X Chronicles Part 5 Chapter 1: X Chronicles: Moving Up, Moving On, a x-men fanfic

Moving Up, Moving On

(The continuing saga of the X-Chronicles; companion story to "Long Time Gone")

by garggirl

DISCLAIMER:

Again, please disregard all timelines while reading this fic.

The X-Men and all other X-factions are the property of Marvel Comics/Stan Lee.

The characters of Lorrie Howlett, Stacii & Brennan Xavier, Chloe, Lucky, Punk, Dutch, T-Bird, Bree, Ti Wild & Jules LeBeau are the property of Passion.

The characters Sasha, Michael & Virginia Xavier-Wagner, & Taryn & Chase Walker belong to me. Any request to use my characters must be asked for in writing.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming...

NOTE: everything you see enclosed within /.../ indicates a flashback.

All translations of German words can be found at the end of this fic.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: This series has a bit of a different format than anything else I've previously posted. The X Chronicles is a joint venture between myself and my sister. The first part is written from the point of view of one character and the second is from the point of view of another character. It is important that you read both parts because each fic describes different events as well as many events in which both characters are present for.

SPECIAL NOTE: When reading these fics, please keep in mind that those written by Passion might be a little difficult to read due to the fact that she is bipolar and she had written her parts in such as way that she would be able to understand what she has written. Bearing this in mind, I ask that no flames are sent in regards to the spelling/grammar/etc...

AMENDMENT: These fics are completely un-beta'd, so all mistakes are the faults of us, the authors.

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"Luv, I'm home!" Kurt called sweetly as he let himself into their suite of rooms. Several years ago, Hank and Cece had half a dozen vacant rooms connected to make up a mini apartment as a wedding present for Kurt and Sasha. Kurt was looking forward to a little alone time with his wife of nearly eleven years. They had actually been together longer than that but they both had wanted to wait until after University until they married. Kurt had even once made the comment that they had probably set the record for the longest engagement in history.

In one hand, Kurt carried a black, leather sachel and in the other a bouquet of Sasha's favourite flower -- purple lilacs. He was looking forward to the evening he had planned with his wife... and all the intimate activities that were sure to follow later on. Even though they had been married for a long while, their passion for each other burned just as bright as it had when they were first dating...they just couldn't keep their hands off each other.

However, he was in for a disappointment.

The apartment was dark. He switched on the lights and looked around. He checked all the rooms -- neatly organized -- but no Sasha. Her laptop was out on the table. Sometimes she would leave a message on it if she was going to be out for a while. No such luck, it wasn't even turned on. He booted it up and it prompted a password.

Kurt pursed his blue lips. Over the years he had become wickedly good at solving puzzles, particularly crossword and logic puzzles. What would his sweet Canadian Princess use as her password? Something obscure, something only those that were truly close to her would know. He tapped one slender digit against his chin for a few seconds before an evil grin spread across his face. Kurt typed in his guess.

D - U - C - K - Y

Access Granted.

Ha, ha, so zere, Kitty. Look vho knovs computers nov! Kurt said inwardly. He viewed the screen that popped up. The background was an array of, surprise surprise, Trilliums. There was an icon marked Daily Planner. He clicked on it.

There wasn't many things listed for today.

March 15th, 2022

8:00a Past Life Regression session

10:00a Meeting at the Gallery

2:00p Pick up dry cleaning

4:00p Dr. Appt.

The last entry caught Kurt's attention. Sasha hadn't said anything to him about needing to see a doctor. Scenarios began to play through his mind. Maybe there was something wrong, something that she didn't want to worry him with. Fear began to build in the pit of his stomach. Quickly, Kurt did his best to push the awful thoughts to the back of his mind. It was true that they had been through a lot over the years, but he had to believe that if Sasha suspected there was something truly wrong with her, physically, she would've told him.

Kurt was suddenly stirred out of his reverie by the incessent chirping of the telephone.

Bring…

Kurt decided to let the machine get. If it was one of Sasha's patients they were used to leaving messages that she would get to later. He heard the familiar beep followed by a thick southern drawl.

"'Ey guys, it Coco, if someone is dere pick up, if not ge…" The voice suddenly cut off as Kurt pounced on the phone and spoke, his voice sounded exasperated.

"Coco, zizter!" Kurt smiled. "Hov are you doin? It'z been a vhile zinze your lazt call!"

"Oui dat it 'as, wartime an all. So sorry 'bout dat mais it couldn' be 'elped. It was in dey bes' intere't an' security o' dey 'hole entire family. An' I'm doin' jus' wonderful bebe bleu, all dey kin 'ere is. 'Ow are t'ings up dere?"

Kurt crinkled his nose slightly as he listened to Chloe's very different voice. It was hard to believe that he was talking to the same girl with the bubbly giggle. "Everyzing iz juzt great! Ve have all mizzed you up zere. Hov iz my brozer an' ze children? Ve got ze picturez you zent in emailz ven you could, in caze zomevon bugged your computerz. Ve all underztand Coco, you vere looking out for all of uz. Zank you!"

"Awesome! Youngin's growin' like weeds, an' Rem 'oney is as cantankerous an' ornery as 'lways. It's wad kin dose t' each o'der, amour," Chloe giggled. "I 'ave grande news t'ough...dey war is over an' we'd like t' at long last come f'r a visit, it is good time, non?"

Kurt, excited, fumbled for a moment and almost dropped the phone. His voice filled with joy. "Of courze, zveet Coco, of courze! Zazh vill be zo zrilled to hear ziz newz! I, myzelf, can hardly believe my earz! Zhe, I an' everyvon here haz mizzed you all zo much! Ve all look forvard to your vizit. Ve'll get Lorrie an' Logan to come home, too...ven zhould ve expect you?"

"I'll get back t' ya on dat, dear, 'kay. Jus' lettin' ya know we were l'okin' t' come f'r a visit so it didn' s'ock yas. I need t' go an' iron out details on dis wit' Rem 'oney. I'll call back later today, alright?"

"Zure Coco! I'll find Zazh an' let her knov vutz goin' on too. Zhe'll zertainly vant to knov. I'm zo glad life dovn zere haz become peaceful an' everyvon iz alright. Be careful, Zazha an' I zend our luv to y'all."

"Oui, t'anks, we t'rilled. Rem 'oney won dey battle an' dey war! We all are jus' awesome! 'Kay I'll get back t' yas soon, luv yas! Buh bye sweetie."

"Bye Coco, can't vait t' here back from you."

Kurt happily hung up the phone. At that exact moment, Sasha walked through the apartment door, her arms laden down with plastic bags.

"Hallo honig," she said, sounding more than a little exhausted. "You won't believe die day Ich had. Erste, die regression session took longer than expected, and that nearly made me late for die board meeting at die Gallery..."

"Luv," Kurt beamed happliy, cutting off Sasha's train of thought. "You'll never believe vho I juzt got a call from." Sasha arched an eyebrow at her husband questioningly, her forehead crinkling slightly. "It vaz Chloe! Zhe, Remy, an' ze kids vanna come home for a vizit...ze var is over!"

Sasha smiled broadly and clapped her hands wildly. Immediately, she reached for the phone and dialed a long distance number.

Bring…

"Oui Allo?" started a feminine southern accent.

"Hey das maedchen!" Sasha squealed into the receiver.

"O 'ey lil' sista chicka 'ow ya doin' Sash?"

Sasha beamed, "I'm doin groß now that I've heard from you. Kurt says y'all wanna come home for a while."

"Oui, ya 'eard bebe bleu right. Remy, m'self, da bebes, Jon an' Penny, an' 'Ro an' Bishop all wanna come 'ome f'r a very long over due visit, 'ope dat's cool?"

"Oh, it's definitely better than cool! And what's with that accent? Has Remy been playin' 'round with yer noggin?" Sasha giggled wildly. As she spoke, she gave Kurt a silent signal to take the bags into the kitchenette and to begin to get the groceries put away.

"Ya on glue lil girly I don' sound funny! 'Top laughin' at me Ducky, or I'mma feed ya t' dey gators! I 'till talk like I did da day I left, now 'top dat. It non like you s'ould talk, t'ough, ya sound a lil cuckoo y'self, any'oo… when is good f'r ya'll?" Chloe laughed on her end of the phone.

Sasha giggled and smiled impishly. "It's just a lil habit Ich picked up from Kurt. Anytime is good for us...Wie 'bout you?"

"'Kay 'old on, I'll find out." There was a long silence before Chloe's voice sounded again. "We'll drive up, an' be leavin' Friday roughly so will be sometime Sunday, 'lright?"

Sasha giggled. "That sounds just peachy keen, jelly bean!"

"Cool dat rock us, see yas soon sis."

"Bye, sista chicka!" Sasha chimed and waited until she heard the click of Chloe's receiver before hanging up her own phone. Sasha sprinted over to the kichenette and into her husband's arms just as he was hanging up his cell phone.

"I juzt called Lor an' Logan," Kurt reported. "I zought zey'd like to be here ven zveet Chloe and Remy arrive."

Sasha threw her arms around Kurt's neck and gave him a huge kiss. "That was just die thought Ich was havin', hon." Sasha took Kurt's hand and began to pull him towards the door. "C'mon, let's go tell everyeins else!"

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Sasha and Kurt danced into the kitchen arm-in-arm. The only people they found there was Jubilee and Kitty, and both were staring listlessly out the kitchen window. Sasha dawned a broad smile. "Hey guys, whatcha doin'?" she chimed.

"Just sittin' here watchin' our barren lives pass up by," Jubilee sighed. "Oh, look...a spider." The Asian mutant then unceremoniously slammed her fist down onto the table's surface, killing the arachnid that was crawling there.

Sasha grimiced.

Kitty looked up at her friends. "Is it just me, or does anyone else wanna hurl from boredom?"

"Vell," Kurt smiled "You von't be bored for long."

Kitty and Jubilee looked curiously at their friends.

"Guess wer's coming for a visit...Chloe!" Sasha announced.

Kitty and Jubilee beamed brightly.

"Really?" Jubes said, looking happily. "No foolin?"

"Nein foolin!" Sasha replied. "She's bringing die whole familie. We even got Lorrie and Logan to come home for a while too.

Kitty smiled wider. "This is gonna be so cool!" She grabbed ahold of Jubilee's wrist. "C'mon, let's go tell the guys, they'll never believe it!"

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Sasha walked through the corridor of what was once the faculty living quarters. In one hand she carried a pen and in the other a pad of paper, it was a checklist. She wanted to make sure everything was perfect for when her sisters and their families arrived.

As she rounded the corner and mindlessly walked into the apartment, on through to the bedroom, she glanced up and stopped short. Sitting on the bed, digging through a large cardboard box, was Kurt.

"Kurt, honig," Sasha said slowly, venturing further into the room "What are you doin?"

Kurt looked up at his wife and smiled broadly. "Juzt getting ready for ven Remy and Logan get here."

Sasha eye him for a moment as he went back to rummaging through the box. "Bitte, tell me you're not doin' what Ich think you're doin. Ich thought you got rid of all those novelty items."

"Vut's a visit vizout a fev practical jokez?" Kurt chuckled.

Sasha groaned heavily and sat down at her vanity. "You're not going to cover them with red ants, are you?"

"Luv, I zink I've outgrown zat."

"Wie about die atomic wedgies?"

"Vay too old for zat."

"Wie about die fake vomit in die shoes?"

Kurt smiled broadly and glanced up. "Never too old for zat."

Sasha shook her head, smiling slightly, and touched a hand lightly to her forehead. "Warum are die pretty eins always so annoying?"

Kurt looked up and smiled broadly. "Oh, you knov you love me more zen your luggage!"

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"Hast oben, they're gonna be here any minute!" Sasha yelled. She had been perched in front of the large bay window in the sitting room for the last hour watching and waiting for the first signs of her brother-in-law's, very familiar, black jeep to appear over the horizon.

Kurt, and many of the younger mansion residents, appeared in the doorway. "Okay," Kurt breathed, sitting next to his wife "Lorrie and Logan's old room iz ready, az iz Remy an zveet Chloe'z. Ze roomz for zeir boyz are ready too. Ze tvo older von's vill bunk togezer as vill ze tvo younger boyz. I've also fixed around ze nursery in Remy'z room and zet a bed up in zere for zeir lil girl."

Sasha leaned forward and kissed her husband passionately. "Danke," she whispered, lovingly stroking his cheek with the back of her hand.

Behind them, the younger ones gave a collective "Ewww!" This caused Sasha and Kurt to grin and blush wildly.

The pair had no problem showing public displays of affection, and more often than not they would forget that there were others around during those times. Perhaps they were a little more public about things than they should've been but they had been this way for as long as they could remember, and they were too old and too set in their ways to stop now.

Sasha returned her attention to the window and, after a few moments, her eyes grew wide and she smiled. Without saying a word, Sasha bolted from her seat and ran to the front door, threw it open, and bounded out into the waiting sunlight.

She watched as Logan's jeep made its way up the long driveway. Lorrie didn't wait for the car to come to a complete stop before she flung the door open and ran into her lil sister's waiting arms.

It had been at least a good five years since the youngest and eldest of the Xavier brood had seen each other. Either one thing or another had kept the two of them apart, usually their hectic work schedules was the one to blame.

The sisters held onto each other for dear life, overjoyed beyond belief that their once happy family would soon be reunited.

"Gawds Lor," Sasha started, pulling to look at her sisters face "It's been so long! And Ich just gotta say...time has not been kind to you, are those crows feet?" she giggled wildly.

Lorrie smacked her sister lightly on her arm. "Well, time marches on, and sooner or later you realize that it's marching right across your face!"

At that moment, Logan made his way out of the car and around to where Sasha and Lorrie stood. Sasha looked up at him and smiled slightly.

"Oh, and it's die Marlboro man. Or at least die extra-stubbly, mentally unstable, insomniatic first cousin of... oh, for die liebe of Zeus, somebody stop me."

Sasha prayers were answered by Kurt bamphing into the empty space next to her.

"Logan!" Kurt smiled broadly and the two men uncharacteristically wrapped each other up into a welcoming hug before Logan remembered himself and released Kurt, clearing his throat.

"Good to see you, too, buddy," Logan replied, trying to look as non-chalant as possible. Everyone burst out in laughter at Logan awkwardness.

Sasha linked one arm in Lorrie's and the other in Logan's and escorted them into the house. "C'mon, she smiled, "Chloe and Remy won't be arriving until later this nachmittag. I've got fresh coffee and tea brewing, and for die guys...good ol' fashion Canuck beer!"

"Ah," Logan sighed and smiled "A girl after my own heart!"

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"ZERE HERE!" Kurt shouted into the open foyer door. He looked back to the driveway and watched as the very familiar Hummer made it's way up the long drive, dust kicking up behind it.

Sasha and Lorrie burst from within the house and ran down the steps. Before the car had even come to a complete stop, Chloe had her seatbelt unbuckled and flung the door open.

"DIVA!" the sisters yelled in unison, and trapped each other in a grand hug. They jumped up and down, giggling and chatting, while the rest of the mansion's residents filtered out into the cool spring air. Soon the sisters were engulfed in a tidal wave of bodies...Hank, Cece, Jubes, Kitty, Piotr, Logan, Bobby and Kurt had joined in the welcoming embrace.

When they finally pulled apart, Sasha looked down at Chloe's bulging abdomen. "Oooo, big diva!"

Chloe playfully smacked Sasha's arm.

The massive chattering from everyone in the hug was suddenly cut through by a loud Cajun call and everyone turned to looked at Remy as he climbed out of the driver's side, making the hellos start all over again, this time with Jon, Bishop, Penny, and Ro joining in the merriment.

Sasha and Lorrie embraced their sister again and, as she held Chloe close to her, Sasha's eyes rested on the half dozen children making their way out of the vehicle. Sasha and Lorrie glanced at each other then back to the kids. Looking to Chloe, they saw her smile, felt her take their hands, and lead them over to the children.

They first came to the 6'2 boy. His dark Stetson was dipped low over his eyes, he wore a tight, black muscle shirt, tight black jeans, cowboy boots, and a trench coat. Even though his face was mostly shrouded by the tilted hat, it was clear that he had the same rugged features as Remy.

"Sista chickas, dis is m' ever sweet man Lucky. 'E ain' no bebe no more! …Mais cept t' Maman, 'e 'lways gonna be m' bebe."

Lorrie and Sasha stepped up to him, Lucky dwarfing them by several inches. He bowed low and removed his hat, long bangs cascading forward, and took their hands into his, kissing them lightly.

"Tis tres magnifique t' meet such fine chere beauté Tante's," Lucky drawled. Both Sasha and Lorrie blushed hard, hearing his deep bass tones and thick accented southern drawl.

Sasha placed her hands on Lucky's shoulders and drew him in for a soft hug. Pulling back, she looked into his eyes, brushed his bangs out of the way, and smiled. "By die Gods, Lucky. You've gotten so big!"

Lucky gave Sasha a half smile. "'E grew up."

"He grew up good!" came a voice from somewhere near the back of the crowd. This made everyone laugh outright, with the exception of Lucky who blushed slightly.

Chloe then directed her sisters to another young man. He was the same height as Lucky and also wore a black Stetson dipped just as low, but also sported dark sunglasses, a black leather biker jacket in lieu of a trench coat, faded tight blue jeans, a white t-shirt, and cowboy boots. Also like his brother he was muscular and deeply tanned, but with multi-coloured auburn hair and piercings. As the sisters approached, the young man turned his head away slightly, trying desperately to hide the blush rapidly spreading throughout his features.

Chloe took his hand in hers to calm him and spoke softly. "Dis 'ere's m' Punk. 'E's a good one, don' let 'is silence fool ya, 'e's jus' da big, 'trong, silent, adorably, sweet, teddy bear type o' young man." Chloe then hugged Punk tightly.

"Ah," Sasha smiled, "Walk softly and carry a big stick, do ya?"

Lorrie and Sasha took Punk's other large, muscular hand in theirs and smiled softly. Punk easily and visibly composed himself and bowed low to Lorrie and Sasha then moved over to where the rest of the men were standing and visiting.

Next came a younger boy, possibly no more than thirteen years old, wearing a jean jacket and overly baggy pants, cowboy boots, and a dew rag.

"Dis is m' Dutchy, 'e's a 'oney t'" Chloe giggled sweetly. Dutch blushed up quickly, hugged his mother lightly, and then bowed deep to his aunts. When Dutch straightened up again, he smiled and drew Lorrie and Sasha into a warm embrace.

"Da pleasure is all Dutch's, never a more grand day den t'day t' meet Maman's kin!" Then he too moved over to the other men.

Finally they came to what was obviously the youngest boy. He was dressed in much the same way as Dutch had been except he wore a trench coat like Lucky did. In the boy's arms was nestled a giggling, delicate little girl possibly no older than four. She had waist-length curly auburn hair pulled back from her face by a yellow lace hair band. She wore an ankle length a-line yellow and lace dress with spaghetti straps, a white cotton sweater, and matching sandals. Her eyes, red on white, Sasha thought were very reminiscent of Remy and she believed were quite striking.

"Lor, Sash dis is m' lil man T-Bird an' Boo Velvet. We all jus' call 'er by 'er Bree. Rem 'oney don' wan' 'er usin' 'er call name, same wit' me. All da boys won' answer t' not'in' mais da names I jus' gave ya… an' da only time I use da garcons birt' names is when I'm mad, an' dat seldom 'appens, cuz I got me some good garcons."

T-Bird bowed low just as his brothers had done before him and took Sasha and Lorrie's hands into his.

"T-Bird so t'rilled t' meet such t' joli Tantes."

Chloe then divested her daughter from T-Bird. "Dis is da only LeBeau femme o'der den yours truly. Bree an' I try our bes' t' keep da testosterone t' a minimum, mais we are kinda out numbered t'ough… funny 'ow I grew up in a 'ouse wit' t'ree si'ters an' Maman den I end up 'avin' me a mess o' boys… hmmm… go figure," She giggled.

"Alright damn it! I've done and had me there 'nuff o' this mushy stuff, get the hell out o' my way! There's a lil Canuk girly over there that needs some o' the wild Wolverine!" Logan laughingly shouted through the crowd. He cut his way through the sea of people, making a beeline for Chloe.

"Well if it ain' m 'pecial lil fuzzy bucket!" Chloe giggled wildly.

Lorrie took Bree from Chloe's arms and placed her on the grassy ground. As soon as the child was clear, Logan picked Chloe up in his massive arms and swung her around in a grand circle.

"Good t' see ya Darlin… you wal-mart make-up counter reject!" The crowd chorused with laughter. After a moment, Logan felt a light tug on his pant leg. Looking down, he found Bree's innocence-filled eyes.

"Pardon moi, mais you are m' Monsieur Oncle Logan, non?" her tiny, frail voice chimed.

Logan went down onto his haunches until he was eye level with Bree. He took off his cowboy hat and held it over his heart. "Hey there, lil lady. That I am lil one, but you lil darlin' can just call me Uncie Wolvie or Uncie Fuzzy, alright lil babe?"

"'Kay."

Logan quickly looked up to everyone, realizing he just had a very public display of affection with the littlest of the brood. Logan cleared his throat and stood abruptly. "Alright alright now nothin' t' see here" he hitched up his jeans, ala Barney Fife.

Sasha held Chloe's hands in front of her then opened her sister's arms wide. "Hey sis, wann you first moved down South with Remy, weren't you expecting then too?"

"Yeah dat's why Punk's 'ere silly. I was e'pectin' 'im da day we took Lucky sout'."

"Damn! Let me and Lor catch up would ya! Your making das maedchens look bad to der ehemann," Sasha giggled.

Hank lumbered forward and laid a gentle hand on Chloe's shoulder. "Guess I need to pull out that med file of Coco's while she is here, it's wonderful to see you, my dear."

"T'anks bebe bleu."

"Well while we are on die subject of introducing people… I'd like you to meet some of our new students, sis," Sasha said and led Chloe to the porch as she, in turn, held on fast to Remy's hand. "This here's Fabian Cortez, aka Cortez; Tessa Niles, aka Sage; Longshot; Clarice Ferguson, aka Blink; Julio Estaban Rictor, aka Rictor; Alison Blair, aka Dazzler; Shatterstar; Monet St. Croix, aka Monet; Lorna Dane, aka Polaris; and Tandy Bowen, aka Dagger."

Chloe pointed to each of the kids and giggled. "'Kay Longshot is now Dear an' S'atter'tar is now Sweetie… gots t' make it s'ort an' sweet, luvs."

Sasha smiled, "Ah, now that's die Chloe we've all come to know and liebe!"

Suddenly a puff of blue smoke appeared next to Sasha and the figure wrapped his arms lovingly around her waist. Bree, who had long since returned to her mother's arms, wailed loudly and tears began to stream down her face.

"Sweetie it 'Kay," Chloe said, trying to soothe her daughter, "'e won' 'urt you. I'm so sorry Kurt, luv...she never e'pected it an' it 'tartled 'er."

Kurt smiled softly at the lil girl. "Reichlich, my zveet child. I'm harmlezz."

Logan leaned towards Bree "Just think o' him as an over sized smurf, darlin'." Bree giggled slowly in response.

"I knov vut driez tearz… " Kurt smiled slightly, looked over both his shoulders as if it was a huge secret, then turned back to Bree and whispered loudly. "Ice cream." Bree flew into a fit of giggles and smiled brightly through her rapidly disappearing tears. "Vould you like to take ze zecret pazzage vay to ze kitchen? An' only I knov ze vay."

Bree looked to father curiously. Remy nodded his consent. Bree then looked back to Kurt and smiled as her mother handed her over to the blue mutant.

"Can you count?" he asked.

"Lil bit. Maman teachin' me," Bree replied sheepishly.

"Okay zen. I count viz you, 1… 2… OoOo juzt zo you knov, lil von, ve only go to 3 alright? Cuz zat's all ze fingers I got… an' it too much vork to take my zhoez off!" Kurt joked with the lil girl and she giggling again. "3!" and the pair disappeared in a puff of Kurt's customary blue smoke.

Bree's brothers looked on in shock and each looked like they were going to pop a vein.

Remy tried to ease his sons fears. "It's 'lright, mes fils, Kurt is a good man. 'E will not 'arm you soeur. Kurt is Remy et Gambit's lil bubba just like 'Ro an' Penny is you Tantes an' Bishop an' Jon you Oncles. Kurt is you Oncle by you Maman's kin. You Oncle Kurt 'e married t' petite soeur de lil Sasha," Remy motioned to Sasha, she smiled slightly and wiggled her fingers, making the younger boys chuckle under their breath. "An' fur'dermore, Kurt is Lucky's Godpere… now time f'r us t' get beer!"

Logan clapped a strong hand onto Remy's shoulder. "Hot damn, that's the best idea I've heard all day!"

As Remy led the way into the house, Sasha found herself flanked by her nephews. While Sasha had one arm linked in Punk's, she held onto T-Bird's hand. Lorrie walked in much the same way with Dutch and Lucky.

"Sorry, Tante Boo Sasha," Lucky smiled weakly at her. "We garcons didn' know, or can' 'member, Oncle Kurt. We bra's are jus' very protective o' our soeur de lil, you under'tand...Lucky 'opes."

Sasha returned the smile. "Lucky, dear, I'm very aware of it. Ich come from a group of schwesters myself, just as you knabes do. We would watch out for each other much like you all do. In fact, me and my schwesters, had always wanted a brother growing up. Bree is very lucky to have all of you knabes to look out for her." Sasha hugged him to her as everyone rounded the corner to enter the kitchen.

The group found a very happy Bree sitting at the counter, eating ice cream and cookies, and giggling wildly as she tried to force cookies and ice cream to Kurt's very over-stuffed mouth. Both Kurt and Remy were laughing at Bree's youthful exuberance and everyone was reduced to fits of giggles.

Sasha opened the nearest cabinet and withdrew a camera, snapping a few pictures of the scene.

"Well," she giggled, "looks like we've got this years Christmas card photo!"

Kurt's eyes grew wide at the prospect and jumped up, trying to grab the camera away from his wife. Instantly, the sisters fell back into their playful ways and tossed the camera to each other in a giant game of keep away. When it was finally passed back to Sasha, she quickly stuffed it in a drawer and locked it tight. Before Kurt could grab the key out of her hand, Sasha stuffed it down into her cleavage and smiled slightly.

Kurt flicked his eyes back and forth from Sasha's smiling face to her chest and pointed a finger at her.

"I hope you realize I'm not afraid to go in after zat key."

Sasha's smile broadened. "Oooo, promises promises...but just remember, there are kinder present." She patted his cheek slightly and moved on into the room. Kurt looked like he was about to respond but he ultimately hung his head in defeat.

Everyone had a good, long laugh before they fell into mini conversations.

Remy and Logan pulled out a bunch of beers and began passing them around. Sasha watched dumfounded as Punk, Dutch, and T-Bird each popped open a beer and began to slug back the copper liquid. Sasha and Lorrie looked to each other then to Chloe for an explanation.

Chloe seemed unconcerned that her boys were drinking so they both decided to not make a fuss about it, though Sasha was still uncomfortable with the idea.

Remy had caught the wary look between the youngest and eldest sisters and smiled slightly. "It jus' 'ow it is femmes! Dey know dere Maman an' Papa's rules."

At that moment, the tea kettle began to whistle. Sasha moved and poured the hot water into her serving pot and brought the tray over to the table.

"I'm so glad dat na'ty war is over wit'! I 'pent mos' o' dat time 'cared f'r Rem 'Oney" Chloe sighed pleasantly, taking the cup Sasha offered.

"We were all worried, too. We were afraid to call, what with you saying there was phone taps...and then all die holidays we all missed out on together," Sasha replied as she continued to pour tea cup after tea cup, until all the ladies had been served.

Sasha started to giggle wildly. "Do you remember die last Christmas we had together before die war happened? Y'know, die year Kurt fell down die chimney. We were together. We were in die infirmary, but we were together."

"I know, dat was one 'ell o' a c'ristmas," Remy laughed. "'Ave you 'eard f'om dey o'ders?"

"Gumbo?" Logan interjected questioningly.

The term of endearment caught all the young LeBeau boys off guard and a look of anger began to shroud over their features. Chloe placed her hand gently on Lucky and Punk's shoulders and whispered softly.

"It's kay, Papa an' Oncle Logan tease each o'der wit' name callin' like you boys do."

The boys anger quickly disipated as they heard their father call back.

"Wad Claws?"

"Didn't I tell ya not t' turn my babe o' a sister in-law Cajun?"

"Oui dat you did" Remy said casually, taking out a cigarette, and lit it.

"You didn't listen to me did ya?"

"Non" Remy exhaled the smoke casually and both men laughed hard, playfully punching each other on the arm.

Sasha chuckled under her breath and shook her head slightly. She had missed the odd relationships everyone had with everyone else, and it had been a long time since she had her whole family under the same roof. In a moment, Kurt appeared at her side, having just delivered Bree to the table. Bree sat on Kurt's lap and held fast onto his tail, squeezing it intermittently.

"Maman?" Bree looked up at her mother.

"Oui bebe?"

"Bree like Oncle Kurt lots! 'E let me play wiff 'is tail. An' 'e a pretty color, bleu like da ocean."

"See, you Oncle Kurt is pretty awesome, non?" Chloe said and winked to Kurt.

"Oui dat 'e is!" Bree quickly agreed then squeezed his tail again, causing Kurt's eyes to bulge slightly. Sasha giggling hard.

Chloe returned her attention to the adults. "So 'ow are 'Cott an' Jeannie, an' Dom an' Cable? It's been so long! I soo can' wait t' see dem 'gain! I'm so e'cited! Dey know we' 'ome?" she asked happily.

"They had a little baby girl named Rachel about neun years ago..." Sasha was suddenly cut off by Chloe's squeal of approval, and it made her smile slightly before carrying on with what was certain to be crushing news for the elder LeBeau's. Sasha grew very solemn. "Chloe, Remy...Ich bin traurig to have to tell you this but… Scott and Jeannie, they were killed a little over a year later… Magneto came in die night to capture Jeannie. A fight broke out in die boiler room of their haus...eins of Scott's optic blasts hit die gas furnace and he, Jeannie and Magneto were all killed."

Chloe's mouth swung open in shock and cast a frightened look over to Remy. Quickly, her tears began to flow down her face. Lucky and Punk were at their mother's side in an instant, doing what they could to soothe her.

Sasha continued the sad news. "That same blast opened up a vortex that, Hank believes, led to die future... Dom, Cable, and we believe the baby as well, were sucked into it. They've never been seen or heard from since."

"Mes dieux!" Remy exasperated.

"Scott and Jeannie are buried on the grounds here," Lorrie added. "We also have markers for Cable, Domino, and baby Rachel as well so we may visits their spirits."

Sasha continued. "We even buried Magneto on the grounds...Ich know vater wouldn't have wanted us to do anything less."

Chloe had finally composed herself enough to choke out a few words. "T'anks I will later on. I'm in jus' such shock! Rem an' I 'ave 'lready lost so many friends in the last gods-know-'ow-many years!" Chloe dried her tears and continued. "Well, 'ow's Paige, Val, Synch, Leech an' Skin?"

Sasha shifted her weight nervously again but didn't answer.

A fresh look of horror spread across Chloe's face. "Wad?" she said, her voice wet and quivering.

Sasha opened her mouth to reply but was suddenly cut off by Logan's uncharacterically soft voice."They were taken hostage by Mojo and taken to an astral plane we can't get too."

Chloe and Remy exchanged another frightened look before Remy spoke.

"Sean, Emma, Artie, Bren, Warren, Betsy...'Ow dey doin?"

Sasha forced a pleasant smile on her face and flicked her eyes around the room. None of the LeBeau clan had caught the look. "They're doin' wonderfully. Talked to Em last month. Bren's with her right now, y'know die arrangement."

Chloe and Penny cried on their husband's shoulders. It was very noticable that the guys were trying to keep a tight reign on their emotions.

"Geez! I'mma miss dem all," Chloe choked out. "Dey were all such beau'iful people an' 'tudents. Dey 'ad so much potential."

"Seem's like we've all had our battles and wars all over" Logan said solemnly.

"Oui, mon amis dat it does," Remy replied.

The air in the kitchen was thick with tension and everyone felt it. After a few long moments of silence, Kurt spoke out, trying to change the subject. "Hey Care Bear vere'z Pooky-Doo?"

"Kurt luv, m' Pooky bebe 'as gone t' Summerland." she reported. "'E passed 'way many year 'go f'om cancer."

"Oh zveet Coco, I'm zo zorry to hear zat." Kurt laid a soft touch on Chloe's hand for comfort. "At leazt take comfort zat he iz in pain no longer and viz loved onez."

"O' I do Kurt, an' t'ank you, it was sometime 'go now. We 'ave been talkin' 'bout getting' a new fur-bebe, isn' dat right Bree bebe?" Chloe said and took Bree in her arms who giggled out as she played with Kurt's tail again.

Sasha smiled slightly. "Well, y'know, while you're here warum not make use of mine."

Chloe blinked a few times, her bipolar getting in the way of her understanding. "You wad?"

At that moment, one of the younger students walked in through the patio with two leather leashes in his hands. At the end of these leashes stood a black, white and brown smooth-coated Border Collie, and a red and white Springer Spaniel.

"Sorry we took so long, Dr. Xavier-Wagner," the young boy said, "they tried to take me for a walk instead of me taking them." The boy smiled weakly as he unhooked the leashes and put them away.

Bree's eyes lit up as she slid off her mother's lap and ran over to the dogs, softly patting their fur. "Dey're booteful, Tante Sasha!" She gave the Border Collie a gingerly hug. The dogs were both the same size as Bree, and either one of the canines could've knocked her over easily, but they played gently with the little girl.

Bree looked up at Sasha. "Wad deir names?"

Sasha smiled and pointed to the Border Collie. "This eins here is Lexa," and then she pointed to the Springer Spaniel, "and this is Mira."

Bree giggled happily and played quietly with the dogs.

Sasha looked up to Chloe. "Kurt gave them to me on mein birthday and Christmas a few years back."

"Well, sista," Chloe replied, once again calm, "dey are just adorable."

Soon Lorrie, Cece, Clarice, Alison, Tessa, Tandy, Lorna and Sasha rose from the table and began pulling things out to make dinner. When Chloe rose to join the girls, she was met with Sasha easing her back into the chair.

"Let us sis, you've had a long trip and with die baby, you need to rest. Let us take care of it, cuz tomorrow Ich need you to make cabbage casserole. It's not a want, it's a need sis" Sasha ended giggling. Hank, Cece, Logan, Lorrie, Kurt, and Remy all quickly nodded their agreement.

"Since movin' sout' Chere 'as only cooked Cajun," Remy said, leaning back in his chair and popping open another beer. "Remy et Gambit misses chere's o'der cookin'." He kissed her temple and smiled.

"Geez, Rem dude! You completely destroyed a perfectly great Canadian woman turning her totally and entirely Cajun! You got her cookin' that mess!" Bobby said jokingly.

Lucky's head snapped around to look at Bobby. "Mind it! An' Tantes Boo femmes, you got it right cuz ain' no one dat cooks be'der den m' Maman, an' dat's a fact!"

"Mes fils, go get Maman's t'ings f'om da truck!" Remy interjected casually and the LeBeau boys complied.

"I didn't mean to insult the boys, Remy," Bobby said awkwardly.

"L'ok, all dose boys 'ave been raised Cajun, t'rough an' t'rough, an' dey won' tolerate anyone, blood or o'derwise, comin' at Chloe. Not even dere Pere Remy et Gambit! It's dat simple! Never say anyt'ing 'gainst a Cajun boy's momma's cookin'...ever! T' dem it dey same as slappin' dere momma 'cross da face. Dey won' 'tand f'r it. Mostly cuz you 'urt dere Maman an' dose boys dere will flat out 'tomp a mud 'ole in you ass! Non mader who you are!"

"I sure do like your boys style Remy! That's some damn mighty fine teachin' you and Chloe's done with them!" Logan praised.

"I agree my brozer, zey are fine young lads zat knov hov to treat zere zweet mother, and zeir wonderful Aunt's too! Zey knov hov to treat all ladies vell!" Kurt agreed.

"You have a groß deal to be proud of Remy" Sasha added.

Remy gave Sasha an intriging expression. "Petite? Why you keep saying dose weird words?"

Sasha gigled slightly. "You can blame Kurt for that. We went on a trip to Germany a few years ago. He taught me a few words so Ich could get by and it just sorta stuck."

Logan turned his steely gaze to Kurt. "Chloe's gone Cajun, Sasha's gone German...is there anyone one around here who hasn't been messed with?"

"And what am I?" Lorrie glared at her husband "chopped liver?"

Logan put an arm around Lorrie's shoulders, drawing her close to him. "Naw! You're pate." Lorrie punched Logan playfully on the arm. "Hey," Logan laughed "at least it's gourmet liver!"

Everyone laughed hard.

When the boys reappeared, Bobby looked to Lucky apologetically. "Meant nothing but playing behind it," Bobby then extended his hand to Lucky. After a second, Lucky took Bobby's hand and shook it.

Lucky set his jaw stiff. "Dat's all well an good, mais jus' so you know!"

Punk had graciously opened the patio door for Lorrie and Sasha to enter with their arms full meat. Quickly Punk divested Lorrie of her armload as Lucky did the same with Sasha's cargo.

"Do ya'll need any 'elp, Tante Boos?" Dutch cooed.

"Yeah," T-Bird chimed "Wit' ant'ing at all?"

Lorrie and Sasha flicked their eyes to Chloe and Remy.

"Some around here could learn a lot from these boys! They are very well mannered!" Lorrie observed.

"It's good to know mein neffes aren't too spoiled that they know how to do hard work" Sasha added. She looked around the kitchen for a moment, before replying. "Ja, okay, if you knabes don't mind Ich need a bushel of potatoes brought in, bitte and danke. It's just sitting around die corner."

Lucky bowed slightly. "Oui, Tante Boo Ma'am" and stepped out into the open air to retrieve the large basket.

Punk, who had long since taken to cutting up the frozen meat for Lorrie, was sitting at the counter and had already gone through several of the packages. In the meanwhile, T-Bird was sent to the freezer for vegetables.

"Gods, Ich so liebe these kinder!" Sasha giggled.

When Lucky returned a few seconds later, he set the basket down on the floor by the counter and took off his hat. Sasha made a move to sit down, a peeling knife in her hands and began to reach for a potato. Lucky laid a restraining hand on Sasha.

"Why don' m' Tante Boo let Lucky do da dir'y work and she go sit wit' 'is Maman?"

Sasha smiled slightly. "Wirklich schatz, I'm quite capable of..."

"Lucky insists," her eldest nephew reiterated firmly.

Sasha smiled in defeat and handed over the knife, allowing Lucky to take care of the potatoes, but instead of returning to the table, Sasha moved around to the other side of the counter and set to work at making the salad.

"'Andy lil buggers aren' dey, an' I got's more on de way," Chloe giggled.

"Ich need me some kinder," Sasha laughed out as Dutch came around the counter with a coffee each for her and Lorrie. Bree dutifully brought a glass of milk to her mother before needing to be asked then returned to play with the dogs some more.

Kurt looked over to Sasha and laughed slightly. "I'm vorkin' on it Zazha!"

"Not all us girlies can get pregnant at the drop of hat" Jubilee interjected. With that said, Remy and Logan's cowboy hats dropped to the floor, reducing everyone to fits of laughter.

Lucky looked squarely at his father.

"Didn' we 'lready 'ave dis discussion Paw? Every time dat 'at drops we get an'oder LeBeau et da breakfast table" He chuckled, as did everyone in the room.

"So," Chloe started again, taking a long sip of her milk. "Does you amis Chase still live 'ere, 'ow 'e doin'?"

Sasha began ripping up a large head of lettuce into tiny pieces. "They're doing just groß. Chase and Taryn are on vacation right now. He took her on a zweite honeymoon around die world. They should be back in a couple months as they had only left last week."

"Dat's one lucky femme! Chase is a good garcon!" Chloe smiled.

"That he is, and a good friend too," Sasha agreed.

Soon, dinner was eaten and while the adults moved into the sitting room for drinks, the younger ones took to clearing everything away.

"I can't get over the kids, Chloe, they're huge!" Kitty said, exasperated, as she sipped at her Sherry.

"Like eclipsing out the sun kinda huge!" Jubes laughed.

"Well look at deir fa'der! 'E's a tall drink 'imself! Da apple doesn' fall far f'om da tree ya know!" Chloe giggled.

"I think they are quite die gentlemen! Mutter and Vater would have adored them all!" Sasha added. Everyone then took a quiet moment to remember Charles, and the sisters to remember their mother as well.

A refined, cultured voice cut through the silence. Everyone looked over to a nearby armchair to where Hank sat, and Bree sat in his lap. "Okay, my dear," the furry mutant said soothingly, "Let me introduce you to the most wonderful thing on this earth...Twinkies!" Hank pulled out a small, plastic package and unwrapped it. Everyone did their best to stifle their laughter. "It's a delicious, golden, spongy cake filled with a creamy, white substance of goodness. And the exciting part is, they have no ingredients that a human can pronounce. So they don't leave you with that heavy, food feeling in your stomach."

Bree took the twinkie from Hank and an evil grin spread across her features. Looking back at the golden treat, the little girl opened her mouth as wide as it would go and unceremoniously crammed it into her mouth in its entirety. Neither Hank, Bree, nor anyone else could contain their laughter.

"Ah," Hank smiled, "A girl after my own heart!" Hank hugged the child to him.

Soon, the laughter died down, and the next several hours were spent reminising about times gone by, and it wasn't until the large grandfather clock began to strike midnight before the adults began to toddle off to bed, the younger kids having gone to bed hours earlier.

------

Sasha and Kurt sat in their suite, going on about their nightly ritual. Sasha sitting in front of her vanity, thoroughly brushing through her hair, and Kurt at his computer, glasses perched on the tip of his nose, as he finished typing up a long file.

Occaisionally, Kurt flicked his eyes over to his wife. There had been something heavily weighing on his mind for several days, the day he had got into her daily scedule and found that she had had a mysterious doctor's appointment.

Sasha smiled slightly and looked at Kurt's reflection in the mirror. "What?"

"Nozing," he replied quickly, and went back to work. After a few seconds he looked at her again.

Sasha raised an eyebrow questiongly. "Warum are you watching me?"

"I vaz juzt vondering," Kurt started slowly, "Iz everyzing alright?"

She tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

Kurt lowered his voice. "Are you pregnant?"

Sasha's face flared red slightly and she touched a hand to her forehead. "Ich hope you're gonna erklären Sie."

"Oh, come on, luv. I zought, well, I was hoping zat maybe ve had beat ze odds, after yearz of tryin'."

"Oh, really? Both Hank and Cece have told you countless times that's it impossible." Sasha narrowed her eyes at Kurt. "What would make you think that that was gonna change, oh rampaging stallion of die bed chamber?"

"Well, I...uh, I kinda broke into your computer," Kurt cringed slightly at the shrieking he was sure that would follow, and he wasn't going to be disappointed.

"YOU BROKE INTO MEIN COMPUTER!"

It was a good thing the apartment had been soundproofed -- something that many of the floor's residents had insisted on after catching eerily erotic sounds emanating from within not long after the pair had first married -- otherwise the scream would've drawn the attention of the entire house.

"It vaz juzt laying out and I zought..."

"Are you sure you're not blonde!" Sasha flared hotter. "Wie many people have you told this theory to?"

"No von, I zvear!" Kurt said, trying to backpeddle out of the argument. "But vut am I zuppozed to zink? You didn't tell me about it. You're az healthy az a horze. Vut ozer reazon vould you have for zeeing a doctor?"

"Oh, gee, Ich weiß nicht...maybe about sechzehn years ago Ich got accidently cold-cocked by mein over zealous fiancee and it messed up mein sight."

Kurt was silent for several long seconds as he remembered back to the time his wife spoke of.

/"You!" he screeched "Hov could you!"

Bobby looked up at his angry friend, a puzzled expression shrouding his normally pleasant-looking features. "How could I what?"

"I sov you...I sov you kizz Zazha!" Kurt roared and jumped right over the coffee table, lunging for Bobby's throat.

"DRAKE!" Kurt bellowed at the top of his lungs. "I'M GONNA KILL YOU!"

"Kurt, now calm down," Bobby said as evenly as he could with his enraged teammate coming towards him. "I swear...nothing happened...it's not what you think!"

Bobby kept backing up. Kurt roared, his eyes blazing with a white hot fire, and launched a punch at Bobby. A tan blur passed between them and he felt his fist hit something soft, followed by a sickening wet thump. Kurt stared at Bobby, seeing that he was still standing. They both looked down.

There, on the cement, arms and legs flung sprawled like a ragdoll, was Sasha. Her baby blue eyes were slowly closing and a small trickle of blood began to seep out her ears. Her chest lifted once and was still./

"Luv," Kurt tried to take his wife into his arms, "I vaz juzt vorried about you."

"That still doesn't give you die right to rummage through mein computer. That's wie people get die wrong idea about things."

"I knov and I'm zorry!" Kurt continued, doing his best to apologize. "But zat ztill doesn't ztop me from hoping."

Sasha's anger began to melt away and she slipped under the blankets. "There's nein eins in die world who wants to get schwanger more than Ich do, and Ich held out hope longer than anyeins, but I've learned to accept it...and so should you." Sasha sighed heavily. "It just isn't in die cards for us."

Kurt leaned over and lightly kissed his wife's forehead. "Luv, stranger zings have happened."

