Gambit and Rogue found Wolverine's bike parked at the end of a long street lined with bars and other 'adult entertainment' establishments.

"You take that side, Chere. I'll look over here." Gambit said as they parked his bike next to Wolverine's. Rogue looked at him suspiciously, her hands on her hips. "We find him faster that way, no?"

"All right, Remy. But Ah'll take this side." She walked down the street and entered the first bar. Gambit grinned. There were only three or four places that Wolverine was likely to be, and only one of them was on Rogue's side of the street. Even if he was in there, and it was the least likely of the choices, she had to check each bar, while Gambit knew where to look and could beat her there. He wanted to have private words with Wolverine.


True to form, Wolverine was in the last bar Gambit went to, the one on Rogue's side of the street. He was sitting alone at the back of the bar, a half full bottle on the table in front of him. Gambit walked quickly toward him.

"Have a seat, Cajun," the smaller X-Man said without looking up.

"I don't t'ink so," Gambit answered coldly. Wolverine looked up at him through narrowed eyes.

"You got a problem?"

"You d' problem, mon amie." Gambit stepped back as Wolverine put down his glass and slowly got to his feet.

"You lookin' fer a fight, bub? I'd be mor'n happy ta give ya one." The other bar patrons became aware of the tension building at the back of the room. Some of them headed for the door, while others began to place wagers.

"You man enough to fight me, Wolverine? Hah! You not man enough to stick aroun' when dat girl need you most."

"Star don't need nobody, she showed us that, didn't she?" Gambit punched Wolverine, knocking him backwards into the table, the bottle smashing to the floor. Wolverine came up hard and fast, hitting the bigger man in the stomach with his shoulder. Both men went down. Several more patrons hastily left the bar as the circle of destruction around the combatants spread. Wolverine threw Gambit into the bar and was on him again at once. Gambit, reacting with the lightning speed born partly of his mutant abilities and partly from training and experience, dodged the worst of the attack, using Wolverine's own momentum to hurl him into a table. More patrons abandoned the bar. The bartender reached for the baseball bat he kept under the bar and started around to put a stop to the fight. He stepped up behind them and raised the bat, intending to take Wolverine out first, as he was currently on top. He started to swing but the bat stopped abruptly.

"Ah wouldn't do that if Ah was you, sugah. Ya'll'd just make him mad." Rogue gave the started bartender his bat. "Ah'll take care o' this." She reached out and grabbed Wolverine, tossing him effortlessly across the room. When Gambit leaped up, she slapped him, knocking him back down. She turned just in time to deflect Wolverine. He returned more slowly this time.

"Outta my way, girl."

"Ah don't think so, sugah." She stayed resolutely between them. "We ain't got time fer you boys ta play. After this is over, if you still want to kill each other, fine! Get yer butts down ta the Danger Room and have at it fer all Ah care. But right now, that little gal needs us. She needs you, Wolverine."

"Star?" Wolverine asked. "What's happened? Is she all right?"

"She carry you child, Wolverine," Gambit interrupted. "Beast say it killin' her."

"What?"

"The baby's growin' too fast," Rogue told him. "She's been askin' fer ya." Wolverine was gone from the bar almost before Rogue finished speaking. She looked after him for a moment, then turned to Gambit.

"So, sugah. Did you tell him anythin' first? Or did ya just jump on him with both feet?" Gambit didn't answer. "That's what Ah thought. You stay here an' take care o' this mess, Ah'm gonna make sure he gets back in one piece." She left him standing in the ruin of the bar.


The equipment Forge had constructed arrived and Beast was making final preparations to perform a cesarean section on Star. The strength of her contractions was such that they were visible from across the room, but her hips were much too narrow to deliver a child the size of the one his instruments reported within her belly. Jean tried to calm her, while Storm prepared to assist Beast with the surgery.

As he approached with the device Star abruptly sat up.

"Logan?" she asked, her body shuddering with another contraction.

"Not yet, but I am certain he will return soon," Storm said as she and Jean tried to ease her to her back.

"No. He hates me. I betrayed him again," Star sobbed.

"Star, he does not hate you. Please, child, let us take care of you."

"No!" she shouted, shrugging Jean and Storm off as if they were children. "Let me die with my son, for he cannot live, and I will be alone again!"

The two women regained their feet and moved quickly to help Beast. Star fought like a wild animal, biting and clawing, as well as using more sophisticated moves. Beast snapped Forge's device across her forehead just as her probing fingers found the nerve ganglion in his shoulder. He cried out and jerked away from her, his arm a dead weight at his side. Jean telekenetically turned the device on and Star slumped to the bed, unconscious.

"Goddess!" Storm gasped.

"Who the devil showed her pressure points?" Beast demanded.

"That would be you, Henry," Jean answered him with the ghost of a smile.

"Yes. Of course," he sighed. "We'd best begin."

Star floated in the darkness. She didn't know where she was, but it was terribly hot. She turned seeking the source of the heat and finally found it. It was a seething mass of wildly replicating cells.

