I leave Charles' office with a heavy weight lifted of my chest. I still don't really understand
why I was so hesistant to tell him but at least now it's all behind me and hopefully he will be
able to get ahold of Jean. No matter how badly I've handled this and how things have changed, this is
where she belongs and I know I'll miss her if she doesn't come back. She said she would be back eventually
but who knows, she might change her mind.

I take a look at my watch and realize I was talking to Charles for longer than I first
thought. Wonder where Marie and Joanne might be?

Let's see. In the dining-hall? Well, we said we were going to have breakfast. But no, no
sign of them there. Not in Marie's room either, or in Joanne's for that matter.

Well, I will have to ask someone then. Kitty's the most likely to know, if she's awake
that is. That girl could sleep through an earth-quake.

I knock on her door and ask "Kitty? You awake?" at the same time just to be greeted
with a sleepy "Yeah, come in". I'm a bit surprised at that. If it wasn't for her
school-work I'm sure she could sleep until noon or more without trouble. She's
too ambitious for her own good and studying for as far into the night that she's
prone to do can't be healthy. I know both Charles and Jean has in the past tried
to make her go to bed earlier but it hasn't helped much. For a few days she gets
to bed before midnight but then she's back to her old behaviour again.

I enter her room and well, she's awake but not much more. She's still under her
covers, desperately trying to invite sleep to come back.

"Kitty?"
"Yeah, yeah. What is it? Let me sleep!" she almost cries, hiding her face in the pillow.
"I will, but have you seen Rogue?"
"Why do you think I'm awake for? She had to come and wake me up, for some bizarre reason
no one could possibly dare to wake me up for. Sigh. She proved me wrong."
"So, do you know where she is?"
"She said something about showing the lake to your daughter."
"Thanks Kitty. Sweet dreams now, and don't be too late for dinner."
"Smart-ass".

I leave Kitty's room, and I think she's started snoring already, and head for the
lake.

Sure, there they are. If it wasn't for the fact that it is October I'm sure they
would have been swimming by now but they seem to enjoy themselves anyway. Just
by being close to the beautiful lake and having some companionship perhaps.

Marie spots me almost immediately and grabs Joanne by the hand, coming towards
me.

"Hey, you ready for that breakfast now?" She stops and corrects herself "Well,
make that a brunch."
"I certainly am but you really shouldn't have waited for me."
"Well, we didn't. We've had an apple and a sandwich to suppress the urge to eat
like pigs at the table."

I can't help but laugh at that. "That makes it all better huh? Well, let's go eat
like pigs then. What do you say Joanne?"
"Yay!" is all she says, or squeals, before she runs off towards the mansion as if
the kitchen would run away from her.

"She must have gotten all that excitement and enjoyment from her mother" I say, mostly
to myself.
"Nah. I don't think so. You're just better than most at controling yourself."
"You think so?"
"No, I know so." She laughs silently before continueing "Actually, I think you're too
much in control of yourself and the people in my head agree so you're outvoted."
"Am I that such of a stiff?"
"No. I don't think so. Logan and Magneto disagree on that though. It's just that well,
you have to be in control of yourself more than most. Much like I had to be before I
could control my skin. If you didn't have to be like that I'm certain you would be
more comfortable in letting loose around people you don't know that well. Around me,
you've never been a stiff or uncomfortable, not even back when I could have killed you
accidently. You were just being the kind and caring Scott I've grown to like, not
Cyclops the fearless leader."

I don't know what to say to that and I actually think I blushed. But she continues
as if that hadn't happened "What do you say? Let's run after your lovely daughter."
and off she runs. With me hot on her trail.

"About you two lazy buns showed up!" Joanne says when we arrive back at the mansion.
"Sorry, hon. Let's just go grab some grub then."
"About time!"

I'm not surprised to find out that the three of us are all alone in the dining-hall at this
time of the morning but I'm not complaining. Anyway, we all go to pick up some of this
and some of that compiling our own special breakfast. Myself, I'm partial to just a
bowl of cereal and a glass of orange-juice at breakfast but the other two eat of
just about everything like this was to be their final meal.

We eat away and at the same time we're talking about this and that, making it a very
special breakfast indeed. It somehow feels like the kind of breakfast a real family
should have, even if we're not that.

Then I hear someone. "Hi Scott. Long time no see."

Hank? It's been some years since he was last here. He's been off persuing his
academic career for at least 3 years now.

And to be blunt, his timing could have been a lot better. I know he didn't mean
it - he's way too kind for that. It's just that his appearance can be scary and
to a kid not yet 10 years old?

Let's just say that Joanne just screamed in terror and ran away with tears running
down her cheeks.

"Joanne! Come back, please." I scream after her before I dart off hearing Hank
behind me "Scott! You know I didn't mean to scare her."

Yeah, I know that. He wouldn't do that to anyone but right now I can't think of
Hank's feelings. I must find Joanne first.