A/N: Thanks for the reviews and keep on reviewing! And the 109 people who read, but didn't review, thanks for reading and I really hope you review this time! Anyways, I hope this chapter makes up for the late update!

Recap: After stalling Carol's family at the airport, Rogue ends up in a club where she meets Joseph, who is revealed as a de-aged Magneto thanks to the interference of Remy and Pietro. Jean reveals to Kitty that Carol is just another personality, who needs to be erased or she could pose as a danger to Rogue. Wanting to avoid Remy, Rogue disguises herself with an illusion and has a couple of drinks at a bar. There she meets an appealing young man, who in the end, turns out to be Lucas……

Most villains would just deliver a fatal blow and end it all. Lucas, however, was only stalking Rogue. And that was starting to annoy her more than scare her.

"If you don't stop followin' meh right now, you're goin' ta be crippled like your Dad!" Rogue threatened Lucas, who was floating beside her.

"It really ticks you off that I'm not doing anything, doesn't it?" Lucas grinned, well knowing she was getting aggravated.

Rogue threw a punch at him, that he obviously saw coming and easily dodged it. "Just get lost!"

Lucas returned the gesture by hurling her across the road with his telekinesis. "I don't think I will."

'Oh great,' Carol looked irritated. 'Your stalker is a telekinetic too.'

Rogue groaned and rubbed her aching head, which had made a path along the road.

"Are you sure you're the girl who defeated Apocalypse?" Lucas, asked, helping her back on her feet. "I expected better."

Rogue again tried to knock his head off. The result she obtained was being thrown backward.

"I'm sorry…." Lucas lent her a hand again. "I hope you didn't break a fingernail……" he said, his voice filled with fake sympathy. Atleast he was being somewhat gentlemanly and helping her back on her feet after tossing her around like a rag doll.

Rogue held her fist back from delivering a blow. She had learned by now it was futile. Well if she couldn't punch his face in, then there was only one choice left……and frankly, she wasn't upto it because of already having a person stuck with her…….

"No….." Rogue slowly turned around to face Lucas, waiting for him to come within an appropriate reach. "Ah didn't……" Without another thought, she leaned forward and captured his lips.

'Ick! And you were calling me a slut…..' Carol said sarcastically as Rogue unwillingly kissed Lucas.

More than five seconds passed...with no flash of memories or absorption of powers. Lucas had now pulled her forward and was keenly kissing her back.

Disgusted and shocked, Rogue abruptly broke away.

"Telekinetic shield," Lucas simply explained to the bewildered Rogue. "Mmm…." He licked his lips. "For a girl who can't touch, you sure are a great kisser. All those private moments spent kissing the mirror really paid off."

Rogue was unable to conceal her flaming red cheeks.

'Her? Great kisser?' Carol exclaimed. 'No way Lucifer! Hmm…or better yet, Lucy!'

Lucas was unfazed by the pet names. "Cute. But I think I would prefer Lucifer."

'Then I'll call you Lucy!' Carol decided.

"As you wish," Lucas still seemed unbothered. "Now where are you going, Anna?" he asked when Rogue started to walk away.

"Why don't you read mah mind?" Rogue snapped, quickening her pace, obviously wanting to be as far away from him as possible. "And mah name isn't Anna!"

Lucas laughed. "Your mind already is a jumbled mess." He offered his arm. "C'mon…..How about I fly you home?"

Rogue drew back, dead sure that she would be dropped from the sky if she accepted the invitation. "Then Ah'll never go home!"

"Hmm….I'm curious as to what Jean told you about me. I'm not a bad person." Lucas said, making a sad face. "Where is she anyway? I've really missed her."

"Ah don't know," Rogue responded rudely.

"Is she still with that—" Lucas paused to chuckle. "—Scott Summers?"

"Ah don't know," Rogue repeated. Maybe if she just kept on repeating, he would go away.

'Yes she is,' Carol said with a huff, not noticing the dirty look Rogue gave her.

"What's this?" Lucas asked curiously, pretending to strain his ears. "Do I hear……a trace of jealousy?" He then sighed sadly. "It's too bad….how could Scott ever be in a relationship with someone who's existence is going to be obliterated soon?"

Carol rolled her eyes. 'Not the personality crap again.'

"Not crap my dear. Sorry to tell you the truth, but you're getting erased. But…..since I find you rather….interesting…." He eyed Rogue, a sardonic smirk playing on his lips. "I'm willing to erase your roommate…..permanently."

"You're crazy….." Rogue uttered slowly. "That'll….."

"Kill you both?" Lucas finished for her. "I'm living proof of that not being true."

'Sounds great and all, but no thanks,' Carol declined. 'I'll call you if I need you to rub her out of existence.'

"Oh c'mon Carol. Think about it…..Just the two of us……together…" Lucas told her in a tempting manner. "It'll be fun. We'll show the world that we're people too," he paused to frown angrily, "not physic residue that can be erased!"

'Listen psycho Xavier's kid, as much as I would love causing carnage and destruction by your side, I already have a body which is waaay better than this one!'

"Alright," Lucas surrendered. "Whatever you want to believe…for now….." He then let out a long woeful sigh. "You know Rogue, I was going to make it easier for you….." He turned his back toward her, "quick and painless……just like everyone else."

Rogue couldn't deny that he scared her now. "What do you mean?"

"The things people do for money. And revenge," he continued. "You remember Mesmero, don't you? He's still not over you guys vanquishing his…..Master," he pronounced the word mockingly. "He's crazy enough to believe he'll somehow rescue him from his doomed fate…….if you X-men were out of the way…. "

"What are you talkin' about?" Rogue demanded, her confusion and fear heightened.

As usual, Lucas spoke in riddles. "You know what I always wondered? Why does Dad have a self-destruct mode anyway? Any psychotic person can easily take advantage of that."

Rogue's eyes widened. She didn't like where this was going….

"Oh well," He took a brief glance at his watch. "Since everyone is fast asleep, they won't feel a thing," he announced in a relaxed manner while Rogue listened on in shock, finally able to grasp the horrific reality. "Think of it as sleeping in this world and waking up in the next. I hope none of them were really close to you."

"H-How c-could you?" Rogue managed to choke out. Even Carol looked mortified.

"Tell that to the good Professor. Thought he may have learnt from the last time his expensive mansion go boom! But apparently, he didn't." Lucas rubbed his hands together in anticipation. "I can't wait to see the look on his face when he returns from those useless human-mutant conferences to find—" He was abruptly cut short when an incensed Rogue flung a car at him. He stopped it just mere inches before it collided into him. "Not a very good listener, are you?" he muttered after she left.

Rogue ran recklessly, blinded by her tears.

'Hey! Anna! Anna!' Carol called her. 'Rogue! Listen!'

Rogue leapt, desperately hoping to fly and reach her friends and save them in time, but she landed flat on her stomach three seconds later. "No!" she screamed in anguish and slammed her fist down on the road, creating a crater about the size of her palm. "No! No!"

'Would you stay calm for a second and listen? You totally losing it right now won't help!'

Rogue was too distraught to listen to anything.

