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Gemma liked to put people at ease, especially in situations like a job interview. She knew things about this young woman, but things in her file were very different from a face to face conversation. And it would not do either of them any good if she was having stage fright the entire time. Warm beverages did wonders in situations like this, so they started with tea, and she could see Liz relax.

>>“It’s such a feeling of jamais vu. It’s all familiar, yet at the same time there’s so much that’s new... But I guess anyone who graduates feels that way when they return to their alma mater.”

"That's true" Gemma smiled, taking a seat with her own cup of tea. Mutant schools were special in a lot of ways, but not in this one.

>>“I’ve been well. It did me good to spend time away this time. I had to face a lot of things about myself that I didn’t like. Several demons to fight... Not literal demons, mind you.”

"I am glad to hear that." Gemma chuckled. Literal demons, indeed. They had had some of those over the years, although the angel had definitely been more annoying. She liked how Liz owned up to fighting her own battles. Everyone did. Gemma was suspicious people who claimed everything was fine all the time.

>>“That’s part of why I applied for the science teacher opportunity. When I left, I left some things here unfinished. Interpersonal issues, but also internal things. It’s as much wanting to prove to myself that I’ve changed as it is giving back to the school and helping this new generation of students.”

Their small talk led naturally into the job talk. Gemma nodded, tilting her head as she watched the young woman's gestures. She seemed genuine in what she was saying.

"I see. I appreciate you reaching out and applying for the job. Former students who return to teach are very important to a place like this... you would be representing much more than just education. Students would be looking up to you for a sense of having a future, for possibilities... Many of them never had that before they come here." Gemma looked at Liz, tilting her head curiously "You said you have some unfinished things, things you might still be working on. Do you think you could do both at the same time?"

The jet had been stolen, and the guinea pig inferno had been a diversion. It was all becoming very clear now. On the plus side, Evelyn was at least not on the jet. She could have done more damage that way.

>>"Well, Rime is on the jet for sure... As for who else? I did not ask. I was only in charge of guinea pigs. I call this one Nibbles!"

Gemma leveled a glare at poor Nibbles, then looked back up at Evelyn.

"So... Sam enlisted you to set a bunch of guinea pigs loose, so that he could take the jet?" she summarized, hands on her hips "May I ask why you are helping him?"

There had o be something in it for Evelyn. Revenge, if nothing else.

There was a steady stream of piggies now, kids giggling and running as they brought them in. Gemma wrinkled her nose. They would have to disinfect the Mansion before Health Services decided to do a spot check and found guinea poop everywhere.

>>"The echoes will know who won, so long as you don't break them again. I'm not sure I can give you the clearance though..."

Gemma was about to open her mouth again when another student ran in, sans guinea pig, but bearing some intriguing news.

>>"Someone stole the jet! We were outside, and then we saw it take off, and then I heard one of the other xmen yelling about it!"

There was a sound of distant thunder as Gemma turned back to glare at the mini genius.

"Evelyn... mind telling me just who is on that jet?"

She'd hurt him. She'd hurt him worse than she'd ever meant to, losing his trust in the process of trying to protect him from disappointment. In Gemma's mind, it would have been a burden to present Jorge an entire family he is supposed to care about and care for, while he was barely figuring out who he was. Clearly, it had been the wrong choice, and now she was stuck with living with the consequences of her actions.
Had it been selfish? Was she protecting herself from losing her husband again?...

Water boiled around them, his powers pulling it to him. Nothing touched her aura as she stayed in the doorway, silently crying.

>>”Responsible? Gemma, we could have gone through this together. I’ve been desperate for any kind of information. Anything. And you’ve just stood back and watched me go through that? For months?"

It would have been bad. It would have been bad the other way too. He would have struggled with not remembering her, his children, all of it. Who said he wanted the same life the second time around?

"I was trying to..."

>>"What else don’t I know? What do we have a house in the burbs? Couple a of kids? What?”

