1973

British Columbia, Canada

The house was one of those white picket fence affairs, with a perfectly manicured garden, a perfectly decorated lounge and what everyone thought to be a perfect little family. Well things had been perfect, until Mrs Irene Wilson came back from a visit to the oncologist. She was a beautiful woman; she wore her blonde hair scraped back off her face, with tasteful makeup and respectable fashion. She was every inch the dutiful General's wife. The couple had married in 1957 and a year later their son Wade was born. She had gone from her father's home to her husband's and had never thought she could have done it any other way. But now she had only one thought, and that was how would she tell her son.

"Wade honey?" she called as she wondered into the hall, dropping her keys into the dish that was placed purposefully on the sideboard. Hanging up her purse and coat she walked towards the kitchen, her damp lace handkerchief clutched fiercely in her hand.

"'Lo Mom..." Came the eventual muffled reply of her son, he wondering into the kitchen after his mother. He went straight for the fridge, opening it up he grabbed a carton of milk, Wade had jus about taken it to his lips when a stern cough from the other side of the room, followed by his mother staring pointedly at him prompted him to stop.

"You forgetting something Wade?" Irene asked, her eyes shut tightly as she fought to stem the flow of tears that were desperate to be shed.

Wade shook his head and reached for a glass shelved in one of the many kitchen cabinets.

"That's better," his mother smiled a watery smile and moved towards her son, placing a soft kiss on his cheek.

"Mom!" Wade called out, ducking out of the way in order to spare himself the potential shower of kisses that normally followed.

"Right, I forgot… you're all grown up now."

"Exactly! Besides I got a date for the dance so I cant have my Mom kissing me every other minute."

Mrs Wilson's face lit up and she smiled, "You asked a girl to the dance?"

"No I asked a poodle… Of course I asked a girl."

"Don't you sass me young man!" Irene Wilson glared at her son, she may have been dying but she'd be damned if her son wasn't going to turn out a gentleman.

"Yes Ma'am!"

"Good, now who did you ask?"

"Mary Sanderson from across the street."

"Oh that's good! I know her Mother, she's a sweet girl."

"No Mom, its bad, its very bad!"

"Bad Wade? A pretty girl is going to a dance with you, I think for your age that's all you can really ask for." Mrs Wilson said kindly.

"A dance Mom!" Wade replied, his voice cracking.

"So?"

"I can't dance!" Wade looked at his mother, his face conveying the intense misery only a 15 year old can feel.

"C'mon," Mrs Wilson motioned for her son to follow her.

Mother and son were in the lounge; Irene had moved the coffee table to the side and rolled up the rug to reveal the wooden floor underneath. All the while Wade stood lamely to one side, not exactly sure of what was going on around him, but then again General Wilson never tired of telling Irene that Wade wasn't exactly the sharpest crayon in the box.

"What are we doing?" Wade asked uncertainly as Irene messed about with the cassette player and then took her place in front of him, putting his hand on the small of her back, and clasping the other in her free hand.

"Dancing." She said simply and she began to count the two of them in.

Several minutes later Wade looked down at his mother, she was pale faced and crying silently but a soft smile had formed.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

Mrs Wilson sniffed heavily, "Nothing honey, now pay attention."

"Mom! Seriously what is wrong?" Wade pushed himself out of the grasp his mother had him in and grabbed her by the shoulders, his brown eyes boring into her blue.

"Wade, I just want to teach you how to dance before I die, ok?"

"Mom, what are you talking about? You have plenty of time to teach to me to dance!"

Irene's face creased in pain, her eyes once again closed, "the thing is Wade, I don't think I do…" she said softly as she tore herself from him and walked across the room.

"What do you mean Mom?" Wade questioned, an overwhelming sense of panic rose up in him as he rushed to her side just in time to see the first heavy drops of salty water land on her cheeks. Irene swallowed and turned to face her son, already he towered above her, placing her hand on his cheek she searched for the right words.

"Remember I went to the doctors today?"

"Yeah, you said you've been feeling tired…" Wade said slowly, shaking his head slightly.

"Well, it turns out," Mrs Wilson stopped; more tears fell as her throat closed up, choking back a sob she continued. "I have cancer Wade and there's nothing the doctors can do."

