"So, without the suits-"

"You would be susceptible to G-Force." Hank pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and resisted the urge to sigh. "Which will render you all but useless, should the jet take any hard turns or unexpected rolls."

Alex's brows rose. "Rolls?" He repeated, not quite calm. "What kind of rolls?"

"Well, I don't know, Alex, that's why they're unexpected."

The blond convict squinted with annoyance. "Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Take that fucking science boy tone with me, Big Foot."

"Don't call me Big Foot," Hank growled, shoulders narrowing as he pursed his lips.

"Don't take the tone with me! Sean! Make Hank stop taking that tone with me!"

Sean, of course, did not make him stop. Mostly because he had no real power over what kind of tone Hank chose to use, but also because he hadn't been paying the slightest bit of attention. Since coming to terms with the possibility of his personal demise (something that took all of two minutes, since he was Catholic and had known since he was twelve he was going to Hell. Fun fact; this wasn't a revelation brought on by mutant puberty, but rather upon the realization that masterbation was amazing, and he wasn't about to stop anytime soon), Sean had been rather fixated on Fern.

Fond blue eyes watched her as she spoke with Raven. Her features were grave, but her skin was still and calm. She moved about the kitchen with all the thoughtless grace of a ballerina and Sean felt his heart catch. If something happened, if something went wrong, the young man wasn't entirely sure he would be able to bear it. He wasn't sure he would be able to come back to the mansion without her. It was a frightening, humbling realization.

"He's not listening to us," Hank said with distaste. "He's mooning."

Arms crossed and pouting just a touch, Alex grumbed, "He's always mooning. He's almost as bad as you."

"We're not that bad."

"Oh, yes, you are. I saw that little wave Raven shot you through the window this morning." To prove his point, Alex mimicked it with a smirk.

"Is there no privacy in this house?!"

"It's really more of a castle," Havok corrected off handedly before he affirmed, "and no, there isn't."

Alex pointed vaguely toward Charles. There was a slight tremor to his index finger but neither addressed it. "Literal walking definition of an invasion of privacy."

The Brit looked up from his conversation with Moira (or rather, from playing referee between Moira and Erik who seemed to be in the midst of a rather intense conversation) to scowl at the accusation. "How dare you."

"Told ya so," The blond replied before turning to poke his head in the fridge.

"Put that back," Charles told him as he pulled out a plate of leftovers, "It will spoil your appetite." Everyone turned to look at him with various degrees of surprise (and horror on Fern and Alex's parts, because honestly, who did he think he was? Their mother?). Before they could question him, he defended himself with a curt, "This could be our last night on earth. We're having dinner together like civilized people."

"But Fern's here and she's basically an animal," Raven joked.

The crack earned her a swift, no holds barred, punch in the arm. The brunette had made sure to use the bone of her middle knuckle to really got her point across. Judging by the high pitched sound Raven made, it was obvious she had.

"You're still on thin fuckin' ice, Rave." Fern warned her, pointing an accusing, clawed finger at her (pale and pretty as always, the scaled mutant noted with disgust) face. Pupiless eyes sharp and scales twisting with agitation, she sneered. "Don't push your luck."

Raven scowled, but simply rubbed her arm. "I'm gonna have a bruise now."

"Well, don't worry," Fern bared her sharp canines and bicuspids. She dropped her hip back against the counter behind them and raked her gaze pointedly over the blonde's form. "No one will be able to tell."

As tension grew, the men looked to Charles while Moira calmly approached the ladies, who were now chest to chest. Glaring at one another, the two were almost even in height, with the small advantage being Ailey's.

"Girls." The agent put a careful hand on their arms. Fern's eyes flickered to Moira's hand, while Raven shrugged her off. "Maybe this could be saved for another day?"

The blonde's skin flickered a moment, going a sharp shade of blue that made the men even more uncomfortable as her voice crinkled into it's strange, inhuman multiple of tones. The emotion in it, however, was plain as day. "Oh, the human can touch you but we can't?"

"Careful, Red, your true colors showed there for a second."

Raven grabbed a fistfull of Fern's sweatshirt.

