Author's note: see ch 1 for disclaimer
Warning: mention of spanking, mention of sexual situations
"Feel like giving a tour?" Warren asked.
"Sure. Lorna, would you like to join us?"
"I already offered to show her around, Dad," Alex said.
"Ok. Follow me, Warren." Warren followed Chris out of the dining room and they stopped on the main floor. "There are two upper floors. Second floor is where the students sleep, boys on the left, girls on the right. Third floor is for the instructors, and in my case, my family. Third floor is also where Xavier's office is located. That's the only room without a scanner, so it's hard to miss.
"We have sign up sheets over here for the students to request having friends over. This way we know to cover up abilities and not discuss certain activities. Down this hall here is the game room. Bit of advice, don't challenge Scott to a game of pool. You'll lose. Even I can't beat him. Through this door is the kitchen. You saw how to get to the dining room, but there's another entrance to the dining room through the kitchen." Chris showed the kitchen to Warren and saw his grandchildren washing dishes under the watchful eye of their mother.
"Madelyne, right?" Madelyne nodded to Warren.
"It's nice to meet you, Warren. You know it's safe to take your coat off here. Do it while you can." Warren nodded and took his coat off, allowing his wings to stretch.
"It's habit. If my parents knew…" Warren shook his head. Chris frowned.
"They're your parents. Shouldn't they accept your abilities?"
"My parents have an image to maintain. I'd be a freak in their eyes if they knew."
"How can you hide those?"
"A very well-paid assistant. Coats. A lot of alone time." Chris shook his head.
"Well you're safe here. We have Beast, as you saw, Cable and his arm, and my mate, Hepzibah."
"I didn't see anything strange about her."
"She and another student wear watches to hide their… features when we have guests. Alex's parents know about the mutations here, and they do a great job accepting everything, but I don't want to overload them. This is their first Christmas with him where they've had to share him. Least I could do, you know? But Hepzibah is actually a Mephitisoid."
"I'm sorry. I'm unfamiliar with that term."
"She's an alien." Warren looked confused, and then smiled.
"Ok. I got it. Joke's on me, ha ha."
"It's true," Chris told him. "When my family's plane went down, my wife and I were taken into space by aliens, the Shi'ar. They killed her and I was thrown into a prison camp where I met other aliens. We rescued Hepzibah and escaped, and we became outlaws in the Shi'ar Empire. They shot us out of the sky a few months ago, and we quite literally landed in the backyard. Once we realized Scott and I were related, Hep and I decided to stay. I became an instructor for flying the planes, hand to hand combat, and lessons on aliens and alien tech."
"Hepzibah heard Corsair calling for her?" Hepzibah asked, coming into the kitchen.
"I was just explaining your inducer, love. Would you mind showing Warren the face I fell in love with?" Hepzibah pressed a button on her watch and reverted back to her skunk-like features.
"Wow," Warren said.
"So alien lessons are every other Thursday night, but we're on break while the kids are on break."
"Sounds fun. I'll be here."
"Would you like to see the lower levels?" Warren looked at his watch and nodded.
"I've got a bit longer before I'm expected to make an appearance."
"Not too far," Nate said, angrily. "Wouldn't want to piss off his highness."
"Nathan," Madelyne scolded. "Don't be upset with him because you broke the rules."
"Why are you even on his side?! You thought he was being too harsh-"
"Because he is my side. If he thinks what you two- three did was deserving of this, then I support him. You're not pitting us against each other."
"I wish I'd never used that stupid jumper," he muttered, returning to washing dishes.
"Nate, do you and I need to have a talk?" Chris asked.
"No sir."
"Then you apologize to her. Now." Nate swallowed.
"I'm not afraid of you."
"That's good. I don't want you to be. But you will apologize to her or I'll take you upstairs and have someone else finish this tour for our guest, whom you're giving quite a show to."
"What's going on?" Scott asked coming in. "Maddie said I was needed up here."
"Corsair is overstepping his position."
"Nate is having problems with your position." Scott looked at Madelyne.
"Maddie?"
"You might need to take him upstairs-"
"Mom!" Scott frowned.
"Nathan. I told you if there was one more problem with you, I'd take care of it. If she's saying you need to go upstairs, then that's what we're doing. Go." Nate threw down the plate he'd been washing to the floor and started walking away. Scott grabbed his human arm and yanked him back.
