I'm sorry. I think I died a little, or at least my brain did. Lately, I've been struggling to engage with life in general and it's been a struggle to write, but today, I'm proud to say I wrote this. It might be short and I'm still struggling to rediscover the characters again, but I'm working on it. I'm always working on it. I have to admit I haven't been paying any attention to the email my fanfic account is attached to, so I've been in the dark, really. But I was surprised to see people had sent me PMs asking me to update this story and another one I'm working on! Since reading the messages, I've been trying even harder to update my stories because I love writing, even if I keep forgetting that.

I'm also happy to admit I've been RPing constantly this year with a particular person. The trick, I've found, is to just RP and not engage in any real-life conversation. I wonder why I didn't think of that earlier. Ha ha! It's brilliant that way because I don't get to make jokes that are taken the wrong way, or, you know, end up knee-deep in arguments about gun control or religion.

;-) Yes! I've learnt so much this year! And guess what? The RPs, that have been running since January, have thrown up so many more ideas I can use to write stories, especially with Victor. I love Victor.

So, yes, thanks to everybody who reviewed and I'm sorry I left you waiting this long! And I really hope you all have a fantastic Christmas and a fun-packed New Year.

Raven

Raven Howlett gazed at her slender, blue figure in the sweeping mirror. The dainty glass was spread from floor to ceiling, its eighteen-twenties heart applauding her smouldering beauty. "Yes, he'll be putty in my hands," she declared, turning sharply on her heels and approaching the inviting closet close to the en-suite. "He looked good enough to ride last night. Well, if he'd not been drowning in stubble and beer. I won't have stubble rash and beer breath near me, after all, this is expensive perfume I'm wearing." But then her thoughts began to wander to the subject of their precious daughter and her emotions cantered away from her.

She picked a white dress from the closet and brushed the lone wrinkle from the fabric, unimpressed it had taken Charles this long to invite her to stay. He would, of course, wait until James had almost killed Anna, and then eventually send a rather hideous-looking plane to pick her up. The stupid, shiny-headed man was always on James' side. She scoffed bitterly at that. "Oh yes, I was always in the wrong, and when I trust them with my daughter's care, they try to murder her in a ball of fire."

A voice sounded as though it was frowning in her mind. "Raven," it said, tutting in disagreement. "I can assure you not one of my students, friends or colleagues tried to murder Rogue."

Raven's eyes narrowed as she laid her dress out on the bed. "Charles," she said, aloud. "My Anna almost died in your and her baboon father's care. So, don't you dare argue with me because you won't like my response! And I always thought you were such a gentleman, but at the moment, you're speaking to a naked, yet beautiful woman, alone in her bedroom."

An embarrassed Charles began to fade from her mind. "We can continue this discussion later."

"Hmm," she said, smirking as she picked out some beautifully crimson-coloured panties and bra. "Men are strange creatures. Some blush if you mention that you're naked, even though you've known them fifty years. Then there are the others who will attempt to cock their legs at you when they notice you're female because your chest wobbles as your walk. James was the latter. He loved my chest. He really did love it."

She sighed as he attempted to pull herself together. Her memories, her thoughts and her feelings needed to be put into a diamond encrusted box and hidden away from her because she was here for her daughter. She had been terrified when she had heard about the accident, but her fear had been replaced by absolute relief, and then anger so deep she had needed to replace many of the vases she'd once owned. She knew who to blame as she began to dress and she would destroy them within an inch of their lives. Nobody hurt her daughter and escaped her special wrath of revenge!

There's some hand stroking my real messy hair and nobody does that 'cept one folk I know. I'm real related to that folk too and this ain't good or nothing because I don't know if she got that letter yet. "Christ in a Christmas tree that ain't a real Christmas tree 'cause it ain't Christmas yet," I mutter, one eye opening and dragging in the sight of my mama looking caught between being real stern and constipated or something. Nah, I'm betting she never gets clogged up because I'm the one who's always full of shit in our family.

