Bobby flicked the switch on his iPod, connecting it to the stereo system and charger. He ran his finger over the circular dial, selecting the 'shuffle' option, and within seconds, music was playing throughout the house.
The kids were staying at the mansion for the night, so Julie and Bobby could have their housewarming party and just behave like young adults with no responsibilities. If only for a night, real life would wait.
"Hey, Beeza," Shayne greeted, appearing in the doorway with Lennon and Gabriella in tow. "Door was open."
"Yeah, Piotr's just run downstairs to get stuff from his car," Bobby told them. "And hey kids. Come on in."
The trio moved more into the room, Lennon stopping to shake Bobby's hand, while the two girls waited to hug him. Shayne pretended to swoon into his arms and Bobby giggled, catching her before she hit the ground.
"Reflexes of a cat," he joked.
"My hero," Shayne laughed. She straightened up and hugged him, kissing his cheek at the same time, moving back to let Gabriella through.
Gabriella and Bobby looked at each other for a moment, grinning like idiots, then finally Bobby swept her up in his arms and spun her around. "Hey mathtastic."
"Hey mathenstein," she replied, kissing his cheek.
Bobby led them over to one of the couches and the group got themselves comfortable, Shayne draping herself over Lennon and Gabriella in order to get settled.
"We have pizza on it's way, KFC too, and drinks in the bathtub. A bit of alcohol, but mostly it's BYO," Bobby told them.
"Awesome, and where is your missus? We're dying to meet her," Lennon replied.
"She's running around getting things organised. I announced the party, but she's the one actually doing the work," Bobby laughed. "I am the lazy husband."
Julie, Rogue, Shannon, Annika and Friday
Annika arrived at the door the same time that Rogue and Shannon appeared.
"Hey," she greeted them, opening the door herself.
"Hey," Rogue replied. "Annika right?"
"Yep."
"Good to see you again. This is Shannon."
"Hey,"
"Hello."
The three girls entered.
"Hi Bobby!" Rogue waved.
**********
Meanwhile, Friday was helping Julie in the kitchen, having arrived earlier. Julie was shaking her head.
"Seriously girl, you are fast with that knife," she commented, watching Friday's chopping speed.
"Ha! I have nothing on our 'domestic science' teacher, Melaina. She's also a slayer, and that mixed with her experience? The only thing that slows that girl down is the oven's cooking time."
Julie chuckled.
"Oh, and thanks again for letting Kella come to the party."
As Kella had been sightseeing with her, Friday didn't really want to go to the party without her friend. Kella was taking the plates of snacks out to the table.
"It's no problem. Well, I think that's everything."
Bobby
Bobby looked over and grinned in excitement.
"Rooooooooooooooogueyyyyyyyyyyy! Shannnnnnnnnnnnnooooooooooon! Neeeeeeeeeeeeki!"
He plonked himself down on Lennon's lap and jokingly batted his eyelashes.
"And what do you want for Christmas, son?" Lennon joked.
"A train set, and to pass my exams... and a pony!" Bobby replied, laughing. "Oh hey, that's the missus."
He pointed at Julie.
"This is the one we have to compete with for your time?" Shayne laughed.
"Myes. Myes it is."
Julie, Friday, Rogue, Shannon and Annika
"It's good to finally meet you guys," Julie replied. "Bobby's told me all about you. Okay, I've heard lots of half conversations with you, anyway."
"Hi Jules," Rogue said.
"Hi girls," Julie replied. "Shannon! You came! I didn't think you would."
Shannon shrugged.
"I did want to see your apartment."
"Yeah, but you're not a party girl."
"True."
"I talked her into it," Rogue grinned.
"Ahh, marvellous. Oh, Annika! This is Friday."
"So, we finally meet," Annika said.
"Ahh, so you're Annika?" Friday replied. "Cool. Oh, and everyone? This is my friend Kella, also known as Killer Kel. We're going sightseeing around the States, and well, New York was our first stop."
"And what a amazing sight this place is," Kella mused. "It looks so apartmenty."
Avery and Airlia
"Oh man, don't worry about it, Zac," Avery said, looking panicked. "He came up to the Station a few days ago to talk to me about it, but yeah, I kicked him out. It was my own fault for... for doing things I shouldn't've done."
Airlia looked at her curiously.
Zac and Saku
"Oh, okay," Zac replied. "You sure?"
"I'd say she's sure," Saku informed him. "I mean, look at her: she nearly panicked when she realised you were serious."
"Hmph," and Zac took that moment to ruffle Avery's hair. "No one's allowed to hurt my little sister and get away with it. Ever."
"Very macho of you Dad."
Bobby
Bobby moved so he was laying across Lennon, Shayne and Gabriella's laps.
