Click here to read Chapter 1
http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/xmenmoviefanfic/message/5771?
threaded=1

Click here to read Chapter 2
http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/xmenmoviefanfic/message/5793?
threaded=1


"Alkali Secrets" Chapter 3, Logan/OC [PG-13] X2

Title: Alkali Secrets
author: Megan Ellyson (lilyanialeigh@...)

(brief) summary: Logan goes in search of more truth to his past and
heads back to Alaska. What he does not except to find is a mutant
with a familiar feel. Could she know about his past? Is there more
to Alkali Lake that meets the eye? He seeks an answer to what they
were doing at that facility.
Rating/warning & pairing (if applicable): PG-13

Feedback: Open to any feedback
------------------------------------

Alkali Secrets - Chapter Three

The cold bitter wind seemed to have a vendetta against Medusa as her
and Logan made their way back to town. Her senses started to drift
outside in the air. The air was frozen with the smell of the snow.
Her skin was ice much like the blood that flowed through her veins.
Her strength was weakening as her cold-blooded instincts began to
take over.

"Logan, we need to hurry," she pleading silently. She could barely
stand to walk anymore, but she needed to continue. She wasn't about
to ask for help in being carried or something.

Logan looked behind him and noticed her fatigue. "Only a little
farther," he said helping her along.

They reached the motel. Medusa leaned on the wall beside the door.
Her breathing was becoming more and more shallow. Logan knew she
wasn't dying, but didn't know what was going on with her. Her
clothes were somewhat shredded due to her mutating in the bar. Logan
opened the door and put down the stuff from the barn.

Medusa's eyes were barely opened when Logan lifted her and took her
into the room. Her head nuzzled against Logan's chest. It felt so
familiar, like it something from the past. He stood in front of the
bed for a moment with Medusa in his arms. Her pale, fair face looked
serene lying asleep. He snapped back and laid her on the bed to
rest. Her scarlet hair lay like waves of flames upon the flannel
bed.

Medusa could feel Logan's arms carrying her. Her dreams seem to
mimic reality with the past. She drifted into a night where she was
being held to comfort her fears. Tears fell like acid rain from her
eyes onto the man's chest. His scent felt soothing and familiar,
like the scent she had gotten from Logan. She could make out the
whispers, "we'll escape somehow, and I'll protect you."

Logan walked back out to get the blankets and lantern. He shut the
door after coming back inside to place a blanket over Medusa. He
still couldn't figure out why she behaved the way she did. He sat in
the chair watching the television and questions were running through
his mind about the past and Medusa.

Medusa felt the bed, but her dreams confronted the softness. She was
lying on a cold metal slab. Shackled and gagged, she tried to move
in order to escape the place. She felt the constricting binds
keeping her movement almost controlled. Black lines were drawn
across her body like a blueprint for something she had no clue
about. She watched as some scientist looking man started towards her
with an injection. Her screams were silenced by the gagged, but in
some failing chance she wanted help. The injection pierced her skin
with the pain of the liquid inside rushing like a plague through her
body. Medusa's scream was heard this time, but she was truly awake.

Logan, shocked, rushed to Medusa's side to try to help in someway.
He placed his hand over her screaming mouth in order to hush her.
She was scared to death by whatever she had dreamt of.

"Shh…Medusa calm down," he whispered to her. "You need to stop
screaming."

Medusa couldn't speak, just cry from the fears that had rising
inside her mind. She had never had a dream that vivid. She never
remembered anything from her past till recently. The images swirled
through her memories like puzzle pieces waiting to be put back in
the right order. She didn't even know the right order; how could
they make any sense.

She slowly began to calm down with even just a few tears dripping
down her face. Logan sat on the edge of the bed while she, still
trembling, sat beside him. He handed her a cup of coffee from the
machine that was hidden in one of the drawers. She took the cup
which warmed her flesh by just a touch.

Logan didn't like the uncomfortable silence very well, but he was at
a lost for what to say. "What happened," he started, "outside before
we got in the room?"

Medusa wiped her face of the remaining tears. "I am cold-blooded due
to my reptilian mutation," she said going back to the state she was
in at the bar. "If my body gets too cold then I sleep, just like
snakes do. It takes a very low temperature to get that to happen. As
you can see, I wasn't actually dressed for a winter walk."

Logan smiled for a moment, and then went back to being serious. "I
am guessing, you are reliving the past in your sleep."

"Yes, more now than I can ever remember. They are like haunting
memories lost in no exact timeline. Why did they do this to us?"

"They wanted to create the perfect weapon is what I was told."

Medusa looked at Logan to hopefully find some answers in his eyes.
Nothing was hidden in his eyes, just reality at its mere despair.
Her eyes lowered to the bed, "I'm truly sorry if I scared you when I
was screaming."

"It was nothing," he said thinking about why he even came back to
Alaska. Was it just an intuition of a search for more answers or
something more?

"I'll get off the bed so you may sleep…" Medusa started to get off
the bed when Logan interrupted her.

"No, I probably won't sleep tonight. You may have the bed."
Medusa did not want to be a bother to Logan. He was being quite nice
to her already; it was rude to take his own bed from him. Though he
didn't seem the type she would argue with do to him having quite the
knowledge about the Alkali Lake experiment.

She stayed sitting on the bed while Logan looked deep in thought.
They both stayed silent till Medusa finally drifted back to sleep
curled up on the bed. Logan just sat upon the bed thinking about how
Medusa felt so familiar and calming in his arms. Could Jean be
drifting from his memories as the one his heart yearned for? Medusa
was like him, while Jean was intimate with Scott. Jean would never
choose him over Scott.
---------------------
hopefully chapter 4 will come sooner. :)

"Alkali Secrets" Chapter 4, Logan/OC [PG-13] X2

Title: Alkali Secrets
author: Megan Ellyson (lilyanialeigh@...)

(brief) summary: Logan goes in search of more truth to his past and
heads back to Alaska. What he does not except to find is a mutant
with a familiar feel. Could she know about his past? Is there more
to Alkali Lake that meets the eye? He seeks an answer to what they
were doing at that facility.
Rating/warning & pairing (if applicable): PG-13

Feedback: Open to any feedback

----------------------------------

Alkali Secrets - Chapter Four

Someone knocked on the door. The sound took Logan out of his half-
sleep trance like a rude alarm clock. He sat up and noticed that he
had fallen asleep on the bed with Medusa. She was still fast asleep
without any movement. He stumbled his way to the door. It opened a
little bit to reveal Scott Summers.

Scott was wearing his navy t-shirt with dark pants and his leather
overcoat that went down to his knees. His visor was more slender
than usual; the professor must have been working on a better model
again. "Logan," he started, "the professor needs you at the mansion."

"Oh…really. Charley needs my help," Logan replied with his rough
voice from before returning. He stood in just a tank-top and his
tight-painted on blue jeans. His muscles bulged from each movement
of his breathing and standing here. His belt buckle shined in the
light from the room.

"Come on Logan. I don't have time for this. The professor needs to
see you at the mansion now. I have the Blackbird and we need to go
now."

Logan rolled his eyes. He wanted more answers to what he is and how
he became that way. Why would the professor need him back at the
mansion? He went away because of Jean's death and what happened
between him and Stryker.

Scott looked at Logan wishing he would hurry up. He did not care to
be with Logan too long. They had never got along and now it was even
worse for them considering the accident of Alkali Lake. Nothing was
ever going to be the same without her. She was his life and
everything about him.

"Logan, we need to go now." Scott demanded.

"Hold your horses, Cy," Logan said with a sarcastic tone echoing
through the air. "I just need to get something."

Scott walked in and look towards the bed to find the fiery haired
woman lying asleep. "Friend of yours?" He asked with a harsh tongue.

Logan went over to where Medusa lied and shook her awake. She
started to stir, her eyes slowly opened and Logan caught another
glimpse of those emerald eyes that would hypnotize any man. She
looked serene even in her waking. She stretched her arms and quickly
her spines extended from her arms. She had caught the scent and saw
Scott. She was frightened until Logan interrupted her fears.

"Come on," Logan said grabbing his jacket. "We are leaving."

Scott turned his head at Logan. "We are taking her?"

Medusa spines submerged into her skin and lowered her head. "I
understand. Logan, I will stay here. I had better start looking for
a new town for a job. I terribly screwed up the last one."

"No," Logan snapped back quickly. "I am sure the professor came help
you, so you are going."

"Logan," Scott started.

"Scott, we are taking her," Logan argued back and started out the
door.

Medusa grabbed her blanket and walked after him, not wanting to be
in the same room alone with Scott. She walked beside Logan and did
not know what to say to him. He had more or less forced her way to
see this `professor' he had talked about. Could he really help her
find her past? Or would he lead her back to the emptiness that
echoes through her mind already?

Medusa had not really seen Logan be so forceful since the bar. He
had calmed when he was around just her. Why was that? From the scent
and feeling that she got off Scott, he did not believe Logan would
be kind.

Scott followed behind them both. He was not sure what to think of
this new mutant that Logan had befriended. He could not even imagine
Logan befriending anyone. Logan was not the friendliest of guys in
Scott's mind. It was a stretch for him to be civilized towards him.

"I have to get my bike," Logan said walking back towards the motel
room. He was back to being the silent rough-neck since Scott was in
his way again. He was hoping to find answers, not be summoned back
to the mansion for a reason that he did not even know.

Logan grabbed the handlebars of his bike and walked it back to where
Scott and Medusa had stopped for him. If it was up to Scott, he
wouldn't have stopped. Medusa was the one who waited for Logan. She
had never met another mutant, and she did not know what to do about
her situation now. It was just better for her to wait for the one
person she has some trust in.

They walked through the woods into a clearing big enough to hold the
Blackbird. Scott turned off the stealth on the plane and it showed
its truth form. Medusa was stunned at the size and structure of it.
The opening lowered and Scott trudged up into the plane. Logan
looked at Medusa and headed up the opening with the motorcycle.

Medusa questioned going up into the Blackbird. She looked back at
the remaining lights of the only place she knew as home for the past
years. Did she want to leave behind all that she knew to find her
true past and know what happened to her? Was what happened to her
worth reliving?

"Are you coming?" Logan questioned from the opening hatch.

Medusa's eyes caught his chocolate eyes. She felt a trust there that
she could only dream about. He would protect her, she was sure of
it. But what was he to protect her from is the question that she
chose to leave unanswered.

She slowly took the biggest steps known to her towards the inside of
the Blackbird. Her hair flew wildly in the air as she walked. The
wind seemed to push her to a new adventure into the unknown.

Scott shut the hatch as Logan and Medusa took their seats.

"You might want to buckle up," Scott said with a dull tone.

Logan leaned over to Medusa and whispered, "Relax."

The Blackbird began to rise into the air and start off towards its
home. Medusa was worried and frightened, but hopefully she would get
over that by the time it was all over. Her heart rose and fell which
each heavy breath she took. Relaxing was something that was harder
to do than anything for her.

sorry for the wait.

it is 7, right?

~~
"You mortal men will go far,

"Climb the moon and reach for the stars;"

	 -- 'Princes of the Universe' song, of the 'Highlander' fame,
by the group Queen.
~~

MODERN  DAY:
THAT  MORNING:

Marie opened her eyes.  Nobody was moving.

She hadn't had any nightmares tonight, neither from her own memories
or from anyone else residing in her mind.

The lady who was sorta like Logan, she was able to flex her arms and
legs by now, though she wasn't limber yet.  But now, now she was
sleeping.

Colonel Stryker was still curled up on himself, having muttered
himself to sleep.

And the other man, the one who frightened Marie in a way that even
Sabertooth hadn't been able to scare, looked asleep as well.
Looked.  "Are you asleep?" Marie asked, feeling kind of silly even
asking it.

His eyelids didn't open.  "No," he answered.

"Any idea where we should go when we leave here?" she asked.  One,
two, four, everyone...she didn't care how many person/personalities
there were in their merry group.

"I've an idea or two, but nothing concrete as yet," Methos replied,
the persona of Benjamin Adams speaking at the moment, with Pierson
sitting second chair.  Methos himself was warily watching the abyss,
feeling the approachingness of Methen.  Death was trying to place
Lyman at the edge of the abyss, to ensnare Methen with the controller.

"You?" Adams asked.  "Do you have any ideas as to where we should go?"

"No," Marie said, shaking her head emphatically.  "I'm just walking
for the sake of walking."

"Never a bad habit," Methos said, speaking from experience.  "I've
been known to use it myself."  He opened his eyes, his chameleon-
colored eyes.  "Why are you here?" he asked.  Marie shrugged.  "As
good a reason as any.  Trust me on that."

"Okay," Marie said, smiling.  He smiled too.  "Why're you here?"  The
smile vanished.

"Tell her," Stryker said.  Clearly, he too was awake now.  "Tell her
that you asked Plato that question."

In a bored, casual voice, "Actually, I asked Socrates.  If you're
going to mock me, Stryker, get your details right."

"You knew Socrates?" Marie asked, skeptical.

Methos nodded.  "I did.  Bit of a pessimist at times, I grant you,
but the guy drank well."

"How could you have known him?  He lived - what - two thousand years
ago?"

"And then some," Methos nodded.  "I am...Immortal."  He considered
himself fairly safe: the only ones nearby were another Immortal, a
regenerating mutant, and a ... a Marie.

He still wasn't sure exactly what she was, and he'd encountered a lot
of things over the course of his life.

~~
I narrate\narrated\narrator.

Monkeys, such as humans, do not particulary worry us, any angel.

It is the mutants thereof which instill fear in us.

Consider.  Angels have no industries, no technologies, no domestic
plants or animals, not even our own style of tying knots.  All we
have is a form of writing.  Even our trenchcoats and clothes are
simply a fascimile, an illusion designed to decieve and trick monkeys.

Our hardiness and our long lifespans are our only advantage over the
monkeys.  Even those and our reflexes, are being challenged by
mutated monkeys.

And so, if they arrive to challenge us, be assured that we will fight
with every trick our experiences have taught us.

~~
AIRPORT  IN  MAINE:

This was one of the northernmost of the 'lower 48' states.

Joseph, Joe, and Kronos got off the airplane and headed for the
airport's indoor restaurant.  Once there, they encountered two other
Immortals.  "That them?" Dawson asked, seeing the look in Kronos'
eyes -- the same look as Methos, MacLeod, and every other Immortal
got  when other Immortals were nearby.

"Yes," Kronos said, and led them to the Immortals.

The two Immortals were already seated, though they stood up to greet
Kronos and the others.  One was a man, the other was a woman.  One
was of Middle Eastern descent, the other hailed from Native Americans.

In fact, she had entered existance as a tool of the angels, a
spokeswoman and a sign, a 'go this way, Daniyel' person.  But she had
grown up in the few years since then, grown and turned Immortal.

Her name was Mary.

"Nice to meet you," Joe Dawson said, shaking her hand and introducing
himself.

Joe did likewise.  "I think I heard a bit about you, once."

"Yeah, same here," Mary agreed.

"Name's Hammurabi," said the other Immortal.  Mary's teacher.

"'Hammurabi'?" Joseph asked.

"No relation," he was assured.

~~
1999 AD:

People walked right by him.  They saw him, and thought nothing of a
man who was perched on a 5-foot-high wall that served as a fence.
Not a single person even suspected that this was Ilbis, the angel who
had refused to bow to humanity.

Ilbis was trying to figure out one of the monkeys' inventions.
Flattish and almost the size of a monkey's own hand, the thing could
fold and unfold.  Ilbis tapped one finger against the barely-raised
buttons which had single notes of script on each of them.

Though he couldn't get it to work, Ilbis didn't throw the cell phone
down in disgust.

~~
TIME  INDETERMINATE:

Jophael passed the largest concentration of God.  The Almighty was
indeed everywhere, but, over the multitude of aeons that the Creator
had existed, even gravity was winning: wisps of God were accreting
together into regional concentrations.

Jophael was relieved that God was still sleeping soundly, without
even a space-time ripple of bad dreams.  The last one of those had
doomed the dinosaurs.

Capable of flying into fits of rage at the slightest provocation -
real or imaginary - and when one was the Alpha & Omega both, even
imaginary could be dangerous - God spent most of eternity asleep.
Only during periods of creating intelligences  did the Almighty
awaken, and then God would spoil the newborn thinkers, misguiding
them into thinking that everything had been done and made for *their*
benefit.

Humans were merely the most recent, not the only.

Spoiling done, God would return to slumber.

All angels knew of God's condition.  But when that deity went
millenia without even murmuring encouragement to the angels, who
could hear such things, it was then that dissent grew in the ranks -
first (Satan/Lucifer), and then, more recently, Gabriel.

Jophael continued on his way, hoping that nothing disturbed the
sleeping God.

~~
"Oh, and I suppose you would know just what to do."

"Oh, yeah. Standard response to unforseen dilemmas, perfected over
many centuries."

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You know, I think I liked the other Methos better."

"You asked."

	 -- Joe, Methos, Duncan, Methos, Joe, Methos; 'The Messenger'
episode of 'Highlander'.
~~
> tbc...

X-Book 4 -- Of Politics, Tacos and Other Things that Give You
Indegestion

Chapter Eight:  Please Shut Up

By: Kath713/Leen713
Rating: PG-13 (violence, language)

Genre: Crossover (with anything I can squeeze in), SPOILERS FOR X2
Summary: See prologue to book 4

Disclaimer: I own nothing in regards to the Marvel characters or
any character from a previously published source portrayed in this
story.

Reviews: Any feedback would be great and is appreciated!

***

Chapter Eight:

"What do you mean they can't find this island?" Sid shouted angrily
into his cell phone angrily.

His sister had fallen asleep again almost immediately after she had
eaten, and since then Sid had been trying to reach his allusive
uncle Sebastian.  He had been in the landing bay of Magneto's island
for over two hours, pacing back and forth in front of the open bay
doors.  Around him were several small aircraft, and every now and
then one of the Brotherhood would appear to check on him.

"I'm sorry," Sebastian's voice answered, "I've been calling anyone I
know who knows about that part of the ocean, but no one seems to
have any idea where that island exactly is.  I even reached the
Council's New York City chapter.  They have radar charts of the
Atlantic Ocean from Long Island to Portugal and none of their maps
show a land mass at the general location you gave me..."

Sid sighed with frustration and scratched one hand through his
blonde hair.

"So..." he finally answered, "I guess that means I'll have to take
Magneto up on his offer for a ride back to civilization."

"Believe me, Sid, if I could think of another way to get you back
here I would," Sebastian replied, "Erik Lensherr isn't one of the
Council's favorite people and even if they could find that island I
doubt any of them would want to come face to face with him."

"Damn," Sid said with a grin, "That would've been really
entertaining, too.  Maybe if they think you, me and Becca are
hanging around with this Brotherhood, the Council won't bother us as
much."

"Sid, I'm a fucking vampire and the Council still bothers me,"
Sebastian replied, "In fact, I would say they bother me more now
then when I was a human trainee.  They didn't stop harassing us when
you and Becca turned out to definitely be mutants, either.  If
Lensherr hadn't been labeled a `terrorist,' I'm sure they'd still be
calling him, too.  The Council only ignores their mutant families if
they're a danger to them..."

As his uncle talked, Sid had been nodding his head.  He had heard
this speech before.

"And they ignore all other mutants anyway, I know," Sid added
quickly, "Alright, once Becca wakes up...and the Lady says she can
go...I'll see how quickly Magneto is willing to take us back to..."

"Willing?" Sebastian asked angrily, "Damn it...I swear when I see
him again, Erik and I are going to have a long chat about
reimbursing us for our house...willing...or not..."

"I think that'll be the only hold up," Sid said, "He said he wants
to talk with us before we go..."

Sebastian laughed and replied sarcastically, "Recruiting you both, I
hope...I could use a little peace and quiet..."

"Not in this life," Sid said darkly, "I'm not exactly a fan of his
recruiting techniques.  Getting both of his candidates shot isn't
really the greatest way to attract people to this way of life."

