Chapter 49

Dancing With Waves

Disclaimer: Some changes are included in this chapter centered on Althea. Also, while the events of Interdimensional Dementia did happen, the stuff with Apocalypse did not.

There are days when I'm shocked that the life I'm leading today is what I'm leading. Especially compared to the pre-Todd/Misfits days when we were still dealing with what that whore did to our family by leaving us like she did. But as nuts as this life can get, I wouldn't trade it for anything as I'm happy and in love where my Toddles is concerned! Althea sighed happily at the thought of her Toddles while part of her yet again wanted to go and kick the *$#& out of her dear sweet mother.

Then again, going anywhere near her sounds outright horrible so maybe I'm better off not doing that. 'Sides, doing that might throw my Pops off the wagon and that's the last thing I want. Nearly causing that international incident with Wakanda proved to be a good thing for him thanks to Hawk finally putting his foot down with him. Thanks to that, my Pops has shaped up and is almost like his old self before that whore left us but not too much like his old self thankfully as the full on crazy drunken thing is something we all can do without. And I can't blame Storm one bit for that restraining order she has on my Pops and I doubt she's ever gonna let it go away, shaped up or not.

Althea knew her father regretted a lot of what he'd done where Storm's concerned after a lot of thinking, therapy, and those classes. Even having tried apologizing through a letter even though it'd been ignored safe for a warning about the restraining order. And with the changes her dad had been going through, he was also trying to be more of a stern parent to rein in the Triplets and their insanity. Which was proving to be pretty darned hard not too surprisingly! Y'know, I'm honestly considering getting one of those put into effect these days where Vincent James is concerned! Guy just can't seem to take a hint I'm not interested in him and that I'm insanely happy with Todd. Who I know isn't all that happy with the situation but is letting me handle it since he knows I'm pretty darned capable of handling things. Well, except for Laundry anyway! But I know that boyfriend of mine even has his limits and sooner or later he's likely to say something to Vincent himself if he doesn't stop…

But one of the brighter spots in things is that Wanda's back with the team!

Whom had shown up for Christmas and with the intention of staying for good as Agatha had felt she had progressed well enough in her Magical studies that she could finally return to her family within the Joes/Misfits with the option to return at a later time to learn even more if she so wanted. Wanda's time away with the older woman had, in Althea's view, done the girl a lot of good. Probably helps she wasn't around Pietro for all that time. Wrote the girl with a roll of her eyes.

As Pietro could all too easily work the nerves of a Saint if he wanted! I've also heard that a Master from Japan showed up at the Mansion to teach Jean how to control the Phoenix inside of her. Which is a good thing as no one I know has any idea for how to properly deal with that situation! Also gotta love that it seems like Wanda and Eden are circling around one another again now that she's back, which makes sense considering they ended things amicably. Hopefully… My Toddles and I never have to end whatsoever! Amicably or not!

The young lady quickly pushed that sort of thinking away as it did no good to have it swimming around in her head! She'd end up rolling her eyes however when she heard a familiar argument outside thanks to her open window. "Thanks, Beach Head, I'm glad you got what I've been aiming for with the longer hair!" Came Lance's voice.

Whom hadn't had a haircut in a good long while. Yeah, those two have been going at it off and on for a little bit now ever since Beach Head told Lance he needed a hair cut. A suggestion Lance wasn't too keen on!

And on occasion, would intentionally start the whole argument with Beach Head just to get a rise out of the man! "It still doesn't look good! Its practically almost against regulations!" Came Beach Head's voice from her window.

"Good thing Hawk's on my side about it then! Or I'd be really worried!"

"Oh brother." Althea said with a shake of the head.

Still, better that argument than another round of Lance and Kitty after she had gotten pissed with him and called him an irresponsible hood after he showed up at the Mansion to tell her to stop emailing him. How calling him that makes sense is beyond me just 'cause he smarted up finally and makes me glad yet again he chose to move on. And do so with Betsy for that matter!

It was no surprise when Kitty chose to go and stay with her mom for a little while after that so called conversation. That and she was now officially banned from ever being able to drive in the state of New York after General Ross lost a bet to Hawk in a game of Poker and had to teach Kitty how to drive. Which naturally, did not end well and saw the man almost have a heart attack. Oddly enough however, that whole situation did get the Institute a new teacher in the form of Betty Ross as she wanted to finally have something else to focus on for awhile instead of the usual heartbreak she dealt with where Bruce Banner and his Greener side is concerned. Lance is also not sayin' much to Jean either despite her apologizing but its understandable considering what she did all those months ago. But at least that girl is smart enough to leave things be instead of keeping at it. Whether or not Lance'll eventually accept Jean's apology is anyone's guess. But in the mean time… I think I'm gonna go see my Toddles! Later!

Author's Notes: Hope folks enjoyed and hopefully I did a good job in writing Althea and her perspective on things. I decided in this re-write to remove the Mayor forcing Xavier and friends out and burning the Mansion to the ground scenes. I was going to include a chapter that shows Ross' attempt at teaching Kitty but decided to go the route you see here. Though I probably could do a side fic exploring that.