Sorry for the delay on this chapter. The good news is that I spent most of this last week working on FUTURE chapters for this and trust me...whenever it is I get there, you will not be disappointed. It was just an idea that I had to work out otherwise I'd never get anything else done (shout out to CC).

Good news is that I'm back and expect at least one more chapter this week. Hopefully two.

CC - Marcus, if you recall, was the name of the "leader" of idiots that attacked Kitty and Amara...bit odd that there was that college party at that bar...And yes, someone made me question why I can't get to slashing AND some progress with our feline ferals. So advice I guess.

Cheshire - thanks for the helps as usual. Glad you approve, cause these two have a lot in front of them.

When Greer woke up that morning, it actually took her a moment to realize why she felt so good.

She felt good.

Taking in a deep stretch that matched the sleepy smile on her face, Greer gave herself a mental fistpump.

When she had gotten back from her...drive with Colton, she had found Jean, as expected, awake and waiting for her in their room.

"Well..." Jean prodded as Greer nonchalantly went over to sit on her bed.

"Well what?" Greer lazily took off her boots.

"Oh don't give me that. How was your date." Greer's hair was down so it gave her a minute to recompose her face to neutral.

"It was just a drive..."

"and it was..." Jean led on.

"and it was amazing." Greer giggled and ran over to Jean's bed to replay her the entire night. Jean heard Kitty's voice smugly in her head, 'told ya so.' It was obvious that Logan had been right, that whatever she and Colton had been up to, it had been exactly what Greer had needed.

"Sounds like you had quite the night. So does this mean that you and Colton are..." Greer might have lost her ability to blush but the feelings radiating off of her were like a light show to Jean.

"We're friends...I dunno. I just had a great time. And he makes me..." Greer looked off for a moment trying to place it as she ran a hand through her hair.

"Safe...he makes you feel safe." Greer couldn't hide her smile this time as Jean had picked it right out of her memory. She just nodded and Jean smiled. 'So that was what she needed...'

"Yea...it's just too bad..." Greer looked over to her bed and felt all the energy she had been riding begin to ebb.

"The nightmares?" Greer nodded solemnly. Why did such a good night have to end with nightmares?

Jean saw the darkness(?) begin to appear around Greer. She needed to do something.

"Wait a second." Finding Greer's ipod, Jean carried it over to her desk. Greer watched as Jean fiddled around for a few minutes before retaking her seat next to Greer.

"Alright, so if seeing the Professor is still out of the question," Greer quickly nodded her head, "Then here, when you go to sleep tonight, I want you to listen to this."

"My ipod?"

"Yes. When I was younger and even now when my powers get a little overwhelming, my dreams can get a bit...crowded. It's like a migraine for a nightmare. All those voices vying for attention...But this helps me focus. Block it out. I put on my favorite playlist...maybe it'll help." Greer looked up from her ipod and gave a shrug.

That night, Greer put her earbuds in before going to sleep. While distracting at first, eventually Greer had fallen asleep.

And there she was, for the first time in months...waking up with a smile on her face.

"So...Colton...couldn't help...but notice...you and Greer..." Kitty panted between situps.

"Yea...you two...sure seem...getting...close..." Amara finished.

Apex had the two trading a medicine ball in between situps. Obviously he had underestimated their progress since both seemed to have the breath to keep speaking.

"I've been giving Greer more space." Apex contradicted as he watched the clock, "Switch." Kitty and Amara scrambled over to the pull up bars.

"Well...yea...but..." Kitty thought she might die. I mean not really but...this was a bit much. That didn't mean she was going to stop working...or bugging Colton. It was all anyone wanted to talk about. And Kitty wanted the inside story.

"You...were always...around Greer...now though...when you are around..." Amara panted.

"You seem...closer..." Apex noted Kitty's elevated heart rate and Amara was taking spastic gasps of air.

"Break." The two girls dropped from the bars and collapsed on the ground. Both struggled over to get some water as Apex just stood his ground, lightly thumping the end of his tail in thought.

The two weren't wrong in their observations. Without being aware of it...somehow he and Greer had progressed passed something he knew how to quantify.

After their drive, Colton had noted a strong resurgence from Greer. She seemed happier, healthier...more vibrant. But that also meant that she insisted that he again give her some space...she said she needed it to feel, 'strong again,' as she put it. At first Apex had been wary, but that had also come in combination with that when they were together, Greer had begun acting...differently.

