*Please assemble in the louge. I will attempt to explain things to you.*

Peter nodded in agreement, then wished he hadn't, and with a backwards glance at the young man on the table, strode out of the Med Unit towards the lounge.

Hank took one more look at the young mutant lying in the med lab, checking the machines that monitored his condition. It didn't look as though he'd be up and about anytime soon, but Hank had learnt not be surprised by things. The boys metabloism suggested he could be healed quicker than they expected. Hank sighed, the boy looked peaceful just resting there, not at all how he had looked earlier, he then turned to follow the Professor.

Scott Summers was stood on a large chunk of Rock, which was floating in the air. All around him were swirling colours and other pieces of rock.

This, to anyone else, would have seemed odd, but he had been here before. It was like the astral plane, a place caused sometimes by the telepathic link he and Jean shared. Sometimes their dreams mingled and brought them here.

Jean was here too. She was laying on the surface of the rock, in the position that he had left her in on the bed. Her eyes were closed, but her lids showed movement as though she was dreaming.

Stepping over to the slumbering form that lay nearby, Scott reached down with one hand, to gently shake Jean awake, as he scanned the horizon for signs of danger.

He hoped that his reason for being here was simply a side effect of the fight with the young lad, but he suspected that was not the case. Either way he would be ready to defend his beloved, with his life if necessary.

Scott then became of another presence, and on looking up he saw.... Jean.
But not quite Jean, it was her, but she was outlined with a golden flame, one that formed the shape of the Phoenix around her. She had a sad look on her face.

"She won't wake up,” this Jean said about the sleeping Jean Grey. "She's not ready to yet."

Scott took a deep breath before responding, "Why have you returned?" His mind was in turmoil at the vision before him, he hoped it was only an aspect of the Jean who lay sleeping before him, though his deepest fear would be that it heralded a return of the original Phoenix Force that had almost destroyed him, and Jean, before.

The Phoenix Jean put her hands out slightly, an indication that she meant no harm, "Do not be afraid Slim," she said using the familiar old nickname, "The woman asleep before us is the real Jean Grey, and when the two of you wake up, the woman in the room will also be Jean Grey. She has not been 'replaced'."

Letting his breath ease out of him, Scott smiled slightly, "Then perhaps you could explain all of this" Scott indicated the astral plane around them, and Jean's sleeping form beside him. "As well as that Phoenix effect that Jean exhibited earlier!"

"I will try." she said gently, and moved so that she was sat next to her other sleeping form. "You see Scott, when I 'died' in the Blue Area of the moon, part of me went to Rachel, part of me to Madelyne as you know and there was still a small piece of me remaining, keeping your Jean alive in the cocoon."

She knew this would be a hard thing for him to hear, especially in this place filled with raw emotion, but she needed to explain. She did not however want to explain about how she had also gone with Rachel into the future. As far as everyone was aware Rachel was dead.

"When Madelyne died that part of me came back to Jean."

Scott knew this, it was how Jean had the memories of what had happened to the Phoenix, while she had been deep in Jamaica Bay.

"Now in Rachel's departure, the final part of me returned to Jean also. The small part of me Jean has not had any knowledge of, until now, now that I have adjusted and become one again. I wanted to stay hidden, to simply enjoy Jean enjoying her own life, it was not for me to take over, that way Darkness lies. Jean's powers though have been growing recently, at a rapid rate, and in this growth she tapped into where I was laying dormant. Her powers have taken on the appearance of how I used to be, but they are not me."

Scott sat in silence for a while, thinking over what the Phoenix Jean had said, and attempting to fight down the cascade of images that had crossed his mind when she spoke of her 'death'. He looked at the sleeping form of his beloved, and wondered what she knew about what was going on. Her powers, the arrival of her son, and now this, the revelation that the Phoenix Force was still around, and claimed not to be interfering in Jean’s life.

"He's your son too." she said, her telepathy picking up on all the thoughts he had in his head.

Scott stopped, and stared at the Phoenix Jean sat before him. His son, how was that possible, the boy must have been in his late teens, there was no way Jean could have had a child with him that was that old, he would have had to have been conceived before they had even met, when they were just children???
"How is that possible?"

"I only know what she knows,” she said stroking the slumbering Jean's hair, "I caught a stray thought at the climax of the battle. This boy believes himself to be your son. I think your Professor will be able to explain more."

Confusion still reigned in Scott's mind, "Jean doesn't know about him?"

"Not in the sense you think." she answered, "She heard what Xavier said, and she too caught the thought about this boy being her son, but she doesn't not understand how, or why."

"So, he believes himself to be our child," Scott theorised, "but that doesn't really mean he is, just that he believes it to be so." Scott thought in silence again for a few moments, considering who the boy really was, and why he thought he was their child. Then his mind returned to the situation at hand, "So, why have you brought me here, just to explain about the change in Jeans powers?"

"She brought us here,” she said, indicating Jean again. "She is afraid."

Scott looked down at the slumbering form of his beloved; his brow furrowed slightly, "Afraid, of what?"

"Of people's reactions, of herself. She is afraid that people will turn against her, believe her to lose control and turn Dark as I did. She is also afraid that might happen to herself. She knows her powers are growing, at a rate perhaps beyond her own control, she is afraid of all this." She explained.
"I think she wanted me to explain that to you." she added.

Scott nodded to the Phoenix Jean, "I love her, that won't change, no matter what happens now, and if she thinks she might lost control, then I’ll be there to help her keep it. I suspect the others will feel the same way. We failed her once before, we won't do so again."

"You did not fail her." she replied, "I failed her, which is why I seek to make amends now."

"Perhaps, but I think she is stronger than she gives herself credit for, and the others still feel keenly the sense of failure for the last time."

She smiled. "I will go now. I also take this opportunity to apologise for the past, I am sorry Scott Summers."

Scott nodded, unsure whether he could really respond to that, but the slight smile on his face showed that he appreciated the conversation.

A bright light filled the place, and Scott found he had to shield his eyes from the brightness. While his eyes were help shut, he heard the screaming cry of the Phoenix, then the light returned to normal. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself laid on the bed, next to Jean's still sleeping form, instead of slumped on the floor, and his headache had gone.

Sitting up, Scott looked down at the slumbering form of the woman he loved, and smiled, one hand reaching across to move a lock of hair that had fallen across her face. Yes, he loved her, and whatever it took, he would stand by her side and help her with what would come.

A smile appeared on Jean's lips and she opened her eyes to look at him, "I love you to." she said quietly, and reached for him to kiss him.

When Scott moved back, a warm smile crossed his face, "Whatever happens, I’ll be there to help you through it." Scott’s mind flitted around for a moment, before finally returned to the confusion that surrounded he thoughts about the boy that had attacked them. His link with Jean made it easy for her to perceive the turmoil in his mind.

"I should have spoken to you about this, sooner, but I was worried. I've not even spoken to Charles about this, but I think he knows anyway." she told him.

Scott shook his head slightly and shushed Jean, "It doesn't matter, I know now, and I am here for you whatever happens"

She smiled at him, "Thank you Scott. I shouldn’t have doubted that." Worry suddenly creased her face and she said quickly, "Oh God, did I kill him?"

Scott shook his head slightly, "I don't know, Hank rushed him off to the infirmary, he was in a pretty bad shape, all sorts of internal injuries, broken bones, and lots of bleeding. Did you do all that?"

She shook her head, "No, I don't think so. My attack was purely a mental one."

"Well, whatever happened, he was seriously injured, I doubt he would survive without Hank being there. He took him in to surgery a little while ago." Scott looked perplexed, wondering what could have hurt the boy so much.

Jean felt like she was going to cry, had she done that to him? To her son? She suddenly recalled what Xavier had said to her, what she had felt for herself. "He's our son..." she said. It wasn't a question, a statement or anything, it was just confusion.

Scott shook his head, "He believes he is our son, that doesn't mean he is. He must be in his late teens, there's no way he could be ours."

She nodded, that was true, but there was more to it than that. "It was such deep belief though Scott, he truly think of us as his parents."

Scott thought for a moment, "I suspect that we will only know for sure when he wakes, unless Charles can tell us something." It was hard for Scott to see how he could be their son, but then so many strange things had happened to the two of them over the years, it wasn't a possibility he was willing to discount until he knew more.

She nodded again. "I think, for the moment, I just want to lie here. I just feel so tired."

Scott nodded, and gathered Jean into his arms again, letting her head rest against his chest whilst the two of them lay on the bed.

Perhaps ten minutes or so later, Charle's telepathic call entered their minds.
Jean looked up at Scott, "Well," she said to him, "We'd best go face the music."

Scott sighed as the needs of the x-men once more interfered with his life, and the quiet time he had spent with Jean.

Kissing Jean gently on the forehead, he rose from the bed, helping her up as she joined him. He was glad that the two of them had had some time together, but it never seemed to last. The headache had faded, but the memory of the pain was still there, and the confusion over what had happened.

Reaching out one hand, Scott gently took Jeans in his own, and smiled at her as she looked up at him, before the two headed out at the request of the Professor

Kurt was one of the first to arrive in the lounge, having 'ported there after receiving the Professor's telepathic summons. At the moment, he was hanging from the steel track lighting by his tail, upside down, ready to greet his fellow X-Men as they arrived.

The psychic call from Charles Xavier reached Logan. Summons was a summons ... would take time. Well, since Logan already was in the kitchen, he'd have that much of an easier time to get himself a companion to wind the time away.

