A/N - Practically An Avenger - hoo boy, was it nice to see your review, though I am sorry to say I can't answer your questions at this juncture. Stay tuned, all will be answered.

Chapter 42 - New Age Of Mission Prep

The week before Spring Break, Scott found himself at Nate's high school to talk with his history teacher, Ms. Hale, while Nate was still at football practice after school. He hadn't been as active at the school as he had been when the kids were younger, so he wasn't as well-known outside of the coaching staff, who knew him well.

Ms. Hale was a short, slightly plump woman with brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, but Scott was impressed as well with the way she had her classroom set up. There were reminders around the room of upcoming events, each section of the room was dedicated to a different theme… The kids had visual reminders everywhere of what they were learning and what was due.

Which should have been perfect for Nate, so Scott was already frowning to himself even as Ms. Hale looked up with a smile.

"You must be Mr. Mueller," she said.

"And you must be Ms. Hale," Scott said, shaking her outstretched hand.

She smiled and nodded. "Please, sit down," she said as she sat behind her own desk, and once Scott was seated, she didn't wait to get right to it. "I'll be honest: Nate should not be failing my class. He's a good student, and he's got a stellar record not just on the team but in his other classes. And I know he knows the material."

Scott frowned at that. "It's not like him to fall behind in any of his classes," he agreed.

"And that's why I wanted to talk to you," Ms. Hale said. "I don't think this is a problem with my class. I think this is behavioral. But he's a model student. He's only ever been in trouble here with his girlfriend, and that's typical teenage behavior."

"Tell me about it," Scott said in a sigh.

"So I want you to tell me, Mr. Mueller, why your son is failing my class for attention."

Whatever Scott had been expecting to hear from this conference, that was clearly not it. "I - what?"

"He's a star football player, he has a girlfriend who adores him, he's well-liked - the only conclusion I can come to is that he wants either my attention or yours, and considering how much trouble he gets up to with his girlfriend, I sincerely hope it's not mine he's after," Ms. Hale said, one eyebrow raised.

Scott shook his head at that. "He's never done anything like this before," he said, then paused. "Well, we have been disagreeing lately. But-" He sighed and rubbed his forehead. "I'll talk to him. He knows better than this, and he knows better than to disrespect his teachers just to get my attention."

"I've seen worse, you know," Ms. Hale said gently, obviously seeing that Scott was bothered.

"Not the way I raised my kids," Scott said. He shook his head and got to his feet. "I'm sorry he decided to use your class to do this. You shouldn't have been pulled into our private argument."

"It's been my experience that if one of my kids is crying out that much for attention, maybe you want to try something different," Ms. Hale suggested.

"I go to all his games, and we go fishing during the summer," Scott clarified. "He gets plenty of attention. This is … something else entirely. A very old fight that's been going on since he was a kid. I'm sorry he pulled you into this."

"Mr. Mueller, if there's something I can do-"

"If you learn how to get teenagers to stop rebelling, I'll personally build you a monument," Scott said with a small smirk. "It's fine."

"Still," Ms. Hale said, her head tipped to the side as she watched Scott, "these kids - all of my kids - mean a lot to me. And Nate really is a good student. I don't want to see him throw his potential away."

"Yeah, I can see why he chose you now," Scott said, shaking his head and smiling despite himself. "We've been talking a lot about his potential and what he wants to do after graduation."

"I thought he wanted to play college ball?"

"He's still figuring a few things out," Scott said. He let out a sigh. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I promise, I'll talk to him. He shouldn't be failing your class."

Ms. Hale nodded as she got to her feet, though her smile was soft as she took his hand to shake it again. "Don't be too hard on him, Mr. Mueller. He's talked about you sometimes in class, and it's obvious he looks up to you."

All at once, Scott put it together, and then he almost laughed. "Ms. Hale," he said, smiling despite himself, "my son was trying to talk me up. I'm so sorry. I think he's trying to set us up." He shook his head. "I should have realized as soon as - I'm so sorry. He thinks I need to start dating again."

Ms. Hale flushed high on her cheeks. "Oh. Really?"

Scott was still smiling and shaking his head. "I really am sorry you went to all this trouble. Nate means well; he really does."

"Obviously," she said, still flushing.

"Though this is the first time he's ever pulled a stunt like this," Scott said. "He must really like you."

"Yes. Well." Ms. Hale tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"It was nice to meet you, Ms. Hale," Scott said when it was clear she was still a little flustered. "Obviously, you're an amazing teacher, or my son wouldn't go to these lengths to get us to meet."

