Lately though, I am wondering about the direction my life has taken

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Title: Reflections Chapter 2

Summary: I love X-Treme title. This is just a small work to show what Storm would think of the change that occurred within the friends she left behind and things in general.

As for myself, I am wondering about the direction my life has taken. A fair amount of my life had been spent fighting one villain after another, fighting bigots, living on the run on more than one occasion. After 2 years of tracking down Destiny's diaries I became accustomed to a different kind of life. It is still dangerous but I managed to see what is it like to live in some sort of semblance of normality. I found out that most humans especially outside USA knew very little of mutants. Most of them were willing to learn more and give us a chance.

 We (the team) did fun things together, saw movies, and went to clubs, argued over books and theatre. We actually got along with each other with minimum amount of friction. Spain was something of a new beginning for us; some lost loved ones like Thunderbird some gained each other like Bishop and Rogue.

Those two, who would have thought! They argued a great deal, they still do it fairly often. She - the former terrorist and rogue; he - the law-abiding cop. The more they argued the more they found in common with each other. He taught her to take responsibility for her actions and she in turn taught to be a bit more free and relaxed. Them getting together affected Gambit greatly, although resistant to the idea at first he gradually accepted it. Rogue and him will always love each other and share a great bond but their paths were not meant to be together. Maybe the Bright lady intended it that way.

All this time taught me that there maybe is another way to promote peaceful human-mutant relations. The amount of mutants turning up all over the world has prompted United Nation and several other organizations to start campaigning for laws for mutants as well as organizing relief and support centers for them.  Thanks to our affiliation with Interpol through Bishop and our friendship with high-ranking officials of Spain we have been invited to participate in one of those projects. We have yet to decide on whether to accept it.

To accept the invitation means that we have to leave the mansion yet again, this time probably to never return as X-Men. That bothers me, being an X-Man means more to me than being part of a group of people who try to promote peaceful human-mutant relations, I belong, I am part of one family who loves me, cares for me, picks me up when I am down and cheers me up when I need it most. To leave it again would probably be the most difficult thing I have ever done. Yet the prospect of taking up the invitation thrills me more than I care to admit. I feel that we would better serve the dream of peaceful co-existence by participating in projects such as these rather than fight.

 At least the insurance companies will agree with me on this. The amount of damage inflicted during many of our battles is staggering. That brings me to an odd thought. Does Mr Sinister have insurance? If he does, how would the company get the letter through to him informing him that his premium went up: "Dear Dr Essex…." And how would he claim for his numerous laboratories. I just think he insures his Marauder clones for a hefty sum. One way to get to him, find out what company he is insured with. The idea is so ridiculous that I burst out laughing. Now THAT had startled Jubilee, I did not laugh very often before and it still comes as surprise to some. She carefully topped more Sugar bombs into the plate: "Everything all right Storm? "I just burst into another gale of laughter. "Fine child, just fine."

Next chapter will deal with the consequence of Scott and Emma's escapade. The insurance company idea was just too good to pass up.