X Does Not Mark The Spot (May 1991)

Just driving up to the mansion was a real eye opener. It was made of gray limestone. Tony and Isabella were rich beyond their wildest dreams but this mansion looked old as if they had moved it brick by brick from some European town in England. It was expansive with well manicured bushes, trees, grasses and flowers. The road up to it was a cobbled stone and even as they drove up in the Range Rover and kids ran and played what looked like a game of tag on the grass near the courtyard. Other children played other games and a few adults watched as they drove around toward the main house.

Tony stopped the car in one of the marked spaces and turned off the engine. “Well, I guess we’re here...are you certain they’re expecting us?” Tony asked as he opened the door and stepped out. He was dressed in a blue pin striped suit with a light blue tie. He wore brown leather shoes and belt and tinted sunglasses. His goatee and hair were trimmed and styled to perfection and he wore the cologne that Isabella loved. He wasn’t nervous about meeting the people inside. He had other things to be nervous about though. He waited until Isabella got Serena out of the carseat. She was awake and seemed interested in her surrounds right then.

“Are you nervous?” He asked Isabella to cover his own trepidation about what this Xavier might say about their daughter.

Isabella had pulled a few strings to get the phone number for the mansion. A man named Hank McCoy had answered and after she spoke to him for a few minutes he put her in direct contact with Professor Xavier. Professor Xavier listened to Isabella and didn't hesitate to invite her and Tony to the mansion with Serena.

Isabella, as always, was dressed very elegantly. She wore a knee length pencil skirt, black pumps, and a silk, white button down blouse that was perfectly tucked in. Her long, dark hair was pulled half back and the only jewelry she wore was a simple necklace and her rings. She was amazed at the mansion as they drove up. It was...quite impressive. It looked so beautiful and peaceful here and she smiled as she saw the children out playing in the sunshine. After they parked, she carefully removed the carseat from the car. Serena, who was only three months old, was awake and curiously looked around. Isabella looked at Tony as they headed up towards the front door.

"I'm not sure...maybe a little," she admitted. "I just want Serena to be happy is all."

It was a woman who stepped out of the double, front doors. Tony thought she looked like some kind of accountant but he also felt a strength about her. It emanated out from her and he felt a stir in the back of his head as if someone had reached into his mind just now. Isabella looked as if she had felt the same thing. The woman smiled at them and clasped her hands behind her.

“Hello Tony, good morning Isabella, my name is Jean Gray. And we’ve been expecting you,” she said as she glanced down at the car seat briefly. Tony shook her hand when she extended it to him. “The professor is just finishing up a class. I will take you to his office,” she said calmly aqs she accompanied them inside.

Inside the floor was made out of a white marble tile. The walls were made out of wood that was polished until it shone and the vaulted ceilings had painted murals on them of different woodland scenes. Children who held books backpacks and school supplies talked amongst one another as they passed them. The mansion seemed to come alive with life and it was filled with children of all ages.

“So it is a school?” Tony asked. “It is Mr. Stark. K through 12 to be exact and many of our teaching staff attended this school,” Jean said. “I came here when I was 9 myself,” She said and smiled back at them as they passed several large rooms that looked like classes were being taught in them.

At the end of the hall the doors suddenly opened to reveal an office. Jean gestured for them to enter and she hung back near the doors. “Please make yourselves comfortable, the professor will be with you shortly,” she said as she gave Tony an appraising look. Isabella knew that look. Jean thought he was attractive and liked looking at him. Most everyone knew Tony if only by reputation. Meeting him in the flesh for some was like meeting an idol or some famous personality that they had always wanted to meet. Jean had a wedding ring on though. But so did Tony but that didn’t stop women from looking at him nor men from looking at her. Tony took it all in stride as he looked around the office. “So what do you know about this Xavier?” he asked.

Isabella stepped inside the mansion with Jean and Tony. Her eyes immediately gazed around as she tried to take in as much detail as possible. Everyone here seemed so happy and relaxed. However, Isabella could imagine that many of these children's lives had not been as lucky as Serena's would be. Tony and Isabella would love Serena unconditionally, but Isabella knew that a majority of the population feared and hated mutants. It broke her heart to think that some of these children must have parents who dropped their child off here and never looked back. That would not happen with Serena.

