Chapter 9 - Burdened Goddess

Natasha laughed to herself, still entertained with Tony's ongoing antics as she made her way to Ororo - with Katie still running in circles around the other Avengers. When she found Ororo leaning in the window with grey clouds gathering in the skies behind her, Natasha put her hand on Storm's arm. "I wouldn't mind doing more runs with you," she said. "I know how it can be to try to start a new life. You're taking it much better than I did."

"That part is easy," Ororo said. "Helping those that can't defend themselves … it's the rest of it that brings me more trouble, though … Mia keeps me focused."

"She's amazing, and the sweetest, most beautiful little girl," Natasha agreed.

"She's so much like her father," Ororo replied.

"I didn't know him well, except that he had excellent taste in best friends," Natasha said.

Ororo let out a breath of a laugh. "The two of them were something else," she said. "And my closest friends in Westchester. The three of us joined the team together, you know."

"I knew Logan since I was a child," Natasha said. "You aren't alone missing them. I hope you know it."

"Oh, I don't believe that Logan was lacking for friendship anywhere he went," Ororo said with a smirk. "But it is nice to know I'm in good company. He spoke highly of you - when he spoke."

"And when he was with the Avengers, he only had the best to say about the X-Men," Natasha said. "He was so proud when you and Kurt were married, even if he didn't say anything."

"He was," Ororo agreed. "And when Logan spoke at our wedding, he had Kurt in tears."

Natasha's smile turned sadder. "I would have liked to hear him do something like that for my wedding. But of course, it took him dying to put me on that path in the first place, so I'm sure he would argue he's already done his part."

"These last few years … he seemed at peace."

"He always wanted a family, Ororo. Everything else was noise."

"Which was why he snapped when he lost them," she said, her whole body showing her sorrow as she wilted.

Natasha pressed her lips together and put her hand on Ororo's shoulder. "And you?" She asked gently. "I have seen Cyclops holding back the worst. You must be just as affected."

"I am trying to keep Mia in mind. I know in my heart that if Logan had known James was alive, he wouldn't have done what he did. He would have been miserable and broken, and he would have mourned K for years," Ororo said. "Likely for the rest of his life. But for as heartbroken as their little boy is, I'm determined not to leave Mia to the same desperation."

Natasha nodded softly. "I know Logan was her godfather," she said. "So let me make the same promise to you I did to Cyclops: anything I can do to honor his children, I will do it."

"And I appreciate that," Ororo said, covering Natasha's hand with her own.

When there was a soft silence between them, a squeal from Katie, who was with Tony broke that silence, and Natasha shook her head. "I need to spoil a dancer before Tony steals her from me. Mia is with Hank, I'm sure. Thank you for coming with me."

"Good luck," Ororo said as she looked past Natasha to where Tony had clued Katie in on the Iron Man issue. "I think you have an uphill battle on your hands with that one."

"I play to win, my friend. And she hasn't seen my pointe shoes," Natasha said before she slipped off on a mission.

Ororo watched her go with a smile before she started toward where she knew Hank would be - reading a story to a very sleepy Mia and making a point not only to use voices and side commentary, but also to bust into his thesaurus and make many of the descriptions far more complicated than the text indicated. She watched them for a long moment before she made her way over and perched on the arm of his chair to look over his shoulder as he continued the story. "Don't let me interrupt."

Hank smiled up at her for a moment before he read through the last few pages, smiling more when he saw Mia lose her battle with sleep on the last page and simply snuggle in, her mouth open just enough to show off the few teeth she had - especially the pointy ones.

"I take it your first venture into the dangers of Avengering went well?" Hank teased.

"I'm afraid I could probably venture into those waters in my sleep and come off no worse for wear," Ororo teased right back.

"Ah, well we should graduate you to more horrendous foes. Perhaps the Serpent Society. Or a common bank robber."

Ororo couldn't help but laugh at that. "It was almost a petty crime," she said. "If it weren't for the little girl that needed to be swept out of danger."

