A/N: Okay here it is the final chapter to this very ling story. I'd just like to say thank you to everyone who reviewed the story, it truly does mean a lot to me.

Chapter 24

(Fox Residence)

The four members of Mutant X pulled up to Shalimar's mothers house. They parked but didn't get out right away. It was apparent that Shalimar was nervous, and to see the feral scared was not something that happened to often.

"Were you and your mom close?" Brennan asked.

"Yeah we were. She tried to stop my dad but he was quite persistent in wanting a 'normal' daughter."

"Well let's do this then shall we?" Brennan asked as he got out of the Escalade bad walked around to Shal's side and opened the door for her.

Shaliamr got out as did Jesse and Emma. She held Brennan's hand tightly as she looked up and the house. It was nice, medium in size, red bricked , and had a balcony. They all worked towards the front door nervously not knowing what to expect.

When they got to the door Shalimar slowly raised her finger to the doorbell. After a minute of waiting the door finally opened and Shalimar unknowingly held her breath. However she sighed in relief when she seen her father standing in front of her.

"Well don't just stand there in the cold come in." Nicholas more or less ordered.

Shalimar, and Brennan stepped into the house followed by Jesse and Emma. Shalimar remembered seeing a lot of the pictures on the walls. She remembered that when she was younger and she looked at those pictures it always calmed her.

"Please, take off your shoes, and coats and make yourselves at home." After taking everyone's jackets and hanging them up in the closet he hugged Shalimar, and shook Brennan's hand, and just smiled at Jesse, and Emma because he didn't know them as well.

"I don't think I've ever you four so quiet." Nicholas laughed as he got a chuckle form the four.

"Dad." Shal whispered.

"Yes princess."

"Does mom know about all of us, being alike?" Shal asked referring to Brennan, Emma, and Jesse.

"No she doesn't. I wasn't sure if you wanted me to tell her or not."

"Okay I was just checking."

"Oh, and Shalimar your mother is just as nervous as you are. She's on the phone with Sarah at the moment."

"My aunt." Shalimar said after seeing the blank looks coming from everyone.

They all walked through the main hallway which wasn't very long but seemed to be. There she was sitting on the couch, the phone to her ear.

She was exactly how Shalimar remembered her. An average women with shiny blond hair pulled back in a tight bun. Brennan figured Shalimar got her hair from her mom.

As Nicholas walked into the living room Shalimar froze, and just stood in one spot next to Brennan.

"Love you too, have fun on your trip, I will." Shannon Fox hung up the phone and placed it back on the coffee table.

"Who was at the door Nick, paper boy?" Shannon got up, and turned around to come face to face with her daughter. Nicholas remained silent his ex-wife and daughter came face to face for the first time in over fifteen years.

"Shh..Shalimar." Shannon Fox finally chocked

"Mom." Shalimar was surprised her mother hadn't changed at all. Her voice was still soft, gentle, and very loving.

They both just stood there for a moment before Shannon Fox finally hugged her baby girl after so many years. By now Ms. Fox was crying slightly, as she clung to Shalimar tightly. Brennan, Jesse, Emma, and Nicholas stood silently watching the reunion of a mother, and daughter.

(A few hours later)

Shalimar introduced everyone to her mom, and they were all sitting around talking in the living room after diner.

"Well we'd better head back to the hotel." Shalimar announced as Brennan got up to go into the kitchen.

"Hold on there Brennan I'm coming into the kitchen as well." Nicholas said as Brennan stopped and waited for him.

"If you want you can stay here tonight, there's plenty of room." Ms. Fox replied.

"I would love to stay but we already paid for the hotel."

"No Shal stay, we'll go back to the hotel." Emma told her best friend knowing that she wanted to spend more time with her mother.

"Yeah Shal stay." Jesse coaxed a little more.

"Alright I'll stay." Shalimar finally gave in.

(Kitchen)

"Mr. Fox while we're alone there's something I've been wanting to ask you."

"Well what is it Brennan, and please call me Nick."

"I want to ask Shalimar to marry me and…" Brennan got out before Nicholas cut him off.

"Yes, of course it would be okay with me. I'd love to have you as a son in law."

"Thank you." Brennan, and Nicholas shook hands.

"When do you plan on asking her?"

"I'm not sure, when the time is right I guess. I'll I know for sure right now is that I'm going to ask her."

(Living Room)

Brennan and Nicholas walked back into the living room to find Shalimar, and Ms. Fox talking but there was no sight of Jesse, and Emma.

"Where are Jess and Em." Brennan asked.

"They're in the Escalade waiting for you." Shalimar replied.

"Oh okay we're leaving?"

"Yes, and no." Shalimar continued seeing Brennan's look of confusion. "I'm staying her tonight."

"Alright well I'll see you tomorrow then." Brennan walked towards the door after kissing Shal on the cheek since her mom didn't know about them yet. Which had made Brennan very nervous about being there.

"You know what I'm going to give you ladies some time to yourselves. I'll be staying at the hotel on 55th and Jamison." Nicholas said just before Shalimar left to catch Brennan before he left.

She caught him just before he walked out the door. Grabbing his arm she gave him one hell of a goodbye kiss.

"I'm gonna miss you tonight."

"Same here." Brennan replied.

They broke apart just as Ms. Fox, and Nicholas rounded the corner.

"Nick o you need a ride?"

"No I have my car in the garage, drive safe though."

