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.

250. Chapter 250 The Girl in the Painting

X-Men-First Class: Rise or Fall

Chapter Two Hundred Fifty

Author's Word: Alright, fam, I'm going to make this really simple. After an entire existence of stinkery, the world is in a state of supreme stenchy stinkitude. But Rise or Fall lives on. Please enjoy, review, and pray hard!

At the delicate coughs that would go unnoticed by any ordinary pair of ears, the man of keen senses picked up speed on his route through the second floor. Reaching one of the many bathrooms reserved for the mutant fledglings, he zeroed in on the dutiful tyke in the empty tub. In yellow rubber gloves that could easily fit her entire fist inside a single finger hole, she attempted to scrub away at the dirty streaks that blemished the porcelain.

Biting back a swear, Logan rushed forward to retrieve her. "Whoa, baby, come here. Come here, Jay." He missed the briefly puzzled look Kiki gave him when he stopped her from using one gloved hand to rub her face. "No, no, you'll get it in her eyes." Bringing her to sit on the vanity counter, Logan wet a towel with cool water to relieve her face. "You get soap in your eyes, darlin'?"

Kiki shook her head. "I was trying to help Scottie clean up."

"That's good, baby, but this job's too big for you," the man explained. He pointed at the lingering substances in the tub. "These soaps are too strong for you to be around." He helped her out of the gloves. "They'll mess up your pretty skin and eyes."

"Oh," she comprehended. "I'm sorry, Puppy."

"Don't worry about it, darlin'." Logan kissed the center of her forehead. "I appreciate you tryin' to help." He gripped her at the waist to bring her to her feet. "Why don't you go down and see if Frank and the big girls need a hand in the kitchen?"

"Kay, Puppy." Kiki left the bathroom, moving with the usual spirited sprint in her every step.

After making fast work of scrubbing the rest of the dirt out of the tub, Logan returned the different cleansers to their rightful place under the sink. He got the childproof latch in place on the mini double doors before going in search for one half of the Eye Scream Team.

Honing in on him in the teen lounge, Logan tapped his shoulder none-too-gently. "Base to Sky-High Summers. You're up to see the court martial."

Glancing back immediately, Scott spoke into the mouth piece. "I got to get going, Gary. Yeah, see you tomorrow." He hung up, giving the Veteran his full attention. "What's going on, Wolverine?"

"It's your day to clean up you boys' bathroom, right?"

"Oh," Scott groaned at the recollection. "Sorry. I only got halfway through. Gary called and we got to talking about the upcoming season and you know the others are always hogging the phone and—"

Bringing one hand up to signal silence, Logan informed, "That's not the problem here, Slim. I caught Kiki trying to do your job for you. Those fumes and chemicals could've made her sick."

Instant panic taking over him, Scott wanted to know, "Is she okay?"

"She's fine," Logan said to the boy's elation. "But you know good and well never to leave those cleanin' products out. Not with four little babies in the house. The twins'll be crawlin' soon, Brian's goin' to be walkin' before long and you know he tries to eat anything he can get his hands on."

"Yeah, I know," Scott replied regretfully. "I'm sorry. I'll be way more careful next time."

Logan nodded but still decreed, "To make sure of that, you've got a couple extra chores headed your way right after school tomorrow. Let this happen again any time soon and it'll be a couple smacks headed for your hide instead."

"Yes, sir." Shoulders drooped, Scott started out towards his room.

Noticing his watch, Logan progressed to seek out his wife next.

IIIIIII

Twin canvases in his possession, Joey presented them to the eldest Headmaster in the parlor. "They're finally dry. Are these good, Uncle Erik?"

The metal wielder took in the two different but highly colorful settings represented by the boy. "Perfect, Kangaroo. They shall aide quite nicely in keeping Simeon's rages down and, hopefully, his mood up."

Joey wondered, "Why can't he come here to feel better?"

Exchanging a look with Erik from across the way, Charles chose to let his brother answer.

Erik left the canvases on the small table in between them then brought Joey to sit on his thigh. "As much as we would like to gather them all, the mutants at the facility are much too unstable. They would require our round-the-clock attention and care. That simply would not be fair to the rest of you."

"Oh," Joey responded. "I guess I get it."

