Saying Goodbye is Never Easy Part II

Roadblock walked over to the Misfits. He had noticed Lance's expression. "Okay Avalanche, keep it in check. The last thing we need is you making the place a wreck."

"I'm under control," Lance breathed out.

"Barely," Pietro folded his arms.

"Look, I said I would calm down," Lance told them.

"You say that a lot but stuff gets wrecked anyway," Kurt walked over to them.

"He has a point," Todd said.

"Oh great you two agreeing on something?" Lance moaned. "This just made my day."

"Well it was hard enough for us to get Evan to come here so please don't cause anyproblems!" Kurt asked.

"They let Evan come to the service?" Pietro looked around. Evan was there shackled between two guards.

"Yeah his attorney convinced the judge that his aunt needed support," Kurt said. "Family thing and all that."

"This is gonna be a long day," Roadblock sighed. "Just keep your insanity in check okay?"

"All right," Lance decided to change the subject when Roadblock moved off. "How's Foresight doing?"

"He's doing all right at the STRIKE hospital wing last I checked," Kurt informed them.

"I feel awful leaving the poor guy like that," Angelica said.

"He's in good hands," Kurt said.

"Yeah and it's only until Muir Island will be rebuilt," Pietro said.

"Between Xavier's funding, Moira's connections, and SHEILD and STRIKE'S know how it will be up and running in no time," Angelo said as he walked up with his team mates from Muir Island. "Plus we're going to help rebuild all we can."

"Some of us are still banged up," Jono scoffed. "What we really need are more members on our team."

"I heard Xavier's gonna have some of the New Mutants transfer for a few months next year," Pietro said.

"Yeah he intended to introduce all our groups to each other at some point but this is not what I had in mind," Theresa said.

"Not exactly the way I'd want to start off knowing people either," Jono replied.

"So what's your group called?" Althea asked.

"Banshee's dubbed our group 'Generation X'," Theresa told her.

"How original," Althea smirked.

"Hey you should have heard the lame ideas he originally wanted to call us," Jono scoffed.

"Trust us, it's an improvement," Meggan said.

Meanwhile Dr. Reisman was speaking with Moira and Xavier. "I'm so sorry about what happened with your son," She said.

"I'm even more sorry my son has caused so much damage," Moira sighed.

"If anyone's at fault it was Legion," Xavier said bitterly. "He's the one who started this chain reaction by attacking Muir Island. Did he say why?"

"Only that he wanted to get some more mutants for Magneto," Moira sighed.

"That's pretty much what we've gathered," Fury said as he walked over to them. "Magneto's been starting up a real recruitment drive lately. Around the same time as the Proteus incident there have been reports from our intelligence network that Magneto attacked a North Korean prison camp. A camp specifically created to contain and brainwash mutants into becoming living weapons for the government."

"Why am I not surprised?" Xavier sighed. "How many mutants were there?"

"We're not exactly sure," Fury said. "But from what we can tell there were enough of 'em to make a small army."

"An army of angry abused mutants," Xavier nodded. "Resentful against humanity. Just what Magneto is looking for."

"Still can't figure out where his bases are," Fury growled. "He's jamming our signals."

"As well as Cerebro," Xavier informed them. "His cloaking technology has outpaced our mutant finding technology."

"Xavier there's something else I need to tell you. I'm going with Dr. MacTaggert to help rebuild Muir Island," Dr. Reisman said. "Doop's coming with me."

"I spoke with Fury and they agreed," Moira said. "SHEILD and STRIKE are going to work together to provide security and funding for Muir Island from now on. They don't want a repeat of the incident with Proteus."

"Technically Muir Island will be under STRIKE supervision," Fury told them. "But since it's such a global issue SHEILD has agreed to send in some support as well. I don't need to tell you Parliament's up in arms about this."

"I can imagine," Xavier sighed. "It's caused a stir over here too."

"One good thing about this is that now people are taking my research more seriously," Moira sighed. "And I'm finally getting the funding I needed to do more research. I just wish…" She turned her head.

"We were able to omit Proteus' role in the accident he caused," Fury told her. "Made it look like a separate traffic accident."

"But not everything else," Moira said. "And I can't blame people for being furious."

