"I can't wait until we meet your grandparents!" Charlie grinned, bouncing in his seat. Roxy flicked the indicator on, shaking her head. "Do I have to be on my best behaviour?"

"Dad takes after Nana. Be warned."

"Ah. What about your granddad?"

"He's OK, pretty chill. You two will get along no problem, it's Nana I'm worried about. She's much more strict than Dad. And she'll cook meatloaf. Again." Roxy made a face. "I swear she eats nothing else. Granddad insists that she makes other things, roasts and cakes and trifles and such, but whenever we visit, it's meatloaf and treacle tart."

"I like treacle tart. Not meatloaf."

"Remind me to tell her you're vegetarian."

"Tell her I'm vegetarian."

"When we get there." Roxy sighed in defeat. Charlie shone an angelic smile her way and sat quietly for the next ten minutes. "OK, here. Best, best behaviour please."

"I'll be good, I promise. Ahhh, non-air-conditioned air." He took a deep breath, stretching his arms to the sides. "I have a cramp in my leg." Roxy just nodded. "What do I call your grandparents? Mr and Mrs Roundshore?"

"And 'sir' or 'ma'am'. No first name basis until they say otherwise. You'll probably get called 'young man' and 'boy' quite a bit by Nana and 'mate' when Granddad likes you. Can you get their presents from the boot? It was their anniversary last week." He looked blank. "That family party I had to go to, remember? The one you weren't allowed to because you had to meet my grandparents face-to-face rather than in a crowd."

"Ah. Yes. Is anything here breakable?" He asked as he studied the contents of the boot.

"The red one."

"What is it?"

"The robin ornament you found."

"At the garden centre?"

"Yes."

"Huh."

"What?"

"I'm going to start writing things down, I swear I've got a mind like a sieve lately." Roxy rolled her eyes, taking the present wrapped in green- a new bird house for her grandfather as he loved all the little birds flying in. "You knock." Charlie hissed. She raised a brow at him. "I'm scared now, you knock. Don't laugh, I'm terrified." Roxy smiled timidly and kissed his cheek.

"It'll be OK." She shut the boot and pressed the button on her key, hearing the locks click. "Come on, chicken."

"I have every right to be chicken." Charlie mumbled, following behind nervously. She shot him a pointed look. "Manners, best behaviour, Mr and Mrs Roundshore or 'sir' and 'ma'am' and if they ask I want seconds say I want thirds too even if I'm going to explode because your nana likes to fatten people up. Are you sure she's not the witch from Hansel and Gretel?"

"Pretty sure." Roxy knocked on the frosted patterned glass. Charlie meeped bravely as a shadow rippled on the other side. A chain clanked away and the door opened, revealing a stout woman. She was in her eighties with thick, curly grey-blonde hair, round glasses and a cold look on her face, detached, as she looked Charlie over. She wore a pale blue knitted jumper and a black, knee-length skirt, her feet encased in soft pink slippers. "Nana!" Roxy beamed.

"Roxanne, sweet heart!" The frosty expression melted away into a smile and she embraced her granddaughter. "So good to see you again." Mrs. Roundshore held Roxy's face in her small, wrinkled hands. "You look peaky, dear. I need to fatten you up." Her sharp grey eyes returned to Charlie. "This must be him."

"Yes, Nana. This is Charlie."

"Hello." Charlie smiled politely.

"Roxy!"

"Granddad!" Mr. Roundshore was taller and heavier than his wife, balding, grinning and ready for a hug. He was in a smart white shirt with the sleeves folded back, black trousers and blue socks. He smothered Roxy in a tight hug, laughing. He had always given her very powerful hugs, warm and homely, smelling faintly of baked bread and woodsmoke.

"And this young man must be Charlie! Greetings, young man!" Mr. Roundshore flourished a hand, Charlie shook it. "Ah, nice strong grip."

"He is a mutant, Granddad. I did tell you."

"So you did."

"It's dangerous, Roxanne." Mrs. Roundshore sniffed. "You know full well mutants and humans together is illegal." Charlie bit his lip sheepishly, glancing nervously at Roxy. "Well, come in then. Take your shoes off." Roxy went first, neatly putting her shoes behind the door. Charlie put his trainers next to hers and hovered nervously. "Sit. I'll put the kettle on. Roxy, with me." Roxy smiled apologetically at Charlie, handing him the other present.

