A/N: Big thanks to Alyssa for your review of the first 2 chapters. I'm
glad that you find Theo and her dog interesting. Also, thank you for
pointing out that it's Grey not Gray. I'll try not to make that mistake
again, but if I do, I'm very sorry.
Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men or any of the characters. Only a few people here and there are mine.
Chapter Two
First Day
A few minutes later, Theo sat down in front of Xavier's desk while the Professor sat behind the desk. "What more is there that you need from me Professor?" she asked.
"I gather from what you said earlier that you are a mutant," Xavier said, folding his hands on top of the desk. "If you don't mind telling me, I would like to know what your powers are."
Theo glanced down at Atar, who was lying next to her. Then she looked up and stared at Xavier across the desk.
"I have the ability to speak to others in my mind and in turn hear their thoughts," Theo said in Xavier's mind.
"I get the feeling that there's more to your abilities than just this," Xavier answered back telepathically.
Theo smiled and then glanced at a pen near Xavier's hand and shifted her head backwards ever so slightly. The pen immediately slid across the desk and when it reached the edge, it floated up and then onto Theo's hand.
Xavier smiled and nodded, obviously pleased. "Jean has the same powers as you do Eleanor, but yours seem to be more powerful," he said. "Now that that matter has been settled, I would like to discuss what you plan to teach the students."
Theo nodded, and the pen floated back to Xavier.
~~~
That night, Scott, Jean, Ororo, Logan, and Kurt and met with Xavier in his study to discuss the newest edition to the staff.
"So she's more powerful than I am?" Jean asked, surprised.
"Very," Xavier said.
"How do you know if all she did was move a pen?" Price asked.
"I tried to read her mind, but I was unable to. And I tried to find her through Cerebro once, but was unsuccessful" Xavier answered.
"Then how did you contact her to ask about teaching here?" Scott asked.
"I didn't, she wrote to me asking if there was any chance of her getting a teaching position here," Xavier said.
"And without knowing what kind of person she is, you let her join the X-Men just like that?" Scott asked a touch of annoyance in his voice.
Xavier was silent and then looked over at the pen that Theo had levitated earlier that day. He glanced back at the others and said, "I feel that she will be an asset to our group. She does not seem like she would betray our ideals and goals."
"Then you sensed it too Professor?" Jean asked.
"Sensed what?" Ororo asked.
"I feel deep depression and loneliness when I get near her," Jean said.
"Yes, I sense it too," Xavier murmured.
"If I can talk to you about something different Chuck," Logan said suddenly, changing the subject.
~~~
Two days later was Theo's first day of teaching classes. She got up early that day and went down to the kitchen.
"Good morning Eleanor," Xavier said as she stepped inside the room.
"Oh! Good morning to you Professor," Theo answered, a little startled.
"Is everything all right, it is rather early," Xavier asked. He was at the table, drinking a cup of tea and eating a buttered scone.
"I'm a bit nervous about my classes today and couldn't sleep any longer," Theo answered. Then she started to fix her breakfast.
As she did that, Xavier surreptitiously studied the young woman.
Theo was of average height and was in her late twenties. She had auburn hair that reached down to the middle of her back which was in a French braid. Also, she had intense blue eyes that always seemed to look sad. She was wearing black trousers and a powder blue blouse.
After fixing a small breakfast, Theo walked over to the table and sat across from Xavier.
"What book are you planning on having the students read first?" Xavier asked.
"I believe that I need to see at what level the students are before I give them a book," Theo answered.
Xavier opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted when Logan walked into the kitchen.
"Any coffee here?" he asked sleepily.
"No, but there is tea Logan," Xavier replied.
Logan grumbled under his breath and got coffee going in a coffee pot. "So, first day of classes for ya Thee?" he asked.
Theo looked over at Logan, a little startled at his nickname for her. "Yes it is Lo," she replied, her eyes flashing defiantly.
Xavier chuckled at Logan's surprise at Theo's nickname.
"What time will you be finished with classes today?" Logan asked.
"Sometime around three," Theo replied. "Why?"
"I need to see how you do in-" Logan began.
