Disclaimer: Marvel Entertainment owns all these characters even Rose. (I dare you to figure out who she is.)

Loose-Ends

I found it disturbing to stand in the Professor's office. He looked so different he stood about six feet two inches with a full head of hair. The most disturbing though wasn't the fact that he could walk but the voice. His voice sounded no different than it did before Phoenix had destroyed his body. The effect was rather unsettling. Standing up from behind his desk the Professor came around and shook my hand.

"I'm glad you came by Rose. I have been meaning to ask you about how the team has been going." He sat on the edge of his desk and gestured towards the chair opposite him. After I sat down he continued. "I understand that your ranks have been depleting. Regrettably it seems that during my absence there have been numerous scandals. One of which involves some sort of love triangle between Mr. Drake and two of his team-mates. And Mr. Rasputin has made the shocking revelation that he is a homosexual." Xavier picked up a folder on his desk and leafed through it. "I have been reviewing the files trying to find replacements for your two missing team-mates."

Holding up my hand I interrupted his train of thought. "That number might be growing shortly."

A frown grew on his face. "Jean told me about Kitty. I have been trying to find a way to deal with that." He rubbed his chin with one hand. "I have a friend in England who is trying to put together a team of mutants. I already have Kurt Wagner there. And I'm sure Brain could use the extra help."

I frowned I really didn't want to get rid of Kitty. "I don't know, I'm just very confused."

"I can understand what your going through you should have seen some of the sessions Logan and I have had over the years. Every time I opened a new door he started rambling on about whole families that were long since dead." The professor continued flipping through his folder. "At any rate we have about a month before we need to resolve that matter. Now I have several candidates here for the x-men. The two I like the best are former students of this school." He pulled two sheets of paper from the folder and set the folder back down. "I don't believe you ever met Jubilation Lee she graduated about a year ago. She has the ability to ignite and manipulate kinetic energy. The other is Warren Worthington the third. This young man was one of my first students he has a pair of large avian wings that protrude from his back as well as hollow bones allowing him to fly. He also has a low level healing factor." placing the files down on his desk he got up and walked over to one of the large picture windows. "I got a call from Henry this morning. He has lost his position as the ambassador to the United Nations."

I was stunned, Henry had been so proud of getting that job. "What happened?"

"It seems that the so called cure that he developed for himself and Ororo didn't exactly work. He was found laid down in a ditch in Paris with half a dead rat in his mouth. He experienced some sort of secondary mutation making his appearance much more feline. Ororo is in Africa somewhere and I can't seem to track her down to find out if she has her powers back as well." The professor turned to me attempted a warm smile. "I have agreed to let Mr. McCoy return to the institute."

"The team could use him." I lied. I turned my head to keep from looking him in the face.

"I understand that this may be a little difficult." He said returning to his desk.

"It's not a problem." I got up from the chair and started to pace. "I need to tell you something important."

"What is it?" He said warmly

"After the incident in the lake my powers haven't worked right." I was glad he had stayed out of my head.

"How so?" he said sitting down.

"I can't change my appearance to look like the people I imprint." I began absently staring at the books on his shelf remembering to first time I had stood in this room. "But at the same time I don't have to imprint people anymore. I body can simply adapt to any power I want or need."

The professor chuckled. "Seems like a fairly equal trade off to me." he crossed his legs and formed a pyramid with his hands "I wouldn't be too concerned. All mutants about your age start to notice changes in their powers it is a natural step in the process of becoming how you were meant to be."

"Thanks professor." I turned and walked out of his door. It was good to have him around. In my head I could feel that Jean was nearby. Walking over to the TV room I poked my head in and saw Jean sitting next to Leech watching Saturday morning cartoons.

Hey red. I said to Jean

So how did the meeting with the professor go? I heard her response in my head but her body seemed completely focused on the TV.

How can you still use your powers so close to Leech? I replied

Trade secret she turned toward me and smiled. So did you remember to ask him about the costume change you wanted to make?

I had completely forgotten. No, but I'll just call up Forge and send him the measurements for whose left on our team. I walked up and sat down on the arm of the couch next to Jean. 'You know I have a really good feeling about this.'

'That's good; I think we're going to be ok.' She said giving me a warm smile.

I believed her every thing seemed to be finally fitting into place.

A/N: That's it folks. I know that chapter was a long time coming I just had a hard time letting go. Stay tuned who knows what I might write next.