Disclaimer:  All characters belong to Marvel Entertainment Group, except for Tabitha Daniels and the robber.

Bye, Mama

     The gray clouds overhead threatened to rain at any moment. Sam Guthrie didn't care. He stood outside the tall gates, with only an oversized trenchcoat over his uniform. The cold night air whipped harshly at his face. Somewhere in the distance, a gunshot sounded. Sam looked up, his senses suddenly alert.

     Tabitha Daniels hadn't wanted much. Just a few groceries at the store and a nice, quiet walk home. But apparently, she wasn't going to have either of those things. "Drop the bags, lady!" the man screamed, the smoking gun trembling in his hand. Tabitha was petrified with fear. "Drop the bags!" the man screamed again. Tabitha slowly lowered the bags to the ground. "Now, step away!" he shouted, a wild look in his eyes.

     The older women tugged at her shawl and stepped back. Before the man could grab her bags, there was a loud roar in the sky. "Don't touch her!" a voice shouted. The man didn't even have time to look up as Sam rammed into his back. The man crashed into a pile of trash cans. "Get up!" Sam shouted. The man scrambled to his feet and tried to run. Sam was on him in a second, pounding for all he was worth. The man screamed pitifully as Sam's blows rained down on his head and shoulders.

     Tabitha watched in horror as his blood began to fall to the ground in large drops. "Young man, please stop!" she said at last, finding her voice. Sam froze in mid-punch, an angry snarl on his face. Tabitha feared he might turn on her next, but his face softened as he looked at her. "Mama?" he asked, his voice trembling. Before Tabitha could react, Sam ran to her and buried his face in her shoulder, wrapping his arms tightly around her. "Mama, you're alive!" he nearly shouted, refusing to hide his joy in any way. Having no children to call her own, Tabitha wasn't sure what to do. Finally, she reached up and patted his ruddy, blond hair.

     That was how Storm found them, nearly an hour later. Tabitha didn't seem to surprised when she floated down from the night sky. "Samuel, where have you been? We've been worried sick about you!" Sam blinked, as if seeing her clearly for the first time. "Storm?" Then he looked at Tabitha, who smiled at him. "You should probably go back with your friend," she said. Sam nodded slowly, a confused look on his face. Storm placed a gentle arm around him and lead him away from Tabitha. Sam couldn't help looking back at her. "Storm, who was that lady?" he asked when they were out of earshot. "I do not know, Samuel. I thought she was a friend of yours?" Sam shook his head. "Can't say she was. But for some reason, ah think she looks like Mama."

     Sam Guthrie stood before the tombstone, his tears mixing with the light drizzle from the night sky. Paige squeezed his hand, trying to offer some support. Sam sighed and carefully placed a red rose on the grave. "Bye, Mama. Ah love you," he whispered, choking back more tears. Paige hugged him tightly. "It's okay, Sam. No one can see yuh cry in the rain anyway." As Sam hugged her back, he realized she was right. "Thanks for tha weather changes, Storm," he added. Storm smiled at him. "I've been to enough funerals for loved ones, Samuel. Rain helps everyone cope better." Sam nodded solemnly in agreement.