"Doc, you did everything you could for your kid and then some," Fury said. "Like you said before it's Legion that's at fault." Fury glared at Xavier. "And that means it's your responsibility as well."

"I know," Xavier sighed. "But wait, how did...?"

"Did a little background checking," Fury grunted. "You're just lucky Val Cooper's not in on this or your hide would really be cooked!"

"What's going on?" Moira asked. "What did he mean by that?"

"You never told her?" Fury looked at Xavier.

"Moira, do you remember Gabrielle Haller?" Xavier asked.

"Your ex-wife yes," Moira nodded.

"She had a son and never told me," Xavier explained. "His name is…was David."

"Was?" Moira asked.

"He's not exactly dead," Xavier sighed. "He has multiple personalities and one of them, Lucas has taken over his body. Then he joined Magneto."

"Lucas is Legion…" Moira put it together. "I thought he looked familiar..."

"Obviously it's a fact that we don't like to advertise," Fury grunted.

"I'm so sorry Moira," Xavier hung his head. "I tried to help David but for some reason it only made Lucas stronger."

"Oh god Charles what have we both done?" Moira moaned.

Meanwhile Shipwreck and Ororo were over by the buffet table. "When is Xavier planning to start this thing?" Shipwreck grunted as he ate a piece of cheese.

"I don't know but it can't end soon enough," Ororo glared at Thornn from where she stood.

"Storm you can't just carry on this grudge you have," Shipwreck told her. "Especially now."

"I know…" Ororo was clearly distressed. "It's just…Seeing Evan like this and her here and everything that's happened. Maybe if I did go to Muir Island like I was supposed to Thunderbird would still be alive."

"And maybe not," Shipwreck pointed out. "Look Thornn told you some unpleasant truths and she was the one who turned Evan into the cops, but she didn't exactly have much of a choice. You can't hold onto this. You have to make peace."

"All right," Ororo sighed. "I'll try…"

Not far away in a secluded area of the garden Kitty was hugging Peter, trying to comfort him. "You can't blame yourself for what happened," Kitty told him. "You're not responsible for what happened."

"I slammed a car onto his body," Peter pulled away. "That sounds pretty responsible to me."

"You didn't kill Thunderbird," Kitty told him. "Proteus did. You heard the Professor, as soon as he took over Mr. Proudstar's body he was as good as dead!"

"He inhabited Logan but he escaped," Peter said.

"Hello? Healing factor?" Kitty put her arms on her hips. "Besides you saw how fast Thunderbird was…falling apart. Even by some miracle we did get Proteus out of his body there was no way we could have…" She choked. "This isn't supposed to happen to us! We're X-Men! We're not supposed to die!"

"We're not immortal Kitty," Peter told her. "Well maybe Logan and Rina are but…Maybe this is a sign of how things are going between us."

"What are you saying?" Kitty asked.

"I'm tired of fighting like this," Peter said. "Besides maybe it's for the best. After what happened to Thunderbird…"

"Peter you didn't have a choice…" Kitty said.

"I know that," Peter told her. "But my feelings nearly cost us all our lives. I know now that a relationship between the two of us cannot be. Not now anyway."

"Whoa! Hold the phone here," Kitty held up her hand. "What does Thunderbird's death have to do with us?"

"Everything," Peter told her. "Half the battle I was more worried about you than the others. Perhaps if I had been more concentrated on what I was doing…"

"That is not true and you know it!"

"Well I know what is true is what Proteus said about us," Peter said. "Specifically you and Lance."

"Okay you are going to take the word of an insane murdering bad guy over mine?"

"So you can stand here and tell me that all he said was not true! That you haven't been dreaming of Lance lately?"

"You're twisting this all around! That's not the point."

"Oh really? Maybe the real reason you can't choose between us is that you love Lance," Peter told her. "And you wish to spare my feelings."

"That's not true!" Kitty protested. Then she admitted. "Well mostly not true…I mean I care about both of you equally!"

"Kitty you care for a dog or a cat. Even your dragon. A human being needs love."

"I do love you!"

"But you're also in love with Avalanche," Peter said. "I've seen the way you've been looking at him lately. It's pretty clear that he's very important to you."

"I can't just deny everything I've felt or feel for Lance," Kitty admitted. "We've been through so much together. That doesn't mean I don't love you too."

