Rise or Fall

by Heiress Mellie

First Class: Charles and Erik have accepted their roles as guardians and headmasters over the young mutants but there is still work to be done for the greater than typical family. This is a familial and discipline, including spanking, centered fiction.

110. Chapter 110 Secret Treasure

X-Men-First Class: Rise or Fall

Chapter One Hundred Ten

Author's Word: The cause for the delay of this chapter had nothing to do with health, my loves, but with work. I put in extra shifts that made me too exhausted to type. Fortunately, that second wind has been caught. I really like writing for you guys, what with you caring about my well-being and all. It makes my day.

I really hope everyone got the chance to enjoy one of my most favorite holidays of the year, Father's Day. A father is a very rare blessing in this life and for those of you lacking in that area, if you so much as have a male teacher who's willing to take time out of his day to hear your problems, let him know how special he is.

As far as Rise or Fall is concerned, here are some polls. I'll leave it up to you guys whether you vote for your favorite dad (Victor is allowed in this poll) or not because I know it'll be a tough decision for many of you. So, for one, who's your favorite elder brotherly duo? The Headmasters, the brothers Howlett-Creed, the Playmates (Charles and Trick), or the Hunters (Erik and Victor)? Who's your favorite husband? Logan or Hank? Which father/child relationship do you love to see? And from Hank down, which of the younger guys do you think would make a great dad someday?

Okay, enough! Haven't you just missed me? Please enjoy and review!

Pulling into the Shell station, the sleek royal blue Chevy Impala settled in beside Pump 4. Turning off the engine, Trick glanced to his right at his clearly worn young passenger.

"I'll try to be in and out. You want anything, Precious?"

With a rub to her eyes, she requested, "M&M's."

Nodding, Trick leaned over to kiss her cheek. "Stay put." He got out of the car and went inside the store.

Jasmine removed her seatbelt and transferred over to the driver's seat to play with the steering wheel.

At hearing the store's doors opening, she glanced out of the window. She saw not her father but a small girl scampering out. Jasmine's eyes jumped when a package of some kind fell out from under her sweater but the girl only kept moving. Looking around to ensure she had no gawkers around, Jasmine used her mutation to slip out of the car. She ran up and grabbed hold of the pack of chocolate striped cookies.

"Hey!" The girl froze in place before very slowly turning around. "You dropped this." Jasmine held the package out to her.

Blinking several times, the girl stepped up to retrieve the cookies. When she reentered the light, Jasmine saw she had deep brown skin and utterly messed dark hair. Her orange-red striped sweater and jeans came with several visible holes and Jasmine thought for a moment that a stray dog had made a bone out of her sneakers.

"Thank you," the girl mumbled then darted off.

Jasmine blinked now before hurrying around the side of the store after her. "Wait! Hold on!" She stopped again to face her. "What's your name?" She did not speak. "I'm Jasmine Hughes."

She rubbed one foot against the pavement as she got out, "Sonia."

"Sonia," Jasmine smiled, clearly liking the sound of that. "Sonia what?"

"Mason."

"Are you hungry?" Jasmine stepped up closer. "I can get you something way better than this stuff to eat."

Before Sonia could respond, the broadcast of, "Jasmine!" startled both girls.

"Oh that's my daddy," Jasmine recognized, looking back to her. "Come on. He'll take you home."

Sonia's coloring seemed to deplete and she shook her head to the point it seemed it would detach from her neck. "No… no!"

"It's okay," Jasmine assured then turned around to call out, "Daddy, over here."

Trick turned the corner and ran up to her. "Precious… what're you doing over here?"

"I was…" Jasmine looked back, finding nothing but empty air behind her.

Trick studied her expression. "What, baby?"

Her eyes went to him. "I thought I saw a cat. I thought she was hungry."

"Don't worry." Trick's arm went around her as he guided them back towards the Impala. "Those creatures can survive out here far longer and better than we can. And I can just hear Charles' reaction to one of them clawing up his antiques."

Jasmine only nodded, a vacant expression on her face. She glanced back again before they got in the car, eyes still meeting with nothingness.

IIIIIII

"It was good overall. I like how they presented it." Arms attached to one of Alex's, Kerstin shook her head lightly. "Though I don't understand how anyone can argue in favor of cutting funding for urban schools. These kids carry books first published during the Revolution as it is." She paused to take in his reactionless face. "I know, I know. My choices of dates are completely square and hokey and it's all you can do to stay awake when you're around me, right?"

