I'm so sorry for the shortness and the crappiness of the last chapter. I know a few of you expressed some displeasure with the lack of reactions and emotions from the characters. I'm sooooo sorry. My brain was constipated (lovely imagery, if I do say so myself), and I just wanted that chapter to go away. However, I couldn't just have them magically appear in Washington. That would be unprofessional and stoopid.

Then again, I am unprofessional and stoopid...

Shut up, Amieva.

Hopefully, this chapter makes up for it. And the speed of the update as well, because I was so motivated by your reviews and my need to uncrapify this story. Don't expect this to happen often. I may go back and redo chapter 4 too [blech].

Streetwise Girl: To answer your riddle, the first one is the awesomer friend, for being honest. But he's also the friend to get decked and uninvited to my birthday party.

Scarlet Sapphire: WHAT?! No- Bu- Wha?! [sniffles] You're letting it go? That makes me sad... but you have lotsa other stories for me to read, so I guess that's good. I haven't dropped Living Myths. It's just on vacation for now. I'll probably get back into it when school starts again, since I'll be using it to avoid homework. Most of my inspiration comes from procrastinating my school work. Er... or causes it... Well, either way.

Petra Delling: Please bare with me. I appreciate your review very very much. I'm learning how to accept constructive critisism better. And it was actually your review that helped motivate me a lot. [glomps Petra] You're one of my new favourite people!

Zero-Vision: Same thing.

TheDreamerLady: Look what you started! Now I'm responding again! LoL! Oh, I'm sorry to hear about your summer ending. I have another week of holidays, but I'll be working for a majority of it. And that's the first time anyone has ever said something I've done calmed them down... I usually have the opposite effect on peoples' nerves. Hmm... I might be losing my edge...

Disclaimer: It was never there in the first place. [is referring to Amieva's 'edge']

All disclaimers will be hunted down and shot.

Luckily for St. John Allerdyce, Wanda Maximoff had opted to try the 'ignore it long enough, and it might go away' tactic. She hadn't spoken a word to him, nor spared him a passing glance all day. And that was causing John some anxiety, since he believed that she was merely biding her time until the moment was right for her to strike. This passive resistance thing wasn't her style at all.

Then again, Wanda had changed a lot since he last saw her. He wasn't sure he liked her smoking. It was a deadly habit, and would stain her beautiful smile. But he couldn't deny that she looked damn sexy with wisps of smoke dancing about her. He'd have to remember that when he started his next novel.

Wanda was finding it hard to ignore John at the moment. He was sitting across from her in the car, and joking with Lance. She she stabbed her cigarette butt out in the ashtray and frowned when she discovered that it had been her last one. Now she didn't have something to distract her from the hearty laughter coming from the seat across from her. John's good mood was contagious. She remembered how he could light up the most terrible of situations, just by being there. Wanda turned up the volume on the radio in order to drown out his voice.

He got the message. John glared at Wanda's hand as the music playing in the background got louder and interrupted his joke. In response, he leaned over the seat and turned it down again. He smirked in amusement when Wanda jumped slightly as his shoulder brushed against hers. "Gimme a minute, doll. Then you c'n get back to ya country marathon."

Oh how she wished her eyes could literally shoot daggers. "Whatever..." she grumbled, and contented herself by staring out the window. Now she wished she hadn't stuffed her bag with her book into the trunk.

John defeated the urge to kiss her cheek before sitting back beside Lance, who was acting as a barrier between him and Pietro. The limo had been designed to be spacious, for maybe two or three passengers. But there was five of them.

Lance couldn't remember a time when he had actually enjoyed himself without alcohol, marijuana, a dirty magazine or the combination of two to all three. John was a funny guy. He didn't understand why Wanda was being so cold toward him. Then again, Wanda was just cold in general. "Yeah, so the guy wished for a million bucks, then what?"

John's attention was pulled away from Wanda, and back to the joke he was so rudely interrupted from finishing. He was about to get around to the punch line when the limo came to a stop outside an enormous, five-star hotel. "I'll tell ya the rest later, mate." he answered distractedly as he stared out the window in awe. The door opened suddenly, and Lance was the first to get out of the car. John wondered at what in the Hell Alvers was up to, holding his hand out like that, seemingly for Wanda to take. But she didn't take it. Instead, Mystique, who was in the form of the silver-haired woman in business attire, took his hand and stepped gracefully onto the concrete. She then linked arms with him, and proceeded toward the front doors of the Hotel.

