They call her Human Torch! Chapter 14

The next morning. Tuesday August 9, 2011

I woke up with dry eyes from all the crying last night, but overall I stretched and felt so much better than I had in a really long time. I took a shower and got ready for the day before going downstairs to start on breakfast. The bacon drew everyone out and soon they were sitting at the kitchen counter watching my every move. Last night after they screamed out I simply said goodnight and went up to my room. I knew they were going to drill me and pester me until I gave in. I had to turn around towards the stove so they would not see my smirk. I decided to mess with them and got my phone to call Brian. Aaron ended up answering the call and I was confused until I remembered that they were roommates.

"Hey Bella! What's up? Brian is still sleeping I think."

"Hey Aaron, nothing much really, I just wanted to set up a meeting with you guys or just one of you so you guys can walk me through some paperwork that I need drawn up."

"Sure, you want to set it up at our office or you just want us to go over and talk about it there?"

"If you guys could come over that would be better for me. Wanna have dinner here?"

"Sounds great. Make lasagna!"

"Of course I will!"

"We have a lot to catch up on. You need to explain to me why I have been seeing you on the news so often lately."

"Sure sure. See you later."

"Bye."

Once he hung up I felt all their eyes on me. I knew they were itching to say something but I ignored it and kept serving up breakfast. Inside I was laughing so much but I wanted them to break first. One by one I sat a plate in front of all of them and finally I served up my own and started eating like nothing. They actually ignored the food except for Tony. He dug right in with a smile on his face and I knew he knew what I was doing. Darcy was so close, I could see it. I decided to push her over the edge.

"So what are you guys doing today?"

"ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?"

I couldn't hold it in anymore, I bent over laughing and once they saw the look on her face Tony and Jane joined me in laughing. Pepper tried but in the end we were all laughing off the tension that they held in all morning. Darcy and Pepper composed themselves first and Darcy looked me right in the eye.

"Were you serious?"

"Yes, she needs someone to protect her and take care of her."

"But, I mean you are about to turn 20. You are going to adopt someone at 19 Bella. Have you really thought it through?"

"I can honestly say that there is no doubt in my mind about this. She needs me. I can provide for her, not just materialistic stuff but actual support and care that she needs. You remember how your parents would always try to send me off with things or feed me when I went over to your house? They knew that Renee was not reliable. Kitty doesn't even have a Renee. She needs me Darcy."

Her eyes softened and she sighed.

"You need her too."

"Yes. She reminds me so much of myself, how I use to be, but the outlook she brings to things, her way of thinking, it's just incredible, and different. She doesn't fit in very well because of her differences, I want to show her that it's okay, she is going to do amazing things one day, I know it."

Darcy gave me a small smile. She and I stuck together like glue as soon as we met, we both had a different way of thinking than kids our age, we understood each other and now I think she finally understood the need I had to make this happen. She came to hug me and I hugged her back.

"I can't wait for you to meet her, you will love her and I know she will love you."

Surprise showed on her features.

"Wait! Am I going to be an aunt?"

"Yeah! I never thought of it like that. I guess you would be."

"That's awesome! I can't wait to meet her Bella. My mind is still not 100% wrapped around this but if any 19 year old can be a good mom to a 15 year old. It is definitely you. When did you say we were going to meet her?"

"Thanks Darcy! You guys can meet her Thursday."

Tony cleared his throat and I just knew he was going to lighten the feel of the room.

"Well I for one, cannot wait to meet Pep and I's future goddaughter."

"Oh Tony! You can't presume she is going to make us godparents!"

"Why not? Godparents are suppose to spoil the squirt right? Who would do that better than you and I?"

I laughed and we kept eating our breakfast. An hour later I was writing down a list of what I needed from the store. Jane and Darcy were going to go with Pepper while I cleaned and Tony was upstairs exploring my lab, although it was starting to feel like our lab since the 3 of us were always up there lately and they certainly know how to put it to better use than I ever could. Tony had even talked to me about updating stuff and putting in sensors so that he could install Jarvis into my apartment. I'm not sure if I actually needed it but I knew he would likely be staying here for a while until the new Stark building was up and running, it shouldn't make sense but we all seemed to fit in and feel comfortable together. I sent off the girls and quickly got to changing all the sheets from the rooms that they were using and just dusting the rooms that were available. I wondered which room Kitty would choose? I had 2 extra rooms available on my floor and a bunch down here. She would probably want to be closer to the first floor, that is why Darcy, Jane, and Tony chose rooms down there. I quickly finished up there and just did light cleaning everywhere else. This place was so big that really the only places that were dirty was the kitchen and the living room, the rest was unused.

"Hey."

I turned and saw Tony sitting on the floor of the projection room.

"Hey, what are you doing in here? I thought you were in the lab."

"I was, but then I started exploring. You know you have a projector in the huge conference room. So this room is wasted space."

"I have a lot of that in this apartment. What do you suppose we do with it?"

"That is what I am trying to figure out."

"Right. Tony I think you are bored."

