New Beginnings {Grayson}

[maddie]

1st July, 2009

***Thread note: Due to face changes of Maddie during the thread, there will be differences in hair colour. And nickname Rogue will no longer be applicable.

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Maddie was in love with Grayson "Tyler" Harris, she had been ever since she walked into a garage where Grayson was fixing up his bike. She had fallen for him pretty much immediately. He proposed to her when she was twenty four and she had said yes. They haven't got married yet, but Maddie knew it was on the cards in the near future at some point.

Grayson had found out he had a family he never knew about, well he had found that out about three years ago now. But it had taken him three years to actually care about it, and now he and Maddie were in Las Vegas trying to track down this biological family of his. She knew of the brother he had called Brendan because he was the Assistant Editor of The Chronicle, the newspaper for people like herself. For Evolved Humans.

Maddie had the ability of Genetic Absorption, and ever since she absorbed the genetics of a blonde woman with Invisibility, Maddie's hair mysteriously changes colour from it's usual brown, to blonde, to brown with a blonde streak. Today, her hair was brown with a blonde streak. Maddie actually quite liked it like that. They had been in Las Vegas for a few days now, and she hoped when Grayson did meet with some of his biological family they would get on well.

She wondered if they were going to get somewhere to live in Las Vegas, or were they just going to stay in and out of hotels until Grayson found who he was looking for. She slid off her own motorcycle and made her way over to Grayson, and wrapped her arms around his neck. "So, jus' wha' exactly are the plans fer here? I mean, are we stayin'? Are we gonna get a house here? Or are ya plannin' in headin' back after ya meet them?" She was curious to know what he was going to do now that they were both here in Las Vegas, especially since, up to this point they hadn't actually met any of his biological family yet.

Maddie's Motorcycle

[grayson]

Las Vegas. The land of gambling, showgirls, Casinos, the Grand Canyon and many other things... including Grayson's 'real' family. As he pulled his helmet off, revealing his piercing green eyes and scruffy blonde hair. He was quickeer than his fiancé, which was expected as he had been riding a lot longer. They were meeting at a biker bar just outside of central Vegas so they could gather their thoughts and get some rest. He looked across the range of bikes parked up, and noticed a group of biker girls giggle and wink at him as he smiled and placed his helmet on his bike. "Nice bike." One of the girls said, a tall, skinny blonde. He smiled, "Well thank ya barbie, she gets me 'round pretty good."

Grayson looked down at his Harley Davidson and smiled warmly. He had a total of twelve bikes altogether. This one, named Harley-Quinn was one of his favourites. Madison could have easily gone on the back, but she was so independent, so beautifully independent she decided to ride to Vegas on her own. Gray did love riding her, he felt all powerful, but of course he understood she loved riding too. That's when he saw her pull up on her bike. He noticed her leather attire immediately and her biker boots. "There's ma gal." He smiled once more at the blonde and stood up as she parked her bike further down the lot and walked up to him. "Hey there pretty lady." Gray smiled and embraced her as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She then burst out into a bunch of questions, and he lifted his finger gently to her lips and pushed against them. "Shhh Maddie, stop fussin' your..." He quickly took in her hair and smiled. "Streaky lil pretty head of yers." He grinned at her and moved his finger, instead gently pushing his lips against hers. "Don't worry yerself Maddie doll, we'll sort summin' out soon."

[maddie]

As Maddie walked up to Grayson she noticed some of the other girls giggle and wink at him, she just glared at them, he was her man, and not theirs, they better get used to it damn them. She wasn't the jealous type really, but she loved Grayson with all her heart, and he wasn't for anybody but her. Normally she would have said something to the girls about him not being being on the market, but she didn't have the fight in her at that moment, besides Grayson was talking to them, and she didn't want to make a scene.

She grinned when she heard him say there was his gal. She then looked at the girls as if to say, 'see, he's mine, now lay off', and continued to walk up to him. When she put her arms around his neck, he embraced her. But of course she had gone into a myriad of questions and he was so care free, she knew he would have hushed her down and that's exactly what she did, as she felt his finger press onto her lips, so she sighed and rolled her eyes but smiled at him.

