The trip back to the mansion proved to be easier done then was previously
thought. Amber seemed to have an accelerated healing but nothing close to
Logan's or Anne's. She was unconscious most of the trip except for when
another animal decided that it was time for it to be out and awake. Anne
managed to keep the separate animals subdued by conveying messages through
the trees that Logan, Jubilee, and herself were trying to help Amber. The
only one who seemed to have a problem with this was the small calico
kitten, who tried to claw Anne several times.

"I don't understand how she can keep everything straight. She must have a
hell of a time keeping sane." Anne just sighed and managed to hold the
kitten back again instead allowing a timber wolf to watch the traffic. "All
of the animals that I've seen have their own personalities and thoughts."

Jubilee looked back at the two in the back seat and quietly regarded the
wolf that was looking out at the other cars. "Maybe they just take turns."

"Possibly, I almost can't wait till the human part of her mind is awake so
that I can find out." Anne lightly touched the wolfs' head, to make the
animal turn and look at her. "You are awake." The wolf just gave a grin and
nodded her head as the human slowly slid back into place.

Amber's arm looked like she just was in a bad fight, with at least the skin
covering the under-laying wounds. "I wanted to see how long it would take
someone to wonder that." Smiling she looked down at her stitched arm and
side, "Damn, that was my favorite shirt too."

"Maybe we can get Logan to stop at a small store to get you another shirt
and a pair of jeans." Anne just glanced at Logan, who grunted back in
reply. "Darlin' just tell me when you see truck stop with an attached store
and maybe we'll stop." Anne rolled her eyes and was about to say something,
except Amber spoke up quickly.

"Depending on where we are, I know of a good place. They have the biggest
portions of food I've seen. And I could get another shirt, because that is
where I got this one." Amber looked between the two, and then at Jubilee
who had been looking at her for what seemed forever, "Yes?"

"How do you choose what colors your hair change and why do your eyes keep
changing?" Jubilee laid her head on the back of her seat just watching
Amber's hair.

"For one to answer, Anne is it?" Anne just nodded and Amber gave a weak
smile, "I only have some control over them, like which form I want to be. I
loose that when I become overly emotional or anxious. Like back in that
crowed, I couldn't change because I was so scared."

Jubilee tilted her head, "But you changed into a squirrel."

"Yes but that as when I had you as a distraction." Laughing lightly she
rested her head back against her seat and studied Jubilee with wolf and
then almost gentle rabbit eyes. "For yours, I don't like to control the
color or specie, it's easier to not think about it then to think about it."

Jubilee just nodded, this was probably the weirdest mutant she had met in
awhile. "Well, we have Stormy who controls the elements, Anne who works
with the earth, and now you with the animals." Smiling Jubilee sat back
into her seat to find out where they were on the map. The truck stop Amber
had mentioned was sounding better and better every minuet.

Amber looked over at Anne with an eyebrow raised, "I knew about the
elements, but the earth?"

Anne nodded, "That's what I can do. One of the reasons why I'm sitting back
here instead of Jubilee or Logan."

Biting her lip she tried to remember what Xavier's second letter had said.
She was sure it hadn't talked about Anne and her powers. The letter had
said that he was going to send two of his students out to the college and
pick her up. And here she was with three of them. She sat up quickly when
Jubilee thrust the map quickly back at her pointing out where they were at
and asking where the truck stop was.

Glancing at the map and then looking outside quickly to see what the sign
that they were passing said, "I do believe it will be the next exit."

Logan grunted and looked at Amber in the rearview mirror, "How are ya sure
of that Darlin'?"

Smiling mischievously, Amber winked at Jubilee before looking to meet
Logan's eyes in the mirror, "Because I can see it now."

The group turned to look where she was pointing. The small but well packed
truck stop was just about pass them before Logan got on the exit that
circled the jeep around to be facing the restaurant. The entire building
appeared to be rundown but that was were everyone usually was mistaken. The
name sign looked to be freshly painted as the name "Butch's and Blond's"
shined in the afternoon sun.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Leslie looked up from her counter. Sighing she went back to scrubbing the
stains off of the surface. Growling she threw the scour pad she was using
at the top, "There I give in! You win you stupid thing!" Of course, the
counter top wasn't going to respond but she looked at it like willing it to
defy her some more.

Steed popped a head out from the kitchen and looked at his fiancée with a
raised eyebrow. Going over he wrapped his arms about her waist, "Last I
knew, counter tops usually don't do anything against us." Looking about to
make sure no one could see them, he quickly kissed her. "Come on the
restaurants empty and closed for the rest of the afternoon. Let's go chill
out in the back for a bit. I'll rub your feet?" He smiled lightly and
started pulling her towards the part where they lived.

Smiling Leslie just gladly let him drag her and frowned when they heard the
jeep pull into the parking lot. Sighing she turned and went over to the
door, moving the blinds to the side she was about to tell the person that
they were closed till she saw who was there.

Standing and looking at the surprised face looking back at her, Amber just
stuck out her tongue and winked. After Leslie had recovered her shock and
had unlocked the door her and Amber hugged fore a good five minuets before
they started to chat wildly.

Anne, Logan, Jubilee, and Steed just exchanged looks before they headed
towards the restaurant part of the building. When the two girls joined
them, Amber was wearing a new sweatshirt and Leslie was holding some menus.
"I didn't know if Steed told you what we had but if you guys want me to fix
something I can."

Logan just nodded and accepted one of the menus. Jubilee just kept looking
at the blond woman who stood next to Amber. Anne glanced over one section;
"I don't suppose you could make a mixture of breakfast and lunch?"

Leslie just smiled, "This restaurant doesn't have a set time on which meals
are prepared. We just feed the guys when they come in." Looking over the
group she first looks at Logan, "I'm guessing you would want a beer,"
giving Jubilee a quick age guessing glance, "And you a root beer." Looking
at Anne she shook her head, "I'm afraid I can't tell what you normally
drink."

Anne just smiled lightly, "I'll just take some coffee, after today's
activity I don't really want anything overdone."

Leslie just looked at her and then at Amber, "You will explain after these
fine people have something to eat."

Amber just gulped and meekly nodded. Steed just smiled and barely
suppressed a laugh. Collecting himself he got up and excused himself to
retrieve the drinks. It was a surprise to none of them when faint laughter
was heard wafting through the air.

Leslie just glanced back towards the kitchen after she took the groups
orders on meals. After telling them about how long it would be until she
got their meals to them, she took off towards the kitchen. Amber watched
her go and then glanced around at the group, "I've taken down a full grown
Bull Moose as a wolf. but when she gives me that look, I can't defy her. Ah
well." Leaning back in her seat she closed her eyes trying hard to not
think of certain times.

Jubilee turned and looked at her, "You two look almost like sisters."

"We're close but there is nothing between us as in the matters of blood."

"So, tell us how you knew of this place and what exactly you can do?" Anne
watched Amber's face for a moment, be quietly adding, "The professor wanted
to know. I guess you didn't give him too much insight on what you're
capable of."

Opening her eyes a bit, owl eyes seemed to look over the group. When she
finally sat up again and gave them a second look, this time, it was the
calculating snake eyes sent a shiver up Jubilee's back. "What exactly do
you all need to know?"