The X-men had convened in the War Room for their weekly mandatory meeting. They all loathed these meetings, including Cyclops. He swore the team members thought he had these meetings because he got some sort of perverse pleasure out of their boredom. "I'd rather be out on the town with Emma then have to review all of our mission reports," he thought to himself. He figured they thought he didn't have a life since he was such a stickler for protocol, but then again not many of his teammates saw past all of the pain he'd experienced in his life, so he didn't fault them. He scanned the room to see who was present. Emma was the only one not present.
He noticed the doors slide open and watched his lover emerge. "Lord, she looks tired." He whispered to himself. If there wasn't enough drama with the X-Men alone, the events him and Emma have gone through could make up for what's missing. She gave him a half-hearted smile as she took her seat next to him. Cyclops cleared his throat to grab everyones attention, "since we're all here, lets begin." Before he could even get anywords out of his mouth Emma stood up and spoke. "Sorry to interrupt Scott, darling," she started, "but I have a proposal that I want everyone to hear out. Please do not roll your eyes, just listen too me because I might have a valid suggestion here." Everyone looked at Emma, their interest piqued. She looked at Scott in a sort of pleading manner, as if asking permission to go ahead with her suggestion. Scott thought it must be something she deems important, because everyone knows Emma and she wouldn't ask permission for something, she'd just say it. Scott gave her a nod to let her know he did not mind one bit. She smiled and continued. "As you know we have all felt a tremendous amount of strain in our lives, both in the professional as well in the personal." It is affecting all of us and, well, we are starting to look like a storyline from 'Days of Our lives'. I don't know about you, but I shudder at the thought of living a soap opera life." She heard Logan snort at this comment. She raised an eyebrow at him and resumed, " Instead of giving you all the dirty details of what I have noticed for the last two months, since I know that we have all been witness to everyone else's problems around the mansion, I'm just going to get to the point of my recommended cure." She looked around at everyone. "I recommend that all of us", she waved her hand around the room, "should go on vacation."
"What!"
"Did I hear that correctly?"
"I don't know about you, luv, but a vacation sounds wonderful."
"I could do with a little R&R."
"Hmm, another excuse to go shopping..."
"Has to be some place where I won't melt."
"I think the world would be better off if you did melt, Drake."
"Shut your mouth, Summers, nobody gives a shit about your opinion."
"Boys, please-"
"Can I finish please," Emma hissed in a stern tone. The chatter died down and everyone focused back to her. "Lets face it people, some of us are experiencing hard times in our lives, for some they are almost earth shattering," she glanced to Rachel, then Betsy, then Peter and continued, "another issue to point out is that a lot of you are not getting along, and the strain is allowing emotion to get in the way of your jobs." Emma sighed, "this is my suggestion, plain and simple. I want us all to go on vacation together. We do not have to be around each other at all times, but to at least be in the same area. Maybe being away from the mansion would actually ease some of the tension around here on the teams. It will allow for friends who have not been able to be with each other in awhile, due to conflicting schedules, to socialize. It could allow for friendships to be mended, but most important of all it could maintain our sanity. I don't know about the rest of you, but all of this drama is about to make me lose it."
She sighed and sat down. She looked around and she noticed everyone was looking to others to read their faces. She noticed Kitty and Rachel whispering, Kurt and Hank conversing in low tones. "So what do ya think darlin'?" Logan asked Ororo in a quiet tone. "I do not know. Part of me says yes, but the other part tells me we have responsibilities. And you, what about you Logan?" She looked at him searching for an answer. He mused for a minute, letting it sink in. "Well after everything that has happened, I think I have to say I'm in."
"What about the institute?" Ororo asked. That is when Emma spoke again, "If you are wondering about the institute, well I can take care of that." I believe Cable and X-Force owe us a few favors. Between Danielle, Xi'an, Amara and Cables team, I think we'll have enough subs for the time wee need. If you are worried about curriculum, well simple. We'll have the students do research papers and projects. No specific classes. Instead we'll have them research their mutant powers, give us an explanation why they are helpful and/or harmful, and if possible how can their gifts benefit society. Really it can't get much easier." She looked at Scott, who surprisingly was looking interested in her idea.
"I'm in." Gambit stood up from the wall. "I want a vacation, or else I'm going to end up killing a few people in this mansion. Present company included." His eyes glowed in a sinister manor. "Well Cajun, I'm sure most of us want to kill you too," Logan growled, "but I agree with you. I'm in Emma." "Well if Logan is in, then I'm in my dear." Betsy said while looking at her nails nonchalantly. "Us too." Kitty, Peter, and Rachel chimed in unison. "Like I said before, if it's a place where I won't melt then I am defiantly in." Bobby replied. Slowly the rest of the X-Men agreed, with surprisingly Bishop be the last one to agree.
"The it is settled. We'll use my private jet to get there. Start packing people, we leave in two days." She looked at Scott, "I think we can adjorn this meeting, don't you think darling?" He smiled at her "I think that is a good idea." He stood up "meeting's done folks." He grabbed all his files while most everyone milled around talking about their new vacation. Emma smiled to herself as he walked to the exit. "Uh, wait, Emma?" She stopped and turned around to face Lorna, "Yes, darling?" "Where are we going?" Lorna asked, a bit nervous about the response. "Don't worry dear, it's a surprise."