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Angel In The Attic	By : fusedtwilight Category: X-men Comics > AU - Alternate Universe Views: 5328 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own X-men, it is the property of marvel comics and in no way do i make a profit from this fic.

Chapter List
- 32
- 33
- 34
Angel in the Attic
Chapter 33
Fusedtwilight: A big thanks to my beta lisa and to all you wonderful readers.
Amanda, Rickard, Victor, and Jean-Paul made their way into the hospital.
With each step he took Rickard's feet seemed to become heavier and heavier.
He had been so anxious to come here and visit his father he had completely forgotten about his family being there.
He had not seen nor spoken to any of his family members since he had left.
Freya was waiting for them inside; she had seen her niece running out to meet with Rickard and knew they would need a moment or two to catch up.
Amanda had adored Rickard, and even after all these years she still loved him very much.
Hopefully the others would be happy to see him as well.
They went inside and took the elevator to the intensive care unit. Rickard's father had passed out and fell down some stairs and despite saying he was feeling well enough to leave, the doctors felt otherwise.
"When did he find out he had cancer?" Rickard asked.
"Three years ago," Freya said.
"And you didn't contact me?"
"I wasn't even sure where you were. If I hadn't seen you on the news I wouldn't have known you were in America," she said. "It's not like you told us where you were going."
"Well it's not like you wanted to know where I was going!" Rickard snapped at her.
Freya looked at him with a hurt expression.
"Come on Rickard, let's not fight," Victor said placing his hand on Rickard's shoulder.
"Sorry," Rickard mumbled.
They got off the elevator was walked silently down the hall. Rickard could see his kin sitting outside the double doors that led to the ICU.
The Åhs clan had long been watching the group. They knew Rickard was coming and had been keeping an eye on the elevators, waiting for them to arrive.
Several of the younger people walked down the hall to meet them.
"Rickard!"
Hugs were exchanged. It was clear these people were his cousins. The family resemblance was strong.
"It's wonderful to see you!"
"Welcome back."
It was also clear that they were all very happy to see him again. They were all happy smiles and warm welcomes. Victor noticed a little girl was still with the adults. She looked like she was four or five.
She was looking at Rickard curiously; she kind of looked like Amanda. A sister perhaps?
"Victor, these are my cousins - Åke, Joel, Kevin, and Ebba and Heidi," Rickard said.
"Don't forget Kia," Amanda said.
"Where is she? She would be five now, right?"
Amanda pointed to where the little girl was.
"Yep, she's over there with mom and dad now."
"Where have you been all this time?" Joel asked.
"We have been so worried about you," Heidi said.
"Let's save the questions for now. I am sure your parents want to see Rickard as well," Freya said.
They made their way to the rest of the family.
Rickard was hugged by a small woman of about five-foot-three. She had dark hair with streaks of gray pulled up into a bun.
"Hello, Aunt Lena," Rickard greeted her.
"Look at you. You got bigger! Hard to believe, you put on some muscle. The boys must go wild over you."
Rickard laughed. He kissed her on top of the head.
He hugged his uncle Ericwho towered over Lena at six-foot-two. He had long blonde hair and hazel colored eyes.
Amanda leaned in to whisper to Victor and Jean-Paul how Rickard was related to everyone. He was Rickard's uncle through his father Tobias. They were Amanda and Kia's mother and father.
Rickard knelt down to look at Kia who was shyly hiding behind her father's legs.
"Hallå," Rickard said.
"Hallå," Kia repeated.
Rickard placed his hands together and held them in front of her. He opened them just a little and the tune for "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" could be heard.
Kia looked in amazement and wonder. She grabbed his hands and pulled them apart, expecting to see some kind of music box. She was amazed to find nothing at all, yet the music continued to play.
He kissed her on the top of her head and stood up. Next he went over to a couple. The man was about five-foot-six with black hair and a stocky build and the woman was half his size with blonde hair and blue eyes.
The man was Viggo and the woman was his wife Helga. Helga was the only girl of the Åhs siblings and Tobias's younger sister. They were Joel and Heidi's parents.
Victor thought Joel must have gotten his height from his mother's side of the family because he was well over six-feet tall, taller than either of his parents.
Finally, there was Alexandra and Elov. They were Åke, Kevin,and Ebba's parents. Alexandra had brown hair and green eyes. She had a generous figure and an elegant face.
Rickard hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. Elov however, had his hands behind his back. He was the tallest at five-foot-five and was very brawny. He had blue eyes, blonde hair, and sharp eyes. He had his hands clasped behind his back and stood stiffly.
Amanda explained he was the oldest and had been in the Swedish Armed Forces and he was very strict. He apparently did not approve of Rickard leaving his family without so much as a goodbye and warned he was sure to give Rickard grief about it.
Instead of hugging his nephew like his siblings had, he merely shook his hand.
"You finally came back home, Rickard."
"Yes, Uncle Elov," Rickard said.
"Shame it took Tobias dying to bring you back."
Rickard flinched as if he had been struck.
"Tobias, please," Alexandra said to him quietly.
"No, I won't let everyone just welcome him back with open arms after he abandoned the family without so much as a goodbye. We were all worried sick!"
"That's not true! I didn't want to leave!" Rickard said.
"Oh? Then please explain why you left your poor parents after they lost their daughter?"
"Enough!" Freya snapped. "Now is not the time. This is about Tobias!"
"Does he even know you called, Rickard?" Eric asked.
Freya looked down at the floor.
"Oh boy," Helga said.
"He's not going to be happy," Alexandra said.
"I knew he would be a stubborn ass about it. I would have told him! In case you all didn't notice, he is not doing so well. I was hoping for a reconciliation."
"Perhaps Rickard should go see his dad now. I am sure they have a lot to talk about," Victor said.
Everyone had been ignoring Jean-Paul and Victor up until that point. But then they all looked at the two of them with interest.
"And who are the two of you exactly?" Elov asked.
"They are my friends from America. They flew me over here," Rickard said.
"Friends? You mean mutants?" Viggo asked.
