Belated Valentines update... orz
Slightly unsatisfied with this one, as this is a rewrite from shoddy memory (it was part of all the chunk of writing I'd lost).
Thank you so much for those who are still sticking by this, and of course any new readers here! I'm determined to not let you down and I'll get back on track with the main plots asap!

Charles aged just under three (Carries on from the Christmas Interlude, The Boy and Santa (or Rudolph)

Never in her life would Jean have thought she'd regret wishing to go on a date with Scott. Well, more like she regretted not specifying in minute detail how alone they should be on said date, and how a certain blue eyed toddler should be locked up, preferably rope tied to a certain shark-toothed, metal helmet loving man, in a room made out of plastic. Jean was certain that if she had asked the Santa-Erik in those very words, she would not be sitting alone with Scott in the mansion's dining room, all romantically decorated with candles and roses, being served a ten course dinner by their 'waitress' Charles, who currently smiled his brightest smile while not so subtly trying to steal some corn kernels off of Scott's plate. Her heart melts more than a little when Scott laughs and offers Charles a spoonful of his corn, which Charles took as an invitation to squeeze himself beside Scott and have the teen hand feed his favorite vegetable. Jean hurriedly buries the jealous thought that it should be her squeezed together with Scott in that chair, and being hand fed.

And the day had started off with so much promise...

"But why do I have to go to the shops too? "

It wasn't often Scott whined or complained about a task he was given, especially if it came from Erik. Normally, the only person he talked back to, other than Alex, was Logan, and that's really in retaliation for all the grueling workouts the teen has suffered under his obviously amused supervision. Talking back to Alex was a little brother's prerogative, so Scott wasn't going to pass on any of that.

"Because Angel, Emma and Jean could use a hand. And because it's your turn."

"But we just bought a month's worth of food a few days ago! They're just out for girl stuff-"

"And they could use some back up."

"Back up? You mean like bodyguard? Or bag carrier?"

"Think of it as field experience."

"Did Logan put you up- No, it's Alex isn't it? He's still pissed I walked in on-"

"Stop! I... don't even want to know. No, this? This is me asking you to look after our own."

Erik did an internal dance of whoop when I saw Scott's brows tighten into a determined line of protectiveness. Tomorrow, he'll probably need to have someone teach the teen not to be so quick to trust and believe, but for now, he needs Scott and Jean out of the mansion.

Because tonight, they were going to make a little girl's wish come true, and bag her a Valentine.

~x~

"And and what I gotta be?"

In all the excitement for what they had in store for Jean and Scott, everyone kind of forgotten about Charles, and of course nobody noticed the giddiness building up within the boy. Angel and Emma had left with the two teens about an hour ago with orders not to return until the sun was ready to set, allowing Sean and Janos to begin their magic in the kitchen. Raven made it her mission to turn the dining room into the most romantic space on Earth, while Alex ran around the mansion trying to find every roll of unused 35mm film for Charles' top of the range Canon SLR camera, and any spare camera to boot. Alex was leaving no second of tonight's 'date' undocumented for future reminiscing (read: blackmailing) purposes. Hank went to help Ororo with coming up with the perfect bouquet of flowers, and Azazel was zapping about everywhere for everyone. Meanwhile Erik looked for assortment of metal cutlery, so that the meal could be served via his powers, and the teens could be left completely alone to enjoy their meal undisturbed.

Only... that left no place for one beaming toddler currently rolling back and forth on his feet and tugging at Erik's trousers.

Azazel immediately disappears in a poof of black smoke, and in his peripheral vision, Erik can see the others backing away in a desperate bid to escape. He sighs deeply and props the boy onto his hipbone.

"We're going to make tonight extra special for Jean, you want to help me clean some plates?"

"Kay!"

~x~

"Oh Charles~~~! Guess what Azza found for you~"

Erik was this close to running over to Raven and sobbing into her bountiful cleavage for the sudden distraction she is now.

In order for Erik to finish polishing a stack of silverware in time, he'd given Charles one thoroughly rusty cup to polish. But after mere ten minutes, the boy had had enough, who then proceeded to attempt to crawl all over Erik as if he's the world's most challenging jungle gym. After about an hour of little fingers and toes digging into his ears and nostrils, Raven barged into the room, hands hidden behind her back, and a cooing smile across her face.

"What? What? ?"

Using Erik's long legs as a slide, Charles zipped down to the ground smoothly and ran towards Raven with gusto, trying to gain a peek behind his sister's back.

"Tada! !"

Charles' head tilted 45 degrees in question, and Erik nearly drives the spoons into the table.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Raven."

"What's it? ?"

