ViciousAssassin: Yeah, I liked that talk with Rogue/Vince. I wanted to show them getting a bit closer given they both went through that first Act together and to open her up a bit more. You'd be right in what you think Slayer saw lol. Not sure about an unedited version of that death scene…Maybe.

Mark C: All those characters Shaw listed were members of the Hellfire Club in the comics, just not well known ones. Rogue and Vince haven't really interacted much until now and I wanted to change that with that scene of theirs I think it worked out great.

TheUnknown325: Yeah, I like to do the personal stuff in fics it's more interesting to me. I guess that's a good thing then with how you said I did Shaw's death? Yeah I wanted a fitting end to him. Sure send me the fic idea I want to read it. I wish you put up your e-mail on your account or let unsigned reviews on your fics cause I couldn't get in touch with you to tell you this. You might want to put up your e-mail address for the future in case someone wants to talk with you.

KaliAnn: Well I wanted Vince to be a more compassionate person. Maybe it's a little bit of me thrown in. Yeah, Selene is nuts, pretty much a given lol. You'll see her plan later.

Sean Malloy-1: Mystique will show up later in this fic trust me. Alex and Lorna will not show up at the mansion, no Sage didn't get pregnant, and there are no plans for Betsy's family.

Jaguar: Trust me, there is someone for Amara coming up and yes we planned for more healing to take place.

Coldqueen: I'm really sorry, I couldn't tell and I thought you were really serious sorry about that but it just didn't sound like a joke to me. It sounded like you were being a jerk to me.

GothikStrawberry: Glad you liked that opening scene, and I don't think anyone feels sorry for Shaw lol.

Jenskott: Those other people were once members in the comics but not major players. More LoRo up first.

KSimonT-X: Yeah Shaw really did get it huh? Yep Selene and Sinister are pretty dark kind of what makes them so fun to write. No not Apocalypse he's not dead, and didn't it say the minions of hell would be released? Well we needed to have all the fluff to balance out all the other stuff lol.

The Uncanny R-Man: I think everyone would enjoy flying don't you? Hey Vince is still only human lol, he can't go at it all the time. No plans for Pyro sorry, if Remy watched that painting session then Rogue would kill him lol. Eww, Laura is like 15 and Slayer is 26, I mean major jail bait issue there. Yeah I wanted a fitting end to Shaw and can you imagine a more poet way for him to die?

Thanks to: X00001, Silver Warrior, simba317

AN: Kali and Kelsey (who you will see at the end) are based on a pair of twin sisters that I know about and who are actually the authors KaliAnn and KelseyAlicia at this site)
CHAPTER 57: FUN, GAMES AND ROMANCE

(Ororo/Logan love scene up next so if you want to skip it that's okay)

-Ororo's Room-

It was ten o'clock and Logan was in her room, he let himself in after knocking and heard Ororo telling him to come in. He closed the door and found the room with no lights on but with a few candles were lit around the room giving it a soft glow. He smirked she went all out on this but he didn't mind. He'd been looking forward to this since she told him, she was a beautiful woman who literally had the body of a goddess and who he respected and loved more then anyone.

Logan had no idea what to expect now. He sat down on her bed and heard her in the bathroom, wondering what she was going to do. He was also a bit nervous, for this was the first real relationship he had since he could literally remember in a long time.

Then as the door to her private bathroom opened, his jaw dropped. Ororo Munroe was standing there like the goddess she was she…Wearing only in a blue nightgown that clung to her form and hung on every curve of her body. She then walked over to him as he stood up in surprise and she wrapped her arms around her neck.

"Logan…I wanted this to be perfect and I think we both need to take this to the next level in our relationship," she told him in a deep, honest tone and he could see in her sky blue eyes that she meant it. She kissed him deeply and he could feel her through the thin material, and that she wore nothing underneath. She was also wearing some kind of perfume that he never smelled before and it was just so intoxicating.

"Ro…I…I'm not sure how well I can control myself," he managed to get out, "I'm barely controlling myself now." That was true, for he could smell her own arousal with his heightened senses and it was driving him nuts on top of that new perfume.