She no longer wanted to simply spend her time with him alone, she wanted him to spend his time with her...along with everyone else.

"What do you want? Owww..." Kurt gave Kitty a hurt look as he rubbed his arm.

"Looking for Greer?" Kitty offered. Illyana, Bobby, Rogue, Kitty and Kurt had been debating on what movie to watch that night when Apex had walked in attempting to find Greer. She had mentioned that she had wanted to go do something that night but he had yet to find her. Although he knew she had been here just a few moments ago..

"Found it! Betsy had it in her room." Greer appeared from the other hallway carrying a DVD victoriously in her hand, "Oh good, Colton you're just in time." Handing off the disc to Rogue, Greer walked up to an obviously confused Colton.

"Greer I thought you wanted to go out." Apex whispered but Greer just smiled and shook her head.

"No...I said I wanted to do something and tonight," Greer led Colton over to an empty loveseat, "that means eating too much popcorn and watching a movie." Apex noticed the amount of stares attempting to not look like stares that were being sent at their direction which was normally enough for both of them to slip away, but Greer's expression of...expectation was enough for him to slowly lower himself into the seat.

He had honestly been looking forward to getting out of the Mansion for a couple of hours. It had been a week since their drive and now he had gotten dressed for no reason. At least now he'd be able to -

Apex looked down as Greer quickly lifted his arm and slipped between himself and the side of the seat once she had ran to turn off the lights. She tucked her legs up so that she was wedged against him, her head resting on his shoulder. When he turned his head toward her, he closed his eyes, the warm scent of cinnamon drifting up from her hair making making any comment he had seem...insignificant.

Colton honestly could not remember much of the movie. About half-way through Greer had sleepily reached up and pulled his arm down so that it rested across her. She had promptly fallen asleep and in turn immersed him in her scent.

Just thinking about it brought the smell to his memory. It reminded him of something warm...like the sun.

And that had only been the first time. It seemed Greer was done allowing him to simply spend time with her and avoid everyone else. It had become clear that if he wanted to be with her...that meant doing so with everyone else around. But if that meant being with Greer, he was willing to tolerate it.

But that evening had not ended well. As the movie was turned off, the news appeared, describing what appeared to be an attack on a known mutant apartment building in New York City. Firefighters were still trying to control the blaze that had resulted after an explosion had left a crater in the side of the building.

Colton had felt Greer flinch at the images on the screen and her grip on him tighten as she emitted a low growl. Jean and the others had gone out to see the site of the accident themselves, while he had sat with Greer for most of the night until she had fallen asleep, her face pressed into his fur.

"Yea, and I hear you're going to be practicing with the X-men." Kitty prodded between sips from her water bottle.

"You're not here to ask me questions." Apex pointed a thumb back to the medicine balls and with a groan Kitty and Amara got back in motion.

Although once again...the girls were correct.

Greer's position was that if he wasn't letting Xavier into his head, she didn't need to let him in either. Honestly, it wasn't a point that he was going to argue. But that didn't mean that Greer didn't need some sort of assistance in finding balance.

"So I was listening to what you said the other night and I've started taking yoga with Betsy and bugged Logan into letting me meditate with him again." He and Greer had been sitting outside eating dinner while the rest of the Mansion huddled indoors. Greer had come to embrace the cold, much like he had, and it gave them a chance to be alone and talk. She still felt the need to wear boots and a sweater, but he wasn't going to push Greer on that.

It seemed Greer had a great affinity for "fashion."

"I'm glad."

"Good...because Xavier says that I can start practicing with the team again soon...you know, once I get a few more sessions in. After what's been happening...I need to get back out there." Apex had simply nodded his head, leaving his anger for the man responsible.

"It's not happening." Xavier had known something was wrong the moment Colton had stepped into his office the next day. It seemed chess wasn't on Colton's mind.

"Colton, I already know what you're going to say, so just allow me to explain my reasoning before you continue." Apex crossed his arms and stayed silent, Xavier taking that as a sign to continue.

"You've seen the news. Things are getting worse for mutants, even close to home. And I'll tell you this honestly, the X-Men are needed more than ever and in turn...the X-Men need Ms. Nelson. She is an important member of the team and I think you know how important being an X-Man is to her as well."

"She isn't ready."

"Of course. That is why I cleared her to resume practicing with the team. Not go out on missions." Xavier was calm, but Colton was clearly agitated.

