Gifts and Curses

By Todd Fan

Disclaimer: "I AM an alien. You got me, good. Yeah, but the thing is, my, uh, metal exoskeleton? I left that at home on the other planet. So, if you could please not blow me up, that would really be nice"

&&&&&&

Chapter 24 – Opening old wounds

&&&&&&

A few weeks had past, and Hank found himself trying to something that was almost impossible….getting his child out of bed.

"Come on, Toby", he said cheerfully, prodding the lump in the bed, "Logan won't wait for you, and you don't want to miss his nature hike"

Hank shook his head. For Logan, a 'nature hike' consisted of teaching the kids how to track and survive. He seemed adamant that five was the perfect age to learn such things as 'Stinkin' computer games mess up their heads' any later.

"Ten more minutes, Dad", groaned Toby, burying his head in his pillow.

"Okay", sighed Hank, "you asked for this, time for the big guns"

Toby ignored his father, trying to go back to sleep. Hank cleared his throat, launching into song.

"I am, I, Don Quixote, The Lord of La Mancha, My destiny calls and I go!", he sang, loudly, "And the wild winds of fortune, Shall carry me onward, To wither so ever they bloooow" (1)

"Daaaaaad", whined Toby covering his ears, "quit it"

"Hear me heathens and wizards and servants of sin…."

"Okay, okay!", shouted Toby, getting out of bed, "I'm up, I'm up!"

"Good boy", grinned Hank, heading out, "downstairs in ten"

"Ugh", replied Toby.

Downstairs, Storm was preparing her daughter for her trip in the woods. Unfortunately, Storm often went overboard when Imara was concerned, hence why the girl was currently dressed in about five sweaters, two scarves and a fluffy hat.

"I don't know", frowned Storm, "maybe she could use another layer of socks"

"Ororo, it's a day in the woods", Logan sighed frustrated, "she 'aint goin' ta the Himalayas"

"I can't put my arms down", complained Imara, where her arms were stuck straight to either side of her.

"You can put your arms down when you get back here", said Storm simply. (2)

Logan shook his head, muttering under his breath, glancing up as Warren walked in, trailed by Celeste.

"Ya don't need that much", he said to the younger Worthington.

Celeste blinked at her five suitcases.

"I over-packed?"

Logan took a deep breath.

"Only kids, they're only kids", he chanted under his breath, "you can't control the kids. Someday, but not today"

"Looking forward to the break from the madness that is having children?", asked Hank, smiling at Warren.

"I have to work", sighed Warren, "as always. Jason said he was going to use the time for 'sleeping' though"

"It's not my fault I keep waking Granddad up!", pouted Celeste, "why does he have to sleep every night anyway?"

Warren shook his head, nudging his daughter in Logan's direction as Toby sleepily walked down the stairs, tapping his cane out in front of him.

"Good luck", said Warren with a grin.

"Thanks a lot", said Logan dryly as Warren heading out, "come on kids, lets go"

The three groaned as they trudged after Logan, passing by Kurt as he headed into the common room, his tail drooped and trailing on the floor behind him.

"Kurt", Hank frowned, "I thought you were supposed to be headed back to Germany last night"

"Vhy bother?", sighed Kurt, hanging his head

"But…", Storm blinked, "What about the Priestho…"

"I'm not going back", said Kurt, heading inside the common room, "just leave me alone"

"Poor guy", frowned Storm.

"He's been through a lot recently", said Hank, "Amanda meant the world to him…this has all been a bit much for him"

"Forge has only just stopped moping now", said Storm, "and he still doesn't like talking about it"

"…Heh, we really have to get thicker skinned mutants, don't we?", said Hank

&&&&&&

Over at the Brotherhood house, Sidney and Todd were filling the others in on the plans Franck the newly dubbed 'Wedding Ninja' had made.

"And he says there'll be a pool of swans at the reception, swimming around a fake pool", grinned Sidney. (3)

"That is so cute!", said Rosemary.

Todd blinked at her.

"You think a buncha birds is cute?", he asked, "birds that are costin' two hundred dollars fer the day?"

