Disclaimer: Marvel's belong to them. Everybody else is mine.

After Tabitha had gotten Sami dressed and her long hair brushed, they went down to breakfast. To Tabitha's surprise, she still remembered the layout of the mansion. Sami ohhed and awwed over everything she saw as they walked toward the kitchen.

Tabitha slowed to a stop when they got near the kitchen though. She could hear the cheerful voices of the gathered New Mutants clearly. Sami looked up at her mother.

"Momma, why are we just standing here? I'm hungry." The child whined.

"Don't whine." Tabitha said automatically.

"Sorry Momma." The little girl said. Then she reached out to take her mother's hand. Tabitha squeezed it slightly, then pushed the door open.

And was greeted with dead silence. All talking ceased when she stepped in. Sami looked at everyone around her, who were openly staring at her, and pushed herself up against her mother. Tabitha drew in a deep breath and meet their collective gaze as steadily as she could. Neither Demi nor Rictor were there, and Terry was missing too.

Skids was the first one to recover. Raising to her feet, she walked around to give the smaller girl a hug. "Good to see you again."

"Nice to see you again, too." Tabitha said, her voice quivering just a little.

Then Rahne Sinclair spoke up. "Aye, 'tis wonderful to see ye. But who is this gorgeous little girl?"

Tabitha smiled shakily. "Um, guys, this is my daughter. Sami say hi to them."

Sami peered at all the people staring at her and waved her fingers and mumbled something that might have been 'hi'.

The people sitting around the table smiled at the child and looked at her mother expectantly. Tabitha then realized she hadn't told them her child's name.

"Her name is Samantha. We all call her Sami for short." Tabitha hurriedly said.

"Well, is she hungry? Are you hungry?" Dani Moonstar asked, standing up.

"I'm not�um, Sami do you want something to eat?" Tabitha asked the tot.

"Uh-huh." Sami nodded, looking at her mother with great eyes.

"Okay, I'll get you something." Tabitha promised.

"Aye, and ye can come sit by me, if ye'd like." Rahne offered.

Tabitha looked back at her daughter. "Honey, go seat next to Miss Sinclair, okay?" Sami nodded in response and slowly untangled herself from her mother and went to sit by the Scottish woman.

"Well, hello." Rahne smiled as the little girl climbed into the seat.

"Hi." Sami said, a beautiful smile lighting her face.

"Yer name is Samantha? Or do ye prefer Sami?" Rahne asked the child.

"I like Sami better. I'm only Samantha when I'm in trouble." Sami nodded her head for emphasis.

"Oh! 'Tis a pretty name." Rahne complimented.

"I was named after my Daddy!" Sami beamed.

Rahne choked on the orange juice she had been drinking. Coughing violently, she stared at the child.

When she was finally able to talk again, she asked, "How old are ye?"

"I'm going to be four on December 24!" Sami told her proudly.

Rahne smiled and looked at Bobby across the table, her eyes boring holes through him.

"Really?" Amara asked, a smile on her face. "You are almost four?"

"Uh-huh!" Sami said, grinning proudly.

"Are you sure?" Bobby asked her.

Sami glared at him. Roberto jumped in shock. Right then, when she had glared at him, he had seen his best friend when he got angry. (Madonna�)

"I just asked because you're so tiny. We thought you were younger." Bobby made haste to apologize to the offended little girl.

Before anyone else could say a word, Sam Guthrie stumbled in. "Does anybody have any Advil?"

Sam was, without a doubt, hungover. His hair was tangled and his normally bright blue eyes were bloodshot. He had forgotten to shave that morning so he had golden stubble across his chin.

"Sam, are ye alright?" Rahne asked, her eyes worried.

"Ah'm fine, Rahne." Sam moaned, collapsing into a chair. Sami was looking at him like he was some new form of insect. He looked up to find her staring at him. "What?"

"Are you sick?" Sami asked, her eyes worried.

"No, Ah'm fine. Do I know you?" Sam asked, looking at the tiny child with blurry eyes.

"No." Sami said, shaking her head. "I'm Sami."

"Nice to meet you Sami. Ah'm Sam." The southern said, wincing slightly.

"Are you sure you're okay? You look sick to me." Sami asked again.

Sam smiled at the little girl gently. She was a sweet little thing. Why did she look so familiar?

"Sami, do you want anything else to�eat?" Tabitha asked, coming out with a plate of food for her daughter.

"No Momma. That looks fine." Sami answered brightly, reaching for the food.

Then it all hit Sam. Tabitha. Her daughter. (Oh god� where's her father Ah wonder?) Sam thought.

"Sam�hi." Tabitha said, her eyes downcast.

Sam shot to his feet, all traces of his hangover gone. "Tabitha�"

"Momma, can I have my food now?" Sami called from her spot on the table. Tabitha seemed to shake the daze around her off and went to give her daughter her food. "Thank you." Sami said sweetly when her mother placed the food in front of her.

Sam's eyes never left Tabitha as she took care of her daughter. Tabitha took a deep breath and gazed at her daughter for a long time before turning back to Sam.

"Can I talk to you for a minute Sam?" Tabitha asked softly.

"Ah need to talk to you too." Sam agreed.

"Sami, will you please stay in here, while I talk to Sam?" Tabitha asked her daughter.

"I'll keep an eye on her Tabitha." Demi's voice promised from the doorway. She had obviously just gotten up, she still wearing her bathrobe.

"Thanks, Demi." Tabitha answered, turning to look at Sam.

They both turned and walked out the door, Tabitha following Sam. Sami looked up at her godmother. "What are they going to talk about, Aunt Demi?"

"I really don't know child." Demi answered, truthfully.

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