I woke up to Bobby bouncing on my bed, kicking his legs out from under him I tried to go back to sleep, he landed on my legs and the thought left my mind. I growled in his general direction and got up to shower. I checked the clock on my way by, we had slept in late, he had wanted to get there before lunch. I pulled on my new leather pants and black tank top, I walked out of the bathroom and heard a low whistle come from Bobby's direction. I laughed at him. He was stupid.
I pulled on my boots as I called Nancy, I figured her and George were probably at the apartment, since they were going to help us move. I told her that we'd already left and thanked her for healing my tattoo again.
"Hey do you want to grab something to eat before we go?" Bobby suggested as we loaded up the U-Haul again. I agreed quickly, maybe food would calm the butterflies that had started a riot in the base of my stomach. We went to the motels restaurant and at chicken fingers, one of the many things we both agreed on. I ate as slowly as possible, dreading the next few hours. Bobby must have somehow sense it because he gave me a huge smile.
"It'll be okay." He stated. I just sighed and nodded, it had to be okay if not for my sake for his. So I reluctantly got back into U-Haul apprehension gripping me with both hands. I turned on the radio, refusing to sit the next hour in awkward silence. Fortunately Bobby was with me and we ended up singing pop music at the top of our lungs to pass the time. And sooner than I knew it we were in front of the wrought iron gates that enclosed the school.
"You ready for this?" Bobby asked, stopping the U-Haul in front of the gates and turning to me. I took a deep breath.
"Non." I stated firmly. "But it's a bit late t' change my mind………" I added with my trademark smirk. I slipped my new sunglasses onto my head and took another deep breath as Bobby used the buzzer and told Hank that we were here. As we drove up the front doors I saw a group of people waiting for us outside, it suddenly felt like I was hyperventilating. What was I doing, I couldn't come back here! What if they hated me? Bobby saw the worry on my face and took my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze before stopping the car and getting out. Everyone greeted him with hugs and squeals. I stayed rooted in my chair, refusing to look over at any of them.
Maybe I could just hide in the car forever, maybe no one noticed that I was there………just maybe.
Bobby had to burst into my train of thought by opening my door and holding out his hand. I looked at him and tried to put on the stoic face that mimicked my fathers and took his hand, climbing out of the vehicle and facing everyone for the first time in what felt like years.
"Well Bobby aren't you going to introduce us to your new friend?" Hank asked with a twinkle in his eye. I laughed and slid my sunglasses back onto the top of my head.
"No introduction needed, mon amis." I said grinning at the furry blue man. Before I knew it Bishops arms were around me, in such a tight grip I had to remind him I couldn't breathe.
"Welcome back child." Ororo said embracing me after prying my godfather off of me. I thanked her looking at my feet. Hank embraced me next.
"I apologize for not recognizing you milady." He said and I told him it was no big. Jubilee squealed before coming to wrap her arms around me. Then letting go and punching me in the shoulder.
"That's for leaving you jerk." She said and I grinned, some things never change. Jean gave me a hug and Scott just patted me on the back, I could tell he wasn't happy with me. But then again he never really was.
"Welcome back Kaley." Professor said wheeling himself closer to me. I embraced him as well. We were a huggy bunch this afternoon. "I trust you haven't changed too much?"
"Same kid." I assured him. I looked up to see everyone who had hugged me on one side of the doors with the people I hadn't met. While Papa, Rogue and Jean-Luc were still on the other side. I locked eyes with Papa, refusing to be the first person to move. Finally Jean-Luc approached and gave me a hug, surprising most of our company.
"I thought you weren't coming until later this week." Jean-Luc stated during our hug. And I smiled up at him.
"Plans change." I said tossing my head back towards Bobby who was bouncing slightly, I knew the coffee was a bad idea. He waved at Jean-Luc with a huge smile on his face and Jean-Luc nodded in his direction.
"Well it's good t' see you chile." He said pulling me into another hug that I couldn't help but reciprocate. When he pulled away I saw a blaze of fury in Papa's eyes. Without a word he turned to the door and stalked back inside, pausing only once when i'm guessing that the proffessor tried to reach him. A few moments later he turned around so quickly that Rogue almost fell over backwards.
"Stay out of Gambits head." he stated and then turned back to leave with a few obscene words mixed in with mumblings of family. I saw him turn and punch a wall so forcefully it broke through, leaving his hand a bloody mess.
