A/N: Hello!!!! Wow, this was really late, wasn't it? But never fret, I haven't forgotten!!!!
Oh, the Disclaimer: I do not own anything-
Chapter Seven: Unspoken Resilience
"So, you've got a degree in art? What branch?"
"Well, I've got two, actually; one's for fashion and the other's for photography."
"Wow, interesting, a lot more fun than law I bet."
"Well, you also have your businesses, though, right? What's wrong with having something to fall back on?"
Nathan laughed, covering his mouth so it wasn't so loud. She just seemed so innocent; "No, the businesses are the back-up plan," he said; "I kinda lose my head in the court room."
"Really?" Meg asked, smiling and chuckling as she spun the teeth of her fort in her salad idly, watching Nathan; "What, do you argue out of bounds or somethin'?"
Again, Nathan chuckled, and nodded; "Yeah, sorta like that," he said; "Actually, I called the judge a 'prejudice fat pig' and they uh... put me in contempt for a while..." he looked down.
"Why?" Meg asked, sipping on her water.
"Look, you tell me something about you, and I'll talk," Nathan said; "I've been talkin' for the past hour, Meg, tell me somethin' about you now."
Meg nodded; "Well, what ya curious about?" she asked.
Nathan shrugged; "I dunno," he said, smirking; "Tell me somethin' about uh... your past. Ya know, where'd you come from, where you went to school, that kinda stuff."
"Okay," Meg said, "Well, I grew up in Tennessee, but when I was about sixteen I went up North to a boarding school kinda deal. Well, I was there for about a year, and... a few things happened..."
"What things?" Nathan asked.
Meg shook her head; "Not here, maybe later," she said, "Sorry, but trust is kinda hard for me..."
"Understandable," Nathan said, "Sorry for interrupting."
"It's okay," Meg said, "Anyway, I uh, moved up here."
"When you were seventeen? Wow... that takes guts."
"Well, I didn't come up here on my own. My friend, she was waitin' for me at the train station. She let me stay with her, then I got into college and I lived in the dorms. Then, I moved in with a guy I met in college. Don't worry, he's gay, so the only relationship... well he's like another brother. Anyway, I've been... here I guess, just, ya know, living. I told you I have the three jobs, and my family back Home. So, my life's pretty boring."
"You said you went up north to boarding school?" Nathan repeated; "what was that like?"
Meg shrugged; "Like livin' with your family, once you got used to it all. See, it was really a renovated mansion, and there were only a few of us. It was some fancy art academy; I got in for my writings and photography."
"Wow," Nathan said; "I'm surprised you didn't get in for your voice."
"Oh, would ya let that go already?" Meg asked jokingly, covering her mouth as she smiled and giggled.
Nathan smiled; "I'm serious," he said, "I know a guy who's a manager for things that could get you deals in singing, ya know, as extra cash."
Meg shook her head and smiled; "No, I don't' sing for that kinda stuff," she said.
"Then why do you sing?" Nathan asked.
"What's up with the interrogation?" Meg retorted kindly.
"I'm curious, you said I could ask," Nathan said, an innocent smirk on his face.
"Well, I sing because..." it helps me forget... I can lose my self if only for just a moment. I can be free of the guilt and that weird feeling in my soul, that feeling that's eating away. I can forget how empty and alone I feel... "It helps with stress," she decided, looking down.
Nathan could tell he'd reached a line he wasn't allowed to venture over yet, he knew his question had left Meg perturbed, but whether or not if it was with him, or herself, he didn't know. He still wanted to know her, she was so cute and seemed lost on the tram, he wanted to... to help, if he had to.
"Look, if it's something bad you don't have to tell me," Nathan said, "I won't go so far as to upset when we just met."
"Thanks," Meg said, smiling as she put her hair behind her hear; "But, it's me, not you, you don't have to apologize..."
"To say 'I'm Sorry' is to state one's sympathy and understanding of the situation that has caused the distress," Nathan said.
