Disclaimer: See other chapters, cause nothing has changed.

Thank you for all the reviews, and I am very glad that my twist has all of you intrigued. It probably won't be my last twist, and let's face it, I will probably have at least two more cliffhangers before I am done. Hope you all enjoy the ride, as much I love writing this out.

Melodie: Remember you are 21 in this story, you were 15 when your relationship with Jesse occurred.

Josh: Do you care what guy you get? Brennan and Jess are obviously taken, but how about a twin, I am thinking Zack or Zane, whichever one isn't with Gage,lol. Sorry it is 4 in the morning and the twins well look alike,lol.

This is a short chapter, just to describe Melodie's past with Jesse, as well as how a few other of the new members, knew the others. Come to think of it, never mind, it will be long, lol

Credit for helping me this chapter: Goldstranger, who helped write her own scene with Brennan! Yeah! And better news, thanks to her, I know have a pretty good idea where her and Brennan are,lol.

The character Riley introduce here, belongs to Goldstranger, and will only appear in this chapter. If you want to know more about her, check out Gold's story GXRiley, it's one of my favorites, it is a cross-over Mutant X and Charmed.

Chapter 9: Friends

Shalimar was lying in bed trying to sleep. They had gone over every shred of evidence they had to try to find where Mari and Brennan were, but had decided they would do a better job with a fresh outlook, and had all called it a night. She heard a slight knocking at her door. "Come in."

"Shal? Are you awake?" asked Dasi.

"Dasi, I just said come in, if I'm not awake, I talk in my sleep."

"Oh right, sorry. I am disturbing you am I?"

"No, your sweet, come on in. I bet I can guess why you are here."

"Ok, give it a try." Dasi said as she sat down on the edge of Shal's bed.

"You want to know about the relationship between Jesse and Melodie."

"Yea, that's the one. I am sorry, I just like him a lot, and am worried I will lose him before I even really have him."

"Ok, Jesse told me about the relationship soon after he joined me at Sanctuary, and I will try to put your mind at ease, ok?"

"Ok, that sounds good. Cause I can't sleep, knowing that I left her alone with him."

"Look, I don't know if Melodie is over him, but he is over her, I see it in his eyes when he looks at you."

"Don't say that, please. I want to hear it from Jesse first, you know?"

"Yeah I understand, ok, here goes; the story of Melodie and Jesse. Well, she was 15, he was 17 and they ended up at the same boarding school. They ended up being in the same classes, and eventually he got up the nerve to ask her out, she said yes of course. From what Jess told me, they were pretty hot and heavy, and they even talked of getting married after they got out of high school .."

"And you think I have nothing to worry about?" said Dasi as she buried her head in the hands.

"Dasi, let me finish, ok?"

"Ok." she said looking back at Shal.

"Jesse's dad Noah, told Jesse that Melodie had accepted a check for $1 million dollars in order to stay away from Jesse. It was proven to him by the fact that she stayed away from him for weeks after that."

"I didn't Melodie was like that."

"Well as it turns out she wasn't. Jesse found out later, that his father, had told Melodie that Jesse had cheated on her. Which of course he hadn't."

"So what happened?"

"When they both discovered the truth, they both decided that the trust between them wasn't as strong as it should have been. And decided to remain friends, and friends only."

"So that means, they both gave up on the relationship?"

"Yes."

"And what makes you think it won't start up again?"

"Cause I know Jesse, when something is dead, it is dead. Only one time has he ever went back to an ex-girlfriend, and that was because they had unresolved feelings for each other. There are none between Melodie and Jesse."

"Thanks, I needed to hear that. What kind of man does that to his own son?"

"Noah Kilmartin is a cold-hearted monster, if you could've only seen Jesse when I first met him, he was so lonely, it breaks my heart even now to think about it."

"He's told me a little bit about his childhood, it actually parallels mine, the boarding school thing, the feeling like a freak that nobody wanted. That was my life, and until I met Jesse I thought I was alone in my feelings."

"Yeah, we never stop to think sometimes about the pain others like us are going through. I am sorry you went through that Dasi," she said pulling the young elemental-psionic close to her hugging her.

"Thanks, so while we are on the subject, how do you know Rosalie?" asked Dasi, and seeing and feeling the hurt come from the Feral she wished she hadn't. "I'm sorry Shal, I didn't mean to ask something that was painful."

