Maria Cline: Yeah, when I found out about that I had to make sure I was reading it right. I told an old fan who hadn't been reading for awhile and he didn't believe me. Originally I did plan to include some Bobby adult Nate interaction. Now I'm not so sure if that would fit in this story.
Jubes2681: Thank you for the review. I have to agree that there are not enough Bobby stories so I intend to do my part in fixing that. ;) I hope you like the other chapters.
aj's girl1: Thanks, I've worried about how to write Hank but he was fun to write. Yes, it was very bad soap opera, even worse was the love pentagram of doom. (Bobby/Lorna/Alex/Annie/Jean-Paul)
Anything but ordinary3: For some reason I can totally see Hank babbling to a baby. Trish did have some good moments but yea she ended up being a…well you know. I don't get soap operas and I don't want to, it's too confusing for me. I had enough trouble sorting out X-Men continuity. (I was shocked when I first learned of the Summers tree.)
ManualImpact: The dinosaur in question(I will not speak/write his name) is pure evil. So congrats on getting your little brother to stop watching him. Sorry but Hank will not be in the Parakeet and the Snowman anytime soon. He will appear in the last chapter(s) of the fic for storytelling reasons. I am still considering writing
redgirl: Okay. :D Thanks!
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Bobby finally came to his senses when the businessman started seeing the nineteen year-old. Why would a man just getting over losing the love of his life move onto dating a teen?
"Sorry Hankster but this is just too painful to watch now. I'm going to take this little guy," he ruffled the babys' hair affectionately, "to get a bath. Catch you later."
"Mmmhmm." Hank murmured distractedly. "Goowye Chriz!"
"Geez, and you have how many degrees?" Shaking his head he left with Christopher in tow.
"Ga ooh!"
"Nah-uh kiddo, you are not going to weasel your way outta this one. Look at you, sticky fingers." He tickled the baby earning him another round of helpless giggles. "You know if you don't wash your hair it gets really messed up. Then it'll end up like Wolverines'. Or worse--like the Professors'…and you don't want that."
Setting the water to a suitable temperature Bobby went to work removing the infants' overalls. Dark stains from the splattered baby food ran almost completely covered the leg. Luckily it had been there before Bobby had taken up his babysitting duties. He winced when he removed the pink shirt with the bumblebees. It was hideous and the sad part was that Jean had had no part in picking it out. The diaper gave him more trouble as he couldn't seem to remove the thing. Groaning he reached into the drawler.
When Christopher had joined them Jean had become motherly. Which wasn't a bad thing but it wasn't really a good thing either. Recently she had been baby-proofing Ship and the men were having difficulty adjusting. All the cabinet doors had these plastic lock things that would only allow them to be opened so far.
Scott had been the first to find out as he and gotten out of the shower. There were no towels in sight so he had tried to get one from the cabinet next to the sink. He couldn't get it open and under Jeans' orders Ship refused to help. She later stated that they should adjust to these changes like normal people. Scott didn't share her views and yelled out for help. Since no one heard him he had rushed down the hallway hoping to make it to his room. It just wasn't his day. Jean ended up scowled him for 'prancing around the place nude when we have a child present.' So Bobby had made sure that he had learned the trick to unlocking the doors before he took a shower.
He smiled when he found the small scissors inside. Scott always kept a pair to cut his own hair, but these new ones were blunt safety scissors. After about a minute of cutting the diaper came free and Bobby finally placed the child inside the tub.
When the little boy was washed up Bobby dried him off and dressed him in more manly clothes. A one piece nightie with the Avengers printed on. (Hank had of course picked them out himself.) Bobby was careful to put the bath toys off the floor.
Though it was great to see Scott laughing, Bobby thought wistfully. Hank had tripped on the little boat and gone flying, his towel slipping off in the process. Jean commented how she had seen more of him than she had wanted to and what was it with men and nudity?
"Okay Chris, I'm going to tell you a bed time story than your going to sleep right?"
"Ba."
"Okay, I'll take that as a 'yes'." So he began what he hoped would be a suitable story, that started like most fairy tales do, with a princess.
