It's been quite a while with this story... life got in the way! I'm attacking it slowly, so keep with me!

I just want to say thank you for all of the reviews - the good, the bad, and the ugly! I appreciate all the comments made! Love to you all!!

'I thought I told you to wait on the jet?' Logan's voice came floating through the mist. He'd clearly sensed her, like she had him, because there was no way either was capable of seeing far.

'Yeah, well, I didn't.' Billie told him bluntly.

Wolverine let out a small growl, 'is there anything we can do about this fog, Storm?'

Billie continued to walk as the fog slowly edged away.

'You have no intention of listening to me, do you?'

Billie turned around and looked at him, 'give me something worth listening to, and I will, yeah.'

Wolverine, who was about three seconds from strangling her stormed off ahead, followed closely by the two female mutants. He led them to the shore of the lake, where, like in the woods, rocks and pebbles were floating around.

Billie stood, transfixed by them, whilst Storm headed off in one direction, Logan towards something which had caught his eye near the water's edge.

'Scott!' He shouted, 'SCOTT!'

'Well,' Billie muttered, 'if he didn't hear that, he's not going to.'

Logan shot her a silencing glare, ready for a comment, when Storm's shouts disturbed him. They both ran over the source of the shouts, and found the weather witch crouched down by an unconscious woman.

'Jean?' Logan gasped, jumping down beside her.

Billie watched as Logan scooped the red-headed woman into his arms and frowned. It wasn't because she was getting strong vibes from the unconscious woman. No, it was the look of relief on Logan's face.

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Billie strode into the kitchen, headed straight to the fridge, before slamming it shut when she remembered there was no beer in it.

'You're back then?'

'Looks like it,' she said, turning to lean back against the fridge.

'How long is it going to last this time?' Gambit asked her.

Billie sighed and glanced down at her feet, not answering.

'Come and join us,' said Kitty. She and Gambit were sat at the large kitchen table with Bobby and Peter.

Billie stared at her for the longest time, until finally, she shrugged and perched herself on the end of the kitchen counter.

'Is it true Jean's back?' Peter asked her.

'Yeah,' Billie nodded, 'she's in the medical bay.' She glanced around the table, 'where's the girlfriend?' She asked Bobby.

'She went for the cure,' Peter told her.

Billie brought her hand up to her shoulder and began rubbing the spot where the syringe had hit her, without even realising she was doing it. 'It won't work,' she told the table.

Bobby narrowed his eyes, 'what makes you so sure?'

'It's not a disease, it's not a virus – it's genetic. Its part of your DNA and it's what makes you what you are. It's like trying to stop being left handed. You can hide it for a time, but at the end of the day, you're just going to be ambidextrous.' Billie looked at Bobby – he was giving her a strange look. 'I didn't mean anything by it,' she told him, not quite sure why she was apologising for herself. 'I just… never mind.'

She shook her head and jumped neatly off the table.

Instead of responding, Bobby shot her a glare.

Billie shrugged, 'bothered.'

'How is Jean?' Kitty asked, trying to break some of the tension.

'Even if I cared enough to ask, I wouldn't get an answer,' Billie told her with a bored look.

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It didn't take long for Billie to become bored of her company and she left a while later, heading for the solitude of her room. She had been meditating, sat comfortably in the lotus position hovering slightly above the ground, when she felt it. A judder, no, more like a shockwave rippling through the house.

Semi-convinced it was one of the children unable to control their powers, she rose to her feet anyway. It was simply to powerful a shudder to be a child. Billie opened her door and headed down the corridor. As she downed the stairs, she knew that the rumble had come from further down, below the ground floor – where the danger room was located.

She was about to enter the medical room when she was stopped by Jean as she was leaving.

'You've had enough of this place too?' She asked her, her face remaining neutral.

Jean stared at her, 'I know what you're doing here,' she told her coldly.

Billie stared back, 'I don't think you do.'

'Don't be too sure about that.' Jean responded without opening her mouth before turning and leaving.

Billie watched her go. A psychic? She thought. But as Jean left her sight she realised that the psychic wasn't going to spill her secrets. She turned and walked into the medical room. Logan was lying on the floor, unconscious, whilst various pieces of medical equipment lay strewn around him.

Billie sighed impatiently and waited.

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Billie stepped out of the car and stared at the house in front of her. Standing outside were Magneto and a few other mutants. No Pyro, though, Billie noted.

'Ah, Billie,' Magneto greeted her, as if they were old friends, as she followed Xavier over. 'We were wondering where you had gone.'

Billie shrugged at him.

'What the hell are you doing here?' Logan snarled at Magneto.

'The same as the professor,' Magneto told him, 'visiting an old friend.'

'I don't want any trouble here,' Xavier said, making a point to look at Billie.

'Nor do I,' Magneto agreed. 'Shall we?'

Charles nodded and the two of them entered the house.

'Why are you here again?' Logan shot at Billie.

'Nothing better to do,' Billie informed him, her voice and posture lazily relaxing back against the car.

Logan muttered something under his breath before heading over to Storm.

It didn't take long before the gate slammed shut in the air which was vacant of any breeze. Billie remained resting against the car. Truth be told, she had come for one reason – to assess the true power of Jean. Back at the mansion, the professor had mentioned something about Jean's alter-ego, and if she was as powerful as he said she was, then this was something she wanted to witness.

In front of her, Storm and Wolverine were arguing as to whether or not they should enter the building. As soon as the windows blew out, Logan produced his claws as Storm flew into the air. The four mutants who had come with Magneto were engaging in battle in an instant.

Billie glanced down at her nails, only looking up to crack a smile when the house began floating above the ground. This Phoenix, as Xavier had called Jean's alter-ego, sure was a powerful mutant. She would make for an interesting fight.

Don't let them control you came Xavier's voice. A split second later and the house crashed to the ground.

Billie narrowed her eyes, wondering how much of her brain Xavier had been reading. However, as Magneto hurried out of the house, Jean hooked firmly under his arm, she realised that it wasn't even important anymore.