Wow, let me tell you, this idea of adopting out mini-mutants was pretty effective. In addition to last chapter's adoptions, there were 17 newly adopted mini-mutants. Woot! Give yourselves a pat on the back. And now everyone give a standing ovation for the brave soul JediTwitch who must be a saint or something because he requested a complete set! That's a dozen little bundles of cuddles and trouble all in one household. Lets all wish our dear jedi good luck and God Speed, eh?

Roguyroo- I have updated! Enjoy! Thanks for the review!

JediTwitch- Congratulations! You are now the proud care taker of 12 mini-mutants. Woo hope ya got yaself one heck of a job...And a nice fenced in yard. Oh yeah. Carmen bumping into any guy is eeksie. Pietro, well ya that's gonna cause a little bit of friction won't it? Looks like you win first rights to 86 what seems to be the world's most unpopular OC. Congrats on that too. Take care and thanks for the review!

Lance Avalanche Alvers- LOL Both are great ideas. Glad you like it, thanks for the review!

Sweety8587- Yeah child caretaking usually makes me run for the nearest cabinet under the nearest sink to hide in. But the mini-mutants are alright. Nah I don't think he'd mind. Rems strikes me as the kinda guy who secretly loves little kids, even if they do scare him a wee bit. If the X-babies do come in could ya tell me the issue? I'd love that. LOL, yeah, I guess I'm gonna tap into Xavier's Swiss bank account and end up payin' for group therapy...hehe. Glad you like it, thanks for the review!

xmengirlzrule- Agreed, I may just end up needin therapy myself...Nope Mystique is coming in definitely next chapter or the one right after it, I promise. Remember gotta get through the evening before its morning. Thanks for the review!

wandathetiger- Thanks for adopting! (hands over mini-mutants) Have oodles of fun! They're all looking forward to their new home. Glad you like it, thanks for the review!

MidniteAngelGoth- Yeah sorry bout those, they just kinda creep up on me. This one isn't so bad though is it? Lol glad you like it, thanks for the review!

luthien-rogue- LOL yeah guess that should be on the agenda eventually. She doesn't seem so popular does she? Though may I suggest if you want, checking out howlerdrode's story End of the World? Carmen dies a gruesome death in that story. Woah Woah Woah! Back up! What's that about Remy sleeping with...Mystique! Can ya fill me in on that? I'm so clueless as my parents havn't gotten me a subscription...I really hope he isn't that much of an idiot! YAY! Gold star (does happy dance) Thank you, and I'm glad you enjoy the story. Thanks for the star and the review!

howlerdrode- Yeah, who saw that coming? Oh yeah he's in for an emotional roller coaster...Nah actually he's a relatively fussy eater so I figure he'd hafta be a decent cook. The others will eventually get here, no worries, unless you don't like ants...Glad you like it, thanks for the review!

MagCat-Well I must say I cannot wait to see how you enact your plan! Glad you like it, thanks for reviewing!

Dis Chick Digs Da Fuzzy Dude- Aren't they such darlings? Yeah, I've noticed Johnny-boy tends to be balanced by Bobby. LOL Not too many people seem to have faith in Pie's culinary ability huh? Well lets just say it can't be any worse than Kit's cooking. Yeah, I'm seriously thinking Carmen wins first in 'most hated OC'. Oh she shall die, eventually. And if you wanna check a story where she does go to howlerdrode's End of the World. I'm cowriting it with him and I coordinated the Carmen death specially for all BID Carmen haters. Check it out, (She dies in ch. 12 but the rest helps clue ya in as ta how). As for the HD baby daddy drama, all shall be revealed in good time. Glad you like it, thanks for the review!

RomyRocker961- Well howdy! Welcome aboard, I hope you enjoy this story. I'm glad you like what you've seen so far, thanks for the (plural) reviews!

Realtfarraige- Lol you're quite welcome, glad you're enjoying them. Yeah Pyro does seem that type huh? LoL yeah, I don't think Wanda'd be too happy to let Pietro get involved with Carmen either. Glad you like it, thanks for the review!

epicmuse- Glad you like it, thanks for the review!

SickmindedSucker-LOL yes that does seem to be the general consensus, doesn't it? Odd how it sounds like Mystique cares, eh? As for Logan, well I'm debating whether the kids act like nothing happened when the 'dults get home or they come back and find a bunch of babies. Both could work quite well. Though you definitely provided me with an awesome mental picture! Glad you like it, thanks for the review!

black cat of the black rose- Glad you like it, thanks for the review!

Masau- LOL (or should that be LOQ (laugh out quietly?). I'm glad you like my story that much. Yeah, I've noticed librarians get a bit testy bout that kinda thing. So shhhhh, glad you like it and find it that funny, thanks for the review!

Geeky Annie- Glad you like it so much, thanks for reviewing!

epicmuse (again and again and again)- LOL glad ya like it, thanks for the multiple reviews!

silverbells- Glad you're enjoying the toddlers. I liked that scene too. Yeah, I've been trying to fill in the plot cavities I accidently left. Glad you like it, thanks for reviewing!

Q T Pie- Glad you like it, thanks for the review!

saz-Thank you. Glad you like it, thanks for reviewing!

el diablo- LoL yeah, something must be done about Carmen eh? Glad you like it so much, thanks for reviewing!

