Disclaimer: Don't own any of the recognizable character, just taking them out to play!

Author's Notes: Okay, so my knowledge of X-Men canon is…bad at best. I've read the paperback novels and the Generation X comics (I was a teen in the 90's and they had Sean, an Irish superhero, lol! My South Boston (my family's a bit…aggressively proud of our Irish heritage) soul couldn't let me pass that up.), watched the 90's cartoon and have seen the movie. So, as I said, seriously AU fic. I figure the age thing is just…yeah, one of those things best not to think about. Also, I'm going with the premise that Alex is Scott's Dad instead of his brother.

The dull roar that filled the dining hall was actually significantly quieter than usual, Ororo reflected, despite the addition of students and staff from the Massachusetts Academy. It was yet another sign that the children understood more of what was going on then their teachers wished them to. Not that it was bad for them to be informed, but it seemed far too heavy a burden to weigh upon their young shoulders.

Laden with a staggering amount of Indian food (Mrs. Benton's theme for the night), each of the large tables were packed with children… save for the faculty table, of course. As always, the next table seated the youngest members of the student body while the older children crammed themselves, elbow to elbow at the final three tables. It just wasn't cool to sit near the teachers.

All through the room, voices sounded, calling for plates of spicy biryani & Chole bhature. Rajma Cheval, a bean curry and rice, and Methi Saag, a veggie stir fry, were always a huge hit and dozens of baskets of Chapati and Naan passed from hand to hand. The little ones feasted on tamer looking lamb kebabs, discretely flicking cherry tomatoes at each other.

At the relatively, peaceful faculty table, Ororo turned to look at her tense contemporaries. Even before the oddness of having a 20-something version of the Professor (not to mention a teenage Mystique and achingly hot Magneto) running around, they hadn't been in the best spirits. The president was due to make a speech either backing or condemning the MRA tonight and that knowledge loomed. Obama had always been a proponent for civil liberties, but the already controversial mutant issue had been dealt a blow by Magneto's Ellis Island stunt.

Still, everyone was attempting to keep up a good face for the little ones. Some were better at that than others. Scott was subtly eyeing Tabitha, who had tossed a spoonful of Rajma Cheval at Sam, who was unhappily wiping it out of his ear. They had to make sure that didn't escalate, as Tabitha's control of her powers was…a bit shoddy.

Suddenly, the room fell silent and heads turned like the tide to stare in the direction of the door. Their three, time-lost guests had arrived, hovering by the door, observing the chaos of the room with no little amount of shock.

It was clear that Sean had been successful in finding them some clothing down in storage. Even Mystique - The Professor and Magneto were calling her Raven - had changed her outfit (something she seemed able to do at whim). Instead of the plain black skirt, sweater and light jacket from earlier, she wore an adorable black mini dress with ¾ sleeves and an interesting feathered design on the skirt. A grey silk scarf matched her tights and her knee high boots were enviable.

She looked lovely, but that was not particularly surprising.

The Professor, on the other hand, had unearthed gray, wool trousers and a gray tweed jacket. The only thing he wore that was seasonally appropriate was his pale blue Oxford shirt. He looked like a cute, but particularly dorky, college professor. That was…kind of apt.

Magneto…Okay, she could admit he was just gorgeous. Almost painfully so. Wearing a form fitting, black turtleneck sweater and slim cut khaki trousers, he looked long, lean and dangerous….

There were more than a few students gazing intently at Magneto, some not even bothering to disguise their open mouthed appreciation. Even a few of the boys were looking a little curious.

Not that anyone could blame them.

In her seat, Emma was leaning towards Sean, smiling slightly as she said, "I'd forgotten they looked like that."

"Hush, woman," he replied, though he seemed to be smiling himself.

"All I'm saying is that the girls are going to terrify them. Aggressively flirtatious teenagers with hormone fueled dirty names…not the norm for them," Emma pointed out and Ororo couldn't help but agree. They'd have to keep an eye on the girls, especially Tabitha and Alison.

Those two would probably leave the Professor scarred for life.

