Disclaimer: I don't own mutant X or the characters.

Chapter 3

Her first instinct was to panic but Jesse already had that covered. Taking a deep breath she sat him down and then went to Lexa's bed where Brennan was already standing, holding Lexa's wrist between his fingers.

"Brenn,"

"I don't know, Shal," he said shakily.

"No," she shook her head.

"This can't happen!"

Shalimar turned at Jesse's shout in time to see him stand and hurry toward Lexa. "Jess, stop. Sit down." She gripped his shoulders.

He struggled against her until Brennan took his arms and pulled him back.

Shalimar turned and slowly placed her hand on Lexa's neck, holding her breath. She sighed in relief when she realized that Jesse was panicking over nothing. As she leaned a little closer she could hear a heartbeat and slow steady breaths. "Guys, she's ok."

Brennan let out a relieved breath and turned to a very shaken Jesse. "She's alright, Jess. Relax man."

Shalimar knelt in front of him and took his face into her hands. "Jesse, look at me."

He shook his head and smiled. "She's ok," he whispered.

Shalimar nodded glad to know that he heard her. "She's just asleep." Her arms came around him, calming him.

"Then why can't I wake her up?"

She shook her head. He really had been thrown for a loop if he honestly couldn't think of why she was sleeping so heavily. "Jesse, her body and her mind need to rest after all this. She's exhausted. You panicked a little too soon. There's nothing wrong with her."

He nodded. "I'm sorry."

Shalimar stood and held out her hand. "Come on, leave her sleep."

"You guys go. I need to stay with her."

"Ok." She bent and kissed his cheek, before taking Brennan's hand and walking out.

Jesse took a deep calming breath as he stood and walked to Lexa's bed. He watched her for a moment, gazing at the picture of a sleeping angel. Finally he climbed in beside her and pulled her to him, holding her tightly at first and then loosening his grip as he realized that she really was ok. "I love you, Lexa."

She trembled and subconsciously nuzzled her head into his chest.

Jesse smiled and kissed her hair before resting his eyes and letting his mind relax.

Once downstairs, Brennan pulled Shalimar to the couch and onto his lap. "Now where were we?"

She smiled seductively and kissed him.

"Mmm…I remember now."

The first thing she realized was that she was in bed and that someone was holding her. As she became more conscious she could tell that, that someone…was Jesse. Lexa groaned softly as she pried an eye open. It took a minute for her eyes to adjust to the light coming from the hall.

She smiled when she found Jesse next to her. He was so adorable when he slept. Reaching up she gently brushed a stray lock of hair from his face.

He stirred.

Lexa watched as he stretched, shivering when the warmth of his arms left her body. They returned quickly though, pulling her closer.

It was so natural, so perfect, that Jesse didn't even realize it for a moment. Then he remembered everything that had happened. When he opened his eyes he was shocked to find her deep blue pools smiling back at him.

"Your bed isn't as comfortable as mine is, huh?"

"Oh, God, Lex!"

She gasped as he crushed her in his arms. "Jesse?"

"If you ever scare me like that again…"

She chuckled slightly as he kissed her forehead. "What did I do?"

"You know how I told you I was going to let you sleep for 5 hours and then you had to get up?"

"Yeah,"

"That was…" He looked over at her clock. "seven and a half hours ago. When I came to get you, I couldn't wake you up. I panicked."

She bit her lip and looked up timidly. "Sorry."

He smiled at her and hugged her. "You threw us all for a nice loop."

She was silent for a moment as he held her. "It isn't midnight yet. There's still a little bit of the night left for me."

"You're ready to party?"

"I've been asleep for seven hours, Jess. I'm ready to get up."

A few minutes later they walked into the living room.

Shalimar and Brennan sat up from the couch quickly as they saw her come in.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" Shalimar asked as Jesse eased Lexa down.

"Better than I was."

"That's good. You know, you really scared us earlier." Brennan smiled and squeezed her shoulder gently.

"Yeah," she blushed. "Jesse told me." Silence fell. "Well, why are we all sitting around? Let's find something to do."

Shalimar smiled. "How about a game?"

"Twister," Lexa suggested.

"I think not. There is no way I'm going to let you exert all that energy after what you've just been through." Jesse stated firmly.

"Oh, I don't intend on playing. I'll hold the spinner and watch you three play." This was amusement enough. Brennan, Jesse and Shalimar got themselves into a tangled mess on the mat and then eventually collapsed on each other in a heap on the floor.

The new year approached quickly and before they knew it, it was eleven fifty-nine.

"Ready, guys?" Shalimar sat on Brennan's lap in one of the chairs and smiled as he wrapped his arms around her.

Jesse sat next to Lexa on the couch and she smiled as he put an arm over her shoulder.

The countdown started.

10…9… 8…7…

"You know, Jesse, the new year brings new surprises sometimes," Lexa said softly as she leaned her back into him.

6….5….4

"Yeah, why?

3…2…

Jesse's arm tightened around Lexa much the same as Brennan's arms clasped Shalimar.

1…Happy New Year!

Cheers went up in the room and from the television, but Jesse was stopped midway through the commotion. Lexa tilted her head back and reached up with her hand cupping Jesse's cheek and pulling him gently down to her.

His eyes slid shut as their lips met softly.

"Happy New Year," she whispered. "I love you."

Jesse smiled and slid his fingers through her silky hair as he pulled her in for another kiss.

She melted in his arms as he silently confessed his love for her.

Shalimar smiled and nudged Brennan, nodding her head toward the couple across from them.

Brennan smiled and took her face in his hands, kissing her passionately. Shalimar's eyes widened, but shut quickly as she became lost in him.

As they entered the new year, newlove and new life entered with them bringing peace and hope among them all.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! Hope you enjoyed the story! Thank you all for the reviews! I'll be back with another story....eventually...I hope... :)