"Oh, come on prof! This isn't even fair! Why does Alex get to go but I don't?" Sean whined as he trailed Charles out of the elevator. Alex, waiting by the door with Hank, looked up. His expression was thoughtful, anxious, preoccupied.

He had been so the entire night. Hank had heard him tossing and turning in his bed sheets. By now the entire house knew that his little brother was coming to visit them, and though Charles had given no specifics, it was obvious by Alex's behavior that he was worried.

Cassidy stood close to his side. She had been the most attentive to him that morning, somehow sensing that something was not right. She glanced at Hank, and he saw the question in her eyes. He nodded and stepped forward. "Here," he said, fishing his newest invention out of his pocket.

Alex blinked out of his daze to look down at them. They looked like regular sunshades (probably because that was exactly what they were) but Hank had worked all night on them, tweaking until he was pretty sure that Scott would be able to open his eyes and they would contain the laser beams there. Alex took them gently, and placed them in the bag hanging from his hip. Whatever was in the bag, Hank didn't know. He suspected it was first aid supplies because Cassidy had handed Alex a roll of bandages tenderly, muttering a quick 'here you go,' under her breath.

And, watching as a dark blush spread over her cheeks, Hank had seen Alex bend down to give her a quick but distant kiss on the cheek, muttering a quick 'thanks, angel," which they all still called her on occasion, preferably when she was being nice. Hank had felt a flash of envy deep in his soul, and had looked over to see Raven staring back at him with a similar expression of longing. Then, they had both turned away.

It could never be.

"Thank you, Hank. Just add it to the tab of stuff I owe you for," Alex said sincerely. Hank smiled and punched Alex's arm, awkwardly.

"Hey, its what friends are for, right?" he asked, also uncomfortably. He wasn't good with people. Alex stared at the spot-beginning to bruise-where Hank had punched him, but smiled.

"Yeah," he mumbled, merely. The two boys had stood there then, shuffling awkwardly until Charles calm voice broke into their thoughts.

"Sean, Erik and I found everyone here with little assistance; we will manage to find six more ourselves. Besides, Alex will be back in a few hours," he told him. Sean threw his hands up in exasperation.

"Ah, but prof..!" he whined.

"It won't be as adventurous as you think, Sean," Charles placated him as Erik walked past, carrying their luggage out to the car. "And if it is, I promise to send you detailed pictures through this," he tapped his forehead. "Hmm?" he asked. Sean crossed his arms, pouting, but nodded. Raven, Riptide and Azazel came down the stairs to wish them goodbye, talking.

"Now," Charles speculated as the others joined them near the door. "Who should I leave in charge?"

"Oh, oh, I call it!" Sean cried immediately.

"Cassidy," Charles said a half-second after Sean's display.

"What?" Sean demanded, affronted. "No way! Erik," Sean basically lunged for Erik's arm as the other man walked past, carrying the last bag out to the car. "Tell Charles that I so deserve to be in charge!" He cried.

Erik halted mid-stride, giving Sean an implacable look before chiding: "Charles, shame on you! Sean is quite obviously the best candidate to be in charge…"

"Thank you!"

"Of mowing the lawn and seeing to it that all the trees get watered," all but Sean broke into peals of laughter. Charles was at least polite enough to hide his mirth behind one hand. Sean, rather, gave Erik an injured look.

"You're dead to me, Erik," he drawled. Erik gave Sean a small smile before tussling his hair companionably and walking out to get the rest cleared for take-off. Cassidy stared at Charles, eyes wide with surprise. Hank himself was rather surprised by Charles's decision. If anyone should be in charge of the house, why not Raven, Emma, or Hank? Why Cassidy?

Although, he glanced at the candidates he had just named in his mind. Raven had deserted Charles once and though Hank knew the telepath held no grudge, he was no fool either. Raven would be going as soon as this mission to find and retrieve was done, deserting again. It made Hank's heart ache to know that she found some things-like destruction-more important than the people she cared about. If he could even be counted in that sector anymore.

