Meanwhile Back at the Mansion!

"You know Charles this has defiantly got to be one of our better ideas"

Magneto said as he lay on a pink lylo in the middle of the big swimming pool holding a cocktail in his hand. Looking through his sunglasses towards Xavier who was on the edge of the pool sunbathing in (shudder worthy) Speedos.

"I have to agree my old friend, we should defiantly do this more often. No kids running round breaking all of my expensive things, no screaming, no shouting, no explosions. Nothing."

"Yeah and we get to keep alcohol here now, finally! Oh that reminds me Chuck here's my $200 bet for Rogue and Jamie, oh and that she'll kill the Cajun before she gets back here"

Logan walked over to Xavier with a big apron on that said 'Come near me and Die' on it, handing Xavier the envelope he made his way back to the barbeque confident he was going to win. After adjusting the back of his chair Xavier picked up a pile of envelopes that were on the floor next to him and took out a pen.

"Right so now everyone's money is in I'll just double check who we're voting for. Right so I'm betting for Amara and Roberto...."

"Do not have any faith in the leader of your team Charles?"

Magneto said smugly looking at Charles (even though its hard to look smug when your lying on a pink lylo with a pair of purple swimming shorts on).

"I know for a fact that neither Scott or Jean will do anything that breaks the law or the rules, thus they aren't going to get much further then Sydney for quite a while. However Amara is a princess and thus will want nothing more then to finish and win with her head held high. So I have no doubt that she will break the rules to win, she's very stubborn you see."

Xavier explained whilst writing 'Xavier – Amara Roberto' on the front of his envelope.

"So you are basing your money on the fact that Amara is a spoilt brat then?"

Logan said amused that the professor would say something like that about anyone and then cover it up by explaining it in such a long-winded way.

"I am indeed." Xavier replied unfazed that he was being mocked (sort of). "Now Eric who was it you are betting for?"

"I would have bet on Remy but it seems that Logan has bet for their team so I shall have to bet for Wanda and St. John. Just for the reason that he is insane and thus will do anything to get back, plus he's very persistent when he wants to be"

Nodding his head Xavier wrote down 'Magneto – John Wanda' on the front of the envelope and checked that there was in fact $200's inside.

"I am surprised that you aren't betting for you own son"

Ororo said as she came out of her gardens after attending to her plants, taking off her boots she sat down on the seat next to Xavier.

"Would you bet for my son?"

"By the Goddess no! However I am not his father. Excuse me a second wont you, I think I am in need of a Sex on the Beach."

Getting up again Ororo made her way to the mansions kitchen to get her alcoholic beverage {which might I add is oh so scrummy!}.

"Right so Henry, where is he?"

BOOM

The grounds of the institute shook as an explosion that could have only come from inside sounded loudly. After a few seconds a char grilled blue Hank McCoy came out towards everyone.

"It appears that Forges newly designed toaster/radio doesn't quite work. I'm afraid that it blew up when I went to make a pop tart, luckily not too much was damaged, sorry Charles"

"Even when they aren't even here they manage to damage my house"

"But you didn't send forge on the trip"

"Oh no I didn't send him there, anyway who was it you are betting for?"

"I am betting for Miss Pryde and Mr Maximoff"

"You're betting for my son? To win? Are you insane?"

"Quite the contrary Eric. For I have spent enough time here to know that 1) Pietro is not the most patient of people and that 2) Kitty can be one of the most annoying people. Thus when you put them together Kitty will drive Pietro crazy and thus he will end up running across the Atlantic or wherever to get them both back here as quickly as possible so that he can get away from Kitty."

After a moments silence everyone made that noise in their throats that indicated that they just realised he was right. Smiling confidently he was going to win Hank went over to Logan's barbeque taking a hamburger. At which point Ororo, now clad in a bathing suit and holding a very colourful drink, came down towards the pool again.

"My turn is it? Well then I think that I will have to bet on Kurt and Todd"

At this everyone stopped and looked at her strangely so that she would explain herself.

"What? A thief, even though a bad one, and a teleporter I don't see why they don't stand a chance"

"Well its your money" Xavier said whilst writing on Ororo's envelope and checking the money. "Which leaves Logan and your betting on Rogue and Remy"

"And Jamie" Logan added at the end.

"That does explain why it's been quiet lately"

"I'd forgotten about him" Eric said whilst taking a gulp of his drink, at which everyone but Logan nodded in agreement.

After writing on Logan's envelope Xavier opened it and then first noticed how little the pile was. Pulling out the money he found 30 $1 bills.

"Logan, why have you given me $30's?"

Looking up suddenly Logan made his way to Xavier's side within 3 strides. Snatching the money out of Xavier's hands and started growling in that oh so scary way that he does.

"When that Cajun gets back I'm gonna kill him!!!"

HI! Sorry its been so long! I have actually got chapters for NBX and Happy Endings Dont last forever too but this stupid computer has decided it doesnt have word no more so when i upload it off a disc i loose the whole bold thing and i cant use word and grrrrr!! Anyway ill post em when possible! Gotta go got work 2morrow morning!
RW