[OP: "Testify to Love" -- Avalon.]

Logan gave it more thought, not sure whether he trusted it or not. The whole idea was just too bizarre for him to accept.

The day passed quietly enough.

The following day was Sunday and, notably, the day Shine, Wally, and Kurt had to decide about that church.

"Normally, trying a new church is not this nerve wracking." Shine rubbed her face. "But...I feel like it'll hit Kurt real hard if this doesn't work out, and it'll be my fault for encouraging him."

"Mine too.... Hey, all we can do is try," Wally said. "Do you think I have to wear a suit?"

"I don't think so..." Shine said. "Maybe a nice shirt just to be on the safe side.... And this dress...does this look like the right era?"

"You're asking me?" Wally said helplessly.

"I'd better go ask the girls," Shine said resignedly.

Kurt didn't really have to worry about clothes... It was the last thing anyone would notice about him.

He was still debating whether to go or not.

Gambit didn't help; he said it was a foolish idea.

"Look, maybe it'll work out." Rogue tried to help. "Maybe they're nice people.... I mean, if they ain't, you don't have to stay."

Kurt sighed. "I don't vant to cause trouble for the minister...and my new friends. They are so set on it, I vould hate for them to be disappointed."

"Indeed, I don't think they understand how cruel humans can be to us," Storm said, recalling the Professor's opinion of them. "Would it frighten them?"

"They give ya the torch and pitchfork treatment, you just let me know," Logan said.

"Why don't you just go?" Rogue teased him, slyly. "You said you might, make sure nothin' happens."

"Hmm, that might be a good idea," Storm said. 

"We don't need a guard," Wally said, coming in. "We'll take care of Kurt, no worries... Do I look right?"

"I wouldn't know," Rogue said, "but it's snappy... Why, what do they wear in your time?"

"Just jeans and t-shirts. We're way more casual...at least, where we go is," Wally said. 

"That seems a little too casual," Jubilee commented. "I always saw people dress up real nice for churches by my house."

"I don't really like suits..." Wally cringed.

Logan humphed like he agreed.

Shine came in. "Okay, ladies, you have to tell me--does this dress scream from the wrong timeline?"

The girls all scrutinized her.

Shine's dress wasn't that fancy, and had a mid-length skirt and elbow sleeves.

"Nah, I think it's fine," Rogue finally said.

"I see nothing out of the ordinary," Storm said.

"You could do a little more than that." Jubilee was a little too honest. "It's kind of boring."

"Hey, dress codes are different," Shine said. "In my time I could be sleeveless or in shorts and no one'd say anything, but I know it wasn't like that back now...unless maybe they were hippies... This should be this difficult."

"You walk in with a mutant, Sugar, and no one'll care about your clothes," Rogue said.

"Right," Shine said. "Comforting..."

"I really don't know," Kurt said. "Maybe I shouldn't go. I can have mass alone, yes?"

"But Rev Billings will be disappointed," Wally said. "He seemed like a nice guy. Come on."

"Church being so political..." Shine muttered. "I feel like I'm in the 1st century...minus the colosseums and mad emperors...if I even have the right era..."

"But church people are supposed to be accepting, right?" Jubilee said, earning laughter from just about every adult in the room except Storm and Kurt.

"Dey da most judgmental people in da planet," Gambit said.

"Dude, who hurt you?" Wally asked him.

"What?" Gambit didn't understand that phrasing.

"They're that bad?" Jubilee said.

Shine cleared her throat. "Some of them can be...a bit much. But many of us are quite lovely. Depends. Especially people who only go because they parents did and it's just the proper thing--fastest way to kill any actual good in it. But that's true of every group of people. Those who come to it for their own sakes, they're the different ones. You can tell just by talking to them."

She made it sound kind of mysterious when she put it that way. Jubilee tilted her head.

"Maybe I should tag along, just for safety," she said.

"Bad idea, Petite," Gambit said.

"Why don't you shove it?" Rogue said. "Let her decide."

Gambit looked offended, surprisingly.

"Is my opinion," he muttered.

"He has a point," Shine shocked him by saying. "It could be unpleasant, but to be fair, the same thing can happen to people like us too--if they're the snobby types. I really believe better of them though, from what Billings said. I'm going. And any of you who want to 'protect' us are welcome to come also. If I see any torches, I know where we can find a hose. I saw one outside."

Only Wally laughed.

Kurt sighed. "I'll come, this time...only for a few moments. If there looks like trouble, I don't vant them to hurt you."

