The Guests Arrive
"How could you promise her a motorcycle?" Ororo shouted at Logan.
"Look I was desperate okay?" Logan told her. "You of all people should understand that Ms. Invite Total Strangers to the Institute!"
"They are not total strangers," Xavier told him. "Paul is coming as well as Amanda."
"What about Taryn?" Logan asked.
"She moved away last week remember?" Hank told him as he hung some decorations on the ceiling.
"So who is coming?" Logan asked.
"About 9 students from the high school will come as well as Paul and Amanda," Xavier said. "As well as a chaperone."
"Too bad it's not Kelly," Hank snickered. "But since he's a senator now I suppose that would be too much to hope for. I can't believe he got elected so fast!"
"I can," Logan growled as he fiddled with the decorations. "Considering what platform he ran on. What the heck is this stupid thing supposed to be anyway?"
"I believe it is supposed to be a replication of the species latinus atrocius," Hank stated. "Normally found in the rainforests of…"
"Hank if it's supposed to be a flower, say it's a flower for crying out loud!" Logan threw it to the ground. "I don't know why we don't have the kids do the decorations for crying out loud!"
"Because most of them are working on the refreshments," Hank explained. He picked up the decoration and started to play with it. "And since Kitty insisted on making at least one cake and some cookies the rest of them are scrambling to make sure there are decent food stuffs prepared so our guests don't get food poisoning." He opened the flower. "Voila!"
"Showoff," Logan growled as he grabbed the decoration from him. "One of the cakes? Oh wait, I forgot the Blob was coming!"
"Well all of the children have bottomless pits for stomachs," Ororo sighed. "That reminds me Charles, do you have the special surprise ready for Rogue."
"Yes," Xavier smiled. "It hasn't been easy keeping that secret."
"Oh great now what are you gonna spring on the poor kid?" Logan asked.
"I assure you Logan," Xavier smiled. "This is one surprise she will enjoy. That I promise you."
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"It's almost seven Rogue," Kitty called out. She was wearing her turquoise dress. "Like, aren't you ready yet?"
"I'm coming, I'm coming," Rogue came out in a long sleeved black dress. "Well?"
"Remy is gonna love that," Kitty grinned.
"Who cares about Remy!" Rogue said defensively.
"You do and you know it Chere," Remy poked his head in.
"Speak of the devil," Rogue folded her arms.
"You called?" Kurt teleported in. "Wow, you look great!"
"It's just a dress," Rogue told him.
"A dress you look hot in," Kitty said.
"I have to agree with that," Remy grinned. "You ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be. Better get this nightmare over with," Rogue grumbled as she started to go downstairs. "Somebody better make sure the Misfits don't steal the silverware."
"They do not do that," Kitty said. "Kurt why are you fiddling with your watch?"
"I just want to look my best for the party," Kurt said nervously. "Verdammit! It's broke again! Maybe I should just hide in the kitchen until Forge can fix it."
"Kurt they already know what you look like," Rogue told him.
"Yah, but maybe…" Kurt shied away.
"Look…brother," Rogue's tone was icy. "The last thing I wanna do is go down there and face a bunch of yahoos I never even wanted to see again, much less come to my birthday party! So if I gotta go out there and look like an idiot the least you can do is back me up!" She fumed.
"I don't see the big deal anyway Kurt," Kitty said. "I mean Mr. McCoy is gonna be there too and chances are Xi is gonna be the way he is."
"Yeah you're not exactly gonna be the only one on display ya know?" Rogue said. "And I'm the one who everyone's gonna be looking at!"
"I guess," Kurt sighed. "It's just…I feel so uncomfortable with people seeing me like this. It brings back…unpleasant memories."
"Well chances are tonight's gonna be another one so let's just buck up okay?" She sighed as they went downstairs. All the X-Men were down in the foyer. "What the heck are y'all doing here? I told you I wouldn't make a run for it!"
"We all just wanted to greet our guests," Xavier told her.
Paul and Amanda were already there. Amanda went up to Kurt and kissed him. "Kurt I'm so glad I could come!" She beamed. "You look great!"
"You don't think this outfit clashes with my fur?" Kurt asked. He was wearing a dark blue suit.
"It looks fine," She smiled. She was wearing a nice black outfit with gold necklaces. Her hair was braided as well. "Everybody looks great."
"Well," Scott fidgeted with his tie. "We all wanted to look nice for Rogue." He was wearing his nice brown suit. Everyone was wearing nice clothes. Even Tabitha looked classy with a peach colored dress and her hair up.
