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

Note: Again, I am sorry for the delay in posting. It was not my schedule this time however. As some of you may know, I have my stories complete, proofed and edited before you see Chapter 1. As we come to the close of this story, however, I find that with the expected weddings, I am not pleased with my work. During the initial writing I rushed it and then just left it. Now I find that I would not be happy giving it to you the way it is so I decided to do a rewrite of the whole ending of the story. I added conversations and actually am still working on the weddings. I hope you will all forgive me and be patient as I finish. Thank you, Redhead2

Discoveries

Chapter 16

"With all due respect, Professor, we came to help." Cyclops offered.

"What happens when one of you is injured or killed? The repercussions are unimaginable. I am not willing to take the risk."

"Respectfully sir, you were. You agreed to send us or we wouldn't be here." Cyclops continued.

"We don't have to be the front lines. We can act as back up and only do what's absolutely necessary," a brave young Brennan stated.

"We won't let anyone take down the mansion," a young determined Bobby avowed.

Charles rubbed his head and thought. "It would serve no purpose for you to return and us to fail. I suppose you have already been exposed to too much information to not affect the timeline." He turned and met Shalimar's eyes.

She smiled as she felt his hand upon her in her mind.

"Very well. We will fight. But as soon as this is over you are to return without delay."

"Yes, Professor," Cyclops answered for his younger team.

"Ok," the elder chimed in. "What can we hit them with that we haven't used yet?"

"We've hit them with everything we've got. We can't get close enough for any real hand to hand." Logan growled.

"What about psionics?" Chrissy asked. "We've only been trying to blast them. Can't we try to fool them?"

"They'll be ready for that when they see our doubles. They'll already think it's a trick and be on guard." Jean gently countered her daughter.

"But we were fighting with two telepaths down," Jimmy reminded them. "Now we not only got our two back but we also got two more."

"Have!" both Beasts corrected simultaneously.

"Have," Jimmy accepted their rebuke.

"And don't forget the extra feral," Shawna smiled at her mother.

"Yeah," Jimmy concluded, "I'd say our odds are considerably better now." Both Gambits smiled proudly at their son.

"Maybe we could set a telepathic trap," Young Jean moved closer to her husband and began. "Suppose we projected an image of the mansion and allowed them to walk in. Our people could stay hidden. It would give the impression that we deserted. They might call in most of their forces to search and occupy."

"We could extend the danger room force field to encompass the whole area." Older Jean continued her thoughts as she, too, approached the front. "We could make a large sweep and take care of everyone trapped. Then we would only have to engage the ones left outside."

"It is possible. We would need to strategically place everyone in order to deal with the stragglers, protect the telepaths and work the force field." The professor's outlook on this situation finally began to brighten.

"But Gramps, the psionic power needed to maintain that projection will be incredible." Nadene was never really confident with her abilities.

"With you, Thomas, Chrissy and myself teamed with Jean and Evie each doubling their abilities, I see no great concern. My Jesse and Gambit, you work the force field and prepare a plasma burst that will be able to take out everyone in the trap in one sweep. Adam, please take control from here and coordinate. Even though the outer defenses are down we will still be able to detect their return in time to get started. Cyclops, place four to guard the psionics and disperse the rest. The main Library is still intact. The psionics will gather there." After a brief moment of eye contact around the room the 8 telepaths left the war room.

Older Gambit and Jesse left for the danger room. Adam moved to monitor sensors. Cyclops looked over the remaining members. "Katie, RJ, Tracy and Anna, you all have guard duty. Remember to stay outside the Library and do not enter unless it's breached." He watched as they immediately took his commands. "Jimmy, Bryan, Mikey and Hannah take charge of beginning repairs on the outer defenses. If they're watching, they'll take it as a sign that we don't expect them back."

"Cyke," both Wolverines spoke together then looked at each other. "Old habits die hard," the older man chided his younger self. "I was going to say that they're only kids. I'll go out with them."

"Yeah, me, too," confirmed the younger man. "You're putting them out in enemy territory. They need to be covered."

Older Cyclops smirked and shook his head. Looking at his own Wolverine he reprimanded, "You just want to be first in the action. You're not fooling anyone and you should know better." Turning to the visitor he attempted to be a bit more gentle. "I would say the same about you except that I'm willing to believe you have genuine concern for the teens whom you've just met. You really don't know just what they're capable of. Your son and daughter make such a formidable team that I would put the lives of my children in their hands before I would trust two of you." He watched with some humor as both Wolverines blew him off and returned to their places.

