"I nearly forgot to mention, I was told to tell you Rogue and Bobby have finally found a way to touch each other, without my help at all. Young Robert has turned into quite the blossoming genius but you always suspected that didn't you?" He murmured softly, smiling a little as he re-arranging the bunch of flowers carefully, bringing the white roses to the forefront, "As you can imagine they're drooling over each other all over the place, it seems I can't go anywhere without seeing teenagers latched onto each others faces…" His eyes went a little misty for a moment, "I wish you could be here. There's so much life around the place. The school's practically heaving with youth, Ororo's talking about starting a fund so we can build a second school…we're just starting to discuss where to build it" He stood up, hands in his pockets, "I like the idea of building one in Texas, I'll remain here of course…we couldn't leave you alone now could we?" Another pause, another heavy, shuddering sigh, "I miss you" A gentle hand settled on his shoulder and he looked into Kurts solemn expression,
"Ve all do" He said softly, smiling a little. Hank returned the smile half heartedly, "it is not good to be so melancholy, my friend" He nodded respectfully at the gravestone before they both turned away,
"I know but it's hard sometimes…when it's cold and grey" Hank replied, looking up at Xaviers as they crunched through the snow,
"Ja but…on zer bright side, it is only vhen it is cold zat zer girls make cookies" Hank couldn't help grinning back at the genuine delight on Kurts face,
"Is that what they're doing?" He asked as they switched track to head towards the kitchen,
"Ja. Ororo is tryink to teach Rogue how to make chocolate chip cookies" Kurt pulled a face, "I am thinkink it might be a good idea to avoid Rogue for a while" Hank laughed, pushing the melancholy from his soul – no point in getting morbid about the past, Henry, what's done is done and you couldn't have prevented it – as he opened the screen door, kicking snow from his boots as Kurt moved past,
"Hey guys, wanna try a cookie?" Rogue asked, offering a plate. Kurt backed into Hank, both of them bumping against the door,
"Er, entschuldigungen, Rogue, I am not hungry. Hank told me he vas though" Kurt grinned, dodging to one side – and pocketing three of Ororo's famous cherry cookies too! Hank noticed with a scowl,
"Thank you Rogue" The Doctor swallowed, picking up one of the still warm cookies and taking a hesitant bite, ignoring Kurt sniggering at him from the other side of the room, "not bad, Rogue…actually, not bad at all" He said, raising his eyebrows,
"Don't sound so surprised" Rogue said, flicking her hair back over her shoulder, "ya'll should have more faith"
"I'll borrow some of Kurts next time" Hank quipped back lightly as the blue elfin like creature grinned at him. Sighing as he moved over to the sofa, putting his feet up as the snow started falling again, listening to the not-quite-beneath-his-hearing conversation behind him,
"Is he alright?" Rogue murmured,
"I don't know" The scrape of Kurts chair was a sign that the three behind him had moved closer together, "he vas out by zer memorial vhen I found him"
"Again?" Ororo asked,
"I think zer…news he vas given a vhile ago shook him up a little. Maybe it gave him a sense of his own mortality?"
"Shook him up?" Rogue asked incredulously, "I'd have thought it'd make him happy"
"That kind of news effects different people in different ways, Rogue" Ororo again, voice stern. Even with his back turned Hank could tell she was frowning a little, "after all he's been through…"
"Poor guy" Rogue murmured sympathetically,
"I hope he snaps out of it soon…he's needed" Kurt replied. Hank felt a sudden swell of shame and turned round to apologise for his gloomy behaviour,
"Hey y'all!" Bobby called as he slowly walked in, "we need a hand here" Hank was up and climbing over the back of the sofa before anyone else moved. Bobby grinned in surprise, "such a gentleman" Hank grinned back, just a touch roguishly,
"Naturally" He growled. The woman at Bobbys side laughed,
"Gentlemen don't abandon their pregnant girlfriends to the hardly tender mercies of cruel-tongued Icemen" Isabelle smiled, one hand on the small of her back as Hank took hold of her arm gently, supporting her and helping her to the sofa,
"Cruel tongued?" Bobby asked with a smirk, stealing some of Ororo's cookies,
"Cruel tongued, cold hearted, malicious, teasing, horrible, horrible boy" Isabelle said with flair and a twinkle in her eye that betrayed the laughter that wanted out,
"You don't mean a word, Belle, you love him really" Hank murmured, kissing her ear softly,
"Mpf" She sighed as she settled back, "you tell me that when he makes you giggle all the way up the corridor when you're desperate for a pee and can't move faster than two miles an hour" She couldn't bite back a grin as her heart swelled when her lover sat beside her, one of his hands splaying protectively over her belly. The others laughed and went back to cooking, Ororo yelling at Kurt as he dipped his tail in the cookie dough, "alright there?" Isabelle asked, noting the slightly melancholy look on Hanks face, "did you go to see the Professor again?"
"Yes" He murmured softly, turning to face her more wholly as she stroked his cheek, a worried frown marring her face,
"I was wondering, maybe, if it's alright with you and if it's a boy. Shall we call him Xavier?" She asked barely speaking above a whisper. Hank smiled, his melancholy dissipating instantly, leaning forward to kiss the woman he loved,
"That, my dear, is a wonderful idea"
Fini…?