"Why don't you let her get settled in before we do that Logan," Xavier interrupted softly.
Logan shrugged and then poured himself a cup of coffee. He sat down next to Xavier at the table and the rest of the meal was passed in silence between the three.
~~~
Theo looked around the classroom that Ororo had led her to. It was near Ororo's classroom in the atrium, so it was huge. The room was covered with tall bookshelves on three of its walls. The fourth wall was covered by a large chalkboard. "It could use a few plants," Theo said, glancing around.
"I have a greenhouse," Ororo said from the doorway. "If you'd like, you may pick out some plants to bring in here."
"That would be wonderful," Theo said softly. She walked up to the large desk that was to the left of the chalkboard and set down the notebook she had been carrying.
"I finish classes at a quarter to three, so I'll come and get you," Ororo said.
"Thank you," Theo said. Once Ororo had left, Theo set down the large pillow she had also been carrying. "Go on Atar, lay down," she said to the dog next to her. As soon as the dog had lain down, Theo could hear the chatter of children outside. She took a deep breath and said, "Here goes nothing."
~~~
Theo's first class contained about six children. She had written her name on the chalkboard as they sat at the tables in the middle of the room. "Good morning to all of you," she began softly. "I am Theodora O'Malley your Literature teacher. Since I am new, I'd like each one of you to tell me your name. Why don't we start with you on the end there?"
It only took a few minutes for all the students to introduce themselves. Once they were done, Theo stood from her desk and passed out papers to each student. "This is just a small survey so that I know at what level of reading you all are at," she said. "Once you have finished with that, please put it on my desk and sit at your seat again."
Once all the students had turned in their surveys, Theo quickly went through them. When she had finished, she stood up and said, "The reason I had to see what level of reading you are all at is so I know what book we shall be reading first." She smiled and then said, "And it looks as if the first book we will be reading is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte." Then she turned and six copies of Jane Eyre flew down from a high shelf and to each child.
"Today we shall be starting the first chapter," Theo said after everyone had a copy of the book. "I'll start reading out loud and then ask each of you to read at least two paragraphs." She walked around to the front of the desk and leaned against it. She cleared her voice and then read the first two paragraphs.
"'There was no possibility of taking a walk that day. We had been wandering, indeed, in the leafless shrubbery an hour in the morning; but since dinner (Mrs. Reed, when there was no company, dined early) the cold winter wind had brought with it clouds so sombre, and a rain so penetrating, that further outdoor exercise was now out of the question.
I was glad of it; I never liked long walks, especially on chilly afternoons: dreadful to me was the coming home in the raw twilight, with nipped fingers and toes, and a heart saddened by the chidings of Bessie, the nurse, and humbled by the consciousness of my physical inferiority to Eliza, John, and Georgiana Reed.'"
Theo finished reading and then looked at each student. "Josh, why don't you read the next two paragraphs?" she said.
"Yes Ms. O'Malley," the boy said, blushing slightly. Then he looked down at the book and started to read. "'The said Eliza, John, and Georgiana were now clustered around their mamma in the drawing-room...'"
Xavier, who did not have a class until later, stopped outside Theo's classroom and listened to her read. He smiled and watched her for a few moments before someone walked up behind him.
"Are you all right Professor?" Jean said softly.
"She is blocking me from her mind right now," Xavier answered, his eyes still on Theo.
"There's a lot she is hiding from us, isn't there?" Jean asked.
Xavier turned and then went down the hallway towards his classroom, Jean followed him. "I would like it if you or Ororo would try and become friendlier with her."
"I think Storm has invited her to the greenhouse after their classes," Jean said.
"Good," Xavier said, going into the elevator.
~~~
That afternoon after the last bunch of students left the classroom, Theo quickly straightened up the room.
Ororo knocked on the open door and said, "How were your classes Theo?"
"Oh, hello Ms. Monroe," Theo said.
"No need to call me that, just Ororo or Storm," Ororo said.
Theo smiled and said, "It went perfectly fine."
"Are you ready to go?" Ororo asked.
"All set," Theo answered. She walked to the door and said, "Come along Atar." The dog got up off the pillow and followed Theo and Ororo out of the house.
