Secrets & Lies

(The continuing saga of the X-Chronicles; companion story to "All In The Family")

by garggirl

Disclaimer:

Again, please disregard all timelines while reading this fic.

The X-Men and all other X-factions are the property of Marvel Comics/Stan Lee.

The characters of Lorrie, Stacii, and Chloe Xavier are the property of Passion. The characters Sasha Xavier & Greg O'Connell belong to me. Any request to use my characters must be asked for in writing.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming...

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: This series has a bit of a different format than anything else I've previously posted. The X Chronicles is a joint venture between myself and my sister. The first part is written from the point of view of one character and the second is from the point of view of another character. It is important that you read both parts because each fic describes different events as well as many events in which both characters are present for.

SPECIAL NOTE: When reading these fics, please keep in mind that those written by Passion might be a little difficult to read due to the fact that she is bipolar and she had written her parts in such as way that she would be able to understand what she has written. Bearing this in mind, I ask that no flames are sent in regards to the spelling/grammar/etc...

AMENDMENT: These fics are completely un-beta'd, so all mistakes are the faults of us, the authors.

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This was a morning like any other...the sun was shining, the birds were chirping...and the Xavier mansion was a buzz of activity. Sasha, the youngest of the Xavier brood, stood at the stove flipping pancakes just the same as she had done every other morning -- she and her sisters had decided a long time ago to share the cooking duties and it was just shear luck that she had been allowed to take care of breakfast meals. The table was laid out with the usual spread -- bacon, eggs, waffles, french toast -- you named it, Sasha would make it. The tiny blonde had just placed a small plastic package on Hank's plate when the room began to fill with hungry mutants.

The big, blue mutant lumbered his way to his usual seat and looked curiously at the plastic wrapping. Turning his gaze to Sasha, he asked "What's this?" and held it up.

Sasha smiled broadly. "Your breakfast twinkie!"

"Ooooo," Hank elated, tearing open the package, and engulfed the tiny snack cake. "Fank you!" he said through a mouthful of twinkie.

Sasha giggled and shook her head slightly, turning back to her task. Charles parked his wheelchair at the head of the table and, before he even had a chance to open his mouth, Sasha appeared at his side with a steaming cup of coffee.

"Y'know, dad," she said, placing the cup in front of her father, "y'should really look into a 12-step program for your caffeine addiction."

Charles chuckled softly, "I would, my dear, but then I'd have to let Juan Valdez out of the basement…and well, what fun would that be? That man is 'Juan' in a million! Besides, Chloe's always wanted a pony, I believe his donkey is still in the barn."

Sasha laughed out loud. "If it is, it won't be for long. I overheard Logan planning a huntin' trip. He was oilin' up his guns an' everythin'." Both Sasha and Charles laughed out loud for a moment before she went on preparing breakfast.

Remy was one of the last of the gang to enter the kitchen. Sasha looked at him, then looked around the room. "Isn't Chloe coming down for breakfast?"

"Chere said somet'ing 'bout goin' into da city f'r a bit o'shoppin', petite." Remy's behind had barely touched the seat of the chair when a sudden screeching rang through the air.

"What in the-hee blue hell!" followed a few seconds later by a panicked-looking Chloe skidding into the room. "Lorrie, Stacii, Sasha, DAD!"

Remy immediately jumped into action and was at Chloe's side in a flash, trying in his very own unique way to sooth her nerves. "Wad is it, mon chere?" He stroked her long chestnut tresses.

"Where is my god-damned truck?" Chloe asked angrily.

"You parked it in the garage, darlin'," Logan said as Lorrie took her fiancée's beer away from him and replaced it with a cup of coffee. Logan scowled for a moment but didn't give voice to his objections. Instead he just sipped at the warm liquid. "Seen it in there myself when I closed the garage up last evenin'."

"Well it ain't there now short, cute, an' fuzzy!"

"Ummm… Chloe?" Sasha called rather meekly, setting a plate of bacon and eggs on the table.

"Kyeah?" she replied as Remy hugged her to him tenderly, trying to soothe Chloe's anger.

"I think you need to sit down first," Sasha kindly suggested and offered her sister a chair.

Chloe took a deep, cleansing breath in an attempt to calm herself. She then allowed Remy to sit first then perched herself atop his lap so he could rock her back and forth. "Just tell me Quack-Quack girly-girl, it's all good." Chloe said, shaking slightly. "Did you run out of gas in your car so borrowed my truck, then got in an accident and it got impounded by the cops? Really, Sassyfras, if ya did, it's cool. I understand. Accidents happen. Though you know you could have come and told me. At any rate, it's alright…just tell me where it is and I'll go pick it up." Chloe reached out and gave Sasha an understanding hug, letting her know if Sasha had she was no longer upset.

"Uhhh… no sis it wasn't me." Sasha replied slowly, kneeling down next to the chair. "If it were I'd have brought you back the steering wheel as a memento of your baby. Also, if you want Stacii's attention your gonna to need to yell a lot louder if you expect her to hear you." Sasha paused and immediately knew that Chloe wouldn't like this. So, feeling it best to just come out with it, continued. "Chloe, I'm sorry but, late last night Stacii left the house for Spirit-knows-where and…well…she took your Hummer!" Sasha winced "It wasn't me, I'm sorry."

All eyes shifted back to the punked-out country girl. "S'cuse me? What didja just say, Sassyfras?" Chloe, again, began to get fired up.

Charles, seeing his tiny waif of a daughter infuriated, said "Chloe, please sit down and relax before you snap. The past few days have been so very hard on you. We don't want to lose you. That would just kill me. Please, my dear, calm down and have some tea, won't you?" He signaled to Betsy who promptly jumped up and fixed a cup of tea from the steaming kettle on the stove.

"Popsy, it's gonna take a hellavalot lot more than tea t'calm me!" Betsy returned to the table and set the delicate, floral teacup in front of Chloe. "And just so you know, I've already snapped! When -- or if -- that stealing lil' bitch gets back here, just so y'all know… I am gonna kill her! O yes I am! And Sasha," Chloe said to her lil'sis who was still cringing at her side "don't panic. I'm not going to kill the messenger!"

Silence charged the air in the room for several long seconds before everyone returned to their previous conversations.

"I dunno what I'm gonna do now," Chloe groaned, her face cradled in her hands. "I can't afford to buy a new one…you gave me the truck for my b-day when I turned 16, dad. Great Goddess Inanna! Can't she just leave me alone! I don't bug noone. Makes me wonder what I ever did in a former life to deserve this from her!" Chloe's eyes glazed over, the salty tears that filled the corners of her eyes threatening to escape.

"Here Coco, take this" Lorrie said, offering Chloe the spare keys to her caravan.

"Thanks chicka but it's cool. I'll figure something out, maybe get another job -- though it'll be back to the way things had been for me 'round here, not seen or heard. Sorry, but I ain't got a choice."

"Chloe, no! Don't do that! We can share the car I got for my b-day! If it wasn't for you I wouldn't have gotten it to begin with," Sasha interjected, practically pleading with her to reconsider -- she was beginning to like the idea of having Chloe around like the good ol'days.

"Naa, it's alrighty lil'girly. It's all yours, and it'll be just till I can buy a new one is all!" Chloe replied in her soft mellow-tones.

At that point Bobby, having been in the garage himself -- toolin' 'round with his own ride -- had a ring-side seat for the discovery, waltzed in, a sly smirk apparent on his features.

"It appears Stacii left her convertible sports car Volkswagen behind, Chloe," Bobby said, grabbing a teatowel off the counter to wipe the grease and motor oil off his hands. Sasha scowled at him as she beared witness to the untimely demise of one of her towel sets.

"Yeah, thanks Bobert baby, but, 1) I don't have a key and 2) just cuz she stole mine doesn't mean I'm gonna steal hers, cuz that's what I'd basically be doing. Besides, the ownership is still in her name," Chloe replied, heaving a heavy sigh.

"True Chloe, you're very much unlike your sister. After the last little bit, my eyes have opened immensely to the ways of your sister. I know you're not the kinda girl to do those things…never thought for a minute you would, so I went to look into something." Bobby still had the sly smirk plastered on his face.

"What ya babblin' 'bout doll face?" Chloe rubbed her forehead, her illness now running rampant in her head causing a major-league headache.

"Your Bobert here is babblin' about this, Coco," Bobby chuckled, tossing some papers and a key at Chloe. She picked up and rifled through them, briefly skimming the print.

"Where y'get dis, Ice?" Remy asked, reading over Chloe's shoulder.

"From Stacii's glove compartment," he chuckled.

"These are the ownership papers to her convertible!" Chloe said, wholly surprised, and looked at Charles.

Charles looked at the papers, seeing his name still listed as the primary owner of the vehicle. Stacii had obviously never bothered to take full responsibility for the ownership. Charles pulled a pen from his shirt pocket, crossing out Stacii's name and replacing it with Chloe's then handed the papers back to his stunned daughter.

"Thanks, dad, but I dunno… it just don't feel right. I still feel like I'm swiping it, and I refuse to sink her level."

"Alright then, my dear, I totally understand. Would you be willing to use Sasha's or Lorrie's vehicles for a little while then, and I'll see what I can do about looking into possible lease-to-owns or something affordable on your salary then?"

"Not like I got an option. Alrighty, thanks Dad," Chloe replied, finishing her tea and sighing heavily. It was obvious to everyone in the room that Chloe was absolutely crushed at knowing her days plans were ruined.

"Your welcome dear," Charles smiled, pouring himself yet another coffee, and headed for his office. "Remy, Logan...may I see you both in my office, please." Both men promptly pushed away from the table and followed the wheelchair-bound man out of the room.

"Hey Chloe," Sasha piped up cheerful, as if a great idea had just struck her. "I can take ya into town. I wanna to check out a new Wicca Shop that just opened. Jubes is comin' along for a lil on-site trainin'." Both she and Jubilee grabbed their purses.

"Hey mind if I tag along for the ride?" Kitty asked sweetly, batting her eyelashes in an attempt to get Chloe to crack a smile.

"Sure Kit-Kat," Sasha giggled, then turned back to Chloe. "So, how 'bout it, sis?"

"Yeah, what the hell," Chloe replied somewhat quietly and a lil more than somewhat depressed.

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Several hours had past since the girls had set out on their shopping adventure. They hit every Wicca shop they could find...not to mention the clothes, jewellry, and make-up outlets they passed in the process. At one point, the girls had even found themselves in a lingerie shop. Sasha, Jubilee, and Kitty kept exchanging three-way looks, each of them thinking of naughty things they could do with their guys if only they had the right accessories.

Sasha smiled wickedly as she grabbed a black lace teddy with matching stileto pumps and disappeared into a changing room, and didn't reappeared until ten minutes later.

"Geez, Sas," Chloe started "what took ya so long? We were just 'bout t'send a search party in after ya."

Sasha squirmed slightly as she adjusted the sexy negligee in the full-length mirror. "I was having a little trouble with the snaps. I swear, a guy must've invented lingerie cuz no woman could come up with something like this! It's like chinese water torture."

This sent the girls into a downward spiral of giggles.

Sasha turned to the others, smoothing out the front of the negligee, she sighed. "Well, if you were a guy, what would you think?" She held her arms out and showed all her sides.

Jubilee leaned against a rack of silk nighties. "Kurt will be a lucky, lucky man."

"You really think he would like it?"

"He'd probably be thinking 'Yippee!" Chloe giggled.

Sasha smirked and threw a pair of stockings at her sister, elicting another round of giggles.

It wasn't long before Sasha paid for her purchases, Jubilee and Kitty also picking up a few sexy little somethings to tittilate their own guys, before the quartet of giggling girls once again found themselves on their way.

The hour was now nearing noon, and the girls continued on with their day'o'fun. Chloe and Kitty had ducked into a small Wicca shop as Sasha and Jubilee had done the same thing in FAO Swartz next door. After about twenty minutes, they met back up out on the street.

"Hey umm… Chloe," Sasha overheard Kitty saying, "I know your busy and all, and… if it's … well… not too much trouble, do you think you could teach me?"

"Teach ya what?" Chloe giggled, then turned to Sasha and said, "What do you say we go for lunch?" she took a quick look through her shopping bags to make sure everything was there. "My treat for Sasha being chicka enough to get me into town and pick up Lorrie & Logan's wedding gift"

"Took ya long enough Coco-puff, it's the least you could do," Sasha giggled and playfully chucked her sis on the arm. The quartet began to walk down the street, searching for a suitable little restaurant. Returning to what Kitty had asked, Sasha continued, "Kitty wants t'know if ya would teach her the ways of the Old Ones?"

The girls stepped into a quaint little bistro with an dining terrace and waited until an outdoor table became available. The girls, however, didn't need to wait long and soon found themselves enjoying the wonderfully warm day. It wasn't before they had placed their orders with the garcon -- orders of which consisted simply of salads and ice teas -- before Chloe responded to Kitty's question.

"Kitty, before I give you an answer to your request I need to know some things," Chloe sipped delicately at her ice tea.

Sasha, knowing exactly what Chloe was going to say as she did the same when Jubilee asked her to teach her Wicca, looked at her sister out of the corner of her eye and flashed Chloe a knowing smile. Niether Kitty nor Jubilee saw the exchange.

"Okay, what?" Kitty replied softly.

"Do you believe in fae, dragons, unicorns, leprechauns, UFO's and so forth?" Chloe said, quickly adding, "Think carefully before you answer, an' only answer with the truth cuz I'll know if you're lying. It's an empath thang." Chloe's features took on a deadly serious expression. Such an expression visibly frightened both Jubilee and Kitty, niether ever having seen this side of Chloe before.

"In all honesty, Chloe… I do believe. As you have seen yourself, my pet is a dragon," Kitty replied, smiling ever-so-slightly.

"Good answer...with an exception," Chloe returned.

"Where did Kitty go wrong?" Jubilee asked, raising an eybrow questioningly.

"Lockheed should not be thought of as merely a pet, but your companion, your fur baby. He's your family and should be respected and treated as such."

"Yes, he is...very much so! I'm sorry. I miss spoke myself" Kitty apologized, correcting herself.

Sasha sat back, watching her own charge's reaction to the very real presence of another witch's authority. The two girls were quickly learning that Chloe, and indeed Sasha herself, was not to be trifled with and took great pride in their beliefs, as well as finding out Wicca wasn't a belief system to think lightly of.

"If I remember correctly," Jubilee interjected "dragons represent transformation, and that it also represents excitable people with complex lives; people who are stubborn on the outside but soft hearted inside; and born leaders...right?"

Sasha listened intently to the way Jubilee spoke of the things the two of them had already gone over. Sasha smiled widely. "You did very well Jubes, you're learning fast. Good to know I'm not wasting my time!"

"Not at all. I remember just the other day when you told me to not be afraid to talk to the spirits around me. I even left them a sandwich on my desk...hope they like bologna."

"Juju," Chloe piped up "it's not necessarily the offering, but the thought behind it that counts -- that's what the spirits acknowledge and respond to. To recognise them and to share conversation with them is what they truly crave and by doing so, it tells them you truly care not only about them but those around you...but be always be sure to thank them for their time."

It was at this time that the waiter finally appeared with their meals.

Chloe, preparing to lunge into her salad, turned to Kitty. "So, what d'ya think of deforestation an' water pollution? Some pretty bad karma, huh girly?"

"Personally, I don't understand how some people can be that way. Don't they realise they are not only destroying themselves but everything and everyone around them. Mother Nature will see to it they get theirs in the end. I just know she will!" Kitty replied quietly, casting her eyes out over the park next door.

Chloe slowly looked up from her salad plate, meeting Sasha's eyes, who both then turned their gaze to Kitty who was still looking out over the park.

"Congratulations Kitty, ya gots yourself a teacher!" Chloe informed her, taking a sip of her iced tea.

"Really?" Kitty elated.

"Yes, really really chicka! We'll start with the basics and, as time progresses, so will you"

"Thanks! I appreciate this."

"No prob. Now, enough with the shop-talk, on to other things,"

That's when Sasha piped up, an evil grin spreading across her face, and said "So… sis… tell me… how goes things with you an' Casanova?"

Chloe sputtered, nearly choking on a swallow of iced tea. She looked around at the other three girls, each with identical cheshire cat grins.

"There…uhh…going" Chloe replied meekly, picking at her plate.

"Uhhuh...yeah...right...ok" Sasha returned, mockingly, desperately wanting Chloe to dish on the goods.

"C'mon, sis, come clean...what do ya think of him?"

"I think he's very nice."

"Bullshit!" Kitty and Jubes exclaimed in unison.

Sasha started to giggle. "Come on spill."

"Alright, what do ya wanna know?" Chloe sighed hard.

"Start with the blunt truth sis. It's always been your strong suit," Sasha asked seriously.

Chloe finished her salad, sat back, and took several deep breaths. "Alrighty, then...I adore him. He's been nothing but sweet t'me, an' very much a gentleman. But…just I dunno…"

"What don't ya know Chloe! He's a hottie!" Jubes interjected "I've been at the mansion for years! Every girl on campus thinks he is! But let me tell ya, when Remy has his sights on a girl, he's a one-woman guy! Kinda like a golden retriever, he's that loyal."

"Great! You telling me I need him to come into my lab for his annual shots Jubes?" Chloe giggled, the rest chiming in as well.

"Maybe, though knowing Remy the way I do, he'd consider it foreplay" Jubes said teasingly. Chloe blushed hard.

"Mmmm," Sasha piped up "Foreplay!" and they all laughed onced again.

"Don't forget to warm up the thermometer before taking his temperature," Kitty giggled.

"Yeah, an' maybe you can help him beef up," Jubes laughed. "Get a lil' meat on those bones."

"Mmmm," Sasha piped in again "Beef thermometer." and there was another round of laughter.

Deciding that she had had enough of teasing her sister for the time being, Sasha steered the conversation on to other topics.

Kitty cocked her head at Sasha and asked "Coco-puff?"

"Y'know," Sasha coaxed "I'm cuckoo for Coco-puff," and she motioned to Chloe, who promptly beamed brightly in response.

The laughter never stopped.

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A short while later, after having made one or two final stops, the girls found themselves on their way back to the mansion. Sasha had her favorite music station flipped on and the hood of the little car was down so as to allow the wind to whip through their hair.

"Hey Chloe-girly, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable back at the bistro. I was playin with ya," Jubes piped up from the backseat.

"It's cool, Jubes, I know that," "Chloe said, turning in her seat slightly. "But honestly, Remy and I haven't had much time t'really make what we have into any sort of relationship. Which I'm hopin' he does soon, cuz in all honesty… I haven't gotta clue. As much as Stacii liked t'make trouble in Lorrie, Sasha, an' my relationships…I, myself, have been kinda afraid t'have anything too serious. Sorry, I've never told ya that, Sas, but with being bipolar…well…I'll admit Stacii was right. I got way too much baggage an' Remy deserves far better. I'm just afraid of disappointin' him, or worse, my bipolar takes one ugly turn too many an'…well…y'know my score Sasha."

Sasha kept her eyes on the road, trying to hide the solemn expression she knew was on her face, her blue eyes beginning to glaze over.

"Chloe…y'know I'll support ya in any relationship choice ya make so long as he never hurts you!" Sasha glanced at her sister sidewardly.

"It's cool. I don't think Remy's the type t'do that intentionally," Chloe replied softly.

"I can personally vouch for Remy," Kitty interjected, "he won't hurt you intentionally! He isn't that kinda guy. Sometimes he gets caught in bad situations, like a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time...sort of thing like the other day." Jubes nodded, silently agreeing with Kitty.

The conversation turned to tasteless sexest jokes on Chloe's part, trying to ditch the serious talk and have a lil fun. Sasha's attention was then suddenly redirected to the radio when she heard a familiar tune sounding from its speakers.

"Ooooo," Jubilee elated "I love this song!"

"Me too," Kitty squealed "Crank it up!"

Chloe giggled as she, too, recognized the song and leaned forward to the speaker volume. Turning the volume way up, the girls began to sing with the radio...

"I'm a bitch, I'm a lover, I'm a child, I'm a mother,

I'm a sinner, I'm a saint, I do not feel ashamed!

I'm your hell, I'm your dream, I'm nothing in between

Y'know I wouldn't want it any other way.

I'm a bitch, I'm a tease, I'm a goddess on my knees,

When you hurt, when you suffer, I'm an angel undercover

I am rough, I'm refined, can't say I'm not alive.

Y'know I wouldn't want it any other way..."

The girls were still singing at the top of their lungs when the car rolled to a stop outside the mansion. The loud music drew the attention of everyone in the house, many of the mansion's residents appearing in widows and doorways. Sasha turned off the engine and allowed the music to die down, before getting out and helping the other girls with the bags.

As soon as the girls walked into the foyer, Chloe was met by Charles. The patriarch of the Xavier clan ushered both Chloe and Jubilee into his office, closing the door behind them.

Kurt walked up and relieved Sasha of her many shopping bags and, very gentlemanly, bamphed them up to her room, returning a second later.

Sasha snuggled into his chest then tilted her head up to whisper into one of his pointed ears. "I got a lil surprise for you."

"Oh, really?" Kurt smiled slightly, running his fingers through her hair. "Vut is it?"

"It's not really something I can talk about in public, but let me just say this...it's something you can un-wrap over and over again." Sasha smiled wickedly as she allowed that little tidbit of information to plant ideas in Kurt's sweet, little noggin.

A few moments later, the large oak door leading to Xavier's office swung back open allowing Chloe and Jubilee, followed closely by Betsy, to exit.

"Hey Sasha, guess what!" Jubilee called to her friend. "Chloe's my student mentor! Ain't that the coolest?"

Sasha, who continued to cuddle with Kurt, smiled brightly. "Finally, someone else gets to be your pack-mule, sis!"

Chloe stuck her tongue out at Sasha. "Ok, to make like a real big sis...here, Jubes take this to my room," Chloe held her shopping bags out to the punked-out girl. Jubes looked at Chloe as if to say 'like, are you kidding me?'

"Chloe don't wait all day, Jubes, you best put those things in her room," Sasha giggled. "Finally, someone to do the lackey work and it's not me anymore!" She began to laugh hard till Betsy chimed in and said…

"Sas, when your done...be an awesome girly and grab me and Chloe a soda...would ya, please and thanks?"

Sasha's laughter came to a grinding halt and she mumbled to herself "Razzin' frazzin!" The two girls stopped away, leaving Betsy and Chloe to kill themselves laughing.

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Sasha appeared down downstairs late morning one Saturday in May. Everyone made mention that it was so unlike her that she hadn't been up and around the house at the crack of dawn -- a practice that had been, up to that day, a regular thing for her. She had wandered aimlessly from room to room before finally arriving in the kitchen.

The girl stood in front of the stove, absent-mindedly stirring a pot of hot water. The X-men currently sitting at the table watched her intently. Finally, it was Logan that spoke up.

"Darlin, not that it's any of my business, but...are you trying to stir the bottom outta your pops' good cookware?"

Sasha's head jerked up. "Hmmm? What was that?"

Logan smiled, pushed away from the table, and approached the girl. "Alright, that's it," he took the pot and spoon out of her hands, removed it from the heat, and guided Sasha back to the table. "You shouldn't be cookin when your distracted...what's wrong?"

Sasha sighed heavily. "I don't know." She looked across the table to Chloe who was busy feeding apple slices to Remy. "Did you use my Book of Shadows recently, Coco-puff?"

Chloe shook her head. "Sorry, lil'chicka...haven't had it in months. Why?"

"Well, I was adding some new things and I notice a few pages were missing...I don't know, maybe it's nothing."

"Maybe Lorrie knows sumthin about it," Chloe offered "I think she's down in the infirmary right now.

Sasha nodded slightly. "Maybe you're right...I'll make it a point to ask her about it later."

The was a long silence before Sasha saw a pair of fingers snap in front of her face.

"Hey, Earth to Sasha, are you there?" Chloe said.

"Hmm, what was that?" Sasha jerked her head up.

Chloe leaned back in her chair, and returned to her previous task of feeding Remy apple slices. "You gonna be ok, sis? You looked like you were a million miles away."

Sasha sighed. "Yeah, it's just been one of those days."

Seeing the far away look on her lil sisters face, Chloe giggled in her usual happy go-lucky way, trying to get whatever was plaguing Sasha's mind to leave her alone. "Y'know what...you haven't given us one of your famous thought of the day thingies in a long time."

Sasha smiled, standing up. "You want a thought of the day? Ok, mull this one over...Why don't you ever see the headline 'Psychic Wins Lottery'?" Sasha flashed a brief smile to everyone before walked out of the room, leaving Logan, Chloe and Remy to kill themselves laughing.

------

There was a high level of activity in the house when everyone woke up one morning in early June. Bobby, Kurt, Warren, Remy, and Logan had finished up their morning D.R. training. Everyone slowly trickled into the kitchen, stomachs growling in anticipation of whatever Sasha had cooked up for breakfast.

This time, however, there were no enticing aromas to greet them, no sounds of activity. Sasha was just sitting on a stool by the counter, holding an icepack to her head, looking small and forlorn in the large room. She lifted her head a little at their approach.

"Sorry, guys. Fraid I just couldn't make breaky this mornin'." Sasha's voice was achingly tired and limp.

Kurt hurried towards his girlfriend. "Vut happened?" As he got closer, he could see her clothes were torn and stained with grass and mud.

"Logan...Remy?"

"Yeah, darlin'?" Logan replied, his voice uncharactistically wavering slightly.

"Get a really good grip on Kurt, okay?"

The two older men reached out and put an restraining hand on the blue mutant's shoulders.

Very slowly, Sasha turned her head to look at them, and sighing, she took off the icepack. Her lower lip was split and swollen, her hands were torn up, and a huge bruise covered the left side of her face from temple to jaw. "I got mugged during my mornin' run."

Eyes blazing, Kurt tore himself from Logan and Remy's grip. "Are you all right?" Kurt was absolutely furious at the sight of beloved's beautiful eyes looking out from a battered face.

"Oh, it'll be all right...I'm a quick healer." Sasha gave him a half-smile. "Hank checked me out." Sasha winced as she shifted her weight on the stool.

The movement drew Kurt's attention and he gasped. "Oh, luv." She had another, bigger icepack wedged between the island counter and her right leg. She tried to pull down was left of the leg of her work-out shorts to hide it, but it was no good. It looked like raw meat, an ugly bruising scrape from hip to knee. Her socks were splattered with blood.

"Why didn' y'use y'r p'wers, petite?" Remy drawled out.

"It was still dark and there were too many of them." Sasha winced as she returned the icepack to her bruised face. "Besides, my powers only allow me to look like my surroundings, not turn invisible, and I'd have to be nude to completely blend in. They would've found me cuz of my clothes." She sighed heavily before continuing. "I ran into them about a mile up the road. They were around me before I knew what was happening...if it hadn't been for a passing car I think they could've done a lot worse. The driver wanted to take me to a hospital but I insisted on coming back here to be treated."

Chloe walked into the room carrying a small bowl of green paste, smelling faintly like mint, and several strips of clean, cloth bandages. The others watched as she would smear a bit of the paste onto a bandage and wrap it around Sasha's bruises.

"Wad you doin, chere?" Remy asked, coming closer.

Chloe answered him without looking up. "It's an all-natural healing poultice...Sasha's own recipe. She only takes medications when she absolutely needs to, any other time she makes her own remedies."

After a few moments, Chloe tied the last bandage in place. "There, all done! Don't worry 'bout breakfast, sis, I'll take care o' it. Y'look awfully tired." She sat back and looked over to Kurt. "Could y'help her up to her room, sweetie?"

Kurt nodded silently and gathered Sasha's sore body up into his arms. She winced for a moment, but did her best to bear through it. Once the pain had passed, the pair disappeared in a puff of blue smoke only to reappear up in Sasha's room.

The blue mutant laid his girlfriend gently atop her bed and the proceeded to help her peel out of the soiled clothes, pulling off her shoes and socks, and tossing them into a corner. She winced with each movement but the pain seemed to lessen as the moments ticked by.

Kurt sighed. "Luv, vut vere you doin out ven it vaz ztill dark?"

"I told you...it was my mornin' run. Normally there aren't many people up and about at that hour."

Kurt sighed again and let the matter drop. He leaned forward and planted a featherlight kiss on Sasha's forehead. "You get zome zleep...I'll bring you zome tea."

Sasha nodded silently and settled back into the mattress. Within seconds, she drifted off to sleep.

------

It was several days before Sasha was seen up and about the house again. People would occasionally stop in to visit with her or bring her something to eat or drink but for the most part, nobody saw her. When she finally did appear she would walk with a slight limp.

Everyone would look at her with sympathy when she wasn't looking and would quickly look away when she was. The poultice that she wore had done wonders for the bruises, which were barely traceable now, though the inner scars would be apparent for years to follow.

During her recovery period, Sasha had made a secret pact with herself -- never to do such a stupid thing like go running by herself again -- because she'd be damned if she caused her loved ones to worry about her safety again.

------

As the date of Lorrie and Logan's wedding drew ever closer, the atmosphere in the house began to pick up pace. Final decisions were being made...the renting of the tuxes, caterer, flowers...Charles was sparing no expense for his eldest daughter's wedding.

"So who'd you get to do the handfasting, Blondie?" Chloe asked, taking a long swallow of Remy's beer.

"DAMN IT! I so totally forgot with all the other preps…geez," Lorrie replied, not quite able to believe that she could've forgotten about something so important.

"What's a handfasting?" Kitty asked to noone in particular.

"A handfasting is a Wiccan wedding ceremony. Lor needs to find a High Priest or Priestess...a minister of the Wiccan faith...to preside over the nuptials." Chloe replied matter-of-factly.

"Umm… Dagwood?"

"Umm, yes Lor?" Chloe giggled back.

"Would ya? Could ya?" Lorrie asked, a little too syrupy sweet.

"Now how, in goddesses-green-earth, do I perform the ceremony, AND be your maid of honour, AND sing?"

"You can put on your hug-me cape and turn into… ta da...the Great & Powerful Super Coco!" Sasha chimed laughingly.

"K, I'll get right on that, Sassyfrass...my ass," Chloe giggled and teased her lil'sis. Sasha's only response was to stick her tongue out at her, forcing Chloe to laugh even harder.

"Tell ya what sista-friend, Sas-girl, you take my place as maid of honour, okies, an' I'll do the fasting?" Chloe suggested.

"Sas would you?" Lorrie said, turning to Sasha, her eyes filled with hope.

"Don't make me beat ya both with a melted crayon! Of course I will!" she laughed.

"Chere, can y' d' dat?"

"Yepperz, she can honey," Chloe replied, snatching his beer from him once again.

"But, I thought you said it has to be a Priestess" said Bobby, speaking up for the first time.

"I did, and I am!" Chloe beamed brightly. "I'm capable of performing a handfasting an' it being a legal union. So is Sas and Lor for that matter, but Sas isn't quiet old enough to be licensed yet."

"Great, everything is set then," Lorrie sighed happily, sinking farther into Logan's warm embrace.

