Canuckle + Cheshire = why I write in the first place. thanks for the reviews

sorry been updating so slow last few months. gonna try and pick things up. thanks for sticking with me ...


"It's open," Logan rumbled over his shoulder without looking from the mirror as he started to tie his tie and an excited but suddenly timid face popped into view. Logan couldn't help but drop what he was doing as the tigress slipped into the room.

"Hey ... this a bad time or - I can come back."

Seeing his own feral adopted daughter looking at him like that was enough to earn a smile and with a wave Greer quickly approached him and wrapped him in a hug. Despite the fact Greer had always been a good head taller, she always felt like a little girl when she hugged him.

"Congratulations Logan," she whisper and he felt the reverbervations of her purr as she curled in a little closer and he gave her a tight squeeze before they broke apart.

"Thanks Tig…" he rumbled with a smile before raising an eyebrow, "Likin' you without that inducer." he teased to which Greer gave a shy shrug, her ears lowering slightly as she scrambled to justify herself.

"Don't think I'll be needing it way out here. Besides this dress was designed specifically for the stripes and K wouldn't have been happy with me if I showed up - Y'know ..." Greer had almost said 'herself' but fought it back down.

"Yeah she wouldn't. But either way, you look great darling'." and Greer grinned and brushed her hair back out of her face before trying to get to the reason why she'd shown up in the first place.

"So how's it feel to, you know ... almost be a married man? I distinctively remembered someone saying to me that it'd never happen." Logan just chuckled at her.

"Honestly Tig, pretty damn nerve wrecking. Hopin' it ain't a repeat of Mariko," he admitted before casting another look at the window.

"Well you're not the only one," Logan glanced back at her. "K's pretty nervous about the whole thing. She's been holding in a panic attack the whole morning ... I can tell," and Greer tapped her nose for emphasis. Logan frowned a little and fixed her with a look like she'd forgotten detention with him.

"Well whatcha you doin' here then?" he asked before eyeing the door with a grin to which Greer smirked right back.

"Way ahead of you Logan," she smiled this time and giving him another quick hug quickly made her way to find the feral bride to be.

...

Amid all the chaos, the tigress slipped past most of the women milling around in the little cabin Heather and Mac had tucked into the middle of Nowhere, Alberta. She quickly entered the inner most room just as Jean left smirking and announcing that K was going to thank her later. Greer bit her lip, this could only lead to bad things ...

The tigress blinked as she caught sight of K, looking stunning as Betsy hit the final touches on her makeup. She was wearing an expression Greer had never seen the little woman wear before. K was staring blankly at the floor, almost like she was in a trance. Without a word, Greer made her way to her friend and wrapped what she hoped was a comforting hand on K's shoulder. It at least seemed to clear whatever had been running in K's mind as she glanced up, the signature soft brown locks arranged in perfect soft curls over her bare shoulders as she gripped the towel wrapped around herself a bit tighter … Greer quickly tried to re-arrange K's hair, but K waved her off.

"It's fine – they've been fiddling with it all morning," and after a little more frowning and a bit to Greer's horror, K removed the crystal tiara that Jean had perched on her head and tossed it on the dresser. The two women sat in silence until Greer felt she needed to say something. This was all wrong ... today was supposed to be a happy day.

"K … K why did you do that?" Greer asked gently, kneeling so she'd be on the same level with the smaller feral who was nearly trembling as she just kept frowning at the floor.

11h ago"I never – I never even considered anything like this. Until him. And I just – I don't know that I can go through with it," and K shrunk a little as she sat on the bed. "I shouldn't be this nervous should I?" she whispered before catching sight of Greer's face and quickly trying to snap back to her usual self. "Nevermind. Just … being stupid."

"No, its OK. I get it ..." Greer said gently to which K just smirked before she pressed her fingers to one temple, her eyes closed.

"Where – Ororo was … she was supposed to be doing something about – shoes. Or – I don't know. Something. I can't believe they went this far overboard."

"It's really nice," Greer shrugged. "They're really having fun dressing you, aren't they?"

