FEEDBACK: is always welcomed at indigo@spork.com. Flames, significantly less so.

NOTES: Just in case, Joey's affectionate nickname for Sikudhani means "Blue" (in French, I think...)

Rogue flew in through the 'flyer's window', the one that was always kept open for the X-Men who had abilities which permitted flight. Under one arm was a small tote bag, bulging with papers of every size and color. "MAIL CALL, Y'ALL!" she shouted.

Time was, X-Men used to come out of the woodwork. On the big holidays, they still did. Hank and Kimber sent each other valentines in the mail and the email until Rogue thought she'd fall into a diabetic coma. Mother's day was nearly as bad. Part and parcel of being a member of Clan X, she mused. Never know when a special moment will be the last one you get to share, so we don't waste time, and we don't waste effort showin' our feelin's. Rogue smiled ruefully. Usually. Unfortunately, her personal difficulty with doing just that had cost her Remy. He still lived in the house, but it was as though there were a thousand miles between them, now.

Rachel, thirteen, was the first on the scene in response to Rogue's yell. "Did it come? Did it come?" she demanded, green eyes bright with anticipation. "I ordered something from Spiegel, and it said six to eight weeks. Today makes eight weeks. Did I get a package?"

Rogue made a show of hunting in her satchel, before producing a brown paper parcel addressed to Ms. Rachel Summers. "Ain't you a little bit young for Victoria's Secret?"

Rachel blushed slightly. "Cousin Sikudhani had her first date when she was thirteen," Rachel protested with a querulous jut of her chin.

"Ah'm just teasin', Ray," Rogue assured Rachel, and emptied the rest of the mail on the Mail Table near the front door. The letters, bills, and parcels would get sorted through in a haphazard fashion as the mansion's residents passed through, setting aside in neat piles mail for other residents while searching for their own. "Catch ya later." And with that, Rogue was gone in a burst of speed, without disturbing enough air to rustle the piles of mail.

Rachel ran up the stairs to her room with her treasure. Then, the front foyer was quiet.

For all of fifteen minutes.

Then the front door opened, admitting Cameron Drake and Sikudhani McCoy, two days back from their respective colleges for summer vacation. They two were staying in the mansion for a week, then each was going off to do solo things. Despite the fact that neither truly lived here anymore, mail occasionally showed up for them.

Out of habit, Cameron paused and began to flip through the letters. "Bill, bill, bill. Joseph's subscription to Popular Science. Professor's subscription to Omni." He turned to grin at Sikudhani. Affecting a rumbly baritone, Cameron grinned, mimicking Ed MacMahon. "You, Ms. Sikudhani McCoy,may already have won TEN MILLION DOLLARS!"

Sikudhani rolled her eyes, chuckling. "Oh, right," she chuckled with gentle sarcasm.

He continued through the mail, noting with amusement there was a lavender envelope that reeked of expensive perfume -- addressed to Remy. "Oh, wait, now -- here's a Hallmark card for you, Dhani." Something about the envelope made Cameron stop joking around as he gravely handed it to her.

Sikudhani accepted the blue envelope and gentled it open with a fingernail. Inside was a card with a sunny summer scene, and two people walking hand in hand on the beach. The inscription on the front of the card read:

The Greatest pleasures in life:
A sunset.
The sound of laughter.
The smell of sea air.

Siku silently flipped open the card and caught her breath as she silently read the rest:

... but the greatest pleasure in life is the knowledge that I have you as a friend.

It was signed, "Thanks again. Love always, Joe."

Cameron was well-mannered enough that he didn't peep over the top of the card. But he took one look at his friend's face and nodded sagely. "Joey B, right?" He smiled approvingly.

"How did you know?" Sikudhani asked, cocking her head. She glanced into her hand. She was not holding the envelope such that the return address faced outward.

"Easy," Cameron replied, shrugging. "It's the beginning of summer. Joey always sends you a card at the beginning of summer. And for your A-day. For Christmas. And for Valentine's Day. He's a very devoted friend." He chuckled, and slung an arm around Siku's shoulders. "If I didn't know better, I'd say he was sweet on you."

Sikudhani glanced at the card again, folded it, and smiled slowly. "No, it's nothing like that," she assured Cameron with a shake of her head. "We're just good friends, that's all. I had a little bit of a crush on him after the first two summers he spent up here -- but nothing ever came of it. Then he moved to Pennsylvania with his mother, and it was nothing but pen pals." She moved to return the card to its envelope, when a note fell out. "What's this?" She bent to retrieve it, and burst into an even wider smile.

Yeah, that's why Uncle Hank calls her Sunshine, Cameron thought, gazing on Siku's beaming face. "Good news, then, I take it?"

"He's up here for the summer again, visiting his grandmother, and he was hoping I would be available for one night."

