Author's note: Thank you to KEZZ 1, NicoleR85, NotMarge, partygirl98, ZabuzasGirl, Rasha007, Paige Charles, and Sam0728 for your reviews! Sorry for any heart attacks that dream may have caused last chapter. Today we're picking up right after Hank wakes up and going from there. It's about to get a little crazy around here, so stick with me and hold on!

An Unexpected Visitor

A terrible choking sound worked itself out of my throat, somewhere between a sob and a growl. I'd changed into Beast in my sleep, probably from being so overstimulated.

I vaguely noticed that I'd ripped my sheets apart while I thrashed around, and torn deep gouges into my mattress. It looked like an animal attack.

Which, honestly, it was. Me, an animal.

A monster.

Zoey's voice echoed in my ears, the memory of her screams and cries causing the fur on my arms to stand on end. She'd been so terrified of me, so revolted. I saw the love in her eyes instantly replaced by horror from seeing my real face.

I put my head in blue, clawed hands, trying to get a handle on myself.

It was a nightmare. Just a bad dream. It didn't happen.

Last night I went over to Zoey's apartment with her after spending time together at the cafe. She baked cookies, and I stole some. She caught me, but I flattered her into forgiving me. Just like my dream. We started to kiss-

And then I stopped us. I pulled away, like I always did.

I'd learned my limits since the night I nearly lost it. That's not to say it wasn't difficult to hold on, but I never let go of my self-control. Being so close to Zoey felt incredible, so it made the struggle I put myself through worth it.

But after a certain point I always forced myself to step back from her, away from temptation. And every time, it killed me to see the pain Zoey's eyes when I pulled away. I hated hurting her, but stopping was much better than the alternative.

My nightmare was an actualization of my worst fear. That I would lose control of myself, that Zoey would see the real me and be afraid. And then I would lose the best thing that ever happened to me. I couldn't bear it.

I stumbled into the bathroom to splash water on my face, trying to wash the sickening feeling of dread from my skin.

My reflection stared at me, a terror-inspiring countenance. Feral yellow eyes, dangerous-looking fangs, sharp claws, garish blue skin and fur. I definitely didn't fit the bill for anyone's Prince Charming. Certainly not a beautiful woman like Zoey's.

What can I do? What will I do? What if I lose her?

"Are you alright, Hank?" Zoey asked. "You seem quiet- I mean, quieter than usual."

It was later that day. We were in the Danger Room again, laying in a sunny meadow blanketed with sweet grass and blue primroses- Zoey's favorite flower. When winter arrived in Westchester County I'd decided to give Zoey springtime by writing another simulation for her.

"And you say you're bad at romance," she'd said when I showed it to her for the first time.

I was sprawled out on a blanket with Zoey's head on my stomach while we both looked up at the sky. She was reading The Three Musketeers to me in French as we snacked on peanut butter sandwiches, Cokes, and Twinkies- because no picnic is complete without Twinkies.

I relished the sound of her voice, the smooth cadence of her speech. French was a lovely language but when Zoey spoke it it was even more so.

Though perhaps I'm slightly biased.

I focused on listening to her, rather than thinking about my nightmare. I broke out in a cold sweat every time my thoughts strayed to the look on her face when she saw my Beast form in my dream.

"Hank?" Zoey repeated, snapping me out of my ruminations.

She raised her head off my stomach.

"I'm fine," I told her, brushing my fingers through her curls. "Just enjoying listening to you."

She flushed prettily.

I loved her easy blushes, her shy smiles. It made me feel like I made Zoey as weak-in-the-knees as she made me. It was quite a heady feeling.

This woman meant the world to me. I couldn't bear the thought of losing her.

"I love you," I said quietly.

"I love you too, Hank," she replied, with a gorgeous smile.

Yes, but would you still? I'd rather not find out.

"Ready for Star Trek?" Zoey asked brightly.

I rolled my eyes. "Sure."

"I'll agree that I do enjoy the show, but I contend that my fondness for Star Trek mostly stems from the fact that I mentally associate it with you," I told Zoey as we walked down to the garage, arm-in-arm.

She giggled. "All I heard in that statement is that I was right and you like it now," she teased, squeezing my arm gently.

I let out an exasperated sigh that was completely feigned. "If it makes you happy to think that," I replied.

And then we both laughed. Zoey turned her face up for a kiss, which I leaned down to give her-

"Well look at you two little lovebirds," a female voice said, from up ahead of us.

