Carrie, age 16
Carrie hit her bat against the ground in agitation. He'd promised to be there for the championship game. He wasn't. She wiped at her face with her dirty glove, not even caring about the smudge.
"Carolyn!" She looked up and saw the current star of her dreams. Her face went red against her will.
"Richards," she greeted. "Good luck today. I'd hate to beat you any other way."
"You and that arrogance-"
"It's not arrogance if I can back it up." He leaned in her team's dugout.
"Thought you said something about the Cyclops being here. My dad wants to meet him." Carrie scanned the crowd, and sure enough, the Fantastic Four were in attendance. Ben Grimm was impossible to hide. Then again, seeing Mr. Fantastic's body sitting on one side of The Thing and his head stretched across to the other was also a dead give away.
"He'll be here."
"Just because you live with the mutants doesn't mean the leader of the X-Men knows who you are. He won't be here." Carrie flicked her hand and the boy was flung back to his own dugout.
"Carrie!" Carrie turned, hoping that her brother's voice would show- no one else. New tears sprang up, but she waved to Nate before pointing to her wrist and shrugging. Nate grinned and sat in the stands behind her team. At least he was here, she decided. Nate always showed up to her games, even if he was alone. The announcer began announcing the mutant/super human softball league information and the country's anthem played. Carrie stood with her team, her hand over her heart. She took one last look behind her.
He wasn't there.
Carrie stood straighter, tightened the gloves covering her hand, and grabbed the neck of her bat. Her team was batting first, and she was up immediately. She took her stance at the plate, waited for the ball, and swung.
"Carolyn Pryor has hit a home run! The first play is already-" Carrie blocked the rest out as she ran from base to base, all the way back to the home plate.
"Safe!" the umpire declared. Carrie jogged to the dugout, her job done for the moment. Disappointment filled her body. A home run, and he'd missed it.
The teams changed and Carrie found herself on the pitcher's mound. She wrapped her fingers around the ball, tight enough not to drop it, but not too tight.
"Remember, Care-bear, you use your fingers and wrist to throw the ball. Too many people think it's all in the arm, and those are the people who screw up their shoulders after a while. Touch your glove to your chest- no, like this. There you go, baby girl. You're a natural at this."
Carrie closed her eyes and took a centering breath. She caught the play her team's catcher signaled, nodded, and threw the ball.
"Strike one!"
She threw the ball.
"Strike two!"
One more time.
"Strike three, you're out!" As the batters were changing, Carrie took another glance at the crowd. Nate was clapping and cheering for her, but it was still only him. She looked at the new batter and smirked. Franklin Richards. He adjusted his grip on his bat and narrowed his eyes at her.
"Strike one!"
Carrie winked at him and threw another ball.
"Strike two!"
"Come on Frank! You got this, son!" Carrie blinked. The Fantastic Four were just as busy as the X-Men, but here they were. Yet he was nowhere to be seen. She threw the ball angrily.
"Run, Frank! Go, go, go!" Carrie waited for her teammates to throw the ball to stop him on second base.
"You're alright, Carrie! Knock 'em out, big sis!" Carrie shot her brother a smile. Big sis indeed. He towered over her and was bigger in every way, but she would always be his big sister.
She threw the ball.
"Strike one!"
She nodded to the catcher and threw another ball.
"Strike two!"
The final ball.
"Strike three! You're out!"
"Go Carrie!" Carrie's head whipped over at the voice. He made it. The whispers of 'Cyclops' filled the crowd, but he paid them no attention. His focus was on her. She quickly struck the next batter out and the team moved to switch places again.
"You came!" she said from the dugout.
"Of course I did," Scott told her. "I told you I'd be here. I'm sorry I was late. Genosha was being attacked and Polaris asked for help since Magneto would never lower himself to do so. I had to get a team prepped and ready."
"But you didn't go?" she frowned. She knew about Genosha, how important it was to some mutants. And with Scarlet Witch being there, tensions were high enough.
"The others can handle it. I did have to send Angel."
"You chose me?" Carrie said, blinking fast.
"Carrie, this is your championship game. Nothing could have kept me away. Nate was supposed to tell you I was just going to be late." Carrie looked at her brother, who had the decency to wince.
