Disclaimer: The X-men are the property of Marvel etc and I have no ownership blah blah, no point suing me have no money yahda yahda yahda whatever.

Chapter 4- Styrofoam Peanuts!

The truck and its cargo drove into the gates of the Xavier Institute late that evening and the crates inside unloaded and stored in Hank's Lab, where he kept watch over them, giggling every time anyone asked what was in them. And everyone asked. The two gossips that had heard that the crate contained surprises for everyone and that they would be presented in an affectionate and personal way worried everybody. They all remembered what the Professor and Hank had done when April Fools Day had rolled around earlier in the year and nobody had really appreciated the "humour" of the various things that happened. Especially since they both had got helpful hints and advice from Bobby. There was a fear that their success had gone to their heads and for this reason everyone was uneasy.

A small group had formed around the door outside of the laboratory; the air was filled with speculation. Hank and Charles where inside and although nobody was allowed to be in there with them, every time somebody entered they were given sufficient time to gawp at what was inside with them and then ushered out. That was until Logan appeared.

With very purposeful strides and an expression that could wipe out small island nations. The crowd watched his approach and then scattered before him. The door was then thrown back so hard it almost jumped off its hinges and he entered. The door reeling from the shock slowly staggered forward and closed.

It did not take Logan to decide that these boxes did not contain his much needed parts for the X-Jet. For one, delicate and extremely precise machinery usually didn't come packaged in Styrofoam peanuts. Number two; unless they intended to give him the said machinery as a un-birthday present, there was no need for the piles of wrapping paper and ribbons. All of this made Logan quite vexed. And he let both Chuck and Hank know it.

Luckily for the young and impressionable ears in the hallway the walls of Hanks Lab were quite thick. But even so some of the oldest among them learnt a few new words, Remy for one was shocked and appalled.

As for the Professor and Hank? Well they both sustained only minor injuries in the small scuffle that might not have been exactly what Logan had promised them earlier, but was as much as he could give them before the others decided that that was quite enough and pulled him off.

Ororo watched Logan's retreating back, not good, definitely not good; he had been waiting the whole time for Charles to return with parts for his beloved aircraft. Now he has most likely gone to visit it and sulk. The X Men are not going to have it easy. She thought. She turned, Scott and Kurt were helping the Professor back into his wheelchair, and Jean was helping Hank back up.

"Do you think that it would have been wiser to tell him what is in those crates of yours Charles?" Questioned Ororo.

Hank grunted in agreement with her question and rubbed the nasty bump on his head.

Charles merely shook his head and shifted in his seat to his other, less painful buttock. "No." He said.

With that, Ororo put her hands on her hips and opened her mouth to ask why when Charles continued, with a wave of his hand in a very dismissing manner he said, "No, by tomorrow morning everybody will have their curiosity satisfied." And with that he wheeled away.

Boy, Ororo thought. Sometimes he so wants such an arse kicking!

Meanwhile Hank, holding his back began pushing everyone out of his lab. And when it was finally empty, locked the door and went in search of a first aid kit.

Boy, he thought. Sometimes Charles so wants such an arse kicking. You do not ask a mad man if his momma knows he uses words like that. It is just too dangerous.

So everyone had gone his or her separate ways. The youngest to various common rooms to continue discussions and to find dictionaries. The older to various bedrooms, storage areas, hangars and bars to contemplate the day's events in solitude or with a significant other.

Yes Scott and Jean, I mean you two.