Ok guys, here's another chapter… the plot thickens!! Sorry it's been so long, I've been out of town. But thanks for reading and reviewing, as always!!

*          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *                       

            "Betsy, you must calm down, your mind is racing." The professor said calmly. "Tell us what happened."

            "Emma." Betsy mumbled. "The White Queen."

            "Who?" Xavier was still confused.

            "Miss Frost… she has the Phoenix." She explained, choking back tears.

            "Jean? She has Jean?" The professor tried to clarify. Betsy nodded as she put her head into Remy's chest as they sat in the study, with Rogue on her other side as emotional support. Remy put an arm around her shoulders and looked at Rogue, needing emotional support as well.

            "It's worse than I thought." Betsy said, sitting up. "She's using Jean's powers to manipulate mentality as well as reality." The professor cocked his head to the side, once again confused. Remy held up her arm, revealing the bruises. For the first time, the professor realized the severity of the situation, and the great power she had tried to warn them of.

            "Ah'm not sure Ah understand ya… Ah thought the astral plane was just the mind." Rogue said, perplexed.

            "It is." Xavier answered. "If you know which pain and pleasure buttons to press, you can make someone feel things, but it's impossible to inflict harm directly to the physical body… or so I thought." They all sat in silent, solemn fear as no one knew what to say next. "What exactly is your relationship to Miss Frost?" The professor finally asked Betsy as she planted her chin on top of her clenched knees.

            "I don't really want to talk about it." Betsy mumbled. Xavier looked at Remy and asked him telepathically if he knew anything. Remy confirmed by looking over at Betsy for permission. She nodded and put her forehead to her knees so she wouldn't have to look at anyone as they heard her life story.

            "When Betsy's powers first came about, nobody knew anything about mutants an' she couldn' stop hearin' people's thoughts." Xavier nodded as he steepled his fingers under his chin. "Her parents were well connected in London… to th' Hellfire Club." The name made Betsy shudder.

            "The Hellfire Club?" This piqued Xavier's interests. Remy nodded.       

            "They started out in London, but moved to New York when they got disbanded by the gov'ment."

            "Why were they disbanded?" Rogue asked as she listened carefully.

            "They got caught riggin' a parliamentary election. They front as an elitist social club, but the Inner Circle, usually 'bout four or five people, they're bent on world domination." Remy explained.

            "World domination?" Xavier repeated in horror.

            "Emma is their White Queen." Remy nodded. "Betsy's parents promised everything they had to her – no small amount, by the way – if she would help Betsy with her powers. When Betsy had control, the Braddocks wanted to pull out and try n' rebuild the family but Emma wouldn' have it, so she had Betsy's parents killed and 'raised' her. Once Betsy's inheritance ran out, Frost has no use for her anymore and traded Betsy to Sinister." Xavier and Rogue were both moved by the story. "When Betsy's parents were murdered, their connection to the Hellfire Club came out and the case was investigated by a special task force of British Intelligence called STRIKE. They recruited Betsy as a telepathic informant on the Inner Circle. When Frost found out, she went crazy and uncapped some a Betsy's internal mental inhibitors. Not only could Betsy not stop the thoughts, but she couldn't tell what was happenin' now, and what had yet to happen. It's what got her to agree to go to Sinister in the first place."

            After a few moments of pensive silence, Betsy sniffed from her 'hiding place'. Xavier instructed Rogue to take her up to bed, and Remy followed. "We'll talk about this sometime, Betsy." He called after her as they all left. She merely nodded, ashamed, and continued on her way.

*          *          *

            "Wow." Rogue said as she sat in her bed in the dark, listening to Betsy as they talked about anything and everything, openly and honestly.  Betsy curled up into a little ball on her bed, out of lack of any cohesive response. "An' Ah thought my life was bad."

            "Thanks." Betsy grumbled facetiously.

            "How come you never told me any of that b'fore?" Rogue asked, offended Betsy had held back on her.

            "I dunno." Betsy shrugged her shoulders. "I never wanted you to feel sorry for me like you do now."

            "I don't feel sorry for you." Rogue lied.