Rogueyroo- Yeah that would be weird wouldn't it? Glad you like it, thanks for the review!

ceilidh- Glad you like it, thanks for the review!

Ebon's Girl- Glad you like it, thanks for the review!

SapphireSnake- Uh hehe caught me, but I did fill that plot hole in a wee bit later...And here ya go (hands over a mini-Kurt) thanks for adopting; enjoy and take care! Glad you like it, thanks for reviewing!

Pointyearzrule- Thank you! I hope this chapter was funny, and I can definitely promise lotsa chibi mutant mischief when Mystique makes an appearance. Glad you liked what happened to Carmen, thanks for the review!

Shirley Hilton- Hey welcome to the crew! Glad you liked what you read so far, thanks for the review!

A.M.bookworm247- LOL (hands over mini-Remy) Thank you for adopting, enjoy and have fun! Thanks for reviewing!

ChloeMarie-LOL I couldn't abandon these sweethearts! I solemnly swear that I won't let this story die and get discarded. Though it may take a while between updates, I am a slow worker. I am glad you like my story that much, thanks for the concern and the review!

aprun- Well I've recently put a lot of thought into it and decided that I don't actually want anything hugely bad or fatal to happen to any of the crew. So if I ever get the idea for Jean torture again (which honestly I don't think I will anytime soon) I'll keep your idea in mind mk? Thanks for the review!

bloop- Salutations to you too. Thanks for the review!

Doza- Wow I must say I'm impressed with your dedication to my story! Not done yet, but I'll be happy to tell you about any sequels that may result. (Between you and me I do have a few ideas for one that may be a sequel that might be able to stand on its own) Wow. I'm flattered that you are so impressed with my accents to ask for help! I'd love to help in any way I can. I love doing accents, it's so fun to me. If you need any help feel free to e-mail me. I'm heartsyhawkyahoo and I'm generally pretty quick with e-responses. Yups. The Carol Danvers thing was a twist on something a lot of people cover, in a whole new way, hopefully one that wasn't expected until I revealed her name at the end. And yups! Have a cookie, they're quite good! Everyone who sticks with me for this long and is so patient with me and my slow update schedual deserves their own batch! I'll admit it gets frustrating for even me when I have so much going on that I can only squeeze in a little time before bed each night. Hm, you'd like an assassin penguin? Sure why not? You can have this one here if you don't mind one named Razzle. Just be careful. Assassin penguins can get a little tough to manage sometimes, LOL. Hehe. I've noticed Carmen hasn't won herself many friends round here eh? Well that's alright I suppose. I would have been hurt if I had kept her original purpose. Then somehow my tolerance of her mutated and transmogrified until I wanted people to dislike her...Thank you so much for sticking with me and I'm glad you enjoy it so much. Thanks immensely for your (3) reviews!

Disclaimer: Yay! I got the deed! And I have a lead on the missing sock! Joyous day! And my mini-mutant set has an odd fascination with flushing non traditional items down the- TABITHA SMITH BRING THAT DEED BACK HERE RIGHT THIS SECOND! (FLUSH) (sighs) Well, I had a deed...anyone have any interest in soggy paper in which ink is illegible?

☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺

Wanda stared in disbelief. Her brother shook his head and gave Carmen a dashing smile.

"Sorry-I-wasn't-watching-where-I-was-going." He said, with an apologetic shrug.

Carmen glared at him. "Pay-attention-next-time-stupid-head." She snapped, her Spanish accent flaring.

"You're-really-pretty." Pietro blurted.

Her lips curled into a smirk. "I know." She shrugged. "It's a gift." She said proudly. Then her features darkened. "At least it was before that lil dog in red and black had her say."

"Wanda?" He blinked. "Aw she's harmless." He shrugged.

"You call burning my hair harmless? All you freaks are loco en la cabeza (1)." She snapped. And showed him the singe that was once her long glorious hair.

"My-sister-did-that?" He asked surprised.

"That perra sicopática (2) is your sister!" Carmen growled.

"Uh...what?" Pietro asked cluelessly as he didn't understand Spanish too well.

"She's your sister?" Carmen gaped.

"Wanda? She's my twin." He nodded.

"Ella es su hermana (3)!" Carmen cried out in Spanish, and clapped a hand to her forehead.

"Uh...I don't speak Spanish." He admitted and she gave him a withering look.

She glanced over to Wanda, who looked a lot less threatening, and a lot more ill for some reason. Carmen's face morphed to a smirk. This could be interesting and Wanda's reaction could make this little detail work it to her advantage.

She leaned in and kissed Pietro full out on the lips, then pulled away with a smirk. "Call me sometime, okay?" He nodded, wide eyed and dazed.

With that she zipped off in a blur of red. Pietro stared after the direction she headed, looking vaguely stupefied.

"Ewww!" Marie was first to find her voice. "Yucky!" She frowned, wrinkling her nose. "Paytro kissed her!"

"Dat not be right." Remy agreed, looking disgusted with Pietro. "Why dey go'a do dat so we can see it?"

"Growed ups are weird." Marie shook her head sadly. "Ah don' wan' eva git old."

"Remy neider." He frowned.

Lance grimaced and took each of them by the hand and gently led them down the steps. Wanda shook her head and followed silently, still shell shocked. Lorna looked a little uneasy herself as she hesitantly came down the steps.

