(A week later)

Steph crept through the bushes, her eyes peeled for danger as she cocked her head and listened, weighing the nunchuks in her hands as she sought some hint of her opponent. The weapons were a gift from Logan, he'd been showing her how to use them over the days since she'd been shot. She'd really wanted sais, like Elektra used, but he'd laughed and told her he wasn't setting her loose with anything sharp.

Still, nunchuks were cool. So was the thought that her adoptive father had been a ninja once upon a time.

An earth-shattering roar nearly made her wet herself, and she was suddenly engulfed in a massive embrace.

"Hank! You $!)#!" she screamed, trying fruitlessly to get free.

He beamed down at her, canines gleaming in the light of the artificial sun. "McCoy 6, Monroe 0."

"If you'd play fair I'd beat your $# furry $#!" she snarled, trying to remember what Logan had told her to do when she ended up dangling in midair with her arms pinned to her sides.

"Foes very rarely fight fair, sweet Stephanie." Hank gave her an 'evil' grin, still holding her against his chest.

"Fine!" She reared back and head-butted him in the chin, causing him to gasp and loose his hold, whereupon she elbowed him in the solar plexus.

Hank's eyes widened as the air left his lungs, then squeezed shut in pain as Steph's heel crunched down on his instep.

Following up the advantage, she spun and kicked him in the stomach, then ran forward, up his front and kicked him in the chin.

There was a snap as his teeth clicked together and he crumpled in a boneless heap of blue fur.

Steph crouched and watched him, thinking that he was playing again, but then got uneasy. "Hank?"

No response.

Worried now, she stuck the nunchuks in her belt and walked over to look down at him, then hunkered down and shook his shoulder. "Hank?"

He groaned softly and his eyes fluttered open, staring disoriented at the simulated sky. "Yes, Steph?"

"Oh %$#! I really knocked you out!" Steph's own eyes widened in dismay. "I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?"

He rolled over and rested on his elbows, head hanging, then put a hand on her knee and squeezed it gently.

"Fear not, I will recover. You have not visited lasting damage to my person." He shook his head, then lifted it to give her a shaky smile.

She sighed in relief. "Can you get up?"

"Yes, the vertigo is passing." He gathered his legs under him till he was in the crouching position that he'd taken to assuming a lot since his transformation and grinned at her. "You fought well, fair warrior. Thy illustrious foster sire shall share my pride in the accomplishment."

"What ever," she said, blushing and grinning at the praise. "You want to have another go?"

He glanced at his watch and shook his head regretfully. "I must needs return to my research. It is at a crucial stage at this point and must be monitored most carefully."

"K." She offered him a hand up, even though she knew he didn't need it. "I guess I'd better go see what they've got for snack in the cafeteria."

"I will see thee anon, then, fair Stephanie." His big hand squeezed hers gently, then he leaped to his feet and bounded out through the doors that suddenly appeared.

Steph shook her head, hiding the dopey grin she always felt when he did stuff like that. It was embarrassing to think of, but she guessed that if she had to have a crush on a teacher Hank was a good one to have it on.

------

Steph reached over Jubilee's shoulder and grabbed the last bowl of chocolate pudding, ignoring her smaller friend's complaints as she turned to scan the cafeteria for her family.

Spotting Rogue and Bobby at a table near the middle of the room, she lifted her tray high and pushed through the crowd, wondering how such a small student body could cause such huge traffic jams.

"Hey," her elder sister greeted cheerfully as Steph slipped into the empty seat next to her. "How was yoh practice?"

"Good." Steph pushed her hair behind her ears and nodded at Bobby, then grinned at Peter and Kitty. "What is this? The X table?"

"Looks like it," said Rogue as Peter chuckled and pulled out a chair for Jubilee.

"You suck," the little Asian informed Steph.

"You got the last pudding last time," said Steph mildly. "Let someone else have a turn. Besides, you got the last scoop of gravy."

Jubilee leaned over her tray protectively, eyeing Bobby. "Like, that's different."

"Is not," chuckled Rogue, dipping one of her fries in the other girl's plate.

