Author's note: see ch 1 for disclaimer
They took the stairs to the main floor where they saw Chris talking about with Rahne and Bobby. The two nodded at something he'd said and Scott saw him send them away.
"Hey, kid."
"What was that about?"
"Hand to hand stuff. They're going to go get changed and meet me in the gym."
"Ok."
"Do you know when that girl will be leaving?"
"No, and Jean hardly has people over, so I feel guilty asking her to get rid of her. Ch'od and Raza can take the elevator straight to the lower levels if you want to see them." Chris nodded.
"I'll run up and get them, then."
"I'd suggest using the elevator and bypassing the second floor." Chris chuckled and patted Scott on the back.
"I'll be back in a few. You feel like helping me with hand to hand?"
"You know I would, Dad, but I've got some homework to catch up on," Scott told him. "I've got that same government packet, I've got physics, and I've got Spanish. I came down to grab my backpack."
"Makes me glad I'm out of school. Then again, I don't think I did my homework my whole senior year," Chris said with a wink.
"You're such a great role model."
"I could've dropped out and joined the Air Force early. They wanted me for my ACT scores from my junior year, I was eighteen. What was the point?"
"Then why didn't you?"
"There was a cute blonde girl who asked me to stay." Madelyne squeezed Scott's hand as Scott gave Chris a small smile. "Ok. I'm going to go up and get Ch'od and Raza. Maybe I'll have Bobby spar with Ch'od," Chris said as he started heading towards the elevator. Scott shook his head and looked at Madelyne.
"Feel like sticking around down here and doing homework?"
"Sure. Let me get my stuff." Scott nodded and Madelyne went upstairs. Scott grabbed his backpack and pulled out his homework packet for his government class and his textbook.
"Hi, Scott." Scott closed his eyes and took a breath.
"Taryn. What are you doing here?"
"Madelyne invited us to work with the two of you on homework." Scott looked up and saw Madelyne walking over with Jean.
"Great. What number were we supposed to stop at for tomorrow?"
"Forty, and then she said we're finishing the packet to turn in on Monday."
"Are we getting another one for break?"
"No," Jean answered. "She thought about it, but something just… changed her mind."
"Hm. Wonder what it was." Jean smirked and Scott smiled and shook his head. The four started working together. Scott was able to pull out his physics homework and work on the two assignments simultaneously to get done faster. He finished his physics homework before they finished their government questions, so he pulled out his Spanish homework as well.
"Scott, dinner," Chris said, walking by the group.
"Ok, I'm almost done." Chris stopped and turned.
"I said dinner. That means now, kid."
"Dad,"
"Scott." Scott sighed and started putting his things in his backpack and Chris walked on to the stairs.
"Maddie?"
"I'm ok. I think I'll just make something small later."
"You're going to leave me up there with them all alone?"
"I'm sure Nathan will keep you company. Go. Your dad's starting to walk back over." Scott pulled his backpack over his shoulder and walked away.
"So how long have you known Scott's dad?" Taryn asked Madelyne.
"A little over two months. I met them when they were visiting Scott's grandparents. I was homeschooled and his grandmother was my teacher."
"What's he like?"
"Who, Chris?" Taryn nodded and Madelyne inwardly sighed. "He takes his family very seriously. Scott's mom was his highschool sweetheart. They were together eleven years before she died. It's actually a really sad story. Their plane was coming down, and Chris and Katherine strapped the boys to their last two parachutes and pushed them to safety. It's how they were separated. Chris managed to get himself and Katherine out before the fuel tank blew, but she landed wrong and didn't make it. Chris was severely injured and hospitalized. The doctors told him he was the only survivor."
"That's horrible."
"Yeah. He started just traveling, finding odd jobs to get him to the next city. He found Hepzibah and their friends, who are actually visiting this week, and they started traveling together. He and Hepzibah started dating. They've been together for seven years."
"How were they reconnected?"
