Author's note: Thank you to Rasha007, NotMarge, KEZZ 1, NicoleR8, partygirl98, and Torchwhovian for your reviews! 150, wow! That's just incredible. You're all amazing.

I wanted to put it out there that I was thinking about doing another story that's made of one-shots of certain chapters from Zoey's point of view, so we can see what she's thinking. For example, the big discussion in Chapter 16. Would anyone like to read that? I'm open to suggestions! Thank you for your continuing support :-)

Family

Zoey quickly sent a fireball at one of the robots, completely melting its face off. By the time she finished the follow-through from her throw another projectile was already forming in her hands.

But before she could release that one, three other robots targeted her higher temperature and sent heat-seeking explosives aimed straight at her.

"Zoey, hide! They seek out heat!"

She promptly vanished into thin air, dissociating into the atmosphere. Now the missiles couldn't hit her, since she was no longer a solid entity.

Unfortunately, they were also now locked onto Zoey's heat signature, making it impossible for her to reassemble herself and fight back in any way.

I mentally berated myself as I kept track of her position, using the missiles as a guide. They followed her around like she was a mother duck even though she was merely a nebulous, invisible ball of heat.

Zoey was completely helpless, though at least she was safer in this form. From the moment she even tried to use her powers for this wave of robots she was a target.

What was I thinking, keeping this in the simulation?

And then I remembered that I had planned on changing it, but I'd been distracted by Zoey's arrival and her ill-fitting uniform before I'd gotten a chance. This was completely my hormone-ridden self's fault.

Damnation.

Alex, Sean, and I worked quickly to destroy the last wave of robots, warping metal, tearing off limbs, or just out-right disintegrating our opponents as fast as we could. That way we'd be free to assist Zoey in getting the missiles off her tail.

I sensed, more than saw, the last robot take aim at me. It fired a heat-seeking missile just as Alex sheered its torso in half with a well-aimed blast to its joints.

Oh boy. This is going to hurt.

Though I knew it was useless, I attempted to dodge out of the way as the explosive made a bee-line for me, having already locked on. It followed my trajectory-

And then curved in the opposite direction as a very hot shock wave blew past, knocking me to the ground and searing the air in my lungs.

The missile meant for me joined the pack of explosives chasing Zoey, locking onto her heat signature and ignoring mine, which of course was much weaker. She'd gathered quite a collection since the fight started.

I realized at that moment that she'd purposely done so. Zoey had been using herself as bait to keep the missiles away from the rest of us, knowing the explosives would follow her higher temperature instead so we could destroy our enemies with relative ease.

Well done, my love. But how do we save you now?

Zoey was ahead of me in this regard.

The missiles, which were now flying at tree height several hundred feet down the street from the rest of us, suddenly rocketed down towards a house. It barely registered for me that the front window of the home was cracked open-

And then the structure was blown to smithereens.

My heart was in my throat as I ran towards the spot where the house used to be, ignoring the debris falling from the sky. All of the rockets had detonated, unable to clear the concise space between window and house the way Zoey could in her current state. It was a very clever plan to get rid of them all.

But now there was no sign of her. Just smoldering wreckage and ashes swirling around, almost like it was snowing in July. But no Zoey.

"Zoey-?" I called out, fighting the urge to panic.

Please be ok, please be ok. I'll never forgive myself-

A little flash of light appeared, and then there she was, only a few feet away. Her face was pale and she looked very tired, but all that mattered to me was that she was unharmed.

"Are you ok?" I asked quickly, pulling her into my arms as Sean and Alex caught up to us.

The simulation was starting to fall away, revealing the blank white tiles of the Danger Room once more. After the sunny afternoon-turned-robotic-rampage, the change to such stark surroundings was a little jarring.

"I'm fine," Zoey promised, snuggling against me. "Though I could definitely use a nap now. I've never used my powers that much before."

"I could imagine not," I agreed.

"You did great," Sean assured her. "Especially since it was your first time and all. Nice trick keeping all of those missiles busy and away from the rest of us. What'd you think, Havok?"

"You did ok," Alex sullenly agreed. Paying Zoey a compliment seemed to leave a bad taste in his mouth.

"Thanks, Hula-Hoop Boy," she muttered.

