Lucy nodded. "My mutation hasn't changed at all," she confirmed. "And I'm fairly certain I inhaled almost as much as she did. It's bothering Hank too."

"Don't look the gift horse in the mouth," Bucky murmured. "How's the kid holding up?"

"So far he seems fine," Lucy said with a little sigh, finally finishing up with the cookies. "He's worried about his mom, of course, but otherwise he seems to be doing okay. Logan and some of the others have been doing a good job of keeping him entertained."

Bucky nodded.

"What about you?" he asked. He glanced at the baking covering the counters. "Guessing this ain't normal."

"Stress baking," Lucy admitted with a sigh. "Although between the kids and Logan, it all vanishes almost as fast as I can make it. Logan loves baking. I'm half-way convinced he's a honey badger, not a wolverine."

That startled a snort out of Bucky, which grew into full on snickering.

"God, don't let old Howlett hear you say that," he said. "Guy's got a temper like a cranky grizzly."

That made Lucy grin, watching him. "Yes he does," she agreed. "But he's a complete marshmallow under all the temper and bluster, and don't let him fool you otherwise."

Bucky snickered a bit more.

"God if only the rest of the Howlies could hear this," he said. "Every one of 'em's heard of James Howlett. They'd never believe he's that much of a softie."

Lucy grinned at that. Oh how cute. "Really?" She asked. "All of you had heard of him?"

"Most of us," Bucky said, nodding. "Y'hear of everyone like that, after a while. Never got to work with him, but people talk."

"Yes well people do that a lot," Lucy told him dryly, bringing over more cookies for him to snack on. "You should hear the gossip mill here."

"Yeah, no thanks," Bucky muttered, his grin fading. He didn't want to listen to what the people in the mansion might think of someone like him. He knew he was broken, no sense in listening to everyone talk about it.

Lucy nudged his ankle with her foot and continued, "It's all about who Logan's slept with most recently, who's going to get into trouble next, and, recently, which way Captain America swings his mighty shield." She smirked a little.

Bucky snorted.

"Swings it both ways," he commented, resettling in his chair. "Always has."

Lucy snorted and choked at that. "Seriously?" She asked, grinning.

Bucky shrugged.

"Thought nowadays that was okay," he said.

"It is," Lucy assured him. "But most people just assume he's one or the other. Dunno why."

Bucky nodded a bit.

"Be interesting to see what happens when he realizes he's sweet on your sister," he said. "He'll realize eventually."

Lucy smiled a bit. "It will be interesting," she agreed. "That, I think, I'll let the two of them figure out on their own."

"Not gonna help 'em?" Bucky asked raising an eyebrow. "Lot's of people would be tempted, in your shoes."

"Nah." Lucy shrugged. "I could, I suppose, but I try not to mess with things as much as I can. It would work, hypothetically speaking, but it's not always entirely genuine. If I interfere, I might take a crush and make it real, full-bodied attraction, but that would die eventually, and make everyone more miserable afterwards."

"Sounds like you've tried before," Bucky said. He was quiet for a moment, gathering his thoughts as best he could. "I'm glad it's you. I know a whole lot of other people I wouldn't trust with that kind of power."

Lucy blinked and then smiled and ducked her head, pleased. "Thanks," she murmured. "I try."

Bucky just nodded and let things lapse into silence.

Elsewhere, Mavin was finally waking up again. She shook herself and looked around, and then tried to take stock of herself to figure out what had happened.

Hank was still down there, and he looked over when he saw her stirring.

"Hello Mavin," he said, smiling a bit at her. "This is going to sound odd, but try not to panic."