"That won't work," Scott told Natasha.

"I've been doing this longer than you've been alive, Cyclops. I think I know what will and what won't work." Scott felt his legs shaking as the Black Widow stared him down.

"I- it could work," he admitted. "But there's a better and easier way."

"I've been over the blueprints a dozen times," she argued. "No there isn't."

"The building is built on an old mine shaft," he said, showing her the paperwork. "Which means there are tunnels under it, at least there should be because I didn't see anything about tunnel collapses. With the right materials and time, someone can get in those tunnels from an abandoned air way or entrance or something and drill into the floor and surprise the criminals working from below." Natasha looked over the papers and glanced at the blueprint before turning to Steve.

"You were right. He's got a knack for this."

"Th-this was a test?" Scott asked.

"Of course we knew about the mines," Natasha said. "We wanted to see if you could figure it out, and if you'd be brave enough to stand your ground." Scott let out a breath and relaxed against the wall.

"I thought you were about to kill me," he admitted.

"You feel like going over some other plans?" Steve asked.

"More tests?"

"No," Steve said with a chuckle. "These are for Avengers training sessions. I'm trying to figure out a way to maximize our effectiveness."

"That's easy," Scott said, scoffing. "You need to actually do things instead of the physical stuff all the time. I mean, don't get me wrong, that's important, but you could figure out a way to create some scenarios that would work as team building, power training, and the physical aspect."

"How?" Steve asked. "We have a training room, but what you're proposing-"

"You've got a genius literally right down the hall," Scott said. "With his help, we can design something to make… holographic simulations. We create the drills, run them, and then discuss what was good and what could be better. You guys are a good team, but if you could learn to actually anticipate each other's moves, you'd be great."

"Hm."

"I meant no disrespect, sir," Scott said, suddenly nervous. "I'm just a kid. I didn't mean to make it seem like I thought I knew better than the Avengers."

"You think this type of training is possible?" Steve asked Natasha.

"It'd take a lot of Stark's time to create," she said. "Peter could help out, too. And with the math it'll need, Cyclops would be a great asset." Steve nodded.

"Clear it with your dad and Stark," Steve ordered as he started leaving the room. "Get Peter in on it and get started as soon as you get Stark's green light."

"But they're-" Steve turned to Scott, his eye raised.

"You have your orders, Cyclops."

"Yes sir." Scott waited for Steve and Natasha to leave before he groaned. "Mick, where're Dad and Tony?"

"Mr. Stark and Major Summers are still unavailable."

"How much longer will they be?"

"I am uncertain, Scott."

"Can you patch me through to Karen?"

"Peter is in class and cannot receive voice messages."

"Can you text him then? Let him know I have a job for him from Cap?"

"I will send him a message."

"-UNACCEPTABLE!" Scott winced as he heard his father bellowing down the hall and a door slamming shut. He peeked his head out and saw Chris storming down the hall.

"I do not recommend approaching him."

"You heard Cap," Scott told his AI. "I have my orders." He inched out of the planning room and followed Chris to his room. "Dad?"

"Not now," Chris said angrily.

"But-" Chris spun and pierced Scott with a look.

"Not. Now."

"Alright. Like yesterday and the day before that and the day before that. Let me know when you get your head out of your ass long enough to be our dad again, will you?" Chris started stalking towards Scott, his hand in the air, until Tony showed up almost from nowhere and grabbed Chris' arm.

"You will hate yourself if you do that, Papa Bear. Come on. Let's get you calmed down, alright?" He guided Chris into Chris' room and then turned to Scott once the door closed. "He's had some upsetting news, Scott. Cut him some slack."

"Slack? Seriously? He'd have to be around long enough for us to give him that slack! I have been feeding the kids and making sure they keep up with their assignments and keeping them entertained and bathing them and putting them to bed every day for the last week- and that's on top of everything you and Cap are making me do, too! I'm fifteen, Tony!"

"I-"

"I know you were my age when your parents died!" Scott snapped. "But you were an only child and in college!"

"Are you done with your tantrum?" That was the final straw for Scott, who pressed the small buttons on his suit's gloves, opening the visor on his face. Tony seemed to see what was happening before the beams could hit him and called his armor to him.

"We were fine until you inserted yourself into our lives!" Scott said. "He paid attention to us instead of every minute with you! You have destroyed my family!" Tony kept his arms over his face until Scott was on the floor on his hands and knees, panting.

"Out of your system now?" Scott nodded and Tony's armor opened up. He knelt beside Scott and put a hand on his back.

"I just want my dad," Scott cried. "I want my dad, and all he wants is you."

"Scott-" Scott sniffed and shook his head.

