"Sounds like a plan to me," Mavin said. She gestured for her sister to go first."

Lucy led the way out of the room and down the corridor to a smaller room that had been set up with food and snacks and drinks. She made herself a plate and then moved over to claim one of the few tables.

Interestingly enough, that was also where Steve and Bucky were headed, since Steve insisted on getting some food into Bucky.

Mavin grabbed herself a bottled drink and a bit of sandwich and settled in with them. She glanced over and raised an eyebrow when she saw Steve and Barnes come in.

Bucky let himself be led over to the snacks, but he tried to refuse when Steve started pushing things at him.

"It's not gonna stay down," he tried to explain. "It never does after-- after."

"At least some water then," Steve said, frowning at him. "You're still paler than I'd like, you need to get something in you soon."

Lucy snorted quietly and shook her head. "That one's a mother hen," she murmured to Mavin.

"Fine," Bucky replied. He couldn't guarantee the water would stay down, either, but it had a better chance than anything solid would.

"Seriously," Mavin replied quietly, watching them. "Didn't expect that."

Steve got him a bottle of water and handed it over, ushering him over to another chair to rest for a bit.

"Nope," Lucy agreed. "Stubborn too. Wow. I can feel it from here without trying."

"That, I can't say I'm surprised by," Mavin said, grinning a bit. "I did argue with him, after all."

Lucy snickered a little and finished up her snack.

It took a while for them all to be summoned back for the verdict. Lucy hung back with the Professor, and Steve stubbornly refused to leave Bucky's side.

Mavin stood by herself, apart from Steve and Barnes and from Lucy and Xavier.

"Given the outcome of the demonstration," the spokesman of the council said, once everyone was gathered, "it has been decided that James Barnes will be granted conditional freedom, a sort of parole, if you will. He will be allowed to return to the United States on the condition that he attend regular meetings with Charles Xavier in order to counteract the obvious brainwashing, and check-ins with an appointed representative to evaluate his progress. Should he become a danger to himself and others, he will be detained and moved to a suitable facility."

Steve wanted to argue that Bucky wouldn't be a danger, but he refrained. For once, he knew that this wasn't something he could fight. But the outcome was good, it was basically what they had wanted. Except for the appointed representative.

"May I make a suggestion as to who the representative will be?" he asked, looking at the spokesman.

The spokesman gave Steve a look that clearly said he didn't think that Steve was in a position to be making requests, but nodded anyways.

"Miss Snow has been working with the two of us already, and has been doing an admirable job," Steve said, nodding to her. "She would do well at this."

Mavin blinked and looked at him. Well. That was new.

"Miss Snow?" the spokesman asked, looking at her expectantly.

"Oh! Um, of course," Mavin said, nodding. "I would be glad to continue helping."

Steve nodded. That was acceptable. But he kept his satisfied look to himself, waiting a moment to see if there was anything else. When nothing else seemed forthcoming, he turned to go.

Mavin waited for more instructions, as well, and turned to go join her sister.

"Can't wait to go home," she murmured. "Though I guess I'm still going to be up to my eyes in work, with this on top of everything."

"Right," Lucy murmured. "Say the word and I'll go with you to meetings, whatever you need." She smiled a little, self-deprecating. "Not like I have a job."

"Oh believe me, I will insist on you being there," Mavin said, nodding. "And don't say shit like that, you know you're valuable."

"Pretty much only to you and people at the mansion." Lucy shrugged though. "Which is fine."

"Nobody else matters," Mavin said. She nudged her sister. "You know we love you."

Lucy smiled at that, relaxing a little. "I know," she murmured, sending a little mix of grateful-love-peace at her sister.

Mavin smiled when she felt it. She tilted her head.

"Come on," she said. "Let's get out while the getting's good. If we're lucky, we can be home by the day after tomorrow."

Lucy nodded. "You're going to come back with the Professor and I," she said. "Which I just decided but I'm sure the Professor won't mind." She grinned a bit. "And after that you just let me know when things are going to happen and I'll be there."

Mavin grinned.

"Sounds good to me," she said.

Lucy nodded and grabbed her hand, tugging her along to go see the Professor about getting home.

A couple of weeks later, Mavin found herself waiting in an empty classroom at the mansion, Lucy with her. She'd already squared Connor away with a sitter, so she was just sitting there, notepad and pen in hand, waiting for Xavier to come in with their visitors.