"Wow, so articulate," Meg said, smiling as she looked back at Nathan; "Thanks, Nathan, for lunch I mean."
"No problem, I enjoyed it," Nathan said; "Er... why would you say...?"
Before he could finish, the waitress came and set the check on the table; "Can I offer you guys dessert?" she asked.
"Um, no thanks," Nathan and Meg said in unison, and they glance at each other before smiling up at the waitress.
"Um, okay, thanks for coming!" the waitress said; "Just flag me down when you're ready to pay!" and she walked over to her next table.
"I could see her walkin' up behind you," Meg said when Nathan looked at her oddly; "Don't think I'm abnormal or telepathic or somethin'."
"Oh no, why would I?" Nathan asked as he pulled out his wallet; "Listen, I'd really like to get a hold of you again, Meg," he said as he set the money on top of the bill, eyes fixed on Meg; "Could I have your number?"
Meg was silent. She wasn't looking for a relationship, she didn't want one with Nathan, at least. HE was a wonderful person, one of the sweetest guys she'd ever met, but it wasn't right on her part to put him through anything that had to do with her...
"Um, yeah," Meg said, pulling out a pen and scrap of paper; "Look though, this is my home phone, okay? I'm not looking for anything serious, Nathan."
"Oh, I know," Nathan said; "You told me. But hey, we can still be friends, right?" he asked as she handed him the paper.
"Yeah," she said, smiling when he took it.
The waitress came and took the bill, Nathan telling her to keep the change as tip, and the two left. As they walked down to Nathan's car, Meg checked her cellphone clock.
"Whoa gosh!" she exclaimed upon viewing the screen; "It's almost three! Wow, you didn't pick me up until about twelve thirty! Oh man, I have to go, Nathan..." she shook her head; "Ah man I'm gonna be late at this rate..."
"Whoa, to what?" Nathan asked, taking her arm gently when they reached his car.
"I have to pick Jase up, Samone's son, from school," Meg said, wrenching her arm away just as smoothly; "If I hurry I can grab the subway—"
"Uh, Meg, hello, car," Nathan said.
Meg looked at the car, then Nathan, then the car, and then Nathan again; "Oh Nathan, no, I can walk, you don't have to. Besides, it's halfway through town, I can't subject you to that!"
"Hey, I have time, and what are friends for?"
"Nathan, oh thank the Lord you are the best," Meg said as she got in. Nathan ran around and got into the driver's seat.
"So, where to?" he asked as the engine came to life.
Ray and Roberto were at Ray's office above their Logo Company, pouring over legal documents, and the day's paper. It was all over the front page. Kinnock had been found.
"So, what'll we do if the cops come by?" Roberto asked quietly as he locked the door.
"They won't come by, Roberto, just keep your cool," Ray said, sitting down in his office chair with the paper in hand; "Oh shit."
"What? What what what?!" Roberto asked agitatedly.
"Shit, shit, he remembered what I looked like!" Ray exclaimed; "'White/Caucasian male; height: six foot one; blonde cropped hair, hazel-blue eyes...!" he threw the paper down; "Shit, Mastermind didn't do his job! Roberto, If anybody puts two and two together, I'm screwed! No, this can't be happening!" he finished in a groan, pulling at the hair on the sides of his head as he leaned back in the chair roughly.
"Ray, calm down!" Roberto said; "Look, there are plenty of guys out there who look like you! So chill!"
"Who else has hazel-blue eyes, Roberto? Who else?!" Ray asked, letting his head go as he looked at Roberto tiredly.
"Dude, your eyes get like that only when your upset or nervous, or feel threatened," Roberto said; "It's the build-up of electricity that does that, you know that."
"Yeah, but how stressed have I been lately?" Ray asked; "A lot of people would be able to vouch, and I can't hide it. Man, I can keep my cool around the cops, but if it ever happened and I was found out..." he shook his head and held his head in his hands as his elbows went to his knees; "You could get found out," he whispered, "Then Maximoff, Evan... then everything we worked so hard for would be ruined... I'd create some cataclysmic vortex of ruin!" he added exasperatedly.
