I do not own the X-Men franchise.

A collection of one-shots about the youngest of the X-Men, Jamie Madrox. If you have suggestions, ideas or requests, let me know and I'll see what I can do.

This story is based solely off of the X-Men Evolution cartoon, so don't expect any references to the comics. I don't know if Jamie's copies talk in the show, but in my story they can.

An Invitation

"Jamie! Dinner is ready!"

"In a sec, Mom!" Jamie Madrox called, his eyes glued to the comic book clutched in his small hands. His hero was currently in a sticky situation and he was not putting off the conclusion just for some brussel sprouts.

"Now, Jamie."

The eleven-year-old boy slowly sat up on his bed, his eyes still locked on the colourful pictures that covered the page. He lingered too long, however, and heard his mother's firm footsteps falling on the staircase. Panicked, Jamie threw his comic on his bed and raced out the door. "I'm coming-!"

His call immediately halted when he slammed into his mother on the upstairs landing. He tumbled backwards onto the carpet while his mother grabbed the stair railing to keep herself from taking a dreadful fall. "Jamie, how many times-" Joan started, but stopped when she took a good look at her son and froze.

"What?" Jamie furrowed his brow. "Why are you staring at me like I've grown a second head?"

"Yeah, what's the matter?"

"Jamie," Joan breathed, putting a shaking hand to her gaping mouth. "There's..."

She couldn't finish her sentence, but she didn't need to. Jamie's head snapped around upon hearing the second voice, a voice that sounded exactly like his.

He stared, stunned and horrified, into blue eyes of another Jamie.

"Mom," he squeaked, "make it go away!"

"I...don't think I can." Joan swallowed. "It...It came from you, Jamie."

"But that's impossible!" Jamie cried. He scrambled backwards, palms rubbing against the carpet in an attempt to get away from the other him. "Make it go away!"

"Jamie-"

"GO AWAY! GO AWAY! GO AWAY!" Jamie shrieked, completely freaked. He only grew more freaked when the other him suddenly disappeared into thin air. "Mom! What's wrong with me?"

"Oh, Jamie." Joan broke out of her stiff stance when her son burst into terrified tears. She hurried over and embraced him tightly. "We'll call your father and straighten this out."

She guided Jamie downstairs and set him on the couch in the living room. She wrapped a blanket around the trembling boy and hurried into the kitchen for the phone, ignoring the rapidly cooling dinner set on the table. She dialed her husband's work number frantically. "Hello? I need to speak to Daniel Madrox right away. This is his wife. It's an emergency."

Thirty seconds passed before Joan was calmed by the soothing voice of her husband. "Joan? What's the matter? Are you and Jamie alright?"

"I don't know," Joan whispered. "Daniel, the strangest thing just happened. Jamie ran into me and, suddenly, there were two of him."

"Dear, maybe you hit your head when he crashed into you-"

"No, I didn't hit my head against anything. I'm sure of it. I saw it, Daniel. Jamie suddenly had a twin and a minute later he was gone."

"I'll be right over," Daniel assured her. "We'll figure this out. We can take Jamie to a doctor-"

"Oh, Daniel." Joan closed her eyes. "I don't think a trip to the doctor will do anything for Jamie-other than make things worse."

...

"Discovery-new mutant signature. Discovery-new mutant signature."

The Cerebro alert blared throughout Xavier's Institute for Gifted Youngsters, successfully attracting the attention of its creator, Charles Xavier. The man steered his wheelchair into the Cerebro room and slipped the device over his head. Charles closed his eyes and concentrated, gathering the information Cerebro had to give him.

"The first detection in this vicinity. Extrapolation complete. Identity confirmed. Name-Jamie Madrox. Residence-Los Alamos, New Mexico. Age-eleven."

"Hmm," Charles mused, removing the metal helmet-like device from his head. "A rather young age to develop the X-gene."

"Another new mutant, Professor?" a female voiced asked.

Charles nodded, staring thoughtfully at the screen. "Yes."

Jean Grey, a senior student at the Institute, and Logan, the combat and survival training instructor, ventured further into the room. Logan peered at the picture displayed on the screen and snorted. "Great. Just what we need. Another new recruit."

"I think this boy may need our guidance the most. He's developed his mutant powers at a young age and will need more help in learning to control them. We need to speak to him and his parents as soon as possible. I'll depart for Los Alamos early tomorrow morning."

"Do you want me to come, Professor?" Jean asked.

"No, I wouldn't want you to miss your training session with the new students." Charles smiled knowingly. "I know they're a spirited bunch, but they'll adjust quickly."

"If we can get through one session without someone being sent to the infirmary, I'll believe it," Jean said wearily and reluctantly left to get some well-needed rest for the following morning.

"Logan, would you like to come?"

The man frowned hesitantly. "I don't know, Chuck. I don't want to scare the kid any more than he probably already is."

"As long as you keep your claws away, I'm sure Jamie will be fine. And perhaps a smile wouldn't hurt either."

"Very funny," Logan grumbled.

...

Jamie couldn't sleep.

How could he be expected to, really, after what had happened to him?

His father had rushed home right after his mother had called. But what could they do? Joan was firm in her belief in what she had seen, and as much as Jamie wanted to he couldn't deny it. He had clearly seen a second him-a copy.

