Chapter 17 - Little Steps

Once Elin was done with her workout, she headed upstairs, slowly unwrapping her hands as she went. She had over an hour to get showered and dressed before she was set to meet up with Chance … for a date. And she was reasonably sure that it was a mistake, all things considered.

She shook her head, unsure if it was the right move or not but really needing to at least hear him out and see … well. She just had to see. When she finished cleaning up, she stood in front of her closet for a solid ten minutes just staring at the contents. She hadn't worn a dress in months, but if they were going to the sushi bar, jeans weren't exactly appropriate either. And a date with anyone while wearing a dress had her anxious after how things had gone with Jacob. She didn't want to send him the wrong message, after all.

But, she reminded herself, this wasn't Japan. And the American sushi bars would be full of people in jeans and sneakers. A dress wasn't required, and even if it was, Chance was nothing like Jacob. It should be safe.

Still … the idea of it made her nervous. She shook her head as she thought it over and picked out her nicest sweater instead. It was almost fitted, fuzzy, red, and long enough to just cover her hips and let her hide her hands in the sleeves if she wanted. Nothing that would show any skin, which was a deep concern for her.

She pulled her long, dark hair back and didn't bother with any makeup. More often than not, it distracted her … the scents of it simply too close to her nose to ignore. But still, she didn't rush off. Especially since … they didn't exactly say where they were meeting up. After a moment or two to consider it, she let out a breath and headed down to the kitchen to get a cup of tea while she waited for time to pass. There was still a solid chill in the air and snow on the ground, so she didn't feel bad taking her cup back upstairs to warm her hands up.

When Chance got to the door, in a nice blue shirt and pants, he had a long-stemmed rose in one hand and a sheepish sort of smile. "I… wasn't sure if… I thought a bouquet would be too much and…" He shrugged lightly and held out the rose. She could tell he was nervous just by the scent of him, not to mention the way he was standing, but he couldn't stop smiling, either.

Elin plucked the rose out of his hand and rested it on her chin. "It's very pretty. Thank you."

"Not as… well. That's not a good one for my one compliment an hour," he said, his smile turning a little more crooked.

She let out a soft laugh and set the flower on her dresser. "Alright, so you're competing with yourself now. Okay," Elin said.

"You're the one who can tell when someone's lying," he pointed out as he offered her his arm. "So… am I lying when I tell you that you look absolutely amazing?"

She shook her head. "You are biased on some kind of level … I don't know what, but you are. Do you want to go or just … stand in the doorway all night?"

He laughed as he led the way out to the hallway. "Well, I could. Just stand and bask," he teased before she gave a wave to her parents — and the two teenagers started down the hall. "Besides, you never said yes or no if I was lying," he continued.

"Oh. I didn't think I had to teach you about body language," she teased, though she was steadfastly watching the steps on their way down them.

"You're the one who seems to have the problem reading it," he shot back, grinning.

"Not true," she countered.

"Then how, how, can you be so very wrong about whether I'm lying?"

"I said you were biased," she replied. "You think you're telling the truth. So … for you, I guess it's at least partly there."

He shook his head at her as they headed for the garage. "Okay, but if the statement in question is about my own opinions… I'm just saying."

"Okay, not lying."

He grinned triumphantly as he snatched his father's keys from the ring on the wall by the door to the garage and then held the car door open for her. "Don't worry," he teased. "Unlike my mom's side of the family, I can drive in the snow."

"Well, I would hope so," she replied as she climbed in. "If not … you'd have to let me drive. Mom taught me the best in-your-own-lane donut."

"So, you can drive on the way home," he said. "That sounds fun."

"Or we can go to an empty, icy parking lot and I can tell you how to do it yourself," she pointed out.

He grinned but couldn't stop his blush. "Yeah, that would be fun too," he said. He took a deep breath and glanced her way with the keys in the ignition. "Last chance," he said. "You don't have to go out with me. But if you're still on board, sushi and donuts in the parking lot…"

"Is this how you back out on me, Summers?"

"I'm just… trying to give you an out," he said, looking surprised. "I mean… because I'm an idiot?"

"And if I need an out, I'll make it myself," she countered, straightening out her sweater and then resting her hands on her knees.