Alex stopped walking to glance down at her. "Ever feel like someone you see all the time isn't who they make themselves out to be?"

Her eyes flashed. "What do you mean?"

"One of my friends at school," he explained. "It's so weird because making friends outside of my house was never on the wish list for when I started college. But we're all in this group together and we look out for one another, but I feel like something's off with Leon."

"Well," Kerstin tucked a few strands of blonde behind her ear, "you and Raven don't exactly go out of your way to reveal all about yourselves."

"This doesn't feel the same," Alex urged. "If it was just some random personal detail he didn't like to go into it'd be one thing, but…" He let off a sigh. "My mutation doesn't affect my relationships." He noticed her starry eyed gaze. "What?"

"Just when I think you're from another planet, you turn out to be one of the most attentive guys I've ever met."

"Don't let it get around." He smiled. "Let's go."

They returned to where Alex had left Erik's sedan and loaded into it.

He drove her out to the designated spot in the woods then remarked, "This is so weird. I always feel like I'm ditching you in the middle of nowhere."

"Not the same as an actual front door but it gets the job done. Good night, Alex." She started out.

"By the way," he snagged her wrist, making her look back, "these politicians need to take a serious salary cut to give our children the resources they deserve."

Kerstin exhaled a faint laugh from her throat then peered at him in fondness.

Alex reached over, brushing a brief kiss across her lips. "Good night, Kerstin."

Last goodbyes said, Kerstin got out of the car and used the secret access to make it down into Children of Liberty territory.

"Oh look whose smiling."

"What have you been doing?"

"What a difference a man makes."

Kerstin waved off the passing agents. "Knock it off, people." She made it to the Captain's office. "I just wanted to…" She trailed at seeing Steve standing to his full height with arms crossed and a pensive expression on his face. Zaro sat behind the desk, miming the countenance. "What's wrong?"

Zaro hopped to his feet, banging a fist down on the desk. "What's wrong is this guy keeping you out at all hours and taking you to shady places."

"It's a quarter to ten," Kerstin pointed out the USA wall clock, "and we were at a political lecture hosted by one of my professors."

Zaro narrowed his eyes. "Just what kind of politics?"

"Lazaro." Steve turned to him with pointed eyes.

"Fine, I'll let you handle it." He started out then looked at Kerstin again. "But I'm watching you."

Kerstin responded with, "Get out."

"'Kay, love you." He left with that.

After a brief 'help me' headshake, Steve settled his attention on Kerstin. "I see things with Alex are progressing nicely."
"Seems that way," Kerstin concurred positively.

"…Though I still wish you had not chosen to pursue this relationship."

"Steve, please." Kerstin's fingers went through her hair in exasperation. "I don't want this getting in the way of every aspect of my life anymore. I just want it behind me finally."

"I want the same thing for you," he assured, hand going to her shoulder. "Alex is a fine young man, but you must remember with who his loyalties will always remain if any of this comes to light."

Kerstin's blue eyes cast downward, unable to refute that.

IIIIIII

Shuffling through the numerous papers in his lap, Erik could not hide how his lips upturned at Charles' yawn. The diligent Professor could combat sleep far better than a full army of cranky toddlers.

Charles put forth, "There are times when I believe I have another boy dealing with a Jekyll and Hyde disorder."

Erik's eyebrow lifted. "What do you mean?"

The younger man explained, "Ask Hank and Joey could benefit from a better attention span and additional homework. Ask Trick and he's the golden scholar who never ceases in amazement."

Erik nodded. "I believe the Kangaroo has decided if a subject isn't up to his interests, it also isn't worth his time."

"While I can understand that, it's also in his interests to avoid my hand," Charles raised pointedly. "So he'd best try to apply himself better in science and math."

"Seems Scott might benefit from the "hands on" treatment as well," Erik mentioned, catching Charles by surprise. "He made a D on his French test."

"A D?" Charles proved flabbergasted. "That isn't like him at all."

"I know, which is why I'm giving him the opportunity for a make-up at the end of this week."

"The challenges that comes with having a fuller student body." Charles sighed softly and started to reach for his temple but immediately dropped his hand.

