"Roxie." A woman's kind voice was calling to the little girl. "Wake up, Roxie."
Roxie's eyes fluttered open and saw a redheaded woman with a kind face and a warm smile. "Nixie!"
Nixie chuckled as Roxie threw herself into her arms and hugged her. "How are you feeling?"
"Everything hurt before but it's better now." Roxie released Nixie from the hug and took her hand instead. They were in the backyard of her home, the picnic table set for a tea party. "Where's Mommy?"
"She's not here right now." Nixie sat down at the picnic table and poured some tea for the two of them.
"Where is she?" Roxie asked, curious. Her mother was always around.
"You know you're special, right Roxie?" Nixie tossed her hair out of her face and smiled again. "Now you have even more special powers that could help so many people. But your mommy is scared of what you can do. Don't you want to help people?"
"Mommy says that we should always help people." Roxie nodded. Her face brightened visibly when she realized something. "Will this make the other kids be my friends if I help them?"
"Yes, it will." Nixie promised. "They will see mutants in a whole new light. Your daddy is here, did you know that?"
"No. Is he nice?"
"Not really but he won't hurt you. He's my friend and he'll bring you to come play with me, if you'd like."
"We can have a real tea party?" Roxie was excited.
"Absolutely. But you have to listen to your daddy. He sounds mean and angry but he loves you very much." Nixie said. "You have to do one thing first, though."
"What?"
"Wake up." Nixie whispered. "This is our secret."
-0-
"Hi."
Hank jumped when he heard the little girls' voice crack and turned to see her sitting up, rubbing her eyes. "Hello, little one. How are you feeling?"
"I'm thirsty." Roxie said, holding her puppy close. "Can I have something to drink?"
"Of course." Hank gave her a cup of water and she drank it quickly. "Do you mind if I do a quick exam? I want to make sure everything is all right."
"Okay." Roxie nodded and handed the cup back to him.
"Do you know your name?" Hank asked, shining a light in her ears and taking a look.
"Roxanne Adelaide Creed."
"How old are you?"
"I'm four!" She exclaimed proudly, holding up the appropriate amount of fingers. "Where's Mommy?"
"Getting some rest, I believe. She's hardly left your side since you've been ill."
"Nixie says I'm special." Roxie patted the head of her stuffed puppy.
Hank chuckled. "You are special, dear. Would you like to go find your mother?"
"Are you done with the eggsam?"
Hank smiled widely at the mispronunciation. "Yes, I am."
He offered her his hand and she took it, hopping off the exam table and walking with him quietly for a few seconds. "You're blue."
"I am." Hank replied.
"I like blue." Roxie said simply.
The elevator deposited them on the upper levels and she when she saw the other children, she grinned from ear to ear and looked up at Hank. "Can I go play?"
"I don't see why not. Some of them have a free period." Hank said. "But play careful. Not all of them have a healing factor like your parents."
Roxie nodded and ran to find a playmate, finding one in Storm.
"What have you got here?" Storm asked, patting the stuffed toy's head.
"His name is Pierre." Roxie smiled up at the white haired woman. "I'm a-scared of the dark and he keeps the monsters away."
"There's no such thing as monsters, you know that, right?" Storm said kindly.
Roxie frowned and looked sad. "The kids on my street say I'm a monster."
Storm's heart broke and she knelt down to look in Roxie's eyes. "Sweetheart, you aren't a monster. You are a very special child. Soon the other kids will see it."
"Promise?"
"I promise." Storm smiled at her.
"Mommy!"
-0-
Hank came and found me when I was getting some fresh air. Sitting by Roxie's bedside and being trapped in the mansion with Jimmy and Victor was a little tense. When he found me, I was expecting the worst. "Is she-?"
"She's awake and asking for you." Hank smiled and I ran past him into the building, scanning the area for my Roxie. I found her playing with Ororo, or as she preferred to be called Storm.
"Mommy!" She shrieked when she noticed me and ran towards me in a very Victor-esque manner, almost knocking me to the ground when she slammed into me. I felt a rib or two crack but they would heal and it was worth it to have her healthy again.
"Baby girl," I squeezed her tightly, relieved tears filling my eyes. "You're okay. You're okay."
I peppered her face with kisses and she giggled, then buried her face in my neck, breathing deeply. "Mr. Hank said that Daddy's here."
"He is." I nodded, pulling away from her so I could gauge her reaction. "Would you like to meet him?"
She nodded and I carried her outside to the front of the mansion. He was sitting on the stone wall and stood when he saw me approach with Roxie in my arms. "Victor, this is Roxanne."
Roxie looked up at me and when I nodded encouragingly at her, she squirmed to be let down and cautiously approached Victor. "Are you my daddy?"
"Yes, I am." I could smell his hesitance and a tinge of...fear? Unease? Roxie could smell it too.
"Don't be a-scared of me." Roxie looked at the ground sadly. "I'm not scary."
Victor chuckled softly. "I'm not afraid of you, Roxanne."
"Mommy calls me Roxie." She smiled at him. "You can too...if you want."
Victor just nodded once then he did something I never thought he'd do. He dropped to his knees in front of her and took her in his arms. His breath wavered as he hugged her. "Can I have a few minutes alone with her?"
