"You sure have been locked up in here quite a bit lately," Storm said as she leaned against the door way into the art room.
"Ya, I've been on the phone with a few of the galleries not too far away trying to see when I can enter some of the children's art into some shows. Some try to politely tell me that the shows are only for people with 'redeeming talent'. –sigh- But there is this one that I think we can get into. But it's going to require a lot of paper work. Oh but Storm, listen to this! It's a really great show: 'Art will be featured in the west wing of the Shakespearean Hall. There will be a dinner auction and live music.'"
"Sounds really nice; sounds very prestigious."
"Yes, but the auction is a charity event, so they'll probably accept children's art into the show. PLUS, they say that the attire for such an event is to be the same as if you were going to the Grammies. Ok, well, they don't quite word it like that. But that means that I can get all dressed up!"
Storm chuckled. "Wasn't much of one getting all dressed up like that."
"Oh I love it!"
"Nanny?"
"Oh sorry Professor. I'll be down in a minute."
"How's your training coming along?" Storm asked turning her attention back to Nanny.
"Great! Look!" She pulled her desk draw open and the knotted spoon floated out and right in front of Storm.
"You tied a knot in it!"
"Yep. Worked on it all last night."
"Wow Nanny. Looks like you're moving along fast."
"Not really. It took a LOT of concentration to do that. It hurt my head! Hahaha, but I finally got it."
"-sigh- Well, I better be going. Recess ends in a few minutes." Storm looked at her watch and gave Nanny a slight wave as she left.
"All right." Nanny quickly left for her training with the Professor.
…
"Have you thought any more about where you want the wedding to be?"
"Ya, I have Scott. I called my dad this morning; got his answering machine. But Scott, I mean, as long as my dad and I settle things, he'll come to our wedding no matter where it is. I was wondering if you would want it in your own home town."
"Mmmm." Scott looked down at his shoes. Jean turned to face him more, which bounced the bed slightly. "No Jean, let's have it where your parents are."
"Are you sure?"
"Well first of all Jean, we can't expect everyone to fly back to Alaska. And it's the beginning of fall; do you really want to be wearing a fur wedding dress."
"Well I was thinking it would only have to be immediate family. Like say my dad, mom, your brother, a priest, and the two of us?" Jean looked at Scott questioning. "And I don't think I would mind a fur dress. But Scott, if you don't want to go back, we won't."
"What about here, in West Chester?"
"Really? Oh Scott, I'd love that."
"Good, it's settled!"
"Storm, Nanny, and I are going to look at dresses this weekend. Oh Scott, I'm so excited!" Scott held her for a moment and they kissed. After the kiss, Scott sat on the edge of the bed, holding Jean, who was leaning against his chest.
"Do you have any idea who you want to be the best man?"
"I'd like to ask Alex. Only right thing to do." He chuckled to himself about the idea of Wolverine being the best man. They were now friends; they had finally settled their differences, but they still bantered back and forth, just to keep face. "But, I haven't heard from him in years and I don't think he'd come even if I could find him to ask him. So, I think I'll ask the Professor." He paused and looked up at Jean, grinning. "So, who's going to be your maid of honor?"
"Well of course Storm is my maid of honor. Nanny will be another bride's maid, and I was thinking about asking Rogue is she wanted to be one too. If you brother does accept, we should see if Kelly wants to be the flower girl."
"Kelly would make a good flower girl. Wow, I bet she's got to be getting big! I haven't seen her in years either."
"Ok, so we have best man, maid of honor, bride's maids, maybe a flower girl, and we're even working on the dress. Nanny said she was willing to help so I'll see what she can find here as far as a place to have the wedding, and I'll ask the Professor if we can have the reception here."
Cyclops smiled.
"What?"
"Seems like you have everything planned out."
"Oh no! There's flower arrangements, the bride's maid's gowns, food, music…"
"Ok, hahaha, I get the idea. But there is one thing you haven't mentioned."
