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.

119. Chapter 119 Be of Good Cheer

X-Men-First Class: Rise or Fall

Chapter One Hundred Nineteen

Author's Word: Yeah, totally meant for this to go out on Saturday but my playing super soldier at work in addition to resulting extreme fatigue nixed that plan right out. Now let's see if I can actually finish decorating my room already. Please enjoy and review!

On a groggy return from the bathroom, Scott looked towards his window in time to witness another one of nature's callings. Hurrying over to completely press his nose against the glass, he watched the flakes dance and scatter on the wind.

"Snow…" A slow grin developed on his face. "Snow!"

In his haste to speed out of his room, he stumbled over a few of his toys that had not quite made it back into place after play and nearly slammed a knee into his desk. However, no obstacle proved strong enough to slow his run. As soon as he got downstairs, he stopped just long enough to throw on boots and his coat before going straight out the door.

IIIIIII

The cannon level blast roaring in his ears along with the blazing hot metal penetrating his midsection caused Hank to abruptly upright in bed. Feeling around his stomach, he found no traces of either bullet nor blood; only the moisture from the deep sweat that drenched his entire body. Looking to his left, he saw wife and son cuddled together and daughter doing the same with her teddy bear.

Grateful that he had not disturbed, most of all Raven who's studies frequently spiraled her straight into exhaustion, Hank took a moment to steady his breathing. Once sufficiently calm, he got up to splash cold water on his face from the bathroom sink. Jaws dripping, Hank lowered against his half of the dual vanity tiredly.

"Daddy." Vision going downward, the young scientist found his toddler in the doorway, clothed in one of his oversized Harvard shirts she'd wanted to sleep in.

"Baby Bear." Hank stooped to pick her up and hug against his chest. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."

Stroking his hair, Kiki assured, "It's okay, Daddy."

Somehow, Hank got the feeling she was not referring to his disturbing her sleep.

Clicking off the bathroom light, Hank journeyed back to the bed with her. Covering them both up, he managed to ease back into sleep with the bitty girl safely on top of him.

IIIIIII

Another paper wad successfully dunked in the trash bin, Logan took a victory spin in his chair. He immediately stopped when his eyes observed activity on one monitor. Initially believing it to be Frank, the Canadian wondered just what rock had hit the city native on the head to cause him to roam outdoors at such an hour. Though, he had heard about the kid's recent power surge and considered that as a possibility for the unusual behavior. However, he caught a brief glance of the face and knew of only one child who would wear sunglasses at night.

"Well, well," he spoke, "looks like Slim's takin' to sleep walkin'. Knew that kid was a bit off."

Looking at the screen himself, Victor stood. "I got it."

Logan reminded, "You know you're gonna have to give him a good pop, right?"

"Ah, cram it before I give you a good sock," Victor countered, leaving out.

Absolutely enthralled by the swirling white specs, Scott caught several on his tongue. He then started leaping about, trying to gather, albeit with some difficult due to the extremely minimal coverage, as much of it as he could into his hands. Not expecting one particularly slippery stone under his foot, he tripped up onto his back. With no one around to witness the antics, he merely laughed out loud.

"Havin' fun?"

Raising his head, Scott saw the security man gazing down at him, silent as ever, from a tree branch. "Look, Victor, it's snowing!"

At the enthused declaration, Victor leapt right down to his side. "Ya came out here in the middle of the night in your jammies over a few flurries?"

"But it's the first snow of the season."

"And you're gonna catch your first cold of the season." Kneeling, Victor gathered the thin body into his arms, "Come on here," and started carrying him in.

"Aww." Though he did not struggle against the adult, Scott still peeked over his shoulder at the falling flakes.

"Be grateful, Shades." At the chill he felt pass through the boy, Victor gave him a squeeze. "My brother would've walloped ya little butt."

"I bet," Scott replied undoubtedly.

Getting him upstairs and back into his room, Victor helped Scott out of the small amount of winter protection he had on.

He then laid him down right on his stomach. "Ya know you shouldn't have been creepin' out this time of night, right?"

"I know," Scott admitted, excited features turning a bit shamefaced. "I just really love snow. It was the best thing about Alaska."

"You're right about that," Victor agreed. "I've been out that way."

"Is there anywhere on earth you haven't been?" Scott inquired with a smile.