"He won't even look at us, Tony. It's like he wants to forget everything about my mom, and that includes us." Tony sat on the floor and pulled Scott to him.

"Alright, Voldy," he said as soothingly as he could. "Your dad loves you guys. He's just angry right now and he's lashing out at everyone, and he asked me to do everything I could to make sure he didn't lash out at you four. I know a lot has been dropped on your shoulders. I can't imagine how stressed you are. But I promise, he's not asking for me. I'm forcing myself in his room to make sure he isn't…" Tony sighed and rested Scott's head on his shoulder.

"What did we do to make him so angry?" Scott said so quietly that Tony almost missed it.

"It has nothing to do with you or the kids, Slim. Can you trust me enough to believe that?"

"Then why-?"

"He doesn't want that on your shoulders. It's weighing him down enough that he's trying to protect you."

"But he's shutting me out. He doesn't trust that I can handle it-"

"I don't want you to have to handle it." Scott looked up and saw a worn out Chris in the hall. "I want to save your heart from this pain, Scott. Please just let me-"

"Not if it means you stop being my dad." Chris sighed and gestured with his head to his room.

"Bring him in, Tony. I'll… I'll tell him what's going on."

"Are you sure, Chris?" Chris nodded and turned, when he spotted Tony's suit.

"What happened? It's dented." Scott flinched.

"Just had to get some pain out. No different than the three punching bags you've destroyed." Chris looked at Scott.

"You did this?"

"Dad-"

"You attacked Tony? And here I was thinking you were old enough and mature enough to hear what's going on, but you go and pull this shit?" He started walking towards Scott, unbuckling his belt.

"Stop," Tony said, putting his arm across Scott as protection. "Stop, Chris. You know you don't want to do that while you're this angry. Don't be like our dads." Chris stared at Scott with a hard expression.

"Go to your room," he finally ordered. "Unplug everything but your alarm clock. I'll be in to collect your electronics once I'm calm enough to deal with you."

"Yes sir." Scott rushed away and Chris turned to Tony.

"Are you alright? Did he hurt you?"

"I'm fine. Impressed that he dented so much of my suit, honestly," Tony said. Chris pulled him to his feet and Tony took a better look at his armor. "It takes a shit ton of power to do something like this, and he did it all over."

"He could have killed you-"

"He's hurting," Tony said angrily. "In your pursuit to protect your kids, you've effectively abandoned them. That hurts a hell of a lot worse than whatever knowledge you're trying to keep from them-"

"Tony-"

"No, Chris. My dad… That's all my dad did when he wasn't yelling at me for being a fucking disappointment to the Stark name. I won't let you keep doing that to your kids."

"I-"

"I'm not saying to get over it because this isn't something you can just get over, but you need to figure something out and get back to being Papa Bear."

"I'm sorry, Tony. I- I'll work on it. But I'm still not going to let Scott get away with this. He could have handled his anger better-"

"The kid's fifteen."

"He could have killed you. I can't… I don't want to lose anyone else, Tony. Not you, not them, not Peter. I can't."

"So how do we handle it?"

"Take away his fun-"

"Sounds great," Tony said.

"That isn't all, Tony, and you know it."

"He attacked me, so I think I should get a say. He was in pain, he lashed out. Sounds just like someone else I know, hm?"

"Fine, but I will make it clear that if he ever does anything like this again, you aren't going to be able to save his ass."

"That's fair. And you'll explain to him what's going on?"

"No."

"Chris."

"There's nothing you can say to change my mind."

"You sure about that, Big Bad?" Tony murmured as he got closer to Chris. "I'm sure there's something I can say that'll get you to change your mind. Or is it something I have to do?" Chris cleared his throat and looked away.

"You fight dirty."

"I fight to win. Now come on, Bear. You're calm. Let's go talk to Scott." Chris nodded and allowed Tony to pull him down the hall. Tony knocked on the door and then twisted the knob to enter.

"Tony," Scott, who had already changed out of his uniform, said. "I'm so sorry about what I did. I shouldn't have done that, or said you ruined our family-"

"What did he say to you?" Chris asked, walking in behind Tony.

"Dad- I- I didn't know you were here. I-"

"You actually said that to him, Scott?"

"Let me handle that," Tony said, his hand on Chris' arm. "If he'd meant it, he wouldn't have apologized without any prompting."

"I disagree, and that wasn't part of our deal. Scott, come here." Scott went to Chris and clenched his eyes as Chris tucked Scott against his waist and pushed down his pants.

"I'm sorry, Dad. Please-" Scott hissed as Chris' hand fell on his underwear clad bottom.