"Bro, they won't hurt us," Wally said, "I guarantee it. You just bolt if they try something. We'll be fine. I can just dodge the pitchforks."

Their dark humor wasn't helping Storm or Rogue feel better, but Jubilee was young enough to find brashness inspiring.

"All right, yeah, we don't need to be afraid of them!" She did a fist pump. "Should I change though?"

"To be on the safe side, maybe," Shine said. "But then again, who really cares? Like Rogue said."

Rogue hugged her sides. "I'd come...but...well, y'know, if there is trouble, I'm not sure I could really help."

"You're welcome to come anyway," Shine said. "I'm not worried about it. And you can fly, which is always nice if someone has to run."

"I guess that is true..." Rogue wavered.

Gambit thought Shine was a little too good at this.

"Logan, buddy, you coming?" Wally asked.

"I'm not yer buddy, bub," Logan said. "And if I did, it'd be to make sure no one gets too enthusiastic skewering Kurt there. Had to fight my way out of his welcome wagon once already."

"As I recall, Kurt actually graced his way out of that one without you doing all that much," Shine said, a bit sassily. "But just suit yourself. We'll be fine either way."

She walked toward the garage.

"She's either confident or stupid," Logan said.

"Hey," Wally said.

"She's delusional," Gambit said. "And it not gonna end well. You all better be ready to run if you goin'."

"Ah, it might not be so bad," Jubilee said.

[Even if you're not religious, you have to imagine how terrifying this whole thing would be. You have to be pretty gutsy to walk into a church with someone who looks like a demon.]

* * *

The service was at 9:30 am, sharp.

Rogue decided to come, but she was visibly nervous.

Storm said she wasn't going to go inside--it wasn't her "environment"--but she'd wait outside and watch for any signs of trouble.

Logan said he wanted to see it up close and personal, so he was going in. Jubilee agreed.

Shine might have talked a big game, but they saw her hands shaking, and when Jubilee handed her her purse, they felt cold.

Wally tugged at his collar but seemed less worried. He was always a bit more sure of his ability to get out of difficult situations that Shine was.

They were a bit early. Kurt was hanging behind them.

"This is just not going to vork." He lost his nerve. "The Monastery vas out of the vay. Here, on a street, people vill talk. Even if the congregation vas all right, vat about the rest?"

"Kurt," Shine said, "have a little faith."

Kurt was silent.

"Faith isn't going to keep 'em from skinnin' us alive," Logan said, eyeing the small crowd of people outside the sanctuary.

Wally went toward them purposefully. The others followed.

Some of the people turned--and then gawked.

The X-Men slowed.

Some younger adults squinted at them.

"Hey...aren't those the X-men?" said one.

"Hey, yeah, that looks like that one lady with the weather..." said another.

"This could be trouble," Logan said.

The college-age kids started coming their way.

"Hey, are you the X-men?"

"Nah, you've got us confused with someone else," Rogue said.

"But...aren't you...the one who can fly?" they said. "Your hair's the same.... And you're the one with the claws, right?"

Logan scowled.

Wally slid next to them. "He is," he said, grinning, "the one and only. They call him Wolverine. He's the real deal."

"Whoa..." The people were gawking.

"What are you doin'?" Logan shoved Wally away.

"Working the crowd," Shine said. "Shut up, Logan."

"Who's that?" The kids zeroed in on Kurt, who was trying to hide behind Storm.

"That's Nightcrawler." Shine didn't miss a beat. "He's a really heroic one. Used to do circus performances. Now he's a monk."

"Really?" they said, eyes wide.

"He looks kind of like a devil though," said one girl who was, clearly, not the most tactful person in the world.

Kurt flinched visibly.

But he smiled. "That is to humble me."

"And he's German?" said one of the boys. "Wow...cool."

"This is not...what I expected," Storm said.

"Yeah, well, they're kids," Rogue said. "It's different. The older people, they ain't used to mutants as much."

Indeed, some of the older adults were giving them more wary looks.

"Let's head inside," Shine said.

They started edging inside.

The cool kids followed them. "Are you guys heroes? Do you work for the government?"

"What are ya, reporters?" Logan snapped.

"No...it's just no one knows who you are," the boy from before said. "I'm Jim, by the way."

"Kathy," said the girl with the big mouth.

"Uh...Davie," said a different boy, who seemed shyer.

"Wally." Wally waved. "This is Logan. He's grumpy, but that's just cause he hasn't had his coffee yet."

