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October 2000
A sharp breeze preceded her arrival. Warm but somehow still biting, clearing away the dead leaves that dared to desecrate this sacred spot.
Valerie walked alone from the greenhouse, across the mansion’s grounds like she had every October for the last three decades. In her arms were a bundle of white calla lilies with a single white rose, freshly bloomed a matter of moments ago.
Two for Darwin.
Two for Angel.
Two for Alex.
Three for Sean.
The memorial courtyard was quiet and peaceful when stepped into the perimeter. Over the years, students and faculty alike knew to respectfully avoid the area when they woke up in the morning and the plants within the mansion were wilted and dark. Even Charles knew it was for the better to give her space.
“...hey guys. It’s been a year already, whole new millennia and everything too.” She spoke softly to the stones that greeted her, identical other than the writing across the three of them. Angel didn’t get one. She had been tempted to raise her own from time to time but she’d rather keep the peace.
Valerie stood stoic for a moment, staring into blank space, as if she was giving time for responses that would never come. She shook her head, letting out a shaky breath as she walked a little closer to the western end of the short row.
Armando Muñoz
Darwin
1962
“Adapt to this…”
Sebastian Shaw’s words echoed in her mind as she let out a shaky breath and blinked away tears, lowering herself to the ground. A gentle brush of the grass with her hand tidied it up as she laid the lilies down. Then with an almost mechanical precision, as it was for someone who had done it dozens upon dozens of times, she straightened out and reorganized the shells and small stones she had placed on top of the marker many years prior. Most had been replaced over time, sun-bleached and cracked, but one shell, from a little island near Cuba, stayed center stage for eternity.
“I know it probably wasn’t your thing and I tell you every time, but you would’ve made a great teacher Darwin. The kids would’ve really liked you.” She whispered as continued to brush dirt away, “And I make sure they know about you, and what you did for us. Tried to do for us. Thank you, friend.”
She rose to her feet and continued down eastward.
Alexander Summers
Havok
1983
“Hey, idiot.” She let out a breathy, bitter laugh as she continued the routine, kneeling down, placing the flowers, adjusting various stones and things. She liked to leave red jasper for Alex, a good contrast against the white marble.
“Charles said it’s possible for me to go on missions again soon. Scott’s been helping me, says it’s about damn time.” She shifted slightly, “Hard to take him seriously though, they’re all still kids to me. Time is funny that way, and cruel. Students getting older and I look the same.”
“Hank got recruited to Washington, figured you’d laugh your ass off at that. The government needs insight into us, they’re planning to introduce some bill to make us register to live or something. I try to stay out of all that. I just know Erik is gonna rear his stupid helmeted head again. Punk.”
She never liked bringing up Magneto, the thought of him stirred something in her, and if she tried to focus on the feeling there was pain. A shock to the nervous system. Sharp. A warning. Don’t. Go back.
That was enough to get her to move on. Wordlessly leaving flowers at the empty spot at the end of the row, there was nothing there for her to say, remembering Angel was enough.
She turned back and sat on the ground, turning the remaining flowers in her hands as she stared down at the grass before the third stone. It always took her a long time to look at it head on. Having your world shattered did that to you.
Sean Cassidy
Banshee
1966
“...I miss you.” The tears began to stream freely, “I still don’t remember what happened. I’ve stopped asking for help.” There was that pain again. The gaps between 1965 to 1975 were just filled with searing pain. Flashes. Screams. Burning. She didn’t know why. Charles could never tell her why.
He never would.
Because he was responsible.
And Valerie could never know that.
For the safety of herself and others.
So she stayed there as she lost time, the sun moving across the sky towards late afternoon. While she sat there and cried.
She didn’t register the heavy footsteps as they approached, didn’t even flinch as the heavy hand came to smooth her hair before resting on her shoulder. She hadn’t wept in hours but she still sat stone still.
“Hey, Val…” Hank spoke softly, as if any louder and his friend would shatter into a million pieces of glass.
“You’re supposed to be in DC, blueberry.” She whispered against her knee, closing her eyes.
Beast cracked a small smile and shook his head, having stopped fighting her on that nickname decades prior.
“I got here about an hour ago, made tea. It’s waiting in the kitchen.” He knelt down and rubbed her shoulder blade gently, trying to coax her out of this state, “Charles mentioned you might need help saying goodbye today, so I’m here to help you. Alright?”
“Help me say goodbye? Okay.” She nodded weakly, settling to rest her weight against him. Gradually, he stood back up and she didn’t fight him as he guided her to her feet.
“Can we try a ‘see you later’ this time, Hank?”
“Sure Val, anything you want.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, keeping her against his side for support as he took her hands gently, secure.
“See you later guys, wish you were here.” She whispered softly, barely enough to register as vocal.
“See you later.” Hank muttered along with her as he gave the stones a nod, before slowly guiding her back to the mansion, where Ororo waited at the door with a blanket for her, joining their silent walk to the kitchen.