I9DT August, Venice, Italy - Correcting the Future

[Rick Ferguson]

It was a warm summer early afternoon when Rick and Marcus walked through the narrow streets and lanes of Venice, Marcus holding the map and navigating. A little too warm. At this hour, the sun was seemingly shining down into even the most cramped alleys.

"How close are we? I could use some shade for a minute."

[Marcus Kingston]

"Not too much further."

[Rick Ferguson]

A few twists and turns later, and they almost stumbled right into it.

"Jerome Emiliani. This has to be the right orphanage." He looked aside at Marcus. "I'm...kinda nervous."

[Marcus Kingston]

"Nervous? Why? " He asked, placing a hand on Rick's shoulder. "I thought you really wanted this."

[Rick Ferguson]

"I do. But this is really serious, you know?"

[Marcus Kingston]

"Of course it is. To be honest, I was pretty surprised when you wanted to get her so soon."

[Rick Ferguson]

He shook his head. "I'm not having any second thoughts. We're doing the right thing. It's just that other parents have that moment when their child is born, when it really becomes a part of the parents' world, and it's all momentous, and I guess that's how I feel now. All wound up. Like something big is about to happen."

[Marcus Kingston]

He smiled. "I guess I am nervous too but..I'm in this with you. So I guess it's just not hitting me. It'll be tough but we'll get through it like everything else. I mean, we've taken care of all sorts of villains trying to take over the world. While scary, I'm gonna hope parenting is a little bit easier than those."

[Rick Ferguson]

"Yeah. It's kind of scary, but not as scary as, well, that." He took a deep breath. "Okay, so remember the drill. You and I aren't adopting her, supposedly. She's being transferred into the custody of the university for her own benefit. We're just the ones sent here to do the pick-up."

He lowered his voice. "I'm doubt a Catholic institution would be thrilled about us trying to adopt her, anyway."

[Marcus Kingston]

"Yeah. A little frustrating..but I understand."

[Rick Ferguson]

He nodded, then took a deep breath. "All right. Let's go." He pushed on the old oak doors and stepped inside.

It was, thankfully, dark in that first room, and also nice and cool. Once they closed to doors behind them, they could hear someone's footsteps clacking on the smooth stone floors, coming closer. It wound up being a nun, middle-aged and dressed in her habit.

She asked them something in Italian.

"Um, I'm sorry, but do you speak English?"

"Ah, yes. How may I help you?"

[Marcus Kingston]

He smiled at the nun. "Hello. I'm Marcus Kingston. This is Rick Ferguson. We were sent here from Xavier's University in London to pick up a mutant child that's here. She's supposed to have custody transferred over to the University."

[Rick Ferguson]

"Yes, yes, we have been expecting you to be here someday soon. Come, follow." Her accent was quite thick, but it was still easy enough to understand what she meant.

They were led down a long hallway, just as shaded as the room that they had entered the building from. The nun opened a door on the right side of the hallway, but gestured to a door on the left. "There is more paperwork to be done, and I will be here preparing it, but in meantime perhaps you would like to see the girl? She is in nursery, over there."

"Thank you." Rick looked meaningfully at Marcus, then headed with him to the other door.

[Marcus Kingston]

"Yes. That'd be wonderful. Thanks." He smiled at Rick then followed him to the nursery.

[Rick Ferguson]

When Marcus and Rick walked into the room, the dozen or so cribs were being attended to be another nun, though most of them appeared to be empty. When she turned to look at them, they would see that she was much older than the nun that they had met already. She smiled at them, kindly.

"You must be the ones who have come from Xavier's, correct?"

[Marcus Kingston]

"That's right M'am. The other nun we talked said we could come in and see Mary."

[Rick Ferguson]

"Mariella Candusso, you mean." She walked over to one of the cribs. "Though if you want to call her something a little more English, well, Mary is a fine name." She lifted a small bundle from the crib and brought it to them. Rick took her once she offered to let them hold her.

She was a pretty little baby, normal in every other way except for the fact that her skin was deep blue. She had apparently been deeply asleep, and stayed that way even when she was picked up and passed from one person to another. After a minute or so, Rick just looked up from her to Marcus and smiled, then back down to the baby.

[Marcus Kingston]

He chuckled. "Yes. That's what I meant.." Oops..shouldn't be calling her Mary. Like I know her already.

