Gifts and Curses
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "I'll catch you. And if I miss for any reason, I'll sit by your bedside and nurse you back to health"
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Nope, Doug isn't part tech, only when he and Warlock merge is he like that ;)
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Chapter 30 – Healing hearts
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A few weeks had passed, and all the New Mutants had returned to continue their studies…well, all but one. Tabby sighed as she packed her possessions in a small box. She'd already done all the paperwork to end her studies…it wasn't an easy thing to do. She looked sadly at her book, before putting it away.
"So much for me making something of myself".
"Who says you still can't?"
Tabby glanced behind her to see Ray enter. She frowned, crossing her arms.
"What you mean besides the fact I have to raise a child now?", she asked, then looked down, "…I wanted kids….but not this soon"
She shrugged.
"….Everything happens for a reason, I guess", she said, "…but still…I'm kinda scared"
"Tabitha Smith, scared?", Ray smirked, "never"
"I'm not kidding", said Tabby, "In a few months, I'll have a whole other person to take care of. This baby'll be my responsibility….and I have to bear it all on my own"
Ray's expression softened as he looked at her sadly.
"You don't have to do it alone. I…", he faltered, then glanced at her, "….I'd bear it with you"
Tabby blinked at him, confused.
"What are you talking about, Ray?"
Ray sighed, frustrated, walking over to her.
"I'm crazy about you, Tab's", he said, "I have been for years. I…I wouldn't let myself do anything about it, though….it seemed wrong…after losing Scaleface. But it's killing me keeping quiet about it"
He looked at her with a soft smile.
"I'll stick with you", he said, "I'll raise this baby with you…if you'll have me"
"Ray….", Tabby frowned, looking away, "this will get complicated"
"Yeah, it probably will", said Ray, tilting her face gently to look at him, "but let it"
Tabby blinked up at him, then smiled.
"You're crazy, you know that?", she said, "you're throwing away everything for me…"
"Yeah well", chuckled Ray, "lets face it, there was no way in hell I would have passed any of my classes. Besides…you're more important to me"
"We'll probably end up killing each other", pointed out Tabby.
"We won't keep any sharp knives in the house", smirked Ray.
"Can't argue with logic like that", said Tabby, leaning up to press her lips against his.
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In Bayville Cemetary, Freddy stood sadly at the marker for Rosey. There was no grave, as there was no body…but her parents had chosen a marker for her. Warlock had assured Freddy that her death would not have been too painful, and would have happened very quickly…..but it was cold comfort. He had hardly believed it when Bobby and Shan had told him the news….it was a huge blow to him. After all, there weren't many people who'd love someone with a mutation like his own….Rosemary was one in a million, and now she had gone.
He glanced to the side as Ace Starr walked over, his blue leather jacket keeping him warn from the winter weather, his mane-like hair blowing in the wind.
"Still here, huh?", he asked, "you'll freeze"
"I don't feel the cold much", said Freddy with a shrug, "besides…I just wanted to…I dunno, keep her company"
He sighed.
"Stupid, I know, it's not like she's even there", he said, "I guess I feel guilty…I shoulda been there for her, and I wasn't"
"Don't beat yourself up, Man", said Ace, "no one knew what that alien chick was up to. Besides, ya can't watch over them twenty four seven. Heck, I doubt Rosey woulda let you"
Freddy gave a half-hearted smile.
"Yeah, she was a tough one", he said, "and one of the few people who could actually catch Pietro to hurt him"
"Man, I'm gonna miss hearing him scream like a girl", chuckled Ace, then glanced at Fred, "just don't blame yourself for this. Bad stuff happens. Deaths, Wars, Britney Spears. We can't do anything about them, even if we really want to"
Freddy sighed, glancing at the marker.
"I know", he said quietly, "….it doesn't stop me missing her, though. I was gonna ask her to marry me….looks like fate bit me in the ass again"
"Fate's a bitch", replied Ace, then patted Freddy on the shoulder, "don't stay out here too long, I doubt Shiro would be happy if we asked him to defrost you"
"Yeah, I won't", said Freddy, "…thanks"
"No worries", Ace said with a fanged grin, "you should come drinking once in a while, it'll cheer you right up"
"…I'll think about it, Ace", said Freddy quietly, as the feral mutant walked off.
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At the Daniels residence, Evan was looking at his hands uncomfortably, Callisto sitting next to him, his father sitting across the room. Vae had called in for an emergency family meeting, and was waiting for her sister to arrive. Apparently, Vae thought something needed changing.