"Ja," Sasha giggled slightly, "and if a frog had wings he wouldn't bump his ass wann he hopped."

Kurt chuckled under his breath as he reached over and turned off the light.

------

Wrapped tightly in her forest green, terry cloth bathrobe, Sasha knocked gently on Chloe and Remy's door. The clock was nearing 4:15am, and she hated to disturb their rest, but Sasha knew this needed to be said before morning came.

"Psst, Chloe...open up?" she whispered through the crack between the door and its frame.

"Who, an' wad, is it?" came Chloe's sleepy voice from inside.

"It's Sasha" she whispered again.

"'Kay, gimme a sec" Chloe whispered back and her sister was true to her word when the door opened a few seconds later. Chloe slipped into the hall wearing what was obviously Remy's robe...the thing looked like a tent on her. The sight would've made Sasha laugh out loud if her mind hadn't already been preocupied with other, more pressing, matters.

"Wad's up Sash? It late … like …" Chloe looked at Sasha's watch "4:15am dang me!"

Sasha face held a grave expression. "Ja, hey, Ich know it's early, Ich bin traurig. But, Ich know wie badly you want to see Bren."

"Oui, I do. Wad you talkin' 'bout? You say 'e in England t'ough?" Chloe replied, yawning a bit.

"Ja he was, but… he's coming home early and Emma's coming too."

Chloe smiled sweetly. "OoOo, cool! Rem 'oney will bust seein' his lil buddy Bren 'gain. Then Sean, 'is old drinkin' buddy, da two war 'orse's can go over old times an' Emma too… it'll b…" Chloe, giddy now, was cut off as Sasha's eyes tearing up.

"Coco, sis… Sean isn't coming."

"Wad? Why not?"

Sasha paused as she trying to think of how she was going to words this distressing news. "Sis, Ich weiß nicht how to tell you this, but...Sean was killed last year. Emma just got everything cleared up from die funeral. She's moving back here. Lorrie and Ich knew you would approve of it too. But they just got die haus sold." Sasha explained. "Bren and Emma will be home in about vier hours or so," Sasha continued. "Emma called from die plane to let us know they would be here soon. Ich just didn't want you to sleep too late, and… well… Ich know Remy and Logan were long time, and massively tight friends with Sean. Logan knew about this back at die funeral. We all went to England for die funeral; we took care of last respects for you and Remy as well sis. But because of die war and everything and all that went with it, well… We thought it might be best if die news of Sean's passing came from you."

Chloe nodded slightly. "Kay, I'll let 'im know den, non problem." She wiped her tears away and hugged Sasha.

When Chloe disappeared back into her room, Sasha sighed heavily. She knew there was no way she be able to get back to sleep, and the others would be waking soon, so she headed on down to the kitchen to begin cooking breakfast.

------

Sasha sat quietly at the table, her head cradled in her hands. When she had come downstairs several hours ago, her intent was to get breakfast going but when she had actually entered the room, she had felt a wave of nausea wash over her and had spent a good deal of the time poised over the toilet, retching until her body laxed from exhaustion. She had just crossed her arms out in front of her and rested her aching head atop them when people began to pour into the room.

The LeBeau boys had been the first to arrive, and they all had asked her if she was gonna be alright. She tried to reassure them as best she could, T-Bird even brought her a cup of tea, but she didn't drink it, preferring instead to watch the steam rise off the hot liquid and dissipate in the air.

Before everyone else began to trickle in, Sasha found herself running back to the bathroom. When she re-emerged she was met in the hall by Kurt and they walked in together.

The whole gang was already present, sitting aroung the table and visiting. Slowly, Sasha made her way to a vacant seat, sat down, and laid her burning forehead on the cool metal surface of the table. Kurt sat next to her and rubbed her back gently in a very soothing manner.

"Mornin Sasha, Kurt sweetie," Chloe chimed sweetly. "Grab coffee and a seat, I'mma fixin' breaky."

"Sounds good, big sis. Ich have null energy today, have for about a week now," Sasha admitted, opening her eyes to look at her sister but not moving her head from the table. Chloe held a look of deep interest as she looked at Sasha.

"What?" Sasha said questioningly.

Chloe said nothing, going on about her business. Kurt left Sasha's side for a moment and returned with two steaming cups of coffee.

"Danke but nein mein luv, die smell of kaffee is even makin me a bit schwindlig. I'll be feines, just woke up a lil too quickly this morgen, it happens." Sasha closed her eyes again and listened intently to the beating of her own heart. Even though she had her eyes closed, Sasha could still feel Chloe watching her.

"Coco, if you don't quit watchin' me I'm gonna slap die dye right outta your hair, sissy!" Sasha giggled slightly, but immediately regretted it when her head began to pound hard.

"O s'il vous plait you non can do dat, you amour me t' much," Chloe chorused.

"Okay so Ich do, but stop that!" Sasha laughed weakly and received the ginger ale Dutch had brought to her. Thankfully, he even brought her a twisty, crazy straw to drink it with so she wouldn't have to move her head off the table.

"Dang!" Chloe swore under her breath, and she removed a slightly burned egg from the hot skillet. Chloe brought the burnt egg around and set it on the table.

The moment Sasha's eyes landed on the burned, yet slightly runny, egg she felt a fresh wave of nausea crest over her and she bolted to the bathroom once again. When she returned, Sasha retook her previous spot and position at the table, this time moaning slightly.

After a few moments, once everyone else had their breakfast before them, Chloe came around and sat beside Sasha. She carried with her the leftover barbequed ribs from last night, double chocolate fudge ice cream, and a jar of Grey Poupon mustard. Chloe laid her cargo out onto the table in front of her, and handed Sasha a spoon.

"Choose you weapon lil girly," Chloe chimed, "by da way… welcome t' da Pregger's Brigade!"

For the first time in more than a week, the sight of food didn't make Sasha physically ill. In a moment, Chloe stuffed a spare rib smothered in mustard and ice cream into Sasha's mouth, causing her to sigh pleasantly.

The room exploded in a roar of congratulations for Sasha and Kurt. Kurt and Sasha looked at each other. It couldn't be true. It was medically impossible. Sasha reached back into the far recesses of her mind, back to the time she recieved the most devestating news of her life.

/The inside of Hank's office looked much different than Sasha thought it would be. She had half-expected to see detailed photographs of human innards and autopsies hanging on the walls. Instead, she was pleasantly surprised to find the room devoid of such decoration and found that the room had a nice, woodsy motif...shades of green and brown and potted plants littering the room…very homey and comforting.

Hank sat behind his desk, glasses perched on the tip of his nose, as he poured over a stack of papers. Sasha wasn't even sure that he had heard her knock and open the door.

Sasha cleared her throat and spoke. "You wanted to see me, Hank?"

The fuzzy, blue mutant looked up at the sound. "Ahh, Ms Xavier-Wagner, do please have a seat."

Dutifully, Sasha closed the door and ventured further into the room. Ms Xavier-Wagner? Since wann has he ever addressed me so formally? This can't be good.

There was a long silence before Hank spoke up again.

"Ms Xavier-Wagner..." he sighed heavily. "Sasha."

"Hank," she replied, nervously fiddling with the thin strap of her purse. Another long silence filled the room and Hank once again shuffled through the papers that littered his desk. Sasha cast her eyes to the floor for a moment. "Warum don't Ich start?" her voice quivered slightly.

"Hmm?" Hank looked back up.

"I'll go erste, shall Ich? Right. Now, let's see if Ich can remember it all...ah, ja. There are a number of ways we can proceed. Obviously there are other tests that could be performed, though this would make it...what is it now...dritte round of tests in as many years? So it looks like someone upstairs is trying to tell you something there...then, natürlich, there's die sperm donor/surrogant mutter option which, natürlich, is about as likely as...die Pope on a pogo stick. So, not to beat around die bush, you've had it I'm afraid...you're fucked."

Hank looked at her with his large, sad eyes. "Sasha, I..."

"Am Ich right?" she whispered, her voice giving away the sign that she was on the verge of tears.

"There are a great many..."

"C'mon Hank...am Ich right?" Sasha urged.

Hank was silent for several long seconds before he answered her. "Yes," he whispered in a voice almost inaudible.

Sasha could feel the tears crest over her as the salty liquid trickled down her cheeks. "Don't you just haß it wann you're right?"/

Sasha was brought back to the present by Chloe's sing-song voice.

"Sash, ya need t' make an appointment wit' 'Ank a.s.a.p. t' make it official an' dat everyt'ing is all good. I could be wrong, it 'appen b'fore."

Sasha knew her sister had no idea about the trouble she and Kurt had had throughout the years with trying to conceive...no one in the house did with the exception of the medical personel that had been directly involved with the tests she had endured. Ultimately, Sasha decided to humor her sister until it could indeed be confirmed.

"Will do sis, you're an expert on having babies, and with your empathy, your word is as good as Hank's on die subject…'Sides you're a doctor, Chloe, y'know what's done in either case."

Lucky, Punk, Dutch, T-Bird and Bree all looked to Chloe and Remy questioningly upon hearing their Aunt Sasha refer to their mother as a doctor.

Chloe smiled lovingly at her children. "Oui bebes, Maman is a doctor. I'm a doctor o' Animal Medicine an' Sciences. In o'der words … Maman's an animal doctor, or a Veterinarian."

"Dat's tres cool Maman!" Dutch said in exasperated shock, speaking on behalf of his brothers.

"That it is mein dear, your mutter is very cool!" Sasha said, reaching over and patting Dutch's hand softly. Sasha seemed to be in better spirits now that she had gotten some food into her, despite the fact that mostly everyone had grimiced at the sight.

"Tante Boo Sasha, did you an' Tante Boo Lorrie go t' college t', non?" T-Bird asked.

"Yes we did, schatz. your Tante Lorrie, she went to college and became an R.N, and I'm a Psychiatrist, but Ich specialize in kind psychology."

"Ummm wad's an' R.N. an' a psycho… psycho… dat t'ingy you jus' said" T-Bird inquired, trying to wrap his tongue around the larger words.

"Your Aunt Lorrie is a head nurse, or a nurse that's also the boss… and your Aunt Sasha there, she's a doctor like your Momma. Only she's a doctor for the mind," Logan clarified for the young boy.

"O…'Kay… Wad do you do Oncle Logan?" T-bird, happy with his answer, asked Logan. Remy immediately jumped in with a smartass remark.

"You Oncle Logan is a professional hops an' barely taster an' a puppy maker!" That had all the adult men laughing like hell as Remy and Logan exchanged playful punches. Lucky and Punk stared in shock at their father's words while Dutch and T-Bird exchanged quizzical expressions. The women, however, coughed and choked on their breakfast as they desperatley tried to stifle their laughter.

"Birdy wan' dat job t'" T-Bird chimed happily.

"O non you don' Quin Jean Christian LeBeau! Or you be out findin' me 'witch, ya 'ear me!" Chloe said exasperating.

"Maman, can we get our choit from Oncle Fuzzy, s'il vous plait?" Bree asked sweetly, almost to the point of begging. Everyone had, by now, been reduced to tears of laughter and silent sobs.

"'Ell NON!" Chloe squeaked out before reaching over to Remy and smacked his chest for being a smartass. "Y'all is killin' me ya know dis."

"Oui, Maman," Punk chuckled, "mais if we didn' do dat we be bored, you great entertainment!" he reached out and lovingly rubbed his mother's protruding belly that would soon be his new little brother or sister.

Sasha tuned the rest of the conversation out as she and Kurt huddled together and held their own conversation. Their foreheads rested against each other in a comforting touch.

"Ich guess you did have reason to be suspicious," Sasha whispered, remembering the conversation they had the previous night before dropping off to sleep.

Kurt gingerly laid a tri-digit hand on Sasha's abdomen. "It vould be vonderful...a true blezzing...if it vaz true."

Sasha smiled at her husband. "Let's not get our hopes up though, we've had a lot of false alarms before."

Kurt nodded silently and they both tuned themselves back into the room-wide conversation, realizing that everyone had been discussing the LeBeau children's birth names.

"Mais dey never use dem t'ough an' won' lissen t' anyone dat dose o'der den me. It's a Maman t'ing Rem 'oney tells me. Dat an' down 'ome know one uses dere real names, dey all 'ave an' use nick names" Chloe was explaining.

"But you and Bree don't" Sasha said, jumping back in as if she had heard every word that had been said.

"Actually dey do soeur de lil, Chloe goes by chere Reina meanin' Queen, an' petite Bree 'ere, mais Bree is 'er nick, 'er real name is Briar Fawn Sydalee" Remy interjected.

"How did she come to get the name Bree?" one of the young women, Lorna, asked.

"When Bree was fir't fixin' t' learin' 'er name she couldn' say Briar, an' could only say Bree, so it 'tuck" Lucky told her softly and smiled, causing Lorna to blush hard and both of them avert their eyes. Everyone had caught the look between the two teens and smiled inwardly.

"How'd you guys get your nicknames?" asked the Kentucky girl, Tandy -- otherwise known as Dagger -- as she and Punk exchanged playful glances.

"T-Bird got 'is f'om da fact 'e 'as t' birt' mark one o' a t an' one o' a bird, Dutch 'as 'is cause 'e be a good confidence kid, Lucky got 'is cause 'e lucky t' b' 'live, ain't Punk right Maman?" Punk replied, glancing sidewardly at Chloe.

"Dat's right m' luv."

"How'd you get your name, Punk?" Tessa asked him. Punk snapped out of his longing trance with Tandy and blushed a lil. Lucky jumped in and spoke for his younger brother.

"Punk get 'is name cuz 'e da freakin' bomb! 'E just dat dang good!'

The younger girls had been moving around the kitchen doing clean up during the whole conversation. When finished, Tandy took the seat next to Punk, causing him to blush hard again.

"I believe you!" she replied sweetly as she looked at Punk's ray banned covered eyes.

Chloe smiled. "Punk got 'is name cause da lil Punk 'tole m' 'eart when 'e was born! It 'lso why part o' 'is name is Romeo… right Punk bebe?"

"Oui Maman" Punk blushed deeper and looked away.

"Awwww that so sweet" Tandy awed, causing Punk to blush so hard that he was beginning to tearup. Chloe put her arm around her son and hugged him a moment and whispered in his ear so low that only he could hear what was said. He seemed to calm rapidly.

"Hey you guys, Tandy and I have to go into town, wanna come with us? We can show ya the town" Lorna offered.

Both boys looked to their mother for permission to which she nodded silently. "Oui, sound good t' us hommes," Punk replied as he and Lucky gave their mother, sister, and aunts a goodbye hug before following the girls out.

As Lucky passed by his little brother, Dutch reached out and grabbed his forearm. "Somewhere in da world, dere's a very lucky femme... who's gonna date da lesbian you'll create t'night," Dutch whispered, smiling broadly. Lucky smacked Dutch upside the head and continued on out the door.

When the boys were clear of the room, Sasha looked back to Chloe. "Oh mein, sis, is he ever die shy eins" Sasha giggled a bit.

"Oui Punk is ever so painfully shy wit' femmes, mais 'e tries so 'ard t'ough," Chloe replied as she fixed a fresh pot of tea.

Bree, T-Bird, and Dutch came around to stand in front of Sasha. "Tante Boo Sasha," Bree started sweetly, "Can we take you choits for walkies?"

Sasha smiled at her only niece, "Natürlich, mein dear, just don't stray too far, k?"

"K," Bree replied and ran off with her brothers in search of the dogs.

Sasha took one of Kurt's hands into hers and looked over to Hank on the far side of the table. "Hank, can you book me for an appointment as soon as possible, bitte? I'd like to get this confirmed, considering mein history," Sasha asked sweetly.

"Certainly Sasha" He replied as he passed down a sleeve of soda crackers to ease her churning stomach. "I will be doing the same for you, my dear," Hank added, looking at Chloe.

"Works f'r me bebe."

"I can't wait for you to see Bren, Chloe, he's as big as Lucky is and looks like a younger Sean, including the long hair and earring." Lorrie laughed. "Got the earring when he was up with Logan and myself, he would go to work with Logan to the shop in town."

"Bren works on mechanics too? So do m' garcons, dey do all dat 'eavy labour, an' as you can see all m' boys are 'uge, wit' long hair an' piercin's" Chloe giggled.

"'Ad Bren come int' 'is mutation yet?" Penny asked.

"Ja, about vier years ago, he got die Banshee in him, and he's been learning to handle it like we teach die other teens to control theirs, that's all we teach here anymore, to control their mutations only" Sasha told her.

"Vut about ze boyz, have zey come into zere mutationz yet?" Kurt asked as he gently rubbed Sasha's back.

"Lucky, Punk 'ave a few years back. Dutch just got int' 'is a few mont's back. Chloe 'as been workin' wit' 'im now t' long wit' dey older two. Mais T-Bird 'asn' an' petite Bree got 'long way t' go b'fore dat 'appens" Remy told them.

"What are their mutations?" Bobby asked.

"Lucky 'as super speed 'gility like Rem 'oney. Punk can kinetically charge t'ings by touch or even by sight if 'e chooses t' den pick it up an' t'row it an' it goes boom…" Chloe giggled "An' Dutch is empat'ic, 'e got bot Remy an' m' empat'ic ability. So far all dey kids includin' da two lil ones 'ere show no signs o' bipolar disorder which I'm grateful f'r. But I'm sensin' T-Bird may b' telekinetic like dad was, I'll know more in time. M' empat'y can sense lil t'ings f'om 'im now an' den."

A few moments laters, the front doorbell chimed and Kurt excused himself to go answer it. Twenty minutes later, when Kurt reappeared, he looked at Chloe warily. "Coco?"

"Hmmm… oui Kurt dear wad is it?"

"Everyvon, Emma and Bren are here nov, but Coco… Bren haz heard lotz about you over ze yearz and iz very anxiouz to finally meet you. Unfortunately becauze of eventz being az zey vere he vaz very young like your babiez and hazn't zeen you zince he vaz very zmall… I'm zorry to zay he doezn't remember you. He'z hurt by zat, and iz very nervouz to come down and meet you, even zough he iz zo very excited. He feelz terrible… I told him viz you zere'z nozing to be nervouz of… " Kurt reported.

"Bren's scared. I'm guessing it's because we've all talked about your accomplishments, and set backs, and fun lively spirit over die years to keep your name fresh and gave him nothing but die truth of you Chloe, and… well we think maybe he has an image of you built up in his mind, sis. Bren has you on a bit of a pedestal" Sasha giggled slightly.

"Where's my girly?" an slightly British-toned voice sounded from the hall.

"Em-em!" Chloe giggled as Emma walked into the kitchen and gave Chloe a warm, welcoming hug.

"Hey how you doin? …Damn it's great to see you again!"

"You t' Em" Chloe said as the two women held each others hands. Chloe bit her lip hard, trying to fight back her tears, remembering what Sasha had told her about Sean. The two women fell into tears simultaneously and held each other for comfort. "I'm so sorry we couldn' be dere Em. Ya know we would 'ave if we could. We amoured 'im." Chloe cried.

"I know girly, Sean knew ya loved him lil chicka, damn did he ever."

Remy silently and slowly got up and pulled both his crying wife and Emma to him, hugging both girls as he himself choked back his own tears. Once the tears had passed through the girls, Emma stood back a moment and had a good look at Chloe.

"I heard about your tribe and the girls forwarded emails and pictures of them, and I can see you're still at that whole loving thing… ya know this is going to hinder Sean's last wishes."

Chloe took on a look of smiling confusion and looked to Remy then to everyone else, all hold wide smiles.

"Wad was 'is last wishes?"

"For us two girlies have that date and Remy to film it" everyone who was old enough to understand the joke, broke up in tearful laughter. "He always said and I quote… One way or another that date is gonna happen, mark my words woman, it will and that crazy bugger Remy and I will be there front row centre stage with a case of beer for the private show. And if one of us lucks out the other has to pick up the slack. They must video tape it and bury it with one of our bodies. In either case that date is gonna happen!" laughed harder.

Chloe sat in stunned shock. "You kiddin' me right."

"Nope, the nasty bugger had it put in his last will and testament" Lorrie said.

"O m' gods! Dat's just insanely wild, I amour it!" Chloe laughed hard. "'Kay I don' wanna t'ink 'bout dat anymore."

After a few more minutes of visiting with the new arrival, Chloe excused herself to go in search of Brennan. When Chloe finally reappeared aproximately half an hour later, she brought with her a very nervous-looking Bren.

Chloe introduced the young man to his cousins, who had long since returned from their little excursion into the city with Lorna and Tandy.

Chloe then looked around to everyone. "Anyone 'ave any objections t' Bren drinkin' wit' m' boys… good! t'ought not! 'E 17 f'r gods sakes older den mes fils, 'e's a man! 'Side we all seen Sean 'old 'is own, 'e's got Cassidy in 'im...fur'dermore 'e an Xavier, da boy got's our blood 'e can 'ack it! Now dat dat's done wit' Rem 'oney I gots me an envie somet'ing fierce, bebe."

Sasha was the first to respond. "Umm, sis, you got as much right to allow Bren to do things as Lorrie and Ich do, and Ich don't see any harm in it."

"Good now 'ere are da rules Bren, mes fils got da same ones an' you no different den dey are ya 'earin me bebe?" Chloe paused to see if Bren was on the same page.

"Yes Tante Chloe" he replied.

"Okie dokie den, 'ere we go… you only drink on dis property never off da grounds…"

"You don' drink t' da point o' getting' drunk ei'der, non classy an' non 'tyle" Remy added.

Chloe then continued. "Oui dat's very uncool, 'lso watch you booze f'om dey youngins an' bebes" Chloe paused again.

"An' if you drive don' drink or we'll 'kin you 'live, you 'ear me?" Chloe and Remy said simultaneously, both looking deadly serious.

"Yes, I promise!" Bren replied, looking like he was more than a little intimidated.

"Dat's good t' know, now Gambit non 'ave t' kill you!" Remy as he allowed his Gambit persona to rear it's head momentarily.

"Now sweetie lissen, no drinking when you being taught you 'choolin', an' jus' so you know now, you Oncle Remy et Gambit and Tante's rules are subject t' change at any time we deem fit, under'tood?"

"Yes, I have in the past, a couple times anyway, drank with dad. I miss hangin' out with him."

"You will 'oney, we all miss you Papa" Chloe said soothingly as she hugged Bren tightly to her as Remy extended his hand to Bren. It was obvious that Bren had only been expecting a handshake from Remy, but his eyes grew slightly in surprise when Remy pulled him into a quick hug.

"You Pere was a good homme, Remy et Gambit say Bren consider youself LeBeau blood."

"Kay now, don' you garcons 'ave beer t' drink an' people t' annoy" Chloe said in a giggle.

"Speaking of stuff to do, oh mein favourite big sissy that you are…" Sasha interjected, batting her eyelashes sweetly.

"Cut da crap Sasha, wad do you wan'" Chloe laughed.

"You and das kind feel up to making cabbage roll casserole for supper tonight?"

Chloe sighed and said in a half tired smirk "You get all da 'tuff t' da table I'll put it t'ge'der an' den I need someone t' put it in da oven 'Kay?" The room practically cleared out as everyone missed her dishes and cooking style. They were all back in a flash with items. "Kay I'll get on dis soon I got an envie so bad."

"Dat's right, wad is it mon chere amour need t' fix dat."

"Cheesecake an' blood sausages" Everyone, with the exception of Sasha who smacked her lips at the prospect, almost made a unison retch. This caused Chloe to fall into a watershed of tears. Bren did his best to comfort her, but ultimately, Punk had to take over.

After Chloe was sufficiently calmed, everything went on status quo.

------

Hank had scheduled Sasha's appointment for early the next day so it wouldn't interfer with her work schedule. She sat quietly in the chair in front of Hank's desk just as she had so long ago went she was first told that she'd never be able to carry a child, but this time Kurt sat next to her. He held and stroked her hand for support in case this was, yet another, false alarm.

Hank hadn't said anything for the last few minutes as he finished looking over the most recent tests results. When he finally looked up at the couple, his face was completely devoid of emotion.

"C'mon, Hank," Kurt urged "Ze zuzpenze iz killing uz!"

Hank signed slightly and folded his hands on the desk's surface.

"Kurt...Sasha...I want you to both remember that there are a certain amount of risks with every rite of passage, and that their will be ups and downs, but I'm sure sure you'll have no problem overcoming them as you move on into parenthood." Hank smiled widely.

Sasha felt a cool wave of relief wash over her, tears beginning to cloud her eyes. She could feel her face become wet as the salty liquid silently rolled down her cheeks. Even though her tears flowed from her eyes like a broken dam, Sasha managed to keep her voice level and cool.

"What do you mean by 'risks'?"

"What I mean is that this is going to be a very delicate pregnancy. In the past, your body has proven that it has difficulty keeping the ovum secured firmly to the uteran wall." Hank rose from his seat, walked around to standing in front of his patient and leaned against the desk. "I want to keep a very close eye on your development. Should, God forbid, anything happen before you deliver I want you be prepared for the worse."

Sasha squeezed Kurt's hand tightly. "With all due respect, Hank, you should probably prepare for die worst. I'd much rather hope for die best. Ich want this...nein, Ich need this to happen."

"Ve boz do," Kurt added, sniffling slightly.

"I completely understand," Hank replied softly. "I know how much you've both wanted this for years. Sasha, Kurt, I promise that I'm going to do everything within my power to make sure this happens for you," he laid a reassuring hand on Sasha's shoulder.

"Danke," she replied simply.

"Now, I assume your sisters do not know about your medical history?" Hank asked. Sasha shook her head silently. "Well, then, perhaps they and the rest of the family should be informed. You're going to need to be under constant supervision and it's a lot easier to accomplish this with more than one person."

Sasha took a moment to dry her eyes before responding. "Ich understand." There was a long pause before she continued. "Hank, if Ich am able to carry to term, what are die chances that die baby will be born healthy?"

Hank sighed. "I'm not going to lie to you. With your history, there's no guarantee that things will go smoothly. But it would probably be a good idea if you cut back on your work schedule, both with your patients and at the Gallery. The less stress you put on your body, the better things will be all around."

"I suppose Dr. Melbourne might be able to take some of my patients for a while, but I'll still need to see to die therapy group until Chase returns from vacation, but that's only twice a week."

Hank smiled slightly. "That sounds just fine, but just to be on the safe side, I suggest somebody accompany you to and from these sessions, okay?"

"It vill be done," Kurt said, still holding Sasha's hand, "I vill zee to it personally."

"Also," Hank continued, "in addition to your...less than stellar medical history, your age may also play a factorin this pregnancy. Now, this is not to say that the baby won't be healthy, but I'm concerned that you'd be at risk of developing high blood pressure and possibly diabetes."

A look of panick spread across Sasha's face. Kurt squeezed his wife's hand firmly, trying to calm her though secretly he was afraid not only for Sasha but for their unborn baby as well.

Hank laid a reassuring hand onto one of Sasha's. "I'm not saying that you will have these problems, just that you're at risk, but with regular check-ups, I'm certain everything will go smoothly."

"Hank," Sasha said slowly, "Are you sure that everything's gonna be okay?"

Hank chuckled slightly. "Have I ever let you down?"

"Do you want me to answer that or shall Ich just glare?" Sasha giggled, feeling the tension leave the room.

------

Over the next few days, the adults all settled back into their old routines and habits while the kids just sat back in wonder at their parents long buried idiocincracies. Each night, the men sat out on the veranda drinking beer and the women lounged in the kitchen chatting up a storm.

One afternoon Logan, Remy and Kurt sat in the games room playing pool and just being guys in general. "Okay...okay," Logan chuckled, "I bet you've never heard this one. One morning, Mickey wakes up and looks outside. He sees the words: MICKEY SUCKS written in urine. Mickey calls the police and they say they have bad news and they have worse news. The bad news is that the urine is Goofy's. The worse news is that it's in Minnie's handwriting."

Remy laughed hard. "Mes Deuix! Dat's funny, broder! Mais, never tell dat one t' Chloe...'he would 'ave you 'ead on a plader."

"Don't I know it," Logan laughed again.

At that moment, Sasha, Lorrie and Chloe, with Bree in hand, walked into the room. The men quickly hushed themselves. "'Ey guys," Chloe chimed, "would you mind Bree, T an' Dutch t'night s'il vous plait?"

"Oui, mon amour, mais wad's up?"

"We femmes kinda t'ought we'd like t' go bebe shoppin', 'ave dinner out an' catch a movie...a bit o' old times kinda t'ing, if dats 'lright? An' Punk an' Lucky 'ave dates t'night wit' Lorna an' Tandy dey'll be out till deir usual time. Bren is meetin' 'is date at da club wit' da guys."

"O' course chere, no problem," Remy replied. Bree went from holding her mother's hand to skipping over to tug at her dad's jeans, a signal for him to pick her up.

Kurt came around to Sasha and gave her a featherlight kiss. "Zazha, don't forget to take your cell in caze zomezing goez wrong and Chloe needz help."

Sasha produced her cell phone. "Way ahead of you, luv," she smiled as the three women pivoted on their heels and strode to the front door.

Logan looked down at Bree and smiled, she beamed brightly back at him

"Hey, look who's here," Logan said, picking the child up. "Hey, darlin', you're getting so big. Hey, look at that smile, she likes me."

Remy chuckled lightly. "She relieved not to be da least mature person in da room anymore."

The three friends broke down in fits of laughter. "Oh, hey Elf," Logan said, wiping away his tears of laughter, "we need a fourth player for our poker game tonight. You wanna join us?"

Kurt leaned over the pool table to make a shot. "I haven't played in about ten yearz."

Remy smiled broadly, absent-mindedly shuffling a deck of cards. "Perfect."

------

"Amour 'tories are simply tres magnifique" Chloe said in a sigh and fanned herself. Her eyes fluttered, remembering the hot steamy romance scenes from the movie she and her sisters had just seen.

"So do I Coco, nothing sucks more then a story that has nothing but things getting blown up or a body count" Lorrie commented.

"Ich agree, though Ich do genießen Sie a good sci-fi now and then" Sasha added. Chloe agreed silently.

The three sisters walked arm in arm down the street. Sasha was feeling a craving coming on and she was almost certain that Chloe was feeling the same. Soon, the girls came upon an extravagant-looking, high society-esque cafe.

"OoOo, dis place is simply charmin'! Dis looks like a wonderful place f'r a late dinner," Chloe giggled.

The doorman opened the doors for the sisters, making the girls smile their thanks, and waited to be seated. They didn't have to wait long, though, and were soon seated at a table near the center of the room.

As soon as Sasha picked up her menu, she scrunched up her nose in confusion. Every word was in French. Looking up, she saw that Lorrie held an identical look of confusion, then they both looked at Chloe. She seemed not to notice as she looked over her own menu.

Their waiter soon arrived. Sasha and Lorrie looked at Chloe in disbelief as she spoke to the waiter in flawless French. After a few moments of Chloe and the waiter conversing in French, he moved away to place the order.

Sasha smiled at her sister. "Whatever it is that's been ordered, it better not contain monkey brains!" The girls broke down into fits of giggles.

"Non, I order us Escargot, an' Quiche f'r appetizers. Den baked 'am an' banana's wit' a saute'd glaze, 'lso some appetizer wine an' a dinner wine. 'E'll be returnin' s'ortly wit' our cocktails an' da dessert menu," Chloe reported sweetly.

Sasha eyed Chloe for a moment. "Ich weiß nicht Chloe, Kurt and Ich… well… this expectancy came as a huge surprise to us." Sasha hoped against hope that she wasn't offending Chloe's new lifestyle.

"Sasha, you can sip da wine if ya choose or I can 'ave some ice wa'der brought over...ei'der is fine. Wadever ya feel comfortable wit' is cool wit' sis."

"Ja, danke, I'd appreciate that," Sasha replied.

"Non problem, when 'e returns I'll ask." Chloe patted her lil sisters hand.

In a moment, the maitre'd appeared with the cocktails and the dessert menu.

Sasha smiled weakly when Chloe spoke to the waiter and indicated her. She felt a little silly, and more than a little embarrassed, at the situation but she wanted to make sure this miracle of a pregnancy would be as smooth going as she could make it.

The waiter gave Sasha an understanding smile, bowed, then retreated back to the bar. He returned a few seconds later with the requested ice water.

Sasha used the only bit of high school French she could remember. "Merci boucoup," and smiled, blushing wildly.

After Chloe placed the dessert order, the waiter bowed again and disappeared into the kitchen. The girls settled back into their chairs, sipped at their drinks, and pleasantly chatted.

"Didn't you always fall asleep in French class?" Lorrie giggled, causing Chloe to blush.

"Oui, mais when you live among dey language long 'nuff it tends t' rub off on you, 'ave 'poke like dis f'r many years now. Remy say no matter where I go now, I will 'lways talk like dis now."

"The south has done you good Chloe, your still as happy as ever...besides even before long ago, as much as we maedchens had our issues with Americans, you always did liebe that Southern drawl in those sappy movies we rented," Sasha teased.

"Oui, I did, an' to live down dere amongst it all is tres magnifique," Chloe sighed softly. It was obviously, even to the casual observer, that Chloe was starting to become lost in her own thoughts.

"Ich know wie that is," Sasha smiled "Wann Kurt and Ich went to Germany, Ich couldn't soak up die culture fast enough. Die words he taught me just sorts stuck and now Ich use them all die time. They become like zweite nature to me...like breathing air." Sasha waited a beat before continuing "Oh, Coco, Ich hope Ich didn't offend die waiter."

Chloe snapped out of her trance and smiled softly. "Non, da customer is 'lways right, non worries soeur de lil… Now tell me 'ow is m' lil niece or nephew, you seen 'Ank t'day non?"

"Oui...Ich mean, ja" Sasha giggled "Everything is looking groß, huge shock to Kurt and Ich; Hank said it wasn't possible." An old memory re-surfaced in Sasha's mind, remembering the very first time she and Kurt sought medical advice on their problem.

/Sasha and Kurt wound their way through the massive house, heading towards the infirmary. Niether one said a word, but they each knew instinctively what the other was thinking.

Kurt knew Sasha was worried that maybe it was her fault; that there was something wrong with her. Sasha knew that Kurt was blaming himself for all those years of hardcore partying with Remy and Logan; perhaps all the mind-altering things he had ingested had damaged his...little soldiers.

When Sasha ushered Kurt past Hank's office door, he looked at his wife questioningly. Naturally, he assumed they'd be seeing Hank.

"Luv, aren't ve gonna zee Hank?"

Sasha said nothing. Instead she continued on to the next door, stopping in front of it. Kurt looked at the name plate on the door.

"Cece? You brought me here to zee Cece? I knov zhe'z a good doctor but zhe'z a voman."

Sasha sighed heavily. "Cece's perfectly able to give us a good assessment and advise us on our choices."

"Hov am I zuppozed to talk to a voman about vut'z going on in Manland?"

"Manland? Now you got a theme park between your legs?"

Reaching up, Sasha rapped on the door sharply with her knuckles. After a moment, the door open and the pair walked in, holding each other for support.

The door closed tightly behind them./

Sasha returned her attention to the present time and looked at her sisters. Chloe tilted her head and gave her sister a confused look, her eyebrows arching questioningly, as was Lorrie. Seeing her sisters expressions, Sasha attempted to clarify.

"Y'see, about sieben years ago, Kurt and Ich went to see Hank and Cece. We were getting a little worried as to warum we hadn't been able to get schwanger yet -- we had been trying for die better part of zwei years -- so they set up a series of tests for die both of us. Natürlich, Ich needed to go through more tests than Kurt did. Anyhoo...every one of Kurt's tests came back negative, but good deal of mine showed that my body lacked die ability to keep a firm hold on die egg." Sasha's eyes began to glaze over. "Eventually, die zwei of us came to accept that we simply weren't meant to have a familie, even though we still held out hope for a long time afterwards."

Sasha felt her sisters grasp her hands in an attempt to comfort her. She sniffed, choking back her tears, as she continued. "Wann Hank told us die other day that Ich was finally schwanger...well, words can't describe die way we felt."

"Tis tres grand magnifique soeur!" Chloe exasperated, getting up to hug her sister.

"Ich just want to make sure everything goes smoothly, because if something goes wrong, Ich just don't think Ich can take it." Sasha looked at her sisters as a single tear squeezed its way out of her eye and trickled down her cheek. "Ich just can't lose my baby!"

Chloe gently patted Sasha's back. "Hey...we won' let dat 'appen, you 'ear me?" Sasha nodded silently and she attempted to compose herself. "So are you 'hopin' f'r a fil or a filles?"

Sasha smiled shyly. "Ich don't care eins way or die other...as long as its healthy...and Ich don't wanna know die gender either."

"Well since we are on the infant band wagon I may as well tell you both now. Being as I'm somewhat past my baby birthing prime, the doctor's told me and Logan that it's not wise to even consider starting," Lorrie said, growing misty-eyed, her bottom lip trembling.

Sasha and Chloe drew Lorrie into a massive hug. After a moment, the girls re-took their seats, just as the waiter returned with their entrees.

"Surely dere must be somet'ing dat can be done wit' t'day technology, Lor. It's just not right f'r you and fuzzy when I know you bot' would make wonderful parents," Chloe said, sampling her escargot, and gave a satisfactory hum of approval to the waiter before he retreated to tend to other tables.

Sasha gave her escargots a wary once-over before sampling it herself. She rolled the food around in her mouth, gauging the taste, before eventually agreeing with Chloe.

"Well, there is an option Logan and I have been exploring and, well... we didn't want to delve too deeply before we discussed it with you. I told him you both would be cool about it, but Logan highly respects you two and doesn't want to insult you or the Xavier name."

Sasha raised an eyebrow questioningly. "What do you mean Lor?"

Lor took a sip of her wine to cleanse her pallet before replying. "Logan and I have been discussing adoption, but we didn't want to bring in outside blood in case it offended either of you."

Chloe's head shot up and held a look of distaste. Sasha had squared her shoulders; both girls looked at their sister hard.

"I'm more offended dat nie'der Logan, an' 'pecially you, would even consider dat I would be offended by dat. M' Rem 'oney 'imself was adopted! Fur'dermore if it makes you an' fuzzy 'appy den dat's all dat ma'ders. Rem 'oney an' I are 'appy f'r you."

"I'm sorry, Chloe. Logan nor I thought about that, and you're right, we should have known better," Lorrie replied.

"Again, Ich agree with Chloe. Lorrie...really, just cuz we're both younger then you, bitte, give us a lil credit. You're nein dealing with Stacii, for Summerland's sake, natürlich we'd welcome these kinder with open arms, don't be ridicules!" Sasha added. Though she was happy that her sister and brother-in-law had thought enough to ask her opinion about the adoption, she was still a bit miffed that they thought she would object.

Before too long, the girls main course and dinner wine arrived, and they settled into a more serious dinner conversation.

"So, now that the war's over, Chloe, and you and Remy are retiring, what are your plans...other' then the baby making. Which, I must say, your great at it," Lorrie asked, laughing a little.

"Ja sis, any big plans? And Lorrie's right, your kinder are huge and awesome looking. Ich know I'm their Tante, but damn! Talk about a groß gene pool they're swimming in!" Sasha exasperated and laughed with Lorrie. Chloe almost choked on the wine she had been sipping.

"Oui, I'll admit mes fils are quite dey lookers, non? Bree a cutie too. Mais dunno, Lor, Remy an' I 'aven' given it much t'ought, m' bebes 'ave been askin' more an' more que'tions 'bout da Craft, maybe it time da garcons find dere pat'," Chloe said, thinking out loud.

The sisters fell silent again and returned to their meals.

Sasha had been mulling something over since the day Chloe had called from New Orleans. She had her big sisters back with her and she was dreading the moment when she'd have to say goodbye to them. It had been hard enough to say goodbye all those years ago, it wasn't really something she wanted to go through again.

"Well," Sasha started slowly, deciding how best to word what she wanted desperately to say, "die students only hone their mutations, and that's in die morgen hours, after then they don't wirklich do much of anything… hmmm…" Sasha paused to take a sip of water.

"Any objections t', say maybe,...we can teach Wicca classes in da a'ternoon," Chloe interjected. "I mean dere is 'Ro, Emma, you Lorrie, an' you t' Sasha, Jubes, Kitty, Rem 'oney, m'self, an' now 'lso Penny an' Jon. I taught dem a'ter Rem 'oney took us Sout'."

"That's certainly plenty of teachers to conduct a school" Lorrie said. Sasha nodded her agreement. "I just retired myself too," Lorrie continued, "and Logan sold the shop a few years back."

All three sisters began to dawn slow smiles and began to giggle. In the back of Sasha's mind, she was glad her sisters realized what she had been driving at without having to come out and actually say the words.

"Think Remy and Logan will go along with it?" Sasha asked.

"Logan don't care one way or the other, though there is stuff up home I want with me," Lorrie replied.

"In all honesty I dunno," Chloe began slowly, thing. "Mais I'm sure if I can get Rem 'oney 'lone t' sweet talk 'im, an' lay out all m' femme charms t' convince m' 'oney, 'e might consider it. 'E da boss an' call da shots, mais bein' da bosses number one Madame, I get all da perks. I'll get back t' yas on it. I 'ope 'e does. I so wanna open a botanical shop in da school f'r wiccan supplies." Chloe eyes showed a small sparkle of the girl she once was, a spark that had seemed to have laid dorment for quite some time.

Sasha guessed that it was probably due to wartime stress and being a motherly figure for the better part of the last two decades. She was glad to see that the Chloe that she had grown up with was still alive and kicking. Sasha smiled broadly.

"Alright then, you zwei convince your fellas it's a good idea, and I'll tell Kurt it's a go."

All three girls burst into fits of laughter.

The girls soon finished their dinner, and the conversation of this new idea of theirs continued on during the entire trip home.

------

A few days later, Chloe took Sasha into the city for a lil shopping trip. They had hit every maternity section in town, and despite the fact that Chloe had been trying to reassure her that re-doing her wardrobe would be good for her, Sasha still didn't feel like she needed it, believing that her baggy clothes would do just fine.

The pair returned around noon, heavily laden down with shopping bags. Sasha stole away upstair as soon as they returned home on Chloe's insistance that she may like to start wearing the clothes now so she could get used to them. Begrudgingly, Sasha agreed. As she ascended the stairs, Sasha called down to everyone.

"If I'm not back in fünf minutes...cancel mein subscription to Mutants Home Guide!" Everyone laughed.

Sasha returned to the livingroom a short while later, where everyone was watching videos. She was wearing a floor-length, black maternity dress and her hair had been pulled back into two high, tight pigtails. She walked in slowly, took a deep breath, and squared her shoulders.

"Okay," she said, her voice waivering slightly "Give it to me honestly... wei do Ich look?"

Logan gave Sasha's form a quick once over before replying. "Like Pollyanna grew up and got herself a little in trouble!"

This caused everyone one except Sasha to laugh out. Sasha's bottom lip began to quiver slightly, her hormones already going wildly out of whack. At least Kurt had had enough sense to come to his wife's aide and he shot everyone a nasty look.

"Awwww, darlin'," Logan continued "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt your feelin's."

Sasha sniffed, "K," and allowed her husband to lead her further into the room. She sat down on the floor at her husband's feet. "What ya'll watchin?"

"Just some old home movies," Lorrie explained, taking a sip of her coke. "What's say we have a little look at Thanksgiving '95?" Lorrie smiled broadly.

Sasha's eyes grew wide. "Nein! Lor, if you liebe me you won't play that eins!"

Logan eyed his youngest sister-in-law, as did many others. "My interest has been peaked...pop it in babe and let's see what's making Sash so nervous."

Sasha groaned inwardly as Lorrie loaded the tape into the VCR. When the tape started it showed a white tiled kitchen and a lovely middle aged woman came on screen. She was standing in front of the oven and pulling out a massive roating pan.

"Maman?" Bree said sweetly, looking up at her mother "Who dat?"

Chloe smiled back down at her daughter. "Dat, honeychilde is you Maman's Maman, 'bout a year b'fore her illness shown up." All five of the LeBeau kids looked back at the wide screen television in wonder.

"Dat's Grande Maman?" Lucky said in wonder "She tres belle! Just like you, Maman." This comment caused Chloe to blush wildly and they continued to watch.

Next two teenage girls and a twenty-something young woman ran into the televised kitchen. Everyone recognized them immediately as Lorrie, Chloe and Stacii. Remy and Logan held their wives a lil closer to them and commented quietly on how adorable they were at that age. After a few seconds a forth girl ran into the kitchen. This one was a bit pudgy but there was no mistaking who the girl was.

"MES DIEUX!" Remy exclaimed. "Some femme ate soeur de lil!"

Sasha shot Remy a nasty glare. "Shut up, die camera adds zehn pounds."

"Ahh, so how many cameras are actually on you?" Logan mused. His question was answered when Sasha whipped the pillow she had been laying against at Logan's head, causing everyone to break down into laughter again.

Sasha pulled over the box of videos and dug through it for a moment. Soon, she pulled out a tape. "Ah, Ich bet Ich know a few people wer like to see this."

"Wad is it?" Remy asked, puffing on his cigarette.

"It's die video of mein and Kurt's wedding.We had wanted to send you a copy, but...well, y'know."

Chloe leaned forward. "Well, wad you waitin' for...pop it in!"

Sasha passed the tape to Lorrie and she loaded it in. The video started and everyone grew quiet. Sasha closed her eyes. She didn't need to watch the tape to know what happened, instead she reached back into her mind, remembering.

