Quillan: Thanks, for the compliment! Jessica, James' sister, and the two reality hoppers died in the last chapter, sorry if that was unclear.

TheLegendaryManHimself: Yeah, she might've been a bit too naive, but I wanted her last moments to be humorous.

Mark C: They might not be dead, but even if they're not, I don't think they'll be returning to this story.

Ranndie Mazda: Thank you.

Author's Note: Yes. Jessica and the Reality hopping guys were really killed in the last chapter. Or… were they? They will not however be returning to this story, but they will now continue a story of their own, look for it, my sister (who Jessica is based off of) is helping me write it, so you know it'll be a good read!

Chapter 14: Four Funerals

"Has he come out yet?"

"Not since we got back yesterday."

"Have you talked to him?"

"Yeah, I've brought him food and everything, it's really kind of odd."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, he won't talk to anyone, but he's not sad."

"That made even less sense."

Rebecca and Elise stood outside James' bedroom door talking in hushed tones. The rest of the students were out and about somewhere. Chris was probably still in the infirmary, trying to get his leg to heal.

"I don't know." Rebecca said with a shrug. "He's not sad at all, doesn't seemed depressed, or even upset, he just… he doesn't want to face anyone until the funeral."

"Odd." Elise said shaking her head.

"Well let him deal with it in his own way. I'm sure he'll be better after the funeral." Rebecca said as she leaned herself up against the wall.

"When is that anyway?" Elise asked.

"Tomorrow morning. The professor is burying three empty caskets, one for Jessica, two for the travelers. Thomas and a few of the others are flying in from the City to be here, so that'll be nice." Rebecca said with a faint smile.

"What about their parents?" Elise asked sitting down against the wall, across the hallway from Rebecca.

"He refuses to call them." Rebecca answered with a shrug. "Though I wouldn't be surprised if the professor went ahead and did it anyway."

"I can't imagine the professor doing that. James has his reasons I'm sure." Elise said almost defensively.

"Yeah. I just wish he'd let me know what they are." Rebecca said with a frown.

"I just feel bad for Kurt." Elise said shaking her head.

"For Kurt?" Rebecca asked looking up.

"Yeah. He and Jessica were kind of close. Jessica adored him." Elise said with a slight frown.

"I wonder how he's handling this…"

MEANWHILE

"Hank said that you wanted to talk to me?" Professor Xavier asked as Chris hobbled into his office.

A bandage made up most of his lower leg, though luckily nothing had been broken. "Yeah." He said a bit weakly as he sat down. "You see um… Well… With Jessica and everything, it's… I know it's not my fault. But to be honest I feel responsible." He blurted. "I could've been out there much faster, but I hesitated, and that cost Jessica her life."

"You can't beat yourself up over this Christian." The professor said calmly. "It was not your fault that Jessica died. You know that."

"Even so, some of that responsibility is mine." Chris said looking determined. "There's something else too. I got this letter, the other week, but I never did anything about it or mentioned it to anyone." He said pulling out a piece of paper. "It came just after we arrived, but I didn't think anything of it."

"What is it?" The professor asked curiously.

"It's my Uncle." Chris started. "My uh… last surviving relative, this letter said that he was sick, fell ill about three weeks ago or so it says."

"I'm sorry." The professor said. "I know that combined this must be hard for you, but you must not try to let it get you down."

"Yeah, well… I didn't think much of it until this came." Chris said as he held up a second letter.

"A letter from your Uncle?" The professor asked curiously.

"No. A letter from his lawyer." Chris answered. "My Uncle died three days ago. This was here waiting for me when I got back from the mission with Jessica, Hank just gave it to me now."

The professor nodded his sympathy as he folded his hands across his lap.

"I have to go to Kansas. Get my Uncle's affairs in order; make sure everything is okay down there. Some of his stuff… it's the last bits and pieces of what was my family… I have to go." Chris said looking up for the first time during this conversation. Bits of tears were in his eyes, but he was trying his hardest to hold them back.

"I understand." The professor said with a nod. "I'm sure the others will also."

"Well… Can you tell them? I plan to leave tomorrow, after the service, and I'm not sure when… or even if, I'll be back." Chris said with a disheartened smile.

"Well I am sad to hear that." The professor said wheeling out from behind his desk. "But yes, I will tell the others if that's what you want."

"Thanks." Chris said standing up. "But don't tell them until after I leave? I don't want to say any goodbyes. Especially too Kitty."

"Yes you two seem to have become quite attached recently." The professor said looking to Chris.

"She's like the little sister I never had. I'll call once I get things settled a bit." He said with a nod.

"Of course. I look forward to it." The professor said with a smile.

"Thanks Professor." Chris said with a small smile in return.

Meanwhile

"Are you two still going to get married?" Danielle asked coming up to where Rebecca and Elise were whispering in the hall.

"Yeah. He assured me that what happened to Jessica didn't change the way he felt about me. If anything it reassured it." Rebecca said with a faint smile. "I'm worried though."

"What about?" Elise asked.

"I think the only reason he wants to marry me is because he's afraid that he'll die before he gets the chance. You know, because of his heart attack?" Rebecca responded.

"No, that's not why he wants to marry you. That's just what opened his eyes to make him realize that he wanted to marry you." Danielle reassured. "Think about it, if you were to have a heart attack you would sure prioritize the things in your life. Maybe his heart attack made him realize that you were more important to him than he thought."