"The old gang getting back together," Cameron mused. "Sounds cool. I know you'll have a great time. I'll catch you later, Sik. I'm gonna head into town and catch up with some of my old friends. Later, Siku." With that, he ran up the stairs, leaving Siku to her own devices.

Pocketing the card with its attendant note, Siku walked into the kitchen. Checking the phone for a free line, Siku dialed a number that she still knew by heart, even though she didn't spend as much time with Cierra since college.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Paula. It's Sikudhani McCoy. How are you?"

Paula's voice, which had sounded tired and distracted, warmed considerably. "Siku, hon! I didn't know you were home from school yet. How are you? Get good grades?" Paula, although not one of the mansion's denizens, was very nearly as much an Aunt to Siku's heart as Rogue, Ororo, Betsy or Jean was. So it was no chore for Sikudhani to engage in polite conversation wtih Cierra's mother for a short while.

"Oh, you're probably after Cierra." Paula laughed, vaguely embarrassed to have monopolized her daughter's friend's attention so. "Hang on, I'll get her." Paula's voice, muffled, called Cierra's name. There was a bit of clatter on the other end of the line before Cierra picked up.

"Hey," Cierra said cheerfully. "Welcome home! Starbucks, fifteen minutes, my treat?"

"Make it twenty and you're on," Siku countered. "I've got to get gas."

Siku hung up the phone and rummaged in the kitchen's junk drawer for a pad and pen. She scribbled a brief note, addressed to her father, which indicated she was going to 'hang out with Cierra,' which meant she'd be home whenever she got home. The two old friends had a tendency to lose track of time now that they saw each other less frequently. Hank knew full well that Sikudhani would not get into mischief; at worst, the pair would sit up all night giggling and trading stories.

The drive to Starbuck's at Salem Center was short, and Cierra was already there when Sikudhani stepped inside. The gaudy coffee shop was the sort of place she ordinarily would not set foot in, but for three things: proximity to a Barnes & Noble, Cierra, and absolutely phenomenal hot chocolate.

Cierra was already seated at a table with a newspaper in front of her. But she looked up and turned a radiant smile on Sikudhani as she approached the table. The two exchanged a warm hug before Siku finally slid into her seat.

"So how's everything at school? How's Bryan? How's Eva?" Cierra barraged her friend with enthusiastic questions.

"Great; it's good to be over with for a while. Bryan's fine. Eva's fine." Siku answered each question calmly, smiling in return. She peered at the paper. "What's that? Sudden interest in current events out of state?" The paper, Siku noticed, was one local to the Baltimore-Washington area.

"Yeah," Cierra admitted. "I got an email from a classmate who's from Baltimore, and she said last week the strangest thing happened." Cierra considered her words as she flipped through the paper, then shook her head. "Strange is probably not the right word. Cool, actually. Lonnie said I'd find the article in the Washington Post."

While Siku watched, Cierra quickly scanned through the pages, using a finger to trace her way from column to column.

This must be one fascinating story, Siku thought with an internal chuckle. Cierra's ignoring her hot chocolate!

"Ah! Here it is!" Cierra said triumphantly, turning the paper on the table and pushing it over so her friend could read the article right-side-up. Knowing Siku, she probably can read upside-down. "There. Look at that."

Siku set her hot chocolate down, and bowed her head to read, "'Dozens saved from tropical storm Doug?'" Sikudhani blew a wisp of blue hair from her eyes and wrinkled her nose. "This is nice, Cierra, but why am I reading about a tropical storm that hit Baltimore? I don't know anyone in Baltimore."

Cierra grinned, "Yes, you do." She affected a sage tone, smile never wavering. "Now read, my child. And all your questions shall be answered." She took a sip of her hot chocolate and grimaced; it had gone cold while she hunted for the article. She stood and went back to the counter in search of a warm-up, leaving Siku to read while she was in line.

Mystified by her friend's behaviour, Sikudhani returned her attention to the article and continued to read to herself:

"Tropical Storm Doug hit the Maryland coast hard. While still not officially sufficient to be classed as a true hurricane, Doug still visited nearly gale-force winds and abnormally high tides on the mid-Atlantic coast for nearly ten days.

"Several creeks and local tributaries to the Potomac river overflowed their banks, resulting in flash-flooding from Baltimore to as far south as Fairfax County in Virginia.

"The storm's behavior was abnormal, the National Weather Service has said. It moved almost as if it were looping out to sea to gain more strength and then returning to buffet the coastline again before a true recovery from the storm's last visitation could be made."

Sikudhani frowned intently. She made a mental note: I think I should mention this to Aunt Ororo. A weather pattern behaving so unusually? She produced a Swiss army knife from her pocket and stopped. I can't cut the article out until I pay for the paper. With that, she rose, paper in hand, to go to the counter.

