Author's Note: This fic revolves around one OC (it can be a li'l confusing but there is only one OC, I swear) and Sam. Also, Rogue is a major player, with Gambit in a not too surprising connection. There will be some Sam/OC romance with Rogue/Remy and Tessa/Bishop. Fun for all. Storm won't be appearing. As for continuity, this story takes place sometime between XXM #36 (after Storm leaves) and XXM #40. It doesn't really affect the current arc. Uhm, I can't think of anything else.

Disclaimer: I own nada. Niente. Zilch. Zero. Nothin'. Getting the picture?

"talking" - 'thinking' - *intercom*

What Never Happened

by, Caliente

Chapter 1 – Strange Encounters

Sam Guthrie was lonely. He had just bid his good friend Amara Aquilla, or Alison Crestmore depending on who you asked, goodbye. She had just signed onto X-Corp with Roberto, conveniently doing a little undercover work for the X-Treme team. She was going to be a public relation officer or something. That made him laugh. The prissy princess was going to be dealing with irritating commoners. He was sure she would hate it. Poor girl had no clue. Actually, she probably did. He could tell she needed a change. She wasn't ready to return to the full-time superhero life after her near-death experience and subsequent coma. Seeing a fellow New Mutant had been nice. Sure, he had also seen Bobby… his former best friend, but it wasn't the same. Too bad Tabby had come between them. That bridge would never be mended. They were friends, sure, but it would never be the same. His thoughts drifted to Lila. His on again, off again girlfriend. Off on an intergalactic singing tour. He missed her. But she wasn't cut out for the superhero life either. She was a mutant, but she didn't embrace it like Amara had. Her teleportation had great potential but she wasn't really interested unless it benefited her purposes. Worse still, she didn't support Sam in his endeavors. She wanted him to quit helping people and become her consort, traveling the stars with her. He wanted to be his own man. That, in short, was the source of their problems.

He stepped out of her new apartment building when a black haired blur ran into him. Instinctively, he grabbed her around the waist to steady her. He glanced down and saw a girl, about his age, with light tan skin. Her head just touched his chin, making her about 5' 6" to his 6" frame. She looked up at him with odd pale grey eyes. She seemed to be studying him for a moment before she threw her arms around his neck and pulled his head down into a deep kiss. Without realizing it, Sam tightened his grip. He quickly got over the shock of a strange girl throwing herself at him and allowed himself to enjoy the contact. He felt as though he was with somebody, even if it was just for a moment. A comfort he hadn't felt for a long time. They remained in this position for a long moment, until she pushed away and smiled slyly at him. "Thanks luv," she told him in a crisp English accent, adding a wink for effect. She turned away from him and sauntered off in the direction she had approached from.

Sam stared after her for a few seconds before regaining control over his motor functions. "Wait!" he called after her. She continued rushing away from him, but he wasn't going to give up so easily. Getting into position, he cannonballed after the raven haired girl. He grabbed her before launching into the air. They flew in silence for a few minutes before Sam managed a relatively neat landing on a beach in a secluded cove.

"Can I help you?" she asked in an annoyed tone. "I'm rather busy and this is quite an inconvenience."

"Says the girl who just kissed a guy she doesn't know," Sam quipped with a slight sarcastic edge. "Ah would like ta know why ya did that."

"Look," the girl replied pointedly, "I don't know you, and you don't know me. Just walk away. Most other guys wouldn't have any issues with it. I'm giving you an easy out. You don't have to call. Isn't that every man's dream?"

Sam considered what she was saying for a moment while studying her. He noticed the way her curves were outlined by her black leather pants and blood red cropped halter top. 'Well she did say every man's dream,' he thought wryly. He also noticed her curious haircut, chin in the back, but slanting to shoulder length in the front. (A/N: Like Raven from Teen Titans). 'This girl has it all. But that doesn't answer my question.' "Ah don't know," Sam answered honestly. "But Ah still want answers."

She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Alright. What are the questions?"

"To start, why did ya kiss meh?" he asked with a faint blush on his cheeks.

