"What is it, Sean?"

"I just received a call from Hank. The lass that helped t’save Jubilee, Everett and Angelo is awake."

"Anne?" At Sean’s confirming nod, Emma leaned back in her chair, long fingernails idly tapping the polished oak top of her desk.

"Em-ma." Sean drawled warningly, his eyes narrowing.

"What now?"

"I recognize that look on yuir face, lass. Yuir plannin’ somethin’ devious, and whatever it is, I dinnae want t’be a part of it."

Emma sniffed, shaking back her platinum blond hair. "You worry far too much. Why on earth would I be plotting against that woman? After all, she did help save my students."

Sean snorted derisively, crossing his arms across his chest. "I know ye, Emma. She embarrassed ye in front of t’X-Men, and you’ve been carryin’ that grudge around like it was an extra limb."

Emma rose from behind her desk, and took a very deep breath, her chest straining against her form-fitting turtleneck. Sean quickly lifted his eyes to her face, guiltily taking note of Emma’s knowing glance.

Acch, what sort o’ man are ye, Sean, t’be lookin’ at another woman when ye still love Moira and she loves you. Though from the look on Emma’s face, ye’d think she was encouragin’ me. That thought made him even more uneasy, and he forced himself to focus on what Emma had begun to say.

"…should make a visit. The students could use a little break, and they always enjoy visiting the X-Men."

"Somehow, Emma, I doubt that the wee spirit o’generosity has suddenly blessed ye. Ye got a different reason t’be goin’ up to the Mansion, an’ I think that reason has a name."

Emma sidled up to Sean, and in an uncharacteristic gesture, gently patted his bristled cheek with one smooth, lily white hand. "Like I said, Sean. You worry far too much."

He grunted, still eyeing her suspiciously while trying to stifle the disquieting emotions she stirred by standing near him.

"I’ll go start roundin’ up the young people, then." He finally said, immediately feeling foolish for giving in so easily.

Emma smiled at his retreating back until the moment Sean softly closed her office door behind him. Immediately, her face turned pensive and she crossed her arms across her stomach.

Emma Frost, her conscience berated her. For once in your life do the honorable thing. Don’t manipulate that poor man. He’s already in love.

"Yes," she countered softly. "But he’s not in love with me."
 

" Coolness!" Jubilee crowed as Sean left her room. She grabbed a duffel bag from the floor next to the chair where Everett was sitting, and skidded to a stop in front of her closet. Clothes rained down on her head as she opened the double doors, and she scowled as Everett choked back laughter.

"What?" she growled, though the effect was ruined by her hasty removal of a pink bra from her shoulder. She flung the offending scrap of underwear into her bag, and began to pick random pieces of clothing off of the floor to add to the duffel.

"Nothing." Everett replied, his eyes twinkling. "I better go pack, too. See you later, Jubes."

"Yeah, whatever," she muttered, her eyes scanning the room for that one last necessary article of clothing. She found it perched on the headboard of her bed, and she pounced, the mattress springs groaning in protest as she landed on her belly.

Sighing in contentment, Jubilee reverently sniffed the old cowboy hat and placed it snugly on her head. Just wearing the hat made her feel like Wolverine was in the same room. She could not wait to see him---or Anne for that matter. She still could not forget how Anne had fought for her, Everett and Angelo when they had been kidnapped. Of course, Jubilee felt drawn to her for other reasons, reasons based on information she had dug out of Wolverine while the woman lay in a coma.

It’s ‘cause she’s an orphan, she told herself. Her parents have been dead only a little longer than mine, so she still remembers what it feels like to ache for ‘em. I bet she’s even worse off than me, right about now. Finding out your mom was kidnapped and experimented on has got to hurt.

"Yeah well, she showed ‘em." Jubilee finished out loud, rolling off her bed and coming to her feet.

Jubilee grabbed her duffel bag and trounced from her room, slamming the door behind her. Whistling cheerfully, she made a detour to the kitchen and grabbed a couple of apples from the refrigerator. Tucking one in her coat pocket and polishing the other on her jacket, she made a beeline towards the biosphere.

"Penny?" she called. For a long moment there was only silence, and then the lush foliage parted and Penance peered out from between the trees. Her blue eyes were thoughtful as she studied Jubilee, the other girl smiling patiently as she held out the red fruit. Penance finally moved out of the shadows and gingerly took the apple from Jubilee’s outstretched palm. With a few quick movements, the fruit was cut into pieces and Penance shyly held out her hand to offer some to Jubilee.

"Thanks, Penny." Jubilee grinned, snatching up a sliver and munching on it. She motioned to the duffel she was holding. "We’re gonna be gone for a few days. I wish you could come along."

"She can if she wants to, lass." Sean’s mellow voice broke into their one-sided conversation. Hesitating slightly, he walked the rest of the way into the biosphere where he had been coming to fetch Artie and Leech.

"You mean it, Mr. Cassidy? But what about her skin? Won’t she rip up the car?’

Sean shrugged. "Dinnae concern yuirself about the car. Gettin’ Penance out t’see a bit of the world is surely worth replacing a seat or two if we need to."

"You’re the greatest, Mr. Cassidy!" Jubilee squealed, dropping her bag and impulsively hugging Sean. His eyes widened in surprise, but quickly filled with warmth.

"Thanks, lass. But you’ve got the hard part. Convincin’ her t’come."

"Aw, that won’t be a problem. Right, Penny?" Jubilee asked, grinning at the red skinned girl.

Penance stared at her unblinkingly, and slowly took a bite of apple.
 

"We’re havin’ guests tonight, Annie." Logan sat on the edge of Anne’s bed, watching her fidget restlessly.

"If your next words aren’t, ‘and that means you can get out of the infirmary,’ I’m going to hit you so hard your mother wouldn’t recognize you. You too, Hank." Anne glared at the blue-furred scientist, who was chortling as he examined the read-out from one of her monitors.

"Sticks and stones, my dear." Beast winked at her merrily.

"I feel fine!" Anne groaned, flinging her arms into the air dramatically.

"You weigh less than Kate Moss," he quipped.

"You fed me nothing but sugar water for two weeks. What do you expect? Besides," her dark eyes grew large and moist, and her bottom lip quivered pathetically. "I think I do emaciated waif quite well, don’t you?" The last was delivered with a pitiful sniff.

Logan barked with laughter and turned to Beast. "C’mon, Hank. What she needs is a good meal or two and some fresh air. Stayin’ cooped up in here an’ hooked up ta yer machines ain’t doin’ her an ounce o’ good."

"Finally, the voice of reason."

Beast sighed imploringly.

"Must I remind you both that Anne was unconscious for more than two weeks? Despite her healing abilities, that is nothing to be trifled with. She could very well suffer a relapse---"

"Chere!" Gambit called, interrupting Beast as he entered the infirmary. The blue-furred man rolled his eyes and muttered darkly under his breath.

"You still in here, chere? Gambit t’ought you’d be out o’ dis prison by now."

Anne looked at Beast triumphantly. "We were just discussing that, Remy. But Hank doesn’t want to let me go."

"What?" Gambit placed a hand over his heart in mock terror. "Say it ain’t so, Hank. After Gambit slaved away ovah a hot stove all day, just f’Anne? You gonna let my Aunt Charity’s Jambalaya go t’waste? Or thick Gumbo with rice? Why, Gambit even made red beans and cajun smoked sausage!"

"Don’ forget the fried catfish an’ the po-boy sandwiches," Logan added, straight faced.

Anne’s eyes were bright, and the three men could almost see the drool forming at the corners of her mouth.

"Absolutely not, Gambit." Beast responded sternly. "She has not eaten solid food for more than two weeks. Such a greasy, rich meal would most undoubtedly make her---"

"—feel great." Anne enthused loudly, throwing back her covers. She ripped off the tape holding the sensors to her arms and chest, and hopped off the bed. Her flimsy gown slipped precariously off one shoulder.

"Anne---"

"Please, Hank. It’s nothing personal, but if I don’t get out of here, I’m going to go nuts. And I’ll take you with me."

Beast sighed with resignation. "Very well. It’s against my better judgment, but I suppose that you are a grown woman and can make your own decisions. You may tell the others that I will be late for dinner. Do not bother waiting; I have research that I simply must attend to."

Anne smiled fondly and used her free hand to gently grasp his arm. "Thank you for all that you did for me, Hank. I really appreciate it."

Beast bowed gallantly. "Anything for a fellow team member."

Anne smiled at him appreciatively, but shook her head. "I’m still having trouble getting used to the idea of being one of the X-Men. I don’t really feel like I belong here yet."

"Give it time, Anne." Beast said kindly, as Logan placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah chere. ‘Sides, you got us." Gambit grinned charmingly, perching himself on the edge of the bed she had just vacated.

Anne smiled at her friends, and lifted her chin loftily. "Well, I suppose I could do worse for myself."

"My dear, I have no doubts that you could do far better than keep company with scoundrels and ruffians such as ourselves." Beast spoke gallantly, a mischievous light in his eyes as he took her hand and kissed the back of it.

Logan growled. "Knock it off, Hank. Ya might put ideas in her head."

"Oh, and that would be just tragic." Anne teased him, her eyes brimming with mirth.

Logan snorted, and Anne could hear Gambit and Beast snickering quietly. She did not wait for another exchange, instead tugging on the thin gown covering her body.

"If you guys don’t mind, I’m going to go to my room and change. I don’t think this is quite the fashion statement that I want to make around here.".

"Gambit and Logan walk you dere, chere." Gambit straightened from his seat and stretched.

As Logan held open the infirmary door for Anne, Beast smiled his good-byes and returned to his cluttered desk. The three friends entered the corridor together, but they had not walked for more than a few moments when Gambit lightly touched Anne on the shoulder. Anne looked up at him, her eyes questioning.

"You sure you’re feelin’ all right, chere?" Gambit asked, his cheerful facade slipping as he looked down at her.

"I’m fine." Anne countered warmly. "I’ll be even better once I can change clothes and get some real food in me." She hesitated. "I—I thanked Logan last night, but I haven’t had the chance to do the same for you, Remy. Thanks for helping to pull me out of that coma."

Gambit stopped in his tracks. "What, chere?"

Logan turned to face his friend. "‘Member that day in the woods---what we said ta that old oak, Gumbo? Annie heard us."

He stared at them in dismay. "But dat means…"

"That I was conscious the entire time you thought I was out." Anne smiled at him wryly, leaning against the cool wall of the corridor. She had already told Logan what had happened to her, him being the first person she had found upon waking. She had actively sought him out, but that was more instinctual than anything else. Anne hugged her stomach as she spoke.

