Prologue – The Dust Settles

Katherine "Kitty" Anne Pryde sat quietly, leaning back into her leather seat as the engines of the S.H.I.E.L.D Helicopter that she sat in began to start up. Her hair was still in the long ponytail that had become her trademark, falling down to the middle of her back with a few strands framing her face. Her baby blue eyes were slightly wet with tears as she remembered the events of only the last few hours.

She had taken this helicopter to Mexico, along with several other young mutants, to be a part in saving the world from the mutant known as Apocalypse. There was Sunspot, Havok, The Scarlet Witch, Angel, and herself, going up against the Mutant Master of Magnetism, Magneto. She was knocked out during the fight, clipped by a piece of Sentinel debris that hit her square in the back. As her mind faded from consciousness, she thought with a level of horror that she might die, here and now, years before she was supposed to because she did what was right.

Suddenly, though, she felt the ground shake. It was too concentrated to be a natural earthquake, but too strong to be a simple tremor. As she stirred from the feeling, looking up ever so slightly, she heard the loud grunt that usually came with such a tremor before looking at the boy she knew was in front of her, her boyfriend for a couple of months and the boy she shattered with only four words.

Lance Alvers, AKA Avalanche

When she first met the older orphan boy in their old town of Northbrook, Illinois, it was a complete chance of fate. She had just discovered her "phasing" ability to pass through solid objects the previous night, and had just begun to get used to using it. Some jerks from their old school pushed her into her locker, making her panic as he realized that she was locked in. Coincidentally, Lance was passing by as well and was using spray paint to paint graffiti on the lockers. Naturally, she tried harder to break out when she heard him and accidentally phased, falling through the locker and right into Lance.

She grinned as she remembered the first time she saw him, with a streak of red paint across his face and eyes wide as he first saw her. He was a kid from the rough side of the tracks, defiantly, with torn jeans and a brunet mullet. Even still, there was an odd sort of attraction to him. His chocolate brown eyes had warmth there, inviting her in as if actually pulling her along. His brown hair was thick and just a bit messy, looking rough and tangled and just begging for her to run her hands through it. He was unquestionably older and taller, maybe sixteen or seventeen, and stood a good foot over her. His baggy black shirt couldn't hide everything that was underneath, either, and she could see faintly the sharp outlines of his muscles on his abdomen and chest. He revealed that he was also a mutant soon after, being able to create earthquakes and tremors, and told her that he could help her control her abilities.

Despite her fears, she played along only to be used for the rough orphan's own personal ends. Soon after, she moved to Bayville, New York and enrolled in the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters before learning that Lance had enrolled with the school's rivals, the Brotherhood of Bayville. They constantly fought against each other, with the Brotherhood making a mess and the Xavier Institute's students, called the X-Men, picking up the pieces. Despite this, her and Lance inevitably grew closer.

Kitty turned her head, looking out the window of the helicopter as memories of the two of them flowed through her brain.

She remembered her and Lance together in chemistry class, learning how to make a stink bomb. It ended up blowing up in their face quite literally, and she ended up with its unattractive odour no matter how many showers she took. Lance didn't seem to mind, though, and still hung around her. Although, it could've just been the fact that he stinked, too.

Then there was the first time he saved her life, at a school soccer game when the Brotherhood announced the existence of mutants. While the X-Men and the Brotherhood fought afterward, Kitty was trying to save innocent bystanders. The golden-coloured hawk statue that served as their school mascot was lodged into another building during the fight, and was beginning to get loose and fall right on top of her. Just as it began to fall, Lance abandoned his fight with Scott and pushed her out of the way, getting pinned and nearly crushed by the statue in the process. She phased him out from underneath, of course, but she was still pretty shocked that he'd do that for her. They ended up dating soon after.

Later after that, Lance even abandoned the Brotherhood and joined the X-Men for her. She remembered how he looked in his New Recruit uniform, and how he would cause trouble with the other New Recruits. She smiled as she remembered their Water Safety class, how he dove in and pushed Samuel Guthrie AKA Cannonball out of the way, just to "save" her when he was supposed to "save" Rogue. He got a mouthful from Scott about how he "drowned" two people, and his only reply was: "Yeah, but look who I rescued!" Kitty also found out about Lance's fear of flying, based off of his ability to cause tremors, and the look on his face when he found out she knew. Although he ended up leaving the X-Men because of his rivalry with Scott, she gave him a kiss on the cheek for his effort and they left on good terms.