            "Right." Betsy grumbled again as she climbed under her covers. Rogue clicked off her light and began to get comfortable. "Will you wait up?" Betsy interrupted her.

            "For what?"

            "I'm afraid to go to sleep. What if she… I mean, can you just wait till I go to sleep?" Betsy muttered like a little girl.

            "You're still sleepy? You just slept for over a day and half."

            "It didn't feel like it… please? Rogue, I'm deadly tired." Betsy started to cry again.

            "Alright, Alright." Rogue said. "Just calm down." Betsy lay down in her bed as Rogue clicked on her light and began writing in her notebook. She felt it difficult to write uninhibited some of people's most personal memories while Betsy stared at her. She tried to ignore her hoping she would get bored and quickly fall asleep. After about 20 minutes or so, Rogue no longer felt Betsy's gaze, and couldn't purge anymore raw emotion onto a page. "Betsy?" Rogue whispered. "Betsy, you still up?" When Rogue didn't get a response, she decided it was safe to leave. She carefully placed the notebook and pencil down on the bedside table and tip toed out of the bedroom. As soon as she clicked the door shut, she turned around and walked down the hall toward Kurt and Remy's room. She opened the door and saw Kurt sleeping like a log, oblivious to the world around him. She was disappointed, however, to see Remy's bed still made, with no sign of him.

            "Lookin' f'r somethin'?" She snapped around to see him standing directly behind her.

            "Ah was… but Ah found it." She smiled.

            "What's on yo' mind, chère?"

            "Ah wanna talk." She sighed as she stepped out of the bedroom, back into the hallway, and shut the door behind her.

            "Uh-oh… What'd Remy do this time?" he mumbled.

            "Nothin'. Ah just wanna talk." He breathed a sigh of relief. "Why? Is there somethin' Ah should know about?" She put her hands on her hips, waiting for an explanation.

            "No, no… let's go up on th' roof, watch the sunrise." He smiled.

            "That is so cheesy." Rogue said. "You just wanna smoke, don't you?"

            "Part of it." He shrugged his shoulders. "We won't have to whisper." She rolled her eyes, but couldn't refute his logic. She grabbed his hand and led him down the hall to Kitty and Jean's room. "Kitty sleeps heavily." She explained. "We won't wake her."

            "What about the witch?"

            "Oh right, Wanda. Ah don't know about her. Ah guess we'll just have to take our chances."

            "Ooohh… a challenge." Remy's eyes flashed. Rogue smiled at him as she opened the door. They walked softly inside and attempted to cross the bedroom to the window. They nearly made it home free, when Rogue tripped over one of Kitty's platform shoes in the middle of the floor. Wanda's nose began twitching, causing the lights to flicker on and off. The two stopped dead, afraid the Scarlet Witch would wake up and zap them, or go crazy with rage as they both knew she could. Finally Wanda calmed down and went back to a seemingly peaceful rest. Remy helped Rogue off the floor when Wanda sat straight up and sneezed, causing the lamp to go on, and stay on. Kitty moaned and phased her head through her pillow to avoid the light. Wanda grumbled as she had to get up to turn off the lamp. She got up and turned it off, then got back into bed half asleep, when she noticed Remy's eyes glowing.

            "What are you doing in here?" Wanda mumbled. Neither Remy nor Rogue was certain if she was awake, or walking in her sleep.

            "Nothing Wanda, jus' go on back t'bed." Remy answered, hoping she would think she was dreaming. Luckily, Wanda merely nodded, then laid back down. Remy and Rogue smiled at each other as they finally got to the window. Remy opened it and gestured for Rogue to go out. "Ladies first…" He bowed.

            "Ladies first, or flyers first?" Rogue whispered.

            "How 'bout this, Rogue. You go first, or I'll push you." Remy retorted.

            "Wow, you really need that smoke, don't ya?" She crossed her arms.

