Chez François- a night to remember
Scott had been lucky to get a table at Chez François. The restaurant was popular nowadays having recently been ‘discovered’ by the latest becoming more and more fashionable as word spread of its fine food and understated elegance
Still, the maitre’d had made a special effort to accommodate them as he always did. Mr and Mrs Scott Summers, long time and highly respected customers were always sure of a welcome here. They had found this little gem of a place years ago and it had fast become one of their favourite haunts. A small oasis of normality in their bizarre lives. Somewhere they could be themselves Just another normal couple unnoticed in the crowd.
*Not that we could really go unnoticed* Scott thought with a grin watching heads turn as the waiter escorted them to their table. *Not with Jeannie looking like that.*
It was true they made a striking couple the handsome athletic man, sunglasses firmly in place even in the romantic candlelit atmosphere of the restaurant and the beautiful red haired woman who accompanied him. Confident charismatic and obviously long time lovers they attracted attention and not a little envy from those around them.
*They wouldn’t be so eager to change places if they knew the truth* Scott thought with a tinge of sadness. *And would they still smile when we arrive if they knew we were mutants? Probably not. All the more reason to enjoy this while we can. After all there has to be someplace we can come to forget about our problems doesn’t there?*
They had decided to come on the spur of the moment. Jean had been especially tense over the last few days anticipating Taylor and Bens first mission. *She still worries about Sean too. We both do even though he’s proved time after time he can take care of himself. Guess that’s what being a parent is all about; You just never stop worrying.*
However things had gone smoothly, all three arriving home safely the previous evening, bringing with them not only Connor and Madison but several more unfortunate mutants they had successfully rescued from Harmony Market Place.
Scott forced himself not to think about Connor. *OK apparently he was under some sort of mind control at the time but there’s was still a kid in sick bay because of him. Thank God he’s going to pull through According to Hank it was touch and go for a bit. Don’t know what we’d have done if he didn’t make it. Logan should have a serious talk with his kids There’s obviously something troubling them I’ll have a word with him about it tomorrow.*
Scott shook his head, looking across at his wife with an apologetic smile. "I know.We promised to forget all about the Institute for tonight So lets do just that."
He picked up the wine list catching Jeans eye as he did so
"What do you think? Shall we do this in style. A bottle of the 2010 Chateau Smith Haut Laffite if you please."
Another long time favourite, expensive, glorious, heavy with the rich aftertaste of blackcurrants.. Jeans face reflected her surprise and pleasure. A wine normally reserved for special celebrations. *Well why not! Lets celebrate the fact that I’m still able to do this, though who knows for how much longer.*
Scott was fully aware that he was running out of time, delaying the inevitable moment when he would have to reveal his deteriorating condition to his wife and son . But so far; miraculously his luck had held.
He had managed to hide the worst of the symptoms, depending more and more heavily on the various cocktails of drugs Hank had concocted to keep the disease at bay. It couldn’t last of course but each day he would tell himself *Im OK. I can put it off a little longer.*
And so the weeks had passed and he had said nothing. *Its like if I say it out loud its suddenly real and I’m not ready for that Not just yet there’s still some time left for evenings like this and I mean to make the most of it.*
Since he had learned of his that he was not going to recover from this insidious disease he had tried to spend more time with his family. Taking Jean on a second honeymoon. Rebuilding the vintage Harley with Scott. Inviting Taylor and Ben round to dinner.
Scott smiled again Somehow Ben had managed to get himself ‘adopted’ by the Summers. *Sean Taylor and Ben. The three Musketeers! Good friends. Good kids* He was glad he’d got the chance to know them.
And then there was Dawn, his sons first love. *Wonder how Id have worked out as a father in law??* He thought they had developed a good relationship over the past few months, maybe even become close. Her endless enthusiasm lifted his spirits while his steadiness seemed to make her feel secure. *I can understand why Sean loves her. We’re even more alike than I realised.*
Sudenly he became aware that his thoughts had drifted again. The waiter was standing patiently beside him with an expectant look on his face.