"No, I know you didn't. I met Rosalie shortly after my father put my in a mental institution. Rosalie was my roommate, and until I met her, I had never met another Feral. Until her, I had never really had a friend."

"I'm sorry. I guess I thought you grew up happy, cause you are so, I don't know the word for it, but you know how to have fun, so I just assumed. I'm sorry, Shal."

"It's ok, I just have trouble thinking about it even now. You know what Jesse's dad did to him, and now you know what mine did to me."

"Then it would only be fair, for you to know what my father did to me."

"Dasi, you don't have to do that."

"Yeah I do. You might not know this, but I had a brother, Gerald. Did Lexa tell you what happened to him?"

"You mean about how he died? Yeah."

"I hoped she would, cause I don't like talking about it. Anyway, growing up, as I mentioned before was hard. Boarding schools were the least of my worries. My father beat me. If he caught me using my powers, he would send me to my room, and forget to feed me for days, one time a whole week."

"That's awful Dasi."

"Yeah, but then I joined the first Mutant X, and it was like I finally knew I was safe. Until it all crashed down on me."

"Because of Lexa?"

"Yeah, but I have forgiven her, really I have. And now I am member of Mutant X again. But you know what?"

"What?"

"I wish my brother could be a member too. But he can't be, cause he's dead." she said looking down at her hands. As Shal watched Dasi a tear rolled down her face, and Shal once again hugged the young elemental close. "I know sweetie."

Both pulled away from each other at the sound of someone knocking at the door. The door opened to reveal Emma and Skylar. Emma spoke saying, "We heard voices in here, and was wondering if everything was alright."

"Yea, everything find, just a little girl talk." said Shal. "You two want to join?"

"Sure,"said Emma as she sat down on the left side of Shal bed, next to Dasi.

"Yea, I am all for that." said Skylar, as she walked around the bed to sit on the right side. "So what are we talking about tonight?"

"How we all met the others." said Shal. "Dasi, I think it's your turn to tell us how you met Skylar?"

"Oh no." said Dasi. "We just mended that relationship."

"Now you have to tell it," joked Emma.

"I will if you don't," said Skylar.

"Ok, ok, I met Skylar while I was still with the Dominion. I stole her boyfriend."

"You what?" asked Shal.

"She's serious," said Skylar. "Her assignment was to get my boyfriend to join the Dominion. He was a Thermal Elemental, with the ability to channel heat. He also had the ability to project that energy to others. So of course the Dominion wanted him. So Dasi took him, using her Psionic abilities to plant the idea in his head."

"Dasi! I can't believe you did that." said Emma.

"Sometimes I can't believe the things I did while I was with the Dominion. I wish I could change them, but I can't." said Dasi. "Anyway, it's not like we haven't all done things that we later regretted, right?"

"So true," said Emma. "I wish I would have told my friends I was in trouble, instead of dying."

"But we understand why you did it, Em," said Shal. "But don't ever do it again."

"Don't worry I don't plan on it." said Emma. "So what happened to Skylar's boyfriend after he joined the Dominion?"

"I have no idea," said Dasi. "Not to sound rude, but he wasn't my responsibility anymore after I turned him over to the Dominion."

"Makes me wonder sometimes, you know what happened to him." said Skylar. "But if it is bad, I think I don't want to know."

"Yeah, what you don't know can't hurt you right?" said Dasi.

"Right."

"Skylar, if your Psionic, why didn't you fight Dasi's suggestion, the ones she was planting in your boyfriend?" asked Emma.

"One, I didn't know what Dasi was doing, I thought she was my friend, second of all I was still new at controlling my powers, so I wouldn't have known how to."

"Oh, I understand, it took me awhile to learn how to control it too, and thanks to Adam, I can now." said Emma.

"Anybody want dome ice cream?" asked Shal. "I think Lulu and Shelly bought some today, they have this weird thing with truffles, have you all noticed?"

"Yeah, we have, and of course I want ice cream!" said Dasi. "I hope they bought plenty."

"Yeah let's go." said Emma, as they all got off the bed and headed for the kitchen.

"Brennan." said Mari.

"Yeah."

