Rogue smiles as she scrounges up some water for herself, "That's awesome, Logan...I was a bit worried for her those years...Okay, it honestly was a bit weird just now, but somehow, I don't care anymore as long as you guys are happy and in love with each other. I gotta warn you still...There are people out there who sees something wrong with...well, the fact of the age gap and all...", knowing that Jean is like 25 while Logan is technically older than he looks, being in his late 30s, early 40s physically.
"Nothing really wrong with it here... I think. Mo and Bucky are way older than they look and yet look who they're with.", Logan pointed out, remembering what Link had told him one time about his fellow neighbors.
Rogue shook her head, "Not in Libra Haven, that's for sure. Nothing wrong with that here. I just want to warn you about the outside world.", even though that she knew that being mutants and all, Logan and Jean can take care of themselves just fine...But it doesn't mean that cruel remarks can't hurt. Oh, sure, there are tons of supporters who admire and back up all of Libra Haven, but there are still people who are opposed to it all...Just like back on her old world...
"Look, Marie... do I look really that old? Few would even notice I would think, either I'm younger than I look, or Jean is older than she looks; it's not that much of a difference as opposed to some of those really rich old guys that have women the age of their own granddaughters on their arms.", Logan reminded.
Rogue hummed lightly, "You don't really look that old, Logan. And you are stubborn to argue, but I have to say that you'd be right. I just don't want to see Jean hurt by judgmental people...", with a sigh.
"I love Jean. I'd stand up for her, back her up on everything, and nothing or nobody would dare cross me.", Logan growled sharply, and a cup of coffee appeared on the table, with Jean wrapping her arms around him from behind, "And I love you too, Logan. I'll back you up too. I don't care what anybody in the outside world beyond Libra Haven thinks.", kissing him on the cheek, calming him down before he could even spring his claws on the counter.
"Just be careful with him, Jean... you know how sharp those claws can be.", Rogue smirked as Logan rolled his eyes. "Hey! It ain't like morning wood or something, I can easily control that!", Logan argued.
Rogue wrinkled her nose, "Logan, TMI!", and Jean giggled softly, "Marie, you will have to get used to seeing us every day in love and all. After all, I love it when we tumble around.", with a grin.
"Not you too! Tell me when you got a place of your own! I'm heading to my room!", Rogue groaned and headed to her bedroom. Logan chuckled wryly, "Well, you heard her. Looks like we got something already on our day to do.", as he drank his coffee, "Unless that ain't one of the date things?", glancing at Jean.
"Well, I can easily just go with the flow if you don't think a date is needed after what we did last night.", Logan kissed her cheek as she chuckled. "I'm the same with you there, just either having a day out or a fancy date, either is fine with me.", Jean told him.
Logan smiled softly, "You are incredibly wonderful, and I don't know what I did to deserve you.", and Jean kissed him on the lips before pulling back for air, whispering softly, "Just be yourself, Logan.".
"That, I can agree with.", Logan nodded as he kept drinking his coffee, and finished up while Jean headed back to her bedroom to change into fresh clothes, and joined him as they headed outside, spending the day in having a breakfast date, some cinema time, and a bit of time finding the right place in Libra Haven, discovering a perfect guest bunkhouse as a hanger is too big for them, and of course, trying it out.
Soon, Libra Haven knew of the new relationship of Logan and Jean, and the rest of the X-Men was very happy for them, and for the next couple of months, everything was going peacefully great until one day, Lacey had a big fainting spell, not realizing that she's pregnant with not one, but three babies, having felt strangely tired and heavy, and well, she didn't know that she needed triple the nutrients to keep up, but they didn't know all of that, and it scared Doc the most.
It was a peaceful August morning in the Casciano-Lebre house, and Doc was at the table, drinking tea and reading a book as Lacey kissed him on the cheek, "Hey, Richard...I'm going for a nap, okay?", after using the bathroom.
"Didn't get as much sleep last night?", Doc chuckled as she smiled. "I guess so... feeling fairly tired still and I know I got plenty of rest last night.", Lacey told him.
Doc smiled, "Well, don't wanna keep you waiting, then, my dear.", kissing her cheek, "I'll wake you up for lunch, okay?".
Lacey nodded, "Thank you, Richard. I would love some of your special omelets.", and Doc chuckled, "You got it, Lacey.", squeezing her hand warmly, and Lacey smiled, leaving him to his reading and drinking.
As Doc was drinking some of his tea a couple of minutes later, he heard a crash from the hallway, and he sprung up instantly, the book falling to the floor, with the tea forgotten as it broke to pieces as he ran, "Lacey!", with that nightmare of a memory of Lacey pinned under that cabinet running through his mind.
He turned around and his heart pounded faster, his blood chilled to the bone, seeing the pieces of a lamp on the floor, having fallen from the hallway table, with Lacey on her side, her eyes closed, gratefully unharmed, yet so still and pale, with soft breaths barely heard.