He then told her to stop worrying and then stopped to find out what colour her hair was before continuing with streaky little pretty head of hers. He then moved his finger and she felt his lips brush hers gently, which she responded to, kissing him back. "Alrigh', sorry fer ramblin' on, ma head is jus' full of so many thoughts righ' now. An' am desperate fer a beer." She had to laugh after she said that and then began to walk into the bar almost pulling Grayson with her.

[grayson]

Gray felt Maddie kiss him back, and relaxed his shoulders as he lifted her up ever so slightly off the ground. She apologised for rambling on, and mentioned she had several thoughts going around in her head. He sighed, he hated dragging her along with him to things like this. But she said before they left she would never leave his side, and she was sticking to that pretty damn well. "Beer eh? Come on then darlin', we got a ice cold one with our names on 'em." Maddie pulled him along, into the biker bar which was decorated with hundreds of bits and bobs to do with biking, metal music and the like. He looked around, deciding it was safe and ok for them to be there. Above the main bar area was a sign saying 'NO NORMS YA HEAR?!' Grayson smirked, showing off the faint dimples in his cheeks.

Without asking, he ushered Maddie along to the stools along the bar and sat her down on one, winking at her as he did. When he sat down next to her, shuffling until he was comfortable. When he was he held two fingers up to the man behind the bar, a gruff looking guy with a kind face. "Two cold ones if ya please." Gray smiled at him, then turned to face Maddie. "Wha's goin' on in yer head then dollface?" He sighed lightly, slouching his broad shoulders over slightly. "I'm sorry fer bringin' ya here. I jus' need to find them. I really do." The beers were pushed towards the young couple and Grayson threw a ten dollar note at the bartender. He waited for change, but got nothing. "No change?" He asked, turning his head for a moment. "Not in Vegas buddy." Grayson didn't have a lot of money, he didn't particularly care either. As long as he had enough gas, a place to sleep and a few beers every day he would be fine.

His striking green eyes drifted back to Madison, and he couldn't help but think how lucky he was. "I miss New Orleans, who'd a thought it eh? Me missin' home?..." He paused, taking a long gulp of his beer. "I'll need to place a few bets here doll, jus' to prove these cocky bastards there's only one Gambit in town." With that he winked at her and grinned irresistably.

[maddie]

When Maddie kissed Gray back she felt him lift her up off her feet slightly, she loved when he did that, then again she just loved him full stop. Every touch made her tingle. After Maddie had said she could do with a good beer, he called her darling and said there was ice cold ones waiting for them with their names on. She grinned, "Tha's wha' I like to hear." She then more or less pulled him along with her into the bar, turning to look up at him and smiling every so often.

It was a definite biker bar alright, the decor and music was a dead set give away. Of course, for as much as Maddie was a biker chick, her taste in music was still a little refined, preferring the sounds to soft rock and country instead of heavy metal. She wondered if the bar would have a karaoke going, she wanted to sing tonight. She was in the mood to blast out a few good notes. Paradise By The Dashboard Light being her favourite song to sing on the karaoke, always dragging Gray up to sing Meat's lines.

Soon she was ushered to the bar stools and Gray sat her down and winked at her, she shook her head a little then and smiled at him. He really was so irresistibly handsome. She then heard him ask the barman for two beers, while waiting on their drinks Gray then turned to face her and ask what was on her mind. She was about to tell him, when he added that he was sorry for bringing her to Vegas but he needed to find his family. That wasn't a problem, she had no problem with it, she told him that. No, what was on her mind was far from following him to Vegas.

"I know ya gotta find them, an' am fine with tha' Gray, ya know tha'." She shook her head then, giving him a weak smile, "Tha's not wha's on ma mind." She didn't know if she should say what was really on her mind, if he knew, he'd probably blow up, or be worried sick. She wasn't sure if she could do that to him, what with him trying to find his biological family.

"Everybody can miss their home from time to time Gray." Maddie smiled then, "But least ya got me with ya." Hoping that would make him feel a bit better about missing home. He then said he'd have to place a few bets, to show there was only one Gambit in town. "Wha'? Jus' like there's only one Rogue in town?" She said, as she pointed to her hair, which looked very like Rogue's from X-Men.

