Julienne had some goons watching Victor's cage, allowing them some liberties as far as pacification went. Most of them weren't overly intelligent and their abuse was mundane at best. Cattleprods were their weapon of choice and they had to get fairly close to use it. Victor smirked and yanked the cattleprod through the bars of his cage, smashing the thug's face against the electrified bars. When he managed to stop drooling on himself, the thug stood and snapped, "Do it again, Creed, and your ass is mine."

"Wrong." A snarling feminine voice told the thug from behind. He spun around to see Charlie, fangs bared and claws extended. She shoved her hand into his stomach and ripped his intenstines out, dropping them on the floor. The thug joined his organs a second later. "He's mine."

"Took you long enough." Victor brushed dirt off his coat while Charlie turned off the electric current to his cage and unlocked it. Charlie rejoined him, wiping the blood off her hands on the hospital gown that was draped around her frame. Victor took notice of her lack of substantial clothing when Charlie pushed him against the bars of the cage and smashed her lips against his. Any other circumstances, he would have taken advantage of the flimsy gown but right now he had a cub to protect. "Kitten, now ain't the time."

"It's the best time." Charlie panted, biting Victor's neck roughly. She pouted and looked offended when Victor pushed her away by her shoulders. "You would reject me?"

"I've stuck with ya this long, and I ain't rejected you yet. That crazy bitch is goin' after Roxie." Victor saw the lust for him replaced with fury and a murderous gleam. "Find some real clothes and let's go."

Charlie found a pair of scrubs and pulled them on, opting to go barefoot over wearing oversized boots. Finding a car to steal wasn't hard and soon enough they were on their way to Roxie. Victor sped haphazardly over the terrain while Charlie went over the last few days in her mind. Julienne was clever but she didn't remember that Charlie was a member of the largest and most powerful pack in the northern hemisphere. She didn't account for the sheer stubbornness of the Dubois bloodline and it had taken several days but Charlie's body had healed the tumors and it was Lynx who gave her the extra strength to make her heart beat again. Victor's voice brought her out of her own thoughts and he filled her in with the information he learned over the last few days.

-0-

"Francois isn't my father?" I asked Victor, confused.

"Nope. Sorry, Kitten." He checked the rearview mirror with a glance.

Shaking my head to clear the befuddled mess going on inside, I turned the conversation back to Roxie. "How do we get rid of the virus she's infected with?"

Victor pulled a capped syringe from his pocket and handed it to me. "Give that to Roxie and she'll be fine. Swiped it out of Julienne's lab on the way out."

Opening the glove box, I slipped the syringe inside and closed it before scooting closer to Victor. He glanced at me for a moment before looking back at the road. When I started to nuzzle his ear, he groaned. "Damn it, Kit. I'm driving."

"I'm not stopping you." I purred, my tongue darting out to lick his neck. My hand slid down his chest to his thigh, squeezing gently. He groaned again, clutching the steering wheel tighter and I could hear it crack. "Is it too late to apologize for rejecting you?"

"Apologies don't mean shit." Victor said. "You still reject me?"

"No." I breathed, tracing his jawline with my nose. His breathing hitched when I scooted closer, pressing myself against him.

"Damn straight." The response was typical of Victor. "We're gonna save the kid and then you're mine."

"I was always yours."

-0-

The estate loomed over us before much longer and it was overrun by Julienne's thugs. The pack was dispatching them easily enough and Victor and I only got to kill a dozen or so before we made it inside. I could smell fear mixed with Roxie's scent and we followed it, finding Roxie and Pierre in his study, Julienne perched on his desk daintily. She was trying to reason with Roxie. "Come, my sweet. Don't you want to help your Mama?"

"Get away from my daughter." I enunciated each word carefully as I stalked closer, Victor close behind me. Looking at Pierre I asked, "Are you all right?"

"Quite well, my dearest diamond." Pierre answered, a tearful shine to his eyes and a relieved smile on his lips.

