CHAPTER 14: FIRST KICK
A few more months passed and it was now December, everyone was out for the winter break and plans were being made. Kitty managed to convince her parents to let Piotr stay with them so they could meet him. Needless to say the large Russian was nervous about this but it would allow them time to be with just themselves.
Amara didn't celebrate it so she was perfectly content to stay at the mansion with August. Tabitha had nowhere to go and so Sam asked her if she wanted to join his family. She was surprised by this but he insisted, she couldn't say no to that and was touched by his offer.
Kurt's parents were coming again so that his entire family would be there, with Rogue, Remy, Wanda, Mystique and Irene. Kurt of course was so happy he had a permanent grin on his face and was bouncing all over at the idea of having his entire family together for Christmas.
Other couples were taking as much time to see the other, Roberto and Ray were seeing the twins Kali and Kelsey while Rahne and Jamie were taking as much time together as they could since they were all would be with their families at this time.
Even Scott was leaving this time to spend Christmas with Jean's family as they would also start to talk on the wedding as well. It was getting closer and closer and Scott was actually getting a bit nervous, Betsy and Emma as well as other girls were already planning ahead to help Jean out given she had enough with school.
Emma of course decided to make it her personal project to keep her busy during her pregnancy, Jean didn't mind at all she had enough with her workload.
Betsy and Warren had plans to spent the day at his parents mansion as Betsy's parents wanted to meet the Worthingtons so they planned to spend it with them as well. It would be a very interesting holiday and Betsy just hoped Brian didn't give Warren a hard time. She also learned he had met a girl named Meggan and was bringing her with them as well.
She couldn't wait to talk to her and dig up any dirt on her brother and maybe share a few embarrassing stories.
Hank and Sage were content to stay at the mansion together neither one had any real family anyway, while Ororo managed to talk Logan into going with her to her sister and brother in law's and to bring Laura with them as well. Logan wanted to stay at the mansion but she managed to convince him otherwise.
Many of the people had plans and even though it was a great time, there was one person who wasn't in the best of moods. Sitting there alone in one of the rooms Vincent was staring out into the night as the snow fell lost in his own world.
Normally this would have been a happy time for him but things were different. It was his first Christmas away from home, a place he could never face again. He normally at this time would be helping out with the kids at the orphanage and with Father Michaels but not this year. He was long gone early a year now and it cut him more deeply then he ever though possible.
Everything was just so alien to him at the moment, nothing was as it had been and he didn't like it. There wasn't that same connection like he normally felt. He knew he should be happy but at the moment he wasn't he was just lost in the memories. His mind preserved his memories nearly flawlessly a gift and a curse.
He remembered his first Christmas and the wonder it held, he remembered everyone there all his friends, the man that raised him all the fun. Now it was all gone, he felt like someone had cut out a piece of his life and it hurt like hell. He wanted to have Michaels back so much he felt lost without him for so long. He wanted to hear that voice that gentle touch on his shoulder.
But no he was dead, murdered in front of his eyes a sight that would haunt him till his grave. Vincent just bent forward to place his face in his hands as the despair of his loss swept over him. He felt like he wanted to cry but he couldn't it was like he had shed all the tears he was allowed in life already.
He sat there alone in the dark just trying to pull himself together and to battle the inner demons that always seem to be there. It was like his entire life was an uphill battle in his soul a never ending climb up a mountain that just seemed to grow and grow fighting his way up to the top trying to find even just a moment of peace.
It as so hard at times, so hard that he felt like he would lose his mind or just fall into the darkness and never find his way out. He felt a cold numbness enter his heart not wanting to feel this anymore he wanted to be normal but he was never normal and never would be. He'd accepted that years ago but that didn't mean it still didn't hurt.
He was so wrapped up that he didn't feel the gentle hand on his shoulder, Vince jerked around and saw his wife there looking at him with concern. She was bigger now, her figure showing her true pregnancy now as it was only a few more months until the kid came. That was another fear he had that he may not be a good father and he would screw up.
His wife didn't say a word she didn't have to after all she knew him inside and out as he knew her. They had shared each other's memories, their pain and their joy. They had shared it all since they didn't have any secrets from the other and she could feel his pain and understood it. This time of the year was nothing she liked either her family hadn't been the kind to really celebrate it.
"Come to bed," She said to him in a soft tone it wasn't really either her asking or telling. She just wanted him to come with her. He thought about it guessing it was late enough as it was and got up with her, she took his hand. Emma knew that there was a dark spot inside of him something that would always be there that even she could never get rid of.
She led them up to their room and he silently put on his sleeping clothes, Emma was already in hers and waited for him in their bed. He got under the covers and he just held her gently, resting his head near hers and he just took comfort in her presence. "I'm sorry about this…It's just that…Things have changed so much, I miss so much and…"
"I know," She said gently to him stroking his face she did know and resolved to help him through this. "This is hard on you so far from your old home, none of your old friends or loved ones. I can't imagine it myself I didn't grow up like you did. But I know next year will be better."