"Of course they are, look at his ears," Lena said pointing to Jean-Paul's elf-like ears.
"With all those body modifications people do nowadays, it's hard to tell," Eric said.
"Wait...you're Jean-Paul. You're that guy from Alpha Flight!" Ebba said.
"The same guy who was an Olympic skier!" Joel said.
"Are you and Rickard boyfriends?" Kevin asked.
Victor bit his lip. He could see how awkward Jean-Paul was at being asked so many personal questions.
"Guys, he is not my boyfriend' he is a co-worker!" Rickard said.
"Then who is he?" Elov asked pointing to Victor.
"Victor. Pleased to meet you all," Victor said.
"And why are you here? You seem awfully young to be a teacher."
"I am a student actually, Rickard is my friend."
"Funny, I don't see any other friends," Elov said coolly.
"Elov, mind your manners, Rickard's friends did not travel all this way to be treated like this," Freya said.
"Well, if they are going to barge in on family business they should be expected to be asked a few questions," Elov said.
"They did not barge in, they are here to support Rickard, you old ox," Helga said.
Just then the door leading to Tobias's room flew open.
"For the love of God, how is a man supposed to get some rest with you morons yapping away out here?!"
The man who stood in the doorway was obviously Tobias Åhs. He was six-foot-six but he had sickly, pale skin and a gaunt face with hollow cheeks. He wore a hospital gown and had an IV hooked into his right arm.
"Tobias, what are you doing up?" Freya said walking over to her husband.
"Came out to tell you all to shut up! I don't know what's killing me quicker, the cancer or your damn ramblings."
"Dad," Rickard said looking at his father with shock.
It was a blow for him to see his father so frail.
Tobias gave Rickard a stone hard look.
"Well, look who is here. I take it your mother called you?"
Rickard nodded.
"Well, let's get this over with then. Come on boy, let's have some words."
Tobias walked back inside, waving for Rickard to follow him in. Rickard took a deep breath.
"We're right here if you need us, Rickard," Victor said giving his hand a gentle squeeze.
"Thanks," Rickard said.
He followed his father into the room, shutting the door behind him, leaving Victor and Jean-Paul outside with the rest of the family.

Michael sat next to Joe on the couch.
He had just told him about his sister and how she died.
"I should have been there for her. I could have used my power to save her."
"No, you would have died. They had this mutant power dampener. Otherwise I would have turned them to ash," Michael said.
"All these years I could have contacted her. I should have...I should have at least sent her a note. Or something. Let her know I was a changed man. That I was not the same bastard she once knew."
"My parents were not very mutant-friendly. Knowing them they would have called the police on you."
"But you're a mutant too, right?" he asked.
Michael nodded. "Yeah, they were not too happy about that."
"My God, I never knew you and I still managed to ruin your life. All because I was such a fool."
"You didn't ruin my life. Yeah, for a long time being what I was caused some issues between my family and me. But we were finally able to get past all that, and for a while we were just like what we had once been."
"I am thankful you managed to escape. I am sorry you had to see such a horrific thing. I cannot even begin to imagine what that must have felt like."
"I avenged them, they rest in peace now. That is all that matters."
Joe placed his hand on Michael's shoulder.
"You're a good boy. Mary raised a fine son."
"Can I ask, how did you wind up here?" Michael asked.
"Well, you know my story. I was a young punk who thought he was the king of the world. I was popular in school; people adored me and my parents bragged about my talent in sports all the time. It all went to my head. Then when my powers developed I found all that adoration and belief made me stronger and stronger. I started to think I was something like a god. Luckily the X-Men showed up and gave me the ass-kicking I deserved."
"Mom said you vanished. After you left she had to leave town with her parents."
"I imagine so, once they realized I wasn't an angel but a mutant; they would have needed someone to vent their anger on. But I was too scared and ashamed to go back home. The X-Men gave me a much needed reality check and I realized the error of my ways. I was always afraid they would find me and arrest me. I traveled around a lot, using my power to charm someone into giving me a job. Eventually I settled here and made a new life for myself. I realized this was a chance for me to atone for my sins. So I joined the church to use my gifts to help people."
"Help them how?"
"Over time I refined my gifts. Learned how to focus them on just one person. I use them to talk to people, to get them to open up to me and let me soothe away their doubts and fears. I have helped a lot of people."
"You seem to have made a good life for yourself. I am sure mother is happy to see the man you are now."
"I hope so. I always wanted to find her. To apologize for what I did."
"So, Jericho seems...tough," Michael said.
Joe sighed.
"He's a good boy. He really is. But his mom dying hit him hard. He loved her a lot. And the situation with his mutation is not making things easy for him either. I admit I can be a bit hard on him. I just don't want him to go down the same path I did."
"What is his mutation?"
"He's got wings like you and me. His hair has also turned blue."
"Blue?"
"Yeah, that's why he wears the hoodie. We just tell people he dyed it of course. I had hoped that was all he would get but he got another gift as well."
"What gift?"
"The gift that told me you were a mutant."
Michael and Joe jumped at the sound of Jericho's voice.
They turned to see him walk from around the corner of the doorway.
"Damn it Jericho, how many times do I have to tell you not to do that!" Joe chastised.
"You knew I was a mutant?" Michael asked.
"Yeah. You're like dad and me, but you're stronger. A lot stronger. You have a shit ton of power in you and you have only scratched the surface."
"How long have you been listening?" Joe asked.
"I showed up around the time you told him I am a good boy and all. Thanks for outing me, by the way, dad."
"Michael is family. We can trust him."
Jericho frowned. "Family?"
"He's your cousin."
"Since when do I have a cousin called Michael?"
Michael stood up. "My mom was your dad's sister. She died recently and I was able to find him and here I am."
"Your mom died?"
"Murdered."
"Shit."
"Language," Joe said firmly.
"So, I'll show you mine if you show me yours."
"Excuse me?" Michael asked.
"Your wings. I know you got a pair."
"Oh...okay."
Michael took his coat and shirt off. He spread his wings; he smiled happily as the muscles stretched out from their confinement.
