X-Men-First Class: Rise or Fall

Chapter Eighty Two

Author's Word: Merry Christmas Extended, everybody! Mine was fantastic and I hope the rest of you can say the same. Now, this is going to be the last chapter before the New Year. I know! Crazy, right? Happy, happy New Year to every single member of the Rise or Fall Family. Here's to another great year of many more chapters.

Also, I want to know everyone's top favorite moments from chapters this year. Please review and enjoy!

Led by the aura of the fireplace, Charles wheeled himself into the living room. There he found her crouched and peering in at the flames.

Love, come back to bed.

She did not turn around. Who needs sleep?

A telepathic mind, especially one so distressed.

Emma stood, going to take a spot on the loveseat. "I shouldn't have snapped on him that way, Charles."

"Darling," Charles rolled up to her, "you reacted the way any sane mother would have."

"No," she shook her head. "I broke my own rules. Mommy remains calm no matter what the circumstances. I'm supposed to be someone they can constantly rely on."

"And you are," Charles emphasized. "They all depend on your devotion and support. However, if you are going to be a proper parent, these situations will arise. Do you honestly believe the children will turn away from you over a bit of firmness?"

Emma looked into his eyes. "That's not what worries me. When we were younger, my father used to come down on Chris until he made him in a sobbing pile on the floor. Most times, he'd just walk away and leave him like that."

Charles placed a hand over both of hers. "Some parents are unable to offer affection along with discipline."

"I could be that way, too; one extreme or the other. That's why I don't raise a hand to them. I might take it too far."

"Emma," Charles eyed her closely, "do you think you could ever reach the peak of anger to the point of harming Joey? Becky? Scott? For Heaven's sake, you've always put their welfares ahead of your own."

She whispered to him, "I don't want to lose them, too."

"We won't." Charles tugged on her hands. "Come now. Let's sleep."

Emma gazed towards the fire again. "I'll be there in a moment."

Charles reached up as best he could and kissed her cheek before wheeling out.

IIIIIII

The door already ajar, Erik pushed it open to gain full entry. At the desk, the head of curls rested while the straighter haired brunette lay in the twin bed nearest the closet.

Maya glanced up from her copy of KJV. "Oh hi."

Erik acknowledged her with a nod and walked towards the desk. "It seems someone is venturing into far off lands again."

"I love Narnia, too," Maya said. "I was close to swiping it from her."

A gentle hand slid the book out from under Becky's round cheek and Erik left it open to save her reading place. He picked the little girl up and carried her to the bed by the window. He sat on the mattress with her cradled in his arms. Looking into the slumbering little face, a lullaby began from Erik's lips.

Every so often, Maya observed them out of the corner of her eye. Though she found the soft words to be beautiful, her mind could not begin to translate the foreign tongue.

Giving Becky's forehead a kiss, Erik placed her down among her stuffed animals. He stood and covered her with the blanket and comforter.

He then went over and glided fingers through a portion of the bigger girl's hair. "Lights out, Miss Maya."

"Okay." She stuck her book back inside the night stand's drawer. "Good night."

"Good night." Erik used a flick of his wrist to switch off her lamp then started out.

"Mr. Lehnsherr?" The man looked back at the young female voice. "What language were you singing?"

"Hebrew." He opened the door and stepped out into the hall. "The butchered edition. Pleasant dreams, dear." He closed the door as he departed.

Maya smiled in the darkness and laid back.

IIIIIII

Ears not missing the excessive shifting in the lower bunk, Scott asked, "What's eating you down there?"

"It bugs me," Frank griped. "I mean, seriously? Joey just hanging out with Wolverine's son, who automatically has to be cool, over at their house like that. Unbelievable."

Scott frowned up at the ceiling. "Why is that so hard for you to picture?"

"Huh, let's see. A kid of a hardcore fighting vet and a quiet little art freak who plays with bunnies. Nope, can't see it."

"You know, Frank," Scott turned to his side, "when you say stuff like that, you sound like your dad. He makes you feel crummy then you turn around and act the same way towards somebody else."

"No I don't," Frank quickly denied. "I just joke around a lot."

Scott stated, "It's not funny if you're the only one laughing."

