Chapter 39 - The X-Men Return

Whatever Erik had expected to come of his shaking up the world on their stance on mutants after years of relative silence, the very last thing that had come to mind was the possibility of facing his grandsons as they took up his old friend's flag. To say that Erik was shocked to see a new iteration of the X-Men reforming was an understatement in itself after the discussion he'd had with Ororo, but this …

They simply shouldn't have been there. Nothing that he'd heard from the old guard of Charles' X-Men indicated that there was even a consideration of reforming. Yet … As Erik razed a building that had been a set of offices that were central to a SHIELD operation, it wasn't the Avengers that had come to the aid of the humans inside. When he first saw the x-badge on the glowing-team members, Erik had very nearly tossed a car at them for insulting his old friend's legacy. Until he realized that there was a speedster in the mix - and a certain crown prince that he had his own plans for. It was stunning enough that for a long moment, he didn't quite realize that Ororo's daughter, Scott's children, and Logan's boy were even there. But once he saw them, he found himself pausing.

Anyone else would have found themselves squashed already.

But he couldn't do that to his own blood. And he couldn't do that to Scott after all he'd already lost. So instead of doing anything more proactive, Erik simply finished what he'd come to do and quietly left as if these new X-Men hadn't even been there.

He was almost as livid as he was shocked. William had said nothing to indicate that he'd even consider galavanting around like a common pawn. It had to be the influence of the Summers children. There was no other explanation. And though he wasn't sure what the response from the old X-Men were going to be, he knew, without a doubt that he would have to take the time to have a serious talk with his grandsons. Especially when they were clearly keeping secrets from him.

Regardless of what Wanda and her little android thought, this was simply unacceptable behavior for his princes. And they would be dealt with accordingly. He had only taken off his helmet to make the phone call, and he didn't even need to say a word before William was rapidly explaining himself.

"I know you're angry," he said, 'And I am sorry about that, but the fact is, after seeing what things have been like here for mutants, we do need to change things. I just think … that after seeing how much they're missed that the X-Men are the answer. Not force."

"William," Erik said patiently. "Had the X-men ever been the answer, this would have been settled years ago - while you were still a child. Nothing has changed for these humans."

"But - that's where you're wrong," he replied quietly. "The rest of my team -the rest of the X-Men - they know that you're not entirely wrong."

"And they've said as much to you?"

"Well … one or two has," Billy replied quietly. "But the point … listen. People here - not just mutants, but humans too … they hold the memory of the old team as something good and unifying. I just think … that maybe it would be easier on mutants that aren't on Genosha if we can follow closer to that."

"Or," Erik said. "You can get them to see sense and understand that their best chance of continued survival is to join us." When Billy didn't answer right away, Erik continued. "You have a duty to the people of Genosha, and if you truly believe that the X-Men are the way to the liberation of mutants, then the only way for that to happen is with a unified front."

Again, Billy didn't really reply, so Erik pressed on, carefully choosing his words as he informed his grandson on how to manipulate his friends into doing as Erik said.

"And a word of warning: if you lie to me or hide things from me again, I will bring you back to Genosha by any means necessary."

It wouldn't be easy to get the boys to turn these young X-men, he was sure. Especially with two telepaths already on the team, but … if they were to be saved, this would be how it would happen. And if anything happened to his grandsons, then what was left of the X-Men would pay for it.

"So, you want to know the weirdest part? I think Kate is the only one not grounded out of all of us, and I'm pretty sure we could argue it's discrimination," Nate said as he let himself into James' lab with some coffee. They were all grounded, limited to school and whatever commitments they already had - though it was worse for the kids at the school, who were practically on lockdown.

"You mean outside of Billy and Tommy? That doesn't surprise me one bit," James said as he worked on the tiny panic button that was to be incorporated into their uniforms. "Your sweetheart's got a circus boy for a dad, so you know …"

"She says he high-fived her when she got home," Nate said, shaking his head to himself.

James snorted at that. "Of course he did. How was Aunt Widow?"

