A/N: Here's a new chapter, and with it a little more about Elle's backstory. She's the same Elle from the other story up until the point at which the two stories split, so I focused on that.
"I was fifteen when I managed to escape the experimentation facility where I was held. It took me forever to memorize the inside of the place, and even longer to wait for a power outage to use my improvised lockpick. Then when it happened, I just went with it. I think they realized that after so many years I was no longer a threat, since my only power is that I can heal. I don't know why they wanted me, only that I developed my ability right after I was born. Maybe that was the reason. After I broke out, I hid in the forest nearby until I found train tracks. I stowed away on a train, then just went wherever it took me.
"After a few months I started getting bigger, but I blew it off until people started telling me I was pregnant. I sort of knew what pregnant meant, but I didn't know what to expect or even how it happened in the first place. I went to a library, but I can't really read, so that did me a lot of good. That was in Albany, I think. When I did end up giving birth a year ago, I was outed as a mutant right away because of my healing ability. But worse than that, they weren't going to let me keep Lilly. Since we were both under eighteen I couldn't do anything about it, especially since I'm a mutant, so I decided to run away from the hospital. It was hard smuggling a newborn around, and I admit I had to steal for a while. But I tried not to, instead doing whatever odd jobs I could find. I've been bouncing around ever since."
"My word, those are quite appalling circumstances if I've ever heard so," Professor Xavier confessed, as Elle finished telling her story. Scott, Ororo, and Jean were also present, and the former two were also equally shocked at the young mother's past. Ororo even came forward and hugged Elle, recalling her own experiences living on the streets as a child.
"You agree then, Professor, that Elle and Lilly are welcome to stay?" Jean spoke up.
"Most definitely," Charles replied. "In fact, I insist that you allow our resident physician Hank have a look at the two of you. If only to make sure you didn't pick up anything from living on the streets, that is."
"Oh, alright." Elle looked at Lilly, who had taken to chewing on Elle's hair from boredom. "I guess Lilly will allow that. She gets temperamental sometimes, but seems to be fine now."
"Splendid. Scott, would you see to it that Elle is given a room near yours and Jean's for now? That might be best, in case Elle needs anything. Ororo, I trust since you are the shopper of the team, you will help Elle with fetching any necessary baby supplies?"
"You know I am always proud to spend your funds, Professor," Ororo joked, as she led Elle and Lilly out of the Professor's office.
"Aww, aren't you just the cutest? Ow, okay, don't pull..."
Lilly laughed as Hank placed her on the scale, all the while pulling on his fur. As far as she was concerned, he was just a big blue teddy bear.
"She's a little underweight, but that's to be expected given the circumstances." Hank made a few notes, then grabbed his pen light. "Okay, time to open up!" Lilly continued laughing whenever Hank looked at her, so he used the opportunity to check her teeth. "I see... it looks like only the four incisors on the top and the two central on the bottom. That's about normal for this stage."
Hank finished his notes, then handed Lilly back to Elle. "All together, I'd say you have a very healthy little one year old girl. You're still breastfeeding her?"
"Yeah, I kinda have to. It's hard enough to feed myself, let alone her," Elle admitted, slightly embarrassed. "I realize she's a little old for it..."
"No, not at all," Hank corrected. "You can breastfeed for as long as you wish to, if her teeth aren't bothering you. Some scholars believe it's actually harder on the child to wean between the thirteenth and eighteenth month period, and some believe that children will wean themselves. It's entirely up to you, though I do recommend that since her teeth are coming in, you start introducing solid foods. I will work up a meal plan."
"That will be nice."
Hank nodded, then flipped to the next page. "I also don't see any evidence of childhood diseases. Do you know if she was ever given any vaccines?"
"Uh yeah, about that..." Elle looked around the med lab, spotting a scalpel tray in a cabinet. "Let me show you something," she said, before pulling the tray out and using the scalpel to make a small knick in her palm. "See how that healed right away? I've always been able to heal quickly, ever since I was a baby. I think she inherited it from me. Obviously I'm not going to cut her to try it out, but I always wondered how she managed to stay healthy despite us being homeless."
"I might be able to help you with that," Hank offered, always up for scientific research. "I would need to draw a blood sample from her, but I can do a genetic test on Lilly, and compare her to your genetic material. It will then tell me if her genetic sequence has the same X-Gene that you do, and if it has already expressed itself. I'll also run a series of vitamin and nutrient tests on the both of you, just to make sure we're not missing anything. But if you're anything like the other fast healer we've encountered, you have nothing to worry about." Hank coughed as he prepped his syringe, a certain cigar chomping mutant coming to mind. He sure hoped Elle wouldn't resemble him too much, especially in the recklessness department.
Elle nodded her consent, and held Lilly steady. "Thank you for your concern, Dr. McCoy. And sorry if Lilly pulled out too much of your hair."
"Oh, it's okay. She's going to hate me soon for this needle pinch, anyway."
A/N: Thank you to bambino01 for the review, and to those who have followed and favorited so far! I appreciate it!
