X-Men-First Class: Rise or Fall
Chapter Eighty Six
Author's Word: Hi, fam. Thanks for the well wishes regarding my cats. I love them more than most of you can probably believe. Please keep up any and all prayers.
Warning: I've put this up before and I'm putting it up again. At any time, this story could have troubling content or scenes of a graphic nature. There will not be a warning for individual chapters, due to my desire to not give away spoilers. Also, nothing seen, said, or done throughout this story is necessarily a reflection of my views. It is a reflection of individual character personalities plus the time period. Nothing is meant to offend any reader.
Now, please enjoy and review!
Knuckles turning whiter with every gripping, Scott pushed through. He quickly gained several more feet on the firm structure.
From a little ways below, Alex urged, "That's it, Scottie. Keep it up." The teenager kept a short cautious distance from the boy. "Watch your footing." When he reached the halfway point, Alex declared, "Okay, that's enough."
Scott glanced down. "You don't need to do too much at once." Alex started down.
"Aw man," Scott grumbled. "I could've touched the top."
Charles, who'd been observing from ground level, spoke with, "Now Scott, you heard your elder brother."
"Yes, sir," he sighed, preparing to come down.
Alex disconnected the rope from both their waist belts once they both returned to terra firma.
"Not bad, twerp." He removed Scott's helmet to ruffle his brown hair.
"Why don't you ever call Joey twerp?"
Alex replied, "Because when I met him he was an eel. When I met you, you were a twerp."
Scott rolled his eyes under his shades.
Charles chuckled and said, "You did very well for your first go."
"Thanks, Charles." Scott looked at him. "It's nice to be able to do something despite these glasses."
Charles stroked the boy's cheek with his thumb. "We must never allow small things to keep us from bettering ourselves. I want you to remember that." Charles glanced towards the other Summers boy. "Both of you."
"Yes, sir," they replied.
"Let's be off." Charles gripped his cane and began leading them back.
IIIIIII
At the sounds of a struggle taking place, Sean stopped off inside the younger boys' bedroom. He witnessed Frank on the floor having a wrestling tournament with his suitcase.
Sean shook his head and noted, "You pack just like Tommy." He went and sat on the case to keep it down.
"Thanks, dude." Frank got it latched. "Wish my mom was here. She always does this stuff for me."
Sean moved over to a chair. "Bet you can't wait to see her."
"Oh yeah." Frank also hoped she would have a new don't-tell-Dad gift waiting on him. "You plan on seeing your folks before the end of summer?"
"Maybe for a weekend when school starts or something," Sean said. "After everything that's happened, it's better if I stick around for Maya and everybody."
"Hm." Frank looked thoughtful and lay back on his suitcase. "Weird."
The redhead playfully kicked at his ankle. "What're you talking about?"
"Maya's met the X-Men and even came up here with us, but she's never seen your parents," Frank mentioned.
That gave Sean momentary pause. "She will when we get the chance. But anyway, I better get to packing before Alex starts shoving our stuff into trash bags."
Frank jumped up to latch onto him at the waist.
Sean pulled him around to the front and started digging into his armpits.
"Gah!" Frank squirmed, trying to keep from laughing. "Quit it! Teenagers are too old to tickle."
Sean went at the younger boy's ribcage next. "You're lucky I don't do you like Alex does; pin you down 'til you beg for mercy."
IIIIIII
Rolling her baby buggy out front, Becky suggested, "Let's play house."
Cody stood from sketching letters in the snow with Joey with their fingers. "My dad says if he sees me playin' with dolls, he'll punt me like a football."
"That's okay. We can use the stuffed animals." Becky removed her two baby dolls and brought them over to where Hank and Raven sat in chairs drinking coffee. "Will you hold them, Raven?"
"Sure, gorge." Raven held the soft plastic pair in her lap.
Becky came back to the boys and directed, "'Kay, I'll be the mom and you two be the dad and uncle."
"Who's who?" Cody asked.
"You both are." Becky then explained, "Uncles are dads, too, in our house. Well, except for Hank. He doesn't have kids."
Raven nudged at Hank with her elbow. He glanced away and cleared his throat.
"You wanna start?" Joey asked Becky.
"Sure." Becky got down into the snow, resting against a large rock.
