Xavier, Ororo, the Beast, Logan, and finally, Mac, walked together into the mansion, all the while no one saying anything just yet.

Finally, Mac broke the silence, "So, umm, where exactly is my room? I'm sure you just put me in one of the guest rooms right? I mean, since there are so many kids here now."

"Well, yes, we have been getting quite a few new students here. Way more than when you were here. I believe it was just Ororo, Scott and you wasn't it?" Xavier asked.

Mac stopped suddenly at the mention of her friend's name, but quickly regained her composure. "Umm," she stumbled. "Yeah, it was just us, but only for those few months before I left. How many are there now? I have to imagine there would be quite a bit."

Xavier thought for a moment. "Well, I do know that there are more than fifteen, I think. I can't remember the exact number at the moment. Ah," he said as they reached the main bedroom corridor. "I believe that you'll find that your room is just down this hallway, at the end."

Mac stopped and looked at her grandfather, dumbfounded. "But, wait," she stammered. "That's exactly where my old bedroom was. I thought the guest rooms were up another floor!"

Xavier just smiled at his long-lost granddaughter. "We left everything just as it was. I have never given your room away. I knew that you would be gone long when you left, but I always felt that you would be back someday. And besides, Scott was the one to convince me not to change anything. I know your decorating taste has surely changed, so feel free to change what you will. "

Mac barely heard the last few words her grandfather muttered. "Scott? He said not to change anything? But, why?"

"He told me that you would be back someday. When I asked him if you told him that, he said no. Just that he knew you would be back, he said he felt it. You know," he went on, noticing the forlorn look on her face. "He waited up every night for you for four months, hoping you would-"

"Stop!" Mac cried out. "Stop talking about him! I don't want to hear it! You know he was the reason why I left!" She crouched down in the doorway and started to cry holding her head down.

Xavier looked shocked at this sudden change in her emotions, so he went over to her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Child, I know what you gave up for him, and I know how you feel about it. But, you're going to have to put that behind you now. The times have changed and I'm sure that he has accepted your leaving all those years ago."

"But," she sputtered through her tears, which were beginning to slow a bit. "I know he hated me for leaving and I never gave him an explanation, I just left! I know he just hates me now!"

Xavier sighed and pulled Mac's face up so he could look her in the eyes. "He does NOT hate you, my dear. I don't think he ever could! Scott was your friend then and I know that he still is now."

Marguerite finally opened her eyes and looked at her very caring guardian. "But, how do you know?" she asked as if she was a young child again. "He can't still be here. He has to be with his brother now in Hawaii. He wouldn't have stayed here if Alex was there!"

"But he did," Xavier calmly said. "Scott only found out about Alex a few months ago, but he chose to stay here in hopes that his brother would join us. He hasn't yet, but Scott remains very loyal to the X-men. Wait. How did you know about Alex being in Hawaii?"

Mac's tears now seemed to be gone, save for the few glistening in the corners of her eyes. "I... I ran into him when I was moving about, trying to stay hidden. Before I found out where Henry was living. Alex didn't remember me that well, but I just figured that him and Scott kept in touch; that they had already found each other. I didn't know that they didn't yet. But... he's still here? He really is here?"

Xavier felt Mac's pain mixed with happiness at the thought of Scott still being here after all these years. "Yes, he is. He never left. I guess he figured that if he left, then he might miss you if you ever came back home. And I guess he was right to do it, because here you are, back home, and he's still here."

Marguerite just sat there on the ground for a moment then slowly began to stand up, a smile playing across her beautiful features. She dusted herself off and started to look around her old room, still covered with all of her old toys and everything from her childhood. "You said I can change this however I want?" she asked, her face looking more relaxed, trying to forget what had just happened.

Charles laughed a little. "Of course, any way you wish my dear," he answered. "Your bathroom is fully functional still and if you'd like, I can give you some money to go and buy things to go in your room, along with paint and new furniture."

"Alright. That would be nice," Mac said as she turned to face them again. "Maybe I should go now and get everything then, while it's still early. That way I can start redecorating tomorrow, or even tonight. Because, believe me, this decor DEFINITELY has to go!"

They all stood there and laughed for a moment, glad to be rid of the tension from just a minute ago. "If you'd like," Logan finally said. "I can try and recruit the kids to help you get everything ready. Either tonight or tomorrow, since it will be the weekend. Besides, I'm sure they will be more than willing to help you."

"Thank you Logan," Mac said. "But what makes you think they will be willing to help me do hard labor, someone they hardly know yet? Especially since I'm their teacher's granddaughter!"

"Yeah, I'm sure when you put it that way, they might not be," Logan said rather mysteriously. "But... when the alternative is going through a training session for three hours with me, you'll be surprised at how many little Martha Stewart volunteers you'll have helping you in no time."

Mac chuckled a bit and truly smiled at Logan and thanked him for being so helpful. "Now Mac," Ororo piped up from behind Xavier. "Why don't you and I go out now and get everything you need and let the boys here start clearing out your room and getting all the equipment we're going to need later when we start working on your room. I know an excellent little mall just down the road that should have everything you need. What do you say to that?"

"I say let's go!" Mac cheerfully replied. "I think these boys here could use the hard labor for a little while. Besides, I think a little time for bonding with my oldest girlfriend is just what the doctor ordered."

"Very well," Xavier said. "We'll get your room ready to be painted and your things moved up to storage in the attic. You two go do what girls do best and shop to your heart's content! The students should be home around three, so try and be home around then so you can meet them all."

With that said Ororo and Mac departed, leaving Logan, the Beast, and Charles to clean out her room.