Chapter 11

"So ready to go, wife?" Clark asks her, oblivious to her stunned state of mind.

"Go? Wife?" Illyana ends up parroting.

Clark looks at her quizzically. "Yes. Go. To the mansion. Christmas party. Catch up with old friends. My parents. Remember?"

"Yes. Of course," Illyana says, probably too blankly. "Bit slow there wasn't I. Probably the hormones," she tries to laugh it off...and hey this is pretty good from someone with no social skills whatsoever that she's managing this. She also brings her hands together and that is when she feels the cool metal band around her 3rd finger. Her wedding ring no doubt.

Clark's lips quirk up. "Just remember not to make any slow remarks around Bart. It's impossible for him not to make a joke out of them. Though if I hear one more lame 'Gotta run' farewell from him I might just have to personally demonstrate how he is not actually the fastest man alive," he jokily threatens his friend.

Illyana arches an eyebrow. "That really true?" she wonders out-loud.

"Well we did tie when I agreed to that televised race with him going around the world," Clark reflects and recalls.

Televised race? Illyana… "Ooh," she says as her hands instinctively go to her stomach.

"Baby kicking again?" Clark queries, happiness in his eyes as he imagines that.

"I...think so," Illyana replies, having no real idea what that was.

Clark smiles. "That's my boy," he says with pride.

Boy? Luckily she didn't say that out-loud. That would have looked weird. So she and Clark are having a son. She has literally no idea what to think about that.

"Well we should go," Clark announces. "Here, I'll get your coat," he offers as he grabs said item of clothing and helps Illyana into it.

Illyana offers him a thankful smile and lets him take her arm and lead her out. After all she has no idea where they are...or what is going on. All she does know is that she has been shifted again...possibly to another alternate future if she was to make a guess.

Once outside Illyana gets a chance to view the house they live in. It's nice. Suburbia she believes they call it. She can't imagine for one second how Clark ever got her to agree to live in a place like this.

Once Clark has helped her into a car they drive off.


Yes drive off.

Illyana had asked him about that in a roundabout way about how it would have been quicker if he had flown them or she had teleported.

His reply had been a sardonic 'In your condition?'

Her condition...she had spent the drive, from New York as it turned out, her hand rubbing her swollen stomach, being able to feel and sense the life growing within. Being that it must be hers and Clark she could sense enormous power already from their child.

This...condition...as when Kara mentioned it in the last future, this had never occurred to her before really. The drive had finally given her some time to process it. The idea that her body can be a vehicle to create life and not simply destroy it...makes her feel...it's like there is suddenly a light amongst all the darkness she believes exists inside her.

An hour later finds the couple pulling up in front of the mansion...which has been expanded even more than it was before. How many students were here now? This place could surely hold hundreds now if she was to make a guess.

Clark helps her out the car because Illyana is quickly learning being this pregnant makes a lot of simple things quite difficult to do. Why would her future self inflict this upon herself?

Upon entering the mansion they are met by a gushing, older, Kitty Pryde. "Oh my gosh Yana, you look radiant," she gushes praise on the demon-sorceress.

"That's one description," Illyana dead-pans.

Kitty giggles. "Yeah, well I know the feeling. When I had my two they tended to use my bladder as a punching bag."

Clark's face scrunches up slightly. "Kitty, I don't need to know these things," he whines. "By the way where are Peter and the kids?"

"Oh around somewhere," Kitty says, waving her hand around in a vague gesture.

"They started crawling up the walls yet?" Clark inquires.

"Thank God, no," Kitty says, sounding relieved about that fact.. "Nor phasing through them either but who knows what will happen when they hit their teenage years," she says with some dread of that period. "Oh by the way, Yana, your brother's here," Kitty informs the blond.

Illyana never saw him in the last future. With Bayville's destruction...well maybe she just didn't want to ask the question.

"He has a new boyfriend," Kitty suddenly tags on.

"Boyfriend?" Yana questions.

"Didn't tell you?"

Illyana shakes her head.

"Yeah, well considering how long it took to get him to come out the closet I say appearing in public with his Beau is good progress."

Illyana wasn't aware her brother was gay so this is a surprise...or it's just some weird alternate timeline. She shouldn't judge that until she has learned exactly the nature of what is happening to her.

"My parents around?" Clark interrupts Illyana's thinking.

