Retro ... Canuckle ... Cheshire ... as always thanks for the reviews.

Retro- hey, I never claimed to be original ; ) least you enjoyed the chapter and I appreciate the real feedback

Cheshire - well ... I'll thank you properly next chapter

Canuckle - thanks for the patience and all the help (as always)


K was embracing the simple pleasure of enjoying the sun, having picked up a trick or two from spending time with Greer. She couldn't figure out why in all these years it had never occurred to her to simply lay in a tree rather than use them to bounce through. Seemed wherever the two went Greer ended up laid out in sunlight and damn if that tigress didn't look pleased when she did it.

But the greater difference was finally having fuzznuts lay off her. Since that mission she hadn't seen his snarly muzzle outside of meals and K was going to have her cake and eat it too. Spending some essential private time she had been denied with Colton tailing her for the past few weeks. Tipping her hat a little lower she wriggled into a more comfortable position before closing her eyes for a mid afternoon nap while Logan was off on Avengers business.

A couple hours later, the sound of an engine pulling up on the driveway caused the brunette to lazily open an eye. She raised an eyebrow when she caught sight of an unknown SUV parking in the spot usually reserved for Logan's jeep and then sat up as a well dressed woman stepped out. K's eyes narrowed though when she could have swore she had seen this woman before. But where ...

Sliding off the branch and landing with deceptively silence, K quickly made her way to the stranger. Lady was headed in the wrong direction.

"You must be lost," K said as she slowed a step when the stranger turned to face her. "Front door is the other way." Yea ... she's definitely seen this woman before. She couldn't quite place the memory. Something really familiar about her though.

"Oh yes, thank you ... I'm just trying to find my daughter actually." OK supportive parent ... no immediate danger there.

K put on her professional smile for a moment. "And who's your little angel? I'd be happy to let her know you're here." But the woman shook her head.

"No, Greer doesn't know I'm here. I came early as a surprise. The last time I was here you can say things didn't go very well. So this time around, I'm hoping I can change that." K's smile didn't slip, but her eyes didn't match the friendly expression suddenly and her movements became much more connected and smooth. Had Apex actually been keeping an eye on K, he'd have told the woman to run.

"Oh, you must be Marie," K said with that dangerous smile in place. "I've heard so much about you." She took a few steps forward and extended her hand to the smiling woman. "You say you're here to surprise her? So she has no idea you're here?" A part of K's mind couldn't help but consider the possibilities and that particularly shady spot of brush sixty yards behind the barn ...

Marie meanwhile was having somewhat of a hard time placing the woman that looked like she had stepped right off of a Texas ranch. She was shorter than Marie and quite pretty if not a bit unkempt, her brown hair dirty with bits of hay woven in it and boots covered in mud. Marie was certain with a bit of direction and a trip to some proper stores she could actually be rather stunning. The age was a bit of a question though ... and as a reporter Marie was always proud of her instincts when it came to reading people. And while the woman seemed to be somewhere in her early 30's ... Marie had the distinct impression she was somehow much older.

But for now Marie was happy to just find Greer.

"I hope not. We were talking about me coming maybe next week but I know she finished with classes so I thought I'd surprise her."

K kept that same smile in place.

"How thoughtful. Though I can't imagine what could have possibly gone wrong the last time you were here. She's a charming girl, truly."

Marie's brows pulled together slightly and frowned slightly at K's comment when a surprised voice called out.

"Mom?"

Greer had sworn that she'd heard her mother's voice from inside, but was still surprised to find her standing in the driveway, along with K. Though as Marie turned to look at her, K barely flicked her gaze off of her. Greer couldn't help the huge smile that spread across her face and quickly rushed to her. Greer stopped short and was ready to give a tiny wave Marie's way, but her mom grabbed her and pulled her into a hug. With Marie's back to her, K's smile was completely gone, and she caught Greer's nervous gaze as she looked over at K for just a moment.

"Surprise!" Marie pulled back and gave Greer a look over, glad to see that she was looking far healthier than when she'd seen her last in New York.

Marie talked quickly as she tried catching up with her daughter and as if to catch a breath Greer saw that K was still standing there.

"Oh, sorry ... Mom this is K. K, my mom ... Marie."

"We met briefly," K said with the same smile she wore before back in place, "If you don't mind, I'll leave you to your ... affairs."

Greer made a bit of a face at K's sudden departure but her smile quickly returned as her mother took her arm and asked for a tour.


Apex sat in the jet and thought ... the steady thump of his tail the only noise.

His intel had been ... well not the best if he was honest with himself. He hadn't even really been sure why he had gone out. It was ... a feeling. The names coming in and the places that were being hit weren't his interest. The group had been at odds with the X-Men before but had since kept their distance. So why did the attacks on their businesses get him to fly all the way to England?

The panther let out a low growl and shook his muzzle.

