As always, the X-Men and all related Marvel characters, including Crystal, are not my property. Cecilia and quite a few others are my property, however, so hands off.

Thanks to everybody that read the last chapter. Yes, I know it was an exciting one, though it probably seemed to come out of nowhere. As I said in the chapter note, it is later explained. So hopefully, I'll get somewhere on the sequel within the next few days so that I can start posting it once I'm through with this one. Again, it loosely follows the events of X-Men United.In fact, Cecilia gets to meet a relative.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

I took a ragged breath and stared into his compassionate eyes. "There was so much blood everywhere. I didn't know what it was at that time, but something told me that it was bad. The tractor," I pictured it clearly in my mind. "It was upside down. Turned over like some giant had kicked it over in anger. His mouth was hanging open and his eyes were wide," I shuddered in memory. "I remember kneeling down beside him and stroking my hand over his cheek. He had shaved his beard just that morning, and I couldn't help but think about how smooth his face was."

"He was killed in a tractor accident?" he asked softly. Watching as I nodded my head. "The traumatic experience caused your mutation to surface prematurely. It happens rarely, but it does happen. Jean's powers surfaced as she telepathically experienced her friend's death."

I gulped as I clenched my hands tightly together. "Do you know whatever happened to my mother?"

"Yes," he paused and shook his head. "Your mother is, in fact, still living. She never took your father's name, but I did manage to locate her with the help of Robert years ago. I've checked in on her every now and then," he shook his head. "Most mutations are passed through the fraternal DNA make up, but your case is very different indeed."

I gulped and glanced up and met Scott's gaze in the rear view mirror. "My mother is a mutant?" confusion filled me.

"Yes, she is," he nodded his head. He remained quiet as the car came to a complete stop. "It seems as though we have finally arrived," he cleared his throat. "Perhaps we could save this conversation for another time. I fear that this meeting with Erik may have a large impact on our strive for mutant acceptance."

Scott got out of the driver's seat and walked around to let us out. "I fear you may be right," tension built in my gut as I allowed Scott to help me out of the car.

It was a long walk into the facility that housed Erik Lensherr, and it was full of security checkpoints and men with watchful eyes. They didn't appear to be surprised by Xavier's appearance, but in no way were they kind about our company. It gave me the chills, but I followed Scott into the underbelly of the beast nonetheless.

"I need to see some identification," a black guard demanded as he glared down from his podium at the three of us. We showed it to him and he snarled. "One visitor at a time."

We looked around at each other and I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't care either way, but I would like a chance to speak to him."

"Indeed," Xavier nodded his head. "I have a great deal to talk to Erik about, so perhaps it would be best if you were to go in first."

I nodded my head and glanced up at the guard. "I guess I'm first," I muttered as his dark eyes roamed over me. "What do I need to do?"

"Just step over there," he pointed to an area that had scanners standing around it. "We'll scan you to make sure that you have no metal on or in you. If you do, we'll fix the problem before letting you in."

I gulped as a light ran up the length of the wall and then back down. It beeped as it passed my face. "Do I need to remove my earrings?" he nodded. I slipped out all eight earrings quickly and put them in a tray that he offered me. He raised his brow and glanced at my ears. Most people failed to notice that I had three holes in each ear, and my cartilage pierced twice in my left ear. "Am I good to go now?" I muttered sarcastically.

"One small piece of metal is enough for him to kill you with the flick of a wrist," he shook his head and glanced over at the Professor. "Does she not know-"

"Can I go in now?" I narrowed my eyes at him. "Time's a'wasting," I muttered.

A door slid open and a rather gruff looking man with a smirk on his face glanced down at me before he pointed a glass nightstick forward. "This way, please."

I glanced over my shoulder at Mr. Xavier before following the guard onto a platform and towards a 'plastic prison'. He entered a code and another door slid open. Classical music spilled out as we walked into the small room. He quickly walked over to a desk where an aged man was reading The Once and Only King. "Lensherr, your first visitor is here."

The man placed the book down on the desk and stared up at the guard. "My my, aren't I popular today," he chuckled, his voice rich with sarcasm and loathing.

The guard jerked his nightstick forward to hit him in the gut, but I whipped my hand out to stop him. "Thank you for your help," my eyes met his and I smiled seductively at him. "I'll call for you when I'm ready."

He glared at the prisoner before nodding his head in my direction and sliding his nightstick back into its holster. "Behave Lensherr," he muttered as he left the room.

The gray blue eyes of Erik Lensherr roamed over me with interest for a few moments as only the sound of the music filled the room. "To what do I owe this pleasure, my dear? I assume Charles brought you, but I don't think that you look like one of his many self-righteous students. In fact, you look quite familiar."

"I'm Cecilia Frankton," I watched as his eyes widened and a satisfied smirk settled on his face. "I see you recognize my name, Mr. Lensherr."