"Oh?"
"The honeymoon."
Jean smiled and tucked herself closer to Cyclops.
"What do you think about a quiet tour of Holland?"
Jean smiled and lifted her head to look into Scott's eyes questioningly. She lowered her head again and quietly thought about it. Holland was a bit of an unusual place for a honeymoon, but certainly beautiful, and quiet. They would be able to stay in bed and breakfasts and travel without a lot of other tourists around. It was a quaint, picturesque idea.
"I like it." She said softly.
…
"Hey four eyes," Wolverine called. Cyclops had wandered outside during Wolverine's last gym class. He seemed happy enough, but certainly pre-occupied. "What's gotten into you?"
"Oh, nothing. We're just finalizing the wedding details."
"You know, you're never going to get a proper bachelor party out of this place." Wolverine sighed and looked around, and then back to Cyclops. "So, we're going out tonight."
"No Wolverine. I don't want to go to a-"
"Chill out, laser eyes. I'm talking about a bar. You and I, a few drinks, some darts. Maybe some pool? You brag enough about pool; it'd give you a chance to live up to the self appointed reputation."
"Ya ok. But promise me it's a normal bar."
Wolverine rolled his eyes and punched Cyclops in the arm lightly. Cyclops punched back and they both smiled. They had become a lot like brothers, which was nice for Cyclops, since his brother had become a radical and he hadn't seen him in years.
"We'll leave just before dinner, k?"
Cyclops nodded and picked up a basketball that rolled across the grass. He dribbled it a few times and started towards the basket. Wolverine had been wiping himself off from his previous gym class when he threw down the towel and darted in and stole the ball from Cyclops.
"Oh, you want a challenge, sis kabobs?" Cyclops referred to Wolverine's claws as sis kabobs frequently.
They played their basketball game until dinner time. They took some quick showers and darted out the door before the women could catch a hold of them and force them to help with dinner. Nightcrawler and Storm sat out on the back porch and ate dinner together and Jean and Nanny sat inside eating a little of the left-overs and plenty of pie that Nanny had made earlier that day.
"Mmmm, this is good Nanny."
"Thanks. It was my dad's favorite kind of pie. I like it, but quite personally, I'm not big into pies, or cake for that matter."
"Uggh, cake. –sigh- Scott and I have to go taste testing soon."
"So have you figured out any other details?"
"Only a few more." Jean smiled. "First we decided to have it here, somewhere in West Chester, depending on what we can find. And I want you to be a bride's maid."
"Oh I'd be honored!"
Jean felt funny asking Nanny to look around for places to have the wedding, but she had offered to help in any way. "Nanny, you said you'd help …"
"I sure will! What do you want me to do?"
"Could you look around and see what kind of places are available for the wedding?"
"Sure! But I'll need to know a few details, of what you're looking for."
"We can talk about that later though. It's starting to give me a headache."
"Well ok. But we're still going dress shopping tomorrow, aren't we?"
"Yes! I am looking forward to that."
"Good. Good. Oh I'm so excited!"
…
"Well well, you're not so bad at darts after all." Wolverine smirked.
"And you're not so bad at pool."
They sat in silence for a few moments and then Scott spoke.
"I already feel like we're married. We already live together and everything. But somehow, actually tying the knot is frightening."
Wolverine chuckled. "You don't want to lose your 'freedom'. It's understandable. Even though you'd never cheat on Jean, you still technically have your freedom before you get married."
They chatted away, drank away, played pool and darts, for several hours. They talked about every subject under the sun, and then some.
…
"You know Jean, I never thanked you all before, you know, for coming to get me out of the ally and everything, or for watching over me and taking care of me, but I really do appreciate it. So ah, thanks."
"Don't even mention it! It's what friends do."
"I know, but I'm still thankful. –sigh- I need to thank everyone else too."
Jean nodded. She looked at her watch and peered into the TV room as she put the dishes away. "Want to see what's on TV?"
"Sure."