"I'll tell ya later." Victor touched a hand to his back. "Right now, you keep still."
"Yes, sir," Scott sighed into his pillow. "I'm sorry."

Not wanting to completely obliterate the enchantment the child had been feeling only moments ago, Victor tugged down his pajama pants and underwear to deliver two fast but firm swats to his bottom.

"There." Victor redressed him. "You keep safe, Shades. Women folk around here find out I let you wonder off and get sick, they'll have my neck."

"Yes, sir," Scott repeated with a jovial air about him, knowing full well the man could have been much harder on him.

Pulling the blanket and comforter over him, Victor massaged at the boy's back. "Go to sleep, kiddo. The snow'll still be here for you later on."

Nodding, Scott rubbed his face against his pillow as he relaxed.

Sleep noises soon sounding, Victor carefully removed the boy's frames to leave on the night table.

IIIIIII

Casting off the restraints that had made them prisoners for so long, the escapees- escaped- escapers...

With a groan, Sean erased the entire sentence furiously. Tossing his head back, he tried to remember a time when he could dish out twelve pages worth of storytelling during PE classes while his "sprained ankle" recovered.

Doorknob turning, the Irish lad looked over as the oldest of the Fraternal Twins stepped halfway inside his room.

"Seanie, while I fully acknowledge that it is not a school night and that, yes, you are indeed quite a big boy, I feel the need to point out the hour." The metal wielder did so by indicating the teenager's whacky kitty clock.

"Just a little longer," Sean beseeched, blue eyes heavy. "I can't get back to sleep. There's a clog dance or something going on in my head."

"Ten minutes," Erik granted. "I'll warm a glass of milk for you."

"Thank you, Uncle Erik," Sean said sweetly after the departing man.

Alone with his thoughts again, the redhead got up from his desk to move things over to the bed. Applying pencil to notebook, he began again.

All five made to feel different and alone on some level. Brought together one by one, they had no idea where the journey would end up taking them. Left under the chaos and stench of death made by the unfeeling murderer and his band, little hope filled them as they wondered what would become of them.

Then by day's light the two returned to them. With the strength and wisdom of the ancients, they gave them far more than food to eat and shelter from the outside but a purpose. A purpose surely planned out from forces above long before any of their births.

Before long, they were joined by a force of light and one so young and afraid but with power over electricity. By that time, it was clear that this unusual group meant more to each other than comrades of misfortune.

For the two that gave them everything, did any of them have the right to look into the past with a traitor's longing?

IIIIIII

Up bright and early in a far more dependable fashion than any preset alarm had to offer, Kayla rolled to the other side of the enormous bed. Lips poking out and a dejected murmur sounding at the emptiness found there, she realized her husband had probably gone late into duty. With no firm hairy chest to curl up on, she gave a dainty punch to the absent spot.

Before long, a pair of small feet trampled in and hopped over to join her on the bed.

"Good mornin', Mama," her son greeted.

"Good morning," she returned, bringing him close to her to kiss his cheek. "So I do get one of my handsome men today." She combed through his messy hair with her fingers. "What are you doing up so early?"

Though her son did not require the exact same amount of sleep as most children, that did not make him any less of a lazy bones in the morning.

Cody shrugged. "Got sick of sleepin'."

"Honey," Kayla looked into his face, "is anything bothering you?"

Cody stared ahead. "Dad says I'm not supposed to talk about this stuff in front of you."

"No, baby." Kayla cupped his cheek to make him face her. "You can tell me anything in the whole world."

Thinking a moment, he asked her, "Mama, is our family ever gonna have another baby?"

Undisturbed, Kayla answered, "Maybe. No one can ever predict these things. Babies are just these little miracles blown to us on the winds of chance and change."

Thinking over that, Cody brought up casually, "How 'bout Maya? Can we keep her?"

"Oh, sweetie," Kayla hugged him with a light laugh as she added mostly to herself, "Mama's working on it."

IIIIIII

Inquisitive brown eyes gazed about at the seemingly countless tall and colorful displays while small thin body bounced lightly in the basket of the cart. Emma watched the tiny girl as they maneuvered through another aisle, unable to believe the fascination found on her young features. It reminded the female telepath very much of Hank when the man became so deeply involved in research.

