A/N: There is a ch 15, but it's the honeymoon chapter. It can be skipped.
Thank you for your patience. I haven't had as much time to devote to this story as I wanted (courtesy of my 3 day old daughter). Updates might still be scattered as I deal with dr appointments for her as she's slightly jaundiced- not hospital worthy, but still concerning- on top of my restrictions of stairs (of which my house has) and inability to drive for 2 weeks :|
Disclaimer: see ch 1
Warning: mention of sexual situations, mention of spanking
Scott scanned his thumb at his and Madelyne's suite and opened the door before picking Madelyne up and carrying her across the threshold of their home.
"Welcome home, love," he whispered. Madelyne kissed him and moved to be set down. Scott obliged and Madelyne started unpacking the bags Scott had unloaded first.
"Can you unpack the suitcases?"
"Sure, but…" Madelyne looked up.
"But what?"
"I understand the food needs to be refrigerated, but don't you want to christen the bed?" Scott saw Madelyne roll her eyes.
"You're insatiable," she said with a small smile. "I would, Scott, but I'm a little sore from the weekend and this morning." Scott frowned.
"I didn't mean to hurt you."
"You didn't hurt me. It was just a lot more activity than I'm used to. I've enjoyed every bit of it, or else I'd have asked you to stop before. But I just need a little time to recover now. I hope you're not disappointed…" Scott took Madelyne's hand and smiled at her.
"I could never be disappointed, Maddie. I'm glad you talked to me before anything could start. And how many times do I have to tell you that we're more than just a physical relationship?"
"I know, but it's still technically our honeymoon-"
"And where is it written that we have to jump in bed all day every day of our honeymoon? No, Maddie. Quite honestly, I would have been more upset had you not said anything to me about this." Scott gently kissed Madelyne's cheek. "Would you mind if I let my parents know we're back? They don't have to come over, but I don't want Dad thinking we're somewhere we're not."
"That's fine," Madelyne smiled. "And then I want the suitcases unpacked."
"Yes ma'am," Scott smirked before stepping into Chris' suite. "Dad? Mom?" Hearing no reply, Scott felt himself frowning. He went back into his and Madelyne's suite and took the suitcases into their bedroom.
"That was quick," Madelyne noted from the doorway.
"They weren't there."
"You should call them. You'll worry until you do." Scott blushed as he tried to smile. Madelyne walked away and Scott pulled out his phone, quickly calling Chris.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Dad. Where are you and Mom?"
"We're… on our own vacation. Why? What's up?"
"Oh. I'm sorry. I hope I didn't interrupt…"
"If I was in the middle of something important, I wouldn't have answered. What's up, kid?"
"First of all, that was a lie," Scott said with a smirk. "But I wanted to let you and Mom know Maddie and I came home early. Maddie was experiencing Braxton Hicks, and we decided she'd be more comfortable in our own bed."
"Thanks for the update, son, but you know you don't have to give me your location anymore, right?"
"I know, but… In case there was some sort of emergency, I didn't want you worried about us."
"I appreciate it, kiddo. How was the cabin? Did you two go hiking?"
"We were a bit busy," Scott admitted, blushing. He heard Chris' booming laugh.
"Yeah, I suppose you would be. Alright, son. I've got to go. Hep and I have reservations in a bit, and we've got to finish getting ready. I'm glad you made it home safely, and I really do appreciate the call. Love you."
"Love you, too, Dad. Have fun, but not too much fun. Remember you're about to be a grandfather, so watch your hip."
"Brat. Behave, Scott. We'll be home tomorrow."
"Alright. Bye, Dad. Tell Mom I love her and I'll see her tomorrow, too." Scott hung up and continued separating clean and dirty clothes from the suitcases. He quickly put the clean clothes away and put the dirty clothes in the hamper.
"Where are they?" Madelyne asked after he left the room.
"Their own mini vacation. They'll be home tomorrow. I guess they were taking advantage of having a kid-free week."
"Do you blame them?"
"Not one bit. A little warning would have been nice, though. He'd have asked the same from me."
"You're his son. Rules are a little different."
"Are they, though?"
"Yes," Madelyne said with a smile. "Food's been put away, and now that clothes are done, what would you like to do?"
"I'm not sure. I know I have a lot to do in the nursery, but I wasn't expecting to work on it until Wednesday. Would you like to take a walk?"
"I'm not sure I'm up for a walk," Madelyne admitted.
"What would you like to do?"
"Truthfully… I'd like to take a nap."
"Alright," Scott smiled. "If you're ok with it, I might head to the gym-"
"No weights!"
"I'm pretty sure Dad would see that as risking my life and my ass would be lit on fire," Scott said wryly. "I'll run and use the bag. No weights, I promise. Unless Logan's here and wants to join me, then I won't be breaking rules."