Wade gasped staggering backwards he landed heavily on a sofa, "Mom you can't die…"

Irene rushed forward, falling to her knees beside her son.

"I'm sorry honey."

"Mom… You cant, I wont let you."

Irene laughed a bitterly, "I don't think you can stop it Wade, I just want you to remember I will always love you."

Picking up his mother as he stood Wade pulled them both into a hug, the music still playing the background Mrs Wilson began to step slowly to the beat.

"Lets just dance for a while?" Irene asked. Wade nodded placing a kiss on her forehead.

1974

British Columbia, Canada

Two years earlier the Wilson's had gained a new set of neighbours. Doctor Harvey Johnson and his pregnant wife Maria, the small town had begun gossiping almost immediately. Ordinarily with the arrival of a promising young doctor from Vancouver the town would have celebrated, yet there was a slight problem with this couple, the wife. Maria Johnson was a native of Argentina, with her olive coloured skin and her slight accent she was singled out amongst the young wives and mothers of the community. Nothing was never actually said but it didn't stop her from getting a whole lot of looks and several rumours followed her. Maria's favourite was that she had been knocked up by some random man in a bar, seduced Dr Johnson and he was too good of a man to leave a woman and her future bastard child. Of course now that her little girl had reached the grand old age of one, the rumours had abated and the town had moved onto a new source of gossip. The death of Irene Wilson.

1975

British Columbia, Canada

Same house, same picket fence, same garden. But a year could do a lot to a place, the white paint was pealing away, the lawn was no longer mowed down and the curtains to the lounge were perpetually drawn.

"Get the hell out of my house boy!" General Wilson yelled as he pulled his son out of his bed.

Wade's eyes were still clouded with sleep yet he managed to make out the shape of his father as he lumbered about his bedroom. General Wilson had always been partial to a whisky and soda but after the death of his wife the allure of the bottle seemed far more inviting.

"I said get out!" the General raised his hand and sent it slamming into his son's face. The two were both equally matched in height, yet General Wilson had advantage in weight.

"Dad what the fuck are you doing?" Wade asked wincing, touching his cheek gingerly.

"You aint no son of mine!" grabbing Wade by his tee shirt Wilson dragged him into the dimly lit hallway. "You know what, you are the biggest waste of damned space I have ever had the misfortune to meet. Dammit I'm thinking your mother wasn't exactly faithful, village idiot comes to mind when I look at you."

"Don't you dare talk about my Mother that way!" Wade yelled.

General Wilson staggered slightly, "What exactly you planning on doing then?"

"This," Wade swung his arm forward; rolling with the punch he landed a heavy blow under his father's chin. The combination of booze and brute force knocked the General out cold. Wade taking the stairs two at a time rushed into the downstairs hall, pausing only to stuff on a pair of shoes and grab a jacket before he rushed out on to the street.

1976

British Columbia, Canada

It hadn't been pretty, bar fights never were. As usual Wade had been at the centre of it but he wasn't the one who ended it. This time Ricky had drawn a gun and General Wilson had ended up dead. Wade rushed out of the bar without looking back, his thoughts running wild, he'd had it coming, he'd had it coming, anyone could have seen that. Racing down the street he headed towards home, jumping up the porch steps he burst into the soon to be vacant building. Grabbing his father's duffle bag he pushed as many of his belongings into as possible, raiding the General's room he found his emergency cash store. Just as Wade was about to leave, he pulled out an old tin box from the bottom of his wardrobe, opening it up he quickly riffled through the contents, he eventually pulled out an old photograph of his mother placing it gently on the top of pile of belongs he had accumulated in the bag he closed it up and swung it onto his shoulder. Stepping into the cool night air he gave his home one last look and stepped on to the curb, only to be confronted.

"What you doing Wade?"

"Leavin'" came his curt reply

"Why?" Wade sighed and looked down at the three year old girl that was looking intently up at him,

"Because…"

"Because what?" the little girl asked, her small face dominated by the frown that she wore.

"Because I have to Sophia…" Wade said, crouching down to look at the little girl that stood before him, "Besides shouldn't you be inside?"

Sophia shook her head, "Mommy and Daddy are out cel-cel-bra…." she paused and frowned again, frustrated, she liked to know big words.

