X-Rev Ep.0.5 - Borderline

The author's note at the beginning with clarify everything.

Long A/N for introduction to entire fanfic: You can scroll down to the story if you feel the need, but it will be easier for all of us if you just read the following:

I want to offer you a very life-like experience with this story. It's supposed to show the humans behind the powers, people who breathe the same air that you do. Of course, there will be also good (hopefully) fighting and action scenes as well as long-term mysteries, but not all the time. I wan't to show that there's more to superheroes than just tight suits and more to villains than just cheesy names, AND more to hero-villain relations than just constant war between the good and the bad. Lead characters will be Kurt and my powerless character Fallen with many close-ups on her mother (disguised as sister), Amy. But I won't forget to dig background of whoever your favourite charas are and I will try to avoid using many OCs because I know how annoying that is. OCs other than Fallen and Amy will be mostly in far background.

So this is my main story. I already stated on my profile that it would be the most important, most detailed and the longest story I would be posting. All in all it will contain a chapter for each episode (overall 52), the unrealised season 5 (based on what Marvel planned for the season + my ideas) and my own season 6 that will make the ending connect with the beginning. So overall I'm aiming for something about 80 detailed chapters, including a few side stories and addictional chapters in between the ones based on episodes from the show. (For example extra chapter between episodes 7 and 8 would be "episode 7.5".) They might be posted randomly though, not always according to their numbers. Per example "episode 1.5" explaining origins of Scott, Jean and Ororo isn't likely to be done/posted anywhere close the first half of the season one.

Seasons will be posted as individual stories because long episodes will be posted in parts, and it will make seasons contain a lot chapters.

This may sound complicated but if you just read everything in line according to how I post it, things will fall in the right places and you won't need to understand the numbers.

So yeah, wish me luck. And REVIEW! That's the best luck charm ever invented ;)

You don't need to bother to point out where I screwed up in english though. It's one of 4 languages I struggle to use and at this point I'm bound to make mistakes. I will notice them myself sometime and get down to fixing them. Same with German in conversations with Kurt's mother or when he just slips into the native speech.

This chapter (as all my first chapters) is a little different from the others that will follow because it introduces situation and is supposed to basically explain to You what's going on. Then the story will slowly set on the right course. For now You may learn a little important elements about characters' background (mostly Amy and Kurt, since Fallen will be explained little bit at a time) and get all confused~ Joy! XD

Until then, I hope You enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own any characters from X-Men: Evolution, they are belongings of Marvel. I own Amy (or more like my mother does but I own ideas for mostly all I do with her including a power she gets) and Fallen, as well as OCs in the background and the re-created cartoon plot idea itself. This disclaimer applies to this and every following chapter.

Episode 0.5

Borderline

  Once upon a time... yeah, probably. But this isn't one of the kind of stories that you may recall from your childhood days. Well, unless you had a very screwed up childhood, that is. 

  But let's get to the point... Everything had really began a few years from now and then the events fell like domino that cannot be stopped. However this day is the point of no return of this story, and this is why I want you to begin your journey right here, in the dark forest in Bavarian part of eastern Germany. 

  Now you might find it ridiculous of me to use this phrase, but there, in the woods, a portal made it's spectacular appearance. A shift-spot, time-crack, gateway, call it whatever you want as long as you realize that if you were on the other side of it and you traveled through it - you would dive into the world of this cartoon. There, from the front of your TV screen, right into the fictional world displayed on it.

  Right now, here in the forest, we're on the so-called fictional side of it. Story back from the 'real' world beyond this portal will remain a mystery to you for a little while, but I assure you I will explain in details how in hell did Nightcrawler get to the 'real' world and what happened afterwards.

  But not yet. For now, focus on the situation at hand. He met some people there, and some he befriended. Right now, thanks to a machine invented by Forge (the genius guy who trapped himself in the middleverse back in 1970s, does it ring a bell?) Nightcrawler is coming back with two girls back from 'real' world alongside him.

  Let's see.

  The white-and-blue, shimmering with cool glow portal appeared slowly crafted - you could say - from the air, casting light at the dark woods. The shadows were slowly swaying on the ground and tall spruces. For lasting time the forest remained indifferent to the portal, and it just hung there, two feet above the ground, humming low. No animal - no roe and not even a bird peeked from their hiding places to steal a glance at the phenomenon.

  Eventually the silence was torn by a sudden, group cry. Or maybe a 'shout' would be a better word, for it sounded like a bunch of people on a rollecoaster. Three people suddenly emerged from the portal, plopping onto the ground in a painful way.

  Somebody hit someone else in the ribs, someone pulled someone esle's elbow back, someone landed atop of their companion. It was a real mess of limbs that moaned at the pain.

  Let me introduce them basically;

  "A fan't fit fay face fon fe found, fo fits of mey...?" [I can't lift my face from the ground, who sits on me...?] the first one of them muffled. Soon enough the pressure on her back lightened and disappeared, and she was able to lift herself to half-sitting position as she spit grass.

  Her real name was Anna, but most people she considered her friends called her Amy. It was said to be an alternate version of her name but only she claimed it to be true. Her hair was black, tangled and messy, wrapped around her tanned face with nearly black eyes. Right now she was dressed in a black blouse with green shirt underneath and old jeans pants. She began cleaning herself of the dirt, but she froze still the moment she realize where she is and who she is with.

  She was a very missmatched woman. Just a minute ealier she had two children and a drunken husband, but non of it really mattered now, in the different world. Even if it mattered to her, she couldn't access that part of her life anymore and she realized it almost instantly. It was all left behind in the 'real' world. And still, despite having children at age of 18 and 13, she was never a good adult and often wished to be a teenager again. She failed as a mother - her daughter soon told her she's more like an annoying sister who needs to pull herself together and leave the patologic husband, then begin to finally be a mother to the younger child. 

  Right now at least something went her way. She could not see it yet but her face softened, her body became more fit, and her entire appearance changed slightly. She was a teen again. [A/N: It will be explained in detail in chapter 2]

  So Amy's having an interesting moment in her life, but let's go on with the introductions, shall we?

  "Somebody kicked me..." another fellow female moaned as she rubbed back of her head and attempted to lift up to some reasonable position.

  She was Amy's older child, her real name was Paula but for years she hated the name for personal reasons and had everyone call her Fallen. She also shifted back in time, but only a little, 4 years maybe. Her hair was brown, used to reach her waist but now were blades' lenght and growing curly towards the tips. Her eyes were warm brown, her skin regular caucasian, and her body mostly of an avarange girl her current age. 

  She was the one Kurt got along with in the so called 'real world' after getting there. And that run deep as you could guess by the sole fact that Fallen came with Kurt to this world. She even took her mother along! Yet, that decision was partly run by her pity for the miserable woman and Kurt insisting to take her. They were aware there would be a shift back in time, shrink in their age that'd make them young teens, and they figured - what the hell, it'd be a chance for Amy to craft a better life!

  And Fallen, too - froze when her eyes laid on the other two and their surroundings.

  On with the introductions we could go, but you already know very well the last fella. Kurt Wagner, for most of comic-geeks known better as Nightcrawler.

  "I don't think anybody kicked you. I think it was my head that hit you" he responded rubbing the said part of him. Yet right after these words left his lips, realization came down on him like a bucket of cold water. He lifted his gaze on the first female, then shifted it to the other.

  And so they sat there, on the frozen ground, staring at each other for a while. Their faces were full of surprise, interest and growing happiness... or awe, depending on the individual.

Episode 0.5: BORDERLINE

[[A/N: Now should play the intro 'o' I'll craft one when I get a better video editor and computer it would work on.]]

  And so they sat for a few seconds staring at each other before their eyes skipped to the portal that began to weaken, darken and eventually disappearred, as if it was never there at all.

  With a slight-- or let's admit it, it was rather huge - stupor Fallen ran her eyes slowly between the other two twice, before she whispered in amazement; "It worked..."

  The other two had a similiar reaction - couldn't stop staring as the fact was slowly, very slowly sinking in. It's not everyday you travel into a world of a cartoon, the confusion in their minds was the strangest in a while. Breathing came hard, like after a long run.

  "We did it..." Kurt gasped. "I... I'm back" he said louder. "I mean... WE are" he looked at the two females then locked his eyes with Fallen. The girl for a moment still had that confused, stupor-filled look in her eyes, but then she smiled uncontrollably at him.

  "Like hell we are" she said, joy in her voice.

  It only seemed natural to share a quick, warm embrace right now; Kurt leaned fast towards Fallen and for a moment they held each other tight, as Amy rose to her feet, cleaning herself off the dirt and grass as she tried not to look awkward.

  As the couple pulled away from each other, still stunned but more vividly filled with joy, Kurt smiled awkwardly at Amy. "Sorry, I didn't mean to crush your daughter, especially before welcoming you in my reality, miss."

  "Don't 'miss' me, it's annoying and uncalled for" Amy tried to act calm and easy going, but she was nervous. 

  Truth be told she didn't believe the least bit of what she was told about the portal. Now she was deeply shocked that the portal actually worked and now she was in the effin' cartoon. And what thrilled her more - if what they predicted was true, she was a teenager. Again.

  "Especially now, when I'm your age" she added. "...IF I am. Am I?" she lifted her hands to look at them in the dark. She couldn't tell if there's much difference in her age, but she did feel lots younger.

  "Yes, you are, sis" Fallen told her with a grin. 

  'Sis' Amy echoed in her thoughts. That was surely to remark that Fallen hadn't treated her like a parental figure for years, and she sure like hell isn't going to treat her that way now. Especially since biologically being of the similiar age made it impossible to prove that she actually is her mother.

  Maybe that was for good. Amy didn't feel confident nor fullfilled as a mother. And Fallen raised and shaped her mind by other sources than parents' example. It was so obvious - her ways of being, thinking, her approach to life and people, her relationship with Kurt - it was all an apposite to what life Amy led. The only elements they had in common were likely combat boots, not being racist, and love for good music as well as fascination with martial arts they never really trained. Other than that? They were two different worlds.

  As Amy stood there in the dark and unknown forest she thought that's some place to begin a new life. This time she would be more confident, motivated, won't let anyone take the wheel of her life and take course on 'living dead' island of No-Achievement. She's not sinking her ship on that shore again.

  If travel between worlds is possible than she'll be damned if living a better life is not.

  Kurt also rose from the ground and wanted to offer Fallen a hand but the girl was on her feet before he reached out. The brunette's eyes ran through the dark woods and all the little that was visible of surroundings. "All cool, but it's cold, dark, we don't know where the hell we are... I mean, we're supposed to be on your surface" she gave Kurt a quick look, "but this" she looked back at the forest, "looks nothing like Xavier's Institute to me. Not that I ever saw it in real life, but I don't think the cartoon creators could screw up so bad to animate a building instead of woods."

  Kurt smirked at her, knowing exactly how her half-serious approach was evident mix of worry, nerves and rejoicing. In fact, he himself felt delighted at the thought that he would soon arrive at the Institute with the new company. Even if their current position was a mystery.

  Or not? The spruce forest seemed surprisingly familiar to him. 

  "Hold on" he told the females in lowered, yet joyfull voice. He glanced around once more before picking a tree and begining to climb it.

  He did it with such surreal ease that Amy's eyes widened slightly and she glanced at Fallen. "I wouldn't even see where to grip in such darkness" she told her low.

  The brunette crossed her arms and smirked at her now-teenage mother. She didn't seem to be much impressed as she rested her back against another tree. "Kurt's sight in the dark is a little better than most people's" she told her with a shrug.

  All around them was dark gloom, and she herself could hardly see the outline of the nearest surroundings. She didn't know where they are or whether they are safe, but for all she knew their extraordinary experiment turned out to be a success. In spite of that she wasn't entirely sure, and it made her feel a little anxious. 

  After a moment Kurt jumped off the tree landing gracefully on the grass. 

  "I think I know where we are" he said first off. Both females looked at him awaiting. "I dare to say more, I know that I know where we are" he grinned slightly. "It's Schwarzweld" he stated. Amy was very confused, but it seemed to ring a bell for Fallen..

  "Schw--" Amy tried to repeat. "Schwa-- Schwabs I guess. What is this place?" she asked. 