After a momentary silence, Frank said, "We need to go to sleep before Erik comes in and gives it to us good."

"Fine by me."

Frank shut his eyes, tugging the blanket over his face.

IIIIIII

With a hum in his throat, Hank went to work mixing up the large container of raw beef, fish, and pork. Gathering up two handfuls worth, Hank paced about in a circle.

Soon, a pair of glowing eyes emerged from the darkness.

Hank instructed faintly, "Here, little friend. Come at me."

As if following the order, the coyote jumped out at him. Hank remained perfectly still.

Then from above, a roar sounded and Victor leapt down. He tackled the wild dog and threw him off into a collection of shrubbery. The whimpering coyote got up and ran off.

"Most impressive."

Victor spun around, eyes black. "You…" He forced Hank back first against a tree. "You stupid, stupid kid. The hell do you think you're doing?"

Hank calmly reminded him, "You said if I found further trouble, you would hear it."

"Ya did this on purpose?" Anger and astonishment covered Victor's face. "Are ya sick in the head or what?"

"Perhaps I am," Hank answered plainly. "And I want it under control before it's too late."

"This again." Victor released his restriction on him. "I already told ya. Forget it."

"Fine," Hank shrugged. "Then we can continue to meet this way until one of us gives in. And my vacation will not be over for some time yet."

Growling in frustration, Victor punched the air. "Alright, alright. You win. What exactly do ya want here?"

"Domination over my primal self."

Victor stared back at him blankly. "Yeah, you're a regular tickin' time bomb." He gestured with a wave. "Move it. I ain't got all night."

Lips turning up in satisfaction, Hank walked along with the ever reluctant one.

IIIIIII

Once Erik concluded his rounds, Alex went into the bathroom to change into jeans and his boots. He then quietly got into his leather jacket and left the room.

The blonde made it a few yards away from the house when he heard snow crunching behind him.

Turning around quickly, he let go of an annoyed breath. "What do you think you're doing out here?"

Sean countered, "What're you doing out here?"

Alex pointed towards their dwelling. "Get back in the house, Sean."

The redhead folded his arms. "That imposing big brother voice only works on short people." Alex took a step towards him and Sean held defensive hands out. "Don't beat me up. I'll be quiet."

Rolling his eyes, Alex turned and walked again. "Not slowing down for you."

Sean practically bounced after him. "So," he spoke after a minute, "why are we out here?"

"You're out here because you're a tagalong," Alex stated. "I'm out here trying to clear my head."

"That shouldn't take long," Sean quipped. Alex gave him a disgruntled sideways look. "Are you sore about something?"

"Yeah I'm sore about something," Alex informed. "I hit the snooze button and completely missed everything going on with Joe. If I'd just gone with him riding once, I could've kept this whole thing from getting out of hand."

Sean rubbed his arm as a chill passed through. "He got himself in trouble you know. Same as me and Maya a few nights back."

"You two were just being love struck geeks," Alex waved off. "But Joe? He clung to this random kid because I didn't pay him any attention. I was busy with Scott and doing things with you guys."

Sean wanted to know, "How do you do that?"

Alex looked at him. "Do what?"

"Watch over people, take the blame when they fall short, and just put whatever you want on hold?" the younger teen listed. "Alex, I could try forever and never be as good a brother as you, let alone half as good an X-Man."

Alex told him, "The X-Men are what I want. You had a life and bright future before all this, Seanie. I didn't. Everything I have to look forward to is because of you guys." He patted Sean's shoulder. "Come on, twerp."

"I'm taller than you," Sean mumbled.

Alex glanced back, wearing a very Lehnsherr expression. "What'd you say?"

A halo nearly appeared above the ginger head as he replied, "Noth-ing."

IIIIIII

Reaching the basement level, Raven opened the door and walked in. She'd heard the grunts all the way down the stairs and now discovered their source.

"Charles, how did you even get down here?" Raven had found the wheelchair at the top of the stairs.

The man raised the barbell yet again. "Let's just say my bum won't be the same for quite a while." He sat up on the bench, rubbing his face with the nearby towel. "What are you doing up, Baby Blue?"

Raven placed a hand on her hip. "Disappeared husband."

