Disclaimer: Still do not own Mutant X. I do however own all the characters I brought in from my story Dominion Wars.

Chapter 2 Christmas Eve:

Emma walked into Haven carrying a small box. Mike was sitting on the couch, when she walked into the living room. Mike got and took the box from Emma, "Let me help you."

"Thanks, but it wasn't that heavy. Want to help me with the rest?"

"The rest?"

"The Christmas party is tonight, there's boxes of decorations in the garage, in our car."

"Ok, I'll get Brennan, Max and Jesse, we'll get them in, then you girls can put the stuff up. That's what girls do right?"

"Right, thanks honey."

"No problem."

1 hour later…

"Emma, I think this is the last box," said Jesse as he put the box down, and sat down on the couch. "Now, let me catch my breath, and you can get all the girls in here."

"Well, not all of them. Shal is online searching for a gift I think, Rosalie and Lexa went out to lunch, and Josh ran out of here about 20 minutes ago."

"Wonder what's that about, you have any idea?"

"Yeah, she was afraid of something, it felt like she was trying to prevent something."

"Does she need back-up?" asked Jesse. He was starting to worry, he knew this holiday was going too good, and wouldn't last.

"No, I don't think so. Anyway, I could use some help, since some of the others girls are shopping. Please Jesse?"

"Ok, let me go get Melodie, use the com-rings to get the other girls."

"Why can't I get Mel using the com-ring?"

"Cause she takes it off when taking a bath."

"Ok, so you'll be back in an hour," smiled Emma.

"Funny, but no, not yet anyway. I'll get her."

"Thanks."

10 minutes later…

Melodie comes into the living room to find Lulu, Emma, Mari and Gabriella putting the lights on the Christmas tree. "Hey girls, looking good, what can I do?"

"Can you put up the mistletoe?"

"Sure can."

Melodie took the small box from Emma and walked around placing the 4 sprigs of mistletoe in the walkways. Then she turned to see Lulu, Gabriella and Emma start emptying some more decorations from the boxes. They were putting lights and red bows everywhere.

Lulu took mini reefs out of a box and went down the hallway placing them on the doors. Gabby started putting a cookie tier together and placed it on the table.

Emma went to the kitchen to check the cookies she was baking.

Mari walked out of the room.

Melodie followed her all the way to the roof, "Mari!"

"Hey Mel, just needed some fresh air," said Mari with a weak smile.

"Miss your family?"

"Yeah a little, but I'm going home for New Years'."

"Must be tough being here, with everything going on, I mean with Brennan."

"Yeah it is, but I can deal with it."

"You should know that I don't agree with everyone else. I think it's something that just happened, and neither you are Brennan meant for it to happen."

Mari starts crying, and Melodie hugs her. "It's just so hard, they all hate me!"

"No they don't, they're just caught in a awkward position right now. We love Shal, and she's hurting right now. You and Brennan don't know this yet, but Shal broke off her engagement to Kristoff."

"She what?"

"She said she would rise the baby on her own, without help, but she wouldn't marry a guy she didn't love completely."

"Wow, I thought she was in love him, I really did."

"According to her, she wasn't, she was just trying to make the pain stop."

"The pain I caused," said Mari sadly. "I didn't mean to, but I did. To be honest, I've even thought of breaking it off with Brennan, and going home to New York."

"Because of all this, or because you don't love him?"

"To be honest, both."

"Are you serious? Why don't you love him?"

"Cause I don't trust him Mel. We haven't had sex, in case you're wondering."

"I wasn't, but nice to know."

"He slept with Shal, and then dumped her, for me. What's to keep him from dumping me for the next girl he wants in his bed?"

"I see your point."

"I plan on dumping him after Christmas, please don't tell anyone, ok?"

"Ok, but let's go back in, you can help me with decorations."

"Thanks Mel, for being my friend."

"Your welcome, now let's go back in, it's freezing out here!"

Christmas Party….