"Nice," Jericho said.
He took off his hoodie and Michael saw his hair was blue just as Joe said it was. He took off his shirt and stretched his wings. He had two pairs of wings, each black as night. Michael was reminded of Abreal's dark wings. But unlike the nihilist's, Jericho had a single white spot on each wing that looked like an eye.
"Pretty cool, huh?"
"Not bad. So, when did your power manifest?"
"Last year. It was before mom got sick. She and dad were so proud. They took me out to celebrate. You'd think it was my birthday."
"Your mother and I always knew you might turn into a mutant. We were just happy it wasn't something more severe or something you couldn't control. So we decided to celebrate," Joe said.
"Your dad mentioned that being a mutant has caused some difficulty for you. What did he mean?" Michael asked.
"I sense mutations. How strong they are, what they can do. Like I can tell if a mutant is psychic but I can also tell if they are mind readers or move stuff with their brain. But I can also sense the gene when it is dormant. But I can still tell what a person can be even if they are still human."
"We have someone like that. Her name is Tessa. She's a telepath and can do what you do and activate the gene."
Jericho and Joe shared a look.
"Well, perhaps we should have a meeting with this woman," Joe said.
Michael looked at the two of them with a confused expression.
"I can activate the gene in someone. I didn't know I could do it. There was this guy at school. Some douche who thought he was cooler than the rest. He made a remark about my mom and I was about to mess his pretty face up when I felt his gene activate. He became a frog-man. Did great for his athletics but it turns out his skin secreted a toxin that paralyzed whoever touched it."
"What happened to him?" Michael asked.
"He left town. Heard some kids at school say his parents sent him to live with some relatives."
-Michael dear, could you kindly ask your uncle to allow us entry? We're getting rather bored out here.- Emma's voice spoke in Michael's head.
"Uncle Joe, my friends would like to come in."
"You mean the X-Men?"
"The X-Men!" Jericho said amazed.
"Yeah, I am a student with them."
"Wow, here I thought you were just a wimpy Bible boy," Jericho said.
"This from the preacher's son," Michael said.
"Oh, catty."

"So, you and Rickard, huh?"
Victor looked to Amanda.
"What?"
"I saw the look you guys shared. I know what that look means. You didn't come here because you are his friend. You're here because you and he are a thing right?"
Victor looked around. No one else was close enough to hear them.
"Yeah, we're dating."
"Called it!" she said pumping her fist.
"Could you not tell anyone? I don't want to upset an already delicate situation."
"It's cool. I kind of have to hand it to my cousin, he sure can be scandalous."
Victor smiled.
"But thanks for coming. I am glad Rickard has someone like you who is willing to travel halfway across the world to help him through such a tough time."
"He's a great guy. He's wonderful and amazing and he is kind and compassionate and I know he would do anything for our friends and me."
"Rickard is one of those guys who tries to take everyone's burden. His greatest strength is also his greatest weakness," she said. "I knew the guilt would drive him away. He became so withdrawn after the accident."
"Well, it's not like his parents helped."
Amanda gave him a sharp look.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, they blamed him for what happened."
She looked like she had been slapped in the face.
"Why in God's name would you think that?"
"Well, Rickard said his parents blamed him. That they kicked him out."
Amanda turned her head.
"Aunt Freya! Come here!" she called.
"What are you doing?" Victor asked.
Freya walked over. "What is it?" she asked.
"Tell her what you told me, Victor."
"I don't thin-"
"You have to tell her!"
"Tell me what?" Freya asked.
"Rickard told Victor you and Uncle Tobias blamed him for the accident."
"What?!"
Victor wished he hadn't told Amanda what Rickard told him. He may have just opened up some wounds that still hadn't healed yet.
"Why would he say that?"
"Well, he said you guys blamed him for it, that you kicked him out."
"We never said any such thing! And we certainly wouldn't kick out our only son. Especially given his condition!"
"What do you mean?" Victor asked.
"After the accident Rickard was catatonic. Tobias and I had to take care of him. We were the only ones keeping him alive! We begged him to wake up, to come back to us!"
Freya started to cry. The other family members started to walk over to see what was wrong.
Victor was confused. Why would Rickard lie about his parents? Something wasn't adding up.

Tobias sat down in a chair.
"So, glad you still cared enough to come and visit. Even if I am dying," he said.
"Mom called me and told me. I came as soon as I could."
"Maybe if you hadn't left you would have been here with me the day I learned I had cancer."
Rickard rubbed his arm. He was thankful Josh had gotten over his issues with his powers and regained control to grow it back. It had been a pain trying to do everything one-handed, though Victor had been a big help of course but it was nice to have the missing limb back.
"I didn't want to leave. You knew that."
"Well, it wasn't like you were exactly talking to us!" Tobias snapped.
Rickard got an angry look on his face. "I tried talking but all I got all from you was how it was all my fault!"
"How dare you try and play the victim! We did everything in our power to care for you and you just up and left!"
"Me! I left because you and mom hated me!"
"That's a damn lie!"
Just then voices filled the room. Tobias's and Freya's. Accusing him of being a failure and a murderer. But soon more voices joined them, the voices of the other people who died that night when Rickard's power caused the explosion.
They blamed him, they cried out in pain and sorrow at the loss of their lives.
Tobias looked around in confusion.
"What is this?" he demanded.
"Stop it! Stop it!" Rickard said grabbing his head.
He fell to his knees clutching his head.
"Rickard, what is happening?" Tobias asked.
Just then the door flew open and Victor came running in.
"Mother of God!" Tobias said.
Victor's hologram was no longer on and his true form was revealed. Freya quickly followed behind him.
"Rickard, you have to snap out of it!" Victor yelled.
Rickard could not hear him. The voices continued to yell and scream at him. Tobias and Freya could hear their daughter's voice among the chorus asking her brother why he let her die.
"What is happening? Where are these voices coming from? And what in the name of Christ happened to you?" Tobias asked.
"Rickard is losing control, they're coming from him, and this is how I always look. I was wearing an image inducer so not to freak you all out!" Victor said.
