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.

308. Chapter 308 Property Brothers

Chapter Three Hundred Eight

Author's Word: Alright, fam, let's get going on this one. First, yes, this was completed on my Adoption Anniversary and would have been up sooner, but I was among those effected by disagreeable weather. I know I've made a couple references to being sick as well, but I don't want you guys to get the wrong idea. It has been nothing major and I haven't been anywhere near a hospital for any reason, just bizarre, highly uncharacteristic colds and standard monthly issues of grossitude. Thanks as always for the feedback and being an immensely loyal fam. I gained two families in the same year with Rise or Fall. Ah, X-Men: First Class. Fam, I know I'm not alone when I say… thank the living Christ for quality, kick-butt actors and low expectations because that flick is flawed up the ying-yang-yo.
Okay, now to address something far more serious. I noticed a couple of you thought that Erik removed his brain, placed it in a cardboard box, and threw it in the nearest incinerator, believing he literally slapped Adrienne last chapter. No, no, no, no, NOOOOOO! That did NOTTTT happen! When Raven said he slapped her across the face, she was speaking figuratively. As evidenced by Erik not being beaten and belted until his skin outdid his uniform with red and purple. Now, that that's cleared up, please enjoy and review!

Twenty side bends completed, the ebony-haired lass slowly lowered to her mat to flex her calves. Less than a minute in, a pair of white sneakers lived up to their name when they noiselessly crept up on her. Stilling for a moment, her eyes- made to dazzle by the cloudless sky- journeyed upward to take in the male physique attached to the Chuck Taylors. He stood in indigo and maroon athletic apparel with Jaguars cap in place.

Cocking his head to one side, Frank observed her present position. "There are days I really appreciate my timing."

"You would." Though she required no assistance, Jessie still clamped onto the offered hand that returned her to her full height. She next noticed and wondered, "Where's your bike?"

"Sitting under a kid who can ride it without looking like he's auditioning for Bozo."

"You gave it up? Thought you had this," she swayed her arms in a show of mysticism, "special man-and-machine oneness with it."

"That's why I gave it to Sean's kid brother, Tommy. Visiting us from Virginia?" At her nod of confirmed recollection, Frank further explained, "Just, you know, he's a really cool kid. I can't help feeling lousy for having all this time with Sean these last few years while Tommy's been parked by the phone and mailbox."

"I get that," Jessie responded sympathetically. "That was so sweet of you. But then, how did you get here?"

"Hitchhiked," Frank said glibly. "Rolled in with Peg-Leg Pete, Chainsaw Chuck, and Petey McStabs-People. Real neat dudes. We're starting a book club next week."

"Ah, what book?"

"Huge Jane Austen fans, actually."

Pulling in outside the residence, Sean stuck his head out of the driver's side window. "Hey, boss, want me to circle aimlessly until you and your lady friend are done?"

"For God's sake, Sean, show some class." Frank then directed, "Go park at the gas station with the other domestics."

Sean saluted in acknowledgement of the girl present. "Good morning, ma'am."

A thoroughly amused Jessie returned, "Beach Boy Six, hello."

All three darted eyes over at the tangerine front door swinging open. Dressed for the day in black pants and gray elbow-sleeve shirt with popped collar, his broad shoulders nearly filled the entire threshold. The man's silver sunglasses with matching cabbie hat and dangling silk scarf accentuated his forest of dark hair and short beard.

"Nobody's going anywhere. We need to have a word about my daughter."

Panic rapidly clinging to him, Frank rushed to reassure, "Whoa, Mr. Jarvis, we were just—"

"Yeah, good to see you, brain boy." Taking only a second to pat Frank on his cap, Nik jogged out to the BMW, presenting his hand to a surprised Sean, who shook it. "Rock star, right? Nik Jarvis."

The redhead's astonished expression intensified. "You're Jessie's dad?"

Automatically aware of the reason for the teen's gaping eyes, Nik explained nonchalantly, "I was purchased as a child-groom in the old country." Frank smirked at Jessie's resulting headshake. "Listen, I have a little lady in there who believes it's our sworn duty as non-heathens to offer you a cup of coffee."

"Zoey," Sean deduced then peered around in puzzlement. "Uh, when did she see me?"

"Telescope." Nik looked to rethink that. "But we haven't ruled out x-ray vision yet."

"Coolest super power," Frank said coyly.

Jessie tacked on, "And the creepiest," making Frank glad watching her father distracted her from his face.

After leaving his car in the driveway of the left side garage, Sean marveled over the stunning colonial. "Your house is amazing." He revered the garden, fountain, and particularly the second-floor balcony.

Walking ahead of him, Nik paused to admire it himself. "Better be after that struggle. And I'm not talking financing. That was a cakewalk next to finding a place pretty enough for my girls." When Jessie came his way, he reeled her in for a side hug. "Did I do you justice?"

Jessie told him, "You did everything, Daddy," and kissed his jaw. "Kay, we'll be back."

When the pair started off, Nik petitioned, "Hey, Frank, do me a favor and keep Speedy Gonzalez from crossing state lines. We can't afford anymore citations."

Going into a deep snigger, Frank replied, "You got it," only to promptly find himself in the role of Pepe Le Pew as he hurried after his sprinting female cohort.

When his middle daughter left his sight, Nik led Sean inside and towards the kitchen. Opting to sit on a bar stool, Sean noticed the Marigold's menu on the counter and studied the numerous Grecian delights listed. Nik poured their coffee and also offered Sean two of Ashley's homemade donuts. When Nik sat across from him, they struck up a conversation and Sean's upcoming life events quickly became the central topic.

"My daughters raved about you with the Beach Boys. Opening at the Monte Cristo," Nik's voice highlighted his impression, "about as sweet a gig as it gets for five minutes out of high school."

"I still can't get over this break." Sean downed his first donut and wasted no time picking up the second one. "These guys legit reached out to me."

"Not so surprising. I worked night clubs when I was even younger than you."

This immediately intrigued Sean. "Really? Do you sing?"

"Only when I want to make babies cry." With a twinkle in his eye, Nik elaborated, "Bust boy. Ten thousand callouses and blistering feet later, I managed to pay for culinary school and land a full-time spot in a hotel kitchen."

"Full-time?" Sean echoed incredulously. "School, too?" Nik nodded in confirmation. "And it never effected your marriage?"

"Of course it did," Nik responded promptly. "Caked in grease; teachers giving me grief. Then I have to stumble through the front door with the tub filled and a cold beer waiting on me. Finding my clothes washed and crisp like brand new. Getting pulled out of my sleep first thing in the morning to eggs and bacon frying on the stove." Nik lifted his mug to sip. "Living every day, loving every minute."

Sean smiled warmly. "My dad says the same thing about my mom."

"Good morning." The males looked to the kitchen archway, where the bright face stood in an ivory summer dress covered in teal and raspberry polka dots. She wore a large lacy ribbon in her hair that complimented the white, purring beauty in her arms.

Sean feigned confusion. "Sorry, have we met?"

Face nearly shattering, she reminded him, "It's me, Zoey. You gave me your autograph."

"Ohhhh, Zoey." Sean grinned at her. "For a second I thought Princess Grace invited me to coffee." Zoey's beaming resumed with greater glow. "Now, who's this pretty girl?"

Zoey carried the cat over. "Say hi, Eva."

After she smelled Sean's palm, the feline permitted his fingers in her finely groomed fur.

IIIIIII

With his small girl stretched on the mattress, Hank finished dressing her by attaching the brown riding boots to her feet. True to Raven's request, Kiki wore her midnight blue jumper and plum t-shirt. Outdoor endeavors proved stain hazardous to garments of lighter coloring, especially in the barn. Kiki played with her pink clothed bear while Raven brushed her cocoa brown hair into pigtails. The McCoys reacted to the trio of enthused former first-graders parading up from the lab level. While all of them had on jeans and tees for the day's activity, Raven straightaway noticed Lily and Trav sported worn pants for recreation. Max, however, looked as if his pristine jeans and Yankees shirt had been purchased off the rack only moments ago. The shapeshifter felt no surprise with her knowledge of Estevan Cortez, but did appreciate his efforts as a provider.

"Hi, you guys." Seated on the edge of the bed, Hank did a double hand slap with Max. "Staying out of trouble I trust?"

Max looked to think on the question and answered, "So far today."

Raven regarded the boy in instant delight.

"It's good to see you, Lily." Hank stood, picking up the Dukes girl. "And what are those brothers of yours up to?"

The blonde tot reported tartly, "They went to the city with Daddy for truck parts."

Hank gave her a smile. "Not exactly your cup of tea, hm?"

"It could be worse," said Raven, winding arms around Kiki after finishing her hair. "My two brothers consider fun to be chess and biology lectures." Hank stared over his shoulder at her. "Which is way more riveting when you're talking, babe."

Kiki squirmed in her grasp. "Franny."

"Yes, we're going to the ponies right now." Rising, Raven gave Kiki to Hank to carry with Lily.

The golden-headed disguised shapeshifter linked up with Trav and Max to walk between them.

On the main level, Erik ceased his pace at the sight of them.

"Uncle Erik." Trav charged to clamp onto his legs. The man welcomed it, reaching down to pat the child's back. "Come riding with us."

"Perhaps a bit later, Valiant." Erik sent affectionate fingers through the brown hair of similar tint to his own. "Uncle Erik needs to use today to catch up on a bit of work. You be certain to give Steel a good workout. He'll need it to catch up with Xander and the big horses."

"Okay, Uncle Erik," Trav complied, though still mildly disappointed.

Erik watched the group head for the back door before he continued on for the kitchen. The moment his tall figure stepped inside, the feminine chatter came to a sharp halt. Sipping from their porcelain cups, their icy blue eyes greatly resembled jagged daggers. One of the few mental images involving metal that placed the man in a state of trepidation.