He didn't like this. It made him feel exposed.

With a final look at the intel laid out in front of him Apex headed back to the cockpit. He had one more stop and then he could head home. Hopefully whatever this was would expose itself in time. Until then ... he would wait.


K kept her distance from Greer and her ... guest ... as Greer set her mom up in the lake house and the two spent time around the Mansion and the grounds. Occasionally, K would see them as she went from the barn to the mansion, but she didnt' pay them any attention. Not unless Greer seemed to be in distress. To her it at least looked like Marie was trying with her daughter while it looked like Greer was trying to try. But it had been a while since she'd seen Greer this tense and she was pretty sure her tail hadn't uncurled since her mom had shown up.

Shocking no one, Marie hit it off with Jean right away, and the two decided to that all three should head into town the next day. Greer had been fiddling with her inducer throughout breakfast the following morning and when she'd looked K's way she'd simply shook her head.

"Something on your mind, Tigger?" K asked over the rim of her mug, watching her carefully to see if Marie's appearance would prompt Greer into lying to cover for the woman's past betrayals.

"No, no," Greer replied forcing a smile into place. "Just ... planning out my day." K nodded once but didn't even blink as she continued to watch her for a moment. She couldn't help her if she didn't ask. She'd promised Logan as much.

Greer had been tempted to just slip on her inducer and suffer through what she knew was going to be a internal heat stroke in a pair of jeans and a hoodie. But as she stood there staring down at the outfit she had paused at the little and glanced over at her dresser. She had initially set it aside for her to wear on a date night Colton when he got back from recon. After all, he was the only one she'd be comfortable enough to wear it for but ... the tigress pressed a knuckle to her lips.

This one was one of her favorites from Jacque. It wasn't anything fancy, just a simple little short sundress that somehow flattered her tail of all things. Greer rolled her eyes. If someone had told her a month ago that her favorite article of clothing would even show her tail she would have thought they were joking. But here she was ... slipping it on. The tigress gave a cautious peek at the mirror, ready to take it off but in a surprising turn of events, actually found the side of her mouth tugging into a grin. All of this felt just a tad exposing but ... the tigress shrugged. She actually looked pretty good. Couldn't hurt to be daring for once ... Right?

"Yeah daring," Greer mumbled before giving herself a nod and going down the stairs.

K happened to be stepping back into the mansion when the three women headed out to shop and caught them on their way out.

"Greer that outfit looks stunning on you!" Marie quickly complimented as Greer slowed her way down the stairs. Her ears flipped up at the smile on her mom's face.

"Thanks mom." Greer smiled somewhat nervously as a couple passing students stared and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. But Jean was ready with a few compliments herself as she lauded Greer for dressing more confidently recently. K chuckled to herself at Jean's insinuation it had been her doing as she just leaned by the doorway.

"Honey are you forgetting ..." Marie wasn't sure how to finish as she gestured at Greer's neck which had a short necklace in place of her usual cat pendant that Marie had always seen her wear.

"Oh ummm," Greer's ears drooped, "I dunno I thought I'd just ... go like this. You know if that's OK." Greer finished quietly. She glanced up at K who gave her an encouraging wink and nod before she excused herself from the group blocking her path and slipped toward the staircase. Sure her mom had wanted her going out without her inducer when she'd been in New York but that was after their deep emotional roller coaster mending of their relationship outburst. Greer was certain she'd felt obligated to make that request. Not to mention the whole "no inducer thing" was still terrifyingly new to her. She'd only gone out two other times in her stripes since K had dragged her and while nothing bad had happened she couldn't say she'd particularly enjoyed it.

K listened closely for trouble, prepared to intervene if need be when Marie went out and took her daughter's hand.

"Of course it's OK with me. You look amazing." and without another word the three headed out.

...

The next night Ororo organized a barbecue for everyone in the Mansion. Bobby hooked up speakers as Hank worked the grill and Remy took on his usual roll as bartender, smirking as he made drinks for the few students that stayed around the Mansion and acted drunk despite Remy not putting any alcohol in their drinks.

K had been enjoying the relaxed, festive atmosphere, tucked into Logan when he slipped away to refill the beer and in his absence, Marie appeared in front of her.

"Greer did tell me that you had a hidden talent for fashion." Marie seemed relaxed though inwardly she was a bit taken aback at just how true her thoughts about this little women cleaning up turned out to be.

"Very well hidden," K replied before she set her empty beer bottle down and turned to face her properly. "Something on your mind?" She was never one for empty compliments when she knew what was coming.

"Can we talk?"

"I'm not sure you want to do that," K replied, eyes slightly narrowed as she locked onto the taller woman.

"I think we need to," marie said. "That is - I need to." K gave her a silent up and down then delicately pushed off the rail she'd been leaning on and soon the two of them were headed out. K caught Logan's eye on the way to the grounds and gave him a tiny smile that had him shaking his head 'no' before she and Marie slipped out toward the tree line.

