CHAPTER 12: BABY SHOWER
Vincent was in the baby's room putting in some finishing touches. Since they now knew the baby's sex as male they could finally get things painted. The leaves were starting to turn and fall outside and Emma's figure was starting to grow as well. He didn't mind at all he loved her and he still thought she was beautiful.
Although the mood swings were tougher to getting used to especially since they at times carried over through their mental link sometimes. He might be the first guy on the planet to actually experience second hand female PMS and how women put up with it he had no clue.
He wasn't along though he had Gambit helping him out as the man was taking a break, or hiding out. Vincent had set up stripes of tape over the wall as they were painting blue strips over the white walls. He had finished that up which had taken him awhile to do but he didn't mind at all.
Gambit was mixing up the paint as he looked up at the slightly younger man, "So why blue and white? Remy d'ought dat you two would paint up de whole room one color."
"Well I wanted just blue," He started to explain as he set out the painting supplies, "She wanted white. So we kept circling around that and it even got into a small fight. Thankfully we compromised and agreed to this."
He looked at the walls with the tape trying to picture them in the blue paint he had, "I think this will look nicer anyway."
Gambit shrugged as he poured the pain into where the rollers and brushes would pick up the paint. "Well Gambit just glad to help out."
"Uh huh," Vince grinned as he did the same with another set for himself. "This wouldn't happen to have been you hiding from Rogue would it?"
Remy shot him his most innocent look, "Now why would Remy be wantin' to hide from my chere? De lady is crazy for me."
"When you don't drive her crazy that is," He grinned larger as Remy noticed the innocent look didn't seem to work on this guy. "So fess up Remy, what's got you hiding from a girl."
"Rogue is a lot of d'ings but 'girl' is not one of d'em." He said to the other mutant as he started to paint the walls. "Given dat she can bench press a tank Gambit don't try to piss her off too much. A little is a bit fun since she's really cute when angry but when pissed, well den Gambit not like to be in the same area code."
Vince laughed at that, he had to admit when Rogue was pissed it was best to get out of her way. "Yeah well I can top that. You know how Emma is at times? You know how she's got that cold anger thing of her?" He saw Gambit nod as he understood. Emma had this way of being pissed and not even showing that emotion on her face and yet you could feel it. It was really creepy at times.
"Well put that with her pregnancy mood swings."
Gambit thought about it and shuddered. So far things weren't that bad with Rogue and he thought about when she would have children and go through that. It was a sobering thought and made him wonder if he would live long enough to see the first birth before Rogue killed him.
"So you didn't answer my question," Vince smirked as he started painting.
Gambit just shrugged, "I made a comment on her choice of reading material." Vince looked at him wondering what he had said. "Gambit said dat he thought Anne Rice was a hack and she threw a book at me."
Vince shook his head, "You do know that she's one of her favorite authors right?"
"Remy knows dat now," he rubbed the place on his arm that the book she had thrown at him hit. She could really throw things hard and he was lucky it hadn't been a paperback. That might have broken a bone but he knew this was her version of a 'warning' as to not to say bad things about what she likes.
Plus maybe the additional comment on why she liked the whole vampire thing was because of how her powers were like a vampire. He meant it as a joke but she took it as an insult. He'd go and make up with her but only much, much later, after she had calmed down.
Besides to him making up with her was just as fun and he knew he could make her forget why she was angry with him. He grinned at the thought of how he was going to go about it.
-Emma-
Emma Frost-Freeman was taking a nice walk around the mansion. The one thing she hated about being pregnant was how people kept saying she needed to take it easy well she was never one to just sit around on her ass all day either.
So she took to taking walks now and then, or sitting down and practicing her fighting forms that she learned. Although there was only so much she could do, she needed a hobby or something or she'd go insane from this.
"Hey there Emma," The blond turned to see her fellow telepath Betsy smiling and walking towards her. "So what's up luv?"
"Just the usual," Emma stated although she was glad to see Betsy. She and Jean had formed a tight sisterhood after all them being female telepaths and all. Strange how she was closer to these two women then her own flesh and blood sisters.
Betsy smiled at the blonde woman, "Well I can see you're not in the best of moods and I got something to cheer you up with."
That got the blond to lift up an eyebrow. The other woman then pulled out a blindfold, "But it has to be a surprise so no peeking and no telepathy."
Emma rolled her eyes but it might kill the afternoon and she was bored. "Fine let's get this over with then." Betsy got behind her and place on the blindfold when a thought hit her. "Betsy what are you doing with a blind fold anyway?"
"Just something me and Warren like to play with," The other woman laughed leading her on. Emma shook her head she should have known since Betsy was a bit kinky in bed. They had shared enough sexual secrets that made Jean plus her hair color. That got a grin of her face it was always so easy to shock Jean that it was just funny.
She was led around the mansion and she was sure it they passed by the same place a few times, "Betsy I swear if you're yanking my chain we'll have strong words and even stronger actions. And don't let the fact I'm pregnant fool you I can still kick a person's ass."