"This is Lennonononon, Shayne and Gabbo," Bobby introduced roughly to the others. "And that's Roguey, Neeki, Shannonononon, Frizie, Kel-Kel and of course, J."
"How come everyone except me has a nickname?" Shayne asked, pouting jokingly.
"Because he doesn't like you as much as he likes us," Lennon grinned.
"No way man, you should hear what he says about you when you're not around!" Gabriella joked.
"It's true, I hate you, Lenno," Bobby chuckled.
Julie, Rogue and Shannon
"Well, if you really want a nickname, I'm sure I could invent one for you," Julie grinned. "Lemme see... Shayne-pain? Shayney-painy? Shazza?"
"Nope, Shazza's Shannons' nickname," Rogue replied, grinning.
"Only Aranince calls me that," Shannon objected.
"So, you much prefer Bobbys' Shannonononon?"
Shannon considered.
"Yes."
"I'm going to hold you to that."
Bobby
"I'll stick with Shayne," Shayne said, moving around, trying to get comfortable under Bobby's weight.
"You're lucky," Gabriella replied. "His nicknames can sometimes earn you crazy looks."
"But you love me Gabbo!" Bobby pouted.
"Keep telling yourself that, buddy."
Bobby faked a sob and sat up, nearly squashing Shayne in the process. "Anyway! I am going to eat."
Julie, Friday and Rogue
"Good, that's what that food's there for," Friday replied. "Didn't go to all the effort of cutting it up into pieces for you to stare at."
Julie chuckled.
"Like it was really all that much effort for you. Would have been more effort if I had done it."
Friday grinned.
"Am I missing something?" Rogue asked.
"Day is very skills with knives," Julie replied ominously.
Friday waggled her eyebrows.
Bobby
Bobby dragged Shayne over to the table to grab food.
"Get me a plate!" Lennon called to them.
"You lazy bastard, why do I put up with you?" Bobby replied, picking up another plate.
"Me too!" Gabriella chimed in. "Lennon and I are clearly keeping the couch warm."
"It's an important job," Lennon agreed.
Friday and Rogue
"So, how does everyone know Julie and Bobby?" Friday asked, spearing some food onto her plate. "I met Julie online a few years ago."
"And Shannon and I went to high school with Bobby and Julie," Rogue said.
Bobby
"We go to University with Bobby, all doing the same degree," Gabriella spoke up. "We all kinda bonded on the first day when none of us really knew what was going on."
Bobby chuckled. "I still don't know what's going on. Also, Rogue forgot to mention that we used to date. She loved me."
Rogue, Annika, Julie and Friday
Rogue chuckled.
"But you loved me more," Rogue replied. "Let's face it, I couldn't touch you without hurting you and you still wanted to date me."
"Well, I met Julie through a mutual friend," Annika began.
"More like a mutual lover," Julie teased.
"True."
"My eldest kids, B'Elanna and Tom are half-siblings to Annika's son Brett," Julie explained for the benefit of those who didn't know. "Oooh, and actually they're also half-sibs to Shannon's daughter Briar."
"And my daughter Elektra," Friday added.
Julie looked around. Her eyes fell on Rogue.
"Rogue! You're the only one who hasn't had Zac's baby."
"And I'm not going to either," Rogue informed her.
"Well, technically, I didn't actually have Zac's baby..." Friday began mischeviously.
Bobby
"That's true. I did want a piece of the Rogue booty," Bobby nodded.
"Dude, your wife," Lennon said, gesturing to Julie.
"Oh, she knows. In fact, when we first officially started dating, we were both having sex with other people. We mainly had sex with the same guy. Sometimes at the same time... hmmm..." Bobby grinned cheekily.
"You need help, Bizzo," Shayne said, laughing. "Are you both done with your swinging lifestyle now, though?"
"Well, I don't know if you can ever give up on that," Bobbymused, wiggling his eyebrows at Shayne. "If you're offering..."
"I would never sleep with you," Shayne told him, wrinkling her nose. "You are undesirable."
"My heart!" Bobby cluthced at his chest. "You lie!"
Julie and Friday
"I don't know," Julie replied. "I find him pretty desirable."
"That's a given," Friday replied. "You did marry him after all."
"So, what are you saying?"
"You have weird taste in men."
"Oh yeah, what about your taste in men?"
"Given that I've never had a boyfriend, you wouldn't know a thing about my taste in men."
"Exactly."
Bobby, Faith and Kim
Bobby's eyes lit up at the sight of someone standing by the doorway.
"Hey! I didn't think you'd show!" he exclaimed, standing up and heading over to the door to greet Faith.
"Well, I figured I had nothing better to do, I might as well find out how everyone's favourite snowcone was doing," Faith replied, an amused smirk playing over her features. "This is Kim."
She indicated to the tall guy standing behind her.