"I know I raised you better than that, Scott Christopher Summers. You know better than to talk to an adult disrespectfully, let alone an adult who's part of our family!"

"I'm sorry!" Scott cried. "I won't do it- Dad stop! No!" Chris pushed Scott's underwear down and started striking fast and hard.

"If we have to talk about this again, I won't just use my hand! Am I understood?!"

"YES!" Chris stopped spanking Scott and was breathing hard as he replaced Scott's boxers.

"Apologize again," he ordered, hands crossed over his chest.

"Y-yes s-sir." Scott turned to Tony and wiped the tears off his cheeks. "'M sorry, Tony. I- I won't t-talk to y-you like that a-again!"

"I forgive you, Voldy," Tony said gently. "I knew you didn't mean it the minute you said it." Scott sniffed and tried to dry his tears.

"And 'M s-sorry, Dad," he said, his voice thick. "I sh-shouldn't h-have d-disre-respected you b-by being r-rude to y-your b-boyfriend." Chris took a deep breath and then nodded.

"I love you, Scott. I'm sorry I haven't made myself available to you this last week, but that is not an excuse to act out like you did. I'm extremely disappointed in your behavior, and quite honestly, if Tony hadn't talked me out of it, you'd be wailing right now for attacking him."

"I-"

"I don't want to hear your apology right now, but you can bet your ass that you'll be writing an essay explaining how and why you were wrong, and a written apology to Tony for nearly destroying his suit!" Chris felt a hand on his lower back.

"Your dad's going to remove the electronics from your room," Tony said. "You'll get them back once his essay is done and your letter to me is done. I'm also extending your PT by an hour every day for a week."

"Yes sir," Scott said, his head bowed.

"Now what was it you needed to tell us that made you ask Friday where we were?"

"Cap wants us to work on a holographic simulator to run drills," he said. "And he wants Peter to help, too."

"Ok," Tony said. "We'll get started on that after you finish the apology and essay."

"Yes sir." Scott eyed Chris before looking away. "I really am sorry, Dad. I was upset and… But I handled it wrong and I'm sorry to make this about me when you're dealing with something, and-" Chris hugged Scott, resting a comforting hand on the back of his head.

"I know, son," he said in a much calmer voice. "And I'm sorry that I didn't fulfill my duties as your dad this week. I thought it would be better if I steered clear with how volatile my temper has been…" Scott sniffed and relaxed in Chris' arms.

"It was worse than when Mom died," Scott told his father. "At home I at least had Grandma and Grandpa to help, but here… Everyone is busy doing their own thing and it's not fair to ask them for help anyways when they're not family. I just… I snapped, Dad. I'll try not to let it happen again. I'll take better care of the kids." Chris closed his eyes.

"Tony and I have been talking. We're- He wants to move back to the Avengers Tower in New York City. It'll have more space to move around since everyone has their own floor, there's an entire floor dedicated to training, we'd be closer to Peter-"

"Why would we move there?" Scott asked, pulling away.

"Because Grandma and Grandpa are going to come live with us for a while after Christmas. The tower will ensure everyone has a room. We'd be on Tony's floor, of course. And his lab is an entire floor, too."

"I don't understand why we can't stay here, though. Grandma and Grandpa-"

"We've been in contact with some of the other Avengers," Tony said. "Vision and Wanda? They've been on a bit of a sabbatical, but they're ready to come home. We need the space that the Tower offers for all of us to have elbow room."

"But my powers-"

"You've done really well with them," Chris said. "And the glasses and visor have helped you even more. You'll be fine, son. And this way, the kids can enroll in school again, and we can get you set up at Midtown with Peter."

"No," Scott said. "I'm not ready to chance the glasses in a setting like that. I… I'm not ready, Dad. Please don't make me go."

"We can talk about it later," Chris said placatingly. Scott nodded and hugged Chris again.

"Why are Grandma and Grandpa coming to New York?"

"Because we know who General Ross hired to murder your mom," Chris said tightly. Scott tensed and looked at Chris.

"Who?"

"Gloria."

"What?" Scott jerked away from Chris and looked from him to Tony. "That's not possible. She helped take care of us- She and Mom would- No, Dad. You're lying."

"Scott-"

"She wouldn't have hurt Mom!"

"And that's part of why I've been struggling this last week," Chris said. "But there's too much proof to deny… So until the police can arrest her, Freddy's going to take over for Grandpa and they're going to come stay with us."

"Has Ross been arrested?"

"No," Tony said, glaring at the wall. "A warrant has been issued for his arrest for felony larceny on the theft of a very expensive prototype. He's on the run, and it's likely he'll…"

"So we're moving to a more secure location and not out in the middle of nowhere," Scott said.

"Exactly."