Here's a nice long chapter for all of you! We hope you enjoy it!!! We're coming into some very heavy drama soon ;). Don't forget to review! We want to know what you think! Don't forget that three reviews gets you another chapter...and we have some really big ones coming up.

Have a lovely weekend,

Marina & James


Two things had Gabriel worried this morning. The first was his 'birthday party' that was planned in conjunction with a celebration of the newest surveillance team successfully bugging the Weapon X facility without getting caught. Gabriel was one of the very few people who didn't actually know when his birthday was. That tended to happen when someone was born after a plane crash in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness and had to be carried for days, probably weeks, to the nearest town and then left with an orphanage without one's father saying more than "I have to go back for his mother. Take care of him." He knew the month of his birth and that was it. Xavier had decided Gabe would celebrate with a party that fit everyone's schedule best. As long as it was held sometime during the month then all was right with the world.

The second thing that had Gabriel worried was his pregnant girlfriend, Laura Kinney. So many people wanted to be there for Gabe's party—mostly because they wanted to go to a party being held at a giant mansion. This meant that Laura would have to be up and about for a while in order to get around. He feared—despite what Sarah had said—that she'd overexert herself and have another fall or dizzy spell or something equally frightening. Of course, he'd be there this time and he intended to not let that happen.

To top it off, Laura was in one of her moods today because of her lovely hormones. He was desperately afraid that he or someone else would say or do the wrong thing and get skewered by the feral woman. That, of course, also played into another small worry of Gabriel's: Logan. The man was a feral alpha just like Laura; in fact they were so alike Gabe was starting to wonder if there was more than had met the eye between those two. And he was guessing it had to do with they fact that they were both from Weapon X. Gabe didn't really look forward to the meeting of two feral alphas… especially not while one was pregnant and moody. That just couldn't end well at all.

But Laura had insisted and Gabe, being the spineless weakling he found himself acting like when she wanted something lately, agreed. Laura would go to the party and have a good time. Gabe found that he'd much rather stay home with Laura and their unborn baby than go to some stupid party…but alas, the party was for him and he needed to at least make an appearance. Still, he had insisted that they take a wheelchair around the mansion when they got there so that she could get around on her own without worrying about falling. Gabe had joked saying that she and Charles could have a race around the mansion. Laura had threatened to gut Gabe for 'poking fun' at her condition, which she had taken to blaming him for during that particular mood swing. As it was, Gabe came in from the front room where he had finished making sure they had everything they might need, and stuck his head in through the bedroom door. "It's about time honey. Are you ready to go?"

Laura had been weepy all morning. She had awoken at dawn, as per usual, to find that Gabriel was already up and making her breakfast with that stupid smile on his face...she almost killed him. She had told him in no uncertain terms that she was pregnant, not an invalid and she could make her own damn breakfast. Then, as she proceeded to shove eggs down her throat, she yelled at him for standing too close, for wanting to touch her too much. He loved her and the child and she loved that he did...but when she was in a mood, she needed to be left alone. Gabriel didn't seem to understand that…

Looking at herself in the mirror, Laura felt tears prick in her eyes. She was fat. There was no other term for it; she was way past chubby, she had soared beyond chunky and now was entering beached whale status. At six months her belly stretched out in front of her, putting even more strain on her back. Laura was by no means a built woman; she was muscular but certainly not suited for carrying thirty or so pounds of baby out in front of her. All her muscles ached and she didn't fit into anything except the maternity clothes she had bought online. To her surprise, she actually looked halfway decent in the knee length black dress she had bought. It clung to her swollen breasts, making her look sultry and sexy…except when anyone looked down past her breasts, all they saw was something that looked like a basketball sticking out in front of her dress. Great, she thought as she wiped tears from her eyes; not only was she fat, she was going to embarrass her loving boyfriend at his own birthday party.

Brushing out her dark hair, she heard his voice calling for her. "No," She snapped back, scathingly. Then she sighed, feeling bad for taking out her insecurities on him, "I'll be just a minute." She revised before waddling...and yes, she did waddle now...over to pick up the gift she'd bought for him. It was nicely wrapped in white paper with curly blue ribbon. She hoped he'd like it...she sure had enjoyed it. Pressing her hands to her back, she sighed as she saw him waiting with the wheelchair to pack in the cab, "I'm not using that. I even let you help me in the shower so I wouldn't overexert myself today and there's no reason for me to be using that stupid thing. I'm going to walk," She snapped irritably and stalked out of the apartment without another word. If he knew what was good for him, he'd follow.

Gabriel sighed and grabbed the bag with Laura's vitamins and a few snacks for on the way, since she tended to get little hungers every five minutes, and followed after her. He'd had enough of this. It was time for Gabriel to act like a man, and get her ass in the damn chair. "Laura! Sit in the chair." He came up alongside her and wheeled the chair in front of her so that she was cut off from the hallway. "You could barely get out of bed on your own today and, like you said, I had to help you in the shower. Why is it so hard for you to admit that you aren't infallible and just sit in the chair? It's a longer walk down to the rest of the elevators, and farther still through he lobby to the street to get the cab." His eyes locked with hers, almost as if he was trying to will her into submission. "Please, honey. Sit in the chair."

Just like a child, he treated her as if she would break if he coughed too hard near her. Laura turned, her expressive hazel eyes flashing angrily, "I could too get myself out of bed this morning! I'm pregnant and I'm being careful, flying off the bed and dashing to the bathroom isn't a good idea. But that doesn't mean I can't get out of it!" She snapped, meeting his black eyes. Pressing her hand to the large expanse of her abdomen, she sneered at him, "Get out of my way, I'm not sitting in your chair."

Gabriel refused to move. He'd let her moods push him around ever since they'd started getting this bad. He'd bent to her every whim; if she wanted peanut butter then he damn near crushed the peanuts into the pasty stuff himself. She said get away, he went. She told him to jump out the window, fly around the world butt naked and doing somersaults, he did it. Well, okay, that last one hadn't happened but it got the point across about what he was doing for her. Well now it had to stop…now. "I never said you were an invalid. But," He looked around to make sure no one was listening to the next part, "Without your adamantium skeleton you were about ninety pounds. You're strong, I never doubted that, but you were never built for a pregnancy. Remember Hank told us you weren't made for it, that this was a troublesome pregnancy. That's why he wanted Sarah to check up on you instead of coming here himself. Don't lie and tell me your muscles aren't aching at this very moment."

"I'm pregnant, for God's sake!" Laura bellowed, her usually quiet voice echoing down the hall. "Of course my muscles ache! You expect me to stretch out like I'm some kind of balloon and not have some aches and pains? Gabriel, stop it!" Looking at the little clock above the elevator she huffed, "Come on, we're going to be late. Let's just get a cab and go, I'm done arguing about this!"

