Disclaimer: I do not own Mutant X; wish I did though, cause then it would still be on the air.

Just in case, you guys have forgotten the situation here. Mari broke it off with Brennan in ch.4 of my story, Let it Snow. He begged Shalimar to take him back and she said no. In ch.2 of this story, Shal revealed that she had been forced to reveal to Brennan was the father of her baby. So, that's where we stand, and I pray that makes sense to you all, lol.

Chapter 10: Brennan/Mari

Brennan sat on the couch in the living room of Xavier Estates, drinking a beer, watching the most boring football game in history. He was trying to relax and have a good time but it wasn't working. He reached over for the remote and turned the television off. He got up and carried his beer bottle to the kitchen. He dropped the bottle into the garbage and heard the sound of breaking glass. He then remembered the other 5 bottles of beer he had had before.

He turned and headed out of the kitchen. He almost lost his balance as he went through the kitchen door. He felt someone reach out and catch him. He looked up and saw Mari standing there, "Hey, thanks. I think I had a few too many beers."

"You think?"

"Yeah, well I had six."

"Six? By yourself, what are you a one man party?"

"Was just trying to relax, sue me!"

"You're broker than I am, why would I bother suing you?"

"Good point, well if anyone asked, I'm going out."

"Not drunk you're not."

"What?"

"You're not going to drive anywhere drunk."

"What are you going to do, stop me?"

"If I have to."

"Whatever, I'll be back later," he said pulling away from Mari.

He was almost to the door when he felt a hand on his shoulder, "Brennan."

He turned around; she reached back and slugged him as hard as she could. He fell back against the door and reached for his jaw. He was disoriented, but all he knew was he had to get back to his feet. He stood up and quickly fell back down, unconscious.

Mari looked down at Brennan. She hated hitting him, but she had to stop him from leaving in that condition. It always amazed her how easy it was to knock out a drunk.

She knelt down and brushed his cheek with her hand. She still loved him, even after everything he had done.

She broke up with him cause she couldn't trust him and she knew he had feelings for Shalimar. They got together under unusual circumstances and those circumstances only got worse. She doubted he ever really loved her.

She stood up and walked down the hallway. She knocked on the first door she came to, "Jesse?"

"Come in."

"Sorry to disturb you, but I kind of need to help getting Brennan in bed."

Jesse spit his water out, "You need me to help you do what?"

"That came out wrong."

"You want to try that again," joked Jesse.

"Yes, ok, I punched Brennan and."

"You what? First off, way to go, but you did what?"

"I punched him out cause he was fixing to drive drunk."

"Hold up, I got to see if I can key up footage of that."

"Jesse!"

"Hold on!"

"All right, he's in the floor, go get him when you're done."

"Ok, I got the footage, let me save it and send it to everyone," he smiled. "Alright done, let me go get the big baby out of the floor."

"Thank you."

Brennan woke up and rolled over only to fall out of bed. He hit the floor with such force that he had to gasp for breath. Once he finally caught his breath he rolled over onto his back, he sat up and after a minute he stood up. He slowly walked toward his bathroom. He turned on the water in the sink and threw water up into his face. His eyes then caught the huge black eye. "What happened?"

He remembered drinking and watching a game. He remembered arguing with. Mari! He remembered her punching him. He quickly turned off the water and dried his face. He walked out of his bathroom and exited his room. He was furious and Mari was about to know it.

He got to her room and knocked on the door. There was no answer, so he opened it. He quickly realized that everything was gone. There was a bed, but it was stripped of all bedding. The closet was open and he could tell the clothes were gone. He walked in, opened the drawers of the desk and they were empty.

He walked back out and walked down the stairs. There he found Emma sitting there in the living room, holding baby Chris. "Hey Emma."

"Hey, was wondering when you would get up."

"What do you mean?"

"You've been out for a day and a half."

"What? That means it's night?"

"Yes, how you feeling? I can make you something to eat."

"No thanks, you got your arms full there."

"Nonsense, he's asleep. I'll go put him down and come back and fix you something."

She slowly got up and walked out of the living room. After about 10 minutes she returned, "Ok, how about some baked chicken, maybe barbequed?"

"Sounds great Emma thanks."

"No problem, you know how I love to cook," she laughed.

"Yeah, I've gained about 30 lbs in the last 5 years."

"You know, I think you're telling the truth. But it looks good on you."