It was growing so fast that is had begun to feed on itself. She watched, helpless, as it burned itself out. She gathered it to her, making wordless sounds of comfort to the dying creature she knew to be her son. When he died, she felt a part of herself go with him. The heat faded away, but she couldn't find her way back. She couldn't seem to call up the will to continue looking, either. There was nothing to go back for.


"Henry, the baby..." Jean began.

"Is gone. I know." He completed the final incision, gently reached within Star's motionless body and carefully lifted out the creature which had struggled so desperately to live. They had been unable to help, and Beast feared for the life of its mother.

"Dear God," Jean murmured as she took the lifeless body from Beast, wrapping it tenderly in the blankets they had prepared for a living child. Storm and Beast completed the procedure without speaking. They left Forge's device in place after they had finished in order to spare Star as much pain as possible. They knew there would be much pain in the future.


Rogue landed gently on the front lawn of the mansion and walked up the steps and in through the door. She went straight to the med lab.

"Hi, sugah. How's the little gal?" she greeted Beast.

"Rogue, did you find him?"

"Yeah. He'll be here any second." Rogue was taken aback by Beast's abruptness. "Ah didn't think a bike could move that fast." She looked around for Star and was relieved to see her still in the hospital type bed they kept in the med lab. "What's wrong?" Beast started to answer, but was interrupted by Wolverine's entrance. He went immediately to Star's side. Beast and Rogue joined him.

"Wolverine, I must speak with you for a moment." Beast said as Wolverine touched Star's cheek as if to reassure himself that she really was there. He gestured at an odd looking device which was placed across Star's forehead.

"What's that contraption?" he asked.

"A neural inhibitor. Now will you please listen." Wolverine turned reluctantly from Star and faced Beast.

"You got my attention, Hank. What's going on?"

"Were you aware that Star was pregnant?"

"You think I'd o' taken off if I'd known that?"

"Her own accelerated growth rate was a genetically engineered trait which she passed on to the...the embryo. Complete gestation took under four days." Beast looked away for a moment before continuing. "She went into labor several hours ago, but the...it was much too large for a natural delivery. Forge sent over the neural inhibitor earlier today at my request. It worked well, even though Star fought us." He paused to clear his throat as Wolverine watched him expectantly. "I performed a cesarean section, and succeeded in delivering the...the..."

"You got somethin' against the word 'baby'?"

"No, Logan. Except that it wasn't, exactly, a baby."

"What do ya mean, it wasn't a baby?"

"The genetically accelerated growth rate caused the embryo to...well, it wasn't human. Not even remotely. It didn't survive."

"What about Star?"

"She'll be all right if the extended period of high fever didn't cause brain damage. I haven't been able to evaluate her." He paused. "Wolverine, her temperature spiked to one hundred twelve degrees." Wolverine looked down at Star.

"This thing keepin' her out?"

"Yes."

"Can ya wake her up without lettin' her hurt?"

"I believe that should be possible. However, it would be wise to check the restraints first. She was somewhat combative when we initiated the inhibitor." He carefully checked the straps which kept the unconscious girl immobilized. Only when he was satisfied that Star would be unable to injure herself did he move to the controls for the inhibitor. He slowly adjusted them until Star began to stir.

"Star?" Wolverine said softly. "Darlin'? Can ya hear me?"

"Hmm?" He cupped her chin with one hand, his fingers caressing her cheek. She turned toward him and slowly opened her eyes. She looked up at him, but there was no recognition in her eyes. Beast adjusted the controls further, but she still showed no sign of complete awareness. When she began to moan with pain, he turned the dials back until she was completely unconscious.

"Perhaps later, we will have better results." Wolverine nodded, but continued to watch Star with worried eyes. Beast was worried also. She should have shown much greater cognizance of her surroundings. He chose not to say anything to Wolverine, at least until he had been able to run some comprehensive tests.


The days passed and the X-Men buried the pathetic little body of the thing that should have been a child. Star's body healed, but it quickly became evident that she had sustained lasting damage from the extended period of high body temperature she had endured. Wolverine stayed with her almost constantly, even after it became obvious that she did not recognize him. She could not speak, and responded only to the simplest of commands. Wolverine was heartbroken, but he refused to give up on her. He worked with her tirelessly, but she showed no signs of improvement. Finally, Professor Xavier called Wolverine into his study.

"Logan, we need to discuss Star's future." Wolverine just looked at him, his gaze openly hostile. The Professor sighed. "We are not capable of giving Star the care she needs."

"I ain't gonna just dump the kid, Chuck."

"I am not suggesting that we 'dump' her, Logan. However, there are several facilities which are more...suitable...for Star's condition." Wolverine didn't answer. The Professor watched him for a moment, then tore a sheet of paper from a notepad on his desk. He held it out to Wolverine, who reluctantly accepted it. "These are the facilities I have investigated. Cost, of course, is not an issue. The X-Men take care of their own and Star was, however briefly, an X-Man. Logan, this is difficult for all of us, but please keep in mind what is best for Star."


A few days later, his decision made after Star was badly cut playing with a knife that had been on a rack in the kitchen, Wolverine packed a small bag for Star. Professor Xavier had telephoned the Maple Woods Care Facility, and they were expecting her. Wolverine helped her into the jeep, and made certain that her seat belt was fastened. Jubilee brought a small teddy bear to Star.

