While Scott debriefed Psylocke and Ilyana, Kurt pulled the woman who he called his sister- because in his eyes she was, and no one could tell him otherwise- aside to talk to her.
"Rogue, are you sure you are up to this? You just went through quite a lot in the last twelve hours…."
"If anybody can get through to Joseph, it's me, Kurt." She explained.
"I know that. But you are exhausted. You barely had a few hours sleep, after exerting yourself to pull Magneto from that cell. Are you sure you're alright?"
"Ah will be once ah figure out what's goin' on, Kurt. If ah can get Joseph to talk to us, maybe that'll help."
Kurt was silent for a moment.
"Where is Remy?"
Rogue stopped at that question. She had barely paid attention to much of anything after discovering it was indeed Magneto inside the cell. She remembered Remy standing there among the crowd as they had dragged Magneto out…..
"Ah…." She sighed in frustration. "Ah really don't know, Kurt. Ah haven't seen him since last night at the prison."
"He hasn't come to find you at all?" Kurt was surprised.
"Not that ah know of. Everything's been so crazy, ah've been kinda runnin' on autopilot."
"Have you eaten today?"
"Yeah, Pietro brought me breakfast."
Kurt let out a sigh. "Do I need to have words with your husband?"
"No, Kurt. Ah'll go lookin' for him once this is over. Surely there's an explanation. But right now, ah got bigger things to worry about."
Wanda was content to sit with Magneto, who was still sleeping, and paid little attention when Lorna said she needed some coffee and asked Pietro to come with her, much to the speedster's confusion.
"Lorna, I'm sure you know how to find-" He said as they walked out of the room.
"Yeah, I do. But that's not why I dragged you away from Dad." She tilted her head at her older brother. "Something's up with you."
Pietro rolled his eyes. "I'm fine, all things considered. Father's condition, and Monet being locked up in that place…."
"Yeah, I get that. But there's something else."
"Lorna-" He warned.
"So I'm right? There is something?"
"It's not important right now."
"Bullshit. Out with it, Pietro."
The staring contest between the middle sibling and the youngest sibling lasted about two minutes before he sighed.
"You're not going to let up until I tell you."
"Glad you figured that out." She smiled. "Talk to me."
He slowly slipped his hand into his pocket, and pulled out a folded up letter, handing it to her.
Perplexed, she unfolded the piece of paper, reading it.
Her eyes scanned the paper, and he saw her face change to one of slight shock.
"Oh. Shit."
He sighed and leaned against the wall. "Wanda knows, but no one else. Not even Monet."
"Pietro….you're certain that Dad wrote this?"
"It's his handwriting, isn't it?" His tone was a bit harsh, and he sighed. "Sorry."
"I just….the fact that he would say these things…I just find it so hard to believe, especially after…."
"After resurrecting Wanda on Krakoa?"
She tilted her head slightly. "Wait….." She was staring at the letter intently.
"What?"
"...Pietro, the magnetic signature is….off."
"In what way?"
"Listen, I know Dad's magnetic signature like I know yours or Wanda's. I've memorized it. But this magnetic signature? It's….it's really close but it's not his."
"Are you saying-"
"That his clone wrote it? I'd put money on it."
Pietro swore under his breath. "Rogue mentioned that whoever was impersonating Father went to great lengths to make sure no one figured out the switch was made."
"Including alienating his children." Lorna looked up, and could see that her brother, usually so arrogant and sure of himself, was fighting with emotions in his face.
She took his hand, squeezing it.
"I don't blame you for thinking he wrote this. I know that each of us has had a difficult relationship with Dad, but you got the worst of it. But, can I tell you what he told me the last time I saw him?"
He raised a brow, waiting.
"He said that this resurrection meant a second chance….to make things right. To make amends. Starting with us. All three of us. I know that won't happen overnight, but….maybe there is still hope."
"Do you think he truly meant it?"
"I do. Dad made his share of mistakes, but he is still capable of remorse." She handed the letter back to him, and Pietro stared at the letter, the questions he couldn't ask swirling in his mind.
"Now. I really do need coffee."
She climbed out of the shower, and was aware of the imposing presence that was in her room watching her every move as she wrapped the towel around herself.
"You are certain that you will not be joining them in Alaska?" Arkady asked, for the second time.
Sage chuckled. "I think we could all stand to rest a little. Rogue is only going because of Joseph."
"They have a history?"
"That is putting it lightly." Her bare feet padded over the carpet towards where he sat in the chair. "I half-expected to have to talk you out of going. Alaska's got a lot of snow."
"Snow is nice. But you are nicer." He stated.
There was a slight blush that crept over her face. "Stop it."
Arkady chuckled a little, and then noticed the goosebumps on her skin.
"You are cold."
"I just got out of the shower."
He took her hands, and pulled her into his lap, his higher body temperature making her shiver slightly as she absorbed his warmth.
"Careful. I might get used to this."
"You will hear no complaints from me." He whispered as he placed a soft kiss on her forehead.