Part 15

"Can you believe it? Senator Kelly is going to meet with us tonight?"

Willow smiled over at the excited intern. "That's what I hear. Ms. Frost must have some serious lobbying to do."

Buffy smiled and joined in the conversation, "And some serious clout to get the Senator to come here instead of going to Washington. I hear they're meeting after the get acquainted with the interns dinner."

"Are you invited to the meeting, Stephanie?"

Buffy looked over at Joy, "Why do you ask?"

"Oh I just figured with you being in Business Development and all, that Ms. Frost might have you sit in on the meeting to show you how lobbying should be done."

"Well, she did want to meet privately with me later maybe that's what it's about."

Though Buffy sincerely doubted it. Remy thought that Emma was going to make her move tonight. With Mystique coming as Senator Kelly and then a private meeting later with select interns, they had no doubt that this was a perfect opportunity for Magneto and Sebastian to join in the 'private' meeting.

They hoped that the listening devices that Remy planted around the mansion gave the Professor the information that he needed. They were hoping on the Xmen backing them up when the meeting went down tonight.

~~~~

Remy slipped his arm around Willow's waist and pulled her against his chest. He rubbed his chin on the top of her head, "Nervous, chere?"

Willow bit her lip as she nestled against Remy, "Extremely. I'm research girl not fight girl. That's Buffy. Okay, yeah I can stake a vampire or swing a mean axe against a demon but these are humans. Yeah . . . mutants but still humans." Willow sighed, "I-I just don't want to be a liability when the fighting starts."

"Ah chere, you could never be a liability and besides you're our secret weapon. While we're doing the fighting you'll be getting the interns to safety and out of the Hell Fire Club."

"Yeah, sure . . .piece of cake. What if a few mutants or security guys get past you big fighting guys."

Remy chuckled and pulled her closer. "Just put on your 'Resolve Face' and they'll clear a path for you. No one can resist that."

"Ha, ha. Very funny."

Remy raised Willow's chin and kissed her, "Remy t'aught so."

Willow pulled back from Remy's kiss, "You're just trying to distract me."

Remy began nuzzling Willow's neck, "Mmm hmm, how am I doin'?"

Willow's head fell back to give Remy better access, "Pretty good so far. It's workin'."

~~~~

The X-men were sitting around the briefing room as Scott brought up an image of the Hell Fire Club.

"The transmission last night stated that Senator Kelly was going to meet with Emma and the interns tonight. This was confirmed when Kitty called the Senator's office to make an appointment."

The Professor turned to Scott, "Sabertooth is currently in Fiji where I assume he's taking another target for Magneto. However, I can not pinpoint Eric's current location but I am sure that this is the meeting that Maya saw in her vision."

"Buffy was able to send an encrypted email from Frost International today to let us know that she and Willow have an appointment with Emma at nine tonight."

The image of the Hell Fire Club morphed into the interior. "Kitty was able to hack into the County Records and get blueprints for the Club."

Wolverine leaned in closer to get a better look. "Security system?"

"Probably but Gambit will have it disabled by the time that we arrive."

Scott used a laser to point out a room on the second floor. "This is where Willow and Buffy are staying. Tara, you and Kitty will meet Willow there. Kurt will teleport you to the roof and then you can just phase through."

Tara nervously bit her thumbnail. It wasn't that she didn't trust Kurt or anything. They've teleported a few times. It's just that she wasn't a fighter. Sure she'd trained some since coming to the mansion but this was going to be a real fight. Not a simulation like the Danger Room.

Kitty saw her biting her nail and smiled over at her, "You'll be fine. I thought my heart would beat out of my chest the first time I went on a mission with the X-men that wasn't a Danger Room scenario. I survived to fight another day. If I could do it, believe me you can too."

Tara relaxed a little. She didn't know what she would have done if she hadn't become friends with Kitty and the others here. She felt so at home. She had already talked to the Professor about staying and helping.

Wolverine narrowed his eyes and pointed to the image, "What's this?"

Everyone leaned in to look at what Wolverine was pointing at.

"Looks like air ducts."

"Yeah, but to where. There's nothing there."

"Ah, maybe the room in which Emma will hold her 'private' meeting."

"We concentrate the attack here then." The Professor manipulated the image until it came to the blank area that caused Wolverine to notice it.

~~~~

"Senator Kelly, it's an honor to meet you."  Willow held out her hand.

Senator Kelly smiled. "It's always an honor to meet one the of the best and brightest that Emma recruits."

Willow marveled at Mystique. If she didn't know any better she would have sworn she was shaking the Senator's hand. When she had pretended to be Tara, Willow had just talked to her. But this time Willow was actually touching Mystique's hand and it was like a male's hand.

"And who is this with you?"

Willow turned her head back to look at Remy. But before Willow could answer Remy held out his hand to Mystique. "Remy. Remy LeBeau. I'm jes' a friend of Willow's."

Mystique let her yellow eyes flash at Remy, "Oh I think you're more than just anything."

Remy smiled and lowered his sunglasses so Mystique saw his red glowing eyes, "Ah, Senator. You'll cause this ol' country boy to blush." Remy put the emphasis on the word Senator.

Mystique just smiled and turned to the next 'special' intern. "Ah, another smart and beautiful intern."

Buffy beamed and held out her hand, "Hi, I'm Stephanie. It's such an honor to meet you. I've followed your career for quite some time. I'm really happy that you changed your mind on the Mutant Registration Bill. If you have time I'd really love to talk to you about your role in the political arena."

Mystique's eyes began to glaze over. "Yes, well . . . talk to my aide. I'm sure we can set up an appointment."

Senator Kelly hurriedly moved down the line.

Buffy smiled back over at Remy and Willow, "Gee was it something I said?"

Willow had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. "You're truly evil, Stephanie."

Buffy just grinned. "I just figured the last thing a non-politician would want to talk about is politics. Man, he couldn't get away from me fast enough."

They watched as Mystique and Emma worked the room. They had yet to meet the mysterious Sebastian. Remy figured he was with Magneto where the 'transformations' were to take place.

Emma waited until just the chosen few remained before clanging her Champaign glass to get their attention. "If I can have your attention. I would like to thank Senator Kelly for graciously hosting this private party and it is my privilege to extend to each of you a permanent position at Frost International."

There was an excited murmur around the room at Emma's announcement.

Buffy turned sparkling eyes to Remy and Willow. She so couldn't wait to get the fighting started. She hated this undercover crap.

Willow tensed. This was the point of no return. God, she hoped she wouldn't mess anything up. She reached over to hug Buffy like she was excited about the announcement. "Be careful."

Buffy squeezed her back, "You, too. See ya when it's over."