"Let me go!"
"You clean that up." Chris put a hand on Warren's shoulder and urged him out of the kitchen.
"We don't need to see any more of that," he told him. "This is the elevator for the lower levels." Chris scanned his thumbprint and the doors opened. He and Warren stepped in and started going down.
"So…" Warren said. "Is that usual? Does Scott… threaten all of the students like that, or just family?" Chris sighed.
"Depends. You thinking of being an X-Man? Even a part-time one?"
"I'm considering it. A lot is riding on the answer."
"Nate and Carolyn are time travelers. Nate and Nathan are actually the same person, just different times existing at the same time." Warren nodded. "You're… accepting that?"
"Hey, if aliens are real, then why not time traveling? They're Scott's kids, aren't they? His and Madelyne's?"
"They are."
"So he's a dad pissed off with his kids. Ok. Better than what I was thinking."
"Which was what, if I might ask?"
"A weird threesome." Chris put a hand over his eyes.
"Nope. That's definitely my grandson. Changing topics." Warren chuckled as Chris showed him around the lower levels. They ran into Rogue in the security room and Chris informed her of the situation with Nate.
"Scott's really mad," she told Chris. "He was thinkin' of havin' them scrub tha Dangeh Room for the res' of tha year."
"I'd've shot that idea down. It wasn't like they went looking for the codes to get away with things." Rogue raised an eye.
"Didn' Cyclops get in trouble fo' givin' Havok and Vulcan info?"
"He did, but I didn't take it out on them for receiving the information. Scott's more upset with Nathan than Nate and Carrie and whatever he's going to decide to do, he needs to remember it was Nathan who gave the information."
"It was Nathan who's doing most everything to protect this family," Nathan said, walking past the security room to the elevator.
"Where are you going?" Chris asked.
"To get yelled at again by a seventeen year old." Nathan took the elevator up to the third floor and let himself into Madelyne and Scott's suite. Scott was sitting on the couch, rubbing his face, and Nate was sniffing in the corner. Scott looked up at the noise and sighed.
"Nate." Nate turned around and wiped his face.
"Yes sir?"
"Come here." Nate walked over and Scott stood up, hugging him. "Don't make me do that again."
"Sorry, Dad."
"Ok. Go apologize to your mother and then you're in your room for the rest of the night."
"Yes sir." Nate left the suite and Scott frowned at Nathan.
"I'm telling you right now, you're not doing that to me."
"Wasn't going to try. Look, Nate… I get where you were coming from. If you had asked me, I would have said it was a great idea. But you completely bypassed the chain of command. It has nothing to do with me being your dad, but you ignored my position in the X-Men. I'm… I'm really hurt that you did that. I would expect it from nearly anyone else, but you know how I feel about being the leader. I already have to fight to get Dad and Logan to remember, I didn't think I had to fight to remind you."
"Everything I did, I did for Mom."
"Which is why the yelling earlier was going to be it, until Nate decided to act like an ass in front of Maddie. She was the one who sent me up here with him. I just… I wanted to tell you that I understood why you did it, and I wanted to explain why I blew up at you specifically. And then I wanted to give you these," Scott said, giving Nathan a piece of paper.
"The codes?"
"You're on the security team. But… Nathan, if you give them out again behind my back, I'll change them a third time and you won't be given them again. I want to trust you. Maddie wants to trust you. Please don't put me in this position again. Not with my kids."
"I'm sorry, Dad. I promise I'll consult you the next time I want to do something like that again."
"Then we're done and I'd like to enjoy the rest of my break. And for tomorrow, the five of us are going to have an early Christmas. Maddie wants to get a tree in the morning, so that's what we're going to do. We'll have a light lunch and then Maddie and Carrie are making dinner. Once we've had dinner, we're going to open presents."
"Ok. Are we expected to sleep in here tonight?"
"You'll have to ask her." Nathan nodded and then smirked.
"You know Grandpa won't let you stay in here, right?"
"Shut up, Nate," Scott said, gently shoving him. Scott heard a knock at the door and went to answer it.
"Everything taken care of?"
"Yes sir," Scott told Chris. "Did Angel leave?"
"He did. We exchanged numbers. He said he'd return to try out the Danger Room after Christmas."
