Disclaimer: I own nothing in Marvel, Evo only my OCs and Jack was Slickboy's and August belongs to Uncanny R-Man. Kali and Kelsey also gave their permission. There also will be cursing, and some adult situations in this fic.

CHAPTER 1: PREPERATIONS

The big day was finally coming up for Emma Frost as she looked in the mirror of Betsy's room. They were using her room for the final fitting of her wedding dress given she wanted to surprise her husband to be. It was long elegant white dress that clung to her body around the waist, and had the skin showing from her collar bone down to her cleavage which of course was nicely pushed up. She figured she might as well look sexy on her big day.

Jean, Betsy and Kitty were also there helping her out and since they were the bridesmaids. Kitty was fixing up the veil in her lap, "God I can't believe the wedding is coming so soon."

"Trust me I know darling," Emma said looking herself over for the hundredth time, making sure everything was perfect. "But I never wanted something so badly in my life to happen."

Jean had to smile and she looked down at her own engagement ring and thought of the day she would marry Scott. They all had been through so much, so much pain and loss that they all wanted something to enjoy. "I have to admit that is quite a dress."

"It should it cost enough to have it tailored made for me," Emma muttered to herself as she adjusted the sleeves.

Jean rolled her eyes and hoped to just get by with her own savings in order to get a decent wedding dress. Unlike Emma or Betsy she didn't have any huge bank accounts to use with. "So where is your husband to be? I haven't seen him in awhile."

"Oh he went to the airport," Emma told her as she was satisfied with how the dress looked before she carefully put it away. "He went to pick up his guests."

"Oh right, those people from his home town," Betsy nodded as she started to help her out of the dress, "Three of them right?"

Emma nodded her head and was thankful there was room for the extra people, "Mary Jones and Benny Parker his two closest friends as well as Mr. Ryu Kansuke."

"That was his martial arts teacher right?" Kitty asked her putting the veil away for safety. She had heard a few things about him and he sounded nice enough, although she kept on getting images of Mr. Miyagi from the Karate Kid movies when she thought about him.

"Well things are nearly done," Betsy said mentally going over the list in her head. Everyone had new suits and dresses, everything Emma ordered for the wedding had arrived and now they needed the few guest and spend the next day setting up for the wedding. Ororo was making sure the weather would be just perfect as well.

"Yes I confirmed the priest, the food that will arrive in two days." Emma nodded gently slipping out of the dress. She was only in her underwear now and went to her normal clothing placed aside. She slipped on the white skirt and looked down at her stomach and rubbed her hands there for a moment. The baby seemed to be doing fine at the moment although she was still only in her second month.

There was a bit of baby fat although she still did a few light exercises. She wanted to keep in a little shape although she did have to get a few new bras. Her breasts were already started to swell a bit and it was hell on her a bit. She was thankful that when Shaw put her through that little 'upgrade' as he called it with the plastic surgery she didn't have the usual implants.

Thanks to the Hellfire club she had a new (at least to the public) usage of the Tissue engineered implant. Mainly it used stem cell research to grow a mostly organic implant. There was no risk of leakage or ruptures but the best was no danger of cancer like the silicon. She really wanted to be able to breast feed her baby since the reading suggested that and she wasn't sure how if she had silicon implants it was safe.

Even though she couldn't sense a mind yet, when she focused she could feel a presence inside of her. And at night with her man behind her with his hand resting on her stomach all she felt was love. A deep love that she had never felt before, and a night when no one would see her she felt the tears on her face only she wasn't crying in sadness but in joy.

She quickly shut out those emotions and locked them up, she didn't want the other to see her cry. She only let Vince see her cry but it was getting damn harder to control her emotions lately. 'Damn pregnancy hormones,' Emma thought to herself.

The others saw her lost in thought looking at her belly and they all knew what she was thinking about. It was still reeling from that and there were a few plans on how to help them when they were gone on the honeymoon. So far only Scott, Jean, Xavier, and Betsy knew because they didn't broadcast their thoughts and didn't want Emma to overhear their plans.