"Well, Scott didn't know it, but Professor Xavier started looking for any information about where Alex was buried, since Scott was told he was the only survivor and didn't remember Gabriel- repressed memories from not being able to protect him since he was tied to him. He found Alex in Hawaii. Alex got them searching for Gabriel, who had been taken in by a couple in Scotland. So when Scott learned that family members he was told were gone were alive, he hired a private detective to find his parents. Chris came as soon as he heard his children were alive, and since Scott was in his senior year here, he got a job as Professor Xavier's private pilot. Alex and Gabriel decided they wanted to move here as well, so here they all are."
"That's amazing. Ugh. He's such a great dad. That's exactly the kind of dad I want my kids to have. Do you know if Chris is planning on having more?"
"He's not. He says his hands are full with the three he has now, and don't tell anyone I said this, but Hepzibah, his wife, told me that he told her that he loves her, but he can't bear to have kids who aren't Katherine's. She was his everything. The boys actually went home to find pictures of her. There are several hanging up in their suite. I don't think he'll ever actually get over her."
"But she's dead and he's married again."
"Yeah, but Hepzibah knows he loves her. She knows it will never be the same as how he loved Katherine, but it's enough. They're happy. And now that he has his children back, he's even happier."
"Scott is, too," Jean said, putting her packet in her homework folder to put in her backpack. "He's definitely much more relaxed. Until Chris reminds everyone he was a major in the Air Force."
"What does that mean?"
"He yells," Madelyne said, smirking. "But to be fair, his dad was a captain in the Air Force during Vietnam. Chris grew up with the yelling. I actually don't know where Chris even got his sense of humor. After knowing his parents for as long as I have, I can think of four times I saw his dad smile. And that's including Chris and Katherine's wedding pictures."
"Where are they from? I don't think Scott has mentioned anything about his grandparents being nearby."
"Alaska," Jean told her, finishing packing up her backpack. She stood up and put her backpack on the couch. "They're all from Anchorage, Alaska."
"It's a beautiful state," Madelyne said, eyes glazed over. "Mountains, snow, Northern Lights. I loved just sitting outside and watching the sun come up over the mountains. You know. On the days we had a sun."
"You know the professor would fly us out there if you wanted."
"I know, but… this is where Scott's family is now. Alaska has no one alive for me."
"Why would everyone go to Alaska?" Taryn asked, now cleaning up her homework. Madelyne smiled and showed her her ring. "You're getting married?!"
"Apparently it's a Summers thing, finding their soulmate in high school. Scott actually had the ring specially made and it's modeled after the ring his mother wore."
"That's so romantic! Jean, why didn't you tell me?"
"It was their news," Jean said with a sad smile.
"Scott saw how few years his parents had together, and he just couldn't wait any longer. He's worried he'll have a similar fate as Chris. And if he does, well, I hope our children have as wonderful a stepmother as Scott does who accepts his family without question," Madelyne said, looking into Jean's eyes. Jean blinked away tears and nodded.
"We won't let him be with anyone else."
"Jean, don't you wish Duncan would propose now?" Jean laughed.
"Duncan is not marriage material. I don't think he's even boyfriend material." The girls stood up and Jean frowned. "Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"I thought I heard… never mind. My brain must just be fried after government."
"I don't see how Scott could do several assignments at a time," Taryn said. "I've never seen such an ability to multitask, and I've known him for three years."
"That's a trait from his mom, definitely. Chris can only do one thing at a time and is easily distracted. Chris has even said it was from Katherine. Scott said that's just the way he's always been. He does a lot at once and he's always planning ahead. But if you ladies don't mind, I need to find something to eat." Madelyne shouldered her backpack and walked towards the kitchen.
"Fine," Taryn said, feeling Jean's eyes on her. "I'll give up my pursuit of Scott's dad. But I can still admire the body. Besides, I saw another guy here. Even hotter, especially with the white hair. Think he's single?"
"Uh… I don't know who you're talking about."
"He was talking to Scott on the third floor. Crazy tall. Muscles galore. Like a real-life GI Joe."
"Oh, you mean Nathan?"