He grinned as he reached out and took my gloved hand and slowly shook it. "Please, call me Erik. I am family, after all."

I hid my shock with a smile. "I've only just learned about your existence and part of the role you've played, Erik. Now please tell me, how are you?"

"Small talk is for people that nave nothing in common and nothing worthwhile to discuss," he shook his head slowly. "My dear, I have not seen you since you were still quite a young child. Tell me, how have you been holding up?"

I took a deep breath and smiled at him as I sat down in a chair across from him and crossed my legs uneasily. "I could be doing much better, but I suppose that I'm doing just fine, considering."

"And Robert?"

"Dead," I bit back the venom and nodded my head. "I'm afraid he's been gone for a while now."

Some of the light seemed to disappear from his eyes as his lips tightened and he narrowed his eyes. "What a tragedy. Robert was a good man and a close friend," he shook his head slowly. "It's a shame he passed before he could see the change that will soon be made when it comes to mutant existence."

"You mean after the attack on the President?" I inquired softly.

He shook his head slowly. "Other things, I suppose," he cleared his throat and stared at me intensely, as if gauging me for something. "He told me a few years ago that your power was stronger than he ever could have imagined," he glanced down at my hands and sighed. "I see you are still struggling with controlling it."

"You would be too," I muttered as I shook my head. "There have been a few developments, but nothing too important," after recalling that he was in this prison for what he did to Rogue, I found it best not to share those developments with him.

"Planning on using me the way that you used Rogue?" I spat.

He shook his head as he chuckled softly. "My dear, you have more control and could stop me, unlike ignorant Rogue."

I didn't say anything as I stared at him intensely, wondering what I was even doing here. "I-"

"Tell me, how are you really doing?" he asked softly, his eyes full of concern and knowing.

I opened my mouth to speak, but then shut it again and took a deep breath before continuing. "Other than having a royally fucked up life, I suppose that I'm okay."

"For that, my dear, I'm eternally sorry," he shook his head slowly. "I wish that I could have been there for you when you were growing up, but I didn't have a choice in the matter. Your mother asked me never to reveal the truth, because she didn't tell me about it until just a few years ago," he paused and shook his head. "I feared you were dead when I couldn't contact Robert."

I shook my head and let my gaze drift over his face. "I don't understand. I just wanted to ask you what you knew about my grandfather...my family."

"My dear, your mother was not the biological child of your grandparents. Cordelia lost her child during labor, as it was stillborn," he clucked. "But, they were blessed with an infant child, in agreement that they would raise her as their own. You see," he smirked wildly at me. "You see, your mother isn't a mutant, but she isn't exactly a human either."

"What?' What the hell are you talking about Lensherr?" I clenched my fists in anger.

"Your mother is from a prestigious race of people that are basically engineered for life. They have supreme superhuman abilities," he paused. "Did you ever read comic books as a child?" I nodded slowly. "Your mother is like Superman."

I laughed hysterically as I continued to shake my head slowly. "What the hell do they have you on in here? Some antipsychotic tranquilizer?"

He shook his head and stomped his foot. "What reason would I have to lie to my own granddaughter?"

My jaw dropped and my heart simply clenched in my chest. "What?"

He smiled and his eyes filled with something that I'd witnessed in only one other's. "My dear, your life was created with the help of my son," I furrowed my brow in confusion. "Your mother and father met when they were still just children. But, sometimes teenage love is stronger than any other. I didn't know about the birth, of course. In fact, your father and I were estranged until just about five years ago," my vision began to blur. "At the age of just sixteen, your mother brought you into this world. But things didn't work out perfect. That's why your father left and I suppose your mother just couldn't handle it."

"How do you know this?" I demanded angrily. "How do you know anything? My father died!"

He reached forward and tried to take my gloved hand in his own, but I wouldn't let him. "Your mother shared her pain with me the last time we met," I looked up at him, my eyes full of doubt. "Your mother is a very beautiful woman, though I must say that you have your father's eyes."

"Tell me about them," I demanded despite the doubt and confusion that filled me.

He chuckled as his eyes glazed over in remembrance. "Your mother is a very good woman. She's a member of the Avengers, my dear. Crystallia and your father are estranged, but they're trying to work things out."

"My father?" I croaked out, the blurred images of the man that had raised me raced through my mind.

"Your father is a mutant," he smiled proudly. "His name is Quicksilver, but his slave name is Pietro Maximoff," he paused and glanced over at me. "What do you know of the man that raised you?"

I tried searching my mind for clearer images and memories, but nothing was clear. I could barely remember the man, but was that not because I was just a child when he died? We didn't have pictures of him, but then again my grandfather never kept pictures of my mother around. "I don't know," I managed to shrug my shoulders. "It was like he was there, but not there, ya know?"