"Celebrating?" Wade suggested.

"Yeah, that. So Claire is inside with Todd, she's playing a grown up game and I cant join in so she gave me two pop tarts."

"Two? Soph ya kinda little…"

Sophia shrugged and held out her spare one to him, Wade took it and grinned at her.

"I'll see you around kid," ruffling her hair he stood back up again and gave her one last smile before he ran down the street towards the bus stop. Sophia Johnson stared after him, her small chubby hand raised in goodbye.

1978

Kyoto, Japan

The small man sighed calmly as he felt the cold steel blade pressed up against his neck, "You were sent here to kill me weren't you Wade? The Boss is hoping to end the Oyakata isn't he?"

Wade remained silent; his eyes were narrowed, willing himself to finish the job he had been paid to do. Further thoughts were wiped from his head as the door at the back of the room burst open; a strangled sob escaped the lungs of the intruder.

"Wade, what are you doing? Wade answer me!" the young woman's voice was shrill as she looked around the room, several guards lay dead. Wade's eyes flicked momentarily to the girl demanding answers, the mercenary lowered his katana.

"I'm sorry Sazae…" sheathing his blade Wade made a running jump and was soon perching on the side of the widow making his getaway.

1979

San Francisco, California

"You got a chance here Wilson," Wade looked at him, he was obviously military. Either top brass or the guy was on one hell of an ego trip. What he was offering; a good fee, a chance to see the world and hell, meet some interesting people.

"I'm in…"

Stryker smiled, handing Wilson a peace of paper with some coordinates, "Good, report here at 0800 hours."

As Wade shut the door behind the Colonel he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, "and he couldn't have just given me an address."

1985

Alkali Lake

"Wilson!"

"Sir?" Wade Wilson at 27 stood at an impressive 6' 2", turning to face his 'boss' he grinned in a cavalier manner. "I've got your medical results…" Stryker said, his voice clipped.

"Yeah and?" Wade asked, returning to sharpening his blades, cooing over them slightly.

"Dammit soldier look at me!"

Wade sighed heavily, "Ok, ok! I know I'm good looking but honestly Sir, the guys are starting to talk."

"Wilson, shut up." Wade shut up.

"There's no other way to say this, but, you have melanoma."

"As in skin cancer?" Wade asked, his eyebrows rose in question.

"One and the same...

"Huh, I'd always hoped I'd die by being chased off a cliff by 50 buck naked women."

Stryker pursed his lips, "We can help you…"

"Help me?" Wade replied, his eyes thoughtful.

"You remember James?"

"Yeah, sure I remember Jimmy." Wade paused "You have no idea how much hair that guy left in the shower."

Stryker overlooked Wade's comment, "His healing factor, that's what's going to cure you."

Wade looked at Stryker, sizing him up, he knew he didn't have much chance of surviving without him, his mother sure as hell hadn't.

"Ok what do I have to do?"

Stryker smiled somewhat menacingly, "Just stay on the programme."

1987

British Columbia, Canada

"Mom! Mom! Dad!" Sophia Johnson screamed. Racing up the stairs Maria forced her way into her eldest daughters bedroom.

"Mi Dios!"

"Mom! What the hell do I do?"

Maria Johnson lent heavily against the wall, the small crucifix she wore around her neck was clutched in her hand, her eyes were staring up at the ceiling. A few moments later Sophia's father Harvey burst on to the scene.

"Oh Sweet fucking Jesus…" even in her state of shock Maria managed to hit him in the stomach. "Sophia sweetie, do you think you can, um… get down."

"Get down Dad? Get down?" Sophia paused, gasping for air, "I don't know how I got up here!"

Sophia's head was pushed up against the ceiling, sobbing to herself she held her hands up to her face, but suddenly pulled them away, staring intently at them. They were covered in some sort of silver substance. Her 14-year-old self couldn't quite handle it, she let rip a blood-curdling scream. Her mother soon joined in. Doctor Johnson couldn't have spent 10 years in hospital emergency rooms without a certain amount of calm and immediately stepped up to the plate.

"Sophia! Listen to me, I don't know how you got up there but I need you to think. Try and focus on the ground, something like that."

"OK Daddy," Sophia said hesitantly. Shutting her eyes she thought of the carpeted floor of her bedroom. Quite suddenly she fell through the air and landed heavily on her bed.