"What do you mean he is losing control?" Freya asked.
"Rickard thought you and your husband blamed him for what happened! He was so overcome with guilt his power began to replicate your voices. He thought he heard you saying those things to him when it was actually his own subconscious. That's why he left! That's why he tried to kill himself!"
Freya and Tobias turned white as paper.
"He-he tried to kill himself?" Freya gasped.
Victor nodded glumly.
"The X-Men got to him before he could finish the job. Your son thought you hated him. He was so overcome with guilt and grief that his power replicated your voices because that is how he thought you felt!"
The voices were growing louder and louder. They were becoming very painful to hear.
"Rickard, stop this!" Freya yelled.
"I don't think he can hear us!" Victor said.
Tobias stood up and walked over to Rickard. He raised his hand and struck his son across the face with all his strength.
Rickard's face jerked to the side and the voices disappeared.
"Well that worked," Victor said.
Rickard rubbed his cheek where his father had slapped him.
"Is it true? Did you try to take your own life?" Tobias asked.
Rickard was unable to speak, he was unable to look his father in the eyes; he felt so much shame.
Tobias saw the leather cuff bracelet he wore and grabbed his arm and ripped it off. Freya sobbed when she saw the scar there.
Tobias began to stagger as if all the air had left him.
"Why...how could...how could you do this, Rickard?" he asked.
Freya walked over to her son and wrapped her arms around him.
"Oh my baby, my little boy, why would you do that?" she asked.
"I couldn't take it anymore. It wasn't just Oskar and Katrina, it was all those people who I killed. They said it wasn't my fault but if it wasn't for me all those people would have gone home. Back to their lives and their families. They all died because of me. I shouldn't have driven that night but I thought I could handle it, I was a damn fool I...I..."
The voices were starting to return again.
Victor walked over to Rickard and using his left hand he grabbed Rickard's face and made him look at him.
"You listen to me, Rickard Åhs. To me, not the voices you think you are hearing. Your parents never blamed you. You blamed yourself. You were so full of guilt and self-loathing your own power made the voices you thought you heard."
"But-"
"You were catatonic, Rickard. Do you remember that?"
Rickard got a thoughtful look on his face.
"You can't, can you?" Victor asked gently.
"Rickard, we took care of you. We had to make you eat. Don't you remember all the times we begged for you to wake up and come back to us?" Freya asked.
"All I remember was you telling me it was my fault," Rickard said.
"Were you looking at her when she said this? Did the words come from her mouth?" Victor asked.
"No."
"Rickard, you have lived with a burden that was not just yours to carry. Your mom, your dad, all of your family suffered. They were there for you the whole time. But you blamed yourself and pulled away from them. It's time you forgave yourself and moved on with your life. Oskar and Katrina would not want you to torture yourself like this. Your parents need you now more than ever. Let go of the pain and embrace life," Victor said.
Tobias walked up to them and placed his hand on Rickard's shoulder.
"Come back to us, Rickard. It's time you came home."
The voices slowly died away. And for the first time in many years Rickard felt as though a terrible weight had been lifted off of his heart.
He wrapped his arms around his parents and Victor.
"I love you all. Can you forgive me for running away?"
"Can you forgive us for not trying harder to find you? If we had been more diligent maybe you would not have tried to kill yourself," Freya said.
"I'm here now, that is all that matters."
They broke the hug.
"Before we continue I have a few questions. Why the hell is he a lizard." He pointed a finger to Victor. "And why do I get the feeling you're more than just friends with my son?"
Rickard and Victor looked at one another.
"Why is your image inducer off?" Rickard asked.
"Funny story," Victor said with a laugh.

The X-Men sat in Joseph's house.
There was a bit of tension, which given the past between Joseph and the X-Men, was understandable.
"It's been a long time, Joseph," Scott said his face firm.
"Yes it has. Where is the girl? What was her name? The redhead?" Joe asked.
"Jean. She passed away."
"I am sorry to hear that. I had the feeling you and her were close."
"You met the X-Men?" Jericho asked.
"A long time ago. I was a different man back then. A lesser man," Joe said.
"You weren't working for Magneto or anything were you?"
"Oh good lord, no! But I was still a horrible fool. If it weren't for the X-Men I could have hurt a lot of people. I know you have no reason to trust or believe me. But I am thankful you stopped me. I only wish I could take it all back."
"The past is past. You have changed your ways and made a good life for yourself," Hank said.
"Are you kidding, this is great!" Jericho said. "Now the next time he tries to ground me I can just pull the 'you were evil once too' card!"
"It isn't an excuse to be used, Jericho. What I did hurt many people and ruined my relationship with my family. The last time I saw my sister she thought me a monster and I never got to see her, meet her husband, or my niece and nephew."
"You still have me at least," Michael said with a smile.
"Perhaps you could be the influence Jericho needs."
"Hey, I don't need anyone's influence!" Jericho said hotly.
"Says the one who was arrested for petty theft," Joe said.
"One time!"
"Several times actually."
"Okay, one time today."
"Then there is the fighting at school, the ditching of classes, the bad attitude-"
"Coming from the guy who started his own cult!"
Before Joe could say something Emma gasped.
"What is it?" Scott asked her.
"I think we are about to have company," she said.
"She's right, someone's coming. Mutants!" Jericho said.
"How many?" Scott asked.
"I don't know, I sensed them for a few seconds but now they are gone," Emma said.
"There's eight of them. They are coming here," Jericho said.
"Are you expecting company, Uncle Joe?" Michael asked.
"No I-"
The wall exploded. Everyone fell to the floor. On instinct, Michael covered his uncle and cousin with his body.
"Is everyone okay?!" Scott yelled.
"What the hell was that?" Bobby shouted.
"Well, well. Look who it is," a familiar voice said.
The dust settled down and Mystique stood with Blob, Pyro, Sabertooth, Avalanche, Unus, Toad, and Lady Mastermind.
"Been awhile, huh?" Mystique asked.

The door to the hospital room opened.
