Chapter 8

'You little bastard.'

Todd struggled moving his body randomly hoping the girl would some how lose her footing so he could breathe again.

'Stupid freak!'

Insults from more then five years ago ran through his head, all he could hear was the voice of the man he knew as his father. He opened his eyes, still moving randomly to see what Succubus was standing on. Rocks and mud. He swung himself around and kicked her over, causing her to fall into the knee deep water. She let him go to stand up giving him enough time to pull his head above the water to breathe and call for help.

"Somebody, help me!"

Succubus growled striking Todd across the face with a rock; blood trickled down his forehead as he was pushed under the water once more.

"Todd!" Succubus looked over to see a girl with short dark hair with red tips running over, instantly the girl threw a blue light towards their direction but Succubus lifted up a force field preventing the curse form harming her. She laughed like a maniac, as more people ran over. Pyro lit his lighter and shot out a ball of flames at them but the field projected them away from the pair. Magneto sent sharp pieces of metal at her, but once more the field protected her. Sabertooth let out an angry growl and then pounced at the girl; he flew back hitting a tree trunk hard.

"Hey!" a voice called from the sky, Succubus looked up and saw Anima flying down being held onto by what appeared to be a boy on fire. He let her drop, Nina landed gracefully onto the ground. Succubus let go of Todd who sank to the bed of the river.

"So come to rescue your little friend have you?" The force field fell as Succubus walked over towards Nina.

"Why don't you leave my friends alone, and come after me for once?" Nina hissed. Succubus shrugged, before releasing bone like spikes from her hands. She shot them at Nina who dodged all easily. Nina filled her mouth with spit before shotting it directly into Succubus's eyes. The other girl screamed, rubbing her eyes.

However Nina made a grave mistake of looking over to Toad who was pulling Todd out of the cold water. Succubus took the chance of shooting out another spike, aimed straight into Nina's chest. It ran through her and collided into a tree that was a metre behind Nina. Nina gasped and fell to the floor as Succubus disappeared in a flashing light laughing. Sabertooth ran over gathering Nina into his arms, she was losing blood fast.

"Nina?" He growled she closed her eyes and began to count to ten; Roberto ran over, slid to the floor and gathered her hands into his. Both jumped or gasped as the blood rushed back into her body, the wound healed itself and Nina suddenly jumped up like nothing happened. She ran over to Todd, and fell to her knees besides Mystique and Mortimer.

"He isn't breathing and he has no pulse!" Mortimer cried. Mystique was blowing air into his mouth and Toad was pumping his chest trying to regain a pulse, both trying to revive him. Tabitha stood there stunned, as Blob began to pray.

"Come on Todd," Wanda whispered.

"Shit!" Quicksilver cursed. Avalanche was causing small tremors because of his fear. Nina pushed Toad and Mystique away. She brought her left hand's smallest finger to her mouth and bit of the nail, spat it out and the drove it hard into Todd's neck. Then both her thumbs collided underneath his chin, she moved her hands away as Todd shot up spitting up water and coughing, Mystique cried and gathered Todd into her arms, hugging him like he was her son. Toad sighed in relieve, while Sabertooth pulled off one of his furry jackets and wrapped it around the shaken, frozen body.

"What-the-hell-was-that?" Pietro asked quickly. Nina looked at him.

"Come again?" Nina asked.

"He said 'what the hell was that?'" Wanda answered. Nina stared at her, "I've lived with him for eighteen years, use to his fast speech."

"Okay," Nina said, "That was one of my pinches."

"Who was that?" Magneto asked.

"Succubus, I advise you; if you leave home make sure you're in a group," Nina said. Magneto nodded taking her advice in.

"What was that thing you spat in her eyes?" Lance asked.

"Spitting cobra venom," Nina said, looking down at Todd.

"Thanks," Todd coughed looking up at her.

"Its cool," Nina smiled, taking Roberto's hand.

