Remy woke with a start. It was dawn, and Tavi was gone. Frantic, Remy scrambled out of the bed and went in search of his son.

"Tavi?!" Remy called, not seeing him anywhere in the house. He felt a sinking sensation in his gut. "Petit! Où es-tu?" He suffered a disturbing flash of deja-vu; he'd uttered those same words when searching for Tavi in his dreams.

The sound of Remy's cries brought Jono and Jean-Paul out from the room they had shared. Both looked sleep-addled and hastily dressed. Jean-Paul was shirtless, and the bandages covering his chest were stained with new blood. Despite Tavi's best efforts, the wound had been too deep for the boy to heal completely, and Jean-Paul's sudden leap from the bed had opened it back up. He was frighteningly pale, too.

"What's wrong, Remy?" Jean-Paul asked, holding his side. Jono looked at his new lover with concern, but said nothing. He was well aware that the stubborn man would refuse to return to bed until he knew what was going on.

Remy didn't answer. He was stood at the open door, staring at something that seemed to deeply disturb him. Standing not far away was Tavi, still in his pajamas, his Hedgie held close to his chest, talking with a woman Remy hadn't expected to see: Rogue. Tavi was staring at her in an odd way, while she was looking at him with a strange curiosity.

"Tavi!" Remy cried, moving quickly to his side. He scooped his son into his arms.

"Poppa!" Tavi threw his arms around Remy and kissed his cheek, then cast a look at Rogue that could only be described as confusion mixed with cautious fear. Who knew what, if anything, had passed between the two of them before Remy intervened. From the front door, Jean-Paul and Jono looked on, neither quite sure what to make of the situation. Both knew about Remy's complicated past with Rogue, that they had been chaste lovers unable to touch because of her mutant powers. Their relationship ultimately hadn't survived after Rogue had been the one to leave him stranded in Antarctica, a betrayal that had left their friend deeply wounded.

"Rogue, what are you doin' here?" Remy asked, holding Tavi close. He wondered how she'd found out about him. She hadn't been around in a long time, not since joining the Avengers.

"Well hello to you too, sugar," Rogue drawled, hands on hips. "So it's true, Remy? This really is your son?" She smiled at the little boy, hoping to break the ice. Tavi had been obviously nervous around her ever since he'd seen her standing outside the boathouse, and had wandered out to speak to her. "He's cute. Sure looks like you." She leaned in close and tweaked Tavi's nose. He flinched away from her and buried his face in Remy's shoulder, suddenly shy.

*Poppa...why is she afraid of me? Did I do something bad again?* Tavi sent to Remy. Remy was surprised; Tavi didn't usually resort to telepathy.

"It's alright, petit, you did not'ing wrong," Remy whispered. "Let me handle dis." He paused and shifted his weight from foot to foot. In truth, he had no idea what he was going to say; his feelings for Rogue were complicated, at best.

"Tavi is my son, yes," Remy finally said. "And I 'spect you already know de whole story, 'cause you here, ain't you?"

"So who's his Mom?" Rogue laughed. "You don't know, do ya? How very like ya, Remy darlin'." The smile fell from Rogue's face as she realized her teasing probably wasn't going over very well by the look on both Remy and Tavi's faces.

Tavi turned his big eyes on Rogue. They were shiny with tears. In a tiny voice, he answered her:

"My Momma is dead. I saw her die."

A stunned silence fell among all of them. Remy felt his heart ache for his son. Jean-Paul, who had seen his mentor Raymond Belmonde killed before his eyes, reached for Jono's hand, laced his fingers with the other man's, and held tight. Jono looked at Jean-Paul, could see the muscles in his jaw jump, and knew what he was thinking about. He squeezed Jean-Paul's hand, reassuring him that he was there.

It was obvious that Rogue regretted her words. She reached out to touch Tavi, but again, he shied away from her.

