Disclaimer:I don't own X-Men:Evolution, just myself (Called Molly Callum in 'fics.)
and any original characters/background characters that might pop up from time to time.
Silverware clattered to the table and everyone shared the same look of shock, then they all rushed over, not to be held in suspense.
In the basket was obviously a mutant baby. It had scaly green skin, like a lizard, and large black slit-eyes enshrouded by green, like a cat.
There were tiny beige color blunt blades on his wrists. All in all, Molly thought he looked more like an alien then a mutant baby.
"There's a note in the basket," Molly reached in and read it aloud, "The friends of humanity tried to kill my baby.
I thought he would be safest here. I tried to put him up for adoption, but no one would take him. I am poor and not able to take care of a baby. His name is Dylan. Please let him know that his mother loved him...even though she wasn't able to keep him."
Almost everyone was teary-eyed after that. Molly could barely finish the note.
"We _can't_ keep a baby," Scott was the first to object.
"And what? We're going to ship him off to an orphanage to be harrassed for years?" Remy protested.
Remy knew what it was like to grow up homeless and a mutant, and he wouldn't wish that on even his worst enemy.
"It's a bad situation," Logan broke in, "But we have to do what's right."
"Wait a minute," Kitty said, "The note said no adoption agency would take him. How are we going to work around that?"
"We'll think of something," Ororo said, "In the meantime, everyone needs to finish breakfast."
"He's kind of cute," Molly mused, "And I always like the name Dylan."
After placing the basket on a nearby chair, Remy took Dylan out of the basket and held him. Dylan was smiling, as most babies would.
"Hi Dylan," Remy said softly, "Looks like you're going to be with us for a while. Welcome to the Institute."
Molly suddenly felt like melted ice cream on the inside. Next to seeing a man all dressed up, seeing a man being caring and fatherly to a child got to Molly in some deep way. It probably had something to do with effecting all her maternal instincts, but she didn't dwell on it. All she knew was that seeing Remy with a baby in his arms was making her heart swell up.
"M-maybe we should take him somewhere quieter where he can sleep. One of the studies or something," Molly spoke up.
Remy put Dylan back in the basket. They took the elevator upstairs. The studies were quiet places for students or teachers to get work done, with huge, dark curtains on the windows to not let in a lot of light if needed. There was a desk with a computer to the left of the room. In the center there was a couch and by the window there was a huge table with some chairs. In front of the couch there was a large book case. The floor was wood with a rug under the couch extending out underneath the bookcase. Next to the door there was a small cabinet with a coffee maker and all the amenities to go with it. It was the perfect place to keep a baby that needed to sleep. Remy put the basket on top of a table while Molly made sure the curtains were shut. The two of them sat on the couch inside the study and talked quietly.
"I can't help but think everyone's right. This really isn't any place for a baby," Molly crossed her arms.
"Yeah, but who else is going to take him in? Everyone hates us out there. The Friends of Humanity tried to _kill_ him," Remy was seething. Molly had never seen him so furious before. She placed a hand on his arm.
"I know...but we're going to do everything we can for him. I don't want to see anything happen to him either, I'm just trying to see it from everyone's side. If the Professor were here, he wouldn't want to see anything happen to Dylan, but I think he'd also want to try to do what's best for him." Molly smiled a little.
Remy hung his head, leaning over to face the floor. He breathed out heavily through his nose as his broad shoulders hunched forward. He stayed like that for a moment, everything seeming to weigh heavily on his mind and heart.
Molly reached out and gently rubbed his back comfortingly.
"You _are_ right, but you should try to see it from my point of view too," Remy finally straightened back up and looked at her, "When I saw him on the doorstep, I saw myself.
I never really told you, but I was abandoned as a baby. I mean, it wasn't as simple as my mother just giving me up for adoption. I didn't even get to grow up in an orphanage. I just got lost in the system, shuffled around from hospitals and things until I ran away. Then I fell in with a bad crowd, found the guild,
then had that old fairy-tale ending of 'boy grows up to be a thief and gets used for his powers'.
I don't want that for Dylan, Molly. I don't."
