Hitchhiker
By Princess Alexandria
Chapter 10 of 11
Brooke watched from a distance as Mystique picked up Mercy and the little girl laughed happily as she was spun around gently. They were picking Mercy up. With Mystique helping her Brooke was actually done in time to have dinner with her little girl. “Hey Grandma.” She spoke as soon as the older woman turned wide eyes to look at her. “I managed to get some help.”
“She’s blue.” Grandma muttered quietly as Brooke just watched Mystique nod and listen to her little girl tell some tale. Mystique had been enthusiastically greeted by Mercy last night, but Grandma hadn’t seen her yet. “Mercy said she was, but I thought the little girl was just making stories.”
“Nope, she’s blue alright.” Brooke waved at Mercy as the little girl waved. Her little girl looked happy, and it gave Brooke mixed feelings.
“Is she related to the daddy?” Grandma spoke quietly. Brooke glanced at her and even with all the thinking she’d done she wasn’t sure how to respond.
“Jake will need more small work to do, I don’t really have enough. If you need any work done around here you let me know.” Brooke spoke without acknowledging the question, but her eyes were still on Mystique, who was putting Mercy down on the ground and glancing at her. “She’s the daddy Grandma.” Brooke whispered and glanced at the older woman. “We won’t be telling Mercy that. I don’t want her getting too used to Mystique being here.” Brooke looked over to see Mystique studying her and then taking her little girl toward the truck. “There are going to be some strangers visiting. Seems women fathering babies is kinda rare and they want to meet Mercy.”
Grandma was rather quiet so Brooke sighed and looked at her fully. “And no pressuring her to ‘do the right thing’. The townsfolk have a funny idea about this, but Mercy was my idea and mine alone. I’m just grateful that the woman is willing to visit with my little girl, so Mercy can see other people are blue too. I’m not expecting anything, not even sure I want it.”
Grandma looked rather stunned, but the woman managed to nod. Brooke nodded back and then hugged the old woman. “We’ll bring Mercy back before breakfast tomorrow. We need to get some work done on the north end tomorrow.”
“You never do anything the normal way.” Grandma said and patted her back before letting her go. “If you two want to stay and eat,” The offer was started.
“I’d prefer to not drag out all the uncomfortable polite chit chat. Mystique and I’ll grab something to eat from home.” Brooke had really had to pull up her courage just to invite the woman to go with her to pick up Mercy, she wasn’t sure she wanted to explain to her grandma where Mercy came from over breakfast.
“You okay?” Mystique asked gently as Brooke settled into the truck, and Brooke glanced at the woman that had been working with her all day. The woman she fell asleep on the night before during what was supposed to be a pre-sex massage.
“I’m not really a slut you know.” Brooke spoke quietly, so that Mercy wouldn’t notice as the little girl was still waving to her grandma. “Aside from you, I never get any, but ever since I’ve gotten pregnant some people look at me like that.” Brooke backed her truck up slowly. “I don’t want my Grandma to look at me like that. It’s why I claimed I had that procedure, I told my family I had it done.”
Mystique’s hand was warm as it rested over Brooke’s as Brooke shifted the truck into forward.
“Momma can we have hot dogs?” Mercy spoke about dinner and Brooke sighed and looked into the rearview mirror with a small faked smile.
“I was thinking Mystique might like Momma to make steak, but if you really want hot dogs I could make you some.” Brooke knew she spoiled her little girl sometimes, but if she preferred hot dogs what harm could that do?
“Hot Dogs!” Mercy raised her hands up in victory.
After dinner Brooke played with Mercy, but she could feel Mystique watching her. Brooke felt a little silly at times, but she didn’t let it stop her from having fun with her daughter. Mercy yawned right around bedtime. “Oh, that sounds like the story monster wanting to be fed.” Brooke teased as she tickled her little girl’s stomach.
“I want Mysty to tell me a story Momma.” Mercy asked, and then looked at the blue woman sitting on the couch.
“I don’t know that Mystique knows how to read stories.” Brooke glanced over at the woman. “And she might want to watch the news instead baby.”
“I can read a story.” Mystique’s eyes captured and stayed on Brooke’s, silently asking if it was okay.
