Author's note: see ch 1 for disclaimer
Warning: mention of sexual situations
"Maddie saw him and is both freaking out and pissed that I didn't tell her."
"Hm."
"And Gabe needs the Talk."
"But he's ten-"
"He's in high school and is hearing a bunch of things. He heard someone talk about riding someone else," Scott said, blushing, "and he was confused because that someone was a man and not a horse." Chris grimaced.
"Ok. I'll work it into my schedule. Other than that, was your day ok?"
"No. He's taken over my study hall class and is cornering me as often as he can." Chris' hand tightened on Scott's shoulder.
"Why didn't you lead with that?"
"Because then you wouldn't have heard anything else I said."
"Ok. Maybe it's time to let everyone in on what's happening." Scott nodded and they stepped into the Institute. He saw the Starjammers on the second floor and was about to climb up after them, but stopped when he heard the doorbell ring.
"Anyone expecting a visitor today?" He asked in his communicator.
"Taryn," Jean replied. "It's on the schedule. We're working on government homework." Scott groaned and put his hand to his head.
"Is this not good?" Chris asked, going to the door.
"Dad, wait!" But Chris opened the door.
"Hi, I'm- oh my gosh, you're him! I didn't know you'd be here!"
"Um, hello." Scott shook his head and walked over.
"Taryn. Jean said she was expecting you. You know where her room is."
"I'm Taryn," she said, introducing herself to Chris. "I'm a friend of Jean's. I'm eighteen." Chris blinked and looked at Scott.
"Taryn," Scott said, trying to get her attention. "Leave him alone."
"What's your name?"
"I'm Chris."
"Hi, Chris. I actually, I seem to have forgotten where I'm supposed to go. Would you mind helping me?" Chris gave her a small smile.
"I'm actually unsure where you're supposed to go as well. I don't make it a point to know which room is whose when it comes to the young ladies. But I'm sure my wife can help you if you need her to."
"Oh,"
"I think Jean saw her car pull up, so she'll be down in a minute," Scott said, making a point to touch his head.
"Well, Chris, I'm also on our school newspaper. I'd love to do a story about you being a Vet- I mean, if that's what your jacket meant."
"I appreciate it, but I don't think I'm interesting enough for an article in the newspaper."
"But just think if your child saw it. Wouldn't he or she love reading about their dad?"
"They have to see me every day. I doubt they'd want me showing up in their newspaper as well."
"'They?' You have more than one?" Chris looked questioningly at Scott.
"Does she-?"
"Nope."
"Why not, Scott? Are you embarrassed of me?"
"No, I just don't see the need in talking about it," Scott said, crossing his arms.
"What, don't want me telling your friends about how cute a baby you were?"
"Dad!"
"Wait, you're Scott's dad?!"
"Guilty. But I see Jean, so you should probably head on up."
"It was still very nice to meet you, Chris. And like I told Scott, when you get bored, I'll be there." Taryn winked at him and ran up the stairs to Jean's room.
"Did that just-"
"You made a big impression on the female population at school. Alex, Gabe, and I have heard all day how they want to meet you and become your new wife. She was the worst. It was also hearing how they wanted to use you as a horse that Gabe heard."
"Hm."
"Dad!"
"What? It's flattering."
"That's disgusting."
"It's not like I would take any of them up on it, Scott. I'm very, very happy with Hepzibah, and even if I wasn't, I have absolutely no interest in children. But hearing that complete strangers enjoy how I look instead of realizing I'm on a most wanted list and they can kill me for money is a nice change."
"It's still-"
"I'm going to go find Hepzibah and tell her how lucky she is to have me," Chris said, winking.
"The Starjammers are upstairs."
"Damn." Scott shook his head.
"I don't know if I'm comfortable talking about things like this with you."
"Then you're too young to be doing it. Oh, wait. It wasn't my girlfriend I got pregnant."
"Nope, but it was your fiancée."
"Touche, kid. Alright, then what's the plan for today?"
"I need to talk to Xavier and get permission to talk to the core team about what's going on. And I need to figure out how to get Maddie to forgive me."
"Good luck with that one."
"Thanks, Dad. Very helpful," Scott said, shaking his head as he started walking away.
"We're having dinner in the suite tonight with our company," Chris called to Scott.
