Chapter 4

By the time the 18 tracks had played themselves out Emily and Scott had fallen into a deep silence. What lay between them was a hurdle neither was willing to cross just yet.

Emily laid her daughter down for a nap then picked the days mail up from the table where she had continued to pile it as it came in that day. With the thought she'd clean out her car she shuffled through her letters as she tucked a garbage bag under her arm.
"Bill, bill, Zander, junk, Uncle Charlie, Oh God!" halfway to the car still on the paved strip she collapsed.
Since he'd left she'd always feared this. Granted it was a fear she refused to acknowledge it was there. Quickly, she scrambled to her feet grabbing the letter she half walked half crawled to her car climbed in the front seat and cranked up the radio to a deafening volume and sobbed. As her parents, siblings, friends, and even Logan himself had told her he'd broken her heart. It wasn't fair. They had a daughter, four years of marriage, and a life how could he walk out on that? How could he walk out on little Ann Marie?

Emily sat up straight as a board. Her dream wasn't as much a figment of imagination as it was the most painful moment of her life relived. More than once a week it returned to haunt her. A long 16 years had passed since her letter had been returned un-opened. More of her money than she really had to spend had gone to searching for her husband. Her baby had grown up now. She was a young woman of 16. Her father had gone missing only a few months before her first birthday. In the spans between then and now their daughter had learned to speak, walk, ride a bike and a broom. She was now in her final year at Hogwarts. Like her mother she was a witch. So much mutant blood, so little mutant product.
"Hey Mum!" Ann Marie called up the steps.
"Yea?"
"You want your pan cakes plain?"
"Yes, please. I'll be right down." Emily climbed out of bed and into the warm early summer air. She threw open her window and went to dress. Nearly, fifteen minutes later she was dressed and ready for the day. In the kitchen she found Ann Marie found her daughter and the neighbor's boy, Joshua.
"Oh Com'on AM, they'd get a kick out of it." he grinned. Popping a blue berry in her mouth Ann Marie giggled.
"Oh I don't know. Joshy, Hannah already thinks we've... Mum!" she gasp.
"Mum?" Josh asked not seeing her.
"Hannah's wrong though isn't she?" Emily asked coming up behind her daughter to give her a kiss. "Morning Joshua."
"Yes, of course she is. Han always jumps to conclusions. I mean we aren't even dating Mum." Emily smiled.
"We leave for school Monday Emily Elizabeth, what do you have planned for this year?" Joshua asked. Emily shrugged.
"If Charlie doesn't write me back by then I'm not sure."
"What is it you plan to do there? From what you've said they are just mutants." her daughter asked.
"NO! They are much more than that. They are our family. Your father, grandparents, aunt and uncle, even several of your cousins are mutants. Mutants are our family. As for my plans, I want to teach at Charlie's school."
"And search for Da. You really should give it up Mum. The man doesn't care for us. He walked out a long time ago."
"Not now, dear." she warned. Ann Marie shut up and turned to look at Joshua who shrugged then nodded.
"We want to go down to the pond today. Can we?"
"What did Annie say?" Emily asked the boy.
"Mum, said it was fine as long as we ask you first."
"Fine then."

