Living in the Mansion was nostalgic. Moving her belongings in, she remembered meeting Gina the first day she moved in, or her stint with a roommate when Twyla made her surprise entrance. She had been working in the Mansion for a few years now, but it was different waking up and sleeping there.

It helped when she could sleep and wake up next to Gawain. Or Maya, depending on the day. Their space was roomier than a standard room, likely as an incentive for staff with significant others to keep living on campus. It might be harder convincing someone with a wife and kid to stick around in a dorm room-sized living space.

School was back in session, but that didn’t matter today. It was a Saturday, and waking up with that realization was glorious. Rebecca rolled over to the source of heat in the bed beside her, smiling. It was an adjustment living with a significant other again. If it was not for someone as supportive and loving as Maya, Becca might not have made it back to this point of sharing herself fully.

Checking the clock, Becca turned and pressing a kiss to Maya’s forehead. ”Mornin’ gorgeous. Fancy a Saturday mornin’ breakfast?”

Honestly, Mirror could have been living in one of the faculty apartments for years, it just never occurred to her to transfer into one. A dorm room was comfortable enough for one person, and since roommates kept coming and going (as much as the rest of the X-team), she never felt like going through the hassle. The free bed was usually occupied by Angua.

And now she woke up in a room with only one bed (although a lot bigger), and a sizable doggie basket (somewhere at the foot of the bed), and Becca snuggled up next to her. In an adult apartment. Like an adult. (Wearing shorts and a Gawain-sized shirt).

Maya made a sleepy noise as the redhead kissed her on the forehead.

>>”Mornin’ gorgeous. Fancy a Saturday mornin’ breakfast?”

"Is that what responsible adults do?" Maya muttered into the pillow "Or do we graduate straight to brunch with margaritas?..."

Angua made a similar whining noise, looking down at the two of them from the side of the bed.

"Wait, what time is it?..."

Becca chuckled at her girlfriend's slow-to-start yawning. Of the two of them, Becca was always slightly better at waking up, with the exception of anachronism-related early mornings. On those days, Maya was running on the excitement of historical recreation, but most days, the act of shifting tired her out, so she needed more sleep. Becca, meanwhile, was growing re-accustomed to her schedule of classes starting at eight.

"It's nearly ten, lass. That's basically sleepin' in, for me, anyway," she teased. She did feel very well rested, so with that need met, thoughts of eggs and sausage and pancakes were next on her mind. Just behind kissing her significant other's lips, of course. "We can probably swing mimosas, but ye may nae want th' kids t' catch us drinkin' afore noon."

>>"It's nearly ten, lass. That's basically sleepin' in, for me, anyway,"

"Whut, really?" Maya blinked, being kissed awake, which she didn't mind at all, but then Angua decided it was her turn to give kisses, out of the goodness of her doggie heart and also probably because she really needed to pee.

>>"We can probably swing mimosas, but ye may nae want th' kids t' catch us drinkin' afore noon."

"Did somebody feed the children?..." Maya muttered, running fingers through her hair as she rolled out of bed, and padded over to the door to let Angua out. The Irish wolfhound bounded happily down the hallway, earning some yelps from students who were out and about like it was not a goddamn weekend. "I guess I need to put on big girl pants, huh..."

It was endearing to see Maya immediately thinking about the kids the moment she was conscious enough. Being one of the "elders" of the Mansion for so long, Rebecca was realizing how much work she put in making sure the younger kids of the Mansion were tended to and cared about.

The moment was interrupted by Angua, who excitedly realized his mama was up and available for love and attention. Becca watched the display, giggling at the good boy. She spotted Caramel on the windowsill-- her cat was learning to live with the big, friendly hound, but he still liked having the high ground when possible.

"The kids shoods be fine. Ah know Gemma left some bagged sandwiches in th' fridge yesterday and Ah saw some left when Ah grabbed mah yogurt last night." She should really look into a fridge for their own space, honestly. "But Ah'm in a cookin' mood, sae if there are any hungry wee ones left, we can just cook plenty for anyain who might drop in."

