++++++ Another day, another chapter.

I hope you enjoy.

I do not own ++++++

Three

They came for her about two days later.

By that time Shelby had managed to talk Wade into keeping Gaia. He said no-with a lot of cursing and threatening to shoot her but in the end he really didn't need to say anything. A lot of people tended to shy away when face with the reality of the man underneath the mask…not Gaia though. Shelby loved him from the moment they'd met but that kind of acceptance from a little girl…she knew would mean a lot even if he never said it.

Underneath the mask was a gentle…yet fucked up soul.

Gaia had caught Wade coming out of the shower, instead of being horrified by his scared body she was full of questions.

"How did it happen?"

"Go away."

"Did it hurt?"

"Go away."

"Is that why you kill people?"

"Go away."

"It feels funny."

"Stop touching me."

Shelby eventually found the two in the bedroom at the foot of the bed, total awe was written across her face as she sat there cross legged on the floor across from the mercenary as he told her blood soaked stories of horror. Shelby had given up the thirtieth time telling him to stop scaring her-clearly Gaia wasn't afraid of blood. It made her wounder exactly what had been going on in that compound to make Gaia not afraid of blood.

Strange things were happening in their apartment building and had been since Gaia arrived, all the plants were growing wild, the air was so much cleaner…It didn't take the mutant long enough to put it all together. Gaia was an elemental which in itself held endless possibilities for whatever side she took. The bruises on her face and the cracked lip from her step-brother hitting her were gone as well. It was no wonder that she was named after Mother Earth.

Shelby was preparing dinner when their doorbell rang. Since Wade was too wrapped up in the process of teaching Gaia how to play hand clapping games-also having been banned from opening the door didn't help either-Shelby answered it. That familiar mass of red hair and scratchy beard with dark sunglasses made Shelby bite her lip. "Jean. Scott. Should have figured wheels wouldn't come himself."

"Can we come in?" Scott Summers questioned.

"Nope," Shelby replied, "we'll settle this right here and now. You're not taking her."

Jean Grey stood their oddly silent. "Professor Xavier figured you would say that. He asked us to remind you that this kind of environment wasn't good for her to grow up in. She'd be best at the school where her gifts can be nurtured."

Shelby scoffed. "Yeah, right. More like where she can be turned into a weapon against the Brotherhood of Mutants. I know the little fight Charles and Eric had over you. They're not having a fight over Gaia. She's six."

"You had a deal," Scott argued.

"Yeah I did," Shelby shrugged, "I will give every cent back but she's not going to your freak castle."

"But-" Jean started.

"You heard the lady," Wade spoke up, gun aimed straight past Shelby's head and right at Scott's left eye. "Go away or I'm making cheddar cheese mutant right here."

"Why don't we at least speak with Gaia first?" Jean suggested.

Shelby sighed. "Okay, fine. But I guarantee you, she's staying here. Her fuckwit father can fight me for her and see what happens," she snapped as her blue eyes flashed green. She stepped aside and let them in.

Looking around the room, Jean searched for the little girl only seeing a wolf pup staring her down from the couch. "Where is she?"

"You're not taking me away?" Gaia suddenly asked. She clutched Wade's leg and used it to hide behind.

Jean smiled softly at her. "You'll go to a beautiful school with others just like you. When you leave, you'll have everything you need to look after yourself."

Gaia shook her head. "No…I don't want to leave."

Jean frowned. "Shelby I don't think this is a suitable environment for Gaia to be staying in. If perhaps you were to take back up your old rooms at the mansion than she can stay with you but she has to come with us."

"I'd rather stab my eyes out with rusty forks," Shelby snorted. "Are you really into taking children against their will? Oh and before you ask, the wolf is Gaia's. Gotta get passed him if you're gonna kidnap her."

"And us!" Wade laughed.

"I think the little lady has spoken," Shelby snapped.

"You had a deal!" Scott argued again. "Jesus, I can't believe how much you've changed. You're just like your sister."

Shelby suddenly rushed at him and slammed him against the brick wall beside their TV. "You ever compare me to her again you won't need to worry about wearing these glasses. I'll gouge your fucking eyes out!"

"Oh do it now!" Wade grinned. "Please! I promise no sex for a month! Do it! Do it!"

Gaia tugged on Wade's arm. "What's sex?"

"Well when a man and a woman-"

"Wade!" Shelby shouted.

"She asked!" Wade pouted.

Jean shook her head. "See what I mean, Shel? This is not the best environment for a girl such as herself to be raised in. Can you look after your childish mercenary as well as a girl as powerful as her?"

Gaia hid back behind Wade and shook her head. "No. I don't want to go."

"I'll repeat," Shelby hissed, dropping Scott to the floor, "she doesn't want to go. If you're worried about us-don't be. I didn't ask for your worry or pity. Gaia's better off raised in a neutral environment away from the X-Men and away from the Brotherhood of mutants. I will give her the tools to look after herself and let her decide if she wants to be good or bad or sit on the fence like many of us do."

"Is that what this is about?" Jean asked her, arms crossed. "Neutrality?"

"It's what it's always about," Shelby hissed. "I'm a journalist. I see the horror of this mutant war and the casualties. I may kill people on the side for money but I do so by a list of morals and principals. You X-Men sicken me. Get out of my house before I let Wade make you into cheese."

"I need to understand why?" Jean sighed. "I need a reason other than childish fear of the unknown and attachment to the ones who rescued you."

"You didn't look me in the eyes like Shelby does," Gaia told her in a grownup voice. "You're like my mumma."

"Meaning?" Jean asked her.

"You look at her like she's a means to an end," Shelby spat. "Now get out."

"We'll be back," Scott promised her.

"With your army?" Shelby snapped. "I'm surprised you can tell yourself apart from the Brotherhood with those threats. If you've got a problem, send Mr B my way and see if he makes it out alive." She drew a gun out of the waistband of her jeans. "Get the fuck out." Shelby slammed the door behind them and locked it.

"That's so hot!" Wade panted. "I'm gonna ravage you till your legs are jello…oh do we have any jello? With little bits of gummy bears?"

Shelby sighed. "Can you be trusted not to burn the house down? I need to go dig into our rainy day funds and buy a bedroom set and clothes for Gaia."

"Would I ever burn anything?" Wade asked, mock hurt in his voice.

"Yes," Shelby deadpanned. "You burnt down a bowling alley in Nebraska because you didn't get a perfect game."

"One time!" he argued.

"Three times," she replied.

"You're no fun!" Wade pouted. He looked down when Gaia tugged on his arm again.

"Seriously Wade what's sex?" Gaia asked him again making the merc dissolve into a fit of laughter.