"Logan darlin', I'll make the process as quick and as painless as possible for ya" Chloe giggled.

"Thank. You. Babe!" His exasperation put everyone on the porch in stitches.

The sudden arrival of an additional figure on the porch suddenly halted the merry laughter. "Sasha, sugah," the student said, her sultry voice dripping with a Southern drawl, "Y'have a visitor."

Sasha cocked her head slightly. A visitor? For me?

"I thought everyone in the world was already here," Sasha giggled, extracting herself from Kurt and following the Southern Belle back into the house.

Once inside, the girl veered off into the kitchen allowing Sasha to head straight for the foyer. Stepping into the massive room, the petite blonde noticed a young man walking around looking at the various pieces of artwork that decorated its walls. There was no mistaking that build, the way the man walked and carried himself, the scruffy-looking sandy-blonde hair.

"Greg?" Sasha exhaled questioningly. The single word carried its way through the silent room. The man turned at the sound of his name and smiled, his brilliantly green eyes twinkling with glee.

"Sasha!" Greg returned, his deep voice filled with just as much happiness as hers.

The pair ran to each other and wrapped their arms around the other in a warm hug, laughing. After a moment, they pulled apart so Sasha could get a good look at him, her eyes still dancing from the shock.

"What are you doin' here?"

Greg smiled wider "You said that if I was ever in the neighborhood I should look you up. Well, here I am! I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time?"

"Are you kiddin'?" Sasha replied, playfully chucking him on the shoulder "It's always a good time to have an old friend around." Sasha led him into the parlour so they could sit and chat. "What brings ya to New York?"

Greg sat down in the chaise lounge before replying. "Well, a Professor Charles Xavier contacted me last week offering me a position on his team. I got to thinking how you and he had the same last name. What, is he your uncle or sumthin'?"

"Nduh, he's my dad!"

Greg's jaw dropped. "Your dad? As in the dad that left when you were little? That dad?"

"It's a long story, trust me...very boring!"

At that moment, a puff of blue smoke appeared on the far side of the room and, as it cleared away, a very familiar, soothing voice sounded. "Luv?"

"Hey honey," Sasha smiled and moved to Kurt, linking her arm with his and leading him further into the room. "Kurt, sweetie, I'd like you to meet an old friend of mine, Greg O'Connell. Greg, this is Kurt Wagner...my boyfriend."

Kurt warily stretched out his hand in friendship "Gutentaug," the Bavarian started.

Greg looked at Kurt's demon-like form and grimaced slightly. Of course, Sasha hadn't seen, so he decided to be cordial to the monstrous mutant for the time being. "It's nice to meet you," Greg replied, looking at Kurt's outstretched hand, yet still not taking it.

Kurt waited a few beats before pulling his hand back. As Sasha had not seen the exchange between the two of them, Kurt thought it prudent not to call attention to it.

"Guess what?" Sasha continued, turning to Kurt "Daddy's recruited Greg onto the team. Ain't that the greatest?"

Kurt muttered under his breath "Yez, really zvell." Returning his voice to its normal level, the Bavarian continued, "Vut iz your mutation?"

Greg puffed up his chest slightly before answering. "I'm a conflagulator." Kurt's brow furrowed in puzzlement, trying to catch his meaning.

Sasha giggled slightly. "Relax Greg, the S.A.T.'s are over." She turned the Kurt to clarify for him. "Greg means he's a fire-starter. He can generate heat, and sometimes fire, with his body...because of that, his codename is Scorch."

Greg puffed his chest up again, making Sasha giggle even harder. "And you're still jealous of my score."

Kurt looked at his girlfriend with wide eyes. Vy is she laughin? Zis guy don't look so special to me.

"So," Greg said slowly, interrupting Kurt's inner monologue "I suppose I should meet the big man on campus."

Sasha smiled "That might be a good idea. I'll take you to him." The petite blonde then turned to Kurt. "I'll meet you a little later for dinner, k? I wanna show Greg around the grounds."

Before Kurt even had a chance to respond, Sasha and Greg began to walk away. Sasha had her arm linked within his and was talking very animatedly to the new arrival. As they moved, Kurt saw Greg glance back at him and grin.

Kurt watched helplessly as his girl walked away with the new guy and, before he could stop himself, he had a mean thought.

I really hate that guy!

------

"I have to say, young man, I've heard some very good things about you," Charles smiled across his desk and the sandy blonde-haired form of Greg, "My little girl speaks very highly of you."

Greg smiled slightly, "I think highly of her too. Sasha's my best friend...has been for years."

Charles chuckled slightly "Now, since you're new to the team I'd like you to spend a little time in the Danger Room...maybe train up those, quite impressive, skills of yours. I'm going to assign you one of my more experienced people to oversee your training. Charles pressed a small button and, in a moment, a very large, very angry-looking man walked in.

"What can I do ya fer, Chuck?" Logan asked as he crossed the room, between his sharp-looking teeth Logan chewed on his cigar. Greg stared up at Logan, it was obvious that the guy was scared half-way out of his mind at the mere sight of the menacing mutant.

Charles gestured to Greg. "Logan, this is Greg O'Connell -- a new addition to the team. I'd like you to oversee his D. R. training. Make sure his powers get a good work-out."

Logan looked down at Greg and sneered. "Looks kinda scrawny, Chuck... my programs might be too much for the kid."

Charles shook his head and smiled. "Please, do take it easy on him Logan. Sasha would never forgive either of us if anything happened to him."

Logan was silent for several long moments before he grabbed Greg by the scruff of the neck and hauled him out of the chair.

"C'mon kid, no time like the present t' get t'work."

------

The days came and went at a remarkable pace, and Kurt found himself alone nearly 24/7. Every time he had went to see Sasha, Greg was always there...he had even found his girl's supposed friend in her room on more than a few occasions. At one point Sasha, sensing the tension between the two most important guys in her life, even suggested they spend time and get to know each other better. The fact was, the more Kurt got to know Greg, the more he hated him.

Despite her best efforts, she couldn't seem to get it across to Kurt that she and Greg were friends...nothing more. For Kurt, it wasn't so much a case of not believing Sasha as much as it was a case of not trusting Greg.

One Saturday evening, Kurt found Sasha in the foyer rummaging through her purse.

"Evenin', my luv," Kurt said, nuzzling into her neck. "Are you ready?"

Sasha looked at him questioningly "Ready for what?"

Kurt looked stunned for a minute. "For our date," he said simply "Y'know...ze ztanding date ve have every Zaturday night."

Sasha clapped a hand across her mouth. "Oh, honey I'm soooooo sorry! I totally spaced on what day it was! Greg got tickets to the Shania Twain concert tonight...back stage passes and everything."

Before the tiny blue mutant could stop himself, he blurted out "Greg Greg Greg! It'z alvayz Greg! Vell, vut about me? Ve haven't had a night alone zince he got here. Zince ven do I have t' ztart makin' appointmentz to ze my girlfriend?"

Sasha stared at Kurt for several long seconds before she finally remembered herself and retorted. "Y'know, you're being incredibly childish! I haven't seen my best friend in, like, forever and you're trying to deny me the opportunity to spend time with him?"

"I'm not trying t'deny you anyzing...but zere'z zomezing about ziz guy. Mark my vordz, he vantz you for himzelf!"

"Goddess, can you, like, get over yourself for just a minute! Listen to what you're saying. There isn't, has never, and never will be anything between me and Greg...can't you get it through your head?"

Kurt's blue face tinged red. "I don't truzt ziz guy...and I don't vant you going out viz him!"

"You...you..." Sasha stuttered, her speech impediment taking control of her brain momentarily "...you pompous, arrogant, controlling...it'll be a frosty day in hell before I let any guy tell me what I can and cannot do!"

Greg had chosen that particular moment to walk in. He took a few tentative steps towards the arguing couple and whispered softly, "Is everything okay here?"

Sasha glared hard at Kurt as she answered her friend "Everything is just fine, Greg. We should get going...I'd hate to miss the warm up act!" Tearing her gaze away from Kurt, Sasha stalked over to the door. Opening it up wide, she spun back around "I think it's best you slept elsewhere tonight," then she disappeared out the door.

Greg moved to follow Sasha out and, as he passed Kurt, he smiled broadly.

"G'night," he chimed sickeningly sweetly, and shut the front door tightly.

"AAAAUUUUHHHHGGGG!" Kurt bellowed, the sound echoing throughout the entire house. This caused several people to stick their head through various doorways as they tried to determine exactly what made that sound.

------

Kurt sat alone in his bedroom, the only light in the room coming from his computer screen. The blue mutant's skin became a deeper shade of indigo due to the blue haze the computer monitor generated.

"C'mon," he urged under his breath, "Zere just has t'be sumthin' here." For the last three hours, Kurt had been glued to his computer, desperately searching the Internet for some kind of evidence that Mr Gregory O'Connell was up to no good. All he needed was a small sliver of information he could go to Sasha with.

"Zere iz no vay ziz guy could've led zuch a clean life! An overdue parking ticket...anyzing!" Kurt had punched in every possible keyword he could think of in every search engine he came across and he still came up empty-handed. Flipping up a new search window, he typed in the words Gregory Garry O'Connell and hit enter. Suddenly, the screen lit up like the christmas tree in Rockefeller Center.

Kurt sifted through the first few hits. "Obituary...obituary...muzician bio...obituary...vait a minute! Vut'z ziz?" Clicking on the fifth listing, he scanned through the information it brought up:

Canadian Chicks Kick Ass!

The online journal of Greg O'Connell...A guy with four sisters to conquer.

He had to read the title several more times before he was able to bring himself to go any further. There were several sections to the site, but Kurt's attention was quickly drawn to the link marked: Entries. The young mutant's eyes grew wide as he scanned through the most recent addition to the journal:

July 16th, 2004

Sasha looked so good today. She wore those low-riding hip huggers of hers with a short sleeved shirt that had a neckline so low that, I swear, sea-faring vessels could've shipwrecked themselves on and the surviours would still be happy for years to come. My god, I had to use every ounce of strength I had within me to tear my eyes away...and the way she smelled, kinda like cool mint and strawberries. It was all I could do to keep myself from throwing her down in the grass and taking her right then and there.

It shouldn't be long before that freak of a boyfriend is out of the picture. I don't know what such a heavenly creature like Sasha is doing with a monster like that. At first I thought is was a bet, and then I thought it was pity, now I realize she must be on some mission from God.

Tonight, I'm taking her to a Shania Twain concert in the city. I just happen to know Shania is her favourite singer. If I'm lucky I might be able to get a lil sumthin-sumthin outta this!

Keep your cyber-fingers crossed!

Kurt could feel his anger swelling up inside him. His body shook from knowing that the woman he loved was the object on another guy's obsession. Quickly, he printed out everything he could find in the journal, discovering in the process that Sasha wasn't the only one that Greg had designs on. At some point in the years Greg had known the sisters, he had done other things, ranging from sketching the sisters nude forms without their knowledge to watching them through their windows at night.

When Kurt clicked on the last link on the page it brought up a Real Time video player and the video it played horrified Kurt to no end. It was a five-minute clip of the sisters in various compromising positions from varying stages of undress to full-on nude shots of each of in the sisters in the shower. Quickly, Kurt loaded a blank CD into the DVD burner and made a copy. When the pages finished printing, the tiny mutant flew from the room with his evidence tucked neatly under one arm, desperately in search of anyone who would listen to him.

A few minutes later, Kurt skidded into the games room, wherein Logan, Remy, Scott, Bishop, Cable, Hank, and Bobby sat drinking and playing cards.

"Where's the fire, smurf?" Logan asked, taking a long swig of his whiskey.

Kurt found himself unable to come out with the words needed, so instead he threw the papers down onto the table, disrupting their poker game. Many of the papers fell out of the folder and littered the table.

Remy had been about to protest when his eyes fell on a nude sketch of Chloe. "MON DIEUX!" he exclaimed.

"Where did you get this Kurt?" Logan demanded, picking up a similar sketch of Lorrie.

"It zeemz our friend Greg...and I uze zat term loozely...haz been a buzy lil beaver concerning our girlz."

Hank rifled through several of the papers. "My word!" he breathed.

"And zat'z not all," Kurt interjected, holding up the CD. While Kurt loaded the DVD player, the other men gathered around the television. The room filled with anger-charged silence and, after the disc came to an end, Logan shot straight up. "I'M GONNA KILL HIM!"

"Whoa, calm down, mon amis," Remy coaxed, putting himself between Logan and anything breakable. "Remy et Gambit wanna kill da lil bastard too, but dat would only anger soeur de lil." Laying a restraining arm on Logan, Remy turned to the others "Non y' say anyt'ing to da femmes 'bout we found ou', oui?" The guys nodded their promise. Once satisfied that they all agreed, Remy guided a very angry Logan out onto the porch.

"Remy et Gambit 'ave a tres wicked idea," the Cajun whispered.

------

A few weeks before the wedding, Logan and the other men planned a weekend road trip to go upstate for a paintball war. Although the girls hated to be away from their special guys, Sasha felt proud that they had invited Greg to join them.

Sasha stood outside, giving Kurt a warm goodbye. "I'm glad you've finally accepted that Greg and me are just friends," she smiled.

"Oh, you bet," Kurt replied as cheerfully as his being would allow, but in the back of his mind all he was thinking of was of how many ways he could get rid of Greg and still able to make it look like an innocent enough accident.

The girls watched as Logan's pick-up truck made its way off the Xavier Estate. They waved furiously until the vehicle disappeared in the distance altogether.

Lorrie turned to the other women. "Well, what do ya say we have our own girly weekend? Y'know...pig out on junk food, do our hair and nails, watch sappy movies...the whole nine yards!"

"Yeah," came a resounding answer followed by giggles, and they all headed back into the house to get ready.

A short while later, the girls slowly made their way down to the livingroom clad in pajamas, housecoats, and fuzzy slippers. Sasha walked in behind everyone else, a stack of movies tucked neatly under on arm.

"So lil'chicka," Chloe chimed, snatching the bowl of cheesy popcorn from 'Ro in one swift move "What vids didja bring?"

Sasha plopped down on the couch next to her sister and pilfered a handful of popcorn. Ignoring the indignant look on Chloe's face, Sasha announced, "Let's see, we have Erin Brockovich, the Joy Luck Club, Practical Magic, Steel Magnolias, and Stepmom."

"Very cool, chicka-friend!" Chloe smiled.

Lorrie popped the first disc into the DVD player and sat back and got as comfortable as she could.

Five movies, three supreme pizzas, and a box of Kleenex later, the girls found themselves unable to keep their eyes open any more. Shutting the player down and leaving cleanup until morning, they all toddled off to bed.

------

The next day, the girls were only too happy to see Logan's truck drive up the long laneway. No sooner had the truck rolled to a stop than the girls ran from the house and into the arms of the guys they'd missed so much.

Pulling away, Sasha looked at Kurt curiously.

"Honey," she said slowly, feeling his forehead "Are you feelin okay? You don't look so good."

Kurt, all at once, became visibly flustered, "Uhhh," he stammered, trying to find the right words "No, I'm juzt a lil tired."

"Are you sure," Sasha urged "Your eyes look a lil bloodshot and your skin is clammy."

"Really, luv," the blue mutant replied, casting a worried glanced to the other guys who seemed to be getting the same reactions out of their own ladies "I feel juzt fine."

Sasha arched an eyebrow at her boyfriend questioning as she thought about what he said. After a few seconds she shrugged, deciding that perhaps she was just being overprotective because she had missed Kurt so much.

The youngest Xavier sister turned around just as Charles rolled himself out the front door.

"Chloe would you happen to have a dollar on you? I seemed to have left my wallet in the house," he said, absent-mindedly patted at his body as though he were looking for something "and would you mind stepping into the garage to get the oil, my wheelchair seems to be sticking."

"No prob dad," Chloe said as she reached in her pocket and handed her father a dollar then made her way over to the garage. Since the ordeal of her missing Hummer, Chloe had had no reason to enter the garage till now.

Opening the door of the car hold widely, Chloe took a step back and gasped, her hand flying to her mouth that was now forming a silent 'O'. The massive room held only two vehicles... a black Harley with the word 'Passion' painted in a soft lavender purple, and a convertible Volkswagen bug, also black, with lil lavender purple hearts painted on the back end.

Chloe, finally remembering she had a voice, began to squeal happily. She turned to her father, thanking him profusely with hugs and kisses and topping it off by polishing his baldhead with her shirtsleeve.

"My dear it, wasn't I," he replied, smiling "well, the paper work is of my doing, and you just paid for the car," Charles showed her the dollar bill "but that's where my part in it comes to an end." Chloe stared blankly at her father, a bipolar confusion setting in. "It was all the men here that did the customs and made the vehicle all Chloe-fab for you, and not Stacii like in your way of speaking that is Chloe," Charles ended with a chuckle.

Chloe's eyes teared up at the thoughtful gesture the guys all did for her. She raced around, hugging and kissing them all causing them to blush hard and their ladies to laugh at them.

"But what about the bike," Chloe asked, her forehead wrinkling in confusion.

Everyone's head turned in unison in one fluid motion to Remy, leaning non-chalantly against a nearby wall and whistling in mock innocence. Chloe burst into tears.

Remy had apparently been caught unawares by Chloe's reaction and he flew to her side, soothing her as she thanked him continuously through her flowing tears. Remy looked over at Sasha, arching an eyebrow and asking a silent question.

"Remy, she just ain't use to guys going the whole mile for her," Sasha explained.

"Don't you mean she ain't use to having a guy in her life this long!" Lorrie said to Sasha. "Usually at this point she's eaten a keg of ice cream and chocolate and singing songs of loneliness cause Stacii had run them off."

"Remy, when she cries like this it's not a bad thing, but a very good one!" Sasha quickly added, shooting Lorrie a nasty look, trying to do a lil damage control and alleviate any fears the Cajun might've been having.

Remy smiled and hugged Chloe tenderly as she in turn planted delicate butterfly kisses all over Remy's cheeks in silent thanks.

A few short minutes later, everyone turned and made their way into the main house, each girl inquiring as to the guys weekend. Each girl's wonder was met with fake answers.

"So," Sasha said slowly, looking around the room "where's Greg? I don't recall seeing him in the truck...didn't he come back with you?"

The guys exchanged an eight-way worried glance before Kurt piped up, his voice slightly squeaky.

"He opted to vizit a couple of placez...zight zeeing and all, you know," he swallowed hard. The blue mutant knew his girlfriend was as smart as a whip -- in fact, that was one of the things he loved about her -- but he hoped against hope that Sasha didn't see through his lie.

Sasha, still thinking that was odd, shrugged it off knowing that Greg took great pride in being his own person -- he was, after all, allowed to do whatever he chose to -- so replied simply with "Oh, okay" and left the conversation at that.

"Professor," a student called from down the hall "there's some people here to see you and Dr McCoy."

Charles nodded to Hank then called down to the student. "Please, show them into my office, we'll be there in a moment." He looked around to everyone. "Well, if you'll please excuse us." Charles turned and made his way down the hall, Hank trailing in his wake. Everyone else made his or her way into the kitchen.

After awhile, as much as the girls hated to tear themselves away from the men-folk, they eventually pushed back from the table and began the task of getting things around for dinner.

Kurt watched Sasha as she moved around the room, completely unawares of what had actually taken place this weekend. He loved her...he loved her more than anything in the world...he loved her so much that it actually hurt him to be away from her, this much he knew. He knew that Sasha was a trusting person, sometimes too trusting a person that she failed to see a person for who they truly were. It was true that he had hated Greg for what the guy had done to the sisters, but it was equally true that he wished he'd dealt with it another way...and even though he felt justified for his actions, Kurt couldn't help but feel guilty.

"So, Sas" Chloe started, pulling out a large colander, "What's today's deep thought?"

Sasha, who had been pulling things out of the fridge turned around and smiled at everyone. "It's a real doozy, y'may wanna sit down." She waited a moment before continuing. "Ok...think about this for a while...if a cow laughed hysterically, would milk come out of its nose?"

The room erupted in a fit of giggling, tittering, and deep belly laughs.

------

"Girls? Girls? Where are you, my dears?" Charles called out.

"In here, dad, fixing dinner," Sasha opened the kitchen door briefly. She held the door open for her father so he could come in too. Seeing that the team was also present made him smile slightly. Since the girls arrival a little over a year ago his daughters and the team seem to travel in a pack. The X-men, who had been talking amongst themselves, fell quiet upon seeing their leader and mentor.

"Wonderful, you're all here...makes my job easier," he started.

"Yeah Prof we've become something of a posse," Jubilee giggled and popped her gum. "So...what's up?"

Charles sighed heavily, preparing himself for the worst. "We have...a situation."

"What kind of situation?" Sasha asked, her voice wavering slightly.

"We have some visitors and there's some news … you girls better sit down for this!" Charles ended in a tone of 'your not gonna like this'.

Sasha snuggled herself into Kurt's chest and squeezed his hand tightly for support. Whatever the news was, she had the sinking feeling that it wasn't good.

"Yo Yo Yo shoot Popsy! We girlies are all good to go!" Chloe announce in her ever fun-loving kind of way. It would've been a comical thing if everyone hadn't already been preoccupied with whatever the news might be.

"I do so hate to be the bearer of bad news for you girls, just when things are all going so very wonderful for you all, but… Stacii has resurfaced," Charles announced solemnly.

"What exactly do you mean by resurfaced, dad?" Lorrie asked quizzically.

"I mean she is back in the house…as I speak," Charles said slowly "anyway, since parting here, she went to Massachusetts and joined my northern branch, Generation X. It also appears some things have gone awry there too as she has returned to us, now expecting."

Chloe spoke softly "Ummm… expecting what?"

Everyone fell silent as the impact of the announcement hit them. Remy leaned over and whispered to her in terms that she could understand. Chloe's expression changed from her usually exuberant expression to solemn.

"Who's the father?" Sasha inquired, her voice barely louder than a whisper.

"She won't say," Charles, Sasha noted, was rapidly becoming more and more frustrated. She watched helplessly as a hand flew to his forehead and massaged it slowly.

"Certainly she has to know whose baby it is… not to mention tell him, dad," Chloe interjected. "That is not only seriously uncool, but just wrong! The baby can't be punished cuz their mother is a dumbass!"

"I agree, Chloe. Hank, Emma and myself were attempting to get to that information ourselves but it seems she will not talk on the matter, and I do believe Sean knows something but is unable to speak for some unknown reason. Nor able to write it down" Charles explained.

Chloe and Sasha look to each other and gasped in a unified thought, catching the attention of everyone in the room.

"What is it girls?" Charles asked.

Both girls whispered in shock. "She stole our 'Let It Lie' spell!"

"Wad's dat, Chere?"

"It's a spell to keep people from meddling in your personal affairs!" Chloe said, getting more then a lil irked.

Sasha's spat, "She's at it again!" Sasha found herself remembering back to the day in early May when she discovered some pages missing from her B.o.S. and her eyes blazes with anger. "How dare she desecrate my Book of Shadows! Stacii has done a lot of things in her life but this just takes the cake!"

"Girls, everyone, I think we need to go to the War Room," Charles said.

He led everyone out of the kitchen and down the long hall towards the War Room. Hank, Stacii, and two others Lorrie, Chloe, and Sasha didn't recognize sat at the far end of the table, none of them looking very pleased -- though it was for entirely different reasons.

"Lorrie, Chloe, Sasha...I'd like you to meet Emma Frost & Sean Cassidy from my Generation X team up north, Emma, Sean, these are my other three daughters...the resident R.N. Lorrie Xavier...our Veterinarian Dr. Chloe Xavier...and Sasha our resident Xavier baby of the family but all around great student and future Psychologist." Charles gave a lil wink to his youngest.

Emma stood and extended her hand to the girls. "I'm sorry we have to meet under such distressing circumstances," the woman said in a heavy British drawl.

"I think it is us who need to apologize to you," Sasha replied "It was our sister that caused the distress."

Everyone took a seat at the massive table -- Lorrie, Chloe, and Sasha taking the vacant seats next to their estranged sister.

There was a long silence before it was finally broken by an anger-filled, "Where is my fucking truck?" Sasha and Lorrie made a quick grab for Chloe as the girl lunging at Stacii. Stacii merely smirked in response.

"You'll get your chance chicka," Sasha whispered, "for now we got bigger fish to fry."

"How nice to see you too Coco" Stacii smiled mockingly.

"Stacii, we know you've been tampering," Sasha fumed at her sister who clammed up again. "You're creating some seriously bad karma...not just for yourself but for everyone around you!"

"Ever mind the rule of 3 Stacii! Have you forgotten our laws?" Lorrie spat.

"What of it?" Stacii retorted.

"S'cuse me?" Chloe said, livid. "Stacii, you can't just rewrite our laws. Magick is not to be used for personal gain and you know that, not to mention holding someone's will! Are you so naïve to think the ten-fold law doesn't apply to you? You are not above the law! All witches must abide the rule and law!"

"What exactly did you say or do to cast the Let it Lie spell on Sean?" Sasha demanded.

Stacii sloughed it off, "Meh."

"You can't do this Stacii" Lorrie implored, trying to find reasoning in Stacii who just sighed and looked over her fingernails.

"Tell us!" Chloe made to lunge at Stacii again but Sasha held her back.

The others present in the room sat in silence as they listened the girls drilling their sister. Everyone knew they were in the right as well as hold the power to deal with such matters.

Chloe stepped back and turned to Charles. "Dad, probe her!"

"I have always told you girls I would never do that," Charles replied quietly and somewhat shyly.

"We know, dad" Chloe returned "but we have to know what she did so we can reverse the spell. Unless Sean has ever wanted to learn sign language...cuz unless Sasha, Lorrie and myself know, Sean will have to get real comfy with the new form of communication."

Emma flew into a panic. "Charles you must do this! I can't have my husband playing charades 24/7! Look at him… he's horrible at it! Not to mention this girl has made enough trouble for all of us!"

"She's right, dad" Sasha sighed, watching Sean as he once again tried to badly act out what he wanted to say. She gave Sean a quizzical look then looked back to her father.

Charles sighed, wheeling closer. "Alright, but only to find out about the spell only!"

"No!" Stacii protested. "You promised dad, your going back on your word!"

"Stacii it must be done! Now please be quiet," Charles said calmly. Stacii jumped up and ran behind the chair. Charles was rapidly becoming frustrated. "Child sit down! And would you please shut up! I have never once ever went back on my word to any one of you girls, and I'll be damned for you to accuse me of such a thing! Who the hell do you think you are? You have no idea who you are dealing with! Now for just once in your disruptive life do as your told!" Stacii's mouth dropped open in shock as he reached around behind the chair, pulled her out, and planked her ass back in the chair.

Other than Lorrie, Chloe, and Sasha, everyone was surprised to see such a fatherly fire come from Charles.

Charles laid his hands on the forehead of his now weeping daughter. After a moment, Charles looked back up to his other daughters. "I don't myself understand the process which each of you girls use… I'll assume it's all different as you each have a different path. So I'll tell you what she used and the colours if that will help?"

"That's fine dad, it's all we need" Sasha told him, retrieving a piece of paper from her binder so she could jot down the ingredients.

"Black candles, red feathers, vanilla incense, Lilac oil, Patchouli oil, Golden Rod & Honeysuckle petals, also Alexandrite."

"Chloe you got a good memory," started Lorrie as she too started writing stuff down "what does each of these represent in regards to this case, so we can counter-act this?"

"Black candles for binding the spell; Red feathers are for lust, vitality and over activity; Vanilla incense is used for love, lust, & mental powers; Lilac oil would be for Exorcism… what the? … anyway for mind-clearing memory or erasing the memory; Patchouli oil is an aphrodisiac for prospering in passion; Golden Rod petals for Precaution; and Honeysuckle for bonds of love… Geez Stacii have intimacy issues much? …. All this love and lust stuff…anyhoo, Alexandrite is for stimulating sexual powers," Chloe finished.

"You are so sad!" Sasha said disapprovingly at her sister.

"Can you girls fix this?" Emma asked hopefully.

"We're gonna, sure as hell, give it our best shot!" Lorrie replied.

"I recommend we try some Rue oil...it dispels negativity, & Violet oil stimulates the throat chakra...also good for luck. That should work nicely," Sasha replied.

"I suggest we use a bit of Carolina Rose petals. It's to help reverse all this massive love and lust energies, it's also for broken promises. Some cinnamon and ginger incense for success in our endeavour. We'll also need black feathers to drive the spell away," Chloe added.

"Blue candles to open blocked knowledge; red candles for driving the force to help those feathers along; and some stone of Coral to relieve the throat and voice ailment!" Lorrie finished.

Lorrie, Chloe and Sasha looked squarely at Stacii.

"When we are through with you, you'll meet your fate as your path and witchy ways have come to an end! Your powers shall be bound!" Sasha said matter-of-factly.

Stacii screamed. "You can't do that!"

"Oh they can, and they will Stacii!" Charles interjected. "You are an extreme harm to yourself and a threat to everyone around you. It's for the best, and I fully support your sisters and their decision on this!"

Sasha turned to Bishop and Cable. "Would you two please keep a close eye on our lovely...and I use that term lightly...sister?"

"Until she's bound," Chloe added, "there's no telling what she will be capable of."

The two bulky men nodded silently and marched Stacii out behind the others.

------

A few minutes later, Lorrie, Chloe, and Sasha appeared in the kitchen with their ritual supplies. They each took a flat surface in the room and began to sort through their things, looking for what they needed.

"Can you girls handle this?" Logan asked.

"Yeah, Logan-babe, we can" Lorrie smiled sweetly. This answered appeased him, but Lorrie quickly reverted to her worried expression.

"Though we could use some help," Sasha added.

"Jubes, Kitty...would you girls mind terribly setting the candles up outside please, and Rem honey, sweetie, baby, if you would come here with me dear," Chloe asked, not looking up as she stood in front of the counter and wiped off hers and her sisters cauldrons with a white, clean, dry cloth.

"Yeah," Jubes beamed.

"Sure," Kitty replied happily.

"Emma would you over see them outside and make sure they don't tamper with the tools," Sasha asked.

"Of course," and the trio disappeared through the patio window and out into the backyard.

"'Ro, if you don't mind, could we get some of your Carolina Rose petals please?" Lorrie asked.

"Oh by all means, I'll be right back with some."

"Thanks" Lorrie answered back, continuing to look through her toolbox.

"I thought you didn't work your magick together, though?" Jean asked.

"As a rule, no, we don't," Sasha responded, "but seeing as how this is a special situation well…in desperate times it requires that desperate measures must be taken." Sasha replied as she handed Chloe her toolbox.

When Kitty began to rifle through it, Chloe rapped on her fingers, "No touchy." Kitty quickly stopped.

"Not to mention stripping a sister witch, making us no longer the power of four -- representing the four elements -- but to now the power of three, pertaining to the Triquatra," Chloe said disheartened.