And though Emma and Charles shared a teasing telepathic/flirting/sibling bickering relationship, she was still unpredictable like a playful wild cat that at one moment would be frolicking about chasing butterflies at your side and the next chewing off your arm. Yeah, putting her in charge might have been a mistake. And himself? Well, Hank was probably not a good option either. After all, Charles had given him his own task while they were away, and Hank was excited to get started. He would need every minute to himself in the lab.

Maybe that was a good decision. He found himself nodding in agreement. Cassidy on the other hand, went on one knee facing Charles at eye level. Her eyes were moist, her face the same cynical mask of sorrow that she had used for every occasion before joining Shaw. "Professor," she gulped."Why? I betrayed you," she gestured to Hank, Sean, Alex, Raven and Erik. "All of you by joining Shaw even after he killed Darwin. You shouldn't… I don't deserve this," her voice wobbled, and Hank saw a tear sparkling in the corner of her eye. Charles wiped it away gently as soon as it fell.

"Perhaps," Charles agreed softly. "But if there is anything that I have learned the past few months, Angel, it is that we all are all wrong on occasion. Sometimes, we are so fantastically wrong that we hurt those around us," he glanced at Raven. She was staring the ceiling intently, pretending not to listen to a word of what was being said.

"It's a part of life, I'm afraid. You made your mistake, yes, but since then have returned. And you've changed. I know. I can tell," he tapped her temple. "You'll take good care of the house, and the children, while I'm away. I know it," he said. Angel's bottom lip puckered, but she nodded a small smile creeping unto her face.

"Thanks, professor," she mumbled.

Charles beamed at her in reply before turning to Alex. "Ready?" he asked. Alex squared his shoulders as if he were going off to war. He gave a single nod in reply. "Very well then, we're off!"

"Charles!" that was Raven, rushing forward as if she had forgotten something. She knelt next to Charles's wheelchair, rapidly whispering something in his ear. Charles listened, smiled, and nodded.

"A splendid idea," he agreed. "And you'll remember the…?" He trailed off, eyes swiveling to Erik, waiting impatiently in the doorway. He cocked an eyebrow, his body language signaling what he would not say aloud. Hank deduced it was something along the lines of 'hurry up, Charles.'

"I will."

"Good. Alright then, behave yourself," Charles gave Riptide, Azazel and Emma pointed looks. "Stay out of trouble," this was addressed to Sean and Raven, who crossed their arms petulantly. "And please, all of you, do not tear each other's heads off," and with that last departing plea-full of faith in their abilities, of course-Charles turned swiftly in his wheelchair, and then the three were gone.

Scott was certainly bigger than he had been the last time that Alex had seen him, through the dusty windows of their small car. At now twelve years old, he was taller, too, with a head of spiky brown hair and soft brown eyes.

He looked like a shaggy ragamuffin.

But Alex would have known him anywhere. The street corner where they found him was dank, dirty, filled with the tents of other homeless people. Scott was outside of a small tent, pitched with nothing more than fraying blankets and thick polyester. His shorts were hideously grimy, his cheeks smudged with dust and his body covered with it as well. It made Alex's heartache at how clean his own clothes were, how warm he was at night while his brother suffered.

However, it was nothing compared to the rage he felt when they pulled up on the street corner outside of the alley where Scott's tent was pitched. What made his heart rage with fire, though, were the boys surrounding his brother. They looked older than fifteen. Four of them, tall lanky, mouth full of decaying teeth and eyes full of malice. They were shoving Scott back and forth between them, bullies and brutes with nothing better to do. Scott was crying out in fear and helplessness, his eyes shut tightly.

"Open your eyes coward! Open your eyes!" The boys taunted, unaware that should Scott do so their pathetic lives would end. Alex growled deep in his throat and placed a trembling hand on the door handle, about to storm out. Images of smoking bullies filled his mind.

"Wait," Charles ordered from the passenger seat up front, his own eyes narrowed at the scene he saw. Alex did so, reluctantly. "I'll take care of this," he placed his fingers against his forehead, focusing. Alex pushed himself against the window, anxiously watching.

