A/N - First things first - thank you, Practically An Avenger and X-Menoveravengers for the reviews. PAV, we were both cracking up and couldn't decide what part of your review was the best. *chef's kiss* XoverA, I think you might be missing a few points, or forgetting a few fine points ... like the fact that James killed in self defense after he was stabbed in the heart. That's not exactly anywhere CLOSE to cold blooded murder. I think you might misunderstand Logan and his family if that's what you got from this.

So ... without any further to-do, I think we've left poor Leslie Ann in limbo long enough. Let's see how it goes, being the first mutant in trouble pick up for Scott in over a decade.

Chapter 73 - Just Like Riding A Bike

"The headmistress is waiting for us," Scott said, to break the silence that was ringing out in the Jeep. "She'll walk you through everything and then arrange for a tour."

"You're not gonna come too?" Leslie Ann asked, her eyes wide.

"No, I'll go if you'd like me to," Scott said. "It's just … it's kind of a tradition for students to lead the tours."

"Oh, okay, I guess that makes sense," Leslie Ann said.

"But I won't leave until you're ready for me to," Scott promised. "I'm sure Ororo has already texted my boys. They won't wait up for me."

"And I'll be here too," Annie promised.

Leslie Ann smiled shyly. "Oh, good. I'll have a procession," she teased lightly.

Scott smiled to himself as they parked since it really was like going home - especially with a scared newly discovered mutant in tow. And the school was as safe a place as it ever had been - more so even, so he could breathe easy as he turned off the engine and they started piling out in front of the school. Scott led the way, and he didn't even knock on the tall oak doors before he let himself and the girls in, closing the door behind them as they got their first look at Storm's rebuilt Xavier's Institute. He gestured with one hand toward the main hallway. "Her office is just down that way. Let's not keep her waiting."

"Oh wow," Leslie Ann breathed out - not that Annie was any better. Both of them were still caught in the entryway, looking around with little smiles on that showed how they were related.

Annie finally seemed to remember herself, though, and she nudged Leslie Ann with her shoulder before the two of them headed further inside.

They didn't make it all the way to the office before Ororo came out to meet them looking honestly relieved to see that the three of them had made it safely. "Scott, you were quicker than I thought you'd be."

"Leslie Ann here was excited to see the place," Scott said with an easy shrug. "And you know I hate driving slow."

"Yes, I remember," she laughed as she turned her attention to Leslie Ann and Annie. "Welcome to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters … and a few older, more troublemaking individuals as well." She spared a glance toward Scott, looking entirely too amused as she introduced herself both as headmistress, and as Storm … just for the name recognition that always came with it.

"Oh, you were my dad's favorite," Leslie Ann said, her eyes lighting up.

Ororo smiled warmly. "It's always nice to hear that," she said as she offered Leslie Ann her hand. "Why don't we go to my office and you can tell me about how you came to find yourself here."

Leslie Ann couldn't stop staring as she looked around Ororo's office. She'd never seen anything like some of the artifacts hanging on the walls, and the flowers alone were enough to have her nervous, since she didn't want to make them spill out of their pots or something when they were so perfect where they were. "I… I guess I can control plants. Apparently," she said, finally tearing her gaze away from a rare orchid. "Not on purpose!" she added quickly.

"Not yet, anyhow," Ororo said with a smile. "You'll learn to control it."

"Oh good, because I totally ruined our sidewalk," Leslie Ann said. "And… a lot of other stuff, actually. It's kind of a mess back home." She shifted, obviously embarrassed. "I didn't mean to mess things up that badly."

Ororo's smile only warmed more. "Everyone has growing pains when they first start. I accidentally started a religion when I was your age making it rain during a drought."

"Oh wow," Leslie Ann breathed out.

Ororo leaned toward her and let her volume drop to just over a whisper. "I had no idea how to make it stop. But I learned well enough." As she liked to do, she straightened up then held out a hand to form a tiny raincloud over the orchid Leslie Ann had been staring at earlier. "It takes practice, and it helps when you have people around you that can help."

"I hope I can do that someday," Leslie Ann said. "That orchid is beautiful."

"You'll be able to do more for it than I can," Ororo promised.

"Right now, I could only make it grow until it's taking up half the room," Leslie Ann muttered at the floor.

"Then I suppose we'd need a bigger pot," Ororo said.

Leslie Ann was surprised into a giggle. "Yeah, maybe. "

Ororo looked up at Annie. "I suppose we should sit down and discuss what we can do for your lovely daughter. And while we chat, if she's alright with the idea, I have a guide who would be happy to show her around to see if she'd like to stay. And of course, if there's any trouble at home, we have room for you as well."

"Oh, no," Annie said, holding her hand over her heart. "As much as I'd like to claim her as my own, she's my niece. Her parents stayed back - I … well, I was with Scott when it happened."