Meanwhile on the roof of the mansion Raven Darkholme the mutant known as Mystique sat watching the lake. She could see the memorial to Jack there in the yard and it still hurt seeing that there. She knew that she shouldn't have gotten so close to him but they had and she now paid for it with an aching heart. It wasn't broken since they hadn't been that involved, but he had touched her deeply despite everything.

She sighed to herself, she hadn't mourned anyone in so very long but she did know. At least now she felt she could go out of her room more then just to eat. She was getting over it but it would still take time, even though they had been lovers for a short time Raven missed his presence and not just in bed.

But there was at least that wedding, she hadn't been to one in years either and even then that had been in an assassination mission from her mercenary days. Although she did like the couple getting married, they didn't judge her especially Emma. It was nice to have a clean slate with some people here.

She lost herself in her thoughts and didn't notice a figure floating down to her. Rogue had been out flying a bit, one of her new loves in life since she loved the sense of freedom it offered when she saw her mother on the roof. It was good to see her out more these days and decided to land near her, "Mama?"

She looked over her shoulder and smiled seeing her daughter there, "Enjoying the sky again I take it."

Rogue gave a small smile and nodded as she sat down with her, "Yeah, it's just really nice. Ah see why guys like Warren and Vince like ta do it."

Mystique smiled and looked to the sky, "I know how you feel…Why do you think I turn into a raven a lot? It's not just because I share the name, I like to fly at times myself."

The two sat there trying to think of something to say to each other, they were both still trying new at this parent/child relationship thing. She guessed she might as well start off with her future, "I heard that you're not applying to any colleges or universities, mind telling me why?" In fact she had once asked Xavier about that and he had told her that Rogue hadn't. She didn't know why her daughter didn't from being the Principle at Bayville she knew that Rogue had what it took.

Rogue sighed and brought her knees up to her chest hugging them close to her and resting her chin on the knees. "Ah…Ah'm just takin' a year off…Ah need it."

Raven mentally kicked herself, she should have known that Rogue wasn't completely healed from her experience. In fact they most likely would never fully heal, how could you from such brutality that Selene and the Hellfire Club had shown her? They had raped her body and mind in that place, she suffered physically, mentally and emotionally.

"Ah just can't do it…not now…Ah'm still uneasy in large unfamiliar groups…" Especially with strange men, one time at the mall she had been in the elevator going to the second level when there were a group of boys from the high school went in. She had been surrounded by them and she had to fight off the panic that had been in her. She kept on having flash backs to that cold cell floor, to the hands groping her body, the painful invasion into her body by those men, the humiliation, the despair and the fear.

She kept on hearing Selene's laughter as she had watched the men take her over and over again. How they all laughed as she cried, screamed in pain, begged them to stop. They had broken her that day, she always thought she was touch but she had broken down on that day. It had taken her months to get to where she was now.

But she was only comfortable with those she knew, with strangers she kept on thinking about if they would hurt her. A few she didn't mind but like in that elevator, in an enclosed area with so many strangers it had nearly overwhelmed her. It seemed like an eternity when the doors opened and she quickly left to find and open area with less people to calm down.

"Ah need ta heal more…Ah'm…Not ready for that, not yet at the moment." Rogue told her mother.

Raven put and arm around her daughter and the two just leaned into each other. "It's okay I understand. You don't have to if you're not ready to go just yet." Rogue smiled and was thankful she understood. She was also thankful for the support of all her friends, her brother and of course Remy. She smiled a little at how she had snuck into his room a few nights.

Mainly when she couldn't stand to be alone in the dark and needed someone there to comfort her. A few times she actually went to her mother since she too needed someone, Kurt also if he wasn't with Wanda but Remy was another one she liked to turn to. She didn't want anyone outside of those three to know, she felt silly sleeping in the bed of her mother or brother when she couldn't stand to be alone. With Remy it was more understandable but also she didn't want people to know because she didn't want them to think she was weak.

