Chapter two

Who’s who?

“Ugh..” Victoria slowly sat up as she rubbed her eyes.  She looked at the clock on her nightstand and sighed deeply.

Not again, She thought as she got out of bed. She took her bathrobe and then made her way downstairs, going to the kitchen.
She yawned softly as she walked into the kitchen, she turned on the light and she walked to the refrigerator. She took the milk out and then closed the door, putting the milk on the table.

She took a glass out of the cupboard and then sat down on a chair. She poured milk into the glass and sighed again before taking a sip.
She put the glass back upon the table and looked up when she heard the door open. She raised her eyebrow when Ororo came into the room.

“Victoria? What are you doing out of bed already?” Ororo asked as she looked at the girl sitting there.

“Drinking milk..” Victoria said chuckling softly. “I woke up from a dream around ten minutes ago..”

“You look a little pale, is everything alright?” Ororo asked as she took a glass out of the cupboard, then she settled down on a chair beside Victoria.

“Yeah, sure..” Victoria said, she took another sip of her glass and passed the milk to Ororo.

“Thank you.”  Ororo said as she took the milk and poured it into her glass.
The door opened again but the both of them didn’t look up.

“Ororo, glad to see you are home again.” A male voice said and Ororo looked up.

“I am pleased to be home again, Charles..” Ororo said, smiling gently.

“Victoria, I’m surprised seeing you awake already.” Xavier said.
Victoria sighed softly and looked up at him.

*What is it?* He asked as he looked at her.

“Nothing, alright.. I just had a really bad dream that’s been waking me every day alright.” Victoria shouted as she looked at him.
She buried her head in her hand and sighed softly.
*I’m sorry..* Victoria whispered as she softly started crying.

Ororo frowned and placed her hand upon the girl’s back.
“Calm down, child.. it’s alright..” Ororo whispered as she looked at Victoria who kept shaking her head.

*Victoria, calm down, it’s alright* Xavier said as he made is way his way to her.

“No, it isn’t…” Victoria said. “I shouldn’t be shouting at you.”

*Jean, Sorry to wake you but we need your help down in the kitchen.*Xavier said.
Jean who was up into her room with Scott, opened her eyes. She looked at the clock for a moment and sighed softly. *On my way, professor.* Jean took her bathrobe and left the room.
She made her way downstairs and opened the way to the kitchen.
“What’s wrong?”  Jean asked as she looked at Xavier who was sitting beside Ororo, and she was sitting next to Victoria.

“She shouted and now she’s just mentally punishing herself for it.” Xavier said. *I cannot reach her.*

Jean walked to Victoria and put her hand upon her shoulder. *Vic, tell me what happened?* Jean asked.

Victoria shook her head, still having it buried in her hands.  Jean moved closer to her, placing her second hand on Victoria’s cheek.
She sat down on the chair next to Victoria, who still didn’t answer.

*Victoria. I am begging you, tell me what’s wrong..* Jean wiped the tears from Victoria’s cheeks when she had removed her own hand.

*I.. I didn’t want to shout at him..  I didn’t mean to shout at all.* Victoria whispered.

*Oh, Vic. He said it was alright, didn’t he?*Victoria sighed and nodded.

*But it..* Victoria whispered.

*Why did you shout?* Jean asked as she placed her finger under Victoria’s chin.

*First Ororo asked if I was alright, and then he did.. b..*Victoria lowered her gaze.

*Are you?* Jean asked, making Victoria look up and frown.

*Ye.. I don’t know..* Victoria whispered, looking up at Jean.

*You woke from your dream again, didn’t you?* Jean asked as she stroked the hair out of Victoria’s face.
Victoria nodded softly as she looked up at Jean.

*May I?* Jean asked as she stretched her hands.
Victoria nodded again, slowly taking Jean’s hands in her own. She took Jean into her memory and showed her a bit of the dream.

~ / ~
Needles. A sound. What is that? A baby. The baby was crying, loudly. A Moment later they got closer to the baby.  They saw it, people were standing around it.
Why was the baby crying? The people around the child were talking with each other.

“No!” They heard a woman’s voice shout.

“Silence!” A deep male voice said.

The voices stopped talking and everything grew silent, except the baby that was crying…

-~ / ~-

Victoria let go of Jean’s hands and blinked away a tear.

*That was your dream?* Jean asked as she placed her hand upon Victoria’s.

*Part of it..*Victoria said as she lowered her gaze again.

“Come, Vic… Let’s try to go to sleep again?” Jean said placing her hand upon Victoria’s head.

“Alright..” Victoria sighed. She got to her feet as she turned to Xavier. “I’m still sorry for shouting at you, professor..”

“Alright, Victoria..” Xavier said, smiling gently as he watched Victoria.

“Good night, Victoria.” Ororo said.

“Thanks, Ororo. See you later..” Victoria said, looking up at Jean who was smiling gently.