Sasha sighed heavily. "To lose a brother or sister witch is a traumatic event in enough of itself despite the cause, but to lose one through binding is detrimental to the cosmic flow of the universe."

"Power of four? Triquatra" What's that?" Jubes asked.

"The power of four is a strong number in regards to the elements," Lorrie replied, lighting a smoke. "I represent the element of the South...which is Fire; Sasha, she represents the element of the North which coincides with Earth; Coco here is the element of the West -- representing water/oceans, lakes, rivers all that stuff; where as Stacii…she used to represent the element of the East which is Air…" Lorrie trailed off, taking a long, relaxing puff of her cigarette.

"The Triquetra" Chloe continued on for her sister "is a powerful number in regards to the law of three, or the three fold law, it being an ancient Celtic Triple-Goddess symbol. The triquetra is composed of three yonic vesicas and a circle is added to link them. Some versions are interlaced, some are not." Chloe casually turned away from her toolbox and kissed Remy's cheek.

"This is ridiculous! Mom would hate you three for binding my powers!" Stacii sneered at her sisters, now finally having something to say and using the girls and her own mother against them.

"Watch your mouth Stacii," Lorrie seethed "and don't you dare use Mom against us! You know very well if she were here, and knew of what you had done, she herself would have bound your powers on the spot! So don't give us that garbage!"

Chloe then asked Remy to help her gather up all her items they were to use for this into her cauldron to take outside. Sasha asked the same of Kurt and he readily agreed, as did Logan for Lorrie. Everyone then adjourned outside that early evening and began setting up for the solemn event that was about to take place.

Lorrie, Chloe, and Sasha sat in a triangle on the grass with a cauldron in front of each of them, Stacii sitting in the center -- equal distance from each of her sisters.

The girls laid everything they would need out before them.

"Well, I'm ready" Sasha said adjusting some of her peaceful centering items in front of her on the grass.

"Same here Sas" Lorrie said, locating her lighter.

"Shall we begin then?" Chloe asked, dusting her hands off on her bare legs.

"Yes...let's put this wrong doing to an end!" Sasha spat in Stacii's direction.

Chloe turned around and looked up to everyone behind her. "Could we please get you all to sit down? The gods will reign forth and no one stands higher then they do. That's why people kneel when they pray… Rem, luv if I could get you to please sit up here by me but a few inches back… you haven't reached the point where you can cast yet, but I'd like you to see what's done, and you on the other side of me Kitty so you may see as well, but again back a lil bit."

Sasha made a silent motion to Jubilee for her to follow the same suit as the others did with Chloe. Jubilee eagerly raced from where she had been sitting to the small spot of grass directly behind Sasha.

"Wonderful, we can start now," Sasha said happily. "Chloe would you mind calling the quarters, please."

Chloe, who had been sitting calmly with her eyes gently shut, opened her eyes and she slowly stood, opening her arms as her voice took a tone of a woman with strong confirmation, setting those sitting behind them aback. She looked to the East and spoke.

"I, Passion, call upon the Spirits of the East.

Celestial Winds, come dance and sing.

With you, airs of inspiration bring, full and rich, to my heart, all your wisdom pray impart."

Chloe's arms slowly closed gently. She turned to the South and again opened her arms slowly, speaking in the same tone.

"I, Passion, call upon the Spirits of the South.

Cosmic Fires, come dance and sing.

With you, sparks of cleansing bring, full and rich, to my heart, all your strength pray impart."

Chloe again repeated the same process: her arms gently closing, turning to the West, and spoke.

"I, Passion, call upon the Spirits of the West.

Astral Waters, come dance and sing.

With you, waves of insight bring, full and rich, to my heart, all your creativity pray impart."

Yet again, Chloe turned -- now to the North -- opened her arms and spoke.

"I, Passion, call upon the Spirits of the North.

Stellar Earth, come dance and sing.

With you, soils of flowering bring, full and rich, to my heart, all your rooting pray impart."

Chloe then turned again and took a step inward. Her arms opened wide and she spoke for a fifth consecutive time.

"Tis I, Passion, who call upon the Shining Spirit, come dance and sing.

With you, the magick of harmony bring, full and rich, to my heart, and your power pray impart."

With a cleansing breath, Chloe returned to her seat.

All three girls lit their candles, two sisters with lighters and a half giggling Chloe holding Remy's kinetically charged hand in hers. This resulted with Lorrie and Sasha smiling and shaking their heads at Chloe's silliness and free spirited ways.

Having pre-decided to go in order of birth, Lorrie spoke first.

"By incense, smoke, feathers, oil, & flame, away from Sean I send all bane;

By cleansing water and power of salt, let any harm come to naught.

To any who would wish him pain, may all their curses be in vain;

All that blocks him from success, with this spell I lay to rest.

Harm to None and Good to all, Lord and Lady hear my call;

As I do will, So Mote It Be!"

Carefully, Lorrie set to flame each of her ingredients then placed them in her cauldron. She sat back and looked to Chloe who beamed and said…

"By incense, smoke, feathers, oil, & flame, away from Sean I send all bane;

By cleansing water and power of salt, let any harm come to naught.

To any who would wish him pain, may all their curses be in vain;

All that blocks him from success, with this spell I lay to rest.

Harm to None and Good to all, Lord and Lady hear my call;

As I do will, So Mote It Be!"

Chloe then placed her ingredients in her cauldron then turned to Remy and asked him to set the feather a blaze without directly touching the feather, which he did. Chloe then turned to her cauldron and placed the lit black feather in her cauldron setting the other ingredients a flame. She sat back and looked to Sasha who then said…

"By incense, smoke, feathers, oil, & flame, away from Sean I send all bane;

By cleansing water and power of salt, let any harm come to naught.

To any who would wish him pain, may all their curses be in vain;

All that blocks him from success, with this spell I lay to rest.

Harm to None and Good to all, Lord and Lady hear my call;

As I do will, So Mote It Be!"

She followed both her sisters' suits with her ingredients and setting her black feather flaming and into her cauldron. Then, all three sisters stood, opening their arms and said in unison...

"With what was done,

From another witch to thee,

This spell will break,

Now undo sealed lips with truth.

So Mote It Be!"

With that said and it now a lil past dusk, all the candles flared up a bit as did the three flaming cauldrons then all the flames poofed out! Everyone looked around to each other, then to the sisters who were greatly focused. In their greatest confirmation together, they spoke again…

"Come ye Spirits as the charm has been made!

Queen of Love & Light,

Horned Hunter of the night,

Lend your power unto the spell,

And work our will by magick rite!

As of now we are witch sisters three,

To only call upon thee!

By all the power of land and sea,

By all the might of moon and sun

We call the Earth to bind our spell.

And bind this witches powers well,

She who has broke the law,

So we leave this witch flawed.

Air to speed it well.

Bright as Fire shall it glow.

Deep as tide of Water flow.

Count the elements fourfold,

In the fifth, the spell shall hold."

Lorrie and Sasha then slowly closed their arms and sat down again and each began to knot a black cord, leaving Chloe standing who was also knotting a black cord, then bent down to set it in front of her on the ground just as Sasha and Lorrie did with their cords. Chloe then turned to the North and spoke…

"Stellar Earth, your blossoms close, but in my heart their fragrance grows."

Turning to the West, she said…

"Astral Waters, your waves subside, into my heart, to reside."

Turning to the South, she said…

"Cosmic Fires, your sparks wane, but in my heart, they live again."

Turning to the East, she said…

"Celestial Winds, your airs fade, but carry the magick that I bade."

Finally, Chloe took a step into the circle and said…

"Shining Spirit, your song still sings, and with it the magick brings"

Sasha, Lorrie stand yet again and say with Chloe.

"We thank the spirits who have come to aide us in our rite!

Merry meet and merry part!

So Mote It Be!"

The girls went to sit back down and practically collapsed into their mens arms, having being drained of their energy by performing two rituals at once as well as having opened and closed the quarters. Stacii lay on the ground, unconscious, the binding complete and the gifts of Spirit leaving her.

"Girls, are you alright?" Charles called in great concern.

"Yeah dad, it's just very draining. We'll be alright" Sasha replied, fanning herself. Kurt brought her a glass of cold water.

"Lorrie...Lor...c'mon, breath easy, babe," Logan coaxed, trying to help Lorrie get her bearings.

"Mon chere!" Remy said in a slight panic. Lorrie and Sasha looked over to Chloe, somewhat passed out from the added stress of having the spirits move through her as well as opening and closing the quarters.

Lorrie and Sasha scurried to Chloe's side with a small bottle in hand and dabbed a lil on Chloe's forehead. Remy rocked her in his arms 'til she regained herself.

"What was that you put on her forehead?" Bobby asked.

"Just a lil Coconut oil. It helps bring love and great courage as well as stimulates inner peace. Chloe had the spirits move through and exit her when she called and closed the quarters. It happens sometimes," Lorrie replied.

"Just a lil more touchy feely then I was hoping for tonight,' Chloe giggled sweetly as she gave her head a few good shakes. They all sighed in relief when Chloe got up off the ground and turned to face Sean. "So… sunshine… let's see how we girly chicka's did, say sumpthin' sweetie," Chloe smiled at him.

"I… I… don't know what to say, m'lady...thank you...thank you ladies all very much, bless you all greatly."

Chloe giggled and kicked at the grass. "Aww shucks… twr'nt nothin toots" as she mock blush, making everyone laugh with her. "But hey, it's good to know ya got the gift to gab again," Chloe giggled out wildly and began picking up her trade tools as Lorrie and Sasha had.

"Dad, I think Stacii's mutation should also be suppressed." Sasha suggested, looking warily at her older sister's unconscious form. "We don't want her doing anything to harm the baby."

"A prudent precaution, my dear," Charles agreed. He rolled his wheelchair closer to Stacii and touched a hand to her forehead. After a moment, he pulled away. "There," Charles said "Stacii has so many telepathic blocks around her mutant genes that it would take the better part of a century to break down."

With that done, Chloe turned to Emma and Sean.

"How about yas stay for supper? We gots lots and had just started to fix it when other things took precedence. You can give a call up north and let them know in case they worry."

Stacii, who had now woke, started to weep silently at losing her witchy powers and, yes she knew she also no longer had access to her mutant abilities. The telepathic restraints on her wrists were taken away and she solemnly followed everyone into the house.

The three girls fixed dinner with Emma lending a hand in thanks for doing what the girls did for her husband. Emma and Sean found that Lorrie, Chloe and Sasha were nothing at all like Stacii, and quickly took a liking to the other Xavier sisters.

Over dinner, Sean explained what had taken place up North...Stacii making the moves on him...him adamantly refusing her advances and that if she didn't stop he would have her removed from the house. He went on to say that he believed she had gotten her hands on a spellbook and put a love spell on him, luring him into an affair. Emma instantly broke down at the story her husband told her. Sean apologized profusely to his wife, and Emma forgave him, seeing as how he was hexed and wasn't in control of his faculties. By now everyone came to the conclusion that the baby was indeed Sean's, even if there was no hardcore proof.

"I can't thank you ladies enough for what you have done," Sean said again to the sisters as they sat discussing what needed to be done for the sake of the child now.

"Oh your more them welcome, it's the least we could do, seeing as what our sister caused!" Sasha said, shooting a dirty look at Stacii.

"Ummm…" Sean began to say, visibly struggling to find the right words.

"What is it Sean?" Sasha coaxed.

"Well… I was wondering… what you ladies did out there and taking Stacii's powers and all that magick…will it hurt the baby?"

Sasha smiled, knowing instantly that he had great concern for the baby's welfare. "Nope, the baby will be just fine. We worded the spell very carefully so that it would only effect Stacii. Our spells are always performed good and proper...unlike some individuals who shall remain nameless, isn't that right Stacii?"

Stacii opted to not respond and poured another cup of coffee.

"Dad, Sean, Emma...can I make a suggestion," Chloe said softly, deep in thought.

All attention turned to Chloe.

"Yes my dear?" Charles said as he looked behind Lorrie and asked softly for her to get him the coffee pot that had just finished perking a fresh pot.

"Aye, I welcome your suggestion" Sean answered.

"Please Chloe" Emma replied.

"Well, we girls know what it's like to have one parent or another gone, as Dad had to go away leaving us with mom. Not your fault Dad…I know and I didn't bring it up to have you feel bad. You did what you felt was best for us girls and mom, totally understandable and we don't hold it against you either, never would or could, But…anyhoo…then mom got sick and died," Chloe said, and began to get teary eyed speaking of her mothers passing as did Lorrie and Sasha. "See… the thing is… this baby's mother ,if you want to call her that, and yeah I mean you Stacii! Your neglect and twisting of magick brought on this child. He or she won't stand a chance with you...and Sean, I know you love Emma greatly! I can feel it. I'm a high empath. But you are also very much this baby's father. I'm so sorry Emma but I can sense that too being empathic. I'm never wrong with my empathy; it's as good as visible proof… Regardless… I know your hurtin' very much and with every right too. There's no two ways about it! But… it's not fair for this baby to have to go with out a family! I can sense Emma that as much as you wish it was yours it is not and that's the facts of it. And obviously Sean is going to want to be around the baby, even if you may resent the child Emma. So we all got to make this work for the sake of the baby." Chloe paused to wipe away her tears feeling the baby, everyone's tension, Emma's pain, Sean's love for Emma and now also his feelings toward this baby.

"Chloe are you alright?" Sasha asked in great concern seeing her sister rub her temples as Remy held onto Chloe tighter.

"Yeah, I'm just feeling and sensing so much around me… anyhoo… My point is this, like it or not Emma you will play a part in this child's life as it is partially Sean's too. So I think you would make a wonderful godmother…" Chloe faded off only to ask Remy to light her a smoke. She sipped gently at her tea, trying to sooth her nerves.

"Vut are you getting at Chloe?" Kurt asked, he himself slightly confused.

"What I'm saying is we need to make this a family pronto before the child gets here…" Chloe was suddenly cut off.

"You have no right choosing a godmother!" Stacii yelled, slamming the door of a cupboard she had been rummaging through.

"Oh? Like, you did great in … no offence Sean, Emma, choosing a married man for a father! I think Chloe asking Emma to the baby's Godmother is a wise choice for this baby and rightfully so as her husband is the father!" Sasha spat in Chloe's defense.

"I second that!" Lorrie added.

"Dad you can't seriously let the girls make the decisions about my baby," Stacii pleaded to Charles.

"Why not? So far their making far better choices then you have!"

"What!" Stacii said in shock. "Your kidding me!" she said incredulously. "You got one about to marry Grizzly Adams here, another with a mattress strapped to her back for a freak, and another too sickly and too stupid for words...and furthermore should have been put to death at her birth...who is now dating an idiot savant! You're going to take parental tips from these three ya-hoo's!"

Before Stacii had finished her rant, Chloe broke down in tears, Sasha took a firm hold on Kurt's arm, her bottom lip beginning to quiver slightly and her eyes glazing over, and Lorrie plunked down in her chair, too stunned for words.

At this point Charles had turned a bright flaming red and was about to burst forth in great anger when he halted suddenly as Logan, Remy and Kurt jumped to their girls defense.

"Look, you over used piece of gutter trash, you best take them words back!" Logan's claws sprang from his knuckles and a deep growl gurgled from deep within him.

"Or what?"

"Or Gambit gonna make you go boom!"

Stacii stood between the two men and began to visibly shake.

"And ve can hide ze body bits!" Kurt snarled, flicking his tail like a bullwhip.

"Fine! Sorry Lorrie, Sasha!" she yelled.

"Non! Not no where near good enough!" Gambit seethed.

"You got some serious ass kissing to do girl, and you are going to do it!" Logan shot back in almost a roar.

"Ve vill make it our perzonal goal in life to zee zat you do!" Kurt flared up, his eye blazing white momentarily.

Stacii broke into tears, the guys having her terrified her into groveling to her sisters.

"It's a start!" Gambit said as his cards dissipated and Logan fought off the beast within him. Kurt took several deep breaths in an attempt to calm himself.

Stacii slumped to the floor and cried, a broken shell of her destructive self. Charles did his best to explain to Sean and Emma about Chloe's disability and how her mutation works.

"I'm so very sorry Chloe to cause you such grief," Sean said, turning to the weeping girl.

"No...no...Sean it's not you, and please don't think that."

Sasha, having finally composed herself, returned to the previous conversation. "Now, Chloe, what was it you were saying before you were so rudely interrupted." Sasha walked passed Stacii, who was still sitting on the floor, and non-chalantly kicked her.

It took a moment for Chloe to calm herself before replying. "Where was I?"

"You were talking about family, this baby and an idea you had" Sasha explained, trying to put on a happy face.

"Oh yes, sorry, my train of thought got de-railed" she giggled. "Alrighty then, oh thank you luv," she took her cigarette back from Remy, "as I was saying… this lil one needs a family, guardians, and some sort of stable home life with lots of loving, caring, people around, and to keep as much bad energy as possible away from the lil one. The baby was bore from wrongful magick, and both its parents…I should say one a parent, the other a biological one...are also mutants, and this baby could be used as weapon if not raised carefully and will need to be kept safe!" Chloe paused to take a sip of tea.

"I see where Chloe is going with this, it takes a village to raise a child," Ro smiled.

"Exactly My sista friend!" Chloe beamed happily.

"Finally! A voice of reason!" Hank sighed happily .

"Fanks Hank sweetie… you're pretty awesome yourself!" Chloe giggled and chucked him in the arm.

"Chloe's right...wow, I never thought I'd hear myself say that!" Lorrie giggled playfully, "anyway...if this baby is to have any hope at all we all need to step up and play an active role!"

Charles nodded. "I agree, and thank you Chloe for making this clear for every one by taking the initiative and looking out for the child's well being first like this. It takes a strong person to step aside and look at these matters from all angles, and seeing as you took the first step Chloe… what do you think should be on the first order of things to do!"

"Umm… ok… Uhhh… gimme a minute… chicka girly here didn't quite think that far ahead," she admitted seriously though nearly everyone else in the room started laughing. "OoOo… Oo… Oo… O… I know… ok girly gots a handle on this now!" Chloe exclaimed overly excited as though eureka the girl has somewhat caught up

"Great! Now that ya got the handle on it sis, whatever ya do...don't let go!" Sasha smiled.

"Don't I know it… anyway, I think the first thing is, ummm… Sean and Emma will need to shut down the school up there and move Generation X here a.s.a.p. so that Sean and Emma both can play very vital roles in the baby's life from the very beginning!"

Charles, Sean and Emma discussed the matter amongst themselves for several long moments.

"Yes…yes I think that can be arranged… but as you so eloquently pointed out Chloe, this child could be in great danger in the wrong hands and will not only need family for protection but also being this child was conceived in magick. I do believe the forces of magick should protect this child and I can't see those with better experienced then Lorrie, Sasha and you as the child's guardians. Unless Sean and Emma have any objections?" Charles announced.

"None here, " Emma and Sean agreed in unison.

That was when a wet voiced Stacii spoke up and said, "Does this mean I can have my powers and mutation back?"

And was answered with Sasha, Lorrie and Chloe turning abruptly and saying fast and hard, "NO!"

"Well what about me?" Stacii whimpered

It was Charles, who spoke up to say, "What about you? You have caused not only your sisters and me, but also everyone around you a great deal of grief. We are now attempting to in some way try to give this child coming a somewhat normal life! Oh, and by the way Stacii… you're on house arrest! It's not a grounding and it's non-negotiable, but you are not allowed to leave the grounds or use any means of communication including no transportation, letters, phones, internet or any means and being as your mutation is suppressed and your powers are no longer in effect you will still be required to work. Meaning manual labour and I have plenty of secretary work for you. I'm sure other things will be found for you to do by your sisters as they lead very busy lives. You will also continue your schooling by way of the teachers here. I would also like you all to take note of one other thing… Stacii is not to be left alone with this child after its birth, and if she wishes to play a part in the baby's life, it will be by supervised visitation only and only on the guardians say so! You will also keep regular doctor appointments with Dr. McCoy and do as he instructs you without hesitation. One other thing Stacii, Emma will be your personal mentor and supervisor so you will do no harm to this infant in your time of expectancy, as you obviously cannot control your life and be a responsible person. More so yet a gifted person with responsibilities to her fellow gifted people who try to make this world a better place for people like yourself!" Charles long enough to take a cleansing breath. "Stacii it has been a long day and an even longer evening, I think you should retire for the night. Tomorrow is a new day, and you will have plenty to keep you busy!"

Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief as Stacii had left, speechless for the first time in a long time.

"Charles I don't know how you managed to raise three lovely wonderful daughters, and then there's Stacii. I just don't understand why Stacii did all of this and ruined all of our lives" Emma said, pouring another cup of coffee.

Sasha piped up. "Oh, Stacii isn't his," she popped a carrot stick into her mouth, "we bought her from a nice Gypsy family...seemed rather glad to be rid of her, actually." Sasha smiled brightly.

Charles smiled wryly at his youngest before continuing. "I don't understand it myself Emma, her mother and I tried, God knows we tried."

"I should call the house and let them know we'll be late" Sean said.

"It's been a long day and evening like dad said, why not stay for the night?" Chloe suggested. "There are tons of rooms here and you can get some sleep before heading back. This way we can get to know you both better seeing as you'll be moving in soon."

Yes, what a wonderful idea, my dear," Charles agreed.

"Alright I'll just give a quick call letting them know we'll be back in the morning and we will then make the announcement" Emma said with a soft smile and moved over to the kitchen phone.

Sean looked at Logan and half-smiled. "You're really settling down now, huh Logan? Geez I can't believe it, congratulations to both of you."

"By the way, you and the fraction up there are invited to the wedding in case the mail lost the invitations," Lorrie said happily.

Emma had caught the tail end of the conversation as she hung up the phone. "Yep we got them and we'll all be here… we move pretty fast up there as you all do here and we should all be moved in before the wedding, if that's alright?"

"Sure it is Emma, the more witches the better!" Sasha welcomed her warmly.

"You three girls are really something else, ya know that? Asking Sean and I, as well as the rest of the faction, to move into your home and you girls taking care of a mess someone else created, when you all have lives too! This is really gonna seriously cut into your personal lives. Then allowing me to take part and asking me to be the baby's godmother when you didn't have to do that. You quite possibly saved our marriage cuz I wouldn't have known what in the hell to do!" Emma said softly.

"Of course we're something else," Sasha said happily, teasing, "but the jury just hasn't figured out what we are yet!"

Chloe chimed in with her sister. "'Sides who do ya think we are … Stacii!" Everyone fell into fits of laughter again.

"Hey, aren't you the girl that's got her hands full with thee resident Casanova Cajun here? We've heard lots about you, mainly from him… but some from the others too. Anytime we would be at the house here after a joined mission you were always away," Sean teased.

"Yeah, I was finishing up my residency at the clinic and University. I was pretty much MIA 'round these parts, but not anymore. That reminds me… what exactly is a Cajun anyway? I never did get a straight answer on that." Chloe's face took on a serious and quizzically expression, forcing everyone to laugh again.

Sasha leaned across the table and whispered to her sister though loud enough everyone could hear too. "A Cajun is someone of mixed White, Black, and Native Northern ancestry, that was banished from Nova Scotia in the 18th century and now hail from Louisiana. Some call him Swamp Rat because he's a country boy originally, which is swamp marshy alligator infested water like area's… in short chicka girly, Remy, that is your pretty boy slash boy toy is a true 150 bonified, real dealing, Cajun! So in definition to your question sis… Remy is in fact of mixed ethnics, from the alligator swampy southern regions, who speaks both French & English with a southern drawl, and cooks bottom dwellers and scavengers! That my ever-loving sweet sista friend is exactly what a Cajun is! Kinda like the country boys back home that speak French and English with way too much testosterone!" Sasha re-settled herself back into Kurt's arms.

Chloe looked up and behind her at Remy for confirmation on her sisters' words as she sat leaning back into in his lap. Remy just smiled broadly and gave her a wink and look to say Sasha was correct. Then lit a smoke with the kinetic energy in his hand and opened the beer Sean passed him. Chloe smiled back and giggled a lil.

------

Sasha sat alone in the kitchen, dozens of college course catalogues stacked in front of her. She was so engrossed with reviewing each booklet carefully that she didn't notice her father enter.

He watched her silently, chuckling inwardly at Sasha's little idiosyncrasies...the way her tongue stuck out slightly as she concentrated, the way she'd tap her glasses with her fingernail, the way she would hold her breath when reading a particularly interesting passage, the way her nose would crinkle when she saw something she didn't like. Finally, after a few moments, he broke the long silence.

"Good morning, my dear," he said cheerfully, pouring two cups of coffee "how goes the great college hunt?"

Sasha signed heavily. "It doesn't." Charles looked at her quizzically as he handed one of the coffees to her. She pulled off her glasses and sipped the warm liquid. "I can't decide which ones to apply to."

"Well, you do know that money is no object," Charles said, parking his wheelchair next to her. "If there's a place you want to go to badly enough, you know I'll pay for it."

Sasha sighed heavily. "It's not that. It's just..."

"Just...what?" Charles coaxed.

"Kurt," she said simply. "If I go away to college I could run the risk of losing him, so I've been exploring schools that I can commute back and forth to, but that's not an easy task. I was considering NYU, but I just don't wanna be compared to Chloe again."

"My dear, you shouldn't let the question of yours and Kurt's future together get in the way of your education. He loves you, I know he loves you, and I'm sure if he knew he was a factor in your decision-making process he would tell you not to worry...and as for Chloe, you wouldn't even be majoring in the same things she did... you'll have completely different instructors than she did...so I can't see anyone comparing you to her."

Sasha was silent as she thought about her father's words. Deep down, she knew Kurt wouldn't stand in her way if there was something she really wanted.

She looked back up at her father, misty eyed. "Did you ever know that you're my hero?" She cracked a smile.

Charles chuckled, "You are the wind beneath my wheels!" The two broke out into fits of laughter.

------

The following two weeks was met with meeting new people from Generation X, wedding preparations, wedding rehearsals, D.R. training, Gym regimes, missions and for Hank, Cece, Jean, and Chloe their medical practices and lab work too. The Doctorial Staff had excused Lorrie from her R.N. job so she may see to her personal busy schedule at present.

Aside from Sean and Emma, who the sisters had met earlier that month, there were a number of people to meet. First was Artie, a very young little boy and liked to tag along with all the men; Jonothon, otherwise known as Chamber, whose only way of communication was through telepathy -- if he open his mouth, even for an instant, he could've shattered ever piece of glass in the house -- he was also very best friends and party buddies with Remy and Logan. Chloe took to Jonothon like a fish to water, referring to him as Jon-Jon. Then there was Leech, who everyone knew very little about -- including himself on account of him unable to remember his real name -- so Chloe began calling him Busta, short for Busta-Rhyme due to his love of rap music and never being more than two feet away from his Discman. Leech quickly became best friends with Kurt. Next came Skin, whom Chloe called Armstrong, short for Stretch Armstrong. Skin and Bobby instantly liked each other. Synch found himself able to understand much about Chloe, seeing as he was a minor empath and always in tune those around him. Paige, also known as Husk -- lil sister to the Xmen's very own Sam Gunthrie (or Cannonball as he was better known) -- and Valerie, or Marvel Girl II -- found themselves quickly absorbed into Sasha's lil group of friends as had the rough and tumble Penance, Chambers' girlfriend, with Chloe and her friends. The members of Generation X quickly learned that Xavier's other three daughters were nothing like Stacii, and were all visibly relieved.

It was a few days before the wedding, and no two people were more nervous about the coming nuptials than Lorrie and Logan. Lorrie spent the vast majority of her time in her room with Sasha and Chloe, making sure everything was just the way it was supposed to be. Lorrie had handed over a good deal of the decision-making to Sasha, trusting her ability to gets things done in time. Logan, however, had very little to do except show up, so he and the guys took off to the cabin down at the lake, though this party was no where near as rowdy as their lil 'paintball' trip, of which the girls still had no idea of what happened that weekend.

Stacii was also allowed to go to the wedding but Sasha and Chloe made it perfectly clear to their dear sisters that if she didn't keep herself in check and not ruin Lorrie's special day they knew of three guys -- namely Logan, Remy, and Kurt -- who would absolutely love to put her in place. Stacii begrudgingly agreed, knowing full well of what the guys were capable of.

"This is just wonderful!" Charles exclaimed, bursting with fatherly pride. "This house has never seen the wedding of a Xavier! But today, today is a banner day!"

It was still early morning, the wedding was scheduled for mid afternoon, but he still couldn't resist exhibiting his happiness. The men all sat clustered around the kitchen table while the girls had disappeared upstairs to finish getting ready. Sasha and Chloe became hawks and made it very clear that any male to enter the upstairs including their own men other then their father, would learn the full meaning of the word eunuch!

Bobby, in his infinite wisdom, had actually tried to go upstairs under the pretext of looking for his cummerbund, and Sasha promptly sent him back the way he came and gave him a very painful thought as a warning. Upon entering the kitchen, everyone saw the look of horror on the young man's face.

"So," Logan leaned forward, smirking "How was Operation Bedroom Storm?"

Bobby looked at each of the guys with a deadly serious expression. "Whatever you do, don't get Sasha mad at you. She's got a real earthy sense of revenge and a very good grasp of anatomy."

"Wad soeur de lil say, mon amis?" Remy inquired, getting interested.

"She...she said...oooo, it's too awful, I can't even say it." Bobby plunked down hard in an empty chair and swallowed hard, trying to coax the words out of himself. "She said that the next guy to try to get upstairs will find himself on the business end of her athame...that with a flick of her wrist she could change their religion...make them sing soprano for the church choir for the rest of their life."

The room full of men shivered in unison and crossed their legs at the mere thought.

"Point taken," Logan replied, swallowing hard.

At that moment, Chloe bounded into the kitchen. She was bundled up tightly in her housecoat but her hair and makeup was completely done. "Just came down to grab some coffee for Lorrie… she's a bundle of nerves, but is holding up well."

The men turned very pale, holding pain-filled expressions, and crossed their legs. Chloe looked at them and giggled.

"I see someone has already tried to get past Sasha on the stairs."

"Hov iz my beautiful Canadian Princezz Zazha doing?" Kurt asked sweetly.

Bobby looked at his friend incredulously. "Didn't you just hear the threat she had made to certain parts of our bodies?"

Chloe giggled again and shook her head slightly. "She's great Blue Baby, other then getting frustrated with Lorrie who wants to come down and see Logan. Which by the way we have Penny and Dom guarding the door with orders to maim or crush anyone that doesn't live on estrogen, other then Popsy of course."

"Mais 'ow is mon chere Priestess doin' wit' all o' dis?" Remy asked her, chugging his usual morning breakfast of hoppes and barley.

"She's hangin' in there sweetie… been awhile since I've presided over a service but I should do fine! The other fractions in town yet dad?" Chloe said, dodging Remy's kiss. All the women in the house had made a celibacy pact the week before so they could remain pure for the ceremony -- even kisses and other innocent touches were prohibited. This pact greatly disheartened their men, Kurt in particular because Sasha was being incredibly cruel to him -- allowing him to sleep next to her at night but not touch her as if they were brother and sister. He made a silent pact with himself that immediately following the conclusion of the service he would whisk Sasha away to the nearest broomcloset.

