| FIRST TIME 2b AUTHOR: SisterWine Rating: PG Warning: Sadness Pairing: None Disclaimer: The X-Men, BellaDonna and Sinister are all the creations of Marvel Comics. The idea is mine, and so are Rhythm and Jonathon. Marvel comics and 20th Century Fox may own X-Men but, I own Rhythm and Jonathon. No money, no exchange, pure entertainment. Summary: Key turning point in Rhythm's life unfolds as Logan and Remy go on a mission. While they're gone, she learns more about herself, and the young man she rescued a few years prior. The second part of First Time 2. [email protected] Rhythm knocked on Remy's door at half past ten to talk to him about her night's behaviour. At dinner, she had thrown a fit of Remy's decision to leave earlier than originally planned. She and Remy held loud words with one another as she and Jonathon were not invited. When the plates were cleared, the discussion continued and Jonathon was placed in the middle, leaving Logan to pull him outside and away from any tempers that became physical. Flinching as her knocks on his door brought back the words she hadn't meant to say to either him or anyone else. "Poppa....?" She paused. She could hear his mattress springs squeak as he had just laid down. "Poppa, can I talk to you?" Standing there in her pajamas and bare feet, she hadn't been able to sleep until she apologised. Sighing and leaning back against the headboard, Remy had just turned on the radio to a soft music station before hearing the knock. "S'open." Turning his head as the door opened and closed with her slipping in and sitting down on the edge of his bed. "S' de matter, petite?" Playing with the pantleg of her pajama bottoms, Rhythm took a moment to think of what to say. "Why do you two have ta go? Why not Summers? Or someone else?" Remy had given her his old 'Xavier Institute' T-shirt, and she wore it like a blanket. Her hair had been down and mainly in her face as it had been too long to contain behind her ears. It cascaded around her like a black, velvet cape and shimmered as spots of auburn shone through. "Cause Logan an' I-- we-- volunteered for it. S' no big t'ing, Boo. We be back a few days, tops." Brushing the long locks off her cheek and behind her left shoulder, he smiled. "Rhyt'm, your momma do de same t'ing, you know it. Why get so ups wit' this?" Rhythm stared at his blanket and played with his white topsheet. "Just got this feelin that-- you aren't comin back." Lifting her eyes to look at him, she stopped at his bare chest, noting the light tense in muscles the caught as her words registered to him. As she met his eyes, she could faintly see his understanding and classic nonchalantness of the truth. "Don' want ta be here alone, poppa." Remy shook his head. "Not alone, baby. Y' got Jonat'on here, an' Mattie.... an' Belle..." "Not you. Or, Logan. Poppa, please don' go?" Their eyes met and the glow started. Neither confirming or denying what would possibly happen, Remy laid his hand on the back of her neck and gently pulled her closer to kiss her forehead. "We talk in de mornin. Gettin late, petite." She nodded and wrapped her arms around his shoulders for a hug. "Night, poppa." Kissing his cheek and standing up, her hand was grabbed and squeezed lightly as she was told goodnight. Opening the door and silently leaving, she glanced down both sides of the long corridor. Pulling the door to, Rhythm turned to the left and went to tell Logan goodnight. This time, she didn't have to knock for him to acknowledge her. "C'mon in, darlin." Came the strong voice that made her jump. He too had just lay down, ready for the night. Sitting up from reading his book, Logan stared at the door and waited for her to step in. "Problem sleepin, kiddo?" Shaking her head, Rhythm crawled up onto his bed and sat closely to him, wrapping her arms around him and hugging him before explaining. "Don' go, Logan. Kay? I tell de same to poppa but, he's not listenin. I know if you go, you won' come back." She pulled back from him and stared at him. "Stay here, please." Logan heard the extreme emotion in her voice under the burying of family calm. "Darlin, there's been times when I thought about takin the easy way out but, I did what I had to and lived. This won't be any different. Yer daddy and I know what we're doin, and we wouldn't be careless or put ourselves in danger if we didn't. But, this needs to be done. If we don't do this, there's gonna be a law that passes to keep our kind in the sewers. Can't let that happen. If it takes us, then it's an evil that has to happen, I guess. Yer a beautiful young woman that can stand on her own, whether she believes it or not. That's somethin Remy nor I will ever let anything destroy." "So, you want to go and get yourselves killed....?" "That ain't what I said." Defensiveness entered his voice but, he was still calm. Rhythm looked hurt. "But, you won't stay away from it. You're just gonna follow poppa in there like an idiot!" Turning and crawling off of the bed, her left arm was brushed by his hand. "That ain't it. Rhythm!" Logan raised his voice to stop her from leaving. "You've known since you were five years old that this is our job. The risk was always