Author's note: here is the next chap, and I've fallen a little behind on my actual writing of the chapters, so there might be a delay, and in about a week, I'll be in Florida for Spring Break, no updates then, sorry

disclaimer: I don't own the X-Men, but the Thorne Girls are mine

Saretta smiled as she sat down in the red cushioned chair in front of Charles' desk.

"I see you've heard about the arrangement I made for Miss. Marrow," Xavier said easily returning Saretta's smile.

"Thank you, I know my girls are a bit of a handful."

"No worse than my X-Men. I've been thinking about splitting the girls up for their sleeping arrangements. Maybe having them share rooms with my female students?"

"I don't know. They've been having a lot of adjustment problems, especially Kristen, Anna, and probably Remie."

"I heard about what happened with Miss Gardener at school. Are you going to have her try again?" Saretta shook her head.

"No, I'm gonna be teaching her here," she stated pulling on the hem of her skirt as she usually did when she was nervous.

"I think incorporating your students with mine will have more advantages than not. Jean, Megan, and Sissy are all telepaths, and I'm sure Jean would love to help your girls work with their powers."

"Alright, but I want the girls in on this. They should be allowed to have a say on who they room with and such."

"Of course. Are there any of you girls you feel wouldn't benefit from sharing a room?"

"Candie has never been in a room that wasn't a single, and Kristen doesn't speak English most of the time. Oh, and Remie will need to share with someone who knows sign language."

"I'll make sure she rooms with someone who will be able to understand her." Saretta nodded. "And I've spoken to my sources at Bayville Medical, your student, Lyric, is it?"

"Lyrcie, Lyric is her code name," Saretta corrected.

"Of course, Lyrcie will be released into the care of Dr. McCoy." Saretta just nodded both thankful and furious at Charles for intervening.

"Maybe with his help, she'll finally be able to overcome her anorexia."

"Probably not. Her power just adds to it," Saretta explained trying to be patient. She almost had the feeling that Charles hadn't even taken the time to get to know her girls.

"Saretta, have you thought about my offer to train your girls with my X-Men?"

"I've thought about it."

"And what conclusion have you come to?"

"You can make the girls that offer. I will not force them to train that way if they don't want to." Xavier nodded wishing Saretta wasn't so defensive around him. He still remembered how vulnerable she had been when they'd first met. She'd even been one of his X-Men for a few years before she had stormed into his office, threw her costume on his desk and left the Institute for good. She's always been too proud to ask for help, he thought sadly as he watched Saretta gather up the files she'd been looking at of Xavier's students.

"You know, Saretta, it's nice having you and your students here," Charles said with a smile.

"They're not your X-Men Charles, and I don't want them treated as if they are," Saretta replied standing up quickly and leaving the office. Charles stared at the door for a second before putting his head in his hands and wondering where he had gone wrong.