A/N: I'm not completely happy with this chapter, but oh well. Sorry I took so long to update…exams are next week and life has been hectic! I'll probably post another chapter fairly soon. Please R&R!

Morph: thanks katzie! Actually I didn't mean to write from experience but I needed something to go there that worked and that did! Hmm revenge, eh? Not a bad thought…-lost in thoughts-

Crazycatluver: thankyou very much! Sorry I took so long to update.

Loganlover: glad to hear that…I like Susannah, and this story's fun to write

Jinxeh: yep I'm friends with morph…used to go to school with her in fact! And thankyou very much for the comments on my writing style – I always feel that I put too much detail. Thankyou very much for the review!

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Susannah awoke slowly on her second day at the Institute, vaguely disoriented until she remembered where she was. Immediately she sank down into her bed, trying to will away the truth – that she was not at home, and that she could not return home. Squeezing her eyes shut tightly she wanted desperately to forget, to make life as it was, to go back to even two days ago when everything was normal. But no matter how she tried, when she opened her eyes the room she was in was the same. Sighing, she resigned herself to her fate – at least for now, and surveyed her surroundings.

The room was not large, but not small enough to call it cramped. Her bed was on the right side of the room, facing a wall with a door in the middle. Against the left wall was a desk, and seeing this she sighed as she realised this probably meant schoolwork – and with it, school. A wardrobe stood next to it, and seeing her bag of clothing laid in front of it she figured that she'd have to put her things away sometime today. Between her bed and the desk lay a window – a large one, taking up most of the wall, deep enough for a window seat to be set into it, which was where she had spent most of the day before. The walls were basic lemon yellow, with white ceiling and doorframe, and there was a pale blue rug on the polished floorboards. She appreciated the soft colours, and the simplicity of the room because she favoured neatness and simple rooms were easier to keep neat. The only thing that spoiled this neatness now was her things, lying in a pile at the foot of her bed. With a wry smile she realised that she hadn't had a shower since two days ago, and probably smelled rather strange. Swinging her legs over the side of the bed she sat up, and wondered where she could wash and ready herself for the day.

As she was wondering, she heard a knock on the door. "Come in," she said in answer, and as the door opened she saw a girl about her own age. About average height, she had dark hair with two white streaks in the fringe, and seemed to favour long sleeves and gloves, even on the beautiful summer morning. She smiled shyly at Susannah, who smiled back hesitantly.

"My name's Rogue," the girl introduced herself. "Actually it's Marie, but Rogue fits me better. You're Susannah, right?"

Susannah nodded, and replied "Yes, I am. A rather unkempt Susannah currently though, my apologies for not looking my best."

Rogue just laughed and remarked that she thought that Susannah looked fine, given what she'd been through.

"I'll show you the bathroom in this part of the house, if you like. Only three of us share it, so it's not so bad. Four, counting you."

Susannah grabbed what she needed from a bag, and followed Rogue. Rogue hesitantly took her hand in her own gloved one, and they walked a short distance down the hall. Stopping in front of a door a few doors down from Susannah's room, she gestured towards it.

"This is our bathroom. You can recognise it by it's lack of decoration – most of us put name plates and other things on our doors. Right now your door is still plain though, but it and the bathroom door are the only ones so you shouldn't have too much trouble – either you'll end up in your bedroom or the bathroom, so you don't have to worry. I'll leave you be to have a shower and whatever else you need to do – try not to take more than half an hour though, breakfast is in an hour and I haven't had a shower yet! I'll meet you back at your room then and show you down to breakfast." Rogue smiled and walked down the hall in the opposite direction, leaving Susannah staring at the door.

"Well, there's only one thing for it Susannah." she told herself, and turned the handle of the door. The bathroom was clean, if a little small, and towels hung on a rack. Seeing one marked with an "S", she wondered at who would have thought of her. She checked the lettering on the others, thinking that it might have belonged to another girl, but there were three others and none were marked with that letter. She smiled as she saw the one marked with "M", and traced the letter with a finger. Rogue seemed kind, and Susannah was grateful for her. She turned, caught sight of herself in the mirror and shuddering she decided that she needed to get in the shower, right now!

Emerging from her shower clean and with damp hair, she looked into the mirror and into her green eyes. 'Green like a cat's eyes,' her grandmother used to say. As she remembered that a shadow passed over her face and she kicked herself for thinking of home or her family. Both were dead to her now, as she was dead to them, and the pain of remembering wasn't worth thinking of. Collecting her things, she tried to shake the thoughts out of her head and walked slowly back to her room.

In her room again she sat in the window seat and waited for Marie – Rogue, she corrected herself, to return and take her to breakfast. Relieved to be clean again she let herself fall into memories even without realising it.

She woke early that morning, too excited to sleep – it was her seventh birthday and like any child on her birthday she had counted the days eagerly until this morning, and now she was seven. Throwing the blankets off her bed she ran out into the living room to see if anyone was awake. They weren't, it was only seven o'clock in the morning but she didn't mind. Turning on the tv she watched the early morning cartoons until she was disturbed by the voice of another – her grandmother. "Grandma!" she had almost yelled. Jumping up from her place on the living room carpet she leaped into her grandmother's arms.

"How does it feel to be seven, Susannah Green Eyes?"

Susannah simply grinned in reply, and laughed at the familiar nickname. Grandma Griffiths, her father's mother, was her favourite relative, and the one who understood her best. Her grandmother handed her a parcel and she quickly ripped the paper off exposing the gift – or gifts. Two books, hardcover and brand new, both by an author called Enid Blyton whose name she didn't recognise. But what she did recognise was her grandmother's understanding of her loves…and how much she loved to read.

Suddenly she was startled out of her memories by a knock at the door.

"Susannah? It's Rogue."

A wave of grief washed over her as she realised what she had let herself do. Remembering home hurt too much still, and remembering her grandmother even more – they were very close and the idea that she would never see her again – she broke the thought off abruptly. It would not do to try and think about that, she had enough to deal with as it was. And she was going to make herself and Rogue late for breakfast!

Jumping up she walked quickly across the room to the door. Opening it she looked into Rogue's eyes, and as they met she saw an empathetic expression flicker on Rogue's face.

"It's difficult, isn't it. I can't tell you anything to make it easier, but I wish I could. Only time will help…but perhaps being here and meeting some of us will give you some comfort and help to distract you."

Relief filled Susannah as she realised that she didn't have to keep a mask and that the others would understand. She smiled slightly and took Rogue's gloved hand, wondering again at the strange clothes the other girl wore. For summer it was not the most practical choice… Susannah shrugged. Each to their own she supposed. They walked together down the hall towards the stairs and Rogue grinned.

"How do you like the Institute?"

"I'm not sure, I haven't seen much of it yet."

"That will change pretty quick."

Laughing, Rogue lead Susannah down to breakfast where she suddenly found herself surrounded by faces, welcoming her and asking her name.

Perhaps she could get used to this…it didn't make it any easier but at least it looked like fun.