"If it isn't my mate's bastard child." Julienne sneered, taking a handful of Roxie's curls and yanking. Roxie cried out in pain and Victor roared. "Let us pass or I'll kill her."

"Are you okay, Roxie?" I asked her. She had been crying and she whimpered instead of answering.

"Mommy, I'm scared."

"There's no need to be scared, baby." I was inching closer and closer to her, my hand extended to my daughter and Lynx waiting to be let free. The only reason she wasn't free at the moment was because I didn't want to frighten Roxie. "I'm going to get you out of here."

Roxie nodded fearfully, fresh tears falling down her cheeks.

"Look at me, kid." Victor said and she did, holding his gaze while he crouched, getting to her eye level. "Start walking towards me."

"I-I can't." Roxie sobbed, using a free hand in an attempt to yank her hair free. Julienne tightened her grip, unmoved by the young girl's tears.

"You can." Victor assured her.

"Julienne, stop this nonsense at once!" Pierre barked at his mate. "I command you."

Julienne threw her head back and laughed. "The great Alpha commands me? I don't think so, my love. I'm giving the orders now and I command that you let me and the brat pass."

Pierre considered her words then sighed. "And no harm will come to her?"

"What?" I shouted while Victor growled, "Are you shittin' me?"

"No harm will come to the girl as long as we aren't followed." Julienne said.

"Then go."

"Papa!" Roxie cried out in betrayal. Julienne pulled her forward and I braced myself to attack.

"Let her pass, Charlotte." Pierre said.

"I won't let her take my girl."

"We haven't a choice." Pierre tried to reason. I looked at him angrily and saw his expression was begging me to trust him. He had yet to lead me astray so, against my instincts, I moved out of Julienne's way. Julienne dragged Roxie out of the study and realized too late that Rogue had been waiting for her. Stepping behind the bitch who stole my daughter, Rogue put her ungloved hand on Julienne's bare neck. As Julienne struggled to breathe and hold on to her life, Roxie slipped away, running into my arms. When Rogue had weakened Julienne enough, Christien stepped up and clamped iron manacles around her wrists.

"You have committed treason against the pack. The only reason you are not being sentenced to death is because Pierre wishes it." Christien informed her as he led her to the dungeon. "You will be imprisoned for the rest of your life here."

I squeezed Roxie closer than I had thought was possible, shushing her cries and wiping the tears from her cheeks. I remembered the syringe as I held her and moved away so I could look in her eyes. "I have something that will get rid of the voices, Roxie. It'll make you the way you were before."

She cringed when she saw the needle. "It's going to hurt!"

"Just a bit but then the voices will be gone." I reasoned with her. She reached for Victor, who clutched her hand as I administered the shot. Roxie's eyebrows knitted together then relaxed.

"It's better, Mommy."

I looked around at my family and held her close. "It's much better, Roxie."

-0-

Six months later

Phoenix did manage to get away and Pierre said she was merely a pawn, same as Victor. Personally, I think they should both be held responsible for their actions. Rogue and Christien have developed a courtship of sorts, he stopping by New York to visit her while she's in school and she coming to our estate when there were holiday breaks. I expect an announcement from them within six months, honestly. James and I remained close but he still harbored a lot of anger against Victor, so I didn't get to see him much. The last time I saw him, he had mentioned an Elizabeth. She was human but she saw mutants as equal, something that we don't see a lot of. He's promised to bring her to Roxie's birthday party next week.

Victor and I have made up, mostly. It's hard not to get angry at the most infuriating man in the universe but we manage. He's been a lot easier to get along with now that I'm pregnant again. Soon Roxie will have a brother or sister and Victor keeps swearing that he's gonna have a "boy to help even out the damn estrogen overdose". We know that there will be more attacks on mutants either from mutants or from humans but there's a warning issued: if you harm our pack, you will not live to regret your decision.

A/N: That's the end of the story, everyone. It may seem a bit abrupt but there wasn't really anywhere else to go with the plot now. Thanks to everyone who had read/favoritied/followed/reviewed. You guys made this story possible. Please review because they're always appreciated. :)