So sorry for not writing in forever! I've been super busy getting ready for moving and working and everything! But finally, an update! Thank you all for being so loyal with your reviews, as well as encouraging :D

Huge thanks to Twtfan01 for being the 300th reviewer! It really gave me the kick I needed to update!

Hope everyone's enjoying their summer!

xXx

The room was deadly quiet. Remy's face was scrunched with concentration and the potato chips were gone. You could cut the tension in the air with a knife.

"Okay, show me your cards."

Remy laid down his cards, face up. "Straight flush."

"Ohh, sorry sweetie. Me too." I smiled. "And mine goes from five to 9, yours 4 to eight. I win again."

"Yah gotta be cheat'n or somethang!" Remy huffed.

"Don't be a poor sport." I cooed. Laughing, I tossed my cards. "Now take off your pants!"

Remy is a great card player, but I was winning. I had him down to his just his pants and boxers. I had only lost two socks and my t-shirt. At first he was going easy on me, thinking I wouldn't be very good, but by the time he lost three articles of clothing he really started trying. Not that it helped too much. He was a pro, but still, I knew his face too well. Every tiny crinkle and movement meant something, and it wasn't too often I didn't know what. Besides, Dad had been teaching me poker since I was four. We'd play it like other parents would play Go Fish with their kids. Of course when Mom found out she told him to stop, because she thought I would develop a gambling problem (not that he did stop, we just had to play when she wasn't home).

And I was cheating, just a little.

"Ah haven't done dis bad since Ah was fifteen." Remy groaned, rubbing his face.

"Ohhh, poor baby."

"Ah thought yah was do'n this for me? Don't seem fair that Ah'm da one los'n." Remy complained as he stood up and undid his belt.

"Well, it started out that way. But then I realized how much more fun it would be for me to win." I cooed. "Now drop 'em."

Remy gave me a wicked grin and it was like a light bulb went off above his head. He started singing some cheesy stripper music and waggled his eyebrows at me. Seductively (okay, more silly than seductive), he slowly danced towards me.

"Remy, knock it off." I laughed.

He started singing louder as he pulled my chair out from the table and twirled around me.

"Keep it PG, Cajun." I reminded, still laughing.

Keeping in time to his own music, he kept dancing as he leisurely pulled down his blue jeans. To my shock, he was sporting bright orange boxers with blue alligators all over them.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

My heart dropped.

Uh oh.

All in one swift movement I pushed Remy away and grabbed my shirt off the floor to cover myself up. Beet red, I looked over guiltily at Cap who was standing in the door.

"I knocked, but someone's singing must have droned it out." Cap explained. Embarrassed, he coughed. "Leah, we have a session tonight."

"Ah! I completely forgot, sorry Cap." I pulled on my shirt. "We were just, um, we were-"

"Play'n go'fish." Remy supplied cheerfully, earning him a light kick from me. The cretin was smiling and obviously trying not to laugh. He didn't even have the decency to pretend to be embarrassed!

Cap gave him a small frown before saying to me, "I'll be waiting in the hallway."

I pressed my hands to my overly warm cheeks, wishing I could sink through the floor and vanish forever.

Remy noticed my reaction and laughed as he pulled back on his jeans. "Petite, yo' as red as a cherry."

"I am never going to live this down…" I sighed mournfully. I kissed Remy's rough check quickly before hurrying out to meet Cap.

Seeing me, Cap turned and made his way to the elevator. I fell into line behind him and followed, keeping my head down. It wasn't until we were in the elevator that he spoke.

"I know what happened the other night." Cap said softly. "You think you're ready for something so…I mean, are you okay with-"

Seeing that Cap was struggling to think of a tactful way to ask 'what the hell are you doing playing strip poker after what happened with Fang?', I cut in.

"I'm fine Cap." I said, looking at the floor as we walked. "It wasn't Remy who tried to hurt me."

"But still I'm not sure if-"

"Really, its fine. I mean, it was a stupid thing to do, but its fine. We were just goofing around."