Then it dawned on Emma yet again that the child had probably never set foot inside a supermarket. In fact, considering the state they kept her in back at the plant, Kiki most likely hardly ever felt grass between her toes or the sun's rays pouring down on her adorable face. No, she had been bought and maintained as an experiment. Meanwhile, the Xavier family's most worn heirlooms received years of superior care.

Emma had to choke down the building rage she felt as the entire situation with the formerly named Holt children brought back numerous flashes of other lost young ones. It took great will on her part not to diamond shift right in the middle of the aisle just to crush something in the palm of her hand.

Kiki, favorite teddy bear clutched against the front of her coat, looked up at her with that warm hopeful glow that carried more power than even the wings she kept tucked inside her back. Emma gave in to another desire beyond the anger option that she had selected for so many years; the desire to do anything in the world to maintain the absolute innocence about the child that no matter of science had been able to shatter.

"Here we go, Auntie." Becky returned to them from the end of the aisle and loaded containers of oatmeal into their quickly growing cart.

"Look what I found." An ever cheerful Charles approached, a small tin of popcorn in his grasp.

Kiki ran a hand along the raised pictures on the tin; puppies and kittens wearing red hats while taking a nap under a green tree.

"That's right, Kiki, look." Becky touched the tin as well. "Christmas is coming."

"Cwis-mass," the younger girl echoed.

"Christmas!" Trav practically roared, getting pushed along from inside Charles' cart by Joey.

"Trav," Charles chided mildly, keeping a smile on despite. "Indoor voice, please. And yes, the most wonderful time of the year will be here soon." He placed the popcorn in his cart then got nose to nose with the boy. "Are you excited?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" he chanted.

"What about you, son?" Charles turned to Joey next, who he could tell had been carrying some disappointment at having to surrender his seat in the cart to Trav.

"Yes, Daddy," the small blonde replied, perking a bit. "I can't wait."

"Oh," Emma reacted to the shift in her stomach by placing a hand over her front, "I think your brother agrees."

Though Emma herself had to admit she had a childlike eagerness to the rapidly oncoming season. Considering she had stopped caring about holidays altogether, along with a great many things, for so long, the entire situation made her one to burst with glee.

There she stood, a woman who had lost so many, now a billboard for domesticity. From someone who wanted to shroud the world in the darkness that seemed to consume her at one point, she could not believe she now devoted Saturdays to being with her beau in a grocery store with four small children at their heels and one growing within her.

"Love," Charles reacted to her reaching for a particular package, "raspberry tea cookies? Are you delirious?"

"Oh trust me, sugar, it is not I who craves them," Emma assured, dropping the cookies into her cart. "Your baby has been forcing me to devour them late into the night."

"My baby is he?" the now humored Charles went over to caress her midsection. "Hm, it seems Mummy is unhappy."

The woman promptly denied, "Wrong for once, Professor."

At her gloved hand in his hair and her blue eyes burrowing into his, Charles could not contain himself and kissed her.

Becky and Joey grinned at them and Kiki let off a, "Oooh."

Spotting something he wanted, Trav stood up in the basket and attempted to climb the shelves.

"Travis!" Charles looked over and ran to grab him up before he could force a multitude of carefully stocked items along with himself to come tumbling down. "No, no, no," the Professor placed him back in his seat and waved a scolding finger at him, "if you want something, you ask for help. You do not try to stick to the shelves. You could have been hurt."

"I'm sorry, Uncle Charles," the absolutely contrite child responded. "I just wanted to help like Becca and Joey."

Softening, Charles said, "I know, but remember there are things we cannot do outside our home. Now, try to keep still or I'll have to put you on timeout in the car."

Knowing that meant no talking, coloring, or playing with his small toys allowed, Trav quickly nodded. "Yes, Uncle Charles."

To cheer the younger boy, Joey pushed the cart along a little faster but not enough to bump into anyone.

At checkout, Charles and Emma allowed them each a small treat bag. The group then proceeded for the parking lot.

While Charles loaded up the back with the latest round of rations for his expanded household, Emma got Trav and Kiki buckled into their safety chairs. Becky and Joey buckled into a seat together.

"Eh, eh," Charles moved their purchases out of Emma's reach when she returned to his side. "You've no business lifting heavy packages." He gave her his keys. "Go on and warm the car."

Knowing arguments in her present condition would be futile, she returned to their vehicle. You're too good, sugar.

And you're too beautiful.

Emma, who had suffered everything from vicious vomiting to belly enlargement, positively glowed at that.

