May 21, 2006: Welcome back, True Believers! ;)

Please read the first post for the huge Author's Note, explaining most things that might matter to this story, lol! ;)

I will repeat that I have taken a few liberties with the Marvel Universe - not unlike Marvel ;) - but that it should still be recognizable. I do not own these characters and make no monies from writing about them. This is just for fun, folks. :)

I will also point out that this has not been Betaed so any errors are my own darned fault.

Enjoy!

Smashing Through the Looking Glass

Chapter Four: Part One

What's Your Secret?

August 5, 2004, 7:45 PM

The magician is just revealing the scarves she's changed into a pair of doves when we come around the corner.

Dr. McCoy and Sam are standing at the back of the group, applauding with the students as they watch the act, which everyone seems to be genuinely enjoying. The Professor wouldn't hire a bad magician after all, would he? They're all facing away from us, but if you live at Xavier's, you're always on the alert. Sam spots us first. He's doing a casual surveillance of the grounds - I recognize it from the time when 'lights out' affected me and he was on floor patrol - and his eyes widen when he sees what we're carrying. Guess he wasn't in the loop about that. He says something that gets the attention of the good doctor, who turns his head and grins.

"Down." We all stop as Peter - Colossus - clears the rise and finds sufficiently flat lawn on which to safely place the scrambler. The metal sinks into the ground a bit.

"Good?"

"Perfect. Thank you, Peter."

"My pleasure." Luckily, he transforms before anyone can notice he's reflecting the sun.

"Well done, everyone." The Professor manipulates his chair backwards so he can take in the location. Jubilee grabs the back of Bobby's t-shirt - which does urge you to 'Just do it.' - and wipes her hands clean.

"Hey!"

"Chill, a'right? It's black. No one will care."

"Use your own next time."

Jubilee looks down at her bright yellow, designer shirt and arches an eyebrow. "You've gotta be kidding me."

"Let's go see the magician, sugah." Bobby has no time to object as Rogue grabs his hand and drags him over to join the fun. I lose track of the others who are with us as my mind inexplicably focuses on only one objective: eat more food.

"Ready for dessert, babe?" Jubilee asks as we head for the patio and the buffet tables.

"Now you're kidding me," I say, glad my jeans are forgiving as I wipe my hands on my butt. Figures the bottom part of the scrambler was a bit dusty. Not like housekeeping goes below basement level. At least the warm breeze has picked up and we should have great weather for a bonfire later. I can taste the s'mores now. "I'm starving. I want more Caesar salad and couscous."

"Don't know if they've still got them out."

"They'd better," I grumble. "Or it's clobberin' time."

"Have you been watching wrestling again?"

"Nah. The Thing was a guest judge on 'Iron Chef Europe' two nights ago."

"Ah."

The four ladies who are caterering the event graciously retrieve the salads I want from their spots inside a series of coolers. I challenge the capacity of Chinet plates once again, filling one with Caesar, one with couscous and one with potato and egg salad. I could eat it all and still want more. I say as much as we move towards the beverage table, Jubilee quite happy with the two chocolate éclairs she's scored.

"And die smiling, I suppose?"

"Why not?"

I select two Lime Cokes this time, for variety. I'm vaguely aware of two things: the magician is wrapping up her show and Jubilee is staring at me. I sigh and face her.

"What?"

"You're okay, right? I mean, I don't know the details of what happened or anything, and I don't need to know - not that I'm not curious - but you're gonna be alright, right?"

I smile. "I'm gonna be okay, Jubes," I say quietly. "Thanks."

"Hey," she says, grabbing a Pepsi and trying not to appear too sentimental, "that's what friends are for, right?"

"Right." We head towards one of the tables by the pool, as it's fairly close and we're fairly at capacity. Jubilee has my third plate but the two in my right hand are threatening to snap my wrist. We make it safely to the table and I promptly sit and start stuffing my face. I pause when I realize Jubilee hasn't touched her dessert.

"What?" I try to say, but my mouth is so full it comes out as, "Wumnph?"

"You're not -" She glances around then returns to me, looking concerned. The Professor is thanking the Amazing Veronica and Jubilee uses the applause to cover her next words. "You're not pregnant, are you, Kitty?"

I make a startled noise, glad Caesar dressing doesn't come out my nose. I shake my head vigorously. I can understand why she came to that conclusion, though. I've been distracted today, several teachers and the Professor have had a word with me this evening, and then I pass out in the study. Now I can't seem to eat enough. I focus on swallowing and finally vocalize my headshake.

"No," I say firmly. "Absolutely not."

"You're sure? Hey," she says, holding up a hand in her defense at my frown, "it isn't that I don't believe you. I'm your friend, remember? We covered that back at the pop bin? I just wanna be certain you've got all your bases covered, ya know?"

"I appreciate that," I say, "but I'm not pregnant." I stab a crouton and swish it around in some of the dressing. Oooey goooey goodness. "You know I'm still a virgin, Jubes," I whisper.

