HEY I LOVE THE GIFTED AND I LOVE THE POWER AND CONNECTION BETWEEN ANDY AND LAUREN. I KNOW IT'S GOING TO COME OFF AS SLIGHT INCESTUOUS BUT I WON'T CROSS THAT LINE, MORE DANCE AROUND OR ON IT. THEY ARE TOTAL BAD ASS AND I JUST WISHED WE SEE MORE OF THEM AND THEIR POWERS.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE TO READ.

I DO NOT OWN ANY CHARACTER OR ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE GIFTED. SADLY.

Lonely, Empty, Angry, Scared

These are just a few of the emotions Lauren was feeling, her parents had no idea of the pain she was going through. Her mother is a bundle of nerves, always going on about Andy. 'how we need to get him back' or 'those people took him away' not ready or able to face reality of that he left them. 'Left me' Lauren thought. If she wasn't busy hounding anyone human or mutant that came into the hospital/clinic for help about Andy, she was training with John or fighting with Reed. Her dad was just as oblivious to her suffering with taking care of getting other mutants and their families to a safe place but at least he could see that something wasn't right with her or that he shouldn't bring up Andy when she was in the room. Reed knew that his son chose to go with Lorna and the rest, he accepted that maybe this was something that he needed to journey on by himself and just hoped that Andy would come back to them in the end.

It was still early, the sun was just peaking over the horizon not ready to wake the world yet for another day. Lauren gave out a deep sigh as she laid in her bed, she had been staring at the ceiling all night. Sleep was something that didn't come easy to her anymore, she didn't tell her parents but her dreams with Andy have become a frequent occurrence. She didn't even need to be asleep anymore to have them, Lauren found herself just even thinking of Andy and her mind would drift off but anytime she would see him she would wake up, scared of what happened the first time it did.

So hear she was contemplating what to do. 'Just do it Lauren' she thought loudly to herself. She closed her eyes and released a deep breath before running her hand through her long blonde hair. "You can do this, put your big girl pants on and get out of your head and just do it" she whispered, trying to give herself a little peep talk. Lauren opened her eyes with determination and reached her hand out and pulled the cover off her and quietly got out of bed. The whole apartment was still dark with a faint glow from the rising dawn, Lauren crept to her bedroom door silently thanking herself for not shutting it. Before she entered further out of the apartment she grabbed a small black jacket to put over her strappy pj top and shorts and slipped on some sneakers.

As Lauren made her way to the front door every step was a risk and the old wooden floorboards weren't her friends. With just a slight movement they would groan and creek threatening to wake her parents, she was glad and let out a sigh of relief when she closed the door behind her and was in the hallway. As she looked around already know that she wouldn't get caught because no one was stupidly awake this early unlike her, but she did it all the same. As Lauren journeyed up the stairs that lead to a little area on the rooftop she couldn't for the life of her get a hold of the emotions that was stirring inside her.

The roof door stiffly opened revealing a slumbering city and a sky filled with light. Lauren closed her eyes and breathed in some clean air and took a moment for herself that only lasted a second but was still priceless all the same. She made work of dragging a big brick while using her powers to hold the door open as she did. The roof door had no handle the other side so she didn't feel like accidentally locking herself out her and then having to answer all the questions her parents would ask her about why she was doing up here.

A small breeze swirl around her as she made her way to the edge of the roof, the wall ledge coming up to her waist as she turned her back to the view and leaned against it. She placed her hands on either side of herself gripping the stone ledge trying to still find the courage to do this. Lauren closed her eyes and let herself think of Andy, think about every memory they had shared and every moment. She slowly felt herself slip away, "Andy" she let out quietly. Lauren was slowly losing hope and started to think this was a waste of time until she was overcome with a sudden warmth around her. As she opened her eyes, her heart dropped as she stared at the same empty roof top she was still on, she turned around and faced the view quickly shielding her eyes from the rising sun. The warmth had been from its raze and not from her and Andy's connection, 'your so stupid' she thought as she gently ran her hand through her hair. Lauren knew it wasn't the connection she felt, she just wished it was. She knew what it was like when they connected and she felt stupid even comparing or thinking the two felt the same. "I knew trying this was a waste of time" she stated

She gripped the ledge one last time frustrated before turning around to head back inside for another day of hiding and fighting her emotions and putting on a mask that fools everyone.

