Apollo winced as he was dropped onto the steps of Xavier's School for the Gifted. A surge of pain shot through him as he one of them dug into his side, pressing against what he was sure was at least three broken ribs. Blood gushed out of his broken nose and one of his horn, which protruded from his brow, had been ripped off in the fight.

Victor seemed no worse for wear however, as he crouched down to speak to the battered mutant. "Now. Where'd you say Arson was?"

Leon shook his head, "I don't know."

"Now, look, I think I've been pretty damn patient here, Alexander." The moon light reflected off his fangs as he bared them threateningly. "You ain't gonna like me when my patience runs out."

"She's gone. Left this morning."

"See now yer just lying." Victor grabbed the back of his neck and forced his head against the pavement into a quick, brutal blow. "I don't like that!"

The green man let out a groan of pain as Creed's talons buried themselves in to his skin. His vision was getting hazy and in a last ditch attempt to get away from the man he reached around and caught his arm. Victor's black eyes glazed over a moment, and the grip loosened but he didn't let go.

"Nice try, but that-"

Taking his empathy up another notch, he watched as Creed winced at the sudden pain in his side. He was quick to detangle himself from Leon. "Tell Amy to meet me at noon. She'll know where."

Sighing with relief, the broken man fell back against the cool pavement as Victor disappeared from sight. He was there until sunrise, when Storm came out to water the garden.

-/-/-

Wade and Amy were fast asleep when Jean levitated the unconscious Leon onto the examination table. Storm followed closely, sparing the pair a surprised glance.

"When did it happen?" she asked, referring to Apollo. Her fingers spun the necklace she wore nervously, "will he be okay?"

"From what I can gather," Jean tore the man's shirt off to inspect the purple bruises that littered his sternum. "About ten thirty pm last night. And he should be fine. If not in a little pain."

Red eyes blinked open in a haze, and Storm quickly leaned over him. "Leon, sweetie, can you hear me?"

"Amy." He grabbed the doctor's hand, "get her." He struggled for breathe a moment, and his grip slackened slightly.

The woman glanced that the dozing couple. With a less than empathetic hand, Storm had rain begin to pour on them. They woke with a jerk, and the storm passed, though they were both soaked to the bone.

"What the hell was that?" Wade asked, looking down at Amy, who seemed just as astounded as he was.

Her eyes quickly flew over to the teachers, "what was that for?"

"Did you do this to him?" Ororo demanded, pointing to Leon, who was still struggling to stay awake. Amy's head poked up a little higher, and upon realizing who it was, jumped off the bed.

"What the hell happened to him?" She snapped, glaring at Storm, "I thought this place was safe?"

"It is!" The other woman snapped.

Wade sat up, running a hand over his scalp. "Is that Leon?"

"Yes." Jean answered, bandaging the gash on his forehead where one of his horns had once been.

Leaning over him, the pyrokinetic spoke in a quiet, soothing tone. "Leo? Sweetie, what happened?"

His hazy red eyes locked on her brown ones. "Creed."

Her blood ran cold as she backed away, but only slightly. "What'd he say, Leon?"

"Noon. You know where." His voice was raspy. Exhausted, he sighed and leaned back on the table.

"What's he talking about, Amy?" Storm asked, an edge in her voice, she grabbed the woman's arm as she turned away.

"I have to go." Pulling her arm from her tight grasp, Amelia ran out of the med lab and up the stairs.

-/-/-

Xavier's brows rose as she barged into his office, "Amelia, what a-"

He stopped however, when she continued to approach him, moving swiftly around his desk and pulled him out from its seat. "What are you doing?" His voice was in its ever state of calm as she forcibly, but not roughly, moved him aside. Without speaking, she crouched down and stuck her hand under the desk.

There was a flicker of light, and a small pop before she retracted it, a small key ring now in her hand.

"Am-"

"Do you know what time it is?" Amy interrupted, shifting uncomfortably in her wet clothes.

He glanced at his watch. "Almost seven thirty." She went to turn but her voice stopped her. "Amelia?"

Amy didn't take her hand off the doorknob, nor did she turn back to look at him. "Yes?"

"I was wondering, if you would consider convincing John to stay at the mansion."

That got her attention however, and she tilted her head toward him slightly. "Why?"