"Of course, I wasn’t conscious in my body. There’s no rational explanation for it, but when I pulled up that forest from the hills, I took in so much of the earth, that I lost myself. The trees---the trees tried to anchor me to them, but I refused. My spirit just kept wandering. I didn’t know who I was, only that I was searching for something.

"Then, one day I caught a thread of memory being passed from tree to tree. It was the memory of you two, talking to the oak. When I saw that, everything came back to me. Once I remembered my identity, it was fairly easy finding my way back to my body. I owe you two a lot."

"Twern’t nuthin." Logan shrugged indifferently, though his eyes were anything but.

"You our best friend, chere. No need t’thank us."

"Though if ya can pretend ta enjoy his cookin’ tonight, that’ll be good enough." Logan muttered, starting down the hall again.

Anne coughed, and hurried after him before Gambit could see the laughter in her eyes.
 

"Penny? You all right back there?" Jubilee placed a steadying hand on her cowboy hat as she twisted around to stare at Penance, who was huddled in the back seat of the jeep. The windows were tinted so that no one could see into the car. Nevertheless, Penance had her knees drawn up to her chest. She kept her face buried in a dark mass of legs and limbs, peeking out of the windows with short, furtive movements. She had been like that for the entire trip, though she had come with a considerable lack of fuss. Penance had even managed not to tear up the back seats too badly.

Sean looked at her through the rear view mirror, and smiled gently.

"Yuir fine, lass. Just fine. Ye dinnae need t’worry about a thing." He spoke soothingly.

"Yeah, Penny. We’ll be there in less than ten minutes, right Mr. Cassidy?"

"Sometimes I think ye know this route better ‘n’ I do, Jubilee."

Her answering smile was faintly smug, but she managed to restrain herself from telling him just how often she had traveled on this road while she had been with the X-Men. From the amused look in Sean’s eyes, he already knew.

"How do you think the others are holding up?" Jubilee thrust her chin out towards the white stretch limousine they had been following for the past few hours.

Sean chuckled, thinking of Emma alone in that tight space with six rowdy teenagers.

"That good, huh?" Jubilee asked, noting the barely suppressed mirth in his eyes.

He declined to answer.

True to her words, the front gates of the Mansion rolled into sight not more than ten minutes later. Jubilee began to squirm in her seat, obviously eager to be out of the jeep and with her old teammates. Sean wondered briefly if the Generation X students would ever be able to inspire the same level of loyalty in the teen-ager.

The X-Men are like parents to the girl. How can ye compete with that, man? Sean asked himself, glancing at Jubilee from the corner of his eyes.

A quick electronic scan from invisible sensors acted as the security check, and the gates opened silently, allowing the cars to pass into the grounds. Jubilee was the first one out of the two vehicles, but instead of dashing up the front steps into the Mansion, she conscientiously went to the back of the jeep to help Penance from the car.

Sean came around to stand behind her, acting as another pillar of support for the insecure girl.

"Penny?" Jubilee inquired softly, her eyes smiling encouragingly.

Slowly, Penance unfolded her limbs, large blue eyes swallowing the two people before her. Her gaze moved past their faces to the world beyond the car, and she hesitantly pushed herself along the seat, leaving a trail of shredded leather behind her. After a few long moments, her feet lightly touched the stone driveway and then she was standing in the sunlight.

Jubilee stood on her tiptoes in excitement.

"Hey, great work, chica!" Angelo congratulated Jubilee, motioning with his head towards Penance.

"Naw," she brushed off the compliment. "Penny did it all by herself. She just needed some encouragement."

The front doors of the Mansion opened and Sam appeared, eyes eagerly scanning the group of teens. He grinned happily when he saw his sister, and ran down the steps to sweep Paige up in a hug.

"Ah missed you," he gushed, much to his sister’s embarrassment.

Paige beat at his back, demanding to be put down. Despite her protests though, everyone could see the affectionate twinkle forming in her eyes. The group slowly began to file into the Mansion, Emma Frost taking the lead, her stiletto hills clicking loudly on the polished hard wood floors of the interior.

"I’m goin’ to find Wolvie. Wanna come with me, Penny?" Jubilee asked Penance, whose eyes flickered nervously around the interior of the house. Jono stepped up, his eyes crinkling with faint concern.

:I’ll go too, gel. Maybe that’ll calm her a bit.:

"Thanks, Jono." Jubilee chirped, already heading down the hall, her impatience finally beginning to show. Jono inclined his head towards Jubilee’s retreating back, and motioned to Penance that they should follow. She seemed to understand, and padded silently down the corridor, keeping her back to the wall.

The smell of hot spices and oil grew quite strong as they moved deeper into the Mansion, and for an instant, Jono felt wistful. There were many things that he had taken for granted before his ‘accident’, eating most of all. It was not just the act of consuming and tasting food he missed, either. It was the camaraderie that he was forever separate from, the type that comes with sharing food. Just one of the simple pleasures that was denied him.

Ahead, in the direction of the kitchen, Jubilee squealed loudly. Penance quickened her pace, but slowed to a halt just before the wide entrance. She peered around the wall while Jono stepped around her, bemused.

Jubilee was perched on the kitchen table, legs swinging wildly and cowboy hat shoved up high on her forehead. Logan sat sprawled in a chair beside her, a beer in one of his gnarled fists. He was listening to her animated chatter with interest, his lips twitching suspiciously. Gambit puttered loudly around the stove, singing lightly to himself in French.

"Jono, Penny!" Jubilee exclaimed brightly, interrupting herself as she noticed her teammates. She shoved herself off of the kitchen table and ran to the refrigerator. A few seconds later, she returned with an apple. Logan watched with interest as Jubilee coaxed Penance out into the main floor of the kitchen.

"This the first time she’s been out o’ that mansion, ain’t it?" Logan stated gruffly. Penance started at the sound of his voice, but took a quick look at Jono and Jubilee and slowly relaxed.

"Yup." Jubilee affirmed, still holding out the apple. "Come on Penny. You aren’t hungry?"

"Mebbe she hungry, but for somethin’ else, petite." Gambit called from the other end of the kitchen. He spooned up some gumbo and rice into a shallow bowl and with slow, easy movements he walked towards Penance. She shrank away, but could not run because Jono was in her path.

"Dat’s all right, petite." Gambit soothed in a silk soft voice. "Gambit won’t hurt ya." Slowly, he knelt down on one knee and solemnly held out the dish of steaming food to Penance. "You want some, non?

"Ain’t no one that wants ta eat yer cookin’, Cajun." Logan groused.

Gambit ignored him, his eyes continuing to rove across Penance’s face. She stared back blankly, though her gaze finally flickered down to the food. Everyone held their breath. Gambit was as still as a statue.

"Dis one just been hurt too much," he whispered, his eyes soft and sympathetic. Penance looked up at him again and ducked her head shyly. Moving hesitantly, she slowly reached out and took the dish from his hands, careful to avoid contact with his skin. Her long fingers screeched painfully across the ceramic.

"I’ll be damned." Logan muttered. He threw Gambit a grudging look of admiration. "Didn’t know ya had it in ya, Cajun."

For once, Gambit did not reply flippantly. Instead, he shrugged and slowly stood, looking down on Penance with something akin to affection. Penance missed his expression, still clutching the dish of food as she moved to the kitchen table under Jubilee and Jono’s guidance.

"Gambit’s seen a lot of hurtin’, and dished out plenty, too," he said softly. "Lot’s dat dis Cajun’s not proud of. Gambit recognized dat suffering in her. T’ink she knew it, too."

He turned on his heel before Logan could respond, but returned quickly with a long handled serving spoon. "Easier t’hold on to," he explained to the others as he held it out to Penance, the girl seated uneasily at the edge of a kitchen chair. She looked at him without emotion, and carefully took the spoon from his outstretched fingers.

Jubilee and the others made no move to correct her as she gripped the silverware uncomfortably. She dipped it into the gumbo, and with jerky movements she shoved some into her mouth. Utter silence reigned as the room filled with the sounds of her chewing. She visibly swallowed, and after a long moment she turned her face up to Gambit, her lips twisted upwards in the faintest of smiles. Gambit grinned.

:Good goin’, Mr. LeBeau.: Jono congratulated him. :We never got that far with ‘er.:

Gambit took the unexpected voice in his mind quite well, not even looking surprised. "All de girls love me," he held out his hands helplessly. "’Sides, dis one knows good cookin’ when she tastes it."

Logan snorted derisively, but watched as the girl took another careful bite of food. Her movements slowly grew more confident and soon she had finished the entire dish. She looked longingly at the last remnants of sauce. Wordlessly, Gambit took her plate back to the stove and spooned her up an even more ample serving of gumbo, this time adding red beans and sausage on the side. Penance took the dish eagerly.

Jubilee watched in shock, her mouth hanging open.

"Darlin’, yer catchin’ flies."

"Huh? Oh, yeah." Jubilee said sheepishly. She returned the apple to the refrigerator, and came back to the table to take a seat across from Penance. Jono took a seat next to her, and Gambit returned to the stove, his eyes bright.

Anne found them like that several minutes later, just as Penance was finishing her second serving. Her hair was still damp from taking a shower, and her cheeks were flushed a rosy pink.

"Jubilee!" she exclaimed happily as she entered the kitchen. Then her eyes fell on Penance, and she froze. The girl looked up at the same time, and the two locked gazes.

The voices of the trees swelled to new heights within Anne’s head, as if through her eyes they were discovering a missing part of their consciousness. To her horror, the trees forcefully latched themselves onto the mind of the girl before her.

Anne’s disbelief increased as the intrusion of the trees was eagerly accepted. There was a moment of profound silence in her mind, and then through the vast consciousness, Anne felt a trickle of communication not of the forest.

:Hello?: Anne sent back, still staring at Penance in surprise.

The trees carried to Anne emotions of euphoria and relief. Wonderment filled Anne’s face as she digested the emotions pouring from the girl via their shared link to the trees. As the others watched on in amazement, Penance began to cry. She made no sound, but no one could miss the tears trickling down her cheeks.

"Penny? Anne, what’d ya do to her?" Jubilee stared at Anne accusingly as she belatedly tried to comfort her friend.

Anne shook herself, trying to clear her mind. "Those are tears of happiness, Jubilee. She’s just happy," she explained weakly, a little unsure herself about what was going on. The trees were still humming excitedly, and Anne could not imagine how they had not known about this girl—Jubilee had called her Penny?—before today.

"You call this happy?" Jubilee squeaked incredulously, waving her hands in Penance’s direction.

:Gel, it’s true.: Jono said, his eyes flickering to Anne in confusion. :Usually, I can’t pick up a thing from Penny, but she’s radiatin’ relief an’ joy, both at the same time.:

"Chere, what did you do?" Gambit asked gently as he knelt by Penance.

