"Alright, we're going to run ten laps around the house. After the first lap we're going to do ten push-ups, then after the second we do ten sit-ups, after the third ten jumping jacks, my count. Then repeat. Everyone got it?" Erik barked, sounding like a drill sergeant. As everyone made general acknowledgements and finished stretching out, Charles came jogging out of the house.

"Sorry I'm late. I had to ask Moira to start cleaning out Lily's room. Don't worry Erik I heard everything you said." He said brightly.

"Good, then I don't have to repeat myself. Let's go!" Erik said starting off at a jog. As everyone settled into their own rhythm, Raven ran up to Charles.

"Which room?" She asked.

"My old room. Where's Lily?" He repiled looking around.

"On the patio watching us sweat. What do you mean your old room?"

"Ok, our old room, the nursery where we grew up. Where on the patio?"

"On the steps. That old room? It's got to be crawling with bugs and mold and god knows what else. You can't put her in there!"

"Well there isn't much other choice. Besides Moira said she could have it done soon."

"Oh yeah the human said she could do it." Raven replied with a hint of disdaine.

"Hey, leave her alone. If it wasn't for her Lily wouldn't even BE here." Charles said a little breathless.

"I know. I'm sorry, it's just…I'm not comfortable around her." Raven said apologetically.

"Wanna know a secret?" asked Charles.

"Sure."

"Neither am I."

"Yeah right." teased Raven.

"No really I…"

"Come on mutants! Get your rears in gear! Your falling behind!" Erik shouted from behind them, accenting the point by smaking Charles in the said region and pushing Raven ahead.

They all ran and ran, and groaned when they found out one jumping jack to Erik was three to them. But finally they were able to collapse on the back lawn in exhastion. Erik continued to run five more laps before sitting down next to Charles, who was layed out panting heavily.

"Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. It helps get rid of more carbon dioxide. How's the room coming?" asked Erik pushing a water bottle at the smaller man. Charles took several deep breathes and a drink of water before saying,

"Good. It's coming along good. Moira says she won't be able to finish until tomorrow but she should be able to get it done by then." He said gasping slightly. "How do you manage to do this?"

"It's easier when someone's pointing a gun at you." Erik said flatly. Charles looked sorry for a minute then continued drinking. Erik waited a bit then stood up and called out,

"OK! Ten more laps! Then we'll start combat! If you stop you have to make it up tomorrow, no exceptions!"

Everyone groaned as they dragged themselves into upright positions and started jogging again. Charles ran slower then before but managed to keep pace. Suddenly he felt a tightening in his throat and a weight in his gut. He couldn't explain it but he needed to know where Lily was…right…that…SECOND. He picked up his pace a little more and as the feeling persisted he ran faster and faster. Soon he saw the patio and Erik in front of him. He could barely contain his panic as he pushed himself to run even faster.

Lily was climbing up onto the wide, smooth stone railing at least twenty feet up in the air. Erik was shouting something at her as she raised her head and smiled up at him. Suddenly she swayed a bit and…FELL ON THE WRONG SIDE! Charles ran but he knew he wouldn't be able to reach her in time and Erik was to far away to catch her. Hank suddenly appeared running faster then any human could have ever run. He over took Charles and Erik and skidded to stop as she was visiously yanked upward by her bracelet. As Erik and Charles ran up she was slowly let down but instead of landing safely in Hanks arms…she bounced.

"What the…" said a bewildered Erik. "Come back here!"

He snapped his fingers and she was brought back down again with the same results. Erik looking angry snapped his fingers again and tried to bring her toward himself and Charles. She simply bounced back from them again and hung just out of reach.

"What's going on! Charles!" Erik said warningly.

"It's not me! I have power over the mind not physical things!"

"Hank!"

"How's it my fault!"

"Calm down!" Charles said as Erik was about to reply. "Erik try letting her go."

"Oh yeah and have her plummet to the ground?" Erik snapped.

"Just try it!"

"Fine!"

Erik waved his hand, Lily fell a couple inches but just floated there like a hummingbird. Erik gaped up at her in astonishment, she looked back wide eyed with surprise and fear.

"HA! Can you believe it, Erik!" Charles said laughing in relief.

"Charles."

"She's floating! It must be her mutation, I thought it was just telepathy but this! This is amazing! Absolutly amazing!"

"Charles!"

"I-what?"

"As happy as I am to find out she can float. How in the hell are we supposed to get her down?" asked Erik.

"Ah…Hank can you reach her?"

Hank reached out as far as he could but she just stayed there floating softly up and down.

"Sorry Professor." He said sadly.

