SCRRRRR!

"WATCH WHERE YER @#$^IN GOIN!... Jesus... You okay? Freakin pr@#k, actin like he owns the road." Saphirus shook his head, and looked over, a barely hidden pale of nervousness about him as he looked at his recently again girlfriend. They were going to go pick up her dad. Holy @#$^. He was about to meet the father of the woman he'd put a baby into. I mean, it made sense, and they would have met sooner or later, but this escalated things.

He wasn't ready. The training he'd done with Maya didn't go over this kinda stuff. What do you say? They weren't exactly married or anything, either. He paused for a second, looking over to her. "And you're sure he ain't mad?" He swerved around a car that was only going the speed limit, and took a sharp left, looking to her once again. "So, uh, thinking about things... are we gonna get married, then?" It was random, but, like, that's what you did when you had kids, right? Well, hopefully before that, but yeah.

"When's the plane arriving?" He looked at his car radio's clock real quick. It was an hour and six minutes off, but he liked it that way. They were running a little behind, but his driving would make up for that. Even if they were late, it wasn't like it was their fault, right? He'd just told them he was visiting last night. Who did that?

Wait, was that a normal parent thing? Surprise inspections? Did he have that to look forward to in the future? He mused over these things as he ran a yellow/orange light and skid into the freeway exit.

Normally, Saph's driving would have given her an aneurysm, even more so now with the little life inside her. This time around she had been unusually quiet. In fact, she had been that way most of the time since she had moved back in with him. Most of it was due to her just being plain exhausted all the time, and that she wasn't allowed to drink nearly as much coffee as she was used too. But... other things were on her min as well. She hadn't seen her dad since... since the incident. She spoke to him a lot because he was alone now and needed someone. With mom gone she knew it was hard on him. Deep down, even mid their many breakups, he loved her deeply.

... She could imagine what he was feeling right now.

--IN!... Jesus... You okay? Freakin pr@#k, actin like he owns the road."

She snapped out of her thoughts suddenly, only now realizing that Saph was speaking. To her even. "...I'm fine." She replied evenly, even though she had a death grip on the seat and door with her hands.

"And you're sure he ain't mad? So, uh, thinking about things... are we gonna get married, then?

"Nah... we aren't a conventional family. He isn't mad about it, because i'm happy with it." She mustered a small smile to try and ease his worry. "I dunno about Marriage... if you want we could? It's just a piece of paper though. Doesn't really change much for us except taxes."

She thought about it for a second though. "...Best to probably not bring up marriage right now though in front of dad."

She checked her phone for the time before answering his last question. "He should be landing soon, but it will take him a while before he gets his luggage and stuff." She paused again, looking out the side window for a moment before adding onto her response.

"Try not t bring up my mom if you can. He's not in a good place with it yet."

She was quiet. Normally she'd be stomping the invisible driver instructor breaks and yelling at him to slow down, but she seemed to be lost in thought. She was like that a lot. It lended to the awkwardness he knew he'd feel when they'd made the call to get back together again. It would take some time, right?

After they made their way to the freeway, the Airport was a relatively short jaunt away.

He nodded a bit as she replied about getting married. Made sense. He hated taxes enough already. "Maybe later, then." She mentioned not to bring it up to her father, and he tilted his head a bit in response. Okay, then. Well, that was a terrifying response. Was he not happy with this after all? Sh#$, He'd never met the man. Was He gonna have to get into a fight at the airport? How do you beat up your girlfriends father and not make her hate you?

They turned off last second into the airport exit, getting in front of that one last car along the way.

He paused when she mentioned not to bring up her mom. Oh man, were they divorced again? Jees, how many times had those two broken up, now? He nodded to her. "No problem."

They turned into the arrivals section of the airport and into a mess of cars and people with roller bags. "Eh... I hate the airport. Will you recognize him when you see him? What's he even look like?"

He would turn off into the pickup zone when she pointed him out. He had a lot of images in my head of what this guy could look like. None of them were probably accurate.

She watched as the terminal grew closer, before glancing back at Saph. "Yeah. I saw him not long ago." She tried not to dwell on that and didn't think much of Saph's question. As they pulled in, she spotted her da right away. He had a rolling suitcase with him, as well as a carry-on and a magazine tucked under his arm. She directed Saph where to park, then let herself out of the car in order to greet her father. He was standing by himself, flipping through something on his phone as he waited.

"Dad." He started at her voice, before turning to her. Immediately his face was overtaken by tears, snot, and borderline wailing. "My little Shelly Baby!" He dropped his luggage and enveloped her in the fiercest hug of her like, all but squeezing the air out of her. She patted his back weakly. "Ah.... love you too, dad."