Pietro collapsed back onto the grass smiling with his eyes blissfully shut.

"Um...Earth to Pietro." Lance waved a hand in front of his friends face. "What happened?" He turned to the group of people that had been outside.

"Peeto was zoomin' round so fast we couldn't not see 'im." Kitty started.

"An' then the lady came outta the house real fast." Tabby chimed in.

"And Peeto couldn't not see her cuz we could not see her cuz she was goin' way really fast." Kitty added in, giving Tabby an irritated look.

"We couldn't see him or her." Tabby informed Lance with a cheeky smile at Kitty.

"Sop it! 'M tellin' him!" Kitty scowled.

"Sop it! 'M tellin' him." Tabby mimicked.

"Don't copy!"

"Don't copy."

"Lance, Lance! Tabata's copping me!" Kitty pouted from behind the playpen bars. "Make her sop!"

Lance shook his head in half amusement. "Girls, play nice."

Colossus smiled gently. "Pietro vas using his super speed to go and get the food. That girl came out of the mansion at a speed very much similar to Pietro's. They did not see each other and collided." He explained in his heavy Russian accent. "Then he seemed quite enchanted with her. And she with him. As they sat their for a few moments just staring at each other."

Lance frowned. "What color were his eyes?"

"I cannot say." Colossus bowed his head. "From this distance my eyes are not very sharp. And I was not paying any attention to such details. Though I cannot imagine why they would be anything other than his normal blue."

"If his eyes were glowing pink she was using her powers on him." Wanda explained bitterly. "She can play with the stuff that makes you feel like you're in love."

Everyone's eyes leapt to Pietro who sat up grinning like a kid who'd just gotten his first kiss ever. "Wow. What-a-girl." He nodded in approval of her. "Wow. Just...Wow. I mean, geez she's gorgeous. And that accent of hers is to die for. And man is she hot stuff."

Wanda bit her lip and rolled her eyes. She signaled for Lance to knock some sense into his friend, not trusting herself to say anything.

"Careful Pietro. Didn't anyone ever teach you not to play with matches?" Lance asked edgily. "Carmen's got the potential to be dangerous for anybody."

"Carmen?" Pietro tested the name and smiled in acceptance. "Sounds-exotic-and-mysterious-and-fun. It-definitely-suits-her." He took a deep breath and nodded seriously. "I think I could love her."

"You don't even KNOW the first thing about her!" Wanda exploded.

"Your sister's right, Pietro." Lance sighed. "You're jumping in and definitely playing with fire here."

"Well-then-I-think-I-just-became-the-new-resident-pyromaniac." Pietro sighed contently.

Wanda and Lance exchanged a wary glance. To their knowledge, Pietro had never used the L word in the presence of any other person with the possible exception of his mother but that didn't count. And now he was saying it in all seriousness about a girl he literally just bumped into. But what made them uneasy was what they knew about her.

Pietro noticed and frowned. "You-know-I've-never-tried-getting-in-your-face-about-your-relationships. Wish-you'd-repay-the-kindness."

"Pietro, we just don't want to see you get hurt." Lance said in a way trying to show that he wasn't hostile.

Pietro hmphed and crossed his arms. "You-aren't-my-boss. Or-my-father." He said sternly.

Lance looked ready to respond but Wanda put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't. He's a big boy. He can make his own descisions about his own dating life...I hope."

Pietro scowled. "I'm-going-out. Dinner's-in-the-kitchen." Then he zoomed off.

Lance sighed bitterly and threw his arms in the air. "He is so..." He broke off at Wanda's sad sigh. "What's wrong."

Wanda shook her head and shrugged. "He can be so stubborn. Way too stubborn for his own good sometimes." She bit her lip hesitantly. "I just wish he'd stop to think before rushing into stuff."

"Well, if he did that, he wouldn't be Pietro." Lance rolled his eyes.

"True." Wanda nodded. "He'll come back. Right now we should get the little ones dinner." She gestured to the playpen of curious minimutants. "They're hungry, and unlike him, they can't get their own food."

Lance agreed and set Marie into the pen with the others and then turned to lift Remy in. "Guess I'll go in and get the food. May take me a few trips, but oh well. What can I do?"

"I'll help." Lorna volunteered.

"No, that's alright, you're a guest." Wanda chimed in. "You stay and play with the kids and I'll help him." She pointed out.

"Alright." The young nurse smiled gently, ruffling Remy's hair and earning a look of disgust as he patted it back down.

"Actually comrades. If you would prefer it, I could go and retrieve the food. It would take me fewer trips, given my strength." Piotr spoke up.

"That's true." Lance nodded. "I'll help you. That way we can do it in one trip."

Piotr nodded curtly. He stepped over the pen wall and headed into the institute. Within a few minutes the large group was eating dinner in the warm summer night air. The kids seemed happier to be playing outside than having food, so as soon as all of them had lost interest, except for Toad who was happily nestled in Wanda's arms, guzzling a bottle of apple juice, Lance cleared the dishes and Colossus and Spyke went inside to find some playthings for the little kids.

Lorna smiled as Toad cooed happily from his place in Wanda's arms and closed his eyes happily. "He's adorable." She said warmly.