there. Why concern yerself with it, now?" She stopped and turned around as she reached the closed door. "Cause there's too much at stake not to." Opening the door and leaving, she waited until the door closed before wiping her tears away and heading for her room. "Night Mac." Jonathon had stood in the bathroom doorway, just about to go to his room, when they met in the corridor. Not bothering to look at him, she mumbled a casual, "Night." "You uh- you want some company? I can't sleep." He asked politely. His intention wasn't for anything other than a chat, or a round of cards. She stopped and turned back to look at him from a few feet past. "No, I don't think I'll be that lonely. See ya in the mornin." Rhythm turned back and slipped into her room, closing the door quietly. Jonathon stood in the middle of the space, staring at her door. Chewing his bottom lip a moment, he turned and walked to Logan's door, knocking twice before he was told to go in. "Can I talk to you a moment, sir?" ~~~~ Rhythm sat on the porch, in the swing, and munched on frozen peas in pods. It was a lazy afternoon getting lazier as the sun had begun to recede from the sky. She hadn't felt well enough to do anything other than sit in the swing and wait. Wait for the night to rise, or wait for Remy and Logan to come wandering home. Her stomach burned. The thought of her usual food craves, repelled her. She groaned again and rubbed, idly, at her stomach. The television had been turned on and played very loudly as both she, and Jonathon, had been at opposite ends of the house. The news was on, discussing world trades and headlines, both local and national. "Mac! You'd better get in here!" Jonathon called as he stopped in the livingroom on his way to the kitchen. The news had caught his attention and he hadn't liked the footage being played. "Mac!" Groaning, Rhythm stood up and staggered her way into the house, stopping beside the sofa. Her eyes immediate fixed on the cement rubble that had once been a 4-storey building. Eyes narrowed as her vision caught two covered figures on stretchers, being carried out by paramedics in special jumpsuits. "... News out of Colorado Springs: Two mutants, unidentified, were pulled from the rubble of a nearby 4 storey office building that was once owned by Graydon Creed. It is unclear who these mutants are, and why they attacked a civilian building. Both men perished in the explosion." "NO!" A loud and long, piercing scream filled the house. Her legs went weak but, she only locked her body and watched in horror. "They promised they'd be back! They promised!" Only her voice went down in volume but, the pain and abandonment peaked at a level that would surely shatter glass. Memories, touches, scents, voices, and laughter all came flooding back to her. The walls had begun to close in on her, extracting air from her lungs as devils danced in her mind, giving her horrible visions of their last moments and the pain they must have felt. The shock had been overwhelming to both of them. Jonathon began feeling inescapably defeated, while Rhythm was barely clinging to reality. Eyes glued to the screen and never leaving the two broken bodies on stretchers that were placed into ambulances and removed from the scene. Falling to his knees, Jonathon had wanted more than anything for the news crews to be wrong in their evaluations, and that Remy and Logan were only injured. The white sheets over them, told a different story. He was welcome into their home but, fought himself over whether he was apart of their family. In the last few months, Remy had given him freedoms he knew, only a son, would have been able to posess. And, Logan had mellowed to him, considerably. They each taught him how to fight, and feel on his own. But, it was Logan who sensed his growing attraction to Remy's captivating daughter, and gently nudged him with casual pointers and easings. Now, it seemed in vain. Or, was it? Rhythm was lost in confusing and absent yearnings. The words played over and over as if they were a recording on constant playback. She heard them and could repeat them as if it played for an hour. What was she going to do now? Who would she talk to and reach out for, in the mid of nights, when her nightmares and screams became unbearable? When would she feel their love again? Her right hand rose to the small blue vial that dangled from a chain, around her neck. Rubbing absently at it, as if it had given her comfort to know Logan had given it to her on the day he and Remy left, she forced back her tears. "I want my poppa. I want my Logan." She whispered to herself as unrestrained tears fell onto her short-sleeved, white blouse. The worry, the sickness, stress and sheer precognition had all peaked inside of her. She felt light-headed and dizzy but, on top of that, was nausea. Her tears fell as sobs became wracking wails and cries for Remy and Logan. Rushing down the long corridor to the left of the front door, she ducked into a quaint half-bath and immediately dropped to her knees, she couldn't stop the rise and ousting of all she had eaten in the past 24 hours. Sobs between vomits and repeating her denials, Rhythm had wished