"Like their own living doll," K agreed with a shake to her voice as she wrung her hands a bit.

"Well what would you prefer if not this then?" Greer countered to which K shrugged.

"I don't know Tig … Maybe not all this – todo?" she growled before pinching the bridge of her nose and Greer visibly paused ... her mind racing. She had a faint idea as to why K was acting like this and the constant threats of her bolting was nagging at Greer. K was nervous and God only knew why. Especially today … taking such a giant leap forward in her life … Poor woman's doubts were probably amplified. And Greer had to change that… Scanning the table, the tigress's gaze finally paused at something.

"Hey ... aren't those ..."

"Peonies and white roses. Jeannie probably picked it out of my head. They're my favorites." and Greer grinned. Moving before K could protest, the tigress carefully removed a few of the smallest roses and started to fiddle with K's hair. She managed to keep from rearranging it entirely before skilfully intertwining the flowers. She secured the entire thing with a few bobby pins that she made sure were perfectly hidden before she took one last peony from the vase and handed it to her to smell.

"It's going to be magnificent. We're all here for both of you," Greer said gently as she stepped back, getting K to look at her…

"I'm here to back you up… all of us are - Jean, Betsy, Rouge, Kitty, Jubilee, Chloe, Zoe – The whole mansion. We're here for you because we care and we're happy for you. So, relax, future Mrs Howlett… the two of you are madly in love. What else is there to know?"

To which K forced out a little unsure smile and Greer fretted a bit at her still unsure reactions as Jean and Betsy returned with the dress in hand.

"Oh, I love the additions," Jean said with a grin toward Greer. "Perfect touch. Much better than the tiara, I think." Greer stepped back as the women directed took over again.

"OK, time to get dressed ladies." Jean said with a warm smile and light dancing in her eyes as she directed K into her dress, though the little woman looked progressively more nervous as the women fretted over her.

Greer watched, her hands clasped in front of her as Ororo swept the hair off her shoulders and held it up for Jean to zip up the dress. K's face was still tipped down as her breathing increased and the girls took turns rearranging the new curls on K's shoulders and Betsy triple checked her makeup.

"How are you doing?" Jean asked. "Nervous?"

K just met her gaze with slightly widened eyes and nodded as Jean turned her toward the mirror.

As she looked over herself, Greer watched as Heather crossed the room with the bouquet in her hands to gently press into K's hands.

"I'll see you in a little while," Greer said with an encouraging smile as Rogue passed her to get Remy. "He's waiting for you. It's going to be wonderful."


Vanyss grumpily rubbed the sleep from her eyes and glanced at the alarm clock that read 10am. She used to be a morning person she grumbled mentally before stretching every inch of her sore body ... and wings that bumped her clock right off the nighttable with a curse. She pointedly ignored as the spines settled back down and idly wondered what would happen if she scraped herself against them.

With a depressed huff, she threw off her sheets and made her way to the closet to - Oh wait none of the clothes would fit her thanks to he damn wings. Terrific ... another thing she had lost. She used to love shopping at the Carrousel du Louvre ... she was from Paris ... what kind of self-resprecting girl from Paris couldn't even wear clothes?

And the gargoyle crossed her arms in annoyance before becoming aware of the slight growling of her stomach. She hadn't eaten a real meal in ages. Carefully she made her way to the door, slowly opening it before quickly slamming it shut, her pulse racing dramatically while her face flushed. The sound of her slamming the door echoing in her sensitive ears.

Too many people ... WAY too many people. It was practically a crowd. One of them had seen her and that look on her face ... Vanyss shook her head. The once confident teen wrapping her claws into her hair as she grabbed it…

"Gardez-le ensemble." she hissed at herself but stopped as her ears perked up and she noticed a white envelope next to her feet. With a careful claw, the gargoyle easily opened the envelope and careful not to tear the paper began reading its contents ...

Hey Vanyss,

I know we've just got to know each other and I want you to know firstly, how glad I am that you agreed to come back with us. I know things can be a bit overwhelming at first but trust me ... you made the right decision. Secondly, how much I really want to stay and help you adjust to your new home at Xavier's but I have to help a friend with her wedding (trust me ... you'll meet her soon enough). But don't worry I'll be back real soon!