“She likes people to do the voices.” Brooke spoke quietly as she stood up fully.
“I can do voices.” Mystique spoke, but a strange male voice came from her throat. Brooke watched her little girl’s eyes widen. “I do all sorts of voices.” Mystique’s voice became shaky like an old woman. “Do you want me to read?” The voice was a regal English accent.
“Oh, oh,” Mercy’s hands clapped together. “Oh, momma, she does voices.” Mercy turned her wide eyes on Brooke and she looked so impressed Brooke had to smile.
“Yeah, she’s better than Uncle Jimmy isn’t she?” Brooke agreed, teasing them both.
Mystique picked Mercy up and Brooke walked with them to the little girl’s bedroom. “Let me pick the book. With you doing voices we need one that really works with your talents.” She spoke softly, grinning just a little.
Brooke watched as Mystique read the story, and she did her best not to laugh, as Mystique flipped from voice to voice effortlessly. She knew that her own weak attempts were going to be a disappointment to her little girl for a while after this, but she really liked watching those two having fun.
…………………
Later that night Brooke stood in the doorway of the spare bedroom, her eyes on the woman laying on the bed reading a book silently for her own enjoyment. “I’m sorry I fell asleep last night.” She spoke softly. “It just felt so good I just nodded right off.”
“That’s okay.” Mystique put the book down and sat up. “I’m sure you can think of something to make it up to me.” The woman grinned and Brooke stepped into the room while opening up her robe. The robe fell to the floor just as Brooke closed the bedroom door.
……………………
“Can you try and make it work?” Mystique asked breathlessly, her back arching. Brooke felt a little foolish, but she started to whisper rather graphic words as she caressed the blue woman, focusing on what she wanted out of her, while milking her for it. “Dammit.” Mystique panted out and gripped the bed sheets desperately.
After she came Brooke slowed and just stared down at the rubber they’d used for this. “You can collect that yourself from here right?” Mystique laughed and swung her legs over the side of the bed to sit up. Brooke looked away politely as the sample was carefully set aside.
“Now that the much more fun medical stuff is done,” Mystique crawled onto the bed and started to kiss at Brooke’s neck. “I think we need to see how long it takes to make you crazy.” Brooke bit back a moan as hands moved to caress her.
…………………..
The sun was partly hidden behind clouds as they set the sand bags down next to the creek. “Hank says he found sperm.” Mystique spoke quietly and Brooke looked up at her. “Dead little sperm from the long mail trip, but sperm.” Mystique looked thoughtful as she stared at Brooke. “I don’t see what made that different, aside from the fun factor.”
Brooke just shrugged a little, feeling ill equipped to even guess. “So if you can barely ever get it to happen you’re probably safe from getting anyone else pregnant.” She said as she dropped the sand bag in her hand onto the stack.
“He said it was an awfully high concentration.” Mystique sat down on the tailgate of the truck and Brooke moved to sit on the sandbags. It was break time anyhow.
“Well that combined with the fertility drugs I was on explain Mercy.” Brooke pointed out and then pointed at the cooler. Mystique tossed her a bottle of water from it.
“Yeah, I guess so.” Mystique spoke slowly and Brooke raised her eyebrow at the woman, but nothing more was said about that. “Remember when I told you I wasn’t all that reliable?” Brooke didn’t like the direction of this conversation. “I have a trip I need to take in two days. It’s a quick job, so I should be back in a couple of days.”
Brooke thought about the work that needed to be done soon, and how her back was finally not hurting. “Okay.”
“I’d like it if you saved the heavy stuff until I get back.” Mystique stared at her and Brooke felt strange as she noticed the concern in those eyes.
“I don’t even know what you do when you leave.” Brooke spoke slowly, she had suspicions it wasn’t safe or legal. “But you be careful okay. I really don’t want to tell Mercy you went and got killed.”
“Not a danger this time.” Mystique grinned at her, but the ‘this time’ really stood out to Brooke.
…………………………..
“I want you to take it slow.” Brooke told Jake as he stood by a truck. He was cleared, but she wasn’t going to believe someone who wasn’t working hard for months could just jump right back into it. “One thing this whole mess taught me is I really rely on you.” She smiled at him.
