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.

330. Chapter 330 Nine Lives

Rise or Fall

Chapter 330: Nine Lives

Chapters to Check: 1-14, 37, 67, 68, 128, and 129.

NOTE: Hello, my Fam. Even though we're in the month that welcomes the Mystique, I return to you as neither Spirit nor Specter (say it with me now: X-Puns are Fun). There really is very little I can do to prevent the arbitrary horrors of RL that simply love to separate us. Still, however powerful those horrors believe themselves to be, the following 38,000-plus words proves that they can't prevent Rise or Fall without first taking my oxygen supply. Thank you all for the reviews, messages, and your continued support as we soon celebrate eight years of Rise or Fall cheers and tears.

With our dear anniversary in mind, whether or not the next chapter is launched on the 31st, I encourage you all to enjoy yourselves but do nothing that hinders your oxygen supply. I need you all around for my own very selfish reasons. That and I'm sure you'd prefer to avoid the wrath of the Stern Professor. Now, please enjoy, review, and by the bellows of the Beast and Banshee, thank you!

Late July 1962

Though it surprised him that resident cool cat Alex Summers wanted to go mini golfing of all things, resident redheaded recluse Sean Cassidy suspected it to be some sort of cover for the adults. It seemed to work since Charles had no qualms with letting them borrow a car, besides going over the standard safety rules in and out of the marvel of a mansion. Considering, that their jaunt began with acquiring burgers and nachos, Sean did not see the big deal for any sort of façade. Until they wound up at a posh establishment that did indeed offer miniature golf. At least, during regular business hours, which had concluded a little over three hours ago.

"Alex?" the uncertain ginger called for him in an urgent hush. He currently stood outside the lavish colonial property, which had an expansive green lawn surrounding it. "Alex, for the love of—" Sean turned sharply, finding his housemate in an illuminated doorway. "… How'd you do that? Did you take out security or something?"

"Yeah, you missed some real fisticuffs," Alex scoffed. "Somebody left a dining room window open."

"How do you know security isn't on the premises? He could call the cops on us or what if he's packing heat himself?"

"Could you pretend I'm not a complete retard? I scoped this place out already. The closest they have to a night-watch is in the aquarium. Those angelfish look like they've got mad street cred."

Against his better judgement, Sean entered after the blonde. "What if we mess up something? Aw, man!" He hugged himself, tucking his hands under his pits. "What if they dust for fingerprints?"
Alex eyed him in dry disbelief. "You know the fuzz has to have your prints on file already, right?"
Sean hesitantly brought up, "They have yours, don't they?"

"Calm down, Butch Cassidy," Alex waved off. "We're not here to rob the place. We'd have to really rile the joint for them to even notice. Towns like this don't want the cops crawling all over their country clubs. Then, they'd have to admit bad things exist and there goes the neighborhood, yadda, yadda, yadda…"

While that did make sense on some level, Sean then reacted to his cohort going behind the bar. "Alex, no, you said we weren't going to steal anything."

"We're sampling." A few seconds with a small screwdriver unlocked the spirits behind the bottom counter. "Big difference. Besides," standing with a couple of bottles, he used a nearby glass to mix, "if they notice anything out of sorts, they'll chalk it up to those rascally townies of theirs going on a bender." Alex slid the drink over to him. "Boys will be boys, Seanie." At the younger teen's squeamish mannerisms, Alex countered, "Cut the choir boy crap. You know you want to."

"Not before I got behind the wheel," Sean pointed out.

"Right, yeah, forgot you were useful for something. Hang on." Alex headed towards the back and presumably the kitchen.

Seated on a bar stool, Sean gazed around at the interior of the country club. He had been in such places before, typically invitations for get-togethers from friends of his parents and grandparents. Never had he set foot inside one without polished, pinching shoes and a circulation threatening necktie.

"Score." Alex came back with a clear bottle that sported a red cap and label. "The finest in wholesome hydration."

Sean accepted the sparkling water from him. He uncapped to the taste of bubbling fruit punch. Alex smirked at the highly satisfied look on his face. They moved things to the dining room, where they reclined in a booth with their feet propped on the table.

"It's freakin' unbelievable how fearless places like this are," Alex put forth somewhat critically. "Don't believe in the boogie man but ready to piss themselves if a little color rolls in here outside of janitor getup."

Taken aback by the assertion, a wordless Sean took a long swig from his bottle.

Alex next proposed, "You know what we should do around Halloween time? Mail pictures to different houses of them sleeping while we're looming over them dressed as Jack the Ripper." He did not miss the small intake of air from his comrade and shifted in his seat. "You thought about it."
"Noooo," Sean attempted to deny, trying to hide his face.

"Yes, you did." Alex nudged him playfully. "For a split-second."

Sean finally gave into his grin. "Yeah, maybe."

Both boys dissolved into all-out chuckling.

Afterward, Alex located and pried open an equipment closet. With the correct gear in tow, the duo went out to the lowly lit rear grounds. The mini golf portion of their outing came to fruition as the mutant teenagers whacked the tiny white balls at random across the green. Alex had to assure Sean that the secluded area allowed their shenanigans to stay unnoticed.

Twenty minutes into it, Sean said, "We better put this stuff back."

"Yeah, almost that time," Alex agreed. "You take care of the inside. I'll handle pickup duty out here."
With a nod, Sean made his way back into the colonial structure. He arranged the liquor cabinet and shut the doors, despite being unable to repair the lock. He acquired paper towels and cleaning spray for any trekking they did in the dining room. When he jogged outdoors again, the tall teen stood dumbfounded when he witnessed Alex gathering the balls so swiftly… from the inside of a golf cart.

"Dude, you are mental!"
"Lies!" Alex gazed back with a face the picture of maniacal glee as he sang out, "I've got no brains to hold me down!"

IIIIIII

Indebted to fortune for fancying them, the galivanting duo found their way back to the Xavier estate fifteen minutes shy of curfew. A diner payphone and a rotary at the club had aided them in reporting their comings and goings to their mutant elders. Even though no real damage had been done, Sean felt some guilt, though powering the incredible BMW appeased him to an extent. Alex lounged in the passenger seat, tongue still fresh from his mouthful of mints during the drive and the gum he currently chewed.

Once they confirmed their still-in-one-piece status to Charles and Erik, Sean went up to get ready for bed while Alex stepped out for a walk. He continued along the rear grounds until he reached the stream. Placing down the flashlight he carried with him, Alex retrieved his small horde from inside a bush. For several seconds, he simply stared out at the water.

"Hey, Scottie," he addressed the silent nothingness around him, "hope you're up 'cause I've got a wild story for you this time. So, listen up, squirt. I got recruited by the CIA, right? No, for real, for real. Seriously, they took me to meet all these other freaky mutant… whatevers that're like me. The coolest one there- yep, even cooler than me, you believe that?- was this dude named Darwin. Little older than me, definitely had his head on straighter. Well, except for one thing. He got the bright idea to make friends with me. So, long story short, he's dead now. But ooh, it gets better. I killed him. Or at least, my powers did. Same difference, right? Here I thought I let you down, kid. This one was a record, even for me." Raising his flask, he unscrewed its lid. "I'll drink to that."

After a hearty sip, the teenager started throwing rocks into the stream. "Bet you're thrilled, Dad. The CIA's about as close as I'll ever get to licking Uncle Sam's boots. I know it's not the air force, but hey, what can I say? Flying's not my thing. And I swear if you weren't dead already, that'd given you a heart attack." Alex threw his hands up in a display of innocence. "Just kiddin', Mom. You know me, gotta mess with the old man. Well, it's almost over, but the big day's really here. Gee whiz, I can't wait to vote. You know, in a system that's glad to be done with me. But ah, enough about me. This one's for you, pretty lady. Congratulations," he drank from his flask again before withdrawing a stick from the pack of Pall Mall, "your little boy's a man."

Using the lighter to ignite it, Alex's puff became short-lived as he simultaneously gagged and coughed. With a swear and a pound to his chest, he crumpled up the rest of the pack in his fist and chucked it into the water.

IIIIIII

Mid-August 1962

Another round of enthused cheers and jeers erupted as the orange sphere soared across the air and plummeted straight down the next. While the Xavier heiress accepted triumphant high-fives, the mansion's new resident physician dashed over to retrieve the ball. On his way to add to Raven's kudos, Hank tossed it to the awaiting redhead. After sizing up the distance between himself and the hoop, Sean took his shot. He winced on his own behalf when the ball tapped against the edge of the hoop.

"Geez, Cassidy, you need to trade in for better parts already," Alex remarked. "What's the use in those stupid long arms and legs if all you do is trip over 'em?"

Sean could not even fathom a response before Raven retorted, "Better idea, you swap that big mouth out for a functioning brain."

"You first, cupcake," the male blonde sneered.

With a sigh, Hank intervened, "People, please, no need for mutiny amongst mutants."

Also wanting to lighten the mood, Sean mentioned, "You guys should get a load of my kid brother. He's, like, two-foot-nothing and can sink a free-throw clear across a football field."

"I can leave both my brothers in the dust." Taking the ball for himself, Frank followed up the boast after a brief dribble by securing the next basket. "Ha!"

Sean pumped a fist on his behalf. "The Frank-O Free-throw!"

Frank whooped as they slapped palms.

The smallest stepped forward and piped up, "My turn, my turn."

"Okay, okay," running to get the ball for her, Frank carried it over gallantly, "You're up, Becky."

After the beaming girl accepted the basketball, Hank lifted her at the waist, "Here we go, Becca Bear," and propped her on his broad shoulders.

Alex rolled his eyes and brought his hands together to hoot, "Cheap cheaters!"

"Shut up, Alex," Raven and Frank chorused without looking at him.

Compliments of her new elevation, Becky's vision better lined up with the net. She executed a basket by bouncing it off her cupped hands.

Alex snorted. "Nice granny toss, short stuff."

"Don't listen to him," Raven immediately dismissed.

"Like I ever do," Becky replied, giggling when Hank tickled her ribs while lowering her.

"Okay, enough with the warm-ups," declared Frank. "Let's go three-on-three and play some real ball."

"Great," Hank seconded with a small smirk, "just give me two minutes to grab my pig-skin."

"Hilarious, Hank," Frank smile despite himself. "Just for that, you're not on my team. I get Sean and Raven."

"So heartbroken," Alex interjected dryly then glanced Hank's way. "Time to put those Paul Bunyan toes to good use, Bozo. Don't let the shrimpette slow us down."

Hank came back with, "We can never have too many sessions in teamwork around here…"

Trios decided, the mutated six divided for a full-on basketball game. They became so engrossed in the activity that none of them picked up on the flashcubes overhead that preceded the capturing of their likenesses.

"And the kids find me creepy."

Not at all moved nor deterred by the presence of his fellow Headmaster, the Professor snapped another photograph. "Just look at them, Erik." The older man came to stand alongside him, peering over the tip of the balcony. "So at home. It cannot be easy with everything going on with his parents, but Franklin is really settling in."

Erik hummed thoughtfully. "He's at least been more mindful of that tongue of his since you personally corrected him."

"I think I baffled him more than anything," Charles recalled, remembering the look on the boy's face immediately following the brief punishment. "I see it in his eyes, though. Such a good lad at heart."

Erik then moved onto, "And Alex is a restless one."

With less sanguinity in his tone, Charles replied, "I know."

II

Ten minutes in, Becky deemed herself too winded to continue. Raven opted to join her on the nearby concrete bench. While the macho quad kept up the game with greater intensity, the female pair kicked back with periodic joyful shouts on their teams' behalves. When the basketball bloodshed saw no foreseeable end, Raven's sudden proposal of a snack- for all those who could clean up and hurry to the kitchen in a timely fashion- convinced the player duos to call it a draw for the time being.

They all made a rapid path for the nearest entry point and Frank held the doors for the girls to go in first. Their smiles and a wink from Raven warmed the city boy's perspiring cheeks.

Once out of their sweat drenched pants and t-shirts, Sean and Frank met up in the bathroom they had gotten into the habit of sharing. While the redhead took the first shower, the younger boy made monster faces in the mirror. That eventually turned into scrutinizing his physique.

"Hey, Sean? Do you shave?"

"Every blue moon," the older mutant responded over the water then quipped, "Occasionally, the full moon. Why? You sprouting anything?"

"Nah, still a babyface," Frank frowned. "Got a better chance of growing petunias outta my nose."

"I don't hear Raven complaining." Sean switched off the water. "Can't guarantee how she'll feel about you putting in nose-posies…"

Frank snickered and dropped his robe to jump in the tub as soon as Sean stepped out to dry off.

II

After the fluffy lavender towel absorbed as much of the moisture from the recently washed tresses, Raven unraveled it and let the black curls tumble freely. Becky sat humming over the sweetness satisfaction before her, kicking her kitten sock covered feet. Raven poured coconut oil on top of her head and used her fingers to gingerly spread it from the scalp to the ends of the atypical hair texture. The shapeshifter's lips quirked wryly. Such a rare occasion that she, of all people, could consider another's appearance atypical. Likely the reason she found herself so at ease around the green-eyed girl.

If she could only pick one of the two to invite into her childhood home, Becky would effortlessly make the cut over Angel Salvador. Even if she had not revealed her true colors as an opportunistic turncoat, the preference would be the same. Despite knowing it to be such petty reasoning, Angel's every breath emanated physical magnificence. Darwin and, more importantly, Hank stayed gentlemen, but Cellblock Summers and even sweet Seanie could not stop stealing glimpses of her at the facility. Neither of them had ideal backgrounds, but while Angel's looks paved her way, Raven's had nearly dug her grave more than once. An exotic hidden-winged slag could not begin to compare to the tumult of a blue abomination of mutation. She did not need Angel and the transparent horns that held up her tarnished halo flouncing around her family's house.

"What's all this then?" Both girls darted their eyes in the direction of the British brogue. "Kitchen turned bakery/beauty parlor?" Charles tenderly wiped his thumb across Becky's cheek. "Honestly…" He reflexively wound his right arm around Raven's middle, noting the cookie platter on the table. "Can't leave you birds alone for five minutes without redecorating ensuing."

Raven lightheartedly claimed, "We have to counteract the boy BO somehow."

The mutated blonde's expression faded slightly at the less affable elder who entered next. For one with such a contemptuously aloof routine so perfected, Raven mused, Erik Lehnsherr certainly had a tendency to skulk after her genial brother like a looming second shadow.

Going to crouch by Becky's chair, Erik inquired teasingly, "What have you there, Sweet Imp, hm?" He then accepted and munched on a half of a chocolate chip treat she fed to him.

The remaining horde of male household members announced their impending arrival with Hank's heavy feet as well as Sean and Frank spiritedly reenacting a Superman scene. Stepping into the doorway at the same time, Alex and Frank bashed shoulders and hips to best each other for primary entry. With an elbow jab to the pre-teen's ribs, Alex dashed into the kitchen with a disparaging smirk.

"Paste face freak," Frank sneered.

"Can the compliments, Frankenstein's flashlight," Alex came back with, snagging a peanut butter cookie for himself.

"Settle down, lads," Charles interceded. "Conserve that commendable enthusiasm for tomorrow's sessions."

"Heed your Professor," Erik tacked on, foreboding tone unmistakable.

Frank zipped over to attach himself to the aforementioned Professor's side. "Thanks again for putting in the b-ball court, Charles. I've always wondered what one looks like without a thousand layers of spray paint."

Charles drew the pleased youth closer for a squeeze. "I had an inkling it would be a worthwhile investment." He indicated the other Headmaster. "Don't forget to thank the one who actually installed it."

Frank glanced the designated man's way. "Thanks, Erik."

The metal wielder merely bobbed his head.

"Becca, please," Hank addressed his sister, picking an oatmeal raisin cookie, "not too many of these before you go to sleep."

"Yes, Big Bear," Becky replied automatically.
"Two more," Erik determined. "It isn't as if you don't clean your plate at every meal. Just be sure to finish your milk and brush those teeth, little miss."

Becky grinned and raised her mug to her lips.

Zeroing in on Hank's unspoken ire, Raven placated, "I warmed the milk."

Hank acknowledged the stunning maiden by conjuring an appreciative smile.

IIIIIII

"May your joys be as bright as the morning, and your sorrows merely be shadows that fade in the sunlight of love."

Dearest Gran and Gramps,

Not too big a workload today, just a few drills with Erik. I've been feeling his eye on me lately. Sure, his eyes are always razor wire sharp, but I mean more than usual. Ever since that day I went down. I guess he just doesn't want to hear it from the Professor if I manage to plop like a sorry sack of rutabagas again. I'm still not over Erik or Alex that day. They were so… nice. Alex has his moments, but I wouldn't wager on Sherlock in the flesh being able to decipher the ponderous puzzle that is Erik Lehnsherr (Ha, I learned to spell it before the others- except maybe Becky).

I love having Frank here! That kid is a riot! We broke in the new basketball court some more today. All of us kids (kind of, half sure Hank counts as one of us…) just came in from playing. I made a couple of shots, but of course, it was mostly brick balls for me. It's so weird. I play fine when it's one-on-one, just me and Tommy or Frank. But whenever Alex or Hank are around- showing off legit athletic ability- it's like whatever pitiful skill I have runs for cover so it doesn't get smushed under their big boss boots.

But things can be weird between us three older guys in general. The girls get along great, but it feels like I'm either Hank's friend or Alex's. I really like Hank, but Alex likes me… sometimes. Sort of. I think. It's not his fault, though. He was becoming pals with Darwin before… all that. I figure he takes a lot of his anger out on Hank, but Hank's too mature to trade cheap shots with him. I didn't get to know him long, but Darwin sure was far out and together. Next to him, I can't believe Alex bothers saying two words to me. I thought all guys like him swore a sacred oath never to glance at geeks like me outside of target practice. Yeah, I know how absolutely pathetic it is and it's not like I need to be friends with Alex. I just think it's better for morale and everything.

Have I mentioned how much I love having Frank here? He doesn't think his powers are anything special, but he's got to have some unique eyes to see anything remotely cool about me.

On that note, I better hurry up and get writing to the Baby Man.

I love you both,

Your Banshee Boyo

"May your blessings outnumber
The Shamrocks that grow
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go."

IIIIIII

So many minds entering the deepest phase of sleep proved an advantage yet problematic for the grad-student-made-overnight-Professor. While external quiet reigned, he had to use some manner of rapid telepathic reflex to evade the tormented nightmares suffered by many. He increased power by another decibel to hone in on not only the X gene, but the most helpless and infantile.

Where are you, my little one? Don't be afraid. You never have to—

As soon as the hand clamped down on his shoulder, Charles experienced an internal jerk that preceded panic. Yanked away from the sensation of the half the country being within his reach, he all but tore off the Cerebro helmet. Veering around sharply, he faced the older male with no remanence of pleasure on his normally benign features.

Taken by the unbecoming ferocity on the English gentleman's face, Erik kept his reaction to a single raised eyebrow. "You're needed in the library, Professor."

Quickly reacquainting himself with the here and now, Charles left the room to head for the designated location.

Erik hung back, giving the byzantine computer the once over before taking his own leave.

Once he stepped inside the massive book chamber, Charles did not need his mind to guide him towards his pupil's favorite spot. There between the shelves of 'thrillers' and 'horror' sprawled the slumbering teenager. The telepath had to smile at the teen on top of his late-night literary blanket with an open novel still securely hugged to his chest. Charles dipped to first run fond fingers through Sean's hair then set about getting him upright.

Erik remained in the library's double doorway. His head moved silently when his fellow Headmaster and their bed-abandoned charge emerged. Erik could not deny being somewhat impressed with the way the shorter male maneuvered so expertly with the lanky boy. Erik got out of the way and trailed the pair until Charles returned Sean to his quarters at the center of the second floor. After he tucked him back in, the Professor played in the red hair some more, clearly supplying the lad with Charles' seemingly endless supply of mental solace.

When the younger man rejoined him in the hall, Charles initially continued walking until he peered back to see the Poland native remaining in place. "Off to bed, Professor?"

"Yes, actually," Charles responded. "After a spot of chamomile. Care for a cuppa?"

"I can get them," Erik determined. "Go on. I'll bring it up to you."

Charles looked on as he walked by. "I appreciate it, Erik, though I hate to trouble you."

"No trouble." Erik paused on the fourth step from the top to inform, "I'll be conducting another round within the hour," then continued down.

Staying still a moment, Charles tried to decide if he heard something of a warning in his friend's tone with that statement. With a slight shake of his head, the weary telepath made a path for the master bedroom.

IIIIIII

A bellow of outrage followed by a long-winded outcry of dread blended with unmistakable amusement sent a startling jolt throughout the unsuspecting sleepers. Looking away from the stovetop, Raven started to smile at who rushed in until she realized the peril giving him chase.

"Mornin', Rae!" Frank zipped over to obtain shielding from the curvaceous female.

"Tolbert!" Blue irises ablaze with rage, Alex zeroed in on his prey. At least, he sounded like Alex. The conglomeration of egg whites, coffee grinds, and grease that basted his upper body made him difficult to identify. "You weak little shit, hiding behind a girl."

Raven promptly retaliated with, "Says the ex-con with nothing better to do than pick on somebody smaller than him, barf face."

Unbeknownst to the shapeshifter, Frank stuck his tongue out, only making Alex growl with greater fury.

"You. Are. Done!" Alex backed up the declaration by shooting after the cheeky one.

"Hey, stop it!" Raven spread her arms in an attempt to keep them separate. "Cut it out! Don't run in here—" Frank darted around to speed from the eatery. "Not in the house!" With a frustrated sigh, the mutated blonde hurried to catch up with them.

"Alexander," in his robe and pajamas, Charles jogged down the stairs, "Franklin!"

"What is going on?" Hank wanted to know, descending next with a very confused, abruptly woken Becky supported on his hip.

Bringing up the rear of the nightwear adorned bunch, a frizzy-haired Sean maneuvered in a blanket cocoon.

"Alexander!" Charles exclaimed, finally giving the table bashing older teen pause. "I hope you have a very good explanation for this tomfoolery this time of- dear God," he tried to absorb Alex's current state, "what on Earth happened to you?"

Appearing from a side entrance at the conclusion of his run, Erik's voice sounded with, "My question exactly."

The blonde pointed accusatory at the brunette boy. "He rigged my room with milk balloons."

"Prove it," Frank challenged. "That's how the system works. No wonder you got busted, brainless."

Alex snapped, "You little fucker," before leaping to tackle him.

Erik moved swiftly while Charles firmly commanded, "Hank, Raven, take the kids upstairs."

With his sister utterly flabbergasted over the verbal exchange alone, Hank wasted no time carrying her back up and herding Sean along.

Barely able to keep her gaze off Frank as Erik pried them apart, Raven explained, "I was about to start breakfast."

Charles gave her the cue to resume that with a single nod of his head.

Though he had to keep a stronger grip on Alex, Erik held onto fistfuls of the feuding fledglings' t-shirts.

"Franklin," the petitioned youth faced the highly dissatisfied Professor, "did you really setup balloons filled with milk in Alex's room?"

"The truth," Erik tacked on with minimal patience evident.

Averting his gaze between the elders, Frank squeamishly replied, "Noooo… they were filled with eggs, cream, and coffee, too. Breakfast bombs; I use this neat solution to keep the balloons from bursting until they fall and… it was just a joke! My brothers and I play goofy gags on each other like that. I didn't mean anything. Definitely didn't know he'd go haywire... who doesn't love breakfast in bed?"

"I doubt highly if you would react so cheerfully to such a rude awakening," said Erik pointedly.

Alex insisted, "I told you," glancing from one Headmaster to the other.

"Sorry, okay?" Frank huffed out. "You didn't have to make such a big deal out of it, geez. Not like it won't wash right off."

"That will be enough, young men," Charles reproached.

When the Headmasters faced one another, Frank did not deduce anything favorable from their clear telepathic communication. Though he inwardly envied such a mutation.

"I'm going to help Raven get breakfast on the table this morning," the Professor announced. "You, Master Tolbert, are going to my office to stand in the corner and you're not to move without permission."

"The corner?" Frank practically sank to the floor again with disbelieving dismay. "Char-les, I'm twelve years old! Tell me you're not serious."

Not remotely pleased by the lad's unabashed resistance, Charles put forth, "It's either the corner or over my knee, Franklin. Whatever the scenario, you'll be standing, but I thought you might prefer sitting through breakfast."

Almost before the Professor could finish speaking, the pre-teen selected, "The corner."

