AN: Hi again! Just wanted to say I don't own X-men stuff. But I do own my made-up characters Angel Arden and Maggie. Enjoy!

Chapter 2

Awakening

White light shone brightly down on Angel as a constant beep repeatedly droned on. Am I dead? She asked herself in thought. She opened her eyes, squinting to get a better look at where she happened to be. Well, if I am, heaven must be a hospital room. She sat up in her bed, giving herself a little pinch. "Ouch!" She said out loud. Ok, so I'm not dead…

A nurse stuck out her head in Angel's room. "Are you okay, dear?"

Angel nodded.

"Alright. Well, now that you are awake, I'll get the doctor and your aunt." The hospital nurse made a smile and vanished from sight.

The little girl processed more thoughts through her mind. Aunt Maggie? Why aren't my parents here to get me? Was that car crash real? I want this to just be a dream… Her hand lingered to her neck, raising it up. She felt the necklace, touching the shape and the crevasses of the small figurine. So this is real... She thought. Angel closed her eyes, a tear ran down her cheek. Angel, keep strong. Her mother's voice echoed within her head. So she opened her eyes again and wiped the tear.

The room was quiet except for the monitors that droned on as they continued to work and kept status on their little patient. Finally, an older man in a long white coat, like the colour of fresh fallen snow, entered the room followed by a woman, shorter in height accompanied with a soft colour of brown hair. The woman reminded her of her late mother, she recognised this woman to be no other than Aunt Maggie.

Both adults came in quietly, closing the door behind them. Oh-no, Angel thought, When grown-ups close doors, it usually means they have something serious and important to say.

"Hello, Miss Arden. Nice to see you awake." The doctor gave a faint smile to Angel then looked down at his clipboard as he pressed his glasses back onto the bridge of his nose. He flipped over the papers. Most likely, glancing over all the stats and studying them to come to a conclusion before he spoke out loud again. He finally placed the board down on the table. "Well, young miss, it seems like you've experienced a miracle. That crash should have been fatal for you, yet survived it. You managed to escape with only a few scars. Nothing to worry about. You'll heal nicely." The doctor seemed to be talking to Angel's aunt at the same time. "Did as much as we could and I don't see why you couldn't leave whenever you wished." The doctor stepped aside to talk with Aunt Maggie. "Well, I'll leave you to it. There is nothing for you to worry about. Though, I would recommend to clean the cuts ever so often and just keep watch that they don't get infected." Then with those final words, the physician left the room, leaving both of them alone in the dull white room.

Aunt Maggie spoke first, "They found that envelope in your pocket. It was the only thing that you had with you." Angel looked over at the table beside her. She reached out for it.

"Oh," She spoke for the first time since her awakening. "My mother wanted me to give it to you." She reached out, handing her aunt the tiny package.

"Thank-you," Maggie replied. "What a pretty necklace you got there."

"Thanks. My mommy gave it to me before she…um…" Her voice started to break.

Her aunt cut in. "I know, I know. It's okay."

Angel breathed in.

"I got you some clothes and sandals from the lost and found here at the hospital. It's only temporary. So how about you get dressed and I get you out of here? I'll buy you breakfast. I heard that the hospital food here is so bad that the flies won't even eat it. That's got to tell you something…" Her aunt jokingly stated.

Angel broke into a tiny grin.

Once Angel was dressed and the paperwork was signed, Maggie and Angel walked hand in hand to the parking lot and made their way to the car. The blonde haired girl stopped in her tracks, fearing what laid before her.

"Oh dear." Her aunt said to herself. She sighed, bending down to face Angel eye to eye. "Sweetie, I know you don't quite like cars after what happened. But you have to be a big girl and overcome this fear, before it controls you. It's now or never. I promise that I will drive slowly and if you get too scared I'll stop. Can you at least try? Will you do that for me?"

Angel nodded.

"I can't hear you. C'mon girl, I know you have a voice somewhere in there. Let me hear it!" Aunt Maggie tickled her ten year old niece. The small girl giggled with a smile on her face.

"Yes!" Angel had said between the outbursts of laughter.

"That's better." Maggie travelled to the driver's side. "Get in."

Both of them got in and automatically placed their seatbelts on. They headed onto the road, going as slow as they could possibly go, just as Aunt Maggie had promised. Yet Angel was still somewhat tense, gripping the edge of her seat. Her aunt saw her from the corner of her eye and reached out, turning on the radio. The blue eyed child listened to the up beat song, slowly allowing herself to listen and relax more. Before she knew it, they had reached their destination at the restaurant.

As they made their way in, they were directed to their seats, choosing a booth near a window. Scanning the menu, both of them searched for what their empty stomachs desired. In time, the waitress came to their table to take their order.

"Pancakes and orange juice, please!" Angel said, enthusiastically.

"Just eggs and toast for me. Oh yah, and coffee too, please." Maggie requested.

