>>"Though it doesn't really help us now. That future will never be."

Sveta nodded. It only made sense, the future changing as they moved forward in time. She didn't have a dream like that, or whatever it was, and as far as she knew, she hadn't been (or wouldn't be) in the future Maya and Garrett and Jude knew. So, essentially, they were all back to where they belonged, and nobody knew anything about what was going to happen.
Too bad.

It was nice up on the roof. The garden was small, and as garden-like as anything on a rooftop could be. Apparently Jude liked it a lot.

"It is nice" she smiled, watching the boy name the plants. She looked around to admire the view. She didn't really have anything else to say; she just enjoyed a moment of peace. "It is really nice."

Garrett had returned the night before. He hadn't been sure why, since returning the the scene of the crime wasn't the brightest thing he could have done. His perspective was much clearer these days. Not so much static in his head. Besides, he was being watched and followed. So, why act different? Why look over both shoulders anymore? Being out in the open was liberating, not vulnerability. As things continued to fall into place for him, his position was becoming more and more defended, just as he liked.

A hot shower seemed to help. There was more standing beneath the water than scrubbing, though. The hot water streaming over him, buffeting his senses with a deluge, cleansing away the grit of the past few weeks. His body was more streamlined now, as the rigorous exercise that the interrogators had promised had been delivered. It was harder and much more low tech than the toys of the Danger Room, but no less effective. The water was turned off and he reached out for a towel. As he covered his stubbly head with it, he felt suddenly...exhilarated. He was awake and alert. No coffee for miles, so that narrowed it down a bit. Sebastian had brought her back. As if the new renovations in the building weren't enough.

A robe would suffice, along with a nice glass of scotch on the rocks. The amber liquid cascaded over the frozen blocks, the definitive hissing and cracking as room temperature alcohol met its frigid cousin. A short sip agreed with Garrett's initial desire. Sliding his feet into a pair of flip flops, he made his way into the living room. Swishing the ice in the glass, he thought carefully about what he was going to say this time. A thunderous racket of feet on the fire escape ascended to the roof. A pair of boxers for courtesy soon accompanied his otherwise meager wardrobe.

Garrett's own climb to the roof was much more measured. No reason to spill the whiskey, after all. The glass was set upon the edge of the roof first, since flip flops and robe on the side of a building required a more significant amount of focus. As the rooftop came into view, so did its occupants. Garrett was immediately relieved that he had brought the scotch. Sveta, the woman who helped him in many ways, some good some bad. Maya, a subject worthy of a volume of lore. He knew the boy, though this was his first occasion to speak to him. As a boy, anyway. Slinging his legs over, he crossed one over the other and took another sip, not as short.

It really wasn't much. Just a couple old pots and a few new seed. "Thanks." The air elemental enjoyed the praise anyway.

A little tug on her elbow and suddenly Jude was shy. He tucked himself behind Maya and pointed. There was a man on the roof. But not just any man. "Hi, Garrett. Have you seen the garden recently?" He looked to be drinking, but... that wasn't entirely unusual. He had been drinking more since... well, more as they got older maybe. It never seemed to be a problem that she had seen.

Maya put her hand on Jude's shoulder and steered him a little bit more clear of herself. "Have you met Jude recently? In this time, I mean?"

He didn't seem to want to go so eventually Maya gave up. Jude sidled between Maya and Svetalana and was suddenly very interested in the pulling a weed. "And I suppose you've already met this sweet lady, Svetlana."

Sveta's eyes widened as Garrett appeared at the edge of the rooftop. So he was not in jail after all.
He was in Maya's garden, wearing... not much, and drinking.
Her first reaction was to take a step closer, only because she was relieved to see he was alive, and... wel, either free, or on the run.

"You are all right" she said, half question, half statement.

Moments later the logical side of her brain caught up to her, and made her fold her arms, taking a step back, then another one, as she started to realize being close to him was not as safe, never as safe as she used to think. If Jude was shy, she was cautious; she ended up standing half a step behind the kid, looking at Garrett.

You owe me an explanation... or a greeting, at least.

