Awakening of the Sleeping Beauty

Charles sighed, resting his chin on his folded hands. His brow pulled down with concern. He stared at Elizabeth's body, lying in the bed. Jean had just told him what Kitty had learned. He was alone in the infirmary with her. He finally leaned forward, placing his hand on her arm, "Don't worry, Elizabeth. You are safe here." He said, with his fatherly tone.

He was shocked to learn of Magneto wanting Elizabeth for his own team. Charles however, was not worried. He knew Elizabeth too well. He knew that Elizabeth was stronger than that, with the passion of setting a good path for mutants of the world to step out of hiding, and hopefully to be accepted. He leaned back into his wheelchair, and turned towards the door. He stopped, as he saw Rogue standing at the doorway with a book in her hand. "Hi, Prof." Rogue smiled.

Charles smiled at his young gothic student. Rogue leaned against the doorway, her emerald green eyes looking down to the floor. "Don't worry, Rogue. I have confidence that Elizabeth will awaken from her deep sleep." Charles smiled, trying to reassure her.

Rogue looked up at him, and curled a white strand of hair behind her left ear. She walked towards him, "Prof, it's not that. I know she'll come out of this." She stopped in front of him, holding the book to her chest with security, "It's just that Betsy seems to genuinely be a friend to me. Probably one that will end up bein' close to me as well. I'm just really worried about her, Prof." She sighed.

Charles nodded in understanding. "I understand, Rogue. But, remember to have the confidence that she will be strong enough to pull out of this."

Rogue nodded, and walked to the chair at Elizabeth's bedside. She sat down, crossing her leg over the other. She opened her book, holding it on her lap. She began reading aloud to Elizabeth.

"I know, mum! But you can't call every five minutes expecting a result different from the previous one!" Brian said, over the phone.

"Brian, you are my children! Betsy is my daughter and your sister, may I remind you! I have the right to be there for any of you when you are in need of me! I'm going to call every five minutes wanting to know if anything's changed at all!" Yvonne snapped to her son.

Brian sighed, and sunk down into the black leather couch. He had the phone to his ear. He leaned back, staring at the ceiling above him. "Mum, I know. I'm sorry. It's just that this is so frustrating! I've been trying to wake her up, I can't even find out where her attacker is hiding!" Brian groaned.

"Well, I understand, love. But, how about this? You go back to Elizabeth, do what you've been trying to do for the past few days, and wait for her to open her eyes. The minute she does, I want you to give me a ring, okay?" Yvonne asked.

"Alright, mum. I love you." Brian said, before hanging up with his mother.

He stood up, and walked around the black leather couch he sat in, towards the large entry way of the recreational room. He walked into the foyer, and walked to the wall elevator. He pressed the button, and the oak section of the wall slid open, revealing the elevator. He stepped in, with the wall sliding closed after him.

Peter sat on the other side of Elizabeth's bed, staring at Rogue as she read aloud. Brian walked into the room, and sat in the chair next to Peter. He buried his face into his hands, sighing. Brian ran his hands down his face, and rested them in between his knees, folding his fingers together. Peter sighed, and leaned back in his chair. He looked at Brian, "Hey, Brian; what's Elizabeth's favorite flower?" He asked him.

Brian looked at him, trying to keep his eyes open. "Wildflowers and Snapdragons. Why?"

Peter shrugged, "I just figured that when she wakes up, she would like to have her favorite flowers in the room with her." He sighed.

Rogue looked up at Peter from her book. She raised an eyebrow curiously, "Peter?"

Peter looked at her from across Elizabeth's bed. Rogue closed her book, and placed it in her lap. She placed her gloved hands on the book, "You have a crush on Betsy, don't you?"

Peter sat back, and looked at her. He scoffed, "No!"

Brian stared at him, resting his elbows on the edge of the bed in front of him. Peter looked at Brian, and saw him looking at him with a sarcastic look on his face. "No?" Brian asked.

Peter shook his head. "No, I don't have a little crush on Betsy!" Peter lied.

Rogue let out a laugh, "You are such a bad liar! You cannot lie, Peter, that's what I've known about you! Besides, there's nothing wrong with you having a crush on her."

Peter looked at Brian, for a look of approval. "If you admit to me that you have a little crush on my sister, maybe I'll tell you of whether or not I approve." Brian smirked.

Peter shrugged, and looked at Elizabeth. "Y-Yeah, maybe I do." Peter shyly stuttered.

Brian and Rogue looked at each other, smiling.

Brian sat in the chair next to Elizabeth's bedside, with the blanket wrapped up to his chin. He turned his head, as he slept. Rogue continued to read, in hopes that Elizabeth would open her eyes. Peter was asleep in the empty bed next to Elizabeth's. Hank walked in, and replaced the empty IV bag with a full one. Rogue looked up at him. "Hi, Mr. McCoy." She smiled.

Hank looked at her, and smiled. "You've been reading for some time, Rogue." He smirked.

Rogue closed the book, and shrugged. "Just hopin' she'd wake up." She sighed.

Hank sat in the empty chair next to Rogue. "This is definitely an emergency situation we have never handled here at the Institute before. Usually I've treated the students with broken bones, cuts, scratches, injuries of that kind. Not like this; to where a student is placed in a coma." Hank explained.

Rogue looked at Elizabeth, and shook her head, "What a way to be welcomed to the X Men, huh?" She laughed.

