Chapter 51: Fear and Baby makes Five.

It was about a month since everyone had taken a 'Couple's Week' off and everyone was now back to doing training exercises and going to school like normal. In fact, right now everyone was leaving the danger room after one such session with Chelsea and Logan, the former of which having been experiencing some odd behaviors as of late. She was moody, had really odd cravings, got into arguments with everyone over the smallest things, got sick during the morning, and when she wasn't taking her hormone medicine, became sometimes violent and would talk with absolutely no filter, more than usual.

"Damn, I'm going to be sore for a week after that." Rogue groaned as she and Gavin stepped out of the elevator.

"I want to say the same, but ya know... healing factor." Gavin shrugged as they walked down the hall to their rooms. "Why do you think Wolverine has been trying to whip us more than usual?

"Beats me. Maybe Chelsea and him got into another fight. The last time I saw him this pissed was when they had their last one." The southern belle noted as they walked.

"Geez, tell me about it. And I thought he was still livid with me after what I did to Zemo and Viper." Gain shuddered, remembering the almost-gutting. "They seem great for each other until you hear them fight, and then it's like two creatures straight outta hell."

"Right?!" Rogue exclaimed. "Then again I can't imagine Chelsea is easy to deal with when she's off her hormone medication." Ironically as she said that the door next to them in the hall opened, revealing the very, VERY tired looking blond. "Speak of the devil..."

"Marks, what happened? You weren't in training today." Gavin asked.

"Good morning to you too," Chelsea grumbled, leaning against the door frame. "Sorry for sickin' the Wolverine on you guys."

"Ah ha! so it is your fault!" Rogue poked jokingly.

"Watch it..." Their mentor warned. "I couldn't come to training so I put him in charge."

"What do you mean couldn't come? Is everything alright?" Gavin asked. "Tell me your mental blocks aren't giving and your PTSD is coming back?"

"Nah nothing like that kid, just uh, food poisoning. I would have been hurling all over the control deck if I was there this morning." She waved off the question. "But despite being kept up all night by me, at least Logan was able to take over."

Rogue inquisitively looked at her. "Food poisoning, what' about ya healing factor?"

"Kid, some things still get to me. Remember when I had a cold and nearly burnt down the institute?" She pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. "Y'all should go shower. You reek bad enough to make me feel like I'll hurl again."

"Thanks." The teen girl sarcastically replied as she and her friend began to walk down towards their respective rooms. As they did so, Gavin kept glancing over his shoulder back at their instructor who was walking the opposite way. "Gav, ya alright?"

"Yeah, yeah just... thought I heard something." The pseudo vampire replied.

A couple days passed and Gavin was still hearing those sounds, a faint thumping sound coming from Chelsea, it wasn't her heartbeat, it was way smaller. After having to deal with it, and the fact that she had been avoiding Logan, which had made the man even more irritated, he decided to finally get to the bottom of it.

As soon as Chelsea got back out of her room after doing her last round of GED homework, The pseudo vampire came up to her. Looking at him in confusion, she decided to ask him what was wrong.

"Hey Gav, what's... Up?" She trailed off when he put his ear to her stomach. "Uh, what're you doing?"

"Just as I thought." The boy nodded as he backed up and crossed his arms. "Chels, I'm gonna ask you this once, and I expect the truth, don't even try to lie, because I'll hear your heart speed up, got it?"

The blonde groaned in exasperation as she facepalmed. "Fine, what?"

"Are you pregnant?" He asked her, causing the Dragoness to drop her books.

"Huh?" She gasped.

"Let me ask again. Chelsea... Are. You. Pregnant?" He asked her, getting closer towards her, his gaze firm and unwavering.

She narrowed her eyes at him and tried to walk away. "Chelsea we aren't done!" He ran up in front of her extending his arms to block her path.

"Yes Gavin, we are." She said firmly, pushing past him.

"So are you?" He pressed

"Gavin we are not talking about this." She snapped.

"C'mon Marks, you can tell me! We're like family. You've been acting off for a week now. Skipping out on training, weird cravings, evading Logan." He crossed his arms with a huff. "How do you think your baby daddy will react if he finds out from anyone else besides you?"

