Chapter Thirteen

The Waited…Surprise

The next two days at Redwood Camp were not too bad—if I could really say that. After the whole thing Pietro and Fred, I hardly ever saw Quicksilver. Whenever I did, there would be very little talk. Just the simple "Hi's" and "How are you's" but even then it did not feel right. Even when I ask what is wrong, Pietro would shrug and not answer. Then yesterday was no better, Carly made very one do a training type session. Well no one really did anything, just her showing us how to work the field.

Today, the second day for Juggernaut however was different. Carly told us at breakfast that we were starting the train at noon. That was nice and all but Lance was got nerves. He and others (but me, Fred and Rogue) wanted to see the Juggernaut soon. Other than that problem, all the members looked forward to kicking X-men ass.

"What is the matter sugar?" Rogue asked when were outside the hall. Fred was talking to Toad and Pietro was with Lance.

I gave her my best smile. "Wrong, nothing is the matter…why?"

Rogue shrugged with a grin. "Well you aren't talkin to silver these days and you and Freddy-boy are in and out."

I shrugged, looking over at Pietro. "I don't know what's wrong with him," I turned back to Rogue. "And there is nothing wrong with Fred and me."

"If you say so girl," stated Rogue and changed the subject. "So when do think this Cain fellow will show?"

We started to the lake before I answered. "I don't have a clue," I said. "All I know is that he will be trouble."

Rogue snorted. "Oh please, by the way old waters is saying," a sudden smile came to her lips. "That boy won't be doing a thing."

I laughed. "Well I guess that is true." And for a few minutes we laughed and joked around. We continued are walk for a whole long before we stopped under a thick oak tree.

"So," Rogue nudged me in the shoulder. "How are things really going between you and Silver?"

"Fine till what happened the other day." I rolled my eyes with a sigh.

"You mean what all happened in the hall?" I nodded. "Oh well Pietro had no right to do that to you."

I was still nodding. "I know but whenever I ask what is going on, he doesn't answer."

Rogue shook her head. "What you all see in that egomaniac any who?"

I sighed. "I thought he was charming, kind, sweet, caring…" I shook my head, not willing to finish the list. "But now I'm not so sure."

Rogue shyly smiled. "And what about Freddy?"

I glared at her. "Rogue!"

She held her hands up in defense. "I'm just say in, that between the two of them, Fred-boy is better."

I darkly chuckled. "Well then maybe you should date him then."

She gagged. "Hey now girl, no affiance to him but he aren't my type. Besides you and him get along a lot better."

I snorted. "That's because we have been friends forever Rogue."

Then she turned serious. "Ya, I know that and is also why you two would be great. Fred gets you a whole hell a lot better than anyone especially Pietro."

"So what," I exclaimed and walked to the lake front. "I don't have feelings for him and the same goes for him." I turned to look at her. "What do you want me to do, dump Pietro and try my small luck with my best friend?"

Once again, Rogue shook her head. "No, but I want you to think about someone better then Silver, even if it's not Fred." And with that Rogue walked away and I didn't stop her. I knew she was right, at the moment any guy was better than Pietro, even Freddy. Shaking my head, I turned around and walked the way we came.

For a long time I was alone in cabin five. Maybe I was there for three hours, and just sat on Fred's bed. There was so much about many things that I didn't understand. Weather it was Pietro and me or the secrets that Fred kept. Or maybe it was the fact that everyone thought that Fred love me. Then there was if I should stay with the Brotherhood or not. There was so much about the Brotherhood that I did not know. By the look of it, I was the only one that did not know. I shook my head, the answers would come in time, and I just have to be patient. But how long would I have to wait and why should I. Pietro and I are dating and should be talking things out. Then Fred and me are best friends and should trust each other. Also if people think that Fred loves me then the facts should be shown to me. Finally as for the Brotherhood—well if I'm a member then I should be told what's going on.

"Oh why the long face?" I look up from my hands with a start. A middle-aged man that I had never seen before stood a few feet in front of me. He has fair skin, sky blue eyes and short curly blond hair. This man was about Fred's height and slightly built.

I snarled. "Who are you and what do you want with me?"

The man smiled. "My name is of no importance and I just wanted to talk." There was something about his face, his voice and built that was familiar. I wished I could say that I had seen him somewhere before but I couldn't.

I looked at him over thoughtfully. "Have we met before?"

He grinned. "Not likely, however I have heard about you."

"Really?" I asked with a dangerous smirk.

