NOTE: Ah, hello all. Didja think I was dead? Did you think I, you know, decided to responsibly give all my time to my family and job instead of writing amazing sexy fanfic? Shut your mouth! NEVER! I was just creating an epic chapter, it took a while. I had to go back and binge read pretty much everything I'd been missing the last few years to make sure I was current. Anyway; enjoy sweet fans and lurkers. Seeya on Twitter in the meantime, Amandasfire1.

DAY 3:

My eyes fluttered open. I saw the sky wide and pale blue above me. I felt my skin on his skin, the warmth of his body against mine. I took in a deep breath of air, letting the oxygen flood my lungs, the faint smell of grass, earth and wildflowers around me. I knew this was the place I wanted to be, this was the feeling I'd waited to soak in. My head swam in that ether between dreams and consciousness and I didn't want to let it go until I absolutely had to.

"You awake?" a rough voice asked, close to my ear, and it sent a pleasurable chill down my spine.

"Mm," I replied in a non-committal way. I didn't want to move, didn't want to fully wake, didn't want to lose this fleeting moment.

"Can we do it again, Jeannie?" he asked urgently.

"Logan... already?" I replied, feigning annoyance.

"C'mon darlin'... don't hold out," he pressed, nudging me.

"Logan, this is the fifth time, let me sleep," I complained, shutting my eyes tight again.

"Yeah, but I'm already missin' it," he pleaded.

"Fine," I said crossly but with a smile, and adjusted myself in the crook of his arm.

He'd wanted to see her again, and honestly, how could I say no?

I opened my mind, and let him inside. I replayed the memory, again, only this time Logan was there with me. Walking up to Echo's bedside. Picking her up. Holding her against me. Everything that I saw, Logan saw. Everything that I felt, he felt. I felt the satisfaction flood his mind like a calming tide as I-as we- looked down at our baby, safe from reality inside that fragile cocoon of my memory.

"Hrm, she looks just like me Jeannie," he said out loud, a hint of pride in his voice.

"She looks exactly like you Logan. I don't even see myself at all. Must have some strong genes there," I mused. "She eats like you too, she's always starving."

"I wanna meet her. I mean, for real," he said, turning his head towards me and kissing my hair.

"I know," I said, sighing and closing my mind with a gentle flutter like the pages of a book, becoming slowly aware again of the present reality. I propped myself up on one elbow, watched his face. His expression was at peace. I'd already replayed that same memory for him multiple times, but I couldn't refuse him, not after feeling how much he loved the idea of us together, as a family. Truth be told I didn't mind it at all. It felt so good to share this with someone else, this avalanche in my life I'd been keeping a secret. Seeing myself through Logan's eyes was always a good kind of ego trip, too. Seeing myself every day in the mirror, all I'd see was ordinary, tired, sad. A collection of tangled hair, pale skin. But when he was looking at me, I was always a red haired fiery goddess, always delicious and magnetic and charismatic. The full-body charge he got when he looked at me, even just the shape of me, made me feel powerful. When he looked at my face, what he saw was flawless. I was the most beautiful woman in the world, to him. And when I saw myself through his eyes, I believed it.

We were lying naked in a field of wildflowers, off somewhere on the edge of the world. It was a far cry from the tumultuous chaos of yesterday. After our fight, after the initial shock had worn off and we'd both had a little time to process, we'd really talked it out. We'd sat, and we discussed the good the bad and the ugly. It took a while to feel okay again, and even after coming to terms with both sides of our stories, it wasn't perfect. I could tell Logan's naturally suspicious side had trouble believing what had happened, even though on the surface he readily accepted my version of events. We had at least reached a truce, and we'd affirmed our relationship, both of which were far better outcomes than the previous day.

Eventually, as the sun began to set, Logan told me he'd had something to show me. I'd told him that it had better be under my nose, because I'd had enough hiking to last me a lifetime, but I begrudgingly followed him.

He led me to a secluded area near the cave.

It was a beautiful swathe of a nature, a large open field bordered by a treeline. It took me a few minutes to realize that he'd planned this. It took me a few more minutes to realized what he had originally planned this for. When he stomped unceremoniously into the edge of the forest and came out dragging a satchel that when opened held champagne, glasses and food, I looked at him confused, then started laughing, then tried to stop before he took it the wrong way.

