Disclaimer: I don't own Mutant X or the X Men.

I like the quick posts. The story is written so I see no need to delay. Whoever wishes to read will read when they can and whoever wishes to review will do so as well. Though I really, really like the reviews, I can't stress over them and delay posting just to get more. Thanks to everyone for your consistant encouragement. The mission is over and both guys proposed. Now for those of you who've read me before, do you think the story is finished? Hardly. We still have a ways to go.

Discoveries

Chapter 10

As she ran thinking only of getting home and away from Jesse, tears clouded her vision. Coming up to the basketball court she barely saw Remy, Logan and Scott playing.

They stopped when they saw her running toward the court. Remy caught hold of her as she tried to pass him. "Hey, petite, wat wrong?"

Shocked that she was stopped, she looked up from the arms that stilled her escape. Wrapping herself tightly around him she cried into his chest, "Oh, Remy, I can't. I just can't."

Logan and Scott were by her side in a flash as were the girls and Thomas who were watching the game. "Kitty, tell us what happened?" Scott tried.

Through her tears she saw Jesse running toward them. Phasing out of Remy's arms and grabbing onto Logan she just shook her head. Logan immediately embraced her. When he saw Jesse come to a stop in front of them he smiled. "You asked her, didn't you?"

"Yeah," he answered as he tried to catch his breath.

Hearing Logan's question, she looked up at him and frowned. "You knew?" she cried.

"Yeah, Darlin'," Logan smiled as he pulled her close.

Jesse saw her look to him confused. "I thought you might have some reservations and I didn't want anyone to get the wrong ideas. Please, Kitty, I love you." Jesse smiled as he reached for her proudly in front of everyone.

Shrinking away from him and pulling Logan with her, she whispered, "Jesse, I---How can---." Unable to finish a thought she released Logan and ran into the mansion, phasing through the back wall.

Moving closer, Ororo put her arm around Jesse. He turned to her and tried to smile. "I knew it would take her a little adjusting but I didn't expect this. Am I wrong? Am I pushing her?" He turned his head down and looked at the ring in his hand.

"No, you are not wrong when you follow what your heart tells you." Ororo looked to Jean and smiled. "Do not worry. We will talk to her.

He watched as the girls walked away. Scott moved to his side. "The girls'll take care of Kitty. You need a little work out and we need another player."

He smiled as Scott pat his back. Putting the ring securely in his pocket he turned to join the game knowing there was nothing he could do but worry.

Inside Ororo, Jean and Marie found Kitty curled up on her bed. Jubilee was sitting next to her trying to get her to stop crying long enough to tell her what happened.

"She ran in here, hysterical. What happened to her?" Jubilee asked as soon as they closed the door.

Jean sent to Jubilee so she wouldn't upset Kitty by saying it again. Be careful not to react. She is having a hard enough time dealing with her own reactions. Do you understand? Jesse asked her to marry him.

Jubilee gasped but the glare from Jean quickly stilled her. She just stood and moved off the bed as Ororo came to sit beside Kitty.

"Kitty, it's ok. Talk to us." Ororo smoothed her hand over Kitty's hair.

Kitty sat up and fell against Ororo crying into her shoulder. "How can I do this? What am I supposed to tell him?"

"It's ok, suga', there's nothin' to be afraid of." Marie sat on the other side of the bed.

Slowly, Kitty stopped the sobbing and took a deep breath. "I love him so much."

"Tell us something we don't know, chica." Jubilee got another glare from Jean.

"How can I do that? I would have to --- leave, quit --- the team." Kitty whispered as she tried to focus the ramblings in her head.

Jean moved to sit at the bottom of her bed. "Kitty, did he tell you that?"

"No," she answered as she began to settle down.

"Jesse loves you and he wouldn't make you do anything you didn't want to. You don't know what you'll do until you talk to him. Together you can decide what would be best. First you have to decide if you want him. Everything else will fall into place."

"Do I want him?" Kitty whispered. "Is this too much, too fast?"

"Chica, you've wanted him for 7 years. Any slower and you'll be too old to remember what you want." Jubilee stood firm with her hands on her hips.

"I just never thought I would ever leave here."

"Marrying Jesse doesn't mean you'll lose us. We will always be right here." Ororo assured her. "Everyone in this house will one day make their own decisions for their life. Not everyone will be X Men. There may be some that leave and never look back. But everyone will still always have us right here. That will never change."

