May Parker was listening through her door while her parents where apparently deciding something very important involving her.

"But this is important, Mary Jane. We both know that because of me, she might be a mutant. And you also know what that means... She could have IT... "

May closed her eyes and tried to make some sense out of this. Could she really be a mutant ? She didn’t feel any different than before. And what was IT ? Her parents obviously didn’t think she was listening, or that she would understand...

"I KNOW, Peter. But she’s only eight ! You told me that if she was a mutant, it wouldn’t show until she was AT LEAST 13... "

"The genes won’t start acting until that time, true. But they are still within her. IF they are there. That’s why we have to know... That’s why the tests have to be done..."

Mary Jane sighed.

"All right, I know this is important for the health of May. That’s why I’m agreeing to all of this, but I’m coming TOO !"

"I wouldn’t want it any other way... "

The silence after that made it evident her mom and dad were kissing... (How they could even do that was beyond her...). May gently closed the door and went back to bed, worried. She didn’t fall asleep for another hour after that. And her sleep wasn’t an easy one.

The Xavier Institute. It was an early December morning. A Saturday. Light snow had come the day before, and the grounds of the mansion were delightfully white. Later that day she would probably go out there and make a snowman or something, convince her family to let Cierra come, and the two would have some fun. Nothing was really planned that day anyway. Not that she knew... Sikudhani McCoy was watching some T.V, as always one of the firsts up in the mansion. Just what in the world was so fascinating about sleep that grown-ups stayed in it so late ? Her usual cartoons proved to be uncharacteristically boring that morning. As she constantly switched channels in search of something good, her boringness grew until finally she hit the power button and sighed. She sighed and wished she could stay asleep a while longer herself. Saturday mornings were really boring when nothing was on.

"Sleeping actually sounds good... "

Then her enhanced hearing caught it. A motor. From a car. At the gates. She got off the couch and looked through the window. A car was there. From here she could discern three occupants. A man, a woman and someone else in the backseat, but she couldn’t tell. The front gate bell rang across the mansion halls.

"What do I do ? Wake up dad ?"

She didn’t have to wonder for long, as a shout of surprise came from upstairs, and a sudden wave of groans and sleepy moans followed. Looks like the bell had done her job.

"OH MY STARS AND GARTERS, I COMPLETELY FORGOT!", was the next thing she heard as a loud thud resonated in the ceiling, and loud running footsteps could be heard.

"Siku ? "

"Downstairs dad. "

Her father came leaping down the stairs. He was barely awake, letting his instinct take control of most of his body functions.

"Why didn’t you wake me up ? "

Siku was clueless as to what was happening.

"Why should I have ? "

Hank McCoy stopped suddenly.

"I didn’t tell you ? "

Siku frowned.

"Tell me what ? "

Hank groaned at his own stupidity and severely reprimanded himself for such a lack of memory.

"Siku, that’s Peter Parker at the front gate. With his wife and... his young girl."

Siku’s eyes grew wide in surprise. She well remembered the young May Parker, who had come to the mansion three years ago. The two hadn’t met again since then, but they had been friends for a day back then.

"May ? "

Hank nodded as he brushed some of his hair. Charles telepathically told Hank that he was ready for them in his office. Hank wasn’t. Siku smiled as her day suddenly became much more interesting.

"Why is she coming ? "

"Peter and his wife want to... ", he hesitated a bit before continuing, "want to know if she’s a mutant. "

"Why would she be ? ", Siku asked, wanting very much to know all there was to know about her "one-day" friend... That’s how she thought of her now.

"Long story. Let’s just say her father’s...special... Why don’t you go open the gates ?"

Siku accepted the response and headed for the gate controls and activated the intercom. Normally she would never dream of doing this, but now she had her father’s permission.

"Xavier Institute, " she began, imitating what her aunts and uncles always did when answering the gates, "Who is this ? "

"Peter Parker and family.", a more or less familiar voice said, "I had a meeting scheduled with Professor Xavier and Hank McCoy. "

Siku hit the second button, and said : "Come right in !"

Then she hit the third button and the gates opened. Behind her it was general panic as everyone hurried to get dressed as fast as they could. Bobby came down in his boxers, looking for his "I’m Cool" T-shirt, and Sam groggily came down the stairs, nearly falling to his death. Rogue and Ororo came down peacefully, more or less. Rogue’s hair was a mess. The lucky ones here were Scott and Jean, since they lived outside the mansion, there was no need for them to wake up. As for Gambit, he didn’t even bother getting up. He stayed peacefully in bed, awake but relaxed, chuckling as he heard the commotion outside his door. Bishop was already fully awake and downstairs in seconds.