"How do you know that?"
She smirked at him as she took his hand to her belly, "Because it will be our son's first Christmas and ours as a family."
It took a moment but he got a small smile on his face resting his head next to hers, "You're a smart woman."
"Well of course darling I'm no fool." She smiled back at him as they got more comfortable together. She turned around so that he was pressed up against her back his face nestled in her neck and hair as his hand was over her belly where their child was. He breathed in deeply taking in the sent of her hair as he just felt a small moment's of peace.
Only in these moments could he find it with her and for a moment he did feel like he was home. For a moment but maybe one day that would grow and this place would finally feel like his home fully to him.
-The Next Day-
Jean was brushing her hair as Scott had gotten out of the shower and was going to get breakfast started. She looked in the mirror at her long red hair she had been thinking of cutting it since her long hair was a bitch at times to keep straight. It wasn't as easy as some people would think and given how long it was it took so much time.
She was thinking maybe cut it to her shoulders or something, maybe a new style as well she had been wearing it like this for years as it was maybe it was time for a change. There was a soft knock on her door, "come in."
She placed the brush away and saw Rogue there as she closed the door, "Hey…Can ah talk to ya?"
Jean knew that look on her face and tone in her voice, she didn't have to read her mind to know Rogue was troubled about something. "Sure thing come one and sit down."
They sat on the bed together as Jean wondered what Rogue thinking. It couldn't be about Mystique and Irene she seemed to have gotten used to that a month ago, although it was a shock to everyone else. She did her best not to peek into her mind and would let her open up.
The southern goth was a bit nervous about this but she had to talk to someone and Jean she knew can relate. "Jean…When you're intimate with Scott…do…do ya get flashbacks?"
"Flashbacks?"
"When ah was with Remy and we were gettin'…yah know…intimate," She lowered her head thinking back to last night. "It was good and then all of a sudden ah started getting scared. Ah don't know why but then…mah mind went back ta…ta that room…" She shut her eyes hating feeling so weak like this.
Jean hugged her close finally knowing what she was getting at, "It's okay, I know what you mean."
Rogue looked at her with pain filled eyes, "Ya mean you've had that happen with Scott?"
Jean slowly nodded, "Yes a few times, you know how Shaw used Scott's image to get me to…you know anyway sometimes there are moments I'm afraid it's not Scott. It took me months to actually push that aside every time we started. But now and then…I get scared too. He stops and he just holds me and is there for me."
Rogue nodded her head, "Yeah when I actually started to get some tears Remy just stopped and held meh close. He can be so sweet when he wants ta be."
Jean gave a small smile, "I know it's tough we all have things to deal with now."
Rogue thought about Kurt he was doing much better and then there was the fact Xavier was helping Wanda and X23 deal with their own anger issues. "Emma and Vince seem ta deal okay." She said a bit more harshly then she meant to.
"You'd be surprised Rogue," Jean sighed rubbing Rogue's arm. "They hide it really well they've had to learn how to plus most of what they deal with they have for years. We've haven't even gone a full year yet."
Rogue thought about it and she guessed that made a bit of sense. "Yeah okay ah guess so…"
"Have you have breakfast yet?" Rogue shook her head, "Come on let's go and eat first then if you want we can talk more after?"
"Yeah ah guess that is a good idea…Ah am a little hungry." She gave a small smile as they got up and went to the kitchen. Since it was the winter break mostly everyone liked to sleep in and they had managed to convince Logan to have DR sessions in the afternoon instead of in the morning.
In the kitchen there were a few there, Emma who was talking with Kitty with Piotr next to her. Kurt and Wanda were in a corner talking about something with Sam. Jean went to get some coffee as Rogue sat down Emma gave the goth a small look.
"You don't look well."
"Rough night," Rogue simply said and Emma nodded her head not asking anything more as she was fixing her second serving of food. She really hoped she could work off this weight soon after the baby was born. She vowed to go on a strict diet and exercise routine. She was going to get her old body back no matter what.
Kitty gave Rogue a slight look but she knew that Rogue had issues to work through. It hadn't been easy to have watched her go through all of that. She felt violently ill as certain memories of what some of them went through her mind. She decided to look back at Emma, "Well how are things with you?"
Emma sighed and rolled her eyes, "I don't want to have to go through this anytime soon let me tell you that. First are the aches, I limited in doing so much that I've actually lowered myself to watching soap operas."
"You watch those?" Piotr asked her not really seeing them as the kind of thing she would be interested in.
"So sue me, I watched once and it was like they invaded my mind and programmed me. I swear there are hidden hypnotic messages in those shows." She grumbled that last part since normally she didn't like that stuff.
"Oh come on it's not that bad I mean what given what happened with Matt cheating on his best friend's wife?" Kitty asked her as she was a proud watcher of soap operas as were a few of the other girls.
