Sweet Little Lies
Chapter VII: Good Night for Some
By: Michelle
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DISCLAIMER: I don't own the X-men. I just write fanfics for fun.
I will be adding new characters. I will either explain them in the story and/or put a note at the bottom about them. At this point, Hank McCoy AKA Beast is not blue and furry yet. He is still a normal looking human.
I am so sorry I couldn't update in so long. Like I said, Prince of Thieves is my first priority at moment. It just has a few chapters left to go. Once again, I made this chapter super-sized to make up for some of the long updates.
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Graydon stormed down to the sublevels of the F.O.H. main headquarters. It had been a long day for him. He didn't need anymore bad news. Trask better have called me down for something good. He thought as he past through the security scan.
"Senator Creed." Trask greeted as he past the threshold. "I'm glad you finally came."
"What's this about?" Graydon demanded.
"Umm." Trask could tell by the attitude Graydon was giving him that he should choose his words wisely. ""I have some good news and some bad news."
Damnit. "Start with the good news." Graydon sucked in a deep breath and ground his teeth.
"The good news is that our test run was successful the other day." Trask reminded him and then explained. "I am positive I can have the specific mutants captured and contained."
"Good. I'll have a complete list with information for you tomorrow." Graydon replied hiding the excitement in his voice. "I expect them to be obtained immediately."
"Yes, Senator Creed."
"Now what of this bad news."
"The bad news." Trask watched as Graydon narrowed his cold dark eyes on him. "Umm…I'm not sure if they will be able to track humans as well."
"Not sure." Graydon said. "What do you mean not sure?"
"I'm not sure." Trask began to sweat. "My father designed them to infiltrate mutants. I don't think they can…"
"Well you better find out."
"Yes sir."
"Good." Graydon gave him one last cold glare and walked off.
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Gloria Brickman walked softly along the hallway. She peeked through the cracked door of her parents' bedroom to see her mother sleeping. Good. The coast is clear.
She made her way quietly down the rest of the hallway. At the end of the hallway, she stopped and stood in the doorframe watching her father flip through files. He was always busy working. Since he became a Senator, he had been working harder and longer hours. He always brought his work home with him. Work. Work. Work. Work. Work. That's all he seemed to do.
"Dad." Gloria said softly trying to get his attention, but not loud enough to wake her mother.
Ralph Brickman could sense that he was being watched. He turned around surprised that his daughter was up so late. "Gloria, honey. What are you doing up so late?" He said as he took off his glasses and cleaned them with his nightshirt. "You have school in the morning."
"I was thirsty and was on my way to get a glass of water when I saw that you were up." Gloria half lied. Her father was always up this late of night.
"OK." Ralph put back on his glasses. "Why don't you go get you that glass of water and head back to bed? I don't want your mother to have to drag you out of bed tomorrow morning."
"Ok." Gloria nodded. "Dad."
"Yes honey." Ralph smiled at her.
Gloria tucked her long black hair behind her ears. "Can I talk to you about something?"
"Sure, what is it?"
"It's about Mom." Gloria replied. "She's been acting really weird lately…"
"Gloria, how many times do we have to have this conversation?" Ralph replied angrily. "There is nothing wrong with your mother. I don't know why you insist there is."
"But Dad, you don't understand." Gloria pleaded for him to listen. "I heard her talking to someone and there was no one even there."
"Stop it right there." Ralph fussed. "Now I'm tired of this, Gloria. I am a busy man. I work long and hard to provide for this family. If it wasn't for your mother, I wouldn't have been able to make it this far. She is a good wife and mother and I don't appreciate all these lies you are coming up with. Imagine what the Enquirer or Stars would do if they got a hold of some of these childish thoughts you have. My career would be ruined just because of this foolishness. Now, I don't want to hear about this again. Do you understand?" He watched as she nodded her head. "Now go get your glass of water and head back to bed. You have school in the morning."
