Surprisingly enough, Sabertooth was not seen for the rest of the day. Harry, Gambit and the children were seen in almost all areas of the house, but there was neither hide nor hair from the large Feral and while it eased some of the students' nervousness at the knowledge the man was in the vicinity; some of the adults were even more on edge.

But seeing Harry being lively with the children and not half dead on a hospital bed stopped them from asking the young Feral as to the whereabouts of his mate. Even those who hadn't been present at the hospital preferred to not interrupt his play time with the children.

It wasn't before almost midnight that Logan found the blond Feral, and it wasn't even his own doing.

As usual, on the nights of the full moon, the Wolverine got up and wandered the grounds before he headed back inside and he found himself in front of Harry's room, which used to be the guest room but they decided to keep it as is since the young father visited regularly and it was less of a hassle to leave the mattresses in place.

Seeing as the door was open as usual, Logan moved into the doorframe, just to have a better look at the young Wizard and his children when a hand found itself wrapped around his neck and he was pulled out the door with such brute force only one person could have been the instigator for the act.

Locking his eyes into Victor's, he tried to growl, but his airway was completely constricted.

"Smelled ya on my mate, runt. Think I'll jus' let ya have him? That there won't be consequences, huh?"

Seeing no other option, Logan let out his claws and jabbed them into the Sabertooth's abdomen, the bigger Feral backing off with a silent snarl on his lips.

"He wasn't feelin' good so I offered a shoulder to cry on, nothin' more! Had ya been there, ya coulda prevented it from happenin' at all!" growled out Logan.

Before either could continue, they were both hit on the side of the head and they turned simultaneously to see Remy standing there with his hands on his hips, looking less than pleased.

"Les cubs be tryin' to sleep! Silence!"

Logan actually looked down before glancing around Victor's shoulder to see that they had miraculously managed to not to wake any of the little hellions, though Harry had one eye opened glaring in their direction from the bed.

Victor himself gave a slight huff, moving in closer to the red haired mutant.

"Think I don't know?"

"Think be more cautious si tu want some plus tard! Back au bed, Remy take ca'e oh Wolvie maintenant."

Victor stared at the smaller mutant in the eyes, not many could actually compare height with the Sabertooth to start with, yet Gambit didn't back down, but Logan did notice the Cajun accumulating charge in his hands.

"I'd never steal another's mate, and frankly, if Harry ain't left yer sorry ass yet, it's 'cause he's never gonna and he'll never cheat on ya either, no matter the situation. Pro'bly not even after yer death too. Count ya'self lucky to have a mate like him," grunted Logan. "C'mon Gumbo, we need beers. Urgently."

Remy gave a very wide smile and nodded eagerly. Easily slipping around the bigger Feral, he joined the smaller Feral and grabbed him by the shoulders to lead him away.

"Gambit knows just the place!"

Only glancing back once to see Victor standing just out of the room and staring inside, Logan turned his back on the whole situation, knowing that at least Teddy was in good hands for the night.

XD|DX

Rogue was feeling quite anxious, and the reason happened to be sitting at the other side of the room, watching closely as the twins built a tower with blocks and trying to keep Caiden from destroying it at every turn.

Lily was sitting at the coffee table nearby, drawing a school assignment while Teddy and Harry were nowhere to be seen at the moment which left everyone uneasy about the big Feral's presence.

Bobby was also fidgeting beside her, which didn't help her any so she finally took in a deep breath and got up. She determinedly made her way to the blond man and placed her feet firmly on the ground, a good four feet away from him.

"Ain't ya gonna excuse yourself? For last year? When ya and yer buddies kidnapped me and tied me to that weird machine?" she asked, letting her anger fuel her words lest she lose her confidence.

The Sabertooth turned his head towards her for a few seconds, gave a snort and turned back to watch his boys. Rogue's eyes narrowed, her anger rising. She opened her mouth to talk, but a small voice called to her.

"Marie! Come draw with me!" exclaimed Lily, looking up at the older girl hopefully.

Letting her emotions out with a huff, she went to kneel by the table, almost jumping back up to her feet when she heard the big man giving a low chuckle.

But she kept her cool, especially when a very tired looking Teddy entered the room and dragged his feet over to Victor's side.

