My standard disclaimer:
All Marvel characters belong to Marvel. I make no money off them although I wish I did. Juli and her family are mine. They are loosely based on myself and friends of mine. They know who they are. Any other resemblances to anyone living or dead is purely coincidental. I make no money off these stories so I ask that if you want to take them or write a story with my characters, that you ask first.

I would like to thank Patrick. J Kane who co wrote this story. Without him, it would not exist. Thank you Pat. For everything. Visit his page at PJK's A Lonely Place Of Dying...... He has some great fiction of his own as well as some other cool pages.

Ever get that feeling that something major is about to happen, but you have no idea what it is? That is how I was feeling as I drove through the Canadian border gate and into New York. I had decided that I was going to take the Professor's offer. He had sealed my acceptance when he said that he would see to it that I lost none of my credits in my college programs. I had worked too damn long and hard to start all over again.

I allowed myself to relax and enjoy the leaf change as I drove. The Mustang was filled with clothes, my books and some personal belongings. My father was bring everything else I would need this weekend in the pickup. Not that it was going to be a lot. I just think he wanted to check out the place himself and play protective parent. It was oddly comforting in a way. I consulted the directions once again and saw that so far I was fine. I had left early this morning and was determined that I was driving straight through. No hotels for me when I had a tent and a sleeping bag. Worse come to worse I had my car to sleep in. It wasn't a matter of money, I had plastic and could pay cash. I just hated the blandness of hotel rooms when I could just as easily sleep outside.

I made it to the mansion finally. I was stiff from the drive but it was a good stiff. I parked and got out noticing that the air seemed changed since my last time here. I felt a great deal of sadness and grief that seemed to encompass the entire place. This time, no one came to greet me, and I wondered if I had gotten my arrival days mixed up. I was about to get back in the car when Xavier spoke in my head startling me.

{{{Juliana. You have arrived. I apologize for this but this is a sad time for us all. Please meet me in my office. Do you remember where it is?}}} {{{Oui sir. I be dere in 5 minutes}}} That was strange, talking mind to mind. At the same time it was also easy, just a mild shock as I had never experienced anything like it before. I made sure the leather half gloves I wore were secure then I walked into his office. He was in the same strange chair I had seen him in last time. He asked me to take a seat the turned to me and I saw he looked as he hadn't slept in several days.

"Juliana, I am sorry that your arrival is under these circumstances. I would have rather been able to take you to a room personally and sat with you for a while to talk with you. However, unfortunately, last night we had a tragedy. The sister of one of my students, died. Have you heard of the Legacy virus?"

"I am sorry to hear dat. I have read some articles, although admittedly not much though. From what I have read, it appears to be a mutant form of AIDS. Mutant in that hits mutants only. Is dat right?" "Very close. It results in death and unlike AIDS, there is no cure or even treatment. She died of this virus last night after a long battle."

"I am sorry sir. Perhaps it would be best if I stayed in a hotel for a few days. I don' want to be in de way." He waved a hand. "You are welcome to stay. You are here and I know it is a long trip from your home. I will show you a room and let you get settled. Later we will talk about your specific training schedule and the requirements." He turned the hover chair to move towards the hall and I followed behind it.

"You are not expected to attend the service of course. You may go into town if you wish though I am sure that you will want to rest after your trip."

"Merci sir. I will just unpack my car den maybe do some exploring if dat is acceptable?"

"That is fine." He came to a door and opened it then handed me the keys as he floated inside. I looked around. It was bright and airy with white walls. A single bed, dresser and a desk with a computer furnished the room. "You may decorate however you like. The only thing I ask is that no blatantly offensive material be out in the open. You may paint if you wish, or wallpaper." I looked around at the possibility. I then decided to keep the walls white but add some stencils in a green color. A vine going around the room. That would be great with my Indian blanket, and prints. "Don worry bout dat. Less you find dream catcher and a mandala offensive?"

"Are you interested Indian lore? That seems to be very popular now, the colors and patterns."

"Oui. I'm adopted Cree Indian." I was distracted by the view through the window. I could see miles and miles of what appeared to be forest land. The forest seemed to call to me to come and explore. It was just too tempting to resist. For some reason I thought of an old Star Trek episode and the line "resistance is futile." And I resolved to go and investigate after unpacking. Xavier left me to do just that and I spent the next few hours unloading the car and putting things away. The room was starting to look less sterile and more lived in. it was amazing what a blanket some photos on a desk, books, and clothes in a closet could do to a room. Satisfied for now with my work, I went outside to explore that wooded area I saw from my window. I passed by Scott and Jean setting up chairs. I guessed it was for the funeral and I continued on my way hoping that I didn't disturb them. One or two people looked up as I passed, but no one questioned me as to who I was or what I was doing here.