Cierra, returning with biscotti and a freshly warmed hot chocolate, frowned. "Did you read it all, yet?"

"Not yet," Siku admitted with a shake of her head. "I want to buy the paper so I can bring this article to someone's attention."

Cierra, anticipating Sikudhani's response, chuckled. "I paid for it at the counter. It's yours to take home." Cierra pushed back her red hair from her face, then took a deep gulp of her hot chocolate. "So? Aren't you proud?"

"Proud?" Siku repeated. She sat down at once, now quite curious to see what in this article could possibly make her proud. This time, she continued aloud.

"Credited with a rescue of 40 people from a charity fundraiser cruise along the Potomac is Ensign Joseph Elliott Babcock of the Baltimore Coast Guard.

The article stopped there with a blurb indicating it was continued on page B-15.

"Joseph Elliott Babcock?!" Sikudhani repeated, turning up her blue eyes to gaze inquisitively at her friend. "As in Joey Babcock? Our Joey Babcock?"

Cierra grinned. "Bingo! Keep reading, Dhani. It gets better."

Sikudhani smiled. "Well, I guess I am proud. Joey's done pretty well for himself. Rescuing forty people in peril at sea Wow ..."

Cierra chuckled, clearly in agreement. "Read!" she commanded, waving at the paper again.

"Yes, sahib," Siku replied with playful sarcasm before continuing.

"Although the Coast Guard has not made any official comment to confirm, witnesses have all had the same incredible tale to tell about the heroism of young Ensign Babcock.

"He swims as fast as ... as a speedboat!" declared Mrs. Edith Townsend of Baltimore. "He cut through the water like he had a motor! But he didn't! The water was extremely choppy, and when my husband Earl fell in, he fished him right out, as though he weighed nothing!"

Mr. Edmond St. John-Smythe, of the District had this to say in response to speculations about whether the mysterious Ensign Babcock is a mutant. "He couldn't have been any more of an angel if he'd had the wings and a halo. That boy saved a lot of lives that night, mine and my daughter Tiffany's included. There's a place for him at my table and in my company if the Coast Guard won't have him."

William Barrett, first mate of the ship Pride of Baltimore, responded with this remark: "If that kid's a mutie, the Coast Guard's standards may have dropped. But hey -- he got the ship to safety and the 'Baltimore will not have to be sent to salvage. Then again, maybe he sent the storm just so he could rescue us and look good."

Siku frowned, but forced herself to finish the aricle. To her delight, the article left aside more speculation about the heroic deeds of the ensign in question. It did, however, go on to describe how he also aided in water rescue efforts in areas that had experienced flash-flooding.

Best of all, Siku read that for his valiant efforts on behalf of the people of Baltimore, Ensign Babcock had been promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade. "Wow," she breathed, smiling. "You're right. I am proud of him." She sat back in her chair and sipped thoughtfully at her hot chocolate. "If the speculation is true, Joey's probably had it tough."

Cierra nodded. "You were born blue, hon. If he's an obvious mutant, and in the Coast Guard, he's probably catching hell."

"Look again," Siku countered, tapping a paragraph. "It says they promoted him to Lieutenant Junior Grade. They can't be giving him that hard a time if he's been promoted."

Cierra snorted derisively. "That's all politics and public relations, Sikudhani. Of all people, you should know that. He saved the lives of some rich, prominent people. People who could make it really uncomfortable for the Coast Guard if they didn't at least make a token gesture to reward the guy who saved their lives."

Siku grimaced. "You have a point," she admitted, raking her fingers through her hair. "I should call him at his grandmother's and see how he's doing."

Cierra nodded. "That's pretty much what I thought you'd say, Dhani. You're too good a person to do anything else." She reached across the table to hug her friend. "I'd do the same, but Cameron and I have Knicks tickets for tonight, and I don't want to stand him up, despite my curiosity about Joey."

Siku smiled at her friend. "I know basketball's not your favorite. You're good."

Cierra tossed her mane of red back over one shoulder and laughed. "It's okay. Cameron knows he owes me one. Maybe I'll call in my debt for the Colgate Women's Games. If you're in 'em...?"

Siku chuckled and nudged her friend playfully. While she still enjoyed track and field sports, since she had entered college, Sikudhani had had to reprioritize ... and studying had to come first.

"You call me the minute you've spoken to Joey about this, Siku," Cierra commanded with a wide smile. "I want to hear everything!"

"I promise," Siku replied solemnly. For once, she did not make her customary stop to visit with Cierra's mother Paula, and do the expected oohing and ahhing over Paula's latest junque/antique treasures. This thing with Joey was tugging most insistently at her curiosity. "Tell your mom I'll stop by in a couple of days, okay? Extend my apologies for not staying. You'll explain to her for me?"

