Author's note: Thank you to ZabuzasGirl, Rasha007, musicjunkie1996, NotMarge, NicoleR85, Shelllee24, electrogirl88, partygirl88, Aletheia (my goodness, you're awesome for that!), anonymouscsifan, Cloudcity'sBookworm, Bamboooozled and kmj1989 for the reviews! Holy crap, guys. I love you all! I hope you guys stick with me to the end :-)

So I know I said a while back that I was doing my own thing and not following movie plots, but this kinda developed into something that parallels DOFP along the way. There's definitely not time travel involved, though. Hank doesn't need someone to come back 50 years and tell him that Magneto's party-crashing is a really freaking bad idea. He already knows the consequences, and that's why this chapter is called "The Stakes."

Also, today we get to see what kind of impact Hank's activism has had on society. He's too nervous and modest to really revel in it, but the rest of us will give him credit, right?

Anyway, Star Trek: The Animated Series ran from 1973-74. It got cancelled on October 12, 1974. Which happens to be the day this chapter takes place. Zoey just can't catch a break, can she? Kudos to those who catch a very subtle hint of things to come in this chapter ;-)

The Stakes

Senator Kelly didn't back down, despite the rumblings of discontent from across the country. That was certainly a disappointment- though I hadn't expected our letter to force him into withdrawing his bill, I suppose I'd unconsciously hoped for it.

On the bright side of things, we'd certainly raised awareness on the issue. So at least it wasn't a completely fruitless endeavor.

About a week after Raven's visit I kissed Zoey good-bye and left her at our house under the care of Billy and Marceline. Chloe and Olivia were coming over in a bit, and Maeve was going to stop by with Theresa later. They were all going to watch the broadcast of Senator Kelly's speech on television together.

And maybe make cookies or something- I wasn't sure on the details.

Even if they do bake, between Zoey and Olivia there won't be any leftover for me anyway. Sugar fiends, both of them.

I'd actually asked everyone to come over to keep an eye on Zoey for the simple fact that I feared she would go into obsessive cleaning mode to take her mind off things and hurt herself while I was gone.

Zoey didn't even call me a worrywart this time for suggesting it. I think, for once, she was worrying plenty herself. Having company would only be a welcome distraction for her, even though her lower back was hurting her terribly this morning.

The way she looked at me right before I left her... it was like she was trying to memorize my face, like she feared she would never see me again.

I was trying very hard not to feel the same way.

"I love you," I told her sincerely, giving her a thorough kiss. And then, because I couldn't bear to actually say 'good-bye' to her, I promised, "I'll see you tonight, Zoey."

"You better," she joked.

When I left, I took the mental image of the brave little smile on her face as she said that with me.

The rest of the X-Men were waiting for me at the Institute- as were Moira and Gwen, carrying protest signs.

One said, "Legalized discrimination? Not in my country!" And the other said, "Human or mutant, who cares? Coexist!"

Both of them were dressed for a long day of standing out in the sun.

"You're coming too?" I asked incredulously.

My gaze slid past them to Charles and Alex, asking the question with my eyes.

With Magneto apparently on the warpath, the last thing I expected was for these two to agree to allow their human wife and girlfriend, respectively, to attend the event the human-hating metal-bender was planning on crashing.

"Yes," Moira replied calmly. "We're hoping to be an example that humans and mutants can coexist happily together. We're living proof."

"You've made all of us get into the spirit of activism, Hank," Gwen added brightly, while Alex rolled his eyes in exasperation. "So congratulations!"

There are no words for this, I think.

Charles sighed, his expression resigned.

I had a feeling his acquiescence on this matter had to do with the time he abused his powers and wiped the memories of all of us from Moira's mind, back in 1962. After she found us again he vowed to never force her into anything ever again- trying to prove himself worthy, in a way, of the forgiveness she'd already given him. That meant keeping his disapproval to himself (after a certain point, of course) and not giving into temptation again if Moira was adamant about doing something.

And apparently she was determined to do this.

"That's... nice," I offered lamely.

My stars and garters, this is a horrible idea.

In one sense the fact that Senator Robert Kelly was from our state and was planning to formally announce his bill to his own constituency was a stroke of luck. All of us were able to pile in a van and make the two hour drive to Albany, rather than having to take the Blackbird on a farther journey. The goal was to appear inconsequential and not attract attention, from humans and mutants both.

Or as little attention as possible, considering I tend to stick out like a big, blue sore thumb wherever I go.

None of us spoke much on the way there. I think everyone was too busy wondering what kind of situation we would be walking into when we arrived to really come up with any semblance of small talk.