Till then, just get comfortable, sign up for some classes and if you're feeling uncomfortable or need anything you can talk to any of the staff like Kitty or Bobby, they are insanely nice. Also, I've already told Amara to grab you some clothes and she'll even get them altered so you'll have that to look forward to. See you in five days!

Sincerely,

Greer

Vanyss read the letter a few times. But each time she just felt angrier as a sense of abandonment set in.

"va te faire foutre." She cursed and the gargoyle flung the letter as far as she could out of her sight before dragging herself back to bed and violently pulling the blankets over herself. She really didn't mind starving now ... it wasn't like anyone cared after all. I mean the one person who swore to help her, ran away to some party.

Vanyss blinked away the tears before curling a little tighter into herself.


Apex was doing what he assumed was now his final run of survielence around the perimeter of the compound as he saw the guest heading for their seats. Greer had asked him not to 'work' when they came for the wedding, that she was certain whatever security was in place could keep everyone safe for a few days. He'd kept to himself the fact that it was SHIELD and Stark providing security for the wedding was one of the main reasons he was patrolling. He wasn't keeping an eye on the guests as much as on the ones tasked with watching them.

Apex shook his muzzle as he breathed deep. It hadn't helped that he'd neutralized three separate attempts to attack Logan and K both during and right before their wedding in the last two weeks. The whole affair had him on edge ... though he admitted that had at least something to do with the bride.

Apex didn't know his father. Course he didn't remember anything about his 'family' ... and he'd never viewed Logan as anything like a father. But that didn't mean he didn't respect him and if there was anyone outside of Greer that he cared about he knew it was the Wolverine. And when it came to K ... Greer described it as him 'coming around.' For now he'd put her with the rest of the Mansion ... and that put her in his view under worth protecting.

But then he'd spotted Jean and Betsy working on her in the cabin and that feeling of unease had crept back in. He knew it wasn't her fault ... but every time he'd ever seen K treated like that and dressed up like that ... people had died soon after.

"No." Apex again shook his head, sharper this time. That wasn't K ... not this one anyway.

Looking back at the crowd he saw that it was growing and quietly growled to himself. He'd promised Greer he would be with her in time for the ceremony, the two secluded in the back so as to not draw too much unwanted attention. He'd tried to eliminate a number of the assorted guests and had succeeded when it came to some of their friends. He assumed Logan would frown at him killing one of guests at his wedding ... though he imagined K might laugh about it. The image got him to smirk and with a final look around the grounds reached into the bag he'd slung over his back and went to change.

Greer barely had time to find newly weds before they disappeared for lord knows how long when the party had finally died down. She had a whole little speech prepared but when she saw the two of them ... that look of pure contentment of Logan's face as he led her off the dance floor and toward a more secluded area, entirely wrapped up in each other. Logan was smiling broadly just after the kiss they were sharing broke and he did a quick double take as he spotted Greer trying to sneak their way.

"Hey Tig,I can take you for a dance in a sec -" was about all Logan got out before he'd had his furriest adopted daughter wrapped around him like she was afraid he would fly off if she didn't hold on to him. K had been about to slip away and give Greer a chance at privacy when suddenly it had been her turn. Greer had finally taken a little step back and furiously swiped some loose tears away ... clearly embarrassed that she'd done /exactly/ what she'd told herself she wasn't going to do.

"Did someone die and I missed it?" K asked, wide eyed as Greer squeezed the stuffing out of her.

Greer was giving K a final hug goodbye as she saw Colton and Logan grasp forearms in about as close to a hug as she'd ever seen Colton give someone else. She also didn't miss the, 'take care of her' that Logan rumbled out, earning yet another teary smile from the tigress.

And just like that ... the most dangerous newly wed couple on the planet slipped into the darkness.


On the ride back to the cabins that a few of the X-Men had rented 'nearby' (nothing was close out here Jean audibly grumbled) Greer was finally able to think.

