Disclaimer: see ch 1
Warning: spanking
"What did you do?!" Jean demanded.
"I told him Emma left!"
"You've got to be- Move!" Scott stepped back and watched as Jean attempted to calm Nate down.
"What can I do?"
"Get Frost back here! He won't calm down until he sees her!" Scott nodded and turned, running to the elevator. It took him to the third floor and he rushed out to the suite.
"Emma?!" Emma stuck her head out of the nursery, clearly angry.
"I am trying to put your children-"
"It's Nate. The machines- He's begging for you. Please." Emma narrowed her eyes.
"Why-?"
"I don't know! But he won't calm down unless he sees you! Please!" Emma nodded and closed the door of the nursery, where the Twins were in their beds, and followed Scott back to the elevator. When it reached the lower levels, she stepped out and quickly, but somehow still gracefully, went to the sound of the rapid, loud beeping.
"Nate? It's Emma. Calm down, now. I'm here." The beeping calmed immediately as Scott stepped in. He noticed Nate's face looked peaceful once again. And then Nate's eyes slowly opened.
"Mama," he rasped. "Don't leave me," he pleaded. Emma grabbed his hand and smiled at him.
"I'm here, Nate. I won't go anywhere." Nate attempted to nod before his eyes closed again.
"He's asleep," Jean noted before looking at Emma. "I don't know what you did to my godson, but release him. Now."
"I have done nothing but be kind to him. Maybe you should try it."
"Ok! That's enough!" Scott said by the bed after seeing Jean nearly leap across it. "I don't know what's going on. Maybe Nate thought he was talking to Maddie. I don't know. But we're going to do whatever the hell it takes to keep him calm, alright?"
"I will stay for Nate, but that is it. Once he's up and moving, I'm gone," Emma told Scott without looking at him.
*I wish you'd reconsider. I've enjoyed our time together.*
*I will not stand by while a… a brute beats his children!* Scott winced and grabbed his head.
"I'm going to go check on the kids and my dad. You two talk. You're more alike than you realize." Scott stormed out and Emma rolled her eyes while Jean angrily went into Beast's office.
"Wake up, Nate. I know you're faking." Nate cracked his eye open.
"You always could tell."
"I find that hard to believe. Your father and I-"
"Mama," Nate said as he turned to look at her. "You didn't give birth to me, but you are my mother. Please…" Nate closed his eyes and found his connection to Emma.
*What is this?* Emma asked.
*A memory. Just watch.*
"Mama!" An eight year old Nate came running into the suite. "Mama!"
"I'm right here, Nate," Emma said, coming out of hers and Scott's room. "What do you need?"
"I got all my words right!" Emma cheered and knelt down as she hugged Nate to her.
"I knew you could do it! You're so smart, just like your daddy." Nate grinned and Emma kissed his forehead. "Where is your sister?"
"Huh?"
"Nate. Where is Carrie?"
"Oh… I don't know. I got my test and wanted to show you." The fear was evident on Emma's face.
"SCOTT!" Nate watched as his boxer-clad father came out of his room.
"What's wrong?"
"Carrie isn't with Nate."
"Shit!" Scott went back into his room before running out, fully clothed. He left the suite without a word.
"Mama?"
"Nate, you know you're not supposed to leave without your sister," Emma said in a patient, yet chiding tone.
"She's fine," Nate frowned. "She's older. Why-?"
"I got her," Scott said as he came back into the suite. He was carrying a crying Carolyn. "I need the first aid kit."
"What happened?" Emma asked as she jumped up to get it.
"She was playing outside and fell. She's skinned her knee."
"She was playing outside? Was anyone watching her?" Scott sat Carolyn on the couch and gently wiped her tears.
"Dad was out there. He told me Nate was supposed to tell us. Apparently he'd tried telling you, but we were… occupied." Emma frowned and turned to Nate.
"Nate?" Nate lowered his head.
"I'm sorry, Mama."
"Did you lie to me?"
