Changes Sequel – I. Darkness Part 17
Loud chattering could be heard when the X-Men were gathered in the kitchen on the next morning. Kitty and Peter had already left for college, while Bobby took care of Jubilee and brought her food since she couldn't get up, yet. Hank, as usual, was reading the newspaper next to Ororo, who just smiled at her husband who held their daughter on his arms. Laughing joyfully, when he tickled her, TJ hugged him tightly and giggled into his neck. From afar Scott watched them smiling and shook his head when he stirred his coffee and gave Mystique an amused look, since she was watching them closely. Their heads turned towards the door when a redhead suddenly entered; obviously not being in her best mood.
"Morning," Ororo greeted her and only earned a barely audible Morning as a reply. She watched Jean closely when this one purred herself some tea and took a seat opposite to her. Noticing that the redhead was in her own world, she gave the others a worried look, before she got up and took her by the hand. Looking up frowning, Jean gave Ororo an odd look when this one nodded towards the backdoor. "Come one!" Practically dragging her out of the kitchen, she ignored the looks of her friends and closed the door behind her.
"Who is in for a bet that Logan's the asshole again?" Scott only mumbled and grabbed a part of Hank's newspaper. "Who knows what he's done again…"
"Morning!" a cheerful voice suddenly said from the door and a woman with brown hair smiled at them.
"Moira!" Hank said surprised and got up smiling after he'd put his newspaper down and embraced her tightly. "I call that a surprise!" Letting go off her, but still holding onto her arms, he smiled at her happily.
"Isn't it? I thought it'll be nice to visit my favorite mutants again," she said and still smiled widely. "So, how are things?"
"Sit down," Hank replied and led her to a stool. "Long story. A lot has happened since you left."
"Really? I was only gone for a few weeks," Moira said surprised and gave them a look, while Scott shrugged.
"Well, you know us, don't you? Go away for a day and a lot has changed when you're back," he said dryly and sipped on his coffee.
She thought about it briefly and smiled at Hank after he handed her a cup of coffee. "How is Logan? Is he still under influence?"
"No," Scott replied and looked at the newspaper again.
"Was that a good or bad no?" she asked him in return when he smirked.
"Depends if you're Jean or not…"
Frowning, Moira gave Hank a questioning look. "Well, what he means is…," Hank began when Jack suddenly entered the room and looked to and fro between them.
"Where's mommy?" he asked and still searched for his parent.
"She's on the outside talking with Aunt 'Ro," Kurt replied and kissed his daughter briefly when she wanted to be put down. "Let them talk with each other, okay?"
"And daddy?" the boy demanded to know and cocked an eyebrow at them. "I can't find him anywhere…"
"Maybe he's in the gym, have you looked there?" Hank asked him, but Jack shook his head.
"No, I really meant that I can't find him anywhere. I don't smell him at all…"
"Smell him?" Scott asked him confused and gave the boy a weird look. "Don't tell me you are already developing more powers than having this foresight thing…"
Crossing his arms, Jack cocked an eyebrow at him. "Got a problem with it?"
Smirking, Hank shook his head. "Maybe Logan is out and comes back later. What about having breakfast first?" he asked him and saw Jack shaking his head.
"Later," was all the boy said before he ran out of the room again.
Sighing, Scott put the newspaper down. "Do me one favor," he said towards Hank and Moira. "Explain genes to me again, because he is scary!"
"Why? I think he's cute," Moira replied and sipped on her coffee.
Giving a laugh, he leant back a bit and crossed his arms. "Of course you think so. First he's Logan's kid, second you're a woman…"
"Don't listen to him," Mystique intervened and shook her head teasingly. "He's only jealous."
Giggling, Moira nodded in appreciation while Scott looked rather sourly. "Thanks for warning me!"
After they had reached the pond, Ororo had sat down on the edge and was watching Jean for minutes now, who was only staring at the water in it. "Jean, what's wrong?" she asked her worriedly since she could feel the inner turmoil of her friend as if it was her own. "Did Logan say anything again to hurt you?"
