AN: I don't own x-men. Thank you for all the new favs and follows! Please, leave a review if you like the chapter, I crave them like chocolate...

Enjoy!

Everything calmed down but there was still plenty to deal with. What was next? Did Laura really left and could she be found? Many questions rang in Olivia's head, but she couldn't pick a simple one to focus on. The amount of things she didn't know was so big and the thought that she might never get those answers scared her a little. She wanted - no, needed - to know why this all happened. Being mutant was surely the cause but by now, Olivia knew there were many mutants so why her?

Plenty of burning questions lingered but those that she had to find answers to were about her future not the past. Xavier helped her by proposing a plan of the following action and she wasn't about to act all stubborn. She had regretted many things throughout her life but her biggest regret was not accepting his help the first time, before it had all started, before Mary was killed and all of them hurt.

She wouldn't hate her life, though she wouldn't be happy either. Her work wouldn't satisfy her and she'd feel empty by simply working for money and not the pleasure of doing something she was good at and studied hard to achieve. However much she'd dislike it, Mary would be here, enjoying her routine early morning cup of tea.

So this time, when Xavier offered to take them all in, she didn't really hesitate. It seemed like a right thing to do but only to her. Even though Xavier's mansion was huge and there was plenty of free rooms for everyone, they all refused except for her. It surprised her because no matter what Laura had written in the note, Olivia though they might still be in danger and she didn't feel safe enough just yet. She now realizes that it was only her, but who could blame them, they didn't go through it the same way she had to, she dealt with it for months.

She'd feel alone without McCoys by her side. There was no way Hank would allow them to stay in their conditions. Norton was already waiting for them in the mansion's hospital wing.

Olivia decided to stay there, in a mansion, for the time being, and return to her house only after things settled down.

Liam was first to refuse Xavier's offer just after she agreed, but he was grateful and did so politely. As exciting as it'd be to finally see the great School for Gifted Youngsters, where he once could have been enrolled to, dwelling on the past was pointless.

Daryl agreed with Liam, he wasn't a mutant and Laura hadn't targeted him before, she wouldn't do so now after she had sent them a message where she admitted her loss. Since he knew what went down at Amy's apartment during the night, he and Amy changed the plan a little. She would leave her place but instead of going to the mansion, Daryl would take her to his home.

Xavier had already helped Amy enough. Thanks to his impressive mutation, none of her neighbors panicked upon hearing the shots. They hadn't even went out of their flats to check the hall. It was also thanks to Logan because it was him who called for Xavier's help without the girls even noticing and Amy could admit that, but it was still mostly Xavier's doing that helped. She couldn't imagine what would happen if neighbors heard it. There were pools of blood and red splashes on the walls. Logan took the maimed body but that was not enough. The floor and the stairs were dirty and slippery. Explaining that would be challenging, if not impossible. Amy was a creative person but her imagination had limits.

Olivia had more than one reason to return to New York for a week or two. That was the time she estimated would take her to calm down. She needed to rest but not only to gain energy. Her mental state was not that great either, she went through a lot of tough decisions, loss of her friend and the guilt - so much guilt. Olivia could hear everyone say it a thousand times that it wasn't her fault, none of it, and she would still feel the excruciating guilt that threatened to cover all of her feelings and crush her under its unbearable weight. She refused to call police or seek other kind of help. She could have done something, not stay silent. Well, it was too late to think of what could have been had she not decided to do nothing.

Visiting her father was on her to do list now, too. He helped her not only once with deciding about her future, he'd do the same this time as every other time that she needed an aid with whatever she brought to her mind and she was sure he'd have few questions to ask himself.

The flight in the jet was quick and quiet. No one really wanted to say anything. Olivia barely knew this people, Hank was occupied and Edna sleeping so she decided to stay silent. The young girl, Mina, was on the verge of slipping to the land of dreams and one glance at Logan told her the best thing to do was keep her mouth shut.

She had few minutes to herself and couldn't stop thinking how this was so much better than sitting in a bus for endless hours. She couldn't stretch her legs out or exactly move that much, but it was still better, different - she was exhausted.

