Everyone was asleep, at the hacienda Piedras Grandes. Everyone that is, except Sissy. Sissy was the cat. She 'belonged' to the decuplets, who right now, fast asleep, dreaming. They had no idea what Sissy did during the night. That was the only thing Sissy hid from them.

Ever since they had found Sissy, close to the lake, Sissy had always told them everything, even though some of the things she said might not make any sense to normal people. The girls themselves didn't understand Sissy too well sometimes. Sissy had always told them that they were not human, and that was why she trusted them.

She had always helped them develop their powers. After all, who could understand all that better than her. Ever since they had gone to find their brother, and the other mutants were impressed at how controlled and powerful the girls were, they all wanted Sissy to train them. Sissy, of course, had accepted.

She knew that this could be very helpful. The only thing Sissy had against them was that they seemed to think about everything the wrong way. They didn't see things accurately. Sissy hated the fact that while they were in Bayville, everyone had been forced to hide their powers. Of course, she knew what people would do, and how they would react. But, even so, the decuplets could easily defend themselves.

The girls knew Sissy knew why they were the way they were. Why they could do the things they did. She always said that they had to fulfill their destiny, and they believed her, even though they hadn't the slightest idea what that destiny was. It was just better to trust Sissy with it. Sissy knew everything.

Sissy did know everything. Much, much more than they realized, for it was also Sissy the one who had known who Ma.Eugenia's father was. Sissy cursed herself for ever bringing that subject up. She knew that it had been necessary, but still, she disliked him. She only hoped that there would be no problem with him later on. Not that it would make much of a difference in the results, but it would make a gigantic difference in how difficult it would be, but Sissy had complete confidence in the decuplets, and by now, even in their nieces, who were octuplets.

Sissy walked, and walked, away from the hacienda, away from the mountains. Soon, she came to where she wanted to get to. There, someone met her.

"You see, my family!"she started to say. "My family! They are killing them. Why? What did we ever do to them? I hate them, I hate them all. But soon, we shall play by their rules."

"Yes, we will."the man told Sissy.

"I think there's a problem, though. They seem all to be convinced of everything, except the difference. How is it that they consider themselves human? How? Humans are nothing more than a bunch of heartless, poorly-adapted species. They may have survived this long, however, they will soon meet their match."

Sissy looked up, at the figure next to her.

"Yes, they will meet their match."

"He is now courting Alfonsina. Ma.Xamila turned him down, remember? He just moped around, furious for a while, and then he started on Alfonsina. He's been at that for almost, well, for quite a while, anyway. A few months, and I don't think it will get him anywhere. He is still doing the overseer's job."

"Why?"

"It helps put him very high, in Alfonsina's eyes. In her brother's, and so forth. He might not like it, but he's willing to do anything to get her to marry him. He is despereate. Imagine wasting your life, supervising a bunch of men, and courting a girl who's an old maid, just so you can get your hands on some money. I don't like that. He thinks too much about money, you see. And Ma.Eugenia and Mr.Marko are doing a great job. I never doubted Ma.Eugenia, of course, because she was always a good actress, and she managed to get the other two together. However, I think this presents a problem. Maybe not for Mr.Marko, but probably for Ma.Eugenia, and we had better be prepared for it. The bond of blood could probably be too strong for her to reject, you know. We might have a hard time thinking of a good enough argument. Luckily, she still hold a great grudge against him."

"If she still holds a grudge, how will the blood be a problem?"

"The bond of blood. You can't go against someone who carries your same blood. That's just how these people think. But we'll see how things work out. I think I know one way they might. I'll just have to do it sooner than planned. The sooner, the better. I will keep you informed. I think we should meet tomorrow night. Right here. I must get back to the hacienda. They will be expecting to find me on Ana Cristina's bed."

Sissy ran back the way she came, and was gone. The next morning, at the breakfast table, the decuplets were arguing with their cousin over why they couldn't pass a video game.

"You guys are just quitters. You can really pass it if you want to. You just have to practice more."

"We're just not good at it, Cuzzy. Unlike you, who are extremely talented."

"I'm not talented."

"Yes, you are. And you know it."

"You guys just like to put yourselves down."he simply said.

How true that is, you are nothing more than a bunch of quitters, thought Pietro. He still hadn't gotten over the fact that Ma.Xamila had rejected him. Even though, she had never said anything bad about him, still. If she had only just forgotten about her sisters and that stupid cat for once in her life, he wouldn't be in this mess. Right now, he wouldn't be getting ready to go outside, spend his days on the back of a horse, ruining his boots, and keeping accounts. He would be living the same leisured life Lance lived. It was him who deserved all this, not Lance.

How unfair it was, to watch him sit at the head of the table three times a day, give orders and have those orders followed immediately. Of course, Pietro had some authority, over the workers, not the staff, and definitely not over Lance. If only he still had that Summers to take this anger out on. How he did enjoy beating him up and watching others do it.