"Yes sir." Gloria sighed as he turned around and got back to work. She fought back the tears in her eyes. He didn't believe her no matter what she said.
After she got a small glass of water and curled back under the covers, she thought about what she should do. Someone out there would believe her. She just knew it. The problem is who? She didn't want to destroy her father's career in the process. There just had to be someone out there she could trust.
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Magneto typed away at the computer accessing several files from some of the disks he copied at the F.O.H. headquarters. He shook his head. He didn't like what he was seeing at all.
"What's wrong?" Sabretooth growled as he joined him in the room.
"These F.O.H. officers are certainly cleverer than we give them credit for." Magneto said scanning one the files he opened.
"How so?"
"They are building something or already have it built." Magneto said as his eyes began to widen. "It's something big too."
Sabretooth growled as he stared at the screen. He hated computers. "So what is it?"
"The description and sketches make it out to be a robot." Magneto replied. "But it says these things are 3 stories high. That's extremely big for a robot."
"A robot." Sabretooth shook his head. "A 3 stories tall robot."
"That's what this file says." Magneto looked up at his employee. "In fact, it seems like they're building more then one. Like a dozen or more."
"Please Mags." Sabretooth rolled his eyes. "You worry too much. Whatever it is, we can take it down."
"That I'm not so sure." Magneto took a deep breath. "I've been thinking it might be a good idea to recruit some members. After all, it's just the 3 of us. Plus, you and I are the only ones who can fight."
"Huh." Damn lazy Mastermind. Sabretooth grumbled under his breath.
"What do you think of these?" Magneto asked and handed Sabretooth some papers of possible new recruits. It was quite obvious he had been thinking about this for quite some time now.
Sabretooth flipped through the papers rather quickly shaking his head. "They're all kinda young."
"True, but no younger than Mystique's Brotherhood." Magneto replied. "Young ones are easier to recruit. They are full of energy and easy to replace. Besides, we can always do a jailbreak for Toad."
"Done."
"I was also thinking of calling up Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch."
"Those goody goody kids of yours."
"They are experienced at fighting." Magneto defended. "Besides, I believe it is your kid stirring up a lot of this mess."
Damn Brat. "Fine, do what's necessary." Sabretooth replied. "Just make sure whoever you recruit stays out of my way."
"As always." Magneto folded his hands. "Where's the girl?"
"Sleeping." Sabretooth replied as he headed out the door. "Kid's been through a lot of excitement today."
"Right." Magneto turned back to the screen. Monsters. I wonder if.
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Ororo could feel the body heat of Kurt sleeping next to her. He mumbled something in German and rolled over, wrapping his strong arms around her. He could sleep, but she couldn't. Although she had forgiven him, she was still mad at him. He had betrayed her trust and he was going to have to earn some of his back. So far, after last night's performance, he earned a few points. However, there still one thing that plagued her mind.
"Kurt."
"Hmm." Kurt moaned pulling her closer.
"Kurt, are you awake?" Ororo asked. After no response, she elbowed him in the chest.
"Vah?" Still half asleep, Kurt lifted his head trying to figure out what the hell was going on.
"Are you awake?"
No not really. "Ja." Kurt answered as he lay back down. "Vat's vrong?"
Ororo turned in his arms to face him. "Do you have feelings for Wanda?"
"Vat?"
"Do you have feelings for Wanda?"
"Vat kind of question is that?"
"Doesn't matter, just answer it."
"Nein."
"Did you have feelings for her when you were together?"
"I don't know."
"How can you not know?"
"I…I don't know." Kurt tried to explain. "I vas caught up in the heat of the moment and I don't know what the hell I vas thinking."
"Oh." Ororo sighed. "How long were the two of you together?"
Too long. "One year or so." Kurt answered. "Why are you asking me all of this?"
"I was just wondering."
"Nein." Kurt knew better than that. "You think vhen I see her again that ve are going to get back together."
"Maybe." Ororo wasn't going to flat out admit she was jealous. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't believe something like that."