All her friends….her family…..And Remy…..

Somehow in her devastated state, she remembered Remy wasn't at the mansion. But his wife…she was there, wasn't she? How was Rogue going to tell him that she and everybody else were about to—

'Fine then! Sorry for doing this….' Carol apologized in advance.

Rogue suddenly felt pain shot through her stomach. It was as if somebody had punched it. The source was her left hand……or rather Carol.

Carol cleared her throat as Rogue gripped her tummy in agony. 'Now that I have your brief attention…..I was going to say call them! It's faster than you traveling on foot.'

Rogue fought back her overwhelming emotions and searched for a phone.

There was no pay-phone in her sight, but there was a man….all alone and conversing on a cellphone……

Before Rogue knew what she was doing, she had snatched the man's phone and knocked him unconscious for putting up resistance. Surprisingly, she wasn't influenced by Carol when she had mugged the man. Right now, she didn't have time to regret her actions. And Carol also seemed to realize the intensity of the situation and not comment on it.

Rogue hurriedly dialed the Institute, praying somebody picked up.

Thankfully someone did…….

"Hello. Xavier Institute."

"Jubilee?" Rogue's voice came out as a croak. Never in her life was she so glad to hear the Asian teen's voice.

"Rogue?" she sounded confused. "What—where are you? Are you ok?"

"Listen, j-just get out of there!" she told her rapidly. "Get out of the mansion! Get as far away as you can!"

"Why—"

"Just do it!"

'And also make sure Scott gets out first!' Carol added, though Jubilee couldn't hear her.

"Uh….Alright we will…." Jubilee quickly agreed before hanging up.

'See? Everything is going to be ok now….' Carol assured herself more than Rogue. 'You just overreacted a teeny bit. Everything's going to be fine now. And Scott is also going to fine….' She told herself.

Rogue still wasn't at ease. More fears arose in her mind. What if nobody got out in time? What if Jubilee wasn't able to wake up everyone on time? What if she didn't believe Rogue's warning at all?

Rogue shook her head vigorously.

She just had to get to the mansion! She would never be fine until she sees Scott having a training session with the young mutants, hears Jean screaming at Emma over Scott, smell Kurt's sulphur and brimstone smoke, touch and wring Bobby's neck and falls sick after tasting Kitty's hazardous muffins. Right now, she really wouldn't mind if Remy's wife was alive and threatening her with consequences for not staying away from Remy. It was better than telling Remy she was blown to pieces.

"There you are……" Lucas's voice suddenly came from behind her. "Thought I might return your car….."

"Cheer up Remy. It's not your fault that your ex-girlfriend went for dreamy, blue-eyed long-haired young Magneto."

Remy didn't have the strength to glare at John.

"And it's not your fault that he finished high school, became a scientist and the world's most power—second most powerful mutant, while you…." John sniffled, "never went to school or received any formal education……and spent your whole childhood on the streets, stealing to survive….." He again sniffled and wiped a tear. "Imagining you as a poor little boy with red eyes living in a box with two cats always makes me so….sad!"

Remy clutched his glass in a death grip.

John recovered and continued. "…….And it also won't be your fault if Magneto came up with a way with that intelligent noodle of his to make skin-contact with your ex-girlfriend without killing himself and you couldn't with your brain."

Remy's left eye twitched uncontrollably. "Pyro……?"

"Yeah Gambit?"

Remy swept the seat from underneath John, landing him on his butt.

"Ow! What was that for mate?"

"I need t' be alone," Remy emphasized.

"But you're so…..sad," John indicated. He sighed. "Aww….c'mon Remy. You tried and you failed. Time for you to just quit! If you can quit cigarettes, you can also quit Rogue. See that?" He pointed ahead at some person. "Perfect for you mate."

Remy scowled at John. "Dat's a man Pyro."

"Poor Remy….." John sighed sympathetically. "Can't tell the difference between a man and a woman. It's just like that last time…….Remember?"

Remy groaned. "For de last time Pyro, I was drunk and it was dark!"

John gave him a concerned look. "Denial is unhealthy."

Remy gritted his teeth. "It was just an accidental kiss on de cheek ok? I didn't sleep wit' him!"

John patted Remy. "It's going to be ok Remy. The mind forgets things it doesn't want to remember—Eeee!" he shrieked when Remy raised his fist to pummel him. "Remy! Y-You wouldn't hit your best friend, would you? Remember the fun times we had? When Rogue didn't exist? R-Remember?"

At the mention of Rogue, Remy sighed and drew his fist back. He returned to his glass, gazing depressingly at it. "I joined de X-men cause of her….." he began soberly. "And she doesn't want t' see my face again." He let out a long mournful sigh. "Maybe Irene was right……."

"Irene?" John frowned, trying to remember. "Is she Rogue's crazy blue Mommy or crazy blind Mommy?"

"De blind Mommy."

"Oh, I remember now…..She's the who told you to stay away from Rogue or else she'll shove her cane up your—"

"Oui," Remy interrupted him.

"So what was she right about?"

"Me and Rogue."

John blinked, obviously still confused.

Remy let out an exasperated sigh. "'Bout sometime ago……" he began narrating……

"Better run faster chere…." Remy told Rogue, vowing silently that this would be the last time he ever let her touch alcohol.

Rogue hiccupped as he helped her stay steady. "Remy…where are we goin'?"

Remy took a peek behind his back before answering, "Away from de crazy mob of people who are still followin' us."

Rogue looked lost. "But Ah thought we were goin' ta have a romantic candle light dinner."

"We just had a romantic candle light dinner." The dinner that had ended disastrously. "Now we're goin' home."

"Home?" Rogue's green eyes sparkled in excitement. "Mississippi?"

"Uh….sure…" he responded indecisively. "Mississippi."

"Ok. But you shouldn't come inta the house. Irene hates you. She thinks all you want ta do is get inta mah pants."

Remy huffed. "What gives her dat idea?"

"She had a vision."

Remy skidded to a halt and blinked. "She had a vision of me gettin' int' your pants?" he asked, deeply disturbed.

"Non silly!" Rogue giggled. Remy caught her before she lost her balance and fell over. She leaned her back against him. "You and meh together…we're doomed…" she revealed with a giggle, "and would always end up in tears."

"Really?" Remy frowned. "Why didn't y' ever tell me 'bout dis?"

Rogue shrugged and began playing with his goatee. "It would sound like we're cursed or somethin'. Cause we're not."

Remy reluctantly nodded. "Y're right. Irene is just….crazy. We're not cursed."

Rogue nodded affirmatively. "Just cause Ah can't touch you and we never will be able ta have a normal relationship or a life because we're mutants, doesn't mean we're cursed."

Remy winced at her words. "Oui…..right….."

Rogue then gave him the sweetest smile. "Ah love you Remy," she tattled in a child-like voice and heaved, the alcohol finally coming out of her system.

"Uh….I…." Remy stared down jadedly at the mess that now covered the front of his shirt, "…love y' t' chere…."

After Remy finished, John spent five whole minutes, laughing hysterically.

Remy rolled his eyes. "I don't tink y' got de point of de story."