The night seemed like a perfect thing, Jean felt like a kid again, back when Scott spoiled her nearly every day just to win her affection, something he had already gained and yet never gave up trying to win more from her everyday. The piercing eyes of the former devourer of galaxies appeared to lock onto Scott's, though his were hidden behind sleek looking glasses. He was thinking, and by the expression she knew it was about something important, something to do with the school, with people, with others outside their happy little bubble that they were trying to shield themselves with for the night.
"I know.We promised to forget all about the Institute for tonight So lets do just that." A small smile graced her lips, sometimes it was hard to tell that out of the two it was here that was the telepath, Scott knew her so well that it amazed even other couples as to how the Summers were so close and connected. Even without her telepathy and their link, she knew things wouldn't be different, aside from not reading his mind, but she didn't do that now, always resisting the urge to get into the minds of others unless there was a productive reason behind it.
"What do you think? Shall we do this in style. A bottle of the 2010 Chateau Smith Haut Laffite if you please." Raising a slender eyebrow at the choice he offered, a slight sparkle hitting her gorgeous orbs as they lit up in delight for how her husband was appearing to make everything so perfect. But at the same time, deep down, in a place she was blocking from her thoughts, shielding away from her heart and mind.. She knew something was wrong, everything had been so splendid.. but why? Why suddenly, when the school needed them to be there the most, why was he doing everything possible to relax her and spoil her and whisk her away from the stress.. She tried to convince herself he was just being the perfect husband.. but.. he was trying so hard, not just one or two things, many things, lots of little things as well as big things.
It had been so long since he had acted so romantically, every night he has been making love to her, sometimes passionately, sometimes just holding her in his arms and kissing her. Every night he'd hold her just like how he usually holds her before either of them are torn apart on various missions to different parts of the world. But there was no mission, no scheduled departure.. if he wasn't going anywhere, why did he hold her as if he was leaving her?
"Is sir ready to order now?" Not once has Jean's eyes drifted from Scott's, he was thinking again, it was amazing that her own thoughts hadn't wandered. Well not really when you consider she was too terrified to actually think due to all the horrible things that her imagination caused her to worry over.
"Yes" .. "I think I am." Now Jean looked away, her eyes staring off towards one of the younger couples, in their early twenties. The female had a bright smile and her long blonde hair was in a French plat, startling blue eyes would help explain the way her companion seemed so lost in her gaze as his darker shade of hair was matched with rich chocolate eyes. Scott had been such a wonderful husband, and an amazing father, they went to extremes for their family, all the pain they had suffered seemed worth it when she held a child of their love in her arms. They had gone through time just to take care of Nate, she was glade Sean was able to have a more normal life.. As normal as an X-men's life can be.
Kurt: If I had a normal life I'd quite cheerfully go mad and fall over right now
Re: Chez François- a night to remember
The food when it came was just as delicious as he remembered. Scott allowed the worries of the past weeks and months to fade from his mind as he savoured it revelling in the atmosphere and his wife’s company.
*Is this how it would have been if we hadn’t been mutants, hadn’t been X-men? Quiet evenings together? Careers? children?*
*Yes we’d surely have had more children. No fears of passing on mutant powers, no threats from crazed enemies hanging over their heads. Jean and I and a whole bundle of kids! Just imagine that! Not that we’ve done too badly on that count. I guess in our own way we’re a success story. Not many couples have been through what we have and survived. Must be love!*
He leaned over and poured Jean another glass of wine, their conversation flowing, relaxing together for the first time in days. They talked about everything and nothing as couples do when they are friends as well as lovers. Friends, lovers, team mates. Partners in the fullest sense of the word. Each one complementing the other, providing the strength and comfort and understanding that no one else could.
*This is how we’re meant to be. Together. Just like we are tonight.* He had seen his wife’s eyes drifting over to the attractive young couple at the next table, their love obviously new and waiting to be explored.
*I wish you luck my friends he thought I wish that in twenty years you’ll have what we have now. Its rare and precious and I wouldn’t change it for anything.* He caught Jean smiling at him, knowing what thoughts had been going through his mind even without her telepathy.
