(A/N: And with this Author's Note, I declare the 10th chapter of Arrival officially started! Thanks to all the faithful readers I've got right now… Well the faithful readER. Yes, that's you, Nightcrawler's Shadow. Thank you infinitely, by the way… and tortured shadows? Pure awesomeness. But who's to say more won't come over time? Anyways. No, John will not be a Mary Sue… well he might die at the end . for the hell of a good story [probably not], but there's plenty of angstness to come… And there's still the issue of whether X-23 will end up with Bobby or John. I don't particularly not like the Iceman, but I'm bashing the crap out of him in this story because I need someone to be in a love triangle with X-23 and let's face it… Sam and Roberto just don't make the cut when it comes to that. They're good characters sure, but there's the whole new mutant thing, as opposed to the fact that X-23 blends seamlessly into the original X-Men like John does. Whoa… what the hell am I talking about here? ON TO THE STORY!)

"He what?" Jean squirmed uncomfortably, as innocent as she was she didn't like putting people on the spot… especially not X-23, so new to the institute. She didn't like doing this to John either. X-23 looked at Jean with a blank look. "He can't." "He does." "He shouldn't." Jean sighed. "You sound like Kurt." X-23 wrinkled her nose. "What is that supposed to mean?" Jean smiled a bit. "Kurt is always worried about how people will react to his appearance. He thinks that he deserves his treatment because of the way he looks. At least, he used to. Now he understands that it's not his fault, he needs to be accepting of himself. You're scared of who you were… Key difference between who you are and who you were, is that who you were is in the past. Who you are is in the present. And you don't have to worry about the future yet… One of John's favorite things to say is The reason the past is called the past is because we've passed it. And we don't need to worry about the future because it hasn't happened yet… and you need to enjoy the present because that's what it is… a present." Jean smiled as she saw her words hit home. She herself took a moment to reflect on how much everyone had learned from John in the short time he'd been at the mansion. He was so far from perfect… it was hard to believe that he could seem so benign. Jean put her hand comfortingly on X-23's shoulder, before leaving her to contemplate what she had just said. Jean walked from her room to Scotts. She knocked on the door. "Scott? You ready to go yet?" Scott's voice sounded from inside. "Agh… fu- oh, Jean! Yeah, just a second, mkay?" Jean giggled. "We're just going to dinner, what are you fussing so much about?" She opened the door to find Scott trapped with his tie looped around his neck, with his hand caught between his tie and his face and neck, knocking his glasses askew while at the same time pinning them to his head. Jean couldn't help it. The sight was so absurd she began laughing hard. Scott groaned. "Heeeey… help?" Jean recovered from her fit of laughter after three minutes and walked over to Scott, wiping tears of mirth off her face. She adjusted his tie, freed his hand, and last of all fixed his glasses, planting a light kiss on his lips as she did so. "Ready to go now, Scott?" Scott nodded, smiling. "You?" Jean nodded. They went to the garage, got in Scotts car, and drove off to enjoy their night.

Bobby was done with John, in every way, shape and form. That sone of a bitch had 1) invaded like a plague, taking over everyone, 2) manifested (As much as he hated to admit it) a sick power, and 3) Stolen X-23 from right under his goddamn nose! Not to mention he seemed like a lousy fighter, and everyone seemed to love him anyways! Bobby wished he could kick his ass... he wouldn't even need his powers. Bobby growled and froze his soda. Sam looked at him quizzically. "You ok dude? You seem angsty." Bobby grimaced at his friend. "Then you've been hitting the wall too hard in the Danger Room again." Sam raised his eyebrows at his friends unusual hostility. "You sure?" Amara sighed. "Relax Sam, he's just jealous of John." Bobby whipped around to face Amara. "I am NOT!" He slammed his fist on the table, freezing the soup she was eating. She blew on it to melt it and looked at him critically. "Come on Bobby. Everyone else likes him. Even Logan likes him. What's your deal with him? Is it just that X-23 likes him instead of you?" Bobby sighed. "Your just saying that cause your basically his little sister." Amara made a face. "So? And for the record, Bobby, your powers totally have him at a disadvantage." Bobby blinked, surprised that she had just touched on every one of the subjects that he had been brooding over. "It's not just Jean. All girls are psychic." Amara said disconcertingly. Bobby decided that would be the best time to take his leave, he had to prank Rogue to get back at her for beating the crap out of him, even though it had been an accident that he had dyed her hair green. It had already worn out, after all. He had decided to change her X-outfit. He took his spraypaint, and grabbed the brown cargo jacket he had knicked. He cackled to himself and raced down to the subbasements.

Remy plopped down on the couch next to Kurt and Kitty. Kurt was gently running his hand down Kitty's head. Kitty looked up as Gambit sat down. John was sitting, and sleeping, where he normally did. On the couch, earphones blaring what he had dubbed 'super metal' ("It's an amazing playlist of Danzig, Shinedown, Metallica, Alice in chains, and Incubus." Gambit of course had no idea who any of those people were). "Hey, de 'appy couple, non?" Kirry giggled a bit, kissing Kurt's cheek. "Happy as we'll ever be." Kurt sighed. "Ja, eet's amazing. She, ze lovestruck beauty, moi, ze vonderfully handsome unt debonair blue elf." Kitty giggled, and Kurt kissed her full on the lips. Gamit sighed. "Oh, L'amour, da fervor o' love is in de air. Even da shellhead 'as a girl… well, if 'e can get 'er away from de iceman." Gambit nodded towards John as he said this. Kitty made a face. "Like, Bobby has no place going after X-23 like that, yaknow? He only took notice after John arrived." Gambit sighed. "Ah, and de Gambit will soon have 'is Rogue… and all will be well in de mansion. Myes, all will be well…" He sunk lower in his seat, crossed one leg over the other and pressed the tips of his fingers together in a very professor like fashion. Kurt laughed. Kitty sighed. "You didn't even listen to me didja?" Kurt chuckled, pulling her face towards him. "I leestened to you, Keety." She smiled at him. "Yeah, right." Kurt shrugged. "Nnh. Worth a shot." He winked at Remy and then 'Bamfed' with Kitty to parts unknown. Remy sat back, kicking his feet up and putting one arm over the back of the couch. There was still enough space for one person, even with his armored boots on the couch. His unspoken and unconsciously thought wish was granted. Rogue sat down there, and Remy flicked his red eyes in her direction. "Whatever it was, It was de iceman, not me." Rogue giggled a bit. "Ah'm not alwayws out ta getcha, Remy." "No? You sure?" Rogue smirked. "Would you prefer that ah was?" "Maybe, cherrie. Maybe."

(There ya go, another horribly awesome chapter. I wish I could have made it longer but my arms are burning. See you next chapter!)