Ramifications of the Wish...
There was blackness, and then there was light. A very bright light. And Scott leaning over her, telling her that he had to go, was needed. After he left, she lay in bed for a very long time, wodnering what was going on. Trying to remember anything she could about this new life. She finally dressed, and went downstairs to try and figure everything out. No one noticed that she wasn't the Jean that Scott had married. That night he came back to the room they shared, long after she had fallen asleep. He woke her, and they made love. Desperately, as though he was trying to hold some kind of darkness at bay. The same pattern every day and every night. Then she discovered she was pregnant.
Scott immediately began putting distance between himself and his wife. They got into fights over the fact that she was supposed to be on birth control. That this was not a safe world to bring a new life into. As her pregnancy progressed, he began sleeping in a spare room next door.
The months flew by quickly for Jean. She began making friends, and settling into this new world. Happier then she had been before. And then the baby was born. It was a little girl, with a tuft of red hair. And she was perfect. The doctors were congratulating her, all the while Scott was whispering in her ear that he had to go and she'd be fine here by herself. He send someone to pick her up. The baby's name was Rachel. And she was telepathic from birth.
The first few months were the most difficult for Jean. Her mutant baby was hardly letting her get any sleep, and her husband always had some reason as to why he couldn't be there more. Couldn't help with the responsibilities. Couldn't spend time with the daughter he had never wanted. But Jean treasured the time. She spent every moment she could with her beloved infant. And trained all the harder. She would let no harm come to this child. Her movements began to take on the grace and fluidity of a trained fighter. Rachel calmed beautifully whenever her mother sang to her. This resulted in Jean singing almost all the time. Her speaking voice began to match the pitch and timbre of her singing voice, due to all the training it was recieving.
Scott was absent the day of Rachel's first birthday. Jean went to the little girl's room, and they had a little party just the two of them. With a small birthday cake that just the two of them could know about. Afterwards the entire mansion gathered together to spoil the child with presents and a large party. The girl was a quick learneer, both talking and walking, though frequently resorted to telepathic communication with her mother. Jean was often seen with her little red-haired shadow following her throughout the mansion.
Scott was absent the day of Rachel's second birthday as well. This time without a legitimate excuse. Jean once again went to the little girl's room, and they had their little party. Just the two of them. With a small cake that no one else could know about. This was the year that Rachel decided to become her mother. Every time that Jean attempted to nurture her daughter, Rachel attempted to do the same thing to her mother. Including persuading her mother to drink a bottle of Logan's beer. Because he said it was for big people. And if it was for big people then they must need it. So Jean had to have some. But they say that immitation is the most sincere form of flattery. And so it must have been.
Jean didn't even attempt to include Scott in plans for Rachel's third birthday. Which was just as well. He was killed, in battle, three days before the event. This led to a very subdued occasion, but Jean continued her little tradition in the morning with Rachel. Bringing her the smaller cake, just for the two of them. Everyone remarked that Jean and Rachel recovered better from Scott's death then anyone else in the mansion. Truth was that Rachel barely knew her father, so did not miss him in the least. Jean had not shared a bed with Scott since she told him she was pregnant. She also knew that he'd been finding his entertainment elsewhere. They had been married in name only.
Rachel's fourth birthday went according to schedule. Jean began spending even more time with her daughter. Teaching her the letters and numbers, and anything else she'd need for kindergarten the next year. Aside from the missions she was obligated to go on, she was inseperable from her daughter. No one loved their child more then Jean Grey. And no one worshipped their mother more then little Rachel Summers. Which was why it was such a terrible blow when Jean was killed. On a mission she hadn't even wanted to go on. Hadn't even been needed on. It was one week before her fifth birthday.
Jean struggled, but it was no use. She suffered through the pain of her death in this world, and then was cut free. She was floating in a black place that slowly gained substance. There was darkness, and a window. A window through which she was forced to watch the rest of her beloved daughter's life. To pay the price for her wish. But the Gods were merciful. And her time here was brief. In this time away from time. But she knew. Could feel the pain in her heart to see all that had come after their happy time together. She screamed until her throat was raw and she had no voice left, to no avail. These events were set in stone. There was nothing she could do to alter them.
