1. Writer's block. I know where I want to end up but was not sure how to go about the next part. 2. The holidays brought a lot of visitors, stress, and I got really sick for awhile and my sig. other had to have surgery. 3. My writer's block was removed by my list daddy who gave me a challenge and that story just took a very demanding life of its own. In addition, he requested several other stories I could not resist writing. Then my list mommy wanted a few of her own. So, now that my writer's block is gone, my other stories (namely this one, Changes, and Flame) have been demanding attention as well.

Anyway, I'm going to be updating these more quickly. However, I am at the moment working on 7 multi-chapter stories and a few one-shot requests, so my updates will probably not be as quick as I would like but they will be quicker than this last one.

MAIL CALL

Jade - Sorry for the wait.

Mana-Kipagami - I'm glad you've enjoyed the ride and it's not over yet.

Chrissy fan - Ok, let's see if I can answer the questions. I have the early Excalibur and I liked the original team but I'm not really using their timeline. I'm not using the cross-time caper or several of their enemies so I guess you could say I'm using Excalibur after they formed and after Inferno but before the Cross-Time arc, etc. I'm just using personality elements that were revealed later. Plus, unfortunately, I forgot to check their publication dates versus the X-men books I'm using. I, also, read very little X-Factor while Victor was there and I haven't read Maverick's series in a long time so I don't remember Vic killing his girlfriend. Actually, I'm leaving out pretty much the entire Maverick series because I do not wish to deal with the Legacy plague in my story. So, basically the only real timeline I'm sticking too is the X-men straight up to when Matsuo helped capture the X-men and forced Psylock through mental controls to work with Vic. After that, the only things I'm keeping are: Victor was kept in the mansion then was held by X-factor until that group self-destructed. Maverick continued to be a merc. Psylocke and Angel were dating for a time. Sorry to be confusing.

Kethryveris2 - I'm glad you agree with my take on the characters. This story is definitely post-Phoenix and post-Inferno (in which I want to murder Scott and Jean every time I read it). I agree that she was not originally evil but there is something corrupting and powerful about having so many admire you for so long. Anyway, thank you for the encouragement.

Jade121 - Sorry I took so long.

Mel - You and my list daddy both love Bobby. I might try one after I get one of my current stories finished. Any ideas? Fantasies? Challenges? I love a good challenge. ;-)

Felidae - I give you full permission to archive any of my stories you wish, just let me know where they are. I admit it, I love to see my work posted. As for poor David, yes he is going to be quite...surprised when he finds out their definition of helping out.

Ok, here it is at long last. I hope it's worth the wait.

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Chapter 17

David watched the couple head inside the light house where he noticed Brian glared at Victor with hatred. He wondered what the blonde feral had done to piss off Captain Britain and figured that it probably was not much. Victor tended to bring out the worst in people. He put it aside for later and instead turned his friendliest smile on the gorgeous blonde woman standing beside him. "So, what do you do for fun around here?"

Meagan looked back shyly. "Willie, brother, and I play in the woods. Kitty works on her machines and Kurt watches movies or plays in the gym and Brian likes to go into London.."

"Hmm, all of it sounds interesting." Especially playing in the woods but without Willie and brother. "Why don't you show me around first and then we can decide how to amuse ourselves until Vic's done."

Meagan laughed and David made a mental note to get her to do it more often. It was a very nice sound. "Brother will be busy for quite awhile. He and Betsy always are when they have not been together for days." Her laughter stopped and she looked at him with serious pleading eyes. "You will help us out later, won't you? Please. I know it will be fun if brother says so because he is always right about these things."

David stared into those blue eyes and could not help himself. He was nodding before she had even finished the question. At that moment, he would have done anything for her. "Yeah, I'll help out." Her smile of pleasure at his agreement was dazzling and took his breath away.

Unfortunately, just then, they were interrupted. Brian had walked over and wrapped a possesive arm around the blonde woman. "Meagan, perhaps Kitty or Kurt could show David around. I would like to speak to you in our room."

If David had not been so enraputured by Meagan, had not been gazing so intently into her eyes, he would have missed the brief flash of fear in her eyes before she turned to smile up at the man beside her. "But, Brian, I told brother I would do it."

Brian's smiled down at her and David bristled at the condescension he saw in the big man's expression. "Now, Meagan, I am sure Victor would not mind. Besides, David seems to be an educated man and I am sure he would prefer a guide who could explain the various computer systems, particularly how to program the gym. Your attempts at explanations are always cute but I think he might like to have it explained by someone who knows what they're talking about."

Meagan blushed and looked down in shame. "Yes, Brian, you are right as always." She turned back to David apologetically. "Kurt or Kitty would give you a better tour. They are both very smart and can explain everything. I will see you later." She turned away and walked toward the lighthouse.

Brian did not watch her go. Instead he turned on David, glaring at the shorter man. "She is mine so just get any thoughts you have of her out of your mind right now." Having delivered his imperious order, the blonde man turned around followed Meagan inside, ordering Kitty to give David a tour as he entered and the brunette waved David toward the lighthouse with a welcoming smile. David, however, was not happy. He knew several things already. He really liked Meagan, he did not like Brian, and the asshole did not deserve her at all!

