Erik grumbled a bit but subsided, instead cradling his son gently and keeping close to his family.

Charles just smiled and leaned against Erik a bit.

Paige, on the other hand, had ended up going to help herd the kids into the library. Hopefully, they could be distracted for a little while by My Little Pony.

A few days later, things had returned to closer to normal at the mansion. Paige had started her job at SI, and Crystal was still looking for jobs, and still being turned down. So she decided to go meet up with Paige for lunch to try and cool off for a bit.

Paige looked a bit uncomfortable in her new blazer and skirt, but both fit her well enough. She grinned when she saw her friend.

"Hey," she said.

"Hey." Crystal was dressed more casually, and she managed a smile. "You look good."

"Thanks," Paige said. She looked at her friend. "Is everything alright? You seem tense."

"Bad day," Crystal said with a shrug, writing it off easily. "Still trying to find a job. But we can talk later, lunch first."

Paige still gave her friend a concerned look, but nodded.

"Sure," she said. "Lunch first sounds good."

Crystal nodded. "You pick, I'm good with anything today." She stuffed her hands in her pockets, letting Paige pick which way they went.

"I was going to tell you to pick," Paige said a bit sheepishly, glancing at her friend and grinning a bit. "You can pick, really."

"I don't know any of these places," Crystal reasoned. "So unless there's an Indian place or a Greek place right nearby, I have no strong feelings."

"I think there's a Greek place around the corner," Paige offered. She remembered seeing the place on her way in. "Want to go there?"

"Sure." Crystal grinned a bit and headed over that direction, looking forward to Greek food now.

Paige grinned and walked with her.

"So is everything really alright?" she asked as they made their way to the Greek place. "Honestly?"

"Alright, just very frustrating," Crystal said with a little shrug. "I'm still trying to find a job."

Paige nodded in sympathy.

"There has to be one out there," she said. "They can't all refuse you."

"Hopefully. I think they can all try." Crystal rolled her eyes, settling into her seat and starting to peruse the menu.

"They can't refuse forever," Paige said, sitting down as well. "Any everything's alright back at the mansion?"

"Oh yeah, everything there is fine. Charles is resting, Erik is hovering, Remy is having fun needling Erik and somehow not getting stabbed." Crystal shrugged.

Paige grinned a bit.

"Then it'll be my turn for babysitting duty when I get h-- back tonight," she said, covering her slip. She'd almost said 'home.'

Crystal noticed but didn't say anything, just nodding.

"Yeah, I think Remy needs to be taken out to burn some energy."

Paige grinned.

"I'm sure you've got that covered," she teased.

Crystal laughed a bit. "Probably," she agreed with a bit of a grin. Fortunately it worked well for them to go blow off steam together.

"Put on a pretty light show for the kids," Paige said, grinning. "Babysitting and Remy-sitting all at once."

"Seriously," Crystal agreed with a huff of laughter. "Good thing they're all easily amused."