  "The Black Forest if you prefer, you don't need to twist your tongue" Kurt chuckled, then grew more serious. "This forest surrounds my homevillage from three sides."

  Fallen smiled because that would confirm their plan worked out. Then a shiver ran through her body; she didn't have any outwear, and it was cold, even for her.

  "Why here?" she asked the question. Amy also had it in mind, however she didn't want to ask in case it was obvious and she just didn't get it. 

  "I believe" Wagner began, "that we were supposed to appear in the right place according to the place and time where we were supposed to appear."

  Fallen stared at him like he was an alien and Amy frowned. "The hell did you just say?"

  Kurt sighed - genius minds are so missunderstood. He pulled the freezing brunette to his side, trying to share at least a little bit of his warmth. 

  "I mean the episode. Time share, you know" he continued. "If it was the episode about San Sebastian island, we would likely appear there--"

  "Ok, I get it" Amy waved her hand. 

  Yet it was sometimes still amusing and awkward to hear Kurt speak of his own reality as of cartoon.

  "So when are we?" Fallen asked in lowered voice. She felt slight rush of fascination flowing through her viens. She knew that whenever they are it will be crucial to their lives now. 

  The boy wondered for a moment with a thoughtful expression. "It's late winter or maybe early spring, we're nearby my home, so... I think the episode one hadn't even begun. We're at the prologue, you could say. But I can't swear I'm right..."

  "Wait a moment... slow down" Amy brushed her hair back with her hand. "If we're in your area, you DO know how to get someplace safe, don't you?" she wanted to make sure. It was awkward enough to travel past realities, turn into a teenager and be in a forest with your daughter and her boyfriend who had an extraordinary origins. She didn't urge to be lost to top all this.

  Kurt smirked and noded his head towards the trees in front of him. He began to walk that way, still keeping his arm around Fallen and enjoying her warmth as much as sharing his own. The brunette followed him quietly, sinking into his presence and finding it joyful enough.

  "If we won't make stops, we should arrive at mine before the daybreak" Kurt said.

  "The daybreak?" the black haired woman-girl joined the other two. "And how do you know what time is it, Mr. Smart?"

  "About three after midnight" the boy answered without hesitation.

  "And you know that how exactly...?"

  The teenager looked up. "The position of the moon. It's simple, right?" he smirked at the black haired woman.

  The Older Grace put her palms in the air and slowed down slightly. [A/N: Older/Younger Grace is an easy way of making a difference between Fallen Grace and her mother Amy Grace when reffering to them by last name, that they will only get after consulting Professor Xavier in chapter 1... Younger/Older status will make it easier for the reader to read it as well as me to write it]

  Amy and Kurt didn't know each other very well. Despite the amount of time Fallen and Kurt knew each other, Amy was always on the other side of the life. Most of her time she spent working, most of it as well as the free time around her husband, who was never allowed to meet Kurt. Not with the way he was a racist a*****e. And Fallen didn't come around her father either, she sincerely hated him. This is why Amy and Kurt had very little time to get to know each other and now - they were here almost as strangers. Both confused and nervous but trying to act cool and relaxed around each other. Both being not.

  Kurt Wagner. I guess I hadn't given you a close up on his person at the introductions. I suppose you know who he is - the goofy guy, shy elf, prankster of the X-Men and the sensitive people-loving outcast that couldn't escape your attention when you watch the cartoon. 

  Most of his trouble sourced from his appearance. The long spaded tail, soft blue fur covering his body, difference in number of digits - three fingers and two toes, elfish ears, fangs, all that that made him hide and hate himself for most of his life. I didn't give you much in-sight on his appearance before because too many already had in their own stories. And you would be surprised at how edgy and various those can be. Once, I even witnessed a story where - by the describtion - his eyes would glow so much that they served as flashlights. 

  Live with your own imagination by all means. But the Kurt Wagner who walked through The Black Forest alongside Fallen had no flashlights in his eyes. Now, in the night, they illuminated a soft glow that made their honey-golden color remain almost the same shade as in the daytime. But it casted no light on anything, not even his own face, and didn't black out the surroundings when you looked him in the eyes. 

  The Kurt Wagner that walked alongside her was real flesh-and-bone person who had never been this sincere. Dropping the X-Team's prankster's mask, the fake cool attitute, quiting the show-offs. Now Kurt Wagner was as true in his behaviour as he was real in his flesh.

  "Stay close" he said turning his head to look at Fallen's mother strolling a dozen steps behind them.

  "I won't get lost" Amy murmured back, as if offended.

  "That's not what I mean" Kurt chuckled slightly. "There are legends and stories about these forests" he said in a theatrically serious voice. Then he added with laughter that had a bitter sound deep down there; "Fortunately for you, most of them are about me."

  "'Most'..." Amy echoed slowly. "And the rest?"

  "From here all over the way to borders with Poland there are wolves living in the forests" Kurt explained. He felt a little nervous talking to Amy, but it was easier with something so unpersonal. "If you go too deep into the woods you're likely to become their victim... and we ARE deep in the woods."

  Shiver of worry ran through the teen-again Amy, and despite staying cool on the outside, she decided to stick a little closer to the other two.

  "I thought there's no wolves in middle european forests..." her eyes became more focused as they searched the woods. 

  "I'm not sure about nature" Kurt shrugged slightly, but his voice became more absent. "But these are said to be runaways from slavery that lived in the forests ever since. The hunters didn't manage to eradicate them..."

  "Have you seen them?" The Older Grace asked because of sole curiousity.

  The boy looked at her seriously and noded his head once. Amy didn't want to ask why so serious [A/N: GO JOKER!], but she sensed it's not a happy story.

  Eventually Amy sighed and switched her focus to Fallen. "And why are you so quiet? That's ways not like you..."

  The brunette looked at her suddenly, appearently torn out of her thoughts. "What?... No, I... I was just thinking, that's all" she smiled apologentically.

  "And what are you thinking about, hm, youngster?"

  "Oh you know, technical side of the situation, stuff like that..."

  "Enlighten us."

  Fallen sighed after a moment. "You want to know what I was thinking, here goes. Since we are here where energy of the surface is different... we are in a place where energy allows psionic abilities, they aren't blocked out."

  "...So what...?" Amy asked and Kurt watched the brunette with interest.

  Fallen shifted her gaze between them. "It means that we can theoretically turn out to be mutants. Me and Amy, I mean" she added.

  "But only psionic because you don't have the X Gene in your DNA" Kurt added. The girl nodded in agreement.

  "Psionic..." Amy repeated, thinking hard. "So it's like what? Telepaths...?" she asked unsure. She wasn't eager to hear anyone's thoughts randomly.

  "All brain-based abilities" Fallen said. Reading comics sometimes makes you a smartass, who says otherwise must change the comic developer. "Basically everything ending with -qinetism or starting with tele-... teleportation included" she stole a quick glance at Kurt.

  "Uhum..." the black haired woman stuffed her hands in pockets of her blouse.

  "Hey, Amy...?" the younger girl spoke. The said female looked up questioningly, however it was rather pointless in the darkness. "How am I supposed to introduce you to people? I mean now you're my age, it'd be ridiculous to even tell anyone you're my mother. Why not to set for sisters?"

  Amy wondered for a moment. For years they already lived like that, because Fallen refused to give Amy superiority and Amy had no control over the teenager. Unlike most parents losing grip, she trurly found no way to control the young female who was capable in disobeying and having her way with everything. It was either strangers or sisters, and to keep at least some family-bound she'd rather settle for the latter.

  "I guess" she said. "But... we'll claim I'm a year older" she said. Since they can't estamblish their current age it was a play of guess and stick to it. She decided to at least keep the natural order of age and make herself the older sister. There was also something else worrying her. "We don't have any documents, neither prooving that I'm your mother nor sister. It may get us in trouble soon enough."

  "Professor Xavier will get you all documents you might need" Kurt interupped before Fallen managed to think of a way to deal with the problem. "He did it for me the last time he recruited me, so he will do the same for you."

  "Hn, right, you didn't have birth certificate or anything else..." Amy said low as if to herself.

XREV

  They keep headed the way Kurt was leading, and soon the sky began to turn a lighter shade, dark navy was painted with shades of purple and orange fading into light blue as the stars were swallowed by the brightness.

  "We were supposed to be there before daybreak" Fallen said low, she felt exhaustion creeping in. "Are you sure you know where we're going?"

  "Easy, I know that in detail" Kurt assured her with a light smile. "We would have been there already if I didn't want to walk around the village instead of through it. We don't need any problems with angry mobs."

  Fallen lifted her eyebrow at the sound of softness in Kurt's voice turning into bitter irritation towards the end of his sentence. 

   Once upon a time the idea of 'problems' of this kind that could end up in being tied to a stake by the villagers wouldn't awaken Kurt's irritation. It was a scenario that used to fill him with dread and kick hard towards a breakdown.

  Back then he seeked the reasons of their hatered in himself. However after the last five years spent in the 'real' world beside her, Fallen watches as his approach changed. A part of it was because of her - he saw the way she approached life and subconciously mimicked, but this began to turn into a sincere approach. In time, his complete lack of self-acceptance was replaced with realization that he isn't at fault. He understood that he can't condemn himself for his entire life. 

  May he wasn't completely healed of his self-banishing approach, but he was getting there. 

  "I can see the buildings already" Amy spoke up.

  About 30 meters from them the woods stopped and further there were one-family houses.

  "Finally" Fallen stated, trying to sound annoyed but she was smiling and it was reflecting in her voice. Kurt smiled at her and she smiled back. Then the boy looked around carefully and they pulled out of the woods.

  They walked on the edge of the woods.

  Fallen watched the houses. They likely looked very cozy in the daylight, but now - in the morning fog and grey glow, with all this feeling of abandonment, it reminded a ghost town.

  The boy led them to the door of the house that stood the closest to the woods, however when he gripped the handle the door appeared to be locked.

  "Wait a moment" he said and disappeared with a quiet 'bamf'. Amy jumped a little, she didn't see it coming. A moment later they could hear the door being unlocked from the inside, and soon Kurt's smiling face appeared in the open door. 

  "I thought you couldn't teleport until episode one?" the older girl asked as she entered the hallway and looked around. "Wasn't that how the Professor found you?"

  Wagner shook his head. "Not exactly" he said as he closed the door behind the females. "I was able to teleport a little ealier but I couldn't control it too well... now I suppose I can due to experience" he spoke low not to wake his mother. 

  "So why hadn't Xavier found you ealier?" Fallen asked. She was familiar with most of Kurt's story, but sometimes she found herself unaware of the small details that were actually important.

  The boy showed them into living room and switched on the lights. "Until then Cerebro didn't reach to Europe" the boy said and then his eyes laid on the calender hanging on one of the walls. "Right now I suppose it already can reach this far, so the Professor knows where to find us."

  Fallen followed his eyes and noticed the current date on the calender. 10 February 1999.

  Her eyes widened. "We're not in the Facebook age" she whispered happily. "My life makes sense again!" she theatrically fell back onto an armchair standing in front of a coffie table.

  Amy laughed lightly at the words and sat on the sofa by the same table. 

  Kurt checked the time; it was nearly 5:30 AM. With a slight frown he sat on armrest of the chair where Fallen was.

  "We've got about half an hour until my mom wakes up... I will have to explain her why you two are here and that you need to stay for a while" he peeked nervously towards the door beyond which his mother slept. "But it could be that the Professor will come today" he remarked rubbing back of his neck. Then he smiled awkwardly at the two females sitting in his home. "You want some warm drink?" he asked nervously.

  Fallen and Amy exchanged glances. "Obviously" the older one said.

  Kurt smirked at them and stood up to fulfill his host duty. "Then feel at home. I'll be back in a moment" he said and left to the neightbooring kitchen.

  But there were other things on his mind. They were back. He was back. Someplace familiar, sometime he had already been to. Before all this Xavier part of his life began. Now he's to live through all that again, this time Fallen beside him and Amy nearby. All the happy and sad moments, everything once more, yet - now it would feel different. He wondered if the fact that they know the future will somehow end up in changing it.

  But that was far into the future. What matters is here and now, and here and now... his mother's alive. She had died two years from now, and now, back in the past, she was here. Sleeping barely a dozen meters away from him, in the bedroom that once she shared with his deceased father and her husband, Hans. 

