Logan answered his phone as he sped down the highway, "MacTaggert?"

"Logan. Turns out our last victim does own a cabin in the Smoky Mountains. I'm texting you the address right now." Mark lowered his voice, "Now, since I know that you guys are familiar with this particular perp, I'll let you get first dibs...but I will have to let my agents know about this."

"Guaranteed there won't be much of a perp left after I get through with him. Look, do me a favor and call the professor...give him the address so he can forward it to the team."

Mark let out a breath, "I get the feeling there's something you're not telling me."

"He has a hostage...she's pregnant...and she's someone I care about a lot."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone before Mark spoke up again, "I'll give you guys an hour head start to do what you need to with this guy...then my agents have to come in. If it's found out that I let outside sources in on information vital to a major case involving a serial killer, I could end up with criminal charges myself. I hope you understand."

"I do. Thanks."

Marie had been in labor all day.

By now, her contractions were only three minutes apart, and she was working hard to muffle her whimpers of pain.

She jumped slightly when Victor walked into her room. She was laying on the bed, trying not to writhe in pain as he looked at her, "Dinner's ready. Come on."

Marie stood and breathed out, "Ya know...I think I'm gonna turn in early."

"Don't be stupid, Stripes. That kid'll be here any day. You need to eat...store up some energy."

She bit down on her lip as another contraction hit, almost stealing away her ability to remain upright, "Uh...I'm really not hungry."

He cocked his head to the side, "What's wrong with you?"

When the pain prevented her from answering, Victor knew exactly what was going on. He called Emma as he helped Marie back to the bed.

Just as Emma walked in, Marie's water broke.

Victor smirked, "Damn, Stripes. You've been at this for a few hours already, huh?"

"Shut up you fucking psychotic asshole! You son of a bitch! I promise to God I will kill you before this is over!"

He ignored her tirade and turned to Emma, who was snatching towels out of the nearby closet and handing them off to him, "It's probably not long now, right?"

"How the hell should I know? I'm not exactly trained in midwifery!"

Marie clutched her pillow tight as she cried out through the contraction. Victor straightened for a moment and glanced toward the door. Emma noticed his look, "What?"

"I hear something. Stay with her", he said cryptically as he walked out of the room.

Marie breathed out and sighed, "Go away, Emma..."

"Trust me...I want to, but that psychotic asshole is making sure that I don't have to get my hands dirty while I build my fortune."

Just as another contraction hit, Marie reached out and grabbed Emma's wrist. Unfortunately for the telepath, Marie was unable to control her powers due to the intense pain of her labor.

Marie had refrained from using her powers during her pregnancy for fear that she would suck the life out of her baby the same way she would everyone else she touched when her powers were activated.

Marie fought hard to regain control of her powers, but not before Emma weakened and convulsed before crumpling to the floor in an unconscious heap. Marie shook her head as she heard faint traces of Victor's thoughts nearby. As the pain of her contraction wore down, she struggled to her feet and looked out the door.

She didn't see Victor, so she quickly crept out, then headed toward the door.

Marie didn't stop to wonder where the hell Victor was, or where she was going as she ventured out into the nearby woods, praying that she was heading toward the road.

Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the woods, Logan was leaping out of the trees and tackling Victor to the ground.

The two ferals tumbled in the woods for several feed before Victor landed on top of Logan and buried his claws in his shoulder, "You've got pretty good timing, Jimmy...she went into labor today."

Logan growled, "Where is she?"

Victor twisted his claws slightly, "She's safe. Rest easy knowing that before you die."

He started to raise his other claw to slash Logan's neck, but instead, Logan intercepted his hand with his claws, then kicked Victor off of him. Logan slashed Victor across the neck, then took advantage of his disorientation by stabbing him in the gut and knocking him to the ground.

A couple of miles away, Marie was unable to continue her escape through the woods due to an intense pressure that made her feel the need to push. She stopped and lowered herself to to the ground, "Oh god...oh god...this can't be happening...not yet...not now!"

Logan had practically sliced Victor in half to end the fight.

As he stood, panting over Victor's bloodied body, he wondered if he should cut his head off for good measure, but a loud scream prompted him to begin running in Marie's direction.

He rushed through the woods, leaping over fallen branches and hopping over rocks as he made his way toward the screaming.

Logan made his way toward a clearing and stopped before slowly scanning the area for signs of Marie. He spotted her on the ground several yards away and rushed over to her. She was sweating heavily and was definitely in pain, "Logan! The baby's coming! I can't hold on! I can't...I can't..."

He quickly cupped her cheek and looked into her eyes before moving between her legs, "It's OK, darlin'...I'm here now. It'll be alright. I promise." His eyes widened as he looked down, "Whoa...it's...it's right there-"

"YA THINK?"

"Alright, baby...just push when you need to. Listen to your body."

Marie bore down with all her might, then fell backwards when she stopped. Logan nodded and reached down to try to help coax the baby out, "The head is out...come on...another one."

Marie screamed as she pushed and felt Logan help free the baby's shoulder's from her body, then easily pull the rest of the baby from her. She collapsed backwards and panted.

She was almost too exhausted to realize how quiet everything was.

