~~~~~~~

"Hey Little Sister" -- the story 1/3
By Dex (dex@globalserve.net)

All recognizable characters and settings belong to Marvel; I am
using them without permission but mean no harm and am
making no profit.  The plot and original characters, however
belong to me.  Any and all feedback is appreciated at
dex@globalserve.net.  Redistribution of this tale for profit is
illegal.  Please do not archive this story without contacting me
first to obtain my permission.

***

        Emma tossed back her arms and sunk deeper into the
softness of her bed.  The yielding white sheets molded around
her body as she sought to ease further into the hollow created
by her weight.  She casually flipped the white duvet up around
her shoulders and rolled, drawing the entire set of bedclothes
into a wrap around her form.  Emma Frost was taking a day
off, and determined that she start by being late for it.  She had
informed Sean of her intentions several days ago, giving him
plenty of time to build up anxiety which was twinned with the
chore of handling several mutant teens with a rather creative
grasp of responsibility.
        With a smile she burrowed further into the covers,
relishing in the simple pleasures of it.  Ever since she was a
child, Emma Frost had loved the sensations of the hyper-
detached awareness achieved in that state between sleep and
wakefulness, when the mind can only process sensations, rather
than thought.  The soft slide of silk along the arms, the warm,
reassuring weight of the duvet against her bare back, and the
comforting support of the pillow on the cheek.  Rarely did she
have the opportunity to enjoy these simple pleasures for more
then a few moments, but this morning was different for her.
Only one thing could possible ruin the perfect start to her day...
        "MIZ FROST!!!"
        ...and that was Jubilee.
        "MIZ FROST!!!"
        {{ What is it, Jubilee?  I really am not the mood to be
disturbed. }}
        "EV HAS GLUED HIS..."
        {{ Child, when I contact you telepathically, do remember
to respond in the same fashion.  Shouting through the mansion
is hardly suitable behavior,}} Emma responded with a tired sigh.
        {{ Sorry.  Ev's glued his head to the shower and we can't
find the dissolver for it. }}
        {{ Everett glued his own head to the shower?  On
purpose? }}
        {{ Well, I sorta changed the contents of his shampoo
bottle, but only 'cause he called my Bullwinkle boxers stupid! }}
        Emma rolled her eyes at Jubilee's convoluted explanation
of the event.  {{ Jubilee, do find Sean and inform him of this.  I
am unavailable today for anything, and any disturbances will be
met with swift discipline.  My discipline.  Understood? }}
        *gulp* {{ Yup. }}
        {{ Good, and Jubilee? }}
        {{ Yeah? }}
        {{ You are grounded for the next week.  I think putting
you on washroom duty would be ironically appropriate.  Good
morning. }} Emma broke the telepathic connection and made a
quick check to determine that her door was locked before
returning to her bed.  Snuggling back under the covers, she
drifted back to sleep with the morning sounds of the school
and Jubilee to lull her to sleep.

***

        "And you are sure it will work?"
        "Mademoiselle, Monsieur De'Flurasque thought
extremely highly of my work."
        "That was hardly my question, was it?"
        "Oui, it will work perfectly."
        "And all that I have to do is use the implant to connect
with this Pool?"
        "As I have said, it will show you the structure.  My device
merely gives you the starting point.  You must harness it
yourself."
        "Good, and that means you are no longer necessary."
        "Pardon?  I must have
misheard....aaaarrrrrrggggghhhhhh!!!"
        "No, you heard correctly.  But please, do not feel bad.
You have given me the means for my revenge, Monsieur
Dantelles.  For that I will be generous and allow you to die
quickly."

***

        "Emma?"  Sean knocked quietly at the door.  There was a
muffled grunt from behind it, the sort made by a she-bear
woken three months early.
        "Lass, ye said ye wanted up afore noon," Sean called.  He
was frankly shocked when Emma had informed him of her
plans last week.  In her entire tenure at the school, she had not
taken even an afternoon off of the teaching.  Sean briefly
wondered what the White Queen did on a day off.  Sort her
whips?  Wax down her leather underwear?  Casually
disembowel a few employees?
        "Actually, I waxed my underwear last week."  Emma's
voice came through the door, cold as a winter morning.  Sean
winced as she opened the door.
        "Tch, sorry Emma.  It's just that yer always so private that..."
        "...you just had to speculate on my life outside of this
school.  Thank you, Sean, but I have a normal range of
interests and duties.  As you are so interested, I plan to have
lunch with Bobby in the city, pick up some items, take care
of a few business matters, and catch a late dinner before
coming back."
        "Look, Emma.  I, uh..."
        Emma shock her head and gently pushed Cassidy back
into the hall.  "Sean, I take no offense.  Honestly, I can't really
blame you.  You have opened up and bonded with the kids.
I...I don't have the ability to do that easily."  Emma winced
slightly.  She never liked to admit difficulty with anything,
especially to do with her abilities as an educator.
        "Lass, it's not that you have ta do much.  Just let us into
your world every once and a while."
        "Sounds easier than it is.  Thank you for the wake-up call,
Sean.  I will be down shortly.  Oh, and Sean?"
        "Hmm?"
        "Can you please ask Everett why he bothers using
shampoo in the first place?"

***

        "Scotty!" Drake yelled from his door.  Cyclops came
bolting around the corner, skidding to a halt in front of
Bobby's room.
        "What is it, Bobby?" he said, eyes searching everywhere
for the threat.
        "Uh, I wanted to ask your opinion about what I'm wearing."
        "You paged me on the emergency line to ask about your
clothes?"  Scott's eyes narrowed behind his ruby-quartz glasses.