There was no window in her near proximity so the only way to tell that the jet was landing was by feeling it. She had never flown in a similar aircraft before and didn't know when to expect it until it finally happened.

When they landed, Olivia was surprised to see the insides of a vast gray hangar. She thought they'd land somewhere on a field or a roof but not inside. There was one more plane, far bigger than the jet she had just exited. She glanced up, wondering what was above them. Wasn't it a bit dangerous? What if someone needed to use the plane urgently, but there were people standing on the entrance to the underground hangar? Olivia shook her head and followed Xavier to the elevators before she got lost in the physics and construction that she knew nothing about.

Professor Xavier assigned her a room right next to Hank. His parents occupied another room on the same hall. In a way, Olivia still had her neighbors.

The room looked almost the same as the one in which she stayed during her last visit. She couldn't properly appreciate the place then. She was too focused on the Bradshaw and her hate. Her mind wasn't in the right place. Deep down she was still scared and kept getting back to imaginative scenarios of all the terrible things that could have happened.

The window provided her with a nice view of school grounds and she was properly impressed. The school had everything ranging from the swimming pool to the running track. Being a child who studies at such a boarding school, she would actually enjoy all the excessive time she had while not being able to go out with friends since she had none. All the children here would never even think of bars and other free time activities that the busy life in the city provided. In a way, this was actually far better. They were healthier and surrounded by their kind, not risking anything in public schools.

Right below the window of her room started a path. It went near all the facilities and even garages but continued and disappeared in a large mass of green. She had to let out a small laugh. Of course Xavier's school had a park included. It only made her admire him even more. Keeping a mansion for himself would be nice, but he turned it into a school and saved many mutant children.

Upon closer inspection, Olivia noticed something shine in a distance and after few seconds of squinting her eyes, she could make out a surface of the lake. It was the water that shinned in the bright afternoon. All around were colorful spots. She imagined it to be kids, sprawled on the blankets, eating sandwiches. Some of them with books in their hands, doing homework, others simply enjoying a nice day outside. Thanks to Xavier, not a single child living in his school was in danger. They were happy. People like Laura couldn't touch them here. No sane person would threaten such a big community of mutants - many of which were undoubtedly pretty powerful.

Two days went by without Laura appearing. Not here or in Illinois. Norton was conscious and Edna completely healed. She only needed to sleep and handful of nutrition.

Hank refused to let Norton out of the hospital bed and since he was the doctor, no one argued, though he was acting a bit subjectively. Edna was constantly down there by her husband's side.

Mina came to see how Norton was doing and apologized during her visit. Edna was having none of that guilt crap and got a bid mad. Of course, in a good way. She told Olivia her honest opinion, which more resembled a speech. She didn't forget to mention how being born with a particular set of genes didn't make her their enemy. Being mutant wasn't bad even if slightly dangerous. She compared it to the ocean. The water was calm and beautiful and at the same time deadly, but no one would say it was bad.

Olivia appreciated it and smiled, even though she was being scolded. Hank apparently inherited this passion from Edna. Passion for things in which he believed.

Hank returned to the small hospital like part of the mansion soon after. Olivia was still present and chatting with McCoys. Hank had some time until the school break was over and he had already prepared for the next lesson so he decided it was right time for checking Norton's condition.

Parents and their son bickered a little. Norton was ready to leave the hospital bed behind but it clashed with Hank's supposedly professional opinion. Edna only laughed at her boys but eventually had to agree with her husband. Norton was right, Hank was worrying too much. There was no need for new tests, he did them just few days ago.

Olivia quietly retreated to the higher floors of the mansion. She left during a row but knew it was really nothing. It was hardly a first time she witnessed such a thing in their family. It only proved what a nice family they were. All the harmony and love that surrounded them made her feel like an invader.

She wondered about her own family. Should she think of Marge as a part of it now? Her relationship with Olivia's dad seemed pretty serious. They weren't engaged but already lived together. There was a high chance it was her fault. Her father sought some kind of approval from the remaining family member and so far, Olivia only argued with the woman.