Ms. Hale nodded, though it wasn't until Scott was at the door that she let out a breath and said, "Well, maybe I'll see you at the football games. It would be nice to meet you outside of your son's matchmaking scenario."

Scott paused and then let out a breath. "Well, we'll see what happens come the fall season," he said, and Ms. Hale frowned a bit but nodded all the same as Scott left.

"Nathaniel Christopher Charles Summers."

James and Rachel shared a look where the three of them had been sitting together working out plans for their own training exercises and all at once, the two of them gathered up their things, stood up and utterly abandoned Nate to their father without so much as a backward glance.

"Hi, Dad," Nate said as Scott stalked over and put a finger in the center of his chest.

"You do not fail your classes just to try and set me up with your teacher," Scott said. "It's disrespectful to her, and it's not the way I raised you to behave."

"I won't fail," Nate said. "I'm pulling a 68, and I can get it up to-"

"That's not the point," Scott said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You arranged for your teacher to stay after school and take time out of her day on the pretense of - she was worried there was some kind of trouble at home and that you were acting out for attention, you-" He shook his head. "This is not how I raised you to behave."

"Message received," Nate said, holding up both hands. "I won't do it again."

"Good. You're grounded," Scott said. "You're spending your break studying, and you're spending it under Ororo's watch, and she will decide how best to keep you busy. Is that understood?"

Nate nodded.

"Good." Scott turned on his heel to leave.

"Yeah, but did you get her number?" Nate asked.

Scott closed his eyes and tipped his head back before he turned to face Nate. "Nate, my kids are X-Men, my old friend is worried about a megalomaniac - what makes you think I want to date right now?"

"You should," Nate said. "You're all cooped up here trying to find new ways to shoot up your blood pressure." When Scott gave him a dry look, Nate shrugged. "Wouldn't kill you to try, Dad. And she's not even an Avenger or anything."

Scott stared at Nate before he shook his head. "Unbelievable," he said as he walked out of the door and headed for his room. "Just like your mother."

"You're sure you're alright with most of my family coming along, too?" James asked as he and Billy headed for the little movie theater in Salem Center. Scott had reached out to Wanda when Rachel and James asked if she could go along - and they'd even been sure to point out that Rachel might just be able to help him get a peek at what people on the island were thinking - not just the royal family, but the citizens too … for a more comprehensive look into what life on Genosha was like.

And although Scott was obviously hesitant at first, it was hard for him to deny the invaluable tactical advantage that could give him when weighing out how best to approach all of it.

What was shocking to Scott, and his kids was the fact that Wanda sounded relieved that Rachel would be coming too. And she'd even pressed to make sure Scott knew she wanted time alone with him to talk once he was there. But Billy didn't know any of that, and even Wanda had wanted to make sure that none of the Summers' said a word about it to Billy. Clearly, she knew something was wrong on Genosha.

"Seeing as Rachel would be the odd-woman out and stuck as the sole witness to Kate and Nate sucking face all day? Yes. She could use a little vacation from thinking she's in charge of everyone, and besides - I love your sister."

"Everyone loves Rachel," James agreed as he took a hold of Billy's hand as they walked down the sidewalk.

But aside from that, James fell quiet for most of the date. It wasn't until the movie was over and they were headed back to the Jeep before Billy decided to step up and break the ice. "You've been more quiet than usual," he said. "Is everything alright? You're not like … trying to break up with me easy, are you?"

James blinked as he turned toward him, looking alarmed. "What? Why would you - no." He had stopped cold and pulled Billy to a stop with him. "I thought we were okay."

"We are," Billy said, quickly stepping closer to lower his voice. "But you've been in your head a lot, and that only happened after I asked you to come meet my family. I figured you were freaking out and rethinking all of it."

James shook his head, frowning at that as Billy continued. "Especially when you didn't tell me that it was just your lab that my grandfather trashed."

"Oh." James lost all of his frown and he dropped his gaze to his hands. "It wasn't a big deal. No one got hurt. I just lost a coffee from it."

"The horrors."

"Well, Kate had bought it for me, so yeah. Horrible."

Billy couldn't quite stop the smile, though he still didn't like that James hadn't disclosed the whole story. "You can tell me if my grandfather is trying to bully you. He does it to everyone, but that doesn't mean I'm okay with that."

"That's just it," James said, looking up to meet his gaze. "I don't want you to have to play referee. And I don't want the misunderstandings I've had with your grandfather to screw up your relationship with him."

"He shouldn't be bothering you, though."

"I can take it," James promised, then forced a little smile. "You asked me to meet your family. You're taking me halfway across the world to meet your family. That's a big statement. You're not the only one falling hard. If you were, I wouldn't want to go. I will find way to cope with your grandfather. I'm going to have to if we keep going like we have been."