"Little one," Charles addressed, "have you finished your homework?"

"Not yet." Joey slid off Erik's lap to make his way upstairs.

Erik gazed over at his younger brother. "How are things with Alice?"

Stifling a yawn, Charles shuffled through the assortment of cases piled on his lap. "Her outbursts are more under control, but Raven and I have been preoccupied with Helena of late. Poor child is deformed with no eyes, but constantly senses all those around her."

Erik stated, "It all feels like vain efforts at times. Even if mutants were to ever be miraculously accepted, too many of our kind will still be forced into isolation."

"It doesn't have to be that way forever," Charles said hopefully. "Not if we continue the fight. Get the public to understand that we, too, bleed red."

Looking to his nephew's artwork, Erik used it to distract himself from the image of a pool of that very redness developing in his mind.

IIIIIII

The aged steel gray structure towered at eight stories. Made up of rubble and masonry, it contained many visible decks. A path with steps all made of stone led up to the wide doors. Though dormant due to winter, the trio of mutants stood in a sizable courtyard. The iron gate with spikes at the tall tips enclosed the property.

After over a minute of awed silence, Melissa at last spoke. "No way in the world…" She turned to the married couple. "Who did you kill, as if I particularly care?"

Logan told her, "Girly, we don't have time to drag out that list."

With a smile, Kayla explained, "It was designed in 1870. It started off as a hospital quarantine. It's been everything from a private school to a hotel. Up until a few years ago, it was a bed and breakfast for tourists who wanted to explore the city without having to worry about the crowds and noise disturbing their sleep. Charles' great uncle purchased it at auction."

"Must've gotten there too late to snag a drawbridge, too," Logan quipped. "My brother convinced Chuck to turn the title over to him. If anything goes down with the network, it'll be one less load the Xaviers have to carry."

Melissa lingered in astonishment. "They're seriously giving this up for a group of strangers? Teenage parents, runaways, people who don't drop what they're doing for afternoon tea?"

"Actually, they wanted to offer one of their condominium buildings," Kayla mentioned. "But they're all located in affluent areas. People who live to pry into the private affairs of others. This place is really more of a historical keepsake. Plus, it's hardly an hour from the other safe house so the ones holding down jobs won't have to fret over the new commute. Shaves about thirty minutes off mine as well."

Melissa shook her head in utter disbelief. "This is unreal. Wait until the others find out about this."

"That's going to be your department," said Logan. "The electrical, water, and heat are still good, but me and Vic'll be busy poppin' out the rest of the dings. Aimin' for move-in on Saturday."

Melissa gawked at that. "This Saturday?"

Kayla brought up, "I'd like everyone to settle in over the weekend and for the children to be ready to start lessons Monday morning. There are ten to twelve bedrooms per floor and one will act as a classroom. Plus, laundry facilities, the kitchen, a dining hall, and a social center."

"Oh, my God. I- oh my God. Thank you." It surprised Melissa herself when she moved to wind grateful arms around Kayla. Enormity set in almost immediately.

However, the older woman caressed her hair and looked into her face before the younger female could pull away. "You can thank me by enrolling in your own classes."

"Hey, at this point," a sincere grin built on Melissa's face, the brisk air whipping through her brown strands, "I'll do a hybrid medical-law school if that's what you want."

"You dames can talk pen and paper inside," Logan chimed in, proceeding ahead to get the heavy doors open for them. "Come check out the goods."

As they headed after him, Melissa found herself unbothered by Kayla's slight hold on her upper arm. It actually took a particular dosage of aloof willpower to resist resting her head on the woman's shoulder.

IIIIIII

Freshly clean and bubble-gum scented daughter wrapped in towel, Raven carried the giggly four-year-old into her room. She laid her on top of the child's Tinkerbell comforter and dressed her in the underwear and lavender pajama set already on the bed.

Getting into a folded leg position on the mattress, Raven glided the comb through the slightly damp hair. "Do you want to sing with Mommy?" She nodded. "What do you want to sing?"

Imitating her mother's motion by fixing the hair on one of her dolls, Kiki determined, "A Dream."

With a smile at how her daughter shortened the title, Raven started them off on the ditty from Cinderella.