  Sad smile crept onto Kurt's face as he prepared hot chocolates with these very thoughts haunting him. He would meet his mother again, have some time with her again. But it was a bitter joy because he knew the very day she would pass away and leave him mourning once more.

XREV

  When Kurt left to get them warm drinks Amy and Fallen stayed in the living room and looked around. Amy felt like laughing at the overall situation. It all seemed so surreal, and yet there was no room for being sceptical. She laughed low and heartidly and rested on the sofa.

  "It's gonna be interesting" she said with amusement. 

  Fallen just smiled at her in response. After she looked around something caught her eyes and she stood up. Amy watched as Fallen walked up to one of two shelves where there were books, figures and other elements. 

  Fallen's eyes scanned the German titles and she frowned slightly frustrated because her german skills were pretty limited. But on one of the examples she saw a golden writing that she understood; 'Album'. She smirked as she picked it from the shelf. 

  Amy rose her eyebrow. "What is it?"

  "Album" the brunette's answer was simple as she opened it. Her eyes scanned what was inside on the first pages, her expression changed from amused to nostalgic. But there was a moment when she could hardly stop herself from bursting out with laughter, and it took a momet for her to calm down and keep going.

  Amy was slightly interested in what was so funny, but she didn't ask. Instead she rested her head against the armrest and curled up her legs. "Hn... I remember something about Kurt's siblings, or something" she said wondering. "Does he have a sister, brother or both...?"

  Fallen didn't have the time to repond, because Kurt entered the living room with steaming cups, and answered to the question;

  "Non, actually" he said as he served the chocolates. Once they were on the table, he sat beside Fallen on the armrest again. "My mother miscarried twice" he said, trying to smirk but the expression came out sad and awkward. "It was before they took care of me. In 1980 and 1983."

  "Oh..." Amy sat up  feeling a little guilty for asking the question. "I'm sorry" she smiled awkwardly. "And thanks for the chocolate."

  "I couldn't find anything but. You're welcome" he smiled. He switched his eyes to Fallen who didn't want to push on the awkward and saddening subject, so she kept herself focused on the photos instead. The boy tried to frown at her, but his lips quivered in an uncontrolled smile. "Tell me, what do you think you're doing with this album?" he asked trying to sound reprimanding, but failing all the way.

  The brunette looked up as if uncertain he's talking to her. "Me? I'm invading your privacy, what did you think?" she answered as if it was obvious. Her mistress-of-annoying stage act good as ever. 

  At first Kurt just chuckled and shook his head, before he froze realizing something. "...Please tell me you began with the last page..." he looked at the album as if it was a bomb ready to blow.

  The brunette gave him a mischevious look and smirked evilly. "Oh. You mean the photo from page three?" she asked theatrically in stage-sweet voice. The boy's eyes went wide and he reached for the album in her hands, but she stood up and hid it behind her back. "Yes, I've seen that photo" she continued with the same tone.

  "Fallen, give it back" the boy tried to sound damanding, but he found the situation awkwardly fun.

  "This photo's actually my favourite!" the brunette went on. "It's so..." she took a deep breath as if couldn't find the words to describe the amazement. "I wonder what was on your mind when you-- HEY!" she exclaimed when the boy finally managed to get the album, not without using his tail.

  "Forget about what you've seen there" the boy waved his hand in front of her face as if to hypnotize her. "This photo should have disappeared in unknown circumentances long long time ago."

[[A/N: I SWEAR if you read carefully enough you will find the detailed describtion of the photo in one of future chapters - "Shadowed Past part II"]]

  Snatching the album away from her made Kurt lean pretty close to the girl, and he had this ridiculously itching urge to lean in the few inches more and share a kiss that bottled in him ever since landing in The Black Forest. But he reminded himself of Amy's presence in the same room, right on the sofa, and he decided it might be better to spare her such scenes. Amy and Kurt were still pretty much awkward around each other. The fact that Amy was Fallen's mother didn't help.

  He cheered himself up with the thought that he would have enough time to enjoy later on. Right now he just smiled at Fallen and pulled back to place the album where it belonged. 

  Before he managed to turn around, all three of them looked at the doorway where Kurt's mother - Margali - appeared out of nowhere.

  "Kurt?" she said and everyone began to stare suddenly. Her voice was full of surprise and confusion. 

  "Mutti..." the teenage boy looked from the woman to the two girls in the room. He appearently had no speech up his sleeve but was going to try finding reasonable explanations. "Kann ich mit dir raden?" [Can I talk to you?] he asked awkwardly.

  Amy's eyebrow twitched. For her they could as well speak in suahili and she wouldn't understand anything less.

  "Sie sogar sollten..." [We should...] the woman said slowly with her eyes piercing the two females. 

  Kurt could understand her feelings right now - Xavier didn't yet happen, X-Men didn't happen, USA didn't happen. For his mother it was the time back when his only experiences with people outside the house were very unpleasant. And here he is, out of sudden brought home two girls his age. Wouldn't that ring a warning bell in every mother's brain?

  He walked up to his mother, and he felt himself shiver. He was at her grave, in the future. And now here she was, alive. He wished he could just hug her to feel she's real and alive, but wouldn't that make her feel even more confused? To her it was probably only a few hours that they didn't see each other. To him, it was two years. Long, long months.

XREV

  After a moment of lingering and struggling with himself Kurt began to explain something to his mother in german. Fallen sat beside Amy on sofa and tried to keep track of the conversation shared between her best friend and his mother.

  "Do you understand any of it?" the Older Grace asked in hushed, desperate voice. 

  The younger girl didn't look away from the two. "Only that Kurt says nice stuff about us" she smirked goofily. "And that we're not from here, so it'd be better if she talked to us in english when it's possible..."

  "He's got the point."

  "And that he knows us for quite a long time..." Fallen continued. "Nothing about alternative universes, worlds or time travel. At least I didn't catch any of the key words."

  As Amy listened to what Fallen was able to make out of the german conversation, she eyed Kurt's foster mother. Margali Szardos was a medium-heigh woman, an overveight but feminie and good looking for her age. She seemed to look about 45, but the wrinkes around her eyes and corner of her lips (surely from smiling a lot) made Amy realize she's probably older than that. 50, maybe 55, maybe even more.

  Her hair was fairy brown with grey and white-ish streaks, they seemed never dyed, and were combined in a bun, messed after the night sleep. Her eyes were greyish shade of blue and very concious. Eyes of a person who is strong and resourceful, with her heart offered in her hand, but also of a person knowing the pain of living - warm, aware, tired eyes.

  After hearing a couple sentences she looked at the girls with brand new emotions. She smiled at them.

[[A/N: Up until this moment our characters spoke in polish (Fallen and Amy's national that Kurt learned over time, will explain that later on), from now on any conversations in polish will be marked like this: "[abc]". Every "abc" is said in english]]

  "Forgive me the cool welcoming. I was just a little surprised that we have guests" the woman walked up to the girls and shook hands with them both. "It's very nice to meet you" she said. She spoke in english, so Fallen had no issues understanding her, especially since she was used to Bavarian accent due to Kurt. Amy had some trouble understanding, but she guessed what could have been said so she smiled and noded politely.

  Both girls told her their names. Fallen did first, and she introduced herself just like that - 'Fallen'. Using another name felt to her like lying. Amy followed her example and introduced herself as 'Amy', because now, this was her indentity. If she had non in documents, she at least could chose.

  Truth be told this was the easiest part of starting a new life. Not chosing who you want to be, but meeting people. With no labels you are not judged, with no past to follow you - you have no worries. 

  Margali acted very openhearted towards the girls and almost right away agreed that they stayed a while. 'A while' was something non of them was able to define, and nobody mentioned staying for the night, but the teenage three were aware that was an option.

  When everything was more or less clear and the situation seemed under control, Amy asked for the directions and went up the wooden stairs to find the bathroom.

  First off she walked to the sink and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She felt thrilled to see the face of a teen. For so many years she wished she could shrink back to that age and relive her life in a better way. It would now take a long time for the fact to sink in. Her wish came true, just like in all those silly kid stories. 

  Science can do magic.

*Meanwhile*

  Margali left to kitchen soon after Amy was gone to bathroom. She offered she'd prepare some breakfast for everyone, trying not to be the type of mother who monitors her son chatting with a female friend. Yet she had to swallow a whole lot of questions about the girls.

  The moment his mother disappeared into the kitchen Kurt sighed quietly with relief. He stood behind the sofa where Fallen was still sitting and put hands on her arms. She bent back her head to look at him.

  "First step is always the hardest, isn't it?" he asked low with a light smile.

  The  girl smiled gently and reached up to his cheek. "Yeah" she responded low. Her expression became slightly more sincere. "Before Xavier comes-- IF he comes-- I wanna check a few things on the web. Make sure we're where we think we are."

  "Skeptic like you always are, hm?" the boy chuckled. "There's snail's-speed working internet conection on the old computer in my room. Not the 2015's quality but better than nothing. Come on" he nodded towards the stairs joyfully.

  The girl smiled lightly and stood up from the sofa. 

  "Wo gehst du hin?" [Where are you going?] Margali's voice stopped them as they passed kitchen.

  "Nach meine Zimmer" [To my room] Kurt answered unhesitantely and motioned at Fallen to head first up the stairs.

  "Zuruckkommen in zehn Minuten, Fruhstuck wird bereit sein" [Come back in ten minutes, breakfast will be ready] the woman called after them.

  Fallen only understood they should come back in ten minutes, but that's it. She didn't speak until Kurt joined her at the stairs. 

  "Did you tell her?" she asked as she reached the second floor. Her voice was curious but calm.

  "These door" Wagner instructed pointing to the door in front of the staircase. "Tell her about what...?"

  "Us" Fallen responded shortly as she peeked at the boy with corner of her eyes. 

  He shook his head 'no'. "For now she's shocked enough that you don't run from me hands in the air" he said as he smirked bitterly. "And a telepath with a weird statement and boarding school offer is on the way in his private jet. Maybe it's enough surprises for now" he chuckled sincerely. He was impatient to tell his mother the truth and introduce Fallen properly - as his girlfriend - but he knew sometimes it's better to sit and wait.

  They entered his room. 

  "Feel like at yours" he welcomed her.

  "Nhm, will do" Fallen answered in absent voice, because she was focused on looking around. The room was pretty much ordinary, with everything you could expect and nothing very surprising.

  She sat in the chair that stood by the desk and looked at the computer. Right now, in 1999, it was probably one of the better, or at least ordinary, but to her it was already ancient. She pushed a heavily-working "on" button and waited patienty until the old system is ready. 

  Kurt watched her commenting in his thoughts. She was always open minded, but very skeptical until something was prooved to her. She was humanist - creative and math-hating, yet she supported science. Science was also her only belief, she didn't share any belief in gods. Then again she also didn't belief in the devil, and it allowed their relations to be easy-going even back when they figured Kurt's father claims to be the Satan. "If he's smart enough, he doesn't believe in himself" she said. "A good act is a good act, but the Devil is what I call an imaginary excuse to be evil and feel aproved by a mighty boss-master."

  Science rarely cheers him up so much. Thanks to that approach he laughed about big ego of his biological father instead of mourning his worst nightmares of being related to demons coming true. 

  Sometimes he loved that approach of hers.

  Right now she also didn't just believe they are in the cartoon. Just like back when they met - she needed a proof after proof before she considered believing that things are as they seem. It's been two years before there was a proof strong enough to make her believe that he was THE Nightcrawler. That day was a historical day, in their own little history.

  

XREV

  The web wasn't overflowing with bullshit like it would in a dozen of years, but it wasn't also as complete. Still she could find some informations about Prof.Ch.F.Xavier's School for Giften Youngsters in Bayville, New York, and there were even some photos. One small, bad quality photo of a huge mansion against ocean, another with a bald man in a wheelchair with white-haired afroamerican woman at his side. A dozen more photos of the man at universitets where he would teach, and even a one old, black and white photo back from when he was still a student and won some science contest.

  Kurt swore to her that these are exactly the right people - Ms Ororo and Prof. Xavier. Fallen wasn't going to argue with that, so she settled for the cozy thought of being in the right place. In that effin' cartoon. Hell, life is crazy. 

