Chapter Thirteen

Anne watched Remy walk away before she slipped threw one of the rear doors, down a short hall, and out the back of the mansion.

She needed to be alone. She walked away from the mansion towards the cliff. She wanted to be out of the range of any prying eyes and the beach was the perfect place. She wasn't as ready as she had thought. She just needed ten minutes alone before she faced everyone.

She wished she had had better timing. Her presence at the very least would interrupt the party. But Remy and her at the same time were bound to bring it to a halt.

As she neared the cliffs edge, Anne thought she heard something. Sure enough as she scanned the cliffs rim she saw a man's silhouette about a hundred feet east of her, near the stairway to the beach. Where she wanted to be. She would have to cross his path if she continued.

She slowed her pace, walking almost silently. This was a near impossible feet in her eveningwear. Hoping that she would go unseen. With her abilities it was possible.

Just as she thought she had made it a rather strong hand reached out and grabbed her wrist.

"Where do you think your headed, lady? The party's back there. Besides it ain't safe to go wondering off around here by yourself. Might set off the security." A deep, husky voice said.

"I highly doubt that buddy. I know this place like the back of my hand. And I'll go wherever I please, so let go of me already. Before you regret it." Anne didn't like his tone of voice. That and she never back down from anyone. Even some one as strong as him. Not like he could really hurt her anyways. Though she wished she could see him.

"Just who the hell do you think you are, girly?"

"I'm a friend of the professor. Who are you?"

"A friend of the professor. And I've don't remember ever meeting you?" His grip on her wrist tightened.

"How do you know? It's to dark to see me." Anne was not liking this. He was probably a mutant and mutants didn't need much to start a fight. And beating up a guess at Rogue's wedding would not make a good first impression.

"Yeah well I know scents. And yours ain't from around here."

"Fine your right I haven't been here in a while. And I don't want to start my homecoming with a fight. So tell me your name already, tuff guy."

"Bossy little thing aren't you. What makes you think I'd start a fight with a woman?"

"Being a woman won't keep me from kicking your butt if you don't let go of my arm." Anne was debating on dropping her shield just to find out who he was.

"Really? You don't know who you're talking to, baby doll." You could practically hear him laugh when he said this.

Anne had had enough.

"Wanna bet," She said as she stomped his instep making him release her wrist. Then she started to run for the beach.

"You little bitch!" He was on top of her before she knew what happened. He had her pinned to the ground at the top of the stairs. "You're coming back with me. And don't try that again or you'll regret it."

This time he twisted her arm behind her back. He was strong but that wouldn't help him now that she was mad. With one quick push she went over his head and kicked him in the back of the knee, causing him to go down. But he was just as fast as her and was already back on his feet facing her by the time she realized her arm was broke. What was he made of? She had kicked with everything she had and on a normal man that would have been enough to brake his knee.

"Your good little girl, but not good enough. Give up now before you wined up with something worse than a broke arm."

"What broken arm?" Anne said flexing her arm and wrist. She had healed in the time it took for him to speak and he didn't seem hurt at all. This was going to be fun. A good fight would work wonders for her stress level.

"I know I just broke that. Not many mutants heel that fast. But that fact, little girl, will only make this more fun."

He dove for her and sent them both rolling down the stairs. Hitting and clawing all the way.

Just as they hit bottom the walkway lights came on. They rolled apart and turn to face each other.

Logan saw the lady's dress had split clean up to her hip and she had an awesome pair of legs. His eyes continued up the length of her body cataloging her assets on the way. Her hips were ample, her waist was slender, and her breasts were perfect. His eyes moved up.

Anne saw the man's hands first. They now had long silver claws coming out of the backs. That was a neat trick. Maybe she should have let her shield down. He was going to be a better match than she had first thought. His chest was wide and his shoulders strong. She looked at his face.

When their eyes met the world went black.

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

Charles Xavier made his way through the crowd. He was searching for Anne and Remy. He did not like to use his powers openly around this many people.

He spotted Storm with little Becca and made his way there.

"Storm, where are Anne and Remy?"

"Remy went to speak to Rogue, Sir." That would not end well.

"And Anne?"

"Well…"

"She just slipped out for a few minutes." That was not good. Anne had a tendency to run from this place.

"Where to Storm?"

Storm could here the worry in his voice. "Don't worry. She's not going to run. Becca is here with me."

"I am not worried she will run. I am worried that she will decide that she cannot stay here. She may feel that she is no longer welcomed. Many things have changed since she left us."

"Yes many things have changed. But she is still our friend. She is still one of us. She is still an X-man."

"But still I want to speak to her."

"Then go and speak to her."

He then reached out his mind to search for her. And he found her.

"Storm hurry and turn on the beach lights. Wolverine and Anne have met." The Professor said. Then with his mind, 'Scott, I need you outside on the beach, now and Bobby you too.'

Across the room Scott and Bobby Drake ran for the door.

The Professor met them outside.

"What's wrong, Charles," Scott said.

"We have a situation on the beach."

"A situation?" Bobby asked.

"Yes it seems Wolverine and Rebel have gotten off to a rocky start."

"Rebel's back!" Scott was stocked.

"We have to stop them before they hurt each other."

They had reached the top of the stairway to the beach when the lights came on. Wolverine's claws were drawn and Rebel's fists were glowing. Just when Scott though the worst was about to happen the Professor gasped and winced like something had hit him and both occupants of the beach fell to the ground.

In a blink of an eye Bobby iced up and slide to the bottom. He checked first Rebel then Logan. "They're both out cold," he shouted back.

"Professor what did you do?"

"Nothing," he whispered, "I'm not sure what happened. The pain they felt was so strong it took my breath away. And now I can't make any since of their thoughts. It is like their brains are in overdrive. We need to get them back to the medical unit."