"Are you... was this..?" I asked, staring at him wide-eyed.

"Ya asked for it Jeannie, remember?" he said slyly, expression somewhere between annoyed and pleased, dropping the collection at my feet.

"I asked for what?" I questioned.

"Ya know, fireworks," he said, shrugging.

"You prepared this ahead of time. This was... this is... for your proposal. To me?" I clarified, twisting the ring already on my finger, and I couldn't stop the smile from creeping onto my face.

"Well yeah, I wasn't plannin' on proposin' to Victor Creed or anythin'. You know I ain't into public displays of affection. And we were still keepin' everything secret, so, I figured place like this would be the best."

"It is the best," I confirmed quickly, hands to my chest. "I love it, Logan."

"Yeah?" Logan asked, a grin raising one corner of his mouth. He looked pleased with himself.

"Yes. This is... beautiful. I couldn't have asked for more, Logan." I'd said. And we sat down, ate, drank, and toasted to us. To playing against the odds. To Echo.

Which brought us to the here and now. I was relaxed, comfortable. Logan had his face half buried in my hair, and my body was splayed over his.

"Honestly, I'm still impressed you had this planned out," I mused. "Never took you for a romantic, Logan."

"Whattya mean'?" Logan said, eyes narrowing, mock-offense in his tone.

"You know," I hedged. "I mean, you're not really the type. You know?"

"Says who?" Logan asked, pushing me off him playfully and crossing his heavily muscled arms over his chest and glaring at me so hard, I starting laughing then covered it with a cough.

"I mean..." I said, smirking at him plainly now, "I take it back... you are most definitely renowned as being one of the most sensitive, suave and romantic mutants history has ever known. When I think romance, I think James Bond. Romeo. Don Juan. And of course, Wolverine."

"Shut up Red," he said, his eyes mouth scowling and his eyes laughing.

"Make me," I taunted back with a smile.

"Okay, playtime's over," he said, rolling over in a single smooth motion and pinning me effortlessly under him. I smiled as I felt his teeth graze my neck, one hand in my hair. With his other hand he ran a hand over my waist, up to my breast, and I yelped without thinking.

"Ah!"

He broke off the kiss, surprised. "Sorry, sorry Jeannie, forgot," he said quickly, tone apologetic.

"No, don't worry... I didn't mean to..." I started.

"Don't worry about it darlin'. It's nice. Ya smell like a milkshake."

I turned bright red, and it was Logan's turn to laugh.

"Look Jeannie, sorry not sorry," he said. "What're you so embarrassed about?"

"I know, I know," I quickly replied. "I just... I honestly can't believe you're not weirded out. I was weirded out, Logan. And Scott...oh God, when I had the stains on my uniform, you should've seen Scott's face."

Logan's questioning gaze and quirked eyebrow were interrupted by a voice that crackled through both our heads like a poorly designed high school PA coming from a loudspeaker and I winced.

Jean. Logan. Can you hear me? came through the static.

Both of us sat up simultaneously. "The fuck is that?" Logan growled, hand to his forehead.

Sage? Is that you? I responded in my mind. Out loud I said, "Logan, I think Sage is attempting some kind of telepathic-" I was interrupted.

Can you hear us? Yes, it's Sage. I'm with Magneto. I've kind of jury rigged what's basically...well, it's basically like telepathic zoom.

Uh...this is just like an auditory thing, no visual right? You can't see us can you? I asked in a sudden panic, tucking my arms over my chest, momentarily horrified.

No, no, Sage responded reassuringly. But I do need to let you know there's other people on the uh...on the telepathic call, so to speak. The whole group has been connected, all ten of us.

"Ten?" I mouthed silently to Logan as he stared back at me in surprise. This was a bigger crowd for the resistance than I'd expect. I'd half assumed it was just Logan, Magneto and myself. Obviously, I'd been wrong.

Just then I heard another voice, all too familiar, in my head.

Does uh... does dad know about this? The uh...the thing with Uncle Logan? The all too familiar voice hesitantly asked, and my stomach did a flip flop.