"Leah…"

"Cap, I just want to forget what happened, okay?" I looked at him, my eyes pleading.

Cap sighed, "From my experience, pretending something didn't happen doesn't fix anything."

I gave Cap an overly bright smile, "There's nothing to fix, see?" To demonstrate this I did a series of one handed front springs out of the open elevator doors, landing upright with a 'tada!' gesture.

"You're over compensating." Cap frowned, following me out.

"Let's just get through this session, okay? I'll get changed and meet you in the Danger room." I said, changing the subject as I ducked into the X-men's change room. Through the door I called, "And Cap? Please don't tell my parents about the whole 'strip poker' thing, okay?"

I heard him chuckle. "Let's make a deal. If you impress me during your lesson today, I will never tell another soul about what happened today."

"Deal."

xXx

Cap worked me like a rented mule. I felt so dead. I was so relieved when six o'clock rolled around and Cap announced that he had to be getting back to the Avenger's mansion. I dragged myself off for a quick shower before heading back to the apartment for dinner.

The moment I got home, I dropped face first onto the couch. Moaning into the cushions, I thought my limbs would fall off.

"I think I'm going to die!"

"I guess you don't want to hear about the junior X-men training session tonight then?" Dad asked from his chair.

I let out a muffled howl. "No more, no more!"

"Logan, stop teasing poor Leah." Mom scolded, entering the living room. I raised my head just enough to look at her. In her hands was a bucket of KFC. "I thought tonight we'd stay in and eat together instead of eating with the rest of the school in the dinning hall."

"Sounds good!" Finding a new source of energy, I leapt up and snagged a chicken leg. Biting into it like a hungry dog, I sighed happily. "Sweet, wonderful grease…"

Mom made a face, clearly indicating her repulsion.

"So um," I 'delicately' wiped my mouth on my sleeve. "Where's Benny?"

"He's eating with his friends tonight." Mom answered, perching on the arm of Dad's chair. "But that's okay, because there's something we need to talk to you alone about."

Uh oh.

I slowly withdrew the hand which was reaching for another piece of chicken and looked at my parents. They were wearing their "we're totally trying to make it look like everything is fine but its not, because we don't think you can handle it".

"Who died?"

"No one!" Mom responded, shocked.

"Oh. Good." I shrugged. "Who's going to die?"

"Leah!" Mom frowned. "That's not funny."

"I wasn't joking! Its always life or death with you people."

"That's not true." Mom said sternly.

"Well, it kind of is." Dad admitted, but when Mom shot him a cold glare he quickly said. "But not in this case. Its nothing bad, I just wanted to ask you if you wanted to go back to Canada for awhile."

"Oh." I blinked, taken by surprise. "Why?"

"Its just a legal thing. The Professor thought it would be easier to have you in the States legally if the paper work was done while you were back in Canada." Mom answered smoothly. "Why are you looking so upset? You love Canada."

"Of course I do but, what about school? Training?"

"We've talked to the other teachers and they are fine with you taking some time off, as long as you keep caught up with the assignments and readings. And your father will be with you, so you will be able to keep your sessions."

I looked between my parents, smelling a rat. "But where we will live? Our house was blown up and I'm pretty sure everyone thinks we're dead."

"I have an old cabin up in the BC mountains we'll stay at. You'll like it there Leah, lots opportunities to fish and hunt and-"

"What's wrong? Why do we have to go now?" I interrupted. "I know something's wrong, so you guys can stop pretending."

"We told you, there's nothing to worry-"

"Give it up 'Ro, Leah's not going to fall for it." Dad sighed. "The truth is kid-"

"Logan." Mom hissed, her eyes flashing angrily.

"Come on 'Ro, she knows something's up. Its just going to worry her more if she doesn't know." Dad replied sternly. Mom looked majorly pissed, but she didn't try to stop him from speaking again.