"What?" Charles frowned. "Hank is gone?"

"I'll bet anything he went after Mr. Extinct again," Raven put forth.

"The Sabretooth," Charles understood. "And Emma received a visit from Franklin's much acclaimed Wolverine when he dropped off Joseph."

"Do you think they're connected?"

"I think it's time we learned more," Charles stated.

IIIIIII

Done with the flint rocks, Victor stepped back from the building fire. The flames illuminated the entire clearing they stood in.

"Before you freeze your ass off," Victor said to Hank, who only wore a thin jacket for protection against the night air.

"You don't seem very bothered," Hank noted.

Victor wrote his usual unzipped long coat. "That's 'cause I got fuzz in places I didn't even know I had." He walked over to get a good look at Hank's exposed feet. "When did these grow in?"

"I was born with them," Hank explained. "My mutation came as a result of my father's exposure to radiation at the nuclear plant where he works."

"Okay, that explains the toesies." Victor faced him. "How 'bout the rest?"

"I've always had my agility and speed. However, the heightened senses are relatively new."

Victor folded his arms. "Gotta tell ya, kid. Ya don't seem to be wrestlin' with any kind of beast."

Hank's eyes dimmed. "Earlier this year, one of the children in my care spoke to me with a slightly disrespectful tone. I hurt him and it would have gone so much further had my wife and sister not been present. That can never happen again."

Victor nodded once. "Figured you were married." At Hank's confused expression, he said, "You carry feminine fragrance all over ya. To the point that it practically covers your own scent. It was vague when we first met, but heavy tonight." He smirked at Hank's reddening face. "Relax, pal. I've been around… once upon a time."

Hank then asked, "Did you crave it? Constantly?"

"Oh yeah," Victor answered without reservation. "With the creature and the healing factor, we don't need the standard recovery."

"I have a high pain tolerance," Hank asserted. "I'm not sure if you can call it a full blown healing factor."

"So you can take a little more. Okay." Victor removed his coat. "Let's see whatcha got, brain man."

Following the older male's lead, Hank took off his jacket and placed his glasses inside one of the pockets.

Victor decided to start off by swinging a handful of claws his way. Hank bent his body back to avoid the swipe. When he straightened up, Victor grabbed the front of his sweatshirt and flipped him onto his back. He kicked Hank's side, forcing him to roll over onto his stomach.

"Hand enough, Doc?" Victor taunted.

Hank looked up at him expectantly. "Pardon me. I was waiting for the actual pain to begin."

"Got jokes, eh?" Victor kicked him again. "Still laughin'?" Another kick. "Come on, funny man." His boot covered foot went into Hank's stomach now. "Laugh it up." He reached down and yanked Hank up by the throat. "You think you can trust me 'cause I saved your hide one time? I could kill you right here, right now."

"You certainly could," Hank choked out.

Victor let go of him. "You're serious about this, aren't ya?"

"Yes." Hank rubbed his throat. "And also, you have saved my "hide" twice."

"You got somethin', kid," Victor had to admit. "Outside o' stupidity. We might actually be able to make this work."

"I'm glad you at last think so," said Hank. "Because otherwise, I would have had to set forth a vast number of pestering techniques, some inspired by early Grecian—"

Victor held up a silencing hand. "Ya know what? Next time I'll just let 'em eat ya."

Hank only smiled with a glint in his eyes.

IIIIIII

Looking to his right, Alex said, "Thanks for coming out tonight, Seanie. Or stalking out tonight, anyway."

"Thanks for not pounding me for it," Sean returned.

"You're a better bro than you think," Alex tossed out.

Sean grinned. "So any chance I can borrow your motorcycle some time?"

Alex responded, "How would you like a helmet shoved up yours?"

"Is that a teeny tiny maybe?"

They entered through the rear of the house.

"Hello, gentlemen," Emma acknowledged pointedly when they came by the kitchen. "Did we have a nice late night stroll?"

"Mommy Emma," Sean placed his hands on Alex's shoulders, "I went after this wayward individual to keep him out of harm's way. Can you believe he would just creep away like that?"

"Go to bed, Seanie," Emma dismissed.

"Later." The redhead took his leave.

