((waves sheepishly)) Hi guys! It's been a really really long time. And that is...entirely my fault. See, college is an incredibly wonderful thing and all, but it really doesn't leave ya with much free time. Seriously, I suppose I could have gotten more done if I cut into sleep and meal times, but ya kinda need that stuff to live and all that. Right now I'm home for Christmas break until the 20th of January and I plan to get A LOT of writing done between now and then. And my new years resolution is to get something posted at least every other week. Even if it's just a oneshot. But back to why this took sooooooo long, when I finally got the word "Freetime" back into my vocabulary, this chapter decided to be difficult and it's been fighting tooth and nail against getting completed. Seriously, you all know writers block? Well this chapter clung to the writer's Great Wall of China. Tonight however, I triumphed over it and got it finished. It's shorter than I'd like and it seems a bit fillery but it will be more important in later chapters. Anyway, thanks for waiting so patiently, I am incredibly sorry about the long wait and I promise there will never be so long a break between updates again.

Disclaimer-Another Christmas has come and gone, and I still don't own X-men Evolution.

☺

Lance sighed and moved to the door, curious about who was there now. He hoped it was either the doctor's fiancée or Forge coming to tell them he'd fixed the whole problem, but something told him he wasn't that lucky.

"Wait, Lance." Wanda stopped him and put a hand on his arm. "You've got the munchkin, I'll get the door."

Lance nodded. It was a welcome reminder that he didn't have to handle absolutely everything on his own.

Wanda stepped in front of him and opened the door curiously. As soon as she had cracked it a blond woman she had never seen before forced it the rest of the way. For a brief moment Wanda stared. The strange woman stared back. She was young; she could only be a few years older than Wanda, seven or eight tops.

"Hi." Wanda started. "Welcome to the Xavier Institute for Gif-"

The woman gave her a look that was so familiar, yet it seemed very out of place on her pretty face. Wanda frowned and tried to place the look but decided she was imagining things.

"Um yeah, c'mon in." She stepped out of the way and there was a high squeal of delight from behind her.

"MAMA!!!!" Marie's face lit up and she reached her little arms out to the woman and squirmed toward her.

Wanda and Lance felt their jaws drop simultaneously as the woman stepped around Wanda and reached for the little girl.

"How's my girl?" She cooed. "Oh my beautiful little girl..." She held her young daughter tightly.

Rogue threw her arms around her mother's neck and buried her face in her shoulder.

"Mystique?!" Lance gaped.

The woman looked up and Wanda understood why the silencing look had been so very familiar.

"Close your mouth, Alvers, you'd best leave catching flies to Toad." She smirked, her eyes glowing yellow. "Don't look so shell shocked, you did know I was coming."

"Well yea..." Lance stammered. "But we thought...we were expecting you to look more like..."

"More like my true blue self?" Mystique quirked an eyebrow in amusement.

"Well...yeah." Lance admitted.

She smirked at him. "Come now Avalanche, you cannot honestly have been so seduced by Xavier's dream that you believe child services would place an infant in the care of a woman...a woman who looks...who looks like me." She said flatly. She sighed heavily and rubbed her daughter's back, working a hand through the toddler's soft silky hair.

For a moment, Lance could have sworn the woman's eyes were pooling with tears but then the next moment Marie pulled back, beaming.

"Missed ya Mama!" She cooed.

"And mama missed you too, sweet angel." Mystique kissed the little girl's forehead with a

laugh.

Lance and Wanda exchanged a confused and slightly alarmed look. The woman had never shown affection toward anything in front of Lance and while she'd been kinder to Wanda, even she had never heard the older woman laugh in a completely non-hostile way, let alone lovingly. Some strange instinct she'd never felt before bubbled up and gave Wanda an unexplainable urge to grab the little girl away from Mystique.

Marie was laughing and happy. "This is Remy, Mama. He's my bestes friend in the who' whirl." She announced proudly and pointed at her friend. "The lady is his sis'er...miss Angie. And this is Lance and Wanda." She introduced.