He grinned as he got the car started and nodded to himself. "Yeah, I know you will," he said, still grinning to himself as they went down the long driveway.

When they got to the sushi bar itself, Chance made sure to vault around the car so he could open her door and then held the door to the sushi bar open for her as well. Then, they found a spot to sit that was a little further removed from everyone else so they could have some relative quiet to talk.

After Chance gestured for her to order for them — omakase, which only got a smile from their waiter — he leaned toward her with a little smile. "So, I'm… moving back to Westchester," Chance said. "Permanently."

"Tired of Canada?" she asked. "Or don't want to deal with … whatever?"

He nodded. "A little bit of both," he said. "I really enjoyed flying, and I actually liked the team. But these guys… the government guys… no. I'm not going to be anywhere near them."

"Kind of a skeezy move on their part. I couldn't figure out why you'd want to join that team anyhow," Elin said, shaking her head. "Dad said they were nothing but drama from day one."

"It was never going to be permanent," he admitted. "I only signed on for two years. And the suit kinda had something to do with it…"

"Yeah, I know. You told me, and I know the suit was some serious bait. But ...you know they offered Dad the leadership position to stay when they were trying to bait him," Elin told him. "And he still walked. That … has to tell you something."

"That was a long time ago," Chance pointed out. "And I sort of figured it was different. The old team's starting to retire… it was supposed to be a fresh start. At least, that's what Mac and I talked about," he said, a bit softer, as he looked downright embarrassed.

"You really need to ask Dad about his time there," Elin said in a gentle tone. "Mac … is a little different."

"Well, it doesn't matter. I can't go back," Chance told her. "I don't know if that makes me a coward or what, but-"

"It's called being smart," she said, cutting across him. "Nothing wrong with self preservation, so I'm told."

He grinned and nodded, picking up his chopsticks when the waiter returned with their order. "I've already talked to Dad about finishing out the semester here," he said. "And getting back into training." He smiled sheepishly. "I'm… not going to be as good as I was when Jamie was 'helping' me. There's a lot I'll have to get used to all over again. Strength, speed — all of it. Even running feels wrong right now, not to mention anything that involves strength..."

"You'll get it back quick enough," she said. "You don't know when to quit, after all."

"Just the way I was made." He grinned at her. "I was going to ask: you wouldn't mind practicing with me, would you? I mean — I can ask James too. But—"

"I'm not going to take it easy on you if that's what you're hoping for," Elin replied evenly. She held up her hand to stop him, gesturing to the slice of fish he was about to pick up. "I don't think you'll like that one. That's one of James' favorite 'shocker' pieces. Tastes stronger than it looks."

"Actually, that's why I asked you. Everyone's been taking it easy on me ever since the detox," he said, smirking to himself while he adjusted his selection. "Dad's been keeping everything low-level."

"Of course he is," she said, shaking her head. "He's been worried sick. Making him go gray."

"Ha ha. He's been going white since we were kids."

"That's all you …"

"Oh yeah. Cody, Charlie, and Chloe have nothing to do with it," he laughed.

"Nope, just you," she agreed. "The troublemaker."

He laughed again and shook his head. "Well, what about you?" he asked, leaning forward. "Gonna spend senior year at Salem Center? Try it again?"

"I'm … kind of over the whole thing, honestly," she admitted. "I think James had the right idea."

"So… you want to make explosives with Tony Stark?" he asked, smirking despite himself.

"No, I meant … skipping past everything. I already talked to your mom about taking the tests to skip the rest of school. And for the record, James is already tired of Stark again," Elin pointed out. "There are only so many explosives he can make and pranks he can pull that won't be ridiculously large and horrible."

Chance laughed. "Yeah, well, then when I'm back up to snuff, he can give me a run for my money on the team."

She leaned forward and dropped her volume down a little lower. "He challenged Dad in the Danger Room a few weeks ago — you were in the med bay at the time. Funniest thing. Ever."

"Okay, we're going to need to watch the tape of that, because now I'm curious," he laughed.

"James didn't stand a chance," she laughed.

"But you know he had the confidence down pat," Chance chuckled.

"He did, but I don't think Dad even used both hands? He was smoking for most of it."