"I didn’t do anything!" Anne protested defensively, holding up her hands. "She’s got a gift like mine."

"Darlin, I don’t know if you’ve looked in a mirror o’ late, but ya ain’t nuthin’ like ol’ Penance." Logan commented, still lounging comfortably in his chair as though nothing unusual was taking place.

Anne growled in frustration. "She can talk to the trees, Logan," she ground out.

That shocked everyone into silence. Anne took the opportunity to kneel on Penance’s other side. Before anyone realized what she was doing, she took the girl’s hand in her own. Penance jerked away, and Anne’s face drained of color as she turned her hand over. The skin of her palm had been serrated and was bleeding freely.

"So that’s part of the reason you’re so lonely." Anne murmured tightly, seemingly to herself.

Logan swore, and grabbed a handkerchief from his back pocket. He wrapped the cloth tightly around her hand. "Back ta the infirmary," he growled.

"No." Anne stopped him with a fierce glance to rival his own. "My healing factor will take care of it. Penance is more important right now."

For an instant, he looked as though he was ready to drag her off despite her protests, but he reluctantly settled back into his chair. Anne thanked him with a wane smile, and turned to Penance, whose tears had begun to subside.

"Dat’s right, petite." Gambit continued to soothe. "You too good a gal t’be cryin’."

Through her tears, Penance tremulously smiled at the attentive Cajun. As Anne shifted in front of her, Penance glanced at the woman and locked eyes on her injured hand.

Through her link with the trees, Anne could feel Penance’s guilt.

:Penny?: she tentatively sent her inquiry through the trees, who passed it on to the girl before her.

:I-I-I’m sorry about your hand.: Penance responded tremulously, once again using the trees as bridge between their minds. Her voice was high and sweet, a sharp contrast to her appearance.

:It’s nothing.: she emphasized her words with feelings of acceptance and affection. She also could not help but convey excitement. :Penny---I never imagined that there was another person like me who could talk to the trees. They always told me I was the only one.:

:I-I don’t know.: she stammered shyly. :But you’re the f-f-first person I’ve t-talked to in a long time. I-I can’t speak anymore. I don’t even know English.:

Anne frowned, perplexed. If she didn’t understand English, then how…? The answer suddenly dawned on her, and she shook her head in amazement.

:The trees must be translating for us.: she explained to Penance. :Why haven’t others tried to speak with you, at least mind to mind?:

:T-they did try. But, I have t-t-trouble l-letting people in my m-mind anymore. T-T-Too many b-bad experiences. Trees d-d-don’t hurt me.:

Anne could feel anxiety leaking through their link. Through the trees, she reached out with a calming mental hand to comfort the girl. Penance’s body relaxed slightly, and Anne could feel gratitude and bone deep sorrow emanating from her.

:Th-Thank you. When I was l-little, Mama always r-ran her h-h-hands through my hair when I-I-I was frightened or sad. What you’re doing f-feels the s-same."

:Where is your mother?: Anne asked as gently as she could, somehow fearing the answer.

:D-d-dead.: she sputtered mentally. :Papa and M-Mama h-h-hid me when t-t-the s-s-soldiers c-came, but I h-h-heard---:

:Shhh.: Anne closed her eyes, trying to deal with the emotions pouring through the trees from Penance. She could not help but be affected by the spirit-wrenching grief, could not help but share the memories that the trees had begun to taste in perplexity. Of being surrounded by darkness, knees tucked under her chin. Biting her lips until she tasted blood to keep from crying out. Hearing the screams of Papa and Mama, the coarse laughter of the soldiers, the cracks of pistols and rifles…Mama, please don’t die. Don’t leave me alone…please…please, Mama…

With a gasp, Anne tore herself from the memories and threw up her shields, blocking out even the trees. An echo of the memory lingered, and her chest ached fiercely. She felt herself rocking back and forth, and when she opened her eyes all she could see was white, and she could not move her arms. It took her a long moment to comprehend that she was being held.

"Darlin?" Logan’s voice rumbled. She could hear his heart beat beneath her ear, and she clung to the sound, letting it bring her back from the shared pain of Penance’s childhood.

Anne took several shaky breaths, leaning against Logan’s chest. "I’m all right," she whispered.

"You two started cryin’, Annie. Even Jono couldn’t snap ya outta whatever ya were doin’."

:Yer shields…: Jono projected weakly at her.

Anne nodded, and turned her gaze on Penance. Her eyes were clenched tight, and she was trembling. Anne once again invited the trees back into her mind, reestablishing contact with Penance. Pain instantly began to flood her, but this time she was prepared for it. Reaching out to Penance, she could feel how the girl was reliving her past. She could not break free of the sorrow.

Anne bit her lip. She hated entering other people’s minds.

It can’t be helped.

She quickly pushed her spirit out amongst the trees, feeling for a moment the exhilarating sensation of being one woman and the entire world, all wrapped into one. She forced herself to disregard the feeling, using the pain radiating across the link to find Penance. The consciousness of the trees acting as her disguise, Anne slipped into the girl’s mind.

She was instantly surrounded by a maelstrom of colors and images, none of them pleasant. Anne felt herself being pulled into the windstorm of memory and she clutched at the trees, hoping they would anchor her. They were eager however, to taste this new wealth of memory and insight, and instead of pulling her out, they inadvertently pushed her even further into Penance’s mind. Anne was not sure what would happen to her if she became trapped in the cycle of the girl’s memories, and she really did not want to find out. She blindly reached for help.

:Logan, Gambit! I need you!: Even as she stretched her mind out to her two friends, she felt her mental grip loosen.

Their response was an instant affirmation, and Anne immediately linked with them. With two anchors for her spirit, Anne knew she was in no danger of losing herself. She immediately opened up her ‘sight’ to Logan and Gambit, feeling their thoughts and feelings of awe as they took in the state of Penance’s mind. She felt their spirits manifest beside her in imitations of their physical forms, and she smiled appreciatively at them as they appeared.

"Darlin’, what the hell is goin’ on?" Logan growled.

"It’s Penance. I stirred up some memories that were best left forgotten, and it’s making her a wreck. She has so much pain and grief bottled up inside of her. She’s never shared any of it, and it’s literally tearing her apart. I’ve got to go in there and find her."

"Ya ain’t goin’ in there alone, darlin’."

"Logan---"

"Ya can’t hide anything from me, darlin’. Not with this link. I know as well as you do, that ya need someone here as an anchor. But one o’ us can and will go in there with ya. We almost lost ya, Annie. Give us this much." His eyes were steely, and Anne knew that no amount of arguing was going to change his position.

"Fine. One of you can come, but make it quick." she said curtly, glancing worriedly at the howling winds in Penance’s mind.

"You go, Cajun." Logan told Gambit. "Nuthin’ I would like better than ta look out fer Annie with my own two eyes, but I reckon that girl likes ya better ‘n’ me. Might make a difference."

Anne didn’t give Gambit time to respond. With a fleeting glance at Logan, she grabbed onto Gambit’s hand and jumped into the maelstrom.

It was easier to find Penance than she had anticipated. Temporarily blinded by the onslaught of images and emotion, Anne struggled to find her bearings and punch a hole through the winds. Then, abruptly, they were gone and Anne and Gambit found themselves in the eye of the storm. Just beyond where they stood, memories ravaged each other, but here, there was relative quiet. And Penance.

Anne and Gambit stared at the girl huddled on the ground before them. Chestnut hair fell in shining locks past her shoulders, and the pale, soft skin of her body was clothed in a breezy cream colored dress. When she looked up at them, high cheekbones and full lips met their gazes. She was a fifteen year girl at the height of beauty. But the eyes were the same. Clear, blue orbs filled with indefinable emotion, making her seem so much older than she looked.

"I-It used to be that I could-I could look this way when I wanted to." she spoke softly, not even showing surprise that they were there with her in her mind. Penance ducked her chin, her sweet, high voice echoing in the space of her mind. "I could control my m-m-mutation. B-b-but a-after E-Emplate took me, I-I-I couldn’t….I c-could feed him longer in my other f-form, and o-one day I-I-I just couldn’t change back."

"Penance," Anne said her name gently. "We can help you if you let us. I know you haven’t been able to communicate, but that’s changed now. You don’t have to hide yourself anymore." She swept her arm out towards the swirling maelstrom of memories encircling them.

"I’m afraid," she admitted quietly, looking away in shame.

Gambit knelt by her, and gently took her chin in his hand, lifting her face until she was looking into his eyes.

"Gambit been through rough times, petite. D’ere’s lots that dis Cajun regrets. Sometimes, Gambit’s afraid too. Lookin’ at his memories be like staring straight into hell, an’ Gambit gets afraid that if he stares too long, dat might just be where he ends up.

"So, it’s fine petite, t’be afraid. What’s ‘portant is dat you don’t let it rule your life, like Gambit almost did. An’ dis Cajun won’t let you ‘member alone. Gambit promise you dat."

Anne held her breath as she watched the two of them. Hesitantly, Penance nodded, her eyes roving searchingly across Gambit’s face. She reached out with shaking arms and enfolded him in a hug.

Gambit’s eyes widened in surprise but he returned the embrace, winking at Anne. She smiled gently, knowing full well that this was the first time in a long while that she had touched another person, even if the contact was just in her mind.

Penance finally released him, and as she did the winds died down in her mind. She stood by herself, and stared at the man and woman before her.

"I’m ready."

Anne smiled, and reached out to take her hand. "One more thing, before we go," she said. Acting solely on instinct, Anne poured into Penance’s mind all that she knew of the English language. She felt the girl stiffen, but it was over in an instant and she sighed with relief when Anne released her.

"Thank you," she spoke, and Anne knew that this time the trees were not translating.
 

The first thing that Anne saw when she opened her eyes was Emma Frost. Blue eyes dug into her own, the White Queen’s full lips twitching with barely suppressed rage.

Good Lord. It’s the Wicked Witch of the West. Anne thought wryly, narrowing her eyes as she calmly met Emma’s gaze. She still remembered her last encounter with the woman. Though she knew that Emma posed no real threat to her, her high handed, imperious attitude grated on her nerves like long fingernails on a chalkboard.

Recognizing her disadvantageous position on the floor, Anne gently nudged Logan in the ribs with her elbow and the two smoothly disentangled themselves from one another. Anne rose gracefully to her feet, wrapping herself in as much dignity as she could muster.

"Sorry to tear you from your love nest." Emma sneered.

Anne smiled thinly, the air in the kitchen dropping several degrees.

"Jealous, Emma?"

"If I wanted a hairy little animal, I’d go to the pet store and purchase one."

For the first time, it was Logan who had to restrain Anne, and not the other way around.

"Darlin’, there are children watchin’." He whispered in her ear, yet loud enough so that everyone could hear. He turned the full force of his gaze on Emma, a predatory smile on his face. "Wait till she’s alone, before ya gut ‘er."

