-Just outside Boone Lake, Tennessee-

"This is ridiculous." Fern squirmed, restless and a bit embarrassed as she insisted, "It's fine."

Josephine rolled her eyes at her daughter's dismissive words. Her long, weathered fingers continued to sift through the kitchen's junk drawer. She was in search of Band-Aids. For not the first time, her daughter had fallen off the pier in the middle of the night. While the girl's scaled skin was tough, it was really no match for a pier full of jagged rocks. Thus the back of her right leg was covered in a series of scratches. None of them were terribly deep, thankfully, but her mother knew they stung none the less.

"That's what ya get for trying to sneak off." Josie told her with a hint of condescension.

Fern looked indignant. She was sitting on the counter again. Her weight rested on the balls of her feet while her toes clung to the marble edge. One of her elbow rested on her knee and she had her cheek resting against the fist from the same arm. Pouting, she looked away from the older woman. "I was not sneaking off."

Watching as the colors rippled on the young woman's face, her mother was quick to quip, "A guilty dog barks the loudest, sugar."

"I was just gonna go for a swim. Clear my head." Fern huffed with a hint of frustration as she bounced on her toes. "I mean, it's not like I'll have the chance to do it again… seeing how you're shipping me off to some government warehouse!"

"It is not a government warehouse… at least I don't think it is," Josie added as an afterthought. The woman shrugged passively. She had grown used to her daughter's paranoia with the outside world and although she didn't like it, she certainly understood it. "Don't get ahead of yourself just yet, kid, you ain't been accepted yet."

Inhuman blue eyes seemed to narrow on her as Josie turned around with a hand full of bandages. Features grim, Fern warned her, "And I won't be."

Josephine cocked a brow. "And why not?"

"Look at me, ma. You think they want to hire… someone like me?" The young mutant scoffed and shook her head. She bit her lip and hopped off the counter. Her injured leg ached, but Fern ignored the throb of heat up her calf. Rubbing the back of her neck, she continued in a low voice, "For any kind of normal job anyway."

"What?" The elderly woman raked her gaze up and down the girl's willowy frame. "What's wrong with ya?"

Fern shrugged with a weak smirk on her lips. Her features faded to reflect her mood, turning a gloomy shade of stone grey. With a hint of bitter amusement, she muttered, "Everything."

"Now, Fern Ailey, I won't have any of that nonsense." Josephine grabbed her daughter's chin and tried to force her to look up at her. The girl didn't budge. With a sigh, the woman brushed a few of the wet strands of black hair from Fern's grey skin. As her hands fell to the mutant's bare shoulders, her mother continued firmly, "You have just as much a right to get any job you want."

Fern kept her face stubbornly down. The membrane over her eyes flickered as she let out a doubtful hum.

"If they know Casten, they know about your condition," The blonde reminded her with a smug smile.

Blinking, Fern glanced up at that thought. She hadn't considered that. Only that they knew she was a freak- not that, perhaps, they wouldn't mind. A small smirk appeared in the corner of her scale free lips, but she said nothing. Her mother considered it a victory.

With calloused fingers and a gentle touch, Josie tucked a strand of her daughter's wet hair behind her ear. Her thumb lingered on her cheek a moment, stroking the scaled skin with a tenderness that Fern was still adjusting to after ten years. "Why don't you go out for a swim? You might be healed up by the time it's over."

The girl nodded, kissed her mother on the cheek and ventured out the back door. Bruno followed after, keeping quiet in the dark. The only sound in the air was the heavy thumps of his paws hitting the ground.

The air was cold that morning when Charles pulled into a diner just inside Gillham. After the eight hour drive, the mutants needed a break. Raven groaned as she pulled herself from the backseat, and Erik let out a similar grunt as he stretched his long legs out. The Aileys were the first of several mutants they intended on meeting. Angel had been the first mutant located and brought to the CIA by convenience- she had been the closest to them, dancing in a club in Langley. The men planned on working their way from Tennessee back to Virginia over the course of the day, picking up mutants along the way.

"How much further?" The young woman groaned as they entered the run down establishment. The walls were painted a pale blue with campy décor along them. The music playing in the background was a record by Elvis Presley that was skipping obnoxiously.

In- In- In Disguise!

"Thirty minutes at the most," Charles told her with a smile. "It's kind of exciting, isn't it? Another…" He dropped his voice as his gaze flickered around the empty restaurant, "Another mutant? And several more between here and Virginia?"

