The X-Men: To Have and to Hold

Author:  Lady Rayne

To: greeneyes@xavier.edu.net.
From: Blueguy@xavier.edu.net.
Subject: Come home now.

I know you are reading this dear heart. Like I... you always read your e-mail. It's an addiction I suppose... much like my love for you. From the moment I saw you I was addicted to you, your smile, your laugh, your beautiful green eyes. I cannot put you from my mind any more than I can stop my own lungs from pulling in air. You are the nourisment to my soul, the center of my world. Don't make me beg my love...
Please come home.

I was wrong. I say it for all the world to hear. I Henry P.McCoy have been the biggest fool on the fast of this earth... I was wrong. I am sorry. I do love you... I do trust you.
Please come home.

Your love.
Hank.

   * * *

To: greeneyes@xavier.edu.net.
From: Blueguy@xavier.edu.net.
Subject: COME HOME!

I know I am not talking to myself. I know you are receiving these mails. You cut off our mental link the day you left... you cut me from your mind... depriving me of the nourisment of your love, please don't deprive me of everything. Please come back to me... give me a chance to make things right! Please my love... I was wrong. I am truly sorry. I will beg if you want me too... I will grovel... I will humilate myself... I will do anything. Please!!

Hank.

   * * *

To: greeneyes@xavier.edu.net
From: southernbelle@xavier.edu.net.
Subject: Cassa come home!

Cassandra L Muir! Ah'm ashamed of you. Ya outta see what yer doin ta Hank! He aint slept since ya left, he aint ate a bite, he's locked himself in the lab starin at his computer..hopin fer one word from you. Ah knwo what he did an said was wrong but he's said he's sorry! Cassa he loves you! How can ya doubt that! Get yer butt back here now or ah'll drag it back! Ah mean it.

Rogue.

   * * *

To: greeneyes@xavier.edu.net.
From: Blueguy@xavier.edu.net.
Subject: The begging shall begin.

I appears you wish me to suffer. Then if it is your wish I shall. I shall beg. Cassandra... Please... please, please... I am down on my knees before this computer begging you with all of my furry blue heart and soul. Please!!
If you have a shred of love in that heart which I thought so caring and warm! Please... at least reply to me... let me know you are still alive... let me know you still speak. My heart feels as if it will break from the pain of missing you. Please my love!! I beg you with all of my heart and soul!! Speak to me... say anything!

Depressedly yours,

Hank

   * * *

To: greeneyes@xavier.edu.net.
From: Blueguy@xavier.edu.net.
Subject: Are you there?

Are you even there! I thought that you would have a shred of human decency left... I thought you had some left for me... that you would be moved in some way but my desperate words... words I meant from my heart? Surely neither I nor any of the other X-men made such a grave miscalculation of your character. I could not imagine you reading my words...words that have always given you such delight and comfort... and coldly ignoring everything as I pour my heart out to you. As I beg you! Are you there... are you even alive? Mind... body... soul... are you living... or have you shut me off competly. Left me alone in this world. Speak to me... give my heart at least this rest... of knowing you at least live.

Desperatly yours,

Hank

   * * *

To: greeneyes@xavier.edu.net.
From: Southernbelle@xavier.edu.net.
Subject: Damnit you stubborn green haired hussy!!

That's it ah've watched Hank go through enough hell cause of you girl! Ah know you better than this! Ah'm comin ta get yer ass right now! Jest stay still so Cerebro can find you and me, Remy and Wolvie are gonna have a nice little talk with you girl!! Ah hope you are alive so ah can ring yer neck! How could ya be so stubborn... so mean! Ah know you can't...are ya even readin this gal? Are ya okay? Ah'm sorry about the hussy thing ah'm just mad!! Please tell us you're okay!!

Rogue.

   * * *

To: blueguy@xavier.edu.net. and Southernbelle@xavier.edu.net.
From: greeneyes@xavier.edu.net.
Subject: No subject.

I can't.

Cass.

