Oh good lord, I am a terrible author when it comes to updating! I am so sorry. As those of you who have been reading for sometime will know, I went to America to work, whilst there I had NO time for writing, not even in my notebook! It was a hard three months not having time to write, other than that I loved it however.
Now the reason this is so dang late, is because when I got home I had to find a job, and in this recession it's damn hard, and also I have been writing an original story that I am hoping to get published, it's hard to write other stuff cause that is so in my head. However I decided to stop being a doucher and finish this. It's nearly done I'd say ten more chapters til the end. Maybe.
Thank you so much for bearing with me, you are all awesome. Special 3 to my L'ange. :D
Disclaimer on Chapter one.
Tabitha was dancing in the club, she was only 18 but her fake ID often got her in without any trouble.
She loved this club, true it was often frequented by less than refutable types but that is why she loved it.
"Tabby!" A distinctive British voice rang out loudly; clear even over the pulsating music.
"Betsy?!" Tabby cried delighted.
Elizabeth 'Betsy' Braddock strutted over, she was tall 6 feet 1 to be precise, she was Japanese and could easily be a supermodel with her perfect, clear complexion, unusual purple eyes and purple hair, sadly the perfection of her face marred by a long red scar that ran down from her forehead to her cheekbone.
When Tabitha had first been taken to the orphanage, older girl Betsy had taken her under her wing and the two had become firm friends.
Betsy was Tabitha's personal ninja, Betsy knew 15 different kinds of martial arts and she was scary strong.
Betsy had gone to Japan to train with legend Ki-Ah-To, Apparently she was now finished, because here she stood.
Tabby threw herself into her best friends' arms.
"Miss me?" Betsy asked laughter clear in her voice.
"'Course." Tabby grinned; her partner in crime was back.
Rogue had taken a shower and a nap, then she went to see Professor Xavier, he was still with Jean, still teaching her control. Hank was locked up in his lab, working hard to create a device that would keep them all safe from another mental attack.
Remy and Logan had disappeared, and Rogue was finding herself surprisingly bereft without them.
Rogue needed to find someone to spend time with otherwise she would likely go insane. Silence allowed for her sanity to be drowned out by the voices in her head.
Rogue walked into the living room and saw Ororo sitting reading.
"Hey Ororo." Rogue said hesitantly and hovered anxiously by the door, not wanting to intrude.
"Hello Rogue." Ororo said with a pleasant smile.
Rogue bit her lip and then entered the room slowly, taking a seat opposite the regal older woman.
"Ororo. I want t' jus' say how sorry I am f' usin' m' skin against you." Rogue said obviously ashamed.
"Child you should not apologize for that – it was not your fault." Ororo said earnestly.
"But it was my fault. Even if I was used as a weapon, it was still my fault!" Rogue shouted her eyes filling with tears.
"I take it we are no longer talking about me." Ororo said knowing that Rogue's thoughts were now centered on Carol.
"How could someone do that? I mean why me? Why wasn't I strong enough to stop him?" Rogue ranted, tears spilling down her cheeks.
"Child it was not your fault – he used you." Ororo stated passionately.
"It is my fault though, if I didn't have this stupid power. If I had died it would have been better!" Rogue cried and finally the dam broke and she completely broke down, she fell to the floor sobbing. Her cries were so heartbroken, so raw, and so pain-filled it hurt Ororo just to hear them. Ororo sank to her knees and cradled Rogue in her arms, giving her as much comfort as she could.
Ororo looked up and saw Jean and Scott standing in the doorway, Hank, Bobby and the Professor behind them.
Without a word Jean came over and hugged Rogue as well.
It was in that moment that the team was solidified again.
Back at the Brotherhood residence Magneto was calling his own team meeting.
Amara and John arrived, both of them laughing at a joke John had told, still laughing he threw himself into a chair and pulled Amara down to sit in his lap.
Mystique walked in next and stood beside Magneto, she was shortly followed by Sabretooth who grinned at her and even threw her a wink.
Mortimer walked in next looking supremely annoyed at being interrupted from his work.
"Thank you for coming; I called this meeting to let you know that we have another new member." Magneto said looking extremely pleased with himself.
