For musicismyhero and Valkyrie-Pleasant. Thanks for reviewing!

Chapter Five

We were all settled in the mansion and ready to make it into a school a month later, when I met Moira MacTaggert for the first time. True, she had visited before, but I had hid upstairs.

That morning, I had come downstairs and was sitting in the kitchen, a cup of coffee in my hand, when she and Sean entered, deep in a conversation. They stopped short when they saw me. I gave a little wave.

"You must be Katie," she said, holding out a hand. When I didn't shake it, she looked at Sean, confused.

"Sorry, I can't shake your hand," I said, realizing I seemed impolite. "I'd rather not know what you're thinking. I have gloves somewhere that Charles gave me, but I think I left them upstairs."

"Oh," she said quietly. "I'm Moira. I was-"

"I know who you are," I interrupted. I pushed my chair back and started out of the room. "It was nice meeting you," I added, before walking out.

My feet brought me to the mansion's library. As I stood among the book shelves, I thought about Charles and how different his life would have been if he hadn't met Moira. He would be able to walk. But I wouldn't have met him.

The door opened. "Hello Katie," I heard Hank say. I turned around. "Moira says you met her for the first time today."

I sighed. "Yeah. I did."

"There's nothing between them," he told me. "I promise. There might have been, if he hadn't met you, but there isn't. Charles wants to be with you, not her."

"That's not it, Hank. I saw in his memory what happened. It was her bullet that hit him. She should have known that Magneto would deflect it. Even I would have guessed that he would."

"There is one good thing about it," Hank said. "It stopped him from launching the missiles at the boats and killing everybody on them."

"I know that!" I snapped. "I saw it; I know what happened. But was it worth it?"

Someone knocked on the door. "Katie, Hanna wants you," Alex said. I took one last look at Hank, who hadn't moved, and walked out.

Hanna and Johnny were in the room that Charles had given them. Hanna was curled in her bed, tear stains on her face. I sat down next to her and stroked her hair. "Hon, what happened?"

"Bad dream," she whimpered. "Uncle Jeff hurt Uncle Darien."

"Uncle Darien's fine," I reassured her. "Uncle Jeff wouldn't-" I stopped, remembering what Jeff had tried to do. "I'm sure he won't hurt Uncle Darien." The girl didn't look convinced. "I'll give him a call tonight, okay? But for now, it's time for the two of you to get up." I turned to Johnny. "Johnny." His eyes slowly opened. "Hey baby."

"Hi mommy."

Someone knocked on the door, and I turned slightly to see Alex. "Katie, Charles wants you to go with him and Hank to get some students for the school. I can take Johnny and Hanna to the park, if you want."

I pulled my hair back out of my face. "Thanks Alex. Where is he?"

"He's talking to Moira in the kitchen right now, but he should be done and ready to leave in a few minutes. Gives you enough time to get ready." He was smirking. I glanced down at my pajamas and laughed.

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea." I changed, and then went back down to the kitchen. Charles turned his head when I entered. Moira was nowhere in sight.

"Good, you're ready to go," he stated. He started wheeling towards the door, then stopped. "The first place we're heading is to an orphanage." I looked at him questioning, and he sighed. "We're going for Scott Summers. He's fifteen years old."

"Summers?" I asked. "As in, Alex Summers?"

"Yes," he said quietly. "He's his younger brother, obviously." I followed him outside, where Hank was waiting. "You don't mind driving, do you?"

"Of course not." I got into the driver's seat. "Just tell me where we're going."

When I pulled into a parking spot outside the orphanage, and after Charles was resettled into his wheelchair, Hank turned to him.

"Charles, may I speak with Katie for a moment?" he asked quietly. Charles agreed, and Hank took me to the side. "About what you said earlier, Katie-"

"I meant every word, Hank," I said sharply. "I'm not going to take it back. Moira is to blame. Not completely, but if she hadn't been so stupid-"

"She was trying to save lives!"

"I know that!" I snapped. "But there had to have been another way. Any other way. She knew what Magneto could do, she knew that the bullets were metal, and she knew that Charles was right there."

"Look-"

"Are you two done?" Charles asked.

"We'll talk later," I told Hank, walking back to Charles and pushing him towards the building. When we got inside, a woman at the counter looked up.

"May I help you?" she asked.

"We're looking for Scott Summers," Charles said. "Is he available to talk?"

The woman eyed us. "Yes, he is. If you wait here one moment, I'll go get him for you."

"Thank you," I told her. She got up and walked out, coming back a moment later with a teenage boy following her. "You must be Scott," I said. He gave me a short nod. "My name is Katherine Pierce, and-"

"What do you want?" he interrupted. "You must want something. And who's the cripple?"I saw Charles wince out of the corner of my eye.

"My name is Professor Charles Xavier," he said, not commenting on what he had said. "Katie and I are starting a school for certain… individuals. And we would like you to attend the school."

He just rolled his eyes. "Why do you want me, professor?" he demanded. "I'm nothing special."

"Yes, you are," I told him. "We're like you, Scott."

He hesitated. "What do you mean you're like me?" he asked.

"We're special too," Charles stated. "We know you have a unique ability, and at the school, you can learn to control it."

For the first time, the hostility faded. "R-really?"

I smiled at him. "Yes, really."

I have to admit, I was kind of dissapointed I only got two reviews this time. But oh well. Two's better than none!

So, I won't be writing again until Monday or Tuesday. My husband's coming home TOMORROW instead of the original Sunday. and he leaves Monday. The two of us (and our daughter) are going to be spending the weekend in WeekiWachee, just the three of us, before he goes back to Texas. All we're taking is things we absolutely need, so laptops aren't coming. But, I promise as soon as I get back I'll write some more and post the next chapter as soon as possible.

Also. Since the movie included Alex Summers (who happens to be Scott's YOUNGER brother) I've decided to include the rest of them. Jean, Ororo, and Scott as students at the school.

Anyway... please review!