"While John was not an exceptionally well behaved student, he was rather bright." Xavier wheeled around his desk to look out the window. "He is only in need of a few credits in order to graduate, Amelia. It would be a pity for his potential to go to waste."

"Hm." Without any further interruptions, Amy left the room.

-/-/-

"Did he say Creed? 'Cause it sounded like he said Creed." Wade pressed, hovering over the women as they continued to fawn over Leon(who was now dozing comfortably).

"Yes, Mister Wilson," the doctor said dryly, "I believe he did, now you really should be resting."

"I feel fine." Wade shrugged, brushing off the previous day's side effects, "now did he mean like Victor Creed?"

"You know Sabertooth?" Storm asked. She seemed generally unsurprised, but perhaps a bit weary, "how?"

"We roomed together for about a week before he threw me out a window." Wade told her, bouncing anxiously up and down on the balls of his feet. "He meant that one right?"

"Probably." Jean took a moment to appraise the man's current state, "you look considerably better than you did yesterday."

"Hey, I always look good, now, did he say where Amy was suppose to go?" The women shook their heads and he let out a groan, flopping back onto the bed. "Damn."

-/-/-

Rouge let out a quiet moan as she was stirred from her slumber by jostling on the other side of the room. "Amy?"

"Go back to sleep," She said, burrowing through a large wardrobe that stood against the wall parallel to the door. The young woman ignored her, sitting up in her bed and rubbing the sleep from her brown eyes ineffectively.

"What're you doin'?"

Rolling her eyes, Amy got the feeling the girl wasn't about to go back to sleep. "You got a bag? Like a duffel bag or a backpack?"

"Mm," Rouge stood unsteadily before pursing her lips. "No, mine ripped last week. But I know where you can get one." She nodded to the door, "Come with me."

The two walked down the hall to the boys wing. Which smelled exactly the same has it had when Amelia had gone there, much to her dismay. Rouge stopped at the third door on the right, and knocked loudly. A moment passed. No answer. So the teenage girl took it upon herself to enter.

"Uh-Rouge?"

"Yeah?"

Amy shot her a displeased look, "what're you doing?"

"Getting you a duffel bag." She answered with a shrug. Ducking into the room, there were a few faint whispers before she reappeared, a medium sized grey sports bag in hand. She passed it to Amy, but held tight, preventing the woman from moving. "You're not leaving are you?"

"Not yet." The woman told her.

Rouge smiled brightly, "good. You should get changed, you're tracking water all through the school."

Nodding, Amy followed her back to the dorm room. Pulling off the jeans Rouge had more or less given her, the woman sighed. "Uh, girlie?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm gonna borrow some more clothes, okay?"

"Sure." Rouge tucked herself back into bed. Sparing her an appreciative glance, Amy pulled out a new pair of jean and slipped them on. They were a little long, and a little loose, but otherwise seemed to fit well enough. Just as the last pair had. Slipping a long sleeved green t-shirt over her head, she sighed. A hand put the key chain in her pocket and she went to leave the room when Rouge's voice stopped her.

"Amy?"

Goddamn, why do people keep interrupting my exits? Amy thought, but kept the irritation out of her voice when she addressed the half sleep girl. "Yeah?"

"John was looking for you last night."

"Oh." Amy blinked, a little stunned, but remained silent as she left the room, and ultimately the mansion.

Completely unaware of Pyro's hurt gaze following her.

-/-/-

Logan watched as Wade paced the kitchen. His colouring was better. The placid skin tone replaced with a faint hint of olive, and he could see the beginnings of short hair growing out of his scalp. "What's got ya all tight, Wilson?"

"Amy's gone."

"So? She said she was leavin'." The man said unsympathetically.

"She didn't even tell me where she's going," He sighed, rubbing his eyes. "Somewhere with Victor."

Wade spat the name out with a venom Wolverine wasn't expecting, and a dull throb started up in the back of his mind. "Victor?" he repeated.

"The big cat himself." Wade huffed. "Fuck. What if she doesn't come back? What if he eats her?"

"Well, if he eats her she's probably not coming back," Logan commented, smirking at his angry features. "Not so much fun on the other side, eh?"

-/-/-

John blended in flawlessly with the crowd at Grand Central Station. It was one of the benefits of being a relatively young man, with no physical mutation to speak of. It was why he was such a asset to the Brotherhood. A shudder ran down his spine as he thought about it. He wasn't naïve to its failing numbers. At the rate the members were disappearing, it'd be finished within the week.

