Please enjoy

Impromptu- Chapter Six:

Fight from the Inside

Monday December 22nd 2002, 11:50 am

Rogue landed at the front door of Erik's two-story white house, surrounded by its vast acres of land and woodlands. With a wave of her hand, the door was unlocked and she was walking into the house. Her first destination was to the den, where she picked up the line-land on his desk and dialed his cell-phone number. The phone rang longer than she thought it would've- but he must have been surprised to see what number was calling.

"Hello?" Magneto asked as he answered, his tone cautious as she heard a door closing where he was.

"Hey, Erik, I'm borrowing your house for the day," she told him. "Please stay in Hawaii," she added. She couldn't afford any distractions and she needed to be back before dinner. Last time she'd come here, she nearly missed that deadline. If he met her here, the temptation would be-

"Very well," he agreed instantly.

"Really?" she asked, a smile coming to her face.

"I did say you could come to Jericho anytime for any reason," he said. "A man's word, to those he values, is his bond," he said.

"Thanks, Erik," she smiled.

"Though, I will be holding out hope we might meet up in person at some point," he said, she could hear the smirk in his voice. The giggle that escaped her was-

"Maybe," she said.

"I'm pleased that wasn't a 'no'," he smiled. "Have a pleasant day with… whatever it is you're doing," he said with an air of frivolity, as if it was none of his business. "Hope to hear from you soon, my girl," he said.

"Bye, Erik," she said before he did her the favor of hanging up first. She let out a blissful sigh as she placed the landline back down on its receiver. The den with its windows wasn't completely secure. His bedroom, with the red metal within its walls and dark red curtains, however, was.

So, she flew up the stairs and found herself staring at a bed she'd been chained to once before. A normal person would have been terrified to even be in the same room again, but her- She flew up, kicked off her shoes, and drove into the comforter, burying her head in his pillow and thus his scent, including the musky aftershave he used. She took the deepest breath, hugging the pillow, as she closed the door with magnetism.

God, she missed him.

And truth be told, she could have laid between her sheets at home, with the same level of protection for her mind, but that feeling of suffocation couldn't be shaken at the institute. Freedom wasn't an idea that could be felt unless explored. And laying in this bed, knowing its owner would keep his word, and knowing she would return to the institute for dinner keeping her word, she felt it in her bones; she was free. Free to do whatever she wanted at any given moment.

And in this moment, she had some sound advice from her uncle to follow.

So, she turned on her back, took another deep breath as she closed her eyes and dove into her uncle's memories.

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2002; a little after 11:30 am

Logan drove down Route 495 on his bike. He met up with Mystique about ten miles back at a 7-Eleven gas station and now she was on the back of his bike. He felt tense, waiting for the infamous Mutant to betray the X-Men and stab them in the back. If anything should be put in the line of fire for that sort of betrayal, it was him.

'I can take a beating better than most. And give as good as I get,' he thought vindictively. 'Chuck seems convinced she'll do anything for her kids. But we'll see,' he thought as he took the next exit, getting off of Route 495 and merging onto Jericho Turnpike. The next turn was quick, onto Cedar Swamp Road.

From there it was about a twenty minute long drive through a fairly unpopulated road surrounded by trees, until they got to Amelia's Home for Wayward Children. He brought his bike to a halt and they both got off of it. He saw some rustling of curtains and some children being pulled back from windows. Similar to what had happened at the institute the night prior.

He took a deep breath. Difference was there were a lot more kids here than at the institute. And the mansion they called home, rivaled Chuck's.

Money, he smelled money. A lot of it, being used to do, what? Build an army?

Sniffing as he walked down the path toward the front door, many of the kids he smelled were teenagers and could've been enrolled at Bayville with the Brotherhood. At this one facility alone, Magneto had the numbers to combat the X-Men.

'So, why ain't he using 'em?' he asked himself, folding his arms over his chest as Mystique knocked aggressively on the front door five times.

"Top of the mornin' ta ye," Rahne's father said, Logan recognizing the blond man from the night prior, as he opened the door, a forced polite grin on his face, but he didn't seem surprised to see him and Mystique making a housecall together. "Raven, James," he said, looking between the two and Logan let out a low growl in response. Sean almost took a step back, realizing he'd offended the man, but decided to stand his ground.

