The Story I Couldn't Think Of A Title For

AN: Attention Readers: The sequel to Dance On, Kietro, Dance On! is here! (It didn't take that long either.) How much do you love me? I have a better idea of where I'm going with this story than I did my first one, but I'm still unsure about a lot of things. Tell me what you think: REVIEW!

Oh and I'm also open to suggestions for a title. As you can see, mine really sucks!

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing related to or having anything to do with X-Men or any other Marvel Comic books. Please don't sue me!

Chapter 1

The Genoshan 'Royal Family'

It was noon and the streets of Genosha were full of life. It was almost unbelievable to think that only a little under two years ago this entire island was just one man's private property. But that man had a dream of a sanctuary where his people could live in peace, away from the hatred and prejudice of the outside world. So he built this small island-nation and brought mutants from around the world there. He named them 'Homo Superior' and promised that someday they would inherit the world that fears and hates them. This promise made the people love him, and call him their king.

"I am no king," he told them, "nor am I a savior. I am a simple person, like you, who wants only the respect I deserve."

Still though, the people of Genosha playfully called him 'King Magnus'. In many ways, he was their king. He founded the nation, created the laws, and enforced them. He created a type of 'supreme court' which he called 'The High Court'. He placed mutants he deemed honorable enough in these seats of power. They were known as 'The Mutant Council' and made many important decisions for Genosha. Today, the Council was having its monthly meeting, and one member of the Council was very late...

Kitty Pryde-Maximoff raced through the crowded streets, phasing through anything and anyone in her way. She arrived at City Hall, greeted by a large metal statue of 'King Magnus' himself. After rounding the corner she reached the large doors that led into the meeting room, however she was stopped from entering by a voice that had become very familiar over these past few years.

"You're late," the man sitting at the desk in front of the doors said.

"C'mon, Northstar," Kitty pleaded with him. "Just let me in! If I miss another meeting, Mags is gonna kill me!"

"I wish I could help," Northstar answered while shuffling some documents. "But Magneto told me not to let anyone in after those doors close."

"You should know by now that I'm an exception to everything Magneto says."

"Exactly. You're his daughter-in-law; he might get angry, but he'd never actually harm you. Me, on the other hand, he wouldn't hesitate about..."

"Please," Kitty said while she folded her hands and made a sad face. "Pretty please?"

Northstar stared at her for a moment, thinking, and then he sighed and caved. "Fine, just be covert, okay?"

"Of course," she answered, smiling broadly. She slowly phased herself through the floor, into the meeting room, and directly into her seat. Magneto was busy talking about something and didn't notice her, but Pietro, whose seat was next to hers, watched her quiet entrance and whispered to her, "Glad you could make it."

"I'm sorry," she whispered back. "What did I miss?"

"Nothing important; we just voted on whether or not to make the fact that Charlie learned to walk a national holiday."

"What's the verdict?"

"Happy 'Charlie Learned to Walk' Day!"

Kitty sighed. This wasn't Magneto's first national holiday based on his grandchildren. "Don't you think this a little much?"

Pietro nodded. "But it's better that he's obsessing over this rather than world domination."

Kitty silently agreed and looked at her father-in-law who continued to speak about his plans for a 'Potty Training Parade'. After the meeting ended and the Council began to evacuate the room, Kitty remained in her seat. She watched Magneto gather his things together and waited for him to say something about her tardiness. She didn't have to wait long.

"I see you've decided to join us. I thank you."

"I'm sorry. I promise I won't be late again."

"That's what you said last time. Where were you?"

Kitty looked at her folded hands on her lap. "I just get caught up in things and lose track of time... I really am sorry."

"I know, I know...," Magneto said tiredly as he picked up his briefcase and walked toward the door. "Just... try a little harder next time, okay?"

Kitty nodded fervently and Magneto left the room. She sat alone in silence for a minute until she noticed that he had left one of his papers behind. She picked it up and quickly read it over. Then she pulled out her cell phone and dialed.

"Hey Piotr, I just found some of Magneto's schematics. Do you think you could take a look at them? --- Thanks. --- I can be there at about... oh my gosh! I'm late! Sorry, Petey, but I'm going to have to call you back." She hung up and ran out of the meeting room, past Northstar, and across City Hall until she reached a bright yellow door with cartoon stickers on it.

When she entered she was quickly met by a small, brown-haired toddler. "Mommy!" the little girl yelled as Kitty swooped her up into her arms.

"Hello, there," Kitty said. "How's Mommy's little girl?" Right on cue, another toddler came running toward Kitty. This one was identical to the first except for her platinum colored hair. She didn't say anything, but ran up to her mother and began pulling on her shirt for attention. Kitty put down the toddler she was holding and gave the second one a big hug. "Did you two have fun today?"

Both girls nodded and a tall, lean woman with straight black hair came up behind them. "Hello, Mrs. Maximoff," she said with a smile that Kitty knew was fake.

"I'm late, I know," Kitty said with a sigh as she stood up and faced the woman.

"It's quite all right, Mrs. Maximoff."

