Hey, just a note to a cool reviewer before on with the tale;

Galadeidre; If you want a full, detailed thing I suggest reading "Two Kids and a Grouch", which can be found down the list on my bio. To answer your question, Logan actually is the adopted father but he adopted Rogue, Steph, Ruhko, and eventually Bucky. Steph, Ruhko, and Little Steph are all OC's and Ororo is the adopted mother who's married to Kurt.

I hope that answers your question, for a great read I do suggest "Grouch", but it's not demanded, lol.

Thanks to the fab reviewers, here's another chappie for you!

-Ice Lynx-

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"I hope Rogue and the others get back soon," said Bobby wistfully as he jogged down the forest trail beside Steph. "Going on important missions right after your honeymoon, without your honey, just doesn't seem right."

Steph didn't look at him, too busy shifting the weights in her hands as she looked forward to the day when her parents, elder sister, and teammates got home.

"What do you think about Maddy leaving Scott for his younger brother?" asked Bobby in a sad voice.

Steph didn't reply for a moment, then sighed and slowed slightly, Bobby following suite. "I think," she said slowly, scowling. "That Maddy's a little $& who couldn't appreciate a good man to save her life, and Scott's brother's as bad. They deserve eachother, that's what I think." She sped up again.

Her brother in law lagged behind and finally stopped, looking toward the house. "Yeah.... I'm gonna go see how Scott's doing. Sorry, I guess I am too wimpy to run this early in the morning." He flashed her one of his adorable boyish grins and ice-slid away before she could retort.

Steph smiled and shook her head, Bobby was a goofball, but he was a good guy. And since he wasn't here any more she could really step up her run, moving quicker than she had the previous morning to push herself a little faster, sweat dripping off her brow as she tried to regulate her breathing.

She'd been running steadily for several minutes when she became aware of a dark-clad figure leaning up against a tree ahead of her, quietly smoking a cigarette as stony black eyes studied her.

Steph slowed and scowled as she recognized Creed, wondering why he was choosing to class up his look all of a sudden. "What d'ya want?" she asked.

He blinked and raised an eyebrow at her questioningly.

Steph mentally slapped herself as she realized Creed hadn't been looking at her specifically. "What are ya doin' here Sabertooth?" she asked.

To her surprise a slight half-smile quirked one corner of his mouth. Steph noted that he looked different today, his hair was actually combed and pulled back into a ponytail, and his long brown overcoat was...washed? "Standin' in the sun," he said agreeably. "Heard anythin' from the runt yet?"

Steph arched an eyebrow and wiped the sweat out of her eyes with the back of one hand. "No," she said suspiciously. "They haven't come back from their mission yet, why?"

"Miss 'im," he said, throwing away the cigarette butt, and quirking his brow again, that half grin still on his face. "Ain't had anybody ta argue with for too long." He looked toward the house, testing the air. "How's the wolf cub?"

Steph blinked, not having expected the answer she got she covered her surprise. "Still mute," she said. "Misses the pack leader, she's been wearing his shirts t' remember his scent, looks a bit odd though, seeing as the flannel's drape over her like a tent."

He nodded, and she was further shocked by the quick flash of concern she saw in his hard eyes. "$#s had no right doin' that to a cub."

Steph's eyebrows quirked, then she paused. "Why don't ya come up n' get some food? Ruhko'd prob'ly growl but we've got good stuff."

He shook his head, eyes giving a quick flash that she couldn't recognize. "Nah, I ate. Storm won't have ta worry 'bout that rabbit chewin' her roses."

Steph smiled. "Have it your way Fuzzy, but if ya ever get the insane idea of cooked food bein' any good, come on up, I'll stop Ruhko from chewin' on ya." She grinned.

He smirked back, eyes glinting dangerously, but before he could reply Steph was distracted by the familiar voice of Charles in her mind.

Steph, report to the War Room.

Steph wondered what could possibly make the professor sound so urgent that he wouldn't even greet her. Shrugging Steph flew back to the mansion, noticing that Creed had started towards the mansion as well, but not paying that much attention to the minor details in the world.

In her room she quickly pulled on her uniform, arriving in the War Room a moment later, still wondering what was going on. Something felt wrong about this, but she was obviously not the only one still in the dark when she got down to the rest of the team.