As they stepped into Professor Xavier's office, Isabella put down Serena's carrier near one of the chairs. From the corner of her eye, Isabella could see Jean looking Tony over. To be honest it didn't bother her anymore. Tony had proved his loyalty to her and she trusted him.

After Jean left Isabella looked at him and then went to pick up Serena from her carrier. "Well, his family is English and he was a professor of Genetics," she said as she adjusted Serena in her arms. "That's about all I really know."

“Well that helps...not,” Tony said jokingly. He doubted any kind of formal understanding of genetics was going to really help here. He would not allow anyone to reduce his daughter into a test subject. Better to just take what comes and deal with it then that. As they waited a bald man in a brown suit rolled in from the hall in an electric wheelchair. It looked very modern but TOny had already designed a better one inside his head.

“Oh yes, I’ve already entertained the thought of nickel cadmium but i'm allergic to cadmium,” Xavier said as he rolled into the room. “I’m Charles Xavier. You are Tony Stark,” He said and shook his hand. “And you are Isabella Stark,” And shook her hand as well. “I’ve been expecting you and Serena,” He said as he rolled over behind his desk. He looked at some of the papers there and then appeared to focus on them.

“What can I do for you Mrs. Stark?” He asked as he sighed and leaned back into his chair.

Isabella hadn’t known what to expect when meeting Professor Xavier, but somehow he was exactly as she thought he might be. She had not known his mutation until he read Tony’s mind. She couldn’t help but smile at that. She etcher hand in greeting and then sat down with Serena still in her arms.

“Well, we have a strong reason to believe that our daughter, Serena, has a genetic mutation. You see when I was four months pregnant with her there was an accident in the lab at Stark Tower and I was exposed to high radiation and isotopic exposure. I actually should have died, but somehow the radiation seemed to be absorbed by my body and both myself and Serena survived. Basically, what we are hoping to learn is if Serena does in fact have a genetic mutation and, if so, how it will affect her life and what Tony and I can do to help or support her?”

Xavier smiled. “You know, dozens of parents have been where you are now. So concerned about what their children will become. DO you want to know what I usually tell them? If you are here than what does it matter? You care and that is the best thing any parent can do for their children. But because you are here I can help you. Hank is our resident scientist. Follow me,” He said and led them out of the office. A man in a white t-shirt and blue jeans stopped the professor suddenly. He had oddly styled brown hair, an untrimmed beard and he smelled of alcohol and cigars.

“Ok Charles, you’re gunna hafta git Scott off my ass. I ain’t one of your ‘X-men’ and I don’t take orders from an asshole,” Logan said as his eyes shifted approvingly toward Isabella. Obviously he liked what he saw but frowned when he saw Tony. He looked back at Charles.

“Logan, may I introduce Tony Stark and Isabella Stark,” Xavier said. “Good to meet you,” Tony aid as he extended his hand toward him. Logan just looked at him. “Keep him off my ass,” Logan said warningly and stepped away from them.

Xavier sighed. “Not everyone lives in harmony Isabella. Logan is a special case,” He said as they watched him stomp down the hall.

Isabella put Serena back into her carrier and followed Charles out of the office. She had spoken to Hank on the phone and so she felt good about meeting him and allowing him to look at Serena. He had sounded very nice and well spoken on the phone. Unlike the man in the jeans and white t-shirt who suddenly appeared and stopped Charles. Isabella could smell the alcohol and cigar smoke on him. She said nothing, but nodded politely to him with a small smile. The man, who Charles identified as Logan, stormed off and she watched him go. He clearly was upset with this Scott. Something about Logan told Isabella she wouldn’t want to tangle with him.

“Perhaps he’s just misunderstood,” she offered genuinely.

Hank pushed up his glasses with a finger as he looked at the line of code. He sat in front of a large computer monitor that sat on his very cluttered desk. He had 3 desks in all with all kinds of electronics pieces and parts everywhere. He had tables with other electronics on them as well as what looked like testing equipment and machines. Xavior knocked and Hank asked him to come in. Xavier rolled into Hank’s lab and Tony and Isabella followed.

