The lawyer came by three days before the court date. I couldn't go to the meeting in my freakin' condition, so I stayed in my room, gazing out the window, longing to be free, able to just run, long and hard. I shook my heads away from those thoughts, away from thoughts that might not happen. I wouldn't allow myself to give up hope a second time. I had to hope that I would get better. I always did... always.

Maybe that was because of your healing factor... a voice in the back of my head said.

I ignored it. "No." That's all I said.

The poison had definitely spread. I could feel it, like liquid fire in my body. It burned like crazy, but I ignored the pain. I ignored the anger, the bitterness, everything. I concentrated on trying to bring back my healing factor, absently running my fingers through my fur.

I was startled out of my thoughts by a knock on the door. "It's open." I called and Sam walked in. He sat down beside me and looked out the window.

"How was the meeting?" I asked.

He shrugged. "Long, lawyer terms flew in and I went out. I think they're about wrapped up now." he said.

I nodded. "Did they say anything about me?" I asked quietly.

He shook his head. "Just that you weren't feeling well."

"Good." I was tired, but I fought to stay awake. "Hey Sam?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you... sad when you see me?"

"Why would I be sad? I'm happy when I see you, it means that you're alive." He smiled.

"No, I mean, does it remind you of what happened... with your parents?" I was quiet.

"Not really. I still have my sisters, so that's something." he said, though he looked a little more reserved.

"I'm sorry." I whispered, gritting my teeth as a fresh wave of pain hit me.

"It's alright, really. Look, I hate to say it, but you're kinda paying for it right now." he said.

"I guess. Sam, would you go see if they're done yet? I feel... strange." I said, my voice distant. I felt like I was floating.

Sam was shaking me. Luna? Luna? Wake up.... Please? Come on, Luna!" He jumped up and ran, yelling for Hank or Logan. "Hurry! I think she's... gone." He fell to his knees by my bed once more.

I tried to move, barely twitching a finger. "Don't worry. Sam, I'm alright, really." The words barely passed my lips.

Sam looked up, relief in his eyes. "You're alive! What happened? Are you alright?" He was just nervously talking, so I shushed him.

"Hank, do ya know what's happenin'?" Logan knelt by me. "Darlin'?"

I smiled faintly. "Hey Wolvie. I'm alright. I'm..." I stopped, closing my eyes and gritting my teeth as my claws shot out. "...healin'..." The darkness pulled me under before I could say more.

***********************************************************************************

Darkness. I was floating in darkness. Nothingness...

I struggle upwards, towards the surface, towards voices. They're talking... about what? I can't hear their words, only mumbles, only voices. I slowly make my way upwards, clawing and scrambling hastily.

I blinked my eyes open. White light. I turn and manage to halfway sit up. The pain is gone, but where am I? A voice answers my question.

"We thought you died." Sam.

I shook my head and sat up all the way. I cleared my vision with a slight shake of the head and looked around.

I was still in my room, though I don't know how long I've been out.

"Two days." Tildy said, as if reading my mind.

I grunted and then shot out of bed as I realized what that meant. "Court's tomorrow!" I ran my fingers through my fur nervously. "Oh man, oh man, oh man..."

"Calm down." Kitty said. "Don't get yourself worked up."

I ignored her and continued my nervous rantings. My fur was all over the place by the time I finally calmed down.

"Finally, Oh Fearless Leader." Luke said, rolling his eyes. "Sheesh, ya give her something in the Danger Room and she's all for it, but give her court and she's more nervous than Wolverine in an airplane!"

Said Wolverine growled at this and Luke suddenly found his shoes mighty interesting.

"You don't even have to say anything." Tildy assured me. "Just be your usual..." She stopped and backtracked. "Just be the sweet, adorable, darling non-people eating mutant you are."

I rolled my eyes and pretended to whine. "But I like people! They taste good with ketchup!"

Tildy rolled her eyes. "That's wrong on so many levels."

"Yeah, but whatareya gonna do?" I shrugged with a smirk and went to my closet, pulling out random clothes. "No. No. No. No..... Yes! No.... Ugh! Kitty!" She was by my side and nicely moved (shoved) me out of the way. I watched as she went through my clothes, Jubilee joining her. They talked randomly and I caught the words hair and make-up,

"Oh no." I said, backing up. "No no no. I am not wearing make-up!"

