As M started to work on the gas lines, she was hit by a precognitive wave. There was precious little she didn't know, and the fate of Celeste wasn't one. She sped up her work.

Skin stood and stared at the monitor. The sound had died an hour ago due to interference from the field, so he was depending on his ability to read body language. "Don't Cel." He and Celeste knew a painful truth, that sometimes you have to do things that you don't want to do in order to spare someone. He also knew that there was a reason that the Network needed a woman at the compound. Celeste wouldn't last a week there.

Sam and Paige were talking in the corner. "Sam, I really don't mind you being here, I just wish you would stop acting like a big brother!" Paige had watched as the two sisters protected each other. It almost reminded her of her and her brother. She had to think about how she viewed him.

"Ah am ya big brother." What was Paige's problem with him lately? He had wanted to talk to Celeste about it, but he never had the chance.

"Sam, do you know that I have yet to meet a friend of yours that hasn't told me that you talk about us?" It was quite embarrassing at times, especially things like having Rahne joke with her about spilling communion wine on a white dress.

"Ah'm proud of my family!" Paige nodded, part of her knew her brother wanted the best for her, but at times she resented his fathering her. Other times, she loved it.

"Sam, at times, I swear you have shown naked baby pictures of me to all your friends. One day, Sabertooth will tell me what a cute thing I was." Sam just looked at her. "Sam!" No wonder no one would take her seriously. "How many people?"

Sam bit the sides of his cheeks to stop the smile. "Ah haven't shown Creed that." Paige felt relieved, "Just all the New Mutants, X-Force, and the X-men."

A wicked grin spread across Paige's face. "Sam-Sam, when we get Ariel and Celeste out, some people are going to find out about the time that you tried to sell the fresh cow pies." She knew a few X- men that would love to hear a few good secrets. "Or the cake that killed the ants."

"You!" Sam had to laugh. It seemed like Paige was finally over being mad at him. Sibling relationships were very difficult. "At least the ants would eat my cake!"

Jubilee finally got the phone call that they all had been waiting on. "Excalibur will be here in two hours," she announced grimly. She had her doubts if they had an hour.

Forty-five minutes had passed since Celeste had locked Ariel in her study. Thanks to the soundproofing, Ariel had no idea what was going on in the bedroom, and she got the feeling that she didn't want to know. The X-men wouldn't save her, Generation X was outclassed. Unless Cel worked her charm, they were going to die.

Mentally Ariel made a list of questions to ask God when she saw Him. Why did He allow them to die like this? Was Stella a mutant, or did she have a rare birth defect that caused her to die at twelve? Why did He make the sky blue instead of pink? And why aardvarks? Okay, so they didn't make the usual list of questions. Jesus could handle them.

Celeste finally opened the door to the study and handed her a book bag. "I've packed some stuff for you. Some of that monster sized bottle of medicine for your allergies, clothes, and some special things. You are to go with Matt." Celeste looked very determined as she handed her the bag.

Ariel knew the answer to the next question, but she had to ask it. "And you'll come later?" Celeste sadly shook her head.

"I'm going with Tony and his friends. It was the only way they wouldn't kill you and Matt. I've wrote some quick notes for you, Matt, Frosty, and one for Claudia and her friend." Ariel knew that Celeste meant Emma, Monet, and Angelo. Celeste was fighting back her tears. "Matt can't suspect a thing, so I need you to act normal." Ariel started to cry. "Frosty will take care of you. I'll be alright. I promise you those men won't hurt me." A tear ran down Celeste's cheek.

Ariel knew that she had no choice but to go, but she did not want to. "Please..." The front doorbell rang. "I love you."

Celeste hugged her sister. "I love you too. If I never- two things I couldn't live though again. One is losing a sister." With that, Celeste pulled Ariel out into the front room and let the men file into her bedroom. She quickly opened the door and kissed Matt.

Matt was somewhat surprised at the display of affection from Celeste. She wasn't a demonstrative person, and he had carefully held back from doing anything physical that might scare her. The look in her eyes told him something was wrong. "What's the matter, honey?" he asked, and quickly looked at Ariel. She was upset by something, also.

"Nothing," Celeste lied. "Just I love one of the cutest men around. Anything wrong with that?" Matt stopped, this wasn't normal Celeste behavior. "You two are going to be late, if you don't hurry." She pushed Ariel out the door. Had they been fighting?

"See you in a couple of hours?" He quickly decided he'd drop Ariel off at the mall with cab fare, pick up some Chinese and come back to talk to Celeste. Whatever it was, Celeste was very upset, and if Ariel didn't need to be at the doctor's, he would have talked it over with her then.

"Do you have any idea how much I appreciate how much you do for me?" Celeste asked. Forget dropping Ariel off at the mall, he'd give her cab fare at the doctor's office, Matt decided. Something in Celeste's voice scared him, not to mention how quiet Ariel was being.

"See you later?" he asked, concern in his voice.

"I'll be here." Celeste promised as she closed the door. The men quickly filed out of her room. She turned to them, "Give me a few minutes to pack."

Tony agreed to give her half an hour, guessing what she had in mind. It wouldn't take her that long if she decided to pack. After all, she had nothing left to hold her here.

She walked in and walked straight back to the medicine cabinet. She echoed his thought as she opened the bottle of Benadryl.