And then there was the Sadie Hawkins Dance, their first and only official dance together. She smiled warmly as she remembered Lance in his dress shirt and suit, the first few buttons unfastened. His hair was in its usual mullet, and he wore a nice set of dress shoes that actually looked like they were shined. She herself wore a dark blue dress with a purple necklace and earrings. Her hair was up in a fancy bun that looked like it took forever to do, and she wore high-heels that were the same blue as her dress. Granted, creatures that came from the dimension Kurt travels through when he teleports ruined the entire dance, but it was fun while it lasted.

And lastly, the worst memory of all, she remembered the night that he betrayed her, and that she shattered his heart in return. They were still in a fight after Mystique blew the institute, so they hadn't really talked again after that night. Even then, she could tell that the confrontation hit him hard and although he wasn't outright rude to her, he was obviously still upset.

Kitty rubbed her eyes as she remembered that night. She had spent many nights afterward crying over it, and hadn't spoken to Lance since until she asked for his help in fighting Magneto. After what happened, she wasn't surprised that he refused at first. She wasn't even that angry with what he said or did, but more about what she said. She saw the conditions they were living in and she heard how they all had to live with Pietro in charge. She honestly trusted Lance enough to know that he wouldn't want to attack her and the X-Men, and that there had to be an ulterior motive. What she said to him, on the other hand, was inexcusable. It kept echoing in her mind along with the fresh pain of regret every time she thought of him.

"This is the real you, isn't it! You're nothing but a hood!"

"I don't even know why I said it!" Kitty thought sadly. "Even if I said the first thing I thought of, I never would've snooped that low! It's like 'What the hell's going on' was lost halfway to my mouth!"

"Kitty?"

Kitty turned sharply to see Lance. His warm brown eyes looked slightly bloodshot, but not too noticeable. His brunet hair was in its usual messy mullet, and his was still clothed in his Brotherhood uniform. His self-fashioned Avalanche costume was red and black, reinforced with steel on the chest area and the shoulders. His helmet was tucked under one arm, its transparent plastic making it seem more like a fruit bowl than a helmet. The battle uniform was skin-tight, leaving very little to the imagination as she saw his toned abdomen and biceps through the clothing.

"Hey..." Kitty said with a sigh, looking back out the window while Lance sat across from her.

"Hey..." He said quietly, looking down as he sat.

There were a couple of minutes of silence, each trying to compose their thoughts and figuring out the best things to say to the other.

"So how do we do this?" Lance asked, still looking down

"I dunno..." Kitty admitted with an embarrassed smile. "I usually focused on my grades back in Northbrook, and my parents were never really thrilled with the idea of me dating. Just being overprotective, I guess..."

"They sound like good parents..." Lance said quietly.

They stayed silent for another couple of minutes, trying to figure out their next moves. It was if the entire conversation was a minefield, with one false move threatening to blow the entire conversation up.

"I'm sorry..." Kitty whispered, turning to Lance with glassy eyes.

"What?" He asked with a chuckle.

"I said I'm sorry!" She said a little louder, tears running down her face as she looked at him more intensely. "I'm so sorry, Lance! I said something completely mean that night in the parking lot, and I totally regret it! I don't even know why I said it, y'know? I'd never stooped that low, even if I did say the first thing in my head! I-I was just so mad and I was stupid and I-I-"

"Kitty, I tried to get you and your friends expelled..." He said. "I know why you did it, and I get that you were mad. If it were me, I'd be pretty ticked off, too..."

"Why did you do it, Lance?" She asked. "Try to get us expelled, I mean? Mystique didn't give you the orders because she was in Area 51, and teaming up with Duncan Matthews, of all people..."

"I know..." He said, visibly grimacing. "I-I was against it at first. As much as I hate Summers, I wasn't really out for revenge. Mystique wasn't a really good boss to work for when she was mad, so I guess Summers kinda did me a favour. I understand why he did it, too, cause she blew up the mansion, so it was justifiable..."

"Yeah?" Kitty prompted. "So what changed?"

"Mathews offered us cash…" Lance said, looking ashamed. "Y'see, I didn't talk 'bout it much, but Mystique usually paid the bills as long as we followed through with her plans. It wasn't much, but it put food on the table, y'know? So, when Summers trapped her in Area 51..."

