I answered, How?

This world is such a large vast place

--So complicated now.

And I so small and useless am,

There is nothing I can do.

But God in all his wisdom said,

Just build a better you.

-Perfection

-Author unknown

"Yeah."

"How would you have reacted to him?"

"Honestly?"

"No,lie to me." (sarcasm)

"I would have asked him when and where."

"If you knew he had a girlfriend?"

" Cruel."

"She left Gambit to freeze to death in Antarctica."

"She's been acting like a, sounds like itch."

"You've learned."

"No, I'm just not suicidal."

"I like suicidal tendencies in a man."

A New Beginning

By Beth and Adam

Professor Xavier looked up from the stack of papers laying on his desk as John Bruce entered. John had been a member of the x-men for almost two full years. Xavier had always known there was something bothering this young man and today he would find out.

"Professor, I need your help. There is a young mutant I know. She needs someplace to stay. She's 19 and doesn't have any family. I know you'd normally send new members to another team but she won't come unless she can be with me. She's very shy."

"Jedi, what is it you aren't telling me about her?" Professor asked gently.

"This is why I hate talking to telepaths. She's hard to explain. I can honestly say it may take her a while to adjust to this environment. Especially since she's been living in a rat infested apartment for three years."

"What are her powers?" Professor asked ignoring the look in John's eyes that said there was lots more to the story.

"She's a telepath and a healer."

"Bring her here and I'll make my decision."

"I'll probably need a few days off. She lives in New Orleans and doesn't have a car."

"Very well. May I ask you one final question."

"Yeah."

"Do you love her?"

"Not the way you think. She's been my best friend for years. Nothing more."

"Alright. I'll have someone prepare a room for her."

**********

John a.k.a Jedi arrived at the run down apartment of his best friend Heather Nightengale. It was around midnight and he was exhausted. He used his key and opened the door. She was working so he simply went to her room and layed down in her bed. This was what he'd done every time he'd come to visit.

**********

Three hours later the bedroom door opened. The light went on and off again quickly as she realized he was there. She pulled back the blanket and crawled in beside him.

"Good night" she whispered . She laughed as the only answer she got was him snoring.

**********

John woke up at about seven o'clock. He smelled something cooking. Always a bad sign. Heather did a lot of things well, however cooking was not one of those things.

He headed toward the kitchen as Heather attempted to save whatever was possibly edible from the sunny side up eggs she'd been trying to prepare. He took the pan out of her hand.

"I'll take you out for breakfast." John said

"Good. I don't think much of that was salvageable anyway." she said. She turned to face him.

Her beautiful reddish brown hair was tied back in a pony tail. She looked pale and thin. She looked almost sick to him. He'd known her when she'd been happy. Her face had been radiant. She'd always been thin but never near as thin as she now was. This only confirmed his suspicions. He knew if he didn't get her out of there she would die. She already was dieing but he could save her. Now he had what he'd had to wait for two years to ask.

"Heather, you remember that college I told you about?"

"Yeah. You didn't get yourself suspended did you?" Heather asked laughing

"No. I talked to the headmaster and he wants to meet you. He thinks maybe you could join his school and his x-men." John told her.

"John, I can't just up and leave. Especially since he doesn't know if I can stay." Heather said

"Please. At least let's try." John said taking her hand

She looked at him. She never had been able to say no to him. What was there to lose.

"Alright." She agreed "Let me pack."

"Anything you need will be provided for you."

"The only thing I'll take is Nate." Heather said going into her room and bringing out an old worn brown teddy bear.

**********

Along the way John decided he should stop and buy Heather something decent to wear. He knew nothing about clothes or fashion but he could tell that what Heather currently was wearing wouldn't give them the best impression.

There was a small mall along the way so he stopped and took her in. She chose a pair of black jeans and a loose black shirt. It looked good on her and hid how thin she was.

**********

"We've been in this car for hours and you haven't told me anything."

"It's a mansion full of mutants who fight to coexist with humans." John told her

"Sounds good to me. So is he gonna put me through a test? Make me fight some crazed psychopath or what?"

"No. He picks his students on character and attitude."

"I can tell I won't last long." Heather said

"You'll do fine. He just wants to meet you. If you do become part of the x-men you'll need a code name. And a costume."

"Have I stepped into hell? No just some really cheesy batman film." Heather sighed

"Behave yourself." John laughed

**********

Finally they started up the long driveway.

"Your kidding. This place is huge." Heather exclaimed

"Yes it is."

"I'm still thinking cheesy batman flick." Heather laughed

They entered and headed toward Professors office. Heather couldn't get over how big everything was.

"Have a seat." a bald headed man sitting behind the desk said.

"This is Heather Nightengale." John said.

"I've been looking forward to meeting you. I'd like to ask you some questions if that's alright." Professor said

"Your a telepath so I want you to go into my mind and see everything so you'll understand."