“Yes boss.” He grinned at her a little, but then looked over at the truck pulling into the property. “But every cloud has a silver lining right?” He smirked and Brooke just rolled her eyes and started to walk towards the woman getting out of the truck.
“Get to work lazy ass.” She called back to him and he laughed.
Her steps faltered a moment as she noticed a large man getting out of the truck as well. Brooke’s head tilted just a little as she kept walking, glancing at Mystique, but staring at him. Something was wrong with him, he was too huge. The truck even looked relieved he got out, by gaining several inches in height.
He turned to her and Brooke noticed he was blue as well. “Relative?” Brooke asked loudly, as she wasn’t close enough to say it quieter.
“Hell no.” Mystique laughed and so did he, a deep laugh. Brooke got closer and then she recognized him as the man on the magazine that Mercy bought.
“Hello madam. I hope my unannounced visit isn’t too horribly rude.” His smile looked like a lion baring his teeth. Brooke just blinked and looked over at Mystique for a moment.
“He wants to check out Mercy. I was hoping you wouldn’t mind, he is a doctor.” Mystique told her quietly as Brooke came to a stop beside her. “And she should like it, because I think I brought the only blue doctor in the world to her.”
“Yeah, that’ll earn him points.” Brooke nodded and looked over at the man. He looked a little insecure with his huge shoulders hunched a little. “I’m Brooke.” She spoke directly to him and he seemed to feel better about that.
“I’m Henry McCoy.” He moved a little and was suddenly leaping over the truck. Brooke jerked back a little in surprise, but Mystique’s hand on her lower back kept her upright and also kept her from embarrassing herself. That hand then gently caressed her back and Brooke glanced at the blue woman with a small smile of her own.
“I don’t mind you being here, but I wish I’d known you were coming. My grandma took her grocery shopping.” Brooke glanced at the road and thought it was probably a really close thing, that those two vehicles may have even passed each other. “It’ll probably be two hours before Mercy’s home, maybe longer if Grandma spoils her.”
“Yes, I had heard that this community is rather tolerant.” Henry smiled again. “You were rather fortunate.”
Brooke’s eyebrows drew together. “No, I had to work for that. I took my baby everywhere once she was born and people just got used to her. I wanted them to do that before she could tell they were staring.” She glanced at her loaded truck and then at her unexpected guest. If it were just Mystique she’d bring that woman and make her work, but a doctor, even one that looked this strong, wasn’t going to want to help.
Brooke turned to Mystique, before turning to Henry. “It’s nice meeting you, but I can’t let my horses out until I finish the fence. Mystique knows her way around if you want a tour.” She felt rude, but if they were going to stop work to do an exam on Mercy, and Brooke wasn’t going to let anyone touch her without being there, then she needed to work fast.
“Oh, oh of course. I’m so sorry to just drop by like this. Mystique assured me that calling after daylight would mean you wouldn’t get the message until nightfall.” He explained himself.
“We can go with you. I’ll help.” Mystique moved toward her own truck. “Henry, may have questions.”
“Uh sure.” Brooke stared at Mystique a moment. “East field, near my training circle.”
She walked off as she heard the other truck start up again, but when she turned she did notice the large furry blue feline man was watching her far too carefully.
………………
Brooke’s eyes were on the work she was doing, but she could tell that while Mystique was helping her, the man was watching them both carefully. He’d offered to help, but Mystique had turned him down before Brooke could consider it. Brooke figured Mystique knew him better and went with her answer.
“I’m sorry if my question is a little intrusive, but I wanted to ask about the night you conceived your beautiful offspring.” He spoke and Brooke’s eyes widened as she stared at Mystique, a shocked look on her face. Mystique just smirked a little and nodded.
“I think a doctor should already know plenty of how that’s done.” Brooke muttered just loud enough, she thought, for Mystique to hear.
His answering was embarrassing. “While the typical mechanics of such an occurrence I am familiar with, your coupling with our resident female shapeshifter leaves far too many questions and I’ve discovered far too few answers.” He stressed the word female and Brooke just sighed. What could she possibly add that Mystique couldn’t.
