(Two)

Logan arrived at the school, ready to pick up Angel and his daughter, Jessie. Normally, he would send some personal escorts to bring Angel home, but with Kimble in trouble again, had decided to come by himself. He hated this part, having to see the pain in Angel's face, but he thought that by coming down here himself that maybe she would understand that everything was going to be okay.

He couldn't have been more wrong.

Wolverine knew he was in for trouble the moment he saw her and she flashed her tawny eyes at him in anger. She was never one to show strong emotion so for him to see it now meant she was really ticked off. She had been told earlier that Kimble was taken into custody and she would not be seeing him today as scheduled. She didn't need to be told that something had gone wrong, she was bonded with Kimble in ways no one fully understood. From the moment he had broken down in the Men's Room, she had been feeling his distress from levels away. The fact that he had been arrested only gave her a target in which to direct her own anger.

"Hey, kiddo," Logan greeted.

Angel shot him a look of pure hatred and said nothing, heading down the hallway towards the elevators.

"Hold up there, Ange. Gotta wait for Jessie."

"I know the way home. I don't need you!" she shot back, not even slowing.

Wolverine grumbled and caught up with her in three quick strides, bringing her to a stop with his firm and heavy hands clamped on both of her shoulders. "Stop! Now!" he demanded with authority.

Angel obeyed, but kept her back to him, her body radiating an intense fury held in check.

"Now, you know the rules. You don't go nowhere without an escort no matter how pissed ya are at me. Got that?"

Angel twisted, trying to jerk out of his grasp. She got one step before he captured one tiny wrist and yanked her back, his control tight and fine. He had restrained her, but didn't snap her arm. They faced each other now, eye to eye and he saw the depth of her hatred. It was aimed at him whether he deserved it or not, she had judged him guilty. "I hate you!" she hissed at him. "Let me go!"

"Listen up, darlin'. You can hate me all ya want, but that don't change the rules."

Incredibly, she hawked and spat into his eyes before giving him a blunt but effective kick to the crotch. Taken by surprise by her unexpected physical attack, he released his grip on her wrist. His legs buckled and she gave him a shove, toppling him back on his ass. He fell hard and sat there a moment before breaking out into a snarly laugh of bemused impatience as he watched her sprint down the hall away from him. It seemed she was making good use of the self defense classes she had been taking from the time she could walk.

He rose to his feet and gave chase, not even pausing when he heard Jessie call out from behind him. Angel ducked into the elevator just as the doors were closing, making sure to give him the finger as they shut. Logan didn't make it. He slammed an angry fist against the doors, causing more than one person around him to step back in fear. Irritated now and snarling curses, he hit the stairs, taking them two at a time, knowing the elevator wasn't that fast. He made her floor just as the elevator arrived.

Angel saw him there and bolted to the right, heading right for Remy's door. She was screaming now, calling out for Molly as well as sending out telepathic messages of distress that even Logan could feel. Wolverine was fast, but she was closer to her destination than he was. Molly had the door open and was already out in the hall as Angel scooted inside, tears pouring from her eyes.

Molly automatically placed herself defensively in front of the child even as she saw Logan coming. Hackles up, she was growling, Angel's distress raising the feral beast that slept inside of her.

Wolverine was growling himself, but he wasn't all that angry. He backed down first, slowing his pace and taking a less dominating posture in front of his niece. Molly's hands moved rapidly, shouting at him silently and moving too fast for him to read. He held up his own, "Easy, darlin'. Just calm down."

What the hell is going on! Molly demanded, slowing down so her message was more easily read.

"Me and Angel just had a little disagreement."

"Screw you!" Angel shouted from the safety of Molly's protection. "You put my daddy in jail!"

"He had it comin', the little punk!" Logan shouted before he could stop himself. He had been sorely mistreated at her hands and was more than a little put out over it. "Yer so quick to blame everyone else! It ever occur to ya that maybe yer precious daddy ain't wrapped so tight!"

"I hate you! I never want to see you again, ever!" Angel howled and fled to her room, slamming the door shut hard enough to rattle the walls.

