I stretched and lazily walked around the school grounds. It was cold out, but I needed to cool my temper down a little. Not to mention I was "hiding" from a certain mutant that had shown up recently. One that I had past trouble with.

Pyro showed up at the front door earlier. That's right, the guy who I fought with the X-Men along with Senyaka. I was told that he was receiving a second chance. He had had past dealings with Magneto, but he was sorry and wanted to be with the X-Men. So I was told.

We were told to apologize and make up, which we grudgingly did. I was introduced properly to him. "His name is John Allerdyce, mutant ability: control flames."

Whoopdy-freakin'-doo.

So now, here I am, ducking and weaving through the grounds in order to avoid said mutant, only to run straight into him. I bounced off him, then stood up with a glare. "What do you want?" I asked as nice as I could.

"I just wanted to apologize again for attacking you." he said in what appeared to be a sincere manner.

I didn't exactly buy it, but I pretended that I did. "Oh, well. Thanks... I guess."

I quickly ran off into the house before he could say anything else.

I hid out in the kitchen, only a seriously weird (or hungry) person would go in there. 'Chicken.' you might say. Maybe, maybe not. I was slightly scared of this 'John' guy, sure, but wouldn't you if you knew that he once worked with a guy who could fry you at any given moment?

I thought so.

I just realized that I made a pun. Get it? Kitchen, chicken... fried? I crack me up... Deep thought time, hang on...

What was with all the people I cared about just running off, while all the ones that hurt me show up from nowhere? Story of my life? Probably.

Geez, I'm getting to be more like a freakin' teenager....

Wait, here are the headlines: TEN-YEAR-TEENAGER! WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HANG AROUND MUTANT TEENAGERS!

I need a life. I need a hobby. I need a boyfriend.

Where the HECK did that come from?!

See? I told you! They are affecting my thinking!

I got up and slowly crept up to my room, locking it shut tight. Kitty or Kurt could always just pop in, but safety, right? Yeah..... sure.....

I heard a very interesting (and somewhat nauseating) discussion outside my door.

"Hey, Rogue." It was.... Bobby? What they HECK was he doing here?

"Hey Bobby." Slight pause. Ew... That could only mean they were kissing...

O.K., so I'm not that disgusted, but I like to pretend I am.

They talked about some meaningless thing or another, then left me to gag in peace. I caught something about a dance, that was all. Sure, I'll go to the dance with you! Kiss, kiss. Smooch. Yuck. Can you just see my eyes roll and tongue curl?

Finally, I was left alone to wonder what in the world was with the blood thing. Why did Hank all of a sudden need a blood test? Unless....

No, it's too crazy to even think about thinking about. There is no way that's right...

But if it was right, it made sense...

I'll let you in on some of my musings , here we go. Payton, Sabretooth's son you can't forget, goes to lab to get bloody arm fixed. I go to same lab to get blood drawn...

See a connection yet?

There's something going on, I need to know what. Someone seems to think that Payton and I are somehow connected...

NO! I refuse to entertain that notion. End of story. Good-bye. New topic.

The sky is blue. Clouds are white. Sheep are fluffy. Payton and I might be connected. Smoke is wispy. Raisins are grapes. Prunes are plums. Payton and I might be connected. Bananas are yellow. Ice is cold. Payton and I mi-

This isn't working.

What am I going to do? Nothing, that's what I'll do. I'm probably just freaking out over nothing...

I hope I'm freaking out over nothing....

Deep breath, you can do this. Turn the knob, open the door. Down the stairs, out the back door. Just run around the school, burn energy.

I burned off my nervous energy for all of two hours before I went back inside for classes. Don't ask me why I bothered, it was Friday... I think...

I went through my classes, ate, went to bed. No nightmares. On to Saturday. Woot!

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

I woke up to my alarm with a yawn and stretch. I blinked my eyes hazily, then got out of bed with another yawn and dressed for Saturday X-Men training. One purple tigress uniform later, I was standing in the middle of the Danger Room. Just me, Sam, and creepo-numero-uno. After Hayden, he's still Creep One.

