The Ties That Bind
I am Professor Charles Xavier. This is at once,the proudest and yet the hardest moment of my life. I suppose that, if I have to be honest with myself, today's events have affected me in ways I had not foreseen.
I find my thoughts turning to the young, red-headed girl, Rachel Summers, who watches today's events with joy-filled eyes, and for some inexplicable reason a feeling of deep apprehension descends upon me.
I can sense the girl's nervousness as she enters the room where Jean is being given a final check by Mrs. Grey and Ororo.
"Uhm, Jean, I just wanted to tell you...I think you look great." Rachel tells her.
"Thank you, Rachel. I want you to know how happy I am that you're here today. I know you and I didn't get off on the right foot,but that's in the past. You're very important to Scott and I, Rachel. Please, believe that." Jean says.
"I do." Rachel replies softly. "I know it couldn't have been easy for anyone to meet a daughter from a possible future. I was pretty angry when I first came here. I didn't give a thought to how other people might feel. I'm just glad we're friends now."
"More than friends. But I have to tell you, if today's wedding means that there's even the slightest chance that tomorrow I'll have Rachel Summers for a daughter, then that makes this twice as much of a blessing." Jean says, as she gives the young girl a warm hug.
"Th-thanks...Mom." Rachel replies through tears of the sheerest joy.
Ah, reconciliations. A sign of hope. Still, the unsettling feeling this day has brought me continues. Time, perhaps, to look elsewhere.
As I approach the den I hear Robert joking with Scott. I hear his voice laced with innocuous sarcasm, but while I scan his thoughts, they are, as I knew they would be, filled with nothing but joy. Far be it from him, even while talking pleasure n the glory of the day, to pass up an opportunity to tease his 'boss.'
I focus on Scott, as he looks at these men, friend and family alike, whom he has fought with, laughed and cried with, and the enormity of this day sinks in.
I feel his mood turn slightly somber, as it always does when he grows burdened by the weight of his responsibilities. Perhaps he thinks back to his first marriage, a union that was never what it seemed and ended so tragically. And though my own concerns are quite different from his right about now, I set aside any selfish discomforts I have, and I do what I have always strived to do for my students. I try to help.
"Man, o'man, o'man. Did Ororo come through for you today, Scott, or what? Seventy degrees and sunny, in January! At least the ol' 'Weather-Meister' has made your last day of your life as a free man a humdinger!" Bobby says, as he looks out of the den window.
"Big brother, contrary to what Bobby says, this is the first day of the best days of your life!" Alex tells him.
"Yeah, butter him up if you want. I just want to go on record as saying I warned him." Bobby retorts.
"Such cynicism, Bobby. I think you protest a bit too much. You make it sound as if Scott were about to battle a squad of sentinels, rather than embark on the happiest day of his life. I, for one, can't wait for your wedding day, Mr. Drake." I tell him, as my hover-chair silently enters the room. "You see, my X-Men, I am as nervous as all of you are. This wedding is forcing me to look at all of us in a new light. What I have known, for some time now, is made official, by today's events. The hard, simple truth is, that you are all undeniably adults now. And that leads me to question myself and wonder, do any of you really even need the 'Old Prof' anymore?" I ask, as I take the bow-tie they have all been fumbling with and tie it myself. "Your tie, Scott, is ready." I add, as I finish.
"Was that, by any chance, a set-up?" Scott asks me.
"Actually, I stumbled into that analogy by accident." I reply innocently.
"Well, since actions speak louder than words, it's pretty obvious that we still need you. And not just for dressing us. Truth to tell, Professor, without you by my side, I'd feel safer walking into the Danger Room alone and naked fight now, rather than face what's coming next." Scott tells me.
"Thank you, Scott, but you do yourself an injustice. You've already confronted and triumphed the hurdles life placed before you. The time has come for all of us, I suppose, to move forward. To meet the next challenges in our lives, whatever they may be, with as much promise and hope for success as we have faced previous ones. My students, my children, my friends...shall we take the first step together?" I ask, as I motion them out to the front lawn.
They walk out, and I wonder how is it that my words, strong and heartfelt as they were, can bring such a sense of renewal to them, but do so little for me?
I am overjoyed at the happiness Jean and Scott have found together. But part of me is still afraid that I am going to lose them forever. Too emotionally ambiguous to move forward, no matter how convincing my words, and yet too sensible to look back. A rather odd trap I've made for myself, isn't it?
I make to transfer myself from my hover-chair to a conventional wheel-chair. My pants cuff gets caught and in my fumble a letter falls from my pocket. I take a deep breath. Deal with the wheel-chair, Charles. You know you can't allow 'civilians' to see you strutting about in alien Shi'Ar technology. A minor frustration at best, and I know it.