Cierra nodded. "Of course I will, Siku. Mom remembers Joey and how tight the three of us were for a couple summers there." She waved, and waited until Siku had driven out of sight.

The drive from Cierra and Paula's place, to the Mansion, was short. Siku paid the closest attention to her driving, but a fraction of her mind muddled over the article about Joey. What will I do if that speculation is true? What if he did summon the storm, to appear the hero? No, no. Not the Joey Babcock I know. She shook her head, banishing the thought with a chuckle for even having entertained such a notion.

"'Ey, petite chere. Where you goin' in such a hurry, hm?"

Sikudhani paused at the kitchen door, where Remy was pouring himself a glass of orange juice. While Siku didn't have all the details, something harrowing had happened to her "uncle" on a mission, and he'd been more conscious of his health since.

For my sake? Siku wondered. She remembered all-too-well how frightened she'd been when the Friends of Humanity had beaten him so badly. But she pushed that thought away and continued into the kitchen, greeting Remy with a warm hug. "Hi, Uncle Remy. I just need to reach an old friend I haven't seen in a while."

Remy returned the hug, chuckling. "Is dat so, Siku? An'body we know?" His dark eyes were smiling, but Siku could see the dangerous, protective glint in them.

"Joey Babcock," Sikudhani replied at once. "You remember him, don't you, Uncle Remy?"

Remy made a show of carefully searching his thoughts, but clearly he was just having a mischievous moment of fun with his heart-niece. "Yeah. De one who follow you around like he t'ink somebody gon' hurt you or steal you if he take his eye off you for even a minute." He nodded, smiling with approval. "Yeah, I 'member him."

Sikudhani got herself a glass of milk and chuckled. "That's the one," she confirmed, and showed him the article from the Washington Post.

While Remy read, Sikudhani let her thoughts fall back. It had been two whole years after bumping into Joey and taking him to her daddy, before Siku had finally cornered Joey on the playground and demanded to know why he thought he had to be her shadow.

Joey had finally explained that Siku had saved his life, so he would always protect her -- from bullies or whatever else came around.

This had not been the answer Siku had been expecting. She had stared, perplexed, at the skinny, freckled boy in wordless wonder, waiting for more information. Joey had gone on to explain that Siku had been the one person who found him a grown-up who had understood, listened, and believed when he tried to talk about his father's then-fiancee.

The woman had been abusing Joey on a regular basis, careful to injure him where his clothing would hide it. When Siku had taken Joey to talk to Hank, Hank had then gone to talk to Joey's parents. Joey's father had been adamant that this was all some mistake. Joey's mother insisted it be investigated.

As a result, Samantha Samuels was indeed revealed to have been abusing young Joey, and the authorities returned him to the custody of his mother, Jeanette, who now had a good, steady job in New Jersey.

After that explanation, Siku could hardly brush off her young "knight errant." It was kind of cute, actually -- especially when Cierra was of a mind to play Queen of the World. Siku was always her wise Wizard, Lady Azure, and Joey ended up as Knight of the Seven Stars (because he had seven freckles which stood out more than the rest).

Remy rustled the paper, handing it back. "Dat's pretty impressive. You sure it de same Joe Babcock?"

Siku put her empty milk glass into the sink. "Not yet, Uncle Remy. That's why I mean to call him and find out. You'll tell Aunt Ororo about the weird weather?"

"Dat I will, petite chere. Stormy ain' gon' be pleased if somebody messin' wit' de weatha'." Remy kissed the top of Siku's head. "If dat your frien', Siku, he is gonna need you. Seein' what dey said in de paper, life ain' gon' be so easy for de pup."

Siku nodded agreement, and smiled. "My thoughts precisely." with that, she waved to Remy and continued into her room. If that was Joey in the paper, why didn't he mention it in the note he sent with the Summer card? Siku wondered, reaching into the bottom drawer of her bureau.

She sat on the bed and opened her 'Joey box.' It was a simple blonde wood box, about the size of a jewelry box. Inside it were a jumble of papers and doodads. She had boxes like this for everyone she cared about. When the next precious moment with a loved one could be the last, she had decided long ago, every one must be treasured.

Tugging her beloved old Cookie Monster doll up beside her, Siku spread the contents of the box out on her bed: nine years worth of summertime adventures, mementoes, cards and letters spread out before her. Tokens of Joey's affection ranged from a cute little tin whistle he'd won her at the carnival when they were ten, to a necklace made out of Life Savers candy that he'd carefully painted with shellac so they would not break. When she turned sixteen, Joey had given her a rose under glass. She finally held in her hand the most recent: a tiny, fragile figurine of a fairy in flight. It was hand-blown glass, and it was so blue it matched the shade of Siku's fur.