Opening the fridge, Logan took out a can of nicely chilled beer. He sniffed twice ... ahhh - that unforgetable smell when the somewhat demonic looking German X-man bamf-ed into the house.

Logan wasn't one to short change a good drinking buddy and got a second can out. On any given day, Logan could go through three or four crates of the nectar of the gods without as much as being a touch tipsy. Beneficial side-effect of his healing factor and resilience to venom.

Course, even alcohol was a toxin too, even if it was a very friendly one.

Looking briefly at Jenny, then the others in the room, Wolverine shrugged his shoulders. What the hell - he sure as heck wasn't gonna stay back and babysit. "You taggin' along, kid? Might be interesting..." he asked, with that fiendish charm of his.

Interesting it promised to be indeed, however ... and that it might be indeed. Certainly Logan hadn't known of Jean ever having had any offspring. And considering her age ... all a little strange.

Logan left the kitchen, and headed to the lounge, confident that Jenny would follow along.

"Vat took you all long?" Kurt's voice said from above Logan as he entered.

"Short legs. What's your excuse?" Logan responded in that typical way which left everyone (bar the telepaths mayhap) wondering whether he was miffed (again) about something, or just kidding. He wandered past Nightcrawler and held out the other (sealed) can lazily.

"Enjoy yaself, Elf." Logan grumbled, letting the can go - not needing to even observe how Kurt'd catch it. There never had been a doubt that the charming teleporter would get ahold of it.

Wolverine took his usual spot - resting against a wall. It was a good, strategic spot, from which doors could be reached. But there were other reasons for his picking his "favourite" spot there too. Secretly, it was also the place where things where best arranged for his state of being vertially challenged. In plain English - he didn't appear quite as small as he would usually.

A runt like him got few enough lucky breaks as it was. Had to carve the other ones out himself, didn't he?

... he even noticed that Jubilee seemed a little ... different, somehow. Upset about something?

As Kurt did, reaching out a three fingered hand with startling quickness and popping the tab in one fluid motion. "Danke, Logan. Next round's on me." The mutant known as Nightcrawler flashed Wolverine what was intended as an affable grin, which a stranger might mistake as threatening given Kurt's vestigal fangs, midnight skin and cat-like yellow eyes.

Thus Logan now waited with the Elf and the handful other mutants for Xavier and who else would be last...

Jenny raised herself from her seat and, as he predicted, gingerly followed Logan, making sure to keep a good distance from the intimidating Bishop. It wasn't that she was scared of him, he just made her nervous.

She followed Logan through the mansion and into the large lounge area, where she got a real good look at the demon hanging by his tail. Logan seemed to be friendly with him..... it.... whatever, but then Logan didn't seem the type to be scared by anything.

Jenny was different, so she found a chair in the corner and sat down, cradling her warm drink in her hands and trying not to be noticed.

Bishop strode into the room behind most of the others, trailing behind much like the rear guard transporting a dangerous prisoner. Entering the room he looked around, his senses drinking in the room for a moment. A part of him was always surprised and excited to be in the same room with the legendary Xmen, and yet another was surprised at how trusting they were at times.

He looked at the one called Logan, the only other who seemed to posses the right amount of paranoia most of the time. Right now Bishop was not so much concerned about the little girl that was here, but the boy that had been whisked away due to injuries. Also there was the flames of battle that he had glimpsed as he came up. Yes, there was much to see and be explained when Charles would speak. Bishop stood in a corner, not even bothering to sit. He crossed his arms over his chest, and waited for the discussion to begin.

Jean entered the lounge her hand still tightly holding Scott's, it was as though she still expected judgement from her friends. What if they didn't believe it was truly her, what if they thought she was the Phoenix Force and was going to turn into the Dark Phoenix again. More to the point, what if she was herself and what if she did turn.

Logan had just swallowed a sip of his brew and was leaning against the wall with one leg raised. His head was sunk down and his eyes closed, allowing Logan to focus so much easier on his other senses. Not that he needed it, he just felt like closing his eyes for a second.

His keen nose picked up scents aplenty - all familiar to him. Those included the barely perceivable sheen of sweat in Jean's palms - the touches of sweat and oils from Scott left in her hair as he had brushed through it. And there was something else Logan concentrated on ... the heartbeat of a woman most special to him.

The slight high pitch in breathing, the side-taste to her scent ... the accelerated pumping of her heart. It was something Logan would recognize anywhere. Under normal circumstances, he'd say it was a smell he'd never tire of. These, however were not normal circumstances. And the smell was a basic one.

FEAR.

It was something Logan had a nigh-complete lack of. Wolverine, contrary to popular belief among the X-men when they originally met, didn't put up an act, he wasn't acting the tough guy. He *WAS* like that. Logan's own life and hazy past had such an abundance of illusions, lies and tricks that Logan's way of honesty was not to play games. If he was pissed, he showed it. If he was glad, well - then he appeared less gruff.

But he was one thing throughout - honest, though in a way that many didn't understand. Which was fine by Logan.

However - the nigh complete absence of fear in Logan himself didn't make him like it. Rather, he definately did NOT like the fact that Jean was worried. Not that it wasn't understandable ... she was likely thinking of her 'revelation' out there - the Phoenix returned.

What would she say, if she knew that she might have nearly been the cause of Scott's death. Sure, Logan had the odd problem with Cyclops, but he didn't want to kill him. Not *REALLY*. Well, mostly at any rate. But out there ... he got so close to trying it ... he'd nearly shredded Charles Xavier's first student.

Had it really been the Phoenix? ... or was there something else? Something closer ... inside ... Wolverine?

Jean briefly thought about scanning their thoughts but then thought if she were detected maybe this would confirm their fears. Instead she remained quiet and headed to a seat next to Scott on a sofa. Her eyes keeping away from everyone, except to briefly meet Logans.

As if there was a subtle queue, Logan's eyes opened and looked deeply into Jean's. There was no fear in them, nor hatred, nor pain, nor anything ... human. There was only something primal and feral in that glance. It conveyed in an instant where words would otherwise need whole tomes.

That he'd never leave her, never abandon her. EVER. That he'd claw his way through hell and high water for her. That he'd not let her get hurt. And also ... a hint of understanding.

Scott almost pulled away from Jean when they entered the lounge. His usual position during these meetings was to the right side of the Professor. But this time, he was not thinking about that. He wanted to be where he could watch Jean's back. Nobody who had been here back then could have missed the appearance of the Pheonix Effect. And nobody who had witnessed that could ever entirely trust in it. Not even Scott.

But he decided to sit with her. She glanced toward Logan, and Scott followed that glance. He winced when he did. He had just resolved things with Logan, to some degree. And now...well, at least Logan had not killed him out of hand. Or claw.

Scott looked around. Team-mates, friends, family. People he would die for and gladly. People who might, under certain circumstances, kill him. A son? He had had a son, with Maddy, and had had to send him into the far future, not so very long ago. He had participated in events that had killed his wife, the mother of his son. And he had stood by Jean (no, the Phoenix, and that puzzled him, even now...), as she was killed for the mass murders done by the Phoenix. And now, he felt a kind of yearning for the Phoenix. He knew he had not merely loved Jean. He had loved the Phoenix, and Maddy, in her stead, too.

Jean must know that. He glanced at her, his smile for her tinged with sadness. It was so complex. And this boy, maybe her son and not his at all? And what would that mean? He squeezed her hand, and whispered to her. Of course, Logan would hear it, too. "Jean, no matter what happens, I'll stand by you. I'm not letting go." Not again. Not ever again.

He'd heard Scott's words of course ... unlike Cyclops, Wolverine needed not words to communicate.

Logan was the only other X-man who stood some remote chance of knowing what it was like to struggle against an inner demon of true great might over control of his own mind. He also knew what it was like, when this demon won ... Creed was just that ... was what Logan might have become. And maybe, might yet still.

It was because of this certain knowledge that he could not allow Jean to be alone in whatever conflict was going to rage inside her. As he could hold his own berserker in check, so should she be able to stand against the Phoenix.

She HAD to ... if Jean couldn't win, who then? And more importantly - how would it change her? A dark vision of Jean succumbing to the dark phoenix haunted Wolverine ... would he be able to do what would be necessary in such a case? Could he ...?

Slipping quietly into the room, Rogue stood for a moment at the back, looking over the group. She couldn't help but wonder what would happen now, with the appearence of two young mutants and the re- appearence of the Phoenix, if only for a brief moment. It was this last that drew her gaze to Scott and Jean.

*Will they be okay with this?* She wondered, nodding slightly in recognition of Scott spotting her, a slight smile drifting across her lips. She moved then, drifting by Logan and those sitting near him. "Bit early for the drink, int it?" She teased, seeing the girl in a corner, seemingly on her own. "See you got the lil' one to come on over...you adopting again, Logan?"

She softened the words with a smile that reached her eyes.

Logan didn't answer her, just gave a half smile as she walked past. Of course, he had never made her feel as welcome as he should have, and he knew that was his failure. He was acutely aware of his failings, just now. He had been used by the 'son' who had come here. Used to hurt his friends, family, team-mates. Three times. The boy had even used him to strike out at Jean.

Xavier maneuvered his wheelchair into the lounge, Hank and Peter just behind him, and took up a place at the head of the room so he could see everyone.

The last few of his X-Men filtered into the room and took seats. A couple of the students had poked their heads round the door, but on seeing that the lounge was so full thought better of it and headed outside, only after Xavier had mentally told them that everything was fine now.

"Where's Warren?" Ororo asked as the Professor passed her.