"Okay," Molly sighed, starting to feel tense, "I-I'm sure there's something we can do. We just have to think it over and talk to someone. Maybe The Professor's lawyer would know how to handle this so Dylan doesn't have to end up like that and he can be well taken care of."
Charles had one of the best lawyers in the country on his payroll, obviously. Mr. Finley was available anytime, day or night and had a good track record.
"I didn't think of that," Remy said, "Guess we could call him up later and ask him to come over."
"See? You just have to examine all the options and things will be okay," Molly said.
"Yeah, but we're not out of the woods yet either," Remy gave her a half hug.
They went back downstairs to talk it over with the teachers.
"Calling Mr. Finley isn't a bad idea," Hank said, "I'm sure he has some experience in child protection cases and adoption. I'll go give him a ring."
"I guess we'd better go and get some supplies for the time being," Jean said.
"Supplies?" Molly said blankly.
"You know, baby stuff," Bobby butt into the conversation, since they were all standing in the dining room with the rest of the students, "Diapers and things."
The rest of the students then all gathered around the small group to be in on the conversation,
flocking away from the dining table near the entrance of the room, right next to the foyer.
"I think we're going to need more then just diapers," Remy said, "We'll need a crib, clothes,
toys, food, maybe a stroller and a car seat. Some of those blanket things to put on your shoulder. Bottles and pacifiers. Some baby monitors."
Everyone stared at Remy in surprise with raised eyebrows.
"How do _you_ know so much about what babies need?" Jubilee said.
"Yeah. Something you're not telling us there, meu amigo?" Roberto looked suspicious.
"That's what I want to know," Logan scowled, reactively getting between Remy and Molly and glaring at Remy with all the intensity of a few thousand forest fires.
"Woah, woah," Remy held up his hands in a gesture of self-defense, "It's not like that! I grew up in a lot of hospitals and I spent some time around maternity wards as a kid. Plus my Tante Mattie had a lot of little nieces and nephews and grandkids,
so I learned some things about what babies need over the years-and I may have had some girlfriends, but that doesn't mean I...
I mean...if I ever had a kid somewhere, I wouldn't walk out on him and his mom. Which I don't and I didn't."
Molly giggled, "You guy's, Remy's still a-"
"Anyway," Rogue interrupted, looking bored, "How are we gonna handle looking after this baby? We can't all do it and the teachers have enough on there plates right now trying to run the school."
Everyone stared at each other.
"Well Molly looks more then qualified, if you ask me," Ray slimly leered at Molly's full-figured curves, "Babies _love_ girls like her."
Just as Remy was about to throttle, maim and kill Ray in the most inhumane way possible, Molly clenched her teeth and marched over to Ray as everyone looked on, still shocked-but not overly so-at Ray's pervertedness.
"I've had it with the way you always treat me!" Molly said, "You don't like me, I get it, but I'm sick of this."
"So what? You're gonna hit me, midget? Or do nothing 'cause you're too nice to hurt any-OHHWWwww!" Ray was interrupted by a full-force kick to the groin. He fell to the floor in a heap, writhing in pain.
"Just because I'm nice doesn't mean I'm a doormat, Ray," Molly said, crossing her arms and looking pretty tired and agitated. Ray dragged himself over to the nearest chair after a few moments while the conversation continued without him.
"Um...since Remy seems to know so much about babies, maybe he should take care of Dylan," Rahne suggested.
"Sure. I don't mind," Remy shrugged.
"Uh, Remy?" Molly said, "Three am feedings, Dylan crying all the time, and you would have to take him with you everywhere. Are you sure you could handle it by yourself?"
"I think we just found our other volunteer," Ororo smiled.
"Me?" Molly's voice cracked a little, "Ohh no! I am _not_ a baby person! I mean, I don't hate kids...I just...I'm not like other girls. I don't get all gooey over babies and want to take care of them."
"Yeah, but if you don't help you're probably never going to see Remy because he'll be too busy taking care of Dylan or trying to catch up on sleep," Kitty said.
"Now hang on," Logan said, "I'm not so sure about this."
"Logan, it may teach them a little _responsibility_," Ororo said with a wink.
