Nate, age 18

"Happy birthday, son." Nate grinned up at Scott.

"Thanks, Dad. And thanks for today."

"It's not every day you turn eighteen," Scott smiled. "Now get some sleep, Nate. You've got a busy day tomorrow."

"Night, Dad." Nate covered himself up and Scott turned off his light as he closed the door. Instead of going to sleep, however, Nate waited to hear his parents retire for the evening before he carefully opened the door. He heard the rapid squeaking from his parents' room and fought the nausea as he snuck out the main door.

"Psst. Over here." Nate grinned and hurried to Kid Omega and Karma.

"Are we ready?"

"Yep," Kid Omega, Quintavius Quirinius, said. "And Cyclops and Ms. Frost won't catch us, right?"

"They're… occupied."

"Huh?" Karma, Xi'an Manh, asked before understanding. "Oh. Ew."

"They're my parents. How do you think I feel? Now are we going to this party or not?"

"You're sure it's gonna be good?"

"Yeah. Big Cable's team is known for their parties. It'll be a blast-"

"And he won't catch us or turn us in?" Karma asked, worried. "What about your sister?"

"She's busy banging Richards now that she's eighteen. Come on, or my dad will catch us." The three young adults hurried downstairs, keeping out of sight of the X-Men. They made it to the garage and Nate pulled the tarp off of his father's old sports car, still kept in excellent condition.

"Are you sure?" Quentin asked. "Even I'm not brave enough for that…"

"He'll never know. Now come on!" The two looked at each other and climbed in. Nate started the car and drove out of the garage- just to be stopped right at the gate.

"And just where do you think you're going?" Chris asked, his arms crossed.

"Oh shit."

"Corsair? What are you-? What?" Karma said, hands over her cheeks.

"I made a few changes to my schedule so I could be here to celebrate my grandkids. It was supposed to be a surprise for tomorrow. Imagine my surprise to see my grandson SNEAKING OUT!"

"I'm not sneaking out," Nate said. "What makes you think I-" Chris pulled out his phone.

"'Hey, Dad. Nate's just gone to bed and Carrie will be up in about fifteen minutes,'" he read. "'Wait about thirty minutes and then I'll open up your old suite.' Need I continue?"

"No sir."

"Get your ass back in the mansion. You two as well. What are your names? I'll be sure to inform Emma about this."

"Please," Nate said. "They didn't want to come. I talked them into-"

"You want to keep lying to me?" Chris asked, vein throbbing on his forehead with his barely concealed anger.

"No Grandpa," Nate answered, shrinking into his seat.

"Get in the back." Nate got into the backseat and Chris got behind the wheel, driving the group back to the garage. "Inside. I'd get to bed if I was you," he said to Kid Omega and Karma. The two scurried out.

"Grandpa-"

"You say one more word and I'll spank you before delivering you to your father." Nate shut his mouth and allowed Chris to manhandle him to the elevator and up to the third floor. Chris banged on the door, waiting for Scott or Emma to answer. He heard movement and tightened his grip on Nate when the door started to open.

"Yes- Dad? Nate?" Chris shoved Nate into the suite.

"I caught him and a couple other kids sneaking out. Asian girl with a metal leg and boy with pink hair." Scott clenched his jaw and turned to Nate.

"Kid Omega and Karma?"

"Yes sir."

"The party?"

"Y-yes sir."

"The party that I told you you were not allowed to go to?"

"But I'm eighteen!" Scott grabbed Nate's human arm and popped him hard.

"You should know better, then. Go to your room." Nate sniffed and trudged to his room, closing the door hard behind him.

"He also lied to me several times. Tried saying he had permission to go."

"He did, did he?" Scott asked as he reached down to start unbuckling his belt.

"Scott, just wait a minute," Emma said, putting her hand on his. "I don't think this is necessary-"

"He snuck out to go to a party he was forbidden to go to and then lied, Emma. He most definitely has earned this."

"Please-"

"Emma," Scott frowned. "This is one you can't talk me out of." The door opened and Carrie walked in, trying to fix her hair. Her eyes went wide at the sight of Scott's belt in his hand.

"Whoa… I wasn't late! You said be back by ten, and it's nine-" Scott held the belt up and pointed it at her.

"Did you know Nate was going to sneak out to that party?"

"What?! No! I'd've told you, or at least Cable!" Scott studied her for a moment.

"Go to bed, Carolyn. We're going to talk about you and Mr. Richards in the morning." Carrie blushed and hurried to her room.

