╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯

The couple sat in front of the woman on the couch, hands held together like they were at a therapy session. They were preparing to ask a very difficult question and they weren't sure how she was going to take it.

The woman, on the other hand, was sitting on the couch, bouncing her leg impatiently. She'd been called into the room ten minutes ago, and no one spoke. She looked at the couple, waiting for them to speak. "Are you two gonna say what this is about, or are you just gonna stare at me?"

"We need a favor," Scott mumbled, clearing his throat.

"I'm sorry, what?" Phoenix asked, leaning forward, resting her elbows on her knees.

Scott cleared his throat again, clearly dreading his next words. "We need a favor," he sighed.

"That hurt to say, didn't it?" Phoenix asked, finding humor in how uncomfortable Scott was. She chuckled. "You need a favor from me. Wow. Oh, this has to be some sort of life-and-death situation. Who's dying? Is it Scott?"

"No one's dying, Phoenix," Jean finally spoke up. Phoenix tilted her head. "We need your help. Um, ever since the procedure to give you a body, we've been trying to have a baby. I'm sure you already know the rest."

"I do," Phoenix said. She gestured to her head. "I can hear it, actually. But, I just want to watch you struggle to ask me what you need to ask me."

Jean sighed. "We need you to carry a child for us."

Phoenix raised her eyebrows, letting out a long whistle as she sat up. "There it is," she said. "Wasn't so hard, was it?"

"Are you gonna help us or not?" Scott asked, earning a nudge from Jean. If they were gonna get her on board with this, being rude was not the way to do it.

"Of all the people you could've gone to, you chose me," Phoenix laughed. "Oh you must really be desperate, huh?"

"You're the last person we would ask to do this, trust me," Jean said. "But you're the only one who shares my DNA."

"That's a bit weird," Phoenix commented. "I mean, were practically sisters and you want me to have your husband's baby."

"Technically, you two are the same person," Scott said. "And you're only having the baby, not conceiving."

"You say tomato..." Phoenix shrugged. "I say you want me to have your baby." She placed her hands in her lap, laughing.

"Look, can you do it?" Scott asked, clearly annoyed.

"Please, Phoenix," Jean said. "We wouldn't have come to you if we weren't desperate."

"One condition," Phoenix said, making Scott sigh.

"Fine, we'll pay you," he sighed.

"Not what I was asking," Phoenix said. "But I will accept the payment." She shook her head. "No, I want to name the baby."

"Absolutely not."
"Deal."

Scott looked over at Jean. "She can't name the baby," he looked back at Phoenix. "You cannot name the baby."

"Well, then it seems like I can't help you." Phoenix flicked her hand outward, opening the door. She stood up, moving away from the couple. "Guess I'll just go."

"So dramatic," Scott mumbled. He sighed, pinching his nose. "Okay fine." He heard Phoenix's footsteps stop. "You can name the kid."

"Great," Phoenix said. "I accept. But once I do have the baby, leave me alone."

9 Months Later

Jean was holding a platter of fruit, preparing to bring it out to the guests. She, Rogue, and Ororo were making food for the new students at the school. Everything was fine.

She felt a sharp cramp in her uterus, and she dropped the platter on the counter.

"Jean?" Rogue asked, setting the knife down on the cutting board, seeing her friend in pain. "You alright, Sugah? What's wrong?" She walked over to her, placing a hand on her back.

Jean didn't answer, she was too busy answering the call from Phoenix.

"I just pissed myself, and I'm cramping like crazy," Phoenix blurted, not even letting Jean say 'hello'. "What do I do?"

"I don't wanna alarm you or anything, Phoe," Jean panted, using the counter to push herself up. "But you're in labor. I felt it."

"You mean the baby's coming?"

"That's exactly what I mean," Jean said, feeling herself– well, Phoenix, start to panic. "No, no, no, don't panic. You're gonna make me panic. Just stay calm, find somewhere to lay. Scott and I are on the way." She rushed out of the kitchen, ignoring Rogue asking her who was pregnant and Ororo scolding her for leaving them to do all of the cooking. Scott met her outside and hopped on his motorcycle to deliver their baby.

Jean was the first one in the house, seeing a sweat-faced Phoenix, laying in a ball on the floor, sobbing. "Phoenix, I need you to roll over for me, okay?" Scott walked in, closing the door behind him. "Scott, go get some towels, they're in the closet by the bathroom upstairs." Scott nodded, running up the stairs. "Phoenix, I need you to listen to me. Turn over."

"No!" Phoenix yelled.

"Scott, run a bath!" Jean called upstairs. "We're doing a water birth!" Jean held her hands out, lifting Phoenix from the floor.

"Did she take anything for the pain?" Scott asked, completely frantic.

"Scott, she's having a baby, she's not on her period," Jean said, setting Phoenix in the tub of water. "Hold her hand. Phoenix, breathe." Jean slipped out of her shoes, getting in the other end of the tub. The baby's head was just starting to show. Phoenix picked one hell of a day to go commando. "I see the head! Okay, I need you to push."

"You know what you're doing?" Phoenix asked. "It's not that I don't trust you, but–" she was cut off by her own screaming out in pain.

"Phoenix," Jean said, looking at her glowing eyes. "Push."

Ignoring the flickering lights, Phoenix pushed, eyes glowing brighter. She let out a strained scream, breaking every light and mirror in her house. She clenched Scott's hand, burning the sleeve of his shirt. He grunted, trying not to scream.

"I need you to push one more time for me," Jean instructed, holding the baby's head.

"I have to do it again?" Phoenix grabbed Scott's arm with both hands.

"Just once."

Phoenix pushed once again, feeling a release of pressure as the rest of the baby's body slid out of her. She laid back in the tub covering her eyes as she heard the baby wailing. "Never ask me to do anything for you again," she panted, tears falling from her eyes.

"It's a girl!" Jean exclaimed, removing the gunk from the baby's airways. She looked over at Scott. "We have a baby girl." She looked at Phoenix, who was giving a faint smile. Scott didn't notice, he was too busy looking at his baby girl, but Jean did.

"I um," Phoenix said, getting the couples attention. "I would like to hold her, if that's okay. I mean, I did just push her out." Scott and Jean looked at each other before Jean leaned over the tub, handing her the baby. It may have been dim in the bathroom, but Phoenix could see the light in that baby's eyes. In those few moments, she realized she didn't want to be left alone. She wanted to see the kid grow up, too.

"Phoenix," Jean said, making the woman look up from the baby in her arms. "What's her name?"

"Benny," she answered. "Beniva Summers."

"And here I thought you were gonna name her after a bird," Scott chuckled. "Benny's not so bad."

"I have... I have one more request," Phoenix said. "It's just– I doubt the school has a nursery, and I may or may not have gone on a shopping spree for baby things–"

"You want us to stay with you, don't you?" Scott asked.

"Yes," Phoenix sighed. "I'm so glad you said it, not me." Jean looked over from the towels, holding one out for Benny. Phoenix sadly gave the baby over to the parents.

"She needs to be clean if she's gonna stay in her new room," Jean said, turning away from the two.

"Yeah, I guess thats fair– wait, does that mean you're staying?"

I love Phoenix with all my heart! Scott x Jean x Phoenix is chaotic. Their dynamic is ridiculous. Hope you liked it!