"Truly." He returned my smirk and looked amused.

I nodded. "So then what do you want to know?"

He shook his head. "It's not what I want but what you want."

My head tilted to the side. "What do you..."

"You want answers," he said. "Then make sure that your at training today and you get at least three answers. That and possibility a little more new knowledge."

"But how…" I started to ask but there was a knock on the door. My eyes left the man for a moment to look at the door. When I looked back at the man…he was not there.

The door opened then and Freddy started to walk in. "Aprill are you here," then he saw me on his bed. "I guess so." For a few moments we just looked at each other as Fred shut the door. I was wondering if he heard me talking to the man. By the look of it Fred didn't know but there was something he wanted to say.

I sighed. "Is there something on your mind Fred?"

He ran a hand in his hair. "I just have wanted to talk something's out."

I gestured for him to sit with me. "Ok, what is it that you want to talk about?"

Slowly Fred walked over and sat beside me. Once again things got quiet and Fred played with his hands. He's nerves, I thought to myself, I wonder why? Finally Freddy cleared his throat and spoke. "You're still upset with me, aren't you?" it was not a hateful tone but rather a saddened one.

I sighed. "I understand that there's something you will tell me when you're ready. It's the other ideas that are upsetting me."

Fred ran through his hair again. "I don't like this…this wall that's starting to build between us," he looked at my face. "It makes me edgy and worried."

I frowned. "Well it's not just your secrets that are upsetting me."

He nodded sadly. "I guessed that," then he paused and turned his body to face me. "What else is there?"

I shook my head. "Well other then you, there is Pietro. But I just need to get up and talk to him," I said and stood up from the bed. "Next there was how you are said to love me but you already said no." I had my back to Fred when I paused again. Fred's eyes burned into my back but I wasn't sure if I should say the last worry.

"There's more," Fred whimpered. "I can just tell…go on Lily, tell me."

I sighed. "I have…well, I've been thinking about the Brotherhood and…if I should leave." The last part came out in a rush and I knew Fred wouldn't like the idea.

"No," Fred whimpered his sob and stood up. "Why would you leave and where would you go?"

I shifted my footing uncomfortably. "First, I don't even know what the Brotherhood really stands for."

"Aprill…"

"Freddy," I turned to look at him. "I'm the only one here that doesn't know what's going on."

He shook his head. "That's not true."

I smiled sadly. "Bullshit, even you know more than me."

Fred sighed. "Ok maybe I do but I really don't know if that's true," that was when Fred's voice cracked. "But if you leave, where would you go? Back home?"

I shook my head again. Of course I would love to go back to Texas and see John. But I could not leave Freddy like that, so there was only way. "No, if I go…then I was going to…be an X-Man."

That's when Fred stood right in front of me and griped my arms. "No," Fred whispered sadly. "You don't need to leave Aprill. I'm going to be here and protect you."

"Freddy even you're not perfect, things could happen." I said slowly, try to make Fred understand.

Fred shook his head. "I have been here for you for ten years. You are safe with me."

Tease started to sting my eyes. We are talking about hurt and pained thoughts now. I was not sure if I should tell him this next part but he had a right to know. "Freddy, ever scene the first day in Bayville with Jean…I haven't felt truly safe."

That's when Fred himself cried. "But I…Why didn't you…you didn't tell me?"

I started to feel my tease on the rims of my eyes. "I wanted to but I didn't understand what it meant." Then my voice shook and I cried. "I'm so sorry Trucker."

His bottom lip trembled. "So you're just going to leave me," Fred's voice cracked as he wrapped his arms around my waist. "After everything we have done, and what we promised. Lily bear I…"

I shook my head sadly at what he said. "No, when I'm with the X-men we will still see each other. We'll still be friends, no matter…"

"But we'll be fighting Aprill!" Fred's grip on me tightened. "Friends don't fight like what the X-men and Brotherhood will be doing."

That made my head title to the side. "Fighting, Freddy what are you…"

"Hey you two," We looked at the door to see Lance. "Training is about to start, are you ready."

"Ya we are Lance." Fred answered and as Lance left Fred whispered in my ear. "We're not finished with this talk."

I nodded. "I'm not thinking of leaving for a while yet." With that Fred griped my shoulders as we walked out of cabin five. I know that was more to say and more to explain. Fighting, I wondered when we got outside. What did he mean by that?

"Ok now that everyone is here," Carly nodded when she saw Fred, Lance, and myself. "Let's see, dose anyone want to go first?"