"Of course I did mate!" John continued cackling. "Alcohol is bad for Rogue!"

"Non," Remy gave him an annoyed look. "Irene was right. We're cursed."

"Aww…no…" John disagreed, giving him a sympathetic look. "Just because you can't touch Rogue without getting into a coma and have to spend the rest of your life kissing her through scarves and bed sheets, doesn't mean you're cursed."

Remy groaned and let his head bump against the table. He then sighed dejectedly, his thoughts returning to Rogue.

He had been all over town, twice. And no one had seen her.

Remy frowned angrily.

Or in other words, she didn't' want to be seen.

Remy knew about Rogue's little purchase of a disguise from a local illusionist, but what kind of disguise, he was unaware of. And he couldn't ask each and every person if he or she was Rogue. That would be just insane. She could be sitting right next to him and he wouldn't….. know…….

Remy slowly turned to John. He studied him before narrowing his eyes. "Chere?"

John burst into laugher. "R-Remy…..are you feeling alright?"

Remy lunged forward and grabbed his face, making him yelp.

"Remy…o-ok n-now you're scaring me…." John whimpered as Remy inspected his eyes closely. "I-I'll leave you alone, ok?"

Remy released him.

It wasn't Rogue. It was just the effects of having too many drinks.

"You girls are supposed to strip! Not listen to his problems!" An irate Pietro snapped, getting glares from the strippers, who had been focused on Remy until now. "I just found out that my father was attracted to his girlfriend! I need my mind to be distracted! Distract my mind!"

"I'll distract your mind Quick Silver!" John offered merrily, coming over to him. "I solved Remy's problems too—"

"Stay away from me!" Pietro warned him.

"Is it about her looking like Wanda?" John asked, pointing at the raven-haired dancer in a scarlet bikini. "Or her looking like Rogue?"

Pietro screamed and pulled on his hair. "You ruined my recovery process!" He turned to the waitress. "Tell your manager to fire those strippers right now!"

She only rolled her eyes and went on her way.

"Grrr….Just stop talking about my sister and future step-mom!" Pietro shouted at John. He then paled. "Oh God……Kids are going to point and laugh at me in school. And girls….they would think I'm like my father a-and……prey on minor girls……"

"But, Rogue isn't a minor," John pointed out.

"For God sakes he's seventy five years old!" Pietro exploded. "Don't you know how icky that is?"

John raised an eyebrow. "But now he's twenty."

Pietro banged his head against the table before ordering five more drinks.

"Pietro…..How are you so sure Rogue is going to end up being your Mommy?" John asked as Pietro downed his drinks speedily.

"Because the last time father danced with a woman, I ended up on this planet along with Wanda!" Pietro snapped angrily. Fear suddenly crossed his face. "Rogue….my evil step-mother….. and Wanda my evil step-sister…..Oh God, it's horrible!"

"Isn't Wanda your real sister?"

"Yes. But it's nice to believe she was found among a ravenous pack of man-eating wolves," Pietro responded before his horror-stricken expression returned. "I'm going to be a servant-boy……l-like Cinderella. Oh where is my Princess who would throw a party for me just so she could marry me and have my family arrested for abusing me?"

"Hey Speedy!" a female voice greeted him.

"Tabitha!" Pietro exclaimed, almost falling off his seat. "This place is for guys only—" He stopped mid-sentence, realizing something. "Oh God…don't tell me you're a stripper here. My mind won't be able to handle it!"

Tabitha raised an eyebrow. "And what's wrong with me doing a striptease?"

"Nothing. But Wanda would do a better one," John told her, dreamily staring at the raven-haired dancer.

"Yeah," Pietro agreed absent-mindedly. "She's—Pyro, would you stop talking about Wanda!"

Tabitha rolled her eyes. "Anyways, have you guys seen Rogue—or rather her body?"

"No!" Pietro squeaked. "W-Why do you think I would know where she is huh? It's not like she's my Mom or anything!"

"Okay……" Tabitha blinked. "Well if you do, call me." She then noticed Remy. "Hey Queen of Thieves!" she called him as she sauntered over. "How are you doing?"

"Tabitha. He's not the Queen of Thieves," John mentioned her mistake with a cackle. "He's the Princess of Thieves."

"Terrible," Remy grumbled, giving John a dirty look. He let out a heavy sigh. "Rogue hates me……"

Tabitha rolled her eyes. "Rogue doesn't hate you."

"She does," Remy persisted.

"No. She just thinks you're a……" Tabitha tried to come up with the right words. "…..backstabber. She'll probably forgive you, like she always does."

"Probably….." Remy mumbled to himself.

"Well, if you guys catch her, let me know." Tabitha waved goodbye and left.

"Uh-oh…." John elbowed Pietro. "We have another guest…."

Pietro narrowed his eyes at the person. "I knew it was just a matter of time for him to end up at a place like this…..."

"I don't blame him mate." John then began counting on his fingers. "Nineteen years without a Sheila is enough to drive anyone mad." He suddenly brightened. "That explains his madness!"

Pietro blinked. "Nineteen? Hmm…" He concentrated on the calculations. "Mother died when I was zero years old so—Oh God! What am I doing?" He quickly regained his composure when his father approached him.

"Pietro," Erik addressed him in an authoritative voice. He and Remy exchanged a quick, yet hostile look.

"What happened?" Pietro asked haughtily. "Couldn't find chicks your age at the senior citizens' home?"

Erik glared dangerously at him. "You have something that belongs to me."

Pietro gave him a disgusted look. "No I don't!" He felt an odd little tug at the back pocket of his pants.

"Are you sure?" Erik asked, a wallet floating near his face.

"What?" Pietro asked when he kept on glaring. "You tried to destroy the human race and now you act like stealing your wallet is a crime?"

Erik ignored that comment. "Where is Wanda?"

"I don't know," Pietro answered arrogantly. "Probably drinking herself senseless at some bar."

Giving Pietro one last steely glare, Erik left, receiving dreamy-eyed stares from every female he passed.

Pietro seethed at the sickening sight and exploded. "He's seventy five years old!"

"Oh sure he is……" the waitress snorted as she walked past him.

Pietro let out a noise of disgust before he buried his face in his hands. "Somebody delete my memory…" he whimpered. "Wait," He realized something. "There is a place where you can go to delete stuff you don't want to know." He then groaned. "But it's open during the day!" He cursed his bad luck. "God just kill me now! Please just throw a car at me!"

Pietro's wish seemed to come true. A whole car crashed into the club.

Pietro and John screamed simultaneously. Fortunately for Pietro's superhuman speed, he zipped himself and John out of the vehicle's path.

John breathed rapidly, clutching his heart. "Crickey! D-Did you have to make him more mad?" he stuttered, believing Magneto was responsible.

"I knew it!" Pietro grew furious. "Now that he's young and handsome again, he wants to get rid of his old children so he can create new off springs that he could control!" He fumed. "I so hope Wanda kills him for that!"

John suddenly noticed something…or rather someone missing..."Remy!" he gasped, looking around wildly. "Where's Gambit?"

