Standard Disclaimer: All rights belong to those whose rights they belong to, primarily Marvel, though quite namely not me. Don't own a thing aside from my OCs.


New York City. Chinatown.

Abby strolled down the street towards her apartment, a grocery bag in one arm and a half-finished stick of teriyaki chicken in an unencumbered hand. She'd forgotten to eat that day once again and decided to stop off on the way back for a quick snack. The blonde girl wore one of her more colorful outfits today, light-blue-and-white striped leggings under a bright green miniskirt sleeveless dress, though she had her usual grey hoodie jacket over the ensemble. Her sandals flapped as she strode along, the cheery sound matching her mood.

It had been a scant two weeks since the debacle that had seen her grievously injured. Caitlin and Rebecca had managed to safely extract her and get her upstate to a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility where she'd been given care. She'd woken up finally almost a full day later to see both the brunette and the redhead on either side of her infirmary bed, sleeping soundly in small armchairs they had dragged over. The nurse on duty at the time had whispered that the pair hadn't left the room since she'd been brought in.

After she'd been able to finally transform into her cheetah and heal herself, she was only kept for another day under observation but was free to receive other visitors. And what a whirlwind of visitors she'd endured.

She'd gotten to meet, in person, Sam Wilson, a.k.a. the Falcon from the Avengers, a.k.a. Rebecca's boyfriend. Watching the two of them interact, Abby was forced to agree with Caitlin on just how adorable they were.

She also got to meet more of the Avengers, Wanda Maximoff and Clint Barton, both of whom were close friends with her sisters, as well as none other than Captain America. The latter left her slightly at a loss for words, which a giggling Caitlin later confessed was pretty much her reaction upon meeting him for the first time. He turned out to be a very sweet guy, however, and left her smiling from his awkward compliments.

Director Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D. paid her a visit as well, both to check up on her and, she suspected, check into her. He seemed like an average type of fellow, but Abby could sense that under that unassuming exterior was a far more complex and willful person. He wasn't exactly someone she ever wanted to cross, which made Caitlin's irreverence to her boss even more perplexing. Rebecca reassured her that the brunette simply tended to respond to authority in that fashion, and actually cut him far more slack than she had with the previous Director.

And then there was Natasha Romanov, the Black Widow. Super-spy and trained assassin, a woman with few enhancements but who could run with the likes of Captain America, Iron Man, and the Hulk. Were she to be honest with herself, Abby had always looked to the redheaded woman as sort of a role model, ever since she'd heard of her from pilfered newspapers back before she'd been activated. Yet this amazing person, who turned a steely facade towards most of the world, melted in the presence of Rebecca and Caitlin, calling them both 'little sister' in her native Russian tongue.

It made Abby feel a little odd. She refused to consider it jealousy, despite what Julia had more than implied, but it didn't last long as Natasha seemed to immediately take to the small blonde girl. Perhaps it was some of the same regrets lingering behind their eyes, or a respect for each other's abilities, or maybe it was as simple as the semblance to the other two of her newfound siblings. It didn't matter in the end to Abby, she was just grateful for the acceptance.

She had yet to meet with Caitlin and Rebecca's set of friends from the Xavier school, but the mutant teens were supposed to be coming over the following evening for a movie party. Abby was a little more nervous about this prospect, as these were more like their peers, as well as very close to her sisters. But the former thief had far more confidence in herself than before, thanks to her new family, and she was eager to experience more of their lives and activities.

Tonight, however, was her turn to cook for the three of them. She'd decided to pick up something simple, spaghetti and from-scratch meatballs.

/Cryin' shame it is, a proper Englishwoman like yourself making an Italian dinner./

Oh, please. Not all of us can be culinary geniuses, can we now?

Abby paused outside the door leading to the apartment staircase to smile brilliantly at the nice old man who ran the shop on the ground level. "All right, Mr Wu? Lovely day today, isn't it?"

"It is indeed, Miss Abigail," the man smiled widely, revealing several missing teeth as he leaned on a push-broom outside his storefront. "How are you liking Chinatown?"

"Oh, it's just marvelous," she gushed, swinging her now-empty chicken skewer around. "I do so love the smells, it's just unlike anything I've ever experienced! And I love the lights in the evenings!"

Mr Wu chuckled at the small blond girl's enthusiasm. "Well, I am gratified that you joined the family of Miss Caitlin and Miss Rebecca upstairs. They are good girls, as are you."

Abby giggled, a sound that she'd never in a million years thought she'd be capable of. "Oh, aren't you just the bee's knees? Oh, gotta go, though, I have to get supper going! Cheerio!"

"Good day, Miss Abigail!"

The blonde jogged happily up the stairs and faced the door leading into her new home. She placed the wooden skewer in between her teeth and pulled her keys out of her jacket pocket, fishing for the correct one so that she might unlock the door.

