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.

224. Chapter 224 Living for the Weekend

X-Men-First Class: Rise or Fall

Chapter Two Hundred Twenty Four

Author's Word: Hi, fam! Okay, so let's see, still hanging in there in school. In fact, it's homework time. However, that's no reason for any of you to suffer. Please read and review!

Charles Joseph Xavier

Retracting pen from paper, the young boy looked over his latest effort. Despite numerous tries, he still saw something far too jumbled about the signing. Though he cherished the name itself to the highest degree, Joey found himself unable to slip into a nicer script. He picked up the loose sheet of paper that his parents had copied their signatures onto for his review. His mother wrote similar to the way she spoke; stylish and elegant with just enough boldness to get her point across. Joey really loved the way his father wrote their last name on his signature. The X came off as if carved in polished stone with the sharpest of blades in King Arthur's collection.

Everything Charles did always came off so powerfully majestic in Joey's opinion. The way he talked, wrote, walked, or even something as ordinary as hanging up his pressed ties for the week.

"Oh Treasure, these are wonderful." Seated in a chair in her husband's study, Emma flipped through the folder containing some of their son's most recent graded work. "Much improved. I see Sean's help was an inspiration on your father's part."

"Yeah," Joey admitted. "Seanie's good and he doesn't get too impatient with me, but I'm kind of glad he's busy with Maya and her mom. I like for you to help me, Mum."

Emma shifted her gaze to land on him. "So do I." She stood, going around the desk to stand beside the little boy in oversized chair. "I know things have been very hectic this year. Between Kayla and I hopping around the clock with the babies and oh," mild dismay crossed the woman's lovely features briefly, "it seems as if you older children need new school things every hour. Scott goes through that shoe polish so fast, I'm convinced his ROTC instructor will soon grow blind from the gleam." Joey laughed at that and Emma took notice of one B minus grade of his. "My, what do we have here?" She picked up the sprawled out paragraph for closer observation. "Did you write this poem?"

Joey looked up at her. "Sort of. We were reading ones like it and had to come up with our own that're similar."

"It was a beautiful November morning with leaves all over," Emma recited. "Then I saw her with her long red hair." She paused there, peering down at her little boy with raised brow.

Joey twitched his eyes and held his pen somewhat nervously. "I must've been thinking about Aunt Adrienne when I wrote that."

"I see," Emma nodded, returning attention to the paper. "So Aunt Adrienne has "eyes like silver coins"?"

The ten-year-old put on a toothy smile. "Maybe I was thinking about Aunt Adrienne and sitting next to Laci."

Emma bent to leave a kiss at the top of his head. "I suspected as much." She stroked his hair a little. "Let's work on your cursive a few minutes more. Because frankly, there is no reason in the world for such a fine artist to have trouble making masterpieces out of words as well."

"Yes, Mum," Joey nodded.

Taking his pen again, the child tried out a style in which he enlarged the X in his last name. He also condensed the letters in his middle name so that it appeared to read closer to Joey than Joseph.

After ten minutes of the diligence, Emma allowed for dismissal.

Joey made fast work of depositing his school things on his own desk upstairs. He then went nearby to the nursery and grinned at Brian sitting up with tiny fists gripping the bars of his crib. Crossing the soft rug, Joey gladly liberated him and carried him out with the baby secure against his right hip.

Twin babies placed side by side in the support chairs built by their father, they reacted to the wild snarling creature that leapt out at them. Mira giggled and Todd hardly tilted his head.

Coming into her suite with basket load of clean-for-now clothes, Kayla stopped short at the sight of her oldest in some sort of wooden tribal mask. "Cody, what is your father always telling you about going through his things?"

Lifting the mask so that it propped up on top of his head now, the boy replied, "Cut it back to just once or twice a week?"

Shaking her head with a humored air about her, Kayla next said, "And do not bother trying to scare them. They know their big brother," and went about putting the clothes away.

"I know." Cody turned to the pair and took each one by the bitty hand, experiencing the soothing and familiar tingle that occurred whenever they neared one another. "I better help Mama. Toddy, you're in charge of keeping MiMi safe from any island monsters. Off-shore ones, too."

