Happy new years everyone! Sorry for the long hiatus! I'm back and hope you like the new chapter!


Please enjoy!

Chapter Forty-Nine

Kitty Pride sat in the common room, pizza in hand, with a number of people. She and her boyfriend were sharing the smaller couch. Freddy and Toad were sitting on the recliners. Pietro, Wanda, and T.J were sitting on the larger couch, the younger girl sitting between them.

At first, she couldn't help noticing how much T.J. looked like Wanda, not with the two of them sitting next to each other. She wondered if they were related but then her eye caught sight of the watch on T.J.'s wrist and she put two and two together- remembering how Rogue has been fixing up Kurt's old image inducer.

Though her former roommate had been pretty secretive about the whole thing. Nevertheless, Kitty had noticed her 'borrow' some parts from Mr. McCoy's discard box in his lab when she was giving him a blood sample a few months ago. She didn't know why it needed to be a secret- but that's just how Rogue was sometimes. She figured she had her reasons and it's not like she was hurting anyone.

Kitty shook her head as she looked back at T.J. 'I wonder what she actually looks like,' she thought. The way Wanda and Pietro were hovering over the younger girl, how protective they were, was actually very sweet.

"So, you guys were, like, heroes today, huh?" Kitty asked with a giggle before taking a bite of her pizza.

"You bet, they were," Pietro smirked. "Wish I had been there to see the daring recuse of the brotherhood's newest member," he added.

"That's so cool," she said before she smiled up at Lance. He met her gaze with warmth and she leaned up against him slightly, their arms touching.

"So," she said turning to look at the girl, "T.J. if you like don't mind me asking, what are your power?" she asked attempting to engage the girl.

"I have a bunch of 'em," T.J. answered before she took a sip from a red plastic cup. She noticed a worried look appear on Wanda's face as she reached out to touch T.J.'s arm- as if to stop her- but Pietro shook his head at her. She watched Pietro and Wanda share a glance.

'Why is she worried?' she asked herself. She looked up at Lance, hoping for some context, but he just shrugged down at her with a half-smile. She turned back towards the three of them on the couch and saw T.J. had noticed the disagreement- pulling her head back to glance up at the two.

"Hmm, is it okay for me to tell her?" she asked.

"Why wouldn't it be?" Lance asked his tone defensively, looking at Wanda.

"I didn't say it wasn't," Wanda snapped. "Just-"

"Hey, I totally didn't mean to put anyone on the spot. I was just, like, curious. But, no pressure, okay?" she said, attempting to dissuade the tension.

"Well, I want to know too," Pietro said as he wrapped his arm around the girl's shoulders. "What can you do?" he said. T.J. looked up at Wanda, who glanced around the room before letting out a sigh.

"Yeah, it's okay, go ahead," she said.

"Are you sure?" T.J. asked before Wanda gave her a reluctant nod. "So, I have heightened senses, agility and I can see in the dark," she answered.

"Oh cool- like Kurt," Kitty exclaimed before she watched Pietro and Wanda share another look. Wanda's nervous expression intensified as Pietro gestured with his hand like he was trying to reassure her. "I can, kinda, read minds, but I don't really like to," she said.

"How come?" Lance asked.

"I don't like having other people's thoughts in my head. I mean- I try not to, but sometimes I can't it," she answered.

"Jean says it can be a lot. Especially in large groups," Kitty elaborated.

"Yeah," T.J. nodded.

"So, what powers do you like using?" Pietro asked.

"My hex bolts," she smiled.

"Hex bolts?" she repeated, looking up at Wanda.

"Yeah," she smiled as she held up her hand in front of her, and a projectile made of red light formed in her hand. "They're made of extradimensional energy that can alter probability," she answered.

The room fell silent as Wanda stared at Pietro- her eyes looked like they wanted to pop out of her head with the dirty look she was giving her brother.

"Yeah, okay, yeah, fine. I can admit when I'm wrong," Pietro said.

"Wait- like- are you guys actually related? I figured she looks like you because of the image inducer-," Kitty said. Wanda's eyes snapped to her as the lights in the room flickered.

"Who told you about that?" she asked alarmed.

"No one did," she answered fluttered- wishing she hadn't said anything.

"Then how did you know?" she asked as the lights flickered again.

"I mean-I don't know why Rogue was programming Kurt's old image inducer to look like you, Wanda, but like- whatever, right? It's a good thing she did since T.J. totally needed one. Like- talk about good timing," she giggled nervously- trying to dissolve the tension in the room. She heard Pietro let out a sigh.

"Wanda, come on. It's not a big deal. Rogue was going to tell her anyway," Pietro said, trying to calm his sister.

'Tell me what?' she asked herself as the lights continued to turn on and off at a rapid pace.

"Is that you?" T.J. asked, looking up at Wanda confused.