"I don't know why we have to sit in this", complained Phillip, "Our family is perfectly normal"
Evan blinked at his father for a few moments
"My cousins consist of an extraterrestrial being and a six year old bent on world domination"
"…Okay", said Phillip, "but we're all still family, and that's what matters"
"I agree", smiled Callisto, "at least we're unique"
"You hush", snapped Vae as he bustled around dusting, "you don't count yet"
"….Lovely", said Callisto with a sigh.
"Now, Vae", said Phillip, "Callisto's out daughter-in-law, we shouldn't…"
"Be quiet, Phillip!", she snapped, then looked up as the door opened.
Vae smiled as Storm walked in, followed by a depressed looking Forge, being trailed by Warlock and Imara.
"Hello", smiled Vae, ruffling Imara's hair, "and there she is, growing bigger every day!"
"I want to go home and play with my dirt bike", replied Imara moodily, scooting away from her aunt.
"That's nice, said Vae, then nodded at her sister, "Ororo…….Francis"
"Forge", corrected Forge, and not for the first time.
Vae shook her head and walked in, becoming them to follow.
"I'm fine too, Auntie Vae", said Warlock dryly, "nearly died, but thanks for asking, anyway"
Vae didn't even blink, she started through into the living room when the door opened, Aenohe making her way in. Vae looked like something dangerous and disgusting had just slithered in.
"….What are you doing here?", she asked, a little icily.
"This is a family meeting", sniffed Aenohe, "I'm family. Chill out, Chickie, don't be so scrunchy"
"Hi Mom", said Forge, shaking his head.
"Grandma!", grinned Imara, wrapping her arms around Aenohe's legs, "thanks for the drum kit you got me for my birthday"
"Yes……thanks", grimaced Forge, "nothing says 'Love' than a pounding migraine thanks to constant banging"
"It's not banging", sniffed Imara, "It's music"
"I'm only letting her free her spirit", shrugged Aenohe, "she needs to explore her passions"
"…..Isn't there a quieter way for her to do it?", asked Storm sadly.
Aenohe disengaged from her granddaughter, and gave Warlock a grin.
"And how's my favorite extraterrestrial adopted grandson?
"……If you have more than one to have a 'favorite', you should be worried", pointed out Warlock, then smiled, "I am okay…..just don't hug me, my sides are still hurting"
"So much for advanced alien healing powers", chuckled Evan.
"That E.T stuff is a load of crap", said Warlock. (1)
"He said that when I tried to get him make my bike fly past the moon", said Imara.
"Oh, hush, don't talk silly", said Vae, "it's all make believe. There's no such thing as E.T's, honey"
"Oh, I get it", complained Warlock, "Freeze out the alien. I guess I'm not part of the family" (2)
Vae once more ignored, him, bustling into the living room. Warlock rolled his eyes, sitting in a chair.
"Where's Doug?", asked Evan.
"You think I would subject him to this torture?", replied the alien with a quirked eyebrow, "I think not, besides, he is in lectures"
"This family is in trouble!", cried Vae, drawing attention to herself, "people getting married behind our backs, the fact my sister is still married to a hippie…"
"Hey", said Forge, "will you stop picking on the hippies?"
"Liberal", snapped Vae.
"All the way, baby!", shouted Aenohe
"It can't be that bad", said Warlock.
Vae ignored him, again, turning to Storm.
"You can't expect to raise a child normally with a man who looks at least twenty years younger than you!"
"Imara's just fine", said Storm, then smirked, "and you don't know how much fun it is having a husband with a younger body. It's like having a toy boy with the mind of an adult. Libido and every.."
"TMI, TMI!", screamed Evan, covering his ears with his hands.
"See?", snapped Vae, "this is what I'm talking about, it's all wrong! Am I the only normal member of this family?"
"You're the only highly-strung, annoying one that's in denial", growled Ororo, thunder sounding in the sky.
"I am not in denial", said Vae.
"You are a little bit", said Phillip, "considering there's an alien who's sitting on our couch that you don't believe exists"
"No aliens!", shouted Vae, "this family is going to be normal, and it's going to start now!"
"This is because I'm a mutant and you're not, isn't it?", said Storm, "you've always been jealous"
"I'm not jealous!", snapped Vae, "why would I be jealous of little miss Princess-Goddess!"
"You are jealous!", said Storm, thunder growing louder, "why am I not shocked?"
Phillip winced, glancing over at the others.
"….This might take a while", he said.
