The man tilted his head and looked down at the boy, "It is not my place to stop him.... Every time one dies, they live again. But he... he can not live again. " A twinkle shown in his eyes, "He has no life to go to after this one. He is different. Not like the rest and all because he only has one life to live..." The man started to fade, "I merely weave the threads, who they attach to... that can always be changed... His threads are so thick, like steel... All because of one little girl."

"No-NO!" Max called loudly as though his raised voice would keep the man from disappearing, "You can stop him! you must be able to! I don't want to die! Not again, not again"

The man smiled a gentle smile, and took Max's chin in his hands, "Silly child. You do not die, you are reborn." The man wrapped his lips around Max's, a calming feeling flowing from his lips to Max's. "Perhaps that shall calm the voices in your head..." And with that he faded completely.

Max relaxed a little, watching the man disappear and leave him there with the unconscious Ciara. He suddenly felt very tired himself and sighed, tucking a little piece of paper into Ciara's pocket. It held a time, day and location some months from now, so with that he turned and left.

(Oooooh, did Max like that? Where to next?))

((Hmmm... discussion thread))

((Very well))

The camera crew was getting ready for another broadcast, setting levels, running through cues etc.

Ciara and Pietro had been put through the make up trailer. Nothing dramatic, just some cover up and a bit of blush for Ciara. And a long flowy dress. She walked out as many people were running around and happened to catch Luther's eye.

He seemed to be busy talking on the phone with someone but when she nodded toward the alley behind he seemed to suddenly need to go.

Ciara stepped outside.

"Yes.... no... just fire them" Luther stated and then hung up the phone and casually made his way to the alley with Ciara.

She had her arms crossed, not quite liking to do what she was about to do. "Heard you're going to be heading out soon." She pulled the bottle from her pocket and tossed it to him, "Thought you should know they work." She said, not fully looking at him. She felt like she was meeting her drug dealer.

Luther caught the empty bottle numbly, "Looks like you need a refill" he smiled charmingly, "you hardly need to take me to a back alley to ask for more, I'm rather pleased to be of assistance. I've already scheduled a delivery to your address that will cover the rest of your pregnancy. It should be there by tonight"

"Right... well, Pietro's not to hot on the idea of me taking the pills you've made so yeah...Thank you." She shifted a little bit, "Remind me why you're so interested that my childern are well taken care of?"

"I have an interest in all of today's youth" Luther replied, "you being a well known public figure, you are the perfect candidate for Luther corp's new prenatal vitamin formula."

"ah. Right. Well, excuse me then. Mr. Luther." She curised before turning to leave.

"Oh, and Ms. McCoy" Luther called after her, "I look forward to seeing how the little ones turn out."

Ciara felt a shiver up her spine, she turned, "I'll keep you posted." She replied before heading inside. It made sense now. Luther wanted nothing more than for humans to evolve to improve themselves... What better way then to start with a baby in a womb?

"... Well, enough ranting for one night. Now, for the event you've all been waiting for. Please welcome, Miss Ciara McCoy." Ciara was seated in a chair and Gordan walked over and shook her hand.

"Thank you for having me."
"No PLEASE, thank you for having us." Gordan charmed in. "Now," He sat down and turned to the screen with a bunch of faces on it. "Last week we did a poll on our site to see who you think is the father of Ciara's children. Remember, one of the lucky voters who picked correctly will be the winner of our Genosha sweepstakes. Are you ready to see what the world thinks, Miss McCoy?"

"As ready as I'll ever be "

"14% voted Lex Luther, 6% voted the blue fuzzy, Kurt Wagner, 10% for this guy, (A snap shot of Charles trying to escape the camera crew the first day appeared on the screen) 5% for Wolverine, 30% voted for Quick Silver and 35% voted for King Namour.... What do you think of the results?"

Ciara was a bit flushed, "I ummm... Those are some interesting choices people picked."

"Right you are. All quite handsome fellows won't you say?" Ciara nodded, not wanting to comment, "Well, who voted right? We'll reveal the answer right after this commerial break..." He turned to Ciara, "Brilliant reactions my dear."

"Ummm thank you."

"3...2...1..."

"Alright folks, the moment you've been waiting for, here he is, the father of Ciara's childern..."

