Disclaimer and notes: All the characters are owned by Marvel. This story is for amusement only and no money is being made so please don't sue us. Joe and I both want to thank Luba for all her help betareading our stories and for archiving them. We hope you have a Merry Christmas Luba — you're the greatest! There's not a whole lot to this — it's just a little holiday story with a happy ending. Please send any feedback to joe-n-michelle@att.net. Happy Holidays everyone!

"Brrrr... It's cold tonight!" I can feel my teeth chattering as I draw my trenchcoat tighter around me. Then, looking up at the clear starry sky, I sigh. For me it's the fourth night of Chanukah, but for him it would have been Christmas Eve.  As I walk into the cemetery, I begin to cry. We never got the chance to spend the holidays together.  We had plans — I was going to drag him to Chicago to meet my mom, then later on he was going to take me to London for what he called 'a real Christmas dinner.'  But we broke up before we could do any of those things.  And now... even though it's too late, I've come to spend Christmas with him.

"Hi, Pete.  Yeah... I know... took me long enough to get here.  But I'm here now."  I brush away a tear as I look down on the headstone with his name, Peter Winston Wisdom, carved on it.  "I'm sorry, but I didn't know about... what happened until after I'd gotten away from the Neo — but that's a story for another time, babe.  When I got back to the mansion, Kurt told me everything — I was ready to tear both him and Peter new ones, especially when I found out that no one other than his teammates in X-Force, his sister, and Domino had gone to your funeral.  You have no idea how mad I was at that.  Then, Kurt told me Moira was dead too.  That hit me like a ton of bricks.  I couldn't believe it!  I'd always thought that Moira was indestructible.  But then... I always thought that you were too."  I had to stop talking for a while as I cried.  Then, when I could cry no more, I wiped my eyes and blew my nose and then, touching your grave, forced myself to continue.  "I saw the look on the fuzzy elf's face, Pete... and it would have broken your heart — he's been through so much the past few months with Moira's death and before that helping Amanda in Limbo — I guess you already know — she's the new sorceress supreme for Limbo.  I had a hard time wrapping my head around everything Kurt told me had happened — Dormammu... Mephisto... Sym... I'm just glad he made it back alive.  Well, I called Sam.  I had a few tense moments with Tabitha until Sam took over — you have no idea how much he and the others loved and respected you, Pete.  You did good with them, babe — I'm proud of you."  I then touch the headstone again.  "Sam told me where I could find you and offered to put me up while I was here.  I managed to smooth things over with Tabitha...  It wasn't easy — in her way she's just as stubborn and pigheaded as me.  I guess that's why you liked her — and why she liked you."

"I hope you don't mind if I sit down?"  I ask as I sit on the cold ground and touch the ground over the gravesite.  "You know, a lot of stuff's happened since I got back.  Did you know I quit the X-Men?  Yep.  I sure did.  It happened all of a sudden.  I was just lying in my bed, you know... just looking at the ceiling... gathering my thoughts before going to the Danger Room for another workout... another bunch of tests for the Professor.  By the way, he's back now — so's Bishop."  Stopping for a moment, I laugh gently as I shake my head.  "I'm sorry, Pete, I guess I was rambling — you know how I like to talk!  Well... anyway... I was just lying there looking at the ceiling and then I looked at the pictures on my desk — my mom and dad, everyone from Excalibur, Rachel, Illyana, Alistaire... you... Yeah, I know... I kept trying to pretend like there was no us — hell, I even started acting a little... weird... for a while — like I was a silly teenager again.  But... when Kurt told me about what happened, it was like someone hitting me with a bucket of ice water.  Then I got to thinking about Rachel and Illyana, the Morlocks, and all the others who've died without really ever getting a chance to live, and I just got sick of it all.  I decided I couldn't do it anymore.  So I got outta bed, marched down to the Danger Room, and gave Xavier my walking papers — told him I was leaving the X-Men, going to college and that I was gonna try living like a normal person for a while."

I couldn't help but laugh out loud as I remember everyone's reaction.  "You should have seen the look on their faces — the funny thing was... they were all happy for me!  Kurt patted me on the back, Storm hugged me — so did Wolvie.  He told me that he was real proud of his 'li'l pun'kin'.  And the Professor — you know I thought that he'd hit the roof... accuse me of deserting the team... of abandoning his dream... but you know what he did?  He called me over to where he was sitting, hugged me, kissed me on the cheek, and wished me happiness.  He said that I was doing what he wanted us all to be able to do one day, and that if I ever needed anything or if I just wanted to talk, to call or drop in — that I always had a home at the Mansion.  Just goes to show — you never can tell!  So now, babe, I'm living in a small studio apartment in the Village and going to Empire State University where I'm majoring in physics.  I have a whole bunch of new friends — all normals — and I'm doing the normal college girl thing — parties, studying... dating — I hope you don't mind... " I had to stop again to cry as I recalled the circumstances of our breakup.  "I'm not seeing anyone seriously now though, it's just fun dates."  As I looked up through tearstained eyes, I thought I could see a star winking at me.  Taking that as a message, I chuckled, "I didn't think you would.  Knowing you... you'd have kicked me in the butt for not dating.  I can hear you now, you stubborn old git, 'Wot the bloody 'ell are you doin' stayin' in your flat, Pryde?  You're a bleeding knockout.  You should be out with some bloke, not sittin' in your chair readin' that soddin' book!'"

Reaching into the pocket of my trenchcoat, I take out a pack of cigarettes, a shotglass, and a bottle of scotch.  "I know they're not much, honey... but they were all I could think to bring."  Then, I put the cigarettes on the grave and pour some scotch into the glass and drink it, pour another shot into the glass, and then the rest on the ground. "Merry Christmas, Pete... I miss you and I love you."  Then, I look up into the sky and make a wish as a meteor flashes across the night.  And then, I bow my head in silent prayer.

Lifting my head, I get ready to drink the last of the scotch when I feel a hand on my shoulder.  Instinctively phasing, I wheel around just as I hear a voice I had thought I would never hear again, "You gonna drink all that, Pryde or are you gonna save some for me?"

"Pete?"  I look up in shock when I see you standing there, wearing your usual black suit and trenchcoat.  "I thought you were dead?"  Both relief at your still being alive and anger at you for faking your death race inside me as I try to collect my thoughts at my seeing you again.

"I... was, luv."

"But you're alive... how?"

"I don't know how luv, and does it really matter?  After all, Pryde... isn't this the Season of Miracles?"

"Yeah... yeah, babe, it is."  I smile as I melt into his arms.  I don't know how long this is going to last or how long you can stay, Pete... but I intend to enjoy every second of it.  I then say a silent prayer of thanks for this very special and wonderful thing as the first gentle flakes of white snow fall on our coats and in our hair.

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!