The boy made grabby hands, and started inspecting the cloth in Raven's hands.

"It's a costume. How would you like to help Erik serve dinner tonight?"

"Yes please! !" "I really don-"

The answers came simultaneously, but Charles excited shrill was loud enough to drown out Erik's, and the matter was settled.

~x~

"Eyes closed... Scott, I know you're peeking, shut them."

Angel and Emma spent their time out in the shops well, and managed to bring Jean and Scott back dressed up all fancy. Jean was dressed in a pastel green dress with an emerald green cardigan that brought out the girl's eyes, and Scott in a dapper deep navy blue suit, that clung well to his growing body, much to the teen's embarrassment, if his constant shifting is to speak for anything. It also looked like they all, including Scott, went to a salon and a manicurist. Alex made a mental note to check and document whether his brother was also pressured into a pedicure.

The older Summers' led the oblivious couple into the dining room, and he himself had to pause to gasp in awe. The room had been completely transformed by Raven into a cozy, candle-lit dining table set for two, surrounded by intricately arranged roses of varying varieties by Ororo and Hank and more candles of all shapes and sizes.

"Alex, what's going on? Why is it so warm all of a sudden?"

"Alright, alright hold your plasma beams. Open on three... THREE!"

The older man lets go of Jean and Scott's hands, and slid out of the room before they could adjust their eyes to the light.

"Wow..."

Jean and Scott stood stunned and unable to move from their spot by the door. At the back of her mind, Jean has an inkling of what may be happening, but she doesn't dare to get her hopes up yet. Too immersed in their shock, they don't notice Charles slipping through the door behind them, and pouncing into the space between their legs, pulling at each of their hands gleefully.

"Hi Jean and Scotty! I'mma be the wait-tits tonight!"

Charles is wearing a little black dress, with frills and lace at the hems, so short a few inches of his nappy is visible. On top of the dress is a white, equally lacy and frilly apron, and to top it all off, a white lace headpiece was tied onto his head, falling a bit crooked as the boy jumps about. The toddler suddenly seemed to remember something and stills, then does a half bow half curtsey motion.

"Come sit down! Dinner's ready!"

"Ugh... where's everyone else, Charles?"

Scott moves cautiously towards the table, looking around the room as if it's one huge trap Alex had set up to prank him.

"Home."

"I mean... aren't they joining us for dinner?"

"Nope! Is for you and Jean only tonight. And I'm gonna be the wait-tits, is that okay?"

Before Scott could ask more questions, Jean cuts in to appease the toddler.

"Yes, of course! Dinner for two, that sounds great!"

~x~

"Is yum, Jean!"

By the time the Charles followed in with the floating plates of the third course, a selection of cold appetizers, Jean knew she had no hope of a nice romantic, private meal with her crush. Charles was having too much fun stealing off of their plates as it lands into position in front of them on the table, and there was no way anyone in the world would have the heart to tell the boy off when he is beaming back at you with a face smothered in stolen food and attempting to explain what he thought about it, mostly with statements like, 'is yummier than chicken!'.

Worse still, was the constant flash of the multiple cameras Alex was using from random hidden spots around the room.

The girl fights back tears while she quells down all her hopes of sneaking in a pre-Valentines kiss tonight, and excuses herself to wash off the pesto sauce Charles accidentally rubbed onto her skirt.

~x~

"Umm... I don't know if I should give this to you... but Charles seemed to think you'd be very happy if I did..."

They've just finished dessert, well, more like Charles had just finished dessert for them, and for the first time today, they had more than a minute alone together. Scott reaches into his pocket and retrieves a little red foiled ball of what seemed to be a formally heart shaped chocolate bonbon.

"Sorry, it's all squished. I think Charles worked hard to save it for me to give to you, and not munch on it himself."

The teenaged boy's face reddens to rival his ruby quartz glasses as he painfully ignores the muffled shouts of his brother and Charles beyond the door to 'Kiss her! Kiss her! !'. He closes the gap between himself and Jean, brushing a flyaway lock of auburn hair away, and leans down to give the girl a peck on her rose colored cheek.

"Happy Valentines Day, Jean. I-I'll get you some non-squished ones... i-if that's what you'd like, I mean."

Jean ignores the loud round of applause and whistling, wraps her slender arms around Scott, and returns with a loud, moist smooch back onto the young man's cheek. Jean felt as if she was floating on air, and she was going to have to give everyone a tight hug in thanks. More importantly, she owed so many hugs and kisses to Charles. If Erik is Santa, then Charles is Cupid, and Charles was the Best. Cupid. Ever.

But that was all for later. Right now, her current thoughts were occupied with how long she could leave her Scott-kissed cheek unwashed.