her mother was besidde her. Vomitting again, she flushed and wiped her mouth with a cool, wet cloth handed to her by Jonathon. "You okay?" He asked, quietly. Standing in the doorway of the small room, he watched as she removed the cloth and vomitted again, before shaking her head. "Should I call that lady? The voodoo one?" Rhythm tiredly shook her head. "Non." Stiffening as she felt his fear, and flinching as he had bent down to help her up, she warned him. "Don' touch me." Jonathon stood up and stared at her in shock. "Can I help at all?" He asked, in mute worry. "No! Go away!" She screamed. "Leave!" Turning to place both of her hands on his thighs and push him out of the room, she slammed the door in his face. Her sobs were back again, and took control over her body, causing her to rock back and forth while holding her stomach. It was coming, again. Building in her throat. Bracing her arms on the cool plastic seat, she leaned over and vomitted one last time before collapsing to the left, onto the floor, unconscious. ~~~~ When Rhythm awoke, she was being carried by someone. "Poppa?" She asked, drowsily. Lifting her head off of their shoulder, she glanced around and dazedly tried to straighten her vision. "No. Jonathon. I'm Jonathon. Just rest, Mac." He soothed. "Where we goin?" Blinking and yawning before laying her head back down on his shoulder, she saw the front door being opened and a gust of cool air as they had reached the outside. Her arms had been placed around his neck, and her legs dangled over a straining arm, as he carried her. Jonathon swallowed before opening the passenger door to her small, blue truck. "I didn't know what else to do. So, I'm takin you to see my father. I know he can help." Rhythm began to struggle as she was placed on the seat. "No! Let go! No' goin to dat mad scientist! He's a monster!" She screamed, nearly piercing the eardrum of his left ear. Kicking and punching at him had only managed to weaken her more and more as he strapped her in and shut the door. Walking around the bed of the truck, Jonathon had wondered if he was doing the right thing. Remy had been very strict about doctors examining Rhythm but, he never figured out why.Opening the driver's door and climbing in, he was verbally attacked by her harsh words about being Sinister's labrat. His fear for her and hatred of betrayal had nearly encompassed his rationale. Tearing out of the driveway and hurrying as fast as he could to where he knew his father's lab was, Jonathon had divided his attention between driving and making sure she was okay, every five minutes. Finally coming to a stop outside of an old, abandoned warehouse, in the middle of nowhere, Jonathon hurried out of his side and around to hers. Not bothering to shut either door, he turned and hurried inside. "Ah, my escaped child returns. And, what's this?" Sinister smiled, wickedly. He eyed Rhythm as she lay limp in the boy's arms. They stood under a blindingly bright light, in the middle of his large alien looking laboratory. "Nevermind about me. She's been sick all day, and in a lotta pain. I don't know any doctors that can care for her, so I brought her here. What's wrong with her?" Jonathon asked, frantically. His exasperation was trying to get the better of him. Rhythm's head had fallen back and allowed Sinister a clear and bright view of her face. They had been standing under a very bright light, and Sinister could clearly see the resemblance to Rogue, as well as Remy. Only difference had been that the girl in Jonathon's arms, had black hair. He nodded and smiled maliciously as a large thumb gently rubbed at her pale, left cheek. "Bring her to the examing table, and remove her clothing." He ordered. Sinister, himself, had wondered what was making her so sick but, delighted himself in finding out. "LeBeau's daughter has finally grown up, I see. And, what a very pretty woman she has become." Laying her on the cold, metal table, Jonathon looked back at his father and blinked at the comment. "They're dead. Gambit and Wolverine." Turning to stare at Rhythm, he continued. "We were watching the news and she just ran to the bathroom and started throwing up. I found her passed out on the floor, and brough her here. You can help her, right?" His voice had all but begged Sinister to help. The wicked monster of a mutant laughed. "My dear Jonathon, the LeBeaus may have conceived her and given birth to her but, I created her." ~~~~ After trying for several minutes to open her eyes, Rhythm finally succeeded. Her vision had looked as if she were looking through a fishbowl. As it cleared, a tall, cold-looking man in a white surgical garb was standing over her. With the man standing on her left, she turned her head to the right and felt a wave of dizziness and nausea come over her. She groaned and raised a heavy hand to rub her stomach. Her clothes had been replaced by a white cloth gown, and she lie on a very firm mattress, covered by a thin, knit blanket. "Mac, you're awake. Finally." Jonathon stepped up to the right side of the bed, and smiled. Reaching up with her right hand, she grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him close to