"I know, princess, I've met them before." Mystique smiled wryly at Lance and Wanda. She frowned at Angélique. "You I don't think I have."

"Angélique Lebeau." The girl nodded. "Remy is...was m' big brot'er. Way Ah hear it yo' lil fille an' m' brot'er be real fond of each ot'er."

Mystique forced a smile. "I've heard something about that."

"C'mon Mama, let's go where the others are! Ah wancha ta meet ma fends!" Marie said in a joyful, sing-song tone. Then she paused and frowned slightly. "Dija bing ma s'prise?"

Mystique laughed. "I did indeed, precious. I was wondering if you'd remember. Mama left it in the car, sweetheart. Want to come and get it with me?"

The little girl nodded but Lance stepped forward. "I don't think so, lady."

"Whattya doin'?" Angie whispered. "Ain' she de fille's mére?"

"Yeah, but I don't trust her as far as I could throw her." He responded tersely. "You aren't taking her anywhere near any car."

Mystique raised an eyebrow. "I'm her mother, Avalanche."

Lance scowled at her and stepped closer. "Professor Xavier left me in charge of keeping an eye on the younger students. She's too young to remember what you've done to her, but as her friend, I can't forget how hurt she was each and every time you used her or lied to her." He reached for the little girl. "And besides that, the professor would have kittens if he knew you were here."

She grinned wickedly, refusing to give up her daughter. "But as he's in Europe at that mutant conference with the UN, he will not be dictating my actions. And nor will you decide what I can do with my little girl, Alvers."

"Wait, how did you know about the conference?" Wanda blurted to Mystique.

"Your father wanted to attend it." Mystique's lip curled. "But something...more important came up. Now if you'll excuse me, my daughter has been eagerly awaiting the present she was promised, and I'd like very much to give it to her." She moved to the door but Lance stepped in front of her. "What now?"

"You are not taking her anywhere near a car." Lance set his face in a stern look. "I don't trust you."

Mystique rolled her eyes. "Fine, Wanda, be a dear and take my daughter for me?" Wanda glanced at Lance, who nodded. Mystique put the three-year-old carefully into Wanda's arms. "Follow me." Lance growled low in his throat. "Oh for heavens sake, Avalanche, what is it you think I am going to do, strong-arm the Scarlet Witch as well as my precious daughter into the car and drive away?"

He paused then nodded.

Mystique threw her arms in the air. "Fine, I'll just go get it and bring it here, will that make you feel better, boy?"

"A bit." Lance said edgily. He definitely did not trust the idea of Mystique bringing anything into the mansion, but he rationalized that if she meant to harm them, she'd have probably done so already. Still he watched the woman suspiciously as she strode down the front steps to her car, muttering under her breath about insolent teenagers. She opened the rear passenger door and removed a large box. It was green with a purple ribbon tying it shut. She reached back into her car and carried out a smaller box with blue wrapping and a big red bow on the top. She gave an odd half smile and started carrying the boxes into the mansion.

She made it three steps before giving Lance a withering glare. He sighed and stepped forward. She smirked and thrust the smaller of the two boxes into the boy's arms. "It's fragile. Drop it and I will kill you."

She moved quickly toward the door. Wanda was holding three year old Marie on her hip, an image that was both extremely odd and incredibly right at the same time.

"Ma s'prise!" Marie squealed and reached her arms for the box.

"Exactly Precious, are you ready?"

The little girl nodded eagerly, straining against Wanda's hold.

Mystique set the box down and Marie practically threw herself to the floor. She was tugging at the lid, eyes as wide as saucers. Her small gloved hands found the ribbon and she pulled it loose with glee in her eyes.

She reached to pull the lid off but paused as the box wobbled. She looked up at her mother, and then she peered at Lance and Wanda, uncertain. Her eyes sought Remy's and he shrugged.

"Go on Angel." Mystique smiled. The little girl bit her lip and reached to remove the lid but before she could do anything, the top burst off and a small ball o fluff propelled itself out with a little yelp of excitement.