Pietro huffed and gestured down at the floor. Remy was lying on top of a waitress, his arms protectively around her. "Just like him to save chicks whenever he gets the chance."

"Remy!" John happily ran over to the Cajun and embraced him. "You're alive!"

"…Pyro….y' have your arms around me," Remy uttered uncomfortably.

"Umm…well…." the waitress, who planned to give Remy a 'thank you' kiss, watched John snuggling against him with an uncertain look, "thanks for saving my life," she thanked Remy awkwardly and left. All other staff and patrons also fled.

"Pyro!" Remy growled angrily. "Get your hands off me!" He was finally able to pull John off. "Crazy homme….."

"Oh mate…..I thought you would be one of those hit-and-run victims!" John expressed his dread.

Remy only gave John a dry look.

"Uh…guys? There was a hit-and-run victim…." Pietro spoke seriously, gazing at something. He narrowed his eyes. "As I suspected…….he needs a woman who could share his anti-human ideas."

Remy followed Pietro's line of vision and gasped. He raced over to the figure, half buried under the wreckage.

"Chere! Rogue?" Remy instinctively pulled her into his arms. Her clothes were torn, dirt smudged her face, but there were no visible bruises or cuts. She looked barely conscious. "W-What happened?"

"R-Remy……." Rogue weakly coughed. She tried to say something else, but passed out.

"Rogue! Wake up!" Remy impulsively reached out to check her pulse.

Her hand grabbed him before he could.

"Get off me!" she snarled and Remy was thrown off.

Remy frantically got up. "Rogue—" He stopped when his gaze met hers. "Carol? Carol! What happened?"

"Oh would you stop yelling?" Carol snapped, holding her head. "You're giving me a headache—" She stopped and blinked. "Headache?" she whispered. "Oh no…."

"Who did dis?" Remy asked urgently. "Was it another mutant?"

"No, I like crashing through walls for no apparent reason—Of course it was another mutant!"

"Who?" Remy demanded furiously.

"Isn't it obvious?" Pietro huffed. "It was Joseph. The person known as Magneto, Erik Lehnsherr and father is now officially dead to me."

"It was Lucy……" Carol replied, suddenly looking terrified.

"Lucy?" Pietro asked incredulously before groaning. "I can't believe I missed a mutant catfight!"

"Lucy?" Remy uttered in surprise. A picture of Carol and 'Lucy' arguing popped into his mind. Then Carol started a tussle with Lucy and got on her bad side. Now Remy completely understood why Lucy would throw a car at Carol.

Remy was pulled out of his thoughts by a shrill scream.

"What is it?" Remy asked Carol wearily, who was shrieking like she broke her nail. Oh how he wished his chere was back.

"Don't you understand? If Rogue got deleted, I'm stuck in this body forever!" Carol screeched while Remy tried to absorb the shocking information. "Oh God, what am I going to tell my parents? T-They won't believe me! They'll think I'm some lunatic! A-And my brothers are going to make fun of my new face—I-I'll be thrown in jail—I—"

"R-Rogue's not gone," Remy managed to stammer, assuring himself more than the hysterical Carol. "I-I talked t' her. She's not gone."

Carol's panic only escalated. "I want out of here now! Get me out of this body!"

"I-I can't do dat," Remy sputtered. "I-I'm not a telepath!"

"Then find me a telepath!" Carol shrieked.

John cleared his throat. "Umm…I saw red-head X-Sheila a few hours ago ……."

"Jean? Her?" Carol made a face. "No way! She would either kill me or put me in the body of a frog!"

"If y' want t' go back t' your body now, den y' have no choice chere," Remy pointed out. "If it makes y' feel better, Remy will make sure Jean will be able t' do it wit'out screwin' up," he promised her. Well anything to get rid of her more quickly.

"Ok…." Carol said, calming down, "well….thank you."

Remy blinked in disbelief. Thank you? This must've been the first time she had been….genuinely nice towards him.

"So….." Carol tapped her foot impatiently. "Are we going or—" She suddenly winced before closing her eyes. When she opened them, Remy was staring into pools of green instead of blue.

"Remy?" She was a little dazed, but she was back.

"I'm here, chere," Remy said softly, immensely glad that Carol's wild rants about Rogue being erased turned out false.

Rogue stared at him for a long time before she embraced him, catching him by surprise.

Remy reluctantly wrapped his arms around her and held her close, hoping….maybe she forgave him……was finally ready to talk….maybe she—

"Ow!" An empty bottle hit his head and bounced off it.

The pitcher was John, who signaled Remy to quit Rogue now before he got addicted again.

Remy scoffed at him and held Rogue tighter.

Fat chance of that happening now….

Rogue slowly pulled back, suddenly becoming aware of her ripped clothes.

"Here y' go…." Remy quickly draped his trench coat over her. "We'll buy y' some new clothes before we head home. Ok?" A nice shopping spree of everything she ever wanted would be the first step in making up for what he did.

Rogue's face suddenly got overwhelmed by pain and sorrow. "Home….."

"Chere?" Remy asked when she kept on staring distantly. "What's de matter?"

"Hey Rogue, what does this Lucy look like?" Pietro asked inquisitively before he dead-panned, observing the destruction around him. "She's isn't the daughter of Juggernaut or something, is she?"

"No……Not my crazy Uncle Cain…." Everyone's attention was instantly diverted towards the newcomer. "Just me. His nephew, Lucas," Lucas introduced as he floated in. He then turned to Pietro and chuckled. "And I'm sorry, but you're not exactly my type."

Pietro stared at him, horrified. "Rogue….I thought you said he was a chick."

"Uh…..Hi….." John greeted, blinking in surprise at Lucas. "Miss Lucy."

"Hello," Lucas acknowledged. "Sorry about the hole in the wall gentlemen. Someone just went rogue…." He emphasized the last word, looking directly at Rogue, "and spoiled all the nice fun I planned…….isn't that right?" he asked her, landing on the ground.

Rogue didn't reply, just kept on glaring at him.

Remy's eyes flashed in anger. How dare he? How dare Lucas attack his chere? How dare he even think of erasing Rogue and replacing Carol in her body for making everyone's lives miserable? This homme was clearly beyond sick……

Lucas was able to detect Remy's hostile emotions. "Ah. So this is the lunatic ex-boyfriend I heard so much about," he stated, examining Remy. "So is he also a part of the merry band of Dad's mutants?"

"Ah don't know who he is," Rogue told Lucas resolutely, getting slack-jawed looks from the three men.

"Oh really?" Lucas decided to play along. "Then perhaps one of these two gentlemen is your ex-boyfriend?" He turned to look at John and Pietro.

Rogue stared at him in sick dismay. "Ah don't know any of them, alright!" she snapped, leaving Remy and the others dumbfounded. "They're just some….junkies who can't even tell left from right!"

"Hey!" Pietro cried offended. "You're the one who got me addicted to pixie sticks!"

John sniffled. "You hurt my feelings Sheila….."

"Chere, what are y' sayin'?" Remy asked, frowning. Did Rogue think they wouldn't be able to handle this one guy? It was four against one! They could defeat him! Heck, he could take him down right now!

