A/N - Practically An Avenger ! We LOVE your shouty all caps reviews - please don't ever stop. I don't believe Billy has crossed paths with the Frost girl - and if he has, it was probably subtle. (riiiiiiight) Please - shout away!

Chapter 51 - Meanwhile, Back At The Island ...

Alex had always had an uneasy truce with his father-in-law, and he knew it. The fact that Lorna was his favorite seemed to outdo the lingering hard feelings that might have made things harder because of his past on the X-Men and his family ties, but lately, Alex wasn't sure even Lorna was enough to shield him from Erik's wrath, considering the glare Erik had on lately.

But a temperamental father-in-law would have been easy enough to deal with. The real worry was the way Erik was starting to get paranoid about the family he had remaining on the island. The real worry was the fact that Alex had caught Erik sending his minions to follow his and Lorna's kids even in the palace. The real worry was the fact that Chris had come home one night and asked why his grandfather had warned him against taking after his uncle.

Erik had always been controlling. But this? This was getting out of hand. The only problem, of course was that Alex didn't want to call in the cavalry if it wasn't necessary. And putting his human father in the line of fire where Magneto was concerned had to be a pressing affair.

Alex turned the small device over in his hands a few times before he decided he'd use the non-emergency setting first. That way, if Erik's tech picked up that he was reaching out, it would look like it was simply a social call … and since his birthday was coming up, it could certainly pass for that.

He couldn't help but smile though when it took a moment for Corsair to pick up - and he was even more amused to find that his now silver-haired father was still snickering and entirely too-wrapped up in his skunk-cat alien girlfriend. "Alex, my boy!" Corsair said, once he focused enough to see who it was that had come up. "What's on your mind, son?"

Alex's smile retreated just to the more polite setting that he found himself using with Corsair more and more as the years went on. "Just checking in, really," Alex said. "Lorna and I were talking about making my birthday into a family affair this year, so naturally, I had to see if you were anywhere near our sector."

"Well I'm not, but I could be," Corsair said, looking more serious as he looked off screen where Alex knew he was searching for whatever device Corsair kept in his cockpit that kept him up to date on the Earth calendar. "Yeah, I can be there on time. Where am I going?"

Here, Alex held his breath for an instant. He'd always done his best to keep Corsair away from Magneto, but in this instance, he also knew Scott was leaning toward returning to the island for other concerns, so for the second time in the whole time that Alex had been living on Genosha, he invited his father to visit there. "Genosha," he said finally. "Scott finally broke down and brought the kids over spring break and they seemed to enjoy themselves. So, we were talking about trying it with everyone that we have left, you know? Me, you, Scott … our kids …"

The years showed clearly around Corsair's eyes as he nodded and even Alex could see that he was sorry to have missed so much of his sons' lives. "Will there be a place for my crew?"

"We'll work something out," Alex said. "I didn't want to bring that part up unless I knew you'd be able to come."

"Of course, I'll be there," Corsair promised, though it was pretty clear that he'd caught something else by watching the anxiety on Alex's face. "Is your brother alright?"

"I mean … it's Scott. There's a certain level of what's to be expected with him."

"Yeah, he seemed on edge the last time I saw him," Corsair agreed.

"That was before the kids restarted the X-Men," Alex said dryly.

"They what?" Corsair said, straightening up with a thunderous look that Alex recognized from when he was very small.

"Talk to Scott," Alex advised. "He can fill you in on everything."

"I think I will," Corsair said.

"And I'll get in touch with the details for the birthday, alright?" Alex smiled to himself. "Chris and Suzie will love seeing everyone."

"It'll be nice to have the whole family in once place for a little bit," Corsair agreed with a sad smile. "Alright. I'll talk to Scott. Check in soon, huh?" The request was a quiet one, and Corsair was watching Alex closely with a look of concern that Alex understood immediately.

"I will. In the next couple of days."

Corsair's eyebrows shot up in surprise, and with a silent nod, it was clear he got the message: something was up and he needed more clarification. "I'll be waiting."

"Mister Mueller!" Toby called out, putting strong emphasis on the last name to be sure to catch Scott's attention. "You have been avoiding me for weeks."

"I haven't meant to," Scott said, gesturing openly as he glanced both ways up and down the street. He was only a few blocks from the house. Of course Toby would catch him in public. "It's been … complicated lately."

