A/N: Thank you Mezza999 for the reviews, glad that you are enjoying the story. Thank you to all of my silent readers out there as well. One more chapter after this.

brigid1318...are you ok or just having a drool fit over your fav characters making an appearance? LOL.

Chapter 12

Marie and Charles watched as the children exited the plane. The older, more seasoned mutant students began mingling with the rescued children, introducing themselves and directing them to the dorms where they would stay until their families could be contacted, and returned home.

Those who didn't have families to return to, for whatever reasons, Charles would offer a place at the school. Educating and training them to, someday, become X-Men. Caring for and loving them as his own, as he had done countless times over the years.

Logan was the last to walk down the ramp, bouncing little Luke on his hip, smiling widely.

Marie couldn't hide the joy that came upon her as she ran towards them. "Logan! Luke!" Before she could make it halfway up the ramp, Logan put a hand up to stop her.

Marie looked at them perplexed, as Logan got Luke's attention, pointing to Marie. "Who's that, huh? Who is that? Is that mommy?"

Luke stretched his arms to Marie. "Ma ma! Ma ma!" He giggled and bounced. "Ma ma!"

A tear came to Marie's eye. "L-Logan! He said his first word." She reached for Luke, holding him close. "His first word!"

Logan rubbed the back of his neck. "Yyyyeeeeaaaa... his first word, ma ma." He gave a half grin.

Marie knew that posture and look all to well. "Logan?" She growled a warning.

He shrugged. "Actually, his first word was da da, but it was quickly followed by ma ma." He spoke fast, hoping it would smooth things over.

Marie laughed. "Well, it doesn't surprise me...the way you spoil him and everything." Her eyes sparkled at him as she wrapped an arm around his waist, placing a kiss on his lips.

"Ma ma. Da da. Bbbbrrrrppp. Da da." Luke giggled.

Logan laughed, slinging his arm around Marie's shoulders as the family began walking off together. Marie gave a thoughtful look at Logan. "Honey, what happend to your jacket?" She asked eyeing the rips, holes and blood.

Logan shrugged. "Got shot...again."

"You what?" Marie exclaimed as her eyes grew wide with shock.

"It's nothing, darlin'. Healing, remember." He gave her a kiss to the top of her head. "Come on honey, let's get Luke checked over good, then head up to our room so I can clean up."

Marie eyed him a moment. "Uh-huh. Don't think for a second this conversation is over, mister. I want details."

Logan sighed, he knew that tone and that she wouldn't let up until he told her everything. "Yes dear."

~ooOoo~

The group was in Charles' office, as the Professor had Luke sitting on his desk, making him giggle, which in turn made Charles smile and grin widely.

"It would appear that the venom used to coat the bullets were taken from a mutant who seems to have snake-like qualities." Hank explained.

Marie looked worried. "So, something like this could happen to Logan again? Or Victor?"

Hank shook his head. "I can't say for certain, but after speaking with some of the children rescued, it would seem that this mutant might not be with us any longer."

"What do you mean?" Victor asked.

"They said the young lady was taken from her holding cell some months ago, but never returned. None of the children saw her in the facility again, and the rumor is that she was...executed after Stryker took what he needed from her." Hank explained.

Logan shook his head as he watched Ororo set down the cup of hot Earl Grey tea on the desk near Charles. "I still don't get it, why was Stryker doing this? Was this some sort of government operation?"

Vic snorted in disgust. "I contacted a couple of my superior officers, who know I'm a mutant, and told them what has happened in Canada. Stryker told us he left the Army three years ago, that's not entirely accurate. When he was sent back to the states, he went AWOL and was listed as a deserter and fugitive, they wasn't too broken up when I told them that he's dead. Turns out, the reason he ghosted...he was caught running unsanctioned research in Germany and sent back to be placed in some hole where he'd have people looking over his shoulder at all times. When the plane landed to refuel, that's when he slipped away."

"Any information about exactly what he was doing with his research?" Ororo asked.

Charles shook his head. "The data downloaded contained DNA information of the blood samples he has taken over the years, including yours Victor, but what exactly he intended to do with it is still a mystery, since Hank had to pull the flash drive or risk losing everything."

"But I still don't understand why go out of his way to specifically kidnap Luke? He's not old enough to exhibit any mutant traits, and we don't know if he will be a mutant. After all, Jimmy's other children never developed any mutations, and my bet is that Luke won't either." Victor questioned.

Logan reached over and took Marie's hand. "Revenge. Plain and simple."

Marie furrowed her brows at him. "I don't understand, Detective Mercer said those guys didn't have anything to do with it."

"Babe...it was that asshole ex of yours. He and Dr. Krause worked together to hurt us by taking Luke. Krause told me that the Summers family losing the government contract, hurt them financially in a big way. It also hurt the people invested in their company, Krause being one of those families."

"And what about this nanny of yours?" Wade questioned.

Charles gave a smile as he sipped at his tea, setting the cup down, he explained. "I'm happy to inform you all that Detective Mercer called while you were away. He found Ms. Mills at the Denver airport, and was arrested before she could board the plane. During the police questioning, she told them that Mr. Summers wrote the resume for her, providing the impressive employment references to make it more enticing for you to hire her. This morning, he has been taken into custody and charged as an accessory to child abduction."

Luke made a giggling noise, kicking his legs joyfully at this bit of information. In his happy state, he knocked over the cup of hot tea, screaming as the beverage splashed onto his bare legs.

"Luke!" Marie exclaimed as she and Logan rushed over to him. Marie startled when she noticed the red marks beginning to fade before everyone's eyes.

"Wait. Whoa. I thought that infant mutants only happen when both parents are mutants." Wade said astonished at the sight.

Charles was even more amazed. "Yes, that's usually been the case. Marie...may I have permission to access your mind?"

"Um...I guess. What do I need to do? Will it hurt?"

"No my dear, it won't hurt a bit and you don't need to do anything but relax." Charles said before closing his eyes and concentrating.

A moment later, his eyes opened slowly. "Astounding! Marie, my dear, you have the mutant gene."

Logan's brows shot up. "Wai-wait...Marie isn't a mutant. You must be mistaken, Professor."

Charles shook his head. "There's no mistake, the gene is there, it's just simply that her abilities never manifested."

Victor slapped at his thigh as he let out a loud hoot. "Oh man! I would love to be the one to rub Scooter's nose in the fact that his ex-wife is a mutant!"

"Line starts behind me, bro." Logan smirked.

"Well then, I'm behind Victor." Wade said as he cracked his knuckles and waged his brows.

Marie turned on the three men, an almost evil glint came to her eye. "Oh no you don't. If anyone is going to rub Scott's nose in anything, that honor goes to me first."

The men nodded to one another. "You got it, babe." Logan said as he engulfed Marie in a strong embrace. "Welcome to the club."