X-Men Fan Fiction ❯ Witness ❯ Faith and Hope ( Chapter 38 )

Authors Note/Disclaimer:

I do not own XMen Evolution, its characters, or the universe they live in. I intend no disrespect or copyright infringement. This is a work of adult fan fiction and is intended only for entertainment purposes. I make no money from this work.

This is the last chapter folks…I hope I’ve tied and knotted all my loose ends. Since this started out as a oneshot and I was plotting on the fly, it’s been some real work tying it all together. There is an epilogue included at the end for those folks that need to know how everything turns out. If you were hoping for more sex…sorry…there’s usually at least a six week wait for that…

Thank you so much for coming along for the ride. It’s been a real trip for me. And now I can say “Yes…I have written a novel.” Only not in public…or in front of my parents…No royalty checks…Hmm…

As always, constructive criticism is welcome.

Please see the first chapter for complete warnings for this piece.

Chapter Thirty Eight: Faith and Hope

When the X Men arrived, Pietro was still trying to get the situation under control, ordering Brotherhood and Acolytes around indiscriminately.

Wanda was hovering over her father, her powers barely under control as evidenced by the warped coffee table and the rug that still slithered off and on. Lance was charged with keeping her calm while Peter was ordered to move Marissa to the couch. John wouldn’t allow anyone near Remy, and of course Todd wouldn’t leave Marissa’s side.

When the knock came at the door, it was Pietro who answered it.

Rogue was first through the door and when she spotted Remy lying unconscious she went immediately to him. There was an awkward moment when it looked like John might set her ablaze. A sharp word from Pietro put an end to it.

“Oh Mah Gawd! What happened?” Rogue’s hands flitted around Remy’s face, not quite touching him. Then she grabbed his shirt and shook him, trying to rouse him.

“Hey! Not sure that’s a good idea.” Pietro moved closer as Rogue’s team-mates began to swarm into the room. “He lost control…Lance had to put him out so he wouldn’t blow us all up.”

“Lost control?” Rogue’s question was lost in the confusion as the room became overcrowded and everyone began asking questions at once.

Cyclops seemed to be intent on countering any order Pietro gave and Wolverine was determined to find Sabertooth. Kurt and Kitty were flitting around getting in the way while Storm was trying to get Todd to explain what exactly had happened to Marissa.

Pietro had to shout to be heard over the barrage of questions and twice had to intervene to keep a fight from breaking out between John and one of the X Men. Thankfully, the Russian had sense enough to hang back quietly until things sorted themselves out.

When the Professor arrived with the Beast, Pietro was actually relieved. In moments, the Professor had everyone settled down and had determined that all three “patients” should be taken to the Institute for medical attention.

Pietro was happy to let the man take charge so that he could concentrate on Wanda and his father. Wanda’s hold on her powers was frighteningly uncertain at the moment. He still wasn’t sure what she had done to their father or what it meant. Maybe the Professor would be able to tell him later.

Whatever it was, he suspected things would never be the same again.


Todd was worried. Marissa was terribly pale and her skin seemed hotter than ever. When Storm began asking him questions, he tried to answer, but the truth was he didn’t know much. This definitely wasn’t part of the plan.

Wanda was flaking out, now that everything was over. Pietro was torn between taking care of her and dealing with the rest of them. Shit. He’d missed what Storm said and someone was trying to pick Riss up.

“Hey! Where are you taking her?” It was the Russian dude and that just didn’t seem right.

“To the Institute. Come.” Marissa seemed very small in the big guy’s arms and Todd couldn’t forget that he’d just watched the guy almost kill Magneto.

“What?” He’d missed something in his anxiety over Marissa’s condition.

“Come…They will care for her there.” He had to scramble to follow, only now aware that Magneto and Remy were also being moved. Then the Russian was carefully laying her in the back of Magneto’s limo. Someone had already stretched the Cajun’s long frame on the opposite bench seat.

Peter started the engine, waiting just long enough for Todd to climb in the front seat before taking off. Kurt had teleported Magneto away somewhere and the rest of the X Men were busy checking to make sure Sabertooth was gone.