The brunette growled with flash of white fangs.

"That is enough!"

Both of them jumped at the sound of Charles' voice. Sharper than Fern had ever heard it, and more disappointed than Raven was used to (albeit not by much), the two of them bowed their heads. Shame swirled along the Ailey girl's cheeks and chest, but she just sniffed.

"We are going to have a civil night tonight!" The man's cheeks reddened slightly as he realized all eyes were on him and he desperately tried to control himself. "We're going to treat each other with respect, and by God, if you cannot control yourselves, well then, you can just go. Don't ruin the others' good time with your petty squabbling." He shook his head firmly and both of them felt shame bubble in their stomachs as his voice cracked, "Not tonight."

Fern inhaled deep. Her skin continued to prickle and twist, and frankly, her rage continued to simmer under the surface of her scales. With a roll of her shoulders, she clenched her jaw and forced herself to step aside. Her gaze flickered from Raven's hand where it was tightly gripping the countertop with normal human fingers, and resisted the urge to hit her again. She could be nice for a couple hours; if that's what Charles wanted. "Truce?"

Raven continued to glare at her a long moment before she offered a simple, silent nod.

"Great," Fern breathed before looking to Moira expectantly. "What's for dinner?"

The petite woman smirked. "You are not sticking me with dinner duty."

"Yes, I am."

"No," Moira said firmly as Raven slipped around them to talk to the British man. "You're not."

"Why not? Ain't that what you're here for?"

A few feet back, Hank, Alex, and Sean shared a glance. It was the former who spoke, leaning down to ask Sean what the hell just happened.

He shrugged a gangly shoulder. "Looked like a fight to me."

"Over what?"

"No idea."

"Come on, man," Alex gave him a shot in the arm that was considerably more playful than the one Fern had offered Raven. "Don't you know what's got your woman riled up?"

"I ain't her keeper, man." Sean poked him in the stomach, earning a grunt from the shorter man. "Now if you don't mind, I'm gonna check out this dinner situation."

The dinner situation turned out to be ordering pizza and chinese food, because, as Alex so eloquently put it, "if we're gonna die tomorrow anyway, may as well live dangerously." Conversation flowed easily enough between them, with Fern and Raven sat on opposite ends of the table. The Ailey girl had her usual place next to Sean, his hand firmly on her knee at all times (or his ankle against hers, or his head on her shoulder, or an arm around her; which, while sweet, was also a little smothering), with Alex beside him and Moira at the head of the table across from Charles. He was flanked by Erik and Raven, the latter of which just happened to be across from Hank.

The mooning between the young couples earned a few eye rolls, but no crass comments, and for the most part, dinner was civil.

"Quit it." Fern light smacked Sean's hand away from her face.

The spring roll in his hold was not to be ignored and quickly rose once more to her mouth.

"Come on," he taunted, poking the corner of her pursed lips with the deep fried delicacy. A smear of grease lingered in its wake. "Just try it."

"Sean, babe, I never thought I would say this but I can't eat anymore."

"Just a bite."

"I mean it, Cassidy, I'll puke."

"Sean, come on," Moira chided gently. " She said no."

The redhead frowned. "I just don't want her having my regrets. You really want to die without at least trying a bite?"

"I'll have a bite in the morning before we go."

"That's not-"

A high pitch clinking cut him off as Charles tapped his glass with his spoon. As he stood, Sean chanced whispering a frantic "that's not the same!" only to be shushed by the women.

The Brit arched an amused eyebrow at the young redhead's pout, but it softened as Fern knocked their shoulders together. Clearing his throat, Charles nodded as his gaze swept over the strange, wonderful people who had so quickly become his friends, his allies, his family. "I'm not one for long speeches-"

Raven and Erik shared a doubtful glance as Alex scoffed outright.

"So I'll keep this short. We haven't known each other very long, but I like to think we've become rather fond of one another."

"Aw, Charles," Sean cooed. His smile was wide and bright, his tone teasing and warm, "I mean, we're flattered but I think it's safe to say most of us just see you as a friend, man."

