To Err is Human
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "You remember watching The Godfather with Dad? He thinks it's a documentary. You do not mess around with Italians and their families".
---
Joey Tribbiani Fan - Nope, the Friends gang never better on gender, but they've done alot more fun! For pregnant Friend adventures, see Season 1 for Carol, Seasons 4-5 for Phoebe and Season 8 for Rachel ;)
---
Chapter 12 - Bitter facts
---
Although the X-Men carried on the belief that the Inner Circle had gone into hiding for a while, nothing could have been further from the truth. Shaw gave a smirk from where he stood outside a room in one of his many safehouses, this one miles from anything or anyone.
"I am impressed that you finally captured a mutant", he said, "I was begining to doubt your abilities".
"This one was an easy hit for me", smirked Daniel, "family ties...and all".
He shot a look at Emmanuel.
"Unlike SOME people, I have no qualms about taking down a member of my family".
"Larva de inseto", muttered Emmanuel, narrowing his eyes. [1]
"What did he just say to me?", snapped Daniel, narrowing his eyes at the smirking Brazillian.
"Gentlemen, please", said Shaw with an amused chuckle, before frowning, "did you leave any loose ends?"
"No", replied Emmanuel, "as far as any family or friends will know, the mutant and her grandmother left New York to return to Italy".
"What about the old woman?"
"Oh her", Daniel gave an evil grin, patting his side where a firearm was concealed, "I took care of that...personally. There aren't many men out there who can attest to living out the dream of dispatching their mother-in- law".
"Very good", smirked Shaw, smiling as a young woman of around nineteen walked past, "ahhh, there you are, Tessa, my dear, come, I want you to meet our first.....recruit".
Tessa, dressed in the garb of the Inner Circle, nodded, following Shaw. She was his assistant and confidant, and had been for some time. Shaw liked her, she was loyal...and she didn't ask questions. The four entered the small room, looking at the thirteen year old girl tied to a chair, staring in defiance at her captors with her unnaturally bright green eyes, her black curly hair falling around her face. Tessa blinked.
"She is only a child", she stated.
"Yes", said Shaw, "todays cub is tomorrows tiger, don't you think?"
He walked over to her, giving her an amiable smile.
"Hello, Angelina", he said, "how are we feeling?"
Gina spat at his foot.
"Marcire nell'inferno", she hissed. [2]
Shaw chuckled.
"Ahhh, fiesty, I like that", he said, "not to worry, Miss Tolensky, we'll soon tame you".
Gina's eyes flitted to her uncle.
"You killed Nonna", she said.
"That old woman has interfered with my life long enough", said David, "I wanted her out of the picture".
Shaw smiled, walking over to a table and picking up a syringe.
"Do not be so upset, young one", he said, "soon all your suffering will be over".
Gina eyed the syringe wairily.
"What is that?".
"I'm glad you asked that question", said Shaw, "this is a great mix created by a brilliant scientist named William Stryker. Unfortunately, Mr Styker had...less than favourable ideas towards the mutant race, so I had to...dispatch him to get his formula". [3]
Tessa watched silently from her corner, her brilliant computer-like mind recording every single minute detail. Shaw walked over to Gina, tilting her head forwards.
"And I'm afraid this is where we say goodbye", he said.
He dripped the liquid of the syringe onto her neck, Gina cried out in pain as her skin hissed, a round scar being left in it's wake. Shaw let a few more drips fall onto her before the youngster slackened. He smiled, letting her sit up, her once vivid green eyes a much more duller shade. He released the ropes tying her to the chair, allowing her stand up.
"And now, my dear, your training begins"
---
Meanwhile, in their home, Storm and Forge were surrounded by hundreds of baby books.
"When you said you wanted to get 'a little light reading', I didn't think you meant the entire store", said Forge, flicking through a book.
"Hey, I'm completely new to this!", said Storm, "I wanted to be prepared!"
"Hey....the baby should have started kicking by now", he said, reading the book his was holding, "and she's getting close to hearing people".
"Yeah, I know", said Storm with a smile, putting her hand on her stomach, "come on, baby-girl, kick for your loving parents"
........Nothing.
"Let me try", said Forge, putting his hand next to Storm's, "hey little baby, do you want to make your mothers life more uncomfortable by squirming around?"
"I don't think she wants to", said Storm, then paused, "try singing to her!"
Forge blinked at her, before shrugging.
"Oh my darling, Knock three times on the ceiling if you want me", Forge started to sing.
