A/N: You see what you're making me do? Another chapter, meaning another night barricaded in the freezing basement. Ah well, as long as you enjoy the story.

Disclaimer: No, I do not nor have I ever owned the X-men or anything associated with Marvel comics… unless it's a few errant action figures or forgotten comics lying under someone's bed.

The Professors Office.

Slowly and carefully, Rogue led the woman to a chair. Sitting her down in front of the Professor, she took the chair to the woman's left. Logan stood guard in the back of the room, never taking his eyes off the stranger. Behind a mahogany desk sat Charles Xavier, staring intently at the foreigner in front of him, fingers steepled in front of him.

The battered and bruised woman's eyes darted around the room quickly, as if searching for all the possible ways out of the space, before finally settling on the girl to her left. The intensity of her stare scared Rogue, but there was something there that she recognized, deep inside she knew this woman meant her no harm.

" Thank you, Hermana," (Sister, translated from Spanish) the woman whispered to her.

These were the first words that Rogue had heard come from the woman's lips. The journey to the Professor's office had been silent, save for the woman's harsh breathing and quiet gasps and Logan's frequent grunts of warning.

Rogue noticed the small musical lilt the woman had to her voice. Where had she heard that accent before? It came to her in an instant. The woman was Irish. Rogue offered her a small smile and opened her mouth to give an answer when the door was opened, allowing three slightly tousled and unkempt X-men into the room. Upon noticing the unknown caller, they became wary and cautious. Attentive and watchful, they moved in to fill up the remaining chairs.

Giving a deep sigh, the Professor unsteepled his hands and leaned back in his chair. He wasted no time.

"Tell me, child, what is your name."

The woman's gaze never left Rogue.

" You can call me Fodhla, and I am no child," the woman answered.

" And what is it you came for?"

"I came for The Lady."

"The Lady?"

"The Princess"

"Princess?"

" The young woman named Rogue, the untouchable one, Anna-Marie D'Ancanto, our people's hope and dreams. Our future leader."

Logan

As soon as they had gotten the woman into the light, Logan gave a small inward groan.

She was young, much too young to lead the life she apparently led. She couldn't be over 21 years of age, but he knew it would be foolish to think of her as a child, she was too dangerous. He looked her over, wincing slightly when he noticed the bruises forming around her neck. He didn't know why, but he felt slightly guilty. Not that he would let it show, she deserved every blow and hit he had administered.

Grunting to remind the stranger he was still there, he followed behind his surrogate daughter, making sure the woman didn't try anything while she was under Marie's protection.

That girl was special to him, he had felt an immediate connection to Marie the moment he had seen her in that bar in Laughlin City those many years ago. He couldn't explain it; it was like their pasts had been intertwined in ways no one could understand. He just knew she needed his protection, and so she became his to protect. Never before had someone had such a hold on him.

Coming out of his reverie, he noticed they had come to the Professors office. Entering and taking his customary spot at the back of the room, he stared at the woman, an odd feeling coming over him. He knew her from somewhere, but where? Perhaps from his forgotten past? No, she was much to young to be from his past, but where?

He shoved aside this thought and focused on keeping the woman in line. He leaned against the wall and waited for the others to arrive.

The Professor's office

She sat there shocked. Her, Rogue, the resident damsel-in-distress, a leader? Wait, what was the word Fodhla had used? Princess? The others looked at her, apparently just as bewildered as she was

The woman was still looking at her, when suddenly Rogue saw fury flash through Fodhla's eyes. Swiftly, the Irish woman turned to face the Professor and hissed at him.

" Nice try, telepath. You want to read my mind? Then read it all."

The Professor gave a small cry of pain and slumped forward onto his desk.

Scott was up in a flash, one of his hands flying to his visor, ready to obliterate the person who had dared hurt the man that was like a father to him. Storm and Jean were not far behind him, standing behind their fearless leader, ready to strike the woman at Scott's signal.

As fast as they were, they were too slow to match the Wolverine, who threw himself at the foreigner with such rage that he stunned the others into inaction.

Apparently, Fodhla was expecting such an attack. Pushing Rogue out of the way, she slid off her chair and landed on her back. Flipping herself over and onto her knees, she just managed to evade the enraged Wolverine that flew over her. Grabbing a hold of the neck of his shirt, she pulled him down to the ground and quickly placed her left knee in the middle of his back. Working as quickly as she could, she placed one of her arms under his right armpit and hooked her hand around his broad neck. She repeated the movement on the other side and bracing herself by placing her knees on either side of his calves, she lifted up. The creak of Wolverine's bones could be heard as she sat down on his knees, causing him to bend backwards.

It was silent except for the loud, hitching breaths from the two combatants.

The strain this little scuffle was putting on Fodhla was evident. The small line of blood had returned to the corner of her mouth, causing small drops to run down her chin and fall on the carpet. Panting, she struggled to get her words out.

" I do not wish to hurt you, I just don't take kindly to people reading my mind. My thoughts are my own, and I wish for you to respect that. You would agree that I am most co-operative unless provoked. Please, I wish for us to finish this on good terms. The old man will be fine in a few minuets, I promise. My mind just over loaded his is all. I will let your friend here go if you promise not to attack me. "

They all looked at the woman currently holding their teammate hostage. Rogue was the first to nod, silently pleading with the rest to agree. Slowly, they all agreed, nodding to the woman.

Fodhla let go of her hostage, backing up from him. The Wolverine speedily got up from the ground and turned to face his adversary, but before he could exact any revenge, her eye's rolled into the back of her head and she fell to the ground.