My standard disclaimer:
All Marvel characters belong to Marvel. I make no money off them although I wish I did. Juli and her family are mine. They are loosely based on myself and friends of mine. They know who they are. Any other resemblances to anyone living or dead is purely coincidental. I make no money off these stories so I ask that if you want to take them or write a story with my characters, that you ask first.

It was a bright spring morning the day I met the person that changed my life forever. I had gotten out of my car and started up the front steps to my house. I did a quick scan before entering the house. I found my parents both home and two signatures that I had never read before. I unlocked the door and went toward the family room where the signatures came from. I was tense and ready for a fight if it came down to it. I was not prepared for what I saw. I found my parents talking to two men that I had never seen before. One was bald an in a wheelchair and the other was younger with red colored glasses. That bugged me as I could not see his eyes. I believe that the eyes are the mirror of the soul and that you can tell a lot about what a person is REALLY like by looking into their eyes. He was also good looking and that bothered me as I was suspicious of men anyway, but especially good looking ones. They all turned when I came in and it was at that point that I realized that they had all been waiting for me.

Mama was the first to speak "Juli Babe! Glad you're finally home. Come meet our guests. This is Professor Charles Xavier and one of his students, Scott Summers." I shook hands with both men and sat with my parents. "Professor Xavier is here to tell you about his school in the States. Professor Xavier?" The Professor smiled and I relaxed. There was something about him that told me he was nothing to fear. "Basically Juliana, I run a school for people like yourself where they can learn about their powers. It is a school for mutants and I am here to tell you about the program and extend an invitation to join the school."

Uh Oh. That set off a bell in my head. "How do you know about me? Yes I am a mutant, but I don't advertise it. Very few if any outside the family knows about my ..Uh.....abilities. "

He smiled again and explained that Henry McCoy was also one of his students. I had met Dr. McCoy in the hospital when I was 18 and recovering from a bad car accident. I used to go sit in the hospital atrium and read. Dr. McCoy used to come into the atrium on his breaks from his research. We still communicated via letter. I hadn't seen him since my release though. My dad asked if he knew that I was a mutant 8 years ago, why did he wait until now to come to recruit me. I was glad that he had asked that question so I would not have to.

Professor Xavier explained, "Henry asked me not to ask you until you had some time to completely recover from the car accident. He also knew that you were having some rough times and did not want to add to your pressures and that you wanted to finish you degree. He made it clear that he wanted you to have that opportunity."

Scott finally noticed me staring at him. I was surprised that he had managed to ignore me for so long. "Is there something on me that shouldn't be?"

He looked right at me as if he knew I did not like him. "No. I was just trying to figure out why you are wearing sunglasses indoors. I mean, if the sun is bothering you, we can close the blinds." My mother admonished me for being rude, but I could not help my tone.

"Juliana, my power is optic beams. These glasses are ruby quartz and they are the only thing that holds back my powers. I have to wear them all the time or keep my eyes closed so I don't hurt anyone."

He smiled as he talked to me. Maybe he wasn't so bad after all. I felt better, but I still did not completely trust him.Mama asked about the Professors own mutant abilities. Turns out he was just like me. His powers included telepathy, telekinesis, emapthics, all mind powers. His offer sounded so tempting, but a part of me held back.. Did I really want to leave Canada? I had really known no other home. My only visits to the states was visiting Aunt Marie in New Orleans. And New Orleans was in a lot of ways like home, so it wasn't so strange. And then there was the idea of finally having a place to belong. Did it really exist? The possibility of friends? That would be a definite plus. Being the norm and not the exception sounded very tempting. Professor Xavier seemed to sense my apprehension and suggested that I come down for a weekend and check out what he was offering for myself. I could meet the other "students" and maybe observe a training session. That sounded like something I could handle. Mama told the professor that if I accepted this offer and decided to actually enroll, that I had to be able to finish my degrees. I was working on a double Masters program in Psychology and Social Work and was almost done with my first year.

"Professor, one of Juli's dreams is to get that Masters degree. I do not want it tom be just a dream. I would like it to be reality if that is what she wants."

"Mrs. Daniels, I can assure you that Juliana will not only be allowed, but encouraged to do so. I would also encourage an extra curricular activity as well." he told her.

All eyes were on me again. Dad who had been real quiet through all this finally spoke, "JuliCat. What do you think? It sounds like a good opportunity. Maybe its time to spread those wings of yours, eh?"

I thought about it. What could I possibly lose? I like it, I stay and gain a place to belong and friends. I hate it, I come home and go back to my life. Besides I was not raised to sit and watch when I could be in the game. "OK. I do not have class on Friday. I can take a day off on Monday. My last class on Thursday ends at 1:00. Does that work?"

Professor Xavier smiled and said that was fine with him. He told me he would send out a package via Fed Ex and that I should get it by tomorrow afternoon. Mama served coffee and cake and then Scott handed me a card with the school number on it and told me to call if I had any questions. Then he and the professor left. Mama went to start on dinner and dad went to work on some paperwork in his office. I went up to my room in the attic. What I did not know was that when I went upstairs, my parents got together and discussed telling me about Logan, my biological father who was at the school. I had always known I was adopted, but I never knew anything about my birth parents. They decided not to go against his wishes and tell me. They decided that it was up To Logan to tell me himself. I busied myself with homework and planning for the trip praying for this week to fly by. I was nervous about the whole thing and just wanted to go already. I honestly did not know how I was going to make it through the next 7 days.