"Aww come on, not seventies tunes", groaned Storm, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Twice on the pipe if the answer is no", Forge continued, "Oh my sweetness.." [4]
"HEY!", said Storm, blinking as the baby kicked, "oh my God, did you feel that?!!".
"Yeah!", said Forge, grinning from ear to ear, "wow...she kicked. And she kicked to a seventies tune!!"
"My daughter's a disco diva!", Storm wailed.
"Yeah, she is!", said Forge, beaming with pride, before noticing Storm's glare and clearing his throat, "I mean...oh no".
Storm glared accusingly at her stomach.
"Why?", she said, "isn't ONE seventies-freak enough?. I don't want my daughter to feel like she wants to 'shake her groove thing'!".
"Self hears singing again", said Warlock, peering into the room, "is Self- Carer-Forge singing the songs from the years of the seventy?".
"See?", said Storm, "'Lock takes my side, don't you Warlock?"
Walock cleared his throat, he loved both his foster-parents. But when it came to whom could pummel him the most.....Storm won hands down....but Forge DID have that techno-power...decisions, decisons.
"Self chooses to remain anonymous", yeah..that worked.
Forge arched a brow, before sighing, looking at his watch.
"And now I have to go to a stupid meeting in Stark Enterprises to assure them that I will get their latest gadget made for them", he said, ".....and try to persuade Tony to give me more money" [5]
"Play nice with the other inventors, Honey", said Storm with a chuckle, tossing him a book, "and read this!"
Forge caught it, blinking at it's cover.
"Seven fears expectant fathers face?", he said, "...besides not surviving through his wifes pregnancy?".
He quickly ducked as a gust of wind was tossed at him as he left.
"He's getting worse, I swear", she said, chuckling at Warlock, "you okay, 'Lock?"
Warlock gave a shrug.
"Still miss Max, huh?", she said gently.
"Affirmative", said Warlock, "but that is not what troubles Self"
"Oh?"
Warlock shifted his feet, looking down.
"Self is...unsure of Self's place in Self's family unit" admited Warlock with a sigh, "Self does not want to get in the way of Self-Carer-Ororo and Self-Carer-Forge's new offspring"
"Awww, Warlock" said Storm gently, putting a hand on his shoulder "you'll always be a part of this family. Sure you may not be the same species....or even from the same planet, but Forge still loves you to pieces and so do I".
"Really?", said the young alien, looking hopefull.
"Of course", said Storm, then grinned, patting her stomach, "besides, this baby'll want a big brother like you"
Warlock gave a small smile.
"Self could be a big brother"
"You'd be a great big brother", chuckled Storm, "now, you want to help me sort out all these books?....Don't tell your father, but I think I went a teensy weensy bit overboard"
---
"Come ON, Cal, admit it!".
Caliban hissed, trying to ignore his unwanted companion. Of course, Sidney was never THAT easy to ignore.
"Admit what?", he said.
"That you sing musical numbers when no one's looking", said Sidney.
"I do no ssssuch thing!", said Caliban, shaking his head, "you've been sssspending too much time with Feral again"
"She HEARD you singing!"
Caliban groaned, putting his fingers in his ears.
"Lalalalalalalalalalala. I can't hear you!", he shouted, closing his eyes.
"Sidney, will you please stop torturing Caliban".
Callisto sighed, leaning on her bo staff, Evan standing next to her.
"Awww, I was just being playfull, right, Cal?", said Sidney, punching the living mutant detector in the arm.
"Oww", said Caliban, rubbing his arm.
"Oh", said Sidney, pointing at Evan, "I have news for you. Your cousin-to- be is a girl".
Evan blinked.
"How'd you know that?"
"Easy", said Sidney, "your aunt told the X-Men, Kitty told Lance, Lance told Todd, Todd told me. It's a very delicate system of gossip".
"Oh", said Evan, smiling slightly, "cool"
"And Storm has a baby shower soon", said Sidney, "and if you don't come, Storm will, and I quote 'Go down into the sewers and drag your spikey butt up to the Institute herself'".
Evan chuckled.
"Auntie O is getting increasingly more violent", he said, "I'll go...even if it's supposed to be a big....girly thing".
"You promise not to skewer your uncle?", said Callisto calmly.
Evan looked inocently at her.
"I wouldn't do such a thing", he said, putting a hand to his chest, "you wound me with your words, fair lady".
Callisto rolled her eyes.
"The puppy face won't do you any good, Evan".
"Are you suuuuuuureee?", teased Evan nuzzling her neck.
