Time for a new story! I'm a lot happier with this one then my last two, but you guys let me know what you think so far. This chapter isn't to exciting and the next one goes a lot more into the two. It'll be better. Anyway I've added some of my own characters into the mix. Tony who I like to picture as Robert Downey Jr. Sophie who you can portray anyway you'd like. Lily, who you can also portray anyway you'd like and I think that's it.

Nikita is my lovely new female lead. I can't think of any actress to compare her to, but I explain her a good bit in this chapter. There are some similarities between her and Brooke (Who you know if you've read my other stories) but they aren't the same person. Nikita's harder, darker, and more deeply troubled.

This story will contain cutting, attempted suicide, anorexia, mentions of rape, torture and more. This chapter's pretty light hearted, but it won't stay that way.

Disclaimer: I do not own X-men, etc...

The day we met
Frozen, I held my breath
Right from the start
Knew that I found a home
For my

Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?

Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me.

She woke up to a the sound of a yelp followed by a loud crash. She jumped up, claws out. With there obviously being no immediate danger, she cursed and slid her claws back in. She got up and stretched out, walking to the door to see what the noise was about.

She was pissed because she had finally fallen asleep at some point during early hours of the morning, only to be woken when a few hours later. She flung the door open violently and glared.

There was Tony and Scott lugging (or trying to lug) a rather large pool table. As the door flew open, they both froze and looked at her.

She looked at the broken glass on the floor that they had apparently knocked over, then looked at them a moment before raising an eyebrow and leaning against the door frame, watching with her arms crossed. Although she had woken up annoyed, she now found herself amused by the sight in front of her.

They looked at her a second longer, then at each other, then back at her. Tony looked like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar and tried to cover it with a boyish innocent grin. "Uhhh, we were just umm..."

"Waking up the entire mansion." she offered.

"What? No, of course not." he said, mock innocently. "We were just... putting this in the game room. You know... for the kids."

"Right, the kids. I'm sure." she said sarcastically. Her and Tony had always gotten along. Sarcasm was a way of communication with them. Her and Scott however, had their days. They could get along really well sometimes. Other times were more like, well now.

Scott looked at her. "It's nearly ten o' clock anyway. What are you sleeping for?"

Her eyebrows went up and she cocked her head at his tone. "Excuse me?"

Scott looked worried now. "Never mind. We'll be out of here in a few minutes."

She rolled her eyes at him and turned to go back in her room. "Fantastic." she said, tonelessly, before shutting her door.

She went to her bed and flopped down with a groan, knowing she wouldn't be able to go back to sleep. Sleep wasn't something that came easy, ever since the lab. The nightmares kept her up, or left her waking up screaming or in a panic. They had been getting worse lately and she wasn't sure why, but she sure as hell wanted to get a full nights sleep.

She lied there for about half an hour before there was a knock on her door. She sighed, but made no move to get up.

"Who is it?"

"Tony." he said, walking in the room.

Niki rolled her eyes as he walked in, uninvited. "Sure, come on in."

He sat down on the bed. "You alright, Nik?"

She nodded. "Yeah, just tired is all."

He looked as if he didn't believe her but left it alone. "The Professor wants to know how long you're staying."

"I don't know. A few more days, I guess."

She was always on the move. Never stayed in one place for long. She couldn't stand being tied down. Feeling like she couldn't leave. She needed freedom, and everyone in the mansion accepted that. She was a member of The X-Men, but only when she was here. There had been a few occasions where the professor had called her, asking for her help and she had obliged, but only when necessary.

"Well he wants us all in his office. Something about a new guy."

"Like a kid?"

"I don't think so. He said something about him maybe being a part time member of the team. Said he needed some help remembering some things, or something." He pat her leg than made his way out of the room. "Be down there in 15."

Fifteen minutes later her, Scott, Jean, Storm, Beast, Sophie, Tony, Gambit, and Colossus sat in the professors office.

She sat between Tony and Gambit, and leaned back on the couch.

"I called you all here for a reason," the professor said. "We have a new member coming in today. His name is The Wolverine."

Niki's brows came together, and she leaned forward. "I've heard of him." she said thoughtfully. "He makes his way across the country cage fighting in bars."

Everyone looked at her. She just shrugged. "What?"

Jean crossed her arms. "And how do you know that exactly?"

"Because Jean, I also cage fight at some of those bars." she said matter of factly.

Jean looked appalled. "You shouldn't be cage fighting in bars. What kind of an example are you setting for the children?"

"It's not like I'm encouraging the kids to go out to a bar and fight. They don't fucking know what I do when I'm not here." she said, leaning back into the couch.

Jean muttered something about watching her language, but Niki turned her attention back to the professor. "So, what's he doin' coming here?"

"He wishes for me to read his mind. He seems to have trouble remembering anything past fifteen years ago. He also has remarkable healing powers, much like yours, Nikita. I also believe he was in a lab. Much like you."