But given what happened she needed comfort, all those years of loneliness, then of her not being able to touch. Then when she could touch…It had taken her so long to just be able to allow someone to touch her without feeling ill. Like this moment with her mother there for her, ever since Slayer's death they had been a bit closer. They each felt the same pain of his death and they had strangely built on that in their relationship.

"So I guess this means you'll be hanging around here more and with that Cajun."

"Mama," Rogue rolled her eyes.

"Honestly what you see in that man I don't know," Mystique shook her head, but then to her no man was enough for her daughter. At least she approved of Kurt's choice, Wanda reminded Raven of a lot of herself.

"Ya know Remy is not that bad."

"No I guess not…I just wish he'd stop talking about himself in the third person all the time at least." That made Rogue smile, it was a bit annoying but she didn't mind as much as he had. Plus he did have his charming moments too.

-New York Airport-

The tall dark haired mutant Vincent Freeman was waiting for the flight from Toronto to arrive. There was no direct flight to Bayville but since it was close enough to New York he didn't mind the drive. Besides he really wanted to see them. He was waiting by the gate for an hour since the flight was delayed.

'Why are these things never on time?' He thought as he sat in a seat. He had visited the small café for a coffee. He missed the Tim Horton's kind but it had worse then what they served. He tried to relax although it was a bit odd. Some people kept looking at that damn scar on his face, the small cut Selene had given him when she tried to break him down. He was glad that the bitch was dead now for all the things that woman had done.

Although he was thankful that most people didn't care too much, some teens he heard say it looks cool but others seemed a bit nervous. He sighed for a bit as he waited, another odd reaction were from some of the women. While drinking his coffee a flight attendant had sat down next to him and tried hitting on him.

He was a bit flattered but he was perfectly happy with Emma. Plus as soon as she saw the scar he saw her mood change a bit. He pretty much ended it there by telling her thanks but he was engaged. She blushed and said sorry and left quickly enough. Although what really worried him were the very few women that seemed to like him more when they saw the scar, like it supposedly made him more dangerous.

Well…he was technically dangerous.

He pushed the thoughts aside and thought of a few happier topics. Emma, their marriage and to their unborn child. He still couldn't totally believe he was going to be a father. He was only twenty but then there were people younger then him and his soon to be wife having kids. Vince kept on wondering if he was going to be a good father. He wished to God Father Michaels was here, if ever he needed that man's guidance it was now more then ever.

Then a sadness crossed his face remembering that horrible day when they came for him. They killed him right in front of his face. He pushed that day aside he didn't want to think about it, it was too hard and hurt too much. Thankfully he heard that the plane was finally unloading and he went to meet them.

He waited for a bit to see a few passengers off but he smiled when he saw the trio there. With her good looks and long golden hair was Mary, with his shaggy brown and a couple of years younger was Benny and finally a Japanese man with white hair and a cane walked off. Mary smiled and ran over to her long time friend and hugged him. "Oh it's so good to see you again! It's been forever it seems." She said to him.

"Yeah man, I was starting to miss my 'big brother'," Benny grinned. It was kind of a running joke how Vince looked about all the younger kids as a big brother to them all. It was his nickname in that circle of friends. "Man…I still can't get over you're getting married already."

Vince laughed and nodded, "Trust me I know. But I really love her, never thought I would feel this about anyone."

Mary gave him a half-hearted smile. She and Vince had kind of dated for a bit and truthfully she still carried a bit of torch for him. But she had let go of that a long time ago, when he came back after being taken she had seen the change in him. Seeing him look on the first home he had with such pain, she knew that he would never be coming back. But seeing the happiness once more in his eyes made her glad for him.

Vince nodded respectfully to his old sensei, "It is good to see you again."

"As it is you," He smiled back, it did his old heart proud to see his finest student happy in life. "Now let us move on, I wish to meet the young lady again that captured your heart."