"Uh, what're ya doin'?" Cody wondered.
"Being pretty by the pool like Auntie Em." Becky picked up a twig to use as a nail file.
Cody looked at her strangely. "Ain't ya gonna fix dinner or somethin'?"
Joey and Becky dissolved into laughter.
"My mama can't cook," Joey said. "That's Aunt Raven's job."
"Ohh." Cody went to the buggy and tossed the bear out of it. "Go get me a beer."
Becky hopped up to retrieve the bear. "Cody, what are you doing?"
"That's what my dad does when he gets home. 'Cept he knocks me off the couch."
Becky dusted the bear off. "You have to be careful with Sweetie Imp."
"She's a girl? Why didn't ya say so?" Cody took the bear and hugged her to his shoulder.
"That's better," Becky said approvingly.
Joey lined the other three stuffed animals up on the ground. "Okay class, blah blah blah blah."
Cody laughed now. "Who're you supposed to be?"
"Uncle Hank," Joey answered.
Raven had to keep from cracking up at Hank's flabbergasted expression.
He held a hand out towards the children. "Do you believe this?"
"That's I'm the wonderful cooking aunt?" she smirked. "Yes."
"Now I'm Uncle Erik." Joey formed a stern expression and wagged a finger. "What have I told you kicks about leaving your toys everywhere? This. House. Is. Not. Your Playground!"
Cody added, "If I trip over one more thing, I'm gonna grind 'em up and feed 'em to ya." Becky and Joey gaped at him. "What? My dad tells me that."
Becky looked up with a smile. "Knight Victor."
"Hi," Joey greeted the man.
"Hey, Uncle Vic."
Victor stepped up, rubbing Cody's hair. "Gonna get your dad arrested one o' these days, I swear."
"Will you play with us?" Becky requested.
"Love to, Tinker Bell." Victor lifted her up. "But I gotta take a rain check."
Becky eyed him closely. "You know who Tinker Bell is?"
"Don't you start." Victor tweaked her nose and stood her. When the couple approached next, he dipped himself cordially towards Raven. "Mrs. McCoy. Mind if I borrow your hubby here?"
Raven kissed Hank's lips. "You boys have fun."
Hank squeezed her hand then headed off into the woods with the older mutant.
"The direct approach. That's new," the scientist noted.
"I got a coup'la ounces of home trainin' in me." Victor stopped when they made it into a clearing. "I want ya to hold on to a few things I show ya."
Hank removed his glasses, not missing how that sounded suspiciously like a farewell. "I still want to hear about your wife." He took of his coat as well.
"Gotta earn it." Victor formed two fists.
Hank got into a ready stance. "Yes, 'values and crap'."
"Beast up," Victor directed before swinging at him.
Ducking, Hank tackled him at the middle. Victor landed then calmly kicked him right off. Hank crashed into a collection of shrubbery.
Victor got up and made steps for him.
"Uh uh." He yanked up one of Hank's ankles when he saw him reaching down for his laces. "Shoulda been had these shoes off." He twisted Hank's leg, getting a muffled grunt out of him. "You know better. Act like it."
"Nice to know you pay attention so often." Hank forced out of his grip and jumped up into the overhead tree.
"You need to use that big head o' yours at all times, kid." Victor climbed up after him.
Hank kicked off his shoes and leapt through the trees, aided by his enormous feet.
Victor landed in front of him on one branch. He caught Hank by the throat and flung him to the ground. When Victor jumped down and stood over him, he simply waited. The young scientist remained still, panting lightly and staring back up at him. Rumbling from above caught their attention.
"Time to haul it in," Victor stated, wind picking up and batting his hair. "I've felt this storm brewin' most of the day."
Hank got up. "We are not finished."
"Not yet." Victor started to walk away. "Meet me at Gino's Bar tomorrow in the evenin'."
"Does six work?"
"Yep." Retrieving Hank's coat, Victor tossed it along with the discarded shoes his way. "Bundle up." He continued on his way, sticking his hands in the pockets of his own coat.
Hank picked up one of his shoes, only looking at it for a moment as thunder sounded again.
IIIIIII
With his brother securely lowered onto the den's sofa, Erik propped up the left leg to massage.