Jude was the first to see him. The boy shuffled between the two women, unsure of the man before him. it made sense to a point, considering Garrett's getup, but the manipulator wondered if there wasn't a karmic strain involved, considering the future version's dislike of him. Either way, he was just a kid now, more than likely to young to have even expressed his genetic diversity yet. So, just a kid. Upon being greeted, Garrett stood and smiled, placing his glass down on the roof's edge so as to be able to speak and move freely.

Approaching the trio, he answered Maya first, as she was the first to speak. " I haven't. It's good that there is something up here. I was thinking myself of putting a telescope up here to look at the night sky." He knelt down to look at the plants, his fingers fondling the leaves." Of course, a rural location would be best, considering the city lights and their masking of the sky." He stood again, now much closer. Jude was still eying him warily. " I have not met Jude, surprisingly enough. Hello there. I am Garrett Wills, a friend of your parents. I also live here and help Sebastian in the Clinic on occasion." He smiled but didn't expect much.

Placing his hands in the pockets of his robes, he smiled at Sveta. She was stepping away from him, so the gesture he had made with his hands was one of understanding and consideration. " Of course I know her. It's good to see you are well." He paused a moment, deciding how to proceed. The whiskey told him to quit worrying, so he did. " Yes, I'm quite alright. I didn't get the chance to turn myself in as I was picked up on the way. I'm currently working with the police now, in a sense. So, everything worked out. I trust Sebastian found you somewhere safe to stay?" Eff--Sveta's presence made him wonder if the safe place was Sebastian's attempt to hide in plain sight.

Even Svetlana didn't trust him. Maya blinked at the two standing behind her. Jude swallowed a good bit of air and puffed his chest up. He would stand between Svetlana and the mutants since he suspected something might happen. He would be their safe barrier. A bit of that air escaped when Garrett addressed him directly. "I know you." And that was exactly why he would protect Svetlana.

"A-uh. A telescope would be lovely." She had to drag her eyes away from Jude and Svetlana. It wasn't like they were going to get in much trouble back there. And Garrett was... well, he was true to himself.

"Svetlana will be staying with us." Sometimes. Sometimes not. With a power so hotly coveted it was probably best to have a few other options just in case. The poor dear. Maya looked forward to getting to know the person instead of just worrying about the power and its implications. "Jude is human, if Sebastian heals more - no harm there." Ghost was the unknown in this equation, but a careful and cautious unknown at least. "I have promised to be on my best behavior." She held up three fingers. Scout's honor.

No doubt Garrett could smell the fruits of that behavior now. "I did some baking today if you'd like a cookie or something." Not that cookies usually went with alcohol... but. What did she know about that stuff?

>> " Yes, I'm quite alright. I didn't get the chance to turn myself in as I was picked up on the way. I'm currently working with the police now, in a sense. So, everything worked out. I trust Sebastian found you somewhere safe to stay?"

Sveta relaxed when Garrett put his hands in his pockeds and didn't show any sign of wanting to come closer to her. She was relieved. Not like she was afraid of him or something; she was never afraid of him. Hos powers, maybe. Combined with hers. But not the person himself. Garrett was nice. Probably nicer than he seemed.
She was glad he didn't get locked up, and didn't just simply disappear. She felt less guilty already. She even tried for a small smile.

"I am glad" she nodded, glancing at Ghost and Jude. The whole situation was still quite awkward, and she had a suspicion that she was responsible for it, considering her (short but tragic) history with Garrett. She smiled at them too.

"Yes, I stay here for now. Sebastian took me in, so I don't... cause trouble." she didn't mention Slate wantig to go for the easier solution for making her disappear. She was glad a family was willing to take her in. It showed in her face as she looked at them.

"So, we are" what's the word "neighbors." she added with a small smile.

Life could be worse.

It seemed Jude did know him after all. What an awkward situation for him. The boy, anyway. Garrett raised his eyebrows in a motion of acknowledgement, but didn't expand on it. Turning to face Maya, he smiled but refused a cookie. "No cookie, thanks. They do smell good, though." Garrett wasnt particularly fond of all of the sideways glances he was getting from the boy, especially if he remembered him. Jude had been a controller not just in vocation, but by his very actions. Maya remained Swizerland, as predictably as ever.