Do all parents get as testy as I am when their children get married? I wish had a better social frame of reference to draw from. One of the prices I've paid for the way of life I have chosen, is knowing so little about the lives led by 'normal' people.
I strain to reach the letter and, suddenly, Rachel is there.
"I have it, Sir." She tells me. "It's a note from Wolverine. Jean was just looking at the one he wrote Scott and her."
"I had been meaning to get to read it, but somehow the time never seemed right." I reply.
"Goodbyes are always tough. Especially if you think there's still a lot left to be said before parting." She says handing me the letter.
As I put the letter back in my pocket, I wonder if I should mention my earlier feeling of apprehension concerning her. No, Charles, let it go. Enjoy the day.
"Wise words from one so young. I will read it later. That seems...appropriate, in a way. Scott and Alex are outside now. Is Jean ready?" I ask.
"Yes. She's waiting for your all clear signal." Rachel replies.
"I'll let her know. Now let's take our places." I tell her and we head out to the lawn.
As I look at Scott and Alex waiting for it all to start, I allow myself to be pulled into the gentle flow of their thoughts as they look own on those of us gathered here. For Scott, our presence does not serve so much to heighten his tension as to relax him with a feeling of comfort and confidence. He is especially pleased as he notes Cable's presence, who enters accompanied by Domino and the other members of X-Force. His heart fills with joy as his son gives him a subtle nod and a wink of his sparkling eye.
What warmth I feel in him. He so rarely lets his emotions out, and I so rarely pry. How can I even describe the feeling of satisfaction he receives, and in turn, I receive, from his sense of kinship to us? He is proud of who we are and what we stand for. Proud to have us as his friends and family. He had so little growing up in the orphanage, and now he is among the select few who can change the way of the world. How many men are lucky enough, he wonders, important enough to be so blessed?
Ororo, the Maid of Honor, motions to the band. It is the signal that they are ready to proceed. Lila Cheney begins the wedding march. The piece is not in Lila's usual repertoire, but she and her band perform it with skill and delicacy. I confess I have never been the biggest fan of Lila's music, until now.
We exchange a look, Storm and I, as she marches past. A look of joy and, yes, pride. We have come through so much that a day like this can seem truly miraculous. We share many bonds, but none stronger than the love we share for Scott and Jean.
I feel the skipping of Scott's heart, the sheer happiness that envelopes him, as Jean walks down the aisle with her father. The one shining thought beaming from him is as simple as it is truthful.
"She is the most beautiful woman in the world."
I sense Professor Grey's thoughts, reflected by my own, a mixture of pride and loss. So happy for his daughter and thrilled with the way she as grown up. Yet so afraid of the fact that his baby girl is leaving him. Then, the static of mental chatter, which today has sounded more like a choir singing in my mind, falls completely silent as the Minister prepares to speak.
"This sash serves as a symbol of the matrimonial ties. The sacred pact you make before God, an exclamation of love, which will serve you through good times and bad. The wedding vows to b spoken here today, have been prepared by the bride and groom themselves."
'There were times I was lost,
and you found me.'
'There were days which were heavy,
and you lightened my heart.'
'Through it all, since the day when we met,
there was you for me and me for you.
That hasn't changed.
That will never change.'
'Times ave been good, and times have been bad,
and still, our love has endured and triumphed.'
"I, Jean Grey, take Scott Summers to be my lawfully wedded husband."
"I, Scott Summers, take Jean Grey to be my lawfully wedded wife."
'Through pain and passion,
through sorrow and hope,
through death and through life.'
'No matter what tomorrow may bring,
we will face it together.'
"I now pronounce you Husband and Wife. Let's see a kiss, now."
And what a kiss we see, indeed.
The hoorays start with Jubilee; the applause, I realize, much to my surprise, starts with me.
And the congratulatory sound of clapping rises, louder and louder, as everyone joins in the beautiful spirit of the moment.
The bride and groom, elegant in their composure, radiant in their joy, begin their first dance. The music rises, a haunting melody, both sad and uplifting at the same time. Wholly appropriate to reflect the lives they've shared.
Jean turns to dance with her father as Elaine practically yanks her new son-in-law along with her.
How I envy them, as I remember how, long ago, I used to slide across the parquet like Gene Kelly. I look upon the smiling faces of friends and family and I smile. No longer with melancholy, but with delight, counting my good fortune and wondering, how could anyone help but be happy on a day like this?
