The door to Charlie's room creaked open, spilling light across Roxy's face. She moaned and rolled onto her other side. Then she registered sniffling. She turned back and squinted into the light, shielding her eyes. A small figure stood there, trailing an Avengers blanket and a slightly worn teddy bear. "Connor." She sat up, rubbing at her eyes. "What's the matter?"

"Where's Charlie?"

"He's downstairs. Sleeping on the sofa." She added when he hiccupped. Roxy got up and padded over quietly, holding her hand out to him. He looked at her unhappily. "What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?" He nodded. "What was it about?" He shook his head. Roxy knelt before him, touching his cheek gently. He flinched. "Hey, don't do that. I won't hurt you."

"You left Charlie."

"I'm back now."

"You still left. Charlie was not Charlie then."

"I know, I'm sorry. I really am, I can't tell you how sorry I am."

"Will you stay now?"

"Yes."

"Promise?"

"I promise." Roxy said solemnly, engaging in his pinky promise when he offered. "Let's get you to Charlie, yeah?" The child nodded, taking her hand and following at her side dutifully. Down the stairs, across to the sofa. Connor let her go then, scrambling clumsily onto Charlie's chest. Charlie opened his eyes, blinking at his baby brother a few times and then smiling sleepily.

"Hello, trouble."

"Nightmare." Connor mumbled. Charlie smoothed the child's hair back and chucked him under the chin. "Everybody left me." Tears dribbled down Connor's face.

"No, that won't happen. I'll let you in on a little secret, yeah?" Connor nodded hesitantly, Charlie calmly wiping his thumbs beneath those watery brown eyes. "If I had to, I'd leave that lot and take you, but sssh! Don't tell them I said that!" Connor smiled timidly and lay down after a pat on the back from his older brother. Charlie folded his blanket about him and winked at Roxy. "Works every time." He mouthed.

"Love you, Charlie." Connor said quietly.

"Love you too, buddy." Charlie kissed the top of his brother's head. "You get some sleep, bubba bro. I'll keep those mean nightmares away for you." Connor settled, his head against the curve of Charlie's neck.

"Will he be OK?" Roxy questioned quietly. Charlie nodded, holding his hand out to her. She knelt beside him and he toyed with her hair. "He made me promise not to leave again."

"Pinky promise?" She nodded. "Don't break that. He's a fire user and he burns nasty."

"I'll keep that in mind." Charlie smiled. "How often does he have nightmares?"

"Often enough. They're usually the same. He developed his powers later than the rest of us did. Being the youngest and shortest, he's worried that he doesn't fit in and that we'll leave him on day or throw him out."

"Oh bless." Charlie nodded. "Does he come to you every time?" Another nod. "He's so sweet." He hummed distractedly, a dreamy look in his eyes. "What?" He startled.

"Nothing."

"No, tell me." He bit his lip. Roxy pinched his arm. "Tell me."

"Do I have to?"

"Yes."

"Fine. But don't kill me." He watched her until she nodded. "I was just thinking... how... when we're married, place of our own... kids."

"Kids?"

"Not baby goats. Baby us."

"You're really thinking this through, aren't you?"

"Yeah... You don't mind, do you?" Roxy hesitated and he looked put out. "Sorry I brought it up, it's just-"

"Hey, ssh. It's OK. It's just... a lot to get my head around, that's all." She shifted to get comfortable, wiggling her toes to rid her foot of pins and needles. "Charlie, I don't want to rush into things though. This whole... half-mutant baby pregnancy thing... I'm- I'm absolutely terrified."

"Don't be." He took her hand. "I'll help you."

"I know, I'm just... worried." Roxy studied the scars on his hand, some old, some new, some still with scabs. "How many did you want anyway?"

"Twenty-four."

"What?"

"One for each letter of the alphabet."

"You idiot. How many did you want seriously?" Charlie pursed his lips, eyes flitting about thoughtfully. Connor squirmed and mumbled in his sleep, pulling his blanket about him. Roxy waited patiently, praying for a single digit number below five. "Charlie?" He raised a brow at her, relaying her question. "I want a few, three maybe." He just nodded. "You want more, don't you?" He smiled sheepishly. "Oh my god, Charlie, ow. I'd have thought living in this big family you'd want to lower the numbers a little."

"Um... I'm trying to win here."

"Win what? I'm going back to bed before you get any more ideas, you're crazy."

"I'll just dream about you instead then, my sunshine."

"Crazy." Roxy muttered as she ascended the stairs. "Absolutely crazy."

"I can hear you!" Charlie hissed. Roxy stopped at the top and turned back. "I am crazy!" He smiled. "Crazy about yooooouuu." He blew her a kiss. Roxy tried to catch it, pretended to miss and gave him an 'oh well' look. She started back to his room, tying her hair back into the ponytail. She wasn't sure if he actually said it or she was imagining it, but she definitely heard- in some form- "You shall mother my children."