Crawling out of bed, Becca stretched. "Ah'm nae sure abit big girl pants, but some pants might be helpful. That's mah booty ye got there, after aw," she teased playfully, tugging off her own cotton shorts on the way to the dresser. She would find a pair of soft jeans and a t-shirt and bra to replace the tanktop she was sleeping in.

Shimmying herself into new clothes, Becca looked over her shoulder. "Dae we hae any plans today?" The question did not necessarily mean they would have plans together; they lived independent lives. That said, their schedules often aligned, and when they did not, they usually had an idea of what the other was up to so they could take care of chores or feed the animals in the absence of the other.

>>"The kids shoods be fine. Ah know Gemma left some bagged sandwiches in th' fridge yesterday and Ah saw some left when Ah grabbed mah yogurt last night. But Ah'm in a cookin' mood, sae if there are any hungry wee ones left, we can just cook plenty for anyain who might drop in."

"Any hungry ones left?" Maya arched an eyebrow as she closed the door again "We live in a locust nest, Becks. Those sandwiches are history. I'll help you cook."

Kids and teens with extra energy were hard enough to manage... but mutant kids with all their extra powers burning extra energy, the kitchen was impossible to keep stocked, despite Gemma's best efforts.

>>"Ah'm nae sure abit big girl pants, but some pants might be helpful. That's mah booty ye got there, after aw,"

"I think you are mistaken about personal space here" Maya grinned, moving over and hugging her girlfriend briefly on the way to the closet "But alas, X-team leaders can't walk around pantsless like in the good ol' days..."

>>"Dae we hae any plans today?"

"Keeping mutant children alive and the Mansion unexploded?" Maya suggested from the closet, digging around for clean pants "Probably a DR session or two in there..."

When it came to understanding the needs of the Mansion kids, Becca deferred to her girlfriend. Maya had the experience, and as someone a little younger than the elder-statesmen, the younger students flocked to the gendershifter. There was a reason Becca loved watching Maya's relationship with Kalos; no one took to the older sibling life like her. Now that Becca lived with her, it was like she was adopting a couple dozen brothers, sisters, and siblings.

"Okay, you bring up a fair point. Then we'll just have to prepare a breakfast feast."

Clasping a bra and finding her softest cotton tee in the drawer, Becca shook her head at the "good ol' days" Maya spoke of. "Someain shoods tell Sam, but it's nae gonna be me." Sometimes Becca envied Sam; he had raised his own bar so high, nothing he did shocked people. Meanwhile, if she absent-mindedly went to get a late-night drink without pants, there'd be a whole thing of it. Another reason to get a fridge for their room.

Cooking would be its own project, but it could not take all day, and she could use some good exercise. "The Danger Room soonds like a guid time. Maybe e'en bring some of th' older kids? Give them th' experience; they aways get sae excited abit it." Becca wished her powers had manifested earlier, because she would have loved being in the crowd of thirteen and fourteen year-olds excited to test their powers and feel like X-Men (in a controlled, safe environment.)

Knock Knock

Becca glanced at the door, but she was not surprised. "They waited til we woke up. Hae sweet," she joked, pulling her shirt over her head. Everyone knew where Mirror moved to in the Mansion, which meant when a kid needed something, they knew which door to seek out. Becca would let Maya answer the door while she finished getting settled and tying her hair back.

>>"Okay, you bring up a fair point. Then we'll just have to prepare a breakfast feast."

It was a solid plan. If it was not gone for breakfast, it would be gone by lunch, and if there was any left, someone would have it for snacks. Maya put on jeans and a shirt just like her girlfriend, getting ready for the day.

>>"The Danger Room soonds like a guid time. Maybe e'en bring some of th' older kids? Give them th' experience; they aways get sae excited abit it."

"Oh, I'm planning on it. Some of them need to practice their powers in a safe environment. And a place that can be power cleaned with a hose." Some powers made more of a mess than others. Which was alright, as long as the kids had a place where they could practice without having to worry about causing property damage.

Just as Maya pulled on her shirt, there was a knock at the door.

>>"They waited til we woke up. Hae sweet,"

"So considerate." Maya chuckled, leaning over to give Becca a quick kiss before she padded over to the door to open it. "'sup dude? Did you miss breakfast?... Wait, who's on the roof?!"