"My guess is that he was only a friend or perhaps short time lover of Crystal's," he pondered out loud. "And when she left, who was she with?"

I bit my bottom lip and sighed. "Eric," I muttered.

"Also known as Thunderstrike, former member of the Avengers," he nodded his head slowly. "Your mother has always been the type to fall hard and fast for a man, though I never imagined that Eric Masterson of all people would draw her attention. Crystal is a very well known member of the Avengers, and her powers make her somewhat of an idol among many, including my son."

Powers? "She has more than one?" I perked up slightly.

"She's an elemental, but much more than that at the same time. Crystallia has control over all four elements and can bend them to her will at any given moment."

I took a deep breath and my eyes widened. "So much power..."

"Such as yourself," he chuckled as he stood up and walked over towards me. "I know you did not come in here today in hopes of finding all of this information out, but I am glad that I finally got to meet you," I slowly stood to my feet and faced him. "My dear, you are something special, and although you have yet to realize it, you have a purpose. Your life has been filled with nothing but heartache, sorrow, and loss," he raised a hand to my face but dropped it quickly. "I pray that once you have had time to think and accept everything, you will come back to see me."

I backed up slowly towards the door, my stomach doing flips and making me feel rather nauseous and anxious. "It's so much," I managed to choke out as I shook my head. "How do I know that you're telling me the truth?"

"Ask Charles," he motioned to the door as it slid open and the guard walked back through. "He knows more about it than I do..."

I glanced at him and felt my arm being jerked. "Your time is over," I looked over to see the guard eyeing me with interest. "Come on, I'll escort you out."

"Goodbye, my dear," Lensherr called after me as I was dragged out of the room and across the platform and back into the security room where Mr. Xavier and Scott were. The guard finally let go of me and glanced down at Xavier, as if waiting.

I stared blankly down at the floor as my hands began to shake violently. I jerked when I felt something touch my arm, and I looked over to see Scott gazing down at me, his lips thinned in worry. "Are you okay Cecilia?"

"Fine," I muttered as I pulled away from him and glared down at Mr. Xavier. "I do believe that it is your turn to talk to your old friend," I narrowed my eyes. "You better believe me when I say that we have a lot of things to discuss when you're through."

His eyes widened slightly before he nodded his head and the guard started to wheel him forward. "I'm sorry, my child," he sighed as he glanced over his shoulder only one time before disappearing into the prison.

I glanced over at the black guard and cleared my throat. "I'm sorry to bother you, but is there somewhere I can get some water or something?"

His eyes roamed over me in disgust as he considered my question. "Right out that door about twenty feet, then turn left. There's a lounge," he paused and glanced around at the other guards. "There are cameras and guards everywhere."

"As if we're going to try to do something," Scott muttered as he grabbed my arm and led me quickly to the lounge. There was a pitcher of water sitting on a counter, so he quickly poured both of us a cup. "Are you okay?" he asked me again.

I walked over to the wall and placed my back against it and slowly slid down it until I was sitting on the floor. "I'm fine," I managed to choke out as I sipped on the water slowly, trying to calm my nerves and forget about everything that had just transpired while talking to Lensherr.

"Why are you lying?" I glanced up as Scott towered over me, his lips taut. "Cecilia, what happened in there?"

Tears brimmed in my eyes and I hurriedly blinked them away. "Scott, everything that has been my life and my memories are nothing but lies. They've all been lies," I took a deep breath and shook my head. "My grandfather, my parents, my mutation," I narrowed my eyes in concentration. "Scott, I'm a lie."

"No you are not," he said gruffly as he threw his cup of water aside and let it splatter against the white wall and slide down to the ground. "Cecilia, you are not a lie. Cecilia!" I twitched when he grabbed me by the arms and jerked me to my feet. "Listen, I don't know what happened in there and-"

"I am a lie Scott," I shook my head as he rested his hands on my shoulders. "Everything that I have ever known has turned out to be false. I don't even know who I am now Scott."

And before I knew what was happening, I was in his arms and his breath was warm on my neck. My chest was pressed against his and my arms wrapped around his torso.

"Cecilia, you are the most courageous woman I have ever known. You have so much beauty and strength that there's nobody on earth that can ever compare," he paused as he pulled me towards him a bit more, hugging me tighter against his body. "You are the most sincere and broken individual I have ever met, but you have more persistence and strive than every XMan combined."

"Scott," I paused as I pushed away from him and pressed my back up against the wall. "You wouldn't even think half of that if you knew the kind of person I really am."

A/N: Quicksilver and Crystal are actually married in the Marvel Universe, but their child is not REALLY Cecilia. I, as a fanfiction writer, twisted it all around. I'm sure everyone remembers what happened at this point in time in the movie, right? Well, if I get TWO new reviewers, I'll post the next chapter. Otherwise, it might be a few days or even a week.