I'M FINALLY BACK!!!! First off let me apologize for my long absence from this story but I have both been busy and suffering from major writer's block. This isn't my favorite chapter but I am finally back on track with my writing.
Also let me encourage everyone to check out the story I am writing in conjunction with Life-of-LA & Silverwolf; it is awesome, and I cannot wait for the next chapter. I will try and make sure the next chapter is out faster but any reviews will only increase the speed of production...HINT HINT!!
Now to thank my reviewers:
Bronwen: Sorry for the long delay but I have been extremely busy, but I am finally back on schedule and the updates should be coming more quickly.
SilveredDarkness: Hey there, welcome to my story, this chapter is not horribly dark and I try not to have the whole story in darkness so please enjoy!
lancitty92: Glad you're liking the story so far; unfortunately it is still undetermined whether or not there will be Lance/Kitty so please keep reading!
DemonRogue13: Thanks for the review and I hope that you like this chapter as well as you liked the last one, please keep reviewing!
life-of-la=silverwolf: Well girls, I finally have a new chapter and I expect many comments on it, not to mention how's the first chapter going?
Scrawler: Glad you approve and I hope you keep finding lines that you like!
Chap 10
Scott rose and stalked towards the other teen while Kurt trailed behind with a wary look; he had known that this was a bad idea.
As the two approached they could now read the names epitaphs on the graves
SUSAN WILLIAMS
Loving wife and mother taken too soon.
1960 – 1990
MICHAEL WILLIAMS
Loving husband and father taken too soon.
1959 – 1990
LANE WILLIAMS
Little brother and friend taken too soon.
1989 - 1993
ELIZABETH LEWIS
Loving mother, let her find in death what
she could not find in life.
1961-1994
SKYLER MACKENZIE
Friend and compatriot, let no monsters
haunt your rest
1987 – 2001
Together the brotherhood turned and faced the two intruders; they stood in front of the graves like they were guarding or protecting them. Lance shot Scott a bitter smile as he approached, "Hello Summers, what brings you to our past?"
Scott felt vaguely uneasy as he stood there but quickly covered it up and glared at the three, specifically Lance. The earth mover simply smirked back at him with a dark look clouding his eyes.
As the two oldest seemed to square off Kurt had moved unobtrusively around to get a better look at the three five tombstones. They looked well tended and were obviously cared for, the flowers that the three brotherhood members had placed were in varying colors and styles.
On SUSAN WILLIAMS there was a gorgeous bouquet of yellow roses that had been carefully placed in front of it. MICHAEL WILLIAMS had a simple arrangement of dark blue wildflowers that managed to be masculine as well as beautiful. LANE WILLIAMS had a large bunch of sunflowers that were amazingly cheerful and youthful at the same time.
ELIZABETH LEWIS had a bouquet of vibrant white roses, nearly the same color as Pietro's hair. Finally SKYLER MACKENZIE had a bunch of multicolor lupines that were long and bursting with color.
While Kurt was examining the graves he hadn't even noticed both Todd and Pietro appear next to him until they spoke, Pietro being the one to break his concentration. "Would you like to be introduced?" He asked, only being slightly sarcastic in the question.
Kurt, however nodded his head seriously, curious about why the three seemed to be so attached to these three graves, it wasn't anyone of the same name even.
Suddenly behind him he started as he heard Lance speak right next to him. "Allow you to introduce you to my family" my mother, Susan; my father, Michael; and my little brother, Lane."
Pietro was next standing behind the graves as he broke in, "This would be my mother, Elizabeth."
Finally Todd spoke softly and quietly as he knelt by the last grave. "This was my best friend, meet Skyler."
Before Scott could burst out Lance held up a hand, "THIS is not the place for an argument or for accusations; at the very least wait until we leave."
The red haired teen looked slightly ashamed as he backed off, more confused then he had been when they had arrived. Across from him similar expressions of deep confusion had marred Kurt's face. The three brotherhood members were not offering any further explanations as they each bid goodbye to the five people before them and left the small cemetery.