"Ok, Scott. Wake me up at lunch time?"
"Of course. Would you like for me to make you something and then wake you, or are we making something together after I wake you?"
"We can make something together," she smiled.
"Got it. Ok, love. Get some rest. I'll see you in a little while." Scott kissed her goodbye before grabbing some workout clothes to change in to. Madelyne went into their room and closed the door, and Scott changed in the living area of the suite. He left the suite and quickly made his way to the gym in the lower levels. He had just started to run when he heard the ringing of his cellphone.
"Scotty!"
"Gabe? What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry! I know you're on your honeymoon-"
"Gabe. What's wrong?"
"The ship found out we were mutants at breakfast this morning. Boom-Boom made someone's breakfast blow up and she fell into Jamie, and he hit someone who had a plate that was on fire, and the plate dropped, and Jean used the tank to pour water on the fire, but then someone bumped into her and the lobsters went everywhere-"
"I'm sorry, man. I wish I was there to keep them from saying stuff about you guys. I was really hoping this would be a peaceful trip for you two."
"What are we supposed to do? There's talk of kicking us off at the next port- Amara? What's wrong?"
"Gabe?"
"Scott, Amara is sick. She's acting really weird."
"Get her to Storm. I don't know what I can do." Scott heard the announcement for inclement weather, and that the ship would remain docked. He heard Amara groan and state she needed to get on land.
"No, Tabitha, I can't fly you guys. My dad would find out and he'd kill me. No. Amara- Alex! You know what Dad said! I can't- Fine. I don't want you to die."
"Gabe? Gabriel, don't you leave the ship without talking to Storm. Gabe. GABE. If you hang up, I'm calling Storm and then Dad myself!" Scott was greeted with silence. He pulled his phone away and saw Gabriel had hung up on him. He called him back and got no answer. Scott called Alex and got no answer. He called Jean, and then Warren, and then finally, Storm.
"Hello, Scott. I wasn't expecting to hear from you. How's Maddie? How's the honeymoon-"
"We're home. Gabe called me, and I think the X-Kids are about to fly the coop." Scott heard nothing for a few moments.
"I'm looking at Jamie. I'll have him help me search the ship. Scott, if your brothers are off the ship, I'll have no choice but to alert your father."
"I know, 'Ro. Just… just call me first when you find out, please, and I'll call him. Dad and Mom are out until tomorrow, and I know he'll answer if I call."
"I'll let you call him, but I will still need to touch base myself."
"I understand," Scott said. "I'll tell him and let him calm down before he verbally attacks you."
"I appreciate it." Scott hung up and sat on a bench, waiting for Storm to call him back. It took an agonizing half hour before the call came.
"Storm? Did you find them?"
"Of the group who came, only Jamie is on the ship with me. Even Jean and Warren are gone. I don't know where they could have- you have got to be kidding me."
"What? Did they come back?"
"I have a feeling they are on the island we docked near to wait for the storm to pass. Scott, I'll give you an hour to call your father, and then I must call him myself."
"I understand," Scott said, again. "I'll call him immediately. Please inform the ones who left that they will have drills until they drop once they return, and you can remind Gabe and Alex that Dad said he'd switch them if they misbehaved on the cruise. He'll probably call them after you talk to him and remind them… God, they're dead."
"It must be strange to not be you."
"Ouch, 'Ro. You wound me. But yes, I'm not used to them deliberately disobeying Dad like this. I guess it's a good thing he'll have a few days to calm down before he sees them."
"I should go. I need to head to the island and bring them back to the ship. Goodbye, Scott. Remember. I'll give you an hour to call Corsair." Scott hung up and hung his head, sighing. He knew Alex and Gabriel were about to find themselves in major trouble, and he felt guilty for feeling relieved that for once, it wasn't him. Taking a deep breath, he called Chris and put his phone to his ear.
"Kid, I love you, and I'm glad you miss me, but Hep and I-"
"Gabe called me."
"What's wrong? Is he ok? Is Alex ok?"
"They… Dad, they snuck off the boat. I called Storm and had her check everywhere. Of the kids, only Jamie stayed behind."
"They what?"
"Gabe told me Amara was sick. I told him to take her to Storm, but Boom-Boom had to have gotten it in his head that he had to fly them to the island. I'm guessing Alex went along for the ride since they were outed as mutants on the boat this morning."
"You called Ororo before me?"
"I wanted to make sure I had the facts straight before saying anything and worrying you needlessly."
"Your brothers could be dead, and you waited to inform me?!"
"Dad-"
"I cannot believe you, Scott Christopher! You should have called me IMMEDIATELY!"
"I'm sorry-"
"Scott-boy?"
"Mom, you've got to calm him down."
"Tell Hepzibah what happened."
