Angelo sat on the couch, waiting for Ariel to come back from shopping with Jubilee. In the past month, Celeste's and Ariel's apartment had become like a second home to the members of Generation X, and the girls had become part of the team's extended family, almost auxiliary members of the team.

Whenever someone needed straight talk, advice or help, they turned to Cel. When they needed a little sister, a cheerleader, or a best friend, they turned to Ariel. It came as no surprise that every member of the team had a key to the sisters' apartment, now nicknamed "Academy-east."

Angelo and Ariel's relationship had taken a on more personal feeling, one that Angelo was both happy and sad to see. Ariel had an aunt listed in the Social Register, while Angelo had an uncle listed on the FBI most wanted list. As much as Angelo liked being attracted to a girl that liked him back, he hated the fact that they were from two different worlds.

A sound outside alerted him that someone was there. Without getting off the couch, he stretched out and opened the door. Celeste smiled gratefully as she balanced one bag against her knee, and shifted the other bag to her other shoulder, dangling several plastic bags in her hands. Angelo quickly grabbed the paper bags from her and moved them to the kitchen counter. It was an advantage having six feet of extra skin sometimes.

"Gracias," Cel started in Spanish. Growing up in Texas, she had the advantage of being bilingual. She and Angelo had gotten in the habit of speaking Spanish to each other. Neither wanted to lose the ability to do so.

"Ev and I checked your car, and you were right about the brakes' pads needing replacing. He's gone to get the parts now." Cel smiled, very thankful that the boys had agreed to fix the car just for the experience for their shop class. Emma had offered to buy her a new car as repayment for all the help that the sisters gave Generation-X, but that idea was vetoed because Celeste had gotten used to being self-sufficient. If Cel was to let them, she got the feeling, Emma and Sean would gladly support her and her sister. That help would make her feel indebted to the Xavier foundation, and she didn't like to be in anybody's debt.

"Ariel's out shopping?" Angelo nodded. "I picked up some groceries, since Emma insists on paying for the food you all eat. I hate carrying bags on the bus!" She set some vegetables on the table.

"You finally broke down and allowed her to give you money?" Angelo had to hear that again, he had never thought the day would come. Last month, Celeste had served them meals of rice and beans trying to stretch her money.

"Yeah, I don't mind cooking for everybody, but I can't afford to feed everybody." Angelo looked at her, disappointed. Celeste had been very firm about not accepting money from Emma but, when the stress had gotten too bad, she allowed her to help. "And she didn't give me money, she gave me a debit card to use. Same thing I know basically, but she's not going to give me money for what I do out of friendship."

"I know what you mean. Xavier or Emma pays for everything; food, education, clothes, medical care. Makes me feel like I will owe them big time when I get done." And where Angelo came from, he knew that there was a price to be paid for the kindness that they were showing him. And there was no way that he felt he could pay them back besides fighting for Xavier's dream.

"Ange, I know you don't like school, and where you came from, school wasn't important. But if they want to throw their money away and educate you, use them like a trade school and take practical classes like computers or mechanics so that you can get a job and pay them back. I have several years on you, don't go getting more jaded than me." Angelo didn't consider Celeste jaded but, like himself, she saw the world in shades of gray and was comfortable with the fact that there was sometimes a difference between a moral choice and a survival choice.

"You were given a second chance, Ange, not just because of your mutant powers- face it, there are other mutant teens with neat powers- but because you can become somebody, somebody that you couldn't become in the barrio. Use their helping hand to pull yourself up, take every chance you get." Celeste wondered at what point did her mother's words start coming out of her mouth.

"Sorry we couldn't get to your car before today," he decided to change the topic. Angelo had been trying to find a reason to get into town to see Ariel, but training plus a twenty-page paper had kept him at school. Working on the car was as good a reason as any to get down to the apartment. "We also cleaned up that wall that the gang tagged last night. You have to be very careful or, before you know it, this place will become gang land."

Cel turned from putting up groceries. "The neighborhood watch has a meeting tonight with the police to discuss methods to stop any takeover. I've already rented two apartments in this building to cops at below market rates. I've got two more coming tomorrow." Celeste had taken over the job of apartment manager in exchange for free rent and utilities.

"The car will be ready by tonight. Wish you could have had it earlier because I don't like the new bus route." Cel emptied the last bag and put it up. "Is that the stuff to make your heavenly pizza with?"

