“Are you sure you want to do this, Hank?” she asked him uncertainly, he was staring at her and she knew he was uncomfortable with the idea himself.

“I want to take you out,” he replied as he clipped the image inducer on his belt, “I never did that with you and it has been three months, Cindy.”

“Okay,” she replied leaning back against the bed, “I just don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”

He turned around and leaned down and kissed her, “Not possible with you around and this image inducer.”

She never saw him with the image inducer on, that was what made him worry more.  What if she liked him better with it on?  She saw the uncertainty in his eyes again and kissed him reassuringly, “Don’t worry, love.”

They were going to dinner at a nice restaurant that allows mutants and a movie.  Cindy wasn’t sure if she liked this suggestion, but she didn’t want to make Hank upset more so she went along with it.  She was happy with the way things were, but she understood his need to show the world that he loved her and she was his.  She understood a lot more than she cared to show.

“Should I change?” she asked looking at her simple purple dress with spaghetti straps.

“No, I love that dress on you,” he replied putting his arms around her, she smiled up at him.

“You are absolutely handsome,” she replied curling her fingers on his white oxford shirt, kissing him as she stood on her tiptoes.

Hank normally did not wear clothes.  He just stuck with a speedo type shorts and lab coat, he only did that because he did not like how clothing made his fur rub the wrong way.  If he had any telekinetic ability, he would use it to smooth it down so he could wear clothes, but he didn’t and he was glad because he would be rather hot.

Cindy didn’t care one way or another.  She liked touching him and he liked that.  So many ways she was different from Trish.  His ex would cringe at first, when they hugged or kissed in private.  He knew she felt like he was an animal, especially when it came down to his grooming.

He showered only when he worked out in the Danger room, which was once a week to keep in shape, or on Saturday nights to keep clean if he did not go to the simulator.  Grooming took a lot of time, he had to be thorough in shampooing and rinsing it all out.  Once done with that, he would have to spend at least two hours thoroughly drying himself with both towels and his industrial sized hair dryer.  It was a tedious chore, but one that must be done or he would end up with more mats than he could handle.

He was surprised when the petite Asian offered to help him with the drying part of his grooming.  He wasn’t sure how he should take it.  Trish always made him feel like an animal and that she never wanted to do it, which of course, she never did.  He always had to beg her to help him.

Cindy walked up to him and asked about it.  She wasn’t in his room that much on those nights doing her lesson plans, so she didn’t really know.  She was curious, that was all there was to it.  She didn’t think of him as an animal or helping him dry himself was a chore.

In those moments, he had to fight his hormones.  She wanted to take things slow and he respected that.  “I want this to work out great the first time around,” she mentioned one time as she brushed his back for him, stray fingers caressing him in the process, “I will let you know when I’m ready.”

It was exquisite torture.  He both loved and hated their weekly sessions.  He loved the bits of intimacy he had with her and hated that he couldn’t continue when they managed to start kissing.  He would reluctantly pull away or she would with a guilty expression.  Then they would start talking about random stuff to clear their heads and she would leave him to complete the grooming on his own, in which he would take his time to take care of certain “needs”.

Being with her was so easy.  She was willing to compromise or she had the same interest and knew when to do things and when not to.  She was so loving and caring, he only hoped that she felt that way with him.

Her brown eyes crinkled with happiness as she looked at him and that was all he needed.  He could do this, this night out, especially with her on his arm.  He felt so powerful when she was with him, so strong and capable.  He loved that feeling.

“Let’s go, my dear,” he whispered huskily and deepened the kiss they shared, making her moan softly.

“Okay,” she breathed the desire apparent in her expressive eyes.

He flicked the inhibitor on as soon as they made it to the city.  He became tense the second he did that, he did not like the idea that she saw him in his more human form…or what he had once looked like anyway.

“Can I touch you and kiss you with that thing on?” she asked breaking the silence.

“I assure you, my dear, you can touch me in any way and not have to worry about a thing,” he said as calmly as he could, taking the agitation out of his voice.

“Trish must’ve liked the inhibitor,” she mumbled looking out the window.

“Why do you say that?” he asked his agitation apparent.

“You are agitated, thinking about her again,” she said her eyes glowing violet, “Clutching the steering wheel and clenching your jaw.”

He hadn’t even realize he was doing that, more importantly he didn’t know she would notice.  He wasn’t sure what to say so he said nothing.