The dragoness stopped in her steps, whirling around and pinning him to the wall. "Listen here pipsqueak," She growled through fanged teeth. "We aren't talking about this. What I have going on is personal business that doesn't involve YOU or ANYONE else. You are going to drop this question, and drop any theories you have about me being... ya know." She faltered at the word as if saying brought a bad taste to her mouth. "Am I understood?"

Gavin glared at her challengingly. "So say hypothetically you were pregnant. What would you do?"

She glared daggers into his red eyes, her grip tightening on him. "Hypothetically, I would abort it."

"And why is that?" Gavin growled, anger clear in his voice.

She set her jaw, trying to keep her cold demeanor. "Parenthood isn't for me. I'm DESIGNED for it, sure, but I am not MEANT for it. I am not ready, never have been and won't be for god knows how long. I have my reasons. Now drop it."

"So you don't want the baby you're harboring now?" He spat.

"Gav-" She tried to protest.

"Save it." He snarled, throwing her hands off him. "I can hear the heartbeat, Chelsea." For a moment a look of panic crossed her face before returning to a glare. She snatched him by the arm, pulling him into the closest door, which awkwardly, was the boys' bathroom. Slamming and locking the door behind them, she shoved him to sit down on the toilet glaring at him angrily.

"Gavin you are not going to say a fucking word about this to anyone." She growled.

He scoffed at her. "It's a free country, you heartless woman."

"Excuse me?!" The Dragoness snapped.

"You heard me." He said coolly before his gaze turned soft. "So how along are you?" Gavin asked. "I mean, I'm no pediatrician but I'm pretty sure that I shouldn't be able to hear a heartbeat yet if you've only been pregnant for about a week."

The blonde was quiet for a second before she hissed. "I'm about a month in..." she told him.

This made Gavin's eyes widen. "*whistle* Wow, and you've kept it hidden from Logan THAT long? Nicely done sis, I'm impressed."

She then glared back at him. "You are not to speak to anyone about this until I figure out what to do, got it?"

"And what? Let you make the biggest mistake of your life? Hell no." He snapped back.

"What are you talking about?" The woman asked.

"I may not look like it, but I knew a girl who aborted her baby. She was a friend of mine who moved to Japan to be with her folks after school was over. She ended up having a one night stand with her boyfriend before she left and found out she was pregnant a week later. Since she knew her parents wouldn't approve and feeling the same way you do, she ended up having an abortion, and you know what happened a few weeks after that?" He asked her.

"... I'm afraid to ask, but what?" Chelsea questioned.

"She was wracked with guilt and she slowly spiraled into depression, first she couldn't sleep, then she wouldn't eat, then it turned to self harm, intentionally starving herself, and endless nights of her crying over her own guilt, and then one day, she decided to end it all. She took a rope and went into the suicide forest, made herself a noose, and then hung herself." He told her with tears in his eyes. "I've seen this cycle happen before, Chels! And I REFUSE to let you go through it!"

"And another thing, didn't you say you aren't a child killer? Well that's exactly what you'd be doing! That's a beating heart inside you now, you stuff it out and you'll become what you say you hate. And it'd be your OWN child, do you really want to live with that much guilt?" Gavin added. "I thought you said you wanted to move on, to start a new chapter in your life, can't you see? This is your chance! Your chance to finally let go of your past and start a new life, and it'd be with someone who'd love you more than anyone ever could. It's like what Goliath once told me: "nothing is more powerful, than the transformative power, of a child's love.", and trust me, I speak from experience when I say being a parent is worth it." He continued passionately.

Chelsea let out an aggravated sigh, running her fingers through her hair. "Please understand I am trying to keep my cool right now." She said through gritted teeth. "You are taking a situation from one person. One. And that person isn't me. I'm not some weak, petty snowflake that can't handle death."

"I don't care that it isn't you!" Gavin barked. "What you're thinking about it wrong and it could destroy you! And another thing, didn't you say you aren't a child killer? Well, that's exactly what you'd be doing!" Without warning, the dragoness's palm collided with Gavin's cheek, making him blink out of shock.

"You're right. I'm not." She hissed in an uncharacteristically quiet tone, despite tears welling up in her eyes. "But THIS isn't a child. THIS is a pack of cells that I don't know what to do with. Gavin..." Her voice began to shake ever so slightly. "Why do you think I'm considering aborting it?"