"Just put them on the coffee table. Ask Granddad about his birds."

"Birds. OK." Roxy and her grandmother went through a door to the left, Mr. Roundshore led Charlie through a door on the right. The living room was a wide, long room, bright and airy. A plush sofa was pressed to the left wall and two matching arm chairs were against the back wall, looking out the French doors onto the garden. Charlie peered out curiously, seeing a pond in the back corner, a large stone shed covered in ivy at the back with plenty of bird houses among it. A two storey rabbit hutch stood before it, with a large run attached to the front. Two chubby black rabbits with floppy ears lazed in the sunshine. On the patio right outside the doors were dozens and dozens of different sized flower pots and stone ornaments of animals and a garden gnome with a creepy smile. "Very nice."

"Thank you." Mr. Roundshore gestured for him to take a seat on the sofa.

"Thank you." Charlie said quietly, sitting on the edge. There were more cushions on this sofa than he had ever seen in his life.

"So, you're a mutant?"

"Yes, sir."

"Can you do any cool tricks?"

"Uh..."

"What are you powers? Can you fly? Breathe fire?"

"That's a dragon, sir. Mutants can't fly unless they can turn into something that flies."

"Oh. What about breathing underwater?"

"Only with gills. I don't have any."

"What can you do then?"

"I can talk to animals."

"Anything else?"

"Um... I control water. I don't really use my powers. Mostly talk to animals."

"Could you talk to birds?" Charlie nodded. Mr. Roundshore beamed. "As you may have noticed, I love birds. I've got little families of robins, sparrows and starlings. I have some parakeets that fly in from time to time, we get the usual pigeons of course and magpies, crows, ravens and sometimes ducks too."

"Roxy said you loved birds."

"I'm always feeding them. Sultanas, bread, old cornflakes, ocassionally fat rinds. Ah, here they are now." Mr. Roundshore pointed. Charlie leant forward to see a few sparrows hopping about on the step just outside the doors. One of them pecked at the glass. "Strange. They've never done that before."

"They can sense me." Charlie got up. "You don't mind if I open that door, do you?"

"Of course not!" Mr. Roundshore smiled, eager to be closer to his beloved birds. Charlie carefully pushed the door open and the sparrows flapped up to sit on his shoulders and hands. "What are they saying?"

"Um... one at a time, hold on. Carl, you first." The sparrow on his left hand bobbed his head and squawked disapprovingly. "Magpies are flashy, it's what they do." The one on his right chirped in agreement. "Yes, Jill, they steal your bread, but they have families too, you know. Eve, what's the matter?" The sparrow on his shoulder fluttered down to his wrist, fluffing her feathers. "So you're OK? You just wanted to say hello?" The sparrow started to sing and the others joined in.

"What are you doing?"

"He talks to animals!" Charlie turned. Mrs. Roundshore and Roxy were back, each carrying two cups of tea. "It's amazing- I never realised the birds had names, but it makes sense now that I think about it."

"Charlie, you've got feathers in your hair." Roxy laughed softly, setting the tea on coasters on the table. The sparrows took flight out the door and Charlie cleared his hair. They all sat down, Roxy and Charlie on the sofa- at either end because Nana Roundshore was glaring daggers at Charlie- while the elderly pair sat in their armchairs. Roxy leant over and pulled a stray feather free.

"So," Mrs. Roundshore said curtly, making the heavy atmosphere even more so, "is my Roxanne in safe hands or not? I will not have her put in danger because of some mutant."

"We're not all dangerous, ma'am."

"Yet you all have the potential to be. Yes?" Charlie hesitated. "Yes." Mrs. Roundshore clenched her jaw. "And you all attract trouble, do you not?"

"Well-"

"How will I know my Roxanne is well cared for?"

"She-"

"Is there anything I should be aware of?"

"I-"

"What are you career plans?"

"I'm-"

"Where will you live after the wedding?"

"We-"

"What about-?"

