For Jaxxone, Saadhana, snowspell, elfe60, Hope and love, xXPrettyDisturbedXx, musicismyhero, Azulish, Emptyhandedone, Addy, and Amethyst Pheonix. Thanks for reviewing!

Chapter Two

I ran into Erik halfway down the hallway. With the memory still fresh in my mind, I began to back away slowly.

"Katie, wasn't it?" he asked, stepping towards me. "I don't believe we've been properly introduced. Magneto, at your service."

"That's not your name," I whispered. "It's Erik, Erik Lehnsherr. And you caused the bullet to hit Charles. You and a woman named Moira MacTaggart."

"How do you know that?" he asked, taking another step towards me. "Did Charles tell you? Or was it Hank, or Alex, or Sean?"

"Katie!" I turned in relief to see Darien hurrying towards me. "There you are! What took so long?"

"I… um…" I glanced back towards 'Magneto'. He had turned and was walking away. I don't trust that man, I thought, touching my brother's wrist so he could hear me.

Why not?

I don't know. I accidently saw Charles Xavier's memories, and there was one thing I saw… Charles was hurt, he was in pain, and Erik left him there. But it's… it's more than that.

"Darien, Katie!" We both looked to see Jeff walking up. "Hey. What are you guys doing tonight? My folks are having a get together."

"I have to get back home," I told him. "Johnny and Hanna are with a babysitter. Sorry."

Jeff grinned. "Still can't picture you as a mom. Darien?" I didn't bother to point out that I'd been a mom for five years.

He glanced at me as I rolled my eyes, and he too grinned. "I'm free. I'll need a ride, though. My car's out of it right now."

"If you want to hang around for ten minutes, I get out of here then, and you can ride with me. You mind, Katie?"

I shook my head, forcing a smile. "No, I don't mind at all. Have fun, guys." And with that, I left.

With a sigh, I unlocked my front door, and was greeted by a girl running at me, followed closely by her twin brother.

"Mommy!" my daughter cried. "I missed you. You were gone so long!"

I laughed. "Hanna, I was gone for two hours, during which you and Johnny were supposed to be taking a nap. What happened? And where's Mrs. Krith?"

The five year old giggled. "She fell asleep on the couch. Johnny and I've been playing puzzles, see?" I did see. I saw the jigsaw puzzle I'd been working on for days, and had almost finished, scattered on the floor, and groaned.

"Hanna, Johnny, why didn't one of you wake Mrs. Krith up? She was supposed to be watching you." She shrugged, and I went to find the babysitter. She was sleeping on the couch. "This is the last time I ask her to watch the kids for me," I muttered, shaking her awake. "Mrs. Krith, I'm home."

The older woman opened her eyes and stared at me in confusion for a moment, before letting out a gasp and sitting up. "Katie, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to fall asleep, I was just so tired!"

I tried to reassure her. "It's alright, Mrs. Krith. Why don't you take tomorrow off? I'll take Hanna and Johnny with me to work for a change. She might enjoy it, actually."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

So the next morning, I found myself walking up the hospital steps, holding Johnny and Hanna's hands. Jeff and Darien greeted me just inside."Hey guys," I said, smiling. "My babysitter needed a day off, so I called off work. Hope you don't mind me coming here." The two men glanced at each other. "What's going on?" I whispered.

In response, my brother turned on the television. "These so called mutants are dangerous!" a man was saying. "We should have them rounded up and locked away so they can't hurt us!"

"What about good mutants?" a woman asked him. "There are good and bad humans. Can't we say the same for these mutants?"

I felt a tug on my hand. "Mama," Hanna whispered. I shushed her. "Mama." She said it a little louder this time.

"What is it, Hanna?" I snapped.

She flinched back and put a thumb in her mouth, making me regret my anger. "That man is blue," she whispered. "And he's coming to us."

I looked up, and sure enough, Hank McCoy was walking towards us. "Guys, this is Hank," I said, when he had stopped in front of us. "I met him yesterday, when I went u p to see Charles Xavier. Hank, this is my brother, Doctor Darien Pierce, my son, Johnny, and my daughter, Hanna. I'm sure you know Doctor Jeffery Nelson already."

"We've met," Jeff said stiffly. "I have to get going." And he walked away.

"I'm sorry," Darien said, smiling apologetically. "But I should be getting to work myself. Goodbye Katie, Hanna, Johnny. And Hank, it was a pleasure to meet you."

When he was gone, Hank turned to me. "How's Charles today?" I asked him quietly, as we began to walk, the twins tagging behind. "When I met him yesterday, I… I accidentally saw more than I meant to. It was an accident, I swear. I really can't control it, and-"

He laughed. "It's fine, Katie. He doesn't mind it. He asked me to come to bring you and your children up to his room. He's been moved, you see."

"Mr. Hank," Hanna said. "Why are you blue?"

"Hanna!"

Hank chuckled, but didn't answer. We had reached a door. "You two go on in," he told us. "I think he wants to talk to you."

"Are you sure?" I asked. "He's your friend." He nodded, already walking away. I knelt down next to my daughter. "Hanna, Johnny, the man we're about to see is named Charles Xavier. He's been sick, so you can't hang on him like you usually do. You have to be gentle. Okay?" They nodded, and I opened the door.

"Oh good, you did come," I heard Charles say. He was seated in a chair by the window. "I wondered if you would, after our… parting yesterday."

"About that. I am sorry."

He smiled at me. "I read your mind, you read mine. We're even," he told me.

"I'm Hanna," the little girl perked up. "Mommy says you're sick and I'm sposed to be gentle and not climb over you n stuff."

Charles laughed. "It's a pleasure to meet you," he said, holding out a hand. My daughter hesitated for a moment, then took it, grinning. Charles then turned to Johnny, who was hanging back, but slowly came forward.

"Hi." He looked over at me. "Mommy," he whispered. "Can we go play?"

"I'll take them, if you want." It was Alex. "I have a younger brother, I can take care of them if you want me to."

"Um…" I paused. "I'm not sure."

You can trust Alex, came Charles' voice in my head. He will protect them.

I sighed, then consented. "Johnny, Hanna, this is Alex. You can go with him, okay? But don't leave his side." They nodded, and followed Alex out.

Saw X-Men First Class for the second time today. I love that movie! Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and like before, reviews would be greatly appreciated.