Notes: I TOLD you to pay attention to the bear…

For everyone guessing at the egg's identity, there's a 90% chance you're right… 

If you run into any names you don't recognize or can't quite recall, they should be easy enough to find on any in-depth Marvel Comics website.

Chapter 8: Wish Upon A Bear

Even in his plastic prison, Erik Magnus Lensherr was a busy man.

Through his trusted, long-time companion, the shape-shifter Mystique, he had managed to orchestrate something of a rescue mission...but not for himself. 

No, the mutant known as Magneto was content to stay where he was, for the moment.  As long as weekly updates from Mystique assured that his plans were progressing on schedule, he had no reason to escape.  True, the guards sometimes became "hands-on" with their favorite prisoner, but their time would come.  When it did, there would be no mercy for the wicked and unjust.

They, among many others, failed to appreciate the true genius of the Master of Magnetism.

In truth, the plan had been rather simple.  All it took was a single phone call to summon Pietro, who was all too ready to finally prove himself to his father.  After training himself in the use of his powers for years, Pietro was arguably the fastest boy alive…or, at least, fast enough to fit Magneto's purposes.

It had taken some time, but Pietro eventually located Caliban, one of the few surviving Morlocks, a near-forgotten band of sewer-dwelling mutants.  Of course, enlisting his tracking abilities, which allowed him to find virtually any mutant anywhere, would come in handy.  Earning Caliban's trust had been simple, too.  He walked in to visit Magneto looking like a decrepit old man, and walked out a hulking powerhouse.  Apparently, only a problem with his blood flow had hindered his strength for so long, and such a thing was easy for Magneto to correct.

Then the duo was off to Russia to liberate Arkady Rossovich, better known as Omega Red.  Being cryogenically frozen for so long had left Arkady with a strange preference for cold temperatures, but the lure of a device only a generation away from a carbonadium synthesizer had been to great for him to resist.  He, too, agreed to work for Magneto, if only so he could walk the world without too much fear of being eaten alive by his own mutant curse.

Confident that his trio of Acolytes could handle any problems that got in their way, Magneto sent them to find the last piece of the puzzle: his long-lost daughter, Wanda Maximoff.  She would not be happy to see him, though she might at least listen to her brother.  If not, then Omega Red's synthesizer would allow his pheromones to merely stun instead of kill.  Either way, Wanda would be delivered, and then Magneto would have everything he needed to make his fondest wish come true.

But Wanda was hiding, and the only way to get to her was to find her friends.  Perhaps it was only chance that two mutants stood out prominently in Caliban's memory of the assault on the Morlocks: Gambit, their mysterious savior, and Sarah, a young girl briefly entrusted to Caliban's care.  There was no guarantee that Gambit would stay with Wanda, but Magneto knew his daughter well.  She would never abandon a child in need, and they didn't come any more helpless than Sarah.

It was only a matter of time now…

* * * * *

Jubilee was the first to notice Nate staring sadly at his oatmeal.  "It's not so bad if you dump sugar in it," she offered helpfully.

Nate looked up.  "Huh?  Oh, no.  That's not what's bothering me."

"Woman trouble?" Illyana asked, getting looks from everyone at the table.  "What?!" she cried defensively.

"Well, she's half right," Nate agreed, patting Illyana's back.  "I've just…got a feeling that Wanda's gonna be in some big trouble real soon.  Can't prove it, though…"

"So you can't go to the Prof and ask him to look into it," Jubilee concluded.

"Yeah.  Not that he could find her in the first place.  If he'd just give me five minutes, I KNOW I could find her…"

Jubilee got a thoughtful look in her eyes.  "Five minutes, huh?"

Kitty looked up sharply.  "NO, Jubilee!  I know that look!"

"What?  What look?" Nate asked, clearly confused.

"That's her scheming look," Kitty explained, picking up her tray.  "It means she's going to get someone in major trouble.  In fact, I better go before I get dragged into it."

Jubilee stuck out her tongue at Kitty's back.  "Tell you what, Nate.  I can get you your five minutes with Cerebro.  But you have to do something for me."

"Name it," Nate said.

"Promise you won't leave the second you find her.  And if you ever decide to leave, you give us a week's notice."

Nate scratched his head.  "…who told you I was leaving?  Assuming I can find Wanda and guide her here safely, there won't be any need."

"Oh.  Well, you should have no problem sticking to the deal, right?"  Jubilee held out her hand.

"Uh…sure, okay," Nate replied, shaking her hand.  "But…exactly how are you going to get me into Cerebro?"

"Don't tell anyone, but breaking and entering was an old hobby of mine.  Before I got here, of course."

"Secret's safe with me, Jubes.  I'm no stranger to the five-finger discount myself…only I never needed my fingers to pull it off."

Jubilee grinned.  "I KNEW I was gonna like you."