Gabriel narrowed his eyes at Laura. She was trying it make it sound like he was the one being unreasonable about it. "Now you're just being rude. Of course muscles get sore when you're pregnant. But I'm trying to save you some pain. All this walking around is going to make you hurt more and more and make you even more irritable," Even more than she was now? Oh, and she didn't want to be late, eh? She was done, was she? Well, so was Gabriel. He walked around the chair and stopped right in front of her. "So am I!" And without another word, Gabriel reached down, his eyes flaring bright as he redirected energy to augment his strength. He scooped Laura up in his arms, then turned around and managed to grab the chair and drag it along with them. "I'm not backing down this time, Laura. So you have a choice: you sit yourself in this chair right now or I'll carry you down."

Laura scoffed, "Rude? You think it's not rude that you-" Her voice trailed off as he picked her up. She let out a soft cry, "Gabriel, you know damn well that I am too heavy!" But if she struggled they'd both end up on the ground; that would be a surefire way to end up hurting him AND the baby. And Laura didn't want either of those things to happen. "You pushy bastard," She snapped, "I'll use the chair...but I don't want to hear a word about it at the party. I'm not going to be sitting in it all day, I'll tell you that right now!"

Gabriel smiled at Laura. He'd finally won one with her. "Yes dear, I never said you had to use the chair all day long." He let the chair go and then used his foot to spin it around so that he could set her in it. After making sure she was firmly planted in the chair, Gabriel grinned again. "No matter what you think of me right now, I love you." He gave a quick, deep kiss and then moved behind the chair to start pushing her toward the elevator.

Folding her arms over her protruding abdomen, she let out a frustrated sigh, "I still love you… but you infuriate me." That was the best he was getting at the moment, Laura Kinney was NOT a happy camper. She tried to ignore the stares as Gabriel helped her into the cab and they sped off for the mansion. They were already five minutes late when he wheeled her to the front door. "I'm getting out now," She snapped, "I can make it up the two front steps." With infinite care (and two tries) she managed to get herself up out of the wheelchair and grasp tightly to the railing as they made they way into the mansion where the party was being held. Looking over at him, she extended her small hand as a comfort not only to him but for her as well. "Come on..."

Gabriel folded up the chair when Laura got out. She'd let him wheel her to the cab, and then to the front step; that was a good enough start on middle ground for them. He carried the chair under his arm, as he took her hand and smiled. "Lead the way, love." Gabe held her hand and walked just slightly back a bit from her in case he should need to catch her real quick. She might think she was capable of doing back flips but Gabe wasn't taking any chances. As they entered the mansion, Gabe motioned her toward the dining room where all the parties were held. Inside, the room was decorated with streamers, a banner that read 'Happy Birthday Gabriel', and had what looked like a comic artist's rendition of the birthday boy on it. People were already gathered and both Jubilee and Kitty were putting up a few last minute decorations that they had obviously decided was necessary.

Laura was suddenly feeling a lot better. Maybe it was the bag of banana chips she'd eaten on the way over but she felt a whole lot happier. It was Gabriel's 'birthday' or at least close enough to it to celebrate...and for once, she felt like she wanted to celebrate. The smells of delicious food and cake made her mouth water as they stepped into the room that looked like it have been decorated by several young ladies. Said ladies had now been alerted to Gabriel's arrival were now ogling her boyfriend far too closely. Determined to ignore it, she set his present down on a growing pile by the door and threaded her arm around his waist. Whispering in his ear, she gave him a soft kiss on the cheek, "Happy Birthday, love...I'm sorry I was short with you before."

Gabriel chuckled and gave Laura a kiss on her cheek as well. "Thanks, and don't stress over it. I just worry about you is all. I've never had anyone to care about nor had anyone really care about me. I just don't want to see anything happen to you, or the baby." His arm found its way around her back to the place where her waist had been before she had begun to swell with his perfect, beautiful baby boy. Jubilee and Kitty, of course, spotted Gabe right away and squealed before running over and all but pouncing on him. They both began to talk so fast and at the same time about the latest gossip since he'd left the mansion that it was no small feat that Gabe was able to decipher what they were babbling about. Kitty was going on about her new boyfriend who turned out to be Colossus. Jubes shot Laura a glare, as if taking offense to her being near the man Jubilee had all but decided to marry. She tossed her long dark hair before hugging Gabriel tightly, telling him she missed him and making it clear that he should move back into the mansion. This, of course, set Gabe on edge. Laura wasn't in any kind of a good mood and here Jubilee was blatantly throwing herself at him. This wasn't going to end well, not at all.

Laura almost winced when two very pretty, skinny girls bounded over to paw at the father of her baby. Oh no, they did not...and oh no the uppity Asian one did NOT glare at her. Swallowing a wad of malice that threatened to overtake her, she held onto Gabriel a little tighter, her hand resting on the swell of her belly, "Gabriel, why don't you introduce me to your lovely little friends." This had the potential to get very ugly.

Gabriel swallowed past the lump in his throat as he heard the malevolence in Laura's voice. At least she hadn't let out her claws and skewered Jubes right there. "Ladies, this is my girlfriend Laura. Laura, this is Katherine Pride, you can call her Kitty." He motioned to the brunette girl who smiled warmly and gave Laura a hug without thinking twice about it. Gabe figured Kitty's saving grace was that she was dating Colossus at the moment and didn't pose an imminent thread to Laura's 'territory'. Jubes wouldn't be so lucky. "And this is Jubilation Lee but everyone calls her Jubes or Jubilee. She would be the X-Men's resident firecracker." Jubes, for her part, smiled and waved to Laura. Kitty—who Gabe had always complimented on being smarter than she gave herself credit for— seemed to sense the imminent danger her friend was in and spouted a quick excuse of needing to make sure the decorations were done and that they had promised Bobby and Piotr they'd play a round of pool with them. She gave Laura one last quick hug before quickly dragging Jubes away. Gabe smiled shyly to Laura. "Sorry. I didn't know she'd do that. I've told her time and again she's like a little sister to me but she just never takes the hint."