"Yes, both X-Force and X-Factor called last night from their hotels, and will all be here on time!" Charles said happily, glad to know that everything going like clockwork.

"Great! I'll let Lor know so her mind can rest on that subject."

"Wonderful, keep her mind at ease" He told her.

"We're tryin up there"

"Lor will love the honeymoon! Don't tell her Coco but I'm taking her to Italy fer a week"

"Your secret is safe with me honey. I won't say a word, and yes she will love it!"

Chloe, after having grabbed several items from the fridge, did her best to dodge Remy's advances, who tried in earnest to get a kiss or at the very least a hug.

"Honey, you're an animal… ya know that?" She giggled wildly.

"Hey Rat?" Jon jived his friend "You got the right lady! Chloe? Make sure he gets his shots!" Jon told her giving her a big hug that she hugged him back -- she wasn't his girl so this was indeed permissible. Remy wanted desperately to slug his buddy for teasing him.

"Jon-Jon sweetie, you and Rem honey are a pair that needs to be separated! Kinda like two elementary boys on the back of a school bus with their father's nasty icky magazines… totally helpless and hopeless!" she giggled, shaking her head. The men busted up too and claiming the truths to Chloe's words were completely accurate.

"You know it, mon chere!" Remy said, trying to corner her as she made yet another attempt to leave.

When she turned to leave, both Remy and Jon caught her off guard when they reached out and gave her a playful smack on her ass. She yelped loudly and flew from the room, leaving the men roaring in laughter behind her.

------

"Hey girls, it's safe...the guys are in the kitchen makin' fun of me now," Chloe said in a giggle as she passed Dom and Penny in the hall on her way back to Lorrie's room. The two girls guarding the door followed her inside where all the other X-women were, including Stacii who was helping Kitty, Paige, Val and Jubes with goofing.

"Hey Coco, ya never know...could be you next," Jubes giggled happily to Chloe. Chloe's giggling expression suddenly dropped to a solemn one. She sat down slowly and quietly, everyone turning to look. Jubes gave her a quizzical look and said, "Did I say something wrong? You alright chicka?"

"I'm sorry to say, but I don't think Chloe will be next, unfortunately" Lorrie said softly and shuffled over to her saddened sister, trying very carefully not to damage her stunning Versaci wedding gown. She perched carefully next to Chloe and dabbed away Chloe's tears, being careful not mess up her makeup.

"Why not? Chloe would make an awesome kick-ass bride?" Dom injected. Betsy and Penny agreed silently, softly smiling.

"Chloe has… well… ok, how do I explain this…hmmm…alright… because of her illness and the suicide tendencies that come along with that… well… Chloe doesn't want to hurt anyone, ever!" Sasha explained. "So Chloe decided a very long time ago that she wouldn't get married. Chloe doesn't want to have the man of her dreams worry whether she's going to snap and make him a widower."

Sasha continued on to say, "Lorrie and I have both told her that -- whoever that man should be -- he would look after and take care of her to make sure that that doesn't happen, but Chloe's head has been filled with so many years worth of brow beatings from other people and now doesn't know what to believe now." Sasha shot a nasty look at Stacii and she, in turn, shrug it off.

"Sasha's right! There's a Mr. Right for every girl even Chloe" Jubes piped up. "Your Prince Charming will look after you, so it's all good Coco!"

Chloe giggled hard and playfully pushed Jubes into the bathroom, and then proceeded to shut the door and wedge a chair in front of it. Sasha, Kitty, Val and Paige quickly rushed to the chair and tried to pile themselves high on the seat, thereby trapping their giggling friend inside.

"WILMA!" Jubilee said through the door, giggling and pounding on the door, ala Fred Flintstone.

It was only when Ro intervened, also in fits of giggles, that Jubes was released from her potty-room prison. Once again, everyone returned the task at hand at getting Lorrie ready for the big moment.

Down stairs the guys sat, waited, and twiddled their thumbs. All were clean-shaven, showered, in tuxes, and smelling good for their girls. The young males of Gen-X and several of the students were inducted into Ushers and directing early arrivals to their seats.

The girls had turned the little used chapel and made it their own. A little customizing and it made the perfect Pagan temple. Charles, of course, had no issue with the customizing -- fact was, no one ever used the room -- so he was glad when his daughters had finally found a use for it.

When everyone who wasn't in the wedding party had been seated, Remy called up to the Bride's suite.

------

"Hmm… thank you honey, Logan doing well?" Awesome… Ok I'm on my way in a few moments just need to take care of a loose end or two… alrighty, see you soon sweetie."

"Aww how cute!" Jubes mocked. Sasha, Kitty, Val, & Paige made kissy faces and sounds to match. Chloe turned around and stuck her tongue out to them, making them giggle.

------

Remy hung up the phone to turn around to find every male in the room except Charles was making kissy faces and sounds. The mocking halted suddenly when Remy produced a kinetically charged card. Occasionally, the odd snicker could still heard in the background.

"'Light, chere is coming down in a few minutes and she herself will come and get us, when she ready"

------

"Girls… ok… We. Are. So. Out. Of. Here! … Let's go! …Time to get my sissy boo hitched!" Chloe giggled and ushered all the girls out of the room. While the girls headed downstairs and to the right, Chloe veered off to the left in search of the guys and, in a few moments, the entire wedding party stood outside the chapel

"'Kay, honey" Chloe said, turning to Remy, "you would have normally gone out there with me but being as I got a new role now you'll go out there with Sasha … Kurt with Jubes, Bobby with Kitty and so on down the line basically the one your next too is who's taking you out there girlies… honey could you please light this" she held a candle out to Remy who promptly set it ablaze and handed it to Kurt. "Thanks dear… ok try not to set yourself a blaze Kurt darlin'. Bobby fix me up an ice cube in this lil bowl here and don't freeze the whole bowl like I know you want too Bobert! You'll carry the element of water Mr. Cool. 'Ro could you please make with a nice light spring breeze around you as you come in and hold that element through out the ceremony as you'll carry the element of air. Sas if you would be so kind as to bring the element of earth with you." Chloe paused momentarily as she blessed the tiny pouch of dirt, the ice cube, the candle, and right blessed 'Ro for bringing the element of air.

"Alright… everyone here ready? … Dad is with Lorrie and they know when their cue is… so let's get this shindig under way!" Everyone lined up in pairs behind Chloe and waited until they were told to move.

An old Celtic hand fasting hymn started up over the speakers. Slowly Chloe led everyone down the aisle, dozens of eyes watching them carefully.

Stepping up behind the altar, Chloe raised her arms, calling silence to the spectators. The wedding party took their proper places as per the rehearsals as Chloe whispered a silent prayer to the spirits.

It was the climax of the song when the Chapel doors opened and everyone turned to see Lorrie and Charles appear, holding hands sweetly. Charles escorted his daughter up the aisle to the front of the massive room where the altar lay.

When they reached the altar, the music faded out. Lorrie gave Charles a peck on his cheek before stepping up to stand next to Logan. They joined hands and looked expectantly at Chloe.

"Who thou approach this sacred time, are you properly prepared?" Chloe began.

Lorrie and Logan spoke clearly to answer together, "We are"

"Then we do welcome thee," Chloe replied and waited for the couple to step up to the altar before continuing. "Ever does the wheel turn and through each of our lives we seek many things. One of those is to find our mate and if we are lucky it is so. So it is with Lorrie Lynn Xavier and Logan… Thus we gather today to celebrate with them as they commit one to the other and we witness the binding of their hands in the Light of their Love…

Thus it is and thus it has always been, that man and woman are created equal and in all things, are equal. However, when man interfered with this equality in times past, it was thought that if one married, the woman became the chattel of the man, bound to obey and be subservient in all things on his whim. His wife was to be protected and to be provided for but never be as an equal. Now in our enlightened times, we know and attest the equality of all except in that which one lacks, the other redeems, and that which they share, they share in abundance…

So it is that there be but three duties that we must acknowledge: To Love, to Respect, and to Honour…

These be the Mystery for without these three, there be naught but a husk, empty and devoid of Light…

Love, for without love there is no union and their children will be born into despair...

Love, for without love, the union has no base and so must surely fall…

Love, for without love, the nourishment which is each their due, shall be denied…

Respect: respect is the key of freedom within their bonds, for each must acknowledge the individuality of the other and know that though they attest to each other, yet are they each are responsible for their own decisions and their own opinions…

Honour: honour is to rejoice in the light each of you brings into this world, as well as, to each other's lives...

So these three it be and so are they challenged No more is this seen than in their Love and never more than in the case of these two beloved here. Thus do we delight in their joining."

As if on cue, Sasha stepped up next to Lorrie and relieved her sister of her bouquet then returned to her place.

"Lorrie, is it your wish that this Rite proceed and that your hand be joined with this man's?" Chloe said, gesturing to Logan.

Lorrie weepy eyed shakily answered happily…"It is!"

Chloe looked to Logan and said…"Logan, is it your wish that this Rite proceed and that your hand be joined with this woman's?"

"Oh yeah!" He beamed. Everyone in the room desperately fought the urge to laugh at Logan's enthusiasm.

"Then as you have asked freely, so shall it be." Chloe looked at Logan and continued "Logan, in the sight of the Gods and in the full Light of their truth, do you so vow to Love Lorrie and cherish Her? To honour her heart, to respect her being and to ever regard her in the Light of your Love. To care for her and provide for her needs all that you can, as long as you both shall live?"

Logan looked deep into Lorrie's eyes and said strongly, "I shall, and I shall also present to her my love and my pledge. May I never knowingly or willingly do such a thing to harm, nor grieve, her in any form or fashion. Accept this my jewel, as a token of my trust. Like its stones, may my love be as strong. Like its metal may our love be enduring. As precious as the substance it is made from, so precious are you to me. Accept it my love, for that which is mine is yours."

He then place a diamond adamantium ring on her ring finger. Everyone knew the symbolism behind the type of metal the ring was composed of -- Logan meant business -- he had taken shavings from his own claws and had them fashioned into the ring that now rode on Lorrie's knuckle.

Sasha flicked her eyes over to Chloe who was silently weeping at Logan's touching actions. Next, Lorrie spoke.

"My Love, I accept your pledge, and your love, as I accept thy jewel. Know what is in my heart, as I know what is in thine. The magick of my will, of my love, shall ever be thine."

Chloe and Sasha flashed their eldest sister a supporting and comforting smile.

After composing herself, Chloe spoke to Lorrie. "Lorrie, in the sight of the Gods and in the full Light of their truth, do you so vow? To Love Logan and cherish him, to honour his heart, to respect his being and to ever regard him in the Light of your Love. To care for him and provide for his needs all that you can, as long as you both shall live?"

"I shall and I shall also present to him my love and this pledge. May I never knowingly or willingly do such a thing to harm, nor grieve, him in any form or fashion. Accept this, my jewel, my treasure, as a token of my trust. Just as its bright gleam, may our love glow. Like the stone that it is its essence, may our love be as enduring. As precious as the gold it is made from, so precious are you to me. Accept it my love, for that which is mine is yours," Lorrie replied and placed a ring over Logan's knuckle.

Logan covered Lorrie's delicate hand within his two meaty ones and spoke gently to her. "My Love, I accept your pledge and your love, as I accept thy jewel. Know what is in my heart, as I know what is in thine. The magic of my will, of my love, shall ever be thine."

Chloe looked at both Lorrie and Logan and said happily, "So be it! Your Vows have now been heard by all. These rings, like your vows, are without beginning or end. Now placed, they represent a seal of your love and respect for each other. By your love have you so sworn and in the Light of Truth has it been witnessed."

Chloe then stepped down from the pulpit with a long cord in her hands and proceeded to bind Lorrie and Logan's hands together. "In the Light of the Gods, are you so bound, each to the other, unto all of your days. Behold all here assembled, bear witness that Lorrie, daughter of Charles Francis Xavier, sister to Chloe, Stacii & Sasha Xavier hereby give their blessing to this union to Logan on this day. With oaths to each other and so are their hands fasted, each to the other unto the end of their days. But know too that with the binding of these two hearts a new family is formed. A family created of love and trust. One that consists of not just of Lorrie and Logan but to all of their blood as well."

Chloe stepped back and picked up the chalice, and then stepped back to the couple again offering it to both Lorrie and Logan, saying, "This is your first drink together as man and wife. May you never thirst."

Chloe then picks up a basket of bread and offering it to the couple while saying, "This is your first food together as man and wife. May you never hunger."

Sasha then stepped forward, taking hold of the besom, and placed it on the ground in front of the couple. Returning to her place, Chloe spoke again. "And this will be your first act of working together as Husband and Wife."

Lorrie and Logan, getting a good brace on one another, jumped the broom then returned to the pulpit.

Chloe looked out at the crowd, wedding party, and couple. With her voice filled with great happiness she announced, "Rejoice and be merry! A new star adorns the heavens. As it is said, so shall it be and so it is done! We thank the elements of life for their attendance this day and ask they go forth and herald this union. These two lives are now joined in one unbroken circle. Wherever they go, may they always return to one another in their togetherness. May these two find in each other, the love for which all men and women long. May they grow in understanding and in compassion. May the home that they establish be such a place of sanctuary for their family. And may their two rings symbolize the spirit of undying love in the hearts of both of them. You may kiss."

Logan hesitated for a moment, his nervousness still apparent. Chloe leaning into him and spoke loudly so everyone could hear. "Well Logan toots… have at her already would ya!" She began to giggle out as Logan quickly flipped Lorrie's veil up and over her head and trapped her in a lip lock in record time, again reducing everyone into fits of laughter.

Lorrie and Logan walked back down the aisle and out the chapel, everyone following in their wake laughing and congratulating the newly married couple.

Sasha was one on the last few to follow them out. She was taking a moment to adjust her shawl after giving both Lorrie and Logan a warm hug when she suddenly she stopped in her tracks. She looked back up to the front of the chapel only to see Chloe sitting quietly in the front pew, her head hanging low. Sasha breath caught in her throat and her eyes glazed over. Reaching into the crowd, she grabbed a hold of Lorrie shoulder and spun her around to see what she saw. Lorrie and Sasha burst through the crowd and made a beeline for their distraught sister. When Stacii realized what was happening, she too went into motion, running behind her sisters.

Chloe looked up and over her shoulder upon hearing someone approach and slowly rose and turned, seeing it was her sisters now also silently weeping. Chloe shrugged and met her sisters half way down the aisle. The four girls collapsed into each other's arms in a sisterly embrace -- even Stacii was genuinely concerned for Chloe's state of mind despite everything the two of them had been through.

Logan, Remy, Kurt and Charles all silently came back into the chapel and slowly approached the girls, all the other X-crews hung back and watched in stunned silence.

The girls crying well past speech as the men approach this very intense sisterly moment. Charles peeled Stacii out of the hug and held her to him as she cried on his shoulder. Kurt followed suit with Sasha who found herself in need of a dam to stop her tears. Logan grabbed onto Lorrie and held her as she cried a river of her own. Chloe, the ever so overly emotional one, cried harder than the other girls -- tears filled with both heart break and pain -- who was left standing alone. Chloe wrapped herself in her arms dropped down on her haunches.

Remy, seeing his girlfriend in such pain, quickly came to her side and folded her into his broad arms. Remy pulled Chloe into the pew she had sat in only a few moments before and held her close to him, rocking her back and forth as she wept. He brushed her hair back and spoke softly in a whisper that only she could hear.

"Darlin' look at me" Logan told her, gently taking her hands within his, "Chloe, you didn't lose a sister, by no means darlin' you didn't! Those there vows I said up there wasn't just meant for Lor here and she knows it… I know Chloe… I know everything… those vows were meant for you too darlin'… so don't you think for one minute your losing a sister… cause your not! You girls gained a brother-in-wolverine! As did Sasha, and yes you too Stacii!"

Chloe reached out and drew Logan into a tight hug. "Thank you," she sniffed.

Sasha, still in a much calmer state but still dealing with her own tears, quickly helped Lorrie compose herself, fixed her make up, then looked to Chloe and said, "Dang girl! What kinda of airbrushing do you use? Cuz you still look fabulous...not even one smudge of mascara on ya! You look awesome and your still in water works!" Sasha smiled at Chloe. She reached over Remy, who was hugging Chloe in his lap, and brushed back a lock of Chloe's hair.

Sasha, Charles, and Stacii, now having composed themselves enough to deal with previous matters, hurried Lorrie and Logan back out to the family and friends watching from the mouth of the chapel allowing Remy and Chloe to have a few minutes alone.

------

Sasha emerged from a utility closet near the storage room, followed by Kurt a second later. Their hair was tossled and their clothing wrinkled, but both of them sported a look of complete satisfaction. True to his word, Kurt had hustled Sasha away to a secluded spot and satisfied what they both richly desired, only to emerge 30 minutes later. After taking a moment to compose themselves, the pair made their way to the reception hall.

The reception hall was done up beautifully, white lace as far as the eye could see -- accented ever-so-slightly by soft hues of blue, lavender, and pink. As the afternoon wore on into early night, everyone seemed to forget about the emotional moment that had followed the ceremony.

As one of the caterers carrying glasses of wine passed by Sasha, she took two glasses, handing one to Kurt and keeping the other for herself. Every few minutes she could hear someone clink his or her glass. This sound, as it was a wedding tradition, forced Lorrie and Logan to kiss -- not that they minded of course, Logan saw it as a chance to practice for later that night.

"Hey Sas," Chloe shouted over the loud music, "wanna take over for me? I want go change so that I can party with Rem, I missed out on all those cool dances you all got to go to, that's if ya don't mind."

"Go for it! Sis? Hey… if ya get anything hot and heavy going, keep it smooth and sweet!" Sasha joked with her.

"Hell girl friend if I get anything hot and heavy going, don't come a knockin' when the Priestess is a rockin!"

"DAMN STRAIGHT, CHLOE, YOU TELL'EM!" Lorrie called from the other side of the room.

"Lor, sista, do you even have the slightest clue what we're talking about?" Chloe yelled over to her busy-trying-to-get-drunk sister.

"NOT A CLUE COCO, BUT YOU TELL'EM ANYWAY!"

"OK FOR YOU LOR I'LL DO IT!" Chloe left the hall giggling hysterically.

Sasha got a really wicked grin on her face, her eyes twinkling slightly. Kurt looked at his girlfriend questioningly for a moment. "Vut are you zinkin', luv?" he asked, giving Sasha an appraising look.

Sasha said nothing. Instead, she wordlessly handed Kurt her wine glass and strode towards the stage where the D.J. stood. Kurt watched Sasha as she whispered something to the D.J. then approached the microphone.

"Can I please have everyone's attention?" Sasha spoke into the microphone. She waited until a hush fell over the crowd before she continued. "Lorrie...Logan...I'm sure I can safely speak for everyone when I say that we hope you have a long and joyous life together, filled with more children and grandchildren that you can shake a stick at." This comment elicited an approving roar from the crowd. "As a celebration of that life, I'd like to offer the happy couple a song that, I feel, describes that wish." Sasha gestured to the D.J. and a deep bass resounded throughout the room. Sasha cleared her throat and began:

"If she's got jungle fever...

He's got jungle fever...

They've got jungle fever..."

Sasha's voice was then drowned out by the crowd's roaring laughter…even Logan busted up and Lorrie's face turned to a deep red.

"Y'KNOW IT, DARLIN'," Logan yelled over the din.

------

About 45 minutes later, Sasha seen Chloe come back into the hall, now dressed in more casual attire, shouted with a broad smile, "KNOCK'EM DEAD GIRL!"

Lorrie turned around and she too saw Chloe. "WOO HOO CHICKA!"

"YOU LOOK AWESOME!" Stacii shouted in rare jubilation.

The rest of the X-females simply shouted in unison, "CHLOE DATE US!"

The party was once again in full swing.

A short while later, Sasha glanced at her watch. As per a discussion earlier she had had with Chloe and Stacii, the prearranged time for Lorrie and Logan's surprise was quickly approaching.

Sasha turned to Kurt. "I adore ya Kurt baby, but… I wanna dance and sorry, but… it's not with you" she giggled, stood, and walked away. Kurt sat speechless for several long seconds as he watched her walk away.

Sasha walked by Stacii, grabbed her arm, and dragged her sister with her. Sasha did the same with Chloe, swinging her right out of Remy's embrace. Remy watched wide-eyed in surprise whereas Kurt was just now getting what was happening. Sasha, Chloe, and Stacii approached Lorrie and Logan in a V-shape fashion. Lorrie caught sight of her sisters out of the corner of her eye and giggled wildly, knowing what was to come. The crowd parted to allow the sisters through.

Sasha pried Lorrie out of Logan's tender embrace, his mouth swinging open like a rusty gate as he fell into complete confusion about what had just happened. Sasha then proceeded to twirl Lorrie around the dance floor, which elicited hearty laughter from the crowd. After a few minutes, Sasha passed Lorrie off to Chloe who in turn passed her off to Stacii. Stacii danced Lorrie right into a sitting position on a chair that had been pre-placed a few minutes earlier. Sasha held Lorrie's arms behind her back gently so not to hurt her. Chloe, being the chicka she was, stood in front of Lorrie with an I-am-so-up-too-no-good grin on her face, then proceeded to carefully lift her sisters dress up, piling the fabric on Lorrie's lap. Every male in the room began to whistle, shout, and holler in excitement.

Chloe grabbed a mic and said, "Hey now boys there's some real sisterly hardcore action for yas!"

Lorrie's eyes grew wide and flew up to such a raging red hot blush there was no turning back from or she could hide as Sasha who was busy laughing and held Lorrie's arms back.

Chloe ran over to a now breathless and sweating Logan. She grabbed his hand and pulled him over to where Lorrie sat. "All right Logan… we got her willing and able! Now lay some of that grrreat and awesome bestial action on us girlys!" Chloe turned to the Dj and he in turn began to play some really bad 70's porn music (bow-wow, chica-chica-chica, bow-wow...) as Logan attempted to take Lorrie's garter off.

Chloe squealed in displeasure. "Nope! Nope! Nope… sweetie… not good enough for this chicka…" Chloe paused and pulled the garter back up Lorrie's bare thigh again. Logan arched an eyebrow questioningly at Chloe for clarification to what he did wrong. "I said… I want to see some serious down and dirty bestial action, Wild Man, and that's exactly what I mean!"

Sasha smirked, withdrew a pair of handcuffs from her pocket, and locked them into place around Lorrie's wrists then tossed a second pair to Chloe. Chloe walked around the room, grabbed Cable and Bishop by the arm and had them handcuff Logan.

Chloe smiled wickedly at Logan and continued, "You got an imagination big boy… use it … and… oh… Logan? … don't leave us girls disappointed!"

Logan, now finding himself handcuffed, bent forward and began to slide the garter belt off using only his teeth.

Backed by awesome roars of hoots, hollers, and whistles, Lorrie screamed out in tearful laughter, "I'mma kill you girls!"

After Logan removed it, still cuffed, turned around and flung the garter behind him. To his great stunned shock, it was Kurt that caught it. His blue face tinged red as Warren and Bobby began to tease him incessantly.

Sasha finally freed Lorrie's hands from the handcuffs. Lorrie gave her littlest sister a mock death glare as all the single girls gathered on the dance floor for the throwing of the bouquet. This time it was Sasha's turn to blush when she caught it. Sasha and Kurt looked at each other, wide-eyed, then to Chloe and Lorrie.

"Oh no you don't," Lorrie started.

"Your too young, so don't get no ideas just yet!" Chloe finished.

"There's always after college" Sasha said happily, and Kurt smiled in response.

------

After the cake cutting and many other formalities Chloe was led out on stage by the Dj.

Chloe picked up a microphone.

"Ladies and gentlemen… for those that don't know… we girls have come a very long way… I mean, let's face it girls, the day we got here we never thought any of has gone on was gonna happen… But it has… I graduated med school and got a degree in music, and started my practice… Sasha finally coming out of her shell -- which, by the way, kudos' to you sista, and Stacii…ummm… what is it you do again? … Never mind Stacii is great at just being Stacii… and then there's the eldest of us, Lorrie Lynn! …Lorrie girlfriend… you and I have known each other the longest… well… seeing as we are the two eldest sisters it makes sense right? …Take a walk with me sis, remember back to the day when I was three years old and you didn't wanna play with me so tied me up in the back 40 during an electrical storm using my own skipping rope? …. See you're all laughing… but… well… what bothered me most was the fact she used my skipping rope… she couldn't use hers… Oh nooo… sista friend here, she just had to use yours truly Coco chicka's… come to think of it Lor… that still bugs me… Anyhoo… then there was that time Lorrie tried to sell Stacii to a small European country for slave labour just so she could save up to buy me that puppy I've always wanted with the money she'd make… again… I'm still waiting on that puppy you promised me Lor! … And then of course we can't forget the time Lor had Sasha girl adamantly convinced she was Jim Henson's kid as well as the missing link to Gonzo on The Muppet Show can we Lor? … But I digress far too much… in short we girls have all changed… some for the better… and some for the worst… but never let it be said by any of us girls that we still aren't there for you Lorrie… good or bad we got your back. We love you Lorrie, don'tchya ever change, ya hear me? …Now you best be good to Logan or we're gonna have to get all P.M.S. like on your "assets" …and Logan… till we girls came here… Lorrie, well… she was just sad… as in… sad and pitiful! … Again, you all laugh… but those are the facts of it! Logan you've been nothing but a blessing to her and done her such a world of good… she worships the very ground you walk on, in her eyes you're godly darlin' … so Logan… on behalf of my other sisters and on behalf of our mother, gods bless her ever loving soul… welcome to the family, we love ya honey!"

Music began to slowly seep out of the sound system as Chloe, for the first time in a long time, performed live. It was a beautiful song of found love lasting forever. Lorrie and Logan stepped out onto the dance floor.

When the song ended, Logan & Lorrie stopped dancing and everyone applauded Chloe's performance. After the applause subsided, Chloe spoke again.

"As much as that was your gift to Logan, Lorrie… Sasha and myself had a discussion too and wanted mom to play some kind of special part in yours and Logan's very special day… so… I got to writing again…" Chloe faded out as more music swept into the hall and she softly sang a very touching song of a mother raising her daughter and everything that went hand-in-hand with it.

Till that moment, Sasha hadn't heard the songs but very much loved it. Sasha wept as she remembered all the touching moments she had had with her mother over the years.

As Chloe finished her second song the room, once again, erupted in a roaring round of applause. Sasha, Stacii, Lorrie, and Charles cried tears of joy to Chloe's music. Chloe handed the microphone back to the DJ, turned back and gave a short gentle bow before making her way off stage. Charles and the sisters once again shared a family hug as Lorrie and Logan thanked Sasha and Chloe for the songs.

"Thank you for not forgetting, Annie would have been so proud!" Charles said, more than a little choked up.

"Ok enough of this everyone please!" Chloe joked, wiping away several falling tears, "I'm the only one allow to cry all the time! It's genetically encoded into me… so get a grip, all of you… 'Sides I can feel you all emotionally so quit that!"

Quickly, everyone composed him or herself for Chloe's sake. A few minutes later, Lorrie and Logan excused themselves so they could prepare to leave on their honeymoon. When the happy couple finally left, Sasha turned to Jubilee.

"Eh Jubes, you may now officially address Chloe and me as your Supreme Goddess' now… or simply Auntie works too," Sasha joked as the room laughed again. Jubes blushed and playfully chased her out of the hall and into the corridor where the teasing continued.

Fifteen minutes later, when the teasing had finally stopped, Jubilee, Sasha, Kitty, Paige and Val perched on the stairway and chattered like the girls they were.

Sasha looked up in time to see Chloe coming right for the stairs. "Hey sis! What's… uuup?" Chloe ran past her sister without answering. Remy was now barreling toward them. "What the hell? Hey Remy? Why's Chloe cryin?" Remy tried to get past Sasha but she blocked the way, waiting for an answer.

"Petite, can Remy et Gambit get back t' you later on dat, please? 'E really need t' talk t' you si'ter right now."

"Normally… I'd say go ahead, but … Chloe's had a hard day… both emotionally and physically… so just… well… lil sis here wants ta know why her big sis is cryin? And furthermore… I wanna know why she's running away from you?"

"L'ok… Sasha … Remy tryin' t' tell you si'ter 'ow much 'e amours, 'ow you say loves 'er, mais 'e can' do dat f'om 'ere talkin' t' you an' 'er up 'tairs weeping now, you ei'der gonna move outta Remy et Gambit's way, or damn it, 'e gonna move you! Cause come 'ell or 'igh water 'e is gonna tell 'er an' dere ain' not'ing gonna 'top me f'om tellin' 'er whet'er it be words, or you, so 'urry an' pick one! Cause Remy et Gambit got a mission 'ere!"

Sasha, deciding to find out if Remy truly was a man of his word, leaned closer into the doorway as Jubes stood on one side and Kitty on the other while Paige and Val taking places in front of the doorway also. Remy picked Sasha up in one arm, stunning her momentarily, and moved her to the side and set her down carefully. He then proceeded to push past the other girls and flew up the stairs after Chloe.

Sasha turned and smirked to her girlfriends, knowing how he really felt about Chloe. Satisfied with the way Remy's test of emotional resolve went, Sasha led her friends back into the hall in search of their main squeezes.

------

A few minutes later Jon, Penny, Kurt, Sasha, Bobby, Jubilee, Kitty, Piotr, Paige, and Val came upon Remy pleaded at Chloe's bedroom door.

"Good evening brozer Remy," Kurt began. "Beautiful zervice, O iz zere zomezing vrong? Iz Chloe'z door jammed again? Let me help… it ztickz on her zometimez too."

"Yeah it was, an' nah… Damn it! …Kurt… Jon… MON DIEU! Remy just seriously fuckin' blew it wit' Chloe is all… it's not 'er door Kurt… she won' talk t' me." Remy sighed and leaned hard up against the wall next to Chloe's door.

"No no my friend not ze zveet Chloe, zhe alwayz haz time for everyvon, zhe'z a very unzelfish girl, and yez… I'll tell ya Remy you are zuch a lucky man to have her… OoOo… ummm… vut do you mean you vuckin' blew it!"

"Dude, Chloe rocks! She adores ya! Whatchya talkin' about?" Jon said, agreeing with Kurt.

"I mean, Remy et Gambit fuckin' blew it dude! We tried t' get 'er 'lone, which is 'lways a 'uge task in it'self but yet 'e managed it, got 'er out under dat Cajun moon an' Gods she is so beautiful! Den da mo'derfuckin' words got 'tuck 'gain an' 'er illness wen' nuts 'gain not chere's fault, she canna 'elp it, so she misunder'tood an' left cryin'. 'E came in a'ter 'er an' den got 'topped an' 'ad t' meet da requirements o' da Si'ter Brigade t'ough 'e understand why an' is perfectly fine wit' Remy et Gambit… an' now… now she won' answer da door! …In short Remy et Gambit fuckin' blew it!"

