Logan: What the hell is this shit? Two days in a row?

Natsumi: It's because of all the people who review. Not just AKA did this time.

Logan: Well I'll be damned.

Natsumi: You and me both. Special thanks to AKA of course, Vampire Hunter D's Girl, IAmYourPhobia, LilyHellsing, Melody Whispers, and Random Reviewer the 2nd. And to address RR the 2nd concerns, Kanaan definitely has flaws.

Logan: You got that right.

Natsumi: One, partial colorblindness. Two, though hard to anger, she has a volatile temper. Three, she loves cursing, she may seem tamed down now, but when she gets more at ease with her new housemates, it's gonna show. Four, insecurity major insecurity, she never feels good enough, and that's gonna cause some problems for her and Hank. Five, she loves to play sports, but sucks at them, and ain't that a bitch?

Logan: She also thinks she's a complete fuckup.

Natsumi: We've established that Logan when we said MAJOR INSECURITY.

Logan: Whatever, quit boring them.

Natsumi: Just one more thing. I know, instant attraction from Hank, kind of corny and stupid. But the Beast plays a major role. A HUGE one. So... You know the drill. I don't own X-Men. Kanaan and her mother who will be mentioned in this Chapter are mine. Enjoy.

7

"You're troubled." Hank heard Kanaan say. He looked up in surprise, and stared into her mismatched eyes.

They were back in the infirmary, where Kanaan (at the instruction of Hank) removed slivers of glass, and bandaged his hand. Stitches weren't required, thanks to Hank's healing abilities.

"What do you mean?" he spoke with a nonchalant voice.

"You seem like a person who is… careful… with their strength. Something is bothering you for you to break that glass." Kanaan readjusted herself, and sat cross-legged on the med bed where they had migrated. "You want to talk about it? I'm a good listener, mom said that was one of my good qualities."

Seeing a way to change the subject he lunged on something that she had said. "Your mother?"

She understood the question. "Her name is Claire Montesquieu."

"You said when you called Charles that Sabertooth had already hurt someone trying to get to you." Hank paused. "Was it…?"

"Claire?" She shook her head. "Claire sold her house when I left home for college. She now travels on her motorcycle all around America and Canada."

"Logan might like her if she has a motorcycle. What kind is it?"

"Kawasaki 250 Ninja." Kanaan gave a mysterious smile. "And I think Claire and Logan would kill each other, let's just leave it at that." she sighed. "As for the person who got hurt it was my roommate. He's alright, from what I last heard."

"He?" Hank felt the jealousness come over him again. 'Enough! This is ridiculous!'

"His name's Jack. We shared an apartment. It was easier for two college students to share rent than to live by ourselves."

"Were… are, you two dating?" he asked, fighting to keep his voice under control.

"The only date I ever went on with that man was to the nail salon. He was queer as folk. Made the best roommate though. He's going to live with his boyfriend after the incident with Victor." she stiffened slightly. "Speaking of which, is that fucker still giving you grief?"

"He's quieted down a lot, but he still enjoys jeering anyone who comes near him." without even thinking he placed his undamaged hand over hers to stop her from fidgeting with the blankets. "Kanaan."

She looked up at him. "I'll keep you safe from him."

"I know." she smiled. "Is it weird to feel safe with people you hardly know?"

Hank stared at her mouth. Her bottom lip was full, her upper lip thin in a complimentary way. They shined when she licked them.

"No…" his voice was husky. "Not at all."

Kanaan's face turned pink at the sound of voice. She was about to say something when the door to the infirmary slid open.

The girl with white bangs walked in. Hank slowly removed his hand from Kanaan's, and she missed the warmth it had created.

"Hello Rogue, what can I do for you?" Hank asked the girl.

"The Professor said he has a room ready for the new girl and asked me to show her." Rogue said in her southern accent, nodding her head in Kanaan's direction. Kanaan stood.

"Hi, Kanaan Montesquieu." she offered her hand.

Rogue held her hands up. "No offense, but touching is something ah just don't do. Even with gloves."

"Rogue's capability allows her to absorb memories and abilities from people through physical contact." Hank explained. "And it often leaves them in a comatose state."

"Oh so that's why the other two passed out when you touched them." Kanaan recalled. "You guys weren't hurt too bad, were you? I mean, he's a soulless brute and all."

"Nah, we're fine. Takes more than that wild cat to put us down. We have to go through Logan's training sessions twice a week." Rogue winced.

"I feel for you. That sounds worse than being chased down by a crazy psychopath."

The three laughed, at ease with each other.

"We better get going. Come on, ah'll show you your new room." Rogue motioned for Kanaan to follow. Kanaan took a step toward the girl, before turning back to Hank.

"You'll be okay?" she indicated toward his bandaged hand.

"Another few minutes and I'll be able to remove the gauze. Don't worry, go on and see your new room." he said, waving her off. She smiled, and his heart melted at that smile.

"Okay. Take care, I'll see you at dinner if not sooner."

"Alright. Have fun." and she left him alone with his thoughts. The Beast inside him stirred.

