Chapter 17: The Most Dangerous Mutant In The Room

After the incredibly short Shi'ar invasion, it wasn't all that surprising that those who were working to rebuild the mansion — and who later helped with the Avengers Tower — gave Erik a wide berth… with the exception of Tommy, who seemed to have taken a shine to his grandfather since watching him destroy half a fleet of ships single-handedly.

It certainly helped that Erik was doing what he could to encourage Tommy to use his powers, especially as the young man offered his super-speedy help as well as his destructive and explosive abilities in clearing out debris. It was clear Tommy was eating up the attention, despite his protestations to the contrary.

Still, it wasn't long before, slowly, all the heroes who had come together to fight the invasion as well as to do a little rebuilding started to trickle back home. The mansion was basically finished except for personal touches — but those would come later, especially now that the pregnant ladies and the kids were finally allowed to move back in after Noh and Scott had been over the newly-rebuilt security systems. And Kate and Jubilee especially were dying for a project.

In all, it had taken a few weeks to get everything set up, and it was August by the time it really started to feel like home again — right down to the new playroom for the little ones that Scott, Forge, and Noh had designed to be a little kid paradise.

Not everything was replacable, of course, and there were a few losses that caused pause, like Annie's wedding dress, which she had hoped to pass down to Charlie, or Kate's favorite bow, or the copies of Charles Xavier's books — first editions all — that Kate had specially printed for the X-Men.

But despite what they had lost, it seemed that life was starting to return to normal for the residents of the mansion — at last. That morning, Kate was seen at breakfast with a pencil between her teeth and her phone pressed to her ear as she tried to order special edition copies to replace the ones they had lost. Charlie and Chance were playing with the new toys that just about every hero they knew had bought for them to replace the ones they'd lost. Cassie and Tommy were trading jokes as they got ready for a training session with Scott and Logan, who wanted to get them both trained up for when the school year started up so they could be the "senior" members of the junior X-Men — at least in age, anyway. Some of the kids who had actually been at the mansion for a while — like Hisako — would be considered the more "experienced."

And it was obvious that things were getting back to normal when Bobby settled into a seat at the kitchen table and flicked on the news to let it play in the background. It was a little thing, but such a habit for him that he almost didn't even think about it now that they'd only just got the TV set up again. It was almost comforting to have the low hum of news pundits in the background talking about the stock market numbers in the wake of the double alien invasions.

Of course, no one was really paying much attention to the broadcast besides Bobby until the anchor took them to the "top story of the day."

"A ship of obvious alien origin was found in the forest near a private Hawaiian beach early this morning. It's unclear how long the ship has been there, but it doesn't appear to be badly damaged. Authorities are reluctant to say whether or not it is one of the many Kree ships that were shot out of the sky during the recent invasion, but they are investigating the craft's origins."

"Hey, Noh ... that looks like your ship," Tommy said suddenly.

Noh hadn't been paying attention in the slightest and was instead fussing over Jubilee, who was absolutely miserable. The sped-up gestational period of an other-dimensional Kree pregnancy was doing murder to her appetite as well as to her ability to keep any food down, which meant she was both always hungry and always too nauseous to eat — so she was a frequent visitor to Hank's new labs.

But he looked up when Tommy called his name and then followed his pointing finger to the broadcast, which in fact did show what looked like his ship, though it seemed to be in a de-powered state, half-hidden in the undergrowth of the island jungle.

Noh blinked in surprise. "I thought it was lost," he said slowly, then shook his head. "The Kree took her from me when I was captured... I wonder how she came to be out in the islands."

"Well, whatever happened, you'd better go get it," Bobby suggested, gesturing toward the news footage, which showed authorities tentatively trying to figure out how to break into the ship while the news anchors recounted the atrocities committed by the Kree in their attempt to take over Earth.

"Yes, it seems I should," Noh agreed. He frowned at the footage of the people surrounding his ship before he turned to Kurt. "Do you think you could take me there?" he asked. "It would be simpler if we didn't have to worry about a second craft like a jet. It will only take a moment of your time."

Kurt looked up from where he had been teasing Kate by stealing the pen out of her hand whenever she took it from her mouth to talk on the phone. He had been grinning wider every time when she shot him dirty looks but was unable to say anything while she was speaking with her book supplier. He let Kate snatch the pen back for a kiss as he looked up at Noh and nodded quickly. "Of course," he said, before he pressed a more tender kiss to Kate's forehead and pushed her papers sideways with his tail as she swatted him absently, still working.