Hank raised an eyebrow at that. "Not so petty then." He readjusted the way he was holding Mia as he said it, so that she was more comfortable.

"Not entirely," Ororo admitted. "Though I was reminded of Logan's insistence that the Avengers were spending much of their time rescuing kittens up trees." She smiled his way. "Her name is Katie."

"Sometimes, we dabble in kittens, yes," Hank said. "Or Katherine's, as the case may be. What brought you to such a little kitty?"

"She ran into us," Ororo replied. "Trying to escape some Russian mobsters."

"What on earth was she doing with them?"

"I believe Tony said it was a big business issue of sorts," Ororo said. "At any rate, he and Natasha are arguing over custody."

"Let me let you in on a secret, my dear," Hank said, smiling and leaning closer. "Always bet on the Black Widow."

"Oh, I don't doubt it," she laughed before she smiled once more then leaned over to kiss his cheek. "You've been wonderful with her."

"She is so easy to love," Hank said, shaking his head. "She has her father's heart and your expressions."

"She's more him than me," Ororo said.

"Perhaps you need to look a little closer," Hank said. "I see a strong-willed goddess in her eyes."

"I think, my dear friend, we only see what it is we're searching for."

"Then I hope you never cease to see our Nightcrawler when you look at her," Hank said gently.

Ororo's smile slipped a bt at that. "Henry, I have a more serious question to ask, if you don't mind …"

Hank sat up straighter to give her his full attention. "Of course. I know it has been said often, but the phrase 'anything you need' is still my creed for my dear friends."

She let out a sigh and rested her hand on his arm. "I don't want to think of all the losses we've had any more than I need to, but Mia is now without both her father and her godfather. I was hoping that you'd take up Logan's role and watch out for her."

For a moment, it was clear that Hank was simply stunned, his lips slightly parted and his eyes wide. But when he cleared his throat, his voice still had a slight wobble to it. "Yes," he said softly. "Yes of course."

"Thank you, Henry," Ororo said. "That is enough to ease my mind at least a bit."

Hank reaches over and pulled her sharply to him in a one-armed hug with Mia between them. "I'm honored. Truly. I only wish it wasn't necessary to make that change."

"You and I both."

"You know, of course, that this gives me official license to spoil her rotten with every confection in my labs," Hank said after a moment.

"And when have you ever needed an excuse to do that?" Ororo replied with a sparkle to her gaze.

"It is novel to have the excuse," Hank laughed. "I may become even worse than before!"

"As long as it brings you both happiness, then I am in favor."

Hank smiled and gave her one more squeeze. "I wish happiness for you too, you know. I know it is hard to find right now, but as Kurt would say, I have faith it can be found again."

"Now you sound like Kurt," she said.

"Coming from you, that is a high compliment indeed."

It was well past midnight when Rachel came in to Scott's room and very quietly woke her dad up. "Daddy, James isn't feeling very good," she said. "And he's real hot."

When he got to where the boys were sleeping, Rachel really wasn't wrong at all. James was burning up, his blanket wrapped around himself tightly and he was shivering in spite of the fever. Worse still, he really wasn't breathing very well or even answering questions for Scott either.

If it had just been the fever or a stuffy nose on its own, Scott would have tried to to help him through it on his own, but the fact that he was that feverish and struggling to breathe right?

Scott swore under his breath - and then had to tell Nate to not repeat that word, please - before he simply scooped James up and turned to Rachel. "Help Nate get his shoes on. We're going to take James to see Hank."

Rachel nodded quickly, her eyes wide. She was obviously scared, considering how much loss she had already seen, but to her credit, she managed to get Nate to put on his shoes (on the wrong feet) and helped to get him to the jet while Scott hurriedly grabbed a few things and then set the perimeter alarm before he jumped into the pilots seat.

"James is not okay," Nate said, shaking his head slowly.

"Yeah, I know," Scott said, trying to sound calmer than he felt. "What about you, bud?"

"I have a funny tummy feeling…"

"Me too," Rachel said quietly.

"Then everyone is going to go see Hank, okay? He can fix you up." Scott pushed the engines a little harder as he said it. "Everything is okay."

