Author's Note: No note, just read and have fun in my corner of the Marvel Universe.
Disclaimer: Funny story, I tried to claim the rights to the X-Men and some publishers tried to sue me. Looks like I'll never try that one again.
Interesting fact: In California it is illegal to wash your sink with oranges (Blue Laws).
The Damned, Episode 1
Chapter 3: New Home, New House
Marie rested her forehead against the cool window of the airplane. She'd never experienced anything like flying; it was amazing, she was above the clouds, birds, everything.
"Marie," Irene, who was sitting next to her, spoke up, "It is midnight, why don't you go to sleep?"
"But ah wanna watch the clouds an' the scenery," Marie whispered meekly.
Irene looked at the girl. Marie had only lived with the two women for two days so it made sense to Irene that Marie should still be shy. We'll have to work on that. "Alright, but if you want more pillows or something just wake me up and I'll show you where they are."
Marie smiled and continued her cloud watching.
One the other side of her Irene could feel Raven elbow her in the ribs. Looking down into Raven's laughing eyes Irene knew what she was thinking, that it was amusing to watch a woman who once swore she would never have kids interact with a seven year old girl. Oh well, I'll just work on my mothering skills. Irene looked back at the young girl, her eyes were beginning to close.
"Marie," she whispered, "lean back against the chair, it's more comfortable than the window."
Marie did as she was told. Her last conscious thoughts were of Caldecott County, Mississippi. She wondered what it would be like in their new home.
* * *
"Marie, honey it's time to wake up, we're here."
Marie's eyes fluttered open. In front of her was the bright shining face of Raven Darkholme, or rather Hillary Farmer. "Hmmm?"
"We're here in Caldecott."
The little girl stretched her limbs, feeling her muscles resist the pull of movement.
"Do you want me to carry you?" Raven asked, concerned.
Marie shook her head and stood up.
Raven smiled, "Of course not." Turning towards Irene she asked, "do you think he'll be on time?"
"He'd better be," Irene told her, "I am not going to try and get a cab in this city, they all smell like pork."
Raven couldn't help but laugh, "Pork?"
"Just trust me."
Raven took Marie's hand, "Marie you are going to love it here! The house we're moving into is huge and the area is full of kids!"
It took less than two minutes for the three of them to make it out of the plane, although it had crossed Irene's mind that they might not make it out alive, with the way people were pushing each other out of the way to get off the plane. "There he is," Irene announced, pointing.
Marie looked in the direction Irene was pointing. A man a little older than Raven was standing against a wall; all Marie could see was that the man was at least 6' tall and his hair was almost completely white.
Raven looked down at Marie then at the crowd. Worried that she might lose Marie in the crowd she handed her luggage to Irene and picked up Marie. Marie looked at her in surprise. "Just so I don't lose you in the crowd," she explained.
Irene struggled to follow Raven through the crowd to their waiting friend. As they reached him she could hear Raven greet him, "Nice to see you again Erik."
Erik shook her hand, "I could say the same."
Irene glared as Erik's eyes lingered on her girlfriend. "Yes Mr. Lehnsherr, nice to see you."
If he noticed the venom in her voice he didn't let on, "Ah yes, Irene, it is a pleasure to meet with you." Turning back to Raven he said, "Ah and this must be Marie."
He shook the girl's hand, "How are you doing?"
"Ah'm fahn," Marie said softly, absently noting the man's warm hands.
"So Marie how old are you?" Erik asked.
"Seven."
"Really? My own children are around your age, about to turn nine."
"So where are your children?" Irene asked.
"In New York actually," he replied, "I decided against bringing them down here, for obvious reasons."
Marie wondered what he meant, it was rather obvious to her that Irene and Raven knew, they nodded in some kind of mutual understanding. She found herself wondering, not for the first time, what it was that Raven really did.
* * *
"Cody get away from that window."
Cody winced as his mother hit him over the head with a rolled up magazine. "But mama ah just wanted ta know who was moving in," he told her with his nose to the cold glass of the window.
"Cody if ya want ta know who is moving in then go over there and introduce ya self. Ah didn't raise ya ta spy on people."
The little boy ran a hand through the blonde hair that had been genetically passed down from both of his parents. "Naw there aint a point, we're just gonna move tomorrow anyway."
His mother shrugged, "Just as long as ya aint spyin'."
Cody watched his mother leave the living room then pressed his face back against the window. He watched as two women got out of a cab, followed by a child, and an older man. Even from his house he could hear one of the women exclaim:
"Raven isn't this exciting!"
The other woman laughed, "Yeah it's huge!"
Cody watched as the girl looked up in awe at the majestic house. He wondered why the girl looked awestruck. Hasn't she ever seen a house before?
* * *
Marie gripped Raven's hand tighter for fear that the moment wasn't real. Was this house really going to be hers? She felt like a little girl she had seen in a movie, something about being adopted by a rich family. Of course that movie ended with the little girl dying. Marie shuddered at the thought.