/It was a lovely spring afternoon of the Xavier Estate. Sasha and Kurt, both having just completed their final year of college, had chose a spectacular day for their wedding -- Beltane to be exact, the second most powerful festival of the year. Both twenty-something's had opted for an outside ceremony, a reception to follow in the ballroom later.

Sasha decided not to wear the traditional white dress and instead opted for a lavender shealth dress. Sasha stood nervously in her spacious tent. She watched herself in the full length mirror before her, her stomach twisting and churning from the butterflies fluttering within her -- she was almost certain Kurt was going through the same thing in his own tent on the other side of the house.

"Knock knock!" chimed a familiar voice from outside. She turned around to look as the tent flap pulled away, allowing Lorrie and Jubilee to step inside. Jubilee carried a camcorder with her, having offered to film the blessed event.

"You look amazing, Sash," Lorrie remarked.

Jubilee nodded her head in agreement. "Yes, absolutely breathtaking."

Sasha turned back around to the mirror, her eyes beginning to tear up. Both her sister and her best friend were at her side in an instant, laying reassuring hands on her shoulders.

"Hey," Jubilee cooed softly, "what's wrong?"

Sasha sniffed, tears starting to escape from the corners of her eyes. "I wish Mom, Dad and Chloe was here." Her voice quivered as she spoke.

Lorrie hugged her lil sister "They are...in spirit."

"I'd rather have them here physically."

Jubilee joined in the hug. "I know, chicka. We all wish they were here...but everything's gonna be just great. You're about to marry the most wonderful guy in the world who will do nothing but treat you like a Queen...and pamper and love you until the end of time."

Sasha choked back her tears, forcing them to cease. Taking a deep, cleansing breath Sasha smiled. "Well, it's about that time...what d'ya say I get hitched?"

A few moments later, Sasha & Kurt appeared out of their respective tents and a hush fell over the spectators as both the intendeds made their way to the West quarter where Jean presently stood. Slowly they began to walk in opposite directions, finally meeting in front of Lorrie at the altar in the East.

Lorrie raised her hands and spoke. "I cleanse and consecrate your love in preparation for this handfasting ceremony. May no evil or negativity abide in thee. May the blessings of Spirit decend upon this couple and the love they share for one another. So mote it be!"

And, as they had been instructed prior to the beginning of the ceremony, the audience boomed in unison, "So mote it be!"

Moving to the West quarter, Lorrie opened the circle. "I conjure thee, O great circle of power, so that you will be for us a boundary between the world of men and the realm of the mighty spirits, a meeting place of perfect love, trust, peace, and joy containing the power we will raise within thee. I call upon the North, East, South, and West to aid me in this handfasting. In the name of the Lord and Lady, thus I do conjure thee, O great circle of power."

When she made it to the North, Lorrie stooped to the ground and pounded the dirt with her flat palm, saying, "As above, so below, this circle is sealed!"

After Lorrie returned to her place at the altar, she looked to Kitty who promptly faced the East, opened her arms, and said in a clear voice, "With the blessings of the hawk of dawn soaring in the clear blue air, I Skye Starlights call upon the powers of the East."

Dom turned to the South, opened her arms, and said in a clear voice, "With the blessings of the great stag in the heat of the chase & the inner fire of the sun, I Leandra Greenleaf call upon the powers of the South."

Jean turned to the West, opened her arms, and said in a clear voice, "With the blessings of the dolphin of wisdom who dwells within the sacred waters of the sea, I Amber Darkraven call upon the powers of the West."

Jubilee turned to the North, opened her arms, and said in a clear voice, "With the blessings of the great bear of the starry heavens & the deep & fruitful earth, I Willow Stormcrow call upon the powers of the North."

Lorrie raised her hands above her head and called out to the sky above. "Great Goddess, maiden of the dancin' waves & glitterin' stars, mother whose Womb of all life was birthed, wise woman of secrets & universal mysteries you are all things to all women, full of exuberance & vitality of youth, the tender compassion of womanhood, the wisdom of great age. You dwell within all women. Brigid, be with Sasha & her lover now as they are joined together in love."

And the audience replied, "So mote it be."

Sasha reached out and lit the silver candle on altar in front of her.

Lorrie then crossed her arms across her chest and spoke again. "Great God, Horned One of the forests & wild places, Lord of the Sun, bringer of warmth & light. You who run with the swift stag, soar with the birds in the sky, & protect all the Mother's children. You who are born of the Goddess, Her lover & Her son, as are all men. Cernunnos, be with Kurt & his lover now as they are joined in love."

And the audience replied again, "So mote it be."

Kurt also reached out and lit the gold candle on altar in front of him.

Linking arms, Sasha & Kurt escorted each other to each quarter, beginning in the East.

"Blessed be ze element of Air. May ve be blessed vith visdom, communication, & inspiration," Kurt said to the East quarter.

"Blessed be the element of Fire. May we be blessed with vitality, creativity, courage, & passion," Sasha called to the South.

"Blessed be ze element of Vater. May ve be blessed vith love, friendship, intuition, & compassion," the blue mutant beckoned to the West.

"Blessed be the element of Earth. May we be blessed with steadfastness, harmony, health, & strength," the petite blonde spoke to the North.

And the audience responded as they always had. "So mote it be."

Lorrie swooped down to the ground to retrieve the broom lying at her feet. Walking around Sasha & Kurt, she began to sweep the air with the broom, & said, "By the powers of the Goddess & the God, I sweep away all your past hurts. Let all the bad experiences which have in the past troubled you in love or made it difficult to trust be swept away. Release the past & go forward into a bright future together." Lorrie giggled slightly as the wicker straw of the broom's brush grazed Kurt's tail and it twitched slightly.

Trying to ignore the itch the broom created on his tail, Kurt's three-pronged hand reached out for the sword lying across the altar. Raising to his temple, he silently saluted Sasha, then grasped it in both palms and offered it to her.

"My lady, by zis sword I pledge to protect & defend you, to ze death if need be. I shall be a sword & shield to your back & you to mine. I pledge to you my living & my dying, all equally in your care. I pledge to provide for you to ze best of my ability, & ze honeycomb shall be ze sweeter for coming from my hand. I pledge to you ze first portion of my meat, & ze first drink from my cup, for zat vich is mine is nov ours. I pledge to love you & honor you above all others. Zis is my handfasting vov to you."

Sasha smiled and took the sword. "My lord, I accept your pledge of love as I do accept the pledge of your blade. Thou knowest what is in my heart as I know what is in thine. The magic of my will & of my love shall ever be yours." She then handed the sword back to Kurt who promptly placed in back on the altar.

First, Lorrie picked up the red ribbon & sprinkled a pinch of salt over it, saying "May this union be blessed by the Powers of Earth." Next she passed the ribbon through the incense smoke. "May this union be blessed by the Powers of Air." Then she passed it over the candle flames. "May this union be blessed be the Powers of Fire." Finally Lorrie sprinkled some water on the ribbon. "May this union be blessed by the Powers of Water."

Sasha & Kurt took a firm hold on ribbon when it was handed to them, and held it between them. Sasha's right hand grasped Kurt's left one and, using the hands with which held it, wrapped the ribbon around their wrists.

"By bud & branch, by hoof & horn, by elder, oak, ash, & thorn..."

"...by Earth & Sea, by Fire & Wind, by Sun, Moon & Stars..."

"...by Lord & Lady, by light & love..."

"...I take thee to be my consort, my companion..."

"...my lover & my friend..."

"...to honor & nurture..."

"...to protect & to care for..."

"...for as long as life shall last."

Lorrie smiled warmly at the couple as she reached out for her wand. Holding it over Sasha & Kurt's heads, she said, "Above you are the stars, below you are the stones. As time passes, remember... like a star should your love be constant. Like the earth should your love be strong. Possess one another, yet be standing each with the other, for storms will come but they will go quickly. Be free in giving of affection & of warmth. Have no fear, & let not the ways or the words of the unenlightened give you unease. For the God & Goddess are with you, now & always."

Next Lorrie moved to blessing the basket of Sabbat cakes. "Bright Lord & Bountiful Mother, thank you for the blessing of your union of Sun & Earth as expressed in this grain. May your blessings be upon Sasha & Kurt as well. Bright Lord & Bountiful Mother, thank you for the blessings of your union of Sun & Earth as expressed in this fruit. May your blessings be upon Sasha & Kurt as well.

Lorrie then offered the chalice of wine to Sasha and the athame to Kurt.

"As ze athame is to ze male..." Kurt started, holding the athame above the chalice.

"...and the chalice is to the female..." Sasha continued.

Then they spoke together. "May our union be a blessing to both, & to all." Kurt slowly lowered the blade of the ritual dagger into the liquid.

Kurt place a piece of the sabbat cake into Sasha's mouth and said, "Bright blessings be, may you never hunger. May I provide all ze love you need." Sasha did the same for him.

Then Sasha held the chalice to Kurt's lips, allowing him to drink, saying, "Bright blessings be, may you never thirst. May I always be your very best friend.' Kurt did the same for her.

Kitty and Jubilee stepped forward and, taking the broom from Lorrie, held it low to the ground for Sasha & Kurt to step over it. The pair then returned to the altar and Lorrie continued.

"May you steal, lie, cheat, fight & drink; may you steal each others hearts; may you always lie in each others arms; may you both cheat death; may you always fight for one another, your sword to his back & his to yours; & may you both drink deeply from Her cup of life."

Kurt raised his head to the sky and spoke out. "Bright Lord, consort of ze Lady, I thank you for your gift of love, & your blessing on our union. Go vith us now & grant us your love in our anger, your strength in our veakness, & your faith in our doubt. In ze name of Cernunnos, so mote it be."

Sasha then looked to the sky and said, "Gracious Goddess, Mother of all, I thank you for your gift of love, & your blessing on our union. Go with us now & grant us your love in our anger, your strength in our weakness, & your faith in our doubt. In the name of Brigid, so mote it be."

Lorrie glanced over to Jubilee, who said, "Hail Guardians of the North, powers of Earth. We thank you for attending this handfasting. As we depart, may your presence follow Sasha & Kurt, blessing them with strength & good health, to be theirs as long as life & love last. Hail & farewell."

Jean looked to the West. "Hail Guardians of the West, powers of Water. We thank you for attending this handfasting. As we depart, may your presence follow Sasha & Kurt, that you may bless them with a love deeper than any ocean. Hail & farewell."

Dom looked to the South. "Hail Guardians of the South, powers of Fire. We thank you for attending this handfasting. As we depart, may your presence follow Sasha & Kurt, igniting the passion & love of this blessed pair; ever burning yet one never consuming the other. Hail & farewell."

Kitty turned to the East. "Hail Guardians of the East, powers of Air. We thank you for attending this handfasting. As we depart, may your presence follow Sasha & Kurt, weaving tightly the bonds of Heart, Spirit & Love between these two. Let none undo the fabric of their love. Hail & farewell."

Lorrie then moved around the circle widdershins. When she reached the West, she pound the ground and said, "The circle is open but never broken. So mote it be! We are the people, we are the power, we are the change! Merry meet and merry part until we merry meet again!"

Walking back to the altar, Lorrie looked at Kurt and smiled slightly. "You are now husband and wife...you may kiss the bride."

Kurt didn't need to be told twice. He gathered Sasha up into his arms, dipped her across his knee and kissed her passionately. Many people in the audience began to giggle at Kurt's youthful exurberance.

When the kiss was finally broke, the eldest Xavier sister smiled to Sasha and Kurt then out to those in the audience and announced, "Ladies & gentlemen, I'd like to present you -- for the first time -- Sasha & Kurt Wagner."

A cheer rang up from the crowd as they all came forward to congratulate the newly married couple./

The tape came to an end and Sasha looked over to Chloe who was silently weeping. The shock of seeing Dom and Jean participating in the ceremony had obviously brought up mixed emotions in Chloe. The same occured for many of the other adults, knowing that they would never see either of the two women again.

"When did Dom an' Jean learn da Craft?" Chloe finally choked out.

"They had only been initiated at die last Samhain festival after die war down south broke out," Sasha replied, wiping away her own tears.

Chloe forced herself to smile a little. "I noticed dat you didn' wear blanc."

Sasha mirrored her sisters smile. "Well, Ich figured that if Ich wore white, mein body would be liable to burst into flames." Everyone had a nice long laugh at that.

Kitty pulled the box of videos over to her and began to rummage through it. After a moment, she pulled out a black movie case. "Hey," she smiled "Guess what I found?" She passed the tape over to Sasha.

"By die gods!" Sasha exhaled and smiled. "Ich didn't think we had this anymore."

Chloe craned her neck to look. "Wad is it?"

"Do you remember wann we had to do those video projects for Media Arts?" Sasha asked. Pitor, Jubilee and Bobby noded silently. "Well, Kitty and Ich did a ten minute spoof of die Blair Witch Project...it was so bad that it was good -- A minus." She passed the tape back to Kitty and she popped it into the machine. The tape started with a minute of static.

"Oh look," Logan mused "A polar bear in a Canadian snow storm!" Lorrie smacked her husband on the arm jokingly.

The video started with the image of Bobby and Jubilee sitting on the couch just as they were currently doing in real life and Bobby, with remote control in hand, was flipping through the channels and stopped on one. Pitor's distinctly Russian accent could clearly be heard.

"The 'Happy Time Sunshine Hour' will not be seen tonight so that we may bring you the following brand new program quickly thrown together in a shameless grab for ratings."

"Oh this should be good," Bobby had said, setting the remote down. The camera then pulled into a closeup of Sasha's face, her voice calm and level. "I'm Sasha Xavier. I'm all alone now, and I'm scared. I continue to hear voices all around me."

A second voice, just as calm and collected as Sasha's sounded from the distance. "I'm Kitty Pride."

Everyone laughed hard, and continued to laugh until the tape ended. Kitty was the next one in the video box. "Hey hey hey," she smiled. "Guess what I found...Common Knowledge!"

Pitor and Bobby groaned loudly.

"Wad's dat, chere?" Remy asked as he puffed on his cigarette.

"It's another one of our video projects," she replied as she popped it into the v.c.r. "We did a spoof of Jeopardy."

In a moment, the video began.

"Welcome back to Common Knowledge," A very young looking Pitor announced. "Before we resume, let's take a minute to go over the rules for those just tuning in. Questions for our show are selected by educators from Princeton University to reflect the broad range of common knowledge that every American should possess. Answers are determined by a nation wide survey of 17 year old high school seniors. Now, I'd like to ask our contestants once again to please refrain from using ethnic slurs. That said, let's take a look at the scores. Warren has set a new "Common Knowledge" record with negative 230,000 points."

"You think you're pretty smart, don't you, Rasputin? What with your Drago mustache and your greasy hair!"

"Look, what did I just say about ethnic slurs? Kitty is in second place with negative 17,000 points."

"I'm a late bloomer, Pitor, and in Double Your Points, I'm gonna bloom!"

"Sure you will. And finally, back again, Bobby in a commanding lead with 14 points."

"Hey. Hey, ah... check out the podium. Look at this."

"Bobby has apparently changed his name to Seymore Butts."

"Yeah, that's right. Seymore Butts. It's a funny name."

"O-kay...Bobby, please select a category."

"Yeah, I'll take the condom thing for, uh... four hund--"

"That's "Condiments". For $400. This condiment is made from mustard seeds." Warren buzzed in. "Warren."

"The answer, of course, is onions. I'll take "Condiments" for $800, thank you..."

A buzzer sounded. "That's not the right answer." Bobby buzzed in. "Bobby."

"That's not my name."

Pitor sighed heavily. "Okay. Seymore Butts."

"Yeah, what do ya want?" Bobby laughed out.

"You buzzed in!"

"No I didn't."

"Yes you did!"

"Yeah, well, that's your opinion."

Pitor sighed again. "Iceman, can you answer the question?"

Bobby stared blankly at Pitor. "What question?"

It was painfully obvious that Pitor was becoming increasingly more angry. "Just pick a category."

"Let's go to Literature."

"Okay. Author of A Christmas Carol."

"Ebenezer Scrooge."

"Correct. Literature for 300, Author of Huckleberry Finn."

"Tom Sawyer."

"No, sorry, the answer is Ernest Hemingway. Kitty is now up to bat. Kitty, would you like to stick with Literature?"

"No I'll take State Capitals."

"Okay, State Capitals for 100. Oklahoma state."

"Oklahoma City."

"Correct. Let's keep going, New York state."

"New York City."

"Correct. Let's go again, New Jersey."

"Jersey City."

"Yes! You're on a roll. Let's go again, Virginia."

"Virginia City."

"Yes! And last one, Washington."

"Washington D.C."

"Correct! You swept through that catagory."

Kitty beamed brightly. "I'll take History for 400."

"Okay, First man to land on the moon."

"Neil Arm...John Glenn!"

"Correct!"

"Okay, History for 500."

"Okay. Napoleon was defeated at the Battle of..."

"Gettysberg."

"No, sorry, the answer is Jerico! The Battle of Jerico. Bobby, please choose."

""Beverages for 300."

"This is a video Daily Double." A film clip of Ricky Martin singing 'Hot, Hot, Hot!' while holding a tea cup appeared on the screen. "What type of tea is in my cup?"

"Is it iced tea?"

"No, it is not iced tea, you moron!"

"Then, I'm afraid I don't know."

"Let's just go to "Animal Sounds" for $600. This is the sound a doggy makes." Bobby buzzed in. "Bobby."

"Moo."

"No."

"Well, that's the sound your mother made last night!"

Pitor's face tinged red. "Warren, it is your turn."

"History!"

"Alright. History for 100. His assassination sparked World War I."

"Archduke Ferdinand."

"Wrong. Sorry. The answer is Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln. Kitty?"

"I'll stick with History for 200."

"History for 200. The Louisiana Purchase was obtained from this country."

"Louisiana."

"Correct! Now, History for 300, when he discovered America, Christopher Columbus thought he landed in...?"

"Colombia."

"Wrong. Sorry, the answer was America." A buzzer sounded. "Alright, that buzzer concludes the round, and as we head into Final Knowledge, the first one to buzz in will pick the category." Bobby is first in. Pitor groaned loudly. "Bobby."

"Looks like this is my lucky day. Let's take The Rapists."

"That's Therapists! Therapists, not the Rapists." Pitor shook his head forelornly. "Please wager your bets...and the question is, the father of modern psychology?" Pitor looked into the camera. "Well be right back after these messages."

Instantly, the picture faded out then back in again, as if a commerical break had just taken place.

"Welcome back to Common Knowledge. Let's go to Bobby and his response was "Below". That's not a name. How much did you risk? "me Rasputin!" "Below me Rasputin. Below me Raspution". I don't get it."

"Neither did your girlfriend last night, Rasputin."

Suddenly, Pitor leapt over his podium and ran headlong into Bobby. It was at that point, the disembodied voice of the game show announcer sounded.

"And that's all the time we have for "Common Knowledge" today. Tune in next time where perhaps our host will not acaust the contestants." In the background Pitor is heard audibly cussing Bobby out. "G'night everybody!"

The tape faded to black before fizzling out into static. Everyone was laughing at applauding their friends efforts. Then, Lorrie stood. "Well, what do you say we watch an actualy movie, huh?"

"Sounds good to me, toots," Logan replied, smacking his wife playfully on her rear. Lorrie disappeared upstairs to the video library. In the meanwhile, Bobby grabbed the remote and began flipping through the channels.

"You're going too fast," Jubilee protested. "I can't... what was that? What was that? What was that?"

"A Bewitched with Dick York, not Dick Sargeant as Darrin, a Gilligan where the gorilla comes to the island, a Full House Christmas special where they get snowed in at the airport, and the mating habits of the Amazonian catfish with Phillipe, not Jacques, Cousteau."

Jubilee looked at her husband incredulouslyly."You can see all that, but you can't see the rim around the toilet?"

"I see what I want to see."

Lorrie returned then with a video in hand. "Wad you get, sis?" Chloe asked, sipping her tea.

"The Bridges of Madison County!" Lorrie announced holding the tape up. A collective groaned sounded from all the guys. "Oh shut up!" Lorrie smiled, loading in the tape.

Everyone watched in silence: the men in boredom and the women in tears. When the end credits began to roll and the tape flicked off, Sasha blew her nose. "Clint is driving off and Meryl will never see him again! Isn't that sad?" her voice was wet with tears.

"I'll tell you what's sad, Sash," Logan replied. "I've watched two full hours of the "Bridges Of Madison County" and Clint didn't blow up one bridge!" Lorrie, Chloe and Sasha shot Logan a nasty glare.

After a moment, Sasha cleared her throat and, with Kurt's assistance, stood. "Well, Ich weiß nicht about any of you, but I'm getting rather peckish...what say we start fixin' dinner?"

Everyone nodded and began to filter into the kitchen.

------

Sasha's abdomen began to steadily grow bigger and bigger as the weeks went by. She was now entering her third month though it felt like she had been pregnant for an eternity. Her hormones had begun to rear their ugly head, making everyone around her become a potential target. The only positive thought that got her through the day was the fact that both Logan and Remy had agreed to move back to the mansion, though not without a little prodding -- or in Logan's case, nagging -- from their wives.

One morning in early May, Sasha navigated her way throughout the kitchen, threading between the many bodies of her family and friends. Her long, honey blonde hair was pulled back into a tight bun and a pair of thin-rimmed eye glasses perched delicately on the bridge of her nose. Sasha was clothed in an exquisite burgundy dress suit, the bulge of her belly moderately showing, and black flats. In one hand she carried a black briefcase, and the other a large glass of milk.

Sasha sighed pleasantly as she sat down in her customary chair, happy to be off her aching feet for a least a few mintues. As soon as Sasha sat down, Lexa and Mira curled themselves right up flush to her feet. Bree had also moved around into the chair between Sasha and Chloe and laid a tiny hand on both women's bellies.

"So," Logan started slowly as he looked non-chalantly at Sasha over the top of his own coffee cup, "I haven't seen Kurt in a few days, where's he been hiding?"

"In his office...away from me." Sasha sighed hard. "Kurt is making me crazy."

"K, wad 'e do now?" Chloe asked, groaning slightly.

"Aside from die fact that he's die world's biggest slob and I'm constantly picking up after him...he fixed die toaster."

Remy looked puzzled. "An' 'ow is dis a bad t'ing?"

Sasha took a sip of her milk before replying. "Kurt has this economy of movement theory. Somehow, he adjusted die toaster with die exact trajectory to shoot die toast from die kitchenette counter to die table." Everyone in the room started laughing. "I'm serious! There's a piece of tape on die table to tell you wo to put die plate! I'm not sure whether to eat my Eggos or shoot at them as they fly by!" Sasha giggled. "Maybe Ich should set die toaster on dark and mein poptarts could meet me at mein office!...but that's not even die worst of it."

"Whatdaya mean?" Lorrie asked, sipping at her coffee.

Sasha sighed and smiled a lil. "Well, he's been tinkering with a lil invention of his...he's been trying to give die apartment appliances artificial intellence." Everyone laughed hard. "No, really...and he's almost got it too. He even wants to try eins out down here and get everyeins imput so he can make some adjustments."

"Oh lordy, dat's funny!" Chloe giggled profusely. "Wad made 'im wanna do dat?"

Sasha cracked a smile. "Wer knows. He's a brilliant man...a little scary sometimes...but brilliant."

At that particular moment, Kurt sauntered in, a small object wrapped in brown paper tucked neatly under one arm. The laughter died down as Kurt wordlessly made his way to the front of the room, set the package down on the island counter, and looked calmly at everyone.

"Ladiez and gentlemen," Kurt began in a clear, booming voice. "I'd like to introduce to you, von of my inventions. I'd like to azk zat you all test it out and give your honezt opinions on it zo I may tveak it until it'z perfect." Everyone sat in silence, exchanging a multi-directional worried glance as they thought about what Sasha had just told them in addition to Kurt's announcement. Kurt quickly ripped off the paper to reveal a silver plated toaster. He plugged it in and stood back. Many people gave Kurt an appraising look, silently asking him what was going on.

"I don't get it," Logan said slowly, "it just looks like a regular toaster."

A metallic voice, one filled with a bit of an attitude, sounded from out of no where. "I beg to differ, buddy!"

Logan eyes grew wide and his head whipped around the room, as were many others. "Who, the hell, said that?" Logan asked.

Kurt smiled slightly and began to point down at the toaster in explanation, but the voice cut him off before he could say anything.

"Me."

Sasha did her best to stifle her laughter as she watched everyone's reactions.

"Howdy doodly do," The voice sounded again. "How's it going? I'm Timmy, Timmy Toaster, your chirpy breakfast companion. Timmy's the name, toasting's the game. Would anyone like any toast?"

Logan rose from his seat and walked around to the talking toaster. "No," he gruffed simply.

Sasha wasn't the only one trying to contain her laughter now. Lorrie, Chloe, Remy and many of the kids were trying to take in the sight of Logan carrying on a conversation with a kitchen appliance.

"Aww, why not?" Timmy said again. "It's good for what ails ya!"

"No," Logan gruffed again.

"Not even if I say 'pretty please with sugar on top'? Anyone...anyone at all?"

From Sasha's vantage point, she saw Logan's face tinge pink slightly.

"Look, I don't want any toast, and he doesn't want any toast," Logan pointed to Kurt. "In fact, no one around here wants any toast. Not now, not ever. No toast."

"How 'bout a muffin?"

"Or muffins. We don't no muffins, no toast, no teacakes, no buns, baguettes or bagels, no croissants, no crumpets, no pancakes, no poptarts, no scones, no hot-cross buns, and definitely no freakin' flapjacks!"

"Aah, so you're a waffle man."

Everyone, with the exception of Logan and Kurt, now found themselves in various stages of laughter. In a flash, the tittering stopped when Logan's six-inch razor-sharp claws flew out and sliced the toaster in half.

As Timmy's voice tranceiver died out, it was able to get out one final sentence before it fizzled into nothingness. "Oh, what a world...what a world!"

Silence filled the room for several long seconds as Logan tried to reign in his flaring emotions. The awkward silence was soon broken though. Sasha cast a look over to her husband and flashed a brief smile. "We're gonna need another Timmy!" The laughter began anew, but this time in loud, booming voices, echoing off the walls. After a few minutes, Sasha drank back the remainder of her milk and rose, causing the two dogs at her feet to stir slightly in their slumber. "Well," she said slowly, reaching for her briefcase, "I'd liebe to stay and chat, but Ich have mein group therapy meeting. Die last time Ich was late, die compulsive gamblers were betting die passive aggressives that they couldn't make die over-eaters cry."

Everyone laughed hard again as Sasha waved a silent goodbye and made her way out the door and on into the city.

------

It was a Monday morning like any other in the Xavier mansion. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping...and the guys were making sexual overtures to their ladies. As per usual, everyone was gathered in the kitchen. Remy, Logan, and several of the other guys were making plans for the next morning, as they would be first travelling up to Canada to pack up Logan and Lorrie's place before doing the same on Remy's Estate.

In a moment, the guys began playing a gigantic game of 'Catch the Beer' until all the guys were drinking.

Sasha chuckled slightly. "Man, am Ich glad Ich had Hank and Kurt stock up on beer...we don't usually keep more than a case or zwei on hand at any given moment unless we know we've got big-time drinkers comin', like you all."

Logan twisted the cap off his beer and stared lovingly at the amber liquid. "Ah, good ol' trustworthy beer, my love for you will never die!" and then he unceremoniously slammed back half the bottle, to which everyone else laughed at.

Remy raised his own beer high up into the air. "'Ere's t' alcohol: da source o', an' answer t', all o' life's problems." The men joined in the salute and the women continued to laugh at the men's jockularity. Soon everyone decended into more mundane conversations.

"Y'know," Lorrie said slowly, "A real woman could stop you from drinking."

Logan took a long sig of his beer. "It'd have to be a real BIG woman!" Lorrie's respose was to smack her husband playfully on the arm.

It wasn't long before an odd voice cut through the conversations in the kitchen. Everyone stopped talking and listened intently. The voice seemed to be coming from somewhere outside, near the open patio door.

"Sweet thang, if I could rearrange da alphabet, I'd put 'U' an' 'I' t'geder," the voice said -- in a really bad Southern drawl -- followed by a rush of giggles. Everyone tried desperately to hide their laughter. It didn't take a genius to figure out that the speaker was none other than Bren himself.

"If dose femmes can fall f'r a really bad sout'ern drawl," T-Bird whispered, "den T got's 'imself a great shot o' getting' wit' dose femmes, non ma'der if dey are older den 'im, 'e a shoe in! 'Cause 'e gots da real t'ing, ain' dat right, Paw?"

"Oui dat's true, maybe you ol' Paw oughtta go out dere an' show Bren 'ow it's really done, non?" Remy whispered back, winking playfully at his wife.

"I don' freakin' t'ink so!" Chloe said in a huff, turning from him and pouting. In response, Remy wrapped his strong arms around his wife and drew her to him, nuzzling his face into her neck and planting a trail of kisses along her collarbone. Then he whispered something so inaudible that only Chloe heard, causing her demeanor to become happy and relaxed once again.

A few moments later, the giggling outside had quieted down and Bren came in the kitchen. Everyone continued to hold their laughter as best they could and desperately tried to avoid eye contact with Bren.

Bree, who had no fear of speaking what exactly was on her adorable, little mind, casually looked Bren in the eye. "Cousin Bren?" She said sweetly. "You as Country as Cornflakes!"

The adults couldn't hold back any longer, their laughter bursting from their mouths like a rush of water. In response, Bren took a tentative step back, not quite sure of what everyone was laughing at, but instinctively knowing it had something to do with him.

Remy chuckled. "You know Bren, fakin' a Sout'ern accent will non only 'tart a riot, mais will get you ass kicked." Jokingly, the four LeBeau boys rose from their chairs and gave their cousin a mock angry expression.

"Garcons sit, an' quit teasin' Bren bebe, it kay sweetie dey jus' messin wit' ya" Chloe giggled.

"Warum would you fake die knabes accent Bren?" Sasha asked him, still unable to get her laughter to completely pass through her.

"Hey it works every time for these guys and I figured why not" Bren smiled a little, obviously feeling more than a little embarrassed.

"Get any resultz?" Kurt asked. Kurt's laughter came to a grinding halt when Sasha elbowed her husband in the gut. This just caused everyone else to laugh harder, this time at Kurt's expense.

Bren started to laugh a little himself. "Yeah some." Bren took the nearest vacant seat and grabbed a piece of buttered toast. Everyone fell back into their previous conversations.

After a while, Tandy appeared, asking Bren to help her with a little of her D.R. training. Sasha cast a wary glance to Punk, knowing that he fancied her. It was obvious, even to the casual observer, that he was hurt that Tandy didn't ask him for help.

Sasha had made a silent promise to herself long ago that she's make herself available for anyone who needed a sympathetic ear to listen to them, or give them a shoulder to cry on...after all, that was the essence of being a psychiatrist. Sasha hadn't spent as much time with Punk over the years as she would've like to have, but she hoped he knew that she was there if he needed someone to talk to...whether or not she was his aunt.

Suddenly, Sasha felt a wave of nausea crest over her and she bolted for the bathroom. No sooner had the door closed tightly did Hank walk in. He was reading through a thick file folder.

"I'd hate to interrupt but has anyone seen Sasha today?" Hank asked, looking up at everyone.

Bobby thrust his thumb in the direction of the bathroom "If you want to talk to Sash, she's in the bathroom...throwing up."

"What, is she sick?" Hank blinked a few times.

"She's pregnant, buddy," Logan interjected, "sickness is her way of life."

There was a few more minutes of retching sounds before Sasha finally emerged. "Are you okay, sis?" Lorrie asked slowly.

"Ja, except for die morgen sickness that can't tell time," Sasha replied, feeling the coolness of her forehead.

Kurt walked over to his wife and tried to put his arms around her for comfort, but she shrugged him off. "Vut?" he said "I'm juzt trying to be a good huzband!"

Sasha glared a Kurt. "Did I mention die kick in die groin you'll be receiving if you touch me?

Kurt's blue face tinged pink slightly. "Not in ze car, not in ze bar, not in ze houze, not up your blouze, I cannot touch you here or there, I cannot touch you anyvere!"

"Since wann did you become die Dr. Seuss of hanky-panky?" Sasha quipped. Everyone listening tried their hardest not to laugh out at the lover's quarrel unfolding before them. Finally, it was Hank that stepped in.

"Well," Hank interjected, "it's about that time for your bi-weekly checkup Sasha. Are you ready?"

Sasha sighed heavily, and lumbered herself forward. "As ready as I'll ever be...let's ride!" Hank chuckled under his breath and followed Sasha out.

Once he was sure Sasha was out of earshot, Kurt slumped down into his chair and sighed.

"Wad was dat all 'bout?" Chloe asked slowly.

"Ve had a fight ziz morning," Kurt replied. "Zazha azked 'do I look fat today?' And I looked at her..."

Remy sat forward in his chair. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Y' lo'ked at 'er, broder? Y' never lo'k. Y' just answer, it jus' a reflex. Do I lo'k fat? Non! Is 'he prettier den I am? Non! Does size mader?"

"Non!" Chloe interjected.

"An' it works bot' ways."

Kurt sighed heavily, his head dropping down into his tri-digit hands. "I juzt can't figure out vut'z vrong viz my vife."

Remy smiled slightly. "Oh well then, let Remy et Gambit 'tart, and when 'e out o' breat', you take over." Chloe jabbed her husband in the gut jokingly.

"It'z like a roller coazter ride viz Zybil at ze zvitch," Kurt added.

"Hey," Logan interjected "don't worry buddy, it's bound to get better."

"Oui," Chloe piped in. "So wad if Sash is stubborn an' slightly insane. She 'till amour you."

------

The next day, the guys left the estate to begin packing up everyone's belongings from their respective homes. The only men who stayed behind was Hank, Kurt, and Bren, just in case the expecting females should need anything. The women-folk stayed behind as well. Sasha and Chloe were in no condition to be moving anything, Kurt and Hank wouldn't've let Sasha do anything anyway, which was just as well because the two Xavier sisters spent the bulk of their time up in Sasha's apartment just relaxing.

Chloe was wearing one of her many pieces of very fashionable maternity clothing: floral dress, purple shawl, fuzzy slippers and hair pulled back into a loose ponytail. Sasha still wasn't comfortable with the way her body was stretching, so when she didn't have to wear a business suit for the sake of her work, she tried to shroud herself in layers of baggy clothing.

Sasha found herself on the other side of the couch as Chloe advised her little sister about what things to expect after the baby came.

"...an' den, o' course, dere's da disiplinary maders," Chloe said, sipping at her raspberry-flavoured fruit fizz.

Sasha smiled wryly. "Well, back in University, Ich wrote mein senior thesis on die psychology of parenting. Ich interviewed several dozen parents and Ich found out some interesting things." Chloe cocked her head, waiting to hear where Sasha was going with this. "You ever hear of 'Time Out', y'know...sending das kind off into a room by his or herself to cool off?" Sasha asked, causing Chloe to nod slightly. "Well, Ich concluded that 'Time Out' doesn't work for everyone, but it's closely related cousin has a very high success rate. It's called 'Knock Out'. Y'see, die theory is that das kind will re-evaluate his or her negative behavior upon awakening from a state of unconsciouness."

Chloe burst out in laughter. "Maybe maman shoulda tried dat wit' 'Tacii a few times. Probably woulda 'traightened 'er ou' a lil in da long run!"

"I'm with ya on that eins, sis!" Sasha mirrored her sister's laugh.

"Knock knock!" came a voice from the open door, "Delivery!" Lorrie called as she walked into the apartment. The tall blonde set a large brown paper bag down on the kitchenette table and took one of the vacant seats. "Well, here ya go," she said cheerfully. "A half bucket of Saucy Joe's sweet and sour barbeque wings...with extra sauce...a half bucket of honey garlic ribs, a large order of wedge fries, and a side of slaw."

"Yum!" Sasha laughed as she dug into the paper bag. "Remember way back wann we were last together...we ate there on all-you-can-eat night?"

"Who could forget? We caused a riot!" Lorrie laughed.

"We could never figure out whether it was from me and Lorrie wolfing down fünf plates of ribs or your obscene eating technique." Sasha placed a plate in front of each of her sisters and the trio started to divide up the food.

"'Ey, can I 'elp it if I like t' lick off da sauce first?" Chloe giggled.

"I'm just glad the same employees aren't there anymore," Lorrie added, pouring some ice tea for each of them. "Otherwise they'd never let me in the door."

"Y'know," Sasha said as she tore a large strip of meat from its bone "Kurt's never gonna see any of this...but that won't matter, I'll eat with him again later anyway."

Chloe nodded her head "I know wad ya mean. Rem 'oney will wan' me t'eat wit' 'im later too."

The girls sat with each other, companionable, for several long minutes as the two pregnant ones sucked down their food, their cravings getting the better of them, while Lorrie just nibbled away at her portion.

Sasha began to suck the sauce off of one of the honey garlic ribs, elicting sounds of excrutiating pleasure as she divested the meat of its sauce. The apartment door opened a little more and in walked Kurt. As he moved, he gave the sisters an appraising look.

"Kurt, honig," Sasha said in surprise, sitting up a little straighter, "what are you doing here? Ich thought you had some work to do."

"I do, but I heard moaning and zcreaming az I vaz valking by ze door and I figured I zhould be part of it."

The three girls broke up into fits of tearful laughter. "No, huh uh, no way, I'm sorry, not gonna happen," Lorrie laughed.

"Whoa, whoa, prom night flashback," Chloe giggled.

The girls continued in their laughter as Kurt returned to his office, his head hung low.

------

The week flew by quicker than the girls realized, and they soon found themselves welcoming their special guys home. Remy had planted a hello kiss on his wife so powerful that it seemed as if Chloe had zoned out comepletely. Sasha giggled and waved a hand in front of her sister's face in an attempt to bring her back to reality.

After a moment, Chloe's snapped back into her mind, so Sasha went on about her business. She sidled up next to Bobby. "Hey, Bobby," she whispered, "Could Ich ask a favour of you?"

"Anything," he smiled warmly.

Sasha said nothing further, preferring instead to lead him inside the house.

Fifteen minutes later, Sasha and Bobby sat out in the garden. Bobby was standing beside a video camera sitting atop a tripod, and it was pointing directly where Sasha sat on the stone bench.

"Y'know," Bobby smiled "last time I filmed a girl she didn't even know about it!"

Sasha giggled wildly, trying desperately to will herself calm. "C'mon, Bobby, don't make me laugh. This is supposed to be serious."

"Okay, okay," Bobby raised a hand up to rest on the camera and looked through the lens. "We're rolling...ready when you are."

Sasha stared at the camera for a few seconds before she finally found her voice.

"Hallo, mein luv, it's mutter. Well, by die time you see this you will officially be sechzehn years old. There's nein guarantee that I'll still be around, so Ich want to give you a little mutterly advice in die event die worse should come to me. Well, there's die obvious. An education. Familie. Friends. And a life that is full of die unexpected. Be sure to make mistakes. Make a lot of them, because there's no better way to learn and to grow, alright? And, Ich want you to spend a lot of time at die ocean, because die ocean forces you to dream, and Ich insist that you, mein kind, be a dreamer. God. Most people spend a lot of time and energy trying to figure out if God exists. In mein life, I've come to realize that it doesn't matter what you believe, as long as you believe in something, because Ich promise you that that belief will keep you warm at night, and Ich want you to feel safe...always. And then there's liebe. I want you to liebe from die top of your head to die tips of your toes, and wann you find that liebe, wherever you find it, don't run away from it. But you don't have to chase after it either. You just be patient, and it'll come to you, Ich promise, and wann you least expect it, wann you crave it most, it'll come to you, like you came to me. Don't be afraid, schatz. And remember, to liebe is to live."

Bobby flicked a switch on the camera and the little, red light turned off. "Okay, got it!" He opened the camera and pulled out the tape, handing it over to Sasha. Bobby arched an eyebrow questioningly. "I just gotta know, why did you wanna do this?"

Sasha signed heavily, turning the tape over in her hands. "Just in case..." She let the thought trail off as she made her way into the house, heading for one of the lower offices.

It had been years since she had set foot into this particular room...no one had unless it was to give it a good dusting to keep it tidy. This room had once been her father's private office. Not one day of the past 16 years had went by that Sasha didn't think of her dearly departed father. Today, she had a purpose to be there.

Sasha walked over to the oak finished desk and opened the topmost drawer. She reached in towards the back of the drawer and slipped her index finger into a tiny hole there. Instantly a section of the wood-panelled wall slid away to reveal the very same safe it had years before.

"Please state full name for voice identification," a mechanized voice sounded.

"Sasha Ann Xavier-Wagner," Sasha replied. She knew the security system would recognized her new name seeing as how she had updated the system.

"Authorization confirmed. Access granted...Hello Sasha," the voice returned. The massive metal door swung open on its own accord. Sasha reached in and placed the tape in the safe, in amongst may other documents and objects she had placed in there so long ago.

With a steady hand, Sasha closed the safe back up, making sure the panelling was secured firmly, and quickly existed the room, locking the door behind her. Sasha sighed heavily and placed a gentle touch on the massive door before walking off in search of her family.

------

Kurt sat alone on the rooftop patio. He could hear the far away sounds of the mansions residents below enjoying the warm summer evening as he stared listlessly into the horizon, the sun just starting to go down and the sky filling with brilliant shades of yellow, orange, blue and purple.

It was wasn't until he saw an outlined figure out of the corner of his eye before Kurt realized he was no longer alone. He looked up into the very familiar eyes of his long-time friend, Remy LeBeau. In one of Remy's hands was a burning cigarette and in the other was clutched two long-necked beer bottles. Silently, Remy sat on the bench next to Kurt and held out one of the beers to the blue mutant.

"Why aren't y' hangin' out wit' da missus, mon amis?" Remy drawled out as he twisted off his bottle cap and took a swallow.

Kurt did the same with his beer but ended up downing half the bottle in one gulp. "Zazha'z in a bad mood."

"Oui? Wad 'bout?"

"Beatz me. Zhe hardly haz anyzing to do viz me anymore."

Remy was silent for a few seconds. "Let Remy et Gambit ax y' trois questions. Une, has soeur de lil 'tarted wearin' baggy clothes?"

"Yeah, zhe zreatened me viz bodily harm ven I commented on it."

"Ouch. Deux, when was da last time y' saw petite wit' 'er clothes off et trois, was dat also da last time y' 'ad sex?"

Kurt raised his eyebrows and turned his head to look at Remy. "A long time and yeah. Zo vut'z vrong?"

"Well, it Remy et Gambit's guess dat 'is incredible expandin' soeur de lil is is freakin' out a lil 'bout 'er size," Remy took anothor long swallow of his drink. "Sasha 'as always been a tiny lil t'ing. It probably been a helluva shock to suddenly be fat!"

"Zo you're zaying zat Zazha'z juzt feelin' a lil inzecure?"

"Oui, mon chere did da same t'ing," Remy replied. "Look, nex' time soeur de lil takes a 'hower, get in wit' 'er. Play nice, give 'er a nice soapy back rub. You be amazed at da results."

"Back rubz, huh?"

"Pregnant femmes get awful backaches. Remy et Gambit got real good at massages wit' Chloe. Back, feet, wadever."

Kurt started to smile. "Zat'z good to knov. Zankz, brozer."

"Hey, broder, I've been dere, remember?" Remy laughed. "Cinq times in fact et 'nother on da way!"

Kurt slammed back the rest of his beer, gave Remy a thankful pat on his back, and made his way back inside. Winding through the house, Kurt arrived at their suite of rooms.

Sasha had been busy entertaining Bree earlier but the child would undoubtedly be with her mother by now. There was something baking in the kitchenette. It smelled good but Kurt had become suspicious of Sasha's cooking ever since he caught her eating a peanut butter and broccoli sandwich.

He stuck his head in the bedroom and smiled. The shower was running. Kurt went into stealth mode, unbuckling his belt, he shrugged off his clothes and let them pool on the floor around his feet. Noiselessly, he crept into the bathroom. The room was filled with steam so that made it easy to sneak up on her.

Sasha was leaning against the far wall of the shower, her head resting against her forearm, letting the warm water cascade down her back. Even through all the steam in the room, Kurt found he was still able to see through the lightly frosted glass of the shower door. The thing that surprised Kurt most of all was her stomach. It wasn't the flat, toned tummy he had come to know and love over the years. Now it curved gently outwards like a spoon.

The sound of the shower door opening stirred Sasha out of her reverie. Her eyes sizzled with a deep green light and her head snapped around, "Do you mind?"

"Yeah, I do," he answered, blocking her in. He reached around her for the soap. "Put your armz around my neck."

Sasha's voice softened and she raised an eyebrow questioningly. "What are you up to?"

He smiled and draped her arms in place. "Juzt being a good huzband," he said and began rubbing her back in small, firm circles. Kurt knew it was working when Sasha's body laxed and she snuggled closer to him. The massage travelled from her back to her hips and straight into the bedroom. The cake Sasha was baking was a little burnt.

Afterwards, they laid on the bed and held each other, Sasha leaning against Kurt's broad chest. "Well, now you know," she sighed. "I'm fat."

Kurt chuckled and held her close. "Naw, you're juzt full of baby." He caressed her curved belly. "Bezidez, ziz izn't even halfway zrough, luv." He felt an odd twitch under his hand. Sasha grinned and looked up impishly, one of her hands half covering her mouth, and giggled. The twitch happened again, harder. "Vut iz zat?" Kurt asked delightedly. "Iz zat ze baby?"

