for actiii_scenei

[cassandra_firebreath]

With the months passing quickly, the soon-to-be-parents had begun preparing for the baby's arrival. Baby-proofing rooms, and working on the nursery.

"How about John for a boy?" Cassandra asked while dipping her brush in the paint. They'd gone for a neutral color to stay faithful to their plan to find out the gender during birth. She paused for a moment to rest a hand on her growing baby bump, smiling as she waited to hear his opinion.

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[actiii_scenei]

He did though, he couldn't help himself sometimes just watching her when she was doing other things. It always made him feel so lucky to know her at first and that had only grown over time to a love that he didn't think he could put into words properly.

"That sounds like a smart idea." He would hate to do something wrong for the baby.

[cassandra_firebreath]

"I love the way you look at me."

She did the same, just watching him sometimes, thinking about the first time she realized she was in love with him.

"Our baby will be so cute.. I hope they'll have your smile."

[actiii_scenei]

He looked at her.

"Sit back." He waved his hands at her to try and get her to sit back as he suddenly moved, sitting up then tucking the covers around her or more importantly the bump then he grabbed his pillow and put it next to her hip. Then he lay out next to her, his feet hanging off the bed so they weren't where his pillow had been and his head was by her hip, just resting a little on her thigh which was under the covers he'd tucked around her.

"This is only gonna be a short story because I'm all tired out from making your room ready for you." He put his hand on her bump where he'd felt the kicking earlier. "I mean you're gonna be here soon and we need to be ready. I bet your momma is already tired of me doing this."

[cassandra_firebreath]

She did as told, curious for a moment but soon realized what he was about to do. She made herself comfortable while Alex got ready to tell their baby a story.

"Not tired at all. Momma loves it."

Her fingers played with his hair gently while he spoke, adding to the connection between them and the baby.

"Your papa's taking really good care of me."

[actiii_scenei]

"Well clearly your momma is a crazy lady and you better listen to her, because she's incredibly smart really and knows these things." He glanced up at her.

"But one day you're going to do incredibly stupid stuff sometimes and you won't want to tell us about it, I hope you have friends like mine, well ours." He reached to brush her fingertips with his. "I used to have a best friend who I wish you could meet. He'd love you and no doubt teach you all kinds of terrible things about me and your momma as well as so many bad habits."

He laughed quietly.

"We did stupid things all the time, more than your momma knows." He made a face at Cass briefly. "Me and my best friend, it was impressive we made it sometimes..." He faultered a little. There was a sort of cruel irony to that. It wasn't their dumb teenage antics that had cost them. It was something the pair of them hadn't even considered. "Love them, every day, don't be afraid of that." He closed his eyes and pressed his cheek to the bump.

"Sean was... oh when you're older I show you a picture of him. I'll show you a picture of your momma when we first met too, if she doesn't stop me. She was very pretty, she got even more beautiful though. But that's another story." He didn't look at her then, he gave her a little sideways glance.

[cassandra_firebreath]

She listened quietly as he spoke, wanting to let him say everything he wanted to say and not interrupt. Instead, she kept stroking his hair gently, offering him comfort when he began talking about Sean. It couldn't have been easy going back to those memories again.

"I won't stop you. Those are special memories that should be shared with the entire family."

Cassandra flashed him a playful grin when he gave her that sideways glance.

"Sean supported your papa through so many things, and I hope to do the same."

[actiii_scenei]

"I need to tell everyone I married one beautiful lady who just gets better!" He smiled but it got a little distant, he would never. Never. Tell share with anyone about Vietnam or after.

"I miss him." He whispered. He didn't even think he could ask her if they ever had a boy could they add Sean's name in. He didn't think he could even if he knew she wouldn't mind. "And your momma looks after me when I get sad about that. She's great like that." He paused as he wasn't sure if he felt something then. He glanced up to Cass.

"We were trying to pick a name for you earlier. Do you want to help us?" He joked, hand still touching Cass, wondering if he'd get some sort of response.

[cassandra_firebreath]

"I know, babe...," She sighed a little sadly, knowing how painful it was for him. "And you can count on me to be here whenever you need comfort or distraction."

Her hand rested on top of his, hoping to feel another kick. "We'd really like that.. Give us a kick when you hear a name you like the best."

[actiii_scenei]

He smiled at Cass when she said that, this time it reached his eyes. A genuine reason to push how he was feeling and be happy again. He loved Cass so much for helping him like that.