The boy glared at her, his gaze full of hate. "Did you really just fucking say that? Chels, I was almost aborted! My mom nearly terminated me and Devin because her job had her follow that exact same logic, do you have any idea how heartless and insulting that is to me personally?!" He nearly yelled as he glared daggers at her.

But the longer he looked at the way she was trying to keep herself composed, trying so hard to make herself look confident, past all of it, he saw the real conflict in her eyes. "Wait... You're scared... aren't you?"

"That... that would be an understatement."The blond scoffed as she tried to wipe her tears from her eyes."I just-just... FUCK!"

He facepalmed. "Gad damn it now I feel like a jerk."

She slammed her fist into the wall next to her, making it crack. "I'm fucking terrified! I'm not ready for this! I can't just give my body up again for something I'm not sure about." The tears came back as she slid down the wall onto the floor, her head in her hands. "Kid, you don't understand, this... this is what I've been afraid of for years. I was forced to become this.. this breeding machine. I did everything in my power to make sure I would never fulfill that purpose. I so deeply ingrained into my mind that I WILL NEVER have children, that doing so would be losing myself and my freedom... and now that I'm pregnant I'm just..."

"Confused?" He offered.

"...Yeah..." She admitted quietly. "But ever since Laura came though, part of me wants to take the chance but I'm so scared about what I could possibly do to it. What others would try to do to it... I feel like I can't trust myself- I can't trust Logan, or-or anyone else for that matter!"

"Can't trust Logan? Chels, what do you mean?" Gavin questioned, crouching down to her level as he began to frown. "He didn't hurt you, did he?! Because if he did-"

"N-no," She interrupted, trying to hide her tears. "It's just. He leaves. A lot."

"He hasn't gone off as much since you've been here." The boy assured her.

"That's not the point. The point is that I grew up with that. I know how it feels to have parents that don't spare you the time of day. And his history with his other kids... with Daken..." She met the eyes of her pupil, her own green ones filled with anguish, and her voice ringing with pain. "Besides, what makes me so different from any other whore who's fallen in love with him? Why would it matter to him that I have a kid that's half him in me right now?"

"Because I've seen the way he looks at you. He doesn't see just another pretty face, he sees a woman who's just like him, someone who's been through just as much as he has if not more and can understand where he's coming from better than anyone else ever could." Gavin told her. "That's the difference, that's why he loves you more than anyone he's ever loved, he just never showed until now, it was because he was afraid of hurting you."

"What? How do you know that?" Chelsea gasped.

"I was there when he was arguing with Fury, the Prof and Ororo after the whole X-23 debacle. He's sick and tired of not being there for those he loves, not being there for his kids." The boy explained. "And I heard and saw him swear that if he ever had the chance to raise a kid, and the chance to truly love again. He swore he would not screw it up. He's done with that."

This caused the Dragoness's eyes to widen in shock. Was he serious? "You're... You're sure?" She asked.

"The ears don't lie Chels. He was dead serious when he said it." The boy told her. "And about your parents? Screw them. You aren't them, remember? You aren't tethered to their choices, not guilty of their crimes. You have a chance now where you're able to show them how wrong they were by raising your child the exact opposite of how they raised you. In a loving way with so much attention, that the kid will wanna get away because they're getting smothered."

This caused Chelsea to chuckle. "Not entirely sure if it'll happen exactly like that, but thanks for the vote of confidence."

"And then there's that whole: 'you'll just be doing what they wanted' thing. Bitch, you chose to let yourself get pregnant without a second thought right?" Gavin asked.

"Well kinda but-" The woman tried to say.

"Then it was your choice, not theirs. You knew all this but still decided you wanted it. So why not own up to it? If you aborted this baby, you'll be taking the easy way out, the coward's way out. And I know you Chels, and you are no coward." He then took her hand in his and put it on where he heard the baby's heartbeat. "And how can you say that isn't a life inside you? Can't you feel it? That's something you made, and you're just gonna throw it away?"

Chelsea looked at him and sighed before deciding to concentrate on what he was talking about. A few seconds later, she heard it: *BUM BUM, BUM BUM, BUM BUM* a heartbeat that is definitely not her own.