"Uh huh," Sebastian replied cynically, "Island life doesn't work for
you, Sid?  Why?  No women?"

Sid's face melted into a grin, "Well...actually...there are two.
One is very attractive, but very angry and has claws.  The other is
also beautiful, but she's blue and naked all the time from what I've
seen.  I think if they got to know me a little better, I might win
them over..."

Laughter from behind him caused Sid to spin around with surprise.

Rebecca was standing near one of the many small aircraft in the
hanger with her arm in a sling, grinning broadly.  The Lady
Deathstrike and Mystique stood to her left, both looking slightly
annoyed at Sid's banter.

"Bas..." Sid said, "I'll call you right back..."

Sid snapped his phone closed and smiled at the two women suavely.

"Hello, ladies," Sid said, and then glared at his sister, "And the
other.  I was just telling my uncle how welcoming you all have been
since our arrival here.  Between your skill and hospitality, I
assure you my previous statements were meant in the most respectful
sense of flattery..."

Rebecca looked toward the two women with amusement, "If he really
starts to bug you, just smack him."

"Is that effective?" the Lady asked, seemingly without amusement.

"As long as you hit him in the head," Rebecca replied, still
grinning.

Sid glared at her, but suddenly smiled, "Oh, that reminds me.
Sebastian wanted to talk to you, Bec...let me just call him back..."

Rebecca rolled her eyes and Mystique regarded both of them quietly
for a moment.

"When you are finished," she said with her strangely toned
voice, "Magneto would like speak with you..."

"Fine," Sid said with annoyance, at the same time as Rebecca
said, "Sure."

As her brother gleefully called their uncle, Rebecca turned to see
Pyro and Toad heading toward them.  Toad walked past to reach a
nearby aircraft, his pack of tools slung across his back.  Pyro
paused as he reached the three women and stared at Rebecca curiously.

"Pyro," Mystique said, turning toward the boy, "After they are
ready, bring them to Magneto."

"Okay," he replied with a touch of annoyance at her tone, which he
took as a little overdramatic...and a little condescending.
Mystique nodded at him, before turning and heading toward the
circular tunnel to Magneto's office.

The Lady walked over toward the aircraft Toad was working on, and
Pyro looked back at Rebecca.

"So..." Pyro began with a smirk, "You're really the Firestarter,
huh?"

Rebecca grinned at him but shook her head, "I'm a firestarter...I'm
not the Firestarter.  I guess my mom would be The Firestarter, but
I'm just like you..."

Pyro folded his arms, "Not like me...I can't start fires...I can
only manipulate them."

"What do'ya mean only?" Rebecca asked with a grin.

"Well," he said with a frown, "I mean I can't just make fire like
you can..."

"So what?" Rebecca said with a one-shouldered shrug, "Any idiot with
a match can start a fire.  I never really thought of that as my
gift..."

Rebecca pointed toward his closed hand, "That lighter probably works
better than the way my fires are made anyway.  It's the
manipulation...the power over fire...that's the gift."

Pyro thought a moment before replying, "You really think that's
true..."

"Well, I hope so," Rebecca said, "Or else that little speech I just
gave you...totally pointless.  Of course, many would argue that
everything I say is pointless, Sid over there being the first...and
my darling uncle who he's tryin' to call would be second...so I
guess it's really up to you to decide what you think is pointless or
not..."

"Becca!" Sid yelped at her, and then grinned, "I think I have a
signal..."

Rebecca glanced back at Pyro and rolled her eyes before heading
toward her brother.  Pyro grinned and followed.

Sid was standing over near the aircraft where the Lady had gone, and
was speaking quickly into the phone.

"Yes...she's alive..." he said, "Yes...she's awake.  Yes...she looks
like she's going to be fine.  No...I don't think so.  No...she looks
fine, really.  For God's sake, Bas, I've been shot like ten times
and you didn't fret this much.  Ok...no, ok...yeah, I know it's
different but...yeah, ok...hold on..."

Sid took the phone away from his face and sighed.

"You know," he said to Rebecca, "He has normal Bas...and whiny bitch
Bas...nothing in between..."

"Until he's on the phone with me...then it's choice number
three...raging lunatic Bas..." Rebecca replied, "Just tell him I'm
ok and let's go..."

"He wants to talk to you first..." Sid said.

Rebecca's eyes widened and she shook her head, "No."

Sid held the phone out to her, "Yes."

"No," she repeated, holding out her good arm.

"Yes," Sid repeated frowning angrily.

"No."

"Yes."

"NO."

"YES!"

The Brotherhood members kept shifting their eyes back and forth
between the twins.  The motion was rhythmic, three mutants in
perfect time.  Pyro finally glanced over at Toad and grinned

"This is like watching tennis," Pyro said, as the siblings'
monosyllabic debate raged.

After a long stream of yeses and nos, Rebecca finally grabbed the
phone.

"Alright, FINE!" she yelled at her brother.  She took a deep breath
to regain her composure and put the phone to her ear.

"Hi, Bas," Rebecca said with exaggerated sweetness.

Immediately, she jerked the phone away from her head as Sebastian's
angry voice raged over the small speaker.  His words were loud and
audible to all in the room.

"Of all the irresponsible things you have ever done, Rebecca Malloy,
this time you manage to destroy the house!  I can't leave you guys
along for a single night without something of mine getting blown
up..."

Rebecca did not looked surprised by his sudden ferocity, even after
he had seemed to be so concerned when speaking with Sid.

"Do you hear this?" she asked everyone, "Do you hear this shit?  You
know what..."

Rebecca suddenly raised her good arm, the one holding the phone, and
began to slam it repeatedly into the hull of the small jet.

"I...am...so...tired...of...his...bull...shit!" she shouted angrily,
each word accompanied by a clanging blow.

"Hey!" both Sid and Toad shouted as she began her percussion of rage
with the two machines.  Pyro was laughing and the Lady was watching
the entire scene with surprise.  Rebecca stepped back away from the
aircraft and Toad glared at her, running his hand down the ship's
hull to check for dents.

"Becca!" Sid shouted, tearing the phone from her hand, "Are you
nuts?"

"Yes," the Lady began, "Your shoulder might..."

"Forget her shoulder!" Sid interrupted, "This is a brand new phone!"

"Sid!" Sebastian's angry voice suddenly said over the bruised
phone, "Put your sister back on!"

"I don't think so," Sid and Rebecca said at once.

Sebastian's voice sounded again, "Fine.  Fine!  We'll just talk
about this after you get back..."

"Good," Sid said, "She can beat you instead of my phone..."

Tell her not to jerk her arm around so much or..." Sebastian began
and Rebecca threw her uninjured arm into the air.

"Now he mentions my slight bullet wound?" she shouted toward
Sid, "You tell him he can go kiss his own shining white immortal
butt!"

"Tell her I heard that!" Sebastian said over the phone, as Sid held
out one hand to protect his new wireless communications toy from his
angry sister.

"Yeah, ok, bye, Bas, we love you, too," Sid said quickly and then
his `end' on the key pad.

Everyone was still for a moment, until Sid and Rebecca took a deep
breath at the same time and suddenly relaxed.  Sid straightened the
disheveled remains of his coat.

"Well," he said with a strange smile, "I can't wait to get home."

***
Archived at www.fanfiction.net/~leen713

X-Book 4 -- Of Politics, Tacos and Other Things that Give You
Indegestion

Chapter Nine:  King of Hearts?

By: Kath713/Leen713
Rating: PG-13 (violence, language)

Genre: Crossover (with anything I can squeeze in), SPOILERS FOR X2
Summary: See prologue to book 4

Disclaimer: I own nothing in regards to the Marvel characters or
any character from a previously published source portrayed in this
story.

Reviews: Any feedback would be great and is appreciated!

***

Chapter Nine:

As the last light faded from the evening sky, Remy sat on the stone
railing encircling one of the second floor balconies smoking a
cigarette.  He was holding his thinning deck of cards, but was not
shuffling.  Instead, he was tossing them, one at a time, out into
the yard.  He supposed when he ran out, he would go down and gather
them up again, if only so he could come back to this same balcony
and repeat the action again.

Remy never knew it was humanly possible to be this bored.

Well, I am a mutant, he thought, I'm "super human" now, no?  We can
achieve greater levels of boredom than normal people...

He looked at his next card curiously, and wondered how many
explosions he could cause before the angry weather goddess came up
to scold him.

Suddenly, from somewhere below, Remy heard the unmistakable sound of
female mischief...giggling.  He frowned and ducked down into the
shadows as the three figures appeared on the grassy lawn.

"Oh, come on," a voice pleaded, "Just a few details?"

"Yeah," a second voice agreed, "You owe us that much..."

When the third voice laughed, Remy recognized it immediately.

"Owe you?" Rogue said, "What do you mean `owe you'?"

Remy leaned over the edge of the balcony slightly to get a look at
the three girls.  Rogue was standing and grinning at her two friends
with amusement.  Remy could see that one of the other girls was
wearing a long yellow coat, which he immediately recognized as
belonging to Jubilee.  He guessed the other girl must be Kitty Pryde.

"Oh, please," Jubilee replied with annoyance, "We have to listen to
every little detail about you and Bobby..."

"Only after interrogations like this," Rogue said with another laugh.

"And," Kitty said, continuing Jubilee's point, "You won't give us a
single hint about new Mr. Mysterious."

"I think the mystery is..." Rogue said, "That there's really nothing
mysterious about him."

Still listening secretly above them, Remy frowned.  Mr. Mysterious?
Now, who could les trois femmes be discussing?

"Oh, really?" Kitty said, doubtfully, "And how many conversations
have you actually had with him, huh?"

Rogue grinned and shook her head, "Not many, I admit, but...it's not
like there's that much to him..."

"Oh, no?" Jubilee asked with a smirk, "I think I've gotta disagree
with you.  There seems like there might be a lot..."

"Shh..." both Kitty and Rogue said to their friend with a laugh.

"For God's sake, Jubes, there're kids around here..." Kitty
said, "But, seriously, Rogue, you really don't think he's the least
bit interesting?"

Rogue shrugged, "I don't know.  It's not like he's got some unknown
forgotten past like Logan..."

Both of her friends rolled their eyes.

"We're not talkin' about Logan tonight, girl," Jubilee said.

"Totally," Kitty agreed, "Or that's all we'll be talking about..."

"All right," Rogue said, "Fine...what do you want to know?  I'm on
my way to watch a movie with Bobby, so all of my answers are gonna
be short answers..."

Remy, listening with the skill of a thief, leaned further out over
the railing.

Jubilee gave Rogue a measuring look, and decided to start with an
easy question.  An effective interrogation took patience.

"How has he been doing in the Danger Room?" she asked and folded her
arms.

Rogue was standing directly under one wall-mounted light as her
friends lingered in the shadows.  Remy grinned with amusement as
they began to play good cop/bad cop.

"Fine...better than he was..." Rogue answered honestly, "That's why
the Professor let him go with us to..."

"We'll come to that in a second," Kitty said with a wave of her
hand, "Now, how has he been looking in the Danger Room?"

Rogue laughed, "Fine...black uniformed, like all of us."

"Uh huh," Jubilee said, "And in the few times you've spoken with
him...what did you talk about?"

Rogue thought a moment.

"Chemistry," she said with a shrug.

"Oh, Rogue, how boring," Kitty said and then added in `bad cop'
fashion, "What kind of chemistry?"

"For Dr. McCoy's class..." Rogue said.

Kitty nodded, "So the boring kind...I knew it."

Jubilee also nodded, and then continued, "And on your most recent
adventure, what was it like to be saved by him?"

"I wasn't saved by him..." Rogue said, "He just..."

"But he did carry you to safety?" Kitty asked with a strange
sweeping gesture.

"I guess," Rogue said with a shrug, "I was pretty much out cold
when..."

"But you do admit he played a crucial role in the rescuing, right?"
Jubilee asked.

"Sure..." Rogue surrendered, "Whatever you say..."

"And...you do admit he is hot, right?" Kitty asked, and Rogue
laughed again.

Remy was now leaning dangerously far over the edge of the balcony,
supporting himself with one hand on the roof and the other hugging
the railing.

"Kitty...," Rogue said but her friend pointed a comical finger at
her.

"Admit it!" Kitty demanded, looking quite serious.

"We won't take `no' for an answer..." Jubilee added with a wicked
grin.

Rogue shook her head.  Remy could see her white streaks moving over
her darker hair.

"Well, I guess..." Rogue began, "In a way...he is...kind
of...cute..."

"Ha!" Kitty and Jubilee announced at once.

Their sudden shout made Remy start with surprise...and, of course,
he lost his grip on the roof.  He began to topple over the railing
and held onto one stone pillar desperately.  He could only watch in
horror as his remaining cards began to shower down toward the ground.

Kitty blinked with surprise as a playing card landed on her head.
She plucked it off and stared down at the King of Hearts with
confusion.

"What the f..." she began, but was cut off as Jubilee yanked her to
the side.  A pair of booted legs swung down from above them.

Remy was clinging to the upper balcony and heard Kitty's surprised
yelp.

Merde... he thought, This is perfect...perfect end to a perfect
life...

"Um...Remy?" Rogue asked, taking a few steps toward the dangling
Cajun.

"I'm fine," he called to them, "Everything's under control...I just
dropped some of my..."

With a few foreign profanities, Remy lost his grip and fell to the
ground.  Rogue jumped backward as he hit the grassy
area...hard...with his head.

The girls watched with dumb shock for a moment, until the Cajun
struggled comically to his feet.

"I'm fine..." he repeated, "I'm fine...sorry to frighting...um, I
mean, pardon my variable rudeness..."

The three girls could only stare at Remy as he stammered.  He looked
shaky on his feet, and he pointed to the scattered cards around him.

"I just...lost my cards," he said and fell to the ground again.  He
was still conscious, but looked a little dazed.

When Remy stared up at them, he blinked slowly several times.  His
vision was tripled and swimmy from the fall.

"I didn't know Jamie had sisters," he mumbled through his daze, "I'm
suddenly surrounded by three pairs of beautiful triplets..."

Kitty and Jubilee laughed.  They walked over and helped Remy to his
feet.  Rogue sighed and shook her head.

My hero, she thought with a smile.

***
Archived at www.fanfiction.net/~leen713

Beyond Words-Part 4
Author: Sparkling-Diva
Feedback: Yes, Please and thank you!!!! You can do so at
rogue200348@...
Dedication: Thank you's to everyone I know and the people at the
message boards and my reviewers at FanFiction.net. I promised I'd
write more.
Archive: If you are interested please ask me first just so I know. I
don't consider it a problem if I say it is OK. I am a member to
FanFiction.net and a bunch of other boards.
Disclaimer: They are not mine!! WAAHHH!!!
Rating: PG-13. Due to some romancy stuff.
Summary: If you have read the first part you'd know. It is just a
cute little L/M fic about them in luv with each other and them
telling their P.O.V. of the whole situation.
Warnings: More romancy (my little made up word) stuff in the next
parts to come. I promise!! I'm slowly working my way there so please
be patient.
Author's Note: Sorry that I made this one really short but the next
chapter will be longer. I just thought that it would be a good thing
that Logan would have an opinion before Marie did but anyways here
is Part 4.

Logan's P.O.V.
Did I say or do the right thing?
Should I have really invited her to my room?
I didn't mean to sound forceful or anything and she didn't seem to
not mind.
God, I'm so nervous.
Here I am with the girl I'm in love with, about to confess my
feelings, and me the-oh-so-fierce Wolverine is so nervous and
shaking like some little kid who is nervous to pull a rabbit out of
a hat at some dumb school's dumb talent show.
God, am I doing the right thing?
She's too young but I can't live without telling her how I feel.
It's driving me insane.
I'll do it.
I don't care if I have to stay up all night explaining to her how
much I love her but I will.
Enough is enough.
There's no going back now.

Title - Black&Blue
Author - Lilly Christensen
Rating - i mostly rate my stuff R, i dont know why i just do. there may be some
sex, and foul wording... so i guess that counts for something.
Character(s) -  ( main is bobby) i tend to use all or most of the ppl in xmen,
so if you run across some one you dont know, just send me an email, and i will
tell you about them the best i can.
Warnings - i have no warnings for you, exsepted, that i am a young writer so i
have a hard time spelling.
Disclaimers - i do not own anything in here, i just wrote it and sent it around.
i do not have the rite to make money of it, and i really dont want to.
Feedback - yes please. i give and love to get.
Archive - ask and see (i dont really know what it is thought)


                                         Prayers and dreams


***************************************************************

Things started off really well for me. I was young, quick, smart. I had it all
wrapped, untill... untill it kicked in. I was 15 and my powers kicked in. It was
a real wake up call. I mean I knew I was differnt, i could wear long sleeves and
jeans in the middle of July. It was weird, I just never got hot. But once I was
15, i was the freak. It seemed like everyone knew about it. Like I was the last
to know. My grades slipped fast, and I didnt care about my friends. My parents
freaked. I had always been a good kid. You know the one who never talked back,
who's grades were near perfect, who had all the friends, but was never out past
curfue. I was lame, but no one knew..... more like no one cared. But once they
kicked in, I was out late, I didnt work hard in school, I had no friends, and
worst of all, I didnt care.
  You see my mom, is weird. I could have told her the earth was falling deep into
a black hole, and she wouldnt care, untill i drank my milk. I know she loved me,
I just wish... well now evertime i have a problem, I drink milk. I guess that is
ok, I mean it aint like i drink or smoke or anything, I just have milk. Well
atleast it is good for me. Then there is my dad. he, well he never thought I was
good enought. I know he loves me, I just, I get in his way, thats all. I never
could do anything right either. Like I could make straight A's and he would say
something like
  "Never met a Drake that didnt."
Then there was my brother, Ronnie. He just hates mutants, he has posters in his
room, one is "know the sighs" and it has all this stuff like likes soccer, might
be a mutant. or shaves with toes, or understands kids, you know gay lame stuff
like that. He just doesnt understand, so he is scared, so he hates us.




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see first for stuff.



                                                         untold power
*************************************************************************
You see I love my family,  it aint that. It is just that they dont understand. I
want them to, but they just cant. But then I found out about Professor Xavier's
School for Gifted Youngsters, and well, that was me. It was nice, a huge
building... but how was I going to get there? My mom and dad would never send
me... unless... they thought it was a prep school. So that is what i told them.
They talked to professor, and i was off. It was great. I fit right in there. I
loved it, it was like a whole new life for me. I wasnt a freak, and i started to
pick up in school again. But then again... you would too with teachers as pretty
as Ms. Gray, or Dr. Gray. She had redish brown hair that hung at her shoulders,
and deep brown eyes. Then there was Ms. Munroe with her long white hair and
black eyes. Or teachers as cool as Mr. McCoy. then Logan was cool too. he was
our martial arts and training teacher. He was tough you know. But deep down I
think he is an ok guy, he just needs some one to lean
  on for the time, and he has her. The most beuatiful girl i have ever seen.
Rogue, Marie. she has brownish hair, with two white pieces that frame her face.
she wairs gloves and long sleeves and pants all the time, so she doesnt kill
anyone. But those two are close. i mean i know i like her, but i will never be
like logan is to her. she loves him, and i have to take back seet to him. but it
is ok, cuz he has metal bones and a healing factor, so he would win in a fight.
But any ways, everything was fine, untill i had to face them again.
You see they still didnt know, and i just knew they would find out soon
enough.... i was bringing Logan, rogue, and john home with me.





