At this point, honestly, Gemma was grateful for any and every distraction.

It had been weeks since she'd talked to Jorge. Since the day he found out that she was more than just the school guidance counselor checking up in him. Since then, she'd been through every dark human emotion possible, guilt being the one overshadowing the others. She knew she'd made a mistake. She should have told Jorge the truth right away. There was no putting that nicer. But now it was done, and she was at a loss at how to move forward. Or move at all.

She also didn't know how Jorge was doing. She hoped he had someone to talk to. Somehow, she found that the thought of her making this epic, horrible mistake was a little easier to bear if she knew he had someone to vent to. She didn't even care if he vented about hating her.

Mutual friends told her he was still around, and doing fine, all things considered. Gemma, on her part, decided to give him time and space. He probably needed a lot of those. Hopefully, he would reach out when he was ready. Maybe.

In the meantime, there were the kids. And the school. They gave her plenty of distraction. So much, in fact, that she'd moved straight past her own birthday the day before and it barely registered at all.

It was late in the afternoon now, and she was standing at the front door, waiting. Some Mansion kid had gone out and gotten into a bit of trouble. Some woman called the cops, obviously, and the cops sent out MRC to deal with a 'dangerous mutant' who turned out to be a kid blowing smoke out of his nose. So now a patrol car was on the way to hand the student over with all the appropriate formalities. Gemma would have a talk with him, and make sure he was okay. Another day of work done.

The police car turned the corner, and Gemma waved a hand. MRC people already knew where to drop off the errant Mansion kids.

Things had been interesting for Jorge since his last conversation with the guidance counselor. He hadn’t spoken to her since that day but his life had moved on. Most of it was shrouded in confusion considering the bombshell of information that he had discovered. The picture, the admission, the fact that he had been married to her this whole time but never once said as much despite every passing day? That was a hard one to wrap his mind around -- but he supposed in some miniscule way, he could understand.

But that didn’t mean he forgave her. Not yet. No, Jorge took this time of revitalized youth to throw himself into his work. That was his pattern -- and a major reason why he never had long lasting relationships since joining the force. Jorge needed time to come to term with certain things and, in doing so, often focused on his work

This was one of those times. The MRC was running pretty well though it seemed that he had been a major playing in the department. One of the few cops to last so long, he had apparently managed to leave his mark. Sadly, the biggest issue with this fountain of youth B.S. was that he didn’t remember achieving any of it. So, even though he had managed to put in the time, he couldn’t remember any of it. Those old instincts were faded and, therefore, of no use to the department.

He was back to square one.

Jorge found himself just a step up from foot patrol. Not that he would have complained, really, but it was still a slight kick in the teeth. It felt like so much of his time had been wasted and now he was starting over. Still, that wasn’t what he was in this job for. He was here to help and to defend, that was something that was truly important.

Today, for example. Today he was making his way to Xavier’s mansion to drop off a poor kid who had the cops called on him.

Earlier the police had been called into the case. A freaked out bookstore owner was fearful that a mutant was planning to burn down his store in an act of terrorism. However, when the MRC arrived, all they saw was an innocent looking boy who had lost control of his abilities, which essentially only resulted in smoke spewing from his nose. A sad state of affairs, yes, but not something that the police needed to be called for.

To make matters worse, the boy had no family and was seemingly living on his own, struggling to make it day by day. While the next step for most kids would be calling protective services, Jorge knew that there was one place that could give the kid a much better chance.

In the squad car, Jorge looked at the high gates and the sprawling lawn of the mansion. He hadn’t been here yet, not since he had been deaged. But there was certainly a pang of familiarity about it. But as he drove up to the front door, all Jorge could feel was the spectres of memories and that was more infuriating than anything.

With a sigh he glanced out of the corner to his eye to the morose looking boy. When they caught eyes, the officer gave him a smile. ”Hey. Do worry, kid. I hear they do good work here. Got a good rep with use back in the department.”

“Yeah?” the boy asked sheepishly, a small plume of smoke rolling out of his nose. “Y-You’ve been here?”

