The Legacy
A new virus is loose, killing those with mutated genes. While those at the school are struggling to find a cure, others are looking into the cause, and others will fall to the deadly disease.
Third in the trilogy you will need to read Mirror and Y Factor first for this to make sense.
I only own Mike, Kit and Mia and their family, all the rest belong to Marvel…bless them for sharing.
Chapter 1
They were lying in bed; it was a lazy Saturday morning. So far the mutants at the school were safe; no sign of the new illness, but the reports from New York and Boston were scary. She shivered, and felt his arm tighten around her shoulders. The broad expanse of blue fur in front of her eyes was her greatest joy at the moment. She kept putting off the inevitable. She knew he should be in New York but the idea of him leaving was frightening. People were getting sick in New York.
"Do you 'ave to go, I don' wan you getting sick, mon amour." She whispered against his chest, kissing the fur under her lips
"Unfortunately I have a duty to perform, one I am sworn to uphold." She heard the soft rumble of his sigh under her ear, his arm relaxing, slowly as if he – too – were putting things off.
"Hen'ri, it not safe der, stay wid me, please. I can' lose you now."
"Michelle, I not only have my responsibilities at the United Nations, I am a doctor, and people need medical attention. I cannot ignore their suffering."
"I know dat, Hen'ri, but dis ting it is killing mutants with stronger abilities dan ours, an' widout you I don' tink I stay sane, anymore."
"My darling, please understand, I don't want to leave you, and if for any reason this comes here to the school, I will return to take care of my responsibilities here, because they are the most important. "You." his hand traced down to cover her belly, the lump there only tangible to his trained hands. "And our baby are most important to me.
"Je t'aime, dis ting it don' care who you are or what is important to you, it kill widout a thought. "Vous êtes ma vie, an de t'oght of livin widout you, I can' do it."
"I will call you every day, Michelle, but this illness, it isn't just affecting the United States, and I need to know what is being done in other countries to help combat it, perhaps we can learn something we can use."
"I know, I jus' can' be too concerned bout o'der countries when I know you goin' into danger."
"And I don't expect you to. Darling, you have our baby to be concerned about, I expect that to be your primary focus, and I am flattered you are concerned for my well being, but I will be fine, and you will be safe, here, among friends, and I won't have to be anxious that YOU are getting sick, staying in the apartment in the city." He lifted her chin to look at him, and gently kissed her lips.
She sighed. The last few months had been idyllic, his oh so romantic proposal, then the quiet wedding, then allowing their passion for each other to take over, then finding out they were having a little one. Now this disease had her scared. It was like for every moment of happiness, the saints were giving her two of pain and sorrow.
She heard Remy and Marie fighting outside the room. That had been another source of joy and pain. The day of Logan and Kit's wedding, Marie had surprised them all by being in complete control of her power. Remy had been thrilled, and Marie – well with control she could occasionally let go and put him into a coma when he got out of line.
"Chere, I tol' you, she ain't mon amour. She need help, dat all, you don' even have to see her, jes let her ask de Profes'r fo'help."
"Damn, Remy, that ain't what's botherin me. Ah couldn't care less if your ex wife comes ta vist."
"Den what is it, Chere?"
"Ah don't want ta talk about it."
"Chere, je t'amie,…" their voices trailed down the hallway.
They had been fighting a lot since Belle had called. They didn't know when she would be here, but it was supposed to be sometime today and Hank was concerned that this was the same illness that was causing mutants to get sick in other places. The Professor had already said he wouldn't turn her away, unless there was a clear and present danger to the school.
Mike had known Belle for years, didn't like her, and didn't trust her very far, not after the way she had screwed Remy over. She was coming here, and going to cause problems. Mike tried hard to keep her claws in, but Hank's yelp told her she had scratched him again.
"Michelle, your temper is loose again. Would you like to tell me exactly what you are imagining vivisecting this time?" She loved him so much but sometimes she wished he would actually get mad and yell at her, not talk like a damned college professor.
"Belle Delecroix LeBeau." She answered. Let him make what he would out of that.
"Ahh, Mr. LeBeau's former spouse, I understand she will be arriving today, to request assistance.