By the time they got to Hank, James was shivering hard enough to chatter his teeth in spite of the fact that he was absolutely cooking. And it had Scott that much more worried as he rushed past Steve and straight to Hank.

"Henry, James is sick," Scott called out as soon as he got in.

"I see that," Hank said as he made his way over. "How hot has he been?"

"When I checked at the cabin, it was 103," Scott said in a breath. "The other kids don't have it - yet - I don't know what - it just came out of nowhere-"

"Then let's try to get him cooled down," Hank said, directing Scott toward the showers. "Keep the water on the cooler side of warm."

Scott nodded and rushed off with James, while Steve stepped inside the lab and Rachel asked timidly, "is James gonna die?"

"Not if I have anything to say about it," Hank said, though he was gathering up a few things to make it easier to get James settled in once his temperature broke. He touched the very tip of her nose with one finger. "And I have plenty to say about it."

"I'm scared," Nate said from behind Rachel, holding onto his sister's hand with his blanket clenched tightly in his other hand.

Hank paused and let out a little breath. "And how are the two of you feeling tonight?"

"My tummy's twisty," Nate said.

Rachel nodded. "Me too."

Hank let out a little hum. "Captain Rogers, if you'd be so kind to take my two tiny patients and help them settle in until I get back - I'd like to check them both over. Scott will likely be a little while with young James."

Steve still looked blindsided, but when he saw the two obviously worried kids, he did his best to give them an encouraging smile. "Can you tell me about your jet ride?" Steve asked as he picked up Nate in one arm and Rachel in the other.

The two Summers kids glanced at each other and then nodded, quietly explaining to Steve all about how Rachel had gone to get their dad and how James had been shaking and it was really scary...

It took nearly half an hour, but finally, between the medications that Hank gave James and the cool water shower, the fever broke - and when it did, the little guy was entirely exhausted. Enough so that when they carried him back to the lab for a break - with an oxygen mask in place since he sounded rough - he was passed out to the world and Scott looked as if coffee wasn't going to be a requirement to stay conscious due to the high level of anxiety he was coping with.

"I'll get him started on a few medications," Hank said. "But the other little ones are fine. They could use your attention, and I'm sure I can round up enough volunteers to keep watch over James."

Scott nodded, though he still looked frazzled. "You'll let me know if anything changes…"

"Of course," Hank promised.

Scott nodded and let out a tired breath before he squeezed Hank's shoulder and crossed the room to where his kids had Steve pinned between them. "You guys okay?"

Nate nodded and held his arms out to be picked up. "I'm tired."

"Yeah, I know. Sorry you had to wake up," Scott said as he tucked Nate under his chin. "How about you, Rach?"

Rachel nodded. "Mister Steve said it's okay to be scared and it helped me and Nate to not have scared tummies."

Scott looked toward Steve and smiled slightly at that. "Smart."

"I can leave you three alone," Steve said as he got to his feet. "I'll just go see if Hank needs some coffee."

"Very likely," Scott said. "And thanks."

"Anytime," Steve replied, already doing his best to give them a bit of privacy while digging to see what the story was with the little guy in the lab.

"Bye, Mister Steve!" Rachel called out, halfway snuggled into her dad already as Nate started to drift off with his dad gently rocking him.

The three of them weren't alone for long though as Janet came around to play welcoming committee. "I've got a room set up for you three to stretch out and rest," she said quietly, offering to help get the two little ones there. "I may have snuck down to the lab and gotten a peek at little James … Hank says he'll be there for at least a day or two. He's got a nasty little case of pneumonia that popped up fast … on top of what Hank says looks like asthma." She shook her head lightly. "For a little guy that came from two people with healing, he really seems to have hit all the low points, poor sweetheart."

Scott raised an eyebrow at that but nodded all the same. "His parents never got sick with their powers. Maybe he'll grow out of it."

For a moment Jan paused and it was clear she was weighing out her words. "How are you doing, by the way? I mean … it's a lot. Three little angels … all by yourself... "

"I'm fine," Scott said in a tone Jan knew well.