"Seems Alex put you through a solid workout," Erik observed, kneading Charles' thigh muscle carefully.
"Quite." Charles groaned faintly. "To my absolute satisfaction. He's gone beyond what I expected of him."
"The boy does nothing halfway." Erik then quipped, "So long as you don't ask him to undertake the impossible task of picking up his sneakers."
Charles smiled, reclining a bit. "It amazes me how much taller Scott's gotten this summer."
"Frank as well," Erik frowned, "though who them permission to do that I'll never know."
"Certainly not I," Charles denied. "There was Scott though, eleven years old and ready to reach the mountaintop. Even before the accident, I never entertained such a notion."
"If your recovery keeps at this rate, you'll have your chance soon." Erik left Charles' foot resting on the table while he went to the small bar in one corner of the room. "Scotch?"
"On the rocks with lime, please."
"Anything you like, little Lab Rat." Erik began mixing.
The Professor stared ahead quietly until he spoke again with, "I never would have seen them start university."
"Hm?" Erik carried their drinks over and sat on the coffee table facing him again."
"Raven and Alex." Charles accepted his glass. "I was looking forward to their beginning school and I nearly lost the opportunity. That crash could have cost me every opportunity."
Erik reached forward to pat him on the cheek. "Stop that. Let the 'what if's' lay to rest." He moved to the sofa and placed arms around Charles securely. "Only think of what you have to look forward to."
Head resting against Erik's chest, the telepath's mind went straight to the possibilities.
IIIIIII
Brisk gust flying in through the kitchen door announced Logan's presence.
"Daddy." Cody hopped up from the table to go to him.
Logan removed his drenched jacket before lifting him with one arm and using the other to place over Kayla. "It is crazy out there."
Kayla kissed him. "Thank God you made it in alright."
Logan stood Cody with an instruction of, "Get Daddy a beer."
"Let's warm you up." Kayla led him into the living room where she had the fireplace lit.
Logan spun her around. "Glad I got me a full figured woman."
"I'm fat," she claimed, arms coiling his neck.
"There's where you keep the flavor, darlin'." Logan kissed her neck.
"We have to talk you know."
"So talk." His attention went to her shoulder.
"Emma and the others are going back to New York the day after tomorrow." Logan pulled back to look at her finally. "And I want us to go with them."
Logan sighed, letting go of her. "We been over this already, Fox."
"And you've given me nothing but vague answers," she said pointedly.
Cody came to stand at his father's leg. "Listen to Mama, Daddy."
Logan took the bottle of beer from him. "Go to your room, Codicat." He looked back at Kayla. "He already has school here."
"You don't even like Argyle," Kayla reminded. "And I'm sick of the office politics. This is a chance at a better teaching position. A meaningful one."
"I don't care about switchin' schools, Dad."
Logan gave him a light push. "Room, now."
Cody rolled his eyes but headed that way.
"Our son never stole anything 'til now," Logan raised next. "Not until the little rich kids came along."
"Don't even start on that," Kayla said exasperatedly. "You're too busy holding your own nose up in the air to see you're the only one carrying around that classist attitude. Emma and Charles have been nothing but kind."
"What about Magneto?" Logan mentioned. "Fox, he was in one of them camps me and Vic raided durin' the war. He's got the number tat to prove it."
Kayla prompt, "Your point?"
"You ain't seen some of them survivors. Some ain't right in the head."
The raven haired woman stared at him with dry amusement. "Because everyone who goes through trauma is either crazy or dangerous. Maybe we should ask Victor about that. Or hey, how about me?" She marched towards the stairs.
"Fox." Logan hurried after her up to their room. He placed his arms around her from behind, holding her near despite her light protesting struggle. "I'm sorry, baby. I ain't mean it that way." He kissed her cheek.
Kayla touched one hand over both of his. "I know."
"Come on." He turned her around. "Let's just forget all this and—"
She halted his lips with a single finger. "I need to start dinner."
Watching her head back down, Logan let loose a frustrated breath and fell back into the middle of their bed.
IIIIIII
Becky… Becky!
Moaning faintly, the young telepath sat up in bed. Looking to the rain drizzled window, her eyes opened fully at the sight of Cody on the outside of the glass.
She got up and hurried over. Cody, what are you doing out there?
