Timing Is Everything

by Andrea

Certain doom approached the X-Man known as Pegasus. It crept up upon her, slinking in slowly from the side of the house, skulking across the fresh-mowed grass, sneaking along the side of the pool. Pegasus slept peacefully on a lounge chair beside the pool, lulled to sleep by the warmth of the sun, unknowing of the fate that lay in store for her. Her teammates saw it approaching, but knew they could do nothing to save her. Nothing, save wait and watch. Slowly·slowly·it took its place and unleashed the horror.

Peggy screamed and sat bolt upright as the icy stream of water hit her full in the stomach. ãBobby!ä she shrieked, the chair toppling over in her convulsions and dumping her onto the patio.

Bobby laughed so hard he cried, clutching his sides and wheezing. The Super Soaker clattered to the ground, its purpose served for now. ãGotcha!ä he gloated.

Peggy glared at him from the ground and tried to untangle the chair from her limbs. ãI canât believe Hank gave you that thing for your birthday. Itâs an invitation to disaster.ä

Bobby struggled to breathe again. ãYouâve gotta admit, that was classic.ä

ãYeah,ä Peggy admitted, ãbut you forgot something.ä

ãWhatâs that?ä

ãI never go down alone!ä Pushing the chair away, Peggy dove at Bobby and sent them both flying backwards into the swimming pool. They landed with a resounding SPLASH! and soaked everyone who hadnât been wise enough to retreat. Bobby came up spluttering and laughing, with a wave of water ready to splash in Peggyâs face. She giggled and retaliated in kind, starting a full-scale pool war.

Finally Bobby managed to worm his way through her defenses and pull Peggy up against him with a laugh. ãI love you,ä he told her, sharing a warm kiss. She sighed happily and leaned against him÷then shrieked as he dunked her under the water.

*****

ãI dunno, Iâd take my revenge on Hank, if I were you. He knew what would happen when he gave Bobby that Super-Soaker.ä

Peggy laughed and rolled over to lay on her stomach, playing with the quilt spread across her bed. ãYouâve got a point, Jubes,ä she told her best friend, shifting the phone more comfortably against her ear. ãAny ideas?ä

ãHmm·let me think about it. What I want to know is how the fancy night at Chez Expensive went. I never thought Drake would shell out for it!ä

ãWell, it was my birthday.ä

ãAnd that place is, like, eighty bucks a plate! Did you eat snails?ä

Peggy giggled. ãGenX is never going to get any culture, are they?ä

ãNah, whatâs the fun in that?ä Jubilee laughed. Peggy could hear her pop her gum, then sigh heavily in exasperation. ãDo I have to come out there and make you talk, girl? I want details!ä

ãAll right, all right! No threats. Itâs really awful. Bobby went to so much trouble. Everything was going great, and then÷ä She stopped to giggle again. It was funny·in retrospect. ãThey had a new waiter or something, and he tripped as he went by our table. Bobby got covered with÷well, everything!ä

Both girls collapsed in laughter. ãOh man, I wish I couldâve seen that! In his best suit, right?ä

ãI think he borrowed the tie from Warren,ä Peggy added, still giggling. ãPoor Bobby. The waiter and the manager kept apologizing, and he started getting this vein pulsing in his forehead like Dad does. So I dragged him home. Weâve got a free meal there sometime, at least.ä

Jubilee snorted. ãPoor Drake. Did you at least get a birthday present out of it?ä

ãWell, heâs trying to make up for it. Weâre having a romantic picnic tonight.ä

ãWow, major brownie pointage. Go Drake.ä

Peggy laughed. ãI may have dropped a few hints. Hey, Iâve gotta go. Iâve got a Danger Room session.ä

ãDonât let Cyke run ya ragged.ä

*****

ãItâs so beautiful out here,ä Peggy sighed contentedly, leaning back against Bobbyâs shoulder. She looked out at the blanket of stars covering the sky. It was the perfect night for a romantic picnic.

ãItâs perfect,ä Bobby told her, leaning down and kissing her gently. ãSo are you.ä He took a deep breath and shifted so he was facing her. ãPeggy, Iâve been trying to talk to you·um, well, to ask you something.ä He closed his eyes, took another breath, and asked, ãPeggy÷What the heck?!ä

Peggy jumped and turned around as Bobby leapt to his feet and assumed a fighting stance. Her eyes widened in surprise at the huge silver figure before them.