Todd gurgled his understanding.

Kayla smiled as Cody came over to assist her at the dressers. "Is Toddy still cranky?"

Cody took a stack of neatly folded baby shirts from her. "I think he's done bitin' by now."

Coming in, Joey wondered, "What's he biting for?"

"Hey," Cody acknowledged the two Xavier boys then indicated the baby in question. "Todd was pitchin' a fit earlier because he's got a little diaper rash and doesn't want to be bothered. He bit Dad for tryin' to feed him."

Joey snickered and Brian mimicked the amused sound.

"What's wrong?" Joey then asked of the sudden squirming. He realized immediately. "He wants to try crawling."

"Ooh, Ma," Cody looked up to address her, "can Todd try, too?"

"He can have a little tummy time," Kayla determined, "but honey, I keep telling you they are months away from crawling."

"We Howlett-Creed types don't operate like regular kids." Cody went over to unlatch Todd from his seat on the mattress. "I'll try you out next, MiMi. You stay there away from the monsters."

Mira merely sucked on one end of her fist.

"Hold on, Bri." Laying him on the bed a moment, Joey started gathering pillows. "We have to build a barrier wall first. That way Arthur's enemies can't sneak up on us."

"Oh right," Cody appeared as if to recall. "They would try something low-down like that, too. Right when nobody's lookin'." He went to get the cushions off the chairs.

After they had enough soft things in their possession, Cody and Joey formed a short circular wall of protection with them. Barrier in place, they brought the tiny boys to lie on their stomachs in the center of it.

Finished with the clothes, Kayla took a seat on the side of the bed. Transferring Mira over into her arms, the woman decided to take in the theatrics before her.

"Okay, Toddy, watch me." Dropping to his belly, Cody moved in a slither. "Just like this."

Todd stuck one finger in his mouth and observed.

"There you go, Bri," Joey encouraged as he inched along slowly. "Keep it up. Move faster or the monsters will get us."

"Well," wiping hands off on a small towel, Logan came into the room, "Charles and Em ain't goin' to be too thrilled."

Kayla looked over her shoulder at her husband. "No luck with the shower?"

"It's this elite plumbin' of theirs." Logan deposited the towel in the now empty hamper before joining her on the bed. "Need a particular part, called the hardware store, but naturally it won't be available until…"

"Monday," Kayla concluded. "As if Charles is not stressed enough."

"He's got plenty reason to be." Logan gazed towards the physical exertion taking place on his floor. "It's about time that boy of ours learned to crawl. You keep showin' Cat the ropes, Pup."

Cody made a display of rolling his eyes. "Oh, real funny, Dad. Reminds me of your face."

Logan mildly retorted, "Good, 'cause you'll have one just like it in a couple years."

Joey sat in a mix of humor and wonder, as usual whenever he found himself amongst the Howlett-Creed males. He himself could not imagine talking to Charles or Erik in the same manner Cody did his father and uncle.

He beamed at Brian's continued effort. "Great job! Come on." He lifted his brother at the waist to carry again. "Let's go show Uncle Erik. Maybe he'll give you chocolate."

"Wait for us." Cody picked up Todd, who mostly laid there while wiggling his arms and legs.

"Be careful," Kayla cautioned as ever. "And don't go—"

"Too fast," Cody filled in, holding Todd to his shoulder. "I know how to do it, Mama."

As the quad of boys paraded by, Logan snatched his mask off Cody's head then promptly used it to give a whack to his behind.

Cody arched up on his toes briefly and sent a faux glare out to his father.

Leaving the mask on the mattress, Logan leaned over to coo at Mira.

II

When he felt a tickle to his feet, Frank looked away from his book and down at the cat who had just quietly strolled in. The New York City native reached to stroke at the dark fur. Satisfied for the time being, Midnight moved over to follow Becky's mildly pensive pacing while Leon read off her spelling words. Sharing the couch with Frank, Alex let off frustrated mumblings over the all too complicated arithmetic that he knew would ultimately be of no use in helping anyone come back from an injury. However, proving such a thing to his professors seemed next to impossible.