"Yeah." Wanda agreed. "I used to think he was obnoxious, but I've grown to love him like this." She smiled and tickled the little boy's nose. "He's a little sweetheart."

"How old is he?" Lorna asked in a gentle voice.

"About a year old...give or take." Wanda answered.

"Really? He's so tiny." Lorna stated.

"He's always been like that." Wanda shrugged.

"Isn't he a little old to be drinking from a bottle all the time?" Lorna asked curiously.

"Honestly, I don't really know." Wanda sighed. "Before really recently, I've never been around little kids. You work in a hospital, how old do kids usually get out of bottles?"

"Well, I think parents usually start training babies with cups about five or six months." Lorna frowned thoughtfully.

Wanda looked surprised. "Is it bad that he's using bottles?"

"I don't think it would hurt him or anything, but you guys should probably try him with a cup pretty soon." Lorna pointed out kindly.

"I guess so." Wanda nodded, shifting the small boy's weight in her arm.

His hazel eyes fluttered open and he beamed up at her, cuddling closer. "My Wanna."

"Ohhhh, he's too sweet." Lorna gushed, as Wanda felt her heart melt.

"Really." Wanda tenderly kissed the little boy's forehead and hugged him gently.

An impish look crossed his face and his tiny fist shot up and found a handful of black hair after failing to catch an earring. She had deliberately selected a pair that could not be grabbed or pulled on. With a wince she forcefully pried his small hands from her head.

"Mine!" He informed her.

"No, mine. This is my hair Todd." Wanda corrected sternly.

"NoNoNo!" He said in a cheerful singsong.

Wanda sighed as Lorna stifled a giggle at the small child's antics. Wanda firmly held Todd's hands still and he started fussing. Instantly Wanda was cuddling him and cooing for him to calm down. He laughed and cuddled close.

At the small laugh, Pyro stopped trying to catch Kurt. He tilted his head, scrunched his face, and frowned. He toddled over to Wanda and tugged at her pant leg.

"Me wan' up!" He raised his arms insistently.

She looked a little confused at the sudden attention. Lorna laughed softly.

"He's jealous. Todd is getting your attention and he doesn't like that set up." She explained with a smile. "He just wants you to hold him for a little."

Wanda nodded and looked down at Toad who had just clutched at her arm as if he understood that his position was being compromised. "I don't know how well that's gonna work." She admitted.

Pyro pouted and raised his little arms higher and whimpered to get his point across.

"John, I'm holding Todd right now." Wanda tried to explain. The older mini-mutant's baby blue eyes widened and filled with tears.

His bottom lip trembled and he tried raising his arms higher. "Peez up? Peez?" He pleaded.

Wanda sighed and shifted the smaller boy. "Johnny, I'm holding Todd."

Toad gave Pyro a somewhat smug look and nestled closer to Wanda's arm. Pyro sat down hard and sniffled, the warning signs of a tantrum on the horizon. Wanda's eyes widened and she reached for the teeny redhead.

"Shhh don't cry Johnny," She said softly with a smile as she arranged it so her lap had room for both the boys. Pyro gave Todd a mischievous look and wrapped his arms around Wanda in a hug.

"That's so cute, they're both jealous of each other." Lorna grinned. "They like you."

Wanda nodded, a smile in place. "So I see." She laughed. She kissed each on the top of the head.

Kurt looked sadly at the happy group of mutants and sighed. "Me too?" He asked quietly.

Lorna's heart melted. "Wanda...it looks like somebody's feeling left out." She nodded at Kurt whose eyes were big and sad.

Wanda looked up and couldn't resist the heart melting scene. "What's wrong Kurt?"

The little blue boy held his tail in his hands sadly. "Mommy useta holded me like that. Miss my Mommy."

Wanda exchanged a glance with Lorna and the nurse extended her arms to the small boy. "Come here Kurt," She said gently.

Kurt toddled closer. He bit his lip and looked at Wanda, then Lorna.

"I think he'd rather have you." Lorna smiled.

Wanda frowned, her lap vacancy was already surpassed. What was with all this sudden interest in her anyway? Why did all three of these little boys want to sit on her lap, when Lorna was sitting right next to her, with a perfectly empty lap of her own.

Lorna chuckled softly at Wanda's dilemma and pulled the small blue toddler into her lap. "You seem to be quite popular with the little guys." She smiled.

Wanda shrugged her shoulders. "Don't know why. This is a recent development."

Pyro closed his eyes with a content smile, cuddling closer to Wanda. "My Mamda." He cooed.

Lorna smiled. "Awwwww he's too precious."

At that moment Spyke and Colossus exited the mansion with entertainment. Somewhere, quite possibly either in Bobby's bedroom or Jamie's, they had located a few large bubble blow wands and filled a large bucket with soapy water figuring that would be fun. Spyke had also found a few water guns and filled a cooler with a bunch of water balloons. It was a very warm evening and Evan was carrying two large duffel bags, stuffed with fluffy towels and a change of clothes per toddler.

The mini-mutants all flocked towards the two mutants who brought entertainment to them. Pyro gave them a reproachful look when he saw the bucket of soapy water but squealed in delight when Lance showed them how to blow bubbles. He tried to catch them and was frustrated by the fact that they popped every single time he managed to trap one in his hands. This lasted until his short attention span caught sight of a bright orange water gun.