CABLE? I asked over the psy-link, arms still crossed over my chest and eyes wide, looking around me as if that was going to elucidate a single damn thing that was going on right now. Logan was staring at me, eyebrows raised.

What are you... what on Earth are you doing on here. Sage? Why is my son here? I asked, the panic back. What reason would Cable have to know about this, to be a part of this, exactly? I had meant to sit down and talk with both him and Rachel at some point, come clean about what was obviously going on, or not going on between Scott and I, but I just hadn't gotten the chance. Everything had been moving too fast.

What am I doing here? Cable asked, voice obstinate. What are you doing there, with Wolverine? I mean he's been hanging out with the family a lot but I just thought you guys were taking pity on him or something. Like doing a halfway-house type thing. You know?

"'Scuse me, kid?" Logan asked aloud, visibly annoyed. "You're musterin' a lot o' outrage for somebody datin' five girls at once. Yes I'm with your mom, we're both happy, so get the hell over it."

Um, I can hear you, you know, Wolverine, and all five of us are fine with that situation actually, a voice replied haughtily, and we both looked at each other mouthing "Cuckoo?"

"Ok, Logan, you are really, really not helping even in the slightest right now," I hissed at him, throwing him a dirty look, still feeling painfully naked although I knew no one else could see me.

Logan opened his mouth to reply to me, but before he could answer, an entirely different voice chimed in the telepathic open forum.

Hey dad nice goin'. Just want to say I entirely approve your choice of stepmom. Smokin'. Might be movin' back in with you guys at this point.

The sly, leering tone and deep voice belonged to one person and we both knew exactly who. It was unmistakably Daken.

"What the-the hell're you on here for?" Logan asked out loud, eyes wide.

Hey, you say it inside your head dad. It's called telepathy, old man. You don't need to shout everything out loud like a wierdo, Daken replied in a surly tone.

Sage, why are there children on the call? I demanded, feeling the anger rise up into my reddening cheeks, and glancing at Logan I could tell he was about one taunting sentence away from a berserker rage. Then Cable spoke again.

HEY! I'm not a kid, okay? At least give me, you know, young man. You're acting like I'm seven. Cable complained in our heads. I'm also not an idiot, it's not like I didn't know SOMETHING was going on, but every time I asked dad, he told me it wasn't my business and I-I could hear the sulkiness in Cable's voice which was suddenly cut off by yet a different, familiar voice- Magneto.

I apologize for this errant discourse- Jean, Logan, we're still working out the bugs of this communication system, obviously. But for now, it seems to be the only safe and secure method we have to contact each other. I'm arranging a meeting point. Sage is going to directly implant the coordinates into your minds. I know it's short notice, but will all of you be able to be here within the hour?

"All'a you?" Logan asked, looking at me, and his expression mimicked the way I felt. Disbelief. Panic.

"When he told me we had allies he didn't specify, but I guess we're going to find out," I answered him cautiously, before replying on behalf of both myself and Logan. Yes, we can be there.

There chimed in several other telepathic "Yes's", along with a sarcastic wouldn't miss this shit for the world that I was pretty sure came from Daken.

I was still so confused at this point, I turned towards Logan whose expression looked even more confused than mine, as if he really wasn't sure whether he needed to stab something or not.

"Listen, this is as much a surprise to me as it is to you," I told him. "And I did NOT know the kids were involved. At all. I don't know why they are."

"Well, it ain't like it we were gonna stay a secret forever," Logan responded wryly. "Although honestly this probably wasn't the best way to break it to 'em they're getting a new little sister,"

"You're being amazingly calm about this," I replied to Logan in a somewhat accusatory tone. I was definitely not feeling as simpatico as he seemed to be.

"What's done is done Jeannie," he said, shrugging. "Play it where it lays. Maybe we don't know why Magneto roped 'em into this plan, but there's only one way to find out, which is to show up ta this little meeting."

"So is this newfound attitude of responsibility why you pulled out the last two times?" I quipped at him, a cheap shot, and in return he rolled his eyes at me. Unfortunately, I hadn't realized the conversation was not quite as over as I had assumed.

Oh God, I heard that. Cable bemoaned loudly. I fucking heard that, we're still connected. Jesus, I'm going to need so much therapy. Do you and dad talk like that too? Oh God I don't want to know. I already know too much!