"I wouldn't say it's a waste of time" Andy replied with a smile. Lauren was slammed with emotions with seeing her brother standing well leaning against the edge of the metal door. It always took her a second or two to register the changes in him, his bleach blonde hair, his growth spurt, his style of clothes. Even with him standing here with trainers black jogging bottoms and a red zip up hoodie which was only half way done up showing that he had no top on underneath he seemed so different yet she knew deep down if she reached for it the familiarity of him would be found. "Andy" she breathed out, gripping the stone ledge harder stopping herself from running to him and wrapping her arms around him.

"Yes we've established that I'm here, I'm just making a wild guess here and say you couldn't sleep either" he joked with a smile gesturing to his and hers clothing earning a eye roll and a smirk from Lauren, they just stared at each other a void, a distance, a emptiness that they both felt between them. Andy stepped forward before clearing his throat and bringing a hand that rub the back of his neck. "So ... Where do you think this dream meet has decided to take us, and before you say a roof top i know it's a roof top. I mean which roof top" he said as he walks around looking at the view but still always returning his gaze to her afraid she would disappear like she always does when they see each other in these meetings. His words seemed to jolt her out of her daze, "oh um i don't know" she replied looking around not wanting to give Andy a big piece of information on where they were hiding, "i don't recognise this place" she finished moving so she stood right infront of him.

"How's Lorna and the baby" she asked not ready to talk about the things she really wanted, also she could see it was slowly killing Marcos not being with Lorna or their baby. "Shes doing great, the baby is nearly due and she won't take any of my baby names that ive suggested" he answered still staring out into the distance. Lauren laughed "yea i bet there terrible", "She said they sounded like pornstar names" he joked back sneaking a small glance at her. "I do worry about her sometimes, i try to help as much as i can but i think she is just scared about the birth". "You seem close" Lauren asked, "yea we really bonded these six months, its nice having a friend there that you can trust and gets you and beliefs what your doing is right". Andy had come to love Lorna, she was truly his best friend. She would never think of him as a monster for using his power or for wanting to use it, she would never make him feel bad for believing that the world needed bold action to fix it because she believed it to. They really did bond and was there for each other and offered support and advice when needed.

"Are you staying this time" he asked staring down at her his voice lined with sadness though he tried to hide it. "Cos normally you run away from me by now" he finished looking back out towards the sky. Lauren quickly turned to him his words sparking an anger in her, "Don't you dare accuse me of running away when we both know thats what you do". "Lauren i never ran away, i chose to side with people who see reality how it is, people won't change unless you make them. Show them that we are not afraid of them and that we want the same living and right that they do. And if they won't let us then we will make them. Just cos my opinion doesn't match mom and dad's perfect one doesn't mean its wrong. I chose to be a part of something that could change the world" Andy declared taking a deep breath begging with his eyes that she could see his side of things. "So you admit you chose to be away from us" she said taking a step closer to him so they were toe to toe, "well yes i guess"' Andy replied gazing down at her slightly shaking his head knowing that his try at making her understand didn't go through. "You chose to leave mom" Lauren stated, "yes" he answered wondering where she was going with this. "You chose to leave dad" she stated again looking up at him, "yes Lauren what is your point" he yelled back fed up of going over this. Lauren softly bit the inside of her cheek fighting the emotion that wanted to burst out, she wouldn't dare cry in front of him, "So you chose to leave me".

Her words were met with silence. The Strucker s just stared at each other, Andy didn't know what to say. He knew he couldn't say that he would never leave her cos that is exactly what he had done. He had chosen a path he had to explore and wished she would have followed but she never did. "Because that is what you did Andy, you left me. Alone. You choose them over me" she continued, finally letting that dam burst and say all the things she had pushed down and hidden. "You left me with this big emptiness inside that i can't for the life of me fill, and i can't speak to anyone about it cos they couldn't possible understand how it feels having someone you have this powerful connection with that consumes your entire being suddenly gone ". She finished breathing heavily. "You don't think i feel the same Lauren, cos i do. I feel that void inside where you should be everyday, but don't you put that all on me. You were the one that hated using our power together, you were the one that thought it could only be evil. Not me ". Andy stated while he raised his hands to softly grip her arms pulling her closer, "we could be the most powerful people in the world Lauren, we could make people change this world for the better, for mutants, for us".

Lauren ripped his hands off of her but didn't step back, "you are talking about hurting people Andy, killing people". "People that would kill us without blinking Lauren, just because we were born this way. We are only defending ourselves" he replied wishing he could make her see that this world was harsh and that people wanted to kill what they don't understand what they are afraid of. He wanted t hem to be able to live in a world where they weren't hunted, he wanted her safe he knew that she was fully capable of holding her own but equally powerful mutants have been killed and he would be damned if he ever let that happen.