"It's ok. Hank go get the others will you?" Charles said. "Erik maybe you could reach her up on the railing."

Erik ran up the steps and climbed up on the railing. He leaned out and tried to grab her. Lily reached out her hands to him in an attempt to bridge the gap between them but her arms were to short.

"I…can…almost…reach…" Erik grunted leaning even farther out and just brushing her fingers. "Come here!" He said using his powers to try and pull her arm toward him. She simply stayed where she was floating, her eyes filling more an more with fear.

"Mr. Lensherr, you're gonna fall!" shouted Alex as the rest of the group ran up. Erik growled as Sean and Alex gripped him around the middle and dragged him off the railing.

"Raven go get a ladder from the house, could you?" Charles called out quickly. "Erik come down here a minute. Alex, Sean try to calm Lily down. Thank you."

Erik walked over and tarted talking quietly to Charles, who kept pointing up at Lily. Suddenly everyone heard a squeal and giggle emitt from above them. Lily was laughing at Alex who had Sean in a headlock .

"Let go!" Sean said in a muffled voice.

"No! She's laughing isn't she?" Alex replied.

"But you stink!"

"No more then you do."

"Shut up the both of you, this is serious." Raven said running past them with the ladder and placing it underneath Lily. Charles moved to get up on it but was yanked back by Erik.

"I'm not going to let you do this!"

"It's not that tall!"

"I don't care if it's midget sized!"

"Look, I am considerably lighter then you, no offense, and if I do fall…I know you're going to catch me." Charles said hotly.

"When you fall, you mean." Erik said, equally annoyed.

"Erik you can be such a…" Charles began.

"Such a what?"

"Such a worrywart!"

"N-no…I just don't want the only telepath we know who can actually teach that kid something, getting hurt or dying!" Erik said as he tried to deflect the insult/tease.

"I weep for the future." Raven said rolling her eyes. "If you two can't decide, I'll do it for Christ's sake!"

Raven climbed the step-stool and reached out her arms. Lily didn't move, she tried jumping to reach her but couldn't get the hight.

"I think she's drifted higher." Raven panted after several attempts. Erik shook his head and headed to the stool. Charles grabbed his arm and yanked him back.

"If you catch her and fall I won't be able to catch you!" He said quietly, so only Erik could hear.

"I'm used to it, don't be such a worrywart." Erik repiled throwing Charles' words back at him.

"I'm sorry my friend, I'm not going to let it happen."

Charles pulled Erik even farther back and ran up the steps as quickly as he could. Lily had drifted farther up, considerably. Charles couldn't reach her but she was closer to him at least.

"Lily! I need you to concentrate on letting go of your fear of falling!" Charles called up to her. She widened her eyes and a drop of water fell on Charles' face. His mind flooded with an image of a small casket.

"No! Lily I will not let that happen! I'm going to catch you! I promise you, you will not get hurt! Now concentrate." Charles replied as calmly as he could. Another image flashed in his mind of a poster with the words, No Puedo No Sé!

"Uhhh…Erik what does, No Puedo No Sé, mean?"

"I can't I don't know!"

"You speak bloody Spanish!"

"No, that's the translation nitwit!"

"Did you just call me a nitwit?"

"GET HER DOWN LAB RAT!"

Charles put his fingers to his temple and entered Lily's mind. He seached around for a moment before finding what he was looking for.

'Damn, I can't let her down slowly. Her power's to underdeveloped. She's gonna fall. Get ready Erik.' Charles thought.

Erik immediately shifted into a solid stance and raised his arms. Charles looked deep into Lily's wide, frightened eyes, another drop of water fell on his face, and turned her mind off for a second. She fell heavily into his arms, and he fell off the ladder straight into Erik's waiting arms. Lily exploded into tears as she woke up, clinging to Charles and Erik like they were life rafts. Alex and Sean jumped and yelled for joy. Raven and Hank hugged each other in happiness, Erik and Charles simply stood up and held Lily, reassuring her she wasn't in trouble but warning her not to do something like that again, no matter how much she wanted to slide down the railing.

"Charles I don't know why I told you I'd have that room done by tomorrow. I just found a huge mold patch, you're gonna have to have it done professionally…" Moira said walking out of the house and surveying the scene. "Hey, what happened?"

The mutants all looked at one another and just laughed.


HI! i love all the reviews! Thanks tons to everyone who reads this and cyber cookies to those who reviewed and will review! Ummm...I haven't decided yet if there's gonna be Charles/Erik. Maybe if the plot allows. (Prolly maybe) i suppose i should put a disclaimer on this thing before Stan Lee comes after me with a pitch fork and torch. So! I own nothing except the Lily Concept...she's mine!