Ororo had been wondering about this moment since they started to date. Truth was, she had feelings for longer then they were dating and it wasn't until recently that she had to admit them. Logan was her closest friend, but he was also much more then that, and truth be told, she had a few more interesting dreams with him. She kissed him again this time, softly on the lips and he tried to control himself, but found himself returning it just as strong.

When they broke away after a minute she smiled at him. "Logan one of the reasons I find you so attractive is that you can be so free at times. I don't have that luxury with my powers and sometimes I admire and envy how you have both control and let yourself loose." She nuzzled his ear biting it a little as that got a small growl of pleasure out of him. "I want you to do whatever you want Logan…Be yourself…Please," she whispered into his ear.

That was enough for Logan and he returned the favor, kissing her hard as had grabbed her hips and pulled her close. He had to admit himself, he did want this…He wanted her so bad. He placed his tongue in her mouth and began to explor it, making her moan slightly from it as she started to pull off his shirt. They broke only to pull it off and she gazed at his chiseled and hairy form feeling the muscles there with her hands.

Logan pulled her close again and kissed her passionately and then made a trail down her chin to her neck. She arched her head to give him better access as she ran a hand through his thick head of hair and down his back with another. She began to breath heavier and moaned a bit from it and from Logan who also with one hand cupped one of her breast. She moaned at the sensation, for she had wanted him for so long and to have him actually touching her felt so wonderful.

He then placed both hands on her ass giving them a little squeeze before lifting her up into the air. She was surprised by this, but went along wrapping her legs around him and feeling his arousal though the pants and wished they weren't in the way. He placed her on the bed and unfastened his belt and she watched as he took them off and now he was naked except for his boxers.

He crawled onto the bed and placed himself over her as he kissed her more passionately then before. He could feel his more animal nature taking control, and the smell of her getting more aroused didn't help matters, for he was trying to keep himself under control as best he could.

Ororo could sense this, and looking into his eyes she could see the battle he must be waging inside him self with his instincts. "Logan…Take me," she said to him.

"Ro…I…I might not be able to control myself…I might hurt you."

She was touched by his concerns that he might lose control and harm her. "I trust you Logan…You won't hurt me because you can't…Now…Please…Don't hold back anymore. I want you Logan…The real you."

That was it for him…He couldn't take it anymore. Her heavy breathing, the feel of her warm body against his, her intoxicating scent and now her asking him to just let go sent him over the edge. He started suckling on her breast through the thin fabric and she moaned in pleasure from it, but he wanted more.

He started to growl a bit as his more animal nature took hold of him and urged him to mate with his chosen woman. He was an alpha male and he had just chosen his alpha female as his instincts were overriding all rational thought. He caressed her body with his hands and he couldn't take it any more he wanted her, to taste the flesh. So with both hands he gripped the fabric in the middle at the top and literally tore it open exposing her breasts and some of her stomach to the air.

Ororo was both a little shocked at his actions and a little angry that he just ruined her nightgown. But as he started to devour her soft chocolate breast, she also felt very turned on by the act. She would be pissed at him later and she could always make him buy a new one for her later…Right now, she was enjoying this too much to really care. Logan was teasing her nipples now with his fingers with one and his mouth with another.

She arched her back and held his head closer panting heavily from it all. He then moved to the other one and with one of his hands slowly against her soft skin went down the ruined nightgown and to her sex. He placed his fingers there on her sensitive area and started to gently rub her entrance down there.

Ororo gasped at the sensation. "Oh yes Logan…Like that," she managed to get out between breaths. He started to slip in a finger and went to work and then later two and then three. At three, she was writhing in pleasure and was moaning out loudly now. He could tell she was getting close, but he wanted her now.

He pulled out his fingers now wet with a slight moan of protest from Ororo as he raised her up slightly and taking the clothing off of her lower areas. She slipped out of it and he took off his boxers and she stared at his erect member. It was bigger then she had thought it would be. He smiled as her, still managing to surprise her and she wanted to lay on her back ,but he stopped her and positioned her facing away from him on her hands and knees.

'Oh Goddess…He…He doesn't want me to do anal does he?' she thought to herself.