"Got it!" Scott replied as he headed up the stairs to Xavier's office.
"-so hot, Jean! I can't believe you haven't told me about him!" Scott stopped on the second floor and listened in to hear Jean's response.
"He's Scott's dad. You might see him as a good looking guy, but I've seen him being a dad. I'm not interested in that. I don't want kids I go to school with."
"Who are his other kids?"
"Alex and Gabriel Summers. Fraternal twins in tenth grade."
"Ugh. Too young." Scott breathed a sigh of relief and kept walking up to the third floor. He went to knock on the door, but it opened. Scott saw Charles meeting with Magneto.
"Magneto," Scott said, closing the door behind him. "Did Pietro get ahold of you?"
"He did, Cyclops. I don't think Essex knows about him, so at least he is safe."
"Professor, he is now the adult in my study hall and he cornered me a few times today. And Maddie saw him and she knows it's him, since he hasn't changed his appearance from her stepfather."
"Do you believe we need to tell the X-Men?"
"I do. At least the core team. They can watch out for the younger students during school, and I can have more eyes on Maddie and Gabe." Charles nodded.
"We will meet after dinner, before our scheduled meeting with you and Jean."
"Yes Professor," Scott said, feeling like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He turned and went to his family's suite and went in. He saw Hepzibah fussing over Alex and Gabriel and he smiled.
"Mom," he said, getting her attention. "Can you help me look for Maddie?"
"Of course, Scott-boy."
"We have a visitor, so you'll need your inducer." Hepzibah nodded and pressed a button on her watch, turning her appearance to that of a human version of herself. Scott led her out and to the second floor, heading to Madelyne's room. On the way, they passed Jean's opened door. Taryn looked up and saw him walking by.
"Oh, Scott!" Scott stopped in front of Jean's room as Hepzibah continued on to Madelyne's room.
"What, Taryn?"
"Give this to your dad for me," she said, handing him a piece of paper. "It's my number and my schedule." Scott looked at the paper, blinked, and then looked up at her.
"I really would rather not give this to him."
"Just face it, Scott. He's going to get tired of his current wife eventually. I can come over every day and remind him that I'll be there for him when it happens." Scott raised his eye.
"He's happy with my stepmom."
"He's a man. Just wave the newest model in front of his face and he'll want that next. I mean, if he left your mom-"
"My mom died."
"Because if she was alive, your dad would still be with her?"
"Yeah, he would. Not all men are pigs, Taryn. Some actually want to stay with the people they made vows to." Taryn rolled her eyes.
"I'll win him over. I always do."
"Scott!" Scott looked over and saw Chris walking up the stairs. "Hep with you?"
"She's helping me look for Maddie." Chris nodded and came to the girl's wing of the second floor.
"Oh. Hello again," he said, seeing Taryn at Jean's door.
"Hi, Chris. Would you like to help us with our homework? It's for AP Government. We do well with this, and it's like we passed a college course."
"I know what AP classes are. Scott's in several, and his brothers are in a few as well. Ah! There you are, my love," he said, seeing Hepzibah come out of Madelyne's room. He walked to her and kissed her.
"Hello, lover," Hepzibah said, smiling at him.
"Did you see Maddie?"
"She did," Madelyne said, coming out of her room with Carolyn. "Can we go up to your family's suite?" Scott nodded and held his hand out to her.
"Make sure you get your homework done, son," Chris said, walking back towards the stairs with his arm around Hepzibah's waist.
"Yes sir," Scott responded. "Hey! Tell Nate I need to see him upstairs if you see him!"
"Will do, kid!" Chris said from the middle of the stairs. Scott looked back at Madelyne and Carolyn.
"Shall we go?" Madelyne nodded and held his hand. He led his fiancée and daughter away from Jean's room and to the stairs.
"She's following us," Madelyne told him. Scott shrugged.
"She can't get in behind us." They continued walking until they reached the suite. Scott put his thumb on the scanner and opened the door.
"Scott!" Scott looked behind him and saw Nathan walking up. "Your dad said you were looking for me?"
"Uh, no. I was actually looking for Nate. You already know what I'm about to tell them."
"Oh. You sure that's- who are you?" Taryn was staring at Nathan and gaping.