As they concluded together, Hank arrived in the doorway, his features practically sparkling at mere sight of the two of them. "Ready for sweet dreams, Baby Bear?"

"Yes, Daddy," the little girl replied cheerfully.

Raven left Hank to finish tucking her in while the shapeshifter went to tidy up the art materials on Kiki's desk.

Ensuring the linens over her, Hank asked, "What are you going to dream about tonight?" He watched her flap her hand and he understood right away. "Are you going to fly?"

"Real high up," Kiki elaborated. "All the way over the house and the clouds."

"That high? And where are you going to go?"

"To Grandma's!" she declared.

Hank chuckled heartily. "I should have known."

Attention going to one drawing, Raven studied the four people depicted closely. "Kiki," she walked back to the bed, "is this our family? You, me, Daddy, and Trav?"

"Mmhmm," Kiki nodded.

At her clear growing fatigue, Hank kissed her cheek. "Good night, Baby Bear. Make sure to fly home to Daddy."

"I will," she promised, looking to her mother next. "Night-night, Mommy."

A somewhat vacant Raven smooched the other side of her face. "Night-night, Gorge."

When they returned to their own quarters, Hank asked, "Have you seen Trav's short paragraphs lately? He's been collecting gold stars across the board. I can't believe how well his punctuation—" Noticing the distant redhead so engrossed in the drawing, Hank petitioned, "Better half?" He came closer, climbing into bed with her. "Oh, beautiful and far superior better half…" He began applying kisses to her neckline.

"Honey," getting his face up, Raven showed him the paper, "look at this."

Hank did and wondered, "Is it just me or does she somehow make my feet bigger every time?"

"No." Raven poked him then used the same finger to tap the picture. "She colored her eyes in blue."

Hank waited her to say more and eventually shrugged. "So?"

"Hank, Kiki has brown eyes," Raven emphasized. "Why would she make her eyes blue all of a sudden? You don't think someone made fun of her eyes, do you? Put these ideas in her head that she's not pretty enough, not good enough?"

Despite his wife's clear concern, Hank gave into a big smile. "Oh Raven, really? Have you met our children? They tried to paint their entire bodies blue to look like Mommy. You remember how Kiki used to reach for my glasses all the time? Maybe she just felt like copying my eyes."

Raven remained unconvinced. "Do you really think that's all this is?"

"Sweetheart," Hank grew more serious, "I know you're constantly on the lookout for these things where Kiki is concerned, but I do not believe she has some sort of complex. As much as they argue, the kids around here know better than to make such personal attacks on things like eye or skin color."

"Yeah, they do," Raven admitted softly. "I hate that I'm so paranoid about this stuff, but I never want her to go through the same appearance problems I have."

"I know." Hank brought her into his arms. "We're years away from that yet and more than equipped to handle it. Don't worry."

His frontal form acting as her pillow, Raven tried to convince herself of his words.

IIIIIII

Chest ignited like a jackhammer, pulse risen to his temples, muscles tense, and an overpowering heat taking over his entire form, the formerly slumbering male divided eyelids suddenly. Ever aware of who laid beside him night after night, he prevented the rest of his body from jerking. Stirred only slightly, Kayla remained tranquil on top of him. Giving the corner of her mouth his lips, Logan gently positioned her on her side of the bed. When one hand instinctively reached for him, Logan kissed her fingertips until she settled against the pillows. Touching his chest as if to calm the thrusting muscle within it, he shot his head in the direction of the abruptly wailing child.

Getting up to go to the correct crib, Logan clicked his tongue as he lifted his son up. "Shhhh, Toddy." Holding him to his front, he rocked with him. "Calm down, Pup. That's right, yeah."

"Logan." Rising instantly, Kayla only took the time to correct the stiffness in her neck. "Is he hungry?"

"Hold on." Logan patted the diaper. "He's a little wet here." Moving over to the changing table, he provided the infant male with a new diaper. Logan used one of his own t-shirts to both swaddle and clothe him for the time being before bringing him to Kayla. "Here we go. Let Mama feed you."

Making it to the walk-in closet, Logan traded out his sleep pants and sweat heavy undershirt for his custom yellow and blue X-Men exercise gear. As he crammed his feet into his sneakers, Todd's cries filled the suite again.