"Anna-Marie!" she sighs, tucking my hair behind my ears and looking concerned. "I'm so –"

"Ah know, Mama," I tell her, reading the look of relief rolling around in her blue eyes. "But Ah was only sleepin', y'know. Ah ain't hurt or nothin', Ah'm just sleepin' here 'cause Hank said Ah had tah."

She makes a proud noise with a click of her tongue. "At least you're listening to his advice," she says, helping me sit up like I'm some kind of cripple or something. "Let me look at you. Oh, sweetheart! Have you any idea how worried I was? I was having a late dinner with Malcolm, my new accountant and a most charming man, and then Charles was talking to me inside my head. The waiter thought I was having a schizophrenic episode because I was shouting when I heard you'd been in an accident, Malcolm was left behind at the restaurant and I went home to pack my suitcase. Ororo picked me up in the jet, the noise of the engines scared our neighbours half to death, but do you know what?"

I shake my head, my thoughts dying a whole heap of death in my head. I never knew my mama could talk that much but I'm guessing I scared her till she had to run away from her accountant.

"I'm so glad you're safe," she replies, kissing me on the cheek and hugging me tightly. "I'm more than glad, Anna. I thought you would be safe with your father, I thought if you spent time together it would help you both, but I was wrong. I'm sorry I sent you here, and you're coming home with me tonight."

"Huh?" I pull away from her and my jaw drops for a long second or two. "Ya want meh back 'cause some car exploded an' Ah nearly died?"

"Yes," my mama answers, like it's obvious. "But that's not the only reason, of course. You're my daughter, I've missed you, I'm sure you've missed me, and your father's an immature mess who's obviously unable to look after you without falling apart and almost getting you killed."

I blink at her and shake my head again. "It weren't his fault none," I mutter, feeling my heart sink like Pavarotti sitting on an inflatable boat. Yeah, I know who he is. I had to learn about him at school and everything. He was born in some country in the world somewhere and he died 'cause folks die and don't live forever. "Ya can't blame him, mama, he didn't know what was gonna happen an' it was mah fault Ah had tah leave the mansion in the first place."

"Anna-Marie, I've made up my mind," she says, patting my shoulder. "Now, Hank said you can return to your bedroom this morning. You need to pack your bag because I want to leave as soon as possible." She gazes at me sternly. "Don't argue with me, sweetheart, we're going home to Mississippi and that's all there is to it."

"Yeah, that's real great an' everythin'!" I snap, jumping out the bed and heading for the door. "Ya come here, ya don't listen or nothin' an' ya can go tah hell 'cause Ah ain't leavin'!"

Raven watched Anna flee. She was being firm and taking her only daughter home because she wanted her to be safe. There was a beautiful and thoroughly expensive school she would be able to attend and there would be no distractions in her life in the form of her father. Yes, James Howlett would need to keep his distance if their daughter was going to be a success in her life.

The Wolverine had woken with a sore head and the taste of beer and peanuts invading his body. He'd had to force his way out into the open because the asshole who ran the bar had locked the damn doors when he'd gone to bed. He was fucking sure it was the first time anybody had kicked the door down to get out a bar, but his head was running with his thoughts and a certain scent that led him straight to the parking lot. "Raven," he growled to himself and looked around, spotting his jeep waiting for him. That was where he'd left it and he was sure he needed to be thankful nobody had taken it while he'd been sleeping on the stained and sticky floor of Harry's Hideout.

He was starting to feel like shit for leaving his Anna's side last night. What kind of dad was he to leave his kid alone after she'd been in a car wreck? Maybe Ray wasn't even here, maybe his senses were playing tricks on him, and maybe he needed to haul his ass back to the mansion on the double. She smelt real to him though, like he could reach out and touch her, but her scent was fading fast. It was old, from last night, and his brow furrowed. No, she'd been here. His ex-wife had been here and seen his ass drunk. She'd seen him pass out on the floor while their kid was in the medlab and he found the rumble of shame mixing with the oncoming storm overhead.

