Chapter Twenty-five

Wolverine Hunt and Sentinels

A few weeks passed where nothing really happened. I would spend the night with Fred every night that I could mange. At first it was a little dangerous because of Wanda but after Freddy managed to throw her around the room a little, she shut up. Silver will never give up on making my life miserable even if Fred does his best. But after a little time, Lance and Toad really just left it alone, which made Silver mad. Oh well, sooner or later he will live with it. Other then the Brotherhood being weird, Fred and I couldn't be any closer. We always spend as much time together possible and do our best to keep our team mates happy. Fred's group was easier than mine, the Brotherhood simply just don't care, but the X-Men see this as a big problem. Since Logan was still missing, my team mates wanted me to help find him. Of course I did the best that I could but apparently that wasn't going enough according to Scott. Going back to a happy note, I told my parents about my new lover and they were very pleased. When I told John the good news, he told me that he was going to meet up with the two of us the Brotherhood house strait away.

And of course, my uncle was good on his word, seeing that he'll be visiting today. The mouths were turning more into summer as we get into April. Almost a full mouth has passed since I told Fred about our love. Fred and I were all alone in the Brotherhood house, seeing John was coming to visit. We got the house looking as nice as possible and after that we snuggled on the couch, watching TV.

He kissed my hair line. "I think John is going to have a heart attack."

I nudged him in the chest. "Oh please, I think John will be able to handle this."

"Oh I don't know, he's been waiting for this moment for a few years now." Fred raised an eyebrow; an all knowing air came to his voice. "So if he faints, you know why."

I rolled my eyes. "Okay, if you say so all wise one." And he was right I should know, this was one of the first things that he told me the night we fell in love. This time that I've spent with him has been so magical. I never thought I would be dating my best friend but I know that those feelings have long since pasted. The two of us try to go out to dinner or see movies but it's a little hard for Freddy. After a while, after mangers simply wouldn't let him in over his size, we took different approaches. We've taken walks by the nearby lake, late night walks through the woods when the moon is full in the sky, and even go on picnics and go swimming. When we don't want to go outside, we would either cook something or order take out and just watch movies. Then when the day is done, we would go up to Fred's room and get some sleep. I had never done anything like this with Silver and even if I did, Fred always made it very special.

"Damn right I'm wise," He growled playfully. "And don't you forget it."

I placed a small kiss on his lips. "Wouldn't dream of it sweetheart."

Fred sighed in delight. "Speaking of something sweet, I'd better get the cookies." Giving me another quick kiss, he got up to go to the kitchen.

"I can't believe that you really made cookies." I called after him.

He turned to wink at me. "Not just any cookies darlin, there sugar cookies for my sweetheart."

I sighed dramatically. "You are so corny." Giggling, I fall back on the couch and make myself comfortable.

"Love you to baby." Fred chuckled and disappeared in the kitchen.

"I love you more." I called.

I could hear him laugh a hearty laugh. "I'd begged to differ Lil'."

"Oh ya tough guy, prove it!" I teased.

Soon after Fred returned with a fresh plat of white sugar cookies and had a container of white frosting in the other hand. Placing the frosting container gently on top of the cookies, he lifted my legs up and sat down, letting my legs lay on his lap. Taking the cap off the frosting, he dipped in a massive finger and put frosting on my nose. "Oh you dork," I say softly and lick the frosting away.

He smiles at me affectionately. "And you love dorks."

I sit up and bring my lips up to his, not kissing him but just letting my lips barley touch his. He took in a deep breath, by now I know how to tease him. To almost make him beg for a simple touch, did I like doing that to him, no not really. But it felt good to have the power to do anything and Fred would turn to jelly. "I also love big, strong men who really know how to throw their weight around."

Placing the cookies and frosting on the floor, Fred leans forward, slowly pressing me to the couch. "Oh, I know how to throw my weight around."

I giggle. "I know, that's why I said it silly."

Now that he had me fully pressed to the couch and on top of me as he kissed my lips softly. I noticed that he was propping himself up little with his elbows. He must be trying to keep a lot of his weight off me so he didn't hurt me. "Or you love to complement me." With that being said, Fred pressed his lips against mine again in a deep, longing kiss. As my hands went through his hair, I could feel his hands on my waist and tracing the lines of my body. After the little exploring with his hands, he rested them in my hair as his lips now lingered on my jaw.

I take a beep, relaxing breath. "Where did you learn to kiss like this?"

"Hum," He pondered that statement for a moment as his lips were on the hollow of my throat. First Fred kissed the gothic rose that was laying there. He hasn't made me promise to always to wear it or anything but I made myself promise to always wear it. This always made Fred happy, knowing that I loved his gift of love so much. Then he moved the rose away slightly so he could press his lips to the skin underneath. "I have no idea," Fred finally answered, pulling away from my skin and looked into my eyes. "But you're not complaining are you?"

I reach up to brush my lips against his again. "Nope, are you?"

"Nope," He echoed my answer with a smile.

"Well, isn't this a sight." I looked away from Fred and over to see that a man was standing in the door way, looking at us. "How it warms my heart."

I can feel my cheeks burning with embarrassment. "Uncle, what…what are you…I mean, how…"

That's when Fred looked over his shoulder to see if John was really there. When he saw John, Freddy tensed and looked a little uncomfortable. "How long have been standing there?" Freddy managed to say as he started to sit up.

John shook his head. "Oh not too long, I just didn't want to disturb your moment and please son," I don't think I've ever heard John call Fred his son before. Sure, John has always implied that Fred was his son but never used the word. At least, I never heard my uncle use it before. "You don't need to get up."

It looked like Fred was not expecting John to call him son either because he froze for a moment in shock. My uncle on the other hand walked into the room and took a seat in the chair across the room. He took a deep breath. "I never thought you two would get to this point."