Erik sent him a shark gaze. "I saw that." He used his head to indicate the upstairs. "Go get some sleep."

"Erik," the Professor protested in mild irritation.

"Do you wish to awaken to an immense throb?"

"No," Charles admitted, leaving his work on the small table between them before he stood. "Fine, a night it is."

"I'll bring some tea up for you," Erik offered.

Charles started out. "You're a lamb."

"Lies," Erik claimed.

IIIIIII

As soon as their Mutant Psychology class let out for the day, Scott gathered his things then hastened to catch up to Becky at the door.

"Rebecca." She immediately stopped at his voice and turned to face him. "Gee, I can't tell you how plain dumb I feel even bringing this up to you, but I all but failed my French test."

"Oh no," Becky reacted in concern. "How come?"

"Just too many assignments to keep up with at once I guess." Scott's shoulders sagged helplessly. "But Erik's been real great about it. He's giving me another chance. I was hoping since you do so good at these foreign languages that you could help me out. I'd really appreciate it."

"Sure, Scott," she agreed. "I don't have to dance this afternoon," Becky took one of his hands, "so we can start now."

"Thanks," Scott beamed, following her out.

"Jasmine, dear." Emma waited until the young girl came up to the desk. "I couldn't help but notice how distracted you seemed today. I know you and father got in a little late from your grandparents last night. Are you feeling alright?"

"Oh yes ma'am," Jasmine responded. "I'm just tired. This time of year is the worst. It feels like I'm always going back and forth."

"Having your volleyball game staring you in the face probably isn't much of a stress reliever," Emma said sympathetically. "I'll talk to the men about reducing your training for this week. It's nothing you can't make up."

Jasmine smiled widely in appreciation. "Thank you, Emma." She considered something. "Emma?"

"Yes?" Emma waited for her to go on.

Frank rushed in then, grabbing hold of Jasmine's hand. "Last one to the soda shop is a rotten egg."

"See you later, Em," Jasmine called out as she allowed herself to be whisked away.

Emma leaned back in her seat, a protective hand going across her stomach. Here's hoping your extracurricular activities don't extend beyond chess club.

IIIIIII

When they arrived at the Shell station, Frank wheeled up on his skateboard for a closer look.

"This is better than the soda shop again because…?"

Jasmine glanced around. "You see anything?"
"Hm." Frank pointed to one car. "Jeans, t-shirt, driving a Cadillac? Dude stole his old man's car."

"No," Jasmine urged. "I mean like a little girl; black, younger than Becky I think. She was at the store last night stealing then up and vanished when my dad came around."

"Wait a minute? Last night? You guys didn't make it back until close to eleven," Frank recalled. "What's a little kid, especially some girl, doing out by herself that late?"

"I don't know. I just feel like it…" Jasmine could not find words to describe the intuitive emotions that had been brewing in her since the previous night. "She couldn't have gotten that far, right? Can't you use your powers to find her?"

"Okay," Frank agreed. "But stay close."

Linking hands again, the pair rode their skateboards down the block of mostly boarded up houses. With the street mostly vacant, Frank used his transparency power on low level to peek inside each property. They proved either vacant, sleeping grounds for wanderers, or animal dwellings.

"Frank." Jasmine squeezed his shoulder when his light flashed over to the bottom half of a particular two-flat and she caught sight of the familiar face. "That's Sonia."

"Easy," Frank cautioned, turning off his power.

Moving on foot now, they picked up their boards and proceeded over towards the side of the brick building. Holding on tightly to Frank so that he could come along with her, Jasmine phased them both inside. They found themselves in some sort of kitchenette.

Sonia gasped at the sight of them, dropping the bowl she had with her. Another, much younger girl, practically leapt from her seat and hid underneath the table.

"It's okay," Jasmine immediately urged. "It's me, Jasmine. From last night? This is my boyfriend, Frank."

"Hi," the boy waved, though he could not help but frown at the dwellings. He'd seen better in the top crime infested areas of New York City.

Sonia slowly approached and extended two fingers to tap Jasmine. "…Angel."

"I'm alive," Jasmine promised her then glanced around briefly. "Is this where you live?"

Sonia gave off a nod.

Frank pointed towards the table. "Is that your sister?"

Another nod. "Mariah."