“Hank I’d like to…” Charles began but Hank smiled and extended his hand. “Tony Stark, I’ve always wanted to meet you...I’m a...fan,” Hank said as he blushed. Isabella saw an Iron Man poster on the far wall. “And this is his wife, Isabella Stark Hank and their daughter Serena,” Xavier said. Hank shook her hand and then looked around for a place for them to sit but there were none.

“Hank I think perhaps Isabella has something to ask of you,” Charles said. Hank smiled at that. “Well if I can help with anything I’d be more than happy to,” Hank said.

Isabella followed Charles and Tony into Hank’s lab. It was quite the mess as compared to Tony’s lab, which was always in order. Isabella sported the Iron-Man poster on the wall and smiled at Tony. When Charles introduced her to Hank she smiled and extended her hand.

“Well, as I told you on the phone, Tony and I have reasons to suspect Serena might have a genetic mutation. We would like to see about going ahead and finding that out now so we can be prepared for it as she grows. Would this be possible?”

“Absolutely,” Hank responded. “We always check for mutation in every student. However a mutation may or may not ever show itself. Some students do not ever exhibit signs that they are different than any other human. And some are obvious. There are some mutations that have been dangerous. To the student and to others but we have a good system for that here.

“What does that mean? What system?” Tony asked as if they planned on having their daughter attend this school. Far from the case but it certainly sounded so. He just wanted to know so they could use that information.

“Everyone here is hypersensitive to another’s mutations. We keep track of what a student’s mutation development is and what they can do. When we encounter a potentially dangerous mutation we develop ways to make it safe for them to be here. If we can’t or the student is unwilling to help us keep them and other students safe we ask them to leave. The safety of our students is our primary concern here,” Hank said and Charles nodded at that. “To this date only 2 students were asked to leave because of this and if they only followed our rules and suggestions, they would have been fine here,” Hank said.

“The students here are able to go as far and do as much as they want. We try to push them to excel and improve like any other school. But it is also a home. Many students are here because they simply have no where else to go. Even so our rules still apply and they have fit right in and have become excellent students and faculty. We have colleges who are sympathetic to the mutation condition and have taken students. And then those students go on to live good, productive lives,” he said. Obviously he was very proud of what they’ve done here.

“I can take the sample from here but she might cry. I do have to take a blood sample from the spine,” he said. Tony just looked at him dully. He did not like the thought of Serena being hurt for any reason but this was Isabella’s show and so he remained silent.

Isabella listened to what Charles and Hank had to say about the school and she was glad to know that they took measures to ensure the safety of all of their students. She did not anticipate Tony and herself sending Serena here, unless she needed it, but it was still good information to know in case anything changed.

The thought of hurting Serena was a little upsetting to Isabella but she knew this needed to be done. She nodded and held Serena gently in a way that her back was exposed and didn’t look as Hank drew the sample. Serena immediately began to wail but it was soon over and Isabella comforted her as best she could.

“How long will it take you to process the sample?”

Tony had to bite his lip during the entire process. The sample gun looked pretty hi-tech but Tony had already designed a better one in his head. Serena’s resulting wail made him clench his fists. He did not like hearing Serena cry. To him it was like a part of the world itself was crying or dying.

“Just a few hours if you wanted to wait? Its taco night in the cafeteria,”he said with a grin. He removed the sample from the gun and placed it into a centrifuge. He turned it on and it began to spin around and around.

“Thank you Hank,” Charles said just as a young man with some kind of odd viewer on his face came in. He was fairly young, mid 20s maybe and he had a sure, confident step. “Ah, Scott just the man I wanted to see. Scott this is Tony and Isabella Stark. Tony and Isabella, Scott Summers,” Charles said. “Hey,” Scott said and shook their hands. “Scott, I’m going to take Tony Stark down to see Sinestro would you be so kind to show Isabella the mansion?” He asked. “Certainly,” Scott said then turned to Isabella. “Would you like me to take the babe?” Scott asked politely.

Isabella decided she wanted to wait until Hank finished processing the sample. She comforted Serena and she slowly calmed down as another man walked in. He had some kind of device across his eyes. When he was introduced as Scott she couldn’t help but think about Logan. She could see how these two men might not get along.

