A/N: Two in one day! I'm on a roll! Special thanks to jazphace, lychee loving and chinweoa for their consistent reviews! If I haven't shot all of you who reviewed a pm thanking you, just know that I really appreciate all of your consistent feedback!

The sick feeling in her stomach was distracting Ororo from fully enjoying the Halloween parade at school. It was hard not to smile at the miniature versions of Captain America and the itty-bitty Disney princesses and ghosts, ghouls and witches were precious, but it was getting harder to keep the smile pasted on her face. The half pound of sugar and chocolate she had consumed during her classroom party probably weren't helping her digestive issues either.

"Miss Munroe!" Jubilee, looking darling dressed as Rupunzel from Tangled, leapt in front of her, brandishing her long blonde wig. "Can you please braid this for me? Johnny stepped on it." She tossed a petulant glare over shoulder at a midget Ghost Face.

"Na-uh!" he yelled. "It was an accident!"

Successfully returned to the here and now by her responsibilities, Ororo put her teacher face on.

"Line up guys!" she announced to her class. "It's almost time!"

A chorus of excitement echoed through her classroom. She filed the spooky procession outside and to the quad area. A DJ dressed as the Cat in the Hat was playing a Kidz Bop version of the "Monster Mash". She waved cheerfully at Ororo and her class as they walked past, buzzing on sugar highs.

"Happy Halloween Roro!" Allison called happily from under her whiskers.

Ororo laughed, waving back at her and catching the mini Kit-Kat Ali tossed her.

It had been almost two weeks since Rogue had announced her pregnancy and Logan still hadn't been told. She didn't even know if Remy knew. Rogue had been expertly dodging both she and Jean's phone calls. Jean was at the end of her wits, insisting that she was going to march to Marie's apartment and drag her out kicking and screaming. Ro was feeling something more like impending fear. Logan knew something was up. The longer she waited to tell him the larger the angry explosion was going to be. She didn't even want to think about Remy's reaction.

She and Jean planned to corner her at Jean's Halloween party that night. Marie had R.S.V.P.'d she would go, something that Jean regarded as a sacred promise.

"She'll be here," Jean had told her that morning. "And I'm making sure my Sexy Witch false nails are long enough for me to rip her hair out if she hasn't told Remy."

Ro doubted that Marie would be the only one coming away with battle scars. She had better hide the alcohol tonight.

When she returned home after work Kioni was already there, working on her costume. A pile of tan faux-leather fabric was in her lap. She appeared to be embroidering a top of some kind.

"Happy Halloween," Kioni greeted.

"Working on your costume?" Ro dropped her bags and books on her bed and came over to look.

"Yes. I'm going as Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones." When Ro's face did not reflect recognition, Kioni clarified, "From the book series and the show." A picture of the character on Kioni's laptop was propped up on the pillows. Ororo recognized the braided hairstyle the blonde girl was wearing as one that Kioni often imitated. "Who are you going as?" Kioni questioned.

"Nicki Minaj," she rooted under her bed for the bright pink wig, brandishing it as evidence. "Look, I think I should warn you that it might get a little…tense tonight." Ororo didn't want Kioni to walk blindly into a chainsaw of emotions.

"Because Rogue is pregnant?" she asked casually without looking up from her work.

"How do you know?" Ororo gasped, wondering if Jean told her.

"I bumped into her when I was coming from work. She had one of those pregnancy books. Plus she's gaining weight and it's all in her uterus." Kioni held up her vest, inspecting it.

Ororo gaped at her. "Is it obvious?" she'd been afraid that Rogue was starting to show. If Kioni noticed then surely Remy would have.

"To a woman, I guess. Why?"

"She hasn't told her brother yet. Or her boyfriend."

This got Kioni's attention. She swore in Swahili. "That is no good."

"No," Ororo agreed. "No good at all."

A knock on their door ended the conversation. Kioni got up to answer it as Ro went to work on making a sandwich.

"Oh," Kioni's voice sounded unsurprised. "Hello Wade."

Wade Wilson had been like a ghost the last few weeks, haunting their apartment at odd hours. Ro had warmed to him, but Kioni treated him with polite indifference, though Ororo had noticed the appreciative looks she gave him when he wasn't looking.

"Hey beautiful," he stepped inside. He was wearing his black, hooded, knit-jacket with the collar popped. It contrasted with the beat up, military-style duffle bag swung on one shoulder.

"Are you going somewhere?" Ororo asked from behind the counter.

"Business trip," he confirmed. "I came to ask Kioni a favor."

"Yes?" Ororo could tell Kioni was trying to act indifferent, but was actually intrigued.

"I'll be gone for a week or so. I need someone to take care of Cable."

"Who's Cable?" Kioni asked.

"My bird. He just needs to be fed and given attention." Wade adjusted the bag on his shoulder.

"Your bird needs attention?" Ororo pictured Wade walking around with a parrot on a leash. Somehow, the mental image fit.

"He's sensitive," Wade said.

"Why ask me?" Kioni inquired.

"You strike me as trustworthy. Please? I have a flight to catch in an hour and I don't want to have to ask the guy in 6B. Fred's a total slob. He might eat Cable." Ororo and Kioni had been unfortunate enough to bump into Fred's girth a week back. They weren't sure if he was burping or growling, but his displeasure had been clear. They nearly had to climb over him to get to the stairwell.

"All right," Kioni acquiesced.

"Great!" Wade set his bag down and fiddled in his jacket pocket. He dropped a small key ring in her hand. "His food is under his cage. You can't miss it. Just feed him, pat his head, maybe hold him if you're ok with that. I swear he doesn't bite."

"I'm holding you to that," Kioni accepted the keys.