"But swans are symbolic", said Rosemary, "they mate for life, they're perfect for weddings"

"That's what I said", said Sidney, "but somebody thinks they're a waste of money"

"They are!", protested Todd, looking at the guys for support, "back me up here"

"From a design point of view, swans are great", said Pietro, "they're white, everything to do with weddings works with white"

"Plus they do add some elegance", said Freddy.

"And you have swans on your wedding invites", said Lance, "so it's a theme"

"They can break a mans leg with a flap of their wings", grinned Pyro, "that rules"

"Oh, thanks fer the support", said Todd dryly, "I thought I was talkin' ta some men, not a glee club…and whatever the hell Pyro is"

"I'm a special", smiled Pyro.

"I think it sucks", said Wanda, "who wants a bunch of long-necked ducks around if you're not going to eat them afterwards?"

"See, Wanda agrees with you", said Rosemary

"Wanda hates all living things", said Todd pointedly.

"That's not true", said Wanda, "I like cats"

"Okay, Wanda hates all living things besides cats", said Todd, "same diff"

"Anyway", said Sidney, "everything's going great, it's less than three months away, can you believe it?"

"Can't wait", smiled Todd.

"I bet you can't", grinned Pietro, "puuuuuuurrrrrr"

"At least I have someone", smirked Todd, "how's Crystal?"

"She got another restraining order out on me", sighed Pietro, "….and she moved to Nevada…but I think she's coming around"

"….Yeah, Pietro", said Wanda, "keep telling yourself that"

&&&&&&

In Bayville Mall, Paige had managed to drag Jono out, with Jamie following miserably 'in case anything went wrong'.

I don't know why you've dragged me out here, muttered the Brit

"Because the Professor said you needed to get out more and not hide in the mansion as much", said Paige simply.

But I hate this, replied Jono, pulling his scarf closer around his face, I'd rather be where no one can see me

"Maybe we should start calling you Erik instead of Jono", smirked Jamie, "we can carve out a little river under the mansion for you and everything". (4)

Har bloody har har

"I thought it was funny", replied Jamie, then stopped dead, blinking ahead of them.

"What?", asked Paige, following the line of Jamie's eyes, "…what is it?"

"……Gina", whispered Jamie.

Coming out of a store a few doors in front of them was, indeed, Gina, hand in hand with another teen with long, brown hair in a pony tail…the Freedom Force member Kyle Wildfire, better known as Thunderbolt. Jamie narrowed his eyes, heading after the pair.

See? I told you someone would end up dead, quipped Jono.

"Shut up, Chamber", snapped Paige, running after Jamie.

Jono sighed, rolling his eyes, following after her. By then, Jamie had caught up to Gina and Kyle.

"Gina?"

The Italian-American girl spun around, blinking in shock as she clapped eyes on her former beau.

"Jamie?", she smiled, then shifted slightly nervously, "…hi….it's been a while"

"Yeah", Jamie paused, "…where have you been? No one knew where you were…"

"I…I joined Freedom Force.. a few years back", said Gina, "it gave me somewhere to belong….so I could get myself sorted, you know?" (5)

Kyle chose that moment to get involved, grinning and holding out a hand.

"Kyle Wildfire", he said, "The Thunderbolt is pleased to meet you"

Jamie blinked at the offered hand, then chose to ignore it.

"I know who you are", he said simply, then looked at Gina again, "so you've been around all this time…and you didn't tell me?"

"I…couldn't", said Gina, "I needed to find time to figure things out, get myself of the right track"

She sighed,

"…And then I met Kyle and we got…", she sighed, looking at Kyle's hand, which she was still holding, "…well, we got close"

Jamie narrowed his eyes.

"I could deal with the fact that a tornado swept through my family's farm, taking with it my home and family, leaving me a complete and utter orphan", he said, "but I could only deal with that because I clung to this tiny little hope that eventually you'd come back"

He frowned, looking away.

"Obviously, karma has chosen to bite me in the butt again".

"I….I'm sorry, Jamie", said Gina softly, "I didn't know what happened to your family…"

"Of course you didn't", said Jamie snidely, "you never bothered to contact me. Nothing. Not so much as a letter, a phone call, a postcard, anything, Gina. Not even the smallest sign that you were still out there, somewhere"

"Jamie….I didn't want you getting caught up in my problems", she said, "I was going through a tough time.."