"Warren is keeping an eye on our guest." he replied, "His health is returning and when he does awake I believe he will be no threat."

Xavier then turned his attention to address everyone. "Today's incident started as a case of mistaken identity. A bomb exploded at a club in Manhatten, our 'guest' mistook the thoughts and sudden dissapearence of Jenny to be an admission of guilt and so gave chase. He didn't know who he was chasing though, and ended up here."

Xavier looked at Jenny, "It's alright though, he now knows you were nothing to do with this. This does not really excuse his reckless behaviour though."

He looked back at everyone, "It also turns out that although we do not know this boy he knows us. An incident caused our memories of him to be removed. I hope that when he gains consciousness he will explin this more."

The Professor then looked at Jean and Scott, "His name is Nate Grey, and for all intents and purposes, is Jean and Scott's son" He paused to look at Hank, "I believe out resident Doctor will be able to explain this a little better than myself."

"Nate Grey?" Jean said outloud, not meaning to but unable to help it. She took her eyes away from Charles and looked at Scott, her hand taking his and holding it tightly.

She then looked at her old friend, Hank, hoping for more of an explanation. She had known Hank McCoy for years, as long as she had known Bobby Drake, Warren Worthington, and of course Scott. She trusted Hank implicitly, and knew he wouldn't keep anything from her about the orgins of this boy who claimed to be her son.

Hank looked around and gauged the possible range of the gathered students' comprehension of genetic computation. Compared to some of the explainations to the remarkable and, quite franking, unprovable, things the x-men had encounter to date, this one would be simplistic at best.

He cleared his throat.

"Avoiding the part about the birds and the bees, people, I used some of our imported technology to determine with 99.5% certainy that the patient, Mr Nate Grey, is the genetic offspring of Scott and Jean."

"This is a more complex story than that however, I discovered some anomallies which defy convential explainations. On close examinations it was determined that both the 12th and 13th chromosome pairing had been artifically modified, probably by microscopic manipulation, rather than enforced chemical adaption... In short, the subject has been genetically modified, artifically, before birth."

Refusing to make eye contact with anyone, Hank continued his findings on the Young mutant. "Further more, while I found proof of a natural birth, forecep marks, to be precise, on the upper arms, I also found proof of the use of accelarated growth treatment and cross referencing this with carbon-14 readings in his bone marrow and surrounding cell tissue... I can conclude that, while he has the body of a yound adult, his actual, physical age is younger. Much youger. I'd estimate a maximum of five years of real life. Everything else...He's been alive only six or maybe seven years."

"That is all the information I can give you at this time. Physically, he will recover just fine, mentally, however...Back to you Professor. Unless anyone has any questions?"

Finally he made eye contact with Scott and Jean.

Logan closed his eyes again, emptying his mind to listen to Hank's explanation of Nate Grey's strange heritage. While Beast's mathematical 99.5% were about right, Logan's nose rounded that to 100%. The scent was spot on ... that was something that could not be faked, not without Wolverine sensing it. The kid really was - somehow - Jean's son.

And Cyclop's of course.

Which might go some way towards explaining the idiocy of going up against the X-men. Might also hint towards the reason Logan got the first taste his attack. Not that Scott would have minded entirely, Logan mused ... course, not that young one-eye would ever admit that.

Well - admit it and continue to breathe, at any rate.

It had long been Logan's greatest fear that he might end up harming others, in abandon, and to random chaos. And today he had done that, and without any chance to stop it. He was angry, at himself, and at this boy. 'Jean's son' had used him with less discrimination and care than even a long term enemy might. And Scott would not forget that, either...

"7 years old? What were we doing back then?" Peter wondered aloud.

Peter thought back through the years and missions, and realised they blurred after a while.

"I can't remember for certain. What were we doing at that time?"

Scott held Jean's hand tightly, and listened to Hank. He was stunned. The implications were...very strange. And he saw Logan looking from Jean to him. Was that suspicion. Like son, like father?

No, Logan couldn't be that stupid.

Peter asked his question, and Scott decided it was time to say his piece. "Seven years? That was about the time of the Z'Nox invasion, I think. Eight or so months before the second team was recruited during the Krakoa affair." He thought for a moment. "A long time before any of us met Sinester...except...I..."

Scott decided not to share his strange suspicions about the nature of the 'Nathan' he had known at the orphanage. "In any case, it is possible somebody rifled our genetic files by then. And there are about half a dozen people who have used growth accelerants and even more who have done cloning. I'd say, considering his 'thing' for Jean and for me, this has the markings of Mr. Sinister."

Scott glared now, getting angry. Of course, most of them could at best see the set of his mouth. "Regardless, none of us know this Nathan Grey, he's a stranger. Not my son, or Jean's, even if we share the same genome. And frankly, given his behavior toward us, no matter what he or we believe is his parentage, we can't trust him. Not even a little bit. If he can trash us, and STEAL my eyes to attack the rest of you...I don't think I can ever trust him."

He saw the others, some looking at him with real shock. "He could wake up at any moment, take control of one of us, and kill most of the rest, while we sit seeming at peace. And very few of us could stop him." Scott looked at Professor Xavier. "I think he may be the biggest threat we've faced since...Proteus."

Jenny just sat and listened, her mind still half stunned by the events of the day, and now she was sat in a room filled with super people talking about past events and bad people, cloning and such.

Though remaining quiet, Jenny's mind automatically started to think over what was being said. So, the man who had attacked her was the son of those two sat hand in hand on the sofa. She could see the family resemblance.

The fact that he had made a mistake came as no surprise to Jenny, of course she hadn't done anything wrong, well, except for skipping school, but that was just normal stuff, these people were talking about terrorists and really bad things.

She didn't want to say anything, didn't really have anything to say, but she wouldn't say anything anyway, with all these people here, she was afraid she would sound like a moron.

They were all so scary, she was just a girl, nothing like this bunch, with their super powers and secret mansion headquarters. She just wanted to go home, away from it all, back to her parents.

Instead she just sat quietly in the back of the room, nursing her hot chocolate and listening to everything that was said.

Hank was both shocked and stunned, but only for a moment. His old friend, Scott Summers, could easily be feeling very vunerable right now. Someone had used him, his powers and his genetic material to strike at the X-Men. The Beast tried to calm some of his fears.

"Scott," He said to get Cyclops' attention. "The imported technology we have will keep the young man under sedation for awhile yet, and we have Warren watching over him."

He took a deep breath, a sure sigh that he was about to produce a long line or two of reasoning.

"While the boy possesses amazingly strong powers, he has not used them with the degree of lethality that he could have. Indeed, none of us were seriously injured by the morning's attack. Logan has recovered fully, I see and Peter also, before our aggressor. I believe that he went 'easy' on us. As for the involvement of Mister Sinister, while stealling and adapting both your and Jean's genetic material and growing his own psionic powerhouse is something that would undoubtably occur to that twisted excuse for a scientific mind, this morning's attack is almost certainly not his handiwork."

"A seven year plan ending on a rash, unplanned assault on the mansion? Not Sinister's method, measure or mode, I think. I'm not ruling out his involvement, but I can rule out that he is currently controlling the boy by such means as chemical, biological or technological interference. As for psychological control, again, I'll leave that to the professor."

"I can only hypothesise to how our visitor knew of such intimate details of our organisation here, Peter's identity, the layout of the grounds and so on, but I feel that he is no more a threat to us or the world in general as any other powerful mutant that the professor hasn't talked to yet. While we can only guess about his origins, we can't fairly class him as an enemy, it wouldn't be fair."

Hank looked around at the people gathered in front of him, searching for expressions of acceptance or denial.

"Scott", Peter also chipped in, "He knew me. And in the second he diverted the attacks at me he said sorry! That is not the act of a violent man. That is a good man doing what he sees as being right."

Scott's words also hurt Jean somehow, and before Charles could say anymore she also spoke up. "No, he won't do that. We were sloppy out there. We weren't prepared for him and we messed up. If we had worked together a little better." Jean started to address various people around the room.

"Ororo, your fog would have been a distraction for him, he wouldn't have been able to pick off individuals, couple that with Jubilation's fireworks he would have been put off what he was doing. Betsy, you could have also distracted him by using your telepathy. Then Ororo could have forced him to the ground by controlling the winds. Kurt, you could have teleported Rogue and Peter closer to him to so they could start battering on his shields. If they'd have dropped then you two, or Scott or Logan could have put him down. We should have worked together better."

She paused again before continuing, "He could have killed us out there, but he didn't. He knew Logan would be able to take one of Scott's optic blasts, he knew that Peter would be able to recover from hitting the wall. More to the point, he chose to suffer himself when he realised when he couldn't take me down without killing the three of us." Jean paused before carrying on, talking about what happened proved to be more difficult that she realised, "I was not going to stop." she said slowly, "I couldn't. I would have killed him. He realised this, and instead of letting me kill all three of us, he stopped his attack. We may not think of him as our son, but he does think of us as his parents. I picked this up from him as clear as I know you love me Scott."

She fell silent again, her eyes on Charles, hoping he'd say something. She realised though that he had been staring at her, she gave him a questioning look.

Xavier was still for a few moments before nodding his head at her in agreement and then speaking for himself. What he didn't let on that every word Jean had said was taken directly from his mind. That wasn't to say she wasn't a capable tactician, but a few seconds after each thought was in his mind they had been on Jean's lips. She had read his mind and not even realised it. He would need to speak to her soon.