"No way… I-I can hear it..." She gasped in shock.

"Now do you understand? All children are children. Whether they're born or not." Gavin told her firmly before hugging her again. "And Chelsea?"

The woman looked at him as he broke the hug. "My personal opinion? I think you'd make a wonderful mother." He told her softly. "And if you're still scared, then just lean on me. I've got your back, we all do. The prof, Logan, the others, Bast and them, we're all here for you. You aren't alone, Chelsea Marks, not anymore." He added with a smile. "So it's okay to be scared, but just know that we can get through this together, if you let us help you. We love you Chelsea, you're our family now, you're my family. And I'm here for you, no matter what."

Chelsea looked at him and was barely able to notice the tears that started to slide down her face as her composure continued to crumble. "You idiot…" She said through shaky breaths.

"It's the truth, Chels. I'm not gonna turn my back on you, especially in this crucial moment in your life." Gavin said in a comforting tone.

The blonde sighed heavily as she wiped her eyes. "Alright, I think I'm okay now." She told him as they walked out of the bathroom. "But… How am I supposed to tell Logan? What if he gets angry with me, even after all he's said?" She questioned, her anxiety clearly still plaguing her.

"If that does happen, try to get him to calm down so you can explain yourself." The boy replied.

"Okay, I'm trusting you on this." The blonde told him. Gavin gave her a reassuring smile.

(A few days later)

After she had a few days to really think of what she was going to do, Chelsea went to go find Logan and Laura, once she found them, she sat both of them down in the living room.

"What's up with you, Scales?" Logan questioned.

"Yeah Chelsea, what's wrong?" Laura added with concern. The Dragoness took a deep breath before she looked at them seriously.

"Guys, I know I've been… A little difficult to deal with lately." She started to tell them.

"Not to sound rude, but that's putting it mildly." The scraggly man inputted.

"Will you please let me finish?!" Chelsea snapped as her eyes turned draconic for a second before she took a deep breath to calm herself. "Yes, I realize that. So, I think it's time I told you two that I figured out why I'm like this." She managed to explain.

"In that case, what's the reason?" Laura inquired.

"First… I want to know how you'd feel, if you had a sibling come along, Laura." The green eyed woman told her. The tomboy was about to answer when it suddenly dawned on her.

"... You're pregnant, aren't you?" She gasped, causing Chelsea to facepalm.

"I knew I should have started with a subtler opening line." The woman groaned. This of course was the confirmation the green eyed Wolverine girl needed, which in turn caused her to light up like a Christmas tree. Ever since she got to the Institute she had actually begun to show more and more personality traits that most girls her age tended to show, such as: getting excited about just about everything.

"I'M GONNA BE AN OLDER SISTER!" She squealed in delight.

"Wait, hold on, when did this happen?" Logan questioned.

"A month ago before the couples week. You remember when I said I had taken a pill that night after we got Laura back?" Chelsea asked.

"... You were just saying that to get right to it, weren't you?" The scraggly man continued.

"That's pretty much the gist of it. Yeah." She nodded before her face became a scared one, setting off alarms in Logan's head. "But I'm scared. I… I don't know what to do." She said with a shaky voice.

"Why are you scared? This is great!" Laura told her with a smile on her face.

"I was scared that… You wouldn't want me around anymore. And that I was just turning into the breeding bitch they were working so hard to make me. I'm just… Scared, no, I'm terrified." The blonde told her boyfriend and his daughter. The two looked at her softly before they surprised her by pulling her into a loving hug.

"You don't have to be terrified. You've got us with you to make sure it all works out." Logan said in a caring tone that made Chelsea's heart skip a beat.

"But, what if I treat the kid like my parents treated me-?" She tried to say before Logan stopped her mid sentence.

"Then we'll make sure that doesn't happen." He told her firmly.

"Yeah. We'll give my future sibling the love they'll need." Laura nodded in agreement.

Chelsea looked at the two with wide eyes before all three of them went back in for another hug. "I don't think I ever told you two this… But I really love you guys." She whispered as she rested her head on Logan's chest and Laura nuzzled her head into the blonde's large D-cup bosom.

She truly was lucky to have these two in her life. As the three separated, Laura leaned down and she could also hear the baby in Chelsea's womb and smiled happily when she heard the sound of her new sibling's growing heartbeat.