It felt so long ago now, thinking back to when Rebecca was the teenager being taught about her powers and how to fight. Training with Emerald and learning to throw a proper punch while taking advantage of her abilities to give herself an edge with her magnetism. Just calling back to it in her mind made her feel older, like she was a proper adult thinking back to her youth. Was it bizarre that she thought of nineteen as "her youth?"

Particularly when there were so many kids far younger than that at the mansion. And now they were the ones putting them though their paces. "Agreed, a safe environment wi' guidance. Dinnae need any trouble itside our watchful eyes."

Straightening her top, Becca walked to the door and took her spot beside Maya, placing a hand at the small of her back. She was just in time to catch the important part of the young boy's message. The Scot furrowed her brow. "Th' roof? Hoo e'en dae... ah, sleep floatin'. Och, poor wee lass. Okay, Ah shoods be able tae fetch 'er." Becca's powerset might be more equipped for a problem like this, though if it was going to be a regular occurrence, maybe they should consider leaving a mirror on the roof.

While the boy looked away down the hall, Becca snuck a kiss on Maya's cheek and quietly asked, "Caur tae join, ur shoods Ah meit ye in th' kitchen efter mah wee rescue mission?"

Every time Maya opened the door, there was something happening in the Mansion, and it was usually as out of left field as only mutant powers could be. A kid sleep-floating up to the roof did not even register as that unusual anymore, since it was not happening for the first time.

>>"Th' roof? Hoo e'en dae... ah, sleep floatin'. Och, poor wee lass. Okay, Ah shoods be able tae fetch 'er."

"Good thing they have a maximum elevation, right?" Maya smirked, walking out with Becca and closing the door behind them. The kid would have floated away into the atmosphere if her mutation had not held her to the ground. Or close to, anyway.

>>"Caur tae join, ur shoods Ah meit ye in th' kitchen efter mah wee rescue mission?"

"I'll meet you at the kitchen" Maya smiled "I'll try to handle the mass starvation situation."

Maya was not exactly an expert cook, but thanks to Mrs. Taylor-Cervantes, she did not have to be. All the ingredients were already there, she just had to assemble late breakfast for the kids that were just beginning to emerge from their rooms. And for herself and Becca.

Becca was used to accommodating mutant children. Her classes were occasionally interrupted by a little girl exploding in the back and one boy had to sit near the window because he started to become intangible without sunlight. A child on the roof was awful and she needed to get her down ASAP, but this was also not the worst crisis one of the kids ended up in.

”Ye dae that,” she agreed, squeezing Maya’s arm on her way out the door, ”an’ Ah’ll make suir we dinnae hae a broken kid tae bring tae th’ doctor.”

Becca smiled kindly at the young boy who came to fetch them. ”Awright, lead th’ way and Ah’ll get yer friend back on th’ groond.” He obliged, leading her by the hand through the hallway, the foyer, around to the side of the Mansion where a very nervous girl could be seen nervously staying away from the ledge. ”Och, Cindy, ye poor thing. Hold tight ain sec, luv.”

“Y-yes, Miss Grey.”

Fortunately, they were on the right side of the Mansion. Rebecca stepped away toward a shed near some well-trimmed hedges. She picked out the right key on her keychain rather than using her powers and needing to replace a lock.

Inside, she found a sturdy sheet of metal and levitated it to follow her outside. It took some coaxing and reassuring, but when Rebecca lifted the metal up to the roof, Cindy climbed on it and held on while Rebecca navigated her down to the ground.

After a successful rescue mission, Rebecca entered the kitchen with the young girl in her arms, with the little girl wrapping around the teacher’s shoulder. ”Ah think wee Cindy got hungry up there. Hoo gaes cookin’, dear?”

It probably would have been a good idea to put a mirror up on the roof for cases like this. Becca was better at high altitude rescue missions than Mirror, but she wasn't around all the time either (even now that she moved back in), so some contingencies would have to be made. Maya made a mental note as she headed to the kitchen. By the time Becca and the girls joined in, there were sweet scent wafting from the stove, and some kids lingering around the table.

>>”Ah think wee Cindy got hungry up there. Hoo gaes cookin’, dear?”

