Chapter 11 – One Year Later
 The bolt of lightning spilt the truck in half before it could crush the group of people standing around watching as the truck flew towards them. Each half fell on either side of the throng then there was a great scattering.

"A girl's work is never done." Robin said smiling to herself.

"Need help?" asked Ray, her boyfriend of two months who was with her family on vacation in Switzerland.

"Nah, Babe, I got this one." She said winking at Ray then jumping so that her snowboard turned forward and so that she could slide down the mountain towards the area of panic.

There was a freak magnetism incident where all types of metal were attacking the ski lodge they were staying in. Robin figured it must be the infamous Magneto's doing but she also figured he wouldn't show his face. Professor Xavier warned them about Magneto and how dangerous he was but Robin figured that now that she was a seasoned X-Woman, she could handle a little bit of flying trucks. There was also the matter of her guardian angel.

It seemed anytime she was in trouble she would magically get out of it in less than a split second. At first she thought that it was Pietro but she'd given up hope of every seeing him again and had given in to Ray's constant asking and been with him. She was happy with Ray but she knew she wasn't in love with him. He was cool but just not for her. She'd gotten used to Ray by then and just stayed with him because it was a safe relationship. It was nothing like the rocky road she and Pietro had to endure because the X-Men approved and the Brotherhood could care less.

When she got there, her heart was in her throat. Levitating in a sphere of circling trucks was Magneto himself. She felt paralysed as she brought her snowboard to a stop on the mountain. She was seeing Magneto in the flesh. When his head turned to her direction, the fear gripped her heart. He was dangerous and was moving towards her.

"I'll be seeing you soon." Said his commanding voice before all the trucks fell and she found herself standing alone.

Was that entire ruckus he caused just to get her attention and tell her those five words? Why was it so important to deliver that one message? And why to her? What was so special about her for him to be doing all this?

She hopped onto the lift that was going to take her back up to the top of the mountain. It wasn't a short ride. There was another snowboarder on the lift with her. She put her goggles onto the top of her head, pulled down the turtle neck covering her mouth and breathed into her gloves.

"Hi." Robin said smiling at the guy.

He nodded and kept his head turned away from her. He was wearing goggles and a beanie similar to her own. No part of his face was visible. She saw a bit of hair poking out from the back of his beanie hat. It was a familiar shade of silver. She furrowed her brow.

"Hey, do I know you?" the guy turned to her, pulled down the top of his turtle neck, kissed her lightly for just a moment then jumped down from the lift and kept on riding.

"Max." Robin whispered looking back as he went down the hill. When she turned back around and looked up at the top where Ray stood coolly by himself waiting for her, she knew what she had to do. It really had to be done but she didn't want to do it. Ray just wasn't the one for her and now that her Max was back…she had to do what she knew was right and save herself for Max.

Robin ran to hug Kitty after what seemed like forever. It was finally after winter break and her last semester in high school. They hadn't seen each other for a few weeks. It was a giant reunion after the few weeks they had at their homes. Scott was the only one left at the institute but Robin had gotten a chance to travel to Switzerland with her little brother, mother, father and boyfriend.

Kurt and Rogue stepped into the room and Kitty and Robin separated. They stood aside as Rogue and Kitty ran to greet each other.

Kurt and Robin regarded each other for a few moments then started circling each other. They narrowed their eyes at each other. They both pushed hands into the bags slung over their shoulders.

Rogue and Kitty stood aside watching in amusement as souvenirs were ripped from the bags. Kurt and Robin ran into a huge hug. Then they exchanged souvenirs.

"This is so cute." Robin smiled at the tiny hula collectable doll, "Now if you get me a car with a dashboard to put it on, I'd flip."

Kurt laughed, "And you can get me some crackers to go with this cheese wheel." He grinned at the cheese wheel that was bigger than his head.

"Right." Robin said as they hugged again.

Robin started unpacking her suitcase. Amara hadn't arrived from her trip to Paris just yet though. As Robin put some new outfits into her closet, she felt the presence of someone else.

"You know, my boyfriend wouldn't like you kissing me."

"So, you have a boyfriend now?" he asked.

"Yeah, and I'm sure he'd be rather upset you were in here."

His arms wrapped around her shoulders from behind and he rested his chin on her head, "He should know that he was only holding on to you for me."

Robin laughed, "Right and I'm sure you're back for me now."

He held her more tightly, "Forbidden fruit is the most tempting." He whispered, "You've definitely grown. It seems they are teaching you something here."

"Because I felt you here?" she inquired.

"That and the way you move has changed."

"Oh, how so?"

