Such Sweet Sorrow

Posted on Wed Jan 3rd, 2024 @ 2:51am by Scott Summers & Connor Bruin & Aurora Summers

Mission: Episode 3: X-Tra Ecclesiam
Location: X-Mansion
Timeline: August 21, 1990 - evening

Scott had put it off as long as he could. But there was no delaying the inevitable. Some people had come to say their goodbyes, others to air their grievances. The situation was what it was. There was nothing to be done except to go boldly and face the future in hopes of winning out a better tomorrow.

Half-sitting, half-leaning on the rear bumper of the Jeep, Scott let the engine idle with one foot resting on the vehicle and the other on the ground. He hated goodbyes in general. Today's circumstances only compounded that to the point of misery. He didn't want to see Aurora cry. But it might be a few days or even weeks before he came back. So much depended on things he didn't know and he hated it.

He concentrated on her with a headache-inducing intensity. While he wasn't telepathic, he knew the effects that all minds had on telepaths. Aurora was already attuned to him. If she was anywhere nearby, she would sense him and know to come.

Aurora did indeed pick up on Scott calling her, no sooner had his call come Aurora was rushing to his side. “Scott, I’m here.” She walked across to the jeep, she’d been dreading this moment ever since he’d started packing. It was going to be the hardest moment of her life. “I heard you call, no matter where you are I’ll always hear you call.”

"I'm sorry it took so long," Scott said. His head hung a little low. "Turns out people had even more to say. It was best you didn't hear some of it." The standoff he had with Tammy wouldn't be one he quickly forgot. "But here we are." He wrapped her in his arms. "If there was a way to make this moment last longer," he whispered into the top of her head, "I would do it in a heartbeat."

Aurora nodded as she hugged Scott, holding on as tightly as she could wishing the moment never had to end, even though she knew it did. “I wish I was going with you! But I understand you want us to be safe.” She was trying her hardest not to cry, not to let Scott see the pain she was feeling. “Did you...want to know the sex of our baby?”

That made Scott blink hard. "What? How...?" He chuckled in surprise and just accepted it. There was nothing about this whole situation that was normal, so he was beginning to drop his expectations and allow things to come as they would. "Yeah. Tell me."

Aurora smiled, even though her eyes twinkled with tears. “We’re having a son Scott, Jade told me. Her abilities are amazing! It seems my pregnancy is evolving quickly, but Jade isn’t sure if our son’s rapid growth will stop after birth or not. I can’t say it doesn’t worry me, because it does, I just want him to be healthy.”

"Oh, Aurora... That's incredible." Having a baby was one thing, but knowing it was a son made it even more real. "If he's as strong as you are, then I'm sure we'll have nothing to worry about." He kissed her, a gesture full of joy and grief and fear and hope. "Everything's going to be okay. You'll see."

Aurora returned Scott’s kiss, before looking up at him. “I hope so Scott. I promise I won’t let any harm come to him, I’ll protect our son with my life. Just don’t take too long finding us a home.” She gave him the best smile she could muster, but she knew she was failing miserably.

"I know you will," Scott said, forming a grin. "And I know I will. What could beat that winning combination?"

Connor barreled down from the steps of the portico and threw his arms around them both. "GOODBYE," he device sounded off. He'd pressed it to speak while he was bounding through the air.

"Connor..." Scott let out a sigh while he extricated himself from Connor's embrace. "You couldn't have picked a better time?"

Looking back and forth, Connor's brow sunk. He flipped through the menu of his device. "SORRY."

Aurora offered Connor a gentle hug. “It’s okay Connor, your heart is in the right place.” She let him go. “Scott and I, we need some time alone okay?”

"Yes," Scott said with a decisive nod. "Wait, actually..." He grinned at the exuberant little hulk. "Connor, while I'm gone, do you think you could help look after Aurora for me? Don't let her do any heavy lifting, make sure she's keeping up with her studies, that kind of thing."

Connor outright giggled at the question and nodded several times. ~Tell Scott he can count on me! Until he gets back, you won't have to so much as lift a finger~

Without the benefit of telepathy, all Scott had to go off was Connor's reaction. "I guess I'll take that as a yes?" he asked with a chuckle.

Aurora smiled and nodded. “Connor says you can count on him, I won’t have to lift a finger.” She offered Connor a warm smile. “Thank you Connor, I appreciate it.”

"Thanks, pal." Scott gave his old friend a stoic smile. "Now... scram, okay?"

With a hoot that was equal parts protest and concession, Connor loped away to whatever it was he did.

Scott couldn't help but laugh at the sight. "Well, I'm sorry to loose him on you like that, but I'll sleep better knowing someone is keeping an eye on you." He turned his teasing smirk on Aurora. "No one keeps an eye out like Connor. Beware."

Aurora nodded. "Its good to know I'll have someone who'll be watching my back out there." She paused no longer able to hold back the tears. "I don't want you to go Scott!!"

"Neither do I..." The sight of her tears made Scott bite his lip so he held her close. He could feel his shirt grow wet with her tears. "Neither do I. Somehow it's all going to work out in the end." Drawing her chin up with one hand, he looked down into her face and wiped her tears with the fingers of his other hand. "I'll see to that, Aurora. Count on it."

Leaning forward, Scott gave Aurora a long, drawn-out goodbye kiss that held all of his repressed frustration and sorrow. He didn't intend to burden her with it but there was no choosing for him which emotions bled through his expression.

Aurora felt Scott's emotions, and saw his pain. Drying her eyes she took a deep breath putting on a brave face. "I'll be strong Scott, that I promise you. I'll protect our son with my life, and I promise I'll be careful out there."

"I know you will," Scott said reassuringly. The way she kept repeatedly promising the same thing broke his heart. He was leaving her a hot mess and he hated it. But there was nothing to be done. He had to go. "I'm so sorry to leave you like this." He backed away, kissed his fingertips, and placed them on her lips. "But I'll be back." With that, he turned toward the driver's seat of the Jeep. Both of them couldn't lose it.

"Be careful Scott" Aurora bit her lip to stop herself crying. "I love you!"

The last outcry made him halt his step just before he could reach the driver's door. Looking back over his shoulder, Scott forced himself to look at her. It was hard to see her cry but he wouldn't look away.

"I love you, too." The words made Scott feel hollowed out like a carved jack-o'-lantern. What he did next was the hardest thing he'd had to do. He opened the door, slid into the driver's seat, and drove the Jeep down the driveway. The wetness in his eyes blurred the sight of Aurora in the rearview mirror.

Standing alone Aurora waited until Scott was out of sight before sinking to the ground, sitting there crying her heart out at being left behind. She knew they’d be together again, but it didn’t make it any easier.