"Yes, we should talk about that, too," Toby said as he fell into step with Scott.

Scott frowned, noticing quickly that a few of the neighbors seemed suddenly interested in the conversation, and then waved for Toby to join him. "You're right. It's been too long. Have coffee with me, rabbi," he said — not because he wanted to talk but because he didn't like the exposure of attention.

"Yes, I'd love to," Toby said, as if this was perfectly normal and Scott hadn't been avoiding exactly this for so long now.

Scott sighed but led the way until they were back to his house. The walk for those last few blocks had been filled with small talk, so it was clear that whatever the Rabbi had on his mind - he was being smart enough to get hat out of the way before they made it to the house. Once they were through the front door and in his kitchen with coffee in front of them, an expectant silence hung over them until Scott set down the mugs. He'd expected Toby to blurt it out once they were in a safe place, but now? He could see that he was holding back.

"How bad is it, Toby?" Scott asked at last. "I know everyone saw James without his mask on. And I'd like to thank you for whatever you've been doing to keep us from being mobbed while the anchors are speculating almost every day."

"Would you believe it if I told you that our neighborhood can understand the value of giving someone their privacy when it matters?" Toby said with a smile.

Scott sighed. "Fair enough," he conceded.

"Besides, it's not bad at all, from what I've heard around the neighborhood."

"Yeah, I've been scanning for trouble," Scott said, tapping his temple near his eyes. "Had a few come from outside the neighborhood trying to get close to James, but they didn't make it to our block. Got too many people looking out for that kid." He leaned back slightly. "Which is good."

"I've actually had a little uptick in families looking for a meeting," Toby said with a little laugh. "For James, of course, but really - for all three of them again. But I'm not here for matchmaking, believe it or not."

"Good, because I don't know if you've noticed, but two out of three of my kids are starting to get serious." He paused. "As serious as Nate is capable of being, mind you."

"I think he's more serious than you realize," Toby said. "I've heard things, you know. And that kid hasn't picked up on the girls trying to get his attention at all. That has always been an indicator in my line of work — when they can't even see the other options." He gestured toward the living room. "The other one sees it but doesn't acknowledge it. I've seen that happen myself. But again … I'm here to talk to you."

Scott spread his hands wide and shrugged. "You know me, Toby. I can't help but talk about my kids."

"Deflect, deflect, deflect," Toby said. "We all do that sooner or later. But you, my friend, have been avoiding talking to me since you got back from Genosha."

"Toby, I've just been busy. I haven't been avoiding anyone. Or I've been avoiding everyone, I guess. It wasn't personal."

"If I hadn't called you out on the street, you would have dodged me." Toby smiled softly. "But I don't think it's personal. Not exactly. I think you just don't want to tell me why your famous son is so concerned about the state of things that he's been allowing me to counsel him. Don't worry, he agreed to letting me tell you as much. He even wished me luck at pinning you down to talk."

Scott's frown deepened, and he was quiet for a long time as he watched the steam from his mug. "Did he tell you what I told him on Genosha?" he asked at last.

"He did," Toby said. "And it opened a whole can of worms that he came to me to help sort out. Because he recognized that he couldn't do it for himself, and he couldn't put it on you knowing what you'd gone through."

"Because I'm too close to it," Scott said in a sigh.

"I don't think it was that. If it makes you feel any better, he didn't want to talk to anyone at work about it either. But I don't think it was for how close you are. He hasn't told his siblings or Billy either. In fact, I believe it has more to do with not wanting to worry you when you clearly have so much on your mind already."

Scott shook his head. "No, he knows I can't help him sort it out because I still haven't sorted it out for myself," he said. "And I appreciate you being the outside counsel for him when I can't."

"He's convinced that if something happens to you, it would be because of them," Toby said frankly.

A lot of the color left Scott's face. "No," he said at last, softly. "I don't… no, that's not —" He cut himself off as he tried to put his words together. "I don't know how to explain to him that he can't carry my mental health on his shoulders. I've tried." He glanced over at Toby. "Maybe you can."