"Well then, if you're not ready to tell….." The structural support of the building was suddenly blown to pieces, causing several major areas of the ceiling to collapse. "Why should I bother figuring out who's who?" Lucas then floated out of the hole in the wall. "Well, it was fun, but sadly, I must go. Don't want to get crushed to death now," he chuckled as he 'fixed' the opening in the wall and any other cracks. "Goodnight."

Evidently, Remy had underestimated Lucas. Now he had his eyes shut as he awaited his death. But surprisingly, it didn't come.

Remy cracked one eye open and found the reason.

Rogue.

"Get out of here!" she grunted, holding a part of the ceiling so that it didn't crush them to death. She scowled at him when he kept on gazing at her in awe. "Remy….would you stop starin' like an idiot and find a way out?"

"There is no way out!" Pietro cried, zipping around madly. "Oh God! T-There really isn't a way out!"

For once, Pietro was right. Piles of rubble had blocked every way out. Lucas had made sure of that.

"There's no exit! There's no exit!" John was panicking before he screamed. "My baby is gone! Somebody stole my baby!" he wailed, referring to his lighter.

Rogue could have easily made an exit, if she wasn't holding the whole ceiling from collapsing on them. She just could hand the ceiling over to the boys while she made a way out, but of course the three of them combined didn't have that much strength in them.

John stopped his frantic search and cast a terrified glance toward Rogue and Remy. "Irene was right…." He whimpered as the surviving lights failed on them, plunging the place into darkness. "You both are cursed……"

"I swear to God Kitty, if you even try to tell anyone where we were and what we saw, I'll erase your memory!" Jean swore.

"L-Like erase my memory now!" Kitty squeaked, burying her face in the feathers of a winged-woman infront of her. "T-Thank goodness Wanda isn't here to see this!"

"Neither Magneto himself….." Jean remarked and cringed convulsively at the ghastly sight. "This is the last time we take directions from a living card!" She said strongly, referring to the Queen of Hearts card that Remy had given Rogue a long time ago, which was now amazingly, living and breathing.

The whole town was filled with strange things, but what they were seeing right now was the strangest……not to mention brain damaging….

On the stage was the Master of Magnetism, wearing only his helmet, cape and underwear and was swaying to some exotic beat. Women, mostly mutants, were squealing and giggling.

"Any other requests ladies?" 'Magneto' asked, shaking his hips and flexing his chest muscles.

"I'm going to kill Carol…….." Jean covered her face in repulsion, wishing somebody gave her a gun so she could end it all. "She ruined my life…..."

Kitty's mouth hung open and her eyes unblinking. After this, she was certain she was going to need a lifetime of therapy along with Jean.

"Apocalypse!" one woman suddenly shouted and everyone burst into chants.

"Apocalypse! Apocalypse! Apocalypse!"

'Magneto' threw his cape at one woman who screamed and held it to her nose. He lost his helmet in the same way.

"Oh God……T-This is l-l-like the weirdest striptease I have ever seen," Kitty stammered, watching the shape-shifter take Apocalypse's form, triggering a new round of squeals, giggles and whistles. She tried to calm her rapid breathing, struggling not to faint like the two women had beside her.

"Wohoo! You mean the greatest!" A familiar voice cheered.

Kitty found Tabitha standing beside her.

"Show us your stuff you vile villain!" Tabitha yelled.

Kitty glared at Tabitha before shouting, "How do you like, sleep at night?"

Tabitha only chuckled. "I don't. I sleep in the morning."

"So Tabitha……did your team find Carol?" Jean asked heatedly, still mad at Tabitha for leaving her and Kitty stranded in the middle of nowhere.

"Nope. Wanda just lost it and disappeared. And Pyromaniac is at some strip club…." Tabitha rolled her eyes before grinning widely. "As for me….." she trailed off, obviously distracted by the world's most powerful mutant giving his audience something to scream about. "I got….hehe…distracted—Hey Poccy! How about a lap dance?"

'Apocalypse' did give a lap dance, unfortunately not to Tabitha. Jean and Kitty kept themselves busy in identifying if anyone of the screaming drunken females resembled Rogue, though it was really hard not to glance toward the stage.

"Juggernaut!" someone shouted. What was today anyway? Villains' day?

"No way!" Tabitha objected. She took a brief glance toward Jean before screaming. "Cyclops!"

"What?" Jean screeched.

"Who?" a woman asked Tabitha.

"You know? The leader of the X-men?" Tabitha tried to call to mind. "Scott Summers?"

The woman still looked clueless.

Tabitha sighed in frustration. "Eyes which shoot deadly red laser beams ring a bell?"

"Oh him," she giggled in recognition and began screaming, "Cyclops!"

"No!" Jean protests were lost in the cacophony of blaring music and screaming women.

"Oh c'mon Jean! What's the harm in watching a shape-shifter striptease in Scott's disguise?"

"Many therapy sessions!" Jean snapped at Tabitha.

"I'm sure the guy doesn't know what Scott looks like," Kitty said, trying to keep her eyes covered.

"He better no—" Jean was saying when she heard a familiar voice in her head.

'Jean! Jean! Hellooooo? Wake up! Jean!'

She blinked. "That is so strange……"

"What is?" Kitty asked.

'I'm calling you! Can't you hear me call you Red?'

"Pietro…. he's calling me….." Jean said confusedly.

"Block him," Tabitha ordered quickly. "Trust me. He's also at a strip club. The only reason he could be calling your name is….."

'Hear my thoughts and come to me. It's getting really hot and sweaty here! Desperately need your help! I'm going to die!'

"Remind me to kill him tomorrow," Jean said between gritted teeth, blocking his thoughts.

"So Kitty….." Tabitha grinned. "How about we try Lance?".

"No!" Kitty forbade.

"Oh ok then……how about someone…..taller…..larger….more muscular….steel-hard body…" Tabitha spoke the last words in a Russian accent and winked at Kitty, who blushed a brilliant shade of red. "How would that sound Katya Pryde?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Kitty pouted and punched Tabitha on the shoulder. "So like cut it out!"

"You know….Girls flirt with the dangerous guy, they don't take him home. They marry a good guy," Jean stated, pretending to look naïve too.

"Hey! Lance is a good guy—Wait! Why are we like, having this conversation in a strip club?" Kitty asked, getting irritated. She again hid behind the feathers of the winged-mutant, who finally noticed it.

"Excuse me, I'm not a curtain!" she said annoyed and flapped her wing free from Kitty's grasp.

"And if girls can't find a good guy, they just steal the other girl's guy," Tabitha added, getting a glare from Jean. "And I am right you know…."

Kitty was busy sputtering out feathers from her mouth to listen.

"And thank you for that," Jean said sarcastically, feeling more uneasy than she already was leaving Scott unguarded against Emma.

Unknown to the girls, the woman who had asked about Scott, obtained an image of him from Tabitha's mind and telepathically transferred it to everyone. And before anyone knew it…….

"Cyclops! Cyclops! Cyclops!"