"Nana, please!" Roxy intervened. "Let him speak!" Mrs. Roundshore pursed her lips. Roxy looked to Charlie and smiled encouragingly. Charlie felt his voice lodge in his throat and started chewing his lip. "Charlie?" She reached out and took his hand. He looked at her sidelong and nodded slightly. "Just tell her what you told my dad."

"Word for word?"

"Do you remember it word for word?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"I don't know. I just do."

"Not word for word. Just talk."

"Um... OK. We only attract trouble if we cause reason for it to be attracted. Uh, Roxy will be well cared for, there's alot of us to keep her safe if need be, ma'am. And I mean alot."

"Yes, Roxanne told me about your extensive family."

"My career plans currently are undergoing a little work, but I do have a plan. A serious one, before you say anything." He shushed Roxy playfully. She stuck her tongue out at him. "I want to train to either be a vet or a doctor maybe, in a children's hospital. I haven't fully decided yet. As for somewhere to live after the wedding..." He quickly looked at Roxy and then back at her grandparents, anxiously lacing his fingers with hers. "We're still looking." Roxy nodded. "Did I miss anything?" He asked her quietly. She shook her head.

"What about children?"

"Oh, not you as well!" Roxy flushed crimson. "We've had this conversation a million times with the others, please don't-"

"I was asking him, Roxanne."

"Leave them be, Mags." Mr. Roundshore sat forward, putting his mighty hand over her small one. "You're making poor Roxy uncomfortable."

"I want to know, Frank."

"So do I, but I'm not going to push them." He sipped his tea calmly. Charlie ran his thumb over the back of Roxy's hand soothingly. "Young man," Mr. Roundshore addressed Charlie, "what do you like to do in your free time?"

"Paint."

"As in painting and decorating?"

"No, sir. Painting pictures."

"You should see them!" Roxy added, grateful for the subject change. "Literally the best art work I've ever seen. Did you bring your paints?" Charlie nodded slowly, staring at her as though she were losing it. "Why don't you paint something for Nana and Granddad?"

"Like what?"

"Robins?" Charlie's eyes flickered to the older couple. Then he nodded hesitantly. "Here," Roxy dug the keys from her handbag, "go and get your things." He nodded again, slightly dazed. Roxy waited until the front door opened before turning to her grandparents. "Nana, why are you being harsh to him?"

"I am not!"

"You were a bit, dear." Frank admitted.

"You said he was very talkative. So far, I've only heard automatic responses."

"Nana, you're making him nervous. He doesn't want to mess this up." Roxy checked Charlie was still busy collecting his art things, lowering her voice. "He's got a few issues with confidence- if he gets too nervous, he'll either clam up or just witter on, neither of which he wants to do because he's worried he'll make himself look like an idiot." Her nan frowned. "Just give him a chance please. Mutant or not, he wouldn't hurt. He'd never let me get hurt, even at the cost of his own life. He's already promised Dad to make sure I'm safe, so don't go on about that, please."

"Roxanne-"

"Nana, please." Roxy begged under her breath as she heard the boot of her car shut. "Watch him paint, you'll see. He'll be more relaxed then." Mrs. Roundshore stayed quiet. Charlie closed the front door. She nodded as he walked in, bearing a canvas and his tub of paints and brushes. Roxy smiled gratefully at her nana and went to get Charlie a bowl of water and some kitchen roll.

"What am I painting again?" He asked, barely audible. Roxy smoothed his hair back and smiled.

"Robins."

"Ah yes. OK." Roxy sat back down. Mrs. Roundshore didn't take her eyes from Charlie the entire time he painted. He had set his canvas up, leaning against the coffee table, and they couldn't see what he was painting exactly. But Roxy was right. He talked more now that he had something to take his mind off things. "Did you grow all those plants out there, Mrs. Roundshore? I've never seen so many flower pots in my life, but they're great! I wish my nan had a constructive hobby. She's a little crazy, very spontaneous. You've met Vi, haven't you, Roxy?"

"A couple of times. Granddad, you'd like Vi. Very eccentric."

"Oh really?"

"Has a habit of jumping out of things." Roxy continued. "Planes, windows, trees. Oh, don't worry. She's perfectly fine afterwards. It's a mutant thing she's got going on, very jumpy."