"Gambit that's enough." Professor said forcefully. "Today is a day of rejoicing the return on two more members of the family, settle your differences elsewhere."
Papa snorted turning on his heel to face us. "Rejoicing? Who said dat Gambit wanted dem back huh? Dey can rot in Hell for all Gambit care." And with that he walked away. It felt like he had ripped out my heart and stomped on it before bashing it with a nine-iron. But I stood with the same expressionless expression on my face. It did not go unnoticed that Rogue went with my father without question or objection.
"Perhaps it be best if I stayed in de dorms dis year." I said turning to Charles. He nodded slowly attempting to read how I was actually handling the situation. I grinned as my mindblock drew power from my anger and became virtually impenetrable.
"Oh Kaley! You have to meet some of the new staff! Or old staff I should say, but that's not the point, the real point is that you have people to meet. Come on everyone else is out back!" Jubilee said pulling me by the arm through the mansion and towards the pool area. Leave it to her to try and get me out of awkward situation. But I put on a good face, for the both of us, I needed to smile and she needed to think that she was helping.
"I have to unpack mon amis." I said with a sigh. She laughed.
"You can do that later." She said and pulled me towards a group of adults. "Hey everyone! This is Kale LeBeau, as in Gambit and Rogues daughter." I winced as she mentioned their names linked together with mine as far as I was concerned, from now on they were nothing to me. Or at least that's what I was trying to convince myself. She announced my arrival making me feel like a complete and total moron. "Kaley this is Kurt Wagner, he's the new teacher of something, I forget what, not important."
"Bonjour." I said politely to the blue furry man. He was like a mini-Hank. It was amusing.
"And this is Pete." Jubilee said. I looked at the giant in front of me. Like actually this guy was huge, he must have been like 7 feet tall.
"Piotr Rasputin." He said in a thick Russian accent and reached out his hand, which I shook. His hand nearly swallowed mine. "I will be your new art teacher."
"Okay." I said, not really knowing what else to say.
"And this Kitty Pryde." Jubilee said, turning to the only girl in the group, she's the new Home Ec teacher."
"Pleasure." Kitty said shaking my hand, her hand didn't swallow mine.
"Pleasure' all mine Madame." I said with a cocky grin.
"We were all under the impression that you weren't going to come back." Kitty said with a soft smile. I shrugged.
"Didn't really know I was comin' home either." I said casting a glance towards my old house. Then I glanced around the poolside I saw a few of everyones friends before my eyes landed on Luke. He caught my eyes and a look of fear crossed his face and he dropped his arm which had been draped around a young girl. I chuckled quietly to myself before nodding. I could have called that.
I turned to find the professor sitting behind me.
"I'd like to talk to you for a few moments if it's not a bad time." He asked. I grinned and nodded before following him into his office. I sat down in front of his desk and waited for him to start.
"Release the mindblock?" he asked and I sighed dramatically before doing so. I could feel his presence in my mind, but it was almost comforting, one of the many things I was missing while I was away. "Well I'm impressed."
"Thank you?" I said reluctantly I had a feeling it wasn't one of those things that I should be thankful about but I said it all the same.
"It's quite impressive that you manage to maintain a happy outerface while you are so badly emotionally damaged that for any normal person it would be hard to stand."
I could only manage a weak smile. "We both know dat I'm not so ordinary." I said. And he nodded in agreement. " I jus'………I jus' thought dat Papa would be happy t' see me again, and dat Luke would've waited and dat Rogue would be very very far away and dat if I came back dat evert'ing would be okay and it's not." I downcast my eyes and drawing a deep breath I continued. "Life's not a fairytale is it?"
"No my dear, I'm afraid it's not." The professor said giving me a weak smile. I nodded, I knew that would be the answer, but as much as I had grown up in the past few weeks, I was still a kid. And sometimes kids need to believe in magic and fairytales. I ran a hand over my head cautiously.
"Perhaps, it would be for de best if I left again." I said.
"And what would that accomplish?" the professor asked raising an eyebrow at me. I shrugged. "I'll tell you what that would accomplish......... nothing. Now I realize that you are as stubborn as your father and that neither of you will go out of your ways to communicate. But you must realize child, that he is not your only family here."
I nodded slowly before leaning back farther in my chair. A very large pain had now invaded my head and all I wanted to do was sleep for several days. But as much as I wanted to I knew that i had to put on a happy face if i didn't want my godfather swarming around me at all times. I mean, I loved Bishop to death but at the same time he's very overbearing, especially when he thinks that I'm hurting.