At the laughter, Charles flushed pink. "Yes, well I'm glad to hear it. Because I've come to think of you all the same way. Perhaps even moreso. When I met Raven as a child," he raised his glass to the exquisite young woman at the left of his seat at the table, "It was in this very kitchen that I learned I wasn't completely and utterly alone in the universe."

He swallowed, unsettled by how rapt all of their eyes suddenly seemed, by how somber and yet completely at peace everyone seemed with the statement.

"And it's been…" A strangled scoff of laughter left his tight throat. "Simply amazing to have expanded our duo into a little family of gifted, wonderful individuals." He swallowed and raised his glass. "If it's not to last, know it's been an honor, my friends."

The group raised their respective glasses (some filled with wine, some water, and the odd Coca cola bottle) and toasted to him, with Sean adding a firm, "Slainte mhaith," before he took a sip from his glass and stood.

With a crooked, awkward grin, the redhead cleared his throat. "I wasn't gonna clink my glass but fuck it, ain't like I might get the chance again." He offered Fern's bottle a brisk tap with his fork.

She wrinkled her nose at the sound but allowed it, because he did it once and only once.

"Back in Ireland, we got a saying-"

"Is it about potatoes?" Alex asked dryly.

"No. Dick." Sean turned his glare from his blond friend to Xavier. His gaze lightened with his tone, "It's may your home always be too small to hold your friends...and Charles, man, I hate to tell ya, but you're gonna have a hell of a time filling this place…but you're gonna. And we're gonna be here to see it." His hand found Fern's shoulder and squeezed. "And to mooch off you."

"Well that last part goes without saying," The brunette girl mumbled before looking up at him. She rubbed his ribs awkwardly, not totally unlike how one might comfort a dog. "But nice speech, babe."

At the front of the table, Charles echoed the sentiment, "Thank you, Sean. That was lovely."

Erik nodded his agreement. While he wasn't particularly fond of Banshee, he didn't wish any of his fellow mutants harm in any form. He took a sip of his water and considered his words. With a sniff, he wadded the conversation into deeper, darker waters. "Speaking of our inevitable deaths, I feel like we should work out some kind of-"

"Dibs!" Fern all but shrieked, jumping to her feet. Her hand shot up so quick she nearly socked Sean clear in the jaw.

Thankfully Moira, being an international woman of mystery, had the reflexes to yank him out of the way. Unfortunately, given both the height difference and the sheer force behind her tiny fists, Sean ended up sprawled in her lap.

The table shook as his knee smacked into it, the other bent awkwardly under him.

"Oh my god," he gasped as his bedmate leapt to her feet, but he only had eyes for Moira. "You saved my life."

Her brown eyes sparkled, her smile wide, she agreed.

Having found the speeches nice, but emotionally taxing, Fern found herself desperate for a reprieve from the somber tone and found herself voicing a thought most likely best left unsaid. Her voice took on a shrill note as she slammed her fist on the table with enough force to make the silverware clatter. "I call first dibs! First murder dibs!"

Astonished, and a little bit horrified, Charles tried to argue, "You can't call dibs on murder-"

"Yes I can! Erik did!

"He did sort of do that, Charles." Raven inclined her head with a hint of reluctant amusement.

With a snap of her fingers, Fern pointed at her. "All's forgiven, Rav."

Raven smiled into her glass of wine.

The German man scowled. "It's not murder, its revenge."

Alex mimicked his grey friend. Hand shooting up, the young man yelled, "I call dibs on Shaw!"

"You can't call dibs on Shaw!" Erik snapped, cheeks pink.

"He killed my friend!"

"Well, he killed my mother!"

Alex blinked. His shoulders slumped and his hand fell to his side. "Shit. Damn, okay, you get Shaw, but you better do a good job."

"Of murder? He better do a good job of murdering another human being?!" Sean asked, unsure if he should be laughing or yelling. His voice cracked as he looked to Fern. "And you. Who do you even-"

"That smug tornado prick," she growled. Her skin seemed to vibrate with rage, zigzagging through a mirage of colors. Her hands clenched into fists. "He's mine."