"Good morning, ladies." He spoke directly at Emma when he noted, "I see you decided to stay in from the facility as well."

Emma lowered her cup enough to come back with, "My, how aware you are of all things. Excluding the self."

Erik cleared his throat a little. "I wanted to talk to Adrienne, but she wouldn't answer when I knocked."

"She's not home, Erik," Cordelia informed as though it should have been plain. "She's out with Sam and Ang. If you hadn't noticed, Dri's not the cry-into-pillow type."

Daring to take a step closer to the island, Erik urged, "It wasn't my intention to offend her."

"But it was Adrienne's intention to offend Victor and Logan?" Emma retorted, igniting silence in the metal wielder. "I didn't go to the facility today, Erik. I didn't go because I'm suddenly left to question my own anchor. More than just this situation with Dri, if I can't count on you not to make a difficult situation in my family even harder, how can I trust you to keep my feet on the ground counseling traumatized kids? I've lost mutant children before and I won't let that happen again. Least of all because of you." Managing to leave her cup in the sink without smashing it, Emma made a heated path out of the kitchen.

Erik ensured he did not block her by so much as in inch, as if the slightest contact would singe his skin. Arms crossed, Cordelia stormed out next, only to dart back in immediately.

"I still love you." She hugged him under his arms, resting her head on his chest lightly. "You're just more maggot than Magneto right now." That established, the teen hurriedly left again.

Remaining in rigid position, Erik pondered how the same chromosome contributors could form both a Dri and a Cordy.

IIIIIII

When the slim but bullet charged human body came their way, the pigeons placed breakfast on hold to take to the sky. Rushing through their former feeding grounds, Jessie kept going along the trail. Surrounded by vivacious foliage under a generous sun, the enchanting colors appeared as streaks of water paint. She leapt every few feet to keep stones and other minor obstructions from hindering her. Reaching the fountains, including two for humans and a third shorter one for their dogs, Jessie finally slowed. Her seafoam green shorts and tank top secreted sweat. Dampness also weighed down her ponytail.

Catching up with the function of breathing, she peered back to learn of her missing companion. "Frank? Frank!" She jumped at the hand clamping over her eyes.

The boy responded to her petition with, "You rang?"

Batting at him lightly, Jessie turned to face him. "Thought you violated the buddy system for a second there."

"Look who's talking," Frank countered in jest. "Almost commandeered a squad car to keep up with you."

"Why do I so easily picture you doing that?" Jessie verbally pondered. "Sorry about that. Feels like I always get trapped in my own head when I'm out here." She bent to drink from the closest fountain.

Replenishing his own hydration, Frank said, "Don't worry about it. You should try racing with my dad in the morning. Guy gets trapped in his own planet."

Raising her head, Jessie looked thoughtful. "The American Cancer Society puts on these huge fundraising events."

Frank deduced, "Including bike rides and runs."

"Exactly," Jessie said, pleased with his comprehension. "Every time I go running- every step, every second- it feels like I'm leaving cancer in the dust. Crushing it, shaming it, never letting it win ever," she directed her foot to the fountain's base, kicking it with gusto, "ever again." Catching herself, she departed her own mind again and became sheepish. "Sorry, just—" Her eyes enlarged at Frank committing fountain assault next.

At her expression, he explained, "For my brother Linny's leukemia."

"The missionary?" Jessie recalled. "How long…?"

"Little over two years remission."

Jessie repeated, "Remission. Prettiest word there is." She pressed her hands to his shirt front and peered into his honey brown irises as if she wanted to burrow there. "You really do get it."

"So do you." Frank caressed her right cheek. "But do me a favor and keep the kicks to a minimum. Not trying to explain to your dad how I brought you back dented."

Jessie grinned, "Like he'd be that surprised," then wondered, "where did you come from a minute ago?"

Frank told her, "I fly, whole Superman bit, except mine has this mesmerizing shiny deal that also teleports me at random... somehow."

An entertained Jessie commented, "Do you wake up this witty or do you need a couple hours to defrost?"

"No, really. Hey, check this out." Taking both her hands in his, he brought them to the rhythmic sensation taking place beyond his chest.

Jessie stayed in place until she said, "I think your wings need refueling."

"Hm? Oh, no, this doesn't jumpstart my flight," Frank informed casually, squeezing her hands. "I just needed you to resuscitate my heart after that marathon." He absorbed another second of her touch. "Okay, I'm good."
"You sure?" Jessie continued focusing in on him. "You don't have to let go yet."

Frank replied sincerely, "Good. I won't."

IIIIIII

The audience of man, woman, and intrigued cat watched the private performance of the string stroking duo. Seated on the sofa, Zoey played her tan and white Fender Musicmaker. Directly facing her from where he sat on the recliner's ottoman, Sean likewise radiated sound from his own guitar. Though they did not exactly stay in sync, Sean noted the young girl's effort to stay in tune with him. The redhead caught glimpses of their on-lookers. From the opposite end of the sofa, Ashley Jarvis, adorned in ankle-length auburn skirt and sleeveless cream top with her extensive hair Dutch braided, watched in enjoyment of her sister's glee. Nik stood next to her, bobbing his head along.

When they ended the mutual melody, Sean kept a grip on his powers as he belted out, "Woot," and high-fived Zoey. "You've got chops there, doll face."

Though she smiled, Zoey admitted, "Nothing like you. I've hardly been at it for a year."

Nik piped up, "We took the hint when we found her violin in the donation bin."

Letting off a chuckle, Sean told Zoey, "Hey, I've only had my guitar a few months longer than you have. I had no clue I could play or sing until my music teacher, a real nightclub performer, said he heard the voice in me. I'd have thought he was off his rocker if he wasn't Patrick Hughes."

"Patrick Hughes?" echoed Ashley in astonishment.

"Trick Hughes?" an equally floored Nik spoke. "As in the Irish cat who got his start in Queens?" Sean nodded with clear pride. "Oh, wow." Nik looked between his daughters. "I took your mother out to his club a few times. Kid can croon."

Ashley and Zoey beamed, giving Sean greater satisfaction.

From the front entrance, Jessie announced, "We're back."

"We're in here," Nik returned. When the teenagers entered the living room, he quipped, "See you managed to corral her. Nice job, brain boy."

Features content, Frank greeted Zoey and Ashley then noticed Sean with his instrument. "We're seriously gonna have to bury you with that thing."

"As if you could pry it from my cold dead hand," Sean half-joked. "But we do need to get going, boss."

"As do we," Ashley brought up.

"Flock of trainees coming in." Nik sighed lightly. "Alright, let's get ready to break in my stepbabies."

"Mr. Jarvis." The urgency in Frank's tone promptly captured the man's attention. Easing his voice, the boy put forth, "Jessica and I have been talking a lot and dinner over here was great. That's why I, um," he felt Jessie's fingers at his wrist, "I'd love more than anything to take her out sometime, sir."

Humming in thought, Nik glanced at his eldest. Sliding across the couch, Zoey tugged on her arm imploringly. After meeting eyes with Jessie, Ashley gave their father a nod.

"You're on," Nik decided, creating elation among the youths present. "Alright, alright, just remember she's a rental. Meaning, I want my daughter back on my property by eleven o'clock. And those are summer and weekend hours. When school starts up… we'll see where we are."

"Oh, no problem," Frank guaranteed. "We have the same curfew."

In a sing-song tone, Sean chimed in, "Except for me very soon." His face only brightened at Frank's sour side-eye.
Zoey got up to stand near him. "Thanks for staying, Sean. This was so much fun. I can't wait to tell my friends I played with a real rock star."

Sean responded, "No kidding? I can't wait to tell my friends the same thing." He took the ecstatic girl by the hand and said earnestly, "Thank you for inviting me in and pumping me with sugar."

"Any time." From the way Zoey voiced them, Sean believed the words authentic.

After securing his guitar to its case, Sean flung it over his shoulder and shared another handshake with Nik in gratitude. He exchanged parting pleasantries with the older Jarvis girls as well. Taking it upon herself to see their company to the door, Jessie lingered when they stepped outside. It relieved Frank to see Sean preoccupy himself with safely loading his guitar into the BMW, sparing not even a glimpse at the younger teens.

Intertwining their fingers, Frank inquired, "What time later?'

"Six," Jessie answered. "I'll be done at the restaurant by five-thirty."

Frank promised, "Call you then," and leisurely withdrew from her as their appendages unlocked. He walked backwards down the few steps, not facing away until he reached the car.

After they left her driveway, Jessie went back into the house and living room. Oddly fixed gaze locked on the two still occupying the sofa, she dissolved the silence with joyful exclamation and jumping. At all three morphing into a giggle chorus, Nik mocked swooned and imitated their wild hand gestures.

When Jessie tumbled between them, Ashley quickly nudged her up again. "Oh no, shower off that glow extensively, please."

Nik added, "And do something about that sweat also," flicking Jessie's ponytail as she passed him.

IIIIIII

The air fluttering in through the partially raised windows offered humidity relief, but did very little for the overheated pre-teen. Pacing back and forth in emerald flats, Anne's black elbow-length-sleeved top made her bubble skirt of red-green-gold floral pattern striking. Disregarding the temperature, she sported a black beret on top of her sandy brown hair. Wearing a lemon-yellow accordion skirt and lime scoop-neck top, a sheer teal scarf kept a contemplative Becky's curls partly pulled back. Merrily pawing through Becky's closet, Laci had on sky blue cropped pants, a Fantasia t-shirt, and azure sandals with her reddish orange hair in a high ponytail.

Spotting one fantastic garment, Laci took it by the hanger to see it in better light. "Wow, when did you get this one?"