Frank crouched down on all fours and crawled over to the table. "Mariah? Hey, Mariah?" He found her with her knees clutched up against her chest. "Mariah, I…" He thought of something. "You want to see a trick?" He turned his eyes on quite low so as not to blind the younger child.

Completely intrigued by the mysterious glow, Mariah crawled out towards him. She touched around his face and Frank let her.

Jasmine asked Sonia, "Where's your mama and daddy?"

Sonia gestured towards one room. "Mama sleep."

Carefully, Jasmine made her ways towards the ajar door and opened it fully. Inside, she found a young woman in a nightgown asleep on a queen sized bed. Upon closer inspection, Jasmine also noted the ring of white around her mouth along with the nearby needles.

Summoning a voice, she petitioned, "Frank!"

Frank hurried in and stopped at the sight. He tipped over, a pair of fingers going to the woman's neck.

Getting the pulse, he looked to Jasmine to diagnose, "She's alive. She's just out of it."

"I can see that." Jasmine made a face as she went around. On a night stand, she picked up an ID card. "Oh my God."

Frank jumped up. "What?"

"Janis Mason… Frank, this lady's only twenty-five."

Frank's eyes bulged. "With two little kids?" He looked back, seeing the girls in the doorway. "This is your mom?"

Sonia answered, "Uh huh," while Mariah remained statue still.

"It's so cold in here." Jasmine tugged her autumn jacket tighter around herself. "Come with us." She went to where Frank stood. "We'll take you somewhere warm."

"No!" Sonia responded in a near desperate tone.

"Why not?" Frank wondered.

Sonia tugged on Mariah's hand. "They go take her."

Jasmine and Frank exchanged a look, both filled with uncertainty.

Frank eventually decided, "I'm gonna go run to that store." He removed his jacket, leaving him in his sweater. "Here, take this." He wrapped it around Mariah then looked at Jasmine. "Don't go anywhere. I'll bring back food."

"Okay," Jasmine nodded. "Be careful."

Frank moved through the tiny apartment to leave out through the backdoor they had.

Jasmine silently faced the other girls then held her hands out for them. Clearly hesitant, they both joined with her and they returned to the living room/kitchen area and sat in the cleanest corner Jasmine could find.

Sonia caressed her cheek. "You so pretty."

Jasmine told her, "So are you." Mariah reached up to play in her mane of caramel blonde hair. "You both are. Sonia? How old are you?"

She looked as if she honestly had to think about it. "Nine. My sister four."

Jasmine seemed further shocked then said, "I'll be thirteen."

After a moment, Sonia asked, "When you go see your daddy again?"

"I live with him." Now Sonia looked shocked. "Where's yours?"

"Hers gone." Sonia pointed to Mariah. "I ain't got one."

Unsure of what to say to that, Jasmine glanced down at Mariah. "She could be my sister…"

Frank hurried back with two loaded plastic bags in his possession. "Here, I got food." He squatted by the girls and started passing out packages of assorted donuts, potato chips, juice boxes, and even a small veggie platter with ranch dip he found at the store. "Put this on, Sonia." He removed a fleece travel blanket and gave it over to her.

Jasmine helped her place it across her shoulders. "You'll be warm this way."

While they ate, Frank took out the toiletries and miniature first-aid kit he had acquired. "I wanted to make sure Mariah's alright- healthy and all. Okay?"

"'Kay," Sonia responded softly, sticking another carrot stick in her mouth.

Frank held out his arms. Mariah tilted her head then scooted close to him, her visage locked on his eyes.

Using some moist wipes, Frank did everything he could to remove the excess dirt from her face. Not going too personal, he only checked over her arms and legs and clean those off as well. Gratefully, he did not find any significant bruises or cuts.

When he finished, Jasmine tested the water in the kitchen sink then got Mariah's hair washed. She had to keep her stomach in check at the lice and other dead insects that poured out into the sink. Jasmine made sure to scrub the hair extra hard.

Sonia walked over and tugged on Jasmine's jacket to get her attention. "Can you do mine?"

"Of course," Jasmine promised.

After both heads of hair got clean enough for Jasmine's standards, she used the comb and brush she often carried with her to style their hair into French braids.

Done with that, Jasmine used some of the shampoo and a few cloths to start scrubbing down their kitchen as best she could. Frank helped by picking up any loose debris and oddities Mariah would surely get snagged on.