Reaching for the phone, she dialed a nubmer she knew by heart. The phone rang three times, then was answered by Joey's grandmother, Margaret -- who insisted on being called Peggy. "Hello, Peggy. It's Sikudhani McCoy. How are you?"

"Siku, dear!" The older woman's voice held a genuine affection which always warmed Siku's heart.

Siku had been vaguely apprehensive about meeting Joey's grandmother, but Peggy had merely said that Siku was in good company: "The sky is blue and full of stars. The sea is blue. Crayons and cornflowers are blue. Some of the most beautiful things in nature are blue -- and so are you, my dear."

"You must be wantin' to speak to my Joey," Peggy said, after her effusive greeting. "He's right here." There was an instant of audible shuffle on the other end of the line before Joey picked up.

"Hey, Azure," said a soft voice. "Get my card?"

"Joey." Siku found herself smiling just at the sound of his voice. As always, she never realized how much she missed him until she was given a reminder -- like this. "I sure did. And Cierra showed me an article in the Washington Post. Joseph Elliott Babcock, hero?"

"Well, I'm on the Coast Guard, Azure. It's my job to protect lives." He sounded vaguely uncomfortable. Perhaps embarrassed. "It was me...but it wasn't anything special."

Siku laughed. "Only you would say rescuing forty people wasn't special." Joey had an inkling of just who all of Siku's aunts and uncles were, but what he'd done was no different, to her mind, than what the X-Men did.

In return, Joey laughed as well, riposting, "Well, not considering that you, Lady Azure the Wizard, and I used to slay dragons in the service of Queen Cierra." He paused, and then continued, voice growing serious. "I'm not going to be up here in Salem for the whole summer, Azure. Do you have time in your schedule to squeeze me in for a whole day?"

Siku gave the question only a moment's thought. Bryan was in a photography workshop until the middle of the month. As long as she dropped him an email letting him know she had plans, he wouldn't worry. "Of course I can, Sir Joey of the Seven Stars." They often called each other by the names they'd used in games of make-believe in their younger days. "Tonight, if you like?"

"No," Joey said softly. "Just an evening ... I don't mean to be selfish, Azure. But I'd really like an entire day with you. Tomorrow? I'll take you out to breakfast...then we can do whatever you want...and then watch the stars come out at that lake you have out back?" His voice was gentle, almost hesitant.

Please, Joey thought, on his end of the phone, eyes closed. I almost wish my mutant power was to will her to say yes ... but that wouldn't be right. I'd be the kind of mutant everyone should fear.

Joey's heart leapt when Siku replied, "That'd be great. Any reason you want to make a whole day of it?"

"I'll pick you up at nine, Azure, and you can see for yourself," Joey answered quietly. "till then, dream sweet." Before Siku could say another word, Joey whispered, "Bye, Azure," and hung up.

Siku hung up as well and spent the rest of the night feeling vaguely uneasy. He sounds odd. I hope the transition hasn't been too traumatic for him.

The following morning, Sikudhani was up with the sun. She made a point of visiting her father in the lab. Given his dedication to eradicating the Legacy virus, Siku knew she could find him there early most mornings. She brought him a cup of coffee and a blueberry muffin. Knowing him, he probably hasn't eaten, and Kimber probably has been loathe to disturb him.

"Good morning, Sunshine," Hank greeted her and gathered her into an affectionate hug. "What has you up this early so soon after school's out? Don't tell me you're not allowing yourself the luxury of sleeping in?"

Siku laughed. "I only get up that early on Christmas morning, or if I have big plans for the day, Daddy," she reminded him with a playful swat to the shoulder. "I'm spending the day with Joey Babcock."

One round of 'Do you remember him?' later, Hank nodded, getting all the details of the meeting and the article from his daughter. "Of all the people to whom he could turn in time of trouble, he already knows you will come through for him," Hank declared sagely. "Have a good time. Call if you expect to be late. I know you're a grown girl now, but I worry."

"I know," Siku beamed, hugging her father once again. "And I love you for it." She kissed her father goodbye, then returned upstairs.

"Mornin', darlin'," Logan said from the kitchen. "Yer young man's outside." Logan's tone indicated he meant the expression as 'friend,' rather than as 'beau.'

Siku smiled and waved, walking out the door and down the steps, musing upon how Joey's insistence on protecting Sikudhani and his gentlemanly devotion to her, even during the hormonal teenage years, had earned him respect in the eyes of her father and uncles.

The car was a blue Mustang convertible with blue upholstery. The day was gorgeous -- bright, sunny, and not too breezy, so Joey had the top down. When he saw Siku approaching, he hopped out of the car and walked around to get the door for her "Well, hello," he greeted her, and pressed something into the palm of her hand.

