Well buckle up for another sad, angsty chapter.

Broken All Over Again

While they had waited for the X-Men to come pick them up, Todd tried to give some words of comfort to Serena. The sudden news of her mother dying had given her a sort of shock and she hardly responded to anything Todd said. It was a little over an hour before the X-men had arrived. 'Damn those jets are fast,' Todd thought to himself. During the return trip none of the X-Men looked at him. Even Kurt, who could've been giving him dirty looks, avoided his eyes. They all just ignored him. Todd had expected them to yell or cuss him out for running off with one of their teammates; instead they were acting as if he wasn't even there. They just sat in uneasy silence not saying a word.

Todd looked around the cabin and noticed Serena talking to Kitty. Their heads leaning in to each other and their voices hushed. Kitty was the only person left of the X-Men she actually trusted, and probably the only one willing to talk to her. Kitty told her that after her bold and daring escape the entire mansion was in an uproar. The next morning Serena's twin brothers had come to the front door asking for her. When they were told their sister was gone they explained why they needed her to come with them. They wanted her to visit their mother in the hospital with them. Later that same morning the Brotherhood had come around asking about Todd. Two and two was added together and everyone quickly realized what was going on. Especially after the commotion of the night before when the alarms went off and a motorcycle was found missing from the garage.

Todd who was overhearing the conversation asked, "Were they angry?"

Kitty shook her head. "No, just worried."

"Even Pietro?"

"Quicksilver?" She said her eyebrow raised. "He wasn't with them."

"Oh…" Todd said a little disappointed.

"Lance told me about your guy's little fight."

Todd looked at her a little surprised. "He did?"

"Mm-hm. He told me he thought you and me were going out behind his back." She gave a little laugh. "Like, weird huh?"

"That's an understatement."

"Like, what would possibly make him think that?"

"I'm sure the mushrooms had nothing to do with it," Todd muttered under his breath.

"Huh?"

"Nothing." He glanced over at Rogue who was determinedly looking out the window not meeting his gaze. Todd didn't even try to talk to the other X-men, not that he wanted to anyway. Especially not to Rogue who like Serena, had trusted Rogue only to have that trust betrayed. He really thought she had understood, thought that she wasn't shallow like the rest of them. He now knew he had been wrong. In fact the only one he seemed to be on speaking terms with was Kitty who hadn't betrayed their trust or had tried to split them up. The rest of the X-Men were just jerks standing between him and Serena. He hated the lot of them.

They had arrived at the hospital in what seemed like no time. When they got there, Serena's twin brothers Kevin and Calvin were there waiting for her with their brother Gordon. When they spotted her they gave a cry of relief and nearly knocked her over in their haste to hug her.

"Sis!"

"Thank goodness you're here."

"We were worried."

"Sorry," She knelt down and hugged both of them. "I didn't mean to make you guys worry." She looked up and saw her older brother towering over her with an odd look on his face. It wasn't angry or relieved; it was concerned, almost scared looking. Serena stood up hastily. She had never seen her brother look at her that way before. Without warning he gave her tight hug. Serena, slightly taken a back by this unusual show of affection, just stood there surprised. As Todd watched he felt a pang of jealously. He couldn't remember ever having a brother who held him like that.

"You okay kid?" He asked in a hoarse whisper.

She nodded. "Yeah."

"When I heard, I thought you had…"

"I'm back now," she said reassuringly, "so don't worry about it."

He looked at her sternly. "Don't you ever do something stupid like that again, you hear me? You had us worried sick."

She looked down at the floor. "Sorry. I didn't mean to cause so much trouble."

"Why did you run anyway?"

"We know why." Kevin spoke up.

"The nice, pretty lady said you ran away because those jerks were gonna lock you up and keep you and Todd from seeing each other ever again!" Calvin said flailing his arms wildly.

"I never said that!" Kitty exclaimed.

"He wasn't that far from the truth." Todd grumbled.

"I said that because of all the stuff that's been going on Serena was going to be restricted to the mansion and cut off from Toad for a while." Kitty explained.

"Try forever." Serena muttered.

"Like, don't you think that's a bit of an exaggeration?"

"Get real Kitty, they weren't ever going to let me see him again. I could feel it-- I could hear it in their thoughts." She grabbed Kitty by the shoulders and shook her. "Why Kitty? Why do they want to keep us apart?"

Kitty looked at her sadly. "To be honest Serena, I'm not really sure."

Serena sighed and let go of Kitty. "So what happened?" She asked her brother.

"Car accident at an intersection."

"Is she okay?"

"She could be better, but at least she's still alive."

Serena had wondered why her mother had never come to pull her out of the institute. She remembered the look on her mother's face when she had told her she was living with other mutants and learning how to use her powers. How her mother had called them all 'freaks'. Why did she not just simply pull Serena out of the school if she was so against it? She certainly had it in her power to do so. So, why? "Why didn't she ever come for me? Why didn't she take me out of the institute?"