"What about you, young man? Do you jump out of things?"

"Not unless it's absolutely necessary. Like a burning building. I may be mutant, but I am not fire pr-" His voice caught and he froze, staring at his canvas, brow furrowed. "Pr-" He tried again. "Fi- f-f..." Roxy set her tea down, rising and moving towards him slowly. She touched his cheek gently. He was still trying to get his words out, stammering and falling short of completeing his sentence.

"Charlie." Roxy called softly, taking his hand in both of hers. He grimaced and closed his eyes. "Look at me." He did so, conflicted. "Hey." She smiled. "You're OK. Aren't you? See here, you're painting. Painting is good, isn't it?" He nodded, biting his bottom lip. She stayed at his side while he calmed and his breathing eased out. She sat a little back when he continued painting, resting her feet in his lap so he knew she was definitely there. She was going to ask him about this later.

He finished his painting half an hour later, two robins with highly detailed feathers, flying in the snow and chasing the other playfully, swooping in a circle, their shadows cast behind them entwined lovingly.

"They look so real." Mr. Roundshore marvelled breathlessly when Roxy held it up proudly. Charlie washed his brushes, his hands trembling. "May I keep this, mate?" Roxy and Charlie shared a look, Roxy smiling an 'I-told-you-so' smile. Charlie nodded. Mr. Roundshore hung it proudly over the mantelpiece. "I'm hiring you as our official painter."

"Frank, you won't have space."

"Nonsense, Mags. I'll make space."

"Roxanne, help me with the lunch. My meatloaf should be ready soon."

"Meatloaf... oh! Nana, Charlie's vegetarian! I forgot to tell you earlier."

"Vegetarian?"

"I talk to animals, ma'am. I can't be best friends one minute and literally biting their heads off the next."

"Fair enough. Roxanne, what will he eat?"

"What have you got?" Roxy followed her grandmother into the kitchen, leaving Charlie with Mr. Roundshore once more. Charlie listened to them for a moment, Nana Roundshore interrogating Roxy on his behaviour. Frank was doing the same to him.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, thank you, sir."

"What was that?"

"I... um... it's... just an... just a little problem I have... I get... from time to time. It's nothing." Mr. Roundshore didn't look convinced.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Yes, sir."

"How much do you love my granddaughter?"

"Immeasurably, sir."

"I know you've already promised my son you'd look after her, but I would like that promise too. To ease an old man's mind."

"I'd die for Roxy, sir. I'd never let her get hurt, not because of me or anything else." Mr. Roundshore nodded thoughtfully, making a steeple with his fingers, contemplating. Charlie let him, putting his paints and brushes back in their tub.

"Come with me." Mr. Roundshore eventually said. He rose stiffly, waving aside Charlie's attempt of help, shuffling from the room. Directly opposite the front door was a flight of stairs, between the door to the living room and the door to the dining room. Mr. Roundshore climbed first, Charlie following behind and making sure the old man didn't fall. There were five rooms on this landing, two to the right and three to the left. Two were bathrooms, one a simple W/C and the other a fully equipped bathroom. The third door was a small bedroom. The other two were also bedrooms, one bigger than the first and one much smaller. They went into the bigger one. "My dear Roxy has told me much about you. You may be engaged, but I noticed no ring."

"I have been looking, sir, it's just finding the right one."

"Does Roxy have any input in the ring?"

"Some, but she wants it to be a surprise too."

"I see." Mr. Roundshore turned to the old dresser below the window, pulling open the drawers several times before he found what he wanted. "This," He said, holding it in his hands so Charlie couldn't see, "has been in my family for generations. My great-great grandfather made it himself to propose to my great-great grandmother. I won't bore you with my family history. Promise me you'll make an honest woman of my Roxy." He held his hand out, revealing a small ring box, faded with age. Charlie stared at it. The older man opened it, revealing a loop of silver and gold elegantly laced together, spiralling up to tenderly hold the brightest sapphire Charlie had ever seen. Either side of it, delicate metal wings dotted with detail and feathery spines spread, as though the jewel was to take off at any second. Looking closer, Charlie saw a ring of tiny diamonds circling the base of the sapphire.

"Sir, I can't... I can't take this."

