Author's Note: see ch 1 for disclaimer
Warning: spanking
"Hey," Scott said, walking in.
"Hi. Taryn said she'll stop pursuing your dad."
"Great. Thanks."
"Thank Madelyne. She told her how your dad was still hung up on your mom and refused to have kids who weren't hers."
"All true," Scott said, carefully sitting down.
"You ok?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Yesterday was not one of my best days," he said with a wry grin.
"You mean you have good days?"
"Not so much these days," he said honestly.
"What's been going on?"
"I saw the future. I accidentally jumped with Nathan twenty years into the future and got some information that's prevalent to this year. We've started working on updating security, but… It's not enough. So we're bringing you guys into it now."
"What was the future like?" Scott looked at her and then down to the floor. "That great, huh?"
"About. Maddie's gone. My future self had to choose to save her or Nathan. Happens before he's even a year old."
"I'm sorry, Scott."
"I'm doing what I can to change it. But there are just certain things that never seem to change, no matter what we do. Dad goes back with the Starjammers with Gabriel. Alex leaves. I'm still… here. Nathan still has the Techno-Organic virus injected into him. Maddie still dies." Scott sighed. "Sorry. I don't mean to unload all of this on you. I just don't… I can't talk about this with Maddie right now. I can't put this stress on her. Dad's freaking out on his own about the three of us. Nathan is still too pissed with Nate and Carrie to be able to sit and talk with."
"It's ok, Scott. I've missed talking with you."
"We talk almost every day," Scott said, confused.
"I know, but not about… things outside of school or the X-Men."
"I've been grounded and on a tight leash until this week. I'm still technically grounded, but with everything that happened, Dad's loosening the reins a bit."
"How's it going with him? Honestly."
"Jean,"
"I'm just asking as a friend who cares about you, Scott."
"Everything is great. Really. I like having him to fall back on. This past week has been really, really hard, and it's only Wednesday. He's been crazy supportive and understanding."
"I'm glad. He's… he's a good dad."
"I appreciate you saying that. I don't know what I'd do without him." The doors opened and the main X-Men started trickling in. Scott waited until the instructors were present as well before he stood up. He looked at Chris, who nodded.
"You've got this, kid." Scott took a breath and looked at his team.
"There's a mad man after my family and me. Dr. Milbury."
"The nosebleed guy," Evan said, crossing his arms.
"Yeah. His real name is Nathaniel Essex, AKA Mr. Sinister. He… he had something to do with the plane crash my family was in, and he's the one who had me and Alex separated. Somehow, he became Madelyne's stepfather, probably a cover of sorts, so when her mom… died, he came to Alaska to my grandparents house and saw me. Now he knows where I am and is coming for us."
"How do you know?" Kitty asked.
"Because I accidently took a trip to the future with Nathan on Sunday. From what I was told, Sinister will kidnap Gabriel during this school year, and he'll try to get Madelyne. Then we get a break, and then in about six years… He comes for us again, successfully taking Madelyne and Baby Nathan." Scott stopped and took a breath. "He makes it so I can only save one."
"Oh, Scott," Kitty said, putting her hands over her mouth.
"Wha' can we do?"
"We're already updating security here. I don't know if any of you have seen them, but the Starjammers are back. They're helping Dad do some alien-level security around the property. Logan and I are getting Forge to help with what he can. Beast is working on a few things. And we're going to start increasing the intensity of our training after Thanksgiving."
"I get it, but like, why so soon?"
"Because… Sinister is at the school. Mr. Bolkin." The silence was deafening.
"Firs' Mystique. Now this Sinistah guy. Wha's next? Magneto gonna be tha new shop class teachah?" Scott couldn't stop the grin.
"I doubt it, Rogue. I don't think he could handle being around so many teenagers. But since you mentioned him, you guys should know that we are… sort of… working with him on this. He doesn't like Sinister, either. So if you guys hear something, let Pietro know. He'll get word to his dad."
"Ugh. We gotta work with Quicksilver?"
"I'm sorry. Would you rather just be able to text Magneto?" Evan thought about it for a minute.
"Nah, man, I'm good."
"Ok then. One more thing and then you guys are free for the evening. Maddie?" Madelyne stood up and stood next to Scott.
"We already know you two are like, engaged, Scott. You told us on Monday."