"I will, goodnight." Brennan walked out the door followed by Nicholas.

"Would you like a cup of coffee? Do you drink coffee?"

"Yeah I do, and I would love some." Shalimar replied.

(10 minutes later - Living Room)

"So you're friends, are they like you?"

"Yeah they are but not exactly."

"What do you mean?"

Shalimar explained everything to her mom about new mutants, and Mutant X. To Shalimar's surprise her mother looked genuinely happy for her, and that she had found friends that she could depend, rely on, and trust completely.

"So what is this Sanctuary like?"

"It's phenomenal, and yes we all live there."

"Your read my mind. So how long have Jesse, and Emma been dating?"

"About a year now, it's the cutest thing to see your best friend, and the man you consider to be your brother so happy together."

"You and Jesse have known each other a long time I assume."

"Yeah, he joined Mutant X just after I did."

"Anyway enough about them, how about you."

"What about me?"

"Do you have a boyfriend if you don't mind me asking."

"Not at all, and yes I do." Shalimar replied blushing.

"What's he like should I be worried?"

"There's no need to be worried he's the greatest person in the world, and he'd do anything for me, and vise versa."

"Will I get to meet him?"

"Actually you already have."

"I have?"

"Yes, you have."

"I'm sorry but who? Brennan maybe?"

"Yes." was all Shalimar could say without blushing more than she already was.

"If I do say so myself you to seem perfect for each other from what I can."

"You already knew didn't you?"

"I suspected. You too kept starring at each other all night."

"We've been going out for a year, and a half but I've loved him since the day I laid my eyes on him."

"I'm happy for you, I truly am."

(Fox Residence - Next Morning)

Shalimar, and Ms. Fox had talked all night. It became apparent to Shalimar that her mother had looked for her after she left, and with that on her mind Shalimar had gone to bed happy.

The morning had come rather quickly, and when Shalimar woke up she decided to call Brennan, even though she figured he'd still be sleeping.

"Hello." came his groggy voice.

"Hey Bren did I wake you up?"

"Hey yourself beautiful, and yeah you did but I'll get my revenge later. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah everything's great. My mom and I talked all night, and yes she knows about us now."

"I'm glad that's out in the open."

"You, and me both. Pick me up at eleven."

"Where are we going?"

"To lunch goofball, so you can sleep now but don't be late."

"Yes ma'am. I love you."

"I love you too." What she had failed to mention to him was that she had a horrid nightmare last night, and she just wanted him to hold her. Suddenly there was a knock at the door.

"Come in."

"Good morning Shal, I just wanted to know if you wanted some breakfast?"

"No thanks I'm fine."

"Okay then."

"Mom?"

"Yes dear."

"I'm glad everything is back to the way it should be."

"Me too, me too."

(Sanctuary - A couple days later)

"Adam we're home." Jesse announced when he walked into the main area of Sanctuary.

Adam walked out of the lab, and sat down across from Shalimar, and Brennan who had plopped down on the couch. Before anyone could speak they heard Fox start barking, and then run down the hallway towards Brennan.

"Hey Fox what's up buddy?" Fox wagged his tail happily as Brennan pet him.

"So how was your trip?"

"Great." Shalimar replied.

"I don't mean to pressure you but…"

"We're not leaving Sanctuary Adam. However we are going to buy two lofts down town. Just so that we can get away for a few days here, and there but still be ready for any missions, or assignments."

"Really you're going to stay?"

"Yes Adam we're going to stay, as long as you promise to never ship any of us off to Alaska again." Brennan stated.

"Yeah it's too cold there, Hawaii sounds a lot better." Emma joked.

"I promise." With that said they all walked off towards their rooms. Except Fox. He found it in himself to stay exactly where he was.

Brennan, and Shalimar walked down the hall where Brennan's room was. All of a sudden Brennan stepped in front of Shalimar and turned to face her.

"Bren what the hell?" He got down on one knee.

"Shalimar Fox will you make me the happiest new mutant ever, and be my wife?" Shalimar was stunned. Brennan pulled his hand out of his pocket revealing a little blue velvet box. He opened it, and inside was a crystal clear diamond ring.

Shalimar couldn't find the words to answer him so she bent down, and kissed him.

"Is that a yes?" She kissed him again. He placed the ring on her finger, and Shal hugged him tightly.

"I've had that ring for four, and a half months. I'm glad it's finally where it belongs."

"You've had it that long?"

"Yeah I wanted to ask you in Alaska but that was a bust, all I knew was that it had to be perfect."

"So why here?"

"You don't remember, this is where we almost kissed, the first time."

"Of course I remember, I love you so much."

"I love you too."

(Emma's room)

"He finally did it."

"He finally did what?" Jesse asked puzzled.

"Brennan finally asked Shalimar to marry him. It's only taken the guy four and a half months." Jesse just stood there not chocked at all.

"Aren't you surprised?"

"Nope." Jesse pulled out a little blue velvet box of his own. "We went to the jewelry store together." He popped the box open. " Emma De Lauro will you may marry me?"

"Yes." She said excitedly as Jesse put the ring on her finger.

They walked out into the hallway where they found Brennan, and Shalimar.

"Guess what?" Both girls said in unison.

"We're getting married." Shalimar announced.

"Us too." The four members of Mutant X were to excited to notice that Adam was watching over them.

"I'm glad things worked out for them." He exhaled from his spot above them.