"What are we supposed to do now?" Frank put forth when he got over close to Jasmine. "We can't leave them like this."

"I know, but they seem really scared of adults," Jasmine said. "You should have seen how Sonia acted when she heard my daddy's voice last night. They're scared of getting taken from their mom and each other. We can't tell Charles and Erik. Definitely not Kayla- you know she'll call the law."

"What about Emma?" Frank put forth. "She's a telepath. She can get them to come close to her and you know how cool she is."

"Then you know Charles will find out," Jasmine pointed out. "Victor and Logan with his crazy self will just scare them."

Frank mentioned next, "Maybe Sean will know what to do."

Jasmine shook her head. "Maya will find out. She's good people; too good. She'll tell the adults."

"We can't even go to my mom," Frank said, hating that realization. "But we gotta do something for them."

Jasmine could only lean tiredly against the sink.

IIIIIII

"Friday es Vendredi," Scott swallowed a bite of milk dipped cookie before going on, "Saturday es Samedi. Sunday es Dimanche."

"Right," Becky said happily. "You picked up the days of the week really fast. Let's try months now."

"Anything you say," Scott went along.

Alex came through the kitchen to obtain a bottled water from one of the refrigerators. "You shrimptoids need any help in here?"

Scott immediately shot him a look. "We're fine, Alexander, thank you."

The blonde quickly took his leave before his brother decided to prod him out with an optic blast next.

IIIIIII

Stopping for a moment, Sean shook out his hand with vigor.

"I'm still not used to these cramps."

Trick reached out to massage his hand. "You'll develop the fingers of a guitarist before long. Don't you worry."

"Hi, love," Sean acknowledged Jasmine when the girl passed through.

Jasmine walked into the studio less than her usual glowing self. "Hey, y'all."

"Precious," Trick grinned. He stood up from his piano bench. "Good news. Mommy's definitely coming to the game on Friday."

"And I'm working on a new obnoxious sign," Sean told her. "Go Westchester Raiders!"

Jasmine gave them a soft smile. "I need to study and catch some sleep." She gave them each a cheek kiss. "Night."

"Good night," they returned as she left.

Trick sat back down. "There she goes again. No matter what continent we land on, that lass always manages to stretch herself too thin."

Sean joked, "And she's only two pounds as is."

IIIIIII

Head propped up by his hand, Frank became jarred from his thoughts when the glass of milk came down beside him.

He looked up and smiled. "Thanks."

Erik stepped behind him to rub at the young shoulders. "Burning the midnight oil, boychick?"

"It's just a couple worksheets." Frank moved one paper on top of the other. "I'm only in Music and Art for Trick. Plus I needed a cake class besides biology and history."

"Were I to send you off for scientific study, you'd only come back with the results of inconclusive brilliance." He put arms around him and lowered down until their cheeks touched. "And how was your afternoon with your lady?"

"Great."

Erik immediately picked up on the flat tone of voice he used. "That's less than convincing."

Frank shut his eyes a moment then reopened them. "Erik…" He turned to look at him and the man only glanced back patiently. "I'm glad I'm here with you and Charles. Sorry if spend too much time being a brat most days."

Erik kissed his forehead. "You're no brat." He nuzzled noses with him. "Only one of mine."

The younger teenager put arms around him then nestled securely against the man's neck.

IIIIIII

French book dangling at his side with one arm, Scott's eyes narrowed at seeing Becky in the middle of some cowboy and Indian game featuring Joey and Cody. No doubt they'd brought her in for need of a damsel.

"Rebecca," Scott headed over, seizing her attention, "you think we could get some studying in? Just for a few minutes?"

"Okay. Let's go up here." Becky began up the tree house rope ladder.

Joey frowned in disapproval. "You two are gonna study during recess?" He voiced it as if a capital crime had been committed.

"We'll be back," Becky promised as the two older children disappeared inside the wooden house.

"Hm." Cody smirked after them.

"You're so lucky to have already taken so many different languages with your dad," Scott said to Becky from where they sat facing each other on the tree house's play rug. "I can't imagine trying to master something as ancient and hard as Hebrew."

"It's not bad once you see it as more than just funny words on paper," she reasoned. "I used to think it was really weird looking."