I couldn't go to Joey's room without wakin' his folks.
Go wait in the barn, the girl instructed, I'll get him.
Cody nodded and departed from the window.
Becky got into her robe and kept an eye on the sleeping Maya as she tipped out of their room.
Peeking inside the largest bedroom, she internally rejoiced at seeing the younger child exiting the bathroom.
Joey, she called to urgently, careful not to project to her aunt and uncle.
The initially startled boy went to her, stepping out into the hall. What's going on?
Cody's in trouble. Come with me.
Joey asked no more and linked hands with her.
They stopped off at the front door to put on their coats and boots, but left through the back so as not to alert Erik.
In the barn, Cody ran a hand along Xander's side and mane. He heard the others coming and looked in anticipation.
"Cody," Joey ran in first, "are you okay?"
"Yeah, but my folks've been fightin'," Cody explained despondently. "My ma wants us to go to New York, but Dad ain't havin' it. I thought I wouldn't get to see you guys again."
Becky motioned, "Come in. It's too cold."
Once indoors again, Becky gathered some spare linens while the boys invaded the kitchen cupboard for snacks. After Joey managed to snag Bounty, they moved everything down to the basement and into the wide storage closet. They left the double doors cracked to let in light.
"Why doesn't your dad want to come with us?" Joey huddled with Cody against the back wall. "Did we do something wrong?"
Becky stated knowingly, "We didn't do anything, Joey."
"My dad thinks it's bad to be so rich," Cody said. "I feel like he blames you guys for what I did." He looked to Becky. "Thanks again for not squealin'."
She only nodded.
Joey looked confused. "What're you talking about?"
Cody told him, "I stole a Superman outta the toy store and Becky saw me. My uncle caught me and my daddy gave it to me good. I'll probably get in again after this. I hate that I'm draggin' you two along."
"I don't care," Joey said boldly. "Even if my Uncle Erik spanks me with my pants down again it'll be worth it."
Cody's mouth nearly dropped. "You get spanked with your pants up sometimes? Wow." He began to wonder if having a healing factor was so great.
Becky fed a chunk of lettuce to Bounty. "I wish this closet could take us to Narnia. There, all the animals could talk and help us. And they'd listen to us, even if we are just kids."
"Yeah," Cody reached over to rub the rabbit, "that'd be the best."
Joey turned quiet before raising a question. "Becky? Do you think you could maybe use a little of your magic on Wolverine?"
"It's really hard on grownups," she told him. "I can make him forget something or make him say yes to something, but that doesn't last long at all. Besides, Uncle Charles would see through it. I just know it."
Cody propped his head up forlornly. "I don't know what to do."
"Me, either," Joey whispered sadly.
"Don't worry, guys," Becky urged them. "I'll think of something. Let's just try to sleep now, okay?"
The boys nodded and they all began to settle.
Becky did not fall asleep for several minutes, determined to figure things out.
IIIIIII
The light grew much brighter over their faces and Emma's voice could be heard with, "Here they are."
Alarmed at first, the three children and one rabbit quickly jumped from slumber. A gathering of Emma, Charles, Erik, Kayla, Logan, Victor, Hank, Raven, Alex, Sean, and Maya stood in the basement.
Logan growled at Cody. "You little— you had us worried sick. Out here, now."
Joey stuck his hand out in front of Cody, letting loose a few sparks.
"Joseph," Charles reproached.
"He doesn't want to go, Daddy," Joey said. "Cody wants to be an X-Man like us."
"Enough of this. All of you out, now," Erik ordered.
Becky stood up. "But he does want to come back with us, Papa. His mom does, too. It's just Logan who won't listen to anybody."
"Look, I don't need any tips from the half-pint princess about my family," Logan said matter-of-factly. "Cody, let's go."
Becky glared at the man. "He doesn't have to. Just because he was born to you doesn't make him yours you know."
Silence fell across the room at her outburst.
Kayla extended her hands towards Cody. "Sweetie, please."
The ten-year-old timidly stepped out to go into her arms. "I'm sorry I worried you, Mama."
"You should be." Logan knelt down to his level. "Have I ever once walked out and just left you and your ma in the middle of the night?"
"No, sir," Cody answered.
