AN: Okay so we mighttt of have both waited to do our AP History class projects the last weekend before summer and thus...lack of updates. (I still have mine to finish and school starts Monday...I am a terrible student ah oh well) We're still RPing so it's just the problem of editing...I think we're at 62,000 word or something on it. The more i write the more OOC Charles seems to get though...but as long as you guys don't think he's out of character I guess it's okay.
There drive to the plaza was quick and Charles got out of the car telling the others they could go wherever they please, but to keep an eye on Sean. He turned to Erik who was just opening the door as Alex sulked against the vehicle.
"There is a book store around here if I remember correctly, I thought we could find something helpful there," he gave Erik a smile. "Alex, I expect you remain in the store the whole time doing nothing but wait patiently until we're done. Remember - I can hear you thoughts."
Havok swallowed nervously, "Alright Prof, can do."
"Thank you," Charles sighed and walked into the small store.
Raven glanced at Sean, who still seemed a bit shaken. She would have to get him to forget about the incident at the hardware store. She decided on something that never failed to distract anyone.
"Hey… You guys want to go get some ice cream? There's a shop over there, come on."
She grabbed Sean's hand and walked over, getting three ice cream cones for them.
Sean had perked up at the sight of ice cream and after getting a slight sugar buzz. He faintly listened to Raven and Darwin chat but couldn't help but feel unable to participate in the conversation. Being the youngest out of everyone, they all treated him like a baby, and as much as he loved the professor- Charles was the worst. He glanced around quickly hoping the prof. didn't hear that thought. The guy really was getting crazily hormonal lately and Banshee wondered how Erik was handling it.
"Okay then…" Erik said. "Now, where do they keep the pregnancy books in here?" He really did not want to have to ask one of the workers. That would be very awkward. Going to pay for them would be bad enough. Looking around the store, he was relieved when he spotted a sign that read 'Pregnancy and Childbirth'.
"Over here." Erik pointed and walked over to the section, Charles behind him. He fingered through the books, picking one out every now and then.
Charles skimmed over the titles, being a bit picky with grabbing things and flipped through the pages.
"I'm not even sure what we need exactly," he mumbled.
I mean it's not like we'll find a book called, 'male pregnancy', he thought, snorting to himself.
Erik snorted the thought of a book on male pregnancy, paging through the book Charles had handed him.
"I'm not sure either. And unfortunately I'm pretty sure that any books that talk about that would be about seahorses." He had a couple in his hand that seemed like they would be useful, even with the fact that this wasn't a conventional pregnancy. "Perhaps we should write one." Erik laughed.
"Yes because I'm sure any publisher would die for a book like that," Charles smirked and bumped into Erik playfully.
"They would. I'd have publishing companies breaking down the door trying to get me to sign a contract. I'm going to write it and it's going to be the next bestseller. You watch, Charles Xavier."
Charles grabbed a lengthy one, which was a rundown of all the months, possible symptoms and progression of the baby's growth. He handed it to Erik, and glanced over at Alex who was in the comic book section.
You can get something if it really interests you, he sent the boy and Havok looked up and shrugged.
Erik saw Charles looking in Alex's direction and followed his gaze.
Looking at superheroes when he practically is one himself…
Erik laughed.
He smiled at Erik's comment, Boys will be boys, love. Though super hero is a bit of an exaggeration, isn't it? We only saved the world once, and no one will ever know. I think you need the publicity and, well, uh... Interesting costumes.
Charles winked and sent him an image of Erik in a bright distasteful outfit- snickering, because if I ever saw you in something that tacky I would rip it off.
Erik snorted at Charles' comment, he really didn't think that the costumes were that ridiculous…
Although I certainly have no problem with you ripping clothing off of me, I wouldn't look that bad in Spandex, would I? I think that a cape would be would look very nice, actually.
"Anything else you'd like to pick up while we're here?" He asked out loud.
The telepath shook his head.
"Anyways, I guess we should pay for these. Even as awkward as it shall be."
"Alex, we're going to the checkout counter, you can head to the car if you want," Charles called to him.
Havok nodded, not really paying attention, and waved them off.