"I am. Let's go do something! We should go- oh wait.. Bella. I just figured out what you can do in here!"

And just like that, he ran off to my second office to make calls. That office too had become Pepper and Tony's office. I loved having them all here. They did not feel like guests, they all did their own thing during the day but we came together to eat breakfast and dinner. It felt like family. I really hope Kitty feels that here too.

A few hours later everyone was back and I had just put the lasagna in the oven. I had planned this to be the time that I called the pack, if things did not go well then I had 30 minutes to use the 'I left my oven on' excuse. I locked myself in my office and sat at the desk just drumming my fingers as I waited for them to pick up.

"Hello?"

"Hey Em!"

"Bella! We tried calling you yesterday but you never answered. We were worried about you."

"I am fine Em, don't worry about me, I am not paying attention to whatever those idiots on the news say. Listen, I called to talk to you guys about something else, is most of the pack there?"

"Well not the ones that go to school but the rest of us are, Sam is on patrol."

"Great. Can you put me on speaker? The rest of the guys can just show each other the phone call later."

The less people the better I think. I had gotten closest to Paul and Leah so I was kinda worried about them but no matter what, I would not let them change my mind. There was only one thing I was very nervous about.

"Hey Bella."

"What's up Bells!"

"Hey guys! How have you been?"

"We have been good, no one has imprinted and no one has died so we can't complain."

"Wow Paul, that is not grim at all."

He laughed but I heard Leah slap the back of his head. Once everyone was quiet I started talking.

"So guys. I know that this is going to be a shock I want you guys to hear me out about this and not interrupt. This is really important to me. You remember last week when we talked, I told you guys about the school of mutants and how I found it?"

I paused and heard a lot of hums of agreement.

"And you guys remember me talking about Kitty? She was the one that sorted out all the luggage into piles. Well yesterday I took her out to lunch, and well long story short, I spoke to the head of the school and decided to adopt her."

Silence. Pure silence. I was not sure if that was worse or better than the yelling yesterday. Finally Paul spoke.

"Bella. Adopt, as in, Mommy? I thought this girl was your age?"

"She just turned 15. Guy's, I know you may not understand it, Darcy and Jane had trouble with the idea too at first, but she needs me. She needs someone to take care of her. Her parents left her and the school cannot understand her and give her what I can."

"Bella I don't think you thought this through. You are letting your emotions of abandonment take over and block responsibility."

"I am. I know I am letting my personal feelings guide me but I am responsible, I am committed to her, to give her anything she needs. I am calling to let you guys know, not to have you try to talk me out of it."

"Don't get defensive, you know we are talking to you with your best interest in mind."

"Bella I feel like this is something that will actually help you as well as the girl, but have you thought about the danger you are putting her in? Victoria has not been around as much lately, just because she is a dead blood sucker doesn't mean she can't see the news. She must know you are the one on the TV all the time. We know you can defend yourself now but can she really be safe with you?"

"I want to tell her everything."

"What?"

"I want to protect her and take care of her but I need to welcome her into my life and tell her everything there is to know about myself. I am asking you guys to give me permission to tell her."

"Bella the council has already given you permission for 2 humans, there is no way they will allow you to tell a 15 year old our secret."

"I understand that I am asking so much. I really do, but I need to ask anyway. I will not tell her if I do not have your permission."

"But? There is something you are not saying."

"I need to hunt Victoria down so that she is not a threat, I need to be honest with Kitty. If I cannot tell her about you guys then I will have to hunt her down alone."

"Are you saying that you would cut off contact with us for her?"

I could hear the hurt in Leah's voice even through the phone and my heart felt like it twisted for a second just thinking of not having them in my life.

"No no, Jesus guys, of course not! I just can't expect her to trust me if I am not being honest with her about the people in my life, you guys would be in her life as well if she came with me to visit. She is a mutant, she would understand. We all know that the council will not be an easy sway but maybe if you guys point out that she literally goes to a secret school that normal non mutant humans don't know the location of. She is part of a team that is full of secrets. She is so young but she has grown up the last few years needing to have responsibility and maturity to keep secrets. She is just like you guys, you didn't choose to become wolves and keep secrets from old friends and family. She didn't choose to become a mutant either."

They remained quiet but I knew I had at least given them something to think about. Hopefully they could repeat what I told them to the council.

"Bella I will go get Sam right away and we will all talk to the council together."

"Thank you Emily. Look guys, I'm sorry to put you in this position again. I'm trying to build up something here for myself but I keep coming back to you guys every time… I really miss you guys. I know what a pain in the ass I am alright?"

I heard a scuffle on the other end and then a door closing before Paul came on the phone.

"Bells don't say that, you're not a pain in the ass. We're happy you are trying to build something up for yourself. We miss you too and it sucks you aren't around but if you feel you need this then I'll support you, I know most all of us will. We'll talk to the council, I mean if this girl got your attention then she must have something smart about her."

"She does, really Paul, I know you guys would love her."

"Then we'll meet her soon. Now, I know you, how are you really doing with this whole news shit?"