"I'll see you all shortly, after I reclaim my ship," Noh told the group before he and Kurt disappeared in a puff of smoke, reappearing slightly removed from where the police were still trying to figure out how to break into Noh's ship.

The two men glanced at each other before they cautiously made their way forward. Noh's ship was pretty well surrounded by both news crews and authorities, and Noh let out a sigh. "Can you teleport us inside the ship?" he asked. "I don't know what we will find there, but it might be the only way."

Kurt nodded. "I can get us inside, but if we teleport in there and try to take off, I have a feeling the police may open fire." He frowned. "They are wary of the Kree right now."

"For good reason," Noh pointed out, then sighed. "Perhaps I can explain to them that it is my ship... though if things go wrong, please, don't hesitate to teleport me out in mid-sentence if you feel it is necessary."

Kurt had to smirk and nod his agreement at that, eyeing the gathering crowd of police, press, and civilians. "I will keep a careful watch."

Noh nodded and ran a hand through his hair quickly before he emerged from the trees with his body language as open and relaxed as he could possibly make it. He approached the man who seemed to be directing the efforts, a police captain, his uniform earning him several hard looks as he did so — not just the obvious Kree design but the X-patches at the shoulders.

He didn't quite make it to the police captain before he was stopped by a few officers with weapons drawn, and he noted with some dismay that the reporters seemed to have caught wind of the fact that something was going on.

"Please — that's my ship," Noh tried to explain, though that had the two officers nearest him on even higher alert.

"What are you still doing here, Kree?" asked one of the officers, and Noh frowned as a murmur rippled through the crowd of onlookers, the word "Kree" muttered from various directions.

"I've lived on this world for years, as well you might know," Noh said, his calm tone masking his irritation. "I have gone by Marvel Boy, Captain Marvel, Protector, Noh-Varr — choose what name you will, but I am not an invader. I have called Earth home for years now. I'm not an unknown."

But the group of onlookers only seemed to be growing more restless, with shouts of "invader" and "Kree" and other, less-savory things being hurled his way until the police captain finally made his way over.

"What's going on here?" he asked, frowning hard at Noh.

"You have accidentally discovered the ship that was stolen from me when the Kree captured me," Noh explained, still calm but now acutely aware of the nervous humans around him.

"Liar," shouted someone nearby. "You're Kree! They all stick together!"

Noh kept his hands out, palms upturned, but he glanced quickly toward where Kurt was watching. This wasn't going well. "Please," he said openly. "I'm not an invader."

But it was clear Noh wasn't getting anywhere, and he was about to take a step back when there was a familiar bamf and, an instant later, Noh found himself inside his ship. He glanced over his shoulder to see Kurt there with a slight frown and nodded at the older X-Man. "Thank you," he said earnestly.

"I'm only sorry you couldn't talk to them civilly," Kurt said, still with a frown of his own before the two of them made a quick sweep of the ship to make sure that the Kree who had stolen it hadn't left any nasty surprises behind for them.

Noh walked delicately through the ship and trailed his hand across the hull, murmuring quietly to it as it seemed to come alive at his touch. This was especially true in the engine room, which was nearly dark when he entered it but seemed to light up when he arrived.

"You missed me that much?" he asked in an almost teasing, affectionate tone as Kurt teleported into the room as well.

"Would you like to be left alone?" Kurt teased, and Noh couldn't help but to laugh.

The Kree fighter gestured to the walls around him. "Her records show no sign that the Kree were able to use her. It seems…" He had to smirk the slightest bit. "She arrived here on her own and simply hid where Jubilee and I were meant to be on our anniversary to wait for my return."

"Your ship came here on its own?" Kurt looked entirely amused by the Marvel's choice of hideout. The anniversary location. Of course.

"Apparently so." Noh chuckled and shook his head as he looked around again. "And what's more, she seemed to be… pouting would be the best word for it." He patted the side of the door affectionately. "She missed me."

Kurt shook his head with a little amused smile tugging at his expression. "Will you be able to leave?" he asked, looking around the dim room, which was steadily growing brighter and thrumming the slightest. "Your ship is starting to attract more attention. I don't think anyone saw us enter, but it's waking up, and they must have noticed."