“I love you for you, Hank,” she said softly, “not for what you look like, though I admit I find you are quite handsome without the inhibitor on, but it hurts me that you must question my love for you without saying anything.  I will reassure as much as I can, but don’t leave me in the darkness of your thoughts…of your past, please?  I can’t bear it any more.”

Before he could reply she took his free hand and pressed it against her cheek, whispering, “It’s lonely here without you.”

He could feel her tears against his hand; she placed it on his lap and allowed him to park in the garage.  He opened the door of the car and opened hers, he kneeled next to her, burrowing his head in her lap.  He did not cry, he had enough sense to do that much, but he had caused her so much pain with his insecurities, insecurities that he thought were gone.

“I’m so sorry,” he said softly, too afraid to look up at her.

“Don’t be sorry,” she said gently, “You’ve been that way for too long and I let you get away with it.  We can work on this together, Hank, but only if you want to.  I can’t force you or change you, that is your decision entirely.”

He looked up at her, his blue eyes uncertain, “I love you, Henry McCoy, and I constantly have a strong urge to hit you on the head to get it into your thick skull when moments like these come up.”

He was surprised when she guided his face to hers and she leaned in for a sweet kiss, salty with her tears.  He pulled her close to him, picking her up so he could have her seat.  He didn’t want to let her go, he never meant to cause her pain with all of his brooding.  That was never his intentions.

“I love you,” he whispered against her lips and she tensed against him.

She got off his lap, looked around in the dimly lit garage, and took his hand into her small one, “We must go now, Hank, away from the trouble.”

He nodded, and she grabbed her purse, he led the way out of the garage just as a gang went on to search.  He wondered how she knew they were there and believed that it had to be the way she grew up and the aura thing she told him.  Maybe that was why she knew when he was brooding.

He waited patiently as the host searched for the reservation and led them to their booth.  She smiled at him, a bit nervous, things weren’t going as she planned.  Then again it never did in the first place.

“Was it the auras?” he asked after the waiter left with their drink orders.

“Part of it,” she admitted and blushed, “other instincts as well.”

“And you could do that despite being in the…?” He wasn’t sure how to phrase the question without offending her.

“Emotional state?” she queried amused, taking his hand into hers, squeezing it, “You’d be surprised at what living a life of fear would do to you.”

“Tell me then,” he said softly.

“My mutant abilities kicked in around the age of sixteen,” she said, “I accidentally burned the home down.  That was when the Sentinel’s started to come after me.  I managed to stay at some homes before going on the run.  They were kind enough to give me whatever spare change they could.”

She paused as their drinks came in and Hank ordered for the two of them.  She really loved fettuccine Alfredo and he got himself lasagna with meat sauce.  When the waiter disappeared he said, “That is horrible, how did you survive?”

“I stayed close to the woods,” she shrugged playing with her napkin nervously, “my dad was a ranger so he taught me a lot about the wilderness.  Besides, I wasn’t worried about getting lost when I was already lost inside. 

When I wasn’t communing with nature, I was working odd jobs around restaurants, using the numbers from pay phones on my resume.  Slept in abandoned buildings, had some scuffles and got myself in an abusive relationship.  I learned a lot the hard way and did not compromise myself too much.  It was all about survival, I just knew that there was something better out there…a better life where I didn’t have to run and hide all of the time and worry that I would kill people or burn something down while I was still in it.  I just had to hope, that was all I had in me, hope.”

Hank sat there in silence as she unabashedly revealed part of her past.  They never really talked about her, now that he realized it.  Sure, she shared tidbits but never that much and there was more that needed to be said but he waited for the food to be placed on the table before saying, “How long were you in that abusive relationship?”

“A year,” she grimaced twirling the noodles with her fork, “I just wanted someone to love me so bad and he was so nice to me in the beginning.  That’s a problem with my little aura thing, if I want something bad enough…my judgment is impaired and it doesn’t work as well. 

He didn’t “turn” until the ninth month, but I should have seen it coming.  I knew the signs…he started drinking heavily, cheating on me, and using what little money, he had on other women.  When I confronted him about it, he lost his temper and shouted at me.  A month went by and he was perfect and loving, and another even proposed.  I would have accepted that day but he was so drunk that I could not believe him.  So I left him, packed my backpack and disappeared.