I leaned back and sighed, already feeling my eyes water in relief that he could hear it.

"I don't know.. I mean I already had a breakdown so don't expect a full thing."

He snorted but listened while I told him all about the previous night.

"Shit Bells."

"Yeah.. I kinda needed a hug from you guys yesterday. I took for granted the way being between all of you made me feel so safe."

I could hear slight emotion in his voice and knew this open way he talked to me was blocked off from most other people, that's the real reason he stepped out to talk to me.

"Bells, we are always going to be here for you, it doesn't matter what you make of yourself over there. When you come home we aren't about to treat you any different. I mean Quil and Embry miss picking on you so much."

That managed to get a laugh out of me and he sighed in relief, I knew he had reached his end on emotional conversation for the day and I had left a big favor resting on their shoulders.

"Tell them to find another victim. Look I gotta go finish dinner but I'll call again soon okay? Tell everyone I miss them and I love all of you so much.

"Okay, yeah, miss your ass too babe."
I smiled and felt myself relax. "Bye Paul."

I knew I was asking so much from them but I didn't see ant other way. Kitty had to be my priority. How could I hide such a big part of my life from her? I know my past and my present can come at me at any moment and she can so easily get caught in the middle. If all of this came out on accident later then she would feel betrayed that I never told her. I couldn't risk hurting her like that. A text notifying me of the elevator being in use brought me out of my thoughts. I checked the camera monitor on my desk and saw that Brian had come with Aaron. If felt strange to see them without Tom but their friendship had kinda diffused when he took a job offer in another firm. They never had time to see each other and the firms were like 'enemy' firms so they just drifted apart I guess. I went out to the kitchen where everyone was at and soon the elevator doors opened.

"Hey guys! Great to see you again, it's been too long."

"Yeah it has B, new room mates?"

"Kinda. Guys, this is Darcy, Jane, Pepper, and Tony. Guys, these are my friendly lawyers, Brian and Aaron."

They exchanged pleasantries and they stuttered a bit at shaking Pepper and Tony's hands. Soon we were sitting at the table with all 3 guys stuffing their faces.

"Bella, this garlic bread is going to make my mouth smell funny for at least 4 days but it is the best I've ever had!"

"Tony, that is store bought bread! I only toasted it!" I said between giggles.

"Whatever, it's this lasagna then, everything you make is so good."

The girls were laughing since they are the ones who brought the bread but eventually we started talking business when there was a break in conversation.

"So Bella, what kind of paperwork do you need drawn up?

"Adoption papers."

Brian choked on a piece of lasagna and Aaron spit up his wine. Everyone at the table chuckled, having gone through those reactions already, I sighed at having to go through the same damn explanation for the 3rd time.

"… and so, I did not correct her, I have thought a lot about it since then and I can't find a reason not to go ahead with it."

They both put their game face on and started talking as my lawyers.

"Well Bella, first of all I understand why you want to do this but unfortunately, in the state of New York, there must be a 10 – 15 year age gap, or the person must be at least 21 years of age with an approval from child services. The process to adopt her would have to wait until you are either 21 or until you have had guardianship of her for at least 6 months. The fact that she is 15 is very helpful because the court would most likely ask her for what she prefers, if she said she wants you as her guardian and you were financially stable, which you are, then all that we would need would be a signature from her current guardian."

I sighed disappointed that I could not get the whole process over with, I wouldn't want to drag Kitty through the court.

"Don't worry Bella, with the connections we have, guardianship shouldn't take more than 2 weeks. After that we wait 5 or 6 months and with you being so rich and stable and with her saying that she wants to be adopted then the process should move fairly quickly, there is a chance that we won't have to wait until you are 21."

I nodded, feeling a bit better about it, I know Kitty would be upset at the set back but I at least want to get the ball rolling on this as quick as possible.

"Okay, what do we need to do then?"

"Just give us the file with her birth certificate and guardianship papers. We will make the appointments and draw up the papers. The good thing is that her parents already released her, now all we really need is for you to be brought before the court so they can analyze how fit you are, honestly, bringing in the fact that she is a mutant, if we get lucky enough to get appointed a racist judge then he will approve it simply because he wouldn't care."

They must have seen the disgust on my face and the anger on everyone's face.

"I know it is not right, but it happens more often than you would think."

I shook my head at the thought and we quickly moved on to another subject. We girls ended up watching some very bad movie while the guys played in the arcade. Darcy nudged my side and put her arm around me.

"So how are you feeling about what they said?"

"It sucks that we have to wait you know? But I am just glad that I can at least take guardianship of her. It's a step in the right direction."

"Ugh! I know right? Why does it have to be so complicated? In that movie, what's it called? Where the girl has like powers to move shit."

Jane and Pepper got pensive looks on their faces when Jane jumped up and yelled "Escape to witch mountain!"

"No no. not that one!"

Pepper took a turn and yelled

"Carrie!"

"No! A little girl!"

"Matilda!"

