AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey, everyone. Remember me? I'm so sorry that I haven't been working on my story. I had a beautiful baby boy back in April, and he kind of took over my life for a while there. But I'm back now, and prepared to finish what I started. Because decided to not let us insert symbols into our fics anymore (grrrrr), I'm using lines to indicate a skip in time and all telepathy is italicized. Thank you, Thanx4reading, for your review, if you even remember posting! ;)

616 timeline 03-29-2005 Westchester, New York, United States

The X-Mansion was always unusually extravagant for a school, and its residents had grown used to frequent, elaborate celebrations of all kinds. But when Scott Summers and Jean Grey got married, the event resembled a red- carpet Hollywood award show more than a wedding. Looking around the enormous ballroom, Rachel felt strangely normal. Ornate crystal chandeliers showered the reception in light. A life-sized ice sculpture, crafted by Bobby Drake, stood upon a tall platform in the middle of the 400 guest tables, depicting Scott and Jean holding each other and looking into each other's eyes dreamily. Huge, velvet banners of midnight blue and gold streamed the walls decoratively. Though she had become something of a celebrity since she joined Excalibur's ranks, her fame was nothing compared to many of the honored guests. Glancing over at the table to her left, Rachel's heart gave a sudden drop at the sight of Franklin Richards. The 12-year old blonde was seated between his parents, Reed and Sue, looking bored. Noticing her psychic presence, he looked up at her with mild interest. She winked, and turned away to check her watch.

In exactly six minutes, she'd be leaving this world forever. She looked across the room at Captain Britain's little sister, Betsy. Betsy, also called Psylocke, was speaking to Logan in a hushed voice, worry etched into her face. When Wolverine gave her a grim shake of the head, she turned away, her long, violet locks swishing.

Rachel got up and walked over to Logan, trying in vain to ignore the many eyes that followed her skintight cocktail dress. She leaned her back against the wall next to her godfather and whispered, "10 bucks says Braddock's hair falls in her punch before the night is over."

Logan gave her a sideways look. "I know you?"

"It's me, you dork," Rachel said with a laugh. She was unrecognizable, as she had changed her facial features dramatically.

He sniffed the air briefly and smiled. "Didn't wanna show up looking exactly like the bride?" he asked. When she nodded, he grinned disbelievingly. "So now you can shape-shift. Does your list of talents ever end?"

She changed the subject. "Good to see you're not hiding in your room."

"I'm also not the best man."

"You look good," she told him.

He threw her an angry frown. "I look damn uncomfortable and you know it." He looked her over quickly and added as an afterthought, "But you're beautiful. You look—"

"Just like my mother," Rachel cut in. "I know."

The murmur of conversation that had been swimming through the room erupted into applause, and the 2 turned to see the dance floor parting. In the center stood Jean, who was telekinetically lifting Professor Charles Xavier out of his wheelchair, so that he was able to walk over to her. As they began to dance, every occupant in the ballroom became entranced. Rachel took this as an opportunity to slip outside unnoticed.

She was the only person that knew that Captain Britain, her friend and teammate, was caught in the timestream, trapped by a cosmic force that called itself the Blackhole. Braddock would be stranded for eternity, if Rachel didn't trade her own life for his. But the Blackhole had placed a time limit on her rescue, and she had to act now, on the most important day of her parents' lives. She closed the heavy oaken doors behind her cautiously and headed for the lobby. But to her surprise, a tall man in a deep blue tuxedo was waiting for her on the marble floor.

It was Scott Summers. He flashed her a perfect smile, and asked, "You're leaving so soon?"

Rachel was almost aching with frustration. She'd been waiting for more than 10 centuries to speak to her father, but this was not the time! "I'm afraid so," she said shakily. "Congratulations. I think you and Jean will be happy together."

As she marched past him, he caught her by the arm and wheeled her around. "Jean told me who you are," he said plainly. She stood still, searching for words, and he continued. "She told me that you're our daughter, though from an alternate reality. She also told me that you are possessed by the Phoenix Force, and have been for the past 1,000 years. She said that you're going to leave to save Brian Braddock by sacrificing yourself. She than told me that you're going to leave without ever saying a word to either of us."

"I—" Rachel stammered for a second.

"You don't have to say anything," Scott said reassuringly. "But I have something to say to you. I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I believed Madelyne Pryor over you last year. I'm sorry that I didn't realize who you were. And I'm sorry that I haven't acted more like your dad than your enemy." He paused, unsure whether to press on. "I also want you to know that Jean and I are both very proud of you." He pulled her into an embrace and kissed the top of her head affectionately. After what seemed to be 30 minutes of serenity, Summers released his daughter and looked into her shining eyes for a second. "Now," he said, taking a more solid voice, "go do your thing."

Rachel turned, but rounded on him again, giving him a peck on the cheek before running out the huge glass doors and jumping into flight. She felt like she could do anything. Even find an unknown reality, take on a seemingly invincible force, rescue a friend, and transport that friend back home, all in less than a minute.

Timestream

Waking with a start, Rachel felt herself roll and fall about four feet, to come crashing down upon a very cold, hard linoleum floor. But when she opened her eyes, the metal beneath her was clear, and she saw, not a shiny silver substance, but an infinite void of sparkling, swirling galaxies. Realities, she reminded herself. I'm in the timestream. She tried to remember the events of the past 24 hours. Braddock was safe in Mainstream Earth. The Blackhole no longer existed. She'd been almost drained of power. She'd come to the Watchers' ward, desperately seeking refuge. She looked up, to see a particularly small Watcher looking into her eyes patiently. Donning a purple robe, this Watcher was one of the 9.

Come, child, his voice hummed in her head. She hopped up, instantly rejuvenated by her tie to the Phoenix Force, and followed him into the Great Hall, where she'd already received punishment twice. But she couldn't think of anything she'd done wrong this time.

Inside, she knelt before the council, waiting for them to deliberate and address her. Yet, to her surprise, the center Watcher stood immediately and entered her mind. This board has been watching you, Rachel Summers. It has concluded that you have indeed become the Child of Light and Darkness that you were prophesized to be.

Rachel waited for more, but all of the 9 characters before her simply looked back at her. Am I free to return to my reality? she asked.

The standing Watcher smiled, and Summers almost felt like pinching herself to check that she was awake. She'd never seen a Watcher smile. He entered her mind again. When this board banished you, it was a verdict, not a sentence. It was acknowledgement of your evil. The Watchers could not keep you from your homeland if they wanted.