Pietro was the next one out of the car. He smirked at the attention that he was immediately drawing from the surrounding bystanders. Yes, Pietro Maximoff in Gucci was a beautiful thing.

Pietro Maximoff in anything was a beautiful thing.

Pietro Maximoff in nothing was-

Getting back on track!

That left Wanda and John alone in the car, with the passenger door wide open. Wanda stared at him, as if she was expecting him to do something. He stared back at her with his most confused look. She finally groaned and snapped, "Aren't you going to get out?!"

"Ladies first, doll!" he snapped back. He didn't understand why he felt so angry all of a sudden. Probably from being yelled at for no reason.

And they sat there in silence for a moment. Neither one was backing down. Finally, Wanda got fed up with this childishness, and went to the door. However, John felt it was time to be the more mature one at the same time, and they very nearly collided with each other. More glaring ensued. In the end, he leaned back and waited for Wanda to make her exit, then followed behind her, being sure to keep a distance.

The hotel couldn't have been more lavish without looking ridiculously overdone. It looked... classy. That was the only word that came to mind when one looked around the lobby. Not a statue, fountain, or potted fern was out of place.

This was so much better than spending another night at the dump the Brotherhood called 'Home'.

Mystique was waiting for the rest of her group at the front desk, and was talking to the entranced man behind the computer. "Yes, that's three suites, under Alicia Darkraven. One single, the other two honeymoon." he said with a hint of jealousy in his voice. He was giving a sideways look at Lance, who had his arm draped around 'Alicia's' waist. Three guesses as to whom Lance was playing, and the first two don't count. He was posing as Alicia's young, olive-skined, Grecaen lover. "So, there's the key to your suite, Ms. Darkraven." the man at the front desk handed the key-card to Lance, then turned to Pietro. "And here's your key, Mr. Darkraven."

By the time Pietro had his key-card, and was headed for the elevator, John and Wanda were standing at opposite sides of the computer. "And your key, Mister and Missus St. Johnston." The same man handed a key-card to John.

Wanda near but exploded. "What?! I'm not-!"

John grabbed her hand, and pulled her into a casual embrace. "Easy now, dear. Ya don't need to yell at the man. He 'asn't done anythin'." John winked to her, and watched as her face went a deep shade of red. She stomped on his foot, with the heel of her stilletto digging into his toes. He winced and turned to the man behind the desk, who seemed frightened of the young woman's shortening fuse. "Newly weds." he grunted through clenched teeth. "She just 'asn't got quite used t'people callin' her by that name."

And with that, he hurried to lead Wanda away from the public area before she caused an unnatural disaster. Fortunately, an empty elevator stood open, and waiting for passengers. John pushed Wanda into the carriage and leapt in after her. He pressed the button that would close the door before anyone could join them. It wasn't until after they started ascending to their floor did John realize the mortal danger he had thrown himself into.

Wanda finally burst, causing the buttons and lights on the control panel to blink uncontrollably. "I DON'T BELIEVE HER!!!" she screamed.

John watched the buttons warily, trying to think of how he could calm her down long enough to let them arrive safely at their floor. "It's kinda funny, ain't it?"

Wanda rounded on him, her hands glowing with that familiar aura that John didn't care to familiarize himself with any further. "NO! It ISN'T funny at ALL!" she seethed. "I'm not laughing!"

At least she hadn't shot one of those voodoo thingymajigums at him. "It could be worse-"

As it turned out, she was just gathering energy. She threw him into the wall of the elevator. "How the FUCK could it be worse?!"

"You could break the elevator and spend the next four hours alone with me until the maintenance people fix the damage." he grunted.

Wanda seemed to consider his statement. She released him and let him drop to the floor, as well as calm her raging powers. "I hate you."

John smirked to himself as he dusted off the front of his shirt. Her voice at least was softer. And the lights stopped blinking as crazily. The elevator dinged, and the door opened to the main hall of their floor. Lance, Mystique and Pietro were waiting for them.

Mystique, who was still disguised as 'Alicia', greeted the rest of her team with a devious smile. "All present and in one piece." she directed her smile toward John and Wanda. "I'm impressed."

John saw Wanda roll her eyes and look away from the rest of the group.

"Avalanche and I will be sharing the room at the end of the hall. Quicksilver is in the suite behind us. Scarlet Witch and Pyro, you will be in the one down there, number 6.