"The engines had nearly lost faith entirely," Noh admitted as he looked over a console. "But these are imagination engines — and despite what we have seen outside, I am filled to the brim with possibilities and wonder, my friend. After all, my Jubilee is having a little one in a few months' time. And my ship… I think she knew before I did."

Kurt couldn't help but smile at that. "What makes you say that?"

"She was responding quite… enthusiastically to my Jubilee flying her when first the invasion began," Noh said with a soft smile, and Kurt broke into a little chuckle.

When they reached the cockpit, however, Noh had to frown as he pulled up a view of the outside — the ship was shielded so that no one could see in for the moment, but he could see that his ship coming to life had, indeed, attracted unwanted attention, even a few weapons.

"How quickly can you take off?" Kurt asked with a frown.

"Fast enough," Noh replied. "I don't want to endanger anyone in the crowd, though."

"Perhaps... is there a way to rev the engines, or whatever the equivalent might be?"

Noh smirked and nodded the slightest as he reached for the controls, and a rippling hum shimmered through the ship. When he turned back to see that Kurt had both eyebrows raised, he explained, "I simply said hello."

Kurt smiled at that for a moment before the police outside the ship demanded that the occupants of the ship cease, desist, and surrender.

Noh sighed and looked over his shoulder at Kurt. "Prepare yourself, my friend," he said. "They will shoot at us, I'm sure."

Kurt had to agree, and he settled into a seat as Noh opened up the engines and, in a quick move, had them shooting off and away from the curious onlookers, all while the police and a few military personnel tried to shoot them down again.

"Come on," Noh muttered, clearly speaking to his ship. "I'll call our entire old team to have a party in your hold to help you heal if you will please get past these ridiculous Terrans." And, to Kurt's amusement, the ship seemed to pick up a bit of speed as they sped off over the Pacific Ocean.

Over the next few weeks, Annie and Storm seemed to be working on the same wavelength. Both of them rushed to make sure that the school was still going to be ready to open its doors to students, especially as a few of them started to trickle in well ahead of the school year. They were determined to make sure that things would continue on as usual — and to prove to both their students and the teachers that the kids would be safe at the mansion despite the fact that it had been so recently leveled.

Of course, there was at least one parent who didn't need convincing, and the X-Men had more or less come to expect Daisy to come around to see Hank whenever she got the time to visit with her work schedule. She was especially helpful to have around when Hank had Kate in his labs, as Kate was miserable as she approached the final weeks of her pregnancy.

"How's little Kristina today?" Daisy asked when she arrived, taking in the fact that Kate was lying flat on her back, Kurt's hand in hers. She looked uncomfortable, annoyed, and ready to be done.

"Impatient," Kurt said mildly when Kate didn't seem like she wanted to talk to anyone at the moment. "We had a bit of a false start just now." He was running the hand that wasn't holding Kate's through her hair and seemed to be trying his best to look as sorry as he could for being the cause of her discomfort.

"Oh, I'm sorry. That's no fun," Daisy said honestly as she helped Kate shift over to lay on her left side before she sat down with her.

The younger woman leaned her head back on the pillows behind her and closed her eyes for a moment. "Yeah, no kidding," she muttered out. "She's not even due for a couple more weeks."

"Maybe she's just excited to play with the others in that new playroom," Daisy offered with a little smile. "Henry showed it to me the other day. It's just darling."

"Yes, well, we are trying to make something good of rebuilding," Kurt said, matching her soft smile. "The old plans for the school didn't have nearly as much room to grow small families — and recently, that seems to be a more common theme."

"And you all deserve it," Daisy told him, her warm smile washing over both of them before she reached over to grab Kate's hand and squeeze it. "If you're up to it, I'll see you both later at dinner," she told them, then tipped her head toward Hank, who had a beaming smile and a new shirt. "But I'm going on a walk in the meantime."

"You two have fun. Don't worry your romantic little heads about us," Kate said, a smirk starting at the corners of her mouth at last.

Daisy laughed at that and nodded before she slipped over to where Hank was to slide her arm through his.

Kurt and Kate watched the two of them leave and shared a few knowing smiles before Kurt leaned down to kiss Kate's sweaty forehead. "Are you really feeling better, liebchen?" he asked carefully.

She nodded, even though she looked tired. "Your daughter seems to think this is a rush job," she told him with a fake tone of severity, and he laughed out loud.

"My daughter?" he repeated.

