psinex@yahoo.com Fires of Tomorrow 1/60 by Phil Hartman DISCLAIMER: They're all Marvel's, except for Deanna and Aidan, who're mine. Please don't sue. -------------------------------------------------------- 1/1/2004: X-Mansion: noon: Living Room: -------------------------------------------------------- "I still don't see why we delayed Christmas until New Year's," Nate pouted to Ray as he held Aidan carefully. "Because so many of the other teams were out looking for Erik," Ray called, telekinetically arranging tinsel on the tree. "I'm just glad we're getting together at all - we need a break." "What about you ?" Nate asked as Ray finished arranging the tinsel. "What ABOUT me ?" Ray replied, sitting beside Nate on the couch and taking Aidan from him with a smile - #a forced one,# Nate thought, sensing Ray's discomfort mentally. "Ray ... please, don't clam up like this," Nate pleaded, his eyes growing soft. "I'm your kid brother - you went through heck having the Aidster here. You gotta open up to someone ..." Ray caressed his cheek and smiled, "Nate, I'm OK, really. After all the time Mom and the Professor and Frank've spent inside my head, I don't think there's any grief LEFT. But thanks. I really mean it." Nate put an arm around her and said, "You ever need me, for anything - you, Frank or Aidan - I'm here. I mean it. You've always been there for me ... I love you, sis." "You," Ray smiled, "are a saint. I love you too, squirt. Now if you REALLY love me, you'll change your nephew's diaper." Nate blanched, but took Aidan back and stood with a solemn expression. "A Summers keeps his word," he said, marching upstairs with the squeaking baby. "You're a talker, ain't'cha, kid ?" "Two weeks old, and already he's got the entire mansion at his beck and call," Frank smirked from the other door. He sat beside Ray and hugged her, asking mentally, ~You really OK ?~ ~Yeah,~ Ray psmiled. ~The pain's gone, and I'm used to having that little bright light at the base of my skull - y'scan, Aidan's psi-link with us ? I think, as long as I have help, we're gonna be OK ...~ ~Well, I'm not going anywhere,~ Frank winked. They kissed, but Ray backed away gently. "Frank ... I don't know if I'm ready for this," she sighed. "After the last time ..." "Then we'll wait," Frank said, squeezing her hand. "However slow or fast you want it, Red - I don't want to rush this. I love you, Red - I don't wanna ruin this ..." "I love you too, blondie," Ray smiled. "Hey - you feel better, kiddo ?" she asked Aidan as Nate returned with the baby. A psi-wave of love and a soft coo were Ray's answer as Nate set the baby in her arms. "He's - it's just amazin' what his mind's like," Nate said, awestruck. "It's so - white, and kinda soft." "It's still kind of empty, but that's just because he's a baby. He recognizes us, and he can sort of think," Ray replied. "Can't you, sweetie ?" "gbbea," Aidan replied, seeming to smile. The kids looked up as the doorbell rang, and Nate sprang up to get it. "Hey ! Uncle Alex, Aunt Lorna !" the boy smiled as X-Factor entered. "Hey, guys." "You're growing again," Lorna smiled, hugging Nate. "Now, where's the tree, and -" "BATHROOM !" Guido demanded, running upstairs. The Madroxes just shook their heads and carried presents in, while Lila Cheney shook her head and ruffled Nate's hair. "I love the big lug, but he's hopelessly small-bladdered," Lila smirked. "Now, where's this nephew of yours Alex can't stop going on about ?" "In here, Lila," Ray called. Lila and Lorna peeked into the living room, "aawww"-ing as they saw Aidan. "I never thought I'd say this, but finally Sinister did something right - sorry, Ray," Lorna said, sitting beside her niece. "May I ... ?" "Sure, if he'll let you," Ray smiled, letting Lorna hold Aidan. The baby cooed again, and Lorna gasped as a faint psi-touch brushed her mind. "He's ... oh, Ray, he's just precious," Lorna gushed. "ALEX ! Get in here and see your great-nephew." "Like I haven't already ?" Alex teased, entering with one Jamie and a blushing Guido. "Hey, guys - hi there, Aidan, hi there !" He grinned wickedly and added, "Where's Scott ? I wanna torment him about grandparenthood." "Sadistic little punk," Scott chuckled, entering with Jean and Xavier. "Let's see, that makes the New Mutants, Sean, Emma, the Gold Team - Ororo, Bobby, Warren, Jean, Bishop and Longshot - the Blue Team — me, Hank, Logan, Betsy, and Alison - Rogue's still comatose - and