"Becca," a munching Trav looked over at the young telepath, "does my daddy like chocolate?"

"Sometimes," Becky answered in-between sucks on her sour ball. "He likes Twinkies more."

"Does your daddy like chocolate?" he asked next.

"I always find it in his pockets," she said with a glint to her eyes. "I don't see him eat it much, though."

Catching part of their conversation as he got into the driver's seat, Charles added, "He probably isn't very use to it. Such treats can be expensive in Poland."

"Poland?" Trav echoed as if trying to get a taste for the word.

"That's where Papa comes from," Becky explained.

"Hm…" Trav appeared thoughtful, sticking another chocolate rice square on his tongue.

IIIIIII

With another markedly chilly wind passing through, the boy had to struggle to hang onto the leaflets in his possession. Hearing the bell above a door go off, he looked over in time to see a tall man depart from the barber shop. Watching him head to his car, the boy made purposeful steps towards him.

"Gut Shabes, Reb Yid."

Taken aback by the unexpected tongue, a faint smile crossed Erik's lips at the sight of the young glasses adorned youth who approached him. He also took note of the yamaka on top his head.

"Gut Shabes," Erik acknowledged in turn, delighting in how the boy's features lit up. "Vi geyt es?"

"Gut," the child replied. He then offered him a paper from his stack.

Studying it a moment, Erik's eyes narrowed but he looked to the one who had given it to him pleasantly. "A dank."

The boy responded with an English, "You're welcome. I have to go now." He turned to rush away, waving as he did so. "Gut vokh!"

"Gut vokh," Erik returned the wish for a well week.

Rereading the yellow flier a while longer, the metal wielder tucked it inside his coat pocket before getting out his car keys.

IIIIIII

"We're back!" Trav announced charging into the lab.

"We back," Kiki rejoined.

Raven grinned and put her pen down to pick her up. "Hi! Did you have fun?"

"Were you good?" Hank asked, lifting Trav. He then nuzzled against his neck in mock firm aggression. "Were you good?"

Trav squealed but darted his eyes towards Charles to reply.

The Professor said, "Wonderful, both of them, though Trav proved especially helpful."

Smiling widely, Trav looked to the one positioned at the edge of Hank's desk. "Hear that, Mommy?"

"I sure did," Raven answered, feeling Kiki relax against her. "I'm glad you had a good time."

"We all did," Emma assured her.

Trav indicated for Hank to put him down and he approached Raven, holding a candy out to her. "Here, Mommy."

"Oh thank you, Travvy." She accepted it and kissed his cheek.

"Looks like Uncle Charles and Aunt Emma have been spoiling you," Hank observed good-naturedly.

Despite the young man's humor, Charles still noticed the fatigue heavy on his shoulders.

"Can I go play?" Trav requested.

"Go ahead," Raven granted and the little boy left out.

"Stay out of trouble," Hank called after his son.

"I will!" Trav said back.

"Em, I know you've already been great but I promised the girls some workout time then I have a twin study session," Raven approached the woman with daughter in her arms, "Could you stay with Kiki for her nap?"

"Of course, sweetheart." Emma took the child over into her grasp and the little body immediately calmed against her. "You know you don't have to ask."

"Thanks the same, gorge," said the grateful shape-shifter.

Charles watched the women leave out before setting his attention on Hank. "How are you, Henry?"

"Tired," the scientist fully admitted, rubbing a hand wearily under his glasses. "But that's to be expected with the new life. Raven is handling it excellently. I don't know how she manages with the endless sea of homework."

"If my dear sister wanted the moon, we'd find it parked in our garage come morning," Charles stated. His countenance turned less amusing. "Nightmares still?"

"Yeah," Hank spoke softly. "On and off." He pressed hands to his abdomen. "There are times I can still feel that bullet piercing me. Though I healed, I have to imagine the agony my father went through when he didn't."

Coming closer, Charles placed an arm around him, giving him a squeeze near the neck. "A fate he did not deserve but one I am certain he would suffer through again to protect you." He patted the shoulder soothingly. "If it interferes with your sleep too much, I want you to come to me. Alright?"

"Yes, sir," Hank responded. "There has to be something about you Xavier siblings. I struggle enough with two, but you carry us all."

"As do you, Henry," Charles raised. "Kayla is not the first healer to walk these halls."