            "You have no idea, ma chéri." He grinned widely, showing his impatience. She smiled and stepped on to the window ledge. Then she took another step off, hovering just outside the window. Remy then stepped on the ledge, and Rogue took his hands. He stepped off the window sill and it took Rogue a second to regain her balance. Then she carried him up over the roof and set him down gently. She gracefully landed beside him. They both sat down and Rogue scooted closer to him.

            "Ah keep forgettin' Thanksgiving is only a couple a weeks away." She said, referring to the cold air.

            "Yeah." Remy said, lighting his cigarette, then taking off his coat and putting it around her shoulders. She reveled in the warmth it had from his body. They were silent for a moment as the sky became a pale, dawn blue. "What's on yo mind, chère?" Remy finally asked.

             "Can Ah try a smoke?" She said, surprising him. He knew it wasn't what she wanted to talk about. He thought she was trying to be flirtatious though, and Remy never passed up the opportunity to flirt.

            "S'bad for your health, Roguey." He warned her.

            "So're you, but that don't stop me." She smiled.

            "You won't like it." He warned again.

            "Let me decide that." She said as she grabbed the cigarette from his hand. She put it to her lips and sucked in. She instantly began coughing and handed it back to him. "That's disgusting." She said, gasping for fresh air.

            "I tol' you." He said, smiling as he pat her back.

            "Why does anyone do that a second time?" She asked, regaining control of her lungs.

            "To find out why anyone would do that a second time." He answered cryptically.

            "Whatever." She scoffed, unsatisfied with his response. She put her head back down on his shoulder and they both watched the sunrise in front of them. Rogue was starting to nod off to sleep at the rhythmic sound of his heart beat when he interrupted her.

            "What's got ya worried, Rogue?" She was surprised he could sense her anxiety, but then she remembered his empathy.

            "It's this whole Phoenix/Emma Frost crap." Rogue admitted. "Betsy had to be one of the strongest people Ah knew, but now, she's so scared outta her mind… it's like she's afraid of the monsters under the bed. This warning Betsy got… How bad could it be? Ah mean, Ah know what she could do, but what would she do?" Remy sighed and tossed the cigarette butt off the roof as he tried to explain to Rogue the severity of Betsy's 'dream'.

            "Y'know, Betsy thinks I helped her out in the pens, back with Sinister, 'cause I thought she was the prettiest one." He paused waiting for a sarcastic quip, but didn't get one and continued on. "An' I let her think that 'cause I know she don't like pity. But truth is, I felt sorry for her. Betts had everything in the world, and she was grateful for it. She loved her momma and daddy, an' even her brothers. She appreciated everythin' that woman was doin' for her. And Frost just got greedy an' took it all away. That woman is evil, Rogue. No tellin' what she'd do, or how far she'd even dare t'go. It all depends on how much she thinks is enough."

            "Remy, quit scarin' me." Rogue muttered as she wrapped her arms around him.

            "I can't promise you I can keep you safe, Rogue. As foolishly arrogant as I am, I wouldn't lie to you like that. I can promise that if anythin' ever happens t'you, I'll die tryin' to save you. An' I can promise you, that right now, while we're t'gether, I ain't ever felt safer in my life." He said, trying to be of some comfort.

            "Well of course you'd feel safe. Ah can punch through a brick wall." Rogue looked up at him and smiled. Remy looked down at her, their faces only inches apart.

            "If you think about the future too much, you live your life in fear." He explained seriously. "Right now, all I see are your divine green eyes." With that, he slowly leaned in to kiss her, and she closed her eyes to wait for him.

            "Ooohhh, sentimental moment?" Toad popped in right bedside them, interrupting them. "Kiss! Kiss!" He shouted, making kissing gestures at Rogue.

            "You plant those filthy lips a yours on me, and Ah won't be the only one covered in slime!" She shouted as she pushed him on the shoulders, knocking him back on the ground. "But Ah will be the only one hopping away."

            "I dunno… You'd be surprised." He grumbled.

            "What d'you want, frog legs?" Remy growled bitterly.

            "I bet my legs look pretty tasty to you, don't they, frenchie?" Toad said.

            "I'm Creole, fly breath… what do you want?" Remy reiterated.

