Disclaimer: I don't own them, not even the strange AU versions I've cooked up.

Charles Xavier frowned, looking at the letter.  Warren Worthington the Third's official withdrawal of all funding to the Xavier-Lensheer Institute for the Gifted.  Beside him lay the social pages of yesterdays newspaper, noting that Warren Worthington had announced that he was selling up his share of Worthington Industries, and retiring from public life.

Eric entered the room quietly, sighing when he saw what Charles was looking at.

"Charles, don't worry.  We'll find other sources of funding."

"It's not that." said Charles, "This is most unlike Warren."

Magneto shrugged, settling into a chair.  "You think the MBA might have something to do with this?"

"They have been stepping up their activities of late.

"But that's no reason to see their hand in everything.  My love, you are jumping at shadows."

"Professor Xavier!  Professor Lensheer!"

Jean ran into the room, waving a paper.  One of those trashy tabloids, if Eric was any judge.

On the third page, was a large colour photo, showing Warren Worthington the Third, reclusive millionaire, caught out shopping with his 'lady love'.

Magneto frowned.  "I thought he broke up with that Betsey woman."

"That's not what caught my eye." said Charles pointing to the upper left corner of the photo.  A little blurry, but clearly visible: two women, one with hair of pure white, the other with dark hair with one white streak.

"Storm and The Rogue." hissed Eric.

"Still think I'm jumping at shadows, love?"

"Attention!" said the form of Warren Worthington III, before it morphed back into the natural blue form of Mystique.  "This meeting of the Mutie Bitches of America is hereby called into order!"

There were catcalls and whistles from the three other woman, sitting around a table in the mansion newly acquired with Mr Worthington's money.

"Or possibly disorder!"

Laughter.

"I would just like to welcome Psylocke to the Sisterhood."

"Hear, hear!" yelled Storm, her kitten sitting by her feet.  Kitten just growled.

"And say a fond goodbye to Mr Worthington here."

"Yeah, thanks for the cash, Sugah."

Mystique snorted at her adopted daughters comment, before beckoning to Betsey.

"Come on, honey."

Storm and Rogue stamped their feet and cheered, as Betsey clambered up to join Mystique.  She took a long look at the bound and gagged form of Warren, before conjuring up a couple of psychic knives.

"Now, I know this is your first kill." breathed Mystique, wrapping a friendly arm around Psylocke.  "But there's no need to be afraid."
 "I am not afraid." replied Betsey.  Warrens body jerked a few times, and then was still.  A little blood leaked from around the gag, as well as from the deep wounds in his chest.

Storm and Rogue cheered again, Rogue leaping up from the table to fly Betsey round the room, before landing her back in her seat.

"And you know, Sugah, it just gets easier every time."

Jean shook her head, sadly, and hung up the phone.

"Warren hasn't been in touch with any of his friends or relatives.  He's sold all of his property, and transferred the money into other accounts."

"Den we can assume" said Remy, tapping the newspaper, "Dat dis is Mystique, and dat Betsey is in league wit de bitches?"

"I think we must assume the worst." said Xavier.  "We need to find out what they're up to."
Eric looked up, concern in his eyes.  "If they are recruiting, then we could be in trouble.  We need to be able to match them in a battle.  Now they have their hands on Angel's money, there is no telling what they might be capable of."

"Do you think Warren's dead?" asked Jean, her lip trembling.

"Most probably." said Xavier.

There was a moment of silence, Remy leaning over to comfort Jean.

"What are you thinking about?" Charles asked Eric.  "I know that look on your face – you have an idea."

Magneto nodded.  "If it's firepower we need – well, I once met a man who might be able to help."

Logan emerged from the forest, dragging the deer behind him.  It would do both of them for tonight, and he could dry some of the meat.  Winter would be coming up soon, and he'd need enough for both him and the kid.

Speaking of the kid…

There was a quiet bamf, and Kurt leaped towards him.  Without even looking, Wolverine caught him in one hand.

"Damn.  Thought I had you there!"

He chuckled.  "Maybe next time, kid."

He'd been wandering through Europe a couple years ago, and found himself in a little monastery in the Black Forest.  Every now and again he needed a bit of peace and quiet.  Just before he'd left, the head monk had led him up to the belfry.

"The child cannot stay here, you understand?  He is a good child, but this is not the right place for him.  We are men of God, and this child…  He is a good child, but he cannot stay here."

When he'd laid eyes on Kurt, he'd 'understood' alright.  He'd understood with a clarity that made him want to gut the hypocrite standing next to him.  The boy was skinny, but smelt healthy enough.

~Diable…~

How many times had he heard that word, in as many languages as there existed.  Devil, monster, beast.  And maybe he'd earned some of that in his long life, but this kid sure as hell hadn't.

He'd tossed the boy over his shoulder, wrapped in a too-big cassock.

Since then, Kurt had become both a welcome attraction, and infinite annoyance.

"We having deer for supper again?"

"Ya want to catch something else, go right ahead."

Kurt mumbled something in German.

"I heard that, and I speak German, too.  Help me with this damn thing, already."

A/N: Should I continue this insanity, or let it die a natural death?  Should I refer to the girls as the MBA (which phrase keeps making me giggle), or stick to the Sisterhood?  Review!

Next up:  The X-Men track down Wolverine, and the Sisterhood get up to more dirty tricks – the identity of Kitten is revealed, and Psylocke acquires a pet of her very own.