"Maybe while yer doin' yer thing with the cards, I could give the old voice a blast, reckon they got a karaoke goin' on here?" She was trying to get the worrying thoughts out of her head, feeling it would be better to do so and then she wouldn't have to bother Gray with them.

[grayson]

"Ok sweets, I jus' wanna make sure ya fine with everythin'. Ya know I love ya more than anythin' else in the World right?" Grayson smiled warmly at her, clasping his rough yet smooth hands over hers. She then said that wasn't what was on her mind, he gulped. "Then wha' is it darlin'?" Knowing Maddie, she'd keep it to herself, not wanting him to worry about anything. But he did, he thought about her every other second. It scared the hell outta him not knowing if she was alright.

When she said everyone can miss their home from time to time, Gray couldn't help but sigh lightly, tightening his grip of her hands. He chuckled lightly when she said she had him with her. "Heh, yeah I guess so, as long as you're happy darlin', I couldn' care less." He looked at her lovingly, and brushed a finger through her striking red hair. "It's beautiful, you're beautiful." He leaned in and placed a loving, yet slightly fierce kiss on her lips. When he pulled away, he grinned at her like a young, teenage boy.

"Well we all know ya love the karaoke sweets, go fer it... meanwhile, there's a table over there with a space fer one. I'll meet ya after shall I?" Gray looked at the table, and noticed the guys hands quickly... they didn't stand a chance in hell against him. Grayson the oh so devious Gambit.

[maddie]

As Grayson spoke telling her that he just wanted to make sure everything was fine and that he loved her more than anything else in the world, she looked down at her feet for a few seconds before looking back up at him with a bright smile on her face. "I do know tha' Gray, an' I love ya more than anythin' an all." However, she couldn't get out of her head the fact that she had heard Xavier had been around these parts. Of course she had then went on to tell him that his looking for his family wasn't what was bothering her, knowing fine well he'd ask her what was bothering her.

She didn't know whether she should tell him or not. Would it spoil his trip looking for his family if he knew? Then again, if she didn't tell him, and he found out later by accident, he'd probably be annoyed she didn't tell him, especially if something happened to her. "It's jus' tha' las' time I checked...." She trailed off, looking at that face of his, she couldn't tell him. Not unless he really pushed her to tell him. He might, if he saw the worry on her face.

Still holding her hands, he sighed lightly when she'd commented that everybody could miss their home from time to time, but he had her with him. When he replied saying he guessed so, but as long as she was happy he couldn't care less. She gave him the brightest smile she could, hoping it didn't look too fake, nodding her head slightly, "Am happy Gray, ain't with nobody else, course am happy, am always happy when am with yerself." She took in a deep breath, hoping and praying it sounded like she wasn't completely faking it. Which she wasn't, not really. She was always happy around Gray, she just had some deep rooted fears and worries right now.

She then saw him looking at her lovingly, and she gave him a similar look back, and when his finger brushed through her hair, she sighed gently at the touch. She smiled when he said it was beautiful and she was beautiful, she didn't have time to reply back, before his lips were on her own giving her a loving but rather forceful kiss. Naturally she responded. When he parted from her, he was grinning like a teenage boy. She shook her head slightly, but couldn't help but grin back at him.

She couldn't help but giggle a little when Gray said they knew she loved the karaoke and she was to go off, and he'd go to the table and they could meet after. She nodded her head, "Alrigh' then." She hoped blasting out a good song would take her mind off of what was really bothering her. "So long as ya promise to sing 'Paradise By The Dashboard Light' with me after?" She couldn't help herself, if there was a karaoke, she had to get him to sing it with her.