"So we should be like them then, kill people that we don't like just because we can. We are powerful Andy " Lauren started as she reached out and gripped his arm this time, "We shouldn't use the power we create, it destructive and it kills. That is all its good for". Andy reached his hand up to take her hand off his arm and lowered it to there side still softly embracing it with his own. "You can't lie to me Lauren" he said whiles he ran his other fingers over her palm, "i know you feel it when we connect, you've confessed it before. The rush, the power, the pull, the completeness of being whole with someone and the want of keeping that feeling forever and when its over all you can think about is doing it again" he finished whispering the last part, she would have almost missed it if they weren't stood so close.

Lauren squeezed her eyes shut trying to fight the effect and truth of his word over her. She knew what he said was true but hearing the word out loud, knowing that Andy knew exactly what she was going through and feeling because he was as well. But she knew he was right about the pull and with Andy being away she never felt it and as much as she wanted her brother back deep down a small scared part of her was glad he was not back. The last time they used Fenris it killed people, and their faces haunted Lauren everyday and she is scared that if he does come home and she gives in like he has, she couldn't imagine adding to the guilt already inside. Andy stared at her as she closed her eyes, he knew she was having an inner fight with herself, he just hope that the one side he wanted wins. His fingers still ghosted her hand and wrists, their connection dancing inbetween. "Lauren" he whispered leaning down to rest his head on top of hers, as there foreheads touched she let out a deep sigh, her breathe washing over his face. "Of course i feel it Andy" she softly admitted opening her eyes to look into his, "but that doesn't mean i want to use it or that we should" . She finished as she stepped back away from him and moved over to the roof wall ledge noticing the sad look in his eyes before he closed them.

Lauren looked at the view of the city, the sun fully risen 'everyone will be up soon' she thought before turning around to face her brother again. He didn't understand the fear she had inside about their connection, she knew that it was easy for Andy to jump right in and not think about it or worry but Lauren didn't have that luxury. She knew that if she let herself fully go to the connection then there was no going back for her and at least one of them needed to be thinking with a clear head and not hurt/kill anyone, and that frightened her to want to be fully consumed by something, to lose yourself in something so deadly but to joined with someone that you become one thing. A whole.

"I recall differently" Andy spoke whiles opening his eyes, he moved to stand in front of her, towering over her as they gaze at each other. A confused look danced across Lauren's face, "When we were in the basement of that facility we got captured in" he informed as he leaned down putting his hands on the wall ledge behind her caging her in. Realisation dawn on her on what event he was retelling, seeing the remembrance in her eyes he continued "You suggested we connect and use our power and it was me who had to remind you that we would be killing so many people. So you want to use it just as much as i do", he finished leaning back away from her but still standing close.

"What do you want me to say Andy, yes of course i want to use it and yes i feel exactly what you do when it happens and when it doesn't " she loudly spoke her voice filled with frustration, "but it doesn't matter how much we want it or how horrible we feel when we don't have it, what we feel is wrong, it's suppose to be wrong" she finished running her hand through her hair. "Do you truly believe that" he yelled back, Andy reached forward and grabbed her hand in his both taken a sudden breath in as their connection takes over, "tell me you don't want this, tell me that every cell in your body doesn't crave this ", he said as he pulled her towards him still holding each others hands, "tell me your heart doesn't yurn to be connected, to feel this power forever" he whispered. "Tell me and i will stop"

Andy and Lauren stood together staring at each other watching as their connection consumed them. Power circled them embracing them in a bubble, letting all the world around them fall away until it was just the two connected as one. "You can't can you" he breathed as their foreheads touched, all Lauren could do was shake her head no. She had missed this every horrible emotion she had suffered for the last six months wash washed away with a sense of wholeness, to be one with him again. But there in the back of her mind a voice screamed for her to stop. "This power is deadly and we shouldn't use it, we need to be stronger than it Andy" she stated pulling away from him. "No Lauren, your wrong we can train and control it. We are the only one's powerful enough to. Can't you see that. We shouldn't hide our powers or be ashamed of them, we should use it to make real changes for us, for every like us" he argued back.