"It's their birthday," Emma tried. "Surely they-"

"It being their birthday is the only reason I don't have him outside cutting a switch, which I'm still very tempted to do. Emma, if you don't want to hear it, then give me an hour-"

"An hour?!"

"To talk, spank, and then make sure he's ok."

"I'm not happy about this."

"Then I guess I'm glad we had sex before this happened, since I'm sure you'll withhold that from me again." Emma glared at him before storming out of the suite.

"Hm. She's a good mom."

"I don't want to hear it-"

"I know you're upset, but remember just who you're talking to, Scott." Scott adjusted his grip on his belt.

"Let yourself into the suite. Where's Mom?"

"Downstairs. I'll call her up in a bit. I doubt she'll want to hear this, either."

"I don't want to do it. But he knows better, and I'll be damned if Cyclops' kid gets away with murder." He took a calming breath and turned the knob on Nate's door. When nothing happened, he pounded on the wood.

"He locked his door?" Chris said in amazement.

"Nathan Christopher Charles, open it up, now!"

"Go away!"

"You will open the door now, or I'll blast it down!" Nate's door opened and Scott went inside.

"Dad-"

"I don't think you realize just what you did, young man. I was going to just use my belt because it's your birthday, but after this stunt? No. Let's go. You're cutting a switch."

"Dad! Dad, no! Please! I'm sorry!"

"I don't care. Now let's go." Nate teleported them to the garden and stared at the trees and bushes.

"Daddy,"

"Now, Nathan." With a shaky hand, Nate chose a limb and cut it. He trimmed the leaves and bark before handing it to Scott. Much to his embarrassment, Scott swished it through the air and shook his head.

"What-?"

"Get a different one. This one won't make enough of an impression." Nate blanched before searching for another one. After he prepared it, Scott repeated his test and nodded. Nate teleported them upstairs to his room.

"Knee or bed?" Nate asked, resigned to his fate. Scott sat down on Nate's bed.

"What have you done wrong?" Nate crossed his arms.

"Does it matter what I think? You're going to do what you want. It doesn't even matter that I'm eighteen now-"

"You live in my suite, you obey my rules."

"Then I'm moving out! Effective immediately!" Nate went to his closet and grabbed his suitcase.

"You want me to pay for school?!" Nate faltered and looked back at Scott.

"You'd keep that from me?"

"My money? Yes. You move out, my financial help ends. Go ahead. See what bank will lend enough money to you this late."

"That's not fair."

"What's not fair is trusting my eighteen year old to be in bed, and then learning he tried to sneak out to a party with alcohol and God knows what else!"

"I wouldn't have had anything to drink," Nate frowned.

"I can't… Nate, I don't trust you anymore. Not after tonight."

"Dad-"

"No. Now make your decision. Are you moving out, or are you accepting your punishment?"

"It's not fair," Nate said, already tearing up. "I'm an adult now. I shouldn't have to-"

"You want me to see you as an adult? Then do as you're fucking told, Nathan. I mean- I led a group of kids who listened better than you!" Nate winced and Scott closed his eyes. "You snuck out to go to a party you had no business attending, you lied to your grandpa, and then you locked me out so I wouldn't spank you. Any questions?"

"No sir," Nate said quietly.

"Then get your pants down and bend over my lap." Nate sniffed and unbuttoned his pants. He pushed them and his underwear to his knees and bent himself over Scott's knees. Scott wrapped his arm around Nate's waist and started swatting him. Nate grabbed the blanket in his fists and glared at it.

It wasn't fair.

He was determined to not cry. He wouldn't give his dad the satisfaction. Nate was stronger than Scott. He would make it-

"Ow!" Damn it! Scott looked down and saw distinct hand prints. He stopped swatting and reached beside him, grabbing the switch.

"You don't lock your door when you're in trouble," he said before bringing the switch down half a dozen times.

"Ah! Ow! Owwwwwww!"

"You don't lie to your grandpa," Scott told Nate before bringing the switch down another half dozen times.

"OWWWWWWWW! I'm sorry! Dad I'm sorry!"

"And you do not sneak out!" Scott said, switching Nate harder than the last dozen swats.

"DADDY! Owwwwwww! Ow! Ah! Owie owie owie! Daddy stop! Owwwww!" Scott stopped when he saw a dark, thin line, knowing it was a bruise. He tossed the switch down and used his hand to smack Nate's bottom ten more times before rubbing Nate's back.

