This chapter features some silliness, sociability, a little fighting, and (on demand) Pietro bashing. Enjoy!

Suspicions and Contradictions

So far the week was going quite smoothly for both Serena and Todd. Professor Xavier had told Serena that if she kept up her progress she would be able to go back to public schooling the following week. The thing was Serena wasn't sure if she wanted to go back. Even though the professor had been working with her on her telepathy and empathy she still sometimes heard thoughts fading in and out like a badly tuned radio when she was around others. It wasn't anywhere near as bad as it used to be but she wish she could just get a hold of it. The professor told her that it just took time and patience.

In the meantime she had gained significant control of her water based powers. She practiced reforming herself by jumping off her balcony in her liquid form and then gathering herself up again once she hit the ground. She was getting better at shaping water. She had even managed to shape it into a square. She had even tried to see how much water she could absorb at once during her bath. After absorbing the entire tub she found that her body was shimmering in and out from holding too much.

There were still times when Serena would be doing something and suddenly she would find herself somewhere else. No doubt Flood was getting a breath of fresh air every now and then. But she didn't seem to be causing anyone trouble so Serena wasn't worried about it. Still, people would question her unexplained mood swings. As for regular basic training, Serena knew how to fly the jets fairly well now. She made it through the obstacle courses with ease, even without the use of her powers. She was even becoming an expert in the danger room.

Since Todd wasn't allowed at school, he was spending his time either doing this and that or watching Serena while she did her outdoor training. This, for some reason, greatly annoyed Logan. "Does he have to come around here everyday?"

Serena looked over to where Todd was. "He just likes to watch me train."

"He likes to watch you, period."

She smiled. "I think it's rather sweet."

"Ugh, you kids and your nutty relationships."

"Cut him some slack Logan, he does it because he loves me."

"If he really cared about you then he would be training with you instead of watching you work your tail off." Logan regretted saying that almost instantly.

This gave Serena an idea. "Hey Logan…"

"No. Forget it Mermaid." Logan growled.

"Aw come on!" Serena whined. "Why can't he train with me?"

"First of all, he's not an X-Man. Secondly, he should be in school and thirdly I don't want to have to explain to the professor why he was out here."

"One, the professor's not here," Serena contradicted, "he went grocery shopping with Storm. Two, Todd got suspended for a week and three I'll love you forever if you just let him train with me!"

Logan raised an eyebrow at this. "That's not gonna get you anywhere."

"I promise I won't break anything!" Todd called out from the fence.

"What is this, a daycare?" Logan asked annoyed.

Serena put on one of those adorable, wide-eyed pleading looks. "Please Wolverine." She pouted in a babyish voice. "For me?"

"Oh for God's sake, kid, turn it off." Logan growled, defeated."I'd do better trying to fight Sabertooth."

"Thanks Wolverine!" She said happily and hugged him. "You're the greatest!"

"Yeah, yeah, just make sure he doesn't cause any trouble." Logan grumbled.

"No problem." She cupped her hands around her mouth. "He says it's okay!"

Todd was there in two leaps. He stood up straight in mock salute. "Ready when you are commander!"

"Why do I let myself get talked into these things?" Logan mumbled to himself.

Todd and Serena had tons of fun. Even though they had to dodge projectiles and fight machines it wasn't so bad when they were together. In fact they both seemed to fight better when motivated by each other's presence. Logan got after them for kissing in the middle of training. Todd also ended up making one of the machines blow up by gunking it up with his slime.

"Sorry yo." He said apologetically.

"That's okay Tadpole, we can always get em replaced." Hearing this, Serena intercepted a buzz saw launched at her and sent it right back through the opening it came out of. The machine exploded sending pieces of metal flying everywhere.

"However, that doesn't mean you should try to break the equipment." He said in an irritated voice.

"How does Big Daddy X pay for all this yo?" Todd asked in amazement.

"Beats me kid."

"Duh," Serena said smacking herself on her forehead, "because he's rich!"

"Yeah, but how did he get so dang rich?"

"Good question." Serena thought for a second. "Well, he's been alive for a long time… a really long time. Maybe he's been saving up."

"Or maybe he put that mind control thing of his to good use." Todd said suspiciously.

Logan interrupted their little conversation. "Enough with the talking you two. It's time we moved on to another exercise."