"Jesus fuckin' Christ, get outta my head kid!" Logan shouted, as I instinctively slammed down all my mental firewalls at once and shut down the communication abruptly. Logan winced.

"Did ya have to shut the car door on my brain like that Jeannie?" he asked, rubbing his skull with one hand and throwing me a sore expression.

"I'm sorry," I said quickly, also feeling the same ache of the hastily and enthusiastically severed connection. "I'm sorry, that was uh, not planned."

"Yer kiddin' me," Logan replied sarcastically.

"Well." I said sighing. "I'm kind of liking your original idea of just disappearing off the face of the earth better and better Logan. I am not sure I can ever face anyone again after that."

"Really?" Logan asked, a glint of hope in his eyes that just made me more irritated than I already was.

"Yeah, really, sure, let's just abandon our newborn baby and make a new one Logan, that's a really smashing idea," I said, acid in my voice.

"Okay, point taken. Put away yer big guns, Red, damn." Logan groused. "I get it. It's time ta face the music. I said I'm in, I'm in."

We arrived at the appointed meeting spot a good fifteen minutes late. We stood at the directed coordinates, and there was...nothing. Nothing, that is, except for what appeared to be a massive, old growth tree, standing alone on an otherwise barren patch of land.

"So this is it, but I don't see ten people, 'less Magneto's got an army o' squirrels we don't know about," Logan commented. I shot him a dirty look, still mad that he was handling this so much better than I was. What I wouldn't give to not give a shit for once, and not feel the social pressure surrounding me. It was usually one of the things I loved about Logan, but today I was feeling less than charitable now that I knew both of our children were involved in this mess somehow.

Before I could reply, the roots of the tree began twisting, cracking and contorting. Logan instinctively moved in front of me to shield us and I threw up my hands, TK at the ready, fight or flight flooding my body. However, it soon became clear this was not an attack, but instead an entrance. As the roots continued to uncoil and the bark split, it revealed a doorway, into the tree. We were at the correct location after all.

"Can't trust this damn island," Logan said, shaking his head suspiciously and taking me by the hand as we headed inside.

The moment we entered, the roots immediately rearranged themselves and we were sealed inside.

I had to blink, as the light inside was dim and mostly emanating from several candles that had been set up on a broad, wooden table that appeared to have been grown in with the rest of the tree. The room was circular, in the base of the trunk, and inside the larger circumference of the room sat the circular table with chairs made of roots about it, also apparently organic in nature. As my eyes adjusted I recognized instantly the seven other people seated.

Magneto. Sage. Daken. Cable, who was holding tight to Esme's hand and looking at me, concerned. Mystique, her expression dark. And someone I certainly hadn't expected to see.

"Emma?" I asked out loud in a startled voice.

"Hello darling. Look what the cat dragged in. Where did you two head in from, the Appalachian trail? Jean dear there's a dead leaf in your hair," Emma intoned dryly, giving a quick smile which I returned by staring daggers. She was, of course, impeccable, makeup done and not a hair out of place.

"What are you doing here. What is everyone doing here?" I asked in genuine surprise, pulling several dead leaves from my wild mass of red hair.

"Why're there only nine people?" Logan asked, speaking up. He was already past whatever surprise he must've had for this particular company and had begun sizing up the situation. I had to admit, it was one of his strong points. He was hard to phase.

I looked at him, startled, but realized that he was right. There were only nine of us total, and Sage had mentioned ten.

"Welcome," Magneto said, his usually booming voice somewhat subdued in such a small and enclosed venue. "Please, Jean and Logan, take a seat. This will be the first meeting of the Phantom Counsel, and I believe we will all get what we came here for, which is of course answers."

"Why do we always have to do these stupid theatrical names, like ooh, the Phantom Counsel. Why can't we just admit we're a group of people that royally messed up and got stuck together. Phantom Counsel, more like the Fucked-Up Counsel," Daken commented dismally, one hand on his cheek with a uniformly sulky expression.

"Shut the hell up kid, and let the grown-ups talk," Logan barked at him.

There was a SNIKT as Daken popped his claws, and another SNIKT as Logan followed suite.