The two walked up to the checkout counter and Erik placed the books on the counter, avoiding any eye contact with the cashier. A young blonde woman picked up the books and scanned the bar-codes, perking up and smiling when she saw the title 'What to Expect When You're Expecting'.
"Oh! I remember my niece bought this book when she was pregnant! So which one of you is going to be a father?"
"We both are." Popped out of Erik's mouth before he could stop and think, and he wanted to kick himself. Erik, looking slightly panicked glanced at Charles. Crap, why had they not anticipated this question and prepared a lie?
"Congratulations! How exciting! Are you two friends? Are your wives friends? That must be nice, you'll always have someone who can relate to what's happening with the pregnancy and the kids! Oh! And what if your kids grew up and became friends, too? That would be just perfect! How far along are your wives?" She talked very quickly and was smiling brightly the entire time.
Charles decided it was time to pull some British charm into this situation, "Oh we've know each all since high school! It's was a pretty small town, you know. My wife Mary, fantastic woman by the way, is almost four months along. His is only two, but still it's quite groovy."
He really hoped she wouldn't notice neither of them were wearing wedding rings.
"Oh, how cute!" she gushed. "Well, I wish both of you the best of luck, and your wives too!"
She didn't, thankfully.
"Thank you," he smiled when she handed him a bag. "Have a nice day, dear."
Charles sent Erik a look once they stepped out the store, Well wasn't that fun?
Alex was busy busting up with laughing beside them and almost tripping over some poor girl, who scurried away quickly.
"Groovy," Havok snickered but put on a sheepish smile when Charles glared. "Also Erik I'd watch out for that Mrs. Mary Xavier!"
"Is that your mom?" Sean asked from behind them.
He jumped, "Oh no... My mother's name was Sharon."
"Charles has been cheating me with Mary, Sean." Erik said in a casual tone.
Raven raised an eyebrow but didn't bother to ask. Armando gave him a curious look.
Charles sighed, "Well, we need to pick up groceries and then head on home, right? It's not far from here I think we can walk."
He tossed the books in the back of his car and shut the door, while Sean was asking Alex what he was laughing about before.
The group of them walked over to the grocery store, chatting on the way.
"Okay, Sean, Alex, you guys are in charge of grabbing junk food. Raven, Armando, you two can go get the real food. We need more milk. Charles and I are going to get… Supplies." Erik trailed off at the end.
"You mean condoms?" Raven asked.
"Yes. Now go find food." Erik said, making a shooing gesture with his hands. A man who was passing by snorted at the exchange.
Charles sputtered at what his sister said as the kids left and gave Erik a glare, his face red, when he finally recovered, "What is with you two and trying to embarrass me! I swear! Maybe I should go off and elope with Mary," he huffed, crossing his arms.
"It's a hobby of ours. One that we're quite good at, if I do say so myself." Erik laughed at how red Charles' face was getting. "Come on, let's go find the condoms. We don't need any more kids running around the house, they're more than enough headaches as it is."
Charles muttered to himself, following Erik, "Yes I'm sure it's your favorite hobby too."
"You know we should get use to the idea of children anyways, I was thinking of turning the house into a school of sorts," he said quietly.
For our kind, you know?
Erik blinked at Charles' thought about opening the house as a school for mutants. That… was actually a good idea. There was certainly more than enough room for students. There were more rooms in that place than anyone knew what to do with. It meant hunting for recruits with Charles again, which was a plus.
"A school? That sounds… interesting." Erik said out loud.
Sean went right for the freezer and pulled out ice cream which caused Alex to snort, "Didn't you just have some of that with Raven and Darwin?"
"There is never enough ice cream," Banshee answered, completely serious.
Havok rolled his eyes, "Alright then, you kind of sound like an alcoholic... But with a frozen dairy treat."
"Don't deny the ice cream dude- just don't."
Alex snatched it from his hands, "M'kay then Ice Princess, let's go get some chips, okay?"
"Okay- wait did you just call me princess?" Sean asked, but Havok was already far ahead of him.
Armando and Raven spilt up. Raven got the milk, some cereal, bread, and ingredients that they could make dinner with. Armando went and got fruits and vegetables.