"Stop that!" Jubilee sissy-slapped at her hand.

"You stop!" Rogue slapped back.

Steph watched for a few minutes, absently wondering where Theresa was, then bounced one of her own fries off the side of Jubilee's head.

"Hey!" She stopped and stared at Steph wide-eyed.

Then her eyes narrowed and a wide grin came over her heart-shaped face. "Oh, you are so gonna regret that."

"Jubilee? Vat are you doing?" Peter looked at her apprehensively.

She transferred the grin to him. "Food fight!"

Kitty squealed as a French fry hit her on the forehead, then whipped one back, hitting Rogue in the chest.

"Oh, yoh gonna regret that, girl!" The Southern belle let fly with a forkful of mashed potatoes, getting Bobby, who'd leaned forward at just that moment.

"Hey!" He froze them and started flinging the pieces at Peter, who metaled up and put up a hand to ward them off, laughing.

"You guys are so...mean!" Kitty started chucking peas.

"You pea'd on me!" retorted Jubilee.

Steph grabbed a piece of roast and was watching for an opening in the little brunet's guard when a mental communication suddenly distracted her. "Huh? I didn't hear you, sir."

-Please come to the infirmary, Steph,- he repeated patiently. -The rest of you please clean up that mess and try to set a good example for the other students.-

-Coming.- She pushed her chair back and to up, skidding out a little on mashed potato.

She stopped as she saw a frowning Logan waiting for her at the med bay door. "Dad? Is Ruhko okay?"

"Sittin' on Hank's foot." He caught her arm and pulled her gently inside. "Come on, someone wants t' see ya."

"Who...." Steph stared at the two weak smiles from the beds. "Mom? Kurt?"

Their smiles widened and Ororo held out her arms tentatively.

"The adoption went through?" she murmured as Steph hugged her carefully, a bit worried by how pale and weak she seemed.

"Yeah." The teen pulled back to look at her. "I told you about it when we met in that other place."

Ororo looked confused. "What other place, Steph?"

"The waiting for death place," said Steph, glancing at Hank and Logan. "Where we met after I got shot."

"You were shot?" Ororo's snowy brows went up.

Steph frowned, but Kurt interrupted gently.

"You saw us in a place vhere ve vere vaiting for death?"

Steph nodded. "You guys explained it to me."

He looked at the ceiling for a few minutes, then glanced at Charles and shook his head. "I do not remember. But it does not matter." His smile returned. "Ve did not go zat vay, Got vanted us here still."

"Yeah...." Steph's chin quivered and she turned and buried her face in Logan's shoulder, sobbing silently with relief.

He rubbed her back, murmuring softly in Japanese, then gently lifted her chin and grinned at her, dark eyes alight with joy. "Feelin' better now?"

She nodded and gave him a watery smile, then turned to look at Kurt and Ororo, who were watching her in amazement. "Are you guys coming up for lunch?"

"Not yet, sweet Stephanie," Hank spoke up gently, putting a big blue paw on her shoulder and squeezing it lightly. "It will take a few days before they recover enough to rejoin us in the upper regions of the Manse."

Steph's face fell. "Well, can I stay here, then?"

Ororo smiled. "You need to go to class. We will be alright." She reached out and took Steph's hand in hers.

"But you must visit." Kurt's grin shone out, nearly as rakish as usual. "Ve can't be expected to get vell vith only Hank for company."

Steph giggled. "Oh, he's not that bad." She glanced back at him, glad that her dark skin hid her blush. "Even if he is still eating Twinkies after he nearly killed himself with one."

"Killed himself?" Ororo frowned. "Does that have anything to do with your appearance, Hank?"

Steph felt him start and realized that everyone had gotten so used to his furry blueness that they tended to forget that hadn't always looked that way.

"Yes," he said sheepishly. "Logan's words proved prophetic. I have indeed done something permanent to myself."

"Don't blame it on me, bub," growled Logan.

"Ach, there are many benefits to being furry und blue." Kurt's strange eyes danced.

"Don't encourage him," said Logan. "He's already got half the girls hangin' off him."

