THE RETURNING STORY ARC

STORY SUMMARY: Past collides with the future when old enemies and allies are brought back together in a devastating telepathic war. For Shadowcat, Rogue, Gambit, and Pyro, it will fundamentally alter everything they know.

DISCLAIMERS: All characters and organizations (with the exception of small, mostly unnamed minor characters) throughout the series are the product of Marvel.

CANONICAL NOTES: This story arc accepts X1, X2, and X3 as canon for characters and events. XO (Origins) is ignored.

LANGUAGE AND ACCENTS: Cajun French is courtesy of Heavenmetal (many thanks). French is courtesy of Disdainfully Arrogant and Marmottin (many thanks). I will not reproduce accents in this story arc. Imagine them in.

Like Day Follows Night

- 2 -

Story Summary: All they gained and lost. Kyro

Canonical Notes: Set before and during X1 through a little after X2.

Acknowledgements: Thank you to all the original reviewers for this fic when it was still one chapter and called "Night After Night."

Author's Note: This is an extension of "Night After Night," which seemed so lonely after all these drabble series. :grins:

First Day

She made him feel weak. Katherine "Kitty" Pryde, girl-next-door brainiac that should have been shy and wasn't, was the first person to make fire look like a paltry plaything.

It was St. John and Kitty's first round in the Danger Room ever, and she was winning.

He hated the feeling blossoming inside him, even if her eyes were kind. Or maybe that is what he hated most.

She stood, one hand in his gut, her whole body in the middle of his living flames. He could bend the fire to his will, but he could not make it burn her.