In the apartment of Baxter Building, the warm glow of the fireplace radiated heat throughout the living room...
On the large-screen TV, the evergreen sitcom, 'Friends', played... punctuated by canned laughter following its humorous scenes.
Jean lay curled up on the sofa, exuding an air of laziness like a cat nestled in its cozy spot, utterly unwilling to move.
"So, you really aren't going to come help?" Wearing an apron and gloves, Sean was busy in the kitchen, preparing the holiday's essential turkey and other ingredients.
"Sorry, I've temporarily contracted a disease that makes me physically incapable of entering kitchens. Besides, I think you've got this handled," Jean replied, lying on her side with a teasing smile, "Oh, and don't forget my favorite cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie… A wonderful Thanksgiving!"
"Wow, I'm truly honored to prepare a grand feast for Ms. Jean Grey," Sean said with exaggerated enthusiasm as he stuffed the turkey with a mix of breadcrumbs, onions, salt, and pepper before sliding it into the oven.
Today was Thanksgiving, a day when the entire city brimmed with the joy of family reunions.
Unfortunately, Sean hadn't been part of such celebrations before...
Gwen and Betty were at home with their parents, the runaway little girl was probably road-tripping in her RV, and the Fantastic Four and Iron Man all had their own plans.
Even the recently intimately acquainted Miss Scarlett had reportedly returned to Los Angeles for family visits, expressing deep regret in her voicemail.
On this warm and cozy holiday, Sean, who usually enjoyed the company of many, found himself inexplicably alone.
Karma truly was a wheel...
Fortunately, Jean, who had surprisingly chosen not to spend the holiday with Professor Xavier in Westchester, had come over, saving him from a lonely and pitiful evening...
"If you keep this up, the Professor will start complaining that I've stolen his favorite student," the young man remarked as he spread a red tablecloth over the dining table, lit a few flickering candles, and arranged plates of baked bread, sweet potatoes, and assorted desserts.
The massive turkey in the oven emitted an enticing aroma.
"He won't. The Professor might suspect something, but he hasn't said anything. Scott, on the other hand… You might want to watch out for him challenging you to a duel next time you visit the school." Jean spoke lazily, her eyes fixed on the sitcom as a faint smile played on her lips.
"Wow, I'll have to be ready for Scott to throw a glove in my face at any moment," Sean shrugged.
He had recently enjoyed a rare stretch of peace...
S.H.I.E.L.D. was busy overseeing the construction and launch of the Helicarrier, so the ever-suspicious Director Fury hadn't had time to bother him, likely due to his unwavering faith in Agent Romanoff's professional skills.
Meanwhile, Tony and Reed were fully immersed in developing the Ultron program.
Sean wondered how S.H.I.E.L.D. would react to an artificial intelligence created by the combined efforts of Iron Man and Mr. Fantastic.
Maybe Nick Fury would want to strangle them both…
The much-debated Mutant Registration Act was gradually being implemented, sparking increasingly strong reactions.
With a certain Vice President championing the cause, Congress had introduced numerous policies to protect the rights of registered mutants, creating a virtuous cycle that attracted more mutants to join.
Far away in Latveria, Victor von Doom's missionary work was progressing smoothly... after all, the local gangs and old nobility who refused to join the Doom Cult and pledge allegiance to Doctor Doom were dying off at an impressive rate.
This "convert or die" approach was undeniably effective. Soon, Latveria would establish a solid theocratic regime...
As for Magneto, the mutant leader had connected with Ulysses Klaue a week earlier, reaching a verbal agreement.
However, now wasn't the ideal time to march into Wakanda. They needed to wait until the isolated African nation truly entered the world's spotlight before Umbrella could make its move...
While waiting for the turkey to finish, Sean hopped onto the sofa and pulled Jean's warm lazy form into his arms, "Do you know the origin of Thanksgiving?"
Pressing close to her ear, he spoke as if he was telling a story by the fireplace: "In 1620, 102 Puritans, unable to endure the persecution of the Church of England, boarded the famous 'Mayflower' and sailed to America..."
"...They broke free from the Church's control, fled to the Netherlands, and later decided to migrate to the desolate lands across the Atlantic, hoping to live freely according to their religious beliefs. When they arrived, it was the dead of winter…"
"...Perhaps by God's grace, they received help from the natives; learning to hunt, fish, and grow corn. Under the guidance of the Wampanoag, the first settlers reaped a bountiful harvest. Following religious tradition and to express gratitude for the natives' generosity, the Puritans invited them to celebrate together..."
Jean wrapped her arms around Sean's neck and giggled, "I heard this story when I was little."
The young man kissed her forehead, a faint smile on his lips, before shifting the narrative, "I'm sure your parents only told you the first half... how the Puritans and ninety Wampanoag gathered at dawn, firing celebratory shots before marching into a makeshift church to devoutly thank God. Then, they lit bonfires for a grand feast, serving delicious turkey to their native guests… They sang, danced, wrestled, raced, and reveled for three whole days!"
Sean paused, looking down at the beautiful woman in his arms before continuing: "Do you know the Native American population when Columbus 'discovered' the 'New World'? Between 30 to 100 million. By the 1970s, fewer than 800 000 remained, forced into scattered 'reservations' in remote wastelands..."
The oven dinged...
Sean lifted Jean from the sofa and gently placed her in a chair at the dining table before bringing out the golden-brown turkey, its mouthwatering aroma filling the air.
"Sorry for the untimely history lesson. I just wanted you to know that when everyone else is enjoying the holiday cheer, you're not the only one who feels out of place. After merging with the Phoenix, you might feel lost or confused... but none of that matters… Because you can always find your kindred spirit. Like me." Sean could tell Jean hadn't come over on a whim.
Merging with the Phoenix Force had inevitably created a sense of isolation from the Xavier Institute.
In this vast city, perhaps only he could fully accept her darker side...
After a long silence, Jean smiled. The reason she hadn't stayed at the Institute was precisely because she felt different. As the Phoenix, merging with her darker self often plunged her into inexplicable self-doubt.
Her attraction to Sean wasn't just due to the Phoenix Force's pull... it was also because she sensed in him the same complex and contradictory emotions...
"Don't look at me like that. At least wait until after we've eaten the turkey," Sean said, raising a glass with a smile, "The night is still young…"
"Then… I want to be on top," Jean murmured, biting her lip before downing the crimson wine in one go...