Authors note: Wow --- its been a long time since I updated, huh? Luckily enough I'm on holiday now, so hopefully this fic should be finished within the next couple of weeks. There's only two or three more chapters to go (yippee!)

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"Irene?"

"Hm?"

"I think I've made a decision."

"What about, honey?"

"About Kurt."

The far-seeing mutant glanced up sharply, eyebrows raised. "Oh?" she questioned quietly, setting down the book that had been in her hands. "What about Kurt?"

Rogue was sitting on the padded window seat, knees hugged tightly against her chest. She gave a small sigh and continued to gaze out onto the Institute gardens. "I --- I saw him at school yesterday. Things didn't go exactly the way I'd hoped. In fact," she gave a short, bitter laugh, "Things went terrible. He completely blanked me --- he says that he doesn't want to talk to me ever again."

Irene watched the young girl sadly. "I'm so sorry. I know how much he meant to you."

Rogue shook her head. "The funny thing is, *I* didn't know how much he meant to me, not until --- you know, he was gone. He was my best friend, Irene. I can't lose him. Not over this." She took a deep breath, grey eyes turning to meet her step-mothers gaze. "That's why I've made a decision."

Irene's book was completely forgotten now. She rose from the chair in which she had been sitting, moving to join her daughter on the window seat. One hand found its way onto Rogue's shoulder in a gesture of maternal support.

"And what decision is that, Rogue?" she questioned softly.

The gothic-painted beauty hesitated. Dark lips pressed together in a thin line of thought, pale brow creased with a frown of thought. Irene didn't press her for an answer immediately, allowing the girl to take her time with her answer. She knew from experience that sometimes Rogue couldn't be pushed.

Finally, Rogue gave a slow nod. "I'm going to win him back."

Irene tilted her head, not quite understanding. "Win him back?"

"Everything that's happened to him --- running away, going to Mystique, joining the Brotherhood --- it's all because of me. I overreacted when he kissed me and I forced him away from everything that he knew." She sighed deeply and turned away. "He's not talking to anyone at the Institute because she's trying to protect me. All the pain I've put him through and he's still looking out for me." A meditative scowl briefly lined her features. "What does that mean?"

Irene squeezed her shoulder. "It means that he cares about you," she murmured gently.

Rogue nodded again. "He used to love me."

"Maybe he still does."

Rogue stared down at her cupped hands. "Nobody's ever loved me before --- except you. And you want to know the truth?" She gave a small smile, shrugging slightly. "I love him too. I guess I've always loved him --- but I never really understood what that meant until now."

"What are you going to do?"

There was a momentary pause. Finally, Rogue looked up. There was a resolution in her face that Irene had never seen before - her jaw held firm and determined, grey eyes gleaming.

"Whatever it takes to make him understand," she whispered firmly.

Irene looked worried. "What makes you think that he's ready to listen?"

The stripe-haired mutant swallowed hard. "I have to do something now, before it's too late. He's my responsibility Irene --- I'm the one that got him into this mess in the first place, and I'm the only one who can bring him home."

A flicker of doubt passed over the blind woman's features. "I know, sweetheart, I know. But ---" she hesitated awkwardly. "Well, maybe this isn't the best time to think about going to him. From what you told me about yesterday, it sounds like Kurt might not be ready to return to the Institute. He's so confused right now --- maybe you should just leave him alone for a while, until he's starting to think clearly again."

"Irene, it's been almost three weeks. I can't just ignore him anymore."

The older woman nodded patiently. "I'm not telling you to ignore him, but these things take time."

Rogue shook her head. "You didn't see him yesterday. He couldn't even bring himself to look at me." Her eyes closed briefly with the painful memory of Kurt's pale face hardened by indifference. "That's why I have to do this *now* --- before its too late."

"Rogue-"

The girl flashed her a look that would have left Irene in no doubt of her determination. "I've made up my mind, Irene. I spent all of last night thinking about it, and I've made my decision. I'm going to go and see Kurt, whether he wants to talk to me or not. Heck, I'll camp outside his house in the pouring rain if I have to, but I'm not coming home without him."