They grinned evilly at me. "But of course! Whatever you say..." They turned back to my closet and I had the sudden urge to wanna crawl under my bed. I moaned pitifully and Tildy joined them. I went to the only non-girly-girl on my team. "Help me." I whispered.

Ty smiled. "Sorry." she whispered back. "You're trapped."

I moaned again and banged my metal-fused head into the wall. Everyone had cleared out as soon as they heard make-up so it was only me, Kitty, Jubilee, Tildy, and Ty in the room. I stopped when I saw that there was a crater in the wall from when I hit it. "Oops..."

I guess the girls in my closet found what they were looking for because they suddenly left, waving a cheerful good-bye over their shoulders. Ty smiled sadly at me and was dragged out with them.

I shook my head and walked out of my room, headed downstairs for a drink. I hadn't had a sip of beer since I got back to the mansion (that sounds really bad...), so I snuck into the kitchen and looked in the back of the fridge. Sure enough, there was a case and I grabbed one, scribbling a note and leaving about three dollars in the empty spot. I went outside to drink it, calming my nerves down a bit. I made sure that no one saw me, then crushed the can and threw it away. I went upstairs to brush my teeth and get the smell out of my mouth, lest Wolvie found out I had some.

Mouth cleansed, I trekked back down the stairs, ran into Hayden, glared at him and shoved him out of the way (can you sense my unhappiness at him?), and finally made it to the living room, where I sat down and was stared at and studied like a bug under a microscope. I sighed. "What?"

Everyone looked away. You'd think I almost died or somethin'... Oh wait, I did..

Oh, well. I watched whatever mindless show they had it set to, then got up. My mind just wouldn't settle down, I was too worried about tomorrow. I know what you're thinking, 'why don't you just try meditation again?' Well, my mind was too jumbled and I was too much on edge to even think the words "calm down". So I just paced around outside for a bit, running off my nervous energy, climbing trees, and the like.

Finally Kitty found me and forced me back inside sometime around nine. She started to drag me inside. "Come on, you have to get ready." she said, pulling me towards my room. She unceremoniously tossed me in the bathroom with a quick "Hurry up and shower! Make sure to get all the dirt and sweat out!"

I grumbled, of course, but I hopped in the shower and cleaned real good. I knew that she would probably check me or something. I got clean and tossed on the nightclothes she had left for me, then opened the door and about freaked when I saw her and Jubilee sitting on my floor, grinning like Cheshire cats. They motioned me over and I did so, wary. I sat down and they slowly signaled or someone to close the door. I turned around and saw Tildy close and lock the door, then joined us on the floor. "Luna, you have to look really good for tomorrow." Kitty said, strapping my image-inducer to my wrist. She pushed the button and I was "normal" me again.

"So why can't we just let this do it for me?" I asked, pointing to the watch-thing.

Jubilee snorted. "Because that wouldn't be any fun, now would it? Come on, you'll love it!"

I sighed again, resigned to my fate. "Fine. But I don't wanna look like... like... Emma!" I finally said.

They all nodded and gave me a 'duh' look. Kitty pulled me now-human feet toward her. She pulled out some nail polish and I grimaced, but let her and Jubilee paint my toes while Tildy painted my fingernails. They nodded in satisfaction when they were done and told me to go to bed.

"But it's only nine!" I protested.

"We're getting you up bright and early to finish, so don't start!" Jubilee said, pushing me gently onto the bed. I grumbled, but laid down like the whipped kitten I apparently was. I slipped the stupid sleeping mask they left for me over my eyes and fell into an easy sleep, the rhythm of the wind outside calming my nerves.

***********************************************************************************

True to their word, I was awaken very early. "It's only five!" I groaned when they so rudely dumped me on the floor and blinded me with light.

"Yeah, we let you sleep in a bit." Tildy informed me, helping me to my feet. I got up and they set me in a chair, activating my watch again. "Don't forget, court's at noon."

Don't worry, I couldn't forget. They shoved some food into my hands, watching me as I ate it, then shipped me off to brush my teeth. Soon as I was done, they stripped my clothes off, leaving me in my undergarments, and did my hair, sweeping it up in some sort of fancy French braid-thing and sprinkling in some glitter. I grumbled slightly as they put gunk all over my eyes, lips, cheeks, face. They tossed me my clothes, a sparkly satiny shirt and skirt, then put some sandals on my feet. I was then dragged over to the mirror and forced to look in it.