He suggested, "Maybe you can show me a couple of things you've learned when we're done with this."

"I'd love to," she said brightly.

Scott smiled at her then turned the book to the section discussing the different seasons.

IIIIIII

"There's that kid! Grab her!"

Frank and Jasmine had to accelerate their boarding at the commotion. They arrived outside the gas station to see Sonia struggling to get away from a large man.

"Hey, let her go!" Frank lit up his eyes and sent a blinding glare his way.

He let go of Sonia to cover his face.

When another man, presumably another store owner, ran at them Jasmine raised her hands and forced him hurdling toward the ground with a gust of her power.

"We have to get out of here," she determined.

Frank took hold of Sonia, picked up his skateboard, then started off as soon as Jasmine had her own board in grasp.

Taking Sonia's free hands, Jasmine summoned up all of her power to force them intangibly through the wall. She then had to catch her breath from the sensation.

Frank's hand went to her back. "Are you okay?"

Jasmine nodded shakily then clung to him. "Are you okay?" She looked at Sonia.

"Mmhmm," the girl murmured, also clearly taken aback from the entire experience.

A pair of feet headed their way and Mariah peeked out from under the travel blanket when she got close enough to them. Sonia promptly held her sister close.

"If they'd caught them, they would've tried to have them arrested," Jasmine said. "I know it."

"They wouldn't have cared for a second." Frank turned to the Mason girls. "You shouldn't have tried stealing anything. We said we'd come back."

Sonia squeezed Mariah tighter and mumbled, "Sorry…"

Frank took off his backpack and spilled out the various food items from it. "Go ahead and eat up." While they complied, he took one sandwich and headed for the back room with it.

Seeing Janis Mason passed out but in a different position, Frank crouched at the side of the mattress and tried to force bits of food into her mouth. He felt the relief when instinct kicked in to force her to chew the small pieces.

Jasmine came to lean against the doorway and folded her arms. "This isn't right." Frank glanced back at her. "These are little kids. Stealing, filthy, cold… they deserve better than this."

"I know." Done feeding Janis, Frank stood and opened his arms. Jasmine went into the hug. "Don't worry, Jazzy. You and me, we'll figure this out."

She gazed up at him, hazel eyes glistening. "I can always count on you."

"You got that right," he promised.

IIIIIII

The brothers' ears picked up on the footsteps. They jumped up in time to catch the adolescent couple coming through the woods behind the Xavier property.

Victor ran out to get in front of them, clearly catching them by surprise. "Alright, where have ya been?"

"Victor," Jasmine recognized while Frank defended, "Whoa, what's the problem? We're not even late."

"What's the problem?" Logan echoed incredulously. "Jasmine's coach called wanting to know why one of her players didn't bother to show up for a major practice with the game so close. Now what's goin' on here?"

"Why are you hounding me?" Jasmine demanded in distress. "I am under a lot of pressure right now so maybe I just wanted to spend a little time with my boyfriend. God, don't you have anything better to do than chase after me all the time?"

"Kind of hard to do anything else," Victor stated. "When it seems I have to chase you all the time."

"Look, Miss Priss," Logan added on. "What we "do" is watch after you little ankle biters. And let me tell you something. We're the best there is at what we do."

The children regained their calm at that.

"We were just goofing around, that's all," Frank told them. "We didn't do anything bad."

Not detecting any trace of a lie in his words, Victor softened. "Go on in and get something to eat."

Jasmine crossed her arms with a smirk as they walked by Logan. "Check you out. Best there is at what we do…"

Logan followed after them. "And you two better not have been doin' nothin' that would've gotten her stoned in my day."

Frank and Jasmine shared a questioning look at that.

While Jasmine went towards the kitchen, Frank instead made his way upstairs and into the lab. Hank looked to be working on some sort of closed experiment while Raven did her homework at the front of his desk.

Frank walked up. "I need to speak to you, Raven."

She immediately closed her book. "What's up?"

Frank looked towards the lab's owner. "Can I speak to Raven?"

The scientist surmised, "As in "get lost, Hank"."

"Bye," Frank waved him off.

"You're a model of civility, my friend." Hank nonetheless took the staircase up to his and Raven's private suite.

When he left, Raven looked at Frank closely. "Okay, love bug. What's this all about?"