"Lance and I are together in this little charade. Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch are my son and daughter. Pyro, you are my son-in-law."

"Yeah, we kinda got the idea already." John muttered while rubbing the back of his head. He hoped he didn't have a concussion.

Other than swearing their undying loyalty to Mystique (figuratively speaking), the Brotherhood was free to do whatever they wanted while in Washington. As long as they were able to do their part of the mission to the best of their ability when the time came. Pietro immediately took off to the nearest club, and made it clear that he didn't want anyone to follow him. Mystique had to leave because Senator Kelly was going to make a public appearance, and as his assistant, she had to be there with him. She sent Lance on an errand. This inconveniently left the 'newly weds' alone in their suite.

The first thing Wanda did was carry all of her luggage into the bedroom, and slam the door shut. The doors were made of glass, so she pulled the drapes over them as well. "You're sleeping on the couch!" she called.

John stood in the main room for a moment and considered his new surroundings. He thought about turning on the television, when Wanda burst out of the bedroom again and made a beeline for the minibar.

If Mystique was going to put her through this shit, she was going to take advantage of every access expense possible. She pulled out little bottles of rum, whiskey, vodka, brandy, wine, and every other liquor the hotel stocked for its guests. "Sake, eh?" she muttered, reading the label of a small bottle.

"Uh, Wanda? What are ya doin'?"

She shot her 'husband' a venomous look, as if addressing her was a deadly sin. "I plan on getting totally shit-faced, and maybe pass out for the next week. Does that sound good to you?!"

John shrugged. "Sounds like an awful waste of time t'me-"

But she didn't hear him, because Wanda was on the phone with room service, and ordering a dinner of filet-mignon, and lobster. She finished the order with two bottles of the hotel's most ridiculously overpriced champagne. "And if you manage to get it up here in the next thirty minutes, I'll put a really big tip on the tab." she slammed the receiver of the phone down triumphantly, picked up her collection of bottles, and went back the the bedroom.

"I'm telling you, Alicia, you bringing your family is GREAT. Though I can't shake the feeling that Greek boyfriend of yours is using you." Senator Kelly said quietly to his personal assistant at dinner.

Mystique laughed charitably. "On the contrary, Edward. Dominic is an innocent boy."

Mrs. Kelly gave Alicia a sideways glance. She never trusted the woman. Ever since her husband hired Ms. Darkraven, Mrs. Kelly couldn't help the unease she felt whenever she was around. "Actually, Edward has a good point, Alicia. Dominic is young enough to be your son."

'How little you know.' Mystique thought in amusement. "Yes, but even he has a hard time keeping up with me. Anyway, enough about my personal life. Lets discuss business."

Senator Edward Kelly chuckled. "That why I like you, Alicia. You're always interested in my next move." he made a point of looking directly at his wife as he spoke these words of praise. Mrs. Kelly rolled her eyes and continued to stab at her roast beef. "Yes, my next move. I will be making an appearance in a few of the local high schools. Not to mention, my preparations for the debate on Mutant Registration. If I can get the truth about those freaks out, I'll make a killing in the poles!"

If Mystique hadn't been such a wonderful actress, she would have leapt over the table and strangled the insolent senator to death with her own blue hands. But she had to keep up appearances for now. Alicia nodded and smiled. "Very good, sir. I'm looking forward to the public's reaction. A killing of this size is all we need."

Lance snooped around the floor that Senator Kelly and his family was staying on. He was scoping out the perimeter to find out how heavily secured the place was. This whole espionage thing wasn't his favourite. Lance would much rather make the ground shake, and take advantage of the confusion.

A bellhop had been trailing him, however. "Can I help you with something, sir?"

Lance stared down the adolescent with his menacing brown eyes. "Get lost, kid! Mind your own business!" he barked, imitating his grandfather's thick Greek accent he so fondly remembered.

The boy had the desired reaction, and yelped as he scampered away.

Pietro was having a slow night by his standards. He had been at that club for less than an hour, and he only got eight phone numbers. If things didn't pick up soon, he was just going to go back to the hotel, and maybe harass Pyro. The thought of doing so brightened his mood a bit. If there was one thing Pietro enjoyed, aside from being really fast and good looking, it was reminding people of just how pathetic they are. He downed his fourth shot with amazing speed, the bartender blinked and missed it. Pietro tossed some change onto the counter and headed for the exit. He was merrily on his way when a head of strawberry-blonde hair caught his attention.

