Chapter 73

Return Of

The X!

Disclaimer: Let's go!

5 Years After Professor Xavier Left Earth

In the five years after Professor Xavier left Earth to heal from his heart attack and be with Lilandra and their daughter Xandra as he did so, a lot had happened on Earth. Mutants had more protection thanks in part to General Whithalf and Congressman Shore, though hate towards them was still something of an issue and likely would be for some time but it was a battle being constantly fought whenever possible. A yearly event known as 'X-Stock', which had its origins from a certain party at the former Senator Kelly's home in Bayville, was also a thing now and tended to be a big event with lots of music and other forms of entertainment. It was often the most busiest Ace Starr would find himself being but he enjoyed every minute as he knew the event meant a lot to both Mutants and Humans. Bayville itself was still a no go zone for Mutants and anyone who allied with them to the point a barrier dome had been built around the town to keep any so called undesirables out and provided no way to see inside the town. Options were being considered for what to do about the situation as it had only happened in the last year.

But never the less, this hadn't prevented the Xavier Institute being re-built, but in another location. Namely, where Whispering Pines Wellness Retreat had been located as it was remote and not as likely to be attacked by anyone looking to cause problems. Harvey Laffruff had even joined the new Institute that was being headed up by Jean after she had gained access to Xavier's fortune and had thought Harvey would be good idea to keep on board for a number of reasons. The Lake Monsters were a huge hit with the kids and the Monsters themselves loved them a great deal as well. Warren, Emma Frost, and the Cleveland School's private backer also helped provide funds and other support for the Institute it might need. The N'Dare Academy even sent students there that wanted to learn more where their abilities were concerned and under Jean's administration, the Danger Room no longer had some of the more dangerous training equipment within it. The X-Men had also reformed and only adults were allowed on the team as no one wanted kids fighting battles they had no real business being involved with.

The current incarnation of the new team included Cyclops, Rogue, Gambit, Rina, Siryn, Shadowcat, Iceman, and Sinew. The reformed team also were involved in helping stop Terrorism along side the Misfits teams and X-Factor but largely dealt with Mutant issues for the most part to help lighten the load so to speak for the other teams. X-Corp was still going strong and Krakoa had even been recognized by the UN and allowed to join its ranks. Which had certainly ruffled a few feathers but they were ignored for the most part. The Haven known as Avalon was still out in Space and was a full on thriving space station for various travelers and those who called it home. Far surpassing Magneto's expectations for the place but he couldn't be happier and since those in Space trusted him and SWORD to handle certain kinds of negotiations on Earth, he couldn't help but feel rather smug about it too. And was even considering asking to be recognized by the UN despite his doubts it would happen.

As for the Misfits of both teams, Lance was no longer with the team as he had moved to Miami full time and worked at Brother Sam's autoshop and his mother Rita was now in a very happy relationship with Spirit after she had found out about Dexter's dark secret. Something that had come to light after Arthur 'Trinity' Mitchell had shown up to try and kill her to get one over on Dexter and had found a house sitting Lance there who promptly kicked the old man's ass. Now, Dexter was still a free man thanks to Larry Trask warning them that his being locked up was a bad idea thanks to a vision he'd had but that hadn't given Rita much reassurance to the point she insisted on being around when Dexter came around to visit the kids. Spyder was even also living with Spirit and Rita as well. In addition to working with Brother Sam and keeping him from being killed, Lance also even occasionally worked with Miami Metro whenever it involved a Mutant related problem and had even married Willow of the Eloi sometime after he and Betsy had amicably split. Though she still served on the X-Factor team along side Karma, Lorna, Pietro, Strong Guy, and Alex Summers. Althea, Todd, and Xi were still on the original Misfits team and Althea and Todd were even married and parents.

Lina served as a therapist for those with Mutations that had physically changed them and lives with her husband Fred on their ranch in Texas and Fred himself was also a well known Chef and Therapist himself in addition to his training animals. Though it will be said that Todd and Kurt weren't on speaking terms anymore after Todd had soundly kicked the ass of Mystique and left her to die since he didn't have to save her after coming across her during a mission. Part of Kurt still believing there was hope for his mother while Todd and everyone else knew there wasn't any whatsoever for the woman given all she'd done over the years. Rogue wasn't exactly bothered by what had happened and this had even caused some strain between her and Kurt as well due to how she felt. Shane Shooter had eventually returned to California and along with Firestar, Velocity, Beast King, and San Francisco's own Local Heroine known as the Barracuda, had formed the Champions of LA. Manifold had returned to Australia to be part of a team there dedicated to helping protect the country and while he and Wanda were no longer together, they were still very much good friends.

