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 Road to Dream

 by Phil Hartman

 DISCLAIMER: They're all Marvel's, except for Aidan, who's mine. The
song is Mary Chapin Carpenter's. Please don't sue.
 
 Continuity-wise, this falls between Fires of Tomorrow Chapters 1 and 2
...

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 X-Mansion: 2nd Floor: 1/1/2004: 20:00 hrs EST:
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 "Never thought I'd - YAWN - go to bed at 8 again," Rachel said,
sitting on her bed in a nightgown. She rocked Aidan's cradle, looking
at her 2-week-old son with a smile.

 "Not sleepy, huh, kiddo ?" she asked the cooing baby. Frank finished
changing into pajama bottoms and sat on his own bed, peering into the
cradle.

 "What did your mom do when you wouldn't go to sleep ?" he asked his
paramour. "She'd sing a lullaby, but I dance, Scrap - I'm no singer,"
Ray shrugged.

 A gentle knock at the door made the teens turn and wave Dazzler into
the room. "Just wanted to say hi," Ali smiled. "And I forgot to give
you your baby shower gift."

 "That'd be perfect right now," Ray suggested as she and Frank climbed
into their beds. Ali nodded and cooed at Aidan, "Here's one for the
littlest mutant."

 Her voice began to resonate, while her power reached out and wove a
beam of moonlight in the darkened room. Aidan cooed back, his hands
waving, and Ali began to sing.

 Sun goes down
 and says good night
 pull your covers 
 up real tight

 by your bed 
 you'll have a light
 to guide you on
 to Dreamland

 The teens watched, their eyes growing heavy, as Aidan dozed off and
Ali continued to sing.
 
 Your pillow's soft
 your bed is warm
 your eyes are tired
 when day is done
 
 and one more kiss 
 and you'll be gone
 on your way
 to Dreamland

 "G'night," Ray whispered, curling up. Frank mumbled a reply, and they
listened as Ali entered the chorus.

 Every sleeping boy and girl
 in every bed around the world
 can hear the stars up in the sky
 whispering a lullaby

 Who knows where you'll fly away
 winging past the light of day
 the man in the moon and the Milky Way
 welcome you to Dreamland

 The kids' gentle breathing was the only reply as Ali shut off the
light, smiling. She slipped into the corridor, nearly tripping over a
figure slumped at the foot of the stairs.

 "It can't be ... ?" Dazzler whispered, smiling as she headed for her
and Longshot's bedroom. "His super-hearing must've picked it up ..."

 She left Logan to sleep as well.

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 End ;)
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 NOTES: I KNEW this song was perfect for this story the first time I
heard it. It's on Mary Chapin Carpenter's album "Party Doll and Other
Favorites" - if you like her stuff, or country or folk in general, pick
it up :)


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