Back to the hospital, then.
Also, I think I might have managed to finally write all needed chapters...! I will be just checking them for timeline hiccoughs and language. Should be a post every 2-3 days now.
Let me know how you feel about this one.
Moira, Healing
She couldn't say Erik grew on her, because she'd known him for over twenty years (on one hand, because on the other it was just a few weeks, split by these twenty years), and that was a long time to suddenly discover you start liking a fellow human. Or mutant. However she found herself seeing much more of Erik in him and much less of Magneto. And Erik seemed to be actually an acceptably reasonable person, most of the time. They both - and Charles - shared the final aim - mutants being accepted in the society on equal rights. They didn't share the approach and the methods - but she suspected that his past and the powers he possessed made him look at the world in slightly different manner than, say, Charles.
He was also very obviously traumatised by whatever that was that had happened to his family. She could commiserate, in a way. Still, she didn't dare to ask for any details. She was much too grateful for his company to do such an insensitive thing.
The news from school came every day - the children were studying, despite the chaos and long recovery of some of the teachers. There was work being done on a new workshop, for kids with less x-men candidate mutations, so that they could help Hank with his projects. There was a pool, and a sauna being added to the mansion.
Mmm, sauna. Wonder who thought that one up.
They managed to work out a kind of language to allow them to discuss school matters more openly. Slowly, sentence by sentence, they built a vocabulary and a dictionary of signals to convey specific meanings.
"Girls asked about you. Jean sends her regards and says she managed to finally get that last song down pat. Charles set her some new exercises and she's torturing the piano again."
Jean managed to control some more of her powers - whatever that was this time - and Charles is giving her new tasks to exercise detailed control.
"Tell Alex to make sure all kids get properly graded in P.E., according to their progress. Don't let him be too strict."
Remind Alex that every kid has some limitations and if I hear that he tried to introduce a boot camp training regimen again, I'll hit him.
"Alex and Scott turned out to be sunburn prone" he said, rubbing his forehead. "Hank is working on some better sunscreen for them. They spend most day at home for the time being, but they are getting really restless, so Jean is teaching them meditation"
She blinked.
"How come they never noticed it before?"
He shrugged.
"Probably onset of hormonal changes, in Scott's case, and then we had a look at Alex's reaction - it's much weaker than Scott's, but still there. And it's causing them exactly the same type of ache" he massaged the back of his skull in a casual gesture.
She opened her eyes wide.
That explains a lot! - Alex and Scott are energised by the sun and Jean is draining their surplus, while Hank is working on some type of insulation for them. Wow.
"Alex is probably too independent to come to anyone and say he has a problem with a bit of sun. It's a good thing that you checked him after Scott reported sunburn."
"Actually, it was Alex who reported Scott, and then admitted having similar problems."
She smiled, rather widely.
"He's growing so responsible - he takes Scott's good so seriously. I think having to take care of a younger brother will stabilise him a lot."
Having someone with similar powers, who also can't control them very well will give Alex some output for his worries. And if he focuses on teaching Scott, he may even gain some control over his own power, too.
"Please check if Scott is keeping up with his remedial classes. Don't let Alex drag him off to fix the bikes, or something equally crazy."
Make sure Scott stays focused, despite the hero-worship he seems to be suffering from.
"Charles is still a bit oversensitive after the last bout of flu, so he's staying home just to avoid risk of catching something new."
Charles' telepathy is shot to hell and he needs to avoid crowds.
"Ask Jean to make sure all children read their assignments and check if they have no questions. Just don't let her read it aloud to them, they are supposed to be reading, not listening."
Make sure Jean doesn't try to mother every new kid too much, they need to become independent at some point. Also, she needs time to herself.
"Raven's better after her cold, so she can get the kids to do the laps, even if she's not yet running with them."
Raven is stable, but not yet well enough to leave the house.
"If the children are good during the weekend, the stash of cookies is on the top shelf, first bookcase in the library."
If the children are good during the weekend, the stash of cookies is on the top shelf, first bookcase in the library. Just make sure they also eat appropriate meals, before, and that you two secure some for yourselves.
"Charles asked after you and told me to make sure you'll be back soon."
Charles is a miserable sod without you, so please, get better before I have to kill him just to stay sane.
"Tell Charles I said 'hi'."
Tell Charles I love him.