Marie squealed and Lance moved toward her protectively. He threw Mystique a glare and was ready to scoop the little girl up when he realized she was giggling and squealing with delight as the ball of fluff-which was really a small black and white puppy- was licking her face.

"A doggie!!!!" Rogue giggled happily as she wrapped her little arms around it. "Is he really fo' me Mama!?!"

"Of course, baby girl." Mystique beamed. "And the doggie's a girl, princess, like you."

"Look Remy! Ah gots a doggie!" Marie laughed and hugged the puppy as she showed it to her friend. He grinned and slid from his sister's back. Tentatively he reached his hand out to touch the little dog. He yelped in surprise as it licked his hand.

"She gived ya a kissy!" Marie informed him. "It means she likes ya."

"Awww." Angie cooed. "Dat's so sweet!"

Lance stared at the adorable scene and then turned to Wanda, who was observing the scene with a half smile. He set his jaw and resembled Scott in a way he never had previously.

"What kind of game are you playing Mystique?" He crossed his arms.

The older woman looked up. "Please, Avalanche, have some tact. It is a codename for a reason." She glanced meaningfully at her young daughter. "And I have no idea what you are insinuating."

Lance narrowed his eyes. "You've screwed up so many times with her-all of us, but especially her-and now all of a sudden you're acting like you care and you're such a loving mother. But I know you, Mystique. You never do anything nice unless you're getting something in return."

The older woman's eyes flashed. "I am her mother, Avalanche, whether or not you agree. And seeing as you never had much time with yours, I doubt very much that you would be able to recognize a mother's love when you see it."

He flushed and looked upset. His mother had died when he was very young, and his genetic father was never in the picture. Child services had taken him and placed him in a home. At first everything was wonderful but about a year after he was adopted, the family went through a nasty divorce. The stress triggered his powers and the house collapsed. Nobody had blamed him, but he'd been tossed from foster home to foster home until Mystique had recruited him.

"I know enough to be suspicious of you waltzing in here like this." He said boldly. "Everything you do has a second motive behind it. You never cared one whit about any of us. I can't believe this time is any different."

She shrugged coldly. "Your beliefs are not my concern. I am only interested in the welfare of my children."

"As much as I'd love to believe that, you'll understand if I don't, I'm sure." He said snidely.

Mystique turned away from him and knelt beside Marie. "What do you think,baby girl?

Marie grinned and pulled the puppy close. "Ah love her Mama!" She cocked her head to the side. "Does she gots a name?"

"Well sweetheart, she's yours, so you get to name her."

"Really!?" Marie squealed.

"Of course, baby girl." Mystique cooed.

Rogue's eyes lit up and she looked intently at the puppy. "What's your name apposta be, doggie?"

The dog bounced up and licked her cheek.

"That doesn' help nothin'." She laughed and patted the puppy. "Remy what should Ah call 'er?"

Remy shrugged and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Remy dunno. Remy never had a dog. On'y Spot."

His sister snorted in laughter. "He still goin' bout dat ol' gator?" She ruffled his hair and he shot her a nasty glare.

"What parts a DON' DO DAT ain' makin' sense t' y'all?" The boy snapped as he ran a hand through his hair to untangle it. "Keep yo' dirty hands offa Remy's head."

Everyone laughed and Mystique looked at him with interest. "Isn't that one a bit young to be so obsessed with that mop he calls hair?"

Angélique looked insulted for her brother but he frowned on his own behalf.

"M' name be Remy. An' Remy ain' too li'l! 'M four an' free quarters."

"Of course." She smiled absently at him. Her hand moved and he stepped backward scowling.

"If y' do what Remy t'ink yo' gonna, Remy bite you."

Everyone stared at the boy. Lance sighed. "You don't mean that do you, Remy?"

The boy thought for a moment. "Oui."

"Heh. Kids." Lance chuckled nervously. "He's only four."

"An' free quarters!" Remy added.

"Of course, of course." Mystique smiled wryly. "Cute. Now, baby angel, don't you want to give your puppy a name?"

The little girl nodded. "Ah dunno what ta name her." She said softly. She looked at Remy with a tilted smile. "Whatdya think Remy?"

