August 3, 1974
"Hey Carly?"
Carly looked up from the book she was reading. Sean stood in front of her, holding Terry by the hand. She had a towel over her head and was looking shame-faced at the ground.
"Is something wrong?" Carly asked.
Sean sighed.
"Nothing too serious," he said, "I was just wondering if you knew how to get gum out of hair."
Terry gave a small whimper. Carly raised her eyebrows.
"How much?"
"Not much," Sean said, "Not at first from what it sounds like."
He winced and looked down at his daughter.
"Then she tried to brush it out."
Carly bit her lip. Terry ducked her head further.
"And then she called me," Sean said, "I had braces for a long time, so this wasn't really an issue in my house. So, I was just wondering if you had any ideas."
Carly thought for a moment.
"Peanut butter is all I can think of," she said, "Work it in and then sort of scrub it with a toothbrush. If bad comes to worse you're going to have to cut it out though."
Terry whimpered again. Sean shook his head.
"Not really an option," he said, "It's kind of…"
He gestured all around his head with his free hand before shrugging.
"Never mind," Sean said.
He picked Terry up.
"Hey, don't worry," he said, "You like peanut butter."
Terry just ducked her head further. Sean gave Carly a helpless look before he walked out of the room. Carly stifled laughter once they were gone.
"I didn't think that Othello was that funny."
Carly turned to face her husband, still shaking with laughter.
"No," she said, "Sean just got into some more antics with his daughter."
"I would have never imagined that a child that small could get into so much trouble," Hank sighed, sitting beside her.
She rested her hands on her stomach.
"We'll find out though, won't we?"
"I suppose," Hank said.
His voice was wary, but Carly continued talking.
"Just a few more days now."
Hank tensed and Carly frowned.
"Is something wrong?" she asked.
"No, nothing," he said.
She reached out and touched his hand.
"Hank, if something's wrong, you can tell me," Carly said.
He smiled and brought her hand to his lips, his fur brushing against her skin.
"Nothing's wrong Carly," he said, "Nothing at all."
He returned her hand to her side and kissed her forehead.
"Just be sure to get plenty of rest," he said, "We won't be getting too much of it after the baby's born."
He was smiling, although Carly could still see the nervousness in his expression. She supposed that it was how close it was to when their daughter made her debut. Carly was nervous too, although she knew that she would have the best of care. They'd already picked the hospital for the baby to be born in. It had treated the X-men when they'd had things that could be explained away, like a broken leg.
"Alright," she said.
She looked down at her book.
"Although I think that I should start reading some lighter fare," she said.
He laughed.
"I'll go get you the comedies," he said, "I know that you prefer them."
"Just hold still Terry," Sean said.
He tried to keep his voice as soothing as possible. Terry still whimpered as he rinsed the water through her hair. The gum had come out surprisingly easily, although he knew that his daughter's hair was going to smell like peanut butter for the next couple of days.
He honestly had no clue how she had managed it. He didn't know how she managed much of what she did. After Terry had gotten used to the Institute she had been difficult to keep down. On the days when Sean trained with the X-men he had to keep her away from the Danger Room, too fearful that she'd press the buttons and start a simulation.
Still, it was difficult to be angry at her even when, surprised when Scott had walked around a corner, she had shrieked and broken a vase. Sean could understand her struggle with her powers. Besides, she was so precious in his sight, and he'd had her for so little time.
The last of the gum dissolved in the water and Sean sighed in relief.
"It's all out," he said.
Terry sniffled as Sean dried her hair. There was just so much of it everywhere, and he knew from experience that it tended to snarl. He wondered if it had ever been cut, but he couldn't imagine Black Tom caring about her hair.
"Are you mad at me?"
Her voice came out as a whisper. Sean looked at her, surprised.
"Of course not," he said, "Why would I be mad?"
Terry raised her eyes to his and inwardly Sean cursed. There was too much pain there. At times it was easy to forget what she had gone through. Black Tom had filled her world with pain and fear when she should have had love and light. Every time Sean thought that she had forgotten it, it appeared that it reared itself again.
He hoped that one day he would be able to wash it away from her like an ugly stain, but until then he would just have to keep showing her that he was not his cousin.
"Now, don't get me wrong," Sean said, "You shouldn't have done it. But I figure you got into enough trouble already."
He gently pulled a clump of damp hair forward for her to see.
"No harm done though," he said.
Terry nodded, looking at him curiously. Sean smiled and held out his hand.
"Come on," he said, "Uncle Alex is putting the X-men through their paces today, so it's my day off and the satellite's open."
He gave her a conspiratorial grin.
"Wanna go flying?"
