Everyone gathered at Will's house after school. Will was puzzled but pleased, Layla had a knowing look, and Warren looked like he was trying not to smile. The expression lent a warmth and animation to his person that had been curiously lacking before. Mrs. Stronghold followed them into the den. "Will, you didn't tell me you were inviting everyone over this afternoon."

"That's because I didn't," Will answered her. "Warren did."

"Oh?" Josie looked at both young men with raised eyebrows.

"Yeah." He gave her a slightly apologetic, slightly triumphant look. "Mrs. Stronghold, my friends have something to ask you," Warren said.

"All right. What would you like to ask me?" Josie turned slightly to look at the others.

"Yeah," said Zach. "What would we like to ask her?"

"Maybe about what you said to me today?" Warren said quietly in a prompting voice.

"Huh?" Zach said.

Ethan wore the frown that said he was thinking, but it was Magenta who spoke first. "Come on, guys," she said as she rolled her eyes at them. "Will's the son of the Commander and Jetstream."

Zach continued to stare at her, but a look of understanding broke out on Ethan's face. "Yeah, that's right!" he exclaimed. "Mrs. Stronghold, we were wondering if you wouldn't mind helping us."

"All you have to do is ask. What is it you kids need?"

"We need to make someone stop picking on us."

Josie nodded thoughtfully. "First you need to make sure that your teachers are aware of the problem." Magenta snorted. "Then, if that doesn't help, and having gone to Sky High myself, I'm aware that it may not, you can work on making it not worthwhile to pick on you."

"How do we do that?" Zach asked.

"Well," Josie sat down on the couch. "You can start by not reacting when they taunt you. If someone starts teasing you verbally, just ignore them. They can't hurt you that way anymore than you let them." Here, Ethan shot her a slightly incredulous look, but he didn't interrupt.

"If that doesn't work, try staying in groups. There is safety in numbers."

"And if all that doesn't work?" Magenta asked.

"I am not advocating fighting in school." Josie Stronghold gave all of the teens a very stern look. "That being said, I see no harm in teaching you how not to get hurt. You'd learn that eventually anyway, and you've probably started learning the basics already. Besides, if you kids are going to stay involved the way you were at homecoming, you'll probably need this." She smiled encouragingly at them.

"Can we have snacks first?" Zach asked.

Magenta glared at him.

"What?" he protested. "I'm a growing boy, I need food!"

"Why don't we all go in the backyard and practice a bit first, and then I'll make some snacks," Josie offered.

"The backyard?" Will asked. "Not the exercise room?"

"There's more room in the backyard," Mrs. Stronghold replied. "And the snow will make good padding."

Nodding in agreement the youths got up to bundle back into coats, gloves, hats and scarves. Mrs. Stronghold smiled warmly at Warren as he passed. "That was quick work," she said.

"Yeah. I didn't really want to wait, so I just asked them why they were letting it happen," he shrugged.

"Well, it seems to have worked," she congratulated him. He nodded and gave her a small smile as he retrieved his own outdoor gear. She looked after him for a moment, considering, then shook her head and went to put on her own coat and gloves and a headband to keep her hair out of her eyes.

---

Steve came home to find the house curiously empty. Josie was working the office again today, and Will should have been home from school now, so it puzzled him greatly that there was no one in sight. Then he heard the noise in the backyard. First it was slightly raised voices, but they were accompanied by the unmistakable thud of a body hitting the ground. Steve rushed to the back door, dreading what he'd find.

He stopped short and goggled at the scene before him when he saw Ethan leaning over Peace and offering him a hand up out of the snow. "Are you okay, Warren?" The diminutive boy seemed highly concerned.

"Sure, Popsicle." Peace waved the hand aside and climbed back to his feet. "You did that just right." Ethan nodded and moved to the back of the line as Magenta stepped forward to face Peace, who had backed up several steps.

