Amber nervously held the piece of paper in her hands that Koga had given her the other night. The paper was very important to her because it was a permission form to begin going to school at The Mansion. Things had been nothing short of amazing since she had been adopted by Abyss and come to live in Sanctuary. Oh, there had been a few issues with her power spontaneously developing and not having the slightest idea how to control it, but so far she had come out all right. Her adopted father was everything she could have hoped for, her sister was a true sister who she all ready loved and her power was the coolest power ever. Really, there was only one thing she was missing in life and that was a chance to go to school.

When Amber had met Koga only a few nights ago, he had offered her exactly what she had been looking for: a school that helped mutants, and even taken her to go see it that night. It had been everything she could have possibly wanted in a school with only one catch and that being that there was apparently some sort of rivalry between people in Sanctuary and people in the Mansion which she really didn't fully understand. Nevertheless, she wasn't about to let a little thing like some kind of petty rivalry stand in the way of her and the opportunity to learn.

When Amber had returned to Sanctuary, she had returned with a little piece of paper in her hand that she was supposed to give to her parents to fill out and officially enroll her. Her parent, of course, being Abyss. Hopefully he would fill it out and then come with her to the Mansion to give it to someone official so she could finally start going to school again. It had taken her a couple of days to work up the courage to ask, not because she was afraid of him of course, because he had been nothing short of kind and generous, but because she was afraid he would say no. And if he said no she didn't know where she would be. Taking a deep breath, she tentatively knocked on his door.

Abyss was in his room reading,He was dressed casully and it was obvious that he had no plans of leaving tonight, He finally found a recliner big enough and comfy enough to fight his frame and he had been getting use out of it at every chance. He glanced around his room to make sure there was nothing out of place and then Spoke. He recognized the gentle knock as that of his new daughter. “Come in.” as he plopped his feet down and found a book mark for his book, shoving a random napkin in place for the moment. come in and have a seat, How are you tonight?

Abyss gave her his full attention and encouraged her with a gentle smile, his tail patted another comfortable and more reasonably sized chair.for the girl to sit in, he wanted to catch up with her, find out when she wanted to go shopping, how she was getting along, if there was anything he could do better for her? was he too attentive, not attentive enough?

Amber nervously entered Abyss' room at his beckons, holding the paper in her hands. She unconsciously began straightening the fabric on her cloak, though she intentionally went without the veil. Not only was it not needed inside the Sanctuary walls, but she was starting to become more comfortable showing her eyes in public, at least as long as she was in the safe Sanctuary walls. Plus, it just didn't seem right to have it one when speaking to her adopted father.

"I w-was w-wondering if y-you would l-let m-me g-go to s-school at the M-Mansion." Amber hesitantly extended the permission form out to Abyss. "If y-you c-could s-sign this and c-come m-meet s-someone there to enroll m-me."

The big mans eyes widdend in surprise, there wasn’t any anger or disappointment present just plain surprise. He straitened a little and then starting talking, it was obvious that he was caught off guard.

”Oh? oh. Amber, I am a little surprised you are asking this. he put his hand up in surrender “ no its not a bad thing that you are asking you just caught me a little off guard, are you sure you want to go to school there? Taken a tour and what not? he then got a little quiet do you want to stay there?

"I d-don't w-want to stay th-there," Amber was quick to reply, horrified that her adopted father should come to that conclusion. "I l-love it h-here and I l-love you and A-aura and e-everyone h-has been so n-nice to m-me. I j-just want to g-go to school." She wasn't quite sure how such a wrong opinion could have been gotten to, the idea of moving out of Sanctuary hadn't even entered her mind.

"I m-met s-someone the other n-night and he t-told me about t-the school and t-took me on a t-tour and I j-just want t-to learn things." She had been told she could do what she wanted to but was suddenly worried that she'd get in trouble for sneaking out in the middle of the night.

If she had known what she was doing, she couldn't have done it better. at the prospect of loosing here to live at the school. her attending the school didn't seem bad at all. He let out an obvious sigh of relief. " I am sorry, I jumped to conclusions. and was afraid you were leaving me as quick as you came, I love you too dear." He stood up waving her toward him and embracing her in a gentle hug. " If you feel like it is something that you want and need to do, then of course I will support it, I would like to know more about this 'he' though, if you feel like telling me. I won't be mad if you don't of course."

"did you have fun?"he said with a hopeful smile. Abyss wanted that the most for her, and while she would be at the mansion she would be in danger of learning some silly Morales and idealistic teachings, she would be safer there than most other places, so it would be a compromise he was willing to make. " I'd like to introduce you to a girl a little younger than you that goes there, I know her quite well. Her name is Katrina. She is very Pleasant."

Amber was grateful that her father understood and didn't want her to leave either. "Its j-just that I n-need to l-learn things," she tried to explain. Abyss didn't really seem like to go to school type, but maybe she was wrong about that? "Then K-Koga t-told me about the Mansion and I h-had t-to go see. And I l-loved it. A p-place of l-learning of m-mutants! How m-much more w-wonderful c-could something be?" She looked up, hoping that her adopted father would understand where her enthusiasm was coming from.

"K-Koga's the boy I met. H-he's l-like a l-lizard. V-very sweet." Amber didn't tell Abyss that he had also offered to sneak out and study with her since even though it seemed like she was allowed to do what she wanted, teenagers still weren't really supposed to sneak out of the house, were they? "What d-does K-Katrina do?"