"He's gone…," the redhead replied barely audible without looking up and felt again a thick lump in her throat.
"What?" Ororo asked her aloud in shock and her eyes had widened. "He left? The two of you really split up?" Not believing what she just heard she felt how her heart kicked into high gear. "But why? I mean…this is your first real crisis and you just split up?"
"We didn't split, 'Ro," Jean finally said and had trouble to hold back her tears. "He has a reason why he left…"
"That must be a damn good reason!" her friend said angrily. "How can he leave his wife and kids alone?"
Sighing, Jean got up and turned to walk back to the mansion. She already was on her nerves end without her friends asking her so many things at once. She heard how Ororo followed her and tried to make her stop, but Jean did her best to block her out. Right now everything she wanted was to be left alone. Without looking at the others, she entered the kitchen and just went through it; ignoring another plea of the weather goddess to stop.
"Damn it!" Ororo cursed and crossed her arms angrily in front of her chest. "I don't believe that!"
"What did he do again?" Scott asked and sounded rather uninterested since he already knew that his nemesis had messed things up again.
"He left!" his friend told him and a loud gasp echoed through the kitchen, making everyone looking at her in shock.
"What?" Hank asked and out his glasses down before he exchanged a short look with Moira, who still sat next to him. "What do you mean with left? Where did Logan go?"
Only shrugging and accidentally summoning a storm on the outside, Ororo sat down opposite them and still shook her head in anger. "How can he do this? She told me has a reason, but what goddamn reason can excuse that he left his family alone?"
Only smirking mockingly, Scott sipped on his coffee. "What was it again years ago?" he asked aloud. "We need a leader we can depend on?!" Ignoring the looks the others gave him, he shook his head. "And I'm not adding told ya so!"
"Maybe things got too heated up between them?" Hank asked, but saw the weather goddess shaking her head.
"They didn't split," she replied and leant onto her arms on the counter. "But I don't believe her. Why else should Jean wear his rings on a necklace around her neck if they were still a couple?"
"Maybe to keep them for him?" sounded a voice from the door and they all turned around. "The forecast was again for sunny weather, Storm."
Looking out, Ororo noticed that the sky had turned into a deep dark grey and a storm was raging that almost was accompanied by thunder. "Oh, sorry…"
Still pausing at the door, Charles gave them a stern look. "Logan has a very good reason why he left, so don't lose your faith in him just because he didn't tell you. There was no time and it was already hard enough for him to go."
"But why? Where is he?" Mystique demanded to know and met his gaze.
"I don't know where he is. No one does," the Professor replied calmly and folded his hands. "But he came to me yesterday and told me that he would leave. He wanted Storm to take over the leadership as long as he's gone and also asked me to find someone for his classes. So, if you see Bobby, please tell him that I would like him to do the PE courses again, Scott you take over the defense courses."
"Sure," Scott replied dryly. "When can I go on holiday?"
Narrowing his eyes a bit in anger, Charles gave him a warning look. "Scott, if I may remind you, you are also to blame for the situation here, because you made it worse by what Jean and you did." Seeing the skeptical look on his former students face, he sighed. "Apocalypse wanted Logan to be as dangerous as possible when he caught him and he succeeded as we have seen. The damage he did on Logan's control on Wolverine was devastating. You all have seen how short of patience and tensed he was lately and by doing what you did, Scott, you made Wolverine even more furious," he tried to explain but still with a serious look on his face. "He wanted Jean to stay at home and not follow him to Japan to not endanger her by being with him. And he also told me that he tried everything to keep her away from him as good as possible. Since it didn't help, he took the consequence and left in order to gain control over his negative again. So you see, he has a reason, Storm. A very good one!"
Looking down on her hands, while her heart clenched painfully, she didn't look up when she asked the question that was on her mind the whole time while she'd listened to him. "When will he be back?"
Shaking his head as his eyes turned sad, Charles looked at them. "I don't know. He made perfectly clear that he won't come back before he's in full control again." With that he turned around and left when Storm's head suddenly shot up and she stared at him with widened eyes.
