PREVIOUSLY…

In the wake of the destruction of Graymalkin, the X-Men are picking up the pieces as they must all navigate their new normal. Theresa Cassidy, one of those imprisoned, is now recovering from her injuries and trauma, with those she considers family by her side. Now, as the Cassidys are returned to their home in Ireland by Madelyne Pryor, they are faced with unique challenges, including the return of The Spirit of Variance, who was bonded to Sean Cassidy in an aborted timeline while on Krakoa. But the Spirit seems to be very docile, at least in the presence of the Queen of Limbo…

NOW…

The afternoon sun greeted them as they stepped onto the lush grass on the grounds of Cassidy Keep. The ocean waves below them were a calming sound, but all this seemed to pale in comparison as Theresa Cassidy caught sight of the ancestral structure that she knew well.

"Home…." She murmured, relief on her face as her father had hold of her shoulders.

"Aye….home. Let's get ya inside."

The portal they had just stepped through closed behind them as Madelyne Pryor was the last to pass through it, taking in the sight of the Keep in the daylight.

She heard the shrill panicked cries of a leprechaun in the distance, and tilted her head. "Your leprechauns are not happy I'm here."

Sean and Tom both looked at each other, seemingly surprised that she could hear them.

"Aye," Tom spoke first. "They're a wee bit pissed off that the Queen of Limbo is about to walk into our home without any prior warnin'." He wore a slightly sheepish smile. "Be beggin' yer pardon, Ms Pryor. Pay them no mind."

She shook her head. "No apology necessary."

The door to the Keep opened and Theresa seemed to make a beeline for the stairs, heading straight for her bedroom, wanting her own bed, the comfort of her family's home seeming to have the desired effect. Sean, as any worried father would, followed her while still giving her space.

"Do ya need an extra blanket or anythin'?" Sean Cassidy sat on the edge of his daughter's bed as she curled under the covers, the exhaustion on her face.

"No, Dad, I'm okay for now." She answered softly.

"Any soreness or pain?" He asked.

She paused. "Nothin' I can't handle."

"Darlin', if you're hurtin', then I can get you somethin'..."

"There's some medicine in the kitchen…."

Making his way downstairs, Sean heard his cousin talking to Cain at the table, a private conversation from the sound of it.

Madelyne was attempting to keep busy in a home she was not familiar with, the kettle on the stove his clue that she was trying to be at least useful without being in the way, despite the leprechauns' protests.

"Bringin' the fuckin' Queen of Limbo into our lowly home without warnin' and now she's makin' tea!"

Sean rolled his eyes. "Ignore them. They aren't used to havin' royalty."

Madelyne rolled her eyes with a chuckle. "If it's really that big of an issue, I'll leave-"

Sean held up a hand and shook his head. "I need to get this medicine up to Terry, but after that, I was hopin' we could talk more."

She nodded. "Sure. Do what you have to."

"Ya got every right to be feelin' some sort of way about it, Cain. He was family, after all." Tom consoled.

"Family don't do some of the things he's done, Tom. When it came time to allow me on Krakoa, he voted no. He locked up Terry and Toad and Blob….." Cain drifted off.

"Let it out." Tom encouraged.

"I used to think I was the bad guy, Tom. I've done shit I'm not proud of, been the bad guy because that's what he needed me to be. But now….now I don't know if I ever was the bad guy."

"Life ain't always black and white, Cain. Good and evil, sometimes it's not as cut and dry. But, there are those who fix what they broke, and those who leave the mess for others." Tom smiled. "I'd say yer in the first category."

Cain looked Tom in the eye. "You truly believe that, don'tcha?"

"On me mother's honor." Tom grinned, and took Cain's hand, a rare moment of affection that he had become more comfortable with. "Yer a good man, Cain. Ya wouldn't have helped get our girl out of that place if ya weren't."

"Terry's family, Tom. She always will be."

"Don't be gettin' all sappy on me. I might cry."

Once Sean had tended to Terry, ensuring she was asleep, and told the leprechauns to calm the fuck down, he found Madelyne sitting by the window with a cup of tea, a second cup she had waiting for him nearby.

"Yer a guest in my home...surely I should be the one makin' ya tea?" He joked.

She chuckled. "You had a lot on your plate. I figured I could make myself useful."

He sat down in the chair with a long sigh. "What a day."

"Indeed." She tilted her head. "You wanted to talk."

"Firstly, I wanted to thank ya." He held the cup of tea in his hands.

"That's really not necessary-" She gently protested.

"Like hell it's not, Ms. Pryor. If it weren't for you, I never would have known the situation Terry was in."

"If you really insist on thanking someone, Cain was the one who found her."

"And you were the one who came bangin' on my door at dawn. So I will say it again. Thank you." His tone was firm but genuine, leaving no room for her to argue with him.

She finally let out a sigh. "You're welcome."

"You don't take praise very well." He observed.

"Not something I'm used to, I must admit." She sipped her tea.

"A right shame. You want me to change the subject."

"If you would be so kind, Mr. Cassidy."

He laughed. "You're not a student of mine, ya know. You can call me Sean."

"Very well. Was this little chat just so you could thank me, Sean?"

"No. While you're here, I'd like to find out what else ya know about the Spirit."

"I did keep it rather brief earlier. Very well….where would you like to start?"