"Look, I think I know what I'm talking about when it comes to places being safe, okay?" Alex said. "This isn't my first home."

"Congrats, you survived the system, I'd give you a gold star if I had one," Crystal said, in full snark mode now. "You're not the only one here who can say that."

"You think you're the only one who had a rough time?" Alex retorted. Then he really looked at her. "I get it now. You're scared. You got welcomed into his huge home, with all of the expensive shit in it, and all the little kids, and you're scared you might go off." He gave a humorless grin. "Welcome to the club."

"Really? You seem pretty damn relaxed to me." Of course by now Crystal knew better than to try and judge a mutant's powers by their looks. "So you've been here for long enough to be comfortable, to be relaxed. Besides, I never said we were the only ones that have had it rough, you're the idiot who keeps putting words in my mouth."

"You keep implying it," Alex pointed out.

"Come on, guys, tone it down a bit," Hank said, looking between the two.

"I'm not implying anything, you're just being a dick," Crystal said, her eyes narrowed at him.

"Am I, though? You're the one who snapped at me first," Alex pointed out. "Seriously, no need to go off on me."

Hank just looked like he was at a loss for words, and was torn between hauling Alex bodily back up the stairs and calling for backup.

Crystal tensed and her hands started sparking. Literally. Her eyes narrowed at him.

Which is about when Erik walked in and just stopped for a second, fairly certain that Charles didn't want this threat eliminated in the library.

When Hank saw Erik walk in, he blanched a bit.

"Everything's alright," he said hurriedly. "Hashing out some differences, really, we're good."

Alex noticed Erik at about the same moment and stumbled back a step or two. Nope, he wasn't going to do anything to irritate Erik when the man had that look on his face.

Paige noticed how Hank reacted, and reached out to grab Crystal's shoulder.

"Quit it," she hissed. "Please?"

"I told you this was a bad idea," Crystal said, though she relaxed a little bit as her hands stopped sparking.

"Someone explain this to me. Now." Erik's eyes narrowed as he paid very close attention to the two new people.

"There was a bit of miscommunication," Hank said quickly. "Misunderstanding, that's all. And Alex."

"Hey, that wasn't my fault," Alex protested. Hank gave him a Look. "...Not completely."

Erik scowled but was distracted by Charles, and the two stood for several moments, clearly having a mental discussion. Crystal watched them, ready to move if she had to, clearly wary. When Erik huffed and led Charles over to the chair again, though, she figured they were okay for a minute or two.

When the immediate situation diffused for the moment, Paige sighed a bit and let go of her friend. She glanced around at everyone.

"Maybe this wasn't a good idea," she said. "Listen, we'll go, see if we can find somewhere else to stay the night. We don't want to cause any more trouble for you."

"Nonsense, you're no trouble!" Charles assured them. "I'm sure you're both tired. It's been a stressful day for you, after all. Misunderstandings are natural, especially with such a... diverse group." He beamed at them both.

Crystal just looked disbelieving, raising an eyebrow at him.

Paige looked at him in disbelief as well. How could this man possibly be real? Anyone else would have tossed Paige and Crystal out already; hell, their landlord already had, which was what started the whole thing. How could Charles possibly still want them around?

"Are you sure?" she asked hesitantly. "I mean, I'm sure we can find a motel or something that will take us..."

"I assure you, you're no trouble at all," Charles said.

"I can take them up to guest rooms, Papa," Darwin volunteered, looking at the girls. He just waited for Charles' nod to start herding the girls out of the library/den as easily as he had the children.

Paige let herself be herded out of the library.

"I'm not sure what just happened," she said after a moment.

Once the girls were herded out, Charles let Alex and Hank go, as well, and then turned his attention to Erik.

"I did warn you that we had guests," he said as he settled in next to his husband.

"Neither am I," Crystal said quietly. "He just pissed me off."

"You didn't mention you were trying to adopt two more," Erik said, rather amused now.

"It wasn't even that," Paige said. "It all just kind of happened at once at the end, there, I'm not sure what exactly did happen."

"I think they're a little too old to adopt," Charles replied, although he did grin a bit. "They do, however, need a safe place to stay for the moment."

"No kidding." Crystal nodded to Darwin when he opened two doors for them.

"If you need anything, just shout, we'll hear you." Darwin shot them (slightly worried) grins and left.

"For tonight," Erik said firmly. "If they are already causing that much trouble? One night."

"Erik," Charles said, "from what Darwin has told me, the poor things were evicted from their flat. Do you really think they'll be able to find a new place to live by tomorrow?" He turned his blue eyes on the magnekinetic. "They aren't any more trouble than any of our other children."

Erik wavered for a few moments before he sighed and gave in. "Alright, they can stay until they find a new place, but only if they don't cause trouble," he said, trying for stern. He didn't quite make it.

"I'm sure they won't cause trouble once things quiet down a bit," Charles said, snuggling in close. He rested a hand on his rather round stomach. "They just need to settle themselves."

"You think everyone deserves a second and possibly third chance," Erik grumbled, though he reached over to start rubbing Charles' belly.

"Do they not?" Charles pointed out. "They're barely older than Alex or Darwin, after all." He broke out into a bright smile when the baby woke up and started kicking. "Oh! Did you feel that?"