Irene opened her mouth to say something further, but the words died in her throat. Her hand fell away from Rogue's slim shoulder. At that moment she knew that her step-daughter was going to go to Kurt --- just as Raven had predicted --- and from there Mystique would easily be able to manipulate her into leaving the X-Men. Everything was going according to plan ----

---- And yet somehow that thought did little to comfort Irene. The overwhelming sense of impending doom was thick in the air - so tangible that she could almost taste it. The memory of her previous visions flashed through her mind like a dark newsreel ---

--- Kurt crying --- icy rain --- Rogue lying cold and white in a hospital bed ---

She bit down worriedly on her lip and looked sadly away. "You have to do what you feel is right," she whispered.

Rogue nodded and reached out with gloved fingers to brush against her step- mothers arm. "I have to let him know how I feel. It's the only way I'll ever get him back."

Irene nodded, Rogue's fate sealed.

She sat silent and motionless as Rogue got up and walked from the room. There was the soft click of a door being shut and then --- nothing. Irene was alone with her fears now.

She stared miserably into the darkness, her blind eyes wide and unseeing. For a log time she remained that way, lost within the turmoil of her conflicting emotions. One the one hand there was Raven, the love of her life, and on the other hand there was Rogue, the daughter that she adored. She knew that Raven would never intentionally harm either of her children, but her obsession with reuniting their family had made her blind --- so blind that she was beginning to lose sight of that which was most important to her ---

"It is as I feared then."

Irene glanced up sharply at the sound of the voice. "Professor Xavier," she greeted quickly, surprised by his sudden presence, "I did not hear you come in."

Beyond the darkness of her sightless eyes, she heard the low whirr of wheels against plush carpet. "Evidently, or else you would have taken more trouble to guard your thoughts."

Irene straightened. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Charles Xavier leaned forward in his chair, hands steepled under his chin. "I know about your involvement with Mystique, Destiny - I've known about it from the very beginning. My only question is why you are supporting her in this chosen cause of action? You must see the destructive effect that it is having on Rogue."

Irene made as if to protest, but quickly realized that it would be pointless. A part of her had always known that Charles must have been aware of her involvement with Raven --- but somehow their little charade of mutual ignorance had given her a sense of security.

"If you knew all along," she murmured coolly, head tilted slightly to the left, "Then how come you have yet to inform Rogue?"

Charles stared at her, dark eyes grim and somber. "You and I both know what that would do to her. Right now you are the only person that she truly trusts --- if she were to find out of your continued deception---" He trailed off into silence, not needing to outline the exact details. They were both more then well aware of what would happen to Rogue if she ever found out the truth.

The far-seeing mutant hesitated, then gave a small nod. "Thank you for keeping my secret."

Charles arched an eyebrow. "You have nothing to thank me for, Destiny. I acted in Rogue's best interests --- not yours."

"Then I thank you all the same." She tapped one finger listlessly against her knee, lips pursed. "Why are you telling me this now, Xavier?"

The Professor continued to stare at her intently. "Mystique is planning something, isn't she?"

"What makes you think that?"

He didn't answer her. "Whatever it is that she is going to do, you must try and use your influence to stop her. Rogue and Kurt have been through enough already - they are not ready for this kind of emotional stress."

His words cut deeply into her core, echoing her own personal doubts over Mystique's plan. Her misgivings must have flickered briefly over her features for a moment as she heard Charles move his chair closer. A warm hand rested against her forearm.

"I know how much you love the girl," he murmured quietly, voice suddenly gentle, "And I know that you would never allow anything to hurt her. That is why I am trusting you to make the right decision."

Neither said anything further. Charles paused for a moment, then moved away, leaving Irene alone to dwell on what he had said. She did not stay seated long.

Grabbing her stick from where it rested against a wall, Irene strode from the room, her mind made up.

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Lance Avers was in the living room when Mystique found him.

The young leader of the Brotherhood was stretched out across the threadbare sofa, idly flicking through television channels with a remote control. He barely glanced up as she entered the room, thick eyebrows drawing together in a mild frown of irritation.

"Look, if this is about the rips in the wallpaper, I swear that I had nothing to do with it-"

The azure skinned mutant cut him off with a sharp wave of her hand. "Never mind that," she growled quickly, making a mental note to punish him for the damage later on, "I have a job for you. Where are the other boys?"

