Disclaimer: None of the characters mentioned are mine. I'm just borrowing them. I'm not making any money, but your e-mails make up for that (hint, hint). This is the sequel to 'Just in Case', which I wrote some time ago.
Sikudhani Edna McCoy shut her last suitcase and sighed. By this time tomorrow she would be at college. She would be living away from home for the very first time, on her own, free and independent…
I'm scared. She admitted silently. But I'm going to do it. This is what I want. She shook her head firmly, banishing her fears. Everything would be fine. Now what have I forgotten? She snapped her fingers. That's it. Those papers Dad wanted me to give that friend of his. He said they were in the…third drawer down on the left side of his desk, the blue folder, got it.
Siku padded downstairs, waving hello to Uncle Remy and Aunt Rogue as she passed them in the hall. I'm going to miss them so much…and Uncle Logan and Aunt Ororo and Aunt Jean and Uncle Scott and everyone…Stop it! You'll see them again, lots of times. You aren't even going that far away. They can visit anytime, and probably will, knowing them.
She passed the Medlab, peeking in at the clean, sterile lines of the room, and memories washed over her. She smiled, remembering the times she had been patched up in here. Like the time Jubilee had tried to teach her to rollerblade, and she'd gotten all banged up, and her dad had hit the roof. Or the time she and Cierra had tried to remove her fur and had ended up taking off a lot of skin as well. And then there was the time she'd banged her head trying to hang by her feet like her dad did. That hadn't been a good idea. Now that I think about it, I got yelled at in here a few times too.
Her eyes fell on a particular bed, and the smile suddenly drained away from her face. She was seeing Uncle Remy, that horrible night when the Friends of Humanity had almost killed him. He'd always said that she saved him that night, that it was her calling him that had brought him back. What if someone gets hurt? What if it happens again and I'm not here…what if someone dies and I don't get a chance to say goodbye? She closed the door firmly, shutting the fears away. Stop it.
She reached Beast's lab and almost burst into tears. She hadn't really spent much time in the lab, since it was down here that her dad had always been working on the Legacy Virus, and even as a tiny child she had known not to disturb him. But he had been here, and she had always known that if she needed him he would be here, ready to help. Siku closed her eyes and let her father's presence wrap around her like a warm, soft blanket. I don't want to go! She wailed silently. I can't, it's too hard, I can't leave everyone, I can't…Stop it!! Stop being such a wimp! She rummaged around in her father's desk, looking for the blue folder. There wasn't one. Typical. She eventually found the required papers in a green folder in the top drawer on the right hand side. As she tried to push it closed, it stuck. Reaching around behind it, she found a piece of paper which had somehow gotten wedged down the back. She pulled it out, intending to put into the drawer with the others, but paused as she glanced at it. It was a letter, addressed to her. Knowing she probably shouldn't, Siku sat down at the desk and started to read.
Dear Sikudhani
It is late at night and you are asleep on my lap. I should put you to bed, but right at this moment I simply cannot countenance the thought of having you even a room or two away…
By the time she reached the end of the letter, tears were pouring down Siku's face. She touched the letter gently, letting the warmth and tenderness overflow from the single sheet of paper and wash around her. Rubbing one hand across her eyes, she returned to one particular paragraph.
I am so proud of you. Ever since you were a baby you've always gone for whatever you wanted with both hands. I hope and pray that that courage and determination will see you well through life, that you will find your dreams and follow them, wherever they may lead. Sunshine, don't ever, ever, let anyone tell you that because you are female, or a mutant, or anything else, you can't do something you want to. Always remember that Daddy believes in you.
Thank you, Daddy. I can do it now. Siku grabbed a piece of paper, and started to write.
Dear Daddy.
I found your letter. The one you wrote to me when I was little, when something almost happened to you. I know I probably shouldn't have read it, but I'm glad I did.
You see, tonight I wasn't really sure I wanted to go after all. I know that college is important, and I really do want to further my education and everything, but I just don't want to have to go away. When I read the first line of the letter, I was certain that I couldn't go. But when you said to always remember that you believe in me, I knew I could, and will.
I'm going to make you so proud of me, Daddy. I'll study hard, and stay focused, and do my very best, you'll see. I'll be the best blue furry student they ever had. Mutant or not, they'll have to accept me, I'll MAKE them. I can hear you saying, 'but I'm already proud of you, sunshine!' I know you are. I've always known.
Ever since I was tiny, I've always known that you and the others believed in me. That you thought I could do anything. So I believed it too. You gave me the confidence to strike out in a world which may never truly accept me, to achieve the goals I set for myself and find new ones, to take pride in who and what I am. Life will never be easy for either of us, but then it's been said that life isn't meant to be easy, and who wants it to be, anyway? Life is a challenge, and one I'm ready to meet.
Do you remember the time I nearly concussed Joseph while I was pretending to be an X-Man? I used to pretend that a lot. Now? I don't know. Maybe I'll fight for our dream as an X-Man, maybe in some other way. I know you'll support me, whatever I decide.
Please find enclosed:
Write to me when you need more. By the time you read this, I will have left, but a part of me will always be here with you.
I love you, Daddy.
Your Sunshine,
Sikudhani Edna McCoy
Siku knew that when she left, her Dad would come down here the way he always did when he had something to cope with. She left her letter on his desk.
FIN
Acknowledgements:
The X-Men and all persons therein are the property of Marvel.
Sikudhani belongs to Darqstar.
Hank's letter is quoted from my earlier fic, 'Just in Case'.
The blading incident is from 'It's All Downhill From Here', the fur-removal is from 'Bad Hair Day', and Remy's injuries are from 'Critical Questions', all by Darqstar, talented lady that she is.
Joseph's near concussion is from 'The Secret Life of Sikudhani McCoy' by David Hicks, which was great, plug plug
.