Sveta's friendly nature seemed artificial. It was nothing like he had remembered. So she was going to be his neighbor. He wasn't so sure that the term should even be used now, considering this jilted lover routine he was getting. He hadn't even been anyone's lover. The frustration and standoffishness of the two made him shoot the rest of the glass down his gullet. He could only nod. There wasn't much to say about it. " Well, that seems okay for now. I've been doing some work off the books for a while now and I hope to get my own residence before long. Then you can move in as many people as you like." he smiled with his face, though his eyes probably did not join in. It seemed that Maya was wearing the pants now and whatever loose partnership he had with Sebastian was now in name only. It made the idea of leaving easier.

Everyone said their piece and since Garrett had declined Ghost's offer of cookies... she wasn't entirely sure where to go from there. Everyone was being so defensive all of a sudden!

"I am sorry if the construction has inconvenienced you." She would be sad to see him go. If they were, in fact, good friends then him moving away meant that they would see each other less. "Will you have us over at your new place? I would like to see it." It wasn't really like he could keep her out unless he made the place entirely air tight (and there was a whole heap of issues that came along with that).

Jude remained silent and ready.

>>"Well, that seems okay for now. I've been doing some work off the books for a while now and I hope to get my own residence before long. Then you can move in as many people as you like."

Sveta blinked. Garrett was leaving. Moving out of the Iris Apartments.
It was only logical that he would want to move away from here, for varius reasons. One probably being Sveta herself. It made sense.
It still sucked.

Jude didn't seem to like Garrett. Well, he looked funny at the moment to say the least. Maybe it had something to do with the future. Sveta didn't know.

Maya was quiet and polite.

>>"Will you have us over at your new place? I would like to see it."

"Me too." Sveta added, more timidly, guessing she might have said something wrong earlier. "Or you can visit..."

There was really not much else to say. Between the four of them, that is. Sveta cleared he throat and glanced at the others. Maye it was time to return to their homes...

The air was becoming heavy. It was pressing down on Garrett's shoulders and his chest, causing his breath to come and go in sighs. The phenomenon had nothing to do with barometric pressure or relative humidity. It did, however, have to do with the astute feeling in the air between the four of them. Both Maya and Sveta seemed disheartened by the idea that he was moving out. he was unsure as to why this was the case, considering that he had only had the one run in with Sveta there. Maya was an even stranger case, considering the fact that he had seen nothing of her since...when was it? Maybe when they were first building the place? She had come to see Sebastian then. The greatest source of conflict seemed to be coming from Little Jude. if he indeed remembered the future, which he seemed to, then there wasn't much the two of them would ever have to say to each other. Once a controller, always a controller.

Garrett rubbed the bridge of his nose, his eyes closed as he internally attempted to put a cap on an otherwise full blown well of emotion. It wasn't working. How many times had he tried to navigate the treacherous waters of relationships and come up ashore on a hidden atoll? Best to just drive straight through this torrent. The man who stayed silent as his enotions worked him over was gone. " You are all welcome to my home anytime you like." His eyes settled like gun turrets on the boy between them. " Even you." The rant was picking up speed now, on its way toward his mouth, tactful debris flying aside in its wake. " However, I'd like to settle a few things with all three of you while we are up here."

His eyes set on Sveta first, the most innocent of the three. " Sveta, you don't have to feel like I have a porblwem with you. I never have. Sure, killing hundreds of people by accidentally touching you was a bummer, but the key word there is accidentally. You are not at fault for anything. i simply picked your head up to put it on a pillow and my fingers touched the back of your neck. So, please, don't beat yourself up over it."

His eyes turned to Maya and he did his best to soften them. " Maya, we don't have a problem, if you think we do. I think we have moved on from our train wreck of a relationship. Or I should say, I have completely. You are still a good friend of mine and if you or Sebastian need help, I'll do what I can." A wave of relief passed through his body, as if even the raw bark attached to the broken stick had finally been pulled free. " Which leaves Jude." Remaining in his current proximity from them, Garrett knelt down, his eyes settling into the stare being given him by the boy of the future.

" I know you don't like me. I know why as well. Something you will have to start realizing though is that time from your dream will never come to pass. So , holding on to dreams, fantasies or grudges from an era which never existed is foolish and won't do a thing for you. Live in the present. It's liberating." His smile opened like a bear trap, a wink shot like a final arrow at the little man. Regaining his posture, Garrett cocked back on his heels and waited to see if there were retorts.