Disclaimer: Don't own this, though I wish I did.

Author's Note: Ok, so the last chapter (first chapter) had been written because I had this single scene in mind and I love Tabietro. I was at a loss as to how to continue and where to go with it, so I'm taking it back to its Comic roots, somewhat. Those who have read their Tabitha comics may pick up on the subtle hints I'm throwing out in this chapter but prior knowledge is most definitely not needed. And this chapter may seem rather aimless and pointless but it's essentially setting the scene a bit more and next chapter onwards, there'll be action. As in deaths (past, present or future) kind of action. (Also, I really dislike Jean's character so I'm tempted to completely ignore the ridiculous Dark Phoenix saga. As if she wasn't annoying enough before Phoenix!) Anyway, feedback is always appreciated. I will be giving individual thanks to everyone who reviewed.

Silver Booms In All Their Glory

Chapter II

It was different. She hadn't really thought about what she'd expected but it was different. And she couldn't tell why, for the life of her. The TV was still crummy, the place was still a tip, there were empty pizza boxes lying around and somehow, it still felt different. Maybe that Mystique woman was still around?

She glanced around unsurely, Pietro having disappeared again. As expected. But it would've been nice if he'd stuck around long enough to tell her whether she could have her old room or whether there was somebody staying there.

Either way, it was better than any of the alternatives. No rain, no possible psychos driving around, and, ooh, a massively old piece of pizza. Her stomach was desperate for whatever she could get, so she sat down on the couch, eating the pizza (didn't taste bad, despite being old and cold), staring blankly at the TV.

What felt like minutes later, Tabitha found herself waking up to something poking her. Repeatedly. It took a second for her to realise somebody was poking her and another second for her to form a firebomb in her hands.

"Jeez, calm down Tabby." Came a grumbling reply from behind her. "That's what I get for trying to be nice."

"Speedy?" Tabby tried to brush the rest of sleep away from her mind. She was just too tired and after having had little to eat for so long, that one slice of pizza had been enough to zonk her out. "What's up?" She managed to get out through a large yawn.

"Lady-like as always," Came the drawling reply. "I came to give you this." He shoved a familiar green T-Shirt in her face. He'd had enough presence of mind to realise that Tabby didn't have clothes apart from the wet ones she was wearing, and he managed to make the connection between wet clothes and possible cold. And partially, it was just out of familiar habit. He hadn't expected her to be sleeping so easily...or to be so aggressive when he poked her awake. (Yet another one of those familiar habits that seemed to come far too readily to mind.) He shrugged it off. Tabby had always been way too impulsive and she'd always fancied taking erratic as far as she could. Admittedly, he'd admired her a little for that but it had gotten annoying...and explosive sometimes, courtesy of said erratic behaviour. Either way, it was bedtime for him.

It didn't take Tabby long to change out of her wet clothes and into the big T-Shirt she'd borrowed many times in the past and snuggled back down into the couch. No way in hell was she risking a fight with the infamous Mystique. And she was too sleepy to go upstairs anyway.

When she woke up again, there was fortunately no prodding. Instead, there were distant whispered screams of Gina and Blob sitting in front of her, staring. It would've been a lot creepier if it hadn't happened before many times. As it was, all she did was stretch like a cat, yawn widely and muttered a "what's up"?

"Hey Tabby," Blob smiled slowly. "You're back. When did you get back?"

Tabby blinked at him, once again impressed at how little things seemed to faze him, especially considering the recent past. Mutants out in the open and all out war, and he could still just casually accept that Tabby was living here again. God she loved him sometimes.

"Last night. Miss me?" She smiled cheekily. "What's for breakfast?"

"You might wanna watch out for Wanda." Blob ignored her question. "She's in a bad mood. Again."

"Why?"

"Dunnno," he shrugged. "Probably got something to do with Toad stalking her, though."

And for the first time in weeks, Tabby was laughing a very sincere, slightly manic, loud laugh. It was good to be home, even for such a short while. She could enjoy the recuperation, relax her guards just the tiniest bit before moving on, she decided. She'd stick around for a few days and disappear again. Before things caught up with her. They didn't need that headache – they had enough of a mess of their own to clean up, enough baggage to carry and scars to hide. She knew she'd never really been a good person but she had moments when she was considerate and she decided to milk this one for what it was worth.

"Tabby?" Lance didn't have Blob's skills of taking things as they were. If the shock in his voice wasn't enough to make Tabby snicker, the open-mouthed expression on his face and the cup of coffee now rolling around on the floor were.

So snickering, she batted her eyelashes. "Morning sunshine. I didn't know you'd be so happy to see me." The look on his face was worth it.

"Who're you?"

Tabitha looked up to find who was presumably Wanda. Huh. Blob was right. She looked pissed as hell. Ah well. "Hi, I'm Tabby. Nice to meet you." She grabbed a hand before she could do whatever her superpowers were and gave it a good shake. She was always told to have a good handshake and once in a while, she actually took people's advice.

"Who?"

"Tabby, Tabitha Smith. Also known as Boom Boom." To demonstrate the reason for her nickname, she formed a little bomb in her right hand, a very little one, and threw it in Lance's direction. The yelp that followed her exit told her that her shot was as accurate as ever. Yup, being back at home, pissing off all these guys whenever she felt like it, this was definitely one of the highs in her life. And maybe if she played it right, she could come here again soon. But for now, it was time for a shower. She may have just moved in last night, uninvited (again) and she may not have clothes to change into but she was damned if she'd let these guys use up any hot water they had.

She ignored the angry "Tabby" that was following after her, humming Highway to Hell and dreaming about hot guys in brown leather jackets and devil-may-care smiles when she bumped into Pietro. Not exactly who she'd been imagining but whatever.

"Tabby-it's-really-you-I-thought-I'd-made-it-all-up-last-night-but-you-never-did-tell-me-why-you're-here-so-what-ya-doing-anyway-I-gotta-go-I'm-already-late-for-school-don't-you-dare-leave-without-telling-me-everything-and-get-some-pie-bye." And he was gone as suddenly as he'd appeared. The miracle of it was that she'd somehow understood his top speed words. And onwards for the shower, she thought, picking up Highway To Hell from where she'd left off. It seemed kinda fitting to sing that song, she thought. God knows there's worse places to be with all that anti-mutant sentiment out there and pervs on the prowl. And the Brotherhood wasn't even close to being the worst of the worst. But she was damned if any one of them would end up in heaven after all the crap they did, Lance with his Kitty Kat included. And that's why she loved it here. She fit in. Or used to, anyway, before things had gotten out of hand.

Her smile had disappeared along with her good mood, by the time the shower was on. Yeah, things had changed too much. She'd changed too much. This was home and they were family and that was why she'd have to leave. Soon, she promised herself. Even those damned could have a few moments of peace, right? She did deserve that much still, right? She didn't believe it herself but she was too selfish, too run down right now, too shattered in more ways than one to give up the cold comfort of this home. So yeah, she'd stay for a few days, a week tops, and then blow outta here before anyone could discover what she did and trace it back to here and get these guys into more trouble.

That would've been a good plan if it hadn't already been traced back to her and they weren't already searching for her high and low.