"Oh my God..." Kitty said with a gasp. "Lance, I'm so sorry... I never could've guessed-"

"It's not your fault..." He said quietly. "Back when he trapped her, I wouldn't have complained if it wasn't for the fact that she took care of the groceries. None of us has SSNs, so we couldn't get jobs to try starting over. I tried to warn you about when they first used Wanda at the mall, but I honestly didn't know she'd blow up the mansion. From what little she told us, she was counting on everyone being locked outside the mansion, not having the New Recruits locked inside it. Even then, I had to side with her …"

"Why didn't you stay at the institute?" She asked. "The Professor would be fine with it, I think..."

"Remember the last time I tried staying over there?" He asked. "I was still too big a change for them, let alone putting up with the others. They'd rather starve than team up with the 'enemy' anyways and I'm sure that Kelly would've found another way to get at ya if we just said no..." Lance frowned. "Kelly, that rat bastard... and to think that people might be voting for that bastard as our mayor, too..."

"Kelly..." Kitty whispered irritably. "He tried to have you do his dirty work through Duncan, and then got you expelled because we couldn't be. So you really didn't want to do it?"

"Of course not!" He said sincerely. "School's pretty much the only time I get to see you, except when we're fighting, and the night we broke up in that parking lot…It was a real nightmare for me too, Kitty. I'd never want either of us to go through that kinda hurt. I only did it because we really needed the cash..."

Lance smiled sheepishly. "...And to see Summers get his ass handed to him..."

"Lance Alvers!" She screeched playfully with a smile. "What am I going to do with you?"

"Forgive me?" He whispered hopefully. "The past few weeks have been hell, and I can't stand ya being mad at me..."

"You're forgiven" She said with a bright smile, rubbing his cheek with a hand as she rested her head on his shoulder. "You just did the wrong thing for the right reasons. I still don't get why you helped us after brushing me off, though..."

"Magneto and Mystique are cruel enough when they're themselves, let alone when they're possessed..." Lance said. "I realized that I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if you got hurt..."

"Lance..." She whispered, stroking his cheek. "I'm like, really sorry, y'know? I totally should've gotten the full story before like, giving you the cold shoulder. I mean, you did warn me about Wanda and I know you wouldn't try to kill the New Recruits after spending time with them when you were at the mansion. Not to mention, the entire thing with Duncan…I'd never expect you to starve yourself or the rest of the Brotherhood for me. I really shouldn't have jumped on your case when it happened..."

"It's okay, Pretty Kitty..." He said. "You were mad for a good reason, and you didn't really have a lot to go on. There wasn't any reason you should've known why we did it."

She grinned. "Speaking of New Recruits, Jamie misses you a lot, ya know?" Kitty whispered quietly. "I think that you're the only one who doesn't treat him like a baby."

"He's a good kid..." Lance said, stroking her hair lightly. "I never had a little brother, but it's cool that he looks up to me and stuff. He actually reminded me of myself when I was little."

"You better be careful, though." She whispered playfully with a giggle. "He tried asking me out to that Descanso Rivets concert just before Rogue had her power surge. He got a tux from Roberto, a corsage, everything. I think he was getting hopeful when we broke up..."

"Well then he better look out..." He growled back, only half-kidding. "Nobody moves in on my girl, even when we do break up for a while..."

Kitty smiled, nodding before turning serious again. "So, what happens now? I mean, we're still enemies, I guess, and I don't think that it'll work as long as we are. Magneto and Mystique will be back, you'll have to fight us, and we'll just end up breaking up again. Is it really worth it?"

"I don't know, Kitty…" He said with a shake of his head. "All I know is that I like you more than I ever liked anyone and that I'd love a second chance with you. I never expected to need you so badly... "

"I guess that's my answer..." She said with a smirk, kissing his cheek and hugging him desperately. "I'm so sorry, Lance. I know I'm like, totally sounding like a broken record, but I don't know what else to say, y'know? I'm just really sorry..."

"It's okay, Pretty Kitty..." He said with a smirk "You know I can't be mad at the valley-girl from back home for long..."

"Damn it..." She muttered into his chest. "I can't believe I, like, totally started speaking like that again. I haven't used a misplaced 'like' or 'totally' for months, and it all comes crashing down within minutes..."

"It's alright, Pretty Kitty..." He said, leaning close. "Besides, I think it's pretty cute..."

Kitty blushed. "Like...Thanks. And Lance?"

"Yeah?" He asked.

"You're not a hood..." She said with a sad grin. "I'm so sorry I said that..."

"Kitty..."

"And you are good enough for me..." She continued, hugging him tightly. "I missed you so much..."

"I missed you too, Pretty Kitty..." He whispered, kissing her forehead as his arms wrapped around her small body.