As they walked out of the mansion and towards the greenhouse, Ororo pointed out to Theo the different parts of the expansive backyard that were used by the children.
When they entered the greenhouse, Theo said, "You come here after you are done teaching every day, don't you?"
Ororo glanced at Theo and then smiled. "It relaxes me," she answered. "Go ahead and look at the plants on that side of the room. I'll be in the second greenhouse through that passage." She motioned to a door at the end of the room.
"Thank you Ororo," Theo said, walking over to the plants. She began studying each plant closely, reading the tags that Ororo had attached to each pot.
About an hour later, Ororo came back into the greenhouse that Theo was in. "I'm all finished, have you found anything?" she asked.
"There are these plants I'd like to take to the classroom," Theo answered. There were five plants with flowers in various stages of blooming.
"All right," Ororo said. Then she turned and looked at the other side of the room. "You may want to put this one next to your desk." She picked up large a rose bush that was as high as her thighs.
"Oh, you don't have to give that to me Ororo," Theo said hesitatingly.
"Take it, it really doesn't go with the other plants in here," Ororo said, smiling.
"Thank you so much," Theo whispered. She turned to the plants and they all floated a few feet off the air. "Should we head back now?"
Ororo nodded; surprised that Theo could float the plants and talk to her at the same time. Jean had not been able to do that without some difficulty for sometime before Alkali Lake. She hurried over to the door and opened it so the plants could go through.
The walk up to the mansion was passed in silence, the only sound being Atar's panting and occasional sniffing.
Theo glanced up at the mansion and said, "How did you come by your powers Ororo?"
Ororo looked over at her, startled and then smiled. "That's a long story. I'll tell you after dinner okay?"
Theo returned her smile and then said, "All right."
~~~
Later that night, Theo was placing the plants from the greenhouse in her classroom. She was about to put the last plant down when there was a knock on the door. She whirled around to face the doorway.
"Good evening Eleanor," Xavier said.
"Hello Professor," Theo answered softly, smiling.
"I stopped to ask if you would like to play a game of chess." Xavier asked.
"I'd love to," Theo answered. She set down the plant she had been holding and walked out of the classroom, following Xavier who was going down the hallway towards his study. She walked in behind him and saw a wooden chess set by the desk. She sat down in the chair across from Xavier and said, "I haven't been able to play chess for a long time."
Xavier looked up at her and smiled. "I'll go easy on you then," he said and moved a pawn forward on the board.
As the game progressed, it became obvious that Theo and Xavier were both even in their chess playing skills. After half an hour, they both captured the same number of pieces.
Then Xavier moved his knight and said, "Check."
Theo leaned forward and studied the board for a few moments. She put a finger to her lips and then smiled. She then moved her bishop forward and looked at Xavier saying, "Checkmate, Professor."
Xavier frowned and looked at the board, and then he chuckled and said, "Well done. The last person I played with that had any amount of ability was Erik Lehnsherr."
Theo looked at him quizzically. "Who is he?" she asked.
"He is Magneto, the man who believes that all humans are worthless," Xavier said a little sadly.
Theo looked down at the chessboard as an uncomfortable silence descended upon them. "Well I suppose I should go to bed now," she said awkwardly.
"Yes of course, it is getting rather late," Xavier said. "Would you mind helping me set the board back up before you leave?"
"Not at all," Theo said.
With that they placed all the pieces back where they belonged on the board.
"I seem to be missing my queen piece," Xavier said once they had finished.
"Oh, it's here on the floor. I must have knocked it over," Theo said. She reached over and picked it up. "Here you go." She held out the piece to Xavier who took it from her.
When he took the piece, his finger touched Theo's palm. He was startled when he looked over at Theo, and saw she was blushing a deep red. "Everything all right?" he asked.
"Just fine," Theo answered quickly. "I-I must go now, I'm very tired." With that she got up and all but ran from the study. Once she had gotten up to her room, she slammed the door behind her and locked it tightly.
Atar who had been asleep on the bed looked up at her.