"Does he age?" she asked, intrigued.

"Doubtful, considering his healing abilities. We will find out more when he arrives. Jean, Storm, I will need the two of you to prepare a room for him."

Jean and Storm stood. "Of course. There's one in the west hallway. We'll put him there."

Niki new the room they were talking about. It was just about five down from hers.

"Very good. He will be arriving around two. Tony if you would be so kind as to show him around?"

"Sure thing, Chuck."

"You all may go now."

A few hours later, Niki was coming from the back stables when she heard a motorcycle pull up. She looked over as he was getting off. Her breath caught and she stopped a minute, watching him.

He was tall and built. Very built. In fact he looked to be all muscle. His hair was tousled from the wind, and he ran a hand through it, trying to tame it. He had mutton chops and facial hair that a lot of people couldn't pull off, but on him it looked beyond sexy. His jeans were tight, as was his flannel shirt.

He turned and saw her and his breath caught. He cocked an eyebrow and smirked at her, trying to hide it. She looked him up and down before regaining the ability to walk. He thought he saw the smallest hint of a smile as she walked away.

His gaze followed her as she walked to the door. Her hair was long and dark brown with lighter brown strands here and there. She was around 5'7, looked like she weighed maybe 120. She had the slightest exotic look about her, and her skin was beautifully tan. He stared after her a moment, before grabbing his things and going inside.

When he got inside she had disappeared. There didn't appear to be anyone at all. He looked around. The place was huge, and this was just the entrance of it. "Hello?"

He heard footsteps, followed by a man in the door way. "Oh, hey. You're late."

He looked a little confused. "Uh, yeah. I guess."

"I'm Tony." he said, holding his hand out.

Logan extended his and shook Tony's. "Wolverine."

Tony gave him a funny look, kind of expecting his real name. "Riiight, Wolverine. I'll show you your room and around the place, then the professor wants to see you."

"Yeah, okay."

"So where ya' from?" Tony asked, as they started up the stairs.

Logan took a second to answer. He seemed to be taking everything around him in, sniffing the air, listening carefully to all the different noises. Tony remembered Niki doing the same thing when she first came to the mansion.

Finally he answered. "Canada."

"Really. I hear the syrups great in Canada." Tony joked. "What's it like up there?"

"Cold." was all he said.

"O-kayyy." Obviously this guy wasn't much for talking. "Well, here's your room. A few of the X-men stay up here, and some of the teens that have already graduated. I'm the next floor down."

He threw his bag on the bed and looked around the room. "This room is huge."

Tony gave a chuckle. "Everything in this place is huge. We've got rooms way bigger than this. Come on, I'll show you around."

They made their way through the mansion. When they got to the kitchen Tony stopped to grab a drink.

"Got any beer?" Logan asked.

Tony gave a small laugh. "Well we didn't use to, but Niki moved in and fixed that pretty quick. It's in that fridge with the lock." he reached in his pocket and pulled out his keys. "It's the small one." he said, throwing them to Logan.

He pulled out a beer and popped the top. He froze mid drink and sniffed the air. Someone smelt really good. The woman he saw outside walked in. He put his beer down and smirked a little, looking her up and down.

She tried to hide her own smirk, and brushed past him, grabbing a beer, then hopped on the counter next to him.

"Uhhh. Niki this is... Wolverine. Wolverine, this is Niki." Tony said, noticing them staring at each other.

"Wolverine, huh?" she said, looking towards him.

For some reason he wanted to smile. He hid it as best he could, but still had a curious look about him. "The one and only."

"Really?"

"MmmHmm." he growled softly, moving in front of her to stand between her legs.

She raised her eyebrows in question, and tried to hide the chill that ran through her. She wasn't one to let people in her personal space, but she thought she would make an exception. He breathed in and had to fight the need to close his eyes. God, she smelt good.

"Well then... Wolverine. How do you like the place?"

"I'm likin' it pretty good, right now." he said, looking down at her body almost touching his.

Tony cleared his throat, looking around uncomfortable.

Logan took a step back and ran a hand through his hair.

"Alright well, I gotta catch a movie with Sophie." she said to Tony. She turned back to Logan as she hopped off the counter. "See ya around, big guy."

"See ya." he said, grinning.

When she was gone, Tony rolled his eyes. "Pants getting a little uncomfortable there, Wolvie?"

"Very funny." Logan said, unamused. "...Hey, she's a feral isn't she?"

Tony nodded. "Completely. How'd you know that?"

"Her smell. She got a boyfriend?"

Tony let out a laugh. "No. Niki doesn't keep any long term relationships. Doesn't even bring the guys she sleeps with home. Plus she moves around a lot."

He let out a small growl when he mentioned other guys. He blinked in surprise at his own growl. He didn't expect that at all. He didn't even know her.

"Whoa, man. Take it easy." he said laughing, but also looking a little worried. "Come on, let's go see Chuck."

