Illyana was preparing to go out with Bo to buy clothes for the child.
"You sure it's a good idea to take her out?" Dani asked. "What if she has an accident and zaps someone in the street?"
"That won't be a problem," Illyana assured her. "I know a spell that can turn her powers off temporarily."
All of the others immediate turned to her. While they were more comfortable with themselves now, during their time under Emma Frost's care they had all hated the fact that they were mutants and would have jumped at the chance to be rid of their powers.
"Wait a second," Sam said, "that whole time we were in that facility, you could have taken our powers away?"
"Kind of," Illyana admitted.
"Then why didn't you?"
"One, I didn't want to show Frost what I could do, and two, it's not a real solution," Illyana explained. "This is just for going to the store and back."
Rahne looked concerned. "Do you intent to teach her that spell?"
"Of course not," Illyana said. She looked disgusted at the very suggestion. "I don't want to teach anyone magic."
Roberto chuckled. "With us for role models, the kid'll do just fine."
"Yeah. You guys are great role models," Illyana said sarcastically.
"Oh?" Dani asked. "What did we do?"
Illyana looked at Bo to make sure the child was far enough away couldn't hear what she was about to say. Sure enough, the heavy use of English in the conversation has caused Bo to tune it out and walk away, and Illyana turned back to the others a slightly mischievous expression.
"Before I met you guys," Illyana said in a voice which was little more than a whisper, "I had never heard the word S-H-I-T." She spelled out the word instead of saying it in case Bo was listening.
"I started saying it because you all kept saying it all the time, but I didn't find out what it meant until after we had already left the facility. Now I'm even more confused because I don't understand how excrement can be holy."
They all shared a laugh.
"I'm sorry we've corrupted your innocent little mind," Dani said.
"Innocent?" Illyana asked. "It's been years since anyone called me that."
"Well, you won't be after we've given you a full education in four-letter words," Dani said, ignoring the scowl her comment earned her from Rahne.
Illyana called Bo over and the two of them left the apartment. Dani turned to the others.
"We don't have much time," she said. "They'll be taking public transportation on the way since Illyana's never been to those stores before, but on the way back they'll be teleporting for sure."
Emmanuel Da Costa grunted as he lifted the large dumbbell. Though he was no longer in his prime, he liked to keep both his mind and body in tip-top shape.
After he set the weight down, his personal trainer moved him over to the treadmill, where he spent several long minutes running in place and working up a good sweat.
The elder Da Costa was the kind of man books were written about. Having escaped slavery as a child, he had risen through the business world to become the wealthiest man in all of Brazil by the time he was 30. Politicians sought his advice on economic policy, foreigners looking to invest in Brazil met with him first, and market watchers followed his every move closely.
With his morning exercises done, Emmanuel quickly showered and changed into his business suit. A man of his stature must always look presentable.
His wife, Nina, was waiting for him in the hall.
"Is something wrong?" he asked.
"Roberto's been taking out a lot of money recently," she said.
Unlike Emmanuel, Nina had been born into wealth, though her parents' fortune could not compare to what her husband had amassed. In her youth she had been called the most beautiful woman in Brazil, if not all of Latin America. Her parents had not approved of her courtship with the then-upstart businessman because of his African descent, but she was drawn to his passion, dedication, and intelligence. She saw that this was a man who would change the world.
"He's spending for five people. All things considered I think he's showing admirable restraint for a boy his age," he responded. "Though I am a little concerned over this million dollars he apparently promised one of his friends."
Nina gave a nostalgic smile. "He always did have a generous heart."
"I think he's also trying to impress a girl," Emmanuel said.
"Oh? He told you he's seeing someone?"
"Not exactly, but I can tell from the tone of his messages."
Nina sighed. "Well, I'm happy to hear he's able to move on so quickly."
There was a buzzing noise from the inside pocket of Emmanuel's suit. He took out his phone and looked at the caller ID.
"I've got to take this," he told his wife. "Business."
He entered his personal study and shut the door behind him. He sat down at his desk and raised his phone to his ear.
"What do you want?" he asked in a serious tone.
"It's all arranged," he said. "You remember your promise, don't you?"
"Yes, I'm grateful for your help in covering what happened up, but I've already paid that debt back. The only thing that concerns me is what is best for my family."
Emmanuel hung up the phone and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin in thought.
As Dani predicted, once they were done shopping, Illyana and Bo teleported straight into the living room instead of taking the long way back.
"Surprise!"