"Furthermore," Charles went on, "as soon as your punishment ends, you're to clean up your practical joke in Alex's room."

"I don't want the brat within ten feet of my room," Alex refuted.

Erik assured, "If he leaves any more surprises while he's in there, he won't be sitting through any meal today."

Frank winced at the very idea.

After the men watched the impish boy head for the study, Erik released his hold on Alex. "Shower quickly. We're training straight after breakfast."

"Good," Alex responded with utmost sincerity, more than ready to unleash some steam.

"Also," Erik went on, "as soon as we're finished eating, there will be a dose of vinegar awaiting you." Before the teenager could object, the metal wielder casually brought up, "You probably don't remember your colorful choice of word only a moment ago. A certain four letter one I've heard out of you more than once. Only this time, you failed to mumble it."

"He started that whole thing," Alex insisted.

"Yes, Alex, we know," Charles spoke with an air of sympathy. "We understand you being upset, but it was hardly two weeks ago I punished Frank for a word he directed at you. You're older and have been with us longer yet also chose to shout it in front of Becky."

Erik told him, "The only reason you aren't receiving more than the vinegar is that Frank's nonsense started your day off on the wrong foot from the second you awoke."

Unable to refute any of that, Alex stared at the floor and requested, "Can I eat in my room… please?"

After another look exchange with Erik, Charles said, "Yes, that will be fine. I'll bring you something up. Go on."

Alex muttered, "Thanks," before taking the stairs up two at a time.

With all youngsters out of earshot, Charles exhaled merrily. "These boys of ours. Here I thought fraternity life was behind me."
Erik dryly noted, "Minus the late nights, of course."

With an equal air of nonchalance, Charles strolled his way towards the kitchen.

IIIIIII

Every hour dragged on excruciatingly longer than the one that came before. So it seemed, anyway, considering not even ten full minutes had gone by since the boy received his sentencing. While mortifying and tedious, Frank knew his nose in a corner proved the lesser evil next to Charles' hand meeting his bottom yet again. Even though the Professor did not use the same force as his own father, Frank did not want to go from starting the day with a lighthearted joke to squirming at the breakfast table. His cheeks warmed at the mere thought of Raven and Becky witnessing that, his super science buddy Hank sporting a displeased expression, and debatably worst of all, Alex's smug satisfaction. Frank felt an immense swell of gratitude for Sean's existence at that moment. The redhead would undoubtedly retreat to the sanctity of comic books with him.

Wiggling his feet to keep them from going completely numb, Frank thought more about the Headmasters. Besides Charles speaking so firmly with him, neither men had exactly raked him across the coals. He pictured his uncle handling him in a similar scenario and his ears rang from the very idea.

When a little under half an hour went by, Frank heard the telltale adult footsteps followed by, "Antsy, are we?"

Biting his lip at Erik's voice, Frank vowed, "I've been here the whole time. Honest, Charles can check my head."

"That won't be necessary." Erik then ordered, "Look at me, please." Frank turned, shaking out his ankles. "Since you're such a big boy, you're going to put that restless energy to good use by joining me and Alex in the backyard this morning. As soon as you've gotten rid of the mess in his room. A few laps should do you both some good."

Frank questioned suspiciously, "A few or a few hundred?"

Erik only smirked. "Don't drag your feet. You still need to wash up for breakfast. And do well to remember that we do not waste food in this house."

Passing by after a nod, Frank received a mild swat along with a good-natured glance from the man. He returned the expression until he made it into the hall. On his way to collect cleaning supplies, he sought out the sympathies of a certain shapeshifter.

IIIIIII

Penetratingly sour taste still lingering on his tongue, the flavor reflected when he responded to a knocker with, "Go kick rocks, I'm busy," as he finished tying his second shoe.

"Unsurprising but if you could spare but a moment of your time, Master Summers…"

Alex lifted his head. "It's open, Charles. Sorry, thought you were one of the guys."

"I suspected as much." An unaffected Charles came through the door, glad to see the room sufficiently scrubbed and the bed stripped. He glanced towards the young man, currently equipped in his preferred training attire of gray sweatpants and a sleeveless hoodie. "I take it the vinegar did not complement your cheddar and chive omelet."

The youth shrugged, absently adjusting his wristbands. "Salad dressing's not exactly torture if you've ever had soap on your tongue. Lemon Joy tastes like neither of those things."

Repulsion developed on Charles' countenance. "Someone forced dishwashing detergent into your mouth?"

"For calling their real son a liar," Alex further enlightened indifferently. "I didn't swallow any of it, though. Most of it went hurling when I spat it in the dad's face."

Charles chuckled shamelessly. "Good show. Even if you'd used a stream of actual vulgarities, there's no excuse for such a callous penalty. I'm a traditionalist to the extent of believing in the effectiveness of a sore bum, but I will not be sold on potential poisoning being worth the risk." His expression softened. "Do you understand that we do not mean you- any of you- cruelty with the vinegar?"

"It's all good, Charles," Alex replied with a blithely dismissive wave of his hand. "You head-honchos haven't traumatized me. Sorry for…" He attempted to collect his words in a coherently genuine manner. "The shrimp ticked me off, but I shouldn't have flipped out. Definitely not with the girls around." Even though he suspected Raven could wipe the floor with any one of them in a verbal spar.

Charles gave him a satisfied nod before his attention fluttered over to the assortment of materials still neatly arranged on the desk. "Have you looked through any of this?"

Alex watched the man make a path for the pile. "Oh yeah, that good-enough-diploma jazz."

"General Equivalency Diploma," Charles corrected, despite his awareness that the teen knew the true term. "I know it's quite a bit to take in, but Erik and I agree that with the amount of schooling you missed, this exam is the best course of action for you to graduate on time."

"On time?" Alex echoed, rising from his bed. "For what, Charles?"

The Professor looked away from the booklet he currently perused. "For any and all things. Whatever future endeavors you've considered."

"What, like college?" Alex resisted a scoff. "No offense, Charles, but I don't think the Old Ivies'll be clamoring for a guy with my rap sheet. Besides, we need to make sure we're ready for round two with Shaw and his cronies. I know you're a higher learning fanatic, but I came here to train, Charles."

The unoffended Englishman refuted, "Do you really believe you can win the day against the likes of Shaw with that Kamikaze mindset? You weren't brought here to be refined into nothing more than a living weapon."

Hands sliding into the pockets of his shirt, Alex let off a lengthy sigh. "Can we get into this later? If I don't hustle, Erik will make me wish I was Kamikaze."

Charles permitted him leave with, "There's always tomorrow."

Not missing the pointed edge in the short sentence, Alex walked out at a doughty pace to reach the outdoors.

IIIIIII

Once he had the commanded pupils before him, the wizard of metal started them off with an array of aerobics. Maintaining an even visage, Erik looked on as they both performed the sequence of jumping jacks, jogging in place, and deep knee bends. Frank reminded him much of a modern madcap vehicle, straight off the Italian assembly line with excess fuel to burn. Alex's emitting atmosphere resonated with greater familiarity for the man. A force of unrelenting restlessness that trailed the teenager throughout the day and invaded his sleep state without fail. A nagging force that simultaneously acted as a consistent companion. Erik strongly suspected that having his coveted rest impeded on by Frank's practical joke had been the real reason behind Alex's ire that morning.

While a self-appointed class clown when he wanted to be, Erik knew the Tolbert boy intended no malice. Frank wielded brilliance and ingenuity strikingly similarly to Hank, except the younger lad also came equipped with a pair of hands made perilous if left idle. That, the shrewd Headmaster determined, required rectification; priming perhaps.

During walking lunges, Frank detected a different set of icy blue eyes on him. "What's your problem?"

"You really don't wanna open that can of worms." Alex swiftly swapped topics to, "Your form's dog crap."

With an attempt at expanding his thin chest, Frank scowled. "Try minding your own moves, paste face."

"This isn't a relay race, kid," Alex countered. "Nobody's out to snag a blue ribbon at the end of this. If you cramp up on the field, that could screw up my moves." He pointed to the brunette's legs. "You gotta ease the pressure on your calves and thighs."

Frank rolled his eyes exaggeratedly. "Oh yeah, real swell pointers, scoutmaster. This is just gym class junk. You think we waste time with warmups in my neighborhood? And I practically outrun the subway."

"Yeah, on pavement," Alex annunciated. "You want to take a look around, shrimp?" He jabbed the front of the twelve-year-old's t-shirt with two fingers. "All that green stuff's called grass. You're not in the city anymore, Tutu."

"Toto."

"Slo-mo," Alex responded depreciatingly. "Point is, you're on natural turf now. You have to refine your technique, including the little details. You'd think a military brat would know a thing or two about that." He shook his head, voice growing wistful. "Then again, marine jarheads do swagger around more above it all than the guys actually trained in aerial assault."

"Hey—" Frank stilled a moment, narrowing his eyes with dubiousness. "How do you know about…" The way the older student's indecipherable countenance resembled their Polish Headmaster's gave the New Yorker pause.

Alex stepped away a few paces to resume lunges.

Muttering incoherencies to himself, Frank started exercising again as well. He wound up paying extra attention to his legs, but only out of silent regard for his father's daily routine, of course. When he randomly glanced his direction at one point, Frank thought he caught a semblance of esteem in Erik's features. The child decided to pin that on sun-related delirium.

After a full fifteen minutes of stretching, Erik's bellow received their instantaneous attention. He ordered ten laps from them- to start, at least. Since he restricted them to the exterior of the mansion instead of the entirety of the grounds, Alex figured the pre-teen presence accounted for that. Charles could probably allow a pass for Erik hurling a big mutie kid off a satellite dish so long as said kid had metal bits stitched to his clothing. However, the Professor likely drew the line at letting a baby mutie kid needlessly pass out on a humid day. For the first few, the two stayed much more neck and neck compared to sprints of Alex charging, Sean struggling but striving, and a shoe free Hank leaving the Roadrunner himself daunted.

On their sixth time circling, Alex seized Frank's shoulder, "Whoa," managing to slow them both down in time to avoid the… pastel pony crossing?

A horizontal lineup of the vibrant pink, purple, gold, green, blue, and even a few tie-dye, steeds paraded through. Emerging from a clump of bushes, they disappeared one by one through a pair of trees several yards across the way. The last member of the strange herd- a violet, white-winged foal, flew towards and circled Frank's head. Before the boy could grow too mesmerizingly dizzy, the creature made him smile with a cheek nuzzle and rejoined the rest. When they all vanished, Frank glanced at Alex, who only reacted with a flat expression and occasional blinking.

Once the impromptu performance ended, Erik slowly gazed around with keen eyes. "Are you going to remain behind the curtain or do you care to join us, Miss Douglas?"

From the pony producing bushes, the round face and green irises dared reveal themselves. "They got separated from the circus troop during the earthquake and their trailer was crushed."

With a slight tilt of his head, Erik responded, "Earthquake, eh? Strange, I didn't notice so much as a rumble."

"How could you? It happened in India." Stepping out from the greenery completely, the girl in denim shorts, a floral top, and a sun-deflecting visor further detailed, "The earthquake didn't wreck the trailer, though. The elephants did that, stampeding all over the place."

An eager Frank coaxed, "Let's see that! Do a great big elephant herd, Becky. With machine guns and fire eyes and—"

Alex softly pounded on his head with his fist. "Kind of in the middle of something, sci-fi shrimp."

Becky brought her vision higher as the tall elder approached her. "India has a lot of earthquakes. Have you ever been there?"

"Alas," Erik stopped and tugged on one of her braided pigtails, "I have yet to trek to that part of the globe. Now, let's get back to the matter on our part." Mild sternness developed on his face. "While virtuosic, your display was still disruptive, little miss. Since this training session interests you so, you're now going to take part in it."

"Great," Alex piped up wryly. "Then, I guess you're powering the gurney we'll need to trail her itty bitty doe toes."

Frank more blatantly insisted, "She can't handle all these laps."

"Calm yourselves, boys. I haven't taken total leave of my senses," Erik briefly glimpsed at the males, "yet," before looking at the female fledgling again. "Firstly, let's move this to the bunker."

At the mention of his chief training space, Alex wondered, "What for?"

Erik nonchalantly answered, "Because I just said to. One of the fringe benefits of being an instructor."

Frank snorted, "You walked into that one."

Alex nudged him but otherwise stood indifferently.

"Can I meet you down there?" Becky requested.

"So long as you don't doddle in the power room," Erik granted.

While the little girl made a rapid path for the indoors, Alex headed the familiar route towards the underground shelter. Once inside the structure, Frank walked to the center of the long metallic tunnel. Though he had already seen it a couple of times already, the wide-eyed lad could not help his steadily building awe. An authentic safehouse capable of enduring the chilling probability of all-out nuclear war. He also quietly estimated the number of comic books, toys, and snacks he could pile into it.

When Becky rejoined them with a brown paper bag in her possession, Frank quipped, "Girls'll find any excuse to go shopping."

The novice telepath wasted no time divulging and distributing its contents.

Alex squeezed the cold squirt bottle at its middle. "Oh yeah, that hydration thing, forgot. Thanks, shrimpette."

"Thanks a lot, Becky," Frank expressed before drinking from his fervently.

"Very considerate," commented Erik, "as always." He pinched the plump right cheek on her giddy face as he drank. "Now," he put the sports bottle down and plucked up the petite lass, "we're going to put those telepathic talents of yours to constructive use."

Winding an arm around the man's neck, Becky gaped. "I thought you didn't want me in your head."

"Prying," Erik emphasized. "Communicating is, shall we say, a pony of a different color." His lips quirked positively when she giggled, but he continued speaking starkly. "You are to follow my every instruction as you create various obstacles for the boys to overcome. I know this is a little different from your sessions with Charles. Listen to me and tell me immediately if you start to feel overwhelmed. Do you think you can handle that?"

Becky nodded dutifully. "Yes, Erik."

The Headmaster reiterated, "My every instruction. Understood, Miss Douglas?"

"Yes, Erik," she promptly repeated.

"Far out," reacted Frank. "Do we use our powers?"

"Yes, yours will actually be a necessity," Erik told him. "This is a unit session. You must rely on one another to make it from that end of the bunker," he indicated the far rear, "and back here through Becky's vivid illusions."

"I am not flinging plasma with the rest of you down here," Alex declared resolutely. "I scorched this place on my first day. I'm not taking the risk just to shoot down Becky's imaginary fiends."

Erik nodded in agreement. "In any case, you'll need to be resourceful." He then tersely decreed, "Let's begin."

As soon as Frank and Alex made it to their designated starting point, they found themselves encased in blackness.

Alex spoke first with, "So, he wasn't exaggerating that necessity bit about you."

Frank gave off his regular warning of, "Do not look straight into my eyes."

"Ten-four," Alex affirmed. "Now, get on with it, twinkle-twerp."

Staring directly ahead, Frank felt the warmth that preceded the twin beams of radiance from his pupils. Their surroundings more than sufficiently illuminated, the young males quickly noticed themselves minus two other mutants. They received no time to dwell on that fact as the sturdy floor began to crumble right beneath their feet. With duel mighty leaps, they escaped plunging to depths unknown. They peered back, finding the hard surface completely intact again.

"Freaky funhouse," Frank dubbed it as they got to their feet.

Alex countered, "More like manic mousetrap. Move, hurry!"

The pair went into a frenzied dash. Their attempt to mad rush through became hindered by a colossal boulder coming at them from the opposite end. They managed to jump to their far right and Alex pressed Frank's slimmer form against the wall while the blonde shielded and watched the enormous stone miss them by little more than an inch. Free to continue once more, they could only stare at first over the high but simple brick wall.

"What are you doing?" Alex reacted to Frank venturing forward to touch it. "It's not real, just freakin' irritating."

Able to knock on the door, Frank put forth, "Thought so! I swear I felt that little horse earlier." Without further explanation, he launched himself off the floor.

"What…?" Alex watched him scuttle to the top of the wall.

Going stomach down on the narrow peak, Frank extended both hands but had to squeeze his eyes shut to keep from afflicting the older mutant. Darkness thick but not impenetrable, Alex latched on and with Frank utilizing all available might, walked himself up the wall. Once on top together, Frank allowed himself to see and shine again. The pair let themselves plummet to the other side.

When Alex attempted to kick the wall, it faded. "Oh, sure. Now, it's not real."

Different flinging weapons comprised their last challenge. After a series of impromptu maneuvers, they finally returned to the bunker's entrance and, to their delight, their water bottles.

Hand in hand with Erik, Becky rematerialized with him.

She looked up slightly apprehensively. "Was that okay?"

In-between panting, Frank wanted to know, "Did you see that whole thing? Man, did you get a load of that King Kong rock? Nailed it, didn't we?"

Alex only eyed the adult expectantly.

Scrutinizing each young face individually, Erik appeared ponderous. "That was satisfactory… for today. Come."

The youngsters followed the metal wielder's lead out of the bunker.

Caressed by the sun's rays, Frank jogged to walk alongside Becky. "I didn't know your mind could do all that. Was that wall real? Did you put it in our heads to make us think it? Can you seriously just make stuff out of thin air?"

Becky took in the barrage of questions, trying to knit together the best explanation. "Charles calls it, um, corporeal projection. It's hard, but you can will illusions solid. Not for long and it's not really making things. We can't shoot fire or anything like that out of our minds. You really have to focus for it to happen. I think it worked better just now because Erik sent me all the images. I guess grownups are better at real looking stuff. I'm better at…"

"Pink pony stuff?" Frank snickered at her nod of admittance. "It's cool when you do that, too. Always cracks me up."

"Thanks," Becky smiled somewhat bashfully. "I wouldn't run laps for a million dollars, but I wish I could make it through all that scary stuff the way you guys do. You make it look easy."

"I can make laps easy for you," Frank claimed. "Piece of cake."

A curious Becky started to question him until seized her wrist. She took his cues to attach herself to his back and wound all four of her limbs around him from behind. After securing the girl, Frank spread his arms apart and zipped about with her across the lawn.

When Erik came to stand beside him, Alex did not acknowledge him. Exchanging neither words nor glances, they observed the hyperactive merriment with mimed visages.

IIIIIII

Inspiration for that evening's dessert came from Raven venturing into town for a few odds and ends. Hank had readily agreed to serve as her escort and heavy-lifter. Along the way, they happened upon the farmer's market. Having not perused one in the States for so long, Raven wanting to stop off came as no surprise. Though not a New Yorker, Hank related to her sentiment. After living the takeout/sandwich lifestyle of a bachelor, the assortment of vibrant fresh fruits and vegetables really brought out his native Midwesterner. Raven did not doubt his health professional side factoring into it as well. Their casual browsing resulted in enough purchases for the ecstatic vendors had practically wrestled for the honor of carrying every bag and basket to the pair's car. Despite Hank's assistance that he could handle it, he conceded to the courteous teenagers assisting their adult family members. The scientist tipped them each a half-dollar for their trouble. Raven delighted in learning that Hank kept a change purse of fifty-cent pieces for that very purpose.

With three different flavors of yogurt to choose from, the mansion dwellers had multiple toppings available to add to them. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, bananas, peaches, plums, raisins, plus a bowl of chocolate chips. Admittedly, Raven could not help being a bit concerned that the extremely healthy dessert option would not win over her fellow youngsters. To her joy, Frank thought it a great idea for something different. Sean immediately began mixing random yogurt combinations. Besides a considerable disdain for anything with overwhelming smells- the main reason she avoided tea- Becky never really complained over food present to her and hummed while dressing her yogurt. Alex tended to accept anything edible. Erik acted the same way and though he did not stress the subject, Raven made an effort to respect his kosher diet. After a perfectly garnished pot roast, stuffed baked potatoes, and two types of salad, Charles gladly welcomed a lighter dessert. He also tried to avoid intruding on Raven's adept position as the lady of the house.

After dessert, Sean and Alex thundered into the kitchen for their night to load the dishwasher, take out the trash, and tidy. Though his assistance with meal preparation made cleaning afterward a near non-existent chore for him, Frank crept in to join the older boys. At the unmistakable sound of clatter and other boyish hijinks, Becky and Raven formed twin faces of fond exasperation. Sardonic gaze going directly for the overhead chandelier, Hank wasted little time in retreating to his scientific sanctum.

Charles contented countenance grew contemplative as he excused himself with, "Best see if Cerebro's biting."

"Again?" Raven unknowingly voiced Erik's reaction.

"Only for a half hour or so," Charles reassured, taking a moment to glance back. "And please, do not disturb me unless it's urgent. Between planning the curriculum and our attorney and real estate brokers welcoming me home with a lion's share of mind-numbing tasks, recruitment is falling to the wayside." With that, he continued his hastened departure.

Mutated hazel eyes troubled on her brother's behalf, Raven next reacted to the other Headmaster rising. "Where are you going?"

Without slowing a step, Erik shortly answered, "Out."

Becky got to her feet. "Erik…"
The man's pace marginally slowed, "Behave. I'll be back," before fully taking his leave.

"Come on, sweets," Raven extended a hand, "let's check on the rinse cycle."

Becky linked hands with the older girl and kept holding on once they reached the grand house's unsettling lower level. "I hate it down here."

"I know," Raven sympathized, squeezing the smaller palm. "As huge as it is, we never even played hide and seek down here. Charles always jokes about a hidden dungeon around here somewhere."

Becky rapidly brightened. "If few find it, can we throw Alex in?"

"Sure. The bars will be home-sweet-home for him, anyway." Raven knew the remark to be venomous. As much as she knew how much she did not care.

In the slightly more aesthetically appeasing laundry room, the girls removed the final dryer load. They used the wide folding table to begin sorting the different clothing mounds into the owners' individual bins.

Becky's face soured over having to check the male underpants based on size. "Can't we ship my nanny over for this part?"

Raven looked her way in amusement. "Hey, with our little mutant horde so tucked away, we're lucky Charles' lets us keep the lawn, window, and monthly maintenance men. I promise it'll get easier once we master a system. Trust me, I've taken care of Charles' laundry and dry-cleaning for years. Besides, I'd rather handle the boys' delicates than let them handle ours."

"Ugh," Becky shuddered at the mere idea.

Admittedly, when the new household members came along, taking care of a full family's wash had been initially daunting for Raven. Mainly due to how she and Charles lived for most of their lives. Beyond stray daydreams of mastering her shapeshifting enough to actually be able to marry and somehow produce X-gene-free children, she figured any sort of big family to be many moons away. Though, especially when she meticulously ironed and folded for Hank, she could not help the stray thought that maybe such a concept would not remain in the realm of dreams.

Managing to change course from that train of thought, Raven garnered vast humor in how Charles, Hank, and Sean all wore larger sizes in underwear than the workout wizard Alex. How Erik compared remained a mystery since he made a strict point of washing his own intimate items. Something Raven appreciated monumentally. Once they completed their organizing, the girls returned to the upper levels to drop off the clothing pieces to the different bedrooms. Dividing the six males, Raven delivered for Sean and Frank, Becky got Erik and Alex, plus their own brothers.

Upon being greeted by foul masculine musk as soon as she stepped into Alex's room, Becky deposited his clothes on top of his desk and retreated. Safe in Hank's quarters, she took the time to place his garments in their proper drawers. She finished quickly and made her way across the hall to her last stop. Aware that the Headmaster who habituated the suite did not want so much as his drawer handle touched, the little girl neatly arranged the athletic and casual clothing on top of the bed.

Afterward, Becky stilled while her fanciful green eyes took in every angle of the room. On his night table, she zeroed in on the unwrapped package of spearmint and giddily withdrew a stick from it. Savoring the gum, she next noticed one of Erik's many hats left in his desk chair. She topped her own head with the charcoal derby cap in addition to claiming the seat for herself. Highly familiar with the lingering scent of men's aftershave, her nostrils absorbed favorable fragrance as she made herself comfortable in the large chair. Becky's gaze stayed on the heavily marked map that hung from the rear wall. Before she knew it, she inwardly strayed a greater distance than any destination scrawled on it.

"Bec?" Hardly recognizing the shortening of her name, the emerald-eyed girl did react to the chair suddenly veering in its own.

"Raven," she acknowledged when faced with the vexed countenance of the older female.

The shapeshifter smiled when the unusually dim round face resumed its luster. "Had me going for a sec there, groovy girl. I thought you might have slipped through that blackhole Erik has stashed in here." She caressed a section of the dark curls. "Getting tired?"

Becky nodded somewhat solemnly. "A little."

Raven then determined, "I'll meet you in your room."