whisper to him. "Where are my clothes?" "I had to remove them so that father could examine you." Jonathon had been taken off guard at her first statement. "I have them, right here. You can have them back when we leave but, I thought you'd like to know why you were so sick." Turning to look at Sinister, she said in a very strong tone. "So, talk, Essex." A faint flashing in her eyes caused her stomach to churn. She groaned and waited. Grinning cruelly, Sinister placed a hand on her stomach and glanced at Jonathon. When he spoke, it was soft and eerily comforting. "My dear Miss LeBeau, you will soon be the mother of my grandchild." Rhythm's eyes went wide. "Your what?!" Her voice was loud and sharp compared to theirs. She struggled to sit up but, was only pushed to lie back down while Jonathon bound her in thick restraints. "No Mac, it's okay. Shh. Don't squirm, please." A hush in his voice had only made her more anxious to sit up and leave. Soothing her hair, and letting a soft smile seep onto his lips, he finished. "We could have a family. Like the one you've told me you always wanted. That's why you've been so sick. We could raise our child together." He seemed quite sincere and pleased with the announcement but, wasn't so sure about her. "No! Get rid of it! Now! I don't want it!" Her temper peaked. "I'm afraid I cannot do that, my dear." Sinister quietly declined. "You see, Jonathon is quite amazing, isn't he? When your parents came to me for help in conceiving you, I managed to steal some of Gambit's traits. Those came in handy, I see. After they left, and had you, I started working on my own project. But, he remained unfinished until that night Gambit went to talk to Rogue and Mister Lensherr at their home. I kidnapped him, and tried to get information, on you, out of him. I knew full well his teammates would come for him, and sure enough, they did. They succeeded with the rescue but, not before I managed to steal away some of Wolverine's precious blood. And, here my experiment stands, today. I am very pleased that he had done, on his own, exactly what I wanted him to do." Sinister smirked and congratulated himself. "With the birth of your child, the three powers combined, would become a most wonderful hybrid of the ultimate machine to take down human and mutantkind." A twisted grin on his face signified that he was very pleased with the accomplishment. Rhythm had taken in all that was being said. Glaring at Sinister and then Jonathon, she began to let the words fall into place. "You used me. You knew about this, and you used me." "No, no Mac. I love you. Never meant for it to happen like this. Honest." Jonathon was shocked at her accusation. Brushing a stray lock of hair behind her right ear, he whispered. "I never wanted to harm you, or them. But, our child will carry on the family traits." "Who's family?" Sighing, he answered. "Yours, of course. They haven't ended anything. Mac, please, we can be a family. I promise." Rhythm shook her head and glared at him more sternly. "You may have been dere for the conception but, I don't want MY child to be apart a' HIS family. If I can't get rid of it, then I'll refuse to have any kind of knowledge that they have a madman and his miserable excuse for a son as a family. And, don't even think you can change my mind." She snapped. She could clearly see the hurt her words had caused but, was too overwhelmed to care, just yet. ~~~~~ As Jonathon turned onto the property, he was met at the gate by a swarm of news crews and newspaper reporters. Glancing over at Rhythm, he hadn't the heart to tell her to wake up and tell the media to "get lost". Stopping to avoid hitting anyone, Jonathon hadn't a clue on how to get rid of them. The pounding began and the screaming of questions had made him want to be invisible. "Hey!" He warned as one camera man tried to open Rhythm's passenger door. "You gotta trick to keep the wolves at bay, Mac?" Without opening her eyes from her reclined position, Rhythm flattened her hand against the panel on the door and charged it. The whole truck lit up in a bright red glow as the gates opened and the people backed away in fear. She was turned in her seat to face him and bring her legs up to curl in front of her. Her clothes were back on her but that hadn't stopped the feeling of being naked and alone. The gates closed again and the red glow around the truck was gone. Jonathon parked in front of the house, facing the left so that Rhythm was protected from view. Getting out and shutting the door, he hurried around to her side and helped her out. Letting the screams of questions and flashes of cameras remain at bay. He opened her door and unfastened her seatbelt, wrapping an arm around her back while he placed her arm around his shoulders. Screams became louder as they reached the front porch. "Miss LeBeau, how did you feel when you heard the news? What's it like to be the daughter of an X-Man?" Shouted one woman from a local network. "What were they doing in a human environment? Will you keep their efforts going?" Shouted a man from another local network. The front door opened and Rogue stepped out to help Jonathon bring Rhythm inside. "What's