Illyana gaped at the way the apartment had been transformed. While she and Bo were out, the others had put up party decorations throughout the apartment and all but Rahne were wearing party hats.
"What's this?" she asked.
"It's your birthday," Dani said.
Illyana's eyebrows went up in surprise. "It is?"
Roberto came over. He handed a balloon to Bo and put another party hat on Illyana's head.
They had a piñata set up and made a blindfolded and still confused Illyana hit it with a stick to make candy fall out. To their surprise, she was not disorientated in the slightest when they made her turn around several times after being blindfolded and was aware enough of her surroundings to hit the piñata in her first try.
Soon afterwards a deliveryman man came with the pizza and birthday cake they ordered. Roberto set the cake on the kitchen table and tried to get Lockheed to light the candles with his fire breath, but the little dragon was more interested in eating and leapt onto the cake instead. An explosion of white icing sprayed over the teens.
They all laughed, even Illyana and Rahne.
Roberto wiped his face and licked his fingers. "Guess we've got to order another cake. Good thing I'm made of money."
Illyana tried to wipe the icing out of her bangs and shook her head at the dragon, who was greedily consuming what was left of the cake. "I think Lockheed has a new favorite food. He'd probably do the same to the next one."
"How about cupcakes instead?" Sam suggested. "One for everyone and he won't be able to destroy them all."
"Cupcakes it is," Roberto said as he took out his phone.
Dani also took out her phone, though instead of calling the bakery she began to take pictures of how everyone looked covered in the icing.
Lockheed cooed and fluttered onto Illyana's shoulder. "Uh uh," she told the dragon. "You're not getting more icing on me." He leapt off of her and went to Bo instead, who giggled as he licked some icing from her cheek.
Dani took one last picture of Rahne and put her phone away. "Guess even birthday parties are more complicated with Illyana around, huh?"
Rahne frowned as she wiped a bit of icing off her nose. "Everything's more complicated with her."
Piotr's room was dark as he sat on the side of his bed. His frame was massive even when he was hunched over. In his hands he held a popular children's doll.
There was a knock on his door, to which he did not respond or even move his head.
The door opened, revealing Piotr's teammate Ororo Munroe.
"I don't want to talk to anyone," he said with a bitter tone.
"I know," Ororo responded, "but the days when we don't want to talk are usually the days when we need someone to talk to the most."
She flipped on the light switch, revealing Piotr's room in all its glory. The walls were covered in gorgeous paintings which Piotr had done himself. There were beautiful landscapes, forests, plains, rivers and mountains. The largest painting was a family portrait of Piotr with his family. In that painting he stood between his parents, towering over them, and held his baby sister in his arms. His desk was full of drawings, almost life-like sketches of his teammates on the X-Men.
Ororo took a moment to admire Piotr's artwork before sitting down next to him.
"I remember that doll. Illyana carried it around with her everywhere. She wouldn't be parted from it."
"I bought it for her last year," Piotr explained. "It is … the last birthday present I ever gave her."
"I know," Ororo said. "I wish she was here too. We all do."
Pitor's hands clasped the doll tightly. "What good is all my strength if I can't even protect the ones I love? After all this I don't even know where she is."
"We will find her, Peter," Ororo assured him. "You won't miss another birthday."
Sam and Roberto were sitting in front of the television playing a soccer game and Roberto's new Xbox. Roberto was still wearing a party hat.
"You know," Sam said, "for a guy who once said 'I'm going to marry that girl,' you're not making any moves to try to bring that about. Today seems like as good a day as any."
Roberto shook his head. "It really isn't. She's just starting to get used to being around people and having friends. Telling her how I feel at this point would be too much."
Sam grinned. "Who knew you could be this considerate?"
"What? Is it that hard to believe I can respect a woman's feelings?"
Meanwhile, Dani and Rahne were sitting at the kitchen table in front of several empty boxes of pizza. They were listening to music on Dani's phone while sharing earphones.
They took turns choosing the songs. When Rahne's turn came she chose an old favorite of hers, Once Upon a Dream from the Disney classic Sleeping Beauty.
She and Dani looked into each other's eyes at the lyrics 'the gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleam.' They leaned forward so that their faces were only inches apart.
Dani looked away as Illyana stepped out of her room, having tucked Bo in for the night. The birthday girl walked past them with a serious expression and stepped out onto the balcony.
"Um, excuse me," Dani said. She took the earphone out of her ear and stood up. Rahne scowled as Dani followed Illyana outside.