He wasn’t so happy with that.  He found me two towns over, beating me up, so I did the only thing I could do.  I had this anger, this hatred for what I have let myself become boil up and the next thing I knew he was gone.  He vanished from where he stood.  I didn’t know what I did, didn’t have nearly as much control at the time.  I just wandered the country after that, helped lost souls along the way…the blind leading the blind.”

Dinner went by quickly as she told her tale, her past.  She forced herself to look at him, his face foreign to her with his inducer on, but she maintained eye contact whenever she could muster the strength.  She didn’t eat that much but she ate a good bit, too consumed with telling him her past to even care.

He was shocked, the woman who sat before him had a way of doing that to him and he was a scientist!  He saw that her eyes only held acceptance about her mistakes and strong desire that he would do the same.  He could not condone killing an innocent but then again that man was no innocent.  He took her hand not sure what to say to her. 

She smiled gently, squeezing his hand with her own, “I don’t accept pity and I understand if you are disgusted with me, but don’t worry, I’m a tough chick.  I’ll make it, I always do have my asinine hope to pull me through.”

“You are so strong, Cindy,” he muttered finally, “I could not possibly pity you or even be disgusted with you.  You did what you had to do to survive and if you hadn’t…I might not have had the pleasure of meeting you.  I love you so much, dear heart.”

“You do?” she asked surprised by his reaction, she figured he would run away or look at her with fear and disgust in his blue eyes.

“Of course I do, that was your past, it only serves to remind you of how much you changed for the better,” he replied brushing her tears, “I promise you that we will talk more about whatever is bothering us, ok?”

“Okay,” she agreed, nodding her head, “I love you so much, Henry McCoy, thank you.”

He kissed her and she responded to him quickly.  Then she deepened the kiss, moaning softly as their tongues caressed.

“Cupid?  Is that you?” said a male voice and she groaned softly and pulled away to look at the intruder.

“Robbie?!  What are you doing here?  How are you?” she asked her face brightening as she looked upon the tall blond with green eyes.

“I’m good, I thought you were dead all of this time!  Where have you been?” Robbie asked sliding into the booth next to her to give an awkward hug.

“I’m great, this is my boyfriend Henry,” she replied returning the hug briefly, “Henry, this is Robbie.”

“Hi, man, how are you?” the blond replied shaking Henry’s hand, “It’s nice to meet you.”

“I’m fine, nice to meet you as well,” Henry said trying not to show his irritation.

“Oh, I have someone who wants to see you, Q,” the blond stated leaving them briefly.

Cindy kissed Hank and sucked on his earlobe before saying, “You don’t need to worry, lover.”

“Oh my god!  Q!  Give me a hug girl!” said another male interrupting Cindy again.

She got out of the booth and hugged the short brunette, who was every bit as handsome as the blond.  She grinned at the two men and sat next to Hank, who was much more relaxed when he realized that the two men were together.

“Hank, this is Robbie’s boyfriend, Michael,” she replied and the two men shook hands.

“You have yourself quite the looker, Cindy,” Michael replied with a grin.

“Oh, he’s is absolutely handsome, inside and out,” she muttered looking Hank in the eye.

“I’m glad you found him,” Robbie said grinning at them, “Michael and I were going to try and set you up on a date, but now we don’t have to.”

“How do you guys know each other?” Hank asked curiously.

“Cindy helped my sister out when she was in Texas,” the blond stated.

“Helped?” he queried curiously looking at Cindy and then Robbie.

“I helped his sister, she was suicidal and I helped her through it,” the petite woman said, “also I worked with her and got her business on its toes again.”

“And boy did she, my little sister has quite the mini empire going now,” Robbie replied with a grin, “then Patty called me up and said Cindy was going to stay with me awhile to help me out.”

“I was the basic personal assistant/maid,” Cindy grumbled trying not to grin, “and I set Robbie and Michael.”

“That was the greatest job you ever did,” Michael stated grinning lovingly at his boyfriend.

“Yes, we have to send you our wedding tape, we had your picture there with candles surrounding it.  We really did think you were dead, Q, next time keep in contact,” Robbie scolded and she nodded.

“I can’t believe you are married!  That’s so great!” she squealed taking both men’s hand into her own and looking at their rings, “I wish I did make it, aawww….and Patty is going to have her baby too, right?”

“How did you know that, Q?” Michael asked surprised.

“I have my ways,” she stated cryptically and snuggled against Hank.

“You’re taking care of, Q, man?” Robbie asked suddenly.

“Of course, I love her,” Hank replied glad to know they cared about her.