"De two timin pain in de ass bitch will be arrivin today to try to wheedle herself back into Remy's good graces, non." She was kneading his chest with her claws, his wince told her she dug too deep. "Sorry, Chere."
"I am just concerned that your pique will cause you distress." He captured her clawed hand with his. "Do you think this is not an honest attempt at requesting assistance?"
"Non. I jes don' like Belle, she's a selfish self centered spoiled brat who tink de world revolve roun' her."
"You can simply avoid her while she is here, which I recommend, since she is unwell."
"Dat was my plan."
"Then, my little love, my departure is not for several more hours…" He said as he rolled over in the bed, pinning her small form under him. She smiled up at his blue face as he leaned down to kiss her. This was the side of him only she saw, and she reveled in every private moment with him.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
They had moved into the new cabin, and he had argued with the Professor about furnishing it. The school had paid for all the furnishings, even though he wanted to provide for his small family himself. The Egg Head just didn't understand, Mia and Thomas were his, his family – his responsibility – his life.
Mia was curled up on the couch, watching Thomas try to pull himself up on the coffee table. He was getting to the stage that he was curious about everything he could get his hands on and EVERYTHING was a toy. His little claws were putting gouges in just about everything he touched, and Mia spent hours chasing him down to file them so that he didn't hurt himself with them.
He watched his wife and son from the kitchen. He still couldn't believe he had ended up here, of all places, with a normal wife, well normal if you didn't count her Y factor, and a nine month old baby toddling everywhere. Toad had sent him a message, not long after he quit the Brotherhood 'Oh how the mighty Sabretooth has fallen." He had just laughed. If this was a fall, then gravity must be working backwards. Hell, he was even enjoying being a part of the 'team.'
"Vic, don't forget, you have Thomas, Monday." She said as he grabbed a beer from the fridge. He just nodded. She started classes at the university, and he had baby duty. He needed to remember to tell the Professor, so he wasn't sent on missions. He was thrilled that she was doing something other than being his mate. She decided to get her degree in accounting, said that she needed it to keep up with his accounts.
"Like I'd forget." He said as he walked into the living room, grabbing Thomas up with one arm, his squeals and giggles music to Victor's ears. He sat down next to his mate and put one arm around her.
As much as he hated the real world to come crashing into his private one, he turned on the television to catch the news. This disease didn't worry him, not with his healing factor, and Mia was normal so it wouldn't affect her. The only one he was worried about was the kid. His healing factor hadn't kicked in yet, and until it did, he could still catch things. He had had a cold last month, and Hank had laughed at them for being worried, children got sick, it was a part of life. That had been before the news out of the major cities, and now it was worldwide, not just North America.
Mia leaned her head on his chest as they watched the mounting death toll. Neither one of them said a word; they just huddled together on the couch.
"I know you and I ain't exactly been on speakin terms lately…and I ain't very good at this, but please – keep watch over them. You gave 'em to me, and I guess you could take 'em away, but – please, keep 'em safe." He didn't know if he really believed or not, but he thought now might be a good time to cover all the bases.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
She looked across the room at the empty chair. He had been gone for three days, and she missed him terribly. Things had gone well, the last six months, very few fights, and they had even come to an agreement about his constant worrying about the past. He still would spend nights sitting in the chair, smoking and drinking, but not all the time, and finally, she had her own leather uniform.
This was the first time he had been on a mission without her since she had joined the team, and she was fretting and worrying. He and Scott and Jean had gone to Los Angles to pick up a kid for the school. They had called in yesterday to let everyone know they were fine, but that there had been complications, and they wouldn't be back until tomorrow. She had another night alone to face, before he got back.
She was supposed to go on this mission, but Logan had nixed it when her period had been late. He didn't want any risk to her if she was pregnant again. She had told him last night that she still didn't know, the tests were inconclusive and Hank's blood test hadn't given any positive or negative results. Hank had told her, if there were no conclusive signs by the end of the month he would give her another test. Logan had tried to keep the disappointment out of his voice. This was the third time in the last eight months, and both of them were getting discouraged.