Theo walked over to the window seat and looked out in to the night. She closed her eyes and brought the hand that Xavier had brushed with his fingers to rest over her heart. A single tear fell down her cheek; a symbol of her tormented feelings.
Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men or any of the characters. Only a few people here and there are mine.
Chapter Two
First Day
A few minutes later, Theo sat down in front of Xavier's desk while the Professor sat behind the desk. "What more is there that you need from me Professor?" she asked.
"I gather from what you said earlier that you are a mutant," Xavier said, folding his hands on top of the desk. "If you don't mind telling me, I would like to know what your powers are."
Theo glanced down at Atar, who was lying next to her. Then she looked up and stared at Xavier across the desk.
"I have the ability to speak to others in my mind and in turn hear their thoughts," Theo said in Xavier's mind.
"I get the feeling that there's more to your abilities than just this," Xavier answered back telepathically.
Theo smiled and then glanced at a pen near Xavier's hand and shifted her head backwards ever so slightly. The pen immediately slid across the desk and when it reached the edge, it floated up and then onto Theo's hand.
Xavier smiled and nodded, obviously pleased. "Jean has the same powers as you do Eleanor, but yours seem to be more powerful," he said. "Now that that matter has been settled, I would like to discuss what you plan to teach the students."
Theo nodded, and the pen floated back to Xavier.
~~~
That night, Scott, Jean, Ororo, Logan, and Kurt and met with Xavier in his study to discuss the newest edition to the staff.
"So she's more powerful than I am?" Jean asked, surprised.
"Very," Xavier said.
"How do you know if all she did was move a pen?" Price asked.
"I tried to read her mind, but I was unable to. And I tried to find her through Cerebro once, but was unsuccessful" Xavier answered.
"Then how did you contact her to ask about teaching here?" Scott asked.
"I didn't, she wrote to me asking if there was any chance of her getting a teaching position here," Xavier said.
"And without knowing what kind of person she is, you let her join the X-Men just like that?" Scott asked a touch of annoyance in his voice.
Xavier was silent and then looked over at the pen that Theo had levitated earlier that day. He glanced back at the others and said, "I feel that she will be an asset to our group. She does not seem like she would betray our ideals and goals."
"Then you sensed it too Professor?" Jean asked.
"Sensed what?" Ororo asked.
"I feel deep depression and loneliness when I get near her," Jean said.
"Yes, I sense it too," Xavier murmured.
"If I can talk to you about something different Chuck," Logan said suddenly, changing the subject.
~~~
Two days later was Theo's first day of teaching classes. She got up early that day and went down to the kitchen.
"Good morning Eleanor," Xavier said as she stepped inside the room.
"Oh! Good morning to you Professor," Theo answered, a little startled.
"Is everything all right, it is rather early," Xavier asked. He was at the table, drinking a cup of tea and eating a buttered scone.
"I'm a bit nervous about my classes today and couldn't sleep any longer," Theo answered. Then she started to fix her breakfast.
As she did that, Xavier surreptitiously studied the young woman.
Theo was of average height and was in her late twenties. She had auburn hair that reached down to the middle of her back which was in a French braid. Also, she had intense blue eyes that always seemed to look sad. She was wearing black trousers and a powder blue blouse.
After fixing a small breakfast, Theo walked over to the table and sat across from Xavier.
"What book are you planning on having the students read first?" Xavier asked.
"I believe that I need to see at what level the students are before I give them a book," Theo answered.
Xavier opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted when Logan walked into the kitchen.
"Any coffee here?" he asked sleepily.
"No, but there is tea Logan," Xavier replied.
Logan grumbled under his breath and got coffee going in a coffee pot. "So, first day of classes for ya Thee?" he asked.
Theo looked over at Logan, a little startled at his nickname for her. "Yes it is Lo," she replied, her eyes flashing defiantly.
Xavier chuckled at Logan's surprise at Theo's nickname.
"What time will you be finished with classes today?" Logan asked.
"Sometime around three," Theo replied. "Why?"
"I need to see how you do in-" Logan began.
"Why don't you let her get settled in before we do that Logan," Xavier interrupted softly.