I cleared my throat and started to get up. "Well, glad you're happy John." I shoved Fred in the shoulder. "I would like to sit up now honey."

It took Fred a moment but he finally let me up and he glanced at John. "You know I could call you a nut case for before, just standing there watching us make out."

I hit him on the shoulder. "Freddy, John's not a nut job."

"But he does have a point," John cut in before Fred could reply to my comment. There was distant look in his eyes when he continued speaking. "It just…after everything that the two of you have been through, it does an old man proud to see you two so happy."

"Uncle," I sigh. "You're not old."

He chuckles. "You're a good girl Aprill, so polite and honest, it'll get you fair in life."

Fred clears his throat. "So what, you here to talk like our father or what?"

John glanced at Fred. "In a way Fred I am your father and Aprill is still my sister's daughter. You can see where this can be weird right."

"Ya I see your point." I said softly and I really could now. Legally, John never adopted Fred but still raised him as his own. Then of course, John was my uncle, my mother's brother and that made me his nieces. In reality, Fred and me being together wasn't wrong, there was no blood between us and no legal paper saying that he was my adopted cousin. But for John, seeing his "son" and nieces dating might be a little weird at the moment. When I looked up at Fred, it looked like he was just thinking the same thing as me.

He frowned at John. "So then, are you happy for us or just weirded out?"

I glared up at Fred again. "Your every blunt today."

A small defensive tone crawled into his voice. "I'm just trying to find out was he wants gal."

"And I do have something for the both of you," John said before I could spit out a retort. Slowly he stood from the chair and walked over to us. Reaching into his packet, he produced a small box and then, standing right in front of Fred, leaned forward and whispered something in his ear. I could have easily could have heard what my uncle was saying but I choice to let it be.

Fred pulled away a few moments later and the small box was slipped into his hand. "No John couldn't take…"

"Yes you can my son," John said softly and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Do the one thing that I haven't done yet in this immortal life of mine."

"But John," Fred still protested, looking down at the small box in his hands, panic written all over his face.

"When the time is right Fred," He smiled and then turned to me, placing a kiss on my forehead. Even if he was looking at me, his words were still for Fred. "It'll be a long road ahead, I can just tell but I'm sure that you two will figure this out."

I blinked at my uncle. "Um…John what did you just…?"

"You'll see Aprill, in good time," Then he shrugged his shoulders. "Well, I wish that I could stay longer but I need to meet your mother and father. I'll visit again soon." With that, John gave me a hug and patted Fred on the shoulder, a smile on his face. Once my uncle closed the door, I looked up at Fred and was going to ask what just happened but he was already getting up.

"Fred, what is it that John just gave you?" I asked as he walked up the stairs to his room.

Fred turned to me with a small smile. "I want to tell you baby, really I do. But John wants me to save it till just the right moment."

With the most confused look on my face, I watched Fred continue up the stairs and hid that small box.

"Shit, I can't believe that I'm late." I curse to myself as I run through the mansion. It was a few days after the weird with my uncle and I still don't know what that little box was about. I've asked Fred at least once every time that I see him but he still won't tell. I know that he really wants to and he even says that he really wants to but John wants him to wait. I swear, I think that my uncle was losing his mind. Anyway, the professor was have a training session and I was so late. He was training us so that we could be ready for Magneto, which was crazy. I don't really know why the professor is all of the sudden really wanting to know about where Magneto is. Somehow, when Logan disappeared so did Creed and according to the professor without Creed we can't find Magneto.

"Ya, the professor is crazy these days." I finally made it to the elevator and pressed the button to get the training floor. As I the elevator got closer and closer to the floor, I heard yelling.

"What the hell are they doing here!" I knew that voice anywhere, Scott having a fit.

"They will be helping us Scott," That was the professor's voice. "I know that you don't…"

"No, not just me professor," Scott growled. "None of us want to work together with them."

It was the voice that answered Scott that shocked me. "Looks like you guys need a new team leader."

The elevator came to a close and as the doors opened Scott yelled. "You want the job rock tumbler then you can have it," Scott pulled away from Lance and marched over to where I was standing. "I'm done with…" Then he saw me there and paused. "Oh hey Lily didn't see you there."

"I know," I said dryly. "I just walked in, now would someone mind telling me what the hell is going on."

"We're going to be working together." I looked over and saw that Silver was here to. He didn't look happy to be here. "Doesn't this bring back old memories?"

"Real shitty ones yes." I snapped at him.

He just smiled. "My thoughts exactly."

"Lily," I looked over and found that my boyfriend was walking toward me. "Isn't this awesome, we'll be…"

But he never got the chance to finish. Shocked that he was here, really here, and that he was now going to join up made me pissed. Raising my hand, in a quick flash I slap him across the face. "How dare you!"

Turning on my heel, I run to the elevator and push the button to get out of the training floor. Minutes later I was out of the elevator and ran through the mansion with tears in my eyes. I didn't want to hit him, there was no real reason for it but there still was a reason. I've been trying for weeks…no months for him to join the X-Men and now he has with his Brotherhood pals. What the hell could Lance or Silver or Toad or even Wanda have ever said that changed his mind? I thought that what I said, my views and believes mattered to him but I guess not.

"APRILL," It was really hard not to hear his already booming voice being yelled through the mansion. "Aprill, come back!"

I burst through the mansion's front doors and wanted to be anywhere but here. As I was in mid air, flying over the stairs, something collided into me and brought me to the ground. I growl. "Got off me, I don't want to talk right now."

His arms tighten around me and he slowly sat down on the steps of the mansion. "Baby please don't be mad at me, I…"

"You what," I turn to look at him. "After all of the effort I've put in to bring you to this school, you say no. But god forbid, when you won't do it for your girlfriend, you'll do it for your pals."

"Aprill, please, let me…"

"Just let me go I don't want to be touched right now."