"Very well." The waitress left with their orders, leaving them in peace.

"Well, Angel, I just have to say you're one lucky little girl surviving something like that. I know you might not want to talk about it but we might as well get this chat out of the way and make things clear between us. I think you are ready to hear the truth. Personally, I think I shouldn't have to sugar coat these maters for you. I think you reached the end of your innocence after last night. Well, you should know that I am now your guardian. I know I can't live up to your parents but I will try to do my best to take care of you. I don't have any kids of my own so I'm not actually sure how to treat children. So this is what I will do, treat you like any other person I would have to deal with. I won't treat you like a little girl anymore."

Angel nodded. She was a little uncomfortable with how bluntly her aunt had spoken, never really seeing this part of her, but in some way she liked being treated with such special information. It was the forbidden adults' conversations that children shouldn't understand or be allowed to hear. Yet Angel felt privileged to be hearing all of this.

"I must tell you while you were changing in your hospital room, I read the contents of the envelope. It basically explained your special abilities." Her aunt pointed out discreetly in public, saying she knew Angel was a mutant. "Well, I have to say that I won't treat you any different from anybody else. You're still the same, only you have some enhanced modifications. Sort of like you have the choice of fries but you, my dear, are the super sized fries."

Angel laughed at the odd comparison.

"Well, you get the picture." Aunt Maggie said laughing too, realising the silly statement she had just made. "Anyway, I just wanted to get that all out in the open. Remember that you can talk to me whenever you want. As well as, tell me anything that is bothering you. You got that?"

"Yes, Aunt Maggie." Angel grinned at her peppy, high-spirited aunt.

The waitress finally returned with the food. "Here we are, orange juice and pancakes for the young lady," placing the plate down in front for Angel, "and coffee, eggs and toast for you," she delicately placed Aunt Maggie's plate down. "Is there anything else I can get you?"

"No thanks. We're good."

"Alright. Enjoy." The waitress disappeared.

Angel reached for the syrup, drowning her hot cakes in the sweet, sticky substance.

"Mmm…" The small girl hummed.

"Well, look at that, I thought I'd never see the day when pancakes could swim." Both girls, young and old laughed together as they enjoyed their simple but lovely meal.

An hour later, when they were happy and full, they made their way back to the car.

"We have one more stop before we head back to my place." Aunt Maggie announced. Driving, they headed to the shopping mall. "We have to find you some new clothes. I can't have you wearing one pair of clothes now, can I? I'm not a big fan of shopping but for you, I'd do anything." Maggie said as she stepped out of the parked car once more. Angel and Aunt Maggie walked into the enormous establishment in search of clothes. Travelling from store to store, they were in luck finding some brand new attire. Angel thought it was interesting to be picking out her own outfits.

Five shopping bags later, Aunt Maggie and her niece walked throughout the shopping mall.

"Aww!" Maggie spoke out loud. "I almost forgot something. We need to get you shoes!"

So yet again both girls ventured for another store in search of shoes. Once they found one that showed promise, they entered. After only a few trials, Angel found a comfortable pair of sneakers.

"Alright, girlie! I think I'm officially shopped out. How about you?"

"Yup. No more shopping for me." Angel replied.

"I say it's time we head to my home. How does that sound?"

"Sounds Good."

The lock clicked with a turn of the key. As the door opened, Aunt Maggie walked in followed by her little permanent guest. Her house was small but it was a roof over their heads. From the door, it directly led them to the living room, which connected over to the kitchen. From there, was a hallway that linked to two bedrooms and a washroom.

"I know that it isn't much, but it's home." Angel's aunt said with a small smile. "I'll let you explore. I'm sure it won't take you long to see this whole place. I'll bet it'll take you less than a minute to see it all. Anyway, make yourself at home. Oh yah and if you want to find your room, just walk pass the kitchen, then the curtain of beads and it's sort of straight ahead. You can't miss it."

Angel stepped slowly on the floor, looking to the living room and eyed the kitchen. She walked to the beaded curtain, casting them aside with a single hand. They knocked together making a short pleasant sound as she passed by. Then the first door she saw, she went over to it knowing that it was her new room now. Angel carried her shopping bags to the room, dropping them to the floor as she shut the door behind her. She placed a hand out touching the bare wall, gliding her fingers on the smooth surface. Walking over to the bed, she fell back and laid down, looking up at the ceiling. Blue light poured in through the window onto her. The stars twinkled lightly in the night's sky, lingering with the pale moon. Finally, she burst into tears as she rested there alone on the quilted sheets. Angel took off her necklace, entwining the string between her fingers and placing the crystal angel in the palm of her hand. She traced it with a finger. The saltwater tears poured down, drenching her pillow, as she reflected on everything that had happened in the last few hours. Each memory stabbed her heart and pierced the front of her mind. Angel clenched the necklace in her hand as all her emotions leaked out.

She cried herself to sleep.