Lance walked over and sat on the dry bench. He watched the rain fall and heard it hit the plastic roof over his head. He sighed and lit another cigarette. The rain continued to fall hard all around him making it seem as if he was in a cage. The bench squeaked and moaned as another sat next to him.

"I'm tired of this crap," he said to the young man as he brought the cigarette to his lips.

"I know," Scott said sympathetically.

"Think we'll ever be free?"

"Doubt it,"

Lance sighed again. The rain started to fall faster. He watched a women running with a newspaper over her head to protect her from the onslaught.

"They have no clue how good they've got it," he said finally breaking the silence.

"Who?"

"The humans," he said. "they complain and complain, but they don't realize just how lucky they are,"

"You can't blame them," Scott said as he put his hands in his jacket. "we used to be that way too," he paused. "they don't realize what's happening around them,"

Lance shrugged and blew out another puff of smoke. "I just wish we didn't either," He saw Scott nod in the corner of his eye.

"Well, we do and we can't do anything to change that," Scott sighed. He watched Lance start fiddling with his right ear. He could barely see the black numbers that read 000214 under Lance's dark brown hair. It took a long time for his hair to fully grow back and now it was longer then ever. It covered his dark eyes when he looked down at his feet. But Lance didn't want to get it cut and wouldn't tell Scott why. Scott ran his hand through his newly trimmed hair.

"Someone see the numbers?" Lance asked him.

Scott instinctively pulled his hand up to his ear and rubbed where the numbers 000215 had been placed. "The lady who cut my hair did. I told her it was a gang thing," Lance smiled; a face feature that Scott had rarely seen in the last five years. The rain slowly stopped and the sun began to shine through the clouds. "It's going to be a nice day," Scott smiled as he stood up.

"You sure you want to do this?" Lance asked him following his lead and standing.

"Yeah, I'm positive,"

Lance threw his cigarette down and stepped on it. "Okay then, let's go."

They walked around the corner of the old grocery store and found themselves staring at a large building with a sign that read "Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters,"

"It's been almost six years," Scott said to himself. Lance nodded and started walking towards the building. Scott slowly followed.

"Think they'll recognize you?" Lance asked. Scott stuck his shaking hands in his pockets and continued to watch the ground as he walked.

"I don't look all that different," he said. "do I?" Lance smiled again telling Scott that he did.

In reality, they both did. Lance's hair was longer which was a shock considering how many times it had been shaven off. Scott's on the other hand had taken forever growing back, and was now neatly trimmed to the point where it was shorter then it had been before. Because of his newly gained ability, Scott didn't have to wear his glasses anymore. His two blue eyes were the only thing striking about him anymore.

They were both pale looking and the dark circles around their eyes could be seen from a mile away. Their bodies had also been deprived of most fat and muscle causing them to look tall and thin.

"Their going to be in shock," Lance said as they reached the gate.

"Tell me about it," Scott laughed dryly. "It's not everyday you see a man who's been dead for almost six years," he noticed Lance's face. "well they had to have thought we were dead or otherwise we wouldn't have gravestones," Lance shrugged and opened the gate. It creaked as they pushed past it.

"You sure you can do this?" Lance asked.

"Will you stop asking me that!" Scott growled. "i'm fine,"

They reached the door and stopped. Lance turned to Scott and watched him ring the doorbell.

"No turning back," Lance mumbled. Scott slightly hit him in the arm making him smile again. In actuality, Lances teasing calmed him; it meant Lance was feeling good today, and that hopefully meant no episodes.

The door opened widely and a young man in his late teens stood there.

"Can I help you?" he asked looking from Scott to Lance and then back again.

"Yeah," Scott said quietly. "is Professor Xavier here?"