She had tried that a few times back in Africa with a few older lovers, but it had been so long she was afraid it was going to hurt. There was also what Leland had done to her, even though she was over it, but she worried that their first time would be done that way. To her relief he placed it in the folds of her sex and gently went into her, expanding her inner walls to just the right amount.

Logan then started rocking himself back and forward and Ororo thrusted back into him, having sex form behind. She should have known that Logan would want to do it this way. It was his instincts kicking in, but she didn't mind…In fact she was in too much pleasure to mind anything.

Logan was gripping her hips as he kept thrusting himself in and out of the woman he cared so much for. She felt amazing and was glad that she had asked him for this. He learned forward grabbing her breast as he rode her, grunting and even growling. Ororo was enjoying herself, all the time she had to be calm and collected she never could let herself go, but Logan could as he was now. He was fucking her like no one had with such vigor and force that she reveled in it. Through him she could taste the freedom he had. Her moans were becoming passionate screams as she grabbed the headboards for leverage she was so close to an orgasm at the moment.

Logan could smell that she was close, but not close enough. He used on hand to rub again her clit and Ororo threw her head back as he did, crying out in pleasure. Soon his trusts were slowing down a bit and after a few more powerful and deep thrusts into he,r he finished and climaxed inside of her with a roar, biting down on her shoulder with this teeth. This sent Ororo over the edge and she climaxed right then and there, screaming out his name. She felt the teeth and knew what it meant…He marked her. He marked her as his, his mate and no one else's. She liked that idea of being only his, and she knew he would be hers as well.

After a few seconds both adults now sweaty dropped to the bed laying beside one another. Ororo was panting for breath and rolled over to Logan. "By the Goddess…" was all she managed to say rubbing her shoulder, seeing the teeth marks. They hadn't really broken the skin and it would be there the next day or so, but she didn't care.

"I thought you were one," Logan said with a grin on his face, "Because in my eyes you are a goddess."

She looked up back into his eyes, now the fire of passion out of them but there was something else there, another warmed in his eyes. She kissed him sweetly for a few seconds, and soon she was on her back again with Logan on top of her. She broke the kiss surprised by his actions and of course his hard erect manhood was poking into her thigh. "Logan you can't mean to go again?"

"Healing factor darling…" he responded as he raked his teeth against her neck.

"Oh…Goddess…" she moaned out in pleasure. She never considered how his healing factor would alter his sex drive, but she had a feeling she was going to find out…And she was sure she would enjoy to see just how much his healing factor enhanced his performances. She moaned out again as she spread her legs for him and he entered her again. It was going to be a very long night and Ororo couldn't be happier.

-Somewhere in Michigan State-

August had been riding her motorcycle for hours now and she needed two things. First was gas, second was a place to rest up and get a bite to eat. She visited a gas station and filled up pulling out a wad of cash to pay for the gas. Wasn't like it was her money…She actually had taken it from Selene and one of her Hellfire Accounts. Such accounts that made the Swiss Banks look like amateurs, but she knew Selene very well…Hell, she learned a lot from under her teachings that is before they had their 'falling out' as it were.

Well she had been young and ignorant of the world and hadn't known what kind of person Selene really was. Looking back on it now knowing what she knew she thought herself an idiot…But then again she had been very young. When she left Selene, she took with her a few books, items, and of course a data disk on a few things. One was a personal account that she raided for cash. It was nice to both stick it to her and have enough cash to last a lifetime…At least she hoped so.

After filling up, she headed out and not too far away she saw a biker bar, which was pretty obvious with all the bikes and a few pickup trucks. She figured it might as well go in. She was hungry and wasn't too picky. August parked her bike and placed her helmet down on the seat. The place looked okay for the most part. She had seen worse in her travels and so she went up to the front door and walked through the place. It was the typical bar and she saw it also had a kitchen in the back so she could at least get something to eat.

There were the usual waitresses and tough looking men and women, or at least those that tried to look tough. She may look like an average eighteen year old girl, but she knew she could take them all on if she wanted or needed too. They didn't know what hell was or how it could toughing someone up on the inside.

She walked up to a table and sat down glad for the rest, one of the waitresses came to see her. "You know this isn't a place for kids and you don't look like the kind of girl that would be here."

August sighed, "Look, my bike it outside and all I want is to rest up and get something to eat."