Gemma winced at the question as much as the tone. Things were crashing and burning around her, and at this point, the only way to go was through. To give him what he wanted to know, and then deal with the ruins. Gemma sighed, sinking onto the closest chair.

"We kept this apartment, but we live at the Mansion" she said quietly "We have two kids. Adopted. Chase and Toby. They are... twins." from different universes, but that was a story for another time. Maybe. "We met ten years ago. We've been married for two. I... lost you, once. For three years, you were gone in the ocean."

Yoga breathing. She should have paid more attention in yoga class. The one that she went to, at one point. Gemma leaned her forehead against the tiled wall and breathed deeply, trying to calm down enough to make a graceful exit. She would just have to go back to the kitchen, finish her almost-finished meal, then smile, say goodbye, wish her husband a nice week, and walk out. Preferably without breaking down in front of him. And definitely without any touching.

You can do this.

Gemma ran cold water from the tap and held her wrists under it. She couldn't exactly wash her whole face, but it calmed her down a little anyway. She counted to ten, took another deep breath, dried her hands, and looked at herself in the mirror. She could put a nice, neutral face on. In a mirror that had seen her naked.

Ugh.

You can do this.

Gemma walked out of the bathroom and into the kitchen.
Where she found Jorge staring at a photo.

She froze in the doorway. It wasn't like people took polaroid photos all that often anymore.

"... oh."

>>”Thank you, Ms. Taylor,”

Mrs.
Mrs. Taylor-Cervantes.

Gemma nodded with a small smile. She hoped he could make Jorge feel a little bit better about his job and about his new-old life, even if there was not much she could change about the circumstances. At least he seemed to enjoy the food.

>>”But I’ve heard enough about Jorge. And you’re probably still not ready to who to tell me the wedding ring I wear belongs to, why don’t you tell me a bit more about yourself? At this point, you’re probably my only friend as it seems no one else has come looking for him since...This happened.”

There was a hint of pain in his voice, even though he tried to make light of it. Gemma knew it was selfish of her not to answer his questions about his marriage, and the topic was getting harder and harder to avoid. On the other hand, Jorge did have friends. She wondered why they wouldn't show. Sure, many of them were from work, and they probably found it awkward to hang out with someone who did not remember them at all, and was also decades younger.

"Some of them have been de-aged too, I think" she admitted. "It's... it's been busy at work since this thing started. We have the regular students, and my kids, and then the staff who is suddenly the same age as the students... except their powers are more developed, and harder to control. Sometimes I wish the school would hire a second guidance counselor..."

Gemma had given a warning when they met; he usually did, in case a new acquaintance was a mutant without her knowing about it. It was surprising how often one ran into non-physical mutants in New York City. But even so, with Ez's excitement for enjoying a muffin, there seemed to be something that was not quite great about being in her aura on the long run.

>>"My body, er, digests gemstones and crystals. They influence my mood and keep me nourished."

Gemma's eyebrows rose. So, this girl just... snacked on rubies and diamonds for nourishment?...
Mutations never ceased to amaze her. And very often, they made her wonder just what the hell Mother Nature had been thinking exactly.

>>"It also means my body doesn't know what to do with food. I got excited about eating food and sort of... didn't think what would happen when my digestive system shifts back. Usually, if I eat normal food, it just sits there and I just get really sick for a while until I can work it off."

Gemma blinked.

"Oh."

So, adapted aura on, muffin goes in. Adapted aura off, muffin comes out. Ouch.

>>"Without getting hella awkward about this, um. Do you have plans today?"

Gemma blinked again.

And then she laughed.

It was not really a mean laugh, or even a surprised one. It was something that she had been needing for a while, just plain amused at the whole idea of the situation: spending time with Ez long enough to help her digest a muffin. Suddenly, Gemma found the whole thing hilarious. It took her a few minutes to get the giggling under control.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm not... I'm not laughing at you, I promise. I just..." she shook her head, still smiling "No, no plans. And it's okay, believe me. Basically part of my job at the school. We have had students who couldn't take a shower without an adapted in range...."