"Oh. Of course you are. I know that," Jan said, waving one hand and shaking her head. "I mean look at how much they clearly adore you - you're doing great! With them. But I meant … you know. You need to breathe a little too. If it helps …" She pulled her phone out and held it out for Scott to see that the picture she'd taken was of Steve keeping close track of James and obviously making sure that he was at the right angle to get air better. "Big. Squish. Star Spangled Squish."

Scott let out a minute breath. "Good," he said. "Hank's the only doctor I trust right now, so it's good for him to have support when we come out here."

"I don't blame you on that," Jan said. "Hank's great with the kids. You should see him being ridiculous when he reads to Mia."

"I've seen it," Scott said simply. "He and Kurt tried to outdo each other."

"The Ravenously Ridiculous Caterpillar?" Jan raised an eyebrow. "I swear that man ate a thesaurus."

"And that's when he's sober," Scott said dryly.

"Oh, but now I want to see how bad it is when he's not," Jan giggled as she skipped over to get a blanket. "I can help you get them settled in tonight - you have to be tired."

"I'm really fine," Scott insisted.

"Okay … but how about be fine over there snuggled up where you're all more comfy?" Jan suggested. "Look - Rachel's a little restless. That'd be easier out of the chair, right? I think. Please tell me if I'm wrong and I'll just be quiet and tuck you all in."

Scott shook his head, smirking despite himself. "Yeah, alright," he said, smirking a little more when Jan's response was instantaneous and gleeful as she rushed to help with the kids. And he did have to admit that he was tired, not that he'd say as much in front of the kids.

"You're spoiling Mia properly, right?" he asked once the kids were squared away.

"Proper is such a subjective word, Mr. Summers …" Jan said with a little shrug. "But … if you mean she is played with by every single person on the team and in the tower that's close to the team …. Then yes. Yes. She's being properly spoiled."

"Good. She's probably the most social of all the kids. She needs the attention or she starts pouting."

"Well we'll probably never see that the way things are going," Jan said with a little grin. "Even with the new girl - she's loving every minute that she's awake." She tipped her head. "It was rough sometimes to start … but … she's tough, you know?"

"Has to be with the parents she had," Scott said softly. "I think Nate's doing alright now too, and the fresh air was great for James until he came down with this thing. But Rachel … was old enough to understand it. It's going to take longer."

"If there's anything she might like - just … tip me off and I'll make some magic happen," Jan promised. "But … I know you want to peek in on James. It was clear you're still stressed about him."

"I can't screw up with that one," Scott told her simply.

"I don't think you're capable of that with him," Jan said. "He's little, and quiet, but I think he's a quick enough little guy. He'll be great with time." She was nodding to herself. "But … if you're worried? I can totally find you a children's therapist. Natasha would run them through her whole system to make sure they'd be on the up and up …."

"Maybe," Scott conceded. He paused. "It's just - Rachel used to tell her mom everything. Project it telepathically. So… we'll see."

"So she probably needs to learn new ways to communicate," Jan said, nodding. "I'll start looking. And I'll make sure they're all screened - and if you're nervous, I'm sure you could do it as a full family session, too. You know. To start with."

"That would be best. James gets nervous if he thinks he's being left behind. He still thinks he's going to be handed off to someone else," Scott said, his gaze on the sleeping kids and the worry evident in his tone. "Just last week he finally stopped looking for his parents to come back. He'd been watching out the windows every time he heard something. Took me a while to figure out what he was doing… he's been more quiet since then, somehow."

"He'll grow out of that," Jan said with a sad little smile as she rested her hand on his arm. "Especially with you watching out for him. He won't be able to ignore how much he's loved."

"We might be fighting genetics with that," Scott said dryly as he settled in with Rachel and Nate. He leaned his head toward Rachel as Nate slept on his chest. He absently rested his hand on the side of her head as he pulled her closer and kissed the top of her hair, and before he knew it, Scott had passed out with both of them curled up half on him. He'd been exhausted himself, and though he didn't mean to do it, he was out almost as fast as the kids.