Hank looked to the Professor fondly, only wishing he could remedy his own residual wounds.

IIIIIII

At the blur that whooshed by her open door, Becky ran out into the hall.

"Scott?"

Screeching at the sound of her voice, Scott looked back at her. "Rebecca, there's finally a lot of snow on the ground. Tons of it!"

"Wait for me," the girl urged.

Scott remained still without complaint. When she got close enough, he grabbed hold of her hand and hurried them down the stairs.

IIIIIII

Clad in full red and black workout gear, Raven came into the gym where the other two awaited her. Jasmine, dressed in cropped leg blue and purple cheetah print pants and matching snug sleeveless top, performed rapid aerobics. On one bench, a yellow sweat outfit wearing figure hunched over with her legs pressed up against her chest.

"What happened to Gold Gorge?" Raven asked.

Continuing her movements, Jasmine replied, "Life's unfair."

"How many times have I told you," the redheaded shape shifter went over to join the forlorn one on the bench and place arms around her, "throw the scale out the window and eat the ice cream right out of the carton?"

"Frozen ecstasy does nothing for injustice," Cordelia claimed. "I know why your brother reacts to Em like sliced bread smothered in strawberry jam, but Victor sniffing after Adrienne?"

"They did look pretty happy in those pictures," Jasmine chimed up. "Have you seen them, Rae?"

"Courtesy of Becca," Raven confirmed. "But Cor, seriously. You have too much going for you to stress guys." She pointed a finger out towards Jasmine. "That goes for you, too, hot chick, though my love for Frankie bleeds eternal."

"Not to undermine the original gorge but you are married to Dr. Wonderful," Cordelia pointed out.

"That's because I was also the original model of insecurity," Raven told her, getting up to stretch. "I never even seriously looked into college before Alex brought it up."

"I'll never get that," they looked to Jasmine who then clarified, "the insecurity I mean. Seriously, Raven, you have the thing every other chick on this planet wishes they had. If I could blink and look anyway I wanted, I wouldn't have to have chemicals put into my hair every couple months to fight my mama's genetics. Then if she had it, she could swap out her skin and still be with my dad."

"Having parents together is not as dreamy as it sounds," said Cordelia.

"Yeah," Raven seconded. "Some people are better off in single land."

Jasmine waved a dismiss hand. "That's because you two come from rich folk who don't appreciate a blessed thing besides outdoing the Jones."

"Truth," Raven granted and Cordelia nodded her agreement. "Now come on, butt up. I still have a lot to do this weekend."

"Penciling us in are you?" Cordelia sneered playfully.

"No," Raven pulled her up by the arms then gave her a resounding smack on the rear, "I used magic marker."

IIIIIII

Aware of nearly every sound the toddler could possibly make it seemed, Emma departed completely from her only partial slumber to look into the little face.

"What is it, my dear?" the blonde asked gently.

"The pot, Auntie Emmie," Kiki replied. "Gotta use it."

Having already distinguished pot to mean potty for the girl, Emma gathered her up and carried her right into the adjoining bathroom. With her toilet a little more squat than some of the others the mansion had to offer, Kiki usually proved less intimidated by it. Emma lowered her sleep pants and diaper and held onto her while she conducted her business.

After the cleaning off and washing of hands that followed, Emma brought her back out to the large bed and started to place another sustaining cloth on her.

Mommy? Mommy, come in, do you read me?

Shaking her head in amusement, the telepathic female returned loud and clear, Seanie.

The redhead walked into the room, practically falling over himself to lay near to the smaller one on the bed. "Hi, Kiki. Hi, my little snootchie."

"Seanie!" She reached hands up backwards to grab at the strands of copper he shook out over her.

Smiling at the two of them as she redressed Kiki, Emma mentioned, "I thought you'd gone to pick up Maya already."

"Not for another hour," he clarified, bringing Kiki to sit on top of his chest. "She's still with her mom."

Sitting on the side of her bed, Emma rested a hand on top of the teenager's forehead.

At the wordless gesture, Sean began to talk. "My mind has been on home a lot."

"I've noticed how far away you seem in class," the woman told him. "Does it have to do with the holidays? Do you want to go see them?"

"Yes," Sean said in what came off as a pained confession, "and Charles knows about it, Hank knows about it. Maya would understand. But…"

"Sweetheart, I understand as well," Emma assured. "My family and I are living in some sort of bizarre limbo after I thought I permanently burned the Frost bridge behind me."