  She turned out the ancient machine and rested her back against the chair with a sigh of relief. She spun in the chair once, smile ornamenting her face. Her eyes ran through the room once more as she turned.

  "Your room's quite cool" she said.

  Her eyes stopped on one particular element - music player and a shelf with CDs. She stood up and knelt in front of it, her eyes running through the titles and her fingers following them, sometimes lingering on particular CD. "HOW, and I'm asking this seriously" she said finally. "HOW is it possible that you're listening to all THIS, and you're not all black clothed, spiky and all bad boy type?"

  She glanced at Kurt with a goofy smirk. She knew very well he listens to rather heavy music, not without ridiculously light artists though. But his love for rock didn't reflect in his style, that always remained stylish according to the fashion that rules in the current moment. She knew it's party because he desperately wants to fit in, but the other reason was his lack of craving for anything dark and gloomy. He was a light person, lighter than her. It kind of kept them balanced.

  Kurt was standing by the window, his attention switching between the outside world and Fallen when she was still doing her research. Right now he was just looking at her with a light smile and arms crossed on his chest. 

  Seeing that gentle smile Fallen lef the CDs behind, rose to her feet and stood close in front of the boy. She - too - was smiling. She shook her head slowly as if in disbelief and glad at the same time. And both of them knew that these feelings source from their common targed being achieved. Being here. Together. 

  This world held a lot of promises as well as threats. Its future was wrapped in gloom; stormy skies would roll over them, but they believed that it could be changed. Their entire lives were to be build up almost from the stratches. And they wanted to make it right.

  Kurt wordlessly pulled the girl closer and they sank into each other's arms. They weren't sure about the future, the only thing they felt sure of is that their lives will be bound together. And that knowing the future of this world their lives may make a difference at global level. 

  Despite burden there was serenity in them. Serenity because they've been through a lot already and no matter what new they would face, they felt the support of one another. No matter how life will punish them, at some point they already won the war by having each other and withstanding up to this point.

  "We should go downstairs, my mom wanted us for the breakfast" Kurt whispered finally and withdrew despite he felt like staying in that embrace for hours.

  Fallen nodded slightly as she pulled back too. She was very silent, at least right now. He knew it's because she's the kind  of person who needs time to adapt before she functions fully again. She always considered everything in her skeptical mind. Even if she acts upbeat in new situation it's fake, and she didn't want to fake it now. He let her take the time, simply enjoying her sole quiet presence. 

  The girl smiled slightly and lifted her face to kiss him on the lips. He didn't see it coming, a pleasant shiver came over him. He responded to the kiss once but that was it, she pulled away slowly. 

  "Now we can go" she whispered with a smirk.

  He smirked back and gave her one more quick kiss before stepping away and pulling her towards the door gently.

XREV

*Downstairs*

  "[Where have you been?]" Amy asked in polish when she saw the two teens walking through the kitchen's door. She came back from the bathroom a while ago and when she did, only Margali was in the kitchen.

  "[Checked out the school on the web, just to be sure]" Fallen asnwered. "Thank you, Mrs Szardos" she smiled at Kurt's mother when the woman offered her a plate with smashed eggs.

  "Enjoy your meal" the woman smiled at her.

  Wagner also sat in a chair beside the two girls and - undisturbed by the events of those past hours - began to eat with delight.

  "[And, seeing your careless behaviour, everything is fine, I suppose]" the black haired woman-teen [[A/N: Womanteen, I like it.]] stated. Fallen grined at her in response.

  Amy smiled back and continued eating.

  "[Hej, Kurt, when is Xavier going to arrive]?" she asked after swallowing.

  The boy looked at her, then at a clock and shrugged. "[Back then the situation was different, it's hard to tell...]"

  Margali turned to look at her son with her eyebrows all the way to the top of her forehead. "Kurt? Seit wann sprechen Sie polnische?" [Since when do you speak polish?] she asked when he was finished with his sentence.

  Wagner made a Nobel prize worthy face when he understood his mistake. He sat straighter, his hand traveled to back of his neck as he stared at his mother with pokerplayer's face.

  "Um..." he couldn't think of a single argument that would excuse him without explaining time and space travels. At the same time he didn't want to lie to his mother.

  Fortunately Margali didn't wait for his response for too long. She chuckled lightly - amused with Kurt's expression - and smiled at the two girls before looking back to her son. "Ich denke die jungen Damen haben Sie eine Menge gelernt" [I suppose these young ladies taught you a lot] she said half-seriously.

  The tree teens smiled awkwardly, one - Amy - not even understanding the least bit of what she said. 

  "[Your mother laughs really often, I don't even know if she laughs with us or at us" Amy said in a hushed voice. However she knew Margali doesn't speak polish and she only speaks little english.

  "[She used to be the serious one here]" Kurt responded peeking at the woman. She was now back to them, preparing something likely for the dinner. "[She changed after my father deceased. Like she tried to replace him]" he sighed low.

  Amy looked at the woman, and hearing Kurt's words made her understand a little better. Living in this little village she likely had to work far from here to earn enough money, and it's far from here to anyplace, seeing all those forests and moutains around Winzeldorf. The entire house was on her shoulders, as well as her son's well being; moreso the son - by the judgement of most - was an object for instant extermination. And still, despite all of these harsh and trappy problems, she seemed very vigorious and good humoured. However, yes, there was sadness hid deep in her eyes.

  Amy shook her head to shake off these thoughts. She smiled again. The current situation was no doubt very confusing, and Margali's story planted a hint of sadness in her heart, but the course everything was settling for made her rejoice every moment. Negative and serious thoughts just wouldn't stick to her, they slid off her thick layer of new-discovered positive approach.

  That was at some point confusing, the mix of positive-ness she never felt before with the sadness and worry for her future. Xavier, Wolverine, trainings, mutants, everything she would sure like hell face soon enough. She wasn't sure if she's ready for all this. Until this very day it was only a fiction for her after all, a toon her daughter got her to watch back when she wanted her to meet Kurt without getting any bad reactions. Amy was confused enough back then, now - being in this place, time and world... now that was beyond confusing. Yet somewhat felt nice.

  And as much as she didn't care much back in her world, now she was interested with this place. It was her place now,  even if she was trapped in here with no way back.

  "[You said that back then the situation was different]" she said turning her attention to Kurt. "[What did you mean?]"

  The boy swallowed his bite before he began to answer. Yet it seemed like he tried to save more time before he actually spoke. Or could it be he just remembered the day?

  "It wasn't here" he began finally, his eyes focused somewhere beyond the kitchen table. "The... the people there wanted to capture and kill me... they thought I killed a priest there and burned the church... that's another story" he shook his head slightly to get back on the right track. His accent was becoming heavier making his nerviousness show. "The Professor... he came in the last moment. One more minute and I wouldn't be here" there was a shadow of frown on his face at the memory of the pain of that evening. "He helped me back home, proposed joining his Intitute... I said no" he smiled sincerely, but soon it grew sadder. "It's been some time later on, when wounds healed, then I decided to try and accept the Professor's offer" he finished. "I didn't want to be burden to my mother."

  Fallen's eyes were pierced absently into the table. It could seem like she doesn't listen, but Amy was pretty much sure she was listening closely. Maybe the Younger Grace already knew it all for a long time, but the Older Grace felt an odd shiver. It was a minute untill she understood why;

  It was a shiver caused by this odd satisfaction that sourced from getting to know the story on a different level. Something so many people back in her world watched and spectaculated about... and now she was right inside this entire story, discovering details no one else could know.

  The shiver came again when she thought that it's just the beginning. Not only of the cartoon story that she was supposed to be a part of and perhaps reshape, but also the beggining of the story of her new life, new younght, new school times. Her second chance in every possible interpretation of the phase. 

  There were 'buts' like everywhere, the hughest being her son. He was left back in the real world, and she couldn't be sure what was going on with him. She couldn't see him again. It was like she died on him. Left him alone with this drunken father and sneaky grandparents. It was a heavy burden she might never deal with, but she was powerless to do something about it now.

  She had to focus on what is now. She can't loose the focus. If she does, her life will fall apart again and who know who she will pull down with herself this time. She can't affort to dwell on what can't be changed, she can only hope that her younger child is going to be smart enough to avoid trouble and find a better place in that world than she had. Sometimes it felt like anybody could find a better place, but her. 

  And she was now going to fight as fiercely for better life as she wishes her son will up in the 'real' world.

  This thought was comforting. Motivating, against the faint feeling of being only an excuse. 

  She needed time and space to think.

  "[I think I'll go take a walk]" she stated in a little tired voice. 

  "[Whatever you want]" her daughter said. "[But A - don't get lost, and B - remember you don't have money and you don't know the languge.]"

  "[Are you advising me?]"

  "[I happen to do that often, haven't you notice?]" Fallen smirked.

  Amy sighed. "[Do you think it will be to much to ask the Professor - after he buys us what we need, gives us rooms, feeds us, gets us documents and hell knows what else... Do you think it's too much if I ask Xa--]" she cut, reminding herself of Margali. If she uses the name and then the man comes it will wake suspecion. The woman won't understand polish, but names remain the same. "[Our bald good fairy to buy me some musical instrument?]" she asked. Her motivation at the current moment was so high she wanted to use her love for music in a better way than just sitting between loud speakers.

  "[I think if you make goo-goo eyes he'll agree]" her daughter chuckled. "[What, you're aiming to become actually skillfull this time around?]"

  "Pft" the black haired female puffed up her cheeks. "[If I have a second chance, why wouldn't I take it?]" 

  Kurt quietly shifted his eyes between the girls before looking at Amy as if struck by a bolt.

  "[You want a guitar? I got a better idea than buying]" he said. The woman-teen looked at him with obvious interest. "[There's an old accustic guitar in the attic]" Kurt told her. "[It used to be my father's. It's in good shape, but nobody here would use it... I think it's better if it was in good hands than lay there forgotten.]"

  Amy blinked a few times. "[You're serious?]" 

  The boy smiled sheepishly and nodded. "[Yeah. I'd rather hand it to someone who's... who's like family, than to a stranger who will burn it in fireplace when he gets bored playing.]"

  At first Amy wasn't sure about taking the guitar, but this argument convinced her. Moreover, she felt oddly warm to hear that Kurt considers her 'somene like family'.

  "[If that's the case...]" she said happilly. Fallen smirked with amusement at her. "[I will be honoured to take care of this guitar. Even right away. Right very now.]"

  "[I get the hint]" Kurt chuckled and stood from his place. "[If you're so in hurry, then let's go.]"

  The black haired female didn't need to be told twice. However before following the boy, she gave Fallen a questioning glance, as if the bruntte could mind it, but her daughter just shrugged with a smirk. Amy grinned at her and followed Wagner up the stairs.

  Fallen shook her head with a smile. Her mother really seemed to act like she was the younger one. But that was just another reason to be glad she decided to take her along. Give her the age that's proper. Amy was still learning how to live and that's what you do at your teens. Now she's got the time and space to learn and prosper.

  Funny, how a daughter can think of biological mother like that.

  Her gaze drifted to view outside the kitchen's window where she could see far off moutains and forest they came from ealier this morning. As she remembered how much that moment was the turning point of their lives a smile was appearing on her face, and as she tried to surpress it - it'd only grow bigger. 

  Before The Black Forest she was considering hundereds of possible scenarios, some really abstractive and some painfully realistic, others blissfully perfect, and now here she was, basically knowing what they're standing at. And those are the first steps of this cartoon. Was it good, or was it bad? She yet had to decide. Nobody will remember Kurt and maybe that's not good. Or is it? Like they say: 'when life gives you lemons, make a lemonade'. Maybe starting with a blank page will turn out to Kurt's benefit.

  She stopped thinking about it when she heard chair slide on the floor softly. Her eyes moved to the woman who sat across her at the table. Suddenly Fallen realized that maybe staying here instead of going with Amy and Kurt wasn't such a good idea. Appearently Margali wanted to confront her.

  Fallen didn't fear confrontation with Margali - in fact, she trurly wanted to meet this wonderful woman who was such a good mother to Kurt. Moreso, even without meeting her, she grew to consider her a mother of her own, to a point. 

  "It seems that you three get along very well" Margali said, her tone light and a smile on her face. Her english was obviously far from perfect - she was speaking slowly and carefully picked words, and her heavy, Bavarian accent made her words partly unreadable.

