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It’s a gorgeous day in the Young Justice mansion as Zatanna and her friends happily practice and train in the yard outside. Meanwhile inside, Meghan and Connor are on the screen with Batman and Zatanna’s father.

“We’ve come across a small incident,” says Giovanni. “Dr. Fate has decided to visit our sister universe, Marvel, and take over none other than Iron Man. Go get the others and let them know.” Meghan flies out and brings the others inside and Giovanni regoes over what he had previously said. A small box then pops out from under the monitor with a small device in it. “This device is a between universe portal remote. Use it only to get there and get back. Nothing else. Understand?”

“Yes, father,” responds Zatanna. “We won’t let you down.” She and the others then click the remote and enter the portal and about a millisecond later, appear in the Marvel universe on the Island of Genosha outside of none other than a school called Genosha-Quentin University. There, they are greeted with smiles by the twins.

“Hello, I’m Wanda,” says Scarlet Witch.

“And I’m Pietro,” says Quicksilver with a massive grin.

“We’re Zatanna, Meghan, Connor, Dick, Wally and Artemis,” responds Zatanna. “We’re here because of Dr. Fate’s taking over of Iron Man, Iron Fate.”

“Oh, yeah,” responds Scarlet Witch. She then leads them inside and to a room where Jean, Scott, and Anne Marie are awaiting their arrival. Scarlet Witch then leaves them to their business as she goes off to find her father. The group then hears a crash and a shout outside.

“That would be Iron Fate and War Machine going at it, again,” says Scott with a sigh. “We need to get this handled and fast before Iron Fate destroys the island, the school, and the city on the mainland.” He and the others then rush outside. There, they are greeted by Beast.

“Guys, help me stop them and get them away from the island and the school!” he hollers. The others then grab their costumes and rush into help Beast round up Iron Fate and War machine and get them away from the island. After several hours, they manage to get the two metal men away from the island. Once back on Genosha and back inside the school, Jean helps get their new DC pals enrolled. They then get back to their meeting.

During the meeting, Dick’s gaze lands on Rogue. “Someday, someday I’ll ask her to marry me,” he inaudible whispers to himself. Rogue then looks up at him and meets his gaze.

“What in ‘ell are you lookin’ at, boy?!” she exclaims. “Stop that wanderin’ eye and focus on the issue at hand.”

“Sorry, sorry,” says Dick snapping back to reality.

“As I was saying,” says Zatanna to the group, “Dr. Fate is a force that likes to take to a host and it decided to move from my father, Giovanni, to your world’s Iron Man, Tony Stark. I’m here to try to convince the force to come back to our universe by taking over me and then my father. That’s the easiest way to go about this, I feel.”

“Wait? You plan on sacrificing yourself?” say her teammates in shock.

“Yes, there’s no other way. Fate requires a host,” responds Zatanna.

She then releases herself, her teammates, and their new friends out into the school as they all have to blend in or get to classes. Jean and Scott on the other hand, stay in the room and lock the door behind them. Jean has a huge secret to spill to Scott and she doesn’t want others to find out as it could put their combined mission and goal at stake.

“Scott,” says Jean with a sigh, “I may have to sit this mission out. Do it from the sidelines.”

“Why? What are you saying, my love?” asks Scott as his eyebrow raises.

“Because,” sighs Jean, “because I’m pregnant. If I use my telepathy or telekinesis too much, it could harm the baby inside me.”

“Oh,” responds Scott in shock. “We’ll explain everything to Emma and have her cover for you. Are you okay with that?”

“Honestly,” responds Jean. “Please tell Charles instead. I don’t trust Emma. Never have.”

“Ok,” responds Scott. “I’ll tell Charles. I promise.” He then gives her a kiss on the cheek. He then goes off to tell Charles of their current situation. As he is leaving the room, Scott bumps into Kitty and Nightcrawler.

“What’s going on, brother?” asks Nightcrawler.

“Follow me, we have a mission. I’ll tell y’all everything.” He then takes the two into another room and explains everything to them.

“So,” says Kurt, “a force from another universe called Fate has taken over Iron Man. That’s creepy.”

“That’s just weird,” says Kitty. “Just the same, we’re glad to help.”

“Good,” responds Scott. “Now, I really have to go meet with the Professor. It’s concerning Jean and it’s of the utmost importance.” The two nod and let him leave to find the Professor.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Jean has returned to her bedroom where she has fallen asleep. She is just glad that Scott has her back in everything, especially right now.

A few minutes later, Scott arrives in the Professor’s office. “Hello Scott,” says the Professor. “You’ve come here to tell me Jean is pregnant and can’t do the mission, haven’t you?”

“Yes,” responds Scott. “How did you? Why did you? Why did you read my mind? Charles, you know I hate that.”

“Sorry,” says Charles turning around to face Scott. “And yes, I’ll take her place in the mission. Don’t worry.”

“Thanks for that,” sighs Scott. “Now, for the mind reading thing, don’t do it next time unless I ask.”

“Sure thing, Scott,” responds Charles. Scott then leaves the room and heads off to his classes. Despite the mind crawl by Charles, he’s just glad Charles is willing to help with the mission.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Nightcrawler is out on a tea date with his mother, Mystique. It’s been the first one since the two reunited and got on proper and better terms. Kurt’s just glad to have his mother back in his life.

Back at the school, Dick continues to have his eye wander towards Rogue and even begins to flirt with her. “You know I can help you control whose powers you drain with a small piece of tech, right?”

“Really?” says Rogue turning around and finally looking at him straight on.

“Yeah,” responds Dick. “I have it right here, see.” He pulls it out of his pocket and shows it to her.

“Will you give it to me?” says Rogue.

“Yeah, if you’ll be my girl,” responds Dick smugly.

“Of course I’ll be yours,” responds Rogue. “Just treat me like a proper southern belle, ok?”

“Fine, my southern belle,” responds Dick as he slips the ring onto her finger. The two then walk down the hall hand in hand to their next class.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Scott heads to Jean’s room to check up on her. “Hey Jean,” says Scott with a smile. “You feeling better, dearest?”

“Much, I really needed that good nap,” responds Jean as she rubs her eyes and stretches with a yawn. He then comes over and she hugs him and kisses him on the lips.

“Good,” responds Scott. “By the way, I’m excited to be a dad.”

“Well, I’m glad to hear that,” responds Jean with a gentle smile. “Nonetheless, I can’t help but be a little nervous. I don’t know if I’ll be able to handle a baby with a combination of mine and your mutant DNA.”

“You’ll do fine. Besides, I’ll be here to help you through all of it, promise.” He kisses her on the lips once again. She’s glad to have him always around for her. She’d be lost without him.