"I still don’t understand why they all wake up only because a guest is coming. "

"A guest who has a very beautiful wife.. ", explained Bobby.

Siku groaned.

The door opened and the Parkers came inside. Mary Jane and Peter began chatting with Hank as soon as their coats and boots were off, while May stayed close to her mother. The rest of the X-men entered the conversation at some point, and rapidly the group moved to the living room, where they could have more room. May followed, and so did Siku...

I wonder why she isn’t talking to me, Siku wondered.

After a while Siku got bored of the silent treatment and approached May, who was sitting on a chair beside her mother’s.

"Hello. ", Siku said.

May turned around and faced Siku. She replied with a small, very small smile and an Hi. Siku sighed. This wasn’t moving very fast.

"Want to come play in my room ? I got lots of stuff to do there... ", Siku said, hopeful. This wasn’t going on as planned. It was supposed to have been an happy reunion.

May looked at her mother, who had heard the two talking. May seemed reluctant to let go of her mother, almost as if she was afraid of something.

"May, why don’t you go and play with Siku ? Your dad and I need to talk with Mr. McCoy and Mr. Xavier anyway, and all of it will be boring for you. ", Mary Jane explained.

A conflict seemed to be raging in May’s mind.

"Okay... ", she finally agreed.

Siku smiled and took May by the arm.

"Come on ! "

After the two girls had departed, Hank looked at Mary Jane and Peter.

"Does she know why she’s here ? ", he asked them.

Peter and Mary Jane looked at each other guiltily.

"We... We didn’t tell her. We thought there would be no way she would come if she had known why she was coming here... ", Peter explained.

"I’ve found that children her age can be very perceptive at times... ", Hank said.

"What do you mean ? ", Peter asked. Beside him Mary Jane gave Hank a knowing look.

"That maybe you should’ve told her something about the reason she’s here... " ****

Outside, unnoticed by all save two, snow began to fall.

"I wish we were allowed to go outside... ", Siku said, looking out the window of her room.

May was sitting beside her, also looking outside, but remaining completely silent. Siku looked at her. She looked deep in thought, her eyes unmoving as she frowned slightly.

"What are you thinking about ? ", Siku finally asked, curious.

May snapped out of it and looked at Siku.

"What ? ", she asked, not sure she had heard what Siku had asked.

"What are you thinking about ? You looked like you were thinking of something... "

May looked outside again and pushed some red hair out of her face.

"Nothing... ", she answered.

She forced herself to look away from the window and to look at Siku.

"So, you said you had things to do here ? ", May said, changing subject.

Mary Jane, quite frankly, was getting bored. Hank, Xavier and Peter had been talking scientific stuff for about three hours or so, and, even though she had learned a few things from Peter, she quickly lost the meaning of the conversation. They had arrived at nine, had chatted with the rest of the X-men for about two hours, had been in here for three... That meant it was around two in the afternoon. And they hadn’t eaten anything. She wondered if May was doing well. She had looked a bit worried before leaving this morning, and her reluctance to go along with Siku had proved that something was wrong. And she was getting hungry.

"So, you’re saying the mutagenic gene that could contain the virus is... ", Peter was saying, very interested in the conversation.

"Excuse me, do you mind if I go out and have a walk around the mansion ? And a snack ? I realize this is all VERY important, but I just don’t understand a word you’re saying... "

The three of them nodded.

"I’m sorry, MJ, I should have realized earlier that... "

"It’s okay, Peter, really, but I just need to take a walk... "

"Jean is waiting for you outside the office. ", Xavier said.

The two of them looked at Xavier. He looked at them, as their faces suddenly remembered he could use telepathy...

Jean nodded, and walked out of the room.

"You boys have fun... ", she said as she walked out to join Jean outside.

Outside, still more snow continued to fall, and still no one had noticed yet. Professor Xavier, Peter and Hank continued talking for hours, and Mary Jane, along with Jean, made a tour of the mansion, then began chatting with some of the other girls of the mansion. No one looked outside. In Siku’s room, the girls played various games, mostly some board games, and then went on to comparing notes on how gross some boys could be. Siku called Cierra to know if she could come, but no one answered when they called. But soon supper time came, and finally someone looked out the window.