Attention on her journal, Becky peered over for a second at her layered fuchsia dress with glittery embellishments around the V-neck line. "After we got home from celebrating Cody's birthday. When Auntie Em took me to Macy's for my own makeup."

"Estoy muy enojado." Growling in frustration, Anne threw her hands up. "Gary is making me loca. He won't lay off."

Seating herself at Becky's vanity, Laci said, "I thought you were wild about Gary."

"I am, which is why I wish he'd shut up about meeting my dad." Anne stilled, crossing her arms petulantly.

Enthralled by the different cosmetics, Laci picked up one small container. "You two are so lucky to have such pretty skin tones. You're like real princesses from an exotic paradise."

"More like dungeon dwellers," refuted Anne. Seeing what currently interested the younger girl, she hastened over to snatch the rouge from her. "Don't you dare. Joey likes freckles, not pizza faces."

As if pushed out of the way of a speeding vehicle, Laci regarded her with supreme appreciativeness. She accepted the pale pink lipstick Anne handed her next.

The Spaniard turned to the other telepath. "Bex, can you please tell Dios you'll call back later? Maybe get Him to do a favor for me for a change?"

"Anne, I hear you, okay?" Sitting up, Becky toyed with her pen. "I just can't get over what my uncle told me."

Lowering to the bench beside Laci while still facing forward, Anne wondered, "What are you talking about?"

Becky explained, "He said he wants me to take over for him after he and my aunt… He wants me to take care of everybody the way he does… Me."

In the same disbelieving tone, Anne responded, "You? The Professor's the best telepath there is. That culero that tried to take me- that shadow- was ancient and it never stood a chance against him. He really wants you to take his place?"

Laci proved taken aback as well. "But you're a girl."

Finding their emphasis on that detail peculiar, Becky reminded them, "So are two-thirds of the Triad."

Laci conceded to that point, but Anne remained floored as her previous mood intensified.

II

Tiny orange ball bounding on concrete floor again, the young boy managed to snatch every sprawled jack in one swift motion. Glee over the minor achievement became short-lived when he detected new footsteps in the garage.

Slowly rising from where he crouched to the side of his family's truck, Cody mustered a petition of, "Charles?"

A much shorter, blonder male peeked at him from around the corner. "Yes?"

"Joey," Cody could not resist snickering. "Yeah, real cute, but I sorta meant big Head Honcho Charles."

Tommy popped out from behind Joey. "You break your smeller or something?"

"No," replied Cody matter-of-factly. He indicated the thin blue "Oxford University" sweatshirt tucked into Joey's jeans. "He's got his dad's clothes on."

"So do you," Joey pointed, carrying his supply case in his other hand.

Cody looked the checkered red and gray flannel up and down, having had to roll up the sleeves. "Eh, he's barely got buttons left on this thing." Raising his head, he noted Tommy's oversized black tee. "One guess."

Tommy smiled in self-satisfaction. "He said I could."

"Hm." Cody looked at Joey again. "You seen your dad?"

Joey reported, "He's taking care of the babies so Mum can go into town with Laci's mom and Alex can have the day with Scott. He practically shoved them out the door."

Appeased, Cody detected the fair-haired boy's lackluster enthusiasm. "Hey, hey, what's the matter, pal? Let them do their dinky little Summers thing."

"It's not them," Joey shook his head.

"You mad about art class?" asked Tommy. "Thought your teacher was out of town."

"Yeah," said Cody. "I figured you'd be straight over-the-moon for a big paintin' project."

"At Sean's house," Joey tacked on dryly. "Ever been to a museum with him? He's probably doing the whole place in gothic."

"Oh yeah," said Tommy sardonically. "The Big Bad Banshee in his pukey green and yellow uniform. Besides, this is our room and we can paint whatever we want. Maya said so and everybody knows it's up to the lady of the house."

Cody mentioned, "That's why my dad's got all these cool old shirts. He'd hardly buy new shoelaces if Ma didn't do his shoppin'." They then watched as the BMW's headlights came into view. "Oh, finally, molasses. You dopes stop off at the beauty parlor or somethin'?"

"We're fifteen minutes early, grumpy." After getting out on the driver's side, Sean approached and messed the bi-racial boy's lengthy dark hair. "Keep it up and you're riding on the roof."

"Cool," Cody reacted.

Recognizing Tommy's shirt, Frank remarked, "Pretty snazzy, kid," and bumped fists with him as he walked by.

With Joey in his path next, Frank sent a gentle hand through his hair and headed up. Joey peered after him.

Initially raising an eyebrow, Cody placed attention back on the remaining teenager. "Can we go now?"

"Can I tinkle?" Sean countered.

"No," came from Tommy, giving off an adorable glow when his brother directed eyes his way.

"Huey, Dewey, and Louie all to myself. Okay, be right back." Sean headed off for the main level. "Need to grab the rest of the stuff and tell Charles we're leaving, anyway."

"No!" Summoning his feline swiftness, Cody blocked the redhead's way. "Leave Charles alone, seriously. He just got Mimi, Todd, and Bri to nap. And that kid brother of mine clings like crazy when Ma and Dad ain't home. I'll just get Aunt Raven on communicator. Show Hank I actually wear mine."

Sean agreed with, "Thanks, Code Man."

When it became only the three of them again, Joey asked, "What's going on, Cody?"

"Yeah." Tommy's eyes narrowed with intrigued suspicion. "What's with the rush act?"

Cody said, "I'll tell ya in the car."

Joey and Tommy exchanged a glance, but dropped it for the time being.

IIIIIII

The quad of tykes as well as the two instructors enjoyed an hour on horseback before Hank caught the tell-tale scent. The children appeared baffled when he started helping them down from the ponies. The incoming clouds showed Raven her husband's reasoning and she gripped the boys' hands while Hank dashed with the girls in his possession. Trav and Max appeared in awe of the feat of nature until the droplets fell harder and faster. While not drenched to the bone, the hurrying horde still made it to the mansion moistened.

"Shoes off, shoes off," Raven directed urgently, removing her own footwear. "This is a mud free zone."

Max and Trav did as ordered. Though their boots had not made contact with soaking soil, Hank stood Kiki and Lily so they could take off theirs as well. Hank kicked off his sneakers, but with Lily present made sure to keep his socks on. The dampness did not concern him.

Departing his work space at the commotion, Erik noticed the four sullen faces. "Took a tumble into the pool, did we?" He knelt with arms open.

"I wanna play with Franny." Kiki went into his embrace. "Make the rain go on time-out nap, Uncle Erik."

"Nuh uh." Trav walked to him as well. "Spank it."

The metal wielder chuckled and rubbed their backs. "The rain doesn't mean to be naughty. It's only doing the Lord's work to cool us off and keep Logan's flowers blooming."

The brilliant silver flash reflected in his eyes and Max uttered, "Ooh, lightning."

"Baby, no." Raven lifted him away from the glass pane. "I know it's really cool, but stay away from the windows."

Hank proposed, "We better change."

Raven next put forth, "Then who's up for grilled sandwiches and chocolate milk?"

At the positives replies from the youths, Erik added, "Afterwards, who wants to come to Uncle Erik's den for a story?"

"A scary story?" Max asked with intrigue.

Shark countenance in place, Erik said, "Perhaps. There may be a candy bar or two to be had as well."

"Okay!" Lily grinned.

Zeroing in on his father's face, Trav vowed, "And later we'll brush our teeth with floss and everything."

Max grimaced, "We will?" Raven poked him near his bellybutton. "Um, yeah, yeah, sure we will."

With an amused shake of her head, Raven lowered him. She herded husband and wet ducklings up the stairs.

IIIIIII

Grateful that the clouds dissipated outside of Westchester, Sean switched off his windshield wipers. The hour of the day provided them with significantly smoother traffic for a weekday. Relieved that no arguments over riding shotgun had occurred, Tommy stared out of the open window, sporting a pair of Sean's sunglasses. Cody sat behind Tommy with Joey to his left, preoccupying himself with a sketch. It reminded Sean of how getting lost in a novel used to make the hours fly by on family road trips. Either that or Tommy mandated his attention for tic-tac-toe, rock-paper-scissors, or travel games. Whenever they started up punch buggy, their father nipped that in the bud by threatening to participate.

The boys perked when the Golden Arches came into view and Sean lined up for their drive-thru. Joey in particular foamed at the mouth, aware of his parents' and uncles' views on the establishment and others like it. He tucked his drawings away inside his case. Sean allowed them as well as himself full meals with milkshakes. They received their order and returned to the road within minutes.

"Man, that place is quick," marveled Tommy before cramming eight fries at once into his mouth.

Sean warned, "You puke, you clean," getting an impish sneer from his brother. He brought his burger to his lips.

Joey retracted his mouth from his straw. "Are you supposed to eat and drive at the same time?"

With a slight eyeroll, Sean came back with, "Joey, you once got into a moving vehicle with Alex while he had a busted ankle. I think I'll get us there in one piece."

"Eatin' a burger? That's nothin'," Cody dismissed. "I've seen my dad behind the wheel smokin' and balancin' a plate of food in his lap."

"Nice to know you're alive, Code Man," Sean quipped. "You were a little too quiet there for a while. Thought we might have to pull over to the ER."

"We've been in the car forever already. What's with you?" Tommy went for another sip of his shake.

"Nothin'…" Cody dragged a finger around the rim of his cup. "I just sorta kicked Erik in the leg."

Sean refrained from coming to a screeching halt and Joey's jaw plummeted.

Chocolate came close to spewing from Tommy's nostrils. "What?" He twisted in his seat to view his friend's face. "What'd you do a bonehead thing like that for?"

At the younger boy's accusatory tone, Cody insisted, "Hey, it was metal head's fault, not mine. You weren't even there, Tommy."

"Whoa, guys, easy," Sean intervened gently. "What happened, Code Man?"