"Leah, something's come up and the Institute isn't the safest place for you to be right now." Dad said in grim tone.

I blinked, waiting for him to continue. When he didn't, I said. "Ok-ay…care to elaborate on that? What's come up?"

"We don't have very many details-"

"You don't have- okay, so you want me to put my life on hold with only a few flimsy details?" I asked.

Mom glared at me sternly. "Leah, you are being rude. Watch your tone young lady."

I took a breath, knowing she was right. I was mad, but I couldn't take it out on my parents. It wasn't fair to them. I had to keep my temper in check.

"I'm sorry, I just want to know why we have to go? Guys, I'm really happy here. And I don't want us to be split up again." I apologised.

Dad came over to my side and hugged my shoulders. "I know this is rough on yah darl'n, but you just aren't safe here right now. Chuck called us earlier to speak with him. Since this morning he's been getting messages from trusted psychics. Seems they've all had visions last night, and they've had a reoccurring theme concerning you."

Oh great. Isn't how this whole thing started in the first place? Some losers tripping on acid (okay, so maybe some people can see into the future, but they are definitely not my favourite people right now, so I will continue to insult them) saw something and couldn't keep their mouths shut, so Mom and Dad packed up our lives and hide out in Canada. Now it's the same thing happening again!

"What did they see?" I asked.

Dad was about to answer, but Mom jumped in. "The visions were…confusing. All you need to know is that you aren't safe here."

"But-"

"Leah, please! We wouldn't be sending you away if we didn't feel it was necessary!" Mom exclaimed, her blue eyes tearing. She quickly turned away and dabbed furiously at her eyes with a tissue.

Wow. Whatever the psychics saw must have been bad to get Mom this upset.

I could rant and ramble on about how the psychics were probably wrong, how I could take care of myself, how I didn't want to leave; but what good would it do? My parents had made up their minds that I wasn't safe here. This was a battle I wasn't going to win, and there wasn't any point in upsetting Mom. She was just trying to be a good parent. It was my turn to play the part of the good daughter.

I got up and strode across the living room to her. I hugged her, burying my face in her white hair.

"Okay Mom." In those two words I hoped to say everything I didn't know how to. That I knew she was looking out for me, how sorry I was about all the stress I put on her just by being me, and that I wished things were different.

I then listened to her explain how me and Dad would leave in the morning, flying out to the cabin in the helicopter. The other details washed over me. I nodded and made myself smile so she wouldn't know how upset I was.

I didn't want to leave everything. Again.

And what about Remy?

My pocket buzzed as she talked about what I should pack. I pulled out my phone and saw a new text from an unknown number.

'hey, this is stretch. Kitty gave me ur #.'

I texted back, making it appear as though I was still listening to Mom (as every teen of our generation can).

'Oh, hey. What's up?'

Stretch was one of Eri- Fang's friends. After the incident at the base, I hadn't stayed friends with that group, instead becoming closer with Kitty's group. So it was strange for him to text me.

'That kid that hang out with u, ben or something? Yah I think he needs u.'

'What?!'

'come down to the library, k?'

'whats wrong?!'

'just hurry, I think he might hurt himself'

I shoved my phone back into my pocket and stood. "Is it okay if I go grab my books? I left them in the library when I was studying with Rogue."

My parents shared a look. Seeing that they were about to something crazy like 'we should go with you, the library's too dangerous!' I jumped in.

"Guys, it's just the library. I'm not going to get jumped or something. The visions didn't say anything was going down in the library, right?" I was already backing towards the door.

"Leah, I don't feel comfortable with you-" Mom began.

"Really, its fine. I'll have my phone on me and I'll go to the library and come right back." I said hurriedly. I was out the door before they could say anymore.

Once alone, I let go of the breath I didn't know I was holding.

I've accepted the fact that my life was never going to be normal or safe, pretty much the moment Professor Xavier told me I was the first antimutant. So there was no reason I should be more scared now.

But I was.