"I'll be honest, Scott, it's incredibly hard to ignore his logic when he decides that's how it works out. It makes sense in a very simple cause and effect manner, but it ignores too many details for me. As in .. whatever it is you're planning or not planning, would you be doing it at all if it wasn't for the kid doing what he is — mostly behind a mask?" Toby tipped his head. "Or would you still be trying to live your quiet, hidden away life protecting them for everything you could?" He smiled sadly. "That's the kind of logic I need to work around … and from that angle ... "

Scott sighed again, his coffee untouched. "It's complicated," he said at last. "I can't answer for sure, but I do know Kitty would have reached out for help eventually. You've seen Magneto on the news lately. You know that's part of why I went to Genosha. And seeing him try to rule his family, I don't doubt he would have left that island to cause problems anyway — as soon as his grandsons left to go to school where they could be 'influenced' by Ororo and the others."

Toby nodded slowly as Scott spoke, and for a short while after. "That's a very good point," he agreed. "But I don't know how that could have worked out for everyone if you hadn't gotten the easy route in. What concerns me — and I'll save you the psycho babble and the long, winding route — because I don't think you have the patience for it. What concerns me, is that your boy has thought that story over. The story about his parents and how they died. About your wife, and so many of those you lost. It had to have been horrific. But … he's been thinking about his father's viewpoint in that, and he told me that he understood it. That boy is amazingly good at having empathy for others. He easily puts himself in their shoes and feels it profoundly. It's because of that … he's concerned for you because he recognizes the expression you're wearing because he's seen it in himself. He told me that before he heard that story, he had considered taking his own life. He promised that's not the case now, but he holds himself responsible for a lot of things he couldn't have had any real impact on. Now, where that kid got such an Atlas complex, I can't begin to understand, but he seems prepared to take the blame for every terrible thing around him."

Scott had by that time abandoned the idea of coffee for leaning on his hands, his expression nearly pained. "His parents were the same way," he said quietly. "I never could get them to see their worth and they always found ways to twist the reality of any situation to be their burden."

"Just his parents, hmm?" Toby challenged, and when Scott glanced up at him, he decided not to lob the ball quite so hard at this first meeting. "He's also convinced that it's just a matter of time before he gets picked up."

"Okay, that he got from me," Scott admitted. "I've been convinced of that since he was three. And we've come close enough times that he's got good reason to be paranoid."

"I sincerely hope you're both way off base there. Especially since he seems to have accepted it."

"You know that's the only reason I'm coming out of retirement. Trying to ease things for them," Scott said tiredly.

"That won't help them if you don't take care of yourself, too. I know that boy would give himself up if it was to help you. Or the others, for that matter."

"Don't say that," Scott said, slightly more sharply than he meant to - because it was a little too close to home.

"I'll take that as I'm right then," Toby said, sitting back in his seat. "I can tell you when he was on screen in that uniform, letting that little girl play with the mask, while most of our community took it as a celebration of how things should be, I was concerned that it was a self destructive move on his part. Like he's pushing to see if there would be a response. He denied it, of course."

"He wouldn't do that," Scott said. "If he was alone, I'd be worried about that, but he wouldn't do that with Rachel and Nate in consideration. He's too much like Logan to put them at risk with him."

"Then explain it to me," Toby said. "Because as his therapist, I'm having trouble believing it was just for the kids."

Scott sighed. "It was — at first," he clarified. "I know it was. Nothing else mattered to him but saving those kids. After that, I can only guess that he didn't think to put the mask back on. Not just because he was distracted but because he doesn't want it in the first place." He shrugged, his body language relaxed with the motion but his expression pinched. "I've heard the three of them talking about it, about how much they hate hiding. James … can be so much like his father sometimes. Especially when it comes to feeling like he shouldn't have to hide."

"I can tell you, the neighborhood was pleased with the team to begin with, but most of them took those kids as imitators — until they saw the clear resemblance that James has to his father. Especially with the uniform and with the mask off. I can't believe how many of them didn't see it before then."

"It's the height," Scott said, his smile returning.

"That's all? I didn't realize his father was short. He always seemed larger than life."

"Well, he also picked up some of my mannerisms," Scott admitted. "And to be honest, by the time he was old enough to match his father, it had been long enough that the only people who would have seen the connection were the ones that knew Logan, or people looking for us anyway because of me."

"That's a lot for those kids to carry," Toby said, then leaned toward him. "And yes, I can see who is who. I'm not discussing it with anyone, and believe it or not, your son has been consistent in refusing to acknowledge who is on the team. I'm waiting for people to realize he and Wiccan are an item. I know they've been careful in uniform."

"James is a good kid," Scott said, almost automatically, though he sounded both relieved and tired when he heard what Toby had to say.