The shape-shifter on the stage grinned. "You want him?" He morphed into Cyclops—only this Cyclops was wearing only his visor, boots and underwear. "You got him ladies!"

Kitty blinked in shock. "Holy c-c-crap!" She wheezed when one feather got stuck in her throat.

Tabitha let out a long whistle. "Guess I don't have to worry anymore about what to give you for your 21st birthday, Jean. God, this is the best night ever!"

"Tabitha I'm going to kill you!" Jean screamed, horrified at seeing 'Scott' make all those vulgar poses in front of a crowd of rowdy mutant women. If he put up such a show only in her presence then she would've been more than glad, but this—

Someone's bra flew over their heads. Scott caught it and spun it around his finger. One woman spanked him with her tail like there was no tomorrow.

Three women had to be kicked out of the club for trying to molest Scott.

—This was worst than catching Scott cheating on her with Emma.

"Wohoo! Go Scott!" Tabitha cheered as he danced.

"That is not Scott!" Jean screamed at her, ready to either kill Tabitha or herself.

"Shssh! Don't remind me," Tabitha shushed Jean. "It'll ruin the illusion."

Scott thrust his hips forward. A cat-like mutant was finally able to slash his underwear off.

The women went wild.

"I love shape-shifters!" Tabitha applauded fervently, planning to see more X-'men' and perhaps Quick Silver too for her guilty pleasure. "Hey Kitty…how about we try the Russian……guy…. next……" She trailed off on finding Kitty passed out on the floor. She chuckled. "Never mind."

Jean was a second away from having a cardiac arrest. In addition to 'Scott' being stark naked, a certain anatomy was way out of proportion. Luckily, her attention was captured by another bizarre occurrence: Every sharp object in the room floating by themselves.

Jean blinked. She wasn't unconsciously doing that, was she?

Her question was answered when all the floating sharp things pointed in the direction of 'Scott'.

Jean's eyes widened.

That definitely wasn't her. Somebody in her drunken state was going to kill naked Scott.

Jean immediately reacted and tripped the stripper with her telekinesis, saving him from a very painful death. One thing was certain now, the show was over. The shape-shifter sprinted off in fright, receiving awes of disappointment from his audience.

"Jeez Jean," Tabitha rolled her eyes before shaking her head in disappointment. "If you hated the act so much you could've said so."

"It wasn't me!" Jean defended herself quickly when she was getting deadly glares from every woman around her. "For everybody's information, I saved his life!"

"Jean Grey……" an awfully familiar male voice spoke behind her. "I thought I recognized that hair……"

Jean whipped around and wasn't at all glad on learning the identity of the voice.

"Having your bachelorette party?" Lucas asked in an amused tone. "Or do you have some sort of fascination with watching villains dance naked?"

Jean scowled at him.

Lucas gave her a sympathetic look. "Oh, so your boyfriend doesn't put up a good show for you. That's why you resorted to the services of a shape-shifter? I'm so sorry to learn that, Jean."

"What do you want?" Jean got straight to the point.

Lucas shrugged carelessly. "I just heard the ladies screaming Cyclops and thought I might…..drop in and say hello."

"You mean drop in and kill him?" Jean snapped.

"Now why would I kill someone who has been like a son to my Dad?" Lucas asked innocently.

"Another crazy ex?" Tabitha asked Jean in a whisper.

"He wishes," Jean grumbled.

"Ladies….." Lucas stepped up on the stage and faced the crowd. "I think it's time for all of you to go home to your families."

The way everyone instantly obeyed Lucas, it was obvious that he used his powers to disperse the crowd.

"Ok…I'm getting bad vibes here," Tabitha whispered nervously after everyone left.

"As for you young ladies, you're more than welcome to stay," Lucas told the girls.

"Sorry," Jean picked up the unconscious Kitty. "But, we're leaving!" she announced firmly and started towards the exit. The doors shut in her face before she could move a step.

"Please stay," Lucas pleaded mockingly. "We have so much catching up to do. So how's life?"

Jean flung a table at him. "It was great until you showed up!"

"That's nice to hear," Lucas said coolly, the table hovering a few millimeters away from him. "I'm doing great too," he notified before sending the table flying back at Jean.

Jean was barely able to block the counter attack. "Uhh!" she threw the table aside. "I'm warning you Lucas…Move out of our way! If I can take down your father, I can take you down too!" she said, determination in her voice.

"Take me down?" Lucas's feigned an amazed look. "Why don't we explore that possibility then? And you know what? I'll be gentle and not use psionic blasts like the last time."

"Now why is that hard to believe?" Jean scoffed at him. "This really isn't necessary. If you could just come to the mansion with us—"

"Go home to Daddy?" A harsh laugh tore from him. "Why? So he could delete me?"

"No, he could help you," Jean tried to compromise, not wanting a physical brawl that could end in chaos for all of them.

"So help is a synonym for killing? No thanks Jean, I have to decline that. But I appreciate the tender offer. Oh…on second thought…." His eyes flickered wickedly as they roamed her body. "The day you agree to spend a night with me, I'll come to your precious mansion to receive help. How does that sound?"

The answer he received was violently getting slammed against the wall.

He chuckled at Jean. "I had a simple date in mind. What were you thinking?"

Jean's temper flared. Random objects began flying all over the place…..all directed at Lucas.

"Ok…..Not a good place for non-telepathics," Tabitha muttered, who had to duck behind the counter in order to drag the unconscious Kitty out of harm's way. "Definitely no more stripteases for you Kitty!" She turned to the two telepaths.

Lucas looked like someone who was spending his vacation relaxing on the beach rather than someone that was being assaulted by every object in the room. Jean appeared to be getting exhausted, but kept a defiant stance.

Deciding to help, Tabitha quickly made a number of energy bombs and tossed them toward Lucas.

"Why thank you," Lucas cast a brief grin toward Tabitha and unexpectedly picked up the energy bombs before sending them in Jean's direction.

"Oops!" Tabitha clucked her tongue when one of the energy bombs exploded near Jean's face. "Sorry Red!"

Jean quickly recovered and gave her a don't-help look. 'Tabitha, just get out of here!' she sent a telepathic message.

"Get out?" Tabitha paused to observe the distance between her and freedom and the recklessly flying objects in-between. She laughed nervously. "That's funny Jean. What makes you think I can reach the door alive?" She received her answer after a second. "Unless Sleeping Beauty was awake……" she trailed off, staring at the still unconscious Kitty. Picking up a bottle, she uncorked it, took a swing and poured the remaining contents on Kitty.

Kitty immediately woke up, coughing. "W-What's…..going on?" she groaned as she got up. Her eyes grew round when she saw Lucas. "Like, who's that cute blonde guy?"

Tabitha rolled her eyes. "What's up with you and your crushes on the bad guys?"

"Bad guy?" Kitty asked puzzled, before finally noticing Jean. "Ooh…..But, he's still cute."

"Sure…..and he is one of the reasons I don't regret I left the X-men," Tabitha revealed. "Now, how about phasing us out of here before the cute crazy blonde guy decides to fry our brains—Whoa!" she yelped when a flying jukebox hit the wall beside them. "Or Jean accidentally kills us first," she added.