"Jenny," he said to the young girl, as he sensed her uncomfortable feelings, "Perhaps you would like to meet some of the other children here. Ororo, could you take Jenny outside please."

Storm nodded and took Jenny out through the French doors.

"Jubilee," the Professor continued, "Perhaps you could do the introductions."

Jubliee looked as though she about to protest, that she wanted to stay for the meeting, but she took in Xavier's look and stayed silent.

*You're not a full X-Man yet Jube.* she thought to herself and followed Storm out, nodding to the Professor.

Charles waited until Ororo returned before continuing, "Jean's right." he said to everyone, "It has been some time since we last encountered a mutant as capable as Nate Grey and we weren't ready for him. We must all continue training and not let our capabilities slip from us. I can't expect you to trust him, but I will echo Jean's words and say again, he could have killed, but he did not. His attack was harsh and fast and he was far too quick to act in this case, but I believe his origins may have something to do with that."

Xavier paused for a moment, and those around him knew he was sensing something.

Downstairs in the medilab Warren was keeping a close eye on the sleeping mutant. The sudden beep from one of the machines told him that he was about to regain consciousness.

Warren then felt the presence of the Professor in his mind, and his voice saying, *Warren, I am communicating our good intentions to Nate, and asking him to accompany you to me when he awakes. I sense no threat Warren.*

"Good." Warren said to himself, then waited for Nate to wake up.

Back in the lounge Charles said to everyone, "It seems that Nate will be joining us sooner than we realised. I ask for you all to, please, hold your tempers in check."

Pain slowly filtered into his consciousness, as Nate was brought out of the enforced sleep of the Shi'ar machines. Not the pain of immediate injuries, but the dull ache of injuries well on the way to mending.

Along his chest he could feel the tightness of freshly healed muscles, and the sensitivity of newly healed skin. Sitting up was painful, though the shot of painkillers the Shi'ar machine injected into him helped a great deal.

Sitting up, Nate looked around, wincing slightly at the feel of his tender ribs, and taking stock of the situation. So, he had made a mistake, and he would probably have to apologise to the young girl, Jenny, for doing so. Nate paused for a moment, how did he know this, he hadn't managed to penetrate his targets mental shields.

Xavier! Of course, the old psychic would probably be more than capable of leaving information in the mind of a sleeping individual. Damn, what else did Xavier know?

Nate rubbed his eyes to clear them out, and to give him chance to adjust to the bright lights in the room. He had spotted the watching form of Warren, but chose not to comment just yet. He was trying to gather his wits, and catch up with what had happened in his mind, and his body, whilst he had been unconscious. Someone had done a serious bit of work on him, he could still see the stitches that crossed his side. The painkillers stopped him from feeling any of the pain, but he could still feel the tightness of muscles and the resistance when his body decided he shouldn't be moving a certain way.

Standing up, he winced slightly, that twinge broke through the painkillers just a litle bit. Looking around, he spotted his jacket and trousers, which he gingerly slipped on, all under the watchful, and silent eye of Warren. When he was dressed to at least a modicum of comfort, though he left the jacket open, revealing his tightly muscled and well stitched chest.

He paused for a moment, when the thoughts of Xavier entered his mind, letting him know that he wished him to go to the lounge, and what to expect there.

Looking over at Warren, he nodded, expecting the winged mutant to have received his own set of instructions, before heading out of the medlab, albeit slowly and at a steady pace. His muscles protested if he walked too fast, and the twinge in his side every time the stitches pulled taught was beginning to hinder his movement.

Warren remained his usual silent self as Nate made ready to join the Professor. When Nate was ready he followed at a distance, making sure no trouble occurred. Warren was greatful that none of the school's children were around, one because they often shyed away from his appearence, and two because he didn't want them asking Nate a lot of questions.

It took Nate several minutes to pass through the mansion, all the way his thoughts were in turmoil. He had no doubt that during his time of unconsciousness, Xavier and his team would have had chance to find out a lot about him, the past, and present, that he had kept hidden from the world, erasing the memories of his existence so as to prevent the pain that knowledge of his existence had been causing to those he considered friends.

With Warren at his back, solicitous of his comfort yet keeping his distance, Nate made his way to the lounge, and gently pushed the door open, before stepping inside to face those he had been forced to fight not so long ago. The one thought that kept echoing in his mind though, was not about how they would react, but instead he considered, if Jenny was the wrong person, who then did set the bomb that destroyed so many lives.

Stepping into the room, Nate looked round at the gathered faces, a sense of relief passing through him as the message that had been left in his mind was confirmed, Peter, Jean and Scott still lived. And seemed much less the worse for wear than he was.

Warren nodded at Xavier when he entered, then took up a place at the back of the room.

The other X-men were uninjured by the looks of things to, which was to be expected, since he had done all he could to keep them out of serious harms way when he fought them.

There was no sign of apology in his eyes, though he had made a mistake and he understood that, he had done what he believed to be right at the time. His only regret was that he, in chasing the wrong person, had involved the people he had wished to avoid. Sometimes, ignorance is bliss, and he suspected that was about to be proved in spades. Still, he was thankful that they had managed to protect the young girl before he had succeeded in harming an innocent.

The expression on his face as he looked at those in the room was that of a man who had done the wrong thing, for the right reasons, and though he wouldn't apologise for his actions, he did understand that he had made a mistake, and paid for it in blood. If the x-men couldn't understand that, so be it, though his parents were in the room, he would be more than content to return to manhattan to hunt down the murderers that he had thought he was chasing.

Jean watched as Nate walked into the room, not daring to say anything at this point to him. She knew that Scott was angry, she could feel it, so instead she sent a silent message to Nate, *Let's find time to talk.*

She and Scott had accepted Rachel into their lives, and if Nate wanted her to be in his life, then she was going to try her hardest to do so.

Professor X then spoke up, "Please to meet you Nate, as I realise you know I am Professor Charles Xavier and this is my school. I have explained that your actions against them were due to a misunderstanding, but I feel that for them to accept all of this then it is time for some explanations of your part. They know of your relationship to Jean and Scott, but do not know how this is, they also wish to know how it is we have no memory of you."

Nate nodded to Xavier, and sighed, though his doing so was only a cover for when he sent a quickly pathed message to Jean. "That would probably be a good idea."

Looking at the gathered X-Men, he breathed in before beginning to speak, his words came out like a newsreader's, just relating the facts.. "Earlier today, a terrorist attack occured on a bar in downtown manhattan, an explosion that killed many and left even more seriously injured. To hear that many souls cry out as they were torn from their body, no-one should have to hear that, certainly not twice. At the time, i had been intrigued by the strange echoes that a teleporter was causing through the astral plane. I followed them, to see what was going on, when they entered the location. The explosion then occured, and the teleporter, Jenny, fled from the scene."

Nate paused for a moment, before adding in a voice with a significant amount more emotion in it, "I have friends who frequent that bar, friends that could have been hurt again in a terrorist action. I wasn't going to stand to lose anyone else, so i gave chase. I tried to read her mind, but i couldn't break through, she was shielded against telepathic prying." Looking around again, Nate added, "The rest of this mornings events you know."

Nate turned to look at Jean for a moment, his thoughts in turmoil, he knew of his origins, the other Hank McCoy had made sure of that, but he had erased knowledge of himself once, could he do it again if he needed to, would he have the strength of mind to go through with it once more, to become unknown, cut off from his friends and family.

"Jean is my mother, but I am not from here. The earth that was my home was very different, Charles died before he ever had a chance to foster the dream that you live here, and Apocalypse became absolute ruler of north america. I am the result of a union between that worlds Jean and Scott."

Nate took in the sight of Jean and Scott on the sofa, their hands clasped together, "When I came to this world, we met, and became friends, maybe even family. You were both the parents I never had in my own world. I was force grown at the hands of the geneticist Nathaniel Essex. I managed to escape when I was about 15, but didn't arrive here till a few years later."

Nate paced up and down for a few steps, before continuing, "The reason none of you know who I am, whilst I know about you, is because, a few months ago, I erased all knowledge of my existence from the memories of every living being in this world. Thing had happened, were happening, to people who were my friends, purely because of their association with me. My friendship with them was causing them more and more pain, as those who sought to control or destroy me tried to do so by striking through my friends, or through the people of New York, knowing how i would respond. I thought it best if no-one knew who I was anymore."

It was obvious that Nate wasn't telling everything. He knew it was obvious, as did the others, but it didn't seem like he was excluding details that would make a difference, he was just protecting people, by not letting the truth about what actually happened prior to his actions in removing knowledge of his existence from the world. "Suffice it to say, something happened, something huge, and knowledge of that event would change the world in a way it does not need to be changed. Judge me how you will, but I will not reveal those events to you, not now, not ever. I hid them for a reason and they will stay hidden."

The last was spoken with a quiet authority, Nate was guarding a past that he would not let out, no matter what the incentive, or pressure.

Scott had merely kept silent when the others jumped to the defense of the young man who was supposedly his 'son'. He admitted that none of them had died, that the guys' tactics were sound...and it did not make a lot of difference. Both Jean and Charles seemed to want to give him a chance, and Scott remembered what he had just thought about, regarding the way he had failed to accept Rogue...who had had just as bad an introduction to the X-Men, in her own way.

Then Nathan Grey came into the room, and he spoke to them, explaining...and leaving too many holes. He had 'befriended who? Scott and Jean? If so, then he knew there was NOTHING he needed to hide from them...unless he NEEDED to hide. In the end, what he said left Scott feeling no less angry...and no more prepared to accept him with an open heart.