Pietro himself was a single father of a little girl named Luna after Crystal had decided she didn't want that kind of responsibility and had even claimed a group within her people had ordered her to abandon the two of them to cover up her decision. And considering Pietro was now well aware of her people and the fact they had a slave labor force, part of him hadn't been too bothered by her abandoning him and Luna. Though it still hurt none the less. Abeytu had left the Earth in the last year to be amongst a race of Plant like people as she felt more at home with them than what she ever did on Earth with the Misfits/Joes. Wanda herself was now part of a well known coven along side Illyana Rasputin and Amanda Sefton that Benny Barumpbump had formed to help combat against a magical threat from another dimension.

Sarah Walker herself was also now a happily married woman to one Chuck Bartowksi in the Burbank area and ran their own Spy company as well. And as for the West Coasters, Paul had left to pursue his dream of Rockstardom and even had control of his father's Toy company after Craig had kept up on the search to find out who had separated the two of them as babies. Eventually learning that a long time friend of their father's had been responsible due to a huge amount of jealousy on his part. Craig himself was now running a bar and while he and Sarah Grey had never worked out, they remained good friends and he currently considered himself a bachelor. Jake and Kyle Wildfire, along with their father and Edward Garner, had started the Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation, or UCWF for short, and set up shop in their native Boston. The UCFW was home to both powered and non-powered wrestling, something that had attracted the members of the Death Squad to join the ranks of the company after Jake had approached them thanks in part to Fred recommending them.

Jake and Jennifer had ended their relationship three years prior to the founding of the company due to their paths going in different directions that was keeping them busy and hardly having time for the other. Ace, Pyro, Long Range, Sunpyre (the daughter of Sunfire and she was part of an exchange agreement between the West Coast team and Japan's own Big Hero Six), Chilljaw, and the Yankee Clipper all were still on the team while Clara herself was largely retired and enjoying it. Though with Ace, his focus on X-Stock, Music, and the Entertainment Industry in general with Evan Daniels, Solomon O'Sullivan, his wife, and Jamie Madrox did keep him rather busy so he wasn't able to be with the team as much. And today was a very special day, as the one and only Professor Charles Xavier had finally returned to Earth and to the shock of everyone, was walking! Something he'd attributed to the advancements in Medical techniques the Shi'ar had access too.

And while there was quite a bit of happiness on everyone's part of his being back, Xavier himself was somewhat disappointed with a few things as for one, he felt the X-Men should be in charge of the Mutant Protection Act and didn't like that there was access to Cerebro in order to pull this off. Another being that Bayville and the location of his long time home being cut off to him. He also found the idea of the UCWF to be revolting and thought those there would be better suited to using their gifts for other things. Xavier also wasn't too enthused with his old friend Magneto's base of operations as he felt that could only end badly, resolving to see about being able to talk with the man and even wanted control of the new Institute turned over to him. Not knowing that his former Students were aware of certain details of his past and would be in for quite the fight when he'd later bring up certain topics.

But I have only just returned home, in time I believe I will be able to change things to a more suitable and better way. Especially where Bayville is concerned. I'm sure Logan will understand my need for his to come out of retirement with the family he's gained with Jinx. Thought the man to himself, unaware of the frown on Jean's face as she had 'heard' his thoughts.

"So, Charles, now that you are home, what do you plan to do next?" Wondered Hank 'The Beast' McCoy.

Who still worked at SWORD while also teaching students at the new Institute. "Well, old friend, I believe I will spend some time re-adjusting to being back on Earth and then afterwards? Who knows as we shall have to find out when the time comes." Smiled the Professor.

Hank smiled back and clinked his glass with the other man's. "Something to indeed look forward too."

The Professor would later find something else to be unhappy about when Kid 'Rock N' Roll's latest single would hit the charts as it would be centered on him and Lilandra! Known simply as 'The Baldheaded Queen'! His lyrics even implying he'd had relations with not only Lilandra but Xandra as well! Something that infuriated the Professor a great deal and had tried to make the Ultimate Rockstar apologize on to the point of threatening legal action but instead, was given a tube of lotion to help make his bald head even more shiny!

Author's Notes: Hope folks enjoyed the changes! Given Xavier's willingness to hide things from the others and certain stuff I've heard he's done in the comics, I figured he wouldn't be quite that happy about the state of certain things. I also thought it'd be fun for Razor to have some fun at Xavier's expense.