Disclaimer: X-men and Professor Xavier are mentioned belong to Marvel. Guild of Assassins also belong to Marvel. We aren't making any money off of this. If you sue us you'll end up with three teddy bears and two straight jackets. Heather and John belong to us if you want to use them or archive this story just ask. Send comments, ideas, hatemail, etc to: xmenfan@hotmail.com

I know it's gonna happen

I can feel you getting near

And soon we'll be returning to the fountain of our youth

And if you wake up wondering

In the darkness I'll be there

My arms will close around you

And protect you with the truth.

-I know your out there somewhere

-Moody Blues

"How long til we get onto the good stories?"

"Are you implying our current stories are boring?"

"Not at all. I am just looking forward to future stories."

"We have to introduce the charators first."

"Nightengale isn't to bad. She's actully kinda sexy."

"Typical male. One nice body and...."

"Actually I usually end up on top. "

"How many times have you been laid?"

"That's my private buisness."

"I have contacts. I can find out."

"Let's just get onto the story. Though we all know you'd rather get on me."

"You wish. Why would I want you."

"I can do things you never imagined."

"Let's finish the story and then I'll take you up on that."

The Choices We Make Dictate the Life We Lead

By Beth and Adam

A man in his late teens headed to New Orleans ,in his 88 chevy, to visit his friends. He usually visited them every month however school had kept him busy.

The mans name was John Bruce. He looked more cheerful than normal because these people were the only thing close to a family he'd had for two years.

He laughed mentally as he thought about sweet little Amy. She was one of the youngest children who absolutely adored him. When he would stay there she would always sleep beside him. All of them acted so much like a family. Every child belonged to all the adults. Every woman belonged to a man. They were thieves but aside from that they were good people.

He drove as far as he possibly could on this side of town. Then he exited the car and began the long walk to the abandoned office building they lived in. He turned the corner and was appalled by the sight he beheld.

There was a crater in the ground where their home had once been. Scattered among the debris were hundreds of corpses in states of decay beyond recognition. The sight combined with the stench of the bodies caused him to vomit.

He returned to his car and started into town. He would find out who had done this gruesome deed. He entered a store in the center of town.

"The old abandoned building. The one that was once turquoise inc. The place was destroyed and I want to know what happened." John said

"Good to see you Bruce. I can have my people look into it. Is there a particular reason you want to know." the manager asked

"Yeah. Because I need to buy a shovel so I can take care of the remains of the people that were killed because of that explosion."

"I'll get back to you in an hour." the manager promised

**********

John returned to the store many hours later after he had finished burying the people.

"Well Bruce,my sources say it was the Guild of Assassins."

"Those dogs killed everyone I cared about. I want there location. I will avenge the needless deaths they caused." John said

**********

Less than an hour later John appeared outside the gate of a large manor. The people owning it were rich because of the blood they shed. There was a guard at the gate. John walked gingerly up to the guard.

"Tell your employer that there is a blood debt between us now. I told him to leave those people alone and they butchered them. Tell him that next time any of you slime see John Bruce you will DIE!" John said lifting the man up telekinetically and throwing him a hundred feet.

John entered the manor. No one was there. John walked into the center of the house. He set up his explosives.

"I am Jedi defender of those who cannot defend themselves. You have shed innocent blood. Be grateful that this day I did not send you to meet the devil himself. With as vile as your deeds have been even he would not have you among hi s own." John yelled and ran out of the manor. Within a few moments an explosion was heard . As John looked back the manor looked as if God himself had struck it down.

**********

Heather Nightengale sat at the far corner of a crummy bar. The night had been so slow she had taken to watching the news.

The reporter was standing in front of a pile of rubble. He said "This was once a beautiful manor believed to be owned by the guild of assassins. It exploded earlier today. Luckily no one was home at the time other than the guard who suffered a concussion. Firemen suspect arson. There are no suspects at this time. Back to you Jim."

"John" Heather whispered "who else could it be." She looked around. She wasn't going to make any money tonight anyway so she hurried out to find John. She had never felt luckier to be a telepath.

John layed his suitcase down on the same bed as he had when he'd first met them. Same room. Many memories. They'd stole his computer and they had become friends. Now they were all dead. He couldn't bring himself to cry. He'd cried to often over losses that he had no tears left to cry. He decided he'd get something to eat. There was a nice little cafe where he could get a decent meal.

**********

Heather wasn't surprised where she'd found him. He was in the same hotel as when they'd met. He was probably in the same room as well she speculated.

She crawled into the room through the window which had been left open. She instantly recognized his luggage. She crouched between the bed and the wall so that if anyone entered she wouldn't be seen.

Half an hour later John returned. He closed the door but before he could turn on the light Heather made a catlike pounce pinning him against the walls.

"When are you going to use your brain. Blowing up the Assassins manor has to be the stupidest thing you've ever done." Heather said

"You're alive?"

"And still able to surprise you any day of the week."

"Do you enjoy giving me a heart attack?"

"Your being a baby about a little game of peek-a-boo?"

"Would you get off of me now please?" John smiled. Heather stepped backward a few steps.

John turned on the light and looked at her. She was wearing a pair of extremely short and very tight shorts. She wore a tank top and fishnets. Her reddish brown hair had been brought into a pony tail and she wore way to much make-up.

"Heather,what......." He couldn't find the right words to ask his question.

"Everyone is dead. Everyone. The house was destroyed. I have to survive and surviving takes money so I sold the only thing I had."

"That's crazy! There must be something else you can do."

"There is nothing else."

"Why did you survive? You guys always work in pairs."

"Amy was sick that day with the flu. She wanted Nathaniel to stay and take care of her. They had always been very close. It was an easy job so I went. When I returned everyone was dead. Bodies were everywhere. Nathaniel was in front of the remains of the building with his stomach ripped out."

"Where are you staying?"

"I have an apartment."

"How much is rent?"

"$400 a month."

"How can you afford that?"

"This is a well paying job. I make about 150 a customer."

"It's still not worth it."

"What choice do I have John?"

"There must be some other way."

"I don't want to discuss this. What's new in your life?"

"The HAND is trying to kill me as well as all the others. Some have found refuge in New York. I found a college for mutants. It's run by Charles Xavier. He said he will offer me a place to stay if I wish to become one of his x-men. I'm seriously considering the offer."

"Reach for the stars. That was always how you lived. That's why you'll die old and safe in your bed one night with no regrets and I'll......"Heather said but tears stopped her. John stood up and put his arms around her.

"I want to see this apartment of yours." John said gently.

**********

The apartment was nothing fancy. It had a main room which was the kitchen/living room then there was a doorway that connected it to the bedroom. The place was dirty and the rats that scurried across the floor didn't add to the atmosphere.

"When you come to New Orleans to visit you must come stay with me. I won't have you wasting money on a hotel. Since I work late you can have my room." Heather said pretending to be cheerful

"Let me take you out of here." John said as he sat down on the couch and stood up quickly as a spring came up out of the material.

"Reality. Where would we go. What would I do? The only thing I was ever trained how to be was a thief. I'm sixteen and need money to pay bills. I'm stuck here in this wretched existence called life." She said. Tears were flowing down her face.

"There must be something else." John said .

"I hate living this way but that's the cards I got dealt. It's either this or death and as morbid as it sounds death would be a much welcomed sweetness."

"I can't change your life but I will make a small difference. I'll come visit you as often as I can. I'll take care of you." John promised

The End

Preview: What will Professor Xavier think of a hooker joining the x-men?