"I wanted to thank you." Marie had her eyes on the grounds as K stared forward, her chin tipped up a bit.

"What for?"

"Well I've been here for three days and I'm pretty sure that Greer has mentioned you in almost every conversation we've had. It's clear you two must be close."

"I don't know how close we are," K replied. "But I haven't taken any cheap shots her way."

Marie smiled tightly as she looked over at K.

"I saw the way you were readying yourself to step in when Greer came down to meet me yesterday." K's eyes narrowed as Marie continued to smile at her. No one caught K doing anything. No one. And in truth Marie hadn't ... but Marie had been in war zones, capitals, and enough interviews to be aware more than most and K's reaction was what she had been looking for to confirm what she'd said. K meanwhile wasn't impressed regardless.

"So?"

"So I take it that you're very protective of her and I appreciate that, I really do." K didn't budge, her arms crossed and one eyebrow arched.

"I doubt that somehow," K drawled out but Marie plowed ahead.

"Greer's incredibly sensitive. Always has been and that was even before ... well - everything. And I understand that you don't know what happened between us but ..." and K readied herself for an onslaught of excuses, the 'you have to hear my side' ... 'You don't know me…' but it never came.

"What I did was horrible. Every time I look at her and I see that caution ... that self-doubt ... I know part of that is my fault. I should have been there for her. Maybe if I had she wouldn't act as if the whole world's out to get her," Marie's gaze finally flicked up to meet K's, "But I am here now."

"Too little too late from the woman that opened fire on her own daughter." K half snarled. "I will warn you just this once since you clearly can't read a predator when you have neon signs flashing in your face." K stepped forward a few paces, silky smooth - almost as if floating. Marie however stood her ground.

"I've seen far bigger predators than you." Marie shot back confidently, the image of Colton sitting in her kitchen coming to mind.

"Guess you should ask one of those bigger predators who the threat in this house is. And just so we're perfectly clear ... You make her panic in the least while I am around to see it, smell it, or hear about it and I promise you that you will never darken her doorstep again. She has come too far to have some small minded little reporter screw her up again."

To her credit Marie didn't back down as her face went red and she readied herself to put this little woman in her place until K spoke again.

"And for the record - I know exactly what you did."

And suddenly, not only the words but the look K gave her, the Marie's confidence shook and she took a step back.

"You don't - did Greer ..."

"She doesn't talk about it to anyone," K replied. "Doesn't mean I don't have my ways to know everything. Unlike her though, I am nowhere near as forgiving and I have major issues with mothers that turn on their children. It gives me anger issues, and I can't always control them." She finished her sentiment with a low growl that was a clear and unmistakable threat and not bothering to wait for a reply K headed back to the deck.

A few minutes later she watched as Marie came back to the party and spoke quietly with Greer before giving her a kiss and heading inside.

Seemingly unsure what else to do with herself the tigress came to stand with K and Logan, who both looked ready to find a way to slip away and spend some time alone until Greer got a bit too close.

"Havin' good time Tigger?" Logan asked from over K's shoulder.

"Yea ... think my mom's had a bit too much for one day though. Never seen her turn in early before ..."

"Too bad."

"You get a chance to talk to her? I really wanted you two to get a chance to get to know each other." Greer smiled hopefully. She thought she'd done a pretty good job of talking K and Logan up to her mom with the expectation of them finally meeting at the party. K had been her usual sneaky self and been a bit hard to find the last few days.

"Not really," K replied. "But that's fine. She's supposed to be here for you anyhow."

Greer considered that for a second and nodded her head.

"True ... but if you get a second I would like you two to actually meet."

K smirked a little as Logan started to pull her away.

"No promises." And with a little wave over her shoulder K let Logan lead her upstairs.


Marie stuck around the Mansion for another couple days, spending most of it alone with her daughter as the two walked the grounds. Colton made his reappearance the night after the party and while Marie seemed glad to see him ... K noted how much more comfortable the woman was when he came down for breakfast the next morning with his inducer on.

Marie was supposed to leave that evening so K was a bit irritated when she saw her heading straight for her and the barn. She steadfastly ignored her when she saw she was heading her way.

"K?" Marie called out, not guessing the size of the barn until she was actually standing inside of it.

"Greer's not here," K huffed out as she surprised Marie as she brushed past carrying a load of feed.

"I know that. She's waiting up for me at the Mansion." K shook her head at the woman's irritating boldness. The fact this woman wasn't six feet deep with three holes punched through her was worth at least a personal medal as far as she was concerned.

"Then what the hell do you want?"

But Marie just kept standing there watching her work.

"I promised Greer I'd talk with you before I left." K barely glanced over her shoulder as she began to divide up the hay bales she'd cut open.

