Caliente: I thought the same thing when I found out Bobby was an accountant. Yeah during Chris Clamounts' second run Cable and Jean seemed to be trying really hard to bond. So I wanted to show that starting. That movie made everyone I know cry, and Bobby being a caring guy I could so imagine him crying too.

Anything but ordinary3: Thank you, that's quite a compliment! You don't like Peter Rausptin? I liked him and was sorry to see him go. His death was the most meaningful since Phoeinxs' at the end of the dark Phoenix saga. Yeah Excaliber is back but it's not suppose to be like the old one. It will be written by CC and be mainly about Xavier, and Warren is said to be in it. If you want more infor you can go to comixfan.com but be warned of a lot of spoilers. I never hated any X-Men till I read about Havok. Sure Gambit annoyed me but he began to grow on me. After the 'wonderful' moment in Draco with Alex and Bobby I hate him more than ever. I think the only time I did like him was when he was in the coma. And Lorna…I want her to get back together with Alex because those two deserve each other. (Yes I dislike her as well.)

Also I have changed the type of story to Humor.

Bobby watched the man converse with his friends for some time. Nathan, as he was now called off the battlefields, wasn't an animated speaker. He was obviously uncomfortable having small talk with his fathers' friends. Though that wasn't too hard to believe since he hadn't joined Scott at his bachelor party.

Bobby was frankly amazed by the man. When he had first glimpsed him he had thought of him as another Wolverine type. Always fighting, hanging out in bars, and fooling around with women. Well, okay maybe he was like that, he wasn't sure, but there was a lot more to him than that. Nathan was a leader, teacher and at one point a father. How strange was it to be older than your own father?

Well, the Summers always were a bit odd, Bobby mused. Scott and Alex did have a space pirate for a father. And Alex was…Alex. A guy who always managed to get his mind messed up. Not to mention that weird costume of his.

Still Nathan was someone who all of the X-Men had such high hopes for. He was the first child to be born into the dream. He was what they fought for, the innocent, the future. Seeing him now, as a war-harden man was heart breaking.

More so for Bobby at least when he saw how he was reacting to the others. With Jean there was an awkward but loving relationship that Nathan seemed to struggle to understand. Nathan seemed to harbor some respect for Hank and his research.

Though he truly appreciated Warren, and that wasn't really shocking. Both men had a deep hatred of Apocalypse. Warren had broken the 'first' mutants hold on him, something that took incredible willpower to accomplish. They also shared a tense association with Wolverine. In fact Warren had told a tale of his adventures with Logan to Nathan much to his amusement when Jean had left the room. Apparently saying that the 'little manic' was hyped too much was the right thing to say.

Bobby had rarely spoken to Nathan himself and the other man didn't seem interested in speaking with him either. It had both hurt and relieved him. It was a relief to know he wasn't expected to chat with the man who owned his own personal armory. Yet…it hurt to know that his friends' son, who he had once considered family, didn't even want to say five words to him.

So much for being 'cool Uncle Bobby,' he thought sadly. Of course he won't get any positive attention from the other. He was Bobby Drake after all, known to all for his prankster nature not his battle skills. To a man like Nathan he must have been considered worthless as a comrade in arms, only tolerated for his friendship to Jean.

"Strange isn't it?" A voice to his left murmured. Jean stood next to him on the balcony a cup of steaming hot tea in her hand.

"That Hank can remember all of Warrens' most humiliating experiences?" Bobby replied in a causal tone that he didn't really feel. "So can I, I even have pictures. Like the time when we were in the middle of a fight and his pants got snagged onto the traffic light and tore clean off--"

Jean smiled at the memory before she could stop herself. Bobby always did have a gift with easing his friends' nerves, saying the right thing to make them forget for a moment. She had always considered him the most caring one of her 'boys.' Sure the others were concerned but no one else went out of the way to help as much as Bobby did. Rogue would agree with her, as would most of the people that got to know the real Bobby.

"I meant Nathans' return and you know it." Jean said with mock sternness.

"Sorry ma'am." He pouted playfully earning him a small playful smack on the shoulder. Yet all too soon Jeans' face contorted with the same haunted expression she had for the last two weeks.

"...Seeing him here after…what's happen is wonderful Bobby. A day hasn't gone by that I haven't worried about him. I know you might think it's silly but I do sometimes forget he's a grown man. I tend to recall the boy I held in my arms" She bent her head down lower than necessary to take a sip of coffee. When she rose to meet his eyes the tears had returned though she refused to hide such things from her loved ones.

"Scott and I were talking about having children of our own.

"I know.