"No, I insist. Roxy used to play with it as a child, dress-up. She was always so pleased to be allowed to hold it, wear it. I want her to have it for real now."

"But, sir-"

"No. I will not take no for an answer." Mr. Roundshore reached down, taking Charlie's wrist and lifting his hand, putting the ring box in it. "You take this and give it to my granddaughter. You keep her safe and happy and you make sure she gets the best of this life. She deserves it."

"I know, sir. She does." Charlie looked down at the ring. "What can I-?"

"I don't want anything for it. Just Roxy's eternal well-being. Can you do that for me?"

"Yes, sir." Mr. Roundshore smiled and held out his hand. Charlie shook.

"Call me Frank."

Charlie kept the ring in his pocket after that. Roxy was impressed that he was on first name basis with her grandfather already, doubly impressed when they started sharing jokes at the dinner table. Even her grandmother struggled to keep a firm expression, a crack of a smile peeping through very a split second. While they ate meatloaf, Roxy a little reluctantly, Charlie had cheese and cucumber sandwiches and a packet of ready salted crisps. "Sorry about the hassle." He told Mrs. Roundshore. "I'm sure your cooking is fantastic, but I won't eat meat."

"Not to worry, young man. More for us."

"You sound like my brother when no-one wants any cookies."

"Leon?" Roxy guessed.

"No, Mitchell. Do not get between him and a bag of cookies, trust me on that one."

"How many siblings do you have, Charlie?" Frank asked.

"Nine."

"And you are the oldest?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"And your parents? Are they happy with ten children?"

"Maddened, but happy, yes. At least I think so. It's a big house, big family, big messes, sometimes big fights. I help to keep things in check as much as I can. It's not easy though."

"I can imagine. Will they all be at the wedding?" Charlie nodded, biting into his sandwich. "When is this wedding anyway? Have you decided a date?" He looked at Roxy.

"Summer. We want it all paid for before we do it."

"Can we help?" Frank offered. Charlie swallowed his mouthful.

"Mum and Dad are paying for it."

"Can they afford it? What with ten children and everything?"

"My nan helps. She's very influential in most areas of the mutant civilisation side of things and she earns alot of money keeping the peace. She puts it all in separate bank accounts for each of us. Mum and Dad are drawing from that. It's to help us start in life. That's how I got my car." He told Roxy. "Vi brought the fluffy dice, that wasn't my idea. I think we've paid for the venue so far."

"And how each of us are going to get there. You're still not allowed to sky dive."

"Oh..." Charlie pouted childishly. Frank laughed.

"You mutants, I love you lot already!"

They left not long after lunch. It would take a few hours to drive back home as it was and Charlie was going on a serious job hunt tomorrow. Without telling Roxy, he had already started a new savings account, one for a baby. It was so they didn't have to worry so much when the time came and because he was very, very excited at the prospect of being a dad. Officially. No more of this third parent business.

Roxy was about to get in the driver's seat when Charlie took her hand and pulled her back.

"What are you-? Oh my god, that's the-!" Tears welled in her eyes and she waved her hand at her face, fanning herself. "Oh my god, oh my god..." Charlie was smiling, down on one knee. "I remember that ring, oh I'm crying... god, god, god..." She held her left hand out, right over her mouth to shut herself up.

"There." Charlie said as he slid the ring on. "Now it's definitely proper." He stood and looked her in the eye. "You're hyperventaliating."

"It's the ring! The ring! Oh my god..."

"Breathe."

"I'm crying..."

"We can see that." Mrs. Roundshore smiled. Both she and her husband had tears in their eyes. Charlie thought he should start crying too, but he couldn't out-drama Roxy. Not this time. "Oh, sweetheart." The older two hurried towards them and Roxy suddenly couldn't stop spouting 'thank you thank you thank you' over and over. Charlie stood to one side until Frank pulled him into the group hug. Roxy almost squeezed the life out of him, laughing and crying and thanking her grandparents repeatedly.

"It's the ring! It's the ring!" She exclaimed excitedly. "I haven't seen this for years, oh my god..."

"Will she be OK?" Charlie asked Frank quietly.

"Maybe you should get her home."

"Good idea."