"Case you forget we have nothing to talk about, and I have work to do."

"Well I still have something to say to you," Marie insisted.

K shook her head with a huff and just went to work, flat not acknowledging the irritating woman. Damn reporters never knew when to quit.

"I know what you did to her, and I get that you don't know about me, but let me make it clear. The only reason you're still breathing is that I don't want to be the one to screw her up worse than you already did." K said with a lofty tone. "But if you keep pushing me - I'll reconsider."

"Wait - hold on," Marie moved to step after K but pulled up short at her snarl.

"You and I have no reason to talk. And I'm sure as hell not going to be nice. Focus on your daughter if that's what you're really here for. And keep the hell away from me." K hissed.

"I - I know Greer values what you think more than she does me. I can see it. I hear it when she talks about you. And so I need you to understand that I know I've made mistakes but that I'm working on repairing the damage that I caused. I'd do anything for Greer." There was a moment as Marie looked at K that K saw where Tigger's bone structure had come from - the cheekbones and across her eyes and nose.

"I am not the feral that forgives at a word. I don't believe what people like you have to say. You want to get on my good side? Earn it."

Marie took a breath.

"Well then I'll just have to earn it then." And with that Marie turned on her heel and headed straight back for the Mansion as K rolled her eyes and got back to far more important work of taking care of her barn.

Colton had brought down the last of Marie's bags when an oddly familiar scene played out as Greer headed towards her mother. He saw Maire had a look on her face like Greer did right before she told him something stubborn.

"Mom! Where'd you go? You get a chance to talk to K? You gotta leave if you don't wanna miss your flight." But Marie was all business as Greer fell in step with her and Marie kept walking right back into the Mansion.

"I'm staying. Colton, you can stick those bags right back where you found them." Apex just stared ... and decided he was never getting bags again. These women couldn't make up their minds. Greer meanwhile had stopped walking.

"Wait ... what?" Marie however just headed to where Greer had shown her Professor Xavier's office was and called over her shoulder.

"I'm sticking around for a bit. It'll be fun!" But Greer just stood there a bit thunderstruck as she looked over at Colton.

"Did she just say ... fun?"


"I actually can't believe this ..." Jean grumbled with dismay as she and Greer headed for Xavier's office. "It's a conspiracy. I know it. It just has to be." The tigress just gave her friend uneasy grin.

"C'mon Jean. Don't be a drama queen. I'm sure it'll be quick." she consoled, trying to wrap an arm around her friend who just huffed and ducked away from it.

"No I mean it! Really! Your ridiculous training days with Colton are over ... your days of tutoring and mine of teaching are over ... and we finally get some time to finish up the mountain of work left for little miss feral's wedding …" and Greer grinned apologetically while Jean pursed her lips harder. "And the professor just happens to want to see us." she mumbled through her teeth, the millions of details that still needed her attention running through her mind.

"Let's just see what the problem is first." Greer offered but slowed as she came into Xavier's study to find both the professor and her mother waiting for them. That was certainly unexpected.

Greer had positively dreaded the idea of her mother sticking around. I mean it was nice and everything but she had hoped ... wanted to spend some quality time with Colton and with Marie just a couple of doors away she knew the likelihood of providing Colton a memorable "welcome back" fell from unlikely to well not happening. Not to mention how guarded Colton acted around her mom.

But to her mom's credit she was far from interfering. Sure she occasionally did her fair share of "mommying," something Jubilee and Jean wouldn't let Greer live down, but Greer had to give credit where credit was due ... Marie could keep herself busy and out of the way when she needed to. She even pestered Colton into taking Greer out to a nearby lake ... though they had worn inducers for that. Last thing they needed was the FBI ... MRD ... SHIELD ... or whoever else was out there spoiling their date if someone recognized the only giant panther walking around. It was actually the tigress who found herself looking for the reporter a few times out of fear of being neglectful. Logan and K's wedding was right around the corner and having to do everything away from K's way to alert eyes was tough.

Course that didn't make the sight of her mom standing next to Xavier, who aside from some polite pleasantries over meals hadn't spoken, any less bizarre.

"My apologies ladies," and the two red heads quickly refocused as the professor wheeled himself from behind his desk and in front of them. "But you know I wouldn't dare interrupt your personal lives if this wasn't important. Are you familiar with these?" and the two women looked at each other quizzically as the professor handed them a week's worth of newspaper clippings.

"Um professor? Are you telling us that we should be concerned about Stark's most recent escapade?" Jean teased pointing to the front of the paper but stopped when the professor shook his head, his expression growing serious

"No Jean I was hoping you'd focus the recent Paris gargoyle sightings."

"Paris gargoyle sightings? But I thought that was a hoax… Fodder for the masses or something…" Greer pointed out and looked up at her mom who moved to stand next to the professor.