He picked it up and tried to make it squirt water. Little did he know, he was holding it backwards, and thus ended up with a burst of water straight to his face which left him spluttering and staring at the gun in disbelief.

Kurt was one of the first to get into the water balloons, popping his first one over Kitty's head as she chased bubbles around happily. As the cool water trickled down her head, she stood completely still, shocked as she watched the water drip from her hair, before beginning to cry.

Lance was by her side in a flash, cooing and hugging and calming her down. "Shh, it's alright Kitty-cat. It's just a little water, pritty-kitty."

Kitty sniffled and looked up at him miserably. He smiled at her and grabbed a big fluffy towel. "Poor girl, Wanda's gonna take you inside so you can get into some nice warm clothes, alright?" He said kindly.

Wanda smiled gently at Kitty and reached to pick her up. Kitty nodded and Wanda brought her inside.

Kurt put a hand to his mouth. "Uh oh." He said, trying and failing to hide his grin.

"Uh Oh' is right." Lance assured the boy. "That wasn't very nice."

Kurt shrugged and scampered off to the balloons again. Lance sighed and shook his head. Bobby and Tabby got in on the action and started a water balloon war. It was their team slaughtering Scott, Jean, Fred, and Amara, who could barely hold a balloon, let alone throw it.

Rogue watched Remy chase bubbles around with a raised eyebrow. "Whatta ya doin'?" She wrinkled her nose.

"Remy catchin' de bubbles." He laughed and jumped for a high one.

"Yo' doin' it all wron' tho'." Rogue frowned.

"Nuh uh." Remy shook his head. "'S how dey doin' it." He gestured to Todd and Amara who'd given up the war after being pelted severely by the girl who would grow up to be her best friend, as Tabby was going nuts with the balloons. Jean had also forfeited, sick of Scott bossing them all around.

Rogue looked and sighed. "Remy, they doin' it the baby way." She explained. "Everone whose anyone knows ya don' do it that way!"

"Den howd'y' do it den lil miss smartypants?" He asked coyly.

Rogue rolled her emerald eyes. She trotted over to the buckets. When she came back she was holding something behind her back. Remy tried peeking over her shoulder but she didn't let him. "This is how ya do it tha right way, Rem." She pulled two large water guns from behind her back.

Remy's eyes widened. "Dat works. Definarily." He nodded and reached for the red one.

She grinned impishly and fired both of the water guns at him, catching him by complete and total surprise. "Hey dat ain' fair!"

"Alls fay in lub, war, an' card games, Remy." Rogue smirked. "Dat's what ma mama says anyhow...Ah think..." She paused to frown then shrug. "Oh well. This is how ya do it the right way."

She took aim with the green gun in her left hand and shot down a particularly big bubble. She turned back to Remy with a cheeky smirk.

He gaped at her, demon eyes huge as sauce plates. "Dat was so cool!"

"Thank ya." She smiled modestly before grinning impishly. "Mama teached me ta be the bestest shooter around. She lets me pratiss on the game where ya shoot the duckies wid a gun on the tv."

Remy nodded in his approval. He took the red gun and the two shot down the bubbles as fast as Piotr and Lorna could blow them.

Wanda soon came back out of the mansion with kitty in tow. She had changed Kitty into the pink footed pajamas. Lance got an idea when he saw her.

"Hey Pritty-Kitty." He scooped her up and kissed her nose.

"Hi." She smiled, curling one arm around his neck and putting her other thumb to her mouth.

"You all warm and dry?" He asked. She nodded, sleepiness showing in her eyes. "You tired?" She nodded again. "How would you like to sleep out here?" He asked, having been inspired by her pajamas. She removed her thumb and thought for a moment before nodding her approval and putting her thumb back into place. "Well that settles it. You guys up for a camp out?" Lance asked the others.

Piotr raised an eyebrow, and Spyke looked inquisitive. Wanda looked up curiously.

"I think the professor has a couple big tents in the garage. We could set two of em up. One for guys and one for girls. It's a warm enough night that we shouldn't need to worry about it. It could be fun for the kids."

"I don't know..." Amanda piped up, startling Lance as he'd forgotten she was there. "I mean, you guys are down a lotta people. There are the kids that went to camp, which takes away six right then and there. And I have to leave really soon. Can you guys handle 12 toddlers on your own?"

"She does have a point." Spyke pointed out. "I mean, face it, man. Since Quicksilver took off in a righteous huff, we're down to you, me, Wanda, and the tin man. What kinda odds do you think we'd stand against 12 little kids?" He asked skeptically.

Lance frowned, not wanting to admit that Spyke was very right.

"I could stay if you want." Lorna volunteered. "I really don't have anything on my schedule for tonight. I'm free until six tomorrow night. But then I'm on call for the night shift The head nurse Mary's daughter is getting married that morning and the reception may not be over in time for her shift.In either case I can stay over, if you guys don't mind of course."

Wanda looked at her like she'd just grown a third eye. "Are you crazy? We'd love your help. You're a nurse, you know what these kids need better than all of us put together. And as of right now I'm the only girl who will be here all night." She cast wary eyes on Tabby who was cackling horribly as she hurled a balloon at Pyro who looked frightened and miserable until he remembered he was the one holding the water gun. "And I can make no promises that both all the little girls and me will make it through the night if there isn't any help."