Josie walked over to them and demonstrated a grip, then corrected Magenta's grip on Warren, then stepped back. The kids backed a step away from each other and then Peace strode toward Magenta and grabbed her. Steve had just opened his mouth to protest when Magenta very neatly gripped his hand, pivoted on her foot, and flipped him over her shoulder to land in the snow. Steve abruptly shut his mouth. What were they doing?

Magenta said a few words to Peace, then walked away and Layla stepped forward to repeat the entire process. Steve watched for several more minutes before shrugging and turning away.

It looked like Josie had everything under control, and there was no doubt in his mind that the kids were going to be hungry after all that. He might as well get started on putting together a snack for them.

---

About the time Steve was finishing up in the kitchen, Mrs. Stronghold was calling a halt in the backyard. "Okay, guys, it's starting to get dark, and you've managed to pack the snow back here pretty well. I think it's time to call it a night." The teens nodded and began horsing around as she led them back into the house.

Josie shed her coat and things quickly as she moved toward the kitchen. She needed to start the water for tea and hot chocolate and she ought to get the kids to drink some water before that. Had Steve gotten into the cookies she had made yesterday? Right, silly question, she told herself. Were there any left, then? She stopped suddenly as she entered the kitchen and saw that Steve had already set out a plate with yesterday's cookies and was filling a pitcher with water.

"Oh, Steve, I didn't hear you come in," she said.

"Yeah, I saw you were busy in the back, so I thought I'd get some snacks ready in here." He looked up and grinned at her as she crossed the kitchen to kiss him on the cheek.

"Thanks, honey." She smiled back at him.

"You bet, sweetheart," he replied as he turned off the spigot. "What were you guys up to anyway?"

"The kids asked me to show them a few moves," she answered as she leaned against the kitchen counter. It was nice to let someone else do the work for once, she decided.

Steve glanced back at her in surprise. "I thought you weren't going to do that until they were older?"

"Well, that was before Homecoming, and before I learned that Boomer hadn't even taught the basics yet, and before they told me they needed help with a bully at school."

"A bully? Is this the same kid who came over here to bug them the other day?"

Josie looked concerned. "I don't know. When was this?"

"The other day, when the kids were home from school. They were hanging out in the front yard and this kid came up to them and said a couple of things, and then he left and they came inside a little later. Will said it was a kid who'd been bothering them at school."

Josie frowned, "It might be the same kid. Warren mentioned him to me a couple of weeks ago."

"Warren?" Steve raised his eyebrows.

"Yes, Warren. He wanted to know how he could make someone leave his friends alone."

"What did you tell him," Steve probed.

"That there was nothing he could do until they decided to stand up for themselves."

"How did he react?" Steve couldn't help the curiosity coloring his voice.

"He pointed out to his friends that they were letting someone walk all over them."

"Must be the same kid, then. Will said that Warren asked them about it while they were all out in the snow."

"Did you need some…oh, sorry." A deep voice trailed off at the kitchen door.

Steve and Josie looked up. "We're on our way out, Warren," Josie said.

"Okay. Did you need any help?" Warren asked.

"No, I think we've got it. Do you mind, Steve?" she glanced back at her husband who was shaking his head.

"Not at all."

"Besides," Josie grinned, "I should think you get enough of carrying food at work."

Warren shrugged. "I don't mind, really. And the others said they were starving to death and far too weak to make it all the way out here." The corner of his mouth quirked up in a wry grin.

Josie laughed and even Steve chuckled appreciatively. "You can tell them that sustenance will be along in a moment," she said. Warren nodded and disappeared back down the hall.

"He carries food at work?" Steve asked as Josie handed him the pitcher of water and a tray stacked with cups, glasses, and napkins.

"He works at The Paper Lantern," Josie explained as she picked up the tray of cookies.

"Ah," Steve just nodded and followed her into the den.

-

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-A/N: Hey! Huge thanks to everyone who reviews! This is the beginning of the end, my friends. I think there are no more than three chapters left. I hope you guys are enjoying this as much as I am.