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It was really any other Friday to Merrick. His parents were going out to see a movie, the other adults were going into the city for a gig Landon’s jazz band had and Sebastian was spending the night at the Howlett’s with Jimmy. So it was just Merrick and Faelan at home. He’d spent part of the evening playing on the floor with his son though in the end was laying on his back Faelan in wolf form curled up comfortably sleeping on his chest. Rose had spent the last year of university being very busy with classes, interning, and well then Excalibur. But even during it all she’d found herself, generally late at night thinking about Merrick. Well basically every night she thought about him as she laid in her bed with the large maine coon he’d gotten her to adopt taking up part of her bed purring loudly. She’d thought so many times of calling him but with the time zone differences and such it didn’t ever seem to line up. She wasn’t even sure she was going to be coming home this summer. But the others all assured her the four of them would handle things there. Atif and Billy having opted to stay in Cambridge for the summer. Rose hadn’t told her parents when she was arriving instead just taking a taxi straight to her hotel to check in. She had looked at her phone and thought to tell her family she was there but the only person her mind kept going to now that she was away from the distractions of school and Excalibur was Merrick. And so she sent him a text, ‘Hey just got in. Can I see you?’. Merrick sighed purring contently when his phone buzzed from his pocket. He carefully took one hand off the sleeping puppy and reached into his pocket to see who was texting him and his heart caught in his throat when he saw it was Rose.
He’d thought of her a lot since she’d left but he still hadn’t told her about anything that happened after she left. And now she was back and wanted to see him. He couldn’t just go to her like normal, though god he wanted to. He thought for a moment looking from phone to Faelan and decided there was only one way of just getting it all put out there and see exactly where he stood with her and that was to have her come to him. So after a deep breath he texted back. ‘Can’t get away. But you can come here.’, he replied. Rose blinked at the message, go to him. ‘Where are you?’, she asked. ‘The Haven.’, he answered simply. Rose was very confused now. He wanted her to come to the Haven. He never wanted to meet at his place. ‘Alright. Be over shortly’, she replied leaving the hotel and first taking a cab to the storage unit she kept her motorcycle in and then drove to the Haven. As she parked she saw only his car and just the lights on the first floor on. Was he home alone then, she wondered as she walked up to the door. She didn’t bother knocking, as she was expected and it’s the Haven after all. “Merrick?”, she called. “Living room..”, he called softly. Rose raised an eyebrow confused why he was speaking in such a soft voice. “Merrick what is going…..”, she started to ask but froze as she got to the living room. She was somehow picturing this being some weird setup and she’d find him naked. But no this was much more surprising. He was fully clothed laying on the area rug of the living room surrounded by baby toys and animal toys and there sleeping on his chest was a wolf puppy or at least she thought it was a wolf.
Merrick tilted his head back to look at her upside down and smiled thinking to himself that she looked amazing even with that look of complete shock on her face. “Hi little wolf.”, he greeted. “What…what’s going on Merrick?”, Rose asked. Merrick sighed. “Um Rose want you to meet Faelan Christian Bryant-Frost, my son.”, Merrick said a little scared at how this was about to go. Rose blinked and took a small step back leaning against the archway of the living room trying to process what he just told her. He’d had a child while she was gone. Sure she wasn’t shocked that he had slept with other people after she left, she’d kind of hoped that maybe just maybe what happened that June had meant something more to him. But he hadn’t said anything before she left hadn’t asked her to be his. But a child…this was huge. And he didn’t tell her, he didn’t call or text or email nothing the whole school year to tell her something like this. Carefully she chose her words as she found her voice. “I see… well… congratulations to you and your… girlfriend then.”, Rose said, forcing the word girlfriend, turning to leave. “Thanks but…Rose. There is no girlfriend.”, Merrick said forcing himself to stay still despite wanting to jump up and grab her so she couldn’t leave. Rose stopped and looked at him. “Then who is the mother?”, Rose asked. “It was Jenna, she actually planned on getting pregnant without you know letting me in on that till too late of course.”, Merrick explained.
Rose wanted to get angry that Jenna had done something like but the word ‘was’ sunk into her mind. She took a couple steps closer looking at him and the sleeping ball of dark fluff on his chest. “Where..if I can ask…is Jenna? You said ‘was’.”, Rose questioned. Faelan’s ear twitched just a little. “Oh she’s alive. Somewhere. She didn’t, well she wouldn’t hold him or go near him. He was born in wolf form. He also has an ocelot form. She didn’t want to try and snuck out with her parents leaving just a letter of giving up her parental rights to him. Then her family just packed up and left town. So it’s been just me and him. Well Aislinn and Solangel and of course my parents have been of great help since he was born on April 1st. Everyone’s offered to help but well I’m kind of protective and haven’t let anyone else really hold him.”, Merrick explained. Rose frowned how could anyone walk away from their baby. She moved closer and knelt down on the floor next to him looking at Faelan. As a woman who was certain she’d never be able to carry a child the idea of walking away from one seemed too horrid to bare. “Why…well why didn’t you tell me? You could have called, texted Christ you could have emailed me to say you got someone pregnant.”, Rose questioned. “I didn’t want to tell you at first. I didn’t know how you’d really react to it. And then I didn’t know if it really mattered since I didn’t think you’d be coming home again.”, Merrick admitted. “Why wouldn’t I come home? And how did you think I would react?”, she questioned holding back her urge to punch his shoulder and the other urge to just reach out and pet the soft ball of fluff. “I saw a picture of you in your uniform. Very retro Wolverine. And extremely hot, you look good in Kevlar. So I figured with what you were doing over there you’d not come back. And I don’t know get mad at me, tell me ‘I told you so’ in regards to condoms can’t be trusted all the time, not want to see me again.”, he answered saying the last part very quietly.
Rose sighed. “Didn’t think you or anyone here would have seen that picture. I’m not going to say that, I figure it’s probably been said to death. I’m only mad that you didn’t think to tell me. I thought we were friends. And what do you mean not want to see you again? You honestly thought I’d give up being your friend because you have a kid?”, Rose questioned. Merrick sighed and shook his head. “No I wasn’t worried about the friend thing. I mean the more than a friend part of things. I thought I told you I got someone else knocked up, especially so soon after you left, that you really wouldn’t come back because you wouldn’t want to see me. And at that point you’d only see me as a friend and I don’t think I can be that. Not to you, I don’t think that with you I could be capable of being just friends.”, Merrick stated. Rose sighed, he’d been worried she’d not want to be with him as more than a friend. That might be the closest to admitting feelings as he’d get. “Merrick…he doesn’t change that. You having a kid doesn’t change that. Which god he’d cute. Can I…can I pet him?”, she asked looking at the little ball of fluff. Merrick raised an eyebrow. “Yes you can, just don’t wake him.”, Merrick said. Rose nodded and cautiously stroked the soft fur of the wolf and leaned against Merrick’s side as she did so. “Hi Faelan. I’m Rose, it’s very nice to meet you.”, Rose whispered and kissed Faelan’s nose. Merrick smiled a little watching the exchange as Faelan, even asleep, twitched his nose at the kiss. Rose laughed a little. “He does what you do..”, She commented. Merrick nodded moving his free arm to rest a hand on the small of her back rubbing a little. “So how bad do you want to run right now?”, he asked.