“I breed horses, I’m no expert on all this.” She turned to look at him. “If you can’t figure it out what am I supposed to say. As far as I was concerned it all went the way nature intended.”
“So you went into the, ah,” He stammered, “experience fully expecting it would work.”
“Well I’d heard some people don’t get pregnant right away when they try, but I was on some fertility drugs, so I thought my chances were pretty good.” She felt a bit awkward, but then she considered the testing Mystique had gone through and sucked it up. This was for Mystique and she owed her, embarrassment wasn’t enough reason to not help her figure this out.
“So the fact that the person you chose to, um, mate with was female didn’t even enter your equation?” He asked, and it was clear that doctor or not, he rarely talked about sex. Brooke sighed.
“I didn’t see it as an obstacle.” She shrugged, knowing it was a little strange of her as most people knew it took two different genders to breed. “She could be either.”
“So when you were,” He paused and Brooke felt the tension in the air just from him alone, “intimate you considered her fully male?”
Brooke glanced at Mystique and felt her blush start. “This is getting a little personal.” To talk about this was bad enough, but to talk about it with someone that wasn’t Mystique and in front of her was pushing her limits. “Didn’t you answer these?” She asked Mystique.
Mystique’s voice was gentle. “He wanted to talk to you, to see if you noticed anything I couldn’t, since I was a little drunk at the time.” Mystique grinned a little making sure Brooke knew she was teasing.
“Well, no I never considered her male.” Brooke felt like this was an odd conversation but she turned to the doctor. “Just male enough.” She glanced down Mystique’s torso, “You know, just male enough.” She muttered and blushed. Mystique chuckled quietly.
“How long had you been trying to get pregnant?” He asked after a moment and Brooke gave up trying to work for a moment and just sat down and looked at him.
“Well, it was honestly my first try. I’d spent months preparing and looking at files of sperm donors. I was physically ready, but I just didn’t like the selection. A picture and a questionnaire don’t tell you anything real about what you’re getting. I’d never breed my mare based on a picture and the owners word, why would I do that for a baby?” She shook her head, still not happy with that experience. “But I was going to just do it. I figured I was stalling too much and if I waited too long I’d have to wait another year. I was timing her birth to be near the slow time.”
“Can I ask why you decided to have a child alone?” His voice was softer, as if this question weren’t like the others. It was just curiosity. Mystique sat down next to her and was listening as well.
Brooke looked over at the trees around her property and
sighed. A lot of people asked her
this. She wasn’t usually inclined to
give an honest answer. “The alone thing
wasn’t likely to change for me. I wasn’t
going to not have her just because I don’t believe in love.” He looked a little startled and Brooke
couldn’t make herself look at Mystique.
“Look, people pretend they can love a lover, that they can do forever,
but it’s all a
“That’s a rather,” He stared at her with sad looking eyes, “sad and cynical view of love.”
“I think of it as realistic.” She sighed. “Grandma says she loved my Granddaddy like that, forever. Maybe people used to be able to do it, I’ll grant that, you hear of some old people that are with someone with thirty plus years. But are they really there because of love or because it’s easier than leaving. Are they in love or too lazy to make a change?”
“No.” Mystique spoke softly and Brooke had to turn to look at her. The woman looked off to the side, as if watching something that wasn’t there. “Real love exists Brooke.”
Brooke just stared at the blue woman a moment and then looked away when Mystique didn’t look at her. Her eyes went to Henry’s and she could see some compassion in his eyes as he looked at Mystique, which told her there was a story she didn’t know.
“I’m not a gambler.” She spoke more quietly, gentler. “I couldn’t bet it all on a lucky hand. I’ve never met anyone but my Grandma that says they’ve felt it. It seems rather rare. Now, loving family that’s strong and real. I love my little girl and I’d lay down and die for her if I had to. I have someone to come home to after a hard day working. She’s my everything.”
“Eventually, like all children, she will grow up.” Henry said and Brooke looked away from him. She tried to not think of that too much.
“Well, then it’s a good thing I know where Mystique is. I’ll just have to have another.” She joked weakly. “Freeze me some of that sperm you found okay? Just so when she leaves I have it.”
No one laughed. Brooke sighed and looked at the work she should be doing.
…………………..
