Bobby tugged at his collar. The shirt, while casual, was fancier then his usual tee-shirts. He probably wouldn't have worn it, but Jean had insisted. The woman had acually gone through his closet and drawers in search of "just the right clothes". He'd pleaded with Scott, but to no avail. Jean was in power, and she was not about to be over-thrown.

He'd been able to talk Jean into jeans instead of slacks, but she wouldn't back down on the shirt. She had him in a dark green, button-down shirt. The weather was cool enough that he wasn't drowning in sweat, but that wasn't to say he was comfortable.

So here he was, waiting for Ann, and feeling rather stupid. He sat down beneath a tree. A slight breeze rustled the leaves, and he watched the dancing shadows.

"God, you look sexy." Bobby looked up to see Ann standing behind him. "I've got an idea. Let's skip lunch, find a secluded spot, and neck like teenagers."

"That sounds like an idea." Bobby's stomach decided that this would be a good time to protest with loud growling. "On second thought, maybe we shouldn't skip lunch."

Ann snickered and slipped her arm through his. A wave of her hand and they were on their way.

As they were leaving the park, a large group of people gathered. Bobby realized that it was a political rally of some sort. People were running around, doing mindless, little tasks. Tables for flyers and information were set up, along with platforms for speakers. Bobby caught sight of a poster someone was putting up. He could only think of three things. Creed. Friends of Humanity. Shit.

Ann looked at the swarm of people. "FoH. Cool."

It felt like the ground had dropped out from under him. Bobby hadn't let himself seriously consider the possibility that Andreana might hate mutants. The subject had never come up, and he hadn't thought much of it.

She grabbed his hand. "C'mon, Bobby, let's take a look." She dragged him into the crowd.

Ann drifted from table to table, leafing through pamphlets, asking the occasional question. She was skimming through a piece of information when she paused. "Bobby, listen to this. 'Mutants are without good. They are incapable of any emotions beyond hatred and rage. Concepts such as mercy are completely foregin to them' Amazing, simply amazing."

Bobby figured that the amazing thing was that people could accualy belive such things.

All through this, Andreana watched him with an observent, almost calculating look. She started to turn away, then stopped and motioned him to stay put. "I'll just be a minute."

Bobby watched as she weaved through the crowd. She stopped and spoke with one of the numerous volunteers milling about. Then, for reasons unknown to Bobby, the volunteer handed her a chair. Looking around, Andreana dragged it over to the edge of the crowd. Bobby stared as she stood up on the chair.

"My fellow Americans, we live in a country that prides its self on the equality of its citizens. Our parents, our grandparents, and our great-grandparents fought that we might be able to lift our voices against injustice. But what have we done to deserve this right? All I see before me is bigotry and hatred. Things which America has traditionly fought with every fiber of its bei-"

Her speech was cut short with a yelp as someone pulled her off the chair. Years of training snapped into place as Bobby pushed his way through the crowd. When he reached the edge of the crowd, he saw Andreana speaking with a tall man.

"What the hell were thinking? What were you trying to do, start another riot?"

"It was a small riot. And I didn't start it. You know that, John."

"These are not people you want to get mad at you."

"I never asked you to be my babysitter. I fail to see what right you have to tell me how to live my life."

"Ever the idealist, are you? Stand you for truth, justice, and the American way, and you'll get a perfect society."

"I'm a realist. I'm realistic enough to realize that I couldn't live with myself if I didn't stand up for what I believed in. After all, if I don't stand up for my beliefs, who will?"

The man, John, shook his head in disgust, and returned to the crowd.

Andreana watched him go, then turned away. She found Bobby watching her, quietly. She met his gaze, fighting the urge to flinch or turn away.

"How much did you hear?"

"Enough."

Andreana turned away from his gaze. She was too afraid of what she'd see in his eyes. "I guess that this is the part where you tell me I'm nothing more then a goddamned mutie lover, and you nothing more to do with me."

"No, this is the part where I tell you how proud I am of you." Ann glanced towards him, and he could see the tears that streaked her face. He stepped towards her "Proud of your strength. Proud of your courage. And more then a little glad you're on my side."

Bobby stood next to her, uncertain of what to do, wanting to comfort her, but know knowing how. She decided for him, wrapping her arms around him. "Thank you, Bobby, you don't know how much that means to me."

She stepped back, as if holding him at arms length. "I guess this is confession time. Have you ever heard of a newsletter call 'The Town Crier'?"

"I think I've heard of it, yeah."

"I sometimes do some work for them. We basicly are a group that works against hate groups like the FoH and such. That's what that whole business was about. We do two main types of things. We take the facts, and information that these groups use to back themselves up and systematicly disprove it. We also report on the things that these groups don't want the public to know about. The violence, and the hate crimes."

"Where does what's-his-name, John, fit into it?"

"John's sort of a friend of mine, despite the fact that he's a member of the FoH. With him, at least, I understand the reasons. He lost his wife and six-month-old baby a few years back. A burgular broke in, thinking the house was empty. When he found out he was wrong, he panicked and killed them. The guy was a mutant. But I think John's dealing with it. He's starting to blame the guy, instead of mutants in general. And if one person can change, why can't others, right?"

"Right...Ann? Did you really start a riot?"

"Bobby, bring up that particular subject again, and I'll be forced to kill you. Understand?"

"Uh-huh."

"Good boy." Ann guaranteed that Bobby didn't say anything more. Having someone kiss you will do that to you.