"Cool."
"Are you going to invite me in?" Scott sighed and opened the door so Chris could step inside the suite.
"Before you yell at me, it had to be done-"
"I'm not here to yell. I just wanted to make sure you were ok. First times are hard."
"I'm ok." Chris moved away from the door as they heard it start opening. Nate walked in and tensed at seeing Chris and Scott.
"I didn't do it this time."
"Come in, Nate." Nate stood beside Nathan and stared at Scott and Chris.
"I apologized."
"Thank you. D'you apologize to your grandfather?" Nate eyed Chris.
"Sorry, Grandpa."
"I suppose that's as good as I'm going to get right now."
"Go on to bed, Nate." Nate went into his room and closed the door.
"I might have threatened him downstairs."
"He'll be fine. Just so you're aware, we won't be available tomorrow for anything short of an emergency. Maddie wants us to get a tree in the morning and then we're spending the day decorating it and having Christmas just us."
"Sounds like a lot of fun. We'll do our best to give you your space."
"And… and I'm spending the night in here." Chris raised his eye.
"I thought we had a deal. Not until after the New Year."
"I'd like to wake up with my family to celebrate our first and only Christmas like this instead of having them wait on me, or me wait on them to wake up and let me in."
"I'm afraid if I let you do this tonight, it'll keep happening before the first."
"It won't. Dad, I could have just done it and not said anything to you. I asked out of respect."
"So what you're saying is, if I say no, you're going to do it anyways."
"No sir. If you say no, I won't stay in here. But I'm asking you to take my situation into account and-"
"Fine. One night only. You won't ask me again."
"Well I'll be damned," Nathan said in amazement.
"Thanks, Dad."
"Bed by ten."
"Yes sir."
"That means eyes closed, not in bed having sex."
"Dad!"
"Really, Grandpa? I'm right here!"
"It needed to be said."
"It really didn't," Scott said, feeling the heat in his face.
"Son, if you can't discuss it-"
"Dad, I have absolutely no problem talking about it, but talking about it with you is weird. You're my dad. Are you going to go in there and tell Grandpa about you and Mom?"
"I'm an adult with grandchildren of my own on the way-" Chris stopped and blinked. "I'm too young to be a grandfather."
"A little late for that now," Nathan said, rolling his eyes.
"Shut up, Nate." Scott smirked at his son, knowing he'd said the same thing earlier.
"I'm going to get Maddie and some clothes for tomorrow," Scott said, heading to the doors.
"Notice how he didn't say clothes for tonight," Chris pretended to whisper to Nathan. Scott looked at the two of them and frowned.
"She keeps that room eight thousand degrees! Why would I wear anything but my boxers?" Chris and Nathan chuckled and Scott left to get his fiancée. On his way back to the suite with Madelyne and clothes for the following day, he ran into Alex and Lorna.
"Hey, Scott. Maddie."
"Alex. Lorna, how are you handling this?"
"Everyone has been very nice. I just… I wish things were different." Madelyne walked to her and put an arm around Lorna's shoulders, leading her up to the third floor.
"I just lost my mom a few months ago. The pain doesn't get easier, but handling it will. And crying and grieving are ok," Madelyne opened the door to the suite, "but you can't let them get in the way of your life for too long. You've got to still get out and focus on other things."
"Easier said than done," Lorna told her, wiping her face. "You have a huge support system-"
"I do, but I don't. I have Scott and his grandparents, yes, but everyone else who has been there for me was doing it because of who Scott was to them."
"Then how did-"
"Because I still let them be there for me. I know you've known us for all of two hours, but… we're here for you. This family, especially. We have all been through more than what anyone should go through. I mean, name a tragedy, and I can point out who's gone through it with the last name of Summers! But I mean it, Lorna. Even if you decide you don't want to join the X-Men, we will still be here for you."
"Thank you." Madelyne nodded and looked at Scott.
"How about a movie night? I'll get our crew together, you get Rogue." Scott nodded and went to the suite's com unit to call the lone X-Man up. He then opened up the connecting door and pulled Gabriel into the room.
"We might need another couch," he told Madelyne, looking at the group.
"Ah'll sit on the flo', Scotty."
"Mm… Nathan, Carrie, help me get some furniture over from Dad's suite." Nathan and Carolyn smirked and went into Chris' suite, using their telekinesis to easily move the furniture. Chris came in after them with a raised eye.