Rose closed her eyes momentarily as his hand touched her, it’d been a nearly year since she’d felt his hands on her and even with his child on his chest she had to admit she still liked him touching her. She opened her eyes and looked at him. She sighed and stretched out on the floor next to him and rested her head on his shoulder giving him a kiss on the jaw. “Does it look like I’m running Merrick?”, she asked placing a hand over his that laid on Faelan. “No. There’s just so much I didn’t tell you about this past year. And I’m not sure how well it will all be received.”, Merrick said. Rose raised an eyebrow. “Merrick you had a kid this year. And I don’t care. Not sure what else you could say you did that would top that or make me leave.”, Rose said. “Remember Zoe?”, Merrick asked. “Yeah….the platonic off limits friend. What about her?”, Rose questioned sitting up. Merrick sighed, telling her about Zoe might be the deal breaker depending on how she looked at the situation. “Well between September and April she and I fooled around. We didn't’ have sex, but anything else was fair game.”, he admitted. “So you broke the off limits rule?”, she questioned. “Not technically no. The rule was I don’t date or have sex with siblings of individuals dating my siblings. We weren't dating and we weren’t having sex.”, he explained. “Uh huh. So you don’t define masturbation and oral as sex….that’s your loophole? So what all happened then?”, she asked. Rose was already having a bit of a tough time with the idea of him having a baby. Obviously she couldn’t get upset about the baby, Faelan was so cute and it’s not like Merrick planned to get Jenna pregnant. And as she asked about the Zoe situation she realized she might be sounding jealous. She knew she shouldn’t, since they weren't even dating so he was free to be with who he wanted. Just like she was, however she reminded herself that not once since she started seeing him had she been with anyone else.
“I was already very close to Zoe as my best friend so when I got the news about Jenna being pregnant I went to Zoe’s and got drunk as hell on tequila and stayed the night. Nothing happened that night. She had a tiny ass bed and I had to sleep in my ocelot form to sleep on the bed with her. Started staying the night there more than I stayed at the Haven because Jenna knew where the Haven was and kept stopping in and I didn’t want to deal with her. Zoe and I started blurring that friend line making out and then I finished making a queen size bed for her and from that point on I didn’t have to sleep in my animal form and some of the nights I stayed we’d fool around but never had sex. I didn’t want to break that rule or be the one who takes her virginity. Then Faelan was born and we went back to full time friend zone because I don’t stay away from Faelan and I don’t let women stay in my room.”, he explained. “So you stayed the night often at her place, overnight and not just to get off?”, she asked trying to process this. “Being honest? Yeah it wasn’t about getting off. It was about just having someone in the bed with me. Because despite how many people told me they had my back on this fatherhood situation and were being supportive I still felt alone. And I don’t know when I slept in the bed with her I didn’t feel that way.”, he sighed. Rose nodded silently and looked to the sleeping wolf pup on his chest then back at him. They were a little family, and he was telling her that there was a woman here..someone that didn’t live an ocean away that could be here for them. “I..I should go though. It’s been a long night with traveling. And you and Faelan should probably get some sleep too.”, she sighed. “Um alright. Guess that makes sense. Are you leaving because I told you about Zoe?”, he asked. “No. It’s just… there’s a lot to really take in and to think about. Do you work tomorrow?”, she asked. “Yeah I work Wal-mart in the morning then I’ve got a project to finish at Aonair Mac Tíre.”, he answered. Rose nodded. “Alright well I’ll be visiting my parents tomorrow so, I could stop by Aonair Mac Tíre and we could talk. Okay?”, she said getting up. “Yeah. Sure. Night Rose.”, he said. “Night Merrick. Night Faelan.”, she said kissing Faelan between his ears then kissing Merrick lightly before she left.
After he heard the door close Merrick sighed. “And daddy just shot himself in the foot by being honest.”, he groaned carefully getting up off the floor. Faelan didn’t wake just his right ear twitched a little at the movement. Merrick quietly carried his son up the stairs laying him down in the crib he’d built for him and covered him with the blanket his mother had made one side being a minky brown that he’d chosen and the other a chevron pattern that had teal, cream, orange, red, and green that Zoe had chosen. His mom had stitched Faelan’s name on both sides with black letters. As he looked around the room he hated to admit that Zoe had been right about the colors in the chevron popping against the birch furniture and the twilight mural. He turned the crank on the mobile above his son’s crib the light he’d put to represent the soft glow of the moon lightly shined down on the sleeping wolf pup the shadows of the wolf pack in the mobile moving over him as the soft music to’ rock a bye baby’ played. Merrick sighed and carefully crept out of the room and went into his bedroom across the hall and collapsed onto his king size bed. “I am fucked and not how I want to be.”, he grumbled to himself. “Just had to tell her about Zoe. And of course the way it sounds it sounds like I Am in love with Zoe or at least got serious about her on an emotional level.”, Merrick groaned running his hands over his face. “Didn’t I though?”, he questioned himself. “Shut up brain.”, Merrick shook his head and crawled under his blankets to get some sleep before he had to get up with Faelan again.
Over at her hotel Rose sat down on the end of the bed with a heavy sigh. What was she going to do about this? Him having a kid didn’t really bother her, yet it did. He had to be a dad to be a single parent. He couldn’t just run around and do whatever he liked and go wherever he wanted when he wanted now. Faelan changed things, Rose knew that. She’d started to accept that she had deeper feelings than just friendship for Merrick last summer. But with him having a son now would it be fair to any of them for her to want to be with Merrick as anything more than a friend? He needed to put Faelan first and her getting close to them probably wasn’t going to be best. She didn’t live in Bayville anymore. Heck she was only home at best for one month out of a year. That wasn’t fair to any of them. She wasn’t even sure if soon she’d be able to get away for the month anymore with the issues going on back in the UK and her forming Excalibur to try and keep the Church of Humanity in check as best they could to protect other mutants. She had a lot on her shoulders over there. Could she really handle all of that over there plus Merrick and Faelan over here? She sighed changing out of her clothes getting into the bed not finding comforting sleep as her mind kept thinking about Merrick and what to do. She’d have happy dreams of being with Merrick and Faelan, knowing she herself probably could never have a child having Faelan was a blessing. But then that happy dream would change and she’d realize she wasn’t the one with Faelan and Merrick but it was Zoe who was making them happy and in the relationship.