A while later there was a knock on the door. Jubilee opened it and saw Bobby standing there with a note. "It's for Kitty," he held it out to her then smiled and left.

Kitty opened it slowly, dreading what she would read.

Kitty, I'm sorry if I upset you. I don't want to do anything that would cause you pain. I won't push anything on you that you're not ready for. Take all the time you need. I'll go back home. When you want to talk, I'll be waiting.

"He's leaving," she whispered. Tears filled her eyes as she clutched the note to her chest and fell back against her pillow. She didn't leave her room the rest of the day.

Logan and Remy flew Jesse home and tried to encourage him. When he got home he found Adam and Evie snacking in the kitchen.

"Jesse, we didn't expect you home. Is everything alright?" Evie asked, concerned at his distant expression.

"I need to talk to you, both." Jesse sat beside her.

"Are the girls, ok? Charles reported the mission successful." Adam pulled him a soda from the fridge.

"Thanks. Yeah, they're ok. It's just that --- I asked Kitty to marry me." He put his head down and looked at the ring he pulled from his pocket.

"Jesse," Evie whispered. "I can't believe she refused."

"No, she didn't refuse but she didn't say yes, either. I expected her to have her doubts but I didn't expect her to run away from me." He looked up and smiled as Evie put her arm around him. "The girls went to her. I left her a note to call me when she wanted to talk. I didn't want to stay and put pressure on her."

"Don't worry," Evie smiled. "I know how much she loves you. I'm sure you'll hear from her soon." She kissed him as she got up and took Adam's hand. "Get some rest. After the mission, you need some."

In the middle of the night, everyone was awakened by sudden sharp abdominal pain. Evie clutched her stomach and groaned as Adam immediately lifted her and took her to the lab.

Shalimar sat straight up in bed. "Evie," she grabbed Brennan's hand, "it's time."

"Yeah, no kidding," he groaned as the pain passed. They both hurried to the lab and met up with Jesse headed in the same direction.

By the time they reached their destination, they found Evie in the scan chair and Adam talking to Hank on the computer. "Don't worry, my friend," they heard. "You have plenty of time to get her here. I will have everything ready when you arrive." Hank's voice was calming.

Adam turned and went to his wife. "Are you alright?" rising concern evident in his voice.

"I'm fine, sweetheart. I'm sorry about projecting that contraction, everyone. I'll make sure it doesn't happen again. It just took me by surprise." Evie smiled contritely.

"Yeah, it took all of us by surprise," Brennan smiled as he rubbed his abs.

"Oh, stop," Shalimar moved to Evie's side. "It was just the baby making sure we're all ready for the big moment."

"Ok, everyone knows what they have to do. Let's move people," Adam ordered a little more forcefully than he needed to.

Evie began to giggle. "Adam, please try to calm down. Hank said we had plenty of time. I haven't even had another contraction yet."

Adam looked down sheepishly as he smiled. "I'm sorry. I just want to make sure everything will be ok."

"Don't worry, Adam." Shalimar came close and put her arm around him. "Everything will be just fine; including you," she added with a giggle and turned to join Brennan and Jesse as they left to get ready to go.

After only a half an hour, the Helix was leaving Sanctuary and making its run to deliver a very ready mom-to-be to her caring physician.

Hank had only awakened those who were absolutely necessary to admit his patient and get her family settled. Jean was in the med lab waiting to help. Scott took care of security as the Helix landed. Ororo came down to make sure everyone was made comfortable for the night.

Hank, Jean, Adam and Evie prepared themselves for the duration it would take for this child to make his or her entrance into this world.

Scott, after welcoming his friends back and giving Adam all the coaching advice he thought helpful from his experience, left and returned to bed.

Ororo assured Shalimar, Brennan and Jesse that it would take time and Jean would summon them upon the imminent arrival of the child. After escorting Brennan and Shalimar to their room she walked arm in arm with Jesse.

He was silent for a long while. When they had gotten to his room he looked across the hall at the door which hid her from his eyes. "How is she?" he asked.

"She is a young woman in love. As you foresaw, she did have misgivings about the changes that would occur in her life. She cried for many hours before falling asleep. We decided not to wake her with the news about Evie. In the morning, I think you will have a chance to talk to her again. Don't give up." Ororo smiled as Jesse kissed her and turned into his room.

tbc