AN: I'm sorry for the prolonged absence for the world of fanfiction. Strange as it may sound for a person who hand writes all her stories before hand but the muse seemed to take a flying leap and disappear on me. I have no idea why and really wish I could give all of you a really good reason. Alas I have none. It was more like I just couldn't bring myself to type anything up to post on the site. Hopefully, I'm back now and since it's summer and I'm free from school and dance class and Girl Scouts, I'll be able to get things back to normal. Anyway, I hope all of you reviewers stick around to review again. There's a bit more on the ride for this and my other stories.

LJP: Sorry for the technical jargon. Too many science classes for me over to past few years. I'll be explaining what William's Syndrome is right now. Though, this is an X-Men story so there may be a few…alterations…to what the genetic disorder really entails.

Disclaimer: I own nothing except a handful or two of made up characters. All of this wonderful stuff belongs to the geniuses at Marvel Comics. I'm just playing in their world. I'm broke and in college. All I own are my Pointe shoes.

"You're kidding me, right?" Angelina asked, holding the baby all the tighter as if she could shield her daughter from the truth.

Every part of her was hoping, whishing, desiring that Hank was wrong. That there had been some mistake in the genetic testing and that Hope was perfectly normal. Well, as normal as one could be with two mutants for parents. Angelina had understood all the risks and all the problems that could occur once she found out she was expecting a baby. She was well aware of the fact that there was a good chance the baby wouldn't survive all that long, that her body would reject, so to speak, such an individual with a strange mix of DNA.

Angelina was inordinately pleased when Hope, before she knew she was her daughter of course, had lasted as long as she did. It was something like a strange twist of fate that robbed her daughter of a chance to be brought to term and born healthy. It wasn't because her body was rejecting a child with gross genetic defects.

Still there were defects, obvious ones where William's Syndrome was concerned. Despite the fact Hope looked different- With eyes and facial features that were telling of her genetics- she really did still love her. There wasn't any reason not to love the little girl.

After all, every mother had to love their child no matter what. Though, those words did sound false and hollow to her as Angelina knew stories of mothers who had rejected their own children once they found out they were mutants. She already knew that she wouldn't do that to Hope, though, if she happened to manifest powers that would be normal. They did live in a school for mutants.

"I wish I was Angie," Hank answered, hanging his head, "I wish there was something else I could tell you but there isn't. From what I can make out from Hope's rather muddled karotype, she is a William's baby."

Angie sighed, running a finger over the small arms of her daughter. Just when she thought things were on the up and up, that they were going to get better, fate had to go and throw the curve ball at her and Matt. This was something else entirely, something totally unexpected.

Seeing the young woman's distraction, Hank asked, "You do know what William's Syndrome is, correct?"

That woke Angelina up from her mental musings. She gave Hank one of those "do-I-look-stupid-to-you" stares even though she was wearing a small smile. A content smile that he knew she was wearing because she was with her daughter for the first time. No matter what condition the child was in. No matter what the circumstances were and no matter what she and Matt were going to have to face in the future.

"I do, actually, but if it'll make you feel better you can remind me. Maybe it'll help me for later," Angie commented.

"Help you for later?" Beast asked, "I'm not sure I follow your line of logic, Angie. I understand you are probably feeling very stressed but if you understand what it is why do you need help for later."

Angie smiled again and explained, "I know what William's Syndrome is. You know what it is. Jean and Charles know what it is but that's probably about it. I'm going to have to explain this to Matt later on so maybe your explanation will help me do just that. You know, give me new words to use."

Thinking quickly, she added, "You know what aspects of the syndrome Hope does and doesn't have already so you can tell me what I can leave out. Sure as anything I'm scared but I don't want to scare Matt. Only one of us should have to worry about this and I'm better qualified."

Hank wanted to say something about not telling Matt everything not being fair but he figured it wasn't his place. He was, surely, both their friends but he didn't feel he had the right to discuss what went on in their little marriage. Besides, Angelina did have a point. She was the one who was better qualified to worry about Hope's medical conditions. Maybe Matt not knowing was better since he could try and give her a more normal childhood.

Pulling out his already growing medical file on Hope, Hank flipped a few pages. With swift eyes he read over his notes before starting to speak.

"Starting from the top, Hope's an unusual case because she's showing none of the atypical cardiac problems. She has no heart or blood vessel problems but," he started before Angie cut it.

"We're going to have to monitor her for that, just to be safe," Angie said.

With a nod and a low chuckle, the blue furred scientist continued, "She's not showing any of the atypical problems with her blood calcium levels nor is she showing the poor reflexes associated with feeding. I am not saying they're not there only that I don't know if they are since Hope has been fed intravenously for most of her young life. You're going to have to watch out for them along with the problems developing a sleeping rhythm."

"I know about the failure to thrive issues. Hope is going to be rather short, then," Angie said, throwing in what she knew as well, "Well, being short we can deal with. There are plenty of good short people out there and I know about the muscle tone issues as well. Am I correct in assuming that you'd set up a physical therapy regimen if need be?"

"Of course, though I am not seeing any of the normal join and muscle problems either. There's also a particular absence of renal problems as well but we'll have to monitor her for those as well," Beast answered, "those are just the immediate problems, of course. There are others, you know."

This time it was Angie who nodded and started, "You have the fact that there may be some learning difficulties but that varies dental issues, sensitive hearing, overly friendly personalities and concentration problems. Am I missing anything?"

"You seemed to have forgotten some of the more wonderful aspects of William's Syndrome," Hank pointed out.

"I did?" Angie asked, looking at the little girl in her arms.

All the talk with big science words must have tired the small girl out. She was fast asleep in her mother's arms.

"Well, yes. You've forgotten that William's children are musically inclined. You know, there's a good chance that Hope will have, among other skills, perfect pitch and she may even be musically gifted," he pointed out, "among any other physical gifts her unique genetic situation might have provided her."

That made Angie smile. For every difficulty her daughter might have in her future, she could have some benefit too. She wasn't sure why that particular aspect of Hope's condition might have slipped her mind but she was glad Beast had reminded her of it. It would be interesting to see if her daughter developed any of the musical talents those with William's Syndrome were know to have.

"Now, I hate to break this up but I know you have a class to teach," Hank said, glumly.

"Do I have to Hank? I really just want to sit her with her and hold her for about a year," Angie challenged.

"I know you do but I want to just observe her for a short while before you take her home. Make sure there are no undue complications," Hank countered.

With a small sigh and placing a kiss on the head of her sleeping daughter, Angie passed her to the blue furred medic who was caring for her.

She'd be counting the minutes now, until the end of the day. The minutes until she and Matt got to be parents to their daughter…no matter what condition she suffered from.

It was just another bump- like discovering they were mutants- in the road. Though, as she walked out of the medical bay and back to her classes, Angie realized that she'd forgotten to tell Hank about the weird tickling sensation in her head. With a shrug, she reminded herself to tell him next time.

It didn't seem all that important now, anyway.