Proffesor Charles Xavier wheeled himself around to his desk as Scott dropped the mail on his desk. All the mail gets sorted down and handed out daily to the students and staff. He got to piles one was personal which he attened to first the other had to do with the school mostly bills. He looked through his stack of personal letters two old students 'keeping in touch', several parents writing with concerns about their children, then the last one made him smile.
"Do you know what this is Scott?" he asked. Scott shook his head. "Our old friend has finally dropped us a line."
"Who?"
"Emily Elizabeth Rees. You rememeber the sweet little one who was gifted in so many areas she was proclaimed witch?" Scott grinned.
"Yes, but I thought she was a Baskins."
"She was. She married." he opened her letter and began to read aloud. "Dear Uncle Charlie, and if I know you half as well as I'd like to think Scottie. I have so much to tell you. As you know I'm comming up on my 20th year of marriage and the 17th with out him around. It's difficult to explain all that has been done to find him but I'm tired of working through dimwitted PI's. If you would provide me with a place to stay I'd like to further the search on my own. I know he's in the states or at least on the same contient. This is my final year that Ann Marie will be in school.
" She's grown so much. Inclosed are pictures of her and her best friend, whom with any luck will one day be my son-in-law. In only two short weeks she'll be a leagal witch. Scott, do you rememeber when I first turned leagal? I'm sure you do. At least parts of it I don't think Uncle Charlie, Mom, and Dad were ever so mad at us. I'd bet my last knut that even Uncle Erik would have been angery with our behaviour. Well this letter is to Uncle Charlie so with him I leave this question: Would you allow me to stay with you? I promise to work for my keep. We both know a being is only as good as it's word so I'm obiviously not lying to you. All my love, best of wishes Double E."
"Well she's not changed at all has she?" Scott asked.
"That is what she'd like us to think. In truth, she's changed far more than any one ever should have to."
"Are you going to allow her to stay here?"
"Yes, she hasn't said all that needs said. I think we'll be needing her soon."
Scott nodded and left to have a room set up for Emily. While Charles set to writing a letter.

Dear Emily Elizabeth,
You are always welcome in my home. Just as your parents before you were. Though here too things have changed. I remind you not to push any subjects that the staff or students seem reluctant to speak about. If you so choose your daughter is allowed to come also, though I'm confident you will both find this only nessary during her holiday breaks. Come when ever you wish Scott has already begun preparations for you.
Forever and again,
Uncle Charlie

Nearly a week later Josh and Ann Marie were welcomed into her home by the schoolgirl like screams of their mothers. Both teens looked at each other wide eyed, clasped hands together then entered the living room ready to be pulled into the screaming, jumping, and excited ramblings that the two women were displaying.

"Oh it's so wonderful Emmi it means you can finally break free! I'm so happy for you dear!" Ann said hugging her best friend. She then leached onto her son. "Emily is going to get away. Isn't that just grand?" she asked him. Knowing not what else to do Josh nodded and grinned.

"Yes, Mum. It's great."

Though, he didn't really believe this. In his heart he knew that if Emily left then he'd never see Ann Marie away from school, which, in turn, meant that he'd lose his best friend. Getting a hold of them selves the mothers sat down and instructed their children to do the same. With out thinking about it the teens took held hands as they prepared for the speech on how this would change nothing.

"Now, of course this means things are going to have to change around here. But Uncle Charlie says you and your mother can come visit me at his school. Ann Marie I'll want you to visit me this Christmas but when summer comes you'll be a legal witch and I won't try and stop you from staying here. I might come back myself." Emily took a deep breath to calm herself. " I know it will be hard but this is something I want to do. I'll write all three of you as often as I can. Annie and I have already worked out the detail for a lot of things. Such as the holidays and bills here."

"But we want to know where you two stand in all this." Ann said looking at both of them. "You've both take swell care of each other and are so very close we'd hate to split you up. So we want to know what you want to do this summer."

"I don't know about Josh, but Mum, you know I want to stay here. I'm already registered and there is nothing for me in the states. Aunt Jenna and Uncle Zander haven't ever been that big of an influence on me. Plus, my family is here." Ann Marie said in a pleading voice.

"AM, wait to make your decision after holidays. See what you think of the place. Maybe, you'll enjoy it more. We've both read the papers, mutants aren't registered there. You'll be safer and won't have to worry." Josh told her. Ann Marie turned to look at him she brushed way the stray hairs from his face and smiled.

"But, this is home. Besides England has something the states don't."

"What's that?" he asked trying hard not to look into her eyes, know there lied his greatest weakness.

"You." She said barely above a whisper. Ann Marie looked back to the two women who had raised her. "Mum, Ann, it's time we told you something very important. Isn't it Joshy?"