They all went to the baggage claim to get their stuff, Vince offered to take the case for his master but the he said that he may be old but he wasn't feeble. "Sorry I meant no disrespect." Vince said to him.

"Then you can carry ours," Mary said as she and Benny eagerly threw him their bags. He was thankful for his strength at that moment they both seemed to have packed for a month then a week by the feel of it. "Now how are we getting there?"

"I drove here," Vince said carrying two of Mary's and one of Benny's suit cases in his arms. He led them through the parking lot as he looked for the car. He hoped no one car jacked the damn thing, Emma loved that car and would be extremely pissed. "Ah there it is."

"Which one?" Benny asked looking at them all.

"The white one."

It was Mary that spoke first, "But that's a Porsche!" She yelled out seeing the high quality car there. It had two doors but a back seat for them to fit in.

Vince just shrugged smirking, "Yeah she's got expensive tastes, she keeps telling me that she'll buy me my own and just name it but I'm still saving up for myself."

Benny was trying to think at that. From what he was told Emma was pretty rich, hell she now owned the orphanage and under Mary's guidance it was growing. Mary seemed to have found a calling in life and with Emma's backing it the place was built up and had everything you could need. "Vince…how rich is this lady?"

"I don't really know or care. But she's great with money I'll give her that," He told him as the loaded up the car. After everyone was settled in, Mr. Kansuke in the front with him and the other two in the back. While the drive back to Bayville was long it but they took that time to catch up.

Vince asked about how things were going back home, Mary filled him in on the kids and how well they were doing. Who got adopted and who the new kids were. Mr. Kansuke was thinking of taking on more students as a teacher. At least to help him earn a nice little retirement fund for himself for when he actually retired, Benny was seeing this girl and he talked non-stop about her.

Vince smiled as he heard all of this, it was so good to see and hear them in the flesh again. He could only keep in touch with e-mail, and the phone. He just wished one more person was here, he had always hoped that Father Michaels would be the one to marry him one day. But he just hoped that he was watching over him on this day in spirit. He didn't have faith in a higher power until he met him and he just hoped that he was watching over him even now.

By the time they got to the mansion everyone was surprised by it. "Wow…this place is amazing," Benny said seeing it. "I can't believe you live here…Is that…an angel?" Benny asked seeing something up in the sky as they got out. All those sermons of Father Michaels came back to him in that moment, Mary gasped as well as she too was thinking the same thing.

Vince tried not to laugh, "That's just Warren, he's just got wings and looks like one trust me he's not a real one."

"Oh god for a minute there I thought it was the rapture or something," Mary laughed to herself.

"Looks like a very interesting place," Kansuke said looking over the place.

"Oh you don't know the half of it…" Vince stopped as he felt that familiar warm presence in his mind and sent out something to her. He looked back at them. "She'll be coming down to meet us in a second."

"How did you…" Benny asked him as they entered through the glass doors into the foyer.

He smirked at his long time friend, "She's a telepath remember? We got kind of a bond, we can feel each other's presence, emotions and thoughts."

"And for once a woman can understand what goes on in a man's head," Said Emma as she walked down the stairs smiling to them. "Well…Most of the time at least."

Benny's jaw dropped at the gorgeous blond, she looked like something from the centerfold of Playboy. Then he caught her looking at him and blushed remember she could read thoughts. He quickly thought about something else, although he did feel that Vince sure got lucky in meeting her. They all watched as Emma gave her man a hug and a deep kiss.

'Missed you.' Vince thought at her.

'You've only been gone a few hours,' She thought back with a laugh. 'But I missed you too.'

They broke the kiss as she linked her arms with his, "Now how about we show you to your rooms?"

"Sounds great to me, oh and I guess I can thank you for the first class tickets," Mary said to her, that sure made taking that long flight worth it. She guessed that would be the only time she got to fly that way.

"Anything for my future husband's closest friends," Emma waved it off as they were led to the upper levels to the spare rooms.

NEXT UP CHAPTER 2: BEFORE THE BIG DAY