"Yep. I know she didn't get all that get up and go from me."

Kurt chuckled and shook his head at her. "Yes, my love. You're a paragon of patience."

She raised herself up the slightest bit to raise an eyebrow at him. "Are you making fun of me?" she asked incredulously.

"Only when you say such ridiculous things that I can't help myself," he teased her, though he raised her hand to his lips to very gently kiss her knuckles. "Forgive me; I couldn't resist."

Kate rolled her eyes at him but couldn't help the sparkle of laughter in her eyes before she let out a breath and leaned back. Kurt kept rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand as he watched her, a small frown playing at the corner of his mouth as he watched the expression on her face shift slowly into one a little more like terror.

"Kate?" he prompted when he felt the silence had gone on long enough.

"I am so not ready for this," she said, almost too quietly for him to hear it.

He frowned at that as he continued to brush a gentle hand through her hair. "And what makes you say that?"

Kate looked at him with an expression that clearly said she thought the answer should have been obvious, but when he just held her gaze, she let out a sigh. "Seriously, Kurt — what the heck am I supposed to know about raising kids? It's not like I had a stellar example of family matters growing up. I mean, I've played with Scott's and Clint's, but… babysitting is not the same and... " She let out a sigh. "What if I screw this up? There's no take backs!"

"Kate, liebling, you won't—"

"But what if I do?" Kate looked at him wide-eyed before she seemed all at once to decide that he didn't get it and fell into a pout.

Before she could get herself totally bent out of shape, Jubilee found her way over and slipped in next to her. "Hi," she said with a tired tone. "I was digging through my phone, and I thought … you might want to see this."

"Jubes, I'm not really in the mood," Kate muttered, though it was obvious she didn't really have a say in it.

"Just … watch it before I shove it up your nose," Jubes said with a bit of a snarl to her tone.

Kate blinked at her friend and sighed before she took the phone from Jubilee and pressed 'play' on the video she had queued up. A slow smile started at the corner of her mouth until she was full-on grinning as she watched the compilation of little Katie moments with Kurt from when she had been turned into a four-year-old.

"You … are going to be fine. Stop worrying. It causes wrinkles."

Kate leaned back and let out a long breath. "Yeah. He's gonna be a good dad," she said at last, smiling over at Kurt.

"And you're going to be a great mom too," Jubilee said. "I mean. You raised Noh." She was smirking Kate's way with a troublemaking look in her eyes.

Kate actually snorted out loud and shook her head at her friend. "You know he's older than me, right?"

"That much more impressive," she replied with a wondrous expression. "It's a miracle!"

Kate smirked at Jubilee. "Alright, you — you troublemaker. Thanks for the cheering up," she said, shaking her head.

"I'll expect you to return the favor one of these days," Jubilee said before the smile slipped a bit.

Kate reached out a hand and put it on Jubilee's arm. "Hey ... you need me to return it now?" she asked.

"No. I'm actually pretty good right now," Jubilee said before she forced a tiny smile. "K had some good tricks for the nausea. Now … it's more a matter of not going overboard?"

"Oh, so that's what Noh was talking about when he said you needed 'moderation' or whatever."

"Whatever," she said brushing her hair out of her face.

"Jubilation," Kurt said softly. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"Just frustrated," Jubilee replied. "I'm getting tired of everyone telling me what I need. It's making me cranky."

"You know how they are," Kate said with a long and heavy sigh — before she also gave Kurt a playful glare.

"I do. Some are worse than others," Jubilee said with wide eyes toward Kurt. "And some very grumpy, very old best friends of others seem to have more or less learned the lesson."

"Well," Kurt said diplomatically. "He had nine months to learn it from a woman that's just as snarly as he is. Can't the rest of us take that long?" He asked that last part with a bit of a tease to his voice.

"Learn from his mistakes," Jubilee suggested.

"I'm truly sorry if I've been making you upset," Kurt said earnestly. "You both just seem so uncomfortable."

"Stop apologizing to me, or I'll start throwing whatever's handy at you," Jubilee said as she snuggled in by Kate.

Kurt smiled as he took Kate's hand back in his and raised it to his lips. "My sincerest apologies," he said softly, and Kate smirked.

"You'll have to make it up to me later," she teased.

Tommy and Cassie both were pretty worn out after both Scott and Logan had put them through their paces in the Danger Room, though they were grinning as they headed for the elevator together. It had been a good run, and Cassie especially was feeling pretty good about herself.