"Yeah. That… that needs to be shared, El. Badly," he laughed. "I mean, not like I can talk. I doubt your dad would even raise a finger fighting me at this point — if he even agreed to it." The grin dropped a bit at the thought as the check came around, though it returned in full force when he made a show of checking his watch before he leaned forward. "You should laugh more. You've got the best smile, El."

"You're an idiot. But it's nice to see you relaxing a little again," she replied softly as she fiddled with her sleeves.

He nodded lightly. "Yeah, well…. Thanks," he said, rubbing his neck unconsciously. "I don't know how I would've got through the last little while without you. Or, y'know. Hank… Mom and Dad..."

"Everyone was worried about you," she told him. "And … probably a little more stubborn than most."

He looked sheepish. "How's… how's Krissy, anyway? She's the one everyone should be worried about. I talked to her a bit, but you're the one that spent a couple weeks with her..."

"She's coming around," Elin said. "She had a whole rant about the pickles almost as soon as we got out of Westchester."

"I'm glad," Chance said, leaning back. "You're good with her." He paused and then grinned. "You know… when I was psychic for a hot second, I could hear Sying panicking for her."

"Yeah, I remember. We were talking about Hawkeye hearing it too."

"I just meant… he's got to be glad she's talking to him again." He smirked. "It's been a long time coming." He paid the bill and left the tip, then held out a hand to Elin. "So. I know you don't get as bothered by the cold as us normal people do, but would you say no to some hot chocolate?" he asked.

She tipped her head to the side for a moment. "I suppose it's been a few days since I had any," she said. "Anywhere special in mind or just … head home?"

"Well, there's a coffee shop… they actually have the best cocoa on top of the best lattes…"

"Alright," Elin said with a nod, though both of them stopped when they stepped outside; there were big white flakes falling.

"Well, now I'm sad I used my compliment inside. This is gorgeous weather. Perfect setting," Chance said with a crooked grin.

"Perfect for …"

He grinned over at her. "Well, it falls on your eyelashes just right…." He held up both palms. "That was an answer to a question."

"Sneaky," she said, nodding with a crooked smirk. "But much cleverer than the watch."

"Hey, you're not the only one who can be sneaky," he said, grinning wider.

"Yeah, but you have to work at it," she countered.

"I didn't say I was as good as you," he pointed out. "Just that I could do it."

"Alright," she said with a little smile. "Lead the way."

He took her hand in his as he led the way — the coffee shop wasn't too far from where they were, so it would be better to walk, he explained, because then the hot chocolate would feel even better.

"And it's a sneaky excuse to hold hands," she pointed out with a nod.

"Well, that too," he admitted. "You don't mind?" When she shook her head, he grinned wider and nodded to himself as they rounded the corner where the coffee shop was. Once more, he held the door open for her as they went in, and by the time they got their hot chocolates, they were at least a little warmed up, though the hot drinks felt good on their hands and down their throats.

"If it was warmer, there's this great gelato place in the city," Chance told her after a moment just sitting together and enjoying their drinks. "I mean. Maybe later. When it's warmer."

"If you're up for it, maybe you can go with us to Japan to check in on Hisako and the satellite there next month. Sakura season should be going really well by then. Cherry and plum ice …"

His grin was threatening to split his face as he nodded along. "That sounds amazing," he agreed quickly.

"The group in Japan wants a full school," she told him.

"Are you thinking about going there?" he asked her, his head tipped to the side.

"I think … that would be tempting fate after how we left Madripoor," she said slowly.

"I'd come get you in a heartbeat if there was anything like trouble," he swore, leaning forward toward her.

"I know," she agreed. "But if the swearing was anything to go by, I don't think Dad believes it to be a very good idea."

"The school or you going to the school?" he asked curiously.

"The school," she said, smirking. "He told me I wasn't allowed to go to school in Australia."

"Well, then I guess you can finish out school here," he said slowly and with a little smile.

"Probably about the only option, really," she agreed.

"You thinking about college?" he asked, leaning back a bit. "Gerry loves it, and Charlie's already making plans for a PhD in psychiatry, to listen to her talk."

"I don't think that's something for me," she replied with a frown, shifting uncomfortably at the subject matter. "My 'talents' don't go along with a degree."