"Are you sure I can't come?" Raven asked with a frown. "What if you need me?"

The professor clapped her on the shoulder and shook it affectionately. "I'm sure we'll be fine. Besides, if what I've seen of her relationship with Casten is accurate, she may need some help adjusting to the group. Especially Hank."

"Assuming they agree to come at all, of course," Erik added. When Charles frowned at his cynicism, he perked his brows up innocently. "What?"

The trio quieted as a waitress came out from the back. She was in her early forties with dark brown hair, a bit on the heavy side and quite frankly rather surprised to see them. They weren't any of the locals she knew. Tourists were rare this time of season… A feeling of dread crept up her spine at the sight of them. They didn't look like tourists. All three of them were too finely dressed to be visiting such a small town. Both of the men were nicely dressed, with the short in a mismatched three piece suit and the taller sporting a brown leather jacket and slacks. The young woman was in a black trench style jacket that hit her mid-thigh and flashed black nylons under a finely pressed skirt. The waitress forced a smile and made her way over to them.

"Howdy. You folks need a table?" She swallowed, looking between them. "Maybe I get'cha a coffee to start you off with?"

Erik attempted to smile disarmingly at her. "Actually, we're just looking for directions."

The woman nodded. A sense of relief flooded her at the idea of them leaving. "Oh?"

"Yes. We're looking for the Aileys' residence?" Charles asked her. "I believe they live in town?"

The waitress's features grew tense. She crossed her arms over her bountiful bust and narrowed her eyes at them with suspicion. "What'd ya want the Aileys' for?"

Charles and Erik shared a look. Raven took this as a cue to move forward. With a cautious, and what she hoped was disarming, smile, she explained, "We're here to see Josephine's daughter, Fern."

"Look, whatever you heard is wrong." The woman glared at the girl in front of her. A hint of fear glazed her brown eyes, but her voice stayed strong and angry. "Now Fern might be a little… different, but she ain't never hurt nobody."

"We never said she did." Erik tilted his head, eying her with a morbid sense of curiosity. "Why? Did someone say she had?"

The waitress bristled. "Nobody said nothin'. What'dya want with her?"

Charles stepped forward. A hand came to his friend's chest as he grinned at the woman. "We'd like to offer her a place at our institution. We're looking for people with certain…gifts, to help further our research."

The woman's features remained wary, although a bit of curiosity crept into her tone as she asked, "Why'd you want to do somethin' like that?"

Raven shifted. Her once tan skin shifted to a dark blue, ebbed with even darker navy scales. Her blonde hair turned to red and her blue eyes to a shocking electric yellow. "Because she's like us." She told the waitress, who was now gaping in wonder at her.

Slowly, a smile crossed the woman's face. "Oh thank god." A hand rose to clasp the small gold cross that hung on a thin chain around her neck. "I thought maybe… never mind. I'll go get you a map."

Erik watched with high brows as the plump woman retreated. "Well. That was… not the reaction I was expecting."

Raven smiled, transforming into the blonde she once was. Chipper and completely thrilled, she bounced slightly on her toes. "Me either."

"You really need to learn to give people the benefit of the doubt, Erik." Charles smirked as the waitress returned carrying a map.

In the boondocks of Lake Boone, Fern was still swimming, while Josephine watched from the docks. The woman was growing concerned for her daughter. Fern hadn't said much to her since the previous night's exchange. Just came in for lunch, ate her grilled cheese in silence and went right back to the water.

With a sigh, Josie kicked the frigid water with a sneakered foot. Bruno sniffed, but didn't move from his spot next to her. His big brown eyes followed her daughter as she swam past the dock, only a few feet away from them.

"Fern?"

The girl paused, but didn't look at her.

"Are you gonna tell me what's wrong or you gonna keep ignoring me?"

For a moment, the brunette said nothing. She kept her back turned to the elderly woman. Finally, Fern answered in a surprisingly hard voice, "You promised you wouldn't abandon me."

"I'm not," Josephine shot back with calm features. She'd learned long ago to mask her surprise at the things her child said. Fern's distrust of her even after all the years together stung, but she hid it well. "I just want you to be happy, baby."

"I am happy!" The mutant snapped over her shoulder. Her teeth were a shocking white against her dark grey lips. She pursed her them tightly and dipped down into the water, until only the bright irises of her eyes were visible. Turning, she locked them on her mother's feet as the cool lake water filled her nostrils, the burn familiar and comforting to her as she held her breath.