"Still alive...", Doc muttered to himself as he quickly tried to make sure to stay with her while getting Beast to come over, "Just hand on, Lacey... I'll get you some help!".
Beast, after hearing Doc's frantic phone call, came over with his bag, looking at Doc caressing and staying by Lacey's side, keeping her head elevated, "Let's see what's wrong with her.", pulling out his blood pressure machine, his stethoscope, and thermometer.
After some minutes, "Oh, dear, her blood pressure's really low, and her heartbeat is a bit irregular. We have to get her to my place quickly.", Beast replied concernedly, and Doc nodded, growing really worried, picking her up in his arms, following Beast swiftly across the field, barely noticing a few faces out here and there.
Once they got to Beast's place, with Beast commanding, "Lay her on the bed there. I have to get the IV into her. I think it's only a fainting spell, but I have to cover all the bases. Did she eat anything this morning?".
Doc nodded, "Yeah, some oatmeal and some slices of an apple, but she keeps saying that she's tired. She got a good rest of sleep last night, but she was still tired, so she was going to take a nap, and then this happened...".
"Exhaustion, perhaps.", Beast suggested as he continued to set things up. "Will she be alright?", Doc asked as Beast shook his head.
"I'm not going to answer that right now until I at least know a few more things. I don't want to have your spirits up just in case...", Beast replied.
"Right, right, I get it.", Doc nodded in agreement. "But so far, doesn't look like anything serious I don't think...", Beast said.
Doc exhaled in relief to hear that, but he's still a bit worried about her...He cannot forget that day he nearly lost her...It's like he's almost cursed...
After several minutes of setting things up, and with the IV working through Lacey's bloodstream, Doc then heard her voice as he sat next to her, waiting for her to wake up while Beast was checking on some extractions of Lacey's blood, "R-Richard? W-what happened?".
Doc looked up to see her looking at him with a confused, concerned, slightly tired expression, and he gave a sob of relief as he leaned closer, kissing her hand as he held it, "You fainted, big time. You scared me...I thought I was going to lose you again...".
Lacey gave him a small smile as she took a deep breath, "Sorry about that, I'll try not to go anywhere in a hurry for you.". Doc chuckled as he kissed her cheek.
"So... do we know what happened?", Lacey asked. "Not yet. Beast is running tests right now to see what the deal is.", Doc explained.
Lacey nodded slightly, "Good...Did he say anything else?", and Doc replied, "Low blood pressure and exhaustion, that's probably what led to your fainting spell, but Beast is digging into why.".
"But I ate this morning, and I had a good night's sleep last night, yet I was tired for some reason...I know I didn't overwork myself yesterday during my studio time.", Lacey frowned in confusion. For her dream job of making an animated show, she got some people to put into a studio for her, along with an office for her side-hobby of investigating freelance.
Doc leaned in to kiss her on the lips, "Well, we will find out soon enough to find out why this happened.", and Lacey gave another smile, just resting back, and after another few minutes, Beast returned to the couple with a warm look.
"Well, I can say it wasn't anything serious-threatening to your body, Lacey, but it's still serious for the reason why you had low blood pressure and exhaustion is because you're pregnant.", Beast replied.
Doc and Lacey widened their eyes, and Lacey whispered in happiness and shock, "I'm pregnant?", and Beast nodded, "Indeed, yet I am positive, as from reading the levels of the pregnancy hormones, you're carrying more than one. I would have to check with the sonogram.".
Doc took a huge sigh of relief and then chuckled, "Well, that certainly explains it. Seems like you didn't know you were carrying for more then.", with an awed look. "And I have more than just one...", Lacey took a deep sigh.
Beast nodded, "We can find out on the sonogram. Since you two have the Quantonium, the babies would be old enough to see now.", with a soft smile.
Lacey gasped, "Really?!", with a growing smile, and Doc smiled, kissing her on the cheek as Beast replied, "Of course. I'll set the sonogram machine up.", leaving them for a moment to grab the sonogram machine, glad that it's on wheels.
Doc murmured, "I'm a father.", touching her belly, and observing carefully, there's definitely a baby bump, but barely, and Lacey squeezed his other hand, "And I am a mommy...", sobbing happily, "We're parents, Richard!", joining his hand on her belly.
Doc kissed her on the lips, "We are, Lacey...Gods, more than one...Do you think it's twins or triplets?", and Lacey smiled softly, "I don't know, but we will make sure we will teach them right from wrong.", and Doc nodded, agreeing warmly on that.
Beast returned with the sonogram machine, setting it up, humming as he gave the gel bottle to Doc, and Lacey excitedly moved her shirt up, with Doc putting the gel on her belly gently.
After a few minutes of Beast scanning the belly, he replied in confusion, "That's strange...I can see the cords, and I count three, but I can't see the babies at all.", and Doc frowned, "Maybe the membranes of the water bags are thicker than normal...thanks to me...".