While Scott and Jean endure the torturous prompting of the wedding photographer, the reception begins. My mind wanders among their conversations. Conversations between students, both present and past, all dear to me and to each other. And most interesting of all, among people who, just yesterday, would have been adversaries. I notice Cable smile as Val Cooper approaches.
"Cable." She greets him.
"Dr. Cooper. Tell me, am I still wanted by the Government?" Cable asks, taking a elbow in the ribs from Domino as he does so.
"Let's just say, I'll pretend I didn't even see you here." Valerie replies.
"See who?" Cable retorts, laughing as Domino pulls him along.
The afternoon progresses. The band plays soft jazz (Despite Lila's objection) through the meal. After a rather eclectic dance sequence consisting of Sinatra (A request by Cable, of all people), Goodman and Elvis. Jubilee clams she has had enough, but still, I note, she's one of the first ones out for the tossing of the bouquet. A point made rather moot, by Rogue's burst of enthusiasm. She flies up and catches it before the others can blink. Scott takes his turn and flips out Jean's garter. Cable has it floating to his hand when the whole group is flung back by on of Gambit's kinetically charged cards. I laugh in spite of my best efforts.
"Now, Mes Amis, y' didn' t'ink I'd give anyone else a chance t' slip 'dis on the Little Lady, did y'? I t'ink not." Gambit informs them, as he retrieves the garter.
The cake is cut, Jean succumbing to the inevitable rallying cry, and smashing Scott in the face with his piece. And the coffee and tea are poured, and several of the boys go up for seconds on the cake...and thirds and fourths.
While others, Cable and Rachel, stand in quiet thought, letting the significance of this day sink in. A day that ends all too quickly. Or so I thought.
"Excuse me for one minute, Folks. If we could all gather 'round. To close the festivities the Bride has one last, very special dance." Lila announces.
I watch as Jean makes her way through the tables, wondering just who she has in mind, and cannot believe it when she comes up to me.
"Charles, would you do me the honor?" She asks me.
"Jean, I...you know I can't..." I try to tell her.
"My mother taught me to save the last dance for the man who brought you to the ball. And that man, dear Charles, would be you." She tells me.
A halo of telekinetic energy springs from her mind, gently lifting me up.
"Jean, some of the people here...they don't know about us..." I manage to get out.
"Most of the guests have left. And what if they did know about us, Charles? That I'm a mutant? Or that I'm a woman who wants to celebrate the best day of her life? If dancing with you is what makes me happy, and if being a mutant gives me the opportunity to do that, then theres nothing in this world I would rather be. And I'm proud to dance with the man who taught me that being one should in no way limit the happiness I can enjoy, or the love I might share with those I'm blessed to call my family." She tells me.
"Better do it, Charles. She's a Summers now, and you know how stubborn we can get." Cable yells to me, taking yet another elbow in the ribs from Domino in the process.
"I would be honored, Child." And we dance.
Evening comes, those guests who have stayed are either turning in for the night or have gone off to Harry's Hideaway for a nightcap. And I sit, as usual, it seems of late, alone. Doing what I do best. Thinking. I look up as Scott enters my study.
"Professor, I received the Shi'Ar Comm Link message from my father. He sends his best. Alex is driving Jean and me to the airport. It'll give us a chance to talk. He put up a good front all day long, but I know he's having problems dealing with the loss of Jamie Madrox." Scott tells me.
"I know. He cares so much, bears so much of the burden of his responsibilities. He's a lot like you, in that regard." I tell him.
"Don't let him hear you say that." Scott replies.
"There is no one I could think of, Scott, that I would be as honored to be compared to, than you, Lad. It was a beautiful day. I wish nothing but the best for both of you, forever." I tell him.
"I know, Sir. Just like I know that, if it weren't for you, it cold never have happened. If it weren't for you, there'd be no hoping that tomorrow could be an even better day." He tells me and gives me a warm hug, which I return with earnest.
"It's hard to imagine, Scott, how a day could be happier than this one was." I tell him.
"That's the point, Sir. Because of what you've taught us, how you raised me, I fully expect it can and will be a better day. I just wanted you to know that. I wanted to finally tell you, that if it weren't for you, for your guidance and your courage, for the sense of purpose you've given me, I would have been lost. You saved me, you gave my life meaning, gave me hope, gave me the chance to become something more, better than I would ever have been. For all that, I thank you...and I wanted to say...I love you, Charles Xavier." He tells me softly.
"And I you, Son." I reply.
I hear the car pull out. They're gone. The house is still. And in this rare moment of silence, I find myself looking at the work in front of me, the house and people around me with new eyes. I notice a message from Moira at Muir Island. I call it up.