Looking over each of the girls, Laura felt a bubble of anger boiling just below the surface, especially when the one girl kept hugging her. Laura barely allowed Gabriel to touch her for her skin was so sensitive with the pregnancy; the last thing she needed was strangers setting off the feral in her and killing them both. And she very much wanted to kill them…at least the girl they called Jubilee. Those skinny little bitches better stay the hell away from the father of her baby or she'd give them something to glare and pout over. Spotting Charles over on the other side of the room with Hank, she took a deep breath and tried to bring her blood pressure back down, "Why don't you say hello to your other friends, they look so excited to see you." Everyone looked happy to see him...and she felt very out of place. After all, who was she? Just the woman he had screwed and got pregnant...she was no one to them. "I want to go say hello to the professor; he seems to be trying to get my attention." Leaning in, she gave him a soft kiss on the cheek, "And maybe afterwards we can meet at the punchbowl," She joked and pressed her hand to the small of her back as she waddled over to the professor, smiling softly. "It's nice to see you again..."

Gabriel nodded to Laura, cursing Jubilee under his breath. She'd done lots of things in the past in an effort to get him to go out with her. But this whole scene took the cake; it had been downright rude. She'd pawed all over him and glared at the mother of his child. Gabe would have to talk to Logan or Remy about it later on. They seemed to be the only ones able to get through to the girl sometimes. He returned the quick kiss and then went off to find the Ragin' Cajun or the ornery Canuck to see if something could be done about their resident firecracker. At least one of them could play distraction while he spent a cozy afternoon showing off his beautiful girlfriend to his friends.

Charles meanwhile, had seen the small exchange, was ever grateful for Laura keeping her head about her. He didn't want to have to explain to parents about why their young children had seen someone murdered before their very eyes. When Laura had looked his way, Charles had given her a look that all but said, 'come over here'. The Professor returned Laura's smile and leaned forward to give the woman a closer look; he wanted to see how she was faring during her pregnancy and it was miraculous how well she was holding up. After a short nod from the mother-to-be he pressed his hand to the swell and was delighted to feel a tiny kick from the life inside. "Hello, my dear. I was wondering how you and Gabe were getting along. And, of course, how are you and the baby?" He was proper English gentleman, and it was always important to dispense with the pleasantries before delving into other topics.

Laura smiled as the professor treated her much like one of his own children. He immediately smiled and greeted her as well as the child kicking inside of her. She laughed as the boy inside her gave a short kick, "Oh the baby is just fine and I'm hanging in there...I didn't expect to be so very tired." As if to illustrate her point she was overcome by a large yawn. "Gabriel and I are getting along a lot better. He infuriates me, he's overbearing and neurotic but...I love him."

The Professor chuckled as Laura told him about life with Gabriel Summers. He could understand her feelings about it; after all she was an alpha feral. But at the same time, Gabriel was learning the ropes as well. "Well, I can understand you wanting a little space from him. You did survive on your own for at least the last ten years. It's only natural to be used to your space. But you must also consider Gabriel's feelings in this; he's finally got a family, what he always wanted. The last person he was really close to in his family, Scott, died in front of Gabriel in the med bay. Gabe still blames the death on himself because he hadn't been on the mission so he couldn't protect his brother. He probably is having similar feelings toward you. You took a nasty spill and he wasn't there. He just wants to make sure that nothing happens to you. He'd never forgive himself if you or the baby were harmed in any way." Charles smiled at her, hoping she took his words to heart, and didn't ride Gabriel so hard about her space. Now the pleasantries were dispensed, Charles could get to the nitty gritty. "So, I see you met young Mr. Summers' fan club. What did you think of them?"

Laura nodded politely as he spoke, "I want this family too...it's just, sometimes he drives me nuts." She wrapped her arms around her belly as she bit her lip gently. "But I'm trying, there's times when my raging hormones get the better of me..." Like this morning for example, "But he's been very supportive and I like having him around." She'd keep him for a while...maybe he'd even want to stick around forever if she didn't kill him or send him heading for the hills first. At the mere mention of the girls, she felt a low growl building in her throat, "I think they need to keep their hands off Gabriel...he's mine." She didn't know where that had come from...but all the same, she believed it to be true. Eyes searching the room, she finally found Gabriel's form leaned over the punchbowl, filling two glasses. She smiled, how sweet, he was getting her some punch...he was always so thoughtful like that.

Charles chuckled. "Yes, I imagined you'd feel that way. They can be a bit haughty when it comes to the 'hunks' of the Institute. I even overheard them once plotting ways to get Gabriel, and a few others, to pose for a swimsuit calendar once." Charles chuckled even more at the memory of when they had tried presenting Gabe, Logan, Remy, and Piotr the swimsuits they'd chosen for it. Logan had turned them into confetti and ended that plot on the spot. "Kitty is the least of your worries. She adores Gabriel but she realizes she'll never be more than a little sister to him. In fact I do believe she has recently entered into a relationship with Mr. Rasputin. Ms. Lee, however, is another story. She is convinced that she will one day marry Mr. Summers and that you are a passing fling." He watched Gabe at the punch bowl for a moment before continuing. "Do not worry, though. She poses no threat to you where Gabe is concerned. He sees her as a little sister and nothing more. She just hasn't accepted that fact yet."

Gabriel had already had a nice chat with the other three 'hunks' of the institute, as they were known. He'd congratulated Piotr on Kitty and, along with Remy and Logan, threatened to make him regret the day he was ever born should he hurt her. He'd also had a chat with Logan and Remy about Jubes' behavior toward Laura. They had agreed that Jubes needed to back it off and being the overprotective father type that Logan was, he agreed to do it. Gabe thought Logan suspected something about Laura maybe her being an alpha like him. He'd sniffed the air more than once since Gabe had started talking to him and every time looked at Laura as if trying to place her. Gabriel figured that he would warn Jubes about Laura, and that she could end up in a very bad situation should she try anything further. It was then he'd spotted the punch bowl and figured he could use a drink, and maybe Laura could as well. Just as he'd finished pouring two glasses and turned around, Jubilee had popped up out of nowhere and startled Gabriel with the look in her eyes. Like she was hungry and he was a piece of top line sirloin steak. She then had proceeded to get uncomfortably close to Gabe and run a hand over his chest as if she was trying to seduce him. Apparently the 'Oh my god, get away' look on Gabe's face wasn't registering with her.

Jubilee hadn't seen him for months and she had missed his presence around the mansion. Sure Piotr was cute, but Kitty wanted him and he wasn't really her style; Piotr was...Piotr, there was no explaining it. And then with Alex gone and Scott dead, Remy with five kids...it was just Gabriel left. He was the most attractive of them all, the most dependable. She wanted him and she would have him. Taking one of the cups of punch from his hand she smiled seductively at him, "Thanks...what do you say we ditch this lame party and make our own fun?"