Well, that was constructive, Molly signed, caught in the middle. She had been informed already of Kimble's arrest, Remy had called her. She hadn't expected Angel to throw a fit like this, but, really, the girl had been through a lot lately. The only surprise was that it had taken her this long to act out.

Logan was still put out. "I'm so sick of bein' blamed fer Kimble's fuck ups! I didn't make him break the rules! Why is she blamin' me!"

Because you're convenient, Molly replied, calming down. Her uncle was pacing, clearly more used to having the last say. By fleeing, Angel had denied him that. Molly was still in the doorway, not about to let Logan enter, but keeping a neutral posture. She wasn't taking sides. Just let her calm down. She'll be all right.

The elevator chimed and Logan turned, watching as Jessie came out. She came down, her face tight with worry. "What's going on with Angel? She wouldn't talk to me all day."

"Angel's just upset," Wolverine explained, gentling his voice for his daughter. "Kimble's in trouble again."

"Is she still coming over tonight? She was supposed to sleep over."

"I don't think so, kiddo. Why don'tcha head on home, I'll be there in a minute."

"But, Daddy -"

"I said now, darlin'," Logan repeated firmly. "I'll be right there."

Jessie nodded and walked back to the elevator, her head down.

Wolverine looked back at Molly. He could hear Angel sobbing even from this distance, hear her tiny cries of pain. "She gonna be all right?"

Yes. I'll go talk with her. Leave it alone for now. Maybe you can talk with her later.

Logan grumbled and backed off. He was angry in ways he didn't like. This wasn't his fault and he didn't like to have to shoulder the blame. He turned away and went the way his daughter had gone.

Molly found Angel in her room, curled up small on her bed. She soundlessly curled up around the child, holding her tight. Angel sobbed even louder now, "I want my daddy!"

Molly wasn't in a real position to speak, not with the child's eyes filled with tears, so she began to hum softly, stroking her hands over Angel's hair. It took a few moments but Angel eventually cried herself out and relaxed, curling up into Molly's warm and motherly embrace. Molly had always been there for her and she was just as much her mother as Kimble was her father. It was a good thing, it made a proper balance and helped Molly prepare for the motherhood she would soon be facing.

She stayed with the child until she felt Angel fall asleep, then rose and headed for the phone. In times of crisis, she and Remy combined to help straighten things out. She would let Gambit know what was going on with Wolverine and see if he couldn't do anything to help.

A couple of hours later, Logan was down in the gym, taking his frustrations out on a punching bag. He wasn't one to show much emotion beyond anger and impatience and had done his best to swallow down the pain Angel had tossed his way. It was misdirected, but that didn't mean it hurt any less. He could still see her eyes looking at him in that terrible, hurtful way. His gut clenched and he hit the bag even harder, trying to unload this unwanted agony.

He had been at it a while, his body was drenched with sweat, but his healing factor held him up well. He felt no pain in his wrists despite the fact he had been lashing out with deadly force. His arms burned from the effort, but that was pleasurable. He had always enjoyed the physical force of his own body. He grunted and growled, striking harder and harder.

It took him some time to realize he wasn't alone. It wasn't a matter of scent of sound, he had been lost in the red fog of his own rage and sweat and had tuned everything else out. It came on him by the way his anger gradually fizzled out and was replaced by a strange sense of peace and well being. He simply wasn't angry anymore. It was too easy.

He growled softly and looked up, not the least bit surprised to see Gambit leaning in the doorway watching him. "I toldja not to use that charm crap on me, boy."

Remy just grinned at him. "Je suis de'sole, patron. Bad habit, not wantin' m' teammates upset."

"I wasn't upset."

Those red eyes twinkled with amusement at the lie. " 'Course you wasn't."

"What you want?"

"Jael gone, world peace, m' Siskans not locked up. Y' know? De little t'ings. I'll settle for a beer. You game?"

Wolverine stood there, dripping sweat and looking him over. There had to be a manipulation in there somewhere, but it wasn't obvious. "Gotta wash up."