Once in she transferred the key ring to her pinky finger and pulled the stick into the same hand, closing the door behind her and locking it again. "Honey, I'm home!" she called out merrily.

"Well listen to you, sounding more like one of us bloody Yanks every day," Caitlin snarked from the couch. She was lying back with her head against one of the armrests and a knee in the air, wearing one of her favorite sundresses in pale green.

"Sod off," Abby laughed in reply. "What are you watching on the telly now?"

"Bad Ink," the brunette replied, stretching her arms up above her head. "We should all get tattoos."

"Caitlin, it would not take on our skin," Rebecca called out as she descended the staircase from the loft. "It would heal and fade quickly, even more so on mine." She had on simple jean shorts and a tight dark blue shirt with, humorously enough, Captain America's shield symbol on it.

"You think?"

"I am fairly certain, yes."

"Well, I can dream," Caitlin replied loftily.

The redhead padded over to join Abby in the kitchen where she was unloading the grocery bag. "Hello Abby," she said softly, giving her a one-armed hug and resting her head on the blonde's shoulder. "Was your shopping trip successful?"

"It was," Abby replied, turning her head to plant a kiss on the crown of her sister's head. "Decided on spaghetti."

"Is there meat?" Caitlin asked from her sprawled perch in the living area.

Abby sighed good-naturedly. "Yes, Caitlin, there's meat involved. I'm making meatballs as well."

The brunette issued forth a brief cheer and then went back to her television watching.

The blonde smiled as Rebecca leaned back up again. "I'll do the meatballs separate for you, luv."

"You are very thoughtful," Rebecca giggled. "May I assist you?"

"Please do," Abby said politely.

"Want me to help?" Caitlin interjected.

"No!" both Abby and Rebecca replied simultaneously and with conviction.

The brunette girl just snickered softly in reply. She'd been banned from the kitchen ever since the last time she'd 'helped' Rebecca. Now her turn to do dinner for the three siblings involved either Chinese carryout or pizza delivery. Not that the rest of them minded overmuch.

"I believe your new bedding came in today," Rebecca commented as she washed her hands in the kitchen sink. "A large package in your name is resting on top of your bed."

"Ta," Abby thanked her off-handedly. "Green beans alright with you?"

"Very much so, thank you."

The pair of girls, one with long red hair done in a braid and the other with a short bob of blond hair pinned back over her ears, worked quickly and silently in preparing the meal. Before long they had the table set and three plates of steaming food set out.

Caitlin joined them at their small round table, inhaling the meaty aroma of the giant meatballs Abby had created for the two of them. "Oooh, that smells delicious," the brunette murmured.

Before eating the three enacted their new ritual, holding hands in a circle and simply smiling wordlessly at each other, renewing their connection. After only a few seconds they let go to begin eating.

"Thish ish really really good," Caitlin mumbled around a mouthful of meatball.

"Manners, you daft girl," Abby chuckled.

"I wish you the best of luck with that endeavour," Rebecca sighed. "I am amazed sometimes that she even has a girlfriend."

"Hey!"

"She's got a point," Abby mused, pointing her fork at the brunette. "A mouth full of nosh is highly unattractive."

"I have plenty of other qualities," Caitlin replied loftily, only the hint of a grin showing on her face.

"Like what, then?" Abby snarked.

"Well, Lisa really likes this one thing I do with my tongue-"

"Not at the dinner table!" Rebecca shouted, covering her ears. "I do not need to hear about your sex life while I am eating!"

Abby let out a snort, which turned into a giggle. Soon both Caitlin and Rebecca joined in, laughing merrily until they were red in the face.

After dinner was cleaned up, the three girls lounged together on one of the sofas, curled up in a comfortable pile of limbs.

"So what shall we watch tonight?" Rebecca asked.

"Oh, is it my turn to choose? It is, isn't it?" Abby asked excitedly.

Caitlin gave the blonde a wary look out of the corner of her eye. "Yesss…" she drawled uncertainly.

"Brill!" she cheered. "Oh, I'm seriously chuffed to bits about this, I've been wanting to introduce you lot to Monty Python!"

"Who, now?" Caitlin asked, but then her eyes lit up in understanding as her resident filled her in. "Oooh… okay, sure, why not?"

"Are they very good?" Rebecca asked cautiously, having been disappointed by some of Caitlin's choices in the past.

"Oh, yes, they're bloody ace, hilarious really," Abby murmured as she used the remote to search through their video streaming channels. "Perfect! The Holy Grail!"

Abby was slightly disappointed that her sisters did not quite share her dry sense of humor. She supposed it might have been a cultural thing, having essentially been brought forth in an English environment and having a conscience thoroughly seeped in those norms. Rebecca did smile often during the length of the movie, though Caitlin mostly seemed confused as to why there were no actual horses. She did giggle at the bit with the Forest Knight.

