The X-Men were impressed with her proposal. Professor X stood beside her, having assisted her presentation and looked at his team for their reaction. Their field leader spoke first.

“We need this. Facilities here at the academy have reached capacity for the past year, our ability to accommodate our students compromised for some time now.” He looked around and acknowledged the sounds of agreement from his colleagues. The expression on his face softened, looking at her expectant face. “Whatever you need to get this done, you have it. The X-Men are on board, Rogue.”

She looked at him gratefully. “Thank you, Scott.” She took a deep breath and looked at each of them, gripping the edge of the large conference table with her hands. “Before I get started on this, it’s important to me that you all know my name. My real name.” She felt her eyes drawn to the ruby visored man across the room. “It’s Anna. Anna-Marie D’Ancanto.”

“Anna.” Scott repeated her name, slowly, as though tasting it. She stared at him, a thrill shooting through her, realizing she liked the way he made it sound. Liked it very much. He was looking at her intently, the expression on his handsome face mirroring the one he had when she had taken him to the airport just before she left the academy. But before she could give more thought to it, the rest of the X-Men stood up to hug and congratulate her, excited about her new project and what it meant to them as a whole. The prodigal daughter had returned, and with her, renewed hope in their constant battle of acceptance in the human world.


*****



Everything was a blur, meetings with architects and general contractors took up all her time as her childhood home became overrun with construction crews. They tore down walls and built others within its huge confines, built additions to flank the centuries-old manor to look as though they had been there all along. The horse stable was expanded, the pool made Olympic sized, and the empty land that led to the Pearl River gave way to manicured sports fields. Deep, deep underground, extensive rooms were built, including a medical bay and large sized training room to mimic the Danger Room back in New York. They built traditional classrooms, dance rooms, music rooms, playrooms, and a nursery along with a party room, large movie room and auditorium. Two large dormitories were built to border the large backyard courtyard, leaving the original garden surrounding the main house, untouched. The staff quarters were updated and added to, the kitchen made larger and the dining hall filled with child sized tables and chairs. The main manor remained mostly the same; attached now by the new extensions that housed the majority of the new rooms.

It took almost two years before Anna’s dream of providing a sanctuary for the growing group of very young mutants became a reality, a school to further advance their cultural and artistic talents while safely adjusting to their powers, nestled in the beauty of the lower Mississippi Bayou.


*****



Amy, Christie, Andrew and Julian, now all students of the Willowbend Junior Academy of the Arts, stood beside her as Anna faced the one hundred guests seated in the grand dining hall. All of Caldecott County’s elite were there, including the X-Men and forty plus students who would now be attending the new school.

“Good evening, everyone.” Her cultured voice carried easily through the room, traces of her southern Mississippi drawl having been eradicated by her strict vocal regimen long ago. “Tonight we celebrate the realization of a long held dream of mine to provide a school for our precious children, to afford them the opportunity to immerse themselves in the beauty of art, in all its forms, while ensconced in the glorious state of Mississippi.” All eyes were riveted to the beautiful woman, her hair pulled back into a tight but intricate bun, laced with red beads to match the scarlet satin gown she wore. “Each one of you has played a crucial role in making this a reality and I thank you, for being here tonight, and for your continued support and belief in me.” She raised her glass of champagne and rested her eyes meaningfully on Charles Xavier. With a loud cheer, everyone raised their glasses, and tipped its contents into their mouths, clapping as they settled into their seats, looking forward to the evening’s meal and entertainment.

Anna hugged the children around her, kissing them individually and Julian, as always, hung back, waiting for everyone to leave, uncomfortable with displays of affection. Grinning, she wrapped her arm around his slim young shoulders and gave him a shake. “You know that I’m going to kiss you, cutie pie.”

Blushing a very bright red, Julian looked away, mumbling resignedly, “I know.”

Laughing, she kissed him on the forehead, rubbing away the ruby coloured lipstick she left behind. “Close your eyes, Julian.”

Amused at the look of confusion on his face, she tilted her head and waited patiently for him to comply, which he did. She took his smaller hand into her own and pressed an item into it, wrapping his fingers over it. It was a turquoise marble he had given her seven years ago, the day she had left Westchester. She carried it with her everywhere, and it had come to symbolize her determination to create this haven for him, his friends and for the children who would come after them. His blue eyes filled with tears.

“You remembered, Miss Anna.”

“A promise is a promise, baby boy,” she told him seriously, hugging him tightly. “I told you I’d come back for you.”

She watched him join his friends at their table and turned to walk back to hers where the Charles Xavier, Oliver Tremblant, Nanna, Ororo, Hank and Scott were sitting. They all stood to greet her and she kissed their cheeks, her face beaming. Scott pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Congratulations, Anna.”

Anna was pleasantly surprised to feel the fluttering of butterflies in her stomach at his touch. Blushing, she thanked him before sitting down, recognizing the particular scent he gave off. Scott’s strong attraction to her was disconcerting. This was Cyclops, the fearless leader of the X-Men, her good friend and former teacher, past lover and fiancée of the legendary Phoenix. And he wanted her. She could feel the weight of his stare and she lifted her eyes in his direction, and their gaze remained locked until they were interrupted by the arrival of the meal’s first course.