Merrick put in a long night which was between the anxiety in the pit of his stomach of what Rose was going to decide and then that Faelan was fussy during the night. He just had a bad feeling about how this talk was going to go. He’d never gotten the friendzone speech. He didn’t let himself usually get close enough to develop feelings for a woman. But he’d let himself get close to Rose. She’s gotten past that standoffish facade he always used with women. Rose was always different from any of the girls in his black book. And last summer he’d really felt something, something he hadn’t felt since Leslie. And he hated to admit that the several months with Zoe he had started to feel something too. Part of why he was glad with Faelan’s birth it was a reason to try and build a wall up again. He’d in a small way hoped that Rose wouldn’t come home, just to avoid this situation. Because he knew when Rose came home things could only go one of two ways. One was she’d accept it all and maybe they could be more the other was what he was pretty certain was going to happen when she shows up Aonair Mac Tíre.There was nothing he could do to change it just wait for the hit. And till then he could just push through his work day at Wal-Mart. He’d been a little off in the morning before work and he knew his mom noticed, but at least she said nothing. No one knew that Rose had been to the Haven the night before and other than Sebastian no one in the house even knew something had ever been going on between him and Rose.
Rose tried to not let the fact her mind was elsewhere interfere with her visit at her parents house. They didn’t know about Merrick, and it was looking like they wouldn’t ever need to know either. However it didn’t go unnoticed by her parents. “Rose? What’s going on kiddo?”, Logan asked sitting down on the couch next to his daughter. Rose blinked and looked at her dad. “What do you mean?”, she asked trying to act like everything was alright. “I mean something is off about you. I know you Rose, and you aren’t all here. So what’s going on? You can talk to us about anything.”, Logan assured. Aurelia frowned a little and sat down looking at her daughter. “It’s nothing… well it’s something. But it’s nothing that you need to worry about.”, she sighed. “Rose if something is wrong that makes it something to us.”, Aurelia said placing a hand on her daughter’s knee. “Alright. Um… god I don’t know how I talk to you about this. But here goes nothing. I’ve been sleeping with Merrick for nearly four years. Last summer we even went on dates and he stayed a few nights at the hotel with me. He… you’re probably well aware of this, but while I was at university this past year he had a kid. He didn’t tell me that he got Jenna pregnant or anything of it till last night. I had texted him wanting to meet up, like we always do when I come home.”, she started to explain. She saw the looks of shock on her parents faces and her father turning a slight shade of white.
“He asked me to meet him at the Haven and I get there and I see his son. His son is a mutant from birth, again you probably already knew that. So he tells me what happened with Jenna and how she left not wanting anything to do with that adorable wolf pup. And then he tells me that he also spent most of the time I was gone with another woman, not Jenna, but someone else. And I know the girl and last summer he introduced me to her as his friend. And I mean I know the entire time we’ve been hooking up I was not his only bed partner. But I just thought...maybe with how last summer went that we might be more. He tells me that he didn't have sex with the girl which I believe him he hasn’t lied to me about anything before. It’s just that he spent all that time with her not for sex but to just be with her. He spent the night many times with her while I was gone. It took three years for me to get him to spend the night with me to just lay in bed with me for the sake of lying next to me rather than having sex. And then I asked to meet him later today after he’s done with work. I’m going to Aonair Mac Tíre, the old Haven, to talk to him. Because it’s not just the whole situation with the other girl that’s got me thinking. He’s got a son now. We can’t be what we were to each other. And it’s not fair to me, to him, and certainly not to that baby for me to get close to them and then be gone for most of the year and maybe come back. I hadn't even been sure I’d come home this year because there’s so much going on back there with the Church of Humanity starting trouble. I just can’t do that to him, to Faelan, or to me. He deserves the chance to have happiness with someone here. His family and his work are all here so not like he could pack up and come to Cambridge for me and I’ve started something over there that even after graduation I won’t just be able to leave the UK anymore.”, Rose sighed having rambled while her parents patiently listened.
Logan and Aurelia sighed and looked at each other then at their daughter. “Making a choice like this isn’t easy I’ll give you that. He has to think about what is going to be best for his pup and you need to think about what will be best for you. We want you to be happy kiddo. But I know from personal experience sometimes the choices you have to make aren’t always to make you happy but to make someone else happy. So I take it your worry is how your talk to going to go. You plan to give him the friend talk?”, Logan sighed. Rose nodded. “Yeah. I just don’t see how it would work with an ocean between us. And if there is someone here that can get him to open up to her and can make him happy...he shouldn’t pass that up. This just...having to tell him we can’t be what we were and explain that I am doing this because I don’t want to be that woman his son barely knows and only sees one month, if that a year, and otherwise on a computer screen. I don’t want him out of my life completely, I would still want him as a friend because believe it or not he’s not as bad as we’ve all thought him to be. It ripped my heart out when Landon had the friend talk to me. What kills me is during Landon’s talk he told me I deserved happiness and to find someone that I felt a spark with. And when I am will Merrick I feel that spark and I’m happy. But now I’m going to give that up to not hurt him and that puppy down the road.”, Rose sniffled a little trying to hold back tears. “Awe baby.”, Aurelia said moving over and hugging her daughter. Logan sighed and gently rubbed his daughter's back. “I know it hurts right now, and will probably for a while. But as long as you feel that this is the best route talk to him and see where it goes from there.”, Logan said. Rose took a few deep breaths. “You’re right. I should actually go. I’m supposed to meet him soon and I want to get there first. Thanks for listening. And not judging.”, she said hugging her mother first and then hugging her father before she left.
Rose was going through all the ways she could say this and she knew she didn't want to mention Zoe. This wasn’t about Zoe. Though in a way it was. Him telling her about what happened between them showed he could be happy with someone here. No she had to keep the focus on that this is what will be best for Faelan and them. That her getting close to them wouldn’t be fair to any of them given she doesn’t live in Bayville. She had it mapped out in her head as she pulled into the familiar driveway to see an unfamiliar sight sitting on the steps. It was Zoe. Zoe had stopped by with a lunch box of food for Merrick. She raised her head hearing a motorcycle tilting her head a little wondering who it was, it was obviously a woman. Rose cut the engine and took a breath getting off knowing she was about to come face to face with the woman who in her absence had been making Merrick happy. She took off her helmet and set it on the seat. Zoe recognised her immediately and stood up with a smile. She didn’t know Merrick had told Rose about her or if he’d even seen Rose yet. But Rose was the woman she knew Merrick loved and with just a word could have him. “Hi Rose. You probably don’t remember me from last summer. Zoe DeLuca. You looking for Merrick too?”, Zoe greeted. Rose nodded. “Yeah I remember you. And I’m supposed to meet him here. Why are you looking for him?”, Rose asked glancing to the lunch box. “Oh just dropping off his lunch.”, Zoe explained. “You bring him his lunch?”, Rose asked in her mind she wanted to scream at how domestic that sounded. “Yeah. I pay for the furniture he’s built in food. And well he says I’ve paid the debt I’ve accumulated since last May but given how good his furniture is and how much they sell for I still make him food as payment.” , Zoe explained.