"No problem, Sparky," he retorted.

Zoey threw a tiny little fireball at him, the size of a bang-snap, to tell Alex just what she thought of that nickname.

He let out an undignified yelp as he dodged out of the way.

I wish I'd gotten that sound on tape.

Within half an hour I was sitting in a sun room with Zoey on my left and Olivia on my right while I read James and the Giant Peach aloud. I'd only read perhaps ten pages before Zoey laid down with her head in my lap and started to snore quietly.

Oh, I'm sorry. Am I boring you?

I actually wasn't offended- as Zoey said earlier, she had never used her powers so much before. I could understand why she was exhausted.

Plus, her snoring was adorable. It was rather difficult not to laugh just for the joy of hearing her and watching her sleep.

Olivia looked at her aunt, and then up at me. She reached out and touched my hand, surprising me a little. I still wasn't used to people reaching out to me like that, except for Zoey, of course.

Is Auntie ok? Olivia's voice whispered in my head.

If I wasn't so used to Charles' voice speaking to me in my mind I would've jumped.

She's fine, Livie. Just tired. Auntie Zoey had... a very busy morning.

Will she be awake for fireworks? Auntie Zoey loves fireworks, Olivia said. Her mental voice sounded quite anxious, like she was truly worried that Zoey would miss out.

Suddenly my mind was filled with images of a younger Zoey lighting sparklers and ground flowers with Olivia, a joyous smile on her face. Her laugh sang through my ears as vivid and clear as if she were actually doing it in the present, rather than a memory Olivia was placing in my mind.

I grinned. "That's a very nice memory, Livie," I whispered. "We'll make sure to wake her up before dark, ok?"

Olivia nodded eagerly and settled back against the sofa once more, obviously at peace now that she knew her aunt would get to see the fireworks.

"Can you read some more now, Mr. Hank? Where's the peach? You said there would be a big peach," she pressed with child-like determination.

"We're getting there," I promised, trying not to laugh at her distress.

And so we sat, with Olivia listening intently while I read to her quietly over the sound of her aunt's soft snores and stroked Zoey's silky-soft curls with my free hand.

The Centipede had just fallen into the ocean when Zoey's snoring finally cut off. I lifted the book to see that she was blinking awake.

"Hey there, sleepyhead," I told her. "Have a good nap?"

Zoey nodded, her eyes all hazy and beautiful as she gave me a sleepy smile that took my breath away. It made me want to kiss her very badly.

Time and place, I told myself sternly, feeling very mindful of the little girl sitting next to me.

"Maybe now we can get some reading done, don't you think, Livie?" I asked leadingly.

I gave her a deliberate wink, making Olivia giggle in delight. She immediately caught on that we were about to have some fun with Zoey. Honestly, she had to be my favorite little kid on the entire planet.

"You snore loud, Auntie."

Zoey pouted and sat up. "Do not."

"Yes, you do," I argued. I couldn't resist adding, "and I think you drooled, too. My pants leg is wet."

Now she looked horrified.

I'd learned over the past month that Zoey was very particular about her hair. She hated rain and humidity for the havoc they wreaked on her curls, living in fear that she might be walking around looking like she just stuck a penny in a light socket. Zoey's hair was her biggest vanity, and it was no secret to any of us.

So, knowing that, Olivia's next comment was aimed right for the jugular.

"Your hair is all mushed on the side, Auntie."

(Just so we're clear- it wasn't.)

Zoey blanched and immediately ran out of the room, while Olivia and I collapsed into laughter.

We were still guffawing when Zoey came back in a fit of righteous indignation and started to tickle Olivia for fibbing. Zoey didn't stop until I pulled her into my lap and held her close.

"Both of you-" she grouched, pouting prettily with crossed arms.

"Sorry, Auntie," Olivia said, hugging the older girl's knees.

Zoey just shook her head, fighting back a grin. I leaned in and kissed her temple, and that's when she truly smiled. Her anger was as brief and mild as a summer rain shower.

There we go. Apologies accepted.

Having received forgiveness, Olivia settled back down next to me so we could continue reading James and the Giant Peach, with Zoey still on my lap.

In a strange way we were a little family in that moment. And I loved every second of it.