DISCLAIMER: The characters depicted herein are the exclusive property of Marvel Entertainment and are being used without permission. I am not making a profit off of this story; it is being written solely for my own entertainment and that of the people who care to read it. This story may be freely redistributed for entertainment purposes only but may not be archived without my express permission. Some parts of this story contain disturbing scenes including violence and abuse. If this bothers you, please do not read any further. Retribution Chapter 2 "Something of vengeance I had tasted for the first time; as aromatic wine it seemed, on swallowing, warm and racy: its after-flavour, metallic and corroding, gave me a sensation as if I had been poisoned." --Charlotte Brontė The much awaited day finally came and little Toby arrived into the world, happily greeted by a dozen excited aunts and uncles who eagerly took turns cooing over him, feeding and changing him. He had his mother's striking red hair and green eyes, and the little pout he wore earned Scott yet another round of teasing. In his parents' eyes, he was a darling little baby; perfect in every way. Since his birth, they'd grown closer than ever. His existence strengthened and gave proof of their love for each other. "My precious baby boy," Jean crooned, nuzzling him and breathing in that sweet baby scent as she rocked him to sleep. * * * The mirror flickered yet again as a sharp pang of jealousy hit Madelyne, her fists clenching. "Oh yes, he is," she whispered to no one in particular. "Just like MY little Nathan. He'll be just like Nathan..." Her eyes narrowed and she smiled. "It's time, Sebastian," she called out. "Ready, sweet?" he questioned, indicating the mirror. "I'm ready," she confirmed, taking the hand he offered and rising from her chair. "Ready for revenge!" * * * "I never thought I'd need to stay in this room again," Jean whispered, tucking a blanket around her sleeping son. "It's been so long." She looked around her and thought back to the last time she'd slept in this room--the night before she and Scott had finally wed. "Well, Hank thought it would be unwise for Toby to sleep in the boathouse while we painted his room, let alone us. It'll only be a few nights." Scott smiled, and wrapped his arms around his wife's waist in a loose hug. "Besides, it'll give us a chance to spend a little more time with the group, and they'll be able to help with the baby." "Speaking of spending time with the group, isn't that football game you guys have been so excited about starting soon?" Jean inquired. She cocked her head, then grinned. "Bobby and Remy have already started arguing over the outcome again, and Hank's making popcorn. I still can't believe they were able to drag him out of the lab just to watch TV--" "It's the Superbowl, Jean! The Superbowl! And Hank used to play football as a kid. It's in his blood," Scott objected. "Besides, I think he bet a pretty penny on this game." "Typical American male," Jean commented, amused. "We'd better get out there if we're going to see the kickoff." Scott's expression could only be described as dumbfounded. "YOU? Wanting to watch football? I didn't think you liked football!" "Shhh, Toby's sleeping," Jean scolded him gently. "No, I don't, not really," she admitted, her lip quirking into an amused smile. "But if you think HANK'S betting a pretty penny on this game..." She trailed off as they made their way out to the den where the rest of the team had already assembled, beer, popcorn, pretzels and various assorted football paraphernalia strewn about the room. "So, guys," Jean began, eyeing Bobby's bet list, "About those bets--" "Nuh-uh, Jean! No way!" Bobby shouted, hiding the list. "NO telepaths. We wouldn't let Betsy bet, and neither can you!" He stuck out his tongue at her childishly. "I concur." Hank nodded agreement, his mouth full of popcorn. "Your telepathy gives you an unfair advantage over--" "Hey, I'm a telepath, not a precog!" Jean protested, crossing her arms over her chest. "That has nothing to do with it." "But Betts here is," Warren countered, indicating the woman curled up in his lap. "It didn't bother ME any to let her bet, but you know this group. A buncha sore losers, if you ask me." Betsy laughed and ducked as a pillow hit the unsuspecting Angel from behind. "I still do not understand the object of this game," Bishop remarked as the coin toss took place, Warren flinging the pillow back in Bobby's direction. "When I watch football, the only thing I see are two groups of men chasing each other and throwing around a ball." "Then they jump onto each other--see?" Rogue commented, pointing at the television, "--a little flag comes flyin' out, an' everyone goes back 10 yards. What's the point, right?" "Right," Bishop agreed, grateful