Disclaimer: see ch 1
Warning: mention of sex
Three weeks, Scott realized. He'd been stuck in his bed for three weeks. It was nice at first- a break from everything, but now he was just bored. The interview Trish Tilby did had aired, showing mutants in a positive light. Not that it mattered to some bigots- they'd still gotten hate mail. But it did help with charges against the Friends of Humanity.
At least almost everyone agreed that an attack on innocent toddlers who may or may not be mutants should be frowned upon. He had Emma to thank for that. It's what got the majority of the town on their side- for the moment.
But other than the interview and hearing about the arrests of FoH members, including Graydon Creed, Scott was bored. He only had two classes online and Chris, Hank, and Professor Xavier had emailed both of his professors explaining his injury and how he'd be missing for quite some time. They sent the assignments he'd miss and the notes of their lectures, saying not to get too far behind or he'd fail. He would have been fine to take his classes, but Chris just-
"Morning. How are you feeling?"
"Like a prisoner," Scott fumed, crossing his arms over his chest. Chris sighed. It'd been the same response for nearly two weeks now.
"I'm sorry you feel that way-"
"I want out of the bed for more than just a minute to use the bathroom. I want to sit at the table with my kids- Damn it, Dad! It's not like I'm saying throw me in drills! I just want to do normal-"
"Not until Beast clears you. With your history-" Scott threw himself on his pillows, refusing to admit that that'd hurt, and glared at the ceiling. "Scott."
"What? Doesn't matter what I say, you're going to do what you want. No matter how I say I'm feeling-"
"Like how you were fine when actually suffering from radiation poisoning? Like how it wasn't that big a deal when you sprained your ankle so bad that we thought it was broken? Like how you broke your arm-?"
"Like how I was beaten to a bloody pulp constantly because my own father was too busy screwing around in space to try to look for me?" Scott could hear the jaw clenching.
"Scott Christopher."
"What? You were bringing up past injuries. Why can't I?" Chris shook his head and stormed out.
"What'd you do?" Nate asked, coming to the door. "Grandpa's pissed."
"Yeah, well so am I. I thought you went home?" Nate walked in and lied down across the bottom of the bed.
"I did. Too depressing, still. So I came back to when it wasn't as depressing, just a whole lot angstier." He laughed when Scott hit him with a pillow.
"Everything ok at home?"
"You know about Carrie, right?"
"I do."
"She's crazy hormonal right now. And you've let her move back into the suite with us because her husband's dad-"
"Mr. Fantastic."
"Yeah. Him. Even though our teams don't really… We've helped each other but not a lot, but he still has Franklin go on missions for them because he's powerful-"
"How powerful?"
"Like Uncle Gabe powerful."
"Huh. Ok. So they took him from my pregnant daughter to do something for them?"
"Yep. You chewed Richards out and then moved Carrie back in so someone would be with her while he's gone in case she needs something."
"He left her."
"He'll be gone a month."
"Do you know how much changes in a month in pregnancy?" Nate rolled on his side and supported himself with his metal arm.
"No, Dad. Please tell me, your sterile son, who's still a virgin because girls my age WANT to get pregnant, by the way, all the things he'll miss about pregnancy."
"I didn't mean it like that, Nate." Nate moved to his back again.
"It's a touchy subject."
"I picked up on that.
"Speaking of sex-"
"We weren't."
"-how are you and Emma doing?"
"I'm not talking to you about this."
"Ugh. No success."
"Nathan."
"What? It's not like I've never walked in on you. 'Daddy's just wrestling, Nate. Go back to bed.'"
"I use that, huh? My parents used that on me."
"I was thirteen. I knew what sex was." Scott blushed and ran a hand over his face.
"I'll try to treat you older, then."
"No, I'm good. Got me out of the Talk for a while." Scott snorted.
"Yeah. That talk sucks. But so does this, so we're done."
"I've seen her come in here."
"She's just trying to provide company since your grandpa WON'T LET ME OUT!" He said loudly while looking at the door.
"Keep it up!" Chris called back. "I'll wear my belt out on your ass and see how fine you feel!" Scott cringed and Nate chuckled.
"Yeah. Parents just don't understand."
"Shut up, Nate." Nate smirked at his father.
"So. Emma-?"
"Is leaving after my six week sentence is up."
"You're not even going to try-?"
"Nate. Even if I was interested in her like that, your mom just died. Do you really think it's appropriate for me to look for a girlfriend?"
"You are interested in her like that, and Mom would want you to be happy. Didn't stop you from sleeping with Psylocke or Emma before."
"Stress relief. Nothing more."
"Liar."
"Your dad who deserves a little bit more respect than that."
"Or a reminder that yeah, you're my dad, but you said we were friends."
"There's a line-"
"Emma will stay. If you ask her, I mean. She'll stay longer than you healing."
"Maybe she will, but maybe I don't want to be with someone who calls me a brute who beats my kids."
"She was in shock-"
"Bullshit, Nate. I'm not- you are my kids. I'll deal with you the best way I can. The only person who would have had any say is dead, but she was in agreement with me. I'm not going to let some person in who suddenly starts making demands-"
"Ok," Nate said quietly. "I got it, Dad."
"So we're done discussing this?"
"Yes sir."
"Good. I need to rest. Go bug Warren." Nate slid off the bed and walked to the door.
"I wish you'd just talk to her, Dad. She might surprise you." Nate left and Scott sighed. He was physically attracted to Emma, but he couldn't see them going any further if they differed on something like this. He closed his eyes, hoping the problem would vanish.