Lorna smiled. "I'll be happy to stay and help. It looks like you guys have your hands full with this crew."

Spyke raised an eyebrow as baby Toad splashed happily in a mud puddle and Marie and Remy ran by spraying the water guns at each other full force, Marie's special method of popping the bubbles completely forgotten. "You think?" Spyke asked sarcastically.

Lance gave the younger mutant a withering glare and turned to Lorna. "We'd really appreciate the help Lorna."

Lorna nodded with a smile. "Ok then. Just let me call my uncle and run home to grab a change of clothes."

Wanda nodded. "Sounds good unless you wanna borrow something of mine. Or one of the other girls who live here." Wanda studied the girl. "You look like you're somewhere between Jubilee and Kitty's sizes. And you'd probably like their stuff too."

Lorna smiled. "That works. It'll save me about an hour commute. I guess I could always wash what I borrow and head home in the morning."

Lance nodded. "Then I guess the only thing to do is get the tents set up, and um, maybe get all the kids changed and dry."

Piotr headed to the garage. "I will be happy to get the tents assembled. I shall get them away from the wet grass however."

"Thanks big guy." Spyke clapped a hand on Colossus' back. "Think you need any help? I mean, those things are pretty heavy."

"I am quite certain that I will be alright." Piotr inclined his head.

"No really, I'd rather help you than hang around the runts." Evan assured him.

Piotr shrugged and the two headed off. Lance rolled his eyes in Evan's direction. Looked like he had to take care of all the boys. Now the only problem was rounding up the kids. They were scattered throughout the rather large play area and he didn't think they'd come quietly if they knew they were almost at bedtime.

"Ok guys, who wants to camp outside?" Wanda called to the kids. A few of them ignored the girl totally. But the rest looked over at her curiously.

"Like grill spouts?" Jean asked softly. "Where we stay in a trend and sing songs?"

Wanda blinked, having never been a girl scout. After all, what chance did she have, she had grown up in an asylum, not that she remembered that but still. Fortunately Lorna knew how to reply.

"Yep, just like the Girl Scouts, Jean." She said kindly.

"My sister Sarah is a Grill Spout." Jean said sweetly. "She likeded it when they went camping. They stayed in a trend, and swept in sweepy bags, and singed lotsa songs and made artsycalfs. It sounds fun."

"It will be." Lorna smiled. "Why don't you guys all come over here to us and we'll tell you more."

The kids came curiously over. "Have any of you ever been camping before?" Lorna asked the group. Most of them shook their heads. "Well, when you camp, you sleep in a tent outside all night."

Remy frowned. "Why would some'ody do a t'in' like dat?"

"Because it's fun." Lorna explained.

"Why sweep in tend?" Tabby asked solemly.

"Because a tent is more comfortable than sleeping straight outside." Lorna smiled.

"Why?" Remy asked.

"So rain doesn't fall on you." Lorna said cautiously.

"Why?" Tabby tilted her head to the side.

"So you don't get wet." Lorna forced a smile, sensing the game being played.

"Why?" Remy blinked innocently.

Lorna sighed. "Because you don't want to get sick."

"Why?" Tabby's blue eyes widened.

"Because. Just because." Lorna sighed and brought a hand to her temple.

Remy opened his mouth again and Lorna snapped. "That's the way things work. Don't ask why Remy." She warned. He grinned at her.

"Will we sing songs around a campfire?" Jean tugged the older girl's pant leg. "Sarah did."

After Lance shrugged a 'why not', Lorna smiled. "You bet. But only if you guys come inside and get into nice warm clothes so you won't get cold overnight."

"But I's too hot aready!" Bobby complained.

"Don't you wanna wear your super hero costume again Bobby?" Lance tried gently.

The toddler's face lit up. "Yeah!" Lance chuckled, this morning they'd had to fight to get him out of his pajamas.

"Ok then, do you all like the idea of sleeping outside?"

"Gunna be buggies?" Pyro asked curiously.

"Uh yeah, I guess." Lance raised an eyebrow.

"You sayed that we'd get to see ants in our pi'nic but Oy didn' not." He pouted sadly.

Lance blinked. "Well, if there are any ants around tonight, I'm sure you'll see them." He said kindly.

The little boy nodded and they all headed in. Wanda and Lorna took Jean, Marie, Tabby, Kitty, and Amara as Lance took the boys to get changed.

Lorna checked with Warren if Marie was alright to sleep outside and he repeated his earlier instructions only advised them to keep her very warm and secure.

When Lorna got back to the room the girls had been sleeping in, Wanda was gently brushing Tabitha's hair into twain pig tails. All the little girls were changed into warm and dry pajamas. Kitty was sitting up on her bed, sucking her thumb, exhaustion showing in her soft features. Amara was cooing and babbling contently as Jean gently ran a brush through the silky soft dark baby hair on her head. Jean was being as gentle as she could, as if Amara was a porcelain doll that could shatter very easily. Marie on the other hand was quietly sitting a little away from the others with a woeful look on her face. She didn't want what happened at the pool earlier to happen again.

She looked at her friends and sighed. She wasn't the only one who did strange things. Tabby could make little exploding balls, that was pretty cool. Bobby could turn things into ice, now that would be fun to have. From what Remy had said last night, the strange looking blue boy could make himself disappear and reappear. Even Remy himself had a cool power. He could blow things up. She didn't think she'd mind if she could do something like that. She didn't know exactly what happened to that life guard, but she could still hear the other girl in her head. Her head hurt like somebody was hitting her brain from the inside.