They sat there for a few minutes, simply registering the words just exchanged before Kitty suddenly spoke up.

"Hey, y'know what?" She suddenly said, looking around. "It's, like, pretty convenient that we got paired in the same chopper without anyone else, y'know? I mean, no one else is here to bother us or complain..."

"Uh...yeah..." He said, not looking at her but shifting his eyes nervously. "This was completely random...no outside influence whatsoever..."

"Oh, really?" She said with a grin and a raised eyebrow as she poked his chest with a delicate finger. "That right there sounded a bit suspicious..."

"Well it worked, didn't it?" He asked with a grin. "I mean, no Summers to lecture us, no Brotherhood to annoy us..."

Kitty giggled, snuggling in closer to him. "Like, whatever, Lance..."

The two snuggled closer as the helicopter landed along with another in front of the Mansion of Professor Charles Francis Xavier, known better as the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters.

Kurt "Nightcrawler" Szardos Wagner was sitting quietly within his own S.H.I.E.L.D Helicopter, head down and thinking quietly to himself. Beside him was the man known simply as Logan, also known as the X-Man Wolverine, trying to ignore Kurt's obviously distracted mind. The boy known as Scott "Cyclops" Summers was asleep after the major time zone change, and Rogue was similarly asleep on Kurt's shoulder, leaving the two alone to their thoughts.

"Penny for ya're thoughts, Elf?" Logan said with a grin, looking towards the blue, furry mutant. "It looks like it hurts, thinkin' that much"

Kurt looked up, his golden eyes sharp as always. "Ja, Logan" He said, his German accent thicker than usual. "I just have a lot on mien mind..."

"Wanna talk 'bout it?" Logan asked.

"Nien..." Kurt said with a slow shake of his head. "I do not vant to trouble you vith my own problems."

"No trouble with talkin' to someone, Elf..." Logan said, patting his free shoulder with a hand. "This 'bout Half-Pint?"

Kurt closed his eyes, raising his head and sighing in exasperation. Ever since he'd ever laid eyes on the beautiful brunette blue-eyed angel of a teenage girl known as Katherine "Kitty" Anne Pryde, Kurt had done everything he could to at least be near her. They usually followed a routine, Kurt occasionally flirting with her while she complained about his ravenous appetite and his fur-shedding, and they had become good friends, comforting each other, joking with each other, and doing things that a typical best friend would do despite his wishes that it could be more. However Kitty had fallen for Lance Alvers, unofficial leader of the Institute's rivals, the Brotherhood of Mutants, and code-named Avalanche after his ability to cause tremors and earthquakes. As much as Kurt hated to admit it, Lance seemed to genuinely care for Kitty and she seemed really happy with him. He also reasoned that Kitty would never see him beyond a best friend after how she first reacted to the real him, and he couldn't bear to lose her completely in his life. It would be better for him just to guarantee that he wouldn't lose her, even if she was strictly a good friend to him.

So Kurt tried to move on, take his mind off of her by finding other girls and convince himself that it was best that they weren't dating. It was difficult and it hurt like hell for him to pull it off, but he eventually found other girls he could relate to. He was first attracted to the Institute's wild child, Tabitha Smith, AKA Boom-Boom, because they were both pranksters. They went to a carnival in Bayville together despite being grounded, until her father's criminal activities caused her to leave the institute and join the Brotherhood. Then he started to date another person he liked, Amanda Stefton, who was a normal human from Bayville High. Despite knowing what he really looked like, Amanda was brave enough to ask him to the Sadie Hawkins dance and they'd been a couple ever since. Even after her parents banded Kurt from seeing her after the fiasco at her house involving Todd Tolensky, AKA Toad, she snuck out and dated him behind their backs. He didn't know why, but there was something very familiar about Amanda, something he couldn't quite place.

Kurt would admit that he did like Tabitha and that does like Amanda in a romantic way, but that he was still head-over-heels for the girl who can walk through walls the entire time. And now, everything was just so complicated. In his attempts to let Kitty be with her "Prince Charming", Kurt had started dating the wrong girl and so when Kitty and Lance broke up, he couldn't bear to confess that he was using another girl. After S.H.I.E.L.D communications sent word after the battle that the infamous Brotherhood of Bayville, almost defiantly including Lance, had arrived in Mexico, Kurt feared that his window of opportunity was up. Kitty would forgive Lance and end up with him again, leaving him high and dry.

"Elf?" Logan said, drawing his attention again.

"Vas?" He asked.