"I didn't mean to-"
"Lying is very intentional, Nathan Christopher Charles," Scott scolded as he bandaged Carolyn's knee. He kissed her forehead and turned to his son. "And so is being disobedient. Grandpa told you to tell me and Emma that Carrie was safe, didn't he?"
"Yes, but-"
"Then why didn't you?"
"'Cuz I wanted to show Mama my test!"
"You showed me your test," Emma said. "And you could have easily said Carrie was with your grandpa when I asked instead of lying and saying you didn't know. Why didn't you just tell me?"
"I don't want to share you!" Emma raised her eye.
"I'm sorry?"
"I gotta share everything with her! You're not- you're not our real mom, so why do I gotta share you, too? Why can't you be just my mama?" Emma blinked and then knelt in front of Nate, taking his hands into hers.
"I can't be just your mama because I love you and your sister and your daddy. I'm part of this family, Nate. And I know it's hard to share everything. I had two sisters growing up, too. We had to share everything. But just like your daddy has enough room in his heart for you both, so do I. And it would make me so sad to not have both of you." Nate sniffed and wiped his eye.
"I just want one thing that's just for me, Mama." Emma pulled Nate to her, resting his head on her chest.
"You could have talked to me, Nate," Scott spoke up. "Emma and I were talking about giving you and Carrie separate rooms. We were going to let you choose how to decorate it and everything." Nate looked at Emma for confirmation.
"We were going to discuss it with you and Carrie this weekend."
"Now I don't know if you're old enough to talk to about this," Scott chided. "But I do know you're not too old for a spanking. I think you have two coming, too."
"Daddy! No!" Nate cried, covering his butt with his hands.
"Yes. Carrie, go next door."
"Yes Daddy," Carolyn said. She hurried through the connecting door. Once it shut, Scott sat on the couch.
"Nathan. Come here."
"Daddy, please-"
"Scott," Emma said. "You don't need to spank him."
"Emma. Please."
"No," Emma told him. "He lied to me." Scott looked at her, shocked.
"You… You want to spank him?"
"I don't want to, but I think… Yes. I need to." Emma sat down, calling Nate to her, as Scott stood.
"You heard her, Nathan. Go on."
"But- but Mama! You don't-"
"And I hope I never have to again. One more chance." Nate sniffed and walked to her.
"Mama,"
"Why am I going to spank you?"
"'Cuz I lied," he answered, pitifully. Emma nodded and helped him lie across her lap.
"Em-"
"I'm doing this my way, Scott. Trust me." Scott nodded and Emma closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and swatted Nate.
"Ow! MAMA! OW! Please stop! Ow!" Emma stopped after twelve swats and sat Nate up.
"Are you going to lie to me again?"
"No Mama!" he cried. Emma hugged him to her and kissed the side of his head.
"I'll always be your mama, Nate. Don't you worry about that," she whispered to him as she rocked him. "I love you so, so much."
*I… I did that to you?* Emma asked as it was obvious the memory was ending.
*You did. First and last time. I mean, you'd swat us, but you never spanked either of us after this.*
*I don't understand, Nate.* Nate opened his eyes.
"Sometimes the kid's needs outweigh your desires," he said with a small smirk. "Mama, you…" Nate's smirk fell. "Before… The timeline I came from, I mean, you and Dad didn't meet until I was six. The Hellfire Club attacked, just like the FoH did. You were helping… then you saw us. You turned to diamond and kept us safe."
"They wouldn't-"
"They did. I never said it made sense, but I was there, Mama."
"Please- Nate, I'm not your mother-" Nate scowled.
"I know you're not. But Emma Frost in my time is. She has been since I was eight. You used to say you wished you'd met Dad sooner so you could be with us longer…" Nate wiped at his eye, embarrassed. "I just wanted my mom. But you're right. You should go. I snooped and saw what happened. I know you and Dad are over before really even giving it a chance. Carrie always screws up everything that's important to me." Emma blinked and put a gentle hand on Nate's cheek.
