The Five Times Pyro Babysat
Chapter One: Meet Baby Abi
John couldn't help but smile as he clambered the stairs to Bobby's apartment, not bothering to wait for the lift, practically running up the last few steps. Ringing the doorbell, he leant against the railings, flicking his lighter open and shut casually. A frown took over his face as he waited...and waited...and waited...
"Hey!" the ice mutant finally opened the door but he didn't hang about, turning quickly and heading back into the apartment. John scowled and followed, shutting the front door behind him.
"Nice to see you too," he muttered, skulking after the other mutant. Bobby just turned to look at him, raising a finger to his lips as he led him into the living room. John just stopped and stared in disbelief at the sleeping bundle of skin wrapped in a little pink blanket in the carry basket on the floor.
"Shhhh...I just got her to settle," Bobby smiled softly and took John's hand, leading him nearer to the sleeping baby. "John...this is Abigail Jean D'Ancanto-Drake."
The fire mutant just arched an eyebrow, still staring at the bundle on the floor. She looked so... little...
"You didn't say she was going to be here..." he said eventually. Bobby laughed quietly and waved his mobile at him.
"I did try calling you."
"No you never!" John turned to Bobby defensively, pulling his own mobile from his pocket, checking the screen just to make sure. "See no...missed...calls..." he frowned slightly as he noticed the lack of scratches on the phone in his hand. His phone was badly scratched from living in his pocket with his Zippo. Frowning slightly, he unlocked the phone and checked the content, a sheepish smile playing at his lips. "I, eh, picked up Jamie's phone."
Bobby rolled his eyes and threw his phone onto the sofa.
"Can you please tell Mystique when she goes to get you all new phones again to get different ones!" Bobby laughed and returned his attention to the sleeping baby. "So..." his icy blue eyes sparkled. "What do you think?"
John opened his mouth but shut it again quickly. He just stared at little Abigail, who in turn lay perfectly still all wrapped up in pink and cream.
"She's eh..." he rubbed the back of his neck uneasily. "Cute?"
Bobby laughed quietly.
"Don't worry, Marie will be picking her up soon," he glanced at the clock and gave a small nod. "She was just running a bit late."
John just nodded, sitting on the sofa furthest away from the carry basket.
"Whatever," he shrugged casually. Bobby bit his lip and shook his head slightly.
"Look, can you just watch her two minutes while I go to the bathroom?"
"You are kidding?" John looked horrified. Bobby just smiled and rolled his eyes.
"She's asleep!" he assured him, already halfway out of the door. "And I'll be two minutes!"
John opened his mouth to protest but there was no point, the ice mutant was gone. He glanced nervously at the bundle on the floor, flinching slightly as the baby twitched but breathing a sigh of relief as she remained at rest. With a heavy sigh the fire mutant tilted his head back to look up at the ceiling. No matter how prepared he had thought he was...it was still really strange to think that Bobby and Marie had a child together...
A high pitched scream tore into the fire mutant's thoughts. He snapped his head down to find the peaceful little bundle had turned bright red and was screaming at the top of her tiny little lungs. How could something so little make so much noise?
"He'll be back in a minute!" John said without thinking, knowing really that the baby would never understand him. He looked about helplessly but saw nothing that looked like it would stop the crying...
"Oh dear!" Bobby reappeared suddenly in the room, kneeling in front of the little carry basket, rocking it gently. Almost immediately the screaming stopped, only the occasional sob escaping from the baby's lips. The ice mutant smiled and turned to the bewildered looking figure on the sofa. "She just likes to be rocked," he explained. John raised an eyebrow.
"I'll bear that in mind..." he muttered, leaning back and crossing his arms, trying his best not to pout...
