Note: I've changed things, this story's getting a little darker than it should and a tad too complicated. So, I'm tossing out Mindbender, oh she's still mine, I'll probably use her for something else. Anyway, let's try to become more comical shall we? BTW, Figment, Live Wire, Fangs, Sparks (soon to be known as Blaze), Wind Rider, and Sam are mine. All else are marvel.

Ch. 10

Sandy stayed in her room until Sam came home. Then, she had to get up. Sighing she walked into the living room. "Hey Sam, how was school?" That's when she got a good look at him. His eye was blackened and his lip was split. "What happened?!"

"Isn't it obvious? I got in a fight."

"With who? Why?"

"They were picking on one of the kids. They kept saying he was a mutant because he gets good grades."

Sandy sighed, "Sam, did they come after you?"

"No, I was trying to help the kid out."

Sandy collapsed onto the old couch, closing her eyes and rubbing them. "They-they don't think you're a mutant, do they?"

Sam shrugged, a gesture lost on Sandy who still kept her eyes closed, "Does it matter?"

Sandy's eyes snapped open. "Of course it matters! You know what will happen! They'll begin to hurt you!"

"You taught me how to fight, I can take care of myself."

"One on one, yes. But if they think you're a mutant, they will gang up on you."

Sam threw down his book bag in frustration, "Then what am I supposed to do?!"

"I don't know." Sandy said quietly, "We don't have many options."

"I wish I was a mutant-"

"No you don't! Never, ever wish that! Being a mutant has never made life easier, if anything life is harder now!"

Sam sat on the couch next to Sandy, "I don't like it at school. I hate what the teachers say. Mutants aren't evil. You're not evil."

Sandy moved over to him and hugged him. "I know. Don't worry. It'll be okay. I'll take care of you."

"All I'm asking is for Sam to be enrolled here, at your school!" Exclaimed Sandy.

"What's wrong, kid can't cut it in normal school?" asked Logan in the corner.

"The kids are becoming just like their parents. Anyone who deviates from the norm is automatically labeled a mutant. If Sam stays in that school too much longer, he's gonna die!"

"Calm down, Sandy. Sam can come here. He's welcome to. I won't turn away someone just because they don't have the X gene."

"Good," she took a deep breath, "when can he start?"

Sabertooth had finally tracked her down, 'and lookie what else I get, my ol' punchin' bag, too.

Sabertooth, sat on the rooftop a grin on his feline face. 'Two birds, one stone. Ain't life wonderful?'

Hel stood in what remained of the X-kitchen. 'They certainly can put it away.' Hel thought as she reviewed the events that had just occurred. Scott had been the first in-no, second. Kurt had been the first, thanks to his teleportation ability. By now, the Institute had become like a second home to the Elite, Jas helping Warren, aka Archangel, teach the flying mutants how to, well, fly; Kota teaching a self-defense class as well as a class for transformers; Rena continued to attend her personal therapy sessions with the Prof, though, by now, it had become fairly obvious that something other than therapy was going on between them; Sandy did a little of everything, assisting where she could, usually as a sub for the infrequent ill teacher as well as getting to know Mr. Bad Attitude (Logan) himself, a little better. As usual rumors were flying about just how close the two of them were. And Hel, Hel was doing what she had always said she would do, teach English. Though the students did groan about the occasional essay here and there, they did appreciate how Hel livened up the Literary Arts, she didn't just hand out a textbook and tell them to read, she brought the classics to life for them.

But how did this affect the Elites? Xavier was trying to find ways to work them into the X-Men, though truth be told, they were just as happy to stay on their own, just the five of them. At lunch, they always tried to sit together, will the occasional stray X-Men, today was no exception…

"Bonjour, mon ami." Gambit greeted the Elites.

Each returning a greeting of her own design, after which, Gambit took a seat next to Hel, "And how you doin' today, chere?" He asked, directing his question to the fiery mutant.

Hel shrugged, "Fine, I suppose, rather bogged down by the number of essays I have left to grade, but none the worse for wear. You?"

"Ah, same. So, ah…" Gambit leaned in close to whisper something into Hel's ear, to which Hel blushed but came back with, "I don't think Rogue would be overjoyed by that, do you Gambit?"

Gambit just winked and stood up. "By the way, Remy, my codename isn't Sparks anymore, it's Blaze."

As the Elite waited for Gambit's back to retreat out of earshot they watched as Hel's coloring returned to normal. Kota was the first to lose it.

Between gasps of breath she tried to communicate, "Geez Hel," giggle "What.." gasp "did he" snicker "say to" gasp "you?"

"He merely proposed to help me…relax."