"Wait," Victor suddenly said, he paused as Nina looked at him, "You're alright?"

"Fine, healing factor- just like yours," Nina said, Nina could tell that's not what he wanted to ask, but she didn't push it, "We better go. I'm freezing my ass off."

The group looked at her and laughed. She was still in only a sarong and bikini.

"Well no wonder," Mystique laughed, "Where are you going? Miss America pageant?"

"Well at least I ain't naked!" Nina remarked, Toad snorted.

"She has a point," Sabertooth growled.

"Alright then, tootle-loo," Nina shivered. Sabertooth pulled off another furry jacket and wrapped her with it. Nina muttered a small "thanks."

"I want to meet your brothers," Victor said quickly.

"Alright, we'll come down tomorrow morning," Nina said.

"Are you sure they're gonna let you?" Mystique asked.

"Who's gonna stop us? Wolverine? Cyclops?" Nina yawned. "Sunshine lets go."

Roberto nodded pulling Nina into his arms; he powered up and then flew off.

"God, I hope mum doesn't notice we're missing." Nina sighed, Roberto laughed.

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The pair landed in Storm's room. Roberto turned to normal, all the flames disappearing.

"We better go down," Nina sighed.

"You better take that thing off you," Sunspot said, pointing at the furry jacket. Nina pulled it off and threw it to the floor. "Maybe you should hide it?"

"No, I'll tell her later," Nina said. "Let's go, I wanna swim."

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Tobias slowly pulled himself out of the water, he didn't know where his sister was but when he found her, he vowed to kill her. He headed over to his mother and watched as she watched Fang nervously.

"Mum, stop looking at it," He laughed softly so only she could her him, "Fang's cool, hurts only flies."

"How the hell can she have a spider for a pet?" Storm asked disgusted.

"It's Nina, who knows?" Tobias smiled, "actually where is she?"

"She went to go get one of the students, it's been more then half an hour though," Storm said.

"I'll go look for her," Tobias said, he walked off rubbing his chest.

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"So what's our excuse for being late?" Roberto asked.

"Just say you couldn't find your swimming clothes," Nina said, "I mean its winter for Christ's sake, how many people swim?"

"Point taken," Roberto grinned as they entered the elevator. He pressed a button and watched as the door shut. He shifted his eyesight towards Nina, who was whistling some tune. She looked at him and raised a brow.

"What?"

"Nice whistling,"

"Canary," Nina answered, Roberto laughed. The door opened, and showed a stunned Tobias staring at them. "Hey."

"Hi, what the hell happen to you!?" Tobias snapped. Roberto fell to the floor.

"Good one," Nina snapped pulling a sleeping Roberto out of the elevator.

"What happened?"

"She attacked someone, and he didn't have much to live," Nina said, "So I left, and she threw a spike at me and she phenomenally got me."

"Wow, big word," Tobias said, rolling his eyes, "You alright."

"I'm here ain't I," Nina said, "Oh and dad wants to meet us all tomorrow."

"Alright, you sure it's safe?"

"Yeah, he seems cool," Nina answered.

"Better wake him up," Tobias said, Nina kneeled beside Roberto who was leaning across the wall. Suddenly she slapped him hard across the face. Roberto's eyes shot open.

"What the-" he looked dazed, "What the hell happened?"

"Tobias spoke," Nina said, pulling him up, "Let's go."

The three headed down the hall way. They stopped once they reached a door; Tobias opened it, revealing a large rectangular pool. Nina whistled in delight and dove right in sarong and all. Sunspot grinned as many of the girls that were relaxing on floating mats all fell into the warm water.

"Nina! That was the fiftieth time!" Lolita yelled as she tried to climb back up onto the floaty.

"Funny, I've only been in the water twice," Nina said sarcastically, Tobias slid into the water and swam over to Nina. "Race you?"

He shook his head, "Race Matthew."

"Fine, Matthew!" Nina shouted.

"What?!" He was leaning against the edge of the pool talking with Amara.

