Mary walked happily into Bayville High school that Monday morning. Her weekend had gone perfectly. It had snowed Saturday morning, and there was a massive snowball fight between everyone at the Institute. Mary had been adamant about being on Tabitha's team, and Amy had discovered why. Tabitha had put her bombs in the snow and hurled them at snow forts, effectively destroying them. They had done pretty well… until Bobby had attacked. The trio was buried up to their waists in snow.

As it turned out, Rogue and Amy had a lot in common and had become thick as thieves. Amy made a point to tell Rogue every embarrassing story she knew about Mary and let her in on her habits and whatnot. The sisters had seen Amy off to the airport, and before she left they made plans of when they should meet again.

After this weekend, Mary felt she could handle 3 more days of school… after that it was Christmas Break! She elbowed her way through the crowd and stopped at her locker to unpack and repack books, unaware of the demon spying on her.

"FINALLY. God, I thought I was going to have to haul this jacket around with me forever. Least she's here. Now, just gotta wait on the sister…" Pietro thought to himself, leaning indiscreetly against a pillar with Mary's camouflage jacket lying across his arms. She had left it in Lance's jeep a few nights ago, and he finally had the chance to get it back with her and finish this mission once and for all. He could have cried in joy when he saw the older sister walk up and converse with the younger. Smiling wickedly, he sped down the hall and halted within inches of Mary.

"Mary! I haven't seen you in a while. I just wanted to give you your jacket… you left it in my car a few nights ago." He greeted cheerfully, pretending not to see Rogue. He saw the wave of dread wash over the two-tone's face, and he knew everything was about to fall into place.

"Mary." Rogue said coldly. She didn't have to say anymore; the one word echoed loudly her confusion and anger. She had swapped into angry big sister mode, and her jets weren't about to cool anytime soon. "What?" She demanded softly, terrifying Mary with the tone.

"Thanks, Pietro… Ah'll see yah later." Mary thanked quickly, her southern accent becoming more predominated with her new anxiety. She took her jacket from the speed demon's arms and shoved it in her locker. Pietro looked between the two girls and gave Mary a questioning stare. "Ah'll explain later… just go." She ordered painfully. Pietro nodded and sped off down the hallway, eager to find a hiding spot to watch the war erupt.

"Mary." Rogue repeated, her cold gray eyes not leaving Mary's nervous brown ones.

"Ah…" She didn't know what to tell her sister. Mary had lied and gone out with a Brotherhood member without permission. Even worse, it was a Brotherhood member Rogue had made clear she loathed. "Please don't get mad… please." Mary begged, stepping back. "Ah… Ah just went tah tha film festival with him a few nights ago… he gave me a ride home… Ah left mah jacket in his car." She explained softly, her voice shaking. She saw her sister was about to explode, so Mary took the opportunity to speak again. "Please, Rogue… he was nothing but a gentleman. He didn't do anything tah me, he even rushed me home when curfew came…" She assured her sister. Mary was terrified; the last thing she wanted was to anger her sister. She had seen Rogue's temper, and it was the last thing she wanted to experience.

"Mary." Rogue repeated again and suddenly reached up and slammed Mary's locker, causing the younger girl to cry out in surprise. She didn't care right now. Mary was in deep trouble. "What were yah thinking?" The older girl demanded. She didn't give her sister time to answer. "Yah lied tah us and then went off with him. Do yah know what could have happened? There could have been an accident, he could have tried tah hurt yah, he could have-"

"Why would he want to hurt me, Marie?" Mary demanded, and Rogue was taken aback; Mary had never used her real name… Rogue didn't like her saying it like that, the tone cut into her deeply. Her brown eyes were watering, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks.

"Because, Mary, it's what he does. He's a monster." Rogue hissed angrily, crossing her arms and staring into Mary's eyes.

"He's not a monster." Mary whispered. "People change. You did! You used to be with them. Look at you now…"

"Some people never change despite how much yah want them too. Like father, like son." Rogue snapped back defensively, tears forming in the corner of her own eyes.

"That doesn't apply to everything. How would you feel if I said 'like mother, like daughter'?" Mary argued, taking pleasure in grating her sister's feelings. Rogue had the right to be upset, of course, but she was wrong. Pietro was a gentleman, and she was sure that he wouldn't hurt her. What she saying wasn't fair.

