Disclaimer: Still don't own it.

A/N: I am so sorry that it's taken me this long to update. My computer had a virus or something. Well, here's the next chapter.

Kool-Wolf- Uh…thanks for the review. You'll find out this chapter.

Cat2Fat900- Well, your first guess was correct, so...I owe you candy!

LanceIsHot- Sorry I didn't exactly update the second I got back, my computer and I have not been getting along very well. But, I owe you candy because you guessed right!

Numbuh333halfway2hell- Thank you! And yes, you're right of course. So you get candy as well! I guess I was a little obvious (shrugs). And I suppose I made the other person obvious as well…or did I? (evil smirk)

Chapter 2

What ever happened to sleeping in?

Xavier Institute - 6:32 a.m.

Rogue woke up to the sound of someone pounding on the door. She groaned and put her pillow over her face, willing her already forming headache to go away. She heard whoever it was at the door leave and she sighed, wondering why they even bothered with early morning sessions. Who in their right mind is truly awake at this time of day? She wondered, not exactly being a morning person herself. She then sat up and stretched, ready to begin the normal morning routine.

"Rise and shine Kit." Rogue said, standing up and heading toward her dresser. When there was no response, she turned around to find an empty bed. "That's weird, she's never up this early." She mumbled to herself.

Rogue just shrugged it off and changed, then headed downstairs for the Danger Room. Once there she realized that everyone else was already waiting on her. Well, almost everyone; Kitty was still nowhere to be seen. Kurt seemed to notice this as well, even though he was half-asleep.

"Rogue, have you seen Kitty?" Scott asked, coming over to her.

"No, Ah was hopin' one of y'all had." She said, trying to keep the worried tone out of her voice. It's probably nothin', she told herself. Kit probably just woke up early and decided to go for a walk or somethin'.

Just then the session began and Rogue found herself wishing she was back in bed. Wolverine seemed to be pushing them a lot harder lately and no one could figure out why. But this morning had to be the worst.

They came out thirty minutes later, bruised and irritable. Rogue headed straight for the showers, a line of curse words emitting from her mouth in a low tone. She was scowling at anyone that got in her way and she even shoved Sam, who had accidentally strayed into her path, causing him to cannonball out of control; in other words, there was a new window on the second floor.

After a long, hot shower, Rogue headed downstairs for breakfast. She sat down in her normal seat between Kurt and Kitty; only, one of the two was conspicuously absent. That was probably the reason there was such little talk at breakfast; and what talk there was seemed to involve the disappearance of a young X-girl.

The Professor strolled in about five minutes later and everyone quieted down. He gave the news of Kitty's disappearance, saying that he did not have a lead.

"Apparently," the Professor addressed them, "someone had messed with the cameras in the rec. room, because all we have found is that Kitty had gone from the kitchen to the rec. room and then there is nothing."

"Well, wouldn't the outdoor cameras show if she left the Institute?" Bobby asked.

The Professor sighed before continuing. "Yes Bobby, but I'm afraid that we only know that she fled the grounds; we have no idea as to what direction she went. And no," he said, glancing at most of them in turn, "she did not run away. If she were running away she would have taken her belongings. I'm afraid that something happened to her in those fifteen minutes from when she entered the rec. room, to when she left it."

Silent murmuring filled the room as the students tried to figure out what could have possibly happened. Rumors were already beginning to surface, and nobody knew what to believe.

"It is time for school, I will inform you all once you return of any news we may come across." He said, turning to leave. "Oh, and keep an eye and ear out for her at school. Any news as of now would be helpful."

"Come on, I'm leaving now if anyone needs a ride." Scott said after a moment of silence. Jean, Rogue, and Kurt followed him knowing that this was going to be one long day.

Brotherhood House - 7:40 a.m.

Lance woke up to the smell of something burning. He groaned and put his hand over his face. He then sat up and made his way downstairs, not really wanting to know what they ruined this time. He heard hushed voices as he came upon the kitchen. After realizing whom the voices belonged to, he started to worry; Pietro and Wanda never spoke to each other, let alone in soft, calm voices.

He entered the kitchen to find Fred and Toad eating pancakes, a frying pan with burned eggs sitting in the sink. Pietro and Wanda stopped talking the moment they noticed Lance, causing him to worry even more. But as suspicious as he was, he really didn't want to know. So, Lance did the only logical thing he could think of; he turned and walked away. Pietro, on the other hand, seemed to have other plans. He was in front of Lance before he even had the chance to blink.

"What's your hurry?" Pietro asked, fidgeting; Lance glared at him.

"What did you do?" he asked accusingly.

"Nothing." Pietro said defensively. "It's just, uh…" he started, glancing toward the living room; if you could even call it that.

"Just what?" Lance asked, losing his patience.

"Lance, stay calm." Pietro said, glancing toward the other room again; this time though, Lance noticed. He shot another angry glance at Pietro before making a dash for the living room. Once in the doorway though, his heart stopped.

"Kitty?" he whispered, staring at the bruised girl asleep on the couch.

He walked over to the couch and knelt down so that he was face to face with her. He looked her over, trying to figure out who could have possibly done this. He knew one thing for sure; whoever it was, was as good as dead.

He watched as Kitty turned in her sleep so that she was now lying on her side. That had obviously not been a very smart move since she winced in pain and let out a small whimper.

Lance stood up and headed back for the kitchen, the ground beneath him shaking slightly with each step he took. Once in the kitchen, he shoved Pietro against the wall.

"What the hell happened to her?" he demanded.

"I…I don't know." Pietro stuttered, the ground shaking harder by the minute, causing things to fall off the walls.

"Uh, I think I'll go to school yo." Toad said, making his way for the door, Fred on his tail.

"Lance, calm down." Wanda said, from her seat. "Kitty showed up around three and collapsed in the doorway. We didn't exactly have the chance to interrogate her."

Lance slowly let go of Pietro, who quickly dashed off muttering something about feeling safer at school, and tried his best to stay calm; but then he punched the wall. Wanda looked at him pityingly as he made his way back into the living room.