"I owe you one. Next time you're out of town, I'll come water your plants." He glanced around at the miniature jungle on Ro's side of the studio. Ororo thought privately that there was a snowball's chance in hell that she would let him in her space unsupervised.

"Do you have a number I can reach you at if something goes wrong?" Kioni asked as Wade picked his bag back up. Ororo hid her smile at the two of them exchanging numbers.

"You can have my cell." He rattled the number off and Kioni jotted it down on a napkin. "Thanks, princess."

She scrunched her face up at the endearment. "I suppose it's no problem. Have a good trip."

"Thanks. Take care of my baby!" He crushed her in a one armed hug and was gone as quickly as he arrived. "Happy Halloween!" his voice echoed up the stairs.

"Why'd you say yes?" Ororo asked once the door had been closed.

Kioni studied the number in her hand. "He looked quite nice in his jacket." She answered finally. With a wink, she headed back to her costume, leaving Ororo laughing at the counter.

xxxxx

Jean and Scott had gone all out with their party. Their apartment looked like a Haunted Mansion. Fake spider webs were draped tastefully over every surface, rubber limbs and fake blood were absolutely everywhere and Scott had hung a Paper Mache body from their chandelier. He was dressed like a zombie, complete with dripping blood and ripped clothing.

"Happy Halloween," he greeted as Logan, Ro and Kioni filed through the door. The apartment was already full to bursting with witches, vampires, professional athletes, actresses and imitation pop stars.

"Hey Scott," Logan was dressed as a werewolf, a last-minute costume Ororo threw together using one of his old flannels. Kioni and Ororo, freezing in their much smaller costumes powered past him into the warmth of the apartment. Ororo's pink leopard jumpsuit and Kioni's leather top and pants looked good, but the short walk from the car to the door had been taken at a sprint.

It didn't take long before the trio located the alcohol, a huge witches' cauldron of jungle juice set on dry ice. A keg was also available. Jean and Scott's work friends had wasted no time in cracking into it. Several people were already toasted.

"Here," Ororo pushed a red cup into Kioni's hand. She sipped it, making a face as the liquor hit her tongue. Within seconds the two women were surrounded by a group dressed as what looked like NSYNC, though they may have just been dressed as douchebags. Logan sent them scurrying with a look that could have killed.

There was no sign of Remy or Rogue. Jean found Ororo a half hour into the party.

"If she doesn't show…" she muttered menacingly before she was dragged off to play hostess.

It was nearly midnight before the couple arrived, dressed as Raggedy Ann and Andy. Ororo had been drinking steadily in her nervousness and had formulated a plan. She hugged her friends, complimenting their costumes. Remy seemed obliviously happy, but Marie was shooting them nervous looks.

"Well?" Jean hissed as Remy ran off to do shots with Scott and Logan.

"Not yet," Rogue had the good grace to look embarrassed.

"What the hell are you waiting for?" the alcohol in Ro's system eliminated her good sense.

Rogue looked taken aback, "Look, it's not up to you when I—"

Ororo cursed, startling even Jean, "Logan knows something is wrong. I'm not going to keep lying to him. And Remy is my oldest friend. They deserve to know."

"Know what?" Remy asked. He had rejoined them, looking tipsier than he had before going into the kitchen. His rosy cheeks weren't just a result of his face paint.

"That Rogue wants a drink!" Ororo announced happily, ignoring Marie's murderous glare.

"I'm good," she said hurriedly.

"Are you sure?" Jean had caught on to Ro's plan. "You always want a drink. We made your favorite!" she offered a little too cheerfully.

"Jungle Juice, petite," Remy hurried to get a cup for her.

"What are you two doing?" Rogue was hissing now. "You know I can't drink!"

"They don't," Ro said pointedly.

Rogue glared at her before stomping off. "I hate you both," she tossed over her shoulder.

"Real mature," Jean tossed back. "Nice," she complimented Ororo when Rogue was out of sight. "I'm starting to rub off on you."

Ororo smiled weakly. "Well, people are going to start to notice. Kioni already did."

"That tiny round belly isn't just costume stuffing, is it?" Jean asked a little sadly.

"No." Ro was still fuming.

"So what are we going to do? She doesn't look like she's going to say anything. And she told me she's keeping the baby."

"Well, they're bound to notice in 6 months when she leaves home and comes back with an infant." Ororo slammed back the rest of her cup.

"Slow down, tiger." Jean admonished. "Or you're going to start acting as crazy as the lady you're dressed as."

Despite herself, Ro smiled. "I'm going to go find Logan," she announced.

"Give Rogue a little more time to tell him," Jean said. "I'm sure she will soon."

"She has until Sunday," Ro said. Jean nodded.

"Go find your man, Nicki," she swatted her best friend's leopard printed behind and took off to talk to her guests.

Logan was seated on the couch, listening to something a woman dressed as Supergirl was telling him.

"Hey baby," Ro said pointedly, plopping between the blonde and her boyfriend. "Did I mention I love this costume?" she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Yeah," Logan grinned amusedly at her as the blonde walked off in a huff, "Feeling territorial, darling?"

"Werewolves are hot this year. I don't want someone to take advantage of you." She said saucily, kissing him on the lips.

"Way to look out for my virtue. I thought you were going to leave me with these yuppies in here."

"Nope," she settled next to him, "Just talking to Rogue."

"Oh yeah? I haven't seen her yet. I haven't seen in a few weeks, actually. Weird for her."

"You should call her," Ro said. "You should call her on Sunday."

"Sunday?" Logan shifted. "Why, is something up?"

"Call her on Sunday," Ororo reiterated.

She then proceeded to spend the rest of the party getting Logan and herself drunk enough to forget that Rogue was pointedly avoiding them.

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