Hello! Wow the mini-mutants went faster than iced tea in the desert! Had I known there was such interest in the little darlings I'd have done that sooner. Though surprisingly (or not surprisingly I suppose) the most popular ones were the most troublemaking. I find that oddly hilarious for some unknown reason. Ok so total you guys picked up (4) Pyro clones, (8) Rogue clones, (4) Icebaby clones, (3) Splody Girl clones, (7) Gambit clones, (3) Shadow Kitten clones, (4) Nightcrawler clones, (1) Magma clones, Aw no Toad, Blob, Cyke, or Jeannie clones o well. So now for the distribution of the lil bundles of trouble and joy.

Dis Chick Digs Da Fuzzy Dude- Yeah I love them too and I decided to share the love with all of you, my lovely friends. LOL thanks for the cough drop thing. And I presume you mean Hearts' Desires? Well, I'm not going to say he is or isn't but he's definately at least a source of stress for her there. To find out who it really is, I guess you'll just have to wait until that little nasty secret comes out. Yes telemarketers are obnoxious. Before the beautiful creation called caller Id I'd pick up the phone and hang up. Once I think I picked up, heard where they were from and screamed in their ear...but that might have been a dream. Glad you like it. The Kitty/Lance scene had me cooing and giggling for an hour. But it's ok. My family already knows I'm nuts. Ok, wow, the trouble makers hm? Have fun. (hands over each toddler). Take care and thanks for the review!

el diablo- Thanks. And yes I wager that Mystique's little visit will be very interesting, if I do say so myself. Nice choices. Have fun and give them lots of attention, but you may want to keep this bunch away from sugar. LOL. (hands over toddlers) Thanks for reviewing!

Lance Avalanche Alvers- laughs nervously and hides bag of sugar Um...ok. Thanks for the review!

Realtfarraige- Yeah, he's probably on the verge of one. I bet it was just the icing on the cake for him. Ya, but its their job to annoy civilians so I guess we'll hafta live with it. Ya Mystique was nearly bursting with maternaly-ness. But it's deliberate as will be revealed in the chapters to come. Yep that was my little reference to the Mystique/Forge relationship. I may do more with that one, or maybe not, still thinking on it. Yeah he should probably mention that, but if he did right now, all he'd get is a very wide eyed blank stare and a talk about the birds and the bees. And I daresay he has enough to deal with. Yup Mystique's weird like that. Yup Carmen's luck doesn't seem to be very good lately is it? Yes they are. I figured that they were started earlier, though I couldn't resist having Rogue be better. I loved the Lance and Kitty scene too. It just seemed like something they'd do. Nice choices on the mini-mutants, they may act up but they're darlings, really. (hands over toddlers) Have fun, take care, and Thanks for the review! (which I got twice by the way)

JediTwitch-I know. I figured I'd let everyone think that and then add the telemarketer for comic relief. Yeah, Mystique did take it awfully calmly didn't she? Hmm...Glad you liked the Lance and Kitty scene. It made me skwee! Um about the cliff hanger...um...thanks for reviewing?

Sweety8587-LOL lifesize may be better. But the four-year-old is more fuzzly and huggly. But sure, adult Remy is a perfect companion for Marie. Just hope he doesn't mind babysitting. Glad you like it so much. I love writing it. They are? WOW! I honestly only discovered the comic the X-babies about a month ago and I was amazed. I severely 3 them! Drop me a line if you hear anything else. Thanks for the review!

xmengirlzrule- No worries. And awww thanks, that means a lot to hear. Yep I plan on the Mystique incident being pretty funny. Since it's summer, I'm trying to update a lot so look for my next updates soon. LOL and a challenge you'll have, as you picked the most rambunctious bunch. But they all are huggable and loveable too so you're in for a special treat. Have fun with 'em and take care. (hands over each toddler). Thanks for the review!

MagCat- LOL Yeah I had to bring in Betsy. I love her too much not to. And yes, I personally agree with the Carmen thing. It shall happen, keep it in mind. Glad you liked it, the kids will get home eventually. Hey didn't I review that? I could have sworn I did...I'll hafta check it out again. Thanks for the review!

