"No, I don't think so," Paige said. "I'm not really into My Little Pony. But thanks."

Charles nodded. "Alright. Do yell if you decide you need anything." He smiled at her again and shifted his cup out of the way when Wanda decided to go cuddle her papa.

Paige nodded.

"I will," she said. "Enjoy the tea and weird cartoons." She grinned and headed back into the kitchen.

By the time Paige got back, their tea was ready, and Crystal was relaxing with a cup as she moved through the kitchen, checking to see if she had everything she'd need to make her cookies. All while half-playfully trying to keep Remy out of the cookie tin.

Paige just sat down and poured herself some tea, watching the two of them. They were flirting with each other, it was adorable.

"Chere, you're about t' make more cookies anyway," Remy pointed out. "Where's t' harm in lettin' Gambit at some of these?"

"The harm is that you're completely incorrigible and if I let you have one you'll have five more," Crystal said. "Besides, you're tall and can reach the flour for me."

Remy chuckled but brought down the flour, his other hand taking a few cookies before he meandered away again.

Crystal saw that and threw a chocolate chip after him but she started working on cookies anyway.

Paige grinned and just watched them flirt a while longer. When she heard the cartoon in the other room ending, she finished her tea and got up. She did promise Charles a discussion, after all.

The kids all went to go get fresh cookies, and Charles stayed in the den for a bit longer, finishing off his tea. He did look over when Paige came in and smiled a bit.

"Crys lured them all in with more cookies," Paige said as she sat down on the couch. "Figured you needed a break from being sat on."

Charles chuckled quietly. "They're all quite careful of me now, I fear Erik has told them one too many times to be careful with their papa." He shook his head though, clearly amused.

"It's not a bad thing," Paige pointed out. She settled on the couch, fingers gently tracing the edge of the side table.

"I suppose not." Charles paused when the baby started kicking. "Easy, little one," he murmured before looking at Paige. "The little one is kicking, if you'd like to feel."

Paige hesitated for a moment, and then nodded, cautiously reaching out and just as carefully laying her hand on his belly.

"Really, I'm not that delicate," Charles protested, even as the baby kicked against her hand, rolling over and trying to find a new spot to settle in.

Paige flinched slightly and pulled her hand back.

"Sorry," she said. "It's just that most people don't want me touching them, once they see what I can do..."

"Oh, don't be so ridiculous." Charles grabbed her hand and pressed it against where the baby was still moving, though more gently now. "You're not a freak, you're not someone to be shunted aside and rejected because of what you can do, Paige. Your mutation is incredible, and is certainly not something you should be ashamed of."

"Not everyone thinks the way you do, Charles," Paige said softly. She didn't immediately pull her hand back, though.

"I know that," Charles said quietly. "But they should. You especially should not think like they do. And you shouldn't think that us knowing your mutation changes anything, because it most certainly does not."

"I got kicked out of school in fourth grade because my teacher didn't want a freak in her class," Paige pointed out. "The first time I absorbed glass, I was suspended for a month for traumatizing my classmates, and then transferred to another school because none of them could look at me anymore." She took her hand back and looked down at her lap. "It usually does change things once people know."

"It won't change anything around here," Charles said firmly. I know how you feel, Paige. Most people recoil from me after learning what I can do, and they're afraid of me. It is something that I hope to change, eventually, for all mutants. But you will always have a safe haven here, and no one will judge you for what you are or what you do.

Paige bit her lip, blinking rapidly to hold back a few tears. It didn't quite work, and she huddled down into herself a bit as she tried to hide it.

Charles didn't give her a chance to hide, instead pulling her close and holding her as tightly as he could. He didn't say anything, just giving her a chance to cry, since she needed to.

Paige just cried quietly into his shoulder for a few minutes, trembling slightly. It took her a little while to calm down again, but she didn't move away quite yet.