"Well as long as you can pay and you don't drink it's okay. You don't look over twenty one so don't bother with any ID that says otherwise."

August smirked. Besides, he wouldn't do that even if she wanted to. Alcohol wasn't on her mind anyways and she knew enough magic to turn tap water into that if she wanted to, but she didn't. She needed a clear head, for all she knew Selene had hunters on her case. She felt them at times…In the shadows and in the darkest of places. August ordered a simple burger and fries with a non-alcoholic drink of course.

She place was kind of loud, but not defeating at least. She dug into her food when it came, for she hadn't known just how hungry she was until then. But of course, just like it had always been with her life, something had to happen. He was nearly done her meal when a few leathered up moron with more tattoos then brains decided to give her trouble.

"Hey girly…What are you doing here all alone huh?" The one in a bandana spoke up first.

"Yeah, is the little girl trying to play biker?" atubby one with his shirt not covering his gut laughed at her. She gritted her teeth. What was it with her? All she wanted was to come in, rest, eat and she finds trouble. She swore that if she found out that Selene put a hex on her life, she'd get her back for that one too.

"Look, I just want to be left alone so leave now while you can," August told them flatly taking a drink not looking at them.

"Hey you think you can just come in here off the streets and just say what you want bitch?" a tall guy said next to her leaning down, "You know you got a pretty face…Wonder what else ya got under that jacket?"

She snorted at him, "Not in your long and impotent life will you ever find out…"

That pissed him off and he slapped the drink out of her hand spilling it on her. Okay…Now she was pissed. She had hoped to avoid it but this was too far. She threw her fist at the tall one and to the surprise of everyone he flew back as if hit by a truck into another table.

August stood up and glared at the rest of them, "Who else wants some?"

Fat boy took a swing and she ducked it and landed a solid blow to his gut. He went to his knees and pretty much stayed on the floor for the rest of the fight and some time after that holding his stomach. Then the Bandana Man hit her in the side when she wasn't looking. Now that hurt. August knew she had super strength, but her body was just as tough as anyone else's.

Well except that she was fire proof but that was related to her other power. "What's a matter honey? Did the big bad man hurt you too hard?"

August pushed off her table and glared at him, "I've had pain you couldn't even begin to imagine." She then surprised him by throwing a fireball at his feet. Her other mutation was the ability to create fire and she couldn't be harmed by fire either.

"Shit! She's a mutie!" someone yelled out but as the man was backing up she ran and jumped kicked him in the chest. He flew through the air and landed on his back on a pool table over twelve feet away. By now she saw many of the other patrons get up. Looked like mutants weren't welcomed in this place…Well hell, she needed a way to get rid of this pent up anger of hers anyway.

About fifteen minutes later, August came out of the bar. Her clothing was ragged, she was sweating, and had a bruise on her face and a slight limp, but then again she was also the ONLY person walking out of the bar or pretty much inside too.

The smart ones had stayed out of the fight, but inside among the wreckage was about over a dozen men and a few women all knocked out laying all over the place. August had to admit it was kind of fun and it worked off her meal at least. But as she heard sirens in the distance, she knew the owner called the cops she took it as a sign to leave. She got on her bike and headed off on her journey. She still had a mission to accomplish and she wasn't going to give up on it until Selene was dead.

Sam/Tabitha

Tabitha 'Boom Boom' Smith rolled over again as she continued to sleep well into the morning as was often her custom. With her ankle still in a cast and her movements still a bit labored, she found herself confined to her bed even more than usual. But she didn't mind all that much…It was, after all, a good excuse to get out of danger room sessions…Which if she had been hearing right, were getting increasingly difficult.

She kept on tossing in her bed, not wanting to get up and limp her way down the stairs to breakfast even though Amara offered to help her. While she was hungry…It was just too much of a hassle for her. Besides, she'd get what she needed later on when it wasn't so crowded and she didn't run the risk of bumping into somebody or stumbling about.

With another groan, Tabitha turned again onto her side…Only this time, something strange caught her senses. More like…A certain smell. She immediately recognized it as her favorite…Bacon and eggs. And as soon as she opened her eyes, she was pleasantly surprised to see full plate of it right in front of her. Add to that…Standing right at her beside with a tray in hand was her new boyfriend, Sam Guthrie with a cute smile on his face.