"But it isn't fair to either of us if you can't choose between us," Peter said. "Even if you do have similar feelings. Perhaps I have been going about this the wrong way. Obviously you can't choose between the two of us, so maybe I should choose for you."

"What are you saying?"

"I am saying why should I keep trying to fight for the attentions of someone who is not completely in love with me?" Peter said. "I will always care for you Kitty, but perhaps it is for the best that we go our separate ways. At least until you get this obsession with Lance out of your system, if you ever can which I am beginning to doubt."

"Peter…"

"Can you stand there right now and tell me that you love me more than him?" Peter yelled at her. Kitty couldn't answer him. "Kitty you will always be my friend and team mate, but…We just can't do this anymore."

"No we can't…" Kitty sniffed.

"Goodbye," Peter kissed her on the forehead.

Lance walked up and saw Peter kiss her on the forehead. Trying to keep his temper in check he cleared his throat. "Excuse me…"

"Don't worry," Peter told him. "As of now, we are no longer rivals. Take care of her." He walked away.

"What did he mean by that?" Lance asked Kitty. "Kitty? Kitty what's wrong?"

"Oh nothing Lance!" Kitty snapped. "Everything's just peachy keen! Well I hope you're happy now! Congratulations Lance! You won!"

"Won what?" Lance asked. "Kitty what's going on?" He saw her crying. "Oh god what did I do now?"

"You didn't do anything!" Kitty sobbed. "It's what I didn't do that's the problem!" She fell into his embrace sobbing. "It's all my fault!"

"O-kay…" Lance was very confused now.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"John Proudstar was a great warrior," Xavier spoke to the gathering. "A good friend and a dedicated teacher."

"Dedicated teacher?" Arcade whispered. "Is it just me or is Xavier laying it on a little thick?"

"I've heard of guilt trips but this is ridiculous," Fred muttered.

"Keep it down you clowns," Roadblock hissed. The Misfits were all seated together at the back. "Anybody check to see Shipwreck?"

"Pop took off with Storm out back," Althea said.

"I don't see my brother either," Wanda looked around. "Where's Xi?"

"Right here," Xi appeared before them.

"Geeze Xi try not to give us a heart attack!" Todd gasped when Xi reappeared.

"Well that's one of you," Low Light grunted. "And I see Lance next to Kitty over there. I hope Peter doesn't go wild."

"He shouldn't," Xi said. "Considering he broke it off with Kitty permanently."

"What?" Althea asked. "How would you know?"

"Invisible spying," Xi told them. "This is what happened…"

Meanwhile Xavier continued his speech. "Thunderbird fought and died for the Dream. A dream of peace. Of mutants and humans living together in harmony. I believe that he would want us all to view his death not as a sacrifice, but as a promise. A promise that one day his death would not be in vain."

"I don't believe it!" Wanda gasped.

"It's really all over?" Roadblock asked. "Just like that?"

"Apparently," Xi said.

"I don't believe it," Spyder groaned. "Just like her to get Peter to do her dirty work for her."

"Something tells me Kitty wasn't too happy about the breakup," Angelica said.

"Yeah well how much you want to bet Lance is gonna get in the doghouse before long?" Low Light scoffed.

"You will not believe what just happened!" Pietro hissed as he ran up to them.

"We know," Wanda said. "Colossus broke up with Kitty."

"Oh that's old news," Pietro waved. "Kitty's always breaking up with either him or Lance. Happens nearly every other week!"

"No Moron," Angelica snapped. "He broke up with her!"

"He freaking abdicated yo," Todd told him. "Xi heard the whole thing!"

"What? You saying Tin Grin broke up with Kitty for real?" Pietro asked. "I don't believe it!"

"You're not the only one," Arcade groaned.

"Isn't that what you were gonna tell us?" Todd asked.

"No this is about Storm and Thornn," Pietro said. "What happened was Shipwreck was trying to get the two to bury the hatchet when…"

Suddenly a loud boom of thunder could be heard. "I think we can guess what happened Pietro," Wanda groaned.

"YOU LYING LITTLE…" Ororo screamed as she used her winds to blow Thornn back.