"Hey, come in," Bobby said, stepping back to allow them entrance. "You know just about everyone... except Annika maybe. And my Uni bums."
"Well, then hello Annika and Uni bums."
Annika, Friday and Julie
"Hi," Annika said.
"Yo Faith-ster," Friday said. "Change your mind about sightseeing with us?"
"I don't know," Julie said. "I'm seeing a pretty good sight right here."
She batted her eyes at Bobby.
Faith and Bobby
"Nah, just needed a break from Cleveland. Oh and then LA was kinda same old, same old, so thought I might hit up New York to use Angel's credit card," Faith replied, resting back against Kim who had his arms wrapped around her waist.
"Mmmm, shopping," Gabriella moaned. "I haven't had time to do that in forever, what with school."
"I know, it does tend to eat up all of your time," Bobby agreed, shrugging. "And when you're not there, you're thinking about it."
Julie, Saku and Zac
"Very insidious," Julie agreed.
"Hey, Da - Zac, they're talking about you," Saku said.
Zac chuckled.
"Hey guys," Julie said. "I was beginning to think you weren't coming. Say... how'd you get in, anyway?"
"You left the front door open," Zac replied.
Faith, Kim, Avery, Airlia, Tru and Bobby
"Yeah, that was probably me, whoops," Faith said, turning around to greet Zac. "Hey long time no see, all of you."
"Mom!" Tru and Airlia exclaimed in unison, then moved forward to hug her.
"Hey guys. Zac been treating you well?" she inquired.
"On and off," Airlia joked.
Avery snorted slightly. "Hey Faith."
"Hey kiddo, you're looking good. I dig it," Faith replied.
"Thanks, I work out," Avery grinned.
Bobby chuckled slightly and turned to Kim. "So, one would have to assume you know all about demons and such, right?"
Kim laughed. "Yeah. I guess you could say that."
"He's the son of a Slayer," Faith put in. "And man, I thought he was a demon the first time I met him."
"Well, I thought you were a vampire, so we're square," Kim retorted, although with a smile on his face. He pulled Faith closer against him, resting his head on top of hers.
"I'll tell you when we're square, bucko."
Zac, Friday, Julie and Saku
Zac made a concerted effort to look away from this point. He still loved Faith and knew he always would, despite knowing full well that their relationship would never again go beyond friends. Nonetheless, even though he had accepted that Faith would continue to see other people, it still hurt to actually see her in the arms of another man.
"Hey, you," said Friday, poking Zac in the arm. "How's Elektra?"
"You're going to ask me that every time we cross paths, aren't you?"
"Hell yes."
"Well, she's good," Zac replied.
"Any more half-siblings we should know about?" Julie teased.
"Welll..."
"What? No!" Julie exclaimed. "You didn't!"
"Well... sorta... Y'know how I've been saying I have eleven kids?"
"It's really eighteen?"
"Ha ha. Twelve. And I've known it's been tweleve for sometime now, I just wasn't publically admitting it our of respect for the mother's wishes."
"Oh? What's changed? Who's the mother?"
"You remember Wendy?"
"No way! Heaven's yours?"
"Uh huh."
"We all thought it was Tony's."
"Yeah, that's what Wendy wanted everyone to think."
"That's... that's..."
"Mean? Yeah. But it's what she wanted."
"Oh wow. So I'm guessing he found out?"
"Yeah. Wendy left Heaven on my doorstep the other night with a note and the custody papers and everything. And a request that I don't try to contact her."
"Yeah, they moved, huh? I'm guessing you have no idea where."
"Nope."
"Wow, that's just psycho."
"But nowhere near as psycho as having twelve kids before you're twenty," Friday interjected.
"The girl has a point," Saku grinned.
Faith, Avery, Kim, Bobby and Tru
"Magic sperm," Faith said, nodding knowingly.
"Eww, come on, that's my BROTHER. Oh and ew, Taylor knocked Natalie up too," Avery grimaced.
"Maybe the magic sperm runs in the family," Kim suggested, chuckling.
"Ewwww! Please stop, or I'll... make you think you were me and then you would understand the grossness!" Avery threatened.
"She can do that?" Bobby asked.
"She can do that," Tru confirmed.
Zac, Friday and Julie
"Yeah, but Tay's boring. He actually went and married Natalie," Zac said, giving a mock-disgusted sigh.
Friday put her hand to her cheek.
"Egads! You mean to say he actually took some responsibility and married the girl he knocked up? Heaven forbid."
"Hey, leave my daughter out of it," Zac joked.
"Dork."
"Zac does actually have a point - and no that's not a sexual innuendo Zac, so shush you," Julie said. "I mean, if Tay went around knocking up girls all the time like Zac did, then maybe we'd talk about him. But we don't because he's boring, and instead we talk about Zac, who isn't."