Merrick had a bad feeling about today all morning and as he pulled into the driveway of Aonair Mac Tíre that feeling got a thousand times worse seeing Zoe and Rose both standing there. “Oh yeah I’m completely fucked and not in a good way.”, he muttered to himself getting out of the car. “Speak of the lupo cattivo and he shall appear.”, Zoe commented. Rose turned hearing the familiar rumble of the engine of the GTO. He didn’t look like he’d slept well. But then again he had a baby so restful sleep was probably not an option for a single dad. Merrick forced a smile. “Um hey hellraiser. Didn’t expect to see you here.”, he commented. “Oh just dropping off lunch. I’ve got to get to work so...have fun.”, Zoe said handing him the lunch box before walking down the sidewalk. Merrick looked down at the lunch box then glanced over his shoulder as she walked away shaking his head. “Hi Rose. So um…. you figure out what you needed to think about last night?”, he asked setting the lunch box on the steps and looking at her. “Lupo cattivo?”, Rose questioned folding her arms across her chest. “Italian for big bad wolf. So how about we just get to the point Rose and you tell me what you want to talk about.”, Merrick said sitting down on the steps resting his arms on his knees looking up at her. If he was going to get shot in the heart he’d rather be sitting.
Rose sighed and nodded rubbing her lips together looking at him. God he was making this difficult. He always looked good in blue and today he was wearing a cobalt blue polo that fit him properly and a pair of dark khakis that also fit him correctly. “Alright. To the point it is then. I don’t think we should see each other as more than friends anymore.”, she stated. Merrick let out a long breath through his nose as he nodded. “Right. This because of my son or because I told you what happened with Zoe?”, he asked. “I don’t care what happened between you and Zoe. She certainly isn’t the first girl you’ve been with while I’ve been at University. And we’ve never been exclusive so you can sleep with whoever you want. This is after a long night of thinking. You have a kid now Merrick. And that changes things. You are responsible for another life now. So you can’t just hook up with people anymore. And we both know that you and I could never be more than friends with benefits. I live an ocean away and come home for a month. That wouldn’t be fair to you, to me, and certainly not to your son. I can’t do that kind of distance. I can’t be the woman your son knows only through a computer, occasional packages and then getting to really see me for one month out of a year. And that’s if I’m able to come home at all.”, Rose said immediately going into to her speach of why they couldn’t be more than friends anymore.
Merrick nodded. “Alright. Sounds like you’ve made up your mind on the subject. And I can see your points. I really can. I just...I don’t know. But that’s fine. If that is the way you want to go. After all one of my main rules is ladies choice. You call the shots on what we are. You want to hit the breaks and be friend zone so be it. I should head inside and get some work done before I need to get home to my son. So well guess I’ll see you around Rose. Was nice while it lasted.”, he sighed standing up picking up his lunch box. Rose forced back tears as he was so calm about it she wanted him to yell to tell her not to do this. To say something that showed how much he cared. “Yes. I have made up my mind. So just friends. Yeah guess I’ll see you around. I enjoyed our time together...for the record.”, she said walking to her motorcycle. Merrick closed his eyes reaching for the door knob and took a breath trying to keep it together. He wanted to rage at her for this. But he couldn’t. He couldn’t blame her for the decision. Heck he knew the decision was probably the right one in the long run. Faelan didn’t need a less than part time mother figure if he was going to have one at all. He waited till he heard the motorcycle pull away from the house before going inside and closing the door. He leaned against the heavy wood and slumped to the floor setting the lunch box down and covering his face with his hands as he roared in anger.
Rose drove away and went to the institute. She walked through the front doors which did get a few looks from some of the younger students. “Aunt Rose?”, her niece Nikki question timidly walking down the stairs holding hands with Carter Delaney. Rose stopped mid stride and looked at her niece holding hands with her boyfriend. “Hi Nikki. Hi Carter. I’m just...I’m going down to the danger room for a while.”, Rose said before continuing to walk with determination. Carter raised an eyebrow as they watched Rose go to the hidden elevator and step inside. “Something bad must have happened. Rose hasn’t come to the institute since she graduated.”, Nikki said walking down the stairs puzzled by her aunt’s presence. “Maybe Jimmy knows what’s going on.”, Carter suggested. Nikki shook her head. “Doubtful. Jimmy is at his parent’s house. Remember him and Sebastian were having that Star Trek marathon last night and tonight are going to the Haven for a Zombie movie marathon.”, Nikki said. “Ah yeah forgot that. I’d say get someone to read her mind but I think she’s got a mental block that Professor Shadow put on her years ago.”, Carter sighed. “Nathan could do it.”, Owen stated walking in on the conversation. “Nathan could do what?”, Nathan asked sliding down the banister with Stephan swooping down the stairs after him. “What’s going on?”, Stephan asked landing his white feathers fluffing out slightly before settling down. “My Aunt Rose is here. She hasn't come to the institute since she graduated and certainly wouldn’t dream of coming here after she started Excalibur over in England. She seemed very upset about something and I just don’t know what it could be.”, Nikki explained.
“And that has what to do with me?”, Nathan asked running his hand through his white bangs pushing them back into his dark brown hair. his bangs had only recently gone white when his powers had a spike and he had to start wearing a bracelet to keep the levels in check. “Rose has a mental block that your mom put up for her years ago. About the only telepath we can think of that isn’t your mom who could look into Rose’s mind around the wall would be you. You’re stronger than Marco, Nash and Charles combined.”, Owen explained. “It’s a bad idea. Don’t do it.”, Stephan said. “You could overload your bracelet and hurt yourself or someone else. Not to mention you get caught the trouble you’d get in.”, Stephan added shaking his head. Ororo walked up behind Stephan and Nathan and coughed a little to get the attention of the older students. “Pardon me but why don’t you just ask her what is wrong? She’ll either tell you or she won’t. And if she won’t it was obviously not your business.”, she stated. Nikki sighed and nodded. “You’re right. We shouldn’t start stirring up trouble. I think Professor Fearbirgh had enough of that with Rose’s generation.”, Nikki agreed. “So never mind guys, Let’s just carry on with our daily activities.”, she said. The others shrugged having had less investment in the situation that Nikki and wandered away from the main hall to continue about their activities. Ororo shrugged and gathered up her gardening supplies and started in the direction of her father’s garden. “Ororo, wait up.”, Stephan called following after her. Ororo stopped and looked over her shoulder blinking her hazel eyes at Stephan and smiled sweetly. “Yes Stephan?”, she asked adjusting her grip on her carrier that held her various gardening tools.
“Do you want some help in the garden?”, Stephan offered reaching and turning on his inducer which changed his white fur/feathers and his more owl like face to that of an albino youth with his wings still visible. Ororo shook her head a little and reached over pressing the button on his watch. “Stephan you know you don’t need to use that thing and certainly not around me. We’re friends. If you don’t mind getting your fur and feathers a little dirty. Come on. Daddy said I could start a vegetable garden with no help from him or Mister Shadow.”, she said with a bright smile. Stephan blinked when she hit the inducer and he returned to his natural state. She was three years younger than him but she was always the kindest to him and with a face of an angel it was easy to see why she was already in modeling like her mother. “I don’t mind getting dirty, the bath later will be the part that won’t be fun. Come on I’ll carry that for you.”, he said taking her carrier from her and opening the doors to the garden. Ororo laughed a little. “Thank you Stephan.”, Ororo said heading out to the garden to plant vegetables with Stephan.