He stiffened; I have never said that him and I was betting that it hurt him to hear me say it. I saw in his face that he was really fighting a mental war. Either let me go or keep me here to talk and I didn't like when he said. "No, not until we…"

"God damn it Fred will you just…"

"I'm not going to let you walk away from me again Aprill," The depression, pleading in his voice made me stop moving and look up into his face fully. He took a shaky breath. "I disserved that, you slapping me, but if I lose you…" Fred raised a hand to his throat, like it was really hard for him to breath. "You might as well shoot me, kill me, get it over with."

I sigh. "Fred, what does this...?"

"Don't you think that I would have told you about this," His words pleading with me. "I've promised to be honest with you and I am when I say, I don't know why we were sent here."

"Oh you are such…" I pause and then my eyes widen. "Wait, you don't know why you're here."

He shook his head. "Silver told us we were going to help you guys, why that is I couldn't tell you because they haven't told me."

I blinked at him. "They haven't told you," He nodded. "And why the hell would they do that, you're the pure muscle of their team, won't they want to keep you in the loop. You know, keep you on their side."

He shrugged. "Once you left and Wanda came into the picture, they don't listen to what I say anymore."

"Then why don't you leave," I pleaded with him. "Why can't you just leave and come to the school, us being together would be so much easier…"

"I can't Aprill," He told me for the millionth time. "You know why I can't."

"Would you please stop trying to protect me in every damn way possible!" I snarl at him. "You love me, if anything happened to me you couldn't live with yourself, I get that. But you don't need to put yourself in danger to do it."

He places a hand on my cheek. "It's my life and I had chosen this path years ago Lily. I want to do everything in my power to keep you safe," Fred kissed my forehead. "To keep you with me."

I shake my head and pull out of his arms. "Then why don't you do what I ask for once." Not waiting for answer I walked around him and back into the mansion. That was cold of me and I didn't want to do that. I love him, I've never really been sure of anything more in my life and I didn't want it to fall apart. But this whole topic with him almost killing himself for me was always a hard topic to talk about. And at the moment, that back there was the first fight that we've had in weeks. As I turned the corner to head to the girls dorm, something gripped my shoulder and pinned me to the wall. I saw a flash of brown and growled. "Fred…"

But it was too late, pressing me firmly against the wall with his body, he crushed his lips to mine. His traced mine, begging me to let him in but I didn't give in. After a few moments, a whimper crawled into his throat and then managed to grip my lower lip with his teeth. Then he bit down and the sudden sharp pain made me gasp. Once my mouth was open Fred let my lip go and replanted his lips against mine. I was ready for the rough, owning kissing, ready to kill him but…they never came. No tongue or moaning or groaning, just soft, gentle touches. It's his way of saying I'm sorry, so so sorry.

Slowly he pulled away and nudged me with his nose. His brown eyes were pleading with me. "Please, please, oh please Aprill forgive me. I'm sorry, so sorry for upsetting you. Just please, please Lily don't leave me." I stayed silent, not knowing what to say to him. Of course when I didn't say anything, he panicked even more. He was like a stray puppy, no matter how many times you'd send it away or walk away, it would still come back and beg for a loving home. I guess you could say, for him, I was his home and if I send him away or walk away, he'd come back every time and beg to come to his loving home. His eyes sparkled with pain. "Please say something darlin, I'll do anything to prove…"

"Then leave the Brotherhood." I say softly and at first he didn't look like he heard me.

But when he was sure that I said something, his face paled. "Aprill…I…I can't…"

"Then there is nothing you can do." I said sadly. With that, I let me form slip into a fly and flow away from him. Once I was few feet away from him and he couldn't see me, I turned in my fly form to see him crumble to the floor. His eyes were blank, looking into nothing when the tears came. Fred's whole frame broke into shudders, his face paled even more and sweat started to coat his face.

"No," He whispered, his voice broken with sobs. "No, I'm…I'm so stupid. Look…look…she's…she's gone." His voice completely shattered then and it didn't just seem to be his voice shattering, his whole being shattered. Shaking his head, he tried to rise to his feet but came right back down to his knees. "Why can't I be happy," He managed to whisper. "Why does this world take happiness away from me?"

My heart shattered, just like his voice. I was still upset with him, didn't see why he couldn't do what I ask but seeing him now, his words of killing himself burned in my mind. I would have probably killed myself by now if it wasn't for you. You're my heart, my soul, my reason for living. Seeing him like this, sobbing and hugging his chest like it burned told me that he was never playing a fake romantic card. He didn't just say those love words because they would melt me but that he meant them, believed in them with everything that he has. I lightly flow down from the air and turned back in my human form. He didn't see me, the fact is I don't think that he saw anything anymore. Taking a deep breath, I walked forward till I could rest a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Freddy," I say, coming down to my knees and hug him around his neck. "I'm sorry…"

He took in a sudden, shaky breath. "Lily?" His hands shot up at once, touching my shoulders and running down my back to see if I'm real.

I tighten my hug around his neck. "I'm sorry baby…"

"Darlin," He whimpered with joy and wrapped his arms around me firmly. "Oh Aprill, you…you came back…I thought…I thought you…"

"I know but I saw how sick looking you got and I…" I shake my head, tears running down my face. "I just couldn't leave you."

"I love you Aprill," He pulled away a little with a smile and kissed my cheek. "You know that right."

I smile back. "Yes I do, and I love you too."

"Jean has picked up on Wolverine," Kurt explained as we suited up. Two days have passed since the news that the Brotherhood members were going to be helping us. Shortly after what happened the other day, the almost breakup, I took Fred up to my room so that he could rest. It was surprising, he lost all of his energy within those short few moments. Once he was on my bed, which groaned under his weight but held, he was out cold. By the time that I was done with more training and brought food back to give to him about five hours later, he was still snoring. I had to gently wake him so that he could eat something. After that, I curled up next to him, like I do in his bed at the house, and fell asleep.