"Great description, Ray," Roberto said; "But think about this: If it came to that, you would jus tell the truth and say you worked for Valerio."
"And then have the mafia and the mob on my ass?" Ray asked; "I'm screwed, Roberto..."
Roberto picked up the paper, and read the article; "Says here Kinnock said that the people who hurt him did so they could save his life. He said that the mutant bartered with somebody so he'd still be living. He can't remember who he was in trouble with, or who the mutant that 'saved him' was."
Ray snorted as he held his hands together in a fist and leaned his chin against it; "Mutant," he repeated bitterly; "That's all they need to start a witch hunt..."
"Ray, me 'n' you both know how many mutants there are in New York alone."
"Yeah, and the odds are nineteen to one, Roberto," Ray said; "And, because of that gay law Senator Kelly made stating that mutants could not use their abilities to harm humans. I can get executed, Roberto!"
"No one's gonna die, Ray! You still haven't been listed yet! As long as you stay off the radar, the government won't get anywhere near this. You're blowing it way outta proportion! It won't come to that!"
Ray nodded, sighing to control his rapidly beating heart; "You're right," he said; "I just... shit, it caught me off-guard..."
Roberto nodded, a smirk creeping on his features; "What?" Ray asked.
"Oh nuthin', just rememberin' one time when you blew up on Logan once."
"Which time?" Ray asked, and both shared a laugh.
Meg was standing outside the school, arms crossed and looking around. The bell had rung, but she could find Jason in the crowd of children. But Meg saw his teacher, and, turning to see that Nathan was leaning against his car and waiting. Meg smiled at that, and then went over to the teacher.
"Miss Madeline!" Meg said loudly, waving to the woman as she made her way over.
"It's Meg DeBonte, right?" the teacher, Ruby Madeline, asked, a gentle smile on her face as the two shook hands.
"Yes," Meg said, "Um, I'm supposed to pick up Jason, but I can't find him!"
"Oh, he's still in the room," Ruby said; "He's been a bit down, lately, maybe you should talk to him."
Meg nodded; "Thank-you," she said, and she headed into the building.
It was old, like almost every other place in this section of New York City. Meg walked down the halls, trying to fid the right door of the third grade class. She checked inside the rooms through the windows in the doors, and finally found the right one on the second floor. Jason was sitting at his desk, head bowed over a book he wasn't reading. His eyes were cloudy and distant, and he didn't look up when Meg quietly entered the room.
"Jase?" she asked, walking over to him; "What's up, boo?"
Jason looked up at her, then back down; "Nuthin'," he mumbled.
"Well, somethin's gotta be up," Meg said; "Come on, you can tell me..."
Jason sighed; "Mama and Pops got into it last night," he said quietly.
"I'm sure it's just stress, Jason..."
"No," Jason said, shaking his head; "I might not get a baby sister..."
Meg was silent as she heard this. Samone, lose her baby? That would explain why the appointment got moved... Meg sighed with exhaustion. There was just too much going on...
"Listen, Jase, I know Samone will have her baby, okay?" Meg assured; "Hey, it's really cool to have a baby, but it can sometimes make you worry. Your mommy's probably just a little stressed, is all. Hey, what d'ya say we go get somethin', huh? How 'bout Tangelo's Ice Cream? My treat!"
Jason looked at her, and smiled; "Okay," he said.
Meg smiled; "Great," she said; "Now, let's get your stuff..."
About five minutes later, Meg and Jason walked out; Jason laughing after Meg told him a story from her childhood. Nathan watched them coming out, half-wondering if Jason was Meg's child. He couldn't blame himself for thinking that; they went so well together. He didn't let his queries show, though, as the two came to his car.
"Hey Nathan, I'm gonna walk home," Meg said, "Me 'n' Jason are gonna get some ice cream, okay?" her smile brightened as she said; "I had a good time."