"Can I asked you something?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"How did you meet Zack and Zane?"

"We used to run together, back in the days."

"Shal has told me about your wild days." she said as she rolled her eyes.

"Oh Yeah, they were pretty wild. And you would be surprised at what she doesn't know."

"Really, what's that suppose to mean?"

"Shal only knows about half of what I did back then."

"Why is that."

"Well if I told her it would freak her out."

"Then tell me."

"Why?"

"Cause I am bored, all the damn televisions are off right now."

"You would think watching TV was enough for you."

"That's not even close to funny," she says glaring at him. "So what were you

back then some escape artist..."

"Hey I got out of a couple of scrapes back then."

"Sounds more like you were the digging-your-way-deeper then getting out kind of guy."

"No not always."

"I bet your mom had her hands full with you. How did your mom take these things?"

"I don't know how she would have dealt with it, so I never told her. Actually the truth is, after my dad died, she couldn't have handle any crap from me."

"Your dad died? I am sorry I didn't know." she said placing her hand on his.

"He died when I was a baby so I didn't really get a chance to know him. Then my mom up and married a loser." he said standing up. He stared out the window, but it was too dark to see anything but the light from the moon and the stars.

"Yeah, my mom seems to find the frogs instead of the princes. Some were

so freaking' abusive…"

"I'm sorry to hear that." he said sitting back down beside her. "Hey at

least we know you won't settle for less."

"We do?"

"Yea, we do."

"So are you going to tell me about some things you did in your past or am I gonna have to weasel them out of you?"

"Ok, I can tell you some things, but it won't take long for the televisions

to come back on, Shal has to have ice cream every night before bed."

"Yeah, I know, I am usually right there with her."

"I didn't know that."

"Why would you, you were asleep."

"Good point, ok my wild and wholly days, part one."

"How many parts are there?"

"You will find out, now hush, so I can start."

"Fine, but you better make it good."

"Oh I will, don't worry."

"Ok good."

"You know, you remind me of a friend I had in high school."

"Really?"

"Yea, her name was Riley, we got in so much trouble together, like this one

time I remember we ended up in detention together."

"What did you two do?"

"We spray painted Mr. Smith Sucks on the outside of the building. He was our

Science teacher, I swear he had it in for us… one day he gave Ry an F on our science project so we did that to get even." There was something about the way he talked about his friend that made him seem a little sad.

"So you two were close, what happened? I mean where is she now? Was she a

mutant?"

"Yea, she was elemental, its how we got the paint so high up on the building…she uh... she died."

"I'm sorry." seemed the only thing Mari could think of to say, she wished

she could say more, but couldn't find the words. She wasn't sure why, but

she wanted to make the pain in his eyes go away. As much as the kiss earlier

had angered her, it had also been wonderful, but there could never be

anything between them, not along as he was with Shal. I would never want to hurt Shal she is my friend. Whatever I wish there was between me and Brennan can never be.

"Thanks. I barely remember how it happened, how she died, but it's like my mind has shut it all out. I wish I could remember, but I can't." said Brennan.

"Maybe it's your hearts way of dealing with it."

"Yeah maybe."

She broke the long silence with her next question. "So how did you meet Zack and Zane?"

"Oh yeah, I never really answered that did I?"

"No you didn't," said Mari as she grinned at him.

"Ok, Riley introduced me to them. We were living in this old abandoned

house. You see I left home when I was like 15, and Riley left I guess

sometime after that. I guess you could say we rescued each other… and she saved my life." he paused and looked away from her, and then turned back. "Sorry didn't mean to get off track again."

"It's ok, I don't mind, it's obvious that you loved her."

"Yeah I did ...And part of me always will. Thanks for understanding," he said. " But back to the question at hand, after we found this abandoned house, we started staying there together, like some old married couple. Then one day, we were out walking around, and these dudes came up on us, riding motorcycles. I was ready to take them out, but Riley stopped me, and introduced her friends."

"Zack and Zane?"

"Yeah, and we hit it off. We all had the crappy family life story, and

decided to make our own family."

"And where did Gage come in?"

"She came in 2 weeks ago. She's Zack's girlfriend, they've been seeing each

other for about a year now."

"You mean Zane's girlfriend."