---------------------------------
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Yahoo! Photos: High-quality 4x6 digital prints for 25¢

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Title - Black&Blue
Author - Lilly Christensen
Rating - i mostly rate my stuff R, i dont know why i just do. there may be some
sex, and foul wording... so i guess that counts for something.
Character(s) -  ( main is bobby) i tend to use all or most of the ppl in xmen,
so if you run across some one you dont know, just send me an email, and i will
tell you about them the best i can.
Warnings - i have no warnings for you, exsepted, that i am a young writer so i
have a hard time spelling.
Disclaimers - i do not own anything in here, i just wrote it and sent it around.
i do not have the rite to make money of it, and i really dont want to.
Feedback - yes please. i give and love to get.
Archive - ask and see (i dont really know what it is thought)


                                         Prayers and dreams


***************************************************************

Things started off really well for me. I was young, quick, smart. I had it all
wrapped, untill... untill it kicked in. I was 15 and my powers kicked in. It was
a real wake up call. I mean I knew I was differnt, i could wear long sleeves and
jeans in the middle of July. It was weird, I just never got hot. But once I was
15, i was the freak. It seemed like everyone knew about it. Like I was the last
to know. My grades slipped fast, and I didnt care about my friends. My parents
freaked. I had always been a good kid. You know the one who never talked back,
who's grades were near perfect, who had all the friends, but was never out past
curfue. I was lame, but no one knew..... more like no one cared. But once they
kicked in, I was out late, I didnt work hard in school, I had no friends, and
worst of all, I didnt care.
  You see my mom, is weird. I could have told her the earth was falling deep into
a black hole, and she wouldnt care, untill i drank my milk. I know she loved me,
I just wish... well now evertime i have a problem, I drink milk.
then there is my dad. i know he loves me, but i just... i'm never good enough
for him. i mean i could make straight A's and he would say some thing like
  "never met a Drake that hasnt"
But i know he loves me.
Then there is my brother, and he just hates mutants all around. like he has
these posters in his room that say stuff like "know your sighs, likes soccer
might be a mutant understands kids might be a mutant or shaves with toes might
be a mutant." i mean he is just so scared of us. but it is ok i guess. they love
me.....





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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

see first for stuff.



                    never lie to your family, it hurts in the end
*************************************************************************

In the car things were wierd, we had got away from the people who come to the
school, i guess they ment us harm or something, i dont know i just ran.  But in
the car on our way to my house, it was quiet. no one talked so John, who hated
things to be quiet turned on the music, but it was N'sync and we all felt sick,
so we just turned it off again. When we got to my house, no one was there, and i
didnt mind, we all were still in our Pj's. so i gave john some of my clothes and
we changed. then it came to Rogue, i gave her some off my mom's old clothes and
my grandma's old gloves. she loved it, it made her so happy. i dont know if she
knows this, but even though i turned away, i watched her over my shoulder. as
she sliped into the clothes. her bare ivory skin was so sexy. Once she was done
she placed her hand on my shoulder and i turned to face her. then it happend.
she kissed me. at first it was soft and sweet, no harm. then she wanted more,
she moved in to me passionatly. i felt my
  very life being pulled from me. down the stairs logan was in the fridge,
looking for beer or something, when the come home. they fliped out at first, but
then it was ok... sorta, then i droped the bom on them. i told then all about
it. ofcorse my brother, who once looked up to me, hated me.  my mom thought it
was her falt, and wanted to know if i had tried you know... to not be a mutant
and i just thought, what next you going to ask if i tried to not be human? i
mean i thought they would love me, exspept me, but i was wrong. My brother went
up the stairs and called the cops and they were here in a flash.  I mean they
were here and out side, and then Logan was shot in the head. and joh flipped out
and was burnning cars and trees and everything he could to scare them off.
thanks to Rogue he stoped. when all the smoke settled, and jean and storm was
there, we left, and all i could do was watch my hole life drift away. it hurt
yeah i was abit pissed, but then who wouldnt be. i
  remembered the looks of hate tword us from my family. and it made my heart burn
with anger. from that moment on, i was to hate them till one of us died.




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Beyond Words- Part 5
Author: Sparkling-Diva
Feedback: Yes, Please and thank you!!!! You can do so at
rogue200348@...
Dedication: Thank you's to everyone I know and the people at the
message boards and my reviewers at FanFiction.net. I promised I'd
write more.
Archive: If you are interested please ask me first just so I know. I
don't consider it a problem if I say it is OK. I am a member to
FanFiction.net and a bunch of other boards.
Disclaimer: They are not mine!! WAAHHH!!!
Rating: PG-13. Due to some romancy stuff.
Summary: If you have read the first part you'd know. It is just a
cute little L/M fic about them in luv with each other and them
telling their P.O.V. of the whole situation.
Warnings: More romancy (my little made up word) stuff in the next
parts to come. I promise!! I'm slowly working my way there so please
be patient.
Author's Note: I told you that I would be back and here I am. Tis
time for Part 5!
Rogue's P.O.V.
He led me into his room and closed the door behind him. I hadn't
been there for so long so I took some time to look around to
remember the place. It was just comfortable to be there. It was a
place where I felt like I belonged.
He stayed standing there and remained silent just staring at me
until he said, "Sit down darlin'."
I don't know why but I swear that I sensed some nervousness in his
voice and I got a sudden chill that ran through my body. I knew that
something was up.
I sat down on the bed and made myself comfortable by sitting cross
legged.
Logan smiled and then he sat down next to me and took my gloved hand
in his. He was now wearing gloves too.
He stroked my hair and asked me, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Why? Aren't you?"
I was thinking that he was the one that wasn't okay due to the fact
of the hurt in his voice.
"Yeah. I guess."
I saw then him look at my neck and he growled. There around it was
the ½ heart that had his name on it.
"You're wearing it."
"Yeah," I said holding it, "It means a lot to me."
"I'm glad darlin'. I'm wearing mine too," he said as he showed it to
me since it was hidden in his shirt.
We caught each other staring at into each other's eyes and then he
looked down and said, "I really need to talk to ya darlin'."
He was now looking at me again. He was calling me "darling" a little
too much now and that was making me very suspicious.
"About what?"
"Us."
Oh god.
Just then and there I had to look away.
Please god no.
He was going to reject me. He's going to go away. He's going to
confide in me and our friendship to tell have the guts to tell me
and spill everything about his feelings regarding and concerning
Jean.
Please not now.
"Marie," he said holding my hands and staring into my eyes, "I don't
know how to say all this…um, I've never been a good speaker and you
know that. I'm not good for these type of things. Um, but-"
"Logan, it's okay," I said.
"I know it's just that –um…"
"What?"
"I-," he ran a hand through his hair, "God, Marie!" he said getting
up and going to the window.
I went up to him and put a hand on his shoulder.
"You can tell me," I said softly.
He turned around and looked into my eyes. They were filled with
tears. Now I knew that this wasn't the Wolveine but the Logan and he
meant what he was planning to say with his whole heart and soul.
"If I tell you…please don't get scared."
"I won't get scared. I promise," I said hugging him, "All I can do
is feel safe when I'm around you."
After a moment, he took my arms away from around my neck and held my
hands in his. He stared at them for a while until he said, "You
haven't talked to Charles yet?"
"No. I was waiting for you."
He smiled understanding. He then took me into an embrace. He let me
go and took my hands again and said, "Alright, I'll tell you,"
before he led me to the bed again.
We sat down facing each other and stayed silent. He took my hands
and stared into my eyes.
"Marie..."
"Yes, Logan."
"I'm in love with you."
Oh god. He…what?! He doesn't hate me or despise me?! He doesn't
think of me as annoying?! He doesn't like Jean?!
Oh god.
He loves me.
"I love you, darling," he repeated.
I just stared down in disbelief. I was in shock. I was waiting for
the longest time dreaming of this moment and how to react to it. Now
the time had finally come and I couldn't say or do anything.
"You don't have to do or say anything if you don't want. I just
wanted to let you know," he said gazing at me. I could tell he was
in tears. Even when I wasn't looking, I could feel him inside my
head.
"I know that you're only 19 and all but I really truly am in love
with you," he continued, "Always have and always will. Darlin' I
know that this is very hard for you and that it will probably take
you some time for you to believe me because of all that Jean stuff
but I don't love her anyway whatsoever, I love you."
Then he kissed the top of my head and started playing with my pure
white streaks.
"Look at me, Marie. Look at me in the eyes. Tell me you feel the
same, please."
He then took his gloved hand and gently lifted my chin so that our
gazes met.
Our eyes were both full of tears now. I could see so much pain in
his. He truly meant what he was saying and he didn't want me to feel
bad.
"Oh, gosh Marie. Maybe I shouldn't have told you," he said as I
looked back down, "Maybe I should have waited until you were older,"
he said looking away letting go of my hands.
"No!" I said grabbing them back causing him to have a surprised
look, "Please. Don't say that," I said chocking on my tears, "I
really need to tell you something too."
"What Marie?"
"I-I love you too."
He just stared in shock.
"I have ever since the day we met at the bar , when you talked to me
and helped me get a place to stay, when you saved mah life , twice.
I heard you cry for me."
He was still looking at me.
"When you gave me your tags and promised that you would come back,
when you came back all the good times we had," I said caressing in
his cheek. He took my gloved hand and kissed it.
"I love you, Logan."
We were both crying now.
"Oh, Marie." he said talking me into his arms. We cried for a moment
just there.
"What are we going to do?" I asked.
"I don't know darling," he said kissing the top of my head, "I
really don't know."
"I don't want to hide it," I whispered with my head on his chest.
"Don't worry. We don't need to," he said kissing the top of my head.
"I love you, Logan."
"I love you too, darlin'."
And with that we both fell under the sleeping spell and drifted off
in each others arms.

Beyond Words- Part 6
Logan's P.O.V.
Author: Sparkling-Diva
Feedback: Yes, Please and thank you!!!! You can do so at
rogue200348@...
Dedication: Thank you's to everyone I know and the people at the
message boards and my reviewers at FanFiction.net. I promised I'd
write more.
Archive: If you are interested please ask me first just so I know. I
don't consider it a problem if I say it is OK. I am a member to
FanFiction.net and a bunch of other boards.
Disclaimer: They are not mine!! WAAHHH!!!
Rating: PG-13. Due to some romancy stuff.
Summary: If you have read the first part you'd know. It is just a
cute little L/M fic about them in luv with each other and them
telling their P.O.V. of the whole situation.
Author's Note: Was having a little writer's block but I hope that
this does okay. Enjoy!
I remember waking up the next morning to find myself in the same
clothes as before and blinking a few times so I could remember what
had happened.
I looked down to see Marie stir a little. She had fallen asleep in
my room.
Oh god.
We had fallen asleep in my bed.
What if someone walked in and found us?
It's not like we hadn't done so before. In fact we had slept
together many times when we needed to be comforted. She was scared
of her future and I was terrified about my past.
Some combination, huh, bub?
I finally saw her blink up at me.
"Good mornin' darlin'" I whispered.
"Hmm…what time is it?"
"6:30 A.M. We don't have breakfast for another half an hour. Did I
wake you up?"
"No."
"Good. Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah. How about you sugah."
"The best I've had in months."
We stayed silent for a while and I played with her hair.
"I love you," I finally said.
I wish I could kiss her but I can't because of her whole skin thing.
If I even tried to give her a peck she'd get too scared of hurting
me or whatever.
"Marie?" I asked.
"Yeah, Logan?"
"Do you find it odd that we have a little bit of an age difference?"
"No."
"Good, but some people might."
"Well that's them. I don't want anyone to get in our way."
"Do you think that we should probably wait a while and hide it…"
"Logan, before you go any further, you promised me that we wouldn't
hide it."
"I know but-"
"No, Logan. We just became a couple and I'm not ready to have our
first fight this soon."
"I know but I'm just saying don't you think that we should probably
hide it until people can probably can soak it in?"
"You don't want to be seen with me?"
"No. It's not like that or anything but do you think that we can
just tell a few people first."
"You mean Jean and the Professor?"
"Why do you keep mentioning Jean?"
"I don't always mention her."
"But-"
"Do you love her?"
"What?! No! I love you and I will always love you more than anyone.
I don't love Jean at all. No matter what you are staying and I never
will-"
"We're fighting."
"Oh, darlin'. I'm so sorry."
"I'm sorry too," she said to me as I kissed her on the forehead.
"I never was a real boyfriend before and I don't know how to react
sometimes to this kind of stuff. I didn't mean to take out on you.
Luckily it was just a little fight and it's over now, but I promise
you that I'll try my best okay?"
"Okay."
"Look, why don't we just go downstairs for breakfast. Okay?"
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"But aren't you scared of what the others will think when they see
us together?"
"Not really. As long as I have you I'll be okay."
"Love ya, sugah."
"Love you too darlin'"
And with that we pulled ourselves out of bed and walked out the door
together holding hands.
It didn't matter what the others would think. We love each other and
theirs nothing the others can say or do about it alright, bub?

rating: same as always... R... and i still dont know why.
character(s): this the hole X2 from Bobby's point of view.
warnings: this may be crude and way off... but i thought it would be cool
disclaimers: yeah yeah you know, i dont own them
feedback: please


                       mutant heartache
*************************************************************************
well in the jet, everything was ok, i mean it was calmish. no one really talked
we were all shooken up. after awhile there was this beeping sound, and we all
started to buckle up. Jean flipped the jet over and john and logan were abit
scared. but then it got worse, the other two jets started to fire. jean got one,
but the other... it hit us, and Rogue who was having a hard time with the
buckle, went flying out. If it wasnt for that new guy... kurt or something, she
would have died. then thanks to Magneto, we all lived.  I dont remeber quite
what happened after that, i just know we we're trying to save some kids, but we
were told to say on the jet, Rogue John and Myself. And we did for some time,
till John couldnt take it anymore. I tryied to stop him, but he just got mad at
me... so i let him go. Rogue and I waited and wait and then they were back, but
john was no were to be found. i got a bit scared. Jean told us he was with
Magneto... which, i guess is were he felt he belonged,
  after He gave him your a god among insects speech. I got so mad... i just dont
think i can ever look at him the same, never again. he turned his back on me....
that bastered. but anyways. well the dam broke, or something, and water come
rushing at us, but jean couldnt get the jet started... so she risked her life
for us. She died 10 min. after. The body wasnt found and we held a servece for
her. Scott and Logan were both lost in pain and heart ache. as was the
professer. we were all hurting, jean had helped us all in ways no one else
could. she was one of the nicest people you could have ever met...
  But latly Pro. X is acting weird, like something good is going to happen. he
wont tell us what.... but i tihnk it has to do with jean.....
  who knows. but anyways.... thanks for listening to me ramble on like this
Warren. your a real pal. hope you dont mind that i missed some parts... ask
logan or some one to fill you in. i hope i didnt bug ya to much... well i g2g.
                                                        Bobby Drake






---------------------------------
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi all,

Still a part of the FOH series, still a crossover to LOTR.

You need to have read the earlier parts to follow this.
You can read it at fanfiction.net
[http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=104470] or my own webpage
[http://www.100megspop3.com/scottororo/fiction/FellowshipOfHeroes.html].

Enjoy:

Part 3:

There was no time for celebrating the victory at Isengard and Helm’s Deep; the
price for their victory had been too high for any real cheer and the threat was
still there. They had won the first round but that was all.

Scott and the others had returned to the capital of Rohan three days earlier and
the city was buzzing with life. The dead were being buried, the wounded were
being tended to, defences were being prepared and couriers were riding in and
out of town, going and coming to the palace in a steady stream with any news
about the Orcs movements. Eomer was in charge of trying to find out how many
soldiers they could get their hands on while Eowyn and Ororo were in charge of
tending to the wounded. They had fought to set up a kind of command chain to get
some order back to the shattered and chaotic army they had returned with from
Helm’s Deep. Gandalf, Aragorn, Haldir and King Theoden made plans with Scott,
speaking for the X-men, about their future and thus they stayed in the palace,
studying maps and trying to find a solution with just a little chance of
success. Most of the palace had been rearranged to fit the wounded Elves, as
they required more delicate tending than mortals while most of the surrounding
houses had been set up for the mortals who had been wounded. Ororo and Eowyn ran
from room to room, from building to building, telling their nurses and helpers
what they wanted done. Despite the fact that neither of them was educated as
doctors they both had some basic training and for now that was the best they
had. Gimli was given the task of keeping track of their weapons and finding ways
to get or make more and have some of their men do so. Boromir was assigned the
task of providing for the army and the town in general which was an extremely
harsh task. There was little food left as the Orcs burned what fields they came
across and everyone was afraid to venture too far outside the capital to try and
harvest food. However Boromir was a leader who led by example and when his ever
faithful followers of Merry and Pippin wanted to go with him outside the city’s
walls to gather food the assigned soldiers under Boromir hadn’t backed out
either. Boromir had without luck tried to get Merry and Pippin to stay in the
relative safety of the palace but they had been firm and he had given in. There
was probably very little he wouldn’t give them if they asked him. Logan, Legolas
and Rogue had with a band of soldiers been assigned to patrol and intell
gathering. Legolas and Logan’s enhanced senses would be of help in this. Rogue’s
powers hadn’t faded away yet and that would be a great asset should they be
attacked. If nothing else the lighting effect when she used her powers could be
seen from the palace and could give those left in the capital a little time in
which to prepare for the incoming Orcs. However they all knew that if Rogue had
had to use her powers Legolas, Logan and herself would already be dead by the
time the city got their warning and chances were the warning could not save the
city either.

Ororo’s thoughts returned from her musings as she almost bumped into Eowyn who
was on her way downstairs from having tended to some of the wounded Elves in the
upper chambers of the palace. The golden princess looked tired and worn, her
expression was grim and blood splashed the plain dress she had changed into. A
small bloody stain was also visible on her left cheek. She gave a small
surprised sound as she bumped into Ororo and almost lost her balance on the
stairs, trying to balance the tray with crude instruments and bloody bandages
she had in her arms. Ororo instinctively steadied the other woman with a wind,
preventing her from falling.

“Thank you,” Eowyn breathed relieved and smiled her first real smile in days at
her comrade in arms. Ororo noticed the pain in her eyes and her own spirits fell
even further.

“Did…” she didn’t know how to ask, she already knew the answer but still hoped
that Eowyn would give her the answer she wanted to hear instead. This was why
she had left Eowyn to tend to the Elves until now. She didn’t want to risk
losing one of those beautiful immortal creatures to death. It seemed degrading
to have these beings die like this; in pain, filthy from death, blood, dirt and
battle. It wasn’t right. It made her heart ache and she kept imagining that it
could be Legolas, making her have to fight an urge to run to him and tell him
how much she loved him…that he couldn’t die and leave her like that after she
had ripped her own heart apart to save his life. But she couldn’t do that. Her
love would kill him; not save him. Oh, how bitter love in truth could be. All
her life she had wished for true love and now when she had found it…it was
deadly.

“Yes, I lost another,” Eowyn sighed frustrated and balanced the tray in one hand
so she could grab Ororo’s arm with the other. “I haven’t asked before because
I’ve respected your reasons to stay away but Ororo, please tend to the Elves for
me for a few days. I’ll take the mortals now but I swear I can feel a part of my
soul dying each time I lose one of them. I can’t take it any more. I need a
break,” her voice and eyes plead with Ororo who briefly closed her eyes in
anguish.

“You do lose a part of your soul,” Ororo whispered softly. She had felt those
Elves die. Being healed by Legolas had given her that gift or maybe curse was a
better word. She couldn’t shield herself from it, couldn’t outrun it. She wasn’t
a psychic on any level like the Elves who had some mild mental abilities. She
had no shields…Each time an Elf died she felt red hot needles of pain go into
her skull and tear her apart, sometimes making her fall to the floor and gasping
for breath for the about five minutes the intense agony lasted.

“Ororo, just a few days. I’m…I feel like I’m dying. I need some distance between
them and me should more die. I need some time to heal…Heal my soul I guess it
is,” Eowyn tried to explain and the agony of it was that Ororo knew what she
meant. Even though what Eowyn felt was mild compared to what Ororo could feel as
she wasn’t linked to the Elves like she was. Then again, having so many Elves
together, in pain, some dying, would surely send out waves of pain that even
Eowyn as a normal human would pick up on. Ororo was suddenly very happy that the
other Elves, Legolas in particular, had their own mental shields so that they at
least didn’t have to feel the agony she did when an Elf died. It had been easier
for her during the battle of Helm’s Deep; the deaths had been sudden, the mental
connection so to speak had been instantly severed. It had given her a short
strong pain in her mind but nothing like this where the moment of death seemed
dragged out until it was pure torture.