"Bien sur, I'll wait."

Logan nodded and headed for the showers, washing up quickly. He found the thief as he had left him and they headed to the Bistro. They sat at the bar and he let Remy buy him a lager. He expected Gambit to start whining about Kimble and how he should be released, but the thief just sat there quiet, simply drinking. The bar had several large televisions and there was football on. It was late August now and the pre-season games were starting. In an odd twist of fate, the New Orleans Saints were playing against the New York Jets. Remy just grinned and slid a twenty onto the bar. "Twenty says de Saints gonna kick de Jets' ass, mon ami."

It was pre-season and didn't matter, but Logan just grinned. "Saints are pussies. You N'awlin's boys can't play worth shit."

Remy grunted at the playful insult but left the money there. It had been a gesture of peace that had been accepted. They drank and watched awhile, Remy grinning now and again as he watched his team lose and lose badly. He wasn't emitting vibrations of peace anymore, he no longer had to. He could sense Logan was relaxed now, feeling better. Gambit had felt really horrible when Molly told him what Angel had done. It hadn't been the least bit fair and Remy, ever the silent peacemaker, had wanted to see that all was well.

"How's Molly?" Logan asked, a commercial had come on.

"Better. 'Enry's tryin' sumpt'in new. 'E change what she was eatin'."

Logan nodded, absently adding, "Karen didn't get sick much when she was pregnant. Only with Carter. Funny, huh? He's the only one that's X gene positive."

Remy smiled. "Wonder what mine's gonna look like."

"Better not look like Creed," Logan tossed out, thinking of his half brother.

Gambit shivered at that. "Now dere's one ugly cuss, but Molly come out all right. She's de prettiest girl in de place, no contest."

Wolverine chuckled softly to himself. Love was grand. He loved his niece but she wasn't really a looker, not like other women here. She had her good sides and that more than made up for it. Her heart was strong and fine, generous and forgiving to a fault. Remy was seeing her inside, looking in the right place. "Yer kid's gonna be all blonde and claws."

Remy laughed. "Non. 'E gonna be a charmer wit red eyes."

"Red eyes and claws. Just call 'im the booger man. You'll be all set," Logan joked with a wry laugh. There was some irony in there. Carter wasn't a pretty baby, the first one he could honestly say that wasn't cute. There was a soulful intensity in his eyes, though. Like he was already thinking deep thoughts. He didn't cry much, didn't really laugh either. He wasn't like his sisters, he was so serious. Wolverine hoped his son wasn't cursed with the trademark Logan temper and troubled life.

Remy sensed Logan's disquiet if not the reason. "Twenty says 'e got de eyes, patron."

Logan just laughed. "You in the mood to throw your money away today?"

"Non, jus' feelin' optimistic. 'Ow could a man as pretty as me 'ave ugly kids?"

Wolverine's laughter grew deeper, more heartfelt. "That means nuthin'. I'm as ugly as they come and look at my girls. Gonna break hearts, both of them."

Remy was laughing now, Logan's argument had merit. Both of his girls were very pretty. "Quoi? You sayin' if an ugly fuck like you got de goods, a pretty boy like me gonna 'ave a couple of bitch brats? Merci, Logan, t'anks fo dat, really."

Feeling much better now, Logan was still laughing. He was feeling oddly buzzed. He'd had a couple of beers, couple of shots, but it took a lot more than that to get drunk. He wondered if Remy was charming him again, but he couldn't tell. Truth was, at this rare moment of levity, he didn't care.

"When is she due anyways?"

Remy considered his answer, doing the math in his head. "Sometime de end of February."

Logan nodded. That was a long time away. A long time in which things could either stay the same or change horribly. Time hadn't always meant that much to him, but with a family now, it was becoming more and more important. Logan sniffed and checked his watch. "Kimble's out in a couple of hours, just thought you should know."

Remy's hand never paused on its way of raising his glass, but he felt the surprise all the same. He hadn't gone to Wolverine seeking that information but was glad to hear it just the same.