"Sean, where's Amelia?" Mystique asked, getting straight to the point and taking attention away from Logan.

"Lookin' after the our lads and lassies, 'course. Come to speak with her, have yeh?" he answered.

"We have," she replied.

"Wait here, I'll fetch me wife," he said. "Good to see ya, laddie," he said, nodding at him, almost respectively, before he promptly closed the door.

"I don't know him," Logan grumbled under his breath, hating how causally that name was being tossed around.

"You did," Mystique said matter-of-factly. "When he was younger. There was an inheritance dispute between him and his Uncle Tom regarding their estate in Ireland. We sorted it out," she summarized.

"When?" he asked.

"Nineteen sixty-one," she answered, letting out a huff. "This was before Weapon X, you wouldn't remember," she said. Logan didn't have a chance to respond, as the door opened to reveal Amelia Cassidy-Voght, a woman in her early fifties with bright red hair and green eyes.

"Yes, Raven?" she asked, looking as if she'd rather be anywhere else.

"Amelia, tell me I don't need to worry that you know where my daughter lives," she demanded.

"You don't need to worry," she said, almost parroting it back. Mystique scoffed, nonverbally telling her it wasn't good enough. Amelia sighed. "I'm sorry for what happened," she said. "When Irene claimed that Victor was hurting Anna-Marie, I didn't think. I acted," she said and Logan watched Mystique's eyes widened. "She's your daughter now, I accept that. But when she was still young, I-" she said before stopping to take a breath. "Anna-Marie was my baby first and I would've done anything to protect her," she said. "I didn't know Irene lied to me. I didn't know she had reasons to. I still don't understand why all of it happened," she said. "I have my own kids now, my own daughters," she said.

"And you lent one of 'em out to Magneto as a spy," Logan grunted.

"I didn't like it, but we all have to do our part for the cause. Raven, you know that better than anyone," she said and Mystique cast her gaze to the ground, her expression was bitter.

"And how'd he take the news that his spy failed? Did he ask ya to offer up another kid to take her place?" he asked.

"We haven't told him that's Rahne's home and we don't plan to," she said before sighing. "Magneto stopped asking for reports in March," she disclosed, and he and Mystique shared a glance, surprised she was offering up this information. "He's either getting his information elsewhere or he stopped caring. It didn't matter to me or Sean. We never wanted her to go to Bayville. We intended to end this quietly, finish out the school year, bring her home for the summer and keep her here. I don't care that she was found out. I'm glad she's home and no, I will not allow another one of my children to act as a spy again," she said, visibly offended. "But if Magneto wanted more recruiter for his Brotherhood to even out the numbers between the X-Men and his cell in Bayville-"

"My cell," Mystique corrected. "Those of my recruiter, not Magneto," she said possessively.

"Even Pietro?" Amelia asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Excluding Pietro," Mystique acquiesced, rolling her eyes.

"Well, if Magneto decides to set up another cell in Bayville with Quicksilver as its leader, he'd have our support for recruitment," Amelia stated.

"Why didn't he come to you sooner?" Logan asked, and he watched Amelia's eye flare.

"You'd have to ask Magneto," Amelia huffed indignantly, clearly holding something back. "Either way, I have no business in Bayville. So, we have no reason to cross paths again," she said.

"Suits me just fine," Mystique said.

"Thought it might," she said before pausing to let out another sigh. "Raven, I am sorry about Anna-Marie. But I think you would've done the same thing in my shoes, if you thought what I thought was true," Amelia said. Mystique took a breath, choosing not to comment and Amelia promptly closed the door, ending the conversation.

"I need to have a word with my ex-wife," Mystique said before she turned to look at him. "How fast can you get me to a phone?" she asked.

"We got a three hour drive back to Bayville, if you want to pick Kurt and Rogue up from school, it's gonna have to wait," Logan grunted and Mystique groaned.

"Fine," she huffed as she marched back to his bike. Logan followed after her.