Victoria sighed softly as she walked out of the kitchen. Jean placed her hand on Victoria’s shoulder.

“..” Victoria went through her hair as she looked at the stairs.

“We’ll sort it out, Vic..” Jean said, gently squeezing the girl’s shoulder.

“I know..” Victoria whispered as she smiled.

“But still, you seem worried..” Jean said as she looked down at Victoria.

“Oh, no it’s nothing..” Victoria said, smiling brightly.

Jean took Victoria back to her own bad and she sat down on the edge.
“You should get some sleep..” Jean said.

“So should you..” Victoria said grinning a bit.

“If I can, Scott’s going to train in..” Jean looked at Victoria’s clock. It said 4:57. “.. about an hour..” Jean sighed.

“Then stay here, I mean.. it’s my fault that you woke anyway.. you can sleep in my bed..” Victoria said as she took out her sketchbook.
She sketched something on the paper and then before signing it she looked at Jean.

“Close your eyes for a sec..” Victoria whispered.
Jean closed her eyes and Victoria put her sign on the paper and a little triangle as well.

“Ready..” Victoria said, smiling bright when Jean opened her eyes again.

“Oh..” Jean gasped.

“So?” Victoria said as she raised her eyebrow.

“Well, alright..” Jean said.
Victoria smiled as Jean got up and walked to the other side of the bed.  She sat down and tucked her feet under the sheets, pulling the sheets over her shoulders.
Jean looked at Victoria and then patted on the bed.
“Come on..You need sleep as well, Vic..” Jean said as she looked at her.

Victoria sighed as she placed her sketchbook on her nightstand; it was now several minutes after five.
She crawled into bed and laid her head on Jean’s shoulder.

“When you wake your mother will be here.” Jean said, placing a soft kiss on Victoria’s temple.

“I know..” Victoria whispered, sighing softly as she closed her eyes.
She fell asleep after several minutes, she hoped for no nightmares to wake her again.
________________________________________________________________________

Victoria slowly opened her eyes; she looked at Jean who was lying beside her. She smiled gently as she got up, trying to do it as silent as possibly, she didn’t want to wake Jean.
Victoria got out of bed and took her clothes to go to the bathroom. She looked at the clock and smiled a bit when she saw it was ten o’clock.

She went to the bathroom and knocked before going in.
She undressed herself as she filled the bathtub with water. She put her hand in the water to feel if it was warm enough.
Just the right temperature, Victoria thought. She got into the bath and sat down.
She laid down in the bath and slowly slid down, going under with her head as she slowly closed her eyes.

*Victoria.* It sounded and her eyes shot open.

She sat up and listened carefully. No. It wasn’t.  Victoria thought as she put her hand to her head.
She laid back down and sighed softly.
Mother’s coming home today, Victoria thought, sighing softly.

She was happy, but still it was two months without her as she said. Slowly, she closed her eyes again, clearing her mind.

==================================================================================

Victoria got back to her room as Jean awoke.
Jean was mumbling some words as she slowly opened her eyes when Victoria got in the room.

“Ah, good morning..” Victoria whispered as she saw Jean rub her eyes.

“Good morning.” Jean put her hand to her mouth as she felt a yawn come up.

“I’m going to open the window, it’s a bit warm in here..” Victoria said as she placed her pajamas on a chair as she walked towards the windows.

“How long have you been awake?” Jean asked as she looked at the clock.

“Uhm.. What time is it?” Victoria asked.

“Half past ten..” Jean said as she turned her eyes back to Victoria.

“Half an hour or so, I guess..” Victoria said, smiling as she opened the window.

“Glad to see you so ha..” Jean started but then saw Victoria’s eyes widened. “Vic, what’s wrong?”

Victoria stared around over the grounds.

*Victoria..* It sounded in her head. She went back in and took her sketchbook. She took her pencil and started sketching.

“Victoria, what’s wrong?” Jean placed her hand on Victoria’s arm. “Vicky..”
Victoria looked up from her sketchbook and looked at Jean.

*Mother* Victoria said. She took her sketchbook and walked to the balcony.

“Vic? What’s are you going to do?” Jean asked as she widened her eyes. She got to her feet and she saw Victoria changing into a tiger, she jumped of the balcony on the roof and then jumped to the ground.

*Sketchbook* Victoria said as she lifted her head.

*The triangle, right?*  Jean asked as she took the sketchbook up.

*Yes*

Jean walked back in and took an eraser, she rubbed away the triangle and walked back to the balcony.

“Thanks Jean!” Victoria shouted as she started running.
She stopped when she saw Elisabeth standing in front of her.

“Mother!” She shouted and she ran towards her, wrapping her arms around her.

“Victoria!” Someone shouted and she let go off whom she thought to be her mother.

She saw another woman standing beside her, also with purple hair but darker. Her eyes looked the same as her own. Victoria frowned as she looked at them both.

“Victoria.. It’s alright..” The woman who just appeared whispered.