She clenched her eyes shut. "Leave me lone." She whispered to the voice in her head. "Ya hurtin' me. Ah didn' mean ta do nothin' to ya!"

Jean turned, compassion in her own grass green eyes. "It isn't your fot Marie. It was a atsident."

Rogue looked up, confused. "How'd ya hear thayat?"

"You sayed it." Jean frowned.

"Nuh uh." Rogue shook her head. "Ah on'y thinked it."

Jean bit her lip. "Then how come I knowed you thinked it?"

"Maybe y'all can read people's minds." Rogue suggested.

"But...I don't even know my ABC's past J!" Jean protested. "How could I read peoples brains?" She panicked.

Marie shrugged one shoulder. "Ah dono. Just like how Tabby makes them splody balls, and Bobby can turns thingies into ice or how Remy makes stuff blow up." She sucked in a pitiful breath. "Or like how Ah hurted that lady at the swimmy pool."

Jean lay a hand on the younger girl's arm. "Everyfing will be okay."

Marie managed a smile. "What can ya tell the future too?"

Jean shook her head. "No. Just I know somehow that it will."

Lorna smiled at the girls then turned to Wanda. "Um, you mentioned something about borrowing clothes?"

Wanda nodded. "I can go get you something from one of the other girl's closets. You don't strike me as the type to be too into my style of clothes." She headed out of the room but then poked her head back in. "Um, nightgown or 2 piece set?"

"Either's fine." Lorna assured her. "Thanks again."

Wanda smiled and waved it off. Lorna turned to the girls.

"You guys all look like you've had a fun day." She said warmly. Tabby nodded.

"We went to the swimmy pool and watched movies and then we ate dinner outside an Tabby not eben a...bit sweepy." She said with a big grin as she yawned.

"Really?" Lorna laughed.

The girl nodded her head. "Yups."

Lorna rolled her eyes in amusement as Tabby yawned again. Surveying the room showed her that Marie seemed a little afraid.

"Hey Sweetheart, what's wrong?" She asked sitting beside Rogue.

Jean answered with a sorrow filled sigh. "She feel bad bout hurting the lady at the pool."

"Aw Marie, it was only an accident." Lorna said gently, laying a hand on the little girl's back. "It wasn't your fault. Everything will be okay. I promise."

Marie shrugged. Jean bit her lip and scurried over to talk to Kitty.

"Hey, you know what?" Lorna smiled at Marie. "When I was little my mom would braid my hair in pigtails when I felt sad. Would you like me to give it a try?"

Marie tilted her head to the side. "Okay." Lorna picked up a brush but decided against using it on the little girl's natural ringlet curls. She separated the hair into two thick strands and then divided one strand into 3 smaller sections. She then carefully wove the girl's hair so a white streak ran through the braid, separating the two sections of auburn hair. She finished the end with a dark green elastic hair band from a multicolored pack on the table in the planning room. She quickly did the other side and smiled.

"How does it look?" Marie asked.

"Very pretty." Lorna assured the girl. She fished around her pocket for a small mirror and showed the little girl who smiled.

"Thank ya." She nodded politely.

"No problem." Lorna smiled warmly.

Wanda cleared her throat from the doorway. "As much as I don't wanna break up the tender moment, we should probably head outside soon. It's getting kinda late." She said sagely, glimpsing Kitty's drowziness and Tabby's yawns. "Oh and I have two choices for you. Purple PJ's with Hello Kitty on the front or a yellow nightgown." Wanda held the two choices out for Lorna's approval.

Lorna squealed at how cute the teddy bear on the night gown was but she picked the purple pajamas for modesty's sake. She hurriedly changed and helped Wanda escort the little girls outside.

Piotr and Evan were sitting by the tents waiting when they got out. Wanda and Lorna looked impressed with the set up, and sat down in the enclosed area, letting the girls play as they waited for the boys.

About half an hour later Lance trudged out of the mansion, looking exhausted. He was loosely holding Toad in one arm, and Pyro's hand with the other.

"Sorry that took longer than it should have." He sighed tersely. "There were a few too many issues." He narrowed his eyes and sighed in the general direction of Bobby who was looking smug, Kurt who was sniffling, and Fred who was holding a tissue to a bleeding nose.

"Uh oh." Wanda bit her bottom lip. "Do I wanna ask what happened?"

"Probably not." Lance shook his head grimly. "But I'm telling you anyway." He said seriously. "Bobby thought it would be fun to teach everyone else how to ice skate."

Wanda brought a hand to her mouth.

"That sounds bad." Lorna sighed.

"Bad I can handle." Lance groaned. "Johnny slipped immediately, and of course banged up his elbow pretty harshly and skinned his knees on the metal floors of the DR. And of course by the rules of nature, Freddy was trying to help our resident Aussie up and fell over onto him, smashing his face into the wall. And then Toad started pulling on Kurt's tail calling him a 'kiki', which I think means kitty."

"Poor little guys." Wanda said softly. John saw her and wrenched his hand away from Lance and hurled himself at her, latching tightly around her left knee. She looked in bewilderment at the shockingly orange top of his head. She gently pulled him off and knelt to be at his eye level.