Hank puffed indignantly. "You make me sound like some foul pervert."

The short Canadian quirked an eyebrow. "No, just a walkin' stuffed animal."

"Dad, stop teasing him." Steph frowned, then turned toward the door as Rogue peeked around it and gave a whoop.

"Yoh awake!" She bounded in for hugs. "Oh mah goodness, yoh awake!"

Logan chuckled and hefted Ruhko up by one arm as she came to him, then put a hand under her feet as she hung from his neck. "She too noisy, darlin'?"

"Dabba Ro-Ro," she said softly, eyes on the scene.

Steph looked down at her. "Was that Rogue or Ororo?"

Ruhko frowned at her. "Ro'."

"Mom's Ro, too."

The baby's frown intensified. "'Dup, Teffie."

Steph laughed. "Dad, she told me to shut up."

"That's what ya get fer teachin' er that sort a stuff." He grinned back at her.

Steph's watch beeped and she sighed.

Charles wheeled forward and clasped Ororo's hand. "I must return to my study before the children become restless. It is good to have the two of you back."

Storm smiled. "It is good to be back, Charles."

He smiled back, eyes suspiciously misty as he turned away. "Come, Steph."

She glanced at Logan pleadingly, but he nodded and inclined his head at how Ororo's eyes were slipping shut.

"Go on, darlin'. They need quiet right now," he murmured.

Biting her lip, she hugged him and followed Charles' wheelchair out of the medbay.

------

"Dabba lo gop beesha da burga. Mumma lolo dada urdleurdleurdle gop," babbled Ruhko, hanging from Logan's neck.

"Ya think?" He glanced back at her out of the corner of his eye and smiled.

"Ya sink?" she responded brightly, hooking a toe in his ribs.

"Ow, ouch...." He caught the offending foot in his hand and squeezed it gently.

"What's the matter, Dad?" Steph poked him, feeling giddy. "Ticklish?"

"You little $#&." He chuckled, flinching away from her.

She grinned back and glanced toward the stairs to see if Rogue was coming yet, wondering how her elder sister could stand to take so long when they were going to see Van Helsing.

Her grin widened as she listened to the peaceful sounds of the end of a school day and thought of Kurt and Ororo sleeping down in the med bay. She'd snuck down right after classes ended and Hank had assured her, as he gently hauled her out and deposited her in the hall, that they were recovering nicely.

"Thinkin' a Blue?" Logan squirmed again and set Ruhko on his shoulder so she'd quit trying to use his ribcage for a ladder.

"No." She frowned.

"He's a good guy."

"He's old." She heard Rogue on the stairs and turned eagerly. "Hurry up, Ro'! Fly!"

"Ain't sposed ta do that in the house!" Rogue hollered back cheerfully, setting her butt on the banister instead.

"Da lala beesha boo!" urged Ruhko, laughing, then suddenly froze, eyes widening.

"What?" Logan tested the air, then yanked out his com and hit the panic button as the baby began to whimper.

"Dad?" Steph felt her feet go cold as the muffled sound of evacuation came from other parts of the mansion.

"I smell somethin' that shouldn't be there," he said, eyes watchful but slightly unfocused as he replied to Charles as well.

Then he snarled and shoved Ruhko into Steph's arms. "Take her n get outta here."

"But I'm an X man...." She turned to obey, only to jump back with a curse as the sound of breaking glass echoed all over the mansion.

Ruhko screamed, the sound full of terror.

"Logan?" Rogue stood poised next to him as Bobby and Peter's angry shouts came from the den.

"Chuck's safe, so're the kids." He watched, listening and sniffing, eyes starting to gleam.

"Medbay is secure," came Hank's unusually terse report. "How fareth the team?"

"Sounds like Colossus n Iceman've engaged." Logan growled and pushed Steph and Ruhko behind him, moving so that they had a solid wall to their backs.

"Engaging what?" asked Rogue softly, turning her head from side to side.

The door bursting inward was her reply. Ruhko screamed again as black armored forms began to pour in, quickly surrounding the family.

"Substandard material," came a filtered voice from one helmet. "Clean the genepool and contain Weapon Alpha."

