Chapter 9 - Changes
Two Months Later. Sanctuary
Sanctuary had been redone while Shalimar, Brennan, and the kids had been away and the Mutant X team hadn't been that busy. It had just been Adam, Jesse, and Emma for two months and Sanctuary had been very quiet. "Adam?" Jesse said one day while they were all eating dinner.
"Yes, Jesse?" Adam asked between bites. Adam had strangely begun to work grey into his normally black dull wardrobe. But it wasn't only Adam that had changed.
"When are they coming home?" Jesse asked who had been growing facial hair and wearing more Adam-like clothes except in an array of colors.
"They?" Adam asked confused since he was thinking about something else when Jesse was talking.
"ADAM!" Emma and Jesse shouted at the same time.
"What?" Adam asked.
"Shalimar, Brennan, Sierra, Analyn, and Cody. They," Emma informed Adam. She had changed too, she had dyed her hair red and grew it out a bit more. She had also been practicing using her powers more.
"Oh," Adam said smiling. "Hopefully soon, I haven't talked to Evelyn lately."
"I miss them," Jesse said.
"Yeah me, too," Emma chimed in.
"I've missed them all too," Adam told them. "How about we call them after dinner?"
"Won't it be late?"
"They won't mind."
Two Days Later. Sanctuary
The Mulwray family returned to Sanctuary only to find out that it had all changed. Sanctuary had been changed around, it had a new look to it, but it wasn't the only thing that had changed. "What happened to this place?" Brennan asked surprised at the change when they walked in.
"I like it," Analyn commented. She stepped ahead of her parents and siblings and started to take off her dark blue jacket to reveal a light blue dress underneath.
"It's definitely different," Sierra said taking off her white jacket as well. Sierra had been so used to wearing white at the London House that she was still wearing all white while she was there even though Evelyn had allowed color.
"Maybe they were bored?" Shalimar mused holding Cody who was dressed in red and blue.
Jesse was walking to the garage with Emma to leave and immediately stopped when they saw that their friends had returned. "Hey!" Jesse said almost shocked.
"Uncle Jesse!" Analyn exclaimed happily and ran to hug him.
"Aunt Emma!" Sierra said taking up Analyn's idea.
Jesse and Emma let the children go and changed off. "So, how was your trip?" Emma asked the girls.
"It was fabulous!" Analyn told her and she and Sierra started to tell Emma about all that had happened.
"Welcome home," Jesse told Shalimar and Brennan.
"What happened to Sanctuary.and you two?" Brennan asked somewhat rudely.
"Brennan!" Shalimar scolded and hit his ribs.
"Ow!" Brennan exclaimed backing away from his wife.
"Big baby!" Shalimar played.
"Will you hand over our son before you teach him any bad habits," Brennan requested holding out his arms for Cody. Shalimar gave him a shocked look and then handed him Cody. Brennan walked off with Cody to explore a bit.
Shalimar turned to Jesse, "so, what DID happen?"
Jesse smiled and hugged his friend. "We've missed you guys. Adam decided to redecorate or something.I think he missed you and the kids too much."
"And what happened to you?" Shalimar asked him.
"What? Nothing happened to me!"
"You look like you're trying way too hard that you're all grown up!"
Jesse laughed a minute and then stopped, "yeah that'd be Adam."
"Adam?"
"I swear he doesn't realize that I've changed!"
"That you're not a little boy anymore?" Shalimar asked a bit amused.
"Something like that."
"So, where IS Adam?"
"Probably working on some project," Emma interrupted. "Do you mind if the girls come out to lunch with Jesse and I?"
"If it's okay with Jess," Shalimar said turning to Jesse.
Jesse smiled, "of course! I haven't seen my two favorite nieces in more than two months!"
"Uncle Jesse, aren't we your ONLY nieces?" Sierra asked.
"Not that we're REALLY your nieces," Analyn pointed out.
"Okay, okay, so.we'll discuss this at lunch," Emma told them and started out to the car with them and Jesse.
Shalimar smiled and went off to find Adam.
Lab - Sanctuary
Shalimar quietly walked into what was now Adam's office and just stood in the doorway. She watched Adam working on some paperwork for a few minutes and then he looked up. "Shalimar!" he said almost shocked, "I thought you weren't coming back until I said it was safe." Adam walked over and hugged Shalimar, happy that she was back, but also worried for her family.his family.
"I just really missed you and Jesse and Emma and needed to come home," Shalimar told him.
"I know.you've been gone some time.and I wish that I HAD called you back.Shalimar, I don't know what we'll do with the kids.keep them here?"
"I don't know."
"How about if AFTER you and Brennan settle in we all talk about it? Brainstorm some ideas?" Adam suggested.
"Okay, well Jesse and Emma left and took the girls to lunch and Brennan has Cody."
"Well Emma and Jesse will be okay with Analyn and Sierra today, but I don't think it's going to be safe for them Shalimar.I mean." Adam sat on the edge of his desk and sighed, "the safest place for ALL of you would be.in the underground, Shalimar."