Scott woke up with a blanket over his lap and a fuzzy blue face inches from his nose. Mia's fluffy white hair stuck up from all angles as her tail swayed behind her. "Hi." Before Scott could react, Mia leaned forward and kissed the end of his nose before she shimmied down and toddled off to find Rachel and Nate.

"Rachel has already been in to check on James," Ororo said from the far end of the couch. "He's very tired still, the poor little thing."

"How's he feeling other than tired?" Scott asked, sitting up and frowning around himself as he ran his hand though his hair. "Where's Rachel - and Nate?"

"James is a little out of it, to be perfectly honest," Ororo said. "And Rachel and Nate are with Katie."

"Who's that?" Scott asked with a frown. "I thought I knew the roster-"

"Katie is a force of nature disguised as a little girl that Natasha and I rescued not too long ago," she said with a sly smile. "There was a very short argument on who would adopt her between our Widow and Stark."

"I didn't think either of them were…" Scott shook his head. "Alright then."

"She's a lovely young lady, and they are perfectly safe and happy, for the moment, anyhow."

"Glad to hear it," Scott said, shaking his head as he ran a hand through his hair. He really hadn't meant to fall asleep. "And Mia? She's alright?"

"Obviously," Ororo replied. "She waited for you to wake up before she went back to her big sister, Katie."

"Oh, so you won the match between Widow and Stark?" Scott asked with the tiniest of smirks.

Ororo smiled wider at that. "No, but the girls seem convinced they should be sisters."

"And who are you to argue with them?" Scott said, shaking his head. "How old is Katie, then?"

"She's just a month younger than James," Ororo replied.

"Then she'll fit in well," Scott said. He paused. "And you?"

"I'm going out on missions again," Ororo said.

"Right." Scott let the word hang in the air between them without really meeting her gaze. "That's good."

"I know you can't leave for a few days at least, if nothing else because of James' health, but I can't help but think that this might be easier on all of you if you were to stay."

"I'm not doing that again, Ororo," Scott said in a tone that she'd heard before when he'd made up his mind. "I'm not mixing family and work. I won't let them live where a team is headquartered."

Ororo reached over to rest her hand on his arm. "I was only making sure you knew the door was open. You know I won't try to force it."

Scott let out a breath and then at least tried to look less like he was holding his breath. "I know," he said. "But you know I need to keep them safe."

"I know," Ororo said gently. "As do I."

"You and Mia - if you change your mind, you're welcome…"

"I think we'll see how this works, first," Ororo said. "The Avengers are trying very hard. I won't ignore their efforts."

For a second, Scott looked like he was biting back a comment before he nodded. "And you've never been one to sit still, either."

"Neither are you, but I can imagine with three little ones, that won't be an issue."

"No, it's not," Scott said with the hint of a smirk. "Rachel is naming the deer."

"So they still come up to the cabin?" Ororo asked, smiling in spite of herself when she was fighting the aching sensation of loss.

Scott nodded. "You should see James with them, 'Ro. He-" He paused. "It's … he's a good kid."

"Yes, he is," Ororo agreed before she slid over and simply wrapped him up in a hug.

If it had been anyone else, Scott would have tightly returned it, but with Ororo, he let out a breath and put his head on her shoulder as he hugged her for a good long time. "He's just like them," he said in a breath of a whisper as she wrapped him up warmly, fighting the urge to melt and weep with him.

"I would expect nothing less," Ororo replied just as softly, doubling down on the hug.

"And then there's Mia and Rachel…" Scott shook his head. "How are you - I know it's-"

"It's not easy," Ororo admitted. "But she has Kurt's pure joy in life."

"That helps," Scott agreed, leaning back slightly. Ororo would never tell him, but losing the visor made him so easy to read. He was more expressive than he realized because he was used to hiding his eyes, and that just made the grief easy to see. "Nate's got a lot of me in him. He's looking out for James like it's his mission in life, even if James is older."

Ororo couldn't help but let out a hollow chuckle. "He's practically your carbon copy."