"Thanks a lot for inviting us Professor Xavier," Amara said.
"Yeah it was really nice of you," Paul said.
"Well you two I don't mind showing up to my party," Rogue sighed. "Its all those other weirdoes and jerks I mind."
"Well the Misfits are coming too," Jean said.
"That's who I was talking about," Rogue grumbled.
"Rogue has some family issues," Scott explained to Paul.
"Yeah you were telling me. Okay let me see if I get this straight," Paul said. "Rogue and Kurt have the same genetic mother, but Rogue was part of an experiment and placed in a surrogate mother who also raised her."
"Right," Rogue nodded.
"Also Rogue's biological father is also the father of a pair of twins on this team called the Misfits," Paul continued. "Whom most of the members used to be in the Brotherhood."
"Got it in one," Rogue told him. "Of course you're forgetting the part where my father is also a genetic terrorist bent on ruling the world."
"I was kinda leaving that part out on purpose," Paul told her.
"But it's great how all of the X-Men here came together for you," Amanda said. "I mean Rogue wait until you see all the decorations and cakes they made!"
"Well Rogue is an important part of our lives," Jean said.
"I guess we all consider each other family," Scott shrugged.
"Yeah we're a genetically warped Brady Bunch," Rogue grumbled. "Nothing is weirder than that!"
"WILL YOU SHUT YOUR FREAKING MOUTHS AND STOP COMPLAINING?" Shipwreck's voice could be heard outside. "THE FREAKING PARTY HASN'T EVEN STARTED AND YOU'RE ALREADY GIVING ME A HEADACHE!"
"THIS IS SO STUPID!" Wanda shouted. "WHY DO WE EVEN HAVE TO COME TO THIS FREAKING PARTY! IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE WANTED OR ANYTHING! THEY ONLY INVITED US TO BE POLITE!"
"WHY COULDN'T WE HAVE STAYED HOME WITH THE TRIPLETS AND THE BABIES?" Lance's voice carried over. "IT'S PIETRO AND WANDA THAT ARE THE ONLY BLOOD RELATIONS AT THIS PARTY! THIS IS GONNA BE HELL AND YOU KNOW IT!"
"OH THAT'S RIGHT, BLAME IT ALL ON US!" Pietro was overheard.
"LISTEN UP YOU FREAKING MANIACS, THEY INVITED YOU ALL BECAUSE LIKE IT OR NOT WE'RE A FAMILY!" Low Light could be heard next. "AND FAMILY ALWAYS SHOWS UP EVEN WHEN THEY'RE NOT WANTED SO BEHAVE YOURSELVES OR ELSE!"
"OKAY YOU DON'T HAVE TO FREAKING YELL AT US!" Althea's voice blared.
"Oh yes," Rogue rolled her eyes. "Now I remember."
"IT'S NOT US THAT ACT LIKE FREAKING LUNATICS, RIGHT DAD?" Althea's voice carried over again.
"AW SHUT YOUR TRAP! WE'RE HERE!" Shipwreck said. The Misfits walked into the mansion wearing nice outfits. Well nice in a rebel without a cause way. Lance was wearing his black outfit with a white shirt and no tie. Todd was wearing a black outfit; white shirt that was opened and a red vest that made him look like an extra in a vampire movie. Althea was wearing her hair up as well as a tight two piece blue outfit that showed her navel. Wanda was wearing a sleeveless equally tight red dress. Xi was wearing a black outfit with a black shirt. Fred was wearing a well tailored but loud red suit, blue shirt and his trademark mohawk. Pietro, ever the fashion plate was wearing a white tuxedo with a red carnation in the buttonhole. What was even stranger was that the adults, Shipwreck, Cover Girl, Roadblock and Low Light were all wearing their usual uniforms.
"Just stay sober will ya?" Jinx walked into the mansion.
"Well we're here," Shipwreck walked in. "Where's the punch bowl?"
Althea elbowed him in the ribs. "What he means to say is where's the birthday girl?" She said.
"That too," Shipwreck smiled. "Hey here's your present. We all chipped in." He handed her a huge not well-wrapped box.
"Jinx?" Logan blinked. "What are you doing here?"
"Well I thought I'd get to spend some quality time here," Jinx purred as she put her arms around Logan and kissed him passionately.
"Oh brother," Ororo rolled her eyes.
"Where's Spirit and the Blind Master?" Scott asked.
