A/N Hey guys, I'm back and I hope seeing the email or whatever informed you I updated made you jump up and down in joy. Because that would be very flattering... just saying guys.

I own nothing

Blinking dumbly, I turned my confused and shocked gaze on the Professor. "I'm sorry?" I squeaked out. Xavier's previous words had basically gone in one ear and out the other, leaving me looking every part the idiot as I tried to comprehend the words. "Could you run that past me again please?"

The Professor chuckled somewhat forcefully before taking a small breath in, as if he needed to steady himself. "We need you to stay confined to your room until we've dealt with the threat of your Aunty." His words were measured and he studied me as he spoke, almost like he was waiting for me to blow up in his face. "She believes that your dead because of the false information the now dormant device sent to her. It would be in our best interest for her to keep believing that."

The confusion was still plain as day on my features but it slowly morphed into anger. When I was younger, the worst punishment my parents could give me wasn't banning me from my morning cartoons or forbidding me from seeing my friends... It was confining me to my bedroom without a promise of being able to leave again. The feeling of being unable to leave a small space was infuriating to me, but what was worse was my mutation.

Everybody knows that animals have never liked being contained so when I was locked in a room or tight space my mutation screamed, clawed and kicked at my mental barriers. It was pure torture and staying in mine and Logan's bedroom, no matter how spacious it was, was going to be hell on earth.

"I don't..." Trying to take a calming breath I lowered my head, glaring into my jeans. "I don't think I could do that Professor." I could almost feel the disappointment tainting the air and I kept my eyes firmly glued to my thighs so I wouldn't have to see it.

"Ivy, this isn't only about you." He said slowly. "Whatever your Aunty is planning could be a danger to everyone here, including the students."

Bringing in the children now... Low blow Professor. The guilt was hard to managed as I fought to think up a logical argument. "Professor, it's not that I'm being selfish or... Well, it's just that when I say I don't think I can do it is because I can't." I admitted quietly, wincing when he frowned.

Xavier shook his head. "We have thought about your abilities Ivy, and while we admit that the lack of exercise for them will be tedious and taxing, it simply has to be done." His hands were steepled under his chin as he spoke to me and I closed my eyes, almost looking like I was in pain when a flinch twisted my features.

"It's not like that Professor." I tried again, slight annoyance leaking into my tone. "I simply can't. My abilities won't allow me to remain in one place for so long. I could barely manage being sent to my room when I was kid." The words were snapped out and I finally looked up fully, meeting his eyes.

With my quick explanation more than one pair of eyes clouded over in confusion. Jean was the first to act on it, shifting forward in her seat to gain my attention. "Wait, so your mutation doesn't like it? How is that possible?" She was like a child in a candy store, with her bright shirt and eyes glaring back at me from across the room.

I shrugged uselessly. "I guess... it's almost like another part of me. Always has been. And when I'm locked in a room, so is it... It just..." I sighed again in frustration. "It pounds on the walls in my mind and I can't..." I trailed off not knowing how I was meant to explain something I didn't understand myself.

"Interesting..." Jean murmured leaning back against the couch, one hand protectively resting on her stomach. I watched her absently stroke one finger across it as she absorbed what I had tried to tell her. The Professor was quiet as well, brow furrowed as he followed in Jean's footsteps. "But I think I understand what you're trying to say." She finally admitted, nodding slowly even as her lips pursed in her continued thought.

My eyes lit up at that. "Really?" When she nodded I felt more relieved than I had ever been, and turned to smile into Logan's shoulder. "Thank you." I said, tilting my head so my smile was directed at her.

"Ivy..." I frowned but faced the Professor when he called for my attention. "We still need you to..." My jaw dropped but something in the back of my mind just reminded me that this was a fair thing to ask. "I'm sorry."

"I... just..." I swallowed thickly, steeling my nerves. "I'll do it Professor." I informed him weakly. A comforting hand wound around my waist and I leant into it thankfully, smiling meekly at Logan before giving the Professor my attention again.

"Thank you. We'll try to limit the time as much as we can." He said with another small, calming smile. "We're trying to find where the device was sending the transmissions, so hopefully it will lead us straight to her." Humming under his breath he moved around the table. "Of course she could be moving around, or she knew we would try to find her using the device..." Chuckling the older man shrugged a shoulder. "Then there's nothing we can do about it."

"And I'll be stuck in my room like a princess in a tower for the rest of my days." I grumbled, huffing when Logan's grip tightened in reprimand. Of course the man had heard the comment, I just wasn't allowed a break was I? "What?" I muttered, elbowing him slightly in payback.

