Disclaimer: I own nothing, nada, zip. Blaze owns me.

Scene 09

Grinning like cats that had got the cream, the two she-devils joined the rest of the small group, and headed to the marquee down the lane of pumpkins. Before long they were joined by the rest of the X-Men, each in a costume more splendid that the last. Wolfsbane stole the show for a short while as Bride of Wolfman, halfway between her metamorphing states and in a full wedding gown. With her came Sunspot dressed as a zombie, Iceman in the guise of a blue and silver robot, and little Jamie in shining armour that was too big for him.

Magma dressed as a witch arrived on the arm of 70s rock star Cannonball, whose costume was complete with big permed wig and Lycra catsuit. Great hilarity ensued when Jubilee realised she had come as the bride to Kurt's Dracula. Less than enamoured of the idea, Jubilee went off in a huff and refused to speak to Kurt for the rest of the evening. This was despite Kurt's suggestions that as they so obviously thought alike, they should at least have one dance together. Walking past just as Kurt mentioned dancing, Blaze commented, " We're going to need music we can actually dance to first."

"Absolutely," agreed Tabby with a grimace. "This music right now is the scariest thing at the party."

"No problemo ladies," grinned Berserker, dressed as a cowboy with an arrow through his hat and a John Wayne style chin covered in stubble. "I got the medicine right here," he said as he waved a suitcase full of CDs at them. Ray leapt up to the DJ stand and pulling on a pair of chunky headphones over his hat. His hands moved quicker than lightning to change the track.

Tabby and Blaze looked at each other, then back at Ray as the music suddenly developed an uber-cool beat that could absolutely be danced to. Blaze blew Ray a kiss in thanks, before the two she-devils led the way on the dance floor. Half a dozen others soon joined them as the party got into full swing.

"Youth today," Hank moaned with a sigh. "They have no taste in music. What's wrong with a little 'Monster Mash' on Halloween."

"Sometimes I do worry about you Hank," Storm smiled, coming to stand by Beast's elbow. "I'm with the rest of them on this one, Ray's music is an improvement on your input."

"Thank you Storm," Beast drawled sarcastically. "I… My word," he exclaimed honestly as he saw her for the first time. "Ororo my dear, you look splendid!"

"You don't look half bad yourself, Hank," Storm blushed coyly, tweaking her Cleopatra VII robes and headdress, with hands wrapped in mummy-style bandages. The effect was outstanding; she really did look like the legendary Egyptian queen had thrown off the shackles of death as a mummy to party with them tonight. "Just you wait though, I think Charles has outdone us both."

"Charles?" Hank asked, amazement rife in his voice.

"I was working along the hypothesis that if I couldn't beat you," Charles spoke for himself. "I should at least join you." He came to talk to his staff members with Angel at his side. Whilst Charles still looked grey and tired, he was at least smiling. His costume was not to be sniffed at either, a green Shakespearean tunic with ruffled shirt and pantaloons, topped with a fetching bottle green Elizabethan hat. Feeling he needed to somehow explain himself, for he had not moved on from the guilt he felt that he was here and Ilehana was not, Charles cleared his throat. Softly, with his eyes pleading for understanding he spoke beseechingly, "I think Ilehana would very much approve of us all gathering together like this tonight. We must honour our pack, if you will. Thank you Beast, for giving us this opportunity to mend bonds we have put asunder."

"I think that means good job, Hank," grinned Angel. Dressed as a rather dashing pirate captain, his long black coat covered his wings. A broad-rimmed hat with feathered plume rested on his head and a rapier sword hung at his waist. "I'm going to investigate the fantastic looking buffet table. Can I get anyone anything?" Beast, Storm and Xavier all declined the offer. Tipping his jaunty hat respectfully to Storm, Angel wandered off. Xavier took the opportunity to talk business with the Egyptian queen. "Have Logan and Gambit checked in yet?"

"No," Storm replied grimly. "We haven't heard from either of them since Gambit checked in with Blaze. I hope that both of them are alright."

