"but then scene you're building now, all I see is it crashing down"

(A/N: I know it's not Christmas yet but guess what I wish it was soooo)

~

"Neva! Come down for breakfast! It's Christmas Eve!" Sean called, knocking on her door. Neva opened her eyes and groaned.

"Five more minutes!" she yelled back and promptly stuffed her head into her pillow.

"Alex! Come get your girlfriend before I scream down her door!" Sean's receding footsteps were heard on the carpet outside.

"Oh my god, Sean..." Neva muttered. There was a knock on her door. "What now?!"

"Neva, it's me, calm down." Alex came in, laughing.

"Hey, I didn't give you permission to come in, Summers," Neva mumbled. He sat down on edge of the bed, looking at her with a grin.

"You look ever so beautiful with bed head, Ms. Liu."

"Oh shut it," Neva retorted, face still halfway into her pillow. He laughed more.

"You're adorable when you're mad, Neva." Alex started to pull the blanket away slowly with a grin. She rubbed her eyes, yawned, and pulled it back.

"Don't you dare, Alex. And yeah, yeah, thanks." She smiled and sat up, shifting her legs out from under the thick blanket. The air was slightly chilly because she had forgotten to fully close her window. She pulled her gloves from the top of the wooden nightstand and slipped them on. Neva scooted over to sit by Alex. She leaned her head on the side of his shoulder, and he softly started to stroke her back. It was these moments which Neva loved most. Just her and Alex. Together. Not always talking, sometimes in silence, but still together.

"When should we tell the rest of the team that we started dating about a month and a half ago?" Alex asked, breaking the silence. Neva shrugged. "You are so mean."

"Hey! I mean, I think they might already know," she said. He smiled and leaned in, but then she backed away. He pulled back, but both were a little embarrassed. Neva had told him that she still wanted him not to touch her bare skin or kiss her. Just in case. Sometimes, Alex forgot though. The atmosphere was slightly ruined those times, but it didn't bother them that much. They were mutants. They didn't have a normal relationship in the first place.

"Oh well. You're still probably one of the nicest people on the team."Alex hugged her tightly, careful not to touch her bare skin. She scoffed but blushed a bit. "Anyways, come down soon. Charles said we can drive down to the City today for the Christmas celebration!" He kissed the top of her head, stood up and winked before leaving the room. Neva rolled her eyes but broke into a smile as he left. She flopped back down in her bed with a content sigh. How in the heck did she get a guy like that.

A few minutes later, Neva slid down the long banister (Alex taught her how) and ran into the kitchen right as Charles wheeled into the room. She almost ran into Hank.

"Oops, sorry," she whispered.

"No worries," Hank said back. Neva gave a small smile and quietly squeezed by Sean and next to Alex. He gave her another one of his signature grins. She grinned back and hopped onto the counter, legs swinging. Charles cleared his throat.

"Children! We are goi-"

"Charles, we aren't kids!" Sean whined, cutting Charles off. Charles raised an eyebrow from his wheelchair. Hank held in a laugh.

"By the way you are acting, I would believe against that," he said.

"Oooo," Alex murmured. Sean gave him a look.

"Anyways, today Hank suggested that we should go and see the Christmas decorations in New York City. What do the rest of you think?" Charles asked. Alex, Sean, and Neva nodded enthusiastically.

"Sounds great, professor!" Alex said. "I used to go there with my parents all the time!"

"Me too," said Sean. Neva smiled. A trip would be fun.

"Alright, we can go after breakfast!" Charles said with a smile.

After breakfast and some short hours of training, the five piled into one of Charles' cars. Hank was driving, Charles in the passenger, and Sean, Alex, and Neva in the back. Luckily for the latter, there was more than enough space in the back for three people. The ride wasn't too long, about an hour and a half. They spent the time pointing out road signs, unique cars, and different plants. And trying to annoy Charles without getting him too mad.