Siku examined the contents of her hand and found a roll of Life Savers candy in her hand. She laughed, opened the roll and offered Joe the first one. "I think we have this in common, now," she mused.

"You saved mine," Joey agreed, "And I saved those rich folks." He shrugged. "That's not really why I wanted to spend the day with you. I have...a couple other things I wanted to discuss."

Siku nodded, and watched Joey carefully as he drove down the driveway and out onto Greymalkin Lane. He looked much the same as he always had: Brown hair, nose dusted with freckles. Then, Sikudhani's blue eyes fell on Joey's hands and saw that his fingers were webbed. That supports his swimming, she thought, then scolded herself internally. Stop analyzing him, Siku. He'll talk when he's ready.

As if on cue, Joe began to speak, answering Siku's unspoken questions as if he could hear her thinking them. "It's been almost three years since this happened. I was out on Montauk with some friends from school, and we were out on the Long Island Sound. We were cool -- life vests and all. But there was another boat, and the guys on that one had been drinking. We had a collission, and one of my friends whacked her head on the side of the boat before falling over."

"I dived in, without even thinking. The water was all murky and dark, and it was all chop from the engines. We were both going to get sucked under if I didn't do something. I guess it was knowing it'd come down to 'swim or die' that did it. My fingers and toes had always had a bit more webbing than normal, but ..." He turned to glance sideways at Siku. "... Suddenly, I was fine. I could breathe. I was strong. I could swim, even against the engine chop. Hydro-boy, that was me." He grinned wryly. "Everything was cool because I still looked normal at the time."

"But you still look normal," Siku protested. "Well, for ... for what some people consider normal." The car had stopped, and Joey walked around to open the door for her. They were at one of the few fancy restaurants in Salem Center which served breakfast.

Joey chuckled. "You haven't seen me without my shirt," he answered without rancor. "That winter, we did spring break at Ft. Lauderdale, and, well, I'd been doing a good job not letting it get to me that I was a bona fide mutant ... until the pool party."

Pausing only to allow the waitress to take their breakfast orders, Joey continued, gazing out the window at the passers-by. "It wasn't until I took my shirt off that things got crazy." He turned back to Siku, and she realized that his eyes were no longer brown, but bright blue.

Joe lifted his left hand and tugged gently at the collar of his T-shirt, pulling it down just below neck level. Triple indentations in his flesh were visible just below the line of his collarbone, on either side of his neck.

"Gills?" Siku asked, more curious than repulsed.

"Yeah, Dhani. Gills," Joey continued. He let the subject of his mutation drop while they ate. Conversation remained easy for the two friends, as they discussed the last school year, and brought each other up to speed on what the other had been up to. "Bryan sounds like a nice guy," he said, patting Siku's hand gently. "He better be."

Siku smiled. "Bryan's good to me," she confirmed. "What about you? Anyone special in your life?"

Joe shrugged, and gave a half-shake of his head. "Yeah," he answered, but went into no more detail. He paid the check in cash, and Siku had to blink in amazement at how expensive their repast had been. "It's nothing," he assured her. "Don't look at me like you've broken me. I promised you a special day, milady, and a special day you shall have. The sky's the limit, Azure. Anything you want."

"Why?" Sikudhani asked, frowning. "I don't mean to complain or seem ungrateful, but..." she trailed off, as a dreadful thought occurred to her, an icy finger clawing its way down her spine. He hasn't contracted Legacy! Please, that can't be it! He can't be dying! There was a moment of silence while she fought to rein in the terror just thinking of her friend suffering in the throes of that awful disease.

"All shall be revealed in good time, Lady Azure," Joe said with a smile that indicated all was well with his world.

Back in the car, Siku decided that spending the rest of the day at Rye Playland would be appropriate, given that the old friends were reunited. She almost suggested bringing Cierra, but intuition told her that Joe had intended this day for himself and Siku alone. Oh, he was a perfect gentleman, and would not protest if Siku asked; but she was sure it would spoil something for him -- whatever it was he wasn't telling her. The curiosity was maddening.

The drive up was as pleasant as they could have asked for. "Tell me more?" Siku asked, gently placing a hand on Joey's elbow. "Why didn't you call me, tell me when you first realized?" There was no reproach in her tone. Mainly she was curious.

"The thought had occurred to me," Joe admitted, hair blowing back in the breeze. Siku noticed his ears had become a little pointed; a little finny. "But you have your own situation to deal with. And, much as I know you'd have come running, I didn't want to come crying to you with every major problem I face. The day will come when we won't be able to get together this easily. I should definitely be able to ... stand on my own two feet." He turned to glance at Siku, whose blue hair was a halo around her head in the June sunlight. "As nice as it is to have you to lean on."