As he did so, he saw one of the boys stop, his back stiffening into rod straightness as he slowly looked up and right at Charles. He cocked his head, as if listening. Alex saw a devious smirk play on Charles lips as the bully then turned towards his friends and raised a fist.

He slugged the one next to him so hard that he fell into the other until a domino effect had them all moaning on the ground. "Ow, man! What the heck?" One of the bullies cried, rubbing his forehead as he glared at his pal.

"This is stupid," Charles's puppet announced. "Let's get out of here," Alex wished Charles would make them hit each other a little more.

"We haven't gotten the baby to open his eyes yet though!" One of the others taunted, grabbing Scot by the scruff of the neck. Scott cried out.

Alex slammed his hands down, enraged. "Charles!" He shouted.

Said person did not seem to hear. "Oh, no you don't," he mumbled, and the one holding Scott suddenly dropped him.

"Oh, man," he mumbled. "I don't feel so good," Charles smirked.

"Go to sleep," he command softly, and as if on cue, the four delinquents collapsed as one, their minds pliant and yielding to Charles's will. The telepath chuckled. "They'll wake up with a headache of a lifetime," he mused, with satisfaction.

Erik snickered. "Like a bad hang-over," he said. Then, he glanced at Alex. "Go get him, kid," he told him softly, but Alex was already getting out of the car. He was walking at first, numb, wondering if he was in a dream for he had fully expected never to see his brother again and then he was running, springing, soaring…

"Scott!" the name was torn from his lips like a prayer full of tears. Scott's head came up, but he did not open his eyes. He just cocked his head, listening.

"A-Alex?" his voice trembled. Alex dropped to his knees before his brother, fumbling in the bag at his hip for the glasses Hank had given him, rapidly speaking as he did so.

"Scott, are you okay?" he didn't wait for an answer, instead searching himself with his eyes for any injures. "I'm so sorry," he babbled. "For everything. Sorry for leaving, sorry this happened, sorry I wasn't here for you. You have no idea how sorry I am. I'll make it up to you some day, I promise. You don't have to forgive me or anything yet if you don't want but-oh, here. Put these on," he slipped them behind Scott's ears rapidly then sat back on his heels, hoping that it worked. Scott hadn't opened his eyes yet. He just stood there, lips trembling.

"Alex?" he asked, again.

Alex nodded, biting his own bottom lip. "Yeah, Scott. It's me. I'm here. Open your eyes for me; bud. The glasses will stop the lasers. A friend of mine made them for you," he said, not even noticing how time and people seemed to have halted around him, frozen by Charles's power.

Scott, still too young to be untrusting completely yet, did as he was told. Alex could not see his eyes behind the thick black glasses covering them, but he knew they were open because a second later, tears of joy slipped from beneath the dark shades. He was not aware of his own crying until he felt an itch on the bottom of his chin.

He smiled. "Better?" he asked.

Scott stared at him for a long moment, in which Alex began to regret ever having spoken, but after that moment was over he felt a warm and heavy body slam into his chest, squeezing the life out of him. Shocked, he could only warp his arms around Scott as his brother cried into his shoulder.

"I missed you Alex," and now he was really crying, wrapping his brother tight in an embrace of guilt and love equal parts.

"I missed you too, bro," he muttered."Missed you too."

When they arrived at a hotel three hours later, they were both grinning from ear to ear. Alex's heart felt free of guilt for the first time since he had left. His brother acted as if he were two times younger, babbling and skipping and laughing gaily. Much to Charles's happiness, Scott harbored no ill-will towards Alex. His heart was not that type to hold a grudge.

Instead the younger mutant had peppered both Charles and Erik with loads of questions once he got into the car and they had driven him to a hotel, where Scott had been able to take a shower and change into new clothes (Which, much to Alex's amusement, Erik had insisted on picking out) and had been more than delighted to find that the three men were also mutants. "I thought I was the only one!" He had cried, grinning. Charles and Erik had exchanged similar looks before Charles turned.