"Okay," Leon continued on to the next word, "Correlation."

Sending a moan upward, Becky paused to think. "Umm… C-O-R-I-L-A-T-I-O-N."

Leon shook his head. "Try again, Pretty Eyes."

The girl in white turtleneck covered in cartoonish fall leaves and green pleated skirt requested, "Can I have another one?"

"Sure." Leon then tacked on, "As soon as you can spell this one."

Becky sent the eyes he so cherished his way. "Leon…"

"Anya," Erik piped up from the desk, own eyes not leaving his work, "if you want to excel at creative writing, spelling is a key component."

"I don't know how you do it, babes," Alex spoke. "If I had your powers, school would be a breeze." He then quickly continued, "Which would make me bad and dishonest. Something you should never be."

Frank snickered to himself.

"Uncle Erik," Joey entered the Mag Cave ahead of the Howlett boys, "look how much Brian can crawl."

The wizard of metal brought countenance up now. "Oh really?"

Alex shut his textbook and sat up. "Let's see."

Putting Brian down, Joey directed, "Go, Bri, go." The baby sat up, toying with one of the snaps on his clothes. "Aw, Brian, no. You're supposed to be crawling. Come on, please?"

"Joe," Alex moved to get to the floor as well, "you're going to have to be a whole lot tougher than that if you want to be anybody's instructor."

Frank remarked, "You'd think he'd have picked up bossy lessons from you a long time ago."

Leon reached out to lightly noogie the younger teenager. "I think I've learned a few things."

Frank used both sets of fingers to jab at him.

"Bossing won't work on this guy." Carrying Todd over, Cody sat with him in Leon's lap. "I'm stuck with a lightweight."

"He's only small," Erik reasoned, rising from his seat to approach. "This one, however, is being stubborn." He got down to one knee. "Come here, Lab Mouse. Come see Uncle Erik."

Becky helped with, "Go to Papa, Brian."

Brian reached his arms out.

Erik shook his head. "No, I will not pick you up. You come here to me."

Joey helped Brian lower again. "Do it, Bri. Uncle Erik wants you."

Extending his little arms, Brian wormed forward a bit.

Erik nodded his approval while the others clapped for him. "That's at least two inches more." He now took the baby to hold. "That's greatly improved, Lab Mouse."

Wondering how the man always possessed the ability to measure distances with sight alone, Joey asked, "Can he have a piece of chocolate, Uncle Erik?"

Cody added, "And maybe us, too?"

Erik stroked Brian's soft cheek and decided, "A tiny piece. Supper will be on soon and I'd rather Raven not have my head for spoiling all of your appetites." Giving Brian to Joey, he got up to go to his desk.

Cody smirked. "No stomach ache for me. Todd, either, once his powers get here."

"You're still growing boys who need proper nutrition." Erik retrieved the small plastic tub of Hershey's kisses. "One each."

The young ones capable of full speech said, "Thank you," as they each acquired a kiss.

Cody took the tip of his to plop into Todd's mouth. "You like that? You can have a lot more once you're big."

Leon held the two fondly, more than satisfied to see less and less of the disdain that practically oozed from Cody back in September. He shared a glance with Erik and could tell the Headmaster felt much the same.

"Too bad kitties can't have chocolate," Becky said to Midnight, cradling him in her arms. "Hank says it'll make you sick."

The cat proved unbothered, nestling in the girl's grasp with purrs echoing from his chest.

IIIIIII

When Raven summoned everyone to the dining room, she glanced around at her very thinned out dinner crowd.

"Is there a quarantine I don't know about?" the shape-shifter joked.

"Adrienne and Victor are still in the city with the girls," Emma informed. "Cordy's taking in a movie with Fabian. Charles asked us not to wait for him, either."

Hank reminded, "Sean's at the Pattersons'."

"Scott is at dinner with Gary and some of the other Jaguar boys," said Erik.

"Da—" Logan caught himself. "Dang, that's half our stock. What about the rest of you pups?"

"Oh, trying to get rid of us, huh?" Frank smirked.