She then headed over to the karaoke guy, and asked him to put on 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart' by Bonnie Tyler. The guy nodded his head, and searched the track and disc and nodded his head when it was ready to go, and Maddie then began to belt the song out;

"(Turnaround)
Every now and then
I get a little bit lonely
and you're never coming around
(Turnaround)
Every now and then
I get a little bit tired
of listening to the sound of my tears
(Turnaround)
Every now and then
I get a little bit nervous
that the best of all the years have gone by
(Turnaround)
Every now and then
I get a little bit terrified
and then I see the look in your eyes
(Turnaround bright eyes)
Every now and then I fall apart
(Turnaround bright eyes)
Every now and then I fall apart
(Turnaround)
Every now and then I get a little
bit restless and i dream of something wild
(Turnaround)
Every now and then I get a little bit
helpless and I'm lying like a child in your arms
(Turnaround)
Every now and then I get a little bit angry
and I know I have to get out and cry
(turnaround)
Every now and then I get a little bit terrified
but then I see the look in your eyes
(Turn around bright eyes)
Every now and then I fall apart
(Turn around bright eyes)
Every now and then I fall apart

And I need you now tonight
And I need you more than ever
And if you'll only hold me tight
We'll be holding on forever
And we'll only be making it right
Cause we'll never be wrong together
We can take it to the end of the line
Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time
I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark
We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks
I really need you tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight

Once upon a time I was falling in love
But now I'm only falling apart
There's nothing I can do
A total eclipse of the heart
Once upon a time there was light in my life
But now there's only love in the dark
Nothing I can say
A total eclipse of the heart
(repeat 2x)

Turnaround bright eyes
Turnaround bright eyes
Turnaround, every now and then I know
you'll never be the boy you always you wanted to be
Turnaround, every now and then I know
you'll always be the only boy who wanted me the way that I am
Turnaround, every now and then I know
there's no one in the universe as magical and wonderous as you
Turnaround, every now and then I know
there's nothing any better and there's nothing I just wouldn't do
Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and
then I fall apart
Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and
then I fall apart

And I need you now tonight
And I need you more than ever
And if you'll only hold me tight
We'll be holding on forever
And we'll only be making it right
Cause we'll never be wrong together
We can take it to the end of the line
Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time
I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark
We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks
I really need you tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight

Once upon a time I was falling in love
But now I'm only falling apart
Nothing I can say
Total eclipse of the heart
Total eclipse of the heart
Total eclipse of the heart"

When she'd finished and handed the microphone back to the DJ who was hosting the karaoke, she began to make her way over to Gray with a rapturous applaud. Maddie knew her voice was good, or else she wouldn't sing, but she got embarrassed at times over the attention she got when she'd sung a song.

[grayson]

Grayson didn't notice the way Maddie was looking, if he had, he would have immediately asked her what was wrong, and forced it out of her. He didn't like to do it, but sometimes it just happened, she seemed to hate troubling him. The thing she didn't realise was, he always wanted to know whether she was ok, whether she was thinking about things he shouldn't. Although he hated to think about it, sometimes he wished he had Telepathy so he could see what was going on in that complicated mind of hers.

When Madison commented she was always happy when she was with him, he smiled happily, squeezing her hands in his own. "As long as yer ok sweets, tha's all tha matters to me." That's when he kissed her, his soft lips pushing against hers. He didn't care, usually he hated public signs of affection like french kissing and the like. But if Maddie was with him, he was one of those couples he hated... but he didn't hate it, he loved it. He'd wrap an arm around her shoulders, and kiss her cheek repeatedly when they walked along the road. The thought made him warm inside.

Grayson slipped off his stool, grabbing his beer before holding a hand out for Maddie to get up. He was raised a gentleman, and he would always treat women with respect. Men that hit women just weren't deserving of life. Like Maddie's ex, Xavier. He had done some pretty nasty things to her in the past, things that made Gray's skin crawl thinking about them. He only wished he would meet the bastard someday, then all hell would be unleashed, and Xavier would be wishing every second he were dead. Gray only just caught on what his fiancé said to him, "Yeah sure sweets, jus' come find me if I ain't finished. You go have fun, I'll listen out fer ya." With that he kissed her hand and strolled over to the poker table.

