Disclaimer: I do not own Static Shock or The Incredibles

Chapter Twenty-Five: Making it Permanent

Slowly, inevitably, things returned to normal.

There was no question that Frieda was more responsible for the return to equilibrium than any therapy session. She and Francis were spending more and more time together. She would often stay behind after school to watch Francis at practice and then he would treat her to ice cream or just a slow walk hand-in-hand around the warming city of Dakota. They'd accomplished all the small little milestones a relationship heading into its fifth month should have. He'd met her parents, had had a stern talking to from her dad. She'd been invited over to the Sanctum for a nice dinner. It had taken two days to hide all superhero paraphernalia and arrange for Jack-Jack to be watched by an NSA sitter.

Francis was looking forward to having all summer to spend time with Frieda. Last year, the thought of being in such a committed, long-term relationship would have scared him silly. Now, the very idea of being away from Frieda for more than a few days at a time scared him. She was his new normal.

The days were growing longer and the students at Dakota High School were all coming down with a serious case of spring fever. But for Francis his days were as jam-packed as ever. Splitting his time between baseball, school, training, and Frieda was tricky, but he found that he liked the challenge. He liked waking up with a little burn in his muscles from all the exercise, liked having Frieda help him through his class work. Things finally seemed to be settling right.

And then Wade came back from his suspension and decided that baiting Francis would be his new pastime. Francis' shoulders were black and blue from being knocked into lockers. Wade would throw insults at anyone he could think of. Frieda, Violet, and Richie were all fair game. And every time Francis felt like he was about to combust from pure rage one of them was there to put a hand on his arm and walk him away to talk him down. If this was what actual, caring friendships were like, Francis decided he could get used to it.

"Hey, I was thinking about this girl." Virgil flopped onto the couch beside Francis. The pyro had his feet propped on the coffee table and was slouched so low he almost disappeared into the cushions. One red eyebrow arched as an indication that Francis was listening.

Virgil also took it as a sign to continue. "I was thinking I could ask her out, but I wasn't sure…"

"If she would say yes? So what? If she says no just ask her again till she gives in. Worked for me."

"I'm not sure that's a sound strategy for everybody." Virgil grabbed one of the pillows and hugged it to his chest.

Francis glanced at Virgil out of the corner of his eye. "Stop being such a girl about it and just go do it."

"Gee, thanks." Virgil pouted. "That's helpful."

Francis' mouth quirked into a grin. "Daisy right?"

"Wha…? Yeah. How'd you know that?"

"Cause you haven't shut up about her in weeks. You're so in love with her it's disgusting."

Virgil snorted. "Says the guy who licked ice cream off his girlfriend's cheek today at lunch."

Francis' head jerked up and he slapped the magazine shut. "I told Violet not to tell!"

"Actually, it was Richie."

"Remind me to steal his glasses and hide them in one of those jars filled with goop in the chem room or something." Francis grumped.

"C'mon dude, can we please be serious about this for a second?"

Francis sat up and turned to Virgil. "Just call me Serious George."

Virgil whacked Francis in the face with the pillow. "Actual real advice would be nice now."

"Okay, you've been going to school with this chick for a couple of months now. You've hung out, a lot. You talk about her all the time. You like her. It's not hard. Ask her out. The next time you see her, don't wait or you'll wimp out."

Virgil's brow furrowed as he mulled the idea over. "I guess you're right."

"I know." Francis swung his feet back up on the table and reached for the remote.

"Hey guys, my mom says dinner will be ready in a few…" Violet walked into the room and stopped in the doorway. She folded her arms over her chest and offered them a Cheshire grin. "Whatcha guys doing? Having a heart to heart?"

"Yes." Virgil said just as Francis responded with a "No." They turned and glared at one another.

Francis looked back to Violet. "A manly one."

"One month left. Can you smell the freedom?" Richie sniffed at the air.

Violet giggled. "No, all I can smell is the burnt mac 'n cheese from the cafeteria."

Richie grinned crookedly at Violet. "You have no imagination."

"Hey guys!" Both Richie and Violet turned and saw Francis and Frieda walking up behind them. Francis had his sports bag slung over his shoulder and one arm around Frieda, who was waving as they approached.

"Practice over already?" Violet asked.

"Yeah, but we're pulling double practices all next week." Francis groaned.

"Well, that's what you get for having a winning team. A postseason." Richie quipped.

Francis playfully punched Richie's shoulder and the bespectacled boy made a show of being in pain. Violet and Frieda gave each other knowing looks. Boys.

"Isn't Virgil meeting us today?" Frieda asked.

Francis and Violet looked at each other. "I think he was, after he dealt with something." Francis answered.

"What something is that?" Frieda asked.

"Professing his love for his nerd soulmate." Violet supplied, a smirk on her face.