"You need to learn to be with people, Fern. It's not healthy for you to spend all your time with me."

Fern's eyes landed on her face. The thin membrane flicked across them, but Josie knew it had nothing to do with the water. Those flicks were the closest her daughter would come to crying.

She poked her head out of the lake. Hesitant, the mutant asked, "What if I can't, ma?"

"You have to learn to give people a chance."

"What if they treat me different? What if they think I'm a freak? What if they wanna experiment on me?" Fern sunk back down. The lake water filled her nostrils and once again the only part of her that was visible was her large blue eyes and the top of her head.

Josephine shrugged and ran a hand through her fluffed blonde hair. "Then fuck 'em. You were fine before 'em, you'll be fine after. And as for the experimentation thing… they'd have to go through me first."

An unseen smile pulled at the girl's lips. Bruno's nose twitched and he stood, sniffing the air.

"And you need to start spending time on land!" Her mother chided her, knowing she had won. "Fish'll start thinkin' you're one of 'em!"

Slowly the young woman swam up to the dock. She raised her head and flipped her dark hair from her face. Most of the black strands still clung to her scales, which glimmered in the bright sunlight iridescently. Squinting skeptically, Fern asked, "Promise?"

"If you don't like it, just come home. Plain and simple, baby." Josie reached out and pushed some of Fern's short, dark hair from her cheeks and eyes. Too busy with their quiet conversation, the women didn't notice the mutants on top of the hill until one of them ventured down.

"Um, excuse me? You wouldn't happen to be Mrs. Josephine Ailey would you?"

At the sound Charles Xavier's accent, Fern disappeared back into the water. Josie didn't notice, but Charles did, and his friendly smile dwindled slightly at the girl's frightened, panicked thoughts.

"Maybe." The woman stood from the docks. Her hand went to her dog's collar as he began to growl at the stranger. The other went into the back pocket of her jeans as she asked, "Who's askin'?"

His blue eyes fell to the dog a moment with concern. Clearing his throat, he offered his hand. When the dog's growls grew louder, he sheepishly dropped it. "Charles Xavier, we spoke on the phone?"

Josie smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling with warmth as she nodded. "Right." She looked down at the large animal. Tapping a finger on his snout, she scolded, "Quit it, B."

He whined and dropped down heavily on the docks.

Her attention returned to the young man. Little more than a boy in her eyes, but well dressed and seemingly well kept. He was a few inches shorter than her, with bright blue eyes and pale features.

"Well, Chuck, my daughter seems to have disappeared on us, so, how 'bout I make you…" She glanced behind him, one of her pale brows arching before she continued, "and your friends some tea. You limeys still like tea, right?"

"That would be lovely, thank you." He inclined his head with a gracious smile. His eyes flickered out to the open, still water. "Isn't it a bit chilly for her to be out there?"

"Nah, Fern's pretty adaptable when it comes to the weather." Josephine smirked with pride. "I've seen her drills holes in the ice to get out there."

The man's eyes widened with fascination. "Really? And she's never been sick?"

"Not once in the ten years I've known 'er."

He grinned at her. "Amazing. That would not only indicate a healing factor, but-"

"Don't talk shop with me, boy, I ain't too keen on listenin'." When she noticed the crestfallen look on his face, the elderly matron explained, "Science ain't really my bag, sugar."

"Oh. Well..." He rubbed the back of his neck, still able to hear the younger mutant's worried thoughts. "It's amazing she can do that."

"Yes it is," The woman agreed with a proud smile. Clapping a hand on his shoulder, she turned him toward the farm house on top of the hill. "Come on. You can fill me in while my daughter panics."

Charles smiled weakly. "I do hope she'll agree."

"I'm sure she will." Her blue eyes fell to the dog. Voice hard, she ordered, "Bruno. Guard."

The dog sat up to attention and began watching the water intently. The man cocked a brow, and Josie explained with a shrug, "Little girl, big lake. Figured the dog ought'a be a rescue one."

"Ah."

A wicked grin crossed the woman's weathered features. "Probably should'a warned ya, he don't like men much."

Charles smiled. "Perfectly understandable. How long has Fern been in your care, exactly, Mrs. Ailey?"

"Ten years. Eleven in December- and call me Josie." She ushered him back up the large hill where his companions waited for them at the top. She looked between them and nodded. "I'm Josie Ailey."

"Raven Darkholme." The younger woman offered her hand.