At that Molly and Remy both blushed with an unison "Hey!"
Everyone else burst out laughing.
"We wouldn't...!" Molly let it hang.
"Never say never, _Molly_," Amara smirked.
Molly uncharacteristically lunged at Amara in a fit of anger and embarrassment. Remy grabbed Molly around the waist, pulling her back.
"Don't be like that, ma amour. Besides, this might even change your mind about wanting to have kids."
"Great," Molly grumped, "Planned Parenthood-The Real Life version."
"It's settled then," Logan said, "Why don't you two go out and get baby stuff."
"Ack! No! People will...will get the wrong idea!" Molly protested, blushing horrendously again as she held up her hands in a gesture of defensiveness.
"So what if someone thinks you guys are teenage parents?" Amara flipped her hair, "They don't even know you. You care too much about what people think, Brownie."
"Aww...only Logan's allowed to call me that," Molly pouted.
"Kurt and I can watch him until you get back," Kitty volunteered them, "I've had some babysitting jobs and kids just love Kurt!"
"He's in the first study on the right upstairs. We'll be back soon," Remy had to forcibly pull Molly out the door because she had her feet planted firmly on the floor and looked like she was going to face something worse then death.
"Oh," Remy started to get in the car, "Hang on. I forgot something. I'll be just a minute, sweetheart."
Remy ran back inside where Molly couldn't see or hear him. He leaned over Ray, who was still in the chair recovering.
"You say anything like that about Molly again and you're going to wake up very lost and confused in Mexico. Understand?" Remy threatened.
"Fine, whatever," Ray said, "I still don't believe that you don't have a kid somewhere though. You know they throw you in jail if you don't pay child support."
"Okay," Remy smirked, "You find my imaginary kid and that imaginary girl that I imaginarily knocked up and I'll pay child support. Sure."
Ray said something course, but by then Remy was out the door.
"I want to kill something," Molly was still grumpy even after they got to the store.
It was one of those big stores that sold baby and children's stuff specifically.
It seemed Remy wanted only the best for Dylan, so that meant no Waller's Mart or Big Buy.
Heaven forbid they shop at an outlet store.
"Well, you were probably right. He's not going to be with us forever. A week or two, tops, so try and cheer up," Remy looked at clothes, trying to figure out which to get. They already had bottles, formula, pacifiers and diapers in the cart.
"How old do you think he is?" Molly said, rubbing her eye from allergies.
"He's pretty big and alert, so I guess around a year. Maybe a little less.
He's not even two yet if his mama could fit him into a basket," Remy said, settling on a onesie with teddy bears in football gear on it. Then he went on picked out a bunch more. It was easy to see Remy was enjoying this.
"You like kids, don't you?" Molly smiled slowly.
"I guess...yeah. They're fun," Remy said.
"No, I mean you're having so much fun with this and you're being so responsible about it," Molly said,
"Like he's your own.-You're sure there isn't some baby in Tulsa Oklahoma or somewhere that you're not telling me about?"
"I'm very sure. And I would appreciate it if you didn't blurt out the fact that I'm still a virgin to everyone," Remy said quietly.
"Okay, but isn't that, you know, a good thing? And even if I actually had, who's to say they'd believe it with the conversation we were holding," Molly huffed, crossing her arms and leaning against the wall, feeling a little offended by Remy's choice of wording and tone.
"I'm sorry, I'm not trying to upset you. It's just, well, I do have a reputation to keep."
"WHAT THE HECK IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?" Molly shouted angrily, nostrils flaring. It took all her concentration not to turn into a grizzly bear or a tiger or a dinosaur and literally bite Remys head off.
"Shh! Keep your voice down!" Remy snapped.
Molly balled her hands into fists, pressing her lips together. She couldn't remember being so furious with Remy so quickly.
"So you're saying you would rather have everyone think you slept with hundreds of women and you're this player when you haven't even been with one girl. You'd make everyone think that I'm next while putting our relationship at risk in the process instead of me letting it slip that you're...you're pure?" Molly was so upset it was hard to find the correct words.