She wasn't sure if Saph was going to join them, but considering how busy the terminal was she made to usher her dad back to the car as quickly as possible. Her father, who did his best to hide his surprise at the ol' Saphmobile, was left without words the moment he saw it. "So this is what you ride around in these days, Shell?" She could hear the nervousness in his voice.

"...It looks worse than it actually is. Saph takes care of it himself. A fixer-upper." Instantly, the nervous look on his transformed into something else. Light sprang up in his eyes and he fixed his gaze on the man they were talking about. "Ah! A man after my own heart then. Saphirus... Was it? Good to finally meet you! Shelby's told me a lot about you!"

The man thrust out his hand in greeting. "Colin Walters, at your service."

Colin was a large man, tall and thick in the chest and belly. Tick glasses sat on the bridge of his nose, similar the ones Shelby wore.

"I've got a hotel set up for you," Shelby started, taking his carry on bag from him. She struggled with the weight for a moment. "I figured we could swing by so you can drop your stuff off, then hit the town for dinner?" 

Ultimately, her father agreed and piled himself into the front seat of Saph's car. Shelby took the back, as Colin didn't fit in the back comfortably. And so, on the drive back into town, began a game of twenty questions: Concerned Father Edition.

--

One rocky drive later, they pulled into the parking lot of the Hotel he would be staying at. The giant man clambered our of Saph's car, doing his best to hide how the drive had affected him... He was definitely looking into the different car for Shelby to drive, that was for sure. "Alright, pumpkin. I'll run in and get everything settled. Be right back out, okay?" 

Shelby nodded, leaning back against her boyfriend's car as her dad walked off. It creaked in protest. "Thank you for putting up with him." She muttered. "He's just concerned about me. Maybe a tad overprotective." 

Saph stayed in the car during the initial pick up, trying the whole time to look like he wasn't trying to look as closely as possible. The man... Well, he looked old. Very... old white guy? Not exactly scary looking, so that was a plus, but you never knew...

He clenched the steering wheel tight enough to make his knuckles turn white as they entered the car, and he remarked about it the vehicle's condition. He smiled as convincingly as he could and nodded when she said it was a fixer-upper. It had been for years. He'd been saving for a new one.

The older gentleman warmed up suddenly, and reached out to shake his hand. He pried a hand from the steering wheel and shook back awkwardly.

"Uh, yeah. Nice to meet you."

His eyes lit up in protest as Shelby maneuvered into the back seat, and switched to an unsure smile as he looked to his girlfriend's father taking a seat next to him.

What followed was the commencement of an innocent interrogation, provoking answers such as, "Yeah, It's a job. I'm good at it. Pay is alright. She eats well. Eh, no. No house, living at the Xavier institute still, yeah. No, I didn't vote for him. Around 11 or so, I guess? I try not to stay up too late. When I'm thirsty, I guess? I don't go by the so many glasses a day, thing." And on and on and oooon, by the time they got to the hotel he had less of a nervous expression and more of a flat faced, unamused one.

The graying man left to get his hotel room settled.

"Pumpkin, huh? Jesus, he's @#$kin harmless as a fly, ain't he? Talks a lot; that a nerves thing?" He let out a sigh of relief. No fist fights today... "We getting food after this? I'm starving. MacDronalds?"

"Pumpkin, huh? Jesus, he's @#$kin harmless as a fly, ain't he? Talks a lot; that a nerves thing? We getting food after this? I'm starving. MacDronalds?"

Normally she would have blushed at the nickname. Maybe punched him in the arm. She sighed through her nose instead and silently reminded herself that it would only get better from here on out. "Yeah, he's a big softy. He talks alot when he's got a lot of things on his mind.... he's had a lot on his mind recently."

She had too. He was dealing with his problems much better than she, though. Her therapist had her on a medication to help manage stress while she recovered.

"I was thinking we could go to a sit-down place. Maybe Mexican?... We normally would go Italian, but... it's not the right time for that."

Her dad was back soon after that, tidied up from his flight with his sweater over one arm. "Alright Kiddos, where are we off to?"

When it was decided, they all crammed back into the car and were off. Mid-drive, her dad twisted around slightly and pulled a little box out from under her sweater.

"So... I got you something." She took it from him, flipping it open in her palm. Inside the little white box was a necklace. Plain silver chain, with a small glass looking pendant hanging from the chain.

"Didn't want to give it to you in the restaurant because, well... you know."

She didn't comment at first, simply staring down at the little bauble. She knew what it was... she'd looked at them herself quite a bit in the last few weeks. Her heart clenched, but she was able to keep it together.

"...Thanks dad, I love it. Really."

She slipped it around her neck before they got to the restaurant, fiddling with it once they had gotten a seat.

Colin, who was sat across them, looked at his daughter for a moment before clearing his throat. He didn't like the distant look in her eyes. "So... Shelby. I've been thinking about it a lot recently, and I've decided to.. uh.. to move up here to New York to be closer to you."

