No Need For Farewells

Part 4: Sean & Emma (Or, Strange Love)

By Kairi Taylor

2005

"So, what do you wanna do now?" Paige asked her teammate Monet as they sat down in the chairs they located in the main hall of the ship they were assigned to. The chairs were carefully located in a small corner, away from consoles or computers giving out any info they were not in the mood to handle. Of course, the whole crisis they were all facing was not one that can be ignored, not when the state of Time, the universe & all known reality was concerned. No, no young heroine can ever look away from such a huge task, but even they needed a time out, so to speak. And the problems that were hindering them were also a bit worrisome too; Angelo had yet to arrive to assist them, since all communications with Jurai had been lost. Jono was nowhere to be found. None of the X Men were readily able to join them since they too were needed elsewhere, which wasn't too bad since they were faced with a similar task. U.N.I.T. and the GXP had already engaged in their own joint operation. And then there was Jubilee. She had returned from her journey with Kairi & Ryoga over a year ago, in which the trio had managed to bring back Jean (as Monet had pointed out, her repeated deaths & rebirths were getting tiresome.) However after that all Hell broke lose. The Church of Humanity had attacked, leaving Jubilee severely injured and forcing Angelo to fake his own death (well actually, he was pretty damn near death to begin with, and without the timed intervention of various parties, it would have been permanent). After the fallout, Kairi had returned, a student in tow, insisting that Jubilee be taken somewhere safe for further training. He was rather vague about who she would train under, or for that matter who his student was, or where he had been himself, but Jubilee agreed. That was the last time any of them saw the two. Of course, there was the main problem at hand. Two different parties were trying to gain control of the universe. One was comprised of villains everyone believed were dead or incarcerated, led by Emplate. (Yes, we almost forgot about him, didn't we? Well, he figures into the story) The other faction was led by Marvel itself. The motives for why Marvel took it upon themselves to tamper with the laws of the universe will be covered shortly. But you won't like it, I assure you.

"I want to go over this thoroughly before we do anything rash." Monet said, point blank. "The team we have now is low on manpower, and we have no idea how the temple defenses will be when we get there. I trust the equipment we have will have to do for adequate protection given what we know my brother has acquired, but Marvel's another matter altogether. They have very creative minds at their disposal & they have a lead on us."

"True, but that's the point: Marvel tends to squander their most valuable resources." Paige pointed out. "And I don't think they calculated what would happen with Wanda quite yet. So we've got a small bit of time on our side."

"Now that just leaves what we will need to do when we get to that chamber," Monet sighed "and I do not like the idea of what will happen if we manage to fail."

"Aside from the complete collapse of our known reality, I don't worry too much about those details. We've got enough to worry about in regards to just staying alive. And if anything happens, we could do what Washu suggested and—"

"I'm not too fond of that idea myself. Relocating is bad enough. Going there will be a pain in my ass."

From across the room, Emma Frost watched her former students holding their conversation. She looked away after a few minutes, staring at the file she was given by Washu. The plan in question was going to be tricky to pull off, she knew that. She had spent countless years training & executing countless missions such as this. However, the enormity of how much it meant was slowly getting to her. She had just started her own family with Sean, she was beginning to enjoy the prospects of raising her own. Everything was slowly working out.

Then the attacks started. The world was in a state of panic. And to top it off, Macy's was closed indefinitely. That was the straw that broke her back.

"A penny fer your thoughts lass?"

Sean's hand was on her shoulder. She looked at him & said "I think we need a bit of a walk around the decks."

The two walked, hand in hand, recalling the past few months they spent with their daughter Hope at the academy. As they held their conversation, Bobby Drake took notice of them as he worked on an engine part with Rogue. "Funny, ain't it? Those two never seemed like they could ever hit it off, and here they are, years later, head over heels over one another."

"I always thought she had a thing for me." Bobby replied. "Or at least Scott."

"Hon, are you kidding me? Emma & Scott! Not even in a million years!"

"C'mon, she is attracted to guys like him. Well, maybe."