The wedding itself was simple and yet somehow one of the most elegant things Greer had ever seen. She didn't mind being on the fringes with Colton and a 'thinking' from Xavier made it so that whenever anyone looked over all they'd remember would be Greer. She suspected at least some Avengers knew she had been "with" someone when she'd been in California but who that someone was ... well she'd worked hard to keep it a mystery. The few times Tony had actually tried setting her up with someone she had politely declined ... and quickly ran in the other direction. Janet had told her to try hitting him next time ... had worked for all the other women on the team. Luckily for her pracitcally everyone had been focused on the other feral couple and she and Colton had been left in peace.

Greer was actually a bit surprised at how well behaved Colton had acted. He hadn't slipped off after the first opportunity and had quietly stood by her side throughout the whole party, their tails intertwined for most of it. She put it on the entire affair being outside and mentally made a note of it.

In fact ... the entire wedding had her thinking about things. The panther she was tucked next to being at the center of most of it.

From the time Colton had come crashing into her life things had been fairly intense and overall crazy. But these last few months had been some of the best she'd ever had and for whatever reason since she'd come back from visiting her mom in New York, Colton had been much more affectionate when it came to sticking around more and just being there for her. But when she thought about it ... particularly some of the things K had talked about ... she wondered what it might take to push things in a more serious direction.

Seeing Logan and K that happy ... could she really have something like that? Snuggling in a bit deeper into Colton's side the tigress was determined to find out.


"What are you doing here? Leave me alone." Marie tried to keep the smile on her face as she entered the room, tray in hand, which she almost dropped when Vanyss suddenly dropped from the ceiling to crouch in the middle of the darkened room. She noted all the blinds were drawn and it looked like most of the things some of the girls had bought her stayed wrapped. It had been a bit of a challenge for the women of Xavier's of how to help Vanyss find clothes with her wings attached to her arms but it had eventually been Kitty who had thought of tube tops. But the wide range of tops, jeans and shorts stayed in their bags. Marie was careful not to raise an eyebrow.

"I didn't see you downstairs for breakfast. Thought you might be hungry," she said gently but the gargoyle just scoffed at Marie's tray and made a face before hissing and retreating to her bed, crossing her arms over her raised knees.

"I don't want any of your food ... if you can even call it that. I want to go home." she spat with a strong Parisian accent but Marie just ignored her. They had tried sending Remy to show her around the first day but Vanyss had just insulted his 'sewer French' and slammed the door. That was two days ago. It would be another few weeks before students started showing up for the new school year but there was some concern with Vanyss still not settling in and getting to know the few students that were around. In fact she had barely left her room.

"You shouldn't stereotype. Xavier has some of the best food-"

"It's merde." Vanyss seethed, but smirking slightly as if inviting a fight. But Marie simply put the tray of food down on a dresser before trying to approach the girl again. It took more than that to tick her off. Gabriel had done this to her countless times and it wasn't like this was her first encounter with a moody teenage girl.

"You don't have to be difficult," she said simply but Vanyss scoffed again.

"Difficult? You people kidnapped me. How did you expect me to react?" she snapped.

"I'm fairly certain there was no kidnapping young lady." Marie responded and Vanyss backed away when Marie took a seat next to her.

"Get back! You do know what happened to the last person who came too close to me right? Jean? I poisoned her. I - I can poison you too…" the gargoyle threatened but Marie simply shrugged.

"I'd invite you to try but if I heard it correctly from Greer, you did that by accident," and the gargoyle seemed to deflate a little and Marie seizing the opportunity, quickly interjected before the teenage could get another word in.

"Is it worth it? This little act you're putting up?" she asked coolly, causing Vanyss to stop and stare at her warily. "Because I can tell you, it'd be so easy for me to just leave this room and never bother with you again… Do you want that?"

"Maybe I do," Vanyss sulked.

"No you don't. Look I understand that you're upset and angry and probably very confused." Vanyss rolled her eyes. As if this woman knew anything about her. Even that tiger woman Vanyss had thought was kind of nice had ditched her.

