Lizzie slowly awoke, her vision at first hazy, but then cleared a bit. Jo appeared before her eyes. "Lizzie?" she asked. "Mom," Lizzie exclaimed. "There are two of you!" "Oh, thank God," Jo cried out.

"Hey, Lizzie," Sam smiled, coming to stand beside her bed. Lizzie glanced up in surprise. "Dad, what are you doing here?" she asked. Just then there was a crash, a cat's meow, and footsteps outside the hallway. Matt rushed inside and slammed the door closed, then threw himself under the bed.

"What did you break this time, worm?" Lizzie asked. "A Ming vase," Matt's muffled voice answered. "Not that it would concern you, ugly." "She's better," their parents said in unison. Just then, Matt floated out from under the bed as Jean entered the room holding the pieces of a vase in her hands.

Matt cleared his throat and looked down. Jean didn't look angry, merely annoyed. "Your son will have to pay for this," she said to Lizzie's parents. "Oh, yes," Jo answered, glaring at him. "He won't be receiving allowance for the rest of his natural life." "Also..." Jean said, "our cat, Buttons, isn't very happy with him."

Just then she saw Lizzie and smiled warmly. "Lizzie!" she said. "So glad you're back from dreamland." "What are Dad and Matt doing here?" Lizzie asked her straightforward. "Well, we figured that Magneto would probably head for your house next, so we sent the jet for them, just in case," Jean explained. "What about Miranda and Gordo?" Lizzie asked. "Are they here, too?"

"We're keeping a close eye on them," Jean answered. "That's not enough!" Lizzie protested, sitting up, then grabbing her head and sinking into the pillows again with a groan. "Yes, using your powers will do that to you," Jean said. "You nearly sucked your own life force." "How is that even possible?" Lizzie asked skeptically. "Believe me," Jean said, "if you have the ability to use your powers, you can certainly use your own life force to back it up. It's a very dangerous thing."

"Whatever," Lizzie said crossly, her head pounding too hard for her to really care. "Can I please have my laptop? Oh, and where am I?" "You're in your room," Jean said. "You'll be sharing a room with two room-mates, who are in classes currently." "Are they just students, or should I know more about them?" Lizzie asked suspiciously.

Jean laughed softly. "They are both X-Men. You might be familiar with them." Lizzie's heart caught in her throat. "Do not say Rogue and Shadowcat," she breathed. Jean laughed again. "You probed my brain," she accused. Lizzie squealed, then instantly regretted it. "I so did not!" she retorted. "But...I'm sharing a room with two of the X-Men! This is amazing, spectacular!"

"Excuse me," Sam interrupted, with a perturbed look on his face. "Are you saying that our daughter might be an X-Man?"

"Wherever did you get that idea?" Jean asked him. "She possibly could. If her powers are strong enough, if she's smart enough, and if she accepts the offer." "Um, hello!" Lizzie shouted. "Why on earth would I say no?"

"Well, that part is solved," Jean laughed again. "Could I PLEASE have my laptop?" Lizzie whined. "Today's a holiday for Miranda and Gordo, and I want to IM them and see if they're okay."

"Surely," Jo answered. She brought out Lizzie's laptop, which, amazingly, was unharmed by the excitement that had occurred yesterday.

"Thanks," Lizzie said gratefully. "See you guys later." "I think we were dismissed," Jo murmured to Sam as Lizzie's laptop dinged a 'hello' to her. "Love you much," Lizzie said absently, and waved her parents and brother out of the room. "Heal fast, Lizzie," Jean said and left.

Lizzie signed on and was relieved to see that both Miranda and Gordo were online. Almost immediately, the two IM-ed her separately, so she started a whiteboard with them.

PrettyBlondie14: hey u guys r u ok

HotHispanicBabe24: were fine u?

Genius174: yeah what she said

PrettyBlondie14: um...well...

Genius174: what do u mean by that lizzie

Genius174: I don't trust u what happened yesterday?

PrettyBlondie14: Jean told me to head straight 4 the school b/c danger was closing n, so we did, and magneto landed atop our car and so I fought him and nearly lost my life and now my whole family is the school, and I'm freaking out b/c already matt broke a ming vase worth like a thousand dollars, and I'm sharing a room w/ rogue and kitty!!

(pause)

HotHispanicBabe24: Um...wow

HotHispanicBabe24: and this happened how again?

PrettyBlondie14: read my pretty pink font: I fought magneto, I won, la-dee-dah end of story

Genius174: okay okay no need to get testy w/ her

HotHispanicBabe24: yeah

HotHispanicBabe24: we have news 2

PrettyBlondie14: oh yeah? What?

Genius174: we just now noticed that some one is trailing us school, as we walk home from school, when we hang the digital bean, and its getting creepy

PrettyBlondie14: did u get a good look him?

HotHispanicBabe24: no

HotHispanicBabe24: we only see him out of the corner of our eye, but when we look, hes gone

HotHispanicBabe24: its really weird

Genius174: more like super creepy

Genius174: plus, I think my house is being watched

PrettyBlondie14: maybe youre just paranoid?

HotHispanicBabe24: maybe

HotHispanicBabe24: but considering the circumstances, it doesn't seem likely

PrettyBlondie14: true

Genius174: so r u gonna join the xmen?

PrettyBlondie14: if they ask me definitely

HotHispanicBabe24: they havent yet?

PrettyBlondie14: nope

PrettyBlondie14: jean said something about having 2 c how strong ur powers r and if ur smart enuf and junk like that

(HotHispanicBabe24 logged off)

PrettyBlondie14: what? Miranda, why did u log off? R u blocking us?

Genius174: that is not like miranda she never logs off w/out giving warning

PrettyBlondie14: CALL HER!! SOMETIHNG MIGHT BE WRONG!!!

Genius174: im calling

(pause)

Genius174: her phones dead

PrettyBlondie14: oh my god

PrettyBlondie14: r u sure its just busy?

Genius174: who else would she b talking 2?

PrettyBlondie14: good point

PrettyBlondie14: keep trying

Suddenly, a scream broke through Lizzie's thoughts, a scream that was so gut-wrenching and agonizing that it sent shivers down Lizzie's spine: "LIZZIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" It was Miranda's voice.