Mian remembered when she called him Mikie but after their mother left and father died he grew up fast, almost too fast. Andi might not have seen the drastic change but Mian did. She remembered the days before that terrible mission. He had skipped all of his classes to flurt with Amara, who was two years younger than he was. Andi thought it was so funny because he had finally ditched on a day when Mian taught.
The days after everything changed, classes were canclled for a while to help everyone gather their thoughts but not Michael. He did all of his studies day and night and hardly slept or ate. Logan had seen this, as well as everyone else, and relised just how much Michael was like Theressa.
Mian and Logan remembered when Andi was taken aceddentally by the Shi'ar. Theressa was in the danger room fighting a simulation of an alien for three full days and nights. Finally they got her to stop but none the less it was very difficult becuase she was stubborn.
Michael had gotten away with this for almost a full year. He had eatten and slept but during breaks and such he worked his butt off. With concern for his grandson, Logan convinced him to take two weeks off. This week was his last week off.
"Mian, You okay?" Knole asked when he relised, halfway to the verana, that Mian was still at the porch.
"What?" Mian asked.
"You all right?" Knole repeated.
"Yeah, just thinking." Mian said as she walked next to Knole and the started to walk again.
"'bout Michael?"
"Yeah. He had to grow up way too fast."
"We all did, Mian. We all did." Knole said trying to reasure is girlfriend's sister. "come on."
Knole and Mian finally reached the veranda. Mian sat next to Nethogent and Knole sat between Andi and Michael.
"Andi," Knole said as he put his loving arm around his girlfriend. "What's wrong? You've been down latly. Not to metion that you have tears running down your face."
" I'm fine." Andi said as she wipped away some tears. "It's just that today is the one year anniversary of the death of my dad and when my mom left."
"Andi, how many times do I have to remind you?" Mian scolded her sister. "Shedid what she had to do. It was even harder on her than it was, and still is, on us."
Nethogent took Mian's hand and kissed her on the head. He loved how brave she was and espessually the way she expressed her bravery. She knew her duties and nothing would stop her.
"Then why hasn't she called?" Andi asked as new tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Because it would be too hard for her to say good-bye again. You've got to understand that!"
"I don't have to understand anything Miandra!" Andi screamed. "Now if you don't mind I would like to finish my lunch alone." Andi gathered the remains of her lunch and ran to the door. Knole started to get up but Mian stopped him.
"This time she needs to be alone. I'll talk to her later. Right now I want to enjoy this day as long as I can."
Knole turned to Michael and placed his left hand on the young man's back. "How are you holding up?"
"I'm fine. I'll see you guys later. I've got some thing I'm working on." Michael waved to everyone and soon was gone back into the mansion.
"When does he graduate?" Knole asked Mian.
"Next month. None too soon. He seems to be rather excited."
"I would to if I only had one more month of college left. He's graduating early right?" Nethogent asked.
"Yeah. I'm worried about him."
"Why?" Knole asked. "He seems to be doing fine."
"Yeah. Remember how we knew he would be a leader from the beginning?"
"Yeah." Nethogent said.
"Well, Logan and I think he may go to the bad side."
"What makes you think that?" Knole asked.
"The fact that he is always up to something, pulls pranks, is almost always alone. Just little things like that but I'm afraid that because both of our parants are gone this has effected Michael more than anyone could, and will, ever know. I'm just really scared for him. I'll see you boys later. Don't tell Michael that I told you this Knole. I know you talk to him alot. Just do me a favor and keep an eye on him."
"Will do." Knole said.
As soon as Mian was out of ear shot the two men began to talk.
"Knole," Nethogent asked. "When are you going to ask her?"
"I don't know? What about you and Mian?" Knole replied to his brother.
"I don't know. I might give it a few more days." Nethogent answered.
"What ever you do you better make it fast or I'll take both of them!" A voice said from behind Knole and Nethogent. They turned around to see the one and the only Wolverine leaning over the veranda fence.
"Logan!" Nethogent siad in surprise. "I thought you were suppose to be teaching a class?"
"I am. Lay off the asking or whatever your up to for right now." Logan said.
"I thought you said to do it fast you will take them?" Knole asked as he scratched his head.
"I wasn't serious. That was somethin' I said to get your attention." Logan replied in a tone that made Knole feel stupid.
"How do you know we're up to something?" Nethogent asked as he crossed his arms and tried to stare down Wolverine.
"First off, ya'll are boys. You're always gonna have an ace up your sleeve. Secondly, I heard ya'll talkin' about it. Remember?"
"Why do we have to wait?" Nethogent asked.
"Becuase, as ya'll saw, the girls are kind of worked up about today and don't play like you don't know why. I'm sure they'll say no if you ask them now."
"You know don't you." Nethogent asked. "But how?"
Logan smiled. "You ain't got to have telepathic powers to see what you two are thinking."
"Who told you?" Nethogent asked.
"Michael!" Logan replied with a smile still on his face.
"How did he know?" Nethogent asked.
"Knole told him." Logan replied, moving his gaze to Knole.
"You did what!" Nethogent exclamied in panic. "Michael will tell the girls for sure."
"How do you know?" Knole asked
"Becuase he tells them everything. I once told him what I got Mian for her birthday and he told her. She wasn't surprised at all when I gave it to her."
"Calm down lover-boy." Logan said as he put his hand on Nehtogent's shoulder. "I made him swear that he wouldn't say a word to anyone. Just wait. That's all I'm sayin'. Deal?"
"Deal." Knole and Nethogent said together.
Logan, Jean, Scott. Your assistance is needed in the med-lab.
"C'mon boys. You're coming with me." Logan said as he dashed toward the mansion. Knole and Nehtogent looked at each other and then followed Logan.