After school hours before anyone got home, Todd and Serena would go off to either have fun or do martial arts training. Todd was picking it up rather quickly. He was so impressed on how well Serena controlled her powers he had even started practicing using his. Sometimes he practiced his aim by hitting targets with either his slime or his tongue. Every so often he would do his wall-and-ceiling aerobics where he practiced how to climb and leap from wall to wall with refinement.

He was also learning how grab items with his tongue more efficiently. Sometimes he would even go out on the town and test his jumping skills by leaping from one rooftop to the text. He even started wearing the weights Serena gave him on his wrists and ankles while training, just like she did, only hers were heavier since she was used to wearing them. She told him it's makes you stronger and challenges your abilities. He found that the challenge part was not a lie, but he did feel stronger every day.

Serena and Todd had to be the happiest couple in Bayville. There was just one thing that was putting a damper on their relationship. The X-Men and the Brotherhood both were confused at their teammates' sudden upturns. Most of the X-Men thought it to be nothing short of a miracle that their teammate had finally gotten a grip on herself, and didn't really care how or why. There were, however, others who were just too paranoid to overlook it.

"What do you do everyday after school?" Kurt asked Serena after she got back a couple hours after school.

Serena shrugged. "A lot of stuff. Sometimes I work out at the gym, others I take a walk around the park."

"The park I can understand but we have our own gym here." Scott said.

"Yeah but, sometimes I feel I just need to get out of the mansion you know?" Even though they did have a gym there was no way for Serena to sneak Todd in without risking exposure. So the next best thing was the public gym.

Scott heaved a deep sigh. "Serena, is there something you're not telling us?"

Serena looked at him with a surprised look. "What would give you that idea?"

"You've just been acting a little strange lately." Kurt told her.

"It's like all of the sudden you've just become an entirely different person." Scott remarked.

"In a good way but still..."

"And you barely ever spend time at the mansion anymore except for during training."

"You have to remember I spend all day at the mansion." Serena pointed out. "I don't get to go to school like you guys anymore."

"The professor says that you might be able to start school again next week." Kurt told her.

"Yeah, I know." She said idly.

"Aren't you excited?" Scott asked.

"Well yeah but…" She began.

"Did we do something to upset you?" Kurt asked timidly.

"No, not at all. I just…"

Suddenly Kitty and Rogue appeared out of nowhere. "Hey Serena. How come you haven't been talking to us lately?"

"I know. It's almost like you're trying to avoid us."

"No, I've just been busy." Serena told them.

"You're not busy now, right?" Kitty asked her wryly.

Serena fidgeted. "Not really."

"Well then come on girl." Rogue said and the two started to lead her away.

"Yeah, we like totally have some catching up to do."

"Hey, now wait a second…" Scott started.

"Lay off Scott." Rogue snapped. "The gal needs to be with her girl friends for a little while."

"Serena?" Kurt was twisting his tail nervously. "Just out of curiosity, are you still angry with me?"

She smiled at him gently. "No Kurt. In fact, I'm sorry for being so mad at you. I was just going through a hard time you know?"

"Yeah, I can understand." He said with a relieved look on his face.

"Alright, enough chit-chat. Now come on." Rogue said impatiently. The two girls dragged her away.

Serena waved at Scott and Kurt. "See you guys later."

When they got to Kitty's room and locked the door Serena turned to look at the two girls. "Thanks, you saved me back there."

"No problem." Rogue said smiling.

"Now you're going to tell us everything! And don't leave one hot detail out or I won't share my pint of ice cream with you." Kitty said holding up the pint of cookie dough ice cream and three spoons.

"What are you talking about?" Serena asked, blushing slightly as she took a step back.

"Toad, of course!"

"How do you know about that?" Serena asked her taken aback.

"Duh, Lance told me at school. But don't worry, your secret's safe with me." Kitty said, grinning as she dug into the ice cream happily, leaving Serena to fight for a bite.

"I knew about it from the Toad himself." When Serena gave her a look of confusion she explained. "He came into my room looking for you that night. I'm the one that told him you were out back on the beach."

"Rogue, since when are you like, playing cupid?" Kitty asked teasingly.

"It wasn't like that." Rogue flushed. "I just kinda felt sorry for him."

"Sure."

"I hope nobody else finds out." Serena groaned.

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone." Rogue promised.

"Can we get back to the subject of your boyfriend please?" Kitty piped up.

