Scott, age 18

Chris smiled and shook his head as the game of baseball quickly turned into, as Bobby called it, 'Mutant Ball.' Scott seemed exasperated- until he used his own powers to help stop the other team from reaching home. Things were about to break out even worse- until they saw a shadow flying over them. Chris and Scott looked up.

"Warren?" Jean squealed and met him in the air. Scott noticed Warren looking frustrated. They watched as Warren kissed her forehead and then continued towards the mansion.

"Jean? Warren ok?" Scott asked. She walked over to him, shaking her head.

"I don't know what's wrong, but he's not ok." Scott nodded and walked over to Chris.

"You wanna go in there with me?"

"Sure, kid." Chris put his hand on Scott's back and started walking towards the mansion.

"Whoa, what about us?" Alex said, jogging up beside them with Gabe not far behind.

"You two can go check on Maddie," Chris instructed.

"But-"

"If something's wrong with Warren, do you really think you two will be asked to tag along?"

"This isn't fair. What's the point of being X-Men if we never do anything?"

"The New Recruits-"

"We're not that new," Gabe grumbled.

"But you're still not on the main team," Scott said, frowning. "And I'm sure as hell not inviting just the two of you to go with us on any mission just because you're my brothers."

"Need to be at least sixteen before I agree to let you go, anyways."

"Technically-"

"Technically, you are almost eleven, Gabriel Thomas. Now either go help Beast clean up or go check on Maddie and then shower and get ready for dinner."

"Aw, Dad!" Chris stopped walking and turned to his youngest children.

"You boys really want to argue with me?"

"No sir."

"No, Dad."

"Then I'd like to be obeyed. Go." Alex and Gabe groaned and walked ahead of Scott and Chris.

"Feels weird," Scott said with a frown.

"What?"

"Not being the one getting fussed at." Chris chuckled and walked with Scott inside and into the newly built War Room.

"-don't want Jean to know," they heard Warren say.

"Don't want Jean to know what?" Warren turned and saw Scott and Chris behind him.

"You know I was with my family in England? To distance myself from…"

"Yeah, we know. What's going on?" Warren held up a picture of a rock.

"Some asshole broke into my home to steal this."

"What is it?"

"Some artifact that's been in the Worthington family for as long as we can remember. I don't know what it is, but it's still my property."

"You need help figuring out who stole it?"

"It was Magneto."

"Are you sure?" Chris asked.

"It was his stooge, at least. Red hair, red eyes, sounded Cajun."

"Gambit," Beast confirmed from the computer. Scott blinked.

"Weren't you just-"

"I was. I move fast, Scott. Especially when having disobedient X-Kids clean the field."

"Prove it's you," Scott said, taking a step back.

"Are you sure you want your father to hear about how often you skipped practice for track? And the excuses you'd make when I confronted you? I suppose it's a good thing you're such a poor liar. I imagine Corsair wouldn't be able to handle that."

"That's not… That's general enough, Beast. I need something specific."

"I found out you were Cable's father when you asked if you should go fuck his-"

"You're you. Thanks," Scott said, blushing.

"I hadn't heard this story," Warren said, smirking at Scott despite the situation.

"Not one I care to repeat," Scott said, not realizing he was rubbing his behind. Chris just smirked.

"We've been vigilantly looking for Mystique, Scott. You're safe."

"She'd been posing as Risty this whole year. She's been here since…"

"You're safe," Chris said quietly, wrapping his arm around Scott's shoulder. "Now, Warren. Tell us everything that happened." Warren started explaining everything he saw, even the things he didn't understand. When he got to the part about Magneto showing up and trapping the man with strange tattoos, Scott stopped him.

"Mesmero."

"That's…" Warren ran a hand through his hair. "That's who I thought. Which is why I didn't want Jean to know."

"Who's Mesmero?"

"No one," Scott told his father. "But Warren, if this was Mesmero, then it wasn't Magneto. He uses people to do his dirty work for him. He just happened to use one of Magneto's lackeys this time. I think we all know how… possessive he is." The room was quiet, save for the clacking of keys on the computer.

"There's an artifact similar to what your family has," Beast finally said. "It's in a museum in London."

"Then we'll need to get that piece before anyone else," Scott said, crossing his arms. Chris frowned.

"You should stay here. Maddie is almost in her third trimester-"

"Dad."

"Scott. You have a good team that can handle things without you. I'd prefer if you were here. What if Mystique is using this as another way to get to you? What if she's biding her time to get to Rogue again?" Scott frowned.

"You're asking me to not lead my team?"

"No. I'm kindly telling you that you're not going to London."

"Dad."

"Beast. He's not going."

"I'll take charge," Beast promised.

"This isn't fair," Scott glared. "You have no right to tell me to stay here."

"Would you be in agreement for us to communicate so he can see what's going on? We're able to hack into the security cameras from here," Beast asked Chris. Chris rubbed his chin in thought before nodding.

"I'd be fine with that. Scott?"

"Fuck that-" He hissed as Chris popped him.

"You will watch your language, boy." Scott's breathing got faster.

"Does it not matter at all what I want to do?"

"Nope." Scott glared at Chris before turning and storming out. "Who else do we have?" he asked Beast.

"Kitty and Kurt have already volunteered to stay with Rogue tonight. We have myself, Charles, Jean, Evan, and I'd be willing to try out Bobby for this if Scott's not going. Warren, will you be joining us?"