"I know I wasn't supposed to remember, but I do," Tavi went on. His voice had an odd pitch to it, both calm and tinged with fear. Remy held his breath; this was the first time Tavi had truly opened up about his past. He didn't want to do or say anything that might make Tavi retreat once more, and remained silent, just let him speak

"The Boss thought he took my memories away," Tavi continued, his eyes swimming with tears. "But I remember her. My Momma was like us, a mutant. She died trying to take me away from that place where I was made. The bad men, they...they shot her for it. They killed her." Tavi stopped and took a deep, hitching breath. "Her name was Evangeline Claudel, and she was a prisoner, just like me." Tavi gave an involuntary shudder. "When the Boss came and stole me from the lab, he told me that he was there to save me, like my Momma tried to. But that was just another lie." Tavi laid his head back on Remy's shoulder and began to softly cry.

"Ah...Ah'm sorry. Ah didn't mean..." Rogue whispered. She wanted so badly to take it back. Remy scowled at her.

"Why are you really here, Anna Marie?" Remy snapped.

*People sent her. Her people,* Tavi sent, and this time he made sure Jono and Jean-Paul heard, too. Remy felt a chill run through his body.

"The Avengers wanted me to assess the situation with the kid, Remy," Rogue explained. "They asked me to come and talk to you."

Remy felt a flash of anger. "His name is Tavi, and he's just a little boy," he growled. "What de hell de Avengers want wit' him, anyway?" He couldn't figure out how the word had gotten out, and it pissed him off. "Storm know you here?"

"Yes. And before you go and get all huffy again, sugar, she already warned me to play nice." Rogue tossed her hair. "So, there someplace private we can go and talk, Remy? Please?"

Remy felt a strange tug in his heart. He hated that he still had feelings for her. After a moment he nodded. "I'll be right back, honey," he whispered to Tavi. He kissed the boy's furrowed brow, then walked up to Jono. "Keep him safe. I'm gonna go talk to Rogue, see what de Avengers want wit' Tavi." He sighed and looked at Jean-Paul. "Don't you do not'ing stupid, ami. You ain't up to a fight."

Jean-Paul frowned. He knew Remy was right, and hated it.

"Don't go far. If you aren't back in a reasonable amount of time, we will come and get you," Jean-Paul said, eyeing Rogue with suspicion. He wasn't convinced that the situation wasn't just a trap.

*I will come and get yer, Rems,* Jono corrected. *Jean-Paul will stay wif Tavi if it comes to that.* He looked at Jean-Paul and crinkled his eyes at him. *No arguments, Mush. You ain't strong enough right now fer a fight. And yeah, I'm a real nag, y'know. Regular nanny, me.* Then, feeling brave, he nuzzled Jean-Paul's neck with his nose. Jean-Paul was obviously pleased with the little show of affection.

Remy couldn't help but smile; apparently, his talk with Jean-Paul had worked. "If I'm not back in fifteen minutes, send de Cavalry," Remy passed Tavi off to Jono, gave his son another kiss, then walked down the slightly sloping lawn to where Rogue waited. They walked to the boat dock, a place Remy knew that Jean-Paul, with his bird-like sight, could keep an eye on them.

"The Avengers are scared of me," Tavi said suddenly. Even though he knew it was wrong to read Rogue's mind, he didn't care; he was worried that these Avengers would try to take him away from his family, and to him, that was all that mattered.

Jono looked at him carefully *Tell us, lad. S'orright, you go ahead now.*

Tavi hugged his Hedgie close to him. "They think I'm dangerous. Just like the Boss said I was. Because of how I was made. They're afraid when I grow up, I'll be a real monster. A Genocide Machine. Just a killer. But...I'm not. I promise, I'm not. Dr. Hank said he could help me!"

Jean-Paul made a sharp hissing noise. He was stunned that Tavi knew about the program that had created him. Somehow, the boy had retained memories that were supposed to have been wiped clean by Sinister.

"What if they want to take me away, lock me up? I promise, I won't hurt anyone! Can't we tell them that?" Tavi whispered. He was beginning to let his fear overtake him. "Please don't let them put me back in a cage, Jono. I can't...I can't…" Tavi took a deep, hiccupping breath, trying hard not to cry. "Can they do that, Jono? Can they take me away? I'll die if they put me in a cage again!"

Jono fought to stay calm. Beside him, he could sense Jean-Paul's same struggle. *Don't yer worry, luv. Nobody is gonna take yer away. No way we'd let that 'appen.* He hugged Tavi close, reassuringly.

