My dad has been gone for months now. Sometimes I receive letters from him, though. He always tells me how much he misses me and how he's doing. In almost every letter, he tells me about how he is protecting the necklace. Since he keeps traveling around, I never get to write him any letters. I can never tell him how I'm doing or how much I miss him, or even how I never take his dog tags off. If anyone tried, there would be hell to pay for.

A lot of things have happened since then. Scott and I have gotten even closer but he's gotten over protective and really strict. Just like an older brother…sadly. Pyro and I have been working on our powers by dueling each other, but not enough intensity to hurt each other. Bobby and I have gotten closer. Storm has taken even a bigger step to being a mother towards me. Jean and I, I guess you could call us sisters. We talk sometimes and she helps me out whenever she can but we're not as close as I am with the others.

Scott and I were in the training arena, him teaching me how to defend myself. He's been teaching me this stuff since my dad left and at first, it was fun but lately, he's been being too hard on me, making me practice for hours a day. Today, he's been throwing his lasers at me, making me use my force field.

I was growing weak from training for all these hours. I felt my eyes turn a color that was new. Grey, meaning exhausted and tired. Scott kept rising the level of the lasers, making me weaker. I gave out a yell and dropped to my knees. Scott stopped immediately and stalked over to me with a scowl on his face.

I could tell he was glaring at me even with his glasses. "Get up. You gotta stop being weak! Take on new challenges and face your fears! You'll never get anywhere if you can't do that!"

"Well, I'm sorry but I've been trying to fight off your lasers for hours! I'm tired, I need rest. I haven't even eaten yet and it's almost four o'clock in the afternoon. You woke me up at nine in the morning. I bet you had a pretty good breakfast, huh?!"

"That's not the point! If you don't keep training then how will you defend yourself when you get in a fight? How will you protect yourself when nobody is there? You'll end up taken again or even killed!" Scott demanded.

He spoke in such a harsh tone; I had tears come to my eyes. I normally wouldn't get worked up over it but this is Scott. My older brother, always being gentle with me, trying to keep me calm and safe. I wrapped me arms around myself, putting my head down. I was about to get back up and do as he says when a voice interrupted us.

"Scout, can you go check on Pyro? I think he burned himself while practicing with Bobby." Storm and Jean were at the door. I could tell that was a lie and that Jean was just telling me that so I could get some rest.

I nod my head as I walk out the door. As my back was turned toward them, I could still hear Scott yelling at them for letting me leave and they were yelling back for making me work so hard. I get to my room and plop on my bed. I cover up in my blankets and grab the dog tags in my fist. I fell asleep within seconds.

When I woke up, I felt a presence in my room. They were sitting on my bed, next to me, stroking my hair and humming softly. When I look up, I see Storm was there. She looks at me with pity in her eyes. I just shake it off telling her that I didn't want any pity.

She still speaks to me softly. "You know Scott is only worried about you. We all are. We don't want to see you get hurt again and with your dad gone, we know we have to do everything we can to help protect you, Baby Girl."

I turn to her with almost red and blue eyes. "Believe it or not, I'm older than I look. I know how to take care of myself, I know what my limits are, and when I know I can't push any farther and I've used up my strength, I give up."

I ended up telling her everything about my age. She was shocked at first but accepted it. I went to the professor a while back and asked why it looks like I'm growing up. His answer was that when I find a family, then my age will continue with that family and I will no longer always look 14. I will grow up and live a life.

Storm understands me and tells me that she'll always be there for me if I ever needed her. Now where have I heard that before? Once she left, I got in some clothes and went to walk around the mansion. As I was walking, I got lost in my own thoughts, not caring or paying attention to where I was going.

Almost every day I wish my dad would come back. I miss him and he would never make me train this hard. No matter what it was about, the second he saw me tired, he would stop and tell me to take a break and do something fun and relaxing. I keep all the letters from him, in a box under my bed. It has many pictures, videos, and letters in there.

They're all of my mom and dad, Bobby, Pyro, Storm, Jean, and Scott. When Pyro found the box, he went through it and saw there were no pictures of me. I told him that this box was for the people I care about. He looked me in the eye that day and asked, "So what? You don't care about yourself?"

I'll admit, he had a point. But I never worried about myself. I only thought of the people around me. But that day, Pyro made me put lots of pictures in there that were of me. Some were cute, some were funny, some were sad, and some were happy. But that's how life is.

When he asked me why I kept all this stuff, the only answer I could give him was, "Because, life is nothing but the unexpected. You never know what can happen and if anything happens to me or any of you guys, I'll always have this to look back on."

At first he thought it was kinda stupid because he doesn't really pay attention to life. Most people don't but I do. Sadly, I learned that the hard way. That's why I'm always scared to get close to some people. Others who told me that they would always be there for me, left. Left me back in the dust.

I wasn't paying attention to where I was going or who was around me until I bumped right into someone. I hit their chest and fell on my ass. My eyes turn red as I look up; ready to give the person a bunch of shit. But I only saw Bobby, looking sorry.

He offered his hand to help me up. "Sorry, Kitten. I didn't see you there." That was actually one of my many nicknames. Bobby calls me Kitten, Scott calls me Angel, Pyro calls me Doll, and Storm calls me Baby Girl. Jean just calls me Scout. But that's ok because I still remember what my dad always calls me. It's always either Kid or Scout. Personally, I like Kid better. It's original. They all are.

"No, it's fine. I wasn't looking where I was going either. I guess we're both at blame here." I chuckle.

"Hey, I was actually looking for ya. I, uh, was wondering if you… uh, if you wanted to…you know, go out sometime?" Bobby stuttered.

I smile and give him a nod. "Yeah, that sounds great!"