"That's right," Logan nodded. "You got beef with us, you open that flappin' mouth of yours and say somethin'. Now, I've heard your ma's peace on all this. So you tell me here and now why this X-Man thing is such a big deal to ya."
"You wouldn't understand, Daddy," Cody put forth.
"What do ya mean I wouldn't understand?" Logan frowned.
"You don't know what it's like to be alone," his son stated.
"How are you alone?" Logan wanted to know. "Ya got us."
"Not that kinda alone," Cody tried to explain. "Mama knows what it feels like, but you don't. 'Cause you have Uncle Vic."
Jaw lowering a moment, Logan shared a look with Kayla before turning back to their son. "This is about… Cat, you know I ain't even meet your uncle 'til I was nine."
"You have him now," Cody insisted. "Just like how all the X-Kids have each other. You're always gonna have Uncle Vic, but my sister's dead and I'll never see her again."
Kayla's arms tightening even stronger around Cody, Logan slowly got back to his feet. He glanced towards the young mutant team.
His eyes then settled on his very silent brother. "Guess I forget how lucky I am."
"Happens to the best of us, chap." Tugging Raven over, Charles patted Erik's shoulder.
Emma folded her arms, eyes turning upward.
IIIIIII
Zipping up her coat, Maya stepped outside to the front of the house. She gazed over to where he stood off to the distance and approached.
"You really shouldn't do that."
Logan looked at her then back to his cigar. "Ain't gonna kill me." He threw the nearly finished stick of tobacco to the ground and crushed it under his boot. "Ain't much that will."
Maya placed her hands inside her coat pockets. "What happened to Cody's sister?"
"A bad flu." Logan slouched against a short tree. "Four years," he shook his head distantly, "can't believe it's been that long. Cody got it, too, but he healed up."
The girl turned confused. "There wasn't anything Kayla could do?"
Logan said, "I keep tryin' to tell her that."
Maya moved to stand nearer to him against the tree. "I like being here. It helps me forget."
"About what?"
"My dad's death." He turned his head to face her and she peered ahead. "Three years this summer. It was a car accident. He died before any kind of medical response decided to show." Logan continued to stare, unsure of what to say. "But I'm still here." Maya glanced at him.
"Kid," Logan tossed her hood over her head, "wish I had an ounce of what you got."
"Ditto." Maya placed a hand on his shoulder and pecked his cheek before turning to go.
Logan squatted over the damp ground, staring into the mix of mud and snow leftover by the rain. He sensed another round soon to come.
He looked up after a moment at another pair of boots squishing towards him. "What can I do ya for, city boy?"
"I want you to take this." Frank removed something from the pocket of his jeans and handed it over.
The man took it and looked into his hand at the X.
IIIIIII
Gloves and helmet on, he stood before the massive rock formation. The rain increased, spraying over him only to be ignored. He propped his cane up. Foot in the first hole large enough for him to grip, Charles started up. He groaned at one particularly slippery point, but continued on.
After a few minutes, he felt his belt buckle jump. How did you find me?
You can thank Emma. Charles Xavier, gather what is left of your senses and come down from there this instant.
I'm sorry, Erik, but I cannot oblige. Charles went up some more.
If I have to force you down—
You use your powers on me and I shall do the same to you, Charles guaranteed. I won't let you stop me, Erik.
Charles, Erik began to follow him up, this is ridiculous. You can hardly bear your own weight to stand and you go after something this foolhardy? Just tell me why.
Because, Charles tried to shove all pain to the backburner, I may never receive another chance.
Without another word to stop him, as it would only be futile, Erik used the bulk of his concentration to be ready to catch the younger man the moment he needed it. To Erik's relief and elation, that moment failed to arrive. They reached the summit and Charles rolled over onto the patch of grass above. Erik soon joined him, attempting to catch his breath.
He spotted a nearby cave and helped Charles up. "Come on." He brought them in out of the rain. "Charles, I can't even begin to—"
The enormous smile that came to the Professor's face quieted him. "I did it… Erik, I did it!" He threw his arms over his brother. "Bloody fabulous, I did it!"
"You certainly did." Erik held him tight and began unleashing a series of rapid swats over his chosen blue jean attire.
"Ow- ah- Erik!" The smacks felt like flame tipped arrows across Charles' wet seat.