"It's not you that worries me, Em," Sean said, tugging at Kiki's little fists, "it's Uncle Erik."

"You're afraid to explain how you feel to him?"

"No, I'm of him looking at me in that way."

"What way, dear?" Emma wondered.

Sean answered, "Like I put the knife in his back."

IIIIIII

Between one boychick lost somewhere in hysterical academics and the other out in the city with his mother, Erik found his "Cave" far too disturbingly silent. Though should anyone ask about that, he would certainly deny it later.

Wondering about the whereabouts of his sharkling lass, Erik left his den and made his way up to the second floor in search of her. He also toyed with the idea of whether or not to share his earlier given reading material with her. Passing by one large window, he caught view of the dark haired preteens dashing about the snowy grounds together.

His lips turned up in satisfaction. Blossoming buds of perfection…

"Uncle Erik?"

The petition came with a tug of his pants leg and the metal wielder gazed down at the small one who stood beside him. "Hello, Trav. May I be of service to you?"

"Here." Trav extended the plastic baggie of remaining candy to him. "I saved these for you."

"For me?" Erik knelt down, taking them. "You're far too generous."

"I felt bad 'cause all the chocolate in Poland is too much money," Trav said importantly.

Resisting a chuckle, Erik responded, "Yes, so many hardships I had to face." He brought the child in near to him. "So happy I'm here now."

"Me, too," Trav seconded.

"Now, what do you say we put on something a little warmer and play outside for a bit?"

"Okay," Trav eagerly agreed. "Uncle Erik," they began to walk together, "where is Poland?"

"In Europe."

"Oh. Is it far from where Uncle Charles is from? England?"

Erik told him, "They're almost nine hundred miles away from each other. Yet," he took Trav's hand as they descended the stairs, "still not far enough to ever keep us apart."

IIIIIII

There was something to be said about the Xavier library; more the memories than anything. Looking around, Alex recalled the times Charles or Erik had given a lecture and he and Sean had either done something goofy or he'd make fun of how the redhead and Hank seemed to take a class session so seriously. Though Sean would try to downplay it at times.

Now, with four different class subjects sprawled out before him at the table, Alex could taste his just desserts and did not care for the flavor.

"Quit daydreaming," Raven ordered without turning away from her notes.

"I wasn't," Alex denied.

"Yes, you were. I could totally see little bubbles over your head all about Hol- oopsies," she smirked at him, "Kerstin. It's still Kerstin, right?"

"How do you switch back and forth between annoying sister and mighty mom?" Alex wanted to know.

"Hello," Raven pointed to herself, "shape-shifter. But seriously, if you like her, so do I. She has a good head and I think you guys could make it work."

"Oh you like her?" Alex raised an eyebrow. "So what, no Emma treatment?"

"Hey, she used to be evil," Raven defended. "You were mean to Hank for no reason."

"He deserved it."

Raven crossed her arms. "For what?"

"Being awesome," Alex asserted.

With a light eye roll, Raven asked, "You made your declaration already, right?"

"Yep," he nodded. "Come spring semester, you're looking at Alex Summers: Physical Therapist in-training."

Raven said grandly, "Brother of Raven Xavier McCoy: The Absolute Clueless."

"Do you know how many kids don't declare their majors until junior year?" Alex reasoned. "Not to mention the ones who blow through money changing it every ten seconds. I think you're being smart. Taking your time."

"I know. I just wish my career goal could be as blatantly obvious as yours."

"Coming back from injuries is rough," Alex stated. "If I could just pull somebody up or give them a kick in the ass to help them come back, I can go to work every day actually happy."

Raven laid her head on top of her books. "Hate you."

Alex made a smooching motion with his lips before returning to note skimming.

IIIIIII

Seated on a stone bench together, the Headmaster pair each enjoyed a piping mug of tea while looking on at the two boys flinging snowballs back and forth.

"You'd never know Joey was almost twice his age," Erik noticed. "He doesn't seem remotely pushy towards Trav at all."

"Yes, I know," Charles concurred. "As much progress as he's made, part of me wonders if my little one will ever step out of regression."

"Is he really so behind?" Erik threw out. "He's adjusted, happy, treats the younger ones well."

Charles nodded. "This experience with Trav and Kiki will also help transition him into the role of older brother."