"Oops?"
"If we weren't in public," Scott growled to his son. He looked back at Carrie and gave her a smile. "Kick their asses, kid." That was all she needed, she realized. Between her team's batting abilities and her skills as a pitcher, the announcement came over that the score was nine to zero- her team had won. She cheered with her team and then, since the game was over and the device the coaches used to insure a no-powers game was turned off, she used her powers to lift herself over the fence and into Scott's arms.
"Good job, Carrie," Nate congratulated.
"I had no doubt," Scott said, gently tugging her ponytail. "You might look like your mom, but that was definitely from my side."
"Cyclops!" Scott tensed and stood straight, his face losing the care-free look he reserved for his family.
"Dr. Richards," he greeted.
"I was told you would be here, but I didn't think the rumors were true."
"Oh?"
"I didn't think you'd attend a young student's game. You must be busy, leading-"
"You're here," Scott said in an annoyed tone. "Why can't I be?"
"My son was playing. Franklin Richards." Franklin waved, looking slightly awed at Scott.
"And my daughter was playing. Carolyn Summers." Carrie just smirked at Franklin's look.
"I was unaware-"
"She wanted to be known for her skill, not her name. I'm sure you know how that is. But if you don't mind, I have a celebration party to attend with my kids."
"I was hoping to discuss-"
"You can stop by the Institute tomorrow. Cyclops is off today." Scott put an arm across Carrie and Nate's shoulders, leading them away.
"Daddy, you don't have to do this," Carrie told him. "Reed Richards-"
"-Might be the smartest man alive, but he still has a few things to learn. Like how I'm not going to bow down and lick his boots just because he's Mr. Fantastic." Nate laughed and Carrie made a face at the image.
"You aren't afraid there's an emergency?"
"If there was, why would a team like them ask for the help of mutants?" Scott saw the look on Carrie's face and sighed. "He would have pressed harder if it was too important to wait until tomorrow, Carrie. And I wasn't going to stand and talk to him when I have a champion to celebrate. Grandpa's waiting on the results with Ch'od, so let's go give him a call." That seemed to cheer her up and the three climbed into their family's car.
"What are we going to eat?" Nate asked from the backseat, leaning forward.
"All you do is think about food," Scott teased.
"I'm hungry. You know what Nathan says-"
"The tech causes hunger," Carrie said, rolling his eyes. "Doesn't mean that's all you have to talk about."
"I'm hungry!" Nate repeated.
"You're always hungry!"
"Better than being a bean pole like you!" Carrie reached back from the front seat and punched Nate's human shoulder. "Ow! Dad! Carrie punched me!" Scott drove up the driveway to the Institute and pulled over by the garage.
"Out and bend. Both of you."
"Aw, Dad!"
"Daddy!"
"NOW!" The teens got out and bent over the hood of the car, Nate on the side and Carrie at the front. Scott got out and swatted Nate, and then swatted Carrie twice.
"Daddy-"
"You don't attack your brother," he scolded. He looked at Nate. "And you don't insult your sister! Now go up and change. You've got fifteen minutes." The two took off and Scott snorted when he saw Nate rub his shoulder.
"You gotta teach me how to punch like that," he heard Nate request. They disappeared inside and Scott leaned against the car.
"Oh, Maddie," he said quietly. "You'd be so proud of them." He closed his eyes as he thought of the mother of his children. He opened them again and felt his shoulders relax as he walked up the steps into his home and up to his family's suite.
The team that went to Genosha was already back, he noticed. He knew they would be- the attack had only just started, after all. He looked around at the party his girlfriend had thrown together for Carrie, who had been hoisted up on Colossus' shoulder and was being paraded around. Nate stood next to his older self, discussing who knows what- and Scott certainly didn't want to know- with Hope standing with them, rolling her eyes. Pizza and cake were being passed around. Scott saw Bobby using his powers and chilling the drinks while flirting with Christian… Scott cringed. He knew they'd gone on a few dates, thanks to Emma and pillow talk, but he'd been hoping Bobby would catch on to the looks Northstar had been giving him. He had money on Bobby and Northstar, while Angel had put money on Bobby and Christian.
"Figures," he muttered when he saw Christian plant a kiss on Bobby's jaw.