Jubilee snickered. Emma threw her such a scathing look, Anne flung a shield up around the girl’s mind. Outraged that Anne would imply that she might attack her own student, Emma opened her mouth again to speak. Before she could launch into a new tirade though, Sean stepped up from where he had been leaning in the doorway.

"Sure, and I hate t’be the one to interrupt this fascinatin’ cat fight, but I think we have bigger problems on our hands." The Irishman looked pointedly at Penance.

Anne’s eyes softened as she examined Penance, still seated at the kitchen table. The girl’s eyes were large in her face as she stared at all of the adults surrounding her. Anne knew she could understand every word that was being said.

:I’m sorry you have to hear this.: Anne sent, via the trees.

:D-don’t be. I-I-I know n-none of you w-would hurt me." Penance’s eyes flickered to Gambit. He still knelt at her side, having not risen since Anne had taken them from the girl’s mind and broken their link. Despite the bemused look on his face, Anne could not help but notice the protective way he hovered over Penance.

"You’re right about Penance…Sean, is it?" Anne inquired, having never met Emma’s counterpart at the school they ran.

"Aye. And yuir Anne, if I’m not mistaken?" He smiled pleasantly enough, though Anne could tell from the fine lines around his eyes that he was anxious. His gaze flickered to Emma, who was quietly seething.

"Yes, Sean." The White Queen grated. "That is Anne, but by the time I’m through with her she’ll be lucky if she even remembers her name."

Anne sighed, placing her left hand on her hip.

"Is there a reason why you’re so furious with me, or are you just suffering from a really bad case of PMS?" she quipped bitingly. This time, Jubilee was not the only one who snickered.

Something snapped in Emma’s eyes, and she strode menacingly towards Anne. Anne did not budge, her feet stubbornly rooted to the ground as the blond woman advanced with murder in her eyes. Emma was considerably taller than Anne, and she had to crane her neck in order to look into the face of the enraged woman.

"You want to know why I’m angry?" she snarled. "Answer me this, Anne. What in the hell were you doing to my student?"

Anne blinked in surprise. "Do? I don’t know what you think has been going on here, but we’ve been helping Penance, not hurting her!"

"I don’t care if you were helping her, Anne. The fact is, you were in her mind, and that poor child has suffered enough without you mucking around in her head without the faintest idea of what you’re doing! How dare you have so little regard—"

"Like you should talk, Emma." Anne interrupted incredulously. "You’re the one who tried to psi-blast me on my first night in the Mansion.".

"And I’d do it again in a second if I thought I could make you suffer," Emma whispered back, shocked silence filling the kitchen. Anne’s eyes darkened dangerously and Logan stirred.

:Stay out of this, Mister!: she ordered immediately.

:Just scratching my back, Annie. Wouldn’t dream o’ interruptin’ this fight.: Logan replied, his eyes glittering.

Anne clenched her jaw. She looked on the very edge of loosing her temper, and everyone but Emma stirred uncomfortably. After a long moment of tense silence, Anne carefully exhaled.

"Would you like to see what Penance accomplished?" she asked coolly. Emma blinked, surprise flickering in her eyes. That was not quite the response she had expected.

"I would." Sean spoke up from the doorway. "If it’s possible, at least," he amended quickly.

Emma glared at him as Anne told him that it was. Everyone looked expectantly at the blond woman, and her face darkened even more.

"All right." Emma finally snapped, once more locking gazes with Anne.

Anne smiled coldly, and reached beyond her shields to link Emma and Sean to her mind.

:This had better not be a trap.: Emma barked immediately, colors and indistinct images coating her words.

:Give it a rest, Emma.: Sean shot back irritably.

Anne ignored them, focusing instead on the trees, and beyond them, Penance.

:Penny?:

Anne felt Emma’s annoyance abruptly evaporate as the girl tremulously acknowledged the two people.

:Penance? Is that you?: Emma’s voice miraculously softened.

:Y-yes, Ms. F-Frost.:

:Lass!: Sean called, everyone feeling his delight. :I dinnae think I’ve ever been so happy t’hear someone speak.:

:But how is this possible?: Emma interjected. :I tried probing her mind once before, and failed.:

:We’re not talking directly mind to mind.: Anne answered back quickly. :Penance can speak to trees, like me. She’s telling them what she wants to say, and they carry it to me. The same is true when I want to talk to her.:

:So, what you are saying is that any communication with Penance is entirely dependent on your availability.: Her voice sounded as sweet as if she had just sucked on a lemon.

:Well, you could just give her a pad of paper and a pen. I gave her an accelerated lesson in English, so no, she doesn’t need me to communicate.: Anne frowned and focused a message to Penance.

:I’m sorry for talking about you like you weren’t here, Penny. Is there anything you’d like to add?:

:W-well…:

:Come, child. You can tell us anything.: Emma soothed.

:We’re all ears, lass.:

:I…I’d l-like to stay with the X-Men.:

:WHAT?: Emma screeched.

Anne winced.
 

"Emma, surely you can see that it is for the best."

"Ye cannae deny that nothing else we’ve done has helped the lass."

Sean, Emma and Professor Xavier were seated in his study. A small fire burned cheerfully in the fireplace opposite his desk, the golden light of the flames licking at the rich, dark paneling of his walls and floors. They had been arguing for hours over how to address Penance’s request, and only now had Emma begun to calm and behave reasonably. Earlier in the evening, she had stormed into Xavier’s study, demanding to speak with him. Sean had followed close behind her, for all the world acting like a harried parent trying to placate an unreasoning child.

"How will she receive proper schooling?"

"Emma, the child hasn’t attended a single class since she’s been with us. She won’t be missin’ much."

Emma stared at him, hands clutched around a glass of sherry. A trace of helplessness appeared in her eyes, and Sean felt his heart go out to her.

Why does she have to be so damned stubborn, he thought. She knows this is for the best, but she’s too proud t’admit that the girl would be better off here.

She turned to stare into the fire, and for a long moment there was only silence.

"Charles, what do you know of Anne?"

The Professor sighed wearily. "Emma, what can I tell you that would alleviate your distrust of Anne?"

"Nothing. I do not like her, and there is not one good deed she could perform that would make me feel differently. What I want to know, Charles, is whether you think she is capable of harming my students." Emma’s words were dangerously quiet. Xavier closed his eyes for a long moment, trying to find the words that would satisfy the woman. He sighed and looked into her face.

"As a telepath, Emma, you know as well as I do that nothing can be gleaned from Anne’s mind. As far as psychic scans are concerned, she does not even exist." He paused, turning his head slightly to look into the crackling flames of the fire. When he spoke again, his voice was soft and thoughtful. "But as a man, forced to pass judgment like any other, I can tell you that I trust her as much as any of my other X-Men."

Emma snorted, shaking her head. "You’ve always been soft, Charles," she retorted. "Inviting in any stray mutant that comes begging to your doorstep."

She sighed when there was no immediate response, the two men merely watching her guardedly.

"Fine," she spoke softly. "Penance may stay. But she must be allowed to return as soon as she feels ready to rejoin her classmates."

"Of course." Xavier nodded, relieved.

Sean stirred. "There’s one more thing we need t’discuss. I dinnae think that Penance should be left here alone without a familiar face from the school."

"Just what are you proposing, Sean?" Emma’s head snapped up and she fixed him with a piercing stare.

"Just that one of our students should stay with her. It would make the transition go more smoothly." Sean found himself trying not to wince as her face twisted into a mask of extreme displeasure. "I was thinkin’ maybe Jubilee would be a good choice. Yuir all like family to the lass anyway, and she and Penance get along grandly. "

"It does have merits, Emma." Xavier quickly spoke up in support of Sean. "And I’m sure that Hank would be delighted to have students to teach." Xavier knew that he had he own selfish reasons for liking Sean’s plan. Frankly, he missed having Jubilee in the Mansion. Things were never quite so serious when she was around, and despite his stern demeanor, he did enjoy levity as much as the next person.

"If anything should happen to Jubilee or Penance…" she began ominously.

"You shall have all our heads on a platter." Xavier promised, knowing full well that she would take him up on that, literally, if the two teens were harmed in any way during their stay with the X-Men.

"I still don’t like it," she muttered darkly.
 

Late after dinner, Logan went looking for Anne. Emma, Sean and the Professor were locked in his study, no doubt discussing the afternoon’s events involving Penance. In his mind, he replayed the fight between Emma and Anne. He wondered if the White Queen realized just how lucky she was to have escaped unscathed.

Anne had been on the very brink of losing her temper---he could smell anger pouring off of her in waves. Logan still remembered the surprise he had felt when she carefully reined herself in. She had not spoken with him about the incident, and he was not planning on pressing her. He knew that sometimes it was better to just let the anger go, if it was possible. It was not one of his particular talents, but he suspected that Anne was more forgiving than him. Or at least, she had more self-control.

The Mansion was quiet as Logan exited through the front doors. Jubilee and the rest of her classmates were in the game room, terrorizing Bishop, and Penance was with Gambit. Logan swung his cigar through his teeth as he followed Anne’s scent outside.

He had to admit to himself, Gambit was good with that kid. Jubilee always mentioned something about Penance in her letters, talking about how shy or scared she acted. But she had warmed right up to the Cajun. Then to hear from Anne’s own lips that the girl could talk to the trees…Logan shook his head. Life just kept getting stranger, the longer you lived it. If the past few weeks were any indication, the world was probably heading for a complete shift in reality.

Logan ambled easily through the night, entering the forest surrounding the Mansion. As he expected, Anne’s trail led to the old oak. His sharp nose picked her out first, and then his eyes. Her slight frame was mostly lost in the shadows, although he could detect the white of her throat and the length of her thigh. Logan stood for a long moment, just watching her.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Anne called out suddenly.

Logan slid from behind his cover, and approached her. She patted the ground, and he settled himself down at her side.

"How’d ya know I was there?"

She snorted, her eyes twinkling as she stared at him. "Logan, it’s a little difficult to sneak up on a person who can talk to trees, especially in the middle of a forest."

He chuckled ruefully, and took a puff of his cigar. "Guess I had that one comin’."

"Yup," she agreed amiably, chucking him lightly on the arm with one small fist.

"Nice night ta be communin’, I guess."

Anne nodded, sighing.

"Anythin’ wrong?"

"I don’t know, Logan. I guess the euphoria from waking up has died away. I’ve been thinking a lot for the past few hours. Remembering."

"Wanna talk about it, darlin’?" Logan put an arm around her shoulders and drew her close to his side. Through breaks in the canopy above their heads, stars winked in and out. A faint night breeze, carrying the sweet scent of earth and wind, rustled leaves until the soft murmuring of the forest filled their ears. There was a bite in the air that had not been there a few weeks ago. Autumn was finally beginning to replace the long Indian summer.

