X-Men Christmas
CHAPTER 2: GIFTS AND GOODBYES
Later that day everyone was gathering up for the final meal where everyone would be together before they all broke up for the break. They were in the new larger dinning room that now had two long tables in it. Given the number of students they needed the extra space when Xavier had the mansion upgraded.
In fact he was sitting back at the head of the one with the adults and X-Men smiling as he looked over the room. There on the other table the New Mutants and the new group X-Factor were talking amongst each other, each one telling the other about what they planned to do when they got home and the family they wanted to see.
A small smile spread over his face looking over them all enjoying themselves. It had been a heard year so far, new members and dealing with lots of issues. He looked to Jean and Scott both now adults as they were no longer high school students. He had seen their relationship grow over time to where it was now and it made him happy for them.
He looked to Kurt and Amanda and seeing them being playful with each other and how when Amanda was human how she treated him and the others gave him hope. Another thing he was grateful for was seeing Rogue there, she was happier these days and it was no real wonder why. She could touch and had opened up her heart to another, after all the treachery by her mother that had to be hard for her.
Xavier looked over them all and marvelled at how some of them had grown up lately, some had found new strength others through pain and loss had become stronger. Or in the case of people like Logan, Ororo, Blink and Sarah by having a new family to fill in a hole in their lives, it was a good for him to see all of this and he couldn't help but smile.
"Care to enlighten us about what is giving you such a smile Charles?" Beast asked him, he had noticed him smiling for awhile now and he was wondering what exactly it was.
Xavier looked at his old blue friend and then nodded to everyone there, "It's just that it's nice seeing everyone together like this. I remember when I first opened this mansion to mutants to train them and to help them. I never dreamed that it would be like this, with so many and seeing how they all grow over time."
For a moment he thought this was what it was like to be a parent, that reminded him that he was. David or Legion was still out there, the son he had never known or had been there for. He still felt like a failure not being able to help his son and now he was out there out of control. How would have things would have been different if he had known about him? Would he have been here now with them?
He put that aside he had been thinking on what ifs ever since he had met his son, and this was a happy time.
Beast looked over everyone and even he admitted it was always a nice time here, last year was very nice and with so many children here he couldn't help but get swept up into the spirit of things. How could you not with so much young energy going around?
After dinner they cleaned up well the few that actually didn't mind the work did while others snuck off to do something else. It was later when everyone got together to exchange gifts, it wasn't Christmas yet and even though some of the students didn't celebrate it but that didn't mean they didn't get into the spirit of things.
Everyone was in the living room as they gave out gifts, some actually could wait until Christmas to open theirs but there were some that just couldn't wait. Kitty was on the couch with Dani as they exchanged gifts, "I really hope you like it," The Native girl said as Kitty opened her gift. "I made it myself."
Kitty opened up the small box and pulled out a small circular object with a web pattern in the circle with some beads and a couple of feathers. "Oh cool is this a dream catcher?" Kitty asked looking at it, it was really well made. She had seen a few before in the mall but this looked much better.
"Yeah it is, you put it over your bed to take away bad dreams, my grandfather taught me how to make them."
"I totally like it, it must have taken you forever to make this. Now I feel a little cheep since I only bought yours." Kitty's face feel a bit this gift had a lot of thought into it.
Dani opened hers and she was surprised when she pulled out a necklace, it was silver looking and there was a crescent moon with a reddish gemstone set in the space in the moon. "Wow this is beautiful."
Kitty beamed at that, "Thanks glad you liked it, when I asked what the gem was they told me it was a moonstone so I figured it would be perfect for you."
Dani smiled and gave her friend a hug it was a very nice gift and it really did look great. She put it on and she couldn't wait to show it off. Others were already opening a few gifts as Jamie was opening a box that he got from Vincent, he was curious as to what he got. The young boy opened up a box and saw the whit clothing and then looked to the dark haired older boy.
"I thought I already had a gi?" Jamie asked confused as he looked at it.
"Not like this, take a closer look," Vince smirked as Jamie did and only smiled wider when Jamie's expression turned to surprise when he pulled it out and saw that on the chest and even larger on the back it had the Mototsugu family clan symbol. There was also a yellow belt in there as well.
He looked up at the dark haired Canadian at that point, "You've earned it Jamie, you've come a long way in a short time it's impressive."
"Cool thanks!" He said pulling it out, Vince had been like an older brother to him teaching him to be stronger and to use his powers better. And to be able to wear this symbol, Jamie knew meant that he had earned Vince's respect. Although when he pulled out the pants there was something else as well a DVD movie.
"Oh yeah I forgot that as well, enjoy." Vince smirked as Jamie pulled it out and gave the older boy a hug. When he was gone Rogue came up behind him shaking her head.
"Y'all goin' ta spoil him like that," She told him and he looked up and just shrugged.
