The youngest member (X-Men Evolution)

Survival of the Fittest

'I can't believe I'm getting left behind, again!' Marigold thought to herself as she sat in front of the window inside the Institute, watching as all the high school students loading up their luggage into Scott's car. They were going on a weekend long Survival Training trip with their school, leaving the only middle school student at Xavier behind.

Marigold had slowly grown accustomed to spending time on her own in the Institute walls. She didn't go on as many missions as Scott, Jean, and the adults. But even then she had the other high school students to hang out with. But they didn't always want to hang out with the young girl. They were nice a majority of the time, letting the young girl tag along. But Marigold knew that there were times the high school students didn't want to have to play babysitter. So she didn't bother Kitty when she and the girls went to to the mall together, or ask Evan if she could tag along when he went to the skate park. She didn't want to be more of a burden then she already was.

"Come on baby bird, you can sulk after you say goodbye to the students." Logan said walking into the room where Marigold was sitting. The girl stood up from her seat next to the window and joined Logan, taking his hand in her as the two of them walking outside to join the rest of the group in front of the Institute. "I for one am glad to have a lot less annoying teens running around for a few days. Some peace and quiet will do us good." Logan said, "Awh, don't put up a front Logan. You know you will miss us!" Evan said with a smirk as he loaded his camping bag into the back of Scott's car.

"Ugh, I'm going to be dead in like two days." Kitty said, pouting. "What about me? I'm a city kid! I have never gone camping in the woods before. How do you even live without electricity?" Evan asked. "What did we ever do to deserve this?" Kurt asked in despair. "Anyone know how to hot-wire a school bus? Maybe we can sneak off in the middle of the night while the teacher ain't lookin." Rogue said folding her arms. 

"I thought this was supposed to be a fun trip." Marigold stated in confusion. "Yea right, the whole weekend stuck in the wilderness? I wish I were staying here with ya'll." Rogue said walking over to the girl and running her gloved hand through her short hair in a loving gesture. Marigold pouted and Rogue smirked, knowing the young girl hated the others messing up her hair. "I don't want you all talking too negatively about this around any teachers. It's either survival training with the school, or with Wolverine. I gave you all a fair choice." The Professor said with Ororo standing behind him. 

All the adults smirked as the kids quickly jumped into the car. Despite all their complaining, anything was better than survival training with Wolverine. "Some choice." Kitty said with sarcasm as they group said goodbye. Scott waved as he started the car and the high school students drove off of campus. "Finally...if you need me I'll be in the garage working on my bike - do me a favor and don't need me." Logan said before stalking away. Marigold sighed as The Professor and Ororo walked away to get some type of paperwork done they had been talking about all week. "We should be done with everything by lunch. Meet us in the kitchen at 12:30 and after we can go to the garden."

Ororo had told Marigold. She felt bad that Marigold was stuck on her own for awhile, but some of this work had to get done. "Okay! You don't have to worry about me though. I'll be fine." Marigold said, pushing up her glasses on her nose. "I don't spend time with you out of worry. I enjoy our time together in the garden. Our herbs are looking better everyday." Ororo said with a smile before following the Professor into his office. 

"I fear that Marigold feels like a burden sometimes...I don't need to be a mind-reader to know that." the Professor said as he and Ororo sat around his desk. "It can be hard when your the youngest, especially with everything she had been through. Sometimes she feels as if she doesn't deserve all of this, resulting into her thinking that we took her in and spend time with her out of pity." Ororo said with sadness in her voice. "I can sense that she is in the library now. She will be fine until lunch, and then we will spend the rest of the day with her." The Professor said with a grin as he opened up a few folders across the table.