That's right. Payton's practicing with us. Hehehe... He's a rank below me... This should be fun....

Payton's codename: Badger. I laughed (hard) when I heard this.

And then I thought of something disturbing. Wolverines and badgers are part of the same family, are they not?

Now put the male form of my name and Sabretooth's name together. What do you get? Sabretooth tiger.

Shiver....

Scary thought, no? Scary coincidence... definitely.

Think happy thoughts...

Back to the Danger Room. Big, scary-looking robots after us. Big guns shooting. Best lead my rag-tag group of two (three counting me) out of this mess.

"Sa- I mean Dragon, yer too high up. Get down a little. I said get off the big shiny guns!" I practically screamed into the Comm Link. Remember the earpiece-thingy? I know the "official field name" for it now. Wicked huh?

Sam leaped to the ground and rolled a little too avoid a serious burn on the arm from one of the big, scary guns. He shot a heat-blast at it and leaped back.

"Badger, take care of the guns! Dragon, you help me with the robot-things!" I said, already morphing into a red tigress. Red showed up easier, Sam could see it.

Payton clawed at the guns, doing a pretty good deal of damage, I admit. He's actually a good fighter, knows most hand-to-hand combat. He stood his own against me, and I was taught by Wolverine. Scott, on the other hand...

Suffice it to say, I can't beat the man.

Anyways, with the guns out of the way, Sam and I took down the robots, therefore ending the training program and shutting the Danger Room down. "Good work guys." I said, giving both high-fives. I could see a gleam in Payton's eye,but thought nothing of it. I was still suspicious of him, yes, but I put my suspicion aside. For now. I needed to work with him, and he with me. There wasn't room for suspicion.

I yawned once more, still not really awake. Didn't really sleep last night, too busy worrying about the newest "member" of the X-Men. Y'all know who I'm talking about.

I walked to the boathouse, slowly, but with some purpose. I had to talk to someone and Jean or Scott were probably my best bets. Guess who answered the door? Scott. Guess who was waiting in the living room? Jean.

Guess I'd be talking to both.

I'm not one for small talk, so I jumped in. "I have some... suspicions about Payton." I said.

Something flickered across Jean's face, then it was gone. Surprise?

"What would those suspicions be? Would these suspicions have to do with his.... parentage?" Scott asked carefully.

I blinked. "Huh? No! Not suspicions like that. I mean suspicions about certain, uh, relations to me, perhaps?"

Jean opened her mouth to say something, but wouldn't you know it? The alarm had to sound just then. I growled very angry tiger words under my breath and left to the Blackbird to find out the emergency.

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

Nothing. A stupid robbery. That's what interrupted the conversation. We quickly took care of the criminals, then flew back to the mansion.

I flopped down on the bed, not even worried about trying to continue the conversation. I just couldn't think about THAT option. It wasn't possible, it couldn't be. There was no possible way. See how far in denial I am?

Pyro- I mean John came by and knocked on my door, saying that he knew something was wrong and would I like to talk about it? I told him to go away and no I would not. He went away. Good. I would hate to have to throw him through a wall. Can you just hear how upset I am?

I finally had to venture out of my room for dinner. Sam looked worried about me, but I told him not to and that I could look after myself. He gave me this 'shut-up' look and went to his plate, eyes down. I just shook my head and ate my semi-raw chicken sandwich. I like meat....

I yawned and got up. Why... ugh, never mind...

I went outside to grab the mail, since everyone else is too lazy to.

I hate getting the mail. Every time I do, something bad happens.

This time was no different. There was a letter from the courthouse in it to Scott and Jean. Not a good sign, but I try optimism. It's a check, that's it. I roll my eyes at my own stupidity. No, it's not. I had heard that something like this sometimes happens. The court was officially overruling the adoption. I wouldn't be a Summers anymore...

NO! Stop that thinking! I scolded myself.