I didn't look bad. I actually looked good. I smiled slightly at my reflection, then glanced at my watch. "How did you manage to keep me for three hours!" I said, shocked that it was already ten. That only gave me a few hours to... do nothing but wait, I guess.

"You aren't even done yet." Jubilee informed me. They dragged me down the hall to her room, thankfully no one saw me, and told me to wait. I stood and waited, not wanting to wrinkle my clothes, shifting from one foot to the other.

I about died when I saw who they brought in to appraise me. "How does she look?" they asked.

JEAN walked into the room and looked me over, then nodded. I felt the sudden urge to shoot myself, then decide against it. I did however about climb the wall when Jean pulled out a little bottle of perfume. She sprayed a little on my neck and wrists. I sneezed as it burned my nose. The flowery smell made me wanna gag.

Finally I was let go, but the evil women forced me to go downstairs where everyone was in the kitchen. I felt the heat creep up my face and my nose kept twitching from the perfume. "You messed up my nose!" I informed the evil ladies. Logan was nowhere to be found, probably smelled me from halfway across the mansion.

"Sorry about that." Jean said with a smile. Then...

"Say cheese!" Jubilee flashed a picture with her camera. I scowled. "Luna!"

"What?" I said innocently.

"Smile this time."

I rolled my eyes, but smiled, just to get it over with. "There's still a few hours left. Am I done yet?" I asked/moaned.

Jubilee nodded. "Yeah, I guess so..."

"Finally." I muttered, sitting in a chair. Sam stared at me and again I felt heat creep to my face. "What?"

"Nothin'. You just look like.... like.... a girl!" Sam blurted out.

Ty's eyes literally bugged out when she saw me. "Luna, you look..."

"Like a girl?" I said wryly, looking straight at Sam.

Luke looked me over. "This is definitely a side we haven't seen before." he commented.

"It ain't a side yer gonna see very often either!" I snapped.

Luke and Sam both rolled their eyes. "If you're gonna look like a girl then you could at least act like one." they both informed me.

I wrinkled my nose again at the perfume. "You two are lucky I'm wearin' this thing." I said, pointing to my nice shirt. "I'd hate ta get blood on it."

Luke rolled his eyes. "Immature brat."

"Childish double-brat." I shot back.

"Kitty litter."

"Butt face."

"Monkey breath."

"Magnet brain."

Luke opened his mouth to say something else, but Tildy interrupted him. "Would you two grow-up?"

We responded at the same time. "No."

She rolled her eyes, but didn't say anything.

What? I was nervous, O.K.? I deserved to be childish, even for a little while. I looked over at Jean, pressing my lips into a thin line. I was nervous and ready to just get this whole thing done and over with.

"Come on." Sam abruptly said. "Let's get this junk off you."

I looked silently at Kitty and Jubilee. Their eyes rolled. "Oh, very well." Kitty said. "I suppose we did overdo it a little."

I happily got up and followed Sam out of the room, up the stairs and finally to my room. He waited in the hall while I showered, removed the stuff from my face, and got dressed again, somehow managing to pull up my (simulated?) hair up into a style like what Jubilee had done. I went back downstairs with Sam and everyone looked at me again.

"Much better." Luke said with a nod.

"Yeah, now you don't look like a clown." Bobby piped up.

I rolled my eyes at them both and sat down, nervously tapping my foot. I drummed my fingers on the tabletop, clearly getting on people's nerves.

"Would you kindly stop that?" Luke finally snapped at me.

I gave him a glare, but stopped. I looked at the clock. Four hours to go...

Nothing to do, I'll go crazy. Three hours...

Going slowly crazy... Two hours...

An hour and a half...

One hour...

Thirty minutes and finally it's time to go. Warren is the one who's going to drive me, so I quickly hopped into his car (limo) and off we went.

I stared out the window, lost in thought about what might happen. I was scared, I really was. I nervously rubbed my hands together since I couldn't run them through my hair or rub my dogtag. It was a long drive up there.

We finally got there and we got out. He explained to me that I was to be there only to watch and listen and show the judge my injuries (I forgot the technical term for it) and not speak unless directly spoken to. I was patted down for weapons of any sort (heh heh... they forgot my "daggers of death"... I'll be good, I swear... heh heh....) and Warren (Mr. Warren) showed me to the courtroom and told me to wait patiently. In other words, shut up, don't move, and show the judge only if he asks. Got it, why didn't ya just say so?