Serena sat down on the floor next to Kitty. "Okay, what do you wanna know?"

"Well for starters, of all the guys in the school, in the world even, like why him?"

"You know he's really not as bad as you think." Serena said as she picked up a spoon and started digging into the ice cream.

"Don't get me wrong. He's cute and all, but some of the stuff he does, it's just like totally gross."

"You think Toad's attractive?" Rogue asked her shocked beyond all belief.

Kitty shrugged. "Sure."

Rogue made a face. "But he's so gross."

"Well, yeah... but he's still kind of cute!" Kitty replied, grinning. "Besides, that seems to be a common trait among mutant guys." She frowned, contemplating. "Er... now that I think about it, it seems to be a common trait among all males..." They were silent for a minute before laughing uproariously.

"I'll admit he is fairly attractive, when he's not catching bugs on his tongue." Rogue admitted.

"Or the fact that he hardly bathes." Kitty added.

"I've been trying to get him to cut down on those little habits." Serena said awkwardly. "He's actually been doing a good job."

"So how's he kiss?" Rogue asked her.

Serena raised an eyebrow. "Why would you want to know how he kisses?"

The two other females turned to each other knowingly. "She's jealous." They said at the same time.

Serena laughed. "You guys better give it up, he's mine."

Kitty leaned back, licking at her spoonful of ice cream with a thoughtful look. "You know... all of those Brotherhood guys are pretty good looking now that I think about it..."

Rogue rolled her eyes. "Don't say that where the speed freak can hear you, please. He has a big enough head as it is." She grabbed a spoon and the pint of ice cream, helping herself.

"Actually Rogue," Serena said between spoonfuls, "I kind of think you and Pietro would make a rather cute couple."

Rogue snorted. "Oh please, like that's ever gonna happen."

"She's right Rogue. It would be sort of an "untouchable" love."

"That kinda love would be almost as fleeting as he is, trust me."

"I'm surprised at you Rogue, usually you don't participate in these girl talks." Kitty said, cocking her head with a slight smile.

"I just don't see the point in talking about boys." Rogue replied, grinning wickedly. "Now men... that's another subject." The three of them laughed at this, soon lapsing into a detailed discussion of guys and such.

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Other than Lance the Brotherhood was curious about Todd's sudden difference in his behavior. They were glad that he was no longer holding a grudge against them and that he seemed happier nowadays, but it just seemed a little too unusual. What really made the Brotherhood astonished was that Todd had started showering almost daily, though they were for the most part grateful for this. As weird as it was, they just smiled and didn't say anything about it. Everyone was just happy that everything was back to normal, for the most part anyway. Everyone except for Pietro who, in spite of what the others said, was too skeptical to shrug it off.

"Have you guys noticed how weird Todd's been acting lately?" Pietro asked them.

Tabitha looked at him. "By weird you mean…"

"I mean the way he's acting."

"Uh, happy?" Fred asked.

"Exactly!" Pietro exclaimed. "He doesn't shoot glares at us or mutter insults underneath his breath at us anymore."

"And you're upset by this how?" Lance asked him incredulously.

Pietro started pacing around. "It doesn't make any sense."

"Maybe he just finally forgave us." Tabitha shrugged.

Pietro stopped pacing to look at her. "We don't forgive easily. We hold grudges."

"Yeah but not with each other." Lance told him.

"That's not true." Tabitha glared at him. "I still haven't forgiven you two for destroying my statue."

"And we still haven't forgiven you for getting it in the first place!" Pietro snapped.

"Chill out you two. Anyway, he did hold a grudge with us, remember?" Lance reminded him. "Hence the glares and the muttered insults."

"Yeah but you don't just wake up one morning and say, 'hey guys I forgive you!'"

"Why not?" Fred asked.

"It just isn't done. I'm telling you something's up."

"And I'm telling you leave it alone." Lance said warningly.

Pietro shook his head defiantly. "No, not until I've gotten to the bottom of this."

"What bottom?" Tabitha asked in bewilderment. "So he's happy, it's no big deal. There's no need to make a song and dance about it."

"What is your problem?" Lance asked the skinny teen.

"I just think it's weird." Pietro said.

"You're weird, and you're an idiot." Tabitha snapped.

Pietro glared at her. "Being suspicious does not make me an idiot."

"No, but being asinine does." She snapped at him.

"You know what? You are…" He stopped when Todd entered the room.

