"You could be that man."

It was an instant shot to the ego. Garrett had really been a fool to ever consider losing this girl over any kind of event. She was going to be by his side through thick and thin, as he would do the same for her."Sometimes I feel like I'm dragging behind when you think of things like this, but then I realize that you're just making me grow." He smiled and snickered a bit. " Come on , now. You have made incredible strides while I was recuperating. An identity change, a job, enrolling in school? I have as much to learn about shouldering responsibility as you do about opening up. We complement each other beautifully. This is just another natural expression of it."

"I'll support you wherever you need me. If that means joining the X's... even if that meant moving to the moon, I'd do it."Garrett was further moved by this statement, but he felt he should clarify something." As I would do the same for you, dear. However, if you want to join the team, that needs to be up to you. It is a big responsibility and I can love you just as much whether you are on the team or not. I do want you there with me, but it has to be a choice you make for yourself." He stood up, her hand still in his. " Let's take a walk around. No reason to be cooped up in here. We have plenty of days and nights ahead to be alone together."

"Come on , now. You have made incredible strides while I was recuperating. An identity change, a job, enrolling in school? I have as much to learn about shouldering responsibility as you do about opening up..."[/color]

She smiled another smile that had nothing to do with happiness. "I'd be more impressed with myself if I'd taken care of all this when I'd first thought of it instead of putting it off until the very last moment."

"...if you want to join the team, that needs to be up to you... I do want you there with me, but it has to be a choice you make for yourself."[/color] He said these words with ardor like this particular was important to him. Maya only frowned. She would have to think about it. Would she be able to change the X's or would the X's change her... Was she wrong? Should she change her mind about those kinds of things? She shoved that thought off to the back of her mind. She wanted to grow and learn and change, but there were limits to how far she would go.

He stood gently pulling her hand with him. The action essentially pulled her to stand as he had. The physical movement drew her out of her internal debate.

"Let's take a walk around. No reason to be cooped up in here. We have plenty of days and nights ahead to be alone together."

Maya blinked and held onto his hand. She didn't mind walking around with him... she was thrown off balance by what he meant by his 'plenty of time to be alone' comment. "Where did you have in mind?" She was honestly curious to see where he wanted to go while everyone was still rather afraid of him. Of course she aimed to show the students who feared him that Garrett was 'harmless' or as harmless as a mutant could be anyway and that meant that he needed to get out and be with those students.

"Where did you have in mind?"

Garrett smiled at Maya. "Just out of this cramped up room and out among the kids. I need to get a good impression out if I am going to lead. Even better than anything before the incident." He held her hand warmly, leaving the room and pausing , fishing the key out of from around his neck to lock the door. He hesitated. If they were going to trust him, he would have to trust them as well. He nodded to himself and merely pulled the door shut.

Ghost held his hand firmly. He could tell from her expression that she was unsure of what Garrett was up to. " I just need to get out and show my face again. I was hoping, with you at my side, that I might not seem so scary. I also want to revisit the campus and try to get my head on straight. it's been a bumpy ride." It really had been. His memories of the incident were vague at best, partially hidden by his own conviction not to revisit them. He had to face the demon again, though, to be free of it.

Some children simply ran in their rooms and closed the doors. Others stared at him, holding a posture as if they might power up should Pain Guy flash them a mean look. Garrett remained calm, feeling Maya's warm presence by his side. A few actually returned the smile he was giving, which made him hopeful." It may take some time before I am fully recuperated. I realize this. I also know that it may not all be smooth sailing, Maya. However, the fact that you are still here and are still with me speaks volumes. It really means alot to me." He squeezed her hand as they headed downstairs.

The kids all reacted differently. Some ran to hide. Some stood ready to fight. Some merely watched, curious. It was the ones who watched that Maya was interested in. It was easier to start at neutral ground. They could fight battles later, for now... Maya felt like the trophy wife of a diplomat that everyone hated. She sighed. She wasn't a wife. She definitely wasn't a trophy. What exactly was she there for again? Ah right... to make the kids feel more comfortable. She needed to lure Garrett out of his self-imposed shell and ease him into the goings on of the mansion, to ease him back into his own skin.

Not the simplest of tasks for any involved, but she believed in this man. Why else would she be there?

"It may take some time before I am fully recuperated. I realize this. I also know that it may not all be smooth sailing, Maya. However, the fact that you are still here and are still with me speaks volumes. It really means a lot to me." He squeezed her hand as they headed downstairs.

"And where else would I go, silly? I'm not scared of you." She stuck her tongue out at him playfully, attempting to lighten the mood. It felt oppressive sometimes. Like the stares actually held weight.

"You know... if you'd mingled a bit more before the incident this would be a little easier." Ghost shrugged as they made their way through the hall and toward the common area. "But I understand. I kinda feel like a squatter here sometimes."

Maya was visibly trying to lighten his mood. He knew it and he wanted to respond, but Garrett just couldn't make the inner smile light up. So much , so soon. It was difficult. More difficult than anything he had ever faced previously."You know... if you'd mingled a bit more before the incident this would be a little easier."He paused for a moment. He knew she was right. He had such a negative social experience prior to coming here. It was hard to 'mingle'.he looked down at her, nodding in agreement."I know. This place was just like shellshock to me after living on the streets and in hospitals. Everyone so friendly and like me. It should have been a welcoming thing but I was still too paranoid to see that."