He went back out to find him pulling away from Kayla's breast. "What's the matter with you this mornin', Pup?"

"What else?" She transferred the bitty boy into his father's arms. "He probably knows you're going to be gone most of the day."

"Relax, Pup. Your old man's not shippin' out. Now, I need to take a leak." Logan placed him in the center of the bed. "You stay put."

Not that it surprised her, Kayla reacted to a now disgruntled Mira. "Okay, sweetie, come on." Kayla brought her up and sat back in the rocking chair with her. "Food first then we'll get you changed, alright?"

Mira at least agreed with the first part of the plan as she readily drank from her mother.

When Logan returned from the joined bathroom, he kissed Mira's nose and picked Todd up on his way out of the room. They stopped to look in on Cody and Logan recovered the little kicking machine with his discarded linens.

"Playtime later," Logan spoke into Todd's ear when he saw the way the baby kept out beseeching hands for his brother. "Cat's got to sleep for school." He became satisfied when Todd eased into contentment. Their next stop brought them all the way to the lowest level of the grand house and into the gym. "Alright, look, you want to stick with me this mornin', you're gettin' some trainin' in, boy." Logan jabbed at the punching bag with his fist. "Come on, let's see that swing." Todd instead used his right hand to lay over his father's fist. "Oh you want to fight me instead? Ambitious little pup, ain't ya?"

Logan rubbed knuckles into his round belly and Todd reacted by gripping his wrist and suckling on the adult appendage. Only able to stare, as if wanting to freeze time in that instant, Logan returned him to a cradling position. With Todd drifting, they returned to their room. Kayla and Logan made the twins comfortable in their cribs again before departing for the kitchen.

They discovered two McCoys at the table, the large one with coffee and the smaller one enjoying warm Ovaltine.

"I have an early day and someone on a potty break," Hank bounced his daughter in his lap, "decided to latch onto my leg this morning."

"Somethin' must be goin' around." Logan twirled a few strands of Kiki's hair around one finger. "These kids are startin' to think we like 'em or somethin'."

With a smile, Kayla tapped Kiki's chin and went right to the stove.

Maya joined them shortly. "Good morning, everybody."

All returned the greeting, including Kiki's particularly chipper, "Good morning, Maya."

Kayla veered around at that. "When did you two bury the hatchet?"

Maya explained, "The object of our mutual desire is still in bed." She went to Logan, who powered the coffee maker. "Hey."

Logan paused long enough to peck the top of her head. "How's my girl this mornin'?"

"Good." She then asked, "Is this outfit to your liking, by the way?" She wore a white dress with stockings and sky blue cardigan.

"Hold on just a minute." He looked her up and down. "Where's that hijab I got you?"

"Hanging next to my new leather skirt." Maya promptly clarified, "I'm kidding beyond reason."

Hank gazed at her from over his glasses. "Good to know I can cancel plans to contain you to detention." He spoke to Logan next. "You're working on the building today?"

"All day long and strong." Logan then relayed to his wife, "Vic's meetin' up with me when he gets out of work. Don't worry with puttin' away dinner. We'll grab a bite." He poured a portion of the coffee into his thermos. "You sure you're good for today?"

"We'll be fine," Kayla dismissed. "Alex and Leon are coming straight home from their last classes."

Logan exchanged a passing kiss with her and left the kitchen to finish preparing for the day ahead.

"Wait, Puppy."

Turning around at the dainty voice, Logan accepted the thermos from Kiki's small hands. "Ah thanks, Jaycee."

Currently situated just behind his daughter at one countertop, Hank whipped his head their direction. Realizing and inwardly cringing at his error, Logan shared a brief but entirely awkward stare with the younger man. He moved with greater haste to reach the upstairs.

Darting eyes over to where the ladies focused on getting breakfast going, Hank experienced relief at Kayla clearly having not overheard her husband.

IIIIIII

The young girl in black pleated skirt and raspberry turtleneck hesitated entering the study due to the adult she sought preoccupied on the telephone.

Spotting her, Charles waved her over with two fingers and wrapped up the call shortly. "Did you need me, Princess?"

Trying not to gape at his unusually cloudy features, Becky spoke. "You're not having breakfast with us again? It's almost ready."

