New World Order

By: XMENobsession

AN: If the letter 'i' is ever missing in one of my chapters, I'm terribly sorry, but the 'i' button on my laptop has to be pushed really hard in order for it to work. It's very annoying, but I'm afraid it can't be helped. :-(

Well, here is the 11th addition to my much too neglected story. I hope you enjoy and REVIEW.

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing! Not the people, not the places, and definitely not the paper!

Chapter 11

Kitty pulled away from the kiss quickly. "Lance!"

"I'm sorry," Lance said. "I..."

"I'm married!"

"I know..."

"I have two kids!"

"I know..."

"We..."

"I know, I know, I know! I'm sorry, okay? I just...I couldn't help myself. I'd be lying if I said I ever got over you, but that's no excuse..." Lance put his face in his hands. "I'm sorry."

Kitty placed a comforting hand on his arm. "It's okay... Well, no, it's not, but it was half my fault. Mistakes happen, right?"

Lance looked up at her. "Right. So, we pretend this never happened?"

Kitty nodded and Lance stood to go inside. "Lance..."

He stopped. "Yeah?"

"Umm... No awkwardness, please? I mean, the last thing we need right now is us feeling odd around each other."

"Okay."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"You completed your assignment?" Wanda asked Erika as they walked through City Hall towards Magneto's office.

"Yes," Erika answered calmly. "You?"

Wanda snickered. "As if he'd trust me enough to give me something important to do."

"He doesn't trust you?"

"Never has. He seemed to be getting over it, but recently..." Erika gave her aunt a look that urged her to continue, but Wanda simply said, "I think that's all I should be telling you."

"Do you not trust me?" Erika asked.

They had arrived in front of Magneto's office, and Wanda paused before answering, "You've yet to give me a reason to," before opening the door. Erika simply shrugged at this reply and followed her aunt into the room. Inside they found Magneto, Pietro, and Pyro gathered around Magneto's desk, all staring down at a map of New York City.

"After Pyro enters Times Square, you will... Oh, hello ladies."

"Father," Wanda said callously. "Are you planning the attack on the city?"

"No, not planning. This has been planned for centuries, it seems. We're simply... reviewing," Magneto answered. "Erika, are you prepared?"

Erika nodded. "I have been for centuries, but isn't Aunt Wanda coming as well?"

Magneto shot his daughter a quick glance, and then mused while watching his granddaughter's unmoving face. "We'll discuss it."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Kitty left Lance alone on the porch as she entered the dark house and closed the door behind her. She sighed silently and headed for the stairs, but someone blocked her path.

"He's not dead, you know."

Kitty had not seen Charlie standing in the darkness and jumped at her sudden statement. "Charlie?! How long have you been there?"

"He's not dead! 'Til death do us part.' You remember that, right?"

"Charlie... It wasn't what you think. Lance and I..."

"You have a past, right? And I suppose the two years you and Dad have been married mean nothing now... now that he's..."

"Not dead?"

Charlie bowed her head and, though Kitty could barely see her through the dark, she knew that tears were running down her cheeks. "Charlie..." Kitty said soothingly as she wrapped her arms around her daughter. "I know it's hard. I don't want to believe it either, but..."

"But what? I'm sorry that I can't let him go quite as easily as you can! It's been 15 years for me, and still I... and how long has it been for you? 2 days?!"

"15 years..." Kitty whispered. "And you still manage have faith? You truly believe he's alive?"

"It's all I can do to keep going. When you died I... I can still remember your body, lying there... but dad's was never found. He just disappeared." She'd stopped crying at this point and looked up at her mother, her red eyes full of love. "He's alive. I know it."

"Okay," Kitty said. "I believe you."

"Then what was...?"

"We may be the same age now, but don't forget that I'm still your mother, and there are some things mothers can't explain to their children. You're just going to have to trust me on this one."

Charlie was reluctant, but caved in the end. She nodded and walked up the stairs to bed. Kitty released another silent sigh.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"So what do you think?" Magneto asked his granddaughter after the other had left his office and they were alone in the room.

"About...?"

"Wanda. You've intimated before that she is untrustworthy."

"Yes, I have."

"This gives me reason to question whether I should put her on the New York assault coming up."

"I see how it could."

"So you agree I shouldn't?"

"No."

Magneto rested his face in his palm defeated. "What do you want me to do then?"

"Send her," Erika replied. "I believe she deserves a chance. She is your daughter, after all."

Magneto raised his head. "All right. My faith in you outweighs my uncertainty toward her, but don't make me regret it."

Erika smiled. "I won't."