  "Yes... I feel that way too" Fallen replied.

  "How did you meet?" the woman asked.

  Fallen put effort into remaining calm on the outside and her face was graced with a polite smile, but on the inside she was performing a long speech made of cuss words alone. They didn't create any plan, there was no version of events they decided to stick to. She knew they would eventually need one, but this situation was forcing her to be the one to come up with something. And now what? She won't lie. No - she knew Kurt wouldn't want to lie to his mother. Keep quiet about something, don't mention it, that's one thing. But straightforward lies are something he wouldn't do. And this means she shouldn't lie either, one - because she wanted to act fair, and two - because Kurt would correct her version sooner or later, and then Margali wouldn't trust her again.

  And she somehow depended on the woman's trust. She was Kurt's mother after all. It's almost like her own family.

  She decided to tell the truth. Or at least - the part of it that sounds rationally.

  "In fact our meeting was rather accidental..." she said slowly.  She knew it's not enough for an answer, but it's some way to start. Think, Winnie, think, or pretend to have seizure, it'll excuse you - she thought. "We crashed into each other some evening... pretty much literally crashed. Then it just somehow went on... on its own" she had that quiet, but strong hope that this will pass for an answer.

  "You know one another for long?" the woman asked 'out of curiousity'.

  Fallen cursed in her thoughts. With a small smile she made a nod. 'Just don't ask how long, don't ask--'

  "How long?" 

  The girl cursed in her thoughts again. 'Maybe that seizure pretending isn't such a bad idea?' she wondered. With corner of her eye she checked the staircase, but it seemed like Kurt and Amy aren't coming back anytime soon.

  Changing the topic seemed out of question.

  "Me and Kurt know each other for almost five years, and he and Amy for four or three I guess, but not so good..." the brunette replied looking back at the woman. Margali seemed very surprised by the large numbers, and Fallen wondered if she'll regret telling the truth.

  Maybe that seizure pretending would have saved her.

XREV

  Amy followed Kurt into a room on the first floor. The house only had the ground and first floors and there was no attic itself, but a room that served for one - across from bathroom door on the first floor. 

  However the room wasn't any different from a regular attic - one of the walls was partly on angle, the floor was made of something at least resembling dark wood, and two windows - one square in front of the door and a small one on the right side - allowed in enough light to see where you're stepping, but not enough to have a good look. A lot of kartons and other stuff stood assembled by the walls and two pseudo-pillars - likely remainings of old chimneys that weren't in use anymore.

  Kurt switched on the lights; the bulb instantly shone light on the room. The boy stood in the middle and looked around thoughtfully. After a moment he walked over to the bigger window and began to search through what laid next to it. Amy watched quietly as he struggled to get the guitar case out of the mess, but her eyes shone like as if she was a child waiting to open her christmas gift. The boy blew on the case to get rid of some dust, but it seemed like he regreated it when it filled air around him. Waving it away he turned to Amy.

  Wagner took a good look at the case for the last time before handing it out to the female.

  She grabbed it without a moment of hesitation, her face brightened with a huge catlike smile. "Mine!" she called happily. 

  The boy found her childish reaction so funny that he actually felt like messing her hair. "Check if the guitar is alright" he sugested.

  The woman smiled and knelt on the floor that - compared to other attics she've seen - was pretty clean. Putting the box on it she opened it and her smile grew wider at the sight of the actuall guitar. It was classical brown with black, shiny sides, and looked definately used but not ab-used. 

  She took it out of the box like it was precious and examined it. Then she noticed the pappers that were hidden underneath it in the box. Taking them she saw these are music sheets, lyrics and grips.

  "Cool, with these I can start learning right away" she grinned. She didn't know if the guitar was tuned, but as she ran her hand through the strings it sounded good to her.

  As her eyes scanned the papers she saw some well-known hits she'd gladly learn how to play. Then her attention was on something else - a photography that was in-between the sheets. It was polaroid photography in black and white, but quite a good quality so she could  clearly see what's on it. There was a tall man with wide shoulders, he was on a stool, one leg up to support his guitar - the very same guitar she was holding. His hair were a little long, likely dark blond, and he wore a wide, sympathetic smile.

  "It's your father?" she asked as she examined the photography.

  The boy looked at her questioningly and reached out for the photo. As he looked at it, his lips curved in a small, a little sad smile. "Ja... He was the one who got me interested in music and he kept bought me new CDs. He also promised that someday he'd get me drumms" he laughed, but then his smile faded. "He didn't last to do so."

  "Ah..."

XREV

  Fallen sighed with relief when she heard footsteps on the staircase. No offence, Margali was very nice woman and finally getting to meet her was pretty heartwarming, but since Kurt's mother was kind of kept in the dark, she didn't like her asking questions. To keep her from asking she already crafted a monologue about how Kurt is cool, told stories about totally nothing important and was very eager to give long answers to simple questions of 'do you like chocolate' safe kind. She couldn't keep this going any longer, already feeling like an idiot. Oh, that first impression on your mother in law.

  When Amy and Kurt appeared in the doorway the female happily held guitar cover in her hands, paying more attention to the tressured instrument than to where she was going. Fallen smirked at the sight, and Margali lifted her eyebrow. 

  Amy didn't notice either of their looks, she was all about the guitar. "I'll go practice outside if you don't mind" she grinned, waved and disappeared towards the front door.

  "Haben Sie leihen es ihr?" Margali gave Kurt a questioning and surprised look.

  Fallen once again felt that urge to facepalm because she didn't get them when the spoke German, when she suddenly figured: ha! she undersood this one! Years beside Kurt and poor attempts on taking german classes finally paid off. The woman asked if Kurt had 'lend it' to her.

  "Ich gab" Kurt replied.

  'I gave' Fallen translated this one easily.

  "Was?"

  'What', obviously. You don't need to be genius to know this much.

  "Ich Weiß was ich tue. Mach dir keine Sorgen, Mutti" Kurt assured.

  'I know what I'm doing (?), Something-something, mom.'... Well, at least Fallen tried. She knew probably any one-year-old german kid would know this much, but it was still much more than she'd understand one year ago.

  Margali sighed. "Ordung, Kurt, einfach nicht machen bedauert" the woman got up and began to prepare some ingredients on the counter.

  'Alright, Kurt' - and this is where they lost Fallen. She's likely to get day-to-day headache if she'll try to understand German. She noted in her mind to tell Kurt how much she respects him for being fluent at three languages, two of them incredibly difficult.

  Seeing Fallen's emotionally-battered face, Wagner stepped behind her back and leaned in slightly. Not far enough to make Margali suspicious of them if she turned back around. Letting her know just yet that they are together could be a little risky. After all the woman wasn't aware of Kurt already going through the next two years and then spending another few in Fallen's reality. For her it was first time she saw him around people who didn't try to hurt him yelling 'demon' at top of their lungs.

  "Do you want to breathe some air?" he asked smiling.

  The brunette looked up at him. "Definately."

XREVXREV

  A light smile played on Margali's lips when she continued up the stairs of her house. At first she was stunned when Kurt brought in the two girls, but very soon it was replaced with gladness and hope. Out of blue her son introduced him two friends - ok, that's a little weird. Considering that never before he made any friends outside the house and these appearently knew one another for a long time - it's much weirder. 

  At first Margali had a bad feeling about it, but she silenced these negative thoughts. She would rather see it in the positive  light and believe it's a chance, not a trap. Seeing the three of them smile and talk freely made her really believe it's all right. 

  She remembered every moment when she was a witness of how people hurt her son. You don't forget these things - no, they root in your awareness to forever hold your throat in iron grip of sorrow and guilt.

  Margali entered Kurt's room to open the window and let in some air. It was warm these days so she made sure to let fresh air into the house everyday. 

  She reached to open the window but before she stepped away she froze, stilled in place by the view she had far away, in front of her. On the field behind the window was her son, Kurt, and one of those girls - Fallen. Margali remembered the names right away. 

  But it wasn't the reason. What made her freeze at spot was the arrangement. The brunette laid on hed back, one hand under her head, the other playing with grass strands. Her son laid beside her, very close, on his side with one arm supporting his head. It wouldn't be disturbing if his other hand wasn't placed on her stomach and if their faces weren't so strangerly close for a regular chat. But she was sure they were talking, just from the distance she couldn't tell about what.

  Margali watched them for a moment, question mark hanging above her head.

  Mother willl always love her child, no matter what. And you don't need to give birth to be a mother. However that day Kurt said that parents' love isn't enough he broke her heart. Still she couldn't hide that she's aware it's true at some point. One needs love and this special someone. After all those years and all meetings with 'outside people' going all wrong she could see his hope for finding that someone being smothered cruerly, and it hurt her to watch it.

  Right now looking down at them she could see he made friends, and she was glad about it. He needed more people around him. But what came next - she didn't expect, despite everything.

  His son leaned in closing the small space that separated him from the brunette. Margali was sure she knows what she's seeing, but a part of her had issues embracing in. Her son kissed the girl.

  Oh, he's going to have to make a lot of explanations.

  Margali smirked, worried but at the same time - her heart fluttered. She was hopeful.

XREVXREVXREV

"Why you wanna tell me how to live my life?

Who are you to tell me if it's black or white?

I'm gonna live my life shining like a diamond

Standing on the ledge, show the wind how to fly

When the world gets in my face I say:

Have a nice day!

Look around you, nothing's what it seems

We're living in the broken home of hopes and dreams

Let me be the first to shake the helping hand

When the world keeps trying to drag me down

I've gotta raise my hands, gonna stand my ground

I say: hey! Have a nice day"

  Amy's fingers sored when she finally gave up on trying to play the guitar that Kurt gave her - for what she was deeply grateful. By the time she finished she remembered how to play basic grips again and managed to learn how to play a part of Bon Jovi's 'Have a nice day' - in slow motion but still. She decided she must learn the whole thing, because the lyrics were perfectly fitting her current situation.

  She remembered quietly her past: back when she was an aging adult with two kids and an awful husband. Her stomach was turning with happiness whenever she thought about how part of her life is left behind. When they moved with Kurt to his world she became a teen again and got another chance. She was going to make a good use of it, definately. That broken woman ceased to exist.

  She noticed Fallen and Kurt approaching from side of a field. She saw the field when she was looking for a place to practice playing, and eventually she settled here, on the back porch. 

  "Paula!" she called to her daughter. ONCE daughter.

  "[Amy, please...]" the girl said when they approached the porch.

  She knew what she meant. For years Fallen hated being called by her document name. "Sorry. Fallen!" 

  "[What?]" the brunette stopped in front of her ONCE mother.

  "[How about we go to the village?]" the black haired female asked.

  At first Fallen rose her eyebrow with interest, but then she peeked at Kurt and her interest was gone, replaced with indifference. If she agreed she'd have to leave Kurt behind at home, because he can't really walk the streets without image inducer do disguie his appearance.

  "[I think I'll pass]" she stated shrugging.

  Amy's enthusiasm was gone, but she wasn't going to push.

  Fallen asked: "[How are you doing with the guitar?]"

XREV

[A/N: Dialogue in the scene below is in German]

  Kurt entered the house leaving the two females chatting on the porch. Feeling thirsty he found orangade in the fridge and didn't bother to find a glass as he sat on the counter and took a few sips of it.

  His mother stood in the doorway with a smile that should make him suspicious right away. "You and Fallen are quite close, hm?"

  The boy almost couched as he suddenly pulled the bottle away from his lips. "You  think so?" he asked, smirking awkwardly.

  "Am I wrong?" the woman placed an empty glass in front of him. The boy quietly poured the orangade into the glass, in back of his mind admiting that habit of drinking straight from a bottle was something he got living beside Fallen. "Kurt?" the woman said again.

  The boy looked up at his mother with a low sigh. Alright. Hands up, white flag, don't shot.

  "You're right" he agreed. But he didn't know what else to say. Is he expected to explain? Be straightforward about it? Avoid getting into details? Margali had THAT look on her face. No, he's not going to escape, not this time.

  "How close?" she asked with THIS tone and Kurt knew he's done.

  Ah, God, have mercy.

XREV

A few minutes later.