With one hand in his pocket, and one hand swaying as he walked, Gray smirked confidently at the group of bikers. They all glared at him, not wanting any strangers at the table. "Afternoon gentleman, thought I'd give ya a run for ya money?" He sat down, without invitation, resting one arm over the back of the wooden chair. One of the men spat out his tobacco, making it land just short of Grayson's other arm which rested on the table. "What are ya betting then hillbilly?" Gray chuckled, his eyes looking up at the bearded biker who stuck more tobacco in his gum and raised his eyebrows. "I'm bettin' 100 dollars that I'll win ferst hand." All the men laughed, watching him with fascination. "Your on hillbilly." The only guy not playing, a small man who was also tending the bar dealt out the hands to each man around the table. Gray looked around, "Time out, gotta head to the john." With that he quickly got up and pretended to make his way to the toilet, instead he turned invisible, creeping behind each player and looking at the cards in their hands, he grinned.

A minute later he walked back to the table and sat down, picking up his hand and staring at it. He pulled a toothpick from his jeans pocket and placed it in between his teeth, grinding on it. "Call." The bearded man said, the one who continued spitting tobacco at Grayson. Everyone else folded. The bearded man placed his hundred dollars in the center of the table and waited to see if Gray would higher the bet. "Another hundred... tha's me." Gray watched to see if the bearded man would raise his bet now he did, "Your on hillbilly." Four hundred dollars now sat in the middle of the table, and the bearded man laid his hand out. His friends around the table grinned and congratulated him. "Come on then hillbilly, lay the cards." "Ah shit..." Gray laid his cards down and grinned at the men. "That's impossible!" One of them shouted. "Naw, it's a straight... y'all don't know how we play them down South... hillbilly or not, that 400 bucks is mine." The bartender smirked at Grayson, and pushed the money towards him. He pushed it into his pocket, and pushed his chair out. "Y'all have a nice day."

Gray could hear Maddie finishing singing 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart', not his particular choice of music, but he smiled all the same. She sounded brilliant as usual, and Gray couldn't help but melt inside as she sang. "Hillbilly..." Grayson turned and felt a fist connect with his jaw. He went flying, into a table with a husband and wife biker couple. He groaned, the husband at the table helped him up. "Thanks." He grunted, staring at the bearded biker who just punched him. "I won fair and square matey, maybe ya should hit the bar and drown yer sorrows while ya still can." The bearded biker growled and charged towards him, Gray smirked confidently. "Here we go..."

[maddie]

When Grayson had taken her hands and said as long as she was ok and that was all that mattered to him, she just smiled at him, nodding her head slowly. "Am fine Gray, really." Even though it was a lie, she didn't want to bother him with her fears. For all she knew Xavier could have moved on, and why bother Grayson with it if he had indeed moved on elsewhere. It would be a waste of time. He had then kissed her, which she had enjoyed and kissed back.

Gray then got off the stool, holding a hand out for Maddie to do the same, which she did. She had then said she would come find him when she was finished singing her song she chose for the karaoke. "I know ya'll listen out fer me, ya always do." She gave him a warm smile. It was true, he did always listen out for her. She knew not every song she sung was to Grayson's taste, but it didn't matter. What mattered was Maddie enjoying herself, and that's what she intended to do. He kissed her hand and then off he went to the table where the card game was taking place.

After she had finished singing her song, she had begun to make her way over to where she had left Gray. She caught him just as he was about to be punched by one of the guys who had been sitting at the table where the card game had been in play. Maddie immediately flinched and yelled out. "Stop!" Not because she didn't think Gray could take care of himself, she knew he could, but because that connection to Gray's face reminded her so much of the scenes she often went through with Xavier.

The guy then began to charge toward Grayson again. This time Maddie charged right up to where they both were. "I said stop it." She yelled again, as her electorkinesis ability kicked in, like it always did when she got upset and or angry. Electricity flowed through her, and as she unclenched her fists, the electricity charged into the bearded guy. Then she slumped onto the ground a little shaken, as she felt tears sting her eyes. She hated crying in front of Grayson, but worst of all, she hated crying in front of all these biker type people, because Maddie rarely showed that vulnerable side of herself.

She then looked up at Gray from where she was sitting on the floor, "I'm sorry, I just got so, it's what's been going through my mind, Gray. Xavier, he was last known to be here, I'm so sorry." She then put her head down onto her lap and began to sob heavily, realising where she was, she soon scrambled up from the floor and ran out of the bar and to the side of the building, so she could be alone with her tears and mess.