"Not my doggie." He shrugged. "Yo's."

She smiled and scratched the dog's ears. "The only dog Ah eva had is Jigger back home and Ah didn't git ta name her." She suddenly paused. "Mama, will Jigger and this doggie get along?"

Mystique's face contorted slightly and Lance thought he knew why. He knew Rogue's dog Jigger had been hit by a car when the girl was ten. Rogue had loved that dog and losing her had been tragic.

"Darling..." Mystique started, presumably to tell her her daughter the truth. "I'm sorry to have to tell you this but Jigger-"

"Dats a funny name fo' a dog, ain' it?" Remy interjected.

Marie shrugged, "Ah don' fink so." She looked up at her mother. "Is Jigger a funny name?"

Mystique sighed and Lance saw something almost human behind her eyes. "Of course not, angel."

"So will Jigger like this doggie?"

Mystique opened her mouth to respond. "Well, Marie...Jigger likes everybody, doesn't she? I'm certain there will be no problems." She finished and Lance gaped. "So just make sure you pick a good name for your new doggie."

The little girl nodded and looked back at the puppy. "Well...she kinda 'minds me of...a pigwin."

"A what?" Mystique raised an eyebrow.

"A pigwin." Marie said matter-of-factly. "Ya 'member, the funny waddly birdies that swim asteadof flyin' like we seed at the 'quaryummy."

Mystique looked mildly confused.

Wanda frowned. "Have you ever taken her to an aquarium?"

The older woman thought for a moment. "Yes, a couple of times, when she was much young- oh. Right, yes. But what on earth does that, or this dog have to do with pigeons?"

Wanda smiled slightly. "Penguins, not pigeons. She must have seen and remembered penguins."

"I beg your pardon?" Mystique raised an eyebrow.

"Penguins. It's what she said the puppy reminds her of." Wanda shrugged. "Is that right Marie, does the doggie remind you of the penguins at the aquarium?"

"That's what Ah said." Marie sounded vaguely confused. "The doggie aminds me of the pigwins."

"How in the world did you understand that?" Mystique turned to Wanda.

The goth shrugged. "I don't really know. I just do." She glanced at Lance uncomfortably. She had a weird squirmy feeling in her stomach and a voice in her head was throwing a tantrum about how something was not right with Mystique's presence at the mansion.

"Why does the puppy remind you of a penguin, baby angel?" Mystique asked the child.

"She's black 'n' white like pigwins." The little girl explained.

"Well I suppose I cannot argue with that logic." Mystique chuckled.

"That's it. Her name is Pigwin." Marie stated.

"You mean Penguin, Marie?" Mystique asked.

" 'Swat Ah jus' said, mama." The little girl frowned.

"Of course, baby, of course." Mystique smiled. "If you want her to be Penguin, then Penguin she is."

Marie looked thoroughly pleased with herself and she smiled. "Isn't that a great name, Mama?"

Mystique smiled and nodded silently. The little girl caught sight of the other package, currently in Lances arms.

"Is that f' me too, Mama?" She peered curiously.

Mystique shook her head. "No, Baby Angel, its for...somebody else, but it's nothing to worry your pretty little head about, okay?"

The little girl looked confused but she nodded. "'Kay."

"Now baby girl, weren't you going to introduce me to your other friends?"Mystique changed the subject.

The girl nodded and craned her neck up to see Lance's face. "Le's go!"

Lance grumbled and narrowed his eyes. "I don't like you here. I don't trust you." He pushed the box at the woman and grittted his teeth. "I don't know what kind of screwed up game you are trying to play and don't think for a moment I'm going to let you do anything to any of the kids here." He turned irritably.

Marie leaned close to Remy. "Why's he so mad?"

Remy shrugged. "Dunno. He was fine till y' mére got 'ere."

"Ya fink he don' like her?" She asked, worried.

"Dun' look like she does." He whispered. "But...Remy don' fink y' mére like Lance much eit'er."

"Oh." Marie looked slightly crestfallen. "Why not?"