As they approached the front doors, she mentioned feeling like a squatter. He made a little 'heh' sound, though she would know better had she ever actually been a squatter. He let it go, immediately realizing the overall value of her sentiments for his recovery. That was what he was doing, wasn't it? Recovering? Returning to his old, sunny, tranquil self? He had his had on the doorknob. There was no former self. There was only present self, which would be tomorrow's past self and was yesterday's future self. He opened the large wooden door and let her pass through first, following and closing it behind them.

There were many people out today. The last bits of warmth were escaping as Autumn's cool broom swept away the crumbs of Summer. Garrett inhaled the cool air deeply and smiled, his eyes closed for a moment. He could feel himself here. He steeled himself internally and then began to take some steps down . Eyes were already upon him, whispers ignited at his presence. He paid it no mind, merely looking over at the most important resident to him. She smiled back at him. With Maya at his side, all things were possible.

"...It should have been a welcoming thing but I was still too paranoid to see that."[/color]

Maya smiled waving to a few girls as they skittered off to their next class. They were already talking, she heard their whispers on the wind. So much the better. If they took what little they knew of Ghost and added it to what little they knew about Pain Guy it should come out about neutral, right? She chuckled a little at her own thoughts. "I'm sure this atmosphere is doing wonders for your paranoia." She smiled simply following his lead not really thinking about where they might be headed even after they were outside.

A natural breeze rushed to greet them when Garrett opened the door. It brought with it the earthy, damp, and crisp smell Ghost had come to associate with fall. Even now around midday the air had the slightest nip to it. "It will probably get cold tonight." She mentioned offhandedly as she waited for Garrett to catch up. She was delighted to be outside. Sure she got outside... on the way to the bus stop on days when she worked in the city.

"A-yah!" She breathed as she stretched. "We should go on walks more often." She turned to Garrett who seemed to be stuck looking at her. For a moment she wondered if he was having one of those mini-seizures where people stare off into space and can't seem to stop... except that he blinked. She danced a few paces ahead even though she still did not know where they were headed just so that she could turn around and walk backwards. "You okay in there?"

"You okay in there?"

Garrett blinked a few times. He hadn't realized he was spacing out so obviously. Perhaps this was indeed alot to take in all at once. But he had to. It was imperative that he push on, push forward through the cobwebs of madness and be free again." Yes, dear.Yes. It's just alot to take in." He took the steps to rejoin Maya at her side, his pace slowed but sure. " I agree with you about walks. Getting out in Nature is an excellent way to clear the mind. Which I obviously need, heh." Garrett was determined to let the laughter and the sunshine of Maya's love for him to come into his heart, to dispel the seemingly endless shadow that had darkened it for too long.

As they walked out onto the grass, a small ball rolled to his feet. He reached down to pick it up and when he rose he saw a young boy, perhaps eight or nine, standing before him. He had a look of apprehension in his eyes. Garrett looked back out over the grounds to see his playmates all looking over to, waiting for more than their ball. They expected some sort of evil confrontation. Garrett merely smiled and tossed the ball to him." Thanks, Pain Guy!" The child smiled and began to turn away. Garrett cleared his throat and the kid stopped in his tracks, turning to face him with his eyebrows raised, his feet ready to scram." Actually, my name is Garrett." He reached his hand out to shake the kid's hand. It seemed strange to the boy that Garrett's name was not actually Pain Guy." Um, I'm Jeremy. Thanks, uh, my friends are waiting. Bye!" The kid smiled and ran back to his friends.

Garrett smiled wider, nodding. " Well, that's a good start, eh Maya?" He looked at her again, hoping she would approve of his attempt to get the ball rolling.

Maya watched the exchange between Jeremy and Garrett with a growing smile. She was tempted to step in a few times. Tempted to introduce one to the other. Tempted to be the smiling face to smooth things over. But it was better this way. This way they knew it was Pain Guy, no, Garrett that was the good guy. It seemed that he really didn't need her there at all except for moral support.

Garrett smiled wider, nodding. "Well, that's a good start, eh Maya?"

She couldn't help but laugh. He was so unsure sometimes, but then again everyone was like that... needing someone to be there and hold your hand when things got rough. "All it took was a few steps out of the mansion and look! You've made a new friend all on your own." She smiled and held out her hand for him to take. If only everything could be mended so easily. The younger kids were more afraid perhaps, but also more quick to forgive and forget. "It's a great start." She affirmed.

"All it took was a few steps out of the mansion and look! You've made a new friend all on your own." Indeed. Getting out of the Mansion and more importantly, his room, had made all the difference for Garrett. He couldn't very well make all these changes he wanted to make nor could he be more of a social presence without actually doing it. He took the hand offered and held it warmly as they pushed on across the grounds, approaching the corner of the property. It was time or things to come full circle, time to heal.