“How do I know you’re not kidnapping us or something, yo?” Why weren’t any of the X Men riding with them?

“I would not harm Marissa.” The Russian shot him a glare. “And I am eager to see my sister, Illyana. She is waiting there.”

“Then you’re gonna want to turn left here, yo.” Todd pointed at the intersection.

The Russian grunted in annoyance, but turned as directed.

“Were you really gonna kill Magneto?” Todd craned his neck to check on Marissa. Maybe he should have stayed in the back with her. The other man took so long to answer, Todd almost forgot the question.

“I do not know.”

“Probably best you didn’t…Wanda would have really freaked out.” Todd pointed at the next turn. “Turn right, we’re almost there.”

“I know where I am going.” The car made the turn, lurching a little.

“Just trying to be helpful. Don’t turn so fast, yo. Gonna knock one of them off!”

“You are still annoying.”

“Wouldn’t want to disappoint you….There’s the gate.”

“I see it.” The gate opened for them and they drove inside. Peter parked the car in front of the mansion and a swarm of unfamiliar faces seemed to come out of nowhere to remove their passengers from the car. Remy was starting to rouse a little, but Marissa was still unconscious.

“Anyway…Thanks, dude.” Todd called after his shoulder as he hurried to follow Marissa’s limp form into the mansion. He was so intent on her that he didn’t see the little blonde girl dashing past him to throw her arms around Peter’s waist.

He felt helpless and in the way as he watched Marissa being put into a hospital bed and being hooked up to machines. No one bothered to speak to him except to ask if he was the babies’ father. So he just stood in a corner and watched anxiously.

He hardly registered who had been placed into the next bed until someone began cursing in French. A woman he didn’t know was trying to soothe the Cajun, who didn’t seem to quite know where he was. Someone grabbed him by the elbow, a brown haired man in scrubs.

“Do you know that guy?”

“Yeah…Kinda. But, I’m with her.” He pointed at Marissa. The guy glanced over at her, then back at Todd.

“Think you can talk to him?”

“Uh…Maybe…”

“Go od.”

Then the man was dragging him over to the Cajun’s side. This day was just getting more and more screwed up. But, hey, that’s a nice bruise coming up on his jaw. Lance is gonna love that. Wish I brought a camera.

“Hey…Gambit…Remy…Calm down, yo. The fight’s over, dude.”

Where was Rogue? Surprised she wasn’t here already.

More cursing in French...At least it sounded like cursing. Guess the guy doesn’t like hospitals. He was fighting their efforts to examine him.

“We’re at the Institute…Hey! You listening?” Todd waved a hand in front of the man’s eyes. When he got no sign of recognition, he looked up at the scrubs guy. “What am I supposed to do?”

“Just keep talking…”

“Dude! Hey listen…It’s all over…You’re gonna be all right…But, Marissa’s real sick. So I really need you to shut the fuck up so I can find out what’s going on with her.”

Todd looked again at the guy in scrubs…What was he? A nurse maybe? Probably not a doctor.

“You really oughtta get Rogue in here…Don’t think he even likes me, yo.”

“Rogue?” Well that got a reaction. Those weird eyes began to scan the room as if looking for her and the cursing changed its tone. But, he still looked pretty out of it.

“Yeah. Rogue…Your girl. She’s coming. Sit tight, dude.” Todd began to back away from the bed, anxious to check on Marissa. But a hand clamped around his wrist to stop him.

“Merde. Rogue…You…Todd…Where is Marissa?” The man’s eyes weren’t quite tracking. Lance must have popped him pretty good. At least he was starting to make sense.

“She’s right over there…But, she’s not doing too good. We’re at the Institute, yo. You’re safe…so quit cussing at the nurses. They’re just trying to help.”

“Mon Dieu, my head…” The man let go of Todd’s wrist to press his palms against his temples. “Dat witch…She did something…”

“Rogue oughtta be here soon…” Todd made his escape and headed to Marissa’s side. Another nurse was here studying the machines. Where did all these people come from anyway? He’d never seen so many people in the Infirmary before and he’d been here a couple of times.