A man walked in wearing a black suit with a matching tie. He wore a pair of thin wire glasses and had his hair neatly trimmed and styled.
He held a small vase of flowers and shut the door behind him.
He frowned when he saw the sheets on the bed were pulled up, covering its occupant.
He set the vase on the table next to the bed and was about to pull the covers down when his phone began to ring.
He quickly answered when he saw it was from an unknown number.
"Hello?"
"It is done. My men killed her."
The man smiled. "Good. I will immediately transfer the money."
"It's going to have to be more."
The man frowned. "That was not in the agreement."
"She had two other mutants with her. There was a fight but all three of them are dead now. Killing mutants costs extra."
"Fine. I will add them to the bill."
"Pleasure doing business with you."
He ended the call and looked down at the figure in the bed.
"It is done, sir. You have been avenged at last. Just as I promised. That mutant bitch has paid with her life."
He pulled the blanket down to find Franziska glaring up at him.
"Rumors of my demise were greatly exaggerated, Hans," she said.
Hans backed away from her. "How?"
"Your thugs might have killed me had it not been for my friends," she said coldly.
"What friends?"
The door to the restroom opened and Angie walked out.
"The next time you decided to have someone assassinated, you should make sure they are not members of the X-Men, asshole."
"Where is Carl?" Hans asked.
The curtain was pulled back to reveal Carl in a wheelchair in front of Wayne.
"Dude's fine."
"Get away from him!"
Hans reached into his suit and pulled out a small gun. He aimed it at Wayne but before he could fire it Franziska raised her hand and it flew out of his grasp and floated beyond his reach.
"You have a lot to answer for, Hans," she said.
"Me? After what you did?" He nodded to Carl. "Look at what you have done! You could not have just killed him, you had to turn him into a damned vegetable!"
"I loved my father! But he was not innocent, Hans!"
"Oh don't give me that! He treated you like you were the sun itself!"
"You don't know what he was like when my mother died!"
"I know he was devastated by her loss and locked you away to keep you safe! And that is how you repaid him!"
"He attacked me, Hans! I was defending myself!"
"You lying whore! He adored you!"
His tone was filled with so much venom and bitterness it made Franziska pause.
"Why do all this? I know you loved him like he was your father."
Hans laughed but it was bare of anything warm or humorous.
"That's because he is my father, you stupid cow!"
The room was silent.
"Dun, dun, duuuuuuuun!"
Of course it had to be ruined by Wayne who would never miss a chance to throw in a one-liner.
Everyone glared at him.
"Sorry, couldn't resist," he said with a shrug.
"What do you mean he is your father?" Angie asked.
"Before he met Franziska's mother Carl had a secret love affair with one of the maids," Hans said.
"Ohh, that's hot."
"Shut up, Wayne!" Angie snapped.
"When I was born Carl loved me; he never sent me away or treated me like the bastard I was. He was not able to acknowledge me as his son in public due to the scorn and shame that would fall on the family name. But he made sure my mother and I had a very comfortable life. He was secretly grooming me to be his heir."
"Did my mother ever know about you?" Franziska asked.
"She didn't know until she was on her death bed. But after her death he was inconsolable. He was devastated! When your wings appeared and he locked you up I inquired why he did that. He said it was to keep you safe."
"He told me it was my fault she died! You were not around when he was drunk and in a rage!"
"I was there plenty for him Franziska! While you were in your tower I was trying to keep him from falling apart! I had to help him clean himself after he vomited all over himself from drinking too much!"
Tears began to form in his eyes as he looked over at Carl.
"I was the one to find him. I had been looking for him to go over some business deals. When I couldn't find him I decided to look in the tower. I found him on the floor."
Franziska could see the memory. He was unintentionally projecting it. It was such a raw and painful memory.
Finding Carl's unconscious body and holding him, trying to wake him up.
Listening to the doctors tell him about Carl being brain dead and probably never waking up.
Having to take over Carl's affairs and business and every day hoping he would wake up.
"How did you find me?" Franziska asked.
"The local paper did a story when the Purifiers attacked the church you were hiding in. Then you were on the news when they attacked the Xavier school. I have had people trying to find you for a long time and one of them noticed you in the background on the television. When I realized what you were, I knew it was you who did this to him!"
He glared at her with such hate and venom she could not look in his eyes.
"He attacked me that night, Hans. He was drunk and he tried to rip my wings from my back…"
She looked at him with a sorrowful look.
"Do you know what it is like to hear someone's thoughts? To know exactly what they think? Can you imagine what it must be like to hear your own father's mind when he is attacking you? When he is so full of alcohol and hate you are no longer his child but something to vent his frustration on?"
"Lies! He loved you more than anything!"
Franziska got off the bed. She walked over to Hans. The gun floated into her hand and for one wild moment Wayne and Angie thought she was going to shoot Hans.
Instead she released her hold on him.
"Here." She handed him the gun.
"Go on finish it."
"What!"
"No!"
Wayne and Angie went to stop them but Franziska held up her hand. Wayne and Angie found themselves pinned to the wall unable to move.
"What are you playing at?" he asked.
"Go on. Finish it. End it here and now, avenge father. Go on, I won't stop you."
You're insane!" he said.
"No I'm just tired, Hans. Tired of the guilt, tired of the memory of what I once had. Tired of running from my past. No matter how far I run, no matter what I do, it comes back to haunt me. I loved father and I knew a part of him loved me. But he was so overcome by pain and sadness he tried to hurt me. I had to hear his thoughts as he tried to rip my wings off, Hans. He didn't think twice about how much it was hurting me. So in panic and fear for my own life I defended myself. The last thing I ever heard him say was how it was my fault she died, that I was cursed. My last memory was of the monster he became. And now I have to watch as my brother becomes just like that. No. Something worse."
She grabbed his hand and moved it so the gun was pressed where her heart was.
"If I could fix what I did, I would, Hans. Before you arrived I tried to bring him back. I entered his mind. I tried to wake him up. But even I can't fix him. So go on, finish it, Hans. If you think it will give you peace. Because I would rather be dead then see you become like our father. He was a good man once, and now look at him. So if doing this can save you from being consumed by rage like he was, then I will die."