Jean-Paul was watching Remy and Rogue talk. It seemed, so far, to be amicable. He looked at Jono and Tavi. "Listen to Jono, mon chou. The Avengers are not about to lock up a child. Not so long as Stark and Rogers have anything to say about it." He paused and forced a smile. "I know them, cher. I think they're more concerned about other people's interest in you."

Tavi smiled shyly at Jean-Paul, and seemed comforted by his words, his reassurances. He laid his head on Jono's shoulder. "I think Poppa still loves her." He meant Rogue.

*Love can be complicated, lad.* Jono ruffled his hair. Beside him, Jean-Paul laughed.

Tavi frowned. He shifted uneasily in Jono's arms and cocked his head to one side, as if he was listening to something only he could hear. "Something's wrong."

Jean-Paul felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. "What do you mean, Tavi?"

Tavi pressed his hands to his head. He suddenly flung his body backwards, nearly throwing himself from Jono's embrace. Jono struggled to hold on to him. Tavi shuddered, then went limp. He was still conscious, but breathing hard. That clicking sound that he made when he felt threatened welled up from deep in his throat.

"THEY'RE COMING!"

*TAVI!* Jono felt a rush of fear. Beside him, Jean-Paul tensed, prepared to grab them both and fly off - he had no idea where - despite Remy's warnings. Before he could, Remy, sensing Tavi's fear and distress, turned and ran back to the Boathouse, Rogue right behind him. She seemed as surprised as he was.

"POPPA POPPA THEY'RE COMING!" Tavi cried. His eyes were wide, pupils dilated, and he unconsciously unsheathed his wrist spurs for a brief moment before sheathing them again. Remy took him from Jono's arms.

"Tavi! Who's comin', petit?" Remy asked, holding Tavi close. Tavi was swinging his head rapidly back and forth, as if scanning for danger. More telling, however, was that he was putting off a strong musky odor that Remy knew was a sign that he was succumbing to his feral state. "Tavi, look at me!"

Tavi turned his big gold eyes on Remy. He was breathing hard, and the clicking sound was louder. But unlike before, he seemed more in control this time. "Poppa, the bad men are coming, they're coming soon!"

Remy looked at Rogue. "You know anyt'ing about dis?" he demanded, assuming Tavi was talking about her fellow Avengers.

"No I swear! I just came here to talk. We ain't gonna take him. What do you think we are? Kidnappers?" Rogue was clearly rattled, and telling the truth.

"No no no," Tavi whispered. "Soon soon we gotta get ready, we gotta be ready for them Poppa…" He shook his head, as if trying to deny some intruder. He went suddenly still and almost rigid, looked at Remy with frightened eyes. "The Boss. He found me. He's coming Poppa, and he has the monsters with him."

Remy felt a cold chill run up his spine. He looked at Rogue. "Sinister and his Marauders."

She nodded. It was all he had to say. "Stay here. I'll go back go the school, let Storm know what's comin'." She paused and looked at Tavi. "We ain't gonna let those bastards take ya, honey."

Tavi reached out and laid his hand on her arm. "I don't want to hurt anyone. But I will, if I have to." He narrowed his eyes, and for a moment, Rogue saw what it was about Tavi that scared people. She forced a smile, then took to the sky to gather her former teammates.

*I think yer spooked her, lad, * Jono said. *What did she say t'yer, when yer were talking?*

"She wanted to know if it was true, about me. Wanted to know if I'd let her people talk to me about it." Tavi seemed oddly calm, and still somewhat distracted. He looked at Remy. "Poppa...we don't have much time. The Boss is coming. I can hear him."

Remy tensed. "How soon, petit?"

Tavi shook his head. "I don't know Poppa. Just soon. I can hear him, is all." He looked over at Jean-Paul, could sense his pain. Tavi reached out suddenly and pressed his palm to Jean-Paul's chest. That same warm glow emanated from his hand. Jean-Paul gasped as the pain left him. Tavi smiled shyly. "I hope that's better. I don't want you hurting, you know, when the Boss comes."

*Mush?* Jono looked at Jean-Paul with concern. Jean-Paul stripped off his bandages. The wounds were gone, not even a scar remained. Jean-Paul was shocked; Tavi was getting more powerful.