"Logan? Do you remember your mother?" Logan leaned back slowly, feeling more startled by her question than he would ever admit. He dug through his memories, searching for some image of a soft face, and even softer hands.

"No, darlin’." He finally said, something painful tugging at his heart. "I suppose I might have turned out differently if I could."

She wrapped an arm around his stomach and hugged him. "I think you turned out just fine, Logan. But I’m sorry you can’t remember your mother. I bet she loved you."

He remained silent for a long time, and the two of them just held each other close. Finally, he took a deep shuddering breath, and turned his head slightly to look at her. "Is this about what that scientist fella told ya?"

Anne nodded, her face lost in shadow.

"My mother…I never knew…I never even guessed. She always acted so happy, so full of love for my dad and I. She was the sweetest person alive." Anne’s voice began to shake.

"Logan, how could he do that to her? She was a living human being, and he treated her like nothing more than a lab rat, playing with her genes. And you know what? I’m a product of that manipulation. That scientist made me, just as much as my parents did.

"I’ve never felt that secure about using my powers. I never thought there was much to them, and I wasn’t curious about finding out everything I could do. It was enough that I could talk to the trees and that I could control my power.

"Now, I find out that my mother was forced to go through hell so that her child could be born with a mutant gift. And you know what? For the rest of my life, every time I use my powers I will remember how much my mother was forced to suffer so that I could have them." Her voice dropped to a strangled whisper.

Logan quietly enfolded her in his arms, feeling her tremble with grief. Removing his cigar from his mouth, he gently kissed the top of her head, and stroked her hair with his hand.

"Just let it out, darlin’."

Anne shuddered, and in the darkness of the forest, Logan soothed her as she cried into his chest. Through all of their experiences together, she had never once shown any sign of weakness. As Logan held her to him, he felt strangely touched that Anne trusted him enough to take down her barriers and grieve in his arms. After many minutes, she lifted a hand to her face and stiffly rubbed her eyes.

"Enough." Anne sniffed angrily. "I’ll be damned if I let my mother’s suffering be for nothing. I don’t know exactly what I can do with my powers, but I’ll find out. I’m done hiding from them. If using my gift can stop other people from getting hurt, I’ll drain myself dry."

Logan pulled away to look into her eyes. He slowly nodded.

"I’ll help ya darlin’, any way I can. I know Gambit will, too." He gently kissed her forehead, and pulled her into a tight embrace. He could feel their heartbeats mingling. "Ya mean so much to us. To me."

"You’re a good man, Logan," she spoke softly into his chest. "No matter what the world tells you, don’t ever forget that. You’re the best."
 

Gambit stepped away from the leaning shadows of a decrepit building. Refuse littered the ground, and he heard the distinct sound of rats scuttling behind him in the darkness. Sirens wailed in the distance, but they did not concern Gambit. He and his accomplice were well away from the crime scene.

"Good, petite. Dat was real fine work."

Penance smiled shyly, and knelt on the ground. Gambit heard a scratching noise, and he bent down beside her. She had written him a message in the cement.

---Not bad for a beginner?---

He chuckled. "Gambit set off all de alarms, de first time he ever broke into a building. You as quiet as a church mouse."

She ducked her head, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. The scratching resumed, and Gambit bent closer.

---I like breaking and entering, but the others would not approve.---

"Prob’ly not, petite. But Gambit won’t say nuthin’ if you don’t. You got a talent for theive’ry, and it’d be a shame t’let somethin’ like dat go t’waste. Just ‘member, Gambit not encouragin’ you t’steal, just to know how t’do it well." His eyes twinkled slyly.

A shy smile tugged at Penance’s lips, and once again, she hid her face.

---I will do my best not to disappoint you.---

Gambit reached out to pat her hand, and stopped himself just in time. He smoothly changed the direction of his movements, and patted her shoulder instead, the thick leather of her clothing protecting him from her skin.

"Gambit got faith in you, petite. Don’ t’ink you’ll ever dis’point dis Cajun."

Gambit smiled gently as she looked up at him, her blue eyes large.

Abruptly, their surrounding environment wavered and disappeared. Bright lights flooded the room and temporarily blinded the two of them.

"Hey!" Gambit shouted in irritation, feeling Penance cringe at the sudden intrusion. He had been doing so well with her, too.

"Sorry sugah, but the Professor wants t’see Penance, along with you, Anne an’ Logan, if ya’ve seen them. Jubilee’s supposed ta be there too, but Ah already found her."

Rogue sauntered into the Danger Room, a pleasant enough smile on her face. However, there was something in her voice that made Gambit want to narrow his eyes. He managed to keep his gaze open and friendly though, and slowly stood, Penance following suit behind him.

"Professor give a reason?"

"Naw, but Emma and Sean were there when he asked me to find y’all, and she looked about as happy as a wet cat."

"We better get going den. Petite? T’ink you can call Anne?"

Penance nodded.

"Den you go on ahead to dat meetin’. Gambit’ll follow you in a minute."

Her eyes flickered hesitantly between Rogue and Gambit, but when the man smiled at her encouragingly, she nodded once again and slowly left the Danger Room. Once the door was firmly shut behind her, Gambit turned to Rogue, his eyes carefully studying her face.

"Well?" he asked softly.

"Well what?" Rogue asked curtly, turning to leave.

Gambit grabbed her arm, knowing full well that she could fling him through the wall if she wanted to. She didn’t though, stopping in her tracks.

"Somethin’s botherin’ you, chere. Wanna tell Gambit what it is? Dis Cajun still your friend."

"Yeah, but not your best friend," she snapped.

Gambit’s eyes widened. "Chere, you said you understood."

"Well, Ah lied. Just like you, all these years. Pretendin’ that ya loved me."

She turned to leave again, but Gambit darted in front of her, blocking the door with his body.

"Gambit wasn’t pretendin’, chere," he spoke quietly, his eyes roving across her face. "But dis Cajun’s changed in de past few weeks, changed enough for there t’be doubts. Gambit respect you too much to make love to you if his heart isn’t in it all de way."

"And what about mah heart, Remy?" She asked, staring searchingly into his eyes for a long moment. Not finding what she was looking for, Rogue shook her head in disgust, and forcefully plowed past him and through the door.

Gambit painfully rubbed his shoulder where she had slammed into him, and stared after her. He opened his mouth to call her back, but the words died in his throat. He knew, without anyone having to tell him, that they were through.

"I’m sorry, chere." Gambit whispered, his voice thick with regret.
 

Penance could tell that Rogue was angry. As a matter of survival, she had learned from an early age to judge personalities and to read body language with uncanny accuracy. She was well aware that her particular talent had nothing to do with a mutant gift, though when she had still looked human and had human friends, some had thought that was part of her power.

Penance knew, better than most, that living in a war zone and being tortured did something to the senses, made them keen and always searching for danger. Acting shy had once been only an act of hers in order to better observe people who might underestimate a timid girl. She had done it for so long however, that it had become a habit, and eventually a part of her personality.

Shy, but not stupid. Penance reminded herself, observing Rogue. The woman dismissed her, as most did, not out of cruelty but because she looked and acted like a broken wreck.

You are a broken wreck.

Penance knew it was the truth, but she stifled the dry voice in her head anyway. It had taken her a long time to regain even a shred of her former strength and confidence, and she wasn’t going to let it slip away because of self-doubts, no matter how overwhelming.

"We better get going den. Petite? T’ink you can call Anne?"

Gambit’s voice drew her from her thoughts, and she nodded.

"Den you go on ahead to dat meetin’. Gambit’ll follow you in a minute."

Penance hesitated, glancing at Rogue. She could see the animosity in the tilt of her head as she stared at Gambit, and in the saccharine smile she had pasted on her face. Penance did not want to leave Gambit alone with this woman, but she felt her head nodding anyway like a puppet, and she mechanically turned and left the room.

What is wrong with you? She asked herself, desperately wanting to turn around but unable to. When will you stop following commands, and start thinking for yourself again? You’re not a prisoner anymore!

Old habit’s die hard---she knew that too, and she had acquiesced to and been tortured by authority figures long enough for her spirit to take a back seat to her body. A body which, even in its current state, could still be made to feel pain.

Remembering Gambit’s request, Penance tentatively reached out to the gentle murmurs just beyond the natural shields of her mind. Immediately, she felt her consciousness swell outwards into something as vast and soft as the night sky. Her insides rippled with delight.

The first time she had ever linked with the trees had been in the biosphere. She had thought she was going crazy when one night she heard the murmuring just outside of her shields. Yet the voices she had heard from the trees in the biosphere were no where near as strong as what now filled her mind. It was like the others had been somehow cut off, and that what she now was a part of, was the complete whole.

Penance gently sent a message out to the trees, conveying her need for it to reach Anne. She delighted in the fact that she could actually communicate with people again. Within a few seconds, Anne replied.

:Penny? Is there anything wrong?:

:N-no.: Oh, she hated that stutter. :B-but the Professor w-wants to see you, me, G-G-Gambit and Wolverine in his study.:

:We’ll be there soon, then. Talk to you later, Penny.:

Penance sent back a faint good-bye, and then, with an apology, she gently shut the trees out of her mind. Their voices were soothing to her, but distracting. Distractions could prove to be dangerous, even here, and she tried not to talk to the trees when she was so exposed.

Penance did not know if Anne let them in all the time, though she suspected that she did. But Anne had lived with them far longer. At least, that was what she picked up from the trees. That, and reverence. Anne had a connection to them that Penance knew she did not, nor would ever be capable of. She was not envious though. She was grateful enough for what little link she had.

Soft footfall reached her ears, and she whirled. Red-on-black eyes met her own.

"Whoa there, petite. Just Gambit."

Penance relaxed, happier than she could have imagined that Rogue had not hurt him. She felt the irrational urge to fling her arms around his neck and hug him, but she carefully restrained herself. Such an action might kill him, or undoubtedly scar him for life.

"T’ought you’d be dere by now, but we can walk t’gether." Gambit fell in beside her, his movements easy and confident. She envied him, that he could exude such strength and vitality while she was little more than a cold, hard husk. She discretely studied him as they made their way through the Mansion.

She remembered how he had first looked at her---without pity or revulsion, but with acceptance in his eyes. That, and understanding. If ever she had felt more sure of a person, it was him. Gambit was to be trusted. He was an adult that would never hurt her. She wasn’t blind, though. She knew he was dangerous. She could see it in the way he walked, and in his face---a face that held the hard, chiseled features of a man who had felt suffering, and who had dealt it out.

