Twenty minutes later Lance stopped his truck in front of the large Iron Gate. A moment later it swung open as if he was being expected. Lance continued down the drive. Once outside of the house he got out of his truck and rang the door bell.
Jamie Madrox had been walking by the front door when the bell had rung. He went and opened the door, surprised to see who was standing on the other side.
"Err Piotr." He called.
Piotr Rasputin came to the door. "What is wrong my comrade? He asked in his Russian accent.
"Lance is here." Jamie answered opening the door wider.
"What do you want?" Piotr asked.
"I need to see Gambit. If he wont see me tell him Riley's in a lot of trouble and if wants her back he's going to need help." Lance answered.
"Why don't you come in." Piotr said.
Lance walked inside and was taken to the day room to wait.
Piotr then left to fetch Remy.
Piotr entered the Meeting Room five minutes later. "I am sorry to interrupt but Lance is here to see you Remy."
Remy stood up. As he was about to leave Piotr stopped him.
"He seems to want to help you my Comrade. Try not to be too harsh." Piotr said.
Remy nodded and Left. He then headed to the day room.
"Come on." Remy Said.
Lance said goodbye to Jamie and then followed Remy out of the room. They then headed to the meeting room, where everyone was waiting.
Piotr was seated next to Kitty, and since the only seat that was unoccupied was next To Piotr, Lance sat down.
"Why are you here?" Scott asked. He clearly wasn't happy.
Lance looked at everyone. "It doesn't matter why I'm here, just know that if you ever want to see Riley again you must get her tonight or her father is going to come and take her back home where she'll be married at the end of the week." Lance said. "this wasn't supposed to happen. Pietro said he just wanted to scare her because of what happened at the mall, but then Magneto found out about Riley's title and contacted her father. She's being shipped out tomorrow.
Amara grabbed Sam's arm to keep him from getting up and doing something he'd regret.
"Lance why help us or even Riley for that matter?" Ororo asked.
Lance sighed. He would now have to tell them his real reason. "What Pietro's doing isn't cool. Sabertooth's scaring the hell outta her. Not to mention she probably knows about the whole getting married thing since, they'll probably tease her about it. She's still a kid. Your father shouldn't force her to do something like this and I want out. So I figure why not go out with a bang. She shouldn't have to go through with this. Hell no one should."
"You want out?" Ray asked.
Lance nodded. "Yeah, before I didn't care about causing trouble, but now it's just stupid. They do it for the money. Not for the principle of it all, they've lost the goal. Besides the goal isn't even that good of one."
Lances cell phone Rang. "It's Pietro..Great." He mumbled.
He answered the phone, right away Pietro started talking. Lance just listened. "Yeah?" he answered. He then frowned. "What? No, you know what will happen Pietro." Lance sighed. "yeah I'll drive her." Lance looked at the others, as he continued to speak. "yeah I'm on my way."
Lance hung up.
"what did he say?" Scott asked.
Lance put his phone away. "Turns out we're not taking her to your father. Magneto thinks he can get more money is we keep Riley longer. They want me to take her to one of our old bases." He explained.
Sam looked at lance, looking like he was going to say something but remained quiet.
Lance stood up. "I'll take her to the base and then bring her home." He said.
Sam stood up. "Or you could bring her straight home." He said.
Lance shook his head. "Blobs coming with me. I have to distract him first so he doesn't figure out what I'm doing." He then looked at Remy. He knew he was worried. "She's fine Remy, scared but fine. I'll get her home as soon as I can." He swore. He then turned and left the school, returning to their makeshift base.
As he walked in he could hear arguing. Lance hurried to where Blob was being yelled at by Toad. Lance stepped in. "Enough! I don't know what this is about but knock it off." He ordered.
He then walked into the room where Riley was being held.
Her face was stained with tears and she had a bruise on her arm that was already showing boldly.
Lance walked over to her. "I'm sorry Riley." He told her as he helped her up. He then led her outside. He was surprised to see her act with such dignity. From what he'd seen she hadn't shed a tear in their presence and she'd tried her best to look and act tough. He helped her into his truck and then watched as Pietro came out.
"Blobs staying here, so your on your own. You think you can handle her?" he asked sharply.
Lance rolled his eyes. "of Course!" he snapped.
Pietro turned and headed back inside while Lance started the truck and sped off.
Once a few blocks away he pulled into a deserted parking lot. He then turned towards Riley who's complexion was Ash white, her eyes dark and empty, yet scared all at the same time.
"Riley I'm not going to hurt you. I swear." He told her gently as he reached over and took off the handcuffs, which had bound her hands. He then started the car and began to drive again.
Riley frowned. "where are you taking me?" she asked. "I don't understand why your being so nice to me."
Lance sighed. "It wasn't supposed to go down like this. I know this sounds childish but Pietro said we were just going to scare you."
"Well you accomplished that part." She murmured.
Lance continued talking. "That we'd kidnap you and drop you off in some deserted location. I'm sorry about what happened." He told her.
Riley searched his eyes, and then nodded when she saw that it was only the truth from which he spoke of. "thank you." She said.
Lance nodded.
"are you going to go back?" she asked.
"What?" Lance asked.
"Well their going to know that I'm missing and I don't want you to get in trouble for what you've done." She said.
"I'm not going back. I wanted out and you just so happen to be my turning point."
"Turning point?" she asked.
"yeah, I'm beginning to understand what Professor Xavier means. I'm just sort I didn't listen before." He said.
"It's not to late. You could stay at the institute." She told him.
"well see." He said.
They soon reached the institute. Lance got out and then opened the truck door for Riley.
"thank you." She murmured as she got out.
Riley opened the door and they went in. They ran into Logan, who had a beer in his hand as they walked down the hallway.
"You ok Kid?" he growled.
Riley nodded. "I'm fine Logan. Where's Remy?" she asked.
"Remy right here Riley-Anne." Remy said.
Riley sighed. When ever anyone called her Riley-Anne it meant that she was in big trouble. "So how long am I grounded for not telling you about what happened with Pietro?" she asked, she knew he was really mad at her.
"we'll discuss this later." Remy said. He turned towards Lance. "thanks for bringing her home." He said.
"It was nothing." Lance replied.
Riley looked at Lance. "I'll take you to Professor Xavier's office." She said.
She and Lance then left.