The week did fly by thankfully and before I knew it, the time to leave was here. Now I did not want to go. I had a hard time getting down breakfast which was unusual. Usually I eat like a horse. This morning though, I finally got down some tea and an apple after some trying. Both my parents seemed as nervous as I was. I could have just read their minds and found the cause , but that was not me. I don't just walk around in peoples heads uninvited unless I also feel danger.

The Fed Ex package had arrived last Friday as promised. It did look like a beautiful place, I had to admit. I loved the indoor and outdoor pools and state of the art exercise rooms the best. The airline ticket was for first class. He must really want me bad to fly me first class in was especially good because I could get some work done. I would be able to spread out more.

I knew Mama was worried about me. Unlike most kids, I had always liked my parents and there was a special bond between us. They tried so hard to make things a little easier for me whenever they could. Sometimes I felt guilty, because me being a mutant wasn't easy on Mama and Dad any more than it was on me. Mama's sister Kathleen hated me and made my life miserable whenever possible and I knew it hurt Mama to think that a member of her own family could be viciously cruel. Kathleen had always been mean to Mom and never let her forget that she could not have children. She got meaner when I was adopted. Apparently she and her husband and kids thought it was a disgrace that I was a mutant. No one else cared about my abilities though. Just them No matter what I did, I could not please them, so I gave up trying. I just wanted the beatings to stop. Not too much to ask for. While eating, I suddenly got scared. Actually terrified might be a better word.

"Mama. What if I don't like it? What if they all hate me? What if I stay and its the wrong choice? I am so scared. I have never felt like this before. Keep thinking What if? What if?"Mama and Dad both hugged me and tried to calm me down. "Cat, you wont know unless you try. We always taught you to try and stand on your own, but if you fall, that's OK too. You are a lot stronger than you think. You have to stand up to the fears, not back down. " Dad said.

"And" said Mama, "All we are asking is that you try. Never do anything halfway. The door is always open for you. You will always have a place to belong right here. That will never change. Nor will our love for you."

I had to grin. They were right. Mama told me to call my teacher and say that I was not coming in. She wanted me to relax before leaving and felt I would be too agitated if I was in class. Mama looked at the clock and realized that she had to leave for her office. She kissed me and told me to call when I got there. Dad and My uncle Matt were taking me to the airport. Dad had gotten his partner to take over for the day and planned to take in a movie after taking me. I was glad Matt was coming. He is one of my favorite people in the whole world. Being gay, he comes the closest to understanding about what it is like to be a mutant. We celebrated our coming out of the closet days together. I wished Dennis was coming, but he had to work. Dennis was a registered nurse and worked in the emergency room.

I went upstairs and put my bags by the door. I had a backpack that I used as a suitcase, my bookbag and my laptop computer. Dad and I cleaned up the dishes and the kitchen. I took care of feeding our numerous pets and then we settled to watch TV until it was time to go. Soon it was time and Matt was at the door. He just came in. He had his own keys to our house and we had keys to his. "Hey Mutie! All set?"

"Yeah. Everything is by the door. Just gotta get my shoes and jacket."
Matt handed me too packages. One was a plate of cookies from Dennis, his boyfriend. "For the trip" said Matt. The other was a small heart shaped locket. Inside was a picture of Dennis, Matt & me. On the outside was written "Love Matt & Denn." I put it on and Matt closed the clasp for me. I hugged Matt and thanked him for the gifts. We loaded up the Jeep and headed for the airport. I was a mess of emotions. I wanted to go already and at the same time I wanted to turn around and go back. I was excited, scared, happy and sad all at the same time.

We quickly got to the airport and all too soon I was at the gate saying Goodbye. The flight was a good one. First class is the best way to fly. The only way if you can't use telekinesis. I watched the clouds out my window as I was too excited to do any real work. I must have dozed off, because the next thing I know is that we were landing. I got that butterflies in the stomach feeling again. According to the package of information, Scott would be meeting me at the gate. He would have a red sign so I would spot him easier. Sure enough, he was kinda hard to miss with that sign. We got my luggage and went to the van he had driven. I still did not completely trust him, but I did trust him more than I had when I first met him. He broke into my thoughts by saying 'Nervous? I know I was when i came to live here."

I decided to tell him just how bad I was. "I feel like I am at the edge of an impossibly high cliff and I'm not sure if my bungee cord will actually hold me."

He grinned. "Yeah. That's how I felt. You don't know whether to try it anyway or go back to bed. The unknown is always a little scary, but it is usually not as bad as you expect it to be."

I laughed. He wasn't so bad. Not as bad as I thought at all. We kept up a running conversation all the way to the school. He told me about the Professor and how he had been asked to join the school. Too soon we were at the gate and driving up the long driveway. I was in amazed shock. The pictures did not do this place justice." Holy..." I stopped myself from finishing the swear. I saw some people come out to meet us on the front steps. A beautiful redheaded woman whom I later learned was Scott's girlfriend, Jean, Dr. McCoy, the Professor, and an African American woman with long white hair. I learned that her name was Ororo and she had once been worshipped as a goddess. I could see why.

Scott parked the van. This is it I thought. No turning back now. I remembered Mama's order to give it a real chance. I got out of the van and walked toward behind Scott towards my new life.