For a long time, it was just Olivia and her dad. They grew distant over the time so it was possible he didn't mention Marge for that reason. There was no space for it since they hadn't talked that often but also she saw something more behind it and hoped she was wrong. What if her dad was actually afraid to reveal his relationship to her? She wouldn't blame him. She didn't consider it cheating on her mum. Maybe when she was barely a teenager and still getting over the loss but she was mature enough to accept and know that people could fell in love several times during a lifetime.

She had to give Margaret a second chance. Her actions, however bad, were justified. She was merely a human and got scared. It was nothing new in the world. Blaming her for such a normal and natural reaction to a danger and unknown wasn't right.

Olivia imagined what it would be like if she met a criminal. She lived in New York after all and heard of many people on run while watching the news. Some were brutes, a proper thugs, various gang members but they were also people who looked normal, almost plain. Many of them wanted for assault or even murder. If one of them appeared at her door, Olivia would panic and try to call police. She shook her head. Arguing with Margaret was so pointless. Her defense system - offensive sarcasm, invited only pain and damaged her relationships. Luckily, Hank endured it and got her out of the shell, revealing a kinder spirit inside, but with slightly sarcastic humor nonetheless. Some traits don't disappear so simply even if the person isn't exactly fond of them.

Olivia pushed the bell button and waited. There was no answer for a while and in her nervous state, she considered turning around and leaving but she persisted. That would do no good. She had to get this over with.

She couldn't stop biting her lower lip as she waited. This was nothing, just a talk, a simple conversation with her own father and his girlfriend and yet, Olivia was anxious as if Laura was supposed to emerge from that door and kill everyone Olivia loved. If she was being honest with herself, she'd admit how important this talk actually was. No place for screw-ups.

The door opened and she was instantly thrown into a bear hug. Her dad crushed her with his weight and she'd have said something had she not seen his eyes water slightly as he opened the door.

"I was so worried! Why didn't you tell me? I could have helped you!" He engulfed her in a fresh wave of hugs until finally releasing her to see her properly.

"When that Sommer, wait no," he glanced to the side as if the name would be written there somewhere.

"Summers!" he shouted triumphantly. "Yeah that's it. When he showed up and told me... Just don't do it again, okay Livy?" He sighed, little defeated. There was no sense of clinging to what happened, it couldn't be taken back or changed. As her father he should have been the first one to learn something like that but he was pretty aware of his own abilities and doubted he could have helped her other than provide emotional support. Olivia nodded her head and let him take her inside the house.

Upon hearing the real reason behind her visit, Frederick turned all serious, his face twisting in confusion. "What?"

Olivia stopped inside the hall and turned back to him. He heard her but was so bewildered that he had to ask. She merely shrugged her shoulders. The time came and she was finally ready to talk to Margaret and most importantly - apologize for her stupid and inconsiderate behavior. It took her ages to get to her senses and realize what was whose fault and who acted the wrong way. Spoiler alert - it wasn't Margaret, not at all.

He walked towards her and gave her another one of his hugs. "Thank you, this means so much to me."

"I know," she said into his shoulder, small smile playing on her lips.

She spotted a trace of tears in his eyes after they pulled away from each other. Past weeks were hard for Frederick as well. After long years of constantly being near, his only daughter moved to another state. He barely even heard from her and then came Margaret's car accident and a strange visit from a man he has never seen. That man brought such bad news that Frederick had a hard time accepting it as a truth. If he didn't believe in his daughter being in danger, maybe she wouldn't be but that was only a wishful thinking of a desperate father who couldn't have done anything to help his most precious thing in the world. Heck, he didn't even know about it. His appreciation and content showing in joyful tears wasn't a manly thing but he didn't care and neither did Olivia.

A sudden wave of sadness ran over her. Her dad wasn't perfect or fond of mutant kind but he was still her dad - caring and loving. He was always there for her and she only used his opened arms whenever there arose an issue, not to randomly ask him how he was doing. She hadn't even visited him on his last birthday and sent him a gift via post. She blamed it on busy schedule. He clearly loved her and she made him a victim of her lone life. Olivia pushed the thoughts away with a promise to herself that this would change even if she stayed in Illinois or moved somewhere else.