"I'll clean your genepool, bub." Logan unsheathed his claws, teeth bared in a snarl.

Steph gasped as the armored soldier hefted a huge gun and fired at him point blank and Ruhko burrowed under her duster.

Logan coughed and spit out blood, then neatly sliced the weapon to confetti.

There was a startled split second silence.

Then all hay broke loose.

Roaring, Logan slashed and parried and spun, always keeping himself between the invaders and his children. Guns went off, but the fighting was too close and they were soon abandoned in favor of clubs, blades, and tazers.

Steph clenched her jaw as blood spattered her face, hating the helplessness she felt, but knowing that she couldn't fight and hold Ruhko at the same time.

Beside Logan, Rogue slipped through the paces of an intricate martial arts dance, causing her own small patch of mayhem and destruction.

There were too many foes.

Steph began to pray, tears sheeting down her face, then gave a cry of rage and fear as a club came against the back of her elder sister's head with a crack.

Logan roared again, eyes going completely feral as she fell, then attacked with renewed fury.

Ruhko stiffened suddenly and Steph tore her eyes away from the scene in front of her to look down and find the baby staring back at her blankly, black eyes empty.

"No...," she said softly, then louder. "No! Ruhko, come back! Don't quit!"

An agonized bellow wrenched her head up and she nearly fainted as she saw Logan laying pinned to the floor, a long lance thrust directly through his heart.

"No." She shook her head in the sudden silence as his hands fell away from the haft and lay still. "No."

"Surrender the subject," ordered the soldier with the fanciest decorations on his armor, as more troops poured into the foyer behind him.

Steph listened to the silence in the halls, the silence where her father's voice should have been. She looked down at the still form lying at her feet and felt the shudders wracking her baby sister's body.

She screamed.

Her voice tore out of her, at a volume that would have had her erstwhile singing teacher fretting about damage to her vocal chords. But that no longer mattered here. It was the ghost of a dead life that held no meaning here in the ashes of her dreams.

And she screamed.

The black-clad soldiers reeled back, hands to their heads in agony, then fell in heaps.

And she screamed.

She screamed till she could taste blood and her voice broke, then stood swaying, Ruhko clutched to her chest.

The sound of a hammer being drawn back wrenched her head up, and she looked into the dusky face of a teenaged girl.

"No," she whispered hoarsely, recognizing the features. "You're one of us."

The girl's black eyes showed no emotion, and her face, so like Ruhko's, remained hard and blank as her finger squeezed the trigger.

Steph closed her eyes as the gun went off, then opened them again as the bullet tore into the paneling beside her head.

Sabertooth looked back at her, swaying slightly as he stood over the crumpled form of the girl.

"That...voice...packs...a $#&% of a punch," he growled, blinking groggily.

Then he shook himself and staggered to Logan, pulling the lance out of the smaller man's chest and dropping it on the floor before crouching next to him. "Come on, runt, don't quit now. Yer cubs need ya."

Steph stared at him uncomprehendingly.

"Why?" Her voice was a horse croak and her throat seared with pain as she spoke.

"I owed him." The big blond mutant didn't look up from watching Logan's face. "The rest got away?"

Steph hunkered down wearily next to Rogue, feeling the tears start again as she shrugged numbly.

He frowned at her, then stood unsteadily and walked off down the east hall.

There was a shout and a rumbled reply, then Peter ran in, face drawn in concern. "Steph?"

She looked up at him mutely, one hand on Rogue's shoulder.

"Logan!" He knelt and began applying CPR. Kitty slipped through the wall behind Steph to join him.

Steph watched the two teens work over her father's body, then looked up at Sabertooth as he came back, Theresa cradled in his arms.

"Where the $#( are Storm and Nightcrawler?" he demanded, laying the redhead on the floor next to Rogue. "They leave?"

"No." Jubilee straightened from her stealthy crouch and stared at him. "They're downstairs."

He glanced at her sharply, growling, then rubbed his head and sniffed the air.

Steph watched as he stood and paced unsteadily around them.

-Steph?- Charles' mental voice sounded sick with worry.