"Worried about you, obviously, because you're her favorite, but mostly glad to see the family tradition being carried on…"

He shrugged. "No I'm not," James said. "Rachel's her favorite. She has a thing about helping other redheads cause trouble."

"Sure she does," Nate said as he sat down by James. "Really, though, I think they're happy about it, same as Jan. Not all the adults are paranoid."

"I haven't seen anyone yet today," James said. "Or I'd give you a better cross section of what's what. Maybe they think I quit already…."

Nate tapped the side of his head. "Well, Cap's worried. That's broadcasting loudly because he thinks our whole family is about to explode or something."

"He's always worried about something," James said. "Unless he gets mad at someone and just goes all … rage Cap. He's got the best 'how dare you look at them crooked' thing going on." He set his soldering gun down and turned to Nate - though that was to steal part of Nate's bagel, too. "How's Jan doing?"

"You mean besides dealing with Tony finding out his wife was secretly co-conspiring with us?" Nate asked with a crooked grin. "Actually holding up alright. Worried about Dad, obviously. And you."

"Yeah, that. I was a little concerned that might be why Tony hasn't made his usual obnoxious rounds today. I know he's going to be mad at me. "

"She's dealing with it," Nate said. "And no, I'm not sharing dirty details."

"Oh, why would you go there?" James said as he made a spectacular face and let his whole body slump.

"You asked."

"I didn't ask how things were working out, I just said I was concerned."

"Hey, I have to know things, and now you do too," Nate said with a smirk.

"You don't think I know things anyhow?" James said, tapping his nose. "You can shut it off and avoid it. I can't. You only know all the things because you're nosy about it."

"Rachel's worse," Nate defended.

"She really is," James agreed before the brothers settled into a more familiar relaxed stance with their coffee and now-shared bagel. "You sticking around for a while? I was thinking about ordering up and going home a little late, but I don't know how that would work out for the old man's blood pressure, honestly."

"Yeah, you know he's not handling it well, right?" Nate said. "And he's totally shut me and Rachel out."

"Yeah, he hasn't been real open with me either," James said. "But I know if I return the favor, it'll just escalate things."

"Rachel took his phone," Nate said. "He's been talking with Kitty, apparently."

"That's interesting," James said. "I thought she was in the mutant paradise."

"From what I've seen in the twins' heads, 'paradise' is a massive misnomer."

"Is nothing sacred, Nate?" James said in a sigh.

"Hey, I get to play protective little brother sometimes," Nate defended. "He's a good guy; I just wanted to make sure, all things considered!"

"Oh yeah?" James laughed. "So you were checking him out by running through his head."

"And Tommy's," Nate said. "That guy I'm watching closer. For Mia's sake."

James smiled at Nate for that. "He's hilarious. Especially if you get him all wound up and competitive."

"He also really wants to score," Nate said.

"Too bad for him," James said. "Mia's not going to be that easy."

"Yeah, well, the point is, something's rotten in the state of Genosha, and I think Dad's… almost backing us up? In his way?" Nate shrugged. "Checking up on Magneto to see threat level… I think. It's hard to tell when he's also pretty darn convinced we're gonna die."

"Maybe it's time I asked him about Logan," James said quietly. "Might redirect him a little."

"Or give him a heart attack."

"Do you know what happened?" James asked. "I don't. All I know is 'all hell broke loose' and half the team died. I am incredibly curious on what could have killed two healers. Aren't you?"

"Rachel … saw bits of it," Nate admitted slowly. "And… the thing is, even what she has seen looked pretty bad. It's all… cells and collars and Ororo in a box."

"I still want to know," James said.

"Yeah," Nate said. "Yeah, me too. I want to know what made my mom lose it like she did."

"I love Dad, and I don't know where I'd be without him - but I still want to know what happened to my parents," James said before he let out a breath and held Nate's gaze. "Billy did a spell for me. Did you see that in his head while you were measuring how evil you think he is?"

Nate paused and then nodded. "I ... figured you wouldn't want me looking at too much of that. It seemed private. So I just skimmed it over."