"I doubt it. Scott's a bit too squeaky for her, ya know? And 'sides, Jean is more than the type for him. Sean & Emma are perfect for each other."

"The way those two acted before, I'd laugh my ass off if you told me they'd raise a kid within a year together."

"Stranger things have happened. Look at the Batman."

"You think that guy & Catwoman—"

"Totally into each other. No one can resist a woman in tight leather like that."

"There's someone in Alpha Flight who would disagree with that assumption."

"But remember what happened when she got herself knocked up?" Rogue said to Bobby. "That was a weird day…"

1998

"So, you too finally broke down & gave in to your more primal desires, huh?"

Hank McCoy, the Beast, had to chuckle to himself. In his experiences as an X-Man & as an Avenger, he bore witness to many an odd sight. As a scientist, he saw & performed miracles that many scientists could only dream, of doing. This one however, this bit of news simply rocked him.

Sure, the X-Men had quite a bit of romantic drama in it's long existence. Rogue and Magneto, for example, was a romance that was hard to anticipate, let alone fathom. And Cyclops seemed to get hit on. A lot. Especially by anyone with telepathic/telekinetic abilities (see Psylocke, Jean Grey).

And their sexual history…is something rarely talked about. Really, if you are Rogue, sex is the last thing on your mind. The mere act of a light peck alone could knock Gambit out, imagine what something other than groping could do to him? And don't get started on Nightcrawler. 'Party Animal' was coined with him in mind, despite that devout Christian upbringing he has. (And for the the record, anything Chuck Austen has to say about Kurt Wagner, especially on the X2 DVD, is labeled under the file 'eternal bullshit')

So, that brings us to Dr. McCoy's office, a week after the 'party liaison' at Kairi's home. The two sat across from Hank at his desk. Sean looked, in all honesty, pale & shook up, beads of sweat actually dripping off his red beard. Emma, who was normally a picture of calmness, had bags underneath her eyes. Sleepless nights and morning sickness had just begun to take their toll.

"Dr McCoy, you have to understand," Emma started "that our students don't exactly know how to take this. We have them take classes in a seclude mansion, with barely any human contact, we haven't exactly warmed up to one another…"

"Aye, I can attest ta that."

"And now, thanks to one night of seemingly innocent drinking, we find out we are going to become parents."

"Yes, every test seems to confirm Washu's immediate analysis." Hank agreed, a look of wonder on his face. "Although, I must say I am rather intrigued at her ability to make such a fast diagnosis. I really need to ask her to lend some of her talents over at the St. Anthony Research Center. I do believe they have some samples of…"

"Hank, focus." Sean interrupted. "We're a bit confused 'bout our current situation, so understand if we are quite a bit on edge. You realize we can't exactly send her on any missions right now."

"Not to mention this is the first time an X Man knocked up a fellow X man." Emma pointed out.

"Should we be proud of that?"

"I doubt it. Well, at least it wasn't Beast and Reyes."

"Please note the offense taken with that remark." Hank uttered. "Since we all now have the knowledge that Emma is expecting a child soon, I will prescribe the one thing both are you are in severe need of."

"That being…"

"A date."

Sean stood up from his chair., a look of shock washed over his face. "Now hold on a sec there, Hank! Some o' us are not exactly prepared ta do this! I still 'aven't explained to me own daughter that she'll be gaining a sibling soon! And Moira…"

"Moira is a big girl, she can handle it. What, you afraid that I will seduce you and lead you into a night of wild, passionate, hedonistic love making?"

"Uh, how do you think this all started?"

A short time later, Sean walked on the grounds of the Xavier Institute, hands in pockets, head pointed directly downwards. There was several things he could make do with right now. A glass of beer, a tranquilizer, some whiskey, a massage, bourbon, ANYTHING that would dull the shock of the nights events. Obviously, the alcohol should be dismissed since it was the catalyst for his new turn in life, not to mention that it could enforce the stereotype of Irishmen & drinking. The prospect of being a father again did delight Sean however; he wanted a second shot at being a dad, and he did feel he hadn't spent enough time with his firstborn, Theresa. The downside was that he would have to share the responsibility with Emma. Not that he hated her or anything; it was just that…it was tricky. It would mean he would have to openly admit at some point he found Emma to be somewhat desirable. Not that she wasn't believe me, but he had suppressed any feelings he had for her so that he could focus on running the academy. The kids needed strong, well disciplined adults ready to help them go into battle, not panicky angst ridden people who could have an emotional outburst at any given second. (Ok, so I just described most of late 90's X-Men, sue me). Now that they were expecting a child, things would change. He could adapt to change. Just not as easily as some.