From what direction would the blow fall? What sort of chaos was the Brotherhood planning today? I had a feeling it would involve the fact that Raven was currently posing as an aide to the senator.

My worst fear was that she would try to assassinate Robert Kelly in an attempt to spark the conflict she felt was inevitable. What better way, Raven probably surmised, to make a show of force to the humans than by killing the man who was trying to come up with anti-mutant legislation? It would certainly send the message that mutants would no longer tolerate any attempts to subjugate them.

I could see martial law being declared in the aftermath of such an openly hostile act. Civil rights for all citizens would be suspended as the government pooled its considerable resources towards the goal of hunting each and every one of us down. And mutants would presumably fight back, to protect themselves.

It would start a war that could only end in mutual destruction for all of us, I concluded grimly, fiddling with my wedding ring. Why can't the Brotherhood see that there's no scenario where any one side wins if we go down that path? Are they really so blind?

My thoughts drifted to Zoey and our babies, filling me with an icy cold dread. I wouldn't be able to keep them safe if any of that happened. I couldn't fight an entire society determined on exterminating all of us, no matter how much I wanted to shield them from it.

It had to be the most frightening prospect a man could ever face, the idea that he couldn't protect his wife and children. The very thought cut me to the core.

We can't let it happen. We have to stop them today.

My apprehensive and gloomy musings ground to a screeching halt when Alex pulled up in front of the public park where Kelly's speech was going to be made.

"Holy shit," Alex muttered.

Um... Actually, yes. That about sums it up.

The park was literally crawling with people- news vans full of reporters from all three stations (and PBS), police officers ready to help with crowd control, protesters holding picketing signs, and other people just milling around waiting for Kelly's speech to start. I estimated there to be at least six hundred individuals packed into the relatively small open-air space.

I focused on reading the protester signs from out the car window.

"We are NOT Nazi Germany!"

"Mutant and proud!"

"Save the Constitution!"

"Keep the government out of our homes!"

"Discrimination against mutants is still discrimination!"

"Thomas Jefferson said, 'dissent is the highest form of patriotism!'"

"Save the whales!"

Hmm. I think that last person is at the wrong protest.

Though there were a few negative picketers, the protesters appeared to be overwhelmingly pro-mutant- or at least pro-Constitution. It was only the people who felt the strongest about something, I knew, who would make a point in coming to show their support.

This was something to be proud of.

It seemed that our anonymous letter had caused quite a stir in public feeling. Enough, at least, for people to venture from their homes and stand up to show just what they thought of Senator Kelly's ridiculous piece of legislation.

At any other time, my heart would've swelled with hope and delight to see such a popular outpouring of support and mutant pride.

But right now every mutant out there was a potential enemy who could be swayed by Magneto's hateful rhetoric when he appeared. That's why I hadn't tried to rally any kind of protest for this event, because I didn't want to give him more ammunition.

The tension in the air would provide the perfect fuse for him to spark a mutant versus human riot.

Or a war.

Sean let out a low whistle. "So much for you not mentioning a pro-mutant protest, Beast," he remarked dryly. "Looks like they went ahead and did it without you."

Indeed.

"This can either be really good or really bad," Gwen muttered worriedly, pressing her nose against the glass of her window to peer out.

I had to agree with her there. Right now I was currently leaning towards really bad.

"How many of them are mutants, Charles?" I asked quietly.

My mentor was silent for a long moment as he searched through the minds of the people gathered outside before answering.

Wouldn't it be nice if he stumbled on Raven's thoughts in the mean time? At least then we'd know where she is...

"Less than a quarter, I'd say," Charles finally concluded. "The rest are human. Some are here because of the threat they feel the government poses to their own privacy- that was a wonderful touch, Beast, bringing the problem home to their own doorstep- but a fair few are here because they're actually sympathetic to the cause."

He turned to me and grinned proudly.

"Looks like all of those television appearances have had some impact."

My stars and garters.

I knew that in no way was I responsible for all of this change in public feeling, but I might in all fairness at least claim a small part of it.

I'd tried so hard to give mutants a voice... and now, incredibly, it seemed people had actually listened.

Moira seemed to read the dubious amazement in my expression because she chose that moment to laugh.

"You obviously changed some minds out there," she told me, patting my shoulder. "Give yourself some credit, Hank."

I tried to smile at her in thanks, but failed miserably.

My little moment of triumph had already vanished at the thought of the task still ahead of us. All of this good will would mean nothing if a war started today.

"I will when we've stopped the war Erik and Raven want to instigate," I said, wishing more than anything I was at home patiently watching the final episode of Star Trek: The Animated Series with Zoey right now.

Failing her today was not an option.

I took a deep, bracing breath.

"Let's just get this over with."