"Now, Pietry,"Ma.Xitlalli was saying to him. "Don't you think that my sister, Aimee is a brat? You've met her. Really, her and Chachi are actually made for one another, with the difference that one isn't crazy, am I not right?"

"Of course you're right. Why shouldn't you be right? You guys are always right."

Ma.Xitlalli sighed.

"You make me blush."

"No he doesn't, Tia Maruja."Ana Cristina said, who along with her sisters had learned to speak very rapidly.

"Oh, Tina. You would be surprised at how much I do blush, just not while people are around. Just ask Sissy. She's seen it."

"Yes, I've seen it, too."said Ma.Eugenia.

Jesus laughed.

"Sissy? That cat? You guys still talk to the cat? Gee, I used to think that was just because you guys were still young, however, I think now, that you are mentally retarded."

"Shut up."

"The cat is okay."said Rogue. "Very okay. And I don't like cats, so, taking into account that it's me the one who's saying it. That should tell you a lot about the cat."

Rogue really didn't like cats, but Sissy had helped her learn to control her powers. Before, she couldn't touch anybody. She was always afraid that she would hurt them. She always wore gloves to prevent his from happening. It had been especially hard when she came here for the first time, too. Here, people were always kissing, or hugging, and they sometimes thought she was offending them if she didn't take off her gloves to shake hands, and kiss them on the cheek.

Now, thanks to Sissy, Arthur, and the decuplets, she dressed and acted like a normal person. Everything was suddenly much more pleasant for her. Much more. So much that she decided that she would stay here, in San Pedro forever. She did not want to go back to where people only shook hands and stayed away from each other. She wanted to be here, where people would see you, hug you, kiss you, button your coat, play with your hair, and hold your hand. Now that she could touch people, it seemed she wanted to hug everyone in sight.

She was the happiest she had ever been in all her life. Not only was she in full control of her powers, but she also had Scott. She knew that before, he liked Jean, but Jean had taken it upon herself to hurt him. Pietro had been courting her, and sending her flowers. Jean had obviously liked this, for several times had they been seen talking together, laughing, and appearing to have a good time.

"Now, all of you, listen to me."she was saying to the octuplets later. "You know you're not allowed to go to town by yourselves. Only if someone were to go with you. Besides what could you possibly want to go to San Pedro for?"

"Only to see our Tia Monica."

"Tia Monica won't be too pleased if you disobeyed, even if it was to go and see her."

"We like to see her. You could come with us."

"Not today. Besides, didn't Alfonsina say that Princessa was about to have her sixth foul."

Rogue knew the octuplets were very much like their aunts, and just like their aunts, they loved anything having to do with breeding. They loved to watch the small kittens, puppies, calves, fouls, piglets, and bunnies, when they were only a few days old, and admired the way their mothers cared for them. They liked to watch them nurse, and watch what the cats, dogs, rabbits, cow, mares, and sows did while they were expecting their young, and how they build their nests.

That was why they liked to San Pedro so often. Monica was going to have her second baby, and besides, Grandma was also there. Francisca would trust no one to look after her daughter.

"Can't we stay with Princessa, and go see Tia Monica?"

"One thing at a time, and besides, it wouldn't be a bad idea if we went for a ride."

Rogue found the one whose turn it was to hold her hand, who was Ana Catalina. Since there was only one of her, and eight of them, they had agreed that they would take turns in holding her hand.

"Who would have thought that you'd make such a good nurse? And we used to think you couldn't stand kids. Well, we know can't. Not really, anyways, it depends."Ma.Xoaquina told her.

The decuplets were sitting outside, working on their embroidery, with Kitty, Ma.Eugenia, and Sissy, who was curled up on a foot stool. Some of the other cats, and the dogs were there as well. Charlie was looking out the window. They said they had named him in honor of Charlie Zaa, or the way they put it, Charlie Zucks. Paco was asleep on the floor, snoring.

"That's true. You were always so short-tempered, Rogue."Kitty said, while threading her needle.

"Oh, I just think they are just nice girls."

"Of course, they are nice. They are just like us, only that there are two more of us, so that means that they're just missing two 'nice' qualities."

"I think just the opposite is true. You're the ones who seem to be lacking those 'nice' qualities."

"Is this how you repay us? By telling us we lack certain qualities? We should never have helped you. Just joking."

Rogue smiled.

"Are you all right, Maru?"Kitty asked, noticing that Maru had put down her embroidery.

"Yes, I just, I don't know. I...I just felt kind of funny."

"Of course you did."Ma.Xacinta told her. "We've been feeling odd, too. Something's about to happen."

"What? When?"asked Kitty.

"Nothing bad, we think, but soon."

Sissy looked up. Something is going to happen. To you, Maru. I'm sure you will be very pleased by it. It will certainly come in handy.