"The one that takes me two-thirds of forever to make, yes. Since it's your birthday today, I thought I'd make your favorite foods. Thanks for working on the car. Since I've gone back to being a full time student, and working for Emma's friend in the accounting division part time, money's been kind of tight. Anyways, I'm always shaky after seeing my doctor, so not driving was a good thing." She moved a metal bowl out of the microwave and punched down the dough.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but that doctor has done you a world of good. You've started looking better, losing weight and acting more confident. Why do you go see her?" Ange felt like Celeste was a part of his family, an aunt or sister. She understood him in a way that most people at the school did not.

Cel moved a strand of hair out her face and frowned while thinking of an answer. It was a good thing that Ange thought enough of her to keep tabs on her, as if she were actually a part of his family. But with that came the feeling that he had the right to consider her a part of his family. The answer to the question was something that she had shared with five people in her life and was painful enough that she hoped her sister would never find out.

"Matt and I, well, we hit a point that we can't go past until I-- It's like when you build a brick wall on a rocky foundation. Somebody's got to go back and fix the cracks." He didn't need to know that she had started throwing up a brick wall when Matt wanted more than a slight peck on the lips after a date, but she loved Matt for his patience and support. After her parents' death, she had little time to do anything but accept her rape. Now, she knew that she needed to take time to get help, before stress caused her emotional dam to break. Ariel thought it was really nothing more than simple stress.

"Oh." Angelo, in addition to having an innate ability to read body language, had grown up on the streets and seen the 'victim' and 'survivor' looks in many women's eyes. Cel's eyes when he asked the question showed her to be a survivor. He decided to be tactful enough not to mention it again. "Your boss messengered this package for you today." He handed it to her. "Overnight express mail- must be important."

"It is your birthday gift from me. Can't get much more important." Quickly, she opened the box, removed the freeze packs, and placed several plastic boxes in the fridge.

"You got food from LA for my birthday?" That was a bit odd.

"Do you want it now?" It was lunchtime. Ange nodded and she started to heat the food, following the directions. "Let me explain this one. I had a dentist appointment and sat in the office, reading a travel magazine when I came across a local color piece on "Angelo's Mexican Meals For Your Home" It's a place that specializes in preparing the food to be cooked later, very popular with the LA crowd. A Ms. Espinosa named it after her dead son, who was pictured in the article-- who just happened to look like you. I took a chance and ordered "Angelo's favorites" package and my boss was kind enough to ship it for me."

Angelo stopped and smelled the delicious aroma that sent him back in time to when he was five years old, helping his mother in the kitchen. He had been so happy then, safe and hadn't joined the gang. He would sell his soul to return to the time before he joined his gang. Or even before getting out would have meant his family's life.

"Here, let me cook that." Cel stepped out of the small kitchen to let him in. "Aren't you even going to ask?"

Cel shook her head. "A quote I like is 'There are chapters in a man's life that are seldom read, and then never out loud.' If you want to tell me you will."

Angelo started to saute the vegetables. "Let's just say that I did what I had to do for my family." She nodded at that statement. Angelo paused for a moment and then continued. "If I tell you the story, will you swear never to repeat it?"

Celeste looked slightly offended at having to promise. She could already name enough names to bring down half of Xavier's dreams. What the sisters knew potentially made them a target. But she nodded anyway.

"I ran with a gang since I was eight. I'm not going to tell you which one- I can do that much to protect you- but I survived seven years of it. Two years ago, Torres and I started ... dating. She survived the leader, Tony also know as Dragon. Suddenly, she was in charge and she shared the job with me. What do you know about gangs, I mean really know?"

Cel paused and thought. "They fight and deal drugs and steal stuff." She knew that gangs were trouble, but she hadn't given much thought to what they did.

"In LA, things were more complicated. Think about it, where do the drugs come from? Where do the stolen goods go?"

"I have no idea." Occasionally, she heard about people being caught for being a fence.

"There is a network, running all across the country and across the world. The gangs are a training ground for heavier stuff- murder for hire, professional breaking and entering. Goods and people move along this network. The best are for hire. People are making money right and left." Angelo paused, debating how much more to spill.

"Oh." Celeste indicated that he should continue.

