X-Force belong to Marvel Comics as do the character names and everything else that has to do with the comics. I am using the characters without permission. I am not making a penny out of this. Characters that are not part of Marvel belong to me, Rhona 'Jupiter 2' Highet unless stated! Distribute freely. Touch my own characters and suffer the full force of my wrath. If you want to change my story please tell me.
Okay this is a happy-happy joy-joy alternative to 'Past Regrets'. So if your into sugar and spice and all things nice (no the Spice Girls don't count) then get out your big lolly-pop and your favorite seat and read away. This story is dedicated to my guinea-pig Misty who's always happy and very talkative.
NOTES: Iona, for the geographically challenged, is a small island off the coast of Scotland and is famous for it's connection to Saint Columba, the man who brought us Scots Christianity!
(I'll be there for you!
When the rain starts to fall.
I'll be there for you!
Like I've been there before.
I'll be there for you!
Because you're there for me too.)
"Tabitha, turn that off!" I shouted at her. Most of the team were shattered and just wanted to rest. We'd just returned from our trip to Hawaii and some off didn't get any sleep on the plane.
"Yeh, make me Irish!" She replied. I swear one of these days I'll turn around and use my sonic scream on her.
Warpath was busy lifting in everyone's bags and belongings. While we'd been away Bobby had had the place redecorated. X-Force now had new headquarters and they were great. I knew there was going to be a fight over rooms but that was part of the fun of living together. Tabitha was still watching 'Friends' so an evil plan formed in my head. I went to Jimmy to get this plan in motion.
When Terry gets a plan in her head I naturally have to follow it. I guess that's what love is about, doing stupid things. We were together, as in committed to each other, an item, joining of souls or whatever term you care to use. She wanted us all to sneak up stairs and claim rooms before Tabitha had a chance. It was Terry's way of teaching Meltdown a lesson. Anyway, she told me first and I got Bobby and Dani. We all went upstairs and laid claims to all the rooms, leaving Tabitha with the room that had the worst view. All the rooms were equal in size so there was no fights over that, it was just the view from the windows that were different. I tried to get the room furthest from Terry because she sings along to her CDs at night and I need my beauty sleep! Unfortunately, Terry decided we should have rooms next to each other. Dani got the room furthest from us all. Bobby's room was opposite Tabitha's. Bobby's room had the view Tabitha wanted. Somehow, I think they'll be spending a lot of nights together.
"JIMMY! Come 'n' see me room!"
At times like this I wish I was alone. Hey, 'Married with Children' suddenly makes a whole lot of sense to me! I walk into her room and look around. It's like all the other rooms.
"Come here ye big lug." She said as she dragged me out onto the balcony.
The sun was setting and the sky was a mixture of reds, purples and dark blues. It was beautiful. Terry hugged me and I hugged her back. We sat and watched it for hours. I think I heard Tabitha yell a bit but I wasn't really listening. It was nice there, not doing anything. I was able to think clearly as Theresa was sleeping in my arms. Hours passed and I decided to put Terry to bed and head back to my room. She was like a small child tucked up in the bed like that. I wondered, if we have a daughter if she'd look like her mother. That thought was comforting and I slept very well for the first time since John's death. I guess I finally had a whole family again.
FIVE YEARS LATER
(So sue me for moving it on. Fill in the gap yourself!)