"Is there a reason my couch is in here now?"
"We're bonding and we need more furniture," Scott told him, helping Nathan arrange everything around the television.
"Are we invited?"
"Nope. Kids only. And by that I mean everyone who was born on my birthday and after," Scott said, looking at Nathan.
"Like I'd leave and piss off a pregnant Red Queen," Nathan said, rolling his eyes. "One of you yelling at me today was enough, thanks."
"Then I expect my stuff back before you go to bed." Chris looked around the room. "Gabriel."
"Yes sir?"
"Keep an eye on your brothers." Gabriel smirked.
"Yes sir." Alex blushed and refused to look at Lorna while Scott crossed his arms and rolled his eyes.
"She's already pregnant, Dad. What more can I do?"
"Just remember who's in the room, huh?"
"Sir, yes sir."
"Good boy. Have fun. Come get us if you need us." Chris walked back through the connecting door and closed it.
"What movie do you want to put on, love?" Madelyne looked at her movie collection and pulled out a DVD, handing it to Scott.
"This one." Scott dutifully put it in the DVD player and started getting things set up as his family and Rogue got comfortable.
"So, Rogue, how come you stayed back for Christmas?" Lorna asked.
"Lorna-"
"It's fahn, Scott. Ah'm an orphan. Ah don' have anywhere else ta go. Chris was nace enough ta let me crash his fam'ly's firs' Christmas in ten yea's."
"Wasn't that hard for him to offer the invitation. Pretty sure you're his favorite kid here who isn't related to him or carrying his grandchildren." Rogue smiled softly.
"I'm sure he likes everyone else in this room, though, right?" Lorna said. "I mean, there are several of you, and I can already tell you're all awesome-"
"Lorna… You and Rogue are the only two in here who aren't connected to him in some way. And I'm sure he'll grow to really like you, too, but he's only known you for two hours."
"Oh…" Scott pressed play, turned off the lights, and sat on the floor in front of Madelyne, next to Rogue. The movie started coming on and Madelyne sighed.
"I used to watch this with my mom every Christmas."
"Me too," Lorna said sadly.
"Ah watched it with my fostah mom, even though she was blind. She luved tha voices."
"Mom puts it on every year and my sister watches it with her."
"Meaning you do, too," Scott teased Alex. Lorna looked at Nate and Carolyn.
"What about you two? Have you ever watched 'Miracle on 34th Street' with your moms?"
"My mom died when I was a baby."
"Mine died when I was six. That was when Maddie and I were separated." Scott squeezed Madelyne's hand after hearing her start to sniff.
"I'm so sorry…"
"It's fine," Nate said. "My dad does a pretty good job. I think my mom would approve."
"I'm sure she would," Madelyne said, wiping away her tears.
"What about you, Mr. Summers?"
"Oh, um… I can't remember my mom ever putting this on," he said honestly.
"Scott?"
"I remember my mom turning this on and Dad either turning the channel or walking out. If his shift allowed him to be home, that is."
"Gabe?"
"Oh, I never met her."
"Aren't you twins with Alex?"
"Um…" Gabriel looked at Scott for help.
"It's a really long story, and I don't want to ruin the movie telling it," he told Lorna. They quieted down and watched it. No one noticed, or called attention to, Scott and Nate switching places to allow Nate and Carolyn to lean against Madelyne. When the movie started going off, Rogue stood and turned on the light.
"Thank ya'll fo' invitin' me. Ah thank Ah'm gonna go on ta bed, though."
"Are you sure?" Madelyne asked. "Scott bought me ice cream the other day. We can put on 'The Year Without a Santa Claus' and pig out. We can even kick out the boys and have a girls night." Rogue smiled.
"Maybe anotha time, Maddie. Logan left his bahk. I migh' take it fo' a rahd."
"Living on the edge," Scott said. "Anything you want to be buried with?" Rogue gave him a smile.
"Ah'll be fahn. Teach him ta take off on me."
"Who's Logan?"
"Another instructor," Alex told Lorna. "He's…"
"Gruff. Blunt. Short," Scott supplied. Those who knew him laughed.
"Everyone is short to you," Gabriel said as Rogue slipped out the door.