Wayne and Angie called out to her and tried to stop her, but she held them back.
Hans pressed the gun against her chest. His lips pulled back in a snarl.
Franziska closed her eyes and waited.
Hans, who hand was shaking, his finger on the trigger, slowly put more and more pressure on the trigger. Then, just when he would have pulled the trigger, his arm went limp and fell to the side.
"I can't," he said.
He fell to his knees and began to weep. He dropped the gun and it fell to the floor.
Franziska knelt next to him and hugged him.
Wayne and Angie were freed of her hold but they decided to let brother and sister have their moment.

Kid Wendigo fought with Blob.
Beast took on Sabertooth.
Emma and Lady Mastermind fought with their minds.
Ice-Man and Pyro dueled and Speed Demon was fighting Toad.
Mystique had vanished which was not a good sign. Given her level of metamorphic abilities she could literally be anything, waiting for the right moment to strike like a cobra.
Seraph stood by his family. Making sure they were safe.
"Why are these people attacking us?" Joe asked.
"I think they're after me!" Seraph said.
"Why would they be after you, Michael?"
"They tried to kidnap me before. And call me Seraph. We're in a battle now and we use code names."
Cyclops was fighting Unus. He fired an eye blast at him but it merely pushed him back. Unus had a shield that covered his body. Most wrongly assumed he had super-human strength and invulnerability when it was in fact due to his shield.
"Why are you after Michael again? Didn't Magneto learn from the last time?" Cyclops asked.
"Who said anything about him?" Unus asked.
"What?"
"We didn't even know you guys were here."
Cyclops knew their target could only be Joe or Jericho. The question was who. Both could be useful to Magneto. Joe with his power of persuasion could help recruit more mutants to Magneto's cause, and Jericho could be used to find mutants whose gene hadn't activated.
How easy would it be to lure in young and impressionable teens with the promise of having a superpower?
"Seraph, get them out of here!" Cyclops yelled.
Seraph knew who he meant. He grabbed Joe and Jericho and pulled them towards the nearest car.
"Let's go!"
"Go where?" Joe asked.
"As far from here as we can get!"
They ran through the house and out to the front lawn. People were already fleeing as they saw the energy blasts from Cyclops's visor shooting through the air.
"What is going on? Are you all hurt?" a woman asked running up to them.
"No, we're fine. You need to leave; this place is not safe!" Joe said.
"Come with me. I can-"
She didn't get to finish her sentence. Michael had summoned a ball of angel fire and tossed it at the woman, blasting her back several feet.
"What in the hell are you doing, you psycho?" Joe yelled.
"She's a shifter, I can sense it!" Jericho said.
The woman stood up and chuckled. "You're just as talented as we were told."
They watched as she transformed into Mystique.
"I get how you can sense what I am. That's your gift. But how did you know?" she asked Seraph.
"Your body may change Mystique, but your soul is still as black as coal. You didn't think I forgot you were sneaking around? The second you approached us I knew you were either a very brave pedestrian or a sneaky snake."
"Guess you picked up a few tricks since we last met."
"I have. Why do you want them?" he asked nodding to Joe and Jericho.
"Since the Morlocks betrayed us Magneto needs someone to run Cerebrus. Exodus has been standing in for Caliban but even with his power we can't zone in on the mutants we want. But with that boy we can search the earth for the mutants our group needs. Hell, we can even find them before their powers activate."
"Bitch, you're crazy if you think I am going anywhere with you!" Jericho said.
"Sad thing is, she is crazy," Seraph said.
"I have one reason why you should shut up, boy."
She pulled out a gun and aimed it at Seraph.
She pulled the trigger and shot a bullet at Seraph.
His eyes flashed a white light and the bullet was disintegrated before it hit him.
"And I have ninety-nine problems…"He raised his hand and shot a beam of angel fire at Mystique that blasted her through the wall of another house. "And bitch, you're not one."
"Dude, that was awesome!" Jericho said bumping his fist.
They got in Joe's car and took off.
"We need to call for reinforcements!" Seraph said.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out an X-phone and dialed the emergency number.
"This is Seraph. Code Red! I repeat, Code Red! We are under attack by several members of the Brotherhood! Mystique, Pyro, Avalanche, Blob, Toad, Unus, Lady Mastermind, Sabertooth-"
Just then the car stopped. It floated two feet off the ground and was disassembled by some invisible force. The three of them fell to the ground as the bits and pieces of the car hovered around a floating figure.
"Don't forget me," Exodus said with a grin.
"And Exodus," Seraph said into the phone.
Exodus waved his hand and the phone let out a spark as it was fried.
"It has been a long time, Michael Bronson. Magneto sends his regards."
"Holy crap!" Jericho said. "That guy is powerful!"
"You sense my power, boy? Good, then you know I am not one to be trifled with. Come with me and your father and cousin will be spared."
"How do you know they are my kin?" Seraph asked.
"I read your mind and I read their minds. It is unfortunate you chose this day to meet with your long-lost kin. But do not interfere. Lord Magneto values a powerful mutant like yourself and still hopes you will change your ways."
"Tell Lord Magneto to blow me!"
Seraph summoned his spear and held it up.
"I won't lose any more family. Not to humans, not to mutants, not to anyone!"
"Now now, let us not fight!" Joe said.
He looked at Exodus. His voice was pleading.
"Sir, I beg of you. He is my only son; he is all I have left. Look into your heart and show mercy. Is there not another way for us to resolve our issues? Must we fight? Can we not sit down like civilized beings and talk this out?"
Joe's words made sense. Why did they have to fight? This was so stupid. If they just talked about the situation they could surely come to some understanding of some sort.
"You're powerful, sir."
Exodus flicked his wrist and Joe went flying back.
"But I am one of the world's strongest telepaths. Your tricks won't work on me!"
Seraph was about to blast him when he found he could not move.
"Enough of this. Do not fight me; I can control your mind as easily as Charles Xavier could. I am taking the boy and there is nothing you can to stop me."