"Stop bein' grouchy," grumbled the Feral, easily picking up the little werewolf and placing him against his side.

"M'not grouchy," mumbled back the boy, pouting.

"Huh, wonder wha' yer ma'd say 'bout that."

Teddy's pout turned into a frown before he sat forth and then swung himself back against the blond man.

"Stop calling him names!"

"Ain't names, s'what he is; yer siblin's mother. Ain't my fault there's no other word for it," chuckled the Feral.

Teddy actually looked up at Victor and poked his tongue out.

"Since you're not being called our dad, daddy gets that title, so you should use it properly!"

A roll of eyes was his only answer and the little boy apparently didn't take it well as he practically jumped to the other side of the couch, his feet kicking at the man.

A few gathered in the room shifted in unease, not yet having seen Teddy acting as he was at the moment with Victor and even more uneasy about the fact that it was the ruthless Sabertooth the boy was taking his mood out on.

Victor gave a low growl and at Teddy's next kick, he grabbed one little ankle, sat up straight and held the kid upside down, the little werewolf letting out a yelp of surprise.

"Ya thin' yer ma's gonna let ya hit one o' the little ones next time ya fancy a fit? Learn to control yaself."

"M'not hittin' em now!" snarls Teddy. "S'you I'm hittin'!"

Eyes narrowing, Victor brought Teddy closer to his face, only for the child to swing out and strike the Feral on the chin.

Everyone froze, even the little werewolf stopped, seeing what he'd just done.

The Sabertooth's lips were pulled back in a snarl, eyes almost glowing with fury.

"Vicky! Let Teddy go!" Lily's voice cut through the room. "Mommy's not gonna be happy if you drop him on his head. Again."

Victor gave a growl, but he did let Teddy go onto the couch, where the boy jumped down and went to sit with his sister, who hadn't even looked up from her homework more than a few seconds.

"Ain't Teddy I've dropped on his head. Was you, Princess," smirks Victor.

Looking up suddenly, clearly affronted, the little girl got up and went to the man.

"How could you drop me? You're mean!" she says, voice hitching slightly as she kicks him on the shin.

Letting out a groan, Victor let his head fall back, allowing the abuse from the five-year-old while her seven-year-old adopted brother giggled while starting a drawing.

XD|DX

Upon lunch, things got heated again. But this time, it wasn't as cute for the witnesses.

"Teddy, stop stealing your brother's toast," Harry scolded from the stove, having a passable view of the table, not that he needed to see much; Caiden was being vocal about Teddy's theft on his plate.

"Can I have more then?" whined the boy.

"Finish what you already have on your plate, then we'll see."

Pouting, Teddy goes back to his eggs, everyone settling once more.

For about five minutes.

"Daddy! I want more juice!" whined Lily this time around.

"Victor, wanna help out here?" Harry asked, exasperated.

The big Feral, sitting at the table and just lazing there, only looked over.

"Ye jus' told Ted he ain't allowed more bread, but ya'll allow Lils more juice?" he asked, with a raised brow.

"She'll finish her plate, no matter what, while Teddy will eat anything else but what is in his plate," explains the younger mutant.

Victor grunts, but he doesn't move from his seat, Harry back to making more food for a few more plates, distracted. Jean watches the interaction between them and frowns.

"Daddy!" calls Lily, not even glancing over at Victor.

Harry lets out a sigh.

"Vic, wanna please give her some juice?"

Rolling his eyes, Victor leans forward and grabs Teddy's glass.

"Hey! Not mine!" exclaimed the boy.

"Ew! I don't want Teddy's cooties!" adds Lily.

"I don't have cooties!"

Harry actually slams the pan on the oven top.

"Get off your lazy arse Victor and give your daughter juice!" he snaps.

"She's not gonna die if she shares her brother's, is she?"

"She'll not die, but we'll avoid an argument between the two of them! And this is not about them sharing; it's about you helping out just a tiny bit!"

Growling, the Sabertooth stood and grabbed the little girl's cup before dragging his feet over to the fridge, all the while grumbling.

"S'not as if they ain't gonna live if they starve a little. We both grew without and we're still here. Might even teach 'em a bit o' humility, if ya'd stop cavin' in to all their demands."