Logan walked in the professors office and walked a round, examining the room.

The professor didn't look surprised to see him. "Ahh, you must be, Logan."

Logan's head snapped over to Xavier. "Wolverine." he said, glaring.

Xavier looked unfazed by Logan's outburst, but Logan smelt a hint a fear crawl into the air. "My apologies. Wolverine."

"So can you help me with this?" Logan cut right to the point.

"I'm afraid I won't be able to help you anymore than you can help yourself."

Logan's brows came together in confusion. "What?!" He was going to get worked up fast. It had been a long trip and he could use some sleep. "What the fuck does that mean?"

"I'm also afraid I will have to ask you to refrain from such language around the children. As for helping you, sometimes the mind doesn't want to remember certain things. It tries to serve as a shield, to protect us from things we would most likely prefer to forget. If that is the case here, my assistance would be of little help. What is it you remember exactly?"

Logan sighed and started pacing. It was making Xavier nervous and he knew it, but he couldn't stay still. Not right now, anyway.

"Not much. Just flashes of these... people. And.." He didn't know if he didn't finish because he didn't want to tell Xavier, or if he just didn't know how to explain it. "Listen Wheels, I'm just gonna get to know the place. We'll talk later."

"Whenever you're ready to talk, Wolverine."

When Logan left the office, he walked around the mansion taking everything in. The noise was practically non-stop, but considering it was a school that was to be expected. He wondered around outside, walking through the stables, the garden, and a little around the outskirts of the woods that surrounded the place. It really was huge. The sun was starting to set, and he heard someone call for dinner over the intercoms that the mansion had.

He made his way inside and the smell of burgers and hotdogs hit him. He took a deep breath in smelling them, and let out a satisfied rumble.

"With a growl like that, you'd think you've never smelt burgers."

Logan turned and had to force himself not to jump. It was Niki. People couldn't ever manage to sneak up on him, but she did and she didn't even look like she'd been trying. He didn't even smell her until he saw her. He did his best to hide his surprise. It didn't appear to work though. She smirked knowingly, and walked past him.

Dinner at the mansion wasn't always eaten as a group, but about three nights out of the week, everyone ate together.

She sat next to Gambit and Sophie, grabbing a burger and fries. Logan sat across from her, next to Tony and someone he didn't know.

"Hi," the man next to him said, extending a hand. "I'm Scott. Also known as Cyclops."

Logan eyed his hand a moment, before shaking it firmly. "Wolverine. Also known as Wolverine."

Scott winced slightly at Logan's grip, and Niki had to hold back a chuckle.

"Easy, Wolvie." she joked. "Scott's fragile."

Gambit smiled. "You would know, Cherie."

She rolled her eyes. "Mmm, very funny."

She looked over at Sophie, who had her eyes glued to Logan. "Soph? You okay, there?"

Her gaze didn't move from Logan and when she spoke it wasn't to Niki. "So are you like on steroids or something?" she asked Logan, ignoring Niki.

Even though you couldn't see his eyes, you could tell Scott rolled his. "Oh, come on. He is not that buff."

Niki's eyebrows shot up. "I think your glasses may be fogging up a bit there, One Eye."

Scott opened his mouth to say something, but Allie shot him a glare and he shut it.

Now it was Logan's turn to hold back a chuckle.

Sophie was still looking at Logan waiting for an answer. He looked up at her and shrugged. "I'm just, pretty active I guess."

She was apparently not finished with questioning him. "How long did it take you to grow that facial hair?"

Niki put a hand on Sophie's shoulder. "Okay, I think sharing time is over."

Gambit looked seductively over at Niki, moving his hand up her leg. "Oh but Cherie, I'd love to share with you."

She heard a quiet growl from Logan that she was sure only she could hear. "You know Gambit, I can think of something I'd like to share with you." she said, moving closer to him.

"And what's that?" he said, smiling.

"This." she said, kicking the legs of his chair out from under him. There were several gasps as he hit the floor. She gave a cocky grin and looked down at him. "Ooh. Are you okay? You should really be more careful." she said, innocently.

Gambit looked up, shocked and wide eyed. Logan didn't try to hide his chuckle this time and Tony covered his mouth as he laughed.

Niki sighed. "Well, as entertaining as all of this has been," she said, standing up. "I'm going to take a shower."

Tony eyed her. "Need some help?"

She knew he was joking, but Logan shot him a glare. She could practically see the testosterone in the air.

"If I do, I'll let you know." she said, rolling her eyes. Why were all the men in this place so horny? Before she walked away, she gave Logan a small grin. "See ya, Wolvie."

He shot her a wink and returned the grin. "See ya, darlin."

Logan noticed she didn't touch her food, but nobody seemed to find it odd so he didn't say anything.

\\\ Reviews keep me going! They inspire me and I accept critique where it's needed and even some ideas. Feel free.