Disclaimer: Although I hope that the situation will have changed by tomorrow, at this point 'Mutant X' and its characters do not belong to me. I also didn't write 'Wind Beneath my Wings'. I own Alexis and Isabelle Fox-Mulwray, but that's it.

Author's Note: I had hoped to get this chapter updated before now but better late than never.

Author's Note II: I'd like to wish everyone who reviewed and anyone else who might be reading this a Merry Christmas/Hanukah/Solstice/etc.

Author's Note III: The next story in this series will take place when Lexi and Izzy are two and a half. I should be able to post it in the New Year. For those who requested it, this story will include a Jesse/Emma pairing.

Words in / / = Thoughts.

Chapter 4.

New Year's Eve.

"Did you ever know that you're my hero?

You're everything I would like to be.

I can fly higher than an eagle

'Cause you are the wind beneath my wings."

Shalimar turned to her husband in a fury, her eyes flashing feral. "What did I tell you about getting my father drunk?!" She asked angrily.

Brennan shrugged sheepishly. "Sorry."

* * *

The next day.

Much to Emma's dismay, Shalimar and Brennan had tactfully but firmly refused her offers to help them organise the twins' first birthday party. They were determined to make all of the preparations.

Although Jesse was sympathetic, he couldn't help feeling relieved that the arrangements were out of her hands – he wouldn't have put it past Emma to dress him up in a clown costume and have him make balloon animals.

The team must have learned their lesson about overindulging the previous year because, whether from fear of being called upon to save a New Mutant in danger or fear of Adam's hangover cure, they had been fairly careful with regard to their intake of alcohol and none of them had suffered more than a mild headache.

Poor Nicholas was another story.

The older man had been rather in askance of his son in law's punch at first but after a few minutes (and a generous tumbler of the ruby red concoction) his concerns had vanished and he had single-handedly finished at least half of the not inconsiderable supply of the drink Brennan had prepared.

It was only thanks to his daughter that Jesse had been prevented from filming him as he sang songs he would never have wanted anyone to know he listened to and regaled them with tales of Shalimar's antics as a small child.

The twins had found his drunkenness highly comical, although he could have done without Alexis's electric shock to 'wake' him.

* * *

"Somebody kill me, please!" Nicholas moaned, burying his head in his hands.

"It serves you right for overdoing it." Shalimar told him unsympathetically, not looking up from the birthday cake she was icing.

He glared at her. "I'm your father. I'm supposed to say that to you. Not the other way around."

"I don't have a hangover." Shalimar retorted unrepentantly.

"Remind me to kill Brennan." Nicholas's stomach gave a lurch and he came close to throwing up.

"The after effects of his punch, is it?" Adam asked sympathetically, coming into the kitchen in time to hear the other man's last remark. "We can't get him to tell us what's in it."

For once, Nicholas was too miserable to insult Adam. "Yeah, whatever he put in it, it's potent. And I'm getting no sympathy!" He glared pointedly at his daughter.

Shalimar just made a face.

Adam patted his shoulder. "Come on, Nicholas, I've got just the thing for you." He saw Shalimar's eyes widen as she realised exactly what he planned to give her father. Ignoring her, he continued to speak in a friendly, sympathetic tone, rejoicing inwardly at the thought of getting his revenge for the many insults, veiled and outward, that he had received from the other man. "I made this for Shalimar and Jesse when they were younger and they overdid it and it has never once failed to cure all symptoms."

"That's sounds great." Nicholas said gratefully, following Adam out of the room trustingly.

A minute later, his angry bellow echoed through Sanctuary.

"YOU GAVE MY DAUGHTER THIS TERRIBLE STUFF!!!"

Shalimar stifled the smile she felt tugging at her lips.

She didn't think that her father was ever going to overdo it in Sanctuary again.

* * *

Little Alexis howled lustily as her father rinsed the shampoo out of her eyes.

Brennan winced as Isabelle joined in, adding her sympathetic cries to the din. He was glad that the water weakened his daughters' abilities; otherwise he would have been fried.