"Cuz Wanda's nuts." Kurt answered honestly, but when Ororo turned away from him, she knew it was not the answer she was looking for. "It's because I'm in love vith you." He said and pulled her close to him. He took her hand and felt the ring on her finger. "I want to marry you."
She turned in his arms to lay her head on his chest. He kissed the top of her head. He knew she was taking the news of Talia harder than she would ever admit.
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Raven lay on her side with her hands on her belly. She faced away from her distrusting husband. Could she really blame him? No, not at all. She knew the truth. The child growing in her belly was not of his own.
"Are you being honest with me, Raven?" Baron Christian Wagner asked doubtfully.
"Ja." Raven lied unable to face him. "You are the only one I love. I only want a child from you. Why do you insist this child is not yours?"
"I've heard rumors Raven." Christian said rocking back and forth on his feet as he looked out the window. "People say you and Herr Azazel were more than just friends."
Raven turned over and stared at her husband with hatred. "And you would believe these people over me…over your own wife." She snapped at him. He didn't answer her. "I guess I see how you stand with me. You don't trust me, yet you claim to love me. How can that be?"
"I do love you Raven." Christian said and rushed to his knees in front of her. "I do, but this…" He placed his hands on her belly. "I…" He could feel the movements coming from inside. How could he say anymore? "He's kicking."
"Huh, more like doing somersaults." Raven replied. "You would think I was carrying a circus performer in there."
Christian couldn't help but chuckle or remove his hands from her belly.
When they settled for bed that night, Raven never knew that things would go downhill from there. That wouldn't be the last time he brought up his trust in her. That would be the last time he felt the baby kick. That would be the last time…
RAVEN
Mallory Brickman AKA Mystique shot up in bed. Her heart raced.
"Mallory, are you alright?" Ralph asked.
Mallory placed her hand on her head. "Yeah, I'm fine." She said. "I just had a nightmare."
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Talia watched curiously as her mother began packing her clothes. "Where we going Muti?"
"I am taking you to see you Vati." Wanda answered.
"Vati." Talia's face lit up and she squeezed her Bamf doll.
"Yes, we are going to see your Vati."
Talia bounced up and down and ran out of the room to find her Uncle Pietro to tell him the news. "Unca Pietro." She said bouncing up and down. "Guess what! Guess what!"
"What? What?" Pietro replied seeing the bright smile on her face.
"I go see my Vati!"
"You are."
"Yahuh." Talia beamed. "Muti say so."
"Wow." God, Wanda must hate this. Pietro thought to himself. "I bet you're going to have lots of fun when you see your Vati."
"Yahuh." Talia nodded. "Lots of fun."
Pietro smiled as Talia ran off. She was so excited knowing that she was going to see her daddy again. He couldn't help but envy Kurt. After all with his divorce to his ex, Pietro hadn't seen his daughter for a while too. But, he knew he should be thinking of himself. He had this feeling Wanda was not too thrilled with Talia visiting Kurt for a week. He wondered if she just wanted Talia all to herself for her sanity or to hurt Kurt. Either way, Wanda was not taking it all too well.
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As she fumbled for her keys, she looked up at the note on her door. Ms. Lorna Dane…Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah…You have ten days to pay your rent…Blah Blah…evict you…Blah. She sighed. Not again.
Finally getting the door unlocked, Lorna opened it up and closed it behind her. "Finally home." She flipped on the light switch and nothing happened. "Great. Just great. Can anything else bad happen." She said to herself out loud as she tried to make her way to the kitchen to find a flashlight or a pack of matches.
"Damnit." Of course with her luck, she had to trip in the way there. "I had to open my big mouth." She said as she felt the bruise forming on her knee.
After she found a pack of matches and lit every candle she could find, she made her way to the bathroom. She placed a few candles around the sink and stared at the reflection in the mirror. "Why does my life suck?"