"Lady you don't know what you're talking about."

"So is turning away help really what you want? Right now, there's an entire mansion full of people that wants to get to know about you and help you."

"Nobody cares about me!" Vanyss hissed angrily. "IF ANYONE CARED ABOUT ME, I WOULDN'T BE STUCK HERE, MY FRIENDS WOULDN'T HAVE RAN FROM ME, I WOULDN'T BE - I WOULDN'T BE LIKE THIS!" the gargoyle screamed before cursing herself when she realized her eyes had misted over with tears ... Shit ... she hadn't meant to cry. She didn't want anyone to see.

And Vanyss buried her head into her arms. Sobbing silently before freezing when she recoiled violently when she felt the gentle hand on her shoulder. She almost wanted to stop Marie but … she couldn't bring herself too. Slowly just allowed it to continue, subtly wiping her tears away as Marie just scooted in slightly closer, continuing rubbing soothing patterns into the girl's back. It wasn't long before slowly, by her own accord, Vanyss just leaned in for a hug.

"I know honey ... It's OK ... It's OK ..."


Greer got back to Xavier's in a bit of a funk. She'd just nodded when Colton had quietly told her he was going on a run of the perimeter once the jet had set down and all the guests from the wedding headed off to unpack. Greer had done the same thing but barely got anything done before she found herself tucked into her preferred chair by the window overlooking the grounds.

"Smooth Greer ... Really smooth ..." She grumbled to herself as she bared her teeth at the memory of the last few days. It wasn't that she hadn't had a good time with everyone or that there was anything wrong between her and Colton. It was that things were exactly the same.

Not that 'same' was bad ... it was just - well the same. She had tried everything she could think of to get things going in a bit more serious direction with Colton but he just didn't seem to get the hints. Even the less subtle ones. Hell ... she'd gotten so desperate she'd even just straight up asked him what he thought about Logan and K getting married and the most she got was, "They're happy."

The tigress sighed at the memory. It wasn't like she wanted to get married tomorrow or anything but ... well ... she at least wanted to know it was all going somewhere at least. But she also didn't want to confuse Colton either ... he hid it well but she knew there were times people would talk about things he clearly didn't understand. It was one of the easiet ways to know he was about to slip away.

And the last thing she wanted was for her panther to slip away.

Her ears lowered as she ruminated ... I mean if Logan and K could find each other than certainly ...

"Greer!" The tigress almost jumped out of her chair as her mom came into her room and came over to give her daughter a hug. Once Greer had given her a satisfactory answer on how the wedding had gone she took a moment to look around the room and noted the mix of black and orange fur on the bed.

"You know Greer ..."

"Don't even start mom." Greer drawled out. Her mom had held her tongue for most of the time she'd been here but this was one subject she really didn't her mom involved with right -

"I just want to make sure you're being careful with -"

"Mom!" Greer barely had back the roar as she gave her mother a truly mortified look and got up to push her out but Marie quickly raised her hands in surrender.

"Fine ... Fine. None of my business," Greer huffed and sat back down, "but I actually came in to talk to you about something other than your love life."

"Thank god." Greer grumbled before promptly collapsing onto her bed ... she felt a headache coming on.

"It's about Vanyss." Greer's ears swivled and she quickly got up and turned to fully face her mom.

"Shit! I totally - oh man ... I have to see her. Do you know where she is? Has she been OK?" Marie reached out and gently took Greer's hands into hers and had her sit back down.

"Vanyss is ... adjusting. And she's right where you left her." Greer's head tilted to the side for a moment as she let that process.

"Wait ... she's still in her room?"

Marie sighed.

"And I thought you and your brother could be stubborn."

"But how long has it been… A week? Did she sign up for classes? How about food?"

"I don't know about classes. But i bring meals to her every day and ..." But Greer didn't need her mom to finish. She knew exaclty how Vanyss was feeling and she didn't have a Jean to help her like Greer did.