“I will tend to them for the next three days,” Ororo gave in and forced a smile
for the young woman. Eowyn smiled back in gratitude.

“I’ll tell my uncle and Scott. They should still be in the large dinning hall
debating battle plans,” Eowyn said, frowning at the mere thought of more battle
after all the wounded and dying she had seen which was a result of that. At
Ororo’s nod Eowyn went downstairs while Ororo forced herself to continue up.
What hurt her the most was that many of the mortals and elves died of wounds
which could have been so easily healed had they been in her own time and place
and not in Middle Earth where the smallest cut could kill you if it got
infected.

Ororo pushed away her own feelings of dismay, sadness and pain as she stood at
the top of the stairs. If Elves were telepaths, even on a very low level then
any negative energy could harm their healing. She knew that there was no
handicapped Elves; they would either make a complete recovery or they would die.
She thought for a while, searching for a way to aid them.
Elves…Rivendell…flowers, light, beauty, fresh air, love…Elves were immortal yet
they could still die…An idea struck her. They had been trying to heal the Elves
as if they were mortals instead of the eternal creatures they were. Haldir and
Aragorn had tried to explain, had tried to tell them of the Elven soul and
spirit and both Ororo and Eowyn had thought they had understood and thus the two
men had returned to their battle battles. Ororo found that they hadn’t done
anything wrong but that there were things they could do to add to the Elves
chances of recovery. She opened up the windows to the fresh air outside, brought
flowers and put them all over the rooms with the injured Elves, she ordered
anything dirty or blooded which was in proximity to the Elves washed and
cleaned, including the Elves themselves. She went in search for the most
beautiful, softest and delicate materials to make robes for the Elves and she
got the most beautiful and peaceful paintings from the palace hung up on the
walls in the rooms of the injured Elves. Not sure if it would help she finally
got a young boy to play some Elfish songs for the injured, going from room to
room. Yes, now the Elves had something beautiful, something peaceful to anchor
their souls to as they fought through their healing back towards life.

Satisfied that she had done all she could Ororo began to check up on her
immortal patients, redressing wounds and making sure everyone was eating and
drinking. The latter was the hardest on those who had lost a loved one in the
battle. Their grief wanted to pull them towards the edges of life and then push
them over so they could join the one they missed in death. Well, that was not
going to happen on Ororo’s watch! Right now she went to sit with a beautiful
young male Elf who had lost his twin brother in the battle at Helm’s Deep.
Physically he was out of danger, he had only gotten an arrow through his leg,
easily repaired, even on an Elf. However he didn’t want to heal nor did he want
to eat or drink. Without the will to heal his wound got worse and if she
couldn’t bring him out soon she would lose him to his grief.

“You really should try to eat,” Ororo said gently for the nth time to the young
Elf who lay and watched the ceiling with an intensely pained look. He hadn’t
moved at all even as she sat beside him even though she knew he must have heard
her approach him from miles away. She fiddled with the bowl of fruits and the
goblet of water she had gotten for all the Elves. It had been hard getting so
many different fruits for the Elves but the immortal beings did not eat meat as
they in general were beings of peace who would never attack unless it was
literally to protect their own lives. They did not believe in taking lives, not
even the life of any animal and Ororo felt humanity had a great lesson to learn
about what the very essence of humanity should be all about by watching the
peaceful and tolerant Elves.

“I have no desire for anything,” the Elf replied, even now, at the brink of his
own destruction the Elf kept about him his dignity and minded his manners,
answering her in a soft and kind enough voice though it was laced with grief.

“You and yours have been given the best of what little fruit we have. Boromir
has had to work hard to get this for you,” Ororo changed tactics to guilt,
hoping it also worked on Elves.

“Send my thanks to Lord Boromir and then give the fruit to someone who has more
need for it,” the Elf’s voice was still polite but his eyes never left some
imagined spot in the ceiling. Ororo drew a deep breath. Elves might be eternal
and beautiful but damn they could be annoying as all hell as well! She had
barely slept in three days and in that time had seen little else than blood and
death. She was exhausted beyond words, sad and her entire soul was still in
shreds over the loss of Legolas and the pain of having felt some of the Elves
die during those three days hadn’t added to her well being at all. She had
forced herself to eat and drink but hadn’t managed much. Yesterday she had had
morning sickness practically all day and this whole situation was driving her
insane.

“I’ve tried being kind and sympathetic and that haven’t worked so let’s try
something else,” Ororo’s voice and manners changed into command mode, explaining
why she had been chosen as Scott’s second in command of the X-men. “We’re
outnumbered, outgunned and the whole fate of this world and probably the entire
cosmos with Phoenix on the loose, hangs in the balance. If you truly want to die
then be my guest, you alone should control the fate of your own body, but I ask
that you do so after whatever battle Scott, the kings and your own commander
agrees to. Is that clear?”

Surprise and shock at her direct and harsh tone made the young Elf turn and look
at her. With a stern look Ororo pressed an apple into the Elf’s hand before she
with great care eased him up so he sat up in bed with a pillow behind his back.
The Elf hesitated for a minute more but Ororo gestured irritated to him and he
took a bite, casting her the closest to a dirty look Ororo had ever seen an Elf
using. Ororo smiled in triumph as she sat back down on the chair beside his bed.

“You are a most fascinating woman, Your Highness,” the young Elf said softly,
his voice holding awe and a sudden understanding as if he had just solved the
puzzle of the universe.

“I’m not royalty,” Ororo corrected him gently. The Elf raised an eyebrow at her.

“The child you carry is not the child of Prince Legolas?”

Ororo looked shocked and instinctively put a hand on her stomach which was
beginning to become a little round but nothing noticeable yet, especially not
with the loose shirt she wore. Puzzlement coloured her voice as she asked, “How
did you know?”
”I am an Elf of the Golden Wood. The spirit of life and growth runs strongly
through us,” the young Elven warrior explained. Ororo got the general idea of
what he said but the whole set of rules on which this world operated, namely
that of magic, was beyond her comprehension to grasp.

“The Golden Wood? Where Galadriel is Queen?” Ororo asked, recalling the
beautiful and powerful magical being they had encountered there.

“Yes.” The Elf studied her for a while and then said softly, with lots of
insight, “you have not told the Prince of Mirkwood of the child you carry?”

“No,” Ororo’s eyes found his and she added, “will he know?”
“That you’re carrying his child?” Ororo nodded. “No. Elves of Mirkwood do not
have this ability as we do. He will know when a mortal man would know.”

“Good,” she said softly, releasing the breath she hadn’t known she had been
holding. She hated keeping this from Legolas, she felt like he had a right to
know but she was also sure that if he knew of the baby then he would do the
honourable thing and return to her…and thus killing himself. No, he could never
know.

“Why do you not wish the Prince to know?” The young Elf looked slightly puzzled
and curious now. “This child you’re carrying has been prophesized. It will
fulfil a great destiny,” foreseeing her question by the look in her eyes he
continued, “I don’t know much about this prophecy or the child’s destiny. All I
know are these words which were spoken to me: A child of great destiny shall be
born unto the world, forged during battle, made from the love between a Prince
and a Goddess.”

Ororo squirmed uncomfortably in her chair, her cheeks blushing hot red. This
wasn’t her. Her life wasn’t some predetermined prophecy! She didn’t even like
the thought of it. Besides she wasn’t a real Goddess…this was absurd! No way was
she having any part in any prophecy! Aragorn could keep that stuff all to
himself, thank you very much. “I don’t know what you mean. It was an accident. I
was careless. I should never had let this happen,” Ororo mumbled under her
breath. Then her mind caught up her with her and cut through her feeling of
discomfort over the Elf’s words. “Prophesied? By who?”

“By the lady Galadriel of course,” now the young Elf was obviously confused by
her lack of knowledge. “She did tell you this herself. I heard as much with my
own ears.”
Ororo looked perplexed at him. She couldn’t have been more surprised if he had
told her that the moon was just an illusion made by a very powerful
wizard…though in this time of magic who knew if that really was that
far-fetched…She killed that thought right there and blamed sleep deprivation for
even having thought it up. “I don’t think she ever told me I would become
pregnant. I would have remembered something like that,” she insisted. Known it
and avoided it, she added silently. Not that she didn’t love this child she was
carrying but it was bittersweet agony to carry the child of the man she loved
when she knew he was also the man she would have to leave and never see again
without having told him that she did love him.

“She told you that you would be the bridge between two worlds,” the Elf began to
explain.

“She meant my child. My child is that bridge between two worlds. His and my
own,” Ororo suddenly realised and the Elf nodded. Suddenly her anger flared.
“She could have been more precise and not so annoyingly mysterious!”

“I do apologise if somehow me or mine brought you offence, Your Highness, but I
do not understand your distress,” the Elf admitted and received a glance of fire
from Ororo.

“Well, we can start with me being a single parent!” she exploded. “I don’t
really see anything mystical or romantic about struggling with anything from
money to education all on my own not to mention that I never asked for a child,
least of all without a husband and in the middle of one of the bloodiest wars
I’ve ever seen which may yet kill me!” She took a deep breath, trying to calm
herself and she could see her words had visibly shaken the young Elf. “I’m
sorry…I’m…tired,” she apologised, trying for a kind smile.

“Are you saying Prince Legolas has died?” The Elf asked shocked.

“No, of course not!” Ice surrounded her heart and panic rose in her. “At least I
hope not. He’s with Logan and Rogue out patrolling the borders, looking for any
news to bring us.”
“Then why do you claim you have no husband?” The Elf’s panic had left his eyes
but he was obviously confused. “Has Prince Legolas rejected you?”
”No!” This conversation was beginning to kill her, making her heart bleed
painfully over the loss of Legolas all over again.

“Then why?”
Ororo sighed deeply and looked and sounded as tired as if she was a hundred
years old. “Why what?”
”Why would you claim you have no husband when Prince Legolas is your husband?”

Ororo almost fell out of her chair in shock. “What?”

The Elf stared surprised at her. “You did not know?”
”That I had married someone without even saying ‘I do’? No!” Ororo shook her
head and paced the floor in front of the Elf’s bed. This was insane. It couldn’t
be happening. Her most wonderful dream, to marry a man who cared for her as much
as Legolas had done and who she loved with all of her heart was turning into a
nightmare.

“I am unfamiliar with that reference,” the Elf admitted but then explained,
“between our kind to consent to having sexual intercourse is the same as
consenting to marriage.”
”So, you’re saying in the instant you’re having sex you’re also married?” Ororo
wanted to be clear on that and her head was aching almost as much as her heart.

“Sex?” The Elf looked confused.

“Sexual intercourse,” she elaborated.

“Yes.”
She sat back down in the chair she had just left and stared shaken at him,
shocked beyond words, but then tried to smile a little, trying to force her
brain to work properly once again. “Wait till I tell Logan this; sex means
marriage. He’ll probably try to get Xavier to propose it to Congress…At least
we’ll be over this mutant marriage debate where some claim all mutants are
second class citizens and thus can only get civil unions and shouldn’t be
allowed to marry…Hitler himself couldn’t have made a better sign of
discrimination than this…In fact I think he did do something like this,” she
mused out loud, a hint of bitterness in her words at this intolerant and unjust
law proposal put forth in the supposed ‘land of freedom and tolerance’ that she
called home. However a smile came to her lips as she imagined an eager Logan
talking Xavier into suggesting this. Logan knew well that the only reason he had
managed to get married to Rogue was because the law hadn’t been passed at the
time they got married. If the law got passed there would be DNA scans which
would tell if you were a mutant and if you were…no wedding for you. Next on the
list was excluding schools and other public institutions from mutants…not a
pleasant future at all that Xavier and his X-men had to fight against. Her smile
disappeared at once when she recalled that Xavier was not here and that she
might never see him again.

“Are you alright, Your Highness?” the Elf asked, puzzled by her words, having
not understood their meaning but he had caught the bitterness and pain in them.

“Yes, I’m fine,” she made a visible effect to gather her wits about her and her
thoughts and focus returned to the present situation. Okay, so she was married.
Get over it she mentally scolded herself. “Can a marriage be broken?”
”No but it can be blocked which means that neither partner needs to fulfil any
marriage obligations and they need never see each other again. However unless
they have very strong reasons, like abuse or that the marriage was done without
both partners consent, then neither person in a blocked marriage may remarry.
Naturally the marriage is dissolved in the event of one of the partners’ death
and the survivor is free to remarry if he or she has not joined his or her mate
in death.”

By the Goddess…I think I’ve just divorced or rather ‘blocked’ Legolas! Ororo
realised in horror, recalling her painful break-up with him. “Can…can an Elf
survive this ‘blocking’?” she hoped her voice was stronger than it sounded to
her own ears.
“If he or she never loved his or her partner or if the blocking was done so soon
that such feelings didn’t have time to develop then yes,” the Elf held a
carefully neutral expression, too polite to even speculate as to why she was
asking. She drew a relieved breath. Then she was still saving him! It wasn’t too
late. Legolas couldn’t have such deep feelings for her because if he had surely
he would have tried to keep her more strongly…unless he respected her decision
too much to try and change her mind. No, she couldn’t think like that. He
couldn’t possibly love her. She quickly fought down the sting of sadness this
realization brought her. He was still safe and that was all that mattered. Thank
the Goddess! If both she and Legolas survived the war she could tell Legolas
that she had never agreed to the marriage and thus it had been without her
consent. It should leave him free to remarry after she left him. It was painful
just to imagine saying those words and even worse to imagine Legolas with
someone new but it was better than having him die.
“Thank you for telling me,” Ororo said warmly and squeezed the Elf’s slender and
elegant fingers on his right hand for a moment. Then one of the women from the
village who was helping her called for her and she rose. “Please don’t tell
anyone of this conversation.”
”You have my solemn oath on that, Your Highness,” the Elf promised and Ororo
smiled warmly, relieved.

“Thank you,” she turned to go but then threw him a smile over her shoulder, “and
eat all that fruit. I’ll be back to check on you.”

The warm laughter of the young Elf followed Ororo down the hallway and gave her
a few precious moments of peace of mind before her legs gave way under her and
she slid to the floor, crying so hard she thought her eyes would dry out
forever. Her heart felt like it was being torn to pieces and she put an arm over
her abdomen to try and stop the invisible pain. Why should she hurt Legolas so
much? Why should she hurt so much herself? Oh, sweet merciful Goddess…make it
all stop! This was too much!

She fought to get herself under control. She couldn’t break down like this.
There were wounded to tend to. She was still second in command of the X-men. No
time for self-pity. Get off the floor! She ordered herself sternly and she
forced herself to obey. With an angry hand she wiped her tears away and adjusted
her clothes a little before she hurried on to the next room that the woman had
called her into, forcing a friendly smile on her face but her eyes were dead.

*                    *                    *

“Fact of the matter is still that we’re outnumbered with too few resources to
draw on. If nothing else we need to have some factors on our side like our own
choosing of time and place,” Scott said with a sigh as he leaned over to look at
the map of Middle Earth and more specifically Rohan, Gondor and Mordor that was
laid out on the large wooden table where Gandalf, Aragorn, Haldir and king
Theoden had been debating this issue with him for three days now. Things didn’t
look good. They still hadn’t gotten a precise number from Eomer on their own
soldiers but from his estimate then it wasn’t nearly enough to defeat Mordor’s
incoming Orc army. Gimli’s report was also underway but they seemed in as much
need of weapons and ammo as everything else. They also still needed reports from
Boromir on food as well as reports on supplies and on how many wounded could
keep fighting but things still looked grim. Scott turned to Haldir who after
having washed, changed and shaved looked as royal and regal as ever. It had been
bliss to finally be able to have those simple luxuries as a bath and clean
clothes after their dirty and bloody battle. Never again would Scott take the
comforts of a bathroom for granted. “Haldir, can we expect help from other
Elves?”

Haldir looked thoughtful for a moment and sought the eyes of Aragorn, his old
friend for a moment, a silent apology in his eyes, before his attention returned
to Scott and he answered, “I do not know for sure but I would not count on it.
Many Elves have already departed from these lands, many have remained. These are
uncertain times.”
“Yeah, well…What I wouldn’t give for a cell phone right about now. That would
take some of that away quickly enough,” Scott said with a wishful tone even
though the others just stared strangely at him, not understanding the reference.
Part of their problem was this long wait and total lack of intell and
information. It was getting on Scott’s nerves in the extreme after three days of
little food, sleep and intense stress. That he had had to send his own people on
different assignments hadn’t helped either. Scott had absolute trust in his
fellow X-men and their skills but after all they had been subject to he didn’t
like letting them out of his sight. Logan and Rogue were the ones in the most
dangerous situation at the moment but he had made a choice based on whose skills
would be best suited for that assignment and together with Legolas those were
obvious candidates. In all the chaos and stress he still hadn’t had time to
speak to Ororo about her and Legolas’s break-up as he had wanted to. He hadn't
had time to talk with Boromir about his torture or Rogue about how she felt
about her disappearing powers either. All were issues and emotional traumas he
knew should be resolved as soon as possible but as so often in war situations
such issues would have to wait for a while. For a moment, he indulged himself in
reliving the only highlight of the day; seeing Eowyn for all of a few seconds as
she had informed them she was changing position with Ororo and to let them know
that she had found 10 Elves fit for duty, five others were out of danger and
sadly one had just died, a piece of news Haldir had taken the hardest but
Aragorn had also seemed very saddened by it, though none of them seemed
surprised by the news as they always were attuned to the Elves around them. As
always, Scott’s warm feelings towards Eowyn left him with a mixture of warmth
and cold guilt, torn between his love for Jean, the woman he had loved since
childhood and the woman he had married, and his blooming affection for Eowyn. In
so many ways she was the opposite of Jean; younger, sweeter, calmer, more
respectful and graceful but with an edge of steel to her beauty, a trait she did
share with Jean. As always when he thought of Jean it was tinged with sadness,
like the bittersweetness one gets when remembering something beautiful which has
suddenly been destroyed, shattered into a thousand pieces. With a mental shake
of his head he pushed his emotions and inner turmoil aside. He had no time for
that now.
”I can ride to Gondor and ask them to join our army. Maybe together we can meet
the forces of Mordor,” Gandalf suggested but Aragorn looked doubtful yet
hopeful.

“Without Boromir or his brother as leader we cannot be sure of a positive
outcome,” he warned, knowing enough about Boromir’s father to know that for a
certainty.

“Gondor will not aid us,” Theoden said strongly, bitterly.

“Maybe it’s more us who aids them,” Haldir spoke up. “Mordor’s forces will most
likely attack Gondor before they attack these lands.”
“I say we bring Gondor in on our plan then so we can arrange a date and a place
where we strike together,” Scott said and the others nodded.

“Should you bring Boromir? Maybe he can soften his father,” Haldir suggested,
from the little he knew of Boromir’s father he knew he would be a hard man to
talk to.

“I do not think it is a good idea to take Lord Boromir too close to the borders
of Mordor,” Gandalf said thoughtfully.

“He won’t betray us,” Aragorn said, a hint of protectiveness in his voice.

“Not willingly, I agree but he is bound to the Ring which is pure evil. His life
force could alert the forces of Mordor of his presence,” Gandalf warned.

“Like a homing device,” Scott explained but was only met with blank looks.
“Never mind.”
“Bring Pippin with you and have him speak to Boromir’s brother. That should be
more than enough motivation for him to aid you and persuade his father to agree
to our plan,” Aragorn suggested even though he hated having to force Boromir to
part from one of his Little Ones but it couldn’t be helped.