Monday December 22nd 2002, afternoon

Rogue laid in Magneto's bed in Jericho, New York, as she processed what she had just witnessed, sitting with it when a thought came to mind-

'What was that memory I was thinking about when I saw Amelia on the twenty-first?' she asked herself and felt her mind tugging. Eagerly, she allowed herself to be swallowed into her memories.

"Amelia," little Anna-Marie cried out with excitement as she watched vapor seep through the window pane and re-materialize into one of her favorite people. Well, aside from her Momma, Daddy, Gray, and Irene. Amelia fully reformed, kneeled in front of her and Anna-Marie leaped up from the small table she was playing at and into Amelia's arms.

"I've missed you so much," Amelia said as she hugged her tightly. Anna Marie's hand brushed up against a strap from a bag Amelia had over her shoulder.

"I miss you too," she said as Amelia pulled back and placed the duffel bag she had over her shoulder and onto the floor, opening it wide. "Okay," she said as she stood her hair disheveled and sweat on her brow before she rushed over to the closet, took the hangers out all at once, and dumped them onto the floor. "We're going to play a game," she said.

"Yay," Anna-Marie cried out with a wide smile. Amelia's games were the best.

"Who can put the most clothes in this bag the fastest," Amelia said as a giggle escaped Anna-Marie in anticipation. "Ready, set, and go-"

And with that Anna-Marie was off, grabbing as many clothes as her little arms could carry and dumping them into the bag, while Amelia stuffed them in as much as she could. It was only a few minutes before Amelia was zipping up the bag and telling her, "Grab, your favorite stuffed animal, sweetheart."

Anna-Marie looked over the dolls and teddy bears on her bed and was instantly sure of one thing; "They're all my favorites," she said as she heard a noise from the hall.

"Is one of the kids up?" her mommy asked.

"Then grab what you can carry," she said next and Anna-Marie looked on the bed, still trying to decide.

"But who do I bring?" she asked, cocking her head as she reached out and took hold of one of her dolls. Santa had brought it to her for Christmas. Anna-Marie was distracted from making a second choice as she heard her door-knob being turned.

"Time to go-" Amelia said as she scooped her up into her arms with only the one doll in her hand.

"But I didn't-" she said- as she saw mommy rushing into the room. Why did she look scared?

Before Anna-Marie could say another word, she felt her body morph into vapor and she was flying through the air with Amelia. It wasn't as fun as she remembered. She used to have fun when Amelia used her powers on her, but this time felt different and she didn't like it. Mommy said she would like more things, like food as she got older. Maybe that meant there was stuff she wouldn't like as she got older. Maybe, this was one of those things.

After a while, Anna-Marie was transformed back into herself and she was- where was she? Why was the room so dark? There was one lamp on, on top of a desk. The carpet felt gross under her toes and looking out the window she could see a bright neon sign she couldn't read yet.

Amelia knelt in front of her, throwing the bag on the one bed in the room. Anna-Marie started to cry, her breaths coming fast, as she clutched the only doll she had to her chest. The older woman pulled her into a hug.

"It's okay, sweetheart, it's okay," she said.

"Where's mommy?" she asked. "Why did you leave her?" she cried.

"It's okay, sweetheart," Amelia said, as she hugged her tightly.

"No, I want mommy," she cried, pushing Amelia away. "Where's mommy?" she yelled as she escaped Amelia's arms and ran across the room, to the other side of the bed.

"She asked me to watch you," the older woman said.

"No, she didn't," Anna-Marie yelled. "I saw her. You're lying!" she exclaimed. "I want my-"

Monday December 22nd 2002, afternoon

Rogue pulled herself out of her memory by force, overwhelmed by her younger self's feelings, tears streamed down her face as a single thought, carrying over from her memory, filled her entire being. She wanted nothing more than to hug her mother.

She took a few deep breaths and kept herself from moving. She couldn't fly out in a hurry. If the first thing she did that afternoon, when returning to the institute, was to seek out Mystique, she'd get no more answers this year.

But, on the other hand, she couldn't stand the thought of diving back into the memory. What was it about watching her own painful memories that was so much harder than watching others? Why did the idea of seeing Erik's memories of Auschwitz seem less taxing?

