Legend: Thoughts = <>

Stray thoughts = ()

Flashback **

Com links []

Ok, guys, all the disclaimers apply, that means all thanks goes to Marvel

For the X-Men, I'm just making the story. And I do read all the other

Stories and they're great, keep up the good work. They inspire me!

"So, am I some kick ass dad in the future?" I asked.

"Yes, actually, you were pretty kick ass." Perry said, "You taught me combat."

"I taught you combat?" I asked, "Hard to believe."

"You were good."

"Were? So, am I dead?" I asked.

"I can't say." Perry frowned, "You know I can't tell you that."

"Is your dad...was he part of our lives?" I asked.

Perry's face contorted into a frown, then a weak smile, then some unreadable face.

"He's...not around much." Perry sighed.

"My dad's coming today, so I'd like this place to at least look professional." Connor said, "He's really important to me."

"Where's your mom?" Melissa asked.

"Mom was a no show." Connor said, "Left, couldn't deal."

"Awww poor baby." Melissa frowned.

"No, I really don't look at it in a bad way. I'm glad she left before I knew her." Connor said quickly.

"I think you're right." Melissa said, "Look at what happened with Raiden and her mom."

"Raiden's mom is a total piece of work." Connor frowned, "Mine's only a little piece."

"My mom's a what?" Raiden asked, walking in with a box of doughnuts.

"A piece of work." Melissa said, putting a file away.

Raiden's face grew into a frown, "Doughnuts?" she asked.

Before anyone could say anything, Perry and I walked through the door.

"What?" Perry asked.

"You talking about us?" I asked.

"Yeah, listen, my dad's coming." Connor said, "He's a total hardass."

"You never see that job description anymore." Raiden smirked.

"Smartass." Connor chuckled, "I'm being totally serious here."

"As opposed to you being not serious?" Melissa asked.

"She's right, you gotta loosin up, dude." Perry said.

"I promise I will, after my dad leaves. I'll be the loosest guy in Loosonia." Connor said, "We have a deal?"

"I don't know. I kinda wanted to see if I could make steam shoot from your ears." I smiled.

Connor frowned, "He's coming to visit. I'd appreciate some support." He said walking away. Raiden followed behind him.

Melissa put her arms across her chest and exhaled, "What went down between you guys? Cause I can feel the air around here and it's chilly." She said.

"Stuff happens." I frowned, "Friends just drift."

"I'm not stupid. If that's a drift, then the ocean is a pond." Melissa frowned, "How about you try the truth, sparky."

I was taken back, "I...well...no." I said quickly, "It's personal."

"Alls I know is that I'm standing in front of a nineteen year old and his, what, twenty year old son? So secrets aren't exactly helpful."

I sighed and walked away.

-           

"So, the X-Men are declaring themselves neutral?" I asked.

"Yes." Scott said, "We've had enough loss."

"Scott, we're mutants!" I said, "We need to be standing up for ourselves. There's less of us here, but we need to be heard."

"We can't risk it." Scott said.

I looked down, "Scott...this is wrong. What they're doing is wrong." I said.

"So, you're going to take a side?" Scott asked.

"I have to."

"I don't want you to get hurt." Scott said, "I still care about you."

"And I care about you, but I can't ignore it. I'm a Cap supporter all the way." I said.

Scott was silent quite a while before he spoke again, "We don't have to pick a side." He said, "The X-Men have too much going on as it stands."

"Sounds like the X-Men are bitching out." I said, "What about Logan? I can't believe he's going along with this."

"He's out there, trying to find Nitro."

"The guy who blew everything up?" I asked, "Didn't he, oh I don't know, blow up?"

"He didn't blow up, he caused an explosion." Scott frowned, "How are we coming on Mega?"

"We know about as much as we did before." I said, "Maybe less. We know there's a group working together under him, but as far as knowing how many and where they are, we're SOL."

"SOL?" Scott asked.

"Shit Out of Luck." I answered, "I think I miss the Mansion."

"You're coming back?" Scott asked.

"Not that easy." I said, "I just miss the Mansion."

"You always have a home there." Scott smiled.

"It'd definitely be more homey than this place." I frowned.

"Connor still giving you a bad time?" Scott asked.

"Connor hates me." I said quickly, "I know this is an X-team, but it doesn't feel like it."

"Maybe we could loan you a member, to make it feel like home." Scott said.

"No. No, there's no room here." I sighed.

"Right. Well, maybe..."

"Scott...I'm going to be okay." I said.

