The next week passed quickly for almost all concerned and that very next Friday came all too quickly, except for one small and unassuming man in England who had no idea what was about to befall him.

"Stuart!" The gruff little man called out.

"Sir?" Came the meek reply from the sea of desks.

"New assignment." The man replied waving a stack of papers at him while wearing an evil grin.

The young Alistaire Stuart rose slowly from his desk amid a sea of chuckles and head-shakes. What now? He wondered.

"Keep your head down Stu." One of his co-workers whispered as he passed.

He slumped his shoulders and hung his head out of habit. I don't deserve this. He shivered slightly. I'm a good employee.

"You wanted a chance at getting out of the office and moving up in the world Stuart … well here it is." The man thrust the stack of papers at him. "You're the new Mutant liaison."

"Mutant…" Alistaire began, looking down at the stack.

"Yeah. Some new initiative." He supervisor commented off handedly. "They're bringing over some American consultant to advise on the Mutant situation."

Alistaire's stomach dropped and he could feel his heartbeat in his throat. "You can't be serious." He shook his head.

"Oh, but I can." The small mans eyes gleamed. "You're so out of here it's un-be-lievable. Edwards will take over your office duties from now on."

Edwards shifted uncomfortably in his seat and cleared his throat.

Alistaire turned slowly and marched back towards his desk. Every eye in the office followed him as though he were marching toward the gallows themselves.

"Oh, … Stu…" An almost friendly voice whispered in concern.

He gathered up his belongings and shoved them, plus the new paperwork, haphazardly in to his leather satchel and took one long look around the office. Slowly he slipped his full-length coat on and pulled it closed in the front. Then, hugging the satchel to his chest he slowly walked down along the quiet hallway and pressed the button for the lift.

A moment later the doors closed between him and the life he used to know leaving him totally isolated and feeling more alone than he ever had before.

"One mistake!" He said softly to himself. "I only ever made that one mistake." He cast his eyes up to the elevator ceiling. "God, why can't you forgive me?"

He shivered even before he felt the cold. They're setting me up! He realized. Why would they give an important position like this to someone… He shook it off. To a low level no-one like me unless… He sighed.

It's a set up. It has to be. I'm doomed.

Meanwhile, back in Bayville, other people had other ideas.

"This is a real opportunity for Kurt." Storm smiled. "I have to say that I'm a little bit jealous."

"Really?" Scott turned and Storm eyed him.

'Sure." She said softly. "Aren't you?"

"I suppose, just a little." Scott conceded. "But I'm sure I'll get my chance when the time is right."

"I'm sure you will too." Rogue said, trying to sound consoling. She was sure that Scott would have loved the chance to head his own team.

"Have you heard he's taking Kitty with him?" Storm asked, eyeing Rogue hesitantly.

"He is?" Rogue looked slightly taken aback. "Ah haven't had the chance to talk with him much this week between school and training."

"You didn't know?" Scott paused and looked back at Rogue. "I thought for sure you would have been on Kurt's 'A'-list for setting up his own team." He told her.

Rogue shrugged. "Fuzzy and I are close." She admitted. "Maybe closer than we ever have been." She shrugged. "But Ah don't see mahself leaving the X-Men for a good long time. Ah think Kurt knows that."

"Probably." Scott turned back to the wall and thrust the thumbtack in through the streamers. "He knows a lot more than he lets on I think."

"Still smarting over that test Scott?" Rogue eyed him with a big smile.

Scott dropped his head slightly and smirked. "Yeah, maybe a little." He sighed as he slipped down the ladder. "I've read everything Xavier ever suggested. But Kurt just seems to have a better intuitive understanding of Mutation." He shrugged.

"Well," Rogue reasoned. "He's had more reason to think about it, don't you think?"

"How so?" Storm prompted. She knew what Rogue meant but wanted to see how she would explain it.

"Well, you know, with the way he looks and everything he can do." She shrugged. "Ah know that when I absorb other people, it always changes mah view of what it means to be a mutant and what we can do."

Scott paused. "It's a wonder you didn't ace that test too."

Rogue smiled. "Kurt's got the words to explain it Scott. I just have the feelings to back it up."

Storm smiled slyly. "Kurt does like to talk."

"Tell me about it." Scott and Rogue said in unison, then looked at each other and laughed.

Storm rolled her eyes and stepped back to survey their work. The mansion was tastefully garish, decorated in blue and gold with balloons, streamers and a giant sign wishing them good luck.

"Ah am going to miss them." Storm commented, looking at the wonderfully festive decorations and not feeling at all like celebrating.

"Me too." Rogue smiled sadly, as though on the verge of tears.

"He'd always have a place for you." Scott told her. "You know that." He smiled while trying to be reassuring.

"Ah know." Rogue wiped away a tear before it could make it's escape down her face. "But then who would be here to steal you away if you and Jean broke up?" She smiled sweetly, almost mockingly and them, with a hint of a wicked grin and a slight bite of her lower lip – she bounced out of the room.

Scott blinked twice and looked at Storm who was obviously shocked and covering her mouth with her finger tips to keep from laughing out loud.

"She was joking, right Storm?" Scott looked flustered, if not downright worried.

Storm was still laughing to herself and trying to beat a hasty retreat from the room.

"Storm?!?" Scott called, almost pleadingly after her.

Storm looked back and shook her head while still covering her mouth – obviously indicating that she wasn't sure if it was a joke or not either.

"Storm?" Scott swallowed once, not really expecting an answer and looking like a little boy who had lost his mother at the mall.

"She…" He looked around the empty and festive room. "She was joking." He said out loud, sounding not at all sure of himself. "She had to be…" he paused and his voice lost all traces of conviction. "Joking… right?"

But even the room itself seemed to be silently laughing at both him and his confusion.