He frowned to match her and held up his hands in a 'T' for time-out. "Okay, this isn't part of the complimentary thing. I'm genuinely asking. You're smart as heck, Elin. I know you've got the grades to get in pretty much anywhere if you wanted. So maybe I'm missing something here."

She waved a hand and shrugged up her shoulder. "Nevermind."

"No, really. You could do anything. What's the holdup? Some schmuck in college admissions tell you mutants can't get in, because I can hit him…"

"No, I'm not applying," she replied.

"You don't want to go?"

"What the hell would I go for?" she asked. "Really."

"Linguistics, maybe," he offered. "You learn languages like no one I've ever met."

"So … go to school to have to listen to someone try to tell me how to do what I already know?"

"Well, I dunno. I'm just throwing out ideas," he said with a frown. "I mean, you don't have to have a degree. Look at the teachers at our schools; not like they're classically trained."

"No," she said. "But I don't really want to teach anything either."

"So then you can just focus on the team," he said, nodding. "I'm not going to stop training until I'm where I need to be to get back on the team, you know. Senior squad eventually. When I get better. When I can earn it. I know it's usually after graduation or around then, but I have a ways to go..."

"So … by the end of the summer is what you're shooting for," she said with a nod.

"Only if you help me," he said with a crooked smile.

"I already said I would," she said quietly. "I'll be your coach. Yell at you at inopportune times … the usual. Knees up. Elbows in — walk it off. That kind of thing."

"I just meant that I'll get it back faster working with you," he explained. He got to his feet and offered her a hand up. "You know," he said thoughtfully, "what about something with horses? Don't need a degree, but you're good at it."

Elin sighed heavily. "Maybe."

He took her hand in his as he headed for the door. "I mean, I want to be on the team more than anything, and if you were leading it with me, that would be pretty much the best thing ever, but you could do something else, you know."

She rolled her eyes and looked up at him. "You're rambling."

"Yeah… I'm not wrong, though," he said as he pushed the door open for them. The snow was falling heavier now, though not badly enough that they would need to hurry inside.

"I told Krissy I wanted to be a hermit. She took it as a personal offense."

"Surprising absolutely no one."

"Hey, we had snow. And deer. And she even had chocolate. What more is there?" Elin asked as they started down the sidewalk.

He shrugged openly. "The team… family… I dunno, El. I couldn't leave everyone like that."

"They'd move on quick enough," she said.

Chance frowned and turned to face her. "Please stop saying things like that," he said seriously. "I mean it - everything would be different without you in my life, so please don't say things like that."

She looked taken aback as she watched him, but finally, she nodded with a quiet apology before they continued their walk in silence for a long stretch. "Alright … so what's next on your master plan?"

"That… was about it," he admitted. "We can walk around for a while, if you want."

"That sounds nice, unless it's too cold for you," she said.

"I'll let you know when the frostbite starts kicking in," he teased.

"I'll have to build you a fire," she told him, bumping him with her shoulder.

He laughed. "I promise I'll tell you before it gets to that point. You'll probably catch on anyway. Shivers. Sniffles. All that."

"Yeah, we won't let it go that far," she agreed. "Unless that's the idea. Get all … sad and cold and require a fire."

He laughed and shook his head. "No, I… wouldn't try to be underhanded about it if I wanted that."

"I'm teasing," she said with a little chuckle.

"I do like the hand-holding, though," he said, holding up their hands between them with a crooked grin.

"It's a nice change of pace," Elin agreed, though she let go of his hand and put her arm around his back. "But better suited for warm weather."

He grinned brilliantly at her as he carefully pulled his arm around her shoulders as they walked down the streets together. It was a long time before either of them spoke, and he just kept right on grinning until he turned her way. "Is it bad I don't want to go back?" he asked.

"Is it bad you don't want to go back to the loud, opinionated population of the school? No."

He laughed outright. "I meant I didn't want to go back and be done with this date," he explained. He flushed even pinker than the cold was already making him. "I mean. Well. I've been wanting to ask you out for ages… and it's pretty much the best thing ever."

"I still don't understand what took you so long if that's what you wanted to do," she told him.