'There's typically more than one way to achieve one's goal. If you're confronted with a roadblock, examine what is needed and switch your approach accordingly,' Erik's words replayed in her mind, something he'd said to her way back in February of that year.

What did she need? Answers. How could she get them if not within her own mind?

"Fuck," she muttered under her breath, realizing what she needed to do next. 'Okay, after I wash my face,' she thought.

She needed to put some distance between reliving that memory and speaking with the woman who caused her younger self so much distress. A small break wouldn't make her late for dinner… Probably. She had access to a phone, she could always call and explain to her uncle this was taking longer than she meant.

Monday December 22nd 2002, 1:06pm

Rogue, feeling fresh after taking a bath, having recalled how much she liked Erik's bathtub and that he had soaps she enjoyed on hand, entered the kitchen fully dressed, still debating how she was getting to Amelia's house. It wasn't far from her current location, merely a three minute flight- but she- She shouldn't be seen flying there and how could she explain how'd she gotten that far without a car. It would be obvious she had an active power.

Rogue was still deciding whether or not to tell her mother, she wasn't about to announce it to an entire section of Magneto's organization. As she glanced around the room, she saw a set of keys hanging by the back door. She felt a smile coming to her face as she reached out with her senses and- yes, Erik's Lexus was here. She could-

She reached over and called the land-line in the room from its receiver into her hand. She quickly dialed a number and waited for-

"Good afternoon, Anna-Marie," Erik said, a smile in his voice. "When I said soon, I'll admit, I wasn't expecting such a quick follow through," he smirked.

"Sorry, am I bothering ya?" she asked teasingly.

"Yes. Terribly," he quipped and she laughed in response. "Lucky for you, you're my favorite distraction," he added. "Have you changed your mind, perhaps, about me meeting you in Jericho?" he asked hopefully.

"Sorry, Erik, I called 'cause I need ta borrow your car and I thought it would be polite ta tell ya first," she said. She paused only because he started laughing.

"What on earth are you up to today?" he mused aloud, still chuckling. "Do I want to know?" he asked.

"I don't know," she shrugged. "Can I borrow the car?" she asked again, trying not to sound impatient, she was asking for a favor.

"Of course, you can. What's mine is yours," he said, which brought a smile to her face. "It is a far drive? I can tell you where I have some cash lying around if you need gas money," he offered.

"I just gotta go ta Amelia's," she told him.

"What for?" he asked, prying now.

"I just- I need ta talk ta her about the whole, kidnapping me as a kid thing," she said, rolling her eyes. "I need answers but I'm having trouble looking at my own memories. They're too painful," she surmised.

"Pardon me, the what?" he asked. She blinked.

"Ya really didn't know about this, Erik?" she asked, almost shocked. He always seemed to know everything that went on with his people.

"No," he said, all mirth leaving his voice. "When was this?" he asked.

"I think I was five, maybe six," she answered.

"Amelia took a ten month sabbatical in nineteen-eighty-nine after her mother, Rose, passed away," he provided.

"She had me in that hotel room for months?!" Rogue exclaimed in disbelief.

"Anna-Marie- …I know you asked me not to come, but Amelia is my employee and she won't volunteer information to an X-Men, even one's care for in the past, without my direct approval," he said and Rogue held her tongue, not about to correct him on that point. "Nor do I think she'll be willing to divulge details after her past crimes without an incentive, that I'd be happy to provide her," he said. And she reasoned that might be true. "Given the circumstances, may I meet you in Jericho?" he asked.

"If we do this, we gotta-"

"Anna-Marie, that is the furthest thought from my mind," he interjected swiftly. "Let's get you the answers you need," he said. She took a deep breath,

"Okay," she agreed before sighing. "Thanks."

"Always… Have you looked in the refrigerator yet?" he asked, seemingly out of nowhere.

"No," she answered, wondering why he'd-

"Good. Don't," he ordered. "I'll be there in twenty minutes and we'll drive to Amelia's together," he said, before the call was promptly disconnected.

She stood for a moment, as she looked between the phone in her hand and the refrigerator before she exclaimed, "Well, now I haveta!" With a wave of her hand, she pulled the door open.

