There was a muffled bamf, and Kurt and Amanda appeared next to the local Bayville hospital.

"Okay, they said they'd be here… let's go," he said, starting to lead her along.  She stopped, gently grabbing his wrist.

"Kurt wait, your holowatch, remember?" she asked.  "You… you don't want to be seen do you?"

"Oh ja… thanks," he said, flicking it back on.  The two young teenagers raced inside.

They'd arrived at Amanda's house shortly after Kurt had been released from the intensive care of the Institute.  But neither of her parents had been home.  Half fearful they were also sick with the virus, Kurt and Amanda had found a note saying they were at the local hospital.  A short teleport and they were there.

A friendly nurse directed them to one of the back rooms, as she moved to help release one of the many plague victims that had been cured.  It had been a miracle, and Kurt was deeply thankful.  He'd be including this in his nightly prayers when he got a chance, but for now his liebchen and her family needed him.

They found Amanda's mother and father easily enough, Margali was lying on the bed, but she was smiling as the two of them were joined by Kurt and Amanda.  Apparently she'd also caught the illness, but had managed to make a complete recovery, and would be able to leave the hospital in the morning.  Mr. Sefton hadn't even gotten a case of the sniffles.

Kurt stood on the outskirts, to begin with.  He was still a little skittish around the Seftons, even after all that had passed between them and how they'd come to accept him.  But Margali would have none of that, and gently beckoned him over.

It made him feel good, to be accepted.

                                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Are you feeling better, Sarah?" inquired Ororo, stepping into the room.  To her surprise, Sarah was already up and active, her wounds completely gone, and she looked none the worse for wear.  She was being as stubborn as her sire.  That or the virus had already been beaten by her younger, stronger body.

"Much better," she replied, stretching out her limbs.  Testing herself.  "Any idea where Logan is?  I gotta say thank you before I'm out of here."

"You are leaving again?" she asked, setting her meal down on a nearby table.

"I… I should," she murmured.  "I mean… I still haven't gotten complete control of myself yet…"

"No one has complete control over themselves, Sarah," she stated with a warm smile.  "I understand that better than most.  I cannot count the number of times my nightmares have caused thunder storms.  But ask yourself this… do you think you could keep your emotions in check… at least, say… 90% of the time?"

"Well… its only really a problem when I sleep," she confessed.  It wasn't even her sleep that was such a problem… it was her nightmares.

"Then that will not change if you are out running away from your problems and creating new ones," remarked Ororo.  "You need to face it.  To confront your fears."

She pondered what he was saying.  It did make a great deal of sense.  "You want me to stay?"

"I only want you to do what you think is best," she said.  "Here is your dinner… if you'll forgive me I need to see to some other things," she added, stepping out of the room and leaving Sarah alone with her thoughts.

Sarah sat down on the bed, ignoring her meal for the moment.  Could she stay?  She had gotten better at… well, controlling her inborn rage.  But was it safe?  For that matter, did she want to?  Of course she did… but she was not the only one to take into account.  If she stayed they might get hurt.  Logan, Ororo, Scott, Jamie… all the people she cared about.

Then again, if she left… they'd seemed hurt to see her go.

"Oh what the hell," she said, grabbing up her dinner.  She stepped out of the room and rode the elevator upstairs, heading down to the women's hall.  To a particular room that had been left untouched since her departure, a long while ago.

Her room.

"I'm home."

                                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Alright children, it is very late and you are all still recuperating… therefore, bedtime," said Hank, clapping his hands together, getting the attentions of the mutants kids gathered 'round the television.  "Bobby, Tabitha… you two have an additional hour, then I want that television off and you two under the covers.  Do I make myself clear?  If not I'm sending Logan down to tuck you both in" he said, giving them a fangy smile.  They nodded.

Hank sighed, turning back and knuckling off to make sure Jubilee and Rahne didn't get into yet another pillow fight in the hallways.  Roberto was already long asleep, he typically retired shortly after the sun set.  He definitely wasn't a night person.  And Ray was busy working on his laptop in the dark, hoping Hank wouldn't notice.  He was going to ruin his eyes like that.

"Lord, what fools these mutants be," he said, paraphrasing a particular appropriate line, as he stumbled past a small line of Jamie's in their pajamas heading to the bathroom.

                                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Thanks again for seein' us at such a late hour, Professor," said Rogue.

"Indeed, very much in  your debt monseuir Xavier," said Remy with an overly exaggerated bow.

"Thank you, Mr. LeBeau.  I will handle the remainder of the paperwork tomorrow, leaving out the details you requested."

