Lydia's POV
"Lydia! What brings you to our school?" Charles rolled over to me. It's been forever since I've walked the halls of Xavier's school. I sighed,
"I'm seeking help." I tell. Charles nodded,
"Tell me all about it." He requested. I explained the situation of how my family is in danger and hoped that an arrangement could be made.
"I believe that this is our last hope. When they become of age, my kids can go to school here and they won't have to know a life of hiding. If you give this a chance, I'll even take a teaching position to pull my weight." I bargain. Charles chuckled,
"Lydia, you are aware that you always have a home here, correct? You and your family are now under the protection of my X-Men. Given your PhD in History, you could assist Logan with his class until the twins are born which is something that Jean can help you with." He said. I smiled,
"Thank you for this, Charles but... I feel like there's something that could be a deal-breaker." I informed. "Two members of my budding family were once involved with Erik."
"The Maximoff's?" He knew who I was talking about. I nodded, hoping that it wouldn't effect the arrangement. "The school is a place for all mutants. I would even let Erik stay here if it came down to it." Charles told.
"How are you so forgiving after all you and Erik have been through?" I asked a question that I've had for years. Charles chuckled,
"Always forgive, never forget." He shared. Clint ran to catch up with us,
"So, anything?"
"We're under the protection of the X-Men. Go see if Pietro and Bucky worked things out and bring 'em here with everyone else."
The jet came back and everyone got off, which meant I had business to attend to. I pulled Pietro and Bucky aside and folded my arms,
"I would ask you to explain yourselves, but the reason is far too obvious." I scolded. They both looked at their feet, so I began to give individual scoldings. "Bucky, you need to get over this. Pietro came back because I wanted him to. It has nothing to do with our past and you need understand that if I wanted to be with Pietro, I wouldn't be with you right now." I told. He nodded and I turned to Petey. "And you... I expect better from you. You can't just leave my life and then come back expecting me to let things go back to how they were."
"I know, Lydie... it's just... we spent almost a year trying to get you pregnant and nothing was working. Now here we are and finally it happened and I'm stoked about that... but even though they're not mine like we planned, I still want to help you and give them a better life than I had." Pietro explained his side. Your heart sank,
"If it makes you feel any better: in another life, they're yours." I told. His eyes lit up,
"How? I thought it didn't work! Tell me everything." He exclaimed. Bucky was all ears too, wondering if he was in this "other life".
"Well... after I was sent to Asgard, you visited me and said that we were going to travel together. We did just that, but we spent most of our time in Italy. While we were hanging out one night, you asked me to marry you..." I started. They both said "What" in unison. Petey's in amazement and Bucky's in concern. I continued, "I said no and you freaked out and thought it was because of Bucky." Bucky's expression filled with relief and Pietro's filled with discomfort. "So I started drinking when you left to go back to the room and you both know how I never fit the bill of a drunk person. My wasted self told you I changed my mind and you ran us to Vegas. That night we got pregnant."
"But how did things change?" Bucky asked.
"I went on a mission after Steve died and blew my cover to Erik. When I came back, poof! No Pietro." I said. Petey didn't care about that though,
"So how did you get pregnant from that and not when we actually tried?"
"I have a theory, and I could be wrong but it's just a hunch: my body is constantly on guard, you know? Like, my vagina is Gandalf and it's all like 'YOU SHALL NOT PASS!' and shit with sperm. That night I was shitfaced, my body was too busy trying to level my blood's alcohol content to give a fuck. But Steve's seed on the other hand was too powerful for Gandalf. Is all in the serum, if that makes sense."
"It makes perfect sense." A familiar voice laughed behind me. I spun on my heel and freaked out.
"Jean!" I squealed, running to hug her. Last time we saw each other was right before she died... but I can't discuss that part of the other life. She jolted back from our hug quickly. "What's wrong?" I asked.
"Your twins..." She trailed off. Pietro and Bucky leaned in, almost as concerned as me.
"What's wrong?" I put a hand on my belly. Jean knelt down and stuck two fingers on her temple. She smiled,
"Two boys." She said. I looked back at Bucky, who was in awe.
"Told you!" Clint yelled from across the hall.
"Very powerful too... whoever the daddy may be, he must have a strong X-Gene." Jean said. I chuckled,
"Actually, Steve wasn't a mutant." She stood up and narrowed her brows,
"That doesn't make any sense. It's only males who carry and pass on the gene." She informed me. I could feel Bucky freeze behind me at hearing the new information.
"That's... new." Pietro stated, not really getting why Bucky and I were internally screaming. Out of nowhere, Scott butted in the way only Scott could.
"Nobody told me you came back... and you brought friends." He said, sounding very passive-aggressive. Scott and I never really got along. His brother was a different story, though.
"Scott, it's been a while. A long, comfortable while. Where's Alex?" I asked, more concerned about the other Summers.
"He joined the Brotherhood, Knox." He told. I gasped,
"My Alex?" I panicked.
"Your Alex?" Bucky and Pietro asked at the same time. Damn, they're good at that.
"Yep, he's long gone. In fact, I think he fell apart right after you left." Scott got smug. My face went to stone,
"Are you implying that it's my fault?" I snapped.
"Well, he fell in love with a human and you weren't there to guide him like always. Every good relationship he's ever had was because you had the best judgement of character and when you poofed, he found the wrong girl. She didn't accept him being a mutant, which ripped his heart out but you weren't there to give it back either. So yeah, it's your fault." He said. I shook my head,
"I need to see him." I stated.
"Not happening. Last time you needed to see an old friend, he wanted to take our kids away." Bucky argued.
"Like Alex Summers would need two kids around." I laughed at the stupid statement.
"It's not Alex we're worried about... it's my father. If he knew that you were trying to bring two newborns into human acceptance, he would find a way to take them in a heartbeat."
"I'm not scared of Erik. One snap of my fingers and he'll fall to his knees like always." I declared, sounding a bit cocky. I then realized what would really happen. "Pietro... does he know you're with me right now?"
"Yeah, I told him I needed to see you... why?"
"When I traveled back and gave away my cover, I told him that I was pregnant with your baby. If I were to go in there and he saw that I was still pregnant in this alternate present, he would still think they're his grandchildren. I'll have to find another way to get to Alex." I admit. Petey squinted,
"How did all of that come up?" He wondered.
"I don't think you'd want the answer to that."
YOU ARE READING
Brace Yourself (Sequel to "Consider Your Ass Saved")
Fanfiction"You were the thing that kept me from being the bad guy... You changed me."