"CHILDREN... please," Magneto said wearily, looking pointedly at both Logan and Daken to let them know he was addressing them both, then drawing a deep breath like an exasperated parent. "May I remind you, this is not the time nor the place for your savagery and misplaced bravado. I do believe an introduction is in order, so that we can all get on the same page here. And I will start. I am here because of the Infant Recruitment Program. Yes, I was aware of it before the rest of you were. Yes, I admit I initially took part in it, at least in some small way. However, I've learned my daughter Lorna is the biological mother to one of these babies, and having my own family used for purposes outside of my control is unacceptable. This program is unacceptable. I've brought us together to put an end to it, and together I believe we can. Daken, if you've... composed yourself, please go ahead."

My mouth twisted into an expression of anger. Here, Magneto had acted as if letting me in on his little plan was all an act of charity, because of the empathy he'd felt for my child. Of course, I shouldn't have been surprised that wasn't his motive at all. It was his own blood he was worried about. I quickly glanced at Logan, but kept my mouth shut.

Daken looked around with a sour expression and shifted in his chair before speaking, as he was on the far left of the table. "All right, fine. You all know who I am. I'm here because I knocked some chick up, and one of her babies is in that wierd nursery, and I accidentally found out about it, and now I'm stuck with all of you idiots. Why do I feel like I'm in a twelve step program right now?"

"Probably because you need one, dude," Cable replied, and Daken bared his canines and narrowed his eyes.

"Yeah?" Daken quipped back. "Well why don't you tell everyone why you're here Nate, huh? You're the one with the picture perfect family, aren't you? Oh, except you know, my dad's been fucking your mom probably since before the resurrections, and now we're all about to be thrown into the shithole together. Welcome to the family, bro," he said, throwing a quick kiss in Cable's direction.

"Take that back, you dick! Take it back right now!" Cable yelled, face reddening, his eye glowing brightly and one hand on the gun slung near his hip pocket. "I already kicked your dad's ass, and you're just a D-list copy, so come say that to my face and see what happens!"

"Calm down Nate, you're just taking the bait," Esme said crossly, pulling on his hand, urging him to sit down.

"Okay kid, listen, kicked my ass is a little strong," Logan said, holding up his hands in a placating gesture. "It was just a sparring match and I'd promised Jeannie I wasn't gonna kill ya beforehand."

"Mom," Cable continued as if he hadn't heard. "Just...WHY are you, like...having sex with Logan... oh I feel like I'm gonna barf. Are you in love with him? Are you still in love with dad? How long has this been going on? Are you guys breaking up?"

Cable was at the age where sometimes, he seemed like a man, and sometimes he still seemed like a boy to me. At the plaintive tone in his voice I felt like I'd been stabbed in the heart as I watched the shock on his face while he threw personal questions at me in front of a room full of people. At the same time I saw Emma and Esme exchanging telltale glances; of course. I get to look like the villain here, regardless of what Scott was doing. Of course.

I wished so badly in that moment that I could just come clean about everything. To tell the truth, I'd tried not to think about when this moment would come. I was honestly more worried about telling Rachel than I was Nate. I'd kind of assumed, what with Logan living in the Summer House, what with him coming with us on every vacation, what with me coming out of his room in the morning, everyone had sort of 'gotten the idea' without being explicitly told. I guess not. I guess I'd grossly miscalculated how we'd presented ourselves.

"You really think you have a right to bitch about this?" Daken retorted, obviously unable to let this go. "You're the one who knocked up one of the five clones you're screwing. Nice job. You don't have any right to be whining why. You want a reason? Your mom is hot and your dad was a loser, that's why, end of story."

"Wait- what do you mean you knocked one of them up. Nate?" I asked him, eyes wide, as I watched his expression change from flustered and angry to deer in the headlights.

"I- I was gonna tell you mom. And then she..." he glanced at the platinum blonde beside him. "Esme died, and then she got resurrected, and we thought we'd lost the baby...but uh, we didn't! We didn't, it's alive. But we had to sign this agreement saying we weren't gonna tell anyone, and I swear- I swear I was gonna tell you and dad when I figured out how to do it right. We were trying to be careful but, you know...we slipped up," Cable finished with a shrug as Esme shot him a cross look and Emma's expression turned downright icy.