Numbuh 333 half way 2 hell- Ok, Kitty you wanted and Kitty you shall get. I love Lancitty. I'll hafta check out your stuff then won't I? It would be nice to convert some of the non-believers wouldn't it? Thanks for the review.

silverbells-Ok sounds good. Here ya go. (hands over southern toddlers) Glad you like it, thanks for the review!

Dis Chick Digs Da Fuzzy Dude-LOL yes I figured what you meant. And as I'm honestly not sure yet, I can't honestly tell you. But don't hurt him! If it is him someone needs to pay child support! And the next HD chapter will go up after 24 hours so keep a constant watch and thanks for the review!

STIG-LOL Yes he is, and maybe she can. It would be nice if something went the right way for once eh? Thanks for reviewing!

howlerdrode-Glad you like the chapter, and yep that's what Betsy's coming for. Yes, I would say that he is. Yeah he SHOULD be, but he's got a short attention span. So he decided to help replicate the mini-mutants. Well nobody wanted Scottie or Jeannie so no worries. And as much as I wish I could say I wrote for X-babies, alas I didn't even know it existed until I discovered it about a month ago. It made me happy and it's on my birthday list. Thanks for the review!

Mai24-Good choices. Sorry the chapters are shorter, but I think they tend to be better when I'm not cramming about 2 or 3 chapters together. I kinda like the flow a little better this way. Yay! I think your the first person who noticed, or at least the first person to comment on that. She is capable of a second chance and between you and me, she's a darned good actress. Mystique is kinda a living embodiment of a skitzo. LOL yes Remy is so huggly. Meep (hides) I'm writing I'm writing! Thanks for the review!

Shira's Song- Yeah that's what I was going for. Nope it can't be, but hopefully that particular scenario can be avoided. The present will be cool, if I may say so myself. Yes, but Lance is trying to stay out of trouble and Warren bought Lance's story so they're clear for now, but that protection will be gone with a telepath in the mansion. I'm glad you like this so much. Thanks for the review!

The real Kitty Pryde- (sighs) Regretfully I have to tell you it isn't on TV anymore. I cried when they took it away. But at least I have the eps on dvd so I can take mild comfort in watching reruns...Sorry that it isn't on anymore.

Ivy-Ok, great choices. Glad you like it, thanks for the review!

black cat of the black rose-Ok thanks for the review.

disclaimer- (stares at monitor in disbelief before breaking into tears. Avatar tries futilely to comfort) I can't take this! My beef jerky tastes like shoe leather, my tea cup has a hole in it, my pink sock is missing and I own nothing! Nothing! Unless the cyst in my ear and the black and red sharpies I use to color guys' eyes black and red in pictures count...

" The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense."

-- Tom Clancy

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Pietro was grudgingly cooking dinner, as his sister was upstairs watching over the sweet little southern toddlers, and Lance was still sleeping. Piotr wasn't too much of a cook and the others were busy with keeping the kids busy and quiet.

He scowled into the pot of macaroni and cheese. This mess was inflicting severe damage on his social life and he didn't feel it was fair. He hadn't planned on spending any Saturday night ever, home babysitting.

Yet here he was chopping hotdogs to tiny bits that couldn't be choked on and adding them to the macaroni and cheese on the stove. He chucked some cauliflower and carrots into another pot and set them to boil. All that was missing, he thought bitterly, was a frilly pink apron.

He looked warily around the kitchen. It was still clean and he rather preferred it that way to how it looked after the twelve mini-mutants ate in it. He wasn't very fond of the idea of scraping macaroni off the walls and ceiling, but what could he do?

Then suddenly what seemed like a brilliant idea dawned on him. It was a beautiful summer evening, with a pleasantly warm temperature and clear sky. Why not eat outside, like a picnic. That way all the mess would be outside for nature to clean up. He took a liking to his idea but decided he'd better run it by a couple of the others first. He turned the stove low and zipped down stairs to find Lance stirring from his catnap.