"You've got to give us your best kick to let us know." He glanced back a Cass a moment. "Jane?" He didn't feel anything. He looked at Cass to make the next suggestion.

[cassandra_firebreath]

She smiled back, happy to see that genuine smile on his face again. She hated the world sometimes for giving them so many reasons for sadness, but together they could fight against it.

"Hmm... Noah?" She felt a light kick. "The baby kinda likes it, I think." Cassandra laughed softly, gently caressing the bump.

[actiii_scenei]

"Well, we will make a note of it on the maybe list then." He nearly decided to write on the nursery wall so he could paint over it later when they had decided.

He caught her fingers and joined her in gently stroking the bump. "Cassidy?" That worked for a boy or a girl and was a little less painful to think of than suggesting Sean but it was obvious to both of them and anyone who knew them where it came from. He wasn't sure he wanted to know what either of them thought of his suggestion but he couldn't bring himself to pull his hand away.

[cassandra_firebreath]

"Woah," Cassandra laughed, surprised by the strong kick. "That's a great name, huh? Momma thinks so, too. It's definitely an option." She knew where it came from and she'd be happy to include it in their baby's name somehow.

She cupped his cheek, wordlessly urging him to move up and kiss her.

[actiii_scenei]

Alex gave a little surprised laugh and looked thrilled at that. It was such a strong kick he wasn’t expecting it. Both of them agreed with him.

"We have to do this with all of them right?" He asked as he took the hint to sit up, leaning in to kiss her. He gently brushed his fingers down her cheek.

[cassandra_firebreath]

"We should. It's a fun way to interact with the baby."

She went serious for a moment, closing her eyes while focusing on that gentle touch.

"I was so worried when you were away... Fearing someone would knock on my door and tell me you'd been injured... or worse."

[actiii_scenei]

"I was worried that they wouldn't tell you, they'd just cover it up. I mean we don't count right?" He laughed but it hurt, he'd hate to just vanish on her, leave her never knowing. "You need to thank Raven though."

He glanced at her. He wasn't sure he should finally tell her what had happened before he'd come home to her.

"I nearly didn't come to you babe."

[cassandra_firebreath]

"Yeah... They love pushing us aside." She wrapped her arms around him, her eyes meeting his. "I heard she had something to do with it."

The confession made her frown in worry. "What happened, babe?"

[actiii_scenei]

"I think I very nearly became one of those that just went missing." There was so much attached to that word for him. It wasn't missing. It was dead at the hands of someone as an experiment.

"The army were just going to hand us over after everything we did... We served a purpose and then they were done with us." He stroked her cheek again. He'd never planned to worry her with that information.

[cassandra_firebreath]

"Oh my god... You don't even need to say the name. I know exactly who that jerk is."

A man who treated mutants as his little lab experiments. Someone Cassandra already hated a great deal, and now even more.

"I'm going to hug Raven when I see her. She brought my husband back safely... I'm so sorry about what happened to you. To Sean.."

[actiii_scenei]

"I never wanted you to know that, you know. I never wanted to burden you with that knowledge of how close I came. You shouldn't have to worry about me." He knew she would though. Just like he would worry about her more than himself. Now their baby. All before him.

"It wasn't just me, it was my entire unit..." He blamed himself still for not being able to protect Sean. "So don't. I made it back. To you."

[cassandra_firebreath]

"Humans are heartless. The things they do without a second thought..."

She sighed, holding him close. As comfortably as she could with her bump between them. She was angry at them for what they did to Alex and his unit.

"You did. To me, and now our baby."

She'd worry about him and do her best to protect him. He was her world now, the love of her life.

[actiii_scenei]

Alex curled around her, doing his best to help her and make it comfortable for them both. Even with the bump.

"I won't miss next time. No one is keeping you from me and my family."

[cassandra_firebreath]

"I know, babe. They'd be fools to make you angry again."

Cassandra grinned, thinking back to her reaction when she first saw his powers. She'd always felt more comfortable around him, due to how strong their powers were.

She gently brushed her fingers through his hair.

[actiii_scenei]

"They'd be fools to make you angry too. You're pretty amazing and scary when you need to be." To protect what she cared about and Alex was just fine with that.

"I love how strong you are."

[cassandra_firebreath]

"Together we make a really good team." She'd raise hell for Alex and their family any time.

"I love how strong you are, too. I remember watching you practice from afar, thinking to myself how amazing you are."

[actiii_scenei]

"We do." He thought they did all the time not just a mission or at home. It crossed over.

"I was a mess at the beginning, you didn't see that I hope."