"Wait, wait," I said, holding up my hands. "Is that why everyone is here? Does everyone in this room have a baby in that nursery?"

"No," Sage responded. "I'm here to coordinate operations."

"Oh, don't look at me like that Jean," Emma said, rolling her eyes. "I didn't make any of those little urchins, I'm just here to support Esme, she came to me first with this little problem."

I know it shouldn't have, but it felt like another wound. Esme had gone to Emma, but Nate hadn't been able to come to me. Then again, it wasn't as if I'd been particularly emotionally available this past month. I wished terribly that things had been different, but now was not the time to dwell on it.

"Mystique?" I asked, scanning down the line of us sitting at the table, trying to change the subject and avoid the brunt of the hurt, especially while everyone was watching me. I needed to stay strong. I would have to deal with this in private, later.

"Yes. One of the children is mine," she replied dryly.

"Who's the father?" Daken asked, eyeing Mystique up and down.

"Me," Mystique replied, yellow eyes glowing. That quickly shut him up.

"JERRY, JERRY, JERRY!" A voice called loudly, and everyone's head turned at once. The discussion had been so intense, no one had noticed that the roots had untwisted and a new figure stood in the doorway.

Logan pointed one finger and simply said. "NO! No. No way."

"Logan you're breaking my heart," The figure in the doorway replied, wiping an imaginary tear away from his black and red mask. "Me and every single Jott fangirl, how dare you!" He suddenly changed tones, clasping his hands together. "Oh, look at you all! This is so wonderful. It's a Christmas Miracle! My very bestest friends and family, all together under one roof. Uh, tree."

"It's July," Esme responded.

"Oh, what's in July...not Hannukah...not Kwanzah... maybe some Wiccan right of passage?" Wade replied, looking thoughtful and rubbing his chin. "The point is, it's a miracle."

"Why," asked Mystique, pushing her thumbs against her eyes as if she had a raging headache, "Why is he here? Someone tell me. Please."

"I will tell you why I'm here, but just because you're my favorite Smurfette!" Deadpool continued enthusiastically, pointing both fingers at Mystique. "I am here- get ready, drumroll. I am here because I fathered all the babies. All of them. And all of you. You are all the children I shot forth from my beatific, fertile loins."

"I feel like I'm going to vomit again," Cable murmured, and Esme looked disgusted.

"I should explain. I've invited Wade Wilson because, like it or not," Magneto said with particular distaste and annoyance in his voice, "he actually has some information that is going to be quite pertinent to our efforts."

"Like it or not? What's not to like?" Wade asked, pulling up a chair and propping his feet on the table in front of us. "You can't even get this kind of messy drama in a telenovela anymore, and I watch them muy religiosamente. Do we have...wow, not one, but TWO couples where mama, papa and the kids ALL got preggo? I swear, deja vu, I saw this once somewhere! I saw it. Lemme think- oh yes, my very favorite show. Sixteen and pregnant. Oh my God. Season one. Whitney. We should all watch it together, I feel like it would be really inspirational."

"While I do have respect for your decision making capabilities Erik," Emma said coldly, "I am questioning the utility of bringing this maniac here, information or not. Could we please get on with this. Sooner rather than later, if he actually has something important to say?"

"OH, EMMA!" Deadpool called, sitting up suddenly, his boots hitting the floor with a CLUNK. "OF COURSE! I wouldn't want to keep you waiting. You probably have ol' Cyclops tied up in your dungeon somewhere in his silk panties. I always knew he needed someone like you to bring out that kinky side. Seriously. Love you two as a couple. These young people, psshhhh! Although, Cable, buddy, I am surprised. You're basically still in diapers, you still managed to get some baby batter into Frosty's clone. All grown up, my man. And not nearly as ugly as old Cable. Not enough pouches though, you should work on that. Listen, brought you some bourbon to celebrate but I drank it on the way I'm sorry."

"Is anyone able to shut this man up?" Mystique asked, tapping her fingers against the table. "I don't care how valuable the information is at this point, to be honest."