James nodded to himself. "He did it so I could get a chance to see what Logan was really like. I got both of them instead. It was just the memories hidden away that I was too little to really … grasp right, I guess." He tipped his chin down to his chest. "That's what really sealed it for me, you know. I don't know how many other kids got good parents ripped away from them, but I'm pissed off about it."

"Yeah." Nate held his breath. "You know Rachel told me when I got my powers… I was freaked out but she told me at least I didn't have the Phoenix, right?"

James nodded. "Yeah, and I've been convinced I'm going to die anyhow since everything turned on."

"Yeah, but … the Phoenix tells you what it thinks you want and you know she can hear Mom, right?" Nate said.

"I didn't know that," James admitted, looking honestly concerned. "She didn't tell me."

"She didn't even tell Dad. I just heard it because she was freaked out and projecting around me," Nate admitted. "But … but she said Mom was proud of us, and this was back when we were still just talking about being X-Men. All three of us. So I think we're doing alright."

"I hope so," James said quietly, staring at his hands for a long while. "Do you think Storm has any pictures of them? All three of them." He gave Nate a little smile. "I could show you my parents, but … I doubt you want to see tiny me."

Nate snorted. "Tell you what," he said, "one of these days, let's sit down with you, me, and Rachel, and she can show you what the Phoenix showed her of our mom, and you can show us yours. But all three of us. Considering what we're starting, I don't want to leave anyone out anymore."

"Only if she comes up with that on her own," James said. "I don't want to intrude on her at all."

"Hey, if she hears where your head's at? It's happening."

"I have to project for that," James said. "And I'm trying to give her space. I know you two have a lot of other things on your minds." He tapped on the workbench. "Anyhow. I think I have the panic button done. Take a look. Tell me if it's easy enough to work."

Nate raised both eyebrows and then grinned as he picked up the little button. "Hey, I like it," he said. "You could hide that anywhere, really. The bad guys wouldn't even know backup was coming until it was too late."

"Figured we could put it in the badge," James said. "Couple on every uniform."

"More than just a fashion state-" Nate laughed. "Oh crap. Kate has me doing it now."

"Yeah, you were born into it," James snickered. "Just admit you love it."

"Didn't say I didn't love it," Nate said. "Just said I was getting sucked in."

"You'd wear purple hip holes if she asked you to," James said, laughing.

"I would not. I draw the limit somewhere!"

"You so would. You could match. Twinsies."

"Shut up, James," Nate laughed.

"Or … maybe you could wear just what she's got cut out. Scare the hell out of whoever we're fighting …"

"You're going to give her ideas!"

"I think I will," James said, pulling out his phone to text Kate as much. "New challenge, Squawkeye - Nate wants a uniform composed entirely of what's left from hip holes and single sleeves." He hit the send button then grinned at him. "There. Done."

"You're a horrible brother," Nate deadpanned, though he was smiling crookedly. There hadn't been a lot of time for joking around lately, so this was a welcome distraction.

James held up his phone. "We have a response already."

Oh, silly James. You act like that doesn't already exist just for ME. You're not invited, Kate replied.

I really don't want to see it, but he brought it up. Said you couldn't make it happen.

Lies, was the one-word response.

I'm a little worried on where a panic button might go though, so I'll leave that to the experts.

Glad to know you recognize genius when you see it.

Stretching, princess.

There you are. I knew it burned to compliment me.

I just don't like to lie. Even for a good cause. We're in the lab if you want to see your sweetheart before he's back home and grounded. Though I do have the panic buttons done so …

Oooh! On my way!

"She just can't get enough of you, Nate," James said, shaking his head.

"You're such a pain, you know that?" Nate said, though he was laughing.

"That's why you come here, isn't it?" James said, pocketing one of the buttons. "This one goes to Dad to look over."

"We should give one to Dad to keep," Nate said thoughtfully. "I mean, with us stepping out, there could be a backlash and if we show him we know there could be trouble anywhere…"

"That's what I said. Kinda. If we give it to him and tell him to keep it, he'll probably get huffy, but if it's 'to look over'," he said, making air quotes, "then he'll have it."