"My life will be fuller from knowing you three." Nate pulled away from her and turned his head.
"Just go, Emma." Emma left and Nate felt his heart breaking and he began to cry.
"Nate?" Nate sniffed and scrubbed at his face with his human hand.
"Yes, Aunt Jean?"
"I heard… What can I do?" Nate shook his head as tears again filled his eyes.
"My mom… She was my mom and she doesn't want me. Nathan died, my mom died, and now the woman who raised me doesn't want me. What's wrong with me, Aunt Jean? Why-?"
"Shh," Jean said, sitting on the bed with him. "There's nothing wrong with you, Nate. Your mom and Nathan both loved you so much that they gave their lives to protect you. Emma… If she can't see how wonderful your father is and how incredible you and Carrie are, then she's as empty headed as her bottle of hair dye."
"My dad was so happy with her. What if…? Who wants a single dad with two kids who are all mutants?"
"I certainly wouldn't say no," Jean admitted. Nate's eyes went wide.
"But you- you're with Uncle Warren?"
"Warren is… I do love him. But Scott has always been who I wanted. I just discovered it too late."
"But you hate my grandpa. Why would you want-?"
"He won't be here for long. He said until Gabe was eighteen, right?" Nate saw a hand disappear by the door.
"Uncle Warren is Dad's best friend. You would really do that to them?"
"They wouldn't have to remember. I look… Madelyne was my clone. I deserve-"
"You are my godmother. You are not, nor will you ever be, my mother- step or otherwise. I think you should go, Jean."
"Nate-"
"No. If you don't respect your role as my godmother, then you don't deserve to be referred to with a familial title. Go." Jean lifted her hand to her head.
"I'm sorry, Nate." Nate's eyes went wide. When Jean lowered her hand, looking satisfied, Nate blinked.
"Aunt Jean? I'm sorry. I don't remember what we were talking about. I guess whatever Beast has going through the IV is messing with me."
"I understand. We weren't talking about anything important, Nate. I was just checking on you."
"Oh. I'm healing. I can feel the wound getting smaller. It's itchy. My dad has some cream upstairs. Can you ask him to bring it down?"
"Of course I can." She tapped his hip like she'd seen Scott do several times and got off the bed. Nate frowned.
"What the hell do I do now?" He groaned.
"Nate," he heard whispered across the room. He looked towards the door.
"Ma-" he cleared his throat quietly. "Emma, what are you still doing here?"
"I can't… I don't know if I can leave you here still healing and not… But Nate, Jean-"
"I know."
"She wiped-"
"No. Mama, I know I might not look like much, but I'm the most powerful mutant in this mansion. Well… Maybe Uncle Gabe and I are tied. Jean can't wipe my mind unless I let her."
"Well I certainly can't leave now," Emma said to herself and Nate. Nate grinned, quickly forcing it from his face. "In no way does this mean I will enter into a relationship with your father, Nate."
"Yeah, well, at least you're not willing to lie and manipulate people to be in said relationship."
"I would have thought he and Jean were close friends."
*They were. Then Grandpa arrived and Dad's attention was shifted to himself and his family. She preferred him trailing after her like a lost puppy. Mom named her our godmother for peace, I think. Dad named Uncle Warren our godfather because they are best friends.* Emma frowned and then applied her usual mask of indifference to her face.
"Frost. What are you still doing here?" Jean asked.
"I was considering Nate's words while packing. I decided that if he sees me as a maternal figure, I would be remiss if I left him now when he needed care." She gently touched his metal arm and Nate smiled. Only his family and Warren touched his metal arm. Everyone else seemed to try to avoid it.
"Do you really think that's what's best for him?"
"Nate?" Emma said. "It is your decision."
"Please stay," he said quietly. "I know you're not… You're not my Emma, but right now you're the closest thing I have to her. If I could, I'd go home to her instead of being… here."
"Then I will stay." Nate gave her a big smile and she smiled back.