someone else understood his confusion. "You two played football wit' de team las' T'anksgivin'" Remy reminded her. "Seemed t' unnerstand good 'nough den, why not now?" She rolled her eyes. "Ah understand football, Cajun," she objected. "Don'tcha know sarcasm when ya hear it?" "I like to think about it in this way," Ororo interjected from the sofa on the other side of the den. "Even if I do not fully understand what is going on, at least the view is decent." She smiled, indicating the television set. "Like it is now, for instance." "What do you mean, Ororo? The football is being hiked," Bishop informed her, confused as to what view she was referring to. "They ain't doin' anything, 'Ro," Rogue observed, waving a hand at the television once more. "Just bendin' over--OH!" She laughed, seeing Ororo's point. "Exactly," Ororo proclaimed, flashing a wicked, toothy grin. "The best part of the game. Besides, they even wear spandex shorts--" This comment earned her a frenzy of pillows and protests from the men, which were quickly cut short as the shrill wail of an infant issued into the den. "Oh, you guys woke up Toby," Jean reprimanded the group, getting up from her chair. "Poor little guy couldn't sleep through all the bickering," she added, winking at the sheepish yet apologetic smiles the guilty parties wore. "It's O.K., I should have fed him before putting him down, anyway." Leaving the room, she made her way to the bedroom. Just as she opened the door, however, the baby's cries abruptly stopped. That's odd. I wonder... Puzzled, she reached for the light switch. "Toby?" she ventured, flipping the switch. Nothing happened. She flipped it again. Again. Again. Still nothing. "Toby?" Nauseous, trembling with fear, she tearfully crept toward the bassinet. Reaching out, she grasped the blanket and yanked it aside. Jean let out a horrified cry; he wasn't there. "TOBY!" Jean spun as, in an instant's time, the door swiftly slammed shut and locked itself. The television clicked on. Goblin K-- Two and two made four with sudden clarity. Oh, but she planned this well... "Madelyne! This is sick! This has gone on long enough; come out with my son!" she demanded angrily. There was no response. "COWARD!" she shrieked. "You coward--ooof!" Jean reeled as a blow of pure telepathic energy struck the side of her head. Clutching her temples in agony, she called out to Scott through their rapport. Madelyne stepped out of a shadow, holding the baby in her arms. "He can't hear you, sow," she spat, pure hatred enveloping her voice. "I've been shielding this room the entire time. For all he knows, all is well, and you're with the baby--" The baby. "MY BABY!" Jean directed the most powerful psi-bolt she could muster directly into Madelyne's mind, ready to catch her son telekinetically as Madelyne's mind shut down and her body collapsed. Madelyne, laughing, shrugged the psi-bolt off as casually as if she'd swatted a mosquito, redirecting it back to the weakened Jean. This proved to be too much, and Jean crumpled to the floor, her head pounding painfully. Madelyne laid the baby in its crib and moved to stand over the fallen Jean. "A coward, am I? No more. Now I am POWER! Power beyond your feeble imagination. You thought I was powerful as the 'Goblin Queen', did you?" She held up her pinkie finger. "This is the 'Goblin Queen'--nothing compared to what I am capable of now. And what I will do!" "No," Jean whispered, unable to conceal her terror. "You can't--" "My dearest sister," Madelyne crooned mockingly, "However will you stop me?" Raising the struggling Jean in the air telekinetically, she fired yet another telepathic blast into her mind, tearing away Jean's mutant powers and reveling in her agonizing screams of pain. "How do YOU like it? Don't you find it enjoyable to suffer as I have? To writhe in pain? To be stripped of everything important to you, powerless to stop it?" Jean choked, unable to breathe, blood oozing from her nose. "You ruined my life, Jean Grey. You stole my friends, my husband, my son--my life. And now, I'm paying you back, in spades!" The full length mirror beside them shimmered with energy as a portal opened within it, darkness looming in the distance. Jean's struggles began anew. "No!" she gasped. Madelyne only laughed, tossing her through the waiting portal. Jean landed with a grunt on the cold concrete floor, clutching her throat and wheezing, trying to catch her breath. She blinked, shaking her head to clear it, a motion which she instantly regretted as it only served to intensify the pounding inside her mind. Footsteps approached from behind her. "Welcome to my parlor, said the spider to the fly," a deep bass voice recited. "No," Jean whispered. "Please Lord, no..." She looked up, one quick glance confirming her fears. "YOU!" End of Chapter 2