"This is true," Zac mused. "I mean, how often do we talk about Ike?"
"Yes! The Hanson who goes through girlfriends like he changes his underwear, but has never actually gotten anyone pregnant."
"I doubt he's even gotten laid."
"Ooh rare species," Friday grinned. "Virgin rockstar."
Faith, Kim and Bobby
"Hmmm, I would take Ike out on a test drive if he let me," Faith joked. "Although, I never could get past the horse thing."
"Horse thing?" Kim asked.
"He looks like a horse," Bobby spoke up. "Or at least he used to. Haha, oh sorry Zac."
"It's ok, he doesn't look like a horse," Faith said, waving it off.
"No, but it is his brother," Bobby reminded her.
"Oh yeah..."
Zac, Friday, Annika and Julie
"Eh," Zac replied. "You can compare Ike to a horse if you want. Doesn't worry me."
"I don't think he looks like a horse," Friday said.
"Yeah, well, that's because you didn't know him during his horse-imitating days," Annika replied.
Zac raised an eyebrow.
"As I recall, you didn't know him either."
"I have your CDs."
"Same," said Julie.
"Point taken."
Tru, Airlia, Faith, Bobby and Kim
"I personally can't believe Dad is famous," Tru spoke up.
"Or that girls like... daydream about him," Airlia chimed in, wrinkling her nose. "He's so... Zac."
"Yeah, it's part of his charm," Faith laughed, winking at Zac.
"I still cannot imagine you guys as a couple. Faith's so mean," Bobby said.
"They were a couple?" Kim asked, looking between them. "Oh wait, I knew that. With Airlia and Tru and such. Sorry, brain just died a little then."
"Yeah, moving on," Faith said, clearing her throat.
"You are though," Bobby persisted. "Mean."
"I can get meaner."
"Point taken."
Zac and Friday
"Wait, so if Faith's mean, what does that make me?" Zac asked.
"Cute and fluffy," Friday replied maliciously.
"I am not cute and fluffy. All my kids got their good looks from their mothers. Except Elektra. If she ends up beautiful, it'll be fron recessive genes."
"Hey!"
"See? I can be mean too."
Bobby and Faith
Bobby wandered away from the conversation and over to the table of food, where his Uni friends had been standing.
"It's lame," Shayne was saying.
"What's lame?" Bobby asked.
"The whole not eating anything unless it died naturally thing," she answered. "I'm a vegetarian and all, but even that goes beyond me."
Gabriella laughed. "It is a little weird."
"So, who has more kids? Julie or Zac?" Faith questioned.
Zac, Friday and Julie
"I do," Zac said. "I have twelve, and Julie only has six."
"Yeah, she'll need to get pregnant three more times to catch up," Friday teased.
Julie poked her tongue out.
"Hey, you're the one who said your super power was having twins."
"That's right, I did say that, didn't I?" Julie mused.
Faith, Kim, Avery, Tru, Airlia and Bobby
Faith grinned and ate some of the food.
"Well, as far as powers go, I guess it's not that bad. I mean, at least you didn't grow an extra leg or anything."
Kim shook his head slightly. "Yeah, but she'd have to give birth. You could amputate a leg. Or wear a patch so everyone thought you were a pirate or something."
"Please don't tell me that's your solution for a third leg," Faith said, looking up at him. "That's a terrible solution!"
"Do you have a better one?" he asked.
"Yes! Amputation!" Faith exclaimed.
"No, that's too risky, you'd be crazy to do it," he argued.
"I can see how dressing like pirate would be the saner option!" she replied sarcastically.
"You're beautiful," Kim said suddenly.
"I know. But that doesn't mean I'm letting the argument go, Buster Brown," Faith told him.
"Buster Brown?" Kim frowned.
"Buster Brown," she confirmed.
Avery had made her way over to Bobby and his Uni friends and was getting on splendidly with Lennon. They were all but making out.
Tru snorted, indicating the two and poking Airlia to alert her attention.
"DON'T YOU DARE, ROBERT DRAKE!" Gabriella cried, her hands in front of her in protest.
Bobby was grinning, holding a chunk of ice that he'd just made. "Don't I dare do what?"
"You do it, and you will die!"
Julie and Zac
"Ice fight! Ice fight!" Julie grinned.
Zac looked over, only to see Avery and Lennon. He frowned a little. Was Avery flirting with that guy? He was way, way too old for her. If JD had turned his little sister into some sort of slut, Zac would make sure that JD wished he had killed him.
Bobby and Avery
Bobby chuckled, moving closer to Gabriella. She backed away again.
"You do it and no more help in accounting!" she threatened.
Bobby paused.
Lennon looked up from his conversation with Avery and chuckled. "Ah, help with homework always wins out."