He levitated Jericho who found himself just as immobile as Seraph.
No! Not again! Not again! I won't...let...this...happen!
Seraph felt his power explode forth. He could feel the angel fire fill him up until he felt like he was about to burst.
He entered the archistratege and was able to break Exodus's hold on his mind.
He flew at the pink-skinned mutant like a cannon. He hit him so hard they went flying into the sky.
Exodus hit him with a telekinetic blast and Seraph flew back. He tossed his spear at him but Exodus deflected it and it fell to the ground.
The two of them continued to battle while Jericho helped his dad stand up.
"Dad, are you okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine, son. We need to get you out of here."
They heard the sound of a gun being cocked.
"You're not going anywhere."
Mystique had arrived and was pointing her gun at them.
She laughed. "Well, the boy is coming with me."
"You're not taking my son!" Joe said standing in front of Jericho.
"Please say 'Over my dead body', that would make this so ironic."
Just then Seraph's spear landed in front of them. Jericho picked up and pointed it at her.
She began to laugh.
"Really? A spear? I have a gun, you idiot. Unless you can deflect bullets, I suggest you-"
The tip of the spear glowed white and a beam of angel fire shot out and hit her. When she landed on the ground her body was smoking and she was unmoving.
"Holy shit!" Jericho said.
"How did you do that?" Joe asked.
"I don't know! I just got really angry and it blasted her! Think Michael will let me keep this?"
Joe took the spear from him. "I really don't think you should steal from your cousin."
Above them Exodus and Seraph continued their fight.
Seraph threw volleys of angel fire at his foe but Exodus used his telekinesis to block them. He tried to enter Exodus's mind but every time he tried his mind was filled with a searing white light that gave him a severe headache.
He wrapped Seraph in a telekinetic bubble with the intent to crush him, but Seraph let out a mighty war cry and with his angel fire broke his hold.
He flew at Exodus, his whole body charged with empyreal flame.
Exodus raised his arms, forming a telekinetic shield.
The clash of these two mighty powers made an amazing explosion.
There was a flash of white light in the sky, many people stopped to look up at it, even the X-Men and Brotherhood paused to see what was going on.
There was a small sphere in the sky like a mini-sun. Bolts of lightning flew from it.
Inside this sphere Seraph continued his onslaught on Exodus. Even with the shield blocking him he did not relent.
"You think you can beat me, boy? I can do this all day!" Exodus yelled.
"And I can do this for all time!" Seraph screamed.
Neither one relented; Exodus maintained his shield and Seraph continued to press his fist against it.
But the truth was, both were becoming tired. Exodus could feel the force of the angel fire pressing all around him, hitting every inch of his shield with great force. And it was only getting stronger and stronger.
Seraph was tiring as well; it was taking a lot of effort for him to maintain the archistratege. He was still young and had not mastered his power. The longer he used it the harder it was to keep it active.
It was now simply a waiting game to see who would tire first.
Seraph knew if he powered down, Exodus would have no trouble defeating him with his mind alone. Exodus knew he could not let his telekinesis down for even a second. He knew what the angel fire was capable of and did not wish to see what it could do to him.
Seraph summoned every bit of strength he had in him and let out a battle cry. His fist broke through Exodus's shield and he grabbed his face.
Exodus screamed in pain as the angel fire burned his skin.
"Listen to me Exodus, I have a message for Magneto. Jericho and Joseph are off limits. If you or any of Magneto's lackeys ever so much as spit in their direction, I promise I will bring hell on him and his group! I will never lose anyone who calls me family again!"
"Seraph, stop!" a voice yelled.
Seraph looked down and saw that Cyclops and the other X-Men had arrived.
Seraph looked back to Exodus.
"Leave, and never bother them again!'
He released Exodus and he flew back, clutching his face. There was a burn mark on his face in the shape of a hand.
"This isn't over, boy! You haven't seen the last of me!"
Exodus vanished and Seraph powered down. He flew back to the ground and almost collapsed from exhaustion.
"Are you alright?" Joe asked ad Jericho and he helped him up.
"Yeah. Still trying to break that mode in. Takes a lot out of me."
"The Brotherhood took off. When they saw you fighting Exodus they decided to run for it," Beast said.
Seraph noticed Speed Demon was covered in a foul-smelling mucus.
"What happened to you?" he asked.
"Freaking Toad! He kept spitting that nasty green crap at me. I stepped in some of it and got stuck and he went all out on me."
"Before we leave we need to get you washed up. I am not flying all the way to San Francisco with you smelling like that," Kid Wendigo said.
"Agreed," Beast said.
"Will they come after Jericho again?" Joe asked.
"I warned Exodus not to. But bad guys are not known for taking a hint," Seraph said.
"He would be safer with us. We can teach him how to control his power. In fact, he could help us teach our students better. With your gift you could teach people to harness their gifts in what would take years of training," Emma said.
"I can't leave. Who will look after my dad?" Jericho asked.
"Son, I can look after myself. Magneto doesn't want me. You need to be with others like us. You need to stop hiding."
"You've been hiding your whole life!"
"Yes, and it is a terrible burden." He placed his hands on Jericho's shoulders. "Go with them. Be the man I never was when I was your age. A better man."
Jericho and Joseph hugged.
Seraph felt a terrible pain in his chest. He was happy for them. But a part of him felt longing.
"Okay, I'll go. But you better come visit!" Jericho said.
"Of course. What better way to enjoy a vacation then with my son and nephew?" Joe asked.
"Uncle Joe, mom would be proud of you. One of my gifts is seeing into a person. And I can tell whoever you were once, you are no longer like that. You're a good man and a wonderful father and I am proud to call you uncle."
"Thank you. Look after your cousin. He can be a handful, but he is a good boy."
They hugged and left to go back to the house. They could already hear the sirens and they had a lot of explaining to do.

Several hours later Joe was in a motel room.
After speaking with the police and packing Jericho's bags and watching as his son flew off, Joe packed a few bags of his own.
He would be staying at the motel until his house was fixed and luckily his insurance would cover the damages his house had suffered.