            "Man, Wolverine wants to see you out front." Toad said as he stood up, dusting himself off.

            "Why?" Remy barked.

            "How should I know?" Toad shrugged his shoulders.

            "Why'd he send you?" Remy interrogated him. Rogue's 7th sense was tingling as she carefully watched their exchange. Remy picked up on it and grew very suspicious.

            "Man, I dunno. All he said was if I didn't come get you, he'd skewer me." Finding nothing too out of the ordinary, Remy acquiesced to go with him.

            "Here, take this." Rogue whispered to him as he stood up, handing him his bo staff and a deck of cards she'd fished out of his coat pockets.

            "What for?" He whispered back.

            "Just in case." He nodded and slipped them into his pants pocket. "Ah'll be waiting for you right here." Rogue said aloud.

            "I'll hurry back, then." Remy said as he followed Toad back into the house.

            Rogue sat there alone for a second, waiting to make sure no one would pop of nowhere, as they had before. She opened her clenched first to reveal the black vial Remy had kept in the inside pocket of his trench coat. She held it up, analyzing it for a way to open it.

            "Looking for answers, Rogue?" She jumped, shocked to hear anyone, then clenched the vial in her hand to hide it as she snapped around to see someone vaguely familiar standing over her.

            "Vertigo?" Rogue identified her cautiously.

            "In the flesh."

*          *          *

            "Alright, frog face, what's goin' on?" Remy said as he was followed by Toad out on the front to steps only to see Wolverine wasn't there. "Where's Logan?"

            "Oh… he's around." Toad said maniacally. Remy turned around, confused, just in time to catch Toad morph into Wolverine and push him up against the brick wall beside the front door.

            "Oh, I get it. Back from the dead, huh Mystique? Have a bon voyage? Take a lot a pictures?" Remy smiled sarcastically, making her angry.

            "Keep your slimy, grifting hands off my daughter." Mystique growled as she held up her hand that wasn't holding Remy against the wall, and extended mock claws that touched the tip of his nose.

            "I ain't afraid a those little flesh things." Remy flicked the claws with his fingers; and in one fluid motion he whipped out his staff, knocked her hand back and swiped her feet out from under her, whacking her to the floor. He held the charged staff at her throat as she morphed back into herself. "Keep your evil, self serving hands off my girlfriend. You come near her again, and I'll kill you, lady." She scoffed at him, defeated. "Now get outta here b'fore I call the real Wolverine an' he carves you up into several different cuts of meat." Just then, they could hear the gates at the front of the driveway open and a taxi began to drive onto the property. Gambit quickly uncharged the staff, retracted it, and put it back in his pocket. Mystique morphed into a cat and ran off into the woods.

            "Oh, Remy. It's nice to see your back." Storm forced out bitterly as she emerged from the taxi along with Cecelia and Hank.

            "You too, Stormy." Remy said, halfway ashamed as they all placed bags around his feet. "I'm sorry 'bout what happened to your nephew." Remy mumbled as he went to the trunk of the car to help with suitcases. Storm stopped and sighed.

            "I forgive you, Remy. My nephew, on the other hand, probably won't be so compassionate. Besides, it's the Morlocks you're going to have to own up to the rest of your life."

            "I know." Remy muttered, hoping to move on.

            "Well, you can take my bags up to my room. I'm going to take a bath." She said, still harboring some ill will.

            "Anything for you, my weather goddess." He said, trying to flatter her into forgetting his sins.

            "You can take mine too." Beast said as he and Cecelia walked back into the house. "Dr. Reyes and I are going to check on Pyro."

            "Uh, sure…" Remy said. Once he was alone outside, and the cab had driven away, he turned around to carry Ororo and Hank's bags inside. A large flock of birds flew out of the woods and one broke off from the group, coming straight toward him. "I thought I told you t'get outta here!" He shouted at it as his red eyes flared up. The bird landed on the rail on the steps and grew into Mystique, just as he knew it would.

            "Whose plane is that back there?" She ignored his demand.