Chapter Text

Later that evening at dinner, everyone sits down together. Scott and Jean sit next to each other and Dick sits next to Rogue. Everyone else sits interspersed throughout. “So, how was classes and practice today?” says Xavier with a smile.

“Very well,” responds Kurt, “thanks.” Everyone else nods in agreement. Dick and his team as well as they’ve recently been training alongside the X-Men to get prepared to take on Iron Fate.

A few moments later, Jean stands up and pushes away from the table. “May I be excused, professor?” asks Jean.

“Sure Jean,” responds Professor. He then sends a message to her telepathically. ‘I already know why.’ Jean then leaves the table followed close behind by Scott.

The two then enter the counselor quarters and talk. “How far along are you, dearest?” asks Scott concerned. “That’s been the fifth or sixth time recently that you’ve excused yourself from a meal. I’m getting concerned.”

“I’m only a little past the fourth month,” responds Jean. “The baby, his powers are developing, and it’s hurting me. It really is.” She begins to break down into tears. Scott pulls her close to him and begins to comfort her, running his hands through her long red hair.

“Oh love,” says Scott. “Let’s get you laid down, okay?”

Jean nods and lets Scott take her over to the sleeping quarters and help her into bed. He can’t bear to see her like this, yet he knows, at the same time, how excited she is about this baby and wouldn’t want to do anything that could possibly cause her to lose the baby altogether.

Meanwhile, back in the dining hall, all the rest of the students have been excused and Dick takes the mission team into the mission room to give them a run down.

“So, Iron Fate is at it again,” says Dick. “Zatanna, you wanna explain to them what happened. You can better than I can.” Zatanna nods and continues from Dick’s prompting.

“So, Iron Fate is at it again,” says Zatanna, “and this time it is bad. He’s been trying to open a portal to free the entire Fate force along with the nebulous Phoenix force.” At the mention of the Phoenix force, Scott’s jaw dropped. “Jean, the baby!” he screams as he runs out to her room to check on her.

“Wait, what?” says everyone else from the Young Justice League team stunned.

“Jean is the Phoenix force’s favorite host,” explains the Professor. “And with her carrying a child, the force trying to enter her would kill the baby immediately. I know Scott hates her, but we may need to sacrifice Emma to protect both Jean and the child inside her.”

“Agreed,” responds everyone else in the room. “Go get her, Professor.” The Professor then wheels out and a few minutes later comes back with Emma, who has happily agreed to take on the Phoenix force because as much as she hates Jean, she would never let the force kill an unborn baby. Besides, with her diamond form, Emma knows she has a bit more of a chance of standing up to the Phoenix force at the time being.

Chapter Text

A few minutes later, the X-Men, Emma, and the Young Justice League head out to deal with Iron Fate. As they approach him, Iron Fate turns to face them. “You’re too late,” says Iron Fate. “The Phoenix force will answer to me from now on.”

“Not on my watch,” says Emma as she turns into her diamond form and takes a diamond spike and begins to slash at his armor.

“Not a dent,” chuckles Iron Fate. “My armor can heal itself through magic, you see.”

Seeing Emma down, Zatanna flies up to meet Iron Fate with her magic. “Iron Fate!” yells Zatanna. “I’m the one you want. Take me as your host. Let Tony and the Iron Man armor go.”

“No,” responds Fate. “I’m not trusting myself to an unruly child ever again.”

“I’m no unruly child! I’m as much magician as my father!” responds Zatanna angrily.

“Prove it then,” responds Iron Fate. He then begins to fly after her, the two then begin to magic duel in the sky.

As they see her struggle against Iron Fate, Superboy puts on a shield and takes to the sky to help her as does Miss Martian. All the while on the ground, Shadowcat and Nightcrawler round up the bystanders to get them out of the way. Meanwhile, back at the mansion, Scott does his best to keep Jean safe from the Phoenix force with help from Professor X and Scarlet Witch. As for Quicksilver, he runs off to go help with the fight and to get people out of the way of all the chaos.

“About time,” says Rogue when Quicksilver comes running in to help. “I may currently have Emma’s powers, but I can’t keep the Phoenix force back forever.” Quicksilver nods as he speeds off and zips around getting people into buildings and out of the way of the ensuing battle above them.

Back at the mansion, Scarlet Witch has made a protective magic barrier around Jean with the help of the Professor. “That should protect her for now,” responds Scarlet. “With your telepathic blocker inside the barrier, the Phoenix force should be able to be kept out entirely, at least for now.”

“Good,” says Scott. “Thanks guys.”

“No problem,” responds Scarlet Witch. “No one is going to get hurt at the school under mine and my brother’s watch. No one.” She then leaves the room followed by the Professor. Now, it is just Scott alone with Jean just to be safe. He has no plans of leaving her. Not now. Not ever.

Chapter Text

"Jean," Scott whispers, "we're alone, love."

"Good," responds Jean. "As long as I and the baby are safe from the Phoenix force, we're golden."

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city, Zatanna battles against Iron Fate. “Let the billionaire go, Fate! Take me instead! I can handle your power! He’s only human! He can’t!”

“I can’t let go, little girl,” responds Fate.

"Yes, you can, Fate!" responds Zatanna infuriated.

"No, I can't, I've programmed myself into his suit, into this Jarvis," responds Fate.

"What?! How?!" demands Zatanna.

"Magic, my dear child," responds Fate. "Always magic."

"Lleps esrever," responds Zatanna.

"There's no reversing this spell, child, not by you, anyway."

"Then by who?" Zatanna inquires.

Back at the mansion at Genosha-Quentin U, Dick gets a call over the com in his ear by Zatanna. “Turns out, Fate used a spell to wire himself into something called Jarvis in Iron Man’s suit and I can’t break the spell. I don’t know what to do.”

“We’ll figure it out, just keep him away from the University,” responds Dick back over the coms.

"I sure hope so," responds Zatanna before hanging up. Zatanna then gets back to doing her best to keep IronFate away from the island and the school.

Chapter Text

A few moments later, everyone hears a knock on the door and they open it to find Kurt and Mystique standing there. “Hey Kurt,” says Scott, “What are you doing here? Isn’t this the time you two normally use for your family talks?”

“Well, we were,” responds Kurt, “until Iron Fate and War Machine crashed into our nice lunch. How do we put this guy away for good? Get rid of him?”