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It was really any other Friday to Merrick. His parents were going out to see a movie, the other adults were going into the city for a gig Landon’s jazz band had and Sebastian was spending the night at the Howlett’s with Jimmy. So it was just Merrick and Faelan at home. He’d spent part of the evening playing on the floor with his son though in the end was laying on his back Faelan in wolf form curled up comfortably sleeping on his chest. Rose had spent the last year of university being very busy with classes, interning, and well then Excalibur. But even during it all she’d found herself, generally late at night thinking about Merrick. Well basically every night she thought about him as she laid in her bed with the large maine coon he’d gotten her to adopt taking up part of her bed purring loudly. She’d thought so many times of calling him but with the time zone differences and such it didn’t ever seem to line up. She wasn’t even sure she was going to be coming home this summer. But the others all assured her the four of them would handle things there. Atif and Billy having opted to stay in Cambridge for the summer. Rose hadn’t told her parents when she was arriving instead just taking a taxi straight to her hotel to check in. She had looked at her phone and thought to tell her family she was there but the only person her mind kept going to now that she was away from the distractions of school and Excalibur was Merrick. And so she sent him a text, ‘Hey just got in. Can I see you?’. Merrick sighed purring contently when his phone buzzed from his pocket. He carefully took one hand off the sleeping puppy and reached into his pocket to see who was texting him and his heart caught in his throat when he saw it was Rose.
He’d thought of her a lot since she’d left but he still hadn’t told her about anything that happened after she left. And now she was back and wanted to see him. He couldn’t just go to her like normal, though god he wanted to. He thought for a moment looking from phone to Faelan and decided there was only one way of just getting it all put out there and see exactly where he stood with her and that was to have her come to him. So after a deep breath he texted back. ‘Can’t get away. But you can come here.’, he replied. Rose blinked at the message, go to him. ‘Where are you?’, she asked. ‘The Haven.’, he answered simply. Rose was very confused now. He wanted her to come to the Haven. He never wanted to meet at his place. ‘Alright. Be over shortly’, she replied leaving the hotel and first taking a cab to the storage unit she kept her motorcycle in and then drove to the Haven. As she parked she saw only his car and just the lights on the first floor on. Was he home alone then, she wondered as she walked up to the door. She didn’t bother knocking, as she was expected and it’s the Haven after all. “Merrick?”, she called. “Living room..”, he called softly. Rose raised an eyebrow confused why he was speaking in such a soft voice. “Merrick what is going…..”, she started to ask but froze as she got to the living room. She was somehow picturing this being some weird setup and she’d find him naked. But no this was much more surprising. He was fully clothed laying on the area rug of the living room surrounded by baby toys and animal toys and there sleeping on his chest was a wolf puppy or at least she thought it was a wolf.
Merrick tilted his head back to look at her upside down and smiled thinking to himself that she looked amazing even with that look of complete shock on her face. “Hi little wolf.”, he greeted. “What…what’s going on Merrick?”, Rose asked. Merrick sighed. “Um Rose want you to meet Faelan Christian Bryant-Frost, my son.”, Merrick said a little scared at how this was about to go. Rose blinked and took a small step back leaning against the archway of the living room trying to process what he just told her. He’d had a child while she was gone. Sure she wasn’t shocked that he had slept with other people after she left, she’d kind of hoped that maybe just maybe what happened that June had meant something more to him. But he hadn’t said anything before she left hadn’t asked her to be his. But a child…this was huge. And he didn’t tell her, he didn’t call or text or email nothing the whole school year to tell her something like this. Carefully she chose her words as she found her voice. “I see… well… congratulations to you and your… girlfriend then.”, Rose said, forcing the word girlfriend, turning to leave. “Thanks but…Rose. There is no girlfriend.”, Merrick said forcing himself to stay still despite wanting to jump up and grab her so she couldn’t leave. Rose stopped and looked at him. “Then who is the mother?”, Rose asked. “It was Jenna, she actually planned on getting pregnant without you know letting me in on that till too late of course.”, Merrick explained.
Rose wanted to get angry that Jenna had done something like but the word ‘was’ sunk into her mind. She took a couple steps closer looking at him and the sleeping ball of dark fluff on his chest. “Where..if I can ask…is Jenna? You said ‘was’.”, Rose questioned. Faelan’s ear twitched just a little. “Oh she’s alive. Somewhere. She didn’t, well she wouldn’t hold him or go near him. He was born in wolf form. He also has an ocelot form. She didn’t want to try and snuck out with her parents leaving just a letter of giving up her parental rights to him. Then her family just packed up and left town. So it’s been just me and him. Well Aislinn and Solangel and of course my parents have been of great help since he was born on April 1st. Everyone’s offered to help but well I’m kind of protective and haven’t let anyone else really hold him.”, Merrick explained. Rose frowned how could anyone walk away from their baby. She moved closer and knelt down on the floor next to him looking at Faelan. As a woman who was certain she’d never be able to carry a child the idea of walking away from one seemed too horrid to bare. “Why…well why didn’t you tell me? You could have called, texted Christ you could have emailed me to say you got someone pregnant.”, Rose questioned. “I didn’t want to tell you at first. I didn’t know how you’d really react to it. And then I didn’t know if it really mattered since I didn’t think you’d be coming home again.”, Merrick admitted. “Why wouldn’t I come home? And how did you think I would react?”, she questioned holding back her urge to punch his shoulder and the other urge to just reach out and pet the soft ball of fluff. “I saw a picture of you in your uniform. Very retro Wolverine. And extremely hot, you look good in Kevlar. So I figured with what you were doing over there you’d not come back. And I don’t know get mad at me, tell me ‘I told you so’ in regards to condoms can’t be trusted all the time, not want to see me again.”, he answered saying the last part very quietly.
Rose sighed. “Didn’t think you or anyone here would have seen that picture. I’m not going to say that, I figure it’s probably been said to death. I’m only mad that you didn’t think to tell me. I thought we were friends. And what do you mean not want to see you again? You honestly thought I’d give up being your friend because you have a kid?”, Rose questioned. Merrick sighed and shook his head. “No I wasn’t worried about the friend thing. I mean the more than a friend part of things. I thought I told you I got someone else knocked up, especially so soon after you left, that you really wouldn’t come back because you wouldn’t want to see me. And at that point you’d only see me as a friend and I don’t think I can be that. Not to you, I don’t think that with you I could be capable of being just friends.”, Merrick stated. Rose sighed, he’d been worried she’d not want to be with him as more than a friend. That might be the closest to admitting feelings as he’d get. “Merrick…he doesn’t change that. You having a kid doesn’t change that. Which god he’d cute. Can I…can I pet him?”, she asked looking at the little ball of fluff. Merrick raised an eyebrow. “Yes you can, just don’t wake him.”, Merrick said. Rose nodded and cautiously stroked the soft fur of the wolf and leaned against Merrick’s side as she did so. “Hi Faelan. I’m Rose, it’s very nice to meet you.”, Rose whispered and kissed Faelan’s nose. Merrick smiled a little watching the exchange as Faelan, even asleep, twitched his nose at the kiss. Rose laughed a little. “He does what you do..”, She commented. Merrick nodded moving his free arm to rest a hand on the small of her back rubbing a little. “So how bad do you want to run right now?”, he asked.