"You're movements, your use of power…it's all better – more confident."

"Well, my boyfriend lives here."

"How do you think he's going to take it when you dump him?"

Robin chuckled, "Who said I plan to?"

"Oh, you will. I guarantee it." Then he was gone.

Robin smiled to herself. She put her hand over her lips when he was back to kiss her. She stared into his gorgeous brown eyes. He winked slyly and was off again in a second.

"I told him that Ray wasn't going to like this." She whispered to herself sliding the closet door closed.

Amara stepped into the room and so they began to meet and greet again. It was a huge hug fest at the Institute.

"I was thinking that maybe you, Ray, Roberto and I could double date this Saturday." Amara suggested as they continued to unpack their belongings.

Robin stopped mid fold on a pair of shorts. She knew she and Ray wouldn't be together by this Saturday. He had invited her out later that night just to have a walk after dinner and she was going to break the news to him then.

"Uh – Saturday doesn't sound too good for me." Robin said turning away to put the shorts into her drawer.

"Okay, how about Friday night then?"

Robin drew in a sharp breath and shook her head slowly at Amara. Amara stood there with her hands on her hips as she regarded Robin with a mischievous sparkle in her brown eyes.

"If you and Ray want some alone time and so don't want to double then you can just tell me." Amara teased.

Bobby overheard that part of the conversation and paused in the hall. He wasn't eavesdropping… he was just overhearing a conversation… a juicy conversation. They were whispering now so Bobby made an ice cup and put one side to his ear and the other side to the door.

Robin lowered her voice to a whisper, "Listen, Amara, I didn't want anyone to find this out before I told Ray but I don't think it's going to work out between us – I mean, I owe myself true love but with Ray and I…I'm just not feeling it. Promise you won't tell anyone but I plan to break up with him."

Bobby started to move off immediately. He knew he wasn't supposed to have heard what he'd just heard but what type of friend would he be if he didn't tell his best friend that his girlfriend was planning to dump him and telling her roommate before him?

"The only reason I'm telling you is because I need to tell you why we won't be able to double anytime in the near future."

"I understand." Amara said quietly, "Gosh, poor Ray…"

Robin was in the danger room with Ray monitoring the action for her while she trained. No one should be in the danger room without proper monitoring.

Robin was breezing through all the supposed challenges Ray was sending at her. She just then figured she should have asked Kurt. At least Kurt wouldn't take it easy on her just because she was his girlfriend…because they weren't together.

"C'mon Ray, let's go! This is easy work." Robin smiled towards the control panel.

"Okay, Baby, you're asking for it." He smiled then went up two levels when Bobby stepped in.

"I've got something to tell you." He whispered.

"Kind of busy right now…" Ray said gesturing to his girlfriend busting up the level in the danger room by herself.

"This is really important. I overheard Robin telling Amara that she was going to dump you tonight after dinner." Bobby said hastily.

Ray laughed, "Right, Bobby, trust me. Robin and I are doing fine together. Our relationship is better than ever. She invited me on a family vacation and her family loves me. Trust me; I'm in the safe zone."

Bobby sighed and ran a hand through his brown hair, "No, you're not, man. I heard it with my own two ears."

"What did you do, put an ice cup to her dorm?" Ray asked sarcastically.

"That's not the point," Bobby said, "She's going to dump you but if you don't believe me, suit yourself."

"C'mon, we both know Robin isn't the kind of girl to gossip to her friends about our relationship before she talks to me about it. She's cool like that."

"Fine. If that's what you think." Bobby turned to leave.

"Hey, listen here, stop making it sound like you know Robin better than me because you don't, Bobby so just stop with all this bull!" Ray was angry now. "Who are you to be telling me about my relationship? Go get a life."

Bobby was taken aback but just shrugged and kept his cool. He shoved his hands into his pants pockets and shook his head.

"This is what I get for trying to be a good friend, huh? Some friendship." Bobby scoffed then left the room, "Just don't come crying to me 'cause the first thing I'll tell you is 'I told you so.'" He said from down the hall.

Ray swung back around to watch Robin as she flew about on electric discs and sent volts of electricity flying. She was able to get almost any guy she wanted and why would she stay with him forever? He was lucky to get two months of her life. He knew it wouldn't last forever but why would she break it off now, when everything was perfect?

Unless everything isn't as perfect as I think… Ray thought to himself. He figured he'd find out tonight whether or not Bobby was trying to be a good friend or just being a jerk.