"Sean, there you are, I've been looking for you!" The voice belonged to Scott, who was dragging a rather large foot locker atop of a pushcart. The leader of the X-Men had on his standard ruby red visors instead of his sunglasses and said "I wanted to ask you about something, but I didn't get a chance. We've been installing this new stereo system for the recreation room for some time now & I just got around to installing some subwoofers."

"Mate, if it's about my date with Emma, I can get all the advice I need." Sean replied. Scott blinked, or at least you thought he blinked, as he carefully chose his words. "Uh, actually, I was about to ask you how Jubilee was doing in biology. I was her tutor in it for some time. But you and Emma? Wow, that's…I don't know what to say."

"You're not the first one. This is my first date in some time though, since me an' Moira broke up. To top it off, it's with a woman I work wit' every day."

"I'm sure it's going to work out." Scott assured him. "If she thought you were a complete waste of her time, she would have immediately screamed 'No' at the top of her lungs while running, cursing the name of all holy beings everywhere."

"That happened to you?"

"No, Warren when he asked out a red haired woman the last time he went clubbing. Wings popped out at just the wrong time."

"Aye, that will do it."

"There are a couple of things you should know, though, about dating any female with telepathic abilities," Scott stated matter of factly "and the key one to remember is that you should never have ANY errant thoughts of the woman, no matter what she looks like."

"Right. Done."

"No, you're already having thoughts of her. Nude I imagine."

"No, I'm not. Er, on second thought, now I have them."

"Harder than it sounds, huh?"

"Yeah, how did you manage with Jean?"

"Not very easily," Scott sighed "and she was around me a LOT."

Jean had to chuckle. Listening in to the thoughts of her husband was often amusing, especially when it came to the subject of sex & dating.

"Just how did you manage to date Scott with all the thoughts of you in the nude racing through his head?" Emma asked.

"I have my methods." Jean replied. "And you should see some of the things he thinks about involving me. Or me and another female."

"Actually, I had. Once. It was a couple of stray thoughts he had in there. One involved Elektra."

"Wow, never thought he had anything for HER. So, what are you going to do about the date with Sean?"

"Well, I do think it is time we both got better acquainted with one another," Emma answered, stroking her chin in thought 'seeing as we will now become parents. It's not like we hate each other or anything like that. He is rather…desirable. But he's a bit hard to approach. He seems afraid of commitment with women. I can understand that though, I mean the divorce from Moira was hard on him. But I wish he could get past that & try to be a little more open."

"Broken hearts take some time to mend." Jean pointed out. "This was a particularly strong relationship the two shared."

"Yeah, and I kind of feel now that if we date now, he'll start to compare me to her & I'll be ticked off enough to mind bolt his ass to oblivion right before I…HEY! You just had a thought of him without his shirt on, didn't you?

"Maybe. It's not like you haven't."

"I have enough of them to fill 3 calendars."

As you all know, the two kept on dating on another. Eventually, the two got married, amid circumstances that would be later labeled as 'chaotic'. But an interesting conversation took place in the months before the hasty nuptials took place.

The conversation was between Sean and Washu. It took place as the two ate in the local diner in Salem over pancakes. And the subject was marriage.

"You're asking me for advice on popping the question?" Washu said to Sean, who was cutting through the first of his pancakes.

"Aye. I've been thinking about it for some time now. I know I'm not exactly forthcoming, but I really do care 'bout Emma a lot. An' I don't want me child to be born out of wedlock."

"Oh, I'm sure she'll be receptive to your proposal," Washu agreed "and I'm glad you brought this up. I have some marriage business of my own to discuss."