And it scared him. He had no home to speak of. No family to go to. Especially after what went down with Amy the previous night. His brown eyes followed her through the crowd, but he didn't make a move to approach her as she neared the locker area. It had been foolish to think that they'd just accept him into their lives on a whim. Her tiny form stood in front of one of the lockers, and she pulled something from the pocket of her dark pants.

She raised her hand and a fine trail of flames sputtered up to the ceiling, promptly setting off the fire alarm. The mass of people began to panic, shoving and rushing towards the exits as the sprinklers turned on. Amy pressed herself tightly against the lockers, and went ignored as she pressed the bag between her and the cool metal surface. With a quick pop the locker opened revealing over ten thousand dollars in cash. She shoved it in the duffel bag feverishly and it was soon empty as she struggled to get the second one.

John one the other had, was now sitting outside the train station, watching as more and more people continued to flood out of its doors. He watched for any sign of Amy, but she was no where in sight. Sighing, he plopped down on the curb to wait for her to appear. As time ticked by, he realized it was nearing eleven am. With a sigh he stood, his dark eyes looking for one last glimpse of his mother that didn't come. She's probably on the train by now, he thought dismally. Not that he blamed her. John wouldn't stick around where he was unwanted either. Sticking his hand in his pocket, he pulled out a few crumpled bills. His stomach growled and he pursed his lips, noting the only restaurant on the block was a small diner across the street.

-/-/-

Xavier made a rare appearance in the kitchen when he found out Wade was being coaxed into the Brotherhood by Magneto. "Erik."

"Charles." The other elderly man smiled, "how nice to see you."

"What's the mornings topic of discussion?" He asked pleasantly enough, as he wheeled around the island that stood in the middle of the room.

"We were just discussing mister Wilson's future prospects now that he's, well, free, I suppose is a rather vague term. Fitting though, don't you think?"

Wade didn't say anything, nor did he look up from the sword he was sharpening as Charles went on. "Yes, I believe I had a similar conversation with Miss Allerdyce this morning about young John."

Magneto's eyes suddenly hardened. "Did you now?"

"Yes. Seeing as he only has one or two classes left to finish, I see no reason for him to not return to the mansion to complete them."

"Really? You think he would want to return here? After all the Brotherhood has done for him?"

Wade piped in at this moment, "Made him a homeless terrorist? Yeah, I can see how he would want to come back." He held the blade up to the light and tutted, "not that he ever will, just that I can see how it would be appealing."

"What makes you so skeptical?" Xavier inquired, eying the man's weapon with acute fixation. The way one might watch a wounded animal.

"Well, there's the fact that, a- he seems to hate just about everyone here, and b- no one out of high school wants to go back. It's like, pushing a baby back in the womb. It's just a generally unpleasant experience for everyone involved."

The older men shared a disgusted look at his metaphor, but neither addressed it directly. "Well," Erik started, "I'm sure he will make the conclusion that's best for him in the long run."

-/-/-

Mystique's fingers brushed over the bandage on his forehead. While Leon was never the most…conventional man(especially his dressing habits), he was never one of the weak ones. Having no healing ability to speak of, his peaceful features surprised her. A smile pulled at her lips. She'd heard the stories circulating the campus. That none other then the infamous Victor 'Sabertooth' Creed had done this to him. A slim blue finger ran over his remaining horn, and she watched him shiver. "Stubborn fool," she murmured, dropping a kiss to his forehead before leaving the med bay.

-/-/-

Victor smiled. A predatory gesture that she had become familiar with over the years. It no longer scared her, but then not much did these days. "How ya doin' Arson?"

"I'm alright," Amy shrugged, sliding into the booth across from him. Setting the duffel bag on the table, she narrowed her eyes subtly at him. "Next time you want to send a message, leave my friends out of it."

"Will do," he answered snidely, pulling the bag into his lap. His brows rose, but he didn't seem unhappy with the results. "Heavier then I thought it'd be."

"It's my life savings, I wouldn't expect it to be light."

Creed eyed her skeptically, "just your life's savings?"

"And college fund," She admitted, "and pension. There should be more then the agreed price in there, Vic."

"I don't doubt that." He ran a claw over the table. "So?"

"SO?" she repeated, confusion etched in her sharp features. "So, what?"