"Yeah… I screwed that up pretty good, huh?"

"Don't dwell on it," she replied.

"Right. Rookie cadet time travel error," he teased.

"We can go for a drive if you want to stay out later; it's probably too late for a movie though."

"Yeah, and you wouldn't get back in time for curfew."

She frowned at him and scrunched up her nose. "Oh. That's fluid, you know."

"It… what?"

"Dad's way of handling things; instead of a set time, if it's a bad date, I can say my curfew is … whenever and he'll play bad guy."

"So… since you're not pushing a curfew… you're not totally hating it?" he asked, starting to grin.

"Have you seen me check my phone?" she asked with an eyebrow raised, then paused. "Or .. if I had. My phone."

"Good point," he said. He grinned at her sideways as he started to turn them both around, back toward where the car was parked. It was a bit of a walk — they hadn't realized they had walked as far as they had — and he started to laugh when the snow came down even heavier. "Well now my nose is numb," he teased. "I have utterly failed at telling you when I got cold."

"All we can do now is go back to the house to warm up," Elin replied easily. "Because you'd probably blush red enough to melt the ice off the windshield otherwise."

True to form, he turned a bit red as he looked her way. "That... "

"I meant snuggling up. That's all, pervert."

"I wasn't…" He turned even redder. "I wasn't."

"Uh huh," she said, rolling her eyes. "That's what they all say."

"We're…" He shook his head and tried to get his blush under control. "Well. No. That… wasn't… where I was going with … it's the first date and oh God your dad would kill me…"

She was just smiling up at him with a contented kind of look. "Wow. Nervous much?"

"This was going a lot better before you tried to turn me into a tomato."

"I didn't try," she teased before she popped up on her toes and kissed his cheek. "I did. And I didn't even try that hard."

He turned that much redder, though he was grinning broadly. "I… can't help it," he said, pulling her tighter around the shoulders as they finally reached where the car was parked, and he quickly grabbed the scraper from the backseat to get the snow off the windshield. He opened her door first, letting her sit in the warming up car while he quickly got the snow off, then jumped in the driver's seat, stifling a yawn and still grinning widely.

"Oh, that's not going to work," she said, reaching over and taking the keys out of the ignition.

"O... kay. What?"

"Either you're tired or I've bored you. Which one is it?"

He shook his head vehemently. "Definitely not bored," he swore. "I'm just… it's been the month from hell, really. It's fine. I'm just tired."

"Pretty sure you won't be fine if we slide off the road, big guy," she said. "Trade spots with me."

He raised an eyebrow at her for a moment before he let out a breath and nodded, opening his driver's side door. "I'm not that tired," he protested even as he slid out to make room for her.

"Then let's go with: you said I could drive back," she replied.

"I did. That was when we were going to do donuts, though," he pointed out.

"Not icy enough," she said, shaking her head. "I'd hate to hit a dry spot and flip."

"Gee, Elin, if I didn't know better, I'd say you were worried about me," he teased lightly as he climbed into the passenger side.

"Oh, right. Not like I'd fly to Madripoor to kick the trash around for you or anything."

"Thanks for that, by the way. I know I already said thanks, but, really."

"You're welcome. But once was enough."

He rested his chin in one hand as she started up the car and pulled out of the lot. "It… bears repeating."

"I still think once was enough," she argued. "Guess we're going to have to work the maple syrup outta you."

He laughed. "It's pretty deeply ingrained," he teased. "At least I didn't start tacking on 'eh' to the end of my sentences… eh?"

"Yet. You haven't started yet, hoser-transplant."

He kept right on laughing at that. "Don't know what you're talking ab-oot."

"If I find out you adopted a moose … I'll have to tell my mother about you."

He grinned at her and then attempted his best impression of a straight face. "His name's Reginald."

"Of course it is," she chuckled. "Now I know why you wanted to be in Alpha Flight - so you could ride Reginald into battle."

"I do know how to shoot on horseback. Same concept."

"Horseback … mooseback … same difference. Quarterhorse to swamp donkey …"

He grinned. "And I'd look great doing it, too."

"Your father would die on the spot. Loons would mourn in the background and the south would rise up and burn Canada to the ground. Which, as I understand things, is still a very real possibility."