Jorge looked ahead. ”Been...sometime…” he replied. ”But...I have a...good friend that works here…”

His voice trailed off. There, outside the doors of the mansion, was the woman he still felt so conflicted about. Tall, dark skinned, with a kind smile, the officer felt himself overcome with a bevy of emotions. Should he still be mad? This was his wife after all. Or were they? What happened to those deaged when trying to return to a relationship they were supposed to have? Jorge, again, found his head hurting as he tried to think and thought it best to shrug it off and do his job.

He would think about her later.

About where they are in their relationship, that is.

The squad car pulled up and Jorge turned, giving the boy and encouraging nod before he unbuckled his seatbelt and climbed out. Once out, he guided the boy gently towards the towering woman and gave her a curt nod.

”Ma’am...I mean...Mrs…” he cleared his throat. ”Miss Taylor? This is Peter Drago,” he said, introducing the smaller, blonde-haired boy. ”MRC contacted you concerning his case?”

Gemma's smile wavered when Jorge climbed out of the car. Of course, with her luck, they would send him out of all people to drop off the kid... Her heart skipped, and she knew she should not be thinking of any of this now. But it was hard to see him without trying to apologize. It was hard to see him at all.

>>”Ma’am...I mean...Mrs… Miss Taylor? This is Peter Drago. MRC contacted you concerning his case?”

Miss Taylor.

Gemma pulled on her last reserves of willpower.

"Of course. Hello, Peter." she smiled a the boy "Welcome to Xavier's. Come on, let's find you a room and some food, hm?"

The boy nodded sheepishly, and Gemma ushered him towards the front door of the Mansion. She looked back at Jorge, hesitating for a moment.

"You're welcome too... officer. Can I get you some coffee, maybe?"

She was not sure she should have said that. It wasn't just a moment of weakness, though; she subtly nodded towards the kid as Peter turned away. He had just been dropped off by someone he barely knew to a place he didn't know. Consistency was in short supply. Maybe Jorge accompanying them inside would help with the transition. If he agreed, that is.

This wasn’t the first time that Jorge had taken a kid to a foster home. There was a time in Miami when he had been called out to a domestic disturbance and the parents had to be taken away. Their daughter, sadly, didn’t have any neighbors or family who could take her in. It had been a long night in the precinct, sitting with the young girl, giving her hot chocolate, and generally making sure she was well cared for before he got the orders to take her to her new foster home.

The entire trip, Jorge chatted up the young girl, keeping her entertained and talking about how sweet the people taking her in would be. By the time that they had arrived it seemed that the trepidation had lowered significantly. Jorge had always been good with kids so he did the same thing for Peter all the way to the mansion.

Of course, seeing Gemma had thrown him for a little loop. He had hoped that maybe one of the other instructors would be there to greet them at the door and he could pass Peter off to them so he could be taken to Gemma on his own. The two wouldn’t have had to have seen one another.

But, as it seemed, fate intervened and the one person in this world that truly made the young watermancer nervous was standing at the front doors. And she looked just as surprised.

They stared awkwardly for a second before Jorge introduced the new student to Gemma. Peter looked very nervous but that was understandable. So when Gemma offered the boy a meal and a warm place to sit, he looked at Jorge with a small bit of apprehension. Of course Jorge dipped his head to the boy, encouraging him to follow the guidance counselor -- that is until she invited him in as well.

He understood why. Consistency. How was the boy supposed to trust that this place would be right for him with the police officer that brought him wouldn’t walk in of his own volition? It wasn’t as if young Drago needed to know anything about Jorge and Gemma’s issues. At the end of the day, they were both here for him.

Finally in response, Jorge offered the guidance counselor a quick smile and a nod of his head. ”Of course, Ms. Taylor,” he said, stepping awkwardly closer. ”Ugh, that would be just fine.” His smile turned to Peter, who looked considerably more relieved, and gestured for him to enter. ”After you, young sir.”