Tommy was a little more frustrated, since he'd been so long out of the hero game that he needed a little more coaching than Cassie did, and the gap between them was clear to see. But it was hard for him to keep up the frustrated expression when Cassie looped her arm through his and gave him a huge smile.

"I'm really glad that you decided to join the team," she told him.

He shrugged at that and barely managed to hold the grin in check. "Hey, when a former supervillain grandfather and a reality-altering brother double-team you, is there any other option besides doing what they tell you to?"

Cassie laughed. "I still don't understand why it took so much pushing for you to get back in the game. I had to practically beg my parents, and now, It's really just that I've moved out and they can't exactly tell me what to do as a grown woman."

"Yeah, I was going to ask you about that," Tommy said, shaking his head as he moved his arm to drape it around her shoulders instead, leaning forward conspiratorially. "You spent all that time after you died being not-allowed in the superhero biz, and then you go to the group that's been labeled terrorists? Are you trying to give your stepfather heart problems?"

Cassie rolled her eyes at that. "You know and I know that they're not terrorists, and I'm not going to let something that's not true stop me from being on a team."

"Fair point," Tommy nodded.

"Besides, it's sort of nice to be back on a team with our friends," she said. "Kate's here — and I really want to get to meet her little one. And then you're here, and so's Noh. And I know Teddy and Billy are Avengers, but they come by often enough that it's almost sort of like getting the band back together."

Tommy couldn't help but laugh at that. "Yeah, we'll be on a reunion tour in no time. Playing classics like 'Befriending Kang the Conqueror.'"

Cassie laughed and hit him in the shoulder. "You're ridiculous."

"Always have been," Tommy pointed out, a crooked smile firmly in place.

Cassie shook her head as they got into the elevator and leaned against the wall with her arms crossed before she spoke up again. "Besides," she said slowly, "it feels like something we should do. We started out as teenage heroes, and here there's a whole new team of the next generation that we could train alongside and help to boost their confidence. Why wouldn't we do that?"

Tommy grinned widely at her. "Gunning for the next Cyclops, aren'tcha?"

Cassie flushed bright red. "No, I—"

But Tommy was already shaking his head. "No, no. Don't deny it. I can see it." The elevator doors dinged open, and he darted out in front of her so that he could frame her in a box with his hands. "Cassie Lang, bringing hope to generations of superheroes."

She moved to hit him in the shoulder again, but he was too quick for her and managed to duck out of the way. "You're so full of it, Tommy!"

"Maybe, maybe," he said, nodding seriously. "But you can't stop me!" With that, he simply disappeared at a run down the hallway, leaving Cassie shaking her head. That much definitely hadn't changed.

Which meant this really was starting to feel familiar. A lot more like being a Young Avenger had felt. And she was glad for that.

By the time Daisy and Henry got back from their long stroll, the mansion was positively filled with the sounds of two happily screaming Summers kids. They were still completely enamored of Erik, and he was still completely enchanted by both of them.

Charlie had warmed up to him and was even leading her brother in making faces at Erik, giggling madly when they were able to get him to make faces right back as they climbed up onto his lap. It was a bit of a switch for many of the X-Men dealing with Erik when they were so used to him as Magneto — and here he was letting two tiny toddlers crawl all over him and drag him into whatever game they wanted to play that day.

When Chance saw Daisy and Henry, though, he wriggled down from Erik's lap to run over and greet them, though Charlie seemed content where she was. "Hi Bwue. Hi Day-see," he said with an impish grin.

"Hello little one," Daisy sang out as she picked up the little guy. "What are you guys up to today?"

"Silly faces," Chance reported, illustrating his point by scrunching his eyes up and sticking out his tongue. "Ewik silly too."

Daisy grinned over at Erik with the same bubbly smile she always had. "Is that true? Are you keeping them busy for me?"

"I think you'll find it's these two who are keeping me busy," Erik laughed warmly as Charlie pulled a face for him to laugh at as well.

In truth, Daisy had been watching them all carefully as soon as they'd come in the door, and she'd seen something a little bit off before the kids or Erik had spotted them. She was really only trying to be sure. When Erik started to laugh along with Charlie, Daisy looked up at Hank and gave him a little nod.