A few moments later, Zatanna returns and goes inside and explains all that just happened to Dick. Kurt and Mystique also go inside and get in on the discussion on how to deal with Iron Fate once and for all. “Well,” says Zatanna, “those two are back at it again. I had Iron Fate at bay until War Machine spotted him while on patrol and started beating the crap out of him, angering him once again. Now I have to start all over again.” She lets out an angry huff. “I was using a snare spell to hold him back away from the island and when he interfered, War Machine broke the spell hold on Iron Fate.”

“Well, can you recast it on Iron Fate?” inquires Dick.

“Not if he’s mobile. He has to be immobile for it to work and hold,” responds Zatanna.

“Well, I think we can all agree that this needs to be fixed now,” respond Wanda and Pietro. “The matter is just finding Iron Fate now and separating him from War Machine.”

Chapter Text

Meanwhile, elsewhere, the room where Scott and Jean are is soon approached by Scott's brother Alex. "Scott, brother, can we talk?" Alex hollers.

"Yeah, sure," Scott hollers back. Alex then enters the room where he is greeted by his brother and taken to a separate room.

“Hey bro, are you alright?” Alex asked concerned. “You seemed worried over the phone when you called.”

“Yeah, I am worried,” responds Scott. “I’m not okay. Jean’s not okay. Her powers are too dangerous for the child within her and so is the phoenix force Emma is doing her best to keep away.” His voice fills with panic. “I...I don’t want to lose Jean and I don’t want to lose the baby.”

“But what do you need me here for?” responds Alex confused.

“You’re my brother, you’re here for support,” responds Scott somewhat annoyed with his brother’s tone.

“And?” responds Alex.

Scott lets out a sigh. “And to help keep Iron Fate away from the school. You’re the only person who can keep me in check and I’m the only person who can keep you in check.”

“Fair enough,” responds Alex. The two then go suit up and head outside to help with the fight.

Once outside, the brothers are briefed on what is going on by Nightwing who stayed behind to wait on them. They then rush off island by boat to a small town where they see Zatanna and Iron Fate along with several other X-Men and Young Justice League members going at it.

“What did we miss?” inquires Scott.

“Yeah, for sure, dude?” adds Alex.

“Look up,” responds Dick. The brothers then stare up at the sky.

“Oh,” the brothers say in unison. “Yeah, that’s a problem.”

“Uh, big time,” responds Nightwing annoyed. The three then head off the boat at the dock and towards the fight to pitch in.

Back at the school, on Scott’s request, Xavier goes and checks up on Jean and puts a much stronger secondary protection spell around her and the room she’s in. He then continues to sit there with her and talks to her. “Jean, don’t worry, you are going to be safe. So is your baby. You’re going to be fine.”

“Thanks,” she whispers back telepathically.

“You’re welcome,” he returns telepathically.

“Please don’t go,” she responds telepathically.

“Of course,” Xavier returns telepathically. “I can stay as long as you like.”

“Good,” she sighs telepathically. She then eases back to sleep. Xavier just smiles as he lets Jean rest. As he continues to sit, he begins to read a book he had in the blanket on his lap. It’s a children’s book from when he and Juggernaut were kids called The Little Lion.

“The Little Lion was best friends with the Little Fieldmouse. Although they didn’t seem like it, they were. The Little Lion would never lay a tooth on the Little Fieldmouse. One day, a Little Crow tried to attack the Little Fieldmouse. The Little Lion saw and scared the Little Crow off with a great big ROAR. The Little Crow flew off in fright into the darkness of the night. The Little Lion and Little Fieldmouse then laid down to sleep. Goodnight, goodnight, Little Lion and Little Fieldmouse, the unlikeliest of friends-a lion and a mouse.”

“That’s sweet,” Jean sighs telepathically as she sleeps. “Thanks Professor.”

“You’re welcome,” he responds back telepathically as he closes the book. He then slowly wheels out of the room and down the hallway to his office. He then continues to keep an eye on Jean from there.

A few hours later, Iron Fate flies off and goes offline somewhere, so everyone returns to the school. Scott then goes down the hall toward the room Jean is in. As he approaches, he hears screaming coming from the room. He then dashes in through the door in panic. As he throws it open, he stares in horror as she writhes on the table. “Charles! Charles! It’s Jean! She’s not okay!” Charles comes running followed by Emma and Alex.

“We heard you shouting. What’s wrong?” asks Charles.

“Jean,” responds Scott.

“Move over,” responds Charles. “It’s time to let me and Emma work.” Scott nods and leaves the room in tears followed by Alex. He soon finds his brother slumped on the floor outside the door and sits down beside him.

“The telepathic shield put around her was supposed to keep out the phoenix force along with everything else,” cries Scott. “But it didn’t work! It didn’t work! I don’t understand! How couldn’t it work!”

“I wish I knew, but I don’t,” responds Alex. “I know that makes me sound like a bad brother, but it’s true.”

“No, it doesn’t make you sound like a bad brother,” responds Scott as he puts his hand on his brother’s shoulder.

Meanwhile in Jean’s room, Charles is at her head, his hands placed amongst her red wavy hair while Emma tries to bring back the telepathic shields around her as Charles tries to calm her back down. “She overexerted her powers, endangering herself and the baby,” Charles says to Emma.

“I think it is more than that. There’s another force inside her,” responds Emma. “I can feel something else in her trying to fight the telepathic shields around her. I think we need some of Wanda’s magic here too.” Emma then shoots a telepathic message into Wanda’s brain causing her to come flying into Jean’s room.

“What do you need from me?” asks Wanda.

“Your magic, to help create a shield strong enough to protect Jean,” responds Charles.

“I’ll do what I can,” responds Wanda. She then gets to work, she combines her magic with the telepathic shields Emma and Charles have put around her. They work on Jean for several hours on end, finally getting her to stop convulsing and expelling whatever was in Jean. They then stand watch over her, taking turns, throughout the night. Scott and Alex do their best to relax and not fret, especially Scott. Alas, that night, Scott cannot sleep and Alex stays up all night comforting his brother. Scott, however, is not consolable.

Chapter Text

Later that night, about midnight, Scott goes and knocks on Emma’s door. “Emma...Miss Frost, can I come in? I want to talk...about Jean.”

“Sure,” responds Emma. “Give me a sec.” She throws on a nightgown and robe before letting Scott in. He then sits down with her and they begin to chat.

“Do you think she’ll remain stable? I can’t...I can’t lose her...her and the baby.”

“We’re doing what we can, Scott,” responds Emma. “I’ve taken as much of the Phoenix force I can and Rogue is taking as much as she can by taking some of my powers so she can absorb it too. Jean will be fine.”

“How can you be so level headed?!” says Scott madly. “She almost died earlier. So did the baby.”

