Chapter 5 : The Institute

PLEASE Read and Review! This is my first X-Men fic and I would like to know what people think. I hope that you will not turn away from it because it contains OC's. If you do it's your loss, but this is not your ordinary X-Men Evolution fic.

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In all her life Andie had never seen such a large house. It looked almost as big as her high school back in the Bronx, only much nicer, and whiter and cleaner.

Her father drove through the gate and headed for the mansion.

Xavier had told her parents that she could get into the college of her choice with a full ride if she would only go to the Institute for the next three years. Her parents immediately accepted the idea and she started her journey to the institute. It had not seemed like a long journey; she had fallen asleep halfway there.


Her parents parked in front of the mansion, mouths agape. Neither of them had ever seen a house of its magnitude either.

The professor sat at the top of the stairs waiting to greet them. He smiled at their approach. The smile emitted certain warmth that seeped down inside of you; like a smile a grandfather or a wise old priest might have.


Andie heard his voice in her head: Everything will be fine.

"Welcome to the institute," Xavier said, aloud. He waved his hand at the mansion. "If you'll come with me."


They followed the professor into the house through the double doors.

Inside the mansion looked even more impressive. A chandelier hung from the ceiling and a red velvet carpet covered the floor. Light poured in through the giant windows onto the carpet and the bottom of the staircase.

The professor led them past soft white pillars to a small office. He wheeled behind a large desk, and motioned to the three seats in front of it. "If you will have a seat for a moment we can wait for someone to come an take you to your room."


"Professor, are you sure this is the right place for Andrea?" Her mother asked.


"Mrs. Daugherty, this is the perfect place for you daughter, trust me." He looked into her anxious eyes. Her face that had once been beautiful and soft had over the years become wrinkled with worry and care. Ever since the incident with Asher she had tried with all her might to protect her daughter from not only the same disaster but the big, bad world as well.

Time had not been kind.

But the professor eased her mind, sending thoughts to her brain telling her that it would be the best way to protect her daughter, and for the first time since the incident with Asher, a genuine smile warmed her face.


Mr. Daugherty, a very shrewd man, and would be a little harder to persuade. He always looked at things from every angel, and did not even trust his own thoughts or emotions. It would take a bit more than some telepathic nudging from the professor to convince him that all would be well.


"I'm still not sure about this," he said. "Can Andrea leave if she does not feel this is right?"


"Of course," the professor said. "The only thing keeping Andie here is Andie."


Mr. Daugherty rubbed his chin. He turned the idea over and over in his mind and he still did not like it. Andie sensed that he was starting to change him mind and knew she had to act quick.

"Dad, I'll be fine. This place is my chance to get into any college I want. You know we don't have the money to send me anywhere . . . this is a good sale. Don't miss the opportunity."


He sighed. "Fine, but you call us if for any reason you want to come home."


Andie smiled. "I'll be home on holidays Dad. No worries."


"Well, then," the professor said. "If you could sign some of these papers."


The sound of footsteps made them turn.

Two girls stood in the doorway; no one had heard it open. One had brilliant red hair and soft green eyes and the other had brown hair and blue eyes; both had welcoming smiles. Andie liked them right off.

"Hello Professor," the red head said. "We're here to take Andrea to her room."


The brunette waved at Andie. "Hi, I'm Kitty, and this is Jean."


"Bye Mom and Dad." Andie hugged her mother and squeezed her father's shoulder. Then, the two girls led her out of the room.

Mr. Daugherty watched her go with sad eyes. He did not know what had caused her to turn on him the way she had.

Asher had not been his fault; it had been Asher's. She could not blame him for what happened. He sighed and looked back at the professor.


"Don't worry, she will be fine," Xavier reassured him.


"I hope so."