“Very well,” Gandalf nodded in agreement. “I shall…” Whatever he was about to
say was cut short as Logan, Rogue and Legolas entered the large hall, all
wearing grim faces. With concern Scott noticed that Legolas looked very pale,
almost like porcelain. There was something wrong with him, Scott was sure of it.
By the worried look Aragorn cast his friend Scott knew he was right. The thin
Elf looked weak enough to fall from a breeze but still walked with grace and
strength towards them. As soon as he reached them Aragorn left his chair and
helped Legolas sit down into one, ignoring the Elf’s half-hearted protests.
Scott was relieved to see them all alright but the dark gleam in Logan’s eyes
worried him.

“What’s wrong?” he asked as soon as Logan and Rogue reached him. All eyes turned
to the couple and Rogue held Logan’s hand inside her own gloved one, a similar
dark look on her own face.

“We were heading towards Gondor’s borders when news reached us from there,”
Logan started but then hesitated for a few seconds. Scott got a bad feeling from
the sympathetic look in Logan’s eyes.
“Just tell me,” he asked of him, his voice somewhere between a command and a
plea.

“Scott,” Rogue reached out and put a comforting gloved hand on his right arm.
“The villages told us some of the border villages has been destroyed, hundreds
of people massacred.”

“Orcs?” King Theoden asked with a hint of dread in his voice. They couldn’t take
another attack already.

“No, Phoenix,” Logan said, his voice grim. All colour left Scott’s face. He
should have expected this…he should have…He felt a wave of pain and nausea hit
him like someone had punched him.

“Jean,” the word was a soft plea as his feet suddenly seemed too weak to hold
him up…Hundreds of people dead, slain by his love’s own hand…Oh, God!

“Easy,” Logan’s voice was calm as he easily caught the younger man before he
fell and helped him into a chair with Rogue’s help.

“Deep breaths,” Rogue advised and drew calming circles on his back with her
gloved hand.

“Scott, one of these days we’re gonna have to face her,” Logan said, his voice
firm. “You have got to let go. She is not Jean. She’s Phoenix now. The woman you
loved is dead.”

“No!” Scott shook his head in denial.

“God damn it!” Logan swore and with a hard hand under Scott’s chin he forced him
to look up and into his own eyes, which reflected anger and shared pain. “If you
don’t let her go Phoenix will kill you. She’ll use Jean against you, you know
she will.”
Scott didn’t know what to say because Logan was right. He tore himself free from
Logan’s grip and Logan let him, knowing that he could have held him firm with
his added strength his metal skeleton gave him if he had wanted to.

“You wouldn’t be that quick to call her dead if she was your own wife,” Scott
protested.

“He may have to face that decision,” Rogue said softly and all eyes turned to
her. She met their glance evenly. “I know as well as any of you that this power
I have been given is calling to me. I like it. I like being able to help as much
as I have been able to do after I got this gift. Those things makes me
dangerous.”

“No, sweetheart,” Logan protested and tried to take her into his embrace but she
evaded him.

“Yes and you know it. I will try and fight it but if I fail I want to know that
Logan will kill me before I kill innocents,” her words were for all of them,
especially Scott but her request was made to Logan and her eyes and voice were
filled with certainty and love as they met and held Logan’s.

“Darlin’, don’t ask this of me,” his words were a soft whisper but the anguish
in them was clear. She forced a smile and went into his embrace and laid her
head on his shoulder and he held her tight. After a little while she drew back
and tears glistened on her cheeks.

“Do this because you love me…Do not let me become something I’m not,” her eyes
seemed to pierce Logan’s very soul. “Please…don’t make me beg for this.”
Logan shook his head and held his own tears back as he wiped hers away too fast
for her mutation to touch him. “I would never do that to you,” his voice was
tight with emotions as he fought for control before he kissed the top of her
head as gentle as a butterfly kisses the morning sun. “I give you my word,
darlin’. No matter what happens I’ll stay with you till the end…you will never
leave my embrace.”

“Thank you,” she said softly, her eyes and voice saying so much more than the
words, knowing how much she had asked from a man who had sworn he would never
harm her…who had sworn he would kill anyone who even thought of harming her.

“Let us all hope your vow never have to be tested, Logan,” Gandalf said solemnly
and the others nodded in agreement. Rogue made an effort to pull herself
together and looked back to Scott.

“We couldn’t see her so chances are Phoenix isn’t around here at the moment,”
she told him gently.

“Scott…will you be able to kill her if it comes to that for if not we need to
know now,” Logan asked, his voice not unkind though he had gotten himself under
control as well, willing himself to hide his conversation with his wife in the
darkest corner of his mind, refusing to consider it unless that moment should
arise.

Scott looked thoughtful and torn for a long moment. “I…I do not know. I have
loved her always. She is my wife.”
“Scott,” Logan began gently but firmly. “Whatever vow you gave her has lost its
meaning. Keeping to your marriage vows and bonds is only your way of punishing
yourself for something you had no control over,” Logan raised a hand to prevent
Scott from voicing his protest and continued, “ Jean’s powers went wild, her own
passion consumed her, with or without Sauron aiding in her fall the fact is that
she has fallen. She is no longer Jean.”

“I…” Scott shook his head. “I’m still not sure if I can kill her. She wears
Jean’s face.”

“She’s Jean only in image,” Rogue reminded him softly but after that the room
went silent for a few seconds, no one knowing what to say as Scott fought to
regain his balance.

“I will get ready to leave and find Pippin. I need to talk to Boromir as well,”
Gandalf said into the sudden silence and left. Scott forced himself to stand and
pull himself together. He looked Logan in the eye, his gaze steady and calm now.

“I will make my decision when that time arises. For now we have other matters to
attend to.”

Logan nodded in agreement. This could wait…for now. But soon…Very soon Scott’s
decision would have to be made and sadly Logan knew how faithful a man Scott
was. He wasn’t sure he would be able to kill his own heart. Scott was a great
commander and leader but he was also a much kinder and gentler man even towards
strangers than Logan in general was towards people he called friends. If Scott
couldn’t do this then Logan would do it for him. However something told him that
he might not have the possibility of aiding him and he himself was torn apart.
He loved Rogue more than life itself and the very thought of having to kill her
was repulsive to him yet it was that kind of sacrifice he asked of Scott. How
could he ask his friend to make such a sacrifice? How could he ask it of
himself? Not for the first time Logan wished his friends and him had never been
taken to this world, never been faced with choices no man should be faced with.
This mission could very well end up killing them all…even if some of them made
it out alive. He knew that if he had to kill Rogue…he would do so, he would
honour Rogue’s request but he would kill himself as well even if he survived.
This was too much to ask for, too much to take in. Years of military training
enabled Logan to push the whole matter aside and he laid an arm around Rogue’s
waist, needing to hold her close. Still, in the back of his mind a dark shadow
of what tomorrow could bring was growing and he feared all he would see was an
endless line of graves…always graves and himself always being the one who had to
do the burying.



TBC



Author’s notes:

Oh, what a complicated web we spin…

Well, now Rogue has the possibility of becoming the Queen of Darkness and give
Phoenix a run for her money…Hmm, now there’s a thought…*grins*

Logan as having a past in the military is taken from the comics…Just go with me
here, please. Also, the whole Elves healing thing and anything else about Elven
society…Made it all up. It fitted into this book so that was how I wrote the
Elves and their powers. Also all Scott and the other’s debate about military
plans…also made up. I did warn you I wouldn’t follow canon so you should know
that by now.

Thanks so much to Jonas for great beta and for help with LOTR lore which I
twisted to fit my own devices. *EG*

Again thanks to anyone who has given me reviews/FB. They keep me writing. Thanks
so much!

All comments and suggestions are appreciated if you can use a kind and civil
tone.



Take care



Love

Nadja

________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                         
5/13
Dear John,

   What happened? you didnt show. is everything alright? are you ok? please send
me a letter back.
                                                                                        
worried as hell,
                                                                                               
Bobby
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                         
5/14
Dear Bobby,

  Dis is Gambit again. John has run away... we can not find him anywere... De
boss tinks he is at de school... bu ya say ya haven' seen him... dis could be
bad... well if ya could have ya friends help us look for him.
                                                                                                         
Gambit.
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                         
5/15
Dear Gambit.

  I have some of the X-men out looking for him... there is no word on his were
abouts yet. the professer is trying to locate him, but we still dont know
anything yet. i will keep you informed.
                                                                                        
Sencerly Bobby
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                         
5/16
Dear Bobby,

  De boss t'anks ya for de help. and ta please tell us if ya hear anyt'ing.
                                                                                                    
Gambit
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                         
5/17
Dear Gambit,

  We have fond him and he is here at the school. Dr. Jean and Dr. McCoy are
looking him over now, just to make sure he is ok. He found his way back home,
and he was looking for his family. You should have him back in a day or two.
                                                                                          
happy to help bobby
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                         
5/18
Dear bobby,

  t'ank ya so much Bobby, de boss is very happy.  He says you have done de righ'
t'ing. I will be by in an hour or so ta ge' our lil runaway.
                                                                                                           
Gambit
________________________________________________________________



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________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                          
5/6
Dear john,

   Once again this is Warren. i am sorry to say bobby hasnt gotten much better,
but not worse either. Logan has left again. He heard something about a child of
his or something... he has gone to find out what he can. but anyways i will keep
you up to date on everything that happpens to our good friend Bobby. I hope for
the both of you and Rogue he gets better. Rogue has locked her self in the led
next to him and has not moved. i dont even think she had eaten. well i should
go.                                                                           
your friend
                                                                                                     
Warren
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                          
5/7
Dear Warren,

    Thank you so much. Can you tell me, what is wrong with my friend? i mean i
know he is sick and Logan said it is a cold? but he wouldnt still be sick if
that was it... would he? what is wrong with him? he wont die right?
                                                                                           
forever worried
                                                                                                    
John
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                           
5/8
Dear John,

  In all honsty i dont know what is wrong with him. but i do know... he is eating
soup. That is good. he is also looking alot better. he still cat talk, his voice
is shot from screaming for help. But he sound be able to write you back in a few
days. He says hi, and that he is sorry he has let you down.
                                                                                                      
your dear friend
                                                                                                            
Warren
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                           
5/9
Dear Warren.

  Please tell him he doesnt have to be sorry, and that he hasnt let me down. Tell
him i hope storm goes easy on him with his make up work too. :) I hope he is
still getting better as well. say hi to him and Rogue for me aswell. well i have
to now.
                                                                                       
forever john
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                         
5/10
Dear john,

    This is your old friend bobby. I am out of the lab, and back in my bed. i
have to stay on bed rest for alittle while. So i thought while i had time on my
head... i would send you a letter. i am very sorry it took so long to write
back. i just... i could barely open my eyes. Rogue watched over me... she says
that you and warren were talking about me, and that you said hi to her... by the
way she says hello. You have no idea how happy this is making me. It is great
you two are starting to get along again... well for the first time... but any
ways i dont think i have anything else to say... so later
                                                                                  
missing you, Bobby
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                         
5/11
Dear Bobby.

  It is great to hear you are ok. i was getting very worried about you. I am very
sorry that you got sick. I am just glad you are all right. Is it ok if i come
and see you?
                                                                              
forever john
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                         
5/12
Dear john,

  Yes please do. that would be great. it has been so long since i have seen you.
i miss you so much. Plus i have something for you....hope you like it.
                                                                                                
Love, Bobby
________________________________________________________________


      John doesnt show up at the school when he says he will, infact he doesnt
show up at all. and Bobby gets quite scared. and sends a letter back to his
missing friend.



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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Title: Personal Letters
Author: Lilly christensen
Rating: R
Character(s): Bobby/John/Remy/Logan/Warren
Warnings: this is going to be fun... and very sexual... there guys
Disclaimers: no i do not own them, or have any right to any money.
Feedback: YES PLEASE!!!
Archive: please... can some one tell me what this is....thank you.


                                   Personal Letters
********************************************************************************\
*****
Dear Bobby,
4/20

     Ello, it is your old friend John. You wont answer the phone when i call...
and you wont open your door if i stop by. So i am writing to you... i just pray
you get it. I have something I want you to know........I love you man. i may
envy your family, and what you have with Rogue... but you are the only family i
have here. You know how hard it is for me... My family is on the other side of
the planet!!!
     Well just so you know, it aint that great over here.... but let me just
say... better that with the X-men. you guys just worked me too hard, and no one
really cared about me... no one but you, untill she showed up. You know i hate
her, even more now... that she has me inside her head... she didnt have to drain
me like that. I wouldda stopped. but whatever makes you happy...
    Anyways, there are some really cool people over here. Like Remy. well I
should say Gambit... and Quicksilver... er um his name is Pietro. Mystique is
fucken amasing. But I have to say Magneto... he is the best.
   Well i have to go. i hope you write back. please dont still be mad.
                                                                                  
forever john.

________________________________________________________________

                                                                                                                       
4/21
Dear john,
     I am sorry to say, Bobby does not wish to talk to you. This is Warren. Bobby
told me to tell you:
  John, i dont care why you left... or if you ever come back. you went back on me
man, you turn your back on me, and i dont think i can forgive you. I know you
dont like Rogue and i am sorry it pisses you off to see me happy. Well i am
sorry that i cant be there for you anymore man, but it is your falt, you walked
away and then left the team.
  Once again john i am very sorry it was i who had to tell you,
                                                                                             
wishes of luck,
                                                                                                        
Warren
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                     
4/22
Dear  Warren

      It's ok man, i know bobby is mad. i saw him the other day, but if you
could... can you atlest read this to him.
     ( Bobby, man look i am sorry i hurt you. I just fit in better over here. I
mean i hate the fact we will have to fight each other, but i mean bobby i still
see you as all i have. i know that you may be off fucken Rogue by now.... but i
just... i remember when i was the one you wanted. me not her!! you blew me off
for her. and you cant even touch her!!! i just... i dont know man, i just dont
know... i guess this is goodbye then. )
                                                                                      
Forever John
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                      
4/23
Dear john,

       Hey man it is me, bobby. you know i cant stay mad at you long... i am
mostly still just hurt. i mean i thought you cared about the team, and i do
still want you. come on man i need you. right now you and her are all i got.
      Tell me more about these friends of yours. they treat you right?
    Well i hate to say it, but i have training to do. so um... later i hope
                                                                                                  
with love
                                                                                                        
Bobby
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                               
4/24
Dear bobby,

  Dis john's friend Gambit. John is in abi' of a depressed mood and he don'  wan'
ta write ya back. he says he is sorry he let ya down. i hope ya aren' to mad.
                                                                                                  
Gambit
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                             
4/25
dear Gambit,

   I am sorry John is in a bad mood. i hope you dont mind my persectens in trying
to contact him. it is just that john is a good friend of mine and i dont want to
lose him. Please do not let any harm come to him, if it does. i will be sure and
have us xmen take care of that.
                                                                                   
sencerly Bobby
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                              
4/26
Dear bobby,

  Hey man, thanks that was great what you say to Gambit. it really ment alot to
me... I hope we are still friends. hey why dont you come by, and we can hang
out.... or better yet maybe i can come back to our old dorm and we can hang out
there? how does that sound? Hope you arent mad.
                                                                                       
forever john
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                             
5/4
Dear john,

     I am sorry to say, Bobby may not write you back in some time. he is very
sick. One of the younger kids set him up and he was taken and night fell and he
caught a very bad cold... I dont think it is anything to worry about though. We
all know the kid can be a fighter if he wants.
                                                                                                    
Logan.
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                               
5/5
Dear logan,

   Thank you so much for informing me of this. i am so sorry to hear that his has
fallen ill. so if you could can you tell him that i hope he gets better, and
that Jean and Hank will fix him right up.
    Please watch him and please keep me updated on how he is doing.
                                                                                                           
thanks, john
________________________________________________________________



   more coming up in the 2nd set of letters. hope you like this.



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Gambit has gotten john and it is a few days later, and john is writing an im
sorry leter to Bobby.

________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                         
5/18
Dear bobby,

  I am very sorry about what happend. i feel very bad that i blew you off. i
just... lost it. i lost it and ran. i took off for home. I know that may be one
of the lamest things i have ever doen, and i am very sorry.
                                                                                    
pathetic john
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                         
5/19
Dear john,

  its ok. i understand. there are times i want to do the same thing. just ran
away. just get up and leave. For no resson at all, just just want to run.
  So, if you want you can still come by and hang out with me. Me and Rogue broke
up. just so you know. and you are not pathetic and you dont have to be sorry.
                                                                           love
ya. Bobby
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                         
5/20
Dear bobby,

  that would be great, to day at 3:30. I am very sorry about you am Rogue, but
hey i heard that kitty may have the hotts for ya. go get'er tiger. lol sorry,
but anyways cant wait to see you today. and to get the "gift" from you too.
                                                                                          
forever john.
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                         
5/21
dear John,

  I am glad you came over, you still look the same you know. I missed you so much
man. I hope you stay the same as you are now. i would hate to see you change.
you are so cool... just the way you are. hey by the way did you like it?
                                                                                                          
Love bobby
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                         
5/22
Dear Bobby.

  Man last night was great. i didnt know how bad i missed you. i hope i didnt
scream to loud. Yeah i love the new lighter, plus it has ice on it, so everytime
i look at it i will think of you. :) Hey i am going to be gone for awhile... we
are going north so i wont be home... but once i get home i will send you a
letter and tell you what i can. ok?
forever john
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                         
5/23
Dear john,

  I hope you have fun... tell ym everything ok?
                                                                                     
love bobby.
________________________________________________________________


   John and magneto and the team have gone north and come home... wait till you
hear johns storys....




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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Caracter(s): i am going to add in two of my own ppl. Krista and Bridget.
Warning(s): They are not as sweet as you may think...
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                         
6/10
Dear Bobby,

         Wow, Canada is great. I met these two girls.... one was just like you,
all ice and shit, her name was Krista scott. And then... there was Bridget. she
was just like me. and had a firey temper to match. well let me just say they are
both... great in bed. Very argessive. they like to take control. I mean those
two are hott. they were dancing together, in this little strip club right, and
then out on the floor, those two were........setting a very fast sticky pace. I
watched them as their soft ssweaty skin slide and stuck to one another. i
mean... it was hot. i temp. went up to like109 in that club as the danced.
        But then after that, i got drinks for them... to help cool them down, and
they flurted with me, and i took them back to my hotel with me, and i was them
sweat more. they started out on each other, and then me... and i was just to far
gone to care about anything. I mean those two could make a gay man straight.
they had me screaming out for more. they did things to me, i didnt even know a
person could do. they were great. they are coming down to met you in... three
hours for the time you get this. hope you like them. dont hold back. be an
animal.
                                                          forever john.
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                         
6/11
Dear john,

  Wow, they're hott alright... i love Krista, she is just so.... well hotter than
hell! You werent kidding about the agrestion were you. they just teased me and
temped my till i caved. and it didnt take much... but anyways, they miss you
johny boy... they want it to be us four... maybe we can sheow them some of 'our'
tricks....if you know what i mean.
                                                                                   
love bobby
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                         
6/12
Dear Bobby,

   Wow, i didnt know what we would do would turn them on like that... wow... i
guess i may be crashing over there again soon. How 'bout i come by to night and
stay for a week? would that be ok?
                                                                              
just wandering, john
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                         
6/13
Dear John,

  yeah sure. come one over.... but i think they are craving more than what we
gave them... so we need to give more... that ok?
                                                                                            
love bobby
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                         
6/21
Dear bobby,

  Wow. last week was great. i hear that the girls are going to stay there? or
here in the u.s. or something, is that right? Man if they stay here... we could
see more of them... but i dont know... i think they are sick of us. oh well...
                                                                                 
forever john
________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                         
6/22
Dear john,

  Hey i got an idea.... lets use the phone from now on, ok?
                                                                                                  
Love boby
________________________________________________________________


                               End



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Beyond Words-Part 7
Marie's P.O.V.
Author: Sparkling-Diva
Feedback: Yes, Please and thank you!!!! You can do so at
rogue200348@...
Dedication: Thank you's to everyone I know and the people at the
message boards and my reviewers at FanFiction.net. I promised I'd
write more.
Archive: If you are interested please ask me first just so I know. I
don't consider it a problem if I say it is OK. I am a member to
FanFiction.net and a bunch of other boards.
Disclaimer: They are not mine!! WAAHHH!!!
Rating: PG-13. Due to some romancy stuff.
Summary: If you have read the first part you'd know. It is just a
cute little L/M fic about them in luv with each other and them
telling their P.O.V. of the whole situation.
Author's Note: Sorry that I couldn't update yesterday but the
internet wasn't working in the area where I lived nor the cable.
Dang the cable company!! Anyways, read on!!

