Chapter Seven

Ilehana parked her motorcycle in the garage, next to Scott's red and white Porsche. She left her helmet on the shelf by the door to the house and followed her nose to the smell of freshly baked cookies. Her mother smacked her hand playfully as she stole a toffee pecan cookie, stuffing it into her mouth whole as her mother made a grab for it.

"Hey!" Her mother laughed. "Those are for after dinner, you cheeky little vixen!"

"They're really good Mom." Ilehana chuckled with her mouth full. She stopped suddenly, looking at her mother as if for the first time. With the long, blonde soft hair, and soft features, she really was beautiful. Ilehana looked very like her, but with slightly harder features and those piercing Xavier eyes that could only have come from her father. Ilehana smiled as she noticed a trace of flour on her mother's cheek. Impulsively, she hugged her mother tight. "It's so good to see you, Mom."

"Well!" Her mother laughed, a sound so musical to Ilehana's ears. She held her daughter just as tightly. "You only saw me this morning!"

"I know." Ilehana replied softly. "But for some reason it feels like it's been years and years."

"Silly girl." Her mother held her at arm's length, each looking the other up and down. "Go and shower before dinner, you smell like those wolves! And then fetch your brothers and father, would you? Dinner will be ready in twenty minutes."

"Sure thing, Mom." Ilehana made to leave the kitchen, but stopped and looked back. "I love you, Mom."

"Love you too, sweetie."

Ilehana jogged up to her room and took a speedy shower. She dressed in clean stonewashed jeans and a black, cap-sleeved shirt with cowboy fringing across the bust. She pulled on her favourite boots and went to knock on Scott's door. The young man was just combing his hair when she entered. Ilehana smiled to see him actually wearing a shirt and tie rather than one of his usual jumpers. His tie even matched his trademark red shades.

"Looking good, Bro. You taking Marie out?"

"Yeah." Scott tried to duck as Ilehana ruffled his too-tidy fringe a little. "Hey!"

"Don't try so hard, Scott." Ilehana grabbed his shoulders and made him look in the mirror. "See, looks better. C'mon, dinner's nearly ready."

They walked down the landing together, not talking but playfully pushing one another occasionally. At the top of the stairs, Scott gave Ilehana a shove that sent her staggering, before running down the stairs and off toward the kitchen to help his adoptive mom dish up dinner. Ilehana regained her composure, chuckling to herself as she made her way downstairs more slowly to tap on her father's study door.

Charles Xavier was reading the newspaper by the low fire. He was dressed in a smart suit and tie, as always, though she never understood why he insisted on wearing a tie at home. Her little brother, David, was sat at the desk, doing his homework.

"Hello, my dear." Charles looked up as she came into the room. He immediately put the paper aside, and accepted her warm hug. "Did you have a good day at work?"

"Yes, very good, thanks Dad. We got to see Meera's cubs for the first time. They're five little bundles of fluff. Really cute. I have some pictures on my phone to show you later."

"Sweet, can I see?" David piped up eagerly.

"Sure thing." She walked over to her little brother, silently checking his math as she ruffled his hair. She pointed at one of the problems. "Check that one again, Pipsqueak, you forgot to carry the one."

"Aw man!" David complained, but dutifully took an eraser out of his pencil case and started the problem over.

"I'll help you check the rest later, David." The Professor promised his son. "Go and wash up for dinner now."

David scurried away, glad to escape his math homework for a while. Charles accompanied his daughter along the corridor to the dining room, and soon the family was tucking into dinner. They discussed normal family things, Ilehana's work at the local zoo, Scott's upcoming graduation and David's school work. Ilehana found that she was unable look away from her mother. She couldn't shake the feeling that she hadn't seen her for so long; even though she knew they'd talked over breakfast that morning. Ilehana smiled as she noticed the simple, loving way in which her mother served dinner, listened to her children speak, and the way in which she touched her husband's hand absently…

"So what are you all doing this evening?" Charles asked, then thanked his wife for pouring him coffee. "David?"

"I want to play video games." David announced, and then sighed as his father raised an eyebrow. "After homework, I guess."

"I'm going to the concert with Marie." Scott grinned smugly at David. "I've already done my homework."

"I don't have any homework." Ilehana laughed, making both Scott and David stick their tongues out at her in unison, causing the whole family to chuckle. "I'm going down to Diego's with Logan."

Pain seared through her head, making her wince. She put her hand to the right side of her head, even as the pain vanished as quickly as it had come. She blinked rapidly, hoping she wasn't coming down with a migraine. Meanwhile, Charles exchanged a worried glance with his wife.

"Who's Logan?" Her mother asked curiously. "I thought you were dating that nice young Doctor… Dale, wasn't it?"

Ilehana's mind felt heavy, foggy as she tried to think. She couldn't remember her partner, not what he looked like, nor even his name, even though she'd said it but seconds before. It wasn't right. And besides, she hadn't seen Dale in years, how could she be dating him?

"Logan."

Ilehana whispered his name as an image of him burst into her mind. She remembered his blue-black hair that looked coarse but was really quite soft when she ran her fingers through it, broad muscular shoulders, large hands and narrow waist, adimantium claws extending suddenly and reflecting blinding light. The headache hit again, causing Ilehana to press her palms to her temples, feeling as though her mind was caught in a vice. She groaned with an agony she hadn't felt since she'd found out her father had altered her memories…

"Logan." She said his name louder this time, looking directly at her father. "Logan, Wolverine, guy with the adimantium claws, your friend, mine too. You know him, Dad, you do!"

Ilehana collapsed to the floor, writhing, screeching in pain. She just wanted to make it stop, but she knew that this wasn't right. None of it. Charles and his wife were both beside her now, trying to help. Scott was calling an ambulance and David watching in fascinated fear as his sister rolled back and forth, clutching her head.

"**Logan!**" She screamed his name desperately, verbally and telepathically, forced the words out of her mouth, as if by saying them she could force him into reality. "Canadian lumberjack, over two hundred years old, grumpy sod sometimes but always knows exactly what to say. I love him!"

"Ilehana stop! Please!" Her mother begged, tears streaming down her soft cheeks. She'd grabbed Ilehana's wrists, trying to hold her daughter still. But with her declaration of love for Logan, the pain was gone, and Ilehana's body stilled, though her breaths were still shaky. She sat up and hugged her mother so tight, so, so tight.

"I'm sorry Mom." She whispered, tears suddenly falling down her cheeks. "I love you, I do, I love you so much, but it's time for this charade to end. I love you."

"I love…"

Vixen couldn't bear to hear the words. She pulled away even before her mother had begun to speak and waved a hand. The illusion turned to ashes and dust, leaving Vixen to fall to her knees in her father's study. She took a moment, just a moment, to grieve for what she had lost by regaining control. Then she cuffed away her tears angrily. She glanced at her father, still frozen, still reaching and her face set into an angry scowl.

"Stay here, Dad." She growled, as if he was going to do anything different. "It's time this ended."