"What?! Adam." Shalimar began to argue.
"Shalimar.you really don't want to know what I think is best for the children," Adam told her very matter-of-factly.
"What? What do you think would be best for them?" Shalimar asked a bit worried, but she trusted Adam and she knew that he wouldn't do anything to endanger or hurt her children.
"Shalimar.what I think would be best.you wouldn't like it."
"What? I wanna know what you think Adam.I mean the safety of the children is the most important thing!"
"What I think.Shal', I think the safest place for Sierra, Analyn, and Cody would be in the underground.with separate foster families," Adam told her.
Shalimar was obviously shocked at Adam's idea. She sat down in the chair in front of Adam's desk and put her head in her hands. At that moment Brennan walked in with Cody, "hi Adam.so what happened to Sanctuary while we were gone?" Brennan looked at his wife who was obviously upset, "Shal'? What's going on?" Brennan asked looking from Shalimar to Adam.
"Mum?" Cody said walking over to his mother and touching her head with his small hand.
Shalimar looked up with tear filled eyes into Cody's innocent brown eyes and then looked up at Brennan. "We need to talk," Shalimar said weakly.
"I'll watch Cody," Adam volunteered and took Cody into his arms.
"Thanks," Brennan said and held his hand out for Shalimar who took it and they left Adam's office.
Brennan and Shalimar's Room - Sanctuary
"Shalimar, what's going on?" Brennan asked worriedly.
"Adam said that the safest place for our children would be to put them into the underground with separate foster families." Shalimar told him trying to stay calm.
"WHAT?!" Brennan exclaimed standing up from their bed which they were sitting on. Brennan turned away from Shalimar to try to calm himself down.
"He might be right," Shalimar said with tears running down her face. "As much as it hurts me to say or even think about it, Adam MIGHT be right! Brennan, we have to think of THEIR safety!"
"Shalimar.I.I." Brennan started but got stuck. "I.I just can't believe you would even THINK to separate them from us and each other, put them into the underground, and into foster families! I mean, we worked so hard! We finally got Sierra, and then we adopted Analyn, and we're making progress with Cody! How can we let them go?!"
"Brennan.please.it's not safe for them right now." Shalimar tried to convince him still crying.
"NO! They aren't leaving! They're safer here than they would be in the underground! THEY ARE NOT LEAVING AND THAT IS FINAL!" Brennan stomped off and left Shalimar crying in their room.
Two Months Later. Sanctuary
Sanctuary had been redone while Shalimar, Brennan, and the kids had been away and the Mutant X team hadn't been that busy. It had just been Adam, Jesse, and Emma for two months and Sanctuary had been very quiet. "Adam?" Jesse said one day while they were all eating dinner.
"Yes, Jesse?" Adam asked between bites. Adam had strangely begun to work grey into his normally black dull wardrobe. But it wasn't only Adam that had changed.
"When are they coming home?" Jesse asked who had been growing facial hair and wearing more Adam-like clothes except in an array of colors.
"They?" Adam asked confused since he was thinking about something else when Jesse was talking.
"ADAM!" Emma and Jesse shouted at the same time.
"What?" Adam asked.
"Shalimar, Brennan, Sierra, Analyn, and Cody. They," Emma informed Adam. She had changed too, she had dyed her hair red and grew it out a bit more. She had also been practicing using her powers more.
"Oh," Adam said smiling. "Hopefully soon, I haven't talked to Evelyn lately."
"I miss them," Jesse said.
"Yeah me, too," Emma chimed in.
"I've missed them all too," Adam told them. "How about we call them after dinner?"
"Won't it be late?"
"They won't mind."
Two Days Later. Sanctuary
The Mulwray family returned to Sanctuary only to find out that it had all changed. Sanctuary had been changed around, it had a new look to it, but it wasn't the only thing that had changed. "What happened to this place?" Brennan asked surprised at the change when they walked in.
"I like it," Analyn commented. She stepped ahead of her parents and siblings and started to take off her dark blue jacket to reveal a light blue dress underneath.
"It's definitely different," Sierra said taking off her white jacket as well. Sierra had been so used to wearing white at the London House that she was still wearing all white while she was there even though Evelyn had allowed color.
"Maybe they were bored?" Shalimar mused holding Cody who was dressed in red and blue.
Jesse was walking to the garage with Emma to leave and immediately stopped when they saw that their friends had returned. "Hey!" Jesse said almost shocked.
"Uncle Jesse!" Analyn exclaimed happily and ran to hug him.
"Aunt Emma!" Sierra said taking up Analyn's idea.
Jesse and Emma let the children go and changed off. "So, how was your trip?" Emma asked the girls.
"It was fabulous!" Analyn told her and she and Sierra started to tell Emma about all that had happened.
"Welcome home," Jesse told Shalimar and Brennan.
"What happened to Sanctuary.and you two?" Brennan asked somewhat rudely.