"They are both capable of looking after themselves Ororo," Beast soothed. "With them I feel no news is good news. Besides, tonight we are supposed to be enjoying ourselves."

"You are right of course Hank," offered Xavier. "Now then, what does one have to do around here to get a nice cup of tea?"

At a table at the back of the marquee, keeping a wary eye on proceedings, Kitty turned to Rogue. "What do you think Jean would have come as?" she asked. "I dunno," Rogue replied. "A fairytale princess maybe. Cinderella or somethin'."

"With Scott as Prince Charming?" Kitty giggled.

"Hey, I think we deserve just a little more credit than that, you two," said the giant fluffy pink rabbit with Jean's face. Kitty and Rogue gawped open-mouthed at the college girl. Jean made a "Humph" noise, turned heel and marched off back to Scott. Incidentally Cyclops was talking to his brother Alex, and both of them were wearing Hawaiian shirts, hula skirts and wreaths of red flowers round their necks. Rogue blinked twice at them, before asking Kitty, "Am I hallucinating this?"

"I don't think so," said Kitty with a shudder, looking at Cyclops' spindly white legs sticking out from under the grass skirt. "Hey, that means we're only short of Logan and Remy to make this a full team."

"Huh," Rogue didn't sound impressed. "Who else has Hank invited, the Brotherhood?"

"Have you spoken to Angel yet?" Kitty digressed.

"I'm workin' up to it," Rogue replied, taking a nervous slurp on her soda.

"If I were you, I'd like totally get a move on," Kitty suggested helpfully. "Because it looks to me like he's about to make moves on someone else."

Over at the buffet table, Angel was busy ladling himself a glass of red fruit punch, when the mysterious redhead he'd seen around the mansion appeared to his left hand side. With a plate in her hand, she was merrily loading it up with slices of pizza. Angel watched her out of the corner of his eye, wondering how to introduce himself. Blaze noticed that she was being observed and decided to break the ice herself. "They've called this 'eyeball pizza', but I think I'd rather eat real eyeballs than all these olives they've put on it to pretend," she grinned, and Angel followed suit.

"I don't believe I've had the pleasure," said the affable blond mutant. "Are you a pupil here?"

"Actually I like to think of myself as more of an instructor," Blaze replied pragmatically, just as Kurt wandered past on the other side of the table. Nightcrawler cut in the conversation saying, "More like freeloader." Blaze responded by sticking her tongue out at Kurt, who took offence and mooched off.

"I'm Angel," Warren politely offered a hand for Blaze to shake, "And you are?"

"Morticia," Blaze teased, shaking the offered hand.

"Really?" Angel didn't quite know what to make of her answer. "What are your powers, if you don't mind me asking?" Blaze smile faded, and absolutely stone-faced she told him, "I see dead people."

"Now I know you're lying," Angel grinned, but before Blaze could reply Tabitha was at her elbow demanding her attention, "C'mon Blaze, quit kidding around, we're late."

"Alright, alright," Blaze agreed. "But I'm bringing the food with me, I'm starved. See you around Angel."

"Sure thing," Warren offered, but Blaze had already gone. In her place stood a coy-looking angelic Rogue. Warren smiled innocently, "You look great Rogue, why didn't I think of that costume?"

"Thanks," Rogue flushed at his praise. "I was just wonderin' if you wouldn't like to, ya know, dance with me?" Angel looked confused, making Rogue even more uptight. "Oh, that didn't come out right at all…"

"Of course I'll dance with you Rogue," Angel replied quietly. "Lead the way." Rogue's face lit up, and she took Angel's hand in her gloved one to tug him onto the dance floor. Across the marquee Beast beamed at the development, before noticing something beyond Rogue and Angel that made him frown. At the very back of the tent Tabby and Blaze were backing outside through a flap in the fabric. They could not have looked more suspicious if they had come as escaped convicts, never mind devils. Hank found himself asking out loud, "I wonder that those two are up to?"