"Mornin' sunshine," he said with a grin as he saw her sit up in her bed.

"Hey…" she said, still noticeably groggy, "What's all this?"

"Breakfast in bed, what else?" he told her as she quickly became more aware, "Ah thought you might be hungry, so I snagged what I could."

"Aw! You're a sweety Sammy!" she told him, leaning forward and giving him a big kiss on the cheek, which made him blush profusely, "And you brought my favorite! Man, I don't even want to know how you managed to keep this away from Kurt! You know the guy has a legendary love of bacon!"

"Yeah…No kiddin'," he said with a slight chuckle as Tabby took the tray and began to tear into her meal, "It took a little effort, but thankfully Wanda's been a good distraction for him. And for some reason he was kind of out of it this mornin' anyways…Seemed like something was on his mind."

"Hmm…Hope nothing's wrong with blue," said Tabitha, knowing it usually took quite a lot to keep Kurt from being his usual self…Even if he had been noticeably different since the whole Hellfire ordeal, "But I guess it's good Wanda's keeping his spirits up."

"Oh man, you have no idea," said Sam with a laugh, "Those two have really been gettin' close. It's quite a sight."

"I'll bet…" said Tabby as she continued to take large bites of her eggs, not really caring about manners and such given that she was so hungry, "Man…It feels like I've been kept out of the loop for WAY too long. Being confined to a bed and having to walk with a stick sure doesn't leave time to keep up with the 411 here."

"Ah know," said Sam in agreement, "Things change around here so fast."

"Really now…" she said with a sneaky grin, "Care to let me in on a few tidbits?"

"Where do Ah begin?" said Sam with a laugh, "First there's that girl that attacked the mansion, X23 or somthin', well turns out she's actually staying full time."

"Ouch…You mean that same girl that single-handedly took us all out?" grimaced Tabitha as she stopped eating for a moment to take in this news.

"The one and only…" said Sam with another chuckle, "But she's cooled down a bit…Near as Ah can tell anyways. She and Logan seem to be pretty close. And Ah guess as long as she doesn't think of us as enemies…She's okay in my book, and she's got a name now. She's callin' herself Laura now."

"Always the forgiving type I see…and it's nice X23 isn't much of a name." said Tabby with a grin, once again causing the Kentucky farm boy to blush, "So what else is going on? Don't leave me hanging here!"

"Well…" said Sam, thinking back to some of the big developments that had been circulating throughout the institute, "There's also the other new guy…Jack something."

"Jack? Who's he?" asked Tabitha in a confused tone.

"Oh you know…That Slayer guy. He's the one who saved Emma and helped us beat Sinister," answered Sam.

"Ah…You mean the guy in the samurai costume," said Tabby, vaguely remembering him on the ride back, although he kept to himself the whole time. See didn't really see much of him after that actually.

"Yeah, he joined up too," said Sam, "Although he's kind of been keepin' to himself. Ah don't know that much about him…Then again, nobody does. The guy's a real mystery."

"Hmm…Sounds interesting," said Tabby with a hint of intrigue since she always enjoyed a good mystery, "You get a chance to talk to him?"

"Nah, like Ah said, he keeps to himself," said Sam, shaking his head…Although he did have to admit he was a bit curious like much of the others, but only time would tell whether or not this mysterious Jack character came out of his shell.

"Too bad…" said Tabby with a shrug as she finished up her eggs, "Although I'm no expert, it sounds like he needs a friend."

"Actually…" said Sam, those words reminding him of a little detail he had almost forgotten, "Ah hear he's been talkin' to Amara a few times."

"Amara?" said Tabitha, now suddenly more intrigued since it now involved one of her best friends, "Why her?"

"Ah'm…Not exactly sure," said Sam, who had been thinking that very same thing as well, but was no closer to an answer than Tabby, "Maybe it's the whole her bein' a princess and him bein' a warrior or somethin', but she seems to like talkin' to him and Ah guess that's good enough for me."

"I guess…" said Tabitha, still thinking about that, "Maybe I should try to talk to her later about that."