Logan shrugged and then poured himself a cup of coffee. He sat down next to Xavier at the table and the rest of the meal was passed in silence between the three.
~~~
Theo looked around the classroom that Ororo had led her to. It was near Ororo's classroom in the atrium, so it was huge. The room was covered with tall bookshelves on three of its walls. The fourth wall was covered by a large chalkboard. "It could use a few plants," Theo said, glancing around.
"I have a greenhouse," Ororo said from the doorway. "If you'd like, you may pick out some plants to bring in here."
"That would be wonderful," Theo said softly. She walked up to the large desk that was to the left of the chalkboard and set down the notebook she had been carrying.
"I finish classes at a quarter to three, so I'll come and get you," Ororo said.
"Thank you," Theo said. Once Ororo had left, Theo set down the large pillow she had also been carrying. "Go on Atar, lay down," she said to the dog next to her. As soon as the dog had lain down, Theo could hear the chatter of children outside. She took a deep breath and said, "Here goes nothing."
~~~
Theo's first class contained about six children. She had written her name on the chalkboard as they sat at the tables in the middle of the room. "Good morning to all of you," she began softly. "I am Theodora O'Malley your Literature teacher. Since I am new, I'd like each one of you to tell me your name. Why don't we start with you on the end there?"
It only took a few minutes for all the students to introduce themselves. Once they were done, Theo stood from her desk and passed out papers to each student. "This is just a small survey so that I know at what level of reading you all are at," she said. "Once you have finished with that, please put it on my desk and sit at your seat again."
Once all the students had turned in their surveys, Theo quickly went through them. When she had finished, she stood up and said, "The reason I had to see what level of reading you are all at is so I know what book we shall be reading first." She smiled and then said, "And it looks as if the first book we will be reading is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte." Then she turned and six copies of Jane Eyre flew down from a high shelf and to each child.
"Today we shall be starting the first chapter," Theo said after everyone had a copy of the book. "I'll start reading out loud and then ask each of you to read at least two paragraphs." She walked around to the front of the desk and leaned against it. She cleared her voice and then read the first two paragraphs.
"'There was no possibility of taking a walk that day. We had been wandering, indeed, in the leafless shrubbery an hour in the morning; but since dinner (Mrs. Reed, when there was no company, dined early) the cold winter wind had brought with it clouds so sombre, and a rain so penetrating, that further outdoor exercise was now out of the question.
I was glad of it; I never liked long walks, especially on chilly afternoons: dreadful to me was the coming home in the raw twilight, with nipped fingers and toes, and a heart saddened by the chidings of Bessie, the nurse, and humbled by the consciousness of my physical inferiority to Eliza, John, and Georgiana Reed.'"
Theo finished reading and then looked at each student. "Josh, why don't you read the next two paragraphs?" she said.
"Yes Ms. O'Malley," the boy said, blushing slightly. Then he looked down at the book and started to read. "'The said Eliza, John, and Georgiana were now clustered around their mamma in the drawing-room...'"
Xavier, who did not have a class until later, stopped outside Theo's classroom and listened to her read. He smiled and watched her for a few moments before someone walked up behind him.
"Are you all right Professor?" Jean said softly.
"She is blocking me from her mind right now," Xavier answered, his eyes still on Theo.
"There's a lot she is hiding from us, isn't there?" Jean asked.
Xavier turned and then went down the hallway towards his classroom, Jean followed him. "I would like it if you or Ororo would try and become friendlier with her."
"I think Storm has invited her to the greenhouse after their classes," Jean said.
"Good," Xavier said, going into the elevator.
~~~
That afternoon after the last bunch of students left the classroom, Theo quickly straightened up the room.
Ororo knocked on the open door and said, "How were your classes Theo?"
"Oh, hello Ms. Monroe," Theo said.
"No need to call me that, just Ororo or Storm," Ororo said.
Theo smiled and said, "It went perfectly fine."
"Are you ready to go?" Ororo asked.
"All set," Theo answered. She walked to the door and said, "Come along Atar." The dog got up off the pillow and followed Theo and Ororo out of the house.
As they walked out of the mansion and towards the greenhouse, Ororo pointed out to Theo the different parts of the expansive backyard that were used by the children.