"Well then it's a good thing you rescued me before any of that nonsense could start up," he laughed. "I'd hate to miss my mom on the warpath."

They were only about halfway home when the snow started falling heavier. "I can see just fine, but you might want to let someone know we're on the way," Elin said. "A couple people are a little concerned still."

"Yeah, I know," Chance said with a sigh before he drafted up a quick text to both of his parents to let them know they were on their way home — and Elin was driving. He figured that would help his mom relax a bit, anyway. She hated driving in the snow. He glanced up at her and smiled. "Don't know how you do it, El. Taking care of everybody at once like you do."

"Part of the job," she replied.

"Yeah, it's alright, I won't tell anyone you care."

"Uh huh, pretty sure that ship has already sailed," she replied. "I'm just doing the same thing you do: acting how my parents raised me to be."

"Yeah," he agreed. "Doesn't make you any less amazing, though." He grinned and held up both hands. "On the hour, I swear it."

She let out a long breath. "I'm not … timing you, you ridiculous Summers."

"I'm … trying to prove you can trust me to keep my word," he said, totally earnestly. "I know trust is hard to earn back. So… I'm holding myself to my words. Even if you don't."

"You're sweet," she said quietly. "And I don't know what to do with you being like this."

"I don't expect you to do anything. I'm just… trying to do right. Like you said: that's how we were raised, right?" he said, leaning back easily.

Elin nodded, doing her best to keep to the quickest path back, sure that he was exhausted by the way he kept going back to his crooked grin. The drive back was mostly empty roads, since it seemed like the few people that lived out that way weren't travelling that night, though a mile from the house, she did slow almost to a stop, watching the road with her eyes narrowed. Before he could ask what was wrong, though, she tipped her chin toward the road. "There are some deer crossing."

He grinned over at her. "Then it's lucky you're driving," he decided. "I never would've seen them."

"That's why I drive in the snow," she said, giving him a little smile before she picked up speed again. The two of them got back without incident, and Elin took her time once she parked the car back in its spot. "Safe and sound, as promised."

"Course we are. Couple of X-Men," he said with a small smile.

"Second generation X-Men to boot," she added.

"So clearly, we know what we're doing," he said, quickly getting out so he could open her door even if she'd driven. "Can I walk you home?" he asked with a crooked grin.

"You sure it's not too far out of your way?" she shot right back.

"Oh, I don't know… I think I can make it," he said, offering her his hand again and still grinning at her as they headed inside — where, to his relief, the house was pretty quiet as they headed upstairs, except for one single bamf who spotted the two of them and giggled, chattering away at them.

"Knock it off, nosy," Elin said, flicking the little bamf on the ear.

The little guy grinned up at her, kissed her cheek, and teleported off.

"Could be worse," Chance chuckled. "I mean, my mom could be here asking if we need anything like… soup or something."

"Your mom wouldn't do that," Elin said, shaking her head.

"Not normally, but she's been a little closer since Canada and...everything," Chance admitted. He held her hand a bit tighter for a second as he grinned over at her. "I don't mind it, actually. I… kinda missed the whole family, to be honest. Which sounds stupid, because I lived in Europe for a while and didn't miss them as much…"

"It only sounds stupid if you think it's alright to blow off your family," Elin pointed out.

"Which I don't," he said quickly. They reached the top of the stairs, and he turned toward her with a grin. "I missed being here. Really. This is where everyone is that I care about."

"Then I'm glad you're with them," she said with a quiet smile and her eyes downturned.

He grinned at her again and then very carefully stepped in and kissed her. "You too, El," he said, grinning when the kiss broke.

She bit her lip and met his gaze for a moment before she gave him a little smile. "Goodnight, Chance," she told him before she stepped in and closed the door behind her.

Chance grinned at the door for a second before he rushed off toward his own suite. Elin hadn't been wrong — he was tired — but he was way too excited to care about that when he came bursting into his suite and grabbed Charlie to spin her around in a hug.

It took both Annie and Scott by surprise, but Charlie must have felt his excitement coming, because she didn't seem surprised. She just grabbed back onto him and hugged him tight. "It's about time," she whispered before she let him go, still grinning.