"Well I feel terrible. I need to check on her," and Maire realized Greer hadn't even been listening to what she said, the tigress too preoccupied with changing into a set of clean clothes before making her way to the door…

"We'll talk later OK? I'm just really worried…" and with a click of the door, Marie found herself alone in Greer's room.

"Didn't even thank me…" the reporter sighed before something at the corner of her eye caught her attention. Making her way to the window, she caught sight of Colton making his way back towards the grounds ... one of the few times she caught him unawares and without an inducer. She tried fighting down the chill she got and reminded herself that he cared about her daughter.

"He's just a kid." Marie muttered to herself and quickly turned and followed her daughter out.


Vanyss had woken up and spent the few two hours staring at her ceiling as she watched the shadows lengthen into night and eventually for the noise outside her door to go away until finally ... it was quite.

"à propos du temps." The French gargoyle muttered. Sitting up and stretching her arms, she allowed herself a sigh of relief as the membranes between her wings got the relaxation she had denied them by keeping them folded all day long but couldn't help but make a face.

"Yuck," she mumbled as she probed a spine, watching it with mild curiosity, as it stood straight up. She hated how they gave away how she felt all the time. Probably explained why she still had no friends ... though the point that she hadn't left her room pointedly forgotten. She used to have so many friends back in France. She used to have a family ... a little brother ...

And where the hell were they now?

'Away from you… No one cares about you …' and Vanyss sneered at her own internal commentary.

"They do care about me…"

'Then why is no one looking for you?'

Vanyss struck the wall and hissed as she absorbed the pain from the impact. She hated how she was starting to believe that her family had stopped caring about her. That they just chose to leave her in this hell she found hesrself in. Abandoned to let her face her punishment alone.

Looking at the clock she saw it was a little after 1 am and straining her ears one more time, she got off the bed and quietly went to her window. Prying the curtains open slightly, Vanyss popped open the window and bracing herself against the ledge, took a deep breath of the warm night air, and through herself into the air, quickly catching a breeze and lofting upwards.

...

Apex was doing his last perimeter check, making sure all surveillance was up to date, checked all the blind spots, ensured that all the traps he had set up had not been tempered with. He was trying to wrap this up quickly. He had a tigress waiting for him after all. A tigress that was not going to be particularly pleased with him considering the time and the mood she had been in when he'd last seen her.

As he neared the ending of the woods, he paused when he caught sight of a shadow passing above him. Apex glanced up and caught sight of the mansion's newest resident as she flew above him ... if you would call what she was doing 'flying.'

He started to follow her as he considered that she might be trying to run away. She wouldn't be the first student he had brought back, most either lost in the woods or found walking along the nearest highway. But judging from how unbalanced she was he didn't think the gargoyle was going to say in the air for much longer. Calculating her trajectory, Apex quickly started to scale the nearest tree. The last thing he wanted was to be visiting the infirmary this late at night.

Vanyss loved flying. She was still trying to figure everything out and it was terrifying but ... she loved it. The teen took a deep breath as the wind whipped through her hair. The rush, the exhilaration, how she had caught herself ... she couldn't believe she had been so reluctant to try this back in Paris. Her stomach dropped as the gust she'd been riding died and she managed to catch herself but glancing around, she realized she had flown a little too far. She tried to turn only to feel her height drop even more ... the whole 'turning' thing was still a bit of a problem. Vanyss tried to contain her panic as she felt herself dipping. Flapping her arms, she tried to re-balance herself but found the trees below her getting much closer.

"OK screw that ... Just gonna land somewhere and then try to walk back. Nice and easy ..." and the gargoyle tilted herself to aim for the nearest tree but panicked as suddenly she falling. She shrieked as she plummeted like a rock, branches scrapping her as she hurtled past them and just as she thought it was all over, a dark shadow had sprung out, quickly grabbing her and she desperately clung onto him as they landed on a strong branch.

It took a little while for the gargoyle to recover from her fall but when she did, she quickly kicked herself away from the massive panther, only to panic as she watched him pull a few barbs from his forearm.

"Are you- !"