"Just thought I'd check," she whispers back, finally picking up one of her éclairs. "In case somethin' happened and I missed it."

"You're not likely to miss it." I crunch on my crouton: paradise.

Jack, Russell and Roberto have gravitated to our table: triple paradise.

"Did you know," I say, gesturing with my fork, "that your two names make up one cute terrier?"

"Yeah," Jack begins, sitting in one of the patio chairs.

"We know," Russell finishes, and leans his hip on the table.

"Angie pointed it out on the plane," Roberto adds and sits in the remaining chair at our table. He grins. "It made for great waves of laughter when we explained it to our neighbours."

"And the flight attendants," Jack grumbles.

"It was fuckin' embarrassing."

"You said it."

"Fuckin' right."

Jubilee makes a sound like air suddenly leaving a beach ball.

So, Russell has a potty mouth. Better warn him now.

"Um, just so you know, words like that can't be used around the school, 'cause of the younger kids, you know?"

"Oh, I see," he says, exaggerating the delivery. Every part of his body language is serious, but his eyes send another message. "I'll try not to use the word 'embarrassing' again." He wiggles his eyebrows. Jack smacks him on the arm.

"You know what they're talking about, Russ." He looks around. The younger kids, who have had 'lights out' extended this evening, are now confirming with the Professor that they can go swimming.

"Only if you haven't had dessert," he says, and there's a mad rush for the pool. Pietro manages not to use his ability to speed passed the others as he races with several students for first use of the diving board. I'm proud of him. Once you realize you have the power to do something, a power most people don't have, it's hard not to use it - especially when you're thirteen and competitive with your twin sister. Iz Kawena, a boy from Hawaii, reaches the board first.

"Kowabunga, dude!" he cries, and does a cannonball jump.

Amazing how far water can travel when properly encouraged.

Jubilee shrieks. Russell sits very still and blinks as he drips, holding his now overflowing drink, his spiky hair flattened. Jack's eyes have disappeared behind his own soaked dark hair. Roberto has pushed back his chair and is standing, eyeing the diving board. Exclamations similar to Jubilee's can be heard around the pool, along with a few extensive, sputtering admonishments from Dr. McCoy, who is thoroughly drenched. If he wasn't using his holographic device, I'd see the blue fur, wet dog look. The image is too much and I succumb to the inevitable.

I laugh so hard I think I'm going to die. I fall out of my chair. Iz can't hear any of this, of course, 'cause he's still underwater. He could stay there forever because of his mutant ability, as far as I know, but with Mundanes about, he knows he can't. Besides, he's told me chlorine gives him an unpleasant buzz.

"It's not that funny, babe."

I look up at her and nearly choke. It is that funny, I say - in my mind. I'm laughing so hard, it hurts. "It's-it's only water!" I manage. "You-you look like-like a -"

"Don't go there, girl friend." She's frowning, so I don't go there at all. I roll onto my back and let the rest of the laughter work its way out. I'm not the only one in stitches, I realize, as there's general amusement all around. I roll my head from side to side, taking in the mayhem, and note that Amara isn't laughing. Her expression seems to be one of disdain, as if letting kids play isn't acceptable behaviour, not dignified somehow. She didn't get splashed so what's her problem? Interesting.

I'm soaked, but I don't care. I could lie on the patio stones for hours in the sun. I close my eyes. Nice. Still hungry, though, so I'll have to move in a minute.

A shadow settles over me. I open my eyes in time to register Dr. McCoy's wicked grin, then I'm in the air and in the pool, glugging as I go under. That's what I get for laughing at one of the teachers. Before I break the surface, I see Iz's smiling face and point up, indicating he should make an appearance. He nods. He hasn't changed shape - which is wise, as even a baby orca whale would be noticed in an Olympic-sized pool - but his gills must be active. I can't see them from this angle. I hear a whoosh, followed by several others as bodies leap into the water. Through the rush of bubbles, I can tell not all of them are wearing bathing suits. One of them is Roberto, who obviously decided to try out the diving board himself and forego the use of swimwear. As for the others…

Well, I hope Russell's boots don't suffer from this experience.

Iz and I surface together and share a grin.

"Good cannonball," I say.

"Thanks," he replies and we do a high-five, which can be tricky when you're not standing on anything.

"Now how about a dive?" I challenge, going into swim instructor mode.

"You know I can dive."

"Then please, be an inspiration to all of us, and dive next time you get on the board."

He rolls his eyes and strikes out for the edge of the pool. "Oh-kay."

I was never that young - was I?

And just when did I become 'old'?

Russell sputters beside me, spitting out a stream of water like a cherub from a fountain.

"Hope your luggage didn't get lost at the airport."

He blinks at me, then rubs his eyes. The chlorine must sting. "Nope, though waiting for it took for fu- a very long time."

I smile my thanks at his avoidance of expletives and do the front crawl until I reach the stairs at the shallow end, where I gracefully emerge, as if it had been my intention to be thrown in the pool all along.

I will seek my revenge on the good doctor later.