“How is she?”

“I’m not sure…We’re waiting for the doctor.”

“Oh.”

“You can pull a chair up and wait if you want, it shouldn’t be long.”

So that’s what he did.

When he arrived, Dr. McCoy was accompanied by the Professor. The Professor immediately wheeled his chair to Remy’s bedside where an anxious Rogue already sat, holding the guy’s hand. Todd couldn’t quite hear what was being said, and anyway, he was concentrating on watching the doctor’s examination.

“Well…What’s wrong?” Todd couldn’t hold back any longer. “Why isn’t she waking up?”

The doctor paused and looked over his glasses at Todd.

“Well…I would prefer to wait until I consulted with Marissa’s specialist to be certain. Someone is trying to contact her as we speak.”

“Come on…He’s already awake and talking and nobody actually touched her!” Todd waved a hand at the other bed.

“Hmmm…Well, Marissa is quite ill, and I suspect has been under quite a bit of strain lately. However, I believe the main cause is the unusual exposure to mutant abilities. The Professor is attempting to determine exactly what transpired. Your young friends were unable to give us a complete account.”

“You mean Wanda’s not making any sense right now.”

“In a word, yes. She is with her father in a more secure location. Until we understand exactly what has occurred, we think it best to keep her separated from these two.” The blue mutant gestured to indicate his two patients.

“Wanda’s not going to like that.”

“Then perhaps you should attempt to impress upon her the fragile state this young lady is in when you have the opportunity.”

“Fragile, huh?”

“Yes. Fragile.” Then the doctor returned to his examination and Todd decided it was best to just shut up for now.


Her head hurt…

No that was an understatement. Her head felt like someone had driven red hot nails through her skull over and over again. Ouch…

Her head hurt so much she barely noticed the nausea. That is until she moved her head slightly and the world seemed to shift beneath her. Someone was groaning.

No…She was groaning.

“You finally awake, cher?” A hand patted hers and she clung to the sensation. She started to open her eyes, but the light seemed unbearably bright and sent sharp spears of pain through her already painful skull.

“My head…Jesus…Kill me now…Please…” She whispered through dry lips. She heard a low chuckle nearby. But, there was a faint whisper of concern from the man beside her.

“Poor ting. Dey been workin’ too hard to keep you on dis side of de grave to let you go now.” The hand moved to her forehead and the pain began to recede. She let loose a shaky sigh of relief.

“Oh God…Thank you…”

“Shh…Don’ worry ‘bout dat.” The hand dropped away.

She opened her eyes cautiously. She recognized the Institute’s infirmary almost immediately. The lights that had seemed unbearably bright a moment ago were actually quite dim. It was very quiet and she had the impression that the hour was quite late.

“What happened? Did it work?”

“You don’ remember?”

“Some of it…”

“It worked…De boss…He woke up dis morning. He not Magneto anymore…At leas’ dat what de Professor say. He probably gon’ talk to you later. Don’ tink he approve.” A whisper of dry amusement trickled through the link. It was muted and she suspected Remy was actively shielding from her.

“Never asked for his approval.” Marissa shifted uncomfortably in the bed, slowly becoming aware of being attached to a variety of machines. “Where’s Todd?

“He don’ sleep for almos’ two days…He finally pass out ‘bout two, three hours ago.” He gestured at the other bed. “Remy don’ mind. He sick of laying abed. Dey still keepin’ watch on dis Cajun.”

“Two days? I’ve been out that long?” Marissa looked at some of the machines, trying to make sense of their displays.

“Oui. You done scared us all, cher.”

“The twins?” Marissa touched her belly, anxiously feeling for movement.

“Dey seem fine, at least dat’s what the doctor say. You de sick one.”

“What happened? You still didn’t tell me.”

“Can’t fool you…Dat witch…She don’ want to stop even when you ‘bout to pass out. So Remy get de foolish notion to pull de two of you apart.”

“Why is that foolish?”

“De witch...Wanda…She change you…make it so she can use her power through you. Dat way it work on her father…Remy tell you, dere’s always a way to get around tings.”

