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 Bonnie Raitt.
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 3: Something to Talk About
"let's give em something to talk about, a little mystery to figure out…"

The Xmen team were happy to hear that the professor had found a way around Serena's mutation and the key word suggestion was given to them as a group. Their attempt at celebration though was cut short by their mentors other news. A pall lay over their exuberant mood. None of the group liked waiting to see what Mystique was up to and it showed in their actions.

In the common room Scott was buckled down with his homework. Jean sat in a chair not far away, chewing her fingernails while pretending to pay attention to the television. Evan was playing on his game boy while a scowl decorated his face. Kurt, Kitty, and Rogue obviously felt that the coming confrontation was their fault.

Rogue was taking out her frustrations on the punching bag in the gym, music blaring through her headphones. Kitty was typing on her laptop but kept looking up to make sure Logan was in easy reach. She'd held a special fondness for the gruff man since he'd protected her from himself in the snowy wilderness when the chip in his head was active and attempting to make him kill she and Kurt.

The fuzzy blue teen's dread was almost palpable. Since Kurt had found out that Mystique was his biological mother he'd taken great pains to avoid the school principal. Nightcrawler was the joker of their group, always into something or pulling pranks with the other team members. Tonight he was silent and brooding. When the professor had explained the situation Kurt had moved from the lounge chair he'd been seated in and curled up on the couch, as close to Serena as he could get. The boy had stayed in his place next to the woman he'd adopted as a mother figure the entire night, his tail curled around her leg for comfort.

When bed time came around Siren ushered the teens to their bedrooms. As was her habit, she spent a few moments with each of her friends, bustling around their rooms picking up laundry and making sure alarm clocks were set. In Kitty and Rogues room she went about her activities while the girls climbed into their beds. Then she went to Rogue and performed another nightly ritual.

Sitting at the auburn haired girls' side, she said goodnight and ran her bare hand over the girls' forehead before kissing it lightly. Serena felt for the young woman, unable to touch as she'd been unable to speak. The only times Rogue touched people were fights, and then only when necessary. Siren knew those brief touches, given freely every night despite the danger made Rogue happy. The brief, light touch of hand and lips caused no harm to either and made the younger feel wanted and cared for.

Kitty wasn't left out of the ritual either, when Serena had finished with Rogue she went over to the other girl and hugged her tightly before saying goodnight once again and leaving the room. As the door shut behind the older woman Rogue turned to face Kitty and said, "Sirens really great huh?" a smile on her lips. Kitty agreed and the girls went to sleep.

Siren bumped into Logan in the hall as she made her way to Kurts' room. She'd decided to stop by the blue teen's room last, feeling that he'd need a little extra attention this night. Logan was making his own rounds, as he did every night, stopping outside each room to make sure the kids were sleeping and not trying to sneak out. "I don't think anyone's going to try to break curfew tonight Wolvie, too much stress. Go on down to the kitchen and get us some coffee while I say goodnight to the blue guy." Logan nodded to the woman and went downstairs. This was another nightly occurrence. After the kids were safely tucked in bed the two adults would sit in the kitchen and reminisce about the day. Sometimes Charles or Ororo joined them but most nights they were left to themselves. Each looked forward to the quiet conversations, getting to know a bit more about each other as the tensions of the day eased.

Smiling at her friends retreating form Serena turned and made her way to Kurt's room. She found the German boy already in bed waiting for her. Seeing that the blue mutant had already tidied up his room she sat on the bed next to him. "What's wrong Kurt? You've faced Mystique and her boys before and it never effected you like this." She said quietly, laying a hand on her young friends shoulder.

"This'll be the first time I've seen her since I found out she was my mother Serena. I don't know what to say if she talks to me. She's our enemy; she'd like to see us all dead. But she is my mother, she gave birth to me. How am I supposed to act around her?" The boy's confusion was clearly expressed in his opalescent eyes.

"You act as you always have Kurt. She may have given birth to you but that doesn't make her a mother. Your mother is the woman who took a tiny blue baby out of the river and cared for him, loved him, and taught him to be a good, sweet person. Mystique is merely a mutant that causes trouble for us whenever the mood strikes." Smoothing the boys black hair, Serena smiled down at him.

Kurt raised his upper body from the bed and hugged the woman to him in silent thanks. "I am one lucky blue guy. I had to leave one mother behind in Germany, but I got another one here. Who needs Mystique as a mother when I have you." As Serena's arms gripped him tightly, Kurt let all his worries go. He had nothing to fear from Mystique as long as Siren was near.

Letting the boy go the hypnotist kissed his furry forehead and ran her fingers through his hair. She walked to the door and before it closed behind her she turned and spoke softly in german. "Sweet dreams my son." Serena shut the door and laid a hand against it, two tears running down her smiling face. She truly did love these children.

Logan was seated at the kitchen table, two cups of steaming coffee in front of him when the small woman entered. Seeing the combination of tear tracks and smile the man gave her a look that said clearly 'Women are strange creatures.' Aloud he asked, "What's with you Chatterbox?"

Taking a seat and sipping at her coffee, made just the way she liked it Serena gave a brief summary of her conversation with Kurt, ending with how he'd all but called her his mother. This started the happy tears flowing again and Logan smiled at the emotional display. When she'd finished 'being a woman' as the big man described her state they chatted for a while about the things they'd done during the day and their strategies for the next afternoon. The easy conversation flowing between them, each relaxed significantly and when they headed to their respective bedrooms an hour later they slept deeply and without dreams.