"Race you?"

"No, I'm busy," Matthew said turning back to Amara. Nina rolled her eyes.

"Chicken. Bweauk, bweauk!" Nina said making chicken noises (a/n if you didn't realise!)

"Freak off!" He snapped.

"Come on," Nina urged.

"No,"

"Alright then," Nina said, "Then I tell every one about the day you-"

"Alright, alright!" Matthew snapped. He had no idea what the blackmail was but he knew it wasn't good.

"Good," Nina grinned hopping out of the pool, Matthew followed.

"What are the rules?" Matthew asked.

"Rules are there ain't no rules," Nina grinned.

"Oh no, you don't!" Storm snapped. "Rule one, no killing each other-"

"Yeah okay that will do it!" Matthew interrupted. "Alright first to other side wins."

"Alright then," Nina grinned, "Some one, count us in."

"One," Wolverine started, Nina and Matthew both to ready, "Two."

"Three!" Everyone shouted together. Matthew quickly dove into the water, as Nina suddenly ran on top of the water at top speed. Matthew caused a mini tidal wave, which Nina dodged by flying up to the roof. She flew like a bullet to the other end of the pool and dove right it touching the edge of the pool at the same time as Matthew.

"They touched at the same time!" Rogue declared.

"She cheated," Matthew snapped, "This was a swimming race, she flew!"

"I never said we had to swim, I said race you!" Nina pointed out.

"She has a point," Roberto grinned. Everyone laughed.

"Little shit," Matthew said.

"Matthew!" Storm snapped.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Matthew muttered.

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That night.

Todd lay in his bed covered with thousands of blankets. Toad had forced him to take a bath, and now he lay unable to sleep in his bed. Pietro, Lance, Fred, Tabitha and Wanda sat on the floor next to him playing monopoly. Fred was in desperate need of cash as he only had two hundred dollars. Wanda on the other hand seemed to be over flowing with the cash. Pyro walked in with two mugs of hot chocolate.

"Who's that for?" Pietro asked.

"Me and Todd, if you want some it's in the kitchen," Pyro said. The entire got up and left the room. "Hey pack this shit up before you go."

The group grumbled and began to clean the monopoly.

"Thank you," Pyro said, "Good night."

All muttered a goodnight and left.

"Todd?"

"Yeah?" Todd mumbled, sipping the liquid.

"Are you okay?" Pyro asked sitting on the seat next to their bunk bed.

"Yeah, just a little shaken yo," Todd muttered. "Glad Nina got there when she did."

"Tell me about it," said John, "You gave everyone a freaking heart attack."

"Really?"

"Yeah, even Wanda was worried, Tabitha couldn't speak,"

"That's a miracle in itself," Todd grinned, he drank the last of his hot chocolate.

"Tell me about it," John smiled taking the mug from Frog, "Go to sleep."

"I'll try, yo," Todd said leaning back into the bed. He closed his eyes as Pyro left the room.

"How is he?" Toad asked, as Pyro placed the mugs into the sink.

"He seems fine," Pyro said.

"I don't know," Wanda said, "Usually when where playing Monopoly, he won't stop complaining about not being able to play."

"Today he just watched silently," Pietro said.

"Why don't you let him play?" Toad asked.

"He cheats." Tabitha said, "And we never catch him when he does."

"Yeah he's a little shit when it comes to cheating," Lance grinned, "unbelievable."

"Always wins," Blob added.

"You sure he actually cheated?" Toad asked.

"Yeah he'd tell us after each match," Wanda answered. Toad raised a brow.

"Weird kid," Toad smiled.

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"What time do we leave?" Julius asked.

"Anytime," Nina said, "We can just say were taking Spot for a walk and yeah."

"What if mum wants to come with us?" Tobias asked.

"I don't know, we'll see,"

"Where exactly do we meet him?" Matthew asked.

"Were we saw him last time,"

"Mum's finished her shower," Matthew said quickly.