Gordon shrugged. "I guess she thought you were old enough to make your own decisions."

One of the doctors approached them. "Your mother is waiting for you." He looked at the X-Men. "The rest of you should just wait out here. Only family members please."

"I want Todd to come along." Serena said abruptly.

The doctor looked at her slightly surprised. "Very well," he said.

She looked at Scott who didn't seem to want to look back at her. "Fine." Scott grunted. She spared a glance over at Kurt who wasn't, or pretending he wasn't, paying any attention at all. Serena felt her insides constrict with guilt and she looked away from him.

"Come on guys," she said to her brothers and Todd.

"I think I'll wait out here," Gordon said stepping back. "Mom just wants to see you three anyway. She has something important to tell you."

Serena gave him a puzzled look but nodded. The four of them followed the doctor to the room. "Here it is," He said to them. "Go on in, she's waiting for you." Serena, followed by Todd and her brothers, went through the door into a room with two beds. One of them was empty. On the other however, was a woman with brown hair, not dark like Serena's or the twins, and hazel eyes set in a slightly stern face. The same face that Serena's older brother Gordon wore. She had bandages wrapped around her head and arms with red tinges in the cloth. She heard the door open and had turned her head to see who it was.

"Well, look who it is."

"Hello mom." Serena said in hollow voice.

"I didn't think you would come."

"Of course I would come!"

"What's wrong sweetie?" Todd noticed the sardonic tone in her voice when she used the word 'sweetie'. "Did I not ruin your life enough?"

"Look, I'm sorry about that. I was just…angry."

"Angry why, because I was trying to help?

"No," Serena said through gritted teeth. "Because you were trying to control my life."

Her mother jerked her head at the twin boys who stood idly next to Todd. "They told me you had run off with some boy." It was then that her gaze momentarily shifted to Todd who looked blankly at her thinking it best not to say anything.

"Yes I did," she said almost sounding proud, "because they tried to control my life, just like you."

"I wasn't trying to control you." Her mother said roughly. "I was only trying to help you."

"I'm not here to fight with you mom." Serena said in a flat tone.

"Then why are you here?"

"Why do you think?" Serena asked incredulously. "Because I heard my mother was hurt."

Her mother looked back up at the ceiling. "So you do care about me?"

"Of course I do."

"Despite all those things you said to me?"

Serena looked down at floor. "You had your share of hurtful words too you know."

"It's funny," her mother said talking to more herself than her daughter, "when you said you didn't want to be a part of this family."

"Mom… I didn't mean that. I'm sorry." Serena said softly.

"And I'm sorry too..." Her words were getting weaker and weaker as if she was starting to feel drowsy. "Sorry that I didn't tell you what I should have a long time ago."

Serena's head snapped up. "What do you mean?"

"Haven't you figured it out yet?" Serena's mother asked softly. "You're not my daughter…you're a mutant…"

Serena's eyes grew large. "What?"

"You're not a part of this family…" Her mother continued. "…wasn't it obvious?"

"But-- I…I…" Serena spluttered trying to overcome the effect these cruel words had upon her. She was not the only one taken aback. Kevin and Calvin were looking at their mother, their already wide eyes widening. Todd too was appalled, and yet somehow he felt as though he had heard words similar to this before.

"…you were never my daughter…you were…" Her voice trailed off as her eyes closed and she fell asleep. Serena stood there in shock staring at her mother, not being able to believe the words she had just heard. It took her a while before she found her voice.

"So…" Serena said in a shaking voice. "Is that all I am to you? Am I just some filthy mutant?"

Todd approached her cautiously. "Serena?"

Serena spun away from Todd, and faced the wall. There was a tightness in her chest, as if something was constricting her breathing. A yell of anger was pressing against the inside of her ribcage, choking her, struggling to get out. Rage was beginning to crash against the inside of her head, in rhythmic waves like the ocean crashing against the shore. Her fists were clenched, white and numb, at her sides. She gave a scream of rage filled with vehemence and anguish. She drew back her arm and slammed her fist through the wall making a hole in it. Her twin brothers jumped back in alarm. They had never seen Serena this angry before. They had always known Serena to be gentle, caring, and not having the capability of hurting anything. But this… just wasn't like her. Serena drew her fist slowly out of the wall which was dribbled with blood. She couldn't feel her hand throbbing with pain or her nails digging into her palm. All she could feel was the hurt and anger in her heart. And it wasn't just her own; she could feel another form of anger blazing inside her. Her frustration was building up to a point where she wanted to hurt every living and non-living thing in that room just so that they would have an idea of what she was feeling. There was some kind of haze or fog clouding her vision and she couldn't see or think clearly.

"Serena?" Todd said gently.

"Todd, take the twins and get out of here." Serena said in a hushed voice.

"Serena, what's wrong?" Todd asked worriedly.

"Leave me alone." Serena's voice was harder now.

"No. Look Serena…" Todd put a hand on Serena's arm.