"That's what I thought ... until my editor sent me this. He wanted to push it to the front page of our website." Jean raised an eyebrow as she took the tablet Marie offered and both girls looked down at the video.

"Does this look like a hoax to you?" Xavier sounded grim.

At first Greer wasn't even sure what she was looking at. It looked like a sick joke ... maybe crappy found footage student film material. But as the video wore on a sick joke Greer would have preferred. This… This was something else. A girl, no older than sixteen tops, looked to be having a seizure as she collapsed and withered on the ground screaming. And that's when Greer saw Jean clasp a hand over her mouth but the tigress couldn't even bring herself to breathe as she watched the girl start to change. The kind of change no one was prepared for, including what Greer assumed was the girl's friends as they all started running, screaming at the sight of bulging veins too close to the surface, crisscrossing with bony spines that tore through the girl's back and arms, only made worse as the girl tried to stand up, her neck pivoting wildly, exposing more of herself causing more onlookers to run and even a couple to faint.

Greer could hear Jean asking the professor to stop the video, that it didn't feel right to be watching something like this and she would agree if only she could tear her eyes away from the damn thing. She just felt ... helpless. She was certain that the girl in the video felt that way too. The tigress bit her lip and tried to distance herself from that familiar tug at the base of her stomach.

Too late.

Immediately she was brought back to six years ago … crouched over the tall gaze of Minos … Struggling against those restraints, oblivious and yet all to aware of what was happening as her own body transformed. And as Greer watched the girl in the video narrowly avoiding getting struck by someone and making a run for it ... All she could see was the muzzle of the hunting riffle and Steven leering from above ...

"Greer?" and the tigress visibly jerked and drew herself away from Jean, who had resorted to snapping her fingers in front of her friend's face. Greer shook her head and then cursed herself as she saw the look of concern on Jean and the professor's face and couldn't bring herself to look at her mother and quickly drew herself up and nodded her head that she was fine. Marie gave her daughter one more concerned look before she started talking again.

"I've done what I can to discredit the video and The Bugle won't be running it. That should get the other papers to back off too. It's the best I can do this time."

"This time?" Greer's brow wrinkled as Marie suddenly seemed a bit nervous and Greer noted a slight change in her scent.

"Your mother has been keeping an eye out for leads on potential mutants in need for some time Greer. Done what she could to keep their stories out of the papers and send their families our way." Greer's eyes went wide as she looked back at her mom but as much as she wanted to ask more her eyes went back down to the tablet still in Jean's hand ... paused on the young girls back and her eyes went hard. She looked right at Xavier.

"When do we leave?"


Apex watched silently as Greer pulled on her uniform. He didn't notice the questionable look from Jean and mentioning 'this being the women's locker' and eventually mumbled something about leaving her uniform in her room. But the tigress hadn't seemed to notice either. It hadn't been too long ago that Greer had been complaining about the lack of professionalism from the X-Men so it was strange for him to see her so ... Focused.

He watched carefully as she finally threaded her tail through her pants and slipped on her belt, before lowing her forehead onto her knuckles. Staying completely still for awhile. Letting out uneven breaths. Apex frowned. She only did that when she was anxious. Or holding in the urge to yell at him. Thinking a little, he did what felt natural to him and wrapped his tail around hers causing her to turn and look at him as if she'd just noticed his presence.

"What's wrong?" he rumbled.

"Nothing's wrong. It's just ..." and the tigress sighed… "This mission - I ..." and Greer took a deep breath, "Colton, have you heard about any recent gargoyle sightings."

"In Paris. But its not a gargoyle, it's a mutant." Greer visibly paused for a second, her jaw going slack.

"Wait, you knew?! How did you- " but a look from Colton had her pinching the bridge of her nose before she huffed and rolled her eyes. "OK fine. Rhetorical ... course you'd know. You keep tabs on the whole world…" Apex felt tempted to point out that was impossible and that he used an algorithim to track these types of things nut decided against it. Greer hardly seemed in the mood. She had lots of different moods and he was working on recognizing them.

"You're going after it?"

"Her." Greer corrected and Apex noted her emphasis on the word. "And yea ... I am," she growled before turning and looking up at him, "and you're coming with me."

Apex waited for Greer to smile and let him know she was joking ... but she just raised an eyebrow.

"C'mon what are you waiting for ... go grab a uniform. Sure one of Peter's will fit." Apex let his tail thump. She was serious. Greer meanwhile closed her locker to head to the

"I'm not going." he rumbled, causing Greer to look at him in surprise ... and quickly irritation, as evidence by the way her tail started snapping behind her.

"What did you say?" Apex ignored the timbre of her growl.

"I'm not going." It took a moment for Greer to register what Colton was saying.

"Not going? Oh for the love of - of all times for him to be difficult, you really had to pick now?" But Apex just shifted his eyes elsewhere and Greer really didn't have time for this.