Frank started things off with, "I really need your help."

Turning more so serious, Raven remained perfectly quietly while he talked.

IIIIIII

At her sister's pained mumbling from the chilly night air, Sonia repositioned herself on the couch to lay directly next to her for any additional warmth. The older gasped when Frank and Jasmine entered in their special way, but only because this time they had not come alone. A blonde pre-teen girl stood between them.

"Hey, we're back," Frank said. "And we brought our friend, Raven. Rae, this is Sonia and her little sis Mariah."

Still uncertain, the two hung back against the couch.

Raven looked around the space thoughtfully. "I used to live this way. It's just been so long I've mostly been able to forget… but not completely." As if walking around egg shells, she went around to the girls. "No one cared about me. They said I was so ugly." Sonia looked at her. "I had to steal all the time. Grownups don't understand, do they?" Sonia shook her head then gasped again when Raven grew into an older taller blonde female. "I'm not like most grownups, though. My husband's out in the car. He's a doctor. He'll help you. We'll help you."

"Please," Jasmine urged them. "I don't want to leave you here anymore."

Mariah only clung to Sonia, who managed to flip her legs over the side of the couch in order to rise.

IIIIIII

In the play room of the Xavier mansion, Jasmine and Frank sat on the sofa with Sean near to them on an arm. Alex watched Joey and Cody at a table while the two played with small dinosaur toys.

Trick walked in. "I just heard about everything." Jasmine got up to go hug him. "Oh Precious. Why didn't you say anything?"

"I couldn't," Jasmine insisted. "If they'd gotten separated, it would've been all my fault."

"They wouldn't have really separated them, would they?" Sean reasoned.

Alex gave him a look. "You'd be surprised how common that is in the system."

Hank and the Headmasters entered next.

Jasmine moved over to speak to them. "Are they okay?"

"Their mother is…" Hank tried to think how to word it. "Severely afflicted and she's going to need rehabilitation. But I examined each of them and Sonia and Mariah are physically fine for the most part."

Charles said positively, "They've had a bath and fresh clothes."

"Daddy." Joey got up and went over. "When can we play with them?"

Charles knelt to his son. "I don't think that's going to be possible right now, Little One. I've arranged for them all to be taken to a treatment center in Pennsylvania come morning."

"What?" Jasmine blew up. "You called people? Are you out of your mind?" A few objects sprung up and splattered across the room. "Now they're going to be broken up. I knew I couldn't trust you!"

"Jasmine." Trick hugged her from behind. "Baby, you have to calm down."

"It's not what you're thinking, love." Charles stood back up. "The center is about rehabilitation, not condemnation."

"Janis has a problem, Jasmine" Hank reiterated. "A very serious problem. And drug abused children require a great deal of help to be able to function normally. But at the end of this, they'll all be able to move on with their lives. Together."

"Because of you," Trick pointed out, patting Jasmine's shoulders. "You helped this family when you didn't have to."

"Yes, we did," Frank piped up.

"And in doing so you kept us in the dark while going back and forth to the outskirts of town." Erik walked over and squatted before him. "Isn't that right?"

"Yes, sir," Frank nodded.

Erik reached out, stroking his cheek. "Do you know how proud I am of you?"

Frank's features brightened intensely.

IIIIIII

"Having kids at like fourteen, fifteen years old." Maya placed the plates Cordelia handed her inside the right cabinet. "I can't even imagine that."

Cordelia shrugged casually, continuing to unload the dishwasher. "Never once?"

Maya looked at her. "Cordy, that's completely absurd. Teenage motherhood?"

"And the guarantee of having someone who will love you forever," Cordelia countered. "Then if you're really lucky, you get someone who's as wonderful as Joey. Someone who will always be there for you. Giving you the chance to be better than your own mom."

Absorbing that, Maya pressed her hands against the sink in thought.

IIIIIII

Wagon pulley in hand, Becky tugged her load along until she made it into the infirmary. Kayla sat beside Sonia's bed, holding the girl's hand while Raven stood nearby rocking Mariah into sleep.

Becky let go of the wagon to address the girls. "They don't get to travel much at all. We're usually just stuck in my room." She indicated the plethora of toys she had with her and gave one brown haired doll in particular over to Sonia. "So they want to go with you."

"…Thank you." Sonia held the doll in a tight lock.