The other X Men sat or stood around the long table, some of them casting furtive glances toward Creed, who stood with his back to the wall, a cigarette in one hand as he glowered at the door.

Mark leaned toward Steph. "Want to catch a movie after this?" The door swishing open again cut off her reply, and she turned to see Charles and Hank enter and slowly move to their places at the head of the table.

Scott looked at them, eyebrows raising above his visor as he picked up the subtle tension from his mentor and his teammate. "Charles? What is it?"

The X Men leader looked out over his assembled soldiers. "There has been an accident."

Steph straightened as a murmur and surprised glances around the room raced through her team mates, and Creed blinked, about as surprised as he got. Finally Steph, crossing her arms, spoke up for the rest of them. "What kinda accident? Who's going out t' fix it?" she asked.

Charles looked at her, his face suddenly looking ancient and worn with grief. "Gold team is dead."

Creed snarled and threw the cigarette away, barely missing Mark's face. "Whaddya mean? What the $# happened?"

Steph inhaled sharply, uncontrollably jerking as she heard the words. She looked at Charles and Hank for any sign of some sick joke on their faces, but there was none. "How? No one can kill the Wolverine, he's practically immortal!" she said, choking on her words. Her breathing and heart seemed to have stopped as she, like the others in the shocked room, waited for an explanation.

Charles' hand shook as he lifted it and wiped at his face, head bowed. When he spoke his voice quivered like that of an old man. "Forge attempted to use...sorcery-" the word sounded like a curse, "-to nullify the threat they'd gone to investigate. Something went wrong, and the X Men did not survive the attempt." He glanced toward Kitty as she began to sob softly, looking as though his heart were breaking, then looked back at Steph, his own tears escaping.

Steph inhaled sharply again, arms crossing tighter as she looked around and saw Bobby's stricken face. Words could not have been less appropriate for her, but to cry felt wrong, it was all too confusing. "So they're gone?" she whispered. "Mom? Dad? They're all..." she stopped, shaking her head as she choked again, coughed, turned, and walked out of the room. Mark's hand went up to her shoulder for the second time.

"Steph, wait," he said. Steph turned around furiously and punched Mark as hard as she could, sending him crashing into the wall before he collapsed to the floor.

"Touch me again and we'll be short another team member," she snarled, turning and racing out of the room, leaving Mark groaning in the silence behind her.

"Stephanie?" Hank's usually smooth baritone was ragged with grief and weariness. "Art here, fair warrior?"

Steph didn't answer, sitting at the edge of the roof with her knees drawn up to her chin, sitting as motionless as a stone save her hair, which was blowing gently across her face in the cool breeze.

He came over slowly and crouched next to her, his own eyes staring away toward things that only he could see.

Then he blinked and tentatively put his arms around her. "Steph?"

"What?" Steph choked out miserably.

She felt him start to tremble as he collapsed onto his backside and glanced up to see his eyes squeezed shut as he fought his grief, trying to be there for her.

It was a losing battle. As she watched his face crumpled and it was Hank who clung to Steph for strength as he wept with great racking, painful sobs.

Wrapping her arms around her best friend she pulled him to her tighter and stroked the back of his head, still unable to cry as she hugged him tighter and rocked both of them back and forth, eyes closed tight, the only thought running through her semi-conscious mind wondering why things had to become so screwed up that she had to comfort her teddy bear. For the first time in her life she became over-protective as she put her chin on Hank's bowed head and gasped for air as she struggled to comprehend exactly what was going on.

'It's not fair,' she thought bitterly. 'Hank should never have to cry, 'specially not like this. What did I do to deserve having to see the day Hank cries?'

There was the scrape of a boot behind them and she glanced up to see Creed standing there, holding Ruhko tucked partially under his coat as he watched them, his face totally blank, though part of her registered the misery in his eyes.

"I gotta get away," he said at last, in a strained voice. "You gotta take her before I lose it."

Steph nodded, reaching out with one arm to receive the silent, watching bundle.

"Thanks," she said in a forced voice. "Thanks for being here- for watchin' her- thanks," she said again, holding Ruhko close as the small girl buried her head into Hank's still shaking arm. Steph could hear Creed backing away, then leaving as she put her arms around her friend and sister, continuing to rock them gently, offering the only comfort she could give.