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Chapter 96
Ari P.O.V
The next day, I was allowed out of the hospital, so Victor and I headed back to Mam's. Zoe had brought down Autumn's old travel cot, and set it up in my old room. She slept well in the cot. Dad also arrived that day, and made quite a fuss over Liora. He had bought several story books, baby grows and toys for her, and enjoyed holding her. I think if it wasn't for the fact that Victor and I, among others, wanted to hold her, he'd hold her all day. He had been the same with Autumn.
I had Liora sat up against the back rest of the sofa, so it looked liked she was sitting up on her own. I grabbed the camera, and took a photo. She blinked owlishly for a moment, before falling sideways.
"Aww." I cooed at her dazed and confused expression, before adopting one of those baby voices. "Why can't I sit up on my own mamma? Everyone else makes it look so easy! And what was that bright light?"
The others in the room laughed. There was a knock at the front door. We all looked at it. We weren't expecting anyone.
"I'll get it." Mam said. She walked to the door, and I listened as she opened it. "Oh, hello Mort." she said in surprise.
"Mort?" Me and Victor said at the same time.
Victor stood and headed for the front door. I picked up Liora, and cradled her in my arms. Soon, mam, Victor, Mort, Mystique and Magneto came in. I raised an eyebrow. "Oh, hello. What a surprise." I said, in shock.
"Hello again, Tigris." Magneto said tipping his hat to me. "Congratulations on the birth of your daughter."
"Thank you." I said, smiling.
"Sit down! Oh, James, get a couple more chairs from the dining room. Does anyone want tea?- Zoe, come help me." Mam said rushing round, trying to get things sorted.
I snickered quietly, shaking my head. "Need anymore help ma?"
"You stay right where you are, and sit down! You only just got out of hospital after giving birth."
"I'm all healed!"
"I don't care, you are not exhausting yourself!"
"Jeez, you'd think I was asking to help paint the whole house, inside and out, not make a couple of cups of tea and coffee." I said, sitting down.
"I heard that!"
"You were meant to!" I said retorted, before I sat down.
"Sorry for stopping by so suddenly, but we thought it would be good to see her. Liora, isn't it?" Magneto asked.
"Yes, it is." Victor said, from where he was stood, leaning against one of the walls.
"Can I hold her?" Mystique asked, smiling at me.
I stood, and walked over to her, and handed Liora over to her. Liora cried for a while, but not for long. When she calmed, Mystique adjusted her, so she was supporting Liora against her shoulder. Liora reached up, and grabbed hold of Mystiques hair, and started to pull at it.
"Oh, she really likes you." I said.
"How can you tell?" Mystique asked, wincing a little.
"She'll try and grab the hair of someone she really likes. So far, it's only been me, Victor, Cari, Logan and Autumn. Now it's you to." I said, laughing softly.
Liora's head fell forward and her face got buried in Mystiques hair, and she rubbed up against it.
"Yep, she likes you, Mystique." Victor said.
"I think it's because you're colourful." I said. From my limited mind reading abilities, I could see that Liora focused on the things that were more colourful. And Mystique was definitely colourful.
Mystique laughed. "Well, at least I know that we're going to get along." She said, smiling.
"Auntie Misty." I laughed.
"Ay?" she replied, surprised.
"Well, you can't expect her to be able to say your full name, can you?" Victor asked smirking.
I sat back down, and picked the camera again, and started snapping photo's. After a while, Mystique passed Liora onto Mort who she seemed to like just as much as Mystique. She stared at him more though. I don't know why. She just seemed surprised by his colours. She fell straight to sleep when she was passed to Magneto.
"Well, she doesn't dislike you." I said. "Otherwise she would be screaming right now."
"Well, that's a good sign. Is there anyone she doesn't like?" Magneto asked.
"Me." Mark said. "The way she was screaming you'd swear I'd pinched her."
"She'll come to like you." I said.
"I do hope so. Otherwise I'll be the moody Uncle no one likes."
"You could never take on that role." I said. "You're too hyper. Trust me, when she's running round the place like a maniac, she'll be attached to you, because you'll be the one who'll get up to mischief with her."
"True." He said, nodding with a thoughtful look on his face.
"But if you ever get my little girl in trouble, I will skin you alive. The army can just find another mutant to keep them on their toes." I warned. Be fair, he looked suitably terrified. "Or, you can just go without." I narrowed my eyes. Mark cautiously crossed his legs. Everyone, bar Autumn, laughed.
"What did you mean Auntie Ari?"
"Nothing sweetie." I said, laughing.
"I can always peak."
My face turned stern. "No you don't. That's a grown up joke, alright? You leave our thought's alone. What did I teach you about privacy?"
"Let people have it. Sorry." She said, looking down.
"That's alright. Now, I believe there's a piece of chocolate in the fridge. Go get it. You can have what's left."
She grinned, and ran to get the piece of chocolate. I smiled and shook my head.
"Liora's going to be spoilt rotten." Mort said, looking between me and the spot which Autumn had just vacated so quickly you would think she had inhuman speed.
"Probably. Vic, it's up to you to keep me from spoiling her." I said.
"Only if you do the same for me." Victor said.
"Oh, she's definitely going to be spoilt." Mort muttered.
Victor, Liora and I only flew back to America when Cari and Logan came back from their honeymoon. Liora cried at take off and when the plane was landing. I think the changing pressure hurt her ears.
So, when we had been back in the apartment for several days, Cari and Logan came for a visit. They had done a bit more than have mindless sex on their honeymoon, not much, but a bit. Such as going to see the Northern lights. Cari had taken a load of photo's and I loved the pictures of them.
"We'll have to go see them at some point, when Liora's old enough to remember." I said.
"Oh, it's worth going to see, trust me." Cari said. "They were beautiful. One of the best bits of the holiday, not my complete favourite mind."
I snorted. "I can guess what it came second to, but shush, sensitive ears." I made a show of covering Liora's ears, making everyone laugh.
Liora had picked up another habit over her first few weeks of life. She was obsessed with my ears, so would make a grab for them whenever possible. It made me laugh, and anyone else who would see her try to grab at them. Liora also loved Victor chucking her up in the air and catching her. He'd do it at any chance he could, because it would make Liora make happy noises. I was very happy with the way my life was going.
No P.O.V
"When should we implement the operation Ma'am?" A soldier asked.
"Not yet. Creed will be too on guard. It's too early yet. Give them time to be lulled into a false sense of security." The woman replied.
"How long, Ma'am?"
"A couple of years."
A/N: Oh, so what's this new turn? Review and find out!
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