Disclaimer: I ... blah ... don't own ... blah ... X-Men Evolution. *pulls out hair and acts crazy after saying this for what seems like the billionth time*

Author's Note: Repeat of last chapter.

Chapter 10: And They're Off, First Snow, and Pis*** Off Mothers

Still Day 5/Friday

Pep arrived at around 9 in the morning with a smile on her face that let the men know she would take care of the children as if they were her own.

"You should know," Lance said, taking her aside from all the excitement, "Lauren had a seizure this morning, but Mr. McCoy says it's nothing serious. She insists I go to the baseball game and I really do, but if she's too much of hassle for you or you need me, here's my cell number." He took out a piece of paper and wrote a few numbers down and closed it into her palm. "Don't let anything happen to my baby."

Pep nodded and Lance left.

~*~*~

"Let's go guys! It takes a while to get into the stadium and get food, so we need to be early!" Warren yelled through the crowd of men and kids. The men kissed their children goodbye and followed Warren and carpooled to the baseball game.

Pep closed the door behind them and got everyone situated in the living room. "Okay, everyone. Let's get you older kids ready for the bus and the rest of you, go play in the playroom for a while. Then we'll have a short story time, 'kay?" she asked. The kids nodded, happy with their new babysitter and did as they were told.

At 9:10, Pep got the elementary kids onto the bus and she went into the living room to check up on the pre-schoolers. All the kids were okay, except for the little fiery one Jenna. Pep crouched over the little child and gently asked, "What's wrong Jenna?" With a teary face, Jenna turned around and cried out, "MY DADDY SAID I COULDN'T HAVE A LITTLE BROTHER OR SISTER BECAUSE MOMMY ISN'T ABLE TO! AND I DON'T HAVE ANYONE TO PLAY WITH BE... BE... BECAUSE NO ONE LIKES ME!" she explained in one breath.

Pepper felt sad for the little girl and picked her up, placing her on her hip. "You can stay with me for the day. Will that make you feel better?" Jenna nodded her head.

Pep sighed in relief as she and Jenna walked upstairs to where Lauren was.

~*~*~

Lauren was bored. Usually, at school, she'd be up and around, doing spelling races on the board with her friends. At home, there was nothing to do, especially when you were directed to stay in bed for a few days.

Pep knocked on the door and poked her head in. "Lauren, are you okay?" The girl solemnly shook her head that she was okay and looked out her window. "Hey, is that snow?" she asked the babysitter. Pepper and Jenna looked out the window and saw the swirling white flakes that were falling all around. "What's snow?" Jenna asked curiously.

"It's a cold kind of water that's frozen up and falls from the sky. You can do all kinds of things with it," Pep explained. "I don't like cold." Jenna snuggled up to Pep and Lauren wrapped her blankets closer around her as the cold air slowly flowed into the house. "Well, anytime it snowed when I was a little kid and lived at the Institute, your mommy and I would stay inside and drink hot cocoa while everyone else went outside and made igloos and snowmen."

Jenna licked her lips. "I like that idea!" Lauren pouted. "I want cocoa too!" "I'll make you some and bring it up for you, okay?" Pep asked, ruffling the young girl's hair. Lauren smiled and Pep led Jenna downstairs.

~*~*~

The kids scattered outside and began building all kinds of things. Nathan loved the cold snow. He didn't even need a coat or snow pants. He made tons of snow angels, snowmen, and made an igloo complete with furniture. Pep smiled. These kids were talented.

Jenna sipped her hot cocoa. The warm liquid flowed down her body and she felt warm all over. Nothing burned her, so she asked Pepper to make the drink the hottest it could possibly be. Jenna drank it all in two gulps and wanted more when it was done. So did Pep for that matter. Jenna loved Pep. It was like having an older sister, something that Jenna always wanted. And for Pep, she loved having the little sister she never had.

~*~*~

Jean called Scott later that night, but instead, Lance answered the phone.

"Hello?" "Hi Lance," Jean replied. "Oh, hi Jean." Lance smiled. He could hear his wife in the background chatting up a storm. "So, how's everything? What did you guys do today?" she asked.

Lance froze. Nervously, he answered, "Oh, fine. We're doing fine." He rubbed the back of his neck and smiled to himself. Jean could tell he was lying. Because the telephone between the two people linked up, Jean extended her powers through it and read the young man's mind. "Oh, oh! Kitty, come here!" she said after reading about what happened earlier that day.

Jean sat the phone face down on the table and talked to Kitty. Even though the phone was face down, Lance could hear his Kitty yelling, "HE DID WHAT?" Lance rubbed his ear. He knew he was in for it now. The phone was picked back up and Kitty started off sweetly by saying, "Hi honey. You know, I was just wondering ... WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU LEAVE OUR BABY HOME WITH A BABYSITTER AFTER SHE HAD A SEIZURE? WHAT ON EARTH WERE YOU THINKING!?!" Lance didn't even have time to answer before Kitty started talking again. "LOOK, IF YOU EVER DO THAT AGAIN, I'LL MAKE SURE YOU NEVER SEE DAYLIGHT AGAIN!" With that, the phone was banged down onto its hook and Lance hung up too.

He was surely into tons of trouble when she came home. Sighing, he promised he would at least make it up to his kids and be the best father he could possibly be in the week and two days he had left before Kitty came home and tore him into pieces.