Age difference and hurt feeling side, Jorge and Gemma still understood each other. He knew, without words, that she was inviting him in because of the kid. That made things easier.

>>”Of course, Ms. Taylor. Ugh, that would be just fine. After you, young sir.”

"Don't be surprised if your powers don't work around me." Gemma told the boy as they walked inside the building "I have an aura that cancels mutant powers. It's called an adapted aura. If it is not comfortable for you, you can step out of it, or you can ask me to back up. Is that okay?" she explained, and Peter nodded, looking a little bewildered. "Great. Now. Would you like to find a room first, or get something to eat first?"

Jorge did still have mixed feelings about the guidance counselor -- who happened to be his wife. When he found out it was more hurt than angry, but it was a feeling that was only compounded the longer he spent in her presence. That was why he had stayed away for so long because he couldn’t get his thoughts together accurately. Everything just felt so confusing when he was around her. But now that time had passed -- he was even more confused.

Jorge had hoped that his time away from Gemma would be enough for him to clear his head. Then he had hoped that by burying himself in his work that he would be able to bury some of those feelings and instead let time heal the wound. But sadly it seemed that betrayal and longing had managed to find a way to constantly vexxed the deaged police officer, no matter how much time had passed.

But that wasn’t what this meeting was about. This was a chance meeting in an attempt to do something good for a poor kid who needed a break. And though Jorge would have rather stepped away so that he could collect himself, that wouldn’t have been in the kid’s best interest.

He smiled a little to Peter who looked between him and Gemma, marveling at the explanation as to how his powers wouldn’t work near her and at the idea of a warm meal and bed.

“Um...um...I...guess I’m a little hungry…” Peter softly squeaked out. He winced and closed his eyes, but when he opened them he was surprised. Waving his hand in front of his nose, he noted that there was no smoke and was astonished.

Jorge gave him a lopsided grin. ”It’s okay, kid. Like she said, she can cancel out powers. But if you take a couple steps away, you’ll get them back. She’ll be as close or as far as you need her to be.”

His gaze swept back over to Gemma. She really did have a way with kids. He could see, partially, why an older version of himself would be attracted to her. Wait...what? He shook the thoughts loose as he took a breath and followed the counselor into the mansion.

Jorge was silent for several moments, only looking at Peter or surveying the surroundings. It took time before his eyes found Gemma again and, when they did, he cleared his throat and spoke.

”Ugh...sorry. I hope this is not too..um...hi.” He shook his head. ”Sorry. When they assigned me to bring the kid here I...guess I thought one of the teachers was going to greet us.” After a pause and a second to clear his throat he continued. ”How are you?”

>>“Um...um...I...guess I’m a little hungry…”

"Kitchen it is, then" Gemma smiled, and led the way. She could tell Peter was surprised at the effects of her powers. Jorge stepped in to explain. Somehow, they still worked well together.

In the kitchen, Peter took a seat, looking around and taking in all that was there to see in the Mansion dining area. Gemma took a pause too, trying to figure out the best course of action to make food.

>>”Ugh...sorry. I hope this is not too..um...hi. Sorry. When they assigned me to bring the kid here I...guess I thought one of the teachers was going to greet us. How are you?”

"It's alright" she smiled at him. It was not his fault they ran into each other. Kids came and went at the Mansion all the time; it had been pure chance that he was the one bringing Peter in. Gemma turned the coffee machine on, and then looked around "How do pancakes sound?"

Pancakes were quick to make, and the kind of comfort food most kids liked. Peter seemed to agree, because he nodded enthusiastically at the idea. Gemma got to work; when the coffee was done, she placed the cup in front of Jorge. She knew how he liked his coffee; she just hoped his taste did not change over the years. "Is that ok?"

Despite whatever he was feeling for or against Gemma Taylor (Cervantes?), Jorge knew that he needed to stow it for now. He was here for the kid. He was here to make sure that Peter was comfortable and that he was going to thrive here at the mansion. He was protective services, of course, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t do a thorough job and report his findings. And, in all honesty, he was already impressed with the school -- as well as Ms. Taylor’s understanding of the kid’s predicament.