"Oh dear, well...I suppose this is more than a passing fling," She chuckled, motioning to her rounded abdomen. "In about three months we're going to have a beautiful baby boy. I'd say that constitutes as a little bit more than a fling...maybe we're not going to get married and live happily ever after," Although she secretly hoped it would turn out that way, "But we're entangled for life now. This child I'm carrying is his...he knows it, I know it...I-" She stopped abruptly as she noted a concerned look on the professor's face and followed his gaze over to the punchbowl. Gabriel had his back to her but he could clearly see the discomfort riddled in his body as Jubilee decided to get a little too hands-on with him. Oh no, that filthy bitch did NOT...

A few months ago Gabe would have been confused as hell about what she suggesting. But since then he'd met Laura, got her pregnant, and was planning on maybe spending the rest of his life with her. He'd even gone looking at rings one day when he'd been shopping for groceries while Laura had taken a nap. He knew what Jubilee wanted and he knew his answer right away. Setting down his own cup of punch, he shook his head slowly to make sure she understood. "No, Jubilee. I'm with Laura and in case you haven't noticed she's pregnant. There will never be a 'you and me' beyond friendship."

"Oh come on," Jubilee pressed, "I heard rumors that this isn't even your baby. How can you trust her if you don't even know if that slut's kid is yours? Besides, what do you want with her now that she looks like that? She's, like… fat." Even using her quietest voice...it was NOT going to escape the ears of the feral woman. Not by a long shot.

Turning from her place in front of Charles, hormones flared and Laura was off as fast as her pregnant ass could go. As she walked her hair flew behind her, drawing attention to the menacing look on her face. She was seconds away when her adamantium claws exploded out of her hands; she stood at the ready, waiting for the girl to make one wrong move...Laura was not playing for show now, she was playing for keeps. "You get the hell away from the father of my child or I'm going to gut you like the rotten meat that you are." Her voice was tinged with gravel, a feral trait that made her look even more dangerous. Wildfire danced in her sandy hazel eyes and she didn't move a muscle. "Back off him or I'm going to show you just how we do it at Weapon X..." This was trouble.

Logan had smelled the atmosphere shift moments before Laura Kinney had taken off after Jubilee. He spun on the spot and watched with a seeming disinterest in everything to see what the woman would do. He knew she was an alpha feral like himself. And he could smell the metal in her body, all signatures of Weapon X. He had never introduced himself properly, figuring two feral alphas meeting wouldn't be a good thing…it certainly never was when he and Sabertooth were in a room together. But when her double claws came out and the room all turned to watch as Laura threatened Jubilee in a way that would make it blatantly clear to the younger girl what the stakes were, he needed to step in. He could see the wheels turning in Jubilee's head as her hands started to light with her powers charging. Logan knew he had to stand in and diffuse the situation. Gabe, God bless him, would try but only Logan knew how this could really go down.

All eyes were on Laura, Gabe, and Jubilee. Logan was slowly making his way toward the trio. His eyes hidden under the brim of his cowboy hat, he watched for only a split second longer. The room's attention was ripped from Jubilee and Laura by the distinctly familiar sound of Logan's six claws sliding out of his hands ever so slowly. "You don't want to be doing that, Darlin'!" He looked up at the feral woman before him and casually adjusted the unlit cigar between his lips. "I understand your position, girlie; you staked your claim on 'im. I'm not disputin' that. Hell, I can almost smell that the kid is his. You know that, I know that, and he knows that. That should be enough. But you don't wanna go threatenin' the firecracker. You're feral and you're hormonal and you'll regret it in the mornin'. Let dead dogs lie. Go on now and put them fancy pig stickers away and enjoy the party with your man. I'll talk to the girl and make her understand what's square is square."

Laura was more than ready to gut Jubilee like the slut she was...but at the smell of another feral, she was immediately distracted. He was...overwhelming. She'd never smelled an alpha male before; hell, she'd never smelled another alpha female. He intoxicated her; she almost couldn't think when he was around her. And yet at the same time her senses seemed sharper, more vivid. She listened in rapt attention as he spoke before grinding out her own reply, "I think I'll be doing what I want, bub." She snapped. Her eyes were fixed on his adamantium claws that looked so much like hers. "I was perfectly content talking to the professor; it isn't me who's doing any threatening. If she backs the hell off, I'd be more than happy to let her live..."

Logan grinned at her. She was a tough one, she was. Most other ferals found themselves overwhelmed and unable to do anything when Logan was around because he was the alpha male and alpha males made all the rules. But she was able to grind out a reply and back it up with a look that made Logan believe every word she said. Without taking his eyes off Laura, Logan spoke to Jubes. "Darlin', I'd judge you got 'bout ten seconds to get away from Gabe there or I don't think even Nightcrawler will be able to 'port you far enough away." He let that sink in for a moment and then the claws slid back home. Her fiery air and her manner of speech caught him; he needed to know more about Laura Kinney. "You and I need to have a talk darlin'. I got questions, and I want answers…wouldn't surprise me if you had some questions too." He turned away then and started back over to Remy before pausing and speaking over his shoulder to Gabe. "Take care of her, bub. Not very many ladies would stand up for their man like that. I think you found yourself a keeper."

Jubilee, red faced from embarrassment, slammed her glass of punch down on the table and stalked away, muttering curses behind her. She apparently still did not realize that Laura could hear every word. Slut or not, Laura was still the mother of Gabriel's child...she still loved him, cared for him, worried about him. And that was so much more than being thin and pretty. Laura had personality, style, grace and heart, even if she DIDN'T have a waist.

Turning toward the other feral, she found herself enraptured. Who was he? Why was he JUST like her? They had the same powers it seemed (as she couldn't see any puncture wounds on his hands) and they had adamantium skeletons. "I'd say you're right..." Letting her claws slide slowly back into her hands, she found that conversation once more sprang up. Turning to Gabriel, she slowly let her hand snake around his shoulders, "Gabriel...I think I need to sit down." She was dizzy, far too worked up and she needed to relax before she crashed and burned.

Gabriel was at a loss for everything. But he pushed the events of seconds ago to the back of his mind. Laura needed him. He nodded and picked her up, not bothering to use his powers to augment his strength. She was much heavier than the last time he'd done this powerless. Gabe quickly took her to the nearest table and pulled out a chair with his foot. He gently set her down in the chair and then plopped himself next to her. He was just about to ask if she needed a drink when he found one next to him held by Charles Xavier. "Thanks Professor." He took the cup and offered it to Laura. "Here, honey, drink this."

Laura hated it when he picked her up; she knew that with the adamantium and the baby she was well over two hundred pounds. And he barely weighed two hundred pounds sopping wet...it wasn't a good combination. But still, he cared more about her than he seemed to care about his own body. She held onto him tightly as he carried her to the chair and set her down before handing her some punch that the professor brought over, "Thanks, love." She said softly. "I'm not sorry I lost my temper, I'm just sorry that you had to see it all..." She took his hands in hers, kissing him on the mouth. "I just...I love you, and when I saw her all over you I wanted to kill her. You're...well, you're mine, for lack of a better word."