Richie grinned. "You say nerd like it's a bad thing."

"Term of endearment." Violet retorted with her own grin.

"Hi Daisy." Virgil hurried to catch up to the girl in the crowded hallways. Students were pushing and shoving to get out the doors and while that might be an average scenario in other high schools, the students at the Vanmoor Institute were anything but average. They were so laden down with textbooks, charts, and equipment that trying to navigate the corridors was an acquired skill. Virgil hadn't quite gotten the hang of it.

After being jabbed in the side with a telescope protruding out of someone's backpack, Virgil finally managed to make it to Daisy's side. She looked up from her locker and smiled at him. "Hi Virgil. How're things?"

"Good, good. Busy, y'know?" Virgil leaned against the locker next to Daisy's trying to appear at ease.

"Yeah, did you finish that analysis for Specs and Trapper yet? Their electro-magnetic component is throwing me for a loop."

Virgil grinned. "Actually yeah I did. Want me to help you with it?"

"Sure, that would be great!" Daisy finished packing up her books and shut her locker and turned to Virgil. "Want to come over this weekend? We can work on it then."

"Oh…uh…" Virgil faltered. "That's sounds great. And maybe after, we could go do something, like a movie? Or dinner?"

"Sounds like fun." Another dazzling smile. "I know this great pizza place just down the street from my house. They have the best breadsticks."

"Awesome, I'll call you."

Daisy nodded. "Okay then. See you later."

Virgil watched Daisy walk away and then fist-pumped in celebration.

"That's not a date." Francis said around the popsicle in his mouth. His hands were occupied with a game controller and his eyes remained glued to the TV as his character and Virgil's raced around the flaming aircraft carrier trying to avoid enemy soldiers.

Virgil jabbed at the "A" button and frowned. "Yeah it is. We're getting pizza and studying."

"That is not a date." Francis reiterated. An explosion filled the screen and Francis cackled with glee.

"Wha…yes it is!" Virgil cocked his head to one side. "Sniper behind you."

"Got 'im." Francis mumbled. "And no, it's not."

"I'm going to the jury on this one." Virgil spared a glance at the couch were Violet was stretched out, a magazine open in front of her. "Vi? Date or not?"

"I'm gonna side with Francis on this one." Violet answered.

"Ha!" Francis laughed.

Virgil paused the game.

"Hey." Francis frowned. "C'mon, I was about to pistol whip his ass."

"If it's not a date, what is it?" Virgil asked.

Francis took the popsicle out of his mouth and chomped on the last bit of flavored ice before turning the stick over to read the joke. He was clearly going to let Violet field this one.

"Because she asked you over to help her with homework and then you suggested food. It's not a date. It's hanging out. As friends." Violet said with a look on her face that suggested Virgil was being slow.

Virgil's brow furrowed. "But we've never hung out just the two of us before. Don't you think she thinks this is a date?"

"Did you even use the word date?" Francis butted in.

Virgil thought back to his earlier conversation with Daisy and the slapped a palm to his forehead. He fell forward and buried his face in the carpet. "Oh god, we're just hanging out. It's not a date."

Francis patted Virgil's back. "If you kiss her at the end of it, it's a date."

Violet snorted and returned to her magazine.

When Virgil didn't move Francis tapped him on the head with the controller. "Can we finish this now?"

Virgil groaned.

"Is that a no?"

"Hiya Pops." Virgil walked into his father's suite to find Lucius sitting on the couch in front of the television. A basketball game was on.

"Hey." Lucius patted the couch cushion next to him and Virgil dropped into the offered seat. "What's on your mind?"

"I was just wondering if you wouldn't mind giving me a ride to Dakota on Saturday. Me and Daisy are going to study."

Lucius winced. "Oh, uh, actually I was hoping you would stay here Saturday night."

Virgil quirked an eyebrow in question.

Lucius rubbed his chin. "I invited Trina over for dinner, and I wanted you to be there."

"Oh." Virgil sat back. "Do I have to?"

"Yes."

Virgil folded his arms over his chest and stared sullenly at the TV for a few seconds before continuing. "Look, you can date whoever you want to but I don't really want to be involved in it, okay? I want to hang out with Daisy and if you won't drive me then I'll just fly there, no big deal."

Lucius frowned and reached for the remote to turn the TV off before turning to Virgil. "Yes. Big deal. I thought you said you were okay with me dating?"

"I am."

"Doesn't sound like it."

Virgil got to his feet and headed for the door. "I'm okay with it so long as I don't have to see it." He opened the door, paused, and looked back at his father. He sighed heavily. "What if I was back by dinner?"

Lucius smiled. "That should work. Thank you Virgil."

Virgil nodded and then left, shutting the door behind him.