"Uhhh… buddy… what you on about words gettin' stuck? You're the fucking bomb dude! And the supreme god of getting girls!" Jon said shocked and looked questioningly at Kurt. Kurt said nothing as he remembered back to the morning-after bachelor party.

"'E don' know, Remy et Gambit ain' never ad dis problem wit' any femme b'fore. 'E could say all day right words an' was so smoot'… now 'e jus' sounds like Jet'ro De Bodean!"

"Dude, Remy man, you sayin' she makes you nervous?" Jon replied.

"Nervous would be a mild way o' puttin' it homme. When she's 'round, Remy et Gambit 'e's lost 'is mind, 'is whole body shakes, everyt'ing is shot t' 'ell… Remy et Gambit jus' need da sweet chere Chloe t' know 'ow very much 'e amours 'er… 'Ow 'is eart weeps wit' out 'er in 'is arms, da sleepless nights since she came 'ere. Dats all Remy et Gambit can t'ink 'bout! Kurt? Jon? Did you guys know Remy 'as 'er scent burnt into Remy et Gambit's memory."

Kurt, now with a silently weeping Sasha in his embrace just as Penny wept in Jon's arms, heard Remy for the first time openly speak about his true feelings towards Chloe.

"No my friend, I didn't knov" Kurt said softly. He flashed the Cajun a comforting smile.

"Remy I'm sorry," Sasha said through her flowing tears, "I just gotta watch out for my big sis...ya know? I had no idea you felt so strongly about her."

"Oui, soeur de lil, Remy do...'e amours 'er more den 'e ever 'as anyone in 'is life!" His tone changed from firm confirmation to desperation.

"That's saying a lot Sas," Jubilee interjected. "Remy has no family at all. It's just him! Other than his guild and they aren't real fam, ya know? There are all just his employees. He was adopted as a kid and his adoptive family is all dead now too."

"Buddy…" Jon piped in, "you got it real bad for this girl and rightfully so, she's worth it! I ain't never seen you so hung up on a chick before, congratulations dude!"

"Chloe is everyt'ing Remy et Gambit could ev'r ax f'r or wan', 'e amour every breat' she takes… Remy et Gambit loves Chloe f'rev'r an' a'ter, 'e jus' can't seem t' get all dese words out t' tell Chloe…"

Jon looked past his friend to the door behind the Cajun. "Ummm… Rat dude… I think you just did!" Everyone followed Jon's gaze to the slightly open door. It was open by less than an inch, but open it was.

"Chere… I dunno wad t' say 'cept dat… everyt'ing Remy just say is all true…" Remy said through the door crack.

Chloe's opened the door a lil more as she wiped at her tears. She looked to Sasha and Penny, silently telling them with her eyes that she needed to be alone to talk to Remy.

"Hey guys," Sasha quickly jumped in, "lets see if there's any left over cheesecake," and between her, Penny and Jon they began to usher everyone away. Kurt flashed Sasha a look, knowing exactly what she was trying to do.

"Nah I'm good, " Bobby said, never moving an inch.

Kurt proceeded to kick Bobby in the shin as Jubes dragged Bobby away by the ear. Soon, Chloe and Remy stood alone in the hall.

------

Sasha leaned against her doorframe the next morning, Kurt holding her from behind. Both of them were still in their sleepwear. Kitty and Piotr, Jubes and Bobby, and Betsy and Warren stood in much the same way. Everyone's eyes were trained on Chloe's closed door. Sasha lifted her arm to look at her watch.

"5...4..." Sasha said, counting down the ticking of her watch, "3...2...now!" Her eyes flicked back to Chloe's door as it began to open.

Remy, still wearing tux pants, bare-chested, 5 o' clock shadowed, appeared holding a freshly make-uped Chloe to him. The pair had barely taken two steps out of the room when they froze in their tracks at suddenly being confronted by eight pairs of eyes. Chloe stammered for a moment. Everyone else on the floor conveniently took that same moment to come out of their rooms.

"Sooo… sis… ummm… hum… how was your uhhh... night? … sleep … ummm… well?" Sasha casually asked as she sidled up next to Chloe with a broad smirk on her face. Chloe's jaw dropped and she blushed beet red.

"Why, you lil bugger!" Chloe's looked incredulously at Sasha. "I'mma kill you!" She tore after Sasha who was busting up in hard laughter. Everyone else laughed too at the sight of Sasha being chased down in her skivvies.

A few minutes later, Sasha and Chloe caught up with the rest down in the kitchen. Chloe slipped into Remy's waiting arms. He himself was now freshly shaven and dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. Smirking, Remy enjoyed a leisurely smoke before starting to cook brunch.

Sasha took up the seat next to man, snatching his coffee in the process and taking a big gulp. "Sorry sis, but… I just couldn't resist… geez girl took ya long enough! Damn!"

"Yeah! Right! I believe ya! Not like you weren't trying to get even for me opening the doors on you and Blue boy over there huh?" Chloe laughed.

"That's riiiight… it was you that opened those doors wasn't it? … ok now I don't feel bad at all about the comments up stairs" Sasha replied, laughing.

"Somehow I figured you wouldn't!" Chloe returned. "You're evil like that, but that's ok… all I gotta say 'bout last night is simply… DAYUM!" Chloe hid her searing blushing cheeks in Remy's chest and he beamed proudly.

Sasha cracked another smile. "Bob-wow chica-chica-chica bow-wow!"

"Dunt duh-duh-dunt dunt, dunt duh-duh-dunt!" Kurt added, smiling too. Chloe flung a spoon at the couple, causing everyone to bust up again.

"So Chloe, what 'bout your Jon-Jon?" Jon piped up, fluttering his eyelashes innocently, flashing her puppy-dog eyes.

"Sure! What the hell Jon-Jon baby!" Chloe replied mockingly "But ya gotta take it up with Rem honey here first!"

This response shocked both Remy and Jon.

"Don' you even t'ink 'bout askin' homme!" Remy said, punching Jon playfully on the arm, and grabbed a beer.

This conversation was quickly abandoned as everyone went on to more mundane topics. The girls helped Chloe and Sasha with fixing brunch and the guys sat back and did what they did best...bitch and whine...and Chloe and Sasha wouldn't of had it any other way.

------

One day during the following next week, Val & Paige came to Sasha who promptly brought the girls to Chloe's lab. Sasha informed Chloe that her friends were also interested in learning the ways of Old. Chloe Val and Paige that she and Sasha would discuss it later and that there were others in the process of being taught as well. Later that day Jon & Penny approached Chloe about teaching them too. Chloe took Sasha aside telling her that interest was rapidly growing throughout the house and suggested that they wait to decide until Lorrie returned so they could sit down with dear ol' daddy and see what could be done about the matter. Sasha agreed informed Val, Paige, Jon, and Penny that they would need to wait for a short while.

------

The night before Lorrie was to come home, Chloe asked Sasha if she'd like to crash in her room that night and help her clean out her closets to make room for her new fall clothes she had ordered.

"Sure sounds cool, we can get some munchies and make a night of it?" Sasha agreed, glad for a night to hangout with her sis.

"Great! Remy wanted to take Jon-Jon to Harry's to play pool but didn't want to leave me alone and I didn't wanna hang out by my self, thanks I appreciate this. I'll just let him know it's cool and not to worry. I'll catchya up in my room in a few minutes then" Chloe replied happily and went out to the garage where Remy.

Ten minutes later, Chloe appeared in her room. Sasha had already made herself comfy, sitting on Chloe's sofa drinking a can of pop.

"Hey," Sasha giggled "I was beginning to wonder if I should send Kurt to go find you"

"Nah, but damn that man hate's parting ways, or loves making a huge deal of it in any case, yay me!"

"I'm glad things are going so well for you, Coco-puff! It's great to finally see you get to lead a somewhat normal life with what you have to contend with."

"Yeah tell me about it, and thanks I am enjoying it well… for the obvious and not so obvious reasons."

Sasha took a drink of her soda and then asked, "Okay where do you want to start cuz… damn! That's all I can say...damn!" She giggled looking into Chloe's five large walk in closets overflowing with fashions.

Chloe reached in her fridge and pulled out a soda. She opened it, had a drink, and sidled up next to her lil sister. Chloe sighed heavily and replied, "Pick a location and go from there."

Hours passed, and the two sisters had only gotten through two of the massive closets.

"Damn girl!" Sasha said as she started in on closet number three "How could you possibly need this many clothes?"

Chloe's only response was to giggle. They piled many boxes and garbage bags outside Chloe's bedroom as many would walk by and offer to take some boxes and bags down stairs as Chloe intended later that week to take the items to Goodwill.

After a little while, Chloe came up with a great idea.

"What do you say we cook a pizza and bring it up here and rest a bit?"

"You don't need to ask me twice" Sasha giggled and rubbed her tummy hungrily. Both girls had missed supper.

Chloe and Sasha headed down to the kitchen.

"Hey my girls," Charles said happily as he and Stacii entered the kitchen. "What are you building?"

"A boat… Makin' a pizza dad, want some?" Sasha replied sweetly as she cut up vegetables while Chloe stretched out the crust.

"No no, you girls enjoy, I'm good, thank you though."

"You sure?" Chloe smiled

"Very!" He smiled to Chloe and made his way to the table after Stacii set a fresh coffee cup down.

Now that their little snacky-poo was in the oven and baking, Chloe and Sasha grabbed their drinks and sat at the table with their father...Stacii having wandered off elsewhere.

"What are you girls up to this evening?" Charles asked, sipping at his coffee.

"Just doing some cleaning dad, other then needing some room for my fall clothes I ordered but… in the last couple of days… I dunno… I've just felt compelled to clean, and I seem to be eating a lil more often nothing major… maybe it's the change in weather coming" Chloe said softly in thought and smiled.

"Could be Chloe, I've heard the change in yearly times can affect people in different ways. Pardon me but you are getting older even if you're in denial about it and you are empathic, so you're in tune to your surroundings in such away that your sensitive to it and have this effect on you this way?" Sasha said giving a possible reason for her changes.

"Think so?" Chloe asked, rubbing her temple.

"It's a possibility Chloe I know I myself went though different changes being a male and all but also as I grew older things with myself changed too which could have also been contributed to the seasons now that I think about it" Charles mentioned.

"Then that's likely the cause. I don't know what else it could be" Chloe giggled as the timer went off on the oven, letting the girls know their pizza had finished cooking. The girls then bid their father a goodnight as they left the room and returned to Chloe's with pizza in hand.

Sasha set the pizza down on the coffee table then grabbed the remote and flipped through the channels. Her eyes flicked to Chloe who was picking up something by her door

"What's that?"

"Nothing, Remy borrowed my army duffel bag when they went up north to go paint balling… just gonna throw it in the closet, gimme a sec."

Sasha returned her focus to the TV, having caught the tale end of one of Sasha and Chloe's favourite movies 'Practical Magic'. Chloe literally threw the duffel bag into her closet. Suddenly, a loud crash was heard and the distinct sound of something hitting the floor of the closet could clearly be heard. Both girls were startled, turned, and went running to the closet to see what happened.

"What the hell was that?" Sasha said, running in after Chloe.

"Dunno, I just threw the bag in here and OoOo…" Chloe faded off as she bent down next to the duffle bag and picked up an unmarked videotape.

"What's on that Coco? Or maybe I shouldn't ask?" Sasha asked curiously then teased Chloe who gave her a look of don't even go there.

"Well it's nothing I did, so don't look at me like that...you're guess is as good as mine what's on it" Chloe admitted truthfully. "Well only one way to find out, ya think?"

"Yes let's," Sasha agreed.

After loading the tape into the VCR the girls sat back. For five hours both girls sat dumbstruck and became more livid with each passing hour. Drugs, naked women, never-ending booze, bumping and grinding, stripping of both males and females, hookers bought and sold, false collections to false charities, men being chased down by hordes of topless women, topless women fawning over their men, gambling, promised sex… everything just short of the actual act of sex was on this tape. Sasha sat up straight as a passed out Greg appeared on screen, a plane ticket stuck in his shirt pocket and a note written in French that neither girl could read but knew instinctively that it was Remy's writing.

A familiar voice in the background could clearly be heard. "Make zure he don't find hiz vay back here!"

Sasha and Chloe look to each other, both angry beyond words

"I'M GONNA KILL HIM!" they said in unison...Chloe referring to Remy and Sasha speaking of Kurt.

"Chloe, we have got to tell Lorrie when she gets back!"

"I agree! She has every right to know!"

"What about the other girls?"

"They have a right to know, too!" Chloe paced the length of her room. "How could they do that to us? When we girls sat at home that night and watched movies, ordered Chinese food, pizza and cheesecake then all went to bed early cause we missed them! I cried myself to sleep missin' Remy that night, damn it! I feel like such a freakin' fool!"

"No you're not Coco… I did the same as you that night -- missin' Kurt -- as did I'm sure the rest of the girls… Geez… had we known they would do that I would have gotten Lorrie a stripper" Sasha said exasperated.

"No doubt! Hell… I would have gotten me a stripper!" Chloe truthfully admitted upset and tearing up and said, "Maybe we're not what the guys really want Sas… C'mon think about it for a sec… if they have to go away and hang out with other girls to party!… Maybe we're not good enough, or worse...what they want!" Chloe began to cry and that only pissed Sasha off more at the guys making Chloe cry and think this way.

"No, but they will get what's coming to them" Sasha replied quickly hoping to set her sister at ease.

Chloe sniffled back her crying, still mad and upset, long enough to say, "Yes they will… what do you say to a lovely out door picnic t'morra with all the other fractions that are still here on vacation due to the wedding...it should be a lovely day for it...before they all leave the day after t'morra?"

Chloe and Sasha smiled identical evil smiles, knowing all too well what Chloe had in mind.

"Yes lets!" Sasha added "It sounds absolutely wonderful, my fair sister, a beautiful day with a picnic, what could be sweeter?"

"I agree it'll be a beautiful day with a picnic… and a show!" Chloe ended on a slightly heated tone. Sasha laughed out loud in a-we-girls-can-be-so-wicked manner. Scooting closer to each other, the girls planned out how the following day would proceed before crashing for the night.

------

The next morning, Lorrie and Logan arrived home on time and were happily met by all. Sasha, not forgetting the previous night, offered her assistance to Lorrie to help put away her things from the trip while Chloe took to the kitchen to fix lunch and hide the tape under a fichus tree pot by the large patio doors.

The picnic was going on fantastically for many hours, as Sasha and Chloe would exchange glances no one caught other Lorrie who had now been informed, by Sasha, of what was to happen.

Soon, Lorrie stepped into the house and put cartoons and video games on for the kids then returned to usher them into the house.

"Lor, it's an awesome day! Why keep the kids in there?" Logan asked her. Several others asked the same question just as they saw Sasha pushing out the big 64 inch TV and VCR! Chloe pushed the potted tree to the side and retrieved the video. All the fractions came forward to see what was happening.

Chloe stood up straight and spoke in an overly honey-dripping tone of voice. "Well… me, Lorrie and Sasha… we girls thought it would just be ever so grand and peachy-keen like if we all took in an afternoon movie… together!"

"Sure… sounds good… alright" were the responses received from all sides.

Charles rolled his chair up and parked near the front of the crowd. "That sounds like a grand idea, my dears," Charles smiled.

Everyone began making him or herself comfortable, the porch crammed full of the adults from all fractions.

"This movie is just great! Chloe and I have seen this before, and felt we just must simply share it with you all!" Sasha squealed, overly happy, and plastered a fake smile on.

"O yes! Personally one of our favourites! It's action packed!" Chloe added ever so happily and slapping just as fake of a smile as Sasha had.

"I know it's on my top ten list of must sees" Sasha continued as Chloe loaded the tape.

"Mine too Sas!" Chloe said on standing up and grabbing the remote.

"Dis movie dat good chere?" Remy asked her as Chloe, with the remote, sat on his lap. He folded his large arms around her, hugging her closely. Lorrie and Sasha following suit with their own men.

"If you girlz recommend ziz movie zo much I can't vait to see it myzelf!" Kurt beamed with a genuine soft smile.

Sasha, from her place on his lap, casually looked at Kurt and said, "I'm so very glad you feel that way, my Bavarian Cream Puff… by the way Kurt my luv, I've been meaning to ask you something?"

"Vut'z zat, my beautiful Princezz Zazha?"

Sasha put her arm around his shoulders sweetly and leaned in, speaking loud enough for everyone to hear, and said in a deadly sneer, "Who's your Daddy?"

Kurt's face blanched as the men exchanged an eight-way extremely panicked glance. They all turned to look at Chloe who now sported a smirking grin and said in a wicked your-all-caught tone, "Show Time! And it's not at the Apollo either!"

For the next several hours Lorrie, Chloe & Sasha sat fuming on their men's laps, as did the rest of the original X-women with their men. The women of al the otherl fractions watched in quiet disbelief and telling their men too…"Shut up!" and "It's. Not. Funny!" or "If you ever do that, don't you dare consider coming home...never ever!" Meanwhile all the other men tried desperately not to chuckle and gave their friends looks of… awesome party dudes, now that's a party… ya should have called me man…

It was Cece who first began to speak when Hank made an attempt to move away. "Move another muscle and I'm going to perform experimental surgery … Snuffy!" Her tone told him that she was deathly serious. Hank, more fearful than anything else, returned his arm to her waist and tried not to tremble.

"Well! That explains why I didn't have to wash that Sunday's underwear of yours!" Jean said in disgust watching the screen and fuming sitting in Scott's lap as he shrunk further down.

It was then 'Ro's turn to speak up as she saw the scene that showed Bishop sweet talking a stuffed moose head. "Moose huh… maybe I ought to just grow myself a set of them antlers!"

Dom sat in Cable's lap and said, "Guess I need to get me a video camera and call Hugh Heffner to get watched like that!" The scene with Cable staring unblinking at hardcore TV porn flashed on the screen, and Cable also began to shrink down into his chair.

Bobby sat off to the side sweating as his new girlfriend Jubes turned and gave him such a look that burrowed into his soul. Betsy was giving that very same look to Warren.

Now at this point the only women that hadn't said something was Lorrie, Chloe and Sasha. They were still angry as all hell but wanted to save it till the end of the tape. Logan, Remy and Kurt continued to sink lower and lower in their chairs with their girls on their laps.

"Hey Rem… buddy… hope that was the good stuff ya bought" Jon joked to Remy. Penny quickly smacked Jon upside the head being mad herself for her new friends.

The video ended as the TV turned to snow and the three girls, still having said nothing, now slowly got up out of their men's lap and turned to open the patio door when Logan, Remy and Kurt quickly opened their mouths and said in pleading unison…

"Darlin'…"

"Chere…"

"Luv…"

The girls immediately brought up their hands to silence their men and said hotly together…"DON'T!"

Then Lorrie and Sasha turned to go inside as Chloe then turned and, in her usual tones, addressed all the women. "I know this adorable lil bistro in town girls, what do you say we girls go to dinner?" Then turned and left silently into the house followed by 'Ro fuming, Jean disgusted, Cece overheated, Dom mad, Jubes beyond angered, and Betsy totally livid. Slowly, one by one, all the other women all got up and moved away from their men, following in great understanding and support of all the women who were directly affected by this. Moments later, the men heard the sounds of car engines starting up and moving away.

"Gentlemen… I have never once objected to a men's evening out on the town… but I only have one thing to say…" Charles faded off and the men prepared themselves for the lecture of a lifetime as Charles casually maneuvered his wheelchair around in front of the large group of men and said tense jawed…"Why was I not invited?"

"Umm Chuck… you can't be serious? Did you just say what I think you said?"

"Yes you did Logan" His response surprised all the males from every fraction. They all smiled as they realized that, even though he was their boss and the girls father, he was still a man.

"Sorry 'bout that Chuck, we'll count you in fer sure next time" Logan said in great confirmation.

"Be sure that you do! Now, would some one please tell me where in creation Greg is?"

"Greg in France Charles, 'e's bein' cultured by Remy's "people" over dere an' is in no danger," Remy offered.

"I see, care to tell me why he is over there?"

"Ve zent him zere, Profezzor, becauze he iz not very nice to ladiez!" Kurt said miffed about having the subject of Greg brought about again.

"Why do you say that Kurt?" Charles asked him curiously.

"Chuck, that boy has -- or I should say he had -- way too much free time on his hands concerning Remy's, Kurt's and my women!"

"What do you mean?"

"Greg haz been trying to break Zazha and I up, and even zaid he lovez her…" Kurt fumed. Charles shook his head a lil in disbelief to Sasha's long time friend when Logan spoke up in hot tones to say…

"He'd also been following Lorrie and Stacii too…" which then Remy jumped in livid with eyes blazing…

"E also been watchin' Chere an' when Remy et Gambit mean watchin' 'e mean watchin! Greg 'id in Chloe's bat'room an' watched 'er in da shower an' if dat ain' enough 'ere…" Remy threw all the paper evidence on the picnic table before all the men and continued "'E t'ok photographs o' mon chere in dere too!"

"Not just zat but he had a compilation video of ze girlz in various ztagez of drezz!" Kurt added.

Charles, sensing the men's immense anger, picked up the papers and the photographs and looked them all over briefly to see the proof. Charles grew red and tense jawed, becoming angered himself with Greg and then now seeing that Logan, Remy and Kurt had every right to be mad. "I understand, now do the girls know about this?"

"No they don't Chuck… we didn't know how to tell them, and we didn't want to cause any issues for Chloe's illness and mutation either" Logan replied truthfully.

"They have to be told! The girls can handle Greg in the matters they deem fit -- Lorrie, Chloe and Sasha are very just when dishing out punishment -- where as Stacii, well… we all know, so let the three girls contend with Greg in their own ways… Remy could you please have your people send Greg back here please. It is time Greg faced this."

"Oui, mais if 'e come anywhere near Chloe, Remy et 'ell oui Gambit gonna make Greg go Boom! Just so Charles knows now!"

"Understandable, and I won't get in your way should he either!" Charles agreed but then changed tones dramatically and said, "I have some work to do gentlemen. I will leave it up to you to tell the girls what's went on." Charles then left the porch and headed to his office. Remy pulled a cell phone from deep with his trench coat and place a single call out of the country. After a few moments, he hung up and went to inform Charles that Greg would be back at the house by the next day.

------

A few hours later, the ladies arrived home. They walked single file back into the house and, upon entering the foyer, their men met them. The women merely silently sized their guys up then walked away with their girlfriends and went on their way toward various places in the house, brushing passed the guys. The men watched helplessly -- breathless, hurt, and shocked.

For the remainder of the day and night, the guys tried countless ways to get their girls to talk to them, and failed at every turn. Sasha even went as far as to lock her bedroom door, knowing full well that Kurt had promised a long time ago never to bamph in unannounced. He had learned from his first experience when he bamphed onto her window ledge early one morning on a dare and startled her. He remembered the bump on his head -- and the pain that came with it -- from the flower pot that she had hurled at him. Of course, that didn't deter Kurt from trying to talk to her through the door. Sasha's response was to turn her music waaaaay up.

Kurt slinked away, his head hung down in shame.

------

Later on the next day, shortly after all the other fractions departed for their respective homes, Greg returned to the house. Sasha, still unaware of her friend's nighttime activities, flew into Greg's arms, giving him a warm, welcome home hug.

The men watched Greg and Sasha in quiet anger, even the new guys of Gen-X, after being told of what led up to Greg's little international trip.

The girls still refused to acknowledge their men's presence. Every time the men would try to get their girl aside and explain to them what Greg had done, none of the women would hear nothing of it.

When Lorrie's birthday came along that following Saturday, Chloe and Sasha announced that night it was going to be a Tupperware party...nothing major.

Charles, being the only man in the house that the girls were still affable to, sat in the kitchen when his daughters entered.

"Dad, can we use the sitting room next to the side front door please? It has doors so we can shut them." Sasha asked, arranging a tray of appetizers.

"Of course, my dear, but if it's a Tupperware party why do you need the doors shut?"

"No reason, but you know how we girls can get when we all get together and get to chattering away all at once," Lorrie said sweetly.

"That's fine girls, it's all yours for the night! Have fun! And be as loud as you wish! My office is sound proof and so is my room so have a happy!" Charles replied and was met with hugs and kisses as he turned to leave the room. All the men sitting in the back of the kitchen at the table pouted at having not not gotten one drop of female attention and it was starting to frustrate them greatly.

All the rest of the females headed down to the sitting room where their party would soon be taking place. Lorrie grabbed a case of beer and said her first words in a long time to the guys…

"Ummm… have fun!" then the sisters turned abruptly and left chattering and giggling away as they whispered to each other. Stacii, much to her dismay, hadn't been invited to join in, having been given the excuse that she needed to rest for the sake of the growing baby inside her now that she was well into second trimester.

------

"Okay ladies!" Chloe said loudly, moving over to a set of red drapes that hid a third of the room. "Is everyone ready to par-tay?"

The girls responded with hoots, hollers, and whooping in an Arsenio Hall fashion.

Chloe squealed in her usual fashion and pulled the velvety drapes open to reveal thirteen hard-bodied men, ripped from stem to stern. Immediately the girls began to salivate.

Chloe smiled as she drew her index finger down the chest of the scantily clad sailor and giggled wildly. "Sasha," she said, tilting her head toward her little sister. "I got this one just for you...it's a partially tattooed Latin boy of 21 just like you've always wanted...his name's Carlos."

"Oooo," Sasha elated, stepping up to claim her companion. She took the man's hand and sucked one of his long digits into her mouth, licking it sensually. "Just the right flavour!"

Sasha led Carlos away while Chloe continued to divvy up the guys: Dom took possession of the Greek God, Adonis; Penny got Armando, the Spanish cowboy; Jean claimed the chocolate-skinned Jamal; Lorrie found herself on cloud nine with smooth talking Don "Juan"; Jubilee laid claim to Julian the soldier; Construction worker Lance was led away by Kitty; Emma settled back with the dark-skinned Manuel, Ro found herself quite happy with Matador Marcel; Paige partied down with the French cop, Pierre; Val reclined with the one called Tariq; Cece fawned over the tall Texan, Van; and Chloe...Chloe saved the Italian biker, Luis, for herself.

It wasn't long before the party was in full swing.

Sasha and Jubilee talked Carlos and Julian into a game of strip Euchre...and even though the guys were losing, they didn't seem to mind at all. Sasha had the sneaky suspicion that the guys were losing on purpose, and that suited her just fine...she was really enjoying the view. After a while, the girls were becoming increasingly more and more heated from watching their companion's strip down to their skivvies.

The two girls excused themselves for a moment and dashed out of the room, heading towards the kitchen. When they got out into the hall, they saw the guys staring back at them from the games room. The girls busted up laughing and ran into the kitchen only to return a few seconds later and quickly said very fast… "Ice… we need ice now…" Jubes said.

Sasha made a mad dash to the bar and grabbed the bucket of ice that sat under the counter there, saying, "Oh yeah! Lots and lots of ice!"

Both girls then ran back inside to the party, shutting the door firmly behind them, their giggles hanging in the air for several long seconds before finally dissipating.

Sasha and Jubilee returned to the table with the buckets of ice in hand. As they went back to playing their game, they continued to cool themselves down with cube after cube of ice -- an action that only served to heat up Carlos and Julian. After a while, Julian whisked Jubilee off to the dance floor leaving Sasha and Carlos to their own devices.

Sasha gave Carlos an appraising look. "Well...tall, dark, and handsome...care for a little wager?"

Carlos licked his lips sensually. "What do you have in mind?" he said, the words dripping with his thick, Latino accent.

Sasha smiled wickedly. "How 'bout a lil drinking contest?" Carlos smiled brightly as Sasha turned towards Dom. "Hey Dom! Tequila me!" she shouted across the room. In a moment, Sasha found a Tequila bottle flying towards her. She caught the bottle with relative ease and turned back around to face Carlos...both were smiling suggestively.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the room... Jubes and Kitty had gotten totally bombed and were presently giving both Julian and Lance table dances. At the moment Jubes was topless on and Kitty was bottomless.

Lorrie & Jean were gleefully putting one-dollar bills in Juan and Jamal's g-strings with their teeth.

Emma was getting a lap dance from Manuel, as was Dom from Adonis.

'Ro, who was normally very quiet and reserved, was snapping a whip and was rubbing it all over Marcel, sensually licking at his lips.

Paige and Val were bumping and grinding it with Pierre and Tariq.

Cece, with her stethoscope, was giving Van a fake, but sexually tittilating, physical.

Penny, wearing a cowboy hat, happily rode on Armando's back as if he were a horse, and yelled "Yeeeeee Haaaaawwwwwww!"

Chloe was pouring her JD on Luis and slowly and sensually licking the alcohol off the faux biker's muscular chest. She then stripped off her shirt and poured the liquor over her lace-covered chest. Luis didn't need much coaxing to lick it off her tanned, firm body.

Chloe suddenly jumped into Luis' arms, wrapping her legs around his nearly bare, hard, tanned, body. Luis threw her hard up against the wall and kissed her without abandon. When the kiss was finally broke, Chloe slid down Luis' hard muscled body, licking and kissing him on the way down 'til her knees hit the floor. Luis pulled her back up to him and held her hard, fast, and tightly to his body as she danced with him.

Jubes happened to pass by the now open door and said to the guys in a slightly sneering yet happy and very ungodly drunk giggle…

"Ooop's pardon me boys… so sorry… but… this is like… ya know… a private party and all… girls only … you understand… ByEEEEEEEE!" she then waved a lil and shut and locked the door again as Kitty put a chair in front of the door.

------

The next morning, the girls woke up sprawled across the floor and draped over various pieces of furniture all over the sitting room. Not a one of them still wore their shirts but they were all damn grateful they still had their bras and jeans on. Their, male companions, many of the girls surmised, must've left sometime in the night as there was no one of the male persuasion in the room at the moment.

"Gods, my back hurts like hell!" Chloe groaned. Using the back of the chesterfield as leverage, she tried to stand but ended up falling ass over tea kettle over the back of said chesterfield.

"Mine too Coco" Jeannie whispered.

"Ditto that" Lorrie moaned from somewhere in the room.

"Same here" Betsy grunted, sitting up on the sofa Chloe hung across.

"You said it" 'Ro groaned as she climbed out from under the glass coffee table.

"My back is fine...it's my hips" Emma whined, holding her head.

"My legs need to be cut off!" Jubes said quietly.

"Your legs and my arms. My head hurts, my hair hurts...even my teeth hurt!" Sasha added before Chloe began shushing the room.

"I can barely walk" Jubes moaned.

Kitty crawled a lil out of the sitting room closet. "I can't even feel my feet!"

The girls sat on the floor for a bit, all looking a little worse for wear as they surveyed the mess their party had generated. Slowly and one-by-one, now that all of them were reeking of cigarettes and booze, the girls trickled out of the room in search of a much needed shower. The last to leave the sitting room locked the door, keeping the mess contained and the men all out, until they could deal with it.