"Much obliged.  I ain't too worried though… no Ripper worth his knife will bother to try and storm this place.  I must say I haven't seen such a good security system… though… if I may?"

Xavier nodded.

"Needs some fine tuning… perhaps I could tinker a bit."

"Speak to Logan and Hank.  They handle that matter," replied Xavier, wheeling out of his office and closing the door behind him.  "Now if you two will excuse me, it is rather late, and I am in need of rest."

"Good night, Professor," said Rogue softly.

"Good night Rogue… Gambit," he said, wheeling off down the hallway.

"So tell me, Rogue…" he started to say, but a distinctive sound interrupted their conversation.

Snickt.

"Trouble, Monseuir Logan?" asked Remy, not bothering to turn around.

"Just one question I want answered, Cajun…"

"Logan, Remy said he isn't going to be stealin'…" said Rogue, trying to put herself between the two mutants.  Remy gently shouldered her aside, placing her behind him, to protect her.

"How old are you?"

The surprising question shocked both Rogue and Remy for a moment, before the latter managed to recall the appropriate answer.  "Twenty-three.  Far as I can tell, at least… little mix-up as to my real birthday," he stated matter-of-factly.

"Then just a word of warning.  I know you're gonna find my liquor stash.  Get your own, or I'll personally introduce you to the business end of my claws, got it bub?" he said, waving all three of his adamantium claws in front of Remy's face.

"Not a problem, monsieur… matter of fact, Remy thought this might be the case… so he brought a peace offerin'…" he stated, reaching under his robes and pulling out a bottle.  Red wine, good year.  Logan took it without so much as a thanks, walking off down the hallway.

Remy smirked.  It was gonna be fun livin' here.

                                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Night settled over the city of Bayville, as its population, mutant and human, drifted off into the dream world.

Lance lay on his bed, head resting on the back of his arms, staring up at the ceiling.  He was a bit shook up, especially after Wanda had chewed him out earlier about nearly getting her killed.  But she'd forgiven him, and he was grateful.

"Lance… wake up…"

Lance's head snapped up in a second, and he gasped in surprise.  Sitting by the side of his bed, arms supporting her head, was his girlfriend Katherine Pryde.  He almost asked how she was able to get in, but realize he didn't need to.  She was Shadowcat, she could go anywhere.

"Kitty, what're you doing here?" he asked, sitting up and rubbing his eyes, still shocked she was here.  In the time they'd dated, she'd very rarely come over to the Boarding house, and even then it'd been by day.  Why was she here now?  Disobeying curfew and risking the wrath of Wolverine, no less?

"I couldn't sleep…" she said softly.

"Yeah, me either…"

"Lance… do you mind if I sleep with you?"

"WHAT?!" he all but shouted.

"Whoa, whoa, shhhh,…" she said, waving her hands.  "Not… not -that-!" she added with a blush.  "I… I just meant sleep… together.  Beside one another," she said, holding her hands in demonstration.  And Lance noticed that Kitty was in her sleeping pajamas already.  How could he say no?

"Oh… but, won't you get in trouble with the Professor?" he asked.

"I don't care," she whispered, slipping under the covers and holding him close.  "I need to be with you, right now…" she said.

And so Lance and Kitty snuggled up close together, the covers wrapped around them both.  They were both wearing their sleeping garb, their embrace was chaste and pure.  It was all either of them needed.  And so Kitty fell asleep to the sound of Lance's soft breathing.

                                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Although they did not realize it, Lance and Kitty were not the only ones still awake in the Brotherhood house at the time.  Wanda was outside, her crimson trench coat wrapped around her body to keep her warm.  The snow had melted, but it was still early February and the temperature outside was frigid.  But it mattered little… she enjoyed the cold.

"Sweetums?" came a voice behind her.  "You alright?  Wouldn't do much if you caught a cold out here alone, ya know."

"Toad… what brings you out here?" she asked, turning to face him.

"Can't let you come out here alone… some mutie hated might take it in his mind to bash your head in," he said, hopping over to her side.

"I pity the fool who thinks they can strike me down," said Wanda with a grin, blue energy crackling around her fingertips.

"Yeah but you can't always be aware of everything yo," he countered, hopping onto a tree and leaning on it sideways.  "Just… let me watch your back, okay?"

"Long as you don't watch any lower than that," she said with a smirk.

Then did something totally unexpected.

Wanda's hand shot out and grabbed Toad by the throat.  Surprised by her sudden angry movement, he struggled, but abruptly realized she wasn't holding him that hard.  He froze, watching her as she moved in close, with an eerie smiled on her lips.