Worse, he claimed to recognize a kinship, and had still betrayed that. He was, Scott thought, young, impatient, hot headed, passionate, and overly prideful. About on par for a certain kind of X- Men. Scott smiled toward Logan, thinly, and then sighed. "Nathan, you just made claims that you cannot back up...without restoring our memories. I for one don't find that acceptable. You've used me, and you've just admitted, to having used the whole darn world, because you were protecting us. From what? I'm sorry, but that kind of argument is what I heard in the orphanage, and it didn't cut the mustard there, either."

Nate had one thing going for him, Logan contemplated, that was that Cyke didn't like him. He was much more like his mother than Cyclops ... he did share one thing with his (genetic at least) father. They both needed to grow up.

Logan wasn't particularly impressed with the tender caress of Cyclops eyeblast that Nate had graced him with. In fact, he wasn't intending to forget that one - 'specially without no apology. Sure - he did what he had felt was right. That - if anyone - Logan could understand. However, what he had done wasn't right. And Wolverine had a very strong sentiment about what was right and what wasn't.

And if you weren't right, if you did wrong, you better be man enough to apologize. The attitude reflected and underlined Hank McCoy's observations. The bub was a real rookie ... a powerful rookie, but a kid at heart nonetheless, in a body far outaging his maturity.

Logan wasn't intimdated by Nate's abilities - not in the slightest. He'd faced far worse. A brief shifting glance between Nate and his mother made Logan reflect on a peculiar question. The kid needed to grow up. Heck, Jubilee seemed to be miles ahead of Nate in that respect - she had a good teacher, after all.

Would be interesting to see Scott trying to father that kid ... or see how Jean would fare. This certainly wasn't a case where Logan saw any need to get involved. If Jean needed a hand she'd ask ... Scott, of course, wouldn't she. Though the thought amused Logan for a moment. Nah - the boy had to grow up, all right. But other than the occasional culling down to size, Logan didn't intend to get involved.

Scott felt like adjusting the visor, in preparation for... whatever was to come, but decided to hold off. "I'm ready to accept you for what you say you are...when you are ready to be forthcoming about your secret. Until then, you and I don't have much to talk about." Deep inside, Scott felt something stretching, almost breaking. His heart, maybe. This Nathan was not his Christopher, but, he was a lot like Chris might have been, if Scott had not had to give him up. "Right now, I think you're playing off the family's feelings for me and for Jean. Another ill use of us. We aren't about that kind of behavior here. And I'm not going to be used to hurt my friends again. Logan, you'll see to that, right?"

"Don't cha worry about that, bub." Logan grinned wolfishly, for just that little split-second too long - enough to unnerve observers. He wasn't one to hesitate to do what was necessary. Of course, he'd not pop his claws to take out Cyke. Jean, for one, would never forgive him. Still - it was a good laugh making Cyke feel a little uneasy. The old, if short, runt still was master of his own territory - the best at what he did. And he made sure there was no doubt about it.

Nate listened as Scott spoke, his face thoughtful, how could he tell these people what happened, it had nothing to do with them. It was an interesting level of arrogance of Scott to think that it was.

Nate knew what had happened, the purple man had twisted the minds and memories of most of New York, turning them against him, and the other mutants, causing them to strike out at anyone they percieved as a mutant. Hatred had been fostered, and when the purple man had been defeated, the hatred had remained. Resentment for being used, a resentment that bubbled out into true hatred. People started to strike out openly against mutants, and those who associated with them, the world wasn't ready for that, and it would lead down the same path his world had followed.

"I can't give you back your memories, I didn't hide them, I erased them. As for what happened, all I can say is that someone else played with the minds and memories of a city, and the only way I could fix the damage was to change things back, but that meant erasing knowledge of my existence."

Nate paused for a moment, his thoughts in turmoil, this was going much like the first meeting he had had with Scott and Jean, he almost had to smile. He didn't, but he still didn't know what to say to Scott.

"Scott, to be honest, I can cope with you not trusting me, or not even liking me. I erased knowledge of my own existence from the world to prevent this world from becoming like mine. I purposefully cut myself off from everyone i ever cared about, just to protect them. You have any idea what thats like Scott, to pass your best friend in the street and know that he knows nothing about you, to chase a killer to the home of your friends and parents and know that you are just a stranger to them. Are you going to sit there and tell me you never did anything just because it was necessary, that every action you ever made was the right and true action, or that you never did something because that was what needed to be done, not because it was what you wanted."

Nate's voice was impassioned, but he wasn't pleading for Scott to understand, he was talking like a man who had been through a lot, and knew damn well that Scott would understand just as well.

Jean kept quiet as her lover and her 'son' spoke to each other. She picked up a stray thought from Scott about how he considered Nate impatient, hot headed, passionate, and overly prideful. It seemed to Jean that Scott was reminded of Logan, but all she could think of was how Nate reminded her of herself.

"You ask around, many others in this room will agree, sometimes we just do what is needed, even though we don't want to. And if you feel used because I opted to use my own knowledge to win a fight, then so be it. If I had to do it again, i'd use the same tactics. Why, because, at the end of the day, I was chasing someone I thought was a mass murderer, and I had to take the X-Men down as fast as possible, without hurting any of them. I used a leaf out of your own book. Used tactics you yourself have used against the X-Men." Nate continued.

He was her son, there was no doubt about it, his way of speaking, his attitude was all her, but his honour, his strong feelings of protection, that was Scott. Why couldn't Scott see that.

When Jean had returned from the dead it had taken a time for Scott to accept her again, but he had, and to such an extent it had lost him his natural son. Together they had accepted Rachel, and as a team they had accepted many many more.... Logan, Rogue, Gambit.

She understood the sense of betrayal that Scott was feeling, the hurt, and knew that any ties to Sinister always brought back to him the memories of his time in the Orphanage.

Nate looked at Jean, and sighed. "I suspect if i say more, I'm going to cause an argument, so I won't. Just consider where I learnt those tactics from Scott, before you get on your high horse."

She nodded at Nate, "There is no point to arguing here. It will not solve anything. It remains to be said though that your actions today were not thought out, you chased an innocent and a loss of innocent life could have occurred. Nate you claim to know us, and I believe you, so then you should also know that wen we fight there is always a level of discipline, you lack that."

Xavier also agreed and also interjected at this point, "I have to agree with Jean, you may have believe Jenny to have been the murderer but you actions did not give me the impression that you were going to stop to ask questions. This is a school Nate and you could have endangered the children here. You have given me a lot to think about in regard to new security procedures, but that does not excuse your behaviour."

Nate nodded to Xavier, "No, it doesn't. I lost myself in the moment, I had failed to prevent such an event happening before, and when it happened again, I just lost it. I'm sorry for the damage I caused, though not for my intentions. Had Jenny been the murderer, would your response now have been any different."

Nate sighed, "I don't have the luxury of a team of friends to guide me, I have to go on my own instincts, and if I make mistakes, there is rarely ever anyone around to correct me. Especially since...." Nate trailed off, he had said enough about his feelings concerning the actions he took to erase the worlds memory.

"I did what I thought was necessary at the time. I made a mistake, and I know i'm not the only person in this room to have done so. Granted, this place is a school, but had Jenny been the murderer and come here, she would have had no issues in using that fact against me. I didn't drive her here, she came here and I just followed."

Nate stopped again, "This is getting nowhere, I made a mistake, I can't take that back, I can only learn from it."

"Well perhaps an apology is at least in order." Xavier said, "I think Jenny would appreciate that."

Nate nodded again, "Yes, I suspect your right, she probably would appreciate an apology. I'll see to it when I next see her."

As Nathan conversed with the Professor, Scott and Jean, Nightcrawler quietly flipped off the ceiling, avoiding any spilling of his can of beer, and listened quietly. Nate's story was hard to believe, but the young German still empathized. There were times when Kurt wished he could forget his own parentage, and how Raven had abandoned him...

Logan didn't get involved in the argument. As far as he was concerned, Nate had a point - everyone was allowed their secrets. Logan certainly had them in abundance ... the problem was, that they were kept locked away from him too ... so, not so much secrets, as just uncertainties, really. But a man was allowed his own privacy.

Charles Xavier should know. Logan pointedly reacted whenver one of the telepaths was "in" his head ... the brief remarks (richly spiced with some choice words according to the situation) made sure that people stayed out of Logan's flamin' head. No wonder he reacted allergically to telepathic intrusions - with the amount that HIS memories had been meddled with.

Nate's demeanor, the tone of his voice, his scent - it was all typical for a teenager. Fear mixed with stubborness. An "I'm right and you're not!" air surrounded him ... a kid, in short. A powerful kid, though - Logan admitted. Allthemore he was a danger to himself.

That seemed like Charles' arena ... to get the rookie to relax. Maybe he'd manage ... Logan was still here, after all - because of Charles mainly. And Jean, of course, but that was neednt mentioning. In a way, this all fitted together as bad as anything could. The resurgence of the phoenix force - possibly behind Logan's suddenly reinvigorated berserker instinct.

He'd nearly killed Scott today ... came so darn close to it, that if Jean hadn't interfered when she had, things would've been quite ugly. And final. Better to think of something else. What worried Logan wasn't that he'd nearly killed someone - he did that often enough to those that deserved it. It was the WHO and HOW ... Cyke - for all his faults - didn't deserve to get sliced into ribbons. Back there, if Logan would've started, he'd not stop until there was nothing left ... such unconditional bloodlust ... he was determined not to give in to it. Best to change the subject...