"Uh huh, it started last week." She covered his tri-digit hand with both of her delicate ones. "I usually feel it against my ribs."

"Ah. Xylophone player," he smiled.

Kurt felt the baby move around several more times before he left to tend to matters elsewhere in the house. He must have had quite an expression on his face because both Logan and Remy laughed at him when he walked into the garage.

"You look happy, smurf," Logan commented, wiping grease off his hands. "What's the good news?"

"I felt ze baby kick," Kurt said, half-happy and half-dazed.

"Dat's very good news indeed, bro," Remy agreed, popping open a beer. "Dat means it's gonna t'be a good, strong bebe."

------

Lorna, Kitty and Jubes sat with Chloe in the kitchen, just talking about times gone by and changes, when Kitty suddenly changed the subject. "I don't know if you've noticed, Chloe, but Sasha been acting a little weird."

"Weird 'ow?" Chloe asked slowly.

"Well, for example, I walked into the kitchen this morning and I found her alphabetizing the canned veggies," Kitty explained.

"Wad's so weird 'bout dat?"

Kitty sighed. "Well, nothing in itself, but the way she explained it to me was that she wanted everything to be order because she was colour co-ordinating all the meals."

"And if that wasn't enough, she's been singing sickeningly sweet songs," Jubilee added. "I don't think chipper quite describes it."

"Really chipper...incessantly, increasingly, annoyingly chipper!" Lorna piped in.

"I'm sure it not'ing. Souer de lil probably just going t'rough a blissful mood 'wing."

"No," Lorna continued. "I don't think you understand...psychotically chipper!"

Sasha entered the kitchen, feeling very well rested and humming to herself. Chloe looked at her sister curiously. "Sash, 'ave you been self-medicating 'gain?"

Sasha cocked an eyebrow at Chloe. "What?"

"Not'in'," Chloe said innocently, smiling.

Sasha continued to move throughout the kitchen. "Ich heard a bit of commotion outside a little bit ago. Is everything alright?"

"I non wanna talk 'bout it," Chloe's face fell and she snapped out. Sasha let it drop.

Kurt chose that moment to walk in. He carried with him a small sack and he was singing. "Old McVagner had a farm, ei-ey-ei-ey-oh. And on ziz farm he had a hot vife, ei-ey-ei-ey-oh. Viz a hot vife here and a hot vife zere. Here a hot vife, zere a hot vife, everyvere a hot vife. Old McVagner had a farm, ei-ey-ei-ey-oh!"

"What are you doing?" Jubilee laughed hard. Kitty and Lorna soon joined in. I'm juzt trying to get uzed to ze weight of a baby, zo I zought I'd carry around a zack of flour." He held up the package and read the lable. "Extra-refined. Taking after itz old man already."

Chloe leaned over Kurt's shoulder. "Non Kurt, dat's da sugah...bleached, 100 fat free, best when kept in an air-tight container. It seems dis one is taking after its Maman."

Sasha glared at her sister, causing the others girls to burst out in laughter again. "Gee...danke sis," Sasha said dryly.

"You 'elcome!" Chloe beamed brightly.

Logan and Lorrie walked in a moment later, arm in arm. He smiled at Sasha as he walked by. "I hope you don't mind me telling you one more time just how sexy you are."

Sasha smiled back "Nope, still diggin' it."

------

"Aah," Sasha giggled, "nein more dipping into that batter. You just scraped die whole bowl of oatmeal!"

"Got t' live a little, Tante Boo," T-Bird smiled broadly, brandishing a wooden spoon covering a thick, white substance.

Bree peered over the counter top at the cookies sitting there. "Which ones do you t'ink Maman's gonna amour da most, da Double Fudge chocolate or da Oatmeal peanut butter chunk?"

"Well, you know what, sweetie? Ich really hope that she likes both of them, 'cause she looked really down earlier, and that is not die Coco-puff that we know and liebe, is it?"

T-Bird puffed up his chest. "Wait till 'he fin's out I made dese all by myself -- da ones in da oven, too."

"Really?" Sasha smiled lightly at her nephew, "Ich don't think that you can take all die credit, because Ich really think that your brother, schwester, and Ich helped a lot here. Ha ha ha." T-Bird suddenly threw a handful of flour playfully at Sasha. "Aah!"

"You look good like dat," Dutch said smugly.

Sasha looked at T-Bird in a mock glare. "You are in so much trouble!" Sasha retailiated by flinging flour back at T-Bird. Both were laughing uncontrollably, and soon, Bree and Dutch got in on the playful fight.

"Aah! Aah! Ha ha ha! Aah! Aah!" Bree laughed out as she and her brothers continued to drench their pregnant aunt in the white powder.

Dutch threw a cup of flour down Sasha's back, laughing hard.

"Aah!" she screeched out in surprise. "Oh, you hateful kind! Oh, you're gonna get it! Aah! Ha ha ha," she laughed. Bree started flicking berries at her aunt's forehead. "Oh! Oh, that's it." Sasha turned on the kitchen faucet and grabbed the sink hose.

"Oh, non. Oh, non," the trio of children laughed in unison.

"Ja, ja, ja," Sasha replied, smiling widely, "and you're gonna clean it up, too. Aah!" She pressed the lever and a jet of cool water shot out of the hose, spraying all over the children.

At that moment, Chloe walked into the kitchen, the front of her outfit splattering with the running water. Sasha and the kids stopped and broke down into fits of giggles.

"'Ey!" Chloe laughed, looking at her sister and children. "Wad's all dis 'bout?" Her eyes landed on T-Bird, wearing an apron and splattered with flour. "'oneychilde? You baking co'kies?" She arched her eyes in surprise.

T-Bird smiled broadly. "Grande co'kies. Garcon co'kies. Co'kies wit' nuts!" he said proudly.

"Traurig," Sasha said apoligetically, giggling slightly. "We were baking and things got a lil out of hand." The oven timer sounded and Sasha pulled on the oven mitts so she could pull out the tray. "Oh, y'know what? That's die cookies. They're done. Ich better check on them, cuz if they burn, your kinder will never forgive me." Suddenly, she stopped just short of grabbing the handle and doubled over, clutching at her abdomen. "Oh!" she cried in pain.

"Tante?" Dutch said questioning.

Chloe was at her little sister's side in a flash. "Wad's wrong, Sash? Wad's wrong?" she asked, her voice filling with fright and worry.

"Oh!" Sasha cried out again. "Oh, mein gods. Ich think it's die baby." Sasha's voice was edged with panic. She slumped to the floor. "Aah!" Sasha screeched again, drawing the attention of many of the mansion's residents, including Kurt.

"Zazha!" Kurt exclaimed, rushing to his wife's side.

Sasha tried to pant through the spasms. "Oh! Oh."

"Easy, easy, Sasha," Chloe coaxed, laying her sister flat on the kitchen floor. "Let's breathe, breathe. C'mon, let's get ya in a more comfy position. Dere ya go...T, dear, Go fin' 'Ank." T-Bird nodded and flew from the room.

"Oh gods!" Sasha huffed and puffed. Dutch suddenly appeared at his mother's side with a hot water bottle. Taking it from her son, Chloe gently pressed the bag of warm liquid to the side of her sister's abdomen.

Kurt looked at Chloe. "Coco, vut'z vrong!"

Sasha laid a hand on her husband's forearm. "Oh, honig, it's die baby." Sasha took a few deeps breaths, feeling the pains subside, and tried to sit up.

Hank suddenly skidded into the kitchen, medical bag in one, furry paw. "Chloe, Sasha, I got here as soon as I could. How are you feeling?"

"'He having dese really bad pains," Chloe reported, moving out of Hank's way. "You 'ave t' 'elp her, 'Ank. Make m' sissy and da bebe okay."

"Coco, sis, really, I'm okay. Hank, Ich bin traurig. Ich bin feines, really, Ich am."

Hank kneeled down next to Sasha and opened his examination bag. "No. No, no, no. I'm glad I was called. Tell me where it was hurting."

"Uh, Ich...Ich guess -- like, about right here and here." She pointed to a couple places on her protruding belly.

Hank listened careful through his stethescope and felt at her belly. "Uh-huh. Uh... "

Sasha looked at the furry, blue mutant questiongly. "What? What is it? What's going on?"

"Who got you the hot water bottle?" Hank asked.

"Um, I did," Dutch replied meakly. "Uh, was dat wrong?"

Hank returned his instrument to the black bag. "No, on the contrary, young man. Sasha, I believe Dutch just saved your baby's life."

Chloe, Sasha and Kurt stared at Dutch in surprise until he began to blush wildly.

Hank continued. "Look, my dear, I don't mean to alarm you, but if Dutch hadn't had the presence of mind to get the hot water bottle, your cramps could have easily progressed to early labour."

"By die Gods!" Sasha exclaimed in surprise.

Kurt stretched a tri-digit hand out to Dutch. "Zank you! Zank you zo much for zaving our baby, Dutchy."

Sasha looked at her nephew as well. "Ich don't even know how to begin to danke, schatz."

Dutch puffed up his chest slightly. "Si'l vous plait, you non 'ave t' t'ank Dutchy. 'E jus' glad dat 'is Tante Boo and 'er bebe are okay." Chloe hugged her son to her.

"Alright, so what were you doing just prior to the episode?" Hank asked, helping Sasha to stand, and between him and Kurt, maneuvered the woman over to a chair.

"Nothing. Ich -- Ich was talking to Chloe."

"And before that, anything that maybe got you a little excited or stressed?"

Sasha smiled slightly. "I wouldn't exactly put it that way, but -- ha ha."

"But what?" Hank asked slowly.

"Oh, it's just that Bree, T-Bird, Dutch and Ich had a little food fight," Sasha replied, winking and giggling at the three youngest kids.

"Chicka-femme," Chloe cooed, setting a cup of tea in front of her sister. "Y'know ya 'aveta be very careful right now, k? It non good t'ing f'r ya to get overly excited or -- or engage in any strenuous activities."

Sasha sighed heavily, watching the steam rise off the hot liquid. "Ich know, Coco-puff. It wasn't exactly strenuous, really, but --"

"Okay, even so, Sasha, as you know, this pregnancy is very high-risk. You need to stay as calm and quiet as possible. My dear, any undue stress could cause you to miscarry or worse. Look, um, I don't mean to scold you, okay? I just -- I just know what this baby means to both you and Kurt," Hank replied, glancing briefly up at Kurt.

"Ja. It means everything, Hank," Sasha replied.

Hank stood up straight. "Well, in light of recent events, I'm scheduling you for and extra appointment. Let's say...tomorrow morning, 10am?" Sasha nodded wordlessly, unable to find the strength at the moment to argue, and Hank left, most likely returning to his previous task.

------

A few days later, late in the afternoon, Chloe, Bree, Ro and Sasha sat around the island counter in the kitchen putting together the botanicals for the wicca shop they had planned on opening. Remy and Chloe still refused to make eye contact. It wasn't unsual for a fight such as this to last a long while, but such fights were so far and few between that it threw everyone for a loop when it happened.

The tension is the room was so thick, it could be cut with a knife, and the tension rose even further when Bren and Tandy walked in, hand in hand. Tandy jerked her hand away from Bren's quickly and looked worried.

Everyone flicked their attention back and forth between Bren, Tandy, and Punk, all of which appeared nervous beyond all reason. The silence in the room began to increase, and was only broken by Chloe's velvety, sing-song voice.

"Rem 'oney, f'r wadever you reasons were f'r jumpin' on me da o'der day, I'm sorry, you right. I should 'ave made someone go wit' me or waited it out, mais I was worried. It's not m' place t' t'ink an' jus' t' do as I'm told! I'll 'tick t' wad I do bes'...'avin' kids, like dat's not obvious, Chloe said softly, continuing on with her botanical work.

Slowly, Remy approached her from behind and wrapped his strong arms gently around her midsection. Sasha watched his face carefully. It was obvious he was trying to keep a tight reign on his emotions.

"Chere, dat's non true. Remy et Gambit cares very much wad chere t'inks, an' oui, t' a point you 'ave t' do as you 'old so you non get 'urt by da voices. Mais Remy et Gambit non tell you t' 'urt you t'ough. You do so much more bes' den jus' 'ave bebe's, oui you do. 'E sorry 'e never told you dat b'fore now. Remy et Gambit s'ouldn' 'ave jumped on you like 'e did. 'E sorry f'r dat t,'' Remy said, reaching out with one hand and tracing a finger gently down her arm.

Chloe stopped her work and tilited her head up towards him, her face was damp from her silent tears.

Remy spoke again. "'E s'ould 'ave let you tell 'im, an' 'e never gave you a chance. It all Remy et Gambit's fault… not a word, Claws! … Remy so very sorry, mon chere amour, can you f'rgive 'im?"

Bree, who had been present during the entire scene, came around to her parents and tugged lightly on her father's pant leg. Her lip curled slightly and her eyes began to glaze over.

"Bree sorry she say you non nice Papa, you not bad, Bree bad femme…very very bad, she go t' 'er room now!" Bree had now broken down into hard sobbing, mirroring her mother. Remy reached down and swung his daughter up to his chest to cuddle her. The trio cried together in each other's arms for what seemed like an eternity.

After a few more mintures of crying and whispering sweet nothing's into each other's ears, Chloe and Remy kissed, causing Bree to to come out with her patented "Ewww!"

The tension in the room had finally broke and everyone fell back into their good moods, laughing at Bree's child innocence.

Sasha had tried not to eavesdrop on the conversations going on around her, so instead she tuned herself into listening to the sound of what was going on outside. She listened to the squirrels tittering to each other, the whistle of the blowing wind, the crinkle of the leaves in the trees. After a moment, all those sounds were drowned out by a revving engine. Sasha instantly recognized the all too familiar rumble and her eyes lit up with excitement, she didn't need to look outside to know who it was. Everyone else was too deep in their conversations to notice her quiet departure.

Making her way out onto the front veranda, Sasha watched as a black BMW parked next to the house and both the driver's and passenger side doors swung open.

"Well," Sasha smiled, placing her hands on her hips, "it's about time you found your way home. Ich was starting to think I'd have to send a search party out for ya!"

Taryn laughed. "Unlike the people of the S.S. Minnow, we didn't have Gilligan guiding us."

Chase came around from the back of the car carrying the suitcases. "Sorry, didn't mean to worry ya, but we stopped off to see Gwen in Boston. Her law practice is booming but she was getting lonely for some friendly faces."

No sooner had Chase set the bags down on the ground, did Sasha wrap her friends up into a huge, welcome home hug. When the hug was finally released, Chase looked down at Sasha's bulging belly.

"I see there was a few changes in our absence," Chase smiled.

"Oh, more than you know," Sasha replied. "C'mon, there's some people waiting inside that I'm sure would like to meet you! Don't worry about die bags, I'll have some of die kinder take care of them."

With an arm entwined around Taryn's arm and one around Chase's, Sasha ushered them on into the house.

By the time Sasha returned to the kitchen, the LeBeau family had moved on elsewhere but several new bodies littered the room. Logan, Bobby, Bishop, Jon, Penny, Lorrie, Jubilee and Emma were sitting around the table. Sasha made the introductions to everyone who Chase and Taryn had yet to meet and re-intorductions to those the pair had met only once or twice before.

Sasha told her friends everything they had missed during their vacation, including the decision of her sisters and old friends of moving back in. Both Chase and Taryn seemed happy that Sasha had her family back together again, but Sasha knew you didn't need to be a psychiatrist to know that things were not status quo. Knowing that this was niether the time nor the place, to bring up such matters, Sasha let the matter lie until she could speak to them in private.

------

The weeks continued to roll on by and the seasons changed from spring to summer. One warm July afternoon, piano music lured many of the mansion's residents away from the kitchen. Upon entering the music room Chloe and Lorrie looked at each other questioningly, saying simultaneously, "Kurt?"

Sasha was laying on top of the piano with a large pillow propping her up. Kurt was playing some classical piece, a very relaxing, soothing tune. He looked up at them, grinned and finished up. He reached up and patted his wife's abdomen. "Now, zat vaz Amadeuz Motzart. You here zat? Motzart. Can you remember zat?"

Sasha rolled her eyes and giggled wildly. "Schatz, you have really gotta get out more."

Chloe walked up, smiling. "Wad you two doin', re-enacting a scene from "Da Fabulous Baker Boys?"

"Oh, yeah." Sasha tried to sit up and failed. "Can't you see mein stunning resemblance to Michelle Pfeiffer?" Kurt leered over the keyboard at her and smacked his lips. "But seriously," Sasha said, "Kurt thinks there needs to be more musical mutants in die world."

"Zo voila! Profezzor Vagner and hiz Prenatal Muzic Appreciation Clazz!" The blue mutant began improvising around a ragtime tune. "Ziz iz zveet Coco'z nephew, after all. He'z bound to be muzical."

"Well, whatever that is you're playing, stop it... it's making die baby kick."

Kurt promptly stood up to have a feel. "Yup. He'z got big feet, don't he?"

"Luv, Ich wish you'd stop that. We don't know if it's a knabe or a maedchen."

"Vut?" He blinked. "Have I or have I not correctly predicted ze zex and clozest delivery date of every baby born in ziz houze? I'm tellin' ya, ziz iz my muzical zon you're toting around in here."

Chloe perked up. "Oh, oui?"

Sasha gave her sister a nasty look. "Coco-puff, don't get him started."

"Oh, hush, luv." Kurt looked thoughtful while the surface of Sasha's tummy twitched under his tri-digit hands. "Hallo. He'z turning. Here'z ze head. He'z got horn budz!"

"Kurt!"

"I t'ink he's right, lil chicka," Chloe said, feeling the spot Kurt had indicated. "I t'ink dose are 'orn buds."

"CHLOE!"

Kurt switched places at the keyboard with Chloe, who promptly sat down and began playing a soft tune.

"So where you learn t' play, bebe bleu?" Chloe asked as Kurt helped Sasha to slid off the piano. The very pregnant woman was too busy laughing to do more than drape her arms around his neck.

"All zelf taught. After yearz of vatching you play I guezz it juzt zort of rubbed off."

------

Sasha had been restless for the last several hours. She had woken every hour on the hour for one reason or another -- usually to go to the bathroom -- and she had had trouble finding a comfortable position to sleep in. For the moment, she was sitting up against the headboard, her glasses gently perched on the bridge of her nose, and was currently reading through some files for work the next day.

The small nightstand clock next to Sasha's bed had just clicked over to show that it was now 2am when the phone suddenly began to ring. Quickly, Sasha picked up the receiver so the noise wouldn't disturb Kurt.

"Hallo?" she whispered softly.

"Sasha, is that you?" came a panicked voice.

Sasha's nose crinkled up in confusion. The voice sounded familiar...a little too familiar...it was a voice she hadn't heard in nearly 17 years. Her first instinct was to hang up the phone and go back to her work, but the Good Samaritan in her prevented her from being so callous. "Where are you?" was all Sasha replied with, she sounded considerably more than a little annoyed.

"Lemme give ya a hint...maybe a dingoe ate yer baby!" the voice said.

Sasha sighed hard, pulling her glasses off, and touched a hand tentatively to her forehead. Oh lordy!

"I'm sorry," the voice continued "I didn't know who else to call."

Sasha sighed heavily as she slid out from beneath the blankets, swinging her feet over the edge of the bed. "Go to die airport and stay there. I'll be there as soon as Ich can."

Silently, she hung up the reciever. Sasha cast a look over to her sleeping husband then looked down to caress her bulging belly. "Ladies and gentlemen," she whispered under breath, "please return your trays and seats to their upright positions and keep your seltbelts securely fastened as we begin our gradual decent down into hell!" After a second, she rose and moved around the room quietly, getting dressed. Sasha took a moment to scribble down a note.

Mein dearest Kurt,

Bitte remain calm, mein luv. Chloe, Lorrie and Ich need to see to an urgent family matter, something that couldn't be avoided. Die time is currently 2:15 am. Ich shouldn't be away long, possibly a day or zwei. Keep die homefires burnin'. See you soon.

All mein luv...

Your sweet Canadian Princess...

Sasha

P.S./ Don't do anything thing Ich wouldn't do. And if you do, take pictures.

Sasha placed the note on Kurt's bedside table where he was sure to see it as soon as he woke, and soon she found herself out in the hall. First she went to Lorrie's room to tell her about the call and waited until Lorrie dressed then the pair of them went to rouse Chloe from her slumber and told her what was going on.

"Wad!" Chloe said, exaperated. "Je n'y crois pas! Non really! I don' b'lieve dis."

"That's what she said, I'm still stunned by it too," Sasha replied as she shifted her weight uncomfortably. "What do you think we should do, Lorrie?"

"I guess the only thing Mom and Dad would want us to do" Lorrie sighed, sounding very tired. An old, distraught look shrouded the sisters features.

Chloe looked back and forth between her eldest and youngest sister. "Jus' tell me one t'ing...Am I in 'Ell?"

"Nein, Chloe," Sasha smiled slightly, "if you were in Hell, you'd be sitting on a throne and die devil would be packing."

Chloe forced a smile then sighed hard. "'Lright, I'm gonna leave a note f'r Rem 'oney so 'e don' t'ink I wandered off 'gain. I ain' doin' dat twiced! You two talk t' Bren 'bout da wad 'appened wit' m' Punk?"

"Yeah we did, Chloe, hopefully he'll see die light. Ich left a note for Kurt as well, and Ich made a call to have airline tickets held for us at die terminal," Sasha said, yawning slightly. "We better leave, like, now if we're gonna catch die Red Eye."

"Geez it's like 2:30 am I'mma kill 'er! Rem 'oney will blow a gasket when 'e find out I gone somewhere by plane in m' expec'ancy," Chloe fumed.

"He'll kill her himself!" Lorrie interjected. "To cause you this stress, remember the last time. I'll call a taxi."

"'Kay good point, an' t'anks."

"I'm gonna leave Logan a note, too. We best keep it brief, but only enough that they don't send out the National Guard after us girls. You know how protective our guys are of us, and then with your boys Chloe, hell Coco you got your own personal military watching over you!"

"Kay I need t' get a few t'ings t'ge'der an over night bag o' sorts."

Sasha shook her head. "We need t' go a.s.a.p. Coco. We'll pick up stuff as we need it wann we get there, alright? Die sooner we get there die sooner we can get back!"

"I hear ya, 'lright den. See ya'll down 'tairs in a few minutes den."

Sasha and Lorrie nodded and went on ahead down to the foyer as Chloe slipped back inside her room.

Lorrie guided Sasha through the house, helping her down the stairs and getting her jacket on. All the while, Sasha muttered under breath. "Ein was für verdorbenes, arrogantes, egoistisches, unreifes Gör. Vom ganzem geistlosen unverantwortlich..." (translation: "What a spoiled, arrogant, selfish, immature brat. Of all the mindless, irresponsible...")

Lorrie looked at her sister sidewardly. "Come again?"

"Nothin...it's just that maedchen makes me so angry!" Sasha replied, zipping up her jacket.

"You don't haveta tell me...I know," Lorrie replied as she did the same. In a few moments, Sasha and Lorrie were joined by Chloe, and the trio stepped outside to wait for their cab.

------

The terminal of the foreign airport looked identical to the one they had disembarked from several hours earlier, except this one had a person within its walls that the sisters would've been content to never had heard from at all.

Sasha spied the woman quickly. she was sitting in the foremost row of waiting room seats, and as soon as the woman spotted the trio, she groaned visibly. Chloe stalked up to the woman.

"I can' b'lieve dis, 'ow da 'ell did you manage dat?" Chloe marvelled.

"Geezuz you sound like a fuckin' moron! Just like that loser you married. Hell I'm still shocked you are even still alive!"

"You can keep your Öffnung shut!" Sasha interjected.

The woman looked at Sasha with a puzzled expression. "And what, the hell, is with you?"

Chloe quickly silenced any explanation that was going to follow. "Get da 'ell on da plane!" Chloe spat back at the woman. "Sash an' I shouldn' even b' travellin' in our condition."

The quartet moved back down the tunnel leading to back to the plane. "Oh, please, tell me it's not that blue freaks!"

Sasha balled up her fists, clenching and unclenching them several times. She would've loved nothing more than to knock the thirty-something woman standing before her flat on her ass, but this was neither the time nor the place.

Chloe took hold of Sasha's arm and they escorted each other to their seats. "It 'Kay Sash! Calm you temper. It non good f'r da youngin', lissen t' Maman Coco. You an' I will sit up 'ere an' Lor can deal wit' 'er!"

Lorrie forced the brunette down into the seat next to her before sitting down herself. "Sit the fuck down and shut up! I'm not listening to your mouth for the 16 hour flight home!"

------

During the entire cab ride from the airport, the woman sitting between Lorrie and Sasha in the back of the cab hadn't shut up since they had collected her. Lorrie had finally been able to get the woman to shut up long enough for Sasha to make a call on her cell phone.

"Hey Kurt luv, ja, it's Sasha…mmm hmmm… look, ja, Ich know… we're on our way but we're not going to die haus...oh hey Remy… ja, Coco is feines…"

"'Ey Sash tell Rem' Oney t' give some cash t' Lucky an' Punk an' tell dem t' get Bren outta da 'ouse" Chloe called from the front seat.

"Will do… ja, Remy I'm still here, Chloe was talkin' t' me. She told me to tell ya to give Lucky and Punk some cash and have them get Bren out of die haus for now… Danke, I'll tell her… Remy says he liebe you and he's been worried about you Chloe, but understands you needed to see to business and that you didn't go alone, says he's proud of ya… Groß okay … hey my Bavarian Cream Puff, look can you, Logan and Remy meet us a.s.a.p. Das maedchens need you now! And waste no time, we're heading to Charles' Tavern! Liebe you baby...see ya soon."

Sasha's mind raced with thoughts as she hung up the phone. She didn't know what they were gonna do with the woman next to her, but there was one thing she absolutely knew for sure...this was gonna be one hell of a day.

"Charles' Tavern, what the hell?" The woman flared up again, "And who the fuck is this Punk twit!"

"Again shut up!" Lorrie spat, almost screaming.

Chloe made a move to lunge into the back seat. Sasha reacted quickly -- though not as quickly as usual given her very pregnant state -- and eased Chloe back into her seat before she accidently, on purpose, smack the woman.

Finally, as if the girls prayers had been answered, the woman shut up. Lorrie, Chloe and Sasha were all clearly tired, but Sasha had learned some time ago on having to function on a daily basis with little to no sleep, so it wasn't affecting her the way it did her sisters, but however, she did ache.

About 30 minutes later, the cab pulled into the large parking lot of Charles' Tavern. Some years ago, Kurt had bought Harry's Bar after the previous owner retired and turned it into a bar and grill...the most successful in the city. It was kind of a cross between Coyote Ugly and Cheers, and the patrons were all very mutant friendly.

The parking lot was sparsely populated at this time of day, the busiest time of the day wouldn't be for another few hours, and that was just fine with Sasha. They would need some low-key time to deal with the present situation. There was half a dozen vehicles parked in front of the Tavern... three of them Sasha recognized on sight as belonging to Logan, Remy and Kurt.

Sasha saw all three of the guys heads turning to watch the cab park. Lorrie was the first out, followed by Sasha a second later. Kurt was at his wife's side in a flash. Kurt placed his tri-digit hands on Sasha's protruding belly, feeling for any tender spots.

"Are you and ze baby all right, luv? Are you feeling ok? Nozing broken or bruized?" Kurt cooed.

"Ich bin feines, luv" Sasha smiled warmly and placed her hand over his to stop his examining hands.

Chloe had barely gotten out of the car when Remy had her in his arms and kissed her sweetly, rubbing and patting her large, hard tummy lovingly.

Remy's voice filled with concern. "Mon chere amour, you s'ouldn' 'ave been travellin', mais Remy et Gambit t'rilled you didn' go 'lone. Our petite bebe an' Remy et Gambit's chere 'kay?"

"Oui Rem 'oney, I missed you m' luv. An' oui sweetie da bebe is fine jus' tired, 'ungry, an' oui 'tressed out! Which reminds me… 'ey Chienne foutue Déface!"

"What the hell did she just say!" voice the woman still sitting inside the cab.

"She say … 'Crewd-up bitch, get out!" Remy bellowed.

Lorrie reached in and yanked the woman out into the open air. Logan flicked his eyes back and forth between his wife and the woman next to them.

"What, the hell, is Succubitch doin here?" he asked.

Kurt leaned his weight against his truck. "Oh, vuckin' great!"

Remy said nothing as he escorted Chloe to his bike, set her in front of him, and prepared to ride on back to the house and away from this woman.

Chloe's next words made Remy stop dead in his tracks. "Rem 'oney, we need you guys t' 'elp Sash, Lor an' I deal wit' 'er, we femmes can' do it 'lone!"

Remy sighed hard. "'Lright, mon amour, we guys will do dis f'r our femmes." Remy cut the engine on the bike.

"Come zveet Zazh, Coco dear, you too Lorrie...you girlz need to eat real food," Kurt said, leading the group into the tavern. He held fast onto Sasha as did Remy and Logan with their own wives. Lorrie pulled the woman along with her.

"Sit down and shut up Stacii!" Lorrie hissed, pushing her sister into the booth.

There was a twenty-something brunette man standing behind the bar cleaning glasses. He looked up upon hearing people enter the building. "Hey, there Boss-man!" he chimed at Kurt. "What can I do ya fer?"

Kurt nodded at the man. "Ken...ve need zome beer and vhizkey over here! Oh, and get my perfect-in-every-vay lovely vife and my zizterz-in-lawz ze bezt alcohol free daiquiriz and a pitcher of ice vater. Alzo ze girlz need zome zaladz and zteakz. Get ze very bezt cut ve got."

Ken saluted Kurt slightly. "Sure thing, Boss-man!" he smiled.

"By ze way," Kurt continued, "meet your two new bozzez, Remy LeBeau and Logan and zere vives Chloe and Lorrie." Kurt then motioned to Stacii. "An zat iz Ztacii… zhe'z … fa… vell… zhe'z related… mozt of uz believe demon zpawn… ve dunno, your guezz iz az good az ourz, Ken. Ve juzt not zure how," Kurt said as he ended disdainfully. He slid into the booth next to his wife and wrapped an arm protectively around her body while lovingly caressing her abdomen with his free hand.

Logan turned an evil eye onto Stacii, who sat in the very back of the booth. "Alright! Now, what in the hell did you do that took your sisters out of their beds and the house in the middle of the night... away from their families?"

"Fuck off!" Stacii spat.

"Time was definitely non kind t' you 'Tacii!" Chloe said, noting that Stacii's personality hadn't changed at all throughout the years.

"Oh, and your one to talk! You probably have more stretch marks then highway 401!" Stacii retorted.

Remy flared up. "Watch you mout' an' apologize now!" His eyes flew up in a blaze.

"Chloe bearing children to her huzband iz a noble, and phyzically difficult tazk! An' juzt zo you know Ztacii, zere iz nozing more beautiful zen a woman zat haz many o' zoze markz. Zey are badgez of pride," Kurt said, rising to Chloe's defense.

Stacii rolled her eyes to him and cast a faint apology at Chloe, who was now crying a lil.

"Answer my GD question, now, damn it! Yare sisters are in no condition t' deal with ya!" Logan demanded.

Stacii stayed quiet.

"We femmes 'ad t' fly t' Au'trailia t' go collect 'er" Chloe said softly, rubbing her temples. Remy hugged her close and rubbed her tummy gently, feeling the baby turn and move about inside her womb.

"WAD! No way! Chere mon amour, you really s'ouldn't 'ave flown anywhere."

"I know, Rem 'oney, I'm sorry, mais I was wit' m' soeurs t'ough an' Lorrie was never more den a few feet f'om me et all times. We wen' dere, collected 'Tacii, an' came 'traight back 'ere...dats it!"

Remy turned his anger-filled gaze back to Stacii. "Why did da femmes 'ave t' go an' get you? You 'ave you cut o' da Xavier fortune, you s'ouldn' need dem t' go an' get you like a drunk teen at a party."

"It's gone" Sasha said quietly, taking a sip of her strawberry daiquiri that Ken had placed in front of her, as he did the same with the other girls.

"What's gone?" Logan asked, a lil confused.

"All her money," Lorrie said softly, following Sasha's suit with her drink.

"All of it!" Kurt almost choking on his beer.

"Oui bebe bleu, she frittered it all 'way. 'Tacii did not even 'ave so much as 'nuff f'r a plane ticket t' get back 'ome! An' we femmes didn' wanna wire 'er money t' jus' 'ave 'er do wadever wit it. So we wen' t' make sure she came back," Chloe said softly between sips of her own drink.

The guys heads dropped into their hands at the thought of Stacii having squandered away a small fortune which should've been more than enough to live comfortably on for several generations.

"Remy et Gambit married t' an' extravagant femme… in fact de most extravagant femme 'e's ever known! An' even she can' cause dat kinda damage! Chloe wouldn' even fa'dom it … fur'dermore she's 'lso da 'trifiest femme I know! She 'lways l'oks like a million dollars an' she don' 'lways s'op et 'er designers, even t'ough she could, an' Remy insist dat she do, mais she won' 'lways… Chloe 'as year long standin' appoin'men's in a'vance et 'er beau'y salon's, mais… Remy et Gambit jus' no get dis… Chloe could s'op all day, every day et designers only f'r da res' o' 'er day's an' 'till not even make a dent in 'er Xavier funds an' she 'as da Le Beau fortune et 'er complete disposal t'! T' date she 'as never even used da cards 'e gave 'er back when she was e'pectin' Remy et Gambit's bebe Lucky too. Chere jus' lives off da intere't o' 'er funds f'r 'er petite pleasures. Remy et Gambit pay f'r everyt'ing else Chere wan's. Even den she never ax's f'r anyt'ing… Remy et Gambit don' even wan' 'is amour usin' da inter't when 'e will pay f'r everyt'ing 'er 'eart desires… Remy et Gambit non get dis…"

"Vut could you have pozzibly bought zat coztz zat much Ztacii!" Kurt exasperated. "Zazha? Like my brozer, I'm zo glad you, Chloe and Lorrie have rezpect vor money, and me and you two girlz husbandz zo'z to not to break our backz."

"Here here! I hear ya Cajun, Elf. Damn! Thank you Lorrie babe!" Logan agreed.

"Oui t'ank you very much t' chere amour Coco! MES DIEUX T'ank you!… Kurt, Logan, an' Remy et Gambit non wanna die young. We homme's glad you amour us an' not work us t' an' early grave!"

"You guys are welcome" Lorrie said to the guys, giggling.

"Das Maedchens can if you'd like us too" Sasha teased the guys

"NO! My luv, pleaze!" Kurt said quickly, making Sasha laugh out.

"You welcome m' 'oney mais you implyin' I'm a 'igh maintance kinda femme?" Chloe coo'd to him in a giggled and kissed his jawline sweetly.

"Non Chere amour, Remy et Gambit ain' implyin' it, 'e tellin' you! … Mais Remy et Gambit amours you dat way t'ough. Mais you don' 'pend our money frivolously on 'tupid 'tuff ei'der. You 'ave principals, morals an' re'pect, f'r our life savin's. Remy et Gambit very much grateful you not plannin' our early demise wit' 'pendin' us int' da poor 'ouse!"

Chloe smiled and kissed him. "I don' 'pend like dat; cause… I t'ink it jus' silly. 'Sides, you give me everyt'ing an' more den wad I could ever possibly s'op f'r" Chloe said matter of factly. "Kurt, dese t'ings are awesome! M' compliments t' you."

Kurt smiled broadly to the compliment. "I'm zo glad you like it zizter, viz Remy, Logan and I now all equal partners in ziz place it'll be even better! Ze businezz doez really vell, an' viz zem now too we can really turn ziz place full zcale! I've only had it open vor a little lezz zen a year."

"Congrats on the partnership guys. I know you'll make an awesome go at this place. I like that it has a lot of memories for us girls too" Lorrie said happily. In unison, all three married girls blushed hard and buried their faces in their husbands chests.

"Zat's von of ze reazonz I bought it" Kurt chuckled, winking at Sasha.

At that moment, Ken arrived to refresh their drinks, followed by several minutes of eating in awkward silence.

"So," Sasha sighed heavily. "What are we gonna do with her?" She gestured to Stacii.

Chloe mirrored Sasha's sigh. "In all 'onesty, I'm t' tired f'r 'Tacii's B.S.! I 'ave all m' own bebe's t' l'ok a'ter an' one on da way, same wit' takin' care o' Rem 'oney, an' den m' s'op, an' den will be teachin' m' wicca classes soon, an' den 'lso m' vet practice. Den playin' Maman t' all da o'der kids et da 'ouse. I jus' canna deal wit' 'er immaturity."

"You are so right Chloe. I agree," Lorrie nodded. "Logan and I will be having our family soon join us, and with my R.N. work at the house, then I'll be giving classes soon too I just don't have time to babysit her either."

"Same here," Sasha said, sampling her steak, "mein classes start up wann yours both do. Then Ich help Kurt go over die books for this place, though now Ich won't need to...nein with Remy and Logan becoming his business partners, so that's one relief. But then Ich have my own baby coming, and then writing die all die kinder schedules and having to see to mein patients... Let's face it, das maedchens have our own lives and familie and we are all just too busy with them to play babysitter to Stacii!"

Logan, Remy, and Kurt exchanged a three-way glance.

"Girls can I make a suggestion?" Logan started.

"Sure Logan" Sasha said as she rose from the table and made her way behind the bar and disappeared into the kitchen, returning a second later with a carton of ice cream, jar of cherries, chocolate syrup, three bowls and spoons. The girls began to build ice cream sundaes.

Logan continued. "We take her back to the house with us and put her back on house arrest. She can be put on the payroll and do manual labour. Stacii can pay rent...whatever she needs, she pays for! We guys all pay for our own wives and families bills. She has to look after herself! Stacii can't always come running back for you girls to bail her out. Not with how she treats you, with no damn reason, I might add. It would be different if she was like you darlin's but she isn't! When every time you dames always save her. You need to let her deal with her own problems. She can come and go, by whatever means she has, and from what I see she doesn't, so long as she does the work you three set out for her. Beyond that, you girls responsibility is done with, she's on her own. And I'll tell you right now Stacii, you won't get one god damned red cent out of Lorrie, sans the work you do for her!"

"Oui! Chloe ain' even payin' you! You mus' come t' see Remy et Gambit 'bout dat in 'is office, t'ough chere will give you da work!" Remy agreed emphantically.

"I'm viz you brozer," Kurt chimed in. "Zazha haz enough to do as vell. You vill come an' zee me in m' office too!"

Stacii spoke up for the first time in the last half hour. "Whoa! Hold up! I don't answer to you three Neanderthals! The only people I had to answer to was mom and dad! Beyond that to my sisters, not you three!"

"Zen zere iz ze door Ztacii! Don't let it hit you in ze azz on ze vey out!" Kurt fumed, pointing to the tavern entrance.

Remy continued on. "You will ei'der abide by dese rules or you gone! It dat simple! Our femmes can' bebe-sit you! Dey 'ave dere own bebes t' b' raisin' right good an' proper. An' you ain' anywhere on da list o' priorities t' a one o' our femmes! So you will lissen t' Kurt, Logan an' Remy et Gambit or as Kurt so eloquently put it, dere's da damn door!"

Sasha smiled slightly. "These are just die rules today. We reserve die right to change them at any time, for your safety, for your education, or...for our amusement. That is die price of living in our kingdom," she paused long enough to take a drink. "Welcome to Xavier-du!"

Chloe and Lorrie giggled wildly.

Logan extended his claws and brandished them at Stacii, causing her to gulp heavily at the sight. Stacii lowered her head in defeat.

"Fine."

A few minutes later, Ken came around and cleared the table. The men helped their wives out of the booth and prepared to leave. Stacii was placed in Logan's truck, and Sasha and Chloe rode back with their husbands in their vehicles. While Kurt drove, Sasha pulled out her cell phone and called the mansion. She knew Emma would want to be there for Bren when he finally met Stacii.

They soon arrived at a small, out of the way bar. Chloe and Remy went on inside to find Bren, Lucky, and Punk while everyone else waited out in the open air.

Kurt helped his wife to sit on the hood of the truck so she could rest her tired feet. No sooner had she settled herself did Sasha turn at the sound of an approaching car. It was Emma, driving like a bat of of hell towards where they stood.

The black Saturn LX screeched to a stop and Emma stepped out and approached the small group. Emma said nothing as she moved, looking disdainfully at Stacii who was still sitting in Logan's truck.

A few minutes later, Chloe, Remy, Lucky, Punk and Bren came out. The boys all looked nervous, but none more than Bren which was perfectly understandable.

Logan reached into his truck and pulled Stacii out into the open air. When she finally righted herself she found herself face to face with the son she abandoned years earlier. Bren looked his mother over.

"I don't look anything like her!" he protested.

"Consider dat a major blessin', Bren bebe" Chloe replied, making Bren smile slightly.

"Drop dead Chloe! You're a waste of space!" Stacii spat.

Lucky and Punk flared with anger and took a defensive step towards their estranged aunt. The boys felt a heavy hand on their shoulders.

"Let dis one go dis time hommes. Jus' let it go f'r you Maman an' Bren," Remy whispered to his sons.

Chloe turned to her two eldest children. "Lucky? Punk? Dat's you Tante 'Tacii."

"Maman, f'om wad Luck an' I see an' 'ear she ain' no Tante o' ours! She jus' 'Tacii. She ain' wor'dy o' bein' graced wit' a title" Punk said, glaring at the new arrival.

"I'm your aunt and you will address me as such," Stacii spat back, "and just who the fuck are you anyway? Get a damn hair cut you look like a fucking freak!"

Punk stooped to the ground, picked up a rock, and charged it with kinetic energy. He cocked his arm back and threw it high into the air. At the pinacle of its height, the rock exploded and rained shardes of stone down onto Stacii.

Punk looked calmly at Stacii. "Care t' follow dat?"

Stacii trembled and backed away from Punk.

Bren took a step towards his birth mother. "You've got to prove yourself to me, and from what I see… you're not the woman I'd have hoped to have met!" Bren pivoted sharply on his heels, walked towards Emma's car, and slid into the passenger seat.

Kurt slid his wife off the hood and into the truck just as a light rain started to pelt down. Sasha felt the back of the truck dip as Remy jumped in the carriage and settled himself in the mock leather seat. Soon, the vehicles pulled out of the dusty parking lot and continued on to the mansion.

No sooner had the cars rolled to a stop in front of the mansion, did the door open and out spill many of the mansions residents. Disdainful introductions were made before Sasha led the way inside. She called behind her to where Stacii was following.

"C'mon in, and try not to ruin anything by being you."

As Stacii passed across the threshhold, she looked up at the high ceilings she hadn't set eyes on in nearly two decades. "Ah," Stacii said under her breath "home sweet hell!" Her eyes moved around the marbled room until they rested on a most familar figure at the base of the stairs, and she smiled. "Hello Bobby," Stacii said as sultry as she could.

"Stacii," Bobby said, coming closer. His voice was completely devoid of emotion as he, none too casually, looked his ex-girlfriend up and down. It was obvious that he was just as unimpressed with Stacii as everyone else was.

Stacii leaned forward and whispered. "How would you like it if I made your life a living hell?" She smiled evilly.

Bobby however, didn't feel the need to whisper, so he spoke in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "Well, Stacii, I'm not quite ready for another relationship with you right now, but maybe I'll give you a call sometime. Your number still 666?" The distinct sound of snickering could be heard behind them. Bobby was then joined at his side by Jubilee. He looked sidewardly at her. "I believe you know my wife." Bobby pulled Jubilee closer to him.

Jubilee place a protective arm around Bobby's waist. "I just want to make it clear that my husband is not here to be your knight in shining armor. If you're having problems figuring out your life, watch Dr Phil!"

Bobby smiled widely, holding his wife a little closer to him, his gaze still fixed on Stacii. "Face it, I'm the best sex you'll never have!"

While Stacii stared wide-eyed at the couple before her, Chloe breezed by. "Y'know 'Tacii, at da end o' da opera da rejected lover 'angs 'erself. You let me know if you need any rope." It was virtually impossible for anyone watching to contain their laughter at this fresh comment, the sound reverberating off the high ceilings.

Sasha led the procession on into the kitchen. While everyone else settled around the table, Sasha heading straight to the tea kettle. Lucky immediately moved to intercept her.

"Let Lucky do dis f'r 'is Tante Boo, k?" Lucky smiled warmly.

Sasha, not really in the mood to argue, retreated to the table and slid into the waiting arms of her husband. Kurt sat down on a chair and Sasha perched sweetly on his lap. While her arms draped themselves around his neck, Kurt's tri-digits hands lovingly careessed Sasha's bulging belly.

T-Bird and Dutch skidded into the kitchen and headed straight for their mother, both glad to see their mother home safe and sound. "Maman!" Dutch started excitedly "You non gonna b'lieve wad we found! Dere was dis..." The boy was suddenly cut of by Stacii's high-pitched voice.

"Christ Chloe! How many fucking lil demons did you hatch?" Stacii sneered. "Well at least ya found something to do, other then keeping Darwin guessing."

Dutch spun around, as did T-Bird, and strutted up to Stacii.

"Who? or Dutch s'ould say wad are you?"

"That's your Mutter, Tante Lorrie, and mein other schwester, her name is Stacii," Sasha said, hating to admit they were related to Stacii.

"Oh we 'eard 'bout you! You da one dat can' get a homme o' 'er own! Non 'ffence, Tante Em, mais Dutch call dem as 'e see dem an' say a spade a spade an' a shovel a shovel!"

