Disclaimer: All Character's not mine are Marvel's. This is the Fourth in "The Most Percious Gift" series and it is told form sam's POV. Hope you like!
Ah looked over at mah girlfriend, fast asleep in the co-pilot's chair. Her short blonde hair hung down over her eyes, making her look so very innocent. Ah was suddenly struck by how young she really was, how young we both were. Her fingers rested lightly on her stomach. She was just beginning to show her pregnancy.
Tabitha and Ah, along with the rest of X-Force were flying out to New York, to bury one of mah oldest friends. It wasn't fair. Illyana had finally gotten the chance to be a kid again and then she dies of the Legacy Virus.
Ah sigh softly, and check over the instruments one last time. Satisfied that they were working properly, Ah set the autopilot and settled back into the chair to grab a few minutes of rest.
Mah sleep was troubled to say the least. Ah've been having strange dreams recently, all of them involving Tabitha and the baby. Everyone tells me that it's normal, that Ah am just nervous about bein' a daddy. Ah don't think that that is the case.
Ah was running through the maze again. Every time Ah turned in one direction the signs that were pointing the way changed. Ah could hear Tabitha, screaming in pain. And Ah could hear an infant crying in the background. Mah child! TABITHA!
"Sam! Sam, wake up, wake up!" Tabitha shook me awake.
"Tabby!" Ah gasp, reaching out to pull her into mah arms. "Thank god, oh thank god."
"Sam, what is it?" She asks, her voice betraying her fear. Mah dreams always scare her.
"The maze." Ah choke out, holding onto her tighter. "Ah was in the maze again." This was not the first time that Ah had had this particular dream. In fact, this makes the third night this week!
"Oh, Sam." Tabitha breathed against mah hair. Mah only response was to lay mah head against her shoulder and just gasp for breath.
"Is everything okay up here?" Terry Cassidy asks, poking her head up from were the rest of X-Force was.
"Yeah, we're fine." Tabitha answers, laying her cheek against mah hair. "Everything's fine."
Terry looked at us suspiciously, but left. Ah breathed a sigh of relief. Ah had enough trouble managing X-Force, without them all thinkin' that Ah was losin' mah mind.
The rest of the flight to Salem Center was uneventful. We arrived at about one in the morning, so there really wasn't anybody there to see us. Not that any of us minded, Ah'm sure. Ah know Ah didn't.
The funeral was at ten thirty the next morning. Ah was up at six that morning, just like Ah am every morning. This morning was a little different though. Ah normally sleep with Tabitha, but since the X-Men have enough problems with our morals Tabitha and Ah decided to sleep in different beds. When Ah woke up, there was no warm body next to me, nothing to reach out and kiss good morning. Ah decided right then that Ah did not like this sleeping arrangement at all.
It didn't help that Ah woke up feeling like total crap. Of course, Ah don't see how Ah could feel any different. Ah've always hated funerals. Not that Ah know many people that do like them.
To mah surprise, the door swung open at six thirty and Tabitha came in. Ah felt much better when Ah saw her. She had that effect on me.
"Hey sweetie." Ah say, reaching out to wrap her in mah arms. She grins up at me, and Ah seize that moment to kiss her soundly. She responds in turn, and this goes on for quite sometime.
A knock on the door interrupts us. Ah growl playfully, and Tabitha reached out to swat mah arm.
"Go answer the door." She laughs at me.
"Yeah, what's up?" Ah ask, pulling it open. Standing at the door is Rahne Sinclair. Ah smile. "Hey Rahny, watcha doin here?"
She flashes a smile at me and says, " I heard that ye and the rest of X-Force flew in last night. I wanted to see ye all."
Ah reach down and hug her quickly before turning to Tabitha, who is sitting on mah bed. "Hey Rahne." Tabitha says, standing up to hug her.
"Oh, Tabitha it's good tae see ye again�" Rahne trailed off, looking closely at Tabitha's stomach. Tabitha noticed and blanched slightly, grinning at me over Rahne's head. "Tabitha, what is the deal wit' ye stomach?"
