Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men: Evolution. I do own anyone you don't recognise.

Oops, sorry, forgot I hadn't posted this yet.

Note: 'bairns' is Scottish dialogue for 'babies' or 'children'.

Chapter Six – And Unto Us

December 24th 1999

Christmas snuck up on them quickly this year. No one could really agree on whether it was because the weather never really got any worse, or because very few people were leaving Bayville for once – all anyone knew for certain was that Christmas Eve arrived amidst a flurry of last minute panic.

As such, the mansion was quiet, because nearly everyone had gone shopping.

Sam and Rahne – who were as organised as ever, so their presents were wrapped, labelled and stacked under the huge tree in the living room – were curled up in an armchair in front of the rec room fire.

Exhausted after the morning's training session and comfortable in the warmth of the flames and her boyfriend's arms, Rahne yawned sleepily and ran through her team-mates in her head.

Let's see … Logan's in the DR and Storm's in her greenhouse. Professor X is spending Christmas in Scotland this year; Beast is in NYC. Bella's in the infirmary. The bairns are all asleep. Monica and Joey are with Jean and Scott in Philly. Lorie's with Anna and Remy in New Orleans, something about Remy's sister-in-law having a baby. Bobby and Jubilee are wrapping presents somewhere. Lorna's in town looking for a job. And everyone else is at the mall.

Rahne sighed contentedly and snuggled into Sam's embrace. He dropped a kiss on her forehead. "I love you."

"I love you too." Rahne turned her head to bury her face in the crook of his neck, feeling sleep begin to wash over her.

"It's so quiet." Sam commented in a hushed voice. "It's not normal."

"Careful." Rahne warned with a smile she knew he couldn't see. "You'll jinx it."

"YOU'LL NEVER GET ME!"

"Too late." Rahne sat up with a sigh, running a hand through her auburn hair, just as the door to the rec room burst open and Jubilee ran in, Bobby close behind her, both of them wielding empty tubes of wrapping paper.

"And they're parents." Sam concluded, watching the two begin a mock duel. "Poor Cindy."

Rahne hid her smile behind her hand. "To be fair, Sam, Jubilee is a wonderful mother."

"I never said she wasn't." Sam reminded her. "I just said that they're less mature than she is."

"Technically, you didnae say that either." Rahne pointed out.

"Be quiet, you." Sam kissed her quickly.

It was only due to her enhanced hearing that Rahne heard the phone over the noise in the room. "It's a wonder Cindy and Liam are sleeping through that," she grumbled, disentangling herself from the armchair and picking up the phone. "Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters, Wolfsbane speaking; how can I help?"

"May it seem?"

Rahne frowned. That couldn't be right. "Excuse me." She covered the mouthpiece. "Guys, shut up!"

Startled, Bobby and Jubilee fell silent.

"Thank you." Rahne removed her hand. "I'm sorry, could you repeat that?"

"Hey, it's me." Kitty repeated, making much more sense this time. "Amara went into labour at the mall, but we're stuck in traffic and you're closer than the hospital, so Lance and I are bringing them back. Can you tell Bella to prep the infirmary?"

"Oh my God!" Of all the things Rahne had expected to hear, that definitely hadn't been one of them. Not by a long shot. "Amara's having the baby? How far away are you?"

"About …" Kitty trailed off. "Scratch that; we don't have time. This baby's coming now. Lance, pull over!"

"Where?" Lance's voice came through. "We're in the middle of traffic and it's end-to-end; I can't move an inch."

"Alright, then just try not to make any sudden movements."

"Do you want me to get hold of Kurt?" Rahne asked, fully aware of the others listening in intently.

"No time. She's too close to … Sweet Lord!"

An unmistakeable wail came through the phone. Bobby collapsed into the other armchair, his face white, and Jubilee's hands flew to her mouth. "Did she just have the baby?"

"Kitty!" Rahne repeated. "Did Amara just have the baby?"

