Shout-outs:

Untouchable Hexing Witch: Thanks for the review; yeah I know; I decided to try some X-ietro, since I usually try and write Jonda, Lancitty, and Romy. Hoped it turned out all right. Enjoy!

LilPrincessMe2000 : Glad you enjoyed it! Here's another chapter!

Heartsyhawk: I know the descriptions are long and tedious, but since this is AU I thought I'd tell about the characters and any changes I took the liberty of making. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: The certificate is finally here! No, Ting (my bro.'s dog), come back! Don't chew it to pieces!

"…"- conversation

'…'- thoughts

(…)- extra facts/actions (some)

((…))- author's/my own thoughts

'blah…' -telepathy/what people say mentally

Chapter 6: Rejoining the X-Men

Xavier Institute, Bayville, NY- May 15, 12:30 AM

Lance woke to hear voices talking to someone whom he recognized as Forge, and who were standing near the jeep. He recognized the other voice, besides that of Forge's to be that of Professor Xavier, and watched what was going on, not noticing that Xavier had glanced his way for a sliver of a minute and knew Lance was awake.

"My god, Forge," said Xavier as he looked at Kitty, who was in the back of Lance's jeep, "What in the world happened to Kitty?" Xavier was in his typical outfit- black slacks, a white turtleneck, a black sports coat, and shoes. Xavier's wheelchair can both float in the air and roll on the ground and he operates it by thought.

"Professor," replied Forge as he looked from the injured and unconscious Kitty to Xavier, "Sabretooth somehow found Kitty on the roof of the Bayville College, and then attacked her. Lance was walking near the school, heard Kitty scream, and came to the rescue." (Forge knows this because Lance told him what had happened earlier)

"Wait a minute," said another voice Lance vaguely recognized as Logan's, "You're telling me that Avalanche was the one who saved Half-Pint from Sabretooth?"

"Yeah, I am," replied Forge. "And that's not all. Lance came to me for help in bandaging up Kitty, and watched over her. When Sabretooth attacked again, Lance sent me, with Kitty, away from my house so that we'd be safe from Sabretooth. He caused a sinkhole to open up under Sabretooth and sent him into the center of the earth. He was also injured, and I brought him here because he needs medical help, more than I can provide, and so does Kitty. Also, I need a place to crash for a while, as my house is completely destroyed; thanks to Sabretooth, of course."

"Forge; do know that you are welcome to stay here for as long as needed. Logan," said Xavier, "please take Kitty to the hospital wing, but do not wake anyone up. Forge, go inside and tell Mr. McCoy…" Xavier pointed to a huge blue creature standing in the front doorway, listening to Xavier. He was known as Mr. Hank McCoy, a.k.a. The Beast, and Xavier continued, "to show you to one of our many guest rooms." Forge looked over to Hank, who was smiling at him from his place in front of the Institute's doors. Hank was wearing khaki pants with a lab coat over them, signaling that he had been about to go and work in his lab.

Logan nodded and carefully reached into the back of the jeep and gently slipped his arms under Kitty's body, making sure to support her head, and began to walk as fast as he was able to towards the mansion and towards the infirmary.

After Logan had left with Kitty in his arms, Xavier addressed Forge, "Oh, and Forge, do not tell anyone what really happened to Kitty, or wake anyone up. I will be the one to tell them that."

"Uh, sure, Professor, but can I go to the garage first to put the tools I managed to salvage from the wreckage of my house and the medical supplies I managed to find in Lance's jeep away and then go into the mansion?" Forge asked as he looked at Xavier.

"Certainly," said Xavier as he nodded towards where the garages were located. He watched Forge walk towards the garages for a few minutes, told Hank to wait for Forge inside of the house, and then turned around and faced the jeep.

'Now, to see if Lance is all right,' thought Xavier to himself as he approached the awoken Lance.

"Professor!" said Lance as he saw Xavier rolling closer to the jeep, and Lance tried to get out of the jeep and on his feet.

"No, no, don't try and get up, Lance," said Xavier as he raised a hand to stop Lance, and then rolled around to the passenger side of the jeep. "You've been through a great ordeal, and I must say, I am impressed. You betrayed Sabretooth in order to protect an X-Men, who are and have been the sworn enemies of the Brotherhood, both of which have been fighting against one another for years."

"No, Professor," said Lance as he shook his head in negation of Xavier's previous statement, "I didn't betray the Brotherhood for just any X-Men; I betrayed them for Kitty."

"Yes, I know," said Xavier as he extended a hand in welcome to Lance, "and I want you to know that you are welcome to return to the X-Men."

"You're sure?" asked Lance as he shook his head in disbelief, "I mean, after I betrayed your trust and almost helped Mystique and the Brotherhood conquer you I don't know how many times, you still want me to join the X-Men? You don't think that I'll betray you again?"

"No, Lance, I don't," replied Xavier as he put his hands in the infamous "steeple" position. "The reason is because I can see into the inner recesses of soul and I see that you are now filled with the desire to do good and protect everything on this planet. You have become a completely different person than what you once were. I can sense that you are sincere in your actions and thoughts. Also," said Xavier as he chuckled a bit and placed his hands on Lance's shoulders in friendship, "a desire to be the object of Kitty's affections, to get her back, and to please her in any way that you can."

"I must extend to you my heartfelt gratitude in saving her," continued Xavier, as he looked Lance in the eyes, deciding not to mention the fact that Lance was blushing a bit. "She is my responsibility, and if anything were to happen to her, I would be in real trouble with her parents, if you know what you mean," continued Xavier as he took his hands off Lance's shoulders and extended a hand once more.

"Yeah, I think I do," said Lance as he opened the door of his jeep, slowly got out and stood in front of Xavier, supporting himself with one hand on his jeep for a few moments until he got his balance back. He did this while making sure to keep most of his weight off his injured ankle. "And I have to give you my thanks, for letting me rejoin the X-Men. I feel this is another chance for me not only to earn yours and the other X-Men's respect, but to make some new friends, to help people in any way I can. Also, I want to earn Kitty's affection through a way that doesn't involve my hurting anyone; not anymore," finished Lance as he took Xavier's offered hand and shook it warmly.

"Lance, I agree with you that you are now ready to join the X-Men, but first…" said Xavier as he rolled closer to Lance, took his right arm, and examined the wound he'd just noticed was quickly disappearing. "I think that we need to get you to the hospital wing. For some strange reason, you've stopped bleeding, and have started to turn green."

With these words, Xavier let go of Lance's arm and stared at his head, which was starting to turn a bit green, watching all traces of blood disappearing, along with the head injury itself.

"What!" exclaimed Lance as he looked at his hands, which were now green and scaly, his fingers turning into pointed claws, "I'm turning green! But how in the world can that happen!"

"I don't know Lance, but we must find out. Follow me to the medical lab, where we'll examine you, and see what's going on," replied Xavier as he started to roll towards the mansion's entrance, with Lance limping slowly behind him. As Lance did so he took no notice that his ankle was slowly starting to hurt less and less, and feeling a bit of pain as wings began to appear on his back.

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