"Yes! That was it! You know in the end she pulls out adoption papers that she printed out in the fucking library! Her parents sign them like nothing and boom! Happily ever after."

I started laughing and soon we all rented the movie on the TV and watched it, talking about how mouth watering that chocolate cake looked.

2 days later. Thursday August 11. 2011

I woke up and jumped out of bed, I was in a great mood, a mix of excitement and nerves. Today I was going to pick up Kitty at 3 and she was going to come to my apartment for the first time and also meeting everyone else. They acted cool but when I went to make breakfast they were already up and straightening stuff out. I had already cleaned but the girls just needed something to do I guess. They helped me prep for today's meal and then they went off to buy fabric samples and a huge book from a local paint shop that had a sample of all the colors they had. Pepper was an excellent organizer and once she got the idea of getting to know Kitty so they could decorate her room by the end of the weekend, all the other girls joined in. I still had not told Kitty about the adoption process but I planned to do so as soon as I got there, I wanted to talk to Charles as well, just to have him up to date on things. Tony came up behind me with a magazine and had me choose a design for a ball return. He had been doing this all day yesterday, the idea he had for the projection room was a bowling alley. He made some calls and people hand delivered a huge stack of papers and designs. He was adding his own touch but came to me for finalizing. It was crazy but at the same time I thought it would be fun and he argued that it would raise the value of the place if I ever decided to sell… to him. I wasted time here and there, nervous to make the drive but when 2 pm hit, I shot up and got ready to go.

"Alright guys, I'm leaving. Please don't make a mess! And when I get back with her just relax and get to know her. She is 15, not 10. You don't have to be scared of her and don't make things awkward!"

Darcy put her hands on my shoulders and shook me.

"We get it! We will try our best to make her feel at home. Don't worry."

I nodded and rushed out as they laughed. I made a record at 28 minutes. Although I passed a couple of stop signs. I was in front of the mansion but it was not 3 yet so for the first time, Kitty did not run out to greet me. Instead I knocked on the door and Logan answered with his usual smirk.

"Here to pick up your munchkin?"

"You wanna test out what else I can burn off?"

I put my hand on his shoulder and slowly moved it down to hover over his chest.

"Looks like you have an impressive amount of body hair, I can take care of it for you?"

I slipped a smirk on my face to drive the point, he took a step back but didn't get mad since he saw the humor in my eyes.

"You are dangerous."

"Thank you!"

He laughed and moved out of the way so I could step in. I moved my hand to take it off of his shoulder and I felt it brush against metal. I can't say what possessed me to do it but I followed the chain and pulled out dog tags. I smiled at the sight of them, I always loved playing with the collection that Charlie had from his dad and grandfather. Holding on to them I felt a warmth spread in my chest at the memory.

"You served?"

Before I knew what was going on, his eyes rolled back in what looked like pain and he fell to his knees. I fell along with him, trying to check his vitals and looking for any kind of visible wound.

"HELP! SOMEONE HELP!"

I still felt the warmth in me and somehow I felt it connected to him, god was I burning him from the inside?! I let go of him instantly and tried to focus on cold, tried to pull away the warmth somehow. His head snapped up and his eyes met mine, they looked wild, like they didn't recognize me or they were unfocused. People started running in through the hall way and I made the mistake of turning towards them. I heard a growl leave his lips and a second later I felt a sharp pain in my stomach. Looking down I found metal claws coming out of his knuckles somehow and pushed deep into my abdomen. I heard people gasp, others yell, but my eyes did not leave his, even through the pain I felt, I was trying my hardest to suppress the fire in me begging to come out. I saw his pupils expand and retract, it felt like minutes later when his eyes focused back on me. He looked down in horror and swiftly retracted his claws. With his support gone, I fell forward into his arms as he started to hyperventilate. Black dots filled my vision, I felt wet, absentmindedly thinking it was probably the blood seeping out of me. Numbness started to take effect and everything started to fade. I felt my body being rolled? Or lifted? Something wet on my cheeks. Then nothing.

Slowly I became alert, I remembered everything and was wondering how the hell I was alive. My eyes snapped open and when I saw that I was in a lab table I jumped up furious. My first thought was that someone had taken my blood, looking down I saw a needle lying on a supply table by my head. My anger reached fever pitch and my whole body exploded in flames. Everything around me melted or turned to ash and some alarms started ringing. Good. Let them come, I would kill every single one of them. The door burst open and in came Logan, Kitty, Hank, and Charles.

"What did you do to me? You bastard promised you would not take my blood 'lines that must never be crossed'! I trusted you!"

They all had shocked looks on their faces but Kitty burst out in tears as she ran at me with open arms. I was shocked for a second, at a loss of what to do but I could not let her be burned and all my clothes were in ashes on the floor. I retracted the fire from my arms and legs but kept the rest of my body covered in flames and stepped back before she could reach me. I saw the hurt on her face but looking down at the ashes she understood. She sobbed so loud that it was heart breaking to hear but I had no idea why she was so upset.

"Honey, what's wrong?"