We walked into the kitchen to find everyone laughing and talking. We
were both holding hands and pretty close together.
Everyone stared to look at us with the most shocked expression on
their faces. It became so quiet that anyone could hear a cricket
chirp from the distance.
"Logan, you came back," Jean said startled.
"Hello, everyone," he replied.
Still silent that you could hear a pin drop too.
Logan soon moved his hand to around my waist and whispered in my
ears, "So, what do you want for breakfast?"
"Some cereal," I said.
"You got it. Sit down darlin'," he said before kissing the top of my
head.
That was it.
Everyone knew.
No explanations necessary.
I sat down at a stool blushing. I even couldn't believe that Logan
was making me breakfast. I could only stare around the room to see
the look on everyone's face of astonishment.
Jean looked like a surprise happy. Thank god she didn't look jealous
like I thought she would look. Ororo smiled very pleased and Kitty
and Jubilee had looks of "Awww!!!" and admiration. Scott looked
really angry like he was going pound someone and Bobby…well Bobby
looked shocked like he was being stabbed or something.
Logan handed me my bowl of cereal and said, "Here you go darlin'."
Soon after Bobby, still pissed off got up and mumbled something
about how it was Saturday and he was going to play soccer with Kurt
and Evan.
Everyone went back to their little talks after thaf while Logan
stroked my hair and said, "After you want to talk to the Professor."
"Okay," I said finishing my cereal, "After that, I think that I
might need to talk to Bobby since- well you how he reacted."
"Yeah, darlin'," he kissed me on the head again and put my bowl in
the sink, "C'mon lets go."
With that he took my hand and led me off the stool and into the
hallway.
I didn't need to turn around to imagine the look on everyone's faces
as they stared at us.
Sooner or later they were going to have to get used to it since this
was the way it was supposed to be.

Beyond Words- Part 8
Logan's P.O.V.
Author: Sparkling-Diva
Feedback: Yes, Please and thank you!!!! You can do so at
rogue200348@...
Dedication: Thank you's to everyone I know and the people at the
message boards and my reviewers at FanFiction.net. I promised I'd
write more.
Archive: If you are interested please ask me first just so I know. I
don't consider it a problem if I say it is OK. I am a member to
FanFiction.net and a bunch of other boards.
Disclaimer: They are not mine!! WAAHHH!!!
Rating: PG-13. Due to some romancy stuff.
Summary: If you have read the first part you'd know. It is just a
cute little L/M fic about them in luv with each other and them
telling their P.O.V. of the whole situation.
Author's Note: I'm updating a lot lately and just figured out that
there should be about 8 chapters or so. Just wanted to let you know
but for now here is Part 8.

"Charles?!" I yelled as we walked into the lab. We had looked all
around and couldn't find him anywhere else so we figured that this
would be the best place to and low and behold there was "O Wise
Elder" Chuck with the Bluish-Purple Smurf.
"Welcome. Hello Logan. Hello Rogue." He said wheeling himself
towards us.
"Hi, Professor" said Rogue.
"I guess you are here to see about that cure I was telling you
about."
"Yeah, what is it exactly?"
"Well something I'll like to call the X-Remedy. We haven't actually
made a name for it yet but it's guaranteed that at times it can help
one control their mutant powers and abilities," said Hank with a
smile.
"I never knew that one existed."
"It's fairly new and top secret." Said Charles.
"How did you find it?" Marie asked shocked.
"Meet Einstien," replied Henry pointing to a little cage containing
a hamster.
"Einstein? A hamster? You've got to be kidding me," Marie said very
confused.
"Darlin'," I said, since I knew she loved it when I called her that,
as I put a hand over her shoulder, "That's exactly what I thought as
well but apparently this little guy can work wonders."
"Einstein here," Beast continued, "Had been placed earlier with some
mutant DNA through injection that is much similar to yours. Watch
what happens when we place this very much alive flower by him."
Hank did so and we all watched as Einstein touched it and right
before our eyes it died.
Marie looked away scared towards me. I didn't blame her. Einstein
was just like her. It was like watching a tape of her sucking the
life off of another human being.
"Now I'm going to place this injection in him that I came up with
using some of the herbal remedies that I found in Ororo's garden
that she so gladly and kindly let me use for these sort of things."
We watched as Hank carefully took the needle and gracefully picked
up the lil bub and injected it.
He placed it back down and continued on, "Now we will take another
live rose and place it nearby."
Immediately the lil guy ran straight to it and started playing with
it and touching it without killing it at all.
"Amazing!" Marie said in shock.
"We know," Chuck said.
"So where do I come in?"
"Well darlin' it was kind of a late birthday gift," I answered.
Soon Charles replied, "We chose you out of many. You see, Rogue,
compared to others who can control their powers with certain ways,
in cases like yours and certain other people, it is much more
difficult to do so. I'm not completely saying that you can't. I'm
just saying that you need extra help."
"And with the right support team, we can guarantee you'll be okay,"
finished Hank.
"So are you going to try the test on me?"
"That's what we hope," stated Wheels, "The good thing about this is
that there doesn't appear to be any side effects or consequences as
a result of taking it since it is all natural. But first there are
some things that you should know about."
"Like what?"
"Well you will have to take certain lessons and sessions on how to
use your mind in order to help with the controlling aspect of it.
Ororo will help you as well as I. She will train you in meditation
and I will train you to know more about this so that we can help
others. You also must remember that doesn't mean it'll remove your
power from you. It simply just lets you control it better. Your
power will always be there. The injection wares off normally after
about a month at first so you might have to come in on a monthly
basis. Hank and Jean will be there to guide and assist you. As for
your boyfriend…"
Hank chuckled, Charles smiled, Marie blushed, and I just rolled my
eyes.
"He," Charles continued, "I expect should be helpful and much
encouraging. Am I right, Logan?"
"You can count on me Chuck," I said looking down at Marie as she was
smiling up at me.
"Good. So Rogue, are you up to the challenge?"
"Really?"
The professor nodded and then she looked from him to Hank, to me,
then back to him, and said, "Sure. Now?"
"Absolutely," said Hank, "Sit down."
She did so and Hank asked me, "Logan are you willing to stay I mean
I know how you are with needles and everything. Sure you won't pass
out or anything?" he said jokingly. "I'll take my chances," I said
holding her gloved hand, "But I really do think that I won't pass
out. At least not with her here anyways."
"Charles? You called?" asked Jean walking in. Apparently he had sent
a mind message for her to come for assisstance.
"Yes. Rogue has decided to take her chances and is going to need the
injection."
"Great., Hold still," she said as she rubbed Marie's arm with a
cotton swab. Then with gloved hands on to be careful, she took the
injection Hank had laid out for her and placed it into Marie's Arm.
She held my hand very tight for that short moment then quickly let
go. We never looked away from each others eyes.
"All done. Let me put a band aid on it for ya," Jean said with a
smile, "You will need to come back for a quick check up tomorrow to
make sure everything goes well, okay?"
"Okay."
"Now Rogue I want you to remove your glove," said Charles.
"What for?"
"To touch this for me darlin'," I said taking one of the roses from
the counter, "This is for you."
She just smiled and said, "Thank you."
Everyone stared as she took one gloved hand and took it from me.
Carefully she slowly rose her hand to it and touched it. She was
afraid but she closed her eyes to battle her inner fears in her
mind. She did not let go of it either. All we could do was stare in
awe. She then slowly opened her eyes to see that the life in her
hands was still alive.
"Oh mah gosh," she said in her southern accent, "It's alive! I
didn't kill it!"
Then everyone cheered and congragulated her.
"Thank you, Professor, Hank, Jean," she said as she shook all of
their hands with her own ungloved one, "You have no idea what this
means to me."
"No Rogue. You have no idea what this means to us," replied the
professor.
She was in tears. She finally turned to me and stared at me, "Thank
ya, sugah."
I nodded and extended my arms out to her indicating that a hug was
needed and we fell into an embrace. I had ungloved my hands a while
earlier and now was holding her two ungloved ones. Her skin was so
soft. We took a moment to stare into each others eyes. We were about
to kiss when we remembered of our surroundings.
I coughed clearing my throat and they all understood what they had
to do.
"I-uh, need to do the dishes. My turn," Hank said as he walked away
in a rush.
"Promised to help Ororo in the garden," Jean said following Hank.
The only person left was the Professor who sat in his wheelchair
with the most amused expression on his face that I had ever seen.
"And what's your excuse, Chuck?" I asked.
"Paperwork. But don't worry. I'm leaving," he wheeled himself to the
door but stopped to say, "Enjoy yourselves," before heading out.
After making sure that they were gone by using my senses, we turned
back to face each other.
"Thank you, Logan," Marie said again looking into my eyes.
"Don't mention it."
`You know that this is going to be mah first real kiss. At least the
first one without there being anything that goes on wrong right?" I
nodded and then slowly we came closer together and we were kissing.
It was short and soft and I made sure it would be very gentle.
We pulled away and I swear I saw sparkles in her eyes.
After gasping for a little air, we kissed again but this time more
passionately. I guess we didn't know what we were doing since
eventually I accidentally bumped into Einstien's cage.
We pulled away from each other to look at Poor Einstein staring up
at us. We just laughed.
Marie looked at her watch and then said, "Look at the time. I have
to find Bobby and talk to him before I loose him and I don't know
where he is. I hate to leave during a moment like this but you
understand, right? "
"Sure. Go ahead."
"Bye," she said giving me a small pack before turning to the
door, "See ya later, sugah," she added before she left.
There I was alone.
`Life is good," I said as I gave Einstein a piece of celery before
leaving.
I was halfway down the hallway when I heard my name being called by
a familiar voice that did not seem so happy.
"LOOGGAAANNNN!!!!"
"Well, well, well, if it isn't One-Eye," I said before turning
around, "What do you want now?"
"Stay away from Marie."
"First stay away from your girl and now this? Whoa. No can do buddy.
She's mine."
"She's too young and you're-you're…,"
"I'm what?" I asked sarcastically.
"You-You are old! 50, 60, 70…Only God knows how old you are!!!"
"Shouldn't you be complaining about yourself then?"
"What?"
"Well Jean is about 4 to God knows how many more years older than
you, right?"
"But it's different."
"There's an age difference there still, isn't there? There's no
difference."
Ha-ha. Caught him.
"Now if you don't mind, I'm in sort of a need for a gold ole' beer,"
I said before walking down the hallway again.
"Logan, wait."
Oh great. Oh-so-fierce-leader One-Eye apparently now is a follower.
"Now what?" I said stopping but not looking back.
"Promise you won't hurt her. If you do I swear that you won't even
know what that's going to make me do."
I looked over my shoulder and said, "Promise, but I assure you that
watching her is the last thing you should be concerned about doing
right now. Taking care of her? That's my job."
And with that I walked out and took an elevator to the main grounds.
Now, I had a very important date with my good friend Molsen. I'm
sure that Marie wouldn't mind.

Author's Note: I'm not a Scott hater so please don't hurt me!

Beyond Words- Part 9
Marie's P.O.V.
Author: Sparkling-Diva
Feedback: Yes, Please and thank you!!!! You can do so at
rogue200348@...
Dedication: Thank you's to everyone I know and the people at the
message boards and my reviewers at FanFiction.net. I promised I'd
write more.
Archive: If you are interested please ask me first just so I know. I
don't consider it a problem if I say it is OK. I am a member to
FanFiction.net and a bunch of other boards.
Disclaimer: They are not mine!! WAAHHH!!!
Rating: PG-13. Due to some romancy stuff.
Summary: If you have read the first part you'd know. It is just a
cute little L/M fic about them in luv with each other and them
telling their P.O.V. of the whole situation.
Author's Note: On to Part 9!

I found Bobby sitting on a bench near the baseball diamond outside.
"Hey, Bobby!" I said approaching him from behind as he stared
startled.
"Rogue, I-"
"I thought you were playing soccer with Kurt and Evan."
"They were busy."
"Oh. Right," I sat next to him. I didn't like how the conversation
was going so far.
We sat in silence for a while and then I asked him, "Are you okay?"
He just glanced at me and looked forward into the distance.
"It's the whole Logan and me thing right?" I asked looking at
him, "I thought that when we broke up you said that we'd respect our
futures like who we were going to be with and stuff. I mean you and
Kitty are okay right?"
"We did and we are okay but-"
"But what?" I asked cutting him off.
"I miss you at times," he said.
Oh gosh.
I definitely hadn't seen that one coming.
"Bobby-"
"When I see you with him… I get jealous. It's like despite all we've
gone through, there is still part of me that wishes that the guy
with you could have been me. I can't control it. I know that you
love him and everything and that he might love you but I love you
too."
A while back, I swore that I had no one to love me but in about the
last 24 hours I find out that 2 men are in love with me.
Wow, I have a strange life indeed.
I had to think fast.
"Bobby, I love you too and care for you very much but not in that
kind of way."
"I know that but just promise me you'll be careful."
"I will. Just promise me that you'll give Logan a chance? He's a
really great guy."
"As long as you love him right?"
"Right."
"And Promise you won't tell Kitty about our conversation?" he asked
panicking.
"Promise. I mean it's not like anything happened right?" I asked as
we both smiled at each other.
"Promise this is the last promise?"
"Promise."
"Oh, I almost forgot. I got a surprise for you," I said as I
ungloved my hand and took his hand in mine.
"How?-"asked Bobby in shock.
"Medication. The needle hurt mind you. Charles, Logan, Hank, and
Jean were all in on it. It's a test to see how it reacts with my
body. I have to go to meet Logan for lunch now. Wanna come?"
"Really?" he said standing up.
"Yeah. And get Kitty. I'm sure she's with Jubes. Just don't forget
to be nice."
I took his hand and we walked back together to the mansion as
friends.

Beyond Words- Part 10
Logan's P.O.V.
Author: Sparkling-Diva
Feedback: Yes, Please and thank you!!!! You can do so at
rogue200348@...
Dedication: Thank you's to everyone I know and the people at the
message boards and my reviewers at FanFiction.net. I promised I'd
write more.
Archive: If you are interested please ask me first just so I know. I
don't consider it a problem if I say it is OK. I am a member to
FanFiction.net and a bunch of other boards.
Disclaimer: They are not mine!! WAAHHH!!!
Rating: PG-13. Due to some romancy stuff.
Summary: If you have read the first part you'd know. It is just a
cute little L/M fic about them in luv with each other and them
telling their P.O.V. of the whole situation.
Author's Note: About half-way done now!! Yeahy!!

Well, it's been 2 years since we found the cure for Marie and we
became a couple. There's not one day that passes by where I take her
for granted. I love her and she loves me. We need each other. That's
the way it is supposed to be.
We decided to have an extremely steady relationship so that meant no…
well you know. It was based on a total respect for each other. I
didn't mind the wait and I'm sure that the fact that we were going
to be with each other until our dying day helped as well.
Speaking of Marie, she finally got complete control of her powers.
She still meditated and used concentration skills but now without
Ororo or the the Professor's help. She now only needed the injection
once every six months since her body was already taking care of her
problem itself.
Scott and I still had our issues but he and I knew that what was
done was done and that mine and Marie's love for each other was
something that would never die and nobody could do anything about
it. I finally made friends with the Bobby kid. He's gotten over
Marie now and Kitty and him are hooked up. As for everyone else,
they all accepted it and are used to it. For some it was more easier
than others but they did anyways.
Marie was now 20 and more beautiful than ever. Today was her
graduation and I was there for her. I was so happy for her. She got
some of the top honors and made a great speech about the students
futures that gave her a standing ovation since it touched so many
people's hearts.
She wanted to not got to college but earn her degree through private
lessons with Charles for Literature and teaching. He would give her
the paperwork she would need to get a job there.
The so-called "mutant problem" had worsened and there were now more
students than before that needed to have an education at the
mansion. She decided to stay and teach. Wherever she went that was
where I was going to go. I was to take care of her and that was
that. No questions asked.
Once the graduation ceremony was over, I greeted her with a hug and
a kiss and we were off to change for the party that was about to
start. I wore my tux while she wore a simple nice black dress with
her hair up. She was breathtaking.
Oh that's another thing- we now shared the same room. We both moved
into a bigger room usually for teachers but since she was going to
be one, it made sense anyways. We moved into it right before her
senior year. But like I said before, there was no funny stuff. Just
cuddling.
Anyways, even though I was a chaperone, I did manage to pull her
aside and dance with her despite what others thought. We danced slow
tunes mostly the old Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston crap (well at
least it was to me. Marie thought otherwise).
After we grew tired, we decided to go upstairs to sleep even if the
party wasn't over and most of her friends would still be there. We
couldn't go to sleep yet until I gave her the last surprise of the
evening.
"Marie?" I asked. She was already in bed with her pajamas on. I just
had my tux coat off as well as my tie.
"What sugah?" she said moving over to face me.
"Remember your wish that you made of how you wanted to road trip
across Canada to Alaska?" I said lying next to her once I was in my
pajamas and shirt.
"What about it?" she said rubbing her eyes.
"Well now that school is over, I was wondering if-uh…" I kissed her
forehead, "if maybe you want to go with me?"
Now I had her full attention since she bolted right up at me and
looked down to see my grinning.
"Are you joking?" she asked.
"No," I said sitting up to face her.
"But how?"
"Well, Charles and I made a few plans and we can road trip to
British Colombia where we are to stay at one of his getaways then
take a cruise to Alaska from there. So what do you think?"
"I don't know what to say," she said lying back down.
"You don't need to say anything."
"Thank you so much!" she said kissing me and hugging me to
death, "When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow afternoon."
"Tomorrow?!"
"Yup. So that you have enough time to sleep and pack with ease."
"I love you so much!"
"I love you too darling."
"I'll thank you forever for this."
"I'm just doing my job."
And soon we fell asleep in each others arms dreaming about the next
day and the nice vacation that awaited us.

I just startred a Rogue fic archive, and I just thought I'd say. If anyone wants
to submit something, I'd be eternaly greatful. The address is
http://www.geocities.com/rogue_archive/ Thanks!!!



~~ Tegan-Michelle ~ AKA Pixie Child ~~
http://www.geocities.com/glitery_insane_pixie_child/

                  What Time Are We Upon and Where Do I Belong?
                          ~ Witch Baby, Dangerous Angels












---------------------------------
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With sincere apologies.  I realized that I'd posted this to my
website and announced it on LJ, but forgot to send it to groups.
This is the last chapter in the PowerSwap novella, HOW THE LEOPARD
CHANGED HER SPOTS.  All previous chapters can be found here:
http://www.themedicinewheel.net/series/leopard.html
(Novella summary:  A different Scott, a different Jean.  Montague and
Capulet.  Are they still who they are, if they aren't who we
recognize?)


A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME STILL HAS THORNS
Minisinoo

Summary: An ending, and a beginning.
Warnings: None

-------------
It was only much later that the truth of the whole matter finally
occurred to me.  At the time, I reacted in exactly the way he'd known
I would.  I left him.  And that was what he wanted.

Let me back up to the day of the vote on mutant registration.  That
Friday morning, I walked into Senator Kelly's office to find Scott
already there, waiting on me.  Kelly's secretary, Christine, had
leapt up as if to run interference and get me -- who she believed to
be Kelly -- into my office, apologizing for the fact that Scott
wouldn't leave and did I want her to call security?

"No, it's all right," I told her, patting her shoulders reassuringly
(and pushing her subtly away).  Then I approached Scott.  I'd assumed
he'd figure out what I'd done.  "Dr. Summers, I can't say I'm
surprised to see you."