"Dunno. Remy jus' gots a feelin'." He rubbed his head and frowned. "Can' splain it, Remy jus' know." He looked puzzled.

Marie looked equally as confused. "Don' get whatcha mean."

Remy managed to look more confused then her. "Can' y' tell? Dat's just what dey feelin'."

"How d'ya know that?" The little girl asked nervously.

He shrugged. "Remy just...knows. It be almost like...like somet'in' tellin' Remy what peoples be feelin'." He rubbed his head irritably.

"Oh dear." Angelique frowned. "Empathy." She reached an arm for her brother and pulled him close. She kissed his forehead and smiled gently. "C'mon Rem." She helped him onto her back.

"Emp'ty?" Remy asked softly.

"Empathy?" Echoed Wanda.

"Means he can sense emotion." Angelique frowned slightly. "Kinda like a dog smellin' fear.""I knew he had that power, but, isn't the ability to cause explosions enough for the poor kid?"

The boy's sister shrugged. "Least this one ain't so...destructive or painful for that matter."

Wanda nodded. Marie looked up, "Are we gonna go follow Lance?"

"Sure Angel, let's go." Mystique smiled at her daughter. "Oh wait baby." She knelt next to the box and picked up a green collar.

"Ohhh perty neckwace." Marie reached for it.

"No baby, it's not for you." Mystique smiled. She clipped it around the squirming puppy's neck. "It's for your puppy in case she gets lost. This way people will know she has a home. And later I'll get you a tag with your name and hers so everybody will know who she belongs to."

"Oh." Marie nodded and watched as her mother clipped a leash to the hook on the dog's collar. "Ok. But I won't let 'er get losted."

"I know baby, but it's better to be sure." Mystique smiled and handed the little girl the leash.

"Are you guys coming or not?" Lance called grumpily.

"Oh do shut up Avalanche." Mystique's lip curled. "We're coming."

The group moved forward and Rogue's new puppy's tail waved enthusiastically as she sniffed everything within reach, yipping occasionally in excitement.

The small group got downstairs and entered the danger room. As the door shut most of the rooms occupants looked up. They watched curiously, studying the two women they'd never seen. John, who'd been in the middle of a game of tag nearby with Tabitha and Bobby beamed when his eyes fell upon the familiar caretakers.

"Mamda!"He scurried over to her and latched onto her knees in a hug.

Wanda nearly lost her balance as he slammed into her. She pried him away from her knees and hoisted him up. He launched himself around her neck.

"I would guess he missed you." Angélique smiled.

"He certainly does seem fond of you." Mystique frowned slightly at the Scarlet Witch.

"So, she's good with kids. Got a problem with that?" Lance snapped at the woman with narrowed eyes.

"Of course not. It's just fascinating." Mystique said coldly. "She simply never struck me as the type children would be drawn to. Especially Pyro. As far as I remember before you and Magneto's team came here she'd never said two words to him. And now he's literally throwing himself at her."

"He's a friendly kid. He likes everyone." Lance narrowed his eyes. He wasn't sure why he was defending Wanda, or even what he was defending her for or against. He did however know that something did not feel right and he didn't want Mystique here any longer than she needed to be.

Hearing Lance's voice, Pyro pulled away and scowled at him. "Meanie head!"

Lance looked at the small red head, slightly surprised at his outburst.

"John..." Wanda started.

The little boy pouted. "Wance pomised hat. He no gived hat. Him wied."

Lance smiled. "Hey there buddy, you thought I forgot about this?" He plunked the red fireman's hat he'd been holding since retrieving it onto the little boys head.

The toddler shrieked with laughter as it fell over his eyes. He beamed. "A hat fer Johnny!"

"Yep that's right pal." Lance chuckled. "Sorry it took so long."

And in typical toddler fashion he was instantly forgiven.

Wanda rolled her eyes slightly and smiled. She bit back a sarcastic remark and absently rubbed the toddlers back before setting him back on this floor.

By this point Tabitha had come over to the group. "What take so wong?" She put tiny fists on her hips.