She was looking forward to seeing the rest of the mansion and meets more people. She looked at Scott when he offered to hold Serena. “Oh, sure,” she said as she carefully handed Serena over to Scott. “Do you mind if I ask what the device over your eyes is for?”

Scott smiled at Isabella. “It is an optical force controller. My eyes emit a kinetic beam and without the controller the beam would hurt someone,” he said. He carefully took up the baby carrier and seemed to know how to hold it. “I’ll find you Isabella, enjoy the tour,” Hank said as they stepped out into the hall. Scott did not know why they were there and it didn’t really seem to matter to him. He seemed like a gracious, well mannered and intelligent host. He showed her the main floor and talked about some of the art and how the mansion was made. Its history and who had lived in it before they did.

Tony went with the professor down to the lower levels. Charles wanted his impression of Cerebro and also possibly to hire him to make improvements upon it.

Scott took Isabella up stairs and he showed her some of the rooms and the large balcony that overlooked the courtyard. It was a beautiful fall day and he decided to take her out onto the grounds. As they walked the grounds a kid came up to him. “Scott, I think I broke my remote control car,” he said sadly. He looked at Isabella. “Do you mind if I take care of Josh here?” He asked as he handed Serena back to her. She was still sleeping. As they went off together she saw several kids playing kickball and they seemed like any other children at play. Happy to be out in the sun.

“So you were Frank’s piece of...girlfriend,” Logan said. Suddenly he was just there with his arms crossed. When she looked at him he straightened. He had hairy arms and he was fairly short with a stocky, strong build. “They say he’s dead but I know his work when I hear it. So you’re Isabella? You broke his heart you know,” he said plainly. He was not much for tact.

Isabella eyed Logan suspiciously. Clearly, he knew Frank somehow, but she had never heard him mention anyone named ‘Logan’ during the entire time they were together. However, Frank clearly had secrets he was hiding from her so it didn’t entirely surprise her. She sighed and put down Serena’s carrier.

“Not that it’s any of your business but there were a variety of factors in our breakup. One of them was the fact that he was lying to me and hiding things from me.” She was quiet a moment before looking at him again. “How do you know Frank?”

Logan shrugged. “The streets are a tough place. We met in Hells Kitchen and I had a price on my head,” he said. When he saw Isabella’s eyes grow wider he chuckled. “Frank doesn’t do contracts,” He said and chuckled again. “Some major crime bosses thought they’d have my head as a centerpiece. Frank and I talked them out of it,” Logan said with a slight grin.

“If you knew what Frank was, you knew what he was doing. You seem like an intelligent woman but maybe he was your type,” Logan said but he didn’t go into what he thought her type was. “He’ll never stop though I think. That one has alot of hate in him,” Logan said. He looked at her and then the baby in the carrier. “He’e working with a lawyer type...some prosecutor I think who feeds him a steady list of targets,” Logan said.

“I think I recall hearing about Tony Stark a few times...you’re ‘his’ wife?” He asked but he already knew the answer. He also knew that Serena needed to be changed and he scrubbed at his nose surreptitiously and said nothing.

Isabella sighed softly when Logan mentioned Frank working with a lawyer. "That would be my brother. The problem is now that SHIELD knows that Frank is alive and are after him. I got a warning call from a friend of mine at SHIELD. I think he's going to give me some time to find Frank and talk to him."

She was quiet a moment before speaking again. "I do still love Frank," she said in a way that would make Logan know it to be true. "In the end though I think we both knew it wasn't going to work out, even if we wanted it to. He proposed to me and said we could have children because he knew that was what I wanted. I don't think he was going to be happy in that life. He and I have had our differences but I still want him to be safe. Do you know where I might be able to find him?"

Logan looked at Isabella with a discerning eye. “How do you know it would not have worked out? He lost everything. If you could have given in a child do you think he would have loved it and you any less than the family he lost? He needed you and you moved on,” Logan said as he looked at the car carrier. “I’m not judging you. I’m just saying what I feel. What I’ve been told by Frank. He is alone and every night he tries to rationalize what happened. I take that back. He is lonely and he still does what others will not,” Logan said. “He loves you though. You could have been the difference,” Logan said. “I dont know you so I wont judge your decisions but he is my friend,” He said.