"Is. This. About. Kitty?" He repeated, this time slightly more slowly and emphasizing to get the point across. "And pick your words carefully, Elf, 'cause I'll know if you're lyin' to me..."

Kurt sighed. "Ja..." He said, looking over to him. "Ja, it's about Keety"

"Why don't ya just talk to 'er?" He asked. "Y'know, besides the fact that ya got a girl and that she probably got back together with Shakedown back there..."

"Zat's all the reason I need, Logan..."The blue, furry mutant said. "She vants to be vith Lance und she's happy vith him. Zat's all zat matters to me..."

"Ya know it won't work out..." Logan said with a sigh. "Why dontcha' just talk to 'er? It'd spare 'er the heartbreak, and you yare sanity. Not to mention the fact that ya're leading that Amanda girl along..."

"Vhy do you care?" Kurt said, looking up at him. "Shouldn't you be keeping anyone from seeing her? Vhy are you encouraging me?"

"It's cause I can smell ya, Elf..." Logan said with a smirk. "Ya aren't like most guys are with 'er. Granted, Shakedown feels somethin' for 'er beyond hormones, but it ain't real, genuine love. You care enough to be content with 'er bein' happy. That shows she'd be happier with you, and that ya care for 'er, so ya might as well give it a shot..."

Kurt sighed. "Sometimes, you have to settle for second best. I have her as a good friend and I von't mess vith a good zing..."

"Besides..." He thought. "Zere's no proof that they're back together again. She could've just brushed him off, or he might've not even tried to apologize. Anything could've happened..."

Kurt glanced out the window, grimacing when he looked through the window of the helicopter directly across from him. He could see Kitty, her small body cuddled up to Lance's larger form, seemingly fitting together flush against one another. She was smiling contentedly, her eyes looking upward towards his before shifting down and spotting Kurt's own across from the helicopter she was in. Kitty raised one, slender hand to wave to Kurt with a giggle and Kurt blushed as he waved back. He then simply placed his blue, furry, three-fingered hand on the glass, closing his eyes and wishing it was him she was cuddling with. Only, he knew she'd never like someone who looked like him, with elfish ears, blue fur, disfigured hands and feet, and a verdamnt tail...

"Vhy vould she even consider liking me as more zan a friend..." He thought sadly to himself. "...vhen I look like ziz?"

"I know what you're thinkin', Elf..." Logan said, turning to him. "I gotta say you have the worst self-esteem issues I have ever seen."

"Thanks for zat..." Kurt said with a role of his eyes.

"I'm serious, Kid!" Logan said, leaning over a bit. "I know ya all have folks, but I can't help but feel like you're my own kids sometimes. You're not gunna have the inducer forever, and when ya don't, you won't be able to wear them monk robes like ya did when ya got here. You worry too much about what ya look like and what other people will think if they see the real you."

"Vouldn't you?" Kurt asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm not sayin' I wouldn't, I don't know 'cause I'm not in yare postion..." Logan said. "I'm just sayin' that one of these days, that fancy watch ain't gunna be there to hide ya, and ya're gunna have to live without it"

"I'll cross zat bridge vhen I get zere..." Kurt said with a sigh, turning towards the window again

Professor Charles Francis Xavier sat in his wheelchair within the helicopter, his fingers crossed as his

mind calculated tirelessly. As one of the most powerful telepaths on the planet as well as a source of confidence towards his many students, Charles had learned the potential benefits of keeping secrets from those who would either not know or not understand the risks of such information. He had also known the risks of such sensitive data being unleashed towards the wrong people, as well as the consequences of such. He had learned terrible, almost traumatic events that had transpired without most knowing of it, even during childhood when dealing with his bullying half-brother, Cain.

Charles had never had an inner debate quite like this.

While enslaved by Apocalypse, Charles had been able to use his powers and pierce into Apocalypse's mind. While Apocalypse was an extremely formidable omega-class mutant vastly more powerful than himself, he was not immune to telepathic intrusion, especially if said telepath was linked to him. As a result, Charles had savaged memories from his mind that had practically rewritten every theory on the origin of mutants he had developed, revealing the true origin of Homo Superior. Now, he had an inner debate on whether to remain silent, or to reveal the truth and crush any rights that mutants might have as a naturally-occurring species.

"Professor?"