The mutants spent the later parts of the afternoon and the whole evening exploring the city and looking at the sparkling decorations. Snow started to fall softly, speckling the ground and tall skyscrapers in white. It was beautiful. They stayed there till midnight to fully experience the Christmas spirit.

"Merry Christmas!" Sean yelled into the night sky as the clock on the side of the Rockefeller Center hit 12:00 and officially signaled that it was December 25th. The rest of them laughed. Charles seemed very content and happy. Hank was grinning like crazy. Alex and Sean were both having as much fun as possible in the bustling city. Neva laughed at their antics and watched the gleaming lights and fresh snow around her.

"Happy Christmas, Neva," Charles said, rolling his wheelchair next to her. She smiled.

"It's 'merry' Christmas, Charles. We live in America," she corrected. He shook his head with a laugh.

"Well either way, joy and good tidings to all." Charles made a wide motion with his hands as if giving gifts to everyone in the city.

"Good tidings to you too, professor."

Too soon, it was time for them to return to the mansion. Hank once again drove the way back. Sean was still very energetic and continued to point out the various things he observed on the car ride. Neva slowly fell asleep on Alex's shoulder. He smiled and let her sleep in peace. He did however have to wake her up as they rolled up onto the driveway. She was a bit mad about that.

Once they got back, Charles instructed everyone to go to sleep so he could prepare the presents and everything for the upcoming Christmas day. They all mumbled a "goodnight" and "merry christmas," and went up to their rooms. Alex followed Neva to hers just out of habit. She laid down on her bed and sighed. He did the same.

"What a great day," she mumbled. He nodded.

"Amazing day actually," he said.

"Whatever." She yawned.

"We're a great couple," whispered Alex. Neva couldn't help grinning, knowing that he meant to have not said that aloud.

"Mhm."

"Hey, what's that?" Alex sat up and looked at her ceiling, confused.

"Probably dust. If it's a spider, kill it please and thank you," said Neva. He laughed but shook his head.

"Uhhh..." He stood up, pulled down a branch of some sort of plant, and sat back down. "Who put this up?" Neva sat up and looked at what he was holding. Her eyes widened. Mistletoe.

"Bloody hell, Sean..." she muttered, a phrase she had learned from Charles. Alex and Neva looked at each other. He looked like he was contemplating something. Suddenly, Alex leaned in close to her. Her breath quickened. He smelled like the Christmas decorations from New York: cinnamon and snow.

"What are you doing, Summers?" she asked softly.

"What do you think?" he said back, just as soft. Before she could say anything, he kissed her.

Memories over memories crashed into Neva's mind, but all she could focus on was the boy in front of her. She knew what was coming but wasn't able to pull herself away. Alex dropped the leaf and put his hands in her hair. He touched her neck and that's when it happened.

She saw his future. And it broke her heart.

~

December 25, 1964

Dear Alex,

Today we kissed. At first, I didn't know what would happen. No one has ever kissed me before. I saw your everything. Past, present. And future. It was like a huge wave crashing over me. But you didn't pull away, even though it was obvious that my mutation was working.

Normally, people pull away from me once they feel my mutation. People don't like strangers reading all their memories usually. You're different. You're not ashamed of what you've done. And trust me, you've done some strange things. Like playing those pranks on Hank. Geez, Summers, he's a bit fragile sometimes. (But, not to be mean or anything, they were pretty funny.) Your high school years were pretty perfect until senior year. You dated a lot of girls. They were mostly those annoying preppy cheerleaders. And you were a football player! How cliche. But then your mutation showed up and ruined practically everything.

But on the bright side, I also learned that your parents want to try and have a second kid. You suggested the name "Scott". What a cute name. If you really do get a little brother, I HAVE to meet him.

I tried to focus on all of those things, but I didn't succeed. I never do.

When we kissed, like I said, I saw everything. More specifically, I saw your future.

Funny thing is ... it didn't have me.

Love, Neva Liu