"It's a bad idea."

"You're worried she won't be ready? Colton, I can assure you, Greer is fully capable of handling herself and with the aid of Elizabeth and Logan, I think she'll be just fine."

"It's not Greer getting hurt that worries me. It's what she might do if she were to harm someone else." Regardless of what Xavier said, and no matter how much progress Greer might have been making, placing herself in that type of situation...of placing herself in danger...

"Well if you are that concerned about Greer...might I suggest an alternative?" Colton looked up carefully at Xavier. Suddenly everything fell into place.

"No."

"Colton..."

"My answer was no. It still is no. And you using Greer just to get to me is not going to happen." Colton had said it with a growl but Xavier seemed insulted.

"Colton, please. Greer came to me about this. You joining her for the practice sessions will allow her to regain some sense of normalcy and self-worth while giving you the peace of mind that nothing happens to her...or anyone else. I believe this is the best course of action so if you wish to tell Greer she cannot return to the X-Men, that is up to you." Colton sneered at Xavier, furious at this manipulation. But he had seen how excited Greer was at the prospect of returning to the team. If he was the one to deprive her of that...

"Very well." Xavier smiled and nodded his head.

"Excellent. I told her she could start when the full team returns from winter break. Storm should have something for you before then." But Colton had already headed for the door and slammed it on his way out.

That had been the last time he had met with Xavier. Checking the clock, he finally let the two off for the night.

"Hey...Colton?" Apex glanced up to see Amara still standing by the door.

"Yes Amara..." Apex was tired and ready to get to sleep himself. Despite what the two girls might think, he actually did need it.

"Everything that's been going on...in the news...does that - is that why you go out at night?" Apex studied the teenager for a moment and took a few steps closer. She was rubbing her arm the same way Greer did when she was nervous.

"You're worried that whatever has been going on will come here? To the Mansion?" Amara just nodded her head. That night had only been the first. More coverage of a strong uptick in anti-mutant violence. He was picking up more and more chatter among the students on the subject. Greer preferred to not discuss the topic...despite him knowing that it weighed on her...and Amara as well.

"No, that's not why I go out at night. You're safe here." Amara seemed distant and nodded her head before heading toward the elevators.

"Amara," the brunette turned back towards Colton.

"If any of that ever came to this place...if anyone ever came to harm you or anyone else...they would be gravely mistaken." This time Amara gave a real smile, nodding her head as she ran to the elevators to catch up with Kitty.

Apex stood there until the two went into the elevator before heading in the opposite direction towards the Danger Room.

The week of Thanksgiving was usually one of the more exciting times in the Mansion.

Many students returned home for holiday break, so this was the time that everyone was able to enjoy at least this holiday with all of their friends. This of course led to all kinds of trouble, mostly due to a lack of classes, snow and a good dose of hormones.

But this year...the Mansion was uncharacteristically quiet.

"And we still don't have any idea why this is happening?" Greer and Jean had just finished getting dressed for dinner as they headed out of their room. Jean massaged her forehead in an attempt to keep a headache at bay. She and the Professor had been on Cerebro for hours each day in an attempt to prevent the next incident but thus far all they had been able to do is direct the next team where to go.

"No...we're still stuck just putting out fires." The only consolation was that thus far the majority of the attacks had resulted in damage...and not death. But everyone was worried that it was only a matter of time. Jean noticed Greer wrap an arm around her waist...

"How have the sessions with Logan and Betsy been going?" Jean tried turning the conversation onto something more productive.

"Alright...I think Betsy's mission is to find a pose even my spine can't handle. And Logan's been...well Logan." Jean laughed a little at the look on Greer's face, who returned the favor.

Between getting a few good weeks worth of sleep and the work she was putting in with yoga and meditation, Greer finally felt like she was back to normal. A few more weeks and she would be practicing with the X-Men and be back on the team when classes started. Not to mention her...progress with Colton.

It had actually been Ororo who had finally nudged her to stop waiting for something to happen. Ever since their drive Greer kept thinking about him...sometimes she could close her eyes and imagine the smell of pine filling her senses. That was why she had told him that she wanted a little bit of space. So that when they were together, it was because they wanted to be. Not because he felt the need to.

She might have been pushing things a little with all the contact but...it wasn't like they had kissed or anything...Greer's ears drooped a little.