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Over in Dark Hollow, Alex had returned home. He'd finally been discharged, and not a moment too soon, in his eyes. Kitty had been making him a 'Get Well Flan'….he really doubted he would have survived the experience. He sighed contentedly as he headed back home. Sure this suit had taken some getting used to, but at least he was still alive.
"Maria, I just met a girl named Maria, And suddenly that name, Will never be the same to me" (3)
Alex stopped dead, turning to glare at Maggott and Kyle, who were singing at the top of their lungs.
"……Lorna told you…didn't she?", he groaned.
"Don't feel bad about it, 'Lex", smirked Kyle, "some people find it sweet…..not straight people, mind you"
"….I hate you all", grumbled Alex.
"Oh, calm down, Alex", said Lizzie, walking over, "They need cheering up after everything that happened".
"Maria, I just kissed a girl named Maria!", they continued to sing.
"..Does it have to be at my expense?", sighed Alex.
"Don't worry, I'm sure once they get Gee, Officer Krupke out of their system, they'll leave you alone", said Lizzie.
"Oooooh, I'd forgotten about that one", grinned Maggott.
"We're disturbed, We're disturbed", sang Kyle.(5)
"…..You got that right", muttered Alex
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After many hours of screaming and shouting, Vae's family meting had ended….mostly due to the fact Storm hit the house with lightning and shorted out all the electricity, forcing Forge to try and fix it…in the dark. Callisto sighed as she leaned on Evan, making their way back home.
"That couldn't have gone worse"
"Actually, it could", said Evan, "no one's dead, that's a good sign"
"I can't believe your mother hit Forge's mother with a fish", chuckled Callisto.
"Heck, I didn't know a hippie could bite hard enough to draw blood", chuckled Evan, "….I think mom learned a lesson about hippie-hitting"
They both paused as they heard a car horn sound, turning to see Storms beloved SUV pull up beside them.
"I'm glad I caught you", said Storm, "there was something I'd been meaning to try"
The door opened and Josh climbed out, looking tired.
"….Have you kept him locked in the SUV all day?", asked Evan
"….He had plenty of food and water", protested Storm, "besides, he can't die. And for that reason, I think he can help you"
"…I'm lost", admitted Callisto.
"I'm a healer", said Josh, then smiled, "….I..umm..I can help you, if you like. You know…with the whole conception thing"
"You can?", Evan blinked, "….you're sure?"
"I think so", shrugged Josh, "no harm in trying, right?"
Callisto smiled softly.
"…We could have children?", she whispered, it was almost too good to be true,
"Yes", said Storm, "I never thought of it before…we weren't sure how powerful Josh is…until he brought Paige back from the brink of death"
"Then what have we got to loose?", asked Callisto as Josh walked over, putting a hand on either of their shoulders.
"….This won't hurt will it?", asked Evan, arching a brow.
"Nah, it'll just tingle", said Josh, as he let his powers go to work, "there, done"
"…That quick?", asked Evan.
"Hey, I'm good", smirked Josh.
Callisto gave Evan an elbow in the side, then smiled at Josh.
"Thank you, Josh", she said, "if this works, we owe you so much"
"Don't mention it", shrugged Josh, "this got me outta Shortpacks history class, I owe you"
"Good luck", smiled Storm as Josh hopped back in, "I'll see you soon….once your mother clams down again"
Evan chuckled, watching his aunt drive off, before smirking at Callisto.
"What do you say we test it out?"
"Can I get a 'hell yeah!'?", laughed Callisto, opening a manhole and falling in…right into Caliban, "arrgh!"
"Hello to you too", grumbled Caliban, "I've been on duty all night, you know. Lucccid and X23 'played hookie'".
Evan sighed, jumping in after Callisto.
"Awww, leave them alone, Caliban", he said, "they've got that fresh-into-love thing going on"
"Oh, I leap for joy for them", said Caliban dryly, "oh, happy day"
"Well, as far as I'm concerned, it's one down", smiled Callisto.
"Yeah and..", Evan paused blinking at Caliban, giving a shrug, "well…one down" (4)
"…Oh, thankssss", said Caliban, "you make me feel ssssso sssspeccial"
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(1) – From American Dad, which has finally begun airing here. Roger rules, as does Klaus.
(2) – A quote from my second-favorite alien of all time, ALF!
(3) – Maria, from West Side Story, tee hee.
(4) – Gee, Officer Krupke, from West Side Story
(5) – From Dinosaur. Poor Caliban.
Weee, another chapter done! Do review, until next time….