"We agreed on one last mission, then we would start a family of our own." Her voice wavered and he waited for her to regain her composure. Whenever Jean had something to say it was best to let her. She never liked being interrupted even to be comforted.

"Just one more mission. How many times have we all thought that? But it never ends. Not the fighting, not the hatred, or the fear. The world doesn't stop for the desirers of a pair of lovers butÉI wanted to be a mother again." She stared into Bobby eyes searching for the understanding she needed then. To be told she wasn't being too selfish, or too bitter. The understanding Bobby always had. "I wanted to have a child of my own. I have Madelynes' memories of Nathans' birth but it's not the same. For so long I've tried to live my own life not the one Phoenix or Maddie made. I was ready for it, so was Scott.

Bobby embraced her tightly being mindful of the hot tea she still had in hand. He did understand only all too well but he still couldn't confess to such a thing. He was the goofball in the group, the baby brother. No one would believe that 'immature' Bobby Drake wanted such a thing for himself.

"I might have had Rachel…" Jean sobbed.

"I know." He responded only half answering her plight. Jean and Scott were ready for a baby and they deserved one. Bobby had told himself, repeatedly, after his break up with Opal that he would never be a father. It hurt but he figured it would hurt less in the long run if he didn't keep daydreaming about something he would most likely never have.

If I can't even stay in a long term relationship what chance do I have having a family, had been his reasoning. Sighing he held on to Jean a little longer until she went off to bed. One by one the others had left as well. Nathan had lingered around the pictures on the mantle before he left the living room.

Out of curiosity Bobby went to the mantle to see for himself what was so fascinating. Five frames littered the space. He hadn't seen any of them there before since Jean had started bringing out her album to show the others. There was one of Ororo and Jean together, the original X-Men on their graduation day, Scott with his brother and father. Even one of the Summers' wedding day. The couple stood behind Charles Xavier beaming. Hank, Warren and Bobby sat next to the Professors' chair with Ororo and Alex further back. The last one Bobby had thought was Scott holding Nathan on a passing glance but realized that the man didn't have glasses on. It's me, he realized with a jolt.

It was the picture Jean had taken the night he first babysat. Bobby found himself beaming at the image unable to help it. The moment was fleeting at best when a curse hissed in the kitchen. Figuring it to be Hank on a late night snack raid he rushed to bust his old buddy for breaking his diet again. The prone figure was hard to make out in the shadows so he sneaked closer to get a better view.

"Just what do you think you're doing--" Bobby felt his mouth go dry. This was NOT Henry McCoy.

"At the moment, bleeding. Would you mind giving me some room, Drake?" Came the terse reply. Lying on his back was very infuriated Nathan Summers. Bobby noted that he was indeed bleeding a bit from a small cut on his forehead.

"What happened to you?" Bobby asked, glad that the humor he saw in this situation did not affect his voice. Cable the warrior from the future, the man who had fought Apocalypse had just been taken down by the floor. It ranked up there with the Bishop/ Gambit pie incident.

"I fell." Nathan stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. The younger man rolled his eyes before offering a hand to the other.

"Come on--"

"Thank you but I can manage" The older man made to get up but staggered. Both men were silent for a full minute until Nathan gave a long suffering sigh.

"Want some help there Cable?" The other grunted. "I'll take that as a 'yes'.'" Bobby bent down and threw the other mans' weight on to his shoulder to help ease them both up. Nathan was not a lightweight.

"Need some help there, Iceman?" He asked in amusement.

"Yeah, could you lose a few pounds for me?"

"Funny."

"Yeah I can tell you're about to bust a gut laughing." Nathan grabbed the nearest stool and sat down reflexively reaching out to the source of his pain.

"Hold on I'll get the first aid kit."

"I told you I don't need your help--"

"Yep, right before you fell over. Now sit back." Bobby instructed boldly. The other man raised an eyebrow. "Uh…please?" Giving another of his custom grunts Nathan did as he was asked though grudgingly. Obviously he didn't want to chance waking up the whole house with their arguing. Bobby smirked at the thought. He knew he really shouldn't have pressed his luck but he couldn't help himself. He always managed to get himself in over his head at sometime or another. Bobby was curious and once his interest was sparked there was no stopping him.

"How did this happen?" Nathan muttered something unintelligent.

"Sorry I didn't catch that." Bobby said in an all-to-cheerful tone. After shooting him a deadly glare Nathan cleared throat with great effort.

"I went to get something from the refrigerator and slipped, alright?"

"What did you hit your head on?" Though his words were barely audible Bobby caught the other mumble "the counter." Noting the other mans' patients was slipping he wisely chose to stop teasing him and focus on the small cut.