"I'd feel better if he took it with him everywhere, seeing as he's worried about Genosha."

"Then you talk him into it," James said. "He won't listen to me and he likes you best."

"It's because I'm amazing," Nate said with a shrug.

"It's because you're not Phoenixing or wearing stripes. And … you're the baby. Spoiled."

"You're never gonna let that die, are you?"

"Nope. If I gotta listen to the 'middle kid' crap, you're stuck with the baby stuff."

"There's no hope of getting another baby in the family when Dad's like he is, either," Nate sighed dramatically. "I'm stuck."

"Forever and ever. Unless …. You know. He decides to adopt another poor, lost, little, pitiful orphan."

"He might. Maybe that's what he's calling Genosha for," Nate said.

James snorted laughing at that. "Sure, Nate. Hold on to that hope."

"Someone's gotta," Nate said with a smirk, then raised his voice when there was a knock at the door. "I also like holding onto Hawkeyes."

"Both of them? Jeez, Nate. I don't know what to say. Other than … I'm concerned."

Kate was giggling as she let herself in. "You're such a good big brother," she teased and kissed James' cheek.

"I try," he said. "I should ask when you guys are getting married the way you're going, though."

"Um, we're in high school," Kate said, rolling her eyes. "Pump the brakes, James."

"Yeah, but he's just like Dad …" James said, grinning widely.

"Shut up, James. I'm not getting married straight out of graduation," Nate grumbled.

"No, it'll be your eighteenth birthday."

"You planning on holding the shotgun?" Kate asked.

"Nope, I'll be taking pictures." He tipped his head. "Unless that's you saying there's a reason there should be a shotgun."

"That would be a definite no," Kate said, her eyes wide and horrified.

James was chuckling as he waved her over. "So. The buttons are done and I think we can work them into the badges."

"More than a fashion statement," Kate said - and Nate tried hard not to fall over laughing.

"You two are mind melded," James said with a crooked smile. "He said the same thing then wanted to practice his runway walk for you."

"Oh, is that where that text came from?" Kate laughed.

"I try to keep you in the loop for these things, Katherine."

"Because you love me," Kate agreed as she came to sit down in Nate's lap.

"If you say so," James said, shaking his head as he went back to tinkering. "If you're going to start in though, I will have to ask you to find somewhere else. I can't do my job and big brother properly while you're trying to get your shotgun wedding started up."

The picking didn't even really get a chance to get off the ground before the door opened again - but this time it wasn't another member of their fledgeling team. And it was crystal clear that Tony was not happy.

"Hi, Uncle Tony," Kate sang out sweetly in a tone that she'd used a hundred times when she was little to get out of trouble.

"Uh-uh, no. that's not gonna work," Tony snapped her way. "What the hell were you three thinking, huh?" He was glaring at all three of them and any humor they'd had was out the window that quickly.

When Kate looked shocked that Tony had gotten mad at her, Nate shook his head. Looks like we're having this argument again, he projected to the other two before he said, "Come on; tell me you don't know we're right. You married Jan. I know you know things aren't as good for mutants as the superficial 'we're not dead so that's good' level look would say."

"That doesn't mean you go out there parading around with an 'x' on your chest like some kind of glowing target," Tony shot back. "This is something to leave up to the adults. You're not trained for this."

"Trained for what, exactly?" Nate shot back. "Helping civilians?"

"The kind of heat that badge brings down on you - it's not what you're doing - it's what the bad guys are going to do to you," Tony replied. "You want to help? Do more rounds with the Avengers. Make a patrol out of it for Christ's sake, but don't …" he turned and pointed a finger at James. "And you aren't even on our team. That's just asking for it."

"I'm on my own team," James replied perfectly calmly, though that only seemed to wind Tony up tighter.