"Not that, though it's still true. Um. Maddie's pregnant. We found out earlier this week. That's why she didn't participate with us on Monday. According to Magneto, once Sinister finds out it's a girl, he'll… leave us alone. He's mostly interested in the boys. But he won't know until she's further along."
"Why not just tell him?"
"Then he'd know we knew his plans. And that's why we didn't say anything about this last night. The less people who know who he is, the better. At school, we'll all be responsible for keeping an eye on the New Recruits, especially Gabe. And a few extra eyes on Madelyne would be appreciated, as well."
"Alex and Gabriel don't know, and I'd-"
"Actually, Dad," Scott said, rubbing his neck. "They do know." Scott saw the change in Chris' demeanor immediately.
"What?"
"You'd said-"
"Scott, can I talk to you privately, please?"
"Can it wait until after-"
"Nope."
"Ok. That's all I'd wanted to say, anyways. Professor, Jean, I'll be back in a few minutes." Scott walked out of the room with Chris close behind him. They went into the suite, which happened to now be empty.
"Sit down." Scott sat on the couch and watched Chris pace in front of him.
"Dad-"
"Don't say anything right now, Scott. I'm trying to process and understand what I was just told." Scott bent his head and just stared at his clasped hands. Finally, he heard Chris sigh. "Why?"
"I thought you'd said you agreed they needed to be told."
"But why would you have thought it was your position to tell them?"
"I'm the leader-"
"When you are in this suite, young man, you are not in charge. Hepzibah and I are. So tell me why I wasn't the one to tell them? Why wasn't I the one who comforted Gabriel and told him we would keep him safe?"
"I'm sorry… He seemed fine-"
"I was wondering why he was so distracted during dinner. I thought he was having flashbacks from the Shi'ar because of Ch'od and Raza. I just can't believe-" Chris rubbed his eyes. "Answer my question, Scott. Why wasn't it me?"
"Because it needed to be done and when it comes to things like this, sometimes you…"
"Sometimes I what?"
"Don't want it to be true, so you ignore it. I'm sorry, Dad. I shouldn't have overstepped." Chris was silent for a full five minutes.
"What have you done wrong?" He finally asked.
"Dad, no, please-"
"Are you arguing with me?"
"No sir!"
"Then answer my damn question." Scott sniffed as he stood and put his hands behind his back.
"I overstepped boundaries and gave news that I had no business giving."
"What do you deserve?"
"Discipline, sir." Chris stared at him for a moment and then sighed.
"Go get me the spoon." Scott went to the kitchenette and pulled the spoon Chris used for punishment out of the drawer. He took it back to Chris and handed it to him. Chris sat on the couch and patted his thigh. "Present yourself."
"Dad-"
"Scott Christopher, you will get your ass over my lap before I decide you need to be switched again." Scott shakily unbuttoned and unzipped his pants and pushed them and his boxers down. He lowered himself over Chris' lap and buried his face in his arms. Chris wrapped his arm around Scott's waist and started spanking hard and fast with the spoon. Scott grunted and hissed until the burning became too much.
"Dad, please! I'm sorry!"
"Well as long as you're sorry!" Chris said, rolling his eyes. He continued to bring the spoon down on Scott's butt and the tops of his thighs.
"Dad!" Scott threw his hand back to block the spoon, but Chris grabbed it and held it to his side. He rested the spoon on Scott's burning butt.
"Did you just try to stop a spanking, young man?"
"No!" Chris sighed and looked at the red hue of Scott's butt.
"I'm almost done," he said, starting to spank Scott again.
"Daddy!" Scott cried out. "I'm sorry! Please stop!" Chris swatted Scott four more times and stopped.
"What do you have to say for yourself, Scott Christopher?"
"I'm sorry! I w-won't do it a-again!" Chris pulled up Scott's boxers and patted his back.
"Go wash your face and let's get to that meeting." Scott stood up and pulled his pants up.
"Dad-" Chris stood up and put his hands on Scott's shoulders.
"You screwed up, Scott. Now we're going to talk about this some more after the meeting, but I'm done for right now."
"I'm sorry," Scott said, leaning in for comfort. Chris pushed him away, feeling the need to make Scott feel as alone as Gabriel might gave felt.
"Yeah, I'm sure you are now. Go wash your face." Scott felt crushed, but did as he was told. Chris opened the door to the suite and gestured for Scott to lead. They made it to Charles' office and went in.
"We can finish this later," Charles told Storm. "Hello, Cyclops. Corsair. Are we ready for our weekly updates?"