"Yes, we want to raise dragons!" he sighed "Sure great to get that off my chest well, I'm hot anyone else hot?" he tried to stand up and leave but was yanked back down into his seat.

"We don't want dragons. We're dating. I know it's a little weird and trust us we didn't plan any of it but….."

"We know." Ann said with a grin.

"You know?" her son asked.

"Well, yea. At first we weren't sure. Then when we walked in on you snogging in the barn it was a little hard to doubt." Emily laughed.

"Wh…Hu…..Okay. I'm not finished packing and we have to leave in the morning. Josh, come." Ann Marie said getting up to leave. She hugged her mother and congratulated her on her way out. Josh followed helplessly.

The next morning was chaos. Ann Marie had managed to lose her favorite pair of boots between the time she kicked them off the night before and that morning. They'd all also managed to sleep in. Josh loaded both trunks in their shared car and with one hour until they had to be on the train all four of them piled in the car. Of course on a morning likd this they hit every traffic jam, road block, detour, and light. In the back Ann Marie and Josh disscused how it was all their parents fault. In the front Emily Elizabeth and Ann grumbled blaming their children. They pushed their carts through the barrier just in time to watch the Hogwart's Express pull away from the platform. Standing in dismay they glared at the empty tracks before them.

"Oh Now what do we do? Merlin's Beard can't we ever do anything on time?" Ann Marie asked no one impaticular.

"Well, Potter and Weasley once missed the train and they flew a car to school." Josh announced as if this was the best idea ever.

"Yes, they did and Magonagal gave them hell for it too. Last I checked she was still there isn't she?" Emily asked pacing the platform trying to come up with some answer.

"Yes, the old bat won't die!" Ann Marie said sounding crushed. Before Emily had a chance to scold her Josh had already started.

"A: she's a cat not a bat. B: that woman is the most talented tranfigurations professor this side of the Atlantic. C: she fought for your rights, when the Dark Lord tried to conquer the world. So, Miss Rees don't EVER let me hear you speak so badly about her." Josh had always idolized Harry Potter's story, and any character in it had become like a god to him. It was a terrible obsession but few minded seeing as most children did the same.

"Oh quiet down children. I know what we'll do." Ann said setting her purse on top one of the trunks and dug out a piece of parchament and a pen. Quickly, she wrote a note explaining their situation. After this she folded it and bound it to he sons owl, Granger, and sent it off.

"Well, it will take some time to get the letter to Hogwarts. What till then?" Ann Marie asked.

"Hmmm. Why not ask someone about the next train headed for Hogmead." Ann said.

"Why can't we just apperate?" Josh asked.

"Because for another three days Ann Marie won't be old enough and you still haven't passed your test." Emily pointed out.

"Only because they make me nervous!" he countered.

"I don't care, young man. We aren't breaking the law just to get you to school." His mother said turning on him. Ann never did well with uncertinany and her life was full of it.

Without another world Emily and Ann strode off to the ticket window. After explaining what had happened and what they wanted to do the man sold them four tickets for the next train and instructed them that it would leave in ten minutes. Once again the group was forced to rush to their destination but this time they go there on time. Emily aided Josh using her wand to load the trunks on the train. It was a mere three hour ride to the Hogsmead station. Then they would trek up to the castle.

"I'm sorry Mum." Ann Marie said as they chugged a long.

"For what?" Emily asked. Josh and Ann had fallen asleep already.

"For everything this summer. I shouldn't have react the way I did. I know you have to find Dad. It's just….. I don't trust the man. If he left before and you find him what makes you think he'd do anything more than hurt you again?" Emily shrugged and then touched her heart.

"I will bear whatever pain he doles out but princess I must know the truth."

"I don't think I could do that." Smiling Emily nodded toward Josh's sleeping form.

"I doubt you'll ever have to with him." She said half teasing.

"Mum!"