Logan quickly yanked off his shirt and wrapped it around the baby as he began vigorously massaging its back, "Come on...come on..."

"Why is it quiet? Logan? Logan...why is it so quiet?"

Before Logan could reply, the baby began crying. He let out a sigh of relief as he cradled the baby close, "It's a boy...it's a boy, darlin'...you did it."

Marie slowly reached for him as Logan laid the tiny bundle in her arms, "You're ok...you're ok..."

Logan heard Hank's voice calling his name and quickly stood up to yell to him, "We're here!"

Within a few seconds, Hank was there, along with Jean, and they were able to cut the cord, deliver the placenta, and prep Marie and the baby for transport to the jet.

The next several hours were a blur, but it ended with Marie and her newborn son safe in the mansion. A flurry of activity surrounded her, with Hank and Jean checking her and the baby out, and Mark coming by with a couple of agents to officially question her

When things finally died down, he stood outside of her door, staring at it. He was about to knock when Hank opened the door, holding his doctor's bag and wearing his stethoscope around his neck, "Logan. Hello."

"Hey-"

"Logan?" he heard Marie call from inside the room.

Hank smiled and stepped aside, allowing him access into the room.

When he entered the room, he saw her sitting up, cradling the baby in her arms.

He slowly ventured toward her and sat down on the side of the bed next to her, "Hey."

Marie smiled softly, "Hi..."

There was a long, comfortable moment of silence before Logan reached out to stroke her cheek, "You're more beautiful than ever, kid..."

Marie leaned into his touch as she closed her eyes and allowed a tear to slide down her face, "I didn't think I would ever get to see you again."

Logan wiped the tear away with his thumb and scooted forward a little bit as he shushed her, "Hey...no tears...you're here now. You're safe."

She nodded before looking down at the sleeping baby in her arms, "He's beautiful...isn't he?"

Despite the fact that Logan had delivered the baby, he hadn't gotten a chance to actually get a good look at the little guy since he had been covered in blood and gunk during their initial meeting.

Marie gently pushed the blanket out of the little boy's face to show Logan his tiny little features. He was beautiful. Clearly, he had Marie's button nose and pouty lips.

Logan nodded, "He's...he is beautiful."

She bit her bottom lip and looked down before looking up again, "I know that, if this baby is Victor's-"

Logan raised a hand, "He's not."

Before Marie could say anymore, Logan slowly reached over and took the baby out of her arms as he cradled him against his own chest and stroked his head, "Hey, bub...you and I didn't really get to talk earlier cause you decided to be kind of a pain in the ass and get delivered in the middle of the woods...but uh...I guess it's time for introductions. You've met your mom...she's the pretty one with the boobs...and Hank, the blue furball...and Jean, the redheaded b-lady...and me...finally, you get to officially meet me. I'm your dad, kiddo..." Marie smiled as tears rolled down her face. She covered her mouth to muffle a couple of sobs as Logan gently rocked the baby, "You need a name...don't ya, kiddo? You look like a trouble maker already..."

Marie sniffled and wiped at her eyes, "I haven't had time to think of a name."

"What about...Blade?"

She raised a brow, "What about Scott?"

Logan looked horrified, "Why would you even say somethin' like that?"

"Throw out another suggestion like 'Blade' and that's what his name will be."

He rolled his eyes, "Fine. Whatever."

They thought for a few moments before Logan smiled down at the little baby, "I got it..." Logan looked down at the baby and smiled, "Ben."

"Ben", Marie repeated as she slowly nodded.

"What do you think?"

She sat forward and gently pulled the blanket away from her son's face, "I like it."

Logan had insisted to Marie that he was fine with simply assuming that Ben was his son, but Marie felt that Logan was having a hard time bonding with the baby without knowing, so she arranged for Hank to perform a paternity test.

Hank told them it would take a couple of weeks, so the night before the test results were scheduled to come back, Logan woke up in the middle of the night to stare down at the infant. He was sleeping peacefully, with his tiny fists balled up next to his face

Logan sighed, "Either way, we're family, kid...and, no matter what, you're gonna be better than your father...whether it's me or Victor. You're gonna be smarter...kinder...more giving. I promise I'll spend every day of the rest of my life making sure you turn out to be a good person."

The next morning, Marie and Logan were sitting in the med lab with Ben when Hank entered, holding an envelope. He pulled the piece of paper containing the test results out and started to speak, but Logan stopped him.

"Wait a sec, Hank."

Marie looked at him confusedly, "What is it?"

"Look, kid...before he tells us anything...I want to promise you that, no matter what, I'll be there for both of you. This doesn't change anything. Those test results don't matter. We've wasted enough time with the wrong people and making the wrong decisions, and I finally realized that this is where I wanna be...through thick and thin."

Marie smiled and gently cupped his face, "I know, baby...and I love you for that...but you ever realize that maybe I need to know? If Victor is Ben's father, that's something that I feel the need to confront and cope with."

Hank cleared his throat, "Shall I proceed?"

They both turned back to him and nodded, "Please."

"Well, Logan. I do hope you have some cigars handy...because...you're a father."

The End

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