"Mountain climbing? On an injured leg? During a rain storm?" Erik smacked with every syllable. "Charles, this is the most foolish thing you have ever done."
"Brother, please," Charles urged. "Ah- try to understand!"
"Understand this." Erik got Charles' pants and underwear down and tucked him under his arm. He then began to spank him bare.
For the next full minute, Charles cried out. The agony in his leg became second to the torment taking place on his behind.
At last, Erik released and redressed him. Noticing a boulder, Erik took them over to it. He sat, pulling Charles down into his lap. The young professor cried right into his shoulder.
Despite his anger, mainly worry, Erik rubbed his back. "You could have been killed, Charles. Was a moment's victory worth reigniting the fear we all felt before we came here?"
"I'm sorry, brother," Charles sniffed. "Something came over me and… I simply had to. It was terribly frightening and yet, part of me knew."
"Knew what?"
"That I did not need to fear." Charles glanced up at him, eyes as watery as the moisture buildup taking place outside. "Because somehow you would find me. Don't you see, Erik? I knew I could truly do this when you appeared at my side."
Erik thought about that then sighed deeply. "Why didn't you just ask me to come with you?"
Innocence came over Charles' face. "Where would the sporting fun in that have been?" He flinched when the man raised his hand again. "Erik- Erik, please."
"Calm yourself, brother." Erik used the hand to lift Charles' left leg. He started rolling up the pants sleeve. "If you've done any further damage to yourself, you are getting another spanking. With no dessert- ever. And no chess. And- you're grounded."
With his brother going back and forth between lecturing and inspecting his leg, Charles only smiled contentedly and rested on him.
Despite the fact that he knew he would have to lug Charles' tired weight down to the ranch, Erik did not really mind. Charles had obtained his victory and as he held the pesky little Lab Rat, Erik felt he himself had achieved one of his own.
IIIIIII
Not at all surprised, Victor saw Hank approach the exterior of the building promptly at six o'clock.
"Right on time, kid."
"What are we doing here?" Hank asked when he got close enough.
"Thought you might like to see my place of business." Victor started leading them into the bar.
"You work here?"
"Sort of." He indicated the bar. "Have a seat."
Hank appeared bothered. "Victor, I really don't care for drinking."
"That makes two of us," the older man informed. "Order us up a couple ginger ales. I'll be right with ya."
With a slight shrug, Hank sat on a stool and gave the bartender their order. While he waited, he watched Victor strike up a conversation with a few men. Pretty soon, they headed for the pool table. Hank started to get up, but Victor shook his head, making him remain in place.
When their ginger ales arrived, Hank sipped on his. He then painfully observed Victor lose three rounds of pool in a row. Thinking his ears had deceived him a moment, Hank heard him propose they double the bet to give him a little push. A smile grew on Hank's face as Victor walk away with four times as much money as he'd originally wagered.
He returned to Hank and chugged down his ginger ale in a gulp before laying a ten dollar bill on the counter. "Keep the change, Mack."
"Take it easy, Vic," the bartender returned.
"That was some display," Hank commented as they left out together. Victor suddenly stopped walking. "What?"
"Wait for it," was all he said.
Soon enough, a few of the very livid pool players followed them outside.
"Hey pal, we want our money back."
"Not the way the game's played," Victor said simply.
"Then we take it back."
"Four against two," Victor countered. "Guess we're done for, Hank."
"Looks that way, Victor," Hank concurred in an even tone.
The two in front made dives for Victor and Hank.
Victor caught the first and sent him flying into his friend.
Hank flipped the second over onto his back before tossing the last one over his head.
The two mutants waited to see what would come next. The four shakily stood and scrambled away.
"Keep the damn money!" one shot back.
Victor dusted off his hands and shook his head. "We get these out-of-towners in every so often. Lousy drunks. If they wanna throw their money away, I'm happy to collect." He took a collection of bills out of his pocket. "Here. Have a spoil."
"I don't need that," Hank turned down.
"Who says it's for you?" Victor shoved the money into his hand. "Buy the little lady somethin' pretty. Or somethin' for Tinker Bell. That girl's got some spark in her. You be sure and take care of her now."
Hank enclosed a fist around the money. "Come with us."
Victor raised an eyebrow. "What're you on about?"