Siku found her cheeks burning with a blush at those words. "Flatterer," she responded with a chuckle.

Their day at Playland flew by in a flurry of activity. The weather had been the slightest bit overcast in Rye, so the turnout had been low. There were no lines. They rode the roller coaster until Siku protested she'd lose her breakfast.

After that, Joe took her on the midway and won her an obnoxiously huge Elmo doll from the Pitch-a-Quarter booth.

It was on the Ferris Wheel that Joe finally continued his tale. "Pardon," he murmured almost shyly. "I didn't mean to show off out there. But I did want to win you something nice to remember me by."

Siku raised a brow over her frozen yogurt cone. "Show off?" she repeated. "You were..." she paused, thinking, then smiled. "Ah! You have improved reflexes, now?"

Joe nodded. "Yeah, and sonar." He counted off on his webbed fingers. "Resistance to temperature extremes. Nictating membranes over the eyes. Telempathic communication with aquatic life. Oh, and shapeshifting." He smiled, self-effacingly. "Quite a trick bag I got, huh?"

Siku leaned forward, smiling in fascination, despite herself. Since she'd been a small child, she had always found fascinating seeing what other mutants could do. The myriad, vast diversity of abilities and how they manifested was something she never grew tired of watching. "You shapeshift?" she asked. "Into what? A dolphin?"

Joe smiled, pleased to see she did not find him repulsive as his confessions grew more elaborate. "So far, I can transform into any sea life I've touched for more than a minute. But that's dolphins so far, yes. Starfish, for instance, have no brains. I'm ...afraid of not being able to change back." His eyes, so blue, reflected his fear. "Under the sea is not all Sebastian the Crab says it is. There are ... things on land that I ... I ... I'd hate to give up."

The Ferris wheel stopped, and they got off, walking arm in arm toward the car. The sun was low in the sky, and they left the park to avoid the rush hour traffic.

"You said you wanted to watch the stars come out at the lake behind the Mansion, yes?" Siku reminded him. "I'll call ahead and we can pick up a picnic dinner from one of the shops in Salem."

"You think of everything," Joe said, watching her walk away, to a pay phone. Since Dhani's back was to him, she didn't catch the wistful expression in his eyes.

Joe held out a hand to her the moment she set the picnic basket down on the blanket. "Do you trust me?" he asked, voice soft.

"Implicitly," Sikudhani replied, blue eyes serious. "You have spent the last nine years being my Summertime Shining Knight. You've gotten black eyes for me, and I can't remember all the things you've done trying to protect me. I trust you as much as I trust one of my own family."

Joe blinked hard, finding tears suddenly springing to his eyes. "That means a lot to me, Dhani. Thank you," he whispered around the lump her words had suddenly caused to spring into his throat. He took a deep breath as she took his hand. "Then take a deep breath."

Sikudhani nodded, and did just that. Joe gestured gently with his free hand, and there was a luminous halo around Siku.

"Oh!" Siku gasped. "Wh-what are you doing?" she asked. She wasn't alarmed, but still -- it was startling to see Joe surround her in a nimbus of light.

"It's my other ability," Joe explained, gently pulling Siku to his side with exaggerated care. "You've got twenty minutes to exist as I do. The oxygen molecules ... I don't understand it exactly, myself. But you'll be able to breathe under the water. You won't be breathing water directly, like I can ..."

Siku paled slightly.

"If you'd rather not, I understand," Joey said softly. But he looked down; she hadn't let go of his hand. In fact, she moved closer.

"No, I was just surprised," Siku explained. "Let's swim."

And swim they did. For Siku, it was extraordinary. I don't need to surface for air! I can stay under the water as long as I want! It's ... exhilarating! I only wish I could talk to him like this. Unable to have that desire, Siku merely treaded water, watching Joey knife through the water like he was born to it, moving at a speed she'd only seen Aunt Rogue manage...but with less grace.

The twenty minutes expired all too quickly, but gradually enough that Siku had plenty of time to swim for the surface. Joey surfaced along with her, feeling the effect of his abilities waning around her. "Did you enjoy that?" he asked softly.

"It was ... fantastic!" Siku admitted, breathlessly. The sun had gone down while they were below, and the night was growing chill. Sikudhani wrapped a towel around herself. Joey merely sat down on the blanket, dripping dry.

"Before dinner," Joey stammered, "There's one last thing I ... I should show you." Before I lose my nerve.

He reached into the pocket of his jacket, and produced a small, velvet box, offering it to Sikudhani. "Sikudhani Edna McCoy ... this is for you."

Siku gasped. "Joey ... if this is what I think it is ... I can't accept. I'm involved with Bryan now."

"I know, Azure. It's not an engagement ring." There was audible pain in his voice at this admission.