"I'm not in the habit of invading people's privacy." Professor said. Heather laughed silently. Few people had ever considered her a person.

"If I'm going to stay here I don't want to do so until you know what I was. Please sir." Heather begged.

"Very well."

Xavier entered her mind. He stood there looking as she arranged the pieces for him. Memories flew past him. Emotions consumed him. He saw starving and abandoned children, Bodies brutally murdered, people dieing, after that he saw only sweaty men whose cruelty had destroyed this girl. He also saw how she met John. What her life was like and many other things. He gained an understanding of her. From her relationship with John to her inner demons. He also learned about her powers. Heather knew she was a healer and a telepath but he sensed something else also. Perhaps she had powers unknown to her.

He exited her mind and simply looked at her for a moment. Tears of shame were flowing down her face. John put his arms around her trying to comfort her.

Xavier spoke in a very soft gentle voice "Jedi please take her upstairs and then please return here."

**********

John took Heather upstairs but he didn't have the heart to leave her alone in unfamiliar surroundings. He took her to his room. He knew what could comfort her and he hoped the familiar smell would keep her until he returned.

**********

He returned to Professor's office. Neither of them spoke for a moment. Then finally Xavier said "I'm glad you brought her here. It will take time for her to adjust but it will be better than the alternative. I want you to take some time off til she adjusts. She trusts only you. I'll put her on Scott's team since it's obvious you two work well together. You know that you saved her. She wouldn't have made it much longer. Tell Beast he has a nurse. I also want him to examine her. Her body isn't in the best condition. We'll introduce her to the others at dinner tonight. I'll make sure Jean gives her private cooking lessons. Whenever you like go out and let her put her room together. Make her more welcomed here."

"I'll do that."

"I have one question for you. How did she find you? She hid that from me and I was curious why."

He gave Xavier a hard look. "Charles, I told the Guild to leave those people alone but they slaughtered them down to the last man, woman, and child. There was a debt made and I went to collect. I blew up the Guilds home. I severely injured a man and if I could have I would have done to the assassins what they did to my people. That day I became Jedi." John said as he got up to leave. John looked at Xavier he could tell that this man thought no less of him because of his past.

**********

"Hey Beast, Prof. wants you to know that he found a nurse for you. She has healing powers no less." John said cheerfully. Putting Heather with Beast would be good. Beast was one of the kindest souls in the mansion. He would surely earn her trust.

"That's great. When do I meet her?"

"I came to set up a time for her physical."

"Whenever she's ready. "

**********

"Heather this is Hank McCoy aka Beast. Don't let the looks fool you he's a nice guy."

"Fur?" Heather asked

"Yes. Nice to meet you Heather." Beast said

"I get to be work with an overgrown blue teddy bear. Will wonders never cease." Heather said

"I'll be right outside." John said and closed the door behind him

"If you'll slip into this we can start the examination." Beast said leaving

**********

"The only thing really wrong with her is she's underweight and malnutrition." Beast said "I'm doing some blood tests to be sure that there is nothing else."

"Alright. I figured as much." John said.

"Am I alright?" Heather asked as she came into the main room.

"If you start eating right you'll be fine." Beast said

"I'll make sure she eats three square." John promised. "Beast are you coming to dinner? Jean was the one who did the cooking."

"I will as soon as I clean up this place."

"I'll help .."Heather offered

"Help is always welcomed." Beast said

"I'll meet you in the dining room John. I want to have a look around.

"That's fine. Beast give her directions. Its very easy to get lost."

**********

Heather walked around looking over this strange new place. It was bigger than she had expected it to be.

A man walked up to her. He was a good bit taller than her. He had hair almost the same color as hers and red on black eyes. He circled her for a moment. This annoyed her slightly.

"Tres joli" he said. He continued to circle her. "I always did like girls with a figure like yours."

"Leave me alone or the only thing you'll have to worry about is if I leave enough for the worms." Heather hissed

"Come on petite fille no harm intended. You just fit so well here among all the beautiful women."

"Your a cajun aren't you."

"Oui. Born and raised in New Orleans."

"Do they always have to send them to charm school? It gets annoying."

"Your from Louisiana?"

"Yeah."

"My charm does not impress you?"

"Not at all."

"We shall see if I can impress you in other ways then."

"I doubt it."

"You haven't been kissed by a man until you've been kissed by the creator of the art."

"You invented the art? I should kill you for it."

"A man break your heart cherie? Let Gambit fix it up for ya." He said putting his hands on her shoulder and pulling her close. She was quick to respond by stomping on his toes and walking away annoyed.

**********

Heather entered the dining room. The smell of food was thick in the air. Her mouth began to water. How long had it been since she'd eaten a decent meal?

John was sitting at the table already. He motioned for her to sit beside him.

Xavier was also seated. So were many others she didn't recognize.