Ah yes - secrets.

Everyone was allowed their privacy, their secrets, Logan felt. Looking at Remy, the Canuck grinned briefly - it was something someone like Remy would understand too. Scott's "knight in shining armour"-approach to life just made him blind to certain truths. Logan and Remy ... they were far more down to earth. Realists - having become so the hard way.

It wasn't something any sane man would wish on another, but it happened nonetheless. The world wasn't a romantic place, it could be downright cruel. The Cajun and the Canadian runt knew that one too well. Perhaps that was why they got on, despite their differences. Similiar, despite everything after all.

Remy had followed Storm back into the mansion at the Professor's summons, and he had muttered something to the effect of, "Haven't these people heard about radios?" since he was getting rather tired of being summoned here, summoned there... It just wasn't something that he was used to.

Being the new guy in the group, Remy didn't really know all that much about the X-Men's history other than what he'd heard and seen from when he was on the wrong side of things -- any other side than theirs was the wrong side, apparently, or that was the impression he got from listening to Scott and Ororo and some of the others sometimes. Everyone had an ideal, everyone had a righteous goal, except for those who grew up in the pits of the world and the only goal was survival.

He wasn't going to pipe in with wisecracks. For one thing, Remy didn't think it would go over well, and from the looks of it when Jean told people how they could've better worked as a team, well, that didn't necessarily go over well either, considering how much of the group was new. Oh, like him. He noticed that she didn't even mention him, which hurt his charmer's heart, but that was all right. He didn't want to be singled out at right that moment.

So he leaned against the wall just inside the doorway, crossed his arms, wished he had a beer like Kurt and Logan, and listened. He shut his yap and listened. Oh, and he watched. He watched Rogue. It was hard not to watch her since she was (in his opinion though no doubt there were others who would dispute that fact) the most beautiful and intriguing woman in the world too. It helped that she was virtually untouchable too, making it hard to resist the whole unintentional playing-hard-to-get game that she played.

He listened to the kid. He had wanted to bop him a good one, but to be honest, it didn't matter anymore. They got beaten up, then got shown up, and the only thing that hurt worse than that bruise on his butt from when Remy'd landed hard on the grass was his pride. Dam' but everyone got shown up.

He listened to Scott and rolled his eyes. Sanctimonious little.... Remy caught Logan's glance and grunted.

"Ya know somthin' Scott? If you've got dat much of a problem wit' people havin' secrets, you're havin' a problem with dam' near everyone in this room. It ain't havin' dem or not havin' dem dat's the thing to worry about. It's jus' the wonderin' if everyone's on the same side here. So dat's what you should be asking 'ere, I think. Is this kid of yours dat's not really your kid's got secrets then let 'im have dem. Jus' ask 'im what side he's on."

He paused, glancing around the room, and smiled a rogueish smile. "Kind of like how everyone's always asking me."

Scott listened to all of it, wondering just what point Logan was trying to make. But Remy said it better than anybody. "Good point, Remy." Scott wondered if that was the first time he had actually called him anything but Gambit or LeBeau. "And nobody is asking you what side you're on. You've said it enough times that we all know. You're on the side that you think is the right one...unless you have to change your mind."

He realized how harsh that sounded, and winced, but decided not to push it. "And I'm okay if that's where you stand. You add a different perspective to the X-Men, and sometimes, that's a breath of fresh air. What I have a problem with is Nathan coming in and deciding that it's okay to monkey with our minds and bodies whenever it suits him. Which is what he has just said he has done, and is still wiling to do."

He turned to his 'son'. "So, Nathan, what I'm trying to say is this -- that's not the side I'M on. And despite my personal reservations, I'm willing to admit that everybody deserves a fair break. You're standing here, and obviously not ready to waylay the lot of us. So, you need to think about it. What side are you on? Are you willing to discuss it with the Professor, and decide, and if you're not on OUR side, leave peaceably and with some assurance you aren't going to come in and clock us?

"The one way, as a part of what we do here, learning and sharing what you can do, you give yourself a chance to find friends, and maybe a family, to not have to be making the kind of hard call you are keeping secrets about, all alone. I admit that's the way I like things, and it's a lot better than being a hunted mutant alone in a world that wants me dead or worse. Which I was, once, however briefly.

He paused for just a moment, and then turned to Jean for a moment for reassurance. "Or do we have to treat you like the threat you flew in acting as?" He turned back, wishing he could make eye contact with this man-child who looked like two men he admired greatly.

"I think that's the real set of choices you have here. And I would be a lot happier if you decided now, even provisionally. Jean and Charles are the ones whose opinions I trust at least as much as my own, and I believe they would like you to try the option I happen to believe in."

Hank sighed, and while the others talked about trust and faith, thought about the other parts of the day's events.

Henry smiled inwardly. He had had his memory messed with many times, Nate's claims could be true, they might not be. Hank knew that he wouldn't be able to prove anything until he went and checked his encrypted journals. Armed with the knowledge that a name had been wiped from his memory, he might be able to see the holes in records, team photographs and so on.

The smile faded. And he spoke up, coughing loudly to get the X-Men's attention.

"We still have two objectives that people might well wish to consider completing before the day is done."

"Primarally, the returning of Jenny to her family and the creation of a suitable cover story so she doesn't get into too much trouble with her parents. Secondly, the terrorist attack. We could investigate further."

He turned to Nate.

"It would be like being a new member of the team again, earning our trust and friendship from square one. I think Nate should be part of whatever we do."

Nate smiled, ever so slightly, in a half smile that Jean used often, and the resemblence between him and his mother leapt in to stark clarity for those who saw, before his face returned to it's usual serious appearance.

Scott had missed the point entirely, Nate had done what needed to be done, used the tactics that gave him the best shot at winning a fight where he didn't want to seriously hurt anyone. That wouldn't change, he wouldn't apologise for thatm, because the others would have done the same, had done the same in the past. All of them were guilty of using their knowledge of their opponents to win a fight. Considering all Nate had done was open the visor at the right moment, and then close it, he felt Scott was over-reacting. He hadn't invaded his mind, or controlled his body, he had just tweaked with his equipment.

Still, if someone didn't let the matter drop, it never would. So Nate opted not to carry on the discussion. As for the matter of his wiping the memories of the entire world, well, that was a violation, but it had to be done. That wasn't open for debate, it didn't bother him that Scott disagreed, since Scott had no real idea of what happened, what events led to his decision. The fact that he was unhappy with it was neither here nor there. Maybe that was arrogant of Nate, but if you start questioning every decision you ever made, you will soon become paralysed with indecision. Nate knew it was the right thing to do at the time, and that was that. If Scott had all the information, chances are he would agree, or at least understand, but Nate was not going to be the one to bring back all those memories.

Nate smiled warmly at Hank, "I'd like that, it would be good to have someone to trust again, and to have someone to talk to." Despite the fact that he was only a kid in actual age, Nate had been forced to grow up fast, on a world decimated by war, and by the leadership of Apocalypse. Perhaps only Bishop could really understand that, but Nate hoped the others would to. He had sacrificed his friendships before, and it had almost killed his soul to do so. The chance to get some of them back was like a salve to his wounded body, and one he didn't want to pass up.

Xavier smiled, "Then the offer is made and accepted." he said to the room. "Nate I am sure that later today you and I should talk about the offer further, but for now I welcome you to the X-Men."

Xavier looked around the room to gauge people's reactions, he didn't have to be a telepath to realise that a thoughts about Nate's arrival were still swimming around people's heads. They all knew his door was open to them, but he had already decided to keep his knowledge of the reasons why Nate wiped their memories to himself. He would not even let Nate know he knew. An adjustment period was to be expected, this would be hard on everyone in some way or another, but especially for Nate's 'parents'.

Scott put out his hand, open and face up, toward Nathan. "As much as I'm hestitant to do this, because you've already USED me, I'll support the decision, because I have to place my faith somewhere."

When Scott put his hand out, Nate knew what it was costing him, how could he not, it had happened before, and the two had spoken of it then. Still, the half smile crept on to his face again, part understanding, part appreciation. The smile that so brought home his relationship with Jean. It was in the eyes that his relationship to Scott showed, though more so when his eyes glowed with the kind of power Scott was used to coping with on a day to day basis. "If I wasn't willing to talk about it, I wouldn't be here." Reaching out, he took Scott's hand in acceptance of the offer, and the conditions.

At that moment the large screen television flicked on, it setting on maximum volume so that all in the room were suddenly deafened by a basketball game. The lights in the room flashed on and off repeatedly until the bulbs then smashed. The French Doors which Storm had closed behind her on her return flew open, one wrenched off of it's hinges. Everyone who was stood up felt themselves suddenly move back a step, those by the walls felt the wall hard against their backs, those on chairs almost fell backwards.

"Stop It!" a voice yelled out.

Then the TV switched off, the force dissipated, leaving everyone looking at the origin of the disturbance, the person who'd yelled.

Jean.

Jean had been quietly listening to all that was said in the room. She was hoping that the situation would be resolved easily, and was thankful that Scott extended his handout to Nate. As their two palms touched she suddenly became aware of voices, no not voices, but the thoughts of everyone in the room. She had almost become accustomed to this as it seemed to happen to her more and more as her powers grew, so she simply strengthened her mental shields to block the thoughts out.

But then more started to invade her mind, the thoughts of the children in the rest of the school, the children outside, a couple in their car driving past the mansion's front gate. The more she raised her shields the more seemed to come to her, and then another voice appeared. A deeper, darker voice, and suddenly she felt afraid.