"You aren't alone, Scott," he said kindly. "Not anymore," and the smile that had earned made Alex forgive the prof for not making those brutes hit each other a little more. Promising to find the old woman who had helped Scott, Charles and Erik had left the brothers in the hotel room. Once alone, Alex explained to Scott why he had left and Scott tearfully retold the story of how he had woken up one day, and just by opening his eyes had hurt his aunt!

Both shed tears more than once, (not that Alex would ever admit it) Alex apologized profusely and Scott forgave him repeatedly, before curiously asking where he had met Charles and Erik. "I heard him in my head," Scott had told him, eyes wide.

"When they were bullying me. He told me just to stay still and he would send someone to help me. I was afraid at first, but I don't know," Scott shrugged. "I guess I felt like I could trust him," and Alex assured him he could.

Then, he told the magnificent story of his new friends waiting at the mansion; about the CIA, Shaw, Hank, Sean and Raven. When he was done, Scot had laughed and hugged him tight around the chest, exclaiming happily: "you're a hero!" which made Alex blush.

When Scott had asked if he were going to stay with Alex, he had asked if he wanted too. Scott had given him a 'why wouldn't I?' look before agreeing that really, Alex couldn't live without him anyway.

So, two hours later when Erik and Charles arrived back at the hotel room, explaining that they had found the old woman and placed her in a prestigious nursing home (courtesy of Charles's bank account). They brought Azazel with them. The red-skinned mutant had actually smiled when Scott jumped out of his seat and rushed towards him, yelling: "you look so cool!" and afterwards, he had even seemed happy to see Alex and Charles.

Now, three hours later, after a shy goodbye with Erik, an odd question from Charles "Scott, for the sake of curiosity, what's your favorite color?" which had been green, a sincere thank you from Alex, Azazel had transported them to the lawn of the Xavier mansion. Scott stood next to Alex, his head swiveling back and forth with awe as he studied the grand-and perfectly groomed-front yard.

"This is where we're going to live?" he gasped. A

Alex put a hand on his shoulder as Azazel poofed out of existence, probably landing back in his room in the house. "This is home," he agreed, leading Scott tentatively towards the door.

"And everyone here is…Like us?" Scott wondered hesitantly, unsure. Alex nodded. "Do you think they'll like me?' Scott asked as they descended the steps and landed before the large oak doors.

"Absolutely," Alex promised and eager himself to see his friends, he opened the door and grinned. On the steps, looking friendly and welcoming were his mutant family. Angel was flittering a few inches off the ground, Hank was in full Beast regalia and Riptide was swirling a small hurricane in his hand. Alex grinned when he saw the banner over their heads, written in swirling colors and in Raven's handwriting.

"WELCOME HOME!"

Scott gasped aloud. "This is so awesome!" he cried ecstatically, as he fairly jumped at the other mutants who had come down to introduce themselves. Alex stood back, watching with genuine pleasure as Scott threw his arms around Hank. "You made my glasses!" he cried. "Thank you!" Hank looked startled by the exuberant thanks, but he only smiled and Alex saw the thought in his eyes that Scott was not at all afraid of him. Soon his little brother had introduced himself to everyone there, and the large smiles which had taken over everyone's faces temporarily made Alex forget everything but the people in this house, and how he had once feared never to have a family.

Weird enough, as Cassidy flew over and grabbed his arm, squeezing gently, he wasn't afraid anymore. "Do you want to see your room?" Raven asked Scott, her eyes twinkling in a way Alex had not seen since before Darwin died.

"My room?" Scott asked.

"His room?" Alex echoed. They had not even begun the living quarters yet, instead opting to wait until the children actually got there and chose their own…

"Scott, for the sake of curiosity, what's your favorite color?" of course. Alex did not have to follow the excited procession of mutants up the stairs, following Raven to Scott's room. Instead he sat at the bottom and waited for it.

He heard Scott's scream of delight even from downstairs. "Green is my favorite color!" Scott yelled, laughing. Alex chuckled. "Alex, come see!" Grinning, he patiently went up the stairs to his brother's new room.

And knew that he could never be happier than he was at this moment.