He deeply regretted allowing his wife to take the relatively simple job of baking the birthday cakes.

/Next year, Shal's getting them ready for the party! / Brennan vowed to himself as he tried to restrain Alexis, who was attempting to climb out of the tub.

* * *

Choosing toys for one year olds was never an easy task, as Jesse had found when he went to the mall to find birthday gifts for the twins.

Alexis and Isabelle already possessed an impressive stash of toys and Christmas had left their already full playroom almost completely crowded with their possessions.

It wasn't a case of finding them a suitable toy; Jesse had to find a suitable toy that they didn't have already.

He had refused Emma's generous offer to help him pick something out and was about to give up and beg one of the salespeople for advice when he spotted the perfect gift.

* * *

As she had expected, Shalimar's cake decorating duties were finished long before Brennan had the twins bathed and dressed for their birthday party.

She was greeted with wet kisses from her two daughters and a relieved 'thanks' from her husband when she joined them in the twins bedroom.

She took the squirming Alexis from Brennan and smiled as the baby immediately calmed down.

"I don't know how you do it." Brennan complained. "It's not fair!"

* * *

Adam, Nicholas, Emma and Jesse commenced a chorus of 'oohs' and 'aahs' when Shalimar and Brennan entered, carrying the twins in their arms.

The infants were dressed in very pretty – and very impractical – party dresses of white frilly organdie with soft blue sashes. With their softly curling blond hair secured with ribboned headbands, they looked angelic, innocent and appealing – nothing like the little demons they usually were.

Jesse tracked their movements with his camera, getting close up shots of the looks of astonishment and joy on their faces as Emma and Adam carried in their birthday cakes, each marked with their owner's name in pink icing. In deference to the three ferals' fear of fire, the candles weren't lit.

Isabelle applauded as the six adults sang 'Happy Birthday' and Alexis beat out the time with her spoon like an insane conductor.

"Toy now!" Lexi demanded as soon as the chorus was finished, her eyes fixed on the pile of gifts on the table.

"Ess." Izzy seconded her twin's request with an enthusiastic nod. "Pwease?" She added politely, smiling sweetly at her parents.

Emma, Shalimar, Brennan and Nicholas had contented themselves with stuffed animals, two tea sets (donated by Emma) and cribs for their dolls. Adam's gift of a pair of brown rocking horses had been met with appreciative applause from both girls and a contented smile from Brennan, who hoped that he would now be freed from his 'horsey' duties.

It was left to Jesse to bear away the palm with regard to birthday gifts – he had bought and assembled a playhouse for the babies, who rewarded him with wet kisses and tight hugs.

"Alright, guys." Shalimar interrupted her daughters, who seemed to be determined to strangle Jesse. "Time to cut the cake."

"Take!" Lexi shouted jubilantly, eagerly trying to snatch the knife from her mother's hand. "Me tut take!"

"Not a chance, little girl." Brennan told her firmly, shuddering at the thought of his hyper eldest daughter armed with a sharp object.

Lexi growled at him, flashing her eyes feral. Izzy frowned at him with an adorable pout.

Their grievance was forgotten, however, when Shalimar handed them their bowls, each holding a generous slice of their creamy birthday cake.

Disregarding the groans of the adults, the twins dug in immediately, quickly becoming messy and happy.

* * *

Later that night.

"One year over already." Brennan mused as he and Shalimar put the twins, now very full and half asleep, to bed. He leaned over to wipe away the ring of cream around Isabelle's mouth.

Shalimar smiled wryly, rocking Alexis in her arms waiting for her to drowse off. "We survived." She said, settling Alexis in her crib. "More importantly, so did they."

Brennan leaned forward, brushing a gentle kiss on her lips. "I love you."

Shalimar moved closer, deepening the kiss. "I know."

THE END.

The next part of the series, entitled (for the moment, at any rate) 'Babysitter' will be posted as soon as I can manage it. Thanks for all the reviews and encouragement. I'm glad you like the twins.