* * * * *

Caliban sniffed carefully at the oil streak.  "Child-Sarah was here not long ago.  Day or two, maybe.  She is…safe."

"Safe?  How do you know that?" Pietro asked.

Caliban shrugged as he stood up.  "Sometimes, Brother-Pietro, Caliban just know."

"Fair enough.  Anyone with her?"

"Yes.  Friend-Gambit, another mutant, and Sister-Wanda."

Pietro smiled.  "Good work, Cal.  Father will be pleased."

Caliban froze.  "Wait.  Another smell."

"What?  Here?  Who is it?"

Caliban sniffed at the alley wall, his eyes widening.  "Mother-Callisto?!"

"Callisto?" Pietro asked skeptically.  "I thought she was killed in the massacre?"

"So did Caliban.  But…"  Caliban sniffed again, the hope in his eyes fading.  "…gone now."

"Don't stress yourself over it, Cal," Pietro said, patting his shoulder.  "It was just your mind playing tricks on you.  Happens to all of us, eventually."

"Caliban misses her," the larger mutant sighed, a tear rolling down his round, white face.

"I know, my friend.  Mothers seem to be in rare supply where our kind is concerned.  Come, we'd better make sure Arkady's been behaving himself."

* * * * *

"We're going to get caught," Kitty moaned pitifully.

"No, we're not," Nate replied.  "We'll be in and out, and no one but Jubilee and Yana will ever know."

"But…it's so OBVIOUS!  Don't you think the Professor would've upgraded his security since I learned to walk through walls?"

Nate smirked.  "No offense, Kitty, but you don't really strike me as the type of person that would break into anything, even with your power."

"Then WHY are you making me do this?!"

"If we DO get caught, which we won't, you can blame it on me.  Say I controlled your thoughts.  It's nothing I haven't done before."

"You've controlled my thoughts before?!" Kitty cried, outraged.

"NO!  I've done it to others, not you.  I have some integrity."

She frowned.  "Well, breaking into Cerebro doesn't really make it stand out."

"Hey, I wouldn't have to if the Professor wasn't so selfish with his toys," Nate shot back.

"It is NOT a toy."

"He treats it like an executive washroom.  Half the time I expected him to stick out his tongue and go, 'Mine!'"

Kitty giggled.  "Stop it!  That's not funny!"

"You're the one that laughed, not me.  And I never-"

~"Nate!  Jubilee says go now!"~

~"Thanks, Yana.  We're going."~  Nate gave Kitty's hand a gentle squeeze.  "Ready?"

Kitty pouted for all the good it did.  "No."  With a sigh, she reached out, testing the thickness of Cerebro's door before phasing through it, tugging Nate along after her.

Nate had some idea of what Cerebro would look like, based on what Jubilee had told him (she'd managed a few peeks).  Kitty, though, was overwhelmed by the sheer size of the room.

"Wow," she whispered softly, staring up and around.

Nate immediately moved forward, not even bothering to sit down as he picked up the headpiece.  Taking a deep breath, he cleared his mind, put the headpiece on, and thought only of Wanda.

Almost instantly, he was rewarded with a dark map of the globe, lit up by one red light centered in Nevada.  

"That's new," Nate muttered to himself.  "Don't think I know you, little one…"

"Nate!" Kitty hissed, tugging on his arm.  "I think someone's coming!"

"No way.  We left Yana on lookout."

~"Nate!  Dr. Grey's coming!  I couldn't stop her!"~

~"Okay, Yana.  We're done here.  See you soon."~  Nate removed the headpiece and took Kitty's hand.  "Up or down?"

Kitty hesitated, and then decided, "Down!"

Nate shrugged.  "I would've gone up, but…"

"No time!"  Kitty shut her eyes and made them both intangible, phasing through the bottom of the chamber.

They landed in a heap next to a very shiny motorcycle.

"Ow!" Kitty moaned.  "What did I land on?"

"My hip," Nate groaned.

"Now there's somethin' ya don't see everyday," a gruff voice rumbled.

Kitty turned white.  "Uh…I can explain, Mr. Logan."

"Well, let's see.  You two, sneakin' around in the garage.  I'd say there's only so many things you two could be up to."

Kitty turned bright red, and Nate only laughed weakly.

"Although, I have to say.  In my day, makin' out looked a lot more comfortable."

"No kidding," Nate muttered, earning a smack on the head from Kitty.

* * * * *

Xavier stared at his three young students.  "I have heard some tales, over the years, from various students, that were very hard to believe.  But this one, I must say, is the most difficult to fathom.  Perhaps I just need to hear it again."

Bobby lowered his gaze, trying not to look wounded, despite the ice pack he was pressing to his forehead.  "I…um…kissed Marie."

Marie turned scarlet and refused to make eye contact with anyone.

"And what possessed you to do that?" Xavier asked.

"Jubilee dared me to."

