Hello!  I don't own anything created in X-Men: Evolution.  I do, however, own Rose, Sisi, and Mary Ellen Frost (of no connection to Emma Frost, white queen of the Hellfire Club and leader of the Hellions).

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She looked lovingly at her plants. She had grown them herself, feeding her best water to them. She had spent every available minute near them. They seemed to grow best with her around. Smiling, she turned back to the book.

"Rose Ann Moss! Get in here this minute!" a sharp voice shot out. Rose sighed. Her foster mother, Mary Ellen Frost, did not like her, and was considering sending her back to the orphanage where she had come from. "Now, Rose Ann!"

"I asked you to call me Rose, not Rose Ann!" she shouted back. Oh, I hate her! So mean! I wish... Rose thought angrily, but suddenly realized where her thoughts were heading, and directed them instead towards her plants. She smiled sweetly down at them.

The nearest flower, a tulip, seemed to stretch it's leaves to her. Rose reached out, and felt the gentle leaf slide into her hand. Rose saw all of her plants stretching out to her.

"Freak! You are never coming back here! Go pack your wretched tings!" Mary Ellen Frost screamed, dragging the girl up to her feet and shoving her through the door. Before the door shut behind Rose, she heard the screaming of her tender tulip.

"Rose! You're back!" her best friend at the orphanage cried. Rose looked up.

"Mary Ellen Frost killed my plants, Sisi. She just – killed them. After all that work I had put into them, she just killed them," Rose said mournfully.

"Oh no! But, I kept up your garden here, Rose! Come on! Maybe it'll cheer you up?" Sisi suggested, hoping that the garden would help her friend. Rose nodded glumly, nad was led outside to the small space that had been given to her and Sisi for their garden.

Rose fell to her knees and cupped a pansy. "They aren't seeming to grow as well for me as they do for you, but I did what I could," Sisi explained, knowing that the flower paled in comparison to the pansy Rose could make of it. Rose shook her head.

"How are you, little one?" she cooed to the flower cupped in her hand.

Fine, but I like you better than that girl. But she is nice. She takes away the evil plants and waters me! The flower replied. Rose smiled.

"She says she likes you," Rose told her friend. Sisi grinned.

"I bet she likes you better. They all do. You have a green thumb with plants," Sisi informed her best friend. They both broke into identical grins. Sisi knew that Rose had a knack of knowing what the flowers liked and didn't like, so she usually left that up to Rose.

A month flew by. Rose and Sisi's garden blossomed into its full glory. "I told you, Rose. You have a green thumb with plants," Sisi teased. Rose laughed, sprinkling crystal clear water onto the plants that had grown to be absolutely beautiful.

"Rose!" a small boy came panting up to her. His dark hair was steadily becoming lighter in the sunlight. "The Headmaster wants you up in his office," he added hastily. Rose and Sisi exchanged glances.

"Thanks, David," Rose told him. "I'll be up in a sec," she added to the skeptical boy. He nodded, and scampered off. "What do you think he wants?" Rose asked worriedly.

"Probably to see if you kept up with your studies. You know he thinks of you as one of his best students. Hopefully, that's it," Sisi answered. She winced after she said 'hopefully'. I sound so mistrusting, even to myself, she groaned inwardly. Rose dusted off.

"I'll see you later. Can you finish giving them the water? Especially the tomato plants," Rose asked. Sisi nodded. "Thanks," she handed the watering can to Sisi before dashing up to the house.

Oh, please, don't let it be another family to adopt me. Anything but that! She worried as she went up the cool mahogany steps. She knocked gently at the great oak doors.

"Come in, Rose," the Headmaster called. Fighting her nerves, she opened the doors.

It always amazed her whenever she came inside this room. The immense shelves were filled with all the Headmaster's collection of this and that. Her favorite part was the maple wood desk. Behind the desk, as usual, sat the Headmaster. Beside him, a bald man in a wheelchair looked over at Rose as she entered.

"Here she is. Professor Xavier, this is our resident botany genius, Rose Ann Moss. Rose, this is Professor Charles Xavier," the Headmaster introduced. Rose blushed.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Professor," Rose told him, giving a curtsey. Maybe I can go to his school and grow a garden there! If he's interested in botany, then maybe I'll be okay! She thought excitedly.

Professor Charles Xavier looked over at the girl, his eyes sparkling with interest. "The pleasure is all mine, Miss Moss. Tell me, what is your opinion on growing plants?"

"It is like seeing human life in a shortened version. You need to care for them, love them, teach them in some cases, and all for the benefit of others. Some are beautiful, some are not, but all of them are unique," Rose answered impulsively. I can't believe I didn't think! What if he thinks I'm weird and won't let me go with him? I mean, it would be cool if he had a school he might invite me to, but what if he thinks I'm nuts? I hate it when people think I'm nuts, she panicked.