"Don't you have x-ray vision and all those other super-senses?" Kitty gives him a critical eye.

Clark shrugs. "I don't use them all the time...and it's ingrained habit to act like I'm just a normal human being," he explains.

Kitty shakes her head. "Yes. Mr and Mrs Kent are around. Haven't seen Claire yet though."

"Oh she'll be late," Clark assesses. "You know what she's like when she's dating someone new. She loses all track of time."

Kitty looks at Yana. "Is he meaning what I think he's meaning?" she asks.

"Depends if you think he's referring to Claire indulging in carnal intercourse," Illyana picked up.

Kitty's nose scrunches up. "I'm not a prude or anything but really. After all these you'd think you'd learn subtlety and discretion, Yana."

"You would think but no," Clark complains in his usual laid-back teasing manner.

"Yes, well, that would explain why she told in detail how, exactly, you got her pregnant."

"She did what?!" Clark chokes.

Kitty's lips curve up in a satisfied manner. It's always fun to annoy Clark. "It was quite a tale. We all were...engrossed."

"Who's we?" Clark wants to know.

"I cannot possibly share that sort of information."

"Just remember, Pryde I know the story of what happened that night in college you phased through the floor when you were staying over with Pete and I," Clark gives her a warning.

Kitty's eyes go wide and her cheeks flush red. "Uh…" she stammers. "I still can't say but rest assured I have told no-one what Yana said."

"I'm keeping my eye on you," Clark warns using the hand gesture to indicate so. "I still can't believe we let you in the League," he mutters as he takes Illyana by the hand and leads her away.

"Hey!" Kitty protests. "I'll have you know the Shroud is the favourite team member according to opinion polls!" she shouts at him.

"What polls?! The one's the exist in that deluded little head of yours?!" Clark shouts back.

"Better a little head than an ego-swollen big head Kent!" Kitty retaliates.

"Whatever you say Kitty," Clark waves her off.

Course what this really is is just the 10plus year continuation of their little snarking competition. They really do still like each other.

As she walks along Illyana is wondering what she was wondering in the last future. Whether she really should just tell Clark who she really is but it's not really in her nature to ask for help. That part of her wants her to work it out on her own.

Also as they walk they pass a myriad of students of all kinds.

"Do you know where you're going?" Illyana asks him.

Clark gives her a dopey grin. "Like Kitty said I do have x-ray vision. I just never bothered until now."

Illyana rolls her eyes at him earning an affectionate chuckle. They pass through a door with a 'Staff Only' sign on it to a space with a stairwell and lift. Clearly thinking of her 'condition' they take the lift to the 2nd floor and upon exiting are in what Illyana recognises is the staff area of the mansion...which has clearly been fully separated from the rest of it.

They reach a door which Clark knocks on and they are bidden to enter.

First to be seen is Mrs Kent though clearly older. Her hair long since turned silvery grey and the wrinkles on her face showing the years and there is a slight stoop to her posture. Her face lights up at seeing her son.

"Clark," Martha greets him warmly with a hug and Clark gives her a kiss on the cheek.

"Hey mom," he says back.

"Illyana," Martha greets her equally as warmly and with a hug. "How's my grandson coming along?" she asks. "Can't be long now, right?" she wonder, taking in Illyana's baby bump.

Illyana can't answer that.

Martha looks at her son who shrugs. "It's kinda hard to be exact," he explains. "I'm Kryptonian and Illyana's...complicated."

Complicated? Well that's as good a description as any she supposes. Personally she's still inclined to just declare herself a monster and be done with it.

"I think it'll be in the next couple of weeks," Clark gives his opinion. "So dad still in the bathroom?" he rhetorically asks.

"Yes. He shouldn't be long now," Martha answers.

And he isn't as he emerges. Like Martha age has started to show. His hair has thinned substantially and greyed with age lines clear on his face.

Clark greets him warmly too and Jonathan returns it and gives Illyana one as well.

"We should get to the party," Martha suggests.

And they do and Illyana gets to see most, if not all the people she knows, as proper adults. It's a little strange having people greet her, one or two she doesn't actually know, as if they're old friends. Her eyes scan the room and catch the tv on in the corner. What's that headline?

"Mutant Equality Act?" she queries out-loud.

"I know right," Kitty says from standing next to Illyana. "Never thought I'd live to see the day they'd recognise us in law as equals. It hasn't passed yet but it should have the numbers in Congress," she informs Illyana.