Becky agreed and slid out of the chair. Before taking her leave, she touched the rim of the derby. After another prolonged moment, she decided to take it with her. Once in her own room, she secured Erik's hat to her nightstand. Becky retrieved soft yellow and blue shorts and a sleeveless top from her pajama drawer. Since summer did not require so many fabric layers, she quickly changed out of her lilac dinner dress.

When Raven entered a few minutes later, she made a direct path for Becky, who currently sat at her vanity. The mutated blonde's nightwear consisted of a cream colored babydoll top and ankle-length bottoms with a carnation pattern. While Raven did don zany multi-colored lounge clothes often enough, Becky admired her lace and satin gentlewomanly garments. She also noticed how the transforming mutant kept a robe on over them in the presence of the Headmasters. Becky theorized that she only bothered for the smallest chance that Hank would catch a glimpse. With the way her remarkably intelligent brother became susceptible to excessive stammering whenever the heiress came into view, Becky bet Raven could likely get away with wearing a burlap dress with tissue box shoes.

Starting at the tips, Raven began unraveling the braided curls. "I'm still not over Frankie earlier. Hilarious gag for sure and he at least offered to wash the sheets himself."

"Yeah, he and Sean are more like Hank than Alex will ever be," the telepath declared vehemently. "Frank is funny, though."

Raven's lips quirked with self-satisfaction. "You really like having him here, don't you?" At her nod, she easily concurred, "So do I."

Becky then admitted, "But he's kind of weird, right? Most boys would rather have headlice than play with girls. I don't know why Frank likes me."

"Why not?" Raven countered forthrightly. "You like him, after all."

"Yeah." Becky hurriedly tacked on, "But not the way you and my brother like each other."

"You think we like each other?" Raven exhaled in amusement at the flat expression on Becky's reflection. "Fine, let me not insult both our intelligence. Does he ever…" She moved on to the second pigtail. "… mention me to you?"

Becky told her, "Hank never talks about things like that in front of me. But he doesn't have to. I still know."

Raven put forth, "There are times I'd give a limb for the telepathic advantage."

Becky peered up at her directly. "I've never read Hank's mind." Raven applied an affectionate squeeze to her shoulders before continuing to unbraid. "Has a boy ever asked you steady?"

"Here and there," Raven replied blandly. "I was never that interested. Unfortunately, guys I've gone out with aren't exactly the gentleman Hank is."

"Cads?" At the older girl's taken aback gaze, Becky enlightened, "I've seen it in books."

"Ah," Raven grasped. "And also, yes." Black tresses free again, she reached for the detangler. "What about you, worldly woman? Any beaus?"

Clearly not anticipating that particular question to be redirected at her, Becky gaped into the mirror. "Me? I'm ten."

"So?" Raven shrugged. "I can just picture all the playground studs lining up to treat you to a soda. There have to be some not wimpy enough to avoid girls."

The child's incredulity magnified. "If I looked like you- maybe. Where I'm from, everybody likes blonde girls. And they only like the big bouncy curls like you do yours sometimes. Some of the kids at my old school called mine Brillo Pads."

To that, Raven asserted, "Some people are walking wastes of oxygen. Believe me, I know." Brief ire radiated in her eyes. "And seriously, I'm more natural than some of these Mae West knockoffs. At least my blonde doesn't come out of a bottle."
Becky beamed with fondness. "You and Barbie are the best blondes."

"Thanks. Glad to know Alex hasn't soured our image completely," the shapeshifter quipped.

IIIIIII

When "a half hour or so" went almost an hour without a significant mental nibble, the frustrated Professor finally removed the helmet. He steadied himself against the enormous machine for almost a full minute before going in search of his sources of solace. He quickly detected half of the fledgling minds on the first floor. Stepping into the doorway of the common room, he leaned against one side and tried to see if he recognized the program that captivated the lads to such a degree. He figured it out as soon as he identified Bela Lugosi in his iconic costume.

"Enjoying yourselves, chaps?" Having not detected so much as a whisper of the Englishman's arrival, all three jumped in their seats. Despite himself, Charles formed a fiendish grin. "I'll take that as a yes." His countenance then turned a bit skeptical. "Frank, isn't Dracula a bit much for you? Especially so close to bedtime."

"Are you jiving me?" Positioned between Sean and Alex, Frank sat up on his knees on the sofa to face the Headmaster. "Charles, it's Dracula and I'm living in a legit British castle. Besides, I've already seen it with my brothers. I read the book when I was eight or nine."

"How I wish that surprised me…" Still, the telepath relented. "Alright, but straight to bed as soon as it's over. And once classes begin, none of you will be making horror films a habit on school nights. Understood?"

Alex saluted while Sean replied, "Yes, sir. Thanks."

"Thanks, Charles," reiterated Frank, Bambi brown eyes in enlarged view.

Charles pinched his cheek. "And no monkey business." He sent fingers through Sean's ginger strands and delighted in Alex's lack of resistance when he did the same to his hair.

The telepath watched with them for a minute before leaving to check on the rest of his charges.

II

Made aglow by merely witnessing the duo together, Hank quietly enjoyed the visual. At the center of the bed, Becky styled Raven's long golden locks into a thick braid. The shapeshifter played with the hair and clothing on Eliza and two of Becky's other dolls.

Hank finally rapped on the doorframe to announce himself. "I hope you'll pardon my intrusion, ladies."

Raven aimed a smile his way. "More like welcome it."

"Big Bear." When the strapping scientist got within proximity of them, Becky raised her arms to be hoisted by him.

Instantly warmed by her head instinctively nestling against his shoulder, Hank massaged her back. "Did you brush your teeth, Little Bear?"

"Mmhmm," she murmured.

Raven stood to remove the hair products and toys, leaving only Eliza on the bed. Hank freed one hand to peel back the thin summer blanket before getting his sister situated among her pillows.

The lethargic girl suddenly popped up at the sight of the arriving male telepath. "I can't feel Erik, but I'm sleepy, too. Is he home yet?"

"Not just yet, love." Charles came to sit on the side of the bed, peering into the round face. "But I doubt he'll be much longer."

Raven laid down beside Becky and instructed her brother, "Read to us," at her sibling's raised eyebrow, the mutated blonde added, "pretty please."

Hank scanned through the new books at the top of the white shelf and proposed, "How about The Hundred Dresses?" Raven and Becky's favorable reactions gave him his cue to bring it over.

After passing the hardback to Charles, Hank noticed his sister's nightstand, specifically the Derby cap residing on it.

IIIIIII

With the brunette head using his legs for a pillow, familiarity flooded Sean as he dragged a cherishing hand across Frank's back. The twelve-year-old had dozed off with ten minutes remaining in the black and white film. Once the credits rolled, Sean darted eyes over to the quietest one in the room.

As if detecting the younger teen's gaze, Alex regarded him out of the corner of his eye. "What's with you, gingerbread?"

"Nothing," Sean shrugged a shoulder, "just can't help thinking about actual monsters. All this training- going beyond what we thought our powers could do- do you really think we'll have what it takes to bring down Shaw's team next time?"

Alex simply countered, "Why do you think we're here? They're not going to be dealing with a bunch of terrified mutie babies again. After Darwin and Becky's dad, all bets are off, whether I walk away from this thing or not."

"… What if we all walk away together? Any chance you'll stay?"

"There's a chance," Alex answered vaguely, getting to his feet. "With about the same likelihood as you losing your virginity before you're forty."

Maneuvering around the sofa, the cheeky blonde left the mystified Banshee with tinted cheeks that nearly rivaled his copper hair.

IIIIIII

All pieces meticulously arranged on the board, the homeowner reclined in his seat. He sipped from his goblet, relishing every drop for its soothing effect.

Without glancing away from his drink, the Englishman offered, "Care for your usual?"

The taller Headmaster replied with the instruction of, "Stay where you are. I picked this up while I was out." From his briefcase, he withdrew the clear bottle of Muscadet.

The unimpressed Professor attempted to keep disparagement out of his tone. "I'm afraid dry white wine is not among my favorite spirits."

"On its own, I agree. When combined, however…" Going straight into the parlor, Erik plucked the glass from the telepath's grasp. He smirked at the younger man's resulting expression resembling that of a tyke who had his Halloween candy confiscated. "Brandy," he inhaled, "that's the ticket. I shall return."
Charles continued sitting flabbergasted as he watched his friend walk out so briskly.

As avowed, Erik re-entered minutes later with an array of ingredients in his possession. "That fresh fruit Raven brought home made me think of it." He finished mixing and started for the telepath.

To Charles' pleasure, he received a taller glass than his previous one with crushed ice, peach and strawberry chunks, and a lime slice. The first swallow gave way to the beginning of a euphoric spike.

As if he could not already tell, Erik casually stirred his own drink as he inquired, "Like it, Lab Rat?"

"This is smashing, old man," Charles acclaimed. "What's it called?"

"I believe the English translation is," Erik took his chess chair across from him, "savory sangria. Except my version allows the fruit to substitute for the sugar and soda."

"Very well done, my friend." With three-fourths of his glass gone, Charles casually asked, "And how was the rest of your evening?"

"Not as enlightening as I'd hoped. I've never ventured into this part of the state before and I'm still trying to get the lay of the land." A glimmer of nostalgia wormed its way into his voice. "I still remember my first arrival all those years ago on Ellis Island. I never thought I'd have reason to return to New York." He firmly planted himself in the here and now after detecting Charles' warm expression. "Any mayhem with the imps tonight?"

"No incidents. Unless you count an impromptu visit from the undead." Charles smiled as he clarified, "Dracula was on the telly. The lads were absolutely riveted, especially Seanie."

"Ah, the Count," Erik spoke in recollection. "I believe I was eight when I first discovered the novel." He eyed Charles in puzzlement when the Englishman tried with difficulty to keep from chuckling. "A tad too much liquid courage, Xavier?"

Before he could formulate a comeback, Charles detected, "There's a princess upon us…"

Erik promptly shifted his head to the parlor archway, where the green-eyed lass clutched her brown teddy bear. "Fall out of bed and straight through the ceiling, did you, Miss Douglas?" He left his chair to make a path for her.

"Dickon felt you come home." Becky lifted her stuffed toy for emphasis.

"Telepathic teddy bears." Erik wrapped his arms around and hoisted her. "You mental mutants are becoming an epidemic."
"It's our small way of giving back to the more mundane members of the mutant community." Charles came over to speak directly to the female telepath. "Isn't that so, Princess?"
Becky nodded tiredly and pressed her cheek against Erik's shoulder.

"You were born as a never-ending test of my patience, the both of you," Erik dryly declared. His fingers trailed through Becky's curls. "It's back to bed for you and Dickon, Miss." He stilled long enough for Charles to leave a kiss on Becky's temple. Erik tilted his head towards the chessboard. "We'll get up a game tomorrow."
"That's fine," Charles accepted, blearily dragging a hand through his chestnut hair. "I'm getting a bit zonked out myself."

"Undoubtedly. Savory sangria makes for an excellent sleep tonic." Precious cargo in his grasp, the metal wielder caught the male telepath's all too endearing scowl as he departed the parlor.

IIIIIII

Unlike the previous morning's hilarious chaos, Raven and Frank's breakfast routine resumed its consistency. With the leftover fruit in mind, they decided to make three different kinds of waffles. Raven knew that the dominantly male household would see to the devouring of every morsel. In the middle of their prep, Hank entered the kitchen, smartly dressed for the day to such an extent that no one could guess he operated on less than four hours of sleep. He claimed to simply be after coffee, which naturally resulted in him nonchalantly sipping at the island while conversing with the Xavier daughter. When Raven stepped into the pantry to gather additional ingredients, it did not take long for the two scientifically inclined mutants to start chattering.

"Grammar school was one tier from incarceration for me," Hank recalled. "I assume the curriculum was superior at your Catholic academy, but I don't know how you haven't been promoted at least a grade level."

"I had science and math with the eighth-graders," Frank told him, transferring strips of turkey bacon onto a serving dish. "Just an excuse to pile on homework."

"I know how mind-numbing that can be," Hank sympathized. "You know, I could see you prepared to take on university in a couple of years or so. My Harvard contacts owe me a few favors."

"Harvard?" Frank paused to gape at him. "You can't be serious. Hank, you honestly expect me to fit in with those ivy legacies? I'm a bum outta Queens. My old man never set foot on a college campus."
"And I'm a rube out of Dundee," Hank countered matter-of-factly. "Do you know what part of Illinois Dundee is in?"

"No clue."

"Of course you have no clue. No one does," Hank claimed. "That's why half of us pretend to be from the city when we're actually an hour away. Chicago is the only reason Illinois is on the map at all. My dad went to a state school and works in a power plant with his hands and everything. At least you're a genuine New Yorker."

"True, true," Frank said with a thick air of hauteur about him.

Refills on cinnamon and vanilla in her possession, Raven peeked out at them from the pantry. She always bubbled over with adoration at Hank's easy-going manner with Frank, Becky, and Sean. Certain delinquent blondes did not count because she said so. Joyfully remembering how they acquired Frank, Raven wondered not for the first time what use Charles had for a loose cannon like Erik. Likely her ever charitable brother's way of preventing the asinine metal wielder from accidentally drowning himself again. Hank would be a much better co-headmaster as Raven would a recruitment partner. Besides, the shapeshifter doubted that Erik would darken their doorstep a minute past Shaw's defeat.

IIIIIII

Late August 1962

Forty-five minutes into his workout and the lean but fit young man had performed all of ten pullups on the bulky machine. Though far from his usual standard, that feat could still be deemed something of a marvel after putting his arms through almost a half an hour of rigor on the punching his bags. Images of beating the two pieces of redneck trash who maliciously threw away a defenseless eight-year-old boy during a downpour had given his fists prime motivation. When the unrelenting thoughts of said eight-year-old continued to preoccupy his focus, Alex decided to call it a night. On his purposeful path for the upstairs, he told himself that he would need to be on-hand should the itty bitty Eel sleepwalk and cause another impromptu light show.

Alex made it to the second floor as well as the correct door without breaking into an all-out sprint to do so. He found it partially open and peered in through the narrow space. The desk lamp turned backwards offered the room some illumination without the light disturbing the pair of sleeping bundles. The vigilant Professor sat in the desk chair with his back turned and arms folded.

You certainly got him spic-and-span, Charles praised, still staring ahead. Most certainly if Rebecca approves.

Not altogether adjusted to having the abrupt- however admittedly soothing- English accent in his head, Alex did not risk waking the small fledglings with vocals. Let me guess. You didn't give her the OK for a sleepover.

For as much as you and Becky squabble, you have that brazen forthrightness in common.

Look who's talking, Alex came back with. Hank said you went into the armpit of Illinois to find this kid. Why didn't you bring Erik to watch your back?

As I told him, Charles explained, I had to handle this alone. You've seen what fear can do to Joey. I needed him to trust me without drawing attention from the rest of that deplorable town.

Alex stared at the Headmaster wordlessly. He experienced a swell of reverence for him that cemented itself while he struggled to retain the bile from seeing Joey spanked. Logically, he knew the Professor derived no pleasure from it, but still…

I can get him dressed in the morning. You could probably use the extra shut-eye.

Charles looked over his shoulder at the teen. I'd appreciate that, Alex. You're already doing wonderfully by him.

The plasma flinging mutant shrugged. Career foster kid… I better hose off.

As the younger male headed for his preferred bathroom, Charles sent after him, I'll see you later…

Not responding, Alex attempted in vain to emit an aura of apathy.

IIIIIII

Dining room table set with Frank's assistance, Raven reacted favorably to the vase of sunflowers Becky brought in for the centerpiece. While Sean and Hank helped carry in the food, Frank eased into his regular chair with a yawn. Since Raven could not predict what Joey would enjoy for breakfast, they had gotten up an hour earlier than usual to fix a wide variety of options. Naturally, Frank had not uttered a word of complaint in front of the shapeshifter, but inwardly wondered when they became a catering service to some Midwest midget. Judging by his pitiful life story, shouldn't he devour anything presented to him?

When Charles came in- his fatigue sufficiently masked- his face lit up at the sight of the table. "Loves, you've outdone yourselves. This looks incredible."
"It'd better," Frank mumbled.

"Joey," Becky announced in delight when he entered on Alex's shoulders.

"Good morning, Joey," Hank greeted kindly.

"Hi, little man," came from Sean.

Raven wanted to know, "Did you sleep alright, honey?"

At the younger boy's faraway gaze, Frank put forth, "Do you speak Earthling?"

"Franklin," Charles lightly chided.

Between combined food aromas, antique furniture pieces, and the above chandelier, Joey's visage displayed untold awe.

Alex tugged on his wrists affectionately. "Pretty mind-blowing digs, huh, pal? Told you there was a reason we dressed for grub around here."

"Look at you, little one." Charles went to collect him from Alex, relishing in the small boy sporting another of his childhood outfits. "Cute as a button."

The grin that spread across Joey's face morphed into panic at the last arrival in the dining room. He clung to Charles in sheer trepidation but managed not to affect the room's circuitry.

Erik wryly stated, "I, too, dread my face in the mirror on a daily basis. You'll get used to it, child."

When Becky made an enthused path for the metal wielder, Joey calmed a bit.

"Now, now, remember what I told you?" Charles patted Joey's back as he carried him to sit at the head of the table with him. "Erik means you no harm."

"Kay," the tyke whispered, "sorry."

"Don't be," said Raven, who began filling a plate for him with small servings of everything. "You don't have to finish everything and you can always have more. Just let me know what you really like, okay?"
Joey repeated, "Kay, thank you."

Once everyone settled into their regular positions around the table, the group eventually struck up a casual conversation.

Trying not to be an obvious on-looker, Raven snuck glimpses of their newest member. She noticed Alex, Hank, and Becky doing the same. She thought she spotted Erik once or twice as well. Charles focused on training Joey's tiny hands to properly work his knife and fork.

"Can we show Joey the backyard after this?" Becky requested.

"Perhaps tomorrow, Princess," Charles determined. "I think we should spend today getting Joey better acquainted with the house."

"I know he can't exactly come in for fittings, but he still needs his own clothes and things," Raven reminded.

"Yes, of course," Charles knew. "Since I need to remain here, I'll leave that to you and your impeccable taste."

The gleeful young woman turned to the other female at the back. "I could really use some backup. Since we got back from England, I have yet to grace Macy's with an appearance."

Becky's ecstatic gasp dissipated at the firm proclamation, "Out of the question."

Enthusiasm replaced with irritation, Raven shot an arched eyebrow the mutant elder's way. "Excuse me?

"The city," Erik spoke intentionally slower, "is out of the question. Do I need to repeat that for you, Miss Xavier?"

"Raven," Charles intervened urgently, "he's right. We don't want any of you venturing so far away. That's also too many minds for Becky to process at once right now."

Becky then claimed, "I didn't really want to go into the city, anyway. Too big and loud."

"I'll be happy to drive you around town," Hank offered. "Anywhere you like."
Raven mustered up a smile for them both. "Sounds great, thanks."

"Whoa, buddy." Alex helped Joey grip his dribbling milk glass. "You're drowning yourself."

Charles plucked up a few napkins to clean the child off, only for Joey to yank out of his grasp.

When he fled the room, Alex groaned monumentally, "Not again," before popping up as well.

Charles and Raven gave chase as well. Based on the uncomfortable face he had distinguished on Joey prior to him running off, Hank had a sneaking suspicion. He ordered the other youngsters to keep their distance then went after the rest.

Huddled in a corner outside of Charles' study, Joey shuddered miserably.

"Raven." Hank gently took her wrist, making her face him questioningly. "You might want to hang back."

"Oh, dear," Charles uttered to himself, getting to his knees beside the boy.

Before the foul smell hit him, Alex detected the sizable bulge in the shorter blonde's pants.

IIIIIII

Attired in a black and white checkered dress, Raven let her golden hair tumble down her back after getting her three-quarter-sleeve blazer on with one hand. She stepped into her one-inch heels on her way out of her room and continued the short distance to where the Headmasters and the resident physician congregated in front of the closed master bedroom.

"How is he now?" Raven wanted to know.

Charles fielded that for his vehement sister. "He threw up- fortunately, before we got him into the tub- but the nausea seems to have subsided for the time being." He arched his head in the direction of his own quarters. "Alex is sitting with him."

"As unpleasant as it was for him, Joey's going to be fine, Raven," Hank practically avowed. "His system simply wasn't equipped to deal with such an abundance of nutrients."

Raven shook her head remorsefully. "I don't know what I was thinking, forcing all that food down his throat…"

"You did no such thing," Charles firmly refuted.

"And you know perfectly well what you were thinking," a mildly flippant Erik chimed in. "You saw a starving child and wanted to feed him to his heart's content. A concept apparently lost to whatever backwards village from which the boy hailed. Breakfast, last night's pizza- being offered more food than he's likely seen in his life awakened a ravenous wolf in him."

"Correct," Hank agreed. "Joey was not capable of knowing his limit. I knew I should have said something about last night's menu, but I didn't want to create a worse issue. Especially after the way he nearly bit off his own fingers devouring those cookies I gave him."

"I should have known better as well," Charles admitted.

"You also have to realize," Erik spoke to Raven again, "that so many years of poverty cannot be reversed over—"

"You think I don't know that?" The shapeshifter's scathing interjection created an entirely mute atmosphere until the other female mutant bustled out of her bedroom.

"Is this alright?" Making her way towards them, Becky spun in place to showcase her white swing dress, patterned in multi-color polka dots. Black mary-janes adorned her feet. "Or is it more for Sunday?"

"Sunday-bunday," Raven dismissed lightheartedly, "you're a dream, sweets," making the younger girl smile vibrantly. Of the long-sleeve purple shrug Becky wore with the outfit, the mutated blonde commented, "It's a little too warm for this part, though."

"No, no," Hank interceded before Raven could help her remove the piece of outerwear. "The air-conditioning units in certain stores give her chills. I already have a tummy ache crisis on my hands without my sister coming home with the sniffles."

"I second that." Charles cupped Becky's chin to pinch adoringly. "My Princess Popsicle."

Becky grinned up at him. "Can Joey play when we get home?"

A sympathetic Hank informed, "He really needs his rest today, Little Bear."

"But we can have story-time together," Charles offered. "You and Joey can each pick a book. Would you like that?"

Becky nodded keenly. "Thank you, Prince Charles." She then recalled something. "Excuse me. I forgot the hat that goes with this outfit."

"Put on some more sunblock on, too," Hank instructed the hastened child.

Becky replied, "Yes, Big Bear," before disappearing into her room once more.

When the pleasant atmosphere faded, Raven said, "I didn't mean to tear your head off, Erik."

The tall Headmaster merely bobbed his head. "I'll be waiting by the car." Erik topped his head with the fedora that complimented his silver suit as he headed for the stairs.

"I'll check on Joey in half an hour," Hank told Charles. "Do not hesitate to pull me out of the lab if need-be."

"Thank you, Hank," said Charles appreciatively. Once alone with his sister, the telepath faced her with a gentle countenance. "I don't think I fully considered how many wounds Joey's situation must be opening for you, Baby Blue."

"Why would you?" Raven responded with an ironic air about her. "We've spent most of our lives pretty much rewriting history to cement Raven Xavier's existence. There are times I've fooled myself into believing everything that came before never happened. That you, Mom, and Dad were there from the beginning."

"We were," Charles stated uninhibitedly. "Both our pasts were made irrelevant when we forged our new beginning."

Expression growing even more thoughtful, Raven pressed a palm to one of the French doors of the master bedroom. "You love him already, don't you?"

Still void of hesitation, the Professor replied, "More than I could have imagined."

Raven's lips quirked. "You, too, huh?"

When Becky came back sporting her purple beret, both girls bid Charles adieu before starting their descension at the staircase.

II

Chessboard along with a plateful of Oreos between them, the Irish lads strategized and munched on opposite sides of the island. Their exchange of affable tête-à-tête steered slightly off-course at the first entry into the kitchen in more than an hour.

Curtly acknowledging them with, "Tweedle-dork and Tweedle-dipstick, don't get up," Alex went right to the refrigerator.

Frank stuck his tongue out before using it to lap up the creamy center of another cookie.

Sean noted the empty glass the blonde carried. "Is that for Joey?"

"You're quick, red," Alex disparaged, pouring a new bottle of ginger ale. "Gotta keep the short-shock moist."

Frank eyed him doubtfully. "You trying to rack brownie points for a raise in allowance or what?"

Alex rolled his eyes. "Yeah, it's always been my life's dream to have the deepest pockets at the soda shop."