"Colton… Do you not realize what's going on? There's a girl in France, probably scared half to death, and needs our help."

"No ... she needs your and Jean's kind of help. If she's scared than I'm the last one that should be going." Colton shrugged causing Greer's tail to twitch.

"Well maybe I need a tracker? Ever think about that?" Logan was off occupying K but Apex shook his muzzle. That reasoning was ridiculous. Besides, he didn't do acquisi - pick ups. That was for X-Men.

"No you don't. There's a reason why Xavier chose you to lead this mission. You're perfectly capable of tracking" and Greer growled slightly as now she looked off.

"You're wrong. Xavier didn't choose me to lead this mission because of that," Apesx noted the sudden change in tone of Greer's voice as her tail slowed and her ears pinned back. "He chose me because he thinks I can connect with her the best and bring her in. And he's right…" and Greer found herself leaning against the locker. Her tail curling around her ankles slightly…

"As much as I bitch and moan about this thing," and Greer gestured at herself, "Happening to me I'm glad at least no one saw what happened. That they didn't see me change. But what happened still haunts me ... A lot." and Greer moved away slightly as Colton inched forward.

"Now the same thing happens to this girl. But it happened in public. In front of all her friends, all those people on the beach ... It's online for christ sake. What do you think that's going to do to her?" and Apex stayed silent.

"I'm not asking you to go because I need a stupid tracker ... or for her ... I'm asking because for me to lead this mission I need you there. OK?" Greer had her eyes on the floor till she heard a familiar sigh tinged with a rumble.

"I'm not wearing a uniform."


Greer rubbed her temples and tried not to yell as she reminded herself she was leading this mission. She just ... really didn't have the energy to deal with Colton's lack of experience with kids at the moment. Instead the tigress stared at the black box opened innocently in the middle of the blackbird. But despite her best efforts a low growl prompted Jean and Kurt in the cockpit to take a hint and just stay quiet while she gave Colton an exasperated look as he continued to work on a wicked looking rifle.

"Really Colton? A gun?" Greer stalked up to him but he kept his eyes on the rifle. Greer's tone implied that he didn't properly know how to deal with the mission. He had done all the necessary research required. He knew this gargoyle was a low priority threat. He also knew he got the doses right.

"No bullets. Just sleeping darts." He rumbled showing Greer the rifle's magazine before slamming it home. Greer only proceeded to rub her temples a little harder.

"She's a kid."

"I know that."

And the panther was genuinely surprised by the timbre of Greer's growl.

"No ... Guns."


Vanyss had been reading a book she'd swiped from the library when she'd first heard the noise. She'd slowly put down the book and tried to listen ... she still had trouble getting the damn things to focus. With a huff she crept out from her makeshift bed determined to investigate. The church had closed hours ago ... but that didn't mean she was safe. Besides, if there really were people ...

"I'll just scare them off…" the former girl thought bitterly. She had scared away all her friends already. Not to mention that family that had scene her behind that restaurant ... How would this be any different? She treaded on the rafter silently, the beams seemed sturdy but she wasn't sure if they could hold her new weight. She wasn't eager to try out her new wings just yet ... If ever. So Vanyss kneeled down, her eyes scanning the dark hall beneath her as bright as day.

"Huh ... Empty." she thought and she could feel the spines on her back slowly lower and made a face.

"Ugh ... Disgusting…" but before she could get back up, she felt the spines on her back shoot straight up as the sound of voices now clearly echoed up from someplace beneath her.

"We sure she's in here?" Greer asked the team. The church was ancient and under construction so there were just way too many smells for her to pick through and all the dust and cobwebs made even her sight questionable.

"Yea ... she's up there." Jean muttered as she looked around the beautiful interior even at night. She could sense the girl someplace ... and fear was the primary thing on her mind.

"Colton?" Greer glanced over at the panther but before he could answer, Kurt had already brushed past both felines with a grin.

"Don't worry fraulein ... I've got this." He winked at Greer before disappearing in indigo smoke. Greer silently smacked her forehead as Jean didn't bother to hide her smirk. Greer really didn't know how the past her couldn't have seen that the elf had carried a torch for her. But being aware of it now just made it more painfully obvious. And now the tension was a bit uncomfortable to say the least between Kurt's attempts to impress her and Colton staring at the elf like a ribeye steak. Jean of course found the whole thing hilarious.

Ignoring the incoming headache,the tigress just kept her eyes on the trailing purple smoke as Kurt popped around the church. She bit her lip. OK ... Now that they still had a little time she might as well plan how was she going to approach this. She didn't want the girl more afraid than she already was. An entire week on the run? God ... The girl was probably scared out of her mind. Angry as hell ... the tigress honestly doubted talking was the best way to approach this. Especially considering she, Colton and Kurt didn't exactly look like the most approachable things in the room. Shit ... What if the girl ran?