Logan glared at him.

"We have coffee in the foyer." Kathy didn't seem to catch tone either.

Some more parishioners stared at them as they walked in.

One lady, old enough to be most of theirs mother, said, "Hey, is that a mutant?"

"What does she think?" Rogue muttered. "It's a ghost?"

"I'd just own up to it," Wally hissed. "I mean, like, in a proud way. Don't act like it's weird for you to be here."

"I don't know about that," Logan said.

"Uh...yes, I'm a mutant." Kurt folded his hands. "I hear good things about this church, so I am here to attend a service."

The lady eyed him.

"You don't look like a mutant," said a man, a little older than her. "You look like...something else."

"Ve cannot choose our shape," Kurt said.

This whole thing was making Logan, Rogue, and Jubilee antsy.

But luckily, at that time, Reverend Billings came out of a side room.

"Ah, Mr. West, Mrs. West," he said. "And...I don't believe I got your name, actually."

"Kurt...Wagner," Kurt said.

"Mr. Wagner, how nice to see you again," Reverend Billings said.

The people looked at him warily.

"It's okay, Mom." one of the college-aged boys, Jim, walked up to the lady who'd spoken before. "I told you about them. They're kind of heroes. The President is friends with them."

The lady seemed to relax a little. "Oh?...Really?"

"Yeah, there was an article about them in the paper just last month," Jim said. "Remember?"

Of course Kurt wouldn't have been in it, but no one corrected this misconception.

"But why does that one looked like...well...?" the man from before said.

"Now, Stew," Reverend Billings said, "you can't judge a book by its cover. I've met him personally, and I assure you, I find him as sincere as anyone else."

Stew frowned. "I don't like it," he muttered.

"Hey listen, bub--" began Logan, but Wally yanked him toward the sanctuary. "We should get good chairs, you know."

"Yeah, or we'll be Baptists," Shine said.

"Huh?" Jubilee said.

"Back row Baptists...it's a denominational joke," Shine said. "Sorry, it's not that funny. They think it's prideful to sit in the front.... Totally the opposite of the Black church I went to. They told everyone not to sit in the back."

"Why does it matter where we sit?" Rogue asked, looking at the doors like they might shut her in.

"Something about people who don't feel as close to God sitting farther back, not want others to look at them," Shine said. "But personally, I think it's distracting to have people watch you from behind, I don't like the front row. Middle is good."

"Perhaps I should take the back anyway..." Kurt said. "I don't think that man trusts me."

"Kurt, if you sit back there, everyone will look at you as they come in," Shine said. "What you want is to sit on the far right or left center. if you insist on being out of the way."

"Ah...you might be right," he said. "But I really don't know about this.... Could I just go into the rafters?"

"That'll scare 'em" Wally said. 

"I'd like to think you're right, but in my experience..." Kurt shook his head.

A few people moved away from them warily. A few screamed.

"What is that?!"

While there had to be 60 people at most, it was still enough to make the X-men nervous.

Kurt started to step back.

Reverend Billings went up to the people who were panicking and began to explain.

"Mutant?" they said. "That's not a mutant, that's a demon!"

"He's not a demon, he just looks different," Reverend Billings said. "I've spoken to him. He's not any different than us."

"How do you know it's not a trick?" they said.

Shine frowned. "Really, I could prove to them he's not a demon."

"Honey," Wally warned. "Might just scare them more."

"Well, this is stupid." She crossed her arms.

"I told you," Kurt said. "I should just go."

"Out, spirit!" someone yelled at him.

Kurt winced.

"Well, this is the mutant-loving church you found, huh?" Logan looked at Shine and Wally smugly.

"No time for gloatin', Logan," Rogue said. "We have to make tracks."

"Don't go yet," Shine pleaded. "They aren't attacking us right now. We can't just turn tail and run--uh, I didn't mean that to be a pun."

"He's not a demon." Jim was really the bravest out of the younger people here. "He's part of the X-men. They help the president. They're basically heroes."

"What?" someone said.

"They've been in the news," Jim said.

"Oh, yeah," Kathy added. "It's the cat's."

"But why does he look like a devil, then?" more people asked.

"They could be more original," Rogue said.

Shine cringed. "Oh, please don't use that word about humans who don't like people with powers.... Bad memories."

"Huh?" Jubilee was confused.

"That does it!" Shine suddenly said. "Come, Kurt." She took his hand before he could stop her and led him up to one of the people who was asking.