The one downside of playing baseball? It wasn't the long practices or the aching muscles. It was the fact that Wade knew where to find Francis every day. He'd walk out of the locker room, and there Wade would be, waiting with a smug smirk on his face and a pack of cronies flocking him. Francis would be heading to his bike in the parking lot, and there Wade would be, lounging in the driver's seat of his new truck with the music blaring and engine revving menacingly.

So far, nothing had come of it. But if Wade was playing mind games, then the physical part of the game couldn't be far behind. Francis knew how a guy like Wade operated. Not too long ago, he was just like him.

And it just goes to show Wade was not very adept at subtle when even the little freshmen pitcher Oliver Brown started commenting on Wade's stalkerish behavior after spotting the banger sitting in the bleachers watching them practice.

"Are you seriously not going to do anything?" Richie asked one day at lunch.

Francis looked up from his chips and noticed Wade glaring at him from across the cafeteria. He shrugged and went back to his food. "No."

"But he's being extra creepy, with a side of sinister." Richie argued, gesturing with his fork.

"But he hasn't done anything. And I'm not going to start anything either." Francis shot back. "Duncan would suspend me if I got into a fight again. Not to mention States are next week. I don't want to risk that." He looked at Wade again and then shook his head. "He doesn't scare me."

Frieda fiddled with her apple. "He scares me."

Francis looked at her. Frieda continued. "What he might do to you, that scares me. Promise you'll be careful?"

"Of course, I promise. Trust me babe, I know how to play this game. I know the rules. He can't beat me."

Frieda didn't look entirely convinced but she stopped poking the apple with her fingernail and actually began eating it, which was a start.

The only one who hadn't said anything was Violet and Francis looked to her for an opinion. She raised one slender black eyebrow as a response. It was probably a testament to how well Francis and Violet had gotten to know each other that he could read her expressions. She wanted him to be careful, but not necessarily about Wade. He could take Wade. No question. Violet wanted Francis to be careful about how much of his Super abilities he might reveal to Wade or Frieda or anybody else if a physical altercation did occur.

Francis gave a slight nod and Violet returned to her meal. Message received.

Bob walked out of the bathroom and into the bedroom he shared with his wife. Helen was already in bed, a book propped open on her lap. Bob climbed into his side of the bed and turned off his bedside lamp. Then the only light in the room came from the soft glow of Helen's lamp.

Bob twisted and rolled until he was on his side facing Helen. He wrestled his pillow into the crook of his arm and settled down, closing his eyes…

"We need to talk."

"Uh oh."

Helen smiled and placed her bookmark before setting the book aside. "It's not bad."

"That's good." Bob hadn't opened his eyes and was speaking in a bleary voice, muffled by his pillow. "What about?"

"Francis."

Bob groaned.

Helen rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Most of our important discussions of late have been about Francis, but this is a big one."

Bob sat up then and smothered a yawn. "Okay, what's up?"

"I've been thinking, even since before the whole video mess, that we should consider making Francis' stay here permanent." Helen began.

"Sure, makes sense." Bob rubbed his eyes sleepily. "Where else is he going to go anyway? We can call Dicker and set something up."

"No, no Bob I don't think you're understanding." Helen continued. "I was thinking we should adopt Francis."

Bob slowly turned his head to face Helen. "What?"

"Think about it, he's basically part of the family now. He'll turn eighteen next fall, and then what? He's not our problem anymore? He goes back to the NSA? He gets relocated? If we adopted him we could help put him through college, give him a family, a home base. He's been shuffled around so much I think it would be really important to give him something solid, something permanent."

"Put him through college?" Bob seemed dazed. "We don't have enough saved up to get Violet through college. How…Helen, this is big."

Helen gave him a look that said he was being an idiot. "I know. Hence the discussion we're having right now." They were silent for a few minutes as Helen let Bob absorb the idea. "Nothing has to be decided tonight. I just thought I'd bring it up. And we still have to talk to Francis. I can guess at what he wants and needs but we actually need to know before we can move forward with anything."

Bob nodded. "Yeah, that sounds like a plan."

Helen tried to read Bob's face, to gauge how he was feeling. Bob felt her stare and slung an arm around his wife, pulling her to his side. "It makes sense. And the kid fits in pretty good around here. I wouldn't mind having him stick around."

Helen beamed excitedly and then leaned up to kiss Bob. "That's my husband."

Author's Note:

So it's been forever since I updated. Sorry about that. We're heading into the home stretch though. Only five more chapters to go. Things are going to start picking up.

Also, I'm not sure if no one noticed or if you just decided to go with it but I added a scene I had written into the beginning of chapter 23 explaining baseball tryouts and all that. For some reason it got lost in the shuffle when I was uploading the chapter so if you were paying attention, you might have been confused by the whole baseball plot coming out of nowhere like that. Sorry. My bad.

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