Jean was released back into the time stream only twelve hours after she had left. Back to a world that seemed now unfamilliar, aged almost five years. She was toned and moved like a dancer. Her voice carried the timber and deepness of a singer. Her control of her mutations was an art. Only in her eyes could one see the toll that her experience had taken on her...
Scott immediately began putting distance between himself and his wife. They got into fights over the fact that she was supposed to be on birth control. That this was not a safe world to bring a new life into. As her pregnancy progressed, he began sleeping in a spare room next door.
The months flew by quickly for Jean. She began making friends, and settling into this new world. Happier then she had been before. And then the baby was born. It was a little girl, with a tuft of red hair. And she was perfect. The doctors were congratulating her, all the while Scott was whispering in her ear that he had to go and she'd be fine here by herself. He send someone to pick her up. The baby's name was Rachel. And she was telepathic from birth.
The first few months were the most difficult for Jean. Her mutant baby was hardly letting her get any sleep, and her husband always had some reason as to why he couldn't be there more. Couldn't help with the responsibilities. Couldn't spend time with the daughter he had never wanted. But Jean treasured the time. She spent every moment she could with her beloved infant. And trained all the harder. She would let no harm come to this child. Her movements began to take on the grace and fluidity of a trained fighter. Rachel calmed beautifully whenever her mother sang to her. This resulted in Jean singing almost all the time. Her speaking voice began to match the pitch and timbre of her singing voice, due to all the training it was recieving.
Scott was absent the day of Rachel's first birthday. Jean went to the little girl's room, and they had a little party just the two of them. With a small birthday cake that just the two of them could know about. Afterwards the entire mansion gathered together to spoil the child with presents and a large party. The girl was a quick learneer, both talking and walking, though frequently resorted to telepathic communication with her mother. Jean was often seen with her little red-haired shadow following her throughout the mansion.
Scott was absent the day of Rachel's second birthday as well. This time without a legitimate excuse. Jean once again went to the little girl's room, and they had their little party. Just the two of them. With a small cake that no one else could know about. This was the year that Rachel decided to become her mother. Every time that Jean attempted to nurture her daughter, Rachel attempted to do the same thing to her mother. Including persuading her mother to drink a bottle of Logan's beer. Because he said it was for big people. And if it was for big people then they must need it. So Jean had to have some. But they say that immitation is the most sincere form of flattery. And so it must have been.
Jean didn't even attempt to include Scott in plans for Rachel's third birthday. Which was just as well. He was killed, in battle, three days before the event. This led to a very subdued occasion, but Jean continued her little tradition in the morning with Rachel. Bringing her the smaller cake, just for the two of them. Everyone remarked that Jean and Rachel recovered better from Scott's death then anyone else in the mansion. Truth was that Rachel barely knew her father, so did not miss him in the least. Jean had not shared a bed with Scott since she told him she was pregnant. She also knew that he'd been finding his entertainment elsewhere. They had been married in name only.
Rachel's fourth birthday went according to schedule. Jean began spending even more time with her daughter. Teaching her the letters and numbers, and anything else she'd need for kindergarten the next year. Aside from the missions she was obligated to go on, she was inseperable from her daughter. No one loved their child more then Jean Grey. And no one worshipped their mother more then little Rachel Summers. Which was why it was such a terrible blow when Jean was killed. On a mission she hadn't even wanted to go on. Hadn't even been needed on. It was one week before her fifth birthday.
Jean struggled, but it was no use. She suffered through the pain of her death in this world, and then was cut free. She was floating in a black place that slowly gained substance. There was darkness, and a window. A window through which she was forced to watch the rest of her beloved daughter's life. To pay the price for her wish. But the Gods were merciful. And her time here was brief. In this time away from time. But she knew. Could feel the pain in her heart to see all that had come after their happy time together. She screamed until her throat was raw and she had no voice left, to no avail. These events were set in stone. There was nothing she could do to alter them.
Jean was released back into the time stream only twelve hours after she had left. Back to a world that seemed now unfamilliar, aged almost five years. She was toned and moved like a dancer. Her voice carried the timber and deepness of a singer. Her control of her mutations was an art. Only in her eyes could one see the toll that her experience had taken on her...