Author's note: Sorry about the delay with the last two chapters. They didn't post until today. But hey here's another one... :-)
Chapter Four:
Start spreading the news...I'm leaving today...
Mary was humming the song quietly to herself as they emerged from the Holland Tunnel and into the city of New York. Remy was driving now, holding a map over the steering wheel and trying to find the quickest route to the Malloys' house.
"I want to be a part of it..." she sang softly, grinning as Remy cursed in French at several drivers who had for some reason or another broken traffic etiquette.
"Merde," Remy muttered under his breath, "Who teaches people in the north now to drive, I'd like to know..."
Mary chuckled but felt sympathetic, since she was very glad it was not her turn behind the wheel.
"Let's see if we can find a traffic report on the radio," she offered, and Remy sighed heavily.
"I know what they will all say, chere," he said bitterly, "Get out and walk."
Mary shook her head with amusement and searched the airwaves for a news station.
"...broken down in the north bound lanes," monotone traffic reporter said calmly, and they listened, and hoped for good news, "South bound New Jersey turnpike currently reports no problems and congestion seems to be clearing around all the tunnels..."
Remy scowled at the radio, "I'll believe it when I see it."
Mary continued to listen to the radio, since there was not much sightseeing to do right now.
"...and a series of overnight muggings has police baffled," a new reporter spoke up, "...They caution anyone in the area of Central Park to be particularly cautious if they are wearing expensive shoes..."
Mary jumped in surprise as Remy leaned on the car's horn and shouted something angrily at another car.
"Did you hear that?" she asked him, and Remy nodded.
"Oh, yes, I heard him," he replied, shaking a fist out the window, "I did not understand him though. I have no idea what language that was..."
Mary sighed, "Oh, never mind, then."
The news station went on to talk about other, more interesting news stories until a Hollywood gossip show began. Mary spun the volume down and leaned back with a huff of frustration.
Remy glanced over at her, noticing her sudden sour mood and he began to hum her earlier tune.
"I want to be a part of it," he sang with a grin, "New York, New York..."
He blared the horn again, and laughed aloud. Mary looked at him like he was nuts (a fact he would have agreed with) and Remy shrugged.
"Hey, it's better than disco, no?" he remarked casually.
Mary grinned again, "Yeah...way better..."
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That afternoon, Pyro was reclining comfortably on a soft in the living room, enjoying his last few hours of relaxation before his associates from the Brotherhood arrived. He was clicking his lighter opened and closed, a sign of his quiet anxiety, and flipping through the stations on the television slowly.
Andy Griffith...too wholesome... Pyro thought and sighed, Texas Justice...too legal... GeneralHospital...yikes, too much drama... Sesame Street...too juvenile... Fairly OddParents... alright... Fairly OddParents...
Pyro jumped slightly as the house's doorbell chimed. He was on his feet in an instant, expecting to see Mystique stroll into the room, but the bell chimed again. Rebecca had been sitting at a computer desk near the back hall and a bright smile appeared on her face as the musical notes played over again.
"I'll get it," she said and dashed out the door toward the main elevator.
Pyro waited for her to return with their guests, forcing himself to put his lighter in his pocket. He ran a hand through his hair and straightened his shirt. Magneto said to expect Mystique and Toad no earlier than six o'clock, and it was just after three. He heard the main elevator hiss open but frowned when the new arrivals stepped through the door.
"I have to say, chere, your home is beautiful!" the Cajun X-Man exclaimed as he entered the main room, removing his sunglasses from over his strangely colored eyes.
"Thanks, Remy," Rebecca replied appreciatively, and lead him and Mary into the condo, "If my uncle hadn't become a vampire, he'd probably have been an interior decorator."
"Vampire?" Mary said stopping dead in her tracks, looking around nervously.
Rebecca chuckled, "Don't worry...he might be inhuman but he's harmless."
"Le vampire," Remy said with an exaggerated dark tone, and then noticed the young man standing near the sofa, "Pyro! You have not found it very scary staying here, have you?"
Pyro was gaping in horror as he realized who the two unexpected guests were. Gambit he knew, and the other young woman he also recognized from Stryker's base but...they were X-Men...