"Join me Lauren, be with me, i promise you will see that we can use this for good. No evil can come from this" he begged hoping she would say yes and that he wouldn't have to go back to the feeling they have both been suffering from. "Yes it can, especially using it for the bad guys" she replied stepping back pulling her hand from his breaking the connection, Andy cleared his throat biting back a yell of frustration he wanted to let out of the lose that was already setting in inside from the break in their connection. He lowered his hand to his side balling it into a fist his anger causing his powers to smash some of the flower pots on the roof before relaxing it.

"No need to get mad and break your toys" Lauren stated with a smirk, earning a smile from Andy as he walks to lean on the ledge next to her. "Lorna, everyone that went with us to join the frosts and their group aren't bad Lauren, they just see clearly. They don't have blinders on and go around thinking humans will change, because news flash sis they never will unless they are made to" he started, "So mum should be forced as well cos she's human" she argued back. "Let me finish, i didn't mean her. I meant the people that are hunting mutants, going into their homes, ruining their loves just because they are mutants. Killing them and their families just because they are mutants or could carry the gene or those who help them. Like the people who came after us and our family" Andy stated with a serious look on his face. "What they did was wrong, i get that and i hate them for it and people who do the things you say but killing them makes you just as bad as them. It shows other people that may have been open to accepting us that what they say about us is correct. It makes it worse" she replied strongly hoping that Andy could see logic in her words. "No Lauren, we shouldn't fight back with one hand tied, we should fight fire with fire and see who is left standing" Andy voiced back with the same hope in his eyes that she would see his side of things.

"Fighting fire with fire will just make the whole world burn" Lauren said pushing herself off her perch and walking away from him, she knew he wanted better for mutants and for them and himself to never be afraid or bullied or hurt by anyone ever again but the conviction in his words showed that he was committed to this path and had no wishes to turn back and join her on hers. "Maybe, but just maybe it needs to burn so we can build from the ashes" Andy replied with a hint of sadness but belief in his words. He pushed off the wall to follow her. Lauren raised her hand to signal him to stop which he does at a arm length away, "Why would i join you Andy and those people when you believe that should be our future, either kill all humans or put ourselves in a position above them. To rule them" she stated with hurt look on her face, "Andy please tell me you dont really want that". He clenched his fist at his side and let out a deep sigh, "So what is your solution to solve this Lauren, what is the mutant underground going to do? If they could do anything to really change the world or things for mutants other than hidding us they would have done it by now" he answered loudly begging his words would penetrate her mind and show her that she should be with him and join the inner circle, together they could change this world for the better and if she wanted humans and mutants to live happily side by side then that is what they would try to do but he knew that to get that world or any world that didn't involve mutants being killed or hunted would involve some heavy handed moves.

Lauren kept quiet as she stared at her brother, she knew that he was right about them not having a future plan that could help mutants and human's to live peacefully side by side, but that didn't mean she believed that killing was the answer or that what they were doing wasn't helping. Yes in a small way but it still was doing the right thing. "I agree with you Andy" she replied taking a step towards him, "but i don't agree in the way you, Lorna and the rest of them want to do it, humans have the same rights as us and we should find away to live together, that doesnt involve destroy this world"she finished gesturing around with her hands. "You will join me Lauren" he vowed taking another step forward so they are a breathe away. "Maybe not this week or the next or the next month but something will happen that shows you what this world is really like. Its not sunshine and rainbows sis" Andy finished.

"I will never join them Andy, i will get through to you and see what you are doing is wrong and that their is a better way" Lauren stated before stepped back and walked to the metal door, "Hey Lauren" he called after her making her turn around as he reached out and grabbed her hand, "Fenris will be together, you can't fight it" he said with a determined look on his face which stirred a fear inside her of the Von struckers and what they became. He wished this meeting turned out differently and that she would have said yes and joined him in the inner circle but he loved her all the same for her choice, hoping she loves him despite his choices. But it didn't mean he would give up.

"Let go" Lauren yelled back trying to get her hand free, fighting the pull of their connection and power pulling her in. They were both familiar with this event, their dreams always ended in this moment.

Her words echoed around them, bouncing off every surface, ringing in the air. The world blurred around them until nothing was left but complete darkness.

Andy shot up soaked with sweat, he ripped his jacket off trying to catch his breath. He looked around and he let out a sigh of relief when he recognised the room he was in, the training room. He remembers now that he was training when a sudden pull came over him and he passed out. He bent down to pick up is discarded jacket and tarted heading back to his room with one thought on his mind. 'Lauren'

Lauren shot up in a similar state as Andy but as she headed down the stairs back to her family's apartment she took a second to let a tear slip down her cheek before slipping on the mask she had perfected to show the world she was fine but really dieing inside.