odds on that.
"Oh, I'm sure if that's what you want." Emma's eyebrows drew together cutely. "But why would you want to build when you could buy? And what are you building?"
"I don't need a closet. I was thinking about converting it into a home office."
"Your other office isn't enough?"
"It's fine for work, but I'm not going to keep my personal files there or pay my bills."
"Not need a closet." Emma shook her head in mock disbelief. "It baffles the mind that a woman could even say that."
Once breakfast was over Christy parted ways with Emma and headed toward the garage. She could see Jean outside waiting for her when she got there.
As Jean drove Christy explained her plans for this shopping trip. "So let me get this right." Jean grinned while watching the rode. Christy could tell teasing was on the way. "Not only are you out of the closet, you're taking the closet out of your home completely."
"You know it girl." Christy shook her head from side to side as if making a big point. "Closets are horrible things and they have no place in my house!" Jean laughed, which was the whole purpose of the comment. Christy grinned at her, before noticing the hardware store a block up the street. Almost there.
"So you're completely naked all the time?" The sight of Jean pretending to inspect Christy very carefully made Christy blush. "I thought you said I wouldn't get to see that unless we were lovers."
"Yeah, well…" Christy could feel her blush color her cheeks. If sex weren't such an awkward topic with Jean she might have teased, but it just seemed wrong to think of Jean and sex at the same time. Part of that might be because those thoughts also lead to Scott and sex, which was a very uncomfortable topic for Christy ever since she found out about Emma's poor judgment. "At least you weren't around when I was forced to learn. Robbie made me walk around naked all weekend, and I think she liked that a bit too much." She'd already told Logan she had a teacher named Robbie, so she didn't have to pretend she hadn't.
"Shame I missed that." Jean chuckled. "I'm not even allowed to see your underwear."
"You're my gynecologist. I think you saw plenty already."
…………
"Now that's the power I wanted as a kid." Scott heard Christy's voice as he made his way down the hall. He could see her door was wide opened and the smell of paint was a bit strong. "Are you really lazy?"
"What?" Jean laughed. "No."
"Shame. It's wasted on you then."
Scott moved to the doorway and looked in, to see Jean using her telekinesis to paint up along the ceiling. The ceilings were a bit higher than either would have been able to get to with the chair they seemed to be using. Christy was watching for a moment before turning to face a half done wall. "I had all sorts of plans for what I'd do in class if I could move stuff like that."
"You don't have to tell me. I have students like that in my class." Jean looked so relaxed. He took a step into the room and cleared his throat. The way Christy tensed up when she saw him there didn't go unnoticed.
"How are things going here?" He smiled at Jean and glanced at Christy to include her. If she got the job he'd have to deal with her on a friendlier basis, and there was a chance she'd get it.
Jean moved the paintbrush back into the paint tray and then walked up to kiss him on the cheek. "Fine dear. Christy's a bit of a slave driver."
"As long as you know your place." Christy teased Jean and Scott's jaw clenched at the sexuality in that voice.
He glanced at Christy. "I wanted to borrow my wife for lunch."
"Why don't you join us." Jean offered and the look she gave him made it clear Jean wanted Christy to accept.
"No thanks. I'd rather keep working. I could have this wall ready for you when you get back." Christy's answer was a relief. He'd wanted to talk to Jean about team business.
The room had two and a half walls painted. The last with the upper portion barely started. "It's looking good." He said while taking in the room.
"Thanks." Christy seemed to stare at him a little too long. "When I get the trim painted it will really look good," Christy turned her head a little and grinned, "or when Jean gets it done I should say."
Once they were on the stairs Jean spoke. "She's really pretty nice if you get to know her. A bit flirty, but she's just teasing."
"She's flirting with you?" Scott couldn't keep the disapproval out of his voice. He'd seen it, but if there was more than that he wasn't happy.
"Well, at least someone does." Jean snapped at him and Scott's jaw clenched.