*****



Charles Xavier had Anna’s arm linked through his, her hand cradled in both of his as they walked slowly along the cobblestone pathway that weaved through the back gardens of the new academy. The early summer night sky was clear, the stars in the sky bright, the air still and warm. It was the last night before the X-Men were returning to New York.

Anna sent an inquisitive look at her former mentor after answering yet another innocuous question he sent her way. “Is there something on your mind, Charles?”

He patted her hand affectionately before indicating she take a seat on the garden bench nearest them. “Is there something on yours, Anna?”

She averted her eyes, taking a few moments to collect her thoughts. “I never intended to keep anything from you, Charles.”

He sat beside her, patient. Sighing, she turned to him, her eyes bright. “Did you know, even back then?”

He regarded her silently before answering. “Yes.”

She nodded, leaning back against the bench, crossing her legs as she looked up into the sky. “It must have been very difficult for you to watch me leave, knowing.”

“Yes. It was.” The powerful telepath added carefully, “It wasn’t the best of times to discuss it.”

Anna swallowed hard. No, it wasn’t. “Were you concerned that I would…?”

Charles interrupted her. “Not at all, Anna. I can’t lie and say that I wouldn’t have much preferred you remained with the X-Men, but I knew you were than capable of controlling the evolution of your mutation. Life has taught me long, long ago that it can pull us in different directions. You made your decision. There is no right or wrong in the paths we choose, just in how we travel them.”

Another silence came over the pair. Anna spoke first. “My father allowed you into his mind. You knew everything.”

“Yes.”

The admission didn’t surprise her. “Why didn’t you throw me out right there and then, Charles?”

He looked at her, startled. “Why would I do that?”

“You knew where I came from, what I could be capable of.”

“My dear Anna,” he told her, his concern evident on his face, “you were only a child. What happened to your father wasn’t your fault.”

Her face shuttered closed. “That may be so, but I’ve made some bad choices in my life before you took me in.”

He hooked a finger under her chin and turned her face towards him. “You did what you had to, in order to survive. You were a child.”

Tears pooled in her eyes, the awful memories coming hard and fast to the forefront of her mind and as she struggled to maintain her composure, a dark shadow came over her face. “So much of my childhood has been built on lies, Charles. The only time I was ever free, was in the Lynnwood Academy, when I was alone.” She paused and her eyes glittered in hatred. “She took me away, convinced me that she loved me. I wanted to find her and destroy her for what she did.”

“Yet, you haven’t,” he pointed out to her quietly.

“No. I haven’t.” She looked into his eyes. “I won’t allow people I love to fall victim to a selfish need for revenge.” He sensed her pain switch to a different heartache and thoughts of Logan hung thick between them. Anna’s psychic defenses were down and she projected freely. “And I couldn’t allow what happened to my father, and to me, stop me from achieving this dream.” Her voice was quiet, but its strength and conviction resonated in the air around them. She looked unseeing into the sky, immersed in her memories.

“Anna.”

Her eyes flicked down to him. “Yes, Charles?”

“How many are there?”

She looked away again, surprised but grateful for the abrupt change of subject. “I’m not sure. I haven’t tried to find out,” she admitted. “I’m too afraid.” They sat there quietly for a few minutes.

“Can you control them, Anna?”

Anna stood up, rubbing her arms with her hands, suddenly chilled despite the humid night air. “You did a wonderful job, Charles. The confines are strong, they are impenetrable, and I am able to replicate them on my own. They fight to escape but they are harmless, their mutations are mine for the taking whenever I want.”

“Except for the Wolverine’s.”

The sound of his name echoed around them and Professor X watched her closely when she threw up her psychic walls once again. Clearing her throat, her voice void of emotion, she answered, “Yes.”

Standing up beside her, he pressed, “And why do you think that is, Anna?”

Her brow furrowed, she replied, “That question’s been answered years ago. My mutation recognized that a feral mutation was beneficial to its own so it absorbed it much in the way that it itself works. That’s what you told me.”

“Yes, when you didn’t have control of your original mutation. You have control now, Anna. Have you given any thought as to why you can’t switch off his mutation?”

She blinked several times, stunned. “I…I don’t know Professor.” She looked around, confusion marring her lovely face. “I’ve tried. Ever since my inner…”she couldn’t bring herself to say his name, so she didn’t. “Ever since you placed those boxes in my mind and captured every last psyche I absorbed.” She looked hopefully at the professor. “Maybe you can try for me again?”

Charles shook his head sadly. “I can’t. It’s a physiological mutation Anna and it’s engrained into your genetic code now, you can see it all over you. Your entire physical self has been altered.” She knew, but still, she had to ask. As much as it was an extremely useful mutation, it was a constant reminder of him, and she would willingly give it up if she could. Professor Xavier leaned towards her, lowering his voice. “It’s imperative that we keep this to ourselves, Anna. If this information got into the wrong hands…”

She closed her eyes and nodded quickly so he left the rest unsaid. Wanting no more secrets between them, she told him, “He knows.” Seeing Professor Xavier become very still, she clarified, “He knows about my complete absorption of his feral mutation. Not about the rest.”

Charles face tightened in response, keeping his thoughts to himself. Seeing her tense, he reached out to squeeze her hands comfortingly. “It’s alright, Anna. Try not to worry.”

“There’s something else Charles.”

She took his other hand in hers and opened her mind and within moments, his grip on her hands tightened in understanding.
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