A/N: I apologize for the long wait, but I got sidetracked…

Chapter V

"Ronny." Bobby said calmly but with a cautious look in his eyes. Ronny glared across at him. There was a long uncomfortable silence before Madeline Drake spoke up.

"Marie…why don't you come with me to see the baby?" She looked at Marie, urgently and held out her hand. There was a slight pause before Marie took Mrs. Drake's hand in her gloved one. Before leaving her husbands sight, Marie looked back praying everything would go well…

Mother and daughter in-law were now walking down a long white passage, behind the lead of a nurse, towards the glass pane behind which many newborn babies lay. As the nurse got there, she smiled at the two ladies, and pointed out which baby it was (as babies mostly look the same at this stage of life). Madeline thanked the nurse and joined Marie, who was peering through the glass into the room of babies, her gloved hand was pressed against the glass as her eyes gazed at her nephew and future son; she had a trickle of a smile beginning to rush onto her face.

The baby's tail wasn't visible from its current position, lying in the crib, but Marie noticed that the crib was a little separated from the others. Someone had still feared of the mutation spreading; which was strange for it was a hospital and you would think doctors would know that the "disease" didn't spread by mere exposure. Marie looked closer at the young mutant; having never seen a mutant baby before, except for her own baby pictures…and ones Bobby had shown to her occasionally. There wasn't much difference between Ronny Jr (as it was of present) and the other newborns, but there was something slightly different about his nose. Not strikingly noticeable but definitely distinctive.

After a while of watching the baby and Marie, Madeline Drake spoke. "He's going to be a special child. You think?"

Marie drifted back from her thoughts and moved her eyes over to Madeline's languid and wary face. Marie lifted her shoulders as if to shrug, but a second later they slumped down, expressionless. "Everyone is special. It's our choices that make a difference latter in life."

Madeline nodded silently, not knowing where to go with the conversation. She was as unfamiliar about Marie as a sunny beach to an Icelander. In fact, Madeline wasn't even clear on the reason of Marie's gloves. Their ill meeting those many years ago hadn't left them much time to discuss anyone else's mutant abilities.

"Well...I'm glad you're able to understand…" Madeline said wistfully, looking at the baby again.

Marie looked at her curiously. "Understand what?"

"The mutant…situation." Madeline met Marie's eyes once again. "I wish I could have helped Bobby…the way you'll be able to help…your new son."

"Bobby's fine! There's nothing wrong with who he grew up to be," began Marie, on the defensive.

Madeline cut in. "I know that! But…I don't think… I don't think it was most of my doing…" Marie stayed quiet, trying to figure things out in her head, but Madeline added quickly. "I couldn't be more pleased that you married my son." Marie's eyes flittered about Madeline's face as if she hadn't fully believed the last words, but soon a small smile appeared on her face.

"Thank you…" she replied, the smile soon spreading throughout her whole face.

The two women hadn't had much time to bond and Marie had, up to now, been under the false impression that Mrs Drake was not very fond of her. But after all, their first meeting had been under circumstances of the Drakes returning to a home full of strangers…let alone mutants! Not the perfect setting for meeting your future in-laws.

But now the two were caught in one of those priceless moments life sends you occasionally, when the feeling of dread that'd been building up over whatever situation is suddenly lifted from your shoulders, leaving you wondering why it was even there before. Marie and Madeline were soon chatting gaily about various life events, when suddenly something in Marie's eyes reflected upon her face, widening her eyes and stopping her speech. Madeline noticed the sudden change and turned around. Her eyes met with a worn, sickly looking woman, slumped in a wheelchair. The woman was glaring at them.

Carol.

A/N: I don't know what to think, but there you go!