"I wanted to talk about the team." He changed the subject as he stepped out of the stairwell with Jean. "The Professor wants to train her as an Xman." Which he thought was a mistake, but if that's what The Professor wanted Scott wasn't going to argue with it. It wouldn't take long for everyone to see Christy wasn't cut out for it. He'd have them run simulation after simulation. She wasn't going out in the field where they couldn't control her.
"Well, perhaps Logan should train her." Jean's glare went ignored. "He's closer in powers to her and he doesn't want her to fail."
"What are you talking about?"
"You aren't fooling anyone Scott. You have no intention of having her on the team."
He just rolled his eyes, seeing how this lunch was going to be. He'd wait until they had their plates before mentioning the other teams. If she were on Ororo or Kurt's team maybe they'd feel they could control her, but Christy wasn't going on his team.
…………
Christy stepped back to look at the work they'd done. It looked good. "So what do you think?"
"I think that you have an eye for color." Emma glanced at the room. "If even works with the couch."
"Thanks." Christy liked what they'd done. Now… The phone interrupted her thoughts.
"Looks like your children are ready." Emma smiled as Christy answered the phone. Her comments became telepathic. I'll leave you to dinner then dear. Come up to my room for a drink when you get back.
Christy nodded to Emma while she talked into the phone. "Hello."
"We're all set. Did you want us to come up or are you just coming down." Erik asked.
"Well, I just finished a great paint job." Christy watched Emma leave. "And I'd like for you guys to know where I am. I'll be down in a minute." It was a good idea for the kids to know how to find her in case of an emergency. Sure the school was better prepared for one, but Christy still felt like her kids should be able to come to her. Living in a restricted section bothered her, even though she understood the reason behind it.
After compliments on the paint job and Jon's checking Christy's plans for the closet they headed out the door.
"But where are you going to put your clothes?" Jessi asked and Christy grinned.
"I'm a metamorph. Metamorphs don't wear clothes." She could see they'd heard of that particular type of shape shifter in class at some point. Surprised looks were tossed in her direction by all but Annie, who had proven yet again she could keep Christy's secrets if she were given them.
"But you're wearing…" Erik started to talk but Christy interrupted him.
"Nothing." She shifted her clothes from the jeans and tshirt she'd had on to a pair of slacks and a button up shirt to show them. "It's all part of my powers." Looks of awe made her feel much better than her training with Mystique had. Christy was impressive here, where she was just a rookie around the older shapeshifter. "I had a teacher living with me to teach me."
"That's a cool power." Jessi spoke up first. "Does this mean that you have more outfits now? You never had enough clothes."
Annie reached out and took the fabric of the shirt sleeve between two fingers and rubbed. "It feels like silk."
"Can you feel Annie touching you?" Erik asked and Annie dropped the sleeve immediately, with a blush. Christy gave Annie a soft reassuring smile. There was obviously still a little awkwardness, but Christy didn't feel like the teenager wanted to consume her anymore, which was much more comfortable.
"No, it feels like clothes to me, only they are always body temperature." She looked over at Jessi. "and yes, I have more clothes now, in a way."
"And you have a healing factor?" Jon asked, sounding a little confused.
"You're fully loaded, like a hot car, aren't you?" Erik grinned. Christy laughed.
"I hadn't planned to talk about this tonight." She made a decision. "But I'm an Omega mutant." She'd share a bit and clear the way for more if it looked like they could handle it.
"Shit." Erik stopped walking as he turned to stare at her. "An Omega, you mean like Magneto?" They hadn't even made it down the main stairs yet.
"Well, I don't have those powers." Christy looked around at her suddenly quiet kids as they stared at her. She felt a little like a freak with the way they seemed to be trying to see the power under her skin. To take the heat off of her she took a step back and shifted into a cape as well, blue. It was a joke when she'd tried it on. She bowed down in greeting. "Demise, mistress of form and death, traveler of dimensions and bleeder in none, at your service." She then tossed the cape out of her hand and shifted it back off while standing tall.