They arrived at the bramble patch and Garrett could already feel the prickling stings of anxiety. He went to one knee and bowed his head. This place was sacred to him now. It had been the place where he and Maya had made their bond stronger and it was the place where he had thrown two of his good friends to writhe in pain. He shook his head, He didn't do anything except stand in front of Neena's door at the wrong time." So much has changed since I first met you. My whole life is different now. I want to really apologize for disappearing on you, but it's been very hard since that night.My mind has been a schism. two parts slapped together with glue. " His eyes were misty with tears, though , other than a crackling voice, he wasn't broadcasting it, keeping his head down where it was.

" That intruder,the injection and its aftermath are a blessing to me, in a way. I would have still been caught up in myself, too blind with my own paranoia to see that so many around me could be helped with my gift as well as my heart. It's a shame it took such a traumatic event to make me see that. but that's how it is. I know I said it is your decision to join the team, and it is, but I do want to say that you have just as much love and amazing ability to add as I do and they would be seriously lacking without your cool winds of resolve." He squeezed her hand tighter. He would beat this madness. Here and now.

He took her hand and held it close to his person gently. He was always so gentle with her. Gentle. Patient. Kind. Maya trusted him entirely. Even if he felt cleaved. Even if he was unsure of who he was or should be. People change based on the events and people that shape them, but Garrett was still Garrett. She grew mildly apprehensive as she realized where he was leading them. It was a place of conflicting feelings now. The place where they'd bonded and the place where she had chosen to fight for the very first time in her life... against the person she... loved.

He knelt and bowed like a knight before the queen or a man paying his respects at a funeral. Maya let her hand trail from his as he dipped and it came to rest on his shoulder. She stood behind him and looked into the brambles giving her physical support and letting him sort things out before he spoke. Stupid teleporter. Stupid dart. Stupid demon. Stupid hurt. How long before it would all fall into place as water under the bridge?

"So much has changed since I first met you. My whole life is different now... My mind has been a schism. Two parts slapped together with glue." He sounded a bit choked up and it instantly made her throat tight to hear him hurting. She respected his distance though. If he wanted to cry he would do so.

"As much as things have changed, it's good to know that Garrett is still Garrett." She squeezed his shoulder lightly. "And yet... don't you think things are getting better? Or at least that the potential has been set in place..." A natural breeze ran past them blowing leaves around them. Maya felt like a pillar, strong in her belief and solid in her stance standing just behind Garrett. She would support him now just as he supported her when they had hardly even know each other. Everything else could just go around them because from now on they would stand together.

"That intruder, the injection and its aftermath are a blessing to me, in a way. I would have still been caught up in myself, too blind with my own paranoia to see that so many around me could be helped with my gift as well as my heart. It's a shame it took such a traumatic event to make me see that."

She smiled and her eyes never wavered from the brambles as she put her other hand on his shoulder. Leave it to Garrett to find the silver lining in the clouds. "It's a shame, sure, but what's done is done. The camps, the dart, Pain Guy -- all of it has made us who we are today, but still ... we can only move on from here."

"I know I said it is your decision to join the team, and it is, but I do want to say that you have just as much love and amazing ability to add as I do and they would be seriously lacking without your cool winds of resolve." He squeezed her hand against his shoulder.

"You make a really tempting offer, Sir." She stepped around trailing her hand along his shoulders as she went. Maya knelt just in front of Garrett between the brambles and the man. The result was that her hands were still on his shoulders, holding him at arm's length and yet still connected. They were face to face and on the same level. She silently wished for a healing touch and enough wisdom and kindness to make things come out right. "Garrett. I don't know what to say that will ever make you forgive yourself, but for what it's worth... I want to stand by your side." She didn't look down or away. Maya's yellowish brown eyes met his hazel eyes ones and she meant every word. "I want to make things better and make it right. If that means joining the X-men... If that's what it takes to effect change..." in the world, in Garrett "that's what we'll do."

There was more and more 'we' in her thinking and much less 'I'.

Just as it should be.

"You make a really tempting offer, Sir." His eyes closed with relief has her hands trailed over his shoulders. When he opened them again, Maya was in front of him, hands still on shoulders, looking into his eyes. He gazed into her sweet honey brown orbs, his heart in his eyes. The world could fall apart and spin off into the cosmos and he would still feel everything. "Garrett. I don't know what to say that will ever make you forgive yourself, but for what it's worth... I want to stand by your side." A tear slid down Garrett's cheek. He knew she was there for him. He knew in his heart that she loved him. Still, to hear her validate it all and feel her own heart mingle with his was magical.

"I want to make things better and make it right. If that means joining the X-men... If that's what it takes to effect change...that's what we'll do." We. Two letters combined to make one of the most powerful words in the language. One day he would kneel again before this woman. It was a definite when, not an if." I'm happy to hear you say that. I'm happy to know you and I will never part. No matter what this world throws at us, we will always have each other to rely on. We'll never be alone again. I love you, Maya." He leaned in to her and gave her a tender kiss, embracing her and loving her. Mutants, humans, chaos, order, war and peace. All these things would be seen by their eyes. Together.