"Who?" Paul asked, slightly confused.
"Two other adults that live with us," Todd said. "They got baby sitting duty. Lucky bums."
"Okay we might as well get this over with," Rogue grumbled. "Paul, Amanda you know most of these guys. But the ones you don't know are these two." She pointed to Althea and Xi.
"Hey how ya doin'?" Althea vigorously shook both Paul and Amanda's hands. "Althea 'Wavedancer' Delgato at your service!"
"Xi," The scaled mutant made a slight bow.
"Yeah we've heard about you," Paul said looking at Xi. "You're the one that's um…not uh…"
"I have no gender if that is what you are referring to," Xi asked.
"Oh yeah," Paul blinked. "What do I, uh…call you?"
"Xi," He showed his fangs in a smile. "But you may use the pronoun 'he' in order to make it easier."
"Sorry," Paul said. "I didn't…"
"No need," Xi said. "I have observed that many do not understand how to address someone without a gender. Mutants as well as humans. I have never been to a party before. This shall be educational."
"Don't worry Xi," Althea said. "Todd and I may need our smooching time but we promise we'll spend a lot of quality time with you." She turned to the others. "We're kind of doing a triple date thing tonight."
"Triple date?" Paul asked.
"Xi is very affectionate," Althea explained. "Not used to socializing however."
"Hey let's get some food before the meatheads from school arrive," Todd said. "Man I hate those people!"
"Don't worry babe," Althea kissed him. "I'll make sure they get several eyefuls of me kissing you! Make those losers sorry they ever dissed you!"
"That's my woman," Todd grinned as he kissed her back.
"Do you want me to kiss you too?" Xi asked.
"Depends on how the evening goes and how big a jerk those people are," Althea told him. "We'll catch you guys later."
"I'm not allowed to kill any of them, right?" Xi asked innocently.
"Right," Todd nodded casually as they walked over to mingle.
"Well…they're…" Amanda blinked. "Interesting."
"I think the word you are looking for is psychotic," Rogue muttered.
"So Roguey," Pietro walked up to her along with Fred. "Many happy returns little sister!"
"I got you some flowers!" Fred handed her a bouquet.
"Oh they're nice," Rogue blinked as she accepted them. "And they're fresh…"
"And they look suspiciously like the ones in our garden," Scott glared at them.
"Yeah how about that?" Pietro changed the subject. "So how the heck did Baldy talk you into this idea of you hosting the party of the year?"
"Yeah if it was Jean I could see it," Fred said. "But you ain't exactly Miss Sociable."
"So what'd they bribe you with?" Pietro asked. "I mean if this was Jean's party all they'd have to do is promise her some bright shiny objects!"
"Scott it looks like our guests have arrived," Jean said icily. "Why don't we greet them?" They moved away. Four girls had walked into the door.
"Who are they?" Althea asked.
"I remember them," Pietro nodded. "That's Linda Evans, Mindy Green, Tiffany Albes, and Nancy Black. They used to be on the same soccer team as Jean as well as on the student council. They were this popular clique that Jean hung out with all the time."
"Oh great," Rogue muttered underneath her breath. "Some of Jean's friends!"
"Ex-friends by the look of it," Pietro observed. The girls looked like they did not want to be in the same room with Jean.
"I'm really glad you guys could make it," Jean smiled warmly at her former friends.
"Listen Jean," Mindy spoke. "The only reason we're here is one: The party circuit in this town is completely dead! Two: We're getting extra credit in our science class and three our parents made us. Some garbage about learning to get along with other people."
"You must be a math whiz," Althea said sarcastically.
"You must be easy," Mindy glared at Althea.
"Not anywhere near your league sweets," Pietro said.
"Look just because I'm a mutant that's no reason we can't stay friends," Jean said. "I'm still the same person I was before."
"Unfortunately," Pietro quipped.
"Oh no," Mindy said sarcastically. "Just because Bayville High had to give up at least half it's trophies because you mutants cheated your way to victory doesn't mean we can't be friends."
"Cool it Mindy," Linda said. "We promised to give this a chance. Remember?"
"Yeah just because Jean's a liar and a cheat doesn't necessarily mean the rest of them are," Nancy said.
"EWWWW!" Tiffany recoiled at the sight of Todd eating some chips. "Toady Tolensky is here? Oh forget this, I am not that desperate for a party!"
"And what's wrong with my boyfriend?" Althea defensively put her arm around Todd.