"And what if he can't?" she asked aloud, but Charles didn't stop; knowing that she'd already figured the answer on her own.
Upstairs, Jean reached her room again to get everything she needed for her classes. Just after she'd closed the door behind her she saw how her children left their rooms with their bags in her hand to get downstairs for their courses. "Hey," she greeted them and smiled as good as she could despite her inner turmoil. "Got everything?"
"Where's daddy? I couldn't find him," Jack demanded to know.
"He's on a mission, honey. He won't be back so soon."
Staring at their mother speechless, the kids exchanged glances. "Without saying bye?" Lily said and was close to start crying.
Shaking her head, Jean kneeled down and touched her cheek. "He said bye. You were sleeping when he had to go," she replied softly. "He would never leave without saying bye to you."
"When will daddy come back?" Rachel asked her pouting.
Getting up again, the redhead shrugged sadly. "I don't know, sweetheart…" She looked at her watch briefly. "Come on. You've got to go." Kissing each of them softly, she quickly got her things and left with them together.
"Well, he said that he might have to go, but it sucks," Jack cursed and ignored the warning look his mother gave him while they descended the stairs. "Why can't the two of you just stay?"
"Jack," Jean said a bit louder and gave him a glare. "Watch your mouth! It wasn't easy for him to go and we don't like it either that we have to leave sometimes."
"Then why do you do it?" he gave back and growled slightly. "You didn't do it in the past, so why now?" Without waiting for her answer he just left and entered the classroom where Scott was already waiting for his students to arrive.
Heaving a deep breath, Jean ran a hand through her face, when Lilly suddenly poked into her leg softly. "But he will come back, right? I mean…daddy didn't left because of the fights you had, did he?"
"He will come back. I just don't know when, honey," her mother replied honestly and felt again a heavy weight in her chest. "Now go. Or you'll come too late for math." Seeing her daughter nodding sadly, she was close to start crying herself. If it was already so hard now, she didn't even dare to imagine what life would be if Logan really wouldn't come back. Blinking to stop herself from crying, she heaved another deep breath, before she smiled at Rachel and reached out for her hand. "Come on, uncle Kurt and TJ are waiting."
Laying on her bed rather bored, Jubilee watched how Bobby put the tray with the remains of her breakfast aside. "This really sucks," she cried and crossed her arms pouting. "Can't he just give me a damn cast with which I can at least walk?"
"You heard what Hank said," he replied and smiled softly. "You've also two broken rips and hit your back pretty bad, so you have to lie down."
"But it's boring! I can't do much besides lying here and counting cuddling toys or pictures on the wall." Giving him a look which told volumes she sighed. "I mean Kitty and Peter are at college, I can't go until those damn wounds are healed and you have to take over Wolvie's classes for whatever reason… So I'm here all alone and it's just b.o.r.i.n.g!"
He shrugged. "Can't help it. Why don't you have a TV in your room? Or what about reading a book or listening to music?"
"Already know each book and music sucks after a while, too," she complained.
Laughing a bit, Bobby couldn't help but shaking his head. "You really are a difficult patient, you know that, Jubes?" Getting up and taking the try into his hand, he suddenly smiled. "I've to go and come back later. If you see Peter first, tell him I've got an idea and need his help, will ya?"
"Yeah, yeah," Jubilee waved off playfully and still pouted. "Just go to those little brats and teach them how to use their feet correctly."
Grinning, he shook his head again. "Sleep a bit. See you later!" Just as he reached the staircase, he saw Mystique. "Hey, wait a second!" he called and she stopped immediately while giving him a confused look. "Can you do me a favor?"
"Depends on what you want?" she replied and crossed her arms.
"Look, Jubilee can't leave her room due to her injuries and is all alone. Since Peter is in college and won't be back so soon, I thought that you could turn into him and help me getting the TV from my room and carry it over to hers." Looking at her pleadingly, she finally sighed and began to change. "Thanks!" Bobby smiled widely and put the tray aside to head for his room in the next second.