"Is that a good thing?" Rebecca asked raising a brow a bit. "Doesn't that mean that he didn't think that I was important to him before his heart attack?"

"You're reaping too much into it." Elise defended. "He loves you." She said with a smile. "Just ask him."

"I think it's romantic." Danielle added.

"It is romantic." Elise added.

"Right now I think being romantic is the farthest thing on his mind." Rebecca said looking towards the closed door that led to James' room.

"What do you think is on the top of his mind then?" Elise asked.

"Revenge."

VVVVV

The whole attitude of the Xavier Mansion had gone from party to graveyard overnight almost. The only one seemingly not affected was Nathan, and maybe Rogue. Everyone seemed quieter, as if afraid to break the silence. Only Logan saw the backpack that Chris had packed. Most of the students just did their homework after school that Friday. The Television never even got turned on.

Saturday morning rolled around slowly, at nine there was a ring at the door. Jean answered it to see Thomas standing there he was followed by two men, two girls, and a boy that looked roughly Jean's age.

Thomas smiled slightly. "Professor." He said seeing the Professor awaiting them in the foyer. "This is Katashi, George, Amanda, Quinn, and Peter." Thomas said making the introductions. "Everyone, this is Professor Charles Xavier."

"It's nice to meet you all." The professor said with a nod. "Mostly everyone is at the cemetery waiting for us, except for myself, Jean, Ororo, and Hank." The professor said looking towards Thomas. "Might I suggest that you follow us in your car?"

"Sure thing." Thomas said with a nod. "George you follow me, I'll follow the Professor here."

VVVV

They arrived at the cemetery to see that a large crowd, or what looked like a large crowd, was gathered around three empty graves. Two were mostly undecorated but the third one had many flowers and bouquets surrounding it and on top of the casket. The Warriors, the X-Men, everyone was there. James stood there holding a large stuffed animal, a lion it looked like.

A minister was there as well, to go through all of the actual traditional things. By the time it was over everyone was in tears. Even James had a few spreading down his cheek. At the end in saying their final goodbyes James went last, and took the longest. Laying the lion atop the casket. Jessica's favorite stuffed animal. He had won it for her years ago at a carnival. Way back when they used to live in Chicago, just after leaving home.

Not a word was spoken from the cemetery back to the Mansion. Except for between Thomas and James. The two stayed at the graves while the others went back to the cars, and no one really knew what they talked about. But once everyone was in the cars Thomas and crew were headed back to New York, and it was just the Warriors and the X-Men at the Mansion once again.

Kitty was the first to disturb the silence. "Hey… Has anyone seen Chris?"

"I thought he was riding with Rebecca." Will said looking over towards James and Rebecca who were sitting in the living room with their arms around each other.

Rebecca shook her head. "I thought he went with the professor."

The professor broke in. "I'm afraid Chris has left. He's not sure if he'll be coming back."

"What?" Mike yelled as he stood up. "When did this happen?"

"He told me yesterday. He's had some recent family deaths that he's looking into." The professor said with a slight nod. "He'll call once he gets everything settled."

"When will that be?" Kitty asked looking over to the Professor.

"I don't know." The professor said honestly.

"That bites." Evan said shaking his head.

"He's allowed to do what he wants." James broke in. Everyone turned and stared at him at almost the exact same time. It was like this had been the first time he'd spoken since Jessica's death. Actually… it had been the first time anyone but Rebecca had heard him speak since Jessica's death. "Well, I mean with everything that's going on… plus he has his own family to worry about, we've got no right being angry with him for leaving." James said with a nod. "And Kurt."

This was the first time anyone had really noticed Kurt. He'd been staying in the background. Away from James as best as he could, or so it seemed. He partially felt a guilty about it all. He should've tried to teleport to the boat, but he didn't, and now Jessica was dead. But James broke his train of thought.

"She liked you man. She would've dated you if you'd asked." James said solemnly.

Kurt blushed ever so slightly. Under normal circumstances laughter might have been used here, but no one seemed to be able to accomplish that feat.

Brotherhood Boarding House

"How many did you get?" Toad asked hopping into the living room.

"Uh…" Fred panicked. "Four!" He said holding up a hand with four fingers prominently displayed.

Tabby busted out in laughter.

"Oh yeah, well I got six!" Toad countered. "So ha! I won!"

"Would you two shut up? Neither of you got any dates so leave it at that." Lance said as he returned his attention to the Television.

"Yeah well you couldn't get any either." Toad quipped as he stuck to the wall.

"I've already got a girl." Lance said ignoring him.

"Oh yeah? When's the last time you took your girl out on a date?" Fred asked with a smirk.

"Shut up!" Lance hollered.

Xavier's

"Kitty,

Hey, sorry that I didn't give you a proper goodbye. But I'm really not good with them. I promise I'll give you a call once I get some things settled down out here in Kansas. Don't worry about me, I'm flying out here to Kansas in my own way, traveling by night of course. Do me a favor? Tell that boyfriend of yours to treat you right or I'll fly back here and kick his butt. I can do it too; flying at super speed is what Dragons do best. And I really hope you're laughing right now. I'll see you later.

Chris"

A tear rolled down Kitty's cheek as she picked up the piece of paper from her bed, and laid it in her journal as Rogue came in the dorm room.

END

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