"She just had the baby." Kitty confirmed. "Oh, Amara, she's beautiful!"

Kitty had almost forgotten she was still on the phone as she shakily wrapped the newborn baby girl in her jacket, the only thing available. "Lance, I need scissors and string."

"Hang on." Lance reached across John, who was hanging over the back of the front seat, gaping at his new daughter in astonishment. He rummaged in the glove compartment and pulled out the two items, passing them back.

"Thanks." Kitty glanced at Amara. "Just hang on a second; I just need to sort her out. I really should sterilise these things."

"I've got water." John offered, snapping out of his shock to hand her a bottle.

"And I think I've got a kettle in here somewhere." Lance added, rooting in the glove compartment again.

"A kettle?" Kitty repeated, temporarily distracted. "Why is there a kettle in your glove compartment?"

"Search me." Lance shrugged. "I've got everything in here. Except gloves."

"And where are we going to plug it in?" Kitty asked, rolling her eyes. "Unless you've got a portable generator in there too?"

"Well …" Lance trailed off with a chuckle when three pairs of eyes fixed on him. "Just kidding. You've got a very good point."

"Here." John wrapped his hand around the bottle and the water inside began bubbling. "That enough?"

"Perfect." Kitty quickly cleaned the child up and handed her to her mother. "There you go, honey."

"Oh my God …" Amara cradled her close. "John, look at her."

"I'm looking." John slid back into the back seat, thanks to Kitty's powers, and wrapped his arms around her. "I love you so much."

Kitty smiled and phased into the front seat, giving them some privacy. "Go slow."

Lance raised an eyebrow. "Again, Kitten, we're at a standstill, I don't think that'll be a problem. Your phone's still on."

"I know." Kitty lifted it back to her ear. "You still there?"

"Still here." Rahne answered. "Everyone okay?"

"Everyone's fine." Kitty assured her. "Just get the infirmary ready and we'll be there in …" She hesitated and looked at Lance, who scanned the traffic.

"About twenty minutes." He finished.

"About twenty minutes." Kitty repeated. "We'll see you then."

Just under an hour later – an amazing feat given the amount of traffic – Amara and her new daughter were settled in the infirmary. For obvious reasons, Belladonna hadn't been happy about the venue of the child's birth and had insisted she check them over.

John had refused to leave her side, but everyone else had elected to give them some space and wait for news in the red room.

Everyone, that is, except Paige and Jamie, who, as the youngest, had taken it upon themselves to spy through the windows of the infirmary doors and try to gauge when the others could come down.

"Weird coincidence, isn't it?" Paige murmured.

"What is?" Jamie asked.

"A pregnant woman journeying home on Christmas Eve, but can't get to a room. And unto us a child is born." Paige elaborated in a dreamy voice.

Jamie nodded understandingly. "… I don't get it."

Paige just rolled her eyes and hit him upside the head. At that moment, Amara glanced up and caught sight of them, and beckoned them in.

Two heads – one dark, one fair – poked around the door. "Are you sure?" Paige asked.

"Yes, it's fine." Amara assured her with a smile. "We've been given the go-ahead, right Bella?"

Belladonna sighed. "Well, I still don't like that you gave birth in the back of Lance's car, but there've been no ill effects."

"So you wouldn't have minded if I'd given birth in Scott's car then?" Amara asked innocently.

Belladonna rolled her eyes. "I'd rather you hadn't given birth in a car at all, but Scott's is slightly more sanitary."

"Are you kidding?" John asked with a snigger. "Captain Tightass? He probably vacuums it out every day."

Amara swatted his arm with her spare hand. "Don't curse around the baby please, John."

"Oh, she's beautiful!" Paige cooed, peering into the blankets. "What's her name?"

Amara smiled and beckoned Jamie closer as well. "Jamie, Paige, I'd like you to meet Eloise Miranda Allerdyce."

AN: Review please!