*No* he said laughing *It doesn’t remind me of us when we were their age It reminds me of us now. So finish your wine and let an old man take you home to bed.*
He drained his own glass looking round for the waiter to ask for the bill. *Wow I’m must be losing my touch* he thought as the room swayed slightly with the movement of his head. *Can’t remember the last time a couple of glasses affected me like that. Good job we’re getting a taxi home.*
*And what’s wrong with the lights?* Scott blinked trying to clear the encroaching darkness from his vision. *Stay calm. Everythings going to be fine. Im just tired that’s all. Oh God!*
The pain lanced through his head spreading agonisingly down through his right arm. His hand clenched uncontrollably breaking the stem of the glass he still held, the noise causing people to stop eating and turn towards him. He heard voices seeming to come far away from the other side of the black wall someone had placed before his eyes. Concerned voices asking him what was wrong.
*I’m dying that’s what’s wrong* he thought. *Every cell in my body is breaking down and no matter how hard I try there’s not a thing I can do to stop it. No one can. And it hurts, god it hurts so much, just make it stop. Hank warned me this could happen, that I could just fall apart like this, but I didn't want to listen Didn't want it to be real.*
He forced himself to his feet, blind, half crazed by the pain. Arms reaching out to support him, bearing his weight as he struggled to speak. *Jean! Who else would be there for me? Oh Jean I’m so sorry.*
"It’s Ok I just need some air "he said trying to reassure the concerned waiter. Then, leaning into his wife’s embrace he whispered "Please Jean just get me out of here. Now."
Re: Chez François- a night to remember
While her husband enjoyed his food, Jean mostly enjoyed just watching him discreetly, they've been together for so long that her glances were no longer 'secret' but Scott still allowed her the quiet moments where she was permitted to look over her husband in both admiration and as if check for anything that wasn't there the last time. They'd be parted for so long at times that Jean always worried there might be something about him that she'd forget, something important something that if forgotten no one else would be able to tell her what it was she has lost in her memory.
Almost losing Scott on one occasion was heartbreaking enough, but Jean has thought to lose him more then that, and Scott himself went through a time where he thought she was dead. How many times has she died or nearly died or thought to be dead? She's long forgotten the answer to that question, all she knew was that each time she was revived and found and united back with her husband. They defeated death just to be with each other once more, how many have a love that strong that can endure so much hardship and still feel so new, so fresh, so pure and amazing and true?
It was nice talking with Scott, watching the way the corner of his lips tugged into his faint smile, he seemed happy, her own smile radiated with tenderness and warmth. There was always the power of the phoenix dwelling inside Jean, no one could explain it, perhaps because of how closely bonded she was with the entity and the amount of times it resurrected her. But usually there was a faint glow she could always feel within her, a pull towards the powers that she locked away, blocking them for the safety of herself and more importantly the ones she loved around her.
Right now she didn't feel anything, for once there was no tempting offer, no seducing thoughts, nothing, Scott was all she desired, and when he was around there was nothing the power of the Phoenix had to offer that would out weigh her husband's importance. There had been concerns that any of her children born after the Phoenix dilemma would risk also baring that connection. Jean always feared that she had given Sean more then just her mutant legacy, and she had good reason, Rachel Summers, one of their children not from this timeline, was with the Phoenix force, it just increase her fears. But so far he hasn't displayed any signs, and neither parents where ready just yet to inform their son he may or may not possess a connection with an entity that devours worlds.
Everything was perfect, it was times like these that she truly enjoyed the thought of having their room all to themselves, no interruptions, no one to disturb their romantic endings to their romantic nights. Her heart buzzed and her skin hummed at the thought of being consumed within Scott's love and affection. It wasn't until he ordered the bill that his emotional state changed; Jean could see something was wrong, and then flinched as his wine glass broke within his grasp.
Hurrying to his side, Jean's hands reached for him, looking stunned, shocked, scared and worried, she wanted to try and lie to herself, say that it was just the food or the wine or something, anything, anything that was nothing to do with something serious. Someone else was helping hold her husband on his feet, but no one else mattered at this point, no one else was in the room as far as she was concerned, it was just her the man she loved, the one in pain and the one that needed her..