"Lance gived me hat!" Pyro laughed.

"Well, well. What do we have here?" Mystique's lip curled as she recognized the blond.

"M' Tabifa." The blond frowned. "Me no know you."

"She's ma mama!" Marie beamed at the younger girl. "She bringed me a pesant." Marie gently jerked the leash and the puppy who had been sniffing at every step the group had taken yelped slightly and trotted around to the front of her new mistress, her tail waving frantically.

"Wow a doggie!" Tabitha reached for the black and white furball. She petted it before looking up suspiciously. "This one go byebye too?"

"Ah dunno." Marie shrugged her shoulders. "Mama is Pigwin gonna go byebye?"

Mystique raised an eyebrow and Lance snapped at her.

"Wolfsbane went to Summer Camp. Ok so now you've seen the kids, time for you to leave." He growled grumpily.

"No baby girl, your puppy isn't going to go to summer camp." Mystique laughed, deliberately ignoring Lance.

Tabitha's eyes were wide as she nodded. "Lets go pway now, mkay?" She glanced at Pyro, Remy and Marie. "Ya comin' or what?"

Pyro looked expectantly at Wanda and then longingly towards Tabby and Bobby. The girl smiled and kissed him gently on the temple before setting him on the ground, where he scampered to his playmates.

Mystique smirked slightly but said nothing. "I haven't seen your obnoxious brother flitting around; is it safe to presume he's wandering around in diapers?"

Wanda snorted. "No, he's not a baby. He's just off sulking somewhere because we don't like his new girlfriend."

"That's somewhat surprising." Mystique said calmly, watching as her daughter joined Tabitha and the others, Remy trailing shyly behind her.

"Why is that? He's always been into girls normal people wouldn't approve of." Wanda frowned.

"Yes, I know that. I meant that I would have expected him to jump at the chance to do do something as risky and exciting as this must have promised to be. He was always complaining of the lack of 'kicks' in his life."

"Look Mystique, it's bad enough twelve of us are suddenly back in diapers and we have quite enough problems to deal with without you and your input wishing the number was higher." Lance snapped.

Mystique turned to him with an unimpressed look. "Maybe you'd have done well to volunteer as a participant yourself, Avalanche. You sound as though you could use a decent nap time."

Lance's eyes flashed and narrowed. He sucked in a deep breath clearly about to blow up at her about how he'd been getting by on very little sleep and taking care of twelve little kids and how everything possible that could theoretically go wrong was and in the most devastating ways possible. Wanda put a hand on his shoulder nervously but at the moment, Mystique inhaled a quick breath.

Her eyes were wide as she stared at one of the toddlers. Kurt had joined in the game of tag and had just scurried past.

"Kurt..." She said in incredulous awe.

The young boy's sensitive ears pricked at the sound of his name. He turned and froze, staring curiously at the woman by the door. He tilted his head and his tail swished around behind him.

The gathering of teens watched as tears, actual literal tears, welled in the womans eyes. After her son had fallen from the bridge she had only seen the baby one final time. She had scrambled down the river to reach him, praying he was safe, and by the time she found the bundle of blanket and baby it was too late: a kind looking man had fished the tiny blue baby from the river and was showing the whimpering child to a woman who was presumably his wife. Mystique sighed and with a heavy heart turned away from the village and her newborn son. She knew these people would be able to give her little boy a much better and more stable life than she ever could, but that still hurt.

He pondered her curiously, his eyes wide. He took several awed wobbly steps toward her. This strange woman seemed very slightly familiar to him. There was something in her eyes that struck his narrow childish memory.

Mystique stepped toward him and knelt in front of him. She set the package aside and scooped him into her arms, shaking as she clutched the toddler to her.

There was so much she wanted to say, so much she had in her heart but she had been rendered speechless. Kurt looked thoroughly bewildered but he realized this woman was sad. He wrapped his small fuzzy arms around her and nestled his head under her chin. This action had always made his mother happier.

"Kurt..." Mystique said once more in disbelief. That was not a name she gave to him, in all honesty she'd not had a name picked for the infant. But to be holding her son, her baby boy, was a powerful feeling.