"Yes Professor," Scott said, standing next to his desk.
"Sit down, Scott." Scott looked at Chris with sadness.
"Dad,"
"Sit." Scott sat next to Jean and whimpered at the contact. Jean looked at Scott with sympathy, but didn't call attention to what had to have happened to cause the reaction.
"With the security updates everyone is doing, I'd like to recommend that some of us be taught how to pull them up and take them offline," she started.
"I might agree, but there is the fact that some of the X-Men might use that to throw parties again," Charles told her, also trying to carry on with business as usual and ignore the sniffing and shifting from his team's leader.
"Not all of us would do that. I know Rogue refused to have part in the party. I feel like she would do well with something like this. That, and I feel like she needs more responsibility in the team. She's come leaps and bounds from where she was last year."
"Skunk would be good for it, Charlie. She's done a lot more with the kids than others have, all without bein' asked. Give her a shot."
"I agree. She's always willing to help with the hand to hand training, and she volunteers to stay and clean up after. She's very encouraging with the younger students, and I can't seem to think of a reason to distrust her with this information," Corsair added.
"Then we'll speak to Rogue soon and let her be there for the installation of new procedures. Corsair, you had something you wanted to discuss?"
"I talked to Cyclops about this yesterday, but I think Danger Room sessions should be recorded. If the files are encrypted, there's no fear about them being accidentally seen by outsiders. I think it would help training go better, as Cyclops and Jean can review the tapes and see things they might have missed during the session."
"I agree," Storm said.
"As do I," Beast spoke up. "It would also be beneficial for me if there's an injury during training. I would be able to see what exactly happened."
"Then it's settled. I'll work on getting something set up to start recording soon. Cyclops, was there anything you wanted to add?"
"I'd like to consider moving Iceman to the main team."
"What are your reasons? I enjoy the humor he brings to the mansion, but I don't know if he can be serious enough for this responsibility."
"When I went to the future, the only people I saw that are here today- teen wise- were Jean, Rogue, and Iceman. That tells me he's dedicated to what we stand for. I'd like that on my team. I know he can get carried away with his jokes, but so does Nightcrawler. And it was Nightcrawler and Shadowcat who threw that party last month." Charles looked at the instructors around him.
"Does anyone agree with Cyclops' assessment?"
"If Cyke can test him, I'd be happy to review."
"As would I," Beast said. "I think Iceman is incredibly talented and most of his problems are based on him not being stimulated enough. If we move him to the X-Men, things might change. Now I wouldn't recommend giving him authority over the others, but I can see him being an asset on field missions."
"Ok. Cyclops, you will approach Iceman and give him a date for this test that is approved by Corsair, and we'll go from there."
"Yes Professor."
"Is there anything else we need to discuss?"
"Would you like for us to start including Rogue now?" Corsair asked. Charles nodded.
"We can bring her up here and see if this is something she'd like to do. Then I believe she should sit down with our main security team, as well as the Starjammers, and discuss what is being done."
"That particular meeting might have to wait for a little while. Cyclops and I haven't quite finished our discussion of why he was out of place with giving certain information to Havok and Vulcan." Cyclops slunk down in his seat.
"Understood, Corsair. We can bring her up, ask her, and give her a day to decide." Corsair nodded. "She will join us in a moment." A few minutes passed and Rogue soon popped her head into the office.
"Ya wanted ta see me, Professah?"
"Yes, Rogue. Please come in and have a seat." Rogue walked in and sat beside Wolverine.
"Have Ah done somethin' wrong?"
"No, Rogue. We actually were wondering if you would like to be a part of the security team with implementing, understanding, and control over the improvements?"
"Ah don' undastan'," she said honestly.
"Jean feels that more X-Men need to know how to work the security for emergencies, either getting working or shutting it down. Because of how you have handled yourself recently, she suggested you. Corsair and Wolverine agreed. If this is something you're interested in, we want to get you started in meetings with Cyclops, Cable, Wolverine, Corsair, and Forge as soon as tomorrow. Now I know this is a lot to think about, so we will give you time-"
"Ah'll do it, Professor. Ah don' need time ta thank abou' it."
"Are you sure, Rogue?"
"Yes."
"Ok. You will meet with the group tomorrow and be brought up to speed," Corsair told her. "Are we done, Charles?"
"We are." Corsair nodded and looked at Cyclops.
"You're dismissed to your room. Go." Scott blushed as he got up and left the office.