I spent about three hours total in the woods. I saw rabbits, squirrels, some deer, a raccoon, a possum and even a beaver. This was my idea of heaven. Me, some forest critters, bright sunlight and tall trees. And quiet. No one to tell me how to dress, how to act, talk or behave. And since no one could tell me what a proper young lady does or doesn't do, I took off my sneakers and socks and walked around enjoying the cool soft grass under my bare feet. My toes dug into some muddy spots and I reveled in the feeling of the mud between them. I couldn't believe that women paid hundreds of dollars to go to spas and sit in fancy mud when they could go outside for free.

I made my way out of the trees and I suppose that I was still in my own private world because next thing I feel is my face hitting what feels like a brick wall. The impact sent me reeling backwards and I landed on my butt hard. I looked up to see a man about 6 feet tall with red hair and concerned blue green eyes looking down at me.

"Are ye OK Lass?" he asked as he extended his hand towards me to help me up.

"Nothin bruised but my ego" {Maybe my pride..oh wait..don't have that anymore}

"I'm sorry bout that. Guess I wasn't watchin where I was goin."

"Just be glad ye be in the country, walkin' inte open traffic t'would be worse."

He pulled me up, and I politely laughed a little. I had no idea how to act except to erect the wall around myself. He continued to talk to me oblivious. "Of course say ye had run inte Piotr instead of me, then more than ye ego t'would be bruised" {Piotr...Oh yeah. De one whose sister dey were burying. Could change to a man of steel according to Xavier.}

"Yeah. Guess you right."

"I just got back from a leave of absence, so I be sorry but I ninnae a clue as t'who ye be."

"Oh, I am Juliana Daniels, I just kinda of arrived. Looks like I picked a hell of a day t'arrive. And you are?"

"Sean Cassidy, and I've been here since....I've lost track, a little before Wolverine and Storm.. So, awhile, t'say the least" {Storm..Oh..He meant Ororo} There was a bit of silence as we continued walking back to the mansion, but he eventually broke it.

"Kind of bad circumstances t'join the X-Men te eh?"

"Yeah. I seem to have dat uncanny ability to show up at de worst times. What's dat sayin? If it weren't fer bad luck, I'd have no luck at all."

"I'm sure that's nae true. Did ye get a chance t'meet her?"

"No I didn't. I was just told about her today."

"Nice lass she was... I can remember Piotr just bragging about her since the day I met him, the man's goin' t'have te rebuild his world......"

There was a long silence between us. I had no idea what to say. I didn't know her for one thing and two, I hated the old clicheÆs when someone dies. He was the one to break the silence once again.

"I really shouldn't have gone on with that should I?....Sorry, I tend te do that sometimes."

"It's alright, the whole situation has everyone down. I..I could feel it when I arrived. Like a heavy blanket over de place. I understan'."

He didn't say anything else and I was glad. I don't know how to really explain that not only can I read minds..but feelings as well. We arrived back at the mansion sooner than I thought and were greeted by Hank. I breathed a sigh of relief. Hank had saved me from having to think of things to say. "Well I see young Daniels has ventured off to the unknown and has returned with everyone's favorite mutant with vocals to rival that of Lady Macbeth" Hank started off "T'would seem I've been away too long, I had forgotten Hank's over use of description" Cassidy said with a grin "Ah well, those like myself not blessed with an accent must use an extensive vocabulary to attract the "chicks" my dear Sean."

"So the jealousy finally comes out."

"You wish my Irish friend, just trying to make a joke. Well Ms Daniels allow me to rescue you from our resident Irishman before he goes off on a rant."

"An you don rant Hank? Remember, I know you too well. And besides..you cant lie t'a psionic."

"Why Juli, I'm crushed, you are under the impression that I rant?"

I snorted inwardly. Hank and I went a long way back. But I didn't think Sean needed to know that. Then he'd want my whole life history and I wasn't in the mood to tell it. "I dinnae know where she ever got that idea from, Hank."

"I'm sure you don't, now Ms. Daniels have I given you the 10 cent tour?" He dropped his voice to a low whisper.

"Must get you away from Sean's brain washing......"

Sean grinned and headed toward the lake, he of course, briefly looked towards me at the point when I looked at him, giving us one final moment of awkwardness. I turned away quickly embarrassed. How could I be so stupid? He was nice, but I didn't need that headache. Besides, once he found out what I was really like, once he heard my past..He would look at me with repulsion. Anyway..it's not as if I would have time for a relationship anyway. The program was rigorous on its own. I was adding a double major at Westchester University and in place of doing the hours in the med lab, I would be working with the Salem Center rescue squad. Not too much pressure eh? Maybe I was rationalizing, but I just didn't want to be hurt anymore. And the only way I knew how to avoid the hurt was to never let it happen. I followed Hank around the campus, half listening. The other half was thinking..about Sean Cassidy.

*******Note: {Maybe my pride..oh wait..don't have that anymore} This is personal thought. Only happening in Juli's head. Thinking to herself.

{{{Juliana. You have arrived...}}} this is telepathic thought.

The above symbols are used in online role playing games and sim groups on AOL. They are standard symbols and easier than continually saying "she thought" or "he spoke in her mind."

This Fanfic was written by PsiWolf. It is part 4 of an ongoing story. Comments and feeback are very welcome.