"You know- they've tried, but science has not yet found a way," Wade continued sadly. "Listen if you want my very important information, it comes at a price. You're going to have to listen to my opinions first. Daken, Mystique, no offense but you're old news. Everyone knows villains fuck like champs, so of course you knocked someone up, probably some random mutie truck stop hooker named Cherry Pie who works out on Interstate five, has specials on Tuesdays and only charges fifteen bucks for a - wait, what was I talking about? Oh right. No big deal. No, nothing here to me is as UTTERLY SHOCKING as this Jean and Logan thing. Now honestly. Who saw that coming? Show of hands? That's what i thought. No one. Zero. I- oh, it's so hot in here, pardon me."

Deadpool reached into his waistband and pulled out a sheaf of papers, that after a moment, I recognized it was a comic book. And, of course, It wasn't just any comic book. The title read "Uncanny X-Men #394," and there were two very familiar figures on the cover. I put my hands up over my face, staring down intently at the woodgrain patterned onto the table.

He stopped fanning himself for a moment, held up the comic proudly, giving it an endearing look, and said, "I really just love the art here. These beautiful, delicately drawn hump lines," he said, stroking the page lovingly with one finger. "They're impeccable. So much energy, so much motion conveyed. Almost like the characters are alive and boning. And I hope I'm getting the credit I deserve here, I had to get this thing off eBay a whole week ago. This is what it's like to come prepared. I hope you're all taking notes. There will be a quiz."

"Tell us what the hell ya got to say Wade and get the hell out," Logan roared, standing up, as I continued to hide my face in my hands and wish myself into non-existance.

"Okay. Okay, obviously someone hasn't had their wheatie-os yet this morning, my short and stabby friend. Listen bub, you cannot subsist on a diet of redhead alone. I know because I tried it once, but eventually Carrot Top took out a restraining order."

"FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, WADE, JUST TELL US WHAT THE HELL YOU CAME TO TELL US!" I yelled at last, hands balled into fists. I felt like I was literally dying of embarrassment.

Deadpool froze, eyes wide. "Yes ma'am, Phoenix ma'am. Please don't kill me." he said in a small voice.

"At last," Mystique said, rolling her eyes and then carefully inspecting her nails.

"So," Deadpool continued, pacing in front of the table. "In all the walks of life that got you here- mostly due to unsafe sexual practices mind you, I am assuming you met a lawyer."

"YES," I said, exasperated but interested all at once. "Yes, there was a lawyer. Who is she? What is she?"

"Well I'll tell you what she's not. She's no health teacher. I'm pretty sure all of you failed that class. Haven't you ever heard of 'don't be a fool, wrap your tool?' 'No glove, no love.' No?"

"WADE!" I yelled through gritted teeth.

"Fine fine," he said waving a hand. "I'm just jealous because all the attractive mutants aren't trying to make babies with me. Anyway, the lawyer works for Sinister."

"I fuckin' knew it!" Logan said, slamming a fist on the table.

"Yes, well, I think it was pretty obvious to anyone who thought for half a second about who might be recruiting new genetic material," Mystique replied cooly, eyes flashing.

"Isn't he on the Quiet Counsel? Mom?" Cable asked, as Esme looked at Emma for confirmation.

"Yes," I replied, lips tight.

"Excuse me, attention back on me where it belongs," Deadpool continued, waving his hands like an airline controller. "Back to the lawyer. She's not human, and she's not mutant. You could say she's not from around here. Although some of you might have heard of her, under a slightly different name."

"Well then where the hell is she from?" Daken asked in a frustrated tone.

"She's from the Otherworld. She can take on other forms, like Mystique. She can also kill you with a single touch, probably like Mystique. But unlike Mystique, she doesn't have a heart of gold and has zero qualms about murdering all the babies, all of you, or anyone else who gets in her way."

"Fuck you Wade," Mystique said with a tight smile.

"Gladly," Deadpool responded, giving a quick salute. "I'll carry your babies Raven. Just tell me when. Now?"

"Can we get rid of 'im now? Was that it?" Logan asked, sounding unimpressed. "We done here?"

"Almost," Emma interjected. "I still have a few more questions. You said she's from Otherworld. How do you know that, and how exactly are we supposed to approach her? Does she have any weaknesses."