"Unfortunately, visiting hours are-"
"Ok, I'm back," Scott said, hurrying in. "Sorry. Dad was being a baby, then Carrie woke up, then Nate fell out of his bed… But I'm here now."
"Aunt Jean was about to tell us how visiting hours were over," Nate frowned.
"Visiting hours? We don't have-" Scott shook his head and looked at his son. "Nate, how are you feeling?"
"Better. Itchy. Can I come up and sleep in my bed?"
"No," Jean said, shaking her head. "We need to monitor you with the TO virus."
"I think I can tell you how I'm feeling better than this stuff hooked up to me," Nate glared. "You can take the IV out or I'll just break the crappy-"
"This crap, as you put it, costs more than your father makes in a year," Beast warned as he meandered in.
"I wasn't really gonna do it," Nate blushed.
"Hm. How are you feeling?"
"Fine. Can I go?" Beast gently pulled back the dressing on his chest.
"You still have clear evidence of-"
"And I'll be fine by morning. Please Beast? You know Dad'll make me stay in bed or on the couch. And if he doesn't, Grandpa will. Please?" Beast looked at Scott.
"Whoa- you're the expert here. If you think he needs to stay, he stays."
"Dad!"
"Nathan." Nate rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, wincing when they hit his chest.
"Just one night, Mr. Summers. I'll release you in the morning to your family's care."
"This sucks."
"I think you mean, 'thank you for taking such good care of me,'" Scott scowled. "Try it again."
"Dad-"
"Nathan."
"But- ow, Dad! I'm injured here!" Nate complained, rubbing the side of his behind.
"Not where I was aiming, you weren't. Now apologize to Hank or you will be injured." Nate blushed.
"Sorry, Beast. Thank you for taking care of me."
"It's like seeing your father on the examination table with your grandpa next to him," Hank chuckled. "Apology accepted, Nate. And I know this isn't the most entertaining place to be, but you still have a hole in your chest. Once it's smaller, I'll feel more comfortable with letting you out."
"Yes sir." Beast patted Nate's leg and stepped into his office, Jean right behind him. Nate looked at Scott and glared.
"Nathan Christopher Charles."
"You have no right-"
"I have every right-"
"I'm twenty five!"
"Then act like it!"
"That is enough," Emma said, looking from Scott to Nate. "Scott, your son is an adult. Even if I agreed with… what you do to your children, which I don't, he is correct. You had no right to chastise him that way. Nate, your father is right that you need to act like the adult you are. Dr. McCoy is doing his best to help you heal quickly and safely. Please be respectful of that, even if you don't agree."
"Yes ma'am," Nate answered, looking away from her.
"Scott?"
"Emma, I appreciate your concern, but you are not part of this family. I would prefer it if you stayed out of our business." Emma smiled a fake smile.
"My apologies for overstepping." She stood up, grabbed Nate's metal hand, and kissed his head. "Reach out to me if you need me."
"I will," he told her. *I'm sorry, Mama.*
*There is absolutely nothing for you to be sorry about, Nate. If he tries to strike you again, stop him. You are an adult, darling.*
*Yes ma'am. I will.* Emma nodded and left Med Lab. Scott fell into the chair and put his head in his hands.
"She was right. Not that she needs to know…" Scott muttered. "I'm sorry, Nate."
"I'm sorry, too. I just wanted to be with my family instead of stuck in here alone. I shouldn't have-"
"Alone?"
"Yeah, Dad. You've got me and Carrie-"
"I also have a dad and brothers who volunteered to keep an ear out for them for me before I even asked. I'm here with you, Nate."
"But-"
"Lie down all the way and close your eyes. I'll tell you about the time I had to stay overnight with Nathan." Nate smiled a soft smile and did as instructed. Scott pulled the blankets up and put his hand on Nate's arm.
"Ready," Nate said, trying to get Scott talking.
"It was before we changed things enough for you and Carrie to be twins. You two hijacked Nathan's time traveling device…"