The voice was familiar, though its biting tone was not. I remembered that voice being full of sincerity and telling me I was beautiful and perfect. Urging me to be "mutant, and proud." Cracked and strained with intensity as she told me society should aspire to be more like mutants, and not the other way around.

I froze in place as Raven Darkholme stepped into view, in all her naked blue glory.

Seeing her... Once upon a time I would've been elated, ecstatic to be near her again. I wanted Raven to come home to her brother, to me. I wanted to beg on my hands and knees for a do-over on our last meaningful conversation and hope she would forgive me for being such an idiot.

I didn't feel that way anymore.

Now all I could think was that Raven was unpredictable, possibly dangerous, and in the presence of the woman I loved. I wanted Zoey away from her immediately.

"Raven," I greeted her, with a stiff nod.

"Mystique," she corrected immediately.

Next to me, Zoey was a mutant popsicle.

I'd finally come clean to her about Raven and I, but I hadn't mentioned my ex-girlfriend's habit of walking around naked. Definitely an oversight on my part. And it didn't help that she'd dropped in like this, unannounced.

Someone please shoot me.

"Hello, Beast," Raven said, a Cheshire cat grin on her face. It didn't reach her eyes, which were as cold as a snake's. "Hiding again, I see. Never could accept yourself, could you?"

Um, let's not talk about my issues right now.

I shifted uncomfortably, immediately defensive. "What're you doing here, Mystique? Does your brother know you're here?"

While we were only occasionally at odds with Erik's Brotherhood, we certainly weren't friends. And that included Raven. Hence my wariness.

"Oh, yes. We just had a little chat and I'm on my way out," she replied archly.

Her attention shifted to Zoey, still tensely standing next to me. She had a vice-like grip on my arm, and her face was ghost-white. I had no idea what she was thinking, and it scared me.

"Who's your little friend?"

"This is my girlfriend," I answered. "Zoey."

Rather than pushing Zoey forward so she could properly greet Raven, I gently pulled my arm backward so I was slightly between the two women. I didn't trust Raven, no matter how peaceful her visit purportedly was.

Zoey finally found her voice. "Hello, Mystique," she said quietly.

"Does she know about you?" Raven asked, her face twisting into a mask of innocence. She didn't acknowledge Zoey's greeting at all. "The real you? Or do you lie to her and hide yourself like you do to the rest of the world?"

Guilt and shame lowered my eyes to the floor as I thought fleetingly of my nightmare.

Yes. Yes, I lie and hide from her. But I don't have a choice-

My silence was answer enough for Raven.

She shook her head, her gaze becoming flint-hard. "What a waste," she hissed. "So much power and beauty, and you hide behind your petty desire to be normal. You could be extraordinary if only you-"

"Hank is extraordinary," Zoey suddenly cut in, angry red patches appearing on her cheeks. "Don't judge him just because he wants to be known for who he is, rather than what he is."

"Some of us don't have that choice," Raven retorted. "So I will judge him, little girl."

The insult to Zoey finally unstuck the words from my throat, a spark of anger flaring in my chest. "There's no need for-"

Zoey put one of her hands on my shoulder, a plea for silence.

I glanced down at her, feeling disconcerted. Zoey's expression was one of empathy, rather than acrimony, as she looked at the blue woman in front of us.

"Our genes, our appearances, aren't all that we are," she said quietly. "I'm sorry that you feel your mutation is the only way you can identify yourself. I hope one day you can see more to yourself than just what the world perceives in you. Now, please excuse me."

And with that, Zoey gave my hand a squeeze and walked away. My muscles tensed as she passed Raven in the hall, but the other woman merely glared at her.

Raven rounded on me once Zoey was out of sight. "I don't need her pity," she snapped.

"It wasn't pity, Mystique," I replied mildly. "It was compassion."

For a moment I just looked at her, the woman whose DNA had forever changed mine. She was so different from the light-hearted spirit I'd known in 1962. A stranger.

How much had my words to her the night before Cuba affected her life's choices? Had I helped mold Raven into the cold, single-minded woman she was now?

I wanted to apologize for the things I'd said when I was young and foolish, to somehow make it right.

But for some reason I knew that the words would be empty and meaningless to her. Too much time had passed, and the fact that I still hid my mutation made me contemptible in Raven's eyes.

I could do nothing but harbor my regrets in silence for the rest of my life.

"Goodbye, Raven," I murmured.

And then I quickly followed after Zoey.

If only I knew what kind of fallout I was walking into.