When the girls got to their rooms they found no guys up stairs at all. The women all went about their plans, showering, make up, hair, perfume, changing, to all coming out of their rooms, still with massive hangovers, in some kind of physical pain, but looking and smelling stunningly gorgeous again.

On getting down stairs to just outside kitchen and holding their heads gingerly in great pain. Charles passed them and led them into and through the kitchen door, holding it open for them.

"Morning my girls, How was your party last night? Everything went well I hope?" Charles asked in a sweet, fatherly tone.

"Gah… Dunno Popsy… you tell us… we girls all are still a lil foggy on the whole thing ourselves!" Chloe said in barely a whisper. She grabbed a cup to make her usual morning tea as her eyes closed, opened, and then momentarily crossed. Chloe reached over and turned on the water tap. "Dad, we got like some seriously loud water, dude!" she whispered, grabbing her head.

Charles turned away from the very hung over females milling about the counters in slow motion. He faced all the men and put on a slow, knowing smile, and said casually, "Where's the Tupperware, girls!"

The men tried desperately to hide their smirking expressions with their hands, attempting to look as casual as possible. Charles' smile broadened a bit. The guys realized, real quick, that Charles knew full well of everything that had transpired the previous evening.

"Uhhh… it's, ahh… it's on order Dad," Sasha groaned out quickly and quietly.

"Yeah, what Sas said," Lorrie added just as quick and quiet.

"Good, good" Charles smiled knowingly, and rolled away from the table. Stacii, who now not only looked pregnant, but looked very pregnant, followed behind her father, carrying his coffee as he headed towards his office. At the doorway, he stopped briefly and tilted his head towards the girls.

"Girls, please be sure to take out all the alcohol bottles, and Emma...your shoes are down the West wing hall right where you threw them...be sure not to forget them too. Have a restful day girls!"

The girls froze in their tracks as they heard Charles soft words. The men tried desperately to bite back their laughter. A few moments after Charles disappeared from the room, the girls began to move around again, this time slower and quieter than before.

The silence was finally broken when the guys started to talk and visit as if it were any other morning. Sasha whistled loudly, catching all the guys attention, and shushed at them.

Sasha, holding her head, turned and whispered to Chloe, sounding more than a little panicked. "Chloe, I hope to Gods you didn't take your meds last night or this morning...did you?"

Chloe slowly put her forehead down on the cool table top. Jeannie and Cece discreetly leaned over to check Chloe's pulse, checking to see if she was still breathing and hadn't just passed out.

"No," Chloe finally whispered.

"What's that, Coco?" Sasha asked, barely hearing her sister -- panic slipping into her voice.

Remy reached over and brushed Chloe's long hair back gently when suddenly Chloe said in a loud whisper, "Gods! Honey, don't do that! My hair sounds loud and crunchy! …And to answer you Sas...no I didn't…" Everyone tried to stifle their laughter.

Chloe sat up and leaned on the table, holding her head up like all the other girls, then reached over next to her and swiped Remy's smoke in middrag, making him smile a lil. The previous week, she had barely acknowledged his existence, but he never said a word...nor she to him...as did none of the other girls to their guys.

The guys excused themselves only to return thirty minutes later to some still very hung over and very unconscious women. Many of the girls had fallen asleep leaning over the counters and table, while others had sunk into unconscious states, their heads lolled to the side.

The guys looked to each other and chuckled, growing increasingly prouder by the moment at just how damn hard these girls could really party!

The men gathered their ladies up into the broad arms, holding them close to their bodies. As some of the girls hummed, and some cooed, while others spoke in their deep exhausted sleep as their special guys carried them up to their bedrooms to get some real sleep.

------

The girls slept all day and all night. The guys, proving themselves to be amazingly self-sufficient, had taken over all the household duties and looking after all the students...even the sitting room was spotless.

The next morning, the girls all woke up to only minor headaches, having slept so hard, and immediately reached for aspirin before crawling out of their beds and heading down stairs.

Having composed themselves and taking a little time to get all cleaned and looking like their usual beautiful selves, the women walked into the kitchen. The men sat clustered around the table. Sensing that the girls were back to their regular selves, and equally sensing that the ladies were still angry about the tape, Logan started off the conversation.

"Lorrie, Chloe, Sasha … darlin's, the rest of you girls too, we all really need to talk!"

"I seriously doubt that's gonna be hap…" Lorrie started to say before her ever-loving husband cut her off.

"I said we. Need. To. Talk!"

"Who the hell do you think you are talking to!" Lorrie fired back "Cuz it sure as hell better not be me...James!"

Logan cringed slightly at hearing his true name...a name that he would rather like to forget. He knew Lorrie only called him by his real name when she was angry...and it was obvious that she was extremely pissed.

"Chere, come t' Remy et Gambit… 'e wan' t' tell you somet'ing!" Remy said, turning to Chloe.

Chloe casually looked behind her left shoulder and then her right. Turning back to him, she said calmly, "I have no idea who your talking to." Chloe looked right through him as though he wasn't even there.

Remy's eyes began to flare bright red as Gambit came out, "Gambit ain' tellin' you twice girl, come! Now!" he seethed.

Chloe's expression changed as if to say 'excuse me'. She snapped her fingers in the air and threw up her hand, saying hotly, "Gambit can go to hell! And take the Swamp Rat with ya!"

Silence filled the room as everyone watched Chloe and Remy. Sasha jumped slightly when the beer bottle Remy had been holding shattered into countless tiny pieces.

"Chere, don't go dere. You go t' Gambit et Remy when 'e say so, you 'ear 'im!" Remy's jaw visibly tensed up.

Chloe pursed her lips and glared hard at him. "When I say no I mean no, and I said no!" She stomped her high-heeled boot and put her hand on her hip defensively.

Gambit flared up, clearing the table in one swift arm motion, sending everything caught within the motion to the tiled floor, smashing to bits. He turned and stalked straight towards Chloe.

She watched him, just as much in shock as everyone else. Chloe timidly backed up the counter behind her, her eyes growing wider and slowly tearing up by the second. Chloe began to visibly shake. Suddenly, Stacii stepped into the kitchen and put herself between Remy and Chloe.

"I DON'T FUCKING THINK SO!" Stacii roared. She pushed him back from Chloe, forcing some distance between the two. Stacii then turned around and hugged Chloe to her. It was true that there was no love lost between Stacii and the rest of her sisters, but even though Stacii was capable of a lot of things, she still had those rare moments of kindness and concern.

"Zazha pleaze...you, Lorrie and Chloe, all of you girlz muzt lizten to uz guyz! Pleaze, ve can explain vut happened...pleaze, pleaze I'm begging you!" Kurt begged, teetering on groveling.

"And just why should we listen to you? After what we saw on that tape, we have all seen and heard more then enough to make up our minds, thank you very much!" Sasha spat.

"Ok, yeah, we guys will all admit it! YES! We seriously fucked up! We wont deny it! But there's more to it then that, Remy gimme the papers" Logan jumped in quickly.

Remy tossed the papers to Logan then lit a smoke and sat on the back of a chair, turning to look away from everyone, obviously trying hide his hurt.

"See girls… look?" Logan gave the papers to Lorrie.

Lorrie took them over to where Stacii and Chloe, who was still crying due the fight she and Remy had just had, stood. Sasha stepped up to her sisters to read the papers too. Sasha grabbed the journal entries from the pile, her mouth forming a silent 'O' just Greg walked into the over crowded kitchen. The air in the room was distinctly charged with negativity. When he turned to leave, Bobby grabbed him by his shirt collar and threw him farther into the room...right into Jon and Cable who, in turn, threw the young man into a chair.

Everyone looked up as Remy wordlessly left via the patio doors, slamming the glass partition against its frame, and disappeared into the rain. Chloe collapsed into hard sobs onto Stacii's shoulders. As Chloe continued to sob, Lorrie, Stacii, and Sasha turned an angry eye onto Greg who was now visibly cowering.

Sasha and Lorrie's eyes surged with raw power -- Sasha's shrouding over in a deep green light and Lorrie's in a blazing red -- and they began to chant…

"May the Gods make punishment,

May you reap what you sew,

Your friendship was tarnished from the start,

To the Gods you are now a mark!

Do what ye will yet harm none!

So mote it be!"

Sasha looked squarely at Greg. "You haven't been cursed or hexed, but that's the fate of all wrong doers destiny that they'll meet in the hereafter and you'll be no different. If this is your idea of friendship then I want no part of it, or you… how dare you hunt my sisters and me down like animals for your own menial pleasures. You have destroyed our personal friendship as well as whateverone you may have had with my sisters. You've tried to ruin what I have with someone whom I love more then life, then if that's not enough you've also taken it upon yourself to cause one of my sisters such mental and emotional damage from what you forced the guys to do and sent Remy out in the rain. Chloe may not ever be repairable, you quite possibly sentenced her to her own untimely demise...and so help me Gods if that should happen, the wrath of which Lorrie and I hold even without Chloe is still strong and it will come raining down on you forever in this life and every life you take on! In other words, so even you can understand this… be gone Greg… I never want to see you or hear of your existence again, and stay away from my sisters!"

As Sasha finished her rant, Charles rolled in. He, being telepathic and all, was obviously well aware of the situation, and even though it was his own daughters that were the victims, Charles tried to keep a level head and be objective.

"Greg… I feel it best if you went to this address. They are waiting to take you in and will help you in your life and mutant needs. Serve them well! Unlike you have here! I would also like you to know Chloe and her other two sisters will back up her statement and in their full right to do it. Furthermore, speaking now as their father… I'd like you to know that if you so much as ever cross the street to which my girls are walking on, I personally will hide the body!"

Jon and Cable released their hold on Greg, and in doing so, Greg flew from the room and was gone from the mansion within the hour.

Everyone in the silence filled room then turned back to an uncontrollably chokingly sobbing Chloe. Synch clutched his chest hard, having to be in the same room so long with her and sensing some of her inner turmoil, spoke out in a hard rasp.

"She needs to rest! Something fierce! DAMN! The girls in misery! Now! Chloe is gonna lose it, she's half way gone… NOW!" Then tried to keep from passing out him self as Paige ran to him to hold him up for support. Jean ran out and back in with a hypodermic needle. Lorrie held Chloe's arms to keep Chloe from fighting Jeannie off to administer the drug. After removing the needle and Chloe having slunk on the floor in exhaustion, crying hard 'til she passed out from her exhaustion and the sedative.

Jon came over to where she laid on the floor. Lorrie stooped down and picked up the tiny waif, placing her in Jon's broad arms, allowing him to take her up to her room to rest. A few moments later, Jon returned to the kitchen, sans Chloe.

"Logan, I'm sorry, but damn it! What we girls seen was just wrong!" Lorrie said. A seriously distraught Remy walked back in from the rain. He said nothing, grabbed a beer, lit a smoke, and sat down. Somehow, he seemed more calm than earlier.

Jon grabbed a beer and took the seat across from Remy. "Eh Rem dude, just took your unconscious girl up to her room for ya. Coco's seriously upset."

Remy said nothing as everyone around him began discussing and working through their anger and hurtful issues.

------

A few hours later, as now things the guys and their girls were all starting to get ironed out, Remy sat quietly still staring off out the window into the pouring rain.

"You should go talk to Chloe, Remy" Sasha kindly and softly suggested.

"Right now, soeur de lil… Remy 'as 'is own issues t' deal wit'! In time 'e will, mais not right now t'ough. Not until Remy et Gambit say o'der wise. 'E'd very much appreciate it if you all not let 'er know 'e came back t' da 'ouse or am anywhere 'round. Dat's if she should even bo'der t' ax! Mais even if she can' see 'im, 'e'll be sure she is 'lright an' will watch over 'er. Remy et Gambit just needs some time right now an' so do she!" Remy once again left, presumably trying to find a little time alone to work things out for himself.

Chloe slowly walked into the room and took a seat next to Sasha, still looking very sad and tearful. Everyone stayed quiet in fear that they might say the wrong thing. After a few moments, Chloe moved over to the patio and stared outside, watching the falling rain.

"Is he still out there?" Chloe asked in a soft whisper.

Everyone exchanged a multi-directional glance.

"Must be… we haven't seen him… sorry sis," Sasha hated to lie to her sister but prayed to the gods that Remy was a man of his word and would eventually work things out.

"Oh" Chloe replied quietly then turned and walked out of the kitchen.

As soon as Chloe was out the door, Remy reappeared, favoring the youngest Xavier sister with one of his rare smiles. "Soeur de lil, Remy knows dat was 'ard f'r you t' do… mais 'e just … damn it! Chere just so 'tubborn!"

Lorrie and Sasha slowly began to giggle a lil then went into full on hard laughter.

"Congratulations! We see you have finally and formally met the real Chloe fully now! Welcome to our world, or we should say Chloe's techno-colored world!" Lorrie said.

"It's just the way she is Remy," Sasha added. "She hates to be told no or what to do by anyone! It's just a part of her free spirit and personality, it's apart of who she honestly is… Telling her those things is like clipping the wings on a bird, she can't fly and be Chloe. Though I do understand where you're coming from and honestly Remy… Mom and yes-even dad would have praised ya for doing what ya did… Occasionally mom and dad would have to do to Chloe what you did too. It's not to hurt her or anything, but just to let her know that she needs to slow down… You basically took the wind out of that lil song birds sails and kept her feet nailed firmly on the ground for more then 2.5 secs… she needs that sometimes."

"Don't get Sasha nor I wrong we adore and absolutely love Chloe to pieces as much as you all do! But remember one thing, Chloe has had to lead a life in something of a sheltered world for obvious reasons, and she still very much does… Her life has had to be altered and lived in a very different means then what regular people or even just plain mutants like us, because of her disability…. Chloe's… well… Chloe's allowed to get away with what she does, due to her personality and just her life and who she is. She can for some reason get away with a lot that 99.9 of the general population of the world, mutated or not, cannot, based solely on her personality alone. Don't ask us other girls why, or how she does it, but she just can. So when someone tells her no, or tries to put her straight she… well… basically throws a temper tantrum," Lorrie continued.

"It's not your fault Remy, and not to make excuses for her but it's not her fault either. Synch here has found out what she lives with 24/7 from the day she was born without ever a break and know way to get away from it. Though she can tune people out to a certain extent in order to cope somewhat, it still isn't easy, and why she is sheltered. It takes a great deal of skill, dedication, powerful prayer, medications, hope, and will to get through in just one day that would exhaust or kill any of us or those without mutations alone. But to tell you the truth though Remy… you really did honestly scared the hell right out of her! I have never seen her shake like that or her mutation go off the wall to such an extent, and even though she asked where you were a few minutes ago… that doesn't mean she still isn't afraid of you either or what you may do to her, but I also know 2 other things about my big sis -- 1) she'll think twice before coming up against you again, and 2) she still loves you!" Sasha finished.

"Remy 'ad no intention o' 'urtin' 'er, or 'carin' 'er. Mais f'r jus' a bit o' a woman she a 'andful, full o' 'pice an' vigor! … All Remy et Gambit wan'ed t' do was e'plain wad all 'appened an' why, like dey rest got t'… An' … well… 'E know Chloe say she amours 'im as 'e does 'er more den breat'ing, 'ell Remy would walk 'way f'om dey guild now if dat's wad chere wan'ed. 'E'd give dat all up. 'E'd give all 'is money 'way too. 'Is very life if dat's wad it took! T'ough Remy jus' wonders if maybe chere be be'der off wit' out 'im. 'E knows 'e ain' got dey schoolin' she do. 'E' slo 'asn' f'rgotten dat's 'e is older den 'er regardless if chere can see 'pirits or not! 'E ain' 'er age! 'E wonders if maybe chere is wastin' 'er time on dis old gater, when she could 'ave an' be wit' someone 'er own age, an' as 'mart as she is!" Remy ended getting choked up as much as it hurt him he had to voice his truths, as Chloe had never told him how she truly feels

"Are you walkin' away from Chloe, Remy?" Sasha asked, concern filling her voice.

"No soeur de lil, mais Remy just don' wan' t' 'old 'er back is all."

Sasha understood that there are some things Remy was very aware of, as were all the rest, and he was just looking out for Chloe's best interests. That because of his love for her he was willing to give up everything just to be with Chloe...or even let her go if she wanted just that...even if it meant killing him inside. At the moment, Sasha found a whole new respect for Remy -- something that was lost when the incident with Stacii happened. It was painfully obvious to everyone in the house that both Remy and Chloe loved each other.

------

Three weeks later...the air in the house had yet to change whenever Chloe was around. Everyone was deeply concerned for Chloe's welfare, most of all Sasha and Lorrie -- and to a lesser extent, Stacii.

As usual Sasha met Hank with his customary breakfast twinkie when he stepped into the kitchen. Remy sat at the table, staring into the murky depths of his beer. Hank wolfed down the sugary snack cake and took a seat next to Remy.

"Umm… Remy… my good buddy… we need to talk!"

"Sure wad is it 'ank," he said with a small, forced smile.

"I do believe it is time for you to come out of hiding and maybe pay a visit to Chloe… whether you ready or not!" Everyone grew very concerned upon hearing Hank's tone.

"What's wrong with my sister? Is she ok?" Sasha said, welling up in tearful panic.

"Relax Sasha dear, she is still with us yes, but she has been ill! It's not her bipolar just so you all know. Chloe has been ill for some weeks now… dating back to around the time of… pardon me, but the disagreement between her and Remy and some symptoms predating that as well… I told her I would get back to her on the test results in a few days and I will! Now here's the thing… she hasn't been eating properly, sleeps intermittently, if you want to call almost a zombie sleeping state sleep… in short, Remy you are on her mind 24/7! She loves and misses you terribly! I recommend that you two get together and talk things out for the sake of both your healths; you're both miserable, and emotionally drained. Because Remy… I have seen you look better! At the rate things are going for Chloe, well… I hate to be the barer of such disturbing and painful news, but… if things aren't set straight for Chloe and things made right between you both, Chloe is on a winding road and is spiraling quickly to her own passing! She's dying internally… of basically a broken heart! So unless everyone here would like to start to make plans to go to Chloe's funeral, I highly suggest things to change drastically for her around here very soon!"

Everyone wept in silence as they tried to get information on Chloe's new ailment.

"I will not discuss her ailment with anyone other then Chloe." Hank said, cutting off the line of questioning. "If she so feels compelled to let out what she knows, that is entirely her prerogative but I will not breach my doctor patient oath!"

Remy, sensing Chloe's approach, hid himself from view as she walked in. She quietly made a cup of tea and took an empty seat. Not one person said a word about knowing of her new medical difficulties. She sat in silence, staring deeply into her teacup.

"Mornin Auntie chicka girly" Jubes smiled, breaking the long silence. It was obvious that the girl was trying to get some positive emotions out of the normally happy girl.

"Morning Jubilation, sleep well?" Chloe said softly, her expression and tone never changing from its longing for Remy hallow it had been stuck in for weeks.

"Not bad, thank you for asking?" Jubes replied, mirror a the look of confusion everyone else was presently showing. Chloe had never called Jubilee by her formal name before 'til now.

"Eh baby girl," Jon perked up, "what do you say you an I take off on the bikes and go to Harry's eh? Jon-Jon here'll let you make the girls down there jealous and believe we're together. That always gets them fired up...what you say?"

"Thank you, Jonothon, but it's frivolous…not to mention a waste of gasoline, time, and just plain childish… maybe someone else would like to go and hang out. It's time I grew up!"

"Huh? Chicka are you on freakin' glue!" Lorrie choked out in shock.

"No, don't be ridiculous Lorraine Lynn...and my name is Chloe! Hank have you done any tattoo removal work before? Or know of some one that does?"

Sasha sputtered, spraying her coffee all over her unexpecting boyfriend. "Now you wait just a damn minute here Chloe Colleen Xavier! What the hell do you mean grow up? I didn't even think you knew those words! And those tattoos are a piece of who you are and what you have had to go through in your life! Every milestone in your life you've gotten a new scar in the real Chloe terms and as a reminder of what you have accomplished, or a struggle you fought your yes bad ass chicka girly self all the way through!"

"Exactly my point, Sasha Ann, now lay off! And what I mean is the fact I have this fucking image of the perfect man in my head... dreaming of him since as long as I can remember...and that I can't let go of! You know that! I did have him with me for a while at least… but now he's gone now! And those are the facts! Furthermore, as for my tattoos it's just like you said, each of them is a reminder of things that have made me who I am or should say who I use to be! As I just can't accomplish or get through this struggle. I've met my match! I've been beatin'! Fine! Happy! I admit it! I took a beating and there's no going back! This is one milestone I want as the only reminder and this scar is tattooed on my soul! So don't you dare tell me what or who I am!" Chloe fired back, now trailing off weeping silently. The room fell silent hearing her finally give voice to her pain.

"Darlin' have you ever told Remy about your dream?" Logan asked her softly.

"No"

"Lil sis, I think you should…" Lorrie started to say before Chloe cut her off.

"I dunno where he is, and maybe it's for the best. I'm outta his league anyway… c'mon, even I know I'm over the top but he needs a real woman, one with no limitations or excess baggage and I. Got. Both!"

"Ummm… Chloe" Jubes said meekly "it takes three strikes before your out though and maybe he's that Mr. Right that will look after you, remember? … Like we girls talked about the day up stairs before Lor got married."

"What are you babbling about Jubes?" Chloe said, rubbing her temples.

"What I mean is...remember how you have always believed that because of your illness and mutation you said you would never marry so you would never allow yourself to get married or to even get close enough for that to happen so you wouldn't gods forbid leave him widowed? Then that Lorrie and Sasha would always tell you that there is someone out there for you too that really does want you to look after you and would help keep the pain, thoughts and voices away… just like in your dreams when you girls would play dress up and you got to have a Prince or a Knight in shining armour and make all your pains, thoughts and sickness go away. So that in some way, even with your limitations, he could help give you as normal of a life you can have even with your set backs… maybe… just maybe… I dunno, but Chloe, maybe Remy is that Mr. Right slash Prince slash Knight in shining armour for you?"

"Ya done now Jubes?"

"Yeah I think so"

"Good! Cuz I remember the entire conversation up stairs Jubes toots, and thank you ever so much and bunches for the highlights of my pain filled life though. I'm slow, not stupid… and Lorrie and Sasha say that just to try to make me feel better, then there's the fact they're my sisters… they have to say that stuff… they're my sisters… it's what sisters do… and Chloe doesn't get the happily ever after, or that wonderful Knight in shining armour, or Prince as much as I do want him and well, I… he… " Chloe sighed hard. "Ya know… maybe, I should have just stayed back up in Canada when you girls came home. 99.9 of what's' gone on here has been my fault to begin with anyway… Had I not been here the issue that happened with Stacii and Remy wouldn't have taken place, and she wouldn't have run off and caused problems elsewhere for Emma and Sean and the rest of you guys. Now Remy leaving is my fault too."

Penny interjected with her own thoughts. "Girly, ya know 'til I got here six weeks ago or so back, my friend list was very very narrow! And that is your fault cuz you made me start a damn checklist of how many friends and people I can trust now! That never would have happened if you hadn't come here with your sisters! I owe you a lot!"

"No ya don't! You have those friends because you're seriously way cooler then you think you are!" Chloe replied quickly matter of factly as she stared out the window.

"Funny how that works both ways girly, cuz that's just what I was going to say about you my sweet sista chicka friend!" Penny smiled slyly to the rest as Chloe's head slowly turned around to meet Penny's gaze who quickly gave her a look of well it's true girly now pass the sugar.

Chloe turned to look back out the window as everyone quietly slapped Penny on the back and high fiving it for scoring one big time in favour of the old Chloe to come back to them all as Lorrie and Sasha hugged Penny thanks as they were having troubles reaching their sister

"I wish mom was here…" Chloe sighed misty eyed and needing desperately some mom-like advice on love and life.

"Chloe, Sasha and I ain't mom but were the best you got like you have always told Sasha and I and everyone else all here countless times too, now it's all of our turn, we're here and we've got your back girly! Talk to us please!" Lorrie said, coming up from behind and hugging her then sat down next to her.

"I… just… I dunno what to do anymore. I'm lost without him… gods I can't even figure how I got through the years I did without him. And those dreams, and pretend days as kids when we girls played dress up, it was him… always him… then I'd fall asleep to those stories of mom's… even the guys I went out with in high school I'd measure up to this image in my dreams and they'd never fit… then we get here and it's like I got struck by lightening, no offence 'Ro, but damn! Ya know… I even tried to not fall for him. I really did for a while at least... I took on extra shift work to shake him from my mind but it wouldn't work… I had a poodle come in one day for a shave down because of excessive mats… I wrote his name on the freakin' poodle, and Christy laughed at me like your all doing now… Christy busted up something fierce too, as she told me I needed a nap real bad and finally made me go to my office and crash for an hour and that she'd pick up my slack! …Poor Tiny, that's the poodles name, didn't even know what I was doin'… Then that "vet convention"… there was no convention… Lorrie, Sasha, sorry… I took a flight back home to Canada that weekend. I just had to go back so I could talk to mom's spirit where it was the strongest…" Chloe trailed off as this new bit of news fell on Sasha and Lorrie, yet not at all surprising them.

"We understand," Sasha started.

"But what did her spirit tell you?" Lorrie finished.

"To follow my heart like I always have. She said it's led me my whole life… why have it stop now, and that it has always been my true path and strongest suit, but…"

"Then I suggest you do it! The spirits are seldom-wrong Chloe. You know that" Sasha told her softly.

"I can't do that anymore Sas girl," Chloe answered as a lil of her old self came back, making them all smile and bust into silent tears.

"Why not?" Jubes asked her curiously, grabbing Kleenex for herself.

"Because Remy deserves way more then what I can give him."

"Chloe…Listen to me" Ro piped up "I have known Remy longer then anyone here! As you know he's pretty much, well no, he is my brother! Let me tell you something about Remy… the only thing that matters to Remy is that you're happy, that's all he wants, and at any cost!"

"It's not about wants either 'Ro, he deserves a girl that will always be there and that's a promise I just can't make!"

"Ok, well… we've established Remy deserves things sis, but what I want to know is, what it is you want?" Sasha asked.

"Honestly?"

"Yes!" Everyone replied in unison.

"I don't want a man I can live with! But what I want is actually a can't"

"Sounds fair enough," Logan said, looking kinda puzzled as he chewing the end of his cigar.

"What is your can't or want, or I mean can't want then?" Betsy chimed in, just as puzzled as the rest.

"I want a man I can't live with out! And… I just can't seem to go on without Remy! He makes me whole, and my dreams all come true!"

They all looked to each other and hoping like hell Remy was within earshot.

"Here sis, have some tea and try to settle down. Maybe he'll come back? Ya know they say if you set it free and it comes back to you it's yours forever" Sasha said with a warm smile.

"And Godzilla use to be a little itty bitty lizard too, Sassafras chicka" All smiling again to more of their Chloe coming back a lil and her humour.

Suddenly that sound of a motorcycle could clearly be heard from somewhere outside. The sound rapidly dissipated followed a second later by a door opening and shutting.

In a moment, Remy appeared in the doorway, smirking.

"A'ternoon everyone!" Remy said, waltzing in and grabbing the now in mid air beer flung his way by Warren and lit a smoke all taking in the look of absolute shock on Chloe's face at seeing Remy again. Everyone else quickly made like he'd been gone for ages and welcomed him back home. When the last time Chloe had seen him he had stormed out on her from him being mad and hurt, just as he had upset and hurt her in the same way.

Remy made his way into the room talking to everyone, other then Chloe who went from shocked to looking down, a lil scared, having missed him so much, and due to so much time having gone by she believed he probably had another relationship with someone else or was just no longer interested in the one they had.

He walked around the table intentionally and purposely sat next to Chloe. On doing so, he reached out with a large, strong hand as though accidentally on purpose grazed her bare, short wearing thigh as if it was no more then a light brushing. A touch of which sent waves over her that she took a deep breath too, which forced her instinct to then inhale his musky scent and cologne.

Remy turned to her finally and said in a gruff, deep and smooth voice "Chere" Then crooked and eyebrow, and gave a brief slight nod in her direction to her then began discreetly looking over and taking in her tiny form.

Chloe gave him a soft, sweet, tender smile like she had when she first met him and didn't know if he was available or not so was trying to keep a stiff upper lip and being friendly, caring, and platonic. "Good to see you Remy."

"Tis tres magnifique t' see you chere, you are a sight f'r dese sore eyes."

At that moment, a very pregnant Stacii that happened to pass through and said nonchalantly in a sigh, "Oh cut the crap just kiss and make up already would ya!" then she left, stunning the room with her coldness. Though everyone also knew that was just the way Stacii was.

"Nice segway, very smooth… dumbass!" Sasha yelled after.

Everyone looked to Remy who was watching a shied away Chloe not knowing what to do so sat silently. Remy gave everyone a silent signal, asking for a little time alone with Chloe, and they all happily obliged.

Everyone moved over to the next room...electing Sasha to be the one to eavesdrop on their conversation.

------

"Ok I've had enough of this… this is insane…" Sasha said startling the room back to reality as she grasped the dining room double doors and said, "Here goes" Then turned the handles to open them up wide as the dining room filled X-gang got a very full on look of the pair in the kitchen. Chloe sat in Remy's lap, embraced in each other's arms, and in a hot lip lock growing passionately!

Charles, in his ever-so-tactical way addressed the kissing couple as he once again made a sweep by the coffee pot.

"Remy, 30 minutes for a kiss hello and I've missed you for 4 weeks is I agree not fair enough time. But my daughter does need to breathe! Or in the long run she's no good to you at all!" That separated the pair momentarily, not taking their eyes from the other and kissed in pecks sweetly as everyone else fell in tearful roaring laughter.

"Now for the love of the gods, can things please get back some normalcy around here?" Sasha asked in her giggles.

"I suppose" Remy and Chloe said together slowly between their lil kisses when then her puppy got passed around .

"So what ya gonna call him sis?" Sasha asked, playing with the puppy

"Pooky-Doo!" She said and giggled wildly, all beaming to hear that wild insatiable giggle of hers back but then laughed at the name. "I think it's cute for a puppy, it's my version of Scooby-Doo."

"I… I think it's just… just… Chloe-Coco-licious!" Emma squealed laughingly, making a reference about their girly party. All the girls busted up in tearful laughter.

"Yeah I got me a really ugly nasty bad party girly side to me don't I?" Chloe said.

"I'd say ya do! Soooo… ummm…. Ummm… like… Uhhh… do Remdude and I get to be there for this date you and Emma are going on? Not to mention see that hot girly chicka action lovin?" Sean asked her as the room busted up into laughter again and Chloe flaring up blushing.

"Gods! …Oh sure what the hell! We can borrow that video camera from Dom if she hasn't called Hugh yet! We need Remy Spielberg here to video tape it for Emma's and my prosperity" Chloe giggled out as Emma ran around the side of the table and the girls faked the kiss and hot loving right there on the kitchen floor goofing around, while everyone hooted and hollered following it with whistles.

