The X-Men do not belong to me-get it? Got it? Doubt it!

A/N YAY! IT'S FINALLY DONE! WOO HOO! I mean.splendid.

-One Week later-

A week has passed and Ziska remains rebellious. She refused to talk to her father and closed herself off from the world almost entirely. The embarrassment she felt while being treated like a child was enough reason for her to contact her mother-Lilandra, Majistrix of the Shi'ar Empire. By utilizing a communication system derived from Shi'ar technology, Ziska was able to have visual communication to her mother-across the galaxy.

"Mother.you don't understand." Ziska was unhappy with the response she was getting to her complaints.

"Franziska, you above all should understand what I go through as leader of an entire empire. You should also understand that being in a leadership position demands responsibility and a level of maturity," Lilandra spoke calmly to her daughter. She understood her frustration, but had to provide serious consultation-characteristics of being both mother and empress.

"Which is exactly why those two." Ziska stopped herself. "Why Dinah and Elizabeth should not be leading. They're the worst when it comes to lacking in respect and discipline."

"Are they?" Lilandra countered. "Where were you when they led that mission? A leader never abandons their team. That shows a lack in respect and discipline."

Ziska lowered her head and stared at the ground, realizing that she had just been scolded. Lilandra spoke again of the importance of leadership, while Ziska just nodded. They said their farewells as Ziska powered down the communicator. She stood and clenched her fists as her anger rose with herself and everyone around her. She threw a hard punch at the wall near her, breaking a neat hole into the drywall.

"Damn them!" She snarled in frustration. "They'll be sorry when they realize their mistake, and come crawling back in search of advice." She paced around her room, clenching and unclenching her fists. "How sweet it will be to watch them squirm. They won't have any other choice."

Ziska continued to pace around the room, talking to herself and growing angrier by the minute. Her eyes were wild and her demeanor was suddenly changed. The room grew quiet for a moment and then-laughter.

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"So the handsome young knight swooped his lover off her feet and onto his radiant stallion. They shared true love's kiss as they rode into the.dang it, Jack!"

Jack could no longer contain his laughter and rolled on the side of the bed. Darius was laughing just as much as Rebecca glared at the both of them.

"Now how am ah supposed to read this child a story if you keep messin' me up?" Rebecca stood with her hands on her hips and continued to glare at Jack.

"Awh.gee Rebecca! He's eight years old, he doesn't wanna hear a sappy love story!" Jack managed to control his laughter enough to where he could sit up and look back at Rebecca.

"A story about some adventure you went on would be a lot cooler." Darius perked up a little bit.

"Ah can't believe you guys." Rebecca covered her face with her hand in frustration and walked toward the door.

"Leaving already?" Darius sounded disappointed.

"Yeah," Jack slid off the bed. "Bedtime for you now." Jack tucked the sheets up and tousled Darius' hair. "See ya in the morning kiddo."

Rebecca turned and waved 'goodbye'. "Good night, Darius."

"Night," Darius yawned and leaned back in his pillow.

Jack followed Rebecca out of Darius' room and shut the door behind him. Rebecca leaned against a wall and looked back towards Jack.

"Just a sappy love story, huh?"

Jack smiled. "It's only sappy if it doesn't have anything to do with you."

Rebecca grinned. "Swamp rat."

"Swamp rat? Ah'm hurt! Besides, isn't that what Rogue calls Remy?"

"Yeah, well it fits you too."

"Does that mean ah should start speaking with a Cajun accent, Mon chere?" Jack leaned in close to her and smiled.

"Ah dunno, gumbo. Remy might think you're makin' fun of him." Rebecca poked Jack's stomach.

"Ooh.you got me." Jack held his stomach and staggered back.

"Awh.poor swamp rat."

"Yeah? Now Ah'm gonna git you!"

Jack bolted after Rebecca, who laughed and ran down the hallway. The chased each other down the stairs, past the Rec Room, and into the kitchen. Jack caught up with her, grabbed her around the middle and swung her around in the air. She giggled as he put her down and she turned to look at him. He leaned in slowly and kissed her.

"Gotcha."