Yesterday was slow, nothing really happened. Everyone was really just training. Jean was with the professor to find Logan, the Brotherhood and X-Men were in the danger room. That included Fred and I, but everyone in the room knows better then go up against him or myself. So it was just me and Fred and training like we did in the old days. Today, however, Jean really did find Logan and now we were on our way out to see if we can find him.

Pulling up my hair in a pony tail, I heard a whisle from the fare end of the room. Even growled. "Yo, what did we tell you, you stay on the Brotherhood side and we'll stay on this side!"

My boyfriend smirks. "I don't give a damn and you know it Spiky." He walks into the room and gently grips my pony tail in his hands when he was in front of me. "Beautiful," He whispers.

Even groans. "God you two are so gross." Then a flash of white passed and there was a smack sound. "OUCH, GOD DAMN IT SPEEDY!" Even yelled his crease and started running after Silver.

Fred shook his head. "I think there's a good reason we are all not on the same team."

I giggle. "Ya, we would all kill each other."

"Ya everyone except you two," I look to see that Silver was standing there for a moment. "While the rest of us are normal and slit throats, you'll be hitting the spare bed room."

Fred's face turned beet red. "Watch it snowy or your throat will be the first to be slit."

"Oh, I'm so scared." Silver laughed and he blurred away with Even still tailing him.

I raise an eyebrow. "You know, one of these days I'm really going to think that he's gay."

Freddy chuckled. "I already have those days, and you know what, I think he likes Duncan."

"What!" Silver blurred back into view right in front of us and looked really pissed. "Did I just hear you right fat…" In that moment, Even shot a spike that landed in the collar of Silvers suit and pushed him back so that he was stuck on the fair wall. He struggled and creased. "God damn it Daniels I'm going to kill you for this, right after I'm done with Spike, your next Dukes!"

Lacing his arm around my shoulders, he started to pull me to the door. "Oh, I'm so scared." Laughing, we both walked out of the locker room and toward the hanger. As we walked along, we passed Lance and Kitty, who were hugging each other and talking in low voices. Fred clicked his tongue. "You know there's a spare room on the fifth floor, second door on the left right."

Lance looked up from Kitty, a distant, dreamy look in his eyes. "Funny I was just asking her about that." He replied in a tone that gave no implication that he was angry or affined. Without another word he turned back to Kitty and whispered more words into her ears.

Fred rolled his eyes as we continued to walk. "And Spike thinks that you and I are gross, Lance looks like he is groping her."

I giggled and bumped him with my hip. "We are gross, just a more lovey dovey way."

He shuttered. "Not that lovey dovey, it's not like you run around calling me Freddykins."

"You don't know that," I smirk. "My Freddykins."

His arm dropped from my shoulders and wrapped it around my waist, pulling me closer to his side. "Don't you dare call me that." Fred growled in a playful warning but I knew that he really, really didn't want me calling him that.

Smiling, I start to skip a little as we walk. "Oh, but there has to be something to call you. Like Freddypoo, or Freddy-wheddy-kins," Then something came to me. "You know if I call you these things, it makes you sound like a teddy bear, oh," I giggle for joy. "That's perfect; I'll call you my Freddy-teddy-wheddy-kins…"

"Oh that's it," With his face red from embarrassment, he lifted me up into his arms and slung me over his shoulder.

I pound my fists into his shoulder blades, which did nothing of course. "Fred, put me down damn it." I scream with laugher.

He laughs at my struggle. "I don't think so young lady, your grounded for calling me that."

I snort. "What are you, my father or my boyfriend?"

Fred chuckles. "Your boyfriend you silly goose,"

"Then you're the weirdest boyfriend in the world." I roll my eyes and stop my struggle.

"Love you to darlin." He said softly.

I relax a little on his shoulder. "Love you to Trucker."

Chuckling, he continues to walk forward and didn't look like he was going to put me down. I just shook my head; it was just so easy to be relaxed with him. Seeing that I've known him all my life, I don't have to worry about him doing something that would be uncomfortable. I don't have to worry too much about anything really bad to happen, seeing that I knew how he thinks. And I bet that it's the same way for him. Nothing seems to really surprise him and I don't think that anything really should. A few moments later, a few of the students run in Fred path which made stop for a moment. Bobby was running after Magma and after the two of them was young Multiple. When the little boy saw Fred standing there with me slung over his shoulder, he puffed up his chest and tried to act brave. "Put her down you brut!" He did sound a little brave but his voice was still a little shaky.

Fred sighs and bumped my knee with his hand. "Doesn't the kid know about us now?"

I look over to my shoulder to see Multiple and I sigh. "Multiple we've been over this, Fred's my boyfriend now, and he's not going to hurt me."

"Well, if he's your boyfriend then why are you over his shoulder like a hunted deer?" The boy asked weakly.

I shook my head. "A silly joke between the two of us," I elbow his shoulder. "I think it's time to put me down now baby."

He grunted. "Good plan," Gently, Fred gripped my waist and lifted me off of his shoulder like I was a rag doll.

Once on my feet, I turn to Multiple and pat him on the shoulder. "Don't worry so much about me ok. I'll be alright, now run along and play ok."

He paused for a moment, thinking over what I just told him. Then with a sigh, he gives Fred a warning look. "I'm watching you," With a little squeak of fear he runs off after Bobby and Magma.

"I swear that kid has a crush on you." Fred commented as he took my hand in his and started walking again.

I shrug. "Guess so, looks like you have a love rival Mr. Dukes."

He laughed. "I guess so but I'm not too worried, he's too young for you anyway."

I laugh with him. "Right, I prefer big husky men, what was I thinking?"

"You could have fooled me," Fred winked at me. "Silver isn't husky or big, let alone a man for that matter."