"He deserves it, besides aren't you that one that keeps giving him those brownies when he asks for help to reach them?"
She crossed her arms trying to cover up her slight embarrassment, "Well…He just uses those damn puppy dog eyes and stuff."
He nearly laughed at that but the look he got said that he better not, it was hard but he kept it down. Although he still had on a smile as he got up and led her away. "Where are we goin'?" She asked him not sure what he had planned, even having his mind in hers she still couldn't figure him out sometimes.
"It's a surprise," He just told her which she didn't like, she wasn't one for surprises they usually ended up being bad for her. They walked to his room as he dug through his closet and pulled something out. She was surprised when he handed her a guitar, she gently took it as well.
"I know it's early but I figured I wanted you to have this. I know you lost your old one when the mansion was destroyed but how come you never got another one?" He asked her, he had learned about this from Kitty of course. Whenever he needed some information about Rogue it was usually Kitty or Kurt who had the answer.
Rogue just kept looking at it, it looked a lot like her old one so she knew he had to have had help in picking it out. "Ah don't know…Things just kept coming up and well…"
Vince remembered how she had played once and took a step forward, "Hey you got some talent with it and it will be a shame for you to waste it. I mean I remember what you played and it was great, you shouldn't have given up on it."
Rogue gave a small smile, truth was she did love playing her guitar. But after the mansion was destroyed and they had been on the run and how people treated them when they found out the truth, she just didn't have it in her to play. Then the thing with Mystique and stuff and that year had just been really dark for her.
She tested the weight of it and sat on his bed as she tested the strings, it was a good instrument and she never knew just how much she missed having one. She remembered practicing it in her room before her powers all the time. It had been one of the few things in her lonely childhood that gave her joy.
Vince watched as she started to play, at first testing it out and tuning it, then moving into a few bars of songs. When she got more comfortable she started to play what he thought was some type of blues and he just smiled. She looked to be really into the music as she just let it take over and she lost herself in the song. By the end Rogue was smiling and he loved to see that on her face she had a nice smile actually.
Rogue for a moment just looked at her gift and for a moment she wondered why on Earth had she given this up? It felt like she had a part of her back, she loved her music and playing it again it just brought back all the memories of why she loved it. 'Sometimes I really can be an idiot,' She thought to herself and looked up at her smiling boyfriend.
"Thank you," Were the only words she could get out, there didn't seem to be any words that she could say that could tell him how she felt at this moment. He only smiled and was glad that she liked it. "So ya want yours now as well?"
He just smiled and shrugged, "It can wait I want to hear more music." She smiled back as she started up again.
Gifts were passed out and people were showing others what they got, Paige was surprised when she opened hers from Jamie and found that he made a frame with a picture of them. It was from one of their first dates actually and the frame was very beautiful. She hugged him making the young man blush.
Blink for the first time in years felt happy at this time of the year, her old family had celebrated Christmas but it had usually only been very dull. Her parents never had been one for showing sighs of affection at times and being here now with so many people was a bit overwhelming. She actually had to slip away although not unnoticed.
Amanda noticed her roommate slipping out and grew a bit concerned. When she silently went through the doorway and down the hall she found her friend looking out the window and wiping her face. "Clarice are you okay?" She saw the other girl was startled for a second and she wiped her eyes. "Were you crying?"
"Yes but it's not what you think. This is the best Christmas I can remember I was just so happy that…well…I don't know why I was crying. But I just didn't want anyone to see it." Blink said drying her eyes. Amanda went over to her and gave her friend a hug since she looked like she needed it. Clarice didn't back down from it as she returned it, then they pulled away. "You know I think the best gift I got is my life here."
Amanda smiled and nodded she knew the kind of life her friend had lived. They had talked at night sometimes especially when she had a nightmare about her parents. "Well at any rate Clarice just know that we'll always be here."
"Thanks." She said a little shyly, Blink was glad that Amanda was her roommate and her closest friend. The dark skinned girl was just so nice and understanding it was no wonder that she saw through Kurt's appearance.
"Now then why don't we get back? I think there are a few gifts left to you." Amanda smiled as she took the other girl's hand leading her gently back to the room.
When everyone opened up at least one present early it was time to clean up and to pack up. Some people were actually going to miss the place but there were still high spirits about. People were packing up and getting ready to move out for the rest of the week, everyone was getting ready to leave.
Bobby who was one of them slipped his arm around Jubilee's and pulled her aside, "Hey what's up?" She asked him he actually looked a bit serious which was odd. Normally he was a source of good humour it was one of the things she liked about him.
"Well I just didn't want to wish you a merry Christmas and well…Here but don't open it until later okay?" He told her giving her a small box. She had no idea what it was and she wondered what he had gotten her.