"Hey Pietro, how long was I out?" He asked as he sat up, yawning.

"Bout-three-hours, listen-I-was-thinking-what-if-we-ate-outside-tonight? Less-mess-to-deal-with."

Lance nodded in approval. "Sounds good to me." He glanced down at Kitty who was still curled against him, thumb in mouth, fast asleep. "Isn't she just so precious?"

Pietro rolled his eyes. "Yeah. Sure. Whatever. So-I'm-gonna-go-and-get-dinner-finished-and-then-I'll-set-the-play-pens-up-outside."

"What?" Lance asked confused.

"Well-this-is-a-huge-estate-and-you-can't-expect-to-keep-the-kids-under-control-with-out-them." Pietro rolled his eyes.

"No, I meant you said something about finishing dinner." Lance frowned. "You didn't leave the stove on did you?" He narrowed his eyes.

"Its-on-low." Pietro rolled his eyes. Before Lance could explode he dashed off.

Lance shook his head and glanced back at Kitty. "What'll I do with him, huh?" He didn't expect an answer, but he did take comfort in the fact that she kept breathing just as peacefully. He dog-eared the page in the book and then gently maneuvered Kitty away from his side. She stirred slightly and he gently lay her down on his pillow.

She blinked and opened her eyes. "Mornin'" She smiled.

"It's night time sleepy head." He laughed and tickled her nose. "Almost time for dinner."

"O." She sat up. "What we eat?"

"I don't know, pretty Kitty." He shrugged. "Pietro made dinner. But we're all going to go outside like a picnic."

"Picnic!" She squealed and clapped her hands. "Yay!"

"Sounds good?" He chuckled and she nodded happily. "Well you help me get all your friends upstairs and we'll get to have the picnic that much faster."

"Yay!" She grinned and climbed off the bed, running as fast as she could to all the other kids. "Hey guys! Wanna pinic?" She called out.

"Picnic?" Jean asked, delighted. "With food an' a blankie an' watty melman an' everythin' like that?"

"And ants?" Tabby's eyes lit up.

"Prolly." Kitty nodded.

"Ewww ants?" Jean cried.

"Can't have pinic widout ants!" Pyro cheered. "Yay!"

Lance supressed a laugh at the look on Jean's face as all the kids toddled or crawled over to him and Kitty.

"Go, Go, Go!" Kurt cried out joyously. "Ants!"

Lance shook his head in amusement and led the trail of children upstairs. He scooped up Toad and Amara in each arm and watched as the other kids crawled up the stairs slowly. They were in the rec-room when he realized that two of the kids might want to join them. He passed the two littlest mutants to Colossus and Amanda and doubled back to the infirmary.

He entered and found Marie and Remy leaning against each other and breathlessly watching the ending to The Lady and the Tramp. Wanda was playing cards with Lorna, Dr. Worthington was clacking away at the computer console and Carmen sat idly on an empty bed scowling at Wanda in dislike.

"Hey you guys." He crouched down beside Marie's bed. "How's it going?"

"SHHH!" Remy turned and scolded. "Tramp jus' getted taked by the doggie pound! We gott' see if he get out!"

Lance rolled his eyes and let the kids watch the end of the movie. "Any new development?" He asked Dr. Worthington tentatively.

"Not really anything verifiable." He was answered curtly. "For a moment there was a blip in Ms. Danvers' brainwaves but nothing since." He sighed. "So far Marie is looking quite normal, well as normal as one can be in the given circumstances. And Elizabeth should arrive first thing in the morning. She says she would have come sooner but her brother is visiting from London and leaves tonight. She's having dinner out with him and everything. I didn't want to disrupt twin time. I wager you don't know how twins get when separated but neither of them are very happy."

Lance chuckled. "Yes, actually I do know." He glanced significantly over at Wanda who grinned. "Two of my best friends are twins. And while I'm sure neither of them would admit it, they can't stand being apart too long. If for nothing else but to annoy the Hell out of each other."

Wanda laughed appreciatively in acknowledgement of the truth.