"Both Rogues go with Gambit and cover the south entrance. Both Storms and Wolverines cover the main entrance. Both Shadowcats and Jesse go to the main entrance and begin repairs on the main defense system. Both Drake couples take the east entrance. Both Beasts and both Brennans take the roof entrances. Make sure no one tries to get in from there. Shalimar and Shawna will stay with us." He turned and looked to his counterpart for confirmation.

"Cyclops," Brennan argued but silenced when a hand was raised to still him.

"Everyone remember, we fight the stragglers and no one really gets into the mansion. Otherwise we let the psionics complete their plan. Head out." He watched as everyone began filing out of the room. "Brennan, wait." Both turned and stayed until the other teams left.

"Cyclops, you kept all the families together. Why did you separate mine?" Brennan turned and locked eyes with Shalimar.

Cyclops watched him for a moment. "For just that reason. You won't be focused. You won't be able to fight along side her. You may think you can do it but the minute she engages any resistance you'll drop everything to not risk her again." He watched as Brennan had to concede to his reasoning. "I can understand, Bren, really but we have to make this work. You two together right now make too much of a variable. I'm sorry." He watched as Brennan looked at him with pleading in his eyes.

"Scott, watch her, please." A defeated Brennan whispered.

"I will, I promise," Scott put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"So do I," declared a younger Scott as he made eye contact with a younger Brennan.

A gasp she couldn't contain was heard as everyone turned to see an agitated feral with her fists placed firmly on her hips. "I'm sorry. I guess I can understand that coming from the two of you," she gestured to the greyer men. Turning familiar golden eyes to the others she growled. "You, two, should know better than to even think it."

"Please, Shal," the haggard Brennan begged. "Don't get defensive. This is an extremely volatile situation. I just need to know you'll still be smiling at me when it's over." A very melancholy Brennan touched Shalimar's face and tried to smile for her. Taking a deep breath he turned and kissed his daughter then left the room with his younger self trailing behind. Young Cyclops turned and put his arm around Shalimar giving her the grounding of familiarity that she needed just then. They left and took their position in the gardens.

In the hour and a half that passed as they waited for the unavoidable attack, many conversations took place, most trivial. Everyone was keenly aware of the hazards of too much foreknowledge. But---

The psionics sat in the Library and waited as they spoke quietly. Jean sat beside her future son and daughter and marveled at them as they spoke with both their mothers as one. Thomas sat with his arm locked securely around Nadene as his other hand touched her hair or caressed her arm or held her hand all in loving gestures. "Chrissy's optic powers are stronger than her telepathic ones." Thomas smiled as his sister bumped his shoulder in shyness. "She can even focus different kinds of beams to do different jobs. She can just move something with a beam or blast it from the universe with another."

"Dad helps me to learn to control the intensity and Mom teaches me to focus the intent. I'm very grateful for the parents I have." She leaned into her mother's arms for a hug.

Evie watched and couldn't help but ask her older self some questions. "Nadene is a beautiful girl. Was she happy growing up?"

Evie smiled as she, too, watched her daughter in the arms of the one person who could always make her smile. "Living the life we've had was hard at times. Adam gets very busy and wrapped up in his work but we have always tried to make home a place of comfort and safety for all of us. Being such a powerful psionic, Nadene often found life in Sanctuary overwhelming as a child. As the other children came along and our family grew, adjusting to her abilities became difficult at times. I watched as over the years the only way she could really relax was by being with Thomas. She spoke to him so often as a child, Jesse set up a private computer link for them. It was never turned off. As they got older they began visiting each other more. They have always had a connection." She stopped to think for a moment. "By now you know that. You witnessed it."

Evie's eyes opened a little wider. "In the lab, after she was born. Thomas touched her and she responded to him. We thought something happened but we weren't sure."

"Well, now you are. They are never as peaceful and contented as when they're together. I never worried when they went off by themselves, though Adam often did." She smiled at the memories.

Looking around the room, Evie marveled at the children and her friends as they spoke. "Can you tell me one more thing? Scott's eyes, how did you help him?"

"Evie, my dear, please be careful." Charles glided up beside them. "Foreknowledge of the future is very dangerous.

"But Charles, if we knew sooner, he wouldn't have had to endure the whole ordeal. Would it be so wrong to change that part of his history?" The elder Evie looked at him with pleading in her eyes. She soon smiled though as she saw him nod his assent, then she continued. "Beast came up with a device that could heal organ tissue. We worked together to modify it and Scott was our first test subject. I did what I could but the procedure proved to be more painful than we had projected. He was in excruciating pain. The procedure lasted for 30 minutes. We all cried as he screamed. Four months later we found the cause and the procedure is painless now."

"Can you get me the notes? I won't let him be in that kind of pain if I can help it." Younger Evie was determined. This was her family, all of them. She was not going to stand by and let something so easily fixed go undone and have Scott pay the price.