Now was as good time as any to get down to business. Olivia straightened up as if it'd raise her confidence. She clasped her hands in front of herself to cover up their shakiness.

"So, is Margaret home?" Referring to this house as Margaret's home was strange. It'd been always her home and when she moved, her dad's home, never anyone else's. Her nervousness didn't shake her voice, at least. She hoped it sounded normal. Olivia may try as hard as she wanted, Frederick would quite easily detect any change and she didn't want him to know how anxious this made her. This conversation with Margaret was going to affect not only her but her father as well and destroying his relationship wasn't on her agenda.

"She's inside. She didn't want to... you know." She knew. Margaret would rather stay inside than face her and start another fight.

"Yeah," Olivia answered solemnly. She was to blame for this. It was different from her stalker situation. That wasn't her fault and she couldn't have stopped it but talking off Margaret, being sarcastic and not very tolerant was what she could have done differently and she couldn't blame anyone else or a series of unfortunate events. She was just straight out mean.

With no more words, Olivia walked deeper into the house. She glanced to the stairs and pictures that framed the side wall. Seeing that no one moved them, not even the ones with her mother, surprised her and she had to scold herself for thinking so low of Margaret once again. She barely even knew her so judging her just yet wasn't in place. Margaret earned some brownie points for not being a jealous woman who would feel endangered by her dead mum.

Margaret stood in the kitchen, leaning on the counter with a mug in her hands and blankly staring out of the window. When she heard steps, she turned around to find out who her visitor was. Upon seeing Olivia, Margaret backed from the counter, farther from the entrance where Olivia stood and closer to the back door but she didn't leave just yet.

Margaret glancing from the door to Frederick and back to Olivia several times was amusing to watch. She was unsure of what to do. Leave?

Olivia noticed the sudden determination in Margaret's face after she looked at Frederick. She put the mug down and took a few steps toward Olivia.

"I just want to... " Margaret began but Olivia interrupted her by sticking her hand out with an open palm, effectively stopping her mid-sentence with an open mouth and killing that determined look on her face.

"Please, don't apologize. You've already done that." Olivia wasn't about to let the poor woman apologize again. She wasn't at fault here and if anyone should be sorry than it was Olivia.

Silence followed while Olivia pondered what to say and how to say in a way that'd not harm anyone and would stop this stupid bickering between the two of them that was purely an unwanted outcome of a simple misunderstanding.

Margaret stopped her pondering and filled the silence before it got too tense and heavy. "I know, but I should apologize, though it's not what I wanted to say before you interrupted me." Olivia blushed but didn't say anything and decided it was better not to stop her again.

"I want you to know that I'll never try to replace your mother. You're too old anyways. I hoped that one day, we could be at least friends." Olivia was glad to hear that. There was no one who could replace Louisa Tanner in her heart or even get close to what her mother meant to her.

If the silence before was uncomfortable, this one was hell. She wished to say something but what? Friendship wasn't a promise she could keep. There was a long way in front of them and maybe Olivia wouldn't like what she finds in the end, or Margaret.

"You know, Margaret's cat now lives with her mother." Olivia was torn from her mind by her Father's comment ripping through the silence.

She looked at Margaret with a questioning look. She couldn't quite comprehend what a great gesture it was and asked if it really was the truth. Not like she didn't believe her own father, she couldn't imagine Margaret giving up her beloved cat just to make amends.

"Well, Frederick told me about your phobia and I didn't want you to feel uncomfortable in your own house." It hadn't been Olivia's house for a long time, but she was right. The cat gave her goosebumps. She wasn't angry with her father for telling her about the phobia. By the time they'd met, Margaret must have known plenty of things about her, especially if she and Frederick were thinking about marriage.

Olivia kept her eyes on her. She appeared to be honest about her feelings and wishes. Maybe Olivia was too quick of a judge and Margaret wasn't so bad.