X-Factor, Lorna, Alex, Jamie, Guido and Lila - and the Professor, Maggott, Cecilia and Aidan make 39 ..." "We're trying to figure out where to put everyone, even with the remodeling we did after Sunfire's little 'accident' during the Millenium Eve celebration," Jean explained to Lorna. "Oh yes. Shiro still blushes whenever we bring that up," Lorna smiled. "Too much sake ... ?" "We were lucky not to lose the complex," Xavier pouted. "The repair bill still gives me nightmares." "I thought that was the scalp wax, Prof," a teasing voice called from midair. The mutants smiled as Generation X appeared from a teleportal, Gateway walking alongside them with a bored air. "Make that another 8, Cyke," Jubilee smiled. "Hey-HEY, is that the rugrat of the hour ?" "Sure is," Frank waved. Gen X gathered carefully around Ray and Aidan, but the baby began to fuss when Gateway came near. The Aborigine looked at the baby, then bowed once and opened a transportal, vanishing. "What was THAT about ?" Ray asked, clutching Aidan to her. "I'd guess he was recognizing an equal," Monet said softly. "He sent me some kind of telepathic message before vanishing - something about Aidan's potential ..." "Well, he IS an Omega-class psi," Frank shrugged. "But he's got plenty of time to get there, don't you, buddy ?" "Brrggbbl," Aidan replied, his green eyes looking at the others. -------------------------------------------------------- "44 ... no, wait, here comes X-Force," Scott muttered, looking around the kitchen at the back yard. Illyana's stepping disc deposited the X-Forcers on the back lawn, and the young adults entered the kitchen - with torn and blackened costumes. "Good grief, Sam, what happened ?!" Paige called from where she was cooking stew. "Y'all look lahk ya -" "MLF blew up our headquarters," Sam grunted, falling into a chair. "We were lucky we weren't kilt." "My word," Xavier said, entering with a concerned look. "Samuel, Danielle we have room here - I know your methods and ours aren't quite the same, but-" Dani held up a hand and said, "We'll talk about it, sir. Right now, though, could we trouble you for a shower and some new costumes ?" "An' if'n I c'ld see - Da !" Terry cheered, hugging Sean as he came in. "Ye're all right ... ?" "'M better f'r seein' ye, lass - th' real ye," Sean smiled. "Moira's awake, no less." "Och, how's she takin' - Lady Moira ... ?" Rahne asked, running to hug the pale Moira in the doorway. "Rahne ... ? Lass ! Ye've nae left me - ye'n Sean an' Theresa !" Moira laughed, a little too wildly for Sean or Xavier's mood. She held onto Rahne, then released her and looked X-Force over. "Please, do stay," Moira added. "Ye look like ye c'ld use a good home." "If she hadn't been through an emotional crisis," Roberto muttered as Moira left, "I'd've said something." "Well ye did, so shut up !" the others yelled. -------------------------------------------------------- Living Room: 19:00 hrs EST: -------------------------------------------------------- An ocean of wrapping paper, several more hero teams (including Excalibur) and four or five turkeys later, the mutants had called it a day. Most of the guests had left, and the New Mutants sat amidst the presents, talking or sharing memories. "You miss her, don't you ?" Ray asked Joe as he looked out at the night. Joe just smiled and sat down, looking at a framed picture of himself and Gail their grandparents had given him. "Yeah," Joe nodded. "This was the first Christmas without her ..." Tom squeezed his shoulder, and the kids seemed to slump a little. "Erik loved Christmas," Alexa pouted. "Even though he was Jewish, the mood always got to him." "He used to say it was an excuse for two holidays," Deanna smiled. "C'MON, guys, we're all here, right ? Let's get a little happy - new year, new fortune ... we don't hafta forget our friends to move forward." "Not that easy, Dee," Naomi sighed from beside Lew. "But we sh'ld try." "And on that philosophical note, we're headed to bed," Ray said, carrying Aidan upstairs. "Later, guys," Frank called, following. "Are they - nah," Joe asked, blushing. "Uncle Scott and Aunt Jean wouldn't let'em - would they - ?" "Twin beds, doofus," Nate smirked, rising. "We GOTTA find you a girlfriend ..." -------------------------------------------------------- NEXT: Whatever happened to Erik ... ? -------------------------------------------------------- end _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com