"GET HER SIS!" Vi shouted. "TEAR THAT LITTLE HELLCAT TO PIECES!"

"Did I mention Evan's folks were there too?" Pietro casually asked.

"No I don't think you did," Roadblock said.

"Let me guess," Althea saw her father running up to them. "You tried to play peacemaker with Storm but somehow ended up creating World War Three Mutant style? Am I right Pop?"

"Maybe I sort of let it slip in front of Evan's folks that Thornn kind of was responsible for sending Evan to jail," Shipwreck gulped. "And Thornn was still a little sore at how Ororo treated her after she learned about Evan's affairs."

"Oh boy…" Arcade gulped.

"Hey! Back off!" Theresa made a large scream at Ororo, which sent her crashing into the buffet table.

"Chill girlfriend!" Bobby shot out an ice blast at her.

"YOU CHILL OUT ICEBOY!" Jono sent out a blast at him.

"It's Ice-Man Laser Mouth!" Ray shot out an electric volt at him.

"Yeah nobody beats Bobby up except us!" Roberto powered up.

"Uh, you guys might want to step back," Evan told his guards. "This could get a little ugly here."

"KNOCK IT OFF!" Sean shouted. "THIS IS A BLOODY SERVICE HERE! DON'T YOU HAVE ANY RESPECT FOR THE DEAD?"

"I dunno," Logan chuckled. "Something tells me Proudstar would have liked a fight at his wake."

"Shut up," Sean snapped.

"Don't tell him to shut up!" Tabitha growled.

"Well we can't just let our team mate get thrown around like a rag doll now could we?" Angelo snapped.

"I hate to say this but Skin has a point," Sean glared at Ororo. "You were the one who started this."

"No she started it by spreading those lies about my son!" Vi pointed at Thornn.

"I ain't no liar lady!" Thornn snapped. "Everybody knows what a man whore your son is!"

"But not as much as I am!" Pietro called out.

"Pietro not now…" Xavier sighed. "All of you please…"

"What did you call my nephew?" Ororo growled as the skies were darkening rapidly.

"You heard me," Thornn hissed.

"Yeah we all heard how Spyke dissed Thornn," Angelo shouted. "Just cause you don't wanna see the truth…"

That was when Ororo started to call down the wind against Generation X. Of course Sean took offense at it and started to fight back along with his squad. Then most of the New Mutants got into the fray while the X-Men tried to break it up. Well not all of the X-Men. "And I thought we had tempers," Rina remarked to Logan as the fighting went on.

"Yeah," Logan sighed. He looked at Jubilee. "You're not fighting?"

"I'm not getting involved in this!" Jubilee held up her hands. "I mean Thornn's my friend. And I don't want to get on Ororo's bad side."

"Smart girl," Logan folded his arms. "I guess out of all of you I got the New Mutant with brains."

"Let me guess?" One guard said to Evan as they hustled him off. "This is why you went off to live in the sewers?"

"Part of it yeah," Evan replied. "Can you take me back to jail now?"

"I don't blame you kid," The other guard gulped.

The Misfits were watching the entire spectacle with sadistic glee. "Two and a half hours before a fight broke out," Fred looked at a piece of paper. "Angelica and Lina, you won the betting pool."

"Okay guys pay up," Angelica stretched out her hand.

"Oh great!" Low Light groaned as he dug into his wallet. "I knew I shouldn't have bet on the longshot."

"I told you," Cover Girl said. "No matter where we go a fight breaks out! What made you think this would be any different?"

"Hope always springs eternal," Spirit sighed.

"I know one thing," Lance sighed. "Wherever Thunderbird is, he's gotta be laughing his butt off."

"You know that exchange program idea Xavier had?" Todd remarked as the fighting went on. "Something tells me it's gonna be left on the shelf for a while."

"And you were worried about our behavior?" Pietro looked at Roadblock.

"I have to admit this time you were all pretty good considering," Roadblock sighed.

"Well at least this time the cops are already here," Todd remarked as several SHIELD agents and Joes tried to pry them apart as well.

"And the medics," Lina sighed. "I guess it's time for me to go to work."

Next: Enemies of the X-Men plot and scheme including a new enemy I've come up with, inspired by the 90's cartoon of the X-Men. You'll see what I mean…