She looked up at my face and opened her mouth but she couldn't answer through her cries. Hank stepped forward then and looked at me in awe.

"Ms. Swan, we were not sure if you would wake up. Quite frankly, I was in the middle of telling Kitty to prepare for the worst."

He came closer and took a hold of my arm, examining it. I snatched it out of his hold and glared at the 3 men.

"What are you talking about?"

This time Charles rolled his chair forward slowly.

"Bella, please explain to us the last thing you remember. I will tell you everything but first tell us your side of this."

"I- I touched Logan, he was in pain and I tried to retract all the warmth that connected me to him, I thought I was burning his insides from the pain he was in. His eyes lost focus and next thing I knew he had.. stabbed me? With his claws. He focused his eyes on me, retracted his claws and I lost consciousness. I woke up and that is it."

They looked at me stunned. Hank let out a breath in disbelief before coming at me again.

"Ms. Swan a-"

"Bella, call me Bella."

"Bella, are you in any pain at all?"

"No. how many drugs did you give me? I didn't think they worked on me."

"Bella please focus. Can you lift your flames and show us your stomach?"

"What? Why? I heal a little faster than humans but not nearly this fast. In about a week I should be able to take out any stitches without them bleeding. Didn't the claws puncture something? They were deep in there."

I noticed Logan wince at that and thought maybe he felt bad about losing it like that. Hank seemed exasperated with me but I was not sure why.

"Please Bella, take these pants to cover your bottom, I really need to see your stomach. I did not give you any type of drugs."

"What did you do then? I am not letting you anywhere near my stomach until you tell me what happened after I passed out."

Logan bumped Hank away and reached for a tool on the nearest table. Looking me straight in the eyes he sliced his palm open, wincing at the pain he was in. Of course his whole hand started dripping blood on the damn floor but before I could ask what his problem was his whole palm closed up instantly.

"What the fuck?"

It was almost like the pack's healing but even for them if took a few hours or minutes for something minor. This was instant. The idiot plunged the carving tool into his own stomach and let out a groan but again, he lifted his shirt and it was gone.

"I heal."

"No shit."

"When I realized what I had done to you, you were bleeding out in my arms and Kitty here starts bawling. I just couldn't let you die. Not when you were about to help her be happy, not when you made me remember- anyway. I rushed you to Hank and asked him to transfer some of my blood into your system."

"You what?!"

Hank put his arms up in the universal 'calm down' gesture.

"I checked some of the mixed blood under a microscope and your blood was burning his, I think that instead of refusing it, it was actually absorbing it somehow. I did not see it for long, just long enough to make me believe that the transfusion would not work. We did not think you would wake up but now here you are, and you say you feel fine. We need to see if you at least have scars."

My shoulders dropped, I didn't know how to take this news. How did this affect me? Did it once again alter my DNA? isn't once in a lifetime enough? I had no answers to this new development but I also had no answers before so how could I even be upset? I was still just feeling emotionally stunned. Slowly I lifted my fire away from my stomach. I expected a gruesome sight of scars but it was as smooth and perfect as it was this morning. Maybe thicker or harder than human skin but still soft and silky. I ran my hand over the place where I had looked down to see it impaled, it was like I was remembering it happening in a dream, only to wake up and check that it was not real. Suddenly I did not think Logan crazy, I too wanted to grab something and cut my hand open just to see if this was a one time deal or not. So that is what I did. I went up to him and grabbed the tool, covering it in flames to 'sanitize' it before driving it into my hand. Gasps were heard all around the room but they cut off when the cut disappeared just as fast as Logan's had.

"Oh god."

We looked at each other but no one really knew what to say. Hank finally looked at me then at Logan before speaking.

"As much as I would like to ask you for a sample of blood, I know you would refuse. However, I encourage you to go home and compare your recent change to the old samples you must have taken of yourself. Perhaps if Logan is willing, he could give you a sample of his for you to compare similarities?"

Logan nodded but still looked distracted.

"How much time has passed?"

"Only about 40 minutes dear. It is part of the reason why we were so surprised that you got up so soon, I have never seen anything like it."

I released a deep breath and tried to gather my thoughts.

"So what does that mean? Am I fine enough to proceed with the day as planned? Is there anything I should know?"

"Well, yes I guess you are fine. You can go about your day as was planned but perhaps you should speak to Logan about 'side effects' none of them can be sure of course, not until you check how similar your blood work is. You will need to monitor it, we can't know if his blood will become part of you or if yours will burn it until it dissolves, in which case you would lose the healing ability. We can't be sure of anything right now honestly."

"I can come with you, to your place and give you a sample."

I nodded at that too, I would feel better knowing I could keep an eye on him and he could keep one on me. I still wanted to know what his little episode had been about earlier. Charles finally took the lead and asked Logan, Kitty, and me into his office after giving me a plastic shirt to go with the hospital style pants.

"Well, I know today has been eventful, to say the least. However, we still need to talk about the original purpose of your visit."