"So, why are you playing valet for this kid?" Frank questioned with continued incredulity. "Bet you're just glad to finally have somebody on your brain level."

"Frank," Sean addressed with blue eyes of equal sharpness.

Posture and voice entirely blasé, Alex put forth, "Won't lie. After Angel went back to passing her pussy between old pricks," he ignored the younger boys' stupefied expressions over his nonchalant wording, "I figured there was no chance of Charles and Erik recruiting a kid like Joey; like me."

Sean scrutinized him in bewilderment. "What does that even mean?"

Alex maneuvered over to the island to glance between them. "Didn't your mommies tell you?" He seized a cookie for himself. "Jesus hates white trash." He tossed the whole Oreo into his mouth and exited the grand eatery.

Frank turned to Sean questioningly but the literary prodigy came up short.

IIIIIII

For the first hour of Joey's nap, Charles activated his reflexes constantly to keep the frail body from reacting defensively in its unconscious state. Combined with the sickness, the profoundly comfortable king mattress and linens took such getting used to. Eventually, exhaustion won out, especially when Alex thought to retrieve Dickon from Joey's new room.

By early afternoon, the little boy stirred. He reacted to a tickle at his nose and clutched his teddy bear snugly. The blurry blue eyes widened exponentially as the inexperienced pupils attempted to take in the gold, mahogany, and cream that comprised the majestic master suite. Despite having seen so many awe-inspiring areas of the house already, Joey stilled sucked in a breath over the enormous carved wooden bedframe and high ceiling with a candelabra style chandelier. The room also included a fireplace, bay windows, a balcony, a sitting area, and other bells and whistles that made the entirety of the child's former residence minuscule by comparison.

Rest well, little one?

"Charles." Features illuminating, Joey crawled to where the man sat contemplatively at the foot of the bed. "Whatcha doin?"

"Some overdue tidying," the Englishman explained, tapping his own temple. "Up here." When the boy only looked at him blankly, Charles clarified, "When it's quiet during the day like this I try to clear my head." The one luxury the quiet of night did not afford him. "Now, the more important question," he sent his fingers through the lad's yellow hair, "how are you feeling, lamb?"
"Umm," Joey appeared sheepish, "where's the bathroom again?"

Charles gently touched his middle. "Is it your tummy?"

"Peepee."

Unable to help a small smile, Charles gathered him into his arms. "After three glasses of ginger ale, it's a wonder you held it in this long." He stood with him, "Right this way," and made quick work of reaching the en suite without jostling the ailing youngster.

When Charles opened the door, Joey stared in astonishment over the wide bathing chamber as lavishly decked out as the bedroom. "… I can go in there?"

"Of course," Charles answered promptly. "You might have been too dizzy to remember, but you had your bath in here earlier. Can you make it to the loo alright?"

The young face scrunched up in confusion. "The who?"

Charles dipped his head in a chuckle. "Forgive me. I often forget I'm not in England anymore. Loo means the toilet. The same way you might call it the john."

"Ohh," Joey comprehended. "I think I can make it." Some trepidation still showed in his eyes. "You gonna be here when I get out?"

"Right here," Charles affirmed, carefully allowing him to stand. "Be sure to wash your hands now."

"Yes, sir." With that, Joey ventured forth towards the aforementioned loo.

The Professor's brow furrowed when the tyke made no attempt to shield his privacy. Closing the door himself, the telepath stayed in position with a level of diligence that rivaled Buckingham's guardsmen.

After completing his business, Joey flushed, finding that the toilet barely made a sound when doing so. At the double sink, he spotted bottled soap instead of a bar. He liked using the pump but only did so twice so as not to take too much from Charles. It proved more than enough to turn his small appendages white with suds. He switched on the hot water and after a moment's thought, decided to add cold. He enjoyed the delicate warmth as it cleansed his palms and digits. Not entirely sure if he should use Charles' royal blue towels, he noticed the green one from his bath the previous night and patted his hands dry on it.

The eight-year-old stepped out again, he discovered Charles still in place with the addition of the resident physician. Joey almost froze when the men ceased speaking at his presence but only to smile at him. Typically, adults only stopped talking around him to start hollering instead.

"Joey," Hank acknowledged tenderly, seated on the side of the bed, "you're looking better already. How are you feeling?"

"Um," Joey ran a hand across his stomach, "that nasty hurl feeling quit."

Hank determined, "That's definitely an improvement."
"Yes, now," Charles picked up the ultra-light lad, "let's keep it that way, yes." With that, he carried him back to the bed.

Joey gladly laid amongst the covers and held Dickon again. "Where's Alex?"

"Exercising his own special power at the moment, but he looked in on you about fifteen minutes ago." Charles settled in beside him.

"Here, drink this." Hank took the chilled water bottle from the night table and handed it to the boy. He smiled a bit at how infantile the tiny blonde appeared readily sipping from it. "I don't know how I haven't had a chance to mention this, but I'm from Illinois, too."

"You are?" Joey responded, astounded yet again. "From Chicago? You sound like Chicago people."

A mildly amused Hank said, "I choose to take that as a compliment but no. My hometown is much closer to the city than yours but I'm still an hour away in good traffic. So, are you a Bears fan as well?"

Joey thought then indifferently responded, "My mama's boyfriend yells and cusses when they lose 'cause he bets for money. One time, he got so mad, he threw his radio against the wall."

Unsure how to touch that detail, Hank shared a short glance with Charles before moving onto, "Well, the good news is that you definitely don't have the stomach flu or anything of that nature. Just an overstuffed tummy."

"Really?" Joey's gaze became curious. "I ain't ever had one of those before."

Charles informed, "There are a great many things you're going to have that you never did before, Joseph. Except for the tummy aches, mind you. We would prefer to keep those to a minimum."

Hank stated, "I will personally see to that."

"I think I like the stuffed tummy ache a whole lot better." Joey caressed Dickon's stomach as he spoke. "When it's empty, pukin' hurts real bad."

Hank witnessed a level of indignation atypical of the Professor's soft facial features.

Charles wound a shielding arm around the delicate boy, ensuring his voice carried its normal cordiality. "Do you think you could stand a bite to eat now?"

"Maybe a banana?" Hank suggested. "With a little applesauce. Would you like that?"

Joey nodded spiritedly. "I love bananas. And I like apples mushy so my teeth don't hurt."

"On that note, I better bring up a glass of milk as well." Hank stood, "Pardon me, gentlemen," and left to fulfill his juvenile patient's snack order.

IIIIIII

One positive aspect of the latest arrival preoccupying so much of the older mutants' time meant Frank got to take over the bulk of Sean's. With everyone so focused elsewhere, training and chores did not take priority. The Irish boys' day consisted of their valued three C's of cookies, checkers, and comic books. They also spent two hours on the basketball court, made sloppy triple-layered sandwiches, and played Monopoly until they agreed to combine their capital in a joint venture. Afterward, they made their claim on the empty TV room.

The return of a certain effervescent shapeshifter managed to redirect Frank's line of sight from Perry Mason's scathing address. Sean peered up as well at the smartly dressed blonde hurrying in.

Frank quickly hopped to his feet. "I'll help you, Rae."

"I've got it, lovebug," Raven said of the pairs of bags she carried in each hand. "Erik's bringing in the motherload. But I am going to need your help later." She tacked on mysteriously, "Top-secret project."

"Cool, count me in," Frank automatically reacted.

"Hey," Sean piped up, "what about me? I have CIA street cred."

"The more macho men, the merrier," Raven asserted, "especially with Hank so bogged down."

Frank vowed, "Anything you want, Rae."

Raven sent him an air kiss. "Details after I check on Joey." With that, she made a swift exit.

Frank plopped down on the sofa again, making a chinrest out of Sean's shoulder. They refocused on their program in time for the courtroom climax.

II

For Joey, one Charles Xavier came equipped with no shortage of wonderment. Considering how he had to go barreling out of the dining room when the diarrhea overpowered him, Joey did not expect to be invited into Charles' lap again. Of course, he never anticipated being tucked into the majestic man's bed and encouraged to use his private bathroom, either. In any case, Joey ate his bananas and applesauce from the comfort of Charles' lap in the sitting area. He drank his milk and munched on the crackers Hank had also thought to bring with the soft fruits. Charles periodically dabbed the little boy's lips and chin with a handkerchief. Joey got used to it by the third wipe, but tiny blonde's initial stilling gave the telepath further insight into his lack of experience with grooming. Even more so, the fledgling knew extremely little about being tended to. At least, in recent years, likely when his mutation truly began to manifest.

After the tyke had his fill, Charles brought him right back to bed with Dickon while he took the empties down to the dishwasher. Line of sight going to the glass doors, Joey tentatively set his small feet on the lavish carpeting. Keeping his bear clutched to his side, he made a slow path over to peer through the transparent doors. After a moment's fumbling, he managed to slide the correct door open. He inhaled the breeze and tipped out onto the balcony. As soon as he reached the banister's edge, Joey halted in absolute rapture over the glorious greenery that surrounded the already astounding mansion. The Illinois countryside at the peak of spring could not begin to compete to the beeches, flowering dogwoods, and countless blooming buds in every color.

"Yay, you're up." Joey gasped and spun around sharply. To the blonde young woman's relief, no electrical surges resulted as he seemed to relax upon recognizing her. "Sorry, I didn't mean to sneak up on you."

Joey blinked. "… Hi, Miss Raven."

"Whoa, hey," she instantly countered, "drop the "Miss", lucky charmer. One, I'm only nineteen. Two, as prim and proper as this house is, we mutants don't get into the Mister/Miss/Professor bit- unless I feel like bugging Charles." She quickly returned his small smile with a wider one. "It's gorgeous out there, isn't it?"

Joey nodded with another glance around. "I ain't ever seen anyplace so pretty in my whole life."

"Neither have I," Raven concurred. "And we've been to Holland. So, do you and Dickon want to see the goodies I found for you?"

The child experienced glee at that proposal, but when presented with her outstretched hand, he completely swelled with bliss. Still holding onto Dickon as he came over, Joey daintily touched his palm to Raven's. His apprehension came not from fear of the shapeshifter but from worry over accidentally harming her in the slightest again. Raven displayed no similar concerns as she led him fully inside.

II

Mary-janes, hat, and shrug removed from the small girl's person, the tall Headmaster situated the drained lass on top of her made bed. He adjusted the pillows under her head and slipped her Eliza, who she instinctively coiled arms around without cracking an eyelid. With a lullaby echoing off him in a hum, Erik raked fingers through her curls with delicacy.

Not wanting to give away his viewing petition, Charles petitioned from the hall, Erik? Are you up here, man?

Rising from beside Becky, Erik stepped out to meet the male telepath in the hall. Despite my belief that we would never receive liberation from those shops, yes, all accounted for.

I suppose I should have warned you that shopping with Raven Xavier is its own Olympic event. Charles glanced in on Becky before walking away from the door alongside the older man so they could speak plainly.

"How was the Princess in town?"

"I'm wagering her extreme fatigue has to do with being in such close proximity to so many minds after all these weeks," Erik theorized. "Raven did well to keep her distracted." His even countenance grew grim. "Fitting since she created the need for it in the first place."

Charles regarded him in bewilderment. "Sorry, what?"

"At the table this morning." The metal wielder further clarified, "She got Becky ecstatic over a shopping trip without a thought of asking either of us for permission."

Now, the Professor comprehended. "I do see what you mean, but I don't believe she had any intention of undermining us, Erik. Look at the way Frank helps her so much in the kitchen. Raven only wanted to make Becky feel included. Honestly, I'm pleased to see them becoming so thick. Neither of them have ever had a sister after all."
Erik considered his point and mildly conceded, "It is preferable to the clashes the boys can get into. Speaking of, how is the newest addition doing?"

"The queasiness finally subsided enough for him to eat," Charles reported in a relieved tone. "However, the more I get to know Joseph, the more disconcerting his regression becomes. He didn't even try to close the door when he used the bathroom earlier."
"That makes more sense than you realize." Erik's rebuttal caught the recent graduate's complete attention. "If nothing else, it confirms Hank's diagnosis of non-penetration. Had he been abused in such a way- sexually or otherwise- he would be barricading every door he walked through. Assuming he didn't incinerate the place entirely when I spooked him yesterday."

"Yes, true," Charles responded pensively. "The lesser between the evils."

"Congratulations, Charles," asserted Erik wryly, "you just summarized the human experience. Now, to round up these slothful boys." He bypassed the Englishman and headed for the stairs. "Actually get this car unloaded before nightfall."

Charles observed the older European's descension before making his return to his suite.

On the other side of the French doors, elation wafted through him to see the timid lad's euphoric glow. Hip to hip with Raven in the middle of the bed, a multitude of purchases swarmed them.

"My, my, what's this?" The pleasant British accent made the enthused blonde pair raise their heads, "Father Christmas running a tad early this year?"
Raven resisted laughing at the look Joey formed and explained, "Father Christmas is what the English call Santa Claus."
"Oh." Judging by Joey's less than intrigued reaction, both Xavier siblings deduced the mythical figure to be foreign to the boy in any language. "Charles, look." Joey lifted and showed his trio of coloring books. They featured jungle, New York City, and Mickey Mouse theme. He spoke with greater awe when he held up the jumbo pack of crayons. "I ain't ever seen so many colors before. Teachers just get those itty bitty boxes."

Mostly amazed that the Carterville public schools and their shoddy attendance records had advanced past slates, Charles proclaimed, "Only the finest tools for our students here." He went to sit on Joey's right side. "Now, what else did the ladies find for you."

"What didn't we?" Raven only half-kidded. "We almost cleared out every boy section."

The vast clothing assortment included a dozen academic appropriate shirts with an equal number of slacks, playtime tees and bottoms, two belts, twenty pairs of socks, three packages of briefs, and four sets of pajamas. Joey gladly complied when Raven wanted him to try on his new rain boots, tennis shoes, sandals, and the ones the child stared at most curiously, the gleaming Oxfords in ebony. As per her estimation, the footwear fit him about half a size large; simple to supplement with socks while the boy grew.

"I probably should have waited but I couldn't resist this." Raven dashed over to the desk chair to retrieve the garment bag draped over it. She unzipped it to reveal the articles of blue and silver that made up the suit. "It's the smallest they had, but I think the sleeves will still be too long. I just couldn't get over how terrific the colors would look with his eyes."
"I'll say," Charles wholeheartedly agreed. He got up for a closer inspection and studied the crisp off-white shirt. "We'll send his measurements to the tailors. Perhaps by the end of next month or the beginning of October, we can pay a visit to the portrait studio. When things have calmed down a bit."

"Yes! Can't wait." Raven grinned mischievously. "Mainly so I can see the look on Alex Summers' face when he has to get all debonair."

While the siblings picture plotted, Joey pawed through some more of his gifted items. He had his own toothbrush, fuzzy slippers, a brush and comb set, bath soaps, and towels for every use. He almost went through another dizzy spell simply beholding it all.

"Becky has a few things to show you, too after her nap," Raven told the mystified boy, making him quickly look her way. "And there's more, but both of you will have to wait for tomorrow to see."

The humorously tantalizing way she spoke eased Joey into further contentment. "Thank you, Raven. Thanks a whole bunch."

Making a prompt path for him, Raven picked him straight up to embrace. "You're welcome all the bunches, cuddlebug."

IIIIIII

Despite his myriad of duties, including keeping the fickle Cerebro on life support, Hank ended up volunteering for Raven's ironically named Recreation Task Force. In addition to the equally willing Sean and Frank, Alex lent a hand under the justification that he had little else to do. Apparently, he had put quite enough mannequins out of their misery for one day.

When Raven brought them into one of her main childhood retreats, the substantial room appeared as if in a decade-long stone sleep state. From the rocking horse to the antique toy chest, recollection almost overwhelmed her. Attempting to keep her sentiments at bay, she firstly peeled back and tied all the curtains to allow in as much of the lingering sunlight as possible. While Hank, Sean, and Alex dealt with securing the recent purchases, Frank helped Raven transfer the more unneeded juvenile toys up to the attic.

"So, why'd you keep the place under wraps for so long, Rae?" the New Yorker wondered.

"It wasn't intentional," Raven assured. "Honestly, it just wasn't relevant until now. I didn't think Charles would recruit anyone younger than Sean. After all, we only lucked upon Becky," from the mutants' point of view, anyway, "and she mostly stayed in her room. With you and Joey here now, we need somewhere to quarantine our youthful energy from the chess club."

Frank snickered to a diabolical degree.

After the room had a cleared out and vacuumed floor, Raven and Frank pieced together the wide floor mat that consisted of colorful alphabet letters and numbers up to ten. By one window, Hank assembled the toy stove, refrigerator, and small hand-puppet theatre. While the vintage artworks of Humpty Dumpty and Mother Goose stayed on the walls, Sean added posters of Superman, Batman, 101 Dalmatians, and cartoonish depictions of Dracula and Frankenstein's Monster. He then gladly moved onto updating the bookshelf with different titles. Alex plopped beanbag chairs at random, put together a designated mess corner for arts and crafts.

"Hank," Raven petitioned at a quarter to seven, "let's go see how far away the food is." Aware that her time would be limited that evening, she had put in a catering order while in town.

The summoned scientist entrusted his toolbox with Frank before leaving with the shapeshifter.

Once out front, Hank took advantage of the lack of ears and minds around them to inquire, "How was shopping with Erik?"
"Please," Raven glibly requested, "don't make it sound like we were perusing arm-in-arm." As they lowered onto a stone bench together, she gave him a proper answer. "You know, he has this weird way of being completely vacant yet everywhere at once at the same time. I don't remember the CIA being as watchful of every little thing around us."
"After what happened there, neither of us can blame him in that regard," Hank reasoned. "I hated being unable to drive you myself. I- I couldn't help being fairly apprehensive," he toyed with the frames of his glasses, "with you and Becca out there."

"Hey," Raven brought both hands to his right wrist, spurring him to meet her eyes, "I would never let anything happen to her. And with his many undesirable qualities in mind, I honestly don't think Erik would, either."
Hank quieted thoughtfully before responding. "He might very well be the worst that could happen to her. Gavin received no choice in what happened to him. What if Erik walks out of his own accord?"
"If that's the case…" Raven's own pensive silence did not last as long as she declared, "To hell with him. You're her actual family, Hank. We are."
Hank regarded her in marveled veneration. "That's been the bright spot through all of this madness, you know. You and Becca getting to know each other."
Raven coyly reminded, "You get along just swimmingly with my cute telepathic sibling, too."

The ivy leaguer earnestly espoused, "Thank goodness."

IIIIIII

In a rare instance since his return to his family's estate, Charles managed to mildly unwind not long after dinner. No pressing matters of the legal nor mutated variety required his immediate attention that night. A large amount of his well-cloaked tension dissipated upon seeing Joey eat a serving of baked chicken and mashed potatoes with two glasses of milk. As much as the telepath tried to distract himself, the mental pictures would not grant him peace beyond short intervals. The harsh wind and rain, a stranger in a backward community of staggering dullards, over a thousand miles from home without reinforcements, and yet only the sight of the tiny vessel of little more than skin and bones permanently registered in his psyche.

"Charles?"

The youthful feminine voice providing him with a necessary diversion, Charles rapidly responded, "Princess, are you alright?"
Becky led the blonde duo into the master bedroom. "Joey's mouth is bleeding."

"It's his gums," Alex clarified, currently supporting the child in question on his hip while holding the damp hand towel to his lips. "Raven got him a soft brush, but his teeth are still crazy sensitive."

Hardly surprised, Charles quickly approached with a sympathetic coo. "Oh, little one, let me have a look." At Joey's strange mumbling into the towel, the man bit back a laugh. "Ah, I see…"
Alex shook his head in wry amusement. "He's sorry for bleeding on the bathroom counter. I wiped it up already."

Charles clapped the teen's shoulder in fond praise before focusing on the tyke again. "Now, hear me, little lad," he collected him from Alex's hold, "I could never ever be angry with you," he eyed the other two present, "any of you- for being sick or hurt." Charles gave him a reaffirming squeeze as he brought him towards the bed. "Erik and I will worry over the spilled milk," he situated him against the pillows, "understood?"
"Yes, sir," Joey replied, at last able to talk without additional dribbling.

Becky climbed up to sit beside him while Alex partially perched on the edge of the desk.

"And don't you fret about your teeth. Just like your tummy," Charles took the balled towel from Joey, "they only need to adjust to being cared for properly." He tossed the towel into his own hamper. "If anything, this serves as a strong reminder that your rather absent-minded professor needs to schedule dental appointments for the lot of you." Charles released a slight chuckle at the brisk way Becky shook her head. "Oh? You object, Miss Douglas?"
Curls still flinging about in refusal, the girl in fuchsia pajamas adamantly insisted, "No, nope, uh-uh, no dentist. We don't need a dentist. Do we, Joey?"
The unsure younger child only gave off a drawn out, "Umm- I dunno. Never been to one."

"It's no big deal," Alex waved off. "The dentist just checks your choppers and cleans 'em special for you."

Becky appeared ready to contest that claim but pressed her lips together.

Not missing the brewing distress in the female telepath, Charles moved the conversation to something more favorable. "Alright, not one," he tapped Becky's nose then Joey's, "but two stories tonight," creating twin glints in their eyes. "Now, as gentlemen, Joseph, it's proper to let the lady choose first."

"No, that's okay, Charles," Becky turned down, sending both her arms around the slender newcomer. "You pick, Joey."

Charles looked on approvingly as the short blonde hummed in thought.

Remembering something, Joey pointed towards the desk. "What's that one? With all the pictures on the front?"
At the finger trained in his direction, Alex realized his meaning and picked up the black novel. "This one, buddy?"
"Uh huh," Joey confirmed. "I saw it earlier. I like the little pictures and the fancy S's, but the words are hard. 'Cept 'in the'."

Accepting the fat book from Alex, Charles made himself comfortable against the headboard and showed the children the cover. "The Sword in the Stone," the Professor emphasized both "fancy S" words. "Can you say it, Joseph?"

Becky helped direct his finger. "The…"

"Sw-Sword," Joey slowly enunciated, "in the Stone."

"Well done," Charles commended. "This is actually one of my all-time favorites. Ever since my dad brought it home for me after a trip."

This tickled Joey's curiosity right away. "What's it about?"

"Oh, nothing terribly interesting," Charles downplayed and Alex had to glance away to smirk. "Sword fights obviously, adventures here and there, a young lad with a rather strange teacher. Though, what else can you expect from a wizard?"
"A wizard?" Joey parroted with eyes enlarging by the second. "Like from that picture with the lion and the little girl?"

"That's Wizard of Oz," Becky identified.

"Similar, but I believe this wizard to be a smidge better if I do say so myself," Charles spoke matter-of-factly.

"Read it, Charles," Joey eagerly requested, "please, please."

Becky offered, "He can have my pick if we get three chapters. Please, Prince Charles?"
"Hm, we'll see, Princess." Opening his worn novel, the Headmaster's English drawl instantly hooked his fledgling audience.

Dropping himself into the desk chair, Alex wheeled himself marginally closer but kept up his veneer of insouciance.

IIIIIII

Dear Ma, Pa, and Tommy Sawyer,

Well, folks, it's been a rough and dangerous excursion into parts unknown but I believe I'm finally right settled here in this New York state. You know, I might take a fancy to this Westchester County. Far less corrupted than those sordid details we've heard about the city. No wily saloon girls trying to lure me into a lifestyle of ill-repute, no swing music to all hours, and none of them new-fangled horseless carriages for miles yonder. We're really getting the schoolhouse into tiptop shape now. Still, I will have to file a complaint with the headmasters over this coed classroom situation. Absolutely scandalous!

Ha! Relax, folks, the carrottop hasn't completely cracked yet. I just figured Mom and Dad would get a kick out of hearing from their own time period. Roughly 52 Zillion B.C., right, guys?
Kidding- kinda. But Dad, you'll probably want to take notes on all the reasons you have to strangle me come Christmastime. Figured I'd take the heat off Tom this year. Looooove you to bits, Baby Man!

Okay, seriously, getting ready to start school is going well. We got another new kid, Joey Reynolds. He's the youngest of us yet (8 but super tiny). Anyway, Raven got the idea to convert hers and the professor's old play spot into a rumpus room- a cool grownup free zone. But I guess it's closer to what Raven calls a recreation room. Since it's not in the basement, that pretty much takes the "rump" out of rumpus, huh?

The redhead's inner merriment faded some when the telltale creaking of wood sounded at his door. Not for the first time in recent weeks.