".....They've forgotten we're here...haven't they?", said Sidney, arching a brow as the pair had a passionate kiss.
"More than likely", replied Caliban dryly, blinking as they sank to the floor, "....I'm going now".
"Right behind you", said Sidney, leaving Callisto and Evan to...well, "I really think those two need to learn the meaning of the term 'get a room'".
"Room?", said Caliban sarcastically, "you mean their tent?".
"That works too", said Sidney, "they could scare the kids"
"Sssspeak of the devilssss", muttered Caliban as Artie and Torpid ran over, bouncing excitedly.
Torpid waved her oversized hands frantically around, while images popped up above Artie's head. Whenether the pair tried to communicate, it took alot of guess work to figure out what they were trying to say. After quite a while of guess work, the Morlocks were world-champion-level charades players.
"You.....were playing", started Sidney slowly, narrowing her eyes in concentration, "in...errr"
"In...the abandoned tunnelssss?", tried Caliban, reciving a nod, "HEY, you're not allowed to play there!".
The two youngsters looked sheepishly, before Torpid pulled a chared something out of her pocket, handing it to Sidney. Sidney blinked, turning the item over in her hands, brushing some dust off it.
"What issss it?", asked Caliban, peering over her shoulder.
Sidney frowned, looking at the playing card in her hand. The queen of hearts.
"Gambit"
---------
[1] - Portuguese for 'Maggot'.....Emmanuel really doesn't like Daniel...he's probably not the only one.
[2] - Itallian for 'Rot in Hell'
[3] - X2, anyone?
[4] - 'Knock Three Times', by Dawn. If anyone has read some of my other fics, you'd know why this song was chosen.
[5] - It has come to my attention that Stark Enterprises could very well indeed exist in Evo-world. In 'On Angels Wings', when Rogue and Magneto are flying through New York, Rogue lands on a sign with 'SE' written on it. Coinsidence? I think not!....Besides, SOMEONE has to buy Forge's stuff.
You guys thought I'd reduced Gina to cameo apperances, didn't you? Oh, but I have big plans for her, yes I do. And yes, Rosetta is dead, add another to the death toll list...and another reason to hate Daniel. And didn't I tell you Gambit's involvment in the Morlock massacre would be addressed? Do review. Until next time...
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "You remember watching The Godfather with Dad? He thinks it's a documentary. You do not mess around with Italians and their families".
---
Joey Tribbiani Fan - Nope, the Friends gang never better on gender, but they've done alot more fun! For pregnant Friend adventures, see Season 1 for Carol, Seasons 4-5 for Phoebe and Season 8 for Rachel ;)
---
Chapter 12 - Bitter facts
---
Although the X-Men carried on the belief that the Inner Circle had gone into hiding for a while, nothing could have been further from the truth. Shaw gave a smirk from where he stood outside a room in one of his many safehouses, this one miles from anything or anyone.
"I am impressed that you finally captured a mutant", he said, "I was begining to doubt your abilities".
"This one was an easy hit for me", smirked Daniel, "family ties...and all".
He shot a look at Emmanuel.
"Unlike SOME people, I have no qualms about taking down a member of my family".
"Larva de inseto", muttered Emmanuel, narrowing his eyes. [1]
"What did he just say to me?", snapped Daniel, narrowing his eyes at the smirking Brazillian.
"Gentlemen, please", said Shaw with an amused chuckle, before frowning, "did you leave any loose ends?"
"No", replied Emmanuel, "as far as any family or friends will know, the mutant and her grandmother left New York to return to Italy".
"What about the old woman?"
"Oh her", Daniel gave an evil grin, patting his side where a firearm was concealed, "I took care of that...personally. There aren't many men out there who can attest to living out the dream of dispatching their mother-in- law".
"Very good", smirked Shaw, smiling as a young woman of around nineteen walked past, "ahhh, there you are, Tessa, my dear, come, I want you to meet our first.....recruit".
Tessa, dressed in the garb of the Inner Circle, nodded, following Shaw. She was his assistant and confidant, and had been for some time. Shaw liked her, she was loyal...and she didn't ask questions. The four entered the small room, looking at the thirteen year old girl tied to a chair, staring in defiance at her captors with her unnaturally bright green eyes, her black curly hair falling around her face. Tessa blinked.
"She is only a child", she stated.
"Yes", said Shaw, "todays cub is tomorrows tiger, don't you think?"
He walked over to her, giving her an amiable smile.
"Hello, Angelina", he said, "how are we feeling?"