When they finally reached the station Ann and Emily took the trunks and started for the stables on the edge of the cozy little town. After a number of coins exchanged hands it was decided that they would ride in a carriage up the hill to the castle. They bade their children good-bye and Ann handed over a note that would explain what they'd done and excuse the two from any punishment. So, with one last look at their lives' work they sent them off.

"Now, this new teacher will arrive tomorrow. The two of us have discussed what it is she'll be teaching through letters. However, it has been decided she'll announce that tomorrow. I want all of you to welcome her in to our school. She's had a hard life and is….. dedicated to what we do here." Xavier was saying.

Scott leaned against the wall in the back of the room. Logan stood only a few feet off. They were the only two who had been spoken to already about Emily Elizabeth's arrival. Logan had been given a task and this was all just fluff for it. The others in the room were teachers who lived in the surrounding area and made the drive daily to teach. Kurt Wagner perched on the arm of Orora's chair.

"That is all for now. You are dismissed." As the non-X-men members of the staff fled the room to go home to their families, the others stayed waiting in a tense silence. When finally Xavier nodded and the doors shut the questions exploded.

"What is she?" Logan asked.

"She's the daughter of a couple of dear friends of mine. Emily Elizabeth Rees. Her parents helped me found the school along with Erik."

"Yes, but Professor what is she?" he pressed. "You usually tell us the ability of a new comer."

"Logan, you wouldn't believe me if I told you." This had caught the attention of Storm.

"Professor?" she began.

"She's a witch! Okay?" Scott finally snapped. He knew Xavier would keep them all tip toeing around the question for the rest of the evening.

"A what?" Kurt asked.

"A witch." Scott confirmed.

"Yes, well seeing as you are so inspired to speak why don't you explain her story to them." Xavier instructed him.

"She grew up here. We all thought she was going to be a powerful mutant. Her older brother tried to walk on thin ice fell through with no one else around and without ever touching him, she pulled him out of the water and dried him. A few years later her older sister was running down the stair tripped and fell, Emmi again without every moving stopped her and placed her at the bottom of the steps. But, when her 11th birthday approached she got a letter from some school."

"Hogwart's School of Witch Craft and Wizardry." Xavier supplied.

"They said she was a witch and asked for her to attend this school. Her parents were excited. Sent her off to this Hogwarts. Bought a house in the English country side for her to spend her time when she didn't want to return here. For some time she spent Christmas and summer breaks here. Then one year after she had graduated a couple of drunks came and killed her parents for being mutants. They would have gotten her and the stable boy too. She fought them off in time and….." Scott closed his eyes for a moment trying to gather himself. He hated what she'd done after this. " She fell in love with the stable boy. They ended up getting married lost a baby and the a few years after had another. Ann Marie. From what I've heard the man ran off and left her."

"Are her siblings witches?" Orora asked.

"No, Jenna married doctor and the two of them are in charge of a group of mutant physians. Zander, has spent the last 18 years dating the same woman and they have four children and have a similar school in Oregon." Scott answered.

"You've probably seen Jenna or one of her group in here. I call them in often enough." Xavier informed the group.

"What is it she plans to teach?" Storm asked.

"Things are bad for the mutants who've been living in the rich magical communities of the United Kingdom. They've been able to hide there since nearly the beginning. Many have even married into these families and breed a very strong strain of Wizards. But now the Ministry of Magic has registered all mutants, their families, and friends. If you have any regular contact with mutants you've been registered. It has taken Emily Elizabeth the past 20 years to earn the trust enough of the MoM to be allowed to make this trip. She says that it is probably only because her daughter is schooling at Hogwarts and they know she'll return."

"Registered? Is this just in the UK or has it spread to the rest of the Euro-Asian conntinet?" Logan asked.

"Just the UK for now. But places like France, Germany, Spain, and other large European countries are pushing for it to be passed in their countries. Russia of course has had this system for a long while but there are many loop holes that most escape it."

"Didn't they see what happened at Liberty Island?"

"They did, from what Emily says they just say it proves how unrational mutants are."