"I suppose dat I should get back out there." I stated standing up and brushing off the front of my pants. Charles simply nodded and watched my retreating figure. I was almost onto the back patio when someone grabbed my elbow and pulled me into a room.
"Well datat was sudden." I stated turning to stare into the chocolate brown eyes that once reminded me of home. In an instant his arms were around me, holding onto me like there was no tomorrow. "Hey calm down, told you I'd come back non?"
"BUt you were gone for a long time." he said in a pouty voice that reminded me of a small child. I nodded.
"I needed t' be." I said rubbing my arms over my arms subconciously. He nodded slowly, but we both knew that he didn't understand. "BEsides you got on right?"
HE downcast his eyes and shrugged with a touch of a nod. I nodded too.
"Den we're both okay." i said and left the room. Despite the fact that i knew that he was currently taken, pheromones have an affect regardless. He followed me out and of course, we ran into the nameless girlfriend.
"What the hell is going on Luke?" she asked in a whiny voice that made my skin crawl. "I leave you alone for what, ten minutes and you go off and find a replacement?"
"Calm down Barbie we were jus' talking." i heard myself saying. "And I hate t' tell you dis but you be de replacement."
She glared at me so hard, you'd think that she had the power to burn holes in me with a simple glare. She didn't, so after a few moments she resorted to a more conventional way of dealing and slapped me across the face. I chuckled and nodded.
"Calm on Sarah, just leave it alone." Luke said trying to pull his girlfriend away from me. But it was too late, I had found a perfect release. I struck out and punched her square in the nose before cracking my neck methodically. "Kale!"
"You stupid bitch!" Sarah yelled at me and came at me, fists flying in every direction. It was obvious that she was lacking in direction because she managed to land one punch before i hit her in the gut and she fell over.
"Stay down." I warned in an even tone. But those dumb blondes never listen. She swooped a leg out at me but I jumped. "Don't" I warned for a second time, maybe she hadn't heard me. She stood and came at me with her feet this time. Attempting to kick me anywhere she could make contact. And she did a few times before I managed to grab her foot. "I warned you." I said before giving it a quick twist. I let her drop after i heard the satisfying crack of a broken tibia and walked away.
Scott and a few of the other senior X-men ran by me towards the howling girl. I made my away back out onto the patio and lounged in an abandoned lawnchair. It was good to be home.
I pulled on my boots as I called Nancy, I figured her and George were probably at the apartment, since they were going to help us move. I told her that we'd already left and thanked her for healing my tattoo again.
"Hey do you want to grab something to eat before we go?" Bobby suggested as we loaded up the U-Haul again. I agreed quickly, maybe food would calm the butterflies that had started a riot in the base of my stomach. We went to the motels restaurant and at chicken fingers, one of the many things we both agreed on. I ate as slowly as possible, dreading the next few hours. Bobby must have somehow sense it because he gave me a huge smile.
"It'll be okay." He stated. I just sighed and nodded, it had to be okay if not for my sake for his. So I reluctantly got back into U-Haul apprehension gripping me with both hands. I turned on the radio, refusing to sit the next hour in awkward silence. Fortunately Bobby was with me and we ended up singing pop music at the top of our lungs to pass the time. And sooner than I knew it we were in front of the wrought iron gates that enclosed the school.
"You ready for this?" Bobby asked, stopping the U-Haul in front of the gates and turning to me. I took a deep breath.
"Non." I stated firmly. "But it's a bit late t' change my mind………" I added with my trademark smirk. I slipped my new sunglasses onto my head and took another deep breath as Bobby used the buzzer and told Hank that we were here. As we drove up the front doors I saw a group of people waiting for us outside, it suddenly felt like I was hyperventilating. What was I doing, I couldn't come back here! What if they hated me? Bobby saw the worry on my face and took my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze before stopping the car and getting out. Everyone greeted him with hugs and squeals. I stayed rooted in my chair, refusing to look over at any of them.
Maybe I could just hide in the car forever, maybe no one noticed that I was there………just maybe.
Bobby had to burst into my train of thought by opening my door and holding out his hand. I looked at him and tried to put on the stoic face that mimicked my fathers and took his hand, climbing out of the vehicle and facing everyone for the first time in what felt like years.
"Well Bobby aren't you going to introduce us to your new friend?" Hank asked with a twinkle in his eye. I laughed and slid my sunglasses back onto the top of my head.