"I was at the Council meeting and..."

"We know you're a busy woman, Mrs. Maximoff," the woman said with that smile still plastered on her face.

Kitty hated the way she always used her name. She knew why. Since the day Magneto had first introduced Kitty to Camille, the nursery attendant, after the twins were born she knew the woman hadn't liked her. She looked at her like she wasn't good enough to be in Genosha's 'royal family'; like she wasn't good enough to marry the 'king's son and give birth to the nation's beloved 'princesses'. But she had, and Camille knew what that meant. Kitty was 'Mrs. Maximoff'; a title that called for respect, which was sometimes very hard for her to give, especially when she was late to pick her children up. So Camille took every opportunity to remind herself of this woman whom she disliked so much's authority.

"Well, I guess I'll just be taking my girls home, then."

Camille simply nodded, bent down to the girls' levels, and said to them, "Bye now! I'll see you tomorrow and we can play some more. Won't that be fun?" They both nodded and Camille patted them on the head as they followed their mother. "Good-bye, Mrs. Maximoff."

Kitty was too tired to keep up a smile as fake as her's so she simply waved as she shooed her daughters out the yellow door. When they arrived home the twins took a nap and Kitty went into the living room to make a few phone calls.

While listening to the phone ring she straightened out the pictures on her coffee table. She picked up her favorite one. It was taken on the day the girls were born. Kitty was holding the brown-haired Charlie and Pietro had the silver-haired Erika in his arms. Charlie had her mouth open for a cry while Erika (always the quieter twin) was simply staring into space. Despite the chaos around them, Kitty and Pietro each had on the biggest smiles in the world. It was the happiest day of Kitty's life and, in her opinion, the most beautiful photo she had ever seen. A close second was the one next to it. It showed Kitty and Pietro on their wedding day. They didn't get married until after the girls were born because Kitty said she "didn't want to be fat in the pictures", and she certainly wasn't. Kitty smiled to herself as she remembered both of the glorious days, then someone finally picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Piotr, hi!"

"Kitty?"

"Yeah, it's me. Do you remember what we were talking about earlier? Do you think you could help me?"

"I'm not sure. What sort of schematics are they?"

"Beats me. It looks like some sort of machine, but I'm no expert."

"Neither am I, but it couldn't hurt to take a look. When can you bring them over?"

Kitty bit her lip. She couldn't leave Erika and Charlie alone and she didn't have a babysitter...

"I'm home!" Pietro yelled as he walked through the door and Kitty's face immediately lit up.

"I'll be there in a few," she told Piotr and hurriedly hung up the phone. "Pietro, do you think you could do me a huge favor?"

Pietro entered the living room and asked cautiously, "What sort of a favor?"

"Could you watch the twins for a little while? I need to go... run some errands."

Pietro raised his eyebrows. "What kind of errands?"

"Well..." Kitty's mind raced to find an excuse. Her eyes fell on the grocery list hanging on the bulletin board behind her husband. "We need eggs... and bread... and lettuce... and bacon... and..."

"All right, all right; I get the idea. Of course I'll watch them."

"Thank you so much!" she said and kissed him before grabbing her coat (as well as the shopping list) and running out the front door. In the car, she silently cursed herself for not having a pre-planned excuse because now she had to stop at the grocery store on her way home.

A few minutes later she pulled into the parking lot of a large house The Acolytes lived here, completely paid for by Magneto. He decided that there was no need for them to get mundane jobs to merely pay the bills when they could be doing more important things for him. She entered walked onto the porch and right through the open front door. "Piotr!" she called. "I'm here!"

Gambit walked in from the kitchen and smiled at her. "Hello dhere, chere." He was in his Acolyte's uniform.

"Remy, where are you going?"

"I got me a mission for dhe big guy," he answered. "What brings you here?"

"I'm looking for Petey. Have you seen him?"

Gambit simply pointed to the door that led down into the basement and walked outside, closing the front door behind him. Kitty walked down the stairs and into a dark room that looked something like a lab. Piotr was standing under a bright light, scanning some papers that were strewn all over a wooden table. He looked up when Kitty walked down. "Hello, Katya. Have you brought them?"

Kitty reached into her purse and pulled out Magneto's schematics. "Here they are." She put them on the table and he studied them for a few minutes in silence. "What do you think?"

"I agree that it looks like some machine; a very large one, in fact. But I'm afraid I have no idea what it does."

Kitty sighed.

"I do, however," Piotr said in hopes to lift her spirits, "know someone who might."

"Who?" Kitty asked excitedly.

"He is a fairly new citizen of Genosha. His name, I believe, is Forge."

"Forge..." Kitty repeated quietly to herself. Why did that name sound familiar? "Where can I find him?"

"He works for Magneto as a technician. He'll probably be hanging around City Hall tomorrow."

Kitty nodded. "Thank you, Piotr. I'll be sure to ask him what he thinks tomorrow," she said and gave him a hug before she left.

AN: I hope you liked the first chapter! Please REVIEW! I have no life and live off of your feedback.