Logan replied, "Every minute of the day, glowworm."

"The Dukes aren't having any company all Thanksgiving weekend," Joey told the table. "Their dad has to leave in the morning."

"Poor Lily," Trav piped up. "She was the only kid in class on Wednesday who wasn't happy about Thanksgiving. Except maybe Max. He misses his tio." The little boy informed important, "That's uncle in Spanish."

Erik pretended to be flabbergasted. "Is that so? I never would have guessed."

"Why does their daddy have to leave them?" Kiki wanted to know.

"He has to go away to work, Baby Gorge," Raven explained, rubbing her daughter's back. "He has to make money to get food, toys, and things for his kids."

Kiki brought up, "Our daddy doesn't have to go away. He goes to school with Trav and the big kids."

"We're very fortunate that way, Kiki," Hank said to her. "I get to work nearby or here at home, but some daddies who are doctors have to work a lot more. Some don't get home until very late at night."

Kiki inquired, "Past bedtime?"

Hank nodded. "Long past bedtime."

His daughter gaped at this. "Really?"

"That's the way some families are, Kiki," Frank put forth. "In the military, the dads who go off to fight bad guys who hate our country, they don't get to see their kids for months or even longer." A lot longer.

Logan said, "That's why I'm glad those days are behind me."

"So am I," Kayla smiled at him.

"If you and Uncle Vic were still enlisted, I'd be just like Fred," Cody stated. "I could look after Ma and the twins just fine. That's why God invented big sons."

Frank looked over at him. "Don't make it sound so easy. You don't know what it's like to have a parent on active duty. They don't come home all-smiles every time, either."

Leon placed full focus on his steak and the rest of his plate.

Becky saw him and requested, "Can we talk about something else? I don't want to think about any of our dads going away."

"Me, either," Raven seconded and turned to Hank. "Did I tell you Mom called a little while ago? They're getting along great."

Erik asked, "She went to see your grandmother, yes?"

Hank nodded. "My father's mother. She's not very up in age, but she's been having a difficult time since Dad. He was her youngest. It takes a full army to persuade Grandmother to travel, so Mom tries to check in."

Trav said, "Grandma says she's going to put together a whole scrapbook of us for Great Grandma."

Kiki added excitedly, "We get to make cards and pictures for it and everything."

Raven smiled. "Daddy and I get to help a little tiny bit."

"Your mom is so five-star far out, Hank," Alex commended.

"Yes," Emma concurred, "it's amazing the way she keeps strong through so much change."

Raven looked at her husband. "Whoever said you two have nothing in common?"

Hank formed a mildly bashful smile at that.

Casting his eyes downward, Frank used his fork to jab into his baked potato.

IIIIIII

A sharp, weary sigh exiting his lips not for that first time in the last few years, the frazzled telepath made it upward to his quarters. He immediately detected the soft lighting and walked in to discover his wife reading by her small lamp.

"Darling, I told you that you needn't wait up for me," Charles reminded her.

"It's not even midnight," Emma dismissed. She closed and laid her novel on top of her vanity. "Just look at you."

"Please, my love, I'd rather not offend our mirrors at the moment." He began undoing his tie.

"No, no, no." Emma gently prodded him into a flat position on the bed and he stared up at her. "You are not to move, sweet sugar."

Despite the order, Charles' lips promptly upturned as she began to strip him of his suit. I'm so troublesome for you…

You will be facing real trouble if you don't stop with such nonsense. Emma worked downward on the buttons of his shirt. Anything promising?

If you would call my driving thirty miles to attend a function that turned into a complete and total Kennedy devotional promising… they may deport me for this and I am sorry, but I cannot be bothered to give a bloody damn about the president.

You cannot be deported. Emma removed and pulled off his belt. You have a dual citizenship.

Then we'll deport ourselves, Charles declared. Return to England, share an estate with Trick, he and I will drink ourselves into nightly stupors for which Erik will certainly rake us over the coals. Don't bother to pack. We'll seize the children and burn the house down upon exit.

Charles—

I'm even willing to bring Samantha's cat. I'll comb his wretched fur myself.