Mystique found herself staring at Brooke while the woman was concentrating on opening up the gate to let her horses out. She took in the small smile the woman gave her horses and the way she patted the ones that came close. She noticed the gentle expression and she shook her head.
Brooke loved, she loved her family, and she loved her horses. It seemed sad that Brooke didn’t believe in romantic love. “I am hoping that you are already planning to be especially gentle with that young woman.” Henry spoke quietly and Mystique didn’t bother to turn to see him. She could feel him leaning on the fence a little, because her seat on the post was shifted just a little.
Mystique scowled and let out an irritated breath. She didn’t want advice from the Xmen’s resident wallflower. She watched as Brooke started to caress the large stallion that was Brooke’s pride and joy. She’d heard that this one was the one Brooke had taken to stud when she’d met Mystique. Brooke appeared to be talking to him, but they were far enough away to not hear it, or at least Mystique was. Henry’s hearing was much better.
He sighed next to her. “I find it interesting that she believed it would work. Most normal people would assume the opposite. She even breeds animals and yet she saw no reason to doubt your ability to impregnate her. It doesn’t seem logical that she wouldn’t even consider the alternative.”
Mystique turned just a little and looked at him. He was staring at Brooke as well, a thoughtful look on his face. He looked like Brooke was a puzzle, and it was nice that she wasn’t the one getting that intense scrutiny from him for a change. “So what do you think, it’s the power of positive thinking?” She grinned as he turned his head to look at her.
“Perhaps.” He spoke slowly. “You mentioned what she was saying during your, ah,” His blush started so show by the way he looked away and down, even though his fur covered it, “sample collection. Is she always so, um, vocal, during your liaisons?”
“No, not always.” Mystique grinned at him wickedly. “Sometimes I have her coming so hard she can’t string two words together.” Her grin grew a little more wicked as she thought of how such a sweet cowgirl became a dirty talker in bed. It was rather intriguing, and consistent.
Mystique had told her not to stop that, once Brooke blushed and looked away one night after saying something that surprised even the cowgirl. Mystique found it extremely arousing to hear the litany of dirty thoughts in Brooke’s head.
“While a genetic sample is the only way to be certain, I hold a considerable amount of certainty that your recent ability to impregnate females is the result of a very low level mutant with enough desperation to enhance her abilities and therefore your own.” His voice became quieter and thoughtful. “It is quite fortuitous for her that your own mutation was one that allowed you to get so very close to what she needed. A small boost of your power was all it would take to allow you to procreate in that manner.” Hank’s explanation was wordy as ever, but Mystique spent more attention to Brooke, who was walking their way looking more relaxed just because her horses were free.
“I saw Grandma came back while we were gone. I could go get my little girl.” Brooke spoke louder so they could hear her as she walked toward them. Mystique slid off the fencepost she’d been sitting on and stood on the ground.
“I would be most appreciative if I could start work posthaste. I do not want to impose on your hospitality more than absolutely necessary.” Henry called back. Mystique watched Brooke take a silent moment to decipher what Henry and said. The woman nodded at them and then met Mystique’s eyes for a moment, holding her gaze. Mystique stared back and then nodded reassuringly, as she noticed Brooke was nervous about having her little girl examined. Mystique wouldn’t let anything happen to Mercy, and apparently Brooke believed that because after that Brooke got into her truck and drove off to get her little girl for them.
…………………
…………………
Brooke smiled as Mercy squealed at the sight of the very large and blue doctor. “He’s a doctor, like Doctor Lillian.” Brooke told her little girl quietly as she worked to get her out of the car seat. “Only he looks at little girls and not horses.”
Brooke remembered her own childhood and how she’d never been seen so excited to see a doctor. She’d hated them. Hopefully if she pulled this off right her little girl wouldn’t have that fear of shots every time she saw a doctor.
Holding Mercy’s hand firmly they started to walk towards an amused looking Mystique and a rather shocked looking Doctor. “He’s big and blue.” Mercy spoke loudly but seemed to think it was a private conversation between the two of them. “Oh and he’s furry like doggy.”
Brooke blushed a little. “Mercy, you know better than to talk like that in front of people.” She scolded softly.
