Scott and Alex, Alaska, backdated to December 23rd

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

Late at night after having arrived in Alaska and met their grandparents, Alex and Scott take stock. (OOC: A bit of a lost scene - thank you very much, you @$%*@ floppy disk - that I've just now retrieved.)


The door to the bedroom where Alex was staying was half-open, and Scott rapped on it lightly, then pushed it open to see Alex sprawled on his back on the big bed, staring up at the wooden beams of the ceiling. "You know," Scott said wryly, "you could always get changed and get under the covers, if you're going to sleep..."

Alex lifted his head slightly to stick out his tongue at Scott before lettign his head fall back on the bed. "Dude...I'm almost afraid this is all a dream and if I fall asleep, I'll wake up back in my bed with Lorna. Not that that would be a bad thing..."

Scott sat down on the edge of the bed, smiling a bit, and then reached out and pinched Alex firmly. As his brother squawked and batted at his hand, Scott leaned away a little, shaking his head. "Looks like it's real. You didn't wake up or anything."

"I was asking for that wasn't?" Alex groaned, thought he was smiling as he sat up and crossed his legs. "So what do you think of them?"

Scott hesitated, then offered another smile. "They're really nice," he said. "Phillip's going to take me and show me the airfield tomorrow... you can come if you want. Although Deborah was talking about taking you into town instead. Apparently she thought you might be bored at the airfield." Scott chuckled softly. "Now, whatever would have given her that impression..."

Again, Alex couldn't help sticking his tongue out at him. "Maybe because I belong in the sea as much as you belong in the air. And I can deal with going into town, I've been trained well in the art of bag carrying." That caused him to giggle then sigh happily. "I can't for them to meet Lorna, I know Grandma will just love her."

"I can't imagine Deborah--our grandmother not liking Lorna," Scott said with a somewhat weary smile. "You should see about getting her up here for a visit, you know. I'm sure one of the teleporters would bring her if you asked nicely."

The though caused Alex to literally beam. "That is a wonderful idea...I knew you were the smart one. And I know Clarice would...if I asked nicely." He smirked slightly and teasing.

Scott ran a hand over the quilt, smiling a little. "It's a great house, isn't it?" he asked lightly. "They seem very content here.

Alex looked around the homey room, feeling like he could stay here forever. "It feels like...like home. More then the mansion ever did." He held his hands up. "Not that I'm complaining it just...has that fell ya know?"

"I don't know, Alex," Scott confessed very quietly. "It does, but... it just seems too good to be true. I know how stupid that sounds." His smile turned a bit pained. "Maybe I just don't want to let it feel like home. Perverse, isn't it?"

"It doesn't sound stupid." Alex reached over to place a hand on Scott's shoulder. "After what we've been through...I'm surpised we haven't forgotten what home feels like completely considering how many times we've had it ripped away from us. Maybe...maybe this is it. We can hope can't we?

Scott laughed, softly and a bit helplessly. "It'd be so easy," he confessed quietly. "They both want it so much, you're throwing yourself into it wholeheartedly... and part of me wants it, too."

"For once in your life Scott...I'm pretty sure I can gurantee that you can let yourself go." Alex gave him a thoughtful look before wrapping his arms around Scott's shoulders. "I've wanted a home for so long, a real one. The mansion is nice...but I'll admit I've envied Lorna her home in California. It would be wonderful to have a place to come home too..."

Home. He'd always thought of the mansion as home - hadn't he? There certainly hadn't been anything like a home, before it. Not that he remembered, at least. Could you have more than one home?

"I think Phillip wants some time alone with me tomorrow," Scott said wryly. "Hence the trip to the airfield."

Alex pulled back and raised an eyebrow in question. "Is that a bad thing?"

"No, not really. I think he and Deborah worked out a strategy, though, and figured he'd have a better shot at getting through to me." Scott smiled at Alex, then ruffled his hair. "I'm a tougher nut to crack, don't you know."

"A nut I know how to crack. Maybe I should give Granddad a pep talk." After giving him a kidding smirk, Alex did give him a thoughtful look. "Give Granddad a chance? please? I know it seems too good to be true...but so was finding me in Hawaii and look how good that turned out."

"Of course I'll give him a chance." Scott's smile was a little more convincing this time. "We're going for a flight, if the weather's better."

"Flying, the perfect way to get on your good side. See? he's trying!" Alex again gave Scott a hug, cuddling into his older brother's arms. "Things will work out Scott..." he paused to yawn. "they have too..."

Scott hugged Alex, then detached him gently. "You get some sleep. It's not like either of us can be particularly jet-lagged, but I know you've been too busy bouncing all week to get much in the way of rest." He smiled. "And you'll need your energy if you're going to carry bags tomorrow, right?"

Alex laughed softly at that but a yawn interrupted it. Then he nodded slowly as he laid down on the bed, crawling under the covers still fully clothed but too tired to care. "G'night Scott. Love you."

"Love you too, brat," Scott said and switched off the light on the nightstand before he left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.