"My best friend, Jorge, was killed in a drive-by shooting and I wanted out. Torres didn't want me to leave, she was a real 'psycho- chic' about me. The network goes gang, state leaders, region leaders, national leaders, international leaders. If you can identify any one above the gang leader, you are dead. Torres introduced me to the international leader. My family would be killed if I ever left the gang."

"So you ... faked your own death?" Tactfully, she didn't press for more information about the network.

"I was Torres' second in command, and we were in the middle of a gang war. Early one morning, I went out to my car and found a wannbe member of the other gang running away from my car. There was a car bomb under my car. I chased him and we started fighting. I ... He fell and hit his head. He was dead, so I carried him back to the car, and turned the motor over. The car exploded, and I ran away."

"Oh my." Celeste slipped from Spanish back into English. "And your family must believe you are dead, or ... "

"My brother runs with the same gang, his loyalty is first to his colors. Mi familia would be killed." The food was ready and Angelo scooped some on Celeste's plate. "Please have some."

Celeste looked at Angelo in a new light. He was much more dedicated and loyal than she would have believed. She came to a conclusion about an issue that had been troubling her. Quickly she took a bite of the beans and rice dish.

"Ange, do you have information on this network?" Something that might be traded for protection. She couldn't imagine holding on to something so priceless for as long as he had to have.

Angelo slipped some papers out of the lining of his jacket. Quickly she went over to her grandfather clock and opened the drawer on the bottom and pressed down on the bottom, then opened the glass case and paused the pendulum. Then she reached up and pulled out the clock's face to reveal a small compartment in the back.

"My grandparents were in the underground during World War two and my grandfather was a master carpenter. The clock has two secret compartments. You can hide your stuff here if you want. I'm the only one that knows about this compartment."

Angelo thought about it for a minute, weighing the risks to Ariel and Celeste against the freedom that he would feel not carrying the documents around. He was going to refuse when he walked over to the cabinet. Inside was a single picture of Cel holding a newborn child. If she could trust this compartment to hold her most precious secret, then he could do the same. He slid the documents inside and shut the clock face.

It was a long, quiet moment after that. Eventually, they went back to eating in a strangely easy silence. Ev walked in a few minutes later.

"I've got the parts. Took me a while to get the brake shoes for your car and I thought that Ange and I could use the credit for changing oil and replacing... " Quickly he trailed off. Something wasn't right in this room. "Food smells nice. Makes me wish I didn't stop at Windy's."

Cel smiled brightly and spoke about the first thing that came to mind. "Angelo and I were talking about Ariel's dating rules when you walked in. As I told Ange, I don't mind her dating you two- separately of course. Jono is too old, and Mondo is, well, Mondo. It's the going out I mind. From what Sean has told me, any member of an X- team seems to have a problem being in public and not running into trouble." She stopped for a moment, careful not to talk too fast or do anything that might give away what she was feeling.

"My rules are simple. Ariel is a lady and will remain a lady, or her date will become a lady. Second, she is to double date until she's sixteen. If she dates a mutant that is a visible mutant, he is to wear a image thingamajig when in public, I don't want her involved with any trouble. And finally, no fighting other mutants or mutant haters. I don't care if the person says that Creed is your father, you walk away. You may go into Boston but I don't want her visiting another galaxy or something. Her curfew is midnight, no dating on school nights."

Ev nodded at that. Something like that would cause a little tension. "I'll go get started on the car then. Join me when you get done eating, Skin."

Cel then asked, "You did remember to bring a change of clothes for the party tonight?"

"Yep." Ev walked out, and Angelo helped himself to another helping of food.

"You mean, I can date your sister?" After all that he told her, he was surprised that she would trust him around Ariel.

"She wants to go out with you, and if you ever work up the nerve to ask her out, it's okay with me." Personally, Cel didn't see it happening. Ange was too aware of the differences between him and Ariel. And to her mind, he and Paige made a better match.

"I want to save the rest of the meal, if that's okay with you." Cel nodded. "Thanks for everything."

"That's what friends are for, Angelo."

Thinking of the way that Ev had called her an earth mother, he corrected. "No, that's what madres are for." Celeste smiled in acceptance of that title.

"Any time you need one, call me. I can do a good mother impression."

"I will." Quickly, he picked up his jacket and left before Celeste could see the tears forming in his eyes. She had given him the best gift, a reminder of the family he lost, and a promise of the family he found. A gift that could never be boxed.