Lance sniffed and turned his attention back to the television set. "Pietro's got basketball practice, Freddy's gone to the library, Todd and Kurt have gone to get some food in for tonight and I didn't even ask where Wanda was heading off to."

Mystique snarled silently, her already foul mood darkening considerably at the news. "When will they all return?"

"How should I know? I'm not friggin' Jean Grey here."

"Hold your tongue!" she snapped, pale eyes flashing with barely controlled hostility. "I want to know the moment they return home - especially Kurt. Do you understand?"

Lance watched her closely through curtains of tussled hair. "Why? What's going on?"

Mystique turned on her heel and stalked angrily out of the room. Her plan was so close to fruition now --- she couldn't afford to waste time like this.

"You'll see soon enough, young Avalanche."

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Irene made her way quickly through Bayville.

Despite never having been to the Brotherhood Boardinghouse before, she knew instinctively how to find it. It was an ability she had always had, and she assumed it had something to do with her far-sight abilities. Whatever the reason she was extremely grateful for it now - time was of the essence, and she couldn't afford to waste precious minutes asking people for directions.

She turned a corner in a street and instantly knew that she was there. The place felt familiar somehow --- though not necessarily in a good way. A by- now familiar sense of dread began to twist in her gut, a clammy shudder running down her spine. Doom hung in the air like a subtle curtain, and she knew that the time of her prophesy was growing closer ---

The porch smelt faintly of damp wood, floorboards creaking in protest as she made her way up to the house. She gave the door a sharp knock. For a long moment, nobody answered. Blind panic began to creep through her skull, it suddenly occurring to her that Mystique might have already left.

Then, finally, the door opened. A young teen in ragged jeans peered at her suspiciously through a fringe of dark hair, gaze narrowed with ill- disguised mistrust.

"Who are you?" she asked curtly, apparently not bothering with small talk.

Irene straightened slightly at the sound of his voice, blind eyes blinking behind the dark glasses that she wore. "I'm here to speak with Ra --- I mean, Mystique."

Lance was decidedly unimpressed. He continued to glare at her sullenly, brown fingers drumming a distracted rhythm against the doorframe. "The boss lady's kinda busy right now," he told her coldly, "I'd probably come back later if I were-"

"It's alright, Lance," a voice cut in from behind him, "That will not be necessary."

Mystique emerged from the darkened hallway, arms folded across her chest. There was a moment of tense silence, in which Lance- perhaps wisely - took the opportunity to slip away unnoticed. Neither of the two women paid him any heed. They just stood, stared, waited.

It was Mystique who spoke first, her voice lowered to a predatory growl. "What are you doing here, Irene? You should be at the Institute. If anyone followed you here-"

"They didn't."

The shape-shifter glowered at her quietly spoken words. "I will not allow you to compromise my plans. Now leave!"

Irene stood firm, slim eyebrows pulled together in resolution. "Not until I've made you listen to me, Raven."

Mystique gave an icy sneer. Even without the gift of sight, Irene felt herself shiver under her lover's harsh stare. "The time for listening passed long ago. Now is the time for action."

"You are gambling with your children lives."

"I am fighting to save my children!"

"How?! With more secrets and lies?" Irene stood aghast, fragile frame trembling from more that just the cold. She shook her head determinedly. "I'm sorry, Raven, but I can't let you do that to Rogue. I love her too much to see her hurt."

Mystique hesitated, momentarily shocked my Irene's rebellion. The blind woman was the only person in the world that she had ever allowed herself to trust whole heartedly --- the only person that she had allowed herself to fall in love with --- and now she was turning against her? At the moment she needed her support the most?

Mystique's expression grew colder, scarlet lips pulled downward in a look of distain. "Don't tell me you're still harping on about that dream of yours?" she hissed, hair shifting over her forehead in a slight breeze.

Irene lifted her chin higher. "It was no dream - it was a prophesy. I'm warning you now, before it's too late. For the love of God just quit while you are still ahead! You've already won Kurt!"

"I will not rest until *both* of my children are in my care!"

"Even if that means killing one in the process?!"