"No introduction needed, mon amis." I said grinning at the furry blue man. Before I knew it Bishops arms were around me, in such a tight grip I had to remind him I couldn't breathe.
"Welcome back child." Ororo said embracing me after prying my godfather off of me. I thanked her looking at my feet. Hank embraced me next.
"I apologize for not recognizing you milady." He said and I told him it was no big. Jubilee squealed before coming to wrap her arms around me. Then letting go and punching me in the shoulder.
"That's for leaving you jerk." She said and I grinned, some things never change. Jean gave me a hug and Scott just patted me on the back, I could tell he wasn't happy with me. But then again he never really was.
"Welcome back Kaley." Professor said wheeling himself closer to me. I embraced him as well. We were a huggy bunch this afternoon. "I trust you haven't changed too much?"
"Same kid." I assured him. I looked up to see everyone who had hugged me on one side of the doors with the people I hadn't met. While Papa, Rogue and Jean-Luc were still on the other side. I locked eyes with Papa, refusing to be the first person to move. Finally Jean-Luc approached and gave me a hug, surprising most of our company.
"I thought you weren't coming until later this week." Jean-Luc stated during our hug. And I smiled up at him.
"Plans change." I said tossing my head back towards Bobby who was bouncing slightly, I knew the coffee was a bad idea. He waved at Jean-Luc with a huge smile on his face and Jean-Luc nodded in his direction.
"Well it's good t' see you chile." He said pulling me into another hug that I couldn't help but reciprocate. When he pulled away I saw a blaze of fury in Papa's eyes. Without a word he turned to the door and stalked back inside, pausing only once when i'm guessing that the proffessor tried to reach him. A few moments later he turned around so quickly that Rogue almost fell over backwards.
"Stay out of Gambits head." he stated and then turned back to leave with a few obscene words mixed in with mumblings of family. I saw him turn and punch a wall so forcefully it broke through, leaving his hand a bloody mess.
"Gambit that's enough." Professor said forcefully. "Today is a day of rejoicing the return on two more members of the family, settle your differences elsewhere."
Papa snorted turning on his heel to face us. "Rejoicing? Who said dat Gambit wanted dem back huh? Dey can rot in Hell for all Gambit care." And with that he walked away. It felt like he had ripped out my heart and stomped on it before bashing it with a nine-iron. But I stood with the same expressionless expression on my face. It did not go unnoticed that Rogue went with my father without question or objection.
"Perhaps it be best if I stayed in de dorms dis year." I said turning to Charles. He nodded slowly attempting to read how I was actually handling the situation. I grinned as my mindblock drew power from my anger and became virtually impenetrable.
"Oh Kaley! You have to meet some of the new staff! Or old staff I should say, but that's not the point, the real point is that you have people to meet. Come on everyone else is out back!" Jubilee said pulling me by the arm through the mansion and towards the pool area. Leave it to her to try and get me out of awkward situation. But I put on a good face, for the both of us, I needed to smile and she needed to think that she was helping.
"I have to unpack mon amis." I said with a sigh. She laughed.
"You can do that later." She said and pulled me towards a group of adults. "Hey everyone! This is Kale LeBeau, as in Gambit and Rogues daughter." I winced as she mentioned their names linked together with mine as far as I was concerned, from now on they were nothing to me. Or at least that's what I was trying to convince myself. She announced my arrival making me feel like a complete and total moron. "Kaley this is Kurt Wagner, he's the new teacher of something, I forget what, not important."
"Bonjour." I said politely to the blue furry man. He was like a mini-Hank. It was amusing.
"And this is Pete." Jubilee said. I looked at the giant in front of me. Like actually this guy was huge, he must have been like 7 feet tall.
"Piotr Rasputin." He said in a thick Russian accent and reached out his hand, which I shook. His hand nearly swallowed mine. "I will be your new art teacher."
"Okay." I said, not really knowing what else to say.
"And this Kitty Pryde." Jubilee said, turning to the only girl in the group, she's the new Home Ec teacher."
"Pleasure." Kitty said shaking my hand, her hand didn't swallow mine.
"Pleasure' all mine Madame." I said with a cocky grin.
"We were all under the impression that you weren't going to come back." Kitty said with a soft smile. I shrugged.