I suddenly realize that in all the excitement resulting from Iz's enthusiastic display, no one's noticed the scrambler. Amazing. I pull the elastic out of my hair with one hand and point with the other saying loudly, "Hey! We brought up the jungle gym!"

It gets sufficient attention that people 'ooo' and 'ahhh' and some move towards it. Beside me, a voice states reverently, "That's no jungle gym; that's a space station." So Russell likes 'Star Wars'. Cool.

"It's a giant, bloody erector set, is what it is, mate," Jack says. I note his 'I'm not here' t-shirt is now almost transparent, proving that he certainly is here. Nice view.

"I gotta change, babe." Jubilee's hairdo is ruined but she runs her fingers through it anyway. "Gonna get into my suit."

"Are you gonna swim this time or just lounge about like a lizard?"

We move toward the table, where I inspect my food. It got hit by some water but looks yummy anyway. I scrape what's left onto one plate and stick the empty plates underneath for support. Cramming the cold pop cans partially into a jean pocket on each hip, I grab my fork and resume eating as we head for the patio.

"I haven't decided yet," she replies and wrinkles her nose. "How can you eat that stuff? Doesn't it taste like pool chemicals?"

I'm watching the activity on the scrambler. Keisha has started to climb at one corner and Angie has started at the opposite end. Peter is there, talking to Rahne, Xi'an and some of the younger kids who haven't seen the scrambler before. Not everyone gets to play on it as it was truly intended. It builds dexterity and co-ordination and provides excellent practice for honing your skills.

And for learning to avoid mutant haters. Climbing has come in handy for me on more than one occasion. I think rescuing one of the Morlock children - a distinctively non-normal looking boy - from an angry group with baseball bats will always be in the lead, as far as saluting my training on the scrambler is concerned. Couldn't phase 'cause the little guy cancelled my powers: an interesting mutant ability. Drain pipes, roof tops and balconies were negotiated in the dark while he clung to my back, terrified. That was almost a year ago, when the poor kid had tried to reach Xavier's by himself and made the mistake of getting too close to a busy area. Good thing I was in town to pick up that Lila Chaney cd and followed the yelling - but that's another story.

"It tastes fine," I say between bites, then whisper, "We're being followed."

Jubilee glances over her shoulder. "So we are."

"Just going to get into some swim clothes, ducks," Jack says, having obviously heard us. He's wringing out his t-shirt. The rest of us do the same before entering the kitchen.

"See you later." Russell waves as they go up the back stairs. Jubilee and I shiver in the air conditioning and hurry up the main stairs to our rooms. She's sharing with Dani right now, but I actually don't have a roommate even though I do have two single beds. I shared with Wanda for a while - that was a trip - but when Alison joined us, she and Wanda became fast friends and wanted to be roomies. What a pair. Alison is young for twelve and Wanda is thirteen going on twenty-five. I didn't mind being abandoned. I think if I had to listen to any more Celtic-inspired music about death or stare at posters of Goth girls that look like Wanda, I would've asked if the storage room was free. An influx of students has changed my solitary life, of course, but I don't know the identity of the person I'll be sharing with yet. With my luck, it'll be Amara. Don't know why I say that. After all, I don't even know her. Maybe she just needs a friend.

I close my door and lock it, tossing the empty plates and fork in my garbage can. That was yummy. It isn't hot up here now, and it's blessedly quiet. I place the Lime Cokes in my cooler and pull my t-shirt over my head. My wet jeans require a bit more effort and I struggle to remain upright while I wrestle them off. I drape them over the back of my office chair, knowing they'll take forever to dry that way. Maybe I'll visit the laundry room later tonight. The underwear and bra go into my laundry basket. Nice thing about being in the middle of nowhere: no one can look in your windows. I stand naked but for the One Ring around my neck, debating between a one piece or a bikini.

Kitty?

I know he's not here, but I instinctively cross my arms over my breasts anyway.

Yes, Professor?

I apologize if I've startled you. I just wanted to see how you were faring.

I choose the bikini. It's a dark blue, my favourite colour. I hardly ever wear it but I'm feeling bold today.

I'm okay, thanks, Professor.

Unfortunately, we do need to continue our earlier meeting, and discuss a few other issues that have come to my attention. He must've sensed my disappointment. But not tonight, Kitty. My study, tomorrow after breakfast, if that's convenient?

Of course, Professor.

See you back at the pool, then.

Yeah, see ya.

The bikini has a proper butt, unlike some folks who do the 'thong thing', and there's more material than token Band-Aids up top, but I still usually wear the one piece, and seeing so much of my skin is a bit weird. I look in my dresser mirror and see a young woman who is healthy and fit, completely decent and has nothing to be ashamed of - and a ghost image of Dr. Grey, staring back at her. She looks… pensive.

Professor Xavier and the amazing computer, Cerebro, have located enough 'traces' of her mutant DNA - unique in every last one of us - to believe that she's still out there, somewhere, whilst 'channeling' periodically through me, of all people.

She's slumming.

No wonder she looks pensive.