“But it’s under control now, Scott,” responds Emma calm and level headedly.
“But how do you know it will stay under control? She’s already a near handful of months in!” He yells furiously at Emma. In his anger, he bumps his glasses out of place a bit letting a laser lose not having the ruby quartz shades to block it. Seeing what he just did, he moves the glasses back up on his nose with his finger.

“Calm down, Scott, I don’t want you destroying my entire room with your laser vision.”

“Oh, okay, sorry,” responds Scott. “It’s just, Jean’s my world, my everything. I lost her once already and I don’t want to lose her again.”

“I know, but I’m pretty sure at the same time you don’t want me asking for the help of the Stepford Cuckoos or the Hellfire Club.”

“You’re right, I don’t,” responds Scott. “And one other thing, I know you wore the sexy nightgown for me, but we’re over, Emma, we’ve been over for awhile.” Scott then storms out of the room and enters the room where Jean is.

“Professor?” says Scott.

“Hmm?” responds the Professor. “Oh, hello Scott. Let me guess, you’ve come to check on Jean. Let me also guess, you just had a little spat with Emma.”

“As per usual, you’re right on both accounts,” responds Scott. “How is she?”

“She’s stable, don’t worry,” responds Charles. “She’s four months along you know.”

“I know,” responds Scott. “She’s my girlfriend!” He shouts a little bit on edge. “She was going to be my fiance before all this happened.” He pulls out the ring. “I was going to ask her at graduation, but at this rate, how her health is right now because of the baby, I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

“It still might,” responds Charles. “We can graduate you two late, so you can still keep your plans for everything in tact or graduate you two early with the same result.”

“Would we still be able to stay on campus so you guys could treat her?” responds Scott concerned.

“Of course,” responds Charles. “Now go get some sleep, Scott.”

“Believe me, I’ve tried,” Scott responds. He then heads back towards his room where he is soon met by his brother.

“I figured you had gone to go check on Jean,” responds Alex, “so I didn’t follow.”
“Thanks for that,” responds Scott as he embraces his brother in a hug. The two then go, sit and talk for the remainder of the night. By midmorning, the two, now exhausted, fall asleep on the floor.

As Wanda and Piedro do morning patrol to wake everyone up for breakfast, they stroll by the Summers’ boys room and see the two asleep on the floor, door slightly ajar. “Scott! Alex!” hollers Wanda. “It’s time to wake up!” Pietro runs around and taps them on the shoulder until they wake up.

“What? What time is it?” ask the two groggily.

“It’s 7:00, breakfast time,” responds Wanda annoyed. The four then leave the room and head off to breakfast. At breakfast, everyone involved talks over the Iron Fate problem.

“Well,” says Scarlet Witch, “Iron Fate has gone back online recently. He’s been on the grid for about a day or two at this point. The location: Las Vegas, Nevada, the Stark Vacation Penthouse.”

“Not surprised,” responds Pietro, “the most obvious place is never expected. I checked there on my patrol runs and nothing. That sly magic man.”

“Indeed,” responds Zatanna, “Fate has always been crafty, knowing how to lay low if he needed to. Thanks for the help, you two.”

“Anytime,” responds Wanda and Pietro, “we just want Iron Fate to go away, permanently.”

“Now it’s just trying to talk him into possessing me that is the hard part,” responds Zatanna. “I just need time to figure out how to get him to agree to that.”

“Well, witch to witch,” responds Wanda, “I think I can help you figure something out to fool Fate.”

“That would be amazing, thanks,” responds Zatanna.

“Anytime,” responds Wanda. They then finish up with breakfast and head out to Las Vegas, Nevada to find Iron Fate-them being Zatanna, Wanda, Pietro, Kurt, Kitty, Scott, Alex, Emma, Dick, Rogue, Meghan, Connor, Wally, and Artemis.

“We’ll run ground patrol,” say Wally and Pietro.

“Great,” responds Zatanna, “then the rest of us will take it in stride from there. Dick, do you have a plan?”

“Always,” responds Dick with a smile. “After all, kinda a necessary skill when you’re no longer the Batman’s sidekick.” He chuckles. “I’ve got this all under control.”

Chapter Text

“Great, now, I’m gonna go draw out Iron Fate,” says Zatanna as she starts to fly off with her magic.

“Zatanna, I know you’re eager, but wait,” Dick shouts at her, “let them run ground patrol first.”

A few moments later, Wally and Pietro return. “He, he’s not here anymore. Where do you think he could be heading?”

“Likely,” responds Dick, “towards the school.”

“He’s after Jean,” adds Scott. “She is one of the most powerful if not the most powerful. If he takes her over, he’s going to kill her and the baby.”

“Zatanna,” hollers Dick. “Head back towards the school!”

“On it!” responds Zatanna as she flies back towards the school, soon spotting IronFate in her peripheral. “Stop Fate!” she hollers.

“No child,” responds Fate. “And you can’t stop me, you’re just a child.” She begins to hurl spells at him to keep him away from the school.

Dick and the others head back to the school gaining a lift from Pietro and Wally while Scarlet Witch flies overhead. As they come in on the school, Scarlet Witch goes down to help Zatanna fend off Iron Fate.

“Foolish girls,” says Fate. “You really think you can fend me off.” He chuckles. “And little Zatanna, you’re not becoming my host anytime soon.”

“Yes I am,” responds Zatanna with a hiss. “You’re not harming Jean Gray.”

“Foolish child,” responds Fate, “that’s why you think I’m heading towards the school. You couldn’t be more wrong. I’m not a monster. I’d never harm an unborn child.”

“Then why are you heading towards the school?” responds Zatanna.

“Child, I’m not heartless,” responds Fate, “know that. I can help remove the Phoenix force from Jean permanently. Also, I can’t let Magneto and Xavier interfere. They’re too powerful.”

A few minutes later, Scarlet Witch and Zatanna slowly escort a cuffed Iron Fate into Jean’s room where he sucks the Phoenix force out of Jean permanently. “Done,” responds Fate, “now I can finish my business here.” He levitates Jean into Scott’s arms after breaking free from the cuffs using his magic. He then heads toward the main castle of Genosha where Xavier and Magneto are playing chess. He soon busts in on them in the midst of their game. Magneto in shock brings his helmet over and places it atop his head. He then hurls metal towards the wizard which he blocks instantly with his magic.

“What? How?” responds Magneto in shock.