"Brennan!" Shalimar scolded and hit his ribs.
"Ow!" Brennan exclaimed backing away from his wife.
"Big baby!" Shalimar played.
"Will you hand over our son before you teach him any bad habits," Brennan requested holding out his arms for Cody. Shalimar gave him a shocked look and then handed him Cody. Brennan walked off with Cody to explore a bit.
Shalimar turned to Jesse, "so, what DID happen?"
Jesse smiled and hugged his friend. "We've missed you guys. Adam decided to redecorate or something.I think he missed you and the kids too much."
"And what happened to you?" Shalimar asked him.
"What? Nothing happened to me!"
"You look like you're trying way too hard that you're all grown up!"
Jesse laughed a minute and then stopped, "yeah that'd be Adam."
"Adam?"
"I swear he doesn't realize that I've changed!"
"That you're not a little boy anymore?" Shalimar asked a bit amused.
"Something like that."
"So, where IS Adam?"
"Probably working on some project," Emma interrupted. "Do you mind if the girls come out to lunch with Jesse and I?"
"If it's okay with Jess," Shalimar said turning to Jesse.
Jesse smiled, "of course! I haven't seen my two favorite nieces in more than two months!"
"Uncle Jesse, aren't we your ONLY nieces?" Sierra asked.
"Not that we're REALLY your nieces," Analyn pointed out.
"Okay, okay, so.we'll discuss this at lunch," Emma told them and started out to the car with them and Jesse.
Shalimar smiled and went off to find Adam.
Lab - Sanctuary
Shalimar quietly walked into what was now Adam's office and just stood in the doorway. She watched Adam working on some paperwork for a few minutes and then he looked up. "Shalimar!" he said almost shocked, "I thought you weren't coming back until I said it was safe." Adam walked over and hugged Shalimar, happy that she was back, but also worried for her family.his family.
"I just really missed you and Jesse and Emma and needed to come home," Shalimar told him.
"I know.you've been gone some time.and I wish that I HAD called you back.Shalimar, I don't know what we'll do with the kids.keep them here?"
"I don't know."
"How about if AFTER you and Brennan settle in we all talk about it? Brainstorm some ideas?" Adam suggested.
"Okay, well Jesse and Emma left and took the girls to lunch and Brennan has Cody."
"Well Emma and Jesse will be okay with Analyn and Sierra today, but I don't think it's going to be safe for them Shalimar.I mean." Adam sat on the edge of his desk and sighed, "the safest place for ALL of you would be.in the underground, Shalimar."
"What?! Adam." Shalimar began to argue.
"Shalimar.you really don't want to know what I think is best for the children," Adam told her very matter-of-factly.
"What? What do you think would be best for them?" Shalimar asked a bit worried, but she trusted Adam and she knew that he wouldn't do anything to endanger or hurt her children.
"Shalimar.what I think would be best.you wouldn't like it."
"What? I wanna know what you think Adam.I mean the safety of the children is the most important thing!"
"What I think.Shal', I think the safest place for Sierra, Analyn, and Cody would be in the underground.with separate foster families," Adam told her.
Shalimar was obviously shocked at Adam's idea. She sat down in the chair in front of Adam's desk and put her head in her hands. At that moment Brennan walked in with Cody, "hi Adam.so what happened to Sanctuary while we were gone?" Brennan looked at his wife who was obviously upset, "Shal'? What's going on?" Brennan asked looking from Shalimar to Adam.
"Mum?" Cody said walking over to his mother and touching her head with his small hand.
Shalimar looked up with tear filled eyes into Cody's innocent brown eyes and then looked up at Brennan. "We need to talk," Shalimar said weakly.
"I'll watch Cody," Adam volunteered and took Cody into his arms.
"Thanks," Brennan said and held his hand out for Shalimar who took it and they left Adam's office.
Brennan and Shalimar's Room - Sanctuary
"Shalimar, what's going on?" Brennan asked worriedly.
"Adam said that the safest place for our children would be to put them into the underground with separate foster families." Shalimar told him trying to stay calm.
"WHAT?!" Brennan exclaimed standing up from their bed which they were sitting on. Brennan turned away from Shalimar to try to calm himself down.
"He might be right," Shalimar said with tears running down her face. "As much as it hurts me to say or even think about it, Adam MIGHT be right! Brennan, we have to think of THEIR safety!"
"Shalimar.I.I." Brennan started but got stuck. "I.I just can't believe you would even THINK to separate them from us and each other, put them into the underground, and into foster families! I mean, we worked so hard! We finally got Sierra, and then we adopted Analyn, and we're making progress with Cody! How can we let them go?!"
"Brennan.please.it's not safe for them right now." Shalimar tried to convince him still crying.
"NO! They aren't leaving! They're safer here than they would be in the underground! THEY ARE NOT LEAVING AND THAT IS FINAL!" Brennan stomped off and left Shalimar crying in their room.