Ororo turned toward Scott with such a look that Scott was already doing damage control and holding both hands up. "I go on dates, 'Ro. It's not newsworthy."

She looked like she might say otherwise, but slowly turned away from him. "And I thought you were just that good. It turns out it was sheer luck."

"Let's get something straight," Scott said, one finger pointed at her. "I am that good."

"We'll see," Ororo said with a grin. "Will you be supervising the tour or continuing your date over oh-so-romantic paperwork?"

"We promised Leslie Ann we'd stick with her as long as she wanted us to," Annie put in.

"Fair enough," Ororo said, then took a moment to send a text. "Meet your guides. If you want to do the official work after the tour, I will be here."

Before Leslie Ann could have time to react, blue smoke filled the room, and Mia teleported in with Tommy, grinning and bouncing on her toes. "New student!" Mia gushed. "I love your hair, by the way."

Leslie Ann smiled reflexively. "Oh. Um, thank you. I like your… your tail." It was clear she hadn't met anyone physically mutated before, but she was handling it fairly well, likely because there was so much to take in at once.

"Since when did you start helping with tours?" Scott asked Tommy.

"Since I started dating the tour guide," Tommy said easily. "Besides, I'm amazing at tours. Here's Storm's office. Down the hall, you'll find classrooms. Oh, and here's the kitchen. Ta da!"

"Leslie Ann, this is my daughter, Mia," Ororo said. "And her sweetheart, Tommy. Try not to listen to him too much."

"That's what she tells everyone," Tommy said confidently. "She still listens to me, though."

Ororo was still smiling at Tommy as Mia started her intro - clearly well rehearsed and a solid break down of how the day to day life worked out for those at the school, so that by the time Mia offered to take Leslie Ann around, Leslie Ann was confident and comfortable enough that she didn't ask Annie and Scott to come with her, caught up in all the teasing going back and forth and honestly excited to see more of the troublemaking secrets Tommy kept promising he knew about the place.

So, while the kids were doing what kids did at the school, Ororo walked Annie through the more official side of things - and the kinds of protocols and measures they kept in place for the safety of the students. She briefly outlined the fact that Tony himself was on top of keeping security measures in place for protection, and that he regularly found himself at the school checking things over and over and constantly upgrading what they had available to them for security.

Annie was finally starting to relax when she heard the lengths everyone was going to for the kids, though she couldn't help but look Scott's way when she'd heard everything Ororo had to say. "I don't know why I'm surprised," she said. "You used to run things here, didn't you? Everyone here has the same … tense protectiveness you do."

Scott nodded at that. "Well I didn't run things. I was a close second place, though."

"He was second in command by title only," Ororo corrected. "Yes. He ran the school, taught, managed pick ups for children in need, and ran the team as well. Don't let him downplay anything."

"I won't," Annie said, her eyes sparkling. "I only just got him to admit he used to be Cyclops, and then this happened."

"Then I look forward to getting to know you better," Ororo said. "That is a secret Scott doesn't share lightly."

Scott was rubbing the back of his neck, even as Annie laughed and tried to give him an out. "Oh, well, I figured out most of it, honestly. And it wasn't hard with the scars and the way he doesn't talk about his 'old job'." She shrugged. "My brother's a therapist and my daddy was in the Army. I can spot PTSD easily enough, and he isn't military, so…"

"You're easy to read, Scott," Ororo teased. "Why don't you take a moment to show Annie around while I call Leslie Ann's parents? You know where the tour ends."

Scott shook his head at her, but he couldn't help but smile when both she and Annie were in such good moods. "Come on, Annie; Ororo wants me to show off her gardens," he said, smirking at Ororo. "And later, you should tell me how you got to be on such good terms with Tommy when he's trying to get in trouble with your daughter all the time. Don't think I haven't noticed that."

"He was my spy on Genosha," Ororo said with a smile, knowing that would throw Scott off his game more than any lie could. "He appointed himself this spring."

Scott blinked. "...really?"

"He kept running back to spend time with Mia while his family was preoccupied with 'drama' as he put it." Ororo's smile widened. "And he was kind enough to give me daily updates."

"Huh." Scott shook his head slowly. "So they were both playing spy."

"Yes, yes they were," Ororo said. "He was a little upset when Billy didn't bring him along, too." She gave Scott a significant look. "For Alex's birthday."

Scott swallowed. "He didn't need to see the mess that left behind," he said quietly.

"I agree, but that doesn't change the fact that Billy thought of your children but not his own brother. He's fine," Ororo said. "He insists he was up to more important business."

"I'll talk to him," Scott said. "Or Billy. He really was thinking of keeping our family together, not trying to make it a family affair."

"I know," Ororo said gently. "I've spoken with Billy, but you have to admit, he's attached to you all. And unless those two are more serious than I understand them to be, you may need to rein them both back."