Not long after this, Zatanna and Scarlet Witch bust into the room and dart in front of Magneto and Xavier, protecting them with their magic. “Dleihs,” whispers Zatanna causing a magic barrier to form around Magneto and Xavier which is still thin enough for them to use their powers through. Now protected, Magneto thrusts more metal at Iron Fate ranging from shrapnel to pointed metal bars off the castle windows and doors. Once or twice this time around, he actually scratches Iron Fate’s armor. Iron Fate in shock hurls a spell towards Magneto which doesn’t hit him through the barrier. Iron Fate looks at Magneto and Xavier in shock. He then looks towards Zatanna and Scarlet Witch. “You two are protecting them why?”

Scarlet Witch looks at Iron Fate in disbelief. “You will not hurt my father!” she shouts infuriated. “You will not hurt him nor my brother!” She propels him back with a spell of her own.

Meanwhile elsewhere at the school, everyone else does their best to protect Jean and Scott and keep them away from the battle in the main castle on the university grounds. “I can protect us with my laser beam,” spats Scott. “Y’all go help fight off Iron Fate.”

“Kurt, Mystique, Emma,” says Dick, “Meghan, Connor can you guys go help Zatanna and Scarlet Witch?” They nod and head towards the main castle and begin to help fight off Iron Fate while Wally and Pietro are on constant patrols of the halls and the university and castle grounds.

Meanwhile in Jean’s room, Kitty fazes her and Scott through the floor into the bunker under the school where they’ll be safe. She then returns back upstairs to gather food, blankets, and other supplies including raising and rearing babies and children books. She then stays with them there for several hours, helping Scott try to keep Jean calm. As of a few days ago, the two hit the five month mark on the pregnancy. “Honey, we need to find a doctor, one that doesn’t mind helping mutant-kind.”

“Why not Beast?” asks Scott.

“Are you sure?” responds Jean. “Not saying I don’t trust him in terms of doing it, but Hank is better at biology and chemistry.”

“But he’s probably our best bet hon,” responds Scott. “I know how much you hate hospitals after your incident.”

“Okay, fine, you’re probably right as usual,” sighs Jean before falling asleep in Scott’s lap. He then tosses a blanket over her and leans up against the wall to become a pillow for her. She means everything to him and he’d do anything to keep her safe.

A few hours later, Jean awakes still in Scott’s lap and whispers into his ear. “Can we get an ultrasound machine? I want to know the gender of our baby.”

“Sure,” responds Scott as he pulls back her hair from her face with his fingers. He then signals to Kitty who goes and finds Beast and tells him to find an ultrasound machine which he soon does and she soon brings him and the machine into the bunker where they soon hook Jean up to it and learn the gender of the baby.

“Jean, Scott,” says Beast as he looks at the ultrasound, “looks like the baby is a little girl.”

“Joy,” sighs Jean, “now I guess it’s time to come up with a name.”

“Yeah,” responds Scott with a smile.

“I have the perfect one,” sighs Jean, “Rachel Elaine.”

“That’s a lovely name,” responds Scott as he kisses her on the forehead.

“The Elaine part is after my mother,” responds Jean.

She lets out a yawn and falls back asleep on Scott’s lap while Kitty takes Beast and the machine back to the surface and to his doctor’s lab in the university. She then goes to grab some dinner for herself.

Chapter Text

Meanwhile in the bunker, Jean awakens five hours later. “Scott?” She groans. “Why is my head splitting? What’s going on up there?”

“I wish I knew, but I don’t,” responds Scott. “Do you want me to call for Kitty, Alex, Beast, the others to hear about what’s going on?”

“Yes, your brother, Kitty, only them,” mutters Jean.

Scott radios and calls for Alex and Kitty. Kitty then phases both of them into the bunker. “What’s going on up there?” Scott inquires on Jean’s behalf.

“It’s not good, Xavier has been injured. Magneto is still going at Iron Fate. So is Scarlet Witch and Zatanna.”

Across the rest of the day, Jean’s splitting headaches continue as Xavier is in the hospital wing of the mansion upstairs in almost a comatic state. After all these years, she and Xavier are still connected and to her displeasure, so is Emma Frost.

“I’m still connected to Xavier. It’s a telepathic web, entangled at all corners,” sighs Jean. “I just hate that it comes with these splitting headaches.”

“Yes, I know, dearest,” responds Scott holding her, “but look on the bright side, in four more months we’ll be parents to the most beautiful little girl.”

Chapter Text

In the medical wing of the mansion, Beast and Magneto do their best to tend to Charles. “He just got so overwhelmed. So tired. Those mental attacks he does on others with his telepathy always seem to backfire onto him as well,” sighs Magneto.

“Well,” responds Beast, “he’s not completely comatose which is good.”

“That Iron Fate is too much for any of us to handle to be fair,” responds Wanda as she walks in. “I just came in to check on Xavier, daddy. Is he okay?”

“He’s still out cold, unconscious but not comatose which is good,” responds Magneto.

All of a sudden, things take a massive turn for the worst and Charles ends up falling into a deep coma. “Well, the worst has happened,” says Beast. “Someone needs to go check on Jean. Fast.” Kitty nods and takes Alex with her once again to check on Jean and Scott.

Once back in the bunker, the two see a panicked Scott. “Why isn’t she waking up? What’s going on up there? What caused this?”

“The Professor is comatose,” respond the two. “We don’t know when he’ll wake back up.”

“So that means,” says Scott with his voice trembling, “what does that mean for Jean? And what does that mean for the baby?”

“We don’t know,” responds Alex.

“Do you want us to get Beast?” Asks Kitty.

“Yes, please do, but can you leave Alex down here with us?”

Kitty nods and phases back upstairs and brings down Beast with all the equipment he needs to help Jean. “I knew her connection with Xavier was strong,” says Beast, “but I didn’t know she’d get knocked out this hard by his coma.” He then begins to read the machines. All the while Alex is trying to keep his brother calm. “Everything seems normal, heart rate, pulse, all of it. It just seems to be her brain that is linked to his due to their shared mutant ability. No doubt Emma is probably out cold as well.”

Indeed, elsewhere in the mansion, Emma is passed out on the floor in one of the spare rooms still in her diamond form. She too has been affected by the Professor’s coma.

“What do I do?” Shouts Scott still panicking. “The baby is due in four months. Surely she’ll be awake by then?”

“I don’t know, Scott,” responds Beast as calmly as he can. “All I know right now is that I don’t know when our telepaths will wake up or even if a comatose birth is possible.”

Chapter Text

Over the following days, Beast continues to tend to both the Professor and Jean and even brings articles to Scott on how it is indeed possible for a baby to be born in a comatose mother. “Why do you just have to worry me more?!” Scott yells angrily at Beast causing a laser to shoot out from his glasses onto the wall behind him. “Why can’t you just tell me that she’s going to be alright and that she’s going to be awake soon?!”

