It was the first night, in months, that they had been apart and Hank was having difficulty sleeping.  He got up from his bed and fingered the pictures that he had on his bureau, looking at the happy faces that in turn, looked at his solemn one.

What do I do? He thought, sighing softly in the dark night.  He was so worried about the child’s future, and what it would go through, all the torment that Hank went through himself.  Although he could always give the child an image inducer, but still the world was cruel and there were many cruel people in it.

She’s packing Henry, the voice of Professor Xavier entered his mind all of the sudden.

Packing? Henry asked rather dumbly.

She’s not worried about the child, Henry, you shouldn’t either.  She’s leaving because you won’t accept the news and are too worried about appearances, the Professor told him calmly, soothingly, She might be nine years younger than you, but she carries the wisdom and worldly knowledge that you nor I don’t have.  Trust her when she says everything will be okay.  Now go to her, she’s almost out the door.

That prompted Beast into action, he was out of the door in a second, running down the stairs at the very second Cindy walked out of the mansion.  She was half way down the driveway before he was outside.  Hank stopped in his tracks as she kept walking, his heart breaking with every step she took.

“Don’t leave me,” he whispered his voice failing him in his moment of need, “Please, Cindy, don’t leave.”

Cindy stopped, her body was incredibly tense, as she stood with her back facing Hank.  She knew he was there, she knew he was following her.  Vainly, she hoped that she could have escaped the mansion without a word; it would have been easier than this.  Whether it was consciously or unconsciously, she heard what he said and it broke her heart.

“Why should I not leave?” she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper but she knew he would hear her despite that.

“I love you, Cindy, I can not bear life without you,” his voice cracked as he said that, “I need you.  I’m so sorry.”

Her head hung low as a tear slipped past her cheek and she sang Daniel Bedingfield “If You’re Not the One”, “I don’t want to run away but I can’t take it, I don’t understand.  If I’m not made for you then why does my heart tell me that I am?  Is there anyway that I can stay in your arms? Cause I miss you body and soul, so strong that it takes my breath away and I breathe you into my heart and pray for the strength to stand today cause I love you whether it’s wrong or right.”

Her soft, melodic voice made him cry and he took a tentative step towards her.  The words hit him, told him everything he needed to know.  He needed to get over his appearance.  What difference did it make if he fussed over it?  It only causes other people, less understanding people, to notice it all the more.  He remembered when Cindy admitted that she hardly noticed his blue fur and when she did it made her love him more.  She confessed that she had urges to run her fingers through it long before they ever started to date.

“I’m sorry, Cindy,” he said a little louder, “I’m so sorry.  I want to be a father of our child, if you will take me.”

She still did not turn to face him, her tears steadily streaming down her face.  She did not have the energy to face him, all of it went to containing her emotions as much as possible.

“Speak to me, please,” he begged unable to handle the silence any more.

“Sometimes, Hank,” she said with a strangled voice, “sometimes your insecurities hurt me more than any physical pain.”

Her words cut his heart and Hank’s tears flowed more and he pulled her against him and she, surprisingly, let him do it as he choked out, “I’m so sorry.”

She turned around and hid her face against his chest, making him feel the tears she was vainly fighting.  A sob broke as she said, “You need to trust me, Hank, trust in my love for you and for the baby.  Sometimes you cut me so deep, pierce my heart and soul, just trust my love for you and for him.  Please…”

Her last word was strangled as a sob cut it off, she clung to him in desperation as emotions bombarded her.  She was trying so hard to make things work, so hard to get him to see that his appearance did not matter.  But it just did not seem to do much, all of the reassurance.  She realized that she needed it as well, she needed him to reciprocate his love for her, and though he did, his insecurities kept pushing her away.

“Oh god,” Hank whispered as she finally cried in pain that he had caused her with his insecurities, “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry.”

He kept chanting that over again, as he thought somewhere in the corner of his mind that he did not do his share of reassurance.  His insecurities had left her alone, he was being selfish when he put his “Kryptonite” on his future child.  He hurt her more than anyone else has, she was sobbing hard against him.

“I love you so much, Cindy, I’ve been putting so much on your shoulders,” he murmured against her hair, “I’ve been so selfish without realizing.”

She could not speak, her sobbing taking over any ability, despite her vain attempts.  She just clutched on to his robe, her knuckles white.

“Look at me,” he whispered, his tears subsiding and she shook her head no, “Please.”