Well this future seems brighter and happier than the last one by quite some distance.

"Course what matters to me is that it's passed for my kids. With any luck they won't have to spend half their lives battling giant freakin robots and hate mobs," Kitty expresses her hope for the future. "I guess you feel the same for your little one," she believes.

Illyana rubs her bump instinctively. "I suppose so."

"Your ardent enthusiasm is overwhelming, Yana," Kitty drawls in sarcastic tones. "Why are we besties again?"

"Uh..." Illyana hesitates. She likes Kitty just fine in her own time but they're hardly that close. Seems like in this future that has changed.

Kitty rolls her eyes. "Honestly after 15 years you'd think you could answer that," she grumbles.

15years? Is that how far ahead this is?

"Where's Clark?" Kitty wonders, looking around before spotting him. "Oh right, catching up with Barry and Iris. That's never good."

"Hmm?"

"Barry and Clark are like big kids when they're together. I feel so sorry for Iris."

Illyana's eyes focus in. Iris. Yep, that's the same one who was fighting the Flash in the previous future. Seems they too got a happier life this time round. It just reinforces what she has seen thus far. It's like, in this future, everything went their way...or at least enough did to make it a generally good future.

If the future turned out like this even Illyana would have to lay her doubts about her and Clark down and embrace it.

Illyana spots a rough looking Scott leaning on the wall by the fire...with a half empty bottle of something alcoholic in his hand and a glass in the other. "Is it not kinda early to be drinking that much?" she asks Kitty.

Kitty looks where Illyana is looking and makes a sound of annoyance. "He's been like that ever since Jean left for the 'You Know What Room'."

No, Illyana did not know what.

"Ut oh. Jealous witch 9o'clock high," Kitty murmurs.

Illyana's eyes fall upon the sight Kitty means. "Wanda?"

"I know right. You'd think she'd get over it when she started to date Simon but I guess a part of her was just too much in love with Clark. She's never been happy he chose you."

"Over her."

"Yep."

Or is what happened in that last future the opposite. Clark chose Wanda over her. Illyana really wishes she could understand the point of why she is being shown this. When she finds out who is behind this she will… "Ahhh," she moans out as she grabs her stomach.

"Yana?" Kitty asks with concern. "What's the mat-oh my God, your water's broke!" she exclaims as she spots the pool of liquid now at Illyana's feet.

"What-arh!" she calls out.

"And I'm guessing that's a contraction," Kitty surmises from her own personal experience.

"I can't be having this baby," Illyana argues. She has no idea how to have a baby.

"I think the baby disagrees. Must take after his father," Kitty remarks as she moves over to aid her friend.

Speaking of said father, he had heard his wife's cry of pain and is just rushing his way over when Hell is unleashed.

Literally as matter of fact. Course for Illyana she endures another one of those time jumps. Just like last time. Now she finds herself lying down agonising pain burning through her as contractions hit, closer and closer together.

Around her the mansion is wrecked as hordes of demons battle X-Men and students alike, a group surround her, protecting her or trying to.

Through the pain Illyana's mind notes down the types of demons. How odd. The varying Hell Lords she knows have their own unique demon species and others that serve them...and they're all here, working together it seems. It doesn't make… "Argh!" she screams out as another contraction hits. It feels like Clark's spawn is trying to claw its way out through her stomach.

"Ooh...that looks painful," a deceptively cheery voice articulates.

Illyana's eyes open to see the red-skin and red hair of a hated demonic figure. "Mephisto," she spits out in disgust.

"Darkchylde," Mephisto greets her back.

"You're not here," Illyana figures. No-one but her apparently sees him. She's starting to think he's just a projection.

"Oh but I am," Mephisto corrects her. "Did you really think we would stand by and allow that abomination in your belly to be born?"

"We?" Illyana queries the plural.

"Myself, Satannish, Pluto, Hela and Dormammu. The Council of Hell Lords. Choosing not to destroy the Star Child of prophecy is one thing, Darkchylde but to have his offspring, possessing your combined power...to allow it to live would mean the end of all of us. Which was, no doubt, your plan all along."

It does sound a bit like one of her plans...but surely she isn't that cold and calculating to use her own child in such a fashion.

"I would be impressed if my death wasn't involved. Oh what the hell I'll just say it. I am impressed. You should have taken up my offer to join me as my wife. It would have been glorious."

