Author's note: Thank you to partygirl98, BrySt1, Guest, anonymouscsifan, and AvengersPrincess15 for the reviews! You guys are awesome! AvengersPrincess, I'm so glad you like it :-)

BrySt1 is right. The X-Men are going to be less-than-thrilled about their dinner guest ;-)

An Uncomfortable Dinner

I'm still not sure about this, but I defer to Charles' judgment.

To be honest, I think he wants to show off the school a little. For Vivien to see the happy mutant children who live here, so she can understand what we do at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters in comparison to the Brotherhood's methods.

Ok, maybe this isn't such a bad idea after all.

I think that perhaps I want her to see this as well. Then she'll know what I was talking about back at Alkali Lake.

"I don't mind," Vivien says calmly. She starts to stand, and I hurry to help her up from the window seat. "Thank you."

I probably don't actually need to keep a hand on her waist, and neither do I really need to use my other hand to hold hers as I assist her to the wheelchair. But I do it anyway, because I want to touch her while I have an excuse.

"Splendid," Charles replies. After Vivien is in place, he politely says, "after you."

He motors along next to us as I push Vivien's wheelchair through the hallway. Soon enough the generic sounds of a school cafeteria start to float towards us.

"Here we are," Charles announces when we turn into the crowded dining hall.

What happens next is almost like a wild fire.

First one or two children look in our direction- either mere errant glances, or to simply see who the newcomers in the room are. They're the sparks that ignite the whispers that spread through the room like flames through dry brush, until the entire cafeteria is buzzing about our arrival.

Within thirty seconds, everyone is looking at us. The weight of the stares- some only curious, some shocked, and a few outright hostile- makes me want to run right out of the room. And it's not even directed at me.

They're all staring at Vivien, the stranger who (according to the whispers) is a Brotherhood member. I'm surprised the school's general population is so well-informed.

"Come along," Charles murmurs. I think he's a little disappointed by our rather off-putting reception.

The counters in this room are specifically fitted to be wheelchair accessible, so it's simple enough to push Vivien along while I make up our trays. Charles still ends up waiting for us at the very end of the line, though, because of the extra time it takes for two meals.

"I can fill my own plate, you know," Vivien says huffily as I place small portions of mashed potatoes and green beans on her plate.

"I don't trust you with this," I retort. She asked for two sandwiches earlier and ended up giving most of the second to me thanks to becoming too short of breath. "Your stomach-"

She's pouting now, and leaning back in her chair so I can see the irresistible expression.

I sigh and put two brownies on her plate. "Happy?"

Vivien grins at my enabling. "I love you, Hank."

I almost drop the tray, but recover myself right at the last moment.

She's joking, of course, but the words still fill me with a sort of pitiful yearning. I (stupidly) find myself wanting her to mean them.

"This way," Charles orders after we get our food and reach him once more. He leads the way to the table where the X-Men usually sit, though it's currently empty.

I have a bad feeling about this.

But I follow warily behind him, balancing my food on the back of Vivien's wheelchair. When we reach the table I situate her chair to my left, so she's at the corner between Charles on the end and myself.

Vivien glances at me strangely, as if wondering at my rather obvious reluctance to sit here. I shake my head- she'll understand soon enough.

Jean and Scott, followed closely by Storm, are the first X-Men to enter the room. Jean merely looks surprised, but Storm frowns when she sees us sitting there. Scott (predictably) keeps his face expressionless.

After they get their food I watch the three of them arguing about where they're going to eat. Jean seems to want to sit in their usual spot, where we are, but Storm is vehemently protesting.

I'm unaware of how tense I'm getting until Vivien lightly lays a hand on my arm.

"You need to relax," she murmurs, with a wry grin. "I usually have this effect on people."

"But-"

"But nothing," Vivien interjects. "I'm actually a little relieved. What would I do with myself if all of the X-Men were as saintly as you and the Professor?"

I want to ask what she means, but there's no time- the three young mutants are headed our way.

"Hello," Jean says tentatively when they reach us. She takes a deep breath after we return her greeting and sits directly across from Vivien.

Scott nods in greeting, but Ororo pointedly looks anywhere but at our guest.

An awkward silence falls over the table. Vivien doesn't seem to be bothered, but it's enough to make me lose my appetite.

Charles tries to fill the void. "Did you all enjoy your weekend?"

Scott just nods again- he's not exactly Mr. Chatty anyway- but Jean makes more of an effort.

"Y-yes," she replies. "Scott and I went into town earlier. There's a-"

"Does she really need to be in here?" Storm suddenly blurts out. She's glaring daggers at Vivien, who stares back, utterly impassive. "Why can't we just bring her her food like last night?"

Oh dear.

Charles frowns. "Vixen is our guest, and since she's been feeling better I thought it best that she join us," he explains.

"But she shouldn't be out where the kids are, Professor," Storm argues. I can tell she's trying very hard to stay relatively calm and not shout at her headmaster. "She could, I don't know-"

"Eat them?" Vivien suggests brightly. She actually looks amused. "Tell them lies and get them to join the Brotherhood? Maybe you should be a little worried- I mean, I'm not that good at persuasion, but I've always found children to be delicious."

Oh my stars and garters.

I snort back laughter while everyone else stares at Vivien, absolutely dumbfounded. Even Charles doesn't seem to know how to react to that.

"Oh my God, people," Vivien sighs. "Joking. That was a joke. Look, I get that you don't trust me. I wouldn't trust me either, if I were you. But your Professor X invited me to sit in here. So I promise I'll behave if you will."

Storm glowers at the smaller woman, who merely gives her a cheeky grin and goes back to eating her mashed potatoes.

The rest of dinner passes by to the accompaniment of sporadic, stilted conversation, but mostly in uncomfortable silence. As soon as Vivien finishes her food I suggest that we leave, because it's clear that her presence is unwanted.

"You didn't have to leave with me," she mutters once we're safely outside the cafeteria.

"I know," I reply. "But I wanted to."

"You're not afraid I'm about to up and kick the bucket at any moment still, are you?" Vivien asks, turning slightly so she can see my face. She's frowning.

"No, I think you're out of the woods at this point. Now it's more about making sure you don't overdo it while you're recovering. I have a feeling you'll have a very difficult time with that. You need constant supervision."

Also, I want to spend time with you while I can. Because I'm clearly a masochist.

She smiles at my statement. "It's almost like you know me or something."

I grin back. "Almost."