She could feel heat invading her insides, something was pushing down against her, so instinctivly she stuck out. Her eyes were tightly closed as she could feel her TK pushing back, and when it seemed she could do nothing she cried out,

"Stop it!"

And then all was still.

She opened her eyes and found all in the room staring at her. She looked at the Professor, then Nate, then Logan, then Scott.

She had pushed Scott to the end of the sofa with her power, "I'm sorry." she said, stammering, to him, then she looked at the rest of the room.

"I'm sorry, please excuse me." she said to them all, then quickly got up and fled the room.

When Nate started to feel the pressure pushing at his body, he almost automatically suspected an attack, slamming his mental shields up and using a small amount of telekinesis to raise a shield around himself.

"Stop it!"

When Jean shouted, all the pressure ended, and Nate looked around, into the scared eyes of Jean as she looked around the room. Nate blinked a few times, stunned at what had happened, barely hearing Jean's apologies as she fled the room.

Turning, he looked into Xaviers eyes, question's evident in his eyes, but his next thought brought him back to meet Scott's eyes, their hands still clasped together. A silent communication passed between the two men, nothing said, nothing pathed, Nate's eyes simply seemed to say, "Go to her."

Logan was quickly getting disinterested in the conversations. He'd already crossed his arms (having destroyed the last remnants of his beer via ingestion) and leaned back against the wall. His head was somewhat sunk lower.

It was tempting to believe that he was, infact, snoozing.

Of course, few present (those not knowing better) would actually believe that. Logan wasn't asleep. He was, in fact, quite wide awake. He was concentrating.

In fact, he wasn't just concentrating, he was fighting.

None had noticed that he was silent - Logan wasn't known for verbal diarrhea in the quantaties that Charles Xavier or especially the charming Henry McCoy were capable of. No, it was fair to say that Logan tended to keep to few words, all in all.

At the moment, he wasn't willing to divulge into words, he was struggling with something far more primal and ancient - emotions. INSTINCTS.

The muscles across his arms flexed - as did his entire body - as a physical echo of the inner struggle. His fingers were digging into his own flesh so hard, that he'd pierced skin and started to bleed - healing nearly just as quickly.

Wolverine's perceived world was a lonely one - there was only him, and ... 'something'. He didn't know what it was, but he knew he should be afraid of it. Somehow - he just knew. But that wasn't how Wolverine was built. He was defiant. He stood in his place and challenged ... 'it' ... challenged ... 'something' - the presence, the thing that refused to take a recognizable form.

Logan's teeth ground against each other so hard, that blood began flowing in his mouth. None would see it of course - his lips were sealed, and he didn't make as much as a sound. Pain and Logan had a long and intimate relation - his threshold was very high.

In his mind, he was battling the presence ... the thing ... he didn't know why, but it felt like the only alternative to running away. Trying to cut down that, which threatened him ... and the harder he fought it, the angrier he became. The twitch was there, to unleash his claws.

He still remembered - somewhere - that he was still in a room with the other X-Men ... that, if he'd let loose the berserker in him now, that the other's would barely have the time to put on a surprised look before finding out what lies in the next world. He struggled as much against the berserker, as he did against the great formless shadow in his mind, as he did to remain control.

Three against one weren't good odds. They were the kind of odds Logan liked though ... or rather, he would like, if he wouldn't risk slaughtering people he sincerely cared about if he'd "let go". And yet, it was as if the presence in his mind was taunting him - the seductive promise of releasing the berseker as a guarantee to defeat this ... thing became more and more overpowering. The mental anguish, the pain he felt was burning through every fiber in his body.

His hands began shaking faintly and would have been more obvious had they not dug themselves so deep into his own flesh. He wanted to shout - to cry out for the others to scram, to leave the room. But he no longer was able to do that. He had already lost that part of himself to this strange ... invader.

And any second now, the berserker would crawl out of his hidey-hole and ...

"Stop It!"

... and then it was all over. Gone. Logan was again alone and master of his own body and mind. He hadn't heard what happened - he didn't care. He was glad he'd not gone feral on his friends ... he just breathed. Breathed to calm down ... to keep himself in check, tapping into his mental discipline which he'd attained through countless years of personal sacrifice and self-discipline.

When he felt some mental strength return to him, he looked up ... and saw Jean's eyes.

The split-second when their glances had met was enough. He didn't need to listen to her pulse, didn't need to hear the frantic pace in her steps, didn't need to dissect the different emotions in her scent. Jean was SCARED. Logan looked after Jean leaving the room ... a great part of him wanted to go after her.

But he couldn't ... his own eyes were still far too filled with the crazed look of something about to loose it - he needed to calm down, to REALLY calm down, before he could even think of helping Jean. Alone.

What in the nine hells was going on? Where'd this all come from?

Twice now, he'd nearly added to the obituary today in ways he didn't want to. Twice, there was a close escape for the unknowing victims. Did he need to get away again, leave, and go into himself? Go back to his roots? This wasn't like that, he felt more as if someone was trying to manipulate him, or invade him ... toy with him even?

Whatever it was, Logan didn't like it. Not ONE bit.

Xavier watched as Jean fled the room, unable to get a good read off of her as her shield reinserted themselves. All he got was the strong feeling of Fear.

He knew he would have to help her adjust to this resurgence of power, they would have to talk about the Phoenix.

He had known her power was increasing for some time now, but had not wanted to push her. He had wanted her to come to him, but she hadn't. He realised now that the thing that kept her from him was the Phoenix. He wondered what she and Scott had discussed earlier, while they were alone.

Jean meant so much to him. The pain connected with the Phoenix Force was still strong in him, he did not want to lose Jean again

Scott had shaken Nathan's hand, standing but never letting go of Jean.

And then, almost before he knew it, he was blown off his feet and against the end of the couch, with enough force to leave his arm numb and to knock his breath out.

He blinked away the dancing lights, and saw Nathan looking at him.

Saw his own eyes, the eyes he had had before his power had ever asserted itself.

And he could FEEL things. He could feel Jean, and Nathan, and the Phoenix force, too, all living, all touching, all coursing in some strange way through him. He heard Nathan urge him to go to Jean.

Scott stood, a bit unsteadily. "Professor, I'm going to see to Jean."

Xavier nodded.

And he ran, then. He could sense where Jean was going, and he was not letting her go alone.

And then he was out of the room, and chasing his love. He was not losing her to anything, not even the power of the Phoenix.

Xavier mentally watched as Scott went after Jean, he could sense her movements heading towards the lake, away from the mansion.

He looked at those left in the room, all looked tired, drained. He himself felt as though he had been pushed to his capacity.

"I think all the afternoon's training sessions are cancelled, as well as any Study group that have been planned. I think we all need some time to adjust to that which has happened these last few hours."

He moved his chair forward, back to it's position before it had been pushed away by Jean's powers.

"X-Men, this meeting is over, take time to yourselves, relax. I would ask you all to avoid the area of the beach house though as that's where Scott and Jean have gone. Nate I should still like to talk to you though please." Xavier finished, and started to leave the lounge.

*Charles, what should I do?*

Nate's mind reached out and spoke with the Professor's, as he followed him out of the room. Though the words were simple enough, the nature of telepathy attached to them a lot more meaning and imagery. Nate still felt uncomfortable with the situation. Whilst he kept his emotions in check, he was a positive riot of conflictions, hope, grief, worry, stress. The trip to the beach would probably do him a lot of good. Give him the chance, the first he had had in several months, to relax, to be seen and remembered. To be Nate, rather than just a faceless man, to be a son again.

*It will be hard Nate.* Xavier responded, *For everyone. We all need time to adjust, and so do you. There is a lot happening here already, but I feel your presense will not harm any of it.*

All this was written in the message that Nate pathed to the professor, all this and the desire to not be a stranger anymore. He suspected he knew what Xavier wanted to talk to him about, and he wasn't looking forward to it.

Still, he could be wrong, they had already sorted out the misunderstanding, and he only needed to apologise to Jenny. At least thats what he hoped. Xavier might want more, though Nate hoped not.

Nate followed quietly behind the Professor as the two of them made their way through the mansion to whatever destination Charles had in mind. Nate, though willing to trust Charles, still had his shields up tight. His very first experience with the Professor, a long time ago, hadn't been a good one, even though the Professor wasn't really himself at the time.

Nate had learned to trust him since then, but he still kept his shields up nonetheless, if for no other reason that to shield out the mental chatter that was occuring around the house. Kids rarely guarded their thoughts, and it could get distracting if you didn't close it all out.

Charles had been leading the way to his office, but part of that had been damaged in the earlier attack, and was being seen to by the Shi'ar housekeeping robots. Instead he went to the day room, currently empty of children, keeping part of his mind on Scott and Jean's location. On the journey there he briefly scanned Jean, and found.. differences.

He couldn't let them take priority right now, but he did need to speak to her, when she was calmer.

"Nate," he began, once the door was shut behind them, "I am sure the next few days, weeks, perhaps months are going to be hard for everyone."

Nate looked out of the window, trying not to think about the damage that had been dealt to the grounds and building in the fight. It really was an idyllic place, just the thing to relax away from the city for a while.

Away from the people he knew, and the troubles that plagued the existence of a man that no longer existed.

Turning back to the Professor, "I'll do what I can to make things easier Charles, but it's awkward. I know these people, but they don't know me anymore. That gives me some hope though, we were friends before, I am sure we can be again."