Hank smirked, as he looked at Elizabeth. "Hopefully Elizabeth will pull out of this like the strong woman I've believed she was." He sighed.

"Yeah, I've heard her mom has been callin' every five minutes practically." Rogue sighed.

"Her mother's extremely worried about her. Wouldn't you be worried? I mean, Professor Xavier promised safety and sanctuary for Elizabeth and Brian here at the Institute. She placed her children's lives in our hands, and look what happens," Hank paused, and wiped his brow, before removing his glasses, "A child of all creatures, is attacked and nearly killed. This situation had opened the Professor's eyes; he realized that even though you've been trained to use your powers, none of you are invincible. The reality hit him hard." Hank sighed.

Suddenly, they heard the sound of sheets stirring. Rogue and Hank looked at Elizabeth, and saw her blood pressure rising on the monitor. Hank rushed out of his seat, and grabbed a syringe, to help calm her blood pressure. Rogue leaned forward, and held onto Elizabeth's hand. She turned to Brian, and shook him awake. "Brian! She's waking up!" Rogue shrieked.

Brian opened his eyes, and looked at Rogue, "What?"

His eyes moved to Elizabeth, and he saw her stirring in the bed. He shot up, and rushed to her bedside. Rogue stood, and stood next to Brian. "Peter! She's waking up!" Rogue said.

Peter opened his eyes, and his head shot up, as he saw Rogue and Brian standing over Elizabeth's bed. He saw Hank injecting fluid into the IV on Elizabeth's wrist. Peter shot up from the bed, throwing his legs to the side. Hank rushed to the call button, to alert Charles that Elizabeth was awakening. "Come on, Betsy, open your eyes." Brian lightly said.

Elizabeth opened her eyes slowly, letting in the light she had not seen for days. Her sight was blurry, as her eyes focused. She looked to her right, and saw two blurry figures standing over her. Her vision cleared, and tears welled into her eyes, as she saw her twin standing alongside with Rogue. His dark blue eyes welled with tears, as he smiled down on her. "Hey, Lizard!" He smiled.

"Brian?" She whispered.

Brian knelt down next to her. He held his sister's hand to his face. "I'm here, Betsy."

Elizabeth opened her hand, and felt his face. A smile formed on her lips, as tears escaped the corners of her eyes. She looked at Rogue, and saw tears forming in her eyes. "Hi, Betsy." Rogue smiled.

Elizabeth looked to the left side of her bed, and saw Peter anxiously standing, looking down at her. His ice blue eyes gleamed at her, as his charming smile formed on his mouth. He knelt down, and placed his hand on her forehead. "Hey, beautiful." He grinned.

Elizabeth's brown eyes searched his face, and she attempted to lift her left arm, but stopped as a pain shot through her side. "Easy, Elizabeth." She heard.

Elizabeth's eyes moved to the foot of her bed, and she saw Hank in his white lab coat, smiling at her. "Where am I?" She spoke, through her dry throat.

"You're in the infirmary, Elizabeth. Here; at the institute. You've been in a coma for about three days now." Hank smiled.

Brian leaned towards her, "Lizard, do you remember what happened with Sabertooth?" He asked.

"On the mission?" Elizabeth asked.

"No, hun. Here in the institute." Rogue clarified for her.

Elizabeth shook her head, with a puzzled look on her face. "Her mind's blocked it out due to the trauma." Hank answered.

"I feel like I've been run over by a bulldozer." Elizabeth groaned.

"Why don't I start treating Elizabeth, okay guys? Professor Xavier is on his way down to talk with her." Hank sighed.

"Alright." Rogue said.

Rogue grabbed onto Elizabeth's hand, and lightly squeezed it. Elizabeth looked at her, and squeezed back. They both smiled at each other. "Welcome back, Betsy." Rogue smiled.

Rogue let go of her hand, and walked out of the room, as Elizabeth lightly waved to her. Brian kissed his sister's hand, and looked at her. "Don't do that to me again, Betsy." He sarcastically threatened.

Elizabeth smiled at her brother, and took her hand from his. She wiped the tears from his face. "Don't leave me again, Bee." She smiled back.

Brian shook his head, smirking at his sister. "I won't."

Peter stared at her. Brian stood up, and walked to the doorway. He saw Logan staring into the room from the observation window. "Aren't you going inside to greet her, Logan?" Brian asked.

Logan looked at him, "Not yet." He sighed.

Brian placed his hand on Logan's arm. "Thanks Logan. I know you kept Betsy from dying. With that, I owe you my life." He smiled.

A faint smile formed on Logan's lips, and Brian walked away. Logan looked back into the infirmary, and saw Peter kneeling where Brian was at Elizabeth's bedside. Elizabeth lifted her hand to his face, looking at him. "Why are you in here?" Elizabeth asked.

Peter grabbed her hand, and looked at her. Elizabeth saw his blue eyes filled with concern. He suddenly smirked, "I wasn't going to let you get away without at least one date, Betsy. No one gets away from me that easily." He joked.

Elizabeth smiled. Peter smiled at her. He then sobered, and gently placed her hand on the bed at her side. "Get better, Elizabeth." He said.

She watched him stand up, and leave the infirmary. Hank began to treat Elizabeth, giving her medication for her pain. Logan stared into the room, through the window, not moving. He sighed, as he watched Hank help Elizabeth.