Getting him out of his pants, Emma lowered to leave only an inch between their faces. You are going to explode from the inside-out at this rate.

Charles gazed back at her. Keep this up and I'm going to explode for reasons well beyond politics.

Emma leaned in to kiss his neck. Calm yourself, Professor.

Love? Charles watched her rise up onto her knees above him. Did Logan manage to fix our shower? A brand new energy source bubbled up within him when Emma worked her negligee off. As I was saying… to hell with hygiene.

IIIIIII

Wings fluttering behind her, the four-year-old landed outside her destination. She relaxed enough to retract the additional limbs into her back and tugged down her purple pajama top. Brown eyes locked on the instrument propped up, she moved in to run fingers along the thin strings.

Finished with his shower, Sean walked into his room shirtless with a pair of jeans on and towel wrapped around his neck.

He immediately reacted to the combination of tot and expensive musical equipment within such close proximity to each other. "Kiki, no." Sean grabbed the guitar by its neck. "You know you're not supposed to mess with this."

Swelled eyes stared up at the tall teenager. "Sowwy, Seanie."

The redhead melted instantaneously. "It's okay, bumble bee." He lowered to plant kisses against her bedhead.

Giggling, Kiki captured his face between her two tiny hands. "Sing, Seanie. Pleeeease?"

Sean pouted, touching noses with her. "I'd love to sing for you, baby, but I have to go see Maya and her mommy." Narrowing her eyes, Kiki crossed her arms with lips protruded. "Aw, come on. Gimme hug." Snatching away from him, she marched out of the room with nose up. "Kiki!" Sean ran out into the hall. "Don't be that way. You're gonna make me cry. I'm serious… any second now…" A suddenly deaf Kiki only kept on. "Seriously, I'm gonna cry my eyes out…"

"My poor boy."

Sean looked to see a snazzy-as-ever dressed professor leaving the master bedroom. "Charles."

Watching Kiki head up to the third floor, Charles turned to the remaining youth. "Angering the baby girl. I believe that's high treason."

Sean sunk in his doorway a little. "She's mad at me. Not like she doesn't have a right to be. I'm hardly home these days."

Charles reached down to cup his cheek. "That makes two of us. Don't let it trouble you so. You're trying to act as a proper, supportive beau for Maya. Kiki is such a sweet little thing. She'll be fine by the time you get home."

Sean moved to stand fully. "Hope so. Thanks, Daddy."

"Remember to be home by curfew," Charles reminded.

"I will," the redhead called back, going into his room to dig out a decent shirt.

Making his way for Joey's room next, Charles peeked in to find the ten-year-old kneeling over Bounty's new cage. "Good morning, lads."

"Daddy." Returning the rabbit to his now freshly clean dwelling, Joey stood to go hug his father. "I wanted to wait for you last night, but Mum and Uncle Erik didn't want me up late."

"And neither did I." Charles gave him a good squeeze then dipped to properly speak to the short child. "Your mother thinks it's best I clear my head a bit so we're going out for a few hours. Can we count on you to see to your brother while we're gone?"

Joey smiled. "Definitely."

"Of course one of the others will be here should you need them for something serious. He's already had his bottle and a changing." Charles kissed Joey's foreheads. "You lads have fun and behave yourselves."

"Yes, Daddy." Joey followed his father's movements as the man stood again. "You have fun, too."

"Thank you, son. As soon as I'm home, we'll do some reading and review your homework. Your mother tells me you made a nice mark on a rather interesting poem." Charles gave him a wink and walked off.

Joey put his hands over his mouth to contain the grin he felt ready to take over his face.

After changing Bounty's water bottle, Joey charged for the nursery. "Bri, Bri!" The wiggling baby in the crib looked over in delight from laying with Dickon. "Come here." Scooping him up, Joey raised him over his head. "Want to play?"

Brian's response consisted of apparently happy babbling.

IIIIIII

Aggravated three-fold erasing noises filled the laboratory. Sharing a table, Raven and Becky attempted to make sense of their individual academic pursuits. Over at his desk, Hank had to remove his glasses a few times to make sense of some of the seemingly foreign symbols his students tried to pass off as correct English.