I whispered in Lance's ear. "What is she talking about?"

Lance looked at me sideways. "We volunteer to go up and fight someone."

I nodded, all the X-Men and Brotherhood members stood at the lake front. We were at the west side where there was enough room for combat. I was a little nerve, not knowing who would call me out to fight.

"I'll go!" everyone turned to see Scott step out of the coward of X-Men. I shook my head knowing there were only two mutants he would want to fight, Fred and myself.

Carly smiled. "And who would you like to be your appointee?"

Scott returned her smile. "The Brotherhood's own," My heart sank. "Tigerlily."

Fred's face turned red in anger. "Aprill didn't do anything to you slim!"

Scott turned to face Fred and me. When Scott walked closer to us, Freddy put his right arm in front of me. "Oh and me fighting you would be better round boy," Scott sneered and Fred was about to lose his temper. "My powers don't work on you so I'm not stupid."

Fred got in Scott's face. "You are stupid if you think Aprill is an easier fight."

The young X-Men snorted. "I would think so because no one in the x-mansion knows what she can do."

I shook my head and got myself between the two men. "Stop it," I snapped and then looked at Scott with a growl. "You want to know what I can do four-eyes fine. You have yourself a fight."

Scott smirked. "That's more like it," Then his smirk grow. "I was about to think that you let that ape make all…" I snarled then and shoved Scott back. He let out a yelp as he fell on his ass a few feet away.

With a simple thought I was an inch off the ground and slowly moved to Scott. I crossed my arms behind my back and watched him slowly get up. "When will you X-Men learn?" I hissed. "Making fun of Fred is not good for your health."

Scott rubbed his mouth and spit on the ground. "To be honest, it's too easy to make…" I roared and flung forward to grip my hands in his shirt. Slowly, to scare Scott, I lifted him off the ground. I stopped when we were all most five feet off the ground. Scott started to struggle. "Hey put me down!"

I smirked. "You wanted to know my powers, well this is just the start." All the X-Men were in shock at the display. As for the Brotherhood they were cheering and laughing.

"You know," It was Freddy and he had the biggest grin on his face. "You could have had more luck if you fought me instead."

Scott's visor started to glow but I shook my head. "One, you hit me then you fall and could break a leg. But if you don't break anything in the fall," I grinned. "Well, Freddy will make sure of it for blasting me."

Scott sighed. "Then what are you going to do."

I smiled. "Don't squirm too much." With that I through Scott up in the air which made him yell and scream for help. In a flash I morphed into a lioness and griped the collar his shirt with my teeth when he was in reach. All the X-Men looked up in shock.

"Wow," Kitty said with wide eyes.

"Oh man, what the hell?" that was Even's shocked voice.

Pietro chuckled. "Aprill is an animal morfer."

Freddy snorted. "Probably just as strong as me, can fly, has super senses and has healing powers."

Even sighed and rolled his eyes. "Oh and that's all."

Carly smiled. "Lily comes from very powerful immortal parents and summers walked right into a lion's den."

Scott struggled again. "Um hello, can I get put down now?"

I scuffed and slowly walked, in mid-air and still holding Scott, over to the water front. When the water was deep enough, "If you insist." I snorted and let him go. Scott splashed in the water with a yelp and most of the Brotherhood was on the ground laughing.

When I landed on the ground in normal form, it was Pietro who came to hug me. "That's was wonderful my love."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh now you're talking to me?"

Pietro pulled away to look at my face. "Can we talk after training, like a long one?" He frowned when I did and Pietro held me tighter. "Please baby, there's a lot for me to be sorry for."

I sighed. "Ok, that sounds reasonable."

Pietro was going to say more but Scott cut him sort. "No fair, I want a do over."

I stepped out of Pietro's arms to face Scott. "Oh I didn't think you still had your pride." I shook my head. "No rematch summers, you should walk away while you still can."

Scott was going to reply but Jean pulled him away. "Come on Scott, just let it go."

Kurt nodded. "Yes my friend. If you do face her again…well who knows what could happen."

Carly shrugged. "Well now that we got that out of the way. Who wants to go next?"

When no one answered, Fred smiled. "Ok then, I'll go next." That's when people started to turn pale, even I did.

Carly raised an eyebrow. "Really Mr. Dukes and who would you like to face?"

Freddy grinned and paned the crowd of scared mutants before his eyes stopped at me. "No way." I giggled.