"It’s Ok I just need some air." Air? Jean already had her mind set on him visiting Hank, even if she had to telepathically drag his protesting form all the way down to the medical lab from here! "Please Jean just get me out of here. Now." Doing as he requested, Jean helped him outside, but her fear turned into a fearful pain, her heart twisted and her stomach was tight, her body tense yet weak, she didn't want to know what was wrong with him, she wanted him to lie and say her was perfectly fine. And at the same time, if something was wrong with him, how DARE he not tell her, didn't she deserve to know, didn't she earn that much after all these years, to know when her husband was sick? When he was alone and scared of whatever was happening, shouldn't she be allowed to be there for him and hold him and love him through whatever was happening?
Was this why he's been acting strange? Was it because he hasn't been feeling well? The honeymoon, all of this, was it all some sort of effort to spend more time with her in case.. in case of what? He would die. He wouldn't leave her, Jean helped Scott lean against the wall, though her body didn't pull away and her hands remained clutched to him, her cheek pressed against his chest, the rhythm of his heart echoing within her ears.
Kurt: If I had a normal life I'd quite cheerfully go mad and fall over right now
Re: Chez François- a night to remember
Scot knew he had to stay conscious, had to get out of the restaurant without falling. He felt Jean’s hands steady him, her body leaning into his taking his weight.
*She’s trembling* he thought from the midst of the darkness that engulfed him *Or maybe I am.*
He felt her ease him in what was presumably the direction of the door, only her strength keeping him upright. Gasping he closed his sightless eyes against the wave of pain that washed over him threatening to carry his mind away with it
His right arm felt as if every nerve had been exposed, the soft material of his shirt brushing against it causing agony to surge through him. *It will pass* he told himself desperately *It has to. It will just go away like it has done in the past. I just have to get through this.*
*The pills. Maybe if I took them they would get me through this. They’ve always helped before. *
But the pills were safely hidden in the inner pocket of his jacket, unobtainable in his present state. *Jean. Jean will get them for me if I ask. But then she’ll know. She’ll know everything. *
He felt his stumbling feet catch on the edge of a carpet the concerned waiter who hovered beside him reaching out to help . Scott cried out as the mans hands closed on his aching arm, seeming to burn into the flesh like living fire.
He had known pain before, had been hurt uncountable times in his years as a X man. But this was brutal, primal agony and it stripped his cherished composure from him and drove him to his knees.
He was oblivious to the hubbub around him, the offers of help, taxis ambulances nothing penetrated the intimate world of his suffering. Now he strove not to come back but to flee seeking the release of unconsciousness, unable to attain it. Desperately his mind reached out to his wife, calling for her, winding itself around the link that bound them together.
*Jean please help me, make this stop.*
Far inside him some last rational part of his mind tried to stop, to draw back from the contact and its inevitable repercussions but it was too late.
Thoughts flooded out of him, all the thoughts he had tried so hard to hide for the past months.
The fear, the disbelief, the refusal to admit what was happening to him. Shielding them, shielding his family from the sorrow he knew he must eventually bring upon them.
And over and above it all the sense of loss, of parting , of missed opportunities and to little time.
Hanks voice, telling him how things would be. The slow agonising decline as his body ceased to function, the cells degrading faster and faster. Nothing to be done, no way out. The one enemy he could not fight. Himself. 'Scott you must tell Jean. You can’t go through this alone.'
*No. Not yet! I want to hang on to every minute we have. I don’t want our moments together tinged with sadness. There will be time enough for that later. When there is no other choice.*
All of it . All the thoughts, feelings, motivations all passing from his mind to hers.
Battered, defeated by the pain he had finally let go.
Re: Chez François- a night to remember
Due to naughty computers eating Angies next post three times we have decided to retire hurt to med lab! After all Hank needs something to do, its so quiet down there
So TBCwith Scott in Med Lab 'Letting Go' and Jean in the Couples dorm!
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we have decided to retire hurt to med lab! After all Hank needs something to do, its so quiet down there
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