Dr. Worthington nodded. "Yes, well its been a long while since Betsy was able to see Brian so I'm sure you understand. The situation isn't critical at the moment, as their stats are stable with the exceptions of Ms. Danvers' absence of thought pattern which, medically I cannot understand. And Marie s condition is unpredictable given the nature of her age and powers."

"So she's going to be okay?" Lance asked hopefully.

"I can't tell at this point. It is very frustrating as a doctor, I can assure you." The doctor frowned.

"Well, the reason I came up was the rest of us are having a picnic outside and I wanted to know if I could take these two with me?" He gestured to Remy and Rogue who were watching the end of their movie intently.

"The boy is not even under observation. For a four-year-old, his broken arm is not even inhibiting him as much as one would suspect. Lorna, you obviously did quite a job setting his cast. Did you use waterproof dressing?"

Lorna looked up, caught by surprise. She blushed, pleased with his praise. "Yes, sir, Warren. I figured it would be better that way. And...I think he's right handed so his left being injured isn't so debilitating."

"Good girl." He nodded. "So Lance, your free to take him. And as for Marie, well I have no medical reason to keep her cooped up in here. Though if she has another episode, waste no time in getting her back into that bed immediately." He turned back to the monitors. "Lorna, you may go as well. I realize that you're off duty in about twenty minutes. Thank you for your help."

"Oh it's no problem." Lorna smiled. "Even if I was off hours ago I couldn't just ignore the situation, sir."

With that she smiled at the two toddlers.

"You like kids do you?" Carmen asked from her perch.

"Why not?" Lorna grinned. "They're the hope of the future. And they depend on us for so much."

"Pity." Carmen sneered.

"I beg your pardon?" Lorna's smile slid from her face and was replaced with a look of mild confusion.

"There's way too many bleeding hearts like you in the world." Carmen scowled. "People who care more about the welfare of brats than themselves. You're one of those pathetic saps who'd donate an entire paycheck to those poor starving waifs in Africa aren't you?" Her voice held a tone of disgust and mock.

"So?" Lorna asked quietly. She believed in helping the needy. Was that so wrong?

"They're just playing you, you know that right? They don't give that money to any orphans. They keep it themselves. Naive idiots like you are just lining the pockets of con-artists." Carmen spat smugly.

Lorna stared at the other girl.

"You know what, Rodriguez, I think I've had just about enough of you and your trash!" Wanda growled and her clenched fists glowed blue. Various lethal looking medical supplies began rattling and levitating but Carmen showed no sign of fear.

"Oh, you wanna play witch?" She smirked. "Bring it on. I can take you. With or without powers."

Wanda's eyes narrowed. A bunch of needles levitated up and did a weird little circle dance around Carmen's head.

"A telekine huh? Come on, you gotta have something better than that witch. I've seen better at magic shows." Carmen taunted. "Wow scary. Shakin' in my stiletto's over here."

Wanda smirked. "What's the probability that say, your hair could light on fire about now?"

"Wanda, No!" Lance ordered trying to get between the two girls. "This is not the time or place and she's not worth it!" He warned.

Carmen gently pushed him aside. "You should listen to your little boyfriend, witch. He, at least, seems to understand what he's talking about."

"He is not my boyfriend!" Wanda scowled. "And he's gonna stay out of this." She warned. "And I'd say the probability of your hair spontaneously combusting just rose to about 100 percent."

"Oh what, you got some trick mirrors and flash powder up your sleeves? Hmm?" Carmen snickered. "Are you a mutant or a parlor magician? Come on witch, show me what you've got."

"First, it's Scarlet Witch to the likes of you." Wanda smirked calmly. "And second, I don't do magic tricks. Cheep illusions? Check with Mastermind. Card tricks, go find Gambit. Mind Reading, not for me, but Xavier could help you. Me? I specialize in one thing only. Allow me to introduce you to chaos magic." With a wink the bottom of Carmen's long hair caught fire.

For a long moment she stared at the flame spreading slowly up her hair. Then she shreiked, a horrible bloodcurdling cry. The sprinkler system reacted a split second later, isolated the flame and poured freezing cold water upon it until it was extinguished.