   * * *

To: greeneyes@xavier.edu.net.
From: Blueguy@xavier.edu.net.
Subject: Can't?

>I can't.

Oh thank god! You can't??! Can't what? Where are you..what are you doing?!!

Hank.

   * * *

To: Greeneyes@Xavier.edu.net.
From: Southernbelle@Xavier.edu.net.
Subject: Can't what?!

Ah knew you were there! Can't..can't what?! Tell me where you are now so ah can come and beat some sense into ya!
Rogue

   * * *

To: blueguy@Xavier.edu.net and Southernbelle@Xavier.edu.net
From: Greeneyes@Xavier.edu.net
Subject: none

I don't know.

Cass

   * * *

To: Greeneyes@Xavier.edu.net.
From: Blueguy@Xavier.edu.net
Subject: Don't know?!!

>I don't know

You don't know?! You don't know what???! I have killed myself before this computer..not eaten in days... not slept in longer... I have broken my heart over you and poured my soul out to you. All you send back is I can't and I don't know?!!!!

Hank

   * * *

To: Blueguy@Xavier.edu.net.
From: Greeneyes@Xavier.edu.net.
Subject: None.

>I have killed myself before this computer... not eaten in days... not slept in longer... I have broken my heart over you and >poured my soul out to you. All you send back is I can't and I don't know?!!!!

Who asked you to?

C.

   * * *

From: Blueguy@Xavier.edu.net
To: Greeneyes@Xavier.edu.net
Subject: None

> Who asked you to?

I am flabergasted. Are you not under some duress? Is Sinister there watching your every move? Has Apocalypse control of your mind? Who asked me to??! It is my duty... my right as a loving Fiancé.
I love you! I want to appologize to you... to get you back to me. Yet you aske me... Who asked me to? You have rendered me speechless. I have no words to respond. I asked me to.

Hank.

   * * *

To: Blueguy@Xavier.edu.net.
From: Greeneyes@Xavier.edu.net.
Subject: Sorry.

I apologize. You did not take that phrase in the way in which it was intended. I was asking out of curiosity... who asked you to worry about me so? Why do you worry? What is the cause?
Who is sinister? Who is Apocalypse?

C

   * * *

To: Greeneyes@Xavier.edu.net.
From: Blueguy@Xavier.edu.net.
Subject: Who is who.

What? Do you not know who I am? Surely you jest... surely this is a cruel joke? I am Hank McCoy... your beloved. We are to be married! You are Cassandra Lynn Muir. Do you not know of the X-men? Of the villans which threaten our lives? Do you not remember your family?

Hank

   * * *

To: Blueguy@Xavier.edu.net and Southernbelle@Xavier.edu.net.
From: Greeneyes@Xavier.edu.net.
Subject: None.

I don't know where I am. I don't know why I can't. I don't know what's wrong. I don't know who I am. I don't know who you are. Either of you. I don't even know why I keep coming back to this computer, in a place that I don't know, in a world that I don't know. Yes my heart is as human as everyone else's. My heart has melted and I have cried at the words sent to me... by you... Hank. Yet I don't know you. You seem to know me. All I know is a name. Cassa, I know how to check e-mail... I know how to live.
You all seem so farmilar to me, like I had a family, and judging from your words Hank I had a love. Did I love you? What did you do or say that I left? Rogue are we friends? Sister? Did I have a life with you two... and where is that life?
I remember waking up in a hospital... everybody here has a strange accent but they are all nice people. I live at a place for homeless people... beyond that I remember nothing. I'm sorry. I would love to come back to you... I can't.

Cassa.

   * * *

Hank stared at his computer screen in amazement, his jaw hanging open. Behind him... Rogue's jaw was also open.
" What in the??" She exclaimed.
" She may be still online... I will trace it." Hank said hurridly.
His clawed fingers danced across the board, and his computer beeped in response. " No trace. She is gone." he said, his face falling.
" Ah'm gonna tell the others bout this Hank. And ah'm gonna get ya some food and yer gonna eat it if ah have ta shove it down yer throat..got it?" Rogue said.
Hank sighed and nodded, already tapping out a response to her e-mail. Rogue dissappeared out the door leaving the concerned scientist alone with his computer again.