“Who are you?” Victoria asked as she looked at her.

“I’m your mother..” She said.

“What? She’s my mother..”  Victoria said as she looked at Elisabeth, well it was Elisabeth.

“Actually I am.” The woman said and she turned to the other woman.

"No you're not!" Victoria’s eyes widened as she saw the two woman interact.

“What are you talking about?!” Victoria shouted as she looked at then.

“Victoria Braddock! Calm down.” One of the two said.

Victoria raised her eyebrow. Mother? She thought as she looked at the woman, she was not the one who looked like Elisabeth Braddock but then again she knew her name.

“So, you called her Braddock didn’t you? Adopting one’s child doesn’t mean you can cha..”

“What do you mean adopted? Who are you?” Victoria shouted.

“There you a two are!” Victoria turned her head and saw Wolverine standing there. “Go inside..” He put out his claws. “Or should I force you?” He asked.

“No! You will harm nobody.” Victoria said. She frowned as she put her hand to her head.

“What’s wrong, kid?” He asked as he looked at her.

The woman looked at her and one placed her hand upon Victoria’s shoulder.

“Leave me alone!” Victoria shouted as she stepped away from the women and Wolverine.

“Victoria, let me ask you one thing..” The woman who she didn’t know from looks said. “What did you find from the present of me and Jean?” She asked as she looked at Victoria.

“You came back at last.” Xavier said as he slowly came over. Jean walked beside him and looked at the two women.
She walked over to Victoria and placed her hands on Victoria’s shoulder.

“What’s wrong?” She asked, looking down at her.

“The one looks like mother, but.. the other talks like mother.. and they.. they are arguing about me…” Victoria looked up at Jean with teary eyes.

*I don’t understand, Jean..* Victoria said and she looked at Elisabeth, well her body that was.
Jean looked at the women and raised her eyebrow when suddenly Victoria ran off.

“Vic!” Jean shouted, but the girl ran back inside.

“So you’re telling me, you. Kwannon. That you are Victoria’s biological mother?” Xavier asked as he looked at Elisabeth.
Jean’s eyes widened and she walked over to them. She looked at the woman, then looked at Elisabeth.  

“Elisabeth?” Jean asked as she looked at her.

“Yes?” It sounded but it came from the other woman.

“Professor, we need to talk..” Jean said as she lowered her gaze to look at him.

“Yes, Jean. I know but first we must run several tests..” Xavier said.

“What? To see who the actual mother of Victoria is?” Kwannon said , rather angry.

“I am not the biological mother.. well my body isn’t. But she is my daughter.. and I love her..” Elisabeth said.

“We know you do Elisabeth.. but it’s just going to be a DNA test to see if Kwannon is the mother or not..” Xavier said.

“And we need to figure out a way to get these two to their own body. And if Kwannon is Victoria’s biological mother..” Jean said as she looked at Kwannon who was actually Elisabeth. “We’ll see..” Jean whispered.

==================================================================================

The elevator opened and Victoria stepped out. She walked into the sub-basement and walked towards the medical room. She looked through the small window and saw Jean taking blood from Kwannon’s body.

Jean looked up and looked at the door. It opened and Victoria walked in, sighing softly as she walked over. She sat down behind Jean and looked at her as she put the blood in the tube.

Victoria looked as Elisabeth looked at her, she frowned a bit, not really knowing what to do.
“What’s wrong child?” She asked.

“Nothing.. don’t mind me.” Victoria said as she straightened her back.

Jean turned around, took another injection needle, and walked over to Victoria. Victoria rolled her sleeve up and turned her head away, so she didn’t see the needle.

“Done..” Jean said as she pulled the needle out and put the blood in another tube.  
Victoria rolled down her sleeve again and got to her feet.

“Vic, it’s best if you sit down for a while..” Jean said as she pushed Victoria back onto the chair.

“I feel fine..” Victoria softly grumbled.

*I know you do, just be calm. You can leave as soon as I say so.* Jean said as she placed her hand upon Victoria’s cheek for a moment.

Victoria sighed softly and nodded once.
“Sorry.” Victoria said, looking down to the ground.

*It’s alright.*  “Now.. it will take some time before the results are here. I say , I’ll let you two.. three talk..” Jean said as she turned around to look at the two women and Professor Xavier.

“..” Victoria looked at both of the woman, the one whom she didn’t recognize smiled and the one she knew as her mother had an angry look on her face. She didn’t want to be here, but still something kept her here.
Jean and Xavier left the room and Victoria sighed softly.

“So.. You’re..” Victoria pointed to the woman she didn’t really know from looks.

“Your mother.. Well.. your adoptive mother, that is.. I am the one you know as Elisabeth..” Kwannon said.

“And.. you?” Victoria asked as she looked at Elisabeth’s body.

“I’m your mother.” She said.

“Then… Then it is you whom I need to ask a question..” Victoria said softly, looking straight into the woman’s eyes.