The other mutants were certainly not ready for the next actions to take place.

Harry turned sharply from the stove, frying pan still in hand, and promptly bashed the side of Victor's head with it, all the while saying;

"Don't you ever think about denying my children food or Merlin help me I will find a way to kill you permanently! They'll never wander the streets like your brother and you, and I'll be dead and buried before I allow anyone to act like the Dursleys towards them!"

With that said, the young father slammed the pan in the sink and left the room, almost hissing with rage. Surprisingly enough, the children didn't look up at all from their meal as their constant parental figure left, nor when Victor slowly made his way back to the table, wiping the blood off the side of his face, the gash already having closed itself up.

Waiting for him to be seated once more, Jean got up and left to find her young friend, worried for his mental health so close to his trauma. But she was still close enough to hear Lily's rebuke of Victor's attitude.

"You know what, Papa? You can be a real arse sometimes."

XD|DX

Jean found Harry in their guest room, Remy sitting on the window bench, the two side by side sharing a cigarette with the window cracked open.

"Normally, I would tell you that there's no smoking allowed, but I'll let it pass this one time only," she said lightly, not daring to move into the room without an invitation.

Gambit gave a smirk, but Harry's blank look had her worried; at least until he rolled his eyes and waved her in.

"Sorry you had to see that, but sometimes Vic just gets me so frustrated…" Harry sighed, still unable to find his words to describe all the emotions running through him.

Jean shook her head as she moved to sit beside Harry, the little Feral stuck between the Cajun and her.

"While not to that extent, Scott does drive me up the walls at times. I've had my fair share of walking out of a room with everything in it shaking," she admitted.

"I'm sure you'd never allow any of the kids to see that."

Jean shook her head, a smile tugging on her lips.

"You should ask Rogue and Bobby about that some time. John's even gone so far as starting a betting pool once about what in a room would burst first; the glass vase or Scott's head."

"Oh, may Gambit get on that?" teased Remy.

Harry gave an amused snort while elbowing his friend in the ribs. Jean allowed a giggle out before she put on a serious face.

"All joking aside Harry; we won't judge you for how you reacted just now. You've been through a very traumatic episode and instead of antagonizing you, Creed should be doing all the heavy lifting."

Harry tilted his head forward, blocking his eyes from view with his bangs.

"I don't want him to coddle me," he whispered. "I just… don't want him to hate me for losing his cub."

"Oh Harry," Jean pitied, wrapping her arms around the frail figure.

"Stop be stupide, Harry," scolded Gambit. "Le Chat not hold it contre toi. Be happy he not obliterate Harrisonburg d'la map!"

Harry glanced skeptically at the Cajun, tears in his eyes.

"How can you be so sure?"

"He still here, non?"

And with that concluded, the ginger head got up and left the room, humming a tune under his breath.

"He's right, you know?" Jean added. "A man like Sabertooth doesn't do subtle. If he was angry with you, I'm sure we'd all be aware of it."

Harry bit his bottom lip, giving a small nod, but Jean could tell something else was bothering him.

"What if…"

"What if?" she gently urged when he trailed off.

"What if I can never fall pregnant again? What if this is it, and he loses interest in me?"

Jean frowned at his words.

"What happened when he first learned you were pregnant?" she changed the subject slightly, making Harry blink in confusion.

"He kinda shrugged and said 'whatever'?" he summarized.

"So he started a relationship with you, without any hope of kids along the way, right?"

Harry blinked, realizing what she was hinting at.

"You really think he won't mind?" he breathed out.

"I think you'll have more problems accepting it than he will. In fact, from what I've heard and witnessed so far, I think he'll take fun in trying to see if it'll happen again or not. And while it is tragic, do keep in mind you have one brave adopted boy and you have already brought four beautiful little imps into this world; which is more than you'd first anticipated. Cherish them even more if it's true they'll be your last."

Tears in his eyes again, Harry nodded and hugged closely the woman who resembled his mother.

"Thank you Jean."

"No problem. Now, if you feel like having some one on one time with that brute of yours, we've got ample hands on deck to babysit. Go spend a night out on the town with your mate and you'll feel all better."

Harry didn't dare refuse the golden opportunity.