Scott wasn't often surprised or speechless, but right now he really was. After explaining the exercise to his class, he had kept an eye closely on the Grey twins. When Charles had told him that he wanted the twins to take part in the more advanced classes, he had been skeptical and had refused to agree on it first. As far as he knew Hank hadn't done any test on the children, yet, so they knew nothing of how intelligent they actually were. But now, he really was speechless ad could neither believe his eyes nor that he had ever doubted it. The twins had turned five just four months ago and were sitting in one class with students who were already seven years or older and understood perfectly what the older ones didn't.
Standing right behind Lily with his arms crossed, Scott had one eyebrow raised while his mouth was slightly opened. "Where did you learn this?" he asked her in disbelief and saw how the girl turned around a bit.
"Daddy taught us," was all she replied and turned to her work again.
"Logan can math? That's news to me," the man said and shook his head before he checked on Jack's work; ignoring the glaring look the boy gave him. "Anyway, when the two of you are done with it, try exercise 5 on page 52."
Walking to the front again, he still had to frown. Those two kids were a miracle to him. Not only because of their scaring intelligence, he felt also frightened since they already developed powers. He remembered how Jean had told him years ago that her powers had manifested early after her best friend had died in a tragic accident. But he couldn't recall that he'd ever met a child or heard of one whose powers had awoken so early. And it really scared him…
"And what now?" Jack asked him and cocked an eyebrow at him.
"Exercise 5 on page 52, as I said," Scott replied and tilted his head a bit. Yeah, especially the boy was scary…
"Yeah, after that one," the boy gave back and met his teacher's eyes directly.
"You've already done it?" the grown up said in disbelief and came closer to check on it. "You've got to be kidding me, Jack!" Taking the paper into his hands he read through it, before he cocked an eyebrow at the boy. "You said Logan taught you this?"
"Yeah. Why is it wrong again?" Jack asked him and cocked an eyebrow, too.
"No, but…what else did he teach you?" Scott asked in return and leant against a table with his arms crossed in front of his chest. He knew from what Charles had told him that both twins spoke three languages while Rachel spoke two, but he had never thought of Logan being a guy who understood math apparently as good as he did. And he'd been the best at school and college. Seeing the boy shrugging, he still waited for an answer.
"Languages, History, different stuff…"
Heaving a deep breath, Scott shook his head and returned the paper to the boy. "We really have to talk, you know that?" Looking at his watch, he finally paid attention to all students again. "Okay, finish this exercise and number 5, 6 and 8 for tomorrow. Class dismissed!"
Watching them leaving, his eyes were fixed on both twins again. He really had to talk to Jean and Charles and that quickly…
A few days later in the evening, Jean was in her rooms alone and reading through some papers when it suddenly knocked on the door. Getting up, she made her way to it and opened door only to see one of her friend's standing in front of it.
"Hey! Can I come in?" Scott asked and only saw a barely noticeable nod from her before he entered. "Are the kids here?"
Sitting down on the white sofa, Jean shook her head. "No, Ray is still playing wit TJ and Jack and Lily are somewhere strolling around the mansion."
Smiling slightly since it was again obvious who their father was, Scott sat down next to her. "I wanted to talk with you about them."
"Did they do anything wrong?" the redhead immediately asked and sounded worried, but saw how he shook his head.
"No, it's just…" Scott looked for the right words and bent forward a bit while his eyes looked through the cozy apartment. "It's scary, Jean. It really scared me when I see how intelligent they already are. They took part in the advanced math course for a couple of days now and did the exercises faster than older students. I mean… Jack told me Logan taught them this stuff and some other things. Do you know about that?"
"Yeah. He taught them some historical stuff for their classes, math, French and Japanese…," she replied and felt again how her heart clenched painfully by the thought of him. "He'd seen how fast they actually learn, so…he just did it."
"But I never knew he could do this stuff. Since when is Logan good in math? And how come he speaks Japanese?" Scott asked her and leant back to have a better look at her. "Where did he get that education from, have you ever asked yourself that?"