The other woman laughed a little, "Don't worry we'll be there soon." She felt them enter one of the larger rooms and caught a faint echo of thoughts like there were minds being shielded. "Okay then luv take it off."
She reached up and took off the blindfold and was immediately taken aback as she was in the living room but with the entire female population there. "Surprise!" They all yelled out and Emma looked to see gifts there with everyone.
"What is going on?" She asked them with a hint of a smile on her face.
"It's your baby shower silly!" Kitty giggled with excitement she was always one for these types of things.
Emma gave a small smile as she was led to a chair that was by the looks of things reserved for the person of honor. She also saw some snacks as well as some drinks on another table as well. It made her feel special that she had so many people that cared for her in her life. Living as she had it was just so much more fulfilling to have them in her life now.
"You didn't have to do al this I could easily afford all the baby stuff," Emma told them even they had started on the fundamentals. They had bought some extra furniture for the room, and they had a list of supplies they would need. They would wait a few more months before she went out to get come of the other stuff. They already had a small lockable fridge where they could keep baby bottles.
"Oh come one don't take all the fun out of this," The dark haired girl August smiled as she was sitting with her girlfriend and lover Amara. Both had their hands linked together and looking very close and very much in love as well. It was a bit strange at first but everyone got used to it soon after and now it was just another young romance in the place.
"Very well then if it will make you all happy," Emma told them although the slight smile on her face told them that she really did appreciate this.
"So then open up the gifts Frosty," Tabitha said to the older blond even though Emma had an addition to her last name Tabby still liked to use that nicknamed based on her maiden name. Emma didn't mind she knew that Tabitha was just being Tabitha.
"Okay then," Emma raised a hand and looked at them all, "So who is first?"
"Oh me first please!" Kitty said showing her a wrapped gift. "I saw it and thought the baby would look so adorable in it." Emma wondered what she had in mind although Kitty did have nice tastes.
She unwrapped it and smiled pulling out a cute little baby PJs that was light blue with a small ducky on the front. It was very cute and she thanked Kitty for it as Emma ran her hand over it for a moment picturing her child all snug in it. It brought a warm smile to her face.
They kept on with the gifts and talking about the baby as well everyone was excited some even more so then the mother it seemed. Emma got a nice blanket for the baby, a few toys, some clothing and other things she would need for later. After the presents the snacks and drinks were passed out and she was thankful for the snacks.
Eating for two gave her an appetite lately and it was chocolate and she couldn't pass that up.
"So had the baby kicked yet or anything?" Jubilee spoke up looking at Emma's larger stomach.
"No it's too soon for that," She corrected the younger girl, "Give it a few more months."
"Yeah and that will be a joy at first but a bit annoying after the novelty wears off," Mystique warned her given her own experience she figured Emma might want to learn a few things ahead of time. "Kurt was so full of energy he would kick me all the time it seemed."
Kitty giggled at that, "I guess he was always full of energy."
"Yeah I'll say," Wanda had on a small smile on her face thinking of her boyfriend.
"Ew!" Kitty shuttered, "Was that a sexual reference? Because I think of him like as a brother."
"How do ya think ah feel? He is mah brother." Rogue asked Kitty the last thing her mind needed was the mental image of her younger brother getting it on with Wanda.
"Yes Wanda I may approve of you relationship but there are some things even I don't want to know about," Mystique sighed to herself.
"Yes I think we should get off this topic," Ororo broke in seeing a few of the girls blushing and giggling. Laura was looking a little out of place while Rahne looked really embarrassed by the topic. She wasn't surprised given how young she was.
"Why this is the good stuff?" Tabby said mainly just to get a rise out of everyone and got several pillows thrown at her, she just laughed it off.
-Mystique-
Mystique didn't know where she was, she was in a dark hall running but she wasn't sure why. Was she running towards or away from something? Then she heard it, a scream and not just any scream it was Rogue's. It was followed by one that sounded like Kurt and her heart froze as she suddenly knew her children were in danger.
She pushed forward yet she didn't seem to get anywhere. She kept on pushing herself to keep running faster and faster but it seemed that no matter how fast she went the end of the hall never came any closer. She could hear the cries of her children as they were in pain. Someone was hurting them and the words 'stop' 'please' 'help me' kept being heard. She felt tears in her eyes as she knew they were suffering and she couldn't do anything.
"Rogue! Kurt!" She yelled out to them letting them know she was coming.
"Mama! Please help us! They're hurting us!" Rogue's voice was cut off by a scream and there was a dark laughter there after it. She didn't know how much time passed but eventually the screams stopped when she started to slow down feeling that sensation of failing she suddenly found herself in a small dark chamber.
It was all metal and the sight horrified her, there on the ground were her children. Pieces of tattered clothing were all over the place and they looked to have been abused in every way they were both bleeding very badly.