"Your…boyfriend?" Tiffany's jaw dropped. "I thought even you mutants had some standards! I mean even you could get something better! You don't look that trashy!"
"Okay," Althea rolled up her sleeves. "You wanna…"
"Go get some punch, great idea!" Roadblock grabbed her by the arms and whirled her away in the other direction.
"Uh how about we go see what's in the dining room," Jean started to herd the girls away in the other direction.
"Well at least they won't be interested in hating me," Rogue grumbled. She looked up and saw a dark haired woman in a blue dress giving her a harsh look.
"Rogue this is Ms. March, the women's soccer coach at Bayville High," Xavier introduced her to Rogue.
"Yes formerly the soccer coach of the state champions until you all came along," She said bitterly. "Listen here and listen good, I am here for one reason only: To make sure our students aren't harmed. If I find any of them unconscious or in a coma or whatever it is you do…"
"I don't do that on purpose lady!" Rogue fumed.
"Rogue has no control over her abilities," Hank tried to explain.
"Yeah well she and the other maniacs better learn to have some control around here or you can kiss any hope of returning to Bayville High goodbye," Ms. March said. "And that goes for you too Mr. McCoy! I don't want you tearing up the place!"
"That was a long time ago," Hank said evenly. "I have more control now."
"Well with you teaching these…children if you can call them that I would be surprised if any of them had any control at all."
"Now just a cotton pickin' minute here!" Hank growled. "Who do you…?"
"Would you like to see the study?" Ororo steered Ms. March away. "It has a lovely view."
Hank stuck out his tongue. "Charming lady," Cover Girl remarked.
"Ah she always was a stuck up…" Hank muttered.
"Hank!" Xavier admonished. He heard a rowdy noise. "Oh it seems the rest of the guests have arrived."
A few football players walked into the door. "Man for mutants this pad is pretty swank," One of them remarked.
"Duh, we were here before, remember?" Another said. "That was a great party though."
"What did you do?" Logan asked Xavier. "Bribe the coach?"
"Something like that," Xavier sighed. "Let's just say Bayville High is getting a new swimming pool."
Jean walked in with Scott. "Well this is going to be a fun night," Jean growled.
"You can say that again," A familiar figure walked in.
"Duncan?" Jean's jaw dropped. "What are you doing here?"
"Let's just say it was either this or traffic school," Duncan growled. He looked at Rogue. "This party's for the skunk head? Geeze you could have at least picked a mutant who was hot!"
Rogue decided to fight back. "Everybody this is Duncan Matthews, you remember the jerk who Jean dumped!"
"Oh yeah," Lance folded his arms. "We remember."
"Very well," Fred said.
"What are they doing here?" Duncan pointed at Lance and the rest of the Misfits. "Aren't they in jail or something?"
"They're part of a program for mutants in the army," Cover Girl explained.
"Oh you guys in the costumes must be their zookeepers," Duncan looked the Joes over. "Geeze how do you handle a bunch of freaks like that?"
Low Light then grabbed Duncan by the shirt. "Listen punk," Low Light growled. "One of us 'zookeepers' just happens to be a so-called freak himself. So unless you really want to get on my bad side…I'd watch that smart mouth of yours before I hand it to you on a plate! Capice?" Duncan nodded feebly and moved away to join his buddies.
"Oh tonight is going to be such a cavalcade of whimsy!" Pietro snickered.
"Great!" Rogue rolled her eyes. "Just who I wanted at this party! This cannot get any worse! Oh wait, it could!"
"Come on Rogue," Remy gave her a nudge. "Let's just get through this."
"There is one other guest you should meet," Xavier wheeled away from the door. "You can come out now." A familiar figure stepped out.
"Well I'll be…" Lance smiled.
"Irene?" Rogue's jaw dropped.
"Hello Rogue," She smiled.
"Irene!" Rogue nearly ran over and hugged her. (Carefully of course.) "I can't believe this!"
"I missed you so much," Irene said softly.
"But how…?" Rogue looked at Xavier.
"Irene has agreed to stay here for a few days," Xavier told her.
"Not for long however," She said. "I fear Magneto is still looking for me."
"Don't worry," Scott said. "You're safe here."
"BLOB STOP EATING ALL THE FOOD!" Kurt shouted. "YOU JUST GOT HERE!"
"I'm hungry!" Fred shouted. The sounds of something breaking filled the hallway.
"Oh yeah," Rogue groaned. "The gang's all here tonight!"
Next up: The party starts to swing in motion.