Three Mile Island

Wade Wilson's head fell. Weapon XI was apparently no more.

Several hours later clean up had begun. Dozens of camouflaged soldiers moved about the now destroyed base. They were following the commands of Doctor Killebrew, they were looking for survivors or rather failed experiments. Speaking into his handheld transceiver a soldier stepped carefully next to what looked suspiciously like an arm, "Sir I think we found something, over."

The soldier's radio flared into life, "Affirmative, bring it in."

The soldier stored his communication device and moved towards the lump on the ground that had been identified as a person. He and his two companions uncovered the corpse, placing it into a body bag along with the severed head they quickly headed towards a waiting chopper.

Westchester County, New York

"I'll try my best to help you learn to control your powers, help you realise your full potential. Sophia I hope you'll settle in here," Sophia looked cautiously to the man next to her; Professor Xavier had offered her an opportunity she couldn't refuse. She knew she'd be leaving her mother, father and sister Lucy all behind but she couldn't help think that being close to them would probably end up with her hurting the ones she loved, that was something she couldn't handle.

"I think I will Professor."

1994

The Hospice

"Doctor Killebrew you're being shut down… "

"What!" the man wheeled round and glared at the man standing before him.

"We leave with you now." The soldier's eyes narrowed menacingly, his hand went to his handgun.

"I can't leave now!"

"You don't have a choice, this facility is no longer in operation."

As the military cleared out the majority of the bases personnel, some things were over looked, including a vault, the sign above it marking the resting place of Weaspon XI.

Westchester County, New York

College graduate Sophia Johnson stood on the lawns of the Xavier estate, she had her whole life ahead of her and she didn't know what she was going to do. Her parents and sister had come down for her graduation from Columbia, but now they were once again back in Canada, a world away.

"Hey Johnson, how does it feel to be out of college?"

"I miss it already Summers," Sophia grinned at looked at her friend and designated leader of the fledging 'X-men'.

"So, have you figured out what you want to do with the rest of your life?" Scott asked, his head cocked to one side.

"Rest of my life? I don't know about that. But right now I've got two options open…"

"Which are?" Scott asked, turning Sophia to face him.

"I stay here, become an instructor or I take that graduate opportunity up in Boston."

"So you know what you gonna do?" Sophia nodded slowly, her eyes filling up.

Scott pulled her into a bear hug, Sophia burying her head in his chest, "Boston?"

Sophia nodded her head, her tears dampening his shirt, "Boston," she reiterated.

2003

Boston, Massachusetts

Sophia was busily working at her desk; she was in a job that she sort of enjoyed but the massive pay package she received every month tended to make up for the lack of fulfillment. She looked towards the clock on her desk; her lunch hour was fast approaching. She was disturbed from her thoughts as the phone rang.

"Hello,"

"Hey Miss Johnson, I have an Ororo Monroe on line one, do you want to take it?"

"Yeah sure put her through," Sophia's assistant pressed a couple of buttons and the phone line crackled.

"Sophia?"

"Ro! How are you are?" Sophia asked joyfully.

"I've been better to be honest. Um, I don't know how to say this, but we've lost Scott, Jean and the Professor."

Sophia gasped, holding her chest, "No, no... I cant…" Sophia pushed her hair out of her face and took a gulp of coffee, "I'm getting the next flight out." tears streamed down her face as she put down the phone and rushed out of the office.

2004

Westchester County, New York

"Miss Johnson?"

"Yes Jubilee…"

"Yeah, that report you set us? Well can I have an extension?"

Sophia sighed heavily and looked judgingly at the student in front of her, "this doesn't have anything to do with the fact that you've been out with Sam Gurthie for the past three nights does it?"

"No…" Jubilee looked hesitantly at the floor. "I want to a get a book from the public library but there's no one here to get me into town."

"Fine, this time next week ok?"

"Thank you Miss Johnson, you're the best!"

Sophia laughed silently, as Jubilee punched the air, quickly regaining her cool she sauntered out to rejoin her fellow schoolmates. Sophia surveyed the classroom she sat in; this was her life now. She was a teacher at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, walking the halls that she knew so well, haunted by the memories of her fallen colleagues.