"Marry you? That's a fate far worse than having my soul ripped out," Illyana tells him, gritting her teeth through the pains of her contractions.

"Ooh, you wound me, Darkchylde," Mephisto says, fawning fake hurt.

"If you're going to kill me get on with it. I have better things to do today than listen to your prattle Mephisto."

"Kill you? Not me. Nope. Have someone far better for that task. Did you know Belasco had a daughter?"

Illyana shakes her head. She did not know that.

"She's quite eager for revenge. We told her if she was to kill you and your spawn she could have Limbo and a seat on the Council..."

An explosion nearby radiates the area with heat. Illyana can sense the dark magic. Very like Belasco's.

"And here she is now," Mephisto announces. "Calls herself Witchfire. Very melodramatic if you ask me."

"I didn't!"

"Blames both you and your husband for her father's death."

"Are you trying to talk me to death?" Illyana complains.

"I'm trying to make you understand that we will rain Hell down upon you and your friends for all time until you and your spawn are obliterated. You can spare them by simply giving in to the inevitable. Sacrifice yourself for them if they truly mean something to you."

"I would tell you to go to Hell but that would be redundant."

"Suit yourself," Mephisto shrugs as he fades away.

Illyana grits her teeth through another contraction as her protectors fight someone she can't see from where she lies. Gods she thought she knew pain but this...giving birth...she had no idea.

"Well, well, well if it isn't the betrayer, murderer, usurper," a list of insults is laid at Illyana.

Illyana looks up to see a woman with red hair and pupil-less white eyes, dressed mostly in browns and reds with a hooded cape on top. She can sense the dark, demonic life force pouring off her, no matter how human she looks. "Witchfire I presume."

"You presume correct," Witchfire, daughter of Belasco, says, her hatred clear in her voice. "You have no idea how long I've waited for this moment," she says, her eagerness for this confrontation apparent.

"You're going to be in for a disappointment," Illyana tells her.

"When I take your head back to Limbo I'll add it to the collection under my throne."

"Next to your father's I'm assuming," Illyana drawls, knowing full well the insult she is laying down.

Witchfire's eyes flash red. "That was your doing!" her voice seethes with hatred. "And for what? The love of the One prophesied to destroy us! You're pathetic and weak to allow such human emotions to consume you."

Illyana would retort except she's yelling in pain right now.

Witchfire materialises a sword in her hand. "Perfect timing. To wait until just as you give birth. When you're at your most helpless," she announces, hinting that she has been waiting and planning this for some time, along with the others. "Die traitor!" Witchfire declares as she moves to strike...only for the wall and ceiling of the mansion to cave in right on top of the demon-sorceress...along with a huge body of a giant.

It takes Illyana a moment to realise it is Pluto(Hades in Greek); God of the Underworld, lying toppled and defeated and climbing up into view comes her husband, battered looking, clothes tattered but clearly the victorious one in the fight.

He floats down next to her and takes her hand.

"Baby's coming," Illyana tells him.

Clark kisses her sweaty forehead. "This is just like our wedding," he points out.

Dear Gods. Their wedding was like this? So much for a happier, better future.

That is when Witchfire crawls out from beneath the rubble. "I'll kill you both!" she screams as she staggers to her feet.

Clark turns to face her. "You know I heard what you said, about human emotions being a weakness. Bit of an irony coming from you, Ananym," he addresses her using her real name, "considering you are half-human."

"Do not call me that!" she snaps at him, clearly a nerve having been struck.

"And what would your old teammates from Alpha Flight say if they could see you now, hmm?"

"Their opinions mean nothing to me!" she claims. "That time means nothing to me. It was a different person."

"Oh so all those times working together, saving the world, that wasn't you? Funny cause it certainly looked like you."

"I didn't know my heritage then. I do now. You will pay for killing my father! Both of you!"

"Your father destroyed himself," Clark argues. "I never had any issue with him until he abducted me to Limbo and why? For some stupid prophecy. Let me tell you something about prophecies, Ananym; they're not always right. You know why? Because the future is never set. It's shaped by our decisions. Every choice you make creates a new future. Just because your father chose to embrace the darkness never meant you had to. You had a life as a hero. You can again. Do not throw away who you were for revenge. It's a hollow, empty path."