I wink back. "Well then, it looks like you changed my taste in men."

"Alright that's enough you two," I just noticed that we made it to the hanger and it was Hank that cut in to our flirting. I remember when he was just my science teacher but then Hank when under his mutation, the one that he's been holding back for years. Now, he preferred to walk like a ape and was covered in blue fur like Kurt. Beast as he was called now has a big heart and doesn't have a problem with Fred and me. In fact I think he really loved the idea of the two of us together. "So now that you guys are here, I can place you into your teams." He continues with a smile. "Aprill, you'll be going with the Professor and Storm in the X-jet. Fredrick, you'll be joining me and your fellow members in the spare jet. Once we get the spot were Logan is located, you'll be put in even smaller groups to search the area."

I nod. "Understood Beast."

Beast smiled again. "We're just waiting for the others to show, so have a few more moments together before we head out." With a chuckle, Hank walked off to talk to Storm.

Fred kissed my cheek. "I think Hanks loves our love to much."

I return the kiss on his other cheek. "Well, at least he's not yelling at us like Scott is." I let go of his hand as I jump up on my tiptoes so I could hug his neck. "But you're not complaining are you."

"No," He kisses my lips softly. "It's nice not to get yelled at for a change."

"I agree." I say and return his soft kiss.

"Wonderful now everyone is here." I look away from Freddy to see Hank giving the same instructions that he gave us to the last few people of the party. It was Storm was talking this time. "Alright teams, go to your jets and prepare to take off."

"See you on the other side baby." Fred whispers, giving me one last kiss.

I return the kiss and unlace my arms from his neck. "Don't do anything stupid.

"I don't get it," Rogue said with a frown. "Where the heck are they?"

I shrugged. "I have no idea." We had all just landed in the abandoned warehouse yard by the lake front about a half hour ago. There are four large metal spheres in the center of this place but they were empty. We were told to all go out and see what we could find. Me and Fred weren't in the same group, he was with the other Brotherhood members and I was with Even, Kitty and Rogue. I couldn't smell Magneto, any of his followers, or Logan anywhere in the yard but we all still had to keep looking.

Soon, we met up with Jean's group to compare what we found. "Find anything yet you guys?" Jean asked us.

"Nothin," Rogue answered. "The place seems to be life less."

I shook my head. "I don't get it, those ship type things must be Magneto's."

Even shrugged his shoulders. "It looks like we are going to be at this for a while."

That was when I heard a gentle buzzing sound. I looked around over head to find what was making that sound but I didn't see anything at first. "Hey what is that?" Jean asked and I looked over to see something gently float between us. I looked at it very closely, it was a about the size of a good sized note card…no it was a playing card. My eyes narrowed as I took in what was on it and I saw that it was a queen of hearts. It was also it that moment that I saw that it was on fire or rather glowing with energy.

With a gasp, I gripped the card. "Get down!" Taking a firm grip, I flow the card and when it hit something, it exploded. As the smoke cleared, I the patter of feet and was then face to face with a tall man. Holding a melt staff, he pushed me back from the others and throws more cards from his pockets. There was something about the man that was familiar. He has long brown hair, a handsome face, a few inches taller than me and his eyes…red eyes surrounded by black. The hit me like a train. "Gambit!"

He smiles at me. "I told you that you weren't going to forget that name Cherie." His smile turned into a smirk when he throws another card at me. Moving away from the blast, I lung forward and he blocked me with his staff. Pushing away from him again and moving away from another card, I spring back at him and he blocked again. This time I stayed perched on his staff and he grinned at me, his red eyes sparkling with humor. "You look well my girl, everything well with mon ami?"

I roll my eyes. "I'm sure that you know that were dating now."

Gambit just smiles at me. "Indeed, mon ami loves talking about his Cherie." With a grunt, he heavies me off his staff and I fly in mid-air and land on the ground a few feet away from him.

"Where is Magneto Gambit!" I hiss at him.

"Oh, he's around." He smirked and throws another wave of cards.

I growl. "Do you ever run out of these," I managed to grip on and throw it back at Gambit. It didn't hit him but it blow up right in front of him, making him fall back a few feet. I couldn't help but laugh at that. In those few moments as the smoke slowly cleared, I looked around to see that everyone was fighting now. Beast was in growling and trying to get a hold of Sabortooth, Strom was throwing thunder at a young man who was throwing fire and Toad was tall metal man. "Who the hell are your friends Gambit?"

In that moment, the smoke was cleared and Gambit was now standing on his feet again. Once again h was smiling at me. "Fire boy there is Pyro, and that tall man over there is Colossus but as you can see, they are harmless."

I would say that about Pyro but that Colossus was taller than Fred and speaking about my boyfriend, he was charging Colossus. I was about to run after him and stop him but Freddy run full force into the tall man and was able to push him back.

"Impressive isn't he, Cher." Gambit inquired

"My boyfriend or Colossus," I look back a Gambit with a question in my eyes.

He laughs at me. "Mon ami of course Cher."

I roll my eyes. "Yes Gambit, Freddy is impressive."

He laughs at me. "Well, he isn't called the unmoveable for nothin."

I snort and run at him again. Gambit was a step of me and moved out of the way. But I was able to nick him in cheek with my boot. "He's the strongest mutant you guys have," I say as I turn around lung at him once again. "If you're guys are going to keep him then you have to at least keep him informed."

He blocks my fists with his staff and jumps back a little bit. "When he is so close to you cher, I don't think that would be wise."

"And why not," I snarl and move away from another card. "You would think that Magneto would want a leg up on the X-Men."

Gambit chuckled. "Now see the weird thing is…these ideas are coming from you."

I roll my eyes again. "Oh please, it's not like it's that hard to figure out what he wants."