"Didn't mean to get you all twisted," Chance promised, hugging her again, though she raised an eyebrow at that.

"Date go well then?" Cody called out with a smirk. "Finally?"

"As a matter of fact, yeah," Chance said, not about to rise to that bait before he leaned over and kissed Annie on the cheek."Hi, Mom. Got home safe."

"I can see that," Annie laughed, pulling him into a hug to stand on her toes and kiss his cheek right back. "I'm glad."

He just grinned at that and made it a point to grab Chloe on his way past to spin her around too until she let out a little giggle and he set her down again on his way to his room.

Chance, you still awake?

All things considered, Chance had almost been asleep, but he was glad to see the text from Sying, smiling wider because he knew Sying had been planning to go out with Krissy. Yeah. How'd it go?

Well, I think. She was nervous. Is it weird if I ask your advice?

Why would it be weird?

Because I'm asking you about your ex.

Chance paused to consider his answer. I won't give you romance tips…

Yeah, I wouldn't ask that of you. I'm just asking advice on how not to screw her up.

Oh, well that's totally different. I'm definitely up for advice.

Great. I'm coming over.

Chance grinned and sat up, rubbing circles in his forehead with the heels of his hands to try to wake himself up a little more. That way, by the time Sying arrived, he looked less like he'd been about to fall asleep when he got his friend's text… he hoped.

"You look terrible," was the first thing Sying said.

So much for his attempt to look presentable.

Chance smirked and waved Sying over to sit with him. "I'm still recovering. But that's the last thing I want to talk about right now. Seriously — how did things go with Kris? You're grinning wide enough that it must have been a good date."

"It was, I think," Sying agreed. "She got nervous a couple times, but we both had fun and she said she wants to do it again."

"So what's got you so worried?" Chance asked, honestly confused. "Sounds like things went well!"

"Yeah, but she's still so nervy…"

"I'd be more concerned if she wasn't," Chance pointed out. "And the fact that you're so worried about getting it right with her tells me you won't hurt her. So… what's up?"

"I just… I'm just nervous too, I guess."

"Understandable," Chance said, bumping shoulders with his friend. "You've only liked her your whole life."

"Yeah, speaking of…" Sying smiled crookedly and bumped Chance's shoulder in return. "You're grinning pretty hard too, you know."

"Yeah, well, things went well."

"Good."

Chance was still walking on air the next morning, and Charlie couldn't help but sort of float around him all morning as they got ready for school — and he went off with their dad to go figure out his schedule.

She was still riding the high from his happiness when she got to the kitchen.

The Howletts were, of course, down at the table early, as always, hitting their morning routine in relative silence — coffee or tea, nibbling on whatever was quick, and all of them reading. Papers, books — something.

Charlie was still grinning, though when she saw Logan, she still had to come up behind him and smack him in the back of the head.

"Girl, you better find a better way to say hello," Logan growled out.

"Then you stop trying to help me by twisting up my brother," she shot back.

"I'm not twisting up anyone," Logan countered, perfectly dry.

"Right," she said, rolling her eyes at him. "So the fact that my brother stopped in the middle of celebrating his first date to apologize to me had nothing to do with you."

"I can't guess what the hell his intentions are," Logan grumbled. "Ask him, not me."

"I don't have to. He's my brother. We talk. He's trying to do right, and somehow he got it in his head that he needs to fix something with me. Which he doesn't." She put her hands on her hips. "Stop it."

"I'm not doing anything," Logan replied, though he was smirking lightly at her.

"Don't lie to me; it doesn't work," she sniffed at him.

"I'm not lying," he said.

"He's really not," K agreed.

"Not technically," Charlie said. "That's not the same as being fully truthful."

"He's not lying by omission either," K replied. "It's your perception of what's happening that makes you think he's lying. Not something he can control." She picked up her coffee and took a long drink as Logan lifted his arm for her to lean into him.

Charlie rolled her eyes at both of them. "You—" she said, pointing a finger at K "—know what's going on too. So stop it."

"Are we picking sides?" K asked perking up. "I wanna pick sides. I like this one."

Charlie shook her head and grabbed a Pop-Tart to take with her. "You're both stupid," she decided, grumbling to herself as she headed out.