Jorge had to marvel at how she treated him. Very attentive, almost parent-like, but with enough of an official stance to not make the kid too squirrely. Kids like Peter could be a hard sell. They either feared being rejected or were suspicious for anyone who attempted to “parent” them, especially after being abandoned. Gemma, however, had a nice, even touch. It was refreshing, to say the least.

Once in the kitchen, Jorge took a moment to let his eyes wander. It was a beautiful space and seemed fairly laden with food. No surprise. There were a good amount of kids here, all of which probably ate at different times of the day. It paid for them to be in constant supply.

At the behest of pancakes, Peter perked up. Good choice. A hearty, comforting food, that was enough to calm anyone’s nerves. Hell, Jorge could use some pancakes right but he didn’t say as much. Instead he turned to the coffee that was offered to him after a quick brew and mix.

Without thinking, Jorge took a sip and sighed. It was relaxing and familiar. Then, after a second, he turned back to Gemma with a conflicted but grateful smile. ”Um, perfect,” he said softly. His gaze swept back to the mug in his hand. ”Just perfect.”

It made sense. They were married. Of course she would know how he liked his coffee. Jorge just didn’t know how to feel about that right now. He was still so conflicted about her. She had known, this entire time, that they were married and that he was desperate for information about his life in New York. While he understood that it was a painful thing to have to experience, they could have gone through it together. Instead she kept it a secret.

Would he have done the same if the situation was reversed? Jorge struggled with that question for days after he had asked Gemma to leave his place. He tried, many times, to put himself into her shoes but just couldn’t settle on an answer. It was too hard to consider.

He stared at his coffee, sighed, and snapped back to reality. He was here to do his job and that was what he should focus on. With another sip, he raised his eyes to Peter who was busy awaiting his pancakes. Jorge then turned again to Ms. Taylor.

”Lovely home here,” he said, gesturing all around. ”Glad to see that Peter will get a good chance to start over.”

>>”Um, perfect. Just perfect.”

Gemma knew this was awkward. It was exactly what made her conceal their marriage in the first place; the young officer knew nothing about her, and she knew everything about him. It went with the unspoken assumption that he should care the same way his older self cared for her. No one could expect that from a virtual stranger. It wasn't fair. But then again, it wasn't fair either way.

>>”Lovely home here. Glad to see that Peter will get a good chance to start over.”

"The Mansion is a very good place" Gemma nodded, working on pancakes. "And it is safe. And we usually have lots of food in here" she added with a smile. Feeding people was one way to make them more comfortable, and Gemma took that very seriously.

Once the pancakes were done, she made two plates, one for Peter and one for Jorge, piling toppings and syrup on the table for them to choose from. There were a lot of toppings.

"Peter, we are going to find you a room and help you move in, okay? I'm going to have to clean up in here, but I'll introduce you to Maya. She's lived here too since she was a kid, and she helps people settle in. Sounds good?"

Jorge really wasn’t sure how to feel about everything. Well, not everything. Job wise, everything was perfect. Peter was going to get the help and safety he needed. The school itself was the best place for him, and certainly had everything in order (from what he’d read). So everything in that respect was going in the best possible direction. But there were other things on the watermancer’s mind -- namely the woman who called himself his wife that he had no recollection of.

It was strange. It felt right to be around her but the officer was completely unsure as to what to do. She had lied to him, after all, and didn’t offer him the chance to try and work out how he should feel given that he was supposed to have been married to her this whole time. But, on the other hand, he could understand why she would want to keep it a secret. Why saddle someone with no memory with the knowledge of a life they couldn’t remember?

He was conflicted. As much as he wanted to get past it, there were still just so many questions and so many concerns about how he should proceed. In the meantime, he would focus on his job.