"And it's not just the team you need to be worried about," Tony bellowed, which got James to honestly take a step back. "I'm relying on you. You're supposed to step in when I'm ready to step down. What do you think I've been training you for with all the business classes and giving you every damn thing you could possibly want in this lab?"

When it was clear Tony had knocked the slats out from under James, Kate stepped up. "It's not like the Avengers aren't dangerous too," she reasoned. "I got kidnapped, like, three times by Hydra when I was in elementary school…"

"That's not it either, and you know it," Tony said. "You go out there as X-Men, you don't have any connections. You don't have the back up -"

"Is that your way of saying you're disowning us? Or that you're changing your mind about what you want from me?" James said. "Because if this is a press job for that, it's not going to work. You know I'll stick to your plan. But I don't see why helping fix the rampant racism would hurt your company if you want me to take over eventually. It's not going to fix itself."

Tony looked like he was ready to tear into James freshly for that, but Nate intervened. "Besides," Nate said, grabbing the panic button James had made and handing it out to Tony. "We made these. Well, James did. Dad's idea, though. Hit the button, call for a rescue."

"I'm not going to even consider that as an option unless every last one of you joins up on our team," Tony said. "And more than just as a title. You have to do the rounds like everyone else that wants to be an Avenger."

"You're just trying to keep us from having time to do the X-Men," James said, though Tony didn't look as if he was going to even deny it.

"And most of us are already on the team anyway," Kate pointed out. "I mean, unless you want to talk to Storm about Mia and Magneto about the grandkids…"

Tony looked more irritated at that. "Yes. And Cyclops about his junior Wolverine. They need permission. Because they're minors. Just like you are."

"It'd be Wanda, not Magneto," James said to Kate as he kept his focus on Tony. "And I'm pretty sure Scarlet Mom would be tickled if they wanted to be Avengers. Not a problem there. Storm and Dad though …"

"Dad already let Rachel and I do it. Go with Rachel to talk to Storm," Nate suggested. "She can't say no to Rachel the older she gets and the more she looks like Mom."

"No," Tony said. "You want to pull this crap, you figure it out, but you're not going to be using our team for back up unless you can do that."

"Oh, so just because my big sister is an adult, she's off-limits for team-ups?" Nate rolled his eyes. "Good to know."

"No, that's fine," James said, holding one hand up to signal Nate to hold off. "It's not what he meant. I get it. Nate, we can talk to Storm." He took a second to project out the rest. Rachel's not the only one she has trouble saying no to.

Point.

"When's practice?" James said to Tony, arms crossed.

"Ask Cap," he said, turning to leave. "He's the one that said he'd handle the whole X-Men thing. But I've got my own concerns that reach farther than just you on the teams."

"Fair," James said, nodding, and that, if nothing else seemed to be enough to get Tony to relax a little. As soon as Tony left, James looked back at Nate. "You want to call Dad or should I?"

"I'll call Dad if you call Ororo," Nate said without missing a beat.

"I'm just gonna drive out there," James said. "Harder to say no to face to face. You comin'?"

"Absolutely," Nate said.

"Me too," Kate put in. "I want to watch you guys work."

"Tag along," James teased.

Kate grinned and nodded. "Yep. Token human tagalong."

James shook his head and started picking up the things scattered on the workbench, though he pocketed the panic buttons - one for Scott and the other for Ororo. The rest went into a little box that he'd pass to Jan on the way out the door. "I'll go talk to Steve," James said. "Get the official details so I can say I dotted all the 'i's and crossed my t's."

"Probably a good idea, considering how thin the ice is," Kate said, making a face.

"Meet you in the garage," James said. "And I'm driving, you lunatic."

"Okay. I'll just make out with your brother in the back seat!"

"Uh huh. Knew you were working your way up to that shot-gun wedding." James called over his shoulder as he headed out to track down Steve to make it official.

When the three of them got to Westchester, James took a moment to sit there with his hands over his face. "I'm already getting more mad about all the hoops," James said.

"We knew the adults would freak out on us," Nate pointed out.

"I know, and we've spent all this time trying not to piss them off or freak them out," James said.

