Comforting Presence

Posted on Thu Apr 24th, 2025 @ 10:01am by Jennifer Bryant & Drew Williams
Edited on on Thu Apr 24th, 2025 @ 10:47am

0 words; about a 1 minute read

Mission: Episode 6: X-Fernus Agenda
Location: X-Mansion | Drew's Dorm Room
Timeline: December 21st, 1990

Drew sat on his bed. It has been an exhausting night watching over Angela after she had cried herself to sleep. He had went back to his room and hit the shower. He had been thankful for the streaming water as it hid his tears. He had returned to his room and sat down on his bed in a pair of sweatpants. He knew he should lie down and sleep, but he was afraid of having nightmares like Angela had the night before. He looked up at the door when the knock occurred. "It's unlocked." He had figured it was Connor to check up on him, but was surprised and grateful to see Jennifer when the door opened. It didn't even dawn on him he was sitting on his bed bare chested.

"Hey," Jennifer said softly. "I...uh...I..." She sat down next to him and laid her hand on his. "I don't really know what to say, but I'm here for you, for...I mean..." She really didn't know what to say. But she was trying. "I'm really sorry for your loss."

Drew had kept all his sorrow bottled up for the last 20 hours. He felt he had needed to be strong for Angela. He was the one who had hugged Angela as she wept, eventually crying herself to sleep. He was so exhausted from the strain of trying to hold it together. He turned and looked into Jennifer's eyes and felt overwhelmed by the compassion he saw in her face. The tears he had been holding back other than when he was in the shower resumed.

Jennifer just hugged him for as long as he cried. She felt his wet tears on her shoulder. She held him close to her. No words were spoken or needed. At least not in that long moment.

Drew had vented tears for a while. A good ten minutes at least. He had cried so much that the shoulder of her shirt was soaked with his tears. He felt raw and exposed and it dawned on him he had been crying into Jennifer's shoulder bare chested. He rose from his spot next to her on the bed and went to the dresser. He grabbed a t-shirt for himself and a towel for Jennifer to try and blot dry her shirt. He handed her the towel after pulling his t-shirt on. "Sorry for the shirt. I just...."

Jennifer dabbed at her shirt for a minute and then gave up, putting the towel aside. "Don't worry about it. It'll come out in the wash. Besides, the shirt isn't really what's important."

She reached for his hand. "I'm here for you if you want to talk about it, but I'm also here for you if you don't want to talk about it. Whatever you need."

Drew sat back down with Jennifer. He wanted to talk, but he was too exhausted physically and emotionally right now. "I do want to talk, I just...I don't know where to start or even how." He rubbed his eyes. "I...I really need to sleep." He looked up into Jennifer's kind eyes. "Would...would you mind just sitting with me, just until I fell asleep?"

"I'm not going anywhere," Jennifer said gently. She squeezed his hand and then shifted a little, making room for him to lie down. She was still sitting on the edge of the bed.

Drew hesitated. He felt conflicting emotions as Jennifer scooted over to allow him into bed. The first was an intense desire for the young woman he was falling head over heels in love with, fear that that things were moving too fast for both of them. Exhaustion won out at the moment. He crawled under the covers and lay down. He looked up at her expression and wondered if she felt the same way he did. Sunlight from the window made shimmering highlights through her hair. She looked like an Angel from heaven. He squeezed her hand. "Thank you for...everything."

"Thank you," Jennifer said. She sat there. She squeezed his hand. She slowly let it go as he drifted off, patting him gently through the covers. She would just stay here a little longer until she was sure he was out. Just a little longer. She yawned.

The next thing Jennifer knew, she woke up with a start. It was still early and it took her a minute to realize she was lying crosswise on Drew's bed. She hadn't even taken her shoes off. She blinked a little and looked around. Wondering if he was awake.

Drew was still asleep but it was obvious he was in the midst of a dream. Drew stood facing Jennifer, holding her hands in his and looking the most beautiful he could remember. Friends and family stood around, all smiling. Professor Xavier had finished making his final pronouncement. Drew leaned in and gave Jennifer a kiss that was soft and lingering as if he was pouring every ounce of love into the kiss. The kiss broke and the couple found themselves embraced by their friends and family. Angela hugged Jennifer, tears of joy streaming. "I always wanted a sister, but I an grateful to know you are and always will be my sister-in-law." She hugged Jennifer tight. Drew's eyes opened to see Jennifer's face look up at him from where she lay across his chest. "I love you."

"I love you too," Jennifer said, "but I wasn't ready to stay the night yet. I must have dozed off while I was waiting for you to fall asleep." She looked at the door self-consciously, as if already imagining the gossip.