"Ark, who goes there?"
Trying in vain to mute a sniffle, the glistening brown eyes peeked in. "Hey, you busy, man? Outside my window- all that stupid chirping and nature- can't sleep."
Sean merely indicated his own bed by tilting his head in the correct direction. Frank wasted no time taking him up on the wordless offering. He slipped out of his house shoes and under the breathable linens. After the younger boy got himself nestled in, Sean set about wrapping up his latest letter.

Anyway, all good here and I'm really looking forward to the first day of school. Or am I just ecstatic to be two states away from the creeps in my old class? Nah, not really. I'd rather be a solar system away from them- after I pack you guys up to come with me, of course. You're good with being strapped to the roof of the car, right, Tom?

Love me,

Love you,
Seanie

PS: Would it kill you people to take turns reminding me to never re-read Laura Ingalls Wilder when I'm hyper?

After securing the paper inside its designated envelope, Sean switched off his desk lamp. He stood with a brief stretch of his long legs before getting himself situated beside his housemate. Without the need to check or ask, Sean knew the city child had not drifted off by a longshot.

"Wrote to your grandparents?"

"Folks and my little stink weasel," Sean said casually. "Besides you, of course." Frank half-heartedly jabbed at him with his bare toes and the ginger poked the back of his dark head. "Want to send another one to your mom? What about your dad? We can send it off with mine later today."

"I wrote 'em a few days ago," Frank told him, facing away. "They're probably too busy for all this post office hoppin'."

Sean eyed him mutely for a moment. "Is your mom still staying with her other sister?"
"Hm?" Registering the question, Frank quickly replied, "Yep. She's probably gonna be helping her out a while longer."

With an exhale through his nostrils, the pre-teen switched positions. A few indecisive seconds went by before Frank brought his head to Sean's tricep. The taller boy gently moved and Frank felt his arm tuck him in closer to his side. While Frank enjoyed the comforting sensation, it still took some getting used to and not due to the relatively short time since he initially met the redhead.

Though they grew up aware of why their father needed to stay away for such lengthy stints, Linny had acted as a solace source alongside their mother. However, such moments had been all but completely cut off by the eldest Tolbert boy. At least, where they concerned Frank. Linny found it easier to initiate affectionate touches with Jeff, especially in the last several months. When their anticipated joy degenerated into abrupt anguish. Linny hardly let pats on the back linger for long. Granted, Frank did not exactly take it upon himself to approach him with open arms, either.

Sean, on the other hand, displayed no discomfort from their being in proximity. Frank's first week had ended with him actually falling asleep on the fifteen-year-old during a movie. Frank did not remember being batted away or roughly moved at all. By the next day, Sean raved about the film but said nothing of the new kid bizarrely snoozing on him. Frank knew Sean had a much younger brother back in Virginia, but often wondered how the grandchildren of a WWII pilot could be so… tenderly mellow. So far removed from what Frank understood as standard military brat protocol. Then again, the twelve-year-old mused, didn't mutants already defy standards monumentally?

IIIIIII

For the duration of the externally silent night, Charles obtained about three hours of on/off sleep. The bulk of his time had been split between keeping Joey's confused body calm in its luxurious surroundings and staring in awed disbelief at the bountiful reward reaped from his quest. No longer a distant echo against thousands of other voices swarming him. Simply watching the mutant child's moments of content slumber sent the Xavier heir's spirit soaring straight through his high ceilings.

At different intervals, Charles paced his capacious quarters with the bundled bitty blonde. Except for occasionally rearranging his head on the Professor's shoulder, Joey displayed no signs of uneasiness when attached to the mutant elder.

As if synchronized to the younger boy, Alex stopped by the master suite after his morning run. Around that same time, Joey stirred for the bathroom. The eight-year-old went to the teenager without complaint so that their caregiver could rest a bit more before duty inexorably summoned him. Charles made sure to remind his older pupil about foods appropriate for the small one's delicate system. Alex took Joey to the bathroom he himself regularly used.

While the electrifying tyke relieved himself at the loo, the plasma flinger hopped into the tub for a short shower. He opted not to react when Joey's flushing caused a quick surge of cold water. Besides not wanting to dissuade Joey from the manners Charles enforced, the chilled moisture felt fairly refreshing against the muggy August morning. After toweling off and getting into temporary attire of underwear and track pants, Alex showed Joey how to best wash his face free of pesky overnight crust buildup. He also coached him through the gentlest toothbrushing technique and dabbed away the marginal trickles of blood from the tender gums.

Joey observed the details of the teenager's own hygiene routine. "What's that?"

"Deodorant." Alex showed him the can of Gillette. "You know, anti-funk." He further demonstrated by spraying his underarms.

Joey inhaled the unusual yet pleasant scent. "I thought that was for ladies."

"You're thinking of perfume," Alex told him. "Guys and girls can use deodorant. We big burly dudes probably need it more, though."

"It makes us smell extra good?"

"In-between wrestling tournaments. Want to try?" At Joey's nod, Alex lightly spritzed his pits.

A slight shiver and giggles resulted. "Cooold…"

"I know," Alex smiled at him. "I'm used to the roll-on. They just came out with this spray stuff. Runs for almost a buck a can." He snickered through his nostrils over Joey's dumbfounded countenance. "Hey, don't look at me. The Xaviers put down the dough for it. Come on." He jammed the can back into his small container of toiletries. "Let's make with the civilized and get some clothes on."

"Can I wear something blue?" Joey requested as the bigger blonde scooped him up. "Raven was telling Charles she wants to see me in blue 'cause of my eyes." He brought fingers to Alex's right temple, studying his full facial features in greater depth since their first meeting.

As though he dabbled in telepathy, Alex put forth in placid adoration, "Who needs some crummy mirror anymore?" Joey's jubilant grin incited the teen to instinctively peck his tiny fingers.

On their route to finish getting ready for the day ahead, Alex brought Joey to his quarters to pick out an outfit while he put something in his own room. When they regrouped minutes later, Alex had on khaki shorts and a cerulean polo shirt. From the organized system Raven had made of the little boy's dresser drawers, Joey selected a cobalt t-shirt with a sailboat on the front and a pair of denim shorts.

Helping him out of his pajamas, Alex noticed one item missing from the chosen articles. "What, couldn't find your undies? Raven stuck 'em in the bottom drawer with your socks."

"I don't need different ones yet," Joey explained, stepping out of his pajama pants. "These I got on will last a whole 'nother week."

Biting back the rage the innocent assertion sparked in him, Alex calmly countered, "That doesn't fly around here, Joe. Charles and Erik don't even like us to wear our breakfast clothes to dinner, let alone run around in the same shorts for more than a day." Going into the correct drawer, Alex threw a pair of new briefs his way. "Put these on."
Joey obediently swapped out the undergarments. "What happens when we run out of new ones?"
"The old ones will be washed clean as new before that happens." Alex deposited the most recently used briefs into the hamper by the closet.

"In the sink?"
"Yeah, like Raven would actually handwash our shi—" Alex bit his lip. "Stinky shorts. Pretty sure Becky dumps them into the machine with hazard gear and a ten-foot pole as it is."

Further intrigue filled the child's face. "There's a real washing machine?"

"You bet," Alex confirmed, "and a dryer. They're in the basement. Don't let all the pretty grass and flowers fool ya. This town's nothing like where you're from. Catch clothes drying on the line anywhere in this ritzy county and it's front-page news."

Joey could only utter, "Wow…"

Once dressed, the eight-year-old sat on the foot of his bed while Alex showed him how to strap into his sandals with consideration for proper blood circulation.

"So, these clothes are decent enough for breakfast- at least until you shrimps start the classroom thing in a couple of weeks," Alex outlined. "We can wear jeans to the dinner table, but don't try to do it every night and they have to be pressed with zero holes like all our other pants. Forget the play clothes, especially if they're dirty from outside. We guys have to be in clean shirts."

"Or we don't eat?"

Alex shook his head vigorously at that. "No, nothing like that. Charles and Erik won't even blow their tops over it. They'll just send us back upstairs to change clothes and shake the ugly off."
"Ohh, okay." Joey then asked, "Are we gonna go to school all together?"

"It'll be you, Becky, Frank, and Sean," Alex named. "Raven's done with school and Hank's so done, he's one of your teachers." And the live-in doctor, innovator, end result of a blessed union between the Virgin Mary and Sasquatch.

Naturally, Joey next inquired, "Are you done with school, too?"
Alex fought against any visible annoyance over the kid picking up on his minor omission. "I have more important things to do than school." He raised a hand to ruffle the yellow strands, bushier than his own. "Like looking out for slippery little eels."

The pacifying touch brought a glow to the younger blonde's cheeks. "Are you nineteen like Raven."

"Seven—" Alex shifted his head side to side, attempting to dissolve his mental fog, "Eighteen- I'm eighteen. As of last month and I'm still getting used to it."

"Oh, happy birthday, Alex," Joey expressed brightly. He frowned worriedly at the ridged expression he received. "S-sorry if it's too late."

"No," Alex rushed to refute. "Just… it's been a long time since I heard that. Thanks, Joe." He leaned forward to speak more covertly with the tyke. "But let's keep that between us, okay? The others have no idea about my birthday and that's how I want it to stay. Got me?"

"Gotcha, Al," Joey replied acquiescently.

Alex applied two feathery pats to his small belly. "Want to catch a ride downstairs again."

Posture growing hesitant, Joey quietly vexed, "What if I get sick again? Nasty sick before you can put me down?"

"Who says I'd put you down?" Alex countered matter-of-factly. "We have a deal, remember? It'll take a lot more than puke and poop for us to let go of each other."

Smile all but eclipsing the rest of his face, Joey outstretched his ready arms.

Alex gripped him at his slim middle as he moved to rise. Once on his feet, he positioned Joey on his shoulders and kept a taut grip on his hands. Exiting the room with his short add-on attached, Alex avoided bobbing and spinning like the previous day. He did not want another meal spoiled for the newcomer due to his uncooperative intestines.

Within seconds of setting foot in the dining room, Alex found his cargo commandeered by Raven. The Xavier heiress carried him the rest of the way to the table in a cradling position, cooing over his adorable outfit. Alex smirked when she also complimented the eight-year-old's pleasant scent. Becky enthusiastically pointed out the different cereal options, including Corn Flakes, Raisin Bran, Kix, Wheaties, Cheerios, Alpha-Bits, and Cocoa Puffs. They proved a wondrous sight for a weekday morning.

Joey's eyes glistened over the colorful boxes. "Whoa, it's a whole supermarket."

"It would have been if left up to these two," Hank commented of the female mutants.

"Well, I didn't exactly have a chance to poll you bunch for your favorites," Raven justified.

"I wish they weren't out of Frosted Flakes," Becky griped, pouring herself more of the plain corn option.

"So do I." Hank confiscated the sugar bowl when his sister tried for a second spoonful. "The frosted are better at portion control than certain little bears I know."
Becky openly sulked but continued eating.

While the Wheaties became a battle of champions between Hank, Sean, and Alex, Frank reeled in more Raisin Bran.

"What kind can I eat?" Joey asked Raven.

The shapeshifter proposed, "Why don't you eat a bowl from two you really want to try and see how your tummy does? You can try the others for lunch. Dinner, too if you want."

"Okay," Joey cheerfully agreed. "I haven't had milk in Corn Flakes in forever."
"Have you ever had them with sliced banana?" Hank asked him. When the younger Midwesterner shook his head, the scientist insisted, "Then, you are in for a true treat this morning."

While Raven broke off a banana from the bunch in the fresh fruit bowl, Hank readied a moderate scoop of sugar. Joey watched the flake prep process with fascination.

When Raven poured the milk as well, Frank murmured to Sean, "Does he need it chewed and yacked into his mouth, too?"

The redhead bashed shoulders with him lightly.

IIIIIII

Erik's continued acquaintance with operating an automobile in the States brought him thirty miles south of North Salem. While still banal in comparison to the Burroughs, the city of White Plains had a distinct commercial hub. At roughly ten times greater in population, it easily engulfed North Salem. Caramel briefcase seemingly sewed to his hand, the tall European adorned in an amber suit, reptile leather loafers, and topped with a panama hat received automatic service from every establishment he ventured into. The removal of his dark sunglasses revealed the piercing ultramarine eyes that cut straight through some and captivated most.

Four hours of serving as his own tour guide resulted in the fitting and purchasing of two new sport coats and a pair of wingtips. He obtained purchases of a more advantageous nature at a sizable but charming shop that carried a vast selection of reading materials. He found an appealing geography guide for grades fourth and fifth along with resources for imparting different European languages onto American youth. While operating on the air of skepticism, the sole book on reaching remedial students particularly caught the metal wielder's eye.

When he prepared to make his return to the mansion, a cobblestone structure came into view. So entranced by it did he become that his sedan stilled to a stop in front of it before he fully realized it. The large sign in the grass communicated that evening's rapidly approaching services. However, his keen gaze honed in on the silver lettering on one curved wall.

Bet Am Shalom

Knuckles whitening from the locked grip he placed on his steering wheel, Erik finally decided to place his car in park. As soon as the engine quieted, an almost unnerving silence seemed to sweep across the formerly pleasurable atmosphere. He also did not rule out the possibility of being the culprit behind the phantom chill. For the duration of his loitering, he peered through his acquired literature. As if the stars conspired, the position of the sun lowered by the time the present bested his racing thoughts.

When he at last emerged from his sedan, the spry mutant of untold stealth moved at a newborn colt's pace. He attempted to step onto the lawn, but the brawny appendage degenerated into jelly, unable to lift to so much as make contact with a single blade of grass.

"Sir?" Reanimated by the unexpected feminine petition, Erik performed a 180. A young woman with her dark hair bound in a French braid stood behind him. She clutched two paper bags of supplies. "Are you alright? We're not starting for another hour or so, but if you want to wait inside…" At the polished man's bemused countenance, she tried again. "Bistu gut, har? Ken ikh dir helfn?"

Erik's spellbound state diminished slightly. "Nit… gutn tag, iung dame."

She stepped to the side as he rushed the short path to his vehicle. "Zey gezunt, har."

The metal wielder stilled to utter, "Adank," and resumed motion at a more sedated pace.

When he pulled into his usual spot in the massive Xavier garage, some measure of equanimity drifted through his system. He made it to his en suite, where he washed his face and hands as well as trimmed his five o'clock shadow. As soon as he stepped into the hall, a pair of slim arms flung themselves around him. After gently tugging on the curly pigtails, Erik hoisted her high to hold close to his chiseled front. Becky burrowed her face into his neck as he started them down for the dining room.

IIIIIII

Raven and the older lads' unveiling of the recreation room made for an absolutely overjoyed Joey and Becky. Most of the youngsters spent the majority of the day getting accustomed to the rejuvenated play space, including taking lunch in it. When dinnertime neared, however, Charles mandated the return to the table. A motion Erik firmly seconded upon his return to the magnificent mansion.

After the light evening meal, including gelatin dessert, concluded, Raven helped an unenthusiastic Becky with dish and kitchen clean-up. While Erik and Charles retired to the parlor for Headmaster discussion, Alex got Joey's bath out of the way. Once the tyke had a set of his new pajamas on, Alex gave him a shoulder ride towards the recreation room.

"Okay, you stay here and have fun." The taller blonde stopped outside of the open entrance. "I need to hit the gym for a while."

Joey instead requested, "Can I go with you?"

"No, pal, not to the gym." Alex lowered him to his feet before kneeling to level their blue eyes. "There's a lot of big, clunky equipment down there that's not safe for you to be around." Big, clunky metal equipment at that. "You'll have more fun up here, anyway. Becky will be up in a little while and Charles is going to grab you for tuck-in later, okay?"

Posture edgy, Joey whimpered, "Al…"

When the overhead light fixtures glinted, Alex bit back a swear and addressed the eight-year-old in an urgent hush. "Joe, no. Shhh," he rubbed his arms placatingly, "cut that out. You're okay, you're okay…" Alex exhaled with relief when the hall lights stabilized along with the little boy. "You're fine, I promise."

"Everything alright here?" Hank strode upon them and Alex suspected he caught a glimpse of the short-lived jittery lightbulbs.

"We're fine," the plasma flinger mutant replied tersely, resuming his full height. "See if you can pull off not boring the kid into oblivion." With a ruffle of Joey's hair, Alex headed for his room to change into athletic attire.

Disregarding the departing blonde, Hank focused on the remaining one. "Look what I stumbled across." He showed the curious youngster the thick book tucked under his left arm. "Care to take a trip to Chicago with me?"

Interest peaked, Joey smiled avidly.

Inside the recreation room, Frank and Sean played Scrabble from the comfort of opposite facing beanbag chairs.

Hank pulled out a chair at the crafts table and stretched out an inviting arm towards the newest mutant. After he comprehended the young doctor's meaning, an initially tense Joey eased into his lap. Winding one arm around the small one's middle, Hank flipped through the photo album with his free hand.

"I was a little younger than you here." Hank pointed out the picture of his grammar school self in a football sweatshirt. "The opening of the Bears' thirtieth season. That day at Wrigley was the thrill of my life at the time."

"Wrigley Field…" The awed Joey tapped a larger photograph of Hank surrounded by three older males. "Who're all those men?"

Hank indicated the oldest one first. "That's Coach George Halas." He spoke of the one in the '32' jersey with more esteem. "And that's Johnny Lujack, the quarterback and one of my favorite players of all-time. He took home the Heisman Trophy in '47."

"That's the big football trophy, right?"
"You bet it is," Hank confirmed with a soft squeeze to the child's thin shoulder.

Joey still wondered, "But who's the other man?"

"Oh," Hank realized, "that's my dad. I pretty much forgot he was there that day, too. Look." He went to another page that showed him in a suit between an equally well-dressed couple. "That's me with both my parents at Macy's. My mom loved getting our Christmas photo there. I wish you could see it in color. Macy's goes all-out for the holidays. All of downtown Chicago does."

"Kyle says all the Christmas lights are like a great big chunk of Heaven," Joey recalled. "I told him I really wanted to see it, but he said if I was there, I'd burn it all to hell."

For the first time, Frank and Sean looked away from their game.

"Joey, that isn't true," insisted Hank, peering directly at the yellow-haired boy.

"Besides," Sean chimed in, "my Grandma Lydia says people who talk like that dine at the devil's dinner table themselves. And she knows stuff. She's old, even older than Erik."
Joey formed a smile and Hank could not help a small smirk of his own.

"Ah, nuts to Chicago, anyway," Frank dismissed. "Everybody knows Times Square's Christmas display blows it out of the water. Don't get me started on the tree at Rockefeller Center or Central Park with—"

"All the humility New Yorkers are so well-known for," interjected Hank wryly.

"I think the word is ooh," Sean filled in the letters he needed to spell, "haughty."

"You would see that," Frank scowled, unsatisfied with his own remaining letters.

When Becky came through minutes later- rainbow sherbet pajamas in place and curls loose- Hank left Joey with her while he continued work in the lab. Joey shared his numerous crayon collection with Becky, but the crafts table also came with containers of pens with pencils, scissors, glue, construction paper, and washable paints. Taking one of his coloring books, he tentatively approached the older boys, currently tidying up the Scrabble game.

"This is New York City, right?"

"Hm?" Glancing over, Frank accepted the coloring book from him and flipped through the landmarks. "Yep, but these are all tourist traps." At the perplexed face from the younger boy, Frank clarified his meaning. "Y'know, tourists- people who come to the city just to visit or do business. Tourist traps are where the city officials figure they'll want to see and spend the most loot. Madison Square Garden," he went through the uncolored pages as he identified them, "Lady Liberty, Empire State Building…"

Joey inquired, "Is the Empire bigger than the Sears Tower."

"Bigger and taller," Frank replied grandly. "By a good three hundred feet."

"Wow," uttered a dazzled Joey.

"That's nothin'," Frank went on. "My neighborhood in Queens? One school can hold your whole town. On the hottest days, guys jimmy open fire hydrants, making whole streams clear down the blocks. Traffic is the pits, though. It gets so bad that even people with cars ditch 'em for the subway."

"That's the train, right?" When Frank nodded, Joey asked, "Does it really go under the ground?"

"Yep, lightning quick, too."

Sean listened on in affectionate amusement at Frank having such a captivated audience member for the next fifteen minutes. The redhead put the boxed Scrabble back amongst its boardgame brethren then joined Becky for doodling.

After getting an earful of Big Apple commentary, Raven decided to announce herself with, "Not to interrupt the Xavier Institute's world-renowned guest speaker, but Dr. McCoy requests his favorite colleague."

"Be right there, Rae," Frank responded promptly. "I'll finish filling you in on my domain later, pipsqueak."

"Kay," Joey said after the briskly stepping brunette.

"Later, people," Frank waved to Becky and Sean on his way out of the room.

Raven looked towards Joey. "You're doing alright, baby?"
"Uh huh," Joey bobbed his head.

"Good. I'm in my room on our side of the floor if you need me," Raven told him before taking off for her suite.

Going back to the crafts table, Joey pulled over another of his coloring books. "Raven is R-A-Y…?"

"R-A-V," Sean corrected gently, "E-N. Like this." The teenager used a piece of scratch paper to spell out the complete word for him. "See?"

"Oh, thanks." Joey resumed going through his book, but grew frustrated by the end. "Aww, man…"

Becky looked his way. "What's the matter?"

"No Ravens." Joey showed them the pages. "They're birds, right?"

"Right," Sean affirmed, "but these are jungle animals, buddy. See." Sean named some of the birds the book offered. "Toucans, hawks, vultures, hornbills—"

"Hornbills," both younger children echoed with a giggle.

"Yeah, no clue how they got that name," Sean said honestly. "Toucans have the big honkin' beaks after all. Anyway, no ravens in the jungle."

"Then, where do they live?" Joey questioned.

"They typically like to perch inside old English chambers from the 19th Century." When a pair of blank stares accompanied his reference, Sean shook his head with a smirk, "Never mind," and made a path for the bookshelf. He picked up a textbook on zoology for primary school- not remotely surprised that the Xavier library contained such a title- and brought it over to the table. "Okay, here we go." He landed on the correct page and creature lifted it for the other two to behold. "One North American raven in all its glory."

While Joey instantly appreciated the vivid illustrations, he regarded the sleek bird in mild disappointment. "… It's all black."

"Yep," Sean nodded favorably. "Beauty, right?"

Becky humorously suggested, "Maybe the toucans and the peacocks stole all her colors."

"Black's blah." Joey reached for a few sheets of white paper. "I'm gonna make a blue one for Raven."

"Great choice," remarked Sean, sharing a quick glance with Becky.

IIIIIII

Early September 1962

Beginning straight from the heavy overcast that came with dawn, an overall sense of bleakness seemed to permeate across the entirety of New York state. Frank took over the valiant duty of keeping the oatmeal from sticking so Raven could give Becky her full attention.

Due to the ten-degree temperature drop that accompanied the dreary weather, both mutant girls dressed comfortably in sweaters and colorful denim pants. Figure stiffer than the doll she currently clutched, the green eyes stared blankly into the vanity while the shapeshifter worked. Raven styled the dark curls into a ponytail braided at the top and loose at the bottom. She wore her own mutated blonde tresses in a neat high ponytail.

"Alrighty, now for the important stuff." Raven picked up the entertainment section from the Scarsdale Inquirer. "Getting a jump on the boys for picture picks. Hey," she grinned, "how about The Miracle Worker? You know, Charles theorizes that Helen Keller might have been a mutant, but my money's on Annie Sullivan. Then again," she looked to another item, "we can always make the guys suffer through The Music Man… wait, Cape Feare is back in theaters already? You'd think they would at least wait until closer to Halloween to have Sean subject us all to that. What do you feel like seeing?"

Becky shrugged flaccidly. "Who cares?"

Leaving the film selection on the desk with the rest of the newspaper, Raven came to sit beside her on the vanity bench. "You're going to make yourself sick worrying about it. Both Charles and Erik researched this place. It's private, homey, and the staff sounds really nice."

"I don't care, Raven," the younger girl uncharacteristically retorted. "I don't want to go. Why can't Hank just take care of our teeth?"

"Hon, he's not trained in dentistry," Raven patiently reminded. "Believe me, we'd all love to kick back in our PJs while Hank reminds us to brush ten times a day than trek over to Scarsdale. Once we get there, it'll be over before you know it, promise."

Becky stared down at Eliza wordlessly, perspiring fingers threading through the doll's hair.