Today's the day Tabitha an' Bobby finally get married. I'm so happy for them. Jimmy an' I've been married for the past three years. We've got a little girl who's a few days old, her name's Iona Holly Proudstar. She was born on Christmas day and we were going to call her Christmas or Noel but that seemed so cliched. Iona was Jimmy's idea, for some reason he liked the place name, Holly was my idea. She'll probably grow up and change it to Mary or something like that. I am so happy. I've my little girl and a great husband. We're all still X-Force, with Shatterstar now back with us as well as Rictor. Sam an' Rhane got married last year and Tabitha was so happy for him. Now it's Sam's turn to be happy for his best friends. I've seen Tabitha's dress and it's great. It's not pure white, it's Ivory and the train could cover the main hall at Cassidy Keep. I think it does actually. I think Tabitha snuck down stairs in it last night to see. Jimmy an' I have taken up permanent residence in Ireland to raise Iona and it's so beautiful that we suggested that Bobby and Tabitha come here. Jimmy an' I got married here. We were actually out on the cliff overlooking the sea. It was the only day of that summer that was sunny. I can remember it so clearly. The sun was shining brightly but it wasn't too hot. There was a lovely out door setting for the ceremony. I wore a simple dress, it was based on ancient Greek style dress. My hair was curled and piled loosely on the top of my head with some of the locks hanging down my back. Jimmy was wearing a lovely tuxedo. The whole day was beautiful. He said I was the most lovely thing of all that day.
I'm holding my baby girl right now. She's gorgeous like her mother. Maybe I should have called her Helen or Rapunzel. I know for a fact she'll have many men after her when she's older. She's got her mother's fiery hair and my cheekbones. She'll probably end up looking more like me than her mother which is probably a bad thing. The rest of the team refer to her as Ginger Spice but not in front of Terry for some odd reason. I remember when we got married I was scared stiff and when Terry told me she was pregnant I was scared but everything turned out for the best. Iona's about ready for her feed now. She eats like a plague of locust, devours everything in sight. Normally, Terry feeds her but I give her a bottle on occasion to give her mother a break. For all that she eats, she doesn't put on much weight. The doctors aren't too concerned about that because she's at the perfect weight for a baby of her age. I check the milk's temperature before giving Iona the bottle. She's got quite a grip for a baby her age, she latches on to anything and sticks it in her mouth. It's fun to watch her when she's watching everyone around her. She's very observant and when she's not the center of attention she cries. The girl's got Cassidy lungs, no one in my family was ever that loud. She looks up at me and burps, her way of telling me she's finished the bottle. Now comes the fun part, burping her. Sam taught me a trick with burping babies, stick a towel over the shoulder before burping baby. This is a great way of preventing those baby sick stains that refuse to move. Iona's easy to burp, one rub on her back and the wind is released.
I came into the kitchen and saw Jimmy winding Iona. He's a great father to her, for some reason he's taken to it like a duck to water. They both seem happy together and a small part of me says I have to join them. Maybe it's my maternal nature raising it's head. It's a great feeling for me! I think Jimmy can feel it too, a sort of empathy between the three of us. We always knew when she was about to kick my womb. Maybe the little un's just a bit predictable. She waves her hands at Jimmy's face which is her way of telling him that someone else is in the room.
"Hi Terry. Look Iona mommy's here! Just in time to change her baby girl."
"Y'know Iona, mommy would like to see daddy change you once in a while." I replied as he handed our baby over.
"Well, Iona will tell you that I fed her and now it's your turn to be a good parent! Isn't that right sweety?"
Iona looked at us both. She's never sure what to do when we banter on.
"Well mommy carried her around for nine months and has to feed her sometimes too."
"Hey, daddy was there at the conception! What more does mommy want? Listen to us, she must think her parents escaped from the Institute!"
"Ach, she thinks no such thing! She knows her parents aren't crazy."
We both looked at Iona who was busy looking else where. Jimmy took her from my arms.
"Come on, I'll change her. I want you to remember this, sweety, when mommy next says I don't change you. You are so beautiful!"
"Thanks!"
"Iona, let me tell you about vanity. It's something that makes you cut off your nose despite your face! But mommy is beautiful too even though I was talking about you."
I raised my eyebrow. He was in for a right pillow fight tonight!
"You're a dead man Proudstar." I said in a cool, dry tone.
"You'd let our baby grow up without a father?"
"My room, tonight. Bring a weapon." I winked at him.
"I think it's death by pillow fight for me tonight, Iona."
We looked at each other before entering the room and changing our daughter into something clean.
End of Chapter 1
(EEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPPPP, I've got way too many stories to write!)