A plate of the most delectable looking pancakes was placed in front of Peter and, as the boy began to chow down with vigor, Jorge glanced at the second plate that was set down. This clearly had been for him. He glanced at Gemma awkwardly. Her cooking was top notch. It was because of her that he managed to get some home cooked meals while he was trying to figure himself out. It was a hard lure to ignore.

As Peter looked at him, Jorge gave the kid an encouraging smile, stepped up and took a forkful of the hefty, yet light-as-a-feather pancakes and took bit into it. Ugh. No one should be allowed to cook this good. He offered Gemma a small smirk before turning back to Peter. That was a lot of things they needed to figure out, and a big decision for the boy to make, so Jorge would stay at his side.

After swallowing he spoke up. ”Everyone here is here to truly help, Peter, okay?” Jorge smiled to him. ”I haven’t met Maya yet but if Ms. Taylor can vouch for them, I’m sure they’ll be awesome. You want me to stay until you get settled?”

A look of relief washed over Peter’s face. Quickly he nodded his head, carefully chewing his mouthful of pancakes before swallowing. “Y-Yes, please,” he asked. And then looked at Gemma. “Thank you, ma’am, for the pancakes.”

Jorge nodded his head. He then turned to Gemma, awkwardly looked to the side before he shrugged. ”So long as you don’t mind another tag along?” he asked. ”I’ll stick around until the boy gets himself a room and settles in.”

The pancakes were a success. Peter wolfed them down, visibly relaxed now that he had some good food in a sate place. Jorge was more hesitant, but in the end, he didn't resist either. She just hoped he did not feel pressured into the whole situation. The sooner they could get Peter settled in, the better. As long as no one was rushed.

>>”So long as you don’t mind another tag along? I’ll stick around until the boy gets himself a room and settles in.”

"That is very kind of you" Gemma nodded. The man she knew would stay until his charge was settled, and used to his surroundings. She let both of them finish their pancakes, before she called Mirror down to the kitchen, and introduced her to Peter. After that, it was just a matter of finding a free room for Peter, and all the necessities - clothes, towels, bed sheets - he would need. By that time, he'd warmed up to Maya, and Gemma was comfortable with leaving them to settle in.

"Let's just stop by at the office before you go" she told Jorge once they were alone "I have a few papers for you to sign, and then we're all done."

Jorge was true to his word. His caseload was smaller considering what had happened to him so the only thing he really had to focus on was Peter and his face. After calling in to the precinct that he was there to ensure that the kid was comfortable, Jorge gave himself free reign to hang by Peter’s side for as long as he wanted him to. Thankfully, as it seemed, it wasn’t going to last all that long. Beforelong, Peter was removing himself from Jorge’s side and following Maya without having to constantly look his way. It seemed that he was making himself at home.

All the while, however, there was a small tinge of the awkward in the air as Gemma also stayed along with Peter. The both of them melted into the background as the boy was being ferried along by Maya, leaving Jorge just a little unsure of what to do in the woman’s presence. Occasionally he would glance her way but he would turn his attention back before this was caught.

Why was this so awkward? Oh yeah, because she lied to him for months when he was desperate for any shred of information about his past. That was a pretty good reason to be awkward. But she had her reasons, even Jorge had to admit that they were valid. He really just wished that some of this would clear up so they could move on -- however it was supposed to happen.

By the time Peter had everything he needed and was settling in, Jorge smiled as he knelt near the boy. He was now sitting on his own bed in the mansion, looking about in wonderment and the quarters that would be his and his alone.

”Hey Pete. So, looks like everything here on the up and up. You comfortable? Feel like you’re good staying?” Jorge asked.

The boy nodded, offering him a big smile.

”I’m glad to hear it. Listen, I gotta take off now, but you’re in good hands. However, if you need to talk for any reason…” Jorge pulled out his wallet and removed a business card from it. ”...you call or text the number on this card, okay?” He set the card on the kid’s nightstand. ”I’m always around if you need me.”

The boy, taking the card in his hands, smiled as he turned it over. Jorge smirked and shared another nod with Peter before he turned to walk away. At Gemma’s insistence, Jorge dipped his head understandingly. There was always paperwork.