Remy looked at Tavi closely. That's when he noticed the pajamas he'd bought him seemed too small now. Creed had been right; Tavi was growing up. His face had lost some of it's baby roundness, and he no longer looked as young as when they'd first found him. Remy figured he'd aged at least a year in less than a month. How any of them had missed it, he wasn't sure. But it was obvious now. And as he aged, his powers were increasing, again, just as predicted. Remy was sure the only thing that was keeping the Genocide Machine at bay was the love and kindness Tavi had been given since they'd rescued him from the circus.

Carefully, Remy set Tavi down. "No matter what happens, mon fils, you fight it."

Tavi looked at his father. He knew what he meant. "I will Poppa. But if the Boss wants a fight with me, he's gonna get one." Tavi set his jaw. "We should dress."

For a moment, Tavi's statement seemed so simply logical, it was almost comical. Remy laughed. After a moment, Jono and Jean-Paul both saw the humor in the situation.

"You got you a point, honey." Remy hugged Tavi close, felt his fear, and understood it. He looked at his son closely. He needed something from Tavi, something important. "Tell me your name, petit. Your real name."

Tavi cocked his head to one side, momentarily confused. Then, it came to him. "I...I am Pierre-Michel LeBeau."

Remy nodded. "You're remembering more, aren't you?"

"All of it," Tavi whispered. "I'm afraid, Poppa."

"Afraid of what? De Marauders? Are you afraid dat dey will harm you? Take you away again?" Remy asked. Behind him, Jono and Jean-Paul looked on in fascination. "Because we won't let dat happen."

Tavi shook his head. "No." He paused, looked at how his pajamas were too small. "I don't want to grow up, Poppa."

"Why, petit? Why would dat scare you? Tell me, son...what are you so afraid of?"

Tavi grimaced. "Me." He bit his lower lip. "I'm afraid of what I will become. I am afraid that everything I was told I would be, is about to come true."

"No, petit. You are NOT dat t'ing. You are not a Genocide Machine." Remy looked Tavi in the eye. "You are my son and I know you gonna make me proud." He pulled Tavi closer and kissed his cheek. "I know de real you, honey. You ain't no mindless killer. I know what it is to be judged. And I know what it is to be redeemed."

Tavi felt tears well up in his eyes. He hugged Remy tight. "Je t'aime, Poppa," he whispered.

Before Remy could answer, the rest of the X-Men arrived at the boathouse. Storm was standing at the front door, a kind and understanding look on her face; it was obvious she'd heard the whole conversation. In her hands, she held a bundle.

"I thought it best you have something appropriate to wear, Tavi. Hank made this for you; it will grow with you." She handed it to the little boy.

It was a customized uniform; dark brown, simple in design, with a large X near the shoulder. Knee-high boots with a special flap to allow his spurs out and matching gloves. Nothing fancy, but it was so much more than just a uniform; it was an acceptance, an apology, an invitation. He was now, and for always, an X-Man. The Mongoose.

Tavi smiled up at her. "Merci, Ororo." He got up on his tiptoes and pressed a kiss to her cheek. She smiled back at him, obviously pleased.

"You are very welcome, little one," Storm said, stroking his hair with affection.

Tavi grew silent again, listening carefully. "They have our location. It won't be long now."

Logan laughed. "Then maybe the four of you should change, ya think? Be sorta embarrassing to get in a fight wearing yer jammies." He knelt down beside Tavi. "I want you to know, I'm sorry."

Tavi smiled at him. "I asked you to do it. I understand why you're afraid. But I promise, Logan, I won't turn bad. I won't."

Logan nodded his approval. Surprising him, Tavi gave him a quick hug, then ran off to change. He re-emerged, dressed in his new uniform, trying to look serious but unable to hide how excited he was with it. Remy and Jean-Paul appeared shortly after, wearing their customary uniforms. Jono, as always, had gone with his usual all-black ensemble: black T-shirt, leather motorcycle jacket, black leather pants, clunky Doc Marten boots.

Remy smiled down at Tavi. "You ready, petit?"

