"Okay, you ready Kurt?" We were sitting under the oak tree cross-legged holding hands. There was nothing going on between us, but if you didn't know what we were dong, it might have looked that way.

"I think so."

"Alright, first, pick a place that you want to go."

"Any place?"

I nodded. "Any where."

"I've always wanted to go to Central Park."

"That's good. Now picture and focus on Central Park." I watched as he closed his eyes. "Ready?" Kurt nodded. "Okay, teleport."

He did. I looked around and smiled. "Close, but no cigar."

"Oh!" He groaned. "We're in a parking lot."

"I said you were close. Look." I picked up a post card that was on the ground, forgotten. Poor post card.

He smiled. "Hello from Central Park." Is what it said, along with a picture of Robert Burns' statue.

"Wanna try again?" He nodded and we grabbed hands again. "Remember, breathing is an important component in concentrating."

He took a deep breath and teleported again. I smiled when we reappeared. He did it. "Kurt, open your eyes."

He did and smiled brightly. "This is Central Park?" I nodded. "It's beautiful."

"Yes it is. You wanna look around?"

"Absolutely." His face brightened and we got up from the ground to go explore. "Hey Andi, how come no one noticed us just pop out of nowhere?"

I smirked. "This is New York City, no one cares."

He laughed and we continued to walk down the stone path throughout the park. Kurt and I looked at all of the statues, and as we were passing Balto, he stopped and looked across from the dog. When I sensed that he was no longer next to me, I turned and saw him looking up at my face. My hair was shorter back then.

"You killed people?"

I looked down from that horrible statue in shame. "I had to."

"Why?" I looked up and was met with his puppy eyes. Oh God he had puppy eyes. Now I'm even more ashamed.

"They would've enslaved and killed everyone. Trust me, I wouldn't have done it otherwise. Please don't tell anyone." I begged.

He didn't even have to think about it. "Of course. Your secrets are safe with me."

"Thanks." I gave him a quick hug. "Hey, how about we get lunch? My treat."

He smiled. "Sure."

~.~.~.~.~.~.~

"Hey, Andi?" Kurt approached me in the living room after dinner. "Do you want to go to the movies with us tomorrow night?"

"Who's us?" I looked up from my knitting.

"Scott, Jean, Kitty, Rogue, Gambit and myself."

"Gambit and I don't get along very well."

"Please Andi?"

"Why? I'll only be the seventh wheel."

"Everyone wants to get to know you though."

"They can't just come up and talk to me?"

"They're a little intimidated because you're someone they don't know."

"And I'm not intimidated by them?"

"Just please come with us."

I sighed. "Fine."

"Yes! I can't wait to tell them."

"Ah, I would refrain from telling Gambit. He might change his mind about going if he knew I was."

Kurt nodded. "Good idea. I'll see you later."

"See ya." This place is so odd, I thought as I went back to my knitting. I didn't get very far when I was interrupted again.

"Andrea?" I looked up and came face to face with the Professor. Hey, that's a first.

"Yes, Professor?"

"I just wanted to know when you were planning your assault."

"That is such an ugly word. It's more of a rescue."

"Stay on topic."

"Sorry. Um, soon. Actually very soon." Not a second after I said that, my cell phone started ringing. Wade? "Hello?"

"Andi, it's Reed."

"What's wrong?" There was a terrible tone in his voice, like he was watching Death at work. That bastard.

"It's Frankie. She's giving birth, and the baby's killing her. But it's like she's burning."

"Look I'll be right there. Promise." I shut the phone. "Excuse me, Professor." I immediately focused on Reed and teleported right in front of him.

"Where's Frankie?" His eyes were wide and his face held the expression of broken innocence. I had never seen Reed like this.

"She's in there." He pointed to the hospital room behind us.

I barged in and was shocked at what I saw. Frankie was literally burning alive. "Oh my God." The extreme odor of burnt human flesh was almost too overpowering. I'm never going to forget that smell. She was screaming. It wasn't a labor scream though, it was a real-life Wilhelm scream. Johnny and Sue were practically crying, Ben was throwing up (BTW, it was a weird sight. Just picture rocks instead of liquid). I just stood there speechless. I didn't know what to do. Then I looked over at the four doctors who were trying to get the baby out and keep Frankie alive.

Come on, be Bruce, be Bruce. "Alright, Ginger!" I spoke to the red headed doctor with as much authority as I could muster. "Get fireproof gloves on now! You, get cold water. And when I say cold, I mean it better be an ice block!" I ordered the blonde doctor. When the two of them didn't move, I shouted even louder. "NOW! DO YOU WANT TO SAVE THEM BOTH OR NOT?" Then they ran to get prepared. "What are you? Interns? Get out!" The remaining two doctors left in fear of me.

"Andi?" Johnny left Sue's arms and came over to me. "She's gonna be okay, right?" Oh God, it's like Kurt's puppy face all over again.

I grabbed his hands and stared right into his eyes. "I'm going to do whatever I can to save her. I promise."

"It's my fault. I shouldn't have gone up in space." Tears streamed down his face faster.

"Oi," I put my hands on the sides of his face. "This is not your fault." God I love his eyes; this is not the time for that! I yelled at myself. "And I told you, I'm gonna fix this." I was able to give him a quick and tight hug before the two doctors came in.

"All I could find were oven mitts."

"That's fine. Just continue with the delivery process. Blondie, make sure Frankie stays cold. If that baby comes out in as a ball of flames like I think it might," I lowered my voice and whispered into the blonde doctor's ear. "Then we're fucked." He understood. I don't know how, but he understood.

I went over to Frankie's stomach, which was turning black, and I placed my hands slightly above it. Tensing the muscles in my arm, I started to heal the burning flesh on her stomach. But it seems like that was all I could do.

"The baby's coming out!" Ginger yelled. "Holy shit!" He stared at the bundle of fire that was slowing making its way into the world.

As the baby was coming out, Frankie was burning faster which made absolutely no sense. "Come on!" I yelled at myself out loud. Why couldn't I heal her? "Heal damn it!" Tears started streaming down my face. No, Frankie was my friend.

"It's out! It's out!" Ginger exclaimed minutes later. He could only hold the baby for a few seconds before he had to hand it off to Johnny to keep his hands from burning.

And then, for no reason at all, Frankie caught on fire. It was like she exploded, but without the guts and blood. Her screams echoed in the room along with the baby's cry. Seconds after the baby was out, Frankie was no longer there. There was just a pile of ashes. She had literally burned to death. And no one did anything. Everyone in that room just watched. We watched Frankie writhe and scream and die. Then there was silence, even from the baby.