Title: Sirens' Song
Author: Sinayah
Disclaimer: I don't own any characters from Buffy, Angel, or Xmen. They belong to very rich people who don't appreciate them as we fanfic writers do.
Disclaimer 2: The Chapter Title and Lyrics belong to .38 Special.
Authors Note: Many heartfelt thanks to my muse Zenura, without her I wouldn't have had the guts to write. If you like this story please review or send me an email, I'd really appreciate hearing what you think. Enjoy!
Chapter 2: The Sound of Your Voice
"'Cause all I needed to hear, was the sound of your voice…"

Siren was taking a leisurely walk around the grounds when she felt a probing at her mind. Since Jean was at school she assumed it was the professor and opened her defensive wall enough to allow his message through. 'Logan, Serena, please come to my office. I have a favour to ask of you.' The raven haired woman responded that she'd be right there, then changed directions and headed back to the mansion.

Meeting her brawny friend at the office door Siren tapped out, "Any idea what the prof wants?" Receiving a shake of the head in response Logan opened the door and they entered Professor Xaviers' sanctuary. They greeted the austere gentleman and sat themselves in the plush chairs opposite his desk.

"Thank you both for coming, I know you were enjoying some time away from your duties." The telepath began. He sighed before continuing, linking his hands under his chin for a moment. "I just got off the phone with Principal Darkholme. It seems that Kitty, Kurt, and Rogue have gotten themselves into some trouble at school. Apparently they got into a fight with Pietro, Lance, and Freddy. Now I know this isn't unusual, but Mystique is going to make an issue of it this time."

Logan and Serena rolled their eyes in unison. Whenever Mystique got bored she found some way to make the Xmen students miserable. "Was anyone hurt?" Siren asked, her concern for the teens apparent. When the professor shook his head, she sighed in relief. The silent woman was extremely fond of the teens, Kurt in particular, and she knew Logan felt the same about Rogue and Kitty.

"What do you need us to do Chuck? I'd be more than willing to shred Mystique anytime you give me the go ahead." Wolverine growled. He had plenty of issues with the shape shifter, and messing with the kids he cared about pushed the limits of his tolerance.

Charles shook his head again, vetoing Logans' idea. He knew how the adults in front of him felt about the children in their care. If Charles was their mentor, and Scott their team leader and steadfast older brother, the pair in front of him were the young mutants surrogate parents. The telepath mused on the subject for a moment before giving a further response.

Though Serena was but a few years their senior, the children looked to her for a mothers nurturing love and approval, which she gave freely. The young woman was a natural mother. Even the older students, like Scott and Rogue turned to her for reassurance, though they'd dealt with not having parents long ago. The only resident who didn't seem to adore the small woman was Jean. Logan too was a parental figure to the teens, the stern but fair father who taught them everything they needed to know about surviving in the world. He gave lessons in everything from mechanics to fighting style and handed out praise as well as punishment.

His thoughts now ordered, Charles told the two what he needed of them, "Principal Darkholme wants to hold a parent/teacher conference tomorrow in regard to all the incidences where our students have clashed with her group. I suspect she wants to intimidate us with a threat of suspending or expelling our residents from Bayville High." Charles paused a moment to let that information sink in to their minds. The pair were extremely protective of their charges and would most certainly take this as a threat to them.

He continued when Logan started growling and Sirens golden eyes clouded in worry. "What I need from the two of you is for you to attend the meeting, acting as the children's guardians. I would go myself but I have a speech to give in Washington. Ororo can't attend as she's still on vacation. I know the two of you have a special bond with the students and I'm certain you can handle this situation. Do you have any problems with this?"

"Not a single one Professor. In fact, I'm looking forward to seeing Mystique again." Serena answered, speaking aloud. Thanks to the resistance training she could now forgo the computer if she kept her comments brief. Anger was beginning to overtake the woman's worry and it showed, her amber eyes had darkened to onyx and her fangs had lengthened as her volatile emotions started triggering her change to sea siren form. Wolverine merely grunted his ascent, nodding for emphasis. The stoic man was always ready to take on their enemy, whatever the circumstances.

Professor Xavier nodded, relieved that the pair were willing to attend to this problem. "Thank you both. I have every confidence that you'll handle the situation well. Be careful though, we never know if Mystique has something else planned. Now before you go back to your previous tasks I have one more thing I'd like to discuss. An experiment, if you will, that may aid us with Serena's mutation."

Sirens' eyes lit up, her face hopeful. She detested being unable to speak and was willing to try just about anything that would allow her to express her thoughts freely, without harming her friends. Logan remained his usual laconic self, saying nothing. Inside though he was as exited as his friend. 'I'd love it if she could control the mutation, I'd get to hear her voice more often. Without wakin up a drag queen.' He mused.

Serena brought the computer attached to her arm up and tapped at its keys rapidly, her message being, "What is it Professor? Have you figured out a way for me to control it?" The woman was practically bouncing in her seat with anticipation. It had been ten years since she'd been able to speak freely. She refused to let her memories carry her away from the present. She needed to find out what the Professor wanted to try.

Logan chuckled at her exuberance and the professor smiled as he responded. "Have you ever tried giving a hypnotized person the suggestion that they free themselves from your power and not come under its influence again?" the telepath asked. Charles had happened upon the idea while reading a book on hypnosis and subliminal messages. He was eager to see if it would work in Sirens case.