  "[Alright, works for me, but don't make me regret--]" Amy stopped mid-sentence when Kurt left the house and joined them on the porch. First off he sat powerless on the bench beside Fallen and with sigh of agony rested his forehead against her arm.

  "[Hey, you're alive?]" the brunette poked him lightly, not quitting to speak her native language. Kurt was fluent by now anyway.

  "Ym-ymm" well that wasn't polish, but sure like hell it meant 'no'.

  "[Uhu...? What is it, deadboy?]"

  "[My mom saw us on the field and--]"

  "[Do I want to know what happened on the field?]" Amy interupped.

  "[Nothing happened]" Fallen stated and looked back to Kurt. "[She figured?]"

  "Yeah."

  "Aw."

  "[What did she figure?]" Amy interrupped again. She hated it when people around her had those telenovel conversations when only those talking know what they mean.

  "[She figured me and Kurt are together]" Fallen rolled her eyes slightly at her ex-mother.

  "[Are you sure I don't want to know what happened on the field?]" Amy insisted.

  "[Jesus-Christ-bananas]" Fallen got this one from Stephen King's book. Strangely catchy. "[I told you, nothing happened...]"

  Kurt chuckled. A kiss or two is relatively nothing compared to what Amy could suspect.

  Amy sighed as she got up. "[Alright. I'm not willing to hear any details]" she shrugged. She just liked to annoy them about their relationship a little. Maybe she really was more like a sister than a mother. "[I'll go see the town on my own]" she told them.

  "[Sure.]"

  "[Turn right in front of the house]" Kurt instructed with a smile.

  "[Thanks]" Amy waved her hand, took the guitar and left them alone.

  Fallen sighed deeply when the other female was gone.

  "So how much your mother knows?" she asked.

  "That we're together, how long, and..."

  "And...?" Fallen frowned nervously.

  The boy sighed wrapping his arms around the girl's waist. His eyes were on the field and moutains. He was glad this part of the house neightboors only with nature, at least he could be relatively safe sitting out here. "I didn't want to tell her you're from another... dimension. Too much to explain, too little credibility and too many complications."

  "So what did you tell her?" she rubbed his arm. "I'm sure she wanted to know why you never told her about me."

  "I told her I'll explain it someday."

  "And she took it?"

  "Ja."

  "Just like that?"

  "Just like that."

  Fallen took a deep breath and rested her chin on top of head of the boy leaning against her. "Are you really going to explain it to her?" 

  After a moment of silence Kurt replied: "Someday."

  Fallen peeked at him, a little nervous. "And how did she react so far? Am I in trouble for getting too close? Should I take off and hide in Canada? You coming with me?"

  Wagner chuckled. "She's surprised, but she'll get over it" he answered, laughter in his voice. He lifted his head and looked into her eyes. "Why Canada?"

  The girl shrugged. "They do that in movies."

XREVXREVXREV

  Amy walked barely for a few minutes when she found herself in Winzeldorf's center.

  She couldn't say she doesn't like the look of this village. Stone-paved roads, alleys and buildings were very traditional and specific for this land, white with dark planks, and the mountains surrounding the village from all sides were quite stunning. It all made her feel like she stepped onto plan of some Hollywood movie about old Bavaria, or maybe France. 

  She could hear and feel her stomach growl. She grimaced and looked around. Names of the stores and shops were written above their doors in old fashion style, but everything was in german and she didn't get it. And still, even if she found a place to buy food, she had nothing to pay with.

  Keep walking Amy found herself on the edge of the village. There were some fruit trees that were probably property to one of the villagers - mostly apple trees and grapes. Amy decided that taking one apple (just to fill her annoying stomach) can't do much damage so she reached for one of the apples.

  The second her fingertips brushed the fruit images and voices flashed in her mind. She never experienced something like this before: "Stop moving around so much, Lydia!" a boy said to the girl who was on top of his arms, reaching for the apple. "It's you who should stop moving!" the blonde girl replied, her fingertips brushing the apple but not able to catch it. "Hurry, you're heavy" the boy swayed trying to keep stabil, but he didn't manage and they both feel onto the grass.

  Amy abrubtly withdrew her hand, her eyes wide. What was that supposed to be? She's seeing things! Could it be because she slept so little? Is she hallucinating, or maybe after all she's just plain crazy? Maybe everything that happened today was just her dream and she's in a coma?!

  Okay, she's overreacting a little. She took a deep breath and reached for the apple again, hesitantely touching it and... nothing happened. Maybe she was really just tired...

XREVXREVXREV

[A/N: Speaking in polish in the scene below]

  "Alright-- or rather, not alright" Fallen said as she offensively plopped down on the sofa in Kurt's living room. "It's getting dark and Profesor didn't bother to come and get us."

  "So it seems like we'll have to stay here for the night, right?" Amy asked. She came back from the walk and didn't mention the scene that flashed in her mind when she touched that apple. Right now she sat on the same sofa with a cup of hot chocolate in her hands. "I wonder what your mother will think about it" she turned to Kurt.

  "We'll do it like this" the boy began. "If the Professor won't contact us until tomorrow, let's say - noon, we'll get him to notice us."

  "How?"

  The boy shrugged. "Overusing my powers or something. We'll figure. Until then... let's give him two more hours. If he won't show up I'll find a way to tell my mom you're staying the night" he peeked nervously towards the door. "It will be interesting" he whispered to himself.

  "Are you sure this is a good plan?" Fallen asked.

  The boy looked back at her and smiled as if trying to convince her the idea was good. "That's the only one I've got."

XREV

  However two hours passed and Xavier didn't give a sign of acknowlaging their existance. They didn't know how much they can rely on how it all went the last time, but sure it seemed like their stay "for a little" will run "a little longer". 

  Deciding it's time to bring plan B to life, Kurt began to cautiously explain the situation to his mother. Of course he couldn't tell the whole truth, or at least - he didn't want to do it just yet. Instead he told the parts that were relatively easy to take - about how Fallen and Amy have nowhere to go (that's interesting, only for tonight?) and how much he didn't want to turn his back on them.

  Both girls spent the time sitting in the living room - "for their own sake" - and tried to hear what's going on in the kitchen. 

  Fallen would be sorry for Kurt being in such an uncomfortable situation, but... during the time he lived at her's he put her through many many situations like that and the revenge was kind of sweet now.

  And even if she wanted to spare him this talk with his mom, she knew he'd insist to offer them housing for the night. She knew he wouldn't leave them on their own, especially after all they've been through. 

  Luckily it seemed like they won't have to worry. Margali sighed and smiled at the same time when she stood in the doorway and looked at the two females.

  "Alright, girls, you can stay" she stated.

  "Thank you, Mrs Szardos" Fallen smiled gratefully. "It means a lot."

  The woman laughed lightly. "The pleassure is all mine" she replied. "And please, not 'mrs Szardos'. 'Margali's enough" she smiled. Her eyes were on Amy only for a little before resting on Fallen with interest. She was watching her like that every time since Kurt revealed he and Fallen were together - she was smiling, all sympathetic, but the girl felt like followed by eyes of the Big Brother.

  Despite feeling uncomfortable, she smiled back at the woman. "Alright... Margali."

  "We've got one empty room upstairs, there are two beds we don't use" the woman continued. "I believe you'll be comfortable there" she assured and then turned to her son. "Kurt, could you be so kind...?"

  "Of course" the boy motioned at the two females to follow him.

  "[Why is there a free room with two beds?]" Amy asked in a matter-of-fact tone as they walked up the stairs.

  "[Long story]" Wagner replied. "[Does it matter now?]"

  "[Not really.]"

  The boy showed them to the room. It was quite empty, not much to look at, but also nothing to complain about. 

  There was a clock on one wall, displaying it was already after 8 PM. Chances that Xavier would come today were running thin. And whether he'd come or not - Amy wanted a shower, so after being officially accomodated here for the night, she kindly asked for a towel and went to the bathroom.

XREV

*Half an hour later*

  With a towel around her shoulders Amy sat on side of the bed that was her's for the night as she stared at the floor. She was thinking about what happened in the bathroom.

  It started out from soap by the sink running out. She wanted to find a new one but when she touched the handle of a cabinet images again flashed in front of her eyes, like theey did with the apple. This time she saw this cabined being opened, time and time again and every time a pair of scissors would fall out of it, and once a voice asked: "again?". It was a short flash and left her feeling it was just her imagination, but she stepped back before opening the cabinet.

  Scissors fell out and hit the floor. 

  And she couldn't stop thinking about it now. What was she seeing? A future? No. With the apple it was the past, because she took that apple. No one else could reach for it later on. Then was she seeing the past? How could it be possible?

  Looking at it from a distance... she began to laugh at herself. She was in a fictional world, at Nightcrawler's house, being a teenager again, and she traveled in time. And NOW, she refuses to believe that she can randomly see flashes of the past? It was relatively nothing weird compared to the entire rest.

  Moreover, considering the reality they were in... Amy felt pretty sure she knows what is the reason behind those flashbacks. It starts with 'm' and ends with 'utant'.

XREVXREVXREV

  At some point Fallen was glad she had the bed by the window, but on the other hand it was annoying. Amy was asleep at least for an hour by now, and Fallen was staring out the window the entire time. 

  If she had a bed far from the window, perhaps she'd be asleep by now; with nothing to rest her eyes upon she'd drift away. Or maybe she'd be bothered by thoughts. Right now she was not - her head was empty and it felt good. She just watched the clouds passing by.

  And suddenly the calmness was over, as without warning there was a flash-like sound beside her. She almost yelped, but Kurt who startled her with his bamfing managed to cover her lips before any sound escaped them.

  He placed finger to his mouth with a low 'shh'. The girl frowned at him, but he couldn't care less as he smiled at her, withdrawing his hand from her lips.

  "You were asleep?" he asked.

  "And what if I was?" Fallen replied with a light frown.

  "I doubt. It's barely a few minutes after 1 AM, you never sleep at this hour."

  "It was an exhausting day" she noted.

  "Which is why it was even less likely you'd be asleep" Wagner smirked. They spoke in a low whisper so they won't wake up the Older Grace - Amy.

  Fallen rolled her eyes at his 'I know you too well' approach, but she also smiled. She was just going to ask him why he came here at this hour, but he was faster:

  "I doubt you're going to go to sleep anytime soon" he said, moving closer to be able to lower his voice even more. "I know you didn't go to the town with Amy because of me, and as much as I appreaciate it, I also feel guilty" she finished seriously.

  "And you came here in middle of the night to let me know" the brunette summared. 

  Kurt smirked mischeviously. "Nein" he whispered low.

  Fallen's eyes got used to the dark by now, but still she couldn't see much of anything but Kurt's eyes. They glistened like eyes of a child who's heading to an Amusement Park for the first time. Something unmistakeable and deeply innocent, and she never saw this emotion reflecting so strong in anyone else's eyes.

  The boy whispered: "I want to make up for that one. If you feel like it, of course."

  Grace thought about it. "You mean you want to show me the village right NOW?" 

  Wagner didn't reply, he just smiled wider, his eyes never losing that emotion.

  Sometimes Fallen was really taken aback with how different Kurt seemed to act around her than around anyone else. Not way back when... only now, when he relatively got over his insecurities. He was open, calmer than he used to be and than he still was among others, mostly because he didn't show off in front of her anymore. He was just himself, with all the good and the bad parts. He didn't hide it when something bothered him, he didn't avoid the difficult talks. 

  He really changed, but he was still the same person. Always.

  She smiled at him a little and answered to his unspoken request. "Alright, we can go."

XREV

  As Kurt led Fallen further through the night-covered village the girl quietly wondered if Professor Xavier will come and get them at all. And as they walked side by side she discovered that she strangely wouldn't mind if he didn't. She was in Kurt's homevillage, with the one she loved by her side, she was free of ghosts of her pasts and far enough from her own hometown to feel free. She cherished the peace.

  It was dark, but the night sky here was very different from how it looked in cities. Surrounded with the moutains, with almost all lights in the village off, they could see the beautiful stars and the moon. It was enough light to enjoy the views and feel somewhat shielded with the darkness from the eyes of the villagers.