"Wait! Wait!" Sasha chimed in "Jubes… we need ice! Lots and lots of ice! Lorrie quick get the toaster to light a smoke, the girls will need it when their done!"

"Not 'til after they get a free ride on the Penny Pegasus first! Yee haw!" Penny added.

"Damn it woman, I told ya once and I'll tell ya again! It isn't yee haw girly! It's… I'm too sexy for my Penny, too sexy for my Penny" Chloe said laughing.

"Hey Sean? Remy? Cut Jon-Jon in on checkin' out that hardcore girly action!"

"You got it homme!" Remy smirked and pulled a giggling Chloe up off the floor.

All the girls busted up, remembering their party night as was all the guys now. The men all had time to think about it and it really was just the girls having their harmless fun too.

"Uhhh… ya know girls… we guys ain't never seen ya like that before, yas kinda had us guys all scared." Logan admitted for all the men.

"Yas never bothered to try to party with us girls either! But it's cool fuzzy… we don't hold it 'gainst ya guys. It's just a side of us girls that takes a whole lotta of booze and coaxing to get out is all…well… other then me … anyway and when it does stand back!" Chloe ended laughing as the girls backed her up.

"What do you mean scared Logan? Nothing to be scared of… 'cept …well… maybe Chloe… but, she tends to bite if gotten too wild up! She was in all actuality pretty good that night! Chloe can get a whole lot worse! …" Sasha replied truthfully.

"She gets' worse!" Bobby said in shock.

"Yeah," Lorrie admitted "I've seen her do some pretty wild hardcore things… she was behaving cuz dad was in the house… remember that time we had margarita night and then we took the 401highway speeding and Chloe chicka, you sat on the back of Stacii's car totally topless giving the truckers a thrill, while singing to the Summerland and trying not to spill your margarita all at the same time?"

"OoOo yeeeaaah… hey I almost forgot about that… that was fun! We so gotta do that one again some time!" She giggled.

"Gods, I sooo miss margarita nights! I agree with Chloe! We haveta do that again sometime soon!" Sasha happily jumped, remembering fondly their special witchy all night party girl charades together.

"Remy et Gambit gonna tie 'er t' da bed so she go no where" Remy whispered, chuckling.

"Only if ya catch me, n wait…. Kinky stuffs woo hoo!" Chloe giggled again.

The reminiscing continued on all the way through dinner.

After dinner, Hank prescribed the reunited pair an early night on the good doctors orders when then everyone in the room turned on Remy and Chloe and kicked them out of the kitchen. Sasha reopened the door and handed Pooky-Doo to Chloe.

"Gonna hafta get used to having a baby 'round you again sis" then smiled to her and disappeared back into the kitchen.

------

One day in mid September, things in the house had slowly started to return to some level of normalcy. This particular day, Ro had offered to give the sisters a break and take over the cooking duties. She began to pull out pots and pans while many of the other girls milled around the kitchen.

The guys walked through the kitchen, splattered from head to toe in motor oil. Sasha bit back a laugh when Kurt hopped up on the counter and swiped a swallow of his girls coke.

"How my baby?" Sasha asked, raising an eyebrow questioningly. She had been having some minor problems with her Shaguar and the guys had offered to fix it for her...although she did have to woo them with a 24 case of beer.

Logan grabbed a towel and began to wipe grease off his hands. "Your baby's just fine now. It was just a loose muffler and we had to replace a few spark plugs."

"Ve fixed it sumthin good," Kurt beamed.

Sasha leaned in and gave her boyfriend a little kiss. "That's my little grease monkey." The girls all around them started to giggle.

"Wad 'bout us? We ch'pp'd liv'r?" Remy drawled, still slugging back a beer.

Sasha ran around and gave all the guys a little peck on the cheek. When she got around to Logan and said, "And you, Cowardly Lion, I'd like to thank most of all," and gave him a little peck too.

Logan immediately went into humor mode. He scuffed his shoe on the floor and said in a mock schoolboy tone, "Awww, shucks Dorothy, t'weren't nuthin'!"

"You won't be needing those tonight, 'Ro precious" Bishop said, whispering into his girls ear. "Here, let me put those away for you."

Ro watched him for a moment as he began clearing everything away. Chloe and Sasha, who hadn't heard Bishop's words went right along behind him and pulled everything back out. He in turn started putting them away again.

Sasha stood straight up and said, "Is it just me or does anyone else feel like they're trapped in a really bad Abbott and Costello skit?"

"Girls, we fellows have an announcement for you!" Scott said, sliding an arm around Jean's neck.

The girls stopped in mid movement and looked to each other, wondering what was going on.

"None of you ladies will be doing kitchen duties tonight," Cable added.

"Well," Sasha said, "I don't know about anyone else but I've become a rather accustomed to eating." Sasha turned towards Chloe when she started to open her mouth. "Not one word Coco!"

Chloe started to giggle, then turned her attention to the guys. "I hope there's more to the announcement then that."

"Now dat you mention it, chere, dere is...Sean?" Remy pulled her close and hugged her warmly.

Sean then sidled up next Emma and put his arm around her shoulders and smirked. "We are taking you all out for a formal night, so go get ready and don't spare us any of your feminine ways, go all the way girls! Now go get ready, we'll be calling on you shortly."

The girls looked at each other, half in shock and half in surprise. They all looked to their own guy for confirmation. The only response they received was a sea of smirks, hungry eyes, and nods telling them it was true and to go get ready now. Slowly, they made their way upstairs to their rooms and began the task of 'girlying up' as the guys had put it.

------

A short while later, having showered and shaved her legs, Sasha sat in front of her vanity doing her hair, putting on makeup, and adorning herself in her favorite jewelry. She stood up to take a look at herself in her floor length mirror. Her hair was pulled back by a deep green banana clip, with only a faint wisp of her hair framing her face, and she wore a spaghetti strapped forest green mini dress that reached just below her thighs. On her back Sasha wore a black satin half jacket and on her feet was a pair of black flats -- suitable for dancing and all-night parties.

A knock sounded from her door. Giving herself one final once-over, Sasha drew in a deep breath and pulled the door open. The sight of Kurt in a sunning tuxedo greeted her. Although he looked a little uncomfortable, his awkwardness did nothing to diminish how handsome he looked. Wordlessly, Kurt offered his arm to her and escorted his girl downstairs to where the others were waiting.

Stacii had been elected to keep an eye on all the younger students. Of course, she felt left out but as the other women passed through the foyer, Stacii put on a brave face and complemented them as they left. However, no sooner had the front door closed, did Stacii stomp away, sullen.

"Stacii-rella, Stacii-rella, Stacii-rella!" she chanted under her breath.

Stepping outside, the girls were greeted by the sight of a long row of Rolls Royce's lined in the driveway...each complete with their very own Chauffer. The women looked to the men in surprised shock. With nothing but a smirk, the guys escorted the girls to a different car -- one car per couple -- and allowed them to slide in first. The men stopping briefly and lingered to look to each of their buddies and grin broadly as if to say 'these girls don't have a clue, but hope this night goes well...it's all about the girls tonight'.

Before too long, pleasant conversation and lots of cuddling and kisses were exchanged -- and all too soon, the cars all came to a stop. Up until this point the girls had never asked where they were going, trusting that their guys had developed relatively good judgment.

When the doors opened and the girls stepped out, a resounding gasp could be heard rising up from the girls. They found themselves standing in the parking lot of Harry's Bar.

"This is so cool...formal wear and a country bar, it rocks!" Chloe giggled.

The rest of the girls looked incredulously at Chloe then to their own guys as if to say 'you're kidding us right?'

The men's expressions never faltered, each one appearing like they were men on a mission and nothing would stop them from getting it done.

The guys then brought the girls all inside the establishment and was met with maiter'd's milling about in a very clean high-class country club-like setting. The girls looked puzzled for a moment, remembering Harry's to be a rather dingy, dusty, broken furniture place mainly due to Remy and Logan's numerous bar fights, not to mention stained with alcohol.

Kurt, with his arm placed protectively around Sasha's waist, escorted her to a small, intimate booth in a dark corner of the massive room. The booth was draped in shear cloths in elegant shades of blues, greens, and purples. Sasha's eyes lit up, not so much surprised but delighted that Kurt was willing to be so open with his romantic side.

Sasha slid into the booth first and scooted around to allow Kurt to slip in next to her. After he sat, Sasha snuggled into his chest -- listening to the beating of his heart as it thumped wildly. In a moment, a waitress with a very thick Irish accent joined them at their table. Sasha smiled slightly, overjoyed that Kurt remembered her heritage.

Kurt looked up at the woman and simply said, "Bring uz your very bezt red vine."

The waitress nodded "Very good, sir." She turned on her heels and strode back towards the kitchen. After the waitress left, Sasha leaned in and gave Kurt a deep, passionate kiss.

"Vut vaz zat for?" he asked, exasperated

Sasha gave him a half smile and returned to her snuggling. "Just because."

A moment later the waitress returned with an ice bucket and the chilled wine bottle. She poured the burgundy liquid into two silver chalices then retreated back to the kitchen without a further word.

Sasha and Kurt entwined their arms and sipped at the cool wine. This made Sasha giggle slightly.

"I don't know about you, but I feel like I'm in one of those romantic 1920's movies."

Kurt placed one slender digit under Sasha's chin and gently raised her head slightly, making their eyes meet. "Luv," he cooed, "You haven't zeen anyzing yet."

Their waitress once again interrupted the tender moment, this time bringing with her a small trolley. There were two silver-domed trays sitting on it -- one was placed before Sasha and the other in front of Kurt. Quickly, when the waitress removed the lids, a puff of steam rose high up into the air. Sasha waved the steam away and her eyes were greeted with the most wondrous sight. On both hers and Kurt's plates, sitting a top a bed of lettuce, sat a ruby red lobster -- the crustacean must've been at least 13 inches long -- and surrounding the lobster was a ring of rice topped with a dozen shrimp. Sasha's heart jumped slightly at realizing that Kurt remembered her penchant for seafood.

When the waitress left once again, the pair shared another passionate kiss before proceeding with their meal.

All throughout each couples dinner, the men never once faltered in their gentlemenly ways for their women, but also never let their girls more then an inch or two away from them either. Every male fawned and praised over their girl, rendering them speechless time and time again.

When the time came for dessert, the girls found themselves being fed by their men so, in turn, the girls turned the tables and did the same, only the girls would slowly lick their man's lips in clean up -- surprising and shocking the men, all happily finding their charms were working according to their plans.

Soon after dinner, each waiter came out in unison carrying a singular tray, with two flute glasses filled with sparkling champagne, and presented the glasses to the men around the room.

Kurt and Sasha clinked their glasses together in a silent toast and they both raised their glasses to their lips, but Kurt only made like he was going to drink. Instead, a sly smile crept across his features as he watched Sasha take her first sip. His smile broadened when he saw Sasha look down into the liquid, hearing her small, breathy gasp.

Setting his own drink down on the table, Kurt relieved Sasha of her glass, retrieving the delicate item that nestled at the bottom. "Ziz, I'm zure you recognize, is a Claddagh ring. Ze handz zymbolize friendship and ze heart zymbolizez luv." Sasha's eyes sparkled as she watched him dry off the tiny jewelry before looking up into her eyes. "If you vear ze ring viz ze heart pointing towardz you, it tellz people zat your heart belongz to zomeone."

Taking one of her trembling hands into his, Kurt continued.

"Luv, zince ze very firzt day you valked into my life I have luv'd you. For countlezz yearz I lived my life in ze zhadowz, believing zat vaz vere I vaz zupposed to be, but nov I find myzelf bazed in ze light of luv...becauze of you. I feel like I'm under zome kind of vonderouz zpell. You zet me free, you brought me out of my zhell. Vizout you I'm incomplete...Zazha Ann Xavier, vill you marry me?"

Sasha was silent during Kurt's proposal, the only sound coming from her thumping heart. Her body quivered as she replied.

"Yes," she whispered, almost inaudibly. Kurt smiled broadly and slipped the gold ring on her finger, following up with a very long, very deep, passionate kiss. When the kiss was finally broken, Sasha cast her eyes around the room searching for her sisters. Umm, honey," she returned her gaze to fiancée. "Maybe we should keep this a secret for a while. My sisters absolutely adore you, but they would kill me if they knew we were engaged at so young an age."

Kurt smiled slightly. "If you zink it iz for ze bezt, my Canadian Princezz, I vill agree."

Sasha leaned in, planting a trail of featherlight kisses along Kurt's jawline in thanks. Their waitress appeared once again with two fresh glasses of champagne.

Over the next hour, the waitress appeared every ten or fifteen minutes to refresh their glasses. Sasha and Kurt continued to get closer and more comfortable at their table, exchanging heated kisses that would last what seemed like forever. Kurt held his girl firmly to his body, caressing whatever bare skin of hers that he saw.

Sasha stopped her ministrations only when the lights in the room dimmed, noticing that the doors were all closing and locking. She, just as many of the other girls, were looking around in puzzlement before their attentions were drawn back by their guys.

Sasha giggled slightly as her hands snaked themselves underneath Kurt's shirt, tracing the muscled lines of his chest with her fingertips. She could feel him shiver slightly under her touch, this action only serving to urge her on, as she continued her trail of kisses.

Regretfully, Kurt pulled away from Sasha when the other guys all excused themselves and moved into a side room. Sasha was sorry to see him go but knew that he'd be back in her arms soon enough. To bide her time, she poured the last of their champagne into her glass and drank it down.

Ten minutes later, Sasha found herself missing Kurt greatly. Her attention was suddenly re-directed by the lights on the stage beginning to turn up, followed a second later by a low, almost hypnotic music.

Kurt walked out on stage, a bright white spotlight following him as he headed to the microphone. "Gutentaug," Kurt began meekly, waiting until he had everyone's attention. The X-girls watched intently in various stages of bewilderment. "Zince ze beginning o'time, men," Kurt pointed to himself, "have been idiotz. Ziz zhould make up for zome of it..." At that moment, a heavy bass sound echoed within the walls of the dance club and nine more spotlights flicked on. Logan, Remy, Jon, Synch, Hank, Bobby, Scott, Cable, and Bishop filed out onto the staged...

"Sitting here I'm eating my heart out waiting

Waiting for some lover to call.

Dialed about a 1000 numbers baby

Almost rang the phone off the wall"

The ten mutants began to sway in time to the hypnotic music; their on-looking girlfriends erupted into a frenzy of cat calls & whistles.

"I GOT ONES!" Ro yelled as she ran to the stage, brandishing a handful of dollar bills.

"HELL YEAH!" Chloe yelled. "RIGHT BEHIND YA GIRLY CHICKA! SHAKE IT BOYS, YOU WON'T BREAK IT!" She slid her drunken self out from the booth and ran down to the stage right up close to where Remy.

"I'M GOOD TO GO TOO!" Sasha added, holding her purse up high and followed suit, still laughing as she ran up to where Kurt danced. All the other girls did the same.

"Looking for a lover who needs another

Don't wanna spend the night on my own

Wanna share my love with a warm-blooded lover

Gotta bring a wild lady home"

They peeled off their jackets slowly & tossed them into the frenzy of screaming women.

"Looking for some hot stuff baby this evening

I need hot stuff baby tonight"

Next to go were their shirts. Remy glanced around the room for Chloe, finally spotting her up near the front by Lorrie & Sasha. Their faces were flushed with excitement. Remy pointed & flung his shirt to her. She squealed wildly & hid her rapidly blushing face behind the garment, peeking out frequently to look at her boyfriend.

"I want some hot stuff baby this evening

Gotta have some hot stuff

God I need some lovin' tonight"

Pulling off their shoes, the guys tossed them to one side, so as not to trip over them.

"Ooh hot stuff

Hot stuff

Hot love"

Kurt tugged on his tie, loosening it from around his neck & slipped it off, eyeing Sasha, & tried to look as sultry as possible.

"Sitting here eating my heart out waiting

Don't want another night on my own

Looking for a lover who won't blow my cover

I'm bound to take somebody home"

Slowly Logan unbuttoned his shirt, sending his wife into a screaming fit. He smiled slyly as he slid a hand down his chest. This served only to elicit further screams.

"Looking for some hot stuff baby this evening

Hot stuff baby tonight"

The shirt slipped off Scott's broad, & albeit well-muscled shoulders. His skin, slick with the thin layer of sweat now beading on his body. Jean watched on in quiet fascination.

"Hot stuff baby this evening"

Gotta have some hot stuff

God I need some lovin' tonight"

At that moment a pair of lacy pink panties landed squarely on the steps at Hank's feet. He looked up only to be greeted by Cecelia's knowing face. She wiggled her fingers slightly & smiled a secret smile. Hank moaned inwardly. Oh, what a tease, he thought to himself.

"Ooh hot stuff

Hot stuff

Hot love"

The X-guys crept slightly closer to the frenzied audience. Cable & Bishop wiggled their hips slightly & led the others into a crouch. The moment their bodies hunched as low as they could go the ten of them shot straight up, hands on the waistband of their trousers. With a quick tug the slacks were pulled clean off their forms revealing a row of thong bikinis, all decorated with the X-Men logo. The girls went wild.

"Ooh hot stuff

Hot stuff

Hot love"

Each of the men reached down and pulled their girl up on the stage to dance with them, yet kept the girls at arms length when the girls tried to kiss them...and try they did.

It was body against body, the girls running their hands all over their guys forms. They licked at their guys exposed flesh, but never once were they allowed to touch lips. This frustrated the girls to no end.

Casually, Sasha's hand would brush up against the base of Kurt's tail, the swell of his buttocks, and the impressive bulge in the front of his thong -- and, perhaps once or twice, she could've sworn he had jumped in surprise. The blue mutant, as did all the other men, began to visibly perspire, making their muscles glisten with sweat. Sasha ran her hands all over Kurt's body, feeling it heat further and further up with each passing moment until it felt like there was a fire raging under his skin.

The men stopped dancing and were now running their hands over the girls. In response to the reciprocated touches, the girls grabbed their man's hands and pulled them from the stage back towards their booths or tables. The music continued to pound out of the room's sound system.

Upon reach their table, Sasha cleared it with one clean sweep and sat Kurt in the seat as she climbed up on the tabletop. Kurt smiled wildly and his eyes flashed as Sasha, and indeed all the other girls with their guys, began to give the guys their own private table dance.

Reaching up behind her, Sasha pulled out the clip that held her hair up, allowing her long tresses to flow across her shoulders, followed immediately by her black satin half-jacket. Sasha kept her eyes locked with Kurt's as she once again reached around behind her and slowly drew down the zipper of her dark green dress. Allowing the garment to slip from her shoulders and pool around her feet, Sasha kicked the dress off the table and towered over her secret fiancée wearing nothing but a black lace bra and panties. She swayed her hips in time to the music as Kurt's three-pronged hands gently caressed her lower calves.

Kurt's hands suddenly halted just below Sasha's knees when a low, melodic sound reverberated throughout the room. Everyone turned their heads towards Chloe, gave all the girls a silent signal to follow her. Sasha slid off the table and followed the others as they headed for the stage. Climbing up to where the guys had danced only a few moments earlier, the girls moved in unison as Chloe sang her sexually charged song. The guys stood a few paces back from the stage, riveted by the sight before them. When her song ended, Chloe did a flying leap off the stage, right into Remy's arms, all the other girls following in Chloe's carefree footsteps.

Sasha landed in Kurt's broad arms, wrapping her slender, dancer-like legs around his midsection, and locked her lips with his.

With his hands supporting her, Kurt carrying Sasha back to the table and sat her on the hard wood surface. Kurt reached around to a darkened area behind the booth and withdrew a long-necked bottle of white wine. Kurt popped the cork with relative ease and took a long swig of the clear liquid before passing it to Sasha.

Sasha hopped down from the table and accepted the wine, she too taking a long drink. Afterwards, she took a close look at the label, reading it out loud.

"Hmmm, Sweet Sauvignon Blanc 1956...fruity, full-bodied...best as a dessert wine." She looked back up to Kurt, eyeing him carefully. Sasha set the bottle down, grabbed Kurt by his hips, and set him on the table. Picking up the bottle again, she pointed to the label. "It says...right here...that's it's a dessert wine." With one strong hand, Sasha pushed Kurt down until he laid flat. She then got up and straddled his chest. "Well, since it says its a dessert wine...looks like I'll be forced to have it with my dessert."

And with that, Sasha poured the entire bottle all over Kurt's indigo chest, the liquid catching in the dips and dents his ripped muscles made. Tossing the bottle to the floor, she leaned over and blew out their candles, plunging their section of the room into total darkness, then looked to Kurt's figure beneath her and said, "Yum...dessert!" and began to lick the alcohol off her lover. Only the white light of Kurt's eyes highlighted her ministrations.

When she had licked off every last drop of wine from Kurt's chest only then did she slide off him. Sasha allowed Kurt to stand while she took his place on the table. Kurt smiled wickedly, reached over, and pulled the dessert trolley up next to their booth and he proceeded to smear Sasha's body with the various dessert topping he found there...whipped cream, chocolate sauce, honey, and whatever else he could lay his hands on...then he proceeded to lick the confectionary off her body.

And that's the way it went for sometime, taking turns decorating and licking toppings off each other's bodies. Finally, Sasha and Kurt couldn't hold back any longer and, right there on the table, they had each other...wholly and completely.

Once both their bodies were spent, Sasha and Kurt moved to the floor, made a little bed out of their clothes, and held each other in a lover's embrace until they both drifted off into sweet slumber.

------

Sometime later Sasha woke, still in darkness. Looking to the figure beside her, she saw the glow of Kurt's eyes as he watched her.

"What are you doin'?" she whispered.

Kurt brushed a strand of hair off her forehead. "Vatching you...you're very beautiful ven you zleep...peaceful and zerene.

Sasha reached over, clasped a hand on his neck, and drew him to her for a deep and passionate lip-lock. She pressed her soft breasts against his chest and kissed his chin and neck. Her hands then grabbed on tightly to his shoulders.

Kurt stroked his own hands up and down her sides while she licked his neck. When her back arched slightly, he slipped his hands down between her milky white thighs and brushed his fingers against her soft flesh.

She clutched his shoulder with one hand while brushing her fingers through his hair. She felt his erect flesh poking her against her hip. Sasha didn't care whether anyone else was awake, but just the same she kept her panting as soft as she could as she pulled him on top of her.

Sasha felt him enter her with one quick thrust...

------

It wasn't long before Sasha and Kurt were both spent again...and it was a lucky thing too because an all too familiar voice rang out.

"'Hey is everybody decent?" Logan boomed into the dark room.

Quickly, the pair pulled on as many of their clothes that they could find in the dark before the lights were flipped on.

"'Kay everyone? Remy need t' go right now t' 'elp chere recover quickly f'om 'er 'angover so she can take 'er meds. Remy et Gambit needs t' go an' get food an' caffeine o' some kind int' 'er a.s.a.p! We goin' t' find breakfast, anyone else goin'?"

"Sounds like a great plan Gumbo! Lorrie and I will be right behind yas, any one else?"

"Zazha and I vill be zere! You guyz go on ahead ve'll catch up, juzt getting our ztuff here," Kurt smiled as he helped Sasha search for some of her clothes.

"'Lright lil bra, we'll 'old a table f'r you an' soeur de lil Sass den"

"Zanks brozer"

"Hey, here's one for your collection, Swamp Rat!" Logan called, mischief written over his dark primal features as he held up a black lace bra.

The sauve Cajun raised an eyebrow and said, "Now, Logan, wad would Remy et Gambit wan' wit' da empties?"

Logan turned his heavy-lidded gaze to Lorrie. "What about you? It's your colour."

"I don't think so. I'm a bit flat-chested for that."

He waggled his eyebrows at her. "Maybe you'll grow into it."

Lorrie rolled her eyes and laughed at him.

Sasha reached over and grabbed the bra out of Logan's hand, following it up with a smack upside his head, then walked towards the ladies room leaving everyone laughing at Logan's unfortunate smack.

------

"Gods! I can't believe I not only got talked into drinking for our girls night but now last night as well! I hope the gods forgive me, as my body is a temple!"

"You zink of your body az a temple Princezz Zazha?"

"Yes I do my Bavarian Cream Puff...please, feel free to worship me!" Sasha giggled back, holding her head, then kissed Kurt between sips of coffee.

"Sasha, stop that before I ground you!" Lorrie giggled, holding her head.

"O that ought a be good! You can't even control your own self Lor" Chloe giggled.

"And this coming from our supreme party girl leader! Ok, Chloe, I'll take your word for it."

"Now you're getting the idea! Like, Sasha claims her body is a temple, my body is a shrine! So bend over and kiss my ass!" Chloe giggled to Lorrie who then playfully swatted her sister for getting her good.

"Hey...speaking of shrines, temples, and worshipping, Samhain is next month!" 'Ro giggled excitedly.

"What's that? And isn't Halloween next month?" Bobby asked as the waiter refilled his coffee cup.

"Samhain is a pagan holiday on Oct 31...and Halloween is Samhain, silly! Samhain or Halloween is one of the most fantastic Pagan Sabbats or holidays. It is the Witches' New Year and the turn of the wheel is celebrated at this time," Sasha said, getting increasingly excited with her every breath.

"OoOo chicka girly girl, yours truly here with a totally over the top idea peoples," Chloe suddenly giggled then grabbed her head.

"What's goin' on in that noggin' o' yours darlin?" Logan chuckled between bites of his breakfast.

"Well chicka boo here had a thought, listen up. Instead of Sasha, Lorrie and I taking off that weekend to go to Salem for the festival there like we always had in the past, why don't we girlies stay home and have a festival there instead? AND we can formally initiate Jubes, Kitty and Remy in the opening ceremonies in the process?"

"O chicka girly sis Chloe that you are… that sounds awesome! Emma and 'Ro can stand in and take part in the ceremonies out right then" Sasha jumped in on the idea happily, being as Samhain was one of her favourite sabbats.

"Wad do chere mean initiate?" Remy asked warily, remembering guild codings and customs.

"Nothing like the guild stuff Rem honey, its just when Sasha will initiate Jubes, and I will initiate Kitty and you formally and welcome you officially to the gods and then proclaim you three to your birthright as you become real witches."

"Works f'r Remy" Remy said happily then lit a smoke.

"The rest that are interested in learning the ways of old will have to wait for now. Remy, Kitty, and Jubes have started their paths and practices already as Sasha and mine apprentices that won't end after the initiation but Samhain is the best time to initiate new witches who have begun their path. By this time next year and whoever else is interested in starting their path will be initiated then. Remy, Kitty and Jubes will then having been practicing for well over a year at that point and will be allowed to take part in the ceremonies as they will be full witches and well on their path by then." Chloe explained as Remy kissed her then told the waitress Chloe needed more tea. Remy, now very familiar with her meds, dispensed her medications to her that he had in his leather biker jacket.

"We can get the whole house involved! Literately, we got tonnes of preps to do and cooking too. Chloe, you want to finally, at long last -- seeing as you were done school last year -- wanna put on a show for everyone? Nothing formal just your mic headset and get, say, your school music buddies together for a jam? Oh and the festival will not start till you 3 are initiated though first! We'll kick off the festival that way," Sasha added.

"Yeah, I suppose I can for a lil while, but not all night. I wanna hang out with my witchcrafting rookie here" She giggled and kissed Remy.

"Yeah yeah...you'll have tonnes of time to play tonsil hockey, Coco," Sasha giggled and rolled her eyes as she dove into her breakfast.

Lorrie, completely off topic looked at Logan. "Pass the sugar...sugar." He complied and followed it up with a kiss.

Chloe looked at Remy, and said, "Pass the honey...honey." Remy did, and gave her a kiss deeper than the one Logan planted on Lorrie.

Sasha turned to Chloe. "Pass the tea...bag!" and everyone cracked up in fits of laughter.

The conversations began to get in depth as to what would take place. Emma and 'Ro ecstatically thrilled to be taking part with very pivotal roles in the ceremonies of their friends and grand festivities.

------

Charles was soon made aware of his daughters idea of a Samhain celebration and felt there was no reason why they couldn't have such an affair. So, one afternoon, Charles held a meeting with his girls and the faculty on the subject, seeing as the girls wanted to do this on a large scale.

"Alright girls, let me just get my planner out here. Stacii, I'd like you to take notes here too please, that will be your help for the preparations to the event, as yes you will also be allowed to go," Charles told her as he set his coffee cup down and opened his planner to the date in question.

Sasha and Chloe soon filtered into the kitchen where everyone was waiting for them. Both girls toted laptops and their Book of Shadows and took the vacant seats on either side of Lorrie at the far end of the table.. All three girls began linking up their laptops so they could share notes and p2p each other. Chloe reached into a small pouch she kept with her and pulled out a pair of John Lennon/Janis Joplin-style half-cut dark-tinted eyeglasses and perched them on the end of her nose in her gotta-stay-cool chicka-type fashion.

"I didn't know you wore glasses," Hank said in a smile, pushing up his own specs.

Chloe, now transfixed in what she was doing, hadn't seem to have heard Hank's observation.

"She does when she's on the comp!" Lorrie said quietly, setting her coffee cup down.

Sasha and Chloe opened their daily planners and B.O.S.'s. Kurt peered over Sasha's shoulder, seeing that her desktop wallpaper was a photo of Kurt and herself at the Coney Island fair...it was an impromtu, low-key graduation trip back in late May.

Chloe and Lorrie both lit a smoke and placed it in the ashtray in unison as per their usual computer ritual. Sasha cracked her knuckles and strapped identical, flesh-toned braces from her wrists, something that no one had taken notice of until that moment.

"What are those?" Bobby asked, pointing to the objects.

Sasha responsed without looking up from the task at hand. "Wrist Braces. I have Carporal Tunnel's Syndrome."

"Oh," Logan smiled mischieviously "what happened? You miss a stroke?"

Lorrie shot her husband a nasty glance, quickly silencing his merriment.

Emma and 'Ro soon appeared with their B.O.S.'s then too and opened them up just as Sasha, Lorrie and Chloe all had.

"Oh hey I need to get me a new laptop someday soon, mine died on me, and start an online BoS like you girls have" Emma said, looking over the sisters shoulders. On each of the sisters screens was the homepage of their Witchcraft teaching site.

"What's the addie? It looks cool!" Jubes asked, peering over Sasha's shoulder.

Remy sat down next to Chloe and wrapped his massive arms around her as she had begun typing feverishly. Kitty sidled up and took the seat on the other side of Chloe and began watching her as Remy had.

"What ya typing Lor babe?"

"Oh just answering a few posts on the message board, while waiting is all…"

"What you doing Chloe?" Bobby asked.