"No. I should stay back and help keep Scott company. Especially if we're able to see everything from here." Beast nodded and looked at Chris.

"Will you be here, or do you want to pilot?"

"Can you imagine if I went after telling Scott not to go?" Chris asked with a raised eye. Beast chuckled.

"Who else can you see going with us?"

"I wish Rahne was still here," Chris frowned. "We could use her nose. What about Amara? I definitely wouldn't recommend Roberto…" Chris ran a hand through his hair. "Hell, Hank. I know I'm screwing everything up by keeping Scott here, but the thought of him in another country again so soon after what that bitch did… I just need a bit more time."

"We understand, Chris."

"Scott will, too," Warren said. "He's just…"

"Yeah. You should get the team ready to go." Beast nodded and turned to the computer, bringing up the security footage from the museum and tapping into it.

"Have Scott use the headset," he suggested. "We'll be able to hear him better as well as him hearing us."

"I will. Thank you, Hank." Beast nodded and walked out of the War Room.

Scott stormed into his suite, slamming the door behind him. How dare Corsair pull him from a mission? This was his team!

"Scott?" Scott tried to lose the scowl as Maddie came out of their room.

"Hey. You ok?"

"I'm fine. Are you?"

"Door slipped from my hand. I'm sorry. I didn't wake you, did I?"

"No. I was working on my homework. What's going on?" Scott shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

"The X-Men are about to go to London."

"Oh. What happened?"

"Mesmero, that guy who used Jean to steal stuff for him? He's back. He used one of Magneto's minions to steal something from Warren's home in England. Beast saw where there's another piece just like what he stole in a museum in London. So we're going to get it before Magneto or Mesmero can."

"Ok. You'll be careful?" Scott swallowed and took her hands into his.

"I'm always careful," he said with a small smile. He kissed her cheek before going into their room to change into his uniform. Father or not, Chris had no right to keep him from a mission. He was eighteen, an adult. Scott let out an anxious breath. No one from his team would turn him in to Chris.

"Hurry home to me," Maddie said as he walked out of their room in full Cyclops mode.

"I'll do my best," he promised. He left the suite and got into the elevator to go straight to the lower levels. He got out and took a breath to calm his nerves before going to the hangar and sneaking onto the plane. He hid in one of the storage areas. He knew no one checked them unless he told them to. Scott heard voices as his team boarded the plane. He stayed as still and quiet as possible, thanking his horrible childhood for the practice. And then he felt the engines start and the plane moving.

It worked. He was on his way to London with his team.

Chris frowned as he searched the lower levels for Scott. He knew his son was angry, but he was frustrated with this childishness. He got up to the third floor and entered his suite.

"Scott? The plane will be landing soon, and you're supposed to be leading it from here. Scott? Scott!" He opened Scott's door and scowled. Scott wasn't there. Chris went to the connecting door for the suites and knocked.

"Hi Chris," Maddie said with a smile after she answered it. "Everything ok?"

"No. I'm wondering if you've seen Scott lately?"

"A few hours ago. He was getting ready for the mission to London." Panic and anger battled in Chris' chest.

"He what?"

"London. Did he not…? I'm sorry, Chris. I thought you knew."

"I did know about the mission. I also know that I told him he wasn't going and he'd be calling the shots from the War Room." Maddie's eyes went wide.

"Oh no."

"Oh no is right," Chris said, glaring. "He said nothing about that to you?"

"He didn't. I wouldn't have encouraged him going if he had… Not after Mexico."

"I'm going to kill him." Chris turned and left Maddie standing in the doorway as he went down to the War Room again.

"You find him?" Warren asked.

"In a way," Chris scowled. He put the radio on and flipped a few switches. "Hank, you there?"

"We're here. Is Cyclops ready for this?"

"You'll have to ask him."

"I'm afraid I don't follow, Corsair."

"You have a stowaway. You mind getting him on the radio? I have a few things I need to say to him. I'm fine tapping into the whole plane, but I doubt it would be beneficial for the mission if they heard exactly what I'm planning on doing to their leader once he gets back." There were a few moments of silence before Chris heard anything again.

"Thought it'd take you until we landed."

"Do you understand how much trouble you are in, Scott Christopher Summers?"

"Figured you'd tell me." Chris's eyes narrowed.

"You remember what I told you would happen if you took off in a plane without permission again?"

"You said cross country, not to a different country."

"You know exactly what I meant, Scott. You are in a world of trouble, boy."

"You didn't have the right to tell me I couldn't go. I'm eighteen-"

"We said until you had your diploma from college. You haven't even graduated from high school!"

"That's what you said! I never agreed-"

"The minute the Blackbird lands, I will be dragging you across my knee. I don't care if your team is still there. And that's just for the disobedience. Tomorrow, you will be spending the day either over my knee, over your bed, or your nose in the corner." Chris ignored how red Warren was turning for his friend.

"That's not fair-"

"No, what's not fair is how I trusted you, Scott! You know the panic I went through after Mexico, and you still did this?! I can't believe how selfish you can be! The Scott Summers I raised was-"

"Nonexistent. I was raised by Mom with you occasionally sleeping over. You- you were just the sperm donor." Chris blinked.

"You're grounded."

"Good luck trying to enforce that." There was silence.

"Scott." Nothing. "Scott!"

"Chris. Look." Chris looked up and saw the X-Men walking into the museum. He sighed and connected the radio to the team's communicators before sitting back and waiting. He was going to tan his son's hide the second the Blackbird landed at the mansion.