"I'll have to remember that line," the brunette snickered as she disentangled herself from the others once the movie had finished. "'Come back 'ere, I'll bite your ankles off!' Hilarious."

"Please, luv, don't try to do a British accent again," Abby groaned. "That was truly dreadful."

"Not your cup of tea?"

"Bloody hell, stop already!"

Caitlin grinned widely as she walked away from the couch. "Right, then, I'll just say cheerio, mates!" she snarked in her terrible attempt at an accent. She was awarded for her efforts with a pair of highly-accurate pillows that struck her face like missiles, knocking her off of her feet.

After a very intense fifteen-minute pillow fight, of which the only true casualty was a certain rust-colored throw pillow that none of them really liked all that much anyway, and in fact nobody would admit to have picked out in the first place, Abby found herself finally up in her bedroom. It was right across the loft from the room Caitlin and Rebecca shared.

The blond girl looked about, admiring the small effort she'd made so far in decorating. She was still trying to decide what her actual style was, but so far it consisted of mostly posters and prints of famous artwork she'd admired in the various museums she'd visited. Granted, most of those visitations were well after closing time, and she wasn't exactly there legally, but still.

She stripped her clothes off and tossed them into the small wicker laundry basket, then padded over to the bed to smile down at the large package there. It had the name 'Abigail Brown' on it with her new address, and for some reason just looking at it made her feel warm inside.

Though she was loathe to disturb the tableau, Abby opened the package up and pulled out her new sheets. They were ones she herself had picked out online, though they had plainer bedding that could be laid out were they to use the room for guests.

Abby made her bed quietly and efficiently, standing back to admire the results. The sheets and pillowcase were in a pale green toile, and the bedspread a slightly darker shade of green. It was simple, even more so considering the riot of colors she often preferred to wear, but she thought it quite soothing. Chewing on her bottom lip, she glanced over at the only other piece of furniture in the room. Her long dresser was chipped and battered but still usable, much like herself, she thought idly.

/Perhaps not so battered, ducky. We got ourselves a new lease on life now./

That we do, Julia. I just…

/What?/

Don't want to cock it up, is all.

/I highly doubt that, luv. Those two girls adore you for who you are, not what you've done./

Abby's eyes were drawn again to the innocuous item sitting on the far side of the top of her dresser. It was a manila folder, slightly charred on the edges, but still unopened by her. Rebecca had looked through it and agreed it was what she was looking for, but now that she had it in her possession…

/So maybe we just move on with our new life, then? Put paid to the past and all./

Maybe. I suppose we'll see.

The petite blonde sighed and nodded in resolve. She turned and left her room, crossing the loft to enter her sisters' room.

Rebecca was already in bed while Caitlin had just finished in the bathroom. Both gave her a smile as she entered.

"Is there room for one more, girls?"

"Always," Caitlin grinned. She twitched her pert nose and in the blink of an eye shrank down into a short-haired black cat, who let out a happy mewl before leaping up onto the bed and snuggling up against the redheaded girl.

Rebecca arched her brow amusedly at the blonde. "Coming?" she asked as she turned the lamp off.

With a grin of her own, Abby closed her eyes and concentrated, as she still wasn't completely adept at this form yet. But before long she transformed into a fluffy cream-colored spotted tabby cat, jumped up into the bed, and curled up contentedly next to her sisters for the night.

Her happy purrs continued long after she'd fallen asleep.


A/N: And just a small bit of fun fluff to end the prologue with. Sorry it took so long and to leave y'all on a cliffhanger. Hope you enjoyed the whole story! Just a reminder, this prologue is the lead-in (introducing the character of Abby) to the much larger story I'm working on next. The first chapter of Unraveledis up now over in the X-Men: The Movie category, you can catch it there or just pick it up off of my author's page. Technically I suppose it can be considered the fourth main story in the Unchained series.

Many, many thanks to all of you for reading my little tale. Much gratitude to my Beta, KellyConnely, who displayed tremendous fortitude in keeping up with me outside of her own busy schedule (love ya!), and warm hugs out to all those who favorited, followed and/or reviewed. See y'all over in the next story, I hope!

theradvlad: Yeaaahhh… it was another cliffhanger, I apologize. I'm a terrible person. I was hoping the "safe" bit would imply that things weren't as bleak as they seemed…

Trench Gun: Thanks dude! Hope you enjoy the next story as well!

Stay shiny!


Synopsis for Unraveled:

Unintended interference makes one of Blink's portals go haywire. It sucks her, Kitty, and the Brown sisters through it and into an uncertain and unforgiving future. Can a group of renegade lab experiments and mutants find each other and survive before their timelines become completely unraveled and lost?