Alex sat across from Emma at the island. "We never left the grounds."

"I know." She took another sip of decaf. "Is everything alright?"

"I got Joey on the brain," the male blonde replied. "Then again, that's not too new."

"Then we're very much in the same boat." She got up to rinse out her mug.

Alex told her, "He is sorry you know."

Emma glanced back. "Sweetheart, I'm not upset with Joey."

"That's good. Because I don't think he could handle even feeling like another mom doesn't want him," Alex stated honestly.

"He will never experience that again," Emma promised.

Alex nodded. "Just remember he's not a normal kid."

"Alexander, not one of us falls into the N category," the woman reminded.

The teenager got up to go. "Night, old lady."

Emma flung the wet dish towel after him.

IIIIIII

Heavy breathing sounded as the pair of shadowed figures leapt from treetop to treetop, guided solely by moonlight. Hank, experiencing nighttime vision trouble, depended mainly on feeling for the branches. Victor took grand jumps, completely at one with the woodland setting.

"When did you first discover your own mutation?" Hank inquired.

Victor stopped to perch on one branch. "It started in small. The senses increased when I was about eight. By the time I was ten, the fur and fangs started growin' in. Ain't set too well with my old man. He already blamed me for my ma skippin' out when I was three. Ain't have her to punch around anymore so he used me for batting practice."

Hank frowned deeply. "As much as my father wanted- wants my mutation gone because of his own liability, he never did that. He barely spanked me."

"Count ya lucky stars," Victor remarked. "Finally got out from under him when I was fifteen. Even tracked down my ma. Found out she'd remarried quick as a lick. And that I had a kid brother in the picture."

"Wolverine," Hank surmised.

The older man nodded. "The plague had already gotten his old man so I stuck around to help out. My brother's always been a miserable little runt, but he keeps control, especially since he married Kayla."

"What helps you?" Hank asked.

"Him," Victor replied. "Since the day we met. One SOB I've never wanted to wail on. We rein each other in."

Hank said, "My wife and sister have loved me unconditionally, even at my lowest."

"Hang on to 'em," Victor urged. "Anyway, I need to get goin'. I'll catch up to ya tomorrow." He hopped over to another tree.

"Victor," Hank called after him. "Your own father— whatever happened with him?"

"Let's just say the last time he touched me was the last time he touched me."

Nothing more to say, Hank watched him take off.

When he returned to the ranch, it surprised him to find the light on in his bedroom.

Raven stood from the armchair when he came in. "Henry McCoy, where have you been?" Her countenance proved as displeased as her tone.

"Dear, I'm sorry." Hank stepped up to her. "I never meant to worry you." He formed a smile. "I managed to track down Victor and he's finally willing to work with me."

"Goodie," she fake smiled. "Especially the part where you couldn't leave a note beforehand. Don't do this again, Hank. I am serious."

"I won't. I'm so sorry." Hank lowered to kiss her neck. "Please forgive me."

Raven smiled. "Come on, baby." She brought them over to the bed and laid out on her back.

When Hank got over her, Raven snatched up the hairbrush she'd left on the mattress and whacked his thigh as hard as she could.

"Ah!" Hank rolled off her. "Raven!"

"Don't you 'Raven' me." She held the brush out menacingly. "If you do that again you can consider yourself couch-ed!"

"Couch-ed?" His eyebrows went up in amusement.

"Shut up." She whacked his back leg again. "It is, too, a word."

Hank placed his head on her stomach. "I'm sorry."

"Good." She used the brush on his behind a few more times before tossing it and getting down into his arms, even more exhausted now.

IIIIIII

Listening to Bounty chomp lettuce inside his crate on the floor, Emma rolled over to face the small child between herself and her sleeping beau.

What's the matter, Treasure?

He returned, I can't sleep, Mummy.

She put a massaging hand to his behind. Does it still hurt? She'd learned from Erik that the spanking had been a fairly difficult one.

Not anymore. Joey got in closer to her. I've been a real bad son.

Joey, no, no. Don't you think that. Emma moved her hand up to rub his back. What you did was wrong, but we're past it now.