"So, you guys are all studying to be accountants?" Avery asked, looking amused.
"Yep, we're like the awesome foursome... in accountancy," Shayne piped up. "We're thinking of when we graduate, opening a firm together."
"But we lack motivation," Lennon joked. "So, living on the Space Station must be kinda awesome."
"It is," Avery replied. "Kinda cool to have no parents and stuff, but it does get kinda boring up there. All the same people."
"Ah, try being at Uni," Lennon told her, eyes crinkling at the corners when he smiled. "Same people. Same classes. Same confusion over the work."
"Sounds very much like the Station."
Zac, Julie, Annika and Friday
"Well, lucky me than," Zac said, joining them and putting his arm over Avery's shoulders. "Ike, Tay and I are going to start touring again."
"What really?" asked Julie. "Since when did this happen?"
"Well, we finally finished the album. We're talking to distributers and tour managers and other fun people like that now. So hopefully, promo tour will begin before the end of the year."
"Awesome," said Annika.
"Great," said Friday. "Hanson lives to pollute the world with their music once again."
"Hey, I like their music," Julie objected.
"No accounting for taste."
"I think you're just in denial, Day," Zac replied.
Faith, Kim, Bobby, Avery and Airlia and Tru
"Once you get past 'Middle of Nowhere', it's actually quite listenable," Faith put in, wandering over, holding Kim's hand.
"I would never pick you for a Hanson fan," Kim said, looking surprised.
"I'll admit I became more of a fan once Zac and I got together, but like my sleeping partner's aside, the music is quite good."
Bobby chuckled, throwing his arm over Gabriella's shoulders. "Gab has ALL the albums. Don't you, Gabbo?"
Gabriella shrugged his arm off hers. "Yes, yes I do. And my GOD, are you always that cold?"
"Pretty much, yeah. I don't really notice it anymore," Bobby chuckled.
Avery gave Zac a sidelong glance, knowing he was feeling a little bit nervous about her with Lennon. She grinned to herself, then opened up a private line with Lennon.
"Zac's gone into protective older brother mode. I wouldn't be surprised if he pulled you aside to remind you that I'm 14."
Lennon snorted out loud, then ran a hand through his hair. "So!" he said, to cover. Not very well.
Airlia and Tru had settled down on a couch.
Zac, Saku and Rogue
"So," Zac replied.
Saku snickered.
"So," Rogue said to Gabriella. "You get stuck doing Bobby's homework too huh? I was the one doing it for him in high school."
Avery and Bobby
Lennon chuckled slightly and reached for another drink.
"So, is the Space Station all it's cracked up to be?" he asked Avery.
"It's pretty cool, like the idea of it. It just gets boring, I guess," Avery replied, shrugging. "Well for me, coz I'm there so much. But you probably feel that way about here."
Lennon nodded. "Yeah, I've lived here since I was about 10, so it's kinda old news to me."
Gabriella laughed. "I get stuck doing all their homework. Well, not doing it, but I help them."
Bobby threw his arm over her shoulders. "She's my bestest study buddy."
"Something like that," Gabriella grinned.
Rogue and Julie
"Wow, so you get away with just helping him with it?" Rogue asked, giving Bobby a teasing look.
"What I want to know is, did Bobby actually have to do his own homework before you started going to Xaviers?" Julie asked.
Bobby
"Nah, Kitty did it for me coz she had a crush on me," Bobby shrugged. "And if she didn't do it, I just didn't hand it in."
Shayne laughed. "Nice work there, Bizzo."
"Thanks baby, I work out."
"I know you do, I can tell!" she replied mock seriously.
"Is it my ice hard physique?" he questioned, trying not to laugh.
"Yes. Yes. Oh, swoon!"
Zac and Annika
"I can always melt that frosty exterior for you," Zac offered mischeviously.
"Somehow I doubt that Bobby considers it a problem," Annika commented.
Bobby and Faith
"That would be stupid," Bobby pointed out. "I love being me."
"Well, you are majorly awesome," Faith said. "Oh wait, no, it's you. If I were you, I'd want to be someone else."
"And yet, you still had sex with me!" Bobby replied triumphantly.
"Yeah, but I don't have to like you to have sex with you. I just really have to hear good things. And I did. About the piercing. But other than that, I've had better."
Bobby made a mock hurt face. "As if!"
Julie and Friday
"Mmm," Julie sighed happily. "Piercing goodness."
Friday snickered.
"What piercing?" Kella asked, interested.
Bobby and Avery
"I can show you, if you like," Bobby jokingly offered.
"Just say no!" Gabriella advised.
Avery turned back into this conversation. "This sounds kinda intriguing."
Bobby grinned. "Oh, it's intriguing, alright."