Circling around his father, Trav aimed an accusatory finger at one paper. "That's not where the comma goes. Did you see that, Daddy?"

Hank wiggled his frames as he replied for the fourth time, "Yes, son."

"Are you sure?" Trav tapped the sentence again. "Here it is. You went right past it."

Forming a tight smile, Hank faced the boy. "Trav, don't you want to go upstairs and keep your sister company?"

"Not right now. We're busy." Trav spotted something else. "Ooh, that sentence doesn't have a period! How do you miss the period? That's the easiest one."

Hank silently wished his son had less of a good point there.

Coming in next, Scott greeted the room with a cheerful, "Hi."

"Hey," Raven and Becky replied robotically.

"Hi, Scottie," Trav beamed and Hank bobbed a head his way.

Scott approached Becky's side of the table. "What're you working on?"

"Feels like everything," the girl sulked.

"Half of everything," Raven corrected. "I have the other half."

Becky faced Scott. "What are you doing?"

"Not much," Scott replied. "Frank's showing Sam how to roller-blade. Sort of got the idea that three would be a crowd there."

"Oh," Becky responded knowingly. "Well, maybe I could take a break—"

"In another hour or so," Hank immediately interjected. "Becca, you have an entire spelling list and I want to see an improvement in your science grades."

Promptly deflating, Becky whispered, "Sorry."

Scott gave her a kind smile. "Don't worry about it, Rebecca. Vic and Charles will be all over me if my grades so much as try to slip."

"As will I," Hank informed without looking up.

Having no disbelief there, Scott next asked, "Where's Kiki?"

Raven used her eraser end to indicate the ceiling. "Upstairs."

Scott used the lab's stairway to climb up to the McCoy wing. Not surprisingly, he heard sound in the playroom and headed that direction.

"Hey," Kiki glanced back from her line-up of stuffed animals at his voice, "what do you think you're doing having fun without me?"

Kiki raised her arms. "Scottie!"

Running over, Scott swept her up and spun about with her. "Here! We! Goooo!" Despite her enthusiastic squeals, the boy noticed something about her eyes. "What's the matter?"

Frowning, she told him, "I want Maya to go away."

Unable to believe the words out of her mouth, Scott wanted to know, "Kiki, why would you say that?"

"Seanie never plays with me anymore 'cause of her."

Scott hugged her closely. "I know how you feel. Big time. But Maya's been really sad and Sean just wants to help her and her mom. He makes you feel better when you're sad, right?" Kiki nodded against his shoulder. "And you make me feel better when I'm sad. Believe me, I need you."

She smiled now. "I love you, Scottie."

"Love you, too. Want to build a block tower with me?"

"Yes!"

Scott got down on the rug with her and pulled over the oversized pail containing the colorful building materials. "Let's make it taller than your dad. Or even Vic."

The little girl grew all the more eager at the suggestion.

IIIIIII

"There we go," Joey helped press the smaller hand against the wide piece of poster board, "just like that." Leaving Brian on the floor near the short table, Joey surveyed the multitude of different colored hand prints. "I like it, but it's definitely too big for the fridge. Maybe Dad will hang it up on the wall. Looks a lot better than that weird Picasso stuff he and Mum like so much." Glancing down at his suddenly silent brother, Joey gasped. "Brian!"

The gurgling baby currently made a canvas out of himself by splattering the jars of finger paint all over his body.

"Oh no!" Joey scrambled to collect the jars, though it was far too late to save the recreation room's rug. "Bri, this is only supposed to be for our fingers. Daddy's going to be so mad when he sees this." Joey immediately dropped the jars at Brian trying to stick his paint coated fist in his mouth. "No! Brian, stop. You're being a bad boy today." At the way his brother peered his way, Joey regretted his words. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. Come on." He stood, picking Brian up with him. "We have to get in the tub."