"No, I've never even thought of it professor. Can we try it? I mean, is it safe? It won't harm anyone if it doesn't work?" The ebony haired woman tapped out. 'Why didn't I think of that! I've had this problem for so long and it could be as easy as telling people to ignore the suggestion? How stupid can I be?' She thought, berating herself.

"You're far from stupid Serena." Charles stated, not needing his abilities to see what the girl was thinking. He continued, "I think we should try it now, using Logan and myself as the test subjects." The professor relaxed his mind, preparing to let himself fall under the influence of the Sirens song. Before the singer could begin though, Logan covered her mouth with his hand, halting the experiment.

While the discussion between Chuck and the Chatterbox had been going on Logan was thinking over the ways this could affect the Xmen, he found the security breach just in time to stop Serena. "Whoa, slow down you two. I found a problem with your plan. We need to solve it before she tries the idea out." He removed his hand from Sirens pretty mouth and continued when he had their attention.

"Chatterbox can't just go around tellin people not to get hypnotized by her voice ever again. What if we need her to hypnotize someone she's told to ignore her influence? We've worked with Mystiques gang before and probably will again, not to mention the times when we've had to fight each other. Now we can't have em gettin mesmerized when they're fightin on our side, but it's the quickest damn way to end a fight when they're on the other side. You get what I mean?" Once he finished, the big man settled back into his seat, waiting for Wheels to figure out a way around the problem.

"Hmm you're quite right Logan. I hadn't thought about that. Perhaps if she used a key word of some sort, that could bring someone back under her control." The telepath mused, trying to find a solution. So far the petite woman hadn't gone on many missions with the other Xmen as they couldn't risk having their own team hypnotised as well as their foes. The bald man was desperate to find a solution that would allow the hypnotist to fight with her team. She could be a valuable asset if given the opportunity.

"A key word might work, for people she'll be talkin to a lot. Any visitors like the suits that come by every once in a while she can just give em a suggestion like 'Ignore my hypnosis unless I give ya a vocal command.' if she needs to talk to em" Problem solved to the security experts satisfaction he gave his assent to the experiment. "Go ahead Chatty, let's see if it works. Pick a key word, and give Chuck that suggestion. Try the vocal command one on me so we can see how each one works."

The professor nodded and Siren thought for a moment before beginning to sing an old children's song. When she had both men under her power she focused on Charles first. As her low alto voice filled the room, her suggestion filled his powerful mind. She directed to him a specific order. 'Charles Xavier, you will ignore the hypnotic suggestions of my voice until I speak aloud the word Forevermore. When that word is spoken or sung by me you will fall under my influence again and be at my mercy.'

The professor came out of his mesmerised state once the order was given. She nodded to let the telepath know it had worked so far, and then directed all her energies at Logan. She turned to face the big man, meeting his crystalline eyes with her own amber orbs. Once again her suggestion filled the mind and she issued a specific order to her friend. 'Logan, you will ignore the hypnotic suggestion of my voice unless I give you a specific, vocal order.'

When Logan shook off the hypnotic state Serena stopped singing. "Now lets see if it worked." She said, rising and taking a book from the professors' bookshelf. "I'll read aloud for a while and then give the key word. If you fall under Professor I'll have you do something then free you again. I'll try Logan after." She began reading, using the full power of her mutation. She watched for any signs that her friends were falling under her power but none came. After fifteen minutes of reading Siren began to think the experiment had worked. Not even the professor could withstand her voice for that long.

Pausing in her reading for a second Siren looked over at Logan, who was relaxing in his chair. She'd decided to try the feral mutant first, rather than Charles. "Logan get me a drink of water from the kitchen." She said, and then continued reading from the book, watching her friend. At her order Logans eyes had glazed slightly and his stony expression softened. Sure signs that he was under her thrall. Without comment the large man got up and left the room, heading for the kitchen.

A minute later he was back, carrying the requested drink. He handed her the glass and resumed his seat, the glazed look disappearing from his blue eyes and his face hardening once more. Serena nodded a thanks to him and downed the water. Continuing she spoke "The circumference of a Forevermore is." Speaking her chosen key word Siren looked at the professor. He had slumped slightly in his wheelchair and was looking at her for direction. "Return this glass to the kitchen Charles, and then come back here." The hypnotist ordered.

When the bald man had returned to his place behind the desk Siren waited for him to shake off the hypnosis. When that failed to happen she realized she would have to give the suggestion again. Deciding to include Logan this time she gave a vocal order to him first. "Logan you will fall under my hypnosis now." When he had complied the raven haired woman began singing another children's song, making sure both men were under completely. She allowed the full force of her suggestion to invade their minds before giving the specific instruction. 'Logan and Charles, you will ignore the hypnotic suggestion of my voice until I speak aloud the word Forevermore. When I speak or sing this word you will again be under my control.'

She watched as the men again shook off her influence. They looked at her expectantly and neither could keep the wide grins from their faces as the small woman literally jumped for joy. "It worked! It worked! Thank you Professor! Thank you so much!" she shouted, throwing herself into the bald mans arms. After his initial shock, the telepath patted her back and said, "You're quite welcome dear. I'm very happy for you."

Kissing the older mans cheek she bounded out of his lap and ran around the desk to throw herself at Logan. The fierce man caught her in his embrace and hugged her tightly, sharing her enthusiasm. Chuckling into her hair Logan teased, "Guess you're gonna live up to your nickname now aren't ya?" Her tinkling laughter against his neck was his answer.