A/N: Thanks to all reviewers! This chapter: We finally see the mansion. And meet the Professor. By request from Paige Guthrie, we get to glimpse Evelyn's sweeter side. Excited? Damn right you are.

Logan glanced around the barren ruins of the Alkali Lake Industrial Complex. Nothing left that he could see. Figures, he thought, annoyed.

The sign in front of her read 'Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters.' The building was a huge, sprawling mansion. Evelyn was impressed. But that didn't mean that she was going to just walk on in with no worries. She was going on from a guy with huge claws and sideburns straight out of the Civil War. Just because Logan had been nice doesn't mean that this was going to pan out the right way.

Still, the allure of a mansion where she could not have to lie about what she was was too intriguing. Evelyn built up her courage and walked up to the gate.

It can't hurt to try, only to fail, she thought. The gate creaked open, as if in response to her thoughts. Whoa, creepy haunted house cliches ahoy. She walked through anyway, up the path to the door. There was an imposing brass knocker, in the shape of an 'X'.

She held her breath and knocked. For a few seconds, no one answered. Evelyn was ready to bolt and drive away, but she was stopped by the door opening.

"Can I help you?" asked a man with neat hair and red sunglasses. Evelyn felt very deer-in-headlights-like.

"Um, yeah. Some guy named Logan told me to go here. Do ya know him? Dark-hair, cigar habit, gigantic metal claws?" The guy looked even stiffer than he already did.

"Yes, I know Logan. What did he send you here for?"

"He said you folks take in people. People like me. Y'know, mutants?" That got a different reaction from him. He practically dragged her inside, leading her down the main hallway.

"Sorry to drag you around, but it's a tense time around here. I'm Scott Summers."

"Evelyn Morrison. So, where are we going now?" she asked, slowing down her pace.

"To see the Professor."

"Oooh, like Gilligan?" asked Evelyn excitedly. "Can he build a radio with a coconut and some hairpins?" Scott looked at her like she had three neon antennae and kept walking. He stopped at a door and opened it for her. The man inside the room didn't look like much of a pro-mutant activist to Evelyn. Then again, she had never seen one in her life, so she wouldn't know what they would look like.

James may not hate mutants, she mused, but if he's an activist, I'm the pope.

The bald man turned to face her and smiled pleasantly.

"Ah, Evelyn. I'm glad you made it here. Milk River is a long way from here." Evelyn blinked disbelievingly. Unless Logan had called him, there was no way of knowing where she had come from or her name. "No, Logan has not contacted us. I am a telepath."

Holy crap. Guess I'll have to watch what I'm thinking, she thought.

"This is my school," he continued. "Here, we take in young mutants and teach them how to control their powers. We also provide education. Now, you have been through college, but your powers are underdeveloped."

"They've worked fine so far," said Evelyn defensively. The Professor smiled and nodded.

"Of course they have. Nonetheless, there are a lot of things you can learn if you want to stay. Scott can show you a room. You are welcome to all the facilities with a few exceptions."

"What do I do in return? This all sounds pretty sweet, but I draw the line at bikini-clad lumberjack, just so you know." Xavier looked amused. Scott looked at her oddly again. Evelyn coughed.

"So, where are my new digs, Scotty?" she asked as they were walking out of the door.

"Don't call me that," he said as he opened the door. Evelyn gave up all thoughts of teasing Scott when she saw her room. Duncan bounded up and ran inside in front of her. She followed in, a huge, childish smile growing on her face.

"Oh my God, this is...incredible. This has made my year!" She turned toward Scott and gave him a huge smile. He smiled politely back. Looking around her room, she couldn't help but squeal happily. Scott left and closed the door behind him. Evely looked around, then sprinted to the bed and leaped onto it.

"C'mere, Dunk!" she called, and the dog trotted toward her from sniffing the dresser intently. "Jump up here, sweetie!" Duncan jumped up onto the bed and barked with puzzlement when Evelyn started jumping up and down. Evelyn started laughing ecstatically and flopped down on the bed. Duncan wobbled over and licked her face.

"Duncan, this is awesome. We might never have to run again." Evelyn inhaled deeply, then realised that something smelled odd.

"Christ on a bike, is that me?" she wondered aloud. Duncan looked at her as if to say 'I don't care, mom.'

"I need a shower." She grumbled and rolled off the bed. She stopped on the way to her bathroom to open the door for Duncan, who promptly vaulted out onto the grass, snuffling excitedly. Evelyn entered her bathroom and squealed again. She had been expecting a nice loo, but marble counters were more than she could have dreamed of.

She started the water running. This was the cleanest shower she'd seen in a long time. Half the time she wore her sunglasses into the shower so she couldn't see any mold. Evelyn had a feeling that her sunglasses were going to get dirtier if she could stay here long enough, and that was a comforting thought. She could clean up, get some clothes, stock up on jerky, get some postcards...

Dear James-

Landed on my feet, finally. This address turned out to be just awesome. I am now living in a mansion, where the bathrooms have two-ply T.P. and everything. It's incredible. The honcho is a mind reader though, so I have to cut down on the perverted thoughts. Which is hard sometimes, since I'm writing to you. And then come the shirtless thoughts. This place is perfect except for one thing. You're not here. As cheesy as that sounds, it's true. I've kinda got a jones for a cartilage piercing too, so I'll see if I can get back to you sometime.

Love,

Evelyn.