She was gorgeous! She was almost as perfect as him!

Pietro still had mixed feelings about this.

The strawberry blonde seemed to have noticed him and was waving him over to her table.

Harassing Pyro could wait a few hours.

She had a bunch of good looking friends with her.

Oh Hell, he'd leave the guy alone for the night.

John was growing concerned when Wanda had been alone in the bedroom with all that alcohol for almost half an hour. He debated knocking on the door. However, the result in doing so would be broken glass lodged in his body, and that was the last thing he needed.

His raised fist hovered over the door when he heard a knocking coming from behind him. He jumped, thinking maybe a ghost or a spook was the cause of the noise. That would be JUST great! A haunted hotel suite with a drunk woman that hated him.

"Room Service." called a muffled voice.

It was that dinner Wanda had ordered. John rolled his eyes and went to relieve the bellhop of their burden.

The little French steaks smelled really good. After the young man left and John closed the door, he called over his shoulder, "Wanda, your food's here!"

When no reply came, John grew really concerned. He actually gulped down the lump in his throat and knocked on the door. "Wanda? You okay?"

Slowly, and very carefully, John turned the latch on the doors and opened them. The light beside the bed was still on, shining on a mess of unopened bottles. Wanda was sleeping atop the blankets with a book clutched loosely in her fingers. Her head was turned to the side, though she lay on her back. Her raven tendrils splayed across the feather pillow like strands of silk. John noted from her steady breathing, that she was deep asleep. "Well, that didn't take long at all." he mused. He noticed a couple of bottles separate from the rest. They were empty. "It didn't take much either."

John lifted her upper body easily and pulled the blankets out from under her. Then he lifted her legs so that he could free the sheets completely. He pulled the novel out of her hand and took a quick glance at the cover. 'Love's Scorn' by J.A Micheals. John was flattered, as well as surprised by Wanda's reading material.

He looked around for a place to put the book, since the bedside table was inhabited by a party tiny of alcoholic beverages. He didn't see the open suitcase until he nearly tripped and died over it. John tucked Wanda securely into her bed before kneeling to the floor to put the book in the case. What he found in the case caused him to freeze. It was the teddy bear he gave her five years ago.

She still had it.

There were no signs of ripping, stabbing or ceremonial voodoo. It was surprisingly undamaged, though it looked well loved. Its fur was just a little rougher than when it was brand new.

But why did she still have it?

She hated him. She wanted him gone. Wanda had made it a point to show him how displeased she was with this whole arrangement.

But why did she bring it with her?

John looked at Wanda's sleeping face, as if doing so would answer his sudden wave of questions. Somewhere deep down in her hardened heart, was she still holding onto feelings for him?

"He's on the couch..."

That was another one of the things about Wanda John remembered. Her sleep talking. He wondered if maybe he could have a conversation with her subconscious. He didn't know if it'd work for real, but he had seen it done on a television program. The detective talked to a witness to a major murder and cracked the case by what the witness told him in his sleep.

"Who's on the couch?" he asked softly.

"Him."

"Who is him?"

"The guy in the fire. He's on the couch."

She was definitely dreaming, or something. "Why is he on the couch?"

Wanda rolled over slightly. "We had a fight."

John frowned. "What did you fight about."

"He lied to me."

"Maybe he's sorry for lying to you. Would you listen to him if he apologized?"

Wanda's face scrunched up. "I'm scared."

"What are you scared of?"

"I don't want to love him anymore."

John's heart skipped. "Y-you love him?" he asked, lightly touching her shoulder.

"I don't want to get hurt." Wanda turned away from his touch and curled into a fetal position, thus ending the conversation.

"I wouldn't do that twice, luv." John looked at the innocent stuffed animal in his hand, then at Wanda's back. He got up from the floor, flicked the reading lamp off, and tossed the bear onto the bed on his way out. He had a lot to think about. He had been so close to getting over her, but this just opened a whole new can of worms. He still had a chance to win her back.

But he needed to repair her trust in him first. And knowing Wanda, that'd be near impossible. She was an expert on holding grudges.

It would be dangerous, possibly deadly, but St. John Allerdyce felt that he was up to the challenge. It'd be a lot like playing with fire. Except this fire fought back on its own. On second thought, that wasn't the best analogy to give this situation. He didn't have time to dwell on that! He needed to formulate a plan.

Love you forever!