Mommy Mystique (cont.)

They broke several speed limits on their way to the mansion, but fortunately the cops had other things to do.

Magneto and the others followed in assorted vehicles. Mystique had a lot of explaining to do, Magneto thought . . . but it would have to wait. Clearly she was in no shape to do a lot of talking now.

In the van, Scott, Jean, and Storm winced as they bounced over a pothole.

"They should repave these roads!"
"I'll bring that up at the next city council meeting." It was all Scott could do to stay behind the car carrying the expectant mother . . .

It seemed like they hit every red light in town, but eventually they all made it back to the mansion in one piece.

They had just gotten Mystique onto a gurney when another contraction hit . . .
. . . and she changed.
It was like watching channels change on a TV. She flipped from one person to another . . . and back.
"Whoa, this is just like 'The Matrix'." Fred said.

"It's not uncommon," the professor said, "for a mutant to temporarily lose control of his or her abilities during moments of--"
"SHUT UP!" Mystique screamed at the top of her lungs.

Everybody flinched.

"I think you kids had better leave the room." Logan shoved them all out the door into the waiting room. He wished he could go with them--his new wife's mood was not likely to improve, but if he left her it might make her even madder at him.

The kids beat a hasty retreat.

The doctor stood by, ready to jump in should help be needed.

Mystique screamed at the top of her lungs, "GET THESE @#$@&$ BRATS OUT OF ME!"
"You're not fully dilated yet--"
"I DON'T CARE! RIP ME OPEN IF YOU HAVE TO, JUST GET IT OVER WITH!"

Just when she thought she couldn't take the pain another second . . . she felt something jab her in the back.
"What was that?"
"Just a shot of Demerol to help with the pain," the doctor said.
"I don't think I need a shot," she moaned. "I need to be knocked out for about two days . . . just wake me up when it's over."

Out in the hallway, Toad cowered in fear. Every time Mystique raised her voice, it was because of something he'd done. And this time didn't seem to be much different.

"Do we have to stick around for this? Can't we just go home and have them call us when something happens?"

"'Fraid not, Toady." Lance said.

"But we don't have to be here, do we?"
"She's sorta our mom," Fred pointed out.

Meanwhile, Rogue sat between Kurt and Kitty, thinking about maybe coming to live here. It would be so much easier if everyone was in the same place.

At least she wouldn't have to worry about bugs. This place looked really clean. She wondered if they had a maid or a cleaning service or something.
"Whatcha doing?" Pietro sat down beside her.
"Nothin'. Just . . . thinkin'."
"Bout what?"

"Well, about a lot of things . . ."

"Tell me."
"Nah, you'll think it's dumb."
"Aw, c'mon . . ."
She sighed deeply. "I was thinkin'," she said, "about what it would be like to live here."
"Live here?"
"You know, so the whole family could be together."

"What does Xavier have to say about it?"

"I haven't told him yet."
"Uh huh."
"Anyway, it's not like I'm gonna move in tonight or anything. I have to talk it over with Mama and--and Dad." It felt weird, calling Wolverine "Dad", but that was the way things were now. Besides, "Dad" was easier than "the father of my little brothers/sisters".

"Assuming she doesn't wring his neck before the delivery's over." Lance joked.

"Vhy can't ve go in zhere?" Kurt asked.
Kitty looked at him. "Have you ever seen a baby being born? It's all bloody and icky and gross! Wait till they clean them up first."

"Yeah," Toad said, "we wouldn't want Fred to mistake them for a pizza, yo."

"Hey!"
"I was just kidding!"
It was now well after eleven o'clock. Tomorrow being a school day, the kids should have been in bed. But none of them would have been able to sleep anyway.

For that matter, neither would Logan. The way Mystique was gripping his arm, he'd be lucky to have any feeling in it at all before this was over. Dealing with Juggernaut had been a piece of cake compared to this. . .

"Do we have to go to school tomorrow?" Kitty asked.

"I hope not, yo." Toad piped up.

Rogue was thinking about babies. It seemed unlikely she'd ever have one of her own, because of her powers.

"Aw, man . . ." she sighed.

"Something wrong?" Pietro asked her.
She didn't know how to explain it. "Well, Ah . . ."

She froze for two seconds. The thoughts that were going through her mind at that moment scared her. In fact, she was close to fainting . . .

"You okay?"

"Huh?"

"You looked funny for a second there."

Finally, Rogue sighed. "Ah may as well tell you, since it's never gonna happen anyway. Ah was thinkin' about you and me . . . having kids."
She braced herself for his laughter, but he just stared at her. He couldn't believe what he'd just heard.

"You . . . and me?"
"Yeah. Not now, though. I meant . . . someday."

"But I thought that you . . . uh . . ."

"Yeah, Ah know." She rested her head on his shoulder.

Back in the delivery room, Logan stroked Raven's hair. "Easy, darlin'. You're doing fine. Won't be long now."
"IT BETTER NOT BE!" she shrieked, as another contraction hit. They were less than five minutes apart now.

Those twins were in a hurry to get out.

"Won't be long now," the doctor said. "Nearly halfway there already."

Jean and Xavier were trying to calm Mystique down telepathically, but her pain-fogged mind was having trouble processing the signals.

The good news was . . . the worst of the pain was starting to subside. At least for the moment.

Out in the hallway, Kurt swung restlessly from the ceiling. He wanted to go in and help, but they wouldn't let him.

It drove him nuts.

"I vish zhey'd come out and tell us somezhing!"

"Easy, Kurt," Rogue said. "They will."

Rogue was about to say something else, and then Logan came out.

Mystique was right behind him, sitting in a wheelchair holding two little blanket-wrapped bundles.
"Meet your new baby brothers," she said. "We haven't decided what to call them yet . . ."

Everybody gathered around the new babies.

"How about John?" Kurt suggested, after his favorite Beatle.

"We need two names, Einstein." Lance chided him. "They're twins."

"Paul?"
"Nah," Rogue said.

"Ringo?"
Scott rolled his eyes. "Get real."

"We'll think of something." Logan said.

As if on cue, inspiration struck Kitty at that moment. "How about Jared?"

"Jared?" Kurt looked down at the other baby . . . "Sounds good to me."

The babies yawned and blinked, and everything was perfect.

(All together . . . awwwwwwwwwwwww! We're not done yet! More to come, hopefully soon!)