As soon as they saw her, Marcus couldn't seem to stop smiling. When Rick passed the baby over to him, it just grew larger. He looked up at Rick, the smile clearing saying 'Oh my god. She's perfect'.

[Rick Ferguson]

The nun was still smiling as she looked between them. "Since the child is sleeping so peacefully, let's leave her here while we finish some more of the paperwork, hm?, she suggested. She took Mary from Marcus and set hey back down in her crib. "Follow me back to the office, would you please."

As they walked back in, the nun that they had seen before seemed to be finishing getting a stack of papers put together. "Thank you, Sister Paola, that will be all."

"Yes, Sister Anastasia." The younger nun left the room.

"So, how much paperwork are we talking about?"

"Not so much as there could be. A lot has been written up and agreed upon already between our organization and your university. I mostly need some signatures.

[Marcus Kingston]

Marcus nodded, waiting to see whatever the nun needed them to finish up. He might of been a little nervous at first, but now, he just seemed excited.

[Rick Ferguson]

She slid a few papers toward them that had empty signature lines, pointing out where they needed to put names.

"She slept peacefully for both of you. I think that that is a good sign. She has given a few of the sisters here trouble, but I think that that is because she can tell who really likes her and who is, well...a bit scared of her, yes? She was always a little dear to me." She smiled again. "It is good to know that she will be the hands of those who will know, to some degree, what life will be like for her."

[Marcus Kingston]

Marcus found a pen and began to eagerly sign whatever things him and Rick needed to, passing the pen to Rick whenever his name was needed.

"I'm really glad to hear that," he commented on the sign of her sleeping peacefully. "She'll get to grow up around people like her too. Understand that it's fine what she is. That's she's not alone."

[Rick Ferguson]

"It is also good to know that she will be in the care of people who seem to genuinely love one another."

"Uhh...excuse me? We're just here to pick her up."

"Lying is a sin, child. I saw how the two of you looked at one another, and at her. I am old, but not old enough to be a fool."

[Marcus Kingston]

Marcus wasn't really sure what to say and fell silent. He thought about backing Rick up but it seemed like the nun already knew what was truly happening.

"...You don't mind? I mean..us taking her?" He asked, surprised.

[Rick Ferguson]

"Mind? No. In fact, I am very glad that you are."

Rick was dumbstruck. "Wow. That's nice, I just didn't expect..." He trailed off.

"Child, I have seen a lot of bad things happen in my time. An uncle that I loved dearly as a little girl was a socialist, opposed to Mussolini's regime. For trying to aid the invading Allies, and holding beliefs antithetical to the state at the time, he was executed." She looked away, staring into the distance, even though she was only looking at a wall. "My sister, who I loved even more, was in love with another young woman. Our family found out, and she committed suicide days later. Sow seeds of hate and misunderstanding, and all that will be reaped is horror. This world needs more love. If you both keep loving one another, and promise to always love that little girl, then I can see no good objection at all to your raising her."

[Marcus Kingston]

"That's the plan. One that I won't get changing for the world." He said with a smile over at Rick before looking back to the nun. "Thank you..so much."

[Rick Ferguson]

She took the papers back from them and put them in their proper places in the stack. "There is no need to thank me. I only do what is right, what I feel I should do. You should be thanked for being willing to help that little child. I love her, like all children, but I am not a mutant. She will be better off with you." The old woman slowly rose from her seat, gesturing for them to do the same. They returned to the nursery, where she lifted little Mariella once again, handing her to Rick. She gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek. "By Jove, the two of you are little more than children yourselves." She kissed both of them on the cheek in turn.

"God be with you all."

[Marcus Kingston]

"Thank you." He said with a nod, smiling at the nurse before looking down at Mariella. His smile growing wider.

[Rick Ferguson]

Rick thanked her as well, deeply grateful, as he walked down the long dark hall back to the front doors of the orphanage. A sense of gratitude and well-being had enveloped him, such as he had never felt before. Looking down at the tiny little baby, it was like he could see the whole world in a new light now.

When the front doors opened again, and he stepped forth from the deep shadows into brilliant sunlight and warmth, it no longer felt oppressive like it had before. It felt wonderful, like he was feeling it all for the first time.