Gabriel smiled and nodded. He returned the kiss gently and then kissed the spots on each hand where the claws came out. "I'm sorry it had to come to that. I had hoped she would have figured it out by now. I have no intention of being with her, she's like a little sister to me and her attitude today showed everyone just how immature she can be. Besides, the only way I'm leaving you is if you ever tell me you're done with me, and to get out and not come back." He kissed her mouth gently again and smiled. "I wouldn't want to be anyone else's. Only yours," Gabriel then looked down at her belly and smiled, rubbing his fingers gently over the swell and then leaning forward to kiss it. "And you there little guy. You got a bit of excitement today with mommy, didn't you?" A soft kick was his response. Gabe chuckled, wondering if it was just perfect timing or a real answer. "Yes, you did. Get used to it kiddo. There's never a dull moment at Xavier's."

Smiling, she watched as he tenderly assuaged both her boiling anger and the little boy eager to say hello to the world. He was kicking more frequently now, especially when his daddy was around. Even when Sarah was doing her diagnostics, the baby was far more responsive to his daddy's voice and touch than all the mutant power in the world. Running her fingers ever so gently through his hair, she smiled as he kissed her belly. Maybe she was fat and ugly but Gabriel loved her and he loved the baby. Hell, he'd even sleep with her, so Laura had no problems. Reaching over to where she had left her present, she bit her lip, "I want you to open this now...I came across it as I was looking for more books on pregnancy to read. I thought of you when I saw it..."

Gabriel smiled and took it from her slowly. "You didn't have to get me anything Laura. You've given me enough already." She had given him herself, and now she was giving him a baby, a family. That was all he needed in life. But she had gotten him something anyway, and he loved her all the more for it. "He quickly unwrapped the gift and stared at the book. "What to Expect When Your Wife is Expanding: A Reassuring Guide for the Father-to-be, Whether He Wants Advice or Not." He read the title out loud, running a hand over the book. She had known about his insecurities about being a father, hell he'd told her often enough. And she had gotten him a book to help quell that fear of being terrible at it. He looked up at Laura, and though it was always hard to tell in his ever black eyes, his gaze had only love in it. He leaned forward quickly, crushing his lips to hers. After a few minutes he broke away and smiled. "It's perfect. Now I don't have to worry so much about this whole dad thing. Only thing better would be a For Dummies Guide." Gabriel laughed at that for a moment and then smiled mischievously at her, "Wife, huh? It looks like someone is dropping hints."

Laura watched excitedly as he tore off the wrapping paper to look at the book. She'd thought the title was funny and he needed some real advice. As much as she liked Sarah, Gabriel was ever the skeptic. It was probably due to the fact that they didn't really know anything about pregnancy...hell, Gabriel grew up with nuns, his exposure to pregnant women was as limited as her experience at Weapon X. "I thought it'd be a fun way to get some more info...I read the book and I liked it." Maybe it was a little unorthodox but she wanted to make sure it was good enough for him. When he mentioned the 'wife' part though, she blushed deeply, "I'd never do such a thing!" She said, alarmed. "I'm not against it, I mean, it's just so soon...then again I'm going to pop in three months..." She was flustered and there he was smirking at her. Holding her arms over her belly, she frowned, "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

Gabriel could only chuckle and nod in the affirmative. He loved making her squirm like that. It was almost too easy, especially since she had gotten more emotional further into the pregnancy. Leaning forward, Gabe placed a soft kiss to her lips, then her cheek, and then whispered into her ear, "I'm not against the idea either, in all honesty." He let that linger and sink in for a moment before leaning back and flipping the book open to start reading the first few pages.

It was a little shocking to hear him say that...he wanted to marry her? Sure she'd gotten the impression over the last few weeks together that he liked her a fair bit and he said he loved her...but he was so handsome and strong and she was so…pregnant. That was the only way to describe how she felt right now. A tear worked its way into her eye when he whispered in her ear, "We'll talk about it another time," she said softly. For now she saw that the feral man, Logan she'd heard him called, working his way over to her. He seemed to have had a very nice chat with Jubilee who was now nowhere in sight, although Laura could hear her sniffles. Kissing him again softly, she looked into his eyes, "I'm going to talk with Logan, if you need me I'll be sitting right here."

Gabriel nodded and got up to go sit with Piotr and Kitty. As soon as he was gone, Logan plopped himself into the vacated seat and propped his boots up on the table, "So…pregnant, huh?" He thought it was a good ice breaker, but maybe not. Logan chewed the end of his cigar; not wanting to light it because the others would tear into him for smoking around a pregnant woman, regardless of the fact said woman had a healing factor. He reached up, grabbed the cowboy hat off his head, and set it on the table, revealing his wild hair that grew naturally to look like wolf ears. He watched her for a moment before speaking, "You're from Weapon X. I'd recognize their handy work anywhere." He motioned toward her hands where the claws had come from earlier.

Laura looked over at him, a less-than-amused smirk playing on her face as she folded her arms over her protruding belly, "And here I thought I was hiding it so well..." She retorted, giving him a soft smirk. "I guess I've been found out." Gentle kicks from within her made her smile though, even if alpha male gloom and doom wanted to talk about Weapon X. "Yes, I am...but I broke out of there ten years ago. I'm not under their control anymore...don't worry about that. Although you," She looked over, eyes meeting, "you're something of a mystery to me. I've heard your name before, whispered around the compound. But I don't think I know you nor do I think we've ever really met..." Sighing, she sat back in her chair, "But then, there are a lot of things I'm not really sure of."

Logan nodded when she told him of her escape. It was a lot like his story really. "I did the same." His eyes took on a slightly distant look as he went through small flashes of his earliest memories. "I escaped...I don't even know how long ago. I've been with the X-Men for years now. Before that, I was with a Canadian group." Logan looked around real quick, checking their proximity to others, before leaning in a little, "They manage to mess with your memory? Or do you remember life before…them?"

Laura looked down at her hands again, "No...I...I was born there." She said softly. "I've only caught brief peeks at my file over the years but I know enough to be able to say that I'm a spawn of somebody's. I was a cloning experiment I think...that's why they called me X-23. I was their twenty-third attempt at it." Finishing off her glass of punch, she let out a little sigh, "I was supposed to be a boy, I know that too...and my 'mother' was a doctor at the base. She donated the egg and carried me..." It was sick what she had been spawned from, it made her even sicker to talk about it. "It doesn't matter, they can't get me now...I'm with Gabriel and we're having a baby and whatever they were trying to do, they failed."