"Hi," she said. "I'm Shine. I'm a friend of Kurt's. Here, say hello, Kurt."

"Uh...hello..." Kurt said weirdly.

The person leaned away. "You a friend of his?"

"Yes," Shine said, "and may I say, I have seen enough problems with demons to know the difference. Kurt here may look like the textbook version of it, but do you really think actual demons have tails and are blue? Think about it. They're invisible."

The person raised an eyebrow.

"But if you don't believe me," Shine said, "try telling him to go, and if he doesn't react, clearly he's a real person. But if it comes to that, how am I touching him if he's a demon? Why is he wearing regular clothes? Why is he not attacking anyone?"

The person began to look a bit embarrassed, and others who were listening kind of backed up a little.

"Mutants happen to be born looking a little different," Shine said. "It wasn't so long ago people didn't like people who were born looking like you." The person she was addressing was, as it so happened, African American. "So, maybe you should think twice before you ask why he looks like this, ma'am."

"All right, we get it," said someone else. "Let's not get worked up."

Since Reverend Billings was not bothered, most of the rest of the congregation took their seats. A few people walked out.

"Well..." Wally said, "you know, that could have been a lot worse."

"We ain't over with this yet," Logan said.

"Just sit down, man," Wally said. "You'll make people more nervous."

"Kurt, sit with us," Shine said. "It'll never do to let them see you act afraid after what I said. They aren't attacking us yet. Let's just wait and see."

Kurt nodded.

As they sat down, he said, "Compared to most places, this is actually not a bad reception on the first day."

Rogue shot him a look and shook her head.

The service commenced with some singing of hymns...and some 80s songs that made Wally wince.

Shine seemed okay with it though. She sang along with one that went like "El Shaddai" and another that was "Hosanna."

No one said or did anything to them.

Reverend Billings got up then to make some announcements, including the one about the potluck.

Then he said, "And as I'm sure most of you notice, we have some guests here today. Everyone be sure to give them a warm welcome."

No one got up.

Jim, Davie, and Kathy smiled at them but didn't move.

"I'd like to welcome them also," Billings went on. "It can be hard for people who've not been welcomed in many churches to be bold enough to walk in the door of one again. That takes courage... We don't usually do this, but since we've been blessed enough to have some members of the X-men, of all people here, you're welcome to introduce yourselves and tell us a little bit about you."

All the X-men froze.

[Ah, the sad reality of celebrity lives.]

"Oohh," Wally muttered.

"Did...you ever get that?" Shine hissed at him.

"No, because I have a secret identity," Wally said.

Shine almost laughed.

"What do we do?" Jubilee asked.

"They all know you already," Shine said. "It's your call, but I would do it if it were me. But that's me."

"I ain't goin' up there," Logan said.

"I 'm no good in front of crowds," Rogue said. "Ah, I wish Storm hadn't stayed outside!"

Kurt stood up.

"Kurt, what are you doing?" Rogue hissed.

"This may be only vay," Kurt said.

The congregation was wide-eyed as he went up there.

Shine suddenly got up and went after him.

Wally too.

"I'm Kurt," Kurt said. "I'm visiting...from Germany.... I don't really know how Americans do things, but I'm honored to be here."

A few people at least politely clapped and nodded.

Kurt wasn't sure what else to say. He thought maybe he should explain himself...but would that just start it all over again?

"Can I?" Wally asked.

"Please," Kurt said.

Wally waved at the people. "Hi. Not an X-men, but we were happy to catch a ride with them. They aren't really ones for speeches. They're too modest. But they just came here because they heard you people were really cool about mutants, and welcoming, and it's real hard to find a good church these days."

A few people nodded again.

"And for the record," Wally said, winking, "he's not a demon, he's just got blue skin. Like a smurf."

A few people chuckled.

"A smurf?" Rogue hissed.

"I don't know what it is either," Logan said.

"But hey, I know a few people who turn red," Wally said, "so if we all lined up, we'd be a flag or something."

Shine rolled her eyes.

"Anyway, glad to met you all," Wally said. "Oh, I'm Wally, by the way."

"And I'm Shine," Shine said, "and we're both very blessed to be here." She smiled. "I feel God led us to this church."

A few people said "Amen" so loud that Jubilee jumped.

They sat back down.

Reverend Billings looked like he was either cringing or trying to hide a smile. "Well, thank you. Now before we move on, I'd like to lead us in little prayer..."