            "Plane?" Remy asked. Mystique huffed as his ignorance and morphed back into a cat. She ran off into the woods again and Remy followed her. Once they were deep into the trees, Remy could see the plane. He stopped for a minute to look it over, and the bottom dropped out of his stomach. He approached the plane and removed some brush to reveal the familiar red 'SX' symbol he'd grown to fear. Remy glared at Mystique, more afraid than he'd ever been before.

            "What is it?" She asked as she became herself once again.

            "It can't be." He mumbled as he double checked the insignia to make sure he'd seen it correctly. "He promised me."

            "Who?" Mystique grew frustrated.

            "Essex."

*          *          *

            Hank and Cecelia were in the Med Lab checking Pyro over thoroughly. Dr. McCoy looked at his blood in a microscope while Dr. Reyes performed a physical examination.   

            "Alright, John, just follow my finger with your eyes." She directed him.

            "You know, I was really sick that night. Don't know what I was thinkin'." Pyro said as he did what he was told. "You should really go back to callin' me Pyro." She just smiled at him and shook her head. "Hey, Beast, what'd you bring your favorite patient back from Scotland?" Dr. McCoy just looked up at him from the microscope, smiled at him, and went back to his work.

            "He taught me how to perform the surgery that saved you life. Good enough for ya, goofball?" Cecelia answered for him.

            "Oh… right. Thanks." Pyro mumbled.

            "Okay, can you say your ABC's backward for me?" She continued with the mental portion of the exam to make sure there was no internal damage.

            "Can't hardly say 'em forward, much less backward." He smiled sarcastically.

            "Try." She said. Pyro did as he was told and began to recite the ABC's backward.

            "Oh my stars and garters." Hank mumbled as he looked into the microscope. Pyro and Cecelia both instantly grew worried.

            "What? What is it? Am I gonna die?" Pyro shouted nervously.

            "No…" Hank said, smiling at Cecelia. She was suspicious as she approached Hank. He gestured for to look into the microscope. She brought it in and out of focus several times to make sure she was reading the slide correctly.

            "It's not there." She mumbled in disbelief.

            "What?? What's not there?" Pyro yelled, demanding to be clued in.

            "The virus." Dr. Reyes said, not looking away from the microscope. "It's gone."

            "Dr. Reyes…" Hank said. "I do believe you found the cure for the Legacy Virus." She finally looked up, not sure she heard him right.

            "I did?" She asked "How?"

            "Well, you must have botched the surgery. I performed it hundreds of times back on Muir Island, but it never produced these results."

            "Botched my surgery?" Pyro asked for details, but he was ignored by the scientists.

            "You must've cut out a gland that produces hormones that exacerbate the illness." Dr. McCoy continued. "We'll need an MRI to be certain, but Dr. Reyes… I do believe you've cured the Legacy Virus."

            "Oh my God…" Cecelia muttered, finally grasping the scope of her actions. "I did, didn't I?" The Beast wrapped her up in a blue, furry hug and lifted her up off the ground as they congratulated each other.

            "Excuse me!" Pyro finally managed to interrupt them. "Excuse me, but what do I get out of all this?"

            "You, Mr. Pyro Allerdyce, you are the first soul to have the Legacy Virus and live to tell the tale." Dr. Reyes explained.

            "It's Saint by the way, not Mister… but I guess I'll go with that." He said meekly.

*          *          *

            "What do you mean you've got answers?" Rogue asked the blonde and green haired mutant she could swear she saw crushed in a city sewer cave in.

            "Well, you ask me a question… any question at all, and I'll answer it." Vertigo explained simply.

            "How did you survive… after the massacre and the Phoenix?" Rogue inquired skeptically.

            "Easy. I didn't." Vertigo shrugged her shoulders. "None of us did. Next question please."

            "What are you doing here if you're dead?"

            "I'm not dead, I'm a clone." Vertigo asserted, offended. "He replicated my body, my memories… it's as if nothing ever happened. I'll be able to live forever this way. Dr. Essex is a great man."

            "That's not what Ah hear." Rogue said. She wanted to back away, but was strangely intrigued by the other girl.

            "Well, you've only heard from the ingrates." She grumbled.