Main defense in the mansions main entrance had not changed too much in 20 years. It was near impossible to get that close to the buildings in the first place. Jesse was familiar enough with the system to recognize the damage and begin repairs. The future's version of Shadowcat guided him past the minor problems he ran into. "You know, I have to tell you something." Jesse spoke as he met her eyes for just a moment then continued his work. "You are still just as beautiful as the day of our wedding." Kitty blushed as she just turned to look at her younger self then back to him. "Jesse, I loved you so much then and I've loved our life together. In all that time you never lied to me. Now you either are beginning to or you really need glasses." She watched as he chuckled and turned back to her.

"I really love you and now I know that without a doubt I always will." He turned to meet the eyes of his young fiancé. "I know our decision was the right one."

Silence filled the foyer until the younger Kitty spoke. "All of the children are incredible. What are Bryan and Tracy's abilities?"

"Bryan has a very quiet confidence and he's incredibly strong without his powers. His massing and phasing is natural and doesn't depend on his breathing. He has also developed the ability to actually throw rocks when massed. It really is cool to watch. They suddenly appear in his hands and seem almost weightless to him. He also has his heart set on---,"

"Hannah Logan. I know." The younger finished for her.

Jesse stopped his work and turned to his girls. "Wait, he does? How did you know?"

Both Kittys giggled then looked back to Jesse's questioning face. "Because, sweatheart," a younger Kitty moved to wrap her arms around her fiancé from behind. "When he's anywhere near her, his chest measurement increases by about 3 inches and his eyes smile on there own." She kissed his shoulder. "Just like you."

"Tracy can phase and work that way for long stretches of time. Her last timing was 2 hours. She is much less confident but she is still very young. She puts on a very brave front and will do whatever she's called upon to do but still runs into daddy's arms as soon as she can."

Kitty tightened her hold on Jesse as he stopped his work to look up at his future wife.

"This is very strange, non?" Remy looked from one Marie to the other.

"Remy, tinks it's nice to have de double image to look at." He ducked as his wife took a swing over his head.

"Oh no, even after 20 years you mean to tell me he hasn't changed?" Marie asked her older self.

"This swamp rat will never change. I've just learned to live with it."

"Don' try to come off so sweet. You know you love your rat." Remy reached over and pulled his wife into a hard kiss as his younger self tried to conceal his amusement.

"Ah certainly hope your son isn't as obnoxious as you are." Marie punched him. "Ah can't believe that if Ah have anything to do with it he would be."

Marie turned and rested her back against her husband's chest as he wrapped his arms around her. She smiled when her younger self looked on questioningly. "Yes, I still love for him to hold me like this and I'm more comfortable about letting others see. For all our powers this is still how I feel most safe. " She smiled as a younger Remy lifted his eyebrows in new understanding and took his girl into his arms the same way.

"As for the kids, they are wonderful. We couldn't have asked for any better. Jimmy is as cunning as his father and got a little of his powers but his touch is as lethal as mine but more controllable. He can hold on for hours with the power on and still only drain slightly. He can also only drain mental ability if he wants, not just physical. Anna is as quick and agile as Remy and has the ability to copy the power of anyone she touches. She keeps it for as long as she wants then can release it at will. She can also use an opponent's power in reverse. It's quite amazing to watch her work."

"And a perfect lady, just like her mama," Remy added with a kiss to his wife's head.

Both Jubilees began talking almost as one finishing each other's sentences.

Both Bobby's just looked at each other and shook their heads. "How do you do it?" asked the younger.

"Do what?"

"Handle her and her daughter in the same room," he explained.

Older Bobby laughed. "What do you do when you feel like you need a break?" He watched himself think for a minute.

"I guess, I really don't need a break. It makes me laugh when she gets on a roll."

"Well when you have both of them rolling you sit and just laugh harder. For as much as I love them, they are really comical when they get started about something."

"What can the kids do?"

"RJ is still too young to really know all about. He started developing his mother's powers when he was about 5. They were very strong, thank God. He did enough damage with weak powers. He seems to do better playing with water than ice but I watching changes everyday."

"Water's cool. What about Katie? I mean beside her incredible jaw power." Both laughed.

"Katie is all ice, like me. Hank says she carries the gene for sparks but it never emerged. Winter around here is always fun but the best is a hot summer day. Ororo gets so mad at us when we turn the pool into an ice rink. She enjoys ice sculpting best and acts really pissed when Jimmy LeBeau walks by and shatters what she's working on."

"Jimmy? Acts, huh?"

"Yeah. I trust him. He's a really good kid but he's just like his father. I'm keeping my eye on both of them."

TBC