"We're teenagers; I think that's in the job description, right?" Nate said with a crooked grin.

"Sure, that's it," James said flatly before he frowned, nodded to himself once and then got out. "Whatever. Let's just get moving on this, huh?"

We knew it was gonna be hard when we agreed to wear the uniforms, Nate said, trying to buck his brother up. And we didn't give Dad a heart attack on the spot, so this is actually going well.

Sure, James said. Just makes me want to push harder, if you want to know the truth.

Oh good, because I was thinking the same thing, Nate said.

I hate going against Dad. You know that. But it's overdue, and if Tony really does want me to run things … there's no way that it wouldn't be a blow to SI. One more thing to worry about on top of Dad's stress levels.

We all have our concerns, Nate said. And we're all worried about Dad. Rachel's been trying to convince him to get help but apparently, the last time he asked anyone for therapy, Emma Frost tried to have a telepathic affair with him using my Mom's face so…

Alright, but can you blame him for not wanting to try there?

Not even a little bit.

The three of them let themselves into the relatively empty entryway and crossed the foyer headed right for Storm's office, where it looked like she had been having more or less the same argument all the other adults were having with their kids, if Mia's switching tail and angry glare was anything to go by.

"Should we come back?" James asked, doing his best version of an innocent expression.

Both of them looked up at the newcomers, and Ororo let out a sigh before she shook her head. "I'm surprised to see you here. I would have thought Scott and Tony would have you under lock and key after that stunt you pulled."

"We're on parole," Nate defended.

"First of all, it wasn't a stunt," James said, holding up one hand. "And second, the parole has conditions."

"Oh?" Ororo raised an eyebrow at them, clearly waiting for the other shoe to drop.

James started toward her and reached into his pocket to hand her one of the panic buttons. "Dad knows that if he's too overbearing it'll just cause bigger problems, so he told us to get a panic button that will call in the Avengers if we have any whisper of trouble." He didn't let her refuse it as he dropped it into her hand. "I'd like if you and Forge looked them over before we do anything with them officially."

Ororo looked honestly surprised as she looked at the small button. "That… is not a bad idea," she said.

"And as for Tony, there were more conditions," James said, holding her gaze. "They said the only way we'd get protection was for those of us not on the team yet to join the Avengers. Steve said the invitation was to the twins and Mia, too - for more protection, better training, and a safety net."

Ororo looked to Mia, who was standing with her hands clasped under her chin and her tail swaying behind her, obviously hopeful - and it was hard to say no to something so reasonable. "Let me look at this panic button," she said. "Then perhaps I'll talk to Steve about working with Mia's school schedule."

James let his shoulders drop and gave her a crooked smile. "You think I'd pull your leg, Aunt 'Ro?"

"I think there's more to this than your smooth tongue will let slip," she said with a fond smile. "You get that from your mother."

"Ask me anything, you know I won't lie to you," James said, still smiling at her.

"Then tell me why you resurrected the team," Ororo said, holding his gaze. "I know what Mia said, but I want to hear your answers. All of you."

The teasing smile slipped, but James didn't miss a beat. "To honor my parents, Nate and Rachel's mom, the professor, and all of you," James said. "I won't ever admit it anywhere else or to anyone else, but Magneto wasn't entirely wrong. The way he's trying to change things now is wrong, and the way he's perverting the professor's dream is insulting to what Dad and you taught us about the professor. The fact that he's doing it while waving the 'X-Men' flag like he ever did anything but fight you on it burns me. So, speaking for myself? I want to do it right. Show the world how it's supposed to look."

Ororo's expression had significantly softened by the time James finished saying his piece, though she didn't say anything as Kate and Nate chimed in too.

"James is right," Nate said with a shrug. "And I don't argue with my big brother when he's right. Plus, I'm tired of seeing my dad get scared every time something hits the news having to do with mutants. I know the Avengers are putting out fires, but I didn't sign up to be a firefighter, you know?"