His smile answered, 'I just bet you aren't.'  But he didn't try to
sign.  We were in public, more or less, and Kelly shouldn't be able
to read sign language, so Scott had to speak aloud.  "Senator.  Do
you have a moment?"

"I just ducked in here to pick up some file folders," I explained.
"I'm afraid I don't have time to chat."

"This will only take a moment.  Maybe I could go with you while you
look for your folders?"

I glared at him.  I could've said no, and Christine would've called
security to escort him out.  It's what I should have done.  Even if
Senator Kelly had changed his political tune, no one would've been
surprised if he didn't want to speak to Scott Summers.

But Jean Grey did want to speak to Scott Summers.  Desperately.  So I
ignored common sense and nodded, turning for the office and letting
him follow me in before shutting the door -- slamming it, really.
They'd think I was mad, which might prevent us from being interrupted
for a few minutes.  Just five minutes.  That was all I needed.

With the door shut, I turned and let my form ripple back into myself.
  Scott watched, his lips thin, as I leaned in to kiss him.  He
allowed it, but didn't kiss back.  Worried, I pulled away.

*Have you lost your mind?* he signed, rough and fast. *You were
worried your former teammates might find out you'd survived.  Well,
you may as well have shot off fireworks that spell, 'Here I am!  Come
and get me!'*

**But if I hadn't done this, the MRA would pass, I shot back.  *Now,
the fact that Kelly himself has switched sides has made the
fence-sitters reconsider.*

*But the Brotherhood will know it's you!*

*So?  They're in prison -- all but Wolverine, and he never knew Kelly
died.  I told no one but Erik, in fact.  This had to be done; you
know that.  You also know I was the only one who could do it.*

He didn't answer for a moment, then signed, *Xavier knew, too, didn't
he?  He knew you were going to do this!*

*I talked to him, but he didn't ask me to make this choice.  It's my
choice.*

Scott turned away, giving me his back so I couldn't argue further.
He was so angry, he shook.  I'd never seen him so upset, not even
when he'd first learned I was Brotherhood.  Finally, he spun around
and all but shouted with his hands -- *They'll KILL you!  Don't you
get that?  They'll kill you, and you can't come back to me after
because that's the first place they'll look!*

I made an exasperated sound, which, even if he couldn't hear, he
could read in my expression.  *You interact with hundreds of people a
week, Scott.  How will they know which one is me?*

*Hundreds of people don't live with me!*

Ah.  *Well, we managed before -- for three years.  We can do it
again; we'll be even more careful.*

For a moment, I thought he might've screamed aloud in frustration.
But all he did was turn on his heel, yank the door open, and stalk
out of my -- Kelly's -- office.

I didn't make anything of it then.  We'd fought before, many times,
and it was another month and a half before I could lay down my
masquerade as Robert Kelly.  Scott didn't try to contact me in all
that time, but I wasn't worried.  He knew I was undercover.  The day
before Kelly was to 'disappear,' I sent Scott a message to meet me
the next day in the Natural History Museum's coffee shop, for lunch.
I arrived at noon, but he wasn't there.  I waited until the museum
closed, but he never came.

I feared he might not have gotten the message -- that had happened
before, as well -- so I tried again, tried twice more, in fact, to
the same results.  Then I went after him.

When I let myself into Scott's apartment wearing the face of the
building maintenance man, I found a pretty young woman with
strawberry blonde hair wandering about his living room in a white
terry bathrobe.  She'd obviously just gotten out of the shower.

I was so shocked, I stopped dead with my mouth open even as she let
out a little squeak like a strangled kitten -- that awful 'girlie'
noise I detest so.  For a moment, I feared I'd gotten the wrong
apartment, but it was Scott's furniture all around us.  "Where's Dr.
Summers?" I asked even as she demanded, "Who are you?"

"Building maintenance."  I flashed the badge I'd duplicated.

"He didn't tell me you were coming."

"It wasn't a scheduled visit.  I'm just checking duct work.  He's not
here?"

"He had an errand to run."  She flipped her rose-gold hair in a
mixture of disdain and provocation, and her robe slipped enough to
show that she was probably bare beneath it.  "He'll be back soon."

For several moments, I simply couldn't speak, my head close to
exploding with disbelieving rage. What was this slut doing in my
home?

Except it wasn't my home and never would be.  It was Scott's.  That
realization washed over me like a flood.  Erik had been right.  Scott
had just used me, and now that I'd served my purpose, he'd moved on.
What did he want with a scaly blue girl when he could have Beach
Babette . . . or whatever the hell her name actually was.

"I'll come back later."  Let her think I just didn't want to be in
the apartment with a naked girl when her boyfriend wasn't around.
"Tell him . . .   Tell him Gene came by to look at his heat."

She eyed me from beneath lashes.  "Okay."

I stormed out of the building and down to a pawn shop, where I bought
a pistol and ammunition, then spent the night watching his building.
I never saw Scott return -- maybe he'd come back during the time I'd
been gone -- but 'Babette' left the next morning, walking three
blocks to a parking garage.  I trailed her through the crowds, but
the parking garage was empty.  Hiding behind a column, I watched as
she paused to unlock her vehicle.  Foolish girl -- not checking
around her at all.  I had a clear shot, and raised the gun.

But I didn't shoot.  It wasn't that I couldn't kill.  I'd killed
multiple times in the line of 'duty,' but I refused to kill for this.
  I told myself he wasn't worth it, and neither was she, but the truth
was, it hurt too much.  I was too humiliated to play out the scene
like a bad soap opera and just wanted to hibernate with my pain.  So
I wiped the gun free of fingerprints and tossed it away -- it wasn't
registered to my name anyway.  Jean Grey was dead.  Then I approached
her wearing my real face.  At my footstep, she glanced over and
sucked in a shocked breath.

"You should pay more attention to your surroundings, Miss," I told
her.  "Anyone could be following you."  And I left her there.

The next day, I left Washington itself with a one-way ticket and no
luggage.




More than a year has passed since I've seen Scott.  At first, he
continued to define my life, even though he was effectively out of
it.  Everything I did seemed somehow to be in response to him.  I
quit eating Italian food, because he liked it so, and I ate a lot
more Chinese, because he didn't.  I stopped on the west coast,
because he was on the east.  I bought a dog instead of a cat, though
I gave it away again inside a month because having a dog tied me down
too much.  I even wound up with a job as an ASL translator.  I have
to earn a living, and Erik no longer pays my bills.

My real job, however, still involves helping mutants when I can, and
doing whatever it takes to throw monkey wrenches into the plans of
anti-mutant groups.  The paperwork for an anti-mutant demonstration
march in Palo Alto was accidentally sent through a shredder.  A lab
in Seattle that pioneered tests for evidence of the X-gene in
amniotic fluid had a little lab 'accident,' and burned to the ground.
  A TV commercial for an anti-mutant politician from Orange County was
wrongly marked as blank and taped over before it was copied and sent
to television stations.  And so on.  None of these is terribly far
reaching, and I know they're temporary -- mere petty vandalism.  But
I do what I can.  My days of high-profile spying are over.

As I'd expected, neither Raven nor Erik remained long in custody,
though as far as I know, Zeus is still there.  Erik contacted me once
telepathically -- to thank me for bringing about the defeat of the
MRA, and to let me know that he won't seek me out as long as I stay
clear of his business.  It's a truce, of sorts.  It was also proof
that I can't hide from him, no matter what face I wear.  So far, I've
abided by his request, though if he took another mutant girl, I don't
know what I'd do.

Lilith, of course, doesn't share Lucifer's ideological equanimity.
He won't tell her where I am, but if she can track me down, I know
she'll try to kill me for betraying them.  So far, I've stayed below
her radar and can probably continue to do so as long as she doesn't
enlist the aid of Wolverine.  I just hope she has better things to
occupy her time than revenge.

Charles Xavier contacted me once, as well, but not telepathically.
He used the U.S. Postal Service, though I'm sure he didn't find my
current address through flatline means.  He wanted to know if I'd
join the X-Men.  Politely, I refused, and he hasn't tried to contact
me since.

And so fourteen months have gone by.  I think of Scott less
compulsively now, and with less pain.  Yet as the pain lessens,
common sense reasserts itself and I reconsider what happened the
previous spring -- at which point, portions of the equation cease to
add up.  Suddenly, I find myself obsessing again, but in a different
way.  Scott had bargained on me reacting, not acting, and now it
seems obvious that I was played.  Why, though, and whether I was
played from the start or only at the end, isn't completely clear.  So
for a second time, I buy a one-way ticket, but my leaving isn't
sudden.  I've worked too hard to establish my new identity.  Madelyne
Prior has a driver's license, passport, work history, and birth
records.  Waste not, want not, so I give my proper two weeks' notice
and sell most of my belongings before I leave.  I don't need much,
and can live off savings and proceeds for a while, even in
Washington.

Once I arrive, I begin to shadow Scott -- stalk him, truth be told,
just as I did over four years ago.  It's not difficult; he's not a
suspicious man, and aside from a brief burst of fame following his
senate speech, he lives quietly.  He continues to translate for
museums, and eats twice a week at the Greek Deli with a book for
company.  He goes to the local deaf theatre, which he loves, and
sometimes to a deaf bar, of which he's not so fond, and still reads
six foreign-language newspapers on the train in the morning.

There's not a hint of Beach Babette.  There's not a hint of a girl in
his life at all, in fact.  He's thinner and his shoulders are bowed.
He doesn't smile as much and loses himself looking out of windows.
He's not happy.

I settle on my plan of attack.  I get a job, then rent an apartment
-- in his building, on the same floor, which was three-quarters
fortune and one-quarter select spying -- and move in on a day when
he's home.  Since he won't hear the racket, I make sure to bump up
against his door, hoping the knock sensor is still attached.  Sure
enough, a few minutes later, he's opened the door to look out, and
spots me down the hall amid boxes.  He comes to investigate with his
ever-present pad for notes.  I pretend to almost run right into him
before seeing him.  I grab a pad, too.

*Sorry, I'm deaf,* he's scribbled on his.  *But can I help?  I live
down the hall.*

I hold up my own pad.  *Sorry, I'm deaf --*   I'd begun.  Now I tap
the hearing aids I'd bought (for show), and he breaks out laughing.

We spend two hours visiting in ASL over tea in my new kitchen.  I
spin out my story for him as Madelyne Prior.  I think he's buying it
all.  He helps me carry up the last of my boxes.  We visit some more,
and I remember why I fell in love with him, falling all over again.
Just before he leaves for the evening, he turns at the door to sign,
*I'm glad you're home, Jean.  I've missed you.*

Then he walks out and shuts the door behind him.

For a full ten seconds, I'm bereft of any ability to respond.  Then
shock propels me into motion.  Running to my door, I yank it open and
shout, "How did you know?" -- realizing immediately the futility of
the gesture.  Pulling my door shut behind me, I scuttle down the hall
to his and bang on it.  Pause, then bang again.  Pause, then bang a
third time.  It opens in the middle of my banging.

He's wearing the look of the cat who ate the canary.  I want to slap
him.  Instead, I just grab hold and don't let go.  He pulls me inside
and shuts the door, and it's as if a year and a half hadn't passed.
"I hate you, I hate you, I hate you," I tell him, fists bunched in
his shirt, pounding his chest.  He smells so good, sweaty as he is,
that I just want to eat him alive.  He's running hands through my
hair -- red hair, the same as my Jean incarnation.  'Madelyne's' face
is broader, hair shorter, eyes bluish instead of brown, and there are
freckles on her skin.  She's shorter, too, and a bit wider in hip and
breast, but I kept my basic cast of face, and red hair.  Nostalgia,
perhaps.  Pushing me back a little, his thumbs trace my cheekbones
and he smiles with real warmth.

"How did you know?" I ask him again, where he can see.

*Lots of little clues.*

*I thought I was a better spy than that.*

*You're a great spy.  But I'm Sherlock Holmes.*  He's laughing.

*Humble, aren't you?*

He ignores that to ask, *Did you lock your door?*

"No."

*Go lock your door.*  And he turns away, headed for the kitchen.

I do as he says, coming back with my head spinning and my heart in
free-fall.  I keep swallowing because I'm so nervous.  I can hear him
in the kitchen, and Thutmose comes to greet me, trails me in there.
I circle around so he can see me approach in his peripheral vision.
He's making more tea, his mug -- and mine -- on the counter.
Reaching out, I finger the mug.  "You kept it."

He's watching me, and signs, *I kept everything.*

I feel tears in my eyes.  *What the hell was that last spring?*

*I had to make you leave.  You know why.*

I slam the mug down and, now, I do slap him.  He's surprised, but not
really, and raises a hand to his cheek.  "Feel better?"

"You didn't have to drive me away!"

"Yes, I did.  You're too confident in your own abilities sometimes,
Jean.  If you'd kept hanging around here, Erik would have found you
as soon as he got out."

"He found me anyway."

Scott's eyes widen.  I go on, signing, *He's a telepath, remember?
He found me on the other side of the continent.  We have a truce.
For now.*

*One Raven will honor?*

I don't reply to that.  *How did you know it was me?*

His lips tip up.  *I wasn't sure, at first.  I've wondered if you'd
come back -- half hoped you would, half hoped you wouldn't.  But I've
been . . . anticipating, I guess.*

*I've been trailing you for three months, _Sherlock_.  I stress the
name.*

He eyes me, still smiling.  *You haven't spoken to me, though.*

*Well, no.*

The tea kettle whistles and I start.  Seeing, he turns back to it and
pours hot water into our mugs, hands me mine.

Sitting down at the little eat-in table, he signs, *You are good,
Jean.  It took me a good two hours tonight before I was sure.  But it
started with your signing, actually.  You're better than when you
left -- you've been practicing -- but you still don't sign like
someone who's been doing it all her life, though you told me, as
Madelyne, that you'd been hard of hearing since childhood.*

*And you kept starting, as if you could hear noises.  I've seen
people try to fake deafness before and starting at noises always
gives them away.  So I tried asking you some questions that I knew
you'd answer truthfully, and some that -- playing Madelyne -- I knew
you wouldn't.  Your eyes tracked in different directions . . . a good
sign you were lying, or at least not sure of your answer.*

*Then there were your gestures.  You're an excellent mimic, but some
of your gestures are uniquely yours.  The way you hold your hand when
you're pointing* -- he demonstrates -- *so the wrist is cocked at a
90-degree angle instead of extended straight.  It's odd enough for me
to remember.  And the way you lick your lips and then purse them, and
the way you rub here, right between your brows when you're tired and
trying to think.  Those things never changed, no matter what body you
were in.*

I'm astonished by his level of observation, but then, Scott reads
body language as clearly as he reads anything else, and he's been
accustomed to seeing me in a variety of forms before.  "I still don't
know why you felt you had to trick me like you did."  I can feel the
anger rushing back, making me hot.  "Who was that girl anyway?  Did
you really sleep with her?  You took a terrible chance, Scott.  I
might have killed you both, or her at least."

*She's someone I worked with, at a museum.  And no, I didn't sleep
with her.  I stayed in her place for a few days and she stayed in
mine.  I told her I was trying to get rid of this woman who was
following me around.  I explained a little, about your ability to
change forms -- though I don't think she expected you to be a guy
when you showed up.  Anyway, I knew you wouldn't hurt her.*

My mouth drops open.  "And just how could you 'know' that?  You can't
read the future!"

*I know you.  You wouldn't do that.*

"What?  Scott, I've killed people before for less."

He looks away.  *But not for that.  You're not a murderer.*

My lips thin and I reach across the table to turn his head, force him
to see my answer.  "Scott, haven't you ever heard of a crime of
passion?  You fool.  I bought a gun.  Did you know that?  I bought a
gun and followed her back to her car."  His face has gone pale.  "I
wouldn't have missed, if I'd decided to shoot."

"She said she saw you finally," he whispers, "in your real form.  She
didn't tell me about a gun."

"She saw me, but she never saw the gun.  I just gave her a warning.
Still, it was a close thing.  I *could* have killed her --"

"-- but you didn't.  You wouldn't --"

"Stop it!"  I let his chin go and he rubs it.  "You refuse to see
that part of me.  You always have!"  I'm almost shouting.  "You want
me to be something I'm not."  Leaning over the table I get right in
his face, almost too close for him to read my lips, but I try to
enunciate despite my anger.  I keep my voice level.  "You've never
asked me how many people I've killed."

"I don't want to know!"

"Twenty-seven, Scott.  I've killed twenty-seven people."

"I don't want to know that!"  He jumps up and walks away, out into
the living room.  I follow.  I'm not going to let him run from this.
Grabbing his arm, I swing him around.  "Look at me!  Look at *me*."
I shift into my own form.  "This is who I am.  I used to think you
loved me for myself, but you never have.  You've loved your own
dream.  You refuse to see me, the me beneath the blue skin."

"You're not a monster."

I'm oddly amused by this, and pull in my chin, snorting softly.  "No.
  But I am a soldier, after a fashion.  I've killed people, and I'll
do it again, if I think I have to.  I'm not one of the 'good guys,'
Scott.  I'm not one of the bad guys, either.  Life isn't that neat,
and my name is Jean *Grey*.  I love you for who you are.  I need you
to love me for who I am.  What I don't need is someone who thinks he
knows what's best for me and tries to manipulate me, not talk to me.
Erik did that.  I'm not with Erik anymore, am I?"

I back up a few steps and he's looking scared.  "Don't worry, I'm not
leaving.  Well, I think I am leaving just now, but I moved back
across the country for you, and I signed a lease for the apartment
down the hall.  I have a job.  I'm not running away again.

"But we're going to start over, Scott.  I think we need to start
over.  And you're going to hear the truth about me you didn't want to
hear before, like the twenty-seven people.  Did I like doing it?  No.
  And I remember all their names.  I don't take killing lightly --
when I do, then I'll become a murderer.  But I still killed them, and
you need to know that.  You don't have to like it, or approve, but
you need to know it or you can't love *me*."

He doesn't respond at all.  He seems . . . shell-shocked.  I don't
think this is quite the happy ending he was expecting.  But I don't
believe in happy endings.  I believe in real endings -- or real
beginnings -- and I leave him then, shifting back into my Madelyne
form to return to my new apartment.

I don't know how things are going to turn out.  I want to say that I
hope I didn't make a mistake -- except I know I didn't, even if it
might mean losing him in the long run.  Yet I think we work well
together.  I need his idealism, his belief in happy endings, and he
needs my reality, and real beginnings.

I found a note pushed under my door this morning.  It reads:

    The gentleman down the hall in 2570-E would like to request
    a date of the lady who lives in 2570-H.  Friday at 7pm.
    Evening wear.  Real clothes are preferable.

The last sentence makes me smile.  Sometimes happy endings and real
beginnings can meet in the middle and live contentedly ever after.

-------------

Feedback welcome.
Afterwards:  When I first issued the PowerSwap challenge, I had no
real idea it was going to catch on like it did, nor did I have plans
to write a story myself -- much less a whole novella retelling X1.
It's been a fun romp and a challenge to see both how well I can keep
the characters IN character, even while changing such a significant
thing as their mutation, and also how well I could take the same
basic plot and recast it to fit the new set of powers.

But the tale has now come to an end.  I have no intentions of doing
X2.  BUT if anyone wants more of Cypher Scott, a role-playing game
has sprung up, based on the PowerSwap challenge.  It's called X-Axis.
  I don't run it, and the RPG is based on the general PowerSwap idea,
not my installment in particular; in addition, the basic set-up is
rather different (the MRA passed).  But I do play Cypher Scott there.
  It's a chance to continue with the character and see how he
develops.  (Jean in X-Axis is not Mystique, but has Kurt's powers and
Scott and Jean have a brother/sister relationship, not a romance.)