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Outside, Liz sat in the grassy field, where the students-and the teachers- often played softball. She had been meditating in an effort to sort out her thoughts and feelings. Her inability to morph was still troubling her. She often wondered if her grandfather, an elder in his tribe, would have any advice for her. She grew sad when thinking about this, knowing that he was so far away, and she feared ever returning to her home. Her friends leaving her alone in the woods had cut her deeply, and she wasn't ready to face her past.
But for once, something outside her mutant power was upsetting her. While in the Med Lab she caught a glance of Pip putting an arm around Dinah. A part of Liz told her to think nothing of it, but the rest of her- the majority of her that felt an undeniable attraction to Pip-couldn't help but feel hurt by this. She sighed to herself.

"What are you getting upset about?" she thought. "You've no right to make any decision on his feelings.when you don't even know what his feelings are."

She sighed again and lay down on the ground. The sun was low in the sky and cast a warm, orange light over the field. The black slits in Liz's eyes narrowed as she stared towards the horizon.

"Argh! Boys!" she growled out loud. She squeezed her eyes shut and slapped her hand over her face. "Why do I have to like him?" she said quietly.

-At that moment, inside the mansion's Rec room-

"Och! How do I tell 'er?" Pip leaned his head against the window, facing the softball field. He shifted his glance and looked towards the dark figure that now lay in the grass.

Dinah sat in a bar stool across the room, sipping from a steaming mug of tea. She placed the mug down on the bar counter, then quietly walked over to Pip. She faced him, leaning sideways against the window frame.

"You walk right up to her, look her in the eye.and tell her," Dinah spoke quietly and calmly, but with a friendly smile.

"But.how do I know what she'll say.what she thinks." Pip sighed and glanced back and forth between Dinah and Liz, outside.

"You don't. But chances are pretty good that you'll get a positive answer. Her face just lights up whenever you walk into the room. Who knows.she may be lying out there by herself wondering the same thing you're wondering." Dinah touched Pip's shoulder. He sighed and looked towards her. "Go on. No better time than the present.and that sunset is going to be gorgeous."

"But what if."

"No buts! Just go out there and tell her how you feel. At the very least.give her some company. Alright?" Dinah gave him a hard pat on the back and smiled.

Pip nodded and smiled weakly back at Dinah. He quietly mumbled to himself, and headed out the door towards the field. He kept his eyes on Liz, and then stopped as she slowly sat up and looked towards him. There was a long pause, followed by Liz chuckling.

"So.are you just going to stand there until I turn back around?" She smiled.

"It's still weird how you just.know when ah'm around." He smiled back.

"Well," tapping her nose, "I just happen to know your scent."

The ice effectively broken, Pip continued over and sat down on the grass next to Liz.

"So uh.what do I smell like?"

Liz shrugged. "I can't really explain it. It's just.your scent."

"Hmm." Pip thought out loud. "Au de Pip."

They shared a laugh. The sun was slowly setting now. Pinks, oranges, and purple flowed through the clouds in the sky as the light seemed to dance off them.

"That's.that's really beautiful," Liz spoke very quietly.

Pip thought to himself, "Not nearly as beautiful as you." He closed his eyes and turned his head towards Liz. "Liz.I." He stopped, suddenly, very unsure of what to say.

Liz turned her attention towards him. "Pip? What.?"

"I.I." he sighed, and turned his head away. " I think you're right. I don't think I've seen another one like it."

Liz looked back towards the horizon. She sighed to herself and shut her eyes. "Just tell him!" She thought to herself.

Pip squeezed his eyes shut and scolded himself. "What's wrong with ye, lad? Just tell her!"

They both turned to face eachother at the same time, their eyes still shut. They spoke at the same time.

"Pip?" - "Liz?"

They laughed.

"Go ahead," Pip spoke first.

"No.it's ok.say what you wanted to say," Liz said immediately after.

"Well." Pip started. "Liz, I.why is this so hard to say." He reached out and placed his hand on hers. "I really like ye."

Liz looked down at his hand on hers. She was temporarily speechless. Finally, she knew how he felt. She turned her hand over and entwined her fingers in his. "I really like you, Pip."

Back inside, Dinah smiled as she watched the two talk. She turned away as Pip's silhouetted figure slid in closer to Liz, and placed an arm around her shoulder. Dinah walked back over to the bar, and retrieved her mug. She finished the last of its contents, before heading towards the door, and shutting off the lights.

---------The End---------