Mystique flinched visibly at Irene's words. "I would never allow anything to happen to Rogue," she whispered, the harsh accusation quelling the fury of her anger somewhat, "She is my daughter."

Irene gave a tired sigh and nodded slowly. "Yes, Raven. And she's my daughter too." She gazed up at the azure skinned mutant with blind eyes, expression drawn with quiet sadness. "And that's why I can't let you go through with your plan. I'm sorry."

There was a short silence. Irene's quiet words resounded in the air between them, their meaning cruelly clear. Mystique looked away, pale eyes clouded and confused.

"Not as sorry as I am," she murmured.

Irene knew then that things would never be the same between them ever again.

Berry-colored lips pressed together sadly, the woman turned and began to make her way slowly down the porch steps. The burn of tears stung at the back on her eyes as she struggled against the growing lump in her throat. Mystique's voice had sounded so broken --- so despairing --- that she almost rushed to throw herself into her lover's waiting arms. She resisted the urge, however. She knew that if she surrendered herself to her grief now, then she would not have the resolve to do what was needed of her ---

The blow came from behind, lightning force impacting at the back of her skull. Irene gave a sharp cry of pain and surprise, crumpling swiftly to the floor, cold oblivion sweeping up to meet her ---

--- And Mystique's voice echoing through her mind before she lost consciousness completely.

"Not as sorry as I am."

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Kurt and Todd made their way through the untidy front garden, each hauling a plastic shopping bag stuffed with groceries. Kurt was pleased - apart from his return to school the previous day, the little shopping excursion had been his first trip he had made out off the Brotherhood house since he arrived there several weeks previously. It had been strange to be doing such a mundane task, but at the same time it provided him with a much longed for sense of normality. It looked like things were finally starting to settle down in his life.

"Are you sure you know how to cook all that junk?" Todd asked doubtfully as they neared the front door. "I mean, not that I don't have no faith in your culinary skills or nothin', but some of that food looked pretty freaky."

The blue-furred mutant rolled his eyes and chuckled. "I'd hardly call sauerkraut freaky! Trust me, you'll love it."

Todd wrinkled his nose. "Pickled cabbage? Gross."

"It's full of vitamin C," Kurt said defensively.

The shorter boy gave a short snort. "No wonder your country lost the war, yo."

Kurt flashed him a quick look. "Don't even go there, Toddy Tolanski --- I'm warning you."

"Sorry, sorry. My bad."

They stumbled into the shady hallway, gracelessly depositing the shopping bags by the front door. Todd opened his mouth to complain about his aching arms, but was cut abruptly short as a shadow fell from the nearby doorway.

Mystique stood watching them closely for a long moment. Her arms were crossed across her chest, face grave with forced neutrality. There was something dangerous about the way her body was tensed, though Todd couldn't quite explain what it was ----

"Hello Kurt, Todd," the shape-shifting mutant greeted coolly, "The rest of the boys are gathered in the living room. We need to have a little chat."

Todd and Kurt exchanged anxious glances. Mystique called the Brotherhood together? Had to be something important.

"What is wrong?" Kurt looked curiously up at his mother, charcoal eyebrows drawing together in a mild frown. "Had something happened?"

Mystique's expression became vaguely troubled. "Yes, son, I'm afraid something has happened." Without another word of explanation, she turned and melted into the shaded doorway, leaving the two younger mutants staring after her. Wordlessly, the followed her into the living room.

Just as Mystique had said, the other three members of the Brotherhood were gathered within the lounge - Freddy and Lance occupying the sofa, Pietro perched lightly on his customary windowsill. They exchanged silent nods of greeting as Todd and Kurt entered.

The eldest mutant stood silently in the centre of the room, watching as her son sat down on the arm of Todd's armchair. She remained mute for a moment, all eyes in the room trained expectantly on her.

"I know that there have been some changes around here recently," she began, voice low and firm, "And I realize that the new situation may have been difficult for many of you to adjust to. But you all adapted, you all survived, and now look at you. We are stronger than we have ever been before, and I want to take full advantage of the situation."

She paused and glanced at each of the boys in turn, pale eyes coming to rest on her son. A sad smile flickered at the corner of her mouth.

---- For you, Kurt. I am doing this for you ----

"Tonight we are going to attack the X-Men."