Knowing that, she was not quite sure why she felt so safe around him. Even tonight during their impromptu training session, she had felt secure and sheltered in his presence, an unfamiliar sensation to say the least. More importantly though, Gambit made her smile, and not many people had done that since her parents had died.

She glanced up at him again, and this time felt a spark of worry race through her. His jaw was clenched tight, and he was actively making an effort not to swing his right arm. His eyes looked tired. Had Rogue somehow hurt him, after all?

Very carefully, Penance used her covered wrist to lightly tap Gambit on the arm. He stopped walking, and looked down at her, startled.

"Petite?"

Penance lifted a finger to his heart, and then pointed to his eyes and then his injured arm.

He stared at her a moment, understanding and surprise flooding his face.

"Yeah, petite," he said slowly. "Gambit hurtin’ right now, but de pain is worst right here." He gestured towards his chest. "Hurt someone bad. Didn’t mean to, but seems like Gambit doesn’t have much luck when it comes to a woman’s heart. Always hurtin’ someone."

Penance vehemently shook her head. Ever so gently, she raised her right arm and let her hand hover over his heart. Gambit smiled gently, a little of the pain easing from his face.

"Glad t’know Gambit still has some friends left, petite."

Penance shyly smiled.

They took their time walking to the meeting, ambling slowly down the halls. Penance thought that they should rush a little more, but every time she attempted to lengthen her strides, Gambit fell behind her. He acted as though he did not have a care in the world, and the feeling was contagious. Penance began to relax, and though she still unconsciously hugged the walls of the corridor, her movements steadily became less furtive.

"Gambit need t’teach you how t’play cards, petite," he grinned, impressing Penance with his nimble fingers as he idly shuffled a deck of cards. "You got a perfect poker face."

As they climbed into an elevator, Penance hesitantly reached out to touch the cards in his hands. Gambit smiled encouragingly and handed her the entire deck. Penance looked up at him, her eyes filled with delight as she gingerly handled the cards. Yet even as she fingered them, the deck began to fall apart.

Queens and Jokers found their faces shredded, and Penance hopelessly tried to keep from tearing up the rest of Gambit’s gift. In desperation, she threw them away from her, the cards slamming harmlessly against the walls of the elevator and fluttering to the ground at Gambit’s feet. Shame instantly spread through her, and she looked up at the Cajun in horror.

Gambit, with his sharp eyes, had seen everything. He quickly knelt before Penance and gently encircled her covered wrists with his hands.

"It’s all right, petite. Gambit know you didn’t mean nuthin’. An’ dere’s plenty more cards where dat came from."

Penance trembled, her eyes still riddled with guilt.

"Petite, petite." Gambit soothed earnestly, his eyes soft. "Don’ be so worried ‘bout such small t’ings. Accidents happen. De two of us---we’ll work through it all t’gether, ‘kay?"

Penance swallowed heavily and nodded. Gambit smiled encouragingly, and began to scoop up the cards from the floor. The few that were unsalvageable he crumpled and stuck into his pockets. Penance stood still and watched him, afraid that she would only make matters worse if she tried to help.

The elevator doors had opened long ago, the sensors keeping them from sliding shut until the occupants of the elevator stepped out. Gambit placed gentle fingers on Penance’s back, and lightly guided her out into the corridor. The Professor’s study was just down the hall.

"Gambit still teach you how t’play, petite." Gambit reassured Penance as they approached the wide, double oak doors. "You’ll be de best dere is, Gambit promise you dat."

Penance gazed up at him, her expression clearly disbelieving. Gambit chuckled, and rapped on the door to the study. A muffled reply greeted him, and he swung open the doors.

The study was lit only by firelight. Emma stood by the wide bay windows, arms crossed. She fixed Gambit with a steely gaze that would have rivaled Logan on a bad day. As it was, Logan himself looked fairly relaxed, leaning against the wall in the shadows where the firelight did not reach. At least, as comfortable as he could ever really be. Gambit could still make out the tell-tale glitter in Logan’s eyes as he quietly observed Emma.

Anne sat near him in an arm chair, Jubilee on the floor beside her. Sean sat in another chair, and shifted uneasily as he caught the black expression on Emma’s face. The professor merely sighed at their less than prompt arrival, and stoked the fire with a black iron poker.

"So kind of you to finally join us." Emma gritted her teeth.

Gambit threw her his most charming smile, which of course, had no effect. She merely snorted, and then looked down at Penance with a thinly disguised expression of disapproval. Penance, still feeling guilty about the incident in the elevator, averted her eyes and cringed.

Seeing her pull inward on herself, Gambit tensed with worry. He wordlessly placed a hand of reassurance on Penance’s shoulder, and then shot Emma a chilling glare that rivaled her own.

"What’ve we been dragged here for, Professor?" Gambit asked quietly, standing protectively over Penance.

Xavier seriously regarded the lanky Cajun a long moment before speaking, as though measuring the developing relationship between Gambit and the girl beside him. "Penance and Jubilee are to remain at the Mansion for an undefined period of time," he said finally. "You, Anne, and Logan, will be primarily responsible for them, which is why you have been called to my study to hear the news."

"Coolness!" Jubilee trilled after a shocked moment of silence. She hopped to her feet and threw a huge hug around Xavier’s neck. The golden firelight did not quite manage to hide the blush from his face as Jubilee planted a kiss on top of his head.

"Yes…well. Sean and Emma deserve most of the credit. They are the ones that agreed to this."

"Why the sudden change o’ heart?" Logan asked, stepping forward to lean on the back of Anne’s chair. "Let’s face it, the two o’ you aren’t usually in the habit o’ letting yer students out o’ yer sight for more than a minute at a time." He fixed Emma with a pointed look.

Sean smiled half-heartily at the two girls and then turned to Logan. "As much as we hate t’admit it, we’ve done all we can t’help Penance. What she needs now, as she said for herself," he fixed her with a proud grin. "Is t’be with ye all. Anne is the only one she can really communicate with, and it seems Penance has opened up t’ Gambit. Yuir what she needs right now."

"And what about me?" Jubilee asked curiously.

"Yuir back-up, lass. Just t’make sure that she doesn’t get too lonely."

"I think I can handle that," Jubilee smirked.

"You’ve been awfully quiet about this, Emma." Anne stated softly.

Emma fixed them all with an imperious stare. "I have strong reservations about this plan…but Sean is right, for once." She looked once again at Penance, who automatically tensed at the mild scrutiny. The faintest whisper of regret filled Emma’s eyes. "Yes," she continued softly. "I think Penance is better off here…at least until she feels ready to come back to us."

Sean could not wipe the surprise off of his face before Emma turned around to look at him. She lifted one delicate eye brow at his expression, but did not comment.

Anne gracefully rose to her feet, the fire casting dancing shadows of dark and light upon her skin.

"We’ll take good care of them, Emma. You and Sean will have nothing to worry about," she asserted sincerely, her face betraying none of the anger that had plagued her earlier in the evening.

Emma smiled thinly.

"You have been with the X-Men for such a short time, Anne." Emma stated quietly. "How well do any of us, even your closet friends, truly know you?"

There were stirrings of protest, but Anne shot them down with a single, calm look that somehow quieted the rustlings in the room. Emma noticed this, and smiled bitterly.

"You are very powerful, Anne. Much more than you realize, and that makes you dangerous. Far more dangerous than me."

Anne’s eyes were lost in shadows as she stared at the White Queen. Memories haunted her, of wiping a man’s mind clean, of sealing the compound and the people in it within an inescapable forest. The first had been an accident, the second a revengeful attack that had grown out of proportion. And she could still taste the rage that had filled her this afternoon, during her fight with Emma. A different sort of anger that frightened and at the same time excited her. She had been able to control herself, but it had taken more strength than she was willing to admit. Perhaps Emma was right, she thought suddenly.

"What do you want from me, Emma? What assurance can I give you?"

"None. I am grateful for what you have done for my students…but I do not trust you."

Anne’s smile was faintly bitter. "There’s a part of me that doesn’t blame you, Emma."
 

The meeting finished quickly after that, and Anne, Gambit and Logan left Xavier’s study. Penance and Jubilee followed closely behind them.

"That was tense." Jubilee muttered, breathing a sigh of relief as they entered the corridor.

Anne didn’t say anything, her eyes lost in thought.

Logan stepped close and placed his fingers beneath her chin, lifting her face until they were looking eye to eye.

"What’s botherin’ you, Annie? Why’d you agree with Emma, back in there?"

A sad smile fluttered on Anne’s lips and then was gone. "She’s right, Logan. Why do you think I didn’t use my telepathy on humans for eleven years?"

"That was an accident, darlin’."

"Maybe." Her face twisted with distaste. "But I left all of those people to die in that compound. At the time, it felt right. I hated everything that facility stood for. But when I listened to Emma, I had to wonder…aren’t I just as bad? I murdered all of them. And if they weren’t dead when the trees sealed them in, then they’ve been dying a long, horrible death since then. I had myself all convinced that finally using my powers would be for the best, but now…" There was a long silence. Jubilee looked at her carefully, and stirred.

"I’m---I’m afraid to use my powers, too," she spoke hesitantly, her eyes finding all of their faces, but settling on Anne. "I mean, I use them…but not all the way. I don’t really want to hurt anyone. The thing is though, sometimes we gotta. That’s what being with the X-Men means. You have to have the strength to do what needs to be done."

"We all make mistakes, chere." Gambit’s eyes were haunted as he spoke, and Penance edged towards him.

"Darlin’," Logan rumbled gently. "Let the pain go. Sometimes bad things happen, but if ya eat yourself up over ‘em, you’ve lost the chance ta make sure those same bad things don’t happen to another."

"I’m acting like a wuss, aren’t I?" Anne asked with a wry grin, though her eyes were pained and weary.

:N-no.: Penance gently sent through the trees. :Y-Y-You’re just being h-human.:
 

"And we had to get up this early, because….?"

Anne shrugged, throwing her an impish grin. "No good reason."

Jubilee groaned, clutching her head with both hands.

"I shouldn’t even be out here! I can’t talk to trees!"

Anne pursed her lips, and shot Penance a quick grin. "I seem to remember a certain young woman asking me for lessons on how to speak with Nature. That must have been, oh, my first evening at the Mansion. Ring any bells, Jubilee?"

Jubilee scowled, and shoved her fists into the pockets of her yellow trench coat.

:What are w-we doing out here?: Penance asked curiously.

:A lesson. For you, and maybe Jubilee.:

:What have I t-to learn from the t-trees?:

:Maybe nothing. But I’ve found them to be a healing presence in my life, and I’m hoping that they’ll do the same for you.:

Anne didn’t stop at the outskirts of the forest, but kept moving deeper into the tree line. Her psi-shields mingled with those of the trees, flashes of memory and color filling her mind. They weren’t doing the same for Penance, she realized, though they were tasting her memories. Anne wondered why they did not reciprocate the gesture, as they did for her.