ãWe were on a date, you know,ä Peggy said crossly, causing Bobby to look over at her in alarm. ãItâs usually a two-person affair.ä

Stryfe simply crossed his arms and leaned back, pinning Bobby with a hostile stare. Bobby gulped and loosened his collar nervously. ãHeâs just trying to intimidate you,ä Peggy assured him, patting his arm. She fixed Stryfe with a stern look. ãStop that.ä

Stryfe raised an eyebrow. ãI wasnât doing anything.ä

ãYou were trying to intimidate him.ä

ãTrying?ä Stryfe almost sounded hurt.

ãPeggy, if he wants to intimidate me, I really donât think you should be arguing with him,ä Bobby said slowly, casually shifting in place to try to reach his emergency beacon and trying to figure out if his date had gone insane.

Stryfe looked at him and raised a hand. Bobbyâs beacon stubbornly ignored his attempts to stop it and floated straight into his enemyâs hand. ãDid you want this?ä Stryfe asked mildly.

ãPeggy,ä Bobby whispered urgently. ãRun.ä

ãDonât be ridiculous. This is our date and no oneâs going to ruin it. Least of all over-protective big brothers.ä She crossed her arms and returned his stare. ãIâll be happy to talk to you tomorrow, but your timing tonight stinks.ä

Stryfe held her gaze for a few moments, then broke it to run an appraising eye over Bobby. ãI donât know what you see in him,ä he announced finally.

ãI didnât ask you.ä

Bobby gaped at her. She was insane, that was the only answer. She was talking to Stryfe. Even worse, arguing with Stryfe! Bobby wasnât sure whether he should be more worried about that or the fact that Stryfe hadnât, as yet, actually tried to kill them this time.

Stryfe was silent for a long moment, then inclined his head slightly. ãTomorrow, then.ä He fixed his gaze back on Bobby, one eye flashing gold. ãYou will keep your hands to yourself.ä With that threat, he said something in a foreign-sounding tongue and disappeared.

Bobby stared at the empty space in front of him for a long moment, then slowly blinked and turned to look at Peggy. ãThat was Stryfe,ä he said inanely.

ãHe has the worst timing sometimes,ä Peggy said, looking very irritated.

ãPeggy·I noticed that I was very surprised to see him, but you didnât seem very surprised to see him. Tell me you were surprised to see him.ä

ãWell·ä

ãPeggy?ä he asked, his voice strangled.

ãI÷I wasnât expecting to see him tonight,ä she hedged. At his expression, she hastily continued, ãHe just kind of pops up every now and then. Or he, um, pops me there.ä

ãYouâve been visiting Stryfe? He kidnapped you!ä

ãHe let me go.ä

Bobby stared at her incredulously. ãHow many times?ä

ãJust a couple·All right, three or four. Okay, five! But itâs been, what, four years? Thatâs not too bad.ä

Bobby closed his eyes. ãLet me get this straight. Every now and then Stryfe just decides heâs lonely and grabs you for conversation?ä She nodded. ãHeâs a villain!ä

ãHe hasnât hurt me. I trust him. I think thatâs what makes the difference.ä Bobby just sighed. Peggy leaned over and kissed him. ãSince you managed to knock the champagne into the picnic basket, why donât we go inside and have some sandwiches?ä

ãI what?ä Bobby looked down at the jumbled blanket at his feet and cursed. ãYeah. Letâs go inside.ä

*****

ãWell, itâs not quite a picnic on the lake,ä Peggy said as she licked a sandwich crumb off the corner of her mouth, ãbut itâs still fun.ä She giggled. ãWe havenât had much luck lately, have we?ä

ãNo,ä Bobby said sourly, staring down at his untouched sandwich.

ãCheer up,ä she told him, winking cheerfully. ãAfter the luck weâve had, weâre due for a good streak by now.ä

ãYeah·yeah, youâre right,ä Bobby said, getting a determined look on his face. ãIt might not be perfect, but itâs right for us. I need to ask you something. Peggy, will you÷ä

ãHey, is there anything to eat in here?ä

Bobby groaned and buried his face in his hands.

Peggy looked at him strangely, then smiled at the new arrivals as X-Force trudged into the kitchen. ãHi guys,ä she said, trying not to sound irritated. ãWhat are you doing here?ä

ãWe live here! Sometimes.ä Tabitha shrugged and dove into the fridge. ãOoh, jello!ä

Bobby made an inarticulate noise and banged his head against the table.