Charles released a forlorn sigh. "I'm afraid not, my darling. With our time at the facility, we haven't any leftover for a proper sit-down breakfast. But don't you worry." He gave her a big smile. "We'll be eating dinner together this evening."

"Maybe I should go with you," Becky put forth. "To help them."

"No, no, no," Charles shot down promptly, complete with a wag of his finger. "You're far too young to be exposed to the tormented minds at the facility."

She brought up, "But I helped you and Auntie Em with Joey."

"And that was very different." Leaving it there, Charles said matter-of-factly, "Now, the only place you're going is to school." He drew her in to tickle their noses together. "Understand me?"

Though she did not exactly, Becky still replied a dutiful, "Yes, Uncle Charles."

"Just a moment." Charles held onto her wrist as she moved to exit the study. "Are you really going to leave your prince without the special magic? How on earth do you expect him to get through the day?" With a sincere smile, Becky leaned in to kiss his cheek. "Ah," Charles appeared to glow, "much better."

IIIIIII

Even at the clicking of his door unlatching, the youth with tinted green skin remained in position. He continued to hum loudly to no particular tune. Only when he saw who walked in did he quiet even marginally.

Looking on in amusement of the child currently standing on his head, Emma greeted kindly, "Hello, Simeon."

Wriggling his upright feet, the boy returned, "Hi…"

One eyebrow up, Erik requested, "Do you mind getting up from there the correct way so that we may talk properly?"

Appearing to consider it, Simeon flipped over onto his feet and spotted something behind Erik's back that made his blue eyes sparkle. "Ooh…"

At the way he inched in to paw at the items, Erik stepped back and reproached, "Eh-eh, Simeon. It's rude to be so impetuous."

Gazing upward at the tall man, the boy attempted to repeat, "impet- empty- what is that?"

"Impetuous is a word you could easily understand were you not giving the tutors so much trouble," said Emma matter-of-factly. "We heard you've been hiding under the desk and trying to bite at their fingers."

Palms going right over his ears, Simeon resumed humming.

"Simeon," Erik spoke over the loud throat murmuring, "take your hands down at be quiet at once." Leaving the canvases propped against the closed door, Erik scooped him up at the waist and brought him to eye level. "I. Said. Stop!"

This startled the young mutant into dropping his hands. "… Mean."

Unmoved, Erik informed, "I can be much meaner, Simeon. So can Emma. But we would much rather be nice to you. Do you want us to be nice to you?" He nodded. "Then be a good boy and listen to Emma. No more interruptions."

Simeon bobbed his head and Erik placed him to stand before Emma.

"Now," the woman continued, "you cannot hide from and fight with your tutors, Simeon. They are here to help you the same as we are. Don't you want to learn new things?"

"No," he answered with a shake of his head.

"Really, nothing?" Emma stood in zero belief of that notion. "You don't want to learn about the sky, the clouds, the warm sun, how they work together to take care of your lovely flowers and trees?"

Simeon raised his head with peeked interest. "Oh y-yes, yes I do."

"What about these?" At last displaying the canvases for his viewing, one showed a pack of dogs together in a field on a bright day. The other depicted bees flying to a wide variety of flowers. "Do you like them?"

A wide smile coming to his face, Simeon stared in glee. "Beautiful."

"My nephew painted these especially for you. Perhaps you could color this way as well," Erik proposed. "Isn't that something you would like to learn?"

"Hm," he thought then nodded, "yes, Erik."

"Simeon," Emma addressed him again, "if you let me do some studying with you for an hour, I will show you some of my special mind pictures. But you mustn't fidget or hum. You have to behave for the entire hour, alright?"

After several seconds, Simeon at last replied, "Alright."

While Emma went into her oversized bag for the books she had brought along, Erik decided, "I'll put these up for you." He took hold of one canvas.

Observing the older male's movements curiously, Simeon grinned at the way the man drove nails into the wall without the aid of a hammer.

IIIIIII

Three weeks' worth of arithmetic and reading comprehension sufficiently completed, the meticulous X-Woman started on social studies and world history.

Done attaching the magnetic letters to her child-size blackboard on plastic easel, Kiki pointed importantly. "Look, Foxy, look."