When they entered the greenhouse, Theo said, "You come here after you are done teaching every day, don't you?"
Ororo glanced at Theo and then smiled. "It relaxes me," she answered. "Go ahead and look at the plants on that side of the room. I'll be in the second greenhouse through that passage." She motioned to a door at the end of the room.
"Thank you Ororo," Theo said, walking over to the plants. She began studying each plant closely, reading the tags that Ororo had attached to each pot.
About an hour later, Ororo came back into the greenhouse that Theo was in. "I'm all finished, have you found anything?" she asked.
"There are these plants I'd like to take to the classroom," Theo answered. There were five plants with flowers in various stages of blooming.
"All right," Ororo said. Then she turned and looked at the other side of the room. "You may want to put this one next to your desk." She picked up large a rose bush that was as high as her thighs.
"Oh, you don't have to give that to me Ororo," Theo said hesitatingly.
"Take it, it really doesn't go with the other plants in here," Ororo said, smiling.
"Thank you so much," Theo whispered. She turned to the plants and they all floated a few feet off the air. "Should we head back now?"
Ororo nodded; surprised that Theo could float the plants and talk to her at the same time. Jean had not been able to do that without some difficulty for sometime before Alkali Lake. She hurried over to the door and opened it so the plants could go through.
The walk up to the mansion was passed in silence, the only sound being Atar's panting and occasional sniffing.
Theo glanced up at the mansion and said, "How did you come by your powers Ororo?"
Ororo looked over at her, startled and then smiled. "That's a long story. I'll tell you after dinner okay?"
Theo returned her smile and then said, "All right."
~~~
Later that night, Theo was placing the plants from the greenhouse in her classroom. She was about to put the last plant down when there was a knock on the door. She whirled around to face the doorway.
"Good evening Eleanor," Xavier said.
"Hello Professor," Theo answered softly, smiling.
"I stopped to ask if you would like to play a game of chess." Xavier asked.
"I'd love to," Theo answered. She set down the plant she had been holding and walked out of the classroom, following Xavier who was going down the hallway towards his study. She walked in behind him and saw a wooden chess set by the desk. She sat down in the chair across from Xavier and said, "I haven't been able to play chess for a long time."
Xavier looked up at her and smiled. "I'll go easy on you then," he said and moved a pawn forward on the board.
As the game progressed, it became obvious that Theo and Xavier were both even in their chess playing skills. After half an hour, they both captured the same number of pieces.
Then Xavier moved his knight and said, "Check."
Theo leaned forward and studied the board for a few moments. She put a finger to her lips and then smiled. She then moved her bishop forward and looked at Xavier saying, "Checkmate, Professor."
Xavier frowned and looked at the board, and then he chuckled and said, "Well done. The last person I played with that had any amount of ability was Erik Lehnsherr."
Theo looked at him quizzically. "Who is he?" she asked.
"He is Magneto, the man who believes that all humans are worthless," Xavier said a little sadly.
Theo looked down at the chessboard as an uncomfortable silence descended upon them. "Well I suppose I should go to bed now," she said awkwardly.
"Yes of course, it is getting rather late," Xavier said. "Would you mind helping me set the board back up before you leave?"
"Not at all," Theo said.
With that they placed all the pieces back where they belonged on the board.
"I seem to be missing my queen piece," Xavier said once they had finished.
"Oh, it's here on the floor. I must have knocked it over," Theo said. She reached over and picked it up. "Here you go." She held out the piece to Xavier who took it from her.
When he took the piece, his finger touched Theo's palm. He was startled when he looked over at Theo, and saw she was blushing a deep red. "Everything all right?" he asked.
"Just fine," Theo answered quickly. "I-I must go now, I'm very tired." With that she got up and all but ran from the study. Once she had gotten up to her room, she slammed the door behind her and locked it tightly.
Atar who had been asleep on the bed looked up at her.
Theo walked over to the window seat and looked out in to the night. She closed her eyes and brought the hand that Xavier had brushed with his fingers to rest over her heart. A single tear fell down her cheek; a symbol of her tormented feelings.