Logan nodded. He had a pretty good idea of who Laura's 'father' was. The similarities were just too striking. He slowly unsheathed his claws and looked at them for a moment before looking at Laura. "I think I got an idea of who it was they cloned. It seems like there are just too many coincidences here." The claws shot back into his wrists after a moment. "Gabe's a good kid. A little on the hot headed side, and I always raze him because he's a Summers, but he's a good kid nonetheless. He'll take care of you and that baby. He'd give his life to protect you...I can smell it on him. You stick to him like glue. He won't let them take you back, no matter what." Logan pulled the cigar from his mouth and pocketed it quickly. "You got any questions?"

"What do you mean you know who it is they cloned?" She demanded, her eyes lighting up with that intrigue bordering on feral fury. Claws shot out of his wrists again and she extended hers to match. So similar...hers were a little thinner and longer than his, his were more rounded at the top while hers were more pointed...but the craftsmanship was unmistakably Weapon X. "You don't think that I'm..." Looking over at him, things started clicking into place. He was a feral mutant, she was a feral mutant...she adamantium bones, he had adamantium bones. Hell, they even had the same look about them. "Oh God," She said softly, her head coming to rest in her hands. "Just when you think you're out of their net, away from it all...I get sucked right back in. They control my life even if I don't belong to them anymore," Hormones flying, she looked over at Wolverine, "So, what? Are you like my father or something?"

Wolverine looked at Laura for a long time before slowly nodding. "I guess you could call me that. But, I think the term genetic donor is more accurate. The must've used a hair sample or blood. They performed so many experiments on me it's not really a surprise cloning was one of them." His eyes bored into her, almost as if seeing inside. "I don't think you were an accident. I think they meant to make you female. Females tend to be more…submissive. They probably figured a male was too dangerous after I escaped...and whatever happened to the other twenty-two. Probably thought you'd be more docile. Did you at least kill a couple of 'em before you got out?"

Laura smiled softly, she had a 'father' or really a guy who had unwittingly donated some hair or blood or a toenail clipping... "Perhaps I didn't turn out like they'd planned." No, nothing at all had gone as planned; at least not Weapon X's plan. Looking over at him again and then Gabriel, she nodded, "More than a couple..." Gabriel thought she was so sweet and so good. But she knew she wasn't, she was a killer just like Wolverine was a killer. "I'd appreciate if we could keep this quiet while I figure out what to do. I know you like Gabriel, that you'd speak so highly of him really means a lot to me...I don't really know what to do or expect out of this." Rubbing her rounded abdomen, she shook her head, "What does this mean...for us, I mean?"

Logan followed her gaze over toward Gabriel. He knew what she was thinking; he had thought much the same for a long time. "You aren't a killer. Stop that train of thought right where it is, Darlin'. You're a survivor, nothing' more, nothing' less. If you hadn't gone, and taken a couple o' them out, they woulda been right after you, and pulled you back. You'd probably be doing assassinations against your will right now or knocked up with some other twisted experiment o' theirs. And it wouldn't be Gabe that got you that way. Be thankful for what'cha got. Don't short change Gabe so much, he probably already knows he's screwed up. He's heard enough from me on it that he probably expects it and accepts it." At her question, Logan chuckled. "I'm whatever you want Darlin'. You want a father...well I think I can pull that off. I do a fair enough job surrogating for Jubes and Kitty. What's one more? You want a friend...then I can do that too. Just don't expect me to get all sappy and mushy, ain't my style."

Laura nodded." For the first time in a long time, she was really happy. She had someone to love, she had a warm bed (a VERY warm bed), and food on the table. She was going to be a mother in just a few short months, something she'd never dared to even dream of. And all of those forbidden dreams were coming true. She even had a father...err, gene daddy at least. "I'm a bit too old for a father..." She said with a smile, "But I could use a guardian angel. Maybe someone to talk to… there are just some things Gabriel can't understand...you can only understand it if you have been through it." Leaning over, she gently picked up Wolverine's hand and placed it on her belly where her son kicked inside of her, "And you know it never hurts to have a feral granddaddy."

Logan chuckled a bit at what she was saying. Yeah it was true. As much as he liked Gabriel, there were some things you had to experience to understand. It was just how the world worked sometimes. When she placed his hand on her stomach, Logan grew a little tense. What the hell was she doing? Getting all mushy after he specific—

was that a kick? Holy hell, the kid was strong and he wasn't even fully developed yet. Logan looked up, with a slightly surprised expression on his face, at Laura. "Kid's gonna be tough. Never thought I'd ever call myself a grandfather or even father, really. 'Course...I suppose I could be old enough to be a great grandfather by now." It was times like this…well not exactly like this, but this was one of those times, when Logan wondered if he had a family out there somewhere. A wife and kids...maybe even grandchildren. A life that Weapon X had taken away from him.

Laura could smell the uncertainty on him. Well, at least it wasn't a hug! He was just lucky her hormones hadn't flared and she'd ended up sprawled across his lap crying like a baby. She laughed softly as the child within her responded to the feral man's touch, "He likes you, I think..." Sitting back in her chair, she suddenly realized it had been almost an hour since she last ate. It was no wonder she was starved, "I never saw myself as being a mother either...but the world works in mysterious ways." That was the truth.

Logan chuckled and sat back as well, watching her for a moment. He reached into his jeans and pulled out the cigar once more, shoving it between his lips and chewing on the end a bit. "Yeah, that it does, Darlin'. A 'course, folks like you and I...we know that you gotta roll with the punches, and then punch back. Otherwise you get a lucky shot to the chin that puts you out for a few rounds. Never a pretty sight." Logan chuckled for a bit, and then looked at Laura curiously. "You smell...hungry." He turned over his shoulder, staring at Gabe who had his face buried in the book Laura had given him. Whistling sharply to catch the other mutant's attention and then apologizing to Laura for the sharp noise, Logan signaled for food and pointed at the pregnant woman. Gabe nodded and moved off, while Logan turned back. "So, when you escaped...how'd you get by?"

"I'm always rollin' at this point," She said with a snicker. "Being feral is tough enough and did you know your senses actually get sharper with pregnancy? Shit, there were four months of my life when I smelled you ten miles away driving home in a car. It was intense..." Laura was not surprised that he'd never want to go through pregnancy. When he spoke of her hunger she blushed, "Yeah, you could say that...I've been a lot hungrier lately too." There were a lot of aches and pains associated with pregnancy including, but not limited to, nausea, heartburn, sciatica, swollen feet, cravings and the ever-popular back strain. Escaping was easy compared to this, "Oh...I just let them get very comfortable with my obedience and then sprung the joint one day. I killed a lot of people to get out, a lot of those doctors..." She almost shuddered at the memory, "But it was all worth it for a chance to live."

