Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I don't own Mutant X or its characters. I wish Mohan would quit rubbing it in. I mean, I wouldn't have to write this dumb thing if he would just put Mutant X up for sale at a price I can afford... :)

The kitchens of Sanctuary seemed to welcome Shalimar the way they did every day, when the feral went in to cook. Before Emma died, Shal and her psionic best friend had taken turns cooking – quite a task given Jesse and Brennan's colossal appetites. As Emma has put it once, it would have made their cooking tasks easier if they traded the guys in for a pet elephant.

But now, Shalimar did the cooking alone, and Lexa was no help. The newest team member had offered once, and well...the result was that they had to call in professional help from Jesse and Brennan to help fix the part of the kitchen that Lexa blew up. The molecular had never offered her cooking services again, and Shalimar hadn't exactly begged her to help out either.

Shalimar opened the fridge to see what she could make for lunch for herself and Jesse, and sighed at the emptiness within. Jesse and Brennan had gone to work on emptying out their food stocks once more. Shal sighed. Looked like Lexa and she needed to go shopping again. At least there were enough ingredients for her to make a pizza – Jesse's favorite food.

Shal gathered the things she needed and proceeded to mix the dough in a mixing bowl she found. She was soon deep into her work, and unconsciously, she began to hum the lullaby she had only just last night sung to Jesse.

In fact, the feral was so happy with her work that she never noticed as a certain molecular paused outside the kitchen and frowned as he listened to the tune she hummed. Jesse looked at Shal, a funny expression on his face, before he smiled and entered the kitchen.

Shalimar almost dropped her mixing bowl as a pair of arms wrapped themselves around her waist and a voice in her ear began singing softly, continuing from where her humming had left off. The feral was speechless, but only for a second as her voice joined Jesse's and together they completed the song in perfect harmony.

Shal only needed to take one look at Jesse to know that he had figured it out.

"You know, don't you?" she asked.

"That you were the one who sang me to sleep last night? Oh, yeah." Suddenly his blue eyes were looking into hers, and Shalimar whispered, "I had to do something, Jess – it was killing me, watching you tossing and turning night after night, crying and screaming and waking in a cold sweat..."

"Hey, it's okay." Jesse gently cut her off. "I didn't say I minded. In fact, I was about to thank you."

He kissed her, and Shal melted happily into his embrace. When finally they pulled apart, she smiled. "I like the way you thank people."

"Not people – you." Jesse smiled his adorable crooked smile, the one that always melted Shal's heart.

The feral was speechless, which was rare, and Jesse used her shock to his advantage.

"Shal, there's something I've been wanting to tell you for quite a while," he said seriously, and Shalimar looked at him as he said, "Shal, I love you."

Shalimar stared at him for so long that Jesse began to feel afraid. Was she going to tell him she loved him, but only as a brother and she was in love with Brennan or someone else? Would she say that he would never be more than a very close friend? Jesse was about to consider asking Shal if something was wrong when a tear trickled down the feral's cheek. Jesse was alarmed, but then the alarm disappeared the minute Shal threw herself at him and whispered, "I love you too, Jesse Kilmartin."

(A year later...)

The sun set on yet another day as Shalimar Fox finished setting dinner on the table. "Jesse!" she called out to her husband, and the molecular came trotting in obediently to sit down at his seat.

Shalimar was about to join him when a sudden wail from a nearby room interrupted their meal. Both she and Jesse knew that wail. It was a call that was to be answered immediately, or there would be hell to pay.

Shalimar quickly grabbed a milk bottle from the fridge in the room, and Jesse carefully handed over their month-old daughter, their pride and joy, a little perfect little baby with blond fluff on her head, and Shalimar's brown eyes. She also possessed Jesse's smile, and her features were the perfect mix of her parents.

Shalimar finished feeding Paige Kilmartin, and she smiled as her husband began softly singing the very lullaby that had led to their marriage, and the creation of this perfect life she was now rocking to sleep.

"Make a wish,

It's up to you

Find the strength inside,

Then watch your dreams come true,

You don't need a shooting star

The magic's right there in your heart

Close your eyes – believe, and make a wish."

And that folks, is really the end....thanks for reviwing, and making your comments....I loved the feedback, and one last review is all I ask of you, to tell me your opinions on the final chapter....

Forbes March and chocolates have been sent to all you lovely people who reviewed, as promised...

anto - Sorry, but this was a Shal/Jesse fic, maybe after my exams there'll be time for Lexa/Brennan? Hope you enjoyed the fic anyway.

Animiga - Why, thank you! Maybe I can corrupt you to Shal/Jesse if I wrote another Shal/Jesse fic? I like corrupting people...

ReganX - As you can see, he did figure it out. I know some people think Jesse is stupid, but I disagree. Brennan can be so much stupider. And I agree, Jesse and Shal are close, which is why I love the Shal/Jesse ship.

Fiery Feral - I'll let you in on a secret...I'm not much of a Brennan/Lexa fan either. I just put that pairing in because Emma in my fic is dead, which causes Jesse nightmares. Shh....don't tell anyone, I have a reputation, you know? ;) Shal and Jesse forever!

Feral's Revenge - Does this chapter please your majesty? I delivered the chapter, now I want to see a final review from you! Thanks for the flattery - my head will explode I think, so be careful how much praise you give me...and actually, I'm a member of an entire usergroup of Shal/Jesse shippers...check out , and go to the forums...there'll be a usergroup called Shal/Jesse:Revelations, and we're all dedicated to the relationship, brother-sister or otherwise, between Shalimar and Jesse....

goldstranger - Glad you liked the fic, and you can look forward to more Shal/Jesse fics from me if inspiration strikes, and after my exams end. The lullaby...wish I could take credit, but that's from the Jirachi:Wish Maker Pokemon movie. Hope you enjoyed this last chapter.

Rachel - YOu have the same first name as me! Oh wow! See what I told Fiery Feral about my feelings for Brennan/Lexa above, but remember...it's a secret! Shh! Hope you liked this chapter!

And I would like to mention that this chapter is dedicated to my dear sister freakngel, who helped me with ideas and inspiration, and betaed the whole fic for me....thanks frick, for putting up with me!

Well, until the next fic I write, people, and please drop one last review before you say goodbye! Thanks everyone!

Hugs and kisses from RK9.