"Didn't really know I was comin' home either." I said casting a glance towards my old house. Then I glanced around the poolside I saw a few of everyones friends before my eyes landed on Luke. He caught my eyes and a look of fear crossed his face and he dropped his arm which had been draped around a young girl. I chuckled quietly to myself before nodding. I could have called that.
I turned to find the professor sitting behind me.
"I'd like to talk to you for a few moments if it's not a bad time." He asked. I grinned and nodded before following him into his office. I sat down in front of his desk and waited for him to start.
"Release the mindblock?" he asked and I sighed dramatically before doing so. I could feel his presence in my mind, but it was almost comforting, one of the many things I was missing while I was away. "Well I'm impressed."
"Thank you?" I said reluctantly I had a feeling it wasn't one of those things that I should be thankful about but I said it all the same.
"It's quite impressive that you manage to maintain a happy outerface while you are so badly emotionally damaged that for any normal person it would be hard to stand."
I could only manage a weak smile. "We both know dat I'm not so ordinary." I said. And he nodded in agreement. " I jus'………I jus' thought dat Papa would be happy t' see me again, and dat Luke would've waited and dat Rogue would be very very far away and dat if I came back dat evert'ing would be okay and it's not." I downcast my eyes and drawing a deep breath I continued. "Life's not a fairytale is it?"
"No my dear, I'm afraid it's not." The professor said giving me a weak smile. I nodded, I knew that would be the answer, but as much as I had grown up in the past few weeks, I was still a kid. And sometimes kids need to believe in magic and fairytales. I ran a hand over my head cautiously.
"Perhaps, it would be for de best if I left again." I said.
"And what would that accomplish?" the professor asked raising an eyebrow at me. I shrugged. "I'll tell you what that would accomplish......... nothing. Now I realize that you are as stubborn as your father and that neither of you will go out of your ways to communicate. But you must realize child, that he is not your only family here."
I nodded slowly before leaning back farther in my chair. A very large pain had now invaded my head and all I wanted to do was sleep for several days. But as much as I wanted to I knew that i had to put on a happy face if i didn't want my godfather swarming around me at all times. I mean, I loved Bishop to death but at the same time he's very overbearing, especially when he thinks that I'm hurting.
"I suppose dat I should get back out there." I stated standing up and brushing off the front of my pants. Charles simply nodded and watched my retreating figure. I was almost onto the back patio when someone grabbed my elbow and pulled me into a room.
"Well datat was sudden." I stated turning to stare into the chocolate brown eyes that once reminded me of home. In an instant his arms were around me, holding onto me like there was no tomorrow. "Hey calm down, told you I'd come back non?"
"BUt you were gone for a long time." he said in a pouty voice that reminded me of a small child. I nodded.
"I needed t' be." I said rubbing my arms over my arms subconciously. He nodded slowly, but we both knew that he didn't understand. "BEsides you got on right?"
HE downcast his eyes and shrugged with a touch of a nod. I nodded too.
"Den we're both okay." i said and left the room. Despite the fact that i knew that he was currently taken, pheromones have an affect regardless. He followed me out and of course, we ran into the nameless girlfriend.
"What the hell is going on Luke?" she asked in a whiny voice that made my skin crawl. "I leave you alone for what, ten minutes and you go off and find a replacement?"
"Calm down Barbie we were jus' talking." i heard myself saying. "And I hate t' tell you dis but you be de replacement."
She glared at me so hard, you'd think that she had the power to burn holes in me with a simple glare. She didn't, so after a few moments she resorted to a more conventional way of dealing and slapped me across the face. I chuckled and nodded.
"Calm on Sarah, just leave it alone." Luke said trying to pull his girlfriend away from me. But it was too late, I had found a perfect release. I struck out and punched her square in the nose before cracking my neck methodically. "Kale!"
"You stupid bitch!" Sarah yelled at me and came at me, fists flying in every direction. It was obvious that she was lacking in direction because she managed to land one punch before i hit her in the gut and she fell over.
"Stay down." I warned in an even tone. But those dumb blondes never listen. She swooped a leg out at me but I jumped. "Don't" I warned for a second time, maybe she hadn't heard me. She stood and came at me with her feet this time. Attempting to kick me anywhere she could make contact. And she did a few times before I managed to grab her foot. "I warned you." I said before giving it a quick twist. I let her drop after i heard the satisfying crack of a broken tibia and walked away.
Scott and a few of the other senior X-men ran by me towards the howling girl. I made my away back out onto the patio and lounged in an abandoned lawnchair. It was good to be home.