We all turned to look at Kitty who still had not let go of me. She had her face buried in my shoulder and although her tears had stopped, I was still worried.

"Kitty? Honey look at me?"

She looked up and her eyes filled with tears but they did not fall.

"Baby what's wrong?"

"I thought you were never going to wake up. I thought I was never going to get to talk to you anymore or see you, I just found you. You can't leave me. We haven't even lived together a day and- just the day you came to pick me up, the day I was going to start a new happy life with you, you get hurt and it was all over before it started."

She had tears running now and I couldn't hold in my own at the thought of what she must have went through for those 30 minutes. Putting both arms around her I gave her the tightest hug she could handle.

"Kitty, I am so sorry you had to think that. I can't imagine how hard that must have been but look at me. I am right here, I still want to take you home with me and have you meet my friends, they really want to meet you. Do you still want to come? I understand if you just want to put today behind you sweetie, if you want I can pick you up tomorrow?"

"NO! No please I really want to go with you today!"

"Okay, that's fine with me. I am right here and we are going to have a great weekend together okay? I can't promise that I will live forever but I can promise to always fight with everything in me to always come back to you okay? Do you believe me when I tell you that?"

She nodded shyly and gave me a soft smile before leaning on my side. I looked up and both men had smiles on their faces as they looked at her. I spoke to Charles, knowing that Kitty would be paying extra attention.

"I spoke with my lawyers on Tuesday, there are some complications but I am trying to handle them as quick as possible."

As predicted, Kitty's head snapped up to look at me.

"Complications? You can't adopt me?"

"In the state of New York, I have to be 21 to start the adoption process, there are ways around it though. Since you are already 15 and I am financially stable, it will be easy to be your guardian, they said it would take about 2 weeks for everything to be finalized, we will have to go to court but they said that they will take your preference as a major decision maker. That means that if you tell them that you want me to be your guardian then it will speed things up. Once I am your guardian then we would have to wait 5 or 6 months to start the adoption process."

She sighed but nodded.

"At least you can be my guardian. It will almost be the same right?"

"It will be exactly the same but it just won't be official on paper. Don't worry about it okay Kitty? Just let me take care of it."

She smiled and nodded.

"Do you have everything packed up that you are going to take?"

"Yes, I just need to put my pajamas in there."

"Perfect. Here are my keys. Why don't you go put your stuff in my car and we will leave soon. I just need to talk to Charles and Logan."

"Is he coming with us?"

"This weekend he is, just because of all the things we need to learn about each other but next weekend it's just you and me okay?"

"Okay."

She walked out and I turned to face Logan who still looked pensive.

"What happened?"

"I don't know."

"You have to know. One minute we were teasing and the next you are on the floor in pain."

"You made me remember things."

"What does that mean?"

"Bella, if I may answer on Logan's behalf. I see in his head how things happened and I believe I have figured it out. Answer me this; when you touched his tags, what did you feel?"

"Warmth. I don't know how to explain it, they reminded me of my childhood. My dad had his grandfathers and fathers tags, I use to read them and hold them for hours as a child while I looked through all the pictures."

"Would you say that you felt protective over them? That seeing them on Logan made you have a sort of soft spot for him?"

"In a way I guess I saw him in a different light, but that does not mean I'm going to get all cozy with him if that is what you are saying."

"What I am saying is that, for a short minute, you protected him the way that you protect Kitty when you are near her. You spoke of warmth, earlier in the lab you said that you tried to take away the warmth when you thought you were burning him. I believe that 'warmth' is your protective mind shield."

"Shield? But I have no control of it? And if I was protecting him then why did it cause him so much pain?"

Logan cleared his throat to answer

"1979 I woke up in an island, there was a man who claimed to know me and there was a body of a woman a couple feet away. I woke up with no memory of how I got there or who I was. Only my tags. I've remembered things over the years, I thought I knew most of it. When you touched me and I started feeling the pain, I was seeing images, remembering things here and there. Not enough to really make sense, but enough to know that my brain somehow blocked it and when you put that shield over my head, I was able to reach the blocked part."

"Then why did you feel pain? Memories should come naturally shouldn't they?"

Both of them shrugged, not sure what to make of this development. I was not sure on it either but I knew I would not be doing it again anytime soon, not if he lost himself and hurt me or those around him every time. We sat there thinking for about 6 minutes until Kitty knocked on the door and peeked her head in.

"I'm ready. Whenever you are just find me in the library."

"Okay, I'll be right there hun."

I turned to look at Logan

"So are you coming or not?"

"Just for tonight and tomorrow. I'll take a cab back here tomorrow night. I'll go put some things together. Meet you in the library."

"Okay."

I sighed and got up while looking at Charles.

"Well, I guess I will see you Sunday. I will call if there is any change in either of us."

"I would appreciate it, thank you Bella. Also, this morning I heard some worrying thoughts in Kitty's mind. She is nervous about breakfast."

"Breakfast? Why? Is she allergic to something?"