"Yeah, good idea…It feels as though she's been avoidin' us for some reason lately," added Sam.

"Yeah…I noticed that too," said Tabitha, for it was something that had been bothering her almost as much as her ankle, "Do you know if anything's bothering her?"

"Not to my knowledge," said Sam, shaking his head in response, "Ah haven't had a chance to talk to her."

"Well maybe we should both make time…" said Tabitha as she finished the last piece of bacon, "It feels as though ever since we started getting involved, I haven't had a lot of time for my friend."

"Yeah…Me too," admitted Sam, also sounding a bit remorseful of that.

There was a brief silence between the young couple. As close as they had become since that fateful mission, they could never forget Amara. She was a close friend to the both of them and if something was wrong with her, they wanted to know about it. Sure it had been hectic around the mansion with the aftermath of the mission and new recruits, but that shouldn't have an impact on their friendship.

Whether or not something was going on with Amara was unclear…But if there was, hopefully she would tell them. They were, after all, her friends. Besides…What could be so serious that it would keep her from telling them?

"Well, thanks for the breakfast Sammy," said Tabitha, giving him another kiss as a token of her appreciation, "You really are a sweety pie."

"Thanks…" he said with a smile as he took the plate and the tray, "And don't you worry, Tabby. Ah'll be right back up to keep ya company. Besides…Ah still have to tell ya about the rumors going around about Sage and Beast."

"Oh, this I HAVE to hear!" said Tabitha, feeling as though something like that was just too juicy for her NOT to know.

"Believe me…You might not believe all what people are thinkin'. Ah mean some think she's carrying his love child, others are like they're secretly dating. A few aren't sure how far they got, but the betting pool is opening up," he said with a laugh, looking forward to seeing the look on her face when he told her.

"You know I'm going to hold you to that, babe…" she said playfully, feeling lucky to have such a sweet guy to call her boyfriend.

"Ah wouldn't expect anything less from you, Tabby…" he said with a smile, finding it funny in many ways just how interesting life had become now that he was involved with this woman.

"oh and put me down for five that says they've either been knocking booty by now or at least till the end of the month too." She grinned.

Danger Room – Sage & New Mutants

The danger room had once again devolved into chaos in Sage's eyes as she watched what she thought would be an innocent activity for the New Mutants turn into an all out melee for which she had no control over. At one point, she tried shouting over the noise, but it seemed to be doing little, if anything, to placate the pandemonium. While she had come to expect such behavior from the younger recruits since she arrived…She had no idea it would turn into something like this. She thought that playing a few coordinated games would be good for teamwork practice…Oh how wrong she was.

She was an intelligent woman a computerized brain and a telepath…Yet she still didn't stop and consider the consequences of giving a bunch of young, mutant teenagers a bag of rubber balls and putting them together in a large area. It felt like a serious lapse on her part…A lapse she was now kicking herself for as another red ball whizzed past her face at the speed of a bullet.

"Damn it, Roberto!" she shouted, "I thought I told you…Hey! Stop that! Come on you guys, this isn't…"

However, her words fell on deaf ears as the New Mutant continued to let chaos rain in it's purest form…Dodge ball. It was simple math…Put a bunch of teenagers together in a room with a bunch of red balls and this is what happened…And yet Sage had overlooked it and was now simply trying to keep herself from getting pummeled to death.

"Face it guys!" said Roberto in his full, Sunspot form, "I'm the dodge ball master! I got the power of the sun on my side!"

"Oh really…" said Bobby with a mischievous grin, who was on the same side as Jubilee and Ray, "Guys…You know the rules! He who boasts becomes the target!"

"Ah yes…An ancient Chinese proverb if I ever heard one!" said Jubilee playfully as she held two red balls in hand.

"Proverb or not…You know what this means…" said Ray as all eyes were now on Roberto.

"DOGPILE!" they all shouted at once as they began pegging the overconfident Brazilian mutant, who tried flying to get out of the way, but it did him little help as he took one right to the face.

"Bulls eye!" said Bobby in triumph.

"Ugh…Guys, you were supposed to cover me!" said Roberto to Jamie and Rhane, who were on his team.

"Hey, don't blame us for your ego," said Jamie in his defense.