(X-Axis:
http://www.greatestjournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=x_axis&mode=full )




=====
--Min
The Medicine Wheel: X-Men Fanfic
http://www.themedicinewheel.net/




__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Photos: High-quality 4x6 digital prints for 25¢
http://photos.yahoo.com/ph/print_splash

hey ya'll

so  i was just watching television, a lot of them, and i'm in richmond bc
canada, and so here it is. I was watching tv and i couldn't believe it there was
a lot of Van Helsing trailers airing, so if anyone is watching television, I
ADVISE YA'LL Hugh Jackman fans ta RECORD the trailers, even though you don't
watch commercials or can't stand them, but Hugh to me IS WORTH IT, so if ya want
record them that's what i'm doing.LOL.

just wanted to let ya'll know, that there's a lot of Van Helsing trailers coming
out in the television land.LOL

P.S. Sorry if i confused ya'll i'm just so happy that the trailers are out.

later,

nicca


---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Photos: High-quality 4x6 digital prints for 25¢

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Beyond Words- Part 11
Marie's P.O.V.
Author: Sparkling-Diva
Feedback: Yes, Please and thank you!!!! You can do so at
rogue200348@...
Dedication: Thank you's to everyone I know and the people at the
message boards and my reviewers at FanFiction.net. I promised I'd
write more.
Archive: If you are interested please ask me first just so I know. I
don't consider it a problem if I say it is OK. I am a member to
FanFiction.net and a bunch of other boards.
Disclaimer: They are not mine!! WAAHHH!!!
Rating: PG-13. Due to some romancy stuff.
Summary: If you have read the first part you'd know. It is just a
cute little L/M fic about them in luv with each other and them
telling their P.O.V. of the whole situation.
Author's Note: Only a few more chapters to go left.

I couldn't believe that Logan was finally couldn't make all my
dreams come true. Words couldn't nearly describe what I felt when he
told me we were going to Canada and Alaska.
I was more so jumpy all afternoon since I was so excited. I just
hoped that I wouldn't be getting on his nerves.
We ate breakfast that morning and after got dressed after showering
and packing. We decided to take one of the black vans that Charles
had offered us.
We then had lunch and brought our luggage downstairs. The men
(Logan, Bobby, Scott, and Kurt) loaded it all in the van as I hugged
everyone else goodbye.
We decided to stay there for about a month before coming back.
I would miss everyone but I knew that they'd be waiting upon our
arrival.
"Well, darlin'. Ready to go?" asked Logan as he put his arm around
my waist.
"Yeah," I said looking at him. He must've seen the tears in my eyes
since he gave me one of the sweetest comforting kisses that he ever
gave me.
God I loved him.
We turned around to go down the front steps of the mansion to the
van. When we got there we waved and went in. We rolled down the
windows and pulled out as we said more good-byes.
While he was driving me, Logan comforted me by saying stuff about
how not to worry since they'd still be there when we come back. He
also had me talk with him about our plans on what to do when we get
there and what we wanted to see.
We also karaoke singed to the radio as we traveled down the all too
familiar highway we had gone down together a long time before.
"So tell me darling'," he said faking serious, "What kind of a name
is Rogue?"
"Oh, I don't know," I said shyly, "What I want to know is what kind
of a name is Wolverine?"
"Alright, then. My name is Logan."
"Marie."
And with that we laughed as we headed to our dream vacation getaway
of a lifetime.

X-Book 4 -- Of Politics, Tacos and Other Things that Give You
Indegestion

Chapter Ten: Logan's Thoughts

By: Kath713/Leen713
Rating: PG-13 (violence, language)

Genre: Crossover (with anything I can squeeze in), SPOILERS FOR X2
Summary: See prologue to book 4

Disclaimer: I own nothing in regards to the Marvel characters or
any character from a previously published source portrayed in this
story.

Reviews: Any feedback would be great and is appreciated!

***

Chapter Ten:

Night was falling over Xavier's School for the Gifted, and a
solitary figure stood by an open window on the second floor,
listening as the dozens of children in the mansion went about their
nightly routines.

Logan took a long drag on his cigar.  He held the burning smoke in
his lungs for a few moments before expelling it out onto the evening
wind.  He watched as the escaping tendrils of smoke curled away from
him and then quickly disappeared.  He sniffed once at the outside
air, as if expecting to sense some kind of approaching danger, but
only felt the typical scents of a March evening.

Logan stared out over the lawns, toward the trees, wanting to
believe he understood everything that lie beyond the safety of the
school.  However, even after what he had learned of his past during
his time with the X-Men, Logan knew he still had no true answers
about who he had been before Stryker's experiments.

He frowned as he thought back on the previous day's events, and
about his final encounter with William Stryker.  The
crazed `general' firing on the last of the mutants he still
controlled...and then turning his gun toward Rogue.

In that moment, Logan had been the Wolverine, all of his inborn
instincts reacting almost involuntarily for one simple need.
Protect his family.  Nothing else had mattered.  All the answers
that man may have given him lost all importance when the people who
had become the most important to him were threatened.

Then, there was Deathstrike.  The Lady.  The other like him.  Her
own claws tearing through Stryker, her own need for vengeance
fulfilled...for now.  Her words lingered with him...she had called
him brother.

Logan thoughts trailed on to those lost mutants he watched die in
the now destroyed base.  Apparently experimentation on mutants had
gone on long before Stryker's time, and Logan knew they would
probably continue now that he was gone.

The SHOP, Systems Operations, Alkalai Lake...the same monsters under
different names.  They had invaded this school once, and they very
likely could try again.

Staring out with his keen eyes, Logan saw the first scattered stars
beginning to appear in the sky.  He took another thoughtful pull on
his cigar, and did not turn as the soft whirring of Xavier's
wheelchair approached from behind him.

Logan heard the Professor stop close by, and he blew another puff of
smoke from his lips before speaking.

"It was another close call yesterday," Logan said, continuing to
stare out the window.

"I know," Xavier said gravely, "The past few years have created more
dangers for mutants than all my years before.  From the time Erik
mobilized the Brotherhood...to these new threats which don't seem to
have a name..."

"But still threats," Logan said firmly, and then turned to look at
Xavier, "Still dangers to these kids."

"Sadly, yes," Xavier replied, "Which makes training sessions for the
students here all the more necessary."

Logan turned back toward the window and snuffed his cigar on the
outer brick wall.

"We're makin' them into soldiers," he said with disgust, "Just like
Stryker was with those other mutants."

Xavier sighed and looked down, "Hopefully...what they learn here
will never need to be used."

Logan looked back at the Professor doubtfully, but then frowned and
folded his arms.

"How much information do we have here about those other places that
did mutant experiments?" he asked.

"Only what scattered data we've collected over the years," Xavier
said and then smiled apologetically, "Most of which you have
gathered for us in your travels."

Logan nodded, "Which wasn't much."

Unfortunately, the Council does not readily interfere with other
powerful organizations," Xavier explained, "Nor would they concern
themselves with scientific studies of mutants.  The Council made a
clear division on what was considered a mutant event compared to
what they considered supernatural events."

Logan scoffed, "We're not considered supernatural?  Aren't they
calling us homo superior now?"

Xavier grinned, "I'll let you read through some of my case notes
from the Council.  You'll see that what one encounters as a Watcher
can rival any army of giant humanoid machines."

"I think I should," Logan said, "And, I'm going back to that
underground base where I found those old videos.  Maybe there's
something else there I missed..."

"What do you think you'll find?" Xavier asked with a curious frown.

"What do I think?" Logan said with a smirk, "Don't you just know
what I think?"

"I don't eaves drop unless it's necessary, Logan," Xavier replied
matter-of-factly.

Logan's smile faded, "I just want to know if anyone else is still
doing what Stryker did.  If any of those experiments are still
happening."

"And if they are?" Xavier asked.

Logan looked out the window again, frowning deeply in though and
memory.

"Then they won't be for long."

***
Archived at www.fanfiction.net/~leen713
*work in progress*

X-Book 4 -- Of Politics, Tacos and Other Things that Give You
Indegestion

Chapter Eleven: Magneto's Proposal

By: Kath713/Leen713
Rating: PG-13 (violence, language)

Genre: Crossover (with anything I can squeeze in), SPOILERS FOR X2
Summary: See prologue to book 4

Disclaimer: I own nothing in regards to the Marvel characters or
any character from a previously published source portrayed in this
story.

Reviews: Any feedback would be great and is appreciated!

***

Chapter Eleven:

Pyro lead the Malloy twins toward a long circular hallway, about
eight feet in diameter.  As they had passed through the island
fortress, both Sid and Rebecca had been quietly impressed by the
structure and workmanship each new chamber revealed. They walked
across a grassy stretch, and noticed Sabertooth standing near the
tunnel's entrance.

"Is Magneto here?" Pyro asked Sabertooth quickly.  The young man's
earlier good nature seemed to have been lost beneath a somber
shadow.  His tone was very serious, and held no fear when addressing
the larger mutant.  He was simply one soldier speaking with
another.  Sid suppressed a shiver and wondered again about Magneto's
motivation in finding his family.

Sabertooth nodded his head in the direction of the tunnel, "He's
waiting inside."

The larger mutant's dark eyes glared down at the twins blankly.
Rebecca met his gaze for a moment until Pyro pointed down the hall.

"Head down there," he said and quickly stood aside.

"You're not going with?" Rebecca asked curiously.  Pyro shook his
head but did not speak.  It was almost as if he was trying to
imitate the mood of the other members of the Brotherhood, somber and
apathetic toward the entire situation.

"Okay..." Sid said slowly, and then glanced at his sister before
moving forward.

Hard core, he mouthed without speaking and Rebecca caught at laugh
before it escaped her throat.  Sid began to walk forward down the
circular hall, but Rebecca paused a moment and stared up at
Sabertooth again.

He did not react or look away, and after a moment, Rebecca sighed
and sported an apologetic grin.

"Sorry about your coat," she said, noticing he was not wearing the
long fur lined garment that she had accidentally singed when he
grabbed her back at her house.  The large mutant still did not
react, but Rebecca figured it was worth a try.

She followed after her brother until they came to a smaller, but
more intricately designed room than most of the others.

Mystique and Magneto were seated near a long metallic desk, the only
obvious furnishing in the room.  The Brotherhood's leader smiled in
greeting to them and made a gesture of welcome.

"Hello again, Miss and Mr. Malloy," Magneto finally said and the
twins gave him their politest attention, "Or may I call you by
Rebecca and Jeremy?"

The twins exchange glances and then shrugged (though Rebecca did
this with only one shoulder).

"Very well," Magneto said with a friendly tone and he gestured
toward two other chairs in front of his deck, "Please...have a seat."

They did, in strangely perfect time, and each one stared curiously
at the man before them.  It was one thing to hear the Council's
frequently exaggerated stories of Erik Lensherr and Charles Xavier,
but it was quite another to actually meet one of them.

"I suppose you are wondering why I've brought you here..." Magneto
said, as if he had a speech prepared for this situation, but the
twins spoke before he could continue.

"No," Rebecca said.

"No, not really," Sid continued, and then added quickly with
anger, "Though I would like to know what prompted you to break into
our house, Mr. Lensherr..."

"Sid..." Rebecca said quickly but he continued.

"And why you thought assaulting one of us was the best way to
introduce yourselves..." Sid said, his voice getting louder with
every word.

Rebecca glanced in between her brother and Magneto and, though the
older man's expression remained even, it was obvious that Sid's
disrespectful tone was not something he easily tolerated.

"Sebastian is really, really hoping you're planning to recruit us to
your little Brotherhood here," Sid suddenly added with vicious
sarcasm, "Since you've destroyed our home, we might be looking for a
place to stay."

Magneto regarded the young man coolly but did not reply.  He had had
much practice in keeping his temper during his time with the
Council, and Sid Malloy's indignant tone reminded him very much of
those earlier days.  Plus, Mystique's obvious fury as she glared at
the young man made up for it.  The tension in the room was heavy and
Rebecca sighed.

"Nice...way to stay civil..." she muttered before he could begin
speaking again.

"I'm sorry..." he whispered back, "They almost got you killed..."

"No, the bullet the Lady took from my arm almost killed me," she
shot back.

"You wouldn't have been there to take that bullet if they hadn't
brought that thing to the house," Sid said back, still in a low
voice, but one that everyone could hear.

"They didn't bring that robot to the house," Rebecca corrected
him, "Those guerillas in camouflage did..."

Sid was about to say something else when Rebecca touched his arm and
gave him a hard look.  They glared at each other for a moment,
continuing their argument without words, until Sid sighed and folded
his arms with frustration.

Rebecca glanced over at Magneto and sighed.

"Mr. Lensherr," she began, "I hope you understand the position
you've placed us in."

Magneto nodded, his composure never wavering, "Yes.  It was
unfortunate the way the situation unfolded.  And you do have my
extended apologies at the loses you've had.  I'm afraid my decision
to seek out your family, to find out the fate of your mother and her
children, was part curiosity...and part necessity.  In these
troubling times, one must know all of their enemies, but also all of
their allies.  As for recruiting you...," he spared Sid a long
glance at these words, "...I allow for every possible end when
meeting other mutants.  I had hoped your work for the Council would
be leading to the same goal as the Brotherhood...a safer world for
mutant kind."

Rebecca nodded and shifted her injured arm uncomfortably.  She was
frowning with thought, and after a moment she replied.

"I think that's the goal for any mutant organization, isn't it?" she
said, "I guess it's the method of approaching those issues that
separates you from Professor Xavier's school..."

She made this reference deliberately, curious about why the two
groups held such hostility towards each other.

"Method..." Magneto repeated thoughtfully, "Yes, I suppose that is
true.  We have differing opinions on which methods would be
effective..."

"And you think some of the Council's methods of approaching issues
may also be effective for you in the end," Rebecca said, matter-of-
factly, "Especially considering the resources they have available.
But...you would need contacts there.  I guess they wouldn't just let
you guys wander around one of the old libraries..."

Magneto smiled and shook his head, "No, I doubt that."

"And then you knew about our mother's powers and my family's
paternal link to the Council," she continued, but her face suddenly
faded into strange frown, "So, then...why the hell did you just
break into the house?  I hate to say Sid had a point with that
question..."

"Oh, thanks," her brother said with annoyance, rolling his eyes
toward the ceiling.

"You knew what our mom could do..." she continued addressing
Magneto, "Weren't you worried I'd just blow you up or something?"

Magneto smiled, "Well, I hoped that you had inherited your mother's
temperament also."

"Well, yeah, I guess," Rebecca continued, "But you just decided to
break into a pyrokenetic's house?  Whose idea was that?"

Her face was serious, but Magneto could not help but be amused by
her sudden scolding tone.  He found her eerie semblance to her uncle
Sebastian almost comical as she ranted.

"And," she continued, "What would have happened if we were a real
Council house?  There might have been guarding hexes over the doors
or demons hanging around for whatever reason...I mean, really, how
many people here have ever seen a demon, let alone know how to get
away from one?"

Mystique shifted her gaze to the young woman.

"We've been watching you for months," she replied sharply to
Rebecca, "Some of us have seen demons before, and we never saw
anything supernatural during our reconnaissance."

"Reconnaissance?" Sid asked quickly, and then chuckled
cynically, "Why didn't you just pick up a phone book?  We are
listed.  You could've just called and asked to stop by..."

Rebecca grinned at her brother, and then glanced back at Magneto
with amused suspicion.

"I'm not the only one who avoids possible phone contact with our
uncle," she said.

"Indeed..." Magneto agreed, "I actually have not seen him or spoken
to him since his...well, let's just say, when he became more of a
night person."

"I talked to him a little while ago," Sid said, "He's moving our
things to his New York City apartment.  He was...and we
were...hoping you'd be willing to bring us there...after you've
spoken to us, of course..."

Sid said this with doubt, but Magneto nodded politely.

"Of course," he replied, "And, fortunately, your sister has guessed
my motivations for contacting you both.  Mutant issues do not have
their proper place within the Council.  Yet, it has many ancient and
modern resources that would prove invaluable to our cause."

Magneto leaned forward, his face filled with grave concern.  His
tone was soft, almost mournful, and in a more comfortable setting,
could have easily lulled someone into sleep.  This was practiced,
and purposeful, and meant to draw their trust.

"Since the psychic attacks the world experienced eight months ago,
violence towards mutants in the community has increased.  This
anyone would know just by watching the evening news.  Hate groups,
such as the Friends of Humanity, form under the guise of concerned
human citizens seeking peace, but in truth their goals are to make
mutants subservient, weak and extinct.  I take full responsibility
for the catastrophe at Liberty Island, and I realize now that a
direct assault on our aggressors would not be advantageous for us..."

At least not yet, Mystique thought to herself, her mouth curling
into a secretive smile.

"...therefore, I am searching for alternative methods to answer this
problem, this prejudice, that mutants must live with.  Making
connections with the Council is simply our first step.  Our approach
to you both may have been inappropriate, but it did expose a new
threat to our people, and next time we will be better prepared to
face such a threat, and maybe prevent a future tragedy."

When he was finished, Rebecca and Sid exchanged a silence glance.
His words had been forceful, but also seemed very sincere.  After a
few quiet moments, Magneto's expression changed again, returning to
it previous pleasant smile.

"Though, I don't expect you will make a decision on this right
away," he offered with a small shrug, "It's a rather large favor to
ask, especially considering the ordeals of the past few days.  I
imagine you'll want to discuss it further in private...and discuss
my offer with your uncle, a task I do not envy.  But, perhaps I will
have an opportunity to speak with him when we take you to New
York..."

The twins looked surprised at the sudden offer.  Magneto sat back
and touched his chin thoughtfully.

"We'll leave in the morning," he said with a smile, "I assume you
would like to arrive during the day.  Get a few hours of peace
before your uncle awakes?"

"Oh, yes, please," Rebecca replied, her face brightening with
exaggerated politeness.  Sid rolled his eyes and sighed, but any
trace of his earlier anger towards Magneto seemed to have diminished
for the most part.

Inwardly, Magneto was very pleased.  He glanced at Mystique, and
spoke his plan as if it had suddenly come to his mind.

"You and Pyro should accompany us," he said, and she nodded as they
had rehearsed, and Magneto continued, "He has been waiting for weeks
to have a chance to leave the Island.  A few days in the city may be
good for him."

"Sebastian's apartment has plenty of guest rooms," Rebecca
said, "And I'm sure my dearest uncle will be way to busy yelling at
me to even notice you're there..."

Magneto chuckled, "Very well.  I'll have Toad prepare the jet for a
morning departure.  Until then, I'm sure the Lady would prefer if
you slept in the infirmary."

Sid nodded, "That's a good idea...there were a bunch of cots..."

"Fine, then we shall meet you in the front hanger in the morning,"
Magneto said, rising to his feet.  The twins and Mystique also rose
and Rebecca and Sid exited through the long tunnel.

Once they were gone, Mystique looked at Erik with a smile.

"Do you think they believed you?" she asked wryly.  Erik frowned at
her with mock surprise.

"Did I say something they should not believe?" he asked.

Mystique shook her head, "No, they expected a lie or an unacceptable
truth.  You said exactly what they did not expect.  You said exactly
what you meant, but not exactly what you meant..."

She gave him a wicked smile.

"Truthful...but you did not exactly speak the entire truth..."

"But I did not lie..." he said simply, "What truths I have not yet
revealed...will be made clear to them in time..."

***
Archived at www.fanfiction.net/~leen713
*work in progress*

Hi Everybody,

Although Catlin's interview is still in progress, I'd like to get
started on next month's interview.  May's WRFA interview will be with
Brianna Aisling, the author of such stories as "Enough", "Laying
Claim", "Touched" and "Saying Goodbye" among others. The stories can
be read at the WRFA archive or Brianna's own site, The Notebook:
Dreamers Never Die (http://www.geocities.com/frankie_anne/). I will
be conducting the interview around the middle of the month. Thus, if
you would like to suggest a question, please contact me by May 10th
at the address below. Another announcement will be made when the
completed interview has been posted.

Thanks for your interst and participation.

Diane

deh@...