“Because that would be lying and that goes against my ethics, morals, and my oath as a doctor, Scott,” responds Beast.

Scott then breaks down into tears. “Just get me my brother. I need to speak to my brother, Alex. Where is Alex?”

“We’ll go get him.” Kitty then phases them both back up and soon phases back down with both Beast and Alex in tow.

“What’s wrong, brother?” Asks Alex concerned. “Why are you yelling?”

“Because Beast keeps saying Jean’s probably going to have one of those comatose births, neither of us want that, we’re not prepared for that!”

“I don’t think it’s a matter of prepared, brother. I think it’s a matter of you may not have a choice.”

“But she has to wake up soon, I can’t raise this child on my own.”

“Then hope and pray things will turn around soon,” responds Alex. “That’s really all you can do.”

Upstairs, Xavier is still in a coma as a battle rages on outside. Gambit, Rogue, Dick, Storm, Zatanna and Scarlet Witch are going at Iron Fate hard. “You put three of ours in a coma! Jean and Emma were telepathically connected to Xavier.” Cries Wanda. “You’ve hurt everyone around them especially her fiancé Scott and his brother, the baby’s uncle.”

“Wait! What?!” Says Fate in shock. “I never meant for that to happen. I only meant to put Xavier in a coma. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone else.”

“But you did,” responds Zatanna. “Now how do we fix this mistake?”

“I don’t know if we can. We’d need to enter their minds to wake them up. That’s especially nigh impossible for Emma if she’s stuck in her diamond form though.”

“Well, we’re trying this anyways,” responds Zatanna sternly. She then takes Fate and teleports them both with a spell into the mind of Xavier. There, the two stand in awe of what goes on in the man’s brain before continuing on to his door. There, they find him happily sitting, having the use of his legs.

“It’s time to wake up, Charles,” says Zatanna. “This coma is not only hurting you but Jean and Emma as well.”

“I hate to leave the use of my legs behind,” sighs Xavier, “but I guess I must.” He then submits his mind over and the door opens and they walk out into Jean’s mind. In her mind, they see her happily enjoying the married life with Scott and several kids. However in the darker recesses of her mind they see her transformation into the Dark Phoenix and her separation from the school when the attack on Charles and the Xavier Institute happened.

“Man, poor girl’s been through a lot,” sighs Zatanna. They soon find Jean happily laughing beside Scott.

“It’s time to go, Jean,” says Xavier trying to reach her. “This isn’t real. This isn’t really Scott. Or your baby.”

This causes Jean to snap. Break. Then they hear a bang as the door opens and they are taken into a realm of pure light. Through this, they descend into Emma’s mind. There they encounter and destroy the Phoenix force. They also shatter her outer diamond shell and her door opens and the three return to the plain of the living.

Once back, Zatanna and Iron Fate go back at it with her trying to work around his spell on the armor to get it removed from him and separated from Iron Man. Alas, it continues to backfire in her face. Zatanna can’t help but feel that this mission continues to become more and more hopeless.

Chapter Text

“I just don’t know what to do,” says Zatanna to the others in the meeting room that afternoon. “Fate is too powerful. Too smart. Daddy would know exactly what to do if he were here. But no, he had to leave it to me.”

“Zatanna,” butts in Wanda, “I have an idea. It’s a dangerous fatal spell that I rarely use. It might could separate Fate from Iron Man but at the cost of the spell caster’s and host’s life. Me and Tony Stark would die.”

“No, lives can’t be lost, that spell fatale is not an option. We need to find another way.”

“I’ll keep looking through my spell books and I suggest you look through yours as well, Zatanna.” Wanda and Zatanna then walk out of the room and enter their studies where they begin to look through the spell books.

“Ugh! Still nothing!” Shouts Zatanna angrily as she hurls the books into the wall using her magic. All of a sudden, Wanda comes flying in.

“Mad, I’m guessing, I haven’t found anything else either. I’m telling you, the spell fatale is the only way.”

“It can’t be, I was told before I and the others were sent on this mission that no lives are to be lost and I’m going to hold to that. You have no idea what daddy does to me with his magic when I go against his wishes.” Zatanna begins to panic. “He strips me of mine and puts me in a cosmic time out. It’s not fun. It’s so lonely.” She bursts into tears and Wanda comes over to comfort her.

“Fine, I understand,” sighs Wanda, “we’ll find another way. I have a list of powerful magic users we can go to, but some are aligned evil while others are aligned good.”

“And their forces combined with ours can separate Doctor Fate and Iron Man?”

“Yes, I’m fairly sure it can,” responds Wanda. “Now let’s go. Our first stop is Sister Grimm, but she does come with one caveat, she can’t use the same spell twice unless she rewords it each time around or says it in a different language.”

“Good to know,” responds Zatanna. “Now let’s go.” The two nod and teleport to Nico’s temporary hut. The two then knock and go inside.

“What do you two want?” Asks Nico. “Wanda, you know my powers are more limited than your own. You know about the caveat.”

“I do,” responds Wanda. “But we need your help. There’s a crazy magic user on the loose. Goes by the name Iron Fate.”

“I know,” responds Nico, “and I’ll gladly help, who else do we need to get?”

“It’s complicated,” sighs Wanda, “the next one up is my son’s reincarnation Wiccan. I magically created him and his sister Speed when I was still in a relationship with Vision. Vision eventually moved on and created a robotic family for himself. Let’s just go.” The three then teleport into the chaos realm where they find the boy.

“Hello, mother, been awhile,” says Wiccan. “Sis and I have been waiting for you for years. She’s waiting in the speed realm. I’ll go get her then we can leave.” Wanda nods and Wiccan soon returns with Speed in tow. They then teleport to the next location to get the next member of their team-Magik.

They soon find her in Limbo practicing her sorcery. “What do you need, Wanda?” Asks Illyana Rasputina. “Grandpa Rasputin has been dead for years. What do you want with me?”

“Your help to defeat a dangerous sorcerer Iron Fate.”

“Well, I could use some excitement, I’m in. Where to next?”

“The home of Jericho Drumm Doctor Voodoo.” They all then teleport there and get Jericho before heading off to the next stop on their mission-Doom Mansion.

At Doom Mansion, the group is soon spotted by Doom’s cameras. “What do you want?” Says the cranky metal warlock.

“Your help,” responds Wanda. “Another great Wizard Iron Fate has gone after my father and his buddy Xavier and almost killed them. Besides, don’t you owe my daddy a few favors anyways?”

“Yes,” grumbles Doom. “I’m coming.” He then exits the castle and joins the group. “Where to next?” He grumbles.