Just then, all chances of Bobby's pants being taken off were interrupted by Piotr walking through the door, ducking slightly.
"Hey Pete," Bobby saluted.
"Hey," Piotr greeted, putting the bags he was carrying next to the table.
Friday and Rogue
Kella was looking around with her eyes raised. Friday leaned over and whispered in her ear. Kella smirked as the location of Bobby's piercing was revealed.
"Hi Pete," Rogue said cheerfully.
Avery and Bobby
Avery overheard Kella's thoughts and grinned.
"That's hot."
Bobby turned back to the group, after a lengthy complicated handshake with Piotr. "It is, trust me."
Piotr shook his head slightly. "No, it's not."
Rogue, Julie and Friday
"Don't worry Pete," Rogue said. "You've missed something that's not worth continuin' the discussion on."
"I object. I always love talking about Bobby's sexual prowess and his... enhancements," Julie replied.
"We know," Friday replied. "Three words: Too Much Information."
Bobby, Airlia, Tru, Avery, Faith and Kim
"Oh my God, speaking of which... B-face, you totally missed Professor C's tmi at the last class!" Shayne said, making a face.
"What what what? Something gross and I wasn't present?" Bobby pretended to cry.
The college friends began discussing at length the incident that had taken place in the class, while Bobby flicked at the stereo, so music began playing through the speakers.
Airlia, Tru and Avery half danced over to the food table.
Kim plonked down in the couch and pulled Faith down on top of him, then promptly pushed her off, after yelping.
Faith grinned and withdrew the knife from the back of her pants. "Sorry kid."
Rogue, Friday, Shannon, and Julie
"Ow," Rogue commented.
"Do you often carry knives on your person?" Kella asked.
"We are slayers," Friday pointed out.
"Would not that get awkward if you got caught by the police for having weapons in your possession?" Shannon inquired.
"I hide mine on my person," and Friday demonstrated by using her atom manipulation on her clothes to pull out her sais.
"Very cool," Julie said.
"Show off," Kella muttered. "And that's why I only take mine when I'm patrolling."
Faith and Kim
"That's when you beat the cop's face in," Faith shrugged. "That or you just don't get caught."
"Says the girl who was arrested," Kim pointed out.
"Shut up you," Faith replied, sticking her tongue out. "That was different. And Angel ususally gets me out of any sticky situations with the police."
"Well, we can't all have a guardian ensouled vampire... which, by the way, is still really weird, and it's going to take me awhile to get used to it," Kim told her.
"That's ok. It took me the better part of two years to get used to it, and that was after I was in a coma."
Friday and Julie
"I'm still not used to the idea of an ensouled vampire either," Kella said.
"I am," Friday said. "But that's because I met Spike... hmm, a year ago now? He's annoying. He likes to call me Mini-slayer. Jerk."
Julie chuckled.
"Hmm, no I'd say... Gaia is the smallest. She's the real mini-slayer," Kella grinned.
"Mini-Tiffany, you mean," Friday grinned back.
The girls laughed.
Faith, Kim, Bobby, Airlia, Tru and Avery
"Hey, you wanna head off?" Faith said, looking up at Kim.
Kim nodded. "Yeah, we'll do a quick sweep, then head back."
"Ass-some." Faith turned to Bobby and Julie. "Hey, kidlets, we're going to get going. Patrolling, sacred duty and all that crap."
"Always business with you, Faith. You never have time for fun," Bobby joked.
"You know me, I'm the serious type," Faith grinned. She searched out her daughters.
"You going?" Airlia asked, standing up.
"Yep, stay safe, guys."
Faith hugged her two girls briefly, then sketched a salute to the room, while Kim nodded his goodbyes.
"See ya," Avery called.
"Catch ya's."
And with that, Faith and Kim were gone. Not holding hands, but close enough to not need to.
Avery returned her attention to her conversation with Piotr and Lennon.
"So, are you like an X-Man... X-Men or whatever, as well?" she asked Piotr.
"Yeah, part time, like Bobby. I'm at Uni and stuff, but I'm still living out at the mansion," Piotr replied. "And you've got that freaky Xavier telepathy thing happening, don't ya?"
"Yep."
Zac, Julie, Friday and Rogue
"Do you guys have powers?" Zac asked of Bobby's Uni friends. "I can manipulate temperature."
"That's right, you can, can't you?" Julie mused. "I completely forgot."
"Aww, I'm hurt. You forgot my power. And I've used it on you all so often."
"You have?"
"You'd be amazed at how people will behave at certain temperatures at certain parts of their body."
"Do I want to hear this?" Friday asked.
"Wait... are you saying you know how to arouse women with your power?" Julie demanded.
"Isn't that just a tad unethical?" Rogue asked. "Y'know, akin to using date rape drugs?"