She ran her hands through her brown hair and sighed. Then, she pulled off the wig and shook out her naturally green hair. "Much better." She put the wig in the closet and pulled out a towel. It was so much easier to wear a wig than to dye her hair every other week. Plus, it was cheaper.
She felt her greasy hair. "Should I wash it?" No power meant no cold water. She couldn't afford to get sick, especially when she needed to pay rent and a light bill. So, she pulled up her hair in a ponytail and just settled for a quick rinse in the shower.
After her shower, she collapsed on her bed staring up at the ceiling. "How did my life get this way?" She took out her earrings and floated them over onto her nightstand. She looked over to the clock thankful it rain on batteries. 2:33 am. "Well at least I will be able to sleep late." She thought out loud as she curled up under the covers. "I just wish this rut I'm in would end."
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Sabretooth opened the door of his room to check on Clarice. She was sleeping in his bed, but not peacefully. He walked softly over to her to see what was going on.
Clarice tossed and turned in the bed. "No." She said out of fear. "No." Her little pink face beaded with sweat.
Victor growled lowly under his breath. He knew what was up. She was having a nightmare. He knew all too well what that was like.
He sat on the edge of the bed and brushed her wet purple locks away from her face gently with his claws. "S'alright Princess."
Clarice woke up in a fit of tears. "Monsters." She cried and crawled up on his lap. "Monsters coming to get me." She cried clinging tightly to him.
"I ain't gonna let the monsters get you, Princess." Sabretooth said instinctively rocking the child in his arms. "I'm gonna protect you Princess."
He could smell the salty tears that rolled down her checks. He could feel the trembling in her little body. The only way he knew she had fallen back to sleep was when her sniffling stopped.
Sabretooth lay on the bed with a sleeping Clarice on his chest. Up and down she went as he breathed in and out. The more protective he got of Clarice, the angrier he got at Graydon.
Graydon was nothing like the cute little Clarice that was sleeping on his chest. In fact, to him, Graydon was nothing but a disappointment. Shit. A waste of a perfectly good sperm. Damn Raven. Why the hell did she have to be so gorgeous?
Clarice was a cutie. He never wanted anymore kids after Graydon. He made sure Raven took care of that problem just in case. If anything happened after they separated, it was surely an accident and he would deny and paternatage to such. But now that Clarice was here, she was starting to feel differently. In a way, it scared him.
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He leaned against the wall in the shadows of the room with a cigarette in the corner of his mouth. He was tempted to light the end of it to satisfy his nicotine craving, but she'd kill him for smoking in her room. Besides, he didn't need her waking up and seeing him drool. He was quite content watching her sleep.
In her emerald green nightgown, Rogue lay peacefully sprawled half under her covers. Her long auburn hair white her white streak curled around the pillow she cuddled against. Her skin was creamy white. Whenever she slept was the only time she allows bare skin to be exposed. Talk about a temptation of the flesh. He'd do anything to have a chance to act upon the thoughts running through his head.
He walked over to her side of her bed. She's so beautiful. Way too good for a thief like me. He looked at the white rose in his hand. To a new beginning. He traced its soft petals down her arm causing her to moan and cuddle her pillow tighter. Wonder if she's thinking of me? He smirked and laid the rose on her nightstand.
"Je t'aime"
Rogue woke up and looked around her room. There was no one else there besides her roommate Jean-Paul sleeping in his bed on the other side of the room. She sat up as she felt her body chill. She turned to see the window open with the curtain blowing from a gentle breeze. I don't remember leaving a window open.
She got up and walked over to the window and shut it. She turned back around and that's when she saw it. A single white rose. "Remy." She turned back to the window and opened. She stuck her head out and looked along the side of mansion. Was that a trench coat?
Rogue smiled and closed the window. She climbed back in bed and curled under the covers.
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Scott sat down in the Control Room. He wiped the sweat off his brow from his early morning training. Not that he needed to train this early in the morning. It was 4:00am but he didn't really care. This was just a way for him to escape.