Turning back to the Garden, Nate winced again remembering the two tree's he had pulled up out of the grass, "Do you want me to put the trees back?"

Charles nodded, "That would be appreciated."

"Nate for this to work, for you to be an X-Men you will need to train with and learn to curb that implusive streak of yours."

Before Charles could say any more a knock came from the door.

"Come in." he called.

A few moments later Jubilee came into the room, with Jenny in tow. Jenny had been outside, learning a little more about the mansion and it's strange inhabitants from Kitty Pryde and Jubilee.

Nate looked around as Jenny and Jubilee came in, and sighed, before pathing a quick response to Charles, *I seem to recall you having to tell a number of X-Men to curb their impulsive streaks over the years, I'll do what I can, but I suspect it's something that will take time*

Charles smilled and nodded.

Looking at Jenny, Nate was unsure how to proceed. How do you apologise to someone you tried to kill, for a crime they didn't commit. Even worse, how do you apologise to a teenage girl that you have scared out of her wits.
Sorry just didn't seem enough.

As Jenny entered the room, she saw the man in the wheelchair first, and smiled slightly, he was nice, before she caught sight of Nate on the balcony. She tensed, as if ready to run, but Jubilee sensed her disquiet and took hold of the younger girl's hand. This was the man that had chased her across the city, and though these people had explained it was a case of mistaken identity, which she understood, she still felt a little scared to be standing in the same room as him.

Nate saw Jenny tense, and sighed, his face ad, "Jenny, I......", Nate trailed off, unsure how to continue, "I don't know what to say, I doubt anything I say will make it right." Nate paused again, as if struggling to come up with the right words, and Jenny looked more closely at him, seeing him for the first time as more than just a man out to kill her.

He was only a few years older than her, she could tell that now, and he was cute, very cute. At least thats what she thought, though the streak of white in his hair made him look older. She could see the pain in his eyes, and the sorrow. Gingerly, she stepped forward, trembling slightly as she approached him, unsure of what she was really doing. Jubilee and Charles watched on, not sure whether to say anything, or remain quiet and see what was going to happen.

Nate looked at the young girl approaching him, his eyes still mirroring his confusion, and sorrow for what he had done, as if he was trying to apologise with his expression alone, as he wasn't sure the words would come.

Despite his apparent physical and emotional maturity, there were still some emotional experiences that Nate struggled with. When he did speak, it was almost in a whisper, just loud enough for Jenny to hear, "I'm sorry"

Jenny smiled slightly as she heard the whispered words, of course he was. He wasn't a bad man, she could tell that just by looking at him, in fact he was a bit of a hotty, a thought which caused her to smile shyly, before responding in a quiet voice, "Thats ok, you made a mistake. I can see that!"

Nate smiled warmly at Jenny, though his eyes still showed his confusion, she had said it was ok, how could it be that easy? Unsure of what else he could say, Nate simply watched, his brow furrowed slightly, as Jenny returned to Jubilee's side, a strange smile on her face, as if she had succeeded at something, though he couldn't for the life of him figure out what.

Charles smiled at Jubilee, then looked at Jenny and Nate, "Well I am glad that is all sorted. Now Jenny, go back outside and play and I will have one of my teachers drive you home. They will explain things to your parents, not everything, but enough."

Charles moved over to the desk, opened at drawer and pulled out a folder. Then he moved back to Jenny.

"At your class today your teacher told you about a visit today from a special school for gifted children. She believes you would benefit greatly from the shool. She spoke to you as asked you to have a read of this," Charles gave Jenny the folder, "and talk about it with your parents." Charles said, intending to make Jenny's teacher believe this later on. He didn't like to change people's minds against their will, unless he truly had to, but Jenny had been through a rough day already.

"If you would like to attend this school Jenny, I am sure it can be arranged." he smiled at her.

Nate remained quietly in the background whilst Charles spoke to Jenny, trying to remain unobtrusive whilst the details of Jenny's schooling were discussed.

Jenny looked around at Jubilee and the professor and smiled, it would be cool to go to a school with other people like her, people who wouldn't freak out if they found out she was a mutant. She reached out and took the pamphlet from the professor, glancing once at the front of it, before putting it away in her pocket.

"I am sure I can convince my parents that I should go here, I think they'd just be glad to find a school that I want to go to. Do I get to pick what I want to study, or not study as it were?"

Charles smiled, "Well we are school, there are the normal subjects that you will be required to take, and others from which you can chose."

"I will leave the choice with you Jenny." he added smiling.

Jenny made a face of feigned disgust, before smiling cheekily again, "Oh well, so much for dropping science." The smile lit up the young girls face, as she turned back to Jubilee, ready to leave.

As Jenny prepared to leave, Nate spoke again, "Bye Jenny." Jenny paused and smiled over her shoulder at him, "Cya later!" It would seem that she had gotten over the events, even if Nate was still a little confused by the young girl.

Once Jubilee and Jenny had left the room Charles turned to Nate again, "This break will do us all good I feel, some of us need it more than others, but it will also give them all time to adjust to your presence. Your willingness to become part of my X-Men pleases me Nate, I feel that like others who have come here, both yourself and the team will benefit from your addition."

Charles moved over to the the main desk, and pressed a button causing a computer terminal to raise up from within the large mahogany desk. He began setting certain things in process within the mansion's self maintence programs. "There." he said, "That should sort out all the damage. Yet another thing I have to thank Lilandra for."

Charles smiled to himself, then looked at Nate, "I will have to update certain facilities of the mansion though, I will need to make you exist again, just ever so slightly. Will that be acceptable?"

Charles was referring to the manions security system, and among others things Cerebro.

Nate smiled slightly at the request, "I suspect that I am still in there. Removing memories from people is easy, doing it for machines is beyond my abilities, so I left a suggestion that people overlook the details about me stored digitally. I suspect Hank will soon be looking back through his diaries, and if you do a search, you should be able to find the previous details your security systems held on me."

Nate thought over the problems he would have had if he had really needed to delete all the digital information stored on himself. Granted, chances are the majority of it was held by the X-Men, since they were some of the few who actually knew anything about him. Still, he suspected the fact that they knew he existed would allow them to view their records without the suggestion interfering with them.

Charles nodded, "Well until I can verify all this then please make sure you don't wander off anywhere on your own. It seems to me that it is highly likely you're still there as you made it to our front door so to speak."

Charles paused, his mind suddenly focused to Scott's, he now understood, the Phoenix was inside Jean. He moved his mind and met Jean's thought. There was a great conflict going on inside her, one occurring on all levels.

He remembered the tests that Moria had put her though before. No, not her, but the Phoenix. Jean would have to be tested. He would have to contact Moira and see what could be done.

He turned his attention back to Nate, "Well I have things to attend to Nate, but for now I also reccomend you rest. Dinner will be in a few hours, and one of the rooms upstairs will be at your disposal shortly should you want to stay in the mansion. Get to know the others again. I'm sure they'd welcome the chance to start afresh."

As if getting the hint, Nate turned to leave, towards the main door, "I'll see you shortly I suppose!"

Once he left the chamber, Nate wondered a little about how to proceed, he needed to start over, but talking to any of the X-Men, well, it could be a little awkward. As Charles had said, he was technically a probationary member now, but that didn't mean all the others would instantly get over the fact that he came in here and busted some heads. He figured some of them would be ok about it, but others had much more substantial ego's.

Nate was still very apprehensive about socialising with the X-Men, he had just attacked them all, and it was kind of embaressing to have to then socialise with them as friends, especially considering, with the exception of Jean, they hadn't really done very well in the fight. Thinking of the fight started Nate thinking about his mother again, and the re-exhibition of the Phoenix Force.

It was a scary prospect for Nate, for whilst he hadn't been around during the initial Phoenix crisis, he had been told about it, and had more recently had to face Jean as she manifested the Phoenix Force. At the time, as the Phoenix Force built, he could feel Jean's telekinetic powers getting stronger and stronger. Nate was an exceptionally powerful telekinetic, yet Jean, with the Phoenix effect manifested, came as close to brushing his telekinetic defences aside as anyone had ever done before. Only through sheer force of will hand Nate been able to maintain any defence long enough to strike back where his strength was still true.

Though Nate was a powerful and skilled telekinetic, his real strength lay with his telepathic powers. Powers which came close to matching even the daunting mind of Professor X himself. The scary thing though, was that Nate's powers had been growing steadily more powerful themself, over the year or so he had been on this earth. Though his telekinesis threatened to consume him whenever he relied to heavily on it, his telepathy simply seemed to grow steadily more powerful. The surge of power needed to wipe the memories of all of earths inhabitants had staggered him, though he had yet to be able to duplicate that level of power.

Nonetheless, he was sure he would be able to eventually, a thought which brought with it a whole host of other worries. What was Nate becoming, when would his powers stop growing, and would his telekinesis eventually consume him as his version of Hank McCoy had once said.

Though Nate was only 7 years old in actual age, he had experienced far more in those 7 years than most manage in a lifetime, and his perspective was rapidly expanding and maturing. Though headstrong and impulsive, Nate was being forced to grow up in a world where he and his kind were treated as monsters.

He'd spent a little while trying to navigate the mansion. Though he had been here before. He hadn't really spent a lot of time wandering around, and the mansion was a fairly large building. The fact that he occasionally had to dodge groups of mutant children made it a little disconserting as well.

Nate sighed as he moved through the mansion back towards the lounge, and resigned himself to a lot of uncomfortable meetings over the next few weeks, months maybe.