"No, I saw in her mind that she just does not want to bother you too early or wake up too late. Here in the school we serve breakfast from 8:30 to 10:00. I asked Storm and she said Kitty usually comes in at 9. Maybe just make her feel better by telling her what time breakfast will be? Just so she will not be nervous about messing up your sleep times."

"Oh, I never though she would think of that. Sure I will tell her 9, I always wake up at 8:30 anyway. Thank you for telling me Charles."

"It is no problem, she is just nervous about a new environment is all."

"Well we'll just have to make her feel at home then. See you Sunday night."

"See you then, Bella."

I caught up with Kitty after 10 minutes of looking for the damn library. I took so long to find it that Logan was already there with an overnight bag. I smiled at both of them and motioned with my head for them to follow me out. Kitty gave Logan the front seat and we sat awkwardly for a couple of minutes. I guess Kitty had enough and she reached forward from the back to turn on the radio.

"Missy you better plant your butt on that seat and buckle up before I burn that hand off!"

Logan chuckled as her hand flew out of sight. It was only 4:28 pm and I still could not believe how many things had happened in less than 2 hours. We drove for 37 minutes and finally pulled into the garage.

"Nice building."

"Thanks."

As we approached the elevator I opened up the security app I had created for the apartment, I wanted to add Kitty into the system but not give her a card since she could easily lose it.

"Kitty, press your thumb on this scanner here. Okay now do it again, it should open the doors this time."

Once we were inside I quickly explained how I added her fingerprint to the system.

"Its like giving me a key?"

"Yes! But the key is your thumb."

She laughed but cut off when the elevator opened up. She stepped out slowly and looked around just like every new person does.

"Wow! This place is so pretty!"

"Thanks, how about I give you a full tour after dinner? Are you hungry yet?"

"Yeah but not too much yet, I can wait."

"Good, I left everything ready before I left, I just have to throw it in the oven for 30 minutes."

I led them up to the second floor and they paused when they saw everyone sprawled out in the living room. When they spotted us they straightened out quickly and jumped up.

"Where have you been? You were suppose to be back an hour ago dude! And what are you wearing? What happened to your clothes?"

"Yeah, I had a little problem but I'll explain it later. Guys this is Kitty and Logan. Logan works at the school. Kitty, Logan, these are my friends that are staying here for a while. This is Pepper, Tony, Jane and-"

"HI! I'm Darcy. I am Bella's best friend and sister so you are like my niece!"

Darcy hugged Kitty and I could see the shock on her face, I was shocked too, I guess Darcy was really worried. When she gets nervous she gets hyper and talks fast. She finally let her go and once introductions were made and Tony sized up Logan I was able to slip into the kitchen to put turn the oven on. Jane came in a minute later with Tony.

"She is very pretty Bella. Darcy charmed her already too."

"She is isn't she? She is very smart too."

"Why is that guy here? He seems fine and all but did they not trust you to bring her on your own without supervision?"

No, it's not like that. I- I don't even know how to explain it."

Logan came into the kitchen and smirked at my look.

"Super hearing remember?"

I rolled my eyes at him but then he turned to the others and took out his claws. Jane jumped back but Tony only widened his eyes. Logan looked at me and nodded, giving me the go ahead to tell the story. I told them about the 'Shield' that Charles thought I had and how I touched his tags, about the warmth and his pain. Logan took over explaining about his claws. He was wording it in a way that wouldn't get him attacked when he told them he stabbed me. I found it funny how he was skirting around actually saying it, he must have seen the humor in my eyes because he glared at me. I decided to spit it out for him.

"Guys, he lost focus and did not know if I was the one causing him pain, he was not really even seeing me so his claws came out and he defended himself."

"He hurt you?"

"He did not mean to."

I stood next to him, to show that I was not mad and neither should they. It got the point across and they backed off a bit.

"That still does not explain why he is here though."

"I am here to give her a sample of my blood. My claws were pretty deep in her and we thought we were losing her with how bad she was bleeding out. I asked Hank, he studied medicine, to give her a blood transfusion. I heal, I thought if she had it then she had a chance of surviving. He did it and her blood was taking mine over. We didn't think it'd work but it did. She woke up less than 40 minutes later, right as rain and with my healing ability. We have to test our blood to see if this is temporary or if she is like me now."

Jane had tears in her eyes and Tony looked shocked as well as worried.

"What does that mean though? If she is like you what does that change in her? Did you give her the mutant gene then?"

"Jane, calm down, we don't know anything right now, that is why we have to test many things. let's all calm down and eat okay?"

They nodded but did not look happy about it. Jane hugged me from the side and squeezed tight.

"I can't believe that you could have so easily died just hours ago and we were here, having no idea that there was something wrong."

"Jane, I swear I am fine. At least I feel fine. I don't want to bring this up anymore in front of Kitty because she had a hard time with almost losing me too okay?"

"I understand. Oh poor girl, can you imagine what she thought, losing you before you even got to officially adopt her?"

Tony shook his head in sympathy and went with Logan back into the living room. We followed after and I was glad to see Darcy sitting at Kitty's feet asking what kind of stuff she liked watching.