"Like I said, I'll talk to Billy," Scott promised.

"Then I won't interrupt your date any further," Ororo said, turning back to Annie. "Scott's not wrong. The gardens are lovely, but I think the lake might be more to Scott's style."

"You've lost your subtlety over the years," Scott teased her.

"I could be more blunt if you'd like," Ororo called over her shoulder.

"I think I'd like to see the lake," Annie put in before Scott could reply to Ororo, then laughed when Scott turned her way. "I was the one to break the date with a family emergency. You took me someplace I liked; let's turn the tables."

Scott of course, didn't argue, and gestured for her to join him as they headed for the front door, but they didn't get very far before a blur of red hair turned the corner and attached herself to Scott.

"Dad! Oh my God, are you okay?" Rachel said as she hugged the stuffing out of Scott. "I was so worried …"

"I'm fine, Rachel," Scott said, hugging her back just as tightly. "It's not like it's the first time I've gone to help get a kid out of trouble."

"Well, yeah, I know, but still - it's been a long time," she said, finally letting up on the hug and belatedly looking toward Annie. "Hi, Ms Hale. Sorry to interrupt. I just …" She thrust her hand out for Annie to shake. "Nice to meet you finally." Rachel glanced at her father, blushed, and did her best to cover both of their tracks. "Nate talks about you often … and Dad must think you're nice or he wouldn't even consider a second date."

"Very helpful, Rachel, thank you," Scott said, shaking his head. "You and 'Ro are quite the tag team."

"I know, we're pretty great," she agreed.

"It's alright," Annie said, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Nate talks about his family all the time. I knew you'd be close."

"And gossips," Scott said Rachel's way, and she smirked.

"He is," Rachel agreed, and that got a quiet chuckle out of her father.

Annie looked between the two of them, bit her lip, and then tried to make things easier for them both. "Besides," she said slowly, "once Scott admitted he used to be Cyclops, I knew you had to be his. I didn't realize Wolverine was as well, but a few of Anton's stories are starting to fall into place after this crazy day." She tucked the few hairs that had fallen out of place back behind her ear. "The only thing I don't know is what Nate can do. Gossip seems like a strange mutant power to have," she said with a dry smirk.

"You know him. He's supernaturally good at it," Rachel said as she broke into a crooked smile and turned Scott's way. I'm never ever going to admit that Nate was right about anything out loud, but…

Scott shook his head at that. It's one date, Rachel.

She's making jokes and taking your secrets in stride. And this isn't the first date.

Your brother isn't subtle. I'm surprised between him and Officer Anton Wright knowing James we weren't busted earlier.

You gonna be okay? Rachel bit her lip. Toby and Craig are the only ones outside the life you've told this kind of thing to.

Scott took a deep breath and held it. We'll see, he said honestly.

Rachel reached for her dad automatically and rested her hand on his arm. "If you're sure you're okay…"

"Hey, I might be rusty, but talking about the dream comes like breathing."

"It does," Annie put in, though she was blushing high on her cheeks. "I was there."

Rachel raised a single eyebrow Scott's way, and he absolutely, resolutely refused to meet her gaze. And that just meant Rachel was caught between her dad and Annie, watching both of them blush. Rachel smiled between them, bouncing on her toes for a moment. "Okay. Well. I'm headed home for an early weekend. I'll make sure the boys don't burn the house down. But you … take your time. I'll see you there." She popped up on her toes to kiss Scott's cheek, then waved at Annie with the tips of her fingers and headed off to grab her keys and head out.

"Like I said," Scott said quietly to Annie as they started out the door, barely pausing when Rachel headed down the driveway. "It's been a while since I've been doing this kind of work. The kids aren't used to seeing me work like this."

"That's a shame," Annie said, lightly brushing his arm with the tips of her fingers as she reached for him. "You become an entirely different person when you slip into that role."

Scott rubbed the back of his neck. "Oh. Well, I… I'm sorry about-"

"No, no." Annie shook her head, turning slightly pink - even more so than before. "It's not a bad thing. It's… you seem more like yourself. It's…" She looked away. "Anyway."

Scott found himself blushing deeply as well. It had been so long since he'd shared that part of his life with anyone, let alone someone he was dating. He cleared his throat and gestured vaguely. "I don't suppose you'd like to see-"

"Yes." Annie turned bright red. "I mean, yes, if you'd like to… it looks so nice…"

"Well, I used to give the tours when I was Mia's age," Scott said and offered Annie his arm, glad for the excuse to talk about something else.

In short order, the two of them were strolling down to the lake where the swans were lazily swimming on the far side of the water setting a picturesque scene. And like they always had available to them, there was still a bench at the end of the dock that extended into the water.

Annie sat down and then gestured for Scott to join her, smiling softly as she looked out over the water. "You know," she said quietly, "I think my sister is going to want to visit all the time. It's beautiful here. It must have been a nice place to live."