"It's nothing." The older man remarked. Bobby nodded but made no comment. "I slipped on this da--"

"Ninja Human Torch!" Bobby exclaimed.

"What? This--thing is yours, Drake?"

"Actually it was yours…I can't believe they kept it!" The little figure was missing a couple fingers, after the teething incident but otherwise was in good condition.

"A ninja…" Nathan grumbled.

"Hank got it for you, he said it was either that or Scuba gear Human Torch."

" 'Scuba gear Torch'…?"

"Or the two pack with the Thing. But that came with a ring for some reason…"

Bobby decided to focus on the cut. As tiny as it was bleeding rapidly with the pressure being added to it doing nothing to halt the flow. With the merest thought he stopped it himself. "What did you do?" Nathan asked looking exceptionally perplexed.

"Basically I stopped you from bleeding by rerouting the flow away from the wound. So it will clot faster. Bobby shrugged handing the kit to his companion.

"I…didn't know you could do that." Bobby gave a faint grin at the shocked expression of the other man but resisted the urge to make a joke.

"Yeah, well there are a lot of things I could do, but I don't." Not that he wanted to think about the power Emma Frost had tapped into. If he did he knew he would spend the rest of the night awake wondering if it would change anything. If Scott would still be there

"There was nothing you could of done." Nathan muttered startling the young X-Man.

"Maybe, but I know I'll always wonder..." The two men sat in silence for a moment each lost in their own thoughts about the man they both lost. A brother, a friend and a leader to one; and a father and hero to the other.

Bobby knew he was lucky, luckier than Nathan anyway. Sure he had not always been on the best of terms with his own father, yet they were getting closer. Recently they sat together talking about nothing really, and managed to spend the entire day simply talking. He even heard for the first time the fears his father had about having his only son risking his life. How Onslaught had shown him that he could indeed lose his entire world: his son.

Nathan had been raised by Scott and Jean in the future for about twelve years. Did he know them? No, not the way Bobby did. Perhaps he never would.

Glancing at Nathan Summers, Bobby was suddenly shocked to discover how much the man resembled his father. The thoughtful expression that he had dubbed 'leader mode', the Summers jaw line and even the way he stood. Why hadn't he seen it before?

Why didn't I notice how much he's like his father before? He thought stunned by the realization. Nathan instantly raised his eyes to meet the younger mans'.

"You think so?" The tough warrior mask slipped a little giving Bobby a glimpse into the little boy who used to tell stories to at bedtime. The boy who still looked for his parents' love and acceptance.

"Yeah. I do. He always told us how proud of you he was. Bobby added almost to himself.

"He did?" Genuine surprise.

"Yeah, a lot of times. I remember he first told me at his bachelor party.

"I should have been there.

"I don't know about that." Bobby said recalling what had happened that particular night. "Let's just put it this way, you'd never think of you dad the same way again.

"He got that drunk?" Nathan asked not bother to hide his amused smirk.

"Not by choice, Alex just had to get his bro drunk. Of course Scott got him back later.

Nathan nodded seeming reluctant to leave. "I've promised Jean I'd stay around awhile.

"She'd like that." Bobby commented knowingly.

"So she claims. It was…good of you all to help her through this." Nathan said having trouble with feeling comfortable with a simple 'thank you'."

"It's no prob, we all love her. She's family." The words escaped his mouth before he could stop them but the other man only nodded in reply. Turning his back to the X-Man he walked over to the hallway to his own room before pausing.

"Drake?"

"Yeah?"

"…When you go back…spend as much time with your father as you can…" He voice trailed off.

"I will." Nathan spoke again before he left to his room. His voice low but in a knowing tone that

"…And I know your make a good father someday."

Special thanks to Sue who got me to add humor to this with her review.

A/N: I hope you have enjoyed my story because I have enjoyed writing it. My main purpose of this was to show Bobby as a man capable of taking care of a child. In too many fanfics I have read Bobby has been written like he's a moron, and he's not. He did in fact babysit Nathan Christopher, in X-Factor 51-53 I think. Jean wasn't even worried about the baby because 'he's with Bobby.' Why didn't I write this story around those issues? Because that was when he first met Opal in her 'born to kill' vest. Really. Bobby has always been a guy who's had bad luck with love, as most of the women he's interested in hurt him. Or use him. In the 2nd Iceman limited series there was this page where he looks at this child rushing to his father, and Bobby was looking on with such longing... So that was how this tale came to be. The two-pack toy with a ring actually is a Iceman/Torch two-pack. To see that and the Ninja Iceman you can go to my bio and go to the link. It's a really cool site with lots of Iceman goodies.