"I'll take these little ones upstairs," Daisy offered. "Annie said she'd have fresh chocolate chip cookies." She grinned at the little ones as they erupted into a chorus of giggles, and Charlie quickly hopped down and led the charge for the kitchen.

"They really are delightful," Erik said mildly as he watched the twins run off after Annie's cookies.

"They've brought a new life to this place," Hank agreed as he took a seat next to Erik and drew in a deep breath. "But ... how are you faring these days?" Hank was watching him with a practiced eye, and he knew that Erik had to know as much.

Erik met his gaze for a long moment before he let out a sigh. "I'm getting old, Doctor McCoy," he said. "It happens even to the best of us, I'm afraid."

"How long has it been since the stroke?" Hank asked. "And did anyone try to correct it?"

Erik only looked disappointed at not being able to hide his symptoms for a moment before he leaned forward, his hands underneath his chin. "It was shortly before Mr. Summers returned to lead the team again," he admitted in a soft voice. "And I'm afraid thus far, nothing has helped to lessen my malady."

"Would you permit me to try something?" Hank asked. "I won't waste your time with a barrage of tests."

Erik leaned back and opened both hands wide. "You are welcome to try," he said.

Hank gave him a tight smile and offered his hand to the older man to stand up. "Let's take this to my office, I think." Erik nodded and motioned for Hank to lead the way.

When they got there, Tyler turned to look up at them in a bit of shock. "Oh, I can leave," Ty said as he started to gather his books. "I was just trying to catch up from all I missed over the summer."

"No, don't leave yet," Hank said as he gestured to Erik. "Have you two been properly introduced?"

"We met briefly when this young man helped my Lorna," Erik said. He smiled warmly at Tyler. "It's good to see you again."

Tyler gave him a friendly smile and nodded his head, though he looked a bit hesitant at seeing the two of them. "Is there something you wanted me for?" he asked as he looked at Hank.

"I'd like to to take a thorough look at Mr. Lensherr," Hank said before he turned to Erik. "Tyler has a rather useful mutation that helps him to find any physical malady — and repair it."

Both of Erik's eyebrows rose. "I've never heard of anything like that," he said before he broke into a bit of a grin. "This new generation truly has astonishing gifts." He sat down rather heavily as his gaze never left the young man. "Will your gift be affected if I am using my own powers during your examination?" he asked lightly. "It's a trifling matter of pride, really — but I have been able to hold myself up on my own with them."

"No, no," Tyler said with an open expression. "If there's a problem, it doesn't matter what you're doing to um … compensate."

Erik looked relieved. "Thank you."

"No problem," Tyler said brightly before he simply got down to work, concentrating hard on the task at hand. He started with a neutral expression on his face that turned slowly into a frown, and then, once he found the problem, he closed his eyes and concentrated harder than he had been before, his head tipped to one side as he worked. It took some time, but it was a fairly obvious difference; even mid-way through, Erik found he was able to use more of his bad side than he had before.

It was another good ten minutes before Tyler finally let out a breath and looked Erik in the face. "Well, I did everything I could. There should be some improvement, but I think any major changes would really only show up after some practice. That's to say, you'll need to rebuild the muscles."

"I can already feel a significant difference," Erik assured him, putting a hand on his shoulder as he looked far more relaxed than he had before. "Thank you. Truly."

Tyler gave him a little sheepish smile and shrugged lightly. "It's what I'm here to do."

"And you have much good to do — much more than helping an old man like me ease his way to the end of his life," Erik said, squeezing Tyler's shoulder for a moment before he let his hand fall.

"I don't know," Tyler said. "Any time I can help someone get along a little better is good. No matter where you are in life. I think."

"That's an excellent philosophy to have, and the perfect outlook for a young man entering the field of medicine," Erik agreed. He stood carefully, almost experimentally, and although he still looked like he was moving the same way as before — there was much less of a magnetic pull around the master of magnetism. He had made his way nearly to the door before he paused and looked Hank's way. "If you don't mind my asking, doctor — how was it that you were so aptly able to see through my… compensatory measures?" he asked before he gave Tyler a small, grateful smile.

Henry smirked and tipped his head toward Erik. "I think you'll find that it's impossible to keep anything secret for long around here."

Erik had to chuckle at that and nod before he headed back upstairs, fully intending to join the rest of the mansion residents for some of Annie's cooking. But before he made it to the dining room, he passed by K and Elin on their way as well, and he tipped his head at both of them in greeting.