Raising her head, Kayla took in the initials. "Oh, Jesus Christ, that's very good. Did Seanie teach you that one?"

Kiki gave off a strong shake of her head, pigtails bouncing. "No, it says Jaycee." She tapped the board. "See?"

At that particular bit of clarification, Kayla lost words, but managed to recover. "Yes, honey, I see. But that isn't the way you spell her name." Rising from the small table in her room, Kayla walked over to add the necessary letters. "This is the correct way." She stroked gently at the girl's cheek. "What made you think of her?"

Kiki informed with something of a proud air, "I'm Jaycee."

Kayla's hand stilled, utter confusion consuming her breathtaking features. "… What?"

"I'm Jaycee," Kiki repeated. "That's what Puppy calls me."

Trying to get some type of grip on the situation, Kayla responded, "Logan calls you Jaycee?"

With a nod, Kiki said, "Sometimes. Like your little girl in Joey's painting." She aimed a finger at the displayed portrait on one wall near the door. "I'm going to be Jaycee for you and Puppy and Lizzie for Kitty. When Mommy and Daddy are home, I'll be Kiki again."

Unsure whether to cry or smile at the innocent logic, Kayla lowered to better face the younger set of warm brown eyes. "Oh sweetheart, no. No, you misunderstand. Victor calls you Liz because it's the shorter way of saying your middle name, Elizabeth. It's the same way we usually call you Kiki instead of Kyra. But Logan didn't mean to call you Jaycee. It was just an accidently, probably because you remind him of her."

"Ohhhhh." Entirely unbothered, Kiki offered, "I'll still be Jaycee for you. If you want me to be."

Kayla hugged her to push back the stinging moisture pooling in her eyes. "Thank you, baby. Thank you so much, but we don't want you to be Jaycee or anyone else. We need you; we need Kiki."

Smiling, Kiki agreed, "Okay," and played in the woman's silky hair.

Standing with the little girl in her grasp, Kayla lowered into the closest chair with her. Thoughts distant and expression indeterminate, she found comfort in the tiny fingers gliding through her dark strands.

IIIIIII

Abruptly finding herself blind, Cordelia flapped her arms until a stronger upper limb wound about to contain them.

"Do as I say," the Spanish accent floated in her ear, "and I will highly consider letting you go."

"Speak your demands, merciless brute," Cordelia commanded.

"Dinner, you…"

"And?" the girl prompted.

"And what more does a man need?" Fabian released her, but hugged her from behind.

Though an affected smile appeared on her face, Cordelia had to reply, "He needs a raincheck. It's my turn to get dinner on the table tonight."

Fabian unleashed something between a sigh and a groan. "Why do they force toil upon a radiant creature of your station? You people need a cleaning service."

Turning, Cordelia tugged at the front of his coat. "And you people need to take some pride in your own home. What else is the purpose of these masculinity oozing hands you wield?" At the particular twinkle in his brown orbs, she back into her locker. "Fabian Cortez…" She shrieked in purely feminine fashion at finding herself seized and tickled.

His own girlfriend linked to his arm, Sean approached with an eye roll. "You ready or what, giggles? We need to meet up with the others. You know we all have work to do at home."

"And party officially pooped." Fabian left Cordelia with a kiss. "Call me if the chains loosen- or become too tight."

"I like the way you say pooped," Cordelia said after him. Shutting her locker, she started walking with the other two X-Men. "You know, you're insufferably pushy for one so low on the instructor waitlist."

Maya shot her head back to give her a look. "Cordelia."

Stilling for a moment, Sean turned a glower of his own on her. "And you're just plain insufferable for someone in the negatives on the IQ scale."

"Could you two stop before you start?" Maya urged. She pulled on Sean's arm. "Things to do at home, remember?"

Sean took her hand and continued on towards the student parking lot.

Bringing up the rear, Cordelia did not lose her catty smirk.

IIIIIII

"Mommy, Mommy!"

Returning with the other three, Raven gasped at her son falling face first in the foyer in pursuit of her. "Trav!"

Not deterred for more than a second at his unexpected angle, the boy popped up. "Mommy!" Raven caught the tot turned jumping bean. "You won't believe it."

The shapeshifter automatically guessed, "You made it into the second grade reading class."