"Gee thanks, hey where is everyone?"

"Almost everyone is asleep, but Shalimar went to the mall with Rosalie, to help her find a good wedding dress."

"Shal shouldn't be doing anything like that, she just weeks from giving birth."

"Shal knows what she's doing, do you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well besides you drinking yourself to death…"

"Hold it, I'm not drinking that much!"

"Brennan, don't bother lying to me, you've gotten drunk every night for the last 3 months. You've hidden it from almost everyone, but me."

"Figures, but there's nothing to worry about. I just needed to relax."

"You mean you needed something to help you cope."

"Yes, now quit reading me!"

"Alright, so how are you dealing with the news that Shal is having your baby?"

"I'm not dealing with it at all actually. I'm mad she didn't tell me it was mine. I'm scared that she won't let me near our child. I feel like I'm losing all control of my life."

"You are Brennan, and I think you need to get the control back. You have any idea, how unlike you, you've become?"

"Tell me about it, I begged a woman to come back to me."

"A woman you no longer love."

"Stop reading me!"

"Sorry, couldn't help it."

"Part of me will always love Shal, I love her for so long. But you're right, I don't love her like."

"Like you love Marisol?"

"Emma, are you still reading me?"

"No, just guessing now."

"Funny, but yes, I love Marisol."

"She's gone you know."

"I went to her room before I came downstairs. Where did she go?"

"Back to New York, she said she needed to be near her family."

"Is she coming back?"

"For the double wedding, she's going to be Lexa's maid-of-honor."

"And then?"

"Well, that's up to you, Brennan, cause she loves you as much as you love her."

"Really?"

"Yes, you fool, really."

Emma placed the plate of barbeque chicken strips in front of Brennan. "Thanks Emma, can you place this in the refrigerator for me?"

"Why?"

"Cause I'm going out for awhile."

"Alright, find me when you get back."

"Ok, I will if it's not too late."

Brennan left Xavier Estates and decided to drive around for a while. He had a lot to think about and he didn't know where to start.

'Shalimar is pregnant with my kid, will she let me help her raise him or her? What am I saying, of course, Shal will let me, she's not a mean person. She would never keep me from my child. Then again, she didn't want me to know it was mine. But she was just scared, right? Ever since Emma forced her to admit the truth to me, I've been in this denial mode. I've never really thought about being a father, but now the idea kind of excites me. I can be the kind of father I never had.

I need to talk to Shal and let her know that I want to be there, to help raise our child. I mean just because we can't be together doesn't mean we can't raise a child together.

I need to quit drinking though, it's not solving anything, just turning me into my worst nightmare…'

Brennan stopped his car and pulled over on the side of the road. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. He was turning into his stepfather. He wasn't abusive, at least not yet, but he knew that when he went to look for Mari earlier that night he was looking for a fight.

' I would never hit a woman, especially not the woman I love. But the rage I felt, I was out of control. I know why I'm drinking; I know what I'm hiding from. I need to face it and I need to face it tonight.'

Brennan pulled back on the highway and drove about 15 miles to the nearest exit. He knew it would take all night to drive where he was going, but he knew it was do or die time for him. There was no way he could or would be a good father and friend until he settled the problem.

Passing the road sign he read "New York, 54 miles."

He spoke into his com-ring, "Emma"

"You there yet?"

"No and how did you know I was going before I knew I was going?"

"I can hear it in your voice."

"Am I that obvious?"

"Yes and good luck Bren."

"Thanks Em."

"Mari! Get up!"

"Five more minutes, mom, please!"

"No get up, there's a boy here to see you. He has been here for two hours, waiting for you to get up. Ariana driving the boy insane, but he's too nice to say anything."

"Boy?"

"Yes boy, get up!"

"Alright."

Mari pulled her covers off and put her light blue robe on. She headed into the living room to find Brennan in the floor playing with her younger sister. She smiled at the sight and her heart skipped a beat. "Hey Brennan."

"Hey, about time you woke up."

"Ariana, go wake up your older brother. Tell him to get you ready for day-care."

"Ok! Can I jump on him?"

"Yes, you can," smiled Mari.

Ariana took off running and Mari laughed when she heard her brother Luis scream. She walked over to Brennan, "You want to sit on the couch?"

"Yeah, if I can get my butt out of the floor."

"She killed your ribs didn't she?"