Gina spat at his foot.
"Marcire nell'inferno", she hissed. [2]
Shaw chuckled.
"Ahhh, fiesty, I like that", he said, "not to worry, Miss Tolensky, we'll soon tame you".
Gina's eyes flitted to her uncle.
"You killed Nonna", she said.
"That old woman has interfered with my life long enough", said David, "I wanted her out of the picture".
Shaw smiled, walking over to a table and picking up a syringe.
"Do not be so upset, young one", he said, "soon all your suffering will be over".
Gina eyed the syringe wairily.
"What is that?".
"I'm glad you asked that question", said Shaw, "this is a great mix created by a brilliant scientist named William Stryker. Unfortunately, Mr Styker had...less than favourable ideas towards the mutant race, so I had to...dispatch him to get his formula". [3]
Tessa watched silently from her corner, her brilliant computer-like mind recording every single minute detail. Shaw walked over to Gina, tilting her head forwards.
"And I'm afraid this is where we say goodbye", he said.
He dripped the liquid of the syringe onto her neck, Gina cried out in pain as her skin hissed, a round scar being left in it's wake. Shaw let a few more drips fall onto her before the youngster slackened. He smiled, letting her sit up, her once vivid green eyes a much more duller shade. He released the ropes tying her to the chair, allowing her stand up.
"And now, my dear, your training begins"
---
Meanwhile, in their home, Storm and Forge were surrounded by hundreds of baby books.
"When you said you wanted to get 'a little light reading', I didn't think you meant the entire store", said Forge, flicking through a book.
"Hey, I'm completely new to this!", said Storm, "I wanted to be prepared!"
"Hey....the baby should have started kicking by now", he said, reading the book his was holding, "and she's getting close to hearing people".
"Yeah, I know", said Storm with a smile, putting her hand on her stomach, "come on, baby-girl, kick for your loving parents"
........Nothing.
"Let me try", said Forge, putting his hand next to Storm's, "hey little baby, do you want to make your mothers life more uncomfortable by squirming around?"
"I don't think she wants to", said Storm, then paused, "try singing to her!"
Forge blinked at her, before shrugging.
"Oh my darling, Knock three times on the ceiling if you want me", Forge started to sing.
"Aww come on, not seventies tunes", groaned Storm, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Twice on the pipe if the answer is no", Forge continued, "Oh my sweetness.." [4]
"HEY!", said Storm, blinking as the baby kicked, "oh my God, did you feel that?!!".
"Yeah!", said Forge, grinning from ear to ear, "wow...she kicked. And she kicked to a seventies tune!!"
"My daughter's a disco diva!", Storm wailed.
"Yeah, she is!", said Forge, beaming with pride, before noticing Storm's glare and clearing his throat, "I mean...oh no".
Storm glared accusingly at her stomach.
"Why?", she said, "isn't ONE seventies-freak enough?. I don't want my daughter to feel like she wants to 'shake her groove thing'!".
"Self hears singing again", said Warlock, peering into the room, "is Self- Carer-Forge singing the songs from the years of the seventy?".
"See?", said Storm, "'Lock takes my side, don't you Warlock?"
Walock cleared his throat, he loved both his foster-parents. But when it came to whom could pummel him the most.....Storm won hands down....but Forge DID have that techno-power...decisions, decisons.
"Self chooses to remain anonymous", yeah..that worked.
Forge arched a brow, before sighing, looking at his watch.
"And now I have to go to a stupid meeting in Stark Enterprises to assure them that I will get their latest gadget made for them", he said, ".....and try to persuade Tony to give me more money" [5]
"Play nice with the other inventors, Honey", said Storm with a chuckle, tossing him a book, "and read this!"
Forge caught it, blinking at it's cover.
"Seven fears expectant fathers face?", he said, "...besides not surviving through his wifes pregnancy?".
He quickly ducked as a gust of wind was tossed at him as he left.
"He's getting worse, I swear", she said, chuckling at Warlock, "you okay, 'Lock?"
Warlock gave a shrug.
"Still miss Max, huh?", she said gently.
"Affirmative", said Warlock, "but that is not what troubles Self"
"Oh?"
Warlock shifted his feet, looking down.
"Self is...unsure of Self's place in Self's family unit" admited Warlock with a sigh, "Self does not want to get in the way of Self-Carer-Ororo and Self-Carer-Forge's new offspring"
"Awww, Warlock" said Storm gently, putting a hand on his shoulder "you'll always be a part of this family. Sure you may not be the same species....or even from the same planet, but Forge still loves you to pieces and so do I".