"I'm going to be a big sister…" She said in joy as she continued to hug the woman who she believed would be the greatest step mom she'd ever have.

(The next day)

In true Xavier Institute fashion, word of Chelsea's pregnancy spread faster than a wildfire through the California countryside. Beast and Bast immediately decided to take it upon themselves to be Chelsea's medics during the term of her pregnancy. And the others were even quicker to offer their congratulations.

"So does this mean you and Wolvie are gonna be tying the knot?" Lance asked. True to form, he had absolutely no sense of tact… Just like his powers.

"Lance, knock it off!" Kitty snapped, elbowing him in the ribs. Chelsea rolled her eyes at him and looked away.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Richter Scale. We'll cross that bridge when and if we get there." The dragon woman told him.

"You say zhat like you expect something to go wrong somehow." Kurt commented.

"Just being cautious." The blonde shrugged. "But, who knows? If living here has taught me anything, it's to be as flexible as possible, and to expect the impossible to be possible." She added as she watched Laura hold Mr. T.

"Well, you aren't wrong." Scott admitted with a shrug. Gavin smiled as he let Damian bounce on his leg.

"You excited about being a big sister, Laura?" He asked the Daughter of the Wolverine next to him.

" That's not even a question. Of course I'm excited!" Laura replied with an ear to ear smile.

"As happy as I am that I'm finally gonna have a chance about getting something right about being a dad for once in my life, there's one thing I just can't get past." Logan said, causing everyone to look at him in confusion.

"What's that?" Xavier asked.

"My son, Daken, if he manages to catch wind of this I'm not sure how he'll take it. He isn't exactly very accepting when it comes to finding out he has more family to deal with." The man explained.

"What exactly caused him to be that way?" Devin inquired with a raised eyebrow.

"I married his mother before I was put in the Weapon X project. He was cut from her womb eight months after I was taken by a guy named Romulus, and left on the doorstep of a wealthy Japanese couple. But he ended up killing them after he was rejected by them after the woman had a kid. And he's had a grudge against me ever since. We managed to patch things up around five years ago… But he still pretty much can't stand me, or anyone else he's related to." The Wolverine shrugged.

"That is seriously messed up." Gavin said with a shudder.

"You don't think he'd try to kill the baby, would he?" Laura asked worriedly.

"If he does, there's gonna be hell to pay." Evan said seriously. His choice of words got him a smack on the back of his head from Ororo.

"Language, Evan." The weather witch scolded. "... You are correct, though. If he tries that, there will be consequences." She added.

"Damn right." Rogue nodded as she took Damian into her arms and said infant blew a raspberry with an expression matching everyone else's.

"This is gonna be a very long eight months." Chelsea groaned as she sat down next to Logan.

"Don't worry, Scales. It'll be worth it in the end." Her boyfriend assured her.

"Yeah, Chels, we got your back." Romano nodded, followed by the rest of her friends.

"Yes. After all, you're an X-Man, Chelsea, and the X-Men take care of our own." Xavier added, getting agreements from the others. The blonde Dragoness sighed in relief. She was glad that her worst fear was finally past her.

(Elsewhere)

-Stokes Maximum Security Prison-

Mystique walked over the unconscious bodies of the guards of the Stokes Maximum Security Prison, occasionally stepping on one and digging into their backs or stomach with the heel of her stiletto boots. She opened up the door to one of the cells after taking out a guard and bringing up the prisoner inside, revealing it to be Kane Marko, aka the Juggernaut.

"Wake up Kane, it's time for the Juggernaut to go on the charge." The blue skinned redhead said as she deactivated his container and he slowly started to wake up, his eyes cracking open.

The Day of Reckoning was coming.

Dragon Emperor0: Goddamn it Mystique, why do you keep on causing problem, after problem, after problem?!

ThermalsniperN7: My money's on her possibly being bored, or something like that.

Dragon Emperor0: Maybe… Anyway, it looks like our little Howlett family just went from three to four! In eight months we're gonna have a new arrival come around, you excited?! Cuz I am!

ThermalsniperN7: It will be a happy day! A happy day, I tell you! *Ahem* Anyway, see you guys next time.