K looked him up and down openly before she tipped her chin up at him. "So what's the story, Mr. Lensherr? You finally decide to quit acting like you can't wait to pull on my metal?"

He looked surprised for a moment before he actually let out a bit of a chuckle. "No, nothing like that," he assured her.

"Then come on, tell me. What gives?" she asked frankly. "I couldn't get within twenty yards without feeling like I had to fight to keep upright. Now … not so much. Have you decided to relax, or did you realize I'm not out to get you?"

He tipped his head at her and looked genuinely apologetic. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," he promised. "That was not my intention. But until recently, it was the only means by which I could... " He paused and seemed to think it over. "Remain upright myself," he admitted at last. "But that delightful young Tyler of yours has quite the gift."

K nodded her head slowly. "What was the trouble?" she asked as she fell into step beside him. "If you don't mind sharing, and now that it's in your rearview mirror."

He sighed. "I'm afraid I'm getting old," he said.

"You and me both," she teased lightly. "Join us while we wait? Logan and Scott should be back soon."

"I'd be glad for the company," he said as he gestured toward the nearest seat.

Bobby was the only other person in the room as they came in to have a seat. Once again, he was watching the latest newscast as the man on screen talked animatedly about the 'incident' in Maui — with fresh footage of Noh and Kurt as they tried to retrieve the ship peacefully.

Elin was snuggling and smiling up at them as the adults half-watched the footage in silence for a while, and the anchors immediately drew up the wrong conclusions. Already, they were starting to point the finger toward the X-Men to try and lay blame for the Kree invasion.

"This …" K let out a heavy sigh and shook her head as Elin resettled herself. "...can't be good."

"No, it can't," Erik agreed, his chin in his hands as he leaned forward and let out a long and weary sigh.

"Can't seem to make it ten years without a major brou-ha-ha," K said quietly before she turned to her little girl and began to lightly tickle her, just to get her to smile. "Less when you figure in these guys."

"Ten years seems an optimistic count by my reckoning," he agreed with something like a smirk. "And since the advent of the 24-hour news cycle and the witch hunts they call investigatory panels…" He let the sentence trail off, though the flash of anger in his eyes was still there.

"I don't know how many actual wars I have left in me," K muttered, and her smile had slipped a little. "These battles are more than enough. But this — it's like they want a war."

Erik was silent for some time as he watched the broadcast. Finally, carefully, he said as he turned his attention to her and the little one, "We mustn't give them the war they want." But it was clear he was choosing his words with extreme precision, trying hard not to backtrack on his promise to uphold Charles' vision so very soon after he'd given that promise to the X-Men.

"No, of course not," she agreed before she glanced up at him with an open expression. "Never give anyone what they want." She held his gaze for a moment and then began to smirk. "Turn it around on them and make them feel like assholes. Much more fun."

"I think I'll leave that to you," he said, shaking his head and sure that the X-Men would not want him speaking on their behalf.

"I don't want to see these guys — this team — pulled into the blame game," K said with a little shake of her head. "And it seems like that's all that ever happens." She frowned a bit deeper and turned toward him more fully. "What do you think would happen if the X-Men just ... stopped?"

"After all the work they've done to better this world? I would fear for its future," Erik said with a sigh. "I would hope you aren't thinking of throwing in the towel?"

"No," K said distractedly as Elin pulled on her hair. "I'm just wondering if they have any idea at all. I've seen both sides, and I don't think people get it."

"It's been my experience that most don't understand what they haven't experienced themselves," Erik agreed.

"And there would be extra war criminal charges levelled if anyone were to give them any life experiences." K said casually as she played with Elin and shook her head. "Pity."

Erik gave her a bit of a sideways glance and couldn't help the smirk. "Yes, the consequences of that path are rather… sharp."

She looked up at him with an even more open expression on her features. "I suppose I shouldn't poke the supervillain, eh?"

"Hopefully no longer a villain," he pointed out, though with a twinkle in his eye, he added, "but perhaps still super."

"Well, public opinion says you're probably not even the most villainous evil mutant in the room," K said with a little laugh.

"And do you always put such stock in the opinions of the masses?" he asked, leaning forward slightly and genuinely engaged in the conversation.

"Never," she said with a soft smile. "I just thought I'd put some perspective on it."

