One note before I reply to the wonderful reviewers of this story; from last chapter on gGtG had to drop out, though much of the plotline is still her devine creation. We are still working together though, after this is posted I think we'll be done with our next, this whole Two Kids and a Grouch is really becoming a series, lol!

Tina; I'm glad to help. I'm sorry about your granddad, here's another chappie that might make you feel better

Galadriedre; Wow, your name's hard to spell, lol! Yes, I hate Mark to. Death to Mark! Anyway, yes, I am aware that I killed the popular X Team, but perhaps in a future writing they shall reappear, maybe? Lol.

My friend who only reviews in her e-mails; Yes I'm aware of how many orphans/widowers/ect. were created with Gold Team being gone, as I am partially responsible for making them. Now if you could only review on that would be cool, lol!

And a Happy thanksgiving to all!!! Reviewers, you are wonderful people.

Luv, Ice Lynx

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The memorial services were held later that day, and though Steph could tell that almost everyone in the room cast her a worried glance at least once she remained sitting as still as a statue, looking directly at Charles' wheels and not wiping away the twin streaks that ran down her cheeks. Ruhko and Bucky were both sitting on Kurt's lap, close together and him the entire time for comfort, both having a harder time understanding because they didn't want to believe that it was all happening.

"To those who have moved on, we will love and miss you forever," Charles said, head bowed slightly as he spoke. "We think of you fondly, and will remember your love and friendship every day-" Steph made a cross over her chest and for the first time since taking her seat noticed that Creed was standing over in the sidelines, looking troubled and nervous at the same time.

"Ororo, Rogue, Logan, Peter, Alex-" Charles started reciting the names of the ones who left them, who had traveled to a place where they would be happier and wait for the rest of their family to join them. Steph would have gladly left to find it soon after, if it hadn't been for the others still here, namely Hank and the three little sisters.

Steph wasn't even really listening anymore, lost in thought, hearing only snitches of the conversation.

"-we will go on." Would she go on? Could she?

"And we will see you in our dreams, until we meet again-" she had the dreams, dreams that it had all been a big misunderstanding, dreams that one day Gold Team would fly back, laughing and joking about their successful mission, worried when they saw everyone else's faces, but otherwise alright, completely fine and totally alive.

"We are the ones you left behind-" she was. Her father, mother, older sister, her family had left her in charge of three kids, and she still felt like a kid herself at times.

"-We now you watch and guide us, and one day we'll meet again and all that had been will be." Charles finished and there was a short silence, then a soft murmur. Charles looked down gently at Steph, who bit her lip, trying to stop the tears. It was her turn now. Slowly she got up to the small platform and kept her gaze down, momentarily freezing as she looked down at the meaningless words on her paper in front of her.

"Steph, if you don't want to do this-" Charles said softly from her left. Steph shook her head, then forced herself to look up at the people in front of her. Bobby was looking at her, his crystal blue eyes shimmering slightly, and to his left Kitty was crying softly with Jubilee at her side, unable to look up herself. Kurt was trying very hard to blink back the tears as he clung onto Ruhko and Bucky, who were both ashen faced. Hank was in the very front row, and he gave a tiny nod of encouragement though he was looking pained himself.

Steph closed her eyes for a moment, then sighed. "There's nothin' I can say," she said simply, pausing as Kitty looked up at her, Jubilee had wrapped her arms around the brunette as she also watched Steph.

"There's nothin' I can say because there's nothin' I can really feel," Steph explained. Creed shifted uncomfortably in the back. "A week ago everythin' was... perfect, everyone was home, for the mos' part everyone was completely happy and we were all livin', eating, sleepin'.;.. We talked n' gossiped n' loved n' acted like idiots frequently... in other words, we were as normal as a huge house full a' weird people can be." Kitty sniffed and Steph had to take another deep breath, inhaling sharply.

"But then... four days ago... jeez," she said, stopping to stare at the words on the page. "Four days," she whispered now, though everyone was still able to hear her perfectly. "Four days n' here we are, a good chunk of us ain't here anymore...." Bucky squirmed.

"I don't like this," she whispered to Kurt, who gently shushed her.

"I looked back this mornin' n' realized that my dad, my mom, my sister, and a bunch of friends were gone.... I realized they'd never be back 'cause of- it don't matter why they're not comin' home, they jus' aren't," Steph choked, wading up the paper and Kitty and a few others started crying all over again. "Words won't change that, tears can't change that, nothin' can change that. Two wives, a mum, a father, boyfriends, all friends and family of someone here or somewhere out in the world are gone, that's who left us, n' guess what? Though we can say to ourselves they didn't really leave it's only true t' n' extent.

"But they're here, after I finally got hysterical last night I could feel my father around, n' even when I felt like I was gonna be lost in somethin' bad, somethin' unbearable, I had two life lines immediately. I had two big furry alive guys protectin' me, n' a short hairy ghost man tellin' me it would be alright, n' I know maybe one day I won't cry anymore, n' one day I'll see 'em again, we'll all see 'em again, 'cause we love them and since they've all gotten into Heaven, our love should tow us in right behind no matter what, right?" Steph nodded and murmured "Right," to herself, leaning on the pedestal in front of her heavily.

"My dad was a great man, rescued me from loads of enemies loads of times. He got me out of a tree that woulda been hit by lightning when I thought my days were numbered, n' he brought me here. He adopted me soon after, n' got me two sisters right away. He made sure I had a mum too, even if they weren't 'together'. My mum got me a step father, my sister got me a brother, another great man was assigned to be my godfather and another I assigned t' make sure I never did permanent damage to myself when I broke something, they all gave me a home and a bunch of friends I could never survive without, and at the base of all of it is my dad. I'd probably be dead now if he hadn't found me in time, or if he gave up on my hopeless attitude like others had before, but he never did. He was always there, even when I went nuts about him leaving, n' he always made sure I was ok, or helped me when I wasn't.