"Really?", said the young alien, looking hopefull.
"Of course", said Storm, then grinned, patting her stomach, "besides, this baby'll want a big brother like you"
Warlock gave a small smile.
"Self could be a big brother"
"You'd be a great big brother", chuckled Storm, "now, you want to help me sort out all these books?....Don't tell your father, but I think I went a teensy weensy bit overboard"
---
"Come ON, Cal, admit it!".
Caliban hissed, trying to ignore his unwanted companion. Of course, Sidney was never THAT easy to ignore.
"Admit what?", he said.
"That you sing musical numbers when no one's looking", said Sidney.
"I do no ssssuch thing!", said Caliban, shaking his head, "you've been sssspending too much time with Feral again"
"She HEARD you singing!"
Caliban groaned, putting his fingers in his ears.
"Lalalalalalalalalalala. I can't hear you!", he shouted, closing his eyes.
"Sidney, will you please stop torturing Caliban".
Callisto sighed, leaning on her bo staff, Evan standing next to her.
"Awww, I was just being playfull, right, Cal?", said Sidney, punching the living mutant detector in the arm.
"Oww", said Caliban, rubbing his arm.
"Oh", said Sidney, pointing at Evan, "I have news for you. Your cousin-to- be is a girl".
Evan blinked.
"How'd you know that?"
"Easy", said Sidney, "your aunt told the X-Men, Kitty told Lance, Lance told Todd, Todd told me. It's a very delicate system of gossip".
"Oh", said Evan, smiling slightly, "cool"
"And Storm has a baby shower soon", said Sidney, "and if you don't come, Storm will, and I quote 'Go down into the sewers and drag your spikey butt up to the Institute herself'".
Evan chuckled.
"Auntie O is getting increasingly more violent", he said, "I'll go...even if it's supposed to be a big....girly thing".
"You promise not to skewer your uncle?", said Callisto calmly.
Evan looked inocently at her.
"I wouldn't do such a thing", he said, putting a hand to his chest, "you wound me with your words, fair lady".
Callisto rolled her eyes.
"The puppy face won't do you any good, Evan".
"Are you suuuuuuureee?", teased Evan nuzzling her neck.
".....They've forgotten we're here...haven't they?", said Sidney, arching a brow as the pair had a passionate kiss.
"More than likely", replied Caliban dryly, blinking as they sank to the floor, "....I'm going now".
"Right behind you", said Sidney, leaving Callisto and Evan to...well, "I really think those two need to learn the meaning of the term 'get a room'".
"Room?", said Caliban sarcastically, "you mean their tent?".
"That works too", said Sidney, "they could scare the kids"
"Sssspeak of the devilssss", muttered Caliban as Artie and Torpid ran over, bouncing excitedly.
Torpid waved her oversized hands frantically around, while images popped up above Artie's head. Whenether the pair tried to communicate, it took alot of guess work to figure out what they were trying to say. After quite a while of guess work, the Morlocks were world-champion-level charades players.
"You.....were playing", started Sidney slowly, narrowing her eyes in concentration, "in...errr"
"In...the abandoned tunnelssss?", tried Caliban, reciving a nod, "HEY, you're not allowed to play there!".
The two youngsters looked sheepishly, before Torpid pulled a chared something out of her pocket, handing it to Sidney. Sidney blinked, turning the item over in her hands, brushing some dust off it.
"What issss it?", asked Caliban, peering over her shoulder.
Sidney frowned, looking at the playing card in her hand. The queen of hearts.
"Gambit"
---------
[1] - Portuguese for 'Maggot'.....Emmanuel really doesn't like Daniel...he's probably not the only one.
[2] - Itallian for 'Rot in Hell'
[3] - X2, anyone?
[4] - 'Knock Three Times', by Dawn. If anyone has read some of my other fics, you'd know why this song was chosen.
[5] - It has come to my attention that Stark Enterprises could very well indeed exist in Evo-world. In 'On Angels Wings', when Rogue and Magneto are flying through New York, Rogue lands on a sign with 'SE' written on it. Coinsidence? I think not!....Besides, SOMEONE has to buy Forge's stuff.
You guys thought I'd reduced Gina to cameo apperances, didn't you? Oh, but I have big plans for her, yes I do. And yes, Rosetta is dead, add another to the death toll list...and another reason to hate Daniel. And didn't I tell you Gambit's involvment in the Morlock massacre would be addressed? Do review. Until next time...