"Her name was Leia--uh…Princess Jean. And she had the fiercest temper in all the kingdom. One day she attacked the Ice-Knight when she found her under garments frozen in the magical refrigerator. The Ice-Knight was falsely accused as it was the evil work of the furry muppet on a dare from his wing friend."
It was at this point he noticed the baby was far more interested in his fingers than in his story. "Hey, it's getting better!" Bobby pouted. "Talk about a tough audience…"
Suddenly caught by a moment of playfulness Bobby concentrated on the water molecules in the air and released them as snowflakes. Christopher stopped staring at his fingernails and looked around in astonishment at the wonder around him. He reached out his chubby hands to try to catch the tiny snowflakes, giggling as they passed by. Bobby loved to hear a childs' laugh and so he had tried his best to create more mirth for the baby. He wasn't sure why but it made him feel good to bring some happiness. It almost made him feel…complete.
Christopher always went into hysterics whenever he made snow for him. It's nice to be useful to somebody, Bobby thought bitterly. So much had happened: Warrens changes by Apocalypses' hands, the public outing of X-Factor, Hanks' transformation back into his blue-furred form, and so many other event that boggled his mind. Through it all Bobby had felt completely helpless, childish believing that they could overcome any treat together. He didn't think that he'd ever been much help, especially after Loki had messed with his powers. Now he had to rely on the power dampening belt or risk killing himself.
Will I ever be able to settle down and have a family of my own? Bobby pondered gloomily. Wait a second; where did that come from?! Do I even want that?
Ever since he was little his parents had said how they hoped things would be different for their grandchildren. Like they expected it. Bobby himself had never really given the matter serious thought before. He knew he wanted to find a woman, fall in love and marry someday. But kids? Did he even want them? Would he even make a good father?
Bobby jolted when he felt another mind brush his. Shaking himself out of his shock he gently 'pushed' the young telepath out of his head. Christopher yawned broadly, his tiny hands grasping out and latching onto Bobbys' index finger. Snuggling himself comfortably next to the man looking the picture of contentment.
That was when Bobby knew. In his heart he knew that he wanted this for himself. He wanted his own child to rock to sleep, to tell goofy jokes to, and to play pranks with. But he serious doubted he would ever do so.
Bobbys' love life or lack of was a total disaster. The last woman he was attracted to was Infectica, admittedly not a very good name for a potential life mate but she had shown interest in him.
Maybe that should have been a warning signal, he thought grimly. She had skillfully said all the right words and wormed her way into his life. Hank even in his dim state could see through her act. Bobby couldn't, he didn't want to, he was too happy to detect it until it was too late. To be honest it felt good to have a woman take notice of him for once. Not Scott, Hank or Warren. Him, to want him. Only she didn't, she was only using him. Instead of paying for his foolishness himself, Hank had. Now he had changed back to his blue self thanks to Bobby.
Hank had never placed blame though. That was just who he was, and Trish had finally seen that. Bobby wasn't sure if he liked her but if she made Hank happy than he wasn't going to stand in the couples' way.
Soon he found himself yawning as he sank back on the sofa, Christopher fast asleep in his arms.
Nathan Christopher Charles Summers was a lucky kid, Bobby thought sleepily. He had two loving parents, three crazy uncles and a bunch of X-People to look out for him. In his mind things would only get better for the little boy. Scott and Jean would get married, that was a given, and they would have children of their own. The Summers would be the happy family they deserved to be, and despite his powers Christopher would grow up like a normal kid. Safe and loved, Bobby thought before sleep claimed him too.
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"Oh they look so cute." A female voice murmured.
"What are you--?" A male voice this time.
"I have to take a picture." No sooner did she say this than a click issued, Bobby shifted slightly tightening his grip on the child slightly.
"I can't believe he fell asleep!" Scott fumed, and Bobby fought the urge to smile. This would be fun. After all it was only fitting since he was rudely awaken. "What if there was an attack and he wasn't on guard and--" Scott made a satisfying grunt as a snowball collided with his head.