"It's a shame you chose her," Witchfire says. "You would have made a magnificent Consort standing at my side," she muses. After all he was attractive...and powerful. Imagine if she was the one having his child instead of this traitor.

A flare of jealousy strikes Illyana. The mere thought of the Daughter of Belasco touching Clark...if she wasn't giving birth right now.

"Sorry. I'm taken," Clark shoots the demon-sorceress down. "Also Hela already tried that one," he adds on. "She didn't have any more success."

"She wha-ahhh!" Illyana cries out, her words turning into another yell of pain. The contractions were getting closer together.

"Just hold on a little longer, honey. This'll just take a minute," Clark says to her.

"I agree," Witchfire says, her power visibly flaring up around her.

"I've already put down 2 Gods today, Ananym," Clark points out. "Spare yourself the trouble. Leave...while you still can," he makes the offer to her. "It doesn't have to end like this. You were a hero once. You can be again," he tries to reach her, persuade her to give this up.

"I have chosen my path. For my father I will destroy you," she refuses.

Clark lets out a weary sigh and a sad, resigned shake of his head as if he was hoping he could reach her better half. No luck it seems. He holds out his hand and what flies into it is a very familiar looking axe. The one Patricia enchanted for him. Illyana is surprised to see it. In her time Clark had locked it away up at the Fortress of Solitude where it could do no harm.

"Oh Gods," she grinds out as Clark and Witchfire clash, the pain truly unbelievable. That's when she sees that master deceiver; Mephisto stalking around the edges. What is he up to? Due to imminently giving birth it takes Illyana far too long to figure it out. When she cries out, "NO!", it is far too late.

Mephisto has struck, choosing the moment when Clark and Witchfire are most distracted with battling each other. Both fall down dead and the devil comes to stand over Illyana, smug grin on his face. "I must admit this all worked out almost exactly as I planned," he confesses with sickening pride.

"You set them all up to fight each other didn't you," Illyana supposes.

"Why do the hard work when they can do it themselves. In a single sweep I've wiped out most of my competition...and as for the rest..." he looks at her with a dark gleam in his eye. "What do you think that child of yours is for."

"You can't...gasp...have him!" Illyana swears.

"Like you can stop me. In fact I don't really need you at all, now the moment is here," Mephisto summarises as a knife appears in his hand. A knife he brings towards Illyana's belly. His intention clear. To cut the baby out of her, regardless if that kills her in the process.

"That won't kill me," Illyana points out, believing even that savage act is not enough to actually kill her.

"It will if I do this," Mephisto says as in a blink of an eye he slashes open Illyana's throat and the darkness quickly overwhelms her…

...

Illyana gasps for breath as she shoots up to a sitting position, her hand reaching for her throat, only to find it unmarked and her skin smooth and intact. She coughs a few times before she looks down at her body. Not pregnant.

She looks around. Everything has changed around her again. She's been moved to a different future again. She rises to her feet. Around her is a twisted hellish landscape of a city. In fact there is no question in her mind that this is a Hell of some sort. Except if feels like Limbo but no part of her domain looks like this.

Well not yet anyway.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?"

Illyana frowns. That voice sounds familiar. She turns round and sees a figure in the shadows. "Show yourself," she demands.

"All you had to do was ask," the voice replies, sounding amused.

As they step forth Illyana finds herself unable to breath. Standing there is a demon, red scaly skin all over, clawed hands and cloven feet, red spaded tail, long red curly, messy hair and glowing red eyes and large red horns on their head that curl backward upon themselves. The fact her breath has been robbed is that she has seen this demon before...in a certain mirror.

The mirror in her Fortress that shows her demon in its purest form. This is Darkchylde...this is her with all traces of her soul removed.

Darkchylde looks Illyana up and down, a dark amused gleam in her eyes. "If it isn't my human side. Why I don't think we've seen each other since we were separated." She clasps her hands together in front of her. "Oh this is gonna be fun," she declares, cackling with amusement.

What is that saying Clark likes so much? Oh yes. This is gonna to be one of those days.


Author's Note: In the old Ultimate verse Colossus was gay so I just threw it in to this possible future. So that happier future didn't last long and it makes sense for, someone at least, to not want a child of Illyana and Clark to exist and in this case I chose some Hell Lords who might have an issue with it. And now Illyana gets to meet her demon self. Fun times. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews. Next up; Yanamas part 4 and this will be the final future she finds herself in.