Scott and Kurt followed behind them; Kurt crossing himself as they exited the sacred ground. Across the street was a small diner that they entered; the three other teenagers had grabbed a back table that was secluded as well as having the three of them on one side and Scott and Kurt on the other.
As the other two seated themselves an older woman in a pink waitress uniform came up and gave Lance a kind smile with recognition in her eyes. "Why Lance! It's been to long; come up to visit the family? And who are these handsome young men with you?"
He threw a small smile at the waitress as he gestured at the others, "Hey Tami, yeah we just got done. These are my family Todd Tolansky and Pietro Maximoff; they have family buried at Sacred Heart as well. That is Scott Summers and Kurt Wagner."
She startled slightly at the two on either side of him but it quickly disappeared; they may look nothing alike but there was something below the surface that signaled a bond as deep as family. They fit together. She gave them both a warm smile, and a slightly cooler one was directed at the other two boys.
Tami was no idiot, she could feel the tension between the two groups, and had already sided with Lance; her boy. Trying to ease the obvious contention between the five she pulled out her pad, "Now, what can I get ya'll today?"
When Tami looked closer she noticed the pale tone of Lance's skin, not to mention the fact he was much skinnier then the last time she had seen him. The weight factor seemed to be the same for the other two as well. All three were way skinnier then she was satisfied seeing.
With a flip of her wrist the pad closed, tossing her abundance of brown curls over one shoulder she directed a large smile at the oldest teen, "Ya know what? It'll be my treat, now you guys figure out what you want while I go grab y'all something to drink."
When Lance flushed and looked ready to protest she merely held up a hand and stopped him in his tracks, "Now, there's to be no arguing with me! Maybe if I start buying your food I'll actually get some visits out of you."
Opening the menu in front of him and thrusting it at him she turned on her practical shoes and walked away talking over her shoulder, "Now just decide what ya want and I'll be back."
Lance could only shake his head and smile wryly as he watched the older woman walk away, she really was a great person. On one side he could feel Todd and Pietro trying to hold in their laughter but eventually they were helpless and both burst into low chuckles.
The oldest teen just sighed and handed them each a menu, "She meant the three of us, and trust me if we don't order anything she'll order for us." The dry certainty in Lance's voice nearly sent the other two over again but at that moment they remembered the two X-men sitting across the table from them and immediately straightened up.
Their open expressions immediately shuttered as they eyed the two across the table, Pietro was the first to speak, "So, why exactly were you following us from the mansion?" At their slightly startled looks he only snorted sarcastically, "Oh c'mon we knew you two were behind us since we left the mansion; your bright red convertible isn't exactly subtle."
Todd spoke up quietly leaning into Pietro for support, "Yeah, and it's really kinda hard not to notice a guy covered in blue fur, even in a crowded church."
Kurt frantically looked down making sure his hologram was still in place, it obviously was so he threw a confused look at the youngest brotherhood member. Todd sighed and gestured at his eyes that were a bright green and if you looked very closely slightly slitted, "New powers, I can see through any disguise, hologram, or shield."
There was no malice in his voice as Kurt spoke, "That's cool, must get zlightly confusing though." When Todd couldn't detect any underlying sarcasm he answered with a slight smile, cuddling against Pietro, "It can if I'm not careful."
Lance reevaluated the mutant across from him, he had never really gotten to know Kurt before, all he knew was that this was the mutant who had the crush on Kitty. He knew that he and Kitty were probably done, so he wouldn't deny someone else happiness.
During this epiphany Tami came back the table with five glasses of water, and three glasses of peppermint iced tea. As she set the eight glasses down she smiled at Lance and the others, "If ya two have been livin' with Lance then I know he's got you addicted."
A shake of his head was all that Lance could do as he took a deep drink, "Tami, I adore you and your iced tea."
With a small blush she took the food orders from the three glaring at that them until they ordered enough to satisfy her that it would put some weight on their bones. Kurt and Scott both declined something to eat, Kurt only after receiving a glare from the leader of the X-men.