Logan's words cut deep into Isabella's heart. She still carried guilt with her and that would be evident in her eyes. She still loved Frank and always would. She and Frank had a complicated history and with all that they had been through together there was no way they wouldn't always care about one another. Tears came to Isabella's eyes and before she could stop them she was standing there crying.

Logan looked around. He had little idea of what to do with a crying woman. He knew Frank and by his descriptions. Isabella too. He patted her awkwardly on the back. Ok, we’re all going to be alright,” Logan said. “You did what you had to and he did to,” He said. “ Serena on cue began to cry just then. The cry of hunger. Logan didn't get weird about her breast feeding it was to him just something that needed to happen. “I didnt mean to upset you. I just know Frank. He hangs out at the veterans PTSD inservice,” He said and gave her the address. “What do you hope to gain by speaking to him?” He asked.

Isabella slowly began to calm down. Logan wasn't great at comforting, but he at least made an effort and that meant something to Isabella. Serena then woke up and was hungry. Isabella asked Logan if he minded if she breast fed Serena and he shook his head no. He seemed very relaxed about the whole thing, but also wasn't being creepy about it either.

"Well, SHIELD is after him. There is little I can do to protect him if he doesn't stop. I also need my brother to stop feeding him this information. Luca is married with a son. If SHIELD somehow ties all of this back to him then his life will be over."

They went inside to one of the smaller sitting rooms so she could have a little privacy while she breast fed. Logan was...intrigued by Isabella. Frank had been honest about her in his descriptions. That and she was a beautiful woman. He had never really been this close to someone when they were breastfeeding but he found that it didn’t bother him. He could look at her and talk to Isabella as if she were not doing anything at all. And that's how he felt about it too.

“So your brother’s the crippled Lawyer? I think you know then why he’s so angry. And you now why Frank is to. I won’t say that I’m a saint,” he began but a woman’s voice spoke over him. “Well that’s an understatement Logan if I’ve ever heard one,” She said. Jean Gray stood in the alcove. She was wearing the same clothes that Isabella saw on her before. A light gray skirt and an off white blouse that hung fairly low in the front. Her hair was tied back and up with a hair clip and she wore pearls in her ears and on a necklace. Logan looked at her and then he averted his eyes. “Scott asked me to see where you went, I hope Logan has been a good host,” She said. Jean looked at her and her eyes fluttered down for just a moment as she breastfed her daughter.

Isabella slowly began to relax around Logan. She had a strong suspicion that Logan wasn't everything he appeared to be. Logan was honest though and she appreciated that. She would find Frank and talk to him. She had to. She had a feeling it would be fruitless, but she had to at least try.

Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice. She looked over to see Jean there and she could see Logan avert his eyes. Clearly something was going on there.

“Yes, he has,” she told her and she genuinely meant it. She hoped to be able to talk to Logan more someday. “Is Scott ready to continue the tour?”

Jean’s lips turned down into a frown when her eyes shifted to Logan. That and her cheeks flushed as well but when she turned her gaze back to Isabella her smile returned. “Scott’s helping a few of the kids and he’s asked me to show you the lower levels,” she said. Logan stood and kept his eyes on Isabella.

“Well I suppose then I’ll leave you two,” he said. Jean’s mouth worked as if she wanted to say something to Logan but isabella would know she didn’t because she was there and that they were private words to Logan alone. “Maybe I’ll cya around Isabella,” Logan said and abruptly saw himself out. Jean did turn her head to look at him and her arm flinched to stop him but she turned back toward Isabella and didn’t allow her arm to move. She saw Isabella wasn’t quite done with the feeding...or the baby wasn’t and she crossed her arms then sat on the side rest of the couch near her.

Logan had kissed her earlier and Jean had kissed him back. It was difficult to be married to a man and have feelings for two men. For Logan it was love at first sight and He wore his emotions on his sleeve. A difficult thing for Jean to ignore and sometimes she read his thoughts. Logan’s desire for her was so strong that it was difficult for Jean to cope with that. Her marriage with Scott has been strained lately do to this but this latest thing…’the kiss’ Jean wanted to address with him. She saw Isabella looking at her and Jean sighed.

“Its’’’complicated,” she said and shook her head slightly.