"True enough," Sean conceded, then settled back into his seat as the Professor, Magneto and Mystique mad their way towards the staff table. Mystique seemed to be towing the two men along, as Magneto was busy eyeing the room warily and the Professor was slowly turning red as he tried not to look at anyone directly.

Oh.

He was already picking up on some of their thoughts.

Lovely.

"So," Mystique said, clearly trying to ignore the dozens of eyes focused on her, "Um, what exactly is this?"

She was pointing at a serving dish of curry, which Ororo supposed could look a little odd to someone who wasn't used to somewhat exotic meals.

"Try the kebabs," Sean offered, passing her the plate and smiling at her relieved expression.

Both Mystique and the Professor seemed content with the kebabs and rice, while Magneto didn't seem to care what the food looked like. He simply spooned up whatever was offered and began to eat, barely seeming to taste the food.

Around the room, people resumed their meals, but quietly, still watching the head table. There were several moments where the only sounds were that of silverware clinking or the occasional cough, echoing through the large room. In an attempt to diffuse the tension (at least that's what Ororo assumed he was doing), Scott politely asked, "Can we answer any questions you may have, Professor?"

Clearly relieved, the Professor wiped his mouth, swallowing a bite of lamb, before saying, "That would be wonderful! How long has a school been operating here? Are there academic classes for the children as well as ones devoted to learning to harness their mutations? And what is this MRA everyone is thinking about in such ominous terms?"

"We've been a fully accredited school since the 80's," Scott replied, avoiding the far more difficult question about the MRA. Most of our graduates go on to earn degrees and teaching credentials. I teach maths and mechanics, Ororo English and history. Jean handles the sciences and you, Professor, teach ethics. We also have other alumni who rotate in as guest lecturers."

The Professor's eyes were bright with interest as Jean took over the conversation. "We all have a hand in helping the children learn to use their abilities safely."

"Totally mixed results on that!" John muttered, causing the other students to chuckle.

"John," Jean chided gently, but his humor had diffused the tension that had been lingering in the room.

Even Magneto, so serious, cracked a small smile. His eyes however, remained focused, still guarded and restrained. Tilting his head to peer down at Scott, he asked, "And the MRA?"

And just like that, the tension was back.

"The Mutant Registration Act."

Of course Emma would be the one to boldly speak of the thing they all so feared. The blond turned to face Magneto as she continued, "It's a controversial legislative bill which, if passed into law, would require and enforce the mandatory registration of mutants with the government. Supporters of the act claim that we should have to register our abilities for public safety reasons, as though our powers were akin to guns."

"What?" Mystique asked in shock as the Professor's eyes grew concerned and Magneto's fists clenched on the table top.

Up and down the table, silverware trembled as Magneto breathed, "Identification, Charles. That's how it begins."

It was fairly common knowledge among the X-Men that Magneto had survived the Holocaust as a boy. Though they didn't share his ideological stance, that knowledge did make the man's views concerning the persecution of mutants a bit more understandable. It was one of the reasons she believed the Professor never truly viewed Magneto as his enemy.

"There is opposition to this Act, yes?" The Professor asked, closing a hand around Magneto's wrist in a seemingly unconscious gesture.

Jean nodded. "Of course. Senator Lieberman is spearheading the opposition and since…Senator Kelly's change of heart, the Act has faltered a bit."

"If not for that little stunt on Ellis Island it might have died already," Logan mumbled in between bites of spiced beef. Ororo joined Scott and Jean in tossing the Canadian quelling looks while Emma merely nodded and Sean shrugged.

The Professor, Magneto and Mystique looked interested. Apparently, Scott's attempt to answer their questions had only raised more.

If they stayed this way for any length of time, Ororo had the feeling the three 60's era people would be in for a sharp learning curve.

TBC…..

Sorry for the long gap between posts of this fic, but I was on a non-vacation vacation, visiting the family and didn't have time to write or access to the net! Now on to figure out who's POV to do next! Suggestions welcome!

Comments, pretty please?