"Shh. We're done, Nate. I'm done." Nate continued to sob over Scott's lap. Scott simply rubbed his back as he waited for Nate to calm down. It took longer than Scott expected, but Nate finally took a shuddered breath and stood up, carefully pulling his underwear up and kicking his pants off.

"'M sorry, Daddy."

"You're forgiven, Nate. I'm sorry I… I'm sorry it was that hard." Nate ran his human arm across his face.

"I don't like the switch." Scott gave him a small smile.

"Me either. Come here, son." Scott held his arm out and Nate carefully lowered himself onto Scott's lap. Scott used his thumb to wipe the tears off of Nate's face and kissed the side of his head.

"Did," Nate cleared his throat. "Did it hurt this bad when Grandpa switched you?" Scott winced.

"The first time, I couldn't sit down without it hurting for three days. When Grandpa Phil did it, it was over a week. But the last time I was switched, it hurt like hell and then Grandpa made me sit on a stool and peel potatoes. It was… God, that was horrible."

"How old were you?" Nate asked, eyes wide.

"Eighteen. It was the Tuesday before I married your mom. Less than a week later, you two were born."

"But… you were an adult."

"Eighteen doesn't automatically mean adult, Nate. Yes, legally a lot of things open up to you, but you… Brains reach maturity at twenty five. You still have some growing to do, baby."

"I'm not a baby," Nate said, rolling his eyes. Scott put a hand on the side of Nate's face and gently brought it to his shoulder.

"It doesn't matter how old you are. You'll always be my baby boy, Nate. I'm thirty six, and I'm sure Grandpa feels the same way about me." Nate sniffed.

"This was a crappy way to end my birthday, Dad."

"I'm sorry, son. Was a hell of a lot better than my eighteenth birthday, though."

"I don't think that's possible." Scott chuckled.

"I wasn't as sore, that's for sure. But mutants had just been discovered. We'd stayed at the cabin until it was safe for us to return, but when we did… It was horrible, Nate. Grandpa tried to take me out to dinner. I had someone throw a milkshake on me and say I should have been murdered as a child."

"Dad…"

"My first birthday with my dad after being separated for so long. I just wanted to feel like I mattered, just for a day." Scott closed his eyes, remembering his own eighteenth birthday. He cleared his throat and shook his head. "So I get crappy birthdays, ok?"

"That sounds… I'll take today over that. Spanking and all."

"Definitely not pleasant. Are you ok now?"

"Yes sir. I think I'd like to go to bed. For real this time."

"Just a minute. Emma wants to make sure I didn't kill you."

"Kill? No. But I definitely feel like you took a meat tenderizer to my ass."

"Are you going to lie or sneak out again?"

"No sir!"

"Then the tenderizing did its job." There was a knock on the door and Emma stepped in.

"How are you feeling, darling?" Scott kissed Nate's head again and helped him up.

"I'll give you two a minute. I'll be back in to say goodnight, Nate. Love you."

"Love you too, Dad." Scott stepped out and saw Chris was on the couch looking pale.

"That was worse than I thought it'd be," Chris admitted. Scott plopped on the couch and tried to stop his eyes from watering.

"I don't think I've spanked him that hard since he snuck out and went on your ship." Chris put his arm around Scott's shoulders.

"He didn't deserve you going easy on him. It was just difficult to hear."

"Trust me. It was difficult to do."

"Did he tell you he took your car?"

"Hm?"

"Your car. Sports car? The thing you wouldn't let anyone else drive?" Scott stood up with a furious expression and went back to Nate's room, throwing the door open.

"My car?! You took my car?!"

"Scott!"

"I'm sorry, Dad!"

"Do you know how dangerous that was?!"

"It looked-"

"The oil is leaking! The brake pads are too thin to pass any sort of inspection! You-!" Scott put his hands on his waist and tried to calm down. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't toss you back over my lap, Nathan Christopher Charles."

"I didn't know, Dad!"

"It was covered and tucked away in the corner!"

"If it's so beat up, why do you still have it?!" Scott blinked.

"You… That was the first thing that was mine after losing everything important to me. I haven't had time to work on it. But even if I had, you know better. That was akin to stealing, Nathan. You know better." Nate stared at his lap.

"Scott, he's had enough," Emma begged.

"You're grounded. One week, Nate. You step foot out of your room for anything other than food and drills, and I'll have you over my lap faster than you can blink. Am I understood?"

"But summer break-"

"Nathan!"

"Yes sir."