"Does that answer you question?" Jean said looking highly amused. Bobby rubbed his eyes with his free hand, as usual ignoring Scott's annoyed grunts.
"So have fun? You're back a little early aren't you?" He asked a bit curious. Jean shot her boyfriend a mock irritated glance.
"It appears Mr. Summers could not be separated from his son for one evening. He insisted on coming home early."
"I missed him." Scott muttered slightly defensively. "Was he any trouble?"
"Oh yeah, he kept destroying equipment, I only just got him to settle down." Bobby answered in such a straight face and even tone that for a moment it appeared that Scott almost believed him. "Nah, the little guy had fun. We played, he ate, had his diaper changed, had a bath and got to visit his uncle Hank." He knew Scott would ask him to list off what had transpired in his absence so he got it over with anyway.
"Uh…speaking of Hank…is there anything I should know?" Scott asked.
"What do you mean?"
"When we came in he was babbling something about some 'two timing backstabbing witch.' Is he having trouble with Trish?"
Bobby saw Jean smirk and he gave her a knowing glance before biting his lip to keep from laughing. He would have to find a way to break his best bud from watching those shows. After returning Christopher back to his father Bobby decided to take a walk around Ship to clear his head.
This night had meant a lot to him, more than he had thought possible. He felt connected to Christopher, like he really was his nephew. Things weren't perfect but they never would be. Bobby wasn't going to worry too much at the moment; he wanted to be thankful for what he did have. His best friends, his family were together at last. They would take care of each other, that was what they did.
As for having a family of his own? He wanted it, yes, but it could wait. He'd meet a woman someday and this time he'd put more effort into making it work. His ex's had named his faults many times. Lorna had started the list with immature. Bobby admitted he sometime got carried away so he could attempt to improve himself. He'd once mentioned what was said to Jean. She told him none of it was his fault, he just seemed to be attracted to the wrong women. That didn't really make him feel any better.
Scott surprisingly had great luck with women. Well if you forget that his wife tried to kill him and the rest of the world, still it was better than Bobbys' love life. That woman, Wing something had the hots for Slim and even gave him the key to her apartment. Lee Foster too. Now he was back with the true love of his life and had a son. Some guys had all the luck.
Hank had a good relationship with Vera for years and now it looked like he was going to be happy with Trish.
Warren always had luck with love save with Jean. Of course he had also lost Candy, something he hardly spoke of. He merely said she was dead never how he felt.
As if on cue a flash of light glittered into the shadows and Bobby caught sight of the wings it reflected off of. Archangel had returned. Slowly the man left the darkness and stepped into the light so his friend could get a better view of him.
"Have a good flight?" Bobby asked causally. In truth he still felt a little uncomfortable around his longtime friend. Did he even know Warren anymore? Sometimes he felt that he did, other times he wondered wasn't so sure.
"It was just what I needed." The blue skinned man answered. His sharp haunted blue eyes focused on his friend. Observing him, seeing though him. "What about you? Did you enjoy watching Christopher?"
"Yeah, it was alright." Those hawk eyes narrowed slightly before softening.
"You liked babysitting." Warren stated.
"I guess." Bobby replied, not sure why he was being half honest. Maybe he was still afraid that it would sound ridiculous out loud. Or that the idea what he wanted to be a father would be scoffed at. To his credit he held his friends' piecing gaze until Warren was satisfied.
"Good." That said Archangel left without another word. Bobby felt horrible. He had given into self-pity when his friend was the one hurting. Making a mental note to speak with him tomorrow the mutant rushed off to his room.
Everything will be okay. We'll get through this, Bobby thought. They were a family. Hank, Warren and Scott were his brothers in every way save blood. Jean was his big sister, and Christopher was the nephew he would spoil rotten. He would be 'cool Uncle Bobby.' That did have a nice ring to it.
A/N: This chapter is my way of explaining why Bobby stuck with Opal, who treated him like dirt. I can not for the life of me think why all the women in the MU seem to be attracted to the Summers. I liked Scott, but not the NXM Scott. I think I will only do one more chapter for this story but it might be the Cable/Bobby interaction.