He took a sip from his drink for a moment. "With your mom gone, i've done a lot of soul-searching. I'm selling the house in Bellingham and I've got a few investments that are turning out quite well."

He looked up. His daughter's eyes were fixed on him like lasers. "I know, I know... it's impulsive, but... well. I miss you. I want to be closer to you, and my future grandchild."

He looked to Spah then, possibly for some sort of backup. "I'm probably the best babysitter in the world, too! You know that, don'cha pumpkin?"

Her expression darkened and she squinted at him. Was this some ill-guided attempt at protecting her? He was just putting himself in harm's way! She didn't want to lose him too!

"I know, I know. Don't worry, Shell. I'll be fine."

She sighed. "... Not like I can stop you once you put your mind to something." She muttered stiffly. Oh look, their food had arrived.

He noticed the lack of any reaction to his teasing. Man, things really weren't gonna go back to normal quick, huh? Maybe he wasn't acting the same, either... He just had to be more supportive, was all.

"I guess that makes sense." HE replied to her comment about him talking a lot more lately. You know what, maybe he should give dear old dad a shot, huh? Show him a real good time. Yeah. That might make her feel better.

"Mexican it is. There is a good tex mex place on 3rd." Dad arrived again. "Lookin good old man, I figure we can go to this place near by, called Los Mariachis. Decent tex mex. Sound good?" He smiled a bit, and skid off as soon as he was buckled in. That would help. Lighter atmosphere, maybe a drink, everyone relaxes. He kinda watched as Colin spun and gave Shelby a gift, but had to mostly pay attention to the road. Some sorta family heirloom or something? Maybe the break up between mah and pah was a little more serious this time?

Saph engaged a little more with Colin during that drive, making a few jokes. They had some things in common, after all. They did their own work on their cars, they had both moved a lot when they were younger, though for drastically different reasons. They both liked cheesy jokes. This guy was alright! That was why he couldn't help but shrug and smile a bit when he mentioned wanting to move up. He took a moment to realize that the older man was looking to him for help.

"I-I mean yeah, it would be great to have some help early on, too. I hear it takes a village." He chuckled. and patted Shelby reassuringly.

It was decided, he was moving up. Saphirus smiled widely, and welcomed their chips and dip as it arrived, grabbing a scoop full of salsa, and chuckling as he spoke. "I mean, who knows, maybe Mah can move up too, before too long; I'm sure she can't stay away forever, right?"

Silence.

"Uh... Right?"

Her mood shifted a little as she watched her boyfriend and Dad chat. They seemed to get along just fine after all. She hadn't really been worried that they wouldn't, but her dad was a handful.

"I-I mean yeah, it would be great to have some help early on, too. I hear it takes a village."

Saph patted her on the head with a chuckle. She ignored him while sipping her soda through a straw.

"I mean, who knows, maybe Mah can move up too, before too long; I'm sure she can't stay away forever, right? .... Uh... Right?"

With a sharp inhale, soda sucked up into her sinuses. She coughed and sputtered, slamming a hand down on the table as she half stood. It burned! OwOwOw!

Her father had a more muted reaction. Staring across the table at the mutant in obvious shock. Then, his eyes started to water and he rushed to stand. "E-excuse me for a moment." The large man rushed off before Shelby could stop him.

She turned on Saph a second later, whipping around so fast her glasses slid down her nose. "What the HELL is your malfunction?! Are you trying to @#$%ing break him?! It's not funny, Saph!"

She was so angry her face was red. More emotion flowing through her that she had felt the entire last week. Even her meds couldn't dim the rage.

Then, a moment later, she realized he might not have been joking. She searched his face, a frown settling on her lips as the red in her face faded away. ".... You... didn't know, did you?"

She felt the rest of the fury leave her like a wind blowing through her body. Her butt plopped back down in he seat and she turned away from him to stare at her father's empty seat.

"My mom is dead, Saph."

Just like that, everything changed. At first he just kinda looked around somewhat stunned as Colin instantly removed himself from the situation.

"What... the f-" Shelby went off on him, and his eyes shot open wide as his hands, open, lifted up and waved in front of his chest uselessly. What was going the @#$^ on right now? You'd like he just pimp slapped the pope in a catholic church! "I wasn't- I'm not- it's-"

Her face was red with anger, his was flushed with nerves and confusion. She had a bit of a beat, and then asked in a shocked tone. ".... You... didn't know, did you?"

"What? know what?" He looked around quickly, as if the room would give him hints or something.

"My mom is dead, Saph."

He exhaled sharply, as if he'd but slammed with a harsh body shot. Hooooo f#$%, he'd done it now.