"I was your boyfriend, I would have helped you though it", said Jamie, "I love you, Gina, I have since the moment I clapped eyes on you"

He sighed, glancing over at Kyle.

"Obviously, you never felt the same"

"I did, Jamie, really", said Gina, "but I had to move on"

"Out with the old, in with the new, huh?", he said, hurt, "The guy talks in third person. He's worse than Gambit….and that's saying something"

"At least the Thunderbolt isn't a misery guts with a real multiple personality", snickered Kyle, earning a glare from Jamie.

"I moved on, Jamie", said Gina softly, "it happens….I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you in any way. We can always have a coffee or something as friends…"

"Yeah….whatever", said Jamie, turning around and stalking away, "don't do me any favors"

"Jamie…", started Paige, starting to follow him.

"Just leave me alone", snapped Jamie, stalking off.

I don't know what you see in him, said Jono, stopping beside her, why bother with him? He isn't interested

"You can't help who you have feelings for you know, Jono", said Paige with a frown, walking off after Jamie.

Don't I know it, said Jono with a sigh, following after her.

&&&&&&

"And this is the track of a squirrel", said Logan, "ya can tell by the…"

He trailed off, looking around, the only kid still with him was Toby, who was listening intently.

"Where did the other two go?", asked Logan.

"They're gone?", blinked Toby.

"Only kids, only kids", chanted Logan, plucking Toby up and holding him in the crook of his arm as the headed off after Imara and Celeste.

It didn't take long to find them. Imara was sitting at the base of a rock, where Celeste was at the top. Toby tilted his head form his odd position as Celeste started to sing 'The Ride of the Valkeries'. Very loudly.

"Da de da da da , da de da da da, da de da da da, da de de daaahhh!"

"Celeste, NO!", shouted Logan, putting Toby on the floor and making a desperate leap towards the winged girl.

Celeste gave a squeak of surprise, tumbling from her perch and heading to the bottom of the rock. She flapped her tiny wings desperately, her descent beginning to slow. She opened one eye, grinning as she flapped her wings harder, rising instead of falling.

"I'm flying!", she shouted, "look at me, look at me! I'M FLYING!"

"Is she?", asked Toby, "or is she just pulling my leg again?"

"No, she's flying", grinned Imara, "you, go, girl!"

"Only kids, only kids, only kids", said Logan, taking a deep breath, before looking up, "Celeste, get down, now"

"No", said Celeste, "you have to ask me nicely"

Logan twitched, growling before bearing his teeth in what he would later call a 'smile'.

"Celeste, sweetheart, would ya please come ta earth now?", he said through gritted teeth, "please?"

"No", said Celeste, hovering next to him, "don't want to"

Logan growled, making a grab for her, Celeste swerving out of his way.

"Missed me!", she giggled, "you're sloooooooowww Unkie Logan"

"Onlykidsonlykidsonlykidsonlykidsonlykids"

"Unkie Logan", said Imara, tugging his jeans leg, "you don't look so good"

"Unkie Logan needs to go home now", said Logan, plucking up Toby and Imara, "Unkie Logan needs a very large amount of alcohol"

Celeste giggled, flying after him as he stormed his way back to the X-Van, muttering 'only kids' all the way.

&&&&&&

In New York, the New Mutants were finally reunited with Sam and Rahne, and were bundled up against the cold (bar Warlock, of course) of the approaching December weather.

"It's time like this, I miss Brazil", said Roberto miserably, looking up at the cloudy sky.

"Maybe you should go back there", offered Rahne with a smirk, "it'll save us listening tae ye whine all winter"

Roberto muttered something in Portuguese under his breath, then blinked up.

"Would you look at that"

A short woman was walking past. Her pink-hair had that wind-swept look to it, while every curve of her body seemed sculpted perfectly. She wore a very revealing dress, and seemed not bothered by the cold a bit.

"Man, where do women like that come from?", said Roberto in amazement.

"Switzerland", said Sam pointedly.

"A little further than Switzerland", said Warlock, arching his brow at the newcomer.