  Both of them knew that it's much safer to stay out of anyone's eyes. For one thing - Fallen wasn't from this village and she was dressed like a girl from her own times would be. The village being small and outdated - it would make her outstand in a way that might not be appreaciated. And Kurt - he obviously had to hide from the villagers. They both kept eyes open for passerbys and Kurt disguised the best he could. He walked upstraight, with hood on his face and his tail hidden in the material of his clothes, however if someone knew to seek something suspicious about him, the dark wouldn't be enough to hide it. 

  But worrying about it couldn't kill their moods, as their clasped hands were tugged in pocket of Kurt's loose blouse and they talked quietly, chuckling and just letting go of all the stress.

  Their peace was threatened when a man appeared on the other end of the street. He was a slender, stooping man with rat-reminding face, and he didn't look threatening by any means. However if he would call other villagers, a larger mob would pose well-known danger. It wouldn't be something to worry about if he didn't head straight their way the moment he noticed them. 

  Who knows his reasons? Maybe he wanted to ask about time, or for a handkerchief, or he wasn't from here and he wanted to ask for directions. Fallen would step forward before the man would get close enough to see any uniqueness about Kurt, but she didn't know german so the man was likely to try talking to Kurt either way.

  Both teens were suddenly anxious, and they knew they need to do something before the man hurries his way over to them. 

  And then - it hit her. The simplest ideas are always the best, aren't they? So Fallen went with her guts as she pulled Kurt around just enough to keep his face hidden in the hood for the approaching man, and she took the boy by surprised as she just kissed him. With corner of her eye she watched as the man who tried to approach them, appearently felt embrassed for he looked away and passed by them stooping even more and pretending he didn't notice them.

  Kurt smirked as they pulled away, understanding how this pleasant idea saved them trouble. As the man disappeared from their view, he chuckled. "I'll remember this trick for the future" he said making a thoughtful face.

  Fallen smirked back. "Oh yeah, embrassing random passerby's may come in handy."

  "Thanks for distracting him" Kurt smiled as they continued down the street.

  "Anytime, captain. Anytime. So where are we going now?"

  "I wanted to visit some place, if you don't mind."

  "Lead the way."

XREV

  Fallen inhaled deeply and despite the air in the church was suffocating, it was also in a way nice. It wasn't just the smell of candles, incenses and old people, there was also something within these stone walls that appealed to her. A smell of history.

  Of course Fallen didn't like - to put it delicately - any objects of cult and sacret buildings of to any religion or its fraction. She felt very comfortable with her atheism and she wasn't going to change it. She also convinced many people to drop their religion, however Kurt wasn't one of them. Though usually she felt that he believes for the wrong reasons.

  And still she was eager to come here, because the architecture of most churches was something she admired, and she liked religious studies as a skeptic subject of human's beliefes, and a part of history only by means of what people did in the name of their gods.

  This church was different from all the others she've seen, but she couldn't tell exactly why. Maybe it was that from the outside it seemed small, but on the inside it was not. A lot of elements were made of dark wood, and it actually seemed like a place for quiet prayer, not gold-filled place for pedo-priests.

  "A little gloomy" she said. "And somehow goddamn catholic."

  "Interesting use of words to describe The Lord's House" Kurt commented, but he seemed amused a litte.

  The brunette turned to frown at him. "The Lord? That sounds like some fetishist game of slave and master. Won't drag me into that, a-a" she waved her finger in the air. "At least not with god involved, I don't do treesome. The two of us? If you want to."

  "You're so perverted, I don't think it's the right place for talks like that" Kurt smirked half-heartidly as he shook his head and walked to the candles to drop a few eurocents from his pocket and light one candle. Not like he didn't mind Fallen comparing his God to a fetishist and his belief to threesome. It was wrong, but she never held herself back from going hard on things she despised-- and he knew she despises religion. But he knew her too long, and they had too many religion-related talks for her camparisions to still make him feel bad. He knew it's just how she is.

  He just quietly lit up the candle and absorbed the serenity of the church while Fallen slowly walked towards the altar, looking around.

  Then Kurt heard something.

  Fallen noticed only a moment later when a priest appeared in door on left side of the altar. She turned around to Kurt, but the boy was no longer there. In fact it didn't surprise her.

  Uncertain, she turned back to the priest who said something to her.

  "I don't understand German, I'm sorry" she said in english.

  "So it's no surprise I didn't see you here before. Where are you from, child?" the man asked, also switching to english, however his accent was so heavy that she had to listen to him very carefully to understand what he's saying.  "It's not in common to visit church at this hour."

  The girl smiled awkwardly. Her eyes nervously searched for Kurt in any place he could possibly use to hide.

  "I'm here... visiting. I wanted... to see the village because I'm leaving tomorrow."

  The priest aproved her with a nod. "In this case I hope you feel at home in our Church. God bless you" the man crossed himself in front of the altar and did some ritual that she recalled from the early childhood when she'd go to church. She watched him nervously wishing he'd just go already. And finally he did, disapearing to the chambers he came from.

  The girl sighed with relief and looked around once again. "Kurt...?" she whispered. 

  Suddenly she felt someone grab her from behind and she almost hit the 'attacker', before she realized it's just Kurt. He could move so fast and quietly that it sometimes could give her a heart attack. 

  She relaxed again. "Someday, if you surprise me like that, I may not be able to stop myself, I'll kick you, and you'll spend the rest of your life as a girl" she warned. "Then I'm gonna need to change my orientation for you and you know I generally hate women."

  Wagner chuckled right next to her ear. "Wanna leave before the priest comes back?"

  "Yeah. I've just spent enough time in a church for the next decade."

XREV

  That night when Fallen and Kurt finally returned the sun was already shining through the mountains. They both crawled into their beds, quietly wishing they could just cuddle together, but instead being in two seperate rooms. Still both were relatively happy and soon fell asleep.

  But it wasn't meant for them to sleep long and soundly, because barely an hour later Margali woke everyone up and informed them that she's almost done preparing breakfast for everyone. As much as Amy seemed tired, Fallen and Kurt both looked like they left half of their brains sneezing in their beds.

  After breakfast Amy decided to go outside. She did feel a little tired and she hoped that breathing some fresh air could help her. She found herself on the dew-covered field behind the house, at the very edge of it that rapidly came down and met a lake. She sat on a rock and watched the lake as she struggled to stay awake. 

  After a dozen of minutes she could hear the wet grass moving behind her and she looked around to see her daughter's boyfriend, who approached her with hands in his pockets and a smile on his face.

  "[May I join you?]" Kurt asked in her native language. She was glad he was good with languages, if she were the one to learn german... oh god, just no.

  "[I don't own the place]" Amy smirked, still a little awkward around him.

  "[I like to spend time here]" the boy said, standing a few steps away from her and gazing at the lake. "[The view calms, doesn't it?]"

  Amy yawned uncontrollably. "[Even too much. I need caffeine.]"

  "[You won't find any at my house, sorry]" Kurt chuckled. "[No one there ever liked coffee. Unless you really want some, I can tell you where to buy it...]"

  "[Eh, I'm good]" the black haired female waved him away. "[Where's Fallen anyway?]"

  "[She also wanted coffee, but since she found non, she's taking a cold shower]" Kurt replied. "[She said it'll have to do.]"

  "[It just might.]"

  She wanted to say something more, but a strange sound up in the sky made both of them look up. For only a moment they witnessed a dark shape passing above the clouds before it flickered and disappeared - or rather turned on masking mode. 

  "[I guess the Professor's here]" Kurt said.

  "[Let the fun begin]" Amy kept stared at the sky, but the only way she could tell where the jet is, was as clouds suddenly collapsed above the field. 

  She was going to get up and head to Kurt's house, but the boy pulled her back by her arm. "[Wait. They will probably land on this field, it's the only flat area around. Don't get under their wings.]"

  Amy nodded and stood by. After a momet they could hear louder noise of engines and see air sway unnaturally where the Jet was hidden. Soon it went silent. After a few seconds a ramp opened and to them, who were outside, it looked like a gate to another world, hanging in the air.

  "[This is so cool]" Amy whispered with amusement.

  A bald man in a brown suit was now wheeling on his chair down the ramp, and a few steps behind him was another - quite short, but very muscled, with cowboy's hat on top of his head. Amy was a little surprised to see the second one - she thought about everything she remembered from the first episodes of Evo, which she obviously watched when she learned about Kurt's case, and she remembered that Wolverine joined only at the end of the first episode. However she wasn't going to ask about it now, it's not the right moment.

  "I think we should just talk to them" Kurt suggested. 

  The Older Grace suddenly looked at him and stepped back. "[You first. You know english better and you know what to do.]"

  "[I do not know what to do...]"

  "[You still know english better than I do! We're talking in polish for a reason, remember?]"

  The boy sighed, a little amused, and noded at the once-grown-woman now-a-teen to follow him. Kurt tried to make up some plan before they get close, but no idea seemed much better than another. The sole fact that they are walking over to two people who landed with invisible jet made them look a little suspicious. Or maybe Professor gets this everytime? 'Hey man, nice invisible jet, can I fly it?'

  When they were still a dozen meteres away, Logan and the Professor turned to them, hearing or sensing their presence.

  Xavier was at first surprised when he saw them - because of Kurt's unique look or just because they were casually approaching them, we'll never know - but then he smiled kindly. Wolverine also rose his eyebrow at first, but then his features were once more unreadable.

  Kurt and Amy felt like someone quickly scanned their minds, and they were pretty sure that this is just what happened. After learning their identitites Xavier appearently decided to get his point across.

  "Good morning, Kurt, Amy, my name is Professor Charles Xavier, and this is Logan" the man said in english. "We're from a school for people with unique abilities. I would like to talk to you two."

  'You TWO?' Kurt echoed in his mind, giving the Older Grace a questioning look. The female shrugged hesitantely.

  Wagner looked back at the two men. "Alright... How about we talk inside?" he gestured towards his house. 

  The Professor nodded a little. Sure, he just began to recruit students, but you can guess that he didn't expect them to cooperate so casually. Especially since you don't get to see an invisible jet (yeah, see the invisible jet, see what I did there?) everyday, so it should have them at least shocked. However both - the Professor and Logan - have seen enough to accept, that for some individuals an invisible jet can be purely boring.

  On the way to Kurt's house (and how much was that? 100, maybe 150 meters... however try getting onto the other side of a field in a wheelchair, it takes forever) Xavier explained them the basic idea of his school and made it clear that they are more than welcome to come with him and live there.

  Kurt keep peeked at Amy, obviously wondering why Professor would talk about her like she was a mutant. Finally he asked the man who is the offer for.

  "You, Kurt, and Amy. I believe you already know what unique gifts you own?"

  Amy more or less knew what he's talking about - these weird scenes flashing in front of her eyes for some reason - but she didn't dare to say it out loud, because she barely could grasp half of what the man said, and she wasn't ready to speak in english. The stress was too big.

  To her relief Xavier didn't wait for the response as he went on about his school and Gen X causing mutations, and things she didn't understand. 

  Kurt listened, though he had issues focusing on what was being said. He knew it all before, and he kept thought about Amy appearently being a mutant as well as the issue of Fallen not being one, which could make it harder to get Professor to take her along.

  Logan walked behind and kept quiet. If Kurt didn't know better, he'd say that the man is having a bad day, but he did know better - Logan was just calm. 

  It was actually nice to see them again.

  The Older Grace keep eyed the two men, but moreso Logan. He was the kind that draws attention even if he doesn't want to. Even if she didn't know who he is and what he's capable of, she would still stare at  him wondering what wild western movie he escaped from. He was wearing that cowboy hat and boots, brown leather belt, worn out jeans, 'woodcutter's' button shirt and he had a toothpick in his mouth. This outwear on a hundered or two kilograms of muscle in 160-cm-high hairy box would make him pretty outstanding almost anywhere.

  And the Professor looked like he was from completely different world compared to him. Elegant suit, calmness and kindness on his face - those really made him very different from I-always-look-angry cobwoy-woodcutter.

  Despite she was mostly watching the men, Amy also noticed Kurt peeking at her curiously. After fifth peek she really wanted to burst out with laughter. One more time and she would.

  Fortunately they reached Kurt's house and the boy invited the two quests to sit in the living room. Then he left to get his mother, and Amy suddenly realized she's left alone with the two. She stared at them poker-faced.

  "Don't be nervous, Amy" Charles smiled at her.