"What's wrong?"

"Bobby hurted Johnny wif ice!" He murmured. "Made me skinned moy knee an' bump m'elba." His blue eyes widened.

"Remy see'd." The older boy nodded sagely. But then he whimpered and cast his eyes to the ground.

"Remy? What's wrong with him?" Wanda asked Lance who sighed.

"He had his own little incident." Lance winced. "You might actually say he started the whole mess. He accidentally charged one of his socks and he was so shocked he dropped it. The blast knocked Bobby down and he retaliated. So now Remy blames himself for the other's getting hurt."

"Remy, it was an accident." Wanda said gently.

"Tried telling him that." Lance shrugged, setting Toadling down into the enclosure. "He isn't listening. He's ashamed of his powers."

Wanda gave the young boy a pitying glance.

Marie came over with a curious expression. "Whatcha sad bout Rem'?"

"Don' come 'ny closer." He snapped and backed up.

"Why?" Rogue frowned, confused.

"Cuz Remy don' wan' y' t'." He said firmly. She rolled her eyes and stepped closer.

She snorted defiantly. "An' dat matters whah?"

"Don'!" Remy whined. "Go 'way!"

"Don' hafta." She smirked.

"Oui y' do!" He narrowed his demonic eyes. "Remy sayed t'!"

"Ya ain' the bossa me." She said in a singsong as she stepped closer.

"Don' touch me." He warned.

"O' what?" She asked defiant as ever, taking a step closer.

"Remy don' wanna hurt ya." He said weakly, with a big backwards step.

"Rem', ya won' hut me!" Her emerald eyes grew large. "Iss lahke ya sayed ta me. Ever'fin's gonna be alright."

"Dis be diff'ren'." He frowned.

"How?" She asked. "Ah fink iss tha same ezat fing!"

"It ain'." He assured her.

She stamped her foot. "Remy! Ya ain' gonna hurt no one."

He sighed. "Y' don' know dat! So don' go an be all brave. Don' touch Remy!"

She rolled her eyes and sidled up close to him. She reached out a finger and smirked as she brought it to his shoulder and hovered her fingertip an inch away from him. "Ah'm not touchin' ya."

"Stoppit!" He grumbled.

"Stop what? Ah ain' doin' nothin wrong." She smiled innocently

He glared at her. "Lance make 'er stop!"

"Marie," Lance started in a dissapproving tone.

"Ah didn' do nothin'!" She pouted. "That a crime now?"

Wanda rolled her eyes at Lance. It was almost as if the two had switched normal personalities. Remy was usually the persistant one and Rogue usually acted up the fear.

"Look Remy, Yo' always tellin' me tha' ya can't just give up, an' things'll turn out all right. But then ya go an' say stuff that means the osopite. Ma mama calls that bein' a hypercat." Marie frowned. She reached to hold his hand.

He shook his head sadly and pulled his arm behind his back.

"Y'ain' no fun anymo'." Marie scowled. "Yo' actin' like a lil baby. Yo' splodin' power's jussa parta who ya are. Ya can't be 'fraid of it. It's silly. Jus almos' like if Ah was scared a mah white hair." She said sagely.

"Ah'm dang'rous." He said in a bitter tone. "Remy can hurt peoples."

"So what?" She cocked her head to the side. "Ah can too. An' so can Tabata an' Bobby too. Anybody can hurt anybody else but that ain' a good reason ta be scared of ya own self."

Lance smiled, for a three year old, especially a three year old Rogue, that was quite a speech. He wondered what exactly could have made this spunky little girl grow into the recluse she had eventually become.

Remy thought about what she said. He bit his lip and then tilted his head to the side, scrunching up his little nose. "Y' t'ink dat fo' real?"

"Ah know it." She said simply. "Ma mama says its true, so it gottsa be."

Remy nodded and his demeaner seemed to cheer up drastically. "So we gonna sleep outsides t'night?"

"Yea we sure are Remy." Lance chuckled at his sudden moodswing.

"An' are we gonna have a cramp fire?" The little boy's eyes lit up.

"But of course." Wanda smiled.

"Den Remy call first dibs on ghosty stories!"

☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺

Hi again, (hides under desk) Please don't be mad, I know that this was a very long wait for the update, and it may not be what you want to happen in the story at the moment but I can promise that in the upcoming chapters things will get side split hilarious and straight sugar/pixie stix sweet. But on a madly desperate ploy...I desperately need help! Anybody out there know any good ghost stories? Bearing in mind the age of the tellers and audience...I have a few but I'd love to get some creative ideas from you, my beloved fellow readers and writers. I can do silly and a touch scary but we don't want any two year olds with nightmares about blood sucking zombies or something. So if you have any ideas for a story a lil kid would tell please don't hesitate to submit em.

ALSO ON ONE FINAL NOTE, ANYBODY WHO WISHES CARMEN TO DIE A MOST PAINFUL DEATH, PLEASE CHECK OUT MY CO-WRITTEN STORY "END OF THE WORLD" IN HOWLERDRODE'S ACCOUNT! I AM SURE THAT YOU WILL BE SATISFIED WITH THE RESULTS!

1. crazy in the head
2. psychotic bitch
3. She's your twin

♥HH♥

completed September 27th, 2005