"Actually it turned out to have been her twin sister who also slept with her sister's husband." Emma said and then froze rubbing her forehead not believing she made that comment. "God I can't wait until this is over with."
"How long until ya are due?" Rogue asked her smirking although she was a closet fan herself. She and Kitty had been sick back during when they had been roommates together her first year here. Kitty had won out on what to watch and she was hooked. Although she made damn sure no one knew that it would be almost as embarrassing as when Mystique had told everyone including Scott that she used to have a crush on him.
"A couple more months then I can-AH!" Emma was startled and the jar or mayonnaise was dropped as a hand shot to her stomach.
"What?" A few asked getting up in a hurry they kept asking what was wrong but Emma wasn't speaking she was just lost in a daze at the moment. They led her to a chair as she was sat down Jean trying to see if she could snap Emma out of it.
Emma had on a small smile and then Jean pinched her arm, "Ow! What the fuck was that for?"
"Emma what the hell is going on what happened?" Jean asked her.
She hadn't realized that she had spaced out like that and felt a bit embarrassed but she hide it well. She smiled rubbing a hand over her stomach, "The baby kicked."
"Oh my god really!" Jean shouted out happy for her as everyone was starting to crowd her a bit.
"Yeah he just kind of-" She felt another small one and she laughed. Emma had no idea why she was laughing she just did feeling her little man working his muscles it seemed.
"Can I?" Jean asked and Emma nodded as Jean laid her hand on there for a moment there was nothing then she felt it. A little thump there, "Oh my god." She said softly with a small smile on her face. By then everyone was trying to get a feel for the kid kicking.
In fact once word got around everyone was trying to feel the baby kick, it was fun at first but it was getting a bit annoying so Emma decided to hold herself up in her room. Thankfully everyone knew better then to bother her in her room. She was working on her laptop sitting on the bed waiting for her husband to get back.
He was out shoveling the driveway he actually didn't mind since he did it all the time back home and it was something familiar to him. The only thing was that he wouldn't use an energy blast or put some extra speed into it. He liked to do it the 'old fashioned' way. She sighed not sure why he chose to do it that way.
So far the kid was kicking now and then but he seemed to take a rest between them. Then she felt it on the corners of her mind before she heard his foot steps. She looked over to see Vince coming in, his face was a little red from the cold but he looked a bit refreshed.
"Have a nice time?"
He grinned at that, "I enjoyed it and I know you don't understand why."
"I'm a telepath and I still wonder why you keep doing things like that. It would be so much easier and efficient to use your powers." She shook her head as she closed her laptop and set is aside. "Vincent come here please."
"What?" He asked walking over, she patted the bed and he sat down confused. She was keeping her face unreadable and her thoughts close to her as well. She took his hand and placed it on her stomach and he still wasn't sure why. "Emma?"
"Wait for it."
So he sighed waiting he didn't understand what she was doing. He was just feeling a bit better then last night. He was getting a little annoyed with the silence and was about to ask her what was going on then he felt it. His eyes widened and then looked at her as she let a smile touch her face.
"Say hello to our son," She said softly.
Vince was totally lost for anything to say he just couldn't find the words. He couldn't believe he felt his son kick it was strange how something so small had such an impact. He smiled as his hand caressed her stomach feeling the emotions swell up in him.
"He started this morning at breakfast," Emma placed her hand over his, "Everyone has been asking to feel him kick."
"So that's why you were sitting in here then." He grinned at her and she sighed nodding her head. He leaned over and kissed her head. "They'll get over it, look at it this way when he's born they'll all spoil him and we won't have trouble looking for anyone to looking after him when we need it."
"Just don't let Gambit near him last thing we need is for him teaching our child questionable traits."
"Emma," he stated with a slightly stern tone.
"Fine as long as Rogue is there to keep him in line," She sighed although they both knew that Remy may not know much on raising a kid but he was a good man. "Although at this moment I can't wait to start getting my figure back."
"Well I can help with that," he smiled at her.
"Yes I think the martial arts training will help I think I lost a bit of baby fat when I started that," She said thoughtfully. It would help her get back into shape and keep her a bit more limber as well. She just knew that she would be stiff after all of this with so little activity and may not be as agile as she had been.
"Well…there is that," Vince said smirking as he nuzzled her neck she moaned a bit as he trailed some kisses there. "Plus I figure there are other ways to exercise as well."
"That's how I got like this in the first place," Emma smirked the damn thing was lately Mystique had been right about her libido kicking into overtime lately. "But just so you know if you ever want to touch me like that again you're wearing a fucking condom because there is no way I'm going through this anytime soon."
He chuckled as he found that spot on her neck near her ear that she really liked. "I'm fine with that one kid is enough anyway but since there's no trouble with that happening…"
She laughed a bit as they fell onto the bed, "Oh I think for now we don't have to worry about a thing."
NEXT UP CHAPTER 15: IT'S TIME