Siku took the box and flipped it open. Inside the box was a gold ring with a heart shaped sapphire, surrounded by seven diamonds. "It ... it's beautiful," she murmured, feeling her breath catch in her throat.

"I had it made for you, especially, when I found out," Joey explained. "I ... " he stammered, stopped. "I ... wish it was an engagement ring. I love you, Sikudhani. I've loved you since we were kids. Since you saved my life. But you've always had beaux, and we've only had summers together. I could never have stepped in, so I held my peace. Until tonight. Still, I wanted you to have this ... as something special to remember me by."

"You make it sound like I'll never see you again," Siku whispered, biting her lip in apprehension of what Joey might say next. "Like ... like you're going to die."

Joe shook his head. "Oh, no. Nothing like that," he answered. "But close enough, I suppose."

"Close enough?" Siku echoed, voice going a bit shrill with emotion. "What are you playing at, Joseph?" Her eyes were beginning to fill with tears. "You're not dying. You sound like this is 'goodbye forever' but you may see me again. And you've just confessed ..." She windmilled her hands, frustrated. "What is happening?"

"Haven't you guessed?" Joey asked, reaching to brush a tear from Siku's cheek. "I'm sorry, Azure. I hadn't meant to make you cry."

Siku paused to think when Joey asked her if she hadn't already guessed. She began to shake her head, then gasped. "Oh...oh, no. It's your mutation, isn't it? Something about your mutation?"

"Brilliant as ever, milady Azure," Joey answered with a nod. "I have -- at maximum -- perhaps six months before I will only be able to survive in an aquatic environment. I will be able to handle being on dry land for short periods of time. Minutes, at best. That's all.

"The Coast Guard is working out some kind of deal with the Navy. They want to get me some kind of suit. But it's not looking good. So they fit me with a radio collar like a blue whale, and call if they need me for help in the water." He shrugged. "It wouldn't be such a bad existence, except I know I won't see you much. There's no indication I'll ever be able to bring anyone under with me for longer than an hour, max." He shook his head sadly. "Besides, Dhani ... you're with someone else. My timing there's never been any good." Joe shook his head ruefully, but his smile was sincere as he said, "Bryan is one hell of a lucky guy.

"Other than that tiny detail, discovering I'm a mutant has been a blast. I've done some good things. I've saved people. Made something out of myself." Joey shrugged, and gazed at Siku. "Say something? Say you don't hate me for wanting one day to be with you, tell you ... tell you all I've ever wanted to tell you?"

"I could never hate you, Sir Joey of the Seven Stars," Siku answered, voice a bit shaky with emotion. "How could I? You've been one of my dearest friends for half my life, even with how rarely we see each other. You've given me a wonderful, beautiful day. You've showed me your world. And, most importantly, you have loved me in noble silence, knowing I have loved others."

Assurances done, Sikudhani leaned across the blanket and kissed Joey gently on the lips. Joey froze; but Siku held her place until he relaxed sufficient to return the kiss with gentle, reverent care. When she drew back, Joey was weeping silently.

"Too bad this isn't a fairy tale," Joey whispered huskily. "You could've turned this frog into a prince." Then, wiping his face, he lifted his eyes to the sky. The first star had come out. "Make a wish," he urged his friend. I already know my wish ... just to be able to see her again once in a while.

"I wish for you to be safe," Siku whispered.

"I will be," Joey assured her. "I will be." With that, he tilted back his head and sang. The sound was not remotely human. His mutation, and his aquatic telempathy had given him a gift no one else had -- he sang to Siku this one time -- in whalesong.

Siku leaned over and rested her head on Joey's shoulder. They didn't speak again for a long time. They merely sat together in silence, enjoying the simple pleasure of their friendship.

By the end of the week, Joseph Elliott Babcock had left Salem Center. He still had to break the news of his condition to his mother and father.

Siku was somber and quiet around the house. She spoke little of it to anyone. Even to Bryan she would only say that a friend had confessed his love for her, then bowed out gracefully. It was, finally, to Cierra, that Sikudhani broke her silence and told the truth about her last day with Joe Babcock.

Siku looked down at the ring she wore on the middle finger of her right hand -- the one Joe had given her. She had realized a day or two after he was gone that the gorgeous sapphire signified Siku as Lady Azure, from their make-believe days. The diamonds, of course, were Sir Joey's Seven Stars.

"Oh, Dhani, that's beat," Cierra whispered. "I'm so sorry."

"It's hard. I want to grieve for him. But I can't. Not really," Siku said, finally, after a long silence following the whole tale. "He still lives, among the most intelligent creatures in the world. If there's a way to restore him to the land, he'll find it. And if not ... I will think of him every time I take a deep breath."