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Inside the room assigned to him, Logan growled under his breath, pressing his hands over his ears. Did the mates have to be so fucking loud? It was driving him crazy listening to them. He looked up as Jubilee called his name, and noticed how worried she looked. He tried to give her a reassuring smile, not wanting to explain what was wrong. It was not something polite people just blurted out. I'm just annoyed 'cause somebody's getting laid and I'm not. That would go over real well. "I'm fine Jubes, just goin' a little stir crazy. I think I'll go take a walk, y'know, been inside too long."

"You want company?"

The beast inside of Logan perked up at the thought of female companionship in the woods and he quickly shoved it back down. That was not what he was going out into the woods for, he was going out there to calm down, damn it! "No, kid, that's ok. 'Sides, you need to get more sleep." He smiled at her as he stood up and ruffled her hair slightly. "Be back in awhile."

The sadness that permeated the room as he left, confused him but he did not turn around. The smells and sounds of sex were heavy in his senses and he needed to get away before he did something regrettable.

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Jubilee watched the man she loved leave the room and could not restrain the tears. It was true she was tired, exhausted, and it was making it hard to control her emotions. She hated how much she had cried in recent days but could do nothing about it. Logan still saw her as a kid and she did not know what to do about it.

Well, Betsy had promised to help her with Logan when he woke up. So, she'd just talk to the older woman...just as soon as Betsy was done with Victor.

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Brian followed Meagan into their room. She was very nervous, wondering what she had done wrong. Brian had not hit her in a long time so she thought she had been doing good but she could sense his anger and it worried her. Meagan tried very hard to be what he wanted but just could not seem to do it. She was not as clever or as pretty or as knowledgable as other women and she knew she was lucky that he tolerated her childish ignorance as well as he did.

Turning around, she kept her gaze lowered, and waited for him to do what he would do, trying not to flinch as the door clicked shut.

Brian came to a stop in front of her and she could not keep from flinching as she saw his large hand coming towards her out of the corner of her eye.

"Meagan, why did you do that? Did you think I would hurt you?"

His voice sounded so sad and disappointed and she quickly tried to soothe him. "No, Brian, I am sorry. I do not know why I did it. I was just being silly. As usual."

His large hand cupped her jaw, thumb stroking her cheek slightly. "Yes, as usual. You are such a cute little girl but you really need someone to take care of you. That is why I wanted to talk to you. I do not think it would be a good idea for you to continue to go out hunting with Victor any more."

Meagan's eyes flew up to his face. He could not mean it! "Brian, why? It is fun." rian's blue eyes darkened ominously and Meagan quickly looked at the floor again. She should not have done that, he hated it when she questioned him. Besides, he was much cleverer than her. He surely had good reasons but to not go hunting anymore...

"Yes, I am sure it is fun. However, it is not the way a proper lady behaves. You do not see Betsy running all over the forest like an animal, do you? She retains her dignity even with the others. She does not come back from her runs covered in leaves and mud and blood, does she?"

Meagan's voice was very small as she replied, "No, she does not."

"You want to be a proper lady, do you not?"

"Yes, Brian."

"Then you see why you need to stop?"

"Yes, Brian."

"Good, then I expect you to tell Victor tonight that you do not want to hunt anymore."

"Yes, Brian."

Brian moved closer and his grip on her chin became firmer as he urged her face up. "You know, you really are very pretty."

His mouth came down to claim hers and Meagan quietly gave into his desires, passively receiving his caresses and kisses. After all, a proper lady did not act like a whore in bed and she truly wanted a proper lady for him.

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Meanwhile, inside Betsy's and Victor's room, the two lovers did not last to the bed. They barely managed to remain clothed until reaching their room. Betsy shoved the door closed as Victor quickly shredded their clothing. Within seconds the two of them were nude on the floor, Betsy pushing the large man onto his back as she quickly straddled him, their mouths sealed together, tongues tangling as she pushed back on his erection. She had missed him. Even with everything that had been going on while he was gone, she had desperately missed him, missed this.

Breaking the kiss, she arched her back as she took him fully inside her, her hands caressing his hard chest, fingers running through silky chest hair as he thrust up inside her, making her breath break in pleasure. His hands gripped her hips tightly, holding her steady as he thrust into her hard and fast and she pushed back against him, loving the feel of him hot and hard inside of her. Her fingers roamed his chest, massaging and pinching his nipples as growled her name in pleasure and need until he curled his upper body up. His hot wet mouth suckled at her breasts, the added stimulation being all she needed to send her over the edge, hands tangled deeply in his hair as her body tightened and clenched around him, dragging him into ecstasy with her, reconnecting them in flesh and spirit.

Eventually, the waves of pleasure receeded and Betsy lay her head on his, stroking his back and listening to him purr in contentment. "I love you, Victor."

"Love ya, too." He continued to nuzzle and lightly kiss her skin as she gently traced the lines of his back.

"Should we try to make it to the bed next time."

She could feel him smile against her collar bone as he began to reharden inside her. "We can try, but I don't think it's gonna work."

Tugging on his hair to get him to look up, she pressed soft kisses along his jaw, trailing towards his mouth. "Well, we will have to try again later."

His answer was a soft growl as he rolled her onto her back and began to move inside her once again. "Much later."