Two telepaths/telekinetics locked in the same room together and involved in a non-mental battle is never a good thing. Glasses and bottles shattered before all the lights flickered uncontrollably and exploded, plunging the room into pitch black darkness.

'Oh great…..' Jean heard Tabitha's thought. 'So much for getting out of here.'

'I can't see! Where is he?' Kitty asked herself panicky.

Jean squint her eyes in the darkness. Being a telepath, it didn't matter to be blind, as she could see her surroundings by looking though the eyes of the people around her. But what was she supposed to do when the other people around her also couldn't see?

Jean's ears perked up when the curtains flapped.

Tabitha and Kitty were nowhere near the stage, which could only mean…….

Jean held out her hands and bought down curtains upon the person.

Tabitha had flicked on a lighter…..glad that she had snitched it from Pyro.

"Kitty!" Jean called, barely restraining the struggling Lucas.

"I'm on it!" Kitty rushed over and grabbed Lucas, phasing him through the floor.

"That was easy," Tabitha remarked, joining Jean near the stage.

Kitty phased back up, or was rather thrown back up from the looks of it.

Jean stopped her in mid-air before she hit the ceiling. "Easy, huh?" She carefully placed Kitty on the ground.

Kitty looked extremely nervous. "We have to leave, now! Lucas just set everything down there on—Ow!" She hopped as if something stung her. "F-Fire!"

"And don't tell me there are boxes full of alcohol down there too," Tabitha said tensely.

"Yes there are!" Kitty ran over to them.

Tabitha sighed in disappointment "All that booze going to waste."

Without any more delays, they darted toward the exit. But there was one problem……

"Leaving so soon?" Lucas asked, again blocking their way out. "We were having so much fun….."

"Then you'll find this funny!" Jean hurled him up, slamming him into the ceiling. Unfortunately, she got the same treatment from Lucas.

"Ouch! Damn you!" Jean cursed, stuck on the ceiling with Lucas. "Get off!"

"I'm actually not on you," Lucas pointed with a smile. "You're on me."

"Then let go!" Jean growled.

"Ladies first."

Jean reluctantly released her telekinetic hold on him. Lucas however didn't.

"Lucas…" Jean began between gritted teeth, "if you haven't noticed, this whole place is going to burn down thanks to you!"

"And I should care….why?" Lucas asked flippantly. "It doesn't belong to me. So…." He flew closer to her. "How about that date?"

"I have a boyfriend you creep!" Jean shouted, struggling to break-free from his mental hold.

"Ah yes…a problem…..Hmm…" Lucas pretended to ponder deeply. "I guess I have better chances with your psyche than you. I'm sure she'll be more cooperative. After all, the mere thought of being stuck in somebody's head forever is enough to drive anyone insane. I'm certain I'll enjoy that version of you much more Jean."

"You psychotic, sadistic—" Jean was suddenly absorbed by the ceiling before she could finish cursing and demand answers.

"And as for the boyfriend problem," Lucas smiled mysteriously. "That is soon going to be solved……"

"Bobby…..come out…."

"We're not going to hurt you….."

"Yeah….we promise…."

"N-No t-t-thank you. I-I'm fine here!" Bobby told the voices as he bit into his nails hysterically. He was pressed up against the bathroom door, frozen with a thick layer of ice.

He still couldn't figure out what happened. But he really really hoped this was just a nightmare Danielle had accidentally created and not real.

"Open up Bobby. We just want to talk to you……" Jubilee's voice crooned, followed by a ferocious bark from Rahne. "Rahne wants to talk to you too."

To Bobby, the translation was: Come out Bobby, Rahne wants to eat you.

"Oh God…." The dreaded thought hit him. What if she ate Emma? "No!" he scolded himself for losing hope so soon. "S-She's ok," he said, not at all feeling confident after what he had witnessed before. "No…..she's definitely not ok….."

All of this started when Bobby had decided to head down to the kitchen for a snack. He hadn't been surprised to find the girls and Jamie up this late. But what had stunned him was their silence. He hadn't heard a single noise when he was on his way like he usually did. Apart from that, something just felt odd….. not quite normal..…..They all looked like he had caught them about to commit a crime.

The young mutants had been gathered around something. And when Bobby had incidentally caught a sneak peek of what it was, he wished he had just stayed in bed…..

Emma Frost….tied up and gagged.

Rahne had immediately shifted into her werewolf form…..The one form she never took unless there was a dire threat.

Bobby had screamed like a girl and dashed off, with Rahne hot on his trail. Luckily, he had dodged her and ducked inside the bathroom.

Bobby now felt humiliated at the memory.

What would Emma think of him now? Oh wait…she was unconscious so obviously she wouldn't have seen his cowardly act—But the main question was…..what did they do with her? Or planning to do?

"Umm….Guys….w-what did you d-do with Emma?" Bobby asked, his voice trembling.

"Nothing," Jamie answered innocently. "Come out Bobby. There's a nice game I want to play with you……."

Bobby gulped when he heard the striking of knives. "C'mon guys. W-What did you do with her?"

"You wouldn't like it…." Jubilee replied hesitantly.

Bobby paled. Wouldn't like it? Did they stab her? Burned her? Chopped her into little pieces then set them on fire? That's what he had heard them discussing earlier, while they were cleaning the Rec room—another one of the tasks Emma had burdened upon the girls. "Jubes, what did you do with her?"

"If we tell you, will you come out?"

"Umm…yeah sure…." Bobby lied.

"We buried her in the backyard," Jubilee finally exposed her fate.

"Oh," Bobby uttered, believing he heard wrong. "B-B-Buried her? A-Alive?"

"Yeah……" She responded as if burying a person alive was the most normal thing in the world.

"And since we couldn't find Jean, you can have her grave," Rahne told him sweetly.

Bobby tried not to pass out, dreading he would wake up in a coffin.

"Now come out!" Rahne's girlish voice changed into an animalistic roar as she rammed the door. "Open the door Drake!" Since when did Rahne learn to talk in her werewolf form? She sounded like she was possessed by a demon.

The truth was that they were all possessed by a demon….a demon named Mesmero if Bobby's guess was correct. And they were going to kill him…….

Bobby shuddered violently when their attempts to break in so far proved successful. Just another strike and they would charge in and murder him.

"Huh?" He uttered when everything went silent. He heard footsteps fade away and blinked in confusion.

They left? Why?

Cautiously, Bobby stepped out of the bathroom. He looked sideways.

The coast seemed clear….for now. Nevertheless, he tiptoed down the hall, but halted when he heard Jubilee's voice.

On getting a visual, he discovered her talking on the phone. "And just who are you talking to at this hour Jubes?" Bobby whispered to himself, observing her.

Since stealth was one thing Bobby still needed improvement in, it was no surprise that Jubilee suddenly whirled about, eyes narrowed at him.

"Uh…hey Jubes!" Bobby greeted nervously as he backed away. "So…uh…Who was on the phone? Mesmero? Or a boyfriend?"

Jubilee slowly raised her hands, ready to blast him.