"Who're you?" He mumbled curiously.

"I'm..." She hesitated, more tears welling. She wanted very much to say she was his mother. But that would just create too much conflict. "I'm a friend of your mother's." She said heavily.

"Oh." The little boy shrugged his shoulders and pulled away, ready to go rejoin his friends as he didn't quite understand.

"I've got something here for you." She reached for the box and put it into the little boy's hands.His yellow eyes grew wide. "Peth'nt mineth?" He questioned, his tail flitting behind him in excitement.

"Yes sweetheart, it's for you." Mystique said softly.

He grinned, baring his small, yet pointy, teeth before falling into a sitting position, clutching the box with joy in his eyes. He tugged at the ribbons and wrapping paper until they tore. He looked satisfied by the ripping sound and tossed the box's lid off. He gasped and shot his hands into the box. When he removed them moments later, they were clutched around a light gray ball of fluff. The kitten mewed in sleepy protest at being woken from its nap.

"Pickle." He announced in his broken English to the group of grown-ups around him.

Mystique turned hesitantly to Wanda. "What's he mean?"

Wanda shrugged. "I actually think he means what he said."

The older woman frowned before turning back to her youngest child. "Do you like him?" The little boy bit his lip before nodding. "Good." She smiled. "He's from your...your mother." She ran a hand through the little boy's dark hair and ran a hand down his fuzzy cheek.

The toddler stared at his new pet and tilted his head to the side. "Mine." He said defiantly. "My Pickle."

Wanda knelt beside the boy and his kitten. "He's a very nice kitty." She said gently, scratching the little cat behind the ears. Kurt looked up, startled when the kitten purred.

"You breaked it!" He accused. "You breaked Pickle!"

Wanda laughed. "No I didn't silly. He's making that noise because he's happy."

Mystique smiled at the surprise in her son's eyes. She felt a familiar ache in her heart at the reminder that she had pretty much missed her son's entire life. It was like every expression the boy made was a first for her.

"Him pothta buzz?" His tail swished curiously.

"It's called purring." Wanda smiled and Mystique felt a strange surge of jealousy that her baby was so comfortable with this young gothic teenager and yet he hardly felt compelled to so much as look at her even after she had just given him a kitten. "When a kitty cat is happy he makes that sound to tell everybody else."

The little boy blinked. "Why?" He asked in wonder.

"Well..." Wanda thought, still gently rubbing the gray kitten's ear. "What do you do when you're happy?" The two year old tilted his head and shrugged, his new kitten still in his arms. "You smile silly!" The older girl laughed and tickled the little boy under his chin, eliciting a big grin where his tiny fangs were exposed.

"Thmile." He repeated.

"Exactly, purring is how your kitty-"

"Pickle." The little boy interrupted.

Wanda smiled. "Sorry. Purring is how Pickle smiles."

"Oh!" His yellow eyes lit in understanding. He looked down at the little fluffy feline in his arms and then back at Wanda. "He mutht be REAL happy, huh?"

"Definitely." Wanda smiled gently. "Kittens really like it when somebody rubs them behind their ears. Like I am right now, see? Like this."

She guided his hands to where hers had been and showed him how to gently work his fingers around the kitten's ears. He beamed and imitated her for a few moments.

"Like thith?" He asked softly.

"Very good Kurt." Wanda cooed.

The boy proudly hugged his new friend, but he squeezed a little too tight for the kitten's comfort and was reprimanded with a swipe of the little gray paw-claws extended.

Kurt's eyes widened in surprise as three dark red tracks appeared on his arm. He saw the blood and immediately tears dribbled from his eyes and he whimpered a few warning whimpers.

Wanda pulled him close and he started crying loudly into her shoulder, still holding the kitten but unsure whether or not he wanted to be anymore. She rubbed his back soothingly. "ShhShhShh, it's okay, don't cry." She said softly. "He didn't mean to hurt you, you just scared him a little, Kurt." She looked up at Lance and spoke to him. "Lance, could you get me the peroxide and a band-aid?"

