The twins were settled in a room down at the end of a hallway off the central room, one meant for sleeping a small garrison it seemed. Several individual beds were vertically and horizontally stacked like stair-step shelves that jutted out from the walls in a mysterious fashion, independent of any supports, railings or ladders. The ceiling and walls were inlaid with tiny periwinkle bioluminescent lights that faintly alternated in patterns that resembled flowers then trees then stars. Becca, still hyper off the adrenaline rush from flying with Rogue, was already having a grand time of flipping and swinging amongst the many beds like a spider monkey. Ollie had made a solid, but somewhat more cautious climb to the top most bunk, standing there like king of the mountain and surveying his new dominion.
Rogue ordered them both back down to Earth and set Ollie to brushing his teeth at the basin, while she lovingly unwound Becca's plaits and brushed out her fine, soft baby hair. It was more Remy's texture than hers, thicker and straighter than her own. It still impressed her that Remy had gotten accustomed to braiding it in her absence, though undoubtedly it was no challenge for his talented fingers. There was something unspoken between them … about the things they would carry on for each other in case there ever came a day when one of them didn't return. Rogue found herself brushing longer than she need and stopped, giving her girl a gentle squeeze of affection. She never figured she'd be good at this … want this … miss this even.
Rogue helped the kids change into their night clothes, the simple garments already seemed worn and to be getting small on them. She would need to pick them up some new clothes soon. It was on her mind more so now than when she had left for her mission - how quickly they were growing. For mutants, growing meant getting closer to the day their powers would emerge in full. And for their children in particular, getting their full powers meant bringing them closer to the day they would be lost to their destiny. Rogue shuddered and pushed the thought from her mind. They weren't there yet. There was still time. Time to make a difference. And time yet to enjoy all these little fleeting moments.
"What book are we reading then?" she asked, seating herself on the edge of a lower bunk.
"Here, Mama." Ollie pulled a beat-up volume from his bag and handed it to Rogue, climbing into the bunk where she sat. Becca scrambled in next to him.
"Move over!"
"I was here first!"
"Alright, alright ... no fighting or no book." Rogue threatened half-seriously.
Becca stuck her tongue out at her brother, who crossed his arms and huffed at her, but Rogue ignored them.
She turned the novel over to read the cover and chuckled to herself with a roll of her eyes, "Of course ..." then she turned to where the bookmark rested. Pulling it out, she cleared her throat and started, "Chapter 4, The Keeper of The Keys".
The twins listened with rapt interest as she described the magical giant man breaking into the isolated safe house out on a stormy sea, the way he put the human oppressors in their place, and the good news he delivered to their protagonist.
"You're a wizard, Harry." Rogue read in her best Hagrid voice and continued through the chapter as he received his letter and arguing followed and -
"Why isn't there a special school for mutants?" Becca suddenly interjected, looking at Rogue with her piercing eyes.
Olivier, though annoyed at the interruption of the story, gawked contemplatively at Rogue as well, curious for her answer.
" ... well ... there used to be ..." she started.
"But there isn't anymore?" Ollie cocked his head.
" ... sort of ... " Rogue went forward cautiously.
"You mean there IS one?!" Becca sat up with excited interest.
"No, no ... just ... there's a place that ... well, that takes care of mutant kids who don't have anyone to look after them." Rogue explained.
The twins glanced to each other and back to their Mother.
"Don't they have parents?" Ollie wondered.
"They're orphans, right?" offered Becca.
"Lots of reasons." Rogue answered calmly. "Now how about we finish-"
"Is it big? Like Hogwarts?" Becca queried on with more excitement.
Rogue grumbled to herself and massaged her forehead. "No. It's very small and very secret."
"Like Hogwarts." Ollie whispered with awe.
"It's NOT like Hogwarts." Rogue insisted. "Now do ya want ta hear the rest of this story or not?"
Ollie bit his lip, but Becca just frowned thoughtfully.
After a pause filled with silence and giving an *ahem*, Rogue began to continue on with the story again, "Why aren't you supposed to do magic-"
"But WHY is the mutant school so small?" Becca interrupted again.
Rogue sighed and put the mark back in the book, this time closing it in her lap.
Ollie whined, but Rogue reached out to touch their faces and look them in the eyes as she said gently, "Because ... there aren't a lot of us left."
"But why?" Ollie asked, his small brow now also furrowed to match his sister's.
"It's complicated, darlin'. Mostly ... it's because people didn't want to have mutants born in their families a while back and they took a medicine to stop it from happening." Rogue told them honestly.
" ... oh ..." the little boy bowed his head.
"Hey now ... see here ..." Rogue pulled her babies into her lap. "That doesn't have anything to do with us, alright? People were just scared of what they didn't understand. Maybe there aren't a lot of us anymore. But we're not alone, ok? We have each other and we have friends, people like us."
The kids nodded. They'd met a slew of fellow mutants in their many travels.
"But there aren't any other kids." Becca pointed out.
"Sure there are, hon. Remember Josiah? When we were on Chandilar? That place with all the tall buildings?" Rogue asked.
The twins just looked at her blankly and Rogue frowned. "Well … ah guess maybe you were too young to remember. Anyway, the point is there are plenty of other mutant kids, just like you."
"Do they look like us?" Ollie wondered.
"No, stupid. Everybody looks different. Right, Mama?" Becca insisted triumphantly.
"Hey now, don't be mean to your brother." She chastised. "An' yes, everyone looks different and has different powers. Most kids don't even have powers 'til they're older. Just like we talked about."
"Can we meet them?" Becca was intense and excited again.
"Alright, alright … time to calm down, both of ya." Rogue shushed them. "Ah'm sure you will sometime, but Ah ain't makin' any promises right now. Now lie down and not another peep until Ah finish this chapter."