Rose closed her eyes momentarily as his hand touched her, it’d been a nearly year since she’d felt his hands on her and even with his child on his chest she had to admit she still liked him touching her. She opened her eyes and looked at him. She sighed and stretched out on the floor next to him and rested her head on his shoulder giving him a kiss on the jaw. “Does it look like I’m running Merrick?”, she asked placing a hand over his that laid on Faelan. “No. There’s just so much I didn’t tell you about this past year. And I’m not sure how well it will all be received.”, Merrick said. Rose raised an eyebrow. “Merrick you had a kid this year. And I don’t care. Not sure what else you could say you did that would top that or make me leave.”, Rose said. “Remember Zoe?”, Merrick asked. “Yeah….the platonic off limits friend. What about her?”, Rose questioned sitting up. Merrick sighed, telling her about Zoe might be the deal breaker depending on how she looked at the situation. “Well between September and April she and I fooled around. We didn't’ have sex, but anything else was fair game.”, he admitted. “So you broke the off limits rule?”, she questioned. “Not technically no. The rule was I don’t date or have sex with siblings of individuals dating my siblings. We weren't dating and we weren’t having sex.”, he explained. “Uh huh. So you don’t define masturbation and oral as sex….that’s your loophole? So what all happened then?”, she asked. Rose was already having a bit of a tough time with the idea of him having a baby. Obviously she couldn’t get upset about the baby, Faelan was so cute and it’s not like Merrick planned to get Jenna pregnant. And as she asked about the Zoe situation she realized she might be sounding jealous. She knew she shouldn’t, since they weren't even dating so he was free to be with who he wanted. Just like she was, however she reminded herself that not once since she started seeing him had she been with anyone else.
“I was already very close to Zoe as my best friend so when I got the news about Jenna being pregnant I went to Zoe’s and got drunk as hell on tequila and stayed the night. Nothing happened that night. She had a tiny ass bed and I had to sleep in my ocelot form to sleep on the bed with her. Started staying the night there more than I stayed at the Haven because Jenna knew where the Haven was and kept stopping in and I didn’t want to deal with her. Zoe and I started blurring that friend line making out and then I finished making a queen size bed for her and from that point on I didn’t have to sleep in my animal form and some of the nights I stayed we’d fool around but never had sex. I didn’t want to break that rule or be the one who takes her virginity. Then Faelan was born and we went back to full time friend zone because I don’t stay away from Faelan and I don’t let women stay in my room.”, he explained. “So you stayed the night often at her place, overnight and not just to get off?”, she asked trying to process this. “Being honest? Yeah it wasn’t about getting off. It was about just having someone in the bed with me. Because despite how many people told me they had my back on this fatherhood situation and were being supportive I still felt alone. And I don’t know when I slept in the bed with her I didn’t feel that way.”, he sighed. Rose nodded silently and looked to the sleeping wolf pup on his chest then back at him. They were a little family, and he was telling her that there was a woman here..someone that didn’t live an ocean away that could be here for them. “I..I should go though. It’s been a long night with traveling. And you and Faelan should probably get some sleep too.”, she sighed. “Um alright. Guess that makes sense. Are you leaving because I told you about Zoe?”, he asked. “No. It’s just… there’s a lot to really take in and to think about. Do you work tomorrow?”, she asked. “Yeah I work Wal-mart in the morning then I’ve got a project to finish at Aonair Mac Tíre.”, he answered. Rose nodded. “Alright well I’ll be visiting my parents tomorrow so, I could stop by Aonair Mac Tíre and we could talk. Okay?”, she said getting up. “Yeah. Sure. Night Rose.”, he said. “Night Merrick. Night Faelan.”, she said kissing Faelan between his ears then kissing Merrick lightly before she left.
After he heard the door close Merrick sighed. “And daddy just shot himself in the foot by being honest.”, he groaned carefully getting up off the floor. Faelan didn’t wake just his right ear twitched a little at the movement. Merrick quietly carried his son up the stairs laying him down in the crib he’d built for him and covered him with the blanket his mother had made one side being a minky brown that he’d chosen and the other a chevron pattern that had teal, cream, orange, red, and green that Zoe had chosen. His mom had stitched Faelan’s name on both sides with black letters. As he looked around the room he hated to admit that Zoe had been right about the colors in the chevron popping against the birch furniture and the twilight mural. He turned the crank on the mobile above his son’s crib the light he’d put to represent the soft glow of the moon lightly shined down on the sleeping wolf pup the shadows of the wolf pack in the mobile moving over him as the soft music to’ rock a bye baby’ played. Merrick sighed and carefully crept out of the room and went into his bedroom across the hall and collapsed onto his king size bed. “I am fucked and not how I want to be.”, he grumbled to himself. “Just had to tell her about Zoe. And of course the way it sounds it sounds like I Am in love with Zoe or at least got serious about her on an emotional level.”, Merrick groaned running his hands over his face. “Didn’t I though?”, he questioned himself. “Shut up brain.”, Merrick shook his head and crawled under his blankets to get some sleep before he had to get up with Faelan again.
Over at her hotel Rose sat down on the end of the bed with a heavy sigh. What was she going to do about this? Him having a kid didn’t really bother her, yet it did. He had to be a dad to be a single parent. He couldn’t just run around and do whatever he liked and go wherever he wanted when he wanted now. Faelan changed things, Rose knew that. She’d started to accept that she had deeper feelings than just friendship for Merrick last summer. But with him having a son now would it be fair to any of them for her to want to be with Merrick as anything more than a friend? He needed to put Faelan first and her getting close to them probably wasn’t going to be best. She didn’t live in Bayville anymore. Heck she was only home at best for one month out of a year. That wasn’t fair to any of them. She wasn’t even sure if soon she’d be able to get away for the month anymore with the issues going on back in the UK and her forming Excalibur to try and keep the Church of Humanity in check as best they could to protect other mutants. She had a lot on her shoulders over there. Could she really handle all of that over there plus Merrick and Faelan over here? She sighed changing out of her clothes getting into the bed not finding comforting sleep as her mind kept thinking about Merrick and what to do. She’d have happy dreams of being with Merrick and Faelan, knowing she herself probably could never have a child having Faelan was a blessing. But then that happy dream would change and she’d realize she wasn’t the one with Faelan and Merrick but it was Zoe who was making them happy and in the relationship.