"How about I put it to you this way Aprill," Gambit grins and planted his staff into the ground so he could lean into it. "If his plans were so clear cut that a monkey could figure it out, then why are you asking me what he is up to or better yet, you remember Camp Red Wood don't you."

I spit on the ground impatiently, we were just standing here and talking. "What about it."

"You should have figured out somewhere in your stay there, Magneto wanted to get Cain on our side but that never happened, now did it." Gambits voice drop a little and that's when I heard more of his…French maybe accent.

"Carly said that he was missing."

"Maybe for the rest of you," He tells me simply. "But Cain was fair away from lost. And we also knew that if we knew where Cain was, so would you X-Men. So we had to have something in place to keep all of you busy."

"So you lied to the Bayville Brotherhood, just to keep the X-Men off your tails." I snarled.

"Oh don't take it to personally," Gambit laughed. "After all, we didn't keep you kids with nothing to do, and you should be thanking us…"

"Why the hell would I do that!" I yelled.

Gambit gently smiles at me. "You really think that your sister and brother fallow you around all the time, heaven forbid no. You see Tigerlily, if it wasn't for us, you never would have met the rest for your family."

"And there fallowing the Kingpins ways, that making me so proud." I hiss.

Gambit shakes his head, brown hair flying in his eyes. "You would make a wonderful villain Tigerlily, you have so much of your father's old blood in you. It's sad that you have to act on your mother's blood instead."

"That's good, if I was like what my father was, I'd shoot myself." I growl at his words.

"Glad to hear it now," Gambit looked over his shoulder and I could see him smile. I look over with him and I saw that he was staring at Rogue. "If you don't mind Aprill, I have a different Cherie to speak to."

"Wait, what…" I start to say but Gambit was already running away. "Gambit!" I yell after him but he was already long gone.

"Aprill look out!" I look just in time see what Beast was warning me about, Creed was advancing on me.

"You're mine Fisk." Creed growled, and then at full force he slammed into me. Pinning me to the ground, he bares his teeth at me and his saliva grips on my cheeks. "I've been waiting for this princess."

My teeth started to shape themselves into sharp points when I bared my teeth also and a tigers growl ripped throw my chest. "Funny, so have I." In a fast motion, I react up and bit the muscles of his upper arm. His blood pooled into my mouth and it was so filthy, it was almost like poison.

Creed howled in pain. "Get off me!" He raised his hand and with his long yellowing claws, started to cut at my face. At once I let go of Creed with beep cuts in my cheek and now were slowly healing themselves. "You're just like your mother, a bitchy little slut…"

I still had a lot of his blood in my mouth and when he said that, I sit it all over his face and kick him off me. "Don't you ever call my mother a slut!"

"Oh," Creed snarled as he wiped his blood from his face. "I'll call her whatever I damn well feel like…" He was cut off when Beast finally came running over and brawled into Creed.

"Lily," I look up to see that Freddy was running over. "I just saw Creed on you, are you…" Then he saw all the saliva and blood on my face and he paled. "What did he do to you?"

I smile and I knew that there was going to be blood on my teeth. "It's more like what I did to him, I bit him."

He just shakes his head at me. "You bit him, gal that is so wrong."

I slowly rise to my feet again. "Ya but totally bad ass right?"

"Just brush your teeth and mouth wash before I kiss you next." He was still shaking his head but he was laughing now.

"Fair enough," I say and spit some more blood out of my mouth. "And I don't plan on doing that again."

Fred smiles. "That's a good thing."

"It's Magneto!" Me and Fred look over to see that it was Storm that made the call from the air. I looked around to see that Beast was no longer with Creed and the other had seemed to disappear also. "Let's getting moving everyone." With a nod, I ran off after the others with Fred at my heels. But we didn't even get half way out of the yard when the ground started to shake.

"What's going on?" Jean yelped as she was placed down on her knees. But no one could answer her, none of us had any idea what was going on. Within a few moments, the ground started to split and my friends started to fall in the earth.

"No," I try to get air born but I still could get my footing, I couldn't fly after my friends. Soon the ground the spit under my feet I found myself falling.

"I got you." I look to see that Fred was falling beside and took hold of me. Once I was in his arms, everything went dark and all I could hear was all my friends screaming.

What wake me up was the groans from my friends. Slowly I open my eyes to find myself still in Fred's arms. He was knocked out under me as we laid together in the rubble. I shake his shoulders, worried that he could be hurt. "Are you okay baby?" I ask him softly.

With a groan he opened his eyes and smiled softly. "I've felt better days."

"Where are we," I say to myself as I look around the room. It was covered like metal, almost like a military base and I could the buzz from the computers. There was a platform about twenty feet over our heads and men in black suits started to fail in. As I look around at my friends to see if they were ok, I could hear the loading of guns.

Fred slowly sits up with me still in his arms. I could feel his muscles ball up and pulse with power. He was tense and kept a protective hold on me. "I don't know gal but I don't like the guns."

I shivered. "Me neither."

"Everyone keep still." Storm commanded us.

"Who wants to move yo." Toad said in a shaky voice.

That is went a new voice rang out. "Stand down men." I look up again to see if I could find the man giving the orders but I couldn't see him, it was too dark. Slowly I could hear the men lower their guns and wait for the next order. This was so strange, it was either that they were going to help us or do something to hurt us. Fred's arms never loosened from me when I started to a loud thud noises.

"That sounds like," I whisper

"Footsteps." When those words came from Fred's lips, I shivered and his hold tightened.

"Men," Then commander of the troop howled. "Fall back." And just like that I stared to hear the men turn around and walk away. Everything was silent as the footsteps grew louder and louder. We all sat there and waited to see what the footsteps belonged to. At first I thought it was going to be Cain, after all, why would Gambit bring him up. I looked up at Fred's face and saw that he was looking down at me. Neither of us knew what it was and the fear was clear in his eyes. There was another loud sound and I looked back to see a large metal door open. And the first thing that I saw was two large glowing eyes. Lowly a giant melt man stepped into the light and he had to at least fifty feet tall but even then I did know off hand. Painted a verity of reds and purples, the giant pointed its yellow glowing eyes down eyes at us and it sent shivers down my spine.