Billy grinned at him for an instant before he darted forward and kissed him. "He is a pain, and the more I'm away from him, the more I see how much of a pain he is. But I appreciate you trying to keep the peace with him."

"He's your family," James said. "He can't be entirely bad. I'm just at a disadvantage that he hated my parents."

"He'll get over it," Billy said, grinning wider. "He's going to have to if he wants me to take his place."

"That's not what I was trying to say-"

"Too bad. That's how it is," Billy decided. "He just doesn't know you yet. He will come around."

"No wishing for it," James warned.

"I wasn't going to," Billy swore, then smiled crookedly. "But I could."

James pulled him off the sidewalk and stole a kiss that went on right to the edge of what was permissible in public. "I can think of better uses for your concentration."

"When you start your argument like that, so can I," Billy said before the two of them redirected to the Jeep for a winding drive back to the school.

Although Toby and Scott had almost a standing appointment for breakfast together at this point, it wasn't solid and often got moved around during the week. Though this week, there was something distinctly different in the air when Toby got to the Mueller home.

"You have a lot on your mind, don't you?" Toby asked with a frown as he watched Scott turning a bottle cap over in his hands.

"You could say that," Scott said, then let out a sigh. "We're going on a trip for spring break. Nate's in trouble and is staying here with a friend of mine who will keep him away from his girlfriend and out of more trouble, but if you could keep an eye out… This friend of mine doesn't get out much. Physical mutation."

"Sure," Toby said, looking surprised that this was Scott's first option. "But that's not all that's bothering you, is it? Nate and Kate … that's going to be an eventuality. This … is not that."

Scott let out a slight breath. "It's going to be an eventful trip," he said simply.

"Why is that?" Toby asked, settling in as a sign to Scott that he wasn't going anywhere until he understood what had him looking like that. "For a guy going on vacation, you don't look like it's something you're looking forward to."

"It's not really a vacation," Scott said in a sigh, then clarified. "Part of it is. We're going to see James' boyfriend's parents - who are old friends of mine and also happen to be my brother's in-laws, so there will be family there."

"That … is a mouthful," Toby said. "So what's the part that's not going to be vacation-like?"

"They live on Genosha," Scott said.

For a moment, Toby outright paused, clearly reordering his thoughts. "These friends on Genosha …. Are they okay? You're spending vacation with - " Before Toby could finish his thought, he cut himself off. "Are the boys getting serious then? Is James thinking of relocating?"

"No, nothing like that," Scott said quickly. "If anything, I think Billy would want to stay here permanently. He doesn't get along with his grandfather all that well unless Magneto has him isolated from everyone else, and frankly, Billy's flourishing outside of his shadow. Even if his grandfather is pushing to go back to the status quo."

"Who does get along with him?" Toby couldn't help but blurt out, then quickly held up both hands. "No offense, of course. But the guy's nuts."

Scott smirked. "Yeah, that's the problem. Family dinners with Magneto in attendance."

Toby waved a hand. "Your boy can smooth it over, I'm sure. As long as the old man doesn't take issue with both of them being boys, anyhow."

"Actually, Magneto has taken exception to James' mutation, not the fact that they're both boys. He always thought the feral mutation was beneath him and he was sure to let James know what he thinks about him dating his favorite grandson already."

Toby's hand hit the table with a thud. "Wait. The guy that shouts down that all mutants are superior gets to pick and choose himself what's alight and what's not?"

"Why do you think we fought him all the time?" Scott pointed out. "And now that he's being more public, he's just getting worse."

"Honestly, I figured you fought with him because he was a royal pain in the rear to everyone," Toby said.

Scott shrugged. "That too. But he always had his favorites. He'd try to recruit us - regularly - and dismiss others outright."

"You mean people he'd be able to lie to easier," Toby said.

"Well, that - and people he thought would give him more power. I know for a fact he was disappointed we chose not to live on Genosha, especially given Nate and Rachel's potential."

"What made you decide to leave, if you don't mind my asking," Toby said. "Hard to imagine that you'd find a better, safer hiding place outside of there."

"The kids," Scott said. "Rachel was spending all her time trying to comfort everyone else instead of dealing with her own grief, and James was terrified of every newcomer who might come to take him or me away… Nate enjoyed it, though."

"Of course he did," Toby said, shaking his head. "He was just barely a toddler, wasn't he?" He let the conversation settle, then leaned forward. "So … what's going on then, Scott? Because I can see something is up. You're not yourself."

