"Grandma, don't look so worried." Astrid said with a reassuring smile. "I'm sure I'll like it here just fine." She peered up at the imposing structure which would be her school.

Lily looked at her only grandchild. "I'll miss you dearly." she told the girl. "And you know that you can come home to visit whenever you want to?"

"I know Grandma. And I will come visit you once I'm all settled in. I'll call and you can send Robert for me." Robert was Lily's trusted employee and had been for thirty five years. He also acted as the elderly woman's chauffer. Astrid held the frail woman close and kissed her soft wrinkled cheek. She stepped out of the car and saw that Robert had already gotten her bag out of the trunk. Most of her belongings had been sent the day before. She sighed and looked up at the older man. "Take care of her Robert."

"I will Ms. Astrid." he smiled. "We sure will miss you at home."

"I'll miss you too." she almost cried. She hugged him quickly and took her bag. "I'd better go in."

She didn't stay outside to watch as the car drove away. Astrid moved quickly and headed up the wide front steps. She'd barely knocked on the door when it opened. A girl stood in the doorway. She appeared to be approximately the same age as Astrid. The girl had dark brown hair that hung down her back. There was a pure streak of white that ran through the top. The girl wore jeans and a t-shirt, but also wore old fashioned gloves which covered her arms almost up to the sleeve of her shirt. "Hi." the girl said with a southern drawl.

"Hi." Astrid said with a friendly smile. "I'm Astrid. I should be expected."

"Oh sure." the girl smiled back. "I'm Marie, or Rogue. You can call me either. Come on in." Marie moved away from the doorway and gestured for Astrid to enter.

Astrid walked into the spacious foyer and looked around. She was used to massive. Her grandmother's home was huge, but this was even bigger. Off to her right there was an area that had been set up as a gaming and study area. There was an air hockey table, several stand-up arcade games, tables, and a few couches set up around a television. The room was currently in use by students of varying ages. All of the students kept throwing glances her way. None seemed hostile, just interested.

"It's been awhile since we got a new student." Rogue drawled. "At least not an older one."

Astrid nodded. "I tried to continue going to my school, but my grandmother became concerned that I could be injured there." It had been the one thing they'd ever fought about. In the end she'd given in because she'd seen how important it was to Lily. The woman had raised her and given her unconditional love, the least she could do was give Lily peace of mind. "Grandmother can't seem to say enough good things about Professor Xavier and this school."

"I'm glad to hear it." Came the well modulated voice. She looked over to find a distinguished looking older man in a wheelchair. He was bald, and had striking eyes. His voice held the remnants of an English accent. "Thank you Rogue. Hello Astrid, I'm Professor Charles Xavier. Your grandmother has been a good friend for many years." His chair moved over to her silently and he shook her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, and a pleasure to have you with us. Both Lily and Robert say marvelous things about you." Charles was pleased to see a faint blush mar the girl's lovely face. It was rare to see a child who was still innocent in so many ways. He knew her grandmother had grave concerns when it came to the girl.

"While I'm sure I'd appreciate everything they said, I'm pretty sure they'd count as biased in their opinions of me." She said with a soft smile.

"Follow me and we'll get you settled in." he told her.

"I'll see you later Astrid." Rogue said. The two girls gave a short wave, and Astrid followed Professor Xavier closely.

Rogue made her way back to the group of students she'd been studying with. She smiled when Bobby reached out and grabbed her hand. "Who was that?" he asked her as he pulled her back down next to him.

"That's our new student Astrid."

"Was she nice?" Kitty asked.

Rogue shrugged. "Seemed real nice. Real quiet, but I liked her. I think she's just shy."

"She won't be for long. Not around here!" Jubilee giggled.

"She sure was pretty." Rogue added.

"Not as pretty as you." Bobby said loyally causing her to blush.

"The girl is pretty, but is just a girl." Peter Rasputin said in his heavy Russian accent. It was true, she had been pretty, but he had more important things to do than spend the afternoon discussing the appearance of a new comer. One of those important things was studying for the test they were having the next day. "Back to studying." Rogue made a face at him and everyone laughed, then they got back to work.

"Your grandmother told me that you were in honors courses at your last school?" Charles asked.