And when Kate realized Ororo was waiting for her and not just assuming like everyone else had that she was on the team for Nate, she blushed. "It's just… it's stupid everyone thinks only the mutant heroes should take the biggest risk, so like… if I can help and be on a team with Nate, win-win, right?"

For a long time, Ororo was silent as she stared at them, and then she cleared her throat, straightened her shoulders, and nodded. "You… certainly are the X-Men I remember," she said, trying and failing to keep her composure before, in the next second, she had her arms around James, since he was closest, in a tight hug.

"You know we love you guys, right?" James said as he curled into her shoulder.

"And you know that you mean the whole world to us, don't you?" she told him gently.

"Yeah, but that's why we have to do it, too," James said.

"You really are so much like them. All of you. Just like us - bright-eyed and hopeful and wanting to make a difference…" She shook her head and stepped back from the hug. "Be careful."

"We promise," Nate said, holding one hand up. "None of us want anything bad to happen to anyone."

"I should hope not," Ororo said. "I'd hate to think Scott raised masochists."

"The whole reason it took us so long to get going was because we were worried about him," Nate said.

"And now?" Ororo asked, sounding concerned herself.

"I know I can't see into the future, but it's easy to see that now, if we don't do something, Magneto is going to drag it all through the mud and everything will get worse," Nate replied. "And maybe, maybe if we can pull this off - Dad might realize we're not going to disappear on him."

"You know I want success for you," Ororo said, looking between all of them, her gaze resting especially on Mia. "But you also know why I'm asking you to be careful, don't you?"

The three of them nodded, and though it was clear they felt the gravity of it, James was frowning to himself as he agreed with the others.

"So…" Mia said slowly. "Does this mean I'm an Avenger now?"

"Even if she says yes?" Nate said. "Technically you have to pass Cap's entry exam."

"I'll help you," Kate promised. "I got in when I was just old enough to have 'being a teenager' on my side. I've got a few tips and tricks."

"We can all help you," Nate added then turned to Ororo. "And so you know? We told Dad we wouldn't turn down his advice - short of 'don't do it at all'. We'd be stupid not to offer the same to you."

Ororo smiled almost sadly. "Just don't get ahead of yourselves," she warned. "Don't make the mistake of hubris. Ask for help."

"All we've done so far is to clean up a mess someone else made," James said. "We're not above asking for help."

"I know," Ororo said. "But we started small and got bigger than we anticipated - faster than we realized. Don't get caught up in it. That's all."

"Keep it small. Keep it family," Nate said, nodding.

Ororo let out a breath and then made sure to hug him too. "I know I can't talk you out of this," she said. "You really are just like we were. I couldn't be prouder - or more worried."

"I think Dad'll have a support group for that - or at least a time to get together and complain about us," James said.

"Don't think I won't be dragging him over here when you're all on missions," Ororo warned.

"Please do," Nate said. "He could use it."

"Then it's settled," Ororo agreed - while Mia tried very hard to act like she wasn't bouncing for joy behind her mother's back.

"Oh, and when you're done looking that panic button over, keep it," James said. "Tell me how many you want and I'll build them for you."

"We know the school's drawing attention too," Nate explained. "And you should probably take your own advice - you know, have a way to call for help?" He smirked. "Maybe the X-Men can save the school. Or help save it anyway. Novel idea, right?"

Ororo smiled at that. "You are so much like Scott sometimes," she said, then tipped her head James' way. "Both of you."

"Love you too," James said. "So … I guess if we're not going to get yelled at anymore today, what do you think, Nate? Pick up something on the way home?"

"Burgers and fries?" Nate suggested.

"And a shake for Kate so she doesn't die of lack of sugar?" James said, giving her a look. "Or should we not share?"

There was an obvious telepathic conversation between Kate and Nate, with a lot of significant looks in between, before Nate shrugged. "Can't leave her out. We'd be discriminating."

"Alright you can walk," James said as he turned to head for the door. "Both of you. Since you can't keep your minds out of the gutter - no other reason not to speak freely."

Ororo couldn't help but laugh. "Some things never change," she said, grinning broadly.