"Oh I can't give EVERYTHING away now, can I?" Deadpool whined. "But...hey... you know what? I'll make it fun. It'll be a riddle. She's not going to be easy to beat, I'll tell you that. I tried once, and I was dead for four days, woke up disoriented on the Jersey Turnpike." He looked thoughtful. "Wait, that might have just been the plot of Being John Malkovich. Anyway, the person that I know can defeat her...okay...sixth planet from the sun...and...Wolvie over there minus one weapon."

"What the hell is he talking about?" Cable asked in an irritated tone, hand back on his weapon.

"Saturnyne," I replied immediately.

Deadpool's face suddenly fell and he looked utterly crestfallen. "It's not fun anymore if you get it right away like that! You didn't have to show off!"

"Okay, can we kick him out now Mags?" Logan asked in an impatient tone.

"I believe that will be all we need for the moment, Wade. You may go."

"But... I don't want to go. I want to be part of this cool kids club. Oh that reminds me, Logan, I need to return that Phoenix costume you dressed me in. I took it to the dry cleaners but they couldn't all the blood-"

"Time ta go Wade," Wolverine, said with a grimace, strong arming Deadpool towards the entrance. When the mass of branches unfurled, he threw him out.

"Phoenix costume?" I asked Logan.

"Man's two chairs short of a dinette set, Jeannie," Logan replied. "Talkin' nonsense."

"Very well," Magneto continued. "Now that we finally have order, let's take care of the rest of our business here. Time is short."

"Wait- before you say more," Mystique spoke up, "There is something I need to know, Erik. Something I think we all deserve to know. Is Moira's puppet behind any of this?"

"I assume you're referring to Charles?" Magneto asked evenly.

"Am I?" Mystique replied casually. "I could be referring to several people."

There was total silence in the room that quickly grew awkward. Magneto looked down first, and oddly enough his expression was contrite.

"I can't answer that Raven. I'm sorry. I wish that I could."

"There is a reason they won't bring my wife back," Mystique answered coldly. "And now they're going to take my child. Mark my words Erik. If this operation doesn't work, Charles and the rest of Krakoa will pay the price."

"I understand you feel that way," Erik replied solemly.

"If you understand how I feel so well, then surely you know that when I say I will burn this place to the ground, I mean it."

There was silence all around. Magneto finally broke it.

"Although there's more to discuss, we unfortunately lost a lot of valuable time in the chaos today. Sage has let me know we have windows of thirty minutes during which we can evade surveillance, but once we reach that time limit, we are no longer guaranteed safety. Before we adjourn, there is one more matter at hand. There is only one of us right now who has access to the nursery."

Slowly, all eyes in the room turned to me.

"I took a look at that badge while you were sleeping, my dear," Magneto explained. "It's linked to you through your DNA. Your unique signature. You are the only person with the capability here of opening that door."

I immediately felt Logan's hand on my shoulder. "No way," he said, stepping forward. "Yer not puttin' Jeannie out there, just because she's got a key. I don't give a shit, we'll find another way in."

"Hey," I said softly, putting my hand over Logan's. "I am going to do what it takes to get our daughter back. We've all been hurt by what's happening here. We all deserve to get to the bottom of it. But I'm doing this because I couldn't live with myself knowing that I'd let Echo down. Okay Logan?" I asked, giving his hand a squeeze as he stared at me with a worried expression.

"Very well," Magneto said. "I just wanted to make sure you'd have an understanding of the gravity of your future role in this. It won't be easy. It will be dangerous."

At this point, Sage leaned over to Magneto and quietly whispered to him, pointing to her watch.

"Very well," he continued. "We'll need to exit and disband now, quickly and quietly. No one must breathe a word of this. You will all be contacted tomorrow about the individual role you will need to play. Each person will be given instructions. They are your instructions, and yours alone. Do not discuss them with others. This is for our safety; if one of us is apprehended, if one piece in this puzzle is taken out of play, the end game will still stand strong."

"So you're saying if somebody tortures us and and we spill our guts, one death isn't gonna ruin it for the rest of us," Daken said, eyebrow raised.

"Exactly," Magneto replied without a shred of irony.

Logan held my hand, looking at me with concern and sadness. His face said it all, and I knew exactly what he was thinking before he said it.

"I can't lose ya again, Jeannie," he said, a plea.

"I know Logan," I replied. "You won't. Okay? You won't."

But the truth was, I didn't know whether or not I was lying.