What could scare Mom so bad? She is the toughest lady I know and she was practically crying at the thought of what the psychics had seen.

I was almost at the library, still lost in my thoughts. I wasn't paying enough attention and I ended up walking into a wall. The only thing was, when I looked up, it wasn't a wall but the giant Dave.

"Oh, sorry Dave. I wasn't paying attention." I apologised, stepping back to I could look up into his face. Strangely, he wouldn't meet my eyes when he muttered "Don't worry 'bout it."

I looked to Stretch, who was at his side. "Hi Stretch, where's Benny?"

Stretch smiled at me, "He's back in one of the study rooms."

I frowned. The study rooms were down a corridor by the library. But they were older students. I didn't think Benny even knew about the rooms.

"What is he doing there?" I asked.

"Him and the other younger students were fooling around back there and things got out of hand." Stretch answered.

Dave shook his large head and stomped off. I stared after him, confused.

"Ignore him, he's just grumpy cause he didn't get fourths at dinner. Come on, I'll show you where the kids are." Stretch offered.

"Shouldn't you have gotten a teacher?" I asked, a knot in my stomach.

"I would have, but I didn't want them to get in trouble." Stretch said, heading down the hall. His long arm was over my shoulder, forcing me forward. "I thought you'd be able to handle it better."

"Is someone hurt?" I asked, feeling more and more uneasy as we continued down the empty hall.

Stretch took a moment too long to answer. "Uh, yeah. Ben."

Warning bells were going off. I pulled away from Stretch and stepped back. "Then I'll go get my Mom. She's a doctor and can do more than me."

I was turning to go when I was suddenly constricted and yanked back. Stretch had his elastic like arm wound around me like a boa constrictor, squeezing me tightly. I felt the air forced out of my lungs as he dragged me out the door at the end of the hall.

I couldn't scream, I couldn't move. I desperately tried to bite his arms, but they were out of my reach.

"Stop struggling," Stretch grunted with effort as he dragged me out into the small alley that lead out to the grounds.

I was about to pass out from lack of oxygen when he let go. I dropped to the cement ground, wheezing and clutching my ribs. I was sure that he had broken a rib. Despite the pain, I tried to scurry away, but once again he wrapped his cable like arm around my ankle and yanked me back.

A gentle hand reached down from about and stroked my cheek.

"Leah, Leah, Leah." A male voice chided. "Always wanting to run away."

I looked up to see Remy smirking down at me.

"Fang," I hissed, my blood boiling. I wasn't about to be fooled again. He might look like a carbon copy of my boyfriend, but his voice and cold smile gave him away.

Fang sighed and shifted to his true form. "You got me, I'm not the gator fucker. You win the prize."

"Let me go, or I swear I'll castrate both of you." I snarled, tugging at Stretch's binding arm. "What you tried to do to me the other night was sick! You should be locked up!"

"You see how she talks to me? So abusive." Fang said to Stretch, as if we were a couple arguing about who should take out the garbage.

"God, do you ever stop talking? I swear I'd rip your throat out if Mystique wouldn't get so bitchy about it." Daken said as he sauntered up through the alley.

Fang let loose a low growl from his throat at the older man, making Daken pop out his claws.

"Want to go, pup?" Daken growled back.

"Uh, guys? Can we focus here? She's still wiggling around." Stretch said, as his arm coiled up my leg to get a better hold.

"He's right. Just give her the cure Daken and we'll get out of here." Fang ordered.

Cure? What cure?!

"I got her cure right here." Daken said, coming closer to me with his claws out.

Fang frowned, stepping between us. "What are you doing? Just get the cure Magneto gave you that'll make her a mutant."

Daken laughed as if Fang had told him the funniest joke ever. "Are you really that stupid? You believed him? Dude, he only said he could make her a mutant so you'd help me get in. We can't fix her."

They…what?

Daken smiled chillingly at me. "And we can't let the anitmutant live."

And this is why you should always listen to your parents.

xXx