“Good, she’s very special.  She’s helped a lot of people find happiness, which is why we call her “Cupid”.  I know you two will find a lot of happiness,” Michael said and cleared his throat, “Honey, we really need to go…we have some things to do…”

“Oh yes, things,” Robbie agreed absentmindedly, winking at Cindy and Hank, “I’ll see you around sometime, yes?”

“Sure, I’ll be sure to stop by the place,” she agreed and kissed their hands as they hurriedly disappeared then she muttered to Hank, “they still haven’t changed a bit.”

“He was the last person you helped?” he asked her pulling her into his arms.

“Yeah, he was my last job,” she whispered, “I left just as him and Michael got close, then the Sentinels found me as well as the X-men…and you.”

He growled softly and kissed her, “You must be an angel, my love.”

“Let’s go, Hank,” she whispered against the kiss, “let’s go home.”

“What about the movie?” he asked pulling away a bit.

“I want you more than the movie,” she kissed him harder.

“You mean…” he was dumbfounded his brain couldn’t wrap around the hint she was dropping.

“I want you inside of me,” she whispered sensually sucking on his earlobe then nipping at it, “sounds good to you?”

He gulped and nodded, she grinned and took his hand, leading him out of the restaurant as soon as he paid.

 

 

                                    ********************

 

He stood there still dressed in his clothes while Cindy stood in front of him waiting for one of them to make a move.

“How do you feel about tattoos?” she asked suddenly, brushing her hair away from her face.

“I don’t know, why do you ask?” he queried curiously.

She turned around and slipped her dress off, allowing him to see her tribal panther tattoo on her lower back.  Henry tentatively walked over to her and touched her lower back.  He had no idea she had that all this time, but he did find it rather sexy.

“It’s sexy…” he muttered as his finger traced the design, “did it hurt?”

She turned around and grinned at him, tilting her head, “Hurt like hell but I never cried…the guy next to me was getting it done in the same spot and I was soothing him the entire time.”

“Why don’t you cry out?” he asked as he let his hands roam over half-naked body, looking into her eyes.

She unbuttoned his shirt and slid it down his arms before saying, “It fuels them when I cry and no one ever cared enough those few times I did.  It is easier on all of us if I didn’t cry, they are more comfortable that way.”

“You can cry with me if you want,” he whispered leaning closer to kiss her lips, “Cindy.”

“I know,” she stood on her tiptoes to kiss him deeper and he pulled her close to him in the process.

He was more than excited when her naked breasts pressed against his furry chest.  He lifted her up and she wrapped her strong legs around his waist as they continued to kiss.  He moaned softly, letting his large hands roam up and down her back to cup her firm butt. 

He carried her to his bed, set her down, and crawled on top of her, while kissing every part of her body he could.  She was absolutely gorgeous to him.  She looked up at him with love in her eyes and propped herself up to capture his lips.

He slowly kissed his way down her jaw and licked at her neck, causing her to shiver with pleasure.  He left a wet trail of kisses across her shoulders and slowly down to her breasts.  He took one nipple in his mouth and sucked on it, gently nipping at it in the process.

“Oh god,” she whispered arching her back as his hand worked on her other breast, weighing it.

He chuckled and nipped at her other nipple causing Goosebumps to appear on her skin.  In the darkened room he felt a little less conscious of his appearance, despite the fact she was constantly caressing him in anyway she could, using her legs against his was what got him moving more passionately.

He licked random patterns on her smooth stomach before delving it into her navel, in which he looked up to find glowing violet eyes meeting his in the darkness.  He liked her eyes, both normal and glowing.  He grinned as he slowly pulled her panties down, kissing her hips and then her thighs as he inhaled her scent.

The smell of her arousal was quite intoxicating to him and his sensitive nose.  He had to have a taste of her.  That was his mission after he made sure to pay close attention to the back of her knees and the sensitive flesh of her inner thighs.

He always thought foreplay was a very important thing when making love, especially if you have to make the woman comfortable with a rather large appendage.  Hank McCoy certainly was well endowed and perfectly proportionate, that was what made Trish stay with him so long.

He cleared his mind and worked on her nether lips, gently nipping them, allowing hints of her flavor to enter his mouth.  Slowly, he slid his tongue to part them and licked her up and down avoiding her clit on purpose.  She moaned and bucked beneath him, trying to get him to touch her there, he merely laid a strong hand on her stomach to still her attempts.

