Nathan and Ororo, Yosemite

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Nathan and Ororo arrive at the lodge in Yosemite. Ororo starts to relax. Nathan does his best Jack Sparrow impression - or maybe just his best impression of a lunatic, which admittedly doesn't take much effort.


Contrary to popular opinion, Ororo knew how to pack light. Just because I own a generous amount of shoes does not mean I must bring them everywhere I go... Years of having to leave at a moment's notice had taught her how to take only what was absolutely necessary, and if she told the truth it had been rather therapeutic, leaving behind most reminders of the school and bringing only what she had to. This meant that she only had one personal bag to pull out of the trunk of the taxi, though she reached into pull out another full of camping and climbing equipment before turning to the lodge where Nathan had booked their rooms. It was, in a word, beautiful.

"No need to spend every night in a tent," Nathan said, seeing her sizing up the lodge. He had seemed to relax a little more with every step of their journey from the mansion, and most of the lines of tension in his face were gone entirely at this point. "Come on, let's go check in," he said, lifting out the other bags, including his own battered duffel. "I asked for one of their two-bedroom suites, so we'll have quite a bit of space."

Following Nathan into the lodge, Ororo was struck again by how lovely their lodging was. It had high, vaulted ceilings, mirroring the open sky outside, and everything was in a natural finish, creating a comfortable but undeniably rustic atmosphere. "I suppose it would be out of the question to ask their interior decorator to come refit the mansion," she murmured as they approached the front desk.

"Cain would probably have an apoplectic fit." The suite turned out to be ready for them, and Nathan shook his head with a brief smile to the offer of help carrying bags. "They're used to climbers here, I gather," he said as he and Ororo headed down up the indicated stairs. "I asked specifically - they've even got a shuttle into the valley. I figured we could take the first run in the morning."

"That seems an excellent idea to me." Ororo was still being rather quiet; it wasn't that she didn't enjoy Nathan's company, but with so much on her mind she was taking advantage of not having to play the headmistress. Parent's Day had been one long, unending exercise in torture.

Nathan gave her a sideways look, but held his tongue until they were in the suite - and longer than that, giving Ororo some time to settle into her room. He didn't require much settling, and was sitting out by the windows, having raided the minibar, by the time she reemerged.

Though she noticed the glass in his hand, Ororo's gaze was immediately drawn to the view outside the window and she forgot all about cautioning him or asking him to share. "It's gorgeous," she said, stepping closer to look out at the magnificent mountain peaks, all framed by towering pines and a few puffy white clouds.

"Even more so up close." Nathan was watching her instead of the windows, however. "You should get yourself a drink and sit down," he suggested. "Or just sit down. The alcohol with me is because of the commercial flight." He waved a hand. "It's bad enough being trapped in a metal cigarette tube with cranky people when your shields aren't on the fritz."

Ororo stood to enjoy the view a little longer, then headed to the fridge to make herself a drink. "I can imagine it would be a trying experience. Thank the goddess we are in a place with a little space to think now."

"It's not the Kazakh steppes, but it'll do," Nathan said, almost under his breath. He went on in a more normal tone as she poured herself a drink. "It's not going to be quite empty - not at this time of the year, with the weather this good. But it's not the mansion."

"And that," she said, taking a seat in the chair next to him, "is a very good thing. I must say again that I am very glad you had this idea. The plane ride aside, it is good to get away." And if not completely away from the guilt, at least to a place where there was room to take a step back and look at it.

"Distance, space, and sweat," Nathan said, as if it were a mantra. "Not quite the cure for all ills, but it's a start." He clinked glasses with her. "I also promise not to accidentally get you killed on a rock face at any point this week. Just so that we're clear on that."

"And I promise not to die, accidentally or otherwise." Ororo's smile was somewhat twisted. "We have an accord."

"Oh, good. Because if either of us died, I think there are a few people who'd be ready to kill us," Nathan said with supreme illogic. "My wife, your... uh, Cajun."

"My Cajun may not mind, as long as it was for a worthy cause," Ororo grumbled, taking a sip of her drink. "But I would hate to confront Moira with the news that you were no more. She frightens me more than Amelia, I admit."

"It's the Scottishness. When we're at home on Muir she likes to chase me around with a claymore," Nathan said with a perfectly straight face.

This made her laugh, and she relaxed a little more, leaning back in her chair and looking up at the rocky peaks in front of them. "You are a very, very strange man. Remind me again why I came here?"

"A moment of fortuitous insanity. Or guilt for smacking me in the mouth, much as I deserved it." Nathan tossed back the drink. "Why is the rum gone?" he said sadly.

Giving him a very strange look, Ororo beckoned to the room behind them. "There is more in the minibar. Bring some for me, while you are up." She paused, then gave him a smile. "Please."

He got up, giving her what could only be described as a slightly maniacal smile in return. "I've stolen you away on vacation and am plying you with rum. How bad does this look?"

"Terrible," 'Ro agreed, laughing. "At least it will give them something to talk about." Something besides being kidnapped. That was an old standby.

"It's too bad I'm insanely faithful to my wife and you have a Cajun," Nathan said, coming back with two more little bottles of rum and a can of soda. "Rum, meet Coke. Hello, Coke, aren't you a scruffy fellow?"

"I could never be with a man who talked to his drinks, anyway," Ororo replied, holding out her glass for Nathan to fill with soda. "I have heard it is a sign of mental instability. Or at the very least a deranged imagination."

Nathan made a face at her - but filled her glass. "Munroe, I am a grade A certified lunatic, thank you very much. My imagination is as deranged as the rest of me." He added some rum to her glass, then fixed his own drink. "And I find inanimate objects to be marvelous conversationalists. Witty, and erudite... or maybe they just don't talk back. Which is a great and mighty virtue."

"You really should have thought of that before you brought me along. As I am neither inanimate nor refraining from talking back. Though it is entirely possible I am sweet and occasionally bubbly, so I suppose this drink and I do share some similarities." Ororo looked very pleased with herself, and grinned at Nathan as he sat back down. "And I can leave people with quite a headache, as I am sure you can attest."

"Pfeh. You're speaking to the father of a toddler, remember - no one, up to and including the Cassidys, is more headache-inducing than my daughter when she puts her mind to being loud. The rest of you pale in comparison." Nathan relaxed back into his chair. "Which reminds me, I need to take the satellite phone so I can call her in the morning. We have this little ritual when she's on Muir."

"Oh? And what is that?" Ororo asked with a genuine smile this time.

"I call and say 'Good morning, Rachel.' And she says 'No! Silly!' because of course, it's not morning on Muir when I call... and then we have a whole long conversation, usually about what I'm having for breakfast and what her mother is doing. Which is usually laughing at the two of us," Nathan said, smiling as well, the look on his face as he gazed out at Yosemite Valley softer than anyone had seen it in weeks.

"Well then. We will be sure to take the phone with us." Of course, Ororo didn't feel the same yearning to contact anyone she had left behind, but seeing the change come over Nathan that came from even talking about speaking with Rachel, she knew it was an important thing to ensure happened. "And we will be able to reassure Moira that we are both still alive as well. All around it is a good plan."

"Once she's old enough I'm going to find her a nice boulder, you know. The key is to start them earlier," Nathan said with a chuckle.

"You realize that would be funnier if I knew you weren't serious..."