Anne stopped in the middle of a small clearing, and looked around. Little undergrowth grew here. There were so many trees, the combined canopy kept sunlight from reaching the ground.

"All right. The two of you should choose a tree. Preferably, one that you feel drawn to."

Jubilee shrugged indifferently, but nevertheless, Anne could see her sharp eyes roving over the trees before her. She began to wander to the east, and Anne let her go, concentrating on Penance. A hundred feet to the southwest, a pine tree grew up from the debris littered earth. Its trunk was gnarled and twisted, the pine hunched over like an old woman. It was not very tall, and a few of its branches held needles that were yellowing with disease. Penance headed straight towards it, Anne following at a discrete distance.

:T-This one.: Penance sent through the trees. :It l-looks l-like me…on the in-inside.:

:It needs you.: Anne replied gently, probing the pine. Its spirit was indeed weak, but in the presence of two people who could communicate with it, Anne felt something stir within the tired consciousness of the tree.

:W-What should I do?: Penance asked, standing before the stunted pine.

:Just reach out to it with your mind and body. See?: Anne knelt on the ground, and reached out with a hand to touch its trunk. Their psi-shields mingled, and Anne felt gratitude through the link.

:All trees share each other’s consciousness, but every one is different.:

:When they sp-speak to me, it’s difficult to remember that. Their voices combine into one.: Penance commented, reaching out to gingerly touch the tree. Anne wondered if she realized that her stutter was becoming less pronounced, the longer they remained in the woods.

Ah, the healing power of Nature, she thought airily. It isn’t just a cliché.

:I can f-feel… It’s happy for me to be here.: Penance looked up at her in wonder. :It says that my presence is an honor.:

Anne smiled, knowing exactly what the tree had told her. :For them, it is. There are so few people who can speak to trees, they relish all of the contact they can get. They take from us, as much as we take from them.:

:How many more are there?: Penance asked curiously.

:Of us? I thought I was the only one, until you showed up. Maybe there are more, but I’m not crossing my fingers.:

:They must be lonely, if they love human contact so much.: Penance mused, pushing herself closer to the pine.

Anne smiled appreciatively at Penance’s clear perception.

:I’ll leave you two alone for a little while. Just open yourself up to the trees, Penance. Let them help you with your memories and your pain. They did wonders for me, that’s for sure.:

Penance threw her a small smile, and then curled up beside the twisted trunk of the pine. Anne quietly moved away and went in search of Jubilee. It was not hard to find her. The trees were more than happy to guide Anne to her young friend.

Jubilee was standing very still in the middle of a small clearing when Anne came upon her. She was staring intently at a birch tree growing in the shadow of a twisted oak. Sunlight cascaded down on the fluttering leaves of its sparse canopy, and the white bark gleamed in the shadowed light of early morning. Anne could hear the sweet song emanating from the narrow tree. She nodded in approval.

"Is that the tree you’re interested in?" Anne whispered.

Jubilee jumped and threw her a startled glance. "You’re quieter than Wolvie," she announced approvingly. She looked back at the tree. "Um, yeah. That’s the one…I…like. Uh, what do I do now?"

Anne smiled. "All right. I hereby commence Tree-talk 101. Pay attention, Jubilee," she querulously reminded her in a bad imitation of an old school marm. Jubilee giggled, and Anne winked at her before turning serious.

"Ok. First of all, just put your hands on the tree, and get a feel for its skin." Jubilee did as she was told, all of her attention focused on the birch.

"Savor the textures…see how the lean of the tree fits against your body and how the sunlight plays along its leaves and bark. Try to understand its essence." Jubilee traced her fingers along the trunk of the tree. She closed her eyes, and lay her cheek on the white bark, inhaling deeply.

"When you’re ready, say whatever comes to mind."

For a long moment, there was only silence. When Jubilee spoke, her voice was a soft murmur that Anne had to strain to hear.

"I just wanted to thank you guys for showing Anne where we were, when those creeps had us."

Anne started in surprise at Jubilee’s words, and felt a warm glow spread through her. No one else, it seemed to her, had ever remembered that it was the trees who had really found the teen-agers. She had merely been a conduit for them, a voice they could use.

Is that what I am to the trees? she wondered suddenly. A way for them to speak out loud? But even if they ever had anything to tell the human world, who would listen to a mutant who said she could talk to the forests? People would think I was crazy.

Anne gently made a psi-link to the birch, translating Jubilee’s words. She was pleasantly surprised to find that the tree had actually understood the emotion behind the girl’s message. A surge of appreciation for Jubilee’s affection passed through the link, and Anne smiled.

"Jubilee," she called softly. "The tree wants me to tell you something."

Jubilee’s eyes flew open.

"It says to tell you that it appreciates that you thought of them, and that the memory of your actions will be passed on. From now on, you can count every tree as your friend, but most especially that one."

An expression of pure delight passed over Jubilee’s face, and Anne could not help but grin in response. The girl turned back to the birch, and impulsively kissed its trunk. Surprise and a question passed over the link, and Anne laughed mentally.

…that was…unique…
…her mind runs as quickly…
…as a river…hard for us to follow…
…or to talk to…
…but we like her…
…she has…potential…
 

:Potential? To speak with you? But she’s not a telepath.:

…the gift is in her…

Latent telepathy, and the trees could sense it?

:You’ve always told me that I was alone.: Anne asked, curiosity filling her. :But now there is Penance, and you say that Jubilee has potential. Why the sudden change?:

…we were not aware of…the silent one…
…she was concealed from us…
…as for sun bright…
…it is good that we find more of you to speak….
…with us…
…it is necessary…
 

:Necessary? Why?: Anne asked, startled. There was the faintest hint of urgency in their voices, something that Anne had never before heard nor felt from them. For the first time since she had begun to communicate with the trees, she felt the prickling of uneasiness in her spine.

An image of Logan flashed through her head, sent to her by the forest.

…he approaches…

Was it just her imagination, or were they trying to change the subject?

Logan did indeed glide into sight a moment later, stopping as he saw Jubilee convulsively hugging a birch tree.

"Wolvie!" Jubilee cried, noticing the man and launching herself at him. She threw her arms around his waist and began chattering excitedly.

"I’ve just been talking to that tree! It even told Anne that it liked me and that every tree in the world would be my friend! Isn’t that cool?"

"They also said she has a fast mind." Anne added, much to Jubilee’s delight.

"Did you hear that? Those trees think I’m smart!"

Logan looked at Anne incredulously, but the woman nodded an affirmation. "Jubilee really did connect. They couldn’t talk back to her, but they understood the gist of what she was trying to tell them, and they appreciated the effort. They even said…well, they said that she has the potential to speak to them for real. You must have a latent psychic ability, Jubilee."

Logan looked carefully at Anne, as though somehow sensing the tension underlying her smile. Jubilee’s jaw dropped open, but her open mouthed stare was quickly replaced by a fierce smile.

"Frostie told me that once before, but I didn’t really believe her."

Logan tore his eyes from Anne, and looked down at Jubilee. He smiled tenderly. "This is great news, darlin’. Think o’ it. Ya won’t ever be alone, ‘cause there’s trees everywhere."

The teen-ager grinned, and then turned to Anne, gifting the woman with an exuberant hug that nearly knocked her off her feet. "Thank you Anne!"

"No prob, Jubilee. Still grouchy about having to wake up early?"

Jubilee shook her head, grinning. With a quick glance at them, she scurried back to the birch and began to excitedly whisper to it.

Logan snorted, crossing his arms. A twinkle was in his eye as his gaze alternated between Anne and Jubilee. "The Professor wants to talk with ya."

Anne nodded. "I’ll head back now."

Logan turned to leave with her, but stopped to look back at Jubilee. "Are you comin’ back with us, darlin’?"

"Nah," she replied. "I want to talk some more to this tree."

"Don’t say anything bad about me."

Jubilee stuck her tongue out at Logan and turned her back on the two adults. Logan chuckled as they began to walk away. When they were out of sight, he touched Anne’s elbow, and the two of them stopped.

"There’s somethin’ wrong, ain’t there?" Logan’s eyes were soft, in odd contrast to his hard, chiseled face.

"I just can’t keep any secrets from you, can I." Anne sighed ruefully, and leaned against a tree. "There isn’t anything wrong, really. In fact, a part of me is absolutely thrilled. I could sense a change in Penance as soon as we entered the forest. If anything can help her, it’ll be the trees. As for Jubilee…well, I think that she’ll be communicating with them for real before she reaches twenty."

"So what’s the problem, darlin’?"

She frowned pensively. "That’s the thing. There shouldn’t be one, but my instincts are telling me otherwise." She looked up at him helplessly. "Logan, for over twenty years I’ve been the only human capable of speaking to the trees. And now, in under a week, two more spring up? Both of them with connections to the X-Men, no less. Something just doesn’t seem right."

Logan nodded thoughtfully. "Does seem like more than a coincidence. Ya don’t know for sure if there’s anything wrong?"

Anne shook her head. "I guess…I guess it could just be my imagination."

Logan shrugged. "Maybe, but you’ve got good instincts." He patted her gently on the shoulder. "Whatever it is, darlin’, you’ll figure it out soon enough."

"Yeah, that’s what worries me."

As the two of them ambled back to the Mansion, Anne sent a message to Penance, telling her where she was going. She responded quickly, her mental touch more relaxed. Anne smiled to herself. The power of Nature, indeed.

Anne and Logan did not talk, just enjoying each others company as they strolled beneath the dappled shadows of the wood, occasionally brushing up against each other as they walked.

"What do you think the Professor wants to talk with me about?" Anne finally asked, as they left the outskirts of the wood.

"Don’t know, darlin’." Logan shrugged, sticking his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "Don’t worry though. Whatever happens, me and Gambit will stick by ya."

Anne tucked her arm through his. "Thanks, Logan. You boys are the best friends a girl could have. But this is something I think I need to deal with on my own."

"Whatever ya say, darlin’. But we’ll be eaves droppin’ outside the door in case ya need any help."

Anne laughed, and hugged his thick arm. "You better be listening for the Professor! I might just turn the tables on him!"

Logan chuckled, and looked down at her with admiration in his eyes.

"Ya might, darlin’. Ya just might."
 

"Dammit, that’s the tenth time you’ve asked me, Cajun. Now, shut yer trap! Chuck’s got the room shielded."

"Gambit just worried ‘bout chere. Dey been in dere too long."

"Two hours, by my reckoning."

"T’ink we should knock?"

"What would we say? ‘Hey bub, are ya harassin’ Annie’?"