"Aren't you gonna tell me all about your boys?"

"Boys?" Amy quirked a brow, "you mean Wade and John?"

"Those would be the-" His head tilted to the side and he sniffed the air.

She looked around the diner for what had could his sudden attention. "What?"

A sly smirk crossed his features. "Why don't you call your kid over here, Ars? I'd sure like to meet him."

John seemed unaware of the potential danger as he slid onto a stool. A waitress, maybe in her mid-forties, smiled at him. She eyed his damp clothes understandingly as she spoke, "got caught in Grand Central, did ya, dear?"

He sighed, but didn't come across as rude. "You could say that."

The woman patted his shoulder gently. "Just be glad no one was hurt. Now, what can I get you?"

The young man ordered his food to go, not wanting to stay in the prying eyes of the public much longer. Running a hand through his dark hair he sighed. The hand that landed on his shoulder caught him off guard, as did its owner. The man wasn't very tall, and he wasn't very welcoming as he smirked at him. His parted lips hinted at sharp, pointed teeth and his tone was boarder lining condescending.

"Long time no see, John."

"I don't know what're-"

"Oh, what?" Creed cut him off, sporting a wounded look that didn't match the amused glint in his eyes, "don't remember you're uncle Victor?"

"Guess not," John said dismissively, turning back on his stool, only to be pulled off it. "Hey!"

"Better watch that tone boy, you owe me in ways your little mind can't even begin to imagine." The man's hand tightened painfully on his shoulder as he nodded toward the table he had been sitting at. "Now, why don't you join me and yer ma for some lunch?"

"My-" Pyro's brown eyes flickered over to the table where Amy was watching the pair with a disapproving pout on her lips. "Oh."

"Come on." Yanking him off the stool, Victor ordered the waitress to bring the boy's food over to their table.

Pyro grunted as he was shoved violently into the booth next to his mother.

"You always did play too rough, Victor." Amy commented with disapproval as John rolled his shoulder discreetly. "You okay?"

"Fine." He snapped. "Who's your friend?"

"This is Victor Creed, Logan's brother." She said, narrowing her eyes softly at him. "What're you doing out of school?"

John scoffed, "I'm a grown man I can go where I want."

Creed let out a horse chuckle at that, appraising the boy. "Yeah, I bet."

"Victor." Amy said, a hint of a warning in her tone.

"What? Why you gotta be so damn serious all the time, Arson?" He smirked shaking his head condescendingly, "you'd think that idiot would've worn off on you by now? Unless," Creed's eyes shifted to a taunting glare that matched his tone. "You two ain't together no more."

She shrugged, seemingly unbothered by his harsh accusations. "We're not."

"Aw. And I was really rooting for you two."

John's jaw set. The man's tone was disrespectful, and though he may not have been the best son recently, Pyro was still her son. Whether he liked it or not. His light flicked open and he shut it quickly. A rhythm starting up that hinted at his discomfort. "So. You're Logan's brother, huh?"

"Sure am." Victor smirked at the younger male, "you're with Magneto, aren't you?"

"Sure am." He spat back sarcastically, earning a weak smile from the woman on his left.

The feral's demeanor turned sour as he leaned across the table, "you wanna kept that tongue boy, you'll learn to hold it."

"Yes, sir."

Amy put a hand on his arm. A light head shake. "Not now."

Creed smirked, "listen to your mother, John. Aside from her shitty taste in men she's got a good head on her shoulders."

"Is that so?"

"Mhm."

The woman's brows rose slightly at the backhanded compliment but she didn't mention it. "So, you headin' back to Canada anytime soon?"

"Don't know," his eyes followed a waitress as she set a plate of food in front of him. "Hadn't really thought about it."

"Hm."

"You goin' back to Kansas?"

John snuck a peek at her as her small shoulders rose and fell in an aloof manner. "Thinking about it."

"Call your folks yet?"

"No."

Victor let out a noise of disapproval that made her roll her eyes. "thought you were close?"

"Were being the key word there, mister Creed." She quipped, taking a sip of her water. "Why the interest?"

"Just makin' conversation." He dropped his napkin on to his plate, suddenly not hungry as he noticed the glares he was receiving from the diners patrons. "You need a ride?"

She shook her head and he stood, throwing the duffel bag over his shoulder. Victor smirked at her, giving her son a pat on the shoulder her left, but not before uttering a final word of advice. "Take care'a yer mother, kid."

