I'm going to Turkey for the next five days, and therefore will be unable to update between now and then. I will once again thank any and all reviewers for the time that you have taken. Rest assured that I appreciate it.

I am making no money off of this fic, and own none of the characters held within. The theory of evolution belongs exclusively to Charles Darwin. Thank you.

Chapter 8

Marrow's healing factor had taken care of the scabs. The blood had peeled from her skin after a shower, the steam and soap removing the uncleanness, and the self destructive feelings that she had been feeling only hours before. Gambit had walked her as far as the front door of the mansion, before heading off into the darkness again. Marrow had watched his back, until the darkness claimed his shadowy form, as a demon in the night.

A slight fatigue wore at her eyes, trying to pull them shut into a world without light and images. A world where no thought was required. Yet, in Marrow's case, it did not have to be required to be real. Her nights were haunted by screams from her past, gunshots and crimson water. These demons flit around her mind, staying in the recesses, and just waiting for an opportunity to wreak havoc on the 'sane' mind.

I'm too tired to do anything tonight. I think I'll brave it…

Carrying her sore, aching feet up the stairs and to her room, (which not surprisingly had no roommate) she slipped underneath the white sheets. Unwilling to leave the back of her neck exposed, she put the pillow over her head. (This also helps in morning situations when Evan's radio clock set to the all rap station went off.)

After turning over and over for numerous minutes, she was finally able to doze off into a restless slumber.

"Why are you green?"

"The same reason tha' y'all have bones growin' out o' your nose, hon. I'm a mutant."

"Are they mutants too?"

"We all are."

Sweat was starting to bead on Marrow's forehead, her tension at the sound of such a familiar voice becoming quite evident.

Fire…so much fire…oh God, we're gonna die this time. Why…does life have to BE? Blood covering the ceilings and floors…all their glassy dead eyes!

"Hey, there's a mutie still alive over here! The only good mutie is a dead mutie! Die, die in the name of the Marauders!"

"But…I never did anything…"

"Please…YOU WERE BORN. That, however will be *easy* to correct."

Run…through smoke, flames…blood, charred flesh…

Strong arms lifted her up, out of the tunnels, and away from the smell of bile and blood. Fighting, the minute her feet touched the ground she ran, ran out to begin her life in the alleyways. To be away from the screams which pierced the night like a knife. The blood that flowed like crimson water. Flowed from those people that she knew, her family, no more.

Sitting up in bed, Sarah gave a muffled gasp of horror. The sun was up, and glancing over at the faintly glowing red numerals on her clock, saw that it was already nine 'o clock.

"Aw, man!"

Looking at her bed, she could see that she had impaled her mattress several times over with long, off-white ridges, which were now buried deep in the bedding.

Avoiding these wicked looking spikes, she catapulted out of bed, pulled on her uniform, (there was no doubt that it was going to be a training day) and set off at a run down the stairs.

Hiding from your fears…

The whole gang caught her in the common room.

"Happy New Years Day!!!!"

"…New Years?"

Kurt jumped up to her, and teleported into a huge pile of snow in the backyard, much to Marrow's dismay, carrying her along for the ride.

"Elf…"

Unfortunately for her, she spoiled the seriousness of the moment by bursting into a fit of giggles. 'Elf' got a snowball in the face.

"Ja…so we've finally broken through her caramel, and reached the chocolate, hmmm?"

Without waiting another second, there were snowballs flying left and right, more as teammates came out to join them.

Bobby held a certain prowess this: hey the guy can create his own snowballs. He proposed a game of he and Rahne against the rest of the team, as the odds were so VERY unfair for everyone else if he continued to play as an individual.

"DIE!" Bobby yelled, while icing up. Rahne transformed into her wolf, Kitty went intangible, (hey, can't get hit that way, eh?) and the rest just ducked. Kurt, his wide feet making him nimble on the snow was a valuable asset, taking a certain delight in hitting Rahne squarely between the eyes, or on the nose, making her transform back to human form to expel the coldness from her body. Bobby was by far the best. He fairly disappeared into the snow in his iced form, and whenever anyone got near him, they would by pelted by a flurry of snowflakes, from seemingly nowhere.

The game continued until the shadows were lengthening, and the sun was a orange sphere in the sky. The x-men started to head inside.

"Boy, can you believe that these are the last few hours of 2001?"

"Yeah…I just got used to writing it instead of 2000 on my school assignments."

"So, are you guys making any New Years resolutions?"

"I thought I'd give up meat…"

"Kitty, you're SUPPOSED to give up something you LIKE."

"Danger room sessions. Think the professor would buy that?"

"Yeah, I can see I now. 'Professor, Mr. Logan, I can't do Danger room sessions any more, 'cause see, it was just New Year and…"

"SHUT UP."

"Porcupine."

"Bonehead."

The bickering continued all the way to the front door of the mansion, where Ororo met them with towels, and drinks on a plate.

"Hey, thanks Auntie O!"

"Yeah, thanks stormy…"

The mansion was warm and comforting to Marrow that night, and she shouted just as loud as everyone, when the time came for the 'three, two one, Happy New Year!' She was finding her place in society with the x-men, was finding a family. She knew this now, and no matter what horrors her past had held, this was a new beginning. A fresh start.

Sorry was so short, but 'tis late at night, and I want to go to bed. *sniff* Happy New Year in advance, as I won't get to say it later. Have fun! Oh, and PLEASE R&R!!!!!!!