Chapter 2

Present

Mystique sits down on a sofa gazing at the fire before her, thinking about the disaster of a reunion that took place a while ago in Egypt. Watching Kurt and Rogue walk away from her made her feel a feeling she had long since forgotten, sadness. Someone tapped her on her shoulder.

"I made you some tea." Irene said sitting down next to her.

"Thank you." She said taking the tea from her hands.

"It's good to have you back. How did you get out of Egypt?"

"I turned into a pilot and flew back to the U.S." She paused. "Did you know that was going to happen?" Mystique asked taking a sip of her tea.

"What, Raven?" Irene questioned.

"What took place in Egypt, about how Apocalypse was released and the near destruction of humankind."

"Yes, I knew. That is why I warned you about Apocalypse, how you and Rogue would be in danger. I envision this before I even met you."

"Then why didn't you warn me or…"

"You know I cannot tell you all my visions. Something's are just meant to be."

Mystique sighed and looked away. If she had gotten more info about what was going to happen Kurt and Rogue wouldn't hate her as much as they do now. She had to accept this was fate and there was nothing she could do.

"I know what happened between you and your children. You must be upset seeing them just leave you like you were not important." Irene said sipping her tea.

"What do you mean?" Mystique chuckled like there wasn't a problem.

"You can't trick me in believing like you're not hurt by what they said."

"Maybe a little, but I deserved it. I'm not exactly mother of the year." She tried to make light of what happen, but Irene could see right through her act.

"You still have a chance. Well, maybe not with Rogue you would have to give her some time, but Kurt…"

"What about Kurt? Kurt hates as much as Rogue does." Mystique interrupted.

"He doesn't hate you, maybe dislike, but not hate. He is confused. He doesn't know to love you his biological mother or hate you his enemy. You can still get him back."

Mystique didn't respond for a while. She wanted him back since she lost him, but seeing him after all these years and how happy and content he is she didn't want to jeopardize it. She didn't want to disappoint him time after time because of who she was now, the leader of his enemies. Deep down inside she wanted him still to be the son she once had. "How do I get him back?" Mystique asked.

"Talk to him, tell about his past, tell him about family he never met. Tell him the truth." Irene said.

"But what if the truth is something he doesn't want to hear? What if I hurt him even more?"

"Tell him the truth it's the only way to get him back."

Later

A crow flies over the Brotherhood house. Fred is in the kitchen making a sandwich. Toad is by the trashcan, eating flies. Lance is in the living room watching T.V. All of a saddened Mystique burst into the door.

"I'm baack!" She announced. The boys quickly assembled in a line in front of her.

"Mystique you're alive? I thought Rogue…"Fred covered Toad mouth.

"Have you come back to kick Pietro out?" Lance asked.

"Ah, yes Pietro my replacement, where is that low down traitor anyway?"

"With Magneto, spending quality time." Fred said jokingly.

Magneto gets his children back, but I can't. Mystique thought.

"Sorry to disappoint you boys, but I came to pick up some things I left behind." She head up the stairs. "I should hope everything is still intact."

She enters her room to see a huge portrait of Pietro on the wall above the bed. She went to her walks over to her old closet which is now full of Pietro's clothes. She steps over his piles of clothes to the far end of the closet. She pulls off the wallpaper to reveal a safe made out of adamantamin. She unlocks it. There are two photo albums and a cash box inside; she takes out the dark purple one marked Shaffer Familie

Next Chapter: Mystique confronts Kurt.

Action takes place in chapter 4