"Go to bed." Nate pulled off his shirt, leaving him in an undershirt and his briefs, and quickly got into bed. He knew better than to push his father anymore than he already had.

"Goodnight, Nate," Emma said, kissing his cheek.

"Night, Mama." Emma walked out and Scott forcefully closed the door.

"Unnecessary," Emma told him.

"Emma, had he driven more than what he did, he could have died. I'm sorry you think I was harsh, but I'd rather be harsh with my son alive than lenient and burying him." Emma stormed into their room and threw out a pillow and blanket. Chris looked anywhere else, trying to stay out of their spat.

"You are not welcomed in my bed tonight," she said, slamming the door. Scott winced at the sound.

"Come on, Scotty. You can sleep in your old room." Chris opened the connecting door to the suite he'd lived in with his sons. Scott walked in dejectedly.

"Nate's mad at me. Emma's mad at me. Maybe I should just go yell at Carrie and have her be mad at me, too." Chris snorted.

"Just give everyone a chance to calm down. It'll be better. You'll see." Chris gave Scott a brief hug. "Go on to bed, son. I'll send Hep in to see you."

"Now I really feel like I'm in trouble." Scott went and lied on his old bed in the suite, wrapping his blanket around him.

"Goodnight, Scott-boy."

"Night, Mom. I'm glad you're here." He felt a furry face on his forehead as Hepzibah kissed him and then walked out. Scott closed his eyes and tried to sleep.

"Daddy?" Scott opened his eyes and checked the time. He'd only been in bed for two hours.

"Yeah?" He answered sleepily, brain not connecting voice to child.

"Can I sleep with you?" Scott nodded and lifted his blanket. He heard the voice suck in a breath at the attempt to get comfortable.

"You ok?" He mumbled.

"Sore."

"It'll be better soon," he promised. "Daddy's here. Go on to sleep." Scott wrapped his arm around the body resting on him and drifted back off to sleep.

When Scott woke up again, he saw it was morning. He tried to sit up, but a heavy weight was keeping him down. He blinked several times, finally comprehending the metal arm across his chest.

"Nate. Wake up."

"Mmmm."

"Nate." Nate cracked his eye open.

"It's too early."

"I can't move." Nate sheepishly moved his arm.

"Sorry, Dad."

"It's not a problem. I just need to use the bathroom. Stay right here."

"Yes sir." Scott walked out and used the bathroom before returning to Nate.

"What brought you in here last night?"

"A bad dream," Nate admitted without looking at him. "I know you said not to leave my room, and I'm sorry, but-"

"Needing me doesn't count in a grounding," Scott reminded him. "My intention is to keep you from having fun, not keep you from being comforted. I'm always here for you, Nate."

"Yes sir." Scott ran a hand through his hair. "Are you and Mama ok?"

"We… We will be. Relationships are hard work, son. There will be arguments and fights and anger. You just have to work through it and get back to the good stuff."

"I'm sorry I'm causing you to fight."

"Wouldn't be the first time," Scott grinned. "And I doubt it'll be the last. You're lucky to have a mom who cares so much about you, Nate."

"Yeah," he smiled. "She's pretty great."

"Oh good," Chris interrupted as he opened the door. "Scott, Nathan's here to see you. And breakfast is ready." Scott nodded and stepped out.

"Nathan," he greeted. "Everything ok?"

"X-Force won't be available today for drills with the X-Men."

"Ok. Why not?"

"Someone spiked the punch at their party and snuck in edibles. No one is… Honestly, they're all still plastered or as high as a fucking kite."

"Hm. Alright. I'll just take that off the schedule then. Are they going to be ok?"

"Eventually, yeah. I'm sure as hell kicking their asses once they're back to normal."

"Sounds about right," Scott smiled. "You want to stay for breakfast?"

"I would, but Hope snuck in last night and had a few brownies. I have to go deal with her."

"Ouch. Ok then. Good luck, son."

"I'm going to need it," Nathan muttered as he walked to the door.

"Wait," Scott said before he left. "Why didn't you participate?"

"Are you kidding?" Nathan said, turning to look at Scott. "The last time I tried to go to that party, I couldn't sit for a fucking week. I learned that lesson, thank you." Scott grinned and watched his time traveling son walk out of the suite.

"You good, son?" Chris asked, seeing Scott stare at the door.

"Huh? Oh. Yeah, I'm alright. Just thinking about how to tell Emma I was right without rubbing it in too much. I'm starving. What's for breakfast?"