"French toast" Maya noted with a certain pride in her voice "First breakfast has already been obliterated, so it's what I could whip up on short notice." Some slices had already been placed out on plates, and Maya was in the process of making more. The sound of satisfied nomming was interrupted by a buzzing sound. Maya fished her phone out of her pocket with one hand.

"Oh, sh... um, bother. Becks, we have an intruder alert from the hangar..."

Carefully, Becca set Cindy down and made sure her feet were firmly on the ground. ”Thaur ye ur. Try nae tae float tay far.” They could look into some options to keep Cindy from floating off in her sleep accidentally. Her mind went to weighted blankets, so she would see how doable that could be in the next supply order.

No longer with a child in hand, Becca joined her girlfriend at the kitchen counter, surveilling the breakfast in process. She took a place soaking bread in the egg mixture. ”Guid choice, luv. Nae way tae make a bunch ay kids happier than french toest oan a weekend.” And Becca wouldn’t complain about a sweet treat to start the day either.

Unfortunately, more French Toast would have to wait. Becca left her phone in the room, so Maya was the one to alert her to the alert. An intruder? When was the last time they had an intruder? Looking around to the couple of children waiting for breakfast, she felt uneasy.

Crouching down to their level, Becca smiled. ”Maya an’ Ah will be reit back tae make mair toest fur everyain, but we hae tae go check oan somethin' important first. Wa dornt ye return tae yer rooms tae play an' we'll pit it a call when breakfest is ready?” she suggested calmly.

The kids sighed, but nodded and left down the hall to their rooms. ”Nae need tae cause a stir, it’s probably a racoon.” The hangar had defense systems in place, so if someone was here to cause trouble, they could very well end up regretting that.

Gesturing the way with her hand, Becca smirked. ”Shall we?”

>>”Maya an’ Ah will be reit back tae make mair toest fur everyain, but we hae tae go check oan somethin' important first. Wa dornt ye return tae yer rooms tae play an' we'll pit it a call when breakfest is ready?”

Becca had a knack for talking to kids, and getting them to do what she wanted them to do. Mirror had one of those two, but they were definitely more useful skills together. The kids filed out of the kitchen, grabbing the remaining French toast on their way out as Maya turned off the stove. Her phone beeped again.

>>”Nae need tae cause a stir, it’s probably a racoon. Shall we?”

"Good thinking." Maya agreed with a nod "And a raccoon can still turn out to be Calley... Don't underestimate raccoons. Or mutant kids."

Maya held out a hand to Becca, pulling her into the mirror fixed near the kitchen door (she had been putting up shortcuts around the Mansion for a while now). Another mirror led them straight to the hangar where the Jet was parked. At first sight, nothing was out of the ordinary. Maya landed lightly on her feet, pulling Becca behind her, and looked around.

"Alright, sooo... where's the racoon?"

Maya made a good point. While Becca never crossed paths with Calley personally, knowing they could have a shifter around meant being careful. In fact, with mutants, she should be on her guard. There were stealthy mutants, and the Mansion did have its enemies out there.

Noticing the passenger door to the X-Jet ajar, Becca's body went tense. She had a pouch of metal ball bearings in the jet, so she mentally prepared to summon them if they came across a true intruder. "Best tae be oan guard, jist in case..."

Approaching slowly, Becca could have sworn they heard grunting in the Jet. Her pulse quickened, wondering if someone had beat them there and was fighting an intruder. Turning to meet Maya's eyes, Becca's mismatched gaze was filled with concern worrying about a student who might be in over their head. Without thinking of the potential alternative explanation, Becca ran up the ramp into the Jet, ready to call forth any nearby weapons.

"Eep!" It took three steps into the body of the jet and outside the sight of Maya and the door before Becca spotted the actual problem. Two bodies, awkwardly entangled with one pinning the other against the floor of the jet. Realizing she had just walked in on two teens in the throes of discovery, Becca whirled on her heel, spinning away from the scene just in time for the young woman involved in the act to yelp in surprise after being caught and the young man to scramble to his feet. Well, attempt to, at least; the compromising position complicated the process. Whatever was going on, a flustered Rebecca was not watching. Standing there, red-faced, she did have a newfound empathy toward Kealey.