"Stop it. This is why you wanted to be here. You can help her. You know how. Use that." Greer whispered to herself, her heartbeat escalating till she felt Colton move slightly behind her. She turned and gave him a quick smile and went back to planning. Of course all this was also relying on the slim chance the girl would dare to want her help. Or come with them -

A shriek like Greer had never heard before caused everybody to look up in alarm before a lithe blue figure came hurtling down towards them and Kurt not too far behind as he desperately tried to catch the falling was a loud bamf and Greer allowed herself a quiet breath of relief before wincing as both figures crashed into a heap on the ground and then rushing to the struggling blue figures of Kurt and the girl who in her panic and fear had started beating on the poor elf.

"Little help!" Kurt pleaded as he blocked a wild swipe before managing to back away from the hysterical girl and behind Greer who screamed as she noticed the giant tigress and panther coming at her. The spines on her back went straight up as the tigress held out her hands.

"Whoa whoa it's OK. We're here to help," She said as gently as she could but that only got the girl to curl into a ball and start screaming in a language Greer barely understood. The tigress felt her stomach plunge. Of course this was going to happen.

"Jean you try." she spluttered backing away while the red head rushed forward but that seemed to agitate the gargoyle even more, yelling and swiping at Jean. Apex saw it one second too late

"Wait!" until suddenly those spines on her back shot out, grazing Jean's arm causing her to cry out in pain while the gargoyle shook her head wildly.

"Ne t'approche pas de moi! je ne veux pas la peine!" she shouted before completely curling into herself.

"je ne veux pas la peine…." she whispered and Greer shared a helpless look with Jean, who was biting her lip in pain and the tigress raised an eyebrow, a scrape shouldn't have affected Jean that badly ... and then Jean cried out in pain just as Colton caught her.

"Kurt watch her!" Greer pointed at the shaking gargoyle and rushed to her friend's side. Greer raised her friend's hand to get a closer look, prompting Jean to shout again. The wound wasn't just bleeding ... the skin around it was starting to take on a slightly blue hue and Greer's eyes widened in realization. The girl wasn't screaming at them because she was scared. She was screaming at them to get away. The girl's spines were venomous.

"Shit!" Greer cursed, quickly grabbing the field pack on her belt to pull out the bandage but looked up in surprise when Colton stopped her.

"Don't ... you're just wasting time. Kurt you need to get her back to the jet. Inject her with the C med pack. Now." Jean was already having trouble breathing.

"Who put you in charge of-"

"Kurt just do it!" Greer roared and with a "bamf" he and Jean were gone, leaving the two felines alone with the still curled up gargoyle.

It was a bit of silence with Greer honestly racking her brains, desperately trying to figure out how they were going to proceed from here when things really couldn't have gone any worse. But in a surprising turn of events, she was spared the trouble when Colton suddenly stepped forward, squatting down next to the girl.

"calmez-vous…Nous sommes là pour vous aider…"he rumbled calmly causing the gargoyle to freeze before hesitantly looking up. Greer tensed at the girl's sudden hiss of fear, taking a slightly defensive pose as those spines once again went straight up but that only made Colton lean down a little lower, clearly unafraid.

" je m'appelle Colton…" he said simply and that seemed to strike a chord with the gargoyle who slowly came out of her crouch. Eyeing the giant panther carefully as if afraid he'd suddenly pounce on her, she whispered back.

"Je suis Vanyss."


The ride back was quite enough. Turned out that Vanyss's barbs weren't deadly and after the anti-venom Jean was well enough to try talking to their clearly on edge passenger. Though once it seemed Vanyss was certain Jean wasn't about to die she had heard enough and stayed quite. Eventually Jean had given her a smile and headed to the back of the plane and quickly passed out.

Kurt was occupied watching something out the window while Apex flew the jet pack to New York. That left Greer in the main cabin to keep an eye on Vanyss.

But after watching her with Jean, Greer had decided that for right now the best thing she could do was give the kid a bit of space. She was practically hidden as she put her hands over her head and let her wings cover her. Greer noticed that the only time she seemed to look around was to lower her wings the smallest bit as Colton made his was through the cabin to go check on Jean after Kurt took over flying. But once she noticed Greer looking at her ... the wings went right back up.

When they landed Greer was the one to walk Vanyss inside, the girl holding her single bag of belonging tight to her chest as she looked around.

Greer never left the girl's side even when Hank insisted Vanyss followed him alone to the med bay. She could tell from how the girl was looking at her, even if they hadn't shared a single word, that she didn't want to be left alone with yet another stranger. So Greer stayed. She stood there with trying to project comfort as Hank did his usual routine medical checkups: height, weight, blood-pressure, draw some blood.