goin on, shugah? We heard the news and Ah rushed over. Are you okay, baby?" She whispered as they stepped into the house and shut the door. Rogue moved away and turned to look at Jonathon. "Who is this?" Asking a shaking and barely coherent Rhythm. "I'm--" Jonathon started. "No one. He's no one, momma." Rhythm looked up and moved herself to embrace her mother. Tears finaly fell onto the woman's shoulder, and sobs came immediately. Wrapping her arms around her mother and letting the woman guide her over to the sofa in the livingroom, she could feel the hurt and pang of guilt in Jonathon. Jonathon sighed and walked over to the kitchen to get a glass of juice for Rhythm, and some tissues. He glanced and nodded to the blonde woman who was sitting at the table. Going about his task, he hadn't paid attention to the woman as she watched him and stood to come stand closer to him. "Would you like some?" He asked, not looking at her. BellaDonna smiled softly. "No, cher. De fille needs dis, not me. You doin okay?" She kept her eyes on him and watched for the slightest signs of emotions. None. "Remy told me all about you, Jonat'on. He respected you. Don' let her words tear y' down, boy. She jus' goin t'rough a hard time right now." He nodded and paused to look at her. No expression on his face was evident that he had felt just as bad as Rhythm. Rogue came into the kitchen to see what was going on. "Now, what's this Ah hear that Remy took in a boy from Sinister's own creepy dungeons? Boy, if yer spyin for him, you'll have ta answer to me." She demanded. "What's Sinister want with mah daughter?" Taking a deep breath, Jonathon thought of how he was going to explain something he knew very little about. "When she found me in his lab, she was there to steal some file from him. I was basically created after she was born so I would be for her. Mister-- Remy-- and Logan let me stay because I guess I was a way to make him give up. After a lot of convincing and talking, they treated me like I was a good guy." "Are you?" Rogue asked. Jonathon paused. "Yes." He swallowed and continued his explanation. "I couldn't hurt Mac for anything." The hurt returned to his voice but not his expression. The more he was questioned by Rogue, the more he was doubting his stay. If it wasn't for BellaDonna to be standing there, Jonathon would have called it quits. "Hold on, chere. If Remy an' Logan trusted him, den he needs de benefit of de doubt. Mebbe, de boy take care o' her while dey're gone. She in a spot, no? I think Jonat'on needs her jus' as much." BellaDonna explained before their attentions were drawn to the shaking form in the doorway of the kitchen. Rhythm held up a hand to silence any further comments about her or Jonathon. "Logan told him to take care of me. Poppa threatened him not to screw up. He's got nowhere else to go. So, he's stuck here 'til I say." She paused and took a ragged breath. "I don't want to discuss this anymore. I'm going to bed." She waved a hand at them and promptly left the room. Laying on her bed, she faced the open door and waited for the one person she knew would come to talk to her. Sure enough, he did. "What do you want?" She breathed, just above a whisper. Rhythm hadn't moved from laying on her left side and cuddling her bear. "You okay, Mac?" Jonathon stood at the edge of her room, not entering until she waved him in. "I haven't told your mother about-- you know. Mac, I-- I want to be apart of it's life. They told me alot and showed me more about family and love than mine ever did. I know I can do this. Please?" He wanted to step in and sit by her, to comfort her. He paused as she sat up and waved him inside. Rhythm watched him sit on her bed and swallowed before explaining. "Poppa was the kind of man that stayed so far from people but, he was so loving and caring. I remember when i was sick, he'd sit beside my bed an' bring me ice chips to suck on, or make me laugh when I would cry. He'd pick me up and let me dance with him, when he'd listen to music, and not care if he was silly or childish." She paused to bite her lip and fight back the tears that started to rise. "Logan was like that too. He'd pick me up and make sure everything was okay. When poppa and momma weren't there, he'd run into my room and chase all the monsters and shadows away. And, he was so good and kind." Tears began to fall without consent. "I wanted them to be there when poppa walked me down the aisle, or when Logan would help us move me into my own house. To me, there was no world other than in their safety. They'd take all my pain away, just like that." She snapped her fingers. "Now, who will do that? Who's gonna help me take care of this..... child..... inside me?" Jonathon took a moment to think about her words. "I-- I will....? Maybe not a family right now but, I'd like to stay." Not saying anything else, she sniffled and nodded. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, Rhythm hugged him and cried long and hard. She missed Remy and Logan but, through the contact with him, she could feel Logan and Remy guiding them together. "Okay, Logan, stop pushin." She whispered against his damp left shoulder. End. |