"Jean was happy about that," Scott said, looking beyond her at the wall that was easier to talk to. "Rachel looks so much like her…"

"That will only intensify as she grows up," Ororo said.

"Mia will be the same way," Scott said. "If she ends up teleporting…"

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," she replied. "And I hope … that before then I have a new place for her to learn all that comes with it."

Scott frowned and turned sharply to face her. "What?"

"I plan to eventually reopen the school," Ororo said, drawing herself up slightly. "I've thought about it a lot, and I know that it's needed now more than ever."

"Ororo, you saw what happened. You can't-"

"I did," she agreed. "And for that much, you're right. Mixing the team with family was disastrous. But that doesn't mean we can turn our back on all that we were taught."

Scott held his breath. "It's a risk," he said. "I don't know if I can help … I need to…"

"I wouldn't ask you," Ororo said. "I know how much you lost. But when this finally happens, when I have the school running again, I will step away from any kind of hero work. I know, Scott. The X-Men are over. I won't even consider bringing that back."

"I just don't want it to happen again," Scott said, putting a hand on her arm. "Mia can't lose you."

"No, but I can't get the other children out of my mind either," Ororo said. "There are still so many that have lost as much as we have - or as much as our little ones have. Charles' school needs to be there to catch them. Even if they only learn to control their abilities. Not use them."

Scott sighed. "Yeah. I know," he said in that breath.

"I still believe that Charles had the right idea," Ororo said. "But it was simply too early."

"He-" Scott swallowed. "-was ahead of his time. Yeah."

Ororo smiled tightly. "You should probably check in on your three."

"Right." Scott got to his feet and then pulled Ororo to hers as well for a tight hug. "Whatever you need, you know I'll be there for you."

"And the offer stands true for you, as well," Ororo said.

Scott nodded to himself, thinking deeply about what Ororo had said, though he was still processing it as he got to the med bay. James was still tired and out of it, but apparently, the Avengers were taking turns, and Jan was curled around the little guy and clearly enjoying herself as he slept.

"How's he doing?" Scott asked.

"I'm probably the wrong person to ask," Jan said. "But he's exhausted. Obviously."

"Yeah, that doesn't surprise me," Scott said, sitting down next to the two of them and not really asking before he scooped James up - and the little guy curled right into him like that was where he fit.

"Kinda scary to see him like this though," Jan said, wrapping her arms around herself and shrugging her shoulders high.

"I didn't know he had asthma," Scott admitted.

"Well to be fair," Jan said. "It sounded like Hank didn't know either. So. Maybe it's new?"

"Maybe," Scott said. "I don't really know enough about the family medical history to know if it's…"

"Again, I doubt they knew either, so … right." Jan watched them for a moment before she reached over to gently brush the hair out of James' face.

"Yeah, I think everyone is making that face right now," Scott said dryly.

"Do you want me to leave?" Jan asked, though she managed to not make it sound like a threat or an accusation.

"I'm not kicking you out," Scott said, shaking his head.

"I know. But … I don't want … you know what? I'll just … how about I bring a little coffee over for you?"

"That would be great, thanks," Scott said. "I wanted to check on James and find Nate and Rachel - I know they were freaked out too."

"Do you want me to tell them where you are?"

"Please," Scott said.

"You got it," Jan said, doing her best to put on her usually cheery demeanor, but still falling short as she turned on her heel and headed off, leaving Scott alone with James for a minute.

While she was gone, Scott took a moment to check James over, to listen to his breathing and to make sure that he was, well, as healthy as possible for the moment. It was such a relief to have him on the mend that he wasn't aware the door had opened again after several long minutes until Nate and Rachel rushed over.

Scott grinned and carefully set James down so he could catch both of his kids in a hug. "Are you running the Avengers into the ground?" he asked at just over a whisper, his tone forcibly brighter than it had been before.

"Dr. Blue says we're a force 'a' nature!" Rachel told him proudly.

"So that's a yes," Scott said.