   * * *

He saw the e-mails and he began to laugh. After tapping into Xavier's server he had been monitoring their activities for months. Mostly he was reading rather explicit e-mails Bobby sent to various girlfriends. (The boy was useless.) or the love letters Gambit and Rogue sent back and forth. Now though he was finding something useful. Like his other self's spat with his fiancé... his heartbroken letters... and now her very interesting reply.
From the information in the Xavier database she would make a very good specimen . Her telepathy was almost exceptional and her shape changing abilities were remarkable. As an added bonus taking the woman that is alter self so desperatly loved would drive him over the edge. Especially if he managed to turn her against her beloved. The look on his face the moment he saw that his love was working for his evil self would be worth the past few months spent hiding in teh dark and smelly sewer. Besides.. .now that Fatale was dead... he needed another servant. This green haired beauty was just the perfect one for the job.
Henry P. McCoy... the black beast smiled to himself and traced the e-mail the way his alter had not the technology to do.
Belgum... interesting. He stood from his chair, gathering objects that he needed and went to the several rows of cages that were line not far away. Inside one was an aboriginal man, with a long white beard and nothin but a loin cloth.
" Gateway. Belgium if you please" He held up a remote control and the collar around Gateway's neck sent out an electric shock. The old mutant winced and began to swing his bull roarer. The portal appeard and McCoy pulled the old man through with him.

   * * *

To: Greeneyes@Xavier.edu.net
From: Blueguy@Xavier.edu.net.
Subject: Wait for me.

Yes I am your beloved... Rogue is your friend. We love you... we want you to come home. Stay where you are... I will come and find you and bring you home. You will know me when you see me. Please... do me this one favor.
Wait for me.

Hank.

   * * *

To: Blueguy@Xavier.edu.net.
From: Greeneyes@Xavier.edu.net.
Subject: Allright.

Okay. I'll wait for you.

Cassa.

   * * *

The X-men gathered around the computer as the machine finally finished it's trace of the e-mail. Kitty turned from the seat and watched as Hank's printer spit out it's infromation. She grabbed it and stared at it.
" Belgium?" she asked incredulously.
" How in the world did she get there?" Rogue asked, flabergasted.
" Who cares." Logan said. He headed for the door.
" Indeed." Hank was close behind him after snatching the readout from Kitty's hand.
Kitty sighed. "Your're welcome"
She,Rogue, Storm, Scott and Jean followed.

   * * *

Ten minutes after they left Hank's email message beeped and one more appeared on the screen.

To: Blueguy@Xavier.edu.net.
From: Greeneyes@Xavier.edu.net.
Subject: Greetings and farewll.

Hello Henry. Remember me? It's Henry.
Yes... me... Henry. The dark one. Hello brother, how are our friends doing? I hope Bobby managed to make it with at least one of the four girls he currently has dangling in his web... and I'm sure Storm's botany mailing list wil apprecciate her new fertilizer formula. Shall I even comment on what Rogue and Gambit have been doing in their e-mails? No.
I wish to congratulate you on your resources... tracing the e-mail and all. I never thought you could do it. However you are too late. As always dear brother... you are too late. I must say you do have good taste in women... your fiancé is simply spectacular. The green hair, the eyes... it brings a certain fire in you doesn't it? She looks much better under glass though, if you gag her so she can't move her mouth, and keep her arms and legs tied so they don't get in the way she makes a wonderful specimen... good for showing. Good for other things as well but I'm sure you already know that.
Don't expect a wedding brother... I suspect she'll be too busy trying to kill you to make a good companion. If I have anything to do with it anyway.

Thanks for the gift I simply adore her. I'll be sure and send you a clone your own girlfriend kit for your birthday.

Goodbye.

Henry P. McCoy a.k.a. Dark Beast.

To be continued.........