DISCLAIMER: I do not own Wolverine and the X-men

Thank you to Song of a Free Heart for Beta Reading this story

A/N: updates will be slow

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thoughts: italics

flashbacks: bold

telepathic message/talking:underlined

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Chapter Thirty-Six

Jean-Luc, Henri and Ninety-eight Thieves, along with ten wives and twenty-nine children ( between the ages of birth to twelve years) arrived with the dawn. The normally silent Thieves were on edge this morning. The noise inside the foyer would have woken the entire house, had anyone still been in bed. This was actually rather shocking to those who were familiar with the Thieves.

Logan greeted them at the door, along with Lorna, but had quickly sent Lorna for Remy to take over the introductions. Partly because there were so many of them, and partly because he honestly didn't want to get to know more of them than was necessary before the battle. Clearly they felt pretty much the same way about the mutant warriors already in the mansion.

Marius,Julian and the one hundred-three Assassins, arrived half an hour later, with their Twelve wives and seventeen children. Logan looked over the recently swollen ranks . He dismissed eight thieves and seventeen Assassins, suggesting they remain to watch the mansion instead. The reason for this was apparent to the other mutants immediately, none of the twenty-five fighters were over seventeen. Logan refused to risk anymore children to this war.

Marius and Jean-Luc looked about to argue, but chose to remain silent. They were, after all, no more comfortable sending in the children than Logan had been. And someone needed to protect the ones left at the mansion.

Collette, Mercy and Tante Mattie were clearly the leaders of the wives. Together, they took over the kitchen, with Tante Mattie as the ringleader, insistent that they needed to be well fed before the battle. The children were underfoot, and soon joined Laura and Alice. Alice joined the wives, while Laura blended into the children.

Rogue wandered into the kitchen at one point, to offer to help, but was shooed away with a " Save yer energy chil' . You need it dis af'ernoon." From Mattie. After that, Rogue hunted for Emma and then went to the Med lab to check on the injured.

Remy found her talking quietly with Kurt, and asked her to come back upstairs with him, so they could talk to Logan. Logan meanwhile sat with Charles, who remained silent. He gave up after a few minutes, and met Remy and Rogue, who in turn, helped him begin organizing the lists of fighters, planning the travel arrangements based on group assignments.

Magneto and Havok's men had left their families at home, where they had families to leave. But Pietro's wife, Crystal had arrived early in the morning, with their infant daughter, Luna in tow. They would remain at the mansion, as well. Pietro also feared leaving them alone at home, worried about retaliation.

Mystique, along with her men Pyro, Blob, and Avalanche arrived as breakfast was being served. Like Deadpool she had heard of the upcoming battle through the assassins channels. No one feared Sinister receiving this news. For one thing, Logan was well aware that Sinister knew they were coming. But more importantly, the message had been very carefully guarded when going out. Deadpool and Mystique were chosen to receive the message, because they were both assassins and mutants. No one outside of the tight circle of communication had heard anything.

Rogue, upon seeing her mother, had stood and left the kitchen. Remy watched with curiosity, not sure why Rogue had been so angered by the woman's appearance. Logan however, quickly cleared up the mystery, by informing Remy quietly, that Rogue would need him for moral support. She and her mother's relationship were beyond strained. Nodding in understanding. Remy then got up and followed the girl.

Remy for her easily in the distraught young woman, in the garden. " Want t' talk about it?"

" No, Rems, I just wanna get through today. Everything after that can wait. Don't worry. I won't let her interfere with the plan." Rogue replied, as she gained control of her anger.

" I wasn' worried about dat, cherie. I worry bout you too, y'know." Remy said, as he hugged her.

Mystique appeared beside them a moment later, and stated in her usual cool voice. " I have no intention of interfering in your life here An-Rogue. I simply want to help."

" I know, Mama. I'm not so stubborn I would turn you away. Not after I got all Remy's people made into this. That wouldn't be right. BUT stay outta my way. Cause I still don't want to know you."

" If that is what you prefer, darling."

" By the way. Your son is down in the medlab. If you care to visit him." Rogue stated, before turning away.

Mystique nodded at this unexpected news, and turned to find her son.

" Son?" Remy asked, after Mystique was gone.

" Kurt's my adoptive brother." Rogue replied.

Remy nodded. Yet another reason to be amazed that she wants anything to do with me. After what I pulled on Kurt in Genosha...

~o~O~o~

After everyone had eaten breakfast, Wolverine gathered all who would be going into the raid, to discuss it one more time. If they were going to have any questions, they needed to be addressed now, rather than in the field.

It was quickly agreed, that like Deadpool, Mystique and her team would be mostly overspill. Helping where they were needed, but not assigned to a particular team. Logan felt this was best. They didn't have time to re-work any of the teams.

Scott and Emma slipped into the room as the meeting was beginning, offering no explanation for their absence. Alex looked curiously at his brother, but chose not to bring it up, for now.

" If anyone has questions, they need to be askin' now. cause we ain't got time for em later." Logan said, once more standing in front of the tunnels map.

" Who's the target?" Deadpool asked, a question he had neglected to ask the day before.

" This is a rescue mission Wade. The target is Eight month old Jean-Luc Remy LeBeau. We are to retrieve the child, and get out without the child , or the team, getting hurt. After the child is clear, the target is to take out as many of Sinister's men as possible, as well as Sinister himself. The child however, is the first priority." Logan replied.

" Understood." Wade stated, before walking out of the room. No one really questioned this, as everyone else agreed that they understood the plan. As soon as Logan released the meeting, everyone else headed toward the doors as well.

Rogue grabbed Emma on her way out and asked. " Where did you disappear to?"

" I didn't want to risk my child having no connection to me.I couldn't stand the idea of him or her being illegitimate. He has enough marks against him being a mutant child as it is. We got married last night." Scott replied from behind them.

" Congratulations." Rogue stated, smiling. She was happy for them. She just wished the circumstances were better.

" For what?" Logan asked, walking up behind them.

" Scott and I were married last night."

" I see. Well, congratulations to you both. We'll see bout getting ya a few days off after this is over." Logan replied.

" Thank you." Scott and Emma replied.

~o~O~o~

In The end, there were two hundred thirteen warriors standing ready to enter the tunnels. They all gathered in the front lawn, saying good-bye to the women and children remaining behind.

What had once felt like an impossibly long time, now felt incredibly short. No one spoke of it, but they were all afraid. Afraid of failing. Afraid of an unknown future. In some cases, afraid of losing those they loved. But they all resighly prepared, allowing none of these fears show to anyone, save Emma and Remy, who could see far deeper into them than either would prefer.

A/N: Next chapter, the war begins.

Sorry for the delay. I am posting this now, and will update it with any necessary corrections in a few days.