"'Ow many 'usbands 'ave you 'ad?" T-Bird asked.

"Mine or other womens?" was Stacii's response.

T-Bird scowled. "By da way, 'tay 'way f'om our Maman, an' 'way f'om our soeur or you will be dealin' wit' a mess o' Cajun business you can' get out o'!"

"And you, ya lil devil's spawn, should try sleeping with your eyes open!" Stacii sneered back to the boys. Chloe stepped up defensively.

"Are you t'reatenin' m' bebes?"

"Take it how you want Chloe, but I will not be trash talked by a bunch of illiterate heathens… by the way what kinda names are Lucky, Punk, Dutch and T-Bird? Geezus Chloe you just become more stupid as you get older." Stacii replied.

"Den don' address m' kids! I'mma t'inkin' dey would much prefer you didn' t' b'gin wit', an' I ain' 'tupid, I'm slow! … O an' 'Tacii jus' so you know, I ain' old, I'm yout' impaired."

"What the fuck! You're from Canada, Chloe! Stop talkin' this shit! I never thought it was possible but now you even sound dumber then you are!" Stacii replied. Chloe took a step closer.

"'Tacii I may sound dumb or even 'tupid mais I didn' fall outta da ugly tree an' 'it every branch on da way down! Now choke on dat Sista b'fore I slam you wide ass int' da ground!"

Stacii then spun around to Sasha. "And you! What's with all those fucking alien words you keep comin' out with?"

Sasha had grown stronger over the years, so Stacii no longer intimidated her like she used to. "It's German, you dumbass...you might try soaking up a lil culture...Schlampn!"

Kurt began to chuckle, knowing exactly what his wife had called her sister. He looked around the room and saw that each person wondering what the word Sasha said had meant. He leaned into Remy and whispered. "Zchlampn meanz tramp." Remy turned and continued on with the explaining whisper. Soon, all the adults were nodding in approval to Sasha's insult.

Stacii turned sharply on her heels and stalked out of the room.

The tension in the room eased somewhat. One of the students, Rictor, decided to change the subject. "Umm… Chloe? Maybe I shouldn't ask this but… well… we other kids all kinda wondered, since the subject came up, even though you don't look old enough to be married, let alone have kids, just… you know… how old are you?"

"29 honeychile," Chloe replied sweetly, smiling slightly.

Longshot looked to be in deep thought. "If your 29 then it's impossible for you to be Lucky's mother. Okay now seriously Ma Coco how old are you?"

The adults replied forcefully, in unison.

"Chloe's 29!"

Stacii passed through the kitchen again. "And if you believe that I'll sell you some land south of Florida!"

------

Sasha's moods continued to swing wildly over the next month as she entered her second trimester. One moment she would be as kind to she could be to a person, the next she would get right down nasty with them, and it didn't matter who it was, she would lash out at anyone nearest to her and unfortunately for him, the nearest one was usually Kurt. Remy and Chloe had tried to explain to him that it wasn't really him, it was just that Sasha's hormones were all out of whack and that she would be back to her former self before they knew it.

One morning in mid July, Sasha came down to the kitchen. as per usual, she was dressed in the baggest clothing she could find in her closet. Wisely, Kurt stayed on the farthest side of the room, preferring not to be to object of her anger today.

Sasha seemed to be in good spirits but one could never tell with her nowadays.

Chase and Taryn walked in a moment.

"Morning everyone," Chase chimed as he headed to the coffee pot. Chase poured both he and his wife a cup of coffee before approaching Sasha at the counter. "And how is Sasha and baby today?"

"Sasha and baby are feeling like they're retaining die Hoover Dam," Sasha replied between sips of her orange juice.

Chase reached out to touch Sasha's hard belly. "Hey, if you ask me, there's nothing more beautiful than a preg..." Suddenly, his hand stopped just short of actually touching her.

"Do it, and you'll pull back a bloody stub," Sasha snarled, her top lip curling slightly. Slowly Chase pulled his arm back. This allowed Sasha and her juice to leave the kitchen and return to the apartment.

Everyone quietly watched Sasha leave. Kurt waited a few beats before he spoke.

"Zhe'z a little zenzitive right nov," the blue mutant admitted.

Chase took a sip of his coffee. "I can see that."

------

The weeks continued to roll by and Stacii began to settle down to a nearly tolerable level.

One afternoon, Everyone was sitting around the large table in the kitchen. Penny had thankfully offered to take care of lunch that day, allowing both Sasha and Chloe to get off their feet for a little while.

"Out o' sheer curiosity 'Tacii, where's m' 'arley?" Chloe asked as she went over and took her seating between Lucky and Remy.

"I sold it," Stacii replied calmly, pouring a coffee.

"T'ought so" Chloe said, gritting her teeth. "Hey Lorna? Bree bebe, wanna go s'oppin wit' me? Jus' da Le Beau femmes?"

"Lorna yet another of your kids?" Stacii asked quietly.

"Not biologically non. She Lucky's femme, an Maman 'opes a permanent fixture," Chloe said to Stacii then looked to Lucky and Lorna who both blushed to Chloe and looked away.

"Then you don't refer to her that way?"

"Dat's none o' you business. You know not'in' o' da Cajun ways. Mind you self an' back up an' out 'Tacii," Chloe spat.

"Whatever. I'm just surprised. I wasn't aware Lucky was even straight. Unless he's in denial about it… most pretty boys are. So I'm just gonna go ahead and assume all you're boys are in the closet, and Bree hate to burst your bubble but chances are real good you'll be a mattress for the football team!"

Everyone's eyes grew wide as they silently listened to the exchange between the two middle Xavier sisters. Chloe's hand shot out and smacked Stacii hard across her face. The sound reverberated off the kitchen walls. The force of the slap was enough to split Stacii's bottom lip wide open.

Chloe breathed deeply a few times, trying to will herself calm, before she looked across the table into her daughters innocent eyes.

"Maman," Bree started in a quiet voice, "why would Bree b' a mattress? Bree t'ought she was a femme? An' m' bubba's ain' in non closet! Dey 'tandin' right 'ere in da kitchen… 'Tacii you non 'mart et all, even Bree can see dat wit' 'er pre'dy ruby eyes!"

Sasha looked down the table to where Stacii sat rubbing the red mark on her cheek.

"Question," Sasha said to Stacii. "Wann they shot Bambi's mutter, did you find that a sad moment... at all?"

"I'm sure she's mounted on a nice wall in a fine home somewhere," Stacii replied, making a quick exit out of the room.

Hank walked in immediately after, taking his usual seat next to Sasha. He was either unworried or didn't care if Sasha lashed out at him. It was simply something he had gotten used to over the years having been around as many pregnant women as he had. This just happened to be one of the few days that Sasha was in a happy mood.

No sooner had he sat down did Sasha pass him his customary twinkie under the table and he quickly stuffed it into his pocket. Both he and Sasha knew that Chloe didn't like people to have sweets between meals so they began to hide the exchange.

Stacii reappeared in the kitchen a few minutes later.

"Oh Stacii," Sasha called. "Just so you know, while you're living in this haus, you'll be acting as mein secretary. Y'know, taking calls, typing, making copies, and other such like."

Stacii stared incredulously at Sasha. "Like hell I will!"

Logan extended his claws and brandished them at Stacii. "You will and you'll like it!" Stacii cowered slightly.

"And Ich took die liberty of providing you with a work space," Sasha continued.

"Great," Stacii replied sarcastically.

Sasha smiled broadly. "By die way, I'd liebe a cup of kaffee."

"That's very funny."

"Two sugars in mine," Lorrie called.

"Cafe Mocha here." Chloe added.

Sasha smiled broadly, crinkling her nose slightly. "Atonement's a bitch, ain't it?"

"God, I hate my life," Stacii grumbled.

Logan sat up straight in his chair and. "Oh, you hate your life? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar!" Everyone, with the exception of Stacii and Logan, burst out laughing.

Lunch was soon had and everyone adjourned out onto the veranda. Hank sat in the chaise lounge pouring over a file he had brought out with him. He flicked his large eyes over to a nearby picnic table where Tandy and Bren were cuddling and talking quietly.

"Tandy, we need to talk," Hank said, drawing everyone's attention, "and seeing as your only 15 years old -- and therefore a minor and without parents -- Sasha, Chloe and Lorrie are technically your legal guardians by having taken you in. I will also need to get information from you."

"What's up Hank?" Tandy asked quizzically.

"You best sit down child, you as well Emma," Hank continued, his voice taking on a bit of a fatherly tone. "Logan, Remy, Kurt...I'd highly suggest you have your ladies near you and sitting as well."

The guys exchanged a quizzical look and complied. Kurt reached out tenderly, thankful that Sasha didn't push him away for once when his arms encircled her waist. He was even more surprised when Sasha leaned back into his chest and sighed pleasantly.

"What are you talking about Hank?" Emma asked warily, pulling up a chair.

"I'm getting to that Emma, brace yourself, I can hardly believe this myself," Hank then turned to Tandy and continued. "I have finished everyone's six month annual medical check ups and yours is the only one I found something on Tandy… some very serious life altering decisions will be made and not just by you, Tandy, but also by another individual." A multi-directional worried glance spread throughout the group. Hank continued. "Tandy, your training will be changed dramatically…" Hank was suddenly cut off.

"Just tell me Hank!" Tandy said, exasperated and more than a little freaked.

Hank sighed heavily. "Tandy, you're two months pregnant."

Tandy eyes began to roll into the back of her head as she trembled. Sasha, Lorrie and Emma all shook in their own shock and everyone's eyes drifted to Chloe in fear that she might go into early labour.

"No! She can't be! She's just a baby herself," 'Ro said, slumping back into her seat as Bishop took his wife into his broad arms.

Lorna took that moment to step out with her little buddy Bree trailing in her wake. "What's going on?" Lorna asked, seeing the surprised expressions on everyone's faces.

Lucky pulled his girlfriend Lorna and his lil sister into his lap. "Tandy's pregnant" Lucky whispered into Lorna's ear. Lorna almost choked, a hand flying up to her forehead.

Bree climbed off of Lucky's lap and approached Tandy. "Dat's wrong!" Bree chimed. "You non suppose t' 'ave bebes til A'TER you married! Non b'fore! I know cause m' Maman 'old me, she don' lie ever… an… mais… You 15… ewwwww!" Bree squealed and went into a full body shiver.

Hank picked the lil girl up and placed her in his lap. He reached into his pocket and retrieved the twinkie, handing it to Bree. Cece then reached out and moved the little girl over to her lap. With Bree momentarily distracted with the snack cake, Hank returned his attention to the med file.

"Alright Tandy, I need to know the specifics, starting with who the father is?" Hank had a pen poised over a blank sheet of paper.

"I… I dunno?" Tandy whispered quietly.

Sasha shot out of Kurt's embrace. "What do you mean you weiß nicht?"

"Just how many guys have you been with?" Lorna asked, stunned and not really sure she wanted to know the answer.

"Do you normally make a practice to sleep with a lot of guys?" Emma looked like she was about to faint.

"Wad, da 'ell, were you t'inkin' t' b' wit' more den one guy?" Chloe interjected, rubbing her temples.

"You're only a kid Tandy!" Lorrie added, herself in just as much shock as the other women.

Tandy looked up to everyone, looking a bit calmer than she had been a few moments before. "It's either Bren's or…" She paused a moment and looked down briefly before looking over to Remy and Chloe. A slight smile crept across Tandy's lips as she spoke. "Or it's Punk's!"

All eyes turned to look at Punk. He himself looked ready to pass out at any moment. Chloe looked over to her son, her eyes rolling back, and screamed in horror before losing consciousness.

Remy began to ugently fan his wife's face in an attempt to wake her.

Stacii, in her ever inappropriate ways, burst out laughing. Kurt silenced her laughter with a strong flick of his tail, raising a large, red welt on Stacii's leg.

Tandy looked at Chloe's slumping form. "Can you say 'over-reaction'?"

"Can you say 'sucking chest wound'?" Sasha shot back.

Bree screamed out in horror, tears running down her soft cheeks, and flew out of Cece's embrace. "NON NON! NON M' BUBBA!" Bree slapped Tandy hard with a tiny hand. Bree then turned and ran over to hug Punk who was still shaking from shock.

Sasha moved over and took Punk into her arms as Emma was doing the same with Bren. She held her nephew close to her and rocked him back and forth. Lucky, Dutch and T-Bird came over with some beers in a vain attempt to help calm their brother.

"Hey," Sasha whispered into his ear in a tone so low that only he heard. "If you wanna cry, then cry. Let it out schatz...let it all out." And with that, Sasha felt her shoulder become wet with Punk's salty tears. Punk began to shake harder, so Sasha gently rubbed his back.

"Tandy, vy did you do zis to our nephewz, not to mention Remy and Chloe's son?" Kurt demanded on behalf of the rest of the family.

"Nduh!" Tandy replied. "Punk's got status in the south, being from royal blood parents. He's got ungodly loads of cash from both families. He's built and looks like an absolute Adonis rock and roll god! Punk's worldly, travelled and cultured with an awesome French-Southern accent! And his Father is one of thee original X-Men, the very best of the best, the very elite of all the old X-fractions. Where as Bren...he also looks like a god and he has a castle in England, he has European status, his father ran one of the fractions. And Bren's older! In both cases they both came from mothers of the late great founder Charles Xavier, thee most highly respected genius mutant political figure of all time! So why wouldn't I want them both!"

Bishop, who seldom said anything, flared up. "How dare you use these boys this way!"

"If you t'ink f'r un second you gonna get any o' da LeBeau or Punk's Maman's fortunes den you got an'oder t'ing comin' cause Remy et Gambit can make sure you never see anyt'ing! Fur'dermore you ain' gettin' Bren's funds in tru't ei'der!" Remy seethed. Chloe, who had now started to come around, wept silently in her husbands strong arms.

Bren, having somewhat gotten a grip on himself, looked over to Punk still crying in Sasha's arms. "Punk I had know idea you were even seeing Tandy."

Punk choked back a sob and sniffed. "I was b'fore you got 'ere f'om England."

Bren shook his head in distraught. "Man I'm sorry, I am so fucking sorry!"

There was a few moments of silent reflection before Tandy suddenly burst out.

"Hank, I want an abortion!"

Everyone's mouths dropped open in shock.

"Non!" Chloe said firmly, wiping away a tear. "In ei'der case dis is ei'der m' great niece or nephew, or m' …" Chloe trailed off, unable to find the strength to said the word 'grandchild'. Suddenly Chloe bolted into the house making a beeline for the bathroom just inside. The adult women followed her.

A few moments later, the women returned, bringing with them a somewhat pale Chloe.

"Tandy I canna deal wit' you rig…"

Lorna leaned over and whispered into Chloe's ear. "I got your back Maman Chloe, it's a done deal."

Chloe half smiled at the girl. "You a good'un Lorna… Em, Sash, Lor, if it b' Bren's I can only suggest we handle dis like we did when b'fore Bren came. If it b' m' son's den I'll deal wit it on m' own. I'm 'is Maman it m' situation 'lone wit' Rem 'oney's. Mais I am open t' suggestions t'ough."

Sasha drew Chloe into a sisterly embrace, though it was an awkward embrace given that both women were very pregnant. "We understand Chloe but if you need help, you come to us and we'll be there, you know that."

"I know… I know, an' t'anks I appreciate dat" Chloe returned the hug. Meanwhile, neither Bren nor Punk said anything, still lost in their own turmoil.

"Tante Chloe," Bren started softly, "I've never been so sorry in all my life, to ever cause anyone this kind of pain. Tante Sasha, Auntie Lorrie, Mum Em, Onkle Kurt, Uncle Logan, Oncle Remy...god, I am so damn sorry…" Bren trailed off as a fresh wave of tears washed over him. After a moment, he found his voice again.

"Tandy, I ain' sayin' we're over but I am sayin I need you to back off! I got some stuff to sort out on my own right now. We'll just take each day as it comes."

There was several moments of silence that followed and at the end of the silence, Chloe wordlessly stood, pivoted on her heels, and strode away towards the forested area on the back of the property.

Sasha titled her head up to Kurt and whispered as she watched Chloe move away. "I'd suggest some Oreos dunked in orange juice, but maybe she's over that phase."

Punk watched as his mother walked away from him, and he screamed out, charged a rock with what was perhaps a little too much kinetic energy, and threw it high into the air. The shattered stone shards, almost minescule, fell back to the ground.

Remy, Kurt and Lucky spoke to each other in hush voices. Sasha could only make out snipets of the conversation. Kurt was instructing the older kids to go out for the evening to the Tavern.

After the teens began to filter away, Sasha turned to Remy. "I'll see to it that Dutch, T-Bird and Bree have supper tonight. You go see to my big schwester. She really needs you right now… and Remy?"

"Tanks Sash an' wad?" Remy replied.

"Just so know… Chloe herself told me long ago… she never did make a better choice in her life then when she chose you to be the man in her dreams. You, in every way, live up to the image in her mind."

Remy hugged Sasha tightly, choking back his tears, before stepping off the porch and going in search for his hurting wife.

------

Remy and Chloe appeared in the kitchen about forty-five mintues later. Chloe seemed to be doing a bit better than earlier. Sasha had just finished making a fresh pot of tea when the pair walked in.

"Oh sis, you gonna be alright?" Sasha asked, drawing Chloe into a hug.

"I dunno Sash, right now I jus' wanna eat… where are m' bebes?"

"Bree's watching a movie that Lorna had gotten, don' worry it passed Logan's G rating, and Dutchy and T are playing video games and inhaling pizza. I never realized that teenage boys have such hollow tummies. Yours are like hoovers, and the twin towers have gone out to deal with stress," Jubes explained.

Logan stepped through the patio door.

"Wad you doin' Claws? Remy et Gambit gonna 'tart da BBQ pit."

"I was 'bout t' do the same Gumbo, grab some beer," Logan replied, heading for the barbeque utensils.

"You may need beer dude! Remy et Gambit need whiskey!"

"Think I'll join you guys," Bishop added.

"I agree," Hank chimed.

"Oh yeah," Bobby added, following the other guys.

"Right behind you brozer. I keep ze good ztuff in my office like you do. Be viz you zhortly," Kurt said as he got up and headed to his office down the hall next to Remy's.

While everyone else headed outside, Sasha found herself diverted by Chase and Taryn walking into the kitchen.

"Wo you zwei been?" Sasha asked "You missed some major excitement."

Chase and Taryn exchanged a look between them.

"May we have a word with you?" Taryn asked slowly, sitting down at the table.

Sasha smiled slightly. "Have a sentence even."

Chase mirrored Sasha's smile as he took a seat next to his wife. "I'm not gonna beat around the bush, Sash," Chase began "We've known each other too long, and I respect you too much to play such games with you."

Sasha arched and eyebrow questioningly. "That's good to know."

Chase took a deep, cleansing breath before continuing. "We...that is to say, Taryn and I...we're moving out."

Sasha sat up straight in her chair. "What? Wo did this come from?"

"We feel it's time to move on, Sash," Taryn interjected. "We found a little house in Long Island."

"But warum?" Sasha reiterated.

"With your family having moved back, we just feel like the odd man out," Chase explained. "Besides, we had planned on starting a family soon and we would just hate to be in the way...I hope you understand."

Sasha reached out and covered Chase's hand with hers.

"Natürlich Ich do, but that doesn't mean Ich have to like it," Sasha said softly. "You zwei are mein best friends. I'm gonna miss you terribly, and I'm sure a lot of die kinder will as well."

Chase and Taryn smiled.

"Wann were you planning die move?" Sasha asked.

"By Friday," Taryn replied simply. "We figure, the quicker the better."

"Freitag? But that's only fünf days away?" Sasha replied, more than a little panicked. "That's hardly enough time to give you a proper going away party."

"Oh, Sash, you don't haveta do that," Chase smiled slightly. "We'd just like to do this as low key as possible."

"Okay, okay," Sasha conceeded, "If you insist. I'm just gonna miss you terribly."

"Hey," Taryn cooed. "You'll still see us...you're my therapist remember?" Taryn giggled, to which both Chase and Sasha joined in on.

Finally, the trio moved out to were the others stood around the picnic area. Everyone was soon in formed about Chase and Taryn's plan, and the goodbyes started anew.

Discussions soon turned to the opening of the Wicca school and shop. Dinner was had, and not long afterwards, both Sasha and Chloe found themselves getting drowsy.

They rose and turned to head to their rooms, but not without first insisting that the guys must've put something in their food. Everyone had a good laugh, and Remy and Kurt accompanied their wives upstairs.

------

Late Thursday evening, not long after Chase and Taryn had retired to their room for the night as they would be moving early the next morning, Sasha pulled Kurt upstairs and into the apartment. She shoved her husband inside, closed the door tightly, and locked the door.

Sasha aprroached her husband and ran her hands lightly all over his body, making a trail of kisses down his neck.

"Vho zprinkled YOU viz horny duzt ziz morning?" Kurt gasped.

Sasha stopped her kisses long enough to look up at her husband and smile impishly. "Kurt, honig, I'm horny...what are you gonna do about it?"

Kurt cast his eyes to the ceiling and smiled. "Zank you, Lord!"

Suddenly, he pounced on her.

------

Sasha and Kurt were woken up shortly after 3am by an incessant pounding on their door. Pulling on their housecoats, Sasha and Kurt answered it, only to find a very out of breath Dutch and T-Bird.

"Tante," T-Bird huffed.

"Maman's having da bebe," Dutch puffed.

Sasha's eyes grew wide as she pushed past the two youngsters and ran down the hall as quickly as her pregnant self would let her, Kurt, Dutch, and T-Bird trailing in her wake.

Despite the fact that Sasha was six months pregnant, she moved like a bat out of hell towards the infirmary. Just as she skidded into the room, Sasha found that everyone else was already in attendance. She took the seat nearest Chloe, everyone else having backed way up due to the threats Chloe had made to certain members of the crowd. The only one who she didn't push away was Sasha. She just sat there, keeping a cool cloth on her sister's forehead.

Chloe was in labour until well after dawn. Stacii and Tandy, in addition to running errands for everyone, continued to complain that the labour was taking too long and that they had better things to do. Their comments were quickly silenced by the telepathic voice of Jon in addition to the nasty glares they were receiving from everyone in the waiting room.

Soon, Chloe's contractions began to come more frequently -- and she started to threaten certain vital organs on Remy's body -- and she was moved into the delivery room.

Chloe and Sasha had discussed some time ago that Chloe had wanted Sasha to be with her when she delivered. Sasha was a little apprehensive but seeing as though she would be going through it herself in a few months, she agreed.

Chloe went through her Lamaze breathing while Hank and Cece set the stirrups up against her feet. With Remy and one side of her and Sasha on the other, Chloe breathed through her pain.

Lorrie walked by one of the monitors.

"Okay Chloe, your dialated up to 8 centemeters, you're almost ready to begin."

Sasha smiled slightly. "Didja hear that, sis? Acht centemeters, way to dialate!" She heard Remy chuckle under his breath. Chloe just glared at her.

"I woul'n' talk dere sis, you gonna be doin' dis soon youself!"

Chloe continued with her breathing over the next ten minutes while Remy and Sasha took turns feeding her ice chips.

"Okay," Hank interjected, coming around to look at Chloe. "You're ready."

Lorrie took her place between the stirrups and looked up at her sister.

"Okay, bare down!"

------

Forty-five minutes later Sasha, Lorrie and Cece emerged, all bearing tear streaked cheeks and smiling broadly. Everyone burst to attention when the delivery doors opened and Remy strutted out, smiling just as broadly -- if not more -- than the girls.

"Da bebe is 'ere, mes amis!" Remy announced.

"Wad is it paw?" Lucky exasperated.

"Remy et Gambit ain' sayin' fils. You Maman get's dat pleasure, she can' go t'rough all o' wad all y'all seen 'er go t'rough an' not get t' deliver dat surprise an' not jus' da petite bebe, you know," Remy smiled. He pulled out a handful of cigars from the pocket of his trench coat and began to pass them around.

Chloe soon emerged and the baby, a boy, was passed around, just as Lucky and Bren had been, oh so long ago. He was introduced as Saber-Paien Drago Austen, aka Ti Wildman and everyone ooed and awed and cooed at the baby before finally adjourning to the kitchen for a light brunch.

Sasha only really half listened to the conversations going on as she moved around the kitchen fixing brunch. As per usual, Hank passed by and Sasha slipped him his customary twinkie. The pair smiled a secret smile to each other and went on about their business.

Bree and Jubilee sat nearby talking about the monsterous sizes of the LeBeau boys, and Bree came back with a comment that was reminicent of the old Chloe.

"Oui, dey do kinda take up lot o' room don' dey" Bree giggled and looked from her brothers.

Sasha chuckled under her breath. "Bree, you sound more and more like your Mutter everyday!"

"'Ey now! Dere maybe tonnes o' wannabe's mais dere's only one, original, Coco-licious!" Chloe replied laughingly.

Suddenly, Sasha felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her, and she stumbled. Reaching out, she leaned on the counter for a bit of support. Kurt had seen this and was the first to react, flying to his wife's side in a flash.

"Are you alright, my luv?" Kurt asked in a panicked tone. This drew the attentions of everyone else in the room.

Sasha took several deep breaths before replying.

"Ich bin feines, luv." Sasha looked up at her husband. "Things just went a lil wonky for a moment. Ich think I'm gonna lay down for a bit. Lorna, if you would be a schatz?"

Lorna jumped up from her seat. "Of course, Tante," and she immediately picked up fixing brunch where Sasha had left off.

Kurt, with a strong arm around Sasha's waist, escorted her upstairs.

------

"Kurt?" Sasha called. The blue mutant mumbled incoherently in his sleep. "Kurt," Sasha reiterated, more forcefully this time.

Kurt's face was mushed against his pillow. "I'm zleeping."

"It's time."

"For vut?" he asked without opening his eyes.

"I'll give you eins guess."

Kurt's eyes suddenly flew open and he sat up in bed, grabbing his communicator from his bedside stand. "Kurt to Hank, it'z time."

Hank's sleepy voice crackled over the comm unit. "Relax, my friend. Can she stand?"

Kurt turned to look at Sasha, who was already standing and halfway to the apartment door.

"Yez," he reported dumbly.

"Then I suggest you report to the infirmary," came Hank's voice. From the inflection in his voice, it was obvious he was smiling.

"Vut about Zazha?"

Hank chuckled. "Her, too."

Kurt nodded and got out of bed "Right, of courze." Kurt deactivated his communicator. "Maybe ve zhould bamph dovn," Kurt suggested and looked up at his wife just in time to see her disappear out the door. Quickly, he grabbed his housecoat and ran ofter her. "Hey, vait for me!"

Ten minutes later, Sasha and Kurt found themselves down in the infirmary. Hank was examining Sasha carefully.

"Hmm..." the fuzzy, blue mutant said.

Kurt raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Vut do you mean by 'hmm'?"

"You're going to have a very healthy baby...but not tonight," Hank reported simply.

Sasha sighed heavily. "Tell me you're joking."

"You're experiencing false labor, Sasha," Hank replied, smiling slightly.

"Again?" Kurt said, he too sighing heavily.

Hank shook his head in amusing frustration. "As I explained the last time it's a common occurrence... especially among Xavier women."

Sasha sat up. "Ich want this thing out of me now!"

"Misdirected rage...another common occurrence among Xavier women." Hank found himself having to dodge Sasha's payful smack.

Kurt leaned against the gurney. "Can't you induce?"

"I wouldn't recommend it," Hank replied.

"If ziz keepz happening, ve'll never get any zleep," Kurt remarked, looking to his wife.

Hank smiled broadly. "You think it's bad now?"

------

"When?" Lorrie asked, crossing the kitchen to the table.

"4am," Logan laughed.

Chloe shook her head and giggled. "'Ow many false alarms does dat make?"

"Three that we know of," Logan reported. "That baby is as stubborn as it's mother."

Lorrie laughed. "Bobby's running a pool to see who can guess the actual date and time of birth."

Chloe took a sip of her tea. "Tell 'im t' put me down f'r nex' friday, 11pm...I 'ave a feelin' about dat number." She smiled broadly.

------

The coming months brought with them Dutch's fourteenth birthday and the newest addition to the household -- a 7 year old irish boy named Deaglan -- and Lorrie and Logan couldn't've been any happier that the adoption had gone through. Bree wasn't exactly thrilled with the notion of another boy in the family, but she quickly learned to accept it and soon the two of them became the best of friends.

One evening in mid October, Sasha sat out on the veranda with Logan enjoying the evening air. It was raining slightly and a light breeze was blowing. Sasha was lovingly caressing her tummy.

Sasha looked up at the darkening sky. "Ich do liebe die rain so. It reminds me of mein erste kiss."

Logan took a swallow of his beer. "Ah, you're first kiss was in the rain?"

"Nein, die shower," Sasha said, smiling. She then looked down at her bulging abdomen. Y'know, I'm beginning to think that I'm going to be schwanger for die rest of mein life...just like it said in die yearbook," Sasha remarked off-handedly.

"Stubborn little bugger, isn't he?" Logan mused.

"Y'know, Ich think he or she's found out about die rest of die familie and has decided to stay inside where it's safe."

"Who's safe?" Lorrie asked, walking out and handing her husband a beer.

"The baby," Logan explained, "Sasha doesn't think it'll ever be born.

A sudden chill sudden swept across the porch and Sasha shivered. Logan, seeing this, rose from his chair.

"Okay, time for you to go inside, this cold air is not good for either you or the baby."

Sasha didn't offered any argument as Logan pulled her out of the chair and ushered her inside. Truth be told, she was getting a little tired anyway, so as soon as she was inside, she made a beeline for the apartment.

------

Halloween soon came around and, as the mansion's residents were getting ready for that evenings costume party, Sasha had decided to take a break and take Bree to the upstairs playroom that had been built for the soon to be youngest addition to the house -- that being the child she carried.

"C'mon, Tante Boo Sasha!" Bree chirped as she dashed ahead to the corner and back again. "Wanna play inna toy room!"

Sasha smiled at her only niece's youthful exuberance. "Tante's coming as quick as she can, sweetling. You're just getting too fast, like that Speedy Gonzalas!"

"Oui!" Bree began running circles around her. "Imma da fastest mouse inna all Meh-he-co!"

Sasha chuckled and muttered, "That's right, use up that energy. We're takin' a BIG nap today."

She was in plain sight of the playroom door, Bree dancing about anxiously waiting for her to open it, when the nagging backache that had been plaguing her for the last few days suddenly ripped through her body. Sasha gasped and slapped a hand against the wood panelled wall as the sudden pain curved around to her hardened belly. She gritted her teeth and hissed.

"Tante?" Bree asked as she came closer. "C'mon, Tante. Go play!"

Sasha tried to breathe through the spasm and eventually it began to subside. She took a very deep breath and tried to find her peaceful center.

Bree tugged on her hand. "Tante! C'mon!"

She could feel another spasm coming. "Sweetling, do you remember where Onkle Kurt's office is?"

"Uh-huh." she brightened up. "'E got co'kies in da desk!"

"Y'know, Ich think if you run to Onkle Kurt's office as fast as you can and tell him Tante needs him, he might let you have a cookie."

"Oui?"

"Tell him," she panted as her belly constricted sharply, "Tante's having a baby."

"K." Bree looked at her curiously and pointed. "Uh-oh! Tante, you wet y'self."

"Bree, run and get Onkle Kurt! Ready, set, go!" She waved the little girl off. The child pelted down the hall, arms flailing.

------

"ONCLE!" Bree yelled at the top of her young lungs. She looked around the polished room with its sleek furniture and walls of colourful artwork. The toddler walked around the desk and pulled open a drawer, reaching in for the bag of Chips Ahoy cookies she knew was there. Bree left a very noticable trail of crumbs.

Happily, she took a big bite out of one cookie as she reached back in the bag, stuffing two more cookies into her pockets and grabbing a third for her free hand. While she munched on the chocolatey cookie, a thought occurred to her. Tante said she was suppose to tell someone she needed help. Bree frowned. She wasn't sure where any of the grownups were. They moved around too much. There was only one place everyone always seemed to be. She brightened up and raced out of the room.

Panting, the toddler labourously skidded across the floor of the kitchen. The only person in there right now was Hank. Running full speed at the furry, blue mutant Bree ran headlong at him.

Hank felt the wind get knocked out of him by the self-propelled four-year old. The child sat on his chest and looked down at him.

"Oncle 'Ank, Tante need you," Bree said firmly.

Removing the toddler, Hank stood back up and tried to catch his breath. "What's wrong?" he puffed.

"Tante wanna me t'get Oncle Kurt but he not dere so I got you cuz Tante's havin' a baby and she non look so good," Bree said in one long breath. "So you gonna help Tante?"

Hank's eyes grew wide as he processed this garbled information. "She's having a baby? Where?"

"Inna da toy room," Bree answered soberly.

"Hang on, Bree," the blue mutant said grimly and bounded through the house.

------

Sasha managed to get as far as the corridor intersection when the next pain hit. She cried out and grabbed the wall. Remy and Kurt were just rounding the corner of the hallway when they heard her and came running.

"Brozer...?" Kurt said as he helped Sasha to stand.

The sauve mutant pulled out his cell phone. "Callin' 'Ank right now, mon amis."

Sasha panted, "Wo's Bree? Ich sent her to your office."

"She couldn't find Kurt," Hank called, sprinting up the hall. Everyone stared at him coming towards them with Bree in the crook of his arm. "So she found me instead." He set the little girl down and took Sasha's other arm. "Are you all right, my dear?"

"As well as could be expected," she answered, smiling weakly.

"Petite need to get t' da infirmary," Remy said to Kurt. "It better if petite walk. It'll speed up 'er dilation." He looked at Kurt's puzzled expression and smirked. "I 'ave been t'rough dis b'fore, y'know."

"Remy, my friend, I want you to page Lorrie and Cece and have them meet us in the infirmary, then get everyone else into the waiting room."

Remy nodded and scooped up his daughter, making his way back down the hall, quickly. "Come, petite chere." Remy cooed to Bree. "I see you've been in Oncle Kurt's drawer. You go' cookie crumbs all over you face."

Kurt looked up at Hank hopefully. "Tell me ziz izn't anozer falze alarm."

Hank smiled broadly. "My friend, it looks like this just might be the real thing!"

Fifteen minutes later, nearly thirty figures sat strewn around the waiting room. Sasha had just been wheeled into the delivery room -- Kurt and Lorrie accompanying her. Hank hung back a moment to speak to the gathered crowd.

"I've already gone over this with Sasha, but I wanted to make you all aware of this as well." Hank paused for a moment. "As you know, this has been a difficult pregnancy for Sasha, and taking her history into account it may very well be a difficult delivery."

"Wad you mean, mon amis?" Remy asked, concerned for his sister-in-law.

"What I mean is that if things don't go as smoothly as I hope they will, and the baby's life is in jeparody, I may have to go in after it. I promised Sasha when this had all started that I'd do whatever it took to make this happen for her."

Chloe looked up at the blue mutant. "Are you talking 'bout an operation?"

Hank nodded.

Stacii, in one of her rare moments of concern, spoke up. "An operation? Operations are bad." She looked over at Chloe. "Do you remember our cat, Fluffy. He died during an operation."

"'Tacii, Fluffy fell out o' a tree. Dey were tryin' t' sew 'is head back on," Chloe replied. She then looked back to Hank. "Do wad you need t' do, 'Ank...work y' magic!"

Hank nodded silently and disappeared into the delivery room.

------

"Try to relax, Sasha," Hank coaxed.

"If you tell me to relax one more time, I'm going to rip your fuzzy, blue head off!" Sasha hissed as she tried to breath steady.

"I hope you don't intend to kiss your baby with that mouth," Hank said under his breath as he went on with checking the monitors.

Cece looked up at Sasha from her position between the stirrups. "Okay, Sasha, we're as ready as we'll ever be. You're fully dilated, the baby has dropped into the birth canal and I can just see the crown of it."

Sasha took a deep breath and licked her lips. "Okay, just let me know wann." She then looked over at Kurt, who was shifting nervously from foot to foot. "Gimme your hand," Sasha demanded.

"Vy, are you in pain?"

Sasha glared up at her husband. "Nein, I'm feeling romantic!"

Kurt allowed Sasha to take his hand for comfort. "I can't believe it."

"Oh...believe it!" Sasha gritted through her teeth.

"I might actually vin!"

"What?"

"Ze baby pool. I guezzed today. 10:30am."

Sasha stared at Kurt incredulously. "I'm soooo glad Ich could accommodate you!"

"You're doin' great, honey," Lorrie smiled, brushing a bit of matted hair off Sasha's forehead. Lorrie stood on one side of her and Kurt stood on the other. Sasha started to smile back but then her eyes widened and she crushed Kurt's hand in a death grip.

"Okay! Contraction, deep breath, hold it and push!" Cece said encouragingly. "C'mon, girl! Keep up the pressure!" She looked at the fetal monitor. "Okay, contraction fading, let it out, and breathe. Good girl!"

"Ow!" Kurt flexed his hand and Sasha glared at him.

"Ow?" she growled. "Let's change places and you'll know what 'Ow' is, blue knabe!"

Cece and Hank exchanged an amused look. It was a conversation they'd heard a number of variations on over the years and it was a nice bit of normalcy in an otherwise stressful situation. The monitor started to register again.

"Okay, let's focus! Here comes another one! Deep breath, hold it, push-push-push-push!"

Kurt was gamely letting Sasha squeeze his hand again.

Cece kept her attention on the delivery. "All right, release breath and relax." She smiled up at the parents. "We've got a head and shoulders. One more big push and I think we'll have a baby here."

"You're doing great, luv," Kurt murmured as he kissed her forehead. She was too busy panting to do more than nod. She clenched her teeth.

"Here comes another one. Breathe...hold it...big push now!" Cece put her hands out to help ease it out.

Sasha pushed with all her might. "Lor," she said through gritted teeth, "Mutter was right...sex is bad!" Lorrie, Hank and Cece did their best to hide their laughter at the comment.

Sasha tried to summon whatever strength remained within her body to give one final push. In a moment, her body laxed, weak and tired from the pressure it had just recieved. A second later, a loud wail sounded from Cece's arms. She held up a tiny, mannequin-like figure bundled in a powder blue cloth and smiled. "It's a boy!"

Kurt smiled broadly at his wife as if to say "Zee, I told ya I knev ze gender of ze baby!"

Cece brought the swaddled baby around to Sasha and placed the bundle in the new mother's arms.

Sasha raised a shaky hand to move away a bit of cloth so she could take her first look at her son. Before her hand even reached its destination, a tiny pale blue tail snaked out from beneath the miniature blanket and wound around Sasha's wrist. Kurt and Sasha exchanged a puzzled expression before she opened the cloth, revealing a tiny blue baby with horn buds and white eyes.

"He'z beautiful," Sasha exhaled and smiled. "Abzolutely perfect in every vay." Kurt leaned down and kissed his family.

"It looks like we've got a mini Kurt on our hands," Lorrie giggled.

Sasha joined in her sisters giggling until her expression suddenly dropped and she drew in a sharp, deep breath.

"Luv?" Kurt said, concern filling his voice. "Vut'z vrong?"

"Take die baby," she said sharply, drawing in another breath. "Take die baby!" she re-iterated, more forcefully this time.

Kurt quickly divested his wife of their newborn son, handing the child off to Cece, just as all the monitors fizzled to life again. Hank, Cece and Lorrie flew around the room, checking various readouts.

Sasha whimpered and thrashed her head from side to side. "AUGH!" she screeched as a new, fresh pain resonated down her body, her eyes crackling a deep green from the stress.

"It's another contraction!" Lorrie exclaimed, taking Cece's place at between the stirrups. "C'mon... Push. Push. Push," the eldest Xavier sister coached from between the stirrups.

"ICH AM PUSHING!" the tiny blonde screeched, her bangs matted down with perspiration. "Kurt! You're NEVER touching me again! NEVER!" Sasha grasped tightly onto the sides of the gurney, her knuckles white from the pressure.

Lorrie smirked at the comment, glad her expression was hidden by the hospital mask on her face. "One more push, sis. Just one more," Lorrie coaxed.

Suddenly, a loud klaxon sounded from the fetal baby monitor.

"The baby's in distress!" Hank announced, flying to stand next to Lorrie, There's something wound around the baby's neck. Judging from the first one, I'd say it's probably its tail." Hank flicked his eyes back and forth between Sasha and Kurt. "If we don't get the baby out soon we could lose it. I'm afraid an episiotomy is the only solution!"

Sasha and Kurt exchanged a look between them.

"Save mein baby!" Sasha whispered before another pain shot through her.

Hank looked down to Lorrie and said firmly, "Cut her." Lorrie reached in to perform the episiotomy. "Keep pushing." Hank gestured to Cece with a toss of his head.

Cece stepped up to Sasha's other side. She looked at Kurt and said, "Do what I tell you. We're gonna help her push. You support her back." Dumbly, he nodded.

Hank looked around the room. "Everyone ready?"

"I'm catching," Lorrie announced. "Okay, one last push, Sasha. C'mon, girl! Deep, deep breath...hold it and...PUSH!" Cece and Kurt raised Sasha into a partially sitting position while Cece applied steady pressure to Sasha's abdomen. Lorrie suddenly dove in. "Here we go! It's out!" Cece, Hank and Lorrie huddle together between the stirrups.

Sasha gave a hoarse cry as the hard bulge in her stomach gave way. Kurt eased Sasha back on the bed. "It'z going to be okay. I'm viz you." The blue mutant reached over to the surgical tray, grabbed the cloth that laid there, and wiped the tears and perspiration from his wife's face.

Sasha nodded and looked up at Kurt. He looked like he was ready to cry himself at any second. He put his head down next to hers as she curled a weak arm around his neck and they both started to weep.

Across the room, a high, lusty wail began. All the medical personnel stopped what they were doing to listen. Sasha and Kurt were so consumed by comforting each other that they didn't notice until Lorrie was standing right in front of them. She grinned.

"Mom, Dad," she said solemnly. "It's a girl." She laid the squirming newborn across Sasha's chest.

Sasha and Kurt stared in disbelief for a few seconds. They both reached out and touched the tiny baby. She was the same colouring as her brother with the very same horn buds, eyes, and tail. Both babies, unlike their father, had four digits on their hands and feet. The hair, both sandy blonde. She screwed up her face and gave another indignant yell.

Lorrie smiled "We'll give the four of you a few minutes alone before we clean the lil ones up." With that, all three of the medical professionals made their way out of the delivery room, heading towards the waiting room to inform those nervously waiting.

Sasha held her little girl in the crook of one arm while Kurt laid their son in the crook of Sasha's other arm. Sasha couldn't stop smiling. She glanced up at her husband. Kurt had a fairly dopey grin on his face too. He fingered the babies uncurling damp tails, miniature replicas of his own.

"Zey are going to be good climberz," he commented hoarsely. "Ziz iz kind of a zhock. I vuz expecting only von baby." He bent down and gave her a good long kiss. "Vay t' go, Mom."

Sasha smiled indulgently at him. "So, what should we call them?"

He ran a gentle finger through the boy's dark blonde curls. "Ve could name him for your fazer...after all, he vaz ze reazon ve met."

"How about Michael Charles?" Sasha offered, then looked to her yawning daughter "And this eins...I've always liked die name Virginia Ann."

"Zey zound just perfect," Kurt kissed his wife again. "Perfect namez for perfect babiez!"

Sasha looked down at her newborn son and cooed. "Who's your daddy? C'mon, you know who your daddy is. Who's your daddy? Honig, tell him who his daddy is."

"I'M your daddy," Kurt said proudly, laughing. Kurt tossed a look over to the delivery room doors. "Y'knov, zere's a vhole room full of people vaiting to hear about vut'z going on."

Sasha smiled broadly, "Well, what are we waiting for...let's roll!"

------

The waiting room was filled to the brim with people eager to meet the new arrivals. The doors opened and Hank rolled Sasha out in a wheelchair. The babies, both wrapped back up in their blankets, were nestled in the crooks of her arms.

Chloe gave her tired sister a warm hug, but was startled when Sasha had passed both babies to her. The babies tails snaked out from beneath their blankets again and everyone looked as puzzled as Sasha and Kurt had been. Sasha reached over and unwrapped their blankets completely, revealing the tiny, pale blue, four-fingered forms of her children.

As usual, Stacii gave a disgusted look at the babies and wordless left the room. Bree, who was too short to get a good look at the babies, wasn't able to see. She sniffed the air slightly.

"Wad 'mell like bleu?" she asked to no one in particular. Everyone laughed out, but quickly stopped when the babies gave an indignant yell.

Chloe giggled. "I t'ink Bree bebe means bleuberries...at leas' dat's wad dey 'mell like to me. Dey are so cute! Must take a'ter m' doux bebe bleu Papa?"

"Gee danke sis!" Sasha giggled slightly.

"Ya welcome," Chloe looked around the room innocently, "an' 'ey Rem 'oney we gots us two more youngin's t' our brood. Ummm… petite sista-chicka where all y'all bebes Sash? Dese are ours. 'Ey Rem 'oney dey da bes' bebe's yet t', non labour f'r me, non not'in tis tres magnifique, non?" Chloe giggled wildly.

Remy hugged his wife and smiled broadly. "Oui mon chere amour dese da bes' youngin's, an' on da up side, chere no 'ave t' put Remy et Gambit oui dis Pere t' in 'is place nie'der!" He ended laughingly.