"Multiple unrequested mutants have been bedecked," The giant's voice was metallic and deep that sent cold fear into my heart. "Commencing capture." With that the giant took another step toward us and Fred was about to get up to confront the monster when there was a loud creaking sound.

"What is happening!" I looked up to see that the captain was still standing up there and was looking down on us. With a loud booming sound, the floor that we were sitting on started to raise in the air. At first I was glad, that we would be away from the giant but…I was so wrong. The giant was on the plate form as it rose in the air. "No!" Was thing that hear the captain say as we started working its way to the surface. Within moments we were all in the yard again only this time we had an unwanted visitor.

"Everyone fall back." Beast growled as the giant walked forward. But no matter how fair we moved away from that thing, it still moved onward. I was running out of ideas, there didn't seem to any real away to hide from this thing. It somehow knows that we are all mutants, and I would bet money that track us if we tried to hide. I looked over and found that Storm had flown into the air and shot thunder at the giant. The monster fell back a step or two but the thunder did seem to do anything more. Like the giant was frustrated with us, it flicked it's arms and made all these weapons appear. The same thing happened in his chest and when all the weapons were pointed at us, they started to fire.

"Run!" Hank howled and we all ran away from the blasts.

"Don't leave my side Lily," Fred told me. "We're a better force when we are together."

I look up at the giant and thought quickly. Spikes and thunder was getting shot at still but they all missed. Jean was mentally throwing things at the robot that made it fall back. There must have to be something, anything that would be able to slow it down. That's when I saw the pips coming out of its shoulders. They aren't that big but enough to get something in there. That's when it hit me. "Give me a boost."

Fred looked at my oddly for a moment but then look where I was looked and frowned. "No way…"

"What other choices do we have," I almost snarl at him. "Just please Blob, do it."

After a long pause, Fred just shook his head and griped my waist. With a grunt, he spun around like he going to throw a discs and sent me flying. "Fred what are did you just do." Heard Jean yell Fred for what he just did. "Just trust her red." Is all that I heard Fred say a I grow closer to the giant. I moved away from the beams of energy being shot at me and managed to land on its left shoulder. The giant turned it head to see me and winked. Then I took the form of a small mouse and dived into the pipe. Once it side, it was hard to find any cords to pull and knew that I couldn't stay in this place to long. Taking in a deep breath I let my form grow again. The metal groaned as turned into my new form. With a powerful shove of my shoulders, I burst out of the giants shoulder and roared like tiger I had become.

"Holy shit, I forgot that she could do that." Lance looked up at me in amazement.

Fred laughed. "Go baby, kick it's ass."

Growling, I round on the giants and lunged. But that's when things went wrong. The giant took hold of me in its massive melt hand and pulled me off his shoulder. Then I was thrown toward the ground and hit Fred square in the chest. He was not seeing this coming and was pushed back till he hit a car. Groaning, I go back to human form and shake his shoulders. "Freddy, Freddy are you ok, get up, get…"

"Aprill look out." Before I could even turn to see what was going on behind me, an invisible hand pulled me away from Fred.

"NO!" I screamed and struggled against Jean's grip but it was too late. A large mass of green like slim flying at where I was just at with Fred and he didn't even open his eyes before it hit him. Fred struggled at it surrounded him but he was powerless and the slim closed around him fully, paralyzing him. Once I was by Jean side I snarl at her. "How dare pull me away, look at what that thing has done to Fred!"

"I had no choice…" She started to explain.

"Bullshit." I howled and turned to the giant that started all this. "That thing is mine."

"No Aprill don't!" It was Storm who gave the order but I didn't listen. I flow up in the air and stair for the giant. But my mind clouded with rage and I couldn't concentrate that well and moving away from attacks. I did okay for the first few moments but then the giant hit me to the ground and raised a gun at me. I was ready from the blast but it never came, that same green slim shot out hit me at full speed. As soon as it touched me, it move quickly so move around me. I tried to break free but there was nothing that helped me out. Just like Fred just moments ago, I was powerless as the green slim consumed me and I blacked out.

Fred's view point

Everything was cold, dark and I couldn't move my limbs. I had to break free, I had to get at Aprill, she needs my help. My heart pounded against my rib crag and my lungs filled with fire, Aprill, my beloved, I just had to get to her. But nothing I did moved me even a small inch. So with a heavy heart I had to let myself relax and wait for the moment to come to me. Who ever made that robot to come and get us was going to pay if they hurt my girl. In my mind, those people would die if they so much as laid an eye on her. That girl is my life, my love and I swore to myself years ago to keep her safe. Even if that meant to stay with the Brotherhood, getting that leg up on what Magneto was doing was key to keeping her safe. I know that Aprill calls me crazy for what I'm doing but I hope that one day that she'll understand why.

What seemed like life times, I was starting to gain movement in my limbs. Light was also starting to break away at the dark. I blinked my eyes and everything was light green color. I was incased in some kind of green rock and it was cement. I noticed that there were men in white coats sawing away at the green rock and some of the rock was gone from my right elbow. I waited, they need to get more of the rock away so I could burst free. It was funny how they wanted to break me free so badly, didn't they have any idea how powerful I am. Another inch of rock broke away from my skin and I felt my power ball up in my muscles. Just one more inch, one more heart beat and then I will be with my Lily again. Just…one…more…

Yes! With a grunt, I flexed my right arm and the rock started to crack. With another flick I broke my right arm free. I flicked my fingers, enjoying the free movement and then I balled up my fist. As I punched away at the rock, I pushed up with my shoulder and created my cracks. By now I could hear the lab men panic at what they were seeing me do. This was to slow, they could re-prison me if I don't move faster. I thought about Lily, seeing her in the hands of these people…possibly being held in a cage, tortured and cry for help…these heart sickening images gave me strength. Raising my right fist, I throw all I had into slamming into the rock and shattering it. A fire burned in my stomach, I must find her and as I looked around the room…she was nowhere to be seen. Growling, I turned to the men that were cutting me free. I grip the closest one by the collar and brought him nose to nose with me.