"Just give it some time." Greer looked back at a smiling Jean before realizing what she must have been projecting.

"I know that. I just wish I could - I dunno...read him a little better." Greer grumbled.

"Well at least it's obvious you have his attention," Jean nodded her head over to where Colton stood watching, his attention obviously caught by Greer, suddenly appreciating that Jean had talked her into buying the leather skirt. "I'll see you at dinner." Jean whispered and headed over to Scott.

Greer beamed as Colton walked over and slipped her arm around his, noticing how he pulled her a little closer whenever they talked with anyone. Greer coughed a little to cover a purr.

Dinner had been loud and long. Greer had been nervous Colton would want them to slip away but in a surprising move Scott had instigated a conversation that seemed to actually be holding his attention. Greer only had to slide her eyes over to Jean, 'Thanks for the assist.'

Greer knew that Jean and the other women of the Mansion were making a concerted effort to turn the tide on Colton's behalf. And if Jean had actually won over Scott on the subject...things had to be going well.

It was a while later, most of the students scattered around the Mansion or already back in their rooms, Apex stood outside decompressing from the evening. Greer was inside getting something...'spiked cider' or whatever she called it.

"Mind if I join you?" Apex glanced down for a moment to acknowledge Ororo as she joined him by the railing that encircled the deck. The two stood in silence for a moment, Ororo shivering slightly against the cold, the ground covered in a few inches of fresh snow from that afternoon.

"Do you know what you're doing?" Storm spoke softly but he still heard her clearly.

"In terms of what?" Apex kept his focus on the snow covered grounds. The Mansion would likely not go quite till far too late for him to make any patrol tonight. But that didn't mean that -

"With your tigress." Ororo joked and Apex scoffed a little as Ororo finally had his attention.

"I don't think Greer would like that reference. And she's not my anything." Ororo turned to rest her elbow on the edge and to get a better look at Colton. Her face losing its pleasantness.

"If that's the way you think about her, then I suggest you be careful. There are those of us who have cared for Greer much longer than you." Apex wrinkled his brow as he now turned to Ororo in confusion.

"What are you talking about?" Ororo held her face firm for a moment before blinking, 'He has no idea...'

"Colton...you do realize what's happening between you and Greer? I mean you must see it..."

"See what? Is there something wrong?" Apex turned to located Greer and saw she had gotten caught speaking with Kitty and Illyana.

"Colton...you do care about her don't you?" Ororo asked cautiously. She had come over to make sure at least someone had spoken to the young man in Greer's interest. Ororo had been sitting nearby when Jean had walked over to enlist Logan's help...but as a mind-reader Jean really should have seen his response coming.

"Nope. No. Just stop. Don't wanna hear it. Not my business what he and Tigger get to - as long as he don't hurt her, I don't wanna hear it. They're adults. Let 'em deal with it like adults." he paused for a moment then narrowed his eyes. "It ain't really your business either, Red. Worry about your own ... you know what? NO. I don't wanna think about it." Logan had promptly collected his glass and bottle and headed for the sanctuary of the garage.

Ororo had volunteered to a very grateful Jean. But now she saw she was dealing with a totally different problem.

"Colton?"

"Of course. I would never let anything happen to her." Ororo relaxed slightly, the conviction in his tone reminiscent of Logan, but she feared the large feral was missing what she was attempting to get at.

"Well that's a start. But Colton," Ororo placed a hand on his arm, "maybe it's time you realized that perhaps protection isn't the only thing Greer wants." Colton looked back at Ororo but at that moment Greer finally made her way outside.

"Ororo! I'm sorry, I would have grabbed you some." Greer said apologetically holding up the two steaming cups but Ororo brushed it off.

"Not to worry. I was already heading back inside." Greer let Ororo pass before walking over to Colton who kept his gaze on the ex-queen. Greer looked between the two.

"What were you two talking about?"

"I have no idea..." Greer shrugged, putting the two cups on the rail before wrapping her arms around Colton's waist, relishing how the cold air played on her fur in contrast to the warmth she felt radiating from him.

Well practiced now, Colton didn't hesitate and wrapped an arm around Greer, his tail trailing around her. The two stood quietly for a few minutes, just enjoying the feel of the other.

"Greer...is there," both ferals turned their heads to the sudden commotion going on inside the Mansion. It looked like the festivities had come to an end...

Sharing a look, the two quickly made their way to find out what was going on.