Free Out of the Blackness by Carter Quinn

to take Sam away from me. They’ll soon be a happily married couple with children of their own to provide a better life for. I know Sam wants to be a father something fierce. Heck, he’s been training for the job since the first day he met me. I know he wants to adopt, to create a family for some kids like us whose biological families didn’t care enough or didn’t have means enough to support kids. I know he’ll be a fantastic father and Kira will be an awesome mom. I just wish their happiness together didn’t mean leaving me to my own devices.
    The thought of being alone so scares me that I realize I’m starting to hyperventilate. I force myself to control my breathing while concentrating on the mental image of Sam walking around the apartment. Eventually, I calm down enough to hit the cupboard for another pill, one of the Valium I rarely allow myself to take on days I don’t have to leave the house. My anxiety levels should be low enough at home that I don’t need extra help, and usually they are, but today is not one of those days. It’s Thanksgiving! I swallow the pill with the last of my orange juice and turn to wash my few dishes by hand. Whatever it takes to make the time until Sam gets home go by faster.
    ***
    Rogue and Bobby have just touched for the first time at the end of X-Men: The Last Stand when I hear Sam’s key in the lock. I quickly dash the tears from my cheeks with an embarrassed laugh. That scene always gets to me. I’m almost ashamed of how glad I am to hear Sam’s return; I hate being alone in the apartment. I jump up from my cozy nest of pillows on the couch as I hear his deep voice rumble through the wood. When Kira’s lighter voice responds, I cringe momentarily. The sound of her voice reminds me that the jig is almost up, as they say. Before my mind can run away with itself again, the two of them elbow their way through the door carrying an assortment of food containers, none of which even remotely resemble the shape or scent of Chinese.
    “Avery!” Sam calls, a smile spreading wide across his face when he catches sight of me. “Happy Thanksgiving, little brother. We brought food!”
    I watch him cross into the kitchen, Kira trailing behind with a matching smile. It catches me off guard when she stoops to press a Chap Stick-y kiss to my cheek. Like her brothers, she’s tall, slender, and beautiful. Her long, dark hair curls elegantly to just below her shoulder blades. “Happy Thanksgiving, Aves,” she says. She has warm brown eyes and I know they must sparkle with holiday happiness.
    “Thanks. You, too,” I say, surreptitiously wiping the weird wax from my face. I follow them into the kitchen and stare helplessly as they spread out the bundles on the counters. “Are we not doing Chinese this year?”
    Sam stops moving long enough to shed his coat. He takes Kira’s off her shoulders, pressing a kiss to her neck. “Nope. I thought we’d go traditional this year.” He gestures with his free arm. “Behold! Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, some hideous red thing Kira swears is delicious—”
    “Spiced apple rings, you ungrateful brat!” Kira laughs at him, and then turns to me. “They’re so good, Avery. You’ll love ‘em.”
    My head is practically spinning. If pea soup is hiding among the offerings, I know I’ll be in trouble later. Taking it all in, I merely nod. “Wh-where did it all come from?”
    Kira pauses in mid-reach for the oven thermostat. She turns to Sam, scowling. “Sam, didn’t you talk to Avery about this?”
    His gaze drops to the floor and I marvel, as always, at her ability to turn the big, confident cop into a scolded schoolboy with just one look. “I thought I had, but I guess I forgot,” he admits.
    Kira reaches up to smack Sam upside his head, but stops at the last minute, as her eyes meet mine. Hers widen in shock and mine find the floor. It’s only then I realize I’ve taken two steps back, out of the room, away from the