Kayla stroked Becky's curls. "That's very nice of you, honey."

Becky did not respond but Kayla took full notice of the disgusted glower the little girl sent in the direction of Janis' bed.

IIIIIII

Stopping off in one bedroom, Erik saw Scott fully engrossed in his French book.

"I must give you credit." Scott looked up at the man. "You've put as much hard work as you possibly can into your studies."

"After hearing about those girls, homework and tests feel like the least of my worries," Scott said.

"Then let's see just how prepared you." Erik sat on the edge of the bed. "Come sit in my lap."

Scott went over and took a seat on him. "Oh boy."

"Don't be nervous," Erik encouraged. "Now, the days of the week are…?"

"Lundi, Mardi, Mercredi, Jeudi, Vendredi, Samedi, Damanche," Scott sprouted off.

"Hm, very good," Erik approved. "What about the four seasons?"

The child recited next, "le printemps, l'été, l'automne, and l'hiver."

"And perfectly accented? Most impressive, young man." Erik gave him a squeeze. "I do believe you're more than ready for that re-test." Scott smiled. "Only this time, don't feel the need to bring your own score down. If you want special time with a certain someone, it's better just to ask it of that someone."

Scott immediately sank. "Ha… guess I couldn't pull the wall over your eyes, huh?"

Erik took him by the chin. "You're someone who values honesty, Scott. You must expect it of yourself as well, understand?"

"Yes, sir. I'm sorry," he said sincerely.

"You wouldn't be the first of us to get tripped up over those particular feelings." Erik laid him back on the bed then confided, "Believe me."

IIIIIII

Mug of hot chocolate in hand, Charles carried it into the living room where his sister sat near to the fireplace.

"Here, drink this." He handed it over.

Raven took a long relaxing sip. "How do you always know what I need?"

"Years and years of you acting as my only reason for being may have something to do with it." He sat just across from her on an ottoman. "You shouldn't be so quick to dismiss your own efforts, Raven. What you did for the Mason girls spoke volumes tonight."

"You mean what the kids did."

"But they came to you," Charles emphasized. "Then the other girls did likewise. Raven, when the time comes you are going to be a fantastic mother. Wise, strong with so much care and devotion."

Raven asked meekly, "Any idea when the time is going to come?"

"In my experience," Charles responded with a twinkle to his eyes, "when you least expect it."

Taking another sip of the chocolate drink, Raven sat in pleasant silence with her brother while the light from the embers cast a warm red-gold blanket over them.

IIIIIII

Extreme anticipation filled up the community center's gymnasium while the mascot, a giant costumed eagle, performed. The X-Men practically took over an entire area of bleachers with the "Go Jazzy" banner Sean had put together nearly needing its own arena.

Noticing the baby stroller first, Trick waved Yvonne over. "Good God woman, how long's it take for you to work a comb through your head?"

"You better shut up." Yvonne sat by him. She unlatched Mackenzie and placed her on her lap. "Between changing this child and dealing with this thing called public transit, you're lucky I'm in one piece."

"Hi, sweet lass," Trick greeted Mackenzie pleasantly though he could only imagine after all of her recent stress what his daughter's reaction would be to the toddler's presence.

"Here they come," Frank pointed.

"Yeah, Jas!" Sean cried out while Alex and the younger boys yapped in her favor.

Logan shot up in his seat. "Go, baby!" He glared at the darkened faces the shout received. "What're you lookin' at? Not my fault your kid stinks."

Jasmine came out seventh among the girls jogging out, all in the uniforms of blue and purple. While the team waited on commands, she glanced back to see that her full family had arrive.

An enormous smile came to her face as she ran towards her parents. "Mackenzie!" She took the teeny girl straight out of their mother's arms to lift up and hold close to her. "Ma, you're here!"

An initially startled Yvonne stood to hug them as well. "Of course. I wanted to see you hit these kids in the face."

At the coach's whistle, Jasmine said, "Have fun. I'll see you in a bit." She gave Mackenzie another squeeze before giving her back to Yvonne.

Watching Jasmine hurry back out towards the net, Trick uttered into the air, "You've got this, Precious."

When the other two came back down beside him, he moved Mackenzie over to sit on his lap and slipped one arm around Yvonne while supporting the teeny child with the other.