Though Greer did get slightly concerned when Vanyss appeared to be malnourished, her weight alarmingly low and just to make things more uncomfortable ...
"Some new clothes " Hank announced as gently as he could, pulling Vanyss a pile of standard Xavier sweatpants and t shirts from the stock they kept in the med bay. At the moment Vanyss was wearing what amounted to some pieced together rags she likely pulled from the garbage. Greer did note they at least looked like Vanyss had tried keeping them clean.

"Though you're wings could prove a problem, not to mention those barbs ..." Hank said thoughtfully as Vanyss had moved to pick up the clothes and that comment got the gargoyle to hiss at him, her spines shooting up threateningly.

"Please mademoiselle, I guarantee you that we can figure something out. Perhaps I should call professor Warren..." But Hank was only rewarded with Vanyss glaring daggers at him before she promptly raised her hands up to once again hide in her wings.

"Hank," And Greer slid off the opposite bed where she had been sitting and quietly whispered to the doctor, "Let me try instead."

"Are you sure? She seems like she might be," And Hank searched for the word. "Difficult."

"I think she's just a bit overwhelmed. Why don't you help me find out which room she'd be staying in?"

"Hardly a job for a doctor but then again, so is picking out clothes for a teenager." the good doctor shrugged with a smile before shambling out of the infirmary.

Greer watched him go for a little and when she turned around, she caught Vanyss once again peeking through her wings, an act she tried to cover up but the tigress just smiled.

"Um… Bonjour?" she said hesitantly. Damn it maybe she should have asked Colton for a list of introductory french words or brought down Remy. Working from memory, Greer continued.

"Ja mapal ... Greer. Ummm…"

"I can speak english." Vanyss muttered with a strong accent though the tigress was momentarily stunned by the sound but quickly acted on it.

"Um great. Hi Vanyss, I'm Greer." but the young gargoyle seemed to have reached her quota of speaking for the day as she once again refused to answer and instead went back to staring at her clawed feet. Greer bit her lip, slightly discouraged but went on anyway.

"Don't worry about the clothes. Trust me I know what's that's like. This," and Greer curled her tail for emphasis, "This gave me a heck load of problems when I started out - you know furry." but Vanyss stayed silent, so Greer continued, taking a seat next to the sullen teenager.

"Look, I know this is hard for you, and I'm not just saying it. I was like you when this happened to me you know? Sixteen. Was just heading back from the party and then this happened and my whole life just got turned upside down." Vanyss looked at the tigress with her red eyes as she went on.

"I was scared of myself. You know ... of what I'd become. Being suddenly part tigress ... I just didn't feel like I was human anymore. And the way people treated me ... hell even my family was scared of me." and that seemed to strike a chord with Vanyss, who finally spoke back.

"Is that what's in store for me then? Just hiding away here in this mutant old folks home till I die? I don't want that. I have a life in France! I want to go home! This… This is so injuste!" and the tigress flinched from the gargoyle kicking over the medical tray next to her but continued softly.

"I know its unfair. I get it. But things will get better. I used to think the same way but so much has changed since then. I have friends, a boyfriend, and even my family and I made up. You just have to have a little faith." Greer ended hopefully. But Vanyss buried her head in her arms for a few minutes before turning back to Greer and it was only then the tigress noticed the tears clinging to the girl's lashes.

"Do you think ... Do you think my family will want me back again?" she asked softly and Greer instinctively wrapped an arm around the girl, patting her shoulder gently.

"I'm sure they will. These things have a way of working out in the end. Everything will be OK. I promise." And Vanyss gave her the smallest of smiles.

...

"C'mon ... she'll be fine and we have to go." Jean had Greer's arm and was slowly pulling down the hall.

"I know but ... shouldn't one of us stay here?" Greer felt unreasonably terrible as she took one more uneasy look at Vanyss's room door. She had finally got the sullen girl to open up slightly and ditching her so suddenly just seemed particularly cruel.

"There will be plenty of people to show her around and get her settled. But there will not be plenty of people that can get this wedding off the ground. You heard what Betsy said ... we need to get going. If we don't get this wedding started who knows if Ms. Feral will stick around to actually go through with it!" Jean whispered excitedly and with a final tug pulled Greer away from the door.

"Ok OK OK just let me do one thing..." and the tigress quickly slipped an envelope under the door and with one final worried look back over her shoulder, finally allowed Jean to lead her away. Although she did still pretty guilty for abandoning Vanyss now...she still couldn't help but smile just the slightest ... Logan and K were getting married!


Ne t'approche pas de moi! je ne veux pas la peine!"- "Stay away from me! I want to be alone!"

"je ne veux pas la peine" - "I want to be alone"

"calmez-vous…Nous sommes là pour vous aider…"-" Calm down ... We are here to help"

" je m'appelle Colton"- "My name is Colton"

"Je suis Vanyss."- "I am Vanyss"