It's Henry's twenty-eighth birthday. It's also his first anniversary of being an honored professor of the university, and that's much more important
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Rebecca had been travelling for three days. First on foot, then by boat, train, plane and then finally a cab. She's bone weary but she jumps out of the cab telling the driver to keep the change from the bundle of twenties she shoves through the gap and races into the auditorium.
She almost didn't make it back at all but she's here now and she's staying for a good long while. Collapsing into a seat at the back, she smiles apologetically at the young girl next to her. Henry always did attract pretty students even though he'd never admit it. She couldn't blame the girls and the guys. If she'd been at school with him as a professor instead of as her boyfriend she'd have taken an interest in molecular science too.
Beaming, she settled in to listen to his speech. She was going to surprise him and she couldn't wait.
He's nearing the end of his talk now, relaxing a little, joking around like a fool and it's probably good his parents aren't around.
"I just wanted to say, it doesn't count if you can see it with the naked eye. Thank you for your time, everyone."
The applause is much too loud and much too long and he rather just sneak off stage to check his phone (he almost always remembers to keep it with him now) for any news from Rebecca.
Hurry up and let me go. Some part of him would always be focused on fleeing.
Ducking down in her seat until the crowd clears out, Rebecca waits for the last person to leave reluctantly after Henry sends them off with a half-anxious smile. She waits for Henry to turn his back to arrange his papers before she steps quietly down the steps to step up behind him.
"I liked your speech. It was funnier than last year." She said, grinning.
He smelled her before he hears her, but for a moment he just wants to savior it. She's here.
"Becs."
"You are so -" He turned and caught her in a big hug. "Late. Way too late. I almost thought you wouldn't show up are you okay? Is everything okay? Do I need to pay the taxi driver?"
"Professor McCoy." Now that Jean is no longer a resident, her schedule is far more forgiving. She made certain to request this day off in advance and greets him with a smile.
It's fair to say that she and Henry remained on similar wavelengths after their high school years - both dedicated to science and top universities, though they lost touch for several years. It wasn't until they decided to collaborate on a paper that they reinvigorated their friendship, and they've kept in touch since - even if professional commitments have kept them from seeing each other very often.
""What comes first? Happy Birthday or congratulations? Your speech was brilliant, by the way."
"I mean -" He takes a step back. "Doctor? Do you prefer a title? And thank you, that's much appreciated. It's the first time I consciously tried to be a little funny in one. A birthday is just a birthday, I didn't create any of that."
Jean lets out a laugh. "Jean's fine, Henry. Unless we're keeping things purely professional. Professor."
She grins at him again and inches to give him a hug, but remembers how very uncomfortable those once made him, so she holds back.
"And nope. I take full credit for the birthdays. Fire and Life incarnate." Jean says with a wink in her eye and it's an old joke, but not entirely between them. In recent years whenever she's felt the Phoenix flare inside, she's sent him over readings from tests and relevant numbers. Hopefully it does not fall flat now.
"Oh no, no!" He puts his hands up. "We're all by ourselves, we can drop titles and so on. Blushing a little, he adds: "although it doesn't really get old yet, if I'm cute honest."
"Is everything on that subject well?" Henry beckons her to follow her behind the stage. "Everything adjusting to this new stage in your life?"
Comments 163
She almost didn't make it back at all but she's here now and she's staying for a good long while. Collapsing into a seat at the back, she smiles apologetically at the young girl next to her. Henry always did attract pretty students even though he'd never admit it. She couldn't blame the girls and the guys. If she'd been at school with him as a professor instead of as her boyfriend she'd have taken an interest in molecular science too.
Beaming, she settled in to listen to his speech. She was going to surprise him and she couldn't wait.
Reply
"I just wanted to say, it doesn't count if you can see it with the naked eye. Thank you for your time, everyone."
The applause is much too loud and much too long and he rather just sneak off stage to check his phone (he almost always remembers to keep it with him now) for any news from Rebecca.
Hurry up and let me go. Some part of him would always be focused on fleeing.
Reply
"I liked your speech. It was funnier than last year." She said, grinning.
Reply
"Becs."
"You are so -" He turned and caught her in a big hug. "Late. Way too late. I almost thought you wouldn't show up are you okay? Is everything okay? Do I need to pay the taxi driver?"
Reply
It's fair to say that she and Henry remained on similar wavelengths after their high school years - both dedicated to science and top universities, though they lost touch for several years. It wasn't until they decided to collaborate on a paper that they reinvigorated their friendship, and they've kept in touch since - even if professional commitments have kept them from seeing each other very often.
""What comes first? Happy Birthday or congratulations? Your speech was brilliant, by the way."
Reply
"I mean -" He takes a step back. "Doctor? Do you prefer a title? And thank you, that's much appreciated. It's the first time I consciously tried to be a little funny in one. A birthday is just a birthday, I didn't create any of that."
Reply
She grins at him again and inches to give him a hug, but remembers how very uncomfortable those once made him, so she holds back.
"And nope. I take full credit for the birthdays. Fire and Life incarnate." Jean says with a wink in her eye and it's an old joke, but not entirely between them. In recent years whenever she's felt the Phoenix flare inside, she's sent him over readings from tests and relevant numbers. Hopefully it does not fall flat now.
Reply
"Is everything on that subject well?" Henry beckons her to follow her behind the stage. "Everything adjusting to this new stage in your life?"
Reply
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