disclaimer: All recognizable characters are owned by Marvel and I expect to make no money off them. Damn it.

No Place Like Home
by Dizi

Chapter 7: Home Again

An urgent feeling had been riding him for a week. He couldn't do big jobs like this anymore. Victor just couldn't stay away from Jessie that long again.

It hadn't helped that his phone had gotten broken and he hadn't been able to call to check his messages. He was very careful not to call if there was even a possibility someone might see and take notice. Victor was determined to keep Jessie safe as best he could. Unfortunately, that meant working as usual to keep both allies and enemies off the scent of his home life.

As he pulled into the drive, the wind changed and he caught a familiar scent. More than one. The runt and his frail had been here recently. Checking up on Jessie?

Then he opened the front door. The scorched smell of Jubilees fireworks and blood hit him, making him growl.

Ignoring the dead men on the floor, the majority of which had Wolverine's claw marks through their bloody carcasses, he went to the only covered body. Victor knew it was Sammy before lifting the bloody sheet but had to see her for himself. What if Jessie had seen her? The thought of her seeing the wolf's body riddled with bullets and eviscerated left him cold.

He didn't let himself think she might be here as well. There was no way these bozos would have gotten past Wolverine. If they had killed Jessie first there would at least be another sheet on the floor. He didn't even contemplate the idea she might have been taken.

Looking around he could see two of the bodies surrounding Sammy were the result of her ferocity in defending her territory and others showed signs of her attack. They may have survived Sammy to face Wolverine, but they hadn't survived him and the frail. Sammy had defended the bedroom with her life. Which meant the bedroom was the last place Sammy had seen Jessie.

He pushed the door open and looked around the ransacked room. On the closet door were two sets of Wolverine's claw mark's crossed to form a large X. Rolling his eyes and slowing the continuous growls that had been coming from him since entering the house, Victor opened the closed. On the other side of the door was a message scratched into it. 'She's safe.'

So he knew where she was, but he was going to have to brave his enemies' home territory to get her back.

And God help him, he was going to have to be nice while he did it. Damn.

Logan answered Jessie's phone at the first ring. He'd been expecting the call. "I told ya. She's safe."

"Don't get your panties in a twist, runt. Just calling to let you know I'm on my way."

"Might not be a good idea, Creed. It ain't safe."

"Like I'm stupid enough to take her back there. We're moving on."

"Meant it's not safe fer her bein' with ya."

"That's our problem."

"Listen, Creed-"

"No, you listen! I'm coming for Jessie. We can do this nice or we can do it hard, but I'm coming for Jessie."

"Cyke, need ta talk ta ya." Logan said as he sauntered into Scott Summer's office. "Got good news an' bad new."

Looking up, Scott eyed Logan warily. "Does this have to do with our guest?"

"Yep." He was going to enjoy this.

"What could be bad?" Confusion was evident in Scott's voice. "Jubilee said she's sweet."

"She is. Creed's comin' fer her."

Jumping to his feet, Scott ordered. "Put the mansion on full alert. He won't get near her, we'll protect her."

"Ain't that simple. Even if ya could keep Vic from her, Jessie's his mate an' there ain't no way she'll let ya keep 'em apart." He grinned. "Ready for the good news?"

"How can there be good news if Sabretooth's coming?" was the replied demand.

"He says he's comin' in peace."

Victor pulled up the mansion's drive fifteen minutes later. When no alarms went off, he didn't relax. He knew they were aware of his arrival. The X-Men didn't need loud noises to sound an alarm.

Walking to the door with a determined stride, he knocked in the same way. The pansy with the red glasses answered.

"Where's Jessie?" he demanded, holding back a growl and pushing his way inside.

"Look, Creed, we can't let you-"

"Save it. You can't stop me. All I want is Jessie." He was fast losing patience. He was already being nice just by not gutting him.

"Listen-"

"Shut it. JESSIE!" Victor roared. Why had he tried to be a nice guy? It never worked with anyone but Jessie.

Walking into the hall, Logan shook his head. He'd tried to tell Scott, but he hadn't understood. "She's this way."

"Logan, we can't just give her to him." Scott began.

"Ya don't listen." His voice was exasperated. "We cain't keep 'em apart."