I handed everyone their mail, then dropped off the envelope at the boathouse, running as son as it was through the door. I slipped it underneath, maybe they wouldn't notice...

Like I'm ever that lucky....

Oh, well. I might as well turn in. I'm emotionally drained, but a little Danger Room session can't hurt, right?

That being done, I was finally able to just collapse in bed. I cried softly. Why did Wolvie have to leave? Why? And why did Payton have to come here? Why couldn't he have gone to wherever else? Why, why, why?

I cried myself to sleep, not waking until about nine or so the next morning.

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

Jean and Scott got the letter. I pretended not to notice, but it was obvious. Jean's eyes were red and puffy, and Scott looked like someone had electrocuted him. I just wordlessly hugged them both, not caring what they thought. I didn't want to let go, but I finally had to. I breathed in deeply, memorizing their scents. Why did this have to happen to me? Why?

"Did you read the letter?" Jean spoke up after we went to the privacy of the boathouse.

I shook my head. "No, but I heard that something like this could happen." I sighed, my head down. Jean opened her mouth to speak, but there was a knock on the door.

Scott opened it ad Payton sauntered in. "You, me. Front lawn. Two minutes. Be there." he said simply, then walked out. I stood up, locking my jaw so much that it took a while to get it relaxed enough to unlock. "I'll be right back." I said stiffly, then ran after Payton.

He was already on the front lawn, ready for the showdown. I flexed my claws, aware that this was the final fight, the one that would decide who the dominant was. And it would be me.

He leaped first, raking a claw swiftly across my arm. I ducked and caught him in the stomach with a quick right fist. He doubled over and I took the opportunity to slam him down. He got up though, the snake, and clipped me with his fangs on the cheek. I growled and hissed, slashing him deep on the arm. I tore the muscle clean through and the arm went limp. He screamed at me, dodging away from my other claw as it streaked towards him.

I pounced, pinning him by his good arm. I leaned close to his face, panting hard, murder in my eyes. "Tap out. Now." I growled. "Admit me as the dominant and I'll let you live."

He scowled, but like a clever boy he tapped out and I got off. He stalked away and I pinned him swiftly again. "Admit me as the dominant." I hissed.

"Fine." he spat. "You are the dominant. Happy?"

I nodded and limped slightly back to the boathouse. I stumbled in and sat down stiffly on the couch, Jean and Scott watching me.

"Why didn't you and Logan ever fight like you and Payton do now?" Jean asked.

"Because me and Wolvie had a sort of understanding. I knew that he was dominant, he knew that I was when he was gone. I never challenged that, neither did he. Payton challenged me, though. I had to put him in his place or else we would be at each other's throats forever." I said, eyes clouding slightly when I remembered that since Wolvie was gone, I was the dominant. I had to keep everyone in line.

They both nodded, then Scott handed me the letter. In a nutshell, it said that after viewing the tape multiple times, they deemed me "untamable and a danger to Mr. and Mrs. Summers" and therefore a menace to their family. In stupid terms, you danger. You no Summers. Deal with it.

I was officially no longer a Summers. Just like that. No warning, no nothing. I was plain old Luna Elvira Night again. Feral and killer. A menace, a danger.

"Why would they do this?" I asked. "Why?" I started to shake with anger and felt myself losing control and fast. "WHY?!" I screamed, running out to the forest where I could lose it safely. And boy did I go feral. I hardly recognized myself after it passed. I stayed in the forest for a full week after that, not going anywhere near the mansion. I wouldn't risk human contact. Not yet at any rate. I stayed feral for the whole week.

I snapped out of it sometime Friday night. Night was heavy, the stars hardly showing. The moon was barely visible, so I stalked to the house in complete and utter darkness. Perfect.

I slept on the front porch just because the doors were locked. I could have gone in, but I just didn't care anymore. I was a nobody. I had half a mind to just run away, but I couldn't do that to my team. Sam wasn't really leader material. Payton, I was not about to give that little hairball the satisfaction of seeing me beaten and running out. So I stayed, camping out on the porch. Finally, the door opened early the next morning.