"Where is she?" I growled.

The short man trembled in my hand. "She…who…what girl…"

I was inches way from gripping his throat. "A sixteen year old girl, long dark brown hair and blazing blue-green eyes, now…" I gripped his throat and watched him struggle. "You'll tell me where your keeping her or else."

He gasped. "Or else what?"

I smirked dangerously and loosened my grip a little. "Well, you better pray to god that you don't go to hell."

The man paled and said in a panicked whisper. "Look, I don't know about this girl. All I know is that one of your females was being very dangerous. They had to take her…"

"Where god damn it?" I yelled, my voice ringing throw the room over the X-Men break free from the chambers. "Where are you monsters keeping my girl?"

"Your girl," The man's eyes widened. "Your mate…"

"Oh for god's sake!" I growled in frustration and throw the man across the room. I turned on the other men hiding in the corner by the door. "Move you morons." With a jump the men moved away from the door as I open it and walked out. Once shut, I busted the lock and walked to where some of the X-Men were handling the other people in this place. I was going to ask if they knew where Aprill could have been when I heard a chilling voice.

"The time for fun and games is over people let's move." I turned to see my teacher standing there in all her evil glory. Her eyes turned to me and narrowed. "Blob, so glad to see you are unharmed, let's get moving."

I was going to protest but in that moment I couldn't bad mouth Mystique but in this moment it would be a bad idea. So I fallowed the others on their way out of this place. We came up to other people of the party and soon we were running to the closest exit. But that's when I noticed that Aprill hadn't joined the party and no one was running in another direction to find her. By the time we got the place we were leaving, I made up my mind.

Once we stopped in the hall and people were starting up the latter, I held open the melt blockage. Mystique howled from behind me. "Blob what are you doing, get over here now!"

I glared at her. "No, not until I find Aprill."

"Are you insane, we will come back for her but right now we must…"

"Go to hell Mystique," I growled at her and opened the blockage fully. "I'm not leaving Aprill here, I'm going to find her…even if it kills me." Without looking back I pushed myself forward and ran down the hall. I busted throw other blockages as I looked for any clues as to where to go. The first few moments really seemed hopeless, without a map of some kind I don't really have any way to find her. But I wasn't going to give up, I've never given up on Aprill and I wasn't going to start now.

"OUCH!" I stop dead in my tracks, did I really just hear that scream. But it sounded like it was coming from a TV or something. I continue forward and find myself in front of wall full of TVs. This must be one of the smaller control panels, now I'm getting somewhere. I look over all the screens, trying to see if I could find the one that showed where Lily was being held. "Freddy…" I look sharply to my left and on one of the smallest screens I saw my dear Aprill strapped down on a lab table. The table was facing up right and there was a blond woman standing in front of Lily. This woman seemed to be taking…dare I say it, large amounts of skin off Aprill arms and watched them slowly heal. "Freddy…" Lily whimpered in pain. "Where are you…"

I touched the screen. "I'm right here baby, I'll find you."

"Help me…"That's when she started to cry and then yelled in pain when the woman cut into her. The scream seemed to echo and at once I knew why. She was close, so close that my blood boiled.

"I'm coming Aprill." I yelled back, praying that she could hear me. I run away from the screen and down the hall again yelling her name. "Aprill, Aprill, where are you darlin?"

My heart sank again when no one answered but then. "Freddy…FREDDY!"

"Aprill," My heart jumped. "I'm coming baby."

"Freddy help me."

Soon I stopped at a door that I thought is where her voice was coming from. This got confirmed when I heard her scream again. I growled and slammed my fists into the melt door. My fists kept pounding into the door until I finally made hand holds. Gripping onto the door, I used all my strength to rip the door out of its frame. Once the door was gone, I dropped it to the floor and entered the room.

The woman spun around and saw me there. "Who the hell…"

I lunged forward and gripped her by the throat. "Your worst nightmare you bitch." Snarling, I throw the woman across the room and watched her drop to the fall. She wasn't dead and I wished that she was.

"Trucker…"

I turned back to that pain filled voice and walked over to her. "It's okay baby girl, I'm here." I first broke her wrist cuffs and once they were gone, Aprill fell forward into my chest and gripped onto me for dear life. I kicked off her ankle cuffs next and that's when she crumpled to the ground. "Aprill," I take hold of her and sit with her on the floor. She weakly sat on my lap and hugged me close. Once my arms were fully around her is when she started to cry. I kissed her hair. "Shh, it's okay Aprill, I'm here baby girl. They will never touch you again."

"I thought…I…thought…" Aprill's voice was completely shattered; I've never heard her so broke.

"Of course I'd come for you darlin." I rubbed her back in the way that I knew would sooth her. "I wouldn't leave you behind, never baby, never."

"Oh Freddy," Lily cried. "You should have seen them, look…look at what…" She lifted up her left arm so I could see and sure enough most of the skin was gone and was slowly growing back. Softly bleeding, in some parts I could even see her veins. "They were…were cutting me open…to see…see how I work…"

I kiss her lips softly then, in my own way begging her stop thinking about it. My worst nightmare, they hurt her, scared her soul and made her broken. And I couldn't take it, not my Aprill, my angel, not the strongest person I know had just been tested upon like a animal. Slowly I rise to my feet with her in my arms and pull my lips away from hers. "Come baby, I'm going to take you home."