Merrick put in a long night which was between the anxiety in the pit of his stomach of what Rose was going to decide and then that Faelan was fussy during the night. He just had a bad feeling about how this talk was going to go. He’d never gotten the friendzone speech. He didn’t let himself usually get close enough to develop feelings for a woman. But he’d let himself get close to Rose. She’s gotten past that standoffish facade he always used with women. Rose was always different from any of the girls in his black book. And last summer he’d really felt something, something he hadn’t felt since Leslie. And he hated to admit that the several months with Zoe he had started to feel something too. Part of why he was glad with Faelan’s birth it was a reason to try and build a wall up again. He’d in a small way hoped that Rose wouldn’t come home, just to avoid this situation. Because he knew when Rose came home things could only go one of two ways. One was she’d accept it all and maybe they could be more the other was what he was pretty certain was going to happen when she shows up Aonair Mac Tíre.There was nothing he could do to change it just wait for the hit. And till then he could just push through his work day at Wal-Mart. He’d been a little off in the morning before work and he knew his mom noticed, but at least she said nothing. No one knew that Rose had been to the Haven the night before and other than Sebastian no one in the house even knew something had ever been going on between him and Rose.
Rose tried to not let the fact her mind was elsewhere interfere with her visit at her parents house. They didn’t know about Merrick, and it was looking like they wouldn’t ever need to know either. However it didn’t go unnoticed by her parents. “Rose? What’s going on kiddo?”, Logan asked sitting down on the couch next to his daughter. Rose blinked and looked at her dad. “What do you mean?”, she asked trying to act like everything was alright. “I mean something is off about you. I know you Rose, and you aren’t all here. So what’s going on? You can talk to us about anything.”, Logan assured. Aurelia frowned a little and sat down looking at her daughter. “It’s nothing… well it’s something. But it’s nothing that you need to worry about.”, she sighed. “Rose if something is wrong that makes it something to us.”, Aurelia said placing a hand on her daughter’s knee. “Alright. Um… god I don’t know how I talk to you about this. But here goes nothing. I’ve been sleeping with Merrick for nearly four years. Last summer we even went on dates and he stayed a few nights at the hotel with me. He… you’re probably well aware of this, but while I was at university this past year he had a kid. He didn’t tell me that he got Jenna pregnant or anything of it till last night. I had texted him wanting to meet up, like we always do when I come home.”, she started to explain. She saw the looks of shock on her parents faces and her father turning a slight shade of white.
“He asked me to meet him at the Haven and I get there and I see his son. His son is a mutant from birth, again you probably already knew that. So he tells me what happened with Jenna and how she left not wanting anything to do with that adorable wolf pup. And then he tells me that he also spent most of the time I was gone with another woman, not Jenna, but someone else. And I know the girl and last summer he introduced me to her as his friend. And I mean I know the entire time we’ve been hooking up I was not his only bed partner. But I just thought...maybe with how last summer went that we might be more. He tells me that he didn't have sex with the girl which I believe him he hasn’t lied to me about anything before. It’s just that he spent all that time with her not for sex but to just be with her. He spent the night many times with her while I was gone. It took three years for me to get him to spend the night with me to just lay in bed with me for the sake of lying next to me rather than having sex. And then I asked to meet him later today after he’s done with work. I’m going to Aonair Mac Tíre, the old Haven, to talk to him. Because it’s not just the whole situation with the other girl that’s got me thinking. He’s got a son now. We can’t be what we were to each other. And it’s not fair to me, to him, and certainly not to that baby for me to get close to them and then be gone for most of the year and maybe come back. I hadn't even been sure I’d come home this year because there’s so much going on back there with the Church of Humanity starting trouble. I just can’t do that to him, to Faelan, or to me. He deserves the chance to have happiness with someone here. His family and his work are all here so not like he could pack up and come to Cambridge for me and I’ve started something over there that even after graduation I won’t just be able to leave the UK anymore.”, Rose sighed having rambled while her parents patiently listened.
Logan and Aurelia sighed and looked at each other then at their daughter. “Making a choice like this isn’t easy I’ll give you that. He has to think about what is going to be best for his pup and you need to think about what will be best for you. We want you to be happy kiddo. But I know from personal experience sometimes the choices you have to make aren’t always to make you happy but to make someone else happy. So I take it your worry is how your talk to going to go. You plan to give him the friend talk?”, Logan sighed. Rose nodded. “Yeah. I just don’t see how it would work with an ocean between us. And if there is someone here that can get him to open up to her and can make him happy...he shouldn’t pass that up. This just...having to tell him we can’t be what we were and explain that I am doing this because I don’t want to be that woman his son barely knows and only sees one month, if that a year, and otherwise on a computer screen. I don’t want him out of my life completely, I would still want him as a friend because believe it or not he’s not as bad as we’ve all thought him to be. It ripped my heart out when Landon had the friend talk to me. What kills me is during Landon’s talk he told me I deserved happiness and to find someone that I felt a spark with. And when I am will Merrick I feel that spark and I’m happy. But now I’m going to give that up to not hurt him and that puppy down the road.”, Rose sniffled a little trying to hold back tears. “Awe baby.”, Aurelia said moving over and hugging her daughter. Logan sighed and gently rubbed his daughter's back. “I know it hurts right now, and will probably for a while. But as long as you feel that this is the best route talk to him and see where it goes from there.”, Logan said. Rose took a few deep breaths. “You’re right. I should actually go. I’m supposed to meet him soon and I want to get there first. Thanks for listening. And not judging.”, she said hugging her mother first and then hugging her father before she left.
Rose was going through all the ways she could say this and she knew she didn't want to mention Zoe. This wasn’t about Zoe. Though in a way it was. Him telling her about what happened between them showed he could be happy with someone here. No she had to keep the focus on that this is what will be best for Faelan and them. That her getting close to them wouldn’t be fair to any of them given she doesn’t live in Bayville. She had it mapped out in her head as she pulled into the familiar driveway to see an unfamiliar sight sitting on the steps. It was Zoe. Zoe had stopped by with a lunch box of food for Merrick. She raised her head hearing a motorcycle tilting her head a little wondering who it was, it was obviously a woman. Rose cut the engine and took a breath getting off knowing she was about to come face to face with the woman who in her absence had been making Merrick happy. She took off her helmet and set it on the seat. Zoe recognised her immediately and stood up with a smile. She didn’t know Merrick had told Rose about her or if he’d even seen Rose yet. But Rose was the woman she knew Merrick loved and with just a word could have him. “Hi Rose. You probably don’t remember me from last summer. Zoe DeLuca. You looking for Merrick too?”, Zoe greeted. Rose nodded. “Yeah I remember you. And I’m supposed to meet him here. Why are you looking for him?”, Rose asked glancing to the lunch box. “Oh just dropping off his lunch.”, Zoe explained. “You bring him his lunch?”, Rose asked in her mind she wanted to scream at how domestic that sounded. “Yeah. I pay for the furniture he’s built in food. And well he says I’ve paid the debt I’ve accumulated since last May but given how good his furniture is and how much they sell for I still make him food as payment.” , Zoe explained.