He had thought returning to the mansion would be good for him. Alex had told him that he needed to move on. Jean was dead and wasn't coming back. He needed to learn how to accept that, but so far it was not the case.
The mansion as a whole changed. There were so many new students. Logan and Kurt were part of the staff. Gambit was a substitute. But what really topped it all off was the fact that Ororo was team leader. That was his job. He was the leader of the X-men. He thought that coming back to the mansion would be a relief to the team, but with Ororo in the lead she wasn't so sure what to think. Was she actually capable of leading the team? Shit, Ororo panics if she steps in the elevator.
"Hey." He heard a familiar voice say. "What are you doing up?"
Scott turned to see Ororo standing in the doorway in full uniform. "I could ask you the same thing."
Ororo smiled and joined him in on of the Chairs. "Can't sleep." She admitted honestly. "I just needed to clear my head."
"Same here." Scott replied and returned his attention to the Control board. Now what Danger Room Sequence should I do next?
"So how does it feel to be back?" Ororo asked.
"Alright." Scott admitted. "This place has changed a lot." Not sure if I like it.
Ororo nodded. It was true. The mansion changed a lot and so did its inhabitants, both physically and spiritually. "Yes it has. For the better, I hope."
"Yeah, we'll see."
Ororo studied him for a moment wandering what he meant by that.
"You up for a round in the Danger Room." Scott asked as he adjusted the controls.
Ororo remained silent for a second. Then, she reluctantly agreed. "Yeah. I'm up for it."
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Wanda carefully strapped her daughter in the seat of the Avengers jet. It was going to be a half day flight to New York and she wasn't sure Talia was ready for the trip. So far, it wasn't starting out well.
"No." Talia hugged her Bamf doll. "Mine."
"Come on T.J." Wanda said. "Give me the doll."
"No."
"We are not taking that nasty thing with us." Wanda said. "Now give me."
"No." Talia hollered when her mother took the doll from her. "I WANT IT. GIVE ME BACK."
Wanda stared at the doll as her daughter hollered. She hated that thing. Ever since Kurt gave her it, Talia never let it go. She couldn't stand it. She knew how bad her daughter wanted it back, but she didn't want to give it to her even if it meant to get her to stop crying. Was she actually enjoying the fact it made Talia so upset? Or was it her own revenge on Kurt by making her daughter suffer?
"Wanda what's she screaming about?" Pietro asked seeing and hearing his niece full of sniffles and tears.
'She wants the stupid doll.' Wanda replied snapping back to reality.
"Then give her the doll."
"No." Wanda replied. "She don't need the damn doll. She's going to see her Dad."
"So."
"So, she doesn't need it."
"Why?"
"It's disgusting." Wanda replied. "Look how filthy this thing it."
"It's her doll." Pietro answered. "and she doesn't care. Just give the thing back to her."
"I'm not…"
Pietro snatched the doll from her hand and gave it to his niece. "Here you go Sweetheart."
Talia stopped crying and hugged it. 'Mine."
Wanda gave her twin brother a cold glare.
"What?" He shrugged. "It's just a doll Wanda. Really, what's your problem?"
"Nothing." Wanda snapped as she made her way to the front of the jet. "Nothing is wrong. I'm fine."
"You sure?" Pietro followed her.
"I SAID I'M FINE." Wanda yelled causing the lights in the jet to flicker and the controls to go haywire.
"Alright." Pietro put up his hands in defense. "Alright."
Wanda calmed herself down and everything went back to normal. "Let's go." She said as if nothing happened.
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Well, I hope I satisfied everyone with this chapter. Once again, I'm sorry it took so long to get out. I'm not sure when I will have the next chapter out for this, so please be patient with me.
Prince of Thieves only has two chapters to go. Once Prince is done, my time will be devoted entirely to Sweet Little Lies.
Anyways, I'll see everyone next story or chapter.
Thanks for all the reviews.
Michelle