"They all are," Toby agreed. "But at the risk of drawing down your wrath, those kids need you. For a lot more than you give them credit for, too."

"Toby, I already promised James while we were in Genosha that I wasn't going to follow Logan's path," Scott said, somehow sounding more tired at the admission than at any other time during their discussion.

"Good, good," Toby said in an encouraging tone. "I'm relieved to hear it. But you're less 'fine' than I've ever seen you. I can understand why the boy is concerned."

"It's been a long time since I was Cyclops," Scott said. "Even if I don't have my powers anymore, that's what I'm doing right now - working with my old teammates to stop Magneto."

"I have a feeling it was never just about your powers, Scott," Toby said.

"It wasn't." Scott got to his feet. "Well, rabbi, you can tell the suitors as gently as you can that the boys are taken, but I do actually need to get some work done. I'm expecting some intel from Kitty soon."

Toby nodded and got to his feet. "Before I go, I need to tell you one more thing — James said he's never made a plan to act on. You should know that. He doesn't want to make anything worse."

Scott let his shoulders drop. "Thank you."

"Why don't we do this more often?" Billy asked as he dropped onto the couch in America's rarely used apartment. "It's been forever since we got to hang out and relax."

"That's on you, chico," America replied, then took a seat on the back of the couch, looking down at him. "You've been busy with training and sucking face with that boy…"

"Not so much lately," he said. "His dad has him locked down pretty tight. All three of them, really."

"So magic him out - or magic yourself in," America answered with a wave. "Go get the princess out of the tower."

"It's not that simple," Billy argued as Kate took the seat on the other end of the couch with a bowl of ice cream and then put her feet up on his lap. "He's been pretty specific not to screw around with zapping into his room to keep things on level ground with his dad. It's been his one request, so … I'm not going to cross that line. Unless it's like … an emergency."

America raised an eyebrow and blinked once. "It's an emergency," she said in a flat, even tone. "How is he such a goodie two shoes? I saw him pulling all kinds of crap when we met. This is dumb."

"As tempting as it is to just zap him here, I really would like to spend some time with you two," Billy said.

"What's the problem?" America asked, frowning already. "He catch the same stupid his brother got?"

"No?" Billy said slowly. "I don't think so?"

"I can hit him for you," America offered, lightly knocking her fist into the palm of her hand. "Maybe it'll knock some sense into him."

"I don't think that's a good solution," Billy said.

"He can take it," America shot back. "I can be there and back and bring pizza on my way."

"Again, no," Billy told her. "We've just got our wires crossed. When he's free, I've been with my dad, and when I'm free, he's either on house arrest or somewhere with Iron Man. He still hasn't taken the time to explain why he's the favorite intern there."

"I mean, to be fair, he did grow up running away from people trying to use him for his genes and then took his mask off with live television reporting at the time, so, like, the house arrest is a real thing," Kate pointed out, because it was clear to her that Billy and James weren't really communicating as well as she'd like, and clearly, it was time for explanation.

"Yeah, I know," Billy said. "But I'm not crazy about keeping to that rule all the time. Kind of kills spontaneity when it has to be preapproved."

America nodded to herself. "Same family different stupid."

Kate shrugged easily. "Like I can talk. My mom's just about as paranoid as their dad."

"Ran a background check on me before we dated," America stage-whispered to Billy.

"Yeah, Kate's dad mentioned how irritated she was that she couldn't run a decent background check on me, too." Billy shook his head then turned to Kate with a crooked smile. "Your parents are so overprotective."

"I know," Kate said primly.

"I could probably make a joke about how Magneto is more trusting …"

"Yeah, um, excuse you, no, I was there for the magnetic burrito he pulled on James," Kate said, making a face.

"I almost forgot about that," he said, frowning to himself. "But I think Grandfather's over it, for the most part. Misunderstanding. They were pretty much getting along on Genosha. At least … as much as possible."

Kate gave Billy the driest look she could manage. "Uh-huh." When Billy blinked at her, she took it one step further, "So I guess he's okay with me now, huh?"

"Working on it," Billy said. "But … no. Not yet."

"Uh-huh."

"You should have heard the 'discussion' he had with James' dad after we were all kicked out."

"Did it involve your grandfather not trying to make everyone bow to his will? Or admitting he's racist? Or backing off of James?"