Cody started the recollection with, "Aunt Dri's powers went off when she touched my Grandpa John's pocket watch. She wanted my dad and Uncle Vic to see what she saw, so she got Emma and Charles in on it. Charles wanted my help to do the guide thing I did for Maya, except to keep Uncle Vic and Dad cool. Erik, Mama, and Aunt Raven were there, too. You'll never believe what Aunt Dri showed us?"

"What?" the other males pressed in captivation.

"My Grandpa John and great grandpa, Old Man Howlett, before my dad was born. They were tryin' to find Uncle Vic when he was a little kid. Grandpa John wanted to bring him home to my Grandma Liz."

A spellbound Joey responded, "Really?"

"Yep," confirmed Cody, "we saw it like we were right there, but they couldn't see us."

Tommy wanted to know, "What's that got to do with Erik?"

Developing a glare, Cody continued, "It was unbelievable; the whole thing. Dad and Uncle Vic went off to think on their own- they do that- but Erik made it seem like they were mad at Aunt Dri. She did something really nice for us and he hurt her feelings on purpose." He looked at Joey. "He even ticked off your mom. I got so mad, I wanted to deck him, but I couldn't reach, so I kicked him."

Gaping upon hearing about his mother along with the rest, Joey inquired in concern, "Did you- did you get the belt?"

Cody shook his head. "Charles was ready to chew me out somethin' nasty, but Aunt Raven made me go to bed. I don't think my folks even know about it. They ain't say a word before they left this mornin'."

After listening to it all, Tommy deduced, "That's why you wanted to get out of the house so quick. But why were you so worried about the Professor? Erik's the one you're gonna catch it from."

"There's nothin' Erik can do to me that won't heal up in five minutes," Cody stated matter-of-factly. "Charles can rip me to shreds without layin' a hand on me."

Joey offered a sympathetic touch to his shoulder.

"Tell me about it." The three smaller boys faced Sean when he spoke. "I remember the first time I got in trouble with Charles." He developed a slightly taut smile. "Over some stupid gag I let Alex talk me into." Sean glimpsed at Tommy for a second. "I hadn't felt that ashamed of myself since I pushed you that day." His brother eyed him in turn. "I don't want you to get the wrong idea. Erik loves all of us and he'll do anything to keep us safe, but he can say really hurtful things sometimes."

Tommy pointedly countered, "So can you," receiving Joey's gaze. "Erik's tough, but he doesn't try to be mean. You just don't get him like I do."

Cody informed, "Because we don't make him happy like you do."

Glancing at his friends for a moment, Tommy looked to Sean and brought fingers to his knee. The older Cassidy spared one hand to squeeze with his.

IIIIIII

Erik earned himself an entranced audience for his version of the Pied Piper. After the village officials denied him full payment, he tried to lure the children away. He planned to hypnotize them into a pit of lava so blistering it melted the hair and eyes of anyone who came within ten feet of it. Before the piper could carry out the deed, the Charcoal Knight appeared. Having heard legends of the knight's mission to right injustices, the piper wrongly assumed he came to vindicate him. On the contrary, the knight broke his pipe to free the children from the spell and ordered them to run home and not look back. The piper's attempt to validate his scheme received not an ounce of pity. The knight condemned him not for seeking out vengeance, but for targeting the powerless and innocent. In addition, he found further disgust in the piper valuing money above life. He forced the piper into the pit, ears deaf to his tormented wails.

When the Charcoal Knight arrived in the village, the people cheered their apparent hero. To their shock, he turned his weaponry on the mayor and his councilmembers. Due to their lack of honor nearly making martyrs of the children, he stripped them of their titles and sentenced them to a lifetime of hard labor. After the knight appointed new officials, he wished them well, but also warned them not to repeat the mistakes of the former. If they did, he vowed, their fate would envy the piper's."

The four listeners clapped at the story's conclusion and wanted to hear more. Before Erik could get midway through another of the Charcoal Knight's escapades, midday drowsiness got the better of the children. They all wore soft lounging garments with Max and Lily having borrowed theirs from Trav and Becky. Erik let them sprawl on his sofa whiled he busied himself at his desk.

Half an hour later, Trav and Max stirred and sought out the nearest bathroom together. Lily's eyelids cracked from where she snuggled with Kiki. She touched the material of the tremendously comfortable clothes she wore presently. Magenta pants and a white shirt with red and white hearts all over it. Raven had been relieved that Becky kept a few garments from when she was smaller, considering the young teen's tendency to donate. Lily peered around the fascinating Mag Cave, not for the first time that day.

She slid off the couch to approach something she spotted on a shelf she could actually reach. "Mr. Lehnsherr," Erik looked up with a pleasant expression, "may I look at this?"

Seeing which book she meant, the man granted, "Of course. That's one of the many I keep in here for Trav and Joey."

Walking towards him, Lily flipped through the brilliantly colorful pages depicting the medieval. "Are there still knights?"

"Yes, indeed." Erik hoisted her to sit on his thigh. "Though I'm afraid the dragons are all extinct."

"Were there any lady knights?"

To her surprise, he answered, "Yes," again. "They are called dames."

Facing him, Lily could hardly keep a straight face as she repeated the term. "Dames? That's what my daddy calls lady drivers- well, he says crazy dames."

Erik chuckled from his chest. "I know it sounds a bit silly, but I think they prefer it to being addressed as "sir" like the men."

Lily concurred, "Yeah, call me a dame any old day."

Carrying Trav on his hip, Hank stepped into the den. "Max didn't come back in here?"

Erik looked at his nephew. "Weren't you two together a moment ago?"

"Uh huh," the boy replied. "I thought he was waiting by the bathroom door."

"He's probably doing that thing again," Lily predicted.

Both Erik and Hank inquired, "What?"

"We'll be on the playground at school and he'll just disappear- poof- out of nowhere," Lily elaborated. "He's the hide and seek champ of our entire school."

Trav's eyes shifted while the men swapped twin expressions.

II

After helping Raven to tidy the kitchen, Laci swallowed her scheduled pill and the female trio began their return to the second floor.

Bringing up the rear, Laci put forth, "Becky, you are so lucky to have Aunt Raven all the time. Your dad's really cool, too."

Highly pleased at the sentiment, the green-eyed girl smiled brightly. "Thanks. But your dad's getting better about some stuff, isn't he?"

"Coming over here is the best, but getting my ears pierced?" Laci followed the older two into Becky's quarters. "Maybe when I'm forty."

"That's how old I'll be when I don't have to hide makeup around my room." Anne sat on the left of the vanity bench.

"Oh, come on, Annie." Ignoring the urge to roll her eyes, Becky reminded her, "You had pierced ears centuries before me."

"I'm Spanish," Anne justified as if it should be so blatant, tapping one of the glimmering jade stones dangling from her lobe. "If you see la bebe in Spain without earrings on, everybody'll call her a boy. We start wearing perfume when we're like a week o—" Her abrupt pause made the other two quizzical until Anne screeched irately, "Max, pendejo!" Rushing to the closet, she nearly broke the door from its hinges. "Get out of there, tu tonto!"

At the howling laughter, Laci briefly believed they would receive a visit from the Cheshire Cat. Then the boyish body materialized.

Becky sent him a sharp glare. "How long were you in there?"

"He's probably been following us around," Anne accused, her sizzling brown irises locked on the intruder. "He does this stupid, annoying humming thing in his head, so I don't sense him right away."

"Max, get out of here," Becky pointed to her exit, "right now."

"You skirts better be nice to me," Max cautioned them cheekily. "Or Papi might find out who's got makeup stashed in her room." Unleashing something between a scream and a battle cry, Anne charged for him. Max managed to zip away. "Nanananananan- lalalalala, you can't get in my head!" He covered his ears as he fled.

"I can once I bust it open!" With Becky and Laci not far behind, Anne sped after him.

"Gotta find it first!" Rounding a corridor, Max made his form vanish. "Dumb girls can't catch—" Somehow colliding with air, he fell back and became visual once more.

When she and her friends caught up, Becky instantly distinguished another sight unseen. "Uh oh. Now, you're really going to get it."

Max comprehended her meaning at the English accent. "That's a nice trick." The Headmaster fully revealed himself. "What do you think of mine?"

Bathed in the man's shadow, Max inched away on his bottom and attempted an endearing smile. "Hi, Prof."

"Hello, Maxwell." Going to one knee, Charles took him by the waist. "Let's get off the floor. We are gentlemen." After helping him rise, he kept hands at the child's midsection. "And mind our indoor voices so that the babies aren't disturbed. Now, why were you galloping through the house? In your invisible form at that?"

Max immediately gestured at the older children. "They were the ones chasing me."

Anne jumped on that straightaway. "He was eavesdropping on us in Becky's closet, the little creep."

"Anne Marie, please," Charles mildly admonished. "No name calling." He returned attention to the boy before him. "Is that true, Maxwell?"

"I was just playing," Max claimed. "Papi lets me use my powers inside."

"Yes, I know," Charles replied. "Does he also allow you to spy on your sister?" At the boy pressing his lips together tightly, the Professor prompted, "Maxwell, I asked you a question."

"I'd like to hear the answer to that myself."

Becky looked up at the arrival of her eldest brother.

Between Hank and Charles, Max inwardly referred to himself as a dead meat sandwich. "…No."

Charles took him by the chin, voice firm but eyes benign. "No?"

"No, I'm not allowed to spy," Max spoke up. He glanced back. "Sorry, Annie."

Anne responded pointedly, "And it wasn't my room you invaded."

"Sorry, Becky," Max addressed next.

Becky accepted with, "Just don't do it again. I mean it."
Anne shook her had with irritation. "And everybody wants to act like telepaths are the snakes of mutantkind."