"This is just so you won't feel all alone," she said, smiling at Star. Star just looked at her, her face expressionless. Jubilee sighed and placed the bear in Star's lap. Star absently stroked the soft fur of the toy with her bandaged hand, her gaze wandering away from Jubilee.

"Will she be okay there, Wolvie?"

"I hope so, darlin'."

"Is she going to get better?"

"I don't know." Jubilee's heart ached at the pain she saw in Wolverine's eyes. He always kept his hurts locked inside. "We gotta get goin', Jube. I'll be back tomorrow."

"Okay. Be careful." Jubilee watched as Wolverine and Star drove away.


Wolverine stopped the jeep and looked up at the large building. There were several patients sitting on the porch, watchful attendants nearby. The patients were clean and seemed to be content. Xavier had done extensive background checks on the facility as well as the employees and other patients. It was strictly a private facility, receiving no public monies, and had a rigid policy of refusing dangerous patients. There were several highly qualified therapists on staff as well. Star would be well taken care of here. He put the jeep in park and got out. He walked around and unfastened Star's seat belt, gently urging her to get out of the jeep. She continued to hold the bear Jubilee had given her, but she showed no curiosity for her surroundings. A red haired woman in her mid thirties appeared in the door of the building.

"Mr. Logan?" Wolverine turned toward her, Star's bag in hand.

"I'm Doctor Flanigan. And you must be Star." She took Star's hand and smiled down at her. "I think you are going to enjoy your stay here, Star," she said, ignoring Star's vacant gaze. "If you will come this way, Mr. Logan, we can show Star to her room and get her settled. Then, if you would like, we can discuss possible courses of treatment."

"All right." The doctor turned and, still holding Star's hand, led them into the building. The interior reminded Wolverine strikingly of the mansion where he and the other X-Men lived.

"It don't look much like a hospital."

"No, it doesn't. It is our intention to allow our guests to feel at ease here. Something that is difficult to achieve in a hospital surrounding," she gestured, "We have private rooms for each guest, as well as common rooms for socializing. Star's room is on the ground floor, with a large exterior window."

"Here we are, dear," she said to Star as she opened a door half way down a long hall. "This is your room Star." Star crossed to the window and stood, looking out. "The window glass is unbreakable, Mr. Logan." She joined Star at the window. "Would you like to go out, dear?" she asked. Star put one hand on the glass and pushed. "No, Star. Use the door." She turned Star toward the door. "Jenny," she called.

"Yes, Dr. Flanigan?" a female voice answered from a speaker mounted on the wall near the door. Star turned toward the sound.

"Star would like to go outside for a while."

"All right, Doctor. Mary Jean is free at the moment. I'll send her down."

"Thank you." A few moments later a tall blonde woman appeared in the door.

"Hello, Mary. I'd like you to meet our new arrival, Star. Star," once more the doctor gently turned Star, who had drifted back to the window, until she faced Mary, "this is Mary. Go with Mary, Star." Mary took Star's hand and smiled at her.

"Hi, Star. C'mon, we'll go feed the squirrels." Star followed her out the door and down the hall, without so much as a backwards glance at Wolverine. He put her bag down on the dresser as the doctor watched him.

"Mr. Logan, we will do everything we can for Star."

"I didn't want ta bring her here."

"I know. Placing a loved one in the hands of strangers is difficult in the best of times, but I assure you, you have made the correct decision. We can devote the time to Star that she needs. And you are welcome to visit any time. In fact, the more often you come, the better it will be for Star. She may not be responsive to you at this time, but I assure you, somewhere deep down inside, she knows you."

"I'll have ta take yer word on that, Doc." She looked at him for a moment.

"I can't promise you any miracles, but I will promise you that Star will recover as much as she is able." She lead him to her office, another non-standard room, with several comfortable easy chairs, and a small desk, with a computer on it, in the corner.


Several hours later, reassured that he had, indeed, made the correct choice in bringing Star here, Wolverine told her good-bye. She smiled up at him, the first time he'd seen her smile since her illness. He gathered her gently in his arms, kissed her on the forehead, and released her. He climbed into the jeep and drove away, leaving her with Mary and Dr. Flanigan.

"Mary, help her put her things away, and then get her ready for dinner, please. We'll begin her therapy tomorrow."


As the sun went down, Wolverine pulled the jeep to the side of the road and got out. He had taken the back road so there was very little traffic. He sat on the hood of the jeep and lit his cigar. He watched as the sun sank from sight, remembering.


He'd been startled the first time Star had exhibited a sense of humor. He didn't remember exactly what it was she'd said, but she'd delivered the punch line with such a straight face that he hadn't been sure it was meant as a joke. Until he'd seen her eyes. They'd sparkled with suppressed merriment. He'd nearly choked and she had finally grinned at him. That was the first time he'd ever heard her laugh, really laugh. Now she barely recognized her own name. Ruthlessly, he suppressed that thought, turning to pleasanter memories.


He stayed there until dawn, remembering. He just couldn't accept that Star might be lost to him forever. He put his cigar, long cold, back in his pocket. He got back in the jeep and started the long, lonely drive home.

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