Mercy looked at him. “You’re furry like my doggy. Who brushes you?”
Brooke was blushing hard and she noticed that Mystique wasn’t even trying not to laugh at Mercy’s question. She shot the blue woman a scolding look, not wanting to encourage Mercy into a question spree.
“Oh well,” Henry looked a little surprised for a moment but then he smiled, that stopped Mercy’s walking at the little girl stared at his sharp teeth. “I brush myself and you are quite right it is a very large undertaking.” He leaned down, making himself shorter and held out a hand. “It is very nice to meet you. I’m Henry.”
Mercy stood in front on the huge man and held out her little hand. Brooke wished she could have a picture of her little girl acting like a little lady. “I’m Mercy, well unless I’ve been bad then I’m Mercedes Raine.”
Brooke rolled her eyes and looked over at a still amused looking Mystique.
“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance Mercy.” Henry said and gently shook Mercy’s hand.
Once he stood up Mercy looked over at Mystique and Brooke’s heart ached when her little girl’s face lit up and she spoke. “You’re home.” She couldn’t correct her, and knew that when Mystique finally left Mercy would be devastated.
Brooke sighed and glanced over at her horses as Mystique hugged Mercy tight.
Henry looked at Brooke. “Where might I conduct the examination?” He asked and Brooke studied his size again. The house would be a tight fit for him, the door wasn’t that big. The barn had an area where Dr. Lillian worked and it was large enough to get a horse into it. It also had a table for Mercy to sit on. Brooke glanced at the barn and then at the Doctor.
“I have a spot.” She told him and pushed herself off of the fence she was leaning on and started to lead them there. Mercy was more than happy to play swinging arms with Mystique as they made their way to the barn.
Exams in this stall were normal, so Mercy had seen them done before. Mercy showed no fear as she was lifted up onto a table and the doctor set down a bag full of medical things. Brooke found herself glancing at the bag, concerned about needles.
Mystique moved to stand beside her and leaned in to whisper. “You’re tension is going to scare her.” Mystique added a gentle caress to Brooke’s hand and Brooke sighed and glanced at the woman. She wanted to say she missed her, that isn’t what she said.
“So you look like you weren’t hurt.” Brooke glanced up and down the blue woman.
“I told you, it was a piece of cake mission. If they even had a student metamorph around they wouldn’t have needed me.” Mystique leaned back against the wall. “This is going to get boring, you want to take a walk?”
The tone of voice said it was a chance to kiss and touch. Brooke looked at how Mercy was happily talking Henry’s ear off. She noticed how gentle the man was with her little girl and thought maybe just stepping a few feet away and out of sight would be okay.
They stood in the doorway, the soft breeze bringing fresher air to them. Brooke slowly reached up a hand and caressed red hair. “I missed you.” She spoke and then felt a stab of pain at admitting that. It upset her that she had missed Mystique.
Mystique just smiled and leaned in to kiss her gently. Brooke leaned into Mystique and when it turned into being gently held her eyebrows drew together in confusion, but it felt nice so she didn’t pull away.
Brooke found herself feeling like she was melting as soft caresses went over her back, enjoying the closeness. Part of her ached, wondering how long she’d have this and not looking forward to the loneliness she was used to.
A half hour later Henry came outside with her little girl and smiled at her. Brooke found she was getting use to that and didn’t feel like he might bite every time she saw it. “You have a remarkable little girl.”
“I knew that.” Brooke smiled down at Mercy, who looked a little proud. Brooke didn’t ask about the results or what he was looking for in front of Mercy.
Mystique took the little girl to see the young colt they had in the barn and it left her alone with the doctor. Brooke just watched as Mystique walked away and shook her head just a little. “So?”
“Well, I did exam her as best I could here. My lab at home is much better for this sort of thing but Mystique insisted that you’d never allow us to borrow Mercy for a trip like that.”
Most of what he said didn’t make sense, but overall Brooke got the impression that Mercy was fine. Questions about how Mercy was conceived seemed to have stopped as well, but Brooke noticed she was getting a few curious looks from him even as he was getting into the truck so that Mystique could take him back to their jet.