He shook his head as the newscast moved on to talking about the cleanup of the invasion and the international outcry over what had happened — including a few measures being debated by several governments to better "keep track" of the mutants

"Here we go again," K said with a sigh before she turned his way again. "Wanna go hide out in the woods? Help me babysit?"

"And leave the rest of the team to the rabble-rousing reporters and government idealogues?" he asked with a single raised eyebrow — though he wasn't entirely surprised by the suggestion, considering who she was married to and the mutation she had. He was, however, surprised that she would ask him to help with the little one, all things considered.

"I spent weeks away from my baby — protecting these ungrateful, racist idiots," she said. "If they think I was mama bear before, wait for them to try to get between me and my baby or my sweetheart again. Heads. Will. Roll." She finished her sentence with a definite growl.

He tipped his head to the side. "Perhaps you do need some time in the woods with just your small family," he said mildly. "I doubt the execution of the press would do much to further our cause."

"Are you kidding me? They'd throw a parade," she countered.

He chuckled. "I think for the sake of the sanity of everyone else in this mansion, you shouldn't be heard discussing such things with me," he teased lightly. "They'll never be able to sleep again thinking you or I may go rogue — or heaven forbid, work together."

"Didn't think you'd be afraid to simply talk with little old me," K replied. "We're just spinning old folks yarns anyhow."

He chuckled quietly. "I think if you knew anything of my history — at least the finer details — you would understand my reluctance." He gestured around the room. "I am trying to redefine my legacy, not fall back into old patterns."

"And I'll still likely keep teasing," she admitted with a nod.

"Then you have a taste for danger," he said, still chuckling.

"If you knew my history, you'd know … yes. That's exactly it."

He gestured toward the television, where the reporters were still hung up on discussing the Kree invasion and what had led up to it, what had happened, the ongoing investigations… "I think if these people have their way, we'll all know your history. Yours and the other two who were seen with you in that broadcast."

"Well," K said as she leaned further back in her chair. "I look forward to learning all about it."

"You mean whatever they make up for you — or whatever they find?"

"I mean yes. All of it. There are large gaps, so … it would be nice to know what they find that I couldn't." She turned his way with her eyebrows raised. "If they can find anything I haven't, I will be impressed. Don't get me wrong. But … this is simply standard operating procedure, as I understand it."

Erik tipped his head her way to study her for a moment before he nodded softly. "That… is my understanding as well, from my own experience."

"So," K said slowly. "anything they come up with will be from dirty politicians looking for a free pass. People in the know that want to distract from whatever else they're up to and whatever crimes they've committed," she reasoned. "Maybe throw me under the bus and save their own skin. Blame a dead boss for their indiscretions. The usual line."

"It's entirely likely," he agreed. "And difficult to combat when you don't remember all of the truth yourself, I'm afraid."

"Ready-made to be highly expensive, lethal, and efficient — but ultimately disposable. Like everything else."

"I hope you don't think of yourself that way," he said with a scrunched up brow.

"Truth hurts sometimes," she replied with a soft smile.

He shook his head at her and leaned forward the slightest bit. "Your focus is entirely wrong, my dear. You're a friend, an ally, a hero, and a mother to those in this school."

"Well, I don't know if I should be appalled or flattered that you're working on my eulogy."

"Let's hope that you give mine far before I give yours," he said with a small shrug, though he couldn't stop the twinkle of laughter just behind his eyes. He let out a sigh and then stood. "But I think I've stolen your time for far too long," he said, indicating the door where Logan and Scott had just arrived from training with Cassie and Tommy. "Thank you for whiling the time with me."

"Anytime," K replied easily as Logan made his way over to reclaim her to his side. He pulled her into a kiss as he picked up Elin, though he didn't let either of them go as Erik headed for the door himself. "I enjoyed talking to someone that wasn't a child," K said just loud enough for Erik to hear. He turned for just a moment, his eyes twinkling as he gave her a little smile a moment before Logan gave her another more involved kiss to draw her attention back to where it belonged.

"You two plannin' an uprising?" Logan teased as Elin attacked the stripe on his shoulder.

"No, just discussing the state of affairs," K promised, though Logan didn't look thrilled in the least at her chatting with Magneto. "I promise, just discussing."

He nodded lightly and stole another quick kiss as the twins came tearing around the corner to run a circle around their legs announcing that dinner was ready, pulling and tugging at K and Logan's legs to get them moving faster.