Without looking up from her own screen, Sasha replied, "We run a witchcraft and belief teaching website. Lorrie maintains the forum, being as our site services over a 1000 members who uses us girls findings to help them all on their paths. I write the news columns and dispel people's misconceptions with proper knowledge of what Wiccan society is about! Chloe is our almighty web goddess! She maintains well… everything… the entire site, html, graphics, keeps the pages up and running as well the forum, she is also our grievance committee and guest advice columnist. She's like our very own Dear Abby so to speak, and makes sure the whole site is kept full of new ideas, puts up my columns, kicks out and bans people that are causing problems for other members who come to our place to learn, share paths and just hang out. In other words, Lorrie and I do the written work while Chloe puts it all together… she built this entire site without programs. Thanks!" Sasha thanked Val for the soda she was handed then began typing again.

"Alright girls what do you have in mind for this festival?" Charles asked, his pen poised over his notebook.

"Well dad I was thinking, Chloe has already spoke to her friends about a brief show of a couple of songs then, maybe we could have DJ? And possibly being as Samhain is also the turn of the wheel from one season to the next it marks the end of summer, we could have a bbq'd pig roast & fireworks."

"Sounds wonderful Sasha! A lovely suggestion. Alright, I'll get to placing an order on that and also hire a DJ. I'm also looking forward to seeing Chloe perform, I do enjoy that!" Charles said beginning to write the items into his planner.

"Great dad, whatever floats your boat, dude."

Charles tried to stifle the chuckle in his throat at Chloe's tone.

"Jean you seem to be really good at sewing, could we get you to sew three white, floor length robes please," Sasha asked, flicking her eyes briefly to the tall redhead.

"Sure I'd love to assist in this! I've never been to anything like this before," Jeannie said happily.

"Then your in for a real eye opener then girly chicka friend," Chloe stopped typing briefly to take a drag on her smoke then continued with her task.

"Why only three robes?" Logan asked.

"Because we girls already have our own and so do Emma and 'Ro, furthermore this, as is any wiccan festival, is clothing optional," Sasha said matter-of-factly without looking up from her task. From the corner of her eye, she could see nearly everyone's jaw drop. She gave herself a secret, inward smile.

"I do realize pagan holidays are… well… free spirited… but I do so hope … well… girls must you?"

"We make no promises dad, and don't ask us to hinder our beliefs," Lorrie said.

Charles sighed. "I just ask you girls take it into consideration and I would never push, but just think about it."

"Consider it already thunked about Popsy" Chloe said, still typing, as she got up and grabbed a soda then resettled herself in Remy's arms.

"Wonderful than that's settled" Charles smiled.

"It's settled as far as I'm concerned," Chloe replied.

"Ok, we'll also need a separate bonfire pit...and as previously discussed, Emma your taking West, 'Ro you got the East, Lor has got the South and I have the North," Sasha said aloud.

"What about Chloe, doesn't she get to do something?" Penny asked, concerned creeping into her voice.

"Of course she does...she has one of the pivotal roles in the ceremonies. Chloe will be kicking off the whole entire festival by conducting the opening ceremonies," Sasha replied, feeling the sweet sensation of Kurt's arm sliding around her waist.

"It'll be a real show stoppa!" Chloe's whispered out loud, more or less to herself, then swiped Remy's smoke, kissed him, and turned back to her laptop.

"Alright, Remy, Chloe has briefed you on your part into the ceremonies, as well as you too Kitty. Emma & 'Ro you get the pleasure of taking the Lord and Lady into you. Sasha will introduce Jubes to her path in life and to the gods, Chloe will be doing the same with both Remy and Kitty that night as well." Lorrie finished, explaining who will be doing what.

"The initiates are to prepare the grounds specified by myself and Chloe… hello? …Chloe? …You with us sis?" Sasha said in a giggle as she handed a list to Jubes details the site preparations.

"Huh… wha?… o yeah… sorry here… chicka girly up to her "ass"ests in HTML, have a happy!" She said not looking up but quickly printed off two pages from her computer and tore them off the back of her built in printer, handing them to her apprentices. "After it's over, that's when the party will actually take place...not a moment before! Same as the opening ceremonies will not begin 'til all the kids are back from trick or treating. It's part of the celebrations. Therefore I will be prepared to start the shindig I'm thinking around 9ish."

"You are correct my sis" Sasha said.

"I see you girls have this all under control. I'll leave your ceremonies up to you then, and I will take care of the party, how's that?" Charles suggested.

"Works for us dad" Lorrie said, turning back to her computer.

Charles shut his planner then made his way out of the kitchen on his departure he slammed his planner to the door and said softly, "Blink Chloe!"

"Huh? What? W? W? Did someone say something?" She looked up at everyone, having been startled back to reality.

"Mon chere get's just a tad preoccupied doesn' she?" Remy chuckled lighting a smoke as Pooky-Doo came in and jumped in between him and Chloe.

"Just a lil when it comes to my work and beliefs honey" she giggled out and kissed him then continued her typing intermittently now.

"So you girls have a wiccan site huh?" Paige asked looking over Lorrie's shoulder as now the X-Gang began huddling up behind each of the girls watching them type.

"Yeps we do" Chloe said sweetly looking up and waiting for her computer jargon hieroglyphics to save.

"What kind of paths do you assist on your web site?" Hank asked in curiosity to the earth religion.

"We cover all aspects of it, and if we don't know the answer to someone's quest we tell them out right" Chloe said on everyone now hearing her thoughts on the religion just as they had a discussion with Sasha a long time ago.

"Commendable" Hank praised.

"Sasha said you're the ones that kicks people out or bans them, why would you need to do that Coco?" Kitty asked watching Chloe type again.

"Because there are a lot of stupid people online that like to make life difficult for others" Chloe told her in a giggle.

"The only one that gets to run amuck freely is Chloe on the site… mainly cause she's the only one with the power to shut the whole site down from everyone," Sasha admitted, laughing. Chloe looked up for a moment and beamed.

"What's the name of your place?" Logan asked, hugging Lorrie to him.

"It's called W.A.S.P."

"What is the euphemism for?" Scott asked in curiosity.

"Stands for… We Are Sexy Pagans!" Sasha announced happily and beamed brightly.

Everyone busted into roaring laughter.

"Remy et Gambit gonna take a wild guess an' say mon amour came up wit' da name."

"You be correct-a-mundo my love" Chloe giggled then clicked into the forum to answer posts and make a few as well. "When you 3 are initiated, Sasha will introduce Jubes into the site and how to use it properly to help you on your path just as I will with Kitty and Remy. Only, Remy gets the perks of… well… you all know… hey let's face it, he's got ties to the web goddess in there, so can run amuck with me when we're both online. Just don't cause no probs or I'll have to reprimand you 3 and take status away. Only I get to be naughty to the full hilt… web goddess rights and all… you understand… But you 3 will get a higher status then the other members have got. I was thinkin as assistants to me and Sass on here...wait, wait…OoOo…uh oh… tsk tsk tsk… will they ever learn I am thee internet web ruler? Hey we got a dumbass here girls! Should I ban him or just boot him? …Giving wbaby a hassle in the forum, she's only 13...I hate freaks!"

"Take him out sis," Sasha said. "He won't let up and I msg'd him about harassment and bothering the lil'un, she's scared bad! I got her on my IM and is afraid to go back to the site cuz he won't quit."

"You got it! One dumbass out the door… here's your pink slip sweetie… 5, 4, 3, 2, oooooop's, well… wouldn't ya know it, I done and gone hit the ban button just a second too soon… hmm… oh well, I'm over it already! Tell the lil chicka the goddess has spoken and she's good to come on back home. I'll send an email to one of the older men on the forum so that if I'm not on even though they can't ban anyone they can at least jump in for the rescue of wbaby. Just tell her Passion girl here has her back," Chloe giggled.

The girls soon shut down their comps and began to get things around for dinner.

------

"I'm so excited! I've never been a part of anything like this," Kitty elated, peering out the bedroom window into the backyard.

"Cool your self girly it's all good, just relax and have a blast," Sasha cautioned, straightening Kitty and Jubilee's robes.

"Rem, honey, stop fidgeting...you look awesome, my luv," Chloe cooed.

"Remy et Gambit ain't got da legs for a dress, dey look better on his mon amour," he whined.

"Remy, Chloe told you several times and now I will tell you...it is NOT a dress! It's a robe!" Sasha chuckled.

Remy moved away from the floor length mirror and perched himself on a corner of the bed, not sure how to cross his legs, forcing all the girls to laugh.

"Remy et Oui definitely Gambit too 'till say it a dress!" Remy muttered under his breath.

"Aww honey, you can go change after the party has started, ok?"

"Kay, but da guys gonna laugh at 'im."

"Yeah they probably will, but I think you look sexy!" Chloe giggled and came up to hug and kiss him then let out a wild bad girl purr making him smile.

"Alright is everyone ready? Chloe you ready? It's your call when this starts cuz it don't happen 'til you're ready to call the circle," Sasha said, giving herself a final once-over.

Chloe took a moment to look in the mirror, adjusting her hair a little, then fixed her lip gloss. In a moment she spun around to everyone and said in a very jubulant tone, "Let's rock'em!"

"Cool sis! Okay that's Chloe talk for she's good to go!" Sasha giggled and ushered everyone out of the room, on down through the now empty house to where everyone waited in the backyard.

------

"All right, no need to be nervous," Sasha said, adjusting the initiates robes. She did her best to stifle her giggles as she stepped in front of Remy to give him a final once over.

"You'll be fine brother, don't let what the others say get to you. Just focus on Passion, she'll be standing right in front of you and Kitty, She's an awesome witch and won't lead you wrong." Ro then turned to Chloe. "Passion, you ready for this?"

"Yeah, I'll lead out in a sec...need to find my center."

"Okay, lead when ready sis" Sasha said standing to the side adjusting her dark green robe, standing in front of 'Ro who did the same in her yellow robe, while Lorrie brushed off her red robe, as did Emma in her blue robe. The initiates lined up directly behind Chloe, dressed in her soft purple robe, who stood in front of the kitchen patio doors leading to the back yard. Everyone waited on her signal.

Chloe reached out with one tiny, frail, pretty-polished, well-jeweled hand and opened the door to the backyard, stepping out on the back porch as the rest followed out behind her. Emma turned and shut the patio door behind them, then waited.

Chloe stood at the head of the line and waited until she heard the familiar nine chimes of the old grandfather clock. On the exact stroke of the 9 bells, the torches that surrounded the backyard fizzled out, the only fire still raging was that which sat in the barbeque pit.

With Chloe's first step forward onto the first step on the grass all the torches and candles surrounding the perimeters of the grounds, initiates location, and four quarters burst into high raging flames on their own accord. With Chloe at point and Lorrie and Sasha flanking her on either side, the raging flames highlighted the human symbol of the triquatra.

"SHIT!" Logan yelled, the flame under the roasting pig flaring up several feet into the air. His reflexes took over as he tried to douse the flame with his beer. In a moment, the barbeque fire, torches, and candles flames subsided to a regular flame.

Everyone turned to quietly watch the sisters, Emma, Ro, and the initiates as they approached the white lawn paint that outlined the massive circle.

When everyone caught sight of Remy, various people began to laugh and shout out snide remarks.

"Nice legs, Gumbo...ever see a razor?"

"It's like a red wood forest, damn Remy" Jon laughed out

"Hey, Remy, my friend?" Hank called as Remy turned in his great embarrassment and seen him leaning on a picnic table. The large blue mutant made a gun-like gesture with his hand and his voice dropped several octaves. "How you doin'?" Then added an over-dramatic wink.

When suddenly as Kurt turned around and seen his brother yelled out to him…

"Remy, my brozer, tell me," Kurt shouted out over the din. "VHOOOOOOOOOOOOO'Z YOUR DADDAAAY!" Then busted up hard laughing till he fell off the picnic table, knocking Bobby over and into a cooler full of ice!

A sneer shrouded over the Cajun's features, visibly showing his venomous hatred for his attire.

The snide remarks continued to rage even as the girls and initiates took their places in the circle. The torches, which stood beside each of the three sisters, flared high as they were in nearest proximity to the most powerful witches present and at the same time signaling to the gods that the human representation of the Triquatra was present. It was only then that a hush fell over the crowd.

The girls turned towards the crowd. Slowly, as if they were one being, the girls lifted one hand to their right shoulder over their heart and allowed their robes to slip off their bodies, revealing their nakedness to the crowd.

An enormous gasp traveled throughout the crowd as they all gazed on five very firm, tanned, well built, stunningly gorgeous hard bodied women, hair flowing gently about their shoulders, no make up, with only hints of glitter. Their midsections decorated with a few tiny stars and crescent moons in henna.

"MES DIEUX! Where Remy et Gambit's trench coat when 'e need it!" Remy gasped.

"Lor you put that back on!" Logan breathlessly shouted to his wife.

"Nothing to see here… move along ya here me… damn it I left my gun up stairs" Bishop said making an attempt to stand in front of 'Ro and cover her nakedness.

"Zazha! No! You put your robe on!" Kurt demanded before the hardness seeped out of his voice and turned to pleading. "Pleaze!"

"GEEZ! Em what are you thinkin?" Sean exasperated.

"Hey Chloe baby girl… nice yabo's!" Jon telepathically projected, forcing everyone to look towards Jon. He sat on the porch roof corner and howled like a wolf before looking at Remy as if to say 'I got to see all of your woman just like I said I would back in the locker room… by the way, nice dress!'

Penny casually walked under the porch corner and gave a slight tug on Jon's jean cuff, causing him to fall off the roof and onto the ground landing on Bobby who is still trying to get up from being pushed into the ice cooler.

"Weeeell… I tried, … I need a coffee real bad!" Charles sighed hard and hung his head in his hand in defeat, giving a slight chuckle to the girls making it a real show stopper just like Chloe said it would be.

"Jubes keep that on!" Bobby shouted telling his girl.

"You too Kitty!" called Piotr.

"And for all that is holy! Remy you had better keep your dress on or we'll all go blind!" Cable shouted laughingly.

The candles flared this time to hush the crowd. Chloe turned around and faced the inner circle where the initiates stood, and walked forward to stand before them all.

Chloe took a deep, cleansing breath before walking to the North corner next to Sasha, extended her dominate hand outward with her index finger pointing out and down and began to walk the circle deosil. As her fingertip glided through the air, she spoke out loud in a clear and strong voice.

"We conjure thee, O great circle of power,

So that you will be, for us, a boundary between the world of men and the mighty spirits.

A meeting place of perfect love, trust, peace and joy containing the power we will raise

within thee.

We call upon the North, East, South, and West to aide us in the consecration.

In the name of the Lord and the Lady

Thus we conjure thee, O great circle of power."

Chloe, having walked the perimeter of the circle 3 times, returned to the North where she began and pounded the ground with her palm, the flames rising up momentarily again. A brilliant, warm hue of gold rose up from the ground beneath her and slowly swirled around Chloe's body, eventually engulfing her.

Remy moved to take a step towards her until his eyes locked onto Sasha's. Sasha shook her head slightly, silently telling him not to move and that everything was alright. Remy visibly faltered for a second and returned to his place. The gold haze swirled harder and faster and then began to grow out and away from Chloe. It took hold and captured the perimeter of the circle like a dome around the women and the initiates. Chloe's heathery voice resounded again.

"As above, so below, this circle is hereby sealed!"

Chloe returned to her place in the center of the circle where the initiates stood.

Everyone outside the circle watched in stunned silence as Chloe opened her arms wide and held her hands high above her head and she called out to the heavens.

"I, Passion, call upon the Shining Spirit to bring forth my inner passion, to seek out wisdom, and help me bore new love and rebirth your children."

A newer, stronger, masculine voice spoke from Chloe's mouth. While her light, breathy voice could still be heard, the new one diminished it.

"Passion, with your love and light I welcome with open arms and I have suppressed thee. I, Shining Spirit, have returned to the earthly plane on your call and have taken your body as shelter to guide you in your birth and bring forth my new children!"

The crowd gasped to hear that a Power had taken over Chloe's body.

Chloe/Spirit turned inward, towards the circle, as her dog and familiar Pooky-Doo, followed by Lockheed, ran from the house playing a game of chase. Both creatures passed through golden haze with ease. Many people reached out gingerly to touch the dome but found that the substance was hard and kind of tingly, like it was an impenetrable force field. The crowd watched intently, confused as to how the familiars could enter but not them. While Pooky-Doo and Lockheed played and frolicked around Chloe's/Spirit's bare legs, she took her position in the middle of the circle, her eyes tinged gold.

Sasha, in her grand nude form, faced towards the crowd, slowly opened her arms wide and spoke.

"Hail Spirits of the North, element of Earth.

I, Jade Hawthorn, ask you to bring forth your strength, prosperity, and stability into this

circle.

Please witness this rite and protect us.

So Mote it be!"

The spectators, having been previously instructed, answered back in unison, "So mote it be!"

'Ro, in her grand nude form, faced towards the crowd, slowly opened her arms wide and spoke.

"Hail Spirits of the East, element of Air.

I, Celeste Windwaker, ask you to bring forth your intellect, wisdom, and positive thought

into this circle.

Please witness this rite and protect us.

So Mote it be!"

Again the crowd answered back "So mote it be!"

Lorrie, in her grand nude form, faced towards the crowd, slowly opened her arms wide and spoke.

"Hail Spirits of the South, element of Fire.

I, Krystahl Shadows, ask you to bring forth your courage, passion, and creativity into this

circle.

Please witness this rite and protect us.

So Mote it be!"

The words came again "So mote it be!"

Emma, in her grand nude form, faced towards the crowd, slowly opened her arms wide and spoke.

"Hail Spirits of the West, element of Water.

I Raven Silvercloud ask you to bring forth your transformation, love, and joy into this circle.

Please witness this rite and protect us.

So Mote it be!"

The words came yet again "So mote it be!"

Chloe/Spirit beckoned Remy forth and, as he approached somewhat timidly, Chloe/Spirit gestured wordlessly to the bonfire pit sitting directly in front of the South quarter.

Remy crouched down by the small fire pit and laid his bare hands to the kindling. His hands had barely touched the brittle wood when it suddenly burst into a raging inferno. Remy jumped back in surprise, obviously unaware that he had released so much kinetic energy.

The lone male initiate returned to his placed, allowing Emma and 'Ro to take center stage. Both with greatly focused minds, turned towards each other and laid their right hands over each other's heart, then placed their left hands over their fellow witches right hand.

'Ro cleared her voice, allowing her sweet, airy tones to ring forth into the night.

"Hear my words and know me!

I shall be called a million names by all who speak!

I am Eternal Maiden!

I am Great Mother!

I am the Old One who holds the Immortal Key!

I am shrouded in Mystery, but am known to every soul!

Hear my words and know me!

Whenever the moon rises in the Heavens shall my children come to me.

Better it be once a month when the moon is full,

Shall ye assemble in some secret place, such as this, and adore the spirit of I.

I, who am Queen of the Witches!

And under my watchful eye my children shall be taught the mysteries of Earth and Nature, of

the ways of all Magick!

That which is unknown shall be known, and that which is hidden shall be revealed, even the

most secluded soul shall be pierced with my Light.

From my cauldron shall be drunk all knowledge and immortality!

Ye shall be free from slavery and ye shall dance, sing, and feast.

Music shall surround you, for mine is the ecstasy of the spirit and mine is also the joy of the

Earth!

I do not demand sacrifice!

For behold, I am the Mother of all living things!

Create and heal!

Be strong, yet gentle!

Be noble, yet reverent!

Bring forth and replenish.

And, as does the cycle of the Moon ever begin to wax and wane and to grow forth again,

As do the seasons, from one to the next, flow in a smooth rhythm, from sowing and reaping

to seeming death and re-birth.

So will my children know their own pattern in both worlds!

And ye shall say these words...

I will love and harm none.

I will live, love, die, and live again.

I will meet, remember, know, and embrace once more.

For the free will of All, and with harm to None.

As I will it, it now is done.

So mote it be!"

Then it was Emma's turn to speak.

"Listen the words of the Horned God,

The guardian of all things wild and free, and the keeper of the gates of Death,

Whose Call all must answer.

I am the fire within you heart,

The yearning of your Soul.

I am the Hunter of Knowledge and the Seeker of the Holy Quest.

I, who stand in the darkness of light, am He whom you have called Death.

I, the consort and Mate of Her we adore, call forth onto thee.

Heed my call beloved ones,

Come unto me an learn the secrets of death and peace.

I am the corn at harvest and the fruit on the trees.

I am he who leads you home.

Scourge and Flame, Blood and Blade,

These are mine and gifts to thee.

Call unto me in the forest wild and on hilltop bare

And seek me in the Darkness Bright.

I, who have been called Pan, Herne, Osiris, and Hades among others,

Speak to thee in thy search.

Come dance and sign, come live and smile,

For behold, this is my worship.

You are my Children and I am thy Father.

On swift night wings

It is I who lay you at the Mother's feet

To be re-born and to return again.

Thou who thinks to seek me,

Know that I am the untamed wind,

The fury of storm and passion in your Soul.

Seek me with pride and humility,

But seek me best with love and strength.

For this is my path, and I love not the weak and fearful.

Hear my call on long winter nights and we shall stand together, guarding the Earth as She

sleeps."

'Ro and Emma turned from each other and moved towards the initiates. Raising their palms, both Emma and Ro drew their hands over each of the initiates heads and shoulders in a silent blessing before returning to their Cardinal Points.

Lorrie and Sasha stepped forward, flanking Chloe/Spirit as they were in the Triquatra position again, and stood before Kitty, Remy, and Jubilee. Each one of the initiates were visibly shaking as they were all very new to the events that were unfolding around them.

"Come forth all those who seek Spirit" Lorrie spoke strongly.

Remy, Jubes and Kitty took one step forward and responded in unison.

"We seek Spirit"

Sasha turned to the altar that stood in the center of the Triquatra, picked up the chalice of wine, and held it before Chloe/Spirit. Chloe/Spirit folded both her hands over the chalice and spoke.

"From the moon to the land,

From the land to the vine,

From the wine to the berry,

From the berry to the juice,

I consecrate this drink in the name of the Lord and the Lady.

May their blessings shower upon us through all eternity.

So mote it be!"

Everyone in the crowds repeated back, "So mote it be!"

Chloe/Spirit then took the chalice from Sasha and sipped the cool liquid before turning to the initiates. After Remy, Kitty, and Jubilee took a sip, Chloe/Spirit spoke four little words.

"May you never thirst"

Lorrie then picked up the basket of Sabbat cakes from the altar and held it before Chloe/Spirit.

"From the sun to the land,

From the land to the stalk,

From the stalk to the grain,

From the grain to the bread.

I consecrate this food in the name of the Lord and the Lady.

May their blessings shower upon us through all eternity.

So mote it be!"

Everyone in the crowd repeated back "So mote it be!"

Chloe/Spirit then took one the cakes and ate. She took the basket from Lorrie and offered a cake to each of the initiates saying…

"May you never hunger"

Chloe/Spirit moved around to the back of the altar then gestured to the initiates to step closer. Remy, Kitty, and Jubilee stood at each of the altar's vacant sides, placed their hands on either side of the three white candles laid out before each of them and spoke out in unison.

"I promise to uphold the customs and traditions Spirit has laid out before me.

I will respect my fellow witches, an' do harm to none.

May Spirit and the ancients guide and protect me through all my endeavours.

As I say it so shall it be!"

Everyone in the crowd repeated back "So shall it be!"

Sasha then stepped around the altar to the center of the circle and spoke out.

"Great Mother, Divine Father,

Thank you for attending our Samhain ceremony.

Guard and guide us through all eternity.

Help us to do the divine work given to us and help us in all our choices.

So mote it be!"

Everyone in the crowds repeated back "So mote it be!"

Sasha and Lorrie then returned to their quarters as Chloe/Spirit re-took her place the center of the circle next to the initiates. All five women then spoke out in grand unison.

"Guardians of the West, element of Water,

Thank you for your participation in our ceremony.

Peace be with you and harm none on your way.

Angels of Water, thank you for your special gifts.

Go if you must, stay if you like. Hail and farewell.

Guardians of the South, element of Fire,

Thank you for your participation in our ceremony.

Peace be with you and harm none on your way.

Angels of Fire, thank you for your special gifts.

Go if you must, stay if you like.

Hail and farewell.

Guardians of the East, element of Air,

Thank you for your participation in our ceremony.

Peace be with you and harm none on your way.

Angels of Air, thank you for your special gifts.

Go if you must, stay if you like.

Hail and farewell.

Guardians of the North, element of Earth,

Thank you for your participation in our ceremony.

Peace be with you and harm none on your way.

Angels of Earth, thank you for your special gifts.

Go if you must, stay if you like.

Hail and farewell."

Chloe stumbled a little as the apparition of Spirit rose up from her body and hovered overhead momentarily before dissipating into a fine mist.

The crowd let out a collective gasp as they watched the entity, that was once within Chloe's body, depart. Loud whispers began to reverberate throughout the crowd as Sasha and Lorrie came to Chloe's side, helping to steady their sister on her feet. Once Chloe had re-gained her composure the sisters turned to each other, standing in a triangle, joined hands, and chanted.

"The power of 3 calls upon the matriarch of our clan, Morrigan Clearwater, to send us her blessings of love and joy."

The space between the sisters suddenly filled with a bluish green mist and coalesced into a transparent elegant form of a middle-aged female. The sisters took a startled step back, breaking the triangle their bodies held. Silence filled the magick-charged air when everyone watching caught sight of the new apparition...a vision of pure loveliness.

"Annie?" Charles intoned, his voice filling with a complicated combination of confusion, sadness, and shock.

The specter turned her head to look at Charles and smiled warmly to her former soulmate. In a moment, she re-directed her attention to the initiates and approached the cowering newbies, extending her index finger to draw an invisible cross on each of their foreheads in blessing and smiled warmly.

The vision of Annie then looked to each of her daughters: gently, she caressed Sasha's cheek with the back of her transparent hand. Sasha's eyes welled up in tears as she tried to catch her departed mother's hand with her own but instead felt only the softness of her own skin.

Annie's spirit then placed a reassuring hand on Lorrie's shoulder and smiled at her eldest daughter with pride.

Next, she turned her attention to Stacii, who was standing at the edge of the circle. Annie cast her eyes to the ground in immense shame and turned away. A cry filled with great pain rang out from Stacii's mouth and the very pregnant sister dropped to her knees and wept.

Lastly, the vision came to stand in front of Chloe, who smiled at her with gleeful eyes. She gave her second eldest daughter a look of fun loving passion and placed a hand to Chloe's abdomen, forcing Chloe to tilt her head in question. The specter began to weep tears of joy. A second specter -- this one clearly male -- materialized next to Annie in a swirl of reddish-gold light, forcing Chloe to gasp out in happy, giggly surprise. The male specter smiled knowingly to Chloe as she did to him before turning to look directly at Remy. The male's gazes flittered back and forth between Chloe and Remy several times before smiling broadly at Chloe. He also came to Chloe's side and placed his misty hand on Chloe's abdomen just as Annie had. After a moment, both specters removed their hands, and the male approached Remy. He made to give Remy a pat on the back though the Cajun felt no contact...and, as suddenly as he had appeared, the entity fizzled into nothingness.

Annie now approached Remy, looking fondly into his red eyes, and made to brush a stray strand of hair from his forehead. For the first and only time, Annie spoke out.

"My son...Sharde Shadowwolf...you are the Chosen One!"

Taking one step back, Annie cast a final look over her earth-bound family, favoring them with one last smile, and then she too disappeared into the darkness of the night.

A moment of silence ensued for the sisters as they each silently dealt with having such very special guests for the holiest of festivals. After the girls returned to their positions, Chloe moved to the West and walked the circle like she had in the beginning and, like before, Chloe pounded the ground with her palm and spoke as loud and clear as her being would allow.

"The circle is open but never to be broken.

So mote it be!"

Everyone in the crowds repeated back…"So mote it be!"

Chloe again spoke out.

"We are the people,

We are the power,

We are the change!"

Chloe stood proud, her head held high, as she returned to the middle of the circle, with the crowd before her and the initiates behind her, addressed the spectators.

"The gods have spoke, rejoice with me! I hereby introduce to you by way of their birthright names…"

Chloe paused and pulled Jubes up next to her.

"Skye Starlights."

Chloe then took Kitty's hand and pulled her a step forward.

"Willow Stormcrow."

Chloe lastly came to Remy and beamed ever so proudly. Chloe had Remy step forward with her as she giggled happily.

"Sharde Shadowwolf."

Chloe took a moment to catch her breath before bursting out with great jubilation giggly happiness.

"Merry meet and merry part until we merry meet again! The feast awaits us. Celebrate, dance and enjoy the night air...we welcome all of thee!"

The spectators stayed in silence, not sure if the ceremony was over or not, until Chloe giggled out "Hey Jon-Jon? Baby, what's that about my yabo's?" Then squealed in her ever-infectious girly giggle ways.

Penny laughed hard at her boyfriend as his face burned red before he wantonly strutted straight towards a very naked and dancing with herself Chloe, who was giggling happily.

Remy quickly grabbed Chloe's robe threw it over her then picked her up fast and took her inside in a rush to get her away from his buddy Jon, as did, Logan with Lorrie, Sean with Emma, and Bishop with 'Ro. Leaving the girls, Kitty and Jubes, laughing.

Kurt held Sasha's robe open so she could slip into it. A mischievous, wickedly evil grin spread across Sasha's delicately chiseled features and she took several steps back from her guy.

"C'mon," Kurt urged, "put your robe on before you catch a deathly cold."

Sasha continued to stay silent, just smiling.

Kurt lowered his arms in grim defeat. "Your not gonna put your robe on, are you?"

Sasha slowly shook her head. "Uhh-uhh."

"Pleaze?" Kurt pleaded as his buddies behind him began to snicker.

"Uhh-uhh," Sasha said again before she tore off across the lawn, the evening dew on the grass drenching her bare feet.

Kurt ran after her, Sasha's dark green robe still clutched in his hands. She had a good ten feet on him and would've got away if Kurt hadn't cheated and teleported in front of her. He wrapped his indigo-hued arms around his girl's naked body and the both of them fell to the cold, hard ground in fits of laughter. The pair wrestled for a moment until Kurt came out on top, straddling Sasha's body.

Sasha lifted her head slightly, her wicked grin still present on her face, and whispered. "What? Here? In front of everyone? You are kinky, aren't you?"

Kurt half-laughed, half-scowled and he wrapped Sasha up in her robe before he would even think about letting her up.

------

"Hey everybody, Hank's in the kitchen talking to Chloe! I wonder what about?" Bobby asked, sitting down at the table after throwing the football over to Pyro, who ran off.

"How come she and Hank aren't laughing now?" Jubes said to Sasha.

Sasha shook her head, silently saying that she had no idea herself.

"Lor, why is my sister-in-law Chloe crying?" Logan said as a tearful Chloe ran from the house and into the woods.

Remy came closer to the group, he too catching sight of his girl disappearing into the darkness crying her eyes out.

THE END...to be continued in...Beginning of the End/What A Wonderful X-World