She stood there, drenched and scowling. "I hate all of you." She snapped. "I'm out of here. When Carol wakes up tell her I went home!"

With a red blur she sped out of the room. Lorna and Warren stared at Wanda, in horrified awe and shock. Lance merely groaned.

Wanda shrugged defensively. "Hey don't look at me, I didn't kill her or something. Though, I can't honestly say it wouldn't be doing the world a favor." She scowled.

Lance bit back a laugh. "Come on, Wanda, let's go down and eat. Maybe the fresh air will calm you down."

Wanda scowled. "What, I don't hafta listen to you. You're not my boyfriend, or my master."

Lance rolled his eyes. "Just go. Pietro cooked."

"Oh in that case, I must go pick on his lack of cooking ability." She headed down to the grounds.

Lance turned to Lorna. "You can come too if you'd like." He offered politely. She smiled hesitantly.

"That sounds fun."

He nodded and looked at the two toddlers. "Hey you two want to come eat out at a picnic?"

"Ok." Remy nodded. The credits for the movie were rolling and apparently had already thrown his interest. He climbed nimbly down from Marie's bed but she stayed in place looking crestfallen. "C'mon M'rie. We gonn' have a picnic." The boy called enthusiastically.

"Ah can' go." Marie frowned. "The docta sayed I gotsa stay here."

"No, its alright Marie, sweetheart. Doctor Worthington said we can take you down." Lance smiled.

"Really?" Her eyes widened in hope.

"Really really." Lance nodded.

"Yay!" She clapped her hands and stood up to climb down.

Lance reached for her to pick her up but was stopped short by a sharp glare. "Ah can walk ya know."

"Alright." Lance threw up his arms. "Lets go."

The two toddlers led the way downstairs skipping happily.

Lorna fell into step beside Lance. "Gee, is Wanda always like that?" She whispered, almost afraid the girl would hear her.

Lance laughed. "No not really. She's a lot better with her temper than she used to be. But when she gets set off, well you don't wanna get on her bad side."

Lorna's eyes were wide. "I'll keep that in mind."

"She's really not like that all the time." Lance assured her. "There's just something about that Carmen girl that brings out the worst of her."

Lorna shrugged. "It's understandable, I guess. She isn't exactly nice to anyone, is she?"

Lance shrugged. They reached the front door and saw the two southern toddlers staring wide eyed out it, and Wanda beside them, gaping with her jaw dropped and a look of utmost horror splashed across her face. She was clutching the door frame as if she didn't trust her own ability to support her weight.

"Wanda what's-?" Lance moved quickly towards her, afraid she'd collapse or something. He trailed off when he realized exactly what had stunned her.

It appeared that Pietro and Carmen had collided, while both in super-speed. She was practically draped across his lap and he was staring at her like a thirteen-year-old boy who'd lived with monks all his life and had never before seen a girl.

Lance was stunned to recognize the star-struck googly eyed look as the one the normal aged Toad always held for Wanda. It was unnerving really, to see the normally cool and confident Quicksilver, practically drooling over a girl. Wanda groaned softly at Lance's side and sank to the floor, still in shock.

"I'm gonna need therapy."

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Ok I know I know, the cliff hangers are bad and all that Jazz. And I know there's a lot of latent Carmen hostility. Which is why I have some very exciting news for all of you. First, in the story that I am co-writing with howlerdrode, End of the World, Carmen dies. And its a gruesome death. It happens in the next chapter to go up (chapter 11) so if you want her to die a bitter and evil death I'd personally recommend taking a peek over to howlerdrode's account. And on a similar note, I have noticed a lot of people want her dead. I'm getting a lot of violent vibes, which is oddly a good thing, as I want her dead too. So now I hereby grant the right to comically kill Carmen to the first reviewer to request the privilege. Just ask and you shall receive. Only catch is you have to let me know when it goes up. Ok and since I see that this will be a coveted prize, I may grant others the express right via e-mail only. But the supreme right is for the first reviewer, so the race begins in 3...2...1...REVIEW!

7-23-05