            "Ingrates Ah happen to know very well, and trust very much… why should Ah trust you over them?"

            "What we're all trying to tell you is hearsay anyway… not even admissible in a human court. You should see it for yourself."

            "What're you talkin' about?" Instead of answering, Vertigo knelt down on the ground in front of Rogue and pulled a bracelet out of  a pocket on her boot. "What is that?" Rogue said, not able to take her eyes off of it.

            "Surely Phoenix and Cyclops told you all about their power negation collars… You even saw it work on Essex himself. This is just slightly more fashionable." Vertigo explained. 

            "You mean that thing'll shut off my powers?" Rogue asked in awe as she stared at it.

            "You can touch him anytime you want for as long as you want." Vertigo nodded. "A man who offers such control can't be all bad, can he?" Rogue didn't respond, still enthralled by the bracelet. She put up a hand to take it, but stopped. "Go ahead, try it on." Vertigo handed it to her. Rogue looked at it, examining it very closely. Then she slipped it on over her hand. She admired it on her arm for a second, then found a small red button and pressed it. She felt a tingling sensation warm over her body. She wasn't sure if she had created the feeling in her mind, or if it was an indication her powers he been restricted. Rogue then looked back up at Vertigo. "Go on, take it for a spin." She said as she extended her bare hand to Rogue. Rogue stared at her hand, skeptical for a minute, then took off her glove. She hesitated as she went to touch Vertigo's hand. After a few brief moments of nothing, Vertigo grew impatient and grabbed Rogue's hand.

            "Hey! Wait a--" Rogue stopped when nothing happened. "But how…"

            "See. I told you." Vertigo said. Rogue smiled at her newfound freedom.

            "Wait a second, what's the catch, what do Ah have to do?" Rogue said, finally snapping back to reality. Vertigo smiled as she rolled her eyes.

            "Well…" She started.

            "It isn't worth it, is it?"

            "That all depends…" Vertigo said cryptically.

            "No. Ah won't do it, keep your stupid--"

            "I was afraid you might say that." Vertigo said, activating her power. Rogue suddenly got nauseous and dizzy and couldn't figure out to get the bracelet off. She tried to use her super strength to pull away from Vertigo, but she had no powers. Slab appeared behind her, and caught her as she started to stumble to the ground. Rogue was too sick to resist. He flung her over his shoulder, then she threw up as she passed out.

            "Uggh… Slab, look what she did!" Vertigo hissed, pointing to the vomit on her shoes.

            "Sorry." Slab said, unsure of how he had failed.

            "Quit yer bitchin', Vertigo. Let's get out of here." George said, sitting on the other side of the roof. He stretched his legs down to the ground, forming a slide for the others to escape on. Gambit and Mystique made it up to the roof just as George was shrinking back down to the ground. They watched as the plane took off and flew away. Remy picked his coat up off the ground and found the black vial beneath it. He clenched in his hand and grew so angry, he began to charge it. He quickly remedied the situation and put it back in his pocket.

            "Sinister…" Gambit growled. 

*          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *

sipf@charter.net – Thanks for going into your e-mail, looking up my e-mail address, and all that BS just to write me a review!! I had no idea I wasn't accepting anonymous reviews. I don't know how to accept them though. I e-mailed fanfiction support, but I never got a response.

If anyone knows how to accept anonymous reviews, please tell me!!!

Amanda14 – Thanks so much!! You raise several good points. I noticed I've been neglecting Carol Danvers, and I hoped none of you guys would. But never fear, I'll be addressing all of that soon! And as much as I wish I could take credit for Cecelia Reyes, nope, she's an actual character from the comics. I'm not a big fan of OCs, so I would never put one in my stories. And yeah, there is a lot going on, big villains… but stay tuned, more to come!!

Ishandahalf – Thanks always for your consistent, positive reviews. Keep 'em comin' quick like a bunny on crack! (Yay for Romy shippers!!)

DemonRogue13 – Short, sweet, and positive. Thanks!!

And to everyone else, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!! Keep the reviews comin' and I'll answer any questions you may have!!