A/N: Milestone chapter! Chapter 30! Wow, I didn't expect this story to go on this long! Warning: Extreme sappiness below!

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

"Wow. Just wow." Wanda said as the Misfits dragged themselves back into their home after the battle at the Institute. "I have never, and I mean NEVER, seen them that angry at us."

"Think they'll get over it?" Shane asked.

"I doubt it. Why should they?" Althea said bitterly, surprising everyone. "I blew it."

"Hey, come on Al…" Todd started as he put an arm around her waist.

"Not now Todd. Just…I'm not in the mood, okay?" She said as she stormed up to her room.

"Of all the things I never thought I'd hear Althea say." Lance blinked.

"Is it just me, or is she taking this pretty personally?" Pietro asked.

"No really ya think?" Fred snapped.

"I'm going to go talk to her." Wanda said. She started to head up when Shipwreck put his hand on her arm.

"No, I'll go. I think I know what's bothering her." He said. Wanda stopped and let him go up.

"Al?" Shipwreck said as he knocked on her door. "You okay?" He winced. "Okay, stupid question." He admitted.

"…"

"Come on, aren't you at least going to say 'That's the only kind of question you know Pop?' " Shipwreck asked. Nothing. "Al?" He asked as he opened the door.

"Go away." Althea said as she was lying face down on her bed, her voice muffled by a pillow.

"Come on," Shipwreck said as he rubbed her back. "You know I can't, any more than you can honestly think that what happened to at the Institute was your fault."

"It was." She muttered.

"Don't give me that." Shipwreck said. "You know better. So are you going to tell me what's really bugging you or am I just going to have sit here and ask for advice on how to get Storm to take me back?"

" 'Back' implies you were there to start with." Althea said as she sat up, still hugging her pillow to her chest.

"Glad to see you haven't completely lost your touch." Shipwreck grinned. "So what's wrong?"

"Dad…during the fight…Vlad pretended that he didn't even know me." Althea said softly, sniffling.

"Ah jeez, kid…" Shipwreck said as he hugged her. "I'm sorry."

"I don't even know why it bothers me. I haven't seen him in years, haven't talked to him in years…why does it hurt?" Althea wondered.

"Because he was a friend. No one likes having their friends become an enemy. Remember how torn up Toad was when he had to fight his old friends in the Brotherhood, back before they left Magneto to join us?" Althea nodded. "Well, there you go. It's like fighting a part of your past, a part you liked. Am I right?"

"I…I really liked it when he was around." Althea admitted. "We used to have fun. Stealing Beach Head's hat, throwing applesauce at people…"

"Streaking across the Pit…" Shipwreck added.

"That was you, barnacle brain!" Althea reminded him.

"Oh yeah. Well you used to do it too! Anyway, all I can say is…well, if the Brotherhood could leave Magneto, I don't see why Vladimir can't leave Frost." Althea looked at her father as if seeing him for the first time. On impulse, she hugged him.

"Thanks, daddy."

000000000000000

"Wow. Just wow." Amira said as the Hellions returned from their battle at the Xavier Institute. She wiped her forehead with the back of her sleeve. "Anyone know what made Wave Dancer lose it like that?"

Vladimir shrugged with incomprehension. "I have no idea. We just did the usual 'banter' routine and then she went ballistic."

"What did you say?" She asked.

A strange look crossed over his face. "You know what? I don't even remember." Amira looked suspicious.

"Strange that she went all out like that…" She hedged. Vladimir shrugged.

"She spent her whole life with GI Joe! Of course she's as psychotic as the rest of them."

"Maybe." Amira said, not convinced.

"What's next?" Takashi asked.

"There's this one target Miss Frost wanted us to hit." Vladimir said. "We couldn't get to it before because we had no idea where to find it. But thanks to Phelan, we have a way now…especially since there's little chance the Misfits can call for any backup from the X-Men."

"You called?" Phelan asked as he walked up the returning group. As usual, he remained behind, the better to keep the Hellions 'secret information source' under wraps.

"Yes." Vladimir said simply. "I think it's about time you 'cracked' during the Joes interrogation…."

0000000000000000000

"Please, please, PLEASE! Tell us what you're up to." Quick Kick and Short Fuse whined to the captive Phelan. "Please?" After a month of continuous interrogation the Misfits and Joes had learned exactly bo diddly squat from the captive Hellion. In desperation, they had resorted to begging him to talk.

Phelan's head lolled forward. Short Fuse nudged Quick Kick. "Hey! He moved!"

"Finally! Some progress!" Quick Kick exclaimed. "Come on, tell us what are you Hellions up to!—Pretty please?" He asked.

Phelan, panting and gasping, managed to raise his head and say two words.

"…Sky…High…"

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000