© Autumn Raine


A/N: Hey! V ish mine! :D! Mine Mine Mine! Mwuah ha ha! D Anyway. Don't own X-Men though. Sorry!

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...She hopped off the bus, slate-grey eyes looking up to the ever so warming Bayville sign that hug above the bus stop. Strands of her hair fell over her eyes as she leaned over to throw her bag over her shoulder and haul the other one to the counter. Boots scuffed along the floor, that was dusted lightly with snow and fallen leaves. Winter has seemed to be tracing a bit early this year.

She slumped her bag in her hands to the ground once she came inside the small, indoor bus stop and to the window, eyes looking to the woman behind the counter. Gold rimmed glasses, cut in a rectangular shape, framed the hazel eyed, grey hair woman behind the window's counter. Wrinkles appeared as she raised her brows and flashed a bit of a smile. "May I help you, young woman?"

"Uh...How do I get to the Xavier Institute from here? I'm a bit confused with the map I got." Veronica looked to the woman, noteing her wrinkled features. Geez, was she a sore sight to the eyes.

"Hm..You see that road right there? Take that all the way down, and you'll probably see a long, curvy road. Yea. Go down there. Then you see gates and you're there. Better have an invite though. They don't like ruffians wanting a place to say. It isn't a motel, ya'know." The old woman snapped at her. Lips pursed as old hands pulled down at the small sheet to cover the window. Small letters were written across "CLOSED. SEE NEXT WiNDOW. --"

"O..k.." Veronica raised a brow. Somethin's up her ass. She picked up her bag from the ground and turned to the door. Boots scuffed along the ground as she walked to the door, and a hand pushed open the door forcefully; letting it swing wide open.

Walking out, she turned towards "that way", blindly following the directions the old woman gave to her. Geez, that lady was one hell of a bitch.

...As dusk had began falling, Veronica adjusted the bag on her back; a looser grip on the bag in her hands. "These things weigh a fricken ton.." She grummbled.

Tall trees and brush were on either sides of her as she continued down that "long, curvy path". Slate grey eyes darted over her shoulder, then over her other one. She hated forests...ever since she was a little one.....

****....She giggled, Veronica was a healthy little 8 year old. A big smile curled her lips as she ran into the tall trees and flowers that were surrounding the Home. Little hands stroke at the stems of the tall flowers, then at the soft bark of a few white birch.

Strands of her long hair flowwed behind her, strands loosely on her shoulders. Large eyes peered about her as she flopped her body down on a patchy area of grass. Fingertips ran through the blades of grass, a giggle still flowwing from her lips.

And then...It roared. An oh-so-familiar roar. Footsteps came closer, and closer; sending the poor girl's heart on a blood pumping and adreniline rush. Quickly going to her feet, those grey eyes darted around her. She sniffled..He was so close..too close. Eyes closed tightly as she dropped to her knees, her small hands covering her head.

Large feet landed on the ground beside her; a loud shriek excaping from the little girl's lips. Wide, strong fingers grasped at the girls shirt; lifting her feet from the ground. Dark pupils looked to the girl as yellow lingered about the outside. Long strands of dusty gold fell over the man's features, his dark claws scratching at her back. A growl rummbled in his throat, "..Little little girl.... Lost your way, again?" He grinned, eyes widening.

Lids shot open when he picked her up, then a gasp for air. She felt his claws in her back, scratching at her soft flesh. She whinced, and gasped for air. "...I'm not lost! I'm not lost!"

"Oh really?" He brought her face closer to his, eyes glaring to the little girl's. "..Then why are you here..where are your..friends?"

She stuttered in fear, "..I..I don't have many. But I'm not lost! Lemme go!" She squirmed, her voice a bit wavy in terror. Strands of her black hair dangled down over her face as she squirmed.

He roared, grabbing the girl by the back of the neck neck; his other hand around her tiny little waist. "Stop..Squirming!" He growled through his teeth, long canines overlapping one another.

She stopped, and hands were free to her face. She shrieked once more, three blades extending on both of her hands through her flesh. Using them like extra length to her hands, she continued to shield her little face.

He growled once more, tongue running across his teeth. "So the other one did live."

"Lemme go! Lemme go!" Tears ran down her cheeks as legs kicked in the air. She didn't dare move her hands.

The hand that was about her waist went to her throat, and the hand that was on the back of her throat dropped to his side. He growled at the girl, sneering his face closer to her little hands.

She shrieked once more, and on instinct; sent one of the bladed hands at the man's face. Small blades ripped at his cheek, and cut strands of his dusty hair as he turned his face to the side. He dropped the girl to the ground, sending out a loud roar of pain.

Scrambling to her feet, she darted away from the beast. Tears blurred her vision, causing her to stumble and trip over rocks and sticks in her path.

"..I'll come back for you, little one!" He sent out a roar, feet pounding away into the forest..."..I'll come back!"...He roared again.

She cried to herself, huddling in a small thicket of flowers. Knees went to chest as arms tightly wrapped around them. Strands of her hair fell over her face, concealing the girl's tears from view. Drips of the crimsom blood dripped down the ends of the blades and onto the fresh, lively green grass. She sniffled, the blood's aroma floating to her nose....She yelped outwards, like a small pup lost it's way...