"Yes sir." Astrid was still staring at the office where she was seated. It was gorgeous, and there were so many books it was hard to pay attention.

"Excellent. I'm sure you'll fit right into our classes then." He reassured the girl. He didn't even have to use his powers to feel the nervous energy roiling off the girl. "Now, let's discuss your special abilities." He spoke softly.

Astrid stared at the man for a moment before beginning. "I can feel things." She stopped and thought. "Like feelings. I can tell what people are feeling. And sometimes I can even make them feel something."

"Empathy."

She nodded. "And I can heal. If someone is sick, or hurt, I can make them better."

"Is there any side effect to that?"

"You mean for me? Or for them?" she tilted her head to the side in question.

"Both."

"Nothing for them. For me though, well, it's different. It's like I absorb the pain into myself. It heals right away, but depending on how serious it is will determine the length of time I suffer."

"And how do you know this Astrid?" he asked gently.

She shrugged and didn't meet his eyes. "Grandma had a stroke. I know it would have been bad. I told her it was a minor one, but it took several hours for the feelings on the right side of my body to come back. I think it would have killed her." She finished in a whisper.

Charles stared at the girl in front of him. Such potential. Such character. He could tell she didn't want her grandmother to know what she'd done. "Don't worry Astrid. I won't tell your secret." He reassured her.

"It's just that she'd worry more. She'd worry that I would hurt myself saving her." She hurriedly explained.

"Well you're here now to learn how to use your powers in addition to your schooling."

Astrid was relieved. This man seemed to make sense. "Thank you."

"We're here to make sure that every aspect of your learning is covered." Charles Xavier pulled out a sheet of paper from a folder and passed it over the desk to her. "This is your schedule. Classes start in two days. I'm putting you in a room near Rogue's, and it's private. I hope you'll be happy here."

Astrid smiled at the kind man as he led her from the office. He told her about the facilities and other activities that she would have at her disposal, and finally they reached what would be her new room. It was a nice room, fairly large and airy with a window seat. Her suitcases and boxes were already in the room waiting to be unpacked. The room held a full size bed, a dresser, chest of drawers, nightstand, and desk.

Professor Xavier left her to unpack. It didn't take her long and then she found herself staring out the picture window from the cushioned seat. It really was quite lovely here. It was hard to believe that it was already the beginning of September. Soon the leaves would be turning to bronze and falling from the trees. Instead of at home she would be here in this sprawling mansion with others that were like her. Different. Unique in each their own way. Astrid would never understand why people feared and hated mutants. Perhaps she was lucky for having the person who had raised her. Lily had taught her that all people were equal, one was not better than the other. At least not by race, gender, or ability. The only thing that made one person better was what was in their heart. How often she had heard her Grandmother say that a person's true intentions showed his or her worth.

Astrid broke herself out of her melancholy state and decided to explore a bit.

"She's settling in as we speak Lily." Charles reassured the elderly woman.

"I do hope she'll be happy there Charles." the woman sighed. "She's so like her mother. So innocent and naïve. I fear she hands out her trust far too easily."

"Well, we'll certainly do our best not only to protect her, but also to be more cautious." he said.

"Lily, tell me what is really troubling you."

"You know me too well Charles." she spoke softly. "She's an extraordinary child, and so very kind. She drew attention to herself after my stroke. I know it was far more serious than she let on. When the doctors at the emergency room compared my MRI with a previous MRI they were amazed to find that damage from a previous stroke had been corrected. One of the doctors knew somehow. He kept trying to draw Astrid into conversations. She trusts him because of his profession. She believes that as a man of medicine he only helps, not harms." Lily was quiet for a moment, then she continued. "The man is Vincent Marone's grandnephew."

The name startled Charles. Vincent Marone was an infamous crime boss. A crime boss dying of cancer. If he had an inkling of what Astrid could do the girl would certainly be a target. "I understand." And it was true. Charles did understand. Marone would use Astrid to cure himself, and then he would use her as a tool for as long as possible. Offer her abilities to the highest bidder. She would never be free again if the man got his hands on her. At the mansion, not only would Astrid learn how to focus and use her abilities, but the X-Men would be able to protect her.

Charles sent the call out telepathically. "X-Men, to the briefing room."