Looking away, Jean fixed her eyes on a picture at the wall opposite them. "It's not the first time that I tell you that you don't know him at all," she replied dryly. "He taught himself everything he had to know so that he could survive alone. Is this so ridiculous just because you see him as a dumb animal?"
"Did I say that?" he asked her with a slight trace of anger.
"No, but I know how you think about him, Scott. You said it in the bar," she gave back. "You said that he's the animal you always warned me of."
"Look," Scott tried to soothe her again. "I know that the whole situation isn't easy for you with him gone. Charles told us and I'm sorry. But you really have to do something about the twins, Jean. Who knows what powers they have and what damage they can do…"
Switching her head to him, Jean gave her an angry glare while her eyes sparkled fiery for a brief second. "My children aren't a threat, Scott!"
"That's not what I meant." He sighed. "What I mean is that I don't want you to get into trouble when they suddenly become more powerful and can't handle it. I know Logan has taught you how to cage the beast, but the kids don't know. And if it happens, you are alone and have two kids at once to take care of… I just want you to be careful, that's all…" He watched how she got up to look out of the window and followed her after a while. Standing behind her for some time, he finally reached out and touched her shoulder. "Jean, you don't know if he'll ever come back, so if you need help…"
Turning around, she picked up his thoughts and stepped back. "Don't!" was all she said and shook her head; feeling how he got confused. "Scott, the night back then was a mistake. You know perfectly well that it would have never happened if I hadn't been drunk…"
Snorting slightly, he shook his head. "You would wait forever for him, wouldn't you?" he asked her and crossed his arms.
"Yeah, I would," Jean replied and nodded. "And if he returned when I'm on my deathbed…"
Looking to the ground, he put his hands to his hips and thought about it. "What do you see in him? He can treat you like shit but you stick to him. Why? I really don't get it…"
"And you'll never understand it," she said dryly without looking at him.
"Explain it. Maybe I do."
Turning to the window again, her eyes stared through everything she saw without even noticing it. Absently, she turned his rings between her fingers and thought about Logan. "I just know his true self, that's all," she finally said in a tone which made clear that she wouldn't say more. She knew Scott wouldn't understand it anyway, no matter what she told him.
Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair. "Fine. But think about what I said about your kids." Turning around, he closed the door behind him and Jean let out a deep breath. Looking at the rings, she felt again a great sadness rising within her. She knew it wasn't only her who felt more than miserable without him on her side. It was also her counterpart that wanted him back and she hoped that she would be able to keep the control she had in the past years. It was obvious to her that Logan and she had been able to suppress their negatives because they had each other. She couldn't tell what would happen if he stayed away a few months if not even years.
Sitting next to each other on the bed and watching TV after Kitty and Peter had left, Bobby reached out for the bowl with popcorn when he realized that it was empty. "Want me to get new one?" he asked the girl, but she shook her head.
"No, thanks, but I'm full."
"'Kay." Putting the bowl onto the ground he looked at her from aside. "What's wrong, Jubes?" he asked her since he had notice that she wasn't in her best mood today.
"I can't take this anymore," she suddenly began to cry and hit the sheet hard with her fist. "I feel like dead here. Laying the whole day through while others have to baby me. It sucks!"
"You heard it. One more week and then you can get up on your own for a few minutes. You just have to be patient," he tried to soothe her and wiped away her tears. Seeing her pouting and how new tears ran down her face, Bobby immediately felt bad. It was easy for him to say it. He wasn't in her situation and wasn't allowed to get up or even move of his own. But he could tell that he would act the same way. Smiling at her reassuringly, he placed a hand on her cheek and wiped off the salty liquid again. "Come on, as soon as you are able to walk a bit on your own, we drive to the next café or movie theatre, huh?"
"But I wanna have a huge ice then," Jubilee replied sniffing and he laughed a bit. "Promised?"
"Yeah, promised," he nodded and couldn't help but shake his head. "And besides, it's somehow cute to baby you."
Giving him a playful slap against the chest, she narrowed her eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, we don't run into the danger to have you lurking around some corner to take pictures, you know? It's like being on holiday."