"Yeah, she must have thought I was jungle gym," joked Brennan, as Mari helped him out of the floor.

After Brennan sat down on the couch, Mari sat down next to him, "You want some coffee?"

"Sure, thanks."

Mari went to the kitchen and after 15 minutes came back, "You want yours with one sugar and one cream right?"

"Yea, how did you know?"

"Cause I watched you for months."

"We need to talk, before I lose my nerve."

"Alright."

"I love you."

Mari almost dropped the cup of coffee she was handing Brennan. He took it from her and put in down on the end table before him. He took her hands and pulled her over to the couch, "You ok?"

"Yeah, but my hearing is off, I swear you just said you loved me," laughed Marisol.

"I did and I meant it."

Marisol started to speak, but Brennan held up his hand, "Wait, let me finish. I know I screwed up big time with you. I fell in love with you while we were being held hostage and when we came back I let the others walk all over you, blaming you for hurting Shal. I felt like scum for hurting her and still do, but she knows I don't love her. Marisol, I could understand if you threw me out right now, I don't deserve you. But if you'll give me another chance, I promise you I'll give you all of me. I am about to ask you something I have never ask a woman to do, and I am praying you'll give me a good answer. Marisol Rosario, will you marry me?"

"Brennan, is this really you asking?"

"Yes, for once in my life, I'm not holding anything back."

"Than yes, Brennan, I will marry you."

"You will? I mean great. I didn't bring a ring, I kind of did this spontaneously."

"That's fine, we can buy the ring together," smiled Mari. "I need to pack my stuff I guess. I mean I am coming back it Xavier Estates right?"

"Yes you are, and as soon as we get married, you can move into my room."

"Why wait?"

"Cause you said, you wanted to wait."

"I did, but that was before I knew you really love me, not just wanted in my pants," smiled Mari. "Now help me pack."

Brennan and Mari walked into the mansion. No one was around, which was strange. Brennan spoke into the com- ring, "Emma?"

"Brennan, where are you?"

"I'm in the mansion, just."

"Get to the lab now! Shal's in labor!"

Brennan and Mari took off running toward the lab. They both got there in seconds of each other. Jesse stood up, "Alright, she said I had to let you in, not that she had to tell me, cause as mad at you as I am, there's no way I'd want you to miss your child being born. So, go right in."

"Thanks Jesse."

Brennan walked into the lab and saw Shal holding Emma's hand, "Emma, you mind if I take over?"

"Sure," smiled Emma.

Brennan took Shal's hand, "Sorry I'm late."

"At least you're here now, and from these pains, I can tell you, you're right on time!" she screamed as the pain increased.

Shal relaxed and the next sound that was heard was that of a baby crying. Shalimar cried at the sound, and she looked at Brennan, she was shocked to see tears in his eyes.

"Are you alright?"

"It's the most wonderful sound I've ever heard," he said smiling. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, now," she laughed.

"Alright you two," said Adam, "Did you two pick out a name yet?"

"I did," said Shal, "Brennan I hope you don't mind."

"Hey, I have no right to tell you what to name our child."

"Adam, is a boy or girl?"

"Girl."

"Brennan, I picked out the name months ago, Brooklyn Jessica Fox."

"It's beautiful."

"You really like it?"

"I love it!"

"We can call her BJ for short."

"BJ Fox, I like the way that sounds."

Later that night Shal was sleeping soundly and Brennan was in the next room holding BJ as she slept as well. Mari snuck into the room, "Hey."

"Hey, come look at her, isn't she beautiful?"

"She's adorable, do you think Shal would mind if I hold her?"

"No I don't mind," said Shal, who was standing behind her.

"Should you be up?" asked Mari. "I mean you just had a baby, aren't you supposed to stay in bed?"

"Normal women, yes, but I'm a feral, we heal fast. Now back to BJ, you can hold her."

"You sure?"

"Mari, we have to quit this, I'm moving on with my life without Brennan and while he's going to be a great dad, he's going to be your husband."

"You told her?"

"Yes, he told me, and I couldn't be happier for you both. Now I'm going to bed, Brennan place her down for sleep when Mari gets done holding her. She needs her rest."

"Ok, I will, thanks Shal."

"Goodnight Mari, Brennan and goodnight little angel, my little angel."

"Good night Shal," said Mari and Brennan.

OK, so it wasn't that bad right? I hope not, but let me know what you thought, by reviewing. Thanks!