Mystique was impressed with how collected Wanda seemed, despite the two year old clinging to her and holding a kitten while crying in shock and pain. But on the other hand part of her wanted to clock this girl for being so calm and composed when her baby was bleeding.

Lance nodded, his jaw set in a grimace and he quickly moved to Colossus, who'd been wearily watching the exchange nearby. He returned shortly.

"Piotr figured we'd need it so he brought it down here." He handed her the supplies she'd requested and she quickly got to work.

Mystique was astounded at the efficiency of the Scarlet Witch as the girl gently handed the disgruntled kitten to Lance who held it lovingly, while she tenderly cleaned Kurt's cut and then put the bandage on and smiled.

She kissed his arm. "All better." She announced and Kurt looked at his stinging arm. He sniffed a few times and then smiled through watery eyes. He launched himself at the teenage girl and threw his small arms around her.

"You maked better! Owie goed byby." He beamed.

Suddenly Mystique felt as though a lead weight had settled in her stomach. Her own baby had been hurting, bleeding, and she hadn't even moved. But far worse than that was the realization that her little boy had thrown himself so happily at another woman, one he'd technically only met a few days previously, and had spared her no second glance. Though why, she thought bitterly, would he have any reason to extend thanks to her? She'd had no part in healing him, in fact at the sight of his blood she'd panicked more than he had.

Lance handed the little boy his kitten and ruffled his hair. Unlike Remy, Kurt didn't seem to mind it at all, he even laughed. Mystique swallowed hard and backed up.

With no warning she turned to the door and started walking quickly.

"Hey, HEY!" Lance called after her and moved to catch her. "Where do you think you're going?!"

"I'm leaving." She said shortly, hoping he hadn't noticed the hitch in her voice. She refused to cry in front of him, she'd die first.

"Yeah right, so was this just another dumb opportunity to get in and see cerebro?" Lance demanded furiously.

"No." She half snarled. She was cursing him for following her, but herself as well for letting emotion hurt her this much.

"Mama?" Rogue had noticed her mother leaving from where she and her friends played. "Mama, where are you goin'?" She scampered to the door, Remy and Penguin at her heels.

"Home, Princess." Mystique said, not quite looking at her daughter.

"Me too?" She asked, her voice trembling.

"No Marie. You're staying here for now." She said tersely.

The little girl clutched for her mother's hand. "Why Mama?"

"Because." The woman answered sharply. And then she stepped into the hall.

Marie started wailing and Lance scooped her up, rubbing her back as gently and soothingly as he could while he raced after Mystique, glaring and calling after her.

Wanda watched them leave. She was shocked by Mystique's outburst and definitely puzzled. Kurt looked up at her and tugged at her pantleg gently.

"I maked her mad?" He asked, confusion written on his young face.

Wanda frowned, uncertain of how to answer. An ominous feeling filled her heart and somehow she knew that things had just gotten a lot worse.

And thats a wrap folks. So ends the 21st chapter in Back In Diapers. Please please please review! I'm so sorry for the long delay, and I really hope I still even have an audience. I so understand if you guys and gals are frustrated but I promise to never be so long again.

In other news, I have a Deviant Art account (link in my profile) where I admittedly have mostly Avatar the Last Airbender fanart so far, but I do have a cute piclet of my interpretation of all the mini-mutants (including the one's I don't often mention like Fred and Amara) and the best picture of Wanda and baby Toad EVER!!! posted. I'd love ya ta check it out and maybe comment?

I also have stuff on YouTube (same screenname as here) if you like Avatar the Last Airbender, Backstreet Boys, and/or Avril Lavigne. It would be cool of ya to comment on my music vidlets but no need.

So anywho, next on MY list is the second to last chapter of 24 hours. However I am going to do the next chapter in End of The World (co-written with Howlerdrode) before then, and you should expect a few oneshots (Splurts from the ATLA universe are my block breakers so they are most likely to come forth) even though I have no plans as of yet.

So ... REVIEW svp?

AND HAPPY NEW YEAR