"Yeah," Pietro answered. "Sometimes Wanda freaks out for no reason and can't control her powers," he said- his tone sounded annoyed.

'With the way Mastermind altered her mind- there's, like, no way it's for no reason,' she thought as she bit her bottom lip- remembering how the Professor had told them all to stay out of it- guilt was creeping up on her and she didn't know what to do about it.

"I'm not doing it on purpose," Wanda exclaimed as she noticed T.J.'s widened eyes were locked on hers.

"Who's Mastermind?" T.J. asked before Pietro let out an aggravated sigh. "And what did he do to-"

"No one, don't worry about it," he said as he fixed Kitty with a dirty look. Lance looked back and forth between, her, Pietro, and T,J.

"Hey, don't be mad at her because your family is so messed up," Lance said.

"Why's it messed up? I don't understand," T.J. said confused.

"It's not. Everything's fine," Pietro said as the rapidly flickering lights indicated otherwise.

"Everything's not fine because no one's helping her," T.J. exclaimed before she threw her arms around Wanda's waist. "It's okay. You're okay," T.J. said her tone soft. "This is just one moment in a lifetime of moments and it doesn't define you. You are safe, you are loved and this feeling will pass," she said calmly- her tone sounded practiced- like she had said this before- or heard it. She watched Wanda take hold of T.J.'s shoulder, fully embracing her. "You're gonna be okay. Just breath," she said. Wanda's eyes were squeezed shut as she took a deep breath and the lights finally regulated.

"Better?" T.J. asked as she peered up at Wanda. The older girl took another second before opening her eyes. She watched her look down at T.J smiling

"Yeah, yeah, I'm better now. Thank you. I just-" she said fluttered before looking up at her brother. "You think anyone else noticed about the image inducer?" she asked, her tone hushed.

"I don't think so," he answered before his eyes darted to hers. "You can't tell anyone about T.J," he said firmly.

"I won't. Like, why would I?" she asked.

"And don't tell anyone else what your powers are, just us," he said, looking at the younger girl.

"Did I do something wrong?" T.J. asked.

"No, no, no," Wanda said quickly, squeezing her shoulders tighter. "We want to keep you safe and too much attention might not be the best idea. So, yeah- just- we know what your powers are but-," she said.

"Well- I have one more-" she interjected.

"Another one?" Lance asked.

"How many powers you got?" Toad exclaimed.

"Just one more," she exclaimed.

Pietro shrugged before he said, "well, let's hear it."

"I can possess people," she answered.

"Yo, like a puppet?" Toad asked as held his hands up and mocked pulling on strings.

"No, it's more like I jump into someone and I control them from the inside out," she explained.

"That's totally unique. No one will think twice about it," Kitty pointed out.

"Yeah, yeah, you're right," Wanda nodded. "If anyone asks, that's what your power is," she said.

"But it's kinda new. I haven't used it a lot," she said nervously.

"Well, you totally came to the right place. We train a lot," Kitty said.

"Yeah, you can practice on Toad," Pietro smirked, his head gesturing towards him which was met with a much-needed round of laughter.

"Hey, no one's taking over my body," he objected.

"Is that the kind of example you wanna set?" Lance asked, a slight smirk on his face.

"Ya gotta be a team player, buddy," Freddy teased.

"Fine, then let her jump into you," Toad countered.

"Yeah, alright," Freddy shrugged before he looked at T.J. "Hey, if you're gonna do it, just grab me a couple more slices of pizza, okay? But don't eat 'em, I wanna eat 'em," he said. Another round of laughter circled the room as Kitty looked at Wanda and T.J.

She felt the urge to tell Wanda what she could- maybe it would help her make sense of her feelings and help her control her powers- but Pietro's cold blue eyes bore into hers- he wasn't saying a word-but his meaning was clear- back off. Pietro's eyes shifted from hers to Lance's and he gestured slightly with his hand. She felt Lance's arm wrap around her shoulder as he leaned into her, close to her ear.

"Leave it alone, okay?" he asked.

"But-" she objected.

"T.J. can only use her possession power once per day," she heard Rogue say. She quickly glanced over her shoulder to see Rogue standing in the doorway. "And she already used it earlier defending herself," she pointed out as she entered the room. She watched Lance catch Rogue's eye before she gave him a nod.

"Ah- maybe tomorrow," Freddy said as she watched Rogue walk up to the couch. She leaned down, resting her arms on the back of the couch. She saw Rogue eyeing T.J with a concerned look on her face.

"You alright, sweetheart?" Rogue asked.

"Do I have too many powers?" she asked.

"No, course not. You're perfect exactly the way you are," she said with warmth in her voice. "But, bearing that in mind, if anyone asks, just tell them about the possession. Leave the rest alone for now," she instructed.

