Author's Note:

Hello! Willow here! Sorry for taking so long to update.

Gambit's eyes are red

Beast's fur is blue

M-men are awesome

So please review

Sheila POV

I turned toward the knocking at the door. It wasn't violent, not as if someone was in a terrible hurry to enter, but decidedly firm nonetheless. Wolverine didn't make any move to answer it, but after raising his head to scent the air, he relaxed. Evidently whoever was on the other side was not considered a threat. For my own part I felt out with my empathy and felt a general calmness, an old sorrow, a tint of amusement, and slight annoyance.

Looking over at John, I saw no worry on his face. Catching my eye he grinned before joking, "I spend ages with no company, and then everyone comes to visit at once, funny how that works."

I shot him a small grin but then find myself kept from disappearing into my own thoughts by Wolverine's voice.

Standing there in all of his however many pounds of adamantium and healing flesh, he spoke gruffly to John "Gonna answer the door?"

Grinning flippantly at the man twice his weight with three times his killing power, Pyro gave a jaunty nod before heading over to the door. He twisted the handle, levity giving way to hesitancy before swinging it open on its hinges.

There in the doorway stood a woman with two-toned hair, cutting a surprisingly intimidating figure. It was something of a combination of her surety, not confidence but something more powerful, and lethal looking lean muscle. She was smiling with only a little menace, and her eyes. They were the reason that her age was difficult to tell, bright green they looked impossibly old. As if she had lived many lives, saw many deaths, and lost more than anyone deserved to.

The woman stepped forward into the room, eyebrow raised, her smile softening when she met Wolverine's eyes. "Hello, Darlins, Remy wouldn't have happened to hahve stopped bahye recently, has he?

Having stepped back to allow the southern woman entrance into the room, Pyro stepped nearer her again, mildly manic smirk on his face. "Actually," he replied, "Gambit was just cooee, he swung by to do me a favor. I had needed, er, transportation for a Graduation I was, um, well, attendin' might be the right word-"

The rest of the fire-starter's ramble was cut off when the newcomer broke down into laughter. Through her mirth she got out, "that was you? Ah should have known."

Even Wolverine had to grin at the rare laughter escaping the woman. "Is that the only reason you're here then Rogue? Checkin up on Gator Bait?" he asked the newcome woman apparently named Rogue.

Rogue replied, "not onleh, Sugah, ah also heard somethin' about Johnny here getting' himself a 'cher o' his own' as Remy said."

I stepped forward toward the taller woman with white streaks in her hair and held out my hand. "Hello, I'm Ella."

Rogue smiled softly at me before replying "Hey there, Hun, ah'm Rogue, I'm one of the x-men. Ah absorb people when they touch me," seeing that I didn't seem to be fully grasping her meaning, she continued, "it hurts if you touch me. Ah take a part of ya right out of you as soon as mah skin touches skin."

I look at her, and her emotions rush through me. I feel slight fear, sorrow, tiredness, measures of happiness, and a great deal of acceptance. Smiling sadly I glance back at her. How sad it must be to hurt when anyone touches you. My hand still sticking out I reply, "I don't want to hurt you then, but you should be fine because of your gloves, right?"

Rogue stared at me with an interesting combination of shock and bemusement before smiling a little more brightly. She reached out and grabbed my hand pulling me into a careful hug. It was nice, being held by her didn't hurt, it wasn't quite what I had with John, but better than any of the friends I had had before.

Rogue POV

I had just pulled a complete stranger into a hug. Behavior entirely unlike how I usually behave. It was just so nice to meet someone so refreshingly honest. Who accepted the risks of my mutation without wanting anything in return. Remy had mentioned her being an empath. Like him but stronger. And it showed. And you could feel it.

It was sort of like the Professor's telepathy. While not purposefully invasive, or perhaps purposefully not invasive, there was this presence just there at the back of your mind. I turned to look at the room and then addressed it's occupants.

"So y'all should head on over to the Mansion," addressing Ella she continued, "The Professor would very much lahke to meet you," turning her gaze to Pyro she continued, "he want to talk to you too."

Off they went to the mansion.

End Note: Thanks so much for reading! Please click that magic little button at the bottom to ensure my eternal happiness.

Also the hint for the next chapter is _ in the Mansion