“Your uncle Mars will, be happy to tutor you if you need any help on your home work.” He wasn’t standing in the way of being a little trouble maker, so he wouldn’t stop her from being a little productive to society…maker either. “ I’ll make the arrangements as soon as possible, dear

He pursed his lips slightly at the he’s sweet comment in thought. “Changes colors? Sticks to walls? If so , he’s a decent kid.” He made Saturn rant for an hour after the valentine ball, if he got on Saturn’s nerves it had to be a good sign.

“Well, I will say this, she is a very nice young lady, and from both of your demeanors I think you would get along well. She is a mutant, but I will leave it to her, to tell you about herself.” He stood and crossed the room and hugged her lightly. His tail swinging back and forth pleased with his child.

”Ah, two more things, people actually. One of your aunt’s lives at the mansion, her name is Deathstar and she is a bit feisty. I am not sure how she will take to you when she meets you, but with that in mind, I think I might talk to your other estranged uncle about moving to the mansion, would you like to have someone there that you could go to no matter what the case was? Or would you like perhaps a bit more space to call your own? Before you answer, I will say this, you may be keeping an eye on him as well. You very well may be more responsible than he is.”

"You are the b-best ever!" Amber stated, beaming happily. How could she possibly ask for anything better than this? A family, an actual mutant power and, finally, a chance to go to school too! Something bad was sure to happen eventually to counter all this good fortune that had come her way, but until that time she was going to treasure every single moment.

"You know K-Koga?" Amber asked, curious. She had gotten the impression that he didn't come near Sanctuary often but then again he did seem to get around a fair bit so maybe it wasn't so surprising after all. In any case, words of approval were most certainly rather welcome words indeed.

Apparently Amber had more family than she was even aware of. "I th-think I w-would like to have someone there j-just in case." She didn't really expect anything bad to happen at the Mansion, it seemed like such a nice place, but if Koga said was true that there was kind of a rivalry going on, then maybe it wasn't such a bad idea. "I d-don't mind keeping an eye on h-him. When c-can we leave?" She couldn't' quite keep the excitement out of her voice, not that she tried very hard.

Abyss smiled warmly, ” I have to disagree, we are the best ever. “

” I know of Koga, He is a bit wreckless, but I find his determination to be quite to his credit. You can’t tell him any of that though, boys are supposed to think that girls fathers hate them.” He winked. “It helps keep them in line.” Abyss chuckled at that a little, if she blushed like that all the time then, people would see the resemblance more.

“I will have a talk with him and with them and then we should be able to head over. As soon as you like, but I will have to clear it with them first of course. Oh, he isn’t real trouble or anything, he is just mischievous. His name is Pluto, looks just like me. Your aunt however, not so much, you won’t have the color red or devilishly good looks to point her out. Just stay out of the way of her temper and you should be fine. However, if she does hassle you any Pluto will be there.” She of course would be used to that by now probably.

~~~And Montage!~~~~


*******
Abyss texted his brother Pluto first, then he called him, the text was simple, "Little brother, I am about to call, it is important to your niece."

He then Said the simple word "Pluto"
Abyss spoke for longer then Amber might have liked, but then, the brothers hadn't spoke in quite some time.

********

Abyss was on yet another call, this one was a bit more tense at least after they had asked who he was and if he was a mutant. No, he didn't want to attend there, No he didn't want to speak with the leader of the x-men, Yes He wanted to enroll his daughter like anyone else who enrolled their child.

Oh, and was it too much to ask to take his brother, her uncle on as a Helper? It was the good one!
**************************

The car ride was fun, Amber got to pick the station and the car, He also promised to get her, her own car, if she wanted it, whenever she got a license, if she wanted that.

******

A quick stop to grab the fast food of Ambers choice and enough to feed Amber and two red giants.

**********

The car pulled up to the apartment/ clinic that Pluto Lived at and he was already waiting with a bag. First he insisted on meeting the young lady whom, he already had a backpack for with school supplies, their was a shop not to far away, Some of the gear inside was cute, some of it was goth, and some of it was just standard issue. He covered all the angles, there was also a pair of gag glasses in the backpack that had lenses that looked like open eyes, they were for sleeping during classs...if you were a cartoon, they might work.

He scoops the young lady into a giant hug and spins, a bit more fun then the gentle hugs of her fathers
but very much the same feel of benig engulfed in a hug from a friendly gorilla.
************

They hoped in the car and were on the way once more.

Amber didn't recognize the name Pluto except that it was, apparently, the name of one of her uncles. Beyond that, it meant nothing to her although the prospect of meeting another family member was rather exciting. During the long conversation between her father and uncle, Amber got out a book and began patiently reading. Or at least, as patiently as she was able to considering.

**********

Amber continued sitting beside Abyss as he called the Mansion, hoping that they weren't going to reject her just because of where she lived. For a moment she thought it possible, until finally it seemed like things might actually be happening. She smiled happily at the results.

**********

Amber was almost as excited about meeting her Uncle Pluto as she was about finally going to school. She was amazed at just how much Pluto looked like Abyss, even though the whole clones thing had been explained to her previously. She returned his hug with enthusiasm, glad that the red giants were her family and hoping never to make them angry. They would be very scary glaring back at her in hostility.

**********

The remainder of the trip to the Mansion, Amber could barely sit still. Other kids were excited about trips to Disney Land but she was excited about a trip t a new school. No wonder she had never fit in well with the other kids before.