Carrying him into the bathroom shared by the younger boys, Joey felt somewhat appeased at finding some of Brian's baby products already in there. Joey plugged the tub and powered the faucet. He made as quick a job as he could of getting he and his brother undressed. Glad that they had only ruined play clothes, Joey stopped the water before it could reach the very top of the tub. Keeping a strong hold on Brian, he placed both of them inside.

The greatest difficulty came in trying to hang onto one of Brian's chubby arms while reaching for the soap. Despite having only one free arm, Brian managed to splash with grand gusto.

"Brian!" Joey groaned, trying in vain to shield himself. He thought of a word from his spelling homework. "You're being very uncooperative!"

At the miniature lake streaming out from underneath the door, Alex stopped to knock hard. "Hey, who's in there?"

"Hey, Al!" Joey called back. "It's just us."

"Us?" Entering, Alex saw and rushed in with alarm. "Geez, Joey!"

"Sorry!" the smaller blonde apologized. "I'm trying to get him to stop."

"Joe, this water level is too high for him." Alex reached in to pull out the rubber stopper and let some of the moisture go down. He brought Brian towards him to begin washing off some of the gunk as he spoke. "And you shouldn't be giving him a bath by yourself. You know you need one of us in here."

Joey turned wounded at the reproach. "But Dad and Mum told me to take care of him. I only have to go to you guys for big stuff."

Alex gazed about the soaked bathroom. "This is pretty big. Get some shampoo in his hair. Just dime size."

"I know," Joey said softly, squirting some of the clear substance into his hand. He gently rubbed it into Brian's hair. "I'm sorry, Al."

"Don't worry about it right now," Alex said. "Let's just get you guys cleaned up." He reached down to wash Brian's lower quarters in time for the tot to squirt nature's call. "Oh uck- thanks a lot, buddy."

Brian shrieked a squeal and clapped his hands.

IIIIIII

One hand circling the unique pattern of the well-aged wood, Charles looked the wide chair up and down again. The goldenrod fabric that made up the seat and headrest contained a multitude of teeny red and purple butterflies soaring in the same direction.

"From our most recent shipment," the short, plump sales woman in peplum top and skirt informed. "One of my favorite eras."

The Professor rubbed his chin inquisitively. "A genuine Elizabethan, is it?"

"Absolutely."

Charles touched his right temple and regarded her a moment. "Really? Are you sure it isn't unverified?" The woman's eyes doubled in size and the telepath gave her an undeniable half-smile. "I believe I'll browse about for a bit. If you don't mind."

Forcing a cheerful expression, she walked away to speak to an older couple towards the front.

"Buy you a drink, sailor?"

"Hm?" Turning around, Charles found his other half there with flowers presented. "My lady, if you are attempting to corrupt me," he accepted the small bouquet from her, "you're off to a jolly good start."

Joining hands, Emma walked through the store with him. "And keep in mind I can afford to give you the lifestyle to which you are accustomed."

Charles raised her hand towards his lips to kiss. "Is that why you wanted to go antiquing of all things? As if I don't have enough my mother's heirlooms in need of dusting. Though I've been tempted a time or two to simply torch them and be done with it."

Emma stopped and said, "We are going to discuss this pyromania you've developed."

Charles softened. "I'm not exactly making today very splendid, am I?"

"You're nothing more than an ill-tempered scoundrel." Emma placed arms around his neck. "Delicious."

Charles leaned his forehead against hers. "How can you possibly have an appetite for me?"

"I understand greatly the pressures you're under because they are mine as well, regardless of whether you consider it your husbandly duties to shield me from most of it. You told me what you're willing to do to protect us and I continue to keep that faith."

"Which would explain these." Charles held up the irises he carried. "Don't the blue ones symbolize faith?"

Emma nodded then admitted, "That along with the fact that the shop was all out of white ones."

IIIIIII

Changed into his long-sleeve steel blue Merlin shirt and a pair of soft pants, the ten-year-old stared into the bowl at his own reflection. The rich scent from the ingredients tickled his nose while the billowing heat warmed his face.

At the baby in highchair's continuous rejection of the oatmeal, Alex concluded, "Not even trying to make this easy, are you? Joe, maybe you can get him to eat." Looking towards the silent child, Alex sat across the kitchen table from him. "After I get you to eat. What's wrong?"