"Aiden, too," Wolverine continued. "Them boys had better've gotten the message. That shit ain't gonna fly 'round here. Aiden seems like a smart kid, guess we'll see how he makes out. He's gonna start workin' down on the loadin' docks in the mornin', got to keep his ass busy."

Remy nodded, happy to hear that the Dreamer was all set. "An' Kimble?"

"Seth got approval to start buildin' his ship. Kimble's out on the site when it starts up next week so long as he doesn't fuck up anymore."

"You cool wit' dat?"

"Nope, but it ain't always up to me. All I want is fer things to calm down. I can't be worrin' about yer boys an' Jael at the same time. You an' me, we're thinkin' the same thing. We ain't got much time."

(break)

Kimble and Aiden were released that night as promised, but they were let go separately and not allowed to see each other. Kimble was escorted by Remy back to the Lab. He was sullen and quiet, keeping his head down and looking at no one. Once returned, he walked past all the beds and into the holding cell where he had been placed in after Mary had been killed. Simply walked in just like it was home now, crawling into a corner and scrunching up tight.

Gambit leaned in the doorway. "You don't gotta stay in 'ere, cher. Nobody said you was bein' locked up."

"It's small in here."

Remy sighed with impatience. He grabbed a blanket for his Siskan and entered. "Punishin' yo'self ain't gonna change t'ings. You don' deserve dis."

"Yes, I do. I lets him falls in love with me. I wuz selfish an' stupid," Kimble complained, covering his face with his hands in shame.

"It ain't selfish, wantin' to be loved," Remy said, spreading the blanket over Kimble's shoulders.

Kimble began to bawl into the corner, shaking now. "It's selfish fer me! I hurted evrabody what ever loved me, includin' you! Stupid ta ever comes out!"

It was times like these that Gambit was often compelled to reach out more than he should, that he might go too far in an effort to help his friend. He just couldn't do that any more. He moved away in his heart, a painful breaking away. He was being forced to reconsider his position about his friend's ability to function in the outside world. Maybe Logan was right, maybe Kimble should be kept locked up small, placed in an environment where his interaction with others was kept to a bare handful. It seemed like a prison sentence to one such as himself who desired the company of others, but maybe Kimble just wasn't going to be up to it, ever. Completely depressed, he gave Kimble's head a pat and a kiss and left without arguing anymore, the hardest thing he had ever done. He left the cell unlocked in case Kimble changed his mind.

He was met by Henry who was waiting just outside. "How is he?"

Remy's head was down, his words soft as he answered. "Upset. 'E don' care about bein' arrested, it was Aiden dat scared 'im."

"Oh? How's that?"

Gambit gave him a pained smile. "Aiden told 'im 'e loved 'im, po' bastard. 'Ow could 'e 'ave been so stupid?"

Henry was confused. "And that was a bad thing? Why?"

"Now Kimble's afraid Aiden's gonna be hurt by him. You know, de same old crap as before."

"Well, maybe all he needs is time. I won't set the lock on the cell. He can stay there as long as he likes and can come out when he's ready."

"Give me a call when 'e does. I'll try talkin' to 'im later."

"Fine."

Remy nodded and left.

(break)

Aiden was in a better frame of mind at his release. He was all business as he was escorted down to the nurses' station where Babette had been taken. His control cracked when he saw her and he almost broke down into tears. She hadn't taken his absence well and was like a ghost, pale and shaken. "My love, my sziszter, what 'asz 'appened to you?" he cried, throwing his arms around her.

"Men came to our place and took me here. Afraid, I was. Our Master, gone he is. Alone we are with no one to look after us."

"Disz isz szo. All it meanz isz we are free, you do not 'ave to be afraid."

"Never wanted to be free, me. A Master I must have."