She finally climbed out of bed. Today was her day off, she wasn't going to look at homework until tomorrow, it was Saturday and she wasn't going to worry about school. She had actually managed to get her schedule where she only had classes every other day, and today she was taking off even if she had a paper she needed to work on. She knew Marie would be in later, ranting about Remy's latest antics, Kitty had been coming by lately, which had surprised Kit. She actually liked the shy, quiet girl, now that she had gotten to know her, and had been surprised at how serious her relationship with the large Russian was. Marie and Kitty had been at each other's throats for a while, until they both realized that Bobby was the problem, and after they had gotten over the whole Bobby thing, the Kit spent a lot of time with the two of them. Jubilee had taken up with Monet and Paige, who had transferred from the Salem Institute, but she still spent time with the older girls. She heard a knock on the door, expecting Marie.
It was Ro. She walked in, closed the door and threw herself on the bed with a huge sigh.
"Are you ok, Ro?" Kit asked. She looked at the older woman. She expected Kitty or Marie to act like this, but Ro was always so composed.
"This is driving me insane. Charles wants me to take the school back over, full time, so that he can concentrate on other matters. I don't think I can do it." Kit looked at Ro in surprise.
"ORORO MONROE…you ran this school for almost a year, without Charles Xavier looking over your shoulder. YOU not only CAN do it, you should." Ro had been a shoulder for Kit, and it was a pleasant surprise to know that Ro thought of her that way. She and Jean weren't as close as they used to be, and Kit worried about Ro, about how withdrawn she had become.
"Do you really think so? Kurt says the same thing, but well he is biased." She had that shy smile she got when she thought about the German teleporter. No one talked much about it, but they all knew it was serious.
"Ro, Charles is going to have to retire sometime. Even if he is physically younger than he used to be, he is not in good health. Sometimes I think it is force of will alone that keeps him going."
"I know, but the thought that he would be gone – again – is hard for me to bear."
"I think this might be a smoother way of doing things. He will still be here, to advise, and help with things, but can also concentrate on the teams, and working with Hank at the UN. What's the real problem, Ro?" She knew there had to be more too it. Ro was more than competent and confident about managing the school. She had been doing it – and in far worse circumstances, so it had to be something else bothering her about this transition.
"I am afraid of losing him again. It was so hard on everyone, to go through it again, it isn't fair. I mean look at what Jean has put us through." Kit and Ro laughed at that. Jean's vampire act had become a running joke…the red head that wouldn't stay dead.
"Ro, let me tell you something, with the possible exceptions of my husband and my brother-in-law, life is a terminal illness, with a one hundred percent mortality rate. We are all going to die, and at least this way, when Charles does leave us, it will be a little easier because it won't be as sudden."
"I hadn't thought about it that way." Ro laughed. "Life is a terminal illness."
"Besides, that isn't going to happen for years, and YOU need something to do now, so you don't drive your students insane. Monet and Paige were complaining about that thirty page paper you had them writing on the Battle of Hastings. I don't have those types of papers in COLLEGE!"
Ro threw a pillow at her, and laughed. "You are right. But they deserved it…"
Ro climbed up off of the bed and Kit stood and gave her a hug. "It'll be fine."
"I know…I guess I have work to do." Ro walked out the door, smiling, which was an improvement.
XXXXXXXX
She heard the sound of the front door opening; Hank had left her just a few minutes before, after tucking Taz under his jacket. She loved that tie, she knew whenever he wore it, he was feeling just a bit insecure, and she always made sure she was available for a little extra affection. She thought it was him leaving and rushed to the top of the stairs to try to watch him drive off.
He was standing at the door, helping a young woman who was leaning on the door frame, the only thing that identified her to Mike was the long blonde hair and her Cajun accent. Her face was pale, and there were small sores all over her exposed skin.
"Oh, My Stars and Garters…" Hank reached out to catch her as she fell.
"Please – I need ta talk ta Remy." She said softly. Mike ran down the stairs but her husband stopped her with a look. She had only ever seen that look once…when he had tried to stop her from engaging in the battle with the Friends of Humanity. It hadn't stopped her then – but this time she was pregnant.
"GET OUT OF HERE, MICHELLE" He roared at her. She took one look at him, and ran down the hallway and back to their room. Danger had come to the institute, in the form of Belle Delacroix LeBeau.