"No. That's not it," Remy said, "Do we have to have this conversation here? Now? Let's finish up and we'll talk in the car on the way home." Remy started walking away with the cart.
They picked out a crib and the rest of the needed supplies, including a bathing tub and a playpen, putting it all on the School's credit account since Remy couldn't afford it.
When they got in the car, Remy let out a loud sigh.
"When I said what I said I didn't mean it like that. I just don't think it's anyone elses business and I know there's certain people that would give me grief about all flash and no substance."
"Like Ray and Scott and Bobby," Molly said calmly.
"Yes! See? You do understand!" Remy held one of her hands with both of his, but she grabbed it back in seconds.
"I _understand_, but what I don't get is why you suddenly care what everyone else thinks.
You're always telling me not to, so why should you? Why would having something so distasteful as a skanky reputation be so important to you? I thought you left ideals like that behind when you became an x-Man," Molly was sad and frustrated, like the times before when Remy said he didn't like her or that they should just be friends.
"Yeah, well, you're a girl. You wouldn't understand," Remy said.
"Are you kidding me? Do you know how much flack I've gotten? Guys aren't the only ones who can be mean about that sort of thing," Molly said.
"Who made fun of you?" Remy seemed upset.
"Nobody. it was a long time ago. Before we met," Molly said, "Anyway, you shouldn't let anyone get to you. If anyone has a problem with it, it's their own stupid fault. You're just...you're a good person so you don't need to prove yourself to anyone by having a bad reputation. And if it makes you feel better, I won't tell anyone about you,
but I'd rather we not leave anyone upset by perpetrating made-up stuff about yourself.
It isn't right."
"I guess I understand where you're coming from. I'll try not to give that impression if it upsets you that much. And thanks for not telling anyone. I appreciate it," Remy said.
Molly smiled, glad she was able to talk Remy out of doing anything stupid.
They arrived back to find Dylan still sleeping. In the meantime, Remy gathered the boys to set up the crib after they moved all the furniture in the study elsewhere to turn the spot into a make-shift nursery room.
"Shoot," Molly snapped her fingers,"We should have gotten him a mobile or something to hang over a crib."
"Maybe tomorrow," Remy screwed a leg to the crib.
"Molly don't you have something better to do then just stand there?" Bobby wondered, "We're kind of working here."
"I can kick you in the shin for being such a rude jerk," Molly smiled fake-sweetly.
"Never mind," Bobby murmured, "...Touchy."
"I'll just-" Molly said, then Dylan started crying. She went over and picked him up.
"Oomf! You're heavy. What's the matter, sweetie?" She put him over her shoulder and rubbed his back, but it didn't help.
"He might be hungry," Remy came up beside Molly and took Dylan, "We should take him downstairs and make him a bottle."
"You guys go ahead, we've got this," Scott said.
Downstairs, it didn't take long to make the bottle and Dylan _was_ very hungry, sucking at it with lots of enthusiasm.
Molly smiled as she watched Remy feed him. "...You'd make a good father someday," Molly said absent mindedly but softly.
"Hmm?" Remy looked up.
"N-nothing," Molly felt her ears turn red.
"If you think I'd make a good father," Remy smiled, "Does that mean you might be changing your mind about having kids, ma couer?"
"No way!" Molly crossed her arms, irritated, "There's like a million things I'd rather do then have a baby.
I'm just _not_ wired like that. Kitty might be, Jean probably is, but I'm not. Heck, I'm sure even Rogue wouldn't mind having two or three little skunk heads of her own to chase after."
"Suit yourself, but do you at least want to try feeding Dylan since we _are_ taking care of him together?" Remy handed the baby to Molly.
"I d-don't want to drop him!" Molly suddenly felt worried about handling both Dylan and a bottle. "I'm right here, you're not going to drop him. Just keep his head up," Remy said comfortingly.
Suddenly they heard a giggle from behind the other side of the kitchen door.
"Hey!" Molly protested.
"Got a picture of the happy family!" Kitty giggled, waving a Polaroid dry as Kurt stood behind her with a grin. They teleported away before anyone could catch them.
"I'm going to kill them both so they'd better sleep with their eyes _open_!" Molly growled through grit teeth.