II

"Now, remember," the kneeling Professor checked to ensure the novice mutant had placed his tennis shoes on the correct feet, "the dentist only wants to clean your teeth and make sure they're nice and healthy. The same way Hank did for the rest of your body when you came home. There might be a tiny bit of pain, I'm going to be there with you the entire time. You have no reason to be afraid, little one."

Swaying his legs slightly at the side of his mattress, Joey focused on the Englishman's every word. "And my gums won't bleed anymore?"

"That's still going to take time, but the doctors can advise us on other ways to improve that problem. Joseph," solemn countenance in place, Charles locked eyes with the little boy, "this is your first time off the grounds. You mustn't let your nerves get the better of you."

Joey concluded, "Or I'll get a spanking?"

"Not from a small reaction," Charles assured him then pointedly added, "If you give into a fit, however, yes, I will have to spank you. If you become too overwhelmed, reach me here." The telepath tapped his temple. "We'll step out together until you're calm. The second you feel your control slipping. I will not be angry with you and neither will Erik. Can you do that, little one?"

"Yes, Charles," the tyke answered compliantly. "Then, we get to go see the picture?"

"Right in the cinema," Charles confirmed.

Joey bounced on his bottom giddily.

IIIIIII

Even with the mansion providing better accommodations than what certain historical monarchs received, sometimes the elaborate details floored Frank. Whenever his mother fixed oatmeal, they simply took it to the breakfast table, pot and all. For the Xavier households morning meal, hot cereal required its own porcelain serving bowl. Considering how lackluster oatmeal could be, Frank had to admit that the bowl did give it a much better presentation. Sean came through the kitchen to assist with food transport.

Following Frank's lead towards the dining room, the ginger espoused, "I can't wait for this to be over."

Frank came back with, "What do you care? You already went to the dentist in June."

"Dude, Cape Fear is playing," Sean emphasized. "As soon are you guys are sprung from your misery."

"Please," Frank rolled his eyes, "I haven't been shaking over the dentist since the second grade."

"Excellent." Stealthily bypassing the Irish pair, Erik held the swinging door open for them. "Then, you in all your big boy wisdom can set a good example for Joey to keep his fears bay."

"Sir, yes, sir," Frank responded dutifully.

In the dining room, only Alex sat at the table. By the time they finished arranging the food, Charles came in with Joey. Hank and Raven entered after everyone claimed their chairs.

"Is Becky still getting ready?" Charles inquired.

With a grim expression, Raven informed, "She says she's not hungry."

Hank added, "And it's something we, unfortunately, can't force."

Erik immediately said, "Pardon me for a moment," before rising from his seat.

Climbing the steps two at a time, the Headmaster made it to the second level shortly. With the door to the bedroom he sought partially open, he slipped his fit frame inside. He stood in place for a moment, taking in the huddled figure who laid in a taut lump on the bed. Though she faced the opposite direction, Erik identified the ripples of tension pervading her too plentifully for one so young.

So deep into the trenches of her own mind, her telepathy gave her not a tickle about her visitor. She did not immediately react to the strong palm pressing into her back to offer a tender massage. The elder's devoted touch felt no more foreign than the air she breathed.

"Sweet Imp."

Seemingly reanimated by the moniker, Becky turned over, swelled green eyes imploring the man. "Erik…"

The man bowed to gather her in his impenetrable arms. They stayed that way for several seconds before the metal wielder settled himself beside her on the mattress.

"It's as Charles and I explained it yesterday," Erik brought up, dragging his fingers through the loose portion of her ponytail. "As vivid and beautiful as your imagination is, you cannot let it work you up so needlessly this way. Do you believe we would ever allow anyone to truly harm you?"

"No," Becky knew, her voice strained, "but Erik, please… don't make me go. Please, Erik."

Erik sent an arm around her, as if trying to prevent the abundance of stressful fuel from jettisoning her. "Is this your first visit to the dentist without your father?"

"I… I haven't been to the dentist in two years." However lacking in censure, the expression she received from Erik mandated elaboration. "Every time my daddy thought about making the appointment, he just…"

"Forgot?" Erik supplied knowingly.

Becky nodded ruefully. "I wasn't trying to be. But the last time I went, they gave me all these shots in my mouth. It took forever to go numb then I had to get a filling and it still felt gross."

Erik raised an eyebrow at that. "You have a filling?" He detected no trace of silver within the child.

"It's gone now," Becky told him. "It was a baby tooth. But I wasn't allowed sugar for a whole month. I hate dentists. They're the worst of all doctors."

"An opinion not shared by children alone," Erik put forth, giving the girl some small measure of contentment. "You listen to me, Sweet Imp," he kept their eye contact firm as he went on, "the only reason we're taking you is because it's our duty to make sure you're safe and healthy in every area. We're only interested in these dentists treating your teeth so that we can stay on top of any issues you might have, not to condemn you for the monumental sin of excess chocolate." Her round face hinted at a smile. "If you need another filling or anything else done, I'm going to be right there and I will see to it that any potential pain is kept at a minimum. You're a good girl who eats her vegetables and brushes her teeth without us having to twist your arm. I see no reason to deprive you of treats."

Becky moved to hug him around the neck. "Thank you, Erik! I'm always safe when I'm with you."

"Safest." Erik kissed the top of her head. "Now, think you might be able to stomach a bowl of oatmeal? Maybe toast with a dollop of honey?"

"Kay," the green-eyed girl agreed.

Slim lass latched to him, Erik eased off the bed with her. He only delayed their trek to the dining room long enough for Becky to grab Eliza.

As if programmed with a curl detecting radar, Joey whipped his head away from his Kix to eagerly remind, "Becky, Becky, it's Picture Day!"

"Picture Day?" echoed Frank, shooting lighthearted accusatory stares at the adults. "I thought we were going to the movies later. Are you guys conning us into a photoshoot?"

Alex asserted, "I am not going back upstairs for a tie."

"Don't be so paranoid, gents." Developing an impish glint in his eyes, Charles appeared to remember something. "Good grief, I very nearly forgot my camera. You're all going to look so adorable with the dentist."

"Charles Xavier," Raven warned, not entirely convinced he spoke in jest.

Hank commented, "So glad we met after I got my glasses…"

"Don't torment the whelps, Professor," Erik retook his chair, keeping Becky in his lap, "That's my raison d'etre."

' Charles softly snickered, satisfied to see any small bit of the day's strain waning. He monitored his telepathic princess through his mind's eye periodically. Even as Becky managed to finish half a bowl of oatmeal and one piece of honey toast, Charles felt the fatigue from a poor night's rest contribute to her apprehension. The oft silent little girl bottled up too much for his liking.

Once the meal of hot and cold cereals concluded, the Headmasters cleared the table themselves to prevent any dawdling from their mutant charges. Erik scraped the excess food particles into the garbage disposal while Charles manned the dishwasher.

"Still thinking about Joey's potential prognosis?"

The Professor placed a tight grip on an assortment of utensils. "The idea of fillings is problematic enough, but if they push for braces…"

"Isn't he still a bit young for those?" Erik reasoned.

"And absurdly behind on proper oral care."

"Charles," Erik brought a hand to his shoulder, getting the younger man's eyes up, "whatever today brings, we'll deal with it. We've faced greater challenges with the kids than this domestic jaunt."

The telepath regarded him appreciatively but formed a cheeky grin. "Aren't we the budding optimist?"

Erik eyed him warningly. "Aren't we yearning for a mouthful of vinegar?"

When the nine met up in the garage, the elders determined it best to take their youngest two in separate vehicles. They did not want to risk Joey experiencing the effects of Becky's nervous energy. Raven rode in the passenger seat of Erik's sedan, giving Becky enough legroom in the back to stretch out horizontally. The little girl laid her head in Hank's lap, keeping both her arms around Eliza. Her brother's lulling caresses of her hair and back led to Becky dozing off within five minutes of Erik starting the vehicle.

Initially concerned that Joey would be bothered by the separation from his devoted playmate, getting to ride with the older boys sufficiently distracted the eight-year-old. Charles took him, Sean, Alex, and Frank in his gray Plymouth. As with his current attire of jeans and a pullover sweater, the car served discretionary purposes. The outfit gave the Professor a myriad of positive reactions from his boys, so accustomed to seeing him in what they described as his 'dapper threads'.

Sean joined Charles up front, trying to sell him on Cape Fear's educational value. Frank and Alex took the backseat with Joey and Dickon in the latter's lap. Frank brought a travel companion in the form of his Superman action figure. Charles noticed the bizarre bookmark Sean carried in his steadily filling notebook. A stop sign allowed the Englishman to take a closer look, realizing the bookmark to be a depiction of Chernabog from Fantasia. While the Professor had to wonder where in the world his pupil happened upon such a specific novelty, Charles could not help delighting in it.

"Joe, careful," Alex cautioned the shorter blonde, who leaned in too hard against the window for the plasma flinger's liking. "If I have to dive through that glass after you, I'm sitting on you the rest of the way."

"Oh, sorry, Al." Though the captivated child ceased pressing his entire face against the transparent surface, his wide-eyed gazing continued. "All those people…"

Glancing out of his own side window at the dogwalkers, chattering mothers with side-by-side baby carriages, joggers, bicyclists, Frank genuinely wondered, "What people?"

"All of 'em," Joey declared. "Today's Saturday, right?"

Charles replied, "All day long, little one."

"Just look at their clothes." Joey darted eyes in every direction he could. "They're all dressed for Sunday."

"Trust me, that's not half as dolled up as rich folks can get," Frank stated. "You've seen Charles and Erik's sharp suits."

Joey simply reasoned, "I thought all school principals wore that stuff, 'cept Charles and Erik are good looking and have all their hair." Snickers from Charles and the older lads ignited, but Joey's attention remained with all things external. "Their houses are huge! What's that?"

Frank saw the lengthy brown and white structure he meant. "That's the train station."

"Ooh, does it go under the ground?" Joey asked excitedly.

"Nope, to another planet," Frank told him, "called Manhattan."

"Manhattan is the much larger city, little one," Charles properly elaborated. "Many people who live here work there. They use the train to get back and forth."

Joey wondered, "How come they don't live in," he sounded out the name, "Man-Hat-Tan?"

Frank claimed, "There are weirdos who like to work in the big city but not live there."

"Or they want to live in a real house," Sean pointed out, "and not an expensive city apartment."

Joey wrinkled his nose. "Who's want a teeny apartment 'stead of a great big house? 'Specially one of these."

Charles asked him, "Fancy any of them more than our house, lamb?"

"Uh," Joey replied without pause. "No house's prettier than ours, Charles. I don't wanna live anyplace else in the whole world."

However softly he spoke it, Charles caught Alex's fond utterance of, "Tell me about it, pal."

The excursion ended too quickly for some but lasted not long enough for others in the mutant brood. Having already ventured into Scarsdale previously, Erik's sedan kept up with his fellow Headmaster without issue. They pulled into the mostly empty parking of the quaint cottage style property. Even as she awoke, Becky instinctively clung to Hank as if doing otherwise would lead to her immediate drowning. As soon as Raven got out of the sedan, she began caressing the younger girl's back.

When their driver approached, Hank unconsciously inched away with the feeble claim,'/'s still waking up."

Raven repositioned herself in a manner that resembled a human shield, giving the metal wielder a side glance.
Rigid expression ever unreadable, Erik merely bobbed his head.

Alex placed Joey beside Frank so he could get out of the car first. When Frank stepped out via his door, Alex reached in to retrieve the youngest fledgling. Charles sent him a glimpse of approval for the maneuver.

"No," the plasma flinger denied Joey's gestures of wanting down, "we have to hang onto each other."

Joey nodded his quiet compliance and accepted Dickon from him. He smiled when Frank made his Superman fly near him. Alex experienced relief, possessing no desire for the mini blonde's day to consist of dental poking and bottom throbbing.

"Do not stray," Erik commanded, "any of you."

"Or what, we'll be run over by a crabby postman?" A single gaze from the Polish Headmaster made Frank instantly amend, "Yes, sir."

Sean strode alongside Charles as the Professor guided them out of the lot and around to the front of the building. With most of the fledglings in the middle, an alert Erik brought up the rear. As they passed through the double glass doors and entryway, Raven noted how the welcoming room better resembled an inviting parlor than any standard medical waiting room. Wooden bowls of potpourri and solid air fresheners provided aromas significantly preferable to sterile cleaning products.

"We're seriously the only ones here?" Alex noticed.

"For the next couple of hours, anyway," affirmed Charles.

When the door behind the curved desk opened, a young woman in a white dress and cap emerged. "Oh, good morning." She placed down the vase of fresh cut hydrangeas.

Charles charismatically returned, "Indeed it is now." He stepped up to the desk. "Thank you for that, by the way."
Raven rolled her eyes almost to the point of dizziness. Even before the caramel blonde- of the bottled variety in the shapeshifter's opinion- uttered a word, her stomach braced itself for inevitable churning.

"Miss… Sill, is it?"

She touched the silver nametag the Englishman read. "Short for Priscilla."

"Lovely, either way," Charles put forth.

Smile ready to split her face clean in half, Sill surmised, "You're the Xavier Institute, I take it?"
"That we are," Erik answered, coming to stand right beside his fellow Headmaster.

While Sill began the process of checking them in, Charles' reacted to Erik's critical blue eyes by flashing his own virtuous pair.

Joey's natural shyness took over in the strange setting. He tugged on Alex and whispered something to him.

After he understood, the teen piped up, "Can they play with the toys?"
"Of course," Sill granted without looking up.

"Yeah!" Frank went straight for the bin of Legos.

When finally placed down, Joey joined in along with Sean. Not finding the magazines remotely appealing, Alex lowered to take a few colorful pieces as well. While lacking far less zest than the boys, Becky perked a bit when Raven retrieved a rag doll to play with her and Eliza. Hank spotted and provided the voice for Raggedy Andy. Charles sat on one of the sofas, deciding against objecting to them crawling about on the carpeted floor. Erik watched the merriment as well, though chose to keep standing with his arms crossed.

Sill took the assortment of documents to the back. Ten minutes after she returned, a man with hair nearly as white the coat he donned came out through a side door in the waiting room.

"Sill, what is this chicken scratch?" He made a show of trying to read a chart with a pair of slinky glasses. "I can't make heads or tails of it."

When the children's giggles subsided, an only mildly amused Sill informed, "Wrong spectacles, Dr. Graham."

"Again?" Removing the glasses, the gentleman left them on the desk and unfolded the ones from his jacket pocket. He adjusted the proper frames on his face. "Ah, much improved." He observed the number of on-lookers in his waiting room. "This is the Xavier School? I'd wonder how many were playing hooky were it not Saturday."

"And the fact that most schools don't resume until Tuesday," Sill inserted.

"Thank you, baby." Dr. Graham then mentioned to the gathered, "My daughter."

"Ah." Charles counter explained, "We're still a fledgling academy."

Erik piped up implicitly, "I believe we're all eager to get on with our weekend."

"On that note," Dr. Graham checked his log again, "I have Miss Xavier and Miss Douglas set up in Exam Room A. Mr. Summers, Mr. Tolbert, and Mr. Reynolds are in B."
Sill maneuvered around the desk to guide them through the side door Graham first came through. Room A came into view immediately. Hank carried Becky in while Raven and Erik followed them. Further down the hallway, Sill showed the remaining males into the larger Room B then went back to A to ready the girls.

With Joey secured in Charles' arms, Alex flopped down into the telltale black chair.

When she walked in again, an impressed Sill remarked, "You don't waste any time."

Alex shrugged and arched back nonchalantly. "Better things to do, toots."

"Alexander," Charles promptly chastised, "do not be fresh."

"Sorry, ma'am," the rebuked teen corrected himself.

"I've heard worse," Sill dismissed, "typically from the less courageous facing this chair."

Alex regarded the pretty face positively while she prepped him.

"Well, I'm going next," Frank insisted then made sure to add, "if it's okay, ma'am."

Sill grinned, "That will be fine, sweetie."

Charles with Joey in his lap, Sean, and Frank took the available chairs to watch.

II

Though a month shy of needing her bi-annual exam, Raven opted to get it out of the way to keep Becky from feeling alone. She also volunteered to go first. He did not voice it, but Erik did find favor in the shapeshifter's frequent moxie- for the most part, anyway.

When the four mutants had the room to themselves, Raven revealed, "I didn't have my first dentist appointment until I was Joey's age. We had to make sure I had enough control to keep the jitters from, y'know, making me lose face."

Becky realized, "That must have been really hard."

"Relatively," Raven responded vaguely.

"Well, hello," the door opened as the figure with light auburn hair finished getting into his white coat, "a full family affair, I see."

Erik automatically wanted to know, "And you are…?"

"Not Dr. Graham," Raven noted positively.

"Technically, I am," the notably younger physician refuted, "but I prefer Dr. Casey. I believe you've already met my sister and the walking antique claiming to be our father. He must be having one of his more generous days, placing both you lovely ladies in my hands."

Raven and Becky formed charmed smiles while Hank and Erik stood in a rare feat of twin expressions and impassive sentiment.

II

One of the many drawbacks to solitary confinement included disqualification from the dental care received by the general population prisoners. Alex bled quite a bit from his extensive cleaning, but he required no additional work.

"You slobber over yourself more than anything," Frank explained to Joey.

Throughout the process, the eight-year-old sat in fascinated admiration at the unflinching taller blonde.

Once done, Sill gave Alex the go-ahead to rise. He made a direct path for the sink to rinse his mouth and clean off.

When Frank filled the chair next and Sill clipped a napkin to him. She then took his x-rays and conducted his initial oral evaluation.

"No cavities," Sill noticed in satisfaction.

"No, ma'am," Frank assured. "Not since my last extraction. My mom practically had me sleeping with my toothbrush."

"Good on her," Sill praised. Her expression altered slightly as she jotted down some notes. "One moment on Dr. Graham, hon." She stepped out with that.

"Figures," Frank sulked. "Paste face gets the lady to himself and I get Dr. Grandpa."

"Franklin," Charles chided.

"Dr. Graham," the preteen modified listlessly.

"You rang?" The aforementioned physician made his entry into the room. "Mr. Tolbert, open up for me, if you'll be so kind…" Frank made his mouth into a wide circle. Activating his light and mirror, Dr. Graham quickly detected why Sill needed his orthodontic training to take over. "Have you ever used a retainer, kiddo?"

"A mouthguard. When I was little," Frank recalled. "Just at night, though. My dad's a marine and I was too dense to get why he had to go away so much. It made me grind my teeth in my sleep. I haven't needed one in, like, five or six years. Why?"

"Is there a problem, Doctor?" Charles transferred Joey to Alex's hold as he got to his feet.

Sean glanced up from his notebook.

"I'm seeing some evidence of grinding," Graham told the Professor. "Nothing severe; as of yet, anyway. Are you aware of any new stressors in the boy's life?"

"The boy is sitting right here," Frank snapped.

"Franklin Tolbert." Charles covertly followed the reprimand up with, calm yourself or do we need to visit the men's room?

"Sorry," Frank said faintly.

"I have a son of my own," Graham stated then pressed on, "I think a month or two with another mouthguard could nip this in the bud before it leads to a bigger issue."

Charles looked at Frank then back to the dentist as he determined, "If this is rooted in stress, I'd prefer to try some alternative measures first." He faced his student again. "Yes?" Frank nodded his definite agreement. "If we can't get it under control, we'll set another appointment for next month."

"If that's how you want to handle it," Dr. Graham relented.

When Charles moved to stroke his hair, Frank nestled into his palm a bit.

Sean quietly exhaled his relief.

II

Raven's exam concluded swiftly and Casey heaped praise upon her for such seldom seen superb oral self-care. The heiress feigned modesty but expected no less than a positive assessment. Her mother fervently desired that her glowing golden-haired girl flash no less than a thousand-watt smile for every photo-up. Raven had also learned early on from Charles that a consistent brush, whitening, and mouthwash regiment made those oft artificial grins appear legitimate. Plus her teeth comprised her only flawless feature that required no effort from her mutation.

Once she got up, Casey quickly refocused on his next patient. "Alrighty, Miss… Rebecca." He read through his clipboard, lips quirking. "Raven and Rebecca; R&R. That's cute."

Hank muffled a chuckle at Raven's underwhelmed facial reaction from the quip. He then brought Becky over and carefully situated her in the chair. Though his sister's trepidation had subsided some, she still took a moment to loosen her grip on Hank's jacket.

Before he could attach the child's dental napkin, Casey suggested, "Could Big Brother hang onto Dolly maybe?"

Becky indicated the porcelain figure proudly. "Her name is Eliza."

Casey did not hesitate to amend, "Eliza."

"I've got her, Becca Bear," Hank promised, taking the doll to cradle.

When Raven gave him an adoring look over the delicate gesture, the Ivy Leaguer struggled to keep from blushing.

After Casey got the cloth napkin clipped on her, Becky reached out imploringly. "Erik."

The summoned elder had her small hand in his grasp without delay. He stationed himself to Becky's left as closely as he could. Erik's unyielding eyes kept Casey under a magnifying glass with every minute move he made to exam his fledgling from x-rays onward.

Benign smile in place, the young dentist requested, "Open big now, please."

Weit öffnen, Erik...

Bruises developed from the ropes that bound him to the heavy sloping apparatus. His every wriggle made the taut restraints cut into his frail forearms and ankles. Still, any inflictions from the ropes numbed in comparison to the steel device that forced his jaws apart. His wails of agony did nothing to drown out the gratified chortling of the physician that hovered over him.

Raven exchanged a look with Hank at the Headmaster's faraway countenance.

A single whimper from his charge place Erik firmly in the present. "Don't hurt her!"
Flinching at the abrupt censure from the older male, Casey quickly reassured, "Sorry, sorry, the- the gag reflex can be very sensitive."
"Then, you need to be very, very cautious," Erik's stormy eyes coupled with his frigid tone, "Doctor."

"Yes, yes, without a doubt." Casey faced the curly-haired girl again. "My humblest apologies, angel."

"It's okay," Becky smiled softly.

The exam continued without incident and Casey eventually announced, "I am happy to decree, you are cavity free." Becky beamed ecstatically. "With only two baby teeth left to go. Other than that, Miss Douglas here—"
Erik had the napkin undone and the little girl in his grasp hastily. "Write down any pertinent information and have it ready by the time we're done checking out." He glanced at Raven and Hank long enough to tilt his head in the direction of their exit. "Come."

Hank caught up with the departing metal wielder to give Eliza back to Becky.

"Thank you," Raven enunciated to Casey, not that she expected Erik to catch her dissatisfied tone. Or care.

"Take care, Miss Xavier," Casey waved after her.

II

Dr. Graham took Joey's x-rays, but determined it best to send Sill back in to initiate the oral assessment. Alex and Charles stood on either side of the chair the little blue-eyed boy currently occupied. Joey mainly watched Sean and Frank act out Superman and Dickon thwarting the vile potted plant monster. Sill's kind features and genial speaking voice earned her Joey's line of sight and he opened his mouth on her simple request.

Whenever she swapped out one of her instruments for another, Sill wanted to know, "Am I hurting you, baby?"
Joey shook his head every time. "Uh uh."
"Looks like we have some tender gums here," Sill spotted. She turned to Charles. "Have you noticed any bleeding at meals or when he brushes?"

"I'm afraid so," the Professor replied, running fingers through Joey's hair.

With an understanding nod, Sill said, "I'm going to prescribe a mild oral rinse that should help. I see some light plaque buildup as well, but nothing regular brushing after meals won't fix." She asked Joey, "Can you do that for me?"

"Yes, ma'am," the short blonde answered.

Sill grandly expressed, "If only I had the fortune of a pack of Prince Charmings in the office every day."

Sean gave Frank a teasing poke when the younger boy smoothed his hair back suavely.

Charles peered over and winked at the pair.

Sill conducted Joey's overdue cleaning as gingerly as she could. The tyke had Charles and Alex's hands to squeeze during the more uncomfortable moments, but he managed to stay motionless for the most part. Once the process finished, many internal sighs of relief resulted.

United in the waiting room again the Headmasters went over billing and discussed further details about the children with Sill. Dr. Graham offered the freed patients their choice of prizes. Joey went straight for the dental coloring book that came with a five-pack of crayons attached. Becky picked a pink glow-in-the-dark bracelet and Raven a purple one. Sneering at Frank's parachute man, Alex selected a sheet of stickers that he let Becky and Joey divide between themselves.