At the silence the remark caused, Hank requested, "Becca, would you ladies please run along back to your room?"

Laci complied before Becky could so much as muster a nod, moving far faster than when in pursuit of Max. Both taken aback by the formerly wordless redhead, Anne and Becky did not delay in hurrying off next.

Greatly puzzled and sensing the same in the younger males, Charles picked up Max to bring to the resident physician. "I'd best see what that's about."

Accepting Max to prop on his hip, Hank agreed but warned, "You may have to get Raven."

The unbothered telepath bobbed his head and tapped Max's foot. "And that's enough mischief out of you, Mr. Murphy, mutated or otherwise." He could not resist giving the boy's chin a tiny tickle as he went.

Max smiled after him then heard Hank put forth, "Let's continue this in my lab."

Expression rapidly changing, Max mumbled, "Kay…"

II

Princess?

Lounging on her bed with the others, Becky listened to the full petition before informing the others, "My prince would like an audience." At no objections, she invited, "Come in, Uncle Charles."

Only sticking his head in first, Charles took in the three- now four with Midnight in Laci's lap. He received reprieve when he observed no trace of tears on the freckled face.

"Laci, darling?" Charles positioned himself on the edge of the bed, facing her. "Is it Max? He didn't intend any harm. He was only being a scamp."

Laci shook her head. "That's not it." She continued stroking Midnight's smooth, magnificent coat. "I'm sorry for running like that, Professor. I just didn't want to see or hear Max get in trouble. At all."

"Not because of you or Hank, Uncle Charles," Becky said reassuringly. "It's because of her dad. You know, in front of the center that day."

Disdain made up Anne's tone. "In front of all those boys."

"Ah, I see," Charles grasped. "You didn't want Max embarrassed the same way."

"My mom ripped into him big time. She almost made him go stag to his awards dinner, but I wanted pictures of her in her new dress." Laci cringed a little at recollecting the unpleasantness in question. "I wouldn't wish that day on any kid, not even the ones from my old school." However, she quickly conceded, "Okay, yes, I would."

Becky added impishly, "And the girls I used to go to school with."

A nostalgic Charles inserted, "And every one of those smug Cambridge prats, including the ones I bested. The mere thought of their cries lulls me into a peaceful night's sleep."

Initially baffled by the man, the girls exploded with laughter. Midnight raised his head, deemed the humans silly, and snuggled closer to Laci.

"Nice one, Professor," Anne commended.

"Thanks, love. I have my moments." Touching her shirt sleeve, Charles regarded her somewhat somberly. "And what you said out in the hall a moment ago?... I wish it were less true."

Inwardly solemn herself, Anne still eyed the mutant elder warmly.

II

For the duration of the walk to his work space, the young scientist found the usually active's child extreme quiet almost disturbing. Hank refrained from speaking and massaged along the little redhead's back.

When they entered through the French doors of his lab, the man told him, "I'm not mad at you, Max. Not at all."

Only a smidge of relief resulted from the sulking lad. "But I'm still in trouble, aren't I?"

"A bit. First thing's first," Hank used one long arm to clear a portion of his desk to provide seating for the fledging, "we need to talk. No yelling or snapping." He bent to level their eyes. "Agreed?"

"Agreed," Max nodded.

"Excellent." Hank then began with, "I'm fully aware that Es- that your father lets you use your powers to your heart's content. You may not have the same degree of that here, but we do allow it within reason. However, what did Raven and I say about friends like Lily being over? Do you remember?"

"That we have to be careful 'cause she's a normy," Max recalled. "I play hide at school and on the park and nobody's seen. And so what? Laci's a normy and she knows all about mutants."

"Max," Hank chided, "watch your mouth. We wouldn't want to be called muties, so let's not refer to those different from us as normies, alright?" He nodded and Hank continued. "You see, Laci is much older than Lily and understands the importance of keeping secrets. Lily could slip without meaning to. I don't want to scare you, Max, but there are people—"

"They wanna throw us in a truck," Max interjected sharply. "They'll keep the useful ones like me around if I do what they say, just like my old mom and dad. And all the other ones'll get shipped off to a lab even bigger than this one, but not to scientists like you. The kind that cut you up for your squishy stuff and throw you in the trash." At Hank's enlarged pupils, Max said, "Papi told me all about it. That's how come he has to go away to work. So he can protect us."

Astounded initially, Hank eventually reaffirmed, "Yes. Your father- the X-Men may not always agree with him- but he does want to protect us. I want to protect you, too. All of you, not just the X-Kids. I've wanted you happy and safe since we first met." He brought his palm to his cheek. "Do you believe that?"

Max thought briefly then answered, "Uh huh."

"You are very talented with your powers," Hank praised. "And I like seeing you have fun with them- I didn't get to have that at your age. But we really must be careful about what we do in front of outsiders. I've said the same to your brother."

"You have?"

The child's surprise sent a wave of amusement through the larger male. "Yes, I have. That's why we have that rule about not drawing attention to our powers with non-mutated company over. Then there's mutated company…" Hank squared him with a much harder gaze. "We all like to goof around sometimes- yes, even me- but you had no business even going into Becca's room without her permission, let alone using your invisible form to spy on the girls. Does Anne play around with your mind that way? Has Becca ever?"

Max sighed as he admitted, "No. I'm sorry, but honest, Hank, I was just messing around."

"I know you were," Hank said kindly. "I also don't want to keep you away from the others any longer, so up, up." He helped the boy stand, held onto his slim wrist, and used his massive free hand to swat the seat of the dinosaur themed pajama pants.

Though he only received three strikes, Max let off a tiny wince by the end. Other than a marginal sheen in the fledgling's eyes, Hank proved satisfied to have made his point without need for more. He knew the discipline to be necessary, but never wanted to use his sizable palms on teeny bottoms in excess.

"Come here, you rascal." Sweeping him up into a big hug, delight bubbled within the innovative X-Man at the little one's welcomed laughter. "Ready to go back downstairs? We both know you're missed."

"Of course," Max responded automatically. "I'm all the fun."

"With none of the modesty." Hank jiggled him playfully and smiled wider when Max tucked his head under his chin.

When he stepped into the hall with his mini mutant cargo, Hank sent a mental message to Charles. They exchanged positive reports regarding the young ones involved. On the main level, Hank put Max down as soon as they caught sight of Lily and Trav's eager faces. Going after them towards the Mag Cave, the instructor found the reason behind their enthusiasm. Lily, Max, and Trav went to their knees on the rug to join Frank, Raven, and Erik, who also assisted Kiki, in putting together the five-hundred-piece jigsaw puzzle of European castles.

IIIIIII

When the rental property came into view, the boys, Sean included, anxiously spilled from the vehicle. While Joey stretched and gathered his things, Cody and Tommy could not wait two seconds racing around the BMW in a seemingly endless loop. Rubbing his long legs to relieve them of the severe stiffness, Sean wordlessly observed the two speedsters and apathetic artist sorting through his materials. He considered all three together similarly to his thoughts on the X-Men; a weird combination that comprised a perfect fit. He got the hyper duo to slow down to help unload the car. Sean made sure to take most of the paint cans with some folded goods under his arms. Cody and Tommy each grabbed one of two remaining metal containers and helped Joey with the brushes and other project necessities.

Once they entered the townhouse, Cody commented of the completely empty interior, "You and Smiley should keep it this way."

"Yeah," seconded Tommy. "We can make it a whole bowling alley and rollerblading rink."

"Don't be goofy, you guys." Sean then stated longingly, "That'd be way too cool." He noticed the quiet peering about, almost critical expression in place. "Joey, what's wrong?"

As if reeled back with a jolt, the eleven-year-old shook his head. "Nothing."

Letting that suffice for the time being, Sean led them to the stairs. At the top, he walked them through the second door on the right. Even with only partly sunny conditions, the two wide windows illuminated the other three white walls.

"Biggest guestroom," Sean said of the twelve by fourteen space. "Wanted you guys to get your footprints on it before they deliver your beds."

Cody's eyes carried a glimmer. "Bunks?"

"You bet," Sean confirmed. "We got that and Maya found this futon style that can double as a sofa, too."

Cody spun in an enthused circle.

Tommy wanted to know, "We can make it look any way we want, right? Maya said."

"Then it's law," Sean affirmed.

Joey looked at him skeptically. "Thought you'd want Frank's footprints first."

"Yeah, down in the basement," Sean responded. "He's gonna help me deck out my man spot."

"Ah," Tommy nodded along. "Casa de La Dork."

"Keep it up, baby man," Sean poked him in the ankle with the tip of his shoe, "and I'll stick an iron mask on you and chain you up down there."

"Good," Tommy smirked. "Magneto could find me with just one little ounce of metal."

At that, Joey reached a hand into his pocket to stroke his compass.

The quad pressed on in turning the area around them into a creative work station. They layered tarps to cover the entirety of the carpeted floor. After getting the canisters open, they poured the contents into individual roller trays. Under Joey's advisement, the colors consisted of the three primaries and two neutrals with additional containers for mixing. A vast variety of brushes lined along a couple towels.

"You guys want help with some of this stuff?" Sean held one of the lengthy rollers by its handle. "The paint may weight this thing down too much if you try to go for the ceiling."

"Seanie, please," Cody dismissed. "I've been helpin' my dad with around-the-house stuff like this since I was a real pipsqueak. And he's better than Uncle Vic at these paint jobs."

"Yeah, height ain't might," Tommy asserted, making Cody grin his way.

"Alright, alright, gotcha oh sacred tree trolls." Sean then remembered, "And don't forget to use primer—"

"First to cut down on extra coating," Joey interjected disparagingly. "Yeah, I told that to Uncle Hank like three years ago. When he wanted me to paint princesses on Becky's special birthday chest."