Zac glared at her.
"I only ever do it to enhance the existing experience, thank you very much. Not to get anyone in my bed."
"Or on the table. Or lounge. Or backseat of the car. Or telephone booth - "
"Telephone booth?" Zac repeated, blinking.
"Oh wait, that was someone else..." Julie mused.
"I repeat: Too Much Information," Friday said.
Bobby and Avery
"Gab has the best power for our line of work," Bobby grinned.
Gabriella laughed. "Yeah, it's nerdy to the max. It's called 'Numbers', and it basically means I can understand all patterns and problems of numbers. And stuff."
"Math camp," Shayne nodded. "Lennon and I are just humans. No power to speak of."
"Unless you manifest, like me," Bobby told her. "I did at the most inopportune time."
"Really?" Avery asked.
"Yeah, I was on a date, and these bullies came over and I got stressed and um... froze them. Well sprayed them with snow. Meanwhile, didn't get a kiss from the girl either," Bobby replied, looking slightly put out.
Zac and Julie
"Curses. Foiled again," Zac said sympathetically.
"I'm human too," Julie replied. "Unless having twins is a superpower, heh."
Bobby and Avery
"It's not so bad, it balances things out," Lennon said, shrugging. "So we have two power kids and two un-power kids in our group."
Bobby nodded. "Plus, this way, it means Gab and I are way awesome, and you guys are just semi awesome."
"No way man," Shayne protested. "Having powers wouldn't be great all the time."
"It's not, trust me," Avery spoke up. "Sometimes it's a real pain in the ass."
Rogue, Zac and Julie
"Yeah, powers can cause problems at times," Rogue agreed.
"I dunno," Zac said. "I mean everyone has special abilities, whether 'powers' or not, which can cause their own problems. I mean, I'm a talented musician -"
"Very talented," Julie smirked.
"Shush you. And that's what me and my brothers make our living from. Of course, the problems come when we get stalkers and obsessed fans, and record labels that are staffed by more bean counters than actual musicians. Seriously. If I was just a chump musician, that wouldn't be an issue, but I'm not, and I hate that."
Avery and Bobby
"But it works out for me, coz I'm just gonna mooch off the famous ones until I'm old," Avery grinned. "Either that, or by using telepathy I could take over the world. Other than that, telepathy is kinda lame."
"Ah but you could foil plans! And cheat in tests! And all sorts of awesome things," Bobby reminded her.
"Very true. All things that I have done," Avery nodded. "But like, sometimes I wish I could teleport or shapeshift or something. Something more useful."
"Like turning into a human iceblock," Bobby nodded. "Always useful... or not."
Friday and Julie
"I love turning vampires into the opposite sex during fights," Friday grinned. "Throws them off balance every time. It's marvellous."
"I wish I could do that," Kella said.
"Ahh, don't we all?" Julie replied. "I bet it would be heck fun to switch genders during sex."
"Deviant," Friday said to Julie.
Julie grinned.
Avery and Bobby
"Personally, I think sex is fun enough as a girl," Avery said, rolling her eyes slightly. "What with the tearing and such."
Bobby wrinkled his nose. "Ugh."
"Well, if I had to hear about my brother's sex life, he has to hear about mine."
"Ha, revenge grossness. I like you, you're alright," Bobby chuckled.
Zac, Julie and Friday
"Ahh, now Zac can give you some stories..." Julie began.
"I'm sure my stories have nothing on your exploits," Zac retorted. "And don't you dare give Avie any ideas."
She was impressionable enough as it was. And even though he had been able her age when he had first started having sex, he didn't know that he really liked considering that his little sister was old enough to do the same.
Julie chuckled.
"I don't want to know either," said Friday.
"Nor I," Rogue agreed.
"Spoilsports," Julie replied.
Avery and Bobby
Avery shrugged slightly, and turned back into a conversation with Lennon.
"So, dude," Bobby said, wandering over to where Zac was. "Your little sister... she's grown up all nicely."
Gabriella snorted softly. "As in... she's hot?"
"Well yeah, but like... I never pictured her to look like that. From what Jess was like and all..." Bobby trailed off.
Zac, Julie and Annika
"Y'know what?" said Zac. "I don't know that I really want to hear other guys describe my little sister as being hot."
"Especially not someone who's just as bad as you when it comes to the ladies, eh?" Julie smirked.
"Aww, but it's so sweet," Annika said. "He's gone all protective older brother on us."
Bobby, Avery, Airlia and Tru
Bobby chuckled. "Nah, man I don't mean it in a 'oh God, I'd like to have a piece of that' way, but more of a, from what Jess looks like, they don't look related that much."