"Yeah, because Tabitha worked so well." Amara said sarcastically.
"Yes well, Tabitha and our new arrival are somewhat of a joint package." Magneto said.
Magneto motioned with his hand and the door opened, Tabitha walked in followed by a tall beautiful woman wearing black leather pants and a pink silk blouse that left little to the imagination.
"Team meet Psylocke." Magneto grinned.
Life at the mansion seemed to return to normal, well as normal as it got for a mansion full of mutants.
Rogue was having counseling with Jean and the Professor over her continuing feelings of guilt over Carol's death.
Hank had created small helmets that Jean and the Professor wore when sleeping.
Logan and Remy were still absent, the Professor knew that they were going after Mesmero, Logan was putting his detective skills to use, it would surely only be a matter of time before they brought him back to the mansion.
Scott also knew where Remy and Logan had gone and he was pissed, he was the team leader and they hadn't even run this little excursion by him.
Jean felt more alive than ever, between learning her medicine, counseling Rogue and her blossoming relationship with Scott. For the first time in her life she felt needed, appreciated and most importantly in charge.
Hank was feeling ill at ease, he didn't like the threat of the Shadow King looming over them, and he was trying to keep his mind occupied by continuing to teach Jean about medicine.
Ororo realized that calm had somehow been restored to the mansion but she was also well aware that this was purely the calm before the storm, but for now she was going to enjoy the calm.
Amara stared at the new arrival with a look of pure hostility,
"Great." She smiled; it was neither sincere nor friendly.
"So what are your powers?" John asked interest evident.
Amara scowled at him.
"I'm a telepath with psionic energy." Betsy answered and a red knife of energy appeared from her hand.
"Wow." John gasped in awe.
"I'm also technically classed as a ninja." Betsy said smugly.
"Woo-hoo." Amara said sarcastically and Sabretooth grinned at her, Amara was a cocky little thing and she hadn't liked Tabby and obviously hated Betsy. Sabretooth himself wasn't particularly bothered, who cared about hot gals joining the team when your woman was a hot shape shifter?
Magneto was glad to be expanding his team but he knew that it would cause friction – Amara was queen bee – mainly because Mystique allowed it to be so, and she obviously did not like these girls.
"So what is it that you do?" Betsy asked smugly.
"I do a lot sweetheart, maybe one day you'll find out." Amara replied her eyes taking on a decidedly sinister light.
Mystique realized that things could well get out of hand if something wasn't done.
"Amara, could you and John please go to my room and wait for me there?" Mystique asked.
Amara looked at Mystique and the aggression drained from her eyes, she didn't even wait for John, she just stalked from the room.
"Well isn't she a bundle of joy?" Betsy said sarcastically.
"Betsy – a word of advice – you are new here, you can be replaced, do not step out of line." Mystique said coldly and Betsy fell into a sulky silence but seemed to relent. She knew all about Mystique and Magneto and she wasn't about to piss either of them off. Mystique, satisfied that her point had been made, left the room.
"What's up Mara?" John asked sensing his girlfriends pissed off mood.
Amara turned to look at John the pure rage clear in her eyes.
She didn't say another word she just stormed from the room passing Mystique on the way.
"I'll talk to you later Raven, I need to calm down first." Amara stated her eyes flashing amber, Mystiques own eyes widened at the use of her actual name, Amara usually called her Mysti.
"Ok." Mystique nodded and watched the simmering rage that was Amara leave.
Mystique walked into her room to see John frowning in confusion.
"What is with that girl?" John asked in frustration.
"John you were practically all over Betsy and Amara already didn't like her." Mystique explained.
"What?" John asked bewildered.
"Oh give me strength." Mystique sighed.
"It's simple John, Amara is insecure, she hates Tabitha and Betsy by association and you were blatantly checking Betsy out. Hence Amara's 'problem'" Mystique explained.
"But Amara's my girl." John replied non-plussed.
"Oh god." Mystique huffed and left the room, there was no talking to some people.
Ok so there it is another chapter. I promise to update more frequently now. Please review, it helps me write faster, it guilts me into it lol. xxxx 3 3