“Asgard and Hel,” responds Wanda. They then jump to Asgard where they confront Loki and Enchantress.

“What do you want?” Groans Loki. “We’re on our wedding anniversary date right now.”

“Well, Loki, we need you and your magic,” responds Wanda. “A great wizard Iron Fate is destroying our home.”

“Fine, I’ll come, but I’m bringing Enchantress with me.”

“Fine,” responds Wanda. “Now off to Hel to get your sister.”

“Great, you’ve got to be kidding me,” groans Loki as they teleport into Hel and Hela’s throne room.

“What do you want, Loki? Who are all these other wizards and witches with you?” Demands the queen of Hel.

“We need help defeating a great sorcerer, sister,” responds Loki. “Are you in?”

“Fine, but only if I get to battle with you and Thor when this is over?”

“Fine,” responds Loki. He then gulps and whispers to himself. “What did I just get myself and my brother into?”

The group then teleports to their next stop: Camelot to see Morgan La Fey. There they are greeted by the witch. “Hello Wanda and friends, I’ve been waiting for you. Now let’s go get the others.” Wanda nods and they teleport to their next stop. They go and get Adam Warlock. He happily agrees to go with. They then teleport into the realm of Dormammu where they find and grab Doctor Fate. Dormammu agrees to help them the best he can from his dimension as he’s trapped there. The group then return to Genosha to come up with a plan.

Out of desperation however, not long before this Zatanna sent out an across dimension beacon call to her father who takes an old teleporter spell and meets his daughter and the others in the Marvel dimension at Genosha.

“Daddy!” Says Zatanna happily as she throws her arms around him not long after he enters the meeting room. “I’m glad you came.”

“Well, my baby girl needed my help. Now explain everything to me.”

Zatanna and Wanda then explain everything to Giovanni including the detail about the spell fatale and the now assembled new group called the Spell Casters.

“Well, with everyone here and my own help here now, I think we can separate Fate from Tony Stark for good. Are there any caveats though?”

“Yes,” speaks up Sister Grimm, “I can’t use the same spell twice unless it’s reworded or said in a different language.”

“I can figure out a workaround for that,” responds Giovanni. “Now let’s take down Iron Fate once and for all.”

Chapter Text

“That’s great, daddy, but first we need to track him down. That’s the most challenging part.”

“I know, that’s why you leave that part to me. My power is strong enough to match his own. Etaf Nori Etacol.” Chants Giovanni. He does this for hours but with varying results. Sometimes it hits and sometimes it doesn’t. “He’s all over the place, Zatanna.” Says Giovanni to his daughter. “Maybe tracking him was harder than I thought.”

“Well, let me and the others help then.”

“Okay,” sighs Giovanni. He, his daughter, and Wanda then begin to chant once again. “Etaf Nori Etacol! Etaf Nori Etacol! Etaf Nori Etacol!” They then manage to get an unmoving, permanent hit. They then take a massive ship instead of teleporting there since it’s on Iron Man’s private island. There, they are greeted by Iron Fate.

“I wondered when you would find me, Giovanni, Zatanna, others. It took you long enough.”

The group ignores him and begins to chant. Sister Grimm switches between tongues, languages, and rewording to keep up. Eventually, they begin to separate the two.

“Help! Thank God! Help me!” They hear Tony scream out. “Help me! Oh God! Help me!”

Over the span of 35 plus hours, they eventually get Fate separated from Iron Man and he returns back into Giovanni much to Zatanna’s displeasure.

“Oh daddy, no, no, no,” cries Zatanna as she falls to her knees. “If I knew you were coming here to sacrifice, I would’ve never called. Daddy, daddy, it’s all my fault. Daddy, no, no, no.” The others carry the crying girl back to the ship and return to Genosha. Dr. Fate exits back into the DC dimension. As he does, Giovanni slips a few words out, “I never meant to hurt you, my dearest girl, my baby, my Zatanna.”

Chapter Text

Back at the Maximoff Castle on the Genosha grounds, a heartbroken Zatanna sits in tears surrounded by her friends both old and new.

“I didn’t want to lose him again, how could I lose him again? I just got him back from Fate,” sniffles a balling Zatanna.

“Zatanna,” says Dick, “you need to let this go. It’s time to go home. Our mission is over.”

“Fine,” sniffles Zatanna. She, now surrounded by all her friends, presses the button on the special remote given to them by her father and Batman and they return home to their universe. There, they are greeted by their other teammates.

“Welcome back,” says Batgirl as she embraces her friends in a hug.

“Thanks,” sniffles Zatanna, “but at what cost.” She then goes to her room on the premises and locks herself away to continue crying alone.

“Let me guess,” says Batgirl to Dick, “she lost her dad to Doctor Fate again.”

“Yes, so leave her alone, for now at least,” responds Dick as he kisses Barb on the lips. He then goes to check on his friend.

“Hey, Zat, can I come in? It’s me, Dick. I’m worried about you,” says Dick as he knocks on her door.

“Sure, promise it’s only you.”

“It is,” says Dick as he opens the door and enters the room. He then sits on the bed beside her and puts his hand on her shoulder. “We’ll get your father back from Fate, just like every other time, I promise you.”

“Are you sure? What if he’s too far gone into Fate this time?” She sniffles again as she cries into Dick’s shoulder. “I don’t even know where he’s gone. I’ve tried tracking him with a locator spell, but there’s nothing.”

“Well, we always find a way. Meghan might know how to help. Do you want me to get her?”

“Maybe in a bit, thanks, right now I just want to be alone.”

“Okay,” responds Dick. He then leaves the room and closes the door behind him. Not until the next day does Zatanna even talk to him and Meghan in the meeting room.

Chapter Text

The next morning, Dick, Zatanna, and Meghan gather in the meeting room. “Ok, let’s find my daddy,” says Zatanna.

“Okay,” responds Meghan, “where does Fate like to reside?”

“Daddy built a Fate Mansion to re-anchor the realm after the Tower of Fate’s destruction on its site in Salem, Mass. Dad always wanted to create a way to re-anchor The Nexus of Subtle Realms back to the earthly plane and that’s what the mansion is for since the New York point was abandoned after the death of our dear friends the Nelsons.”

“Then we’ll try there first,” responds Meghan and Dick. They then get Superboy, Sphere, and the Bioship.

“One more thing, I need to get something of mine and dad’s.” Zatanna runs off to get a family photograph of her and her father at her very first magic show as a girl and one of him at her first performance as a young teenager. She then joins her friends on the Bioship.