"Oh MY GOD ! We’re having a snowstorm!", Mary Jane shouted as she looked out the window.

Jean was sitting beside her, and she looked out too.

"Oh, my ! It’s going to be hellish to return home. ", she said, looking at the boathouse on the grounds.

Mary Jane looked at the road. The snow showed no signs of giving up, and it was around five. They could never get out of here.

"We’ll never be able to leave here tonight... ", she said.

Jean looked at her.

"Well, we have plenty of room for you and your family here... ", she began to say.

"MJ, we’re ready for the tests now, and... ", Peter said as he came out of Charles’ office, followed by Hank and Charles. He stopped talking when he saw the look in his wife’s eyes.

"What ? "

"I don’t think you’ll have to hurry and do the tests tonight, tiger... It looks like we’ll be staying for the night. ", Mary Jane told him as she opened the curtains for him to see.

"But... There was almost nothing on the ground this morning... "

"A lot can happen in a day. ", Mary Jane said.

It was decided that the tests would be delayed until the next morning. After supper, they lit a fire in the chimney and enjoyed a calm, relaxing morning. May stayed silent for most of it. It had been decided MJ and Peter would share a room, and that May would sleep with Siku, which was fine for everyone. And so, around eight, the two girls went to bed.

The two girls were silent, Siku in her bed, May in a sleeping bag on the floor beside the bed. Siku was staring up at her ceiling, wondering what was wrong with May. She hadn’t said a word for at least two hours, but she knew she was awake. This was really bothering her. What was wrong ? She had to know !

"May ? "

The girl on the floor didn’t respond. When Siku turned around to see what she was doing, she saw that she was sobbing.

"May, what’s wrong ? "

May turned around to face her. Her eyes were red with tears. So was her face.

"Si...Siku... I’m afraid... "

That shocked Siku.

"Afraid of what ? "

"Mom... and ... dad... said I was... here... to do... ", May started to weakly say, but she couldn’t finish as she started sobbing again.

Siku got off her bed and hugged May, who let herself be hugged. She needed this right now.

"What is it ? What did your mom and dad say ? "

May calmed down a bit and looked at Siku.

"Something about tests... That I am a... mu...tant...And that I could have... IT ! "

Siku wasn’t sure she understood.

"It ? What it ? "

"I... I don’t know. ", May said, on the verge of tears again.

Siku frowned, trying to understand.

"I don’t want to do tests, Siku. Why should I do something I don’t want to do ?"

Siku hugged her again, and an idea crossed her mind.

"You shouldn’t. And you won’t. "

Siku hugged May again.

The next day was beautiful. The sky was completely empty of clouds, and the sun shone brightly in the sky. It was still early, but already Hank, Peter and Mary Jane were up. They had decided to do the tests early in the morning, to get it over with, and so they could all go home in time for Peter’s appointment at the Bugle. Mary Jane went to get May. The door was still closed, so she gently knocked on the door.

"May ? Are you awake, darling ? "

No answer came, so she assumed they were still sleeping. She tried the door. To her surprise, it didn’t open. It was locked.

"Hello ? Anyone awake in there ? ", she called gently again.

Siku’s voice answered her.

"May doesn’t want to do the tests. And so until we get a written promise that she won’t, we’re NOT opening the door. "

Mary Jane took a step back, shocked. What did this mean ?

"It’s important for her to take them, Siku... ", she started to say, no believing that the little she had heard so much good of yesterday by the rest of the X-men was doing this.

This time, though, May responded.

"I don’t care, mom, I don’t want to take them ! "

Mary Jane sighed. This could get complicated. She looked around, to see if anyone who could help was around. No one but herself was there.

"But, tigress, you have to un... "

"I said NO ! "

Despite the situation, a small smile appeared on Mary Jane’s face. This was her Watson side showing.

"Very well, then. Just wait. I’ll go get your FATHERS ! ", she said, with an emphasis on the last word of the sentence.

She could hear a small gasp inside, but nothing else. Mary Jane went to get the fathers.

"Are you sure this is such a good idea, Siku ? "

"No, it’s not. We’re both going to be grounded for this, but it’s the only way to save you from the tests... ", Siku explained. She was afraid of her father’s wrath too, but she certainly didn’t want something her friend didn’t want to happen to her to happen.