"Yeah, ye were asking for it," said Rhane with a grin.

"Of course you know…This means war," said Roberto as he picked up a few stray balls and took aim.

"Oh shit! Here we go again!" said Bobby as he, Jubilee, and Ray began to scramble.

Even despite the chaos, Sage tried to step in.

"Okay guys…This really has gone on long enough!" she told them as Bobby tried to take cover behind her, "We should really get back to…"

Suddenly, she was cut off in mid sentence by the sudden impact of one of Roberto's throws which hit her squarely in the gut at high speeds. Immediately, she fell to the ground and upon seeing this…The six mutants froze. Roberto powered down as everybody crowded around her…Now overcome with a new level of nervousness that seemed to wash over the carefree playfulness that had dominated. It was one thing to just goof around…But it was something else when it sent a teacher falling to the ground.

"Oh man…" said Jamie as he and the others crowded around her anxiously, "Are you okay Ms. Sage?"

"Jeez, way to go Roberto!" said Bobby.

"Hey! You were the one hiding behind her man!" argued Roberto.

"And you're the one who threw the ball!" shot Jubilee in response.

"Come on guys!" said Ray, "Let's not finger point here, we just have to…"

But before he could finish…Ray was once again cut off by the rather ominous groan of the former SHIELD agent as she returned to her feet. Everybody took a step back as they nervously watched the look on her face change to an inexplicably ominous form. They weren't quite sure what to make of it…But once she was up, something came over her that nearly took scared them all to death.

"You kids have just awakened a sleeping giant…" she said in a low tone with a strange, ominous grin, "You just hit a former SHIELD agent."

Then, as she finally caught her breath, she picked up a couple of the red balls and held them ominously in her hand as she looked back at the bewildered new mutants with a look that would have disturbed most anybody who knew her.

"So you kids like dodge ball…Fine…We'll play dodge ball," she said with a grin, "Only with one rule…There are none!"

"Oh man! RUN!" yelled Roberto as they all scrambled.

"You can run, but you can't hide!" said Sage, simply letting herself go in a way she hadn't been able to for so long, with a smile on her face.

"Ye just had to get her all riled up, didn't ye Roberto?" said Rahne, who narrowly avoided being hit.

Sage's laughter soon filled the room as she began to let loose, letting the chaos of the game take over as she and the New Mutants waged an all out dodge ball war. It felt as though she was a child again…Laughing and playing as though all the twisted complications from her crazy, complicated life didn't even matter. She had to admit…It felt good…It felt really good. She needed this…After all the insanity she had been a part of for so long, she definitely needed this and simply let the fun overtake her as the New Mutants finally got a taste of the kind of skills a former SHIELD agent was capable of.

And while none of them knew it, Hank had been watching the whole thing from above and upon hearing her laughter echo throughout the room, he couldn't help but smile. There was so much joy in her expression as she let loose and frolicked about in her own childish ways that it was like music to his ears. And no matter how chaotic things seemed to get…Seeing the playful expression on the face of the woman who had become so close to his heart was just a joy that no words could describe. And for Hank McCoy…It was only further evidence that his life was now a whole lot more interesting now that he had this beautiful woman by his side.

-Bayville Mall-

It was later in the day and after that DR session Ray and Roberto were just walking through the mall looking for something to do. Lately, it seemed everyone was paired up and they were the only singles boys left. It was kind of frustrating at times and Roberto suggested that they hit the mall to see if they could pick up on any girls. Ray wondered if Amara would like to come, but lately some of them had noticed she seemed a bit more reserved lately.

No one knew why but he guessed she was just like them, slightly depressed at all the couples. Sure Ray thought she was cute, but she wasn't the kind of girl he was looking for. So here they were just cruising the mall. It had been years since the whole mutant thing and even though there were still people that gave them a hard time, it wasn't as bad as it had been when mutants were exposed to the world.

"Man I think I got a few bruises from DR…Who knew that Sage could throw that hard?" Ray muttered rubbing his side.

"I know, plus who the hell ever saw someone tag three people with a single shot before?" Roberto asked him, remembering how Sage had thrown one ball that nailed Amara in the back, pounced off Rahne skipped, and hit Jamie in the leg causing him to multiply.