"What's wrong?" Erik asked her. "I wouldn't think you could be that cold, not with everything you're wearing."
She looked down at what she was wearing, long sleeved turtleneck, dark blue jeans, gloves, and a jacket.
"Let me at least take your jacket," Erik said and reached down to help her out of it.
"No!" she told him, almost loudly.
The man pulled away as if he had touched a hot coal. He looked into Raven's eyes.
"It's okay Erik," Raven told him, "She just needs to...adjust to the weather." The look in her eyes told him not to ask any questions. Smiling at Marie she said, "Come on let's go see what's inside the house, you can even decide which room you want." Her smile grew wider as she saw Marie's eyes brighten.
* * *
Cody Robbins felt himself being released of his trance as soon as the family went indoors. As far as he could tell none of them were from the south, he hadn't heard any southern accents; then again he hadn't been able to hear the girl.
The girl. Cody shook his head. There was no use in thinking about her, he'd never see her again. His was moving to Birmingham, Alabama with his mother and father the next morning. The boxes piled up everywhere were proof of that. He sighed, nope never gonna see that one again.
* * *
"Marie will you hand me that box over there?" Irene asked.
The two were in the kitchen unpacking, well Irene was unpacking, Marie was watching.
The girl picked up the small box and took it over to Irene. She watched intently as Irene opened it, inside were several cups. One sparked intrigue in the girl, it had interesting designs all over it. As soon as Irene turned around to place some cups in the mahogany cupboards, Marie picked it up. Examining it she could see that something was written on the bottom. She strained her eyes to read what it said.
"Marie."
She dropped the cup. As it shattered on the floor the little girl looked up.
Irene reached over to the girl. Watching the girl shut her eyes tightly and wince as if expecting pain, she simply asked, "Are you alright? I don't want you to get cut by any shards."
Marie opened her eyes and nodded, "Sorry."
"It's alright, the cup was one I've been trying to get rid of for years. Raven's mother gave it to us years ago, I always thought it was horrid." Marie shifted from one foot to the other. "Tell you what, just find Raven and ask her where the broom is."
Marie nodded and left.
* * *
"So where do you want this?" Erik asked, holding up a gold lamp.
"Right over there," Raven pointed at a nightstand. Looking around she commented, "You know it's a good thing Irene and I decided to hire people to drive a U-haul down here with all our stuff, I'm not sure I could stand the drive from St. Mary to Caldecott." She wiped her brow, "Especially not in this weather."
"Don't you have air conditioning?" Erik questioned as he opened yet another box.
"Irene just turned it on but it'll take forever to cool down a house of this size."
Erik looked up from unpacking some of Raven's things, "Speaking of heat, why do you allow Marie to wear such heavy clothing in the summer?"
Raven smiled sadly, "It's a long story."
Erik shrugged, "So either tell me or make it short."
"Her parents, her biological parents, were abusive. There are scars all over the poor girl's body, she doesn't like them to show." Erik was unsure of what to say. "I guess that's one of the issues she'll have to work through in her required therapy. I'm planning on helping her through it as well."
"So, does she have any formal training?"
"What?" Raven asked, somewhat confused by the question.
"Does she have…" Erik tried to repeat himself.
Raven put out a hand, stopping him, "I know what you said. What would make you think I'm keeping her around just to be my lackey?"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. I just thought that it was rather convenient that you should adopt a child right now. What with your, our, plans…"
Raven glared at him, her blonde hair, blue-eyed appearance changing into a blue skinned being. "Is that all you think of me?"
"Raven I meant no offense," he insisted.
"Did you even once stop and think that maybe I adopted her because I genuinely care?"
Erik sighed, "Let's start over shall we?" Receiving no answer from Raven, except a death glare, he continued, "Does Marie have any schooling?"
Raven seemed to relax, "No, her parents never thought to have her schooled."
"Then I'll tutor her for the remainder of the summer," Erik offered.
"Thank you Erik but I can do that myself."
"But I want to help," Erik told her in a husky voice.
Raven felt a familiar pull towards her Polish friend. Shaking her head she regained her composure. "Erik you have to stop this. I have Irene…"
This time it was he who stopped her. "I know, I know. But I can't help myself."
"Raven?"
Both turned to look at the door, standing there was Marie.
"Yes sweetie?" Raven asked.
"Irene wants ta know where the broom is?" Marie looked from Raven to Erik suspiciously.
"Come with me," Raven said, "I'll show you."
* * *
"So which bedroom do you want?" Raven asked over dinner.
Marie, who was sitting next to her at the table replied, "The one by yours with the big window."
"The one overlooking the stream?" Irene asked.
Marie nodded energetically.
"Then it's yours," Raven told her.
"Stream?" Erik questioned.