Logan chuckled and nodded. He remembered those days; the escape...the fight for life. But mostly, he remembered the icy cold liquid they put him in for the procedures. The burning hot pain of the molten metal flowing into his body and bonding with his bones, the fear when he regained consciousness at the very end of the line and extended the claws for the first time. Not knowing he how he got there...who he was. "I escaped the minute they finished my bonding. I took out the whole group of doctors attending to me and about thirty soldiers on my way out of the door. Any claw marks you might have seen in the walls, if they didn't fix 'em, were most likely made by yours truly."

Smiling softly, she nodded, "Oh, I've seen them alright...made a few of my own in the walls too." Like 'father' like 'daughter'...and they were as close as it got, she assumed. She was his clone, or at least a genetic rendition of him. They certainly weren't exact, there were marked differences to be made. Looking over at Gabe she smiled as he was holding a plate of food, "Thanks so much, love, I'm starved."

Logan looked at Gabe, biting back the habitual snarky comment he would usually spout about anyone named Summers. The guy was the father of his grandchild and his 'daughter' was right there. Best not rile the nest up when it was still brand new. He nodded at Gabe and then returned his attention to Laura. "So, did you use any of the skills they embedded in you after you escaped?" That was what he wanted to know for sure. What she'd done since. Was she like him? Fighting to make a living? Or did it come easier to her? Maybe they'd conditioned her to blend in better with society.

Taking the plate she quickly dug into the pasta salad she'd been eyeing since they came in. Turning back to Logan she sighed, "Survival instincts sure, I use them every day. And for protecting myself I can use a lot of that hand to hand I've been trained in...but I can't say that beyond that the brainwashing helped any." Laura was really fascinated by Wolverine; he had really made something of himself. Everyone around here loved him and worshipped him like some kind of hero. And she was sure he had done many heroic things in his life to deserve that, "What about you? Have you used any of it?"

Gabriel frowned as he watched her all but ignore him. Quick thanks and then it was digging into the salad and showering Logan with her attention. He decided not to grumble about it, remembering that she and Wolverine would be able to hear what he said anyway. Gabe turned and walked back to where he had been sitting earlier. So they were similar power wise, whoopee. What the hell was so fascinating about Wolverine? The guy would be a freaking drunk if it wasn't for the healing factor keeping him sober. Hell he was probably well over a hundred years old, way too old for her to be that interested. Especially when Gabe was right here and HE was the father of her baby.

Logan nodded. "Survival instincts are good. Can't tell ya how many times they saved my neck...or the neck of some of the guys on the team." When she asked about what he'd done, Logan kept a blank face. The time after Weapon X wasn't bad by any means...but it wasn't his happiest moment ever. "I passed out shortly after escaping. Woke up bare assed in the forest in Canada. I was found by a couple who nursed me to health and tried to civilize me." That made Logan bark out a laugh. Civilize the Wolverine, had to give them credit for trying though. "Once I was good enough to know what was what, I left them and took to cage fighting in dive bars for cash. Unfair advantage, I know, but it beat eating out of a trash can or killing some random guy for his cash. That couple found me again a couple years later, they were part of some hero group up north called Alpha Flight. Worked with them for a bit before Xavier recruited me for the X-Men."

Maybe it was a combination of the wonderful food and good company, but she couldn't help but smiling. She still remembered that exhilaration and wonderment when she first escaped...for the first two seconds before she almost wet herself from fear. For months she didn't come out of hiding and she HAD eaten out of trash cans in the dead of night. "I got out and I was terrified of being caught...so I laid low, I didn't stay anyplace longer than I had to and I decided to find a big city to live in. That's when I came to New York and found a guy who was willing to accept room and board for cheap. I cleaned vacated apartments, did repairs, mended shirts and did laundry for my keep...for ten years. Only very recently did he leave town and I was forced out...but it led me to Gabriel so I suppose everything does happen for a reason."

Logan nodded. There was more to the story that she wasn't telling. He could tell, he could always tell. But Logan, more than anyone, knew that everyone was entitled to their secrets. Sometimes, those little private facts that no one else knew were all that kept you sane. It kept you from feeling exposed and paranoid that Weapon X was right around the corner looking for you. "Well, sounds like ya had it a bit easier than I did. Let me tell ya, fighting for a living, ain't exactly cherries and whipped cream. I know you know, even though we heal, we still feel the pain more than anyone else does. Night after night goin' toe to toe with some of the biggest, bawdiest mother fuckers in the area…it leaves even healed muscles sore."

Laura wasn't going to get in a pissing contest with him...the way the baby was always rolling onto her bladder, she'd win. Alphas were notoriously boasting and prideful...she knew it, she was one of them. "Can't be any worse than sleeping around for money," She almost choked when the words slipped out of her mouth. Frantically, she tried to put her reputation back together, "I only tried it once after I found out I might be getting evicted. It was only Gabriel, that's how I met him...he's the father of this baby, I swear that on my life."

Logan's eyebrows shot up when she slipped. But, other than that, his face was smooth as stone,. He'd not begrudge her the means of her survival. Hell, he'd been known to hire a hooker or two on a cold lonely night when the profit from the fights was good enough, "Gabe as in our Gabe? Little Mister Powerful over there paid for sex?" Logan's face was starting to scrunch up with the effort of holding back his laughter. He would never let Gabe, Mr. High and Mighty Morals live this one down. "I can tell you aren't lyin'. Maybe if I let Jubes know that you're tellin' the truth, she'll believe it. She tends to listen especially well to me."

Her gaze went from frightened to deadly, "You tell anyone about this and I will personally make sure you NEVER have kids." She growled. Her ire rose in the air and she knew Logan would be able to smell it pouring off of her. "He was vulnerable and I was desperate, we were inexperienced and we were stupid...but it got me where I am today and I'm not dense enough to feel sorry about it." Laura loved her child and she loved Gabriel...she didn't regret that they'd met. It was just rather unfortunate that they couldn't have gotten to know each other before getting pregnant and embarking on a relationship. "What's done is done."

Logan couldn't hold in the laughter anymore. Her threat was funny. He rarely took them seriously, even when he could smell it on her. Of course, the laugh had drawn the attention of a few people who were wondering if Wolverine laughing was one of the signs the world was going to end. Seeing her expression, Logan put his hands in mock surrender. "Whoa, settle down there, darlin'. I didn't mean tell her everything. Just that you were telling the truth about Gabe being the father. I gotta protect my daughter's virtue after all."