"Huh? You mean…you an'—wait, I thought that the two of you had just a professional relationship. I mean, sure, you have a child an' all but…"

"This isn't about me! No, it has to do with Hideo. Just look this over." Washu fished out a folded piece of paper from her pockets & handed it to Sean. Opening the paper, Sean looked it over and arched her eyebrows. "Washu, this paper…am I reading this correctly?"

"Quite."

"Lass, this is America. I know they do things differently in Japan, but we do not just propose arranged marriages. ESPECIALLY when the groom hasn't been able to walk upright & the bride has yet to EXIST."

"Oh, don't worry about that, this will work out. I've already talked to Emma on this & she agreed."

"Emma? I'm surprised at her. But what are ya basing this on?"

"Calculations for one."

"CALCULATIONS! Washu, this is love we're talking about 'ere. It has to come naturally. People just can't hitch up with each other because a calculation says it will happen."

Washu smiled that strange, mysterious smile o hers. The type of smile that indicated she knew more than she was really letting on. "Sean, please, trust me. It's more than just calculations. There are some very good reasons why I want this to pass. Besides, I happen to be a Goddess. And a major league one to be quite precise. We don't just do things like this without serious thought."

Sean considered what she said. In all honesty, it sounded pretty crazy what she wanted. But seeing as how she made it clear she knew what was going to go down, he sighed & relented. "Honestly lass, I hope you're right."

"Trust me. All love needs sometimes is a little push."

If Sean had paid closer attention, he'd had caught on; he'd have picked up Washu's little hint & figured out she was talking about him & Emma. He would have known that from the start, Washu had quietly set things in motion to allow the two to fall in love & get married. The reasons why Washu did this will, of course, be revealed. But for now, let us get back to the present.

"Emma, something weird is going on." Sean said to her as the two walked down the corridor that led to the mess hall.

"You mean aside from the whole universe possibly being removed from existence?" Emma said.

"Yeah, that. Remember when I had tried to save that plane some time ago?"

"Oh do I! Honey, I told you that you hadn't completely healed & you went off & tried to help those people on your own. When will you stop being so impulsive?"

"When you dress more sensibly woman. That's not the point though. Something weird happened up there. Right when I got there, it felt like something latched onto me an' I couldn't make heads or tails of what I was doin'. It felt like something was drainin' me from the inside."

"That is weird. And you still don't know how it got there?"

"Aye. But I lucked out. Someone knew where I was gonna be at the right time & pulled me out of there. The only question is who."

"Well, we do have a lot of allies. We'll know about it in due time. Oh, I guess you want to know why I've been regulated to managing things here on the ship rather than on the temple grounds."

"Because you're allergic to dust?"

"No, because I'm pregnant."

Of course, there were other events happening beyond their knowledge. Such as the conversation happening right now somewhere.

"Ah! There, it was touch and go for a bit, but I've pulled it off."

"Just barely. You had barely a second to home in on Sean Cassidy. Any longer & he really would have died."

"True, but that second was all I needed. With Angelo Espinosa we had to let Kairi do it himself, and he managed to work it out just fine. Now we know the extent of what kind of damage Marvel is doing to Time."

"The current damage they have done is troublesome enough. If they succeed in their operation, I'm afraid the damage will not just affect this universe. Countless others could feel the repercussions for eons."

"I know. 500 something years of experience in these matters & I can still never see the bright side of Armageddon. Right, take care of things here, I'm off to see Kairi & the others. It's high time they met The Elder."

Angelo: The rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated.

Kairi: I can vouch for that!

Angelo: Unknown to Marvel, I've been studying on Jurai for the past few years as an exchange student.

Jubilee: And he's been falling in love too!

Kairi: Sure it ain't 'lust'?

Angelo: The point is, you'll soon find out what I've been doing in Jurai & how I got myself married.

Jubilee: The name of the next chapter is 'Angelo Goes to Jurai'. Oh, & I return.

Kairi: Me too!

Angelo: So what's this about a student?

Kairi: You meet her there too.