Nathan smiled; "Anytime, Meg, just give me a call."
Meg nodded; "Okay, Jase, let's go," she said, turning to the little boy beside her.
Jason nodded, glancing at Nathan as they walked away. Nathan stared back, watching the two retreating backs. Sighing, he then got into his car and drove off.
"I... I'm gonna go get a few things done," Ray said suddenly, rising.
"But we still have to go over the stock exchanges!" Roberto exclaimed, waving papers around.
"No, this stuff's more important," Ray said as he got his things and left. His voice had been distant, as if he was already where he needed to be.
Roberto stared through the open door helplessly, and then sighed.
Meg and Jason got to Meg's home about and hour and a half later, talking about baseball. The kid was a whiz, and the only sport Meg was educated in was football, so all she could really do was ask questions.
"So, what you're trying to tell me is that all you have to do is hit a ball with a stick and run in a square?" Meg asked innocently as they went into the kitchen.
Jason laughed; "No!" he said, "It's only based on that, Meg! It's more... more..." he thought for the word; "complicated! Yeah, it's more complicated than that!"
Meg laughed; "Well, all I know how to play is football, so you won't catch me at a Yankee's game any time soon."
"You like basketball though, right?" Jason asked anxiously, as though the question meant life or death.
"Uh, duh of course I do!" Meg said, laughing; "Come on, you can do your homework in the den..."
"Can I watch TV too?" Jason asked as he went in there.
Before Meg could reply, she heard the TV turn on. Shaking her head, she set her things down on the counter, and looked at the fridge. Sam had left a note saying he'd be staying at David's house overnight, and again, Meg sighed. She didn't much like David, but if he made Sam happy, then she would keep her opinions to herself. She rubbed her eyes and groaned; she was so tired all of a sudden. She needed a getaway.
Meg jumped from her thoughts as the phone rang. She went into the den and picked it up; "Hello?"
"Meg?"
"Oh, hey Samone," Meg said, sighing.
"What's wrong? You sounded..."
"I was just thinking, 's all," Meg said; "Soooooooo... how'd the appointment go?"
"That's what I'm calling about. Jason... can he stay at your house overnight? Now's not the time he needs to be home," the woman on the other end withheld a sob.
"Samone..." Meg said, feeling helpless in the situation.
"It might be stillborn," Samone said, finally sobbing; "Oh God Meg, what did I do wrong? What did I do..." she sobbed.
"Samone, you didn't do anything," Meg insisted.
"Yes I did..."
"There's still hope, you still have five and a half months to go. Don't give up, Samone, you will have that baby."
"Meg," Jason asked quietly.
Meg looked over, seeing Jason was in the entrance room; "Yeah?" she asked, hand over the receiver so Samone wouldn't hear.
"There's somebody at the door," Jason said, "Well, he was, but now he's leaning against his car. But he's lookin' at the door. He knocked," he finished innocently, looking at her.
"Ty's comin' over to get Jason, Meg, never mind," Samone said after a moment of silence on her end; "I'm sorry you had to hear me crying..."
Meg returned her attention to the phone; "No, Samone, it's fine, really," she said, "Just... don't dwell on the negatives, okay?"
"Okay," Samone said, swallowing another sob; "Thanks Meg," she sighed; "Sometimes just hearin' your words helps. You never talk about bad things. It's good. Thanks again."
"Just calm down, okay?" Meg asked.
"Yeah, I'll try. Bye, Meg..."
"Bye..."
Meg hung up and ran her hands through her hair; "Okay, Jason, your dad's on his way, okay? Why don't you pack up?"
"Okay," Jason said, running back into the den to gather up his things.
Meg walked to the door, and, sighing, she opened it. Stepping out onto the small porch, Meg looked straight ahead, and gasped.
"Ray..." she whispered, hands over her mouth in shock.
TBC
a/n: please review if you want. More soon to come