Hank smoothed her hair and made her look at him.  He gasped at what he saw.  Her dark brown eyes were swirling with intense emotions.  It was the first time he saw her soul, she was naked to him, which made him understand why no one was comfortable when she cried.  Everything she felt was magnified in those orbs, they spoke volumes instead of her actually talking.

“You are so beautiful, Cindy,” he murmured amazed brushing back her hair, “I never saw such a beautiful soul before.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, looking him in the eye, “I wish you didn’t see me like this.”

“I’m seeing you, the real you,” he said his voice stronger than before, “Don’t ever apologize for that.  You must be an angel, my love, you have to be to put up with me all the pain I’ve caused you.”

A tear slid past her cheeks and he kissed it away, running his large hands through her hair before pulling her close to him, picking her up.  He carried her upstairs to his room, taking her backpack off and then her clothes.  He held her naked body against him, loving how she seemed to fit him so perfectly, then he made love to her for the rest of the night, both shedding tears during their coupling.

 

 

                                                *********

 

Hank was frustrated but he was determined to do it.  It would be a surprised for his beloved, she had done so much for him, including carrying his child, and now it is time that he reciprocated. 

“Okay, Cassie, will you please demonstrate that again?”

“Maybe we should start with something easier, Dr. McCoy,” the strawberry blond preteen suggested gently, “Or maybe I should just make it.”

“No, that won’t be necessary,” He replied with determination, “I want to learn, I need to learn and I want you to help me.”

“Okay, Dr. McCoy,” she replied with a hidden grin, she knew exactly why the blue furred doctor was doing this and she was glad that she was taking part.  Cassie really liked Cindy.  She often confided in the Asian woman and found great understanding and sympathy, as well as good advice. 

Her nimble fingers quickly made a rose just for her memory sake.  Then she repeated it, after taking it apart, and did it more slowly, while Hank McCoy mimicked her movements.  He growled when he tore the red paper a bit but kept at it.  He was close, he could almost see the rose forming.

“Yay!  You did it,” Cassie exclaimed happily and placed another red sheet of paper in front of him, “Now do it again to make sure it isn’t a fluke and you don’t forget what I taught you.”

Beast did exactly as he was told, thinking how the girl was pushy in the darkest corner of his mind.  He quickly did it again, this time he did not rip the paper.  He beamed happily, as he produced another red rose and pulled out another sheet of paper to confirm it wasn’t luck.

“Wow, you caught on pretty quickly,” Cassie stated with a grin, “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised though.”

“Why’s that, Cassie?” he asked curiously.

“You’re a doctor, you’re used to tinkering with delicate things,” She spoke as if it was the most obvious thing, and it was, now that Hank thought about it.  He could not understand why he fought Cindy so hard on this front.  The Japanese woman was right in that he could do origami and he wished now that he did it the first few times she offered.

“Thank you, Cassie, I truly appreciate this tutorial,” He replied as he gently gathered his creations into his large hand, “I trust that this will remain between the two of us, yes?”

“No worries, Doc, and you were a great student,” the strawberry blond preteen said with a grin.

“Well you were a great teacher, Cassie,” Hank ruffled her hair affectionately, “will you be going home for the Christmas break?”

“Yeah, I can’t wait, I miss my mom and dad,” she said, “and I miss the food.  Well, I better go, my show comes on in a few minutes and I don’t want Marcus to steal the remote before I get the chance.  Later, Doc.”

“Goodbye, Cassie,” he called after her, while his mind began it’s plan.

 

                                                ********

 

“Oh, Hank,” Cindy said with a bright smile, “You made these?  They’re beautiful!  I knew you could do it!”

“I had a patient teacher,” he replied with a grin, “I’m sorry I fought you so hard on it.  Do you think you will teach me something one of these days?”

“Of course,” she hugged him and kissed his lips, “who was this patient teacher?”

“Cassie,” he replied pulling her close to him, “I suspect she might be a good teacher later on in life.”

“Yes, she will,” she murmured against his neck, “She mentioned to me that she’s considering teaching as a living.  I’m so glad that she has managed to catch on to the art.”

“How do you know the child is a boy?” he asked suddenly, his hand resting on her abdomen.

“I just know,” she shrugged slightly and placed her hand on top of his and then turned to look at him, “So are you ever going to tell me what the surprise is?”

“No,” he said sternly, “and I don’t want you to harass anyone else about it either.  You will have to wait.  Now, are you hungry?”

“Okay,” she pouted slightly and shook her head no.

“Well, I am,” he murmured his voice husky with need, showing her how much he loved her

 

                                                *************