  The female smiled back awkwardly. "It the language barier... I'm not very good english" she explained nervously, proving her point without meaning to.

  "You're good enough, and you will get better" Professor motivated. "Now tell me, Amy..." he began slowly. "Where do you live?"

  Weird question - she thought. But maybe the right one to be asked.

  "For now... I thinking no where" she replied, her english still failing, but oh - she was proud she at least understood the question. Both men lifted one eyebrow skeptically. She nervously sat down, hoping to find comfort. Logan stood there with his arms crossed on his chest and watched her.

  "Nowhere?" Professor asked.

  Amy realized she doesn't know how the right things to say. It wasn't just english being a problem - she didn't know if they are even going to tell the Professor what REALLY happened. They didn't have a plan. Damn, does anyone plans anything here?!

  She made a long, pointless sound as she tried to figure out what to do now. Then she noticed movement in the kitchen's door and turned that way. It was her daughter-- err, ex-daughter.

  Fallen had her hair combed in a messy bun after the shower, she was wearing a loose boxer shirt, with button shirt tied on her chest. She likely borrowed these two from Kurt to put on after the shower. She was wearing her own pale jeans though, likely because they weren't stained with grass (and landing with her butt on Amy's back when they fell out of the portal could have something to do with it).

  When Amy noticed her Fallen was throwing out a papper the lollipop in her mouth used to be wrapped in.

  "Fallen!" Amy called out to her.

  The girl turned around and when she noticed the two men in the living room, she slowed down. But she was good at acting casual in the weirdest situations - talent? No, but living side by side with Kurt you get the EXPERIENCE. Without hurry she entered the living room with her eyes very focused as she scanned the two men. 

  "Morning" she greeted them after taking the lollipop out of her mouth. 

  Charles replied her and introduced himself and Logan, who didn't do more than blink. 

  Fallen didn't need to hear their names, she knew more than enough, but she noded. "It's nice to meet you. My name is Paula Korzeniowska, but please, call me Fallen like everyone does. I'm..." she paused for a moment and peeked at the black haired female sitting in the armchair. "Amy's sister."

  'So you're going to play pretend at least at some points' Amy thought, as Fallen continued:

  "...and Kurt's friend. I believe it's him you're here for?" she asked with a kind smile.

  Charles noded slightly. "Yes, and for Amy."

  "Co*...?" the girl whispered in her native language as she turned to her ex-mother. The Older Grace hung down her head, amused and nervous at the same time.

  The Professor continued: "I was just trying to figure where your sister and you live."

  Fallen's eyes were back on him and for a moment they traced his figure as she tried to find just the right answer. Instead of a reply, she asked a question of her own: "Why would you like to know?"

  Charles sighed low. It went so easy so far, but here comes someone who actually asks questions. Alright, he was willing to get rid of all doubt his recruits and their beloved could have.

  "Kurt and your sister are very special, they are what is called mutants, having an active Gen X in their bodies. Brain activity of people gifted with powers is different. I own a device that finds them and downloads informations so I can help them. However in case of your sister and your friend the informations were very incomplete" he explained.

  Fallen was just about to make up a story that could excuse it, or at least keep asking questions until she figures out how to answer the Professor's questions without giving away their origins, but she was saved by Kurt returning with Margali. The woman eyed the two men just like she eyed Fallen and Amy the other day - her eyes aware and curious. Then she walked over to introduce herself. Xavier began his little talk to assure Margali that his school is going to be good for her son.

  Meanwhile Fallen withdrew slowly and pulled Kurt into the kitchen. "[What's the plan? What do we tell him?]" she whispered in her native language, just for extra protection from anyone's ears.

  The boy looked at her like she just asked to be given a piece of moon. "[How do I know?]" he asked nervously, then continued calmly: "[If you want to know my opinion, I think the Professor could know the truth-- or at least a part of it. Maybe it will be for the best.]"

  "[What part of it do you mean?]" the brunette asked critically.

  Wagner thought about it for a moment. "[Everything.]"

  "[WHAT?]"

  "Shh..."

  "[Sorry. Are you sure?]"

  "[In this situation we can't be sure of anything]" Kurt sighed. He closed his eyes to gather his thoughts. "[If we tell the truth we can help in some situations. Besides... if we don't tell the truth Professor may disagree to take you to the Institute. Or both of you. Altough it seems like Amy is a mutant, I didn't see this coming. But still]" he looked into her eyes. "[You're not. He may not want to take you, and I'm not going without you. Not after all of this. And I doubt Amy would want to go alone.]"

  Fallen needed a couple minutes to take in his words. Finally she sighed with resignation. "[But let's just NOT tell him we know much more than the nearest future.]"

  "[Alright. But why?]"

  "[It's about Lo--... I mean...]" the girl remembered Logan's sharp hearing. She didn't know if he could hear them, but if he does she knew the chances of him understanding polish were slim. However if she spoke his name, it could draw his attention. Instead of speaking whom he means, she gestured by putting three fingers to knuckles of the other hand like they were Wolverine's claws. "[You know. I don't want him to ask questions about his past. I'm not yet sure what should remain unsaid.]"

  Kurt noded with understanding. 

  This is when Amy entered the kitchen. "[Don't leave me there]" she said in a begging tone of voice. 

  Fallen and Kurt locked their eyes on her before both pulled her into the kitchen and had her sit on one of  the chairs. 

  "[You have POWERS?]" Fallen asked. "[And I know nothing about it?]"

  Amy suddenly felt like she was in some movie with the good and the bad cop interviewing her about murder. 

  "[Em, ya know... something odd happened, like some vision, but I don't know what it really was. I thought I'm seeing things because I'm tired or... I don't know...]"

  Fallen and Kurt exchanged looks.

  "[You could have told one of us]" the boy said gently. Yeah, he was the good cop.

  "[I wanted to. Seriously! Today, but we didn't have a moment]"  Amy tried to explain.

  And this time it was Margali who entered the kitchen. "Kurt, can I talk to you?" she asked in english, her face solemn.

  "Of course..."

  "In four eyes."

  "Aw" Fallen noded at Amy and the two girls left to the living room.

  The Older Grace sighed. Everything was happening so fast and in was a mess, she felt tired with the entire situation. She wished she could just rest and find the track of reality again. She needed time to adapt to her new, young body, new, weird situation, and new, foreign language. 

  Xavier welcomed her and Fallen with a smile when they entered the room. The younger girl took a deep breath and sat on an armrest of sofa. Margali was with Kurt in the kitchen, talking seriously. If not now, then maybe Fallen won't get a chance to talk to Xavier.

  "Professor..." she began, still uncertain. But she knew Kurt had a point. If they don't tell the truth, they may get stuck here. She may. And she didn't want to part with Amy and Kurt, and even more she didn't want to hold them back. "You asked where we lived... we appeared here yesterday, we stayed here, at Kurt's over night, but basically we don't live anywhere... anymore. Uh... we're not from here, you see" she explained carefully.

  "Then where are you from?" the man asked.

  How to get the point across? She tried but every possibility was wrong. Logan can't know too much, they don't have enough time to slowly explain everything. No, it was too complicated, worlds-wide anomaly. 

  Eventually she made up her mind and made a tough decision. She sat closer to Professor Xavier.

  "I think it's best if you see for yourself" she said low.

  At first Xavier didn't know what she means. Or rather he did know, but it seemed too easy to be the right interpretation of her words. She couldn't know he's a telepath, he didn't tell about that to any of them but Logan. But in the girl's eyes was the kind of confidence, awareness. It made him sure.

  The man gave her a slight nod and reached to put two fingers on each side of her temple. The brunette closed her eyes, not entirely sure what to expect and if she's supposed to do anything. She just tried to guide him to the right informations by gently remembering the right things.

  Amy stared almost breathless. Suddenly Fallen's fingers formed tight fists and she shivered. Amy held back her breath. She couldn't really see anything, just a man touching a girl's head, but damn, even Logan seemed interested.

  It didn't last a full minute before Xavier withdrew and his eyes slowly opened with surprise, interest, even shock. These emotions were too intense for the stoic image of him that the girls created in their minds.

  "Amazing..." he whispered to himself. "I sincerely wish to learn more about this case. It's certainly very interesting..."

  Fallen sighed and smirked a little when she remembered her friend's words: Allow a telepath into your head, and it's like letting a man into your bed. You'll do it once and he'd keep coming back.

  Xavier smirked with amusement. Could he be hearing her thoughts?

  Fallen shook her head. Don't, you better don't be.

  "In this situation can I join Amy and Kurt?" she asked.

  Charles noded, smiling kindly. "Of course."

  Margali and Kurt came back from the kitchen - the woman's eyes were a little nervous, but still focused. Kurt stopped in the doorway and watched his mother approach Xavier.

  "Alright, Professor, Kurt can go with you" she said. Just from the look on her face you could tell that she's not sure it's a good idea, but she respected her son's decision.

  Charles smiled kindly at her and looked at everyone. "I'm glad to hear that. If you want to go with us today, I suggest you to go pack your bags. In the meantime, I'll talk some more with Mrs Szardos."

  Margali looked back at her son, and being given a small nod of agreement she noded back. Fallen stood up and looked back at Kurt. They both smiled.

  "So, he takes you too?" Kurt asked low when they left the living room.

  The girl sighed with a smile. "We don't have anything we could take, but I guess you should get your stuff ready. I can tell you what happened as you pack."  

XREV

  Barely two hours later everyone were ready to hit the road. Or hit the sky in this case. It took a dozen of minutes to say proper goodbyes to Margali. The woman would remind what to do and what not to do a couple times, tell Kurt to stay safe a couple more, make sure he packed everything twice, and of course - hug, hug and hug. Not only her son, she also hugged and gave tips to the two girls. 

  Finally they found themselves on board of the jet. The insides didn't make Kurt even blink, he was very used to this place once, but the two girls gave curious looks to everything around them. 

  Everything was made mostly of iron-like materials the girls couldn't identify exactly, the chairs were in two's on both sides of the cabin, overall 12 of them and 2 pilots. On the front was half-round navigation panel and a huge window that provided a wide rage of sight.

  The Professor pushed some button and the first pilot's chair disappeared in the floor, instead of  it appeared a couple handles that locked on the Professor's wheelchair to keep it stabil. Logan sat on the seat of the second pilot and without much emotion told the others too take seats and remember about belts.

  Kurt sat on one of the two seats behind the Professor and gestured at Fallen to take the seat beside him. Amy sat behind Logan, believing it's better to seat behind him where he can't see her. This man gave her kind of creeps. And from here she could see how Professor pushes buttons on the control panel. Pushing buttons is cool, especially big red ones and there actually was one like that on the panel.

XREV

  The flight, as the Professor informed, was supposed to last about four hours. It was pretty little considering they'd be flying across an ocean. The jet was quite an amazing machine.

  However considering how tired Fallen was, she didn't hold back and fell asleep after less than half an hour. Kurt, whose arm was her pillow, also soon decided it's time to sleep.

  Only Amy stayed awake and stared into endless space in front of her, wondering about how will her future look now, after she got a second shot. 

  The flight seemed to last forever for her, but finally an automatic voice woke up the other two as it informed them that they crossed New York's air zone.

  Fallen sat straight as she rubbed her eyes and for a moment she couldn't remember what's going on. When she looked at the front glass she could see they're flying low above the water, and in far in front of them was a huge building on top of a high scarp with a waterfall. She remembered they had a hangar under the waterfall, and she smirked.

  "Home sweet home, huh?"

  Kurt sleepily smirked back at her. "Now I can say it" he whispered and grinned: "Welcome to my world."

XREVXREVXREV

DICTIONARY: 

Polish:

*Co? - What?

Next time in X-Men: Revolution:

Fallen, Amy and Kurt take babysteps in the legendary Xavier's Institute for the Gifted. As they slowly settle down for the new life, they have to face a lot of small things. First trainings, filling documents, making explanations, meeting first students and finally - High School. This means more than just facing Mystique and Todd messing at the Institute, it also means something by far worse and more complicated. Math exams.

Look forward to episode 1: Strategy X

Author's Note

This chapter and the following one are two I'm not proud of and I'm struggling to make them more engaging, but every next chapter I create comes easier. I'm glad. Hope you will bear with me.