"That's two totally different things." Rogue growled, quick to take offense at being compared to Mystique.

"How do you know Pietro and his father aren't just like you two then?" Mary said, her voice pitching. Before Rogue could respond, she turned and ran down the halls, her small figure disappearing quickly in the crowd.

Rogue fought the urge to drag her little sister back, and clenched her fists. That wasn't fair. How could Mary do this? How could her little sister lie to them all to go out with him? Rogue knew Pietro shouldn't be trusted. She knew he would cause something to happen, and now it had. He had caused a rift between her and the person she loved most… and she didn't know how to fix it. "Damn you both." She raged, slamming her fist into Mary's locker, attracting attention from anyone in the hallway.

"Rogue?" Kitty asked hesitantly from behind. She had been watching the sisters argue from her locker and had decided not to intrude. It was none of her business… but her best friend's feelings were. "Like… what's going on?" She asked cautiously, stepping up to her friend's side and placing a hand on Rogue's arm. The look on her face was concerning; it was a mask of anger, pain and confusion all combined into one. Tears were in her eyes and she stared at her sister's still retreating form.

"Mary lied to us. She lied to me. She went behind our backs… with Pietro." She replied quietly, jerking her arm away and storming to class, leaving Kitty staring in confusion.

"She wouldn't… not Mary. Like, oh man… this is gonna be bad tonight…" The brunette thought worriedly as she went to first period, desperate to find other housemates in order to warn them of the two-tones on a war path.

&&&&

Mary sprinted down the hallways, frantic to find Pietro. She needed to talk to him desperately. She spied him turning the corner and picked up speed, ducking under arms and shoving people out of her way. "Pietro!" She called out. She saw him turn and she ran to him, plowing into him and beginning to weep. "Pietro… she's so mad at me…" Mary said between sobs.

"Yes!" The mutant thought to himself. "Mary… I'm so sorry. I forgot Rogue didn't know… I was just so happy to see you today… I'm so sorry Mary." He said, feigning concern and wrapping his arms around her figure.

"I'm in so much trouble… and I said such horrible things. I just couldn't stand some of the things she said about you… oh God… I'm in so much trouble…" Mary's thoughts were going a mile a minute and she wondered if she was making any sense.

"It's Ok, Mary." Pietro assured, petting her head. "Hey… we won't stay here today. You can't handle classes now… let me get my coat and we'll go somewhere… the mall… my house… anywhere but here." He promised her, getting a small nod in return as she released him. He turned and sped for his locker, grabbing his jacket and whipping out his cell phone. "Magneto. Send one of you metal orbs to the Brotherhood house. I've got the girl." He said quickly into the phone once his father answered, not bothering to wait for a reply. He hung up and sped back to the two-tone, who had her arms crossed and was leaning against the wall.

"Ok… come on, Mary, let's go." He said, 'concerned' as he scooped her into his arms and they sped out of the building. Seconds later they were standing on the porch of the Brotherhood house, with Mary once again buried in his jacket and crying her eyes out. He scowled, wishing the orb would get here soon so he could get rid of this pest. He barely listened when she explained what had happened, but nodded as if he did and understood. "It's Ok, just calm down… everything will be fine. I promise." He assured her. Minutes passed, and at last he saw a glint of metal in the sky.

Thinking quickly, he spun the two-tone around and wrapped one arm around her neck and the other around her body. He began to flex his arm around her throat, and she began to squirm. In this position she couldn't cry out because he was restricting her vocal cords, but he could tell she was terrified nonetheless. She fought for a few moments before he felt her slowing down. He smiled to himself as the hold took effect and she passed out entirely, falling limply into his arms. He picked her up into a carrying position and stared at her demeanor. Even unconscious, she still appeared terrified. Pietro smiled and dashed out onto the front lawn where the orb was.

It opened, and he tossed her inside carelessly. He heard her moan, and he quickly punched his father's number and assured him that Mary was in his hands and he could bring her home. The semicircle formed into a giant metal sphere again, and it rose into the air and shot off in the direction of Magneto's compound.

"That's that." Pietro smiled, wiping his hands together proudly. "Job well done, Pietro." He congratulated himself before speeding downtown to celebrate.

Inside Magneto's transportation globe, Mary was enjoying sweet oblivion. Once she awakened though, her life would become a living hell.

((Dun dun duuuuun))