        "Yeah.  Whadda think?  The blue tie or the white?"
Bobby held the two ties up in front of the stunned X-Man.
Before Scott could answer, Phoenix and Gambit rushed up
from the ground floor, ready for battle.
        "What is going on?"  Jean looked from her husband to
Bobby and back.
        "Bobby wants clothing advice," said Cyclops through
clenched teeth.
        "From you?  Ami, take Gambit's advice an' do it alone."
        Abruptly the tension broke.  Scott put his head in his
hands and laughed helplessly.  Jean helped support him while
trying to keep a straight face.  Gambit smirked and walked into
Bobby's room.
        "That was not funny," Scott choked, still laughing.
        "Boss, you is da one wit' the plaid suit and de brown loafers."
        "I have asked him to throw those out dozens of times."
Jean chuckled.
        "Um, could we get back to my problem?"
        The three shook their heads and began to rummage
through his wardrobe.  Scott and Jean occasionally held up an
article of clothing and laughed, obviously sharing a memory of
their younger days.  Gambit, on the other hand, picked through
the clothes with the occasional snort of disbelief.
        "Bobby, is dere nothing here not five years out of date?"
        "Well, I don't do much shopping."
        "No kidding.  I bought this shirt for your birthday nearly
six years ago."  Jean held up the clothing in question.
        "And the fact that none of your socks match doesn't
help."  Cyclops idly picked up a red sock and blue sock which
had been rolled together into a tight ball.
        "I just wanted an opinion on a tie, people!  I'm going to
be late if I let you try to dress me!" Bobby cried plaintively.
        Gambit draped one arm over his shoulder.  "Bobby,
Gambit is goin' show you 'ow to impress your amore.  And
Gambit, he don't try.  He succeeds," Gambit said with a grin.
        Bobby rolled his eyes.  "Great, I'm taking fashion tips
from a man who talks about himself in third person," he said as
he allowed Gambit to lead him away.

***

        "I never imagined it was like this.  The power!  The sheer
immensity of it all!  And it's mine."

***

        "Emma?" called Bobby from the bottom of the stairs.  He
was supposed to pick her up for lunch but his fashion
experiment with Gambit had made him late.  The last thing he
wanted to do was ruin her day off by being late.
        {{ Just a minute, Robert. }}
        Bobby took a seat in the foyer, adjusting his collar.  The
clothes felt unfamiliar, and he was not at ease with them.
Gambit had taken him and his credit card on a quick blitz at the
local shops on the way out of the mansion.  One hour and three
hundred dollars later, Bobby was pronounced suitably attired
for public.  He had snuck glances of himself on the way here,
but was still unsure of the true effect.
        "Ah, Robert.  Shall we go?" Emma called from the top of
the stairs.  Bobby turned and his jaw dropped.  The White
Queen, usually resplendent in white leather and silk, was
wearing a large white sweater, jeans and a pair of casual short
boots.  Her shoulder length blond hair was pulled back into a
common ponytail, and she was bereft of any makeup or jewels.
Bobby had never seen her this casual in his life.  Emma stopped
mid-step, looking at him with a certain amount of surprise.
        "Robert, why are you dressed like Remy?" she said, a hint
of disbelief in his voice.
        "Huh?" Bobby stammered.  He groaned as her saw her
inspect his clothes.  " I, uh...well, I was trying to, uh...never 
mind."
        "You asked for advice, didn't you?"
        "'es."
        "Robert, if your clothes mattered to me, I would have had
your current wardrobe burned long ago."
        "Oh, uh...thanks."
        "Shall we go?" Emma said, picking up a white satchel and
her purse.
        "Right."  Bobby held the door open for her as she swept
out.  With a final shake of his head, he followed her, into the
unknown depths of Emma's day off.

***

        *ding dong*
        Jubilee looked up from the sofa, staring past the foyer at
the door.  Paige put her book down on the table beside her
chair.  Angelo tossed the remote behind him onto the easy
chair.  The three students stared at the door for a moment and
then their eyes locked on each other.  A slight narrowing of the
eyelids, a tremor of the lashes, a twitch of the muscles at the
side of the face was open to scrutiny.  Like Western
gunfighters they watched, waiting for the slightest hint of
intention to betray their opponent.
        *ding dong*
        "I'LL GET IT!" the three shouted simultaneously.  In a
mad dash, they leapt for the door, scrabbling and fighting.
        "Ah said ah'd get it!"
        "Not a chance, Hayseed!  Hey!  No fair husking!"
        "Chica, get your foot out of my face!"
        "Oh gross!  He's lengthening his nose!"
        "Ah'm almost...whoof!"
        "Tripped up by a nose, si!"
        "Angelo!"
        "And the crowd goes wild as Jubilee makes her move!"
Jubilee broke away from the tangle with a shower of
pyrotechnics, driving her teammates back from the display of
sizzling flashes of light.  She skidded to a halt in front of the
door, yanking it open.
        "The winner!  Can I help you?" she crowed to the stunned
visitor at the step.
        "Hello...Jubilee, isn't it?"
        "Hey, you're Frosty's sister, right?"
        "Yes, yes I am.  Is my sister home?"
        "Naw, she's on her day off."
        "Ah'm sure she'll be back soon.  Would you like ta wait
here for her?" said Paige, coming to the door.
        "Yes.  I would like that very much, thank you.  It is so
nice to see you all again."  Cordelia Frost smiled like a shark as
she walked into the mansion.  "I can't wait to see my sister again."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TO BE CONTINUED IN PART #2