To the shock of all present, Trav replied, "No," but followed it with, "I made second grade writing." A monumental smile crossed his face. "I made third grade reading."

Elation burst from the adults and Raven hugged him as tightly as she dared. "Oh my God, Pooh Bear!"

Making his way into the foyer to witness the merriment, Hank deduced, "I take it you heard the good news."

"You mean the very best news of the day." Taking Trav from his sister, the Professor spun about with him. "Oh my brilliant lad, I couldn't be prouder."

The more reserved Erik ruffled the boy's hair. "Well done, Valiant."

"We must celebrate," Emma insisted. "Starting with an extra special dessert tonight."

Erik put forth casually, "Perhaps a trip to the little toy shop near my barber this weekend…"

Carrying the giddy child with him, Charles inquired, "What sort of car would you like for your sixteenth birthday?"

"Baby thieves," Raven accused, going after the three elders.

Hank stopped her at the entryway. "I believe we need to talk."

Absorbing his serious countenance, Raven followed him into the living room where they took up the loveseat. "Okay, what'd I miss?"

"I spoke with Kayla when I got home. You know the drawing you found in Kiki's room?" Hank waited for her nod before continuing. "Kiki colored her eyes blue to look more like Jaycee." At his wife's own puzzled yellow orbs, Hank told her, "Apparently, Logan's been calling her Jaycee unintentionally. I heard him slip and say it this morning. He looked so embarrassed…" Hank's expression became pained. "I didn't know what to say. I thought it best to simply ignore it."

"Oh God." Raven sank against the loveseat, gaze casting upward. "Being around Kiki so much during the day- it's probably bringing up so many memories. I wish I could do something for them, him and Kayla, but I'm lost here."

"Tell me about it," Hank sympathized. "I've often wondered how Victor even gets out of bed every day. But Cody, being here, the boys on Scott's team, the children at the school- I think I see why he's so comfortable around them. Protecting children, keeping other parents from going through his heartbreak. I believe it gives him purpose."

"So do you, Hank." Raven faced him. "Not that he'll so say, but I know working with you, helping you with your beast side means more than he lets on."

"I hope so." Hank reacted to her quirky smile. "What?"

"Just thinking about the car accident. Charles is struggling in a coma and I go catatonic. There's no way I could survive what the Howlett-Creeds have."

Hank gave her his arm. "I married a smart lady, who doesn't know the first thing about herself. You are so much stronger now than you were then. In fact, you've always been strong. You simply needed reason enough to tap into it."

Enjoying the feel of him, Raven slowly detached. "Unfortunately, I have to use a high percentage of this strength to work on my interning logs. Do you think "persons of physical perfection" is an adequate synonym for "mutant"?"

Hank exhaled in amusement. "Stick to the basics, beloved."

"Fine, be boring." She stood from him to seek out her typewriter.

IIIIIII

Steady vigilance on the one particular piece of artwork adorning her wall, Kayla shifted glance to her other children. With all of their combined stuffed animals at his disposal, Cody finished encasing Mira and Todd inside a makeshift zoo.

"CoCo," the petition immediately got her older son's eyes up, "did you give Joey a photo of Jaycee for this painting?"

"Nuh uh, Ma," Cody replied. "They were all put up. He got it from Daddy's old tattoo. You know, when you and him saved Smiley. He saw it when Dad was changin' shirts."

Kayla eyed the detailed canvas again. "He made this from a mere glimpse?"

Cody shrugged, "That's Joey," and returned to playing with his siblings.

Shooing Midnight out of her chair, Kayla settled quietly at her sewing machine.

Minutes later, in walked the individual in blue coveralls reduced to gray by various dust and debris.

Shooting to his feet, Cody charged. "Daddy!"

"Whoa," using both hands to halt him, Logan asked, "You had your bath yet?"

"Nope," his boy answered.

Logan waved him on. "Then get over here already."

Cody leapt and soon found himself swinging in his father's arms. His laughter echoed throughout the space. Kayla watched the pair, pleasure brewing on her face.

"We put you and Uncle Vic some chocolate pie up," Cody informed. "Whipped cream, too."