"Oh, uh, guess I didn't tell you. Well, I'm pregnant." Tabitha told her in a rush.
"Yer wha'?" Rahne asked, looking shocked.
"She's pregnant, Rahne." Ah say, walking around Rahne and wrapping mah arms around Tabitha. She smiles up at me and Ah kiss the top of her head. "Ain't it great?"
"Great is nae the word I would use!" Rahne yelps, still in shock. "When are ye two getting married?"
Ah jump in surprise. Ah hadn't even thought about that! From the look on Tabitha's face, she hadn't either.
Rahne still looked incredible shocked, but managed to excuse herself, saying that there was something that she needed to do. Not that Ah minded, Ah was looking forward to getting back to what Ah had been doing before she had interrupted.
At about eight thirty, Tabitha and Ah came down for breakfast. Tabitha was meet at the door by the X-men's doctor, Hank McCoy. He was still wearing his lab coat and glasses, and was carrying a clipboard. Other then the blue fur and ape like features, he looked the part of an over anxious doctor.
"Tabitha, it has come to my knowledge that you are parturient." Hank told her, reaching out a hand.
"I am not! What does 'parturient' mean?" Tabitha demands.
"Enceinte. Gravid. Expecting." Hank explains, as comprehension dawned on Tabitha's face.
"Oh! Yeah, I am that. Hey, waitaminute! How did you know that?" Tabitha asks suspiciously.
"Rahne Sinclair. She was worried that you would not get the proper treatment out in the 'boondocks' as she called them." Hank explains.
"She seems to be alright to me." Ah put in, reaching out to take Tabitha's hand.
"Ah the father-to-be! Allow me to be the first to congratulate you. So, if I may inquire, when will you be united in wedded bliss?" Hank asks, a toothy grin on his face.
"We haven't really thought about that." Ah say, trying to contain a sigh of annoyance.
"Ahhhh, I understand." Hank tells us, turning to leave. "Tabitha, if you don't mind, I would like very much to check over you after the funeral."
As soon as Hank leaves, however, who comes through the door, but Professor Xavier!
"Tabitha, Samuel, something has come to my attention." He begins, looking at us gravely.
"And what, pray tell, is that?" Tabitha asks, a sarcastic overtone marring her words.
"If I am to understand both Henry and Rahne correctly, you are with child Tabitha." Xavier states rather then asks.
"Yes, she is." Ah step in, holding Tabitha from behind.
"So, are you�" Professor X begins.
"Gonna get married?" Tabitha finishes, rolling her eyes.
"I was going to ask, if you were going to give the child up for adoption or abort it?" The professor finishes, casting an evil glare at Tabitha for interrupting him.
"What?!" Ah yell. "You make that sound like the only two choices available to us!
Professor X rises an eyebrow. "Isn't it? You are both barely children yourselves, you are not capable of rising one on you own. I would suggest giving it up, but if you don't wish that, then perhaps an--"
"NO!" Tabitha shouts angrily. "I WON"T have an abortion!"
"All right. Then should I began to search for favorable parents for this child?" Xavier asks, cooler then ice. Ah glare at him, suddenly angrier then Ah have been in a long time.
"NO! We'll rise our child ourselves." Ah snap.
"You don't understand the responsibility that you are taking on, neither of you do. And the way you live, that is no life for a child. I urge you to give it up." Xavier tried again.
"Never." Tabitha spat out at him.
"I feel you are making a huge mistake, but if that is what you want�" Xavier shrugs. "So be it."
With that he turned and left the room. Ah glare at him as he left.
"Tabitha?" Ah ask, turning to face her.
"Yeah?" She whispers.
"Get in touch with the rest of X-Force. Tell them that we will be leaving as soon as possible after the funeral." Ah say, reaching out to hug her.
"Are you gonna be alright with this Sam?" She asks me.
"Ah'll be fine honey." Ah tell her. "We all will."
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