"Hey now, ok, those zwei are mine!" Sasha replied in mock anger. "You zwei both got a whole heap of babies over there and Remy told us more is coming Chloe so gimme these zwei back! Furthermore, you haven't seen die end of your waddling ducky days either Coco Puff, so ha ha ha ha ha HA!"

"'Kay, you win dis time Sash, an'… huh! Uhhh… HEY? Mais wad's dis 'bout me 'avin' more bebes?"

"You damn 'traight mon chere amour!" Remy said proudly as he patted her tiny once again firm and flat tummy. "S'il vous plait? Remy et Gambit t' amours Maman's bebe work."

"I'll t'ink 'bout it mais don' get ya 'opes up" Chloe said exhaustedly, giggling slightly.

"Dat's all Remy et Gambit ax's."

Chloe returned her attention to Sasha. "So why ya wanna me t' sit 'ere, Sash?"

"'Ich figured, seeing as you have been such a huge help to me during my expectancy, and Lorrie being a nurse got to be in there, it was only right that you should be die next to hold them," Sasha explained.

"T'anks Sash dat mean's tonnes t' me petite chicka… now wad's dese two names?" Chloe asked pushing the blankets back a lil bit.

"Well, your neffe name is Michael Charles and your nichte name is Virginia Ann...sorta a tribute to Mutter and Vater," Sasha announced.

"Tres ultra cool! I got's me a Mickey an' a Ginny, sounds like a party t' me!" Chloe giggled wildly, sending everyone else into a downward spiral of giggles with her.

Sasha looked up curiously at Hank. "So warum didn't die test show zwei babies?"

"Sometimes, they hide behind one another and in rare cases, their hearts beat as one. When that happens, it's hard to distinguish them," Hank replied, smiling warmly.

"Oh mein gods!" Sasha gasped slightly, "Ich just realized something. I'm gonna have milk coming out of me! This is gonna be like having bacon come out of your elbow!"

"Don't worry, sis," Chloe smiled, "Dere's not'ing t' it."

Sasha looked over to the kids. "Ich bin traurig for messing up your Halloween party plans...looks like Ich won't be able to help you finish getting things around."

"Dat's okay, Tante," Dutch replied.

"Yeah," Deaglan added "You got 'nuff to worry 'bout tonight...we promise not to be loud."

"Y'know, a thought occurs to me," Kitty chimed in, "the twins were born on Samhain...we got three magickal babies in the fam!"

"T'ree?" Lucky asked questioningly.

Sasha smiled. "Of all people, Ich really thought you'd be die eins to remember your own birthday, Lucky."

"June 21st, wad's so special 'bout it?" Lucky replied.

Sasha, Chloe, Lorrie, Remy, Kitty, Jubilee, Emma, Penny and Ro all replied in one, unified voice.

"That's Coamhain!"

Bree looked up with her innocent eyes. "Wad's S'm'ain an' Co'm'ain?"

Sasha smiled and opened her mouth to clarify but found herself quickly silenced by Deaglan's invading voice.

The small, Irish boy turned to his young, adoptive cousin. "Samhain is Halloween. It's when some people celebrate and honour everyone that's died that year. It's also when the veil between the spirit and mortal realms are at their thinnest. Coamhain is the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, and some people are able to talk with the Fae."

"That's very good, Deaglan," Sasha praised, hugging to boy to her. "Wann did you get to be so smart?"

"Hey, I'm from Ireland," Deaglan smiled "In Ireland, if you don't know these things, they put you on a boat and ship you to England!" The boy smiled broadly and winked at Bren and Emma jokingly.

Sasha laughed and hugged Deaglan to her again before a big yawn over took her.

"Well," Hank chuckled "looks like momma's all worn out, what do you say you get some sleep, eh?"

"Sounds like a plan, Cookie Monster," Sasha giggled, yawning again. Hank chuckled under his breath as Chloe returned the babies to their mother and he wheeled the trio back into the infirmary.

Sasha rested for several hours before Hank finally released her and the babies.

Sasha, Kurt and the babies weren't seen for the rest of the day and night as they bonded up in the apartment, and the kids were true to their word when they had promised to keep the noise level to a bare minimum.

------

Chloe and the others were down in the kitchen when Kurt showed up the next morning. "Mornin'!" she said brightly. "It 'bout time y' got up!"

Bobby looked around anxiously. "Where's Sasha and the twins?"

"Zey're fine. Zey're up in ze apartment, havin' a "snack" and getting ready for ze Wiccaning tonight," Kurt smiled and made an air quote with his fingers.

Chloe held up a hand. "Before y'all go rushin' off, Rem 'Oney an' I planned a lil bebe 'hower for right after da bebes wiccaning."

"That's a marvelous idea," Jubilee said, faltering, "but we didn't get her anything."

"That's okay," Lorrie said. "We Xavier's have a 'do-fer' gift-giving tradition. I usually make a lil certificate for free-babysitting or offer to cook dinner for a few nights. Sasha's going to be really tired for a while and anything you can do to make things a little easier would be appreciated."

Logan looked thoughtful. "I wonder if I can make it to Chinatown and back."

Chloe snapped her fingers, remembering something. "Oh yeah. I 'ave a message f'om Taryn f'r ya, Kit-Kat. Chase is bringin' it.' Wadever dat means."

"Great!" Kitty grinned and rubbed her hands together. "Well then, I'm off to feed the fur-babies." She strutted off, whistling.

"That's interesting," Bobby commented. He looked at his wife. "Well, Jubes, if you'll write it up, I'll be happy to cook a few meals."

"See, dere's nuthin' to it!" Chloe said. "Wad you t'ink, Kurt?" She looked around. "Kurt?"

Jubilee pointed to the door. "I think he's gone back up to the cave."

------

Kurt let himself into the quiet apartment. He padded through the rooms nervously, twitching his tail. His worries were for naught; Sasha was curled up asleep with Mickey and Ginny in the crook of her arms. He smiled and crawled into bed to admire his children. Mickey had his fist crammed in his mouth and seemed very content with his situation while Ginny twitched her tail slightly, most likely dreaming. Kurt uncovered the babies to inspect them. Their little tails flexed occasionally. The twins seemed larger than a regular baby.

He looked over to see Sasha watching him sleepily. She smiled and said, "Making sure they're really here?"

"Yeah," he said sheepishly. "Hov are you? Feeling better?" He gave her a kiss.

"I'm little sore, but Ich weiß nicht," she looked at her children, "do they seem bigger to you than any of die other babies were?"

"Huh," Kurt thought about it. "Maybe it'z juzt a phaze."

"Maybe, we'll have to wait and see." Sasha sat up and stretched before rising to her feet and barricading the twins in with pillows.

Kurt looked at the bed and frowned. "Zat doezn't zeem very zafe to me. Ve zhould zee bout fixing up ze old nursery." He pointed to the door leading to the nursery that had been built for Bren when he was a baby.

"I'll mention it to the guys."

------

All day, Kurt had been wondering how Chloe was going to spring the party on Sasha. Sasha showed every sign of wanting to go back to bed. The new family was up in the apartment getting ready for the Wiccaning, the front door was slightly ajar. The phone rang and Sasha picked it up.

"Hallo, Chloe." She listened intently. "Okay, we're almost ready, we'll be down at the chapel in a few minutes."

There was a small group of people clustered by the door and, although they couldn't see what was going on inside, what they heard was nothing short of hilarious.

"Zazha, leave it alone, it'z mine."

"But it just hangs there lifelessly. Let me fiddle with it, I'll straighten it out."

"For God'z zake, Zazh, you're going to pull it off... Nov it'z too long."

"Most women like it that way."

"I don't care vut vomen like. I'm ze von zat haz to lug it around."

The door then opened wide, surprising the few people that stood there, and Kurt stepped out. Around his neck was a navy blue tie that was tied too long. Lorna and Tess giggled and moved on down the hall. Sasha stepped out behind Kurt carrying Ginny in one arm and Mickey in the other. She herself was dressed in a deep green a-line dress.

The quartet made their way slowly down the hall. Sasha wasn't waddling anymore but wasn't quite up to running marathons yet. Kurt couldn't help laughing at her.

"You try having a couple babies, buster," Sasha said crossly, "and we'll see wei you walk afterwards!"

"Oh, no!" Kurt protested. "I like my part of it juzt fine, zank you." He let Sasha walk in ahead of him.

Sasha and Kurt stepped into the chapel a few minutes later. Standing at the front of the room, in front of the wiccaning basin, was Lorrie, Chloe and Stacii. Stacii didn't exactly looked thrilled to be there but it was yet another of the duties that had been forced upon her. The rest of their family and friends sat in the frontmost pews and turned upon the quartet's entrance. Everyone was dressed in their Sunday best.

With Kurt holding Ginny and Sasha holding Mickey, the new family approached the pulpit. Once they reached the front of the room, they turned around to look at the spectators.

In a clear voice, Sasha addressed everyone.

"Kurt and Ich...we've come to a decision concerning Mickey and Ginny's taufpaten...godparents...and we'd like to invite them up to die front to take part in die wiccaning."

Everyone exchanged a multi-directional glance, each one wondering who had been chosen as godparents.

Sasha smiled broadly. "Lucky, Lorna...will you bitte join us?"

Both Lucky and Lorna smiled with pride, and a glance at Remy and Chloe revealed that they were feeling the same way. The twins were passed into the two teens arms, allowing Sasha and Kurt to take their places on either side of the basin of holy water.

Sasha and Kurt both scooped up a bit of the water and sprinkled it over their children's foreheads then laid hands on them.

"Blessed be your breath. May your breathing be deep and relaxed. May you breathe in power with every breath. Blessed be each breath you take," Sasha said.

"Blezzed be ze fire inzide you. May your vill be unbroken, and may it be az ztrong az fire, and az zupple. May your vill be az ztrong az vater, and az zupple. May your pazzion burn truly and free. Blezzed be your fire, may it burn ztrong," Kurt continued.

"Blessed be die waters of your life. May your blood be strong. May die flow from your loin be joyful and fertile. Blessed be all your life-waters. Blessed be die earth of your body. May your muscles be strong and fearless. May your heart beat with liebe, soul, vigour and courage. Blessed be your body which is die body of a God and Goddess," Sasha added.

"Blezzed be your zpirit. May you alwayz have health in zpirit. May you be vhole. Blezzed be your zpirit," Kurt spoke again.

"May you always have community. May you be prosperous in all ways. May you liebe and be liebed. May your voice -- both your complaints and special offering to die world -- be truly heard," Sasha said.

Sasha and Kurt spoke this time in unison.

"May you always be surrounded by the warmth of family and community. May you know the innate goodness of your being. Blessed Be."

"You, mein dear kind," Sasha said lovingly to her son, "are, always and forever, Michael Charles Xavier-Wagner."

"You, my darling baby girl," Kurt said to his adorable daughter," are, alvayz and forever, Virginia Ann Xavier-Vagner."

Mickey and Ginny screwed up there faces and gave a simulataneous indignant yell, causing everyone to laugh out.

With the ceremony now over, everyone made their way out of the chapel. Lucky and Lorna continued to hold onto the twins. Sasha and Kurt moved to head to the kitchen but they were suddenly redirected into the sitting room by Chloe and Lorrie's restraining arms.

Stepping into the sitting room, the new parents found a banner stretched over the fireplace bearing large violet letters that spelled out the word:

Congradulations!

Sasha stopped a few steps inside, her eyes growing wide, and put her hands over her face. "Oh, mein...what's this?"

Logan's chair was pulled out into the center of the room along with a table laden down with colourful packages. A second table had a cake and party foods on it and everyone had mischievous expressions on their faces. Chloe grinned and sidled up next to her sister, Ti Wild perched on her hip. "Surprise!" she said softly. "It's a bebe 'hower!"

Sasha looked back at Kurt leaning up against the doorway with the twins. "You knew!" He shrugged and smiled back at her.

Logan came over and escorted her to his chair. "Here now, darlin'. We saved you the best seat in the house. You shouldn't be on your feet so much."

Sasha smiled at everyone. "Well, danke! Danke, everybody! This is a surprise!" She sat down gingerly in the easy chair that took on the aspect of a throne.

"Well, ya didn't t'ink ya wouldn't get one, did ya?" Chloe asked.

"Wann did you find time to do this?" Sasha asked, still stunned.

Lorrie smiled broadly. "It's been a long time in the making. We were just waiting until you delivered so we knew what little details to finalize."

Remy walked in at that moment. "Hey. Wad kind o' party is dis? Dere's no booze an' only one 'ooker." He smiled broadly at Sasha. In response, Sasha smacked him upside the head, and they both laughed hard.

Suddenly, a gust of wind and snow blew in from the foyer and ceased almost immediately. In a moment Chase and Taryn walk in hand-in-hand, shrouded in Eskimo parkas and pulling a large, sheet-covered something on wheels.

"Wow, it's brisk out there!" Chase commented, unzipping his coat. "Looks like winter's come early."

"Are we late?" Taryn asked.

"Non," Chloe answered. "Who wants t' go first?"

Kitty rose and went to stand next to Chase and Taryn. Kitty spoke.

"Not long after Chase and Taryn moved on to other things, we felt that we wanted to do something extra special so we went together on this gift. I thought of it and did the decorative bits, Chase built it out at his place and Taryn did the fancy carving." Kitty looked at Chase and he whipped off the sheet in a grande flourish.

Sasha gasped. "Oh, it's beautiful!"

Made of glowing, burnished cedar, the handmade, double-wide crib had an unusual headboard made in the design of a triple cresent symbol, carved to follow the grain of the wood and entwined by a ivy vine. The bedding was soft blues, lavenders and gentle greens.

"She's speechless," Taryn quipped with a smile.

"Yeah," Chase said. "I think she likes it."

"Well, Elf, don't just stand there." Logan gestured impatiently. "Put the babies in there and let's see how they fit."

The blue mutant gently laid his tiny son and daughter in the crib and stood back to admire it. "Zankz, guyz. It'z perfect."

Sasha pushed herself out of the chair and came over to give each of her friends a hug and kiss. "Oh, it's wonderful! Danke so much!" She eyed Logan's expression. "What's wrong with you?"

Lorrie laughed. "He lost the baby pool."

"'Ey, I've been meaning t' ask," Chloe said from across the room where she stood with Remy. "Who did win dat?"

Bobby sighed and rolled his eyes, flipping open a small pocket book. "Well, for once it wasn't Remy but it might as well have been." He flipped past a couple pages. "The winner, with a single bet of sixty-nine cents, two legos and a Crispy Crunch chocolate bar, is Miss Bree LeBeau. This is the last time I give in and let a child bet, I swear." He looked up at the roomful of amused faces. "I was railroaded. She looked at me with those big, ruby eyes, held up her two hands full of change and said, 'Pul-leeze, I wanna play too!'"

Chase cracked up. "So what was the total up to?"

"This one was the biggest yet," Bobby said. "One thousand, nine hundred, seventy-nine dollars and sixty-nine cents. Half going to Bree, and half to the twins."

Lucky stepped up to the new parents with a large gift bag and grinned. "This is from me and Lorna."

The blue mutant grinned and took the bag. He pulled out the top layer of tissue paper and peered in the bag. He glanced at Sasha and started snickering.

She covered her eyes. "Oh, Lord. What did he get you?"

"Ziz boy knovz how to zhop!" Kurt proclaimed with a mischievous gleam in his eye. He pulled out a large T-shirt with the OCC logo on it. He read the back. "Orange County Choppers, NY.'"

Sasha smiled and asked, "Is that all that's in there? That's a pretty big bag."

"Oh, zere'z a lot of ztuff in here." Kurt dug in the bag, froze for a few seconds, and started shaking with laughter. Before anyone could ask, he held up two baby-sized black leather jackets with a OCC logo, two small T-shirts to match Kurt's, and two squeaky rubber motorcycles. He put the toys in the crib next to the babies. "Luvz, your cousin'z ztarting you off right!"

Sasha rolled her eyes. "Well, we know what Mickey and Ginny's going to be wearing wann you dress them!"

Kurt arched an eyebrow at his wife. "We're gonna be ztylin!'"

"Me, I like practical presents," Lorrie said, handing Sasha a card. "For the next two weeks, I'm going to be with you from sunrise to sunset to help take care of the twins."

Jubilee handed Sasha a card as well and put an arm around Bobby. "We have decided to be your personal caterers. Bobby and I are going to cook and clean for you."

Bree ran over and leaned against the chair. "An' I'mma gonna be a tres, tres bien femme," she said soberly.

Sasha gently kissed her only neices forehead. "Oh, Bree, you already are a good girl!"

"Until you ready," Punk said cheerfully, "Soeur de lil, Deaglan and I are gonna spend our days toget'er. Sorta like practice for da future."

"Tante?" Bree chimed "Guess wad I and Deaggie did t'day?"

Sasha's eyes twinkled. "Ich weiß nicht, what did you and your cousin do today?"

"Deaggie an' I gots t' draw on a grande papier in Bubba Lucky's room," Bree said as she crawled into her aunts lap. "An' we ate cholit an' Lucky ate even more den we did an'..."

Lucky cleared his throat. "Soeur de lil, Lucky t'inks dat's quite enough."

"An' den Lorna came in an' we had t' take a nap..."

A slow flush of pale pink began to creep along Lucky's cheekbones. Lorna was trying unsuccessfully to bite back a growing giggle. Remy and Chloe were watching their eldest son's discomfort with identical smirks.

"An' when we woke up, we went to find Bubba Lucky an' he was sittin' inna chair wit' Lorna an' dey were kissin'..." She listened intently as Sasha whispered in her ear. "Oh. Okay." Bree snuggled into the crook of her aunt's arm.

"Sorry, Lucky," Sasha said. "Sometimes Ich get more information than Ich really need." Bree giggled.

One after the other, people kept presenting their gifts to the new family until all that was left on the table was one large box. It took both Remy and Logan to maneuver it so it was placed in front of Sasha. She opened the card first.

Sasha cleared her throat, and read the card out loud. "Gratulation on your zwei new bundles of joy..." She then opened the card. "Did you ever find out wer die father was? Luv Coco-puff, Rem 'Oney, and familie."

Everyone burst out laughing as Sasha playfully smacked Chloe.

Both Sasha and Kurt tore open the package and groaned at what laid inside. Reaching in Sasha pulled out a foot-long talking Barney toy.

"Warum? What did Ich ever do to you?" Sasha asked her sister.

"D'ya wan' da answer alp'abetically or c'ronologically?" Chloe giggled.

Sasha looked back down into the box. "It's all Barney stuff. Natürlich, Ich hope you realize...this means war?"

"I wouldn' have it any oder way," Chloe admitted.

------

About a week later, Sasha and the twins appeared in the kitchen, mother looking more than a little worse for wear. Chloe, of course, was in her usually cheerful mood.

"OoOo mornin' petite chicka fille-sista, gimme gimme m' Ti is 'leepin'" Chloe said to Sasha as she relieved Sasha of her cargo.

Sasha glared hard at her cheerful sister. "Y'know...it should be illegal for you to be this cheerful so early in the morning. I almost feel like punting you for distance." Chloe stuck her tounge out at Sasha and divested her of the twins and handed a steaming cup of coffee to her sister. "Danke for getting kaffee on Coco," Sasha gave her sister a half smile. "Mickey had us up all hours… upset tummy… y'know what that's like. Ich had only gotten him to sleep a half hour ago so Ich could work on my lesson plans and he just woke up again."

"Been dere lots m'self... 'Ere Oncle Remy ya take da 'appy petite fille Ginny. Tante Boo 'ere is gonna see if she can get Mickey t' 'leep f'r 'is Maman."

"Sure t'ing Tante Boo Coco, gimme dis petite 'ere" Remy happily took his niece from his wife's arms and began to play with the softly cooing baby while her lil blue tail wrapped itself sweetly around her Uncle Remy's fingers.

Kurt soon sauntered into the kitchen holding his head, being deprived of sleep for the last few weeks by one or the other, if not both, of the babies proved to be more than a little draining on Kurt.

Remy and Chloe exchanged smiles, both being old pros at babies and had learned how to avoid sleep deprivation, but Kurt and Sasha were very new to parenthood of this magnitude. It was obvious Chloe was finding the situation extremely funny, but she was also the sensitive type.

"Ti Kurt, Petite Soeur, wad you say Coco et Remy et Gambit take dese two youngin's off you 'ands f'r t'day, an' you bot' get some real 'leep?"

Kurt and Sasha looked to Remy and Chloe who beamed brightly and giggled, nodding their heads. Sasha and Kurt hugged Remy and Chloe, overly thrilled with the idea of getting some real sleep.

"Rem 'oney an' I are taken all our bebes, Lorna, an' dese two as well int' da city t' do some shoppin' an' jus' 'ang out. Is dere anyt'ing you bot' need picked up in town?"

"Can't think of anything Coco but danke so much! Ich do liebe mein babies but Kurt and Ich are in desperate need of sleep. They can be such a handful. We weiß nicht how you zwei do it," Sasha replied, feeling the tiredness in her body wanting to take over.

"You bot' will get da 'ang o' it, it jus' take 'while. All y'all is doin' great." Chloe said encouragingly.

"But bitte, remember to keep them covered. People wer aren't used to obvious mutants might try to do something to them," Sasha cautioned.

Chloe nodded her understanding, took away Sasha and Kurt's cups, and ushed them out of the kitchen. With kisses to each of their children, Sasha and Kurt dashed back upstairs, making a beeline for their apartment.

------

Sasha and Kurt returned to the kitchen shortly after 5:30 that afternoon. Even though both looked better rested and seemed to be in moderately good spirits, they seemed to be having some sort of disagreement.

"For die last time, Kurt, Paul from die Wonder Years is not Marilyn Manson," Sasha said forcefully.

"And I'm zaying he iz. Have you ever zeen zem in a room togezer? Zink about it," Kurt replied.

Lorrie chuckled lightly and looked to her husband. "Y'know what this reminds me of? Chloe and Remy's argument over what exactly Goofy is...remember?"

Chloe sat up straight. "Goofy's a choit...non two ways 'bout it!"

"'E's a t'inga-ma-jig!" Remy shot back defensively, laughing slightly.

Sasha looked back at Kurt and lowered her head in defeat, but when her eyes landed on Mickey and Ginny, she brightened up again. She took both her babies and sat in a seat in the back of the room so she could feed them in private. Once both twins were filled up, Sasha began to help Chloe get the table set for their own meal.

Conversations soon turned to the wiccan classes starting the following day.

"All you kids need to bring tomorrow is just yourselves, a pad of paper and a pen to make lists in all of your classes," Lorrie announced.

"Why lists?" Alison asked curiously

"Because when classes are done at 4:30 we'll all be going to the opening of Chloe's shop and then you can get everything for your classes from there!" Penny interjected.

Sasha smiled slightly. "Personally Ich can't wait to see die shop. All die hours you have put into it Chloe, it'll be awesome! Ich know Ich for eins will be taking advantage of it and stocking up big time!"

"T'anks I'm lookin' f'rward t' it m'self," Chloe replied.

"It's also a great opportunity for all the students to now learn on sight and by asking questions," 'Ro interjected. Everyone agreed.

"Oh, hey Logan," Sasha called across the room. "Before Ich forget..." Sasha was quickly cut off.

"If this is about the baby formula that I snagged from the fridge last night -- sorry. I was feelin' a little peckish and it was that or decaf coffee. By the way, baby formula and Kaluha? Not as bad as it sounds."

Sasha smiled shyly "Ummm, Logan, Ich weiß nicht wie to break this to you...but that wasn't formula."

"Really, what was it?"

"Breast milk," Sasha replied simply. Suddenly, Logan began to dry heave. Remy started laughing so hard that he nearly fell off his chair. "Here, broder," he said, passing a beer over to Logan. Quickly, Logan twisted off the cap and downed the majority of the bottle.

After dinner, the LeBeau kids were the mark of surprise when 'Ro, Penny, Lorrie and Sasha presided over the wiccaning for each of the LeBeau boys.

Sasha went first and approached Lucky with a large, hand crafted wooden box. He looked up from where he sat and looked to his aunt quizzically, making her smile.

Lorrie then approached Punk holding a large, trunk-like box and she also received the same look from him that Sasha had gotten from Lucky. Lorrie smiled proudly to Punk.

'Ro, in turn, approached holding a black, leather bound chest in front of Dutch and received the same look as she smiled sweetly to him.

Penny then stood in front of T-Bird holding a wood box-like trunk with cast iron corners and got the same results.

Chloe then got up and had Lucky stand up with her. She then turned to Sasha and unlocked the wooden box. Chloe looked to him while Sasha presented him the boxed items.

"As a former member o' da four elements, an' da chosen one by 'Pirit it self t' be it personal vessel f'r all da magickal workings o' da Triquatra. Wit' full blessings o' m' si'ter an' fellow witch, Jade 'Awt'orn, who 'as now 'ereby relinquished 'er title o' da element o' da Nort' t' pass on t' a new generation o' magick t' you Lucky. I Passion pass ont' you by way o' 'Pirit t' you Lucky now 'older an' governs da Powers an' all it elementals o' da Nort'!" Chloe said in a loud voice. Chloe then sprinkled the box with a bit of holy water.

"May all you workings be pure o' 'eart an' blessed!"

Lucky teared up and reached out, hugging his mother and aunt. Sasha and Chloe then spoke in unison.

"Welcome child and may you never follow the wrong path!"

Sasha then handed over the box to Lucky then returned to her seat next to Kurt. Chloe moved on to Lorrie.

"As a former member o' da four elements, an' da chosen one by 'Pirit it self t' be it personal vessel f'r all da magickal workings o' da Triquatra. Wit' full blessings o' m' si'ter an' fellow witch Kry'tahl S'adows who 'as now 'ereby relinquished 'er title o' da element o' da Sout' t' pass on t' a new generation o' magick t' you Punk. I Passion pass ont' you by way o' 'Pirit t' you Punk now 'older an' governs da Powers an' all it elementals o' da Sout'!"

Chloe repeated the water sprinkling.

"May all you workings be pure o' 'eart an' blessed!"

And they both spoke in unison.

"Welcome child and may you never follow the wrong path!"

Punk's reaction was much the same as Lucky's had been, and Lorrie returned to her seat by Logan.

Chloe moved on to 'Ro.

"As a former member o' da four elements, an' da chosen one by 'Pirit it self t' be it personal vessel f'r all da magickal workings o' da Triquatra. Wit' full blessings o' m' si'ter witch Cele'te Windwalker who 'as now 'ereby relinquished 'er title o' da element o' da Ea't t' pass on t' a new generation o' magick t' you Dutch. I Passion pass ont' you by way o' 'Pirit t' you Dutch now 'older an' governs da Powers an' all it elementals o' da Ea't!"

Chloe sprinkled the water again.

"May all you workings be pure o' 'eart an' blessed!"

Chloe and Ro spoke in unison.

"Welcome child and may you never follow the wrong path!"

Chloe then came to Penny. Emma joined the pair in front of T-Bird.

"As a former member o' da four elements, an' da chosen one by 'Pirit it self t' be it personal vessel f'r all da magickal workings o' da Triquatra. Wit' full blessings o' m' si'ter witch Raven Silvercloud who 'as now 'ereby relinquished 'er title o' da element o' da We't t' pass on t' a new generation o' magick t' you T-Bird. I Passion pass ont' you by way o' 'Pirit t' you T'Bird now 'older an' governs da Powers an' all it elementals o' da We't!"

Chloe sprinkled the water again.

"May all you workings be pure o' 'eart an' blessed!"

In unison, Chloe, Penny and Emma spoke.

"Welcome child and may you never follow the wrong path!"

Chloe then moved to sit down next to Remy.

Now that the ceremony was over, Sasha was feeling confident that she had choice correctly to pass on her element to Lucky, and she knew he would be a good element holder.

"Wad's dis Passion?" Lucky asked curiously.

"Passion is your mutter's Wiccan name," Sasha interjected, coming to sit with Chloe. "That's just who your mutter is! Many years ago wann my schwesters and Ich erste came to this haus everyone here found out our Wiccan names. Your other Tantes and mein codenames are different then our Wiccan names. BUT your mutter's codename and Wiccan name is die same! Because in all actual fact, your mutter is, without a doubt, Passion to its fullest and purest extent! You kinder have seen only eins side of her passion in her mothering abilities but we here have all seen so very many sides of her. You kinder just wait! Eins day you all will see die pure raw unadulterated Passion and wer your mutter really is aside from just being your Mutter!"

At that point, Everyone adjourned inside and prepared to have a bite of dessert before scattering for the evening.

------

Sasha's classroom was already filled with students by the time she arrived. Sasha moved swiftly up to the front of the room, her dark green robe billowing in her wake. Clutched in her arms, she carried a large, leather-bound book nearly six inches thick. As Sasha passed the students, she could hear many of them snickering. When she reached the desk at the front of the room Sasha slammed the book on the desk and suddenly the tittering stopped. Turning around Sasha saw the wide-eyed, frightened expressions of the students. "Good morgen everyeins, welcome to Wiccan Laws. Ich am Lady Jade Hawthorn, you may call me Lady Jade."

"Good morning, Lady Jade," the students chorused as if they were one voice.

Sasha began to walk amongst the desks. "Wann we are within these vier walls Ich am not your friend, or Tante, or therapist...Ich am your teacher. Is that clear?" Sasha waited a beat for the students to nod their understanding before continuing. "Are there any questions before we begin?"

Lucky raised a tentative hand. "Tan...I mean, Lady Jade, why do dey call you dat name?"

"Lady is a title I earned from all mein years practicing die Craft; Jade is die stone that Ich am most strongly drawn to, and Hawthorn is mein totem tree," Sasha explained.

Bren raised his hand next. "What do you mean, totem tree?"

"Every tree or shrub has particular meaning. Hawthorn is often associated with ancestors and faery lore, chastity, hope, and pleasure. Totem trees, as well as power animals, is something we'll be looking at a little later in Divination class."

Several of the boys had begun to laugh under their breath when Sasha had mentioned chastity and pleasure. Sasha quickly silenced their laughter when her eyes sizzled a deep green. After a few seconds, and after the laughter stopped. Lucky stared incredulously at his aunt.

"You got...dat's serious power."

Sasha smiled warmly. "But it's good-witch power. Y'know, Glinda-in-a-bubble power, not Margaret Hamilton-on-a-bicycle power." Several of the students giggled slightly. Sasha continued. "Okay, now on to business. Erste off, we're gonna take a look at die Dos and Don'ts of Wicca...everyone bitte take out a blank sheet of paper and take notes."

As the kids all began to prepare for note taking, Sasha moved around to the black board and began to write.

"Alright, erste and foremost, a witch's erste priority is to dispell all die stereotypical pre-conceptions about Wicca. In real life, Witches are vastly different from those you've seen in movies and television and what you've read in many fictional books. In real life Witches do nein hurt people, take illegal drugs, work evil magick, tell lies, fly in die sky on broomsticks, eat babies, kill or abuse animals, get into sexual perversions, drink or use blood in any way, take part in criminal behaviour, pervert symbols of other religions, summon demons, worship die Christian Devil, believe in die Christian Hell, brainwash people into joining us, use Satanic symbols, attack people, always work magick, ever practice a spell they don't fully understand, use magick to show off, interfere with another's free will, and above all, they do nein call themselves Warlocks."

Alison raised her hand slowly. "Lady Jade, why aren't they called warlocks?"

"Very simple. Die word 'warlock' means truth twister' and as Ich mention before, Witches do nein lie...however, real life Witches do believe in God as a universal force of positive energy, honour all religious paths, believe that we are all one, believe in prayer, believe in karma, live in harmony with others, use common sense, work within a protective circle, believe in reincarnation, and finally, they believe that there is no one right way to worship divinity."

For the next half hour, Sasha continued to explain the intricacies of Wiccan laws, taking the time to define an odd word here or there.

"Okay, as I'm sure you've already been informed by your previous teachers, each of you will be required to have a blank Book of Shadows with you by tomorrow," Sasha motioned to the massive book sitting on her desk, "They will look somewhat like this, and can be picked up in Passion's shop at die end of die day. Merrry meet and merry part, until we merry meet again."

The kids looked at Sasha in various stages of confusion, causing Sasha to smile broadly.

"That means 'class dismissed'," Sasha giggled.

The students mirrored her giggle and went on to their next class.

------

The end of the school day came more quickly than anyone expected, and both students and teachers alike headed on down to the shop. Sasha, of course, made a beeline directly for the books. "Hey, how old do we have to be to buy the athames and bolines? Is there an age restriction?" Sasha had heard someone ask.

"All y'all kids are old 'nuff, includin' you T, mais keep in mind dey are t' b' used only in da case o' when you are performin' magick!" Chloe explained as she moved around to stand behind the check out counter.

"'Sides" Sasha chimed in, "you kinder won't be practicing spells for awhile."

Bren stepped up beside Sasha and thumbed through a spellbook. "Oh man...Latin," Bren mused, looking at the foreign print, "one of those dead languages you always mean to learn!"

Sasha giggled and playfully smacked her nephew who was also laughing. In a moment, Sasha moved over to the ceremonial daggers and looked over the table. "Hey sis," Sasha called over to Chloe, "were you able to get that customized athame for me?"

"Abs-itively!" Chloe chimed as she reached under the counter and withdrew a small, wooden, rectangular, ornate box depicting flames. She set the box gently on the glass counter.

Sasha approached, several of the students sidling up next to her wanting to see the special order themselves, and she lifted the heavy lid. Inside, laying on a cushion of dark red velvet, was a twelve-inch double-edged steel dagger. It's handle had been intricately carved and depicted the image of a dragon, its snake-like tongue reaching towards a triple cresent symbol. The hilt curved down slightly, and the blade was wavy. Sasha picked the dagger up and cradled it in the palm of her hands.

"Is dat wad you were lo'kin' f'r, chicka?" Chloe asked slowly.

Sasha continued to allow her eyes to roam over the elegant blade. "It's perfect...exactly what I wanted!" she breathed.

Bren reached out and traced a finger lightly over the razor-sharp blade. "That looks amazing! Do you have any others with designs on them?" He looked at Chloe with a hopeful gleam in his eye.

Chloe giggled slightly. "I sure do, honeychilde!" and she led her eldest nephew over to the carved daggers. The other students followed close behind. All the kids then began to pick out athames and bolines for themselves.

"Chere order dose midlengt' swords?" Remy asked.

Chloe returned to the counter and produced a deep purple, jewelled-encrusted sheath with a twenty-inch steel sword nestled inside of it. "'Ere ya go Rem' 'oney," Chloe smiled. Remy pulled the sword from its shealth, the sharp 'Zing!' reverberating off of the walls, catching everyone's attention. Remy carefully looked the blade over, weighing it in his broad hands.

"Dat's awesome!" Lucky breathed and he smiled broadly. He stepped up next to his father. Remy flicked his wrist slightly and swung the sword in a grand X in front of him.

Remy smiled broadly. "Dat's got Remy et Gambit written all over it, mon amour! It will make a tres magnifique replacement f'r 'is old one."

"Dere ya go 'oney, and so it 'tays s'arp dere's a whet stone embedded in da sheat' dat keeps it sharp," Chloe replied, smiling.

"Maman? You gots any more o' dem blades back dere?" Lucky asked hopefully. Chloe retrieved a similar blade and sheath, this one black in colour, from beneath the counter. Lucky tested the sword just as his father had. Lucky looked to his folks. "Maman 'old on t' dis, dat's Lucky's!" he added, almost tearfully.

"Ya wan' it, ya got it bebe!" Chloe smiled as she set the sword and sheath aside. His mother's response set Lucky back a moment, but he quickly recovered and returned the warm smile.

As Sasha passed by her nephew, she gave him a gentle squeeze on his shoulder, silently telling him that she was proud he wanted to follow the Draconian path. With her basket filled with gems, herbs, talismans, and a few new books, Sasha approached the cash register were Stacii was ringing up everyone's purchases. Stacii said nothing as she went through each person's baskets, her face expressionless. Stacii had been acting odd over the last several weeks, but odd was usual for the residents of the mansion, so Sasha had pushed the behaviour to the back of her mind. Sasha found her mind being brought back to reality by Remy's silky voice.

"Chere sayin' Remy et Gambit gots a tight fist?"

"Ummm… oui," Chloe giggled, kissing him, "Mais not all da time, jus' when we go s'oppin'."

Sasha laughed. "So you're sayin' all die time then!" Chloe made a shhh-ing sound at Sasha, causing her to bite her lip to keep from laughing harder. Soon, Sasha's items were bagged up and she had Kurt bamph her and her purchases up to the apartment, leaving everyone else to their own devices while she put her things away.

------

A few days later, Sasha stopped by Chloe's classroom early one morning. Wearing her usual forest green work robes, Sasha carefully edged the door open. Chloe was deep in her music theory lesson. Sasha hated to disturb her sister while she was teaching, but she knew this was important. Sasha conspiculously cleared her throat, catching Chloe's, and indeed the students, attention.

"Oui Professor Jade, did ya need un o' da kids?" Chloe asked.

Sasha shook her head. "Nein! Ich apologize about disrupting your class Passion, but wann you have a moment, may Ich see you in die hall please?"

"Oui… Lorna, if you would watch da room, s'il vous plait. An' wadever you do, don' let all da older garcons 'tuff T-Bird int' da bass drum 'gain. I would 'pprieciate dat," Chloe giggled slightly before following Sasha out into the hall, shutting the door tightly behind the two women.

Sasha took a deep breath before beginning. "Okay, as you know, today is Bren's B-Day and this is die only time to get you without kids around before his party tonight. It's damn near impossible to get you alone. Anyway, die rest of us wanted to know what plans you had so we don't end up running each other over with different plans."

"Moi plans are secret, even Rem 'oney don' know m' plans, mais it will not interfere wit' anyone's," Chloe replied, her tone tinged slightly with seriousness. Sasha raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"What's your surprise sissy?"

Chloe grinned mischieviously. "Mais if I 'old ya, it wouldn' b' a surprise, silly! Non worries it all good."

Sasha eyed her sister carefully. "MmmKay… Well, Lorrie and Ich talked about this with Emma, and you had already left for class by then. We were thinking we would give Bren his trust. We wanted your input before we did anything seeing as we all have a right to Bren."

"If all y'all t'ink 'e can 'andle it, go f'r it!" Chloe said happily.

"Groß!" Sasha smiled broadly. "So… uhhh… can ya give me a hint about die surprise?"

"I wouldn' put money on dat Sash," Chloe laughed. "I need t' get back t' class b'fore da garcons dangle T-Bird out da window." Both Chloe and Sasha giggled wildly.

"Die knabe wouldn't do that sis, would they?"

Chloe arched an eyebrow. "'Ave you met all da garcons! Dey would all do dat in a 'eart beat!" Chloe, turned around and opened the classroom door. Before the door closed tightly behind Chloe, Sasha clearly heard her sister call out to the kids.

"Lucky, 'top pinnin' 'er in da corner an' let Lorna out o' dere, an' none o' dat kissy business durin' class time...an' Bren, Rictor, Longshot an' Dutchy, you garcons pull T back in 'ere right now, all y'all 'earin me?"

Sasha shook her head and laughed inwardly and she made her way back down the hall towards the kitchen where she had left Lorrie and Emma.

------

Later that afternoon, while everyone else was getting ready for Bren's party, Sasha went in search of Punk. Eventually she found him sitting out in the garden. His face was drawn and he was staring listlessly at a grouping of nearby flowers. He never even heard her approach until her foot stepped on a brittle twig, snapping it in two.

Punk tilted his head slightly. "You 'ere t' give me advice, Tante Boo?"

"It's what Ich do," Sasha replied, smiling slightly. Gently, she perched next to her nephew on the stone bench. The pair sat together companionably, in silence, for several long seconds. Sasha's training and years of psychiatric experience told her to let Punk make the first move, and soon it was he that broke the growing silence.

"I've made such a mess o' t'ings! Maman non talk t' me an' I 'ave non idea if I'm gonna be a fader or a cousin! And da wors' t'ing is, I t'ought Tandy amour'd Punk."

Sasha took one of Punk's hands within her hers, gently caressing it. "Nothing makes us more vulnerable than wann we liebe someone. We can be hurt very easily. But I've always believed that what you get wann you liebe someone is greater than what you risk. If das kind does turn out to be yours, just remember that you won't be alone in this, okay?"

"I know, Tante...but I non know 'ow t' be a fader," Punk's eyes started to glaze over.

"Nein eins knows wie to be a parent wann they erste become eins. It's nein a skill your born with..it's something you have to feel your way through." Sasha sighed heavily. "Bottom line is, even if you see 'em coming, you're not ready for die big moments. Nein eins asks for their life to change, nein really. But it does. So, what, are we helpless? Puppets? Nein. Die big moments are gonna come, can't help that. It's what you do afterward that counts. That's wann you find out wer you are."

Punk turned his gaze to Sasha. "Tante, Punk non dat 'trong." He sighed heavily. "M' life non supposed to be like dis!"

"Nothing in die world is die way it ought to be -- it's harsh and it's cruel. But that's warum there's us...Familie. It doesn't matter where we come from, what we've done or suffered, or even if we make a difference. Familes help each other to live as though die world was what it should be, to show it what it can be...to make it better."

Punk reached out and drew his aunt into a hug, holding onto her for dear life. "Everything will turn out alright in die end, you'll see." Sasha put a re-assuring arm around Punk's shoulders and guided him back into the house and into the kitchen were the party was being set up. Soon everyone heard a loud rumbling and a horn blaring at a nasty, ear-drilling level.

"What the hell!" Bishop said, startled, setting his coffee cup down. Everyone rose and made their way out to the front veranda just in time to see Chloe's Hummer come to a screeching halt at the bottom of the steps. Tessa was in the driver's seat and Clarice climbed out of the sunroof to sit on top of the vehicle. Tessa quickly scrambled up to sit next to her friend, both girls giggling wildly.

"Happy B-day Bren from your Tante Boo Coco!" Both girls shouted in unison.

Clarice laughed hard. "Damn this woman rocks!"

A second rumbling soon drifted on the air, causing everyone to look back up the driveway intime to see two low-rider custom Harleys coming up the long drive. One was being driven by Lorna and the other by a smiling Chloe. When the motorcycles came to a halt next to the Hummer, Chloe giggled and pointed up at the crowd. "Bren, garcon, fron' n' centre." Dutifully, Bren descended the stairs and approached his aunt, a quizzical expression on his face. Chloe proudly tossed the helmet and keys at him. "'Appy B-Day kiddo, now don' kill ya self!"

"Y-Ya-You-Your kiddin' me right?" Bren asked, his voice waivering slightly.

"Non amour, dis one is all yas Bren bebe...lock, 'tock an' barrel!" Chloe beamed proudly, hugging him. Everyone joined the birthday boy by the bike.

"Sweet ride dude! Tis tres magnifique!" Lucky praised.

"Glad ya feel dat way mon fil, 'cause…" Chloe stepped over to Lorna and tossed the other helmet and keys to Lucky. "Bren needs a buddy tearin' up da roads!" Chloe embraced her son just as she had her nephew. "'Kay now, I need cake, an' m' bebe…OoOo… an' m' Rem 'oney where is 'e? 'Ey! Dere ya are 'oney! 'Ow can I lose you t' b'gin wit'! You 6'4! It like 'tandin' next t' an' oak tree!"

"I agree, Chloe, an' Gumbo is 'bout as smart as one too!" Logan said. Chloe and Logan both laughed. Remy took a playful swing at Logan who easily evaded it.

The women-folk returned to the kitchen, leaving the men out in the front yard looking over the bikes. Soon, dinner was ready and Bree was sent to tell the guys.

"ALL Y'ALL ICKY GARCONS GIT IN 'ERE F'R FOOD OR IT GONNA SUCK T' B' YA! MAMAN SAY SO, AN' BREE GIT ALL DA CAKE!" Bree yelled out the front door. Everyone fell into fits of laughter at the little girl's youthful exuberance.

"That's it Bree!" Sasha smiled. "Das maedchens need all die help we can get to keep die knabe all in their place!" She high fived the little girl who was proudly making her way around the table to her seat next to her parents. Once everyone was seated, Sasha clinked her fork against her glass, calling for everyone's attention.

"Alright Bren, your Mutter Em, Tante Lorrie and myself...and ja even your crazy, wacky Tante Coco had a meeting and have decided you are old enough for this so…. Here" Sasha handed over a sealed envelope.

"What's this?" Bren asked, arching an eyebrow.

"This is a gift on behalf of everyone, even those who are no longer with us...especially on behalf of your grandparents Annie and Charles. This has been in the making for you since well before you were born," Lorrie explained.

"Open it Bren," everyone said in unison.

Bren looked to his family then to the envelope before he opened it. Reading the papers, Bren began to cry. Suddenly, Tandy snatched the papers out of Bren's hand.

"What is it?"

Chloe reached over the table and grabbed the papers. "I can tell ya wad it isn'! It isn' f'r ya, so 'an's off!" The papers were then promptly handed back to Bren. "Dis is under da under'tanding it is solely f'r Bren an' Bren needs, an' s'ould dis bebe b' yours Bren an' den it meant f'r ya an' you bebe...no one, an' we adults all do mean no one else! 'Cause if we find out o'derwise, some peoples will meet deir fate!"

Bren rose and hugged his aunts and uncles, thanking them profusely.

"Now that you have this Bren …" Lorrie was suddenly cut off by Chloe's bubbly voice.