He had just got out of the shower and was in the process of cleaning his wings.
He opened the door and stepped out. He planned on checking his phone. Once word got out that mutants had attacked his home, his phone had been blowing up with calls and texts from the people who went to his church asking if he was safe.
But as he stepped out of the bathroom he found someone else was in there sitting on the bed.
"Hello, Joe," Adonai said.
As Joe looked at him the memories returned.
Emma had sensed a memory block in his head but had not had time to explore it more thoroughly.
Seeing Adonai caused the memory block to come undone and Joe remembered everything.
"You! Why didn't you tell me I had a nephew?!" Joe demanded.
Adonai rolled his eyes. "You knew your sister would eventually have a family of her own."
"Why didn't you tell me she was dead?" he asked.
"Because I didn't care about your sister. Once I learned you were what you were, all I cared about was you. That is why I kept you hidden from the X-Men. That is why I gave you the money and the new identity."
"But why the memory block?" he asked.
"To cover my tracks of course. I didn't want anyone putting their nose in my business. Had I known it was your sister who would deliver me my heir I would not have bothered. I had such high hopes for you, Joe. I thought for sure it was you who would give me the scion I have been waiting for all this time. It is ironic though that your sister married the son of Eros. I had my eye on him for some time but he died before I could meet him."
"Why are you here now? Michael has already left."
"Just making sure Emma hasn't poked around your head, though I am sure she sensed the block. I have been waiting a long time for Michael to be born and I don't want him to know the role I have played in his life. At least not yet."
"And what about Jericho?"
"What about him? Sure you got a talented kid. But he is not the one I want. Worry less about me and more about Magneto. When he decides he wants something, he is hard to detour."
Adonai stood up.
"Take care, Joe. I doubt you will see me again. At least not until it is time for the Trials of the Sephirot."
"What is that supposed to be?" Joe asked.
"When I know for sure if Michael truly is destined to be the one who takes my throne."
Adonai vanished and once he was gone the block went into place. Joe shook his head and looked around in confusion. He wondered what he had been doing. Wasn't he about to check his phone?
Blaming it on the stress of the day Joe proceeded to check his phone, forgetting all about Adonai and his interactions with him.

Rickard was getting ready for bed.
It had been a very emotional day. Victor and Jean-Paul were going to leave for San Francisco in the morning. They were going to pick up Josh and bring him back.
It was hoped he would be able to heal Rickard's dad of his illness.
Rickard had agreed to see a therapist to deal with his issue. It was time he stopped letting the demons of his past ruin his life by whispering lies into his ears.
There was a gentle knock on the door. He opened it and found Victor standing in the doorway wearing nothing but a pair of green shorts.
He was not wearing his image inducer; now that everyone knew what he looked like there was no point.
Apparently while Rickard and his dad had been talking Victor had been talking with Rickard's family. When Victor told them what Rickard had told him, they had all crowded around him asking questions and when Freya grabbed his arm and felt how large it really was Victor had to tell them what he really looked like and then they demanded to see.
"Hey, how you doing?" he asked.
"Fine, come on in," he said.
Rickard shut the door behind him.
"So is everything okay with you and your family?" he asked.
"There is still some healing to go. But we're finally going to move on," he said.
"I am glad."
"Thank you for coming. I can't believe I was so foolish," Rickard said.
"Amanda said your greatest strength is also your greatest weakness. You try so hard to protect people. You try and shoulder all the responsibility. You hated yourself so much that your own power turned against you."
"I promise I will get better. You were right, Oskar and Katrina wouldn't want me to live like this."
Victor stood on his toes and kissed Rickard.
"You're ready for bed?"
"Won't Jean-Paul be mad if you sleep with me?"
"Jean-Paul sleeps like a rock. I will go back to my room before he wakes. And if he finds out I don't care. I don't want to be by yourself."
"My parents adore you, you know?" Rickard asked.
"Really? Even though I look like this?"
"We're Swedish, we are a very open-minded people," Rickard chuckled.
"And the age thing?"
"We had a long talk about that. I told them we haven't done anything sexual. Yet."
Victor blushed a little. "That must have been awkward."
"A little. But after what you did, they think you are good for me. Dad actually told me I need to keep you around."
"High praise."
"It is. He is not an easy man to impress."
Victor turned and walked over to the bed and jumped on it. "So, ready for bed?"
There was something suggestive in his tone. Rickard knew he was offering more than just sleep.
"I looked up the legal age limit. It wouldn't be a crime here."
Rickard got in the bed and kissed him on the head. "Believe me Victor, the offer is tempting. But I would just like to cuddle."
"Okay."
Rickard turned off the light on his desk and they both got under the covers.
"You know it doesn't matter what country we are in. If you ever want me, I am yours," Victor said.
"I know. But I like what we have now. Let's just wait a little while longer. I want our first time to be something joyful."
"I love you, Rickard."
"I love you too."
The closed their eyes and fell asleep in one another's arms.

Franziska pulled the covers up to her father's chest.
Hans fluffed his pillow and gently lowered his head onto it.
They held hands and watched as their father continued to sleep.
"Will he ever wake up?" Hans asked.
"I won't say no. I have seen many things Hans. Wonderful, amazing things. It doesn't matter if he does or doesn't. Because we'll always be here to take care of him," Franziska said.
"I'm sorry Franziska, can you forgive me?" Hans asked.
"We all deserve forgiveness, Hans. You, me, and father. We're family and no matter what, family forgives one another," she said.
"Have you forgiven him?" Hans asked.
She did not answer immediately.
"You may think me a liar. But yes. I forgave him a long time ago. He didn't deserve this. None of us did."
"No, we didn't."
They continued to stand there watching Carl as he slept.
Franziska turned to look at Angie and Wayne.
She smiled at them and they returned it in kind.
For the first time in a long time Franziska felt the kind of peace that only family can bring.
Peace of the mind and peace of the soul.
Fusedtwilight: What are the trials of the sephirot? Find out next chapter and one of the Champions undergoes a startling change.
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Angel In The Attic