"My mom was... well, if I had to pick between her and the best mother on earth, there would one pick and I'd get both. She was always understanding and thankfully never fried me on the many occasions I broke her rules... she always took my side of the story in before making a decision on anything. She married a family friend, which was an interesting experience as my parents were still married in the eyes of the feds who allowed them to adopt us brats, when they had never been married in the first place. That and I was still waiting for my dad to get a girlfriend, which he never seemed to get around to," Steph sighed as a few mouths twitched at the corners.

"Rogue was a nutcase," she said. Bobby quirked an eyebrow and the rest waited patiently for the explanation. "Honestly, she welcomed me to the mansion by making me jealous of her and my savior's already unbreakable relationship, then stealing my powers and getting me feeling guilty about making her a mute, soon after getting us both so sugared up it took about three weeks to fully recover and patch the hole dad's head made in the wall during our infamous tickle hunt. Plainly, Rogue made every day somethin' special, and she was the best big sister I could have ever wanted or thought up, even if her advice on boys became outdated while she was with one guy forever and I was attempting to find anyone half suitable for myself.

"The rest I have to leave to others to talk in full, but I will say they were some of the best, kind hearted, and absolutely out of their minds people I have ever had the honor t' meet. I have no doubt that right now they're up in the clouds, laughing at dad in his wings n' halo while adjusting their own, n' watching us all and getting ready to learn to play the harp, one thing Peter and Alex probably never thought of. Dad maybe." Steph's head slumped as she made her last comment, tears pouring fiercely down her face and splattering the platform beneath her.

"Yeah," she said, looking up at the sky. "So thanks, all of ya, thanks from the crazy kid you left stuck with her heart half taken with you. I'll remember the half, I'll remember you, n' I'll do my best to make you proud, 'cause you deserve the best of everythin' n' all I can do is try n' be half of what you were. Love ya." With that Steph turned and quickly walked off, starting to choke on her breath as the tears flowed faster.

The warm air and sunny day seemed artificial to her, but Steph didn't care. She finally stopped and collapsed under a birch tree, her hair falling out of its ponytail as she sat with her back against the trunk, thinking about what had just poured out of her on the spot.

"I sounded like a freakin' cliché-chick," she said to herself through her tears.

"It was beautiful," said a soft baritone behind her. A large, furry blue hand rested on her should for a moment as Hank sat down in the grass beside her, looking at the clouds for a moment. "You know, I do indeed think our brave comrade Peter once pondered the idea of learning the harp..." he trailed off.

"Colossus n' Wolverine, expert harp players," Steph smiled sadly and leaned on Hank's chest.

"If he learned for nothing else, sweet Stephanie, your father would play to recall your angelic voice," he said.

"Jeez Hank," Steph said, shaking slightly. "I miss him so much."

"I know," Hank replied, holding Steph. "I know...." They sat there for a while until Steph's tears subsided and another young woman approached them, wiping the last of her tears too but smiling when she saw the two under the tree.

"Cuddling again, huh?" Kitty asked, hiccupping. "H- he used to do that all the time, we'd sit there for hours...." she trailed off, remembering Peter for a while. Steph reached out a hand and took Kitty's, squeezing it gently.

"You still have that blow-up doll ya made for when he was gone," she reminded her. Kitty hiccupped again.

"Shh," she said, smiling slightly. "He's not supposed to hear-" she looked at Hank, who shook his head.

"I fear I have discovered understanding the female's rationality when it comes to romantic partners is extremely random and inexplicable at the best of times," he said. Kitty just looked at him.

"He said he can't understand our views on men anyway," Steph informed the older girl, who nodded.

"If for nothing else, you two should hook up because you're like, the only person who understands what he's saying except for like, Professor Xavier," she said. "I just wanted to let you know you were like, really brave getting up there. I loved it, it was really great." She looked away, eyes filling with tears again as Steph gave her hand another squeeze.

"Thanks," she said. "N' don't worry, if ya can stand him wearing big fluffy feather wings he'll come swoopin' down n' he'll carry ya off one of these days. We'll never see you again 'till we're all carried off too." Kitty nodded.

"You two should really hook up, it'll tick Mark off to no end and like, you're already getting as trivial as he is," Kitty said, looking at Hank. "See you guys later." With that she turned and walked away. Steph groaned.

"Mark, I forgot about him!" she said. "What-?"

"Don't worry about him," Hank assured her. "He has been suspended forthwith from all missions until further notice, and our friend Creed has found himself a new... training partner. He is also under house arrest for a time. Charles informed Mark of this immediately after last night, and though it turns out he was slightly drunk at the time Mark has forced himself to realize what he had done will not tolerated. Nevertheless he is extremely upset and will most likely remain in his bedchamber for a while thinking about his actions." Steph smiled up at Hank, then frowned.

"Ya know, I don't think he's gonna get it," she said, sighing. "I'm gonna have t' get into somethin' relationshipy before he gets outta house arrest..."

"Then you've got a long time," Hank assured her, squeezing her arm gently.

"Ow, bruises," Steph said, pushing the hand down from her forearms.

"Bruises?" Hank said, pulling up her sleeve and looking at the marks on her arms from Mark's tight hold. He glared at them. "You know, Stephanie, I think Mark has found himself two new training partners...."

"Oh, a feral teddy bear," Steph said, snuggling into his shoulder and pulling the sleeve back down. "I'm gonna have t' watch that."