With time yet before they needed to head for the cinema, the duo of cars sought out other relatively inconspicuous attractions within the small city. Since Sean knew well he had no chance with Cape Feare, he got the choice of stopping off at a bookstore they passed earlier. As Charles had sensed, only a handful of patrons ambled around. He and Sean quickly became a perusing pair. Hank looked around with an arm in arm Frank and Raven. Alex and Erik took Joey and Becky to the deserted children's section and sat at the circular table there. Alex held Joey to his chest and patted his back as the nap-due younger boy dozed off. More mentally fatigued than anything, Becky quietly reclined against Erik, who whispered soothing foreign words into her ear.

An hour later with purchases acquired and all tykes more alert, the nine proceeded for the theater. The mutant horde managed to all agree on seeing Jack the Giant Killer. When the film began, Charles had Joey sit with him in case certain elements overwhelmed the novice moviegoer. Some moments startled the boy, but the innumerable moving pictures before him captivated his senses too much for terror to dominate.

IIIIIII

Arms coiled and hands linked, the pairs of honey brown and bumblebee yellow eyes stared at the various images that flashed across the white ceiling every few seconds. The portable stereopticon on the night table projected illustrations from the Green Lantern's intergalactic adventures.

At a peculiar assortment of creatures in the emerald attire, Raven questioned, "What are those?"

Frank answered, "Random lanterns. The Corp recruits from all across the universe."

"Hm," Raven hummed. "I always figured I was born on the wrong planet."

"Uh uh," the boy beside her shook his head, "it's your planet. I just gotta get rid of all the trash stinkin' up the joint."

Gaze still directed upward, Raven squeezed his fingers.

When the masculine footsteps neared the door, both youths moved to sit upon the bed. Frank switched off his viewing device in favor of the reading lamp. In a single shimmer, golden tresses and peach-tinted medium ivory skin replaced Raven's red hair and blue scales. Charles strolled in ahead of Erik, whose magnetism closed the door behind them.

Raven threw both arms around Frank. "He was with me the whole time."

Charles refrained from snorting. "And that's supposed to assure us of his innocence?"

A satisfied Frank claimed, "Works for me, either way," clasping Raven's closest wrist.

Taking a seat on the side of the mattress that directly faced the lad, Charles told him, "We need to discuss Dr. Graham's findings."

"What's to talk about?" Frank dismissed with a shrug. "I thought I was over munching my teeth into sawdust. Not exactly a big deal next to eyeballs that can light the runway and blind the pilot at the same time."

"Perspective changes everything, yes," Charles agreed. "While we would never want anything to become of that dashing smile of yours, our concern is getting to the bottom of why you've begun grinding your teeth after so many years."

"You know why, Charles," throwing his head back in exasperation, Frank indicated Raven, "She knows why," then Erik, "and so does he. There's nothing anybody can do, so what's the use in talking?" He felt Raven hold him tighter.

"That only makes it all the more difficult, doesn't it?" The other three looked towards a slow pacing, cross-armed Erik. "There's no tangible enemy to seek out. It all comes down to circumstance."

Frank eyed the tall Headmaster for a long moment before shrugging. "Yep, is what it is."

"Frank, I cannot begin to offer rhyme or reason," Charles said earnestly. "However, there is no disputing the fact that what your family went through- what was taken from you- was absolutely tragic."

"Cruel," Raven inserted faintly.

Frank nodded against her shoulder. "I still don't think it's as bad with my teeth as before. There are nights I can't sleep, but it's still better, you know… leaving all that; coming here."

"That's what we hoped would come with bringing you here." Charles patted Raven's forearm then cupped Frank's cheek here. "You deserve better, Frank. You deserve to feel cared for, safe, and wanted. That doesn't begin and end on the training field. I know how much you worry about your mother. What you need to know is that we're going to stay on top of her treatment; ensure she's alright.'

Frank peered into the Professor's face with elation covering his own. "You will?"

"We are," Charles emphasized. "And your job, Child of Light, is to rest easy."

"Which you'd better be doing in the next fifteen minutes," added Erik pointedly.

"Aw, come on," the pre-teen moaned. "I have a good forty-five minutes left."

"Not if we're to get an early session in," Erik said furtively, "with my throwers."
"… As in knives?" Frank gaped.

"Unfortunately, you still need to put on a tad more muscle for the axes," the Polish Headmaster said wryly.

Frank threw up his fists in victory. "Yeah!"
Raven playfully rolled her eyes. "Right to sleep, I'm so sure." She pecked Frank's cheek, "Goodnight, Grooviest Lantern," before standing from the bed.

"See you in the morning, Queen Lantern," he returned.

As the shapeshifter ambled by with a light skip in her step, a flummoxed Erik remarked, "The adolescent jargon of these United States…"

With a shake of his head, Charles waited for Frank to prop his head on top of the pillows. The telepath then snugly arranged the comforter around the thin boy. After Charles stood and stepped back, Erik approached to mess Frank's hair. As the elders departed, the metal wielder clicked the lamp off with a flick of his wrist.

IIIIIII

Late September 1962

Last of the torturous terms copied in a neat vertical row, the eight-year-old let the pencil fall on top of the loose leaf paper. As if he had been forced to sketch the assignment in stone with searing charcoal, he shook and flexed his hand. Going into the bottom drawer of his desk, the boy retrieved a peanut butter cookie from his plethora of collected food items. The mansion never slacked once when it came to meals or even basic snacks. When someone did not feel well, an effort was made for them to eat whatever they could handle. Dessert got withheld, but only when plates went unfinished. Erik could get especially uncompromising about that. None of that knowledge helped by nightfall, however, when Joey's eyes shut and the burn of a hollow belly taunted him.

Unpleasant thoughts mounting, Joey pushed back from his chair and left his room after securing the drawer. With the master bedroom deserted, the tyke tried the first floor. When he could not locate the mutant elder he sought in the study, Joey started to petition the man's mind until recollection set in about his present location.

II

Against the crisp stripes of blue that showed through the clouds, the young Banshee swept across the atmosphere in a majestic aerial feat. At least, in the eyes of his twelve-year-old spectator. Tucked between the two Headmasters, Frank watched with tremendous enthusiasm. He gauged the adults every so often. Erik's countenance uncannily reflected censure and veneration while Charles oozed pride yet a sliver of disquiet over the teenager's every shriek.

The Professor's enthralled expression depleted at who he sensed at the base of the satellite dish. Joseph? He peered over the edge to see the yellow-haired tot attempting to ascend the iron ladder. Joseph, no-no, get down from there.

Joey gazed up. But I wanna stay with you.

I'll be down in a moment. It's too dangerous for you to be up here.

Frank gets to watch Seanie…

Do not argue with me, young man. Charles' reprimanding tone lightened as he promised, I'll be right with you. Now, please, get down. Satisfaction wafted through the telepath when the small boy finally lowered onto terra firma.

Charles?

At his fellow Headmaster's questioning glance, Charles explained, Joey wanted to take in the view with us. Honestly, he tried to scale the satellite on his own.

Erik appeared more intrigued than amused. A brazen bairn when he wants to be…

Knees drawn to his chest, Joey sat in the grass, rocking against the bottom of the high structure. When tedium and exclusion overtook his thought process, waves of static began to echo from his tiny form.

Rapidly detecting the electricity in such proximity to the metal, Erik alerted, Charles, stop him before he electrocutes the tower.

Biting back a swear, the mental mutant hastened to reach the ground. "Joey, calm down. I'm here- I'm coming." The child rushed to his at the man's voice. Less than two seconds on the grass, Charles had him scooped up into his clutch. "It's alright. I'm here, little one." He applied infantile pats to his back.

Joey sunk his face into his neck. "I'm sorry, Charles…"

"Yes, I know you didn't mean it." Charles then instructed, "I want you to go inside now, alright? Work on your studies and I'll get you for your nap."

"No!" Joey shook his head in avid protest. "Wanna stay with you…"

The young Professor gripped his patience. "I need to help Seanie right now. It won't be much longer then—"

"Noooo…" When that particular moan came with another charge, Joey's eyes swelled with panic. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

Overhead, as Sean came in for a landing behind him, Frank wondered, "What's with the small-fryer?"

Redirecting the curious New Yorker's line of sight, Erik stated, "Matters you needn't mind."

The shamefaced tyke's attempt to get down resulted in his composed caregiver holding him tighter. Not until Charles went to one knee did he lower Joey, directly across his raised thigh. The open palm slapping against the seat of his corduroys made Joey release a whimper as his shoulders jumped. Charles used his free hand to hold him in place, mainly to steady the short, slender child. It took only four of the spaced out swats for Joey's fussy static to dissipate. Though pleased, Charles gave him six more for good measure but kept the tyke over his knee.

"Now, Joseph Andrew, are we all done with our fit?"

"Yes, Charles," came the quick compliance. "I'm sorry."

After rubbing his back for almost a full minute, Charles lifted the youngster into a hug. He felt some tears dampen his sweatshirt, but easily detected the source to be more internal than anything.

"I'm not angry, little one," Charles uttered to him, "and I love you. You know that, yes?"

"Yes, Charles," Joey returned brightly. "I love you, too."

Charles dropped a kiss on the top of his head. "Inside and to your room, pet. I'll send one of the others to help you with your schoolwork. I want you studying until naptime, understand?"

"Yes, Charles," he repeated as the man stood him in the grass.

Rising, the English Headmaster watched until his youngest fledgling made his way back to the safe confines of their house.

The dutiful tyke did not slow his pace until he reached his quarters. None-too-merrily, he slumped into his desk chair and gathered blank paper to begin the next phase of his vocabulary assignment. His attempts at concentration became hindered by the minor tenderness in his bottom allegedly intensifying enough to warrant excessive squirming.

"Yeah, Eel, you know pillows weren't invented just for heads, right?"

Facing the direction of the voice, Joey discovered the cross-armed teenager in his doorway. "Al, you're here to help me?"

"Like I serve any other function around here," Alex quipped. He crossed the room to retrieve the closest pillow off the bed. "Here we go. Up, up."

Joey stood long enough for the older lad to place the cushioning on his seat. "Thanks, Al."

Alex took the sheets containing the vertical rows of script. "Yeesh, Charles has you writing these fifteen times each now?"

"All the ones I miss on tests," Joey confirmed dourly. "It's not as many as last week."

"That's good," Alex said favorably. "What's that you're doing?"

"Making sentences for the new words."

"Keep at it so we can squeeze in some actual fun."

Tone becoming chipper at that, Joey agreed, "Kay."

While the eight-year-old did so, Alex uncovered the folder he used for Charles' class. He leafed through it until he uncovered his most recent test and the vocabulary terms that went with it. Joey had gotten more right than wrong- albeit still twelve out of twenty- Alex noticed a pattern.

"You spelled 'elephant', 'reptile', and 'gorilla' right, but you only used one L in 'rally"? What happened to your 'ph' and silent vowel issues?"

Joey reasoned, "Animal ones are easy."

A skeptical Alex hummed, "Uh huh," but said nothing else as he continued to review the different folders.

Ten minutes later, Joey announced, "Kay, Al, I'm ready to play."

Having moved his own reading over to the bed, Alex rolled off the mattress. "Easy, Eel. Let me see." Glancing over the child's shoulder, he recited, "'The wind was swift'. 'Birds can flutter'. 'The room is vacant'… Joe, you got to be kidding me here."

Joey eyed him dubiously. "What?"

"Kid, if my pea brain can tell those sentences are rushed and sloppy, Charles won't even get through the first one without telling you to do the whole thing over. Do you want to spend your next recess in detention?"

"Aw, Al, I'm tired of writing." Joey then claimed, "My hand hurts."

Alex simply countered, "Then we'll do your flashcards for math until you're all better. But no playing until you quit being lazy."

Joey crossed his arms in frustration. "How come you have better things to do, but I still gotta do dumb school stuff?"

"Because I'm the big brother here," Alex answered automatically, instantly silencing his mini reflection. "I've got plenty of my own dumb stuff you're not allowed to do. That's the way it is, Joe."

The sour-faced child glared down at his papers. "I am dumb stuff…"

Ready with a sharp correction for the self-flagellating remark, Alex released a sigh, "Come here, baby," and plucked him up at his armpits. Going to the bed, he dropped him onto the plush mattress and delighted in the giggle the maneuver produced. Lying on his stomach, Alex sprawled beside the forlorn but fanciful tyke. "Let's be real with each other, Joe. We're all mutants, but sometimes it feels like you and me are the real freaks around here. Not just because our powers are so dangerous, but we somehow missed out on the big-brain-from-birth gene. It doesn't help that I haven't been to school in forever and you barely got to go."

Joey shrugged. "I don't like school, anyway."

"More like what's at school, right?" Alex put forth knowingly. "Guys like Frank-Flappin'-Mouth-Tolbert laughing at you."

After quieting for a few seconds, Joey vented, "He does everything so perfect. He makes the best marks, his powers aren't bad, he runs so fast and he can play basketball, he gets to train with you bigger guys- he can do anything, Al."

Listening to him attentively, Alex countered, "Trust me, pal, if Frankenstein was that big a superstar, he wouldn't run off at the mouth so much. I know because I pop my chops like that, too. Even worse sometimes."
Joey's brow furrowed in objection. "No, you don't."

"Seriously, what'd I do before you, little man?" Alex stared into the younger pair of blue eyes that always seemed to view the former inmate in endless reverence. "Point is, I know what it's like to feel like the dunce-cap-kid, especially in this house. I don't let you stay trapped in that mindset because one, I'm the big brother. Have I mentioned that?"

Attempting in vain to appear annoyed, Joey admitted, "Yeah, but I like it."

Alex gently bopped foreheads with him. "Two, you're way smarter than you let on. Eh, shush it!" He used a full hand to silence any dispute from the tyke's lips. He kept a straight face through Joey's squirms and muffled laughter. "Third… you're really not alone in this dumb school stuff."

Tilting his head to one side, Joey regarded him curiously.

Forty minutes later, the English elder stepped into the door frame of the boyishly juvenile decorated bedroom. He spent a few quiet seconds taking in the blonde duo going over Joey's arithmetic.

"Please forgive my intrusion, lads," the English accent finally piped up, "but I believe someone is due for a story and rest."

"Charles," Joey acknowledged merrily.

"Catch you after your Z's, dude." Alex tossed the giddy tot's hair and collected the flashcards before detaching from the bed.

Charles clapped the teenager on the back in gratitude as he strode by him. "How is the studying coming along?" He made a path for his youngest charge. "You two were certainly wrapped up in it."
"I think I know more times tables now," Joey reported. "I did all my word rows with only a few eraser smudges, but I still have to re-do my sentences." He fidgeted a bit as he confessed, "My first ones were pretty crummy."

"At least you recognize it," Charles said positively. "I want your vocabulary all squared away before dinner. If you get it done with real effort, you're free to play as much as you like before bedtime." Joey grinned at him. "Now, about that business from earlier," he settled on the mattress, winding an arm across the boy's shoulders, "Erik and I discussed it. We decided that if you can behave and not let your powers get the better of you, we'll see if you can handle climbing up the platform to watch Sean train sometimes." The man made sure to add, "Strictly under our supervision."

"Oh boy, really?" Joey beamed brilliantly.

"If," Charles reiterated, pressing noses with him, "you prove you're ready for that privilege. Understood."

"Understood," Joey echoed him contentedly.

That established, Charles plucked up the novel from the nightstand. He removed the velvet book and honed in on their paragraph from the previous evening's tales of swords and sorcery. Managing to remain coherent for the most part, Joey's blinking intensified by the chapter's end.

Having indulged him until they finished, Charles kissed the boy's temple and stroked his hair. Naptime, my little one. We'll rejoin the Round Table tonight.

Joey's eyelids shut at last. Kay, Daddy…

Experiencing an inner swell of warmth, Charles positioned the tuckered tyke on top of him. Joey emitted sleep murmurs against the elder's chest.

II

Athletic gear in place for his next round of mutant calisthenics, the plasma flinger lingered his desk after he finished getting his shoes on. After staring at the spot for far longer than necessary, he slid out the wide main drawer. From it, he withdrew a few materials pertaining to the general equivalency exam.

IIIIIII

Early October 1962

How?

Just how?

It all started out as a relatively run-of-the-mill prison break in order to catch a viewing of greater magnitude than a leprechaun dancing hula with Grumpy Dwarf. The late television broadcast of Mr. Sardonicus. One of Sean's more recent spooky gems and a first-time viewership for Frank. Even with Sean having the coordination of a lame duck, the puckish pair made it out of their rooms, off the second floor, and stealthily into the TV room. Admittedly, Frank's latest power development of x-ray eyes had been a big help in grownup mutant detection.

They enjoyed the first act of the black and white film. During a program break, they trekked back to the kitchen for a refill on popcorn and colas. The hecticness began with the happily hyper duo flicking kernels of their freshly popped corn while trading teasing remarks. Their military ancestry seemed to seep in when they quickly widened their snack ammo to include marshmallows, raisins, pickle slices, bread, spices, and whatever else the pantry offered for their retaliation. The carryings-on continued until reality trickled in so cuttingly with the clanking of abruptly animated pots and pans. The boys- made paler beyond the effects of the flour and sugar dusted across their faces- veered and instantly stiffened at the presence of the sorely unamused Headmasters in the eatery.

Between the youngsters' fawns-in-headlights visages and the incensed energy rising from his fellow Headmaster, Charles broke the bizarre silence first. "Lads, I trust you have a very good- or at least, quite interesting- explanation for this pandemonium. Master Cassidy," he noticed the tense twitch in Sean's left eyebrow at the formal address, but reacted to it not, "why don't you enlighten us?"

With darting eyes, the ginger teen claimed, "… We were hungry."

"And those pangs in your belly clearly led to violent convulsions," Erik voiced venomously, "because that is the only reasonable explanation as to why perfectly good food is scattered all over this floor."

Charles tacked on, "When your classes are only hours away at that."

"We just wanted to watch Mr. Sardonicus," Frank chimed in. "We were making popcorn and I threw a little bit at Sean and we- we got so caught up playing—"

"Playing?" Erik repeated incredulously. "Yes, I suppose that's one way of describing this ridiculous behavior unbecoming of preschoolers, let alone a pair of scholars. You both know much better than this." He aimed a pointed glower at Frank. "Only a few weeks ago did I tell you we do not waste food in this house. Would you disrespect your mother's kitchen the way you have Raven's tonight?" The youth made rigid by his words did nothing to deter the furious Headmaster's scold. "Answer me, boy."

Frank flinched and mustered, "N-no, sir."

Erik's censorious gaze landed on the older pupil next. "Would you?"

Inwardly reeling from Frank's shamefaced countenance, Sean managed to answer more swiftly. "No, sir." He looked between the men. "I'm so sorry I let this get out of hand. I'll clean up."

"Me, too," Frank seconded.

"No," Charles immediately turned down. "You've lost enough sleep as it is. Go bathe then straight to your rooms to wait for us."

Erik's near growl of, "Now," made the adolescent cohorts hastily scamper out to comply. With a shake of his head, the metal wielder went into the narrow kitchen closet to gather cleaning supplies. "Spoiled, ungrateful whelps."

"Now, Erik, we mustn't be as harsh as all that." Charles took an oversized sponge to the sink to wet. "They certainly misbehaved, but one night of urchin shenanigans doesn't change what good lads they are. They simply got carried away."

Erik released a sigh as he worked the broom. "That doesn't excuse them, Charles. Frank is from a working class community and Sean has a better head on his shoulders than this. They've seen firsthand what years of poverty have done to Joey's development and they still saw fit to discard an entire loaf of bread to the floor."

Charles dragged the moist sponge across the heavily stained island, piecing together an appropriate response. "They were careless in their excitement, but you have to remember how young they still are. They've witnessed the less fortunate, yes, but that's a far cry from experiencing it themselves. When you were Frank's age, I've no doubt that even half of this squandering would have guaranteed you a royal thrashing."

"A mammoth understatement, Lab Rat."

It pleased Charles to hear a fragment of jest in the older man's statement. "While I agree that they have a pair of ruby bums coming in their immediate futures, I only ask that you don't let the past cloud your judgement with our boys. We still have a responsibility to teach them right from wrong, including not to be wasteful."

The metal wielder concurred with the telepath. They spent the next hour discussing their errant fledglings while restoring the immaculate kitchen.

II

Even during his rather refreshing shower, the ginger mutant could not cease cursing his own poor judgement. His father often referred to him and his younger brother- with affection, mostly- as his two boneheads. Sean definitely felt that sentiment now. All the way back to his bedroom, the tall teen cringed at the image of their mother's face if Sean and Tommy had reduced their kitchen in Hampton to a war-wrecked nation.

Seanie, came the Professor's petition minutes after the lad dressed, not wanting to risk disturbing the second floor sleepers.

Seanie? Not Master Cassidy. Much improved… hopefully. Come in, sir.

Charles did so, shutting the door softly afterward. "Yes," he said of the youth in fresh pajamas, "this is far more agreeable. In my humble opinion, I prefer your face not caked in flour and sugar."

With a teeny shred of humor still in him, Sean quipped, "How can you tell the difference?"

"I've been in the Fair-Skinned Foreign Legion a lot longer than you have," Charles said matter-of-factly. He took a crossed-leg seat on the foot of the bed, directly facing his student. "You're worried about Frank, yes?"
Sean knew well that his ill-at-ease mannerisms gave him away quicker than his mind could, but appreciated the Professor deducing that he did not fear him. "Erik's handling him, isn't he?"
"As he has before," Charles replied plainly. "I know his anger was unsettling, but he would never allow it to make him lose control with any of you. Even if you have difficulty believing that at times, do you trust that I would never allow that?"

Sean nodded fervently. "Of course. I just can't help feeling lousy. I let things get out of hand in the kitchen."
Charles then brought up, "And based on your choice of film, I suppose it was also your idea to sneak out of bed to watch TV. Am I right?"

"… Always are." Gripping his ankles, Sean rocked a bit and hoped he did not blush for how foolish he felt over the childish antics.

"That's highly debatable," Charles countered then focused on the matter at hand. "Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

Sean gnawed on his lower lip. "October babies have crazy horror withdrawals?"
"Ah, I see." Charles next proposed, "Perhaps going cold turkey is the best solution. Starting with no television or movies for the rest of the month." At the instantly crestfallen face, the Englishman added, "Relax, I have no desire to be that great a sadist towards you. However, you have kitchen duty and are to be in bed an hour early for the rest of the week. While I know you meant no harm, you encouraged Frank to take part in this. As a result, classes are going to begin and end late."

With the domino effect laid out before him, Sean bowed his head remorsefully. "I am so sorry, Charles. I thought it'd be fun and not much trouble. I didn't think for a second it'd lead to all this."

"I know, dear boy." Charles offered his shoulder an adoring squeeze before his demeanor grew sterner. "Now, it's time to get the rest of your punishment out of the way." He resituated himself to sit on the side of the bed and indicated his lap. "Come here, Sean."
Head remaining down, the summoned youngster crawled over the mattress until his long body laid over the elder's legs. When he felt his soft pants tugged down to his knees, he gripped his comforter with both hands and braced himself. The embarrassment of the first smack causing him to squeak became overshadowed as the Professor's masterful hand rained additional stinging blows.

After dishing out fifteen smacks- mostly around the teenager's sitting area- Charles determined it done and recovered his bottom. He heard Sean's quiet crying, but felt his anguished guilt much more. Charles rubbed his back only briefly before gathering the redhead into a firm but soothing embrace.

"Everything's alright now, Seanie," the man promised him, sending fingers through his hair. "I'm not upset with you in the slightest. I wasn't happy with how you acted, but I'm not disappointed in you, either." He detected elation from the boy at those last four words.

Once Sean's tears slowed, Charles helped arrange him in bed on his stomach and brought the linens over him. With the teen so worn, he quickly drifted off. Through the comforter, Charles massaged the back of his soon-to-be-sixteen-year-old.

II

Having wanted to stay with Sean so much that he did not bother caring how infantile it made him seem, Frank reluctantly went to his own quarters after finishing in the bathroom. He only lingered to quickly scrub out the tub from his culinary cleanse. Erik's rebuking words continuously repeated in his mind. Raven reminded him of his mother in all the best ways. What possessed him to use her ingredients to start a food fight in their cooking domain? The self-loathing lad wondered what he could do for a crescendo. Go in the lab and shatter the beakers and microscopes for further giggles?