I sat there, bored out of my mind, until Jared Lawyer-Guy came in, flashed me another smile, and reminded me to keep my temper because the other party was coming in. I watched as Magneto and Nightshade took their seats, followed by Lorna and Wanda, and finally Pietro and Creed. I didn't look at any of them, in fact, I deliberately looked away from them. We were all sworn in and told to stand for the Honorable Judge.... O.K., I forgot her name. Miller or something. I was just told to call her "Your Honor", so it didn't matter.

We sat down again and it was almost like Court T.V. Lawyers started yelling, throwing big words around that only Dr. McCoy could have known. I just sat there like a good little girl and didn't speak, carefully listening, until finally...

"Miss Night, would you kindly show me your injuries?" the Judge was looking kindly at me.

I was polite, of course. "Yes, Your Honor, but there is something you should know. You won't be able to see them unless I shut this," I held up my watch, "down and expose my true self."

The Judge nodded so I shut the watchy-thing off. There were slight gasps as I was exposed, but I walked up to the stand and the Judge motioned for me to come closer to her. I walked behind the big desk-thing and she looked at the scars still on my face. They still hadn't faded, neither had the ones on my back, which I showed her as well. "Miss Night, is your back usually as furry as the rest of your body?"

I nodded with a "Yes, Ma'am."

She gave a small "Mmm-hmmm" and told me that I could take my seat again if that was all. I nodded and reactivated my watch as I sat back down. Creed looked nastily at me, but I didn't react. Not on the outside at least. On the inside I was ripping him to shreds, but on the outside I was quiet and still observant.

Big words were again thrown around and then the stupid tape was shown. I was forced to watch it and then "testify" that that was me. I said yes and it finally ended.

Then the judge did something rather odd. She asked me if I could deactivate my watch and show my scars to the "jury". I guessed that was the audience behind us, so I turned around and showed them. They mostly looked horrified, but at me or the scars, I don't know. I was still somewhat calm as started to reactivate my watch, but the judge stopped me. "Miss Night, I believe that it would be beneficial to this case if you remained without aid of a cloaking device." I slowly put two and two together and nodded, leaving the watch off. I sat down cat-like in the chair, explaining that it was the only way for me to sit without crushing my tail. I curled it neatly around my hands (or paws, whatever you wanna call them) and again waited for the lawyers to finish bashing each other.

It finally drew to a close and I caught one word, adoption.

Jared told me to wait outside the courtroom while they finished all the legalities or whatever, so I again activated my watch and sat down. I wasn't going to cry, I wasn't going to cry, I wasn't going to...

I didn't and finally Jared came back, a huge grin on his face. "Congratulations, Miss Night, those people are no longer family."

I offered him a smile and said that they weren't family to begin with. He laughed and said that they weren't legally family now. Then I heard a scream and was suddenly bombarded by my team.

Tildy picked me up and spun me around. "Luna that's wonderful!" I was set down and, after a quick glance around, I deactivated the watch.

Sam was grinning from ear to ear. He walked over and hugged me tight. The breath was squashed out of me.

Suddenly it was a free-for-all hugging session. I was trampled with hugs, occasional kisses on the cheek, and the like. Finally they let me go, and I rode back to the mansion with them. The joy suddenly fell out of me when I walked in and heard somebody on the T.V. talking. I only heard one word. Family.

I went to my room, which was unlocked, and forlornly looked around it. I gathered all my things, packing only a few clothes, the rest I left to whoever could wear them, and wrote a letter to all the people who live here.

Dear X-Men and the like,

I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of you for letting me stay in this wonderful house/mansion place. I'll miss every single one of you, but don't let this hasty good-bye spoil your time here. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine on my own. I just thought that you guys should know, I'll miss you.

Love ya forever,

Luna Elvira Night

L.E.N.

P.S.

I know that in the case of a leader being absent from their work, a new leader should fill in. Luke, you're leader now. I catch word that you're mistreating my team, I'll personally visit you in the night and beat you 'til you get it right, ya hear?

Love always, your leader and friend,

Luna

I carefully folded the letter and wrote Always remember me on the top where they would see it, then left through the window. I dragged my suitcase after me and headed off into the unknown.