Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or basic storylines from the X-Men. I do, however, own Matthew. And yet, still I am poor beyond belief.

Authors Note: THANK YOU REVIEWERS! You all make me so happy.

'Thoughts'

Matthew

Chapter Thirteen: Beatings and Flames

"She dropped him off at an orphanage in Texas and told 'em ta send him away," Rogue said into the phone as Xavier worked furiously on the other end, writing everything she told him down. It saddened his heart to know that she had killed the girl. Rogue never told him, but he was the worlds most powerful psychic after all, and it was plain as soon as he'd picked up the phone. He would not judge her for it, or condemn her and she knew that just as well as she knew that he knew what she had done as soon as he answered, but he did wish, deep down in his heart, that she had found another way. "That's all she knew."

"Do you know the name of the orphanage?" Charles asked jotting down the dates she had given him and the description of the little boy at the time.

"Saint Mary's over in Dallas."

"Very well, I will get Henry on it right away. Meanwhile I will start my search with Cerebro. Shall I send Ororo and Kurt to fetch the two of you?"

"Probably, Ah need ta talk ta Rems first. Professah, she told him we didn't want him anymore," Rogue whispered, the tears clear in her voice. "That we didn't love 'em. What if he hates us?"

"Rogue my dear, often you have told me in our sessions about your love for your son. And ultimately it was the love you have for his father that helped you learn control. Even if he has been misinformed, I am sure it will only take one look into your eyes to wash any doubts and misconceptions he has had away," Charles comforted her.

"Thank ya Professah," she said and then paused for a few minutes before continuing. "Are ya really disappointed in meh?"

Charles paused for a few moments, choosing his words carefully. "I wish you had chosen a different way my dear, but a certain adage comes to mind. And that is, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, and I think that in the case of a mother, that scorned woman hath no fury as well. I understand while you did what you did, and while I cannot condone it, I can accept it."

"Thank ya Professah. Ah'll talk ta Remy. We should be ready to leave in about an hour," Rogue replied gratefully. She hadn't known if her actions would get them thrown from the mansion and from the team, but she couldn't have acted differently. Belle had to die for her crimes, no matter the cost to Rogue.

"You're welcome my dear, and do not worry. We WILL find your son," Charles stated before hanging up the phone and wheeling towards the elevator. He had a long night ahead of him and he had no idea just how long it would be.

xoxoxoxoxoxox

Summer awoke with a start in the middle of the night, fear coursing through her veins. "Matty," she whispered before leaping out of bed and throwing on some cloths. As she was pulling on her shoe, a wave of pain washed over her body and she looked up into her mirror, her eyes glowing with orange flames. They were hurting him, she could feel it. Her whole demeanor changed and in an instant she strolled across the room to the window of her sixth story apartment, walking straight out into the night sky.

A homeless man in the alcove of a building across the street shook his head in wonder before walking over to the nearby trashcan and throwing his brown paper bag into it. "Last time I ever drink that stuff again. Makes ya see flamin' birds," he muttered as he wandered down the street.

xoxoxoxoxoxox

Charles sat at Cerebro, concentrating on trying to find a trace of Rogue and Remy's son while Ororo and Kurt took the X-Jet over to New Orleans to pick them up. Although, his task was rather hard considering they didn't know if the boy was a mutant, and he didn't have a mind pattern to go off of. Images of different people seemed to litter the walls of the great round room as he searched. Suddenly a great surge of power, a very familiar power, came across link and Charles opened his eyes in shock. "It cannot be," he whispered. Before the machine had fully shut down he was wheeling down the hallway to summon the others.

xoxoxoxoxoxox

She could feel his pain as she landed outside the old, rundown home on the outskirts of Los Angeles, her body naturally reverting from its flaming state. As she walked, all the junk that littered the yard began to levitate and fly in front of her. She walked up the door and watched as it flew back from its hinges and into the house with a mere thought. The power was almost overwhelming as she strolled into the home, looking deadly over at Mr. and Mrs. Baker, who had poor Matty pinned down as they continued to rail on him, their own children cowering in fear in the corner. They paused as she entered, and looked taken aback before Mr. Baker began to speak.

"So you're the little slut that's trying to take away our meal ticket huh?" he growled rising, walking over to strike her.

"No don't!" Matty cried only to be slapped by Mrs. Baker.

"Shut up you little ingrate!" she spat at him, rising behind her husband.

Before his hand hit her, Summer raised her own, fingers spread and watched with a smile as his hand stopped mid air.

"What the…she's a fucking mutie!" he yelled, when suddenly his heart began to race. He looked down at his skin and saw he was covered in centipedes. "What the hell are you doing to me?" he whispered before moving back away from her, trying to swat them off.

"What the hell are you doing to him you little bitch!" Mrs. Baker went to move only to have Summer hold her in place. Very slowly, flames began to erupt, starting at Summers feet and ending at her head, taking the shape of a bird as she walked over to Mrs. Baker, her body and face still visible amongst the flames.

"I am the Phoenix, and I tell you now, if you ever try to lay a finger on him again," Summer spoke, her voice sounding like that of a divine being, "no one will be able to stop what I will do to you." As she spoke the floor at Mrs. Bakers feet became swarming with snakes and rats, at least in Mrs. Bakers mind, and the woman began struggling to climb up onto furniture. Phoenix strolled easily across the room and reverted to Summers form, scooping Matty's bruised and broken body into her arms before heading towards the door. "Lets get you to the hospital kido," she whispered, kissing his forehead, leaving the Bakers screaming in terror behind them.

"How did ya know?" he asked her, trying not to cry in spite of the pain.

"I heard you call out to me," she replied as she went to wave down a cab, that being a relatively easy task with her psychic ability. The cabby even jumped out to help her get him in the back before driving like a bat out of hell towards the nearest ER. "I told you I always would," she added as she held him.

Authors Note: Damn those Bakers. Wait until Rogue and Remy find out what they've been doing to their baby boy. Okay, we're getting closer now, you impatient things you! I know it's taken some time, but you've got to admit, it's going pretty well. And hey look, another chapter up today. I'm rather impressed with myself at the moment. Anyway, I'll start working on the next one, and that will be where they go to pick up "Summer" (you guys could have at least pretended not to know who she is until this chapter you know) and find another special little surprise with her. Now, who will figure out who he is first I wonder? Well, I don't wonder, but then, I'm the only one who really knows, so that's probably why. Anyway, enough of my rambling, I hope you enjoy this chapter and R&R and no flames please.