Author's Notes: Don't think that Mystique's OOC here, because this is how I'd think she'd act if she loved animals and was in a slightly humorous fic. Comments and suggestions are welcome, and flames too, if there's a reasonable explanation.

Unforgiven, Unforgotten

By: Nakamura Michiyo

Chapter 2: Five Minutes

Kurt didn't know what to do. He could just leave her there…but Kurt was disgusted that the thought even crossed his mind. He could bring her to the nearest hospital, but there would be questions. The only other option was…Kurt sighed. He teleported back to the mansion, knowing he had no choice.

-

Mystique woke up to a dark room. She squinted. She could barely make out a thing, for the curtains were drawn close, but she knew it was late afternoon. She was about to get out of the bed, when everything came back to her. She was in the Xavier Institute and she had to get out of there. She leaped out of the bed, only to find her legs were too weak to support her. 'Damn it.' There was only one thing she could to do. She changed into a raven and prepared to fly.

"Just where do you think you're going?"

The lights were suddenly turned on, revealing the professor, Logan, and Ororo.

"Don't bother trying to escape, the windows are all locked tight" the professor said amusedly.

Mystique changed back into herself, trying to steady herself against the wall.

"Charles, it's as if you don't know me" Mystique said. "I can do whatever I want, when I want."

"Well, now's an exception" Logan said. "You have to think of the needs of others rather than your own."

"Why you…" Mystique hissed, getting ready to attack him.

"Easy, easy" Ororo said. "Raven, why don't we go down and talk about this?"

"About what!" Mystique snapped. "There's nothing to talk about, and I'm leaving."

"Wait" the professor said calmly. "Please, Raven, it's important."

Mystique looked at them, their faces entirely serious. She felt herself relent.

"Fine…I'll give you five minutes."

"More than enough" Charles said, rolling his wheelchair out the door. "Follow me."

Mystique felt herself hesitate, but she pushed it away. She followed him downstairs to the main floor, where all the X-men were waiting.

"Raven" Ororo began. "We want to invite you to live in the Xavier Institute."

"What!"

Whatever Raven was expecting, it was not this. She looked for Kurt and Rogue. They were not there. She felt her heart sink.

"You're all insane" Mystique said. "There's no way I'll accept this absurd offer."

"I believe you'll change you're mind after you talk to Irene" the professor handed her a laptop with Irene's image on it.

"Irene!" Mystique choked. "But how…why…"

"Raven" a voice said calmly from the other end. "It's Irene."

"I know that!" Mystique regained her snappy composure.

She sat down at the nearest chair.

"Please tell me you're not a part of this" Mystique said.

"It will be good for you" Irene said.

"If you think that me living in this forsaken mansion is good, then you belong to a mental asylum just like all of them here!" Mystique snapped.

"This is a chance for you to become closer to your children" Irene explained. "Don't waste this opportunity."

"Are you crazy!" Mystique said incredulously. "What opportunity! They'll probably ignore me for as long as I'm staying here!"

"That's not what I think" Irene said quietly. "Look, the X-men are taking a break from school this week. Why don't you stay in that time and bond with Kurt and Rogue?"

"Irene" Mystique whispered. "They're not even here! How am I suppose to know that they can accept me when they're not even there on the day I'm supposed to live in their house!"

"Trust me, Raven."

"No" Mystique shook her head. "I am not doing it no matter what."

Irene smiled. "I was expecting this, so I prepared a little something that might change your mind."

"You now better than to blackmail me, Irene" Mystique said. "I'm stronger than anything you'll ever bring to my face."

"Really?" Irene brought a paper bag up to the screen, and it was…moving.

"What's that?" Mystique asked warily.

Before any of them could do anything, a small furry head popped out of the bag.

"Oh, Irene!" Mystique gasped. "You shouldn't have!"

Irene brought the whole thing out, revealing a little Golden Retriever, still just a few days old.

"But I'm not giving it to you" Irene said. "Unless…"

"You know, Irene" Mystique sighed. "You are so lucky you're already blind or else I would have pulled your eyes out."

"So, what do you say?" Irene said. "If you don't stay where you are, this little puppy goes back to the pet shop."

"But Husky and I already love each other!" Mystique protested. "Right, Husky?"

The dog barked.

"You gave him a name already?" Irene said, amused. "Then that means…"

Mystique sighed. "Yes, yes, I'm staying."

"I'll send him there right away" Irene said.

Mystique looked out the window and it was already dark, the moon smiling its crescent smile, as if mocking her. "I'm tired. Good night, Irene."

"Good night, Raven, have a pleasant stay there" Irene said, cutting of the connection.

She looked at the X-men and glared. "Don't you dare say a word."

"Now I know how to bribe people like you" Spyke choked back a laugh.

"Shut up" Mystique snapped, turning to the professor. "I'm tired and I want to sleep. What kind of hosts are you to not even give your guests a bed to sleep in?"

"Don't worry" Charles smiled. "We've got it all planned out. You'll be sharing a room with Logan here."

Both Mystique and Wolverine threatened him in unison. "If you're not kidding then you're legs won't be the only ones that can't move!"

"I was only joking!" the professor said hastily. "You'll be getting the room beside Ororo's."

Mystique sighed. "At least it's not half as bad as sharing a room with him."

She began heading up the stairs when Storm spoke.

"Wait; do you even know where your room is?"

"Of course I do" Mystique stared at her like some kind of idiot. "I destroyed yours before, remember?"

Ororo sighed. "How could I forget?"

More than five minutes has passed, maybe ten, or twenty, or a hundred...oh, never mind.