Drew gave Jennifer an adoring smile. He looked at the window and then the wall clock. It was half passed five in the evening. He turned back to Jennifer. "Anyone asks, you were just watching over me while I slept. Just like I did for Angela all last night."

"Ok," Jennifer agreed. She looked to the clock. "Our sleep schedule is all off." She leaned back into him again.

Drew wrapped his arms around Jennifer and pulled her closer. He looked up into her face. He thought about his dream as he brushed a stray lock of her hair back into place. "My parents would have adored you."

She settled back, smiling softly. "I'm sorry I never got to meet them, Drew. I'm sure I would have loved them too."

Drew raised a hand and with one finger tilted Jennifer's head up. He gave her a soft kiss. He felt safe here with her, that and something else. He hugged her closer as he kissed her.

Jennifer kissed him back. She just nestled into him. Warm and very much there. She was smiling gently as she slowly pulled back and then leaned forward again, kissing the tears away. "I'm not going anywhere."

Drew, despite his profound sorrow, couldn't help but feel good. Jennifer was the first woman he felt like he could be himself with. He was hopelessly in love with her. He knew in his heart that he wanted to spend his life with her. He held her close to his chest.

Jennifer didn't have any more words for awhile but none were really needed either. There would be a time for many words. For now, she just held him tight.


Drew felt a warm tingling as he lay on the bed with Jennifer draped atop his body. She was the most incredible woman he had ever known. So incredible that his body responded despite the bed cover separating them as he gazed lovingly into her eyes.

Jennifer smiled softly, leaning towards him. She pressed her palm to his cheek and kissed him softly under the eyes.

Drew shifted out from underneath Jennifer quickly, a nervous, almost fearful expression crossing his face. He turned his blushing face away from hers. "I am so sorry. I didn't mean for...that to happen. I...."

Jennifer knew she shouldn't have but she laughed. More at his reaction than anything else. But then she reached for his hand again and looked in his eyes. "Drew, seriously, it's ok."

Drew swallowed the lump in his throat as he looked into Jennifer's eyes. He wanted her, but not like this, not while he was mourning the death of his parents and grandparents. "I...want you to know that I love you. That I do...want to...when we're both ready. I can't tell you when that will be. I'm not ready and what with my folks...." One tear fell as his thoughts shifted to his family.

Jennifer sighed lightly, squeezing his hand. "Drew, I love you too. We don't have to talk about the other stuff now. It's not the time. I didn't expect you to do anything and I wasn't worried you were expecting me to. It's obviously not the time for that or even talking about that. I maybe shouldn't have laughed. It was just...I don't know. You were worrying about nothing. We're good, ok? I am just here for you now while you grieve."

Drew nodded as he sat up in bed. The movement made his head spin slightly and he collapsed back down into bed. He knew what had happened and to confirm his suspension his stomach let out an audible growl. "Oh man, I need food."

"Do you want me to bring you something?" Jennifer offered.

Drew tried to sit up again, but his low blood sugar levels sent another wave of vertigo. "If you don't mind. Something with a lot of carbs and protein."

"I'll be right back," Jennifer said. She squeezed his hand and then left the room. She was gone for a little bit. It took time to get food.

Drew lay in bed and thought about everything that had happened since arriving at the X-Mansion, orientation, Thanksgiving, meeting the other students, the mission to Genosha. His thoughts always came back around to Jennifer. Her beauty was without compare, even more so was her kindness. She instilled in him a sense of hope that broke through all the darkness he had witnessed the last month. She was his anchor, his lightning rod. She was the love of his life.

She returned with a chicken sandwich, not the deli meat kind but a nice, warm filet on hamburger buns. She also had a nice, fruity sports drink for hydration. She walked back over to him. "I got you stuff," she said as she offered it up.

Drew sat up with Jennifer's help. He felt shakey from the lack of blood sugar. He ate the sandwich and drank the beverage and felt better, at least enough so that he could make it downstairs to the dining room. He glanced at his wardrobe and thought about changing, but decided to just go to dinner in his sweat pants and t-shirt. He stood up and stuck his feet into a soft pair of slippers. "How about we go downstairs and join the others?"

Jennifer watched Drew eat carefully. She was still clearly a bit worried about him. He seemed shaky. So she hesitated a second but then she nodded and smiled. She offered him her hand. "I'd like that," she said. "If you're feeling up to it. It might be good to walk around a little bit."

Drew took Jennifer's hand and they headed out of his room. He knew that as long as he was with Jennifer, he was going to be okay.

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