"Fe!" He pulled her back into her seat. Ignoring her pout, Sean picked the discarded spring roll. With a sage nod, he tried to use the soothing voice their mentor was so fond of. "Eat."

Fern snarled at his attempt to lull her agitation. When he poked her bottom lip, then her nose, then cheek, the young woman sighed and opened her mouth.

Sean beamed. Feeding her, he nodded with sheer, unabashed pride. As she chewed, Sean allowed himself to be a little condescending, "See? It's- no!"

Horrified, the redhead could only watch as she spat into her hand and dumped the chewed up remains onto his plate.

Voice and skin both deadly calm, she warned, "Don't ever interrupt me again."

"I've never seen you waste food before." His thin lips puckered. "I don't like it."

Alex snickered into his chow mein and made a rather racist comment against the Irish under his breath.

"What was that?!" Sean snapped. Before Alex could even respond, the redhead snapped, "Coward!"

"Why did I decide to sit down here?" Moira asked aloud, but admittedly to herself, as the boys began to bicker.

Fern tilted her chair back on its hind legs. Looking around the irate Irishman to the lithe brunette, she shrugged and told her point blank that she had brought it upon herself. The women shared a smirk but no more was said.

At the head of the table, Charles stood once more and suggested they all get some rest.

The group dispersed; most of them headed upstairs, the lones exceptions being Alex (who wanted a bit more target practice) and Charles (who he decided on a stiff drink in his study before bed).

Fern stopped Sean at the top of the stairs. Blocking his way with her hip (and batting away the freckled hand that went to pinch her side), she asked him where it was he thought he was going.

"Uh," he looked around her, but no one was there to help him. The hall had already emptied. "Bed? Well, shower first, maybe some foreplay-"

Her thumb silenced him. Certain she had his utmost attention, Fern brushed the back of her fingers down his throat. "Call your folks, or at least Thom."

Sean swallowed. The soft note in his girl's voice made his stomach flutter, but not in a fun way. Gaze dropping to her clavicle, he asked, "You gonna call your ma?"

"No." The answer was immediate, but weighty. "We ended on a good note. If it is the last time we talk...she's gonna know…"

Anxious, Sean swallowed. His eyes big and full of an emotion she couldn't place. Some intangible place between hope and dread that made them a terribly bright shade of cornflower blue.

The young woman leaned down to kiss him. Lips greasy but the touch tender, what she offered was little more than a peck. At his grateful sigh, Fern eased back. Her lips brushed his temple and she stayed close as she finished, "She knows I died happy, surrounded by people I care about, trying to protect her."

"You ain't gonna die, Fe."

She tugged gently at the collar of his navy polo. Not entirely certain she believed him, and unwilling to let him change the subject, the young woman pressed, "Try your folks again, even if they rebuff you at least you won't regret it. "

He kissed her cheek as he nodded. His lips tingled from her scales and his heart ached at her sentiments. Without a word, he turned back.

Fern didn't stick around to watch him go.

Over the course of an hour, several very exciting things happened in the mansion, none of which Fern was privy to. Sprawled out on her bed in her jammies, the Ailey girl was completely engrossed in a drugstore paperback. She wasn't entirely sure what the plot was, and frankly didn't care. Her attention was so squarely focused on one of the rauncher sex scenes that she didn't notice a familiar face peeking into the room.

"Well, well, well…"

Fern beamed at the familiar voice, but quickly squashed her expression. Her skin spoke volumes as she met the redhead's gaze. "Cassidy."

"Ailey," he returned. Door closing behind him, Sean strolled into the room.

Fern tossed the paperback aside and patted the bed in welcome.

The easy grin on his face spread wider. Sliding onto the mattress, the young man wasted no time. His fingers danced over her knee and glided up her thigh as he leaned in to kiss her.

He only got the briefest of pecks before the girl broke away.

Scales a whirl of color, Fern pulled back. The freckled fingers fiddled with her jockeys were little more than a tickle against her thick scales, but they felt sharp; too forward for her liking. A bit awkwardly, she dipped her chin as he nosed at her jaw. Clearing her throat, Fern rolled her shoulder as his fingers found the strap of her undershirt. Prying the digits off, she asked what his folks had said.