Once Tami had collected their menus and left again Scott faced the three brotherhood members, "What the hell is going on here and how is your 'family' buried in a cemetery together?"
Pietro spoke first shaking a finger at him, "Ah ah ah, as Hannibal Lector would say, 'quid pro quo my dear.'" Seeing that Scott looked blank at the reference Kurt sighed, "The great moviez are lozt on you, it meanz you ansver a queztion, and they vill."
The speed demon nodded as he settled back in the seat with a smirk on his face as he sarcastically repeated the question. "So, why were you following us, the truth will set you free after all."
Todd put a calming hand on his arm as they waited for Scott's answer, Pietro visibly calmed as the younger teen stroked his hand gently. Across the table the X-man tried to compose himself as he answered; immediately sitting straight up in the chair and answering slightly superiorly, "To make sure that you weren't betraying us of course."
Lance merely shook his head saying dryly, "Of course, it's not like you don't have one of the most powerful telepaths in the world, not to mention someone who can smell if we were lying. No, you just had to follow and try and confirm your opinion of us, so tell me Summers did you find what you expected?"
Scott visibly deflated as he looked at them, "No, but that doesn't mean I'm wrong about you three, just that you are meeting Magneto at a different time."
Kurt snorted disgustedly and scooted his chair slightly away from the other teen, "Excuze me, but if your stupidity iz catching I don't vant it" he shifted looking at the three across the table, "Unlike our glorious leader over there, I know vhen he'z vrong. I apologize for intruding on a personal ceremony."
Detecting nothing but sincerity in his voice Lance relaxed thinking that perhaps he did have another ally in the mansion, it would be nice to at least even the numbers slightly. Both Pietro and Todd also slightly relaxed themselves towards the blue mutant, enough so that it was visible to Lance but not to anyone else.
Suddenly a figure appeared next to the table; he was a tall muscular black guy, probably in his early twenties with a shaved head and a small silver stud in one ear. He was wearing a pair of black fitted jeans, black boots and a midnight blue tank top under an open long sleeved black shirt.
The two X-men tensed but Lance stood up and the two clasped hands and did a one-armed hug. "Shaker, yo man it's been too long since I seen ya. Visiting the fam?" his voice was a deep baritone that had a slight growl as he spoke.
"Hey Panth, yeah, bringing a couple a friends to visit my fams and theirs; what about you, how's Kit?"
"She's great, gonna be jealous I saw ya first." A large smile crossed the older man's face at the thought of his younger sister. At that point he noticed the others at the table and the tension that seemed to be present. He slipped Lance a card, "Yo, here's my number and the cell phone, you need anything, you give me a call, alright?"
At a nod from Lance the older man slipped away and Lance reseated himself. Scott's mouth hung open as he looked back and forth, his face taking on a suspicious resemblance to a fish before he sputtered, "What...who....how...when?"
The earth shaker summed it up succinctly, "That's Panther, he's a mutant shapeshifter, met him on the streets, bout 5 years ago."
Just then Tami reappeared laden down with multiple plates containing everything from hash browns to pancakes. She placed the plates on the table and threw a look at the three, "Now, I expect those plates to be clean when I get back, understand?"
A chorus of meek "Yes Maam" came from the teens and she sauntered away. Lance immediately pushed some of the food in front of Kurt, "I've seen you eat, have some!"
Scott huffed, "Can we get back to my question now?" Todd nodded as he stuffed a piece of waffle in his mouth, "Well, Lance's family has always been buried here and Pietro's mom wasn't hard to move, she's cremated. Skyler, well he's actually buried in a Potter's field somewhere; it's just a stone here."
Kurt was the next to break in as he stuffed his mouth, "But who is he to you? It doesn't sound like he's family."
"He's the closest thing that I could have ever hoped for...sometimes those by blood are worse then our greatest enemies." The smaller teen concluded in a low voice and before Scott could spit another question Lance held up a hand. "Anymore questions can wait until we're back at the mansion, for now no more." His voice was firm and not to be questioned.
The rest of breakfast was passed in a strained silence broken only by the clink of forks and knives on the china
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