"A thousand pardons, El Maestro Charles Xavier," the tall redhead spoke with grandeur. "I have to wait on the telephone guy."

As soon as Sean took his leave of them, Tommy predicted, "Bet "wait" really means write."

"I'm goin' with guitar," Cody guessed.

Joey rolled his eyes. "Probably whatever lousy "How-To" book he checked out on non-gothic colors."

The three managed to get every wall properly primed within forty minutes. Tommy stood in great impression over the way Cody and Joey handled the rollers with almost the same natural ease as grown men in coveralls. While they waited for that portion to dry, Joey distributed blank sheets of construction paper and proposed sketching their design ideas first. Focused on their individual drawings, the trio sat cross-legged on the tarps in triangular formation.

Stilling pensively after a moment, Tommy addressed, "Co'?" The older boy hummed in response. "Do you really hate Erik?"

Shooting his head up at such an accelerated rate, Cody's eyes and tone contained aggressive fluster. "I never said a daggon thing about hating him. Charles can't stand that, especially about his own brother."

"So, that's all he is to you?" Tommy surmised. "The perfect Professor's jerk brother?" Seeing the blonde's expression, Tommy assured, "Joey, I don't mean anything against your dad, I swear. I know he does a ton for everybody, but what about Erik? You guys should've seen him in my house. He was so ticked off at my folks about Sean. What about convincing the other instructors to let us use his own swords; the real deal? He trains us, even me."

"I know that, Tom." Cody calmed his speaking. "That's why I get so mad when we come back to this stuff. I know how cool Erik can be. And look, my dad's a mood machine, too, but I at least know what sets him off. Erik doesn't have to be "the jerk". It's just what he's good at."

Giving him a cross look, Tommy retorted, "You weren't saying that when he gave you that fuck-tastic dagger for your birthday."

"Tom!" Joey reproved.

Cody sniggered at Tommy's sheepishness and Joey's face almost an exact duplicate of his father's.

"Still true," Tommy insisted, focusing on the brown-eyed boy again. "You tried to sleep with that thing."

"Did not," Cody denied. "I just dozed off and forgot to put the dumb thing away. I only keep it because my ma says to be polite."
"Polite enough to kiss it every time you polish it?" Joey brought up with a mischievous sparkle about him.

"How would you know?" Cody playfully sneered. "You're too busy kissin' Laci."

With a big grin spreading, Joey covered his face with his papers.

IIIIIII

Absolutely certain he had jotted lyrics enough for his first three records- or at least to conclude one song and begin another- the redhead swapped notebook for guitar. He managed the multitask of absorbing his own written words while never letting his fingers lose their consistent rhythm on the strings. When he memorized the first rows of verse, Sean took in the pleasant area while rocking his head side to side.

As promised by the realtor, the block of town homes now flourished with bright green grass bushes, and flowers. Ten-foot oak side fences and attached garages divided the properties. The front yards lacked even the semblance of ample, but Sean appreciated Maya having enough space to grow flowers or vegetables. The backyards proved superior in size as well as in highly coveted privacy. Part of Sean yearned for ceilings of ten stories or more yet knew his inner Banshee did not need the temptation.

Disbelief initially resulted when the gray van at last rolled down the one-way street. From it, two men emerged in matching beige jumpsuits. The elderly one, hair thick and silver, automatically made a path to open the rear hatch. His ebony bearded co-worker of age forty or so, retrieved a clipboard and scanned through the documents on top.

"Cassidy residence?"

"You got the right place," Sean replied with total indulgence.

Looking at the request again, he then requested, "Grab one of your folks, would you, kiddo?"

The teenager's self-satisfaction plummeted to unmasked displeasure "Sure, if you have forty-four hours to kill while I do." When the man glanced up in puzzlement, Sean asserted, "Then again, that's about how long it took you to get here, isn't it?" He held onto his guitar as he stood. "I'm Sean Cassidy and this residence is mine."

"No kiddin'?" The technician's lips curved in amused surprise. "Yeah, sorry for the hold-up, pal. We got backed up; set us behind a couple minutes."

"Try a couple hours," Sean corrected venomously. "Which is funny since I drove all the way here from North Salem with my three kid brothers. And that was after giving our other brother a lift to Mt. Kisco and back. Then again, my clients do rave about my punctuality. Now, what do you say we go over this so you can get started? Ya know, while some of us are still young?"

Neither technician responded to his words, but an entirely unbothered Sean heard their ire filled faces loud and clear.

II

The actual paint came with a heavy odor that effected Cody's nostrils the harshest. With both windows now up as high as they could reach, the feline mutant leaned on the right sill. His head propped on his folded arms, Cody absorbed as much of the fresh air as he could. His father and uncle frequently assured him that he will eventually progress beyond the bothersome side effects of their mutation. Cody's thoughts drifted over to Charles, remembering the difficulty in concentration with advanced hearing, vision, and smell all working in insufferable unison. Reflecting on Charles' teachings about control regained through rejoicing and felt better about the fumes.

Preoccupied with applying color to his wall, Tommy piped up, "I still don't get it," without turning around. "Mama Emma's sister can do all that mind-reading stuff, too?"

Staying window stationed, Cody answered, "Nah, hers don't work like that. It's kinda weird, but I'm pretty sure she touches stuff and it tells her all this history of whatever it is and who owned it."

"Like your grandad's pocket watch?"

"Yep. I think she saw him lookin' for Uncle Vic as a kid because he touched the watch right before she did. I still can't get over it, man." Cody gazed out of the window, enamored entirely. "My Grandpa John and Old Man Howlett. Their faces, their voices."

Lowering his brush, Tommy said pensively, "I get why you're ticked at Erik for muckin' it all up. It's just ever since spring break… it feels like he's the only adult who knows anything about me. I'm definitely not used to that from teachers. They're always too busy adding on gold to Sean's throne. Grandpa Flynn's the greatest, but he and Grandma have my cousins, too. I know my dad loves me, but we're nothing like you, Wolverine, and Sabretooth. I'll never be over everything your mom said about you at your bridge party. After spring break, whenever I had a bad dream about one of you getting snatched, I didn't go across the hall to my folks. I went downstairs to call Erik." Tranquility filled his countenance. "Even like five hundred miles away, he makes it feel like everything's gonna be okay."

Positioning himself to sit on the edge of the windowsill, Cody unequivocally stated, "He's one of our X-Dads. It's what they do in-between bustin' our chops."

Tommy's blue eyes instantly vivified.

With an upbeat whistle on his lips, Sean made a shoe-shuffling return to the room, "Pit stop, cool crew," and presented the bottled beverages. "Still Canadian cold from the cooler."

"Oh, good." Cody used his claws to remove the cap on his cola. "That means we have six to eight weeks before they get warm."

With the fourth glass bottle still in his possession, Sean wondered, "Where'd you guys stash the blonde?"

Tommy ceased sipping to tell him, "He went to wash some of the brushes."

"Eh, boy." Leaving their drinks on the floor for the time being, Sean made a path for the second floor bathroom. "Joey, you okay in there?"" Inwardly, he prayed to avoid drainage doomsday at least until they fully moved in. "Joey?" Pushing the cracked door all the way open, Sean discovered the brushes in the tub, soaking in a plastic basin.

At the lack of small person, the older X-Man searched through the rest of the floor before jogging down to the main level. When a closet and the half-bath yielded no search results, Sean called for him on his way towards the master bathroom. At very nearly making hard contact with the elder of the technician pair, Sean managed to come to a halt at the doorway.

The man merely asked, "Where'd you say you wanted the upstairs line?"

Glancing about their general area, Sean answered, "Just, um, in the hall… somewhere."

"Gotcha." Not missing the young man's distracted posture, he cleared his throat to get his attention. "If it's a little toe head you're missing, spotted one out back."

"Oh, thanks." Sean quickly started that way.

"Sweet kid, too. Take it he's adopted?"

Pausing his pace a moment, Sean looked over his shoulder, "Yes, he is… sir," and continued through the kitchen to access the backdoor. He spotted the fair-haired child seated on the top step. Sean himself went unnoticed due to Joey practically merging with his sketchbook. "Knew you guys would retreat out here eventually- again. Didn't think I'd catch you solo, though. " He lowered to join him on the porch. "How about the inside of the house? Any good?"

"It's nice." Joey scrubbed an eraser over his stray pencil marks. "The front's pretty."

Sean put forth knowingly, "Pretty dull, right?"

They shared a brief conspiring smile and Joey said, "It's kinda weird next to home, Grandpa's house, the beach house, even the apartment house. Everything's just…"

"Way too new," supplied Sean. "Yeah, tell me about it. I mean, don't get me wrong. Logan and Kayla are official saint elites for doing all this for me and Maya. But it's just a rental- ten zillion times better than any cramped campus apartment- but still. Give us Colonial or Victorian any day." Facing the diligent artist, Sean asked, "What are you doing out here by yourself, anyway? Figured you'd be playing overseer upstairs."

Shrugging one shoulder, Joey claimed, "I didn't want to be in the way."

"In the way?" Sean echoed incredulously. "Ohh, do not tell me Cody and Tommy of all people made you unwanted."

Joey shook his head hard. "They never do that, Sean." He selected a pencil with a finer line from his case. "That's your thing."

The stunned redhead opened his mouth, but no sound resulted at first. "… Where did that come from?"

"What am I doing here?" Joey counter-questioned, locking darkened blue eyes with him. "You didn't want to spend today with me. You definitely didn't put that room away for me."

"Because we put it away for all of you."

"You put it away for Cody and Tommy. They're the ones you want over here. You only brought me along because I'm their stupid friend."

Sean came back with, "Yeah, all I got out of that was stupid because that's exactly how you're acting right now."