A few days later, the four arrive in Salem at the new Mansion of Fate. “Dad never did like going to the Tower after Kent Nelson’s death, so he created the point here, so let’s hope he’s here,” sighs Zatanna as she hops out the Bioship followed by her friends and teammates. She then casts the code spell to let them inside. There, they find all Fate’s mythical artifacts. “Kent Nelson must’ve granted them to the next Fate in his will.”

All of a sudden they hear a booming voice. “What are you doing here, little girl? Why do you have friends tagging along? This is between you and Fate alone.”

“I don’t want to speak to Fate, I want Fate to let me talk to my father, Giovanni.”

“Silly child, your Father knew what he was giving up when he put on the helmet. He was and still is my favorite host since Nelson’s death.”

“But it’s not fair, Fate,” cries Zatanna, “he’s the only family I have left.”

“How about we strike a deal?” Responds Fate. “Starting the next full year, you can see him for an hour and every year following. Right now, however, you two only get fifteen minutes. Agreed?”

“Agreed,” responds Zatanna. “Anything to see him again.”

Fate then lets Giovanni remove the helmet and share fifteen minutes with his daughter and what a short but nice time it was. “When next year hits it will be an hour a year,” says Zatanna as she hugs him goodbye as he replaces the helmet atop his head. Zatanna, semi-satisfied leaves the Mansion of Fate with her friends. She spends the following weeks at the Crocks with Artemis and Meghan. At least there, she’ll have friends as well as distance from Mount Justice and memories of the pain of Fate taking her Father from her for yet another time at the Mount alone as well as in her heart though she doesn’t want to admit that.

Chapter Text

A few months later in Genosha, Jean and Scott welcome a healthy mutant baby girl into their lives. Rachel Elaine got both Jean’s telepathy and telekinesis along with laser powers like her father and uncle.

“She’s beautiful,” cries Jean as she holds her little girl close to her chest.

A few days later, the infant meets her Uncle Alex for the first time. “Hello, little Rachel,” smiles Alex as he talks to the infant. He then looks up at his brother and Jean. “Congratulations guys.”

“Thanks,” says Scott as he hugs his brother.

“That’s so sweet of you to say,” says Jean with a smile and brightly shining eyes. She then motions to the guys to leave so she can nurse the baby and sleep.

Out in the hall, the boys talk. “I’m so happy for you, brother, you have no idea,” responds Alex.

“Thanks,” responds Scott. “She’s already a lot to handle though. She has both our and Jean’s powers.”

“Telepathy, telekinesis, and lasers, that is a lot to handle, my God!” Responds Alex. “You do have it rough, big brother, but I’ll always be around to help as will my girlfriend Jackilyn. She is a mutant herself. She has fire abilities.

“Cool, good on you, I’m proud of you little brother,” says Scott as he rags up his brother’s hair.

Meanwhile in their room, Jean finishes nursing Rachel before putting her in the crib and going to sleep herself. She couldn’t be happier to be a mother, Scott couldn’t be happier to be a father, and Alex couldn’t be more proud to be an uncle.

A few weeks later, they use an inter dimensional Skype to tell their friends in the DC universe the good news and everyone in DC can’t help but congratulate them. They’re so happy for their new friends.

Chapter Text

About a year after Rachel Elaine’s birth, Scott and Jean graduate, Scott proposes to her at graduation, and the following year the two are wed. Two years after that, the two have their second child and third-twins, a son named Nathan and his twin brother Nate.

Yet again, they do an inter dimensional Skype and once again are congratulated by their friends in the DC universe. The two couldn’t be happier or prouder.

“That’s great guys,” say everyone over the chat.

Jean, Scott, and Alex then ask Zatanna a question. “How have the one hour per year things been going for you and your dad?”

“Alright,” responds Zatanna in tears. “An hour a year isn’t long enough. I still miss him. Congratulations to you guys, though.”

“Thanks,” respond the two. “And we hope you find peace someday and that one day your dad will be free from Fate for good.”

“Thanks,” responds Zatanna, “but I don’t think he’ll ever be free of Fate, not until he dies as Kent Nelson did a few years ago.”

“Well, you’re smart, Zatanna, you’ll find a way,” says Jean.

“Thanks,” cries Zatanna, “that’s what dad would always tell me too. Now, though, it’s hopeless.” She then runs out of the room in tears. Jean didn’t mean to hurt her feelings. She and Scott then decide to end the call before they cause any more unintentional damage.

Chapter Text

“I didn’t mean to hurt her feelings, I was only trying to help,” Jean cries into Scott’s arms. On his brother’s wishes, Alex had already left the room and was waiting for them on the porch of their new cottage.

“Shh, shh, I know, Jean,” says Scott as he runs his fingers through her hair.

“But it’s a counselor’s job, my job, to help not hurt…” she cries, “and I hurt her. I hurt Zatanna whilst trying to help her.”

“She’ll forgive you, just call back and apologize,” responds Scott.

“Okay, but in a little bit, not now,” says Jean as she dries her tears. “Right now, I just want to be outdoors with you, your brother, and our kids.”

“And Alex’s girlfriend?” Adds Scott. “The two are outside on the porch.”

“Yes, sure,” responds Jean. She, Scott, a three year old Rachel, and the newborn twins meet up with Alex and Jackilyn outside. There, Jean sits in a rocker holding the twins while the guys play tag with the energetic three year old.

“Now this, this makes me happy, this makes me smile,” says Jean absolutely beaming. “When I’m alone with my family, there’s no one I can hurt.”

Chapter Text

A few days later after they’ve calmed down on both ends, Jean and Zatanna agree to do another interdimensional Skype. While on the call, Scott is at Jean’s side the entire time. He nods urging her to the apology. “Zatanna,” says Jean with a nervous sigh, “I’m sorry about what happened last time we talked. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I was being careless, insensitive, and just an all around jerk. I hope you can forgive me. Are you doing alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” says Zatanna, “and of course I forgive you, Jean, you offending me was unintentional. Your world is different than ours, you don’t know the horribleness that is Fate and his deals.”

“Well, I’m glad and oh so relieved that you forgive me,” responds Jean as she lets out a sigh of relief.

“Well, yeah, I do, it’s pointless to hold onto anger especially if it’s silly or unjustified,” responds Zatanna with a giggle. “And besides that, since then I’ve made a deal with Fate to see daddy now twice a year and not once a year which still isn’t ideal but it’s better than it was.”

“Well, that’s good to hear,” responds Jean. The two continue to talk for a few more minutes before parting ways. Jean goes outside to spend time picnicking with her parents and with Scott and Alex. As they enjoy their meal, Jean can finally relax and enjoy her time with her family.