"Way ahead of you, Rogue," Pietro smirked as she watched Wanda roll her eyes.

"Wanda, are you okay?" Rogue asked concerned. "I noticed the lights were- ah- acting up," she said.

"She's fine-" Pietro said dismissively, answering for his sister. "Where's the old man?" he asked.

"Sleeping it off," Rogue answered, with a raised eyebrow. "He's gonna need ta do that a lot of that the next few weeks while he recovers," she sighed. "Kurt and Amanda?" she asked.

"Talking," Pietro answered.

"Okay, good," she said before looking back at Wanda. "Wanda, we don't have to wait till next Wednesday to have a session. I could make time this Friday, all day Sunday too. It's up to you," she said.

"Thanks," she responded. "I'll think about it," she said.

"Okay," Rogue smiled. "Guess, it's my turn then," she said before she locked eyes with her. "Can I borrow you for a few minutes?" she asked.

"Pietro said you wanted to tell me something. Is everything okay?" she asked.

"Yeah- it's not urgent but I promised Lance I would tell you, so, I'm making good on my word. Truth is, I probably should've had this conversation with you a couple of years ago. Chances are, you would've been one of the few people who would've believed me without genetic proof of my claims," she said.

"Huh?" she asked.

"Just- can I borrow ya, please?" she asked again.

"You should go talk to her," Lance added.

"Yeah, please go, right now," Pietro said dryly. One glance around the room and it was apparent whatever this was about- she was the only one who didn't know.

"Yeah, yeah, okay," Kitty said as she stood up from the couch.


Kitty sat on her bed with Rogue in the bedroom they once shared. She was leaned up against the head of the bed- resting on her pillows as Rogue sat at the edge of the bed- tense.

"Okay," she said softly, mostly to herself, as she internalized Rogue's disclosure.

She glanced up at Rogue- she looked-not scared- but- resigned. Like she was standing in front of the Professor waiting to be reprimanded for missing curfew. The way she was holding her breath, how her hands sat in her lap- completely frozen. And the number of times she apologized while explaining everything- like she'd done something wrong.

Kitty let out a long sigh as she figured out what she was going to say.

"It's no wonder you're always so grumpy, you're old enough to be my Grandma," Kitty said.

Rogue blinked a few times, no doubt-replaying her words in her mind.

"I'm sorry, what?" she asked fluttered.

"Is that just like something that happens as you get older? You get more and more grumpy?" she asked. Rogue stared at her blankly.

"Wait, from everything I've just told you, all the genocide and death, that's your takeaway? That I have an attitude problem?" she asked, confused. Kitty, unable to help herself, giggled.

"No, listen," she smiled, "when you first moved in- I thought- oh my god- this girl doesn't know how to have fun. It was so hard getting you to open up. But like- I get it now. How could you? We were trying to get to know you- when you already knew us and were like what? Worried we were all going to die? That's so much. Like, of course, you couldn't relax."

She listened to Rogue let out a sigh of relief as she brushed some hair behind her ear.

"I could've told you why. Lord knows I wanted to. You, Kurt, and Logan," she said.

"But what if we didn't believe you, right?" she asked. Rogue let herself fall back against the bed, resting her arms behind her head as her feet hung off the end of the bed.

"That was the risk in telling anyone- there was always this looming fear in the back of my mind of someone telling Charles," she said.

"Why?" she asked.

"Cause of how he'd he react. What'd he do," she said before she let out another sigh. "I know he wouldn't've believed me. He's having a hard enough time with my and my husband's relationship as is. But the rest of it? Good lord, all he would've seen was a troubled teenage girl with delusions of grandeur threatening his precious dream," she said- her tone pained.

"You really think so?" she asked.

"Kitty, I know it," she answered. "Without my husband by my side, Charles would've put me in the cell right next ta Wanda's and thrown away the key. Good riddance," she said as Kitty felt a shiver run down her spine.

"Hey- hm- about Wanda- I know the Professor said we should stay out of it. But like- is anyone ever going to tell her what Magneto did to her?" Kitty asked. Rogue sat up, looking at her as she did.

"Where'd this come from?" she asked.

"I've kinda seen more of Wanda in the past couple of days then- like- ever right?" she asked.

"Ah-huh," she responded.

"She gets upset and then her powers start-"

"I know, I've seen it too."

"I don't know- I just get this urge to tell her why. Like maybe it would help her if she knew everything. Maybe we should-"

"Kitty, I know you mean well, but no," she said firmly.

"But," she objected.

"I'm gonna help Wanda with her powers. Offer her as much guidance as she can stand. But some things are best left buried," she said- her tone firm. "Charles ain't exactly rushing to tell her either, is he?" she asked.

"No, he's not and I think that's what's bothering me," she said.