ãWhatâs up with him?ä Jimmy asked, snaring a bag of potato chips from the cupboard.

ãIâm not sure,ä Peggy said, closing her eyes briefly. ãHi Nathan, Dom. Howâs it going?ä

Nathan poured himself a cup of coffee. ãI didnât expect to find you here.ä

ãMe either,ä Peggy muttered.

ãAll right, I have had it!ä Bobby shouted, slamming his fists down on the table and standing up. ãIs it too much to ask for five lousy minutes alone? Clumsy waiters, overprotective big brothers÷if itâs not one thing itâs another with this group! Canât a man propose to the woman he loves in peace?!ä

Peggyâs mouth fell open, Nathan dropped his cup, and Tabitha squealed in excitement, but Bobby didnât notice. He was too busy ranting about the vast idiocy of the world at large and the X-family in specific to even hear Peggyâs soft, ãYes.ä

ãI had to get reservations six months early for that place, and the waiter trips! Waiters arenât supposed to trip at a place like that!ä

Peggy cleared her throat and tried again, louder this time. ãYes.ä

ãAnd then every damn time I try to get two seconds alone in this place, someone has to show up and÷ä

ãBobby!ä Peggy interrupted, grabbing both his hands and forcing him to look at her. He shut up. Her eyes were twinkling in supressed merriment, but there was some suspicious moisture lurking there as well. ãI said yes.ä

ãYes?ä Bobby repeated stupidly.

Peggy nodded, her blue eyes sparkling. ãIf the offerâs still open,ä she added impishly.

ãY-yes?ä

ãI could take it back·ä

ãNO!ä Bobby blurted out, staring at her in utter amazement. Y-you said yes?ä

ãTwice.ä

He ignored her, turning to look at Terry next to him. ãShe said yes,ä he stated in sheer disbelief.

ãAye,ä Terry replied, trying not to laugh. ãWe heard her the first time.ä

Bobby turned back to Peggy, a huge smile blossoming on his face. ãYes?ä

ãYes,ä Peggy repeated, laughing. ãWill you kiss me now?ä

Bobby laughed and pulled her to him, kissing her passionately and then swinging around in a circle. ãShe said yes!!ä X-Force broke into cheers and applause as he kissed her again.

ãWhatâs all the fuss in here?ä Scott asked as he led a few X-Men into the kitchen, looking around at the grinning faces. Nathan looked like he was in shock.

ãShe said YES!ä Bobby shouted, with half of X-Force joining him in chorus before breaking into laughter.

ãWho said yes to what?ä Sam tried to clarify, looking around at his former teammates.

ãDrake proposed!ä Tabitha announced to the room.

ãShe said yes,ä Bobby repeated again, looking down at Peggy with a wide, goofy grin.

She laughed as she looked up at him, then kissed him. ãSeveral times,ä she amended. Then she turned her blinding smile back on Scott.

He stared at them for a few seconds, then said carefully, ãPeggy, Iâm not sure÷ä

ãI am,ä she interrupted fiercely.

Scottâs eyebrows raised. That was the first time he could recall her ever directly arguing with him. He paused for a few seconds, then took a deep breath and tried again. ãCongratulations?ä He shook his head ruefully and looked over at Bobby, a smile pulling at his mouth. ãTo both of you.ä

Peggy smiled delightedly and rushed over to hug him tightly. That seemed to be the signal for everyone else to start cheering and offering congratulations. Peggy was nearly tackled by the women for a mass hug, while Bobby disappeared for a moment under Hankâs enthusiastic congratulations. After a few minutes of this, Bobby firmly reclaimed Peggy and pulled a small box from his pocket. ãI was a little more prepared for this than it looked like,ä he told her wryly. He opened the box to reveal a lovely diamond ring, which he then slipped on her finger. ãI love you.ä

ãI love you too,ä Peggy replied, her eyes full of tears as she kissed him.

Bobby suddenly looked over at Scott, grinning mischievously. ãDoes this mean I can call you Dad now?ä

ã*NO.*ä

Jean started laughing at the look on her husbandâs face. She looked over at Bobby and said merrily, ãWelcome to the Summers family, Bobby Drake.ä

Behind her, Nathan snorted and muttered, ãI hope you survive the experience.ä

The End

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