Pietro practically had to get pushed onto the stage, he stumbled a bit but quickly recovered and waved a little awkwardly before coming to sit next to Ciara, "Heeeyyy..."

Ciara slipped her hand into his and whispered, "Courage."

"So tell me, how did you two lover birds meet? I hear you both went to the same high school together."

"Well, we ummm... Pietro didn't realize it at the time but we met went we were very little." Ciara told the story of the playground and the speed demon child. Gordan adding comments here and there.

"So, Pietro, tell us since you didn't realize who Ciara was... how did you feel when you saw her highschool? When did you realize this is the girl for me?"

"Uhh... heh" Pietro rubbed the back of his head as he tried to think of it, "Actually, to be honest, when I saw her I was pretty much like 'great, another x-geek. I should fill her locker with pudding'" he chuckled, "and, actually, I did. Vanilla I think it was, Blob ate all the chocolate."

"My reaction was much different. I ended up dropping my books all over the floor when I saw him."

"Ah, love at first sight. But Pietro, when did you discover your feelings for Miss McCoy?"

"Actually you dropped your books because I ran over and hit them out of your hands while you were busy blinking" Pietro added, "and I'm pretty sure I... always had a crush on her. The pranks were just because of who she hang out with" he shrugged, "I dunno, it's just me and my buds did."

Ciara pushed him playfully at him admitting it, "I KNEW IT!"

And as if on cue, a series of clips showed up. Some of them were photos from high school of the after math of some of these pranks, others were interview with teachers who were all surprised at Pietro had turned his life around.

"He was always causing trouble."
"His whole group were trouble makers. Hell, they found a way to stick all the sloppy joes to the ceiling of the cafe."
A older looking man with large glasses sighed, "I told him he's never become anything better without study and I'd eat my hat if he did...." Clip changed to the man trying to eat his hat.

"Pietro was a troubled student. He... He just couldn't focus.

"Ciara McCoy was a model student. She had high grades, great at swim team even before high school I believe..."

"I sat Pietro beside one of the smartest girls in the class hoping perhaps he might learn and when that didn't help... I tried to get him tutoring help."

Gordan turned back to the two, "So, you ended up tutoring your prince in shining running shoes? How was that?"

"It was a little changlleging at first. Pietro was a tough guy. Leader of the pack so I... well.. offered him something he couldn't refuse... a good hot meal."
"Ahhhh the way to a man's heart is to his stomach." Gordan replied.
"Well, he wasn't getting the proper requriments his body needed to keep going. Which was one of the reasons he couldn't focus."

They showed several clips of the couple before they hooked up.

"So tell us, how did you two finally hook up?"

"It's part of my mutation, I burn off a lot of calories even when I'm not moving-and then about three times as much if I actually want to run somewhere." Pietro explained.
"We actually... kinda went out in high school for bit" he started answering the last question, "but... it was kind of complicated and I totally messed it up. There was always some hostility between the brotherhood of mutants and what was known as the x-men at the time. Different view points on the whole mutant thing, so when the guys started questioning me about getting cozy with one of them I went a little over board trying to convince them otherwise..." he pouted.

"We weren't officially going out. We didn't put a title to our relationship in high school... And I happened to overheard him and well, as you can imagine, I was enraged and heart broken. I had been defending Pietro left right and centre back at the insitutute and to hear him talk ill of me behind my back..." She trailed off.

"Basically I was a dick" Pietro shrugged, "wait, can you say that on tv? I dunno, I made up for it later-much later mind you but hey, high school was tough. I didn't get the balls to approach her about it again until my dad's big birthday bash a couple years ago. It was a masquerade and, naturally, I had the best costume"

~Flashback~

Ciara wore an elegant flowing dress and a teal mask to the ball. She'd spent a good deal of time on making the dress and had had help in making it. She'd pulled her hair back and into a series of curls, draping down one side of her neck and stopping at her chest.

The main sqaure was already filled with people dancing to the sounds of reinassnce music. Ciara chatted to several people along the way to the refreshment table. Cheese puffed pastries were an item she rather enjoyed a lot. She sat down on a stone bench near the edge of the dance floor and swayed to the music, enjoying the view of all the dancers dancing along.