“Yeah…I kind of knew that…Kind of.”

“What make dat possible is your power…Dat you ‘adapt.’ Dis ting between us…dis link…is as much you as Remy. You ‘adapt’ to Remy. But, dis link is too close to what de witch does wit’ you. She lose control, her power go right through you to Remy and back again.”

“You…I think I remember that part…pain…you lost control.” Marissa touched her temple in an echo of the memory.

“It hit Remy once…but, it hit you twice, maybe more. It echo back from Remy. We don’ do dis again. Remy don’ do anyting wit’ dat witch again.” His tone was disgusted.

“Don’t knock her Rem. She can be really sweet.”

“She a menace. You lucky we alive. Any of us.” He shifted in his chair and glanced at one of the machines beside her bed. “Remy don’ know how much damage he might do, he lose control like dat again. Almost blow his own damn self up. Merde.”

“What happened to your face?” Marissa gestured at the livid bruise on his jaw.

“Someone got sense enough to put Remy out. Don’ know who…But you other beau seem mighty please wit’ himself.”

“Lance would be…Funny how all the guys wanna clock you.” Marissa chuckled.

“Hmm…Dis don’ feel so funny.” He rubbed at the bruise gingerly. Something was leaking through the link between them…Remy was waiting for something?

“Where is everyone?”

“Dey be back soon…De doctor makin’ some phone calls.” His eyes flicked to one of the monitors. Her hand was resting on her belly and she felt it tense, though she felt nothing.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing to worry ‘bout…”

“Remy…” She craned her neck to look at the monitor. She’d watched enough medical programs to figure it out. “Sonovabitch! I’m in labor? Why can’t I feel it?”

“Hush…You gon’ wake de poor boy up. Remy serious, he don’ sleep at all.”

“Why can’t I feel it?” She wasn’t numb, she could still feel everything. Everything except her clenching belly.

“De pain medicine…it don’ work. You keep adaptin’ cher. Dey try a couple tings, noting work for long. So Remy, he take de pain away. Like your head.” Now she could see the little signs of fatigue. The heaviness of his eyelids, the rumpled state of his clothes, and the tightness around his lips.

“It’s still early…The babies…This isn’t a real hospital…” Marissa looked around anxiously.

“Don’ worry...Dey callin’ your doctor to come. And someone else callin’ your friends. Supposed to ask who you want here for de show.”

“The show? Not funny.”

“Not s’posed to be. It a serious question. Da witch, she not allowed. Professor say dat. Remy don’ argue, you don’ either.”

“For the actual delivery? Just Todd. I’m not that much of an exhibitionist.”

“Good. Remy tell dem as soon as dey back.” He shifted in his chair stretching lazily and yawned.

“When were you planning on waking Todd up?” Marissa glanced over to the other bed. Todd was dead to the world, snoring quietly.

Remy shrugged.

“So um…Did you really spend two whole days together without killing each other?”

“We still alive…Though Remy do wonder sometime what de attraction is…”

“I guess…I like who I am when I’m with him.”

“Dat a good a reason as any.”

“So…You gonna stay and play hero for your girl, Rem?”

“Remy not playin’. Gon’ be an X Man. De Professor ask me himself.” He was smirking now. “Gon’ have company too.”

“They want Peter. Thought so. He belongs here.”

“Oui.”

“What about John? Where’s he going?”

“He stayin’ at your place right now.” Remy shrugged.

“I was afraid that was gonna happen…Hope he doesn’t burn the place down.” Marissa sighed.

Remy just laughed.


Todd woke up to a flurry of activity. The Infirmary seemed full of people in masks and gowns. But that didn’t matter because Marissa was awake. Remy was there pressing a cup of coffee into his hand as he sat up. The man looked tired, but he smiled at Todd.

“Good timing, mon ami. She ‘bout ready.”

“When did she wake up?” Todd sipped cautiously at the hot liquid, trying to clear the fog from his mind.

“Bout three, four hours ago, but she keep goin’ in an’ out.”