"Now ya can quit dat job o' yours Bren! Ya got t' much potential an' I don' wanna see it was'ed! OoOo, an'oder t'ing… 'tay in classes b'cause if you don' grad I'mma kill ya garcon!" Chloe's words shocked everyone, just now finding out about Bren's secret job.

"I promise, Tante, first thing tomorrow morning...seeing as I don't have classes...I'll take care of that a.s.a.p. I hate that job anyway!" He ended laughingly as the rest all chuckled and giggled.

Sasha had been watching Punk carefully since their little talk earlier, and she was worried that all the focused attention on Bren was bothering Punk...and something told her that she was right when she saw Punk politely excuse himself and left. Bren had must've been thinking the same thing because a second later, he went after his cousin.

Tandy non-chalantly reached onto Bren's dinner setting and went to pick up the paperwork. Sasha, seeing what the girl was after, shot out and rapped Tandy's knuckles hard with a wooden spoon. "What die hell do you think your doing?"

"What!" Tandy replied in a mock innocence tone.

"Don't give uz zat!" Kurt sighed hard.

"Jus' cause we l'ok 'tupid don' mean we are Tandy!" Remy spat, taking the beer Logan was holding out.

At that moment, the boys returned. Punk had seemed to brighten up a little, and he made his way to his seat next to Sasha. Sasha gave him a silent look and held his hand under the table. She knew she'd never be able to replace his mother, truthfully she really didn't want to, but she did want him to know that she was there if he needed to talk.

"Ummm… I realize it's none of my business but… may I ask what that paperwork is, I'm just curious is all and lost in the conversation?" Lorna asked sheepishly.

"Sure Lorna, your a mature young lady and can handle this," Sasha replied. "It's Bren's trust fund. We had started it for him wann we erste found out Sean would be a parent and Lorrie, Chloe and myself would be Tantes. We took every measure of precautions for him and all die financial obligations over for Bren together as a group. As well as his inheritance from his Vater and both grandparents that his other zwei Tantes and Ich had been saving for him. Just a tidy little sum to make sure he went to college and could buy a home and make sure everything in his life would be a lil more then just ok."

"Wow! Ummm… Bren? You got an awesome family! My family kicked me out and disowned me, cause I have green hair and they think I'm a freak! You are so lucky to have a family that loves you like they do!" Lorna said, reminding Bren just what kind of loving family he had.

"Thanks Lorna, yeah I am pretty lucky, I mean with how I came to be in this world it's not exactly a pleasant child bedtime story; but thanks to my three aunts, they made my life worth living, oh and Tante Chloe?"

"Hmmm wad's up bebecatin?" Chloe said as she had been busy feeding Ti and was adjusting her shirt under the baby blanket.

"In case I never told you this… and if I should ever forget, I want to say this to you now…"

"Wad's dat sweetie?" She said casually taking a sip of her tea.

"Thanks."

"F'r?" Chloe said, looking a little lost.

"For everything! Mum Em, Aunt Lorrie and Tante Sasha, Onkle Kurt and Uncle Logan, even dad and all the rest all told me before you ever came back to the house that it was all your doing."

"'Kay wad did I do now?" Chloe said looking around in wonder.

Sasha leaned over to Bren. "Give her a minute Bren. Your Tante Chloe's mind has to catch up to you. Wann her mind races too fast, faster then usual, it does that to her, she has to put her mind and thoughts in a reverse then start up again…but you have to be die eins to kick it into gear for her, she can't, just say it again only in a different way then she'll be up to speed with you."

Bren looked to his Tante Chloe. "Well… before you all from down south moved up here, all the family here told me all about how it was you that made us all a family out of a mess someone else made. You made this a home so I could have a real family when I was a born, when I came from something bad; you made it good for me. Thank you so much!"

"Non t'anks needed bebe, it wad good kin does f'r each o'der… t'ink not'in' o' it!" Chloe flashed a smile, standing up from having finished feeding Ti Wild. "'Kay now… I know o' two garcons dat need t' impress da 'ell outta me wit' dose bikes, c'mon." Smiling, Bren and Lucky followed Chloe on outside. Chloe climbed on the back of Bren's bike and the trio disappeared down the driveway.

------

When Chloe, Bren and Lucky returned an hour later, everyone was now sitting on the veranda. Sasha giggled inwardly, seeing that Chloe was now on the back of Lucky's bike. When the bikes came to a complete stop, Bree flew off of Hank's lap and down the stairs. Chloe dismounted the bike.

"Maman, Bree never been on one dose bikes b'fore, canna I go?" Bree asked sweetly.

Lorna passed by the little girl and tossled her hair a bit before getting on the back of Lucky's bike. "Hey Paw," Lucky called to his father "We gonna go t' da Tavern, k? Get Bren 'ere good an' sloshed."

Remy smiled slightly. "Be 'ome at a decent time, a'right?"

"K."

Tandy sat up straight in her chair. "Can I come?" she asked hopefully.

"I don't think so Tandy!" Lorna replied. "Your two months away from your due date. It's 10:30pm, go to bed! Hey Punk? C'mon, a couple of my girlfriends will be meeting us at the Tavern and I want you to meet them."

Punk gave an unsure glance at Sasha, squeezing her hand gently, before rising from his chair and joining Bren on his bike. In a moment, the boys revved their engines up and sped back down the driveway.

Tandy stomped her feet angrily. "Why, all of a sudden, do I feel like the fourth member of Destiny's Child?" She went on inside the house.

Logan waited a beat before looking at the other guys. "What do say Gumbo? Jon? Bishop? Us four old war horses up to dusting off the hogs?" The guys nodded slightly and began to make their way to the garage.

"Papa why would you need t' dus' da 'ogs?" Bree asked sweetly.

"You 'tay right dere wit' you chere amourin' Maman Bree an' we hommes gonna show ya da 'ogs," Remy smiled at his daughter. Bree squealed happily, jumping up and down. The guys disappeared into the garage and a few moments later a loud rumbling sounded, causing Bree to cower slightly and clutch at her mother. She tried to cover her ears.

"Dose are loud pigs, Tante Boo Lorrie!" Bree yelled, trying to be heard over the noise. Deaglan ran down the steps and took Bree by the hand, hugging her to him and guided her back up to the porch. Bree had stopped shaking only slightly. The jaws of all the women dropped at seeing the chivalry Deaglan displayed while the guys smiled broadly. Sasha watched as Dutch and T-Bird defensively eyed Deaglan, making her chuckle inwardly.

Soon, four motorcycles came around the side of the house and parked in the spot Bren and Lucky had occupied only a few moments before. Bree was at her father's side in a flash. "Where's da 'ogs Papa?" Bree asked.

Remy laughed out and picked Bree up into his arms. "See dis 'ere, petite fille?" Remy patted the tank of the bike.

"Oui Papa" Bree replied, still covering her ears. Remy pulled her tiny hands from her ears.

"Dis is Papa's 'og. Petite Bree wanna' b' Papa's biker petite fille?" He asked her proudly.

"Bree don' know wad dat is Papa, mais Bree wanna go f'r ride s'il vous plait."

"Da petite fille 'as 'poken, garcons!" Remy announced out loud. Logan, Bishop and Jon all gave Bree a nod and revved up their engines. Remy then placed his daughter in front of him, making sure she was secure.

"Now lissen, Bree, dere are non seatbelts like in da 'ummer 'kay, you 'ave t' 'old on tight an' non touch anyt'ing or you can get 'urt you 'ear Pere?"

"Oui Papa, Bree b' good fille, she promise."

"'Lright Bree ya promised Papa so ya 'afta keep it! Papa an' Maman non wan' ya 'urt. We amour ya."

"Bree amour Papa an' Maman t' very much. Bree non gonna move et all!"

Remy then placed a bike helmet on Bree, something the men never used but would enforce it on kids. They didn't want to deal with irate mothers and aunts.

Chloe leaned over to Remy and kissed him. As 'Ro, Penny and Lorrie did the same with their men. Chloe reached in front of Remy where he had Bree tucked into his midsection protectively and adjusted her daughter's coat. Chloe smiled to them both and stepped back up onto the porch with the other women. The four men waved goodbye to their wives and Logan looked over to Bree.

"You give us the word Boss Lady, we men don't hit the road till the lady gives the word!"

Remy whispered a silent something to his daughter, causing her to blush and her mouth to form a silent 'O'. She shook her head vigorously. It was indeed a comical sight. Remy smiled and whispered to the little girl again.

Bree looked up at her father, smiling broadly and shouted out, "Bree feels da need f'r 'peed!" The men laughed heartily and the bikes were kicked into gear. With another wave goodbye the bikes tore off down to the gate, the noise of the engines disappearing into the distance.

------

Twenty minutes later, a rumbling could be heard coming from the garage. Everyone moved towards the source of the noise only to find the guys, with Bree talking a mile a minute, parking their bikes.

"So Bree, ya like the hogs?" Penny asked her laughingly, sitting on Jon's bike.

"Oui Bree do, dat was, like, soooo cool..." Bree talked very quickly, almost as if she was trying to express her feeling in one, long breath, and she most likely would've kept going if Chloe hadn't interjected.

"Den ya need t' 'it Papa up f'r a bike when ya turn sixteen, Bree."

"Bree will right a'ter she gets da car Papa promised 'er!" and Bree continued her babbling. Chloe looked at Remy incredulously. He merely whistled innocently and looked away, trying to attend to his bike.

"An' jus' when did you chere doux Papa say dis t' ya Bree?"

"Da o'der day when Papa an' Bree's Oncles all took Bree wit' dem int' town an'…" Bree was quickly cut off when Kurt quickly picked her up and clapped a large three digit hand over the lil girls' mouth. The men exchanged a multi-directional worried glance then looked to Chloe who still had her full attention on her husband.

"Uhhh huh… We gonna 'ave a petite talk o' our own t' Bree bebe" Chloe said. giving all the men a hard glare. "C'mon Bree it late time f'r 'leeps" Chloe took hold of Bree's hand and gathered the baby in her arms and began to make her way out of the garage. As she passed Remy, she whispered to him.

"Rembrandt LeBeau! You bribing you daughter wit' a car?"

Remy looked at his wife sheepishly. "Ah, c'mon, chere, isn't 'bribe' just anoder word f'r 'amour'?"

Kurt waited a beat before turning to his wife and kissing her sweetly. "Luv, I need to go over to ze bar. It'z inventory day and Ken vill need help getting it all into ze cellar."

"Okay, luv...don't be late," Sasha kissed her husband back.

"Yeah, I think I'll head to the bar myself," Logan commented, turning the bike's engine back on. "C'mon elf, I'll give ya a lift."

"With ya on that, buddy," Jon replied.

"Oh yeah!" Bobby chimed.

"Count me in," Bishop added.

"Wad da 'ell," Remy said, "Remy et Gambit won't be able t' get int' anymore trouble den 'e already is." The other three bikes revved up again and the six guys, with Kurt behind Logan and Bobby behind Jon, disappeared into the rapidly growing darkness of the night.

------

The guys soon rolled into the parking lot of the Tavern and parked next to Bren and Lucky's bikes near the door. Walking into the building, the men found that the place was just a buzz of activity. The music being played by the weekly live band had the place jumping, and Ken the bartender was being kept busy by thirsty customers. Ken looked up the see his approaching bosses.

"Hey hey hey, boss-men...what you doing in?" Ken chimed, shooting a glass down to the end of the bar.

"Home ztuff," Kurt smiled weakly and shrugged, "Y'knov ze drill."

"Yeah, don't I know it," Ken replied. "So, what do you say to a cold one?"

"See you later, Lorrie; I'm going to the bar," Logan chuckled, sliding onto a stool. Ken laughed out and produced six mugs filled with beer then turned to tend to more customers.

Bobby raised an eyebrow questioningly at Kurt. "Didn't you tell Sasha you had inventory to do?"

Kurt nodded somberly as he began to drink his beer. "I zay zat ven I need to get outta ze houze for a vhile. I'm zure you tell your vife lil vhite liez."

"Hell no," Bobby smiled "I tell her flat out!"

"So what's the problem, elf?" Logan questioned.

"Nozing...it'z zilly," Kurt replied staring into the bottom of his glass.

"C'mon, buddy," Jon urged "You can trust us." He clapped a strong hand on the blue mutant's shoulder.

Kurt sighed hard. "You knov hov you guyz all have motorcyclez, and nov Bren and Lucky do too?"

"Yeah," Bishop replied slowly. "What of it?"

"Vell, I'm not alloved to have von...Zazha von't let me?" The guys were silent for several long seconds before they burst out in laughter. Remy even made a sound like he was cracking a whip. "It'z not funny!" Kurt urged. "Zhe'z zinks zey're too dangerouz."

Remy slapped Kurt's back. "Non worry, broder," he said, wiping away a tear of laughter. "Let Remy et Gambit see wad he can do t' change petite's mind.

"Really?" Kurt brightened up a little.

"Oui," maybe petite jus' need a lil education on da mader," Remy smiled slightly. "Maybe get you a lil 'idecar f'r da bebes."

"Hah ha ha, very funny...NOT!" Kurt smiled broadly then slapped a tri-digit hand down on the bar. "Hey Ken, are ze girlz here yet?"

"They're suiting up right now," Ken called back, smiling.

"Girls?" Jon asked, raising an eyebrow questiongly.

Kurt wiggled his eyebrows a little. "It'z juzt a lil gimmick ze zree of uz came up viz...zomezing to bring in a lil more buzinezz."

At that moment, the lights over the bar dimmed slightly and the kitchen door swung open and out came four buxom beauties: a blonde, a red-head, a brunette and a raven-haired woman. Each of the girls was clad in tight midriff shirts and Daisy Duke shorts baring the name of the bar. The music suddenly changed to a hard rock style and the girls climbed up on the bar, dancing to the music.

Jon, Bishop and Bobby looked questioningly at Kurt, Logan and Remy.

"You've heard of ze Coyote Ugly dancerz?" Kurt replied. "Vell, meet ze Charlie'z Angelz!"

"You so rock!" Bobby shouted over the music and he watched the girls dance seductively in front of him.

------

Soon, Yule was upon the house and Christmas was only a few days off. This would be the first time they celebrated together as a family in years, so Sasha wanted to make this holiday season something to remember.

"Now, Mickey... stop fidgiting!" Sasha stuck her tongue out of the corner of her mouth slightly as she concentrated on closing the snaps on her son's terry cloth sleepers that matched his twin sister's nightie. It had been tricky enough changing his diaper. Right on cue, Mickey giggled sweetly and squirmed, curling his tail around his mother's wrist just to add to the level of difficulty.

"Oooo, you little elf!" Sasha gave a mock scowl, causing Mickey to giggle harder. She snagged his four-pronged feet and gave them a noisy bzrrpt.

"E-e-e-ee!" Mickey squealed.

Smiling slightly, Sasha scooped him up in her arms and swung him around in a grand circle, Mickey's tail curling sweetly around her wrist as they both laughed. To look at him, one would barely be able to tell that he was only a few months old, both he and his sister were maturing so quickly that the casual observer mistook the twins to be at least six months. Even Mickey and Ginny's psychological development was equal to that of their six month old cousin, Ti Wild. Hank had once suggested that he would've liked to perform a few tests to figure out why the twins were developing so quickly but Sasha, and to a lesser degree Kurt, refused to let their children be treated like a science experiment.

Sasha snuggled her son to her chest and breathed in the sweet scent of his fluffy, sandy blonde hair. In response, Mickey smiled sheepishly and entwined his pale blue fingers in his mother's long blonde hair as it splayed across her shoulders. Sasha tucked a dark purple crocheted shawl around them both and carried him down to the sitting room where the rest of the mansion's residents waited.

No sooner had Mickey been set on the blanket spread on the floor for him, his sister and Ti Wild did Mickey stick his tongue out at Ginny. She frowned in return with her hands on her hips and jutted her chin out indignantly before shooting forth and grabbing her brother's tongue, refusing to let it go. After a minute, Ginny finally released her brother and went back to playing with her building blocks.

Ti Wild just shook his head at his twin cousins, his hand was poised over Lexa's broad head as the Border Collie let herself be pet, she laid lazily on the hard wood floor and dozed in and out of slumber. Mira, on the other hand, didn't quite know what to make of the babies.

Ginny had gained quite a bit upper body strength in so very little time, and before Sasha realized it, Ginny had pulled herself over to her mother's feet and tugged on the hem of her dress. Smiling, Sasha bent down and picked up her daughter.

"Tante?" Deaglan said as Sasha resettled herself in her chair. "Happy Yule," he said somberly.

Sasha smiled again and leaned forward to hug him as best she could with one arm. "And a very happy Yule to you too, darling! What a clever thing you are to remember!"

Deaglan wrapped his arm's around his adoptive aunt's neck and buried his face in her shoulder only to be nudged at by Ginny. Everyone learned very quickly how Mickey and Ginny showed affection, not only to each other but to everyone else, by rubbing their brow ridges and knuckles against their each others foreheads. Deaglan's response to having Ginny nudge him was to reach out and simply stroke her brow with a careful finger, causing Ginny to gurbled happily in return.

"Ja, that's very good, Deaglan," Sasha crooned.

"Hey! Vere'z my family?" Kurt said cheerfully as he walked into the sitting room. "I've got a big Yuletide hug for zree lucky people!"

Mickey squealed at the sound of his father's voice and laughed as Kurt scooped him up. Sasha rose and stepped into his arms, still holding Ginny to her. Kurt wrapped his tail around his wife and pulled her closer until she was right flush against him.

"Happy Yule, luv."

"Happy Yule, honig."

"Everyzing iz ready," Kurt murmured into her ear as he delicately nibbled on her neck.

Sasha sighed blissfully. "You keep that up and things are liable to get real festive."

"Zat a promize or a zreat?"

"Both."

Kurt chuckled. "Zen we'd better get ze festivities out of ze vay so ve can zlip off to do a little celebrating of our own, hmm?" He slipped his arm around his wife's shoulders.

Sasha laughed as Ginny pushed against Kurt's chest. "Somebody wants your attention."

Kurt brushed his knuckle against his daughter's forehead before taking her in his free arm and sitting down in a chair as his children began to climb all over him. Sasha returned to her own chair as Bree and Deaglan sat at her feet, quietly playing.

In a moment, they heard a soft jingling from the hall.

"Ho ho ho!" someone bellowed. The kids exchanged a quizzical expression before a tall figure clad in a red and white suit stepped around the corner carrying a large sack.

"It's Santa" Deaglan exclaimed happily. "He really did come!"

The figure came closer. Of course, the adults all knew it was only Logan dressed up as Santa, but they played along for the sake of the kids.

"Ho ho ho!" Logan reitereted before a tearing noise cut through the air. It was the sack, and in a moment, dozens of brightly wrapped boxes spilled out from the hole that had ripped through the sack. "Oh crap!" Logan breathed.

Bree's mouth dropped open. "Santa swore!"

"I'm sure Santa didn't mean to," Sasha replied quickly then glared at Logan "Did he?"

Logan gave a sheepish grin to Sasha before getting back in character.

"Santa?" Bree asked sweetly. "I t'ought you only came on Christmas?"

Logan smile through his fake, white beard. "I'll be coming then too, lil lady, but I've got a special order for some Yule gifts just for your family." Bree clapped her hands happily and squealed.

Soon, Logan began passing out the gifts, bits of wrapping paper flying everywhere. The twins, under Bree and Deaglan's excellent guidance, had gotten the hang of unwrapping presents very quickly. Deaglan had Logan blowing up his sword and shield immediately. Ti Wild was laying on his belly busily making motor sounds with his new train set. Ginny had taken her new storybook and urged Kurt to pick her up, wanting her father to read it. They sat there reading next to the crackling fire. It was the most perfect holiday setting that Sasha had ever seen.

"Sasha?"

Sasha blinked and gave a little start. "Sorry, Chloe. Mein mind was wandering."

"I can't possibly imagine why," Chloe laughed and handed her a small box.

"Happy Yule."

"Aw, you shouldn't have. We still have Christmas coming in a few days, y'know."

"I know," Chloe replied, "but I t'ought it would be more appropriate t' give dis t' ya t'night."

Sasha opened the box and gazed at a large emerald brooch with its interwoven golden leaves that she knew had been in the family for generations. It took on a radiant inner light as she lifted it out and held it to the light. "Oh mein," she murmured, "Mein, oh mein." Sasha carefully picked up the brooch and cradled it in the palm of her hands. After a moment, she pinned the age-old brooch just over her heart. "Ich think familie heirlooms make die best gifts. Danke, Coco."

Remy came up behind Chloe and wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling her ear. "Remy et Gambit find dat femmes in general are 'ttracted t' bright shiny t'ings," he said slyly, "just like songbirds." Chloe simply smiled and put her arms over his.

"Ho, ho, ho!" crowed Bobby. Mickey was up against his shoulder, batting at the end of the jaunty Santa hat that Bobby was wearing.

Hank eyed his friend carefully. "Just how many eggnogs have you had?"

"Not nearly enough!" Bobby answered back amiably.

T-Bird looked into his glass with a curious expression on his face. "Oncle Jon? M' nog tastes funny. I t'ink I got un wit' rum in it."

"That's bad," Penny said, taking the glass from the boy.

Jon reached down to tossled T-Bird's hair. "Yeah, now Santa's gonna pass you right by, naughty boozehound." Jon chuckled to show he was just kidding.

Kitty took a sip of her drink. "He always passes me by. Could be the big, honkin' menorah," she said in a mock serious tone.

Across the room, Sasha and Chloe sat on the couch, talking quietly. Chloe waved a hand in front of her face. Both women glanced over to Stacii who stood nearby talking with a very pregnant Tandy.. "Wad is dat perfume you're wearing?" Chloe asked.

"Ja, I've been wondering that, too," Sasha added.

"Madame Boudoir. It's really good. For 100 bucks, I can drown myself in it," Stacii explained, striking a model pose.

Sasha leaned into Chloe and whispered. "Ich have 60." Both women laughed hard. Stacii, not having heard what had been said, looked at her sisters with a puzzled expression before moving away.

Kurt sauntered up, carrying the twins and sat down next to his wife. Almost as if on cue, Kurt passed Mickey over to Sasha and she happily received him.

"Oh, there's mein lil man," she cooed. "Ich have a lil something for you, luv." Sasha reached down into a paper gift bag by her feet and withdrew a baby sweater. Sasha held it up and began to slide it onto her son. Kurt looked at the sweater with a look of horror on his face. The sweater was light blue in colour with frills around the collar and a cute little duck on the chest.

"I vizh you didn't put zoze frilly clozez on Mickey," Kurt said, sighing heavily.

Sasha looked sidwardly at her husband. "Ich think they're adorable, and if he turns out to be gay, I'll march in those parades with him!" She tweaked her son's nose and he giggled. "Ja, Ich will!" Sasha passed her son back to Kurt and she started to sing soothingly, thereby lulling the tiny mutant to sleep. "Die itsy bitsy spider crawled up die water spout. Down came die rain and washed die spider out. Out came die sun and dried up all die rain..."

Suddenly, Mickey started to spit up. "Whoa! Zomezing'z coming out, but it definitely izn't ze zun," Kurt said hurriedly. "Zere's nozing like a little projectile vomit to brighten up ze holidayz." Sasha giggled wildly as she cleaned the baby up.

"Hey, Hank," Logan called as he walked into the sitting room. The gruff mutant had long since changed out of his Santa Get-Up so he could party with everyone else. "There's someone at the door for you!"

Hank smiled and made his way into the foyer. Logan shh-ed everyone and everyone listened carefully as they heard Hank open the heavy oak door, followed by three or four PLOP sounds. Everyone moved around to look into the foyer only to see Hank covered in snow and the very familiar sound of tittering students on the front lawn.

Hank looked out the door. "This is Dr. McCoy. I delivered some of you. I'm a scientist and a taxpayer. And I am probably the only adult who will sue little children." Hank then summarily shut the door.

Everyone killed themselves laughing. Sasha glanced over at Logan who himself was doubled over in his own laughter. "Y'know what?" Sasha smiled wryly, "You're a furry little gnome and we feed you too much."

"And I love you too, darlin!" Logan smiled back.

------

Sasha dodged the handful of water being slung her way and concentrated on rinsing Ginny's hair. Gin had managed to get more of her dinner in her sandy blonde tresses than in her mouth and she definitely didn't like bathtime. Mickey, on the other hand, was in the other end of the tub, having a wonderful time splashing and playing with his rubber ducky. Mickey was turning out very much like his father, very bubbly and quick to laughter, it was a sight that Sasha was happy to see. To a lesser extent, Ginny was the same way but she was much more shy than her brother.

"Alright, Miss Ginny, all done!" Sasha proclaimed. The pale blue infant wrapped her tail around her mother's wrist and tried to heave herself up and out of the much hated water. Sasha smiled slightly and lifted her daughter out, laying her on a pile of warm towels. Sasha then handed the baby off to Chloe, waiting at the bathroom door, while she returned her attention to little Mickey.

"Gin's non much on bat'ing, is 'he?" Chloe laughed.

"Well, wann she learns nein to put her bowl on her head, she won't need quite so much washing!" Sasha reached over and began to lift her son out of the soapy water. "Alright sweetling! Time to get out!" Mickey grunted his disapproval but allowed himself to be removed from the now luke-warm liquid.

Less than four months old, the twins were making great strides developmentally compared to more human-looking infants. Their active periods were getting longer and they were becoming more interested in the world around them. Mickey was creeping around, stomach dragging the ground but he was covering more ground as he grew stronger. Ginny was starting to copy her brother though she was a bit more cautious.

Sasha carried Mickey out into the nursery. Chloe was finishing diapering Ginny and dressing her in a silver and lace dress. They had learned the hard way that Ginny didn't like things that were too binding against her tail the first time she had been dressed in a simple pair of sleepers. It had gone from sleepwear to ragbag in thirty seconds flat.

Chloe sat Ginny down in the playpen next to a mound of soft, plushie toys before sitting in a nearby chair and watching her sister. It was obvious that the male child worshipped the ground his mother walked on and, when he was not in her arms, his pupil-less eyes would follow her around the room. Dressing him took almost as long as Ginny simply because Mickey was ticklish on every square inch of his body. It was a wrestling match just getting him dressed in short, striped overalls.

Kurt walked in and immediately scooped Ginny up into his arms. The little mutant snuggled herself into her father's chest, stuck a fist in her mouth, and began to doze off. It was obvious, even at this tender age, Ginny was already turning into a Daddy's girl, and Mickey into a Momma's boy...and that suited Sasha and Kurt just fine.

Finally, after Mickey was completely dressed, he screwed up his little face and wailed. Immediately, Sasha swept her son up into her arms and headed for the rocker. Mickey began banging his head on her shoulder as his mother settled down and began to unbutton her shirt.

Kurt leaned against the wall, watching them, as Sasha nursed Mickey. She would slowly rock and sing softly to their son. Sasha almost had her pre-pregnancy figure back, with somewhat softened curves but something about the expression on Sasha face while she was breastfeeding their baby tugged at his heart. She looked up at him.

"You've got that dopey look on your face again," Sasha said teasingly.

The blue mutant shrugged. "I'm entitled to it."

Chloe smiled, flicking her eyes back and forth between the twins. "It amazing 'ow quickly da twins developed deir own personalities," she commented. "Mickey's patient an' good-humoured, while Ginny's assertive yet a lil shy."

Kurt looked at his son, noisily suckling under the cover of a receiving blanket. "Zat'z my boy!" Kurt smiled proudly. "Mickey already knovz vut he vantz and hov to get it, no fazer could be prouder."

Loud, argumentative voices were suddenly heard out in the hallway. Kurt set Ginny down on the soft carpet, and he and Chloe went out to see what was going on. Lucky and Lorna were standing in the middle of the hall with Bren, and none of them looked happy. Kurt approached, with Chloe following close behind.

Chloe raised an eyebrow and asked calmly, "Wad all da fuss 'bout, honeychilde?"

Lucky cast an accusing finger at Bren. "Maman! You will non BELIEVE wad Bren did last nig't! You haveta see it t' believe it."

"What?" Bren asked indignantly.

Lorna grabbed Bren's right arm and pushed up his sleeve, revealing a black marking in the shape of a dragon on his bicep. Kurt and Chloe stepped closer for a better look.

"Bren!" Chloe gasped "Wad did you do? Do you 'ave any idea da t'ings dat can go wrong wit' gettin' a tattoo?"

Bren visibly sighed. "C'mon Tante, Momma Em was fine with it, why can't you be?"

Chloe raised her eyebrow questioningly. "Well, we jus' see 'bout dat," and Chloe turned to leave, but she suddenly halted when Kurt reached out to stop her retreat.

"Hold on a minute, Coco...ziz doezn't have to be a bad zing."

"Wad you mean, bebe bleu?" Chloe asked lightly.

Kurt look at his sister-in-law. "Vell, Bren vouldn't exactly be ze firzt in ze family to get a tattoo. If my memory zerves, you have at leazt half a dozen at lazt count." Lucky stared at his mother incredulously, making Chloe blush in embarrassment. "Even I have von."

"You have a tattoo, Onkle Kurt?" Bren replied, wide-eyed.

Kurt nodded wordlessly and pulled his tail out of his trousers. Everyone leaned in for a look. Six inches from the end of the blue mutant's tail, there was a band of black markings. The design was a stylized 'S' and 'K' linked by an '&' and repeated around the diameter of the tail.

"A tattoo?" Lucky looked incredulously at his uncle.

"Lucky, honeychilde?" Chloe asked mildly. "I don't suppose you 'ave one too?"

"Non, Maman. Lucky 'ave a lil more sense den dat."

"Bien," Chloe replied simply.

Kurt looked calmly at his eldest nephew. "I'm curiouz...vy?"

Bren shrugged. "Dad once promised me that on my 18th birthday we were gonna go out and get matching dragon tattoos...he died a month later. I did it as a sort of tribute to him, that way we'll always be together."

Chloe sniffed and wiped away a tear. "Tante understand but 'he 'till non have t' like it."

"Did it hurt?" Lucky asked warily.

"Stung a little at first but I got used to it," Bren replied. "The guy that did it said that tattoos were once used to accent a particular strength in a person. An archer might do an arm, a runner his legs, and so on."

Chloe cast a look to Kurt "You did you tail? Wad you do wit' your tail dat's such a grande t'ing?"

Bren, Lucky and Kurt shared a look at that particular moment and all three began laughing. Lorna crinkled the bridge of her nose in confusion before realization set in. "Ewwwww!" she exclaimed.

Chloe took their reactions in and raised an eyebrow. "I see. One of DOSE t'ings, hmm?" She shook her head and started to go back into the nursery but stopped to look down. She smiled. "Someone knows 'is Godpere is 'ere."

Mickey was very determinedly half-squirming, half-crawling his way out of the apartment. Lucky grinned and came over, stopping a few feet away. "Come to Godpere, Mic." He held his hands out.

The pale blue mutant stretched out an arm to Lucky and smiled broadly. After a second he tried to stretch the other arm out and ended up landing on his face. Mickey began to cry and Lucky scooped him up.

"Dere, dere, you tried, oui, you did," he said comfortingly, patting the infant's back.

"That was his longest crawl yet," Sasha commented stepping holding Ginny to her shoulder. "Acht feet."

Lucky held Mickey and tickled the bottom of Mickey's feet. "Dat's cuz da Micster wuvs 'is Cousin Lucky, oui, 'e does!" The infant giggled and grabbed two handfuls of Lucky's hair, pulling playfully.

Sasha laughed out at the sight as Lucky tried to detach the child from his head. Sasha then led everyone back inside the apartment. Lorna scooped Ginny up into her arms and she and Lucky played with the twins on the floor.

At that moment, Lexa and Mira, with Bree and Deaglan trailing behind, skidded into the room. Immediately, the dogs curled themselves up around the twins and began to doze off. Ginny, still not used to the canines, hissed and tried to burrow into Lorna's chest. After a few minutes of Lorna coaxing Ginny to calm down, she finally settled.

Mickey, feeling that he obviously wasn't getting as much attention as he felt he warrented, butted Lucky under the chin with his head. Lucky smiled and returned to playing with the infant until both he and his sister grew tired and curled up to each other for a nap. Lorna helped Lucky to put the twins into their crib in the nursery.

------

"Chloe…where are ya sis?" Sasha called out as she approached Chloe's classroom.

"'Ere… jus' finished givin' Punk 'is guitar lesson," Chloe replied from inside. Sasha stepped around the corner just in time to see Punk unplug his amplipher and return his guitar to its case. "I'm teachin' da kids dere music instrument lessons on Sa'urdays since 'chool 'ad wen' back."

"Awesome! Keep the kids busy," Sasha smiled, then she leaned in and whispered in a tone so low only Chloe could hear. "Say, wie are things between you and Punk?"

"I'd ra'der not talk 'bout it!" Chloe said firmly as she put her guitar in its stand then turned to meet her little sister's gaze. Punk smiled weakly at his aunt then left the room, mostly likely to find a quietly place to brood for awhile. Sasha couldn't really blame him though, the boy had a lot of things weighing heavily on his mind.

Sasha took a deep breath and decided to let the matter alone. Instead, she deicded to talk about the issue that really sent her in search of her sister. "Have you been into Ginny and Mickey's nursery recently?"

"Oui. Ye'terday, t' drop off dere $20… Why?"

"Just curious is all," Sasha said, her brow furrowing slightly. Ti Wild, who was laughing and playing in a nearby playpen, gurgled wildly causing Sasha to smile a bit. Chloe immediately turned and picked her son up.

"Wad's wrong, Sash?" Chloe asked.

"Nothing," Sasha replied before she remembered herself. "Hey, where you off too?"

"Gonna go put Ti down f'r 'is nap."

"I just put mine down for their naps. I'll fix up some lunch for us" Sasha suggested. Chloe nodded slightly and the pair walked back out into the hall. Chloe took a moment to lock her classroom up and then the sisters headed towards the downstairs nursery just off of the kitchen. Chloe laid Ti Wild to rest in the far crib while Sasha took a moment to check on her own slumbering children in the double wide crib.

Chloe turned to the changing table to find a light blanket to cover Ti Wild with when her gaze was caught by a twinkling on the shag carpet. Stooping down she picked up a handful of coloured glass. She allowed her gaze to rise to the shelf above the changing table, and to her horror Chloe found that Mickey and Ginny's piggy banks, as well as Ti Wild's, was missing and in their place were identical shards of coloured glass to those that she held in her hand.

"Wad Da Fuck!" Chloe exclaimed.

"That's what Ich was asking you about. Ich came in here this morgen and die same thing had happened to Ginny and Mickey's," Sasha explained.

"Well we gonna fin' out...right now!" Chloe said. She placed all the glass she could find in a small box and charged out of the nursery, with Sasha following close behind. Both women exploded into the kitchen.

"What the hell is going on here?" Chloe and Sasha said in unison. All motion stopped in the room, the adults just as confused as the students were. It was a rare thing to see Chloe and Sasha angry, let alone this angry at the same time.

"What's wrong girls?" Lorrie asked, raising an eyebrow curiously.

Chloe placed the box full of broken glass on the table and glared hard at everyone in the room. Logan peered inside the box.

"It's fine darlin's," Logan said soothingly. "Things get broke. Just hope neither of you were cut."

"Oh, it wasn't Chloe or Ich that broke anything!"

Kurt came around and gathered his wife into his arms. "Vut do you mean, luv?"

"M' Sista means dat ni'der o' us broke it. We put our bebes down f'r 'leeps an' found dere piggy banks 'mashed an' all da money gone!" Chloe fumed.

"We didn't even know the lil ones had piggy banks?" Lorrie said, bewildered.

"It was just something Chloe and Ich started special between die zwei of us, back wann we found out we would be expecting together! Our own lil thing, like you all had your bets going on about wann Ich would deliver, Chloe and Ich had our special thing happening and would drop cash in the banks for Ti Wild, Ginny and Mickey." Sasha explained, still upset that someone in their house would be sick enough to steal from little children.

"An' now it all gone, every las' penny!" Chloe said, now nearing full-on tears.

"Who in dere right freakin' mind would 'teal f'om a petite bebe? Even Gambit 'ad 'tandards when 'e did t'ose t'ings many year 'go, Gambit would 'ave never considered somet'ing as cruel or as low as dat!"

Kurt's face tinged red slightly. "I agree bozer, zat iz juzt not right!" Kurt came to sasha's side and engulfed her in his arms, Sasha shaking like a leaf. "No one ztealz from my children!"

Logan rose from his chair quickly, slamming his fist down onto the table top. "I wanna know who in the hell has the balls to steal from these infants! I say we three men get to the bottom of this!"

"Chere? Sasha? Do e'der o' you know 'ow much was in dere banks?"

"Non, Rem 'oney we would jus' save it. Never did a count" Chloe replied as she allowed her husband to take her in his broad arms.

"Well," Sasha started, doing calculations in her head, "we started saving money pretty much beginning from die week Ich found out Ich was expecting, and Ich would put in $10 a week in each of die piggy banks. Coupled with what Chloe put in over die last twelve months, each bank would've had about $960 in it." Sasha's bottom lip began to quiver as the realization of exactly how much had been taken, and her eyes began to glaze over.

"That's $2880 total!" Bobby sputtered, his coffee spraying across the table and hitting Jubilee right in her face.

Remy's eyes flared up but his tone remained ever calm. "'Kay den, you femmes leave dis wit' us hommes. We'll get t' da bottom o' dis mess."

------

April soon arrived and everyone once again found themselves in the infirmary waiting room, anxiously waiting to hear how Tandy was doing in her delivery. Bren and Punk sat side-by-side, both as silent as church mice as they wrestled with their own inner turmoil over who would be named as the baby's father.

Sasha kept her attention trained on Chloe who was presently staring listlessly out the window. It was painfully obviously that Chloe was trying desperately to not let the current situation get the best of her. Sasha was worried about her sister's damaged, and often fragile, psyche. The psychiatrist inside Sasha told her that Chloe would be able to handle any crisis that was thrown her way, but the sisterly part of her wasn't so sure.

The mansion's residents sat on pins and needles for three hours before Lorrie, Hank and Cece emerged from the delivery room. Hank gave a certain kind of look to everyone in the room, silently telling them that the baby had arrived.

The room continued to lay in silence for quite some time as Hank appeared and disappeared from the room. Chloe stayed silent throughout it all, expressionless, Stetson dipped low over her eyes, staring out the window. Soon, Hank wheeled Tandy out.

"I want to see my baby now!" Tandy demanded.

"I've already told you, the baby is resting while I'm running the paternity test. You will just have to wait," Hank gruffed and he parked the wheelchair to one side of the infirmary doors.

"I said NOW!" Tandy yelled.

"Girl!" Logan roared. "If you don't shut up right now I'm gonna dunk ya in a vat of honey and drop ya off in the middle of bear county!"

"You don't have the cujones," Tandy shot back.

Suddenly, Logan's claws jutted out, the sharp 'Zing' sound echoing off the walls. Wisely, Tandy did as instructed. Hank disappeared once again back into the delivery room and appeared a few moments later carrying a small stack of papers in one hand and holding a squirming bundle of blankets. He placed the papers on his desk before turning to the crowd.

"Well it's about damn time! Gimme my kid!" Tandy said as Hank approached her. A look of pain and sorrow was present on Hank's normally serene features. Hank crouched down beside Tandy and unwrapped the baby for her to see. Tandy, abruptly snatched the flaxoned-haired infant out of the fuzzy mutants arms. "Who's is it?" she demanded.

Hank opened his mouth the respond, but before the words came, Tandy suddenly screeched. "I don't care! I don't want it!" She thrust the baby back into Hank's arms.

Hank's head shot up in shock. "And why not?" His question was answered with nothing but silence as Tandy turned away. Hank re-covered the baby and rose. "Well then… maybe it is for the best… a child needs a loving parent and it's very obvious you're not fit! I certainly hope the father doesn't share your feelings." Slowly, Hank turned towards Bren and Punk and approached the boys. He knelt down in front of both boys. "I do so hope you don't share Tandy's feelings. This lil one desperately needs all the love it can get! Personally… I'm sorry this had come to you at such a young, tender age, but, I know in my heart of hearts you will do your very best to love this lil one enough for two parents! Furthermore, with a lot of patience and some guidance I do believe you will make one very wonderful father."

Sasha watched Chloe out of the corner of her eye as her sister turned her head slightly to watch inconspiculously.

Hank stood up and smiled softly. "Congratulations Dad… It's a little girl!" A silent gasp rose within all the spectators as Hank held the baby out to Punk. Punk began to tear up as his reached out with a shaky hand and twirled a golden lock of hair around his finger.

Lorrie, 'Ro, Emma and Cece were at Punk's side in a flash while Sasha grabbed another blanket to wrap around the newborn. Punk began to shake with immense fear.

As one, everyone turned their attention to Chloe. Her head was now down, and her features held a look of deep, screaming pain. Without a doubt, it was obvious that her bipolar was rearing its ugly head. After a moment, her head rose and she was once again devoid of emotion, her attention still trained on the window. Slowly, she stood and removed the hat from her head. In a quiet, almost inaudible voice, Chloe spoke for the first time in nearly four hours. "I need t' know somet'ings f'om you."

"What's that" Tandy replied timidly.

"Did you ever amour m' Punk?" Chloe's voice was calm and level as she spoke. Tandy tilted her head, not in quite understanding due to the thick Southern/French accent.

"She want's to know if you ever loved her son Punk?" Kitty clarified in a disgusted tone.

"No… no I never loved Punk!" Tandy replied flatly.

Everyone was suddenly thrown into shock as Chloe lunged across the room and captured Tandy by her neck. She pressed the girl into the wall, lifting her out of the wheelchair nearly three feet. Chloe moved so expertly fast that everyone who reached out to stop her only grasped air. "Ya fuckin' lil bitch!" Chloe spat. "I wan' not'in'' more den t' kill you right 'ere an' now! …You gonna die!"

Remy tried desperately to tear his wife off the girl. "C'mon chere, dis will do you non good, physically or emotionally!" Finally, Remy succeeded in breaking the death grip and held his wife close.

Stacii stepped up next to Tandy and helped her to return to the wheelchair. It was obvious to everyone that Stacii and Tandy had become close over the last several months.

Chole shook herself out of Remy's grip and took a running charge at Tandy. Their bodies connected with a force so great that they skidded across the room nearly twenty feet. Stacii jumped into the fray, cocking back an arm as she prepared to take a swing at Chloe. Before her fist was able to connect with Chloe's face, Stacii felt a strong grip on her wrist. Looking up, she found Sasha's sneering face.

"Think again...Hure!" Sasha spat. With a strength that was completely uncharacteristically Sasha, she sent Stacii flying across the room, hitting the opposite wall. The rest of the women then interviened, doing what they could to separate Chloe and Tandy, and now Stacii and Sasha. Soon, the men lended their hands to the cause.

Chloe glared hard at Stacii. "I can't believe dat I wasted 16 years 'ating you for somet'ing as 'tupid as a 'tolen bike, when dere's a real good reason t' hate you. You're a bitch."

"I'm a bitch?" Stacii scoffed. "Hah. I bow to the queen of all bitches."

"You want a piece o' me?" Chloe retorted. "I brought six kids into dis world, I can take one out."

Suddenly, the newborn baby cried out, cutting through the clammer, and everyone stopped. This gave the men-folk the opportunity they needed to pull their ladies into their arms and away from the fight.

"You made yet another wrong choice, Stacii!" Sasha spat, trying to wriggle out of Kurt's embrace. His only response was to hold her tighter to him. Bishop had Stacii and Tandy stand off to the side away from everyone else, while at the same time trying to keep his own wife at bay.

Soon, the women began to calm down. Chloe shook herself free from Remy's embrace and returned to the window, taking several deep, calming breaths. Chloe straightened her back until it was as rigid as a pole. She pivoted sharply on her heels and made a beeline for Punk and the baby, whom he was trying desperately to settle down. For the first time in a long time she spoke to him, her voice surprisingly calm and gentle.

"'Old 'er close, like dis, she's 'cared, she at dis time would 'ave bonded wit' 'er Maman mais since she non 'ave un, you 'ave t' bond wit' 'er as 'er Papa an' let 'er know dat you can an' will amour 'er 'nuff f'r bot' a Maman an' a Papa now, under'tand?"

Punk continued to tremble as he held his daughter closer to him, and she slowly began to calm down. Remy stepped up next to his wife and son, doing what he could to help with the bonding process. Remy reached out with a purposeful hand and brushed the blanket aside, exposing the baby's delicate, china doll features. The lil one whimpered and began to slowly open her eyes, revealling a pair of crystal clear, ocean blue-on-black eyes.

A simulanteous 'awwww" rose up from the crowd as they took in the beautiful infant's features. Everyone watched in udder silence as they watched the relationship between mother and son heal and a new relationship form.

Chloe pulled Punk out of his chair and escorted him and baby out of the room. Everyone followed, expression various stages of interest. The crowd moved through the house, to an elevator eventually coming out at the faculty floor...all the way to Chloe's old room before she had first moved in with Remy, and room that hadd been open for nearly sixteen years. Letting go of Punk's hand, Chloe unlocked the door and pushed it open. Stepping inside, everyone saw a room that by all accounts, should have been caked with years of dust and grime. Instead, they found a freshly painted room, brand new furniture and linens and a pristine nursery with imported, handcrafted baby furniture and everything that a baby would need.