None of the mutants remembered anything about the prayer, or the message, they were too busy watching the crowd.

But nothing else really happened.

The sermon was only about 50 minutes long, and then everyone got up to get coffee and chat in the foyer or outside.

Logan grumpily moved off to stand alone--and avoid Jim, Davie, and Kathy's questions.

Shine and Wally introduced themselves to more people, who all seemed a bit more relaxed now.

A few actually asked Kurt if he liked the sermon, to his shock.

And a few got as far away from him as possible.

Rogue tried to avoid talking to anyone, but she got pinned down by a few older ladies who were asking her where she was from and what her accent was.

Shine finally bailed her out by interjecting that they really had to get going or they'd be late for lunch.

"Actually, if you'd like, I'd love to join you for lunch," Reverend Billings said. "My wife and I both. She was surprised you came."

"You're married?" Rogue said.

"Yes..." Reverend Billings gave her an odd look.

"He's not a monk," Shine hissed.

"Oh...right." Rogue turned red. "I knew that."

Logan said he wasn't going to lunch, no way.

"Besides, where's the preacher going to go anyway?" he said.

"Well, if you won't let him come home with us," Shine said, "then why don't we just order out?"

"A lot of places will be closed," Billings said, "but there's a few on main street--and a Jewish deli that'll be open, if you don't mind that."

"That sounds great," Wally said.

"What if I don't want to?" Logan growled.

"Then you can go home," Shine said. "We'll hitchhike."

She was probably kidding, but Storm heard this and said, "It couldn't hurt, Logan. He is trying to be friendly."

"Or it's a trick," Logan said.

"Yeah, it's probably a trap," Wally said. "He's gonna have the mafia spring us at the deli, with sandwich knives." He made slashing motions.

"You two don't know how dangerous it is out there for mutants," Logan said. "Even if he means well, anyone could see us."

Kurt nodded. "Perhaps I'd better just go."

"No, Kurt, we'll just find somewhere no one can see," Shine said. "I'm sure he wants to speak to you specifically."

"Maybe you shouldn't push him," Rogue said.

"No, it's all right," Kurt said. "I don't vant to turn it down."

In the end the all went, even Storm, mostly because they had to keep the car close.

Billings and his wife, Anne, were quite nice about the whole having to find a secure place outside to eat sandwiches.

Anne seemed like a sweet lady, very coiffed and demure.

"I'm sorry if you're reception was a bit stiff," Billings said. "I've been studying mutants for several months now, and I've come to understand how diverse their powers and appearance can be.... I read this paper, by someone named Charles Xavier, about it, very interesting."

Logan and Jubilee almost choked.

"But most of the congregation has only heard about you in the news, and that's rare," Billings went on. "I didn't think they would yell at you, Mr. Wagner. I'm sorry."

"It vasn't so bad," Kurt said. "I've had vorse treatment...every time..."

"I'm sorry," Anne said quietly.

"We hope it wasn't too much to come without a warning," Shine said.

"No, that was all right.... You speech was interesting," Billings guffawed.

"Give me a break," Wally said. "Usually I have more Flash charisma to work with. I was trying my best."

"Well, even if it was bit unusual, I think you did set their minds at ease," Anne said comfortably. "Most of them are really sweet, kind people, they just don't know about mutants."

"Even if they did," Kurt said, "I'm vell avare why I have more of a problem.... I do not know why God made me this vay--perhaps to make me humble."

"Eh, I heard what Mrs. West was saying before," Billings said. "It's true, our ideas of what demons look like are a bit ridiculous. I don't even know where it comes from. Perhaps it's to expose our false spirituality, in a way. I don't like spiritualism that's too close to superstition. I think people shouldn't fear what we can't see and can't understand."

"You'd have few sympathizers in that view," Logan said grimly.

"And I'm a minister," Billings said, humorously. "Believe me, I know.... But I thought, we should try anyway. It's dangerous work, but then, so was desegregating churches just 20 years ago.... Do you know, ours was one of the first to do it?"

"Really?" Wally said.

"Oh, yes," Billings said.

"Dearie," Anne said, "there's a wall in the back patio of the bricks that got thrown through our windows back then.... We only just started serving here then."

"The church I served at before, well, they weren't very open," Billings said. "I wasn't either.... I was afraid. I was new.... You know the story...but after we left there and came here, to The Way, I began to do some soul searching.... It no longer seemed like it was acceptable to just wait for the world to catch up with the Bible.... Time to set an example."