"Oh have you seen Eurotrip? That is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen!"

"No, I have never even heard of it. What's it about?"

Seriously Darcy?!

"Nothing! It's about nothing. Just one of those stupid movies that don't make sense."

"What?! Bella you love that movie!"

"Darcy! Shut up! That movie is highly inappropriate for a 15 year old!"

A look of understanding came over everyone's face.

"Oh. Sorry, I forgot she was only 15, you talk like a grown up, Kat."

Kitty laughed but quickly got up while I talked to her.

"Kitty you wanna come with me to choose a room before dinner or do you want to wait until after?"

"No I can go now if you want."

Of course I started with the first floor and she fell in love with the pool, I had not tried it yet but I promised we could do it sometime this weekend. She liked the library and the labs but once she saw the observatory she quickly laid on the ground and asked me to open the roof. She stayed there for a while just looking up. I loved that about her, I do the same thing almost every night of the week but other people sit in a chair and look up. It was so strange to see someone do the same thing I did and have the same reactions.

"So that is all, have you thought about which room you would want out of all the ones I showed you?"

She got up and I followed her to the second floor to the room that was next to Jane's room.

"I like this one."

"Sure, we can take out the bunk beds and get you a nice bigger one."

"I don't mind them. I have a twin at the school anyway so I am use to it."

"Don't you want to stretch out? Plus, those bunk beds have to go anyway, there is no way you are sharing rooms with anyone."

"I guess a bigger bed does sound nice."

"What made you choose this room?"

"You can see some of times square from here."

"Oh there is a room on my floor that has a better view hun."

"I know which one you are talking about but this view has more sky to it. On New years, the fireworks would look amazing from here."

I smiled, once again blown away by her way of thinking. My hearing picked up the beep of the oven timer.

"Come on, the food is ready. let's eat and then we can switch around the bed in here. Tomorrow Pepper, Darcy, and Jane want to show you some things to help decorate the room however you like."

"Really?"

"Yeah, they were excited to meet you. Did you like them?"

"Yeah, Darcy reminds me a lot of you. Tony is funny too. I can't believe I'm staying at the same place as Tony Stark though. That is so awesome!"

"I'm glad you are getting along well with them. Come on, and don't let Tony hear you say stuff like that. It'll just inflate his head more."

We had dinner and I did not know who ate more, Logan or Tony. They ate like it was their last meal and it was ridiculous! Good thing I had started making more food since Tony had a tendency to come out at midnight to eat more. Well there weren't any leftovers for him today. Apparently the food at the school was kinda generic. By 9 I saw Kitty's eyes start to droop a little.

"Are you tired? We just switched beds with the room across the hall, we can get you a softer or firmer bed tomorrow if you want, I am not sure how you like your mattress."

"It's fine. I am a heavy sleeper, I can sleep on any surface. I guess everything that happened today is tiring me out because usually I don't go to sleep until 10."

"It's okay, come one I can show you where to get more blankets if you get cold but I already put an extra one in the closet. I put your stuff in there too."

"Closet? I didn't see that."

She walked in and it was like she was seeing the room for the first time. Last time she was so focused on the view of the glass wall that she did not see that the room was 4 times bigger than her room at the school.

"Wow! I have my own bathroom?"

"Yeah, the shower has a bathtub if you like bath's instead of showers. The closet is walk in too. I was thinking maybe we can go buy some things sometime this weekend so that you don't have to pack every Thursday."

"You don't have to buy me anything Bella. That is not why I wanted you to adopt me."

"Sweetheart I know that, trust me I do. I just want to make things easier on you. I promise I won't spend money on things that you do not need or want okay? I hated shopping when I was your age and I still do so I won't force you to spend hours at the mall."

"Oh thank god! Thank you. None of the girls understand why I don't like spending hours trying stuff on."

"I get it, trust me I do."

She laughed and took out her pajamas to change into.

"Alright, I'll let you get some privacy, how does breakfast at 9 sound? Too early?"

"No that is perfect! I eat at that time everyday."

"Sounds great! Good night Kitty. You know where to find me if you need anything at all, don't hesitate to wake me up."

"Thanks Bella. Goodnight."

I sighed actually feeling tired myself. Walking into the living room I saw that only Jane and Logan remained. He looked a little tired and I almost hit myself for forgetting to show him to a guest room!

"Logan, you want me to show you which room you can sleep in?"

"Yeah, thanks."

"No problem."

As soon as I stepped out of his room he closed the door and I heard clothes softly hitting the floor. Poor guy must have been really sleepy!

I fell into a dreamless sleep, happy to have Kitty here and nervous for the testing I would do tomorrow. I couldn't help but to hope that maybe I did get to keep the healing. Logan said he woke up about 33 years ago in 1979, Logan looked 37 at most so unless he woke up as a 4 year old then how could he not have aged? Is that one of the side effects that Hank had talked about? Again I had too many questions but maybe this time I might get answers.