“You didn’t wake me up?” Todd scowled at him.

“You sleepin’ hard…She don’ wan’ to wake you.” He shrugged.

Todd handed him the now empty cup and rose from the bed.

“There you are.” He recognized Marissa’s doctor behind the mask as she pulled him to the girl’s bedside. “Just in time.” Her eyes were smiling above the mask.

“Todd!” Marissa reached for his hand and gripped it tightly.

“Hey babe.” He squeezed her hand and leaned over to kiss her cheek. Her skin was moist and he could see damp curls clinging to her forehead.

“Ooohhh!” Marissa exclaimed and Todd watched her belly move under the sheet.

“That’s freaky, yo.”

“That’s a contraction, dufus.” Marissa rested her hands on her belly. “I feel like I need to push. Am I supposed to push?” She sounded uncertain.

“Next contraction…” The doctor smiled. “How’s the pain control? I’ve never used this method before.”

“So far so good…Remy’s got it covered.”

“You jus’ go ahead an’ get dis done. Remy gon’ want a nap real soon.” His voice sounded a little strained. Todd glanced in his direction and saw that the man had stretched out on the bed and covered his eyes with one arm.

Then things were happening fast. Todd was tempted to pinch himself to prove it was really happening to him and he wasn’t watching one of those baby shows with Marissa.

He followed the doctor’s commands anxiously. The doctor’s voice was calm and reassuring. Marissa was struggling with the labor, her energy reserves low from her illness. He tried to encourage her…Even though she was cussing him out between contractions. Apparently, Remy had been teaching her French.

Things were getting exciting now…The first baby was here. A small wriggling little thing, covered in blood and goo. A girl with a head full of dark hair and sallow skin who squalled shrilly.

“Faith…” Marissa panted.

Then there was a wait while they whisked the little thing to the side and checked her out. She was tiny and he could still hear her squalling. He was tempted to go look at her, but Marissa still clung to his hand.

“Baby A looks good…” Someone called over.

Then Marissa was pushing again. This one was harder since she was already exhausted. She practically collapsed between contractions, hardly responding at all to Todd’s encouragement.

“Come on honey. Just one more push and she’s right there.” The doctor was coaxing her now. And some of the instruments on the table nearby looked positively medieval. Todd added his efforts to the doctor’s.

Then she was there. He’d thought they’d look alike, but this one’s head had only a light dusting of hair and she was smaller and thinner, though her skin was just as yellow. But her cries were plenty loud.

“Hope…” Todd told them. “Her name is Hope.” Marissa nodded agreement, then promptly passed out.

“Is she O.K.?” Todd looked anxiously at the doctor as she handed the baby to a nurse.

The doctor glanced at the monitors and looked at Marissa.

“She just needs some rest. Why don’t you go meet your daughters?”

So that’s what he did, at first peering over the shoulders of the nurses as they cleaned them up and wrapped them in blankets. Then somebody was handing him a little bundle with a wrinkled face and he took it gingerly. This was the one with all the hair…Faith.

“She’s doing fine…That color must come from you.” The nurse smiled at him and adjusted his hold on the baby. “She’s just a little small, but that’s normal for twins.”

He’d never even been this close to a baby…She was fascinating. A little hand wormed it’s way out of the blanket and when he touched it with his finger the tiny fingers wrapped around his. Her eyes blinked sleepily in the light and he could see that they were yellow like his. Somehow it was cute on her.

And then the nurse wanted her back to put in the “warmer” – made him think of something used for hot dog buns. Before he could protest someone else was handing him the other little bundle.

Hope…She was even tinier and just as fascinating. Maybe it was just a trick of the light, but he thought her eyes were a little closer to the gold rings in Marissa’s eyes than his yellow ones. She was crying a little and he rocked a bit trying to soothe her. The nurse wanted her back much too soon to lay her in the warmer next to her twin.

Then it was back to Marissa’s bed to listen to the doctors…There was a new one now, who was taking charge of the twins. He had to listen carefully to her heavily accented words – she sounded a lot like Pietro’s girlfriend. She was supposed to be some sort of expert on mutants…Not actually a pediatrician.

