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Quiet
May 10, 2006 15:56:56 GMT -5
Post by Toad on May 10, 2006 15:56:56 GMT -5
"I don't believe you," he said, "not entirely." He stood up and sat down beside her, looking back at the twins. "You obviously love your children."
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Quiet
May 10, 2006 16:01:15 GMT -5
Post by Analyse on May 10, 2006 16:01:15 GMT -5
Her hands shook slightly as she avoided looking at him, still resting a hand on Thomas's back. "I used to love my brother and my father, and I just stopped when I was young, maybe thirteen tops. And I haven't loved anyone since..."
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Quiet
May 10, 2006 16:06:50 GMT -5
Post by Toad on May 10, 2006 16:06:50 GMT -5
He took hold of her hands. "You may not love them, but you love your children," he said.
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Quiet
May 10, 2006 16:08:59 GMT -5
Post by Analyse on May 10, 2006 16:08:59 GMT -5
She looked down at their hands. "I... maybe. But I don't know... I don't even think I can love."
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Quiet
May 10, 2006 16:11:26 GMT -5
Post by Toad on May 10, 2006 16:11:26 GMT -5
"You can," he said. "You'd've given them up if you didn't love them."
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Quiet
May 10, 2006 17:00:29 GMT -5
Post by Analyse on May 10, 2006 17:00:29 GMT -5
She shook her head slightly. "I was being selfish when I didn't give them up..."
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Quiet
May 11, 2006 9:01:21 GMT -5
Post by Toad on May 11, 2006 9:01:21 GMT -5
He sighed. "Look, my parents gave me up because they didn't love me," he said. "I always liked to think that they died, and that's how I wound up in an orphanage. But that isn't true. They didn't love me, and they didn't want me. You want your kids; you have to love them..."
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Quiet
May 11, 2006 9:08:33 GMT -5
Post by Analyse on May 11, 2006 9:08:33 GMT -5
She sighed and drew away from him, standing and trying to ignore Thomas's whimpering as she pulled away. "This is different, okay? I kept them because I wanted somebody to love me unconditionally. Because nobody else does... there's all these conditions and times when they can or can't. And the boys aren't like that. Do you get that?"
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Quiet
May 11, 2006 9:13:49 GMT -5
Post by Toad on May 11, 2006 9:13:49 GMT -5
But I love you, I'll always love you, unconditionally, forever and ever... He nodded and rubbed Thomas' back. The boy calmed down again, curling closer to Mortimer's hand. "Yeah, I get it."
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Quiet
May 11, 2006 9:21:00 GMT -5
Post by Analyse on May 11, 2006 9:21:00 GMT -5
Wanda sighed softly, stepping up to the bed again and scooping up Thomas. Carefully rocking her son, she sat down again with her legs curled under her. "Told you it was selfish."
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Quiet
May 11, 2006 9:23:08 GMT -5
Post by Toad on May 11, 2006 9:23:08 GMT -5
"You say selfish, I say loving," he said, watching the way she cuddled the little boy against her, cradling his head perfectly.
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Quiet
May 11, 2006 9:31:27 GMT -5
Post by Analyse on May 11, 2006 9:31:27 GMT -5
She shrugged a little, carefully supporting her child's weight with her stiff, sore arm. Looking over at Michael, she checked to make sure the other boy was sleeping soundly. Not that it surprised her really that he'd slept through that, Thomas had always been fussier.
"I just take care of them. The way I wished my parents would have..."
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Quiet
May 11, 2006 9:34:07 GMT -5
Post by Toad on May 11, 2006 9:34:07 GMT -5
He watched her for a while, not knowing what to say. "You know, when Mystique adopted me, I asked her if I could call her 'Mum.' She got angry, so I never brought it up again."
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Quiet
May 11, 2006 9:40:13 GMT -5
Post by Analyse on May 11, 2006 9:40:13 GMT -5
She nodded slightly, not saying anything because she didn't know what to say. Gently, she set Thomas back down on the bed, watching as he curled up near her leg.
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Quiet
May 11, 2006 9:44:24 GMT -5
Post by Toad on May 11, 2006 9:44:24 GMT -5
Michael stirred, opening his eyes sleepily. "Hi Morrimer," he said, yawning and sitting up. "We wanted to help you fix Dom's car but Mommy said we were too little." "She did?" "Yes." He picked Michael up and put him down on the floor, looking him over as if he were measuring him. "Well, you look big enough to me," he said, "maybe next time you can help me."
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Quiet
May 11, 2006 9:46:13 GMT -5
Post by Analyse on May 11, 2006 9:46:13 GMT -5
Wanda made a face, scooping Michael up and setting him on her lap. "I don't want you anywhere near that death trap."
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Quiet
May 11, 2006 9:47:31 GMT -5
Post by Toad on May 11, 2006 9:47:31 GMT -5
"I'd take care of them," he said. "Morrimer can take care of us," said Michael, "and besides, he said I was big enough."
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Quiet
May 11, 2006 9:48:47 GMT -5
Post by Analyse on May 11, 2006 9:48:47 GMT -5
"And I said I don't want you anywhere near that thing," Wanda frowned, running her fingers through Michael's hair. "It's dangerous."
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Quiet
May 11, 2006 9:50:36 GMT -5
Post by Toad on May 11, 2006 9:50:36 GMT -5
"Morrimer!" Mortimer shrugged. "She's right," he said and leaned forward, "to tell you the truth, I almost cut my head off today." "You did?" He nodded solemnly. The car was only hazardous if you drove it; working on it wasn't terribly deadly. "But I managed to get away just in time." "Phew."
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Quiet
May 11, 2006 9:53:11 GMT -5
Post by Analyse on May 11, 2006 9:53:11 GMT -5
She nodded slightly, only a little bit grateful that Mortimer was detering Micheal from working on the car. It wasn't that she was particuarly worried about what could happen to them because of the car... but worried about how Dom would react.
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Quiet
May 11, 2006 10:00:06 GMT -5
Post by Toad on May 11, 2006 10:00:06 GMT -5
Michael climbed back up onto Mortimer's lap. "What's for dinner?" he asked. Mortimer shrugged, suddenly realizing that it was his turn to cook. "I don't know," he said, "what do you want to eat?" "Sketti. Or hamburgers."
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Quiet
May 11, 2006 10:04:31 GMT -5
Post by Analyse on May 11, 2006 10:04:31 GMT -5
Wanda carefully picked Thomas again, nodding slightly to Mortimer. Hopefully the boy would wake up before dinner was finished.
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Quiet
May 11, 2006 10:13:23 GMT -5
Post by Toad on May 11, 2006 10:13:23 GMT -5
Michael looked down at Thomas, then looked back up at Mortimer. "Thomas is sleepy," he said. "That he is," said Mortimer. "Would you like to help me make hamburgers?" He glanced at Wanda. "If it's OK with your mum."
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Quiet
May 11, 2006 10:15:38 GMT -5
Post by Analyse on May 11, 2006 10:15:38 GMT -5
She nodded slightly, standing and shifting Thomas so that he was on one hip and his weight was mostly off her sore arm. "It's fine. Just don't burn yourself," she gently kissed Michael's forehead.
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Quiet
May 11, 2006 10:19:51 GMT -5
Post by Toad on May 11, 2006 10:19:51 GMT -5
"Don't worry, Mommy." He poked Thomas in the arm. Thomas opened one eye crankily. "Come on, Morrimer's gonna make hamburgers and we can help!" Thomas yawned and rubbed his eyes. "Did Mommy say so? She wouldn't let us help him fix the car." "That's because the car almost bit his head off!" "Really?" "For true life. But she says we can make hamburgers."
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