"Possibly, but this is going to be the first time for me to say this, but I think we should do a transvaginal ultrasound camera.", Beast replied calmly if a bit embarrassed.
"Is something wrong?", Lacey asked as Beast shook his head, "I don't think so... but there may be something very abnormal with how the children are growing... with Quantonium, you can never be certain.".
Doc replied, "That's so true...I can handle the camera part, Beast.", and Beast looked relieved, "Good, and I can instruct you where to go. But first, we must ask you if you're comfortable with this, Lacey...This means taking off your lower clothes...".
Lacey took a deep breath, "I want to make sure my children are safe in whatever way they're growing. As long as Richard's here, I'm comfortable.", and Beast nodded, "Okay. I will get the camera and all. Doc, you help her out.", before leaving the couple to grab the stuff for the transvaginal ultrasound.
"If these photos get out...", Lacey growled as she looked at Doc as he chuckled. "Not that kind of camera.", Doc smiled as she chuckled, showing that she obviously knew what they meant as they got to work.
Lacey changed out of her clothes, wearing a rarely used hospital gown, seeing that it's softer and less scratchy than the normal hospital gown, escorted to one of the chairs with the side strap stools, with Beast returning with the camera and such, connecting it all to the sonogram machine.
Beast nodded, "Okay, all connected and working...Go on, Lacey. I'm by your side, not seeing anything, and Doc is right here, facing you, okay?", and Lacey smiled a bit nervously yet excitedly as she took a deep breath and raised her legs as she rested back.
"It'll be easy and not an issue, alright, my dear?", Doc assured her as Lacey held his hand. "Okay then, let's see if we can get a better look at these little ones...", Beast said.
Doc nodded as he rubbed some gel into Lacey's vagina, with Lacey breathing a tad in surprise at the cool feeling, and after a moment, he then gently, slowly moved the camera into her vagina, through the walls, pushing the cord of the camera with his hand.
Lacey took deep breaths as she felt the cool sensation of the camera, her birth canal coming on the screen as she looked, with Beast instructing, "Good, nice and steady, Doc.".
Doc kept going nice and steady, watching as well, amazed that he's seeing this for the first time...He knew he felt her inside with his meat and hands, but this is a whole different perspective. Beast nodded, "We're approaching the womb.".
Lacey watched with anticipation as the camera moved closer to her womb, entering, and all eyes widen in amazement and shock as the camera is looking upon three solid, oval eggs, slightly transparent, with the cords connected to the uterine walls through the eggs, all of them each as big as a three-month-old baby in the womb.
"Um... that's new...", Beast admitted as Lacey began to worry. "Oh, God... please tell me something's not wrong!", she exclaimed with panic in her voice.
"Nothing's wrong, Lacey!", Doc tried to tell her. "Just... the children... they're... they're taking after me greatly, I think.".
Beast replied, "He's right...Human eggs before conception are usually round like a marble, and well, cockroaches lay eggs that are like a purse, slightly curved like a banana, but this is different, as they are oval-shaped...Let's see if I can shine a light.", adjusting the chair lamp to peer closely at the belly above, and the camera on the screen showed dim light coming through the womb from the belly walls, showing the eggs in better light, and like the sun shining on shadows, the eggs are revealing shadows inside, three moving, breathing babies.
"I'll be a monkey's uncle...Nothing's wrong...They got their arms, legs, and heads, with hands and feet growing into proper shape, perfectly human, with two differences.", Beast laughed softly with amazement.
"See the curvy stick-like shape growing on that one's head? That's the antennae. And that other one, looks like it got your sticking to the wall ability.", Beast pointed out, seeing one of the babies sticking to the egg wall before letting go, and Beast chuckled, "And the third one is the most normal-ish one. If anything, they are sure to hatch easily, thanks to their tough skin in case they have a sort of exoskeleton for them to help break out.".
Lacey breathed softly, "What if they grow too big for me to push through?", and Beast shook his head, "I don't think so...If I am right, triplets are prone to be early like twins, so it's definitely sure that they would come at the fifth month...Since you are two months along, and those three are 3 months old, so November is the time for them to be born without incident in harming yourself, and besides, they are smarter than normal humans and all, thanks to the Quantonium.".
"So... hopefully they'll be fairly human?", Doc suggested. "Depends on the one with the antennae; certainly will stick out unless wearing hats or something but other than that, fairly human.", Beast told him.
Doc exhaled, nodding, and Lacey looked at him, "We will love them, all of them, Richard...If they are human with a few minor differences, we will teach them to love themselves, and if they have your shape-shifting power, they can be normal without teasing and all.".
"When you're right, you're right.", Doc smiled at her softly before looking at the screen with awe and amazement, "We're parents...", echoing Lacey's words from earlier.