"You're mean!" the young woman said and crossed her arms pouting. "You guys are always mean…"
"Nah, not really!" Bobby replied and had to grin. "Only to you."
"Now shut up and put the DVD in! Come on off ya go!" she demanded and hid a satisfied grin, when he obeyed. Somehow being sick wasn't that bad at all…
On the following morning, everyone was gathered in the kitchen for breakfast when Kitty came in; smiling the biggest smile on earth. "What's wrong with you? Have you won a million and we don't know it?" Hank asked her and looked at her over his glasses.
"Nope! Much better!" she said and kissed Peter tenderly who was also confused. "We made it!"
"We made it?" he asked her and had no clue what she was talking about.
"Yeah, we did!" Still grinning, she took the muesli and filled her bowl with it. "Guess where our popsiclehead is." Kitty looked at Peter who could only shrug. He had no idea where his friend was and had already looked for him the whole day through. "I wanted to wake Jubes and what had my eyes to see? Cuddling time!" Giggling, she smiled even wider.
"Oh, I see," Ororo nodded and smiled. "I would have bet on it."
"Well, you already hinted to it," Kurt said and had to smile a bit.
Laughing, Hank shook his head. "Sometimes I think we're not a school but a dating service. Has anyone in that mansion a partner who's not a student or member of staff here?" Seeing them shaking their heads he nodded. "As I said… And I would bet our kids continue that tradition."
"Well…," Ororo grinned and had to giggle. "That could be difficult…"
"Why?" Kitty asked her frowning.
"Only Logan and Jean have managed to make a son so far. And a very cute one. So the girl war is on, huh?"
Laughing again, Hank smiled widely. "I'd bet you're right, 'Roro."
Looking up smiling the weather goddess's smile faded when she saw her best friend entering the kitchen completely pale. "Gosh, what happened to you?" she asked Jean worriedly and watched how the redhead poured herself tea instead of coffee before she sat slowly down. "Even our walls have more color than you…"
Looking at her closely, too, Hank took the breadbasket into his hands. "Before you fall off your stool you should e…"
"No!" Jean said quickly and raised her hand. "Don't even think that word!"
"But you really should…," he added and put the basket on the counter again.
"I'm not keeping anything in, so…no" Running a hand through her tired face, Jean supported her head with it.
"An upset stomach?" Ororo asked her concerned and hoped that her friend wasn't seriously sick. Especially with Logan gone and three kids to take care of.
Nodding, the redhead sipped on her tea slowly. "Yeah, I think so. I spent the whole night next to the toilet."
"Well, then you should lay down. I can get Moira if you want…"
Getting up, Jean shook her head and put the empty cup into the dishwasher just to pull a bottle with water out of the fridge. "No, thanks," she replied and walked towards the door. "I'll lay down as long as the kids have classes. I already told Charles that I won't teach today." Leaving, she made her way back to her rooms while the others exchanged worried glances.
Upstairs, she practically ran to the toilet and threw up again. Breathing heavily, Jean reached out and took a wet cloth to cool her face with it. If she couldn't need something than it was to be sick right now. The whole situation was already too much for her. Reaching the bedroom, she put the bottle on the bedside table and sat slowly down; still cooling her face and neck. When her eyes caught the drawer of the bedside table, a thought crossed her mind and she took a small calendar out of it. Turning the pages until she had reached what she was looking for, Jean began to read and turned a few pages back first and then forth again, until she let her hands sink slowly and the calendar dropped to the floor. Just sitting on the bed like a statue, Jean suddenly let herself fall backwards on the bed and covered her face with her hands; gasping a loud No! while doing so…
I know this chapter is rather short but the next one will be longer. Thanks a lot, lot, lot to all who have reviewed! You guys are really more than great: ) I always love to read your impressions and thoughts about the stuff I come up with. Hope you liked this one here, too, even if it didn't contain any actions or so. I think I should make it and update the next chapter on Sunday or Monday. From now on there will be some jumps in time. The next chapter plays months later, but you'll see. ; ) So, see ya!!