"I was wondering why you didn't get me something," She smirked as he was already wearing a sweater that she got him, it was a nice white and blue color that seemed to work for him. He just grinned and scratched the back of his head.
"Yeah well I wouldn't forget about you, you know that at least you should." He joked and she smiled at it. She was thinking of opening it on the plan ride wondering she he had picked out but she could wait.
Meanwhile Kitty was with Piotr as they were putting down their luggage, well he was done but Kitty had taken four cases with her. She also had Lockheed on her shoulder, there was no way she was leaving him behind. Although how on Earth she was going to explain this to her parents she had no idea. She had told them about Lockheed per say…Well she had just said he was an 'exotic lizard' to them, she wasn't sure how you bring up dragon into a conversation.
It had been hard enough for her father to let Piotr stay with them but after a little convincing it wasn't too bad. He didn't like that he was an older boy but after hearing that he was a nicer guy then Lance and that he was brining his little sister along he was a bit more relaxed about it. "Are you sure you have everything Katya?" Piotr asked her as he put down the last case.
Kitty did a mental checklist so far, "Yeah I think so, so when is like Illyana supposed to stop by?"
Piotr checked his watch, she was actually supposed to have been here about fifteen minutes ago but then again she never was one for being on time. "I hope soon and I hope she isn't lost again." He really didn't like her using those teleportation disks of hers, given what happened the first time he had been worried sick about her.
Kitty placed a hand on his arm to reassure him and gave him a warm smile. A few minutes later a golden disk glowed into existence and soon a young teenaged blonde stepped out with a suitcase. She looked around and let out an excited whoop. "Yes! I knew I was getting better, landed in the spot I wanted on the first try."
"So I see," Piotr smiled as she looked at her older brother. Illyana gave a happy shout as she ran and hugged her brother, he laughed as he swung her in the air. The sight was just too cute for Kitty as she giggled as the two of them started to speak in Russian. She really thought that she should learn that language if just to understand what they were saying when they got together.
Illyana looked at all the suitcases, "Uh…wow that is a lot."
"You don't think you can like not teleport with all of that can you?" Kitty asked a little worried but Illyana told her that it was fine. Just would take a bit more concentration, Kitty was glad to hear that now she just had to break the news of Lockheed and she was set. "Well then shall we go?"
"Sure thing, just stay close and uh…Don't move." Illyana warned them as they gathered together and she closed her eyes thinking of the destination. Piotr held Kitty's hand mainly for himself he loved his sister but her teleportation skills were not on the par with someone like Kurt or Blink. When the golden disk formed he held his breath hoping that they would land in the right city.
Later on most of the mutants were driven to the nearest airport. There were some that hugged each other goodbye as they started to move away. Gale was taking a flight by herself to Canada to see her father, and Betsy and Rahne were already on their way. Roberto was flying first class but his flight was delayed for a bit, so he was sitting around chatting it up with a few girls he found.
Tabitha, Sam and Paige were all waiting for their flight to get ready, as Jamie was hitching a ride with them since their flight would make a stop over in his home city where his parents would be waiting for him. Even Wanda was taking a flight as she got the change to spend it with her half-sister Lorna and her mother.
It was odd but for Wanda she was looking forward to it, Lorna and her mother were nice that one time and she couldn't remember the last time she had been with a family for this time of year. She was even smiling a bit since this was the happiest time of year she could remember. Scott told Alex to wait for him as he and Jean were left alone in the terminal.
"Well…I guess I'll see you in a week," Scott said hating to see her go sure it was just a week but honestly he liked having her around. It was comforting and Jean felt the same way but they each had plans.
"Yeah, tell you what how about we at least send an e-mail or something?" She would prefer a phone but Hawaii was pretty far and they didn't want to run up the phone bill. Scott smiled and then he pulled out a small gift for Jean.
"Here you go and don't open it until Christmas okay?" He told her and she smiled as she took it.
"Thank you Scott and I'll hold you to the same agreement," She had earlier given him a present but this time she wanted him to open it up at Christmas and not right away like last year. "I'm going to miss you Scott."
"Same here," He told her moving slowly towards her and giving her a kiss on her lips. She responded immediately as they wanted to share one final moment together.
"Hey come on bro, I don't want to miss our flight cause you were making out with your girlfriend," Alex's voice could be heard as Scott gave him a dirty look over his shoulder for ruining the moment. He just smiled back at him and Jean shook her head and nearly laughed.
"Well go on, trust me we'll have plenty of time to catch up when we get back." She told him.
"I'll hold you to that," He grinned at her as he slowly walked away. Jean watched him walk and sighed before she turned towards her own flight. It would be a long flight and she wondered what Scott had given her. She looked at the small box and she was tempted but she put it in her coat. She promised and that was that she would just have to wait a few more days.
NEXT UP CHAPTER 3: VISITORS