Joey propped his head up with his fist. "I really wanted to take care of Brian myself. I thought I could do a good job."

"Joe, that's not going to happen," Alex stated. "You're too busy doing a great job with him." He looked to where Brian made a drum stick out of his little plastic spoon. "You're wild about your big brother, aren't you?"

"Goobla," the small one uttered, licking the tip of the spoon.

Alex smiled Joey's way. "See?"

"But we messed up the rug in the rec room and the whole bathroom," Joey raised.

"Joe, crazy stuff like that is going to happen when you're looking out for the little guys," Alex told him. "Remember when you were eight? You'd take the peanut butter and jelly out of the cabinets and eat straight from the jars. Half the work of cleaning that sticky stuff was keeping the flies off you."

Joey's cheeks brightened as he laughed. He then noticed the mild forlornness that appeared on Alex's features. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," the older blonde shrugged. "I guess it kind of floors me how much you're growing up. It wasn't that long ago that you were having a splash war with me in the bathtub. You little Eel."

Joey smiled at the recollection. "And you never even got mad at me. I want to be the coolest big brother ever for Brian. Just like you."

"Oh yeah?" Alex leaned back in his seat with hands behind his head. "Guess it would be pretty cool of me to start cleaning up those messes for you…" Joey remained humbly in place, blue eyes almost glittering. "Oh geez," Alex got to his feet, "you really are going to be cute forever. Feed the baby-man. Then yourself. Those are orders." He walked off to collect necessary scrubbing aides.

Getting up, Joey gently plucked the spoon from Brian's bitty fingers. The tyke watched the bigger one in fascination as he collected a portion of oatmeal for him to eat.

Joey brought the spoon to his lips. "Open your mouth, Bri. Pretty please?" The baby responded by puckering sourly. "Brian… it's an order."

Astonishment developed in Joey's eyes as Brian extended his tongue to lap at the soft food.

IIIIIII

Spilling the large bag of M&Ms into the pail of Neapolitan, Raven continued with, "And get this, I actually have to know the inner workings of the fetal brain. Hello, people- I want to work with kids who are at the talking and above stage. And also I'm a mom so… yeah, I know stuff."

Taking down a big spoonful of the ice cream, Becky responded, "Science is the worst. Minerals, rocks, how volcanoes are made. Who cares?!"

"Seriously," Raven concurred. "How's this for smarts? Run the opposite direction of the lava goo."

"And why do I need to know how to spell 'simultaneously'?" Becky demanded in exasperation. "Just say 'at the same time'. That's it!"

"School stinks." Raven then decided, "Let's go to our old fall back plan of buying our own island."

Becky pointed her spoon at her. "With no volcanoes."

"Or rules."

"Yeah!"

Making his way into Eye Spy, Logan peeked under the control panel where the pair crouched with ice cream tub between them. "What are you two dames doing under there?"

Becky replied, "Hiding from Hank."

Raven said, "So you officially never saw us."

Logan considered this. "And if your brother asks about his shower?"

Raven formed a clueless expression. "Wolverine, who? Is that like a ferret or something?"

Logan bobbed his head. "That's a deal. And fork over a few of them M&Mers."

Becky used a napkin to gather an assortment out of the pail for him.

IIIIIII

Fingers running through his thick brown hair, the man bit back whatever residual fatigue lingered as he continued on for his son's quarters. Stepping in through the open threshold, a smile immediately lit up Charles' features at the two boys in the bed together. Joey laid down while Brian pointed out words on the page to him. Peering up, Brian sent a wave of acknowledgement their father's way.

Rolling over to see who had arrived, Joey greeted brightly, "Hi, Dad."

"Hello. Well, what do we have here?" Charles joined them on the mattress, bringing Brian into his lap. "You lads starting without me?"

Joey shook his head and handed him the book. "We like your voice better… except when it's mad."

Chuckling, Charles took the copy of The Adventures of Peter Cottontail. With baby and little boy properly nestled against him, the man's gentle tone allowed them to venture into the world of the mischievous rabbit.