"What? Who cares?"

"I know you do," The grey girl smoothed back his shaggy bangs.

Sean scoffed. "Come on, baby, don't be like that."

Fern blinked. Dread crept through her as his hand slid over her side. She flinched as he glided over the sensitive scaleless patch underneath. Grabbing him by the wrist, her eyes narrowed on his face. "What did you call me?"

"God, look at you," his drawl shifted, changing into a multitude of tones. His blue eyes turned yellow and sharp as his body filled out into a familiar, albeit nude, feminine shape. "It's like you don't care at all."

Fear kicked her in the chest. Fern flipped backwards off the mattress. She stumbled into her night stand, the corner stabbing into the tender glands of her outer-thigh, but she barely felt it. Barely felt her head hit the wall as her back slammed into it.

Fern was filled with a sharp hot rage; at the betrayal, at the sheer audacity of the act. That Raven would play her like that, that she would touch her without permission. That she would do it while naked in her bed- her and Sean's bed. Bottom lip not quite steady, she inched toward the bathroom as her glands throbbed, threatening to stain her white pajamas with her anxiety and fear. "How could you?"

Raven sighed. She had thought Fern would understand- that if she came to her as Sean she could show the younger woman that she didn't need him. Raven could be that for her. Raven could be anyone she wanted; she could be anyone Fern wanted- even if it wasn't really Fern Raven wanted. Her shoulders low and features flat, the blue woman looked down at her hands. She flexed her fingers. Her nails -her claws- dug into her palms.

"Get out."

The woman stood. Stern, she took in Fern's erratic dark skin, the fear in her eyes, and told her plainly, "He'll never understand, you know. None of them will."

The grey girl just stared at her. Horrified.

Raven approached with caution. Slow, small steps until they were inches apart.

The taller girl squared her shoulders puffed up her chest, but her skin sparkled with fear.

"Even if we win tomorrow," Calm, and terrifyingly composed, Raven held her gaze. "Even if we fight every day, they'll be accepted, but we won't."

"I-"

"We're not like them, Fern. We're stronger than they'll ever be because they don't-" The blue woman's jaw clenched. With a deep breath, she lifted her chin. "They don't understand just how cold the world can be."

Fern pushed closer to the wall.

"Erik…" The older woman smiled. Her voice was somehow breathless and forceful, "Erik told me a tiger shouldn't hide her stripes. You said the same thing." Raven touched a short piece of black hair and ignored the flinch Fern gave in return. "I'm done hiding. I'm done being what Charles and Hank want me to be."

"Good." Fern pulled the unwanted hand from her face as blue fingers moved to touch her jaw. The glands along her throat pulsed, but she forced herself to stand tall. "But don't think for one second Erik doesn't have the same ulterior motive. Charles wants to keep you in a cage, Erik wants you as a set piece. Something pretty to show off, something he can use, but easily replaceable."

The smile Raven offered was placating and cold behind the eyes. "You don't understand-"

"I know the stunt you just pulled reminds me of him in the worst possible way." The Ailey girl hated the warble, but curled her lip back regardless, "Now get out."

Raven sighed. "I thought you'd be happy for me."

"I would have been, if you had come to me with pants and not wearing a different face."

Raven huffed with amusement. "You think you're so smart, don't you? You think I'm replaceable? Just wait until Sean wants a wife."

The words felt like a slap; she couldn't fight the flinch that came at them. Fern felt her scales flash, jagged lines cutting across her chest.

"A family." Raven raised her chin. "He might play nice with you now, Fern, but we both know, you're not exactly white picket fence material." Raven frowned at the short blink of Fern's second eyelid, but paid the action no more mind than she might had they been actual tears. "Neither am I. He'll resent you one day for that."

Fern stayed quiet as the nude woman stepped back. She had heard that before, but it hit differently coming from Raven. From someone who understood. From someone like her. A freak.

Raven heard the lock click behind her.

A/n: hopefully this doesn't suck considering the long ass time it took to get here. Stay safe and inside everybody!