"Thank You For Flying With Us"

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Ding. Ding. Ding. All the passengers aboard the commercial airplane stopped what they were doing and listen for the captain to speak. When nothing came they went back to their conversations, and games. Sam Guthrie, Theresa Cassidy, and James Proudstar sat in their aisle of seats talking in hushed voices, even though nothing was secret in a room full of telepaths and other mutants. All of the new Hellfire Club members were sitting in their first class seats talking to the person next to them. If only the pilot knew that they were mutants. "What do you think Reesie?" Sam's question broke through Siryn's thoughts.

"Humm? Sorry I was just thinking, what was the question?" she answered embarrassed by her ignorance.

"Are you okay?" James asked, "You've been spacing off the whole flight."

"Yeah I'm fine," she started, "Just a little nervous. You know I used to fly alot when I was a kid, you know to different places with my uncle, but I still never got used to it." At that moment the plane hit some air pockets in the clouds and jittered. Theresa clutched James' hand who was sitting to her right. The two men laughed silently.

"You fly yourself all the time," Sam added when she calmed down.

"Yes, but I control myself, and its just me, I don't sit in a big room full of people 500 miles above the ground," she answered raising her voice more and more.

"I think thats a little bit of an exaggeration, Theresa." The three turned around and found Sage standing in the aisle getting something from the overhead compartment. "The stuartess is coming by in a second so ixnay an the mutant talk." She grabbed her pillow and walked back to her seat in the back next to Emma and Betsy.

"So," Sam started, "You never answered my question. What do you think about the placements in the club?" Theresa looked at him confused in shook her head in confusion. "You know, like the titles of White Queen, White Bishop. The chess pieces."

"Oh, I don't know I think the Kings and Queens made a list. Why don't you just go get it?" she answered waving behind her to where Betsy, Emma, Sean, and Kurt were sitting. Sam got up and made his way to the back. Theresa leaned her chair back and rested her head on the round pillow, given to her by the stuartess. Mentally, she blocked out all the talk around her such as Forge and Mystique flirting in front of her, Gambit and Storm talking about their upcoming anniversary behind her, and in the very back of the cabin her father and Emma Frost romantically mingling. She closed her eyes and tried to think sleepily thoughts when a hand touched her shoulder.

"Reesie?" the voice was soft, trying not to wake her if she were sleeping.

"Yes, Dani?" she responded opening her eyes.

Danielle stood in the right aisle pushed up as close as she could in case somebody needed to get by. "Do you know where Sam went?" she asked looking around the area once more.

"Yeah, he's in the back talking to Tessa, or Betsy or someone," she answered laying her head back down.

"Okay, Thanks." Dani walked toward the back where a stuartess was fixing drinks. Theresa could hear Dani ask a question but she couldn't make out what she was saying.

"No, ma'am, I'm sorry, but when we arrive at the airport there are some stores for such things," the stuartess answered. Theresa turned around and for the first time actually looked at her face. She saw worry, which wasn't something Dani expressed very much.

"Hey, James," she turned to her left and touched James' arm to get his attention. "DO you know whats wrong with Dani? She looks worried."

"Really? I haven't noticed. Maybe its just her students. You know, the ones still at Xavier's. She's been really sensitive about them since the meetings the other day," he answered, and then turned back to his magazine.

"Hey," Sam walked up behind the two making Theresa jump. "I got the list." At that moment the plane shook and the intercom turned on.

"Attention, passengers, the captain has turned on the fasten seatbelt sign so if you would all please return to your seats." Theresa moved her chair back in its upright position and clutched the armrest.

"Umm...Yeah...Sam...Dani was...looking for you," she studdered closing her eyes in panic.

"We are now approaching the New York City International Airport and will be landing momentarily. Please be sure to turn off all electronic items, and return bags into the overhead compartments or under the seat in front of you. Also put your seat in its upright position, and fasten your seatbelt tightly. Thank you." The intercom beeped back off and the chatter rose again as everyone did as the voice instructed.

"We are now starting are descent. Thank you for flying with us."

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Minutes later the Hellfire Club was at the baggage return waiting for their bags. A couple of the light travelers, who had only one carry on bag, went to the food court while the others grabbed their belongings from the conveyor belt. Danielle carried her one bag over her shoulder as she made her way to her boyfriend. "Hey," she said rapping her arms around Sam's neck. "I have to go pick up something from one of the stores so I'm going to meet you all at the food court with the others okay?"

"Do you want we to go with you?"

"NO!" she shouted suddenly cutting him off. "I mean no. I'll be fine. I'll see you later." With that she gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked off. Sofia overheard the conversation and noticed the anxiety in her teachers answer. She swung her bag over her shoulder and followed Dani through the terminal. Minutes later she followed her into a small drug store. Sofia waited by the entrance next to the check out counter. 'She probably just needs some "personals"' she thought to herself when she started to turn around and go back. But then she saw her come out behind an aisle of medication and head toward the register. Sofia gasped and jumped when she saw what her mentor was buying. 'A pregnancy test?!?' she screamed in her mind. 'Okay, thats weird. I should have just left it alone. What were you thinking ...'

"Sofia?" She turned and saw Dani looking straight at her with embarrassment on her face. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at the food court?" Dani asked quickly stuffing the test in the plastic bag hoping she didn't see.

"Yeah, I should be. Actually, its a funny story really..." she started when Dani stopped her.

"You can't tell anyone, Sofia. Do you understand? Not even Sam. Especially not Sam. Don't mention anything," she pleaded grabbing Sofia's shoulders and softly shaking them every once in a while. The two started walking back to the food court in silence.

"Ummm...If you don't mind me asking...ummm...when did it happen?" Sofia finally asked breaking the silence.

"You weren't there. Don't worry," she answered. Relief flooded Sofia's face. "It was on that ski trip last month when we went to Canada."

"Oh, I see."

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The two black limos containing the Hellfire Club members pulled into the round driveway of the mansion. "Oh my gosh!!" Sydney yelled out and pointed out the window to a pink Mazda RX-8 with three women standing around. "That's Matrix. She's wanted in the city for disterbanceof the peace, or something stupid like that. She's one of those violent street-racers." Everyone in the limo looked out at the oldest girl. She was wearing a maroon cropped halter-top, with a brown lace-up mini skirt leaving her hips bare. Her dark sunglasses and newsboy cap shadowed most of her face but she still looked familiar.

Sean stepped out of his limo and approached her. "Accuse me. Can I help you?"

At that moment she opened her arms and wrapped them around him and squeezed. "Mr. Cassidy. I haven't seen you in years."

"Monet? Monet is that really you? Who are they?" he asked motioning to the two teenage girls on the other side of the car.

"Those are the twins. They got separated."

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