"I don't care", smiled Roberto, "she is hot!"

"Roberto!", chided Rahne, "what about Dani?"

"Mmm?", blinked Roberto, then shook his head clear, "pardon?"

"She is out of your league anyway", said Warlock simply, "besides, she is a larvae. It would be considered cradle robbing"

"Larvae?", blinked Roberto, "'Lock, I know you have Doug, but come on, you have to admit, she is very hot looking. How can you call her a 'larvae'?"

"Because she is", said Warlock, then sighed, "she is special like I amspecial"

"You mean..", Tabby blinked, "she's an alien?"

"No, she's too hot to be an alien", said Roberto with a smirk.

"Oh gee, thanks", said Warlock dryly, "I feel so loved"

"Shouldn't you be…", Rahne shrugged, "welcoming her to Earth or something?"

"No", said Warlock, "do you realize how many alien life forms arrive on this planet a day? I can not greet them all. Besides, my race is feared and hated, remember?"

"Well, I'M going to greet her to Earth", said Roberto, waving a hand, "hey, over here, heelooooooooo!"

Tabby groaned, rolling her eyes. She had finally come clean to the rest of the team about her.. predicament, and was surprised to find Rahne and Warlock already knew, thanks to their sense of smell and ability to detect life-form, respectively, The pair had chosen to be politely quiet about the subject until she brought it up herself.

"Dani is going to kill you", she muttered.

The alien woman smiled, walking over.

"Hello", she smiled, then chuckled at them, "look at you, talking monkeys, how cute"

"Charming", said Ray dryly.

"Well, they said Earth was a party town but…", she paused, glancing over at Warlock, before giving a scream of terror, backing away.

"Technarc! Technarc!"

Warlock rolled his eyes.

"Oh come on", he said, "if I wanted to kill you, I would have done it already"

"Y….you're Prince Warlock", she gasped.

"My reputation precedes me", said Warlock dryly.

The female alien, however, smiled happily.

"It's an honor to meet you. You proved to those of us in slavery, or kept down to the ground that we could rise up, and claim our freedom", she said, giving a courtesy, "your Highness"

"….Please do not do that", said Warlock, shifting uneasily.

"And you are?", asked Rahne, arching a brow.

"Gosamyr", she replied, "I have recently escaped from Spyder's slave camp. I've been skipping planets for a while now. I think I finally lost him"

"…There are slaves camps in space?", blinked Sam.

"Plenty it is a lucrative business", said Warlock, then arched a brow at Gosamyr, "and how, exactly, did you escape from one of the most notorious slave-masters in the universe?"

"I stole a space yaught", said Gosamyr, "all my family are still trapped there….I had no choice but to leave them"

She sighed.

"I'm not exactly sure how I managed to get this far, pure luck, I guess", she turned her head to the guys, smiling sweetly, "I sure would like some help finding somewhere warm to stay, just until I rested"

Sam, Roberto and Ray all stood up with a smile.

"Love to help", said Sam.

"Yeah, can't let a lady in distress and all", said Roberto as he, Sam and Ray escorted the newcomer to inside the university.

"What the heck was that?", blinked Rahne, "what's got into them?"

"Gosamyr, clearly", said Tabby, then blinked at Warlock, "know where she's from?"

"No", said Warlock, then frowned, "…there is something…..not right about this. Keep your guard up, I do not think she is all she claims to be"

"Really?", Tabby blinked, "wait, is this you, Warlock, the most trusting being: EVER. Saying you don't trust her?"

"If there is one thing you learn from traveling in space", said Warlock simply, "it is never trust a pretty face"

&&&&&&

(1) – I am, I Don Quixote from Man of La Mancha. It seems a very…Hank thing for him to sing.

(2) – Stolen from the movie 'A Christmas Story' and edited a bit

(3) – This was done in Father of the Bride. Yey, swans. Actually, swans are bad-tempered little buggers.

(4) – The obligatory Phantom of the Opera refrence. Well, you can't expect me not to do one after seeing it. For those not familiar with the book, Erik is the Phantom's name.

(5) – As seen in Black Ice.

Gosamyr, incidentally, is a cannon character, thus not mine. Do review, Until next time….