“Please, Hank,” she whispered desperately, running her fingers through his hair.

He chuckled at her impatient nature and finally gave in by nipping at her clit.  She called out softly and gasped as he inserted a finger in her tight channel.  He pumped it into her a few times as he sucked on her clit and then licked her alternately.  Before long, he entered two fingers so that he could prepare her for him.

She tensed suddenly and climaxed calling out his name over and over again.  He really liked hearing his name being chanted but it did not stop his ministrations as he licked up her savory fluids.  He brought her to another climax before he kissed his way up to her luscious lips.

She kissed him passionately, not minding that she tasted herself on his lips and tongue.  She loved him so much and loved what he was doing to her.  She allowed her hand to trail down his back and grasp his butt.  Slowly, she slipped her hands into his pants and maneuvered them until they touched what she sought.

Hank gasped as her small hands encircled his large, hard shaft.  She stroked it a little before giving up and tried to open his belt so she could get to his pants.  She struggled with it, her sex-crazed mind could not make her normally nimble fingers to work properly.

He chuckled as she growled angrily at the restraints, so he pulled away and took them off before settling between her once more.  He rubbed the tip of his head against her nether lips, making sure to drag it against her clit.  She gasped in pleasure, arching her back in which he took the proffered nipple into his mouth and sucked on them.

“Please, Hank…love…” she begged feeling the strong need to have him inside her, “I need you…inside.”

He kissed her passionately and said, “Relax.”

He slowly entered her tight channel, groaning at the heat that suddenly surrounded him.  He wasn’t sure how long he was going to last in these conditions, especially since he was celibate for six years.  He resorted to keep control by reciting all of the elements on the periodic table.

He was so big, Cindy wasn’t sure if she could take him despite all of the lubrication she had.  Now she knew why he was so into foreplay.  He started to manipulate her clit once again sending pleasure through her to take place of the splitting in two feeling she was experiencing.

“Relax, I’ll take care of you,” he whispered as he started to kiss her.

She relaxed herself, running her fingers along his back as he fully incased himself.  He stopped and she took that as a sign that he was completely inside and she was so happy to have him in her.  She felt so complete, so loved, so…full.

Then Hank slowly began to pull himself out, thrusting a little bit in the process.  She moaned softly as pleasure coursed through her as his talented fingers worked on her.  She wasn’t sure how long she was going to last with so much going on but she’ll do it.

When there was just the tip left inside of her, he removed his hands so he could lift her hips up as he reentered her.  She gasped with pleasure, arching her back to meet him and wrapping her legs in the process to bury him deeper.

“Oh Hank…” she whispered trying to keep her eyes open so she could look at him, he needed the reassurance after all.

“You’re so tight, Cindy,” he groaned as he fully entered her again.

He began to alternate his angles and his thrusts to give her as much pleasure as he could.  Mainly he focused on her G-spot and hitting her cervix.  When he felt his climax nearing, he began to tease her clit again.  He would be damned to let himself orgasm before his lady love and he was doing all that he could to make them both very satisfied.

Cindy’s orgasm hit her hard, she used a pillow to muffle her scream as intense pleasure washed over her.  Hank pulled the pillow off her as he came close to climax so he could see her face and he came hard.  He was so dizzy with pleasure that he collapsed on top of her, panting as he kissed whatever flesh he could.

When he finally shifted, he pulled her close to him and kissed her properly.  She moaned softly, nipping at his lips before realizing that he was still hard within her.  She giggled at that realization.

“What’s so funny?” he growled.

She didn’t reply, she sat up from her position and began to thrust against him slowly.  He put his large hands on her hips, guiding him to her and allowing more power into each thrust.  He removed one hand and began to massage her pert breasts and sat up so he could suck on them some more, making the petite Asian moan in pleasure.

The orgasm wasn’t as powerful as the first one but just as sweet.  She pulled him into a sensual kiss, letting her tongue lightly trace his lips before delving inside to taste him again.  He growled softly and switched their positions as he began to pump into her again.  God she was driving him so crazy.

Finally, they were both spent after a few more hours of play.  They were both surprised that they managed to go for that long but very…very satisfied nonetheless.  Hank pulled her close to him and kissed her forehead as their sweaty bodies clung together.

“I love you, Cindy, I love you so much,” he whispered.

“I love you too, Henry McCoy, and the next time we are going to have those lights on,” she said against his chest and he chuckled as they both quickly fell asleep.