-Professor!- She blinked.

-Hank is coming.- He projected comfort, though she could still 'hear' his pain.

-Bobby?- she asked, swallowing.

-Outside, searching out remaining invaders.-

She sighed in relief and stroked Rogue's hair.

-She is stunned, but should recover,- said Charles gently.

Steph nodded, then flinched as the sound of a chopper came from outside.

-The President has sent us reinforcements?- Excuse me. Charles' voice was cut out.

Steph shuddered and would have whimpered if she'd had any voice, then gasped as she and Ruhko were suddenly scooped into Hank's arms.

Logan coughed then and her head whipped around, eyes widening. "Dad?"

"Logan?" Hank let go of her and moved to gently sit him up.

"The kids?" Logan sagged weakly against his friend's arm, then stiffened and turned toward Sabertooth, his claws snikting out.

"The cubs are all gonna be fine." The big blond man looked down at him with his hard black eyes, then turned away. "Debt's paid."

Logan actually cracked a grin. "Till next time."

"Yeah." Sabertooth smirked. "Later, runt."

The X Men watched as he loped out, then turned questioningly to Logan, but he'd passed out.

"We must needs take our casualties to the med bay." Hank hefted his unconscious team-mate, nodding as Peter followed suit with Rogue and Kitty got Theresa into a fireman's carry. "Charles will attend to the technicalities."

Steph moved to follow, only to stop and look down at the place where the older Ruhko had lain. Glancing around quickly, she mentally called for Charles.

-She offers no threat at the moment,- he replied absently. -Go get your wounds tended.-

She nodded, wincing at the pain in her throat, then turned to follow the others.

-----

The debriefing took place in the med bay, so that all members of the X Men could be present.

"So what'd ya find, Chuck?" asked Logan gruffly from where he lay in a bed holding the sleeping Ruhko on his chest. His heart was nearly whole again, though his lips still had a bluish cast to them.

"The intruders came from a project involved in trying to bio-engineer the perfect living weapon."

"Another?" said Ororo sourly from where she sat on her bed with her arm around Theresa's shoulders.

"Vhy do ze bad guys haf such one-track minds? Is to be evil to mean no imagination?" asked Kurt rhetorically.

Logan and Steph gave him identical 'quit the prescription' looks and he grinned.

"So that other child you mentioned. She is a...prototype?" Ororo spoke the word with distaste.

"Yes." Charles leaned forward so that he could see past Steph where she sat on the side of Logan's bed. "She has been taken into custody by the President's troops. They will hold her in a secure position until such time as we have space for her here."

Bobby quirked an eyebrow from where he sat holding Rogue's hand, but said nothing.

"They are also going to dismantle the facility and put all the notes and technology that may be salvaged into our custody," added Charles.

"Vhut do zey vant in return?" asked Kurt suspiciously, tail twitching.

Charles smiled. "Actually, the President sees this as payment on the debt he owes to Steph."

She slid closer to Logan, shaking her head, and his smile widened.

"You are a heroine, Stephanie Logan Monroe. The wishes to honor you publicly next month."

She shook her head harder, ducking and looking embarrassed, but Logan reached up and gently caught her chin.

"Go ahead n let 'im," he said softly. "Show the whole country what kinda people they're throwin' away."

She stopped, eyes wide, then straightened, nodding slowly.

-----

Logan grinned as he lay back on the bed, remembering the day he'd said goodbye next to Alkali Lake. He'd thought he'd lost everything when that dam had broken, his past and the woman he'd loved.

But now he had a family, and a future that was being clearly written.

Ruhko stirred and looked around worriedly, then glanced at his grin and cracked one back.

"Wuv ya ever, Daddy," she said.

"Whoa!" Kitty grinned. "Cute!"

"Was that, like, her first sentence?" Jubilee took her gum out to ask.

Logan blinked away moisture. "Yeah."

He held the baby close, feeling the restlessness still and the emptiness fill as he glanced from her to Steph ad Rogue and realized that he knew exactly who he was and where he belonged.

"I'll love ya forever, too, darlin'," he murmured.