"Jessie's alright? Where is she?" Was that his voice talking nice-like to the runt? He didn't care, Wolverine had saved his girl and that was all that was important.

"She's fine, jus' got little scared's all." Knowing it was pointless, Logan tried to warn him. "But there's somethin' ya gotta know-"

"Jus' take me ta Jessie!" Sabretooth growled, patience gone. Not that he had much to begin with.

Shrugging, Logan led the way. He'd find out soon enough. He couldn't wait to see his reaction. It was gonna be funny as hell.

Jubilee had taken Jessie to the kitchen once Hank had said pronounced her fine. Jessie had liked the strange blue-furred man. And he was a doctor? She quickly found herself drinking tea and surrounded by curious people. Trying not to be nervous by the crowd in the kitchen, she kept wondering where Victor was.

"Jessie." At the sound of his voice she quickly set the cup on the table and ran to Victor's waiting arms, not seeing the stunned collective look at his gentle tone.

They stood there holding each other, and the room faded away. Both were lost in the moment of their reunion, their homecoming. Wherever they were together was home now.

Logan nudged Jubilee. "Wait fer it." he whispered to her.

Burying his nose in her hair, Victor inhaled her scent, going utterly still for a moment. Setting her carefully on her feet, he nuzzled her throat and worked his way slowly down her body, sniffing her all the way, drawing her scent inside him.

"Victor?" Jessie asked her voice uncertain.

Kneeling in front of her, he wrapped his arms around her waist, tightly pressing his ear against her just under her stomach. "A baby..." he breathed.

Her eyes widened, and then a radiant smile engulfed Jessie's face. "You're happy?"

Quickly standing again, Victor kissed her slowly, tenderly, not knowing how else to answer her. Not hearing Logan chuckling in the background.

Giggling happily, Jessie threw herself in his arms again and, despite her audience, she started chattering just like usual about the events of the past month. Walking to her recently vacated chair, Victor pulled her onto his lap, content to listen to her voice.

All the X-men except Logan were in shock at his behavior. Sabretooth was acting... well, loving, and this was the most animated they had seen Jessie since she'd arrived. She'd seemed so shy and quiet until now, barely speaking, and here she was chattering away to Sabretooth?

Seeing the complete and utter shock on Scott's face, Remy commented to him. "De petite be a strange one, non?"

Staring at the couple, Scott made no reply.

Stifling yawns the whole time, it took a long time for Jessie to start winding down this time. It had been a whole month after all. Coming to the end, she snuggled against Victor's chest and whimpered "... and Sammy's dead."

Stiffening, Victor asked, "You saw her?" while rubbing her back.

"Logan told me." she murmured as she drifted off to sleep.

He nodded and surprised the other man by giving him a grateful look. Jessie wouldn't have been able to handle the sight of Sammy's dead body well. He hadn't taken it well himself and had briefly wished Wolverine had left him a couple to take his anger out on. Only briefly however, as Jessie would not have been safe.

"Well, runt, break out the cigars. We're having a baby! Looks like you're having house guests for awhile." He guffawed at Scott's sputtering.

to be continued.

note:
Crazed Fuzzle- I thought you had looked into my computer at first you were so close! Unfortunately the nature of the attack isn't really that important in the grand scheme of the story so I did leave it pretty vague. Be aware Victor made the ones responsible suffer.
Trica Lee- I can see people might get a little mad at me but see the last response. Sorry.
Elizabeth Robbins- Jessie has another pet in her future! And its hilarious if I do say so myself.
Rogue14- Logan got 'em! He did! Creed got the ones who sent them, but Logan got the ones who killed Sammy.
Beany- I've missed you! Glad you like it. I'm working hard on the Jenny sequel, I promise!
GothikStrawberry- Jessie's pretty excited too! So am I! OOooohhh! Please don't get mad at me. See earlier response.
Jinxeh- See I told you I could do cliffhangers! Hah! I feel really bad about Sammy, I do, but she had a specific purpose and she has fulfilled both of them. I admit it, she was a throw away character. (Not sure if that's a correct term but that's what she really was.)

Next chapter tells all about Jessie! Many questions get answered. If you don't understand the significance tell me and I'll explain, but I think it will be clear to everyone.

Thanks for reading and the support,
Dizi