……………………
“What’s with your girl?” Jake asked her the next day and Brooke glanced over her shoulder to see Jake was looking at Mystique. Mystique was petting a horse and Brooke sighed as she thought of how beautiful that scene was. “She sticking around?” His words were a knife to her heart.
“She just came in to help me out while you were gone.” Brooke turned back to the horse they were watching. “She’ll probably leave soon.”
“Ever thought of asking her to stay?” He asked and Brooke looked over at the older man, whose expression was too serious for this early in the morning.
“She’s not going to stay Jake.” Brooke sighed. “Asking wouldn’t make a difference.”
“Maybe she just needs to know she can stay.” He spoke softly. “That my getting better doesn’t mean she’s out of a job.” The way he said job was soft, “I ain’t never seen you smile like you smile at her.”
“Look.” Brooke took a breath and willed herself not to tear up. “Let’s just get the horses done and call it for lunch.” She didn’t want to talk about wishing for something she couldn’t have. Mystique was going to leave, she knew it, she accepted it, she couldn’t start this ‘what if’ game.
………………….
“I have another mission.” Mystique spoke and rolled onto her side to look down at Brooke in the bed. “It’s a longer one.”
Brooke’s jaw clenched, reflecting her heart. This was it, the end. Jake had been up to full speed for a week and now Mystique had a mission.
“When do you have to go?” Brooke asked, slightly proud of how she was able to make it sound like a casual question, or that it didn’t hurt.
“Tomorrow. They’re going to pick me up on the way.” Mystique caressed her face gently and Brooke rolled over onto her side, facing away.
“Better get some sleep then, if you’ll be busy tomorrow.” Brooke spoke softly and hugged her pillow to her. Mystique surprised her by not getting up and going to her own room.
“I’ll wake up before Mercy, she won’t see me here.” Mystique spoke quietly and then spooned her. Brooke’s eyes started to leak, but she viciously worked to keep it hidden.
……………………..
The next morning felt like they were preparing for a funeral, even though they didn’t do anything different. They ate breakfast and they chatted with Mercy. Brooke didn’t tell her daughter that Mystique was leaving and dreaded the scene that night when Mercy figured it out.
They dropped Mercy off and then Brooke drove back to where Mystique’s truck was. “Thanks for all you help. I would have needed a doctor myself if I’d kept working alone.” Brooke spoke quietly.
“I’m glad I did.” Mystique spoke just as softly. “I’d like to come by for Christmas, but I don’t know that we’ll be done by then.”
Brooke just nodded, but she expected it was just words. When they got to the other truck Brooke slowly got out of the car to do the right thing. She hugged Mystique tensely, kissed her and then stood back and watched her toss her bag into the cab of the truck.
“Tell Mercy I’ll take her out to ice cream when I see her again.” Mystique spoke and it hurt. Brooke had no intention of telling Mercy that, of getting her child’s hopes up like that.
Mystique drove off and Brooke waved, standing tall and smiled. As soon as the truck was out of sight she went into her barn and cried harder than she had when her parent’s divorced. The horses shifted nervously as Brooke’s sobs grew in volume. She’d tried to do it quietly, but the pain was more than she could contain.
She’d miss Mystique.
……………………
Mystique stared down at the fields as they took off and sighed. She could tell Brooke didn’t believe her when she talked about coming back. It made her even more convinced that she needed to go back. She needed to prove to Brooke she was wrong, that real love did exist.
“So are you back now?” Kitty asked, in that snide way she had. Mystique turned to look at her.
“For now.” Was all she said before she turned toward the other woman in the plane. Rogue stared at her a moment and then gave her a small smile.
Ten minutes later Rogue had moved to the seat beside her. “Momma, are you in love?”
Mystique looked away from the fields and clouds and looked at her older daughter. “I could be.” Not yet, but soon. “Just a little longer and I would be.” It wasn’t something she really thought she’d feel again after Irene died, but Brooke would be easy to love. “I need to prove to her it exists.”
It would be hard, but one thing Mystique decided was that she was going to be there for their daughter’s Christmas this year. This mission was going to go fast and well, so that she could prove that she would come back to Brooke. Brooke didn’t believe her.
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AN: Okay I know it isn’t the ending you all expect from me, but I’m happy with it.
THE END