"Whassup yo?" Todd looked around at everyone staring at him. "What's the matter? Did I miss a spot scrubbing my face?"

Tabitha shook her head. "No."

Todd looked at them weirdly before going into the kitchen to get himself a snake. He didn't notice Pietro mouthing constantly, "See? See? See?" and Lance smacking him upside the head while Tabitha tackled him. The two silently rolled around on the floor while Lance tried to pull them apart.

"Don't we have anything to eat around here?" Todd called from the kitchen.

Tabitha was on top of Pietro smacking him back and forth across the face. "There should be some marshmallow pies in the cupboard!"

"Thanks Tabby!" He said looking into the cupboard and not seeing Pietro trying to claw his way into the kitchen desperate to get away from an angry Tabitha.

Tabitha grabbed his legs, so that he couldn't run, and pulled him back into the living room. "Don't mention it!"

"If you check in the frig you might find some left over nutty buddies while your at it!" Lance said frantically trying to pull Tabitha off of Pietro.

"Sweet! Thanks Lance!"

"No problem!" He lost his grip and fell backwards into Fred who was just sitting there watching the bizarre scene. "Would you stop staring like an idiot and help me!" Lance hissed.

"You don't have to be rude about it." Fred said getting up and walked over to the two wrestling around and pulled them apart with ease. Todd came out of the kitchen.

"The kitchen's almost empty guys. I think we might have to go…" Todd looked at the rest of the Brotherhood who were sitting in there original positions looking fatigued and overly cheerful. "Uh… is something going on?"

"Well actually Toad," Pietro said zipping up before Tabitha could restrain him, "I'd like to ask you the same question."

"What do you mean?" Todd asked nervously.

"You've been acting, well… I'm just gonna put this bluntly. You've been acting really odd the past few days."

"How so?"

"Well your mood has just been a little out of place."

"Oh am I being too happy? I'm sorry, I'll stop right now."

"Ignore him Toad." Lance said as he shoved Pietro aside. "He's being a paranoia freak right now."

"Pietro can I see you in the kitchen for a sec?" Tabitha didn't wait for a reply before dragging him by his shirt out of the room.

"Lance, can I talk to you for a minute?" Todd looked at Fred. "Alone if you don't mind, Freddy."

"Sure, I need to get a snack anyway." He got up and left.

"What's up?" Lance asked.

"Why were you following me?" Todd asked him.

"Huh?" Lance asked confused.

"Why were you following me and Serena the other day?"

"Toad, I don't know what you're talking about."

Todd was starting to get irritated. "Lance don't lie to me man. I just want to know why you were following us."

"I didn't follow you anywhere."

"Stop lying!" Todd shouted.

"I'm not lying!" Lance said equally irritated. "I don't even know what the heck you were doing that day."

"I know you followed us! Just admit it."

"What are you on man?"

"Who else could've caused that tremor?"

Lance blinked. "Huh? What tremor?"

"The tremor you made when me and Serena were at her house."

"I didn't make any tremors that day. Well, there was that one but unless she lives right next door you guys shouldn't have felt it."

"Well, we did. And she doesn't live next door. Not even close. But you would know that wouldn't you?"

"I don't know where she lives."

"Nobody else could've caused it, it had to be you!"

"It wasn't me!"

"You are a liar!"

"If you think that…" They were interrupted by an explosion and a high-pitched scream.

"What the heck?" Todd exclaimed. They both ran to the kitchen and saw Pietro running around in circles yelping in pain.

"What's going on?" Lance asked them.

Fred scratched his head. "Well uh, Pietro and Tabby here were fighting and she kind of said something and he kind of said something so she uh… kind of did some damage in a certain area and…"

"Stop sugar coating it Blob, she fried my ass!" Pietro screamed at the top of his lungs. "I'm not gonna be able to sit for a week!"

"Oh, quit your whining Speedy!" Tabitha yelled at him.

Lance looked next to him and saw Todd was no longer there. He knew the entire thing was probably a misunderstanding. But what would give Todd the idea he would do such a thing as spy on him, he didn't know. He didn't even know what he was talking about in the first place. All he knew was that Todd had jumped all over him and hardly gave an explanation. He had even called Lance a liar when he had been telling the honest truth. Lance couldn't help but feel a sharp pang of anger towards the younger teen.

Well, I hope you enjoyed the chapter! More coming soon!