Chapter 6
Hello all. I know some of you thought I abandoned this fic. I will admit that I did entertain thoughts of taking it down, but I had a sudden eureka moment, and am now back in the game.
I just really want to thank all of you who took the time to read and review this story. Your encouragement has meant a lot to me, and it is because of all of you that I persevere. I wrote this pretty quickly, so I apologize now if it is not great, but I hope you enjoy it anyway.
Let me know what you think.
/
Ororo was in her loft, staring out of her balcony doors.
Jean rambled on about this and that, while giving Ororo a desperately needed pedicure.
It had been a little over a week since she had been returned to her home.
Just 2 days since she was well enough to leave the medlab.
And still relations with her father and brother were strained.
Actually, strained was barely putting it lightly.
Charles was definitely more willing to take the beginning steps to repair their relationship than Scott.
His gentle and careful attempts to make conversation with her started their complicated tango, both desperate to return to the place where they would once again be comfortable with each other.
Scott...well, Ororo did not know what was going to happen with them.
In seven days, he had not uttered a word in her direction.
Ororo caught him watching from afar, and Jean relayed messages of well wishes from him, but he made no outward effort to interact with her more than necessary.
Having lost her parents at such a young age, family was extremely important to her.
The loss of familial bonds in her life weighed heavily upon her frail shoulders.
How was she supposed to nurture children in this mess?
Would they even be accepted and treated as part of the family?
Ororo had been lost in her thoughts, until Jean started talking about making preparations for the arrival of the babies.
"…so we thought it would be best to build the nursery right next to this room to make it easier for all of those late night feedings." Jean said as she added a second coat of polish to Ororo's toenails.
Ororo closed her eyes and sighed softly.
Now was as good of time as any, she supposed.
"I am afraid a nursery will not be necessary." Ororo said sadly.
Jean took no notice of Ororo's somber tone.
"Don't be silly. Of course you need a nursery! I mean, I know you have a sizeable loft, but do you really want to share your room with the twins? It could get a bit crowded in here. With twins you will need two of everything." her excitement evident in her voice.
Seeing the pure joy in Jean's face as she spoke about the babies was making what Ororo had to say even harder.
"No, Jean, I will not require anything for the children." Ororo answered cryptically.
Jean caught something in Ororo's voice that brought her hands to a stop.
She unconsciously held her breath, waiting for an explanation.
"I shall not require anything…because I am not keeping them." the words sounding as though they were forced out of her mouth.
Jean looked up sharply as her grip loosened on the polish in her hand.
The contents of the bottle nearly spilled on the glacier white carpet, but Jean was able to stop it in the last seconds and telekinetically replaced the top.
She placed the bottle on the side table.
"Ororo, are you saying…" Jean's throat closed up as the words stuck in her throat. "Are you saying you want an abortion?"
Just saying the words out loud caused Jean's heart to clench painfully in her chest.
Ororo looked down at her hands that rested in her lap, guilt keeping her from looking her sister in the eye.
"Ororo…" the plea leaving Jean's lips, barely above a whisper.
"No. Not abortion, although I must admit that the thought is not foreign to me. No, I will be giving them up for adoption." her heart plummeted as the words left her mouth.
Jean could not believe what she was hearing.
She knew how hard things had been for Ororo the last few months.
Realized that she still had a long road ahead of her.
But family was everything to Ororo.
So why give up her babies, her own flesh and blood?
Jean took Ororo's cold, shaking hands in her own.
"Ro, you've been through a lot lately, and I understand if you feel overwhelmed with the thought of being a mother of two, but don't you think you are being hasty in your decision?"
Ororo shook her head in the negative.
"No, I do not believe I am. It is something that I have thought about quite often. I have considered all possible scenarios. Believe me, adoption is best."
Jean could not help the sliver of anger that shot up her spine.
She released her hold on Ororo's hand and stood to look down on her bent head.