"Wh--- What? When? What happened?" He was lost. He was so lost, and he'd #$^&ed this up, and it was all his fault and #@$^! #$%^-@^$&-@#$^! What an IDIOT!

How had be missed that? Why hadn't she told him? Jesus, he hadn't been there for her for THAT?! He was a trash person. That sealed it.

"Wh--- What? When? What happened?"

.. He hadn't known. She'd explain it to her dad... he would understand. Everything would be alright.

Taking a slow breath in through her nose like her therapist had taught her to do, she let herself lean back into the seat. How... was she going to tell him? She could barely think about it t length without getting emotional. instead, she pulled her phone out and fished up one of the few articles that had been written about the murder. Her mom's picture was prominent on the page. She tried not to look at it as she wordlessly handed the phone to Saph.

"...Sorry." She muttered, "I... I thought you already knew because you had worked on the case and stuff."

The article went over the crime in professional detail. Background on the victim, others found at the scene. The suspected murderer. Details about how the woman had died were present but tactful. She had been a respectable woman, after all.

"It happened about two months ago." The article didn't go over the details she knew, though. The person who had written it would have no way of knowing that horror. That Roach had found her. Planned the whole thing from start to finish.

No one except for the cops knew the details she had been given them. That Roach had slipped a large dose of Valium into the bottle her antidepressants were kept in. That she had basically been unable to do anything to fight back. That she had begged and pleaded for him to let them go. The things she had promised....

She squeezed her eyes shut, hands clenching into fists in her lap. "... I woke up in a room... and they were there...and he kept going on and on about this game, and my mom... she..."

She let her eyes slipped closed and squeezed them. "I... I couldn't..."

So many feelings bubbled beneath her surface, barely kept in control by carefully monitored medicine. Guilt Anger. Shame... deep, soul-crushing sorrow.

She could hear the last thing she had said to him softly repeating in her head.

"...When will this end?"

She wanted to get up and run away. Find a dark corner where she could pass out and just sleep until it didn't hurt anymore. Her lungs clenched as she struggled with a sob. She ended up pressing her hands to her mouth and biting down on her knuckle as hard as she could.

Saphirus felt a numb, shaky feeling as she handed him the phone, and he read the article slowly. Jesus, this was terrible. Horrifying. It was Roach. While he'd gone silent over the last five months he must have been preparing this. He felt sick. Slowly, he place the chip in his hand on the table, and set her phone down. The X-man placed his elbows on the table, and then put his head in his hands as she listened to her speak.

His chest did loops as she talked about the terror he'd completely missed in her life. "I didn't even see it... Everyone was so wrapped up in the rift, I guess it got buried in the news... #@$^"

He looked up, and over to her as she bit into her knuckle, and frowned, reaching over to envelop her in a tight hug. She needed it. How long had she needed it? And he hadn't been there. He'd made a mistake, and he hadn't been there.

"I'm sorry... I'm here now. We're gonna get you through this."

The waiter arrived, his tiny sombrero strapped to his head, his suspenders covered in mexico themes pins. He looked for a moment, turned around, and wandered off to give them some time.

Saph barely noticed, and he felt people moving around him. He let it be like that for a moment, until he pulled back and tried to find her eyes. "Is your dad going to be okay? Do we need to find him?"

"I didn't even see it... Everyone was so wrapped up in the rift, I guess it got buried in the news... #@$^"

Pretty much, yeah. It was an awful thing that had happened but compared to some of the other things going on in the world it just wasn't enough to break through the headliners.

"I'm sorry... I'm here now. We're gonna get you through this."

She let him hug her, dropping her hands into her lap and staring down at the imprints of her teeth in her skin. Then, she lifted that hand and squeezed one of his arms. "It's okay." She started, working on calming herself back down with his help. "You have a life of your own. Stuff you were dealing with. I know how hard it is to see anything but what's in front you when you're dealing with things."

She looked at him slightly, before turning her chin to look off to where her father had gone. "He'll be fine. I'll go find him in a sec and explain everything. He won't hold it against you."

She glanced down at her hand again, rubbing the skin to make the marks go away quicker. "I... I don't have the best coping mechanisms yet." She sighed. "I'm still working with a therapist to get through it. She's got me on some heavy meds at the moment until I'm in a good enough place I don't need them. S'why I've been all blah lately. They make me feel off."

Truthfully she didn't like taking them anymore. She was always worried that it wouldn't be her pills in there again.

... that she'd wake up in another dark room.

She gave her dad enough time to calm himself before she went to find him. After a brief explanation, they were both back at the table and picking through their plates. "Ahem... so... uh... sorry about that Got some, uh... dust in my eye or something. Had to go wash it out."

Shelby smiled at him from across the table.

"....Anyone ever tell you about all of the embarrassing things Shell did as a kid, Saph?"

"DAD!"