Erik said, "I think Alex has more to do with that than anything."

"Thankfully, he isn't following your example in that area," Charles quipped.

Ready with a retort as always, the visible shivering from the younger males caught his attention. "Come here, boys." Joey and Trav jogged over and Erik looked at each of them. "I think it's time to come inside."

"Aww!" Trav immediately protested. "I don't wanna go inside!"

"You and Joey get cold very easily and it's not good for you to stay out very long," Charles explained. "Now let's go on in and I'll read a nice book to you, alright?"

"Nooo," came Trav's low childish moan.

Erik cleared his throat sharply. "Are we talking back to our elders, Mr. McCoy?"

Turning to him, Trav shook his head hard. "Oh, no. No, sir. I want to hear Uncle Charles read."

"Then you best get along inside then," Erik said.

"Uncle Erik doesn't play," Trav whispered to Joey as they went.

"Neither does Daddy," the blonde informed him.

After helping them out of their winter clothes, Charles brought them into the living room.

"Can we hear Once and Future King?" Joey asked.

"Now son, you've heard that so many times," Charles reminded him. "Let's let Trav pick the book."

"'Kay," Joey sighed lightly.

Looking through the variety the shelf had to offer, Trav retrieved one book. "What's this?"

"That's Aladdin," Joey recognized, brightening. "He gets wishes and they come true."

"Ooh." Trav ran the book over to the Professor. "Read this, please, Uncle Charles."

Accepting the book, Charles waited for the boys to become situated on the sofa before he began the tale from a faraway place.

IIIIIII

Carefully pushing up from the ground so as not to ruin their creations, the two stood back to take in the snow designs.

"Mine looks like she has snakes in her hair," Becky claimed, touching one of her French braids.

"Nah, yours is an angel," Scott insisted. "Mine looks like a snow Cyclops."

Giggling, Becky rushed out at him. Scott caught her and took a moment to roll about with her when they fell against the snow. Jumping up, Becky ran towards a collection of trees.

"Hey," Scott immediately went after her, smiling, "where're you going, huh?"

As she moved from tree to tree, she made each one of them transform in color; blue, pink, green, and yellow. By the time she ducked behind a white one, Scott spun about it and attempted to seize her. Becky shrieked and backed up against the trunk of the tree.

Scott sent his palms out to trap her. "Gotcha."

Becky gazed back in him with features ready to burst with glee until she noticed something on the ground. "My hat!" She touched her bare head.

"Don't worry. I'll get it." Scott hurried over in such a way that he tripped. Going to the ground yet again, he held up the snow cap in victory. "See?"

Laughing lightly, Becky got onto her knees in the snow beside him. "Thanks." She slipped the hat back on.

Gathering a bit of snow between her gloved hands, Becky formed a ball and sent it hurling upward. Scott looked on as the white sphere exploded into a massive array of sparkling colorful chunks that rained down all around them.

As awed as he was by the feat, the girl who had executed it caught his attention more. Glittering bits coming down, Scott fully absorbed the sense of magic Becky had about her. He found it, found her, too fantastically indescribable for words he would surely slur together if he ever tried to voice them.

He hopped to his feet when he saw her hug herself. "You cold?"

"Yeah." Becky shifted around a bit. "How long have we been out here?"

"I don't know." Scott took her hands to slip into his coat pockets. "I… I just lost track of time."

Becky looked up at him. "Me, too."

"We, um," Scott removed her hands but held onto one, "we better get back."

"Okay." Becky clung tight to him, the boy's long legs somehow always able to take on a life all their own.

Out front, Erik awaited their arrival. Once free from their boots and coats, the metal wielder took them into his den. Leaving them near the fireplace on the sofa with a thick blanket around them, he returned a few minutes later with a mug of hot chocolate for each of them.

"Thanks, Papa."

"Thank you, Erik."

"Careful not to burn yourselves," the man cautioned, squatting before them. "Did you have fun?"

"Oh yes," Becky answered while Scott said, "Yes, sir," and sipped his drink.

"Good." Erik put an arm around each of them for a moment, as if trying to transfer over his own body heat to the younger vessels.

When the man went over to poke at the fire, Scott watched him. Under the limited lighting the den offered, the boy began to see how Becky, Frank, and even his own brother could regard this particular man so highly. Tall and steadfast, his shadow did not cast fear but protection over anyone fortunate to stand under it. Scott silently hoped to be able to display such a strong presence when he got older.

