Note(s): I wanted to show how much the AOA Rachel Summers impacted everyone in the 616. So some memories are entire chapters. then to start speeding it up, I put one, two or even more people speaking. And while I didn't cover everyone I had intended I came close. Because this part of the story post Rachel Summers was starting to become too long with the next arc that wanted to be told in this series. Before going back to random moments, for the most part.
"Thank you for listening to that long winded speech. Rachel Summers impacted everyone here just as much in one way or another. And now, I will pass it to whomever wishes to come next." Standing, "I will." Phoenix R.S. Wagner bows her head. "Very well then, thank you. Come, Caitlin Avery." Hesitantly the young woman walks forward. "First, I appreciate all of you inviting me, given that I am technically an outsider.
The day I met Rachel Summers and a few of you, as cliché as it may sound changed my life. Rachel telling me that one doesn't need to have powers to be a hero is what inspired me to make the choices I have. And I remembering meeting her again after all my years of studying in order to benefit what all of you do was a dream I never thought managed otherwise. She instilled confidence in me that had I had been lacking until then.
Staring at the building, she sighs. 'Okay. Breathe in and out. You've got this. Ignore the fact that it is the best opportunity you will no doubt ever have in your life. You have longed for this and to hopefully see her again. Nothing like seeing your childhood hero again, along with others. Chickening out now isn't an option, you can't waste everything you have sacrificed for.'
"Hello?! How may I help you?!" Turning she sees a woman staring at her. "Yes, I have a 3'oclock appointment. My name is." She says as an afterthought. "Ms. Avery, yes. They are expecting you, though if they became sidetracked, I apologize. I will show you the way. Just follow my voice." "Um, okay?! Thank you…?!" "Just call me Roberta."
Entering the room, she is greeted by a scream. "JOHNATHON STORM, THAT WASN'T FUNNY!" Seeing The Human Torch flying through the air followed by another fiery entity. Holding its hand out, "give it back now!" The bite not mistaken. "I apologize for their behavior. We are working on something that is still proving to be problematic. It is making the two antsy."
Turning she sees Susan Richards coming her way followed by Ben Grimm who has Franklin and Valeria hanging off of him. Her eyes widening at who is in the background. "But?!" Laughter springs forth. "That was just a hologram you saw." Reed, Johnny and Rachel are in the background, each with googles over their eyes. As a minor explosion goes off, coughing, "well, that definitely wasn't it. Maybe we should call it a day?!"
Seeing that Reed is about to object, "that may be a good idea, my dear husband. We have a visitor." The three turn, each taking their googles off, keeping them on their heads. "Well, hello there!" "Don't be a dirty old man, Johnathon Storm." He turns to Rachel. "Can't you see she is much younger than us. I swear, one of these days you're flirting it going to lead you to a world of hurt. Excluding the rift that had existed between you and Ben."
"Reed. I know you. Go and enjoy the rest of the day with your family. I would let you in on the interview but I know you will get lost. Susan, I wouldn't mind if you kidnapped your husband and brother from here. I will finish up. Caitlin Avery, come, you can keep me company." Rachel puts the googles back over her eyes before turning her back.
"Roberta, I am going to override his commands. If Reed tries to come back in here, deny him." "That's not fair, Rachel. I pay you. We are supposed to be partners." Smiling, "and as your partner, I am kicking you out. Go enjoy life and your family. We all know you don't do that enough." Hearing the continued protest, "but Susan, we were just on the cusp…"
Diving under the circuitry, "sorry, you had to see all that. He needs it sometimes. If we left him to his own devices, he would get lost in his own mind." A piece of machinery is thrown past her. "Ah, here it is. Rather than a usual interview, show me why you want this position, what you have learned and why we should choose you, Caitlin Avery. And our history is no leeway. Your assessment begins now."
Standing on the roof, she crosses her arms. As the wind from the aircraft moves her hair, her expression speaking volumes. "Come now, it will be alright. And you know even if it isn't, you know at this point, I couldn't turn a blind eye. And that is the sacrifice a hero makes, if I ever had another daughter, I should wish her to be like you, Caitlin." Rachel tells her just as Katherine, her siblings and cousins walk by.
Caitlin shakes her head. "I do know. I just for some reason…" Rachel pulls her in, hugging her before kissing her forehead. As more of the Summers and Rachel's inner circle appear. All making their way to the ship. Rachel moves backwards seeing the last of her kin situating themselves. The ship begins to take off, just as the trail of fire by her side. "…I missed her." Turning to her, "hey kid." "Mr. Storm."
"Hey, kid. Would think it is more than past time she stopped calling me that. It's Johnny." "And yet to you, I am kid." The rest of the FF family stand on her other side. "Do you think she will be alright?" Johnny starts laughing, "who Rachel?! Of course, she always manages to come unscathed…You know she is proud of you, right?! You may not have any superhero abilities, but your mind hasn't stopped you from accepting your limitations. She will be back before we know it. There really is nothing to worry about, Rachel and returning are pretty much synonymous at this point."
Thomas Shepard moves forward, Hope relinquishing her hand from his. Holding the infant in her other arm as it continues to slumber unaware of the turmoil, comforted by its mother's embrace. "This is definitely not easy for me, like my uncle, I am not used to expressing my emotions. But I owe my aunt a lot, for she was one of the ones that didn't care about my background. In fact, if not for her…" He turns to look at his wife and child before turning back to the crowd.
Watching as the Rogers family approach each other, James's hand in Sharon's. "Sharon, James, I'm sorry!" James drops her hand, running forward just as Thomas turns his head, noticing Hope Summers standing by her other aunts. "You know if you try to get closer to her, she isn't completely against the idea." "Is now really the time?!"