The grunt was near inaudible and I smiled in victory before leaning back against the couch, crushing the hand wrapped around me without a hint of regret. Jean began conversing with the Professor and I dropped my head against the raised back of the comfortable couch, green eyes now glued to the ceiling.

I was stupid to think that finding my Aunty would take naught but a few days. I was going to be trapped in that infernal room for weeks, maybe months before I would be allowed out once again. Of course, I didn't see why I wasn't allowed reign over the rest of the mansion, then my claustrophobia wouldn't be so strong and I wouldn't be fighting my abilities every other hour but no... Apparently, for all we know, she could have bugged the rest of the manor and it wouldn't be fair if we had to keep curtains closed all for my sake.

Knowing that grumbling wouldn't help, I closed my eyes in exhaustion. My tired mind didn't even want to argue anymore, already forced to resign at the mere idea of being locked in a room. Absently my thought process fell on whether or not Logan would be with me during that time. Was he allowed to visit? I mean it was his room right? Or did he have to play the part of a grieving boyfriend and adamantly try to stay away from anything that might remind him of me. All for the sake of showbiz.

"Do I get a funeral?" I wondered aloud, lifting my head back up and wincing when I felt my shoulder creak in retaliation.

The Professor blinked before perking up. "I didn't think of that." He admitted before nodding at me approvingly. "Good thinking, it would have been too easy to look over the small things like that." He mused; hand on his chin as he thought over the details.

"Keep it closed casket please." I decided to add, watching as more weird looks were thrown my way. "What? I don't want to have to play dead body and I doubt you guys could make one of me, so we'll be having a closed casket funeral thank you."

My words were testy and full of anger and I knew it. Heck the whole room could practically taste my annoyance at the situation at hand, at being told I was dead and would be locked in a room. What? I can be as melodramatic about this shit as I want. You go and lock yourself in a room for days on end and then tell me you weren't annoyed at the situation.

So, just pretend it's a drill... I mean yeah you've been wandering around for the past couple of days and... and... Shit.

"Uh Professor?"

"Ivy?"

"I went outside last night." I told the room. "After I noticed the device had fallen out, I couldn't sleep, I was too restless. It was my mutation telling me it was pissed at being suppressed so I kinda went out back..." Biting my lip hard enough to draw blood I said what was on everyone's mind. "If the device did tell her I was dead she would've raced here to confirm that. She would have seen me."

"We don't know that Ivy." Xavier said calmly, now in front of his desk as he spoke. "For all we know she believes the transmission and didn't bother to check it out. I highly doubt she would endanger herself just to double check information."

My mind found it plausible by my other half screamed back. Why wouldn't she come check? I was her niece, and by every means a member of the family. While she was trying to kill me, I knew she would still check. Like a villain who didn't believe the good guy was really dead. It was inevitable.

"If you say so..." I said slowly and unsurely. I didn't believe it for a second, but the room didn't need to know that. I would play along for now, bitch at being locked in a room and the like but I don't doubt that Ashleigh will eventually approach me. Or at least one of us.

Leaning into Logan, a small, kitten like yawn took over my features, showing the room how tired I really was. While, I had slept a few hours last night my body was sure to tell me it wasn't enough. I didn't bother closing my eyes again once I had woken up, instead trailing behind Logan as he headed to the shower, tuning out his constant nagging for me to go back to sleep.

"Hey, we're not tired are we?" Logan playfully teased, arm squeezing my waist in an attempt to earn my attention.

Scowling, I slapped his hand lightly. "No."

"And who was it that told you to sleep in."

"An idiot."

I heard him grunt, the quiet noise rumbling through his chest. "That wasn't very nice Ivy."

"Life's a bitch." I countered.

"No, that's you."

Growling, I lifted my head, no longer snuggled against his side as I sent him the most heated glare I could manage. "Are you attached to that pretty face of yours? Because in a second you won't be." I threatened darkly, watching his lips twist in amusement.

"Hmm really?" He asked, pushing a strand of hair away from my face. "You know, when you scowl like that you look like a kitten trying to threaten a tiger." He shrugged when I gaped at him. "Just saying." He defended himself, furrowing his brow.

Rolling my eyes, I slumped against him again, already bored of our argument. The others continued to speak, going over how to hide me and the funeral preparations. I brushed off questions about the funeral; flower arrangements and the like, not really wanting to have a say in it if I didn't have too.

I know I'm not actually dead and all... But I'd rather not discuss my funeral. Fake or not.

What are you talking about? I updated on time... Ha... Ha... *cries*

Taila