I nodded. He tightened his grip on her and stood, walking a few yards ahead of me. I'd give them a few minutes of privacy but I didn't trust him any longer than that. I turned away for a second and when I turned back, Victor was almost to the gate, sprinting as fast as he could. Clenching my jaw, I bolted after them as he leapt over the wall. I could hear Roxie crying for me as I got over the wall. Victor had loaded her into a car and it was driving away. Victor was waiting for me with his claws legenthed.
"Give me back my daughter and I swear I won't kill you." I snarled, my own claws ready to strike.
"I don't want to hurt you." Victor warned. "I didn't have a choice."
"You made a choice, Victor!" I screamed. "You betrayed your daughter! Where are they taking her?"
"She'll be safe, Charlie." Victor told me, like that was supposed to make me feel better.
Lynx burst forth and I threw myself at Victor, slashing at his face, shoving my claws into his abdomen, whatever tender flesh or pressure point there was, my claws went into. I was not going to have my daughter taken by these people. Victor matched my attack, blow for blow, until he decided he had enough and delivered a bone crunching kick to my spine, dropping me to the ground with an agonizing cry. I watched him walk away and I howled, "You better make sure I'm dead."
He paused.
I spoke through the tears and ache and pain. "Because I'm going to find you and I will kill you."
Victor turned and I saw his claws legthen. James would find Roxie, I assured myself. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of turning away from Victor when he killed me. I stared him in the eyes and dared him to do it. "It didn't have to be like this."
-0-
1841
"I love you." I told Jimmy before he left. He was going to fix a mistake Victor had made but he didn't tell me anymore than that. He never did and I didn't press him for details. "I'll be here waiting when you get back."
He kissed me deeply and I sucked on his bottom lip, making him moan. "If you do that, I won't be leavin' at all."
"Sounds good to me." I chuckled and kissed him again. "I wish you didn't have to go."
"Gotta keep Vic out of trouble."
"He's not your responsibility."
"Are you leaving or what?" Victor grumbled, picking the dirt from under his claws. I glared at him and Jimmy turned to face him.
"Yeah, I'm leaving."
Victor smirked then said to Jimmy, "What? No goodbye kiss for me?"
In response, I threw a book at him. Jimmy kissed my cheek and he left the house, closing the door behind him. We had purchased a larger home when Victor announced he would be staying with us. I didn't like being alone with Victor and his brother wasn't overly thrilled about it either but there was nothing to be done. Despite the size of the house, we didn't have a staff and I didn't mind. I enjoyed taking care of us. I was chopping vegetables for dinner when I felt Victor come up behind me, pressing his body close to mine. "Get away, Creed."
"You know as well as I do that you don't mean that." Victor purred, leaning his mouth close to my ear and his hands on either side of me, effectively boxing me in.
"I love your brother."
"Maybe you do, maybe you don't." Victor shrugged. "But we both know that you're mine."
"I haven't done anything to make you think that." I reminded him.
"You're my mate, sweetheart." Victor said. "You know Jimmy may love you but he can't keep you forever."
"Don't you have a village to terrify?" I snapped. "There is no force in the world that could make me choose you over Jimmy."
"How about this?" Victor purred dangerously. "Accept me as your mate and I won't kill Jimmy."
"He's your brother."
"You're my mate. That trumps brother."
I'd be lying if I said I hadn't known that he was my mate but like I told Victor, I loved James. Genetically though, I knew that meant nothing. I had been able to feel the genetic disposition to mate with Victor taking over in the last year but I was fighting it. I wanted James. I loved James. This wasn't a decision I could make without advice and the one person whose advice I wanted was in France. Jimmy would be gone for several weeks but I could leave word for him in town and let him know where I was going.
Victor insisted on going with me, saying that he can't let his mate go off on her own. Grandfather met us at the harbor and I ran to his open arms, smiling as he hugged me tightly. "I've missed you, Charlotte."
"And I missed you, Grandpere." I kissed his cheek fondly as Victor carried my trunk down the gangplank.
"Who is your companion?" Grandfather asked, turning to Victor. He stiffened after Victor introduced himself.
"I was hoping I could speak with you about that." I said softly.
My parents were thrilled to see me, as was Christien. Victor found something to occupy himself and I was sure I didn't know what it was. Grandfather and I walked in the gardens, my arm linked through his. "What can I do for you, sweetheart?"
"Jimmy and I have been quite happy in the Northern Territories. I love him very much."
"I sense there is more than you're telling me." He smiled warmly at me.
I sighed and continued. "Victor arrived about a year ago and he says he's my mate. I can feel myself being pulled toward him but I love Jimmy. What do I do?"
"Charlotte, you know as well as I that nature has chosen those who can provide for us best. You may love Master Howlett but Master Creed is the one you have to be with." Grandfather wasn't happy. "Master Creed is not ideal in my eyes but I cannot hold you back from a man who will take care of my diamond. It would be kinder for you to terminate your relationship with Master Howlett now and give him a chance to find his own mate."
"But I love him."
"I wish that were enough." Grandfather kissed my temple and changed the subject. "Come. I have arranged a party in honor of your arrival."
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and thanks to the new alerts and favorites. :) I received an idea on a review from Samwilde asking if I thought about showing things from the boy's perspective and was wondering if you guys would be interested in that. If so, let me know and leave a review. I love you guys!
A huge, fantastic, ginormous thank you to my reviewers. Normally I would thank you individually but my laptop is going to die but know that I love you guys and your support gets chapters up quickly. :)