"I said leave me alone!" Serena jerked her arm out of Todd's grasp, and as she did, the water glass on the nightstand next to the bed trembled, shook, and flew off the table, slamming into the wall. It shattered, spraying glass and water in all directions. Serena glared at Todd. "Now look what you made me do," she added, with illogical fury.

The whiplash crack of the girl's anger struck Todd like a blow. He knew that Serena was hurting badly. But that didn't give her the right to take it out on him. He had done nothing to deserve it.

Serena glanced at the two young boys who had identical looks of fear. "Kevin, Calvin, do as I say and leave." The two of them obeyed her without question.

"Serena…" Todd said quietly. "Is there anything I can do?"

"Check outside and see what's going on." Todd gave a small nod of assent and stepped outside of the room for a few moments. When he came back inside the room she was looking at him with a tense expression on her face.

"Well?" She asked expectantly.

"Everyone's out there waiting for you."

"And Kurt?"

There was a long silence. When Todd spoke, finally, it was in a low voice. "I'm sorry about that, Serena."

Serena was vaguely aware of the note of penitence in his voice. She thought that would make her feel better. It didn't. "You didn't really think about that, did you," Serena said in a hissing half-whisper. "You never even tried to like him, or treat him kindly, not even for my sake. I bet all this makes you glad."

She spun around then, and glared at Todd, who had gone a chalky sort of color and looked appalled. "How am I supposed to believe what you say, when you'd never let yourself believe it was true? Because you could never stand to see me with him, maybe you even like being with me, because it's the closest you'll ever get to being with someone. But Kurt, you've always hated him, you think he's beneath you -- you always have - I'd be dirty if I let him touch me - admit it! Admit you felt that way! -- and maybe if you didn't, maybe if I hadn't let you treat him like that, he wouldn't have felt like I wasn't his friend any more! Like I picked you over him! And I never picked you, Tolansky -- I never picked you! Whatever there is between us, it was a lie-- It was never real!"

Her voice broke on a half-shout, and cracked, although she was not crying. She felt a bleak triumph that wasn't her own. She had been hurt, and terribly and a part of her wanted to hurt someone back. Judging from the way Todd had flinched away from her, she was succeeding in doing just that. "It wasn't real," she said again, harshly - and then broke off, staring at the boy. Todd's eyes were huge in his white face, huge and startled. He looked very much like a child who has reached for a parent's hand, only to be slapped away with no explanation. Serena fell silent, realizing suddenly that she had hurt Todd nearly as much as she had been hurt herself. More, perhaps, the feeling of satisfaction vanished instantly. "Todd, I…"

But Todd was on his feet, backing away from Serena's outstretched hand. "Fuck you, then, Hallow," he said, his voice a serrated dagger of ice. "You want me to leave you alone? Consider yourself left. Stay here and rot, for all I care. Ruin everyone's life. Ruin your own --" He couldn't finish the sentence. Seemed to take a deep breath to gather his thoughts, then he said in a deadly serious tone that she had never heard before, "You just remember one thing if you hear anything I say at all. The things I did; I did because I love you! You just remember that--" He broke off, as if he couldn't stand to look at Serena any more, spun around on his heel, and stalked to the door and out of it, slamming it hard behind him.

Serena had almost gone after him but her body had started shaking so violently she could barely stand up. She grabbed her sides trying to make the shaking stop. "My body… what's happening to me?"

He was out of the hospital and down another street now, down an alleyway to a low wall that ran perpendicular to the street border. He leaped over it and landed on the other side, silent as a cat in the still evening. He came across a silent park not to far from it. This was where he had met her all those weeks ago, that afternoon he had bumped into her and they had talk for hours. He took a few steps forward into the clearing, and paused. He stood there for a moment, gasping in lungfuls of cool air, trying to still the pounding of his heart. There was no way for him to know it, but the same thoughts that had run through Serena's mind earlier, in the dark, ran through Todd's now. Inside him, too, was the same beast on a chain, and its roaring was loud in his ears. Iron control had been drilled into him since he was a child, hours spent locked in dark places, waiting for his father, hours spent in enforced silence without speaking. Over his emotions he had laid his own will, like heavy bars of steel, keeping everything contained, and yet...he visualized for a moment the steel bars snapping, the rage and grief inside him breaking free, how he could tear down the trees with the force of his anger, crack the world in half.

But of course he could do none of those things, not in reality. Instead, like a petulant child, he flung himself face-down in the grass, and buried his head in his arms. The cold bit into him instantly; the wet grass soaking under his body, his bare hands. He ignored it, hearing his own voice in his ears. Stay here and rot, for all I care. Ruin everyone's life. Ruin your own! It was better, still, than hearing the things Serena had said to him. Horrible things. Not that anyone had ever flung insults at him before, but it was worse, coming from Serena. Especially since he suspected that Serena had been right about most of what she'd said.

You're probably wondering how bad it's possibly gonna get before things start looking up. We still got a ways to go so stay tuned!