"Come on that, couldn't have been on purpose."

Roberto wondered about that, "Don't know…Her brain is like a computer right? Who's to say she isn't that accurate with that kind of brain."

"Whoa…" Ray said at the moment.

"Dude it's not that big a deal."

"What? No look man," Ray pointed to what he was looking at.

There by a music story he saw them, a pair of identical twin girls. They were about 5'3 so a little on the short side, but then again so was Kitty. They had very long blond hair that went down their backs and one was in a purple T-shirt and other who wore glasses was in green. They seemed to be arguing over a certain CD, mainly which band was better.

"Oh man…Good eyes man," Roberto said with a smile, "So…What do you say? Give it a shot?"

Ray just shrugged, "Couldn't hurt…Pair of cute twins I say we at least give it a shot. But if you don't mind, I think I'll try my luck with the one without the glasses."

Roberto just shrugged, "Fine with me man, personally I like the one with them."

he two teens walked up to the blondes and were close enough to hear them out.

"Come on Kali, I just want one more CD," the one with glasses asked her twin.

Kali rolled her eyes, "We've been in there long enough. I wanted to go and get a new shirt and at this rate you'll be in there all day, Kelsey."

"Oh come on, that's a bit of an exaggeration and you know it. I'm just trying to find this one CD, but it's been sold out and this is the last store that might have it."

"Why do you want it so bad? I thought you had that CD," Kali crossed her arms and asked her.

"I…Lost it…" Kelsey said whispering. She had lost it on the bus and before she knew she had it was long gone by the time she got home.

"Fine, but this is the last story okay?" Kali sighed.

"Thanks sis," Kelsey smiled at her then noticed the two boys walking over to them. They were both fairly tall and one had this unique blonde-orange hair style and the other looked Brazilian. They both looked familiar to her. Quickly, she leaned over to her sister, "Hey don't those two look familiar?"

Kali looked and thought about. Then it hit her…They were a couple of those mutants that went to Bayville High. Although she and her sister when to the other high school on the other side of town, they had heard about them and few friends once pointed them out. Although she and her sister didn't see what the big deal was with mutants anyway.

"Hey, you girls here alone?" Roberto asked them.

"What he means is are you two single or mind hanging out with a couple of boys," Ray said to make sure that Roberto's line didn't sound too negative on them. Roberto gave Ray a small dirty look.

"No we're here along and single," Kelsey said with a slight smirk on her face.

"Hey I got to ask…Are you two mutants?" Kali asked them, she had to make sure she was right.

The boys faces fell, "Uh…Yeah we are." Ray sighed.

"Hey that's nothing to be ashamed of," Kelsey said to them.

Kali nodded, "Yeah, we're not like most people. We don't mind at all."

"Really?" Roberto was pretty much surprised by this. He smiled at Kelsey and noticed that while Kali had blue eyes one of Kelsey's was green. He thought it gave her a nice unique look. "Man, I have to say this is refreshing. I mean, it's not often we meet a pair of beautiful girls that are open minded."

Both girls blushed and giggled a bit. Ray smiled and moved up next to Kali, "So…You girls want to hang out?"

"Well…my sister needs to find a CD and I need to shop for a new shirt," Kali told him and smiled at him.

Ray shrugged, "Hey I don't mind. What about you Roberto?"

He just grinned at them, "Being in the company of two good looking ladies? What's not to like?" Both twins smiled at the compliment.

"Well then, I'm Kali and this is Kelsey." Kali introduced them.

"I'm Ray and that's Roberto." Ray introduced them.

Kali then took Ray's arm in hers, "You can keep Kelsey company while she looks for her CD and Ray here can keep me company while I get my new shirt."

Kelsey took Roberto's arm as well, "Cool, meet you in the food court in an hour?"

"Yeah, same place?"

"By the Chinese place," the Twin nodded.

Ray and Roberto gave each other grins as the girls led them off in different directions they would compare notes on the girls later but so far they both seemed to be nice girls. It was a nice change to finally meet two human girls that would accept them for what they were and they both wondered how this would all turn out. But at the moment…This was becoming a very nice day for them both.

NEXT UP CHAPTER 58: AS TIME MOVES ON