A/N: Wow, I wasn't expecting that kind of response. I'm glad you guys like this. Here's some more.
"Raven Darkholme" and her dearest friend Irene sat in the small café taking in the scenery and eating rich desert. To any passerbyers they'd look like two women who were, possibly wealthy, enjoying the beautiful spring day. Yet these two women were different than any women around them by far. They were wealthy, this was true, but they were also mutants; select winners of a genetic lottery, enabling them to come and go as they please.
Mystique sipped her latte and watched Irene fiddle with her strawberry cheesecake. She traced the cake with the tip of her fork, holding the end in a graceful, adept hand. Mystique's mouth quirked in an "almost" smile. Rogue did the same thing when she had something on her mind. 'She must have learned it from Irene.' Mystique suddenly found herself angry. When she thought of it, a lot of things Rogue did were unconscious emulations of Irene. 'They should be unconscious emulations of me!' Irene had gotten the distinct pleasure of raising Rogue, one of Mystique's "bred champions." It all felt so wrong. Shouldn't children be raised by their own parents? 'Not if they have such distinctly important futures.' Irene's voice rang through her mind. That's right, they'd had this discussion before.
~Flashback~
"Rogue dear, go outside and play." "Yes Irene," Rogue replied, unwrapping herself from the lithe young woman holding her. She turned as she reached the door. "It was nice meetin' ya!" she said. With a bright, happy smile and a short wave she was gone. The young blonde watched as the beautiful little girl disappeared.
Irene sat back down. "Was that necessary?" the young woman snapped. "Yes it was," Irene replied calmly, "You are getting too attached Raven." "Getting too attached?!" Raven cried, "To my own daughter?" "Yes." Raven sighed, and fell back in her chair. "This is madness!" she replied, "Sheer, utter madness."
"Aren't you going to confess?"
"Confess?" Raven answered, curious.
"I know you went to see him. I know you spoke with him."
"I didn't tell him anything, I swear."
"You were not supposed to see him at all. Raven there are rules."
"Rules I can not abide by any longer!" she snapped, "He is my son! Just like she…She is my daughter! You can not keep them from me Irene! They are mine!"
"Calm yourself Raven and listen to what you are saying. You are getting hysterical."
"Hysterical?! No! I'm not getting hysterical; I'm getting angry! I am being denied my own children! I am being expulsed from their lives! It's not fair Irene! They are my children! Mine! No one has rights over them! No one! Only I!"
"Lower your voice. Rogue might hear you."
"Let her hear me then! And let us get this over with! It can not harm her anymore learning she has a mother than going through life thinking she is alone."
"Raven, how little you know," Irene said with a sigh.
Raven shot up. "I may not know as much as you Destiny," she spat, "but I know it ends now! I am taking Rogue home with me."
"You are doing no such thing. The girl stays."
"Irene!"
"She stays Raven. And now I see the time has come."
"What are you saying?"
"The ascension has begun Raven. Say your good-byes, you will not see the girl again until her powers manifest."
Raven's jaw dropped open. "Irene you can't mean that! She is only seven!" Raven began to cry, her body trembling. "You can't take her from me Irene, you can't. She is the only one you allow me to visit. I need to be near my children." She collapsed back into the chair, her body wracking with sobs. Irene got up and gripped her shoulder firmly. "Remember child," she whispered, "Never let them know you care." And then she was gone.
~End~
It hadn't been easy, waiting. By now though, she was used to it. Her whole life was based on waiting. As tiring as it could be, patience led to strength. Time changes everything, she knew that now. And life was just a measure of time.
A/N: Look what I did! *points to conversation* I made it easier! *laughs* Actually, I had it all typed up my usual way. I took one look at it and said, "They're gonna kill me." It would've been a little hard to get through, I admit. So, I revised it! But don't expect this to by a permanent thing. It's not part of my style. I only use it in extreme cases such as these. Later!