"I get it. But you're talking about opening a huge can of worms that can't be closed again. Not without causing a lot of pain. Mostly to the person I know you wanna help," she said.

"Maybe she deserves to know. And, I don't think the Professor would've locked you up. He totally could've, like, read your mind and saw you were telling the truth," she pointed out.

"Like how he believed you about Danielle?" she asked, a knowing look on her face.

Kitty blinked a couple of times-

"Oh, yeah," she said sadly. "But that was only one day. He thought I had a dream- but you're talking about, like, a whole lifetime's worth of memories. There's no way he couldn't believe you," she said.

"Kitty, I've known Charles for round-about fifty years. The things I've seen him deny," she said, as Kitty's watched Rogue's eyes glaze over. "Good lord, we were in a mutant concentration camp and he was still apologizing for the guards," she said as Kitty's eyes widened. "That they were only following orders- that they were just as much victims of the Sentient's take over as we were," she said her voice rising in volume. "Meanwhile, some of the worst of them got off on beating us half to death," she said bitterly as she stood.

"When the contraceptive they forced down our throats failed and Wanda got pregnant anyway," she ranted as she paced the length of the bedroom. "Lord, as soon as T.J. was born, those guards fucking paraded her in front of the Sentinels- the catch of the fucking day, and they made us watch as they murdered Kurt and Wanda. Like it was their fault Wanda's powers kept the contraceptive from being effective. And still- and still- Charles Xavier- and his silver fucking linings says at least they let the baby be born first," she quoted mockingly.

"The fucking audacity that man had to say that shit to my husband minutes after his daughter's murder," she said- practically screaming at this point. "To me, after I watched my brother's death, as I clung his daughter to my chest- trying ta keep her quiet- out of sight- praying they didn't change their minds and burn her to death too," she said.

Rogue stopped- as she squeezed her eyes shut- tears freely flowing down her face.

"Everyone's alive," she muttered as she turned away from her towards the window. "It's doesn't matter as long as I keep everyone alive. That's all I have ta do- It won't matter what I lived through once if I keep it from happening again. No one else has to remember any of it," she said. Kitty rushed off of the bed, threw her arms around Rogue, and hugged the trouble mutant in front of her.

"It's okay," Kitty said.

"I just have ta keep everyone alive. I just have ta keep everyone alive," she chanted softly to herself.

"You're okay-" Kitty said as she hugged her- unsure how to help.

"I'm sorry-" she said.

"Would you stop apologizing already," she exclaimed.

"What?" she asked. "But-but I lied to you. I lied to everyone," she said barely above a whisper.

"Oh my god, how dare you prevent genocide," she commented as she rolled her eyes. That got a good snort out of Rogue. Then she felt Rogue's bare hands touch her arms as she returned the hug. "You know, you're right. I am mad at you. Because, you could totally control your powers this entire time and you didn't tell me," she said.

"Kitty- I-" she said fluttered as she laughed and cried as she squeezed her tighter. "God, I love you so much," she cried. "Good lord, if everyone could take this news as you did- I would tell everyone today," she said before she turned around, facing her. "Thank you," she said. Kitty threw her arms around her again- Rogue gladly welcomed the hug this time.

"It's okay-" she said.

"Thank you," she said.


Hey everyone! Please let me know your thoughts about our first Kitty Pride POV chapter! :)

If I could go back- I would never have had Rogue be a POV chapter. Instead, I would have just kept having everyone reacting to her- since she has the most knowledge. Anyway- that's the plan going forward. I am back and eager to hear your thoughts!

Speaking of which:

Kirogue: THANK YOU! Yeah, I'm having so much fun with the flashbacks. There is so much freedom to show Rogue's evolution from the first timeline as she grew as a person and the effect that Magneto played as they got to know each other. It's a lot of fun and I'm so glad you're enjoying it. I hope you liked this chapter too.

Tfranco9: THANK YOU! I love the Savage Lands and X-Men Uncanny 274 so much! I just loved that Magneto found Rogue and was like- yup- this is a mutant who needs help- so fire up some tech and rid her of that second personally in her brain. That very thing she went to Charles' help for- he just did it cause he could with no thoughts of Rogue owing him anything for it. It's such a good foundation for their relationship and I HAD to start there in this fic!

The last part of your review- oh boy- The only thing I'll say is I love foreshadowing! More to come! It'll take time- but all the plot will be explored and I plan to tell all of it. With my own twists and turns to keep things interesting. Glad you're loving it and I hope you liked this chapter too!

AbraxasDane: THANK YOU! Yeah, I'll take Scott over Gambit any day lol! I really do love their relationship. Even in 616 when they have a conversation about being together there are no hangs up or name-calling. It was just two adults talking (The x-men legacy run was SO good) and I really wanted to capture that in this fic. I'm so glad it's coming through. I hope you like this chapter too!