"Ooooooooh, that's a comeback you don't hear every day!" K sang out just to irritate her.

"Anything else would get me in trouble with my mother!" she called back before she ducked out the door.

"You're getting to her," K said as she leaned up and gave Logan a kiss. "Not the prime target, but I like this too."

"She'll get over it," Logan muttered into K's hair as he returned the kiss. The two of them settled in to their breakfast together, mostly taking the time to watch the goings on of the morning and to get a better handle on where everyone else in the mansion was as far as Chance's recovery.

Clearly, the bulk of the mansion was willing to simply take it all at face value, but considering that Chance was now openly pushing to date so quickly after what could only be described as a relationship of disastrous proportions, Logan wasn't there yet. And neither was K. It happened to be one thing that Logan could take solace in - knowing that his wife was agreeing with him shored him up to stick to his guns.

Yes, he wanted to believe that Chance was quickly getting back to himself, but he knew all too well how much whiplash Chance was dealing with coming out of something like that. Whatever came next could either be very good or very, very bad, especially taking into consideration that his daughter, who had already disappeared once because of this boy was th girl that Chance had his sights on.

If Chance wasn't careful and meticulous about how he treated Elin, he would chase her away- likely for good. The implications that could follow were horrifying.

Charlie came though the kitchen just as Logan was trying to shake loose the what ifs and on her way past, she made a point to pause just to glare at him. He wasn't surprised by that, either. Summers' were notoriously known to Logan for their blinders and rose-colored glasses, as it were.

The fact remained though, that good intentions didn't outweigh lifetimes of bad luck, as far as Logan was concerned. He wanted to see Chance succeed and to recover seamlessly, he honestly did - on the same level of investment that Chance's parents had (not that they had any idea of that) which was why he couldn't back down. Everyone else had given Chance the green light to forget it all and move on. Which was something Chance might even do, but if he moved on too fast, too seamlessly, Logan was honestly afraid that he wouldn't learn the lessons that the kid had painfully had to live through.

He didn't want Chance to have to repeat lessons like that for anything. Especially not with anyone else's heart on the line.

When Scott and Chance came through as Logan was pouring up his last cup of coffee for the morning, he glanced up to watch them and kept his expression and body language as neutral as possible. Seeing Chance miss a step and watch as his breath caught in his chest for an instant had Logan feeling like crap … but he also straightened up and said hello, if not a moment too late.

He was trying. Logan could see it plain as day. He was trying with more than he had to give. Logan watched Chance the whole time as he got himself a cup of coffee - much quicker than e would have with Logan standing next to the coffee pot. He watched Chance as he rushed his breakfast by grabbing a pop tart and zipping off to class. And as soon as Chance rounded the corner and Logan turned his focus back to his coffee, he caught the full bodily shift as Scott crossed his arms and gave him a dry, yet heated look that shouted 'really'.

And of course, all Logan could do in response was stare back at Scott as if nothing had happened at all, refusing to rise to the bait more than just to return Scott's dry glare with a neutral expression.

"Don't you have a class to teach?" Scott said finally, one eyebrow arched up in a manner that when Scott still had to wear his glasses, that would have been all that was visible to give away how irritated he was. At least as far as facial expression went.

"Think they'll start without me?" Logan asked smoothly as he lifted his mug to take a sip. Now probably wasn't the right time to tease, but damnit, Logan needed something to pull himself out of the anxious feeling in his chest, and for some reason or another … this always worked. As long as Scott stayed to form and didn't turn it into a fight …

Scott let out a sigh, though his mouth was tight. "Logan-"

"Don't get twisted. I've got it, Slim. I've always got it."

Well then! We've come to the end of this volume, but we have more to tell, so as always, keep your eyes peeled in the direction of robbiepoo2341's profile where you'll find the next installation to our shared 714 Universe: "I'm Not Giving Up On You".

Please remember that our side story 'What Billy Saw" will continue to be sporadically updated and can be read at any time (if you are this far, anyhow) though won't be crossed into this universe properly for a little while.

Also remember to support your authors by commenting now and again - any positive remark will do. Just remember, if it's hard for you to think of something to say in this stressful time, imagine how hard it is for your authors to manage to write coherent words together.