While Charles had seemed annoyed but mercifully calm, Frank could not get over Erik's ire rich face and voice. He and the wizard of metal had spent more time together in recent weeks; training or simply conversing about various things. Erik even seemed more openly pleased with Frank's progress of late. Frank tried to reason the inevitability of him coming up short in the Headmaster's eyes. Given enough time, what adult male did not lose their tolerance for the insufferable New York nuisance? Unless said adult male took off to croon across foreign countries…

Dangling off the side of his bed, Frank rushed into an upright position at the single heavy knock. "Um, it's open."

Still wordless, Erik performed his second-nature feat of handsfree door closing. To his surprise, he noticed the preteen blinking away a non-mutated sheen. He wondered if lack of sleep accounted for it, but did not rule out a possibility Erik frequently considered more likely.

"Am I making you uncomfortable? Afraid?"
"No, sir." Frank shook his head with equal earnestness. "I… I just…"

Erik came towards the bed and knelt to level gazes with the youngster. "Go on, tell me."
"I, um, I can't help Raven with breakfast. I just thought about it," Frank revealed.

"Charles is going to leave her a note explaining things. The kitchen is pristine again and we're delaying the day by two hours, so you should be able to fix a nice brunch with her."

No reassurance reflected in Frank's posture. "I don't want her to be mad. I didn't mean to mess up the kitchen like that. I wasn't even thinking."

Erik placed a hand on his knee. "As displeased as I was downstairs, I'm well aware that you boys did not intend any malice. If I understand that, Raven certainly will. She and the older boys have gotten carried away themselves more than once. Plus I'm not altogether convinced she knows how to be angry with you." A small smile slid across the preteen's face. "Do you understand why I came down on you?"

Frank nodded slowly. "We were up late, made more work for you and Charles, and we wasted all that food."

"Exactly," Erik approved of the summarization. "I know with our rather unique lifestyle, it's very easy to forget the troubles and trials beyond our grounds. Very easy to take all of our splendor for granted. Take each other for granted."
"Mmhmm," Frank hummed his agreement. "Definitely."

"Charles and I will turn this world inside-out to provide for your needs," Erik vowed. "To ensure you never know hunger, the bitter cold of going without shelter, torment from outsiders who fear us."

"I know," Frank said with soft contentment.

"Even still, boychick," Erik went on, "we must never forget that what we have can be easily taken. That there are those going without at this very moment. To squander so recklessly shows a disregard and lack of appreciation for what we've been given. Because it can all be taken away without warning."

"Yes, sir," Frank's glance fluttered towards his nearest window as he spoke distantly, "sure can."

Fighting against his yearn to take the child into the fortitude of his arms, Erik pressed on after a few seconds. "Franklin." That instantly got the warm brown eyes on him again. "You and Sean have an earlier bedtime for the remainder of the week. However, since you already assist so much in the kitchen, you won't be given any extra chores."
While the bedtime mention made him want to groan out loud, the city boy bit back that reaction. "Okay. I can pay for the food out of my allowance."
"That won't be necessary, though I am proud that you're trying to take responsibility." Frank did not have time to relish in the man's satisfaction directed at him when Erik next announced, "It's your backside that's going to pay." That asserted, the Headmaster got up to take a seat on the bed. Frank turned squeamish when the metal wielder gestured for him to stand but obeyed, nonetheless. "Take these down," Erik tapped one leg of his pajama bottoms, "and over my lap."

Groaning internally, Frank lowered the cotton pants and went to his stomach across the mutant elder's waiting knees. He whimpered as his spanking began and his legs must have squirmed too briskly because Erik swatted his thighs and scolded him to keep still. Tired blended together with other emotions, Frank reached to clutch Erik's ankle. Unless the boy suffered from wishful thinking, he thought at one point that he felt a couple of ginger pats from the heavy hand holding him down.

Not wanting to give the child anything more than a warm bottom to serve as a reminder on his way to Dreamland, Erik stopped at twelve hard smacks. He replaced Frank's pants for him then the man fulfilled his own prior wish and scooped him up into his impenetrable hold. He felt the little New York cling at him and experienced an elated rush to know the boy not only wanted his comfort but yearned for it like a small babe. Of the reassurances Erik sent into his ear, Frank singled out 'boychick' as he grew completely lax.

While the growing boy proved more difficult to rock than slim, tiny Becky, Erik only tried harder. At the telltale exhales of slumber, the tall Headmaster decided he had to, somehow, be doing something right. He did question one thing, however. Who in the world was Mr. Sardonicus?

IIIIIII

Twice during the night when the throat burns erupted into coughing spells, the otherwise fit young man felt the chiseled palm press into his back. He heard the instruction urging him to breathe as the straw touched his lips. Alex sipped the cool water until he nearly drained the glass. Slowly but steadily, his normal intakes of air resumed. Any other time he temporarily stirred, he made out the shadow of a lightly slumbering Erik stationed in the chair to the close left of the bed. The third night in a row his disagreeable health had deprived the man of his own comfortable bed.

Alex suspected some residual guilt on the Headmaster's part. The Poland native had been unapologetically critical with the teen for his poor performances during training over the weekend. Despite his grousing at the time, Alex could not blame the elder for his reaction. He obviously expected better from Alex, who had not been forthcoming about his cold symptoms. Another fine habit instilled in him from foster care, especially as his adorability faded from age thirteen onward. Besides, Alex believed himself to possess the monopoly on guilt at the moment. He did not receive long to stew on that notion as sleep overtook his weary frame once again.

IIIIIII

Nutrition army consisting of cinnamon oatmeal, buttered toast, a sliced banana, and orange juice nicely arranged, the heiress/candy striper brought the tray to the second floor. With the door she sought cracked, Raven used her elbow to jimmy it fully open. Pleased to see her bedbound housemate rousing with a light wakening moan. She left the tray on his nightstand for the time being and went to his closest window to divide the blinds. The radiance of the bright fall day trickled in.

"Hey, Sleeping Sweaty." Raven made her way around the bed to the tray for the bottle of syrup. "Let's get the gross part out of the way." Slightly bent over while she poured the medicine into the spoon, the shapeshifter stilled at the fingers abruptly kneading through her long blonde tresses.

Vision blurred and conscious foggy, Alex faintly addressed, "… Mom?"

Made mute by the single word, moisture threatened to pool in Raven's mutated hazel eyes. The spoon that dropped from her rigid fingers provided the next sound in the room, however minimal. As if activated, she quickly stooped to retrieve it.

Sitting up, Alex rubbed his eyes as he became reacquainted with reality. "What's going on?"

"Sorry, total butterfingers presently." Raven popped her head up with a silly smile. She wiped off the spoon with one of the folded napkins and refilled it with the correct dosage. "Open wide already. You're good at that."

"Your bedside manner gets better every day, cookie." Obligatory jabs exchanged, Alex swallowed the remedy. "Geez, thought I was past this lousy cough already."

"Hank thinks the weather is a factor," Raven offered sympathetically. "The days have been fairly pleasant, but these plunging temperatures at night- yay for fall, I guess. At least your fever's gone." She gathered the colorful parchments off the tray to hand to him. "The latest batch of get-well-'cause-we-say-so from the kids."

Alex developed a small smile as he went through the handmade cards, instantly distinguishing Joey's without reading a single word. "They're still doing alright?"
"Even with Joey sneaking in to check on you," Raven replied wryly, "none of them have been infected with your ick."

"Good." Alex noticed the food. "What'd you poison it with this time?"

"You'll have to eat up to find out." Raven collected the cough syrup and spoon.

"Thanks, Rae," the male blonde said before a sip of orange juice.

"Sure. Smoothie with lunch?" Raven took her leave after he nodded.

Once he managed to empty the majority of his tray, Alex took a brief shower and dressed in one of his sleeveless sweat outfits. Hank soon came through- with Erik's accompaniment, unsurprisingly- and seemed satisfied with Alex's clear nasal passages, lack of returning fever, and improved skin coloring.

Alex only wanted to know, "And I'm getting sprung from this bed exactly when?"

Hank told him, "The worst of this has passed, so tomorrow you should be able to rejoin the rest of us at the table and maneuver around the house simply enough. However, I'd prefer you remain indoors a few days more to keep your throat and cough from worsening."

The dissatisfied teenager pressed, "What about activities that require slightly better than a zombie pulse?"

"Right now if you like," Hank answered with mild dryness. "This is a great opportunity for you to get ahead on your studies."
Before the blonde could sprout off a retort, Erik clamped down on his shoulder. "You will not see the inside of the gym until Sunday at the earliest. Even then, you're to have a spotter to ensure you don't try to take on too much too soon."

"Oh, come on! That's such b—" Catching himself, Alex pressed his lips together tautly.

"Wise," Erik remarked knowingly, squeezing his shoulder now.

Alex stayed quiet until Hank finished speaking.

Once alone with his ailing charge, Erik magnetically reinforced the thumbtacks that kept the get-well pictures in place above the headboard. A few smaller cards- most noticeably one depicting a pair of yellow dogs relishing in a whole box of doctor prizes- decorated the nightstand as well.

In the middle of his bed, Alex peered into a binder with other learning aides circling him.

From a short glance, Erik surmised, "American History?"

"Civil War."

"How prescient." Erik sat opposite of him on the mattress to face him. "And what have you gleaned thus far?"

Alex answered with two words again. "South bad."

"Objectivity, the name of the game," Erik commented sardonically.

"It's no big deal. This is going to be the easiest part of the test."

Erik raised an eyebrow. "That confident, eh?"

"Nope," Alex turned a page, "just need to come up with enough bribe cash for Frank to take it for me and for Becky to stick his mind in my body."

"A bribe of gumballs would be a better bet." Erik reached forward, pleased when the teen did not resist having his forehead felt. "Are you aching?"

"A little," Alex admitted. "Just please, no aspirin unless it gets worse."

Erik agreed. "I'll get you a compress."

"Don't you have to Headmaster?"

"Charles is covering for me."

Of course. Alex did not argue further.

Erik left and returned with the damp towel shortly. He folded and laid it across Alex's forehead once the eighteen-year-old reclined.

"I know this... new life is still an adjustment." Erik sat close to him. "You're used to mending your own wounds. Convincing yourself you're well when you're anything but."

Alex peered at him out of one eye. "Are you talking to me or am I eavesdropping on your conversation with yourself?"

Erik made a motion to ruffle his hair but ended up massaging the spot. "Up for some geography drills?"

"Nope."
"Excellent," Erik snatched up the necessary textbook, "let's begin."

They reviewed the physical features and beyond that made up the third planet from the sun until Joey's entry signified lunchtime. The short child basked in the privilege of bringing in Alex's smoothie, sandwich, and soup, which Raven had secured inside a sealed container. Erik left to give them some time together and to look in on the other fledglings.

"Guess what," Joey mentioned importantly, helping prop the tray in Alex's lap, "Hank says no more medicine 'til dinner."
After sharing a high-five with the smaller appendage, Alex asked, "You eat yet?"
"I will as soon as I read you some of my book." Joey waved the copy of Charlotte's Web. "Please?"

Naturally, Alex gestured for him to climb up on the bed. Joey gladly nestled in and flipped away from his current section to begin with the first page. Though he had a few moments of hesitation and pronunciation difficulty, Alex took esteemed joy in how much the little boy's literary as well as recitation skills had improved.

IIIIIII

Acting as Frank's sentient transport to the colossal house's second story, the metal wielding mule listened to the eager boy detail his latest scientific endeavor as Hank's junior colleague. With a tickle as he lowered him inside the lab, Erik mentioned not letting bedtime evade their notice. The Headmaster got the feeling the preteen mentally logged that away better than the fervently focused Ivy Leaguer.

No evening outings ahead of him, Erik went to his suite to get into comfortable lounge clothes. Even before he stepped into the hall again, his ears picked up on the all too energetic creaking from across the way. He used his powers to open the correct bedroom door, allowing for the full effect of his reproachful stance in the archway. Briskly pulled away from whatever deep realm of imagination currently preoccupied her so, the little girl plopped to her knees sheepishly.

"Erik," she smiled.

"Rebecca." Walking in until hardly inches divided them, Erik said, "What have I told you about bouncing on the beds?"

"Um," making sure to sit flat on her behind, Becky came up with, "I thought that was just your bed." At his unamused gaze, she leaned forward to hug him around his middle. "Sorry, usually I just start jumping without thinking about it…"

"Yes, I understand, but I don't want a spring to come straight through the mattress and puncture your foot while you're so busy daydreaming." Erik picked her up to carry back to his own quarters. He swatted her twice as he placed her down then joined hands with the pouting face. "Sit and face the wall until I call for you."

Chin drooping, Becky made her way over to the familiar chair and sat quietly in the designated direction.

To distract himself from the puffy cheeks of the little lass, Erik tidied his bathroom. Fifteen minutes and a gleaming faucet, counter, and tub later, he returned to the main room. He noticed the contrite child with hands folded in her lap as she resisted so much as swaying her legs.

Going towards her, Erik knelt in front of the chair. "Are we calmer now? No more monkey business?"

"No more," Becky responded promptly, "I promise." She did not delay in falling into his ushering arms. "I'm sorry, Erik."

"Yes," he hushed gently, "I know, Sweet Imp. Go on and play," Erik pecked her cheek twice, "I'll tuck you in later."

Becky managed to detach from the man, who held her hand another moment. "I love you."
"I love you." Erik tugged on her slim fingers before allowing her departure.

After watching her go back to her room, Erik went a slightly longer distance to glance in on his common cold combatting charge. When he found an empty space and the same with the nearby bathrooms, the elder knew the restless patient faced a greater opponent than the cold. His nerve-wracking bullheadedness.

IIIIIII

When he pulled off ten push-ups and even sit-ups without extreme fatigue resulting, the teenager took the opportunity to start getting into proper shape. To his relief, he made it all the way to the lower level without running into anyone but Sean. The redhead, of course, asked about him, but seemed more preoccupied with getting upstairs to absorb some ancient novel of the spine-tingling variety. It was mainly Charles- besides, the wizard of metal and resident physician, of course- that Alex did not want to run into. With his symptoms, he doubted if he could keep from projecting his intentions loud and clearly to the telepath.

Inside the exercise space, his leg lifts went so smoothly that he decided to surpass ten to shoot for twenty… then thirty. After he finally stopped, he gulped down almost his entire water bottle. His attempt to go for the crunch machine became hindered by the bones in his lower limbs morphing into jelly. Plummeting, he managed to keep from collapsing completely against the mats, but struggled to stay upright in the crouched position. He moaned as his entire atmosphere seemed to go through a temperature spike. At the shadow that preceded the attentive arms around him, the heavily sweating teenager gave into the hold of the concerned and far stronger figure.

Alex retreated inside his own head, even as he felt himself carried and eased back into his unmade bed. He enjoyed the cool towel he felt next, even with a little shuddering when it got re-dipped into a bowl of ice water. The damp material cleansed his sweat.

Except for instructing him to be still and other soft commands, Erik did not address him until the boy drank at least sixteen ounces of water. "How's your head?"
"Wants to know when my legs became such lightweights," Alex mildly quipped.

"They're under the leadership of a devil-may-care attitude," stated Erik matter-of-factly. "You should enjoy the numbness now. Your legs will make sure you feel anything but by morning." The metal wielder then presented the pair of ibuprofen. "If you weren't still battling this cold, I'd let you wallow."

Alex shrunk under the tone and swallowed the pills. "… Thanks."

"We'll see how grateful you're feeling in a moment." With that, Erik transferred over to the bed and situated Alex so that he laid belly down over his legs.

Chin deep in his covers, the teenager's eyes swelled to near explosive proportions when he felt his sweatpants and underwear yank to his ankles in a single motion. He could not hold back the grunts as the mutant elder's mighty hand peppered his bare rear.

Erik made sure to keep the swats solely on his bottom, not wanting to induce significant aching anywhere else. The blazing behind would recuperate before the night ended, but would give the recovering but defiant youth a harsh reminder.

"Care to tell me what possessed you to completely disregard Hank and I?" Erik questioned as he spanked. "I told you mere hours ago that even when you're ready to resume training, you're to have a spotter."

Alex released a sharp sniffle. "… I-I'm sorry…"

Erik detected more than the chastisement or the cold that made the boy give up any attempt at stoicism so quickly. "I know you're sorry, Alex." He stilled his hand a moment. "I've known that for days."

With a shiver, Alex struggled to utter, "W-what're you…?"

"Do not play dumb with me, little boy." Erik patted his bottom warningly. "I know you're still upset about Sunday. About what was said."

"Wh-why aren't you?" Alex finally demanded. "You've done nothin' but look after me since…"

"As I should have been in the first place," Erik emphasized. "Alex," softness laced his voice, "if I'd paid better attention instead of coming down on you the way I did, things wouldn't have escalated the way they did."

"It's not your fault," Alex insisted with a sob. "You didn't make me think that- let alone say that word."

"And you never meant any real malice when you muttered it. You obviously didn't intend for me to hear it. Certainly not for Joey to, either. You've directed ample cheap shots at Hank. Yet he hasn't hesitated once when it involves your wellness."

"I'm… I'm not even worth it." When that earned him a monumental smack, Alex sincerely howled.

"That is where you'd best mind your tongue, Alexander Summers," Erik warned chillingly. "And more so, your actions. You can be angry with yourself, but you are not allowed to neglect or put yourself in harm's way because of it. You are worth more than you might ever be capable of grasping, boychick. Even if you're not willing to accept that, do you trust me when I say it?"

Alex nodded, trying to wipe his eyes. "Yeah- yes, sir."

"Good." With that, Erik landed six more strikes to his behind. "If you even consider anymore stunts like today, I will make the remainder of your stay in this bed anything but comfortable. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, sir," the blonde boy repeated quickly. "I'm sorry… sorry."

Erik did not raise his hand again except to drag it up and down Alex's back soothingly. He kept him over his lap a few minutes more to massage both his legs before lifting him high enough to hug to his chest. Between his gym venture, the pills, and the sting, Alex fell asleep in the man's grasp almost instantly. Erik moved to fully lay him down on his stomach with a pillow supporting his cheek.

After he came back from tucking in Becky half an hour later, Erik ran the cool clothes over the visible portions of Alex's skin again. The teenager hardly moved beyond the occasional sleep murmur and twitch of his nose. Erik rubbed his back through a short coughing spell then settled in the chair that faced the bed for another night with his patience-testing patient.

IIIIIII

Late October 1962

In a rare event, the mansion dwellers found themselves in like company as North Salem appeared to embrace the peculiar with a passion. Even Frank stood dazzled by how many houses and establishments went all-out with transforming the town into a spooky storybook village. A man who adamantly embodied Frankenstein passed by on leg-lifts for the full towering effect. His bride and their two ghoulish children accompanied him.

Of the various costumes, the Xavier heiress' humanoid raven ensemble garnered a number of reactions. All the wolf whistles gave Hank, her bear of a beau, the in-character opportunity to snarl. Land-dwelling shark Frank snapped his teeth as well. Many coos sounded from Becky's bear cub and Joey's kangaroo attires. Penguin-with-aerial-capability Sean waved his flappy arms at every comment directed at his costume. Alex said not a word to other young men who negatively remarked on the giraffe head he wore. He did save a gesture for them whenever the adults faced a different direction. Erik caught him doing it once and gave him a mildly disapproving look along with an exchange of smirks.

Despite all the detailed sights, Joey managed to keep his calm at all the houses they stopped at. He only had surges at two places. One that sounded like a werewolf lurked nearby any time a group stepped onto the wraparound porch. The other came from a front door that opened to a terrifying phantom along with multiple skeletons descending. Considering the outlandishness of it all along with the other shrieking children, everyone assumed the brief flickering of lights to be part of the effects.

Once the dubbed candy heist concluded for the mutants, they returned home with smiles never leaving the faces of the youngsters over their horde. After everyone changed out of their elaborate costumes and into pajamas, Sean convinced Charles to allow them to set up Candy Camp in the living room instead of the less sizable den. While not keen on the aged home's primary showroom being made into a squatter's sanctum, the Professor could not begin to deny the merriment. The giddy group hastened in collecting all available linens and extras pillows for an enormous fort.

When the evening's spoils began to flow from the multitude of bags, Charles looked towards Erik. What do you think? Ruin their fun now or nurse their tummies come morning?

Be realistic, Professor, the older Headmaster returned, as if any of us will be asleep before dawn.

"Man, the suburbs have their perks," declared Frank. "I'm still not over that one pad giving out quarters. And those people doing the grab bags? I scored a whole buck."

"Look at all these gumballs." Becky unwrapped her small glimmering cloth sack, revealing the colorful orbs within. "The sour ones!"

"I got money, too." Joey held up the dollar bill shaped chocolate bar in gold foil.

Raven adorned Becky and herself with the mutated blonde's candy necklaces.

Alex gaped over the king-sized Hershey varieties while Sean stacked peanut butter cups.

Even Hank developed tunnel vision for the abundance of butterscotch offerings. "Ooh, I love these." He showed them all the caramel coated popcorn ball contained in clear wrapping. "I haven't had one since I last went trick-or-treating in my hometown."

"I like 'em, too." Joey picked up his popcorn ball. "My teachers brought them to class sometimes."

"My mom and Grandma Lydia make those every year," Sean told them, beaming at the recollection.

"My mom makes these the best in the whole neighborhood." Frank ran a finger along the stem of a candy apple. "And the ones with taffy."

Tugging Joey over to lay with him, Alex stared at the ceiling as he blandly inserted, "I egged the mayor's Bentley in one town I stayed in. Didn't stay there long, but that's for a whole other—"

"Milk all around," Charles proclaimed, getting to his feet. "Princesses, if you'll be so kind as to assist me…"
Raven and Becky ceased playing their quiet hand game and led the way into the kitchen. Deciding to dig out their seldom used paper cups, Raven paused to accept her brother's kiss to her cheek. Charles then dipped to Becky's eye level and gripped her at her tiny waist while she touched his shoulders.

Fun night thus far?

The best, Becky grinned surreptitiously, thus far. Thank you, Prince Charles.

Charles stood with his little protégé in a tender lock.

The trio soon made their way back to the living room with ample dairy refreshment for all. With the treat mound in the middle, Erik sat among the remaining youths in a circle on top of multiple blankets. Frank nestled between him and Sean while Joey filled Alex's lap. After they passed out cups, Raven settled down with her head on Hank's shoulder. On his other side, the young physician tucked Becky under his arm. Charles sat close to Sean, who to the shock of no one, wanted to tell the first story. Charles mentally reminded him of the small ears present. Literally without lifting a finger, Erik dimmed the lights. Amidst his audience of sweetness nibblers, Sean went into the tale.

"… When the man got ready the next day, he noticed the girl's sweater left behind in his car. On his way to work, he dropped it off at her house and an old woman answered. When he explained why he was there, the woman immediately said, 'you must have the wrong house, sir. You couldn't have dropped off my granddaughter last night because she died many years ago.'."

Joey's eyes widened. "You mean the girl was a ghost?"

"Was she?" Sean said coyly.

"All kinds of original there, Cassidy," remarked Alex with an eyeroll.

Frank waved a dismissive hand as well. "I've heard a thousand different versions of that old campfire fairy tale."

"Fine, you get the next one, Frank-O," Sean challenged.

Taking him up on it, the preteen took a moment before giving his voice a sinister edge. Though not very long, the story seemed to captivate the younger children and at least interest the older mutants.

"… The next morning, she woke up and found what was causing the drip in the bathroom. Her dog hung from her showerhead, dead," Alex wound his arms tighter around Joey and Hank brought Becky into his lap, "Before she could scream, she saw a message on the mirror written in her dog's blood, 'humans can lick, too' and there appeared the killer, right in the doorway. But as soon as he tried to grab the girl, he went down, smashing his head against the toilet as he slammed right into the towel. With her dog, alive and well, pinning him down, the girl whispered into dude's ear, 'dogs can play dead, too' then she bashed his skull in with her hairdryer."

Becky and Joey heartily erupted with, "Yay," while the others likewise cheered.

Alex snickered. "Okay, gotta give you credit for that one, Frankenstein."

"As do I," concurred Erik.

Frank bumped fists with a highly impressed Sean.

The story exchange only continued after that with Charles and Erik throwing in a couple of European yarns as well. Munching went on as well, but the children stopped with the treats once fullness set in. No one uttered a syllable of protest about pausing to brush their teeth right after. While the sugar kept them all awake well past midnight, the fledglings all gave into slumber by a quarter to two. With the special night in mind, the Headmasters had already opted to move classes to midday, anyway.

It took Charles the longest to give into sleep. Despite Halloween only being over for such a short time, the Xavier heir practically burst at the seams with inspirations for the rest of the holiday season with his finally filled household.