He smiled and walked over to stand in front of me. "Oh yes way, I challenge my team mate Tigerlily."

I grinned. "Alright, when you put it that way," Then I shrugged. "So how do you want this session to go?"

Freddy playfully snorted. "No animal, no flying and if you can help it, no super scenes."

I nodded with a smile. "Oh that kind of hand to hand session," I jumped in place. "That is my favorite."

"You're joking," Scott sneered. "Why didn't…"

"Because summers," Fred chuckled as he got space between us. "This is one of the sessions me and Lily did back home." Then he looked at Scott. "I'm the only one who can have these sessions with her."

Carly smirked. "Well this will be an interesting display. I give permission for this fight, you may begin when ready."

"You ready Trucker?" I asked with growl.

He shook his head with a smile. "No growling either Lily."

I put my hands on my hips. "Oh ya and who's going to stop me you?"

"No, that would be me." Everyone turned to look behind me.

Slowly I turned to see, "You again!" It was the same man that I talked to in cabin five.

The man smiled. "And it's you again, my darling Aprill."

Fred came up from behind me and growled at the new comer. "Who the hell are you?"

"Oh there's a question we should be asking you big boy." Almost out of thin air came a young woman flow from the sky. She was my age and has short read hair. Her eyes are a deep blue, fair skinned and wore a long red dress. Just like the man there was something about her that made me think I'd seen her before. The she evilly smiled at Fred. "Don't be cold handsome, what's your name?"

Fred griped my arms from behind me. "Fred Dukes, Aprill's best friend."

"And a member of the Brotherhood," The man grinned. "Boy, they get some strong young ones to join," He looked at the girl. "Don't you think?"

"But of course." The girl smiled.

That's when Carly stepped forward. "What are you two doing here?"

The girl smirked. "Carly Waters, what a pleasure it is to see you once again."

Carly snorted. "The less I can say for you Phoenix."

Fred snorted. "What kind of a name is that?"

The man smiled. "The kind of name for a powerful mutant," Then he looked at me. "Now for what I promised, my sweet Aprill the first thing you will learn is the full name of the Brotherhood."

"What he promised?" Fred wondered. "Aprill do you know them."

Phoenix grinned. "She should but some things got in the way."

I shook my head. "How…"

"The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants." The man cut me off.

I looked at him. "You mean I'm…"

"Yes my girl, you're working for a group of vileness mutants." The man answered slowly.

Carly snapped. "Stop toying with the girl Richard…"

"Wait," I shouted and then I got a better look at the man. All at once I saw the familiarity in his face, the way he stood and even his voice. "Richard as in…"

Richard smiled. "It's good to finial meet you at last my sweet half sister."

"But, Dad told me…"

"That I was in jail," My newly founded half brother, Richard Fisk, sneered. "No thanks to Samantha, father had no choice."

I ignored Richard and looked at Phoenix. "And who are you, really?"

Phoenix snorted dryly. "Of course sweet mother and father wouldn't tell you about me."

Fred growled. "Aprill Lin is an only child!"

"No she isn't," Phoenix said. "My name is Phoenix Ember Fisk, Aprill my dear, we're twins."

"And your friends, like Fred have lied to you about the Brotherhood." Richard nodded. "However both your sister and I are proud that you're following in the Kingpin's footsteps."

"No," I whispered in pain. I know they were telling the truth, I could hear it in their voices.

Fred spun me around to face him. "Aprill, you don't really…"

I ripped away from him. "You lied to me," Then I looked at all the other Brotherhood members. "All of you sick bastards lied to me!" I screamed.

Fred took a step to me. "Lily please I didn't…"

"No," I backed away. I feel so confused and angry that the pained look on Fred's face didn't matter to me. Fred continued to try to come closer till my back was pressed to Richard's chest. I looked up at him. "Why did you tell me this brother?"

He griped my shoulders. "You had a right to know sister."

"Get your hands off…" Fred warned but Phoenix stepped between us.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you Blob." Phoenix hissed and stepped between us.

I shook my head. "But you two are criminals, just like what father was?"

Richard sighed. "Yes but we are still family sweet sis, we look out for each other."

Fred looked at me. "Lily please let me…"

"No!" I screamed and pulled away from Richard. "I'm sorry brother, sister but I must go."

"Aprill wait!" Fred called but Phoenix held him off. I ran to the cabin where I could be alone.

When I thought I was out of ear shot heard Richard call. "Take care sister dear." With that they disappeared and I told myself what my finial choice was.