I trudged into the kitchen were everyone was sitting worriedly around the table. They just looked at me with... fear on their faces. They were afraid of me...

Great.

I sighed and sat down, back to the door. "I'm sorry." I began.

"It's O.K." Jubilee jumped in. "We're used to it. Wolvie stayed out there for a month once." She stopped when she the pained expression on my face at the mention of Wolvie.

"We heard about the letter." Storm began gently.

I stiffened. "There nothing anyone can do." I said, looking up at Jean and Scott. They nodded at my question statement.

"Afraid not." Scott said. I couldn't see his eyes, but I imagined that they looked sad. Jean's eyes were red again. She'd been crying. Hello guilt. Nice to see you again.

"So... I have no parents. Really and truly, none." I said softly to myself. I felt about a hundred at that point. Payton smirked. He was hiding something.

"Oh, I wouldn't go that far." he said, casually walking out.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

He just smirked at me, walking out the door I wasn't guarding. "Oh, nothing." The seventeen-year-old just walked out the door. I didn't follow. I was too tired. I just shook my head and left, slamming my fist into the wall hard enough to leave a small indent. I didn't care. I just wanted to leave... Sam needed me here...

No, I needed Sam. He kept me somewhat sane.

I bit my lip and tried not to think the thought that I thunked anyways.

I was becoming even more feral. I was losing it...

I could turn on the X-Men at any time... I could kill them in a rage easily....

I was scared. I had lost Wolvie (again), gained another pest, and lost my family all within at least two weeks of each other. Why was my life so evil?

Simple, because I was evil. Hayden had been right. I was just a trained killing machine. I was nothing but an animal. I couldn't be trusted.... I was a menace....

I didn't see Sam, oddly enough, for a whole week after I got back. Whenever I asked about it, I was told that he was on official X-Men business. So another whole week went by, I lost it three different times, each time getting away before I could hurt someone. I would only go back once I was sure that I was myself again.

And then, being the curious kitty that I have repeatedly admitted to being, I overheard a very interesting, and confusing, conversation.

I had just remembered that Hank said he needed my blood for tests. So I decided to play secret agent.

I crept down to the lab to see what Hank was up to. I didn't like it down there, but dang it, why did he need my blood for 'tests'? What 'tests'? Blood tests? No, genius, he's checking your stomach contents... Geez....

I stopped when I heard Hank and Jean talking in hushed tones. "I just don't understand it, Jean. How can this be?"

How can what be? I inched steadily closer. What were they talking about? They couldn't be talking about me....

Could they?

Since when am I important anyways?

"I honestly don't know, Hank. If indeed he is the father, then who could the mother be? And if he did know that she is his daughter, why didn't he recognize it sooner? Why leave?" Jean stopped talking and I heard the squeak of her chair as she stood up. I silently ran to the stairs and made it to the main floor. I dumbly sat down on the couch, blankly staring at the television screen.

Who were they talking about? What father? What mother?

And what daughter?

I considered asking Jean about it, but that would admit that I had spied on her. Same with Hank...

I guess I'd just have to do nothing about it then. I'd just have to wait...

I hate waiting...

One hour, two hours, three hours, and wouldn't ya know it, here comes Payton. I quickly started to walk away, then decided against it and held my ground. "Payton." I said cooly. He just sat on the couch, not speaking to me. I pointedly walked away, showing that I didn't care if he listened to me or not. I headed up to the roof, going higher than I've ever been before. I just didn't care anymore. Sam had been gone for what? A month now, maybe? Wolvie... two? I couldn't keep count anymore....

I just didn't care anymore...

I sat down with my legs crossed and drawn up to my chest, staring into the depths of the woods. I half-wished that Sabretooth would appear to take me away, but then immediately took that wish back. I didn't want to be dead... well, permanently anyways.

I shook my head and laid my head in my knees. I just stared into the forest, past pretending to care, past pretending to understand why things happened like they did.

Sigh... If only I had known that more was to come...