Merrick had a bad feeling about today all morning and as he pulled into the driveway of Aonair Mac Tíre that feeling got a thousand times worse seeing Zoe and Rose both standing there. “Oh yeah I’m completely fucked and not in a good way.”, he muttered to himself getting out of the car. “Speak of the lupo cattivo and he shall appear.”, Zoe commented. Rose turned hearing the familiar rumble of the engine of the GTO. He didn’t look like he’d slept well. But then again he had a baby so restful sleep was probably not an option for a single dad. Merrick forced a smile. “Um hey hellraiser. Didn’t expect to see you here.”, he commented. “Oh just dropping off lunch. I’ve got to get to work so...have fun.”, Zoe said handing him the lunch box before walking down the sidewalk. Merrick looked down at the lunch box then glanced over his shoulder as she walked away shaking his head. “Hi Rose. So um…. you figure out what you needed to think about last night?”, he asked setting the lunch box on the steps and looking at her. “Lupo cattivo?”, Rose questioned folding her arms across her chest. “Italian for big bad wolf. So how about we just get to the point Rose and you tell me what you want to talk about.”, Merrick said sitting down on the steps resting his arms on his knees looking up at her. If he was going to get shot in the heart he’d rather be sitting.
Rose sighed and nodded rubbing her lips together looking at him. God he was making this difficult. He always looked good in blue and today he was wearing a cobalt blue polo that fit him properly and a pair of dark khakis that also fit him correctly. “Alright. To the point it is then. I don’t think we should see each other as more than friends anymore.”, she stated. Merrick let out a long breath through his nose as he nodded. “Right. This because of my son or because I told you what happened with Zoe?”, he asked. “I don’t care what happened between you and Zoe. She certainly isn’t the first girl you’ve been with while I’ve been at University. And we’ve never been exclusive so you can sleep with whoever you want. This is after a long night of thinking. You have a kid now Merrick. And that changes things. You are responsible for another life now. So you can’t just hook up with people anymore. And we both know that you and I could never be more than friends with benefits. I live an ocean away and come home for a month. That wouldn’t be fair to you, to me, and certainly not to your son. I can’t do that kind of distance. I can’t be the woman your son knows only through a computer, occasional packages and then getting to really see me for one month out of a year. And that’s if I’m able to come home at all.”, Rose said immediately going into to her speach of why they couldn’t be more than friends anymore.
Merrick nodded. “Alright. Sounds like you’ve made up your mind on the subject. And I can see your points. I really can. I just...I don’t know. But that’s fine. If that is the way you want to go. After all one of my main rules is ladies choice. You call the shots on what we are. You want to hit the breaks and be friend zone so be it. I should head inside and get some work done before I need to get home to my son. So well guess I’ll see you around Rose. Was nice while it lasted.”, he sighed standing up picking up his lunch box. Rose forced back tears as he was so calm about it she wanted him to yell to tell her not to do this. To say something that showed how much he cared. “Yes. I have made up my mind. So just friends. Yeah guess I’ll see you around. I enjoyed our time together...for the record.”, she said walking to her motorcycle. Merrick closed his eyes reaching for the door knob and took a breath trying to keep it together. He wanted to rage at her for this. But he couldn’t. He couldn’t blame her for the decision. Heck he knew the decision was probably the right one in the long run. Faelan didn’t need a less than part time mother figure if he was going to have one at all. He waited till he heard the motorcycle pull away from the house before going inside and closing the door. He leaned against the heavy wood and slumped to the floor setting the lunch box down and covering his face with his hands as he roared in anger.
Rose drove away and went to the institute. She walked through the front doors which did get a few looks from some of the younger students. “Aunt Rose?”, her niece Nikki question timidly walking down the stairs holding hands with Carter Delaney. Rose stopped mid stride and looked at her niece holding hands with her boyfriend. “Hi Nikki. Hi Carter. I’m just...I’m going down to the danger room for a while.”, Rose said before continuing to walk with determination. Carter raised an eyebrow as they watched Rose go to the hidden elevator and step inside. “Something bad must have happened. Rose hasn’t come to the institute since she graduated.”, Nikki said walking down the stairs puzzled by her aunt’s presence. “Maybe Jimmy knows what’s going on.”, Carter suggested. Nikki shook her head. “Doubtful. Jimmy is at his parent’s house. Remember him and Sebastian were having that Star Trek marathon last night and tonight are going to the Haven for a Zombie movie marathon.”, Nikki said. “Ah yeah forgot that. I’d say get someone to read her mind but I think she’s got a mental block that Professor Shadow put on her years ago.”, Carter sighed. “Nathan could do it.”, Owen stated walking in on the conversation. “Nathan could do what?”, Nathan asked sliding down the banister with Stephan swooping down the stairs after him. “What’s going on?”, Stephan asked landing his white feathers fluffing out slightly before settling down. “My Aunt Rose is here. She hasn't come to the institute since she graduated and certainly wouldn’t dream of coming here after she started Excalibur over in England. She seemed very upset about something and I just don’t know what it could be.”, Nikki explained.
“And that has what to do with me?”, Nathan asked running his hand through his white bangs pushing them back into his dark brown hair. his bangs had only recently gone white when his powers had a spike and he had to start wearing a bracelet to keep the levels in check. “Rose has a mental block that your mom put up for her years ago. About the only telepath we can think of that isn’t your mom who could look into Rose’s mind around the wall would be you. You’re stronger than Marco, Nash and Charles combined.”, Owen explained. “It’s a bad idea. Don’t do it.”, Stephan said. “You could overload your bracelet and hurt yourself or someone else. Not to mention you get caught the trouble you’d get in.”, Stephan added shaking his head. Ororo walked up behind Stephan and Nathan and coughed a little to get the attention of the older students. “Pardon me but why don’t you just ask her what is wrong? She’ll either tell you or she won’t. And if she won’t it was obviously not your business.”, she stated. Nikki sighed and nodded. “You’re right. We shouldn’t start stirring up trouble. I think Professor Fearbirgh had enough of that with Rose’s generation.”, Nikki agreed. “So never mind guys, Let’s just carry on with our daily activities.”, she said. The others shrugged having had less investment in the situation that Nikki and wandered away from the main hall to continue about their activities. Ororo shrugged and gathered up her gardening supplies and started in the direction of her father’s garden. “Ororo, wait up.”, Stephan called following after her. Ororo stopped and looked over her shoulder blinking her hazel eyes at Stephan and smiled sweetly. “Yes Stephan?”, she asked adjusting her grip on her carrier that held her various gardening tools.
“Do you want some help in the garden?”, Stephan offered reaching and turning on his inducer which changed his white fur/feathers and his more owl like face to that of an albino youth with his wings still visible. Ororo shook her head a little and reached over pressing the button on his watch. “Stephan you know you don’t need to use that thing and certainly not around me. We’re friends. If you don’t mind getting your fur and feathers a little dirty. Come on. Daddy said I could start a vegetable garden with no help from him or Mister Shadow.”, she said with a bright smile. Stephan blinked when she hit the inducer and he returned to his natural state. She was three years younger than him but she was always the kindest to him and with a face of an angel it was easy to see why she was already in modeling like her mother. “I don’t mind getting dirty, the bath later will be the part that won’t be fun. Come on I’ll carry that for you.”, he said taking her carrier from her and opening the doors to the garden. Ororo laughed a little. “Thank you Stephan.”, Ororo said heading out to the garden to plant vegetables with Stephan.