"Good, have nothing more to say any way," Nina muttered, as the door opened, Storm exited drying her hair with a towel.

"You four are still awake?" Storm smiled, she sat on her bed and continued to dry her hair. She turned her head towards a large fur coat on her bed. She dropped her towel and picked it up. "What's this?"

Nina sighed, and then explained to her mother everything that happened with Succubus and Todd, but of course Sabertooth asking to see the four of them.

"Is the boy alright?" Storm asked, clearly showing the worry in her tone.

"I'm not actually to sure, he thanked me and I left," Nina said.

"Man, you need to learn how to speak to people properly," Tobias snorted, she poked her tongue out at him. Storm laughed, the tongue was blue and pointy.

"Blue-tongued lizard?" Storm asked. Nina nodded. "Why don't you go and visit him tomorrow?"

"Yeah, Toby, wanna come?"

"Yup, but only if Jules and Matt come too," Tobias said, realising where Nina was going with this.

"Yeah I wanna meet daddy," Julius said.

"I don't think you should call him daddy," Nina grinned.

"I'm not sure you should go at all," Storm suddenly said.

"Mum, its cool," Nina said, "I don't think he will hurt us. He's a cat, male cats protect their offspring."

"Offspring?" Matthew muttered.

"I don't think so either, but this whole Succubus thing," Storm sighed.

"Phhft," Tobias said, "She won't come a mile near me."

"I'll come anyway."

"Alright," Nina said, "but you're not straying out of my sight."

"Why?"

"Because, the only reason Succi went after Todd was because she knows he is a friend," Nina said, "Blood is thicker then water."

"Alight," Ororo answered. "You lot better go to sleep then."

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Next day…Before breakfast….

Sabertooth and Toad sat waiting on the large boulder, Toad was leaning against Sabertooth's back whistling, while Sabertooth a lot of effort not to turn around and throw him into a tree.

"I tell you once more, get the fuck off me," Sabertooth growled, Toad ignored him and snuggled deeper into Sabertooth's warm back.

"It ain't my fault," Toad grinned, "You're warm and cosy and I'm freezing my ass off."
"NOW!" He snarled, pushing Toad hard of the rock.

"That's not nice!" Toad said hopping back onto the rock.

"Shut up," Victor sighed pulling of another coat, he threw it at Toad.

"How many of those things do you have?" Toad asked wrapping himself with it. Sabertooth was about to answer when something fell on his head, he growled and threw it off, it was the fur coat he gave Nina last night, he looked up and saw an eagle flying down. He got ready to tear the bird apart when it suddenly turned to Nina; he almost fell of the rock in surprise. He forgot she could morph.

"Where are your brothers?"

"Coming, oh mum's with us," Nina said, Toad suddenly looked up.

"That bitch is coming too!" Toad hissed. Nina let out an angry growl and tried to pounce on him but Victor grabbed her by the scruff of her neck with his mouth! Just like a tom cat to his kitten. She struggled to free herself, she felt no pain which she knew was natural, but was annoyed that he was holding her like some sort of cub. Suddenly thunder filled the sky; Toad screamed and dove under Sabertooth's feet. Sabertooth let Nina go. Storm, Tobias, Julius and Matthew walked over. Nina stood up and glared down at Toad, who was shaking in fear.

"What the hell is wrong with him?" Nina asked.

"Fear of lightning," Tobias said, "He is also scared of drowning. That's a common fear."

Toad suddenly slumped to the ground sleeping. Sabertooth picked him up by his clothes and lifted him up. He dropped him once more.

"Is he dead?" Sabertooth asked, he seem some what worried.

"No," Nina answered, "Toby can knock people out by speaking."

"He's asleep?" Sabertooth growled, "Because one fucking year wasn't enough."

He knelt down and grabbed Toad by the neck and began to shake him.