Laura turned away from him slightly, "Don't you be telling that dumb slut anything. She can believe whatever she wants to about me and this baby but Gabriel will not be embarking on any sort of relationship with her now or ever." And that was final...if Gabriel wanted to have other children as well. "I understand being young and infatuated...or at least I know what it's like to want something so desperately you think you'll die without it..." Looking down at the swell in her belly, she sighed, "But being willfully belligerent about the facts staring you in the face, I won't stand for it."

Logan narrowed his eyes at her comment about Jubes. Sure the girl could be overbearing and possessive, but she was still the first of his charges. She was like a daughter to him, in ways he had yet to open up with Laura. "I understand the feelings you hold for Jubes. But not everyone can smell the truth like you or I. Not everyone can read minds like Chuck or Jeanie. Denial is a long, tough road to go down. I'd appreciate you limiting the insults, in my presence at the least."

"Hey I just call it like I see it, babe," She said coldly, "The girl walked past my fat, pregnant ass to rub her hands down my boyfriend and the father of my baby to get attention from him." He could chew on that for a while. But all the same, she finished what was on her plate and sat back in her chair, "I'm just so sick of these hormones...one second I'm ready to go skipping down the alleyways and the next I'm going to kill Gabriel because he's breathing too loudly. I can't control myself..."

Logan relaxed a bit and chuckled. "Yeah, I imagine they don't go well with berserker rage. That must be like a normal person mixing alcohol and a shotgun. Chances are...it won't end pretty." Logan slowly stood up and grabbed his hat off the table, placing it firmly back on his head. "You take care and go easy on the kid. He's finally got what he's dreamed of all his life. Remember, too hard on him, and he might be reminded of before he came to Xavier's. You ever need anything; you know how to reach me." Logan placed a hand on her shoulder, and gave a slight squeeze. It was as close to a hug as he'd get with her just now. It would take time to work up to that level.

Smiling, she gave him a nod, "What do you say we try and get together for lunch in the next few weeks or so?" Giving him a wink, she laughed, "Don't worry, I'll pay so you don't end up breaking the bank trying to feed the pregnant woman." He gave her a nod and it wasn't long before he was off chatting with someone else. Laura felt happy; she finally had someone who understood, someone who knew what she was going through, and a real family member. Looking over at Gabriel, she noticed he staring up at her...giving him a short wave, she grabbed onto the table and hoisted herself up, "Enjoying the book, love?"

Gabriel had watched everything. The laughter, his hand on her belly where HIS baby rested, the hand on her shoulder, the wink and what he thought sounded like an invitation to lunch sometime. It made him want to walk right over and show Wolverine who the REAL alpha was around here. Or, more accurately, who was the Omega. He closed his eyes as Laura walked toward him, calming himself. He was just being jealous, she finally had someone who was like her and he was getting all bothered by it. But then again...what if her similarities to Logan drew her away from Gabriel? Damn it! When she finally got near him, he answered her. "Oh...it's a lovely book." His tone wasn't really all that happy at the moment. "Enjoy your chat?"

Laura didn't love his tone at the moment...but maybe he was still irked over Jubilee. She knew she was... "It was great. It's strange to meet someone so much like me. We really hit it off," She said with a smile. "I was worried at first about two alphas in the same room and me with raging hormones...but we have some common ground." Sitting down next to him, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, kissing his cheek gently. "Are you enjoying yourself?"

Gabriel pushed down the jealousy that he was feeling. He had to be overreacting. But her words were biting deep and making it hard to suppress it. They had hit it off? Two alphas...and her raging hormones? Was she hinting at something? Maybe she was getting back at him for Jubilee, like he could control the bubbly Asian girl or something. Maybe she thought he'd been leading the girl on, and was trying to even the field? Gabe returned the kiss and looked around the room. "Not really. Too many..." His eyes stopped over Logan for a moment longer than on anyone else before moving past the man, "People. It's too crowded for my tastes. I didn't even know this many people cared it was my fake birthday."

"Well there's free food and you're the sexiest man alive, of course they'd want to come," Laura answered with another small kiss to his lips. "Just seeing you over here in those lovely jeans is making me quite hungry..." Her eyes flashed with lust as she leaned closer to him. "What do you say we skip out on cake and I'll give you your other present at home?"

Charles Xavier had just disengaged himself from speaking with Remy and Belle. He had procured a book, at Belle's recommendation, to give to Gabriel and Laura. He could sense the desire that both of them felt, to leave, though for different reasons that he wouldn't touch on at the moment. It was best to let truths like this be brought out on their own, and to not get involved. Of course, maybe the book would help strengthen the young couple. "Ah, there you two are. I had a hunch that you were both about to leave so I brought you this. Happy birthday Gabriel, although I must say, this is more a present for the two of you to go over together." With that he set the book down on the table.

Gabriel was just about to agree to leave the party, when Xavier made his way over. He slowly picked up the book and smiled at it. "Baby names from A to Z," he read aloud. Smiling at the Professor, he leaned over and gave the man a brief hug. "Thanks Professor…for everything you've done. I'd still be a street rat living in boxes and eating week old trash if you hadn't come and rescued me."

Laura was also very excited, "Oh thank you! I was going to get one from the library or off the internet. I think it's time we stopped calling our little boy Gabriel, Jr. or Gabriel, Sr. might get the idea that we're naming the kid that." She nudged him tenderly and wrapped an arm around him. "Or maybe we will..." She didn't really like the idea of naming sons after their fathers...how would her son know if he was his father or him that she was yelling at someday down the line when she got pregnant again. Laura nearly fainted, was she actually contemplating squeezing out MORE of Gabriel's children? God, she needed to get home and put her feet up. With a goodbye to everyone, Laura quickly filled a plate with desserts to eat on the way home. She couldn't resist and BellaDonna all but insisted she do so; she'd made some French dessert just for her. Wrapping her arm tighter around Gabriel she smiled, "I love you..."

Gabriel said his goodbyes, glancing menacingly at Logan as he went. He left with Laura and quickly caught a cab back to their apartment. He was adamant that he would not let it get to him. He was just overreacting. He wasn't used to men besides the Professor, Remy and Hank being around her. He pushed it all to the back of his mind. "I love you too," He said as they got tot he door. Gabe quickly got them upstairs where Laura all but jumped him—well, not jumped him exactly… merely because she was at the moment physically incapable of jumping him—and proceeded to give Gabe his second present. They made love, holding each other tightly and giving everything they had to one other. After falling over the edge together, the couple curled up in bed, renewing their words of love and drifted off to sleep. The last thought that lazily drifted through Gabe's head was that he would not let anything come between them…ever again.


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