Inside, she saw a baking sheet, covered by a piece of parchment paper with a little over a dozen chocolate covered strawberries. The base was milk chocolate with white chocolate drizzled over each piece to make a decorative pattern. Unable to help herself, she let out a loud laugh, needing it with the day she'd been having. He must have gotten them yesterday, maybe as some sort of bribe to lull her back into his arms.

"Yeah, I'm having some," she told herself as she waved the phone back to its receiver and marched over to the open door. She plucked two, off of the baking sheet and, into the palm of her hand, before she closed the door with magnetism. At least, she had something to do while she waited for him.

Monday December 22nd 2002, about 1:30pm

Rogue stood outside the house, leaning on the side of the Lexus, trying not to think about what happened the last time she'd been up against the side of this particular vehicle, as she twirled the keys to the car in her hand as a distraction. She stopped as she felt him getting closer, and glanced up to see him render himself visible as he lowered himself to the ground. He was wearing a black pants, a brown trench coat and a blue and white sweater, that was subtly festive in its hues but not overtly so, considering Hanukkah had come and gone earlier in the month.

Rogue took a breath, finally seeing him in person, after all these months away from each other. And she could feel how much he missed her, almost overwhelmingly so. She had to clamp down on her ability to read his train of thought and was left with only her own emotions to process, which were still vast.

She watched his face contort with worry and before she was able to help herself, she leaped forward and into his arms. He was quick to snake his arms around her, holding her close.

"Missed you," she said, into his chest.

"And I you," he said, taking a deep breath, taking in her- "You took a bath here, didn't you?" he asked.

"Ah-huh," she answered. "But we ain't gonna make a big deal about that right now, right?" she asked him.

"We most certainly are not," he confirmed, before she pulled back and glanced up at him. "But I'd be remiss if I didn't greet you properly," he said before he closed the gap between their lips and she melted against him, her eyes closing, as she clinged to him.

"Erik," she said, breathlessly, her eyes fluttering open, to stare up at him again. "I don't wanna go months without seeing you again," she decided in an instance.

"Then you won't, Anna-Marie," he smiled. "Plans will be made for another day," he promised, before pecking her on the lips. "But for now there's a task before us, is there not?" he asked.

"There is," she said, nodding, as she, with effort, stepped back. It helped that he was gently pushing her away, keeping to his word. 'Like he always does,' she smiled in her mind. She blinked, almost expecting him to respond to her thought. "You ain't reading my mind?" she asked.

"Would you like me to?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. "We haven't discussed it yet and didn't wish to presume," he said.

"That's never stopped ya before," she laughed, cocking her head at him.

"Before was-" he said, pausing to laugh sadly under his breath. "Before, I was genuinely concerned about doing anything that you didn't want or weren't ready for. Reading your train of thought was the simplest way to ensure I never overstepped and did precisely as you wanted. Especially in the heat of the moment, when vocalizing one's desires isn't the easiest task," he said before letting out a happy sigh. "However, since we're already had a conversation today about what will not occur, it feels unnecessary," he said before moving his hand to cup her cheek. "Unless, you're asking me to?"

Her gaze shifted away from his for a brief moment. "No," she smiled. "Let's just talk out loud?"

"Happily," he said before he leaned in for another kiss. She let out a soft mew and parted her lips, melting against him as they deepened the kiss, his tongue dancing hers in her mouth- "Is that chocolate I'm tasting?" he asked, after abruptly pulling back.

"Ah-huh," she answered, her face blushing a bit having been caught.

"You little minx," he chuckled amused. "I thought I told-"

"Well, once ya said not ta go in the refrigerator, I kinda had ta," she said, shrugged.

"Had to?" he echoed with an arched brow. "That's new," he huffed, chuckling, before he gave her another peak. "Shall we, my dear?" he asked, releasing her cheek.

"Ah-huh," she nodded as he pulled back and away from her arms.

She felt a small bit of confusion at his reaction and almost wished they hadn't promised not to read each other's minds.

"Anna-Marie?" he asked. Glancing up, she saw he was almost by the driver's side door.

"Yeah," she nodded again, as she rushed to the passenger side door. She was more than ready to get what she needed to do over with.