"I helped," Nate told him, climbing up his side until Scott picked him up instead of just hugging him. "I made PB&J!"

"Who helped you?" Scott asked.

"Umm, Arrow Guy."

Scott smirked at that. "You made sure he cut it in triangles for you, right?"

"Uh-huh." Nate snuggled into Scott's shoulder.

Scott had one hand on Nate's back and the other on Rachel's shoulder as he looked up at Jan, who was watching the whole thing from the doorway. "Thanks."

"No problem," Jan said as she zipped over to set his coffee down on the table next to them. "When you're ready to take a break from things here, let me know. I don't mind snuggling up with the little guy."

"You can come play with Katie and Mia too," Rachel told Scott.

"We got cars," Nate agreed, then reached into his pocket to show Scott the toy car he'd stolen from the toy bucket upstairs. "Blue, like me and Daddy!"

"That's right," Scott said, nodding quietly before he glanced up at Jan again, one-handedly grabbing the coffee. "Are you sure you don't mind staying with him? You'll let me know if anything changes?"

"I don't mind, really," Jan said. "And if anything changes at all - if he so much as flutters a lash, I'll let you know."

"Thanks." Scott smiled wryly. "I only have two hands."

"And they're full of snuggles," Jan said, smiling.

"Daddy needs hugs," Rachel informed Jan. "Hugs are good for if you're sad."

"He sure does, and it looks like you give the best ones," Jan said.

Rachel nodded and rushed over to Jan to hug her too. "I like giving hugs because I'm sad too and Daddy says when you hug, it's like you're getting wrapped up warm."

"He's right," Jan said. "But even when I'm happy I like hugs."

"So I can hug you lots?" Rachel asked.

Jan tossed her hands up. "Any old time you want."

"Didja hear that, Dad?"

"Looks like you found a willing victim," Scott said without missing a beat - or looking up from where Nate was almost nose to nose with him telling him about his friend Mia.

"Victim?" Jan blew her bangs out of her face. "No such thing as a hug victim."

"Uh-huh," Rachel insisted. "There is if you do a hug tackle and knock 'em over!"

Jan put her hands on her hips and shook her head. "Um. No. That is a shortcut to a snuggle, that's all!"

"Okay, but you're wrong," Rachel said, one eyebrow raised.

"We'll just have to see about that, little miss Rachel."

"I'm almost seven; I'm not little."

"Well, I'm still little and I'm all grown up," Jan said.

"You're weird," Rachel said, wrinkling her nose at Jan.

"I'm just used to being smaller than everyone around me," Jan said, tipping her nose up as she tried to get a smile out of Rachel, but when that didn't cut it, she blew her bangs back again and then shrunk down.

Rachel blinked once and then burst out into delighted laughter, and Nate came tumbling over to see what was going on. "Daddy, Daddy, look! Did you see? Did you see?"

"Neat party trick," Scott said with a smirk.

"It's worth the laughs sometimes," Jan said, still tiny.

"Yeah, I know. You should have seen the carving I could do with a fine beam to show off for the kids too."

"Oooh, I'll bet that was amazing," Jan said. "But … I think I can take my party trick out of here if you're soaking in the snuggles." A moment later, she'd grown back to full size and tuned back to Rachel. "We can play hide and seek with Katie if you think you can spot me."

"Race you there!" Rachel said - already running toward the door and giggling madly.

"Is that okay?" Jan said at the door, looking worried. "We'll just be in the play room."

"That's fine. I'm just going to ask Hank about what I need to take care of James long-term and I'll probably join you," Scott said as he picked the little guy up again.

"Okay, well. They might need your help anyhow. But Katie is kind of amazing at this game," Jan said.

"I'm sure you'll make them work for it," Scott pointed out. "And cheat."

"Oh, absolutely," Jan said. "I'm wildly out numbered! I have to!"

"Yeah, that's the reason," he said with a dry smirk.

"Alright mister, we'll see who cheats first," Jan said, leveling one finger at him. "Just wait!" with that, she headed off at a jog to catch up to the girls who were already squealing with laughter from down the hall.