"Nah, Gambit more subtle den dat. Gambit just tell de Professor dat Jean finally realized she’s married to a piece of merde, and blew ‘im up."

"That ain’t bad, Gumbo."

:Ahem:

"Sorry, chere."

"Jean, you have to admit—"

:Lo-gan.:

"Well, serves ya right for eaves droppin’."
 

"They’re trying to decide whether or not to break up our meeting. They seem to think I’m being tortured." Anne laughed, tilting her head. "They’re thinking up the most ridiculous excuses."

"They are unusually attached to you, aren’t they."

"Believe me, it’s mutual."

A hint of a smile passed over Xavier’s face. "I admit, it is refreshing to see Gambit and Logan being…drawn out."

Anne shook her head in disbelief. "I know that now is not the time to argue the subject, but really, those two men are just pussycats."

The Professor managed to hide his surprise at Anne’s description of Gambit and Logan.

Pussycats?

He decided not to dwell on Anne’s personal views of the two X-Men, instead steering the conversation back to an earlier topic.

"Anne, I want you to know that I now understand why you sealed the complex. The loss of life was…regretful, but considering all that you had gone through, I don’t believe you can really be held accountable for your actions."

"Nevertheless, Professor. I am the one responsible," she looked at him solemnly, and Xavier nodded in understanding. His eyes grew distant as more questions poured into his head.

"HAP. Human Advancement Project," he mused over the name. "I’ve never heard of it before, and neither have my contacts. Yet they were obviously concerned with engineering mutants of great power."

"And their weaponry was quite…unusual." Anne added softly, her eyes distant with painful memory.

"Yes," Xavier agreed, taking note of the far away look in her eyes. "Beast has one of those ‘rods’ in his lab. He has been studying it very carefully. Somehow, it manages to phase through solid material, and once within, it automatically begins to displace matter until removed."

"That sounds about right," Anne agreed dryly. "That place was like one huge house of horrors."

"I have learned that your mother…was held there against her will for a time." The Professor ventured hesitantly.

Anne’s answering smile was bitter. "Then you know what was done to her, and subsequently, to me."

Xavier nodded. "You mustn’t allow this knowledge to change the way you view yourself, Anne."

"That’s easy to say, Professor, but every creation of the facility that we encountered was designed to injure and kill. If that scientist had succeeded with me, no doubt my purpose in life would have been much the same."

Xavier did not disagree with her. He knew how easy it was for potentially good people to become unspeakably evil.

"He must have carried on the experiments even after your mother escaped."

Anne nodded. "But he said that none of them were ever as successful, whatever that means. I guess we’ll never know."

Xavier frowned thoughtfully. "Perhaps there still is a way to find answers. Since the facility was only sealed, we might one day be able to retrieve information. No doubt they would still have files on your mother and other test subjects."

Anne frowned doubtfully. "The trees are packed so tightly together, returning to the complex would require cutting through something akin to a hardwood trunk that’s ten to twenty acres in diameter. Not an easy task. Besides, those trees are practically newborns, even though they have a hundred years of growth. They wouldn’t appreciate being cut down so young."

"So we are effectively locked out."

Anne smiled sadly. "You’re a very compassionate man, Professor. I appreciate that you believe my claims, no matter how outlandish they seem. I’m just as curious as you to find out what’s in that building, so if you still want to get into the facility, I’ll explain it to the trees. They won’t be happy, especially after I was the one that called them, but they will go back into the earth and wait for other forms to inhabit."

"I confess that every time I speak with you, I find myself startled. I thought that I knew all that there was about life, and here I discover that the very earth and her forests are filled with intelligence and dreams." He shook his head ruefully. "I will not attempt to uncover the research facility. At least not yet. I must confess, I even hate to use wood based products any more."

A wry grin pulled at Anne’s lips. "They don’t have to like it, but they understand. Death isn’t permanent for trees, and they know that the cycle requires their remains so that other creatures may flourish. Besides, contrary to what everyone believes, there will always be trees." Her last words hummed with quiet conviction. Xavier leaned forward, curious.

"How can you be so sure of that my dear, when deforestation is rampant?"

Anne smiled, and for a moment, Xavier felt he was staring into the eyes of someone much older, someone inconceivably ancient and powerful. A shiver ran up his back.

"Professor, trees are the earth’s eyes and ears. Would you let someone systematically destroy all of your senses?" A far-off expression came over her face, and her voice softened with an odd tonal quality that Xavier could feel vibrating against his psi-shields.

"Measures will have to be taken…to restore the balance…Mankind will once again be forced to survive…in accordance to Nature…You will rise again…as you have in the past…but I will heal and make ready for your needs." Anne’s speech was halting and slow, as though she was speaking for the first time.

"When?" Xavier whispered, his mind reeling. "When will you restore the balance?"

A sharp rapping at the door caused Anne to jerk, and she shook her head. Xavier sat back quickly, his breath caught in his throat as he cursed the timing of his X-Men. He had been so close…her mouth had been opening to speak…

"Hmmm…sorry, Professor. I must have zoned out there for a moment. What were we talking about?"

"That is quite all right, Anne." Xavier responded, weakly. "Our conversation is finished anyway, since the cavalry has decided to come to your rescue."

Anne managed to look sheepish as Xavier dropped the sound damper around the room.

"Come in," he called.

Logan stalked through the door, followed closely by Gambit. They seemed prepared for the worst, but Gambit relaxed as he saw the two sitting peacefully. Logan on the other hand, could smell anxiety and nervousness radiating from the Professor, though he maintained an expression of calm dignity. Logan narrowed his eyes, and closely examined Anne, who appeared perfectly fine, though she was staring at the two of them like they were being unruly schoolboys.

What had caused the Professor to get so upset?

"Lunch is about ready, an’ seein’ how Annie hasn’t had much ta eat lately, we didn’t want her ta miss out. That is, if you’re done with your meetin’?" He watched as the Professor threw a discrete, but meaningful glance in Anne’s direction.

"Yes, I believe we are done. Anne, I enjoyed our conversation. It was…enlightening."

Anne smiled pleasantly, rising from her seat.

"And Anne, I know that it has been several weeks…but if you still wish to search out the person responsible for the volcanic eruption, and the subsequent back lash you suffered….you have but to ask for help and it will be given."

A genuine look of gratitude passed over Anne’s face.

"Thank you, Professor Xavier. Thank you very much."

"It is my pleasure." He turned to Logan and Gambit. "And since you two seem to be her closest friends, you may be the first to know that I have officially welcomed Anne as a member of the X-Men."

The expressions on the two men’s faces were comical.

"You see? You boys worry too much." Anne said reproachfully, but there was a twinkle in her eye as she looked them over.

Logan grunted. "What’d the others say, Chuck?"

Xavier sat back in his chair, a headache sowing roots in his temples. "I have not told them yet," he said, a little more sternly than he intended. "But perhaps you would like the honor?"

Anne could see the fine lines of pain at the corner of his eyes, and took the hint.

"Thank you again, Professor." She smiled gently, her eyes soft. Then she turned to the men who hovered behind her. "Come on, boys. I think we’ve kept the Professor long enough."

Gambit and Logan nodded once at Xavier, though Logan’s gaze seemed more piercing than usual. They followed the tiny woman out of the study without objection, the Cajun closing the door softly behind him.

Pussycats indeed, Xavier snorted softly.

His thoughts drifted back to Anne, and the end of their conversation. The woman had obviously been inhabited by something else…dare he say it was the spirit of the planet? The idea went against everything he had ever believed, but he realized that he of all people should not dismiss the likelihood because it seemed impossible.

Yet the implications of her words were staggering.

"Measures will have to be taken to restore the balance. Mankind will once again be forced to survive in accordance to Nature." Xavier spoke out loud, repeating part of the message that had been burned into his mind. He realized that he had reminded Anne of her desire to find the person responsible for volcanic eruption, in the hopes of an appeasement of sorts.

What next, he wondered. Shall I sacrifice like in the days of old, hoping to quell the Earth?

He shook his head. What Anne had spoken of had been a promise, not a possibility. Catastrophe loomed on the horizon for everyone on the planet, and this time, there was nothing he or his X-Men could do to stop it.
 

Lunch was a loud affair. The X-Men wandered in and out of the kitchen, dishing up food from the stove and then standing around, talking and eating.

"You’re hungry, Anne?" Bobby quipped. "The way you ate dinner last night, I thought you’d be full until Christmas!"

"Ha!" Anne shot back, slapping a more than generous serving of mashed potatoes onto her plate. "How little you know." She poured on some gravy, and then proceeded to barrel through the cold cuts and cooked vegetables.

"Don’ get between Anne an’ food, Bobby," Gambit teased. "Dat’s how brawls start."

"How long do you think it took them to clean up that diner?" Anne asked.

"Which one?"

"The second one. The first fight wasn’t over food, if you remember correctly. Ben was acting like a jerk and Trebnor ticked off Logan with that trap of his." She frowned thoughtfully. "I wonder how Ben is, anyway?"

"He’s probably fine, darlin’. Ya don’t miss him, do ya?" Logan spoke up, poking at his potatoes with a fork.

Anne sighed. "No. But he was my father’s friend for a long time. Maybe I should give him a call, just to let him know I’m all right."

"If you want, chere. Jus’ don’ tell him who you’re stayin’ wit’."

Out of the corner of her eye, Anne caught a familiar flash of white-streaked auburn hair.

"Rogue!" Anne called cheerfully. Her smile started to slip when she saw Rogue’s back stiffen, but Anne dismissed her feelings. After all, she had been unconscious for more than two weeks. There wasn’t anything she could have done to Rogue, and she hadn’t seen her since she had woken from her coma. Anne missed the look of concern that passed over Gambit’s face.

"How have you been?" Anne asked, as Rogue turned around. Looking into her green eyes, Anne felt her smile slip several more notches, and she was hard pressed to keep it in place. Rogue’s gaze was cold and distant, her smile perfunctory.

"Fine, sugah." Rogue answered shortly. "How have you been?" She asked back, almost as an afterthought.

"I’ve been better," Anne replied truthfully, still confused. "I was going to train in the Danger Room later this afternoon, and I was wondering if you’d like to join me. Logan and Gambit will be there too. They’re going to be giving Penance and Jubilee a few lessons."

Rogue looked up past Anne, and she was startled by the chilling gaze she pressed on Gambit. He looked at her sadly.

"Maybe another time, sugah," Rogue calmly said, smiling stiffly at Anne. She quickly turned on her heel and left the kitchen.

"What was all that about?" Bobby asked, looking after Rogue.

Anne turned around to stare expectantly at Gambit. "Yeah, Remy. What happened between you two?"

Gambit’s expression was pained. "Gambit promise t’tell you later, chere…but not now."

Anne hesitated. If Rogue was mad at her,