....Was she as alone as she thought she'd been? Were there more like her?.......*****

She grummbled, dropping her bag at the gates of the Institute. Eyes widened at the size of the house, "No way..." She gaped, hands grabbing onto the metal gates. She stuck her face up close to the bars, eyes peering around. "More trees..Damn.." Grey eyes darted around, then she pulled her face away from the gates. Looking over her shoulder once, she then gave both her bags a quick throw up and over the gates. Crouching down, she then sprung up quickly; hands grasping at the top of the gates. Muscular, toned arms pulled up her body; boots swinging around on the other side. She let her self fall to her feet on the other side.

"That was easy....too easy.."..Eyes darted around her once more, picking up her bags. Boots scuffed along the ground as she once more, followed the short, paved path through the trees to a round-about-driveway; with an elegant water fountain in the center. "..This place got some class.." Eyes looked around, then up to the large mansion. It looked even bigger as she came closer and closer. "Homes aren't like this back at home.." She blinked, and dropped her bags on the front steps of the mansion.....

...."..She's here, Ororo. Please, greet her. I'll be there soon." He looked up to the African Goddess, and nodded; his wheel chair heading down one of the hallways from the lobby.

WIth a nod, she turned to the door; letting in the girl who knocked at the doors. Pulling back at the glass doors of the mansion, she smiled warmly at the young lady on the other side. "Hello, Veronica..Correct?"

She nodded, dragging in her bags behind her. Eyes continued to scan over the large lobby, and looked up the carpeted stairs. Another hallway..leading to what?..Was this a trap? Nostrils flared a bit as pools darted around, strands of black, violet tinted hair falling over to the sides of her cheeks. Black tipped fingers curled into fists as she turned quickly to Ororo. "This ain't right. Why am I here?"

"..You came, didn't you?" Xavier wheeled into the lobby soon after, hands folded and beneath his chin; elbows on the armrest.

She snorted, and eyes darted to Xavier. "Yea, I came 'cuz I got the invite. Now what I do?"

"Ororo will lead you to your room. Or, you can have a brief tour." He stated simply.

"But why am I in a nice place like this?" She glanced around once more.

"I know it isn't what you are used to. But, I'm sure it'll feel like home after a while. Ororo, take her bags to her room. I would like to talk to Veronica for a little bit." Xavier pointed to her bags, then waved a hand for Veronica to follow. Other hand directed the wheelchair, whirling it around to face a seat. "Please, sit."

Boots clunked over to the chair, and she flopped down on the cushion; narrowed eyes lifted to Xavier's. Streams of her hair fell over her cheeks, hands went to the arm rest. "How'd you know about me?"

"Well, I must admit; I didn't expect you to be coming. I presumed, on the precedents, that you were dead. Or that the experiment never worked. But, to my delight; you've survived. I find that a wonderful thing. Cerebro scanned you..."

"Cerebro? Is that some sort of Mutant Trackin' Device? You gonna experiment on me, aren't you!" Veronica interjected him mid sentence and jumped to her feet.

Ororo turned, looking over to her and Xavier from the stairs. Blue eyes narrowed, this is not going to be easy...

Xavier's eyes widened, a bit of a gasp excaping his lips. "No, Veronica. I would not do that. I'm here for you, to help you."

"Help? Help me?" She grummbled, "Seem to be late for the help." Hands rubbed at her knuckles as she flopped down back into the chair.

"Well..I know of your abilities. And, quite frankly, I'm alarmed. Your ablities are the same as a fellow collegue...And it's quite shocking. Do you remember your past, Veronica? If you don't mind, I would like to read your mind. It won't hurt...not at all." Xavier rubbed his hands together.

Her eyes narrowed, then arms folded over her chest. "Sure, go a'head. Seem a bit anxious to anyway." She sat up in the chair.

Xaiver extended his hand to her forehead, and his other upon his own. Both their lids came to a close as instantly, images shot from Veronica to Xavier. Chilling scenes from a labratory, and that of the two large creatures from her past; one nice and the other beast vengeful. One Wolverine, the other Sabretooth. Dropping his hands from both their foreheads, his lids shot open. "Its..Its you."

She openned her eyes, and a brow lifted. "Huh? I'm Veronica. Don't you remember?" She didn't know quite much about the mind-reading thing. One girl did it to her at the Home back in Buffalo. She wasn't quite the same after it, and that girl never did talk to her again. Weird...

"No, I know. But...You've met...Logan in your past. I saw him. And you've been in the same situation he has. Your paths are linked, in a manner of either blood relation or of just fate that your lives had crossed. I want you to-" He said, quite enthusiastically. Then, once again was cut off by someone...

"Who the hell is that, Xavier? More teens? Isn't Porcupine 'nough?" Logan grummbled, standing near Xavier's chair.

Veronica lifted her slate-grey eyes up to Logan, and an erie chill ran through her body. Eyes narrowed as her nose sniffled a bit. "..I..I know you...."

"..Not another mind-prober one, Xavier. We got you, do we need more?" Logan raised a brow.

Standing, she lifted her hands out infront of her. Then to the side, and three blades shot out from between the knuckles on each hand. Clenching her hands into fists, and lids narrowed.."..You're the one who's out for me, aren't you?"

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A/N: Ta da? You like? I hope. I worked hard. :D I had lots o'sugar and listened to music just for yew! Don'cha feel so special! I hope. If I get a lot of reviews..maybe I'll like, do another chapter or something.