"Sure. What's he do here?"
"Uh… security." *What's the cover story for Nathan?* Jean quickly asked Scott.
*My uncle. Nate's his son, Carrie's Maddie's sister.*
"Does this Nathan have a wife I have to look out for?"
"I don't actually know. He's a very private person, but that's a family trait we've all noticed."
"Family trait?"
"That's Scott's uncle."
"Ugh. I need to get in on this family. All the guys are so hot." Jean laughed.
"It is an attractive family."
"Are you ok with their engagement? I know you so had a thing for Scott." Jean sighed.
"No, I'm not, but Scott… he's a good friend. He's had such a hard life that he deserves to be happy. I haven't been subtle with how I felt, but Scott was adamant that Madelyne was the only one for him. Now that they're engaged… I just want my friend back."
"You know, Madelyne totally looks like she could be your twin."
"We've had that pointed out several times. She's from Nebraska, originally. Moved to Alaska when she was young. I was born and raised in New York."
"I just wonder if you're long lost sisters or something."
"No. She was adopted, and I was born into my family. She's actually found her biological sister. Looks like her, just with blue eyes."
"Jean! Have you seen- oh. Hi."
"Nate. This is Taryn. Taryn, this is Nate-"
"He's cute. Let me guess. Nate Summers." Nate grinned and winked.
"I see my family's looks precede me. Hi, Taryn."
"How old are you?"
"I'll be sixteen in two weeks."
"A little young… but very tall."
"Yeah, my, uh, dad is nearly seven feet tall. He looked a lot like I do at this age." Nate and Jean shared a smile.
"Oh, your dad is Nathan? Is he single?"
"He's in his fifties. And he's not interested."
"Struck out again. So, Nate, why aren't you at Bayville?"
"Um. Homeschooled. Dad's crazy protective. A little too sheltering, in my opinion."
"I'll tell him you said that," Jean said with a smirk. Nate's smile dropped.
"Oh, come on! You heard how he went off on- Hope. My sister Hope, when she said the same thing."
"There's more of you? Where is your sister?"
"Back home."
"Where's home for you? Are you from Alaska as well?"
"Yep. Anyways, I was actually looking for Dad, and I was wondering if Jean had seen him?"
"Chris is having dinner with his friends in their suite. Wasn't he up there?"
"Shit! I knew I forgot something!" Nate took off up the steps and Taryn giggled.
"He's cute. Too young, but cute. It's amazing how Scott went from being alone to having such a huge family."
"I don't think he minds. We used to talk about that, you know. He was ready to meet someone, settle down, have kids. He must be happy to have finally found someone who wants that, too."
"It'll happen for you eventually, Jean."
"I know, Taryn. And you'll get your man with the hot dad bod, too." Taryn laughed.
"I should get going. My parents are expecting me home for dinner soon." Taryn left and Jean pulled out her communicator.
"All clear," she announced.
"Everyone make sure you eat. Core team, I need to meet with you in Professor Xavier's office right after dinner. Jean, our meeting will follow that."
"Got it, Cyclops." Madelyne came back out, eating a small snack.
"Hey, Jean? Can we talk after your meeting with Scott and the instructors?" Jean tensed.
"What about?"
"Just… some stuff." Jean nodded and then looked around.
"Did you hear it that time? I swear I keep hearing… something."
"It was just Carrie," Madelyne told her, taking a bite from her carrot.
"I didn't know she could sound like a baby." Madelyne looked at Jean and dipped her carrot into… Jean blanched, realizing it was vinegar. "Why are you eating that?"
"I blame Carrie. One hundred percent."
"Madelyne, are you… are you-" Jean stopped and her eyes went wide.
"I am. Scott and I are announcing it after dinner."
"Well, um, congratulations. Please let me know if there's anything I can do."
"I'll tell you after your meeting." Jean nodded and left to get a quick dinner. She finished, cleaned her dishes, put her backpack in her room, and went to Xavier's office with a notebook and a pen to wait.