Marissa was sleeping soundly and he could hear snores in the background, Remy must have finally passed out too. Have to thank him later, I guess.

The babies would be staying here with Riss…Neither the Professor, nor Pietro felt comfortable sending them to a hospital. All this new equipment and these people had been brought in just for them. Must have cost an unholy fortune. He didn’t know whether to be thankful or creeped out. It was a little too much like Magneto’s “gifts.” Those had always had strings attached.

He couldn’t wait for Marissa to wake up so that he could introduce her to the girls. His girls...

I’m a dad, yo!

Cool.


Epilogue: For those who just must have closure…

~
Believe it or not, much of what I’ve done here was intended to reflect the vision that the Professor had of the future while he was being controlled by Apocalypse. Since I did not actually see the episode (Season 4 is still not available on DVD) I am relying on the Wikipedia article, “X Men: Evolution.” Specifically the section titled “Final Moments.”
~

Marissa recovered quickly and she and the twins were sent home to the Brotherhood within a week. Angie and Fred returned home just in time to help turn Marissa’s bedroom into a nursery.

Angie was sporting a flashy new ring which she guiltily admitted had been bought with Legacy money, along with the trip to Vegas. Marissa just laughed and congratulated the couple, calling it “a sound investment in the future.”

Twins turned out to be a lot of work…But, Todd and Marissa had plenty of help. Angie loved babies. And strangely enough, Lance seemed to have a knack for soothing them to sleep when they woke in the middle of the night.

Wanda spent far too much money on matching outfits while Pietro complained about the way the diaper pail stank the whole house up. But, every few days someone would catch their leader in the nursery, watching the twins sleep. He was in a somewhat cheerier mood these days. It turned out that the twin’s specialist was actually Rahne’s guardian, flown in from Scotland at her ward’s request. And once he met the woman in person, Pietro discovered that she was not immune to the “Maximoff charm.”

John, having no place to go became a fixture around the Boarding House. Pietro agreed to allow him to stay on the condition that he “get help.” So John was attending regular sessions with the Professor at the Institute. Which seemed to be working, since his “fire people” appeared less and less often. Rumors had him dating half of the Intitute’s student body, male and female, at one time or another. But, he was most often seen with Jubilee.

Eric…As he could no longer be properly called Magneto now…Remained at the Institute as a teacher and eventually as a trainer for the junior team. This may have been part of his efforts at building a relationship with his estranged children.

Eric’s “redemption” had not gone completely smoothly. He had required the Professor’s intervention to stabilize his new persona. Xavier determined a return to his original state was not only dangerous, it would have been impossible. The Professor had not been pleased with what he called an “unethical” use of mutant abilities. Of course he’d have probably been less pleased with what Wanda said he could do with his “ethics” if he had been present to hear it.

Peter and his sister had settled into the Institute as if they’d always been there. Discovery of Magneto’s tracking chips had also allowed the Institute to recover half a dozen more young mutants from hiding. All of the chips had been deactivated rather than removed, in the interest of safety.

Remy’s integration into the X Men was not quite so seamless. His sometimes rebellious nature did not sit well with Scott’s the by-the-book mentality. And his relationship with Rogue was anything but steady. Sometimes they seemed to be picking fights with one another just so that they could “make up.” Once Marissa was well enough to take up her apprenticeship again, that relationship became a constant source of friction between the two X Men. And sometimes it caused friction between Marissa and Todd as well.

Legacy Enterprises continued to flourish and soon Marissa was considering opening a sister service for Legacy Match. This one would be more main stream, but would include a subtle screening questionnaire that would attempt to ferret out mutants and “mutant-friendly” subscribers for the purpose of matching them up. Marissa also kept up her “hobby” of matchmaking amongst her friends and acquaintances. And her “wish list” continued to grow.

It was almost certain that the Professor knew about Legacy Enterprises and Marissa’s involvement. But, if he was, he was strangely silent on the subject.

As far as Todd was concerned…Life was about as close to perfect as it could get.


The End…