"It was the best place I can remember living," Scott agreed. "Ororo encourages supportive family to come by as they please, though admittedly, that's not usually the case."

"Believe me, I know. I teach high school. The kids that are mutants either have brave parents or none. There doesn't seem to be much room for error for those kids."

"There isn't. But it's slowly getting better. It was a lot worse when I was their age," Scott said. "The professor took me in when I was nearly old enough to age out of the system. I got lucky. I know a lot of kids aren't." He let out a weary sigh. "So… I'm sure you have questions, now."

"I do, and there is a lot to ask that's come out tonight," Annie said. "I just hate to talk shop with such a lovely view." She smirked his way. "I did ask to come to the lake for a reason, you know."

Scott was openly surprised, but tried to catch up. "Well I didn't want to assume anything."

"We were on a date," Annie said, laughing before she leaned over to kiss his cheek. "You can reassure me that you won't let an eleven-year-old on any teams before she's ready and much older. My sister will grill Storm more thoroughly than you can imagine anyway."

"The team knows to keep their size small - no one's joining that isn't ready - and right now, they have to be Avengers first." He smirked in spite of himself. "You know … training wheels."

Annie laughed. "Oh, it's like that?"

"It is," he answered with a broad grin. "Always has been."

Annie grinned even wider. "I think I like the overconfident look on you, Mr. Mueller."

"It's not bragging if it's true," Scott teased.

"Oh, and there's Nate," Annie laughed delightedly.

"He had to get it from somewhere," Scott agreed, still smiling her way. This was a lot easier than he'd remembered.

Scott didn't get home until nearly midnight, and when he came in, the house was dark and quiet. At least until he closed and locked the door - then the lights in the living room popped on to reveal all three of his kids sitting there, ready for bed - arms crossed and half-glaring at him.

"Do you have any idea what time it is?" Rachel started off - which was great since she was the one most likely to come in late.

"You guys didn't really wait up for me, did you?" Scott asked.

"You were supposed to stay in Queens. That's where you said you'd be. Do you know what it was like to get a phone call from Ororo telling us that you were cavorting all the way out by Salem Center?" Nate continued … taking up the distance issue since he and Katie had been busted the last time they went out before Hydra hit.

"Guys. You're not funny."

"And then to top it off, you're revealing your secret identity to near perfect strangers? Has Natasha had a chance to run them down?" James said - since that was certainly his biggest error in dating.

"Your mother did when she was here," Scott said dryly.

"And you think that's enough for Natasha?" Nate challenged.

"Always was before," Scott said, resigning himself to the fact that his kids were ready for payback for all the many, many times they'd broken curfew or left the radius they'd been designated … with people that hadn't been cleared specifically by Natasha, apparently.

"You … what are we even supposed to do with you?" Rachel said, crossing her arms and giving him her best disapproving face. "You know the rules, Dad. You made them."

"Is this Annie person a bad influence?" James teased, just because it was one more point that had to be hit. "You go for years with no trouble - no rule breaking and then boom."

"The second time you go out with that seemingly sweet Southern woman, you're out breaking every rule you put in place," Nate finished.

"We should call her parents and let them know the kinds of shenanigans you two have been up to," Rachel said, though she barely kept a straight face, and as soon as she'd said it, she broke down with giggles.

"I just want to know if you have another date," James said, and in an instant, Nate's focus had shifted and he was grinning expectantly - waiting to hear the good news.

Scott's shoulders dropped further. "Not that it's any of your business-"

"Dad, it totally is," Nate said, still grinning.

"We want you to be happy and if she does it-" Rachel said, but Scott cut her off.

"Yes, we have another date lined up."

Nate didn't bother hiding his glee, punching the air as he leapt off the ground with an exuberant 'yes!'

"Go to bed, Nate," Scott said flatly.

"Hey. We all would have been in bed hours ago, but we were worried about you," Nate said, one hand over his heart as Scott started turning off the lights and the whole group of them started up the stairs.

"I should have known you three wouldn't let this pass."

"We're glad to see you enjoying yourself," James said. "Kind of exciting to see you starting to do things you love for a change."

"What makes you think I don't love what you three are up to?" Scott asked, just as they got to the top of the stairs. Scott stayed on the main floor but he still liked to see that everything was in order for the kids … especially when he knew Billy might pop in, and by extension, Kate may sneak in.

"Not the same, Dad," Rachel said before she kissed his cheek. Don't worry. I'll keep an ear open for anyone trying to sneak in. You can relax, your boys won't be causing trouble tonight.

I'm pretty sure if Billy was going to be here, he'd have been waiting to grill me with the three of you, Scott pointed out, then kissed the top of Rachel's head. "Love you all." Which was answered with a chorus from the three of them repeating the phrase.