'Make her yours.' it growled, but he quickly pushed the voice to the back of his mind. He had no claim to her. She was her own person, he had no right.

And he was halfway able to convince himself that the feeling in his heart wasn't him longing for her in her absence.

"There's some mistake." Kanaan shook her head. "This can't be my room."

"Nah, I'm pretty sure this one's yours." Rogue confirmed.

"But it's… huge! It's bigger than my apartment back home." she said in awe.

"Yep, and it's all yours. You like it?"

"Of course!" Kanaan touched the bed covers. "Especially the colors."

Everything in the room was done in shades of gray and white. And she knew it wasn't her blue eye playing tricks on her, her green eye was able to distinguish the colors.

The bed covers were a gunmetal gray and made of a satin-like material. The carpet and ceiling were the same light tone of gray where the walls were a couple of shades darker. The wood that made up the bed frame, dresser, vanity, and molding were a dark cherry wood. The best part was the white window seat covered with dark gray curtains the same color as the bed sheets, which were pulled back to reveal that the seat held a myriad of gray and white pillows of different sizes.

The overall feel of the room wasn't the meek locked in feeling one gets from white and gray, but of a calming, soothing effect. She didn't have to wonder if her walls or carpet were green or blue or even yellow, and if she wanted to add some decoration, it would be much much easier since they would be in colors that she actually knew what they were.

"The bathroom is through that door." Rogue pointed to one directly opposite of the bed. "and the closet is through that one." she pointed to one closer to her bedroom door. "Ah'll go ahead and let you look around. If ya need anything, I'm two doors down. Jean's to your left and Kitty's to your right. Storm's right across from you."

"I know who Kitty is, but who's Jean and Storm?"

"Storm's got the white hair."

"Ororo?"

"Yeah, and Jean's the redhead."

"Ah, I see. Thanks Rogue."

"No problem. Ya need anything, let me know." Rogue walked out, closing the door behind her. Kanaan suddenly turned from a twenty year old woman to a three year old kid and flopped happily down on the bed, giggling when her body bounced.

She closed her eyes, and she got this wonderfully content feeling flooding her whole being, like you get when you wake up from an amazing night's sleep.

'Kid, you're eight now it shouldn't be this hard to get you out of bed.' a familiar voice said in her mind.

'Five more minuets mom.' the eight year old Kanaan murmured, pulling blankets over her head.

'You've got school, and I've got work. If you wanna eat breakfast here instead of that shitty stuff you complain about at school. You'll get up. Come on kid, I'll let you ride with me on my bike instead of the bus.'

That definitely got he out of bed in the mornings. She felt like King Shit when she showed up at school on the back of her mom's bike, all the other kids staring in awe. Even better memories, were weekends when her mom got home from working nights bar tendering, and would crawl into bed with her as the sun peaked over the horizon.

'What's doin, Brat? Have any good dreams?'

It was mornings like that when Kanaan didn't feel like a burden to her mother, and that maybe maybe her mom could love her despite how she was conceived. She felt even less of a burden when she got old enough to help around the house. Doing the dishes, laundry, dusting, and especially cooking. Kanaan had always loved to cook.

"So I guess it all works out this way." she sighed aloud. "I get a safe place to live, and get to do what I love for a living."

'Stop it Kanaan.' she could see Claire's bright green eyes looking at her hard in her mind. "Quit thinking you're a burden to me. If you were I'd have gotten rid of you already. You know I can't tolerate burdens, even ones of flesh and blood. Quit having a pity party and start seeing how useful you are to me and everyone. See the good, or you'll go crazy seeing the bad. You're choice.'

"Mother knows best." Kanaan muttered. Okay, let's give this a try.

What was good about her being here to others? As Kitty had put, they were getting real food now instead of… well… what ever they were eating before. She could ask Hank to teach her more about helping with minor medical emergencies, so others wont have to drop what they're doing to help tend to a wound.

She could ask Logan to teach her how to fight so no one would have to run to her rescue any more.

'Start with what you're here to do first.' she thought. And that was to be a chef.

So learn what the students and staff like to eat, if they're allergic to anything, and above all cook the best meals they'll ever eat.

This could work after all.

'So…?' She could practically see Claire's triumphant grin in her mind.

"Fine." she muttered, her smile a little rueful. "Once again you're right Mom."

'Good girl. Go out there and show 'em what ya got. You ain't my daughter for nothing.'

Natsumi: Well...

Kitty: Well what?

Natsumi: I didn't mean to sound like a total bitch about Kanaan having flaws.

Kitty: I think they'll understand.

Natsumi: I mean, the last thing I want is for her to be a Mary-Sue. Poor girl can't even sing for the life of her, let alone be a Mary-Sue.

Kitty: No one is perfect.

Natsumi: Exactly! So... I'm gonna do my best to show just how much of an imperfect human she is.

Kitty: Just don't go out of your way and forget the whole plot to do it.

Natsumi: Right. Well, R&R. And to those of you who do, thanks!