After a while, Scott left out to respond to Alex's call for him.

Becky placed their empty mugs on a side table then approached her father.

Seeing her out of the corner of his eye, Erik turned away from the work before him and picked her up to place over his lap. Becky let off a giggle and made a show of scissor swiping her legs as he sent a spanking over her bottom. With the untold number of layers the girl had on under the already thick jumper, Erik knew the lighthearted strikes would do nothing more than warm her.

Lifting her up after two more, Erik cradled his precious babe close to his chest and hummed into her curls.

"Papa, how will we celebrate Hanukkah this year?"

"Hm." Erik touched cheeks with her. "However you would like, though we may wait to light all candles on the final night."

"Will it just be you, me, Frank and Alex again?" she asked next. "Or everybody like at Passover?"

Erik took a moment to consider that. Passover had proven most delightful, but he wondered about the more quiet festivities of Hanukkah. With such a larger household for the holiday season, he did not feel too keen on putting himself along with his normally private practices on display for all to see. The brothers Howlett-Creed's full knowledge of his days a prisoner left him unsettled often enough.

True, Charles had also seen not only glimpses but experienced the pain. However, his younger brother gave him no pity, only comfort, respect, and untold admiration.

"We will see," Erik finally whispered back to his child.

When she shifted comfortably in his hold, he began unbraiding her hair as delicately as he could.

IIIIIII

Once dinner ended, Charles went upstairs to his room to lay down with Emma. Several kisses and a thorough massage later, his lady drifted away on him. Charles went to the bathroom to wet a cool cloth. He came back and placed the folded towel over her forehead, trying to do anything he could to keep away the night sweats the pregnancy brought her but that she tried not to voice complaint about.

Leaving her to rest, Charles made his way down into the parlor. There he found Erik studying some sort of yellow form.

"What's that, brother?"

At the innocent toned questioning from the other Headmaster, Erik looked up with a small smile. "I met a young boy today. He gave me this."

Charles took the paper handed to him and read it over. "Ah, a temple social." He faced Erik again. "How did he know you are…?"

"Enough exposure to one's own kind offers a sense about these things," Erik offered out. "You should know that."

"That I should." Charles sat across from him in his own chair. "Are you going to go?"

"And set the building aflame with my first step?" Erik only carried the faintest of humor in the remark.

"Stop that," a non-amused Charles ordered. "I constantly have to get after Joey for these same thoughts. If you believe yourself to be the devil incarnate, what does that say for your family that has chosen to love you? For your children who seek to follow your example?"

"Charles," the older man sighed. "I only… I'm still heavy with so much shame. I'm not sure if I'm ready for a complete return to that life."

Charles then proposed, "Perhaps you could start small."

IIIIIII

A knock and immediate opening of his door caused Sean to drop his notebook like a grenade and duck underneath the covers.

Erik bit back a chuckle at the loud faux snoring he heard next. "Relax yourself, Banshee. You're still half an hour away from bedtime violation. I only wanted to talk to you."

Getting out of bed on nervous feet, Sean asked, "Did you talk to Charles?"

"Not long ago actually." Erik then mentioned, "Will you and Maya be attending that praise church you often go to in the morning?" Sean nodded. "Would you mind my accompanying you?"

Having not expected this remotely, Sean's first reaction came out as a sharp, "Huh?" He then recovered and clarified, "You really want to come with us?"

"There are aspects of my past I need help sorting through. It's becoming clear that I cannot do it alone."

Sean looked at the man closely and brought up, "I thought you could handle anything, Erik."

"From the outside, yes. Inside," his hand went to the teen's shoulder, "is a little more difficult."

"Well, sure. I mean, yes," Sean restated. "You're always there for us kids, right? Though if you really want to sweeten the deal, you could give me a couple spankin' passes."

"Oh no," Erik denied. "Can't have you turning into a miserable urchin."
"But a happy miserable urchin."

A light laugh in his chest, Erik said, "Thank you, Seanie," and turned to leave the room.

"Erik?" Sean immediately received his attention again. "I love you."

Erik returned to him and gave him a peck at his hairline. "I love you, too. Don't ever doubt that. I'll see you in the morning," he ruffled his hair a little, "my happily miserable urchin."

Watching him leave out, Sean stumbled dramatically back into bed.