Shine was nodding intently. "And how did it go?"

"Well, people attacked us," Anne said, so simply Jubilee did a double take. "But by the Grace of God, no one was ever killed. I used to come in before every service and pray for an hour that we'd be protected. Others did too.... We had a lot more members then.... Things began to settle down in the next few years, and now you get a  few slurs and a few reports of problems but, mostly, our people are safe. And we were getting complacent about it, thought our fighting days were over."

"But when you walked in with Kurt," Billings went on, "you reminded me of why that wasn't the right attitude. We in the church can't ever afford to get too comfortable in the world. And there's always someone who needs defending. I don't mean to seem as if I am an expert, especially in this area, but I think it's time I become one."

"We're so glad you risked coming," Anne said to the X-men, sincerely. "It can't have been easy.... If it helps, I know most of our congregation--they aren't all as ready as we are, but I believe none of them would ever harm you. We're too small to not know each other's characters, by and large. They might talk a bit, but they wouldn't attack anybody directly."

"Comforting," Logan said flatly.

"It is, actually." Kurt was so pure.

"But they don't like us anyway," Rogue said. "If you couldn't tell, all of us are mutants, save for those two," gesturing at Shine and Wally.

"I thought you must be," Billings said. "But they do not know you."

"If you're as knowledgeable as ya say, Parson," Logan said, "then you know no matter how well they knew us, they'd never like us. Nor accept us. Yer faith is nice and all, but it's not smart for mutants to be public about it. We can muddle along in private, but yer people aren't the most accepting in the world either."

Silence.

"While I said that before," Shine said quietly, "I hope you realize it was highly offensive to say it directly to someone you don't know that well."

"It's the truth," Logan said.

"I know," Billings said. "I know that it seems like the truth...but I've seen people's hearts change before, Mr. Logan. We cannot just assume things are impossible with God. And there are worse things than being a little difference in your DNA. People leave church for all kinds of reasons. Those of us who stay don't have it perfect, but we think it's worthwhile. Meeting with other believers encourages us, and reminds us that we are not supposed to hide our faith.... Do you mind if I ask, are you a man of faith?"

Logan frowned. "I...have my beliefs, maybe not all ironed out like yours."

The others shook their heads.

"Well, if you believe in the Bible," Billings said, "then you know it says we are not to hide our faith from the world. I don't recall it saying we shouldn't do that, unless we were of a particular group that the world hates. In fact, it says 'there is neither Jew nor Greek--'"

"'Slave nor free,'" Shine picked it up with him, "'male nor female. All are equal in Christ."

"Yes, that's right," Billings said. "I don't believe God is a respecter of persons. What we people do to each other is another matter. But, we'll never learn any different if we don't try to meet. If you all would consider coming more often...I'd like to see what we can learn from you.... But I don't mean that we should talk about it more in the pulpit.... The church is for God. I just mean it would humble us to consider any prejudice we may have. It would make us stronger."

"We don't want to become unaware of what's going on in the world," Anne added. "These days if you hear about anyone in the news, they aren't part of the church. It's not right."

"It gets worse," Rogue heard Shine mutter to herself.

"We're not show ponies," Logan said.

"I didn't mean that," Billings said. "I don't know how to put it. We all have to be examples. I just think you can be an example also."

"I don't want to be one. The last thing anyone should try to do is imitate me," Logan said. "Even if you mean well, Parson, it's not gonna happen."

He got up and walked off alone.

Kurt frowned. "I vould love to be able to do this thing, but...if it vould be dangerous for you..."

"But it will be anyway," Billings said. "That's okay. God protected us in the past. He will again.... It's up to you. Now that it's been one time, I think it would go easier. I'm afraid if you don't return, the will think they scared you...and while they may feel guilty and think next time they will be different, we lose our window. It's not easy to find mutants who are willing to come to church. I don't know where to look.... You're the only one I know. I was convinced God brought you into my office for a reason...but it is your choice. I know it's asking a lot."

"I vill have to think about it," Kurt said, "and pray."

"That's fair," Anne said. "You do that. All of you are welcome to come back though...and there's the potluck."

"We'll be at that for sure," Wally said.

"We should get back," Storm said. "Scott said if we weren't back in 3 hours he was going to come looking for us."

"Give Gambit somethin' to gloat over," Rogue muttered.

They departed.

[Whew...

So much to unpack here...

Comments?

I'm not going to give the church's denomination, by the way.]