"I'll help Bobby, sir."

"I'll have Jean and Henry meet us there."

………………………………………………………………………………………….

Just as Jean was hugging Remy a great rush of pain hit her. But not her own, all she could do was whisper, "Logan."

Jean was falling. Remy scooped her into his arms. "Jubilee something's wrong. Find the Professor fast."

Remy and Beast ran for the med-unit as she went in search of the Professor.

By the time they had made it downstairs to the medical unit Jean was starting to wake up.

Remy gentle laid her on one of the beds. "Hank I think she's waken' up."

"Good, good. Jean, my dear, you seem to have fainted. How are you feeling now?"

"Fine," she said sitting up. "I think you should be more worried about them." She pointed to the door as it slid opened. Reveling the Professor clutching a very pale and limp Anne and behind them Scott and Bobby were half carrying and half dragging Logan. Both seemed to look battle worn and both were most definitely unconscious.

Remy, who himself was a little pale, picked up Anne and held her tight. She looked horrible. Her dress was badly torn. She was covered in blood. But there wasn't a scratch on her.

Jean slide off the bed so Anne could take her place. "Remy lay her here," she said.

Slowly Gambit laid Anne on the cool white sheets. "Professor what happened? Were they attacked? Who did this? Did you get them?"

"Slow down Gambit. Right now let's get them both taken care of. Jean are you okay? You look pale."

"I felt them when it happened. Scott bring Logan over here," she said as she cross the room to another examination bed. "I'll check him over while Hank tends to Anne."

Scott and Bobby lifted Wolverine onto the table for Jean.

As Hank checked Rebel's vitals Jean started to check Logan's. But when she touched him his feelings washed over her and they were too much to bear. Jean gasped and stumbled backward.

"Professor, did you feel that?" Jean was very worried.

"Yes something is very wrong with both of them. Don't touch him again; let Hank take care of them. Storm is on her way and she can assist."

"Fine but what can we do?"

"Wait. Hank I think we should put neural monitors on both of them. What ever is wrong it has to do with their minds."

"Good idea. Jean get the equipment ready while I am checking their vitals. Scott, Bobby, Charles did any of you see what happened."

At that Remy looked up from Belle. He desperately wanted to know what had taken place.

The Professor answered first. "I was searching for Anne when I felt her out by the cliff. I'm sure she was headed for the beach. But Logan was in her way. I think she might have tried sneaking past him. And you know how he is. Anne got mad and the next thing I saw was her hitting him. So I signaled Scott and Bobby to follow me."

"You could hear them fighting as we ran to the stairs. I think they must have fell down them cause I could hear and then the noise was gone and you could just hear them slamming into the stairs. It was bad. Then the lights came on."

"The lights?" questioned Jean.

"Yes I had sent Storm to turn on the lights," Xavier answered.

"Well," Scott spoke up, "We got to the cliff's edge in time to see them get to get to their feet. And they were battle ready. Wolverine had his claws out and Rebel's hands were glowing bright blue. I just knew she was going to tear him up."

"No way, Logan would have torn her to pieces." Exclaimed Bobby.

"You know Bobby," said Scott, "I have fought both of them and I say Rebel would have won."

"As interesting as this conversation could be, gentlemen. I think that arguing about the possible outcome of said battle is ill timed. What happened next?" Probed Beast.

"Nothing." Both men answered.

"Then they fell and a very strong pain hit me. Not my pain theirs." The professor added.

"I felt it too," said Jean, "And now it's like Logan's brain is in overdrive."

"Rebel's is the same," said Charles.

"But what caused this?" Remy was getting upset.

"I don't know." Was the only answer the Professor had.

The door opened and Storm ran in.

"Oh my, Hank what can I do?"

"Start Logan's vitals for me. I am almost done with Anne's."

"Where is Becca?" Gambit asked.

"With Jubilee. But I think someone needs to go back up stairs and calm her down before the guests become suspicious."

"I had forgotten about the party." Said the Professor. "Scott why don't you and Bobby go back and after the monitors are hooked up Jean and I will join you. Try to calm the girls down. The child will be worried about her mother."

The two men left.

"I thought you needed my help with Jean?" Storm asked Beast.

"At the party Jean fainted. But she was fine. Merely a side effect of what ever has happened to dear Rebel and Logan."

"Do we know anything?" She asked.

Xavier repeated everything that had happened.

"But what were they doing?"

"Fighting."

"I know that. But at the exact moment it happened, what exactly were they doing? Did one of them step on something?"

"No neither one moved. All they were doing was looking at each other."

Jean entered the conversation. "Professor you know them both better than anyone else here and you sure…"

"Wait," he interrupted, "Move them close enough that I can touch both."

Remy and Storm pushed Belle to the middle of the room and Hank and Jean moved Wolverine within a few feet of her. This gave the Professor just enough room to fit between the two. He place one hand on each.

The others watched as his face twisted in concentration. Though it was only a minute or so by the time he broke the connection he was sweating and breathing hard.

"Professor, are you alright?" Asked Jean.

"Give him some room." Said Hank.

"I know what has happened," said the Professor, "This may take awhile. I think they will be fine, but we will monitor them for now. No questions. We shall all meet in my office in half an hour. I need to collect my thoughts. Now all of you go back upstairs." With that he glanced at Jean and Gambit. "Don't argue with me either of you. Now go." He pointed to the door.

When the door closed behind the others, Charles Xavier spoke again.

"I hope you can hear me my friends. I never thought that something like this would happen when you were finally reunited. I always assumed it would take a lot of time for your memories to return, not to rush on you all at once. But you two are not normal even for mutants. I should have prepared you both for this and I am truly sorry. We shall all have a nice long talk when you have both awakened."

Then he checked all the monitors before dimming the lights and leaving the room.