"I'm fine, Toby," Scott said, waving him off.

"You haven't been fine since - " Toby stopped. "... you haven't been yourself lately."

"I'm fine," Scott said again. "I'm busy, and this trip to Genosha and my boys and their relationships are obviously a lot to juggle, that's all."

Toby clearly wasn't buying it. "And all the other things, too, hmm? When were you going to talk to me about all the other things?"

Scott rubbed a spot between his eyes. "Toby…"

"They're doing good work, Scott," Toby said. "And they're making a difference already. You don't see it because you're too close, but it's not the same as it was before."

Scott sighed. "You know I'm proud of them, Toby. I am."

"Of course you are," Toby replied as if it wasn't even a question. "But I also know you worked hard to give them distance from that life. You're not fine after spending all that time protecting them. You can't be fine to watch them go and follow in your footsteps."

"I can't change it either, Toby. You said yourself they're doing the right thing. I can't in good conscience ask them to stop."

"I wouldn't expect you to," Toby said gently. "But that still doesn't cover you. Really. How are you, and if you say 'fine' I'll throw something at your head."

"Doesn't seem like a thing a rabbi should be doing," Scott teased lightly.

"It's a good thing that I'm your friend then, and I can do those things."

Scott smirked and then shook his head. "I'm… doing what I can to support them. And that includes talking to Magneto and trying to redirect his attention away from them if I can."

Toby sat back on hearing that. "So it's a tactical move, then. That's what's got you so far off of yourself."

"He thinks James is animalistic and would like Kate off the team entirely - and I can't risk him acting on that," Scott said. "And he would."

Toby scoffed. "Did he miss the whole lecture that that Xavier did on coexistence?" Toby said. "That girl is doing what no one before her did on that team. And your boy? I know they're supposed to be 'secret' identities, but I have to tell you, Scott. No one has missed the way that young man can be with the little kids. Even with the mask on, it's clear who's under there. How is that 'animalistic'?"

"I'm hoping he's seen as much since I last spoke to him, but…" He sighed. "I have a friend in Genosha. She's … been keeping an eye on Magneto. As much as she can. The fact that I'm going there myself to try to talk him down…"

Toby's concerned expression deepened somehow. "Do your kids know all of this?"

"Not all of it," Scott said. "Part of that is just because I haven't worked out the final details for myself - and probably won't until I can talk to my contact."

"So are you working with the team or are you doing this all on your own - this … negotiations or whatever you want to call it."

"Yes and no," Scott said. "The team can't get close to him. I can. But they can give me insight."

"Okay. So. Best case scenario …. What happens from this trip?"

"I get Magneto to back down and let the new X-Men carry on our legacy without his interference."

He leaned forward further. "And worst case?"

"I stop him."

"How?"

Scott gave Toby a look that Toby had simply never seen before that showed exactly how haunted Scott still was from the loss of his team. "Whatever way is available to me."

"Scott .." Toby rubbed a hand over his eyes. "You are dealing with a lunatic. I know you have at least a dozen plans in place. You have to, but … this doesn't even sound like your usual thinking."

"This visit is as much about seeing for myself what's going on as it is about James and Billy," Scott said. "Consider it intel gathering before I can make a better plan."

Toby sighed. "Okay. I hear that line of thought. It's reasonable. But … what happens if he doesn't let the kids off the island this time out? I've heard the rumors about that place and how it's a one way street."

"Then I guess I'll have to step up the fight faster than I'd like."

"Step up and do what, though?" Toby asked. "I know you can fight, I'd be stupid to believe otherwise, but tell me you have something in mind. Something concrete. Not just a vague 'I'll handle it.'"

Scott was quiet for a long time before he nodded. "It's a matter of being close enough. And being underestimated without my powers. Yes, I have a few plans. I just need to be close. But those are the worst-case scenarios. I'd rather get intel and regroup - I don't want the kids in the line of fire."

"I really want you to come back and tell me how this goes," Toby said. "Because I know I can't do anything about it but bring Nate a pizza or two while you're gone."

"Don't worry," Scott said. "I'm not going to risk the kids. I'll get them back here."

"With you."

"Now you're not sounding like yourself," Scott said.

"You're rubbing off on me," Toby defended with a shrug.

"Toby, we'll all be back before you know it, I'm sure. This really is a preliminary step, not a final one."

"I hope that's true," Toby said.

Scott nodded, then paused as he seemed to consider something. "Just… keep an eye out for the kids, please. All of them."

"That'll be hard to do when you have two of them in Genosha, but sure. I'll keep an eye out while you're temporarily out."

"Thanks."