He stared blankly at Rebecca, who simply continued to grin. She knew the Brotherhood members were on their way here...why did she look so damn pleased with herself...
"You knew," Pyro said suddenly, his face falling into a mask of complete fury.
Rebecca winked at him and called for her brother cheerfully.
"Oh, Sid! Our guests have arrived..."
"Which ones?" her brother asked, equally cheerfully.
Pyro's eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head.
"You both knew?" he asked, his expression shifting from anger to unbelieving horror, "Are you nuts?!"
Remy frowned curiously at the boy, "Are you alright, Pyro? You seem a little stressed. Miss Malloy! How hard have you been training this boy?"
Rebecca chuckled, "Come on, you guys. I'll show you where you can put your things."
As she lead Remy and Mary to their rooms, Sid passed them in the hall and entered the main area of the house, smiling pleasantly at the gaping young man. Sid was buttoning up the cuff link of his suit jacket and straightened his shoulders.
"You...knew!" Pyro shouted again, and Sid looked a little hurt.
"Only since this morning," he reassured the young pyretic, "Believe it or not, we didn't arrange this. The Professor called, and asked us to host for Mary and Remy. Then, you let us know Mr. Lensherr was sending two additional guests here. We are just trying to accommodate everyone fairly."
Rebecca stepped out of the hall, and stood next to her brother. Pyro put his head in his hands and flopped down on the couch.
"Oh, don't worry so much, St. John," Rebecca said, walking over and sitting down next to him, "We've had all day to plan an appropriate activity for everyone tonight."
"Like what?" Pyro asked doubtfully, and glanced up with annoyance as Remy chimed in.
"Oui...like what?" he repeated, as he and Mary came back out of the hall.
"It's a surprise," Sid explained, "We figured we'd stick with today's theme...surprises..."
"Excellent!" Remy said, "But, ami, I must know...Will it involve the opportunity to meet beautiful and available femmes?"
Sid grinned smugly, "Of course...I wouldn't have it any other way..."
Rebecca scowled comically and glanced at Mary, "Now I remember why the Cajun reminded me of my brother."
"Um...before we...embark on this surprise journey," Mary finally spoke up, and she looked seriously at the twins, "There's something I need to tell you guys about..."
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Mary finished telling the twins and Pyro about her recent dream and no one spoke as they absorbed the information.
"Disco?" Pyro asked incredulously, all anxieties about Mystique and Toad's pending arrival forgotten for the time being.
Rebecca nodded, "Yeah...that does sound like something Sid would be involved with."
"I do enjoy the music of the seventies..." her brother mused agreeably.
"So...what do you think?" Mary asked, "Ever heard of anything like it around the city before?"
The twins shook their head in unison, and exchanged confused looks.
"New one for us," Rebecca said, "Okay...forgoing surprises...we were planning to take everyone downtown with us tonight to one of the Underground's clubs. A friend of ours and his band are playing tonight, but we could also ask around to see if anyone's heard of anything weird going on..."
"Or weirder than usual," Pyro remarked with a grin, and then looked at the twins curiously, "Oz's band?"
The twins nodded again, but were entirely preoccupied now with the mystery Mary had presented them.
"Well," Remy began slowly, and then shrugged happily, "Disco monsters or not, I'm glad to hear of our upcoming outing. The Xs are terrific and all, but a Cajun needs to step out every now and then."
Pyro shot Remy a hard glare but said nothing.
Rebecca rolled her healing shoulder uncomfortably, "I still need to stop by the university today. We probably won't go to the club before nightfall. You guys wanna do some sight seeing with me until the others arrive?"
"The others?" Remy asked.
"Your good friend Toad and the lovely lady Mystique," Sid replied with a wicked grin.
Rebecca rolled her eyes, and then turned to Mary for a civilized response.
"So, what do ya say?" she asked, "Take a spin past NYU? Sid obviously doesn't mind waiting for the Brotherhood to arrive."
Mary nodded, "Sure...sounds great."
"I'll go get my coat..." Rebecca said heading toward the front door.
Remy clapped his hands happily, "University? As in college girls..."
"Med students," Rebecca reminded him, "Careful, Remy...they carry scalpels..."