"Knew we kept you around for somethin'." Logan tossed his hair as he stood him. "Alright, hose off. And remember, you and me after your shot tomorrow. Any flick you want to see."

Filled with glee now, Cody darted from the suite with arm spreads like a soaring eagle.

Kayla made a path for him. "Hello, handsome hunk of filth."

"Hold on right there, woman. Don't be spreadin' no accusations. I ain't been handsome a day in my life."

"Hush." She aimed for his lips.

Logan arched his head back. "Pretty sure I got dirt wedged between my teeth, too."

"What else is new?" Kayla gripped him by the front of his clothes and tasted him in an extended kiss. She then started working the zipper down. "Let's get you out of these."

"Baby," Logan gestured towards the twins, "at least wait until they're asleep."

Kayla regarded him wryly. "To get you in a hot bath, buffoon."

Logan growled provocatively after her. Careful only to drop tiny pecks on their foreheads so as not to soil them any, he tucked Todd and Mira into their cribs. It took him hardly any time to strip out of his boots, coveralls, and t-shirt, thrilled to be free from the dirt rich articles. Going into the bathroom, he felt his heartbeat increase at the nude body already in the filled tub. Only a cluster of bubbles cloaked her.

All but diving in on the other side, Logan inhaled peacefully. "Vanilla."

"Of course." Swimming over to join his end, Kayla started cleansing his neck regions with her loofa. "So, I've been told Jaycee is the new variation on the name Kyra."

Enjoying the scrub down, Logan surmised, "Hank told you about this mornin'."

"Actually, Kiki finked."

"Always the cuties who double-cross me." Logan sighed lightly. "I've had a lot on my mind. Wasn't thinkin' straight is all."

"You don't have to explain," Kayla assured him, wiping the unwanted streaks from his face. "To this day, I think almost every dark haired little girl I see is her."

"Seems like I can't shut my eyes to sleep without dreamin' about her," Logan said. "Never about what happened to her, but when I would leave for work in the mornin'. Any time I forgot somethin', she'd run it out to me like clockwork."

Kayla recalled fondly, "Even if it was below zero outside. She'd zip right out in those little footy pajamas."

"She could warm the coldest night, every time she crawled on top of my chest. Little peepers just starin' at me. Never could figure out what she saw so fascinatin' in my face." Logan formed a watery smile, stroking his wife's arm with his thumb. "You know, Fox, just about the only time in my life I felt even close to beautiful was when those blue eyes looked into mine."

Dropping the loofa suddenly, Kayla burst up to throw arms around him and take his lips with hers. Returning the kiss with vigor, Logan plopped underwater with her.

IIIIIII

So engrossed in the words before him, the little boy did not notice his door opening until his none-too-pleased mother showed herself.

"Hey, hyper genius," Raven addressed pointedly, "what did Mommy say? Book away, butt down, eyes shut."

"Mommy," Trav moaned, "just one more."

"Trav, I already told you," coming closer, Raven took the book to put inside the end table drawer, "you're not allowed to conquer the world until you're at least ten."

"Awww." Still, he laid down with his ape man.

Hoping extensive academic achievement would be the height of her worries with him for many years to come, Raven massaged his back to help soothe him into slumber.

II

With no need for a nightlight with his presence in the feminine room, Hank lingered in the dark with gaze on the ceiling. He received warm exhales of air from the teeny one at his side.

"Daddy?"

Automatically reacting, Hank moved to his side to better look at her, despite not wearing his glasses. "What is it, Baby Bear?"

"You know where I'm flying to tonight?"

Hank tried to present a good guess. "To Bedrock to see Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm?"

"No," Kiki shook her head. "Somewhere even higher than the clouds."

Hank feigned astonishment. "You mean to the stars, Never Land?"

"No," she repeated and Hank could see her smiling. "I'm going all the way up to Heaven. I'm going to find Jaycee and bring her home to Puppy and Foxy."

Unable to use his own voice for a moment, Hank placed his arm over her. "Kiki, I need you to do something for me. Don't fly away anywhere right now, alright? Daddy needs you right here on Earth with him. Can you do that for me?"

Kiki nodded, "Yes, Daddy," and snuggled into his grasp. "I'll stay here."

Never loosening his hold on his daughter, Hank brought the comforter over to better wrap them in.