Terry grinned and shyly took his hand. Sean smiled as he led her down the hall. They weren't where a father and daughter should be, he knew that much. However, he also knew that they were getting there. He didn't care how long it took though, just as long as they got there eventually.
"Looking for something Hank?"
Hank turned and saw Moira. As usual David was beside her, looking bored. He wandered off to the other side of the room, running his hand alongside the books in the library. Hank watched as he peered at the spines before shrugging and moving along another row.
"Aren't you worried he'll pull one out?" Hank asked.
"He's not strong enough," Moira said, "Not yet. That's a can of worms that I'm not looking forward to."
She shook her head.
"But what are you looking for?"
"Shakespearean comedies," Hank said.
Moira nodded.
"I should have known," she said.
"They're for Carly," he said.
"I should have known that too," Moira said.
Hank chuckled.
"I can't seem to find them though," he said, "We have a copy in our room, but I thought it would be quicker to get one on the ground floor. It appears that I was wrong."
She looked over at the shelves.
"We reorganized since you were last here," she said.
Moira peered at the shelves and moved a few bookcases over. She nodded before plucking one out.
"A Midsummer Night's Dream," she said, "Will that work?"
"Yes, it's one of her favorites. Thank you," Hank said.
He held out his hand. To his surprise Moira hesitated before letting the book rest at her side.
"I've got a question for you first," she said.
Hank furrowed his brow.
"Moira-"
"Is something wrong with Carly?"
He felt his throat constrict.
"Why, did you see something?" he asked.
"No, nothing's wrong," Moira said.
Hank relaxed, although he couldn't help but feel irritated.
"Why would you ask that then?" he asked.
"Because you go around acting like she's about to break Hank," Moira said.
Hank shook his head.
"She's pregnant Moira," he said.
"Really? I hadn't noticed," Moira said.
Hank managed to smile, but it was forced.
"I'm just a little nervous," he said, "That's all. It's our first child."
"And?" Moira said.
"And nothing," he shrugged, "I suppose that it's natural. Charles had a hard time even letting you out of the Institute it I recall correctly."
Moira bit her lip.
"Yes," she said, her voice distant, "I remember that."
She shook her head.
"But there's nerves, and then there's what you're going through," Moira said, "And it's bad. Even worse than most men around their pregnant wives."
"Well I'm not most men, am I?" Hank said.
Moira's face changed. Immediately Hank regretted speaking.
"Never mind," he said.
"No, I think it's too late for never mind," Moira said, "Repeat what you just said."
"It's not important," Hank said.
"I'd say that it is," Moira said.
He sighed and ran a hand through his fur.
"Moira, I'm not normal," he said.
"Hank-" Moira said, her voice soft.
"No, it's not like that," Hank said, waving a hand, "I've come to terms with what I am. But…what about our daughter?"
Moira paused, her lips pursing.
"Hank, you're not seriously suggesting you'll love her less if she's a mutant, are you?" Moira asked.
"Of course not!" Hank snapped, "I'm just worried the effect of birthing a child with fangs and fur might have on my wife. I'm worried they might get hurt!"
Hank turned away, feeling both angry and ashamed. He felt Moira's hand on her shoulder.
"It's not unreasonable," he said.
"No, it isn't," Moira said, "But the ultrasound didn't indicate any of that, did it?"
"No," Hank admitted, "But mutant births are difficult."
"I know. Believe me, I know," Moira said.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw her glance at David. He remembered the way her own labor had gone on for hours. They didn't know if David was a mutant or not yet, but his birth had been a difficult one.
Her expression was soft when she turned back to him.
"Don't live in fear Hank," she said, "It's going to be alright. Carly's strong, she'll make it. And in a few days, you're going to be a father. Think about that instead."
She squeezed his shoulder.
"Appreciate your family," Moira said, "It's the closest thing to heaven anyone is ever going to have. The only reason it can cause you so much pain is because you care about it so much."
Moira slipped the book into his hands before walking over to David. She picked him up and left the room. Hank stared after her, feeling a pain begin in his chest. Taking a deep breath he walked out of the library and into the study. Carly was where he had left her, her eyes heavy with sleep.
She smiled when he came into the room and sat beside her. Still feeling unsure of the future Hank put his arm over her shoulder, his fingertips brushing her face.
"Tired?" he asked.
"A little," Carly yawned.
She snuggled into his shoulder.
"Don't think I'll be very good at reading," Carly said.
"I'll read aloud," Hank said.
He flipped open the book. Carly sighed.
"Finally, a comedy," Carly said, "They're the only ones worth reading you know."
"Perhaps," Hank said.