"What? Who died?" Toad asked jumping up, he looked around frantically. Storm rolled her eyes, and Toad saw this, he tried to fling himself at her but Sabertooth grabbed him by the back of his pants and held him in place. He struggled hard but Sabertooth held him with ease. "Let me go! Got to kill her! Arrgh!"

Sabertooth let out an angry growl and hit Toad hard across the head. Toad fell to the ground unconscious.

"There was an easier way of doing that," Tobias pointed out.

"Man his insane," Matthew snapped, poking Toad with a stick. Storm snatched the stick off him. "What? Not like you like him."

"That's not a reason to poke him with a stick," Storm scolded.

"Women…" Matthew sighed. Nina growled in frustration and hit him hard across the head. Sabertooth smirked. She was definitely 'daddy's' little girl.

"So what exactly do you want from them?" Storm asked suspiciously. Sabertooth merely growled and ignored her.

"When are your birthdays?" He asked. Storm raised a brow.

"Um, Julius is seventh of February, Matthew's is Seventeenth of May and mine and Toby's is June twenty-seventh," Nina said, "Why?"

"Never mind," Sabertooth muttered, Gotta write those dates down. "What's your favourite colour?"

"Black," Tobias said.

"No shit kid," Sabertooth growled; the boy was covered in black.

"Blue," Matthew said playing with a water ball he just made.

"No surprise there either," Sabertooth muttered. He looked down at Julius, and then picked him up by the scruff of the neck; the boy didn't struggle, but went limp like most kittens would. Storm's eyes clouded over when suddenly something whipped Sabertooth across the face. Storm's eyes went to normal as Sabertooth gently grabbed the thing that whipped him, a long thin lion-like tail. It belonged to Julius. Both parents raised a brow.

"I didn't notice that before," Ororo said.

"He is the only one with a tail," Nina said, "Well I got one to but I can change it, or get rid of it. He can't"

"So what's your favourite colour?"

"All of them," Julius said, still hanging from his father's gentle grip. Victor sighed.

"One of them,"

"Um rainbow," Sabertooth growled in frustration.

"Jules pick a letter," Nina sighed.

"Why?"

"Pick a freaking letter!" Nina snapped.

"Um, S," Julius answered.

"Well I can only think of one colour right now," Nina mused. "Silver"

"Oh I like that colour!" Julius grinned, his brothers rolled their eyes.

"Julie, you like every colour," Nina pointed out, as Sabertooth lifted the boy into his arms, he held him on his left hip. Julius placed his head on his father's shoulder, relaxed and content about his position. Storm was shocked, was this really Victor Creed, the man-beast she owed a scream.

"What do you like?" Victor asked, eying Julius who was nuzzling against his neck.

"Purple or red, both are good," Nina said. "No pink or I'll kill you!"

Sabertooth looked at her, shock his head and went back to asking questions. "What's your favourite music?"

"What's with all the questions?" Nina muttered.

"A father needs to know what his cubs like," Sabertooth muttered, he seemed embarrassed, "Storm wants to know as well I guess."

"He's right," Storm said, she was learning a lot about the four, "Go on. What is your kind of music?"

"The Darkness," Tobias said, "Metallica, Pearl Jam, Rob Zombie, Disturbed, Eminem, Evanescence, Green Day, Linkin Park, Nickelback, The Offspring, P.O.D, Puddle of Mudd and Christina Aguilera."

"Christina Aguilera?" Sabertooth asked, "After all the rock groups, you like her?"

"What can I say, she is hot!" Tobias grinned. Nina rolled her eyes.

"Yeah I like all the things Toby likes," Matthew said, "But no Christina, instead, I like Chingy and N.E.R.D, Bon Jovi and J-kwon."

"I love the Wiggles!" Julius grinned jumping slightly.

"Who?" Storm asked.

"The Wiggles, they're a kids group," Sabertooth answered, everyone went silent and looked at him, casually he looked down at Toad, "He watches it every morning."

Nina, Toby and Matthew laughed hard.

"He is insane," Matthew grinned.