All eyes turned to Jubilee, who, frankly, didn't seem to grasp the seriousness of the situation.  "What?" she asked innocently.  "I didn't think he'd be stupid enough to actually DO it!"

"Be that as it may, Bobby could've been severely hurt.  Marie, how did you—"

"I-I pulled away," Marie stammered quickly.  "Well, after a second.  He…kinda caught me off guard…"

Bobby could not help looking just a bit proud…before Xavier glanced at him, anyway.

"…and then he just hit the floor," Marie finished.

"With his face," Jubilee added helpfully.

"Thank you, Jubilee," Xavier sighed.  "I'm afraid you and Bobby must be punished.  Marie, you may go."

"Hey!" Bobby protested as Marie fled from Xavier's office.  "Why am I getting punished?  I'm the victim!"

"No, Marie is.  You both know very well that you are to avoid all physical contact with Marie.  That rule is not waived for dares or pranks.  You are fortunate, Bobby, that Marie broke away as quickly as she did.  Had she decided to prolong the kiss, you might still be unconscious…or worse."

"Well, since I know better than to kiss Marie, can I get a lighter sentence?" Jubilee asked hopefully.

"No, Jubilee.  You encouraged Bobby to do so…and while he knew better, so did you.  We will discuss your punishment another time.  For now, you are both confined to your rooms, save for classes and meals, until further notice."

Jubilee cornered Bobby the instant they were safely outside Xavier's study.  "Hey.  You're not mad at me, are you?"

Bobby glared at her.  "Maybe."

"Oh, come on.  You tellin' me that kissing Marie wasn't worth a little trouble?"

The glare was replaced by a dopey grin.  "It was pretty nice…"

"So we're cool, right?"

"Always," Bobby agreed, his eyes flashing blue.  "Literally."

"Neat.  Didn't know you could focus it like that."

"There's a lot you don't know about me, Jubes…and even more you don't know about your new friend, Nate.  Where is he, by the way?"

"Around," Jubilee said simply.

"Around where?"

"Here," she added evasively.

"…this was all one of your distractions, wasn't it?" he asked, starting to catch on.

"No idea what you mean," Jubilee replied, quickly walking away.  "Seeya, Iceman!"

* * * * *

"Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" Illyana read, a big smile on her face.  "When they hear what you did this year?"

"Proud?" asked Nate.  "Are you crazy?  All those times I could've died, and I didn't manage it?  They'll be furious…"

"And together they walked back through the gateway to the Muggle world," they read as one.

Nate closed the book.  "Okay, now you HAVE to go to bed," he insisted.  "Piotr would kill me if he knew I was reading to you at this hour."

"He wouldn't," Illyana replied sleepily, pressing her little face into Nate's shirt.  "He'd be happy I heard a good story…"

"Hey, hey, none of that," Nate said, gently tapping her chin.  "You can't fall asleep on me.  They'd probably expel me for being in a girl's room this late."

"Nate's right, Yana," Jubilee agreed from her bed.  "If he does get caught here, you're the only one that wouldn't be expelled.  No one would believe he was here to read you a story."

Illyana grumbled a bit, but finally rolled off Nate's chest, allowing him to get up.  "So how did it go with Cerebro?  Was I a good lookout?  Did you get everything you needed?"

Nate smiled as he tucked her and Miko in.  "You did great.  I was able to find Wanda, but…I got distracted and didn't have time to contact her."

"Then we have to go back in?" Illyana murmured, closing her eyes. 

"Nope.  I know where to look.  I should be able to reach her somehow.  Thanks for helping."  Nate leaned over and kissed her nose.  "Sweet dreams, Yana."

Illyana made a tiny noise that might have been a giggle, and was fast asleep seconds later, her face buried in Miko's soft, brown belly.

"Do I get a kiss, too?" Jubilee teased. 

"Nope.  You're grounded," Nate replied with a grin.

Jubilee stuck her tongue out at him.  "So you really don't have to go back into Cerebro?"

"Nah.  It might be tricky, but I can find Wanda on my own now."  He sighed.  "I just wish she were here."

"Well, until she does get here, I guess I can be your disposable female friend.  Just be gentle when you throw me away."

"Wouldn't dream of it, Jubes," Nate replied sincerely as he moved to the door.  "I recycle."

"Jerk," she muttered fondly, pulling her blanket over her head.

Nate had just reached the door when he heard a very large thump.  "Jubes…?"

"Wasn't me," came the muffled reply.  "Sounded like it was outside."

Nate crossed the room and looked out the window, his eyes widening as he spotted a cherry red van parked at the front door.  "It can't be," he whispered, shaking his head. 

"What?"

"It…it's Wanda," Nate murmured, his face lighting up.  "She's…here…"

"Already?"  Jubilee's head emerged from the blanket.  "Are you serious?"

But Nate had already vanished.

In the other bed, Illyana smiled in her sleep and clutched Miko a little tighter.