Letting out a small laugh, she responded. "Because you're quite attractive. I'm sure women throw themselves at you all the time. Most, probably not as forcefully as I did, but I'm sure they do just the same." Her smile was suggestive but Sam felt she wasn't being completely honest.

The blush grew, making it's way down his neck. "That's quite a complement ma'am."

The girl suddenly looked quite horrified. "I don't really look like a "ma'am" do I? I don't think I'm any older than you!"

"No, no," Sam quickly denied. "Ah guess that's just the Southern gentleman in meh."

The girl smiled a genuine smile at this admission. Her eyes seemed to twinkle slightly for a moment before she glanced at her watch. Apparently upset by what it told her she frowned. "Look, as much fun it is to shoot the breeze with you, I've got to go. I'm late for an appointment. If it isn't too much of a hassle, could you please jet me over to the X-Corp building? I can't miss my meeting."

'X-Corp?' Sam wondered silently. 'What do they want with her? Better question, what does she want with them?' Shaking his head slightly, Sam met her grey eyes once more. "Ah guess Ah could, since Ah made ya late an' everythang." He grabbed her around the waist and a few minutes later they landed outside the building. "Here ya are. Ah'm sorry but Ah just gotta ask, are ya a mutant?"

"Wouldn't you like to know," she quipped with another wink. "Thank for the ride luv," she said added graciously. She turned to head inside, but Sam stopped her.

"Wait, ya never told meh yer name," he stated with a slight frown.

"Oh, it's Isabel Stone," she told him with a small smile. "It was nice to meet you, uhm…"

"Sam. Samuel Zachery Guthrie ta be exact," Sam supplied with a friendly grin. "Nice ta meet ya too."

"Well, I really have to go. Bye," she gave him a peck on his cheek before entering the building.

"Bye," Sam whispered after her. Something about that girl didn't sit right with him. While he was at the X-Corp building, he figured he ought to buzz Bobby. The Southern boy pressed the intercom linking to his friend's office.

*Hello* came the annoying voice of the X-Corp leader's secretary.

"Hi Sheila," Sam greeted in a friendly tone. "This is Sam Guthrie, is Bobby available? Ah was in the neighborhood an' figured Ah'd stop by."

*I'll see if he's around* was her nasal response. Sam grimaced inwardly at the sound her voice. *Hold on, I'm putting you through* she told him a minute later.

*Sam?* Bobby's voice now greeted Sam's ears.

"Hey Bobby," Sam replied. "Ah was just givin' a friend a ride an' decided ta say 'Hi'."

*Oh, well, I wish I could chat Sam, but I have a meeting soon. It's kind of important. But, let's have lunch next week.* Bobby's tone told Sam that he was busy.

"Never thought you'd be the type ta say, 'let's do lunch'," Sam joked with his old friend. "But, yeah, next week's fine. Call me with a date an' time."

*Sounds fine. Talk to you later.* Bobby agreed.

"Bye," Sam said into the intercom before blasting back to Anna Raven's home.

"Bye Sam," Bobby said to his intercom before pressing the buzzer that beckoned his secretary.

"What can I do for you sir?" she asked as soon as she entered the room.

Bobby shot her a cool look before answering. "Please hold everything, unless Miss Brita Kristofik arrives. Then, please show her in."

"Of course sir," the young girl replied with a small smile. She turned and closed the door to his office behind her.

Bobby returned to his work until his secretary buzzed him again. *Ms. Kristofik is here, sir,* she informed him in her irritatingly nasal voice.

"Show her in please Shelia," Bobby instructed.

The door opened and in stepped a young woman who looked about his age and five and a half feet. Her pale blonde hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail that was braided down her back, bangs falling over her forehead. Her striking blue eyes were outlined in black eyeliner but seemed a little off to Bobby. Her skin was a light tan color that was offset by her white with black pinstripes fitted two piece suit. "Meester DaCosta, I presume?" she greeted with a heavy accent, rolling her r's slightly.

"Yes but please call me Roberto," Bobby rose to shake her hand. "And you would be Miss Kristofik, correct?"

"But ov course Roberto," she answered with a smile. "And eef I can call you Roberto, you must call me Breeta."