"Mmmhmmmm," Victor agreed. "What do you like Nina?"

"Backstreet boys, Destiny's child, The Corrs, Sum 41, Delta Goodrem, Linkin Park, Evanescence, N.E.R.D, The Darkness, Bee Gees, dance and disco music, Michael Jackson, Alcazar, Puddle of Mudd, The Offspring, Avril Lavinge, Ricky Martin, Disturbed, Green Day, Christina Aguilera, Elvis Presley, Michael Buble, Shaggy, Chingy, J-kwon, Simple Plan, Maroon 5, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, RUN D.M.C and," Nina paused, then sheepishly added, "and the Spice Girls."

Sabertooth and Storm both stared at Nina, while her brothers hollered with laughter.

"Any way next question," Nina said growling softly, her own tail managed to pop out and it was swaying dangerously.

"What are your powers?"

"Able to shape shift into any animal, and control animals," Nina explained. "Why everyone calls me Anima."

"Control water," Matthew yawned. "Nickname's Ice."

"People sleep when I speak, and I can make a person's worst nightmare come true," Tobias said smirking sadistically. "Stallion."

Sabertooth looked down at Julius to find him asleep. He looked further down and saw Toad stirring slightly.

"He's a healer, and his little code name is Raphael," Nina explained. "Any more questions?"

"No,"

"Well that was a waste of twenty fucking minutes," Tobias yawned.

"Tobias!" Storm snapped. Sabertooth smirked. He like this one. He handed Julius to Storm.

"You lot better go back, it looks there's gonna be a storm," Sabertooth said looking up.

"Um hello," Nina said, like she was pointing out the obvious, she pointed at Storm, "Weather Witch!"

The group laughed as Sabertooth threw Toad over his shoulder.

"We better go," Storm muttered, "They are about to serve breakfast."

"Bye dad," Nina and Tobias said.

"Bye,"

"Bye dad,"

"Bye,"

"Bye daddy," Julius mumbled. Sabertooth dropped Toad.

"What did he just call me?"

"Daddy," Julius repeated looking at his dad from one eye. Sabertooth shuddered and then picked Toad up once more and left. Nina snorted before turning herself into an eagle, she flew off, and Tobias flew after her. Storm also took off, Julius asleep in her arms. Matthew rolled his eyes and began to walk after them before he suddenly disappeared. Sabertooth jumped from surprise, but then noticed the mist flying after Storm, and his three younger children. Must be Matthew.

He stalked of with Toad in his arms. Above in the skies Nina wondered why he wanted to know their birthdays and favourite things.

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Cute little Julie! Hehehehehehe.

Only two chapters left in the story!

LostMuse99- I love Toad too… (Evo and movie-verse) Thank you for your re-

Afro: Please don't threaten me, or else I might have to release Anima to kill you!

Anima: You wish…

Afro: I'll blackmail you like you did Matthew!

Anima: With what, the time I fell of my perch…

Afro: Shut up…clearly has no other blackmailing idea

Anima: Twit…

Anyway back to Muse, thanks for the review, ignore Afro arguing with the characters.

Afro: Screw you!

Your fighting with yourself.

Afro: oh yeah… I'll shut up now.

Please do

Next Chapter: Both the Brotherhood, and Xmen go to the shops for final Christmas shopping, something tragic will happen unless if Nina and Tobias can stop it… Can they stop it?

Afro: of course they can, they are the good guys after all. Suddenly the author's evil altar ego is hit across the head by Stallion.

I wonder if Afro will get rocked.

Avalanche: Of course she will, I'll rock her world.

I didn't mean in that way.

Disclaimer: I hate wind chimes, I mean I don't own X-men or any of the artist mention above, and I ain't gonna name them again…… hehhehehehehehehe I own Afro though, mumbles…unfortunately.

Afro: Hey

Peace and Chicken Grease…

Afro (the none evil one!)

Now review

Afro: or else…

Sigh…