"What's best? What's best for whom, Ororo? You? What about what is best for the children, Ro? They didn't do anything wrong, so why are you punishing them? My god, they are your children! Don't you love them?" she demanded.
Ororo swiftly stood from her spot to face Jean.
"Of course I love them!" she yelled as tears fell down her face. "I love them and want what is best for them. You cannot possibly understand what this is doing to me. I constantly hurt the ones I profess to love. What if I hurt them too, Jean? Look at the damage I have already caused. My father and I can barely look each other in the eye. My brother…" she paused at the feeling of loss at the thought of Scott. "…My brother refuses to be in my presence and has yet to speak a word to me. Let us not get started on their father Logan, who knows nothing of their existence! They deserve a family. One who loves them and cares for them and can provide for them."
"Ro, who can better love them than you? You, Charles and Scott will work things out. You all love each other too much to let things continue the way they are. And what about Logan? Don't you think he has a right to know about them before you decide to give them away? Don't you think he should have a say about what happens to them?" Jean argued.
"Jean, there is no guarantee that things will ever be the same with us. As far as Logan is concerned, our night together was just that, a night together. Sex. Nothing more, nothing less. I assured him that there would be no strings attached. Of course when we agreed upon that, neither one of us considered my present condition. However, that does not change anything. No strings means no strings. He does not need to know about them."
Jean understood where Ororo was coming from, even if she did not agree.
But just because she understood, did NOT mean she was ready to give up.
"And what if you cannot find them a home? Do you know how hard it is to get people to adopt mutant children? 9 times out of 10 they become another lost mutant child on the street who gets exploited. The same ones we have devoted our lives to saving by bringing them right here!"
Ororo began to pace the length of her room.
"It is not 100% guaranteed that these babies will be mutants, Jean." Ororo answered, her voice laced with exhaustion.
An exasperated sigh escaped Jean's lips.
"Oh come on Ororo! You and Logan are their parents. Of course they will be mutants, very powerful mutants at that. With your combined mutations, they could easily be level 5 mutants at a very early age." Jean grabbed Ororo's elbow to stop her pacing.
Ororo turned to face Jean.
"If that is the case, I am sure you will make certain they are placed with people who can help them develop and control their powers."
"Why can't they learn that here? The Professor…" she started, but was cut off by Ororo.
"The Professor will what, Jean? Swoop in and correct another of my mistakes? No thank you."
"These babies are NOT a mistake!" Jean shouted.
"I know that, Jean, believe me I know. They are perfect and innocent and they deserve the best. By keeping them, I will only hurt them. Nothing good can come out of it."
"Ororo…" Jean started, but Ororo lifted a hand to stop her.
"Jean, please. I know you do not agree with my decision, however it is mine to make. I am not asking you to change your position on the matter. All I ask is for your support. Please, Jeannie?"
Jean felt her anger and frustration leave her as she took in the defeated slump of her sisters shoulders, and the tears gathering in her blue orbs.
Jean heard with her mind the sheer agony that was threatening to destroy Ororo.
Damn
Damn
Damn!
No, she did not agree with Ororo choice, nor her explanations, but she damn sure was not going to desert her in her time of need.
Slowly, she closed the distance between them and opened her arms for Ororo.
Ororo practically threw herself into Jean's arms, welcoming the mother like comfort she always offered her.
The sky clouded over as sad, guilty tears fell down her beautiful face.
Jean listened to the soft sobs escaping Ororo's lips. Gently, she began to rock her back and forth.
"It's alright Ro. We'll make it through this…together."
/
/
"Adoption?" Charles, said, not believing what Jean had just told him.
That one word took the air out of Charles' lungs.
The thought of his grandchildren being raised under a roof other than their own…
"What is she thinking? Why would she want to give them away?" Scott wondered out loud.
Jean's annoyance with Scott returned momentarily.
"I don't know Scott. Maybe if you actually spoke to her, you would be able to find out."
The accusation in her tone was not lost on Scott.
His eyes burned with anger.