It was shook by a hand with strong, calloused fingers. "Nice to meet'cha. How 'bout you, young fellah? Got a name?"

Erik clasped her hand with a smirk. "Erik Lehnsherr."

"A Jew, huh?"

His light eyes narrowed defensively. "That's right."

"Well, shalom than, tiger. Easy now." She held her other hand up in a complacent gesture. "Didn't mean no offense."

"Hm." He pursed his lips as he regarded her.

She was somewhere in her late sixties and although the age showed in her face, she didn't look hard or inimical, as some women her age did.

Erik straightened up a touch when he realized she was studying him in a similar manner. "I'm sure you know why we're here, Mrs. Ailey."

"Josie. And yeah, I do, and frankly I got a couple questions." Her light eyes drifted to each of theirs, holding their gaze each a moment. "If that's okay with you folks."

A glint in the water drew Raven's attention away from them. Looking around the woman, she asked, "Is that your daughter?"

"It is." Josie nodded with a hint of suspicion. She hadn't expected the visitors, although if Casten trusted them she saw no reason not to.

The younger blonde turned to look the woman in the eye. "Do you mind if I speak to her? Privately, I mean?"

Josie swept her eyes up and down the young girl's form; she was a pretty little thing, with straw blonde hair and cherub like features. With a smirk and an indulgent nod, Josie told her, "Suppose it'd be fine. Bruno shouldn't give ya any trouble, so don't be shy."

Fern swam a few feet under the lake's surface. There was little sound down here, little to see besides seaweed and the odd sunfish, but it was home. The water was free of pollution and a hazy green to the girl's eyes. She wasn't sure how long she'd been down there, but judging by the slow burn in her throat, it was time to come up.

Her head had barely poked the water's calm surface when a feminine voice startled her.

"Hi."

She spun around in surprise, baring her teeth at the stranger. Raven stared at the girl. She had never seen a mutation like Fern's before. Her skin shifted and changed right before Raven's very eyes. It was so much…it wasn't like looking in a mirror, not quite, but, it was the closest Raven had come to seeing someone like her.

Fern glared at her. "What?" She snapped, baring sharp white teeth. "Never seen a freak before?"

"You're…" The young woman beamed, catching the girl off guard, "You just…" Her pale skin shifted to blue. "You're just like me."

Fern gaped up at her for a few seconds before quickly approaching the dock. She hopped on to it with an easy, well-practiced grace, and stood face to face with the only other person she had ever met with a physical mutation. The membrane flicked rapidly over her eyes as she stared at her. Swallowing, the grey skinned girl opened and closed her mouth a few times, but was completely stunned into silence.

"I'm Raven." The redhead offered her a blue hand.

"Fern." The taller replied breathlessly as she took it. "I- I've never..."

They shook hands before stepping back to simply regard one another.

In the bright sunlight, Fern's skin shimmered- stealing colors from the lake and the dock, and even mirroring some of Raven's own blue back at her. Most of her scales seemed to twist, alternating between light ash colors and an iron grey. It even caught some of the white of her bathing suit; although it wasn't as obvious. It was the darker of the scales that were reflective, catching the light and shining Raven's skin color back at her in a glimmer not unlike the way the sun reflected off the lake's surface.

Raven shook her head. "I've never met anyone with a mutation as extensive as mine either. It's…"

"Reassuring?" Fern offered her with a weak smirk, her eyes never leaving the scaled patterns along the other woman's cheeks.

Where her own scales intersected to completely cover her without overlap, Raven's skin seemed to be normal human skin(albeit blue). Scales that seemed to have an intricate design to them littered the smooth skin, carefully placed and Fern vaguely wondered their purpose. She supposed they were how Raven had been able to disguise herself- how she had been able to look so utterly normal.

The taller girl tilted her head, but her gaze continued to drift over Raven's face and neck. "Are you with Xavier?"

"Yes. We work with the CIA, or at least, we have been lately..." Raven blinked and shook her head as she continued with a flushed smile, "I mean, it's a place for mutants to come. Meet one another. Maybe even hone their abilities a bit."

Fern pursed her lips. "Any like us?"

"Not really, no." Raven admitted. "But they're still different like us. Freaks."

The other girl swallowed, the grey skin on her face darkening subtly. After a few seconds, she nodded. Reluctantly at first, but growing confident with each movement. "Okay. Let's go."

"Really?"

"Really. Let's go."

A/N: I'd love to hear what you guys think!