"It's coz I'm hot and Jess is a sk... different looking," Avery said, matter of factly. She stopped herself from saying 'skank' at the last minute, in case Zac got mad. But seriously, she was entitled to her own opinion and after some of the things her own family members had thought about her over the years, she wasn't going to take it anymore.
Airlia and Tru shared a glance.
"I didn't talk to Jess much because she hung out with like Dawn and Rachel and stuff," Bobby put in. "And I tended to avoid that group like the plague. Plus, I was busy harrassing Hanky and such."
Julie, Zac, Friday, Saku, Rogue
"Rach isn't so bad," Julie mused. "But yeah... Dawn gets on my nerves."
"I like Rach," Zac said helpfully.
"Given that you two have a child together, I should hope so," Friday said.
"He didn't like Kylie," Saku pointed out.
"Yeah, well, Kylie developed a weird and psycho personallity after she moved to Canada," Zac said. "She used to be a really cool person."
"And now she's in a mental hospital. Where she belongs," Friday said decisively.
"What happened?" asked Rogue.
"Kylie was living with us," Zac said. "One day she tried to murder Saku, Dee Dee and probably would have gone after Elektra as well if Saku hadn't been able to stop her."
"Never liked that bitch," Saku said.
"I see," Rogue replied. "And Dee Dee is okay?"
"She's fine. We even found out that she has telekinesis because of it," Zac replied. "She actually managed to defend herself. An impressive task for a one-year-old, as she was at the time."
Avery, Bobby and Tru
"You're not missing much, by avoiding my sister," Avery told Bobby. "So I wouldn't feel bad. And I don't like Rachel either, for the record."
Bobby gave Avery a surprised glance.
"What? Do I have to like everyone my family does? I'm sure there are friends of mine that they'd hate, or want to keep me away from," Avery said, shrugging.
"Was I there for the whole Kylie thing?" Tru asked. "I can't remember. It was back in my youth."
She grinned slightly.
Saku, Zac and Julie
"No, you weren't," Saku replied. "I think I told you about it when you gals moved in though."
"I'm rather fond of Jess, myself," Zac said. "But she definitely has her moments."
"She always has those moments," Julie replied. "Maybe she really only has moments when she actually acts like a halfway decent human being around you."
"... Possibly," Zac replied.
Avery, Bobby, Airlia and Tru
"Thank God someone agrees with me," Avery said, half under her breath.
Bobby laughed. "Not too fond of your sister, are you?"
"I love her, because she's my sister. But I don't like her, no," Avery replied, very matter-of-factly.
"Did you?" Airlia asked Saku. "I can't remember, I probably wasn't listening."
Tru snickered.
Julie and Saku
"Well, I've never been overly fond of my sister either," Julie commented. "Little brat."
Saku shrugged.
Avery and Bobby
"We should start a sister disliking club," Avery said to Julie.
"I don't have a sister," Bobby put in. "But I'm not fond of my brother. Does that count?"
Avery thought for a moment. "Yeah, coz sometimes I have issues with a certain brother."
Zac, Saku, Julie, Friday and Rogue
"Oooh, which brother?" Zac asked. "Ike? Mac? Tay? It's Taylor isn't it?"
"You?" Saku suggested, grinning at him.
"Me? But I'm such a wonderful brother. How could anyone have issues with me?"
"I have issues' with you," Julie replied.
"Yeah, but you're not my sister."
"And thank goodness for that," Friday replied. "Otherwise your relationship with be incestuious and that's even worse than your current one."
"Eww, incest," Rogue said, turning up her nose. "I don't even have a brother and I think that's gross."
Avery and Bobby
"Well actually, scratch that, I have issues with all of my siblings," Avery amended. "Not all the time, but usually. It's why I escape to the Space Station. Free from the Hanson's."
Bobby chuckled. "Xavier's was sort of the same for me. Free of Drake's."
Zac, Julie and Rogue
"Aww," said Zac, putting on a pathetic expression. "You have issue with little ol' me?"
"I wouldn't describle you as being 'little'," Julie said.
"Julie..." then Rogue trailed off and sighed.
"What? Look at him," Julie said, grinning. "He's built like a tank. What else did you think I meant?"
"I can never tell with you."
Avery and Bobby
Avery just stared at Zac for a moment, feeling no need to remind him of some of their arguments from the past, then turned back into a conversation with Lennon.
"Oh hey, B-man," Gabriella said, suddenly snapping back to attention.
"Yeeeees?" Bobby replied.
"You wanna come to Imogen Heap? We're getting tix this week sometime," she answered.
"Heck yes!"
Ending as written by Michelle
And thus the party continued well into the night, until they started getting angry complaints from their surrounding neighbours about the noise, and how they had an early shift and would like to get some sleep, rah rah rah.
All in all, it was a good party, a great time was had by all, and Zac refrained himself from going all gung ho on Lennon's butt.