"Toad… I'm told that those unconscious from the disease could hear everything said around them… is that true?"

"Uhm… yeah?" said Toad with a weak smile, sweating despite the cool air.

"Then you heard me…" she said, her grip weakening, then her hand dropping down to her side.  "You heard… everything."

"Wanda," he said, instantly getting her attention.  He rarely used her first name… he seemed to prefer his endless pet names.  "Listen.  I know I'm annoying but… I can change.  Please, give me a chance, maybe?" he said, giving a pitiful smile that would've melted even the iciest of hearts.  Wanda smiled back.

"Alright, a chance… but screw up and I swear I'll have Pyro roast me up some frog legs, understood?" she said, and Todd shivered, unsure if she was joking or serious.  Or even if he wanted to know.

"Sure."

                                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mystique stretched out her limbs, sore and tired from disuse.  It was good to be well again, she decided.  Irene probably would agree with her, but she was napping at the moment.  Agatha had already left, after procuring the cure from some unwitting government agents and making sure both of her friends were well cared for.  She never did linger for long.  Something about the modern times didn't sit well with the ages old witch.

Mystique smiled, sitting down on the edge of the bed, patting Irene on the head as the brown-haired woman slept.  Mystique's yellow eyes went to the window, and beyond them.  She wondered how they were.  Her children.  Kurt and Rogue and… well, she didn't care to think of that.

So the night wore on, and Mystique still lingered.  Afraid to go into the world, afraid to see them.  Afraid of rejection from those she loved most.

As she slept, Irene dreamed.  And another vision came to her.  She saw Raven's son, Kurt, and a human girl.  It was about ten years or so in the future.  They had changed a great deal.  And Rogue was there.  And… a baby.  A blue one.  And Raven was with them.  And they were happy.  A full, complete, happy family.

She would have to tell Raven in the morning.

                                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Prisoner transfer is complete?" asked Fury.

"Completely.  All the mutants are in their individual cells again," replied Stone, walking alongside him.  They stopped by each cell, examining the prisoners contained therein.

Omega Red was first, of course.  The door to his cell was glass, filled with the cellular paralysis bio-fluids that kept the warrior of the Soviet Union asleep and manageable.  Juggernaut's cage had thus been freed up… though there had still been no sign of him.  Which was odd considering the man was at least twelve foot tall when he stood upright and wearing red battle armor.  Not exactly the sort of person who could blend in well.

Gauntlet's was next.  He didn't require all that much to keep him in line, just a thick steel door tended to do it.  He was under constant surveillance however.  He didn't become a tracker in Hydra because of his pretty face, that was for sure.  And no one was exactly sure of all the capabilities of that cybernetic eye of his.

The third cell, however, was empty.  The door was open, a faint hum could be heard.  And as Fury ran his gloved hand along the wall, he could tell what it was.  The walls themselves were pulsating.  Some sort of distinct hum that disrupted powerful neural transmissions.  He didn't completely understand it himself, science wasn't his strong point.  But he did understand the point.  It disrupted psionic powers.

"We've found nothing?"

"No sir… the whole base has been torn apart from top to bottom, but no sign of the tattooed freak.  He's long gone."

"Any ideas on how?" asked Fury, rolling the toothpick between his teeth.

"Well, based on where we found the unconscious guards, we think someone was coming in… so we think someone broke him out."

"No chance he did it himself?"

"I don't think so.  He didn't strike me as being very powerful on his own… relied on his powers too much, couldn't do anything without pawns.  So somebody broke him out."

"Any leads?"

"None.  Mesmero wasn't the sort who had many friends or allies… well, except Apocalypse," added Stone as an afterthought.

"That's certainly good news… but I don't want to think it was him," replied Fury.

"Why?"

"'Cause if it was, we're screwed.  Anyone else missing?  Viper, Deborah?"

"No sir.  Just Mesmero."

"Well… let's count our blessings, put out a manhunt… and hope things don't get serious."

                                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Danielle smiled, lying her head back on the soft pillow, grateful to be able to sleep without coughs wracking her body.  It was such a welcome relief.  The dreamcatcher above her head would protect her sleep from bad dreams, so she could rest comfortably.

She sighed, thinking about her friend Kitty.  She hoped she was alright.  Maybe she'd have to pay a visit to the Xavier Institute sometime in the near future.

                                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Forge was up late, working in his lab.  He always worked late.  His parents went to bed earlier, old as they were, and he kept on working well into the night, as long as he was quiet.  He sometimes though perhaps his relationship with them was more like grandparent-grandchild than parent-child, but he didn't mind, and neither did they.  They were all just happy to be reunited after thirty years or so.