Not just 'cause of that, Mummy. I didn't want Daddy to hold me 'cause I don't like his wheelchair, the little boy explained. And I got jealous 'cause Cody's dad can run around and play with him all the time.

Emma pressed a kiss to his forehead. Mummy understands and I'm sure Daddy does, too. You can't help what you feel, baby, not even jealousy. I feel it myself sometimes.

He wondered, What makes you jealous?

Well, Emma stroked through his hair, I get jealous because I didn't get to hold you when you were first born or be there to protect you for those eight years.

A surprised Joey replied, But that's not your fault, Mummy. I got dropped off at the wrong place.

Emma smiled. So did I. But now we're here together and I don't want to hear any more about you being a bad son or you're going to be in lot of trouble.

Yes, Mummy.

Her arms wound around him. Now it's time to sleep.

As the little body calmed and fell into slumber in her hold, Emma soon found herself able to drift away.

IIIIIII

Sun filtering in through the one large window, Logan awoke to Kayla stretched out on top of him. Her almond eyes burrowed into his worn blue pupils.

"This beats the hell outta sunrise."

"Could we spend a thousand lifetimes this way?" she asked him. "And you'll never grow tired of me?"

"You must be crazy, woman," he responded. "Death ain't strong enough to make me quit you."

Smiling coyly, she slid down off him and out of bed. "Go back to dreaming about me." She slipped into their bathroom.

Logan clamped his teeth after her before closing his eyes again.

Minutes later, he picked up on rapidly oncoming footsteps followed by a flop across his stomach.

"Dad, get up." Cody bounced on him.

Logan put a pillow over his face and blindly batted at him. "Scat, Cat."

"Aw, come on, Daddy. I'm starvin' to death."

"Then go hop on your uncle."

Cody tugged on his hairy arm. "He ain't back yet. Daddy! Daaaaaaddy…"

When his father continuously refused to move, Cody huffed and lowered down to nip at his shoulder.

Sitting straight up in bed, Logan glared down at him. "What've we told ya about puttin' random crap in your mouth?"

Cody laughed and attempted to crawl away. Growling, Logan moved to block him. He head-butted his child's side, flipping him down and onto his back. Cody reached both hands up, pretending to claw at him. Logan got in closer to the youth's face, growling at him again.

Then the man's menacing expression morphed into amusement.

Cody smiled at having his cheek nuzzled next. "Hungry."

"Yeah, yeah. Heard ya the first thousand times. Can I get some pants on?" He currently sat up in his boxers.

"I guess, but hurry it up." Cody flipped his legs over the side of the bed and scrambled downstairs.

"Lousy pint-sized slave driver," Logan mumbled, getting up.

After he got into a pair of jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt, he made his way down into the kitchen.

Cody sat on a counter, waiting on him. "I want flapjacks.

"You eat what I give ya." Logan began gathering the ingredients for the batter.

Kayla came downstairs in brown pants and a flannel shirt of Logan's with the sleeves rolled to her elbows and her hair pinned up.

"Something smells good in here." She coiled arms around her husband from behind.

Logan touched her wrist with one hand and used the other to turn a cake on the skillet. "I'll take this gig over an army mess hall any day."

Cody asked, "You ever get flapjacks over there, Daddy?"

"Son, we're talkin' probably the bloodiest war known to man." Logan moved the finished flapjacks onto a plastic serving plate. "When you were lucky enough to get a meal in front of ya, ya ain't ask no questions."

At the knock, Cody announced, "Door."

"Thanks, Cat," Logan said dryly. "For a second there, I thought they were bombin' us."

"Ask who it is first," Kayla reminded as their son headed over to answer it.

Cody put a hand on the doorknob. "What do ya want?"

"To speak to your father, please," a polite foreign accent replied.

"Daddy," Cody opened the door, "it's," he glanced out, "two guys for you."

Logan handed the plate of pancakes over to Kayla. "Go to your ma." He ushered Cody away from the door then looked upon the brunette male pair just outside his doorway; one leaning against the archway and the other in a wheelchair.

"I'm Erik Lehnsherr," the mobile one introduced himself.

"Charles Xavier," said the seated one.

Erik added, "And we have no intention of fucking ourselves."

"Fox," Logan called out to Kayla, "better put some coffee on."