"Well … no. It was more about Cyclops laying down how it was."

"Yeah, Scott gets protective," Kate said, not at all surprised to hear it. "And I'd have paid to see his brand of protective hit your grandfather's brand."

"It was more entertaining to watch the chess games," Billy admitted as he got up to grab a soda - and America slipped into his spot.

Kate sighed and kicked her feet up so that her legs were draped over America's lap where they lounged on the couch. "I'm still not buying it, Billy."

"No, really. Scott played him to a draw, then James beat him with pawns. It was entertaining."

"And that cured the racism."

"It got him to back off of James," Billy said.

"Then set me up with a chess board and your grandpa, I guess," Kate drawled out, which got a snerk out of America.

"That'd be fun," Billy said. "Right up until you rebounded a Bishop off his forehead."

"Hey, the Black Widow taught me chess. I'd wait until I won before I played darts with chess pieces like my dad taught me."

Billy was grinning at her by that time. "Okay."

"Well, if you two are done setting up Katie's playdate with Magneto," America said, smirking when Kate hit her with a pillow, "I'm ordering takeout."

"She's only saying that because she isn't getting a playdate," Billy said in a stage whisper.

Kate grinned back at him. "That's because she has high standards and I'm a tough act to follow."

"Which reminds me," Billy said as he turned his whole body toward America. "Who have you been seeing?"

America shrugged easily. "Flirted with Eleanor, but would you believe Agent Coulson stepped in and got protective of Deadpool's kid? Because that's a thing."

"You let a SHIELD agent slow you down?" Billy laughed. "Why?"

"Because he dressed like an uncle and said 'please' while looking like he was going to murder me. It was amazingly hilarious."

"But now I want to see that. Before Kate starts marathon texting her beloved. They're working toward a shotgun wedding, you know."

"He damn well better not require a shotgun to get in gear if it gets to that point or there won't be a groom," America said. Her tone was casual, but she absolutely meant it.

"I think she's a little protective of you, Katie," Billy laughed.

"She threatened your brother the same way yesterday, so don't get too comfy," Kate pointed out.

"My brother earned it," Billy said with a shrug. "He was going too far with the 'locker room' talk for anyone's tastes. I considered going in detail about my own stuff just to get him to shut up."

"I've mentioned that I love you, right?" Kate laughed.

"I could stand to hear it now and again," Billy said. "Love you too, by the way." He was grinning on saying it too.

"And because I love you, I will order the takeout. America goes outside our dimension and then laughs when you get food poisoning."

"You gotta let that go, Princess," America laughed.

"I can just magic something edible," Billy pointed out with a wave. "Or wish her into a blonde." He turned to catch her gaze. "Guy."

"That would be novel," America drawled out. "I've never been that fragile."

"I'll do it for your birthday then. Just for the voice drop."

"I'll record it," Kate promised.

"Then we can hire a drag queen to jump out of her cake, too … for the full effect."

"Perfect." Kate whipped out her phone to start ordering food. "Now. I'm getting Korean."

"Of course you are," Billy said, then shifted to settle in a little better. "Did you try that new Kurdish place? The babaganoush and tava was amazing."

"I took Mia in her inducer so she could get out and try new things. She liked it so much she wants to bring your brother there," Kate said, smiling more. "He might be an idiot, but I'm so glad they got together. He can get her out of the house, even if it's into trouble."

"She needs a little trouble," Billy said. "All of you repressed kids do."

"Include yourself in that, Billy-boy. Prince in the ivory tower and all that," America teased.

"Different kind of repression," he countered. "Mine's more just … exposure to people that aren't mutants." He gestured to both of them. "Oh look! Progress!"

America laughed and yanked on his arm to pull him closer so she could kiss his cheek. "And we're so proud of you."

"Just have to get Kate to stop making that face at me every time my grandfather comes up," Billy replied, shifting to lean on America, too.

"Only when he stops making a face at my existence," Kate sang out happily.

"Fair - but I'm not the one earning the Kate face of disapproval. That would be like me insisting on making faces at you until your mom decided not to have me on her 'undetermined' list. Or whatever. Like I'm out to corrupt my sweetheart. Please."

"Well you are his first boyfriend," America pointed out, though she was clearly amused.

"I will try to control my face," Kate teased. "But only because I love you so." She tossed a pillow his way. "The things I do for you, oh Genoshan prince."