So it was that Forge fell asleep, still tinkering with his gamecube.  For all his genius, he still couldn't figure out how to make it do exactly what he wanted.  Ah well, that's what upgrades were for.

                                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Warren stretched out his wings, gliding through the night air, before landing gracefully on the rooftop of his winter home in New York City.  His Mom and Dad were still out roaming the world, so the man sometimes known as Angel did not feel a need to conceal his wings as he slid the door open and stepped inside, wrapping his feathered wings around his neck like a cloak to keep them from knocking something expensive over and breaking it.

It'd been a good day.  He'd helped a lot of people, distributing the cure and generally helping out, he thought as he slipped off his mask.  It felt good to be doing this again.  He didn't quite go for the divine act he'd adopted before, when people had really mistaken him for an angel.  He wanted to be honest with them.  So he told them up front he was a mutant.  There was shock, to be sure, but most people were still grateful for all he'd done.  Even the little girl he'd nearly killed because of Magneto's influence.  He'd flown alongside her home today, gliding past the window, and he was sure she'd waved to him.

It'd been a good day.

Maybe there was something to this living in peace ideal that Scott and Rogue had told him about.  Maybe he should give the X-Men a shot.  It certainly couldn't hurt.

                                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dorion gave his mother an extra big hug as she tucked him in for the night.  He was so lucky to have such a caring mom like her.  Sighing, he drew the covers close and fell asleep, dreaming simply, child dreams.

His favorite, was where he wasn't a mutant.  Where he was normal.

                                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the American northwest, some believed, there existed a legendary creature named Bigfoot.  Nonsense, or so many believed.  Not so these individuals.  Bigfooters all, obsessed to the point of zeal.  They'd seen Bigfoot once, thought it'd been quite a shock when he'd turned out to have had blue fur.  None of them had expected that.  Nor the swim trunks.

So it was that tonight they gathered 'round the campfire, exchanging stories about the time they'd last seen Bigfoot.  They still hoped to see him again, despite the absence of Professor Patronete and the two bounty hunters they'd brought along last time.  The former they missed, the latter they did not.  So it was that they spent most of the time getting good and drunk.

That is, until -he- showed up.

He must've been at least seven feet tall, all muscle.  He had dirty blonde hair and great huge fangs and thick dirty blonde fur and hair.  He growled like an animal, barely paying heed to any present as he walked over to their cooler and grabbed a beer, glancing over at them as if daring them to stop him.  Then he tore open the lid with his canines, drinking the beer and tossing the can aside, walking back into the shadowy wilderness.

"Wow…" said one, adjusting his glasses.

"Yeah, I know… think that was Bigfoot's cousin?"

"Maybe that was Bigfoot and the other thing we found was… something else."

"Damnit… camera's battery died on me," cursed a third guy, hitting his camcorder with his hand.  "Stupid thing didn't record anything."

This was followed by about an hour of cursing, followed by yet another of round of drinks and some cheesy campfire songs, followed by the bigfooters passing out.

                                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In mother Russia, Piotr Rasputin gave thanks to the agents once more for giving him the much needed cure to his families contagion.  His sister was once again up and running freely through the fields as Piotr again began a day of work.  Simply, honest labor, to be sure, but he was more than content with it.  It beat battling super mutants and saving the world.  He'd take good, honest work any day.

Illyana skipped through the snow-covered fields, for Russia was still very cold this time of year.  Thus, both of the Rasputin's were heavily covered in many layers.  Still, the sun shone down on them, and Piotr believed the worst was truly behind them now.  He'd seen a war against Apocalypse, and a virus nearly wipe out humanity.  Two near ends of his beloved Earth were enough for him to see in his lifetime.  Surely no more would come.

How wrong he was.

                                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alex smiled, leaning back in his chair as he addressed the laptop.

"Hey bro… glad to see you're alright."

"You too.  How're things down in sunny Hawaii?"

"Sunny, with killer waves, as usual… and in borin' old Bayville?"

"Last time I checked it wasn't even close to boring," replied Scott with a smirk.  Another face joined his, and Alex recognized her as the pretty redheaded mutant he'd met before.  Jean Grey.  He also noticed how her hand touched Scott's, and how they exchanged one of -those- looks.

"Nice catch, bro," he said.  "Tell me, your girlfriend there got a sister?" he asked jokingly.  This was met with giggling from the redhead.

"As a matter of a fact she does… Jean…?" asked Scott, playing along.

"She's not your type, Alex."