"What does, darling?"
"Your brother and Bobby. I just lost fifty bucks because Christian kissed him before Bobby picked up on Jean-Paul's hints. Friggin' Warren called it." Emma laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"How was the game?" she asked.
"It was great. Carrie was amazing. I missed her first home run, but I got to see her second. Thank you for doing this for her."
"I'm sorry I couldn't be there," she frowned.
"You're still recovering, Em. She understands." The two tensed as the televisions turned on. The party froze as the X-Men watched the news footage.
"Cyclops-"
"Cable, get your team and go now," Scott ordered. "Iceman, call X-Factor. Everyone else, be ready in five." He turned to his children and gave them a sad smile.
"It's Mammomax," Carrie said, understanding.
"And the Marauders. Come on, Dad! Let me go!"
"No, Nate," Scott said as he went to his room to change. He stepped out in his blue suit with yellow accents and belt that climbed up and over his shoulder, his communicator at his chest.
"Dad, please! I can-"
"You go, and I'll strap you," Scott threatened. "Stay here. Help Emma. Be good, and I love you." Scott hurried out and the teens sighed in unison as they plopped on the couch.
"They'll be fine," Emma told them as she and Christian started to clean up the suite.
"He said he was off today."
"Cable totally took Hope!" Nate cried, gesturing to the television at the arrival of the first wave of X-Men. "She's our age! How come Dad let her go, Mama?"
"I'm sure your father will have words with Nathan once everything is done." Nate sat back and crossed his arms as they watched their father and pseudo aunts and uncles exit the plane to keep the city safe from the Marauders and the elephant-like mutant running rampant in the streets. Carrie frowned when she felt her phone buzz. She pulled it out and checked it.
*Your dad is totally kicking ass. -Frank* Carrie grinned at the text from her crush and dropped her phone into her lap.
"Mama?"
"Yes, darling?" Emma said from the kitchenette.
"Daddy has a meeting with Mr. Fantastic tomorrow. Can you make sure he doesn't say anything embarrassing?"
"I can try-"
"She doesn't care about insulting Mr. Fantastic," Nate teased. "She has the hots for his son Franklin."
"Oh?" Christian grinned. "Who's Franklin? Is he cute?" Carrie turned red.
"He's no one."
"Carrie's in lo-ove. Carrie's in-" Carrie swatted the air and Nate flew to the ceiling.
"You were saying?"
"Mama! Make her let me go!"
"He was being a jerk!"
"You're a bitch!"
"You're an ass!"
"What the hell?!" The twins turned and saw a weary Scott walking inside the suite. Carrie lost her concentration on Nate and he fell to the floor, groaning.
"Dad," he said. "She attacked me for no reason!"
"I had a reason. It's because you're a jerk!"
"Enough with the name calling!" Scott cried.
"Sit down, Scott. You look like a feather could knock you over." Scott nodded to Emma and slowly sat on the couch.
"Are you ok, Daddy?"
"Yeah, you don't look good."
"I'll be fine," he told them. "Just need a couple weeks for my ribs to heal." Carrie and Nate sat on either side of him, both putting their heads on his shoulders. Scott closed his eyes and relaxed on the couch.
Even with their squabbles, his children always knew what was most-
"Dad, Cable took Hope with him. Why could Hope go but not-?" Scott wrapped his hand around Nate's mouth.
"Hush." Carrie giggled at the incredulous look Nate gave their father.
"Not cool," he said, muffled behind Scott's hand. Scott wrapped his other arm around Carrie's shoulders and took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry your day was hijacked, Carrie."
"It's ok. Spider-Man says with great power comes great responsibility, right?"
"He does."
"So you have a responsibility to help people when mutants attack. I can't be selfish, Daddy." Scott leaned down and kissed her head.
"You remind me so much of your mom sometimes."
"Can you tell us about her?" Nate asked, mouth no longer behind Scott's hand. Scott nodded and his children carefully rested their heads on him again.
"Our first real date was in Hawaii. I'd taken her to the beach after a late lunch..." Carrie closed her eyes, letting her father's voice wash over her. It wasn't easy being the daughter of the leader of the X-Men, but in moments like this, she wouldn't trade it for anything.