Shal walked toward the table and grabbed a glass. She filled it with fresh ice tea that Emma had just made. She picked up a chocolate chip cookie and turned to watch the others dance and have fun. She decided to get some fresh air, so she headed for the roof.

She walked out to find Ashlocke leaning on the new railing looking down. She started to turn around and go back to the party. She had her hand on the knob when she turned to look one last time at Gabriel. He looked lost in thought, and sad. So much so, that she found herself letting go of the doorknob. "Hey."

Gabriel turned and saw Shalimar standing there, "Hey, I can go if you want to be alone."

"No, it's a big roof, we can share."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, so why aren't you enjoying the party?"

"Could ask you the same thing."

"True, I just wanted fresh air."

"Me too, just needed to clear my head."

"You ok?"

"I will be," smiled Gabriel. "You know I asked Adam to find Ashley and Gabriella's mother Cassandra, right?"

"Yeah, did he find her?"

"Yeah, he said he got an anonymous tip that someone emailed him. He followed up on it. She's dead."

"Oh no, I'm so sorry, when, how? No wait, forget I asked."

"It's ok, I only know what Adam told me actually. When Ashley and Gabriella disappeared while away at college Cassandra moved out of her house and actually went searching for me, so I could help her find them. She never found me, cause I never knew I had kids till they found me just before Mike shot me 2 years ago."

"Are you sure she's dead?"

"Yeah, even though Adam hasn't said so, Shal, I just know she's dead. Cassie would have never stopped looking for the twins, she would have never stopped."

"I'm so sorry, I was really hoping for the best."

"You were, weren't you?"

"Yeah, I sent the email to Adam. I was hoping to give you Cassie for Christmas."

"You pulled my name from the hat?"

"Yeah, surprise!" she laughed. "I'll come up with something else."

"You don't have to get me anything."

"Yeah I do, and I think I know what to give you."

"What?"

"Find out in the morning," she smiled as she walked back toward the door. She stopped abruptly and hit her knees screaming in pain. She clutched her stomach.

"Shal!" screamed Gabriel as he ran toward her. He gathered her up in his arms and carried her toward the door. He opened the door and walked as fast as he could with Shal in his arms.

"ADAM!"

Adam and everyone turned to see Gabriel carrying a now unconsious Shalimar.

Brennan rushed toward Shal on impulse, "What did you did you do to her?"

"It's not me, it's the baby!" yelled Gabriel. "Get out of my way!"

"Bring her this way Gabe, Mike you and Max come help me!"

Brennan sat on the couch waiting for word on Shalimar. Emma came out of the lab, and walked over to him. "She's going to be fine, just a little shaken up."

"Emma, can I ask you something?"

"Of course you can."

"Why didn't anybody tell me Shal was pregnant?"

Emma froze, it hit her that until that night, Brennan had known nothing about the baby. "Brennan, I thought you knew."

"Is it mine?"

"I never asked her, but I got the news from Jesse that the baby is Kristoff's."

"Why didn't anybody tell me?"

"To be honest, it was none of your business," said Emma. "You aren't in her life anymore."

"But I love her still, weive been through a lot."

"We'll now, she's going through a lot alone."

"She's not exactly alone, she got that Kristoff guy."

"She broke off her engagement to him a few weeks ago."

"Then she's free! I can get her back!"

"What?"

"I can get Shalimar back."

"Brennan, please don't do anything stupid."

"I won't, you'll see, she loves me and I want her back."

"But does she want you?"

"Yeah, of course she does, why else would she call off her engagement?"

"Brennan, you're wrong, she didn't break it off because of you."

"Emma, I think I know Shal better than you," he said as he kissed her on the forehead and walked out.

Jesse came toward her, "What's with him?"

"Don't know, the big idiot," said Emma. "You mind staying with Shal tonight. I would, but I can't stay up all night with this baby of mine," smiled Emma.

"Actually Melodie is staying with Shal tonight."

"Great, I guess we better get to bewd then."

"Goodnight Emma."

"Night Jess."

Ok, last chapter will be posted tomorrow.