Charles pushed a small joystick on his wheelchair, turning it around to see one Jean Grey, green eyes shining with concern, red hair neat as always. Charles was particularly concerned also with how Jean's telepathy and telekinesis had evolved so much quicker the past several years. She had even been able to overpower himself during the battle with Apocalypse, admittedly with the assistance of a newly developed wireless Cerebro, and he had even sensed the presence of another entity within Jean herself briefly during the fight. Charles secretly knew that Jean was far more powerful than she appeared, but it almost seemed like there was something more than just genetics at work. All this ran through his mind within seconds as he answered her.

"Ah, Jean..." Charles said with a warm smile. "You wish to talk to me about something?"

"I just wanted to let you know that everyone's accounted for." Jean said, sitting down beside him. "The others went in separate copters, but S.H.I.E.L.D personnel count that no-one was lost during the attack. Beast's team will rendezvous with us back at the mansion, as will Kitty's"

"This is good news, though not unexpected..." Charles said, reclasping his hands together. "Apocalypse would not want to spill any mutant blood if he could help it, although he would if pushed too far. He would only want to temporarily eliminate the threat, enough to keep us from stopping him"

"How do you think the media will present this?" Jean asked

"I do not know..." Charles said with a shake of his head. "While we did save humanity from Apocalypse, the crisis was technically created by a mutant itself, though admittedly an ancient one with whose actions we have no control over. This incident can be seen within both a positive and negative light regarding Mutants as a species. We will have to wait to see what happens."

"That's comforting..." Jean said, slumping in her chair. "The world might thank us for saving it, or they might blame it all on mutants anyway"

"You seem tired..." Charles said with a curious look. "I couldn't help but notice the power fuelling your attack during our brief fight. It would certainly be difficult to overpower a telepath such as myself during a telepathic battle."

"I dunno..." Jean said, raising a hand to her forehead. "It felt like...almost like there was something else there helping me during the fight..."

"It's normal for telepaths to feel 'worn out' when they overexert themselves mentally" Charles said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Try not to use your telepathy too much for a couple of days, understood? We wouldn't want you to strain yourself with the effort of using it."

"Alright, Professor..." Jean said, getting up. "I'm gunna go lie down for a bit and clear my head."

"That's a good idea" The Professor said with a nod. "The time zone change has no doubt caused you fatigue. Rest up and we'll be back at the mansion in a few hours"

Jean nodded and left, leaving Charles alone with his thoughts as he looked out the window to see the barren landscape below.

Doctor Henry "Beast" Phillip McCoy sat back in his seat with a small sigh, removing his glasses to rub the bridge of his nose with the thumb and forefinger of his right hand. Despite all the plans, measures and counter-measures that the X-Men and S.H.I.E.L.D. had place, he still hadn't expected to survive once they made it to China. Yet here he was, heading back without any casualties whatsoever in terms of his team, with Storm safely asleep under Spyke's careful watch and the rest simply talking as if nothing happened at all.

"Mister McCoy?"

Hank turned to see one Robert Drake, AKA Iceman, as he walked towards him.

"Ah, Bobby!" Hank said, putting his glasses back on and gesturing for Bobby to sit beside him. "Some fight, eh?"

"Yeah, it was pretty intense..." Bobby said. "I didn't think we'd make it there for a second, to be honest..."

"Neither did I, to tell the truth..." Hank said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I was impressed on how well you performed during the battle. You seem to be getting better control of your abilities every day..."

"Yeah, no more freezing in my sleep..." Bobby said with a grin. "I'm sure Sam's thrilled that I'm not chilling up the room at night..."

"No doubt..." Hank said with a chuckle. "We'll be coming up into United States Airspace any minute now..."

"Finally!" Bobby said with a sigh. "I swear, my sleep schedule will be messed up for weeks now!"

"I'm sure you'll find a way to make it up now, without school..." Hank said, smiling as he activated the communicator fit securely around his ear. "Charles! Are you there?"

"I'm here, Hank." The Professor's voice responded from the communicator. "We report no casualties, and so do the other teams. We'll meet you at the mansion."

"Will do." Beast said, deactivating it. "He's on his way to the mansion."

"So, did you hear from Rahne or Jubes before we left?" Bobby asked, almost too eagerly.

"I'm sorry, Bobby, but I haven't..." Hank said, shaking his head. "I haven't heard from either of them besides the e-mails that young Jubilation has been sending you, and the ones Rahne have been sending to Sam."

Bobby's face twisted into one of disappointment as he looked down at his feet, sighing heavily.

"Don't worry, Bobby..." Hank said, patting his shoulder. "I'm sure both of them will be back..."

"Right…" Bobby said, turning away from him.