"I already know I'm stupid. I knew that before I even met you." Joey went on while packing away his art supplies. "I always figured that's why you never bothered with me. Because I'm not smart like Frank. But you always missed Tommy and you couldn't wait to be Cody's brother, even though they don't care about school, either. So, it's just me you can't stand."

"Can't stand you?" Sean echoed the words with such an air of disbelief, his exhales resembled chuckles. "Have a real funny way of showing it then, don't I? Showing you how to build whole fort kingdoms, hours spent helping you with your homework- not because you're "stupid" but because you just want to doodle all day, going with you to ride on the ponies at the fair way before you lucked into Xander, taking you on your first real thrill rides, and oh yeah, that time I almost broke my neck keeping you from breaking yours when you had the gull to jump out of that window."

"You never like helping me with my homework. Dad just makes you." Gripping his case by the handle, Joey huffed down the remaining steps to set foot on the grass. "At least I tried to fly without Uncle Erik shoving me!"

Utterly dumbfounded, Sean nearly sank into the porch over the normally docile child. "You bratty little… Joey!" When he only kept walking across the grass, Sean jumped down the steps to follow. "Joey, get back here. I'm trying to talk to you. Charles Xavier." The redhead clamped down on his shoulder. "Stop it right now. We both know you wouldn't even think about acting like this with Alex." Sean noted the boy's complete lack of forceful movements, especially stiff at the legs. "… Joey?"

"I'm sorry, Sean..."

At the steep plunge of wateriness heard in his tone, Sean experienced multiple pings directed at his chest. "Joey." He noticed the tremors building in his thin shoulders and knelt to rub his back. "Hey, don't cry. It's okay. New rule, only the Banshee wails in this house."

"Why don't you love me like you do Cody and the other guys?" Veering to face him, Joey's eyes pooled with a despondent sheen. "How can I miss Uncle Nate and Aunt Cordy, but not you? I didn't think a blood brother of yours would ever want to be friends with me. But Tommy likes me because I'm not like your letters and I like him because…"

"He's not me," Sean supplied solemnly. "Trust me, buddy, I'm glad for that little detail, too. Joey, I'm the one who's sorry here. You don't miss me because I don't give you good enough reason to. In those letters to Tommy, I was mad and feeling beyond insecure about my powers, how I looked, wanting to be strong but wanting to fit in and have friends. I wrote what I did because when you first came here, I was really jealous."

Stun flashed in Joey's pupils. "Of me?"

Sean nodded regretfully. "Charles and I had a ton of one-on-one time together, but when he found you, you needed him so much more. I felt forgotten about."

"Forgotten about?" Joey spoke the word like a foreigner trying to grasp an outlandish concept. "You weren't forgotten about, Sean. Daddy was always going on about your great marks. I was forgotten about until he found me in that storm. You could've gone back to your mom, dad, and Tommy whenever you felt like it. Daddy was all I had at first. Your powers never went crazy like mine, you're an honor student, you write, and you like all of Dad's old books. You can get on a stage and sing in front of a ton of people and you're good at it. What are you jealous of, Sean? That nobody ever wanted to touch me? That I smelled like a litter box and got food out of the school cafeteria dumpster? How I used to run hot water over my skin when I got cold at night? How I still hear Aunt Raven screaming from when I cut my hand open?"

Hardly so much as blinking until the distressed child finished, Sean seized him with such swiftness it seemed the tyke would dissolve before his eyes if he acted otherwise. Rising to his full height, he felt the younger X-Man wind limbs around Sean's middle and neck. Joey left his head on the tall one's shoulder. He did not cry, but Sean honed in on the excess breathing as he tried to massage the little blonde's back. He found solace in Joey's lack of tears, particularly the notion that Sean himself managed to thwart them with the use of his arms alone. Returning to the porch, he got them situated on the second-to-top step with Joey in his lap.

"Can I let you in on something?" When Sean felt the nod against his chest, he continued. "I was only fifteen when I left home for this. I barely needed convincing. I wanted to get away my school, meet actual people saddled with the freak gene, and just- God- be part of something worthwhile. But after what Shaw did to those men, I was scared and rattled, but something kept telling me I couldn't leave. Charles wasn't just the best professor known to man. He saw me, heard me, loved me not just as another mutant student, but for Sean Cassidy, the guy he found pretty terrific."

Joey's present mind state could not hinder the small smile he formed. "That's Daddy."

"Without a doubt." Sean dragged his hand along the little boy's back. "I'm not like Frank and Alex were; snapping and acting up for kicks. But that doesn't make me good. Because I'm not sure I am." Joey lifted his head to peer into Sean's pensive eyes. "I let things build up in me until I lash out like a complete nut. I should've helped Charles with you more the way Alex did. You and I have so many self-doubt issues. I should have been able to see the warnings before you cut yourself."

"No," Joey protested right away. "That wasn't your fault or anybody else's. I was just stupid."

Perturbed, Sean warned, "Call yourself that one more time and your ride home later will be brutal. You're not stupid, Joey. You just act it sometimes when you get it in your head that that's what you are. Why do I get annoyed helping you with homework sometimes? Because I know you mind when Dad, Mommy Emma, Uncle Erik, or Alex help you. You're more of a natural wielding a paintbrush or pencil in your hand than I am holding my guitar, but you needed handwriting basics?"

Joey bit his lip. "Ummm… You think I'm a natural?"

"Yes, but your "changing the subject" needs some work." Sean lifted Joey under his armpits to better meet eyes and press noses. "I don't go to your art contests kicking and screaming ya know. That's why I wanted to see what'd you come up with for your room. New house, new furniture, new life, but you leaving your distinct mark on the wall? Maya and I will have the spirit of home right here with us."

"Again, yes," Sean replied. "It's up to you whether or not you believe a word I'm saying, but that's all you get to decide here, little-bits. Same for those two knuckleheads upstairs. Even if I'm not your favorite big brother, I'm not moving to drop any of you and I refuse to. Forget me all you want, but you won't be forgotten about. Not by me."

Joey inched in close to send arms around the teen again. "You won't be forgotten about, either, Seanie. Not by me."

Sean kept him close while managing to stand. "Come on," he started them back inside the house, "Our sodas are waiting and we have a tight schedule of gummy bears and chips to think about."

IIIIIII

On his way through the first floor, Frank reacted to and managed to stop the hastening soon-to-be-second-graders before they could crossover into stampede territory. With the three still merrily capricious with common sense in place, Frank led the rest of the way towards the kitchen. In addition to the one massive window forcing out stuffiness, Raven also had the portable fan blowing. She wished for her natural form's shorter hair, but with company to consider, she contained her blonde locks in a braided bun.

Before they joined her in the eatery, Raven heard Trav and Max gabbing Frank's ear off. The shapeshifter appreciated his entertaining their every word while holding Lily, who enjoyed resting her head on his shoulder. Raven noted how much males so voluntarily carried her about. Similar to Fred and their parents, the eldest Dukes daughter had a pudge to her midsection and round face. Her overall small stature and kissable cheeks made her a fluffy teddy bear to most.

"The Howletts are still visiting the Gallaghers," Frank reported. "No word yet on Vic."

"Summers just got back. Adrienne has her girls," Raven lined the pasta ingredients along the island, "Maya's over her mom's. Sean is probably making sure the boys…"

Frank supplied glibly, "Have a barf basket handy from the junk food overload."

Though she laughed along with the smaller kids, Raven said, "A mom can dream of a carrot being thrown in there somewhere." She bent to kiss Max's head when he hugged her legs.

"Mom, Mom," petitioned Trav and Lily informed, "Our parents said we can stay over, Aunt Raven."

"Great." Raven left arms around Max from behind while he held onto her wrists. "Go see Becca and the girls for a dress you can borrow. If she doesn't have anything small enough, I'll track down one of my old ones."

Lily's entire form radiated at simply the idea of wearing more of their clothes. Frank had to rush to put her down so she could comply.

"Trav, you and Max go to Daddy and get into your good shirts." Raven sent into Max's ear, "Be sure to drag Hank away by his toes from whatever he's working on if he doesn't cooperate."

"You got it," Max eagerly agreed.

Frank shook his head after the departing tots. "Oh, but to be young again…"

"Yes, I'll never forget the summer of '62…" Raven's face promptly contorted with reconsideration. "Because that one was kinda the pits."

"Right in the heart, Rae." Frank slapped a hand over his chest. "I didn't think meeting me was that crummy."

Raven used a dishtowel to whack his arm. "You know that was a bright spot- the bright spot if we want to get technical. It was just an insane rollercoaster back then. From Oxford pub hopping to… everything else." Frank's face showed he needed no elaboration on that point. "See," Raven came to him, putting her hands on his shoulders, "you're not the center of the universe."

"No, you are," Frank replied automatically.

Raven hugged him to her front. "Good lovebug. And finally, WU gets a real beef cake."

Clutching her, Frank groaned dramatically. "Don't remind me. This program is creeping up too soon."

"I know," Raven cooed at him. "Tell me how to make it all better."

"I… want to invite Jessie over." Frank pulled back to look at her sincerely. "Before we do my birthday. To meet you… and the others if there's time."

Raven slowly came back with, "I see… sure you don't want me to just knock out your professors and masquerade as them? I'll make it your birthday present." At Frank's honey brown eyes and slight whimper, she conceded, "Okay, okay. But I swear you're no fun anymore."

Frank grinned at her. "Really? You'll be nice?"

"… More than I was with Emma."

Frank sent both fists into the air victoriously.

IIIIIII

Even with the setting sun upon them, the pair of returning X-Girls ceased not in admiring their recently colorized and sparkling manicures. Due to the wet grass and walking in sandals, they moved in something of a waddle to safeguard their equally fetching toenails. From directly behind, Adrienne watched them both in silent but immense humor. At the tall figure made illuminant by an orange-gold streak of remaining sunlight, the teenagers picked up pace to meet him across the way.