Mystique felt a large lump in her throat checking Kurt but seeing he wasn't moving his eyes were open but there was no life in them. She hurried to Rogue and lifted her head up Rogue's eyes drifted over to her, "Wh-where were ya…"
"Oh god Rogue please I'm sorry, I'm sorry I wasn't there please don't leave me too." He cried out holding her close but she felt Rogue's body fall limp. She screamed out into the dark and then heard that laughing again. With a white hot furry in her she rose up slowly trying to find who was laughing at his through the darkness.
"Where are you! Come out here and face me"!
"Oh the little blue bitch lost her kids and now has come for me huh?" It was a woman's voice and Mystique stopped. She knew that voice she knew it well she had burned it into her memory.
"No…" Mystique whispered out and then felt a strong hand on her throat. She was hauled off he feet and slammed into a wall. There she was face to face with the black sorceress Selene, her dark eyes and hair grinned at her like a cat with a mouse. "You're dead."
"Yes and so are your children and…Him," She pointed to her right and Mystique looked and chocked out a surprised cry. There impaled onto his own sword was the armored form of Slayer. His blond hair was covering his face and he was just hanging there off the ground lifeless.
"Everyone you are around suffers Raven, you cause nothing but pain and death. You wanted to be a mother but look at you, where were you when I had so much fun with your son and daughter? Because you weren't there you lost your lover." Selene just laughed in her face taking pleasure in Mystique's pain and suffering.
"This is all your handiwork, if you were any kind of a mother or a good person you could have done something. But you're not a good person your evil…just…like…me!"
"Noooo!" Mystique screamed out and shot up in her bed. She looked around for Selene but there was no one there in the darkness. Mystique as her heart slowed down pulled her legs up and hugged them to her. She just cried, she never was one to cry but there were rare times when she did.
All her life she tried to cut that weakness out of her and she had mostly done that. But the images and Selene's words were just too hard on her. She hadn't been there and people that meant something to her suffered because of it. She would have to live with his for the rest of her life and it was killing her inside.
"Raven?" Came a soft voice in the dark. She looked over to see the door gently close with Irene there in a nightgown walking towards her. "I haven't seen you in this kind of pain in a long time old friend."
Raven wanted to turn away but it wasn't like Irene could 'see' her. She just dried her eyes trying to compose herself. "It was just a nightmare."
"Yes and a bad one at that," Irene could hear the strain in her voice as she made her way to her. Feeling the corner of the bed she got on it sitting down next to her. "Please talk to me about it."
Mystique closed her eyes not wanting to think about it. But Irene had been her one true friend in her life and was the only person she completely trusted in life. So she spoke out about what she could remember it was fading but the worst images were still there. "I failed them all…I'm nothing but a failure as a person, as a mother…as a lover I've failed them all."
She felt Irene slip next to her putting her arms around the other woman, "You did what you thought was right and the best you could at the time."
Mystique closed her eyes leaning into Irene's embrace, "Irene…please stay with me."
"Of course," she smiled at her stroking her hair. They laid back down onto the bed as the two got comfortable as Raven rested next to her nuzzling herself against her. It was an old and familiar place here one she hadn't been in years.
Irene ran a hand through her hair feeling Mystique pressed up against her, "You know you've changed. Since I've been here you've grown and in a way you're a little bit like the old Raven. The one that I knew when we first met, that darkness you carried within you doesn't hold over you as much."
"I've had a few reasons for that," She responded working with her children, the others here and even her time with Jack had touched something in her that she had thought was long dead. She knew she wasn't the same person she once was, she wasn't totally like she was back then either. She was something new, growing into a new life here.
Irene was silent a moment before she spoke. "I like this new you."
That got a small smile out of the other woman as she looked at her face, "Why have you stayed so long? Not that I'm complaining old friend."
"At first I had only planned for a few weeks…But then as I got to live here with all the children, getting to know everyone, seeing Rogue again and meeting Kurt…Plus…There was you as well. I saw how you were in pain and I couldn't leave you."
Mystique reached up with a hand touching her cheek, "You were always the best for me I should have never let you go."
"You did what you had to do I don't regret what we shared."
Then Mystique thought back all those years back when they had been good friends, always together and then how one day things just kind of grew. Before either knew it they had become lovers, Irene had never thought of another woman in that way after Mystique and Raven herself had many lovers or those she seduced. But she had only loved three times in life.
First it was Irene, then Kurt's father, then Jack all of them touched her life and for a moment Mystique felt old feelings stirring. She leaned down and kissed Irene gently on the lips and she felt the other woman respond.
After a tender moment she pulled back, "Irene…"
"Shhhh," She whispered and placed her fingers on her lips. "Let's leave this until the morning, there are a lot of issues to deal with…But let's just have tonight without any complications."
Raven smiled a little and cuddled up against her, "You always were the more sensible one." She felt comfortable here and it was much easier to fall to sleep. Whatever the morning brought she wanted to enjoy this small moment just like Irene wanted to. They had both missed this closeness they had and both of them enjoyed having each other at least for this one more time.
NEXT UP CHAPTER 13: OLD FEELINGS COME OUT