At dinner, Ray tried to make eye contact with Robin but it seemed her eyes were avoiding his at all costs and several times in the dinner when everyone was talking to her, she'd just zone out then come back in a few seconds. Why was she so distracted? It reminded him of the time she'd liked Quicksilver but he had been gone for over a year now… then again, his father had been around at the ski lodge and she had kept looking back down the mountain on their way into the lodge as if she'd left something behind.

As Robin laughed at something Jamie had said, Ray moved his hand over onto hers. Her napkin conveniently fell at that point and she moved her hand to go get it. Why was she acting so strangely? In their two months of dating, Robin had never allowed him to kiss her and she never liked quiet romantic dates. She always liked their dates to be busy and action packed so they hardly had time for each other.

Come to think of it, Robin treated him just like she treated Kurt and Jamie. But she calls me Babe, Ray reminded himself reassuringly.

"Right, Babe." Robin said smiling and shagging up Jamie's hair.

Oh right, she calls all her close guy friends Babe. Ray remembered.

So what really was the difference between their relationship and Kurt and hers? The only difference was that Robin called herself his girlfriend. All these weeks, Ray had never noticed the only difference in their relationship was that she called herself his girlfriend.

He found himself standing in the next moment. He firmly held on to Robin's wrist. The entire table fell silent and looked at him. He then realized his expression was that of pure rage and confusion. He changed his demeanour and asked the table to excuse him and Robin.

When they arrived outside, they stood in front of the well lit fountain but Ray wouldn't let go of her hand as if, if he did let go, she would run away and leave him forever.

"Do you have something to tell me, Robin?" he asked calmly.

Robin looked away and bowed her head, "Who told you?"

"Listen to me, Robin, I love you and nothing can ever take that away. I'd die for you in a heartbeat but if you aren't happy with me then I can't feel happy with you being unhappy." Ray told her as he held both her hands in his.

Robin felt so confused. Why couldn't life be easy? Why was she breaking the heart of one of her best friends? Why did she feel like crying even though she knew it was the right thing to do? Why was she feeling so down all of a sudden?

Ray gently lifted her chin and leaned in for a kiss. Just one and he'd feel okay. Robin almost felt like she owed him at least a kiss. Just one. As he got closer, Pietro's face flashed into her head but his lips were almost where hers were. She turned her head quickly and his lips landed on her cheek.

The hurt in his eyes made her stomach twist in guilt and she began to feel nauseous and like she was about to pass out. She flung her arms around him and gave him her most sincere hug. After this, living together in the X-Mansion was going to be extremely hard. She stepped back and gave him a small smile but he couldn't even muster an upwards tilt of the corners of his mouth. He held her hands up to where his heart was now barely beating and slowly let them go.

They were parted by a large flying sheet of metal about 7 feet in height and width. It forced them to jump backwards. Robin back flipped out of the way as did Ray in perfect synchronization. Their eyes connected and they both shot the metal with electricity charging it and giving them control over it too.

"I told you we'd meet again, my dear Robin." Came Magneto's voice. "This time though, you're coming with me."

Ray found himself surrounded by metal objects circling him quickly but smoothly. He was calm though. His only thought at the moment was Robin's safety. They were at different ends of the front yard now.

"I promise I won't hurt you or your friend if you come with me." Magneto said descending before Robin.

Robin's hair was out of its usual bun and strayed all over her face and head. She was breathing deeply. She had to concentrate on what was best for her and Ray's safety. Ray had taken a stance within the circle of metals but he was clearly out matched.

Magneto was now there, standing in front of her with the charged sheet of metal making a wall behind her.

"You are the perfect addition to my team. Come with me and mutants will rule all human beings like it is rightfully to be." Magneto said.

"No. Never."

"Sad to hear you say that." He said and all the sharp metal objects pointed straight at Ray. If he sent them flying, Ray would be Swiss cheese.

"If I come with you, will you leave the X-Mansion and never come back?"

Magneto smiled but because of the shadow covering his face, Robin only saw a glimpse of teeth, "Good choice."

"Don't go, Robin! He's a liar!" Ray shouted.

"Ray, that's one thing about you! You never know when to shut up!" Robin shouted angrily. Couldn't he see she was trying to save his life? Cheese! A little bit of support would be good.

"Robin is right, you are in no position to speak." Magneto said, "Let us go, my dear."

"Take me as your prisoner, Master Magneto." Robin said bowing humbly onto one knee and holding her hands in a way that he could handcuff her. She knew that's the only way she would let him take her away and the only way Ray could tell the Professor that she was willing to go.

Magneto made solid metal cuffs for her hands and feet and levitated away with her. She glanced back at the X-Mansion feeling that it was the last time she would be seeing it.