"Daddy!" Samantha practically dove for his open arm.

Angel snuggled against his left. "Hey, Daddy Cat, where you been?"

"Clearin' my head." Victor purred at them. "At my age, I should have the job done in a fortnight or two." He regarded them favorably at their airy giggles. His gaze settled on the black adorned woman and he bobbed his head her way. "Can we- you have a minute?"

Adrienne answered him with, "A few… depending."

"Go on in, babies," Victor ushered the girls. "You know Midnight's waitin' on ya."

With a smile, Samantha linked delicate fingers with Angel and they continued into the mansion.

Alone in the extensive front grounds, the remaining two met eyes and parted lips in simultaneous fashion.

"Vic—"

"We…"

Only the most marginal glint of amusement trickled through them. They both exhaled and face separate directions for several seconds. Though they lacked even the smallest trace of telepathy, each stood gathering individual thoughts and did not force or nudge the other.

Adrienne rediscovered her voice first. "I was impetuous in revealing that vision to you. I saw it as a winning lottery ticket and as foolish as I accuse my siblings, I acted based on fallacious emotion."

"Got us mixed up there, baby." Victor's rebuttal gave him her focused eyes. "You acted because you thought you were doin' right by me. I reacted like a bonehead, pullin' the lone tiger bit."

"It's no surprise you needed that time alone to digest," Adrienne reasoned. "It's understandable."

"Takin' off on you wasn't," he quickly countered. "When you saw what you did, you thought about me. Enough to get your sister right out of bed. When I saw what you did, I only thought about me. There's no excuse for that."

"… You aren't the only one who retreated into old habits," the scarlet-haired woman admitted. "In fact, retreating is all I wanted after you took off. I wanted to pack, get back to work, leave you on the longing end."

Victor stayed in place quietly until he prompted cautiously, "How 'bout now?"

Closing of the foot or so that separated them, Adrienne gripped his shirt front. She raised her lips to seek out and capture his. Victor reciprocated and his fingers went into her hair. The digits made short work of unbinding her updo, causing the red tresses to tumble and partially blend with his yellow. When the oxygen need inhibited them, they stayed connected at their foreheads.

Victor breathed, "I'll still need some time; time to sort this all out."

"I know," Adrienne whispered.

"And I need you to know what you did for me," Victor emphasized. "I thought I was out of my head, feeling that connection to him."

Adrienne put forth, "Both of you in brand new relationships with enviable women and your minds go straight to tracking down children you hardly know. Why am I not surprised you are your father's son?"

The surreal rapture of relishing in those words for the first time in his existence caused him brief dizziness. The effect caught Adrienne's attention and concerned countenance. She put her hand to his jaw, but could not inquire due to another kiss. His tongue and lips unleashed pleasure ripples throughout her own curvaceous body.

IIIIIII

After seeing to a wet diaper of Brian's and getting his nephew settled in his crib again, Erik watched the tiny blonde drift. Erik brought Dickon closer to him and sent a silent request for Brian to aim as much positivity as he could his mother's direction come morning. Considering he sought the favor from the offspring of two telepaths, the metal wielder considered the possibility at least mildly feasible.

When he made his way back to the Mag Cave, Erik paused at the short boy in orange-black striped pajamas. Unsurprisingly, the child picked up the man's scent and presence, facing him the second he walked in.

"Hi," came Cody's soft greeting.

Erik acknowledged him with, "Are you still awake? I thought you were tuckered out along with Tommy and Joey from that roundtrip to Syracuse."

"Sorta," Cody said squeamishly, "but I just had some stuff on my mind and…" He sighed reluctantly. "Listen, the other night? I'm really s—"

"Codicat," came the no-nonsense interjection. "Kicking, punching, sinking your claws in if you feel so moved- I've walked away from far worse, including my own brother clocking me square in the jaw."

"What?" Staggered from that revelation, Cody had to steady himself with the desk.

"Oh, don't worry," Erik dismissed. "He wasn't insane. I was. However," returning to the matter at hand, the Headmaster went on with, "stand there and muster an apology we both know you don't mean in the least and you'll be confined to your room with a week's worth of lines to write. Is that understood?"

Taken by some of what the man said, Cody still nodded, "Yes, sir."

"I'm going to wager that your real purpose this evening is to win back your Professor's favor. Well, you're a little late." Erik made a path for his desk and sat behind it before eying the child again. "You regained it the second you awoke this morning."

Gaining some satisfaction from that, Cody said, "It's not just Charles. Seems like everybody I really care about really care about you."

"Not something I can comprehend, either," Erik sympathized. "In all honesty, Cody, I have no anger whatsoever from the kick. I also know why you did it. It actually relates to the disciplines I want to instill on you during training. I crushed someone, you saw her pain, and you came to her defense. It's a lesson I want to reinforce with you, but one that you came here already knowing."

"Thanks, Erik," Cody smiled.

"However," Erik gave off a pointed look, "any intention you have of making it a habit whenever an instructor says what you don't care to hear, will reopen this conversation. Minus the pleasantries."

"Hey, I got a little bit of sense left. I don't want to go up against the others, anyway. Except Hank for those crummy shots." Cody narrowed his eyes bitterly. "He's lucky he's the size of King Kong."

With a shark's smirk, Erik directed, "Off to bed, young X-Man. You three interior designers have a swords session to make up in the morning."

Giving him an urchin's grin, Cody replied, "Can't wait," and took his leave of the den.

When he made it back to his area of the second level, Cody noticed the faint trace of light secreting from his parents' suite. As he neared the room, a recognizable presence beyond that of his siblings effected his senses. Remaining in the doorway, he observed Charles with the delicate pair. In the center of the massive bed, Todd laid bundled in a gray t-shirt of their father's. Eyes only partly open, he appeared to nose the material for its cherished rugged scent. Charles cradled Mira, singing softly. Cody could only understand a word here and there, but even from his distance he recognized it as one of Trick's Irish lullabies. Charles sat in light blue nightwear, content with Mira nuzzling her cheek against silk robe.

…Charles?

Little Kitten. The delight echoed from Charles' mind to the boy's. Come, come, look at this.

Cody obliged and entered fully. What is it? He climbed up to lay near to Todd.

Your brother's sense of smell seems to be developing rapidly. He's such a feeling little one, too.

Cody brought an arm around Todd. Seems he wants to cry or get mad every time somebody else does.

I understand him completely there. Charles patted Todd's belly and eyed Mira again. And your sweet sister. So enthralled with light and sound, wanting to learn everything there is.

Cody came back with, helps we have the best professor there is.

I'm glad you think so. Charles' expression displayed dry humor. Considering how much you went out of your way to avoid me today. Or was I being overly sensitive?

No, Cody had to admit.

Charles touched his shoulder and proposed, let's get these nippers to bed. Then we'll talk, alright?

Alright, Cody complied.

With Mira in his delicate yet fortified grasp, Charles brought her to her crib. Cody did the same for Todd. Through the bars, he let his brother grip his finger until his eyes closed fully. When he retracted his hand, Charles extended his own. Cody latched on with the telepath, receiving a kind squeeze that lightened that apprehension weighing on him. They departed the suite to go to Cody's room, where Charles sat on the foot of the bed.

Hands at the boy's waist, the telepath made their conversation verbal. "Now, little kitten, why have you been ducking me."

Without meaning to, Cody's gaze went to their feet as he gathered words. "I was just, umm…"

"No, no, no," Charles chided kindly. He finger-combed the youth's black locks and tucked them behind his ears. "Let me see those warm brown eyes, please."

Cody groaned internally, but tried his best to look directly at Charles without his pupils pooling. "You…are you still mad I kicked Erik?"

Suspicions confirmed, the Professor responded, "I was never angry. I was surprised at you… yet I'd be lying to us both if I said I didn't know why you did it. You were still coming back from seeing your grandparents and learning about your uncle. What Erik said to Aunt Adrienne had a particular effect on you."

"Mmhmm." Cody also told him, "I talked to Erik, but I didn't get a chance to say sorry. He said he didn't want it if I didn't mean it. But he's not mad, either."

"Good, I'm glad the two of you spoke," Charles approved. "Emma was also telling me about the nice bouquet you and your daddy put together for Adrienne. I'm proud you showed so much gratitude and lifted her spirits. However," the man's expression grew slightly grimmer, "kicking Erik that way was very disrespectful. Your uncle and daddy have told you about not letting your anger get the better of you, yes?"

"Mmh- yessir," Cody uttered. "Um, want me to get the yardstick?"

"No, my boy," Charles turned down straightaway. "You acted out of anger, not hatred. I'm not going to spank you, but tomorrow in the afternoon you're going to have detention in my office. You'll spend that time writing five hundred words for me about decorum and self-restraint. Afterwards, you and I are going to work further on your mental disciplines."

"Yes, sir," Cody brightening, practically falling on the man to embrace. "I love you, Charles."

"My little kitten," Charles laid on the mattress with him, "I love you from the depths to the peaks. Don't you forget that."

Purrs emitted from the boy as he assured, "I won't."

Charles helped situate him under the summer blanket and stayed beside him. "Would you like a story?" Lacing fingers with him, Cody nodded. Charles played in his hair. "Which one?"

Precocious brown eyes flashing, the fledgling said, "I want to hear about the time you decked Erik in the jaw."

Initially jarred at his knowledge of the privileged information, Charles asked, "Did he tell you about that?"

"Yep, but not the whole story. Just that he deserved it."

"Yes, he did," Charles confirmed instantaneously. "Now, let's see," he secured both arms around Cody as he recalled, "It was right after our first Christmas together here. After so many months, we finally received a strong lead on the whereabouts of Sebastian Shaw…"