"All right, for today's practice, I though we might…." Charles let his voice trail off as he took in the scene he and Erik had just walked in upon.

It was mid-afternoon on a lovely Saturday and the children and Moira were all gathered in the TV room, save for Hank who was at an electronics convention. The radio was on, but no one seemed particularly interested in the music. Raven and Moira were leaning on each other, giggling as they watched Sean blow an impressive series of smoke rings into the air.

Alex was sprawled on the couch, clutching a bottle of Jim Beam and brooding. Or perhaps not brooding, but as it was his default state, it was hard to tell without prying.

"Hi!" Sean crowed when he saw them, then asked, "Do you have any snacks?"

"I'm sure there are some in the kitchen," Charles said with a sigh. "I suppose capture the flag is out of the question now."

"Quite," Erik agreed, but was interrupted by Raven.

"NO! Oh my God, catpure the flag would be so much fun!" she burbled happily, then gave them a long look, trying to organize her thoughts. When she couldn't, she simply walked to the liquor cabinet and grabbed two bottles, handing them to Charles and Erik, demanding, "Drink first!"

That was how they wound up playing capture the flag: Team Drunk vs. Team High. No one actually won, as Team High surrendered to the munchies and Alex passed out in the garden, while Charles and Erik…did something naughty in the stables.

When Hank returned the next day, no one would tell him how the kitchen got trashed, why Alex had a dozen rose thorns in his arm or why Erik kept smirking when Charles continued to find hay in his dark hair all day.

No, actually, didn't want to know about that last one.

Comments, pretty please?