”Yeah, that sounds good,” Jorge confirmed. He started to follow Gemma back to her office, his eyes peering around the decor in the hallways and sighed. ”Peter seems like he’ll be happy here. I’m glad you all are around. Giving these kids a second chance and all that. No wonder we…” he paused, catching himself, the continued. ”...you work here.”

They handed Peter over to Maya, and Jorge made sure he felt safe, and had his phone number to call. Gemma smiled as she watched them. For a moment, she felt a pang of sadness and guilt too; she should have brought Toby and Chase to Jorge sooner, before everything went wrong. They missed their father, and he did not even know what he was missing.

They walked down the hallways together towards the office.

>>”Peter seems like he’ll be happy here. I’m glad you all are around. Giving these kids a second chance and all that. No wonder we...you work here.”

"That is what keeps me going every day." Gemma nodded, opening the office door "There is not another workplace quite like it."

"Peter will be fine. You can... check in on him any time if you want. You are..." good with kids, always had been "... you seemed to be getting along."

Neither of them were saying things they should have said, and neither of them were saying things they wanted to say. Gemma rustled with the papers on her desk for a moment in awkward silence.

Jorge flashed Gemma a small smile. Whether she saw it or not, he didn’t know, as the second they caught one another’s eyes again, his smirk had disappeared and returned to neutrality. Things still felt so awkward. It was easy how quickly he returned to that state whenever he was around her. It seemed that her betrayal, if it could even be called that at this point, managed to twist whatever feelings he was having towards her. But even he, at this time, knew that it was getting harder and harder to maintain.

Yes. He had a reason to be upset. She sat on information about himself and dictated how he would react to it. While he understood her attempts to spare feelings, there was a wife and kids that he could have at least tried to know while going through this insanity. She had no idea how lonely that was.

Then again, she had her own loneliness to deal with.

”Hrm? Oh, yeah, Peter…” Jorge checked into the conversation again. ”...he’s a...he’s good kid. Just dealt a bad hand with no resources. Good thing he’s got this place and people like you to look after him. And...yeah, of course I’ll check on him every chance I get. Thinks my powers are ‘cool’ and hopes to be able to do the same thing with the smoke he produces.”

Jorge had a soft spot for kids. He always did. Whenever he would get called on cases with kids, he was always referenced as being better equipped to handle them. His demeanor and way of speaking with kids often allowed him to get a better understanding of them and guide them through whatever traumatic event they had just witnessed. From what he was able to gather about his older self, it was a talent that had not changed with age.

He watched as she continued to gather the necessary paperwork. He was blanking on any further topics and found himself looking around her office. However, each time his eyes swept the area, they returned to the older, beautiful woman who stood before him. And each time he saw her, he was confused, angry, sad, and mournful all over again. They couldn’t continue like this.

”Damn it,” he grumbled. Turning around he marched towards her door. However, instead of walking out he closed and locked it so they wouldn’t be disturbed. After that he turned back to her. ”We need to talk.” he said firmly. ”Things have been so up in the air, and confusing, and I’m...I’m mad at you, Gemma,” he said. ”And this...whatever what’s going on between us...it...has to stop.”

>>”Damn it,”

Gemma looked up from the paperwork, a little startled, as Jorge marched away to the door. For a moment, she was sure he was about to leave, and she would not have blamed him. Everyone had their limits, and Jorge's had been thoroughly tested in the past weeks.

He didn't leave, however. Instead, he closed and locked the door. Gemma abandoned the paperwork and stood up, not sure what he was going to say next.

>>”We need to talk. Things have been so up in the air, and confusing, and I’m...I’m mad at you, Gemma. And this...whatever what’s going on between us...it...has to stop.”

"I know." she nodded slowly. He was not wrong about any of those things. She walked around her desk to lean back against it, for a semblance of support. This was not going to be an easy conversation. "You have every right to be mad. And I'm sorry. I know there is no way to undo what I'v done..."