"Yes, along with the wrap around porch and large yards, there is a stream running through our backyard," Irene told him, attempting to be civil.
Raven, noting the repressed hostility in Irene's voice, interrupted, "Marie how do you like the house?"
"I like it."
"That's good, and remember, if there is something you aren't comfortable with let us know." Marie nodded. "So Erik how long are you planning on staying?" Raven made it a point not to inject any warmth into her voice.
"Only for the summer, I have to get back to my children."
"So how are Pietro and Wanda doing?" Irene asked, truly curious.
Raven frowned, noticing the genuine curiosity.
"Excellent," Erik told her, "They're both adjusting to living without their mother."
"They don't have a mom?" Marie asked.
As soon as she asked she realized she shouldn't have. A look of misery marred Erik's face. "No, I'm their only parent."
For a second Marie could have sworn she saw the fork next to her plate move.
* * *
A few weeks later:
"Good, now what's this one?" Irene looked at the bored child sitting on the living room couch. "Come on Marie I know you know it."
Marie looked at the flash card, "X."
"Name a word that starts with the letter x."
"X-ray."
"Good, now let's try to get through them in our lightening round."
In a matter of minutes the two went through the entire alphabet. Irene looked at Marie's smiling face. "Congratulations Marie you have mastered the alphabet."
"Does that mean ah get a break?"
"Sure, but be back in half an hour for your math lesson."
Marie nodded and scurried off.
Irene couldn't help but feel pride. In just two weeks the girl had mastered the entire alphabet and learned to read. That one is definitely special. All of a sudden the mutant was struck by painful images; images of Marie as a grown woman trying to kill Raven; images of Raven crying over her lost daughter; and a final image of Marie with a sword through her chest. Letting out a cry she fell to the floor.
"Irene!" she heard Raven yell. She heard the sound of feet running toward her.
"Raven?" she croaked.
Raven knelt by Irene, "Did you have a vision?" she asked frantically, "Do you need water or me to call for help?"
Irene smiled softly, "Just help me back onto the couch, despite the price on this house the flooring is not very comfortable."
Raven helped her onto the couch, letting her lay on her back. "Now tell me what's going on, first you show interest in Erik's children then you collapse."
Irene winced, "I had a vision of Erik's children a month ago. Let's just say things were not well."
"And now?" Raven prodded.
Irene looked into her lover's yellow backed eyes and instantly decided it was better to lie, "More images of his children."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Raven asked.
Irene shook her head, "You know how I feel about talking about my visions…"
"I know," Raven rolled her eyes, "things should just happen naturally, no interference."
Irene nodded.
Raven felt like shouting, "Then why do you keep track of your visions in those books of yours!" She kept her mouth shut out of respect. Irene should be free to make her own choices.
* * *
Raven awoke to sounds of crying. Looking around confused she realized who it must be. Racing out of her bedroom she ran into Marie's. She found Marie huddled in the middle of her queen-sized bed, sobbing into a pillow.
"Marie, honey what's wrong?"
Marie looked up at her silently.
Raven sat on the edge of the bed and gently brushed the girl's auburn hair out of her eyes, "Did you have a nightmare?"
Marie nodded, tears still creeping out of her eyes.
"Come here and tell me about it," Raven held her arms out.
Marie crawled into the embrace comfortably. "Ah, ah, had a dream 'bout my family."
Raven's eyes burned with hatred for the girl's biological parents, "What happened."
"They found meh out here with you an' Irene an' took me back ta St. Mary…back ta that house." Marie buried her face in Raven's shoulder.
"It's okay," Raven whispered soothingly, rocking the girl back and forth. "No one is going to take you, I promise."
Marie sniffled. "Raven, will ya stay here with meh?"
Raven nodded and the girl scooted over to make room. As the little girl placed her head back against the pillows Raven spoke, "Marie, I bet no one has ever told you a bed time story." Marie shook her head. "I'll tell you the one titled Cinderella." Marie looked into her eyes expectantly, "Once upon a time in a land far far away…"
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Wow I did not mean to put so much Irene/Raven in the chapter but as I was writing it just felt like that was the way they should be written Alright, alright, I know I promised she would find out what Irene and Raven did for a living, it was supposed to be my last scene but I replaced it at the last minute. I'm in such a hurry to get to the chapters with action that I have to remind myself to calm down and let Marie have time to adjust to her new family.
Thanks to the reviewers, your reviews are making writing this even more pleasurable for me.
T: Well here you go, my 3rd chapter.
Rogue 151: ::grinning:: I'm flattered.
Tammy: It's a little after the fact but here ya go, here's what happened next.
Panther Nesmith: Glad to hear that.
LiLRoguE: I'm glad my fanfiction expelled you from the grand land of boredom (sorry I'm hyped up on sugar, I'm not making as much sense as I would like to be)
M. Masters: ::smile:: Thank you very much for the review.