 

 

                                                ***************

 

“Soooooo?” Jubilee queried excitedly.

“Yes, please tell us,” Storm added.

“We tell you everything, Cindy,” Jean Grey said.

“Yeah, come on, sugar,” Rogue persisted.

“Look, I really don’t want to say anything, Hank is really a private person,” the petite Asian replied trying to enjoy the day.

“Please, come on…”Jubilee begged.

“Just give us a little something and we’ll leave you alone, child,” Storm said.

“Yes, it would be better in the long run,” the red head added.

“Why are you ganging up on me at the mall?” Cindy replied exasperated.

“Well, you hooked us up with our partners,” Rogue said with a shrug.

“And we told you all about them as well,” Storm added.

“I didn’t hook up Jean,” the Japanese mutant replied.

“That’s all right, I still tell you the details though,” the red head responded with a grin.

“Look, I never wanted to know that Scott hums while the two of you are having sex,” she muttered blushing all the same.

“Well, is Hank inventive?” the red head queried.

“Is he big?” Jubilee added.

“Are you satisfied?” Storm asked.

“Are you guys doing it a lot?” Rogue persisted.

Cindy sighed and rubbed her temples, this was torture, “Can we please get some coffee first?”

The other women squealed with delight and dragged the poor Asian woman through the mall until they found a Starbucks.  They each ordered a drink and took a table in the corner, Cindy didn’t even have to pay for her coffee, the women were all too excited and happy for the extra detail that they paid for it.

“Okay, spill,” Jubilee said and all of the women leaned in excitedly.

“He’s proportional to his body,” Cindy replied in a hushed voice, “I am a very satisfied woman and he is very inventive…he is a genius/scientist after all.”

“How many days do you guys do it?” Rogue asked as all the other women squealed with delight.

“Every other night?” Storm suggested.

“Oh, god no,” the Asian woman said with a shake of her head, “I have needs…every night.”

“What?!” the four women chorused together in surprise.

“What?!  Every night?” Jubilee replied in a hushed voice.

“Why are you surprised, Jubilee?” Cindy shot back and the other Asian woman blushed.

“No, we just didn’t expect Hank to be…” Jean started to say.

“So sexual?” Cindy supplied and all the women nodded, “I have needs and he most certainly does, I think he has some sort of increased stamina or something.  He won’t answer me on that front though.”

“Oh wow,” Jubilee replied happily, “isn’t that great?”

“Yeah, though I know that you know,” Cindy said.

“We’re lucky if we get to do it every other night,” Jean retorted softly.

“I concur,” Storm added.

“Well, Bobby is good every night,” Rogue replied, “He even chills it for me every now and then to add extra stimulation.”

“Really?” Storm queried interested.

“Wow, I bet that feels great,” Jubilee muttered.

“Oh, it does,” the skunked haired woman replied with a satisfied grin.

“Are you guys planning on anything for Christmas?” Cindy asked.

“Just the group Christmas party, that’s all,” Jean replied and the other women nodded.

“Yeah,” Cindy nodded, but she knew that Hank had a surprise for her and she was determined to find out she then changed the subject, “Did you guys know I have a tattoo?”

“No?!  Show it to us!” Jubilee shouted bringing more attention than necessary to them all.

Cindy stood up, lifted up her shirt, pulled at the waistband of her pants, and turned so they could see it.  A lot of the women whistled in appreciation and longing at the tattoo.

“Why did you get that?  What is it?” Rogue asked one of the ones who wished she could get one herself.

“Oh, it’s a panther,” Cindy replied, “I got it to symbolize strength and guidance in the darkness of life.”

“It is quite stunning,” Storm said with a nod, “did it hurt a lot?”

“Yes,” she replied, “but I can handle the pain.”

“Yeah, she can, Wolive broke her arm and she didn’t even cry,” Jubilee mentioned.

“Why is that?  I noticed you never call out in pain,” Storm asked curiously.

“My father abused me and so did one of my past boyfriends,” Cindy shrugged, “and when I did cry no one cared so I just stopped.  I could be in mind numbing pain but I would act as if nothing happened.”

“Oh that is horrible, shugah!” Rogue exclaimed.

“Yes, that is horrible,” Jean agreed and the others nodded.

“It serves its purpose so it isn’t that bad,” Cindy shrugged wondering why she even told them as much.

“We care about you, if you ever need to cry…” Jean started to say and Cindy raised her hand and nodded.

 

 

                                                **************