"Come back with us. I'm not beseeching you on behalf of the X-Men." Hank walked up closer on him. "I'm asking you to come back because I don't want this to be goodbye, Victor. There's so much more I can learn from you. I know it."
Victor reached forward and placed a hand on the younger shoulder. "You ain't the only one that's been learnin' here, kid. Come on now." He gave him a mock punch to the jaw. "Don't fall apart on me- don't you dare. Go home, get your wife's scent all over ya, and get ready to take off tomorrow."
He promised, "I won't forget you, Victor."
"Boohoo for you then."
Hank half-smiled. "You never turn off." He offered him a one-armed hug.
Victor returned it, patting his back twice. "You stay good, Hank. I mean it." He gave the young scientist's hair a good-natured tug then let him go.
Before they completely pulled away, Hank slipped something to him.
Victor clinched up his hand and walked away from him.
When he returned home through the living room way, he found his brother crouched and mislaid staring into the glowing fireplace. Victor came up on him and Logan stood. Holding out his open hand, Victor showed him the X patch he carried. Logan revealed his, holding it up between two fingers. Pocketing his, Victor gave him a hard slap on the backend before going into his room.
Logan leaned forward towards the mantle, knocking his forehead against it lightly.
IIIIIII
Charles used the brush to go through the freshly washed blonde hair. "Is my little one happy to be going home?"
"Uh huh," came the child's vague response.
"I believe Bounty will make a fine addition to our family. Also, I was thinking," Charles put the brush down to wrap both arms around him, "what if we use some of our back property to build a nice big barn for Xander? That way you three could be together constantly."
Joey shifted to look at him, putting on a smile. "Thank you, Daddy."
Charles gave him a kiss on the head then returned to brushing his hair.
Emma re-entered a few minutes later. "Sorry that took so long." She stepped out of her slippers and climbed into bed with them. "I was on the phone with Kayla."
"Can Cody still come over before we leave tomorrow?" Joey asked.
"Just for a while. They'll be much too busy, dear." Emma took her file to go over her nails. "They have a lot to do before they meet up with us in New York soon."
Time froze for Joey for a moment. "Huh?"
"Message from Kayla." Emma flashed a smile his way. "We won."
An enormous grin came to Joey's face. "We won!" He leapt out of bed and zoomed right out of the room. "Becky, we won! We won!"
Erik peeked in from the hallway. "Oh divine. More children."
Charles shook his head at him. "And you love it."
"Lies," the older man promptly denied.
IIIIIII
Night wind coursing through his chestnut brown hair, the Professor stood out gazing above his grand property. The moon acted as his sole means of light.
Charles?
Without turning around, he extended a hand to her. Join me, Emma.
She moved to stand at his side. Are you alright, sugar?
Look at it, Emma. The last I saw this land, I was broken. Now, I feel so restored.
Emma hugged him from the side. So do I.
I've spent countless hours at night thinking about how close we came to losing everything. Charles took her hand and brought them off his balcony and back into his room. There's so much I still haven't done with you.
Emma nearly fluttered off at his touch to her cheek. Charles.
I've had my fair share of the female kind. Charles lay her down on his mattress and positioned himself over her. But never have I brought a single one into this room, onto this bed. She turned her head and his brow creased. What is it, love?
I've wanted us to do this for so long. She looked back up at him. But I do not want this to serve as a reminder of the woman you first felt on that ship.
All I see, Charles lowered until only their noses separated them, is my woman. I love you, Emma.
I love you, Charles.
Endlessly, they concurred.
IIIIIII
The moment her eyelids separated, the glow returned to her tenfold. Emma found herself snug against a pillow in the form of Charles' bare chest.
She kissed the center of it. Don't you move, Sugar. I'll be right back with something more for you to nibble on.
Getting up and out of bed, Emma searched for her long discarded robe. She saw the white silk garment on a chair and slipped it on as a means of temporary cover. She stopped off in her suite to use the bathroom and came back out to a ringing telephone.
Making a face, she grudgingly picked it up. "Emma Frost."
"Emma, thank God," the panicked voice sounded on the other end. "I've been calling and calling since yesterday.
"Chris?" she recognized. "Slow down. What is the matter?"
"Cordelia is missing."