They were in the back of the store, and Erik picked up three packs, two for him and Charles and one to stash where Alex and Sean would find it. Because Erik was sure that if they gave them to the boys directly they would deny having done anything like that. As if they were really that oblivious.
Erik grinned, Want to go up to the counter and buy them together? We even can hold hands. People would love that.
He narrowed his eyes faintly hearing what the last condom was for, and wanted to tell Erik how the boys weren't even past first base. They didn't need encouragement to go further, not at their age at least. That was however until he was directly sent a thought. Charles hated how red his face probably looked to everyone else.
Yes, yes, I'm quite sure everyone would adore that Erik. Along with us being chased out being called fags and queers.
He huffed, I never understood the terms, fags are suppose to be cigarettes you know. You have fun at the counter, love- I'm going to check on the boys. That way we don't spend a fortune in ice cream like Sean is loudly thinking about.
Yes, it means cigarette, however the people using it as an insult are generally too stupid to realize this.
Erik walked up to the cash register, laughing at how quickly Charles removed himself from the situation. He would have to buy them, of course, Charles would be bright red the entire time. It was fine, though, Erik wasn't embarrassed in the least by buying them. Not like those books… That was horrible, especially when the lady had decided to get chatty.
Erik sat the boxes down on the counter, nodding at the cashier, who's eyes went a little wide at how many there were.
"Groovy, man."
Erik laughed loudly at the 'groovy' and handed him a few crumpled bills.
"Charles' catch phrase is spreading." Erik murmured to himself.
"What?"
"Nothing. Thank you." Erik took the condoms and went to go find Charles in the ice cream section with Sean.
Charles was busy explaining to Sean that he did not need that much junk food and Alex wasn't helping at all. He spent the whole time laughing, while the ginger pouted looking pitifully back at the telepath. It was making Charles feel bad, and making him want to say yes, but he knew that Sean would either have never ending energy for days or a terrible stomach ache. Both which no one could stand to live with.
"We can always come back and get more once we run out," he sighed, trying to compromise with the boy.
Banshee frowned, "Promise?"
"Yes, I promise, now come on, we should pay for all this food, and I think, Alex, that you should return that beer you're hiding from me." Charles said in a deadly tone.
Havok swore, which earned another scolding, and went to return the bottle.
"In a year when you're the right age I will consider it," he told him. "That gives you an entire year to act responsible, which I have faith that you could if you put your mind to it."
"No, he can't," Sean said right away.
Charles sent him a pleading look, and Banshee tried to defend himself, "Well, he couldn't! I'm just stating the truth, dude!"
"Argh- Oh, hello, Erik," he turned around, frustrated, only to bump into the other man. "Have fun with your purchase?"
"Yes, I did have fun. I think you would have gotten along with the cashier there. He was impressed, said it was 'groovy'," Erik replied, smiling.
"Well, at least he has a nice vocabulary," Charles commented.
Charles used his telepathy to locate his sister and Darwin so they could all meet at the same counter. He ushered the boys along, and yanked out the bottle of gin from Alex's coat.
"I can read your mind, how did you think you were going to get away with that?" he sighed.
Havok shrugged, attempting to act cool and innocent, "Magic?"
"I think you should use some of that magic to make you act your age. Then maybe you might get this next year," Charles pointed out.
"Professor, can I have ice cream when we get home?" Sean asked pleadingly.
Charles just groaned and walked away, I hope we have a girl.
Boys aren't so bad, Charles. They're just a little more mischievous. And really like ice cream.
A little more mischievous? No a lot, I took care of Raven, you know, and she very well behaved. Well... Until you came along. You seem to cause the rebellious side to her to come out.
Raven? Well-behaved? We're both talking about Raven Darkhölme, right?
Erik had to hide his laughter at Alex persistently trying to smuggle the alcohol past Charles. He was rather dumb, really, for trying it while Charles was in the store. Charles was indeed a mind reader, it's not as if he wouldn't notice. But if he really wanted it that badly, then Erik supposed that he could sneak him some later. He quickly pushed the thought from his head though. He didn't want Charles to know about that.