Bobby quickly froze her hands. However, he soon realized why that wasn't such a wise move.

Jubilee threw a left hook with her frozen fist, clipping Bobby on the side of his face.

"Holy sh—" Bobby gasped in pain at the impact of the blow and fell back. "Ow!" He stopped himself from touching his swollen face. "Ow! That hurts—Wahhh!" He dodged a combination of attacks and cursed Logan for teaching the girls karate.

Getting the right opportunity, he froze Jubilee's feet, which was about to smash a very sacred area and then made a wild dash towards Scott's room.

Bursting in, he immediately rushed over to their slumbering leader. "Scott! Scott, wake up!" He shook him awake.

"Mpfhh…Bobby….." Scott grumbled before tiredly taking a peek at his bedside clock. "It's not four yet."

Bobby gave him an incredulous look. "You scheduled a Danger Room session for us at four am? Are you crazy?"

Scott let out a tired sigh before pulling the covers over himself. "Go to sleep, Drake."

"How can I sleep when the girls have gone crazy?" he whispered furiously, pulling back the covers. "T-They buried Emma in the backyard and are coming for us!"

"Are you sure it wasn't one of Danielle's illusions you saw?" Scott asked, obviously believing this was one of Bobby's pranks.

"If it was, the girls would have been naked!" Bobby pointed out.

Scott gave him a disgusted look. "God Bobby—"

There was a knock on the door, making Bobby yelp.

"Scott?" Jean's concerned voice asked. "Is everything alright?"

"Relax Bobby." Scott gave Bobby a dry look. "It's only Jean." He climbed out of his bed and headed for the door.

Something struck Bobby's mind……..what Rahne had said before, about not being able to find Jean…..

"Scott! Wait!" Bobby yelled. "Don't open the door!"

His warning came too late. Scott had opened the door and was now facing Danielle, with an arrow aimed straight at his heart.

Thanks to the countless Danger Room sessions, Bobby quickly froze the arrow before it could kill the stunned Scott.

Recovering from the shock, Scott quickly pushed Danielle away and closed the door. "T-Thanks…." He breathed, still shaken up.

"You could thank me by removing these posters!" Bobby gestured with nausea at the countless car posters in the room. "And replace them with swimsuit models."

He received a dirty look from Scott.

"Hey! You keep nude pictures of Famke Janssen and Ashley Hartman on your computer."

Before Scott could deny that claim, a scream erupted from outside the room.

Bobby gulped. "That doesn't sound good…."

Scott being Scott, exchanged his shades for his visor and bounded out of the room, despite Bobby's protests that it could be a trap.

Near the stairs, they found Rahne, chewing on a baseball bat, which was the only protection Roberto had against her.

"Wolfsbane! Get off him!" Scott ordered, his hand resting on the dial of his visor.

The lycan viciously snarled at him.

Scott fired a warning shot, enough to make Rahne release Roberto. Giving them all a menacing look, she galloped down the stairs.

Roberto unsteadily got back to his feet. "W-What's wrong with her?"

"Mesmero….." Scott clenched his fists. "When I get my hands on that creep—" He let loose an optic blast, just to caution the person sneaking behind him.

It was Ray and Sam.

Ray put up his hands in defense. "Whoa! It's us! Take it easy!"

"Sorry," Scott apologized, looking repentant. He frowned when Jubilee emerged and casually joined the two boys.

"Oh hey Jubes," Ray greeted obliviously. "Nice shades," he commented on the pink shades resting on her head. He turned back to Scott. "What's going on by the way?"

"Yeah…" Sam stifled a yawn before giving Bobby an irritated look. "Why the heck is Bobby screaming so much?"

"Ray! Sam! Get away from her now!" Bobby screamed. "She's under Mesmero's control!"

"Oh…" Ray and Sam quickly scrambled away from her.

Jubilee stared at them expressionlessly. Her hands and feet were no longer frozen solid.

"Uh….I think I maybe able to snap her out of it….should I?" Ray asked Scott, ready to zap Jubilee.

"Wait….." Scott stopped him.

"We can't wait!" Bobby pointed at his swollen face. "You see what she did to my face?"

Scott ignored him and faced Jubilee. "Jubilee, where are Jean and Emma?" It sounded more like an order than a question.

Jubilee didn't reply and flipped her pink shades down.

"Nice……" Sam complemented. "Matches with your coat."

Jubilee frowned behind her shades before raising her hands. She created a nice display of fireworks….one which the boys couldn't appreciate since they were blinded by it.

"Ugh! My eyes!" Ray reeled back, covering his eyes. "Can't see!"

"Hey!" Scott cried when his visor was suddenly snatched. He kept his eyes shut tightly. "My visor!"

Apparently, nobody had noticed Jubilee nonchalantly approach them, until they were shoved down the stairs. They all landed in a heap at the bottom.

Bobby groaned, feeling his whole body aching. "Uhh……Now I know how Mystique felt when Rogue shoved her off a cliff…….I-Is anyone alive out there?"

He got moans in response.

"Told you we shouldn't have waited Scott," Bobby said crossly.

"H-How could one girl do so much—Ack!" Ray grunted in pain, "bone damage?"

"Thank X23 and Logan," Bobby answered and grimaced when Jubilee climbed down the stairs, with Scott's visor in her hands. "C'mon Jubes…..please have mercy," he pleaded.

Jubilee gave him an annoyed look before proceeding on her way, leaving him baffled.

Bobby slowly looked up, glad to find they had reached the foyer. The main doors were just a few feet away…..Emma was just a few feet away…..his kiss for rescuing her was waiting just a few feet away—

Bobby's eyes went wide in horror.

—But the only thing that was standing between him and that kiss was a large crowd. The crowd consisted of countless Jamies, possessing knives, forks, frying pans and other things they could use as weapons. Amara, Jubilee, Rahne and Danielle were all ready and powered up infront.

They resembled an army about to charge into battle. And it was five against almost five hundred.

Bobby gulped. "We're dead..."

"Bobby, what is it?" Scott asked, afraid to open his eyes for the fear of hurting his teammates.

Oh how he wished he had just stayed in bed. "I-It's b-better t-that you keep your eyes closed Scott."

A/N: Yes, I know. Those were really evil cliffhangers….. :-D I'm sure nobody is angry with Emma being buried alive, lol. There was a rumor flying about a long time ago of Ashley Hartman supposed to be playing Emma Frost in X3. I'm sure everyone knows Famke Janssen plays Jean Grey in the X-men movies. And Jean's line about girls flirting with dangerous guys is from X2.

Now for those who are too lazy or too exhausted to think up of a few words for a review, I came up with a nice solution. Just answer two simple questions with an alphabet:

1. Did you like this chapter?

a)Yes

b)No(do give reasons if you select this)

2. Which scene(s) did you like?

a) Rogue/Lucas chat

b) Pyro comforting Gambit and Quicksilver

c) Male Strip Club :-)

d) X-guys/Evil X-girls & Jamie

Simple as that. Right now this is all that my tired brain could come up with. Think of more useful questions later. Now reviewing with an alphabet and a number, lol is possible! So press the little purple button and review!