"Don't forget flower thief darlin'." Logan's voice was a surprise and Christy turned quickly to see the man grinning at her. "And if you kids don't get down the stairs and stop blocking my way you can add bouncing baby girl to the list as well."
"Ah… okay." Annie sounded stunned, but she started to move down the stairs again. Christy noticed her other kids follow suit.
"Ya coming clean kid?" Logan whispered to her once the kids were further down the stairs.
"Just about my powers." Christy watched her kids waiting at the bottom of the stairs.
"Kay, good luck." He moved down the stairs before her, so she followed.
…………
"Why didn't you tell us?" Annie asked after they made it outside. She was the first one to speak after Christy told them.
"I just did." Christy reached into a pocket and pulled out keys as they moved towards the garage. "I found out when you guys got here, but I was having trouble understanding it all. I couldn't explain everything and I didn't really believe it all." Annie watched Christy sigh and glance over at her. "And when I came back it was because you were hurt. It didn't feel like the time. I wanted to do it in person."
"Well, yeah." Erik spoke up. "You can't be saying you're a supermutant on the phone. What if the government found out?"
"Well that too." Christy stopped walking and Annie felt Jessi brush up against her back when she stopped too. "The power that makes me an Omega is hard to use and probably nearly impossible to control. I make portals to other dimensions, but it takes a lot of power to do it. I've only done it once."
"When?" Annie asked, wishing they weren't going to a restaurant, because all she could think of now was about what Christy just told them.
"The night of Genosha." Christy looked down and Annie felt the urge to reach out and touch her. It was clearly not a good memory. "It's powered by death, and people died that night." Annie just stared as Christy met her eyes. "I accidentally killed someone with it. I didn't have control of it."
"Oh God." Jessi whispered. "That's a nightmare."
"More than one." Christy's laugh held no humor. "I don't use that power, and I won't. I have enough with the shifting, I don't need it."
They all stood quietly in the driveway and Annie struggled to think of what to say. She ignored the awkwardness and did what she wanted to. She moved closer and took Christy's hand, wanting Christy to know it was okay. Christy squeezed her hand and gave her a grateful smile before speaking again. "So, pizza or a burger place?"
…………
Christy felt the quiet at their table rather intensely. The kids had offered support, but had been less energetic than she'd remembered them ever since she told them. It reminded her of how her mother acted when Christy told her she was gay. She wasn't what her kids thought she was. Hopefully they'd get over it.
"Are you going to be an Xman." Jon whispered, clearly worried that the group at the other table would hear them. Those people were too interested in their pizza to notice anything as far as Christy could tell.
"Not planning on it right now." She looked over the four pairs of eyes watching her. "Just because I have power doesn't mean I have to use it. I don't have to be a hero if I don't want to." This was her biggest point she wanted to make to these kids. Genetics wasn't destiny. "It doesn't matter that I'm strong enough to fight, just if I want to. That goes for you too."
"The Professor says that we all have a responsibility to this world." Jon spoke and Christy hated to hear that line come from his lips.
"Yes, to live our lives as we see fit. No one has a responsibility to fight or die, that's a choice. There's a difference." Christy sighed. "There is no shame in choosing not to fight." Not being able to tell them how she'd fought before lessened her message, but they all looked somber and thoughtful. They were hearing her.
"On the topic of choices," Christy smiled to try and make this a little less serious. "Seems there is no problem in Washington if anyone wanted to go home. I checked, and you guys are all still officially in the closet." She grinned at Annie, "Well, not you, but that's different. It isn't like you're on a big mutant list, just a big queer one."
"Oh my god." Jon's jaw dropped as Erik laughed. "I can't believe you said that."
"I missed you Christy." Erik grinned big, his teeth showing.
Christy took a drink out of her glass and grinned at Annie's stunned and slowly amused expression. "Take your time and let me know what you guys want. You can come talk to me about it… but I see pizza coming our way and I'm hungry." The proper order of things was restored. Her kids looked happy with the joking around that started at the table.
Even Jessi looked less stressed, and Christy had worried that the topic would upset her, since her father's jail time was ensuring their safety.