Dani found Illyana leaning on the guard railing, looking at the traffic below them.
"You don't look like you're in a celebratory mood," Dani observed.
"What's there to celebrate?" Illyana asked. "I should be turning seven. Instead I'm turning seventeen." She shrugged. "Or sixteen, or eighteen. It's not like there were calendars in Limbo."
Illyana turned to Dani, who was now leaning on the railing next to her. "I had no idea it was today. How'd you know?"
Dani answered in a nonchalant tone. "Professor Xavier told us."
Illyana's mouth dropped open, but no sound came out. Instead she let out a deep sigh.
"You never told us you knew the X-Men," Dani said.
Illyana looked away. "That was a lifetime ago," she said softly.
"Not to them."
Illyana frowned and refused to meet Dani's eyes. "Did Xavier say anything else?"
Dani nodded. "He said he'd respect your right to privacy for now, but they'd all really like you to come back. Also …"
"What is it?"
Dani rubbed the back of her head uncomfortably. "He wanted us to tell you … to try to break this to gently …it's about your parents."
"That they're dead?" Illyana asked in a creepily matter-of-fact tone.
"You already knew?" Dani asked.
"I know more about it than Xavier does." Illyana looked over the street again.
"It was when my mutant power first manifested, I tried to run away, but I couldn't control it yet. I teleported to different parts of Limbo, but his demons were always right behind me. I started wishing I was home, and then …"
Illyana appeared in front of a small house on a farm. Her eyes lit up with joy for the first time in years at the sight.
"Home! I'm home!" she screamed in her native Russian.
She ran forward and banged repeatedly on the door.
"Mama! Papa! It's me! It's Illyana!"
A middle aged woman opened the door. "Did you hear that, Nicolai. She said it's our daughter."
"Mama!" Illyana practically threw herself into her mother's arms, nearly toppling the woman over. "I thought I'd never see you again!"
Her mother pushed her away. "What is the meaning of this, girl?" she demanded. "Why are you playing such a cruel joke?"
"Joke?" Illyana asked, not comprehending her mother's reaction.
"What's all the commotion?" asked a middle aged man with a mustache who appeared behind Illyana's mother.
"Papa!" Illyana exclaimed.
"Who are you?" her father demanded.
The joyful smile began to fade from Illyana's face as she slowly understood that this was not the happy reunion she had longed for.
"Papa, it's me. It's Illyana, your daughter, your little snowflake."
He sized up the thirteen-year-old girl who stood in front of him wearing nothing but a fur leotard.
"My daughter? That's impossible."
"Our Illyana is a baby. You're a young woman, almost fully grown," he said. "Stop talking nonsense and go home to your real parents, girl."
Illyana trembled, her eyes beginning to water. "No. It's really me. I promise."
"No decent child would traipse around in such an outfit," her mother declared. "What are you, some runaway wolf-girl from the circus?"
"Mama, papa," Illyana begged.
Her father stepped in front of her mother, his mustache quivering with rage.
"I don't know who you are, but you're not my daughter. Now get out of here before I call the police," he said before slamming the door in her face.
Illyana took several steps back and collapsed to her knees. Streaks of water flowed down her cheeks.
A scaly hand grabbed her shoulder. She turned and screamed in terror as a dozen demons appeared right behind her and held her down.
"He sent his demons to bring me back," Illyana recounted to Dani. "But before the pulled me into Limbo again, he decided I should be punished for trying to run away. So they made me watch as burned everything to the ground."
"Dear lord," Dani said under her breath.
Illyana's clenched her hands on the railing. "My parents died hating me … and because of me."
"Is that why you're avoiding your brother?" Dani asked. "Are you afraid he'll blame you for what happened?"
"Maybe a little," Illyana admitted. "The brother I remember wouldn't, but it's been so long I don't know if I can trust my memories anymore."
Dani looked out over the street as she collected her thoughts.
"I'm really sorry about your parents. I'm not gonna tell you to get over it or pretend everything's OK. But you're not the only one here with a tragic past. All of us have been through some serious shit, maybe not as extreme as yours, but still pretty deep shit. We've all got our demons and traumas to work through."
She turned to go back into the apartment. "A word of advice. If you're gonna throw yourself a pity-party every time someone tries to do something nice for you, eventually people are gonna stop trying."
She left Illyana alone on the balcony. The sorceress stared after her, rubbing her chin as she considered Dani's words.