"Why are you getting all pissed off at me? I didn't…"
Hank rubbed a rough hand over his face. He was getting fed up with the constant bickering.
"Will you two please stop it. You both are welcome to continue the "blame game" at a more convenient time." came Hanks irritated voice.
Both parties looked at Hank with shock in their eyes at his raised voice.
Charles voice broke the silence.
"Hank is correct, children. We must implement a plan of action quickly. Now, Ororo is no fool. She knew when she confided in Jean, that she would undoubtedly inform me of her intentions. With that being said, she will not be surprised by my visit to her. I will do anything within my power to convince her that the children must remain with us." Charles said with conviction.
"Charles, it may be a mistake to act in haste." Hank warned.
"Haste?" Scott addressed Hank. " We have to act now before she starts taking legal steps to make this adoption a reality. Don't you realize the enormity of the situation? Those children will grow up to be very powerful. Under the wrong upbringing…"
"Is that all you care about, Scott? You only want Ro to keep them so she can raise them the way you see fit?" Jean accused.
What the hell was wrong with her, Scott thought.
"No Jean. I just don't want to be forced to hurt or kill one of them to save the life of another, maybe even you!"
Charles' fist came down hard on his mahogany desk.
"Silence, both of you! If you two cannot get control of yourselves then I shall have Hank escort you both out. There is no time for your childish bickering." Charles voice vibrating with anger.
"Sorry Professor." Jean said apologetically.
"Sorry Dad."
"It is alright. I understand your reactions, believe me. This development has disturbed me as well. The news that Ororo wants to put the twins up for adoption is hard to accept, however, we must keep level heads if we wish to stop her from going through with her plans. Now, Hank, Scott has raised a valid point. If the children were to fall into the hands of one of our enemies, Magneto, for example, we could be forced to one day meet them in battle. I am sure I speak for all of us that we would be hesitant to cause either of them harm, and that moment of hesitation could cost us our lives. And what about Ororo? The possibility that she would be forced to bring her wrath against her own flesh? Unimaginable." Charles grimaced at the thought.
Hank rose from his seat and started a slow, steady pace across the lush carpet, deep in though.
The others waited in respectful silence until Hank was ready to speak.
"Charles, the repercussions are certainly not lost on me. However, I think it would be a grievous mistake to outright challenge Ororo's decision, to bully her into changing her mind, despite our displeasure. We must proceed with caution, lest we end up in a situation worse than what he have already dealt with." He stopped in his tracks for a moment to make sure his audience was following him.
Once he assured himself of their undivided attention, he continued on.
"This current development needs to be addressed with a gentle yet firm approach."
"Hank, I'm not following you." Jean said, echoing what Scott was thinking.
Hank made eye contact with Charles, who nodded his head in understanding, encouraging him to continue.
"My friends, we are dealing with a young girl, who for most of her life has dealt with feelings of inadequacy. Now, she finds herself unmarried, pregnant with twins, whose father is unaware of their actuality. Ororo is still physically weak due to her illness, which still plagues her despite our best efforts."
Hank turned to adresss both Charles and Scott.
"Charles, you and Scott both struggle with healing your relationships with her. I am most certain that she feels as though she has caused you much shame because of her current state. Ororo is of course misguided in her thoughts, but that is how she feels." Hank finished solemnly.
"So, what do you suggest we do?" Scott asked, still a bit irritated by Jean's attitude.
"We need to breakdown the inappropriate perceptions she has of herself, and replace them with the reality of who she really is. A wonderful, caring, lovely young woman who is greatly loved by us all. If Ororo is able to get in touch with who she truly is, she very well may change her mind and be the mother that we know she can be to her children."
"And if she doesn't change her mind? What will we do then?" Scott challenged.
Charles moved from around his desk to join the three of them, offering his charges a comforting smile.
"No worries, my son. I shall see to that issue at once. Now, it seems to me that we have work to do, without a moment to spare."
TBC