"Very well Brita. Curious accent," he remarked with a small smile of his own. "Russian?"

"No, Czechoslovakian, actually." Her smile tightened at the mention of her home. "But enough, vhat ees zhe saying, shiet shat?" Bobby nodded, withholding a laugh at the way she pronounced 'chit chat'. "Let's get down to business." He nodded again. "Hellfire ees very deesappointed. Zhey von't stand for zhis kind ov zhing. Zhe X-Men are too eenvolved in zhis town. Zhey vatch everyzhing zhat X-Corp does." Her determined bright eyes burned into his dark ones.

"I can't control what the X-Treme team does," Bobby defended. "How was I to know that Anna Raven was really Rogue? Or that they would all convene at her beach house?"

"Ve are avare ov your deelemma Roberto," Brita soothed. "But zhe club veell not accept more failures from you."

"I know damn it," Bobby said, slamming his fists onto the table in anger. "It doesn't help that Sage, or Tessa as you may know her, worked for Hellfire for years. And, that the New Mutants know that Empath was a Hellion, you know, Hellfire's little group of kiddies. Plus, all the X-Men know Selene forced me to be the Black Rook. We've practically got Hellfire stamped on the front of the building."

Brita shrugged. "Ve have no control over zhat. And zhey do not know zhat eizer you or Manuel steell have ties to zhe club. Look at Alison, she's clear ov zhe club even zhough she vas a member ov zhe Hellions and zhe New Hellions."

"But she was a New Mutant first," Bobby argued.

"So vere you," was Brita's quick response. "Just stop messeeng around and Hellfire von't have to make good on zheir zhreats."

"Fine," Bobby relinquished. "Is that all," he grimaced, "White Bishop?"

"Yes," Brita answered with a faint smile at his discomfort. "Farevell Black Rook."

Bobby glared after the blonde. "Sheila," he called into the intercom.

*Yes sir* she responded quickly.

"I'm going home early," he told her. "Suddenly I'm not feeling very well. Tell Manny to take over for the rest of the day."

*Of course sir* the young secretary said eagerly. Bobby idly wondered if her crush on Manuel was her work or his.

As Brita crossed the lobby of the X-Corp building, she ran into the mutant called Empath. "Manuel!"

"Do I know you?" Manny asked with a confused look on his face.

"No. Just be advised, ve are avare ov your leettle addiction," Brita remarked nonchalantly. "And your affiliation vis Bogan. Ve alvays knew zhat you vould come back to us."

The anger was evident on Manny's face as he realized what she was saying. "Who is 'us' exactly?"

"As zhe Vhite Beeshop, I represent zhe Hellfire Club's Eenner-Circle and zheir eenterests," she replied with a smirk. "Don't forget your loyalties Manuel."

His eyes widened and his face paled considerably. "He-Hellfire?" he asked nervously, feeling a mixture of confusion and anger that usually accompanied his dealings with the Club.

"Yes. Zhey are pleased you haf returned. Eet vould be vise for you to get over your leettle drug problem." Brita looked deep in his eyes. "You haf been varned once. You know zhere veell not be anozher."

"Y-yes ma'am," he stuttered after her as she continued walking out of the building.

Manny quickly made his way up to Bobby's office. His secretary, Shelia, was off on her break so Manny knocked on the door.

"Come in," was the muffled response he got.

Manny rushed in and blurted out, "Hellfire. Here. Problems. What. Do?"

Bobby looked up and shot his spin-doctor a confused look. "Could you please repeat that with verbs and slower?"

"Hellfire. Was. Here. That. Is. A. Problem. What. Are. We. Going. To. Do?" he repeated slower and more coherently.

"I'm aware and am taking care of the situation," Bobby replied evenly. "I'm taking the afternoon off, you're in charge until tomorrow."

"Wh–" Manny tried as he watched Bobby close his briefcase and exit the office. "That was odd," he muttered to himself. He placed his head in his hands. "What am I gonna do?"

So, please review. Pretty please. With sugar on top. And a cherry. And a cookie. And Remy. That got ya didn't it.