They met up with Raven and Darwin at the checkout, and when they reached the car Erik turned to look at Sean and Alex.
"Do you two think you can behave enough to ride in the same car again?" He asked, giving them a look.
Sean answered first grabbed Alex's hand and already walking away, "Yes, yes he can."
Alex made a confused noise, "Uh...yeah."
Charles smiled softly looking at Erik, They're figuring it out - so don't you even dare put that damn condom in their room. He added more forcefully at the end.
He got into the car, shut the door, and dug for his keys, "Oh Erik by the way."
"Yes?"
"I just want to let you know," Charles pulled out. "If you even try and sneak any alcohol to any of the children, I'll be telling your baby how you died in a car accident."
He gave him a wink, with a dangerous look in his eye before speaking in a normal tone, "I wonder how everyone is doing back home."
Fuck, Charles had heard that after all.
Erik was dumbstruck at Charles'… Threat, there was no other way to put it. Okay, alcohol was most definitely out now. It wouldn't kill Alex to stay sober for a few more years.
Charles was actually scaring him, though. He wouldn't go through with it, Erik was… pretty sure. But for him to even say that Erik knew that he was serious about the no alcohol thing.
Erik eyed Charles warily. He was not liking this hormones thing. It made Charles go a little crazy.
"Right, no alcohol, no condoms. Got it." Erik said, telling Charles telepathically that he meant it. He really did want to make it home safely.
Back home, Hank had retreated to his lab the moment the rest of the gang had left. He had a lot to do, he needed to gather together some supplies for rebuilding Cerebro, go through notes, research Charles' condition a bit more. That and he didn't fully trust Riptide and Azazel just yet, and didn't really want to stick around too long.
It had been a pretty productive day so far, it had been much quieter than without Alex and Sean around, and it was nice that he could work without Erik or Charles or Raven popping their head into his lab and dragging him outside, saying that he needed to socialize. Not that he really minded so much with Raven, he was glad that she still wanted to be around him after what happened, but… Still. There was work to be done.
Azazel hadn't caused too much trouble, he just liked to snoop around where he wasn't supposed to. Janos dragged him out of some rooms and let him roam others. He watched Angel storm around the house like a caged animal, it confused him really. Riptide knew she wasn't this grumpy during the week she stayed with Shaw. Personally, he was with Shaw because he couldn't get away, or at least without dying in the process.
Janos gave a sigh and ignored Azazel's feet which were thrown on his lap, repeatedly poking and nudging him. He knew the other man was bored, and he knew this wasn't normal for either of them. Shaw had kept them busy or fearful enough not to speak a word. Staying in the house was like a work in progress domestication. Some of kids were a handful, which that amused Azazel most the time- he liked threatening them.
When Charles walked through the door, the first thing he noticed was the pizza. Janos didn't realize he was that hungry till now.
"Sorry, we took so long, I thought we'd be done sooner," Charles sighed, setting down a few bags. "Was everything okay?"
Azazel grunted, "Fine as it gets."
"Well that's good," he replied and hastily made a retreat when Erik entered.
Janos wondered what the hell he and the kids did this time. Charles passed Angel, telling her there was pizza in the kitchen and made his way down to the lab.
"Hank, lunch is upstairs and, no, you cannot just eat later, come on," he said from the door way.
"But Professor!" Hank yelled up, shoving the book that he had been reading away even as he protested. He knew that with Charles, he was going to have to come out of the lab. No would not be taken for an answer. He could just as easily eat down here and save time, but nope. Professor X said Hank had to have contact with others.
Hank reluctantly climbed the stairs and entered the dining room, where there were pizza boxes set out. He grabbed a slice and sat down, and noted with surprise that Angel was actually sitting with them for once. Raven looked up when he walked into the room and smiled.
"Hi, Hank."
"Hi." Hank smiled back "So, did the shopping trip go well?" Hank asked.
"Yeah, we didn't even get kicked out of one store, which is a miracle, really. Had a close call in the hardware store, though, we had to make a break for it."
AN: Please review! I know i'm terrible at replying but i do read every single one I love them all c: I'm going to go try and edit some chapters for you guys so we can catch up.