May looked at her fellow revolutionary. She looked as worried as she was. But Siku had said this would force them to talk to them, instead of taking action.

"I guess so... ", May agreed, still some uncertainty in her voice.

Then again, even Siku looked uncertain. They were doing something bad. They were disobeying. But it was for a good cause. Just like the X-men were sometimes considered outlaws and still were fighting for a good cause. Siku liked that comparison. It was the only good one she had found.

"They’ve what ? ", both Hank and Peter exclaimed when Mary Jane told them.

They both started to storm out of the room, furious at the little girls, but Mary Jane stopped them.

"Wait, you two ! May is only frightened. And all Siku wants to do is protect her friend from something she thinks will bring her harm. Hank, did you tell her you were going to do the tests? "

"Well, not really. ", Hank admitted to Mary Jane.

"Barging into the room will only scare them more. I think we must explain to them. Or at least one of us should."

"Through a locked door ? ", Peter asked.

Mary Jane looked at him.

"That’s not what I had in mind... "

In the rebellion headquarters, Siku and May stared nervously at the door. That’s why they were both jumped in surprise when a small thud was heard on the window. They turned to see that a snowball had landed in it. Frowning, the two girls looked around the grounds and saw nothing. Curious, Siku opened the window and looked out.

"Hi there, mind if I come in ?", came a voice from above.

Siku screamed and fell backwards as a man dressed in a red and blue costume dropped inside the room. May’s face lighted up instantly as she recognized the man.

"SPIDER-MAN ! ", she shouted, throwing her arms around him.

Spidey grabbed her and sat down on the bed, with her on his lap.

"Spider-Man is a friend. He protects me and my family. ", she explained at Siku, who was staring at him worriedly.

She had heard of him, of course, but had never seen him in person.

"Wow ! Wait until I tell this to Cameron...and Cierra. "

"Your parents called me, and said you girls had locked yourselves in this room. "

May nodded, completely trusting Spider-man. Siku looked at her, amazed at how she seemed completely comfortable on his lap.

"Mom and dad want to make me do tests and I don’t want to and I don’t even know why and Siku said she would help and... "

"Whoa, calm down, May. First, you should know your parents would never let anything hurt you. Everything they do is for your good. You should know that... "

May looked down.

"I know, but... "

"And besides, Siku’s father is the one doing the tests... "

Spider-Man looked at Siku, who’s face brightened.

"May, if my dad is giving the tests, you have nothing to worry about. He’d never hurt you. ", Siku said, getting closer to the two, her awe of Spider-Man diminishing.

May looked at her.

"Really ? "

Siku nodded. May was happy with that. If both Siku and Spider-man said it was okay, then it had to be.

"Okay, then we’ll open the door... Okay Siku ? "

Siku nodded. Spider-Man rose, letting May down.

"Well, now that this is over, I have to go girls. Say hi to your parents for me ! "

With that, he was off.

Hank and Mary Jane were waiting on the other side of the door.

"You really think that it will work ? ", Hank asked Mary Jane.

"We’ll know any second now... "

The door unlocked, and the two girls came out sheepishly.

"Umm... Dad, I’m sorry... " Siku began.

"It’s okay, sunshine, you were just trying to help your friend... "

The two hugged each other.

"Mom, I can do the tests now. Spider-Man came, and he told us that it was okay, that you wouldn’t do anything to hurt me, and that it was going to be MORE okay because Siku’s dad was doing the tests... "

Mary Jane picked up her little girl and hugged her.

"I’m sorry for not talking to you about this before we decided, tigress. We should have... "

"Mom, where’s dad ? "

Peter came up the stairs, as if on cue.

"I was just preparing the laboratory. You ready, tigress ? ", he said, hugging her too.

May looked at Siku, who nodded at her. May nodded in response, then turned to her father.

"I’m ready. "

It took 45 minutes to complete the tests, which revealed May didn’t have the Legacy Virus. The Parker family returned home, after they all had said their good byes. And later that day, Siku got Cameron pretty jealous after she told him about Spider-Man.

Well, how did you guys like it ? I would appreciate comments, and if you guys want to see another May/Siku adventure, tell me. I’m already preparing another one, but still, I really am craving feedback, don’t hesitate... And my e-mail address is lama1@videotron.ca Thank you for reading !