"Yeah, guess you're right… no woman but the waves can claim Alex Summers!" he declared proudly.

And again, met by more laughter from all three involved.

                                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He sat alone, in the back of a big shipping truck, heading west.  He didn't have any particular reason to go west, he just wanted to get away.  Away from New York, away from his brother.  Cain Marko needed some time to do some thinking.  Maybe he'd get out in the Rocky mountains.  It wasn't like the driver would complain.  Heck, he didn't even know he had a passenger.  Cain hadn't even broken a sweat when he'd broken the padlock between his fingers.

All too easy.

                                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And around the world, humans and mutants again return to what passed for normalcy for them.  Disaster had narrowly been averted, and the world could continue on as it always had.  But the scars of what had happened in the past few days would linger on, and nobody would forget it.

Author's Notes:

That's a wrap people.  Now onward to my next story, 'Annihilation'!  Again, as with Remy joining the Institute, also putting Sarah back in things.  This is after 'Weapon X24', ending one.  So maybe I'll put her back after ending one, she stays, it works out like ending two.  Cool, huh?  Hope you enjoyed the various gathered mutants as I set things back to normal and set up little plot devices for my latter stories.  Remy's suggesting on improvements to the defense system was inspired by Eixid's work 'Here's to the Good Life' portraying the suave thief and his take on high-tech security.  And Lance and Kitty's sleeping beside each other was inspired by Sandoz's 'Rock your World'.  I have so many influences on my work.  Todd's and Wanda's was my own, however, based on how I feel they'll eventually relax into becoming good friends.  If not more… I'm still not sure what to make of them.  Mystique and Irene you could read either as good friends or something more too.  Me, personally?  I agree with Comet-hime, they're lesbians.  But that's me.  We know Mystique isn't completely into girls.  At least, hasn't always been.  Irene's dream was a glimpse into the future from 'Blue Christmas.'  Mesmero's escape is another foreshadowing I've decided to throw in to keep everyone guessing about my upcoming works.  As is Warren's thoughts of joining the X-Men.  Sabertooth's run in with the bigfooters?  Inspired by his nickname in 'Grim Reminder.'  I thought, what if he ran into the bigfooters instead of Beast?  Probably a lot more bloodshed.  And of course little one-shots of most of the other mutants.  Well, I am off to take a break to let my muse go on vacation, then I come back with Annihilation.  You cannot stop me or my stories!  I will do what Evo could not!  Even better than a fifth season!

DoubleL27: Well I do my best.  And though I don't like Scott-Jean or Rogue-Remy, I confess that they do make sense, that's probably why I write them well.  That and my seething hatred for them has diminished since recent episodes.  Hellfire?  Never heard of 'em… who are they?

Todd fan: Hehehe, I'm surprised you liked that but its all good.  And of course, the Brotherhood needs Pyro.  He'll make Quicksilver look calm and mild-mannered in comparison.  Chess pieces?  What're you talking about?

Nessie6: Actually I had plans for Tabby/Amara, but decided to downplay it considerably for my more sensitive audience.  I'm glad it was well accepted.  And I'm rather pleased on my maneuvering Pyro into the Brotherhood.  He was an original member in the comics, after all.

Risty: What is this Hellfire club I keep hearing about?  Details people, details.  Strewth?  What's that?  And yeah, I put Rahne in, playin' frisbee with good ol' country boy Samuel.  Those two look so cute together.  Wiccan, yeah… Comet-hime inspired that.  For religious diversity.  Same as when I made Jubilee a Buddhist.

Rogue14: Oh I have my evil moments still.  Well, that's it, so now you gotta wait for Annihilation to come out before you can read any more of my work.  Glad you've enjoyed the story.

Comet-hime: A soul?  Kewl.  I can add it to my collection.  Glad you liked the frisbee seen with Sam and Rahne.  I have plans for those two, believe you me.  Also glad you liked the mysterious end.  You'll love when you find out who/what they are.  I'll get it out as soon as possible, promise.

Elrohirthewriter: Ah Starbucks.  Now that's evil.  And yes, definently stone and rippling of the pond.  Now that Evo's over all my stories will be slowly building like that.  Hence the inclusion of some foreshadowing.  Funny you mentioned the Raven/Irene.  You're psychic, aren't you?

Sandoz: Does that satisfy you, you twisted little Lancitty shipper?!  You inspired it, so I hope it damn well does.  Yeah, it was just a technical death.  Heart stopped and all.  That red-headed bitch will get hers soon enough, believe you me.  As for the creepy evil shadowy figures, send me an IM.  I'd rather not spoil too much for you with an e-mail by accident.