"Damn twins, yeah I mean Zane's girlfriend. You would think the hair color

difference would help."

"So you don't know her well. I have been trying to get to know all the new

members. So far, I really get along with Melodie and Rosalie the most. And of course Lulu and Shelly are sweet, but it would be nice if they shared the truffles. Dasi was already a friend, and of course you, Shal and Jesse. Lexa is cool, if

you like abrasive people." she joked.

"Yeah she's abrasive alright."

"And I think once I get to know her, me and Emma will be good friends."

"You will like her."

"I already like her, I just mean being friends with someone is difficult for

me, it is hard for me to trust, you know."

"Yeah I know. I am the same." he said as the television for the kitchen came

on. "What did I tell you, ice cream time."

"But that's not Shal, it's Lexa, Lulu and Shelly."

"Just trust me all right. Shal will be there in a minute, watch."

When Shal, Emma, Dasi and Skylar made it to the kitchen, they found Lexa, Lulu and Shelly up already eating ice cream. Shal said, "Hey you guys better save some for us."

"Hey we bought plenty today, especially chocolate." said Lulu, as she put a spoon full in her mouth.

"Good, I will get some more bowls," said Skylar.

"So what are all of you doing up?" asked Lexa.

"We were talking, and now we want ice cream like normal girls," said Shal.

"What were you talking about? Or is it none of my business?" asked Shelly.

"We were talking about how we meet each other." said Skylar.

"Cool." said Lulu.

"So why not continue?" asked Lexa.

"Good idea," said Emma. "Lulu, how did you meet Shelly?"

"Well, it was 9 years ago, we were 7 I think, and anyway I moved from New York to California. I moved into the house next door to Shelly. We started hanging out some, and soon realized we had more in common then either imagined."

"Yeah and little did she know how much of a pain it was going to be, being my friend." said Shelly.

"I wish you wouldn't say that, Shelly."

"Well it's true. I was very shy, and because of my hair and my eyes, kids picked on me, Lulu always defended me, and got beat up trying to do so." said Shelly.

"Yeah, until I learned to kick back!" joked Lulu.

"Yeah, then we turned the tables, and everything. But she started it, I never would have had the courage to stand up and fight back if it weren't for her."

"Yes you would have, but I am glad I was there."

"Me too," said Shelly, giving her best friend a hug.

"Ok my turn." said Lulu. "Emma, how did you met Michael? Who by the way is very cute."

"Yeah he is, and I met him a little over a year ago, before my 'death'. I told Adam about Bryce finding my friend's place, and we both decided that I needed to hide before Bryce found me. Adam had just come back from his mission with Michael where they killed Ashlocke. Adam introduced me to Michael, and together we set up a plan for Michael to help keep me safe. So we left and went to Wolf Lake, where we pretended to be married long enough that we really did fall in love."

"Aw, how romantic," said Shelly.

"Yeah, very." said Shal, she couldn't be more happy for Emma.

"Thanks, Lexa your awfully quiet." said Emma.

"Sorry, I was just thinking. You said Adam didn't know about Bryce until after you told him right?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Cause, 1 month before you 'died' I was at Sanctuary, Emma and I told him."

"What?" asked Shal and Emma at the same time.

"I told Adam you were in danger from Bryce."

"How did you know?"

"Because Ashlocke was getting Intel, and passing it on to members of the Strain, and to Aaron Michaels, who told us about it, after we took him from the hospital room."

"What hospital room?"asked Shal.

"Oh I remember he was the driver who crashed his car into the diner!" said Emma."The one who almost killed Jesse."

"Yeah him, Emma I can't believe he hasn't told you after all this time." said Lexa.

"We aren't talking about Adam anymore are we?" asked Emma, sensing Lexa was holding back something.

"Yeah, Aaron Michaels, wasn't who he said he was, which is why Adam had me rescue him, before Shal could kill him."

"Oh no," said Shal. "I remember now, Adam told me later, Emma, it's Michael."

"What?"

"Yeah, Shal's right, Michael was a member of the Strain, so Gabriel wouldn't be able to find him. Emma I'm sorry." said Lexa.