Tavi nodded soberly. He cocked his head again, listening. "I hear him...I hear the Boss. But the others...their thoughts are so different." He went pale, and reached for Remy's hand. "Poppa...they…"

A loud crack, like lightening, cut off his words. In seconds, it was chaos. Just outside the boat house, Sinister had appeared through a portal, surrounded by dozens of otherworldly creatures. They were completely black, no facial features except for staring white eyes and large, open mouths full of needle-like teeth. They carried strange, crook-like weapons.

"Wraiths!" Rogue shouted. The Avengers had tangled with them before. A violent race of aliens, soldiers-for-hire, available to the highest bidder.

"What the hell is THIS?" Iceman said as the strange beings began teleporting from spot to spot, engaging each X-Man. Safe behind a phalanx of the Wraiths, Sinister directed the attack.

"Take who I want, then go!" Sinister shouted.

Two of the Wraiths appeared beside Chamber, grabbed hold of him and slipped something around his neck, an inhibitor collar that negated his psionic fire. With the young Brit now powerless, the Wraiths began dragging him towards one of the odd, pulsating portals. Jono struggled, but one of his captors struck him with their Crook. He collapsed, barely conscious, bleeding from his head. The Wraith slung Jono over his shoulder.

"JONO!" Jean-Paul cried, racing to help his young lover.

Jono reached blindly for Northstar, terror in his eyes, as the portal began to close. He'd heard enough stories about Sinister to fear what was in store for him. Even as fast as he was, Jean-Paul didn't make it there in time. He felt the brush of Jono's fingertips against his, and then he was gone. Northstar felt his heart stop for a moment; he looked at his hands, feeling lost, confused, angry. How had he missed him? How? The look of fear and panic on Jono's face as the portal closed felt like a punch in the chest.

"Non..." It was all Jean-Paul could say as he felt his world come crashing down around him.

Next to go was Gambit. Surrounded by the Wraiths, outnumbered, he was quickly taken, spirited away into another portal. Tavi howled and made right for Sinister, spurs out, sharp teeth bared, making that unique mongoose clicking sound.

"Give them BACK!" Tavi hissed, confronting the man who had terrorized him. "YOU GIVE THEM BACK!"

Sinister smiled down at him. "Ah, there you are my little Nobody. I'll give them back...dead, if you don't behave." He reached for Tavi. "Time to go home, don't you think?"

Tavi froze. He understood that Sinister was going to take him. But he did not fight. He would go with him, without a struggle, because he knew what the evil man would do to his father and Jono if he didn't.

"Don't hurt them, please. I'll do whatever you want," Tavi whispered. "I promise, I'll be a good boy."

"Oh, you will, will you?" Sinister laughed. "Ah, you amuse me, little Nobody. Shall we go, then?"

"Tavi, GET AWAY FROM HIM!" Storm cried, trying to fight her way through the mass of ebony-armored warriors that Sinister had brought with him. She could only watch, helpless, as Sinister scooped up the little boy and disappeared into the portal that had brought him.

And then it was over, almost before it had even started. All of the Wraiths vanished along with their master, leaving the stunned X-Men behind.

"What the fuck just happened?" Wolverine growled. He looked around, almost wild-eyed, to see who was missing: Gambit. Chamber. Tavi.

"He took them," Jean-Paul whispered, shaken to his core. He knew Sinister's reputation, knew the things he had done to both Remy and Tavi. "Crisse...Crisse...he took them." He dropped to his knees, and as much as he hated himself for it, he wept openly. Nightcrawler knelt down beside him, laid an arm across Jean-Paul's shaking shoulders. For once, the stiff-necked speedster didn't refuse the comfort, letting Kurt hold him close.

"He'll use Remy and Jono to make Tavi comply," Beast muttered. "He knew what he was doing. Tavi will do anything Sinister wants, if it means protecting them."

"He took the boy for a reason," the White Queen whispered; the implication horrified her. "He's got something planned, and he needed his weapon back." Emma frowned darkly, wanting to tell them I told you so but didn't. They knew. They all knew.

"That son of a bitch." Wolverine shook his head. "Jesus, what now?"

No one answered. No one knew what to do next, where to go. Sinister and their missing teammates could be anywhere.