"Almost everyone," Scott said, head motioning towards Nate and Nathan. "So. Another movie, or are we moving the couch back into Dad's suite?"
"I should probably get back to my parents," Alex said. "Who knows what Dad has told them."
"You mean like the grades from your progress report?" Alex paled and jumped up, rushing through the connecting door.
"Did he open that or did he go through it like Kitty?" Gabriel asked. Scott and Nate laughed and Carolyn covered her smile.
"I don't know why he was panicking. His grades weren't that bad, especially for transferring mid-semester," Madelyne spoke up.
"That's because surfing isn't taking up his time and Dad would probably kill him if anything dropped below a 'C'. Since, you know, his big brother is third in the graduating class and the current valedictorian also lives here."
"Yeah, but you also have him training constantly," Gabriel said. "You seem to forget homework is a thing."
"No one else has an issue."
"No, everyone does, but they're too afraid to say something to you."
"Why would they be afraid? I'm super approachable." Gabriel scoffed.
"Not really."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means unless your last name is Summers, or going to be Summers, you're not that approachable. No one wants to piss you off."
"Well now I am pissed off because I make it a point to check on everyone and no one has said anything to me."
"That's because-"
"Gabe, if you say I'm not approachable again, I'm going to punch you."
"Fine. You'll be the one grounded over Christmas, not me."
"Boys." Scott and Gabriel looked up and saw Chris, standing with his arms crossed. "Nate, Carrie, put the couch back in the suite. Gabriel, I think it's time for you to leave. Scott Christopher," Scott cringed, "that's the second time today you have threatened your brother. Tell me why I shouldn't-" Chris saw Lorna and let out an irritated breath. "Do it again and see what happens."
"Yes sir. I mean, no sir. It won't happen again."
"Lorna, Hepzibah will show you to your room."
"Will I have a roommate?"
"I think we're putting you with Amara, but she's gone for break."
"Ok." Chris motioned Hepzibah into the suite and she left with Lorna. Chris looked back at Scott, frowning.
"Behave," he said, walking back into his suite, closing the door. Scott let out a breath and shrugged at Madelyne.
"You don't think I'm unapproachable, do you?"
"I don't. But I'm also carrying your children, so I don't think I get the same version of you everyone else does."
"You have your moments," Nate spoke up. "If you could just clown around with them-"
"I can't just clown around, Nate. I have an image-"
"You need to remind the X-Men that you're a person, too. They see you calm, they see you leading, and they see you angry. You're that way so much that they don't think you have other emotions. You see how much they love Uncle Alex and Uncle Gabe, and how much almost everyone loves Grandpa. Just… crack a joke occasionally."
"Carrie,"
"Daddy. Trust me."
"I can't act like that, though. I- around family is one thing, but around other people, I just… I get too…"
"Anxious," Nathan provided. "It's fine, Dad. And I think Gabe was a little off. No one is having problems with their homework other than not wanting to do it or not understanding the material, nothing that is your fault. You do a lot to make sure they're doing well in and out of school. Don't let his words bother you, ok?" Scott nodded once.
"Thanks, Nathan."
"I think everyone should go on to bed," Madelyne said, sensing Scott's discomfort. "I want you three up and ready by seven. I'm making pancakes and then we're going into the woods to find our tree."
"Yes ma'am."
"Ok Mom."
"Nate, are you staying up here with us? The nursery is open…"
"I-" Nathan saw Madelyne's hopeful look and gave her a soft smile. "I'll go get some clothes for tomorrow. I'll be back in a few minutes." Nathan left the suite.
"Night Mom. Night Dad."
"Night, guys. See you in the morning." Nate turned and looked at Scott.
"We don't want to hear anything."
"Go to bed." Nate smirked and ducked into his room. Scott and Madelyne hugged each other, Scott resting his chin on her head.
"This is nice," he said. Madelyne waved her hand and locked the connecting door.
"This is nicer," she said. Scott tilted her chin up and leaned down to kiss her. They were soon interrupted by Nathan returning to the suite.
"Night," he said quickly, moving into the future nursery.
"Night, Nathan." Scott looked at his fiancée and smiled. "Shall we go to bed as well?" he murmured. Madelyne nodded and Scott quickly picked her up bridal style. Madelyne used her powers to open the door and Scott carried her in, closing the door with his foot.