"I know. You're tough." He said, hugging me.

"I miss you." I smiled.

"I miss you too." Scott sighed.

-           

"Dad, this is the place and those were my friends." Connor beamed.

Mr. Blaine, Connor's dad, looked around at his surroundings, taking in what he saw. He didn't like it one bit. His son should be with the military or on the front line of the Avengers! He, himself, was a government man. A government agent. It was only natural that his son follows him, but his son wasn't. He was a glorified detective. His son could be so much more than this and he was wasting his potential on this stupid fantasy.

"Connor, you know I love ya, kid." Mr. Blaine said, "But you're throwing your life away."

"What?" Connor asked, shocked.

"What about the Avengers or the X-Men?" Mr. Blaine asked.

"Well, I just didn't like it there. Me and Raiden..."

"So that's what it is about, this girl." Mr. Blaine asked.

"No, but she is a really nice girl. She's battling cancer..."

"Dump her." Mr. Blaine said, "Dump her now before she gets to a point where you'll be obligated."

"Dad! I can't believe you're saying this!" Connor said with surprise, "I'd rather you dislike her because she's black."

"I just don't want you to get trapped, son."

"Dad..."

"I'll be at the hotel, but we'll have lunch at the hotel later." Mr. Blaine said, leaving Connor to look on in disbelief.

-           

I bounced from foot to foot as Johnny Storm threw fireballs at my feet. He had come to check up on me.

"So, you've got a grown-up son?" Johnny asked, "So does that make you a DILF?"

I shrugged.

"Do you just look for things that scream `I'm strange!'?" Johnny asked.

"I don't know why things keep happening to me. It's like karma...except I didn't do anything bad. Okay, there was that time I stabbed my best friend, but she was crazy at the time." I said breathlessly.

"He's your son. And you know this for a fact?" Johnny asked.

"I had them take a blood test and surprise, I've got a baby boy." I said, "It's not as weird as it sounds."

"Really? Cause it sounds really weird." Johnny said.

"What can I say, I do `weird' better than anyone else around." I said, "Sorry I didn't see you when you got beat. There was so much going on..."

"It's okay. I was basically just in a bed. Nothing you could have done." Johnny said, "It's not like you're uber powerful anymore."

I looked at him.

"Sorry." Johnny said.

"No, you're right." I said, "I'm not."

"So, what are you going to do?" Johnny asked, "I mean, you've got this son and the world's in turmoil...go."

"I'm a peacekeeper." I said, "That's what X-Men do. We keep peace between the worlds."

"And the playboy?"

"At this point in my life, I'm going to need a little more to go on. Which one you are you talking about?" I asked.

"Max."

"He's a good guy. Just not my soul mate." I said.

"And the cop?"

"He's working harder than ever." Richard said, causing us to turn around, "Hey Pane, Johnny Storm."

"Rich...what're you doing here?" I asked.

Richard pulled out his badge, "I'm here on official business." He said.

"Well, aren't you all official." Johnny said.

"I see you're up, Mr. Storm." Richard said, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm good." Johnny said.

"Again, why are you here?" I asked.

"Disembowelment." Richard said.

I rolled my eyes, "Does anyone have any normal issues I can deal with?" I groaned.

"That's my cue." Johnny chuckled.

-           

"We managed to get a snapshot of the...well, I don't know what the hell this is." Richard said, sliding photos to all of us.

I froze.

"No cracks about how ugly they are?" Richard asked.

"I've seen these guys before." I said, "Apocalypse used them. They're some evil kameha-meha...kicked my ass all the way up and down this place."

"How'd you beat them before?" Connor asked.

"Well, I was a hell of a lot more powerful." I said, "A lot younger..."

"So, we should be afraid?" Raiden asked.

"You should shit a cow." I said.

"We need research going on." Melissa said, "Major research. If something gives you guys the willies, then I'm thinkin we need to study up."

"It tore this poor woman apart." Richard said.

"Can you guys give Richard and I some privacy." I asked.

"Sure." Raiden said, "We need to study up on these things."

They all left, except Perry. He stayed behind for a minute before ultimately leaving.

"Who's the kid?" Richard asked.

"I'm sorry I didn't call you when I got back here." I said, "I meant..."

"I didn't wait around for you." Richard said, not looking at me, "I moved on."

I looked down and away, "Oh. Well...I..." I said.

"I've been dating a guy. He's great." Richard said, "Not everyone sits around and waits for you." He said, collecting the pictures and leaving.