Discription: Sometimes all you need is the love of a child or the guidance of a mentor, especially if you happen to be one of the most hated mutants alive. This is the story of Mortimer Toynbee and Aurora Lassiere, a surrogate father and daughter.

Author's Note: Well, this popped in to my head one day while sitting outside watching it snow. There's a cat that always sits in a tree outside my window in the summertime, and I used to wonder where he went during the winter, and somehow this idea of some little girl letting Mortimer in to her house without qualms came up: and voila, a story was born...Scary, no?

Well...seeing as I'm a little bit...STUCK on Lack of Fear II, please enjoy this little blurb for now.

Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men. Or the Brotherhood. But I do own Aurora Lassiere, so...eh...well, that's not that big of a feat.

Just A Little Aurora

Prologue- Part One

Lenore Lassiere sprawled on the couch, a remote control held loosely in her hand. Her younger sister, Aurora, sat on the floor, playing with her dinosaur models. Aurora was 'feeding' her despised plastic dolls to these monsters; and the disturbing thing was, she found it quite amusing. Lenore shrugged. So did she.

Something Big had happened last week. Something very Big. Lenore had once aspired to become a Journalist- but on figuring in her extreme dislike for doing field research in any shape or form, this career option was extinguished in its early stages.

Lenore would much rather watching all the bad goings-on in the world far removed from the incident, preferably with a large bowl of popcorn and a 2-liter bottle of Mountain Dew.

Dan Everston, a fast-talking reporter with hair that always seemed to be cemented in to place appeared on the screen, a secretive smile on his face; suggesting that he was about to reveal Big News.

"Last week," for once Everston's voice was as slow as syrup, dragging out each and every word, seemingly to torture those waiting at home. "A group of mutant terrorists previously unknown attacked the U.N. officials at Ellis Island. Although no fatalities were reported among our World Leaders, 27 of New York’s finest were killed while guarding Liberty Island, not three miles away from the U.N. meeting place.

"As we have told you, tonight, with the permission of the New York Police department and the U.S. Board of National Security, we are going to reveal the identities of these mutant terrorists, and show you exclusive footage of the incident, found in security cameras on site."

Dan and his Hair O' Steel disappeared, replaced by a picture of a regal looking elderly gentleman with piercing blue eyes. "The leader of this organization was Erik Lensherr, code name, 'Magneto', his mutant power being the manipulation of metal and the creation of magnetic fields." Everston continued to speak off-screen. Lensherr's name appeared in bold underneath his photograph, along with the words 'in custody'.

"Lensherr was apprehended by the New York Police Department, and is currently being detained at a high-security prison whose name will be with held." a head-shot of a blue, scaled woman appeared, her eyes a penetrating yellow. "Raven Darkholme, codename Mystique, is next on the list. She has metamorphic powers. As such, she can replicate anyone or anything she sees. Darkholme was not apprehended by authorities. She is to be considered possibly armed and dangerous." The blue woman flicked off the screen, replaced by a feral looking man in his early thirties, with long hair, fangs, and blackened feline eyes. "Victor Creed, codename, Sabretooth. Creed is an animal-imitator mutant, his powers ones that imitate the likeness of a cat. He has super-human strength, speed, and heightened senses. Creed also possesses a 'healing factor’, which allows his body to mend much quicker than that of a normal person's. Creed was not captured, and is considered possibly armed and extremely dangerous. Creed has a history of attacking without provocation. If you see him, do not approach him. Unlike Darkholme, Creed has been spotted several times in forested areas in upper New York. " Lenore bit her lip nervously. Their house was in the more rural areas of New York, a few blocks to the north, and there were trees farther than the eye could see. Victor's image flashed off the screen, the next one was of a man in his early twenties. He was fairly attractive, but that is not what caught Lenore's attention. His skin was an unmistakable shade of green, as his hair was; although darker. His eyes were an almost frightening sheen of gold. But Lenore could not quite grasp the full intensity of them; for they were trained on a blurred image, which was being sent reeling backwards from the force of a recently delivered kick.

He was dressed in fully equipped battle gear; he looked like an assassin, not like he should belong in a small rag-tag mutant terror group. "Mortimer Toynbee, codenamed Toad, was found in floating in the Hudson after the incident, and detained in prison for a short while. Four days afterward, however, he escaped, leaving nine guards wounded and two dead. He has not been seen since, and should be considered possibly armed and extremely dangerous. Toynbee possesses the powers of his namesake; superior jumping abilities, enhanced speed, agility, strength, flexibility, heightened hearing, and enhanced strength- especially in his arms and legs. He can also climb walls with the aide of an extremely toxic substance secreted by his skin. This substance can also be spat from his mouth, and dries on contact with air. He also possesses a twenty-five foot long prehensile tongue, but authorities say the appendage will be useless for several more weeks because of severe electrical burns upon it. Authorities say he should be considered possibly armed and extremely dangerous; although he has no history of attacking unprovoked- he should by no means be approached. If you see any of these mutants, please call our hotline at...” Lenore flicked off the television quickly, hoping that her younger sister hadn't been paying much attention to the program.

"Time for bed, Aurora." she said.

"Already?" she said, gathering the plastic prehistoric lizards in her slender arms. "What time is it?" Aurora was six years of age and already reading, it was all she did- save for playing with her plastic demons and trailing her older sister like a shadow.

"Eight thirty. And you have to get up for kindergarten tomorrow." Aurora frowned. She didn't like the presence of people outside of her family as much as a child her age should. The girl nodded, and scurried up stairs, changing into her pajamas and setting out her clothes for the next day.

"No reading tonight, Aurora," said her sister through the door. "It's late already."

"Alright," said Aurora, grinning as she ambled in to bed, her room dark as pitch. After she was sure her sister was downstairs again, she reached for mini-flashlight she hid between her first and second mattresses, and began to read.

Not halfway down her page, the light sputtered and died, plunging her back in to darkness, the pages in front of her now meaning nothing. The girl sighed and pushed herself from the warmth in her bed, feeling her way to her desk. She fumbled her way through her assorted pens, pencils and crayons, until her fingers brushed up against the thing she so sorely needed. Ah, the wonders of triple-A batteries.

As she raised her head, to go back to her bed, she saw a something outside of her window. She turned quickly, to see a figure crouched in the tree outside her room, looking back at her with haunting yellow eyes.