As it had started to rain, he'd leapt into his jeep and rushed back to the mansion on the stench of rubber and a sea of burning hate. He missed Ray, he loved Anna and he wasn't going to lose them from this life again. He knew how his ex-wife's head worked and she'd be throwing around her weight already, demanding Charles bend over backwards so she'd get what she wanted. But there was also the trouble Anna had caused that he needed to deal with.

It took him less time then he'd expected to slam his breaks on and skid to a stop outside the mansion. He leapt out his jeep and darted out into the rain. The storm had broken now and the rain was hitting the ground like bullets ricocheting off the earth. As he opened the door of the mansion, pulling off his soaked-through jacket, he was greeted with a sight that tightened his heart in a vice.

His kid, his Anna, she was standing there and staring at him, the tears dropping off her cheeks as she fell headfirst into a pool of depression. "C'mere, Darlin'," he said, tossing his jacket on to a hall chair and approaching her. "You look like you could do with a hug."

"Leave meh alone!" she snapped, thundering up the stairs and leaving him standing there with a look of hurt. He couldn't blame her for acting that way and he listened to the sound of her door slamming shut.

Logan heaved a sigh and rolled his shoulders as he readied himself for another battle. "She always took after you, Ray," he said, turning his back on the stairs and looking down the hall at the blonde figure with her hand on her hip. "Like fire and ice, hard to juggle and control without getting burnt by her words or frozen out her world."

"You forgot beautiful," Raven pointed out, sauntering closer to him with a sharp frown. "Also, you only have yourself to blame, James. It's not often I was ashamed of your behaviour but last night will remain with me for an awfully long time. Oh, and not forgetting your inability to care for my daughter."

"Our daughter," he grunted back, eyeing her. "I never said I had nothing to blame myself for, but don't forget you sent her to me. I'm trying to get through to her though and it'll take some time."

"Which you don't have," the stunning woman replied, no hint of happiness on her face. She walked by him and began to walk up the long staircase, making him feel uneasy.

"What do you mean?" Logan growled after her, his hand resting on the handrail, half tempted to follow the woman and go check on his angry daughter. "Ray, what are you hiding? You know I don't like people keeping things from me."

"And you know how I feel about you failing as a father, James," Raven replied, gazing down at him from the top of the stairs. "I gave you a chance, one chance, and you failed. She could have died!"

"I wasn't driving that damn car," he answered her, slamming his fist down on the banister and hearing the dark wood crack under the pressure.

"You didn't stop her from leaving, you didn't stop the car from crashing and you didn't stop her from causing yet more trouble," she said indignantly, her hands still resting on her hips.

Logan's jaw twitched as he grit his teeth. He knew where this conversation was heading and he didn't like it. "You're not pushing me out her life again, Raven. Blame me all you want for the accident but we should be grateful she's not nursing broken bones or laying in a morgue."

Raven's icy stare locked with his own glare. "I'm taking her home tonight," she stated.

He growled darkly. "Over my dead body, Mystique," he answered, never looking away from her.

"Rather yours then my daughter's, Wolverine," she responded, turning on her heels and marching out of sight.

He was left alone, listening to the storm rumbling and whipping rain and hail around in the wind outside. His hangover had lifted but his mood had slumped to his boots. He was on the verge of losing everything he cared about and that thought drew a deadly snarl from his lips. That wasn't going to happen, not while he was still breathing. He started to climb the stairs, his brow creasing heavily with the determination he was being crushed by. He'd make it up to his Anna because he had acted like an ass, but she wasn't leaving and Ray wasn't going to take her anywhere. Not only was there one hell of a punishment coming his kid's way, he needed to let his ex-wife know she wasn't about to walk all over him without his hands having something to say about it.