「 The Professor & I 」VOLUME II

(231) Travel Plans

Lynn's POV

A heated debate had broken out amongst the youngsters over dinner last night, perpetually ongoing ever since the moment Charles announced our decision to embark on an excursion this holiday season.

Surely, the multimillion revenue theme park was not the characteristic destination for individuals as matured as ourselves but even the kids agreed that being surrounded by a great deal of innocence could do us no harm. Nonetheless, various other vacation options spawned from their exuberant discussions, essentially like they were craving for Charles and I to leave the mansion.

Our honeymoon was the only other trip we ever made as a couple, beyond the needs of the academy or unforeseen missions, and it certainly evoked a tremendous amount of excitement within the pesky X-Men in sending us off on another, not precluding the margin of possibility that they desperately wanted to get rid of us for the sake of finally ruling the school on their own.

Countless choices erupted from their enthusiastic lips, basically anything they reckoned would fit into our week-long itinerary. Predominantly staring in amusement at their animated antics, Charles and I slowly reveled in our meal, albeit occasionally joining the rather serious analyses of popular touristy locations.

Ultimately, heavily undecided between a beach getaway and the likes of Mickey and friends, Charles and I settled for the sunshine state.

Eagerly, Jean pranced to the phone, spontaneously pampering us with a lavish gift of a delectable suite reserved in the villa resort conveniently situated just adjacent to the major attractions. While the frivolous extent of luxury was totally unnecessary, Jean was resolute in insisting and we simply could not bring ourselves to decline the filial efforts of our little girl.

Duly understanding that we could not afford any further depletion of the faculty strength during our absence in spite of the children starting their Christmas break precisely this weekend, Scott readily renounced his idea of flying us directly into Orlando, securing us a pair of first class tickets on the next plane out of New York and a rental car all out of his own pocket instead.

Once they had stopped hogging the line, Storm pounced at her chance that finally materialized, generously purchasing a complete set of entrance tickets that would be promptly delivered to our extravagant hotel.

Thrice faced with the adamant rejection of our genuine appeals to foot the bill, Charles and I helplessly conceded to their kindness and determination.

With our travel plans seamlessly worked out, and unpredictably sponsored, within hours, we steered back to our room but the exhaustion from the day filled with classes, alcohol, intimacy, tears and consolation had taken an obvious toll on us that packing had transformed from a checklist item into a superfluous affair that was inevitably deferred to this morning.

The weather seemed much better, definitely less gloomy than the drizzles of yesterday, but the stubborn aches that always plagued my bones during such periods of dreary weather were persistent, destroying our peaceful slumber as did the streaks of orange light seeping between the cracks of the curtains and the jarring noise buzzing in the background.

"Get that, please, will you, Charles?" I conveyed tiredly, wrapping my arms snugly around his frame as I buried my face into his chest to hide from the blinding glare.

"You're the one with telekinesis, my love," Charles mumbled lazily, as if channeling all his energy to envelope his arms tightly around me.

Evidently, he was wholly aware that residing in his lovely embrace where I was decadently enjoying his warmth, smell, and everything else his wondrous body could offer, would triumph above everything else for me and I sighed, merely staying motionless in his arms, as I lethargically conjured my powers to levitate the small device creating that piercing ringing towards us.