Aiden sighed, knowing that she truly felt this way. She had lost twice, first her precious angel child, then her Master. She had been a favorite of Trishnar's and was used by him often. Since they had arrived here, Aiden's new obsession kept him from her, they hadn't coupled. For Siskans, the intimacy of sex had many purposes, it was a way to bond as simple as hugging or sharing any other pleasure, a way to feel each other out. His intimacy with Kimble in no way diminished his feelings for his sister or his desire to ease her pain. Sex was the best way to reaffirm their bond and now he felt some guilt at his neglect of her. Aiden squeezed her tightly, absorbing her vibrations of distress with a soft shudder. He loved his sister, he did, like the whole world. Always she had been there for him, now he must be there for her. "I will be our Maszter zen."

She looked at him in shock. "You cannot. No Siskan can a Master be."

"Eh? Szaysz who? Szome sztupid council long szince kilt by ze Dognan asszholesz? Some Chuckfet, fuckin' fleshling? Non. Aiden never followsz rulesz. No more will zey apply to me. I will be your Maszter if dat isz what you need. Love you and keep you szafe, me. Disz Aiden will do for you."

She could only nod her assent and give in to his words. They were truly alone and on their own for the first time in their lives.

He took her home, ignoring the guards that trailed them. They were not invited in, Aiden opened his door and slammed it shut in their faces. He lay his sister down and made passionate love to her, for her and for himself as well. It lightened her spirits considerably and was beneficial for himself as well. He was feeling the strain of this new place where the rules didn't always make sense. He was still wounded by Kimble's last words and prayed Kimble would reconsider. In the meantime, he had work to do.

Lying on his bed, the warm and contented body of his Siskan sister beside him, he considered his options. He knew he would have to go to work and earn credits for them. This he would do. He was arrogant and hard, but he was of all things fiercely loyal to Babette. He said he would take care of her and he meant it. He would work, settle in, and give Kimble a couple of days. He would then try to bump into the pilot and see if his feelings had changed. He closed his eyes and slept.

He woke an hour later, screaming. He was the Dreamer. He saw the war, he saw the visions. It had been this way for as long as he could remember. It wasn't going to stop just because his situation had changed, oh no. He lay trembling, drenched in a slick gel sweat as Babette petted him and whispered soft Siskan in his ear. He was the Master now, it was her job to care for him and so she did. He quieted and fell back asleep in her arms, softly mumbling Kimble's name over and over again.

The next morning he rose and was presented with a new problem – what to do with Babette while he was gone to work. He decided he would just have to break up his work day somehow so he could come back here during his breaks or something. He left Babette a list of chores to do in the apartment, ordering her when he saw that she responded best to a raised voice. He promised to return shortly and left. He felt a sense of relief when one of his two guards stayed behind to watch over her while the other followed him down to the loading docks. There he gave his work release to the foreman and found the man most agreeable and willing to accommodate. He could work in two hour blocks, having an hour in between to return to his Babette and give her reassurance.

This is good, Father grumbled. We need the work. We need to keep the watchful eyes off of us.

We need Kimble, Talalanay whispered as well. We need him to do what we came for.

No we don't. We just have to be close. Being with Kimble did nothing but waste valuable time, Father said.

"Aiden will work, zen 'e will look after Keemble. We can do bot' if we are careful," Aiden whispered to his ghosts in the usual Muzla as he huffed and puffed, loading boxes from a plane to a pallette truck. He knew his co-workers could hear him muttering softly, but he cared not one bit. He did his work, actually enjoying the physical labor. He had always been active at Trishnar's and was now happy to have the opportunity to use his body in this way.

He was also being paid handsomely, the foreman was very pleased with his new man. He would be paid by the day, as was all the workers here. The turnover rate for a labor intensive job like this was pretty high. Most folks started here and moved on to something easier as quickly as possible. His wages were better than he had he had expected, it meant the harder he worked, the faster he could pay off his debt to Gambit. There were always supplies and other goods being shipped in, he could work all the hours he wanted.

Aiden was tireless. He worked his set, went home and saw to Babette, and came back for another set. He was out in the sun as he worked, no need to recharge. He found himself taking extra hours right away, the foreman eager to have him. His mind set and his path chosen, Aiden settled down and bided his time, waiting for Kimble.