Part One: Lying in a shady spot somewhere.

Jean checked her watch again. It was almost noon. Where were they? She could hear Remy banging away in the kitchen behind her; he had refused to let her cook lunch. ("Don't worry, Chere, Gambit know how to do t'ings right.") It was to be a family affair, with many of the X-men and certain of their friends attending. Later, Jean and Scott could have time to themselves. Scott came in, kissed Jean, eyes hidden as usual behind his glasses. He understood her worried expression.

"Don't worry, they'll be here," he assured her. "When have they ever broken a promise to us?" He was right, of course. They were taking their van up from New York City. A big risk, but they were willing to do it so that they could be with their friends. The pair waited by the garden door. Suddenly, there was a rap at it, and the two entered, shedding layers of clothing and grinning. Scott grinned back.

"Ah, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arrive at last!" Jean teased.

"Not so teenage any more," Donatello joked. Jean realized that he was right. They aged so gracefully, it was hard to see, but it was true; the Turtles were getting older. Let's see, sixteen years old at the wedding...That made them 32! Unbelievable! Don had confided in Jean the story of how they met their future selves. They would live for at least one hundred years, perhaps much longer. Jean had seen in Don's eyes the knowledge of the inevitable cruelty; the Turtles must watch their human and mutant friends wither and die. But she thrust the dreary thoughts aside. Be happy, she told herself.

"Happy 17th anniversary!" cried Raphael, and Donatello echoed the salutation. They dropped their disguises onto nearby chairs as Jubilee entered. She, too, had aged, and she led her youngest son, Josh, by the hand.

"Hi guys. Dinner's ready. Or rather...lunch," she smiled. They followed her into the dining room, where everyone in the house was gathering. The X-men and their families sat around the huge table as Rogue and Remy, themselves newly wed, laid out the food. A warm wave of smiles and greetings met Don and Raph, and soon all were seated, talking happily.

Don found himself between Scott Summers' brother, Alex, and Raph, who was actually smiling as he cradled Professor Xavier's small son. Don shot a glance at the laughing Professor. He was happy now, with his wife Erica, and Don was glad. He was a man of science and wisdom whom Don admired, and he truly deserved his happiness after all he'd done to help mutants. Mutants were a much commoner breed nowadays, but despite this fact, the Turtles still found it sadly necessary to hide themselves from a government which hated them and a public which feared them.

Don looked at Emily and Jeremy, the Summers twins, across the table. They were 16 now. Lord, he remembered 16! Things had been so different then...He had been so different. How would he change in the next 16 years?

His reverie was broken as everyone joined hands to say grace over the meal. Even Raph, who was undoubtedly an atheist, hesitantly joined the circle. Don bowed his head as Professor X began to speak of the group being together, of the anniversary, of the luscious feast spread on the immense table. Don thought of his own blessings. His friends, family...himself. He thought of all the danger he'd survived, and wondered if it was luck or God's will that he had been spared death so often.

Lunch was filled with happy conversation, and afterwards, laughter as they retired to the living room with cups of coffee to open presents. Some were homemade, some were espensive, but all were accepted joyfully from the loving givers. Raph shyly presented them with an assemblage of old and new photos of the couple in a gorgeous silver frame. One photo for each year they had known each other. The smiles and obvious pleasure of Jean were enough to make Raph turn several interesting colors and mutter, "Ah, forget about it."

With smile, Don watched as Scott unwrapped his gift. The man gasped as he beheld it, then cradled it in his hands as he held it up for all to see. It was a wooden carving depicting Scott and Jean, hand and hand. Everyone could see the love Don had poured into the homemade gift; he had spent hours getting it shaped perfectly, then smoothing and finishing it to a beautiful mahogony. It gave off a polished gleam in the chandeleir's light. And at the base, carved carefully, were the words, "Scott and Jean: Happy 17th anniversary, love, Donny." He didn't need their thank yous to see how much he'd touched them, and Don was glad. Jean and Scott meant a lot to him.

Hours later, Don rose. "It's time we left," he said with a sigh. He waved off cries of protest and apologized, "Sorry, but I want to be gone before rush hour. Less chance of being seen. C'mon, Raph." Raph, who had been holding two of Jubilee's kids, reluctantly handed over the boys to their mother and rose to his feet. The Turtles muffled themselves against human suspician and the cold, and were gone.

After their departure, the mansion began to empty quickly. The X-men had so little time between missions to get together and reminisce. But tonight, it had been arranged that all the non-X-men would stay elsewhere for the night, save Rogue and Remy's infant son, Bobby. Soon the X-men were alone.

As Wolverine went into the kitchen for beers, the Professor smiled and opened his mouth to speak. But what he was going to say could only be guessed at, because just then, a portion of the roof collapsed with a thunderous roar. No one was hurt, but Professor Xavier had been knocked from his wheelchair, and all were stunned. In a moment, the room was full of what appeared to be cybernetic soldiers. One of them stood forth with a sneer. "X-men," he began, but before he could begin his threat, Wolverine leapt and pierced armor and skull with adamantium. The soldier, apparently unharmed, tossed the man aside as if he were made of paper. As the X-men recovered, they rose to defend themselves.

In a valient defense, they held their own for a long while. But the cybersoldiers could take whatever the mutants dished out; the same couldn't be said for the X-men. As Professor X held off one, he realized that his mental powers did not work on these creatures. But why not? He had no time to think about it, because just as Storm came to his aid, the soldier shot him. One by one, the X-men followed suit, fighting and dying, struck by piercing lasers or bone-crushing fists. Jubilee found herself alone. Where was everyone? Could she be the only one left? Then, to her horror, the soldier facing her began to grow. He resumed his true shape, monstrous and evil, before he laughed cruelly and raised his laser to plow a gaping furrow in the floor. Jubilee only had time to think, "Omigod! It's Apoca-" before her skull was crushed by a piece of flying masonry.

The world was silent and full of rubble.