Stan and Amanda's Place I9DT

[Amanda Weinrich]

"Yeah, I'm sorry too. Thanks for letting us know, Sam." Amanda hung up the phone, and then looked over at Stan, her eyes full of tears "They...when they got up there, they went out in shuttles, chasing some Skrulls who'd taken Altamira. One of the shuttles exploded....and....that was the one Bobby was on."

[Stan Bowen]

Stan just nodded continuously, sighing and looking away.when the tears began to flow.

[Amanda Weinrich]

Amanda hugged him tightly "I'm so sorry, Stan. I'm so sorry."

[Stan Bowen]

Stan nodded, just staring off into space for several minutes.

"I.. we need to talk with Christy and Tommy."

[Amanda Weinrich]

"Yeah, I think that is a good idea." Amanda said, handing him the phone.

[Stan Bowen]

Stan held the phone, pausing several moments formulating what he was going to say before slowly dialing a long distance telephone number.

[Christine Bowen]

"Dad!?!" Christy said, answering mid-way through the first ring "What happened? Is he ok?"

[Stan Bowen]

"Christy, get your brother. I want you both on the line."

He was shaking, trying to maintain his composure.

[Christine Bowen]

"He's right here." she replied, putting the phone on speaker.

[Thomas Bowen]

"Hi, dad."

Tommy seemed impassive as he listened in.

[Amanda Weinrich]

Amanda held Stan's hand lovingly, looking at him in concern.

[Stan Bowen]

"Bobby.. Bobby and several of his teammates were on a shi'ar shuttle, when apparently a bomb was detonated onboard, causing it to become uncontrollable. there was apparently another, massive explosion.."

He was choking it out, unable to continue for a few moments.

[Christine Bowen]

"He's dead." Christy said, her voice totally flat "you can just tell me."

[Thomas Bowen]

Tommy stayed silent.

[Stan Bowen]

"We can't be absolutely certain, this happened so far away, and the explosion was such that there wasn't much to recover... But... yes."

He was crying.

[Christine Bowen]

"You aren't sure!" Christy said, her voice full of tears "What do you mean? Is he dead, or are we going to go look for him?"

[Stan Bowen]

"Christy, I'm sorry.. But there isn't anything we can do! bobby.. he's gone.."

[Christine Bowen]

"He can't be gone." Christy sobbed "Go find him. You're a superhero. Its what you do. Go find him and bring him back."

[Stan Bowen]

"Christy, there are things even superheroes can't do.."

[Christine Bowen]

"Then whats the point?" Christy choked out "You couldn't save Mom, and now....." she broke down, sobbing.

[Thomas Bowen]

"Christy, no..."

tommy could be heard shuffling and murmuring uncomfortably.

[Stan Bowen]

"Christy..."

Stan couldn't continue, as he slowly hung up the phone, utterly crushed.

[Amanda Weinrich]

Amanda wrapped her arms around him, stroking his hair "Shusssh, honey, she's upset and looking for someone to blame, it isn't your fault, none of it is your fault."

[Stan Bowen]

"Is it?" He asked, shaking.

[Amanda Weinrich]

"No, its not." Amanda replied "What happened to Bobby is tragic, but he was doing what he felt he should do."

[Stan Bowen]

"And now I've lost a son, and my remaining children have lost both their older brother and their mother.."

He smashed his fist down, pounding the coffee table.

"This wasn't supposed to happen! I gave up that life, because the cost was so high.. and is doesn't matter. Nothing matters.."

[Amanda Weinrich]

"It still matters." Amanda said "You've lost a lot, but you still have two children who need you, and soon you'll have a baby who needs you. And you have me."

[Stan Bowen]

Stan nodded slowly, reaching for Amanda's hand for support.

[Amanda Weinrich]

"Bobby was special, and we'll miss him." Amanda said "But he wouldn't want you to blame yourself for this. It isn't your fault."

[Stan Bowen]

"I could have made him go back to school, I could have prevented him from joining the X-Men reserve... Oh god, my son is dead.."

[Amanda Weinrich]

Amanda held him while he cried for awhile and then she said "Bobby was an adult. He was doing what he chose to do, what he felt was the right thing."

[Stan Bowen]

Stan nodded, and stayed silent. There wasn't much else he could say.