"Yeah." John watched him go with tight lipped anger. Once he was out of sight he shifted away from Amy, "why the hell did you put up with that crap?"

She shrugged, tracing her finger over the rim of her glass. "That's just the way he is, kid. Nothing I can do about it."

"Uh, you could tell him to shove it, or light his ass on fire."

A demure smile lit up her sharp features as she shook her head. "No point in getting angry about it, John. Most things aren't always what they appear to be."

"What the hell does that mean?" he asked, shaking his head with annoyance, "you're like a god damn fortune cookie, you know that?"

"Sorry." He sighed and leaned back against the seat of the booth. "So," Pyro flicked his lighter open, "you going back to the mansion?"

A nod.

"Oh."

"Disappointed?"

John shrugged, "not really."

There was an awkward silence. But only for a moment. "John?"

"Mhm?"

"I'm sorry."

He looked up at her, shocked by her apology. "What?"

"I didn't want your life to turn out like this."

"Like what?" His voice held a note of bitterness to it, "what's wrong with it?"

"You're a very angry young man." Amy told him. "I just wanted you to be happy."

"If you wanted me to be happy why didn't you stick me with these famed parents of yours?"

"Because that's the first place Styker would have looked."

Pyro's face remained hard. "Why'd you give me to Mystique is you're so against the Brotherhood?"

"I'm not against the Brotherhood." She said, "I'm just not for them. Besides, Mystique is an exception to the rule."

"Why?" he asked. His hostility had melted away to curiosity as some of his questions were finally getting answered.

"Well, for starters, she was friends with Leon."

John tilted his head slightly, "so?"

"So usually people in cahoots with Apollo are trustworthy." She took another sip of her water, "Even if they are known terrorists." Drumming her fingers on the side of the glass, she asked, "why'd you leave Xavier's?"

"Why did you?" He quipped, not really expecting an answer.

She sighed, "I think he saw me as a failure." Amy continued as the boy's brows rose, "I mean, he tried for years to get my mutation to stabilize and couldn't. Not that I made it -easy on him, I just wasn't ready to co-operate. So I left."

"How old were you?" John looked at her with pleading eyes. Something she didn't really understand.

"About sixteen. Maybe a little younger."

"And you joined the army?"

"Well, no, I went to Vegas and stayed with Leon before I did that."

"You and Leon seem awfully close." He accused.

She smiled and shook her head, "no. Not like that."

"Huh." Pyro clicked the lighter shut. "What about with Wraith? The two of you seemed pretty cozy."

Amy shrugged. "He's a nice guy. I'll miss him, but still no."

"Am I named after him?"

She scoffed, "no."

"Then what's with the saint in my name?" He asked. Something that had been bothering him since he was about seven and realized it was uncommon.

"Saint John is the patron saint of burn victims." She told him.

"What!" he chuckled, "that's it? No long fancy story?"

"Nope." Amy's heart leapt at the sight of his smile, and she was instantly reminded of Wade. "We should be getting back."

His grin fell a little, but he nodded. "You're right."

-/-/-

When they entered the mansion, the first thing they heard was ranting.

"I can't believe she just left like that! I bet a tornado came along and swept her little ass all the way back to Kansas that Dorothy Gale mother fucker!"

"Wade?"

"What?" He snapped, but calmed at the sight of her. The man cleared his throat. "Oh. You're back. Good."

"You need to stop making Wizard of Oz jokes." Amy told him shaking her head, "you're better then that."

"I am not! They are perfectly within my level of wit!"

She smiled at him as he beamed at her, it sobered slightly when he noticed John watching with weary eyes. "Hey."

"Hey."

"Um…don't do drugs, John."

The younger man stared at him. "Uh... I won't."

"Good." Wade nodded. "Fatherly wisdom of the day dispensed." He dropped a hand on John's shoulder. "Good boy."

"He's not a dog, Wilson."

"He'll be a dog if his father tell him to be one!"

Shoving his hand off his shoulder, Pyro rolled his eyes and walked away from them. When he was out of sight, Wade dropped a kiss on Amy's cheek.

She blushed softly, quirking a brow at him. "What-"

"Thanks for coming back." He replied, smiling softly at her.

A/N: these chapters are just getting longer and longer, even though there's only one or two (not counting the epilogue to go). Tell me what you think