Trip Chats

“Well dear, they are a blessing. That is for sure,” Debra told Jean with a warm smile across her face.

“I hope that someday Scott and I can have a child or two,” Jean said as she seemed to imagine what that would be like immediately after saying that.

“Well, if they are half as kind and beautiful as you, then the world will be a much better place,” she told the young wife.

“Thank you, Mrs. Watson,” Jean said as she smiled back at the mature wife.

“Say, I was wondering, do you have any relation to Mary Jane and Anna Watson?” asked Jean, who finally figured out where the name sounded familiar.

“Oh yes! Anna is my husband’s sister, and Mary Jane is our niece! She and Sydney always got along well when they were children at the family reunions. I believe the two still text each other daily, but I could be wrong. It is hard to know what teenagers are up to these days,” Debra told her guest. “Why do you ask?”

“Oh, well we know MJ and Peter. When you’re a superhero, you tend to run into the unofficial photographer of one of them on occasion!” Jean said, as she chose her words very carefully.

“Oh yes! That Peter Parker! I don’t know how he gets such action shots of Spider-Man! Mary Jane must truly love that young man if she can live with him putting his life on the line just for some pictures for that J. Jonah Jameson!” Debra said with a bit of a huff. It was clear she did not approve of Peter’s job, but accepted her niece's love for the man.

“Yes, he is quite skilled. I’ve always told Peter he should just become MJ’s personal photographer. She is quickly picking up fame in the modeling sphere and could probably get away with it,” pointed out Jean.

“Oh, that would be a fantastic idea!” admitted Debra. “Perhaps I shall mention it to the two the next time I see them. We are due for a visit to New York soon and it has been a while since we’ve seen Anna,” Debra thought out loud.

“What’s this about my dear sister?” asked Grant as he and Scott came back after checking on Sydney.

“Sweetie, Jean and the rest of them know Mary Jane and Peter!” said the happy mother.

“Really now? How’d you meet them?” asked a curious Grant.

“Through work,” Scott said as he moved next to his wife and wrapped his arm around her waist.

“Really?” asked Grant as his mind turned to figure out how the X-Men could have met Peter and MJ.

“Yep. We run into Peter when he’s taking pictures of Spider-Man when we team up with the webcrawler,” Scott told the father.

“Ah, yes, that makes sense,” Grant said.

“Well, we should be going now. I’m not sure how much longer Sydney can sulk in the van after the embarrassment she’s gone through,” Scott said to the group.

“Goodbye, everyone!” Debra said to the couple as they began to walk away. “And make sure Sydney calls me at least once a week!” she asked the now surrogate parents of her daughter.

“Of course! I know I’d ask the same for my children!” Jean responded back as she gave the couple a wave before getting into the moving truck.

“So, like, I’m sorry for how embarrassing my parents were,” Sydney apologized to Jean and Scott. The two laughed at Sydney’s comment.

“You have very loving and understanding parents, Sydney. Many mutants are not as lucky. Many parents hate their mutant children and do terrible, terrible things to them,” explained Jean.

“Take pride in knowing that your parents love you unconditionally,” chimed in Scott.

“Da. Be proud and make them proud,” chimed in Piotr.

“Alright, alright, I get it. My mom and dad aren’t bad. I guess...maybe...they’re even ok,” admitted Sydney.

“Glad to hear that. And I also hear you are related to MJ. She and Peter stop by sometimes. They support our efforts for mutant rights,” Jean told Sydney.

“That sounds like MJ. She may be a party girl, but she’s a good hearted party girl,” Sydney said with a smile. Jean let out a laugh at that description.

“You know what, that fits her to a T. And before you ask, yes she does try to get us to go out for a girls night. So be prepared for that,” Jean told Sydney.

“I’m totally cool with that. MJ is always a blast to be around,” Sydney told Jean. “But what does Peter do? Hang out with you guys?” she asked Scott.

“Eh, sometimes. But he really likes to spend time with Hank in his lab. But hey, that’s what happens when two geniuses get together,” Scott told Sydney.

“Yeah, geeks gonna geek,” Sydney said.

“Hey now! No need to insult Peter or Hank!” Jean said in a stern voice.

“Huh?” asked Sydney. “I didn’t insult them. Geeks are pretty cool. They make cool shit,” Sydney told Jean.

“I..uh..yeah…” was all Jean could get out.

“Hahahaha. I learned not to diss anyone just cause they’re different. Turns out that worked out for me since now I’m quite different,” Sydney told Jean.

“You may be different, but you are not lesser. Remember that. Others will try to tell you that you are, but you are equal to them,” Jean told her in a stern voice.

“I mean, aren’t we technically better than them?” asked Sydney. Jean, Scott, and Piotr all let out a sigh.

“No, sweetie, we aren’t,” Jean said as she turned to face Sydney in the back seat.

“Those that hate us, fear us because they think we are superior and will replace them. If we start saying that ourselves, it just validates everything they say. And once they are proven right, then they can convince those in power that we need to be eliminated. We have to show them we can live and coexist with them peacefully. That they have nothing to worry about,” Jean told her sincerely.

“But...what if they don’t wait for anyone to be on their side? What if they just attack us anyway?” asked Sydney, now slightly worried. Jean just smiled at her.

“Why, that’s what the X-Men are for!” Jean said reassuringly.

“Ok. I get it,” Sydney said. “But, like, aren’t there some who do think we’re superior and should be ruling humans?” asked Sydney. The group let out another sigh.