"I guess I already knew it, but I never really thought about it. Adam told me some of it before I left, I guess he thought I had already figured out the rest. Or that Michael would tell me." said Emma, remembering the day Adam told her and Brennan he had a son, and now she was wondering why she didn't see it, why she had never put it together. It wasn't like Mike had lied to her, he probably thought Adam had already told me. I will have to talk to him later.

Shal sat there with all the info swimming in her head, she felt like there was more but she couldn't put her finger on it, and then like a flash it all came back to her, "It was you!" she said to Lexa.

"What?"

"It was you who knocked me out in that alleyway! It's your fault I was captured by Tyler and taken to Ashlocke!"

"Is that how you ended up there?" asked Lexa. "I remember knocking you out, but I never knew that was what caused you to be captured."

"How long have you known?" asked Shal.

"Since the first day I came back to Mutant X."

"I would kill you if it weren't for one thing."

"What thing?"

"That if you hadn't done that, I would have never found Jesse alive. And he would be in that damn pod right now." she said with tears in her eyes. "So thanks.

"Shal, I never meant to hurt you or anything. I know I wasn't the easiest thing to get along with when I joined Mutant X, but I am trying now to be a better person. But I am sorry for knocking you out."

"Forget about it, I know you aren't the same person you were then. And we both know why," said Shal without thinking, wishing she hadn't said anything, she glanced at Dasi.

"What?" asked Dasi.

"Dasi, don't worry," said Lexa. "Shal was just reminding me that it took someone to teach me how to trust."

"Jesse." said Dasi. "I understand, he taught me the same."

"Lexa." said Lulu.

"Yeah?"

"How did you meet Max?"

"Oh crap, I knew I shouldn't have started this." she said rolling her eyes.

"Come on Lexa, we have all told, now it's your turn." said Shal.

"Ok, fine. Max joined Mutant X-1 a month after I did. I was 16, he was 17, and very cute, even then."

"And?" asked Shal.

"And what?"

"And tell us about your friendship."

"Well it started out as a group thing, Dasi, Mari, Gerald, Max, and me always went to the movies every Friday, and just hung out and relaxed."

"Yeah it was fun, then one night if I recall ..." started Dasi but was stopped when Lexa put her hand over her mouth. As the other girls broke out laughing, Lexa let go. "Lexa?"

"Go ahead big mouth."

"Ok, if you insist, one night Lexa, well I better start at the beginning, Lexa had a crush on this guy that ran the concession stand at the movie theater. One night, she got her heart broken when he wasn't there, cause he was on a date."

"Shut up," said Lexa. "It wasn't that big a deal."

"Yea? Then why were you crying the whole way home?" asked Dasi.

"I was not!"

"Yes you were, and when we made it home, you went to bed without eating, and stayed in your room until Max went after you."

"Yeah I remember that."

"You two were laughing when he finally got you to come and join us. What did he say that was so funny?"

"He said we should get married," she said standing up to put her bowl in the sink. Everyone could tell the mood had changed.

"I never knew Lexa, I'm sorry."

"No big deal, it was a joke anyway. He said that if we were still single when I turned 25, then we should get married."

"Are you sure he was joking?" asked Shal. "Cause the way he has been looking at you lately, I think he meant it."

"He might have back then, but that was before I betrayed him. The best I can hope for now is to be his friend."

"I still think there is more," said Shal. "Just look at him next time you are talking to him. And then you can tell me I am wrong."

"Why can't I just say your wrong now?" she joked.

"Cause you know I'm not."

"Whatever Shal, goodnight girls, I need to get some sleep. Adam says I can start training again tomorrow."

"Lexa, would you mind if I joined you in the dojo, I need to learn how to fight better." said Shelly. "I can kick really well, but I need to learn more."

"Of course you can, and me together with Shal here, we will make you into one lean and mean fighting machine."

"Thanks."

"No problem. See you girls tomorrow."

After Lexa exited the kitchen, Shal couldn't resist saying, "So any of you believe her?"

"Not a chance." said Dasi. "She wants Max, and he wants her, we all know it, and so does she."

"Well as long as we all agree," said Shal. "I'm going to bed too."

"Night Shal." said Dasi. "Thanks for our talk, I think I am going to head back to the hospital and be with Jesse."

"When he wakes up, call me," said Shal.

"Will do, goodnight."

"Night."

"Goodnight Lulu." said Shelly.

"Night sweetie."