"Hmm...I never thought of it that way. Would you care to show me around?" the Professor asked, knowing exactly how to make her feel more comfortable.

It worked. Oh, thank goodness! I am so glad he didn't think me nuts. Now, what's the best way to say 'yes?' she wondered? "Sir – Professor, I'd be honored to," she finally told him, and gained the pleasure of seeing him smile. She led him out the great oak doors and down the hall.

"Do you like it here?" the Professor asked when Rose was showing him around downstairs.

"Not really. I mean, the grounds are great for vegetation, but I only have one friend, Sisi. Sisi loves it here, and has at least six other friends. The library has lots of nice books, but so do many," Rose answered absently.

I never really liked Sisi's friends. Sisi and I are only friends because we were assigned to the same botany project five years ago. I always had the suspicion that Sisi only used me to learn how to grow a proper garden because she likes gardens, too. Never understood her, Rose remembered, and then flushed. I'm being mean. Sisi is my best friend. I shouldn't think mean thoughts about her. It isn't nice. What would she say if she found out that I was insulting her behind her back?

Charles Xavier shook his head. The girl had some issued about friends, but he knew that, with time, that might be forgotten. "Miss Moss, I have a school for youngsters such as yourself. Would you like to come back with me?" he asked gently.

Go with him? Did he really just ask me that? That so totally rocks! I'll have so much fun! If he lets me have a garden, I'll be set! I can write Sisi; she'll understand, Rose thought excitedly. "Professor, I'd be honored to be accepted into your school," she told him, letting a hint of her gratitude into her voice. The Professor smiled.

"Then I shall talk to your Headmaster, and have it arranged. I planned on leaving tomorrow. Is that too soon for you?"

Too soon? Not at all! "No, sir. It isn't," Rose answered. Why would he think it would be too soon? I can pack all my stuff in at least an hour, she wondered. I've done it before.

"Very well. I shall see you tomorrow around 7:00," the Professor told the girl.

Rose nodded, curtsied (believing it was polite), and thanked him. She then ran off, looking for Sisi. She found Sisi working in the garden, a hoe in her hand.

"Rose! What took so long?" Sisi demanded, upset. She took too long! Does she think I can't tell time? Sisi grumbled inwardly.

"Professor Charles Xavier asked me to give him a tour of our home. It isn't polite to turn down a Professor, Sisi," Rose informed her, accidentally with a high and mighty air. Oh, man. I hope I didn't hurt her feelings.

"You're joking, right? What did this wacko Professor want?" Sisi growled, impatient and irritable.

"Sisi! It isn't nice to call him a wacko!" Rose scolded. She isn't being nice right now. I hope it isn't my fault! Rose worried.

"I don't care!" Sisi snapped. Crazy girl! Why are you so dense? "What did he want?" she demanded.

"Sisi, it is important to be nice. The Professor wanted to see the house. And the best part is that he invited me to his school! I'm the only one he asked, I'm sure of it!" Rose told her friend, excitement and pride rising in her chest. Oh, boy! I have to pack! "I'm leaving tomorrow."

"What?!?!" Sisi screamed. You arrogant pig! You crazy idiot! "You're leaving me? You're no friend! I'll bet you'll never make friends at that freak of a school you're going to! I can't believe you let that freak of a teacher talk you into it!" Calm down, Sisi ordered herself. "I'm glad you're leaving! You crazy, arrogant freak!"

Rose looked hurt, staring at the ground. The pansy crept around her leg. Don't listen to her. She isn't as nice as you, she told Rose.

Sisi screamed, and leapt forward, beating the plant with a hoe. Rose cried out, and all the other vegetation leapt out at Sisi. Sisi began smashing all the plants, one by one falling to the ground.

Rose stood up and ran, hearing the shrill screams of all her friends in her mind, over and over. What did they ever do to Sisi? Rose wondered, tears streaming down her face. Why did Sisi call me crazy? Why did she kill my friends? Does she hate me? Does everyone feel this way about me? Am I crazy? She ran into her room.

Okay, calm down, she told herself, looking for her bags. One was for her small collection of books. The others were for her clothes and personal items. She arranged her books into her bag by the author's name, taking deep breaths as she settled each into it's proper place.

Let's see, clothes next, she decided. She went to her closet, pulling out the pants first. I've never been a big fan of dresses. They just trip you up, she thought as she put all of her shirts in next. That bag full, she turned to the small collection of her personal items.

She looked down at the small stuffed animal. It had been her first toy. It was the last toy she had left from her parents. She set the small dog into the bag, and then picked up the framed picture.

"Mom, Dad," she whispered, her fingers tracing them. They look really happy. So happy. Was this the day I was born? Did they think I was going to be a lunatic? Would I have been happier with them? Would I have had friends?

"Mom, Dad, why did you have to die when I was only three?" Rose asked the people in the picture before setting the picture into the bag.

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