The boy pressed his knees to his chest and whimpered. His parents, after a long discussion, agreed to keep the entire ordeal to themselves. They told him to try and forget about it, and if it happened again they would deal with it then.

But he couldn't forget about it.

For a long time, he had dreamed of having superpowers like the heroes in his comic books. But now that he had it was nothing like he thought it would be. He was scared, frightened, and not sure what to do.

What if the kids at school find out? They're all gonna think I'm some kind of freak!

The thought, so dark and haunting, swirled around his mind all night. The darkness was eventually broken by beams of sunlight, but Jamie made no move to get out of bed. He was afraid that if he moved, it would happen again.

Around nine, a soft knock came on his bedroom door. "Jamie, sweetie, do you want some breakfast?"

"No thanks, Mom," Jamie answered tiredly. "I'm not hungry."

"Okay, dear. If you change your mind I'll make a plate up for you."

Jamie listened to her receding footsteps and continued staring at the ceiling. What am I going to do? How can I go to school when it might happen again? The government is going to take me in for experimentation! I'll be put in some freak show! My life will be over if this ever gets out!

The doorbell sounded and Jamie turned his head slightly towards his bedroom door. He could hear his mother's footsteps as she went to answer it and a few seconds later there were unfamiliar muffled voices speaking.

"J-Jamie?" his mother called after a few minutes. "Can you come downstairs, please? There are some people who would like to speak to you."

"Who?" Jamie hollered. There was no way he was moving unless he absolutely had to.

"I think it's best if they introduce themselves."

Now a little worried, Jamie reluctantly crawled out of bed. He had enough energy to throw on a burgundy sweater (which went rather well with his grey flannel pajama bottoms) and walked stiffly downstairs, gripping the railing with both hands.

He paused halfway down the stairs when he noticed two men in his living room. His mother stood a few feet away with his father standing behind her. "Hello, Jamie," the bald man greeted with a smile. "I am Professor Charles Xavier. This is Mr. Logan, a teacher at my institute for gifted youths."

"Jamie, these men...they know about your abilities," Joan said carefully.

Eyes wide, Jamie stumbled back up a few steps. "H-how? Were they spying on us or something?"

"I assure you that isn't the case. I have a special machine that detects people like you-like us-whenever their abilities develop."

"They're mutants," Daniel said curtly. "And they think that they can take you away to some school in Bayville, New York."

"Daniel, I know this is strange, but maybe-"

"Joan, we don't even know these people!" Daniel exclaimed. "And you're actually thinking of letting him go off with them?"

Joan narrowed her eyes at her husband. "Excuse us, please. We'll just be in the kitchen for a moment."

Charles inclined his head and the two adults left. The kitchen was directly across from the living room, so if any trouble did occur, the two would be by their son's side in a second.

Logan rolled his eyes. This was a scene that happened much too often-distrustful parents that put up a fight before finally deciding that the best thing would be for their child to attend the Institute. He glanced at the stairs to see the kid peering at him with wary eyes. "Are ya gonna just stand there like a bump on a log, kid?"

Hesitantly, Jamie ventured down to the first floor landing and approached the entryway. "So...you're mutants?" he asked.

"That is correct." Charles nodded.

"Does that mean that your school is one for mutants?"

Logan was impressed at the kid's quick ability to connect the dots. "You got it, kid."

"What can you do?"

Charles smiled. A child's curiosity always seemed to push through, no matter how serious the situation. "I can read people's minds."

Jamie gasped. "Seriously? No way! What colour am I thinking of?"

"Blue," Charles answered instantly.

"Whoa," Jamie breathed. He turned eagerly to Logan. "What can you do?"

Logan simply allowed his adamantium claws to appear. The boy stared at them in awe. "Alright, kid. Your turn."

"I don't know how," Jamie admitted, his shoulders slumping. "It happened by accident. I ran into my mom and-" His eyes suddenly widened as an idea struck him. "Wait! Maybe I can do it!"

"Oh, Jamie, you don't have to," Charles said quickly, knowing what the boy was intending to do.

Jamie was not listening however, and ran straight into the kitchen door. Immediately, three copies sprung from his body and scattered across the carpet. Alarmed by the noise, Daniel and Joan rushed out of the kitchen to find four Jamies.

"I think I can only do it when I run into something," Jamie said, peering intently at the copy that was closest to him. He wasn't as frightened as he was last night, now that he knew that there were other people who had powers.

"Geez, kid, ya didn't have to do that," Logan said, torn between surprise and amusement at how the runt had slammed into the door like a charging bull.

"Collision is how your powers activate," Charles explained. "But if you concentrate, you can do it at will. That's what I teach at the Institute-how to control and use your powers."

"Daniel, this is what will eventually happen if we leave this alone." Joan gestured to the Jamie copies, which were sprawled lazily on the floor. "I trust that the professor and Mr. Logan can help Jamie."

When Daniel still seemed unconvinced, Jamie spoke up. "I'd like to go," he said softly.

"...it is your decision," Daniel relented. "But if you change your mind, give us a call and we'll pick you up right away."

Jamie brightened. He felt a lot better, knowing that he was going to a school with other kids that had powers. A place where he would be taught how to use his abilities. A place where he wouldn't have to worry about being called a freak or a loser.

"Jamie?"

"Yeah, Mom?"

"Could you please get rid of your...copies? They're kind of freaking me out."