"That's Taryn. She followed us up from Jean's room in hopes to see Dad's room because she wants to be my stepmother."
"Scott!" Madelyne scolded.
"What? Am I wrong? Anyways, I've got the all clear for some, but I'm not waiting any longer for the people it'll affect the most."
"Your dad's not-"
"It's not up to him, Nathan. Taryn, this floor is off limits to visitors. Unless you want me to ask you to leave the mansion, you need to go back to Jean's room." Taryn took another look at Nathan and disappeared down the steps. Scott ushered his family in the suite.
"Hello, Cyclops."
"Hi Ch'od. Raza. How was the trip in?"
"Bumpy," Ch'od told him. "Who are these young ladies?" Nate walked in the room. "And him?"
"Ch'od, Raza, this is my fiancée, Madelyne. And these are our children, Carolyn and Nate. They're visiting with Nate's older version, Nathan, from twenty years in the future." Ch'od started laughing.
"Corsair is a grandfather!" Scott smirked and nodded.
"Maddie, this is Ch'od and Raza, the other two members of the Starjammers crew."
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Corsair and Hepzibah speak highly of you."
"I'm going to fill them in on what's going on," Scott told the Starjammers. "Alex, Gabe, you too. Everyone pile into my room." The six, seven plus Nathan, went into Scott's room and Scott closed the door.
"Are we allowed to know?"
"Dad said it was fine with him, and Xavier is having me tell the core team after dinner. But this…" Scott sighed and looked at Nathan.
"Your new guidance counselor is Sinister. The adults and Scott decided they didn't want everyone panicking, so it was decided we wouldn't say anything. I don't know why he's changed his mind."
"Because he's also my study hall teacher now. I don't know what happened to Ms. Jameson, but he's there now. And he's cornered me a few times today. You guys remember when I told you to leave the cafeteria? It was because he was coming in. Please know it wasn't my decision to not tell you. I fought for it, but I was overruled."
"Why didn't they want us to know?" Alex asked.
"The less who know, the better. Not as big of a chance for him to realize that we're onto him. The goal is to play ignorant for as long as possible, but with how… attracted he is to the family, the two of you needed to know to make smart decisions. And Maddie, I'm so, so sorry I couldn't tell you before. It's part of why I didn't sleep well last night."
"It's fine, Scott. Hepzibah talked to me." Scott nodded. "And I'm sorry about earlier. Hormones."
"Told you," Nathan said. Scott frowned at Nathan and turned back to Madelyne.
"That's something else I'd like to discuss. Rogue figured it out, as did Kurt. I'd like to tell the rest of the X-Men. Gabe was right. They're my family, and secrets…" Scott sighed. "It would also mean more protection for you." Madelyne nodded.
"We can tell them. As long as it doesn't leave the Institute." Scott nodded and kissed her cheek.
"Well, that's all I have. Don't tell anyone yet. I'm meeting with the core team after dinner." The teens in the room, and Nathan, nodded. "Oh, and I know you two aren't calling Hepzibah 'Mom,' but there's a really annoying girl here who thinks Dad will leave Mom for her, so if you could lay it on thick, that'd be awesome."
"We're allowed to call her 'Mom'?" Gabriel asked.
"Of course. She and Dad aren't married, but that's her role in our lives."
"I didn't think Dad liked us doing that."
"No, he's fine with it. It actually makes him happy because it means we accept her in the family."
"I'll do it today, but…"
"It's fine, Alex. Mrs. Masters is your mom. Mom knows that. But Taryn needs to be messed with. And Nathan, if anyone asks, you're our uncle, and Nate is your son. There's enough of a resemblance to make it work, I think." Nathan and Nate rolled their eyes at the same time, causing everyone to laugh. "Carrie is Maddie's sister visiting from Alaska. Are there any questions about our cover stories?"
"No," the group responded.
"Ok. Just remember while we have visitors, I'm not Dad, Maddie isn't Mom, and Dad isn't Grandpa."
"Got it, Dad. Scott. Sorry… it's gonna take some getting used to."
"It's fine, Nate. We're not expecting a lot of visitors between now and Thanksgiving." Scott opened the door and had his family walk out. He waved goodbye to Ch'od and Raza and led Madelyne out of the suite.