"Gabe called me to tell me that they were outed as mutants at breakfast this morning. I overheard him talking to Boom-Boom and Magma about Magma being sick. I told him to take her to Storm, but he was talked into leaving and flying them to the island near them, since they had to dock because of the weather. I warned him that I'd call Storm and Dad if he hung up, and he did. I called him back, I called Alex, and then I called Jean and then Warren. No one answered. I called Storm, and she and Jamie scoured the ship, looking for the kids. All were missing. She said she had a feeling they were on the island, and I asked her to please let me call Dad because I knew he'd be pissed. I didn't- I didn't want to call and get them in trouble unless they'd actually left, Mom. But I swear, as soon as it was confirmed, I hung up and called Dad. Storm will be calling him within the hour so she can get them back on the ship and give me time to call."
"You should have called me as soon as Storm started looking."
"I'm sorry, Dad."
"I'm counting this as putting a life at stake- your brothers' lives."
"Dad, no, please-"
"I'll take care of you tomorrow, Scott Christopher."
"Daddy- I didn't- I didn't do anything wrong! I called you as soon as I had actual information-"
"You should have called me the minute you thought something was going on!" Scott felt a traitorous tear slip down his face.
"That's not fair! If I called you and they hadn't left, I would have worried you for nothing-"
"Your brothers' lives are not 'nothing,' Scott!" Scott's breath hitched.
"Daddy-"
"I'm calling Storm. I'll be back tomorrow around eleven. You'd better be in the corner in our suite, or I'll add to your punishment." Scott hung up and barely restrained from throwing his phone across the room. He quickly called Alex again, hoping- praying- he picked up.
"Dude! Why do you keep calling me?!"
"Are you on the boat or the island, Alex?"
"How'd you know?"
"Not important. You and Gabe should know Dad knows, so enjoy sitting while you can. Hell, it wouldn't surprise me if he somehow convinced Storm to start it!"
"He wouldn't!"
"He's pissed enough that he's spanking me about this, too! So I wouldn't put anything past him at this point!" He heard Alex groan and tell Gabriel what Scott had told him.
"Scotty! You told Dad?!"
"I TOLD you I would, Gabe! You know Dad said not to disobey Storm-"
"She never said we had to stay on the ship!"
"That technicality won't work for Dad, and you know it, Gabriel! How could you be so stupid?!"
"Amara needed to get on land! She said she wasn't going to make it-"
"And I told you to take her to Storm! Had Storm made the decision to take her to the island, none of this would be happening! Dad said he'd switch you guys if you acted up on the cruise!"
"He won't, Scotty. It was a bluff-"
"It probably was until you guys pulled this! Now he has to follow- I gotta go. Dad's beeping in." Scott hung up and switched to Chris. "Yes sir?"
"Hep and I are on our way home. You and I are going to fly to that island, and I'm taking care of all three of you together."
"Dad-"
"Young man, you will not fight me. Feel lucky I'm only using the brush on you."
"Are you going to make them leave the cruise?"
"No. I think having their friends see them having trouble sitting will be better in the long run than bringing them home. Not to mention the search party I'm sure would happen if they're not counted at the end of the trip for the logs." Scott heard Chris sigh. "I couldn't even have a full day without you boys screwing up. I'm so tired of this, Scott."
"I'm sorry," Scott said, not knowing what else to say.
"We'll be there in half an hour. I need you to pack the brush and my pocket knife. They're both on my dresser."
"Yes sir," Scott responded obediently.
"I can't begin to express just how upset I am with you, Scott Christopher. If you'd just called me, I could have gotten ahold of your brothers before they left the ship. Your inactions allowed them to leave and I just-" Scott sniffed and wiped his face during the pause. "Get the brush and knife, Scott Christopher. I want you on the plane when we get there. And I swear, son, if you try to get out of this-"
"I won't," Scott promised, sadly. "I'll have everything ready Dad. I'm… I'm sorry." Chris hung up and Scott dragged himself up and out of the suite. He took the elevator straight to the third floor and let himself into Chris' suite. He grabbed the brush and the knife before going into his suite and changing clothes. He shook Madelyne awake once he was dressed.
"Hm? Lunch time already?"
"I've got to go."
"What?"
"Alex and Gabe got themselves into a lot of trouble, and Dad and I are flying down to help. I'll be back soon."
"Why do you have the- Scott?"
"It's… Maddie, Dad'll be here in ten minutes, and I've got to prep the jet. I just wanted to let you know where I was going. I love you, and I'll be back as soon as I can, ok?"
"Ok," Madelyne said, frowning. Scott kissed her cheek and stood, sliding the knife into his pocket and picking up the brush. He'd reached the doorknob when he heard voices.
"Scott Christopher! Let's go!"
"He sounds mad."
"He is," Scott said quietly. "I love you." Scott left the room and saw Chris at the connecting door.