Newcomers

by Dandelion

The booth in the far corner of the Cafe was their favorite place to meet. It was roomy enough to comfortably seat six people and was close enough to the kitchen and bar that the waitress was able to keep a close eye on their food and drinks.

It was also far enough away from the regular poker table that they could have a decent conversation without getting interrupted by the regular arguments that broke out over chips, drinks, or exactly how many aces Gambit had up his sleeve.

"So, I got my driver's license renewed and the new picture is horrid," Jean said sullenly.

"I'm sure it's not as bad as all that," Redd replied soothingly.

"It isn't," Scott affirmed, casually brushing another Midol in front of his wife.

"It *is* that bad," Jean replied. She glared at the table and burst out, "I look like a big, fat, red pig!!"

"Okay, okay," another Jean patted her hand. "Let us see it. We'll give you our honest opinion and you'll believe us and everything will be fine."

"I'm not showing this to anyone," Jean clutched her purse to her chest. "Mine is worse than Betsy's or Rogue's. I hate the DMV! I think they purposely manipulate the pictures to look as wide as possible."

"Conspiracies in the DMV?" A second Scott pondered that one. "I don't see it, sorry."

"Apocalypse destroyed the DMV," Slym joined in. "Apparently he said it wasn't of the strong."

"I think *he* got a bad DMV picture," Redd grinned.

"Come on, Jean," the second Jean held her hand out. "Let's see it already."

The DMV Jean relented and handed the offending picture over and the other four hunched together to see it.

"You're kidding, right?" Redd glanced up. "This is a terrific picture."

"You should have smiled," the second Scott said. "You look beautiful when you smile."

"She looks beautiful *anyway*," the first Scott amended firmly through gritted teeth.

The second Jean and Redd sent the second Scott a warning look.

He cleared his throat. "I did want to tell you all about the lunch I had today."

Redd gave DMV Jean her license back with an encouraging smile and a wink.

"We have this program called 'Take A Mutant To Lunch' and we got a phone call," the second Scott explained. "So four of us went-"

"I didn't have to go," the second Jean replied smugly.

"Anyway," Scott continued his story with determination, "aside from the fact that Bobby was an idiot like usual, I think it went really well. Todd, the boy I ate with, struck me as a good, solid, dependable kid. Actually, he reminded me of me."

All of the red-heads at the table, including the DMV Jean who was looking longingly at the Midol in front of her, smiled wistfully.

"He asked me what the best part of being a mutant was."

"That's an interesting question," Slym draped an arm around Redd's shoulders and gave her a squeeze. "What did you tell him?"

"I said that if I wasn't a mutant I'd never have met you," he looked at his wife with a broad smile.

"Oh, are you two just the cutest?" DMV Jean sounded perilously close to tears. Her Scott managed to quell a long-suffering sigh.

"Oh my God, who is *that*?" Redd was looking towards the front door of the Cafe, her eyes wide. Five other heads swiveled to follow.

A Scott and Jean that none had ever seen before had just entered the Cafe. Scott nodded towards the bar and escorted Jean to it. They were dressed casually but were obviously 'together' in the way that so many Scotts and Jeans that came to the Cafe were. The most obvious difference however was--

"He's so young!" DMV Jean whispered. She didn't sound all that disapproving of the difference.

"He's *gorgeous*." Redd sighed.

"Look at those *lips*," the second Jean leaned her chin on her hand dreamily.

"Excuse me," Slym sounded vaguely offended. "I'm sitting right here."

"I don't ever remember being that young," the first Scott looked thoughtful. "Even when I *was* that young."

The young Scott in question noticed that he was quite the subject of scrutiny and turned to look at his observers. He was greeted by three enthusiastic waves from three red-heads and three nods from men in red glasses, except for the one who wore dusty looking clothes but he had a familiar red haze in his eyes.

Scott glanced at his drink briefly then leaned over to Jean. "We're being watched."

Jean followed her lover's gaze to the booth and almost laughed out loud with delight. "Oh, this place is the greatest! Let's go introduce ourselves."

"Do you think that's really necessary?" Scott's question was ignored as Jean propelled him towards the others.

"Hi!" the red-head in the middle greeted them. "First time here?"

Young Scott nodded. "We'd been warned but it's still a little surprising."

The two in the dusty clothes chuckled warmly. "I imagine so," the man said. "I'm Slym, this is Redd, and unfortunately, we have to get going." They both began scooting out of the booth.

"Oh, don't leave on our account," the new Jean looked earnest.

"We aren't," Redd replied cheerfully. "But we left Nate with a sitter and we really should get back before he can damage her permanently. I do hope we see you again soon, I'd love to hear your story." She waved to the others at the table, linked her arm with Slym's and walked out with him.

"I'm Scott," one of the men at the table smiled. "And this is Scott," he gestured to the other, who was offering his red-head a Midol. "And that's Jean," he pointed to the Midol woman. "And this is Jean," he smiled at his red-head."

"I'm Jean and this is Scott." The new Jean smiled.

"I think we made introductions a lot more complicated than they needed to be," DMV Jean said, setting her water-glass down.

Her Scott was looking at the new one. "You're young."

The second Scott nodded. "Very young."

The new Jean smiled winningly and bumped her shoulder into her Scott's. "I know, isn't it terrific?"

All of the Jean's laughed and the new Scott grinned sheepishly.

"I like your glasses, though," the second Scott told him and the first nodded in agreement.

"Thank you," young Scott replied. "I rather like them."

A smile flickered it's way around the booth.

"So, where are you two from?" DMV Jean leaned forward.

"The bouncer out front said we were from the Movieverse," young Scott replied.

The other two pairs of Scotts and Jeans nodded. "I've heard a lot of good things about that continuity," the second Jean told them. "I hear it's very... uncomplicated."

"Well, it was," Movie Jean grinned. "It's gotten a little more so recently."

"I guarantee that it's not nearly as complicated as it could be," the second Scott assured them. "How about a little test? Just to see..."

Movie Jean and Scott exchanged glances then nodded.

"Does the name Madelyne Pryor mean anything to you?" DMV Jean asked.

"No."

"Phoenix?" The first Scott questioned.

"No."

"Sinister? Rachel? Nathan?"

"No, no and isn't Nathan Redd and Slym's kid?" Movie Scott questioned.

More smiled greeted this.

"You must know Logan," the second Jean grinned.

A brief frown crossed Movie Scott's face. "Yes."

Movie Jean laughed. "Scott's still bitter about Logan taking his motorcycle."

"That's not the only reason..." Movie Scott replied quietly.

"You have a motorcycle?" Both of the other Scott's looked keenly interested in this.

"Well, I *did*."

"It wasn't very nice of him to take it," Movie Jean said. "Scott would take me for long rides on it and..." she trailed off, a hint of color rising in her cheeks. "Anyway, I'll miss the bike, too. Scott used it as leverage to get me out of the lab."

The other Jean's looked surprised. "The lab?"

"I'm a doctor."

"Okay, now I feel under-accomplished," DMV Jean grumbled.

"And that's our cue," her Scott grinned ruefully. "Come on, honey, I promised you some ice cream when we got home."

"That's right, you did," she replied haughtily. "Even though I practically stuffed myself at the Japanese Steakhouse."

"You wouldn't know it to look at you," Scott replied with a casual charm.

She relented and bestowed a glowing smile on him then turned to the others. "We'll see you again soon?" Her eyes lingered on the newcomers. Then Scott took her hand and they left the Cafe.

Movie Scott turned to his last remaining counterpart. "This is some place."

Scott took a sip of his drink and looked around. "It is, isn't it?"

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