"I'll be fine." Vanyss wasn't sure why she believed him but she did and slipped back to sit against the trunk. Apex looked elsewhere while he waited for the girl's breathing to even out and the barbs on her back to settle. He wasn't surprised that Vanyss on the other hand kept on staring at him as she calmed down. Eventually Vanyss seemed recovered enough for Apex to talk. He guessed he was going to have to get them both down anyhow.

"I didn't mean to scare you." Apex finally rumbled, dropping himself to a crouch to appear as less of a threat. He could tell that Vanyss had no trouble seeing him despite the heavy darkness caused by the canopy.

"You didn't," Vanyss managed to toss out and Apex tried not to roll his eyes at her lie. That's what they all said. Vanyss it seemed could tell he didn't believe her.

"I just don't like people touching me that's all." Vanyss said softly as an explanation for her kicking Apex away from her, her arms wrapping around her knees. Apex stayed quiet to allow her to continue, his experience with Katherine and Amara had taught him that girls their age were well and truly able to carry on conversations with themselves but to his surprise, this one didn't. She stayed quiet. They stayed like that for a few minutes until Apex stood back up.

"We should head back." Vanyss looked up at him as she bit her lip and nodded her head, slowly getting back to her feet. He took a step towards her, clearly moving to pick her up but Vanyss held out a clawed hand.

"I can do it myself." and taking a shaky breath she hooked both hands into the bark and slid down in a controlled decent. When she reached the bottom with a bit of a satisfied grin she glanced up for the panther only to jump at the dull thud behind her and with a nod towards the mansion the two headed back in continued quiet.

It took them close to an hour to get back and by then Vanyss was sore and cranky. Being stuck up in that room all the time had left her seriously out of shape. She her guide into the mansion's kitchen and was ready to call it a night when he rumbled at her.

"Wait."

Not being sure what else to do, Vanyss took a seat at the large island while he headed towards the fridge. She had worked up the courage to to ask him what he wanted when suddenly a sandwich, quickly followed by a large glass of water, was pushed in front of her.

"Eat."

Vanyss looked from the panther to the sandwich and considered saying something snarky but at that moment her stomach gave a very audible rumble. Apex raised an eyebrow as if daring her to say something and not seeing many other option Vanyss dug into the sandwich. She hadn't realized how hungry she was, having spent the last week picking at the food they brought her and before that eating whatever she could steal in Paris, and didn't even stop as another sandwich replaced her first ... and then second.

Finally she sat back with a satisfied sigh and as Apex took the empty plate and started to wash it Vanyss felt a surge of embarrassment at how she must look right now. Falling out of the sky ... Eating like a pig ... That was far from the person she used to be.

"Thanks for the food ... and you know ... catching me." Vanyss offered. Apex however simply turned back to face her with his arms crossed.

"You were mean to Greer before." Vanyss winced at the memory and looked down at the floor. Greer had come to see her earlier and Vanyss hadn't exactly been kind. She had stayed tucked in a corner of her bed and yelled at the tigress for abandoning her and taking her to this terrible place. Of course she'd felt bad afterwards ... but now she just felt worse.

"I know. Je suis désolé. You can tell her that -"

"You can tell her yourself," Vanyss nodded, "when you meet with her to sign up for classes tomorrow."

Vanyss's jaw dropped.

"I am not signing up for anything." Vanyss shot back, her hands balled into fists. Apex however didn't change his tone at all.

"Yes ... You are. Or you can meet with Professor Summers for breaking school protocol and leaving the mansion after dark." Vanyss actually jerked back at that. Was he actually ...

"Are you blackmailing me?"

Apex shrugged.

"Choose."

Vanyss narrowed her eyes at him. She'd thought she could at least trust Colton. So much for that. Fine ... Lesson learned.

"I'll meet with Greer tomorrow night."

"Tomorrow morning. She'll expect you at nine."

Vanyss considered shouting something back but with nothing coming to her she simply cursed in French as she stormed back to her room.

Apex listened until he heard her door slam. Shaking his head he pushed off the counter and headed towards the staff wing. He was never going to figure these teenagers out.