Chloe perched on the edge of the bed glanced out the window. "Punk, dis was m' old room. I 'aven' been in 'ere since jus' a'ter I 'ad given birt' t' you bubba Lucky many years 'go…" Chloe grew quiet again as she found herself lost in her own thoughts. "Back b'fore I ever t'ought I'd 'ave 'lot o' t'ings… I came up 'ere sometime 'go t' t'ink, t' 'member, I don' wan' t' ever forget some t'ings… Mais I came t' da conclusion dat wad 'appened was not o' da bebes' doin'… Jus' like when Bebe Bren was born, wad 'appened b'fore den wasn' o' 'is doin' an' I wouldn' see 'im go wit' out, nor will I see dis youngin ei'der. So whe'der dis was Bren's or you bebe Punk I wan'ed da lil one t' 'ave a right 'tart in life, an' a family…"

"What do you mean Tante Coco?" Bren asked in a quiet voice.

Penny was the one to respond. "Give her time, she's talking out loud to work everything that's happened out in her mind. She'll get to her point soon enough, just ride it out." Bren gave an understanding nod.

"Dis room is you's an' you bebes' now Punk. When it time an' she needs a bigger petite girls room, I will see t' it dere is one built." Chloe finished with a cleansing sigh.

Punk reached over and pulled his mother into his strong embrace, continuing to hold firmly onto his daughter. Chloe suddenly broke down into tears. "Why Punk? Why? I don' under'tand… Did I do somet'ing wrong an' you were tryin' t' get even."

"Non? Maman it was not'in' like dat. Punk never mean' t' 'urt ya. 'E'd never do dat on purpose! Maman you got t' b'live dat 'e wouldn'. Punk so desole Maman 'e so very desole… It all Punk's fault Maman, s'il vous plait don' 'ate me f'rever s'il vous plait!" Punk pleaded. "Maman, Punk desole 'e broke you petite fragile 'eart. 'E knows dere is not'in' 'e can do t' ever fix t'ings b'tween us, an' doesn' blame you if you non-can f'rgive 'im. Dis is Punks 'lone burden t' bare an' a mi'take 'e'll pay f'r till da day 'e dies."

"Don' you ever refer t' dis bebe fille as a mi'take you 'ere me garcon or Maman will 'ave you out a'ter a 'witch!" Chloe replied firmly.

"Oui Maman," Punk replied in a light tone.

Chloe brushed away Punk's tears and hugged him close. "'Lright 'nuff o' dis now m' Punk bebe…hmm… guess I canna call you dat no more…" Chloe began to tear up again, to which Sasha produced some tissues for.

"Actually Maman? You can if ya wanna. Punk would like it if ya did."

"Punk b… Punk bebe… geez 'kay old 'abits are gonna die 'ard f'r me 'ope all y'all are taken memo's 'ere!" Chloe smiled. "C'mon kiddo, Maman gonna feed you" Chloe playfully punched Punk on the arm before leading everyone back downstairs.

Seeing as it was now 5am, the women set to work at fixing breakfast. As they cooked, the adults decided that the next days classes would be cancelled, allowing everyone to get their much needed rest. Sasha excused herself for a few moments to check on the twins and when she returned, she was just in time to hear Bren ranting at Tandy.

"Tandy, this baby is my cousin and not you or anyone for that matter can change that fact, no matter how much bitchin' you do! Furthermore she's my family! You are not! So take a wild guess who will always win over you every time, and let me help you in case your not keeping up. This little girl will always come first! Before me and, oh hell yeah, way before you on my list of priorities! Right now you sicken me Tandy! You did the same thing to this little girl that was done to me! Punk, let me just say now… whether you believe it or not you got the right girl in your arms. There are a few things that I've learned since you and your family came up here, being as Tante Coco and Oncle Remy were the only one with kids at the time and that is… dude you got one hellofa kick ass family! I do too with some exceptions and Tandy being one of them at the moment. Tandy, you have a lot of growing up to do...just as my own mother did and still does!"

"Hey! I'm in the room!" Stacii yelled.

"Yeah and?" Bren replied, taking the beer Lucky had offered. Lucky also held one out to Punk.

"Non, t'anks anyway, bubba, m' drinkin' days are finis," Punk looked down at the baby in his arms.

Sasha reached out and divested Punk of his newborn daughter. "Nein Punk, it's okay. Eins is alright, you need it right now." Punk smiled warmly at his aunt and took the beer, but rather than downing half the bottle with one gulp like he normally did, Punk nursed the amber liquid.

After a while, Sasha leaned towards Kurt and whispered something in his pointed ear. He nodded and disappeared in a puff of blue smoke only to appear a few seconds later with the twins and a receiving blanket. Sasha traded the newborn for Ginny and Mickey and adjusted herself so she could simultaneously feed her own babies.

"Ugh," Stacii grunted. "Must you do that here? Some of us are trying to eat."

Kurt shot Stacii a nasty glare. "A mozer feeding her child iz ze mozt beautiful zing in ze vorld!"

Looking up, Sasha arched an eyebrow at her husband. "Do you have any idea how much this hurts?" This caused everyone to laugh out.

Punk eyed his aunt. "Uhh," he looked up at his mother. "Punk non 'ave da equipment t' do dat!"

Chloe giggled. "Non worry, amour, formula will do jus' fine."

Sasha soon finished feeding the twins and she passed them off to Tessa and Clarice so she could eat her own breakfast.

Bree, who had sat quietly on Jon's lap for sometime, looked up curiously. "If Punk's a Papa now, an' m' o'der bubba's all Oncle's an' Bree a Tante… Wad dose dat make Bree's Papa an' Maman den?"

"It makes you Papa a GrandPere, petite," Remy replied.

"'Kay mais wad 'bout Bree's doux Maman t'ough?" Bree continued.

"It would mean your mother is a grandmother now" 'Ro explained softly.

Chloe's eyes, which had been closed, suddenly flew open. "An' if y'all prefer t' live, I 'ighly suggest you 'tick t' Nana an' not'in else if you know wad's good f'r all y'all."

"Oui chere, we will" Remy said, appeasing her.

"You got it sista!" Ro smiled.

"Well for a Nana, you're still a hottie!" Jon chuckled, causing Chloe to giggle and blush hard. "O Shud up Jon-Jon!"

"I'd say! If I had a Nana that looked like her… damn!" Logan beamed, growling teasingly.

"I, as your doctor, agree with Logan!" Hank added teasingly and gave Chloe a wink.

"A'ter all dese years… you guys are 'till pigs!"

"Oui, Mais GPapa Remy et Gambit is da one dat tops dat list Nana Coco."

Chloe rolled her eyes at her husband, and giggled. As Chloe sipped her tea, she could clearly hear Sasha chanting under her breath.

"Grand… ma… grand… ma," came Sasha's sing-song voice.

Chloe turned to Sasha. "Yuck it up lil chicka, you day will come t'!"

"Yeah, but today ain't die day and you're it!" Sasha replied laughingly.

"So dad," Hank smiled, "what is this fair princesses name?"

Punk thought for a moment, pushed his stetson up, and removed his ray bans. "I… I dunno," he replied slowly.

"'Ow 'bout Autumn Gem," Bree offered sweetly.

"Non Bree, fir't off she non look like an Autumn Gem. Dat name is more suited t' a bebe wit' reddish tones t' 'er 'air, it an eart'y warm Fall name. An' f'r a petite fille wit' tanned 'kin tone. She 'as flaxen gold corkscrew-spiralled 'air wit' a fairer 'kin tone, unlike you Papa an' Maman's bebes dat all are tanned and dark 'aired." Chloe explained.

"A name like Summer would be more appropriate, if you were to name her by seasons," Sasha interjected as she happily took a fussy Ginny from Kurt.

"Correct, she doesn't look like an Autumn really," Cece said, breezing by the playpen to check on the newborn.

"It's my kid! I'll name it...it's Misty" Tandy fumed.

"Excuse me, miss, but you had made it abundantly clear you have no interest whatsoever in this infant," Hank turned to Tandy and told her matter-of-factly.

"An' Misty is da name o' a cow we 'ad on da farm back in Canada. Like 'ell 'er name is Misty!" Chloe said, Sasha and Lorrie nodding their agreement.

"Maybe next time your folks have another ankle biter and it's a lil darlin like you, alright Bree," Logan said, holding out the cookie jar to the little girl.

"Oui can I have a cookie Maman?"

"Oui, jus' not many, we all gotta get some 'leep soon 'kay?"

"Kay" Bree said happily, taking the treat from her Oncle Logan.

"Tandy you turned you back on 'er. You 'ave no right choosin' a name, 'sides Punk wan's Maman an' da petite filles Nana t' chose 'er name" Punk added.

"Non Punk, you do dat," Chloe urged.

"Maman, I'd much ra'der you did. I dunno not'in 'bout dis 'tuff. An' Punk would like you t' bless 'er wit' a name you choose, s'il vous plait."

Punk picked his daughter up out of the playpen and held the baby out to Chloe. Chloe took several deep breaths and received the infant. She brought the baby to her chest and cuddled the little one. The baby briefly opened her eyes in her stirred sleep. "She 'as you curls, Punk…" Chloe faded off, the room growing quiet. "You eyes t'. She got's Rem 'Oney's...dat is GPapa's smile."

"Wad you t'ink chere? Can Nana find somet'ing doux f'r 'er name mais dere is no name as lovely dat would b'fit a LeBeau princess o'der den Chloe an' dat name is busy!" Remy said softly.

"Hmmm… well… dere are no options...really it very obvious…" Chloe said. "Angel is over used, so dat no good, mus' be Cajun-French like all 'er Oncles, Tante, and GPapa's t'ough."

"Your not giving her a dirty frog name!" Tandy spat. Bree shot the girl a nasty look and, in unison, both Deaglan and Bree kicked Tandy in the shin.

"'Lright I t'ink I gots a 'andle on dis," Chloe said happily.

"Awesome, Coco babe, you just lay it on your old furry Hank toots here and I'll get it written up right now," Hank joked.

"Let's try dis out first… 'ere it is… Every Romeo needs a Juliet, non? Oui … so I figured wad da 'ell… Juliet-Bebe Papillion LeBeau, mais we can jus' call 'er Jules f'r s'ort, non?" Chloe suggested.

"What does that name mean?" Clarice asked.

"Another stupid name! Holy crap, your batting a thousand with names, Chloe," Stacii moaned over her coffee cup.

"Oh shut up Stacii, you're clueless!" Lorna said, tired of hearing Stacii's and Tandy's constant bitching.

Chloe gave the baby back to Punk who happily took her in his arms.

"Alright, it's been a long day and night, so now that the sun is up again I say we all try to get some sleep," Penny suggested tiredly.

Sasha rose from her chair. "Penny, girl, you read my mind!" Sasha allowed Kurt to take her in his arms while she held onto the twins, and the quartet disappeared in a puff of smoke.

------

Sasha woke nearly six hours later to Mickey and Ginny's dual cries. She pulled on her housecoat and sleepily wound her way through the apartment to the nursery, but when she arrived she was pleasantly surprised to find Kurt already present and tending to the twins needs. Sasha leaned against the door frame and watched, an amused smile creeping across her features.

"Mornin' Luv," Kurt said without looking up, almost as is he had sensed her presence.

"Morgen." Sasha ventured further into the room and swooped her special lil guy up into her arms, swinging him in a grande circle, his bubbly, infectious giggle carrying on the air. When she stopped, Kurt, with Ginny in his arms, kissed his wife deeply.

"Luv, vy don't you go get drezzed and ve'll go get a bite dovnztairz...zeze tvo have yet to meet zere lil couzin." Sasha nodded silently and reliquinshed her son only to reclaim him ten minutes later, wearing a burgundy and gold celtic dress. Instead of bamphing down to the kitchen like they normally did, the quartet made their way downstairs the old fashioned way.

No sooner had they arrived in the kitchen, did Chloe usher everyone out into the garage. Standing in the center of the room were two tarped objects. Chloe handed Ti over to Jon, then pulled the tarps off in a grand flourish, like a magician doing a fancy trick, revealing a custom Harley and an Explorer more suited for family outings. Chloe then climbed up and sat on the hood of the SUV. Her face was expressionless while she spoke.

"See wad 'appens when I'm under estimated? I may not b' t' quick in da t'inker on somet'ings mais o'ders I'm more wit' da program den da res' o' all y'all… Punk needs t' b' able t' 'till b' a kid mais 'e 'till needs t' b' able t' take Jules t' all dose ballet recitals f'r Nana an' Gpapa an' da res' o' da family t' go too an' take lots o' pictures an' Gpapa t' videotape 'er on 'tage, wit' Bree an' Ginny, an' all dose o'der recitals an' girly lil chicka type t'ings 'er Nana did when she was a petite an' o yeah dat reminds me Bree you 'tart jazz class in da city in two weeks, Ginny 'tarts 'ers when Sash an' Kurt t'ink she ready... everyt'ing is paid f'r," Chloe explained.

"Umm… Oh cool, hey danke, Coco...wann did you intend on telling me?" Sasha smiled wryly, laughing.

"'Ow does now sound t' ya?" Chloe giggled. "Now I'm 'ungry an' da Gumbo s'ould b' done. I need t' feed Rem 'oney or 'e turns int' a wild gator if 'e don' get food!" Chloe hopped down off of the hood and began to make her way inside.

Sasha giggled as she began ticking off on her fingers. "And booze, and smokes, and sex, and..."

"T'anks a lot Sash," Remy interjected, playfully chucking her on the arm "Remy et Gambit amour you too!"

They ate a late lunch and while the women cleaned up and fixed a nice dessert, the men went back out to the garage. Soon, everyone was once again assembled in the kitchen, drinking their beverage of choice and eating Sasha's famous peach cobbler.

"Oh Punk dear? Tante Sasha has something for you" Sasha said casually, glancing over at her nephew. "Kurt can you go grab those boxes, bitte?"

"On my vay t' do juzt zat, luv" Kurt said, bampfing out of the room and re-appeared with two medium-sized boxes.

"Punk, these are things Ginny is too big for now and most of it still has die tags on them. You can have them for Jules if you want them," Sasha offered. Her gift was met with a hug and Punk thanked his aunt profusely. "Wait, wait mein dear, that's not all," Sasha laughed, pulling out a sealed envelope from her purse. "Since die day your Onkle Kurt and Ich found out that each of you kids was to be born, we wanted to make sure you all had a little something extra to make your lives a little easier. This is something not even your parents knew about, and we weren't even planning on giving it to you until you turned twenty-eins but circumstances change and we felt that you could use this now." Sasha handed the envelope over to Punk.

Punk tored the envelope open and pulled out the papers, he looked up at Sasha questioningly. "Punk non under'tand."

"We bought a bunch of stocks and bonds in various companies in each of you kids names. They've grown and matured over the years. Yours in particular Punk are presently worth well over $50,000 and you can cash them in at any time." Punk once again hugged and thanked his aunt before returning to his former task.

After he finish his dessert, Punk took the boxes up to his room and returned a few minutes later. He took his seat again and pulled out his bank book and the envelope, quietly managing his affairs. Chloe sipped at her tea.

"Dat will make f'r a nice 'tart on 'er trust fund, Punk," she said casually.

Punk looked over across the table to his mother. "Non Maman, dis is f'r Punk t' take care o' 'er."

Nothing more on the subject was said.

Sasha leaned into Kurt and whispered into one of his pointed, blue ears. "Y'know, she's gonna have it tough, that eins," Sasha gestured to Jules. "She's just a kind, and die world is full of big, bad things." Kurt silent nodded his head in agreement.

------

Over the next few weeks, many more expensive items turned up missing. The girls kept their husbands informed, and they in turn assured their wives that they would get to the bottom of the entire matter. One afternoon, Chloe, Remy, Logan and Lorrie had joined Sasha and Kurt up in the apartment, and they were going over the list.

"This is getting to be seriously not funny, every time I go to our room, Wolvie, half my things are gone! The lead crystal vase Chloe gave us for our wedding is missing. I went to put flowers in our room the other day and I couldn't find it… I love that vase!" Lorrie said, sitting next to her husband on the sofa.

"I 'gree chicka, I non can find da pearl & amethyst earrings dat Momma an' Daddy gave me when I graduated junior 'igh 'chool, nor can I find m' guitar tuner… I 'ad t' buy an'oder one! An' I'm missin' some o' m' personal guitars too!"

"Same here. For some reason Ich can't find mein Piers Anthony 'Xanth' book collection, or die gold, diamond and emerald necklace Lorrie and Chloe gave me when I graduated High School," Sasha said, just as hurt as her older sisters were. "They may not have been worth much to some people, but they were worth something to me!"

"Bree is missin' 'er diamond an' ruby birt' 'tone necklace, an' Lorna told me she can' find a 'pecial Papillion bookmark she 'ad ei'der," Chloe reported.

"You girls have had so much put on you over the years and it just keeps adding up. And now with having the Wicca School in full swing, the shop, teaching classes, policing all the grade levels. Then taking care of your families, particularly you, Chloe, with Remy and your mess o' youngin's then with being the house mom, and a Nana too… It's just too damn much… you girls need a holiday!" Logan said matter-of-factly.

"I agree," Kurt added. "It vould do my Canadian Princezz a lil good to get avay for a vhile."

"Ya know, that doesn't sound like a half bad idea," Lorrie said in thought.

Sasha moved over to a chest of drawers and returned a moment later with a large, manilla envelope. "Chloe, Remy...unforturnately, you guys weren't here when Jean, Scott, Dom and Cable passed away as much as we all know you would have been. Anyway, that aside, due to them not having any family, they had willed their house to die six of us. This is die deed." She motioned to the envelope in her hand. "Well, instead of taking off too far away we would still be within driving distance, so warum don't all us maedchens take off into die city and stay there for die weekend for some schwester time?"

"'Kay sounds good, mais I canna go 'lone Rem 'oney non like dat. I'm non 'llowed, an' wad 'bout all m' bebes?" Chloe agreed.

"Da bebes...dey b' fine 'ere wit' Papa, an' dere Oncles, mon chere amour. You non need t' worry, dey're all in good 'an's. Dey older bebes can 'elp mind da youngin's," Remy replied re-assuringly.

"When are we girls gonna go?" Lorrie asked.

"I dunno 'bout you two, mais da sooner da be'der f'r me!" Chloe giggled.

"Sounds like a plan to me," Sasha smiled, "but you know what they say...die more die merrier." Lorrie and Chloe nodded their heads vigorously.

------

What originally started out to be only the three sisters, grew to include Emma, Jubilee, Kitty, Ro and Penny, and the very next night, the eight adult women set off for their get-away weekend. The students offered to stick around the mansion and help the men care for things.

A 45-minute drive took the women to Jean, Scott, Cable, and Dom's old house in Long Island. During the entire trip they hooted, hollered, sang, and laughed. For those who had been to the house before, they hardly took any notice of the sheer size of the house. For Chloe, Penny, and Ro, they stood looking at it without blinking for five minutes.

"Sis?" Sasha asked as she unloaded the bags. "You okay?"

Chloe blinked hard. "Oui. Why you non 'ell me dat da 'ouse dis grande?"

Sasha shrugged. "Ich weiß nicht, Ich guess I've never really thought about it given that die mansion is much bigger."

"Da plantation is just 'bout da same as da mansion, but I non t'ought da 'ouse be like dis." Penny and Ro wordlessly agreed with Chloe's statement.

While the girls got settled in the house, Chloe and Sasha stepped down to the corner store to grab a few things for the weekend. Fifteen minutes later when they had returned to the house, Sasha carried several bags of munchies and Chloe toting several bags of alcohol.

Stepping into the spacious kitchen, the girls started mixing drinks, the stereo blasting hard rock music.

As the evening wore on, the girls consumed drink after drink, and by eight o'clock they were feeling no pain at all. Soon, the drinking and music wasn't enough for them, and they decided to hit the club scene.

Sasha appeared down in the foyer looking like a walking heart attack. Her hair was done up into a braided crown with just a few wisps framing her face, and she was wearing an ebon mini dress with spaghetti straps that was dangerously short and had a plunging neckline so low that it would make even the most chaste of men think of impurity. Her long dancer-like legs were sheathed in sheer black nylons and accented with a pair of six-inch black pumps.

It wasn't long before the girls arrived at the Black Hole, New York's newest, hottest club. It was fortunate that Sasha was an old college friend of the owner she they had no trouble getting in.

The girls laughed and drank, and soon found themselves on the dance floor dancing in a circle together. Before the girls had a chance to leave the floor for food and more booze, they each found themselves being swept up into the arms of a strong muscled-bound wrestler-sized gorgeous man who were obviously much younger than their female dance partners.

Sasha was feeling good all over, and the young man she was currently pressed up against didn't feel so bad either. Looking up, she found herself drawn deep into his chestnut eyes. In response, he pulled her tighter towards him. Sasha hummed as she felt a strong hand play along her tailbone like a xylophone.

With one, well-muscled arm, her carmel-skinned knight picked her up by the waist and carried her off the dance floor.

The girls spent the rest of the evening with their companions dancing, drinking, and partying. Sasha soon discovered her newfound "friend" was named Alejandro and she hand spent the last half hour just saying his name and listening to it roll off her tongue. Alejandro had even commented that he adored the way she said his name.

Sasha was vaguely aware that Chloe was currently giving her companion a little striptease, but she was too busy tracing Alejandro's jawline with a trail of featherlight kisses that traveled down his neck and out to the point of his shoulder. At this point, she was good and ploughed, no longer remembering that she was married with two children.

After a while, the girls excused themselves to freshen themselves up, but on the way back to the booth, the girls ran into the most unlikely of people.

"Betsy chicka! Fille friend, 'ow dey 'ell are ya?" Chloe slurred.

"O MY GODS! Coco how you doing girly, I've missed ya! Long time no see!" Betsy squealed happily and hugged her friends hello.

"What you doin' in town?" Sasha asked in a drunken stupor.

"Came to see the opening of the new fall line fashion, a Coco thing."

"Dat's da way t' 'hop fille!… 'ey you drunk yet?" Chloe giggled.

"Hell yeah!" Betsy replied with giggled hiccups.

The women were soon collected by their newly acquired male companions and another of their friends soon joined them and Betsy was in his lap in a flash.

"So like what do you guys do for a living?" Jubilee asked the guys as she took her drink from the waitress.

"We're wrestlers, sweet thang. We had the night off, and personally, I can't think of a better way to spend it than in the company of such fine ladies as yourselves," Rory answered her as he removed his leather biker jacket only to expose his well-muscled arms laden down with numerous tattoos. Chloe's eyes suddenly light up.

"Well aren't you just yummy!" Chloe giggled. "Wrestler's huh? Okay pin me -- and when I'm pinned there are no real losers!" She giggled wildly.

Sasha's eyes were glued to Alejandro's nicely ripped chest, her fingers lightly racing the dips and curves of his six-pack. "Well, hallo salty goodness!" she muttered under her breath.

Sasha was enjoying the feel of Alejandro's warm skin under her fingertips, and she vaguely heard someone suggest that they go back to the girls place. Had she been in her right mind, Sasha would've reminded the girls about their families, but her mind was no where near rational thought. Her mind was swimming from the tons of alcohol she had consumed over they last several hours so she gave no resistance, and before she realized it Sasha found herself being escorted from the club as were all the other girls.

No sooner had they returned to the house were the girls pulling their companions in the directions of their respective rooms. As she and Alejandro passed by the bar, Sasha grabbed the near full bottle of Tequila and made a beeline for her bedroom.

Before the door even had a chance to close tightly behind them, Alejandro gathered Sasha up into his broad arms, carried her to the bed, and laid her softly on the silk sheets.

It took only moments for them to be naked, the silk caressing their skin. "So beautiful," he purred, gazing at her luscious breasts and narrow waist. With a soft touch his fingers nimbly traced along her jaw, down her neck, and out to the point at her shoulder.

Over and over again, Sasha and Alejandro made love in a tangle of unadulterated passion, worshipping each other until the wee hours of the morning.

------

No sooner had the Hummer full of chattering women disappeared in the distance, did Logan turn to the students gathered in the foyer. "Well, it's been a slice of heaven for us...but we're off too!"

"Wait," Lorna said hurriedly "Off where?"

"The girls are having their weekend, and so are we, right guys," Logan smiled. At that moment Logan, Remy, Kurt, Bobby, Pitor, Bishop, Jon, Hank, Bren, Lucky, Punk, Dutch, T-Bird and Deaglan produced fourteen identical duffle bags.

Remy slung his bag over his shoulder. "You be a chere an' watch da bebes, non?"

Lorna nodded and smiled, understanding that it was just as important for the guys to get away as it was the girls. The students followed the guys into the garage and helped to load the trucks up with the bags and camping gear.

"Ve got our phonez if zere'z a problem," Kurt said, climbing onto the back of Logan's truck with Lucky and Bren.

Lorna nodded and the students waved their goodbyes to the guys as the truck laden down with supplies and the truck laden down with passangers tore out of the garage.

A short while later, the guys arrived in a forested area somewhere near Syracuse. Logan slid out of the driver's seat of his truck. "Okay, we've got food, we've got beer, we've got zero percent wife supervision... welcome to Camp Naughty Bad Fun!" A cheer rose up from the others as they all began to pile out of the truck and set up camp.

"First things first, my friend," Hank said "Someone needs to go in search of firewood."

"How right you are, Hank." Logan looked at the boys. "Okay, the first one of you to say something asinine has to collect the firewood."

"How asinine does it have to be, Uncle Logan?" Bren asked, pulling things off the truck.

Remy smiled broadly, clapping a hand on his nephew's shoulder. "Congratulations, mon fil, you nominated." Bren grumbled under his breath while everyone laughed.

Dutch patted his older cousin's back. "Dem's da brakes, eh cousin?" he laughed.

Remy smiled at his son. "An' guess who gets t' 'elp 'im?"

Dutch suddenly stopped laughing and mirrored Bren's grumbling before the pair trudged off towards the tree line. By the time the boys returned, the trucks had been completely unloaded and the bonfire pit was marked out with large rocks.

Logan sat on a log next to the pit, drinking with Remy, Bobby and Pitor and was the first to catch sight of the boys' return. "Hey boys," he called out to Bren, smiling slightly. "While you were gone, we drew straws to see who had to set up the tents...Guess what?"

Bobby mirrored Logan's smile. "You lost." All the adults laughed hard. "Ha-ha...finally," Bobby elated "Somebody else is the pack mule!"

Kurt walked over and divested Bren and Dutch of the firewood, bringing it over to the fire pit. "Zo," the blue mutant said, dropping the wood on the ground and looking at his friends, "Are you ready to get dovn, you funky party veazelz?"

"Y'know," Jon stood up "It would do me a world of good if you never said that again."

Hank chuckled as he sunk on his haunches to begin building the fire. Occasional glances at Bren and Dutch in the tent area told the furry mutant that the boys weren't being very successful at setting them up. Not only were the tents constantly falling down just as Bren almost finished setting each up but it seemed as if Dutch had forgotten about the air pump they had brought and was currently attempting the inflate the air mattresses with his own breath, his face turning several shades of red as a result.

"I do believe if we do not help the young lads, they will liably pass out from frustration," Hank commented. The other adults had a good little laugh at the two boys' expense before taking over the duties as Bren and Dutch watched helplessly, and within five minutes the tents were set up, the air mattresses inflated, and the fire raging in the pit.

"Well," Bren remarked, "at least we tried."

"Oui, mon fil," Remy smiled. "Non everyone is an ou'doors person."

Bren returned the smile before joining Lucky, Punk and Hank at the stream where the Cajun boys were teaching Hank the fine art of Lousiana fishing.

"Okay, Oncle 'Ank, you gotta 'quat down like dis," Lucky said, sinking onto his haunches. "An' you gotta watch da wader carefully, an' when you see a fishy, 'hoot ou' wit' bot' 'ands an' grab 'im. K? You turn."

Hank nodded and did just like Lucky had shown him, and when a fish came along, Hank made a move to grab it. He missed and fell into the freezing liquid with a loud splash.

Logan, Remy, Kurt, Bobby and Pitor who had been watching, broke up into hysterics as Hank climbed back onto the bank looking very much like a drowned rat.

"'Mooth move dere, 'Ank," Remy called at his friend as he laughed.

Hank looked calmly at his friend. "Your time will come, Remy my friend. Your time will come." And Hank turned around to try again. Five minutes later, the blue mutant fell into the water a second time, making the other adults laugh harder than they had before.

Meanwhile, further on down the stream, Bishop stood poised over the water, gun in hand. Taking careful aim, Bishop pointed his gun at the fish as they swam by and fired. The sound of the shot was, of course, muted by the silencer attached to the barrel but that did nothing to deter Hank from glaring at his friend.

Further on down the stream still stood Jon, T-Bird and Deaglan with a large bowl of fish food. The trio sprinkled the fish food onto the water, thereby luring the fish away from Bishop, and subsequently Hank, who had yet again fallen in the water.

Jon giggled like a school girl as he lured the fish away from his friends. Bishop, who didn't take too kindly to this, stalked up to the man.

"Just what do you think you're doing? We're suppose to be catching the food, not feeding the food."

T-Bird beamed brightly. "Just call us da Dyslexic Fishermen!"

Jon and Deaglan mirrored T-Bird's smile. This only served to anger Bishop further but he ultimately returned to his spot to resume his own unique brand of fishing.

Soon, Jon returned to where the other adults sat.

"Okay," Jon exhaled heavily. "Bring on the chicks!"

Remy, Logan, Bobby and Pitor looked at Jon incredulously.

"Dude, if we had chicks on the guys weekend it can hardly be called a guys weekend, can it?" Logan asked.

Jon thought for a moment. "Point taken. So, where's elf?"

Remy thrust a thumb toward the tree line. "'E 'ad t' drain da main vein."

"Huh?" Jon asked.

"Make like a bear," Logan replied.

"Say what?" Jon replied.

"He had to hit the head," Pitor said.

"Pardon?" Jon asked.

"Sign nature's guestbook," Bobby offered.

"Not following," Jon returned.

"HE HAD TO TAKE A PISS!" all four of the men yelled in unison.

Jon nodded slowly. "Oh...why didn't you say so?" he asked, popping open a beer.

Logan made a move to lunge at the telepathic mutant, but Remy held the man back. Logan only stopped when Kurt emerged from the forest, skipping as he moved.

"Uh, elf?" Logan started carefully, "what are you doin'?"

"Juzt take a moment and lizten," Kurt replied. "Do you hear zat?"

"Remy et Gambit non 'ear not'ing, mon amis."

"Exactly," Kurt replied. "No crying babiez. Don't get me vrong, I love my children, but DAMN!"

"Dey can be a 'andful, non broder?" Remy replied.

It wasn't long before enough fish was caught to make a decent dinner, despite Hank's soaking wet fur and Bishop despretely searching for more ammo.

Logan dutifully cleaned the fish and Remy took to cooking them over the open fire. By this time, night had begun to fall and it wasn't until darkness had competely set in that dinner was ready.

Soon, the meal was eaten and everyone settled in for a nice little round of ghost stories.

"Okay, I've got one," Bobby said before his voice dropped several octaves and spoke spookily. "Gather around children and listen to my tale. Ten years ago, along this same stretch of forest, I saw the most terrible accident I had ever saw. A small cabin mysteriously burst into flames, and when they pulled the body out of the burning, twisted wreck...it looked like THAT!" Bobby yelled and grabbed at T-Bird, the boy, and indeed the rest of the kids jumped at least three feet into the air before breaking down into fits of laughter.

Bishop reached across Kurt and grabbed himself a beer from the cooler, opened it and downed half of the bottle in one long swig. Kurt followed Bishop's suit.

Deaglan looked up at his adoptive father. "Can I have a sip of your beer?"

Logan pulled Deaglan close to him and smiled slightly. "Now, son, you don't want to drink beer. That's for daddies and kids with fake IDs. But I'll tell you what I will share with you. A little thing I like to call "The World According to Logan."

All the other adult men groaned loudly, knowing full well where Logan was going with this.

The feral mutant looked at all the kids as he spoke.

Logan cleared his throat and continued. "I want to share with you the four little sentences that will get you through life. Number 1: Cover for me. Number 2: Good idea, Boss! Number 3: It was like that when I got here. And finally, number 4: I didn't do it...and remember, if all else fails, blame to guy that can't speak English."

The older boys laughed slightly.

"But the one thing you must always...always... remember, when it comes to compliments, women are ravenous blood-suckin' monsters always wantin' more... more... MORE! And if you give it to them, you'll get plenty back in return."

"Like what?" Deaglan asked, his eyes full of innocence.

There was a long pause as Logan looked around at the other adults. "...Ask your mother."

It was at this point in the evening that Remy reached deep into his trenchcoat and withdrew a small sandwich baggie filled with several thin, cigarette-like objects.

Bobby's eyes lit up. "Alright!" he elated. "Nothing like a little "doobie snack" to get a growing mutant through the night."

Deaglan arched an eyebrow. "What are those?" he asked as he watched Remy light one up an take a long drag.

"Uh," Bren waivered slightly. "Deaglan, little dude, you really don't wanna know."

Logan looked calmly at boys as he took the joint Remy offered.

"Remember, the girls are never to know this little trip of ours happened. We want them to think we spent the weekend at home with you boys, okay?" The boys all nodded their understanding.

When joint was finally passed around to Bren, he looked at it carefully.

"I won't go schizo, will I?" he asked warily.

Lucky smiled slightly. "It a di'tinct possibility."

Reluctantly, Bren took it and did as the others had done prior, though for him coughing ensued. This resulted in Lucky giving him a few firm taps on the back.

Soon the joint was passed around the entire circle with the exception of Deaglan, T-Bird and Dutch who were busy by the fire making s'mores.

Hank sat on the far side of the bonfire with the kids. The boys appeared to be showing the fuzzy blue mutant the finer points to building a S'more.

"Then you put another graham cracker on top and pop it into your mouth all at once," Deaglan instructed.

Hank followed the boy's instructions but when it came to the popping Hank found he got more of the gooey mess on his fur than in his stomach. The kids eyes sparkled with glee at the hilarious sight.

"Maybe you s'ould take anoder lil swim, dere 'Ank," Remy offered, his eyes sparkling with laughter, to which Hank silently glared at his friend, remembering what happened earlier.

Soon, the younger boys began toddling off to bed. Deaglan was the last of his cousins to turn in for the night. With a firm hug given to Logan, Deaglan smiled sleepily. "Night Dad," then he disappeared into his tent.

Logan stared after the young boy for what seemed like an eternity. "Did... did you hear that?...he called me dad." Logan looked at the other adults. "That's the first time he's ever called me dad...I can't believe it."

"Okay, vho vants to play drink ze beer?" Kurt asked, rubbing his hands together.

"Right here." Pitor said grabbing a beer and guzzling it down. "What do I win?"

"Anozer beer."

Pitor smiled broadly. "Alright! I'm going for the high score."

"Actually, Bobby's got ze high zcore," Kurt replied thrusting a thumb in Bobby's direction.

A bleary-eyed Bobby was standing over next to Logan's truck, the door to the cab open wide, and he was peeing in it. "Hey," Bobby called over his shoulder, "the truck won't flush."

Logan quickly scrambled to his feet and pulled Bobby away from his truck, grumbling threats under his breath to the ice mutant.

It wasn't long afterwards, the adults began to turn in for the night as well.

------

The next morning Sasha awoke to the sound of water running in the en suite bathroom. A hand quickly found its way to her temple in a vain attempt to massage away the throbbing there. Sasha quickly assessed that it was the shower that was running.

Sasha opened her eyes slowly. The morning light shooting a knife through her brain and she groaned slightly.

Wie much did Ich have to drink last night? she said inwardly. Carefully she reopened her eyes. It took her brain a moment to realize that she was naked and not in her bed at home. She raised up suddenly, but movement was not good. She groaned and laid back down as the knife slashed again. She remembered something. She, her sisters, and her best female friends were on their girls weekend, and they had went out clubbing. That she remembered. What she didn't remember was who the person in the shower was and how they had got there.

Taking a deep breath, she cautiously slid herself into a sitting position against the headboard and waited for the person to present themself. She didn't have to wait long, because no sooner had she sat up did the water shut off and the distinct sound of the shower curtain pulling back cut through the morning silence. In a moment, a 20-something, hard-bodied young man emerged from the bathroom.

Sasha's eyes grew wide as her eyes roamed over his wet form. Immediately, a feeling of shame and guilt washed over her.

"Ah," he started, smiling. "You are awake, my flor hermosa. (translation: beautiful flower)" His voiced dripped heavy with a Spanish accent.

Sasha said nothing as she watched her companion slip into the bed. She involuntarily tensed up as he leaned in and kissed her lips.

He pulled back to study her face. "What be wrong, lindo? (translation: lovely)" he asked, looking more than a little hurt.

"N-nothing," Sasha stammered. Quickly, Sasha got out of the bed, wrapping the sheet tightly around her, and moved over to the window.

What had she done? She cheated...betrayed her adoring husband of nearly twelve years. How would she ever be able to look Kurt in the face again, knowing what she had done. She loved Kurt so much it was unbearable...and what about the twins?...

Sasha lost her train of thought when she felt a pair of strong arm encase her waist. She crooked her neck to look behind her just in time to see the man rest his chin on her shoulder.

"You are quiet this morning," he said, his voice silky smooth. "We drank an aweful lot last night. I can't rightly seem to remember your name, flor hermosa."

"Mein name is Sasha," Sasha replied in a whispered tone. "You?"

"Alejandro… Where are you from luv? I adore the way you talk!"

"Ich was born in Canada, but Ich spent some time in Germany."

"Your eyes, they tell me you are wise beyond your years. May I ask how old you are?"

Sasha turned to look at Alejandro squarely in the eyes so she could gauge his reaction, still holding the sheet tightly around her. "36."

Alejandro raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Really?"

Sasha nodded. "Really...wie old are you?"

"Sweet Sasha, I am but 25," Alejandro replied, "but age knows no limits in the subject of love." Alejandro gentle kissed the back of Sasha's hand.

Ever so deftly, Alejandro pulled the sheet out of Sasha's grasp, letting the fabric pool on the floor around their feet, and made a gentle trail of kisses along her collarbone, pulling her closer to his still wet body.

Sasha swallowed hard, feeling dizzy as she felt Alejandro body heat engulf her lithe form.

"Heavens! You are one gorgeous woman!"

Sasha pushed Alejandro away slightly, stopping his ministrations. "Bitte, stop. This is wrong."

"Que?" Alejandro replied in Spanish.

Slowly held up her left hand, displying the gold band on her ring finger. Tears began to cloud her eyes and she sunk to the floor in a crumpled heap, silently crying. In a moment, Alejandro kneeled beside her.

"You're married, aren't you?" Alejandro asked carefully. Sasha said nothing but nodded slightly, her tears continuing to flow. Alejandro pulled her close in a comforting embrace. "Hey, do not cry, flor hermosa," he cooed, wiping her tears away with a finger. "I understand, we both had much to drink last night and we cannot be held accountable for our actions." Alejandro cupped Sasha's chin and raised her head to lock his gaze with hers. "Your husband, he is very lucky man."

Soon Sasha's tears dried up and she allowed Alejandro to raise her to her feet. With a gentle, understanding, featherlight kiss on her nose, Alejandro ushered Sasha towards the bathroom where she showered in solitude before the pair headed down to the kitchen where everyone else was currently gathering.

Sasha slid onto a chair next to Kitty while Alejandro made a beeline for the coffeepot. She held her head and sipped carefully at the coffee Alejandro had handed her before retreated back to the counter to help the other guys fix some food. It was good to hear that she wasn't the only one who was regretting their activities of the previous evening as she listened to the others girls lamenting their concerns over their actions.

When Chloe started to cry, Sasha watched as the one who was quickly identified as Rory, enfolded Chloe into his broad arms and comforted her.

The girls did their best to explain to the guys, Alejandro already having heard from Sasha, that they were married and many of the girls having had children.

When the guys were made to understand that nothing more could come of their little encounter, the menfolk continued on with fixing brunch. Emma took that moment to return, dropping her hat on the floor in the process. After a moment, Chloe's eyes grew wide and she quickly jumped to her feet, dashing from the room.

Sasha's watched her sister flee in surprise, but as she watched Emma scoop up her hat, Sasha fully understood what had sent Chloe into a flustered panic, and ran after her sister.

When the pair returned, they made a beeline for the washroom just off of the kitchen. The sisters were in that bathroom for nearly ten minutes, the guys asking what was going on but being continually rebuffed. When Sasha and Chloe finally emerged, Chloe was no longer crying but now visibly flustered.

"What happened Chloe?" Rory asked

Chloe blinked. "Wad will an' won' 'appen we'll know in 15 minutes"

"What is she talking about?" Alejandro asked, looking for clarity.

"Chloe has a tendedancy to get pregnant at the drop of a hat, literately, meaning it takes no real effort for her to get pregnant hence why she has so many kids." Sasha explained. Rory turned pale slightly.

When the alloted time elapsed, Sasha went to check on the results of Chloe's pregnancy test. Everyone held their breath as they watched Sasha check the delicate little stick, and she smiled.

"Chloe sista, your all good! Take a look," Sasha said and handed the stick over to her sister. Chloe heaved a massive sigh of relief. Although the matter of Chloe's near pregnancy was resolved, they girls still had the matter of their infidelity to deal with weighing heavily on their minds.

Although a physical relationship wasn't an option, they guys still wanted to remain friends with their one-time lovers. They exchanged numbers and said their goodbyes.

------

T-Bird and Deaglan were the first to wake the next morning, so the boys decided to start the day with a little dip in the stream.

"Wad a day, huh cousin?" T-Bird started, looking around at the awakening forest. "Sun is out, birds are singin', bees are tryin' t' 'ave sex wit' dem -- as is my under'tanding."

Deaglan laughed as he finished up his bath in the stream. And when the boys returned to the tents, Bobby was already awake and stoking the fire to make breakfast, to which the boys helped get around.

By the time the others woke, Logan was just in time to hear Bobby being his normal self.

"Now kids," Bobby said, "contrary to what you've heard, war is neither glamorous nor fun. There are no winners, only losers. There are no good wars, with the following exceptions: The American Revolution, World War II, and the Star Wars Trilogy. If you'd like to learn more about war, there's lots of books in the school library, many of them with cool, gory pictures."

Deaglan, T-Bird and Dutch laughed.

"And remember what I said earlier, if you ever find yourself in prison, attach yourself to the biggest, toughest, meanest looking goon you can find. You don't wanna wind up being just anyone's bitch."

Logan took that moment to come out of his tent. "Boy, what kinda rubbish are you spouting off now?"

Bobby smiled broadly. "The same as usual."

"You were fibbing?" Deaglan asked.

Bobby dished out the scrambled eggs. "Boys, everything I say is a lie. Except that. And that. And that. And that. And that. And that. And that. And that."

After breakfast, the guys broke camp and began the long drive back to the mansion. Occasionally, Bobby's voice could be heard from the carriage of Logan's truck.

"Whenever I'm nervous I put a bag over my head and breathe deeply."

"Does that really work?" Deaglan asked.

"Absolutely, when I come to I can never remember what I was so nervous about."

The guys made it back in the mansion nearly an hour before the woman returned, so they had more than ample time to erase any traces of the camping trip.

------

When the girls arrived home, they were greeted with a sea of smiling faces, and that only made them feel even more guilty that they were already feeling.

"Ahh," Kurt cooed, taking Sasha into his arms and kissing her passionately. "My zveet Canadian Princezz! Hov vas your veekend?"

Sasha tensed up slightly before she was finally able to repsond. "It was...eventful."

Suddenly, Chloe broke under Remy's questioning gaze and she confessed all about the events of the weekend.

The men were silently for several long seconds as they processed this information, looking around at each of the girls. Sasha had found it most difficult to meet Kurt's gaze. Suddenly, the men all broke down into fits of uncontrollable, unrelenting laughter.

"Oh darlin' that's a good one!" Logan exasperated. "Did it take you dames long to come up with that funny, cause damn that's gotta be one of thee best laughs I've had in ages!"

Sasha stared unbelievingly at the guys, then to the girls. Goddess! They don't believe us!

"Zazha my princezz… please you have to ztop! I can't brezze... laughing zo hard!"

At that, the guys turned and heading back into the house, the girls trailing slowly in their wake. Well, they had tried. The truth had been spoken, and although the guys hadn't believed a word of it, there had been no lie.

THE END

to be continued...NEXT STORY TITLES YET TO BE DETERMINED

German words used in this fic...

acht: eight

bitte: please

danke: thank you

das Maedchen: girl

der Ehemann: husband

die: the

dritte: third

eins: one

erklären Sie: explain

erste: first

familie: family

Freitag: Friday

fünf: five

genießen Sie: enjoy

gratulation: congradulations

groß: great

haß: hate

Hallo honig: Hi honey

Hast oben: Hurry up

haus: house

hure: whore

Ich bin feines luv: I'm fine luv

Ich bin traurig: I'm sorry

Ich weiß nicht: I don't know

ja: yes

kaffee: coffee

kind: child

kinder: children

knabe: boy

liebe: love

mein: my

Montag: Monday

morgen: morning

mutter: mother

nachmittag: afternoon

natürlich: of course

neffe: nephew

nein: no

neun: nine

nichte: neice

null: zero

Öffnung: mouth

richtig: true

schatz: sweetheart

schlampn: tramp

schwanger: pregnant

schwindlig: dizzy

sechzehn: sixteen

sieben: seven

schwester: sister

tante: aunt

taufpaten: godparents

vater: father

vier: four

wann: when

warum: why

wer: who

wie: how

wirklich: really

zehn: ten

zwei: two

zweite: second