Quickly moving her head in the Rogers' direction, "look at them." Sharon is still searching her husband's face as he patiently waits for her decision. "Sharon is just as cautious and as jaded as you, especially after what we have all witnessed. And yet, she is willing to try. Her love for him is more than enough. Look at the rest of our family, people like us, that have suffered more than enough. We haven't let that stop us from giving love a chance. You are much too young to be such jaded. Isn't that chance worth more than enough?!" "She's right, I wouldn't be totally opposed to trying and see what we could be."
Turning at the intrusion, he sees a slight smile on Hope's face. Rachel nods her head. "It is time we give them privacy." Each begin to move toward the door, Bucky, Natasha and Roger lingering. "I will handle it. You know they are going to need this time, after everything." The Barnes-Romanoff unit acquiesce as Roger looks back toward his best friend; just as his parents lay their hands on his shoulders leading him.
"James, it is time to go." The child turns his head. The hesitation in his eyes as he continues to clutch his parent's hands. Just as "Steve?!", his wife clearly finding what she has been searching for, releasing James's hand before embracing her husband. Steven's hand falling from his as he returns Sharon's embrace. James unsure about the unintentional rejection.
"James, your parents need some time alone. It will be okay. Nothing has changed, you know that they still love you. Roger, your aunt and uncle are worried about you; don't you want to see them?! James nods his head, "okay then." Rachel says, bending down, holding her hand out. The boy is in her arms the next moment as she gets up carrying him away.
The action lost to his parents as he watches, his head on Rachel's shoulder. "And don't worry about that either. Your parent's still love each other more than enough. I know everything that happened feels like a betrayal; and it will take time. But they have weathered the storm before and they shall do so again."
Turning slightly, "Rachel, will I stay like this?!" "Who knows?! Though finding out how you got like this is the bigger question." The whole time, she has ignored the blur that has been circling them. "You know some privacy would have been nice." "I was just checking on you. Billy's thoughts were starting to irk me. Will they really be, okay?!" He stops by James's side.
"James." "Tommy." "James?!" Turning at his best friend's voice, "ROGER!" The child runs into his "brother's" arms. "I missed you, Roger!" "I missed you too, James. I am just glad you are alright. After Sean's and your disappearance, we were afraid, we wouldn't find you. And you know that I am going to hold this over your head, when or if, we ever manage to fix what caused you to revert?!"
James punches his arm, the best that he can. As the laughter accompanies, the motion shared among those gathered. The hope that pierces his heart isn't lost to her, "well go on already. She has let you know that she isn't opposed to giving you a chance." Lightly shoving him forward, Thomas makes his way to Hope as Rachel steps toward Bucky and his "wife."
Thomas steps away from the podium before the blur occurs, leaving a wind in his wake. Allowing for silence and Steven to bend his head, his shame and regret blanketing him. Sharon taking her hand in his, as James lays against his side. Wrapping his arm around his son, as the tiny body begins to quake with sorrow as Steve does his best to reassure him over their friend's loss. Just as William and Ted flank Hope's side as Cable looks in the direction his son-in-law left.
DeMarr Davis and his teammates take their turn. "Even amongst, all of you, we are still considered outsiders." Turning to Clint and Bobbi, "and yet, Rachel didn't care about any of that we she searched us out. And only the third person here to not let any of that bother her. By now, almost all of us know the experiences she had toughed her up.
But not to the point that she didn't freeze everyone out." Glancing at Alex, "Rachel Summers was able to see the best and good in all of us. And she never needed telepathy to accomplish this, it was merely who she was. And thus, touching not only our hearts but lives' when none of us were expecting her too. Especially, those who weren't always in agreement with her views." Shifting his gaze momentarily to James Howlett.
Alex puts his head in his hands at this, the grief vibrating his body; as Lorna, Dane and his brothers and father do their best to comfort him. "Alexander Summers, I know after all this, it isn't easy. But there is no point in being sad, we all know she wouldn't want you to be. She, once told me that she was glad she took that chance on you.
The room is dark as he enters it. But not disturbed in anyway, having sensed the presence even if he couldn't see them. "You know, I have been thinking." "Yes, Rachel?!" "This world still scares me; and yet the life that this reality has still surprises me. I have fought so long and hard against a notion that I am clearly have been mistaken about, at least here. And I have caused unintentional pain because of it, I am thinking I should rectify it?!"
"Clinton Barton and Bobbi Morse aside, you are the only one amongst any of Earth's heroes that have bothered to give us a second glance. So, I and the others don't question your judgment, however, I have no problem listening to the doubt that has led you to such an uncertainty." "…" "I see. Well, that tells you more than enough that you need to know, doesn't it?!
If he really were like the Alex, you remember he wouldn't be trying so hard, would he?!" "I suppose not." "And even if it were a ploy, which it more than likely isn't, based on what you have just shared, he isn't capable of such deception. This version just doesn't have it in him." A slight smile appears on her face. Barely turning her head to him, "you're right. Thank you." "If you want to tell me more about your life before you came here, I am all ears."
"Again, her experiences may have toughed her more than enough. But they also, gave her the insight of possessing compassion and forgiveness. And even if she had, a complicated relationship with each of you at one point or another, she never stopped loving you. You were her brothers, at times all she had to, to get her by, especially you, Scott.
The pain, your separation caused her never left her. And Major Christopher Summers, she wishes she had more time with you. Nor that she didn't try harder to understand your hurt or betrayal, Gabriel. Instead of casting you to the side without giving you a chance to defend yourself." The brothers bending their heads down, as their arms wrap around each other. The grief and sorrow barely contained taking the speech to heart, knowing that Doorman is right. 'Rachel, didn't constantly sacrifice pieces of herself for us to act this way.'