"Really? Awesome! Is tomorrow night ok for you?"

"Yea, you know I don't have anything planned at all. Except for the training…" I trail off.

"Hey, speaking of that how's that going for ya? You getting any better?"

"Uh, it's really hard, actually. Scott never lets me rest. I only got out of this one thanks to Jean and Storm." I respond.

"Well, I hope everything works out ok. I also hope to see you at the bench by the lake around…let's say seven o'clock, tomorrow evening?" he looks nervous.

"Definitely. I'll see you there." I blush. I felt little specks of pink in my eyes. Blush or embarrassment.

After we part, I run upstairs and get into bed. I couldn't wait for the date with Bobby, I wanted tomorrow to come as fast as possible. I was so excited I almost couldn't fall asleep. But I did end up waking up around the middle of the night. It was normal for me to wake up really late at night. As I was making my way down to the kitchen to get a little late night snack, I knew someone was already there.

I pushed myself against the wall and peeked over the edge of it. The sight surprised me. There was Scott, facing me but with his glasses off, his eyes shut tight. He had a coffee mug in one hand and his other hand was trying to hold his head up.

I tried to be as quiet as I could and walk away but he knew. Scott snapped his head in my direction as whispered, "Angel? Is that you?"

I didn't want to ignore him so I answered. "Yea, it's me. What are you doing up so late?"

"I couldn't sleep. I also wanted to talk to you. I was hoping I would meet up with you down here." He motions me over to sit next to him at the table.

Instead I sit right across from him and that was good enough for him. He puts his glasses back on and looks at me. He stares at me for a while before speaking. "Look, Angel. I'm real sorry. I shouldn't push you so hard. You're still a kid, you need to have fun, not spend your days in a training arena. I promise I'll go a lot easier on you and a lot less hours, ok?"

"Scott, that's not what was wrong. It was only a little part of it. The way you kept speaking to me, the way you would always scold me or glare at me because I couldn't do something right. I know you want me to get stronger and all but I don't want to train with that Scott. I want to train with the Scott I know. The one that is always there when I need him. My older brother Scott."

I look at him and I see a tear fall from his face. "If that's what you want, then ok. I know I've been really harsh with you for a while. I'm just scared, I guess. I'm scared that you'll leave, trying to find Logan and end up getting hurt. The last time I saw you in pain, it wasn't pleasant. I don't want to have to see that again."

"You won't. Not as long as I'm where my family is. I know I shouldn't always depend on you guys but I know you guys won't let me get hurt and you'll protect me at all costs. And I would do the same for every one of you guys."

He sighs and gives me a soft smile. "That's my problem. You care so much for other people, I never see you worry about yourself. You're always thinking of the people around you. And as much as I hate to admit it, you're just like Logan. You guys are so much alike it's almost scary but yet you're both so different."

We both smile and laugh at this, knowing it's true. I felt the sting in my eyes from tears coming. I knew I just got back my older brother that has been gone for quite a while. And he knew it too. I knew what I was going to ask next might cause some trouble but I was curious. "Scott?"

"Hmm?" he takes a drink from his coffee.

"…What color are your eyes?"

He practically choked on his coffee. He looks at me, uncertainly. "Uh, I don't really remember. The last time I saw what color they were was when I was a little boy. That was a long time ago."

I had an idea but I knew he would try to object to it. It was worth a shot. "Can I see your eyes?"

He looks at me like I'm crazy and starts to shake his head. "No way! No way in hell. I'll end up blasting you."

"No, one of my powers is to pause or freeze someone else's power. Besides remember what you said to me earlier today? I've got to challenge myself. You've gotta face your fears too. I wanna see if I can do it. Please, Scott." I say with hope.

"Angel, that wasn't me talking, remember? That was a different me. I don't want to risk hurting you. You don't know how dangerous this could be." He warns. I lift my hand up, to remove his glasses, slowly. But he quickly grabs my hands, almost begging me. "Scout, please. What if something went wrong?"

I know he's serious when he calls me Scout but I still look at him and say, "You know I can do it, Scott. You just have to believe in me. Let me try. Please."

I can tell he doesn't want to but he lets my hands go. I grab his glasses and pull them off. I carefully put them on the table. When I look at his eyes, I see they are shut tight. I gently grab both his hands as he slowly opens his eyes.

At first they were filled with red from the lasers but they were gone within seconds. His eyes had little specks of it before all the red was completely gone. He stared at me as I looked in his eyes. They were like a deep blue. Like an ocean blue.

I tried to remember his eyes, knowing he will never show them again. He spoke with nervousness in his voice. "What is it? Is something wrong?"

"No, no. Everything is fine. You should try to show Jean your eyes. She'll love them." I say with a smile.

He smiles back but only just. "Yea, well I don't think I'll be showing anybody my eyes for a good while. You were lucky tonight, Angel."

"Thank you, Scott. That means a lot." I give him his glasses back and he puts them on as fast as he could.

He turns to the clock and back to me. "I think we both should be getting to bed now. It's late."

We both make our way up the stairs, forgetting the usual midnight snack and his coffee. He follows me into my room as I hop in bed. He throws the blankets over my body and